ISLAMABAD - Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has held talks with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Islamabad and underlined the importance of high level engagements between Pakistan and the United States, the Prime Minister Office said.

The US secretary of state accompanied by a high-level delegation visited Islamabad for talks on important issues, focusing on anti-terror cooperation and exploring Pakistan's role in peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, the office said on Tuesday.

This was Tillerson's first visit to Islamabad as secretary of state. The visit was a follow-up to the meeting between Abbasi and US vice President Mike Pence in New York in September in which the two sides agreed to resume full scale engagements between the two governments.

Abbasi expressed satisfaction on the progress made during these interactions in recent months and informed the delegation of the significant strides Pakistan had made in improving the overall security and economic environment of the country resulting in significantly improved business and investment opportunities available to foreign businesses and investors.

The talks covered in detail all aspects of bilateral relations, the regional situation, as well as the evolving international environment and the Pakistan delegation outlined the government's policy of a peaceful neighborhood and steps taken to promote cooperation and stability in Afghanistan and the region, the statement said.

The US delegation was also apprised of the tremendous sacrifices made by the Pakistan nation including security forces and Law Enforcement Agencies in the war against terror.

"The fact that Pakistani security forces have successfully carried out the largest counterterrorism operation was detailed along with Pakistan's sustained commitment and interest in supporting peace and stability in Afghanistan as well as the broader region. The delegation was also informed of the ongoing efforts on securing the Pak-Afghan border out of national resources," the statement further said.

The two sides agreed to build upon the understandings reached in the dialogue process and to continue the pace and scope of high level engagements in future.

The US Embassy in Islamabad said in a statement that Tillerson in the meeting "reiterated President Trump's message that Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country."

"To address those concerns, the secretary outlined the United States' new South Asia Strategy and the vital role that Pakistan can play in working with the United States and others to facilitate a peace process in Afghanistan that can bring stability and security to the region," the embassy said in a statement.

Tillerson left for India late Tuesday at the conclusion of talks in Islamabad.
MATTOON -- Downtown Mattoon's first ever Trunk or Treat Festival is slated to offer family friendly Halloween activities Friday night, including a children's costume parade and contest.

The festival's other scheduled activities include a zombie walk, glow run, live music, food vendors, and children's craft activities, with some of the festivities depending on weather conditions.

Mike Kallis, one of the festival's organizers, said Broadway Avenue between 15th and 17th streets will be closed to traffic from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday to allow costumed children to safely trunk or treat for candy from decorated vehicles along the roadway.

"I think this will be a really safe area to go trunk or treating," Kallis said. "I really think it will be a great event."

Kallis said merchants from the downtown and other areas of town, as well as various community groups, have registered vehicles to take part in this event. Participants are asked to register, at no charge, in advance at the Celebrate Downtown Mattoon page on Facebook.

The trunk or treaters are also invited to join in a children's costume parade at 6:30 p.m. at 17th Street. Kallis said the procession will travel west on Broadway to the K.C. Summers dealership, where a children's costume contest will be held at 7 p.m. In addition, photos will be taken from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Shores Jewelry, 1614 Broadway Ave., for a pet costume contest organized by DeBuhr's Feed & Seed.

Much of the festivities will center on Heritage Park at the southwest corner of Broadway and 17th. Kallis said the park will be decorated with animated and lighted decorations as its band stage hosts performances by Amplified at 5 p.m. and Surrender at 6:30 p.m. He said the Mattoon Area Family YMCA, local churches and other groups will offer activities across the street at the Progress Square mural parking lot.

The Mattoon Arts Council plans to provide free make-and-take craft activities, plus children and adult coloring, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Lone Elm Room at the nearby train depot. Gourd artwork created by Williams Elementary School second-graders will be displayed in this room, as well. In addition, the Mattoon Public Library plans to host a Spook Walk event Friday night.

A Night of the Downtown Dead zombie glow run and walk 5K is scheduled to be held at 6 p.m. following registration. Entry is $10 per person. The festival also will include a zombie walk starting at 7 p.m. The Seven salon, 1516 Broadway Ave., will offer zombie painting from 3:30 to 6:45 p.m. for $5 and up. Artsy Chic Studio, 1520 Broadway, will have rock painting during the evening.

Vendors of barbecue, sandwiches, kettle corn and other food will be open in the festival area, and many downtown restaurants and merchants will be open that night.

Kallis said downtown merchants decided to organize a Trunk or Treat Festival following the success of last year's Celebrate Downtown Mattoon Christmas event, which drew record crowds.

The new festival has been made possible by support from Broadway Christian Church, City of Mattoon, Consolidated Communications, The Cromwell Group, First Mid Insurance Group, K.C. Summers, LSC Communications, Mattoon Arts Council, State Farm-Alex Kile, Washington Savings Bank, and West & Co.

More information is available online at https://www.facebook.com/celebratedowntownmattoon/.
Nach Le Ve

In the poster, one can see Kareena Kapoor Khan letting her hair down with her girl gang comprising of Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and debutante Shikha Talsania.

The Tease

Earlier, the makers had shared a small glimpse of the movie where Sonam was seen zipping her dress, Shikha pleating Kareena's saree and Swara wearing her 'mojri'.

A Stylish Journey

Earlier, Bebo was quoted, "It is going to be quite a chic flick, with everyone trying to make it to my wedding. It's a stylish and fun journey."

Guess Who Plays Bebo's Hubby In The Film!

Internet sensation Sumeet Vyas who rose to fame with the popular web-series Permanent Roommate will be playing Kareena's husband in this movie.

The actor was quoted as saying to Mumbai Mirror, "My character brings a sense of humour to the plot. Shashanka made it clear that it wasn't just a male part thrown into the picture. He wanted a solid actor on board. But I'm not being delusional, I know it's a film about four girls with a mind-blowing script!"

What Catfight?

Recently, there were rumours of a catfight between Sonam Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan. However, Sonam put out a Twitter post brushing off all these reports.
It's going to be a busy day for the oil and gas industry as three of the sector's biggest companies -- ExxonMobil (XOM 0.67%), Chevron (CVX 0.80%), and France's Total SA (TTE 2.60%) -- all report third-quarter 2017 earnings on Friday, Oct. 27. With Halloween just around the corner, investors are hoping for treats and not tricks from these oil majors.

But it can be tricky to keep track of all these giant corporations at once. Here's one simple thing investors should watch out for in each of these companies' earnings reports.

ExxonMobil: turn up the volume

In recent quarters, ExxonMobil has struggled with its production volumes, which have been in decline, unlike what's happening at Total and Chevron.

The market has been pretty cool on Exxon this year. Despite the company's generous 3.7% current dividend yield and improved second-quarter earnings, Mr. Market has already shaved 7.9% off the company's shares so far in 2017. Upbeat production guidance could help reverse this trend in lieu of further oil price increases, which seem unlikely this year.

It's all sort of puzzling, considering how good Exxon has been looking otherwise. Management's conservative strategies have helped the company maintain a solid balance sheet, and its downstream operations have been profitable in the current low-oil-price environment. Yet the stock still seems mired in bargain territory.

Long-term, production may be looking up for Exxon, thanks in part to a massive new offshore discovery in South America. Unfortunately for today's investors, the oil won't start flowing from the new find until 2020. In the meantime, investors may have to stomach more production declines.

Chevron: full coverage

Chevron certainly isn't concerned about its production volume, which surged 10% in the second quarter thanks to major projects that came online. As a result, the company's cash flow from operations surged, nearly doubling year over year, from just over $2.5 billion in Q2 2016 to $5 billion in Q2 2017. That enabled Chevron to cover all of its capital spending with cash flow from operations. It almost managed to cover its dividend payouts, too.

So the big question is, can Chevron keep it up, or was this just a one-quarter blip?

Chevron has managed to push its quarterly capital expenditures progressively lower over the past three years. They peaked at about $11 billion in 2014 but dropped to just $3.2 billion in Q2. That's partly due to some of those big projects that came online in Q2, converting them from capital expenses to income generators. And it hasn't done much new capital spending in the interim. So you'd expect that it could continue to improve, possibly even fully covering its capital spending and dividend with cash flow from operations. That would be a big win for the company and its investors.

Total SA: Too many baskets, not enough eggs

Total doesn't seem worried about its own capital spending. In fact, in its Q2 2017 earnings release, CEO Patrick Pouyanne touted that thanks to an improved balance sheet, his company "has the flexibility to take advantage of the low-cost environment by being able to launch profitable projects and acquire resources under attractive conditions."

In plain English, Pouyanne seemed to be hinting that a spending binge was on the way. Sure enough, during the third quarter, Total announced plans to purchase Maersk Oil in a $7.45 billion transaction, paid for through a combination of Total stock and assumption of Maersk Oil's debt. The transaction would significantly increase Total's North Sea assets. The company anticipates that the transaction will close in early 2018.

In addition, Total bought into several deepwater Gulf of Mexico plays operated by Chevron and acquired energy-efficiency company Greenflex during the quarter. In early October, the company also announced the acquisition of additional offshore exploration blocks in Guinea.

However, in Q2, the company already acquired offshore exploration blocks in Ireland, Mauritania, Senegal, and Gabon, as well as announcing it would develop the major phase 11 of the South Pars gas field in Iran.

That's a lot of new activities -- maybe too much. Even with its strong balance sheet, Total is probably going to have to prioritize some of these projects over others. Investors should pay attention to which of these activities Pouyanne highlights as being top priority, and whether he indicates that the company's spending binge is likely to continue.

The rest of the story

For all three of these companies, investors should look at overall performance. Oil prices have largely held steady so far this year, and if Exxon, Chevron, and Total are able to continue to remain profitable and cash flow positive in this price environment, it will indicate that they should be able to continue to do so. It will also give investors a sense of how other oil majors, such as Royal Dutch Shell and BP, may fare when they report earnings next week.

However, it's important to realize that just because they're all oil majors doesn't mean they will necessarily all fare the same. That's why looking at ExxonMobil's production volume, Chevron's fiscal discipline, and Total's spending plans are also an important part of the equation that investors should consider when deciding whether to buy.
Military families have unique financial benefits and needs. If you're in the military, here are a few moves to cross off your personal checklist.

1. Contribute to a Thrift Savings Plan

Thrift Savings Plans work just like 401(k) plans, only they're designed for federal employees, military members included. The benefit of the Thrift Savings Plan is twofold. First, you get an immediate tax break on the funds you contribute, and secondly, you get the option to invest that money at an extremely low cost. With a 401(k), by contrast, you'll often lose a chunk of your earnings to fees.

The annual contribution limits for Thrift Savings Plans are similar to those of the 401(k). For the current year, you can put up to $18,000 of tax-free money into your account if you're under 50. If you're 50 or older, you get a $6,000 catch-up that raises this limit to $24,000. Furthermore, come 2018, the annual contribution limit will increase to $18,500 for younger savers, or $24,500 for those 50 and over. This means that you have a real opportunity to snag some extra tax savings by contributing the max.

2. Consider a Roth-style Thrift Savings Plan

The benefit of contributing to a traditional Thrift Savings Plan is that you'll get an immediate tax break for the money you put in. But since military members already get a host of tax benefits, such as tax-free housing and food allowances, you may not need the tax break immediately. On the other hand, once you're older and are no longer in the military, you might see your tax bracket go up, and that's why funding a Roth Thrift Savings Plan is a very wise move.

Though Roth contributions don't result in an instant tax break, withdrawals from your Thrift Savings Plan can be taken tax-free once you reach age 59-1/2. With a traditional Thrift Savings Plan, you'll pay taxes on those distributions. If your tax burden isn't particularly heavy at present, and you want to avoid paying taxes in the future, then a Roth Thrift Savings Plan is the way to go.

3. Do some estate planning

Though estate planning is crucial for civilian workers too, it's especially important that military members -- particularly those likely to wind up in combat situations -- get the right documentation in order. If you don't have a will in place, be sure to have one drafted immediately. And if you have a will that's older, make sure your beneficiary information is up to date. The same holds true for beneficiary designations on your life insurance policy and retirement accounts.

4. Prepare for deployment

Getting your present-day finances in order can make deployment less stressful for you and your family. If you expect to be deployed in the near future, review your finances and tackle any outstanding issues you've yet to resolve. For example, if you've noticed an error on your credit record, report it before you leave. If you have outstanding bills, get them paid. Better yet, set up an automatic payment system for your recurring expenses so that you don't have to worry about being late on your bills.

Finally, consider creating a power of attorney for your spouse or another trusted family member. This way, that person will have the authority to make financial decisions in your absence.

5. Explore your G.I. Bill benefits

The G.I. Bill is designed to help military members pursue higher education. Specifically, the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill provides educational benefits for those who serve on active duty for 90 days or more after Sept. 10, 2001. The extent to which you're eligible for those benefits depends on the total time you serve, but if you remain on active duty for at least 36 months, the bill will cover the full cost of in-state tuition and fees at a public college for up to four academic years, plus a stipend for housing and books. If you're a longtime military member, you may be eligible to transfer your benefits to your spouse or children, so it pays to read up on how the bill works.

Though there are benefits to serving your country, there are also some financial challenges you might encounter in the course of military life. Be vigilant about your finances, and with any luck, you'll come to enjoy the long-term stability you deserve.
An ex-Richland County councilwoman accused of paying for vacations and other personal expenses with taxpayers' money has been temporarily barred from practicing law. Read moreSC high court suspends law license of ex-Richland County official charged with corruption
WASHINGTON (AP)  Republican Sen. Jeff Flake said Tuesday he would not seek re-election next year, delivering a forceful condemnation of the "flagrant disregard of truth and decency" and bemoaning political complicity in a Senate speech clearly directed at President Donald Trump.

Speaking to a rapt audience of other senators, the first-term Arizona lawmaker spelled out his frustration and disappointment in a floor speech before relaying the news that he would not be on the ballot in 2018.

"There are times we must risk our careers," Flake said. "Now is such a time."

Flake, who has criticized the path that the Republican Party has taken under Trump, said the impulse "to threaten and scapegoat" could turn America and the GOP into a "fearful, backward-looking people" and a "fearful, backward-looking party." Flake didn't mention Trump by name, but clearly was directing his remarks at the president and his administration.

Flake, a former House member, is a conservative who favors limited government and free markets but one known to work on bipartisan legislation. Most notably, he has worked on immigration legislation aimed at finding a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants living here illegally.

"A political career does not mean much if we are complicit in undermining these values," he said. He received applause at the conclusion of his remarks.

His extraordinary speech came shortly after Trump had joined Senate Republicans at their weekly policy luncheon, and came a few hours after the president had engaged in a war of words with another retiring Republican senator, Bob Corker of Tennessee.

Republicans and Democrats were upset with the news.

"It is one of the most depressing things that has happened during my time in the Senate," said Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., who called Flake a man of great integrity and principle.

Moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said she was "extraordinarily disappointed" and called Flake a "person of utmost integrity."

After bucking Trump in a state the president won, Flake is bottoming out in polls. Republicans may be left with a hard-core conservative challenger that might win the primary but lose in the general election.

Flake was facing a challenge from former state Sen. Kelli Ward, who failed in her effort to take out Sen. John McCain last year but has gained some traction this year. Last week, former Trump strategist Steve Bannon attended a fundraiser for her.

But mainstream Republicans in Arizona believe Ward cannot beat Rep. Krysten Sinema, who is running in her primary as the only well-known Democratic candidate. They've been searching for another candidate to take on Flake, and his decision to step aside opens the door wide for those efforts.

Besides Ward, other potential candidates for Flake's seat include current state university regent Jay Heiler, former state GOP chairman Robert Graham, state treasurer and 2016 Trump campaign CFO Jeff DeWit. Other names that have been floated in recent weeks include Reps. Paul Gosar and Trent Franks, conservative stalwarts who sit in safe GOP seats.

Heiler announced early this month that he was considering a run. He was chief of staff to Arizona Gov. Fife Symington in the 1990s and has been involved in numerous political campaigns.

Former Gov. Jan Brewer was pushing Heiler as a candidate.

"I've known Jeff for a long time and I admire him for his service that he has given to our state," she said Friday. "But I believe it is an opportunity for me to support a different candidate, someone that I've known for a long while, and somebody that I believe will serve Arizona the best."

On Tuesday, she tweeted that "the 2018 Senate race about to get real interesting!"

Herschel Fink, executive director of the Arizona Democratic Party, said Flake's retirement "further exposes the Republican Party's civil war - which will continue in full force in Arizona as the GOP struggles with a field of candidates who go further and further out of touch with voters."
IRCTC to launch a new website and mobile app to make booking faster and simpler News oi -Samden Sherpa The new website is expected to be passenger-friendly, clutter-free with easier log-in and navigation and will remove the problem of getting timed out during booking of a ticket.

The Digital India initiative has paved a way for government organizations to somewhat harness the power of technology and use it to make lives easier for the general public.

Besides, the Railway department seems to have already learned the importance of making its ticketing platform more seamless. And while the company has already introduced a dedicated website but it has been buggy and the site tends to overload very easily.

However, it looks like there will be some improvements on the matter. As such, the railway is now reportedly launching a revamped website and a new Android-based Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) mobile app to ensure faster and easier ticket-booking, as well as help passengers, plan their travel better.

The new website is expected to be passenger-friendly, clutter-free with easier log-in and navigation and will not have the problem of getting timed out during booking of a ticket. If you have noticed, in the current website users get a very short time to make bookings or plan a travel. Once the time expires the website forces you to log in and book all over again. It's a hectic process.

Additionally, there will also be some new features introduced in the app and the website. Some of which includes a display of confirmed tickets and dates to help plan journey by relying on data analytics and also curb misuse of facilities such as Tatkal.

Along with that, railways also plans to start a mechanism to send SMS alerts to travelers about arrival and departure of trains on a real-time basis. Text alerts will also be sent to passengers during the journey about any delay, cause of delay and the time the train will take to reach the next station and its final destination. These features within the new app and website will be added with the help of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) who will also inform travelers on the exact location of the train by using satellites.

The state-run transporter also aims to gather a larger chunk of business through its new website and mobile App from other travel websites and Apps.

Meanwhile, IRCTC had also launched a new ticketing App, IRCTC Rail Connect, to facilitate the booking of train tickets in a faster and easier way. The main highlights of the app are that it has a simple, easy-to-use interface and features that are more mobile-friendly. It also has an additional layer of security and is available for free for Android devices.

Best Mobiles in India

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Harman Kardon announces a plethora of exciting audio products in India News oi -Rohit The new Harman Kardons audio collection comprises of Bluetooth portables, Headphones, Home & Multimedia and Car Aftermarket products for the Indian market

Leading brand in audio segment Harman kardon has announced the company's latest range of audio products in the Indian market. The new line-up of over two dozen audio products include Bluetooth portables, Headphones, Home & Multimedia and Car Aftermarket products. The company informed that its popular JBL and Harman Kardon audio products will be available through 350 of Samsung's key brand stores across India by the end of 2017.

Harman Kardon, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., also has a big focus on connected technologies for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets. The company's new products are engineered to deliver best-in-class audio to music lovers in all possible form factors, including portable wireless speakers, headphones, automotive audio products and home theater systems. The new audio products were launched in the presence of company's Global Brand Ambassador, Grammy &Academy Award Winner, A.R. Rahman in New Delhi.

The company talked about its partnership with Samsung and laid out the future roadmap to offer Indian consumers an entire range of innovative audio products. The duo aims to create a seamless 'Connected Ecosystem' of high-end audio products for audiophiles.

The new product folio for Indian consumers include; JBL Flip 4, JBL Pulse 3 waterproof Bluetooth speaker, Harman Kardon Traveler, OMNI+ series, JBL Cinema SB450 2.1 sound bar and Infinity Kappa Perfect 600 automotive speaker system.

Harman Kardon also showcased its latest audio innovations launched at the trade show IFA in Berlin, last month. The IFA line up comprises of JBL LINK series, JBL Boombox, JBL Jr. and JBL Free. These products will be available in India starting first quarter of 2018.

The price for the company's new audio lineup starts at Rs. 1,119 and goes up to Rs. 39,990. The new product line up will be available through select Samsung brand stores, other large format retail partners and through various online channels including the company's own e-commerce platform. The car aftermarket products from JBL and Infinity will be available through HARMAN's extensive channel network of over 2,000 partners across India.

As far as after sale service support is concerned, Harman kardon informed that the company has opened three new service centers in the year 2017 to serve its consumer base. With these additions, HARMAN now has service centers in key metros including New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru.

Best Mobiles in India
Oppo F5 confirmed to come in three variants: F5, F5 6GB and F5 Youth News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu Oppo F5 will be launched in three variants.

For the past few weeks, Oppo is hitting the headlines for the upcoming smartphones - the Oppo F5 and R11S. The former has been surfacing in numerous leaks and rumors revealing some key highlights. Even the company has confirmed some the features of this soon to be launched device.

To be specific, the company had confirmed that the Oppo F5 will feature a selfie camera with AI integration. Now, Oppo has confirmed a few more details regarding the upcoming device. Well, Oppo Malaysia has posted a video on its official Instagram page confirming that the smartphone will arrive in three variants - Oppo F5, Oppo F5 6GB, and Oppo F5 Youth.

The video posted by Oppo also confirms that the smartphone will feature the Face unlock capability as in the other selfie-centric smartphones. It also shows that the device can be unlocked with wet hands and gloves as well.

In addition to the video, the previous leaks have also hinted at the presence of three variants of the smartphone. And, it was believed that the device will be launched in Black/Grey, White and Red color options.

Detailing about these variants, it is speculated that the Oppo F5 and Oppo F5 6GB and 6GB RAM will have identical specifications except for the difference in the RAM capacity. These smartphones are said to arrive with a 6-inch FHD+ display with 18:9 aspect ratio. It is said that these smartphones will have the AI assisted beauty mode. While the 6GB RAM model is said to have 64GB storage space the amount of storage in the 4GB RAM variant is not known.

When it comes to the Oppo F5 Youth, this one is said to be launched with a different processor that could be the Snapdragon 660 SoC. The camera department might make use of a 20MP selfie camera and a 16MP main camera at the rear.

We can get to know more details about the smartphone when it is unveiled on October 26 in the Philippines and on November 2 in India.

Best Mobiles in India
Specifications: Promising!

500 has a very unique set of cameras which we will discuss in detail when we talk about the camera.The Panasonic Eluga Ray 500 is powered by the same old yet reliable MediaTek MT6757 quad-core processor. The device gets 3GB of RAM and has a 32GB inbuilt storage. MicroSD card support enables you to expand memory to 256GB. The smartphone has a 5-inch IPS LCD display with 720X1280 pixels of resolution. It has a pixel density of 294ppi.

Eluga Ray 500 has a dual rear camera setup with 13MP + 8MP combo. A single LED flash supports the dual rear camera. On the front, the smartphone has a 5MP snapper and unlike its peer from China and from India itself, it does not offer a front LED flash. The smartphone boasts Android Nougat 7.0 accompanied by a stock Android UI. It gets 4,000mAh battery to last through the day.

The smartphone comes in Champagne gold, Mocha gold, Marine Blue colors.

Priced at Rs. 8,999, Panasonic Eluga Ray 500 has standard specifications. We have seen very few smartphones with dual rear camera setup in the price segment and Eluga Ray

Design: Takes some getting used to!

The front panel of Panasonic Eluga Ray 500 has an all black and dark finish. The display is indistinguishable from the bezel when the lights are turned off. Even with the display turned on, the bezel does not seem to be too prominent.

The front panel also acquires a home button that also houses a fingerprint sensor. The multitasking, home and back buttons are present on the display on a retractable virtual tray. The front camera and earpiece lie on top with Panasonic branding right below the earpiece.

The rear panel has the primary dual camera setup in the left corner. The cameras are aligned in a horizontal manner and the rear flash lies just next to the camera setup. A single antenna band runs along the base of the rear panel. 'Panasonic' and 'Eluga' branding are placed in the center.

The bottom edge of the device houses a micro USB 2.0 port with speakers on either side of the port. 3.5 mm audio jack lies on the top edge while the power toggle and the volume rockers are on the right edge.



The smartphone with an all metallic unibody design looks decent enough. The rear panel has a metallic texture and the device feels really comfortable in hands. The downside of the design is its weight which scales to 163 grams. Users will have to get used to it before they can fluently use it with a single hand.

Camera: Something different!

Panasonic Eluga Ray 500 has a 13MP+5MP dual rear camera setup. We have seen all sorts of dual rear camera ranging from monochrome enhancement to bokeh creator and with quality improvement prowess. However, what Eluga Ray 500 offers is a lot different. The smartphone has a normal 13MP camera that is just decent enough; on the other hand, it offers a wide angle rear camera that offers a whole new perception to pictures.

For those of our readers who are not too well versed with the capabilities of a wide angle camera here is a little extra information. A wide angle camera offers a wider field of view, which means that a wide angle lens allows you to look and capture more of the ambiance you are located in.

Wide angle cameras are great for capturing pictures in tight spaces and they are equally great for clicking landscape pictures. The wide angle lens offers a pleasant and new perception to photographers. Also, unlike portrait cameras the wide angle cameras do not have the issue of focus loss. That said, a wide-angle lens in this budget price-point by Panasonic is a welcome addition.

The picture quality of the 13MP camera requires little improvement; however, the wide angle camera is wide enough to offer unique perception with a decent quality. I was too occupied with the wide field of view and quality of pictures was not something that really concerned me.

Panasonic could certainly introduce updates to its camera app. The lack of filters is something that might not work in its favor. The 5MP selfie camera is just useable. It does offer a beauty mode but the missing filters are really a nudge here. In its favor, I would say the camera retains the natural tone and the pictures do not have a solid texture that gives it an artificial feel.

Performance: Glitch free multitasking!

The MediaTek MT6757 quad-core processor on the smartphone is clocked to 1.25GHz. It is coupled with 3GB of RAM to handle multitasking smoothly. The MediaTek MT6757 processor is coupled with Mali-T720MP1 GPU for basic rendering of small sized games. The day to day performance of the smartphone is glitch free and the 3GB of RAM pulls it through several apps running simultaneously.

However, the smartphone is not meant for games that dig into the substantial part of on board RAM. None the less, it can easily run small sized games and brain teasers.

Operating System and UI: Android Nougat with Arbo!

The Panasonic Eluga Ray 500 runs Android Nougat 7.0 making the smartphone an addition to the plethora of devices in the sub 10 K range that boast next to best Android OS.

Eluga Ray 500 has a stock Android UI which is not only very clean but is also very responsive. In addition to a light UI the smartphone also boasts Arbo, which is Panasonic's home grown virtual AI. However, Arbo is only accountable for accessing apps on the smartphone with several features including talkback and text to speech.

Display and Speakers: Competing display!

The display on the smartphone is 5-inch IPS LCD with 720X1280 pixels of resolution. The display resolution is not too rich neither is the pixel density too boastful. However, numbers can be deceptive and the fact is certainly true for Eluga Ray 500. The display of the smartphone may be low on exposure but color composition is quite impressive. This makes the device great for watching videos and movies.

The display is amply saturated and viewing angles of the display are problem free. The daylight performance of the display could be improved upon and the problem arises due to the under exposure. I wouldn't say that the display is great but it certainly isn't anywhere far behind its closest competitors.

The display on Nubia M2 is quite impressive and Eluga Ray 500 tries with all its might to challenge the former.

The speakers on the Panasonic Eluga Ray 500 are not too loud which means that the quality is retained to an extensive level. You would rather enjoy listening to music on this device in closed room than in an open and noisy ambiance.

Battery life: 4,000mAh, straight 20 hours!

The mobile phone boasts a 4,000 mAh battery which easily lasts 24 hours with normal usage. The device lasts close to 20 hours with rugged and abusive usage. The charging time of the smartphone is a little over 2hours which is quite impressive given the large battery size.

Conclusion: A decent smartphones with few shortcomings!

Panasonic Eluga Ray 500's strong suites are a lasting battery, a unique camera and a decent display. While it falls short in terms of gaming performance and has a heavy form factor.

The device will certainly be loved by users who enjoy binge watching their favorite video content. It will also win hearts of users who get little time to plug in their smartphones throughout the day. Panasonic is working continuously to improve the quality of its products which is quite evident from its latest device. Eluga Ray 500 is one example.
RCom plans to shut down DTH arm business News oi -Priyanka Customers are advised to make alternative arrangements to keep watching their favorite TV channels.

Anil Ambani owned Reliance Communications is planning to shut down its DTH arm business Reliance Digital TV with effect from November 18.

"The reason behind the decision is the expiry of its DTH license, and the company is not looking to renew it, " RCOM said.

Reliance Digital TV informs its customers that due to the expiry of our license we will be shutting down our DTH services across India wef 18 November. Customers are advised to make alternative arrangements to keep watching their favorite TV channels. We regret the inconvenience caused," Reliance Big TV said in a notice.

Meanwhile, the company recently informed that it has received the Department of Telecommunication's (DoT) approval for the demerger of the wireless business of

Sistema Shyam Teleservices Limited (SSTL) into RCOM.

With this, RCOM will acquire approximately 2 million customers and additional annual revenues of around Rs 700 crore.

In addition, RCOM will acquire 30 MHz of the most valuable and superior 800 / 850 MHz band spectrum, ideally suited for 4G LTE services, to complement its own unique nationwide footprint.

This will result in the extension of the validity of RCOM's spectrum portfolio in the 800 / 850 MHz band in eight important Circles (Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Kolkata, UP-West and West Bengal) by a period of 12 years-from 2021 to 2033.

As a result of the demerger, SSTL will receive a 10 percent equity stake in the fully diluted equity share capital of RCOM.

In addition, RCOM will assume the liability to pay the DoT installments for SSTL's spectrum, amounting to Rs 390 crore per annum for the next 8 years.

The closure of the transaction is expected by the first week of November 2017

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Mossad agent sentenced to death: Tehran prosecutor

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 24, 2017 04:22PM

Iran has sentenced to death an individual found guilty of cooperating with Israel's Mossad spy agency and providing information to it, Tehran's prosecutor Abbas Ja'afari Dolatabadi says.

He said on Tuesday that the spy passed intelligence to Mossad officers about the location and other details of 30 high-profile figures working on the country's research, military and nuclear projects, including Iranian nuclear physicist Massoud Ali-Mohammadi and university professor Majid Shahriari, which led to their assassination.

Professor Ali-Mohammadi, a lecturer at the University of Tehran, was killed by an explosive-laden motorbike in the Iranian capital on January 12, 2010. The bombing took place near the professor's home in northern Tehran.

The late professor lost his life when the booby-trapped motorbike was blown off with a remote-controlled device.

Also on November 29, 2010, terrorists detonated bombs attached to the vehicles of university professors Majid Shahriari and Fereydoun Abbasi. Professor Shahriari was killed immediately, but Dr. Abbasi and his wife survived the attack with minor injuries.

Ja'afari Dolatabadi also said the suspect had had several meetings with more than eight Mossad officers and provided them with "sensitive information" about Iran's military sites and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran in return for money and residency in Sweden.

In August 2016, Iran confirmed that it has executed a nuclear scientist convicted of leaking the country's top secret information to the United States.

Shahram Amiri had had access to the country's top secret information and had linked up with the Islamic Republic's arch-enemy, the US.

Amiri, who was a university lecturer, disappeared in Saudi Arabia in June 2009 and resurfaced a year later in the US. He returned home in July 2010 after spending 14 months in the United States.

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F-35A scheduled for first operational deployment to Indo-Asia-Pacific

Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs / Published October 24, 2017

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (AFNS) -- Approximately 300 Airmen and 12 F-35A Lightning IIs from Hill Air Force Base, Utah's 34th Fighter Squadron are set to deploy to Kadena Air Base, Japan for a six month rotation. The aircraft and supporting personnel are scheduled to arrive at Kadena AB in early November 2017.

This marks U.S. Pacific Command's first operational tasking for the F-35A and builds upon the U.S. Air Force fifth-generation stealth fighter's successful debut in the Indo-Asia-Pacific at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition earlier this month.

"The F-35A gives the joint warfighter unprecedented global precision attack capability against current and emerging threats while complementing our air superiority fleet," said Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, Pacific Air Forces commander. "The airframe is ideally suited to meet our command's obligations, and we look forward to integrating it into our training and operations."

The F-35A is being deployed under USPACOM's theater security package program, which has been in operation since 2004. This long-planned deployment is designed to demonstrate the continuing U.S. commitment to stability and security in the region.

While a first in-theater for the F-35A, the Marine Corps F-35B variant has been stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan since January 2017.

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Officials Release Details of Latest Strikes Against ISIS in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Oct. 24, 2017  U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting five strikes consisting of six 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

Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit in a single engagement.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of five engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Qaim, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle-borne-bomb factory.

-- Near Qayyarah, two strikes damaged three ISIS supply routes.

Previous Strikes

Additionally, two strikes consisting of five engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Oct. 22 that closed within the last 24 hours.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria a strike damaged two ISIS lines of communication.

-- Near Qaim, Iraq, a strike destroyed seven ISIS vehicles, a vehicle-borne bomb, two ISIS tractor trailers, two tractors, two water trucks, four pickup trucks, nine ISIS construction vehicles and an SUV.

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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Dunford: Battle Against Violent Extremism at Inflection Point

By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity

FORT BELVOIR, Va., Oct. 24, 2017  The conflict against extremist organizations is at an inflection point, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.

Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford hosted the chiefs of defense from 73 coalition nations to discuss the ongoing conflict against violent extremism worldwide.

The meeting comes as the coalition is having significant success against extremist groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. This is the largest gathering of chiefs of defense and follows a meeting last year where 43 chiefs met at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. One conclusion from that meeting was the need to expand the network confronting terror groups, which has clearly been done, Dunford said.

The chairman said in his opening remarks that the meeting is a forum for the leaders to connect local, regional and global efforts. "Local efforts have to be supported by this global military network," he said. "Equally our transregional approach has to be informed by local efforts. That's much of the reason why we come together in this venue is to have a conversation about our global network, but also about how our global network has to be informed by the unique perspectives sitting around this table, each of us dealing with this problem in one way or the other."

Success Drives Threat to Evolve

It is a serendipitous time for the chiefs to meet: Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria have fallen to indigenous forces supported by the coalition. The campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria is putting the lie to the ISIS claim that the physical caliphate is the way forward. "This actually presents us with the opportunity to ask what's next from a transregional perspective," Dunford said.

The liberation of Mosul and Raqqa has forced ISIS to change. "The character of the threat is changing, and we need to adapt our approach as a collective body," Dunford said.

The coalition has a common approach to the threat it adopted last year. "We also recognized that military efforts to counter violent extremism had to support a whole-of-government action to address the underlying cause of terrorism," the general said.

The meeting is a chance for the chiefs of defense to meet counterparts from around the world and share experiences, ideas, tactics and regional strategies, he said. All the chiefs agreed that the fight against violent extremism is a long-term fight -- Dunford called it "generational."

That fight has to be sustainable, the general said. "It has to be sustainable from a military perspective, a political perspective as well as a fiscal perspective," he said.

The coalition needs to share information quickly. "Violent extremists move fighters, financing and ideas at the speed of the Internet, and the military network has to be equally fast," he said.

Cooperation Critical to Fight

The United States views foreign fighters, financing and the narrative as the way extremist organizations grow and spread, Dunford said. "It's essentially that we cut  the connective tissue -- these foreign, fighters, the financing and the narrative -- to cut the tissue that allows these groups to operate in West Africa, the Western Hemisphere, Europe, the Middle East or Southeast Asia  it is critical from a strategic perspective that we cut that connective tissue," he said.

The general also stressed the importance of global, regional and, especially, local partners in the fight. "No one nation, no one region or group of nations can deal with this challenge themselves," the chairman said. "A collective approach is necessary."

And it works. In the past two years, the coalition has put simultaneous pressure on ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The transnational networks that supported the terror group also suffered. "We've reduced ISIS territory by some 87 percent, removed 180 key ISIS leaders from the battlefield, reduced the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq and Syria from a peak of about 1,500 a month to very close to zero, and we've driven down ISIS revenue to its lowest point since 2014," he said. "More importantly, the coalition undermined the credibility of the ISIS narrative."

While the coalition is important in the fight, it was led by local forces, the general said. "That reflects in the price that was paid in Mosul alone if you think of the Iraqi security forces -- more than 1,300 were killed and more than 7,000 wounded," Dunford said. "This is a burden carried by local forces."

Violent extremist organizations will adapt, the general said, and the coalition must be equally adaptable. The enemy will try to find safe haven somewhere and that affects every sector of the globe.

Looking ahead, the general suggested increasing information sharing and making the coalition network stronger. "As operations in Iraq and Syria wind down, we have to remain committed to cutting off the flow of foreign fighters leaving the area of hostilities," he said.

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Defense Secretary Affirms Commitment to Asia-Pacific Region

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2017  Defense Secretary Jim Mattis participated in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus today in Clark, the Philippines, chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana W. White said in a statement following the meetings.

"Meeting participants recognized the importance of the ADMM-Plus as an inclusive platform for high-level discussions of strategic defense and security matters including North Korea, terrorism and maritime security, as well as to promote practical cooperation and confidence-building among their defense establishments," she said..

Mattis reaffirmed the United States' commitment to allies and partners across the region, and to a free and open Indo-Asia-Pacific, which includes a strong ASEAN that speaks with one voice on regional and global issues, White said.

The secretary stressed the importance of international cooperation to pressure North Korea in order to realize the shared goal of complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, she said.

Mattis congratulated the Philippines on its recent successes against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in the southern Philippines, White said. To improve counterterrorism cooperation among ASEAN members, the defense secretary proposed to convene a tabletop exercise to discuss lessons learned from the campaign to defeat ISIS, as well as a workshop on regional terrorist threats at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, she said.

The defense secretary highlighted maritime security as a natural area for deeper cooperation between the United States and ASEAN, and proposed to hold a new maritime exercise with ASEAN partners in 2018, White said, as well as to host a maritime security dialogue featuring regional navies and maritime law enforcement. The secretary reaffirmed the United States' commitment to freedom of navigation, and to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows.

Mattis congratulated the Philippines on a successful year as ASEAN chair in 2017 -- the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and the 40th anniversary of U.S.-ASEAN relations -- and expressed his best wishes to Singapore's chairmanship in the coming year, she said.

Vietnam

Mattis met with Vietnamese Defense Minister Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich on the sidelines of ADMM-Plus today, White said.

The two leaders exchanged views on regional security and emphasized the need for continued ASEAN cooperation to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific, she said. They also reaffirmed their intention to deepen the bilateral defense relationship, particularly in the area of maritime security, and highlighted progress made since their August meeting in Washington, White added.

Mattis underscored the United States' commitment to work with partners such as Vietnam to promote a peaceful and stable region, she said.

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New uniform provides lighter weight without breaking sweat

By C. Todd Lopez, Army News Service October 24, 2017

WASHINGTON -- The current Army Combat Uniform top weighs in at about 650 grams, or about 1.4 pounds. It's got a lot of pockets and multiple layers of fabric. When it gets wet, it tends to stay wet. And when it's hot out, it tends to keep Soldiers hot.

The Army has a solution for that: the Improved Hot Weather Army Combat Uniform that has a whole lot fewer pockets, layers of fabric and Velcro, as well as a new fabric that is actually lighter than the current ACU.

"You can hold that uniform up with one finger," said Brig. Gen. Brian P. Cummings, who serves as Program Executive Officer Soldier, out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The organization is responsible for managing those Army programs that provide most of the things Soldiers carry or wear. That includes, among other things, individual and crew-served weapons, protective gear, weapons sights and sensors, and uniform items.

Cummings said the current Army uniform has a lot of good feedback from Soldiers. But, he said, those uniforms have "all this stuff on it." He was talking about shoulder pockets, and pen pockets and leg pockets and Velcro swatches to hold flags and unit patches. Each one of those pockets requires multiple layers of fabric and fastening material, and buttons.

"And they all hold water," Cummings said. "And they cost money."

A new uniform on display at PEO Soldier changes all that. While only the top was available for viewing, it has a lot fewer pockets on it, and less extraneous fabric. And the fabric it's made from is lighter than the fabric the current ACU is made from.

The Army wants to bring that uniform first to Soldiers in jungle environments, the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, in particular, where it's both hot and wet. But Cummings said the Army also hopes to bring the uniform to all Soldiers -- to make it available for purchase in military clothing stores.

Cummings said he hopes to have a light-weight uniform available within a year, saying that because it is based on an existing uniform that has already been extensively tested, getting this light-weight uniform to the field will take less time.

"We've tested the heck out of these," Cummings said.

One issue with the light-weight uniform's new fabric is that it might prove itself more susceptible to wrinkling after washing. That could be fixed, Cummings said, with the application of an anti-wrinkle treatment. But that would only happen if it didn't interfere with the uniform's ability to wick away water. Also for consideration, he said, is flame-resistant capability.

...AND A LIGHTER BOOT, TO BOOT

Already the Army is looking at a new jungle boot, something requested by senior Army leadership. Thirty thousand pairs were provided to Soldiers in the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii last month for evaluation.

Initial feedback on those jungle boots has been positive, Cummings said, but he did say Soldiers are asking for something that is more comfortable even if it means the boots are less durable.

"It's over-designed," Cummings said.

Cummings said Soldiers want the new jungle boot to be lighter and softer. And they have asked also that the soles of those jungle boots be thinner than what they are now.

Cumming said that's going to happen.

The next iteration of samples, he said, are "a lot more pliable. And able to serve the Soldier well. But instead of lasting five years, they last two years."

Those newer boots, he said, will also go through evaluation with Soldiers, and will have the same capabilities as the jungle boot Soldiers are currently testing. Among other things, those abilities include puncture resistance, more drainage holes, the ability to wick away water, the ability to push water and mud off the soles, speed laces, and lower profile heels so as not to catch on vines on the jungle floor.

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Army's tactical network equipment providing communication lifelines in hurricane devastation

By Amy Walker, PEO C3T Public Affairs October 24, 2017

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- In the aftermath of the monster hurricanes that hit the U.S. mainland and its island territories, the Army is providing the network communications needed to help get these storm ravaged areas back on their feet.

Where communication infrastructure was damaged or destroyed, Army units are using their own organic tactical network transport equipment such as Warfighter Information Network-Tactical, or WIN-T, as well as small deployable satellite terminals and the friendly force tracking system called Joint Battle Command-Platform, or JBC-P, to bridge the gap in communications until the local infrastructure can be restored.

"If you can't talk, the mission suffers beyond words. With massive interagency collaboration requirements, communication assets are vital for the coordination, management and execution of disaster relief efforts," said Lt. Col. Indira Donegan, commander of the Army's 63rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion, or ESB, 35th Signal Brigade. "In the wake of a disaster, such as Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, signal units provide the critical communications infrastructure that allow first responders to move quickly and accomplish their mission."

Army signal units from U.S. Army North, a component of U.S. Northern Command, including ESBs from 35th Signal Brigade and the 11th Signal Brigade, together with U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard units, have been using their own organic WIN-T Increment 1 and other satellite communications equipment to improve communications in Texas, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

The Army's Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications-Tactical, or PEO C3T, fields much of this network communication equipment to these units. It has also been providing engineers and subject matter experts to aid in the Army's support to these devastated areas.

TACTICAL NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS

The 63rd ESB is currently serving as "the voice" of Puerto Rico as its only Title X signal battalion. The unit has employed its tactical network assets throughout Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, supporting various entities including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, local fire and police departments, air traffic control, and multiple military units. Throughout Hurricane Harvey, Irma and Maria recovery, signal assets from 63rd ESB have made notable impacts on the relief effort, including providing vital voice and data support for airports, medevac missions, high water search and rescue missions and air traffic controller support, Donegan said.

WIN-T Increment 1 establishes a robust tactical network backbone that provides a full range of data, voice and video communications, using beyond-line-of-sight (satellite and tropo) and line-of-sight (high-capacity radio) communication transport nodes that set up at-the-halt. Signal units are using WIN-T equipment outfitted with commercial network equipment packages provided by the program office. These packages enhance an ESB's ability to provide commercial phone and internet services to non-governmental organizations so they can communicate with anyone in the world, despite the lack of local communications infrastructure.

For example, the program office sent nearly a dozen small form factor Commercial Coalition Equipment packages, or CCEs, to Puerto Rico to enhance the 35th ESB's ability to provide commercial phone and internet services on the island. These expeditionary packages can be rapidly reconfigured to provide secure tactical access for the coalition or commercial networks to support both civil and military operations.

Additionally, CCE provides a radio bridging/voice cross-banding capability that enables radios on different frequencies, or different equipment such as radios and cell phones, to seamlessly connect to each other, which is essential in both disaster response or coalition operations where different countries and organizational entities have their own equipment.

Through the Army's worldwide tactical network Regional Hub Nodes, or RHNs, the WIN-T equipment can relay information anywhere in the world, and in the case of disaster relief efforts, enable the coordination of emergency responders, and critical supplies and equipment between a multitude of civil, humanitarian and military agencies. The two RHNs in the U.S. continue to provide traditional military network services (.mil) services to Army units supporting the relief efforts, but they also help to securely deliver vital commercial internet and phone services to NGOs through the Army's WIN-T equipment located on site in the disaster zones.

One such example is one of the 63rd ESB's WIN-T Joint Network Nodes, or JNNs, which is supporting the joint civil-military Rafael Hernandez Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Due to damage sustained during Hurricane Maria, the air traffic control tower could not communicate with inbound flights and the airport only managed to average one flight every 20 hours. Upon the arrival of 63rd ESB's JNN team, the airport re-opened and sustained an average of 400 flights per day, far exceeding the airports historic average of only 43 flights per day, Donegan said.

"The communication support from 63rd ESB's WIN-T asset at Rafael Hernandez airport made a direct operational impact, with huge strategic implications for the Hurricane Maria relief effort. Without it, the ability to receive in-bound supply flights and evacuate citizens would have been negligible--solid comms are everything, especially when we have to deliver results in hours and days vice months and years. The 63rd Soldiers are expeditionary to the core, and have performed with absolute excellence," Donegan said.

When Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys in Monroe County, communications were down completely for a 72-hour time period. Fortunately, the Florida Army National Guard had pre-staged its tactical network communications assets, including WIN-T and smaller SIPR/NIPR Access Point satellite terminals, known as SNAPs, in preparation for the storm, said Lt. Col. Gray Johnson, G6/Chief Information Officer for the Florida Army National Guard.

The Florida Army National Guard 146th ESB used its WIN-T equipment to support both Florida Army National Guard units supporting relief efforts that did not possess their own communications equipment and NGOs, such as Monroe County Emergency Operations Centers.

"Phone towers were down, fibers was cut. They were totally black," Johnson said. "They wouldn't have been able to execute mission command, to direct their own fireman, direct their own police officers. We provided the communication assets in Monroe County to enable them to do that until they could get back up on their feet. And then we pulled out."

In addition to WIN-T and SNAPs, Army units are also employing their organic easy-to-deploy Global Rapid Response Information Package, or GRRIP, satellite terminals to further extend the tactical network, and the Deployable Communications Capabilities System, an Army non-program of record that supports U.S. Northern Command operations by enabling critical communications interoperability between military and civil forces.

CRITICAL SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

Aiding in internal Army communications throughout all of the hurricane relief efforts, units employed their organic vehicle-mounted friendly force tracking system, Joint Battle Command-Platform, or JBC-P and its earlier iteration Joint Capabilities Release, to maintain command and control during the hurricane relief missions.

The JBC-P network component, known as Blue Force Tracking, or BFT, uses its dedicated satellite communications to maintain continuous communication among Soldiers in their Humvees and other tactical vehicles, such as Light Medium Tactical Vehicles, used to transport supplies and rescue citizens from flooded areas. With JBC-P, Soldiers know each other's exact locations and can conduct chat sessions for optimal collaboration, with no loss of connectivity.

"BFT is part of our PACE planour primary, alternate, contingency, emergency plan," Johnson said. "The BFT could be an E. If voice is down, your personnel cell phone is down, data is down, meaning your email, you can still text message through that BFT. It rounds out that PACE plan if you need it."

Additionally, units are using Joint Capabilities Release - Logistics software to help keep track of vital fuel, food, water, and other logistical supplies as they are distributed across areas damaged by the storms.

"We used [JBC-P] a lot of our maneuver elements," Johnson said. "They used it for text messages and to track movements at battalion and below level. The logisticians used it to track commodities."

In support of hurricane relief efforts, as of Oct. 11, the Army used different variations of the BFT system in 34 vehicles in Puerto Rico, 64 in Texas and 317 in Florida.

Many of the Army's signal units in its various branches play a dual role, supporting both civil missions on the homeland, such as relief efforts during hurricanes, forest fires, or floods. However, when called, they also provide communications support for federal contingency missions overseas. Whether fighting in a combat zone or helping with disaster relief efforts, for Soldiers, the functionality of all of these tactical network satellite systems is the same, and the life-saving network capabilities they provide fill critical gaps in communications, Johnson said.

"During disaster relief efforts, communications is undeniably the most important element in providing life-saving aid," said Donegan said. "Without communications, there is no way to respond to emergency calls for help, or to coordinate the critical equipment, supplies and personnel needed to assist these devastated areas. Our network communications equipment is restoring that critical communication lifeline both internally within these disaster zones and externally, connecting them to the outside world."

--------

The U.S. Army Program Executive Office Command, Control and Communications-Tactical develops, acquires, fields and supports the Army's mission command network to ensure force readiness. This critical Army modernization priority delivers tactical communications so commanders and Soldiers can stay connected and informed at all times, even in the most austere and hostile environments. PEO C3T is delivering the network to regions around the globe, enabling high-speed, high-capacity voice, data and video communications to a user base that includes the Army's joint, coalition and other mission partners.

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Exercise Angel Strike: Kuwaiti Land Forces and U.S. Field Artillery build interoperability

By Staff Sgt. Tina Villalobos October 24, 2017

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait -- Officers of the Fires and Effects Coordination Cell for the 75th Field Artillery Brigade and commanding officers of 23rd Multi-launch Rocket System Field Artillery Battalion, Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), observed as Soldiers from the Kansas Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery conducted Engagement Angel Strike, Oct. 5, 2017.

The Engagement was part of a cooperative endeavor between KLF and the U.S. Army, intended to create a shared understanding of operational methods as well as enhanced interoperability and effectiveness. The exercise also provided Soldiers of the Kansas Army National Guard's Alpha Battery, 2nd Bn., 130th Field Artillery Bde. an opportunity to earn their semi-annual certification and qualification.

Maj. Steven Redmon, fire effects coordination cell officer in charge, and Capt. Robert Hashe, assistant fire support officer, both of the 75th Field Artillery Brigade, hosted members of the KLF command team during the engagement.

"Our goal here is to learn from one another and to enhance our interoperability and teamwork," said Redmon.

Soldiers of the Kansas Army National Guard's 2-130th were well prepared to demonstrate their proficiency to the visiting command teams.

"This was the first time we were able to fully integrate all sections of the battery on one mission," said 1st Sgt. Gerald Gibson, A Battery, 2-130th. "The sections included communications, maintenance, supply, fire direction control, and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System crews."

Both Kuwaiti and American commanders sat under a temporary shade structure in full view to witness the power of the HIMARS, as it sliced through the hot, windy Middle Eastern sky.

"It was excellent. Especially today-the weather was windy; but they conducted the launch and worked easily with the atmosphere," said Col. Salem A. Al-Hosenan, commander, 23rd Multi-launch Rocket System Field Artillery Battalion, KLF. "This was my first opportunity to view the HIMARS. I was impressed by the teamwork, smooth flow, and coordination between the tent and launcher. This crew operates with safety in mind."

Synergy between the operations tent and the HIMARS were evident, as a total of 12 rounds, fired by four different crews made their mark across the midday sky.

Interoperability and the exchange of experiences were important to both the KLF and U.S. Soldiers. Al-Hosenan expressed a desire to conduct one or two exercises yearly in order to achieve interoperability from the lowest to highest levels of command.

Gibson also saw value in ensuring high levels of interoperability.

"I feel that this is extremely important as we share a common goal of preparation and readiness," said Gibson. "As we continue to learn the capabilities and way the KLF does business and they learn ours, it makes for a more functional, cohesive multi-national team that is able to deliver accurate and deadly rocket artillery fires."

Soldiers of the Kansas Army National Guard bring with them not only the expertise of their individual military occupational specialties, but a diverse array of civilian professions and educations that complement their service to the U.S. Army.

"A majority of the soldiers in the battery are members of the rural communities that stretch from western Kansas to the edge of Kansas City," said Hashe. "While serving in the National Guard, many of the Soldiers are sons, daughters, parents, and some are even grandparents. These citizen soldiers not only keep Kansas safe, they are active members in their communities, providing services like farming, construction, engineering, police officers, IT technicians, electricians, windmill technicians, nurses, and even professors."

Alpha Battery encompasses many sections that have come together over the past 6 months to become the first Kansas National Guard unit since WWII to shoot actual fire missions in a forward deployed environment. According to Hashe, the battery's mission is, 'to provide security to our state and country, to be tactically proficient, and to always be a little better.'

"Some soldiers have waited more than 20 years for the opportunity to shoot in a forward deployed environment," said Hashe. "This is an historic honor that all members of the A Battery 2-130th will carry with them for a lifetime."

The Kansas Army National Guard unit, Alpha Battery, 2-130th is located in rural Holton, Kansas, 35 miles north of Topeka. The battery's 119 soldiers live in areas that span the state of Kansas.

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U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Release

No. NR-366-17 October 24, 2017

Readout of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis' ADMM-Plus Meeting

Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis participated in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Clark, Philippines today.

Meeting participants recognized the importance of the ADMM-Plus as an inclusive platform for high-level discussions of strategic defense and security matters including North Korea, terrorism and maritime security, as well as to promote practical cooperation and confidence-building among their defense establishments.

Secretary Mattis reaffirmed the United States' commitment to allies and partners across the region, and to a free and open Indo-Pacific, which includes a strong ASEAN that speaks with one voice on regional and global issues.

The secretary stressed the importance of international cooperation to pressure North Korea in order to realize the shared goal of complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

Secretary Mattis congratulated the Philippines on its recent successes against ISIS in the southern Philippines. To improve counterterrorism cooperation among ASEAN members, Secretary Mattis proposed to convene a table-top exercise to discuss lessons learned from the D-ISIS campaign, as well as a workshop on regional terrorist threats at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.

The secretary highlighted maritime security as a natural area for deeper cooperation between the United States and ASEAN, and proposed to hold a new maritime exercise with ASEAN partners in 2018, as well as to host a maritime security dialogue featuring regional navies and maritime law enforcement. The secretary reaffirmed the United States' commitment to freedom of navigation, and to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows.

Secretary Mattis congratulated the Philippines on a successful year as ASEAN Chair in 2017 -- the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and the 40th anniversary of U.S.-ASEAN relations -- and expressed his best wishes to Singapore's chairmanship in the coming year.

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1352288/

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U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Release

No. NR-365-17 October 24, 2017

Readout of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis' Meeting with Vietnam Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich

Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White provided the following readout:

Oct. 24, 2017

Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis met with Vietnam Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines.

The two leaders exchanged views on regional security and emphasized the need for continued ASEAN cooperation to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. They also reaffirmed their intention to deepen the bilateral defense relationship, particularly in the area of maritime security, and highlighted progress made since their August meeting in Washington.

Secretary Mattis underscored the United States' commitment to work with partners such as Vietnam to promote a peaceful and stable region.

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1352284/

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U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Transcript

Presenter: Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis; Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera; South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-Moo October 24, 2017

Remarks by Secretary Mattis, Minister Onodera and Minister Song at the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting in the Philippines

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JIM MATTIS: Minister Onodera and Minister Song, military officers, members of the delegations gathered here today, first, I'm sure I speak for all of us that we are grateful for the Philippines hosting this forum that allows us to get together.

Minister Onodera, Minister Song, I'm honored to join you, two valiant, steadfast, allied nations who are committed to upholding our shared interest and values. And we will stand together as trouble looms.

We have made great strides in strengthening trilateral defense cooperation, recognize the need to build the closest possible working relationship and transparent communications between us.

This is now the ninth trilateral ministerial between our three nations. And this underscores the enduring nature of our longstanding trilateral partnership, which is a linchpin of peace and stability in the Asia Pacific area.

But I want to thank you both, ministers, for your leadership and for your unyielding commitment to cooperation and regional security.

Today we will discuss candidly the current security environment -- as only trusted allies can do with one another -- reinforcing a rules-based international order, respect for international law and freedom of navigation for all nations' commercial benefit.

North Korea's provocation threaten regional and global security despite unanimous condemnation by the United Nations Security Council. As United States Secretary of State Tillerson has said, quote, "Our goal is the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," unquote.

And, I look forward to receiving your insight and your wisdom on this grave security concern.

Our security is interconnected and we speak with a single voice in holding DPRK accountable. And America's commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan, two of our most respected allies, remains ironclad because we recognize we are stronger together. Together we remain committed to forging a future-oriented defense relationship based on mutual respect and shared values.

And, ministers, I look forward to today's discussion. Thank you.

Minister Song.

SOUTH KOREAN DEFENSE MINISTER SONG YOUNG-MOO (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Well, first of all, I am glad to have the opportunity to be here today and have the pleasure to meet both Secretary Mattis and Minister Onodera in person.

And over time our trilateral security cooperation between the Republic of Korea, the United States and Japan has played the critical role of deterring the North Korean nuclear and missile threats as well as maintaining the peace and stability in the Asia Pacific.

And I believe the critical nature of this trilateral cooperation is underscored by the fact that there was a trilateral summit held twice at the occasion of the G-20 Summit in Germany as well as the United Nations General Assembly in New York. On top of that, we've also had two defense ministerial meetings on the occasion of Shangri La Dialogue and this year's ADMM-Plus here today.

And at a time when North Korea's nuclear and missile threats continue to heighten and at a time when North Korea's provocative behavior is becoming worse and worse, I believe today's trilateral meeting holds a lot of potential.

I look for, as Secretary Mattis has said, in order to compel North Korea to come out to a path of denuclearization. I look forward to having an honest and candid conversation between the three ministers and the secretary.

JAPANESE DEFENSE MINISTER ITSUNORI ONODERA (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Thank you very much for this occasion. This is my first time attending this trilateral defense ministerial.

It has been only about five months since the last trilateral defense ministerial at the Shangri La Dialogue. Over these months, DPRK repeatedly launched ICBM -- (inaudible) -- ballistic missiles, as well as ballistic missiles that overflew Japan. North Korea forcibly conducted its sixth missile testing and we cannot rule out the possibly that North Korea tested a hydrogen bomb.

(Inaudible) -- North Korea conducted a series of ballistic missile launches and nuclear tests since last year. There have been six -- (inaudible) its nuclear and the missile capabilities. Threat posed by North Korea was grown to unprecedented, critical and imminent level. Therefore, we have to stay collaborated in defense responses to meet that level of threats.

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/1352540/

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NATO Secretary General: Bosnia and Herzegovina is a highly valued NATO partner

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

24 Oct. 2017

NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, welcomed the Chairman of the Tri-Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Dragan Covic, to NATO Headquarters today (24 October 2017). Mr. Stoltenberg thanked Bosnia and Herzegovina for its commitment to international security, including its contributions to NATO's Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.

Mr. Stoltenberg and Mr. Covic discussed Bosnia and Herzegovina's Euro-Atlantic aspirations and its domestic reforms, including registering defence properties to the state. Mr. Stoltenberg encouraged efforts to register more properties and he welcomed the country's Defence Review agreed last year. Mr. Stoltenberg said, "The focus should be on implementation, to make this review a reality. I count on Bosnia and Herzegovina to redouble its efforts in this area." The Secretary General said he looked forward to working with Mr. Covic to further strengthen co-operation between the Alliance and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Enters 7th Fleet

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS171024-07

Release Date: 10/24/2017 8:16:00 AM

From Commander, Carrier Strike Group 9 Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) entered the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations (AOO) Oct. 23, to conduct maritime security operations, theater security cooperation and port visits as part of the U.S. Navy's ongoing presence in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Theodore Roosevelt, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, is joined by the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and the guided-missile destroyers USS Halsey (DDG 97), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Sampson (DDG 102).

"Entering 7th Fleet is an exciting opportunity to integrate with other U.S. Navy units in the AOO, as well as operate with our partners and allies in the region," said Rear Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, Carrier Strike Group 9. "We look forward to continued partnerships that lead to mutual security and common views about operating at sea."

TRCSG consists of the staff of Destroyer Squadron 23 and the squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, which includes Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113, VFA-94, VFA-22, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139, Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73 and Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30.

"USS Theodore Roosevelt is prepared to carry out the full spectrum of possible missions, from humanitarian relief to combat operations," said Capt. Carlos Sardiello, Theodore Roosevelt's commanding officer. "When a carrier leaves on deployment, we have to be ready for anything."

Roosevelt left its homeport of San Diego Oct. 6, for a regularly-scheduled deployment to the U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility. Roosevelt's last deployment to 7th Fleet was in 2015 during the ship's homeport shift from Norfolk.

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USS San Diego Departs Souda Bay, Greece After Successful MDVR

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS171024-03

Release Date: 10/24/2017 8:10:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Justin Schoenberger, USS San Diego Public Affairs

SOUDA BAY, Greece (NNS) -- The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) departed Souda Bay, Greece, after a scheduled port visit for San Diego's mid-deployment voyage repair maintenance visit Oct. 21, 2017.

San Diego's port visit allowed the crew and contractors to conduct vital repairs, maintenance and ensure the ship remained in operational condition for its deployment.

"We had contractors come out to our ship to help us understand the technical side of some of the maintenance we needed to get done," said Engineman 2nd Class Tyler Foster, assigned to San Diego's engineering department.

San Diego also had the chance to complete paint and preservation projects to reduce corrosion on the outside of the ship.

"We were able to paint most of the side of the ship during our stay in Souda Bay," said Seaman Andrew Picard, assigned to San Diego's deck department. "We busted rust with our needle guns, primed that area, then painted the side with the glorious haze grey."

It wasn't "all work and no play" for the Sailors and Marines aboard San Diego. After preservation and maintenance was completed, they were able to go out and experience the local culture.

"After the work day, we had the opportunity to take a bus to Chania," said Operations Specialist Seaman Bernard Rolfes, assigned to the operations department aboard San Diego. "I had such a great time immersing myself into the culture and shopping."

The Sailors and Marines also participated in recreational activities through Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) including a shopping tour of the city's leather district, a tour inside the 100-year-old cellars of a traditional winery, visiting the cave where the Greek god Zeus was born, and a hiking trip through many of the beautiful villages and gorges.

"Taking one of the MWR tours was one of the best decisions I made," said Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Seaman Matthew Poliks, assigned to the operations department aboard San Diego. "There's so much I saw that I would have never thought of looking at when coming to Crete."

During the port visit, a softball game took place with teams made up of Sailors and Marines. The Naval Support Activity Souda Bay base also put together a team to play against the ship.

"I had such a great time playing softball," said Seaman Daniel Roberts, assigned to the deck department. "It had been such a long time since I had played a sport and it felt good."

San Diego is deployed with the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to support maritime security and theater security cooperation in efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.

Commissioned in 2012, San Diego is the sixth ship in the San Antonio-class of amphibious landing transport dock ships. Designed as a multi-mission amphibious warship, these ships are able to support a broad range of expeditionary operations. The ship's namesake comes from the city of San Diego which has a long mutual history with the U.S. Navy and is the fourth U.S. vessel to bear the name.

The America ARG and 15th MEU provide senior U.S. military leadership and partners with a flexible force which can rapidly respond to contingencies and crises within a region. With ships, aircraft, troops, and logistical equipment, the ARG/MEU is a self-contained and self-sustained task force capable of conducting a wide range of military operations including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The America ARG, led by Commander, Amphibious Squadron 3, consists of San Diego, the America-class amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), and the Harpers Ferry-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52). They will operate with embarked forces of the 15th MEU, the "Wildcards" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, and detachments from Assault Craft Unit 5, Naval Beach Group 1, Beachmaster Unit 1, Fleet Surgical Team 1 and Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 11.

The 15th MEU is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force comprised of a ground combat element, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marines; an aviation combat element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 161 (Reinforced); a combat logistics element, Combat Logistics Battalion 15.

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Catalan leaders vow to appeal application of Article 155 by Spain government

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 24, 2017 06:50PM

Authorities in the regional government of Catalonia have vowed to appeal the application of Article 155 in the Constitutional Court, which allows Madrid to wrest back control of the rich region and to suspend its autonomy.

According to regional spokesman Jordi Turull on Tuesday, the government of the autonomous region plans to appeal Madrid's decision, announced on Saturday, to invoke the Article 155, which can, upon application, strip Catalonia of its key autonomous powers and allows the central government to impose direct rule over the wealthy region.

"Moreover, we will submit two lawsuits to the Supreme Court to invalidate the decision of the Council of Ministers," Turull said, adding that the region would use "all internal opportunities" and "all legal possibilities" to legally counter Madrid.

"We do not exclude the option of international jurisdiction," he said.

Spain has been in turmoil since the separatist government in Catalonia held a controversial referendum on independence on October 1 in open defiance of Madrid. Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has already claimed that 90 percent of the voters in the contentious plebiscite had backed secession, but the turnout had been put at only 43 percent.

On October 19, Puigdemont signed a symbolic declaration of independence but suspended it shortly afterward and called for talks with the central government on the fate of the region. He also refused to renounce independence.

Madrid argues that invoking Article 155 is a result of Catalan leaders' refusal to clarify their stance on independence.

Catalonia, for its part, says it is confident that regional officials will not follow the order. The region's separatist parties have threatened to launch a campaign of mass civil disobedience in response to what they call Madrid's assault on Catalan institutions.

Firefighters, teachers and students have threatened to stage strikes and protests if the Spanish government forces early parliamentary elections.

It would be the first time in Spain's four decades of democracy that Madrid will have invoked the constitution to effectively sack a regional government and call new elections.

Catalonia's population of over 7.5 million intensely defends its own language and culture.

The currently-run government in Catalonia administers its own law enforcement, education and healthcare, but local press reports indicate that the Spanish prime minister is contemplating seizing control of the region's police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra.

Many EU leaders have warned against the ramifications of Catalonia's independence, whose threat has already unsettled the euro and hurt confidence in the euro zone's fourth-largest economy.

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Qatar opens military office in US amid Persian Gulf tensions

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 24, 2017 10:24AM

Qatar has opened a new military office in the United States as a diplomatic crisis between Doha and its Persian Gulf neighbors continues unabated.

Qatar's Defense Ministry inaugurated on Monday the Washington Office for Defense Attache Staff Brigadier General Yousef al-Kuwari, situated near the Qatari Embassy.

The Ministry's Directorate of Moral Guidance announced that the opening of the office is part of a new approach to boost defense ties between Qatar and the US.

Kuwari said that six officers and one non-commissioned officer would be posted to the office, representing Qatar's Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Forces.

Qatar is, itself, home to the largest American air base in the Middle East, al-Udeid, where some 10,000 military personnel are stationed.

Since June, Qatar has been under a trade and diplomatic embargo imposed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates , who accuse Doha of supporting terrorism, an allegation strongly denied by Doha.

The Saudi-led bloc presented Qatar with a list of demands, among them downgrading ties with Iran, and gave it an ultimatum to comply with them or face the consequences. Doha, however, refused to meet the demands and said that they were meant to "bully" the nation and make it abandon its independent foreign policy.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has tried to facilitate a dialogue between Qatar and the Saudi-led quartet, but his efforts have so far been unsuccessful.

"In my meetings with [Saudi] Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, I asked him to please engage in dialog, [but] there is not a strong indication that parties are ready to talk yet," Tillerson said.

The top US diplomat made the remarks in a joint press conference with Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha after a visit to Saudi Arabia.

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US sending F-35 jets to Japan amid North Korea standoff

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 24, 2017 10:06AM

The US Air Force is planning to deploy as many as 12 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Japan over the coming days, a move that is expected to kick up tensions with North Korea.

The aircraft are expected to arrive at the US military's Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Pacific Air Forces (PAF) announced, according to a Defense News report on Monday.

More than 300 airmen from the 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah  including pilots, maintainers and other personnelwill be accompanying the F-35As during the six-month deployment, which is also this variant of the Joint Strike Fighter's operational debut in the Asia-Pacific region.

"The F-35A gives the joint warfighter unprecedented global precision attack capability against current and emerging threats while complementing our air superiority fleet," PAF Commander General Terrence O'Shaughnessy said. "The airframe is ideally suited to meet our command's obligations, and we look forward to integrating it into our training and operations."

Speculation about a possible deployment began last week, when the F-35A variant of the stealthy aircraft went on display at the International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition in South Korean capital Seoul. The aircraft did not perform a flight then.

Former Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James had hinted before leaving the office in February that the USAF would deploy two separate "theater security packages" of F-35s to the region by the end of 2017.

The F-35As were first deployed to Europe.

The US Marine Corps has had its F-35B variants, capable of short takeoffs and landings, permanently stationed at Marine Corps Air Station in Japan's Iwakuni since January.

North Korea tensions

The deployment comes amid a heated standoff between Washington and Pyongyang, over the latter's ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons programs.

US President Donald Trump has mocked North Korean leader Kim Jung-un as "Little Rocket Man." He also declared in his debut United Nations General Assembly speech last month that America was ready to "totally destroy" the North if necessary.

Kim in response called Trump a "mentally deranged US dotard" and threatened to test a nuclear weapon over the Pacific Ocean and strike the US Pacific territory of Guam.

The US has already sent a number of warships and nuclear-capable bombers to the region to conduct military drills with Japanese and South Korean forces.

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Serbian Defense Minister Denounces U.S. Official's 'Unfriendly' Remarks

RFE/RL's Balkan Service October 24, 2017

Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin has criticized as unfriendly remarks by a senior U.S. diplomat who suggested that Belgrade's balancing act between Moscow and the West is unsustainable.

In a statement circulated late on October 23, Vulin said that the remarks made by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Hoyt Brian Yee earlier in the day represented "the greatest pressure publicly put on Serbia yet."

"This is not a statement made by a friend or a man respecting Serbia, our policy, and our right to make our own decisions," said the minister, who is known for his pro-Russian stance.

He added that Serbia will choose its course regardless of what the "great powers" want.

Speaking at the Serbian Economic Summit in Belgrade, Yee earlier said that countries wishing to join the European Union "must very clearly demonstrate this desire."

"You cannot sit on two chairs at the same time, especially if they are that far away," he said.

The chief Serbian negotiator in the country's EU accession talks, Tanja Miscevic, suggested on October 24 that Yee's statement was "taken out of context."

Miscevic said the U.S. diplomat understood Serbia's determination to become a member of the European Union, adding that Serbia had "a clear foreign political strategic orientation."

On October 24 in Belgrade, Yee held talks with Serbian Prime Minister Anna Brnabic. He was scheduled to meet with President Aleksandar Vucic later in the day.

Serbia is formally seeking EU membership. Vucic, a former nationalist, has remade himself as a pro-EU reformer while seeking to maintain good relations with traditional ally Russia, which is looking to block the Balkan country's path toward possible NATO membership.

With reporting by AP and Balkan Insight

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia- minister-vulin-attacks-us-official-remarks- unfriendly/28812967.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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The US government is the largest employer of physician assistants (PAs) and one-fifth of all PAs in the United States have served in uniform at some point.1 The US Army has the greatest proportion of military PAs (about 65%) compared with the Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.2,3 According to the PA assignment officer at Human Resources Command, the Army has about 850 active-duty PAs, with more than 120 in the active Reserves and National Guard (Written communication from Maj. Lauris Trimble, MPAS, PA-C, April 2016).

The roots of the military PA connect with the founding of the PA profession. Army medics and Navy corpsmen serving in the Vietnam War obtained battlefield medical skills but their training failed to translate into civilian healthcare professions. Two of the early developers of the PA profession felt that veterans with healthcare experience could be trained to fill physician shortages.4 As PAs emerged as well-trained healthcare professionals in civilian roles, the Army looked to use them. Initially, PAs were projected to provide general medical care to soldiers in their respective field units, replacing general medical officers. The experience was considered successful, and in 1971, the Army began its own PA training program.5

In an effort to document the growth, training, and use of Army PAs a historical study was undertaken. A secondary purpose was to evaluate the use of female PAs.

METHODS

Journal articles in public bibliographies and documents in the Army's research collection at its medical department Center of History and Heritage in San Antonio were searched. Historical events were researched and facts were verified via personal communication with Army PAs at Human Resources Command and throughout leadership positions.

RESULTS

Training

The Army began a PA training program in 1971; the first class of 120 PAs was graduated in 1973 from the medical field services school PA program and awarded associate degrees from Baylor University.5,6 In 1975, the Army determined that enough PAs were on active duty and terminated its training program. However, within 3 years, a PA shortage followed and the Army Surgeon General ordered the program restarted. The program resumed in September 1979 at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, granting college credit through Creighton University.7,8 The Army program was converted to a baccalaureate program through the University of Oklahoma in 1983 and to a master's level program through the University of Nebraska in 2003.7

Before 2001, only enlisted applicants could enroll in the Army PA training program. In 2001, the program was opened to all Army personnel and by 2013, half of the students were commissioned officers.8,9

By the mid 1990s, all the uniformed services had a PA program. The US Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) began in 1996 to reduce government expense by combining the four uniformed service education activities into one housed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, where the Army had its program. IPAP is the largest PA training program in the world, graduating about 170 students per year. It has a 96% pass rate of the national certification examination.8

General medicine

Initially, Army PAs replaced physician general medical officers assigned to individual battalions. Upon initial assignment, graduates were designated as battalion surgeons, becoming first-line medical officers. In a letter to all Army physicians in 1971, Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Whelan, Jr., MD, explained that PAs were intended to fill the general medicine positions in field units so that general medical officers could be pulled back into the hospitals and specialists could remain focused in their specialty roles.10 The goal at the time was to pull 400 general medical officers from frontline units and replace them with PAs. Gen. Whelan further projected that the source of these PAs would be noncommissioned officer medics who went through the Army PA training program.10 As Army PAs filled the general medical officer role, their initial duties involved taking medical histories, completing physical examinations, running a preventive medicine program, diagnosing and treating basic conditions, and referring patients when appropriate.5 At the time of this directive in 1971, there was no intention for the Army PA to be employed in a hospital setting.6

Beginning in the 1980s, the duties of Army PAs, in addition to their clinical duties, included training medics and soldiers, specialty medicine, administration and planning, and unit leadership.9 According to Army Techniques Publication 4-02.3, PAs provide medical treatment within their scope of practice, referring patients to the supervising physician or higher level of care when necessary; provide advanced trauma management. In addition to the medical roles Army PAs assume they are also multitasked to conduct training for personnel in first-aid procedures (self-aid, buddy aid, and combat lifesaver), field sanitation, evacuation, and injury prevention; provide soldier and leader training on prevention and recognition of combat stress; support training to maintain medic certification; and ensure that medical records are maintained.11 A 2003 study of how deployed Army PAs spent their time found that 35% was spent in clinic care, 16% in administrative duties, 12% each in medic and soldier education and covering unit missions away from clinic, and 5% in treating combat-related trauma.12 In 2008, 80% of Army PAs were still used in maneuver battalions or in acute care in deployed environments.3

In order to support newly graduated PAs, the Army initiated the Professional Filler System (PROFIS) in 1980, which paired a physician assigned to a clinic or hospital with a battalion if that unit was used for combat or humanitarian missions.13 These physicians were intended to augment the medical unit and could be from any specialty. In a 2011 survey of deployed PAs and their PROFIS physicians, respondents voiced the opinion that PAs were appropriate and at least equivalent to the specialist physicians for prehospital care during combat operations.14

In the 1990s, Army PAs were integrated into the first two levels of care on the battlefieldthe medical platoon that serves every combat battalion and the medical company that serves every brigade. At the battalion aid station, PAs were equipped to provide advanced trauma management to combat casualties and to conduct routine sick call when the operational situation allows.15 This evolution of Army medical care by PAs has not gone unnoticed. Robert Mabry, MD, then director of the US Army's prehospital research center, noted in a 2011 book that it has long been a paradox of military [medicine] that the most junior and least experienced providers are the ones challenged to manage complex cases such as multiple combat trauma in a setting far from mentors or specialists.9

Specialty medicine

Although Army PAs were developed for general medicine in line units, they started working in specialty clinics almost immediately. In 1980, the Army began training programs in several medical and surgical specialties; orthopedics, cardiovascular perfusion, emergency medicine, occupational medicine, and aviation medicine.7,16,17 In 1980, the Army Surgeon General converted a number of physician positions in aviation medicine, orthopedics, and emergency medicine to PA positions. These assignments were for PAs who had completed specialty training through the Army.16 In the 1990s, the Army specialty PA programs were converted to master's degree programs in collaboration with St. Francis University.7

A doctoral-level specialty training began in 2006. The intent was to prepare specialized PAs with a substantially higher level of clinical competency who could then be deployed on the battlefield.18,19 After an 18-month residency, the first class was graduated in 2007 from the US Army-Baylor University doctor of science program in emergency medicine.18 These PAs became the first in the nation to earn clinical doctorates. Since this first graduation, the Army has developed similar doctoral programs in clinical orthopedics and general surgery.19 As of 2015, 29 PAs on active duty have completed the doctorate in orthopedics and 36 have completed the doctorate in emergency medicine (Written communication with Maj. Lauris Trimble, MPAS, PA-C, April 2016).

Administration and policy

In 1973, graduating Army PA students were commissioned as warrant officers (technical experts ranked between commissioned officers, whose primary role is leadership, and enlisted soldiers).5 PA program graduates were fully commissioned as officers in the Air Force starting in 1978 and in the Navy starting in 1989. The Army commissioned PAs the first graduates in 1992. That year, the Army also commissioned 257 previous graduates, promoting them to the ranks of second lieutenant through major based on service time.7

After the initiation of the Army PA profession, PAs began filling advisory roles within the Army. In 1976, a PA consultant to the Army Surgeon General was assigned to assist the Army medical community in defining the purpose and use of PAs. This position was formalized in 1992 when PAs were assigned their own section chief. The need for a similar advisor in the combat commands was recognized; PAs became managers and administrators in division headquarters in 1983. A PA consultant to the Army Forces Commander at the Division level was initiated in 1987. In the Human Resources Command, an Army PA career planner was first developed in 1982.20

Initially, the instructors at the Academy of Health Sciences PA program (now IPAP) were all physicians; the first PA instructors were introduced in 1979 and a PA became director of the training program in 1994.20

Because PAs largely were assigned to deployable units, their focus stayed on combat medicine. Thus, in the early 2000s, Army PAs organized programs, including tactical combat medical care training focused on the techniques required to treat preventable causes of battlefield death, tactical combat casualty care training, and a combat lifesaver course.20,21 Army PAs also contributed to development of a hemorrhage control kit now attached to every soldier's uniform.21 This kit became today's improved first aid kit, issued to every soldier during the global war on terror.21

Upon incorporation into medical units, PAs took on leadership and administrative duties in addition to their clinical responsibilities. Once PAs became commissioned officers, leadership roles expanded and some became commanders of larger and more specialized medical units. For example, a PA commanded a medical company in 2004, a combat support hospital in 2008, a forward surgical team in 2009, and a warrior in transition battalion in 2010. In addition, in the early 2010s, many PAs served as officers in charge of troop medical clinics. Both of the Army's major combat training centers have had PAs as the top medical advisor and a senior PA has served as the deputy chief of clinical services in Germany.20

Advisory and leadership positions are generally filled by higher-ranking PAs and are administrative roles with little to no clinical time. To accommodate these increased leadership roles, the Army has expanded the rank structure and authorization of PAs. (Authorizations are the cap or quota of rank for a specialty group in the military, for example, the number of Army PAs authorized for any rank level.) In 2016, there were authorizations for 48 lieutenants, 486 captains, 146 majors, 28 lieutenant colonels, and 4 colonels (Written communication with Maj. Lauris Trimble, MPAS, PA-C, April 2016).

Female PAs

As the Army transformed how it organizes itself on the battlefield, one notable way was the rising role and number of female PAs. Because most PAs were former medics, most Army PAs were men. Beginning in the mid-1980s, the Army has added more female PAs. As of this writing the ratio of male to female PAs is 5:1.3

The first female PAs to be deployed in combat roles were part of the operation in Grenada in 1983. In 1990, as part of Operation Desert Storm, the Army deployed 230 PAs, including 12 women.7 In more recent operations, female PAs were deployed to larger, more centralized bases with little limitations on their location on the battlefield. Starting in early 2012, the Army permitted limited numbers of female PAs to be assigned to combat units.22 In 2015, the Army officially removed all limitations on assignment of female PAs to combat units.22

DISCUSSION

Training

The Army and military PA education have kept pace with the civilian standards for training and degrees awarded. Backgrounds and rank have changed along with evolution of PA education. In 2001, IPAP was opened to officers; half of the students are commissioned officers compared with applicants only from the enlisted ranks.8

General medicine

In addition to some of the typical duties described by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA), Army PAs have additional roles as officers, leaders, administrators, and managers of health personnel (see Profiles of two Army PAs). These tasks may be in addition to or in lieu of clinic time depending on the unit to which the PA is assigned.

Specialty medicine

Civilian specialty certificate programs began with the profession but the Army did not initiate certificate programs until the early 1980s. From certificate to bachelor's degree to master's degree, the evolution of PA education in the Army has been steady and now includes an optional doctorate for specialty training. These Army educational achievements are among the few doctoral-level PA programs in the nation.23

Like civilian PAs, most Army PAs practice in family medicine. A 1978 study comparing military and civilian PAs found that 93% of military PAs worked in general or specialty primary care compared with 69% of civilian PAs.24 The study found that only 2% of military PAs worked in a surgical specialty compared with 21% of their civilian peers.24 In early 2016, about 4% of Army PAs were specialized in orthopedics and 4% in emergency medicine (Written communication with Maj. Lauris Trimble, MPAS, PA-C, April 2016). According to the 2015 AAPA salary report and the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants, about one-fifth of civilian PAs worked in family medicine, with slightly smaller percentages working in orthopedics and in emergency medicine.25,26

Administration and policy

PA supervision in the military differs from the civilian sector. Being part of the federal government, Army PAs are required to hold a state license but may not be obligated to comply with state scope of practice laws, regulations, or credentialing bodies that direct the supervisory duties of physicians for PAs.2,24 This federal policy introduces some unique practices, such as aviation PAs, for which there is no civilian equivalent.17 In 1978, military PAs indicated that only 22.9% of their patient care time was in the presence of a supervising physician, compared with 42.1% for civilian PAs.24 In the early 1990s, the ratio of PAs to physicians across the military was 1:10.2 This continues to be the case as physician general medical officers are not as prevalent and PAs work in more numerous, decentralized clinics.14 Because of this ratio, physician supervision, direct or indirect, is limited.

As PAs progress in rank, they are afforded more leadership responsibilities that progressively take them away from clinical tasks. PAs serve in advisory roles in every level of Army command and as these roles grow, they further the PA visibility in the Army. These leadership roles give PAs input into military medical policymaking at the highest levels, something uncommon in the civilian sector. Additionally, PAs have begun to have smaller unit commands. These command positions are not required, although this could change.

Female PAs

As civilian ratios of male to female PAs gradually shifted from a 2:1 ratio in the 1970s to a 1:2 ratio in the 2000s, the Army continued to be dominated by men.1 In the military as a whole, the ratio of male to female PAs remains at 5:1.3 In the last decade, about 72% of applicants to civilian PA programs were women, compared with 72% male applicants to IPAP.8

Women have deployed with Army units since 1983 and continue to move further forward on the battlefield. In 2012, the Army began the process that permitted female PAs to be assigned to combat units and they can be assigned to any combat unit.22 This translates to female PAs providing frontline medical care that was limited to only male PAs just a few years ago.

LIMITATIONS

Although PA duties are defined by Army regulation, no repeated or comparative studies have focused on what Army PAs do on a regular basis. The last study of what deployed PAs do daily was conducted in 2004 by Tozier and colleagues and the last study that compared Army PAs with their civilian counterparts was conducted in 1978 by Perry.12,24 Data on specific numbers of deployed PAs, especially by sex, and career progression are not documented. This lack of information makes historical analysis from the institution of the Army PA to today difficult. The observations mentioned in this review may not embody the full history of Army PAs.

FUTURE

Career progression, annual productivity, adverse events both in stateside and deployed settings, regular nonmedical duty requirements, and team relationships (such as with supervising physicians) are areas that require additional study. Inclusion of NPs is critical as on the civilian side, PAs and NPs share similar roles. To date, most Army NPs do not serve in forward medical units.

CONCLUSION

The Army PA is a story of parallel evolution with its civilian counterpart but diverges and converges depending on role and responsibilities. By drawing on their broad experiences, Army PAs lead in both tactical and clinical settings, filling command roles, senior clinical positions, and administrative leadership. This study offers some insight into Army PA use with a focus on PA training, PA use in general medicine and specialty medicine, their participation in administrative and policymaking roles, and how female PAs are included. PA use in the Army is wide, diverse, and changing. Their role draws on a wide range of skills and their contribution to the military medical team appears to be critical.

Profiles of two Army PAs

Figure: Col. Pauline V. Polly Gross, US Army 1974-present

Col. Gross has served in the US Army for more than 4 decades. She has seen Army medicine through a number of conflicts and changes, including the initial use of PAs. Col. Gross now works to advise major commands on ways to preserve the fighting force.

After 9 years of enlisted service as a medic and OR technician, Col. Gross became a PA. As a warrant officer, for 9 years she saw patients in various locations. Becoming a commissioned officer opened other doors. She became an instructor in IPAP, then chief of a clinic, then deputy chief of the Army Medical Specialist Corps Branch at Human Resources Command. As a staff officer at the Office of the Army Surgeon General, she worked on policy for treating Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers closer to home. While branch chief of the PA program, she also deployed to Iraq for a year as a medical adviser to the Iraqi police.

Col. Gross is now command surgeon (medical advisor) for Army Installation Management Command, where she advises on varied topics from the Zika virus, to ambulance coverage on Army posts, to healthy eating programs, to the Army Substance Abuse Program, and to the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Program.

Figure: Maj. Christopher Cordova, DSc, PA-CFrom left, Staff Sgt. Shane Courville of Aid Station, noncommissioned officer in charge; Sgt. Jeff Hobbs, B Troop senior medic; Capt. (now Maj.) Christopher Cordova, DSc, PA-C, squadron PA; and Spc. Cody Floyd, platoon medic.

On October 3, 2009, Army PA Christopher Cordova, then a captain, was at Combat Outpost Keating, in an Afghan valley overlooked by Taliban positions. At 0600, a heavy enemy attack began, with rifle and machine-gun fire, rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, and other heavy rounds hitting every few seconds in the perimeter. Within seconds, several Afghan National Army and US Army troops had been killed, and within half an hour, Capt. Cordova pronounced two soldiers dead while continuing to treat seven patients and supervise his medics. Five more patients arrived and Taliban fighters penetrated the outpost, so Capt. Cordova had to detail guards for the doors. The aid station almost caught on fire, and new patients continued to arrive. A critically wounded soldier required a fresh whole-blood transfusion, for which Capt. Cordova gave a unit of his own blood. After 12 hours of fighting, and treating 43 US and Afghan wounded, helicopters finally arrived to evacuate the wounded. For his actions as a leader and a clinician, Capt. Cordova received the Silver Star.
Qatar Opens Military Hub in Washington Amid Persian Gulf Crisis

Sputnik News

17:41 24.10.2017

Qatar, which is host to Washington's largest airfield in the Middle East, has opened a military facility in the United States, a move that certainly carries diplomatic weight as the Gulf crisis is far from being over.

A new Qatari military mission in Washington started its work on Monday, following the inauguration ceremony organized by Qatar's Ministry of Defense.

The Ministry's Directorate of Moral Guidance stated that the establishment of the new military hub is aimed at boosting defense cooperation between Doha and Washington.

Defense Attache Staff Brigadier General Yousef al-Kuwari, who represents Qatar in the new office, said that the mission's staff will include six officers and one non-commissioned officer.

Qatar plays host to the largest American airfield in the Middle East, al-Udeid, where about 10,000 soldiers are deployed.

In the context of the recent diplomatic crisis between Qatar and a number of countries in the Persian Gulf, Washington has tried to promote a dialogue between the conflicting parties.

Last week, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson expressed hope that Saudi-led group of Arab countries and Qatar would return to dialogue to resolve the diplomatic conflict.

In early June, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates broke off diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism and interfering in their internal affairs.

Through Kuwait, which is acting as a mediator in the crisis, the four Arab states, followed by a number of other Muslim countries, handed over an ultimatum containing 13 demands to Doha, but the country has refused to comply with them.

 Sputnik

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Widespread militia activity, political unrest drive millions from their homes in DR Congo, UN warns

24 October 2017  Some 3.9 million people across several regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been displaced from their homes, and amid growing violence and unrest, the United Nations refugee agency warned on Tuesday that the number could rise even further.

According to a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over the last three months alone, more than 428,000 people have been displaced.

"With widespread militia activities, and unrest and violence fuelled by ethnic and political conflict affecting many areas, the risk of further displacement is high," UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards told journalists at a regular briefing in Geneva today.

"The challenges of getting aid to people in need are growing fast," he added.

In particular, the regions of Tanganyika, North and South Kivu, and Kasai are the worst affected due to intercommunal clashes, fighting between armed groups and increasing number of armed militia.

Complicating the matters is the onset of the rainy season, that has necessitated the need to beef up public health, sanitation and water supplies to prevent the outbreak of disease. Psychosocial support as well as care for people with specific needs is also urgently required.

In light of the worsening conditions, the UN agency and humanitarian partners have declared the situation in DRC to 'level 3'  the highest level of emergency.

In addition to the people displaced within DRC, over 620,000 Congolese refugees are sheltering in more than 11 African nations  about 100,000 of them within the past one year.

And at the same time, the number of refugees from neighbouring countries seeking refuge inside the DRC has grown by a third since early 2016 and now stands at 526,000 people.

"We continue to see new arrivals from Burundi, the Central African Republic and South Sudan," said Mr. Edwards, noting that funding is urgently needed for the response.

Bettina Luescher, for the World Food Programme (WFP), said the agency is scaling up capacities in the provinces of Kasai (proper) and Kasai Central  the hardest-hit of Greater Kasai's five provinces, with a threefold increase in the number of severely hungry people over the past 18 months. Two thirds of the severely hungry are in Kasai province alone, she added.

Of the $236.2 million required for the needs of refugees, IDPs and other people of concern in the DRC, only $49.7 million has been received so far  a fifth of the amount required.

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Afghan Opium Production Reaches Record High

By VOA News October 24, 2017

Afghanistan, the world's largest producer of opium, has harvested a record crop this year that more than doubled last year's production, a bad omen for fighting terrorism and organized crime, officials say.

Salamt Azimi, the country's minister for counter-narcotics, told VOA's Pashto service that insecurity kept the government from implementing poppy eradication programs, leading to a 64 percent jump in land dedicated to the lucrative crop to 340,000 hectares.

Analysts like Azimi's predecessor, General Khody Dad Hazara, said corruption and weakness of the government were contributing factors to what he called the country's drug-fueled "tsunami" disaster.

Shift in tactics

In fighting insurgents, the Afghan government has shifted tactics this year to focus on protecting heavily populated areas. With the Taliban and other extremist groups bolstering their efforts to destabilize the administration, they have managed to seize more land and produce more opium to fund their push.

Last year, poppies were cultivated on 201,000 hectares, yielding 4,700 tons of opium, up 46 percent from 2015. Sources told VOA's Pashto service more than 10,000 tons of opium were produced this year. Opium then can be refined into heroin.

The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that opium accounted for some 16 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product last year, including more than two-thirds of the entire agricultural sector. In addition to fueling insecurity, violence and insurgency, the drug production is discouraging private and public investment, a UNODC report said.

Afghanistan's opium production plunged in 2001 after the Taliban-led government banned it. But it jumped back to pre-ban levels - and higher - after the U.S. led invasion of the country late that year. The U.S. has spent billions of dollars trying to quell the problem by encouraging farmers to raise other crops.

Taliban protection

U.S. anti-drug officials say the Taliban provides protection to traffickers in exchange for weapons, funding and other support. A single kilogram of heroin can generate approximately $1.5 million by the time it reaches users, and the U.S. is trying to cope with a rise in addiction to opiates, both prescription drugs and illegally produced drugs like heroin.

That leads to opportunities to bribe police, judges and customs officials, feeding Afghanistan's endemic corruption and scaring off foreign investment.

"The main threat to the success of the war (on terrorism) is corruption," John Sopko, who heads corruption watchdog Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the watchdog for the $113 billion that the U.S. has given the country, said earlier this year.

President Ashraf Ghani warned, years before he became the country's leader, that Afghanistan had the potential to become a narco-terrorist state.

This story originated in VOA's Deewa Service.

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Afghanistan Lauds India's Role in US New South Asia Strategy

By Anjana Pasricha October 24, 2017

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, on a visit to New Delhi, praised the role outlined for India in Washington's new South Asia strategy, which calls on New Delhi to help bring economic stability and development to the war-torn country.

Calling the strategy a "game changer" during a speech at a research organization in the Indian capital, Ghani said it was a tribute to New Delhi that Washington had "singled out India in this new engagement."

During talks in New Delhi, the Afghan leader and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed a "firm resolve" to end the menace of terrorism, and they also emphasized the need to close cross-border sanctuaries to terrorism, according to an Indian Foreign Ministry statement.

The Afghan leader later said Pakistan has come to a key juncture and needs to make a choice, as he referred to accusations the country provides safe havens to terror groups.

India and Afghanistan also reviewed a new development partnership launched last month under which New Delhi is creating 116 new projects in the country, in areas such as health, agriculture and education. The foreign ministry said they are a "significant step" in building on cooperation between the two countries.

The new projects are part of a longstanding partnership with Afghanistan, under which India has given the war-torn country about $2 billion in aid.

New Delhi, which has trained Afghan defense and security personnel, told Ghani it is ready to extend further assistance, depending upon the needs of Afghan forces.

Ghani's visit to New Delhi came a day after he met U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who made a brief, unannounced stop Monday in Kabul during his ongoing tour of Asia and the Middle East.

While in Kabul, Tillerson said New Delhi is providing important economic activity and that "we think they can be a very positive influence on creating the right environment for the future of Afghanistan."

One of the issues on the table Wednesday when Tillerson is scheduled to meet with Indian leaders will be the enhanced role Washington envisions for New Delhi in bringing economic stability to Afghanistan.

The focus of the talks between Tillerson and Indian leaders will not be restricted to South Asia, however, as both India and Washington seek to build on growing strategic ties.

Washington has said it wants to "dramatically deepen" cooperation with New Delhi and that it sees India as playing a key role in stabilizing not just South Asia, but the Indo-Pacific region.

In a speech last week, Tillerson said India and the U.S. serve as "the eastern and western beacons" for an "international rules-based order, which is increasingly under strain."

The U.S. is seeking a growing partnership with India, with an eye on balancing an increasingly assertive China, according to analysts.

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Serbian Defense Chief Slams US Diplomat for 'Hostile' Remarks

By Aleksandra Nenadovic October 24, 2017

Serbia's defense minister on Tuesday criticized remarks by the top U.S. diplomat in the region, who recently called on Belgrade to choose between aligning itself with either Washington and Brussels or Moscow if it intends to secure European Union status.

Addressing Serbian news outlets, Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin, who has been known to advocate a pro-Russian stance, said comments by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Hoyt Brian Yee represent "the greatest pressure against Serbia yet."

The "statement was not made by a friend or a person respecting Serbia, respecting our right to decide independently," Vulin said, calling Yee's remarks "very undiplomatic."

It was late Monday when Yee, speaking at the Serbian Economic Summit in Belgrade, said EU candidate countries should clearly demonstrate their desire to become members, and not seesaw between two sides.

Calling the U.S. Serbia's partner on the country's path toward the EU membership, "the EU hopefuls should clearly demonstrate that they really want to become members," Yee said. "You cannot sit on two chairs, especially if those chairs are too far apart."

Among the six Western Balkan countries aiming to join the EU  Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia, Kosovo and Albania  Serbia may be closest to securing membership. Still recovering from a decade of wars and economic turmoil in the 1990s, however, Serbia also maintains unusually close ties with Russia.

Serbia received MIG-29 jet fighters as a "gift" from Russian president Vladimir Putin just days ago.

Yee expressed concerns that Serbia has turned only halfway toward the EU, and the other half toward Russia, adding "that countries should pick one side regardless of how difficult that might be."

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's office said that during a meeting Tuesday, the U.S. envoy expressed "perception that Serbia is with one foot on an EU path, and another in a union with Russia."

Vucic's office later issued a statement saying the president carefully listened to Yee's concerns and responded to his remarks "very directly."

"[Vucic] will make his answer public in the coming days," the statement said.

Jaksa Scekic, a Belgrade-based pundit and journalist who has covered Balkan affairs for more than three decades, called the statement "mixed," adding that it was "probably the best sign that it was a joint product with opinions from both sides."

"Serbia has been playing this game for a while now and this is nothing new," Scekic told VOA's Serbian Service. "The country risks staying in isolation and it has to decide. Usually after harsh rhetoric, we will probably see gifts and bribes coming from all sides. We will have to wait and see which gift Serbia will take."

Under pressure from its historic Slavic ally Russia, Serbia, like some of its Balkan neighbors, has been pressured by Russia to stay out of NATO and other Western bodies.

"It is clear from Russia's actions that it wants to have disjointed Balkans, not strong and united," Yee said.

This story originated in VOA's Serbian Service. Some information is from AP.

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UNHCR: Congo Displaced Crisis Growing

By Lisa Schlein October 24, 2017

The U.N. refugee agency says the displacement crisis in Democratic Republic of Congo is worsening and causing havoc and unmitigated suffering for millions of people in key regions of the country.

UNHCR reports that during the past two years the number of people forcibly displaced from their homes in the DRC has more than doubled to nearly four million since 2015. The agency notes almost 430,000 have been displaced in the past three months.

UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards told VOA there are many factors behind this alarming surge.

"Clearly, the presidential election is among factors one has to consider in the country, but we cannot draw a straight line between that and the displacement we are seeing elsewhere. It seems to be driven by so many different factors including ethnic, political, land-grabbing and a host of other things as well," Edwards said.

The DRC presidential election has been postponed from November 2016 to April 2018, but groups opposed to incumbent President Joseph Kabila, who is legally barred from running for a third term, fear that date is now in doubt.

Edwards warns the risk of further displacement is high because of widespread military activities, unrest and violence fueled by ethnic and political conflict.

Areas of major concern include the eastern province of Tanganyika, where more than 580,000 people are internally displaced, many of them victims of gross abuse, including looting and torture. Other key areas of forcible displacement are found in North and South Kivu provinces and in the Kasai region.

In addition to the millions of internally displaced people, the UNHCR reports more than 620,000 refugees from the DRC have sought asylum in more than 11 African countries.

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Haley: Africa's Violence Could Become US Security Threat

By Eskender Frew, Solomon Abate October 24, 2017

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley warned that Africa's violence and humanitarian disasters could spread into larger security threats to the United States. In order to stem the growing conflicts, the U.S. envoy is traveling to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo in one of the first visits to the continent by a senior member of the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump has said little about Africa since taking office but the killing of four U.S. soldiers during an ambush by Islamic State-affiliated fighters in Niger earlier this month has focused attention on Washington's expanded military presence and counter-terrorism operations against militants in Africa.

After meetings on Monday with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and a senior African Union official, Haley told reporters she hoped this was the beginning of "a stronger relationship with the AU and our African partners."

"The United States very much sees Africa as a very important part of the world. We see great opportunities in Africa. We see challenges in Africa, but we want to support and help in those situations. But most importantly, we want to see how we can partner together. Whether if that is through economic development, whether it is through strategic practices, whether it is through political solution," she said.

Haley said she also plans to meet with South Sudan President Salva Kiir and Congolese President Joseph Kabila to "deliver a strong message that their governments need to stop making the work of aid workers and peacekeepers more difficult."

"Our goal is that we should have one voice and one voice is that we have to see peace in South Sudan, we have to see that women are being taken care of. We can't see any more death. We can't see any more famine. We've got to start seeing the situation get better and I think the pressure is only going to continue until President Kiir makes a difference in that area," she said.

South Sudan plunged into conflict in December 2013 after a dispute in the capital Juba between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his deputy at the time, rebel leader Riek Machar.

Haley said that the possibility of freezing U.S. aid to South Sudan with a hope it would expedite the peace process must be viewed carefully.

"When you look at South Sudan, you have to really think hard before you pull U.S. aid. Because, he [Kiir] doesn't care if his people suffer, and that is the concern we have as we don't know that that will make a difference. About pulling the US aid, that is a conversation we will have. And we are trying to see exactly what will move president Kiir," she said.

Just to the southwest, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been in turmoil since the 1990s. The DRC has never witnessed a democratic, peaceful transfer of power. Instead, this mineral-rich country in the heart of Africa has been plagued by dozens of armed groups vying for power and control, with rape used as a weapon of war, and children recruited as soldiers.

Ambassador Haley said that the U.S. was hoping that President [Joseph] Kabila would do the right thing according to DRC's constitution and have free and fair elections sooner than later as his legacy.

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US Supreme Court drops hearing on Trump's travel ban

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 24, 2017 06:53PM

The US Supreme Court has formally dropped plans to hear a legal challenge brought by Hawaii against an earlier version of President Donald Trump's travel ban on nationals from six predominantly Muslim countries.

The court dropped the hearing for the ban on Tuesday, targeting several Muslim-majority nations countries and a ban on refugees, both of which have expired and been replaced with revised policies.

Trump has issued three travel bans since coming to office in January. His third ban was announced September 24 and was slated to take effect on October 18.

The president issued his third temporary travel ban to replace the second order, which will expire on October 24.

In June, the Supreme Court granted the Trump administration's request to reinstate parts of the second travel ban, after months of legal battle between the government and some states in federal courts.

Last week, US District Judge Derrick Watson converted the temporary restraining order to a preliminary injunction, which could have led to a permanent halt of the travel ban unless the US Supreme Court restored it.

Watson issued a nationwide order blocking the third version of Trump's controversial travel ban, calling it discriminatory and in breach of immigration law.

Watson's ruling applies only to the six Muslim-majority countries of Iran, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Chad, although the ban, announced in September, also limits travel from Venezuela and North Korea.

A federal judge in Maryland also blocked the travel ban last week. The Trump administration is expected to appeal the rulings to the Supreme Court.

Trump has said the restrictions are needed to tighten security and prevent terrorist attacks. Opponents say the ban violates the US Constitution because it discriminates against Muslims and certain nationalities.

During the 2016 presidential race, Trump campaigned for "a total and complete shutdown" of Muslims entering the United States on the pretext of preventing terrorist attacks.

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5,600 Daesh terrorists return to their countries, including US, UK: Report

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 24, 2017 04:24PM

A new report has found out that at least 5,600 Daesh (ISIL) terrorists have returned to their countries, including the US and UK, as the terror group loses ground in Syria and Iraq.

The US-based think tank Soufan Center published a report on Tuesday saying that those returning home will be a security challenge for years to come. They include half of the estimated 850 people that left the UK to join ISIL and also 400 of the 3,417 fighters from Russia; 760 of the 3,244 from Saudi Arabia; 800 of the 2,926 from Tunisia; and 271 of the 1,910 from France.

This is while Moscow announced on Tuesday that less than five percent of the Syrian territory remains under the grip of Daesh terrorists as government forces, backed by Russian air power, press ahead with an offensive to drive the Takfiri outfit out of its main stronghold in eastern Syria.

The Soufan Center's report says the flow of foreign fighters came to a virtual standstill in late 2015, as the terrorist group began to suffer defeats and states implemented better measures to prevent travel.

"Although there is disagreement over the threat that returning foreign fighters may present to their countries of residence or origin, or to other countries they pass through," the report says. "Returnees may be particularly vulnerable to contact from people who were part of the network that recruited them, or appeals for help from ex-comrades in arms."

In addition to losing large swathes of its occupied lands in Syria, Daesh has also been pushed out of Mosul, Iraq's third largest city.

Thirty-three US states have reported returns over the past two years.

The UK has also been hit with a series of terrorist attacks over the past few months.

London announced in January last year that around 800 Britons had gone to fight with Daesh or other terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq.

Daesh took control of swathes of land in Iraq and Syria over the past three years with some 20-thousand foreigners joining the terrorist group in the two countries.

The head of the UK Security Service, MI5, reported to BBC last week that fewer than expected of the 800 Britons who joined ISIL had returned recently and that at least 130 had been killed.

Those who were still in Syria and Iraq might not now attempt to come back because they knew they might be arrested, Andrew Parker said.

The US and European countries are also believed to be the main suppliers of arms and other assistance to the terrorists, effectively feeding terror that is returning to affect themselves.

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New Cyberattacks Hit Ukraine, Russia

RFE/RL October 24, 2017

A cyberattack on October 24 targeted a major Ukrainian international airport, the Kyiv subway ticketing system, and three Russian media outlets.

The attack came just four months after the "NotPetya" malware spread from two countries across the world.

Ukraine's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) said a new wave of hacks was targeting the country, and called on transportation networks to be on high alert.

"We ask the owners of telecommunication systems, other information resources, transport infrastructure first of all, as well as ordinary Internet users, to comply with stricter cybersecurity requirements," CERT said in a statement.

Odesa's international airport said that its information system stopped functioning in the afternoon.

It said in a statement, "We report that the IT system of Odesa international airport has been hit by a hacker attack. All services of the airport are working in a reinforced security regime."

Its website showed air traffic going in and out of the Black Sea resort city according to schedule.

Also on October 24, the Kyiv subway wrote on Facebook that its computer system was attacked by hackers and informed clients that card payment for services was temporarily impossible.

Ukraine's Central Bank said the banking system was working normally.

Ukraine suspects Russia is behind regular attacks on its computer systems, but Moscow denies any involvement.

In Russia, the Interfax news agency -- one of the country's biggest -- also sent its last dispatch at 2:13 p.m. local time before falling silent.

Yevgeny Gukov, a Moscow-based cybersecurity expert from Moscow, said the Fontanka news site in Russia's second city of Saint Petersburg and a third media outlet "whose name, unfortunately, we cannot reveal at this time" had also gone off line.

"We cannot say what it is at the moment," said Gukov, who works for the Group-IB IT security firm.

Gukov said the malware appeared to be using an encryption scheme that prevented analysts from deciphering the malicious code.

Group-IB later issued a statement saying the cyberattack appeared to have its origins in Russia and had also hit corporate sites in Turkey and Germany.

"This ransomware infects devices through a number of hacked Russian media websites," Group-IB said.

"Based on our investigation, this has been a targeted attack against corporate networks, using methods similar to those used during the [NotPetya] attack."

The "NotPetya" attack, which took place in July, was a modified version of the "Petya" ransomware that hit last year. "Petya" demanded money from victims in exchange for the return of their computer data.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-odesa-airport-kyiv- metro-cyberattack/28813338.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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The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce made its pitch Wednesday for state income tax reduction, arguing that Nebraskans "need tax relief" along with government spending restraints.

But "the dominant issue" for business and industry in Nebraska is developing a trained and adequate workforce, Chamber President Barry Kennedy told a breakfast briefing hosted by the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.

That is a fundamental ingredient of economic development, he said.

Seven state senators participated in the event.

A comprehensive tax reduction plan (LB461) that's pending in the Legislature was described as "at least a good start" in terms of tax relief.

That bill would gradually reduce income taxes and change the manner in which the state values agricultural land for local property tax purposes, thus reducing both income taxes and ag property taxes.

The proposal, sponsored by Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion and supported by Gov. Pete Ricketts, has been blocked on the floor of the Legislature by a filibuster.

Six Lincoln senators spoke briefly and outlined some of their priorities for the 2018 legislative session with several of them pointing to legislation that could help address the state's workforce challenges.

Both Sens. Adam Morfeld and Patty Pansing Brooks suggested legislation assuring protection of workplace rights for LGBT persons would make Nebraska more competitive in terms of retaining and attracting a growing workforce.

Pansing Brooks, Sen. Kate Bolz and Sen. Anna Wishart all pointed to the potential benefits of adequately preparing prisoners for release from prison with the skills needed to enter and succeed in the workforce.

Pansing Brooks said the young immigrants who have been educated and professionally trained in Nebraska under protection of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) executive action that's now under assault can enrich the workforce.

Adequate support for the University of Nebraska is also critical in terms of developing a sufficient and qualified workforce, she suggested.

Continued reform and improvements in the state's correctional system was a key legislative priority listed by a number of senators, including Sens. Matt Hansen and Suzanne Geist.

Pansing Brooks, who is a Democrat serving in the nonpartisan Legislature, recalled former Republican President Ronald Reagan's quote: "The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend and an ally -- not a 20 percent traitor."

And, she stressed to the Chamber audience, "I'm a friend working with you."

Sen. John Stinner of Gering, chairman of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee, left the breakfast meeting before senators were invited to make remarks.
Report: Russia, Former Soviet Region Largest Source For Foreign Fighters In Syria, Iraq

RFE/RL October 24, 2017

WASHINGTON -- A U.S.-based security research firm says Russia, and the former Soviet region more broadly, is the single largest source for foreign militants fighting in Syria and Iraq.

The report, released on October 24 by the Soufan Group, documented the shifting makeup of fighters who have joined the Islamic State extremist group in the region, or some of the smaller allied groups.

More than 40,000 foreigners from more than 110 countries are estimated to have traveled to the region to join Islamic State (IS) fighters after they declared a caliphate in June 2014.

Two years ago, the Soufan Group estimated that Tunisia and Saudi Arabia were the largest sources of fighters in Syria and Iraq, followed by Russia.

Now, the group says, more than 8,700 from the former Soviet Union have traveled to the region, and an estimated 3,417 from Russia alone, primarily from the troubled North Caucasus, where Chechnya is located.

The new report shows how much that has shifted, as IS militants' hold on territory has shrunken amid ongoing campaigns, with Russian and Syria leading one effort, and a U.S.-led coalition, with Syrian Arab and Kurdish fighters leading another.

Earlier this month, U.S.-backed forces said they had taken control of the IS stronghold of Raqqa, in Syria.

The shrinking battlefield has added to growing worries about what foreign fighters will do after, and whether some will return to their home countries to stoke insurgencies or terrorist activities there.

The Soufan Group said at least 5,600 people from 33 countries have returned home after spending time in Islamic State territories. Among Russian nationals, 400 have returned home.

Islamic State has its own affiliate in Russia's Northern Caucasus, and has claimed responsibility for more than a dozen killings of security forces in recent years.

Saudi Arabia has seen the highest number of its fighters -- 760 -- return home, the group said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/soufan -report-iraq-syria-russian- fighters/28813611.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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US to Intensify Refugee Screening, as Partial Ban Expires

By Victoria Macchi October 24, 2017

A four-month review of the U.S. refugee program mandated by President Donald Trump ends Tuesday, but with new vetting measures on the horizon.

The State Department and Department of Homeland Security have yet to announce the details of the new screening measures.

However, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the government will require additional biographical data and a more extensive review of refugees' social media accounts prior to their acceptance.

Reuters reports that the U.S. government will require refugees to provide information on their whereabouts going back a decade, twice as long as before.

Executive orders don't stop refugees

Thousands of refugees have entered the United States since January, despite Trump's two executive orders attempting to halt the program. Lawsuits stymied the initial roll-out of the temporary ban. Later, the U.S. Supreme Court determined arrivals could continue as long as the refugees could demonstrate "bona fide" close family ties to the country.

The high court on Tuesday also dismissed a lawsuit by the state of Hawaii against an earlier version of Trump's travel ban  the same one that limited refugee arrivals. The new refugee vetting procedures, and a separate presidential proclamation in September limiting travelers from eight countries, replace much of what the two earlier travel bans attempted.

Last week, a judge in Hawaii involved halted the administration's latest efforts to block travelers from Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear from the top officials in charge of the refugee programs within the State Department, DHS and the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement on Capitol Hill this Thursday.

In addition to the forthcoming vetting changes, the Trump administration last month announced it would drop the ceiling on refugee arrivals for the 2018 Fiscal Year to 45,000, the lowest limit ever set for the program.

During the last months of then-President Barack Obama's tenure in late 2016 and 2017, the U.S. refugee program  the most robust resettlement program in the world  was on track to receive 110,000 refugees in the 2017 fiscal year, amid increasing demand for safe third-country relocation stemming from the Syrian civil war and Islamic State violence.

Trump insisted, first as a candidate then as president, the refugee vetting system was inadequate, despite academic studies showing few links to refugees and fatal attacks in the United States. The country's refugee program has overseen the arrivals of more than three million displaced people since 1975.

More Christians

Under the new administration, the refugee program has changed in other ways  including a shift back to accepting more Christians than Muslims, the two leading religions for arrivals since the early 2000s, according to a review of State Department data by VOA.

In 2016, a push to welcome more Syrian refugees bolstered the number of Muslims arrivals to the top spot for only the second time since that demographic data was made publicly available in 2002. Of the nearly 85,000 refugees who arrived between Oct. 1, 2015 and Sept. 30, 2016, 46 percent were Muslims, and 44 percent were Christian.

For the fiscal year that ended last month, however, Christians accounted for 47 percent of the approximately 54,000 refugees who entered the United States; whereas Muslim refugee arrivals dropped slightly to 43 percent during the same period, which included the transition of power from Obama to Trump in January.

Trump has prioritized changes to U.S. immigration and deportation systems since taking office. In addition to limiting refugees, his administration has issued three variations of the travel ban affecting specific countries, ended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, and ordered the hiring of 15,000 more immigration and border protection agents.

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Russia criticizes US, regional allies' missile warning drills over Korean Peninsula

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 24, 2017 03:00PM

Russia has criticized the United States for conducting joint military drills with its regional allies, Japan and South Korea, over the Korean Peninsula in a declared aim of preparing to counter any potential threat posed by North Korea's ballistic missiles.

"We decisively condemn North Korea's missile and nuclear tests. At the same time, we oppose excessive military activity of several countries of the region that provoke such tests," said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting on Tuesday, adding that such moves would provoke Pyongyang.

Shoigu's remarks came a few hours after Washington and its two allies in the Far East region, Tokyo and Seoul, kick-started a two-day Missile Warning Exercise, off South Korean and Japanese coasts aimed at tackling North Korea's nuclear and missile alleged "threats."

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Republic of Korea, the drills are being conducted to practice the cross-navy capabilities in detecting and tracking any potential North Korean ballistic missiles.

The provocative exercise is reportedly being led by the American Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Stethem, Japanese Kongo-class guided missile destroyer JDS Kirishima and South Korean Sejong Great-class destroyer, which are all equipped with Aegis Combat System.

On Monday, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and South Korean Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo, in a trilateral meeting in the Philippines, vowed to increase joint air exercises over the Korean Peninsula.

"The three ministers lauded collective efforts to expand information sharing on North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and enhance response capabilities, including the execution of multiple combined flight training missions with US bomber aircraft," the military chiefs said in a joint statement at the time.

The war games, which will not include intercepting and destroying projectiles, began at a time of increased tensions around the North's nuclear and missile test launches.

Washington's military maneuvers with its close allies also come ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to Japan and South Korea scheduled to start on November 5.

Trump has taken a tough stance against Pyongyang, threatening to "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary and calling North Korean leader Kim Jong-un names. Kim has responded with threats, vowing to take the "highest-level" measures against the US.

The North has already denounced such war games around the peninsula, condemning the drills as a "rehearsal for war" against Pyongyang.

The US and North Korea have been at loggerheads over Pyongyang's weapons and nuclear programs. However, tensions on the Korean Peninsula have recently risen sharply following a series of weapons tests by Pyongyang, including its sixth and most powerful nuclear test on September 3 and two missiles launched over Japan. Back in July, the North also claimed that it had fired two intercontinental ballistic missiles.

North Korea is under mounting international pressure over its missile and military nuclear programs and has been subjected to an array of sanctions by the United Nations. However, Pyongyang says it needs to continue and develop the programs as a deterrent against hostility by the US and its regional allies, including South Korea and Japan.

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UN Security Council Expands List of Items Banned From Export to North Korea

Sputnik News

06:32 24.10.2017(updated 08:20 24.10.2017)

The UN Security Council has expanded export prohibitions to North Korea. The UN committee that monitors sanctions against Pyongyang has added 32 goods to the list of banned items that have both civilian and military uses.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)  The "dual-use items, materials, equipment, goods and technology related to weapons of mass destruction" includes 32 new items that range from ring magnets, software for neutronic calculations/modeling to particle accelerators, seismic detection equipment and radiation-hardened television cameras, according to the report published on Monday.

On September 11, in response to missile launches by North Korea, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted its toughest resolution yet against North Korea.

Resolution 2375 restricts oil exports to Pyongyang, bans imports of textile products from the Asian nation as well as the country's access to gas liquids among other restrictions. Resolution 2375 constitutes the strictest sanctions regime placed on any nation in the 21st century.

According to the document posted on the government portal of legal information last Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on measures to implement the UN Security Council resolution stipulating a number of restrictions on North Korea in regard to its missile and nuclear programs.

 Sputnik

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Indian Aerospace Behemoth Strongly Advocates FGFA Project With Russia

Sputnik News

16:47 24.10.2017

A high-level committee set up by the Indian government to examine various aspects of the project has recently submitted a report, and the defense ministry is likely to take a call on it soon.

New Delhi (Sputnik)  India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has termed the Indo-Russia Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft project as the best technology offer India has ever received, and that it is a great opportunity for India as a country and for the defense industry as well.

HAL Chairman T Suvarna Raju said he hoped India's Ministry of Defense would soon sanction the project while claiming that the first aircraft would be ready in three years from the date of approval.

"We are still hopeful. It is an opportunity for the industry as well as for the country. This is an opportunity for us to go in for this kind of technology which has not been offered to us by any other country," Raju said.

The Indo-Russia FGFA project was started in 2007 when both countries signed an intergovernmental pact and completed the preliminary design in 2013. India has spent $240 million to date towards the project, which in India is called the "Perspective Multirole Fighter."

However, delays were caused by New Delhi and Moscow disagreeing over many fundamental aspects of the joint development project, including work and cost share, aircraft technology, as well as the number of aircraft to be ordered.

"Technology-wise, we have done the preliminary design already. It's just one step more to move on to. The fifth generation is an opportunity for India to learn the technologies and I would definitely see this will be the first project, the way the contract has been written, it has lots of benefits and it will definitely have a very positive impact," Raju added.

Earlier this month, Indian Air Chief BS Dhanoa had said that the ball is in the government's court. "The case is with the Ministry of Defense. The Varthaman committee has submitted its report, which is classified and we have also given our response," Dhanoa told reporters ahead of Air Force Day.

The Russian-Indian Sukhoi/HAL FGFA will be based on the Russian PAK FA T-50 prototype jet. Russia has developed six T-50 prototypes and the second stage of the trial is underway following the completion of the first set of flight tests. It is likely to be completed by 2018, paving the way for the serial production of the aircraft for induction into services starting 2019.

 Sputnik

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India Appoints Former Intel Chief as Emissary to Douse Separatism in Kashmir

Sputnik News

13:00 24.10.2017

Facing stiff resistance from the pro-separatist groups in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian government seems to have shifted gears, favoring dialogue rather than confrontation in dealing with terror elements, violence and protests in the state.

New Delhi (Sputnik)  The Indian government has appointed the former head of the Intelligence Bureau, Dineshwar Sharma, as its chief interlocutor for "sustained dialogue" in violence-hit Jammu and Kashmir. Sharma was the intelligence head of the country when militant leader Burhan Wani was killed in July 2016 in an encounter with security forces. It was the encounter that had stoked fresh violence in the state, which has seen no respite till date.

Soon after accepting the responsibility, Sharma stressed that the dialogue will involve all stakeholders in the troubled state. "For a substantive dialogue, I will need to talk to everybody," Sharma said.

"I hope I will be able to live up to the trust the government of India has shown and will be able to fulfill the expectations of the people," he added.

Although it is not clear whether there has been any commitment from the separatists to come to the negotiating table, local reports suggest that the union government has been holding informal parleys with the separatists to convince them.

This change in the policy of the union government comes in accordance with the views expressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech this year.

The Prime Minister had said, "No goli se aur na gali se, baat banegi ab gale lagane se," which when translated in English means: "Neither bullets nor abuses will solve the problem. The only language of understanding is love and acceptance."

Separatism in Kashmir has been simmering since India's independence and simultaneous partition of the Indian mainland into two countries of India and Pakistan. The accession of Kashmir with India is challenged by Pakistan. Several separatist outfits have been operating from Kashmir and with terrorists operating in the region, allegedly supported by Pakistan, the problem is made acute.

Successive governments in the past have tried to find a solution through negotiations but without a lasting result.

 Sputnik

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Iran's missile program isn't open to negotiation: UN envoy

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Tue / 24 October 2017 / 14:49

Tehran (ISNA) - Iranian deputy ambassador to the United Nations Es'haq Al-e Habib says the country's missile program is not open to negotiation and will continue with strength and according to the Islamic Republic's national defense agenda.

Speaking at a UN committee on Monday, Al-e Habib added that Iran's missile program was only meant for defense and deterrence and accuracy of its missiles was proportionate to threats faced by the country.

"Iran's missile program has been designed to meet the country's defensive and security needs and it is impossible to make any comment about it without taking our security environment into consideration," he said.

End Item

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Iran-Azerbaijan Defense Commission held to enhance ties

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 24, 2017 02:37PM

High-ranking Iranian and Azeri military officials have discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two neighboring countries in the defense sector.

The first meeting of Iran-Azerbaijan Joint Defense Commission was held in the Azeri capital of Baku on Tuesday with the participation of a high-ranking delegation from Iran's Defense Ministry.

The session was aimed at exchanging views about avenues for strengthening joint cooperation in the defense and military sectors.

In a meeting between the Iranian delegation and Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Lieutenant General Zakir Hasanov, the two sides emphasized that the first session of the commission and the preparation of a roadmap for military and defensive cooperation would lead to the development of Tehran-Baku ties.

In the meeting with the Azeri defense minister, the Iranian entourage raised issues such as bolstering cordial relations between the Iranian and Azeri people, respecting each other's territorial integrity, promoting good neighborliness among regional countries and Iran making use of all its capacities to preserve regional security and stability.

Iran and Azerbaijan have recently ramped up efforts to boost defensive cooperation. The Azeri defense minister paid a visit to Tehran in April and held key talks with senior Iranian officials.

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Iran Foreign Ministry submits 7th report on JCPOA to parliament

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 24, 2017 11:18AM

Iran's Foreign Ministry has handed over its seventh quarterly report about the multilateral nuclear deal with six world powers to the parliament (Majlis).

The report, which was submitted to the parliament on Monday, covers the implementation process of the accord, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), between July 17 and October 18, 2017.

The report, which has been split into three sections, deals with the obstacles and challenges facing the JCPOA's implementation as well as the latest developments regarding the lifting of anti-Iran sanctions and the country's nuclear activities.

Among other issues, it highlights US President Donald Trump's refusal to certify Iran's compliance with the terms of the accord on October 13, which came despite numerous reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirming Iran's full commitment to its end of the deal, the report said.

The report terms Trump's "decertification" of Iran's compliance as a domestic American issue, adding, however, that it could negatively affect Washington's commitments and the lifting of anti-Tehran sanctions.

Trump, already opposed to the Iran deal, was not able to unilaterally terminate the JCPOA and thus decided to leave decision-making on the deal to Congress, according to the report.

He gave the US Congress 60 days to decide whether to re-impose economic sanctions against Tehran that were lifted under the agreement in exchange for Iran applying certain limits to its nuclear program.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry further said any restoration of anti-Iran sanctions by Congress is a "gross violation" of the JCPOA on the part of the US.

The Iranian parliament and the committee monitoring the JCPOA's implementation would be immediately briefed on any such violation so they could come up with a "proper decision."

Trump's refusal to certify Iran's compliance "disregards the viewpoints of the righteous international body [IAEA], breaches Articles 26, 27 and 28 of the JCPOA and contradicts the principle of good will concerning honoring commitments," the report said.

Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council  the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China  plus Germany signed the JCPOA on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.

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Russian Senate urges US Congress to sustain Iran nuclear deal

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 24, 2017 06:20AM

Lawmakers in the upper house of Russia's parliament are set to call on their colleagues in the US Congress and other Western legislatures to do all in their power to help protect the multilateral Iran nuclear deal, which they say is under threat by US President Donald Trump.

The Russian Federation Council's Foreign Affairs Committee has prepared a draft statement to remind US congress members and Western parliamentarians of the importance of the 2015 nuclear deal, called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and its significant contribution to the global regime of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, RIA Novosti reported.

According to the draft, "the Federation Council addresses the US Congress members with an urgent request to use all available resources and prevent" the collapse of the deal, which it said could lead to an "extremely dangerous situation."

The Russian senators also called on their US and Western counterparts "to use the influence on political leaders of their countries in order to keep in force the historical deal concerning the Iranian nuclear program."

"At present time the implementation of this agreement is under threat of complete failure because of US President's Donald Trump's declared strategy concerning Iran that stipulates Washington's unilateral actions that violate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action up to full cancellation of US participation in it," the draft statement read.

The draft statement will be put to vote at the parliament on Wednesday, according to the report.

The deal was reached between Iran and the P5+1 countries  namely the US, Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany  in July 2015 and took effect in January 2016.

Trump, who rose to the US presidency a year after the implementation of the deal had begun, has been opposed to it.

On October 13, the US president refused to formally certify Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement and warned that he might ultimately terminate the deal.

Trump's "decertification" stands in stark contrast to numerous reports by the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirming Iran's full commitment to its side of the deal. The UN nuclear watchdog is the only official institution tasked with monitoring Iran's implementation of the JCPOA.

While Trump did not pull Washington out of the JCPOA, he gave Congress 60 days to decide whether to re-impose economic sanctions against Tehran that were lifted under the agreement in exchange for Iran applying certain limits to its nuclear program.

Elsewhere in its statement, the Russian Senate warned that the US withdrawal from the pact would very likely prompt Iran to take reciprocal actions and undermine Tehran's trust in the Western powers' ability to honor agreements.

Senior Russian officials have on several occasions denounced Trump's approach to the deal, pledging to defend the document against US threats.

Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently accused the US of not sticking to internationals agreements, saying Washington is pulling out of a deal, which has been welcomed by the whole world.

Additionally, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov sharply criticized Trump's position on the Iran deal last week and said while Tehran has fully honored its obligations, Washington "violated not only the spirit, but also the letter" of the JCPOA.

Except for the US, all other signatories to the JCPOA, including Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany, have announced their support for the deal and censured any move that could harm the deal.

The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini has also defended the deal, reiterating the European Union's commitment to the agreement amid Washington's threats.

Mogherini chaired the P5+1 states during the negotiations in the lead-up to the agreement.

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With Halloween rapidly approaching I see the grocery stores stocked to the ceiling with sweet treats for all the kids who will be trick-or-treating next week. But what about wine drinkers who have a sweet tooth? There are options for them, too.

I don't drink a lot of sweet wine, but many people have a strong preference for it. Moscato d Asti from Italy and Rieslings from Germany have captured the preference of many, especially here in Lincoln.

Furthermore, there is a place for sweet wines with a fun meal that ends with a tasty, sweet dessert.

For this tasting, I tried a raspberry and chocolate Kok from The Parthenon. The restaurant has an impressive dessert case, and this one jumped out at me. It's a dense chocolate cake with a smooth, creamy, rich chocolate frosting infused with raspberry. Yes, it tastes as great as it looks!

I started with Villa Jolanda Moscato and Peach, Piedmont, Italy, NV, $16. It's made from the Moscato grape and then infused with peach flavoring. Pale yellow in the glass, the wine has a nice visible effervescence. It has abundant and distinct aromas of fresh peaches, honey and clover. The wine is sweet and pleasant with distinct peach flavors supported by flavors of pear syrup. 84 points

Next, I tried Naufragar, Piedmont, Italy, 2016, $15. Made from Malvasia, an aromatic grape, its distinctly sweet, but also has some dry characteristics. The wine is dark purple in the glass, pouring to a pretty light purple froth. It has pleasant dark fruit scents of blackberry, plum and violets. The wine offers a pleasant sweetness of ripe berries and yet has an interesting earth note that lingers on the finish. 85 points

The last wine I tried was Villa Wolf, Dornfelder, Pfalz, Germany, 2014, $17. Ruby red in the glass, it offers black fruit, warm earth and spice on the nose. On the palate, this wine is ripe and fresh with flavors of black cherry, plum and cassis. Its soft and easy to drink -- fruity, but not overly sweet. 85 points.

The pairing with the opulent raspberry, chocolate Kok was as expected. The sweet red Naufragar was, without question, the ideal pairing. Its dark berry flavors and silky effervescence brought out even more pleasant sweet flavors from the dessert. The Moscato with peach provided a bit too much sweetness and to some degree clashed with the dessert. The Dornfelder also paired decently, but it wasn't quite sweet enough to be ideal.

As usual I learned from this tasting. By seeking out wines in a category I usually dont drink, I rediscovered their place at the dinner table. I also realized why so many people find these sweet wines appealing.

Its also important to note that while none of the scores are particularly high, that does not diminish their quality or ability to fill a niche. All of them are well made and easily enjoyed.
Rouhani says Trump's attempts to undermine JCPOA have failed

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 24, 2017 02:24AM

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has stressed that all of US President Donald Trump's efforts to undermine the nuclear deal have so far failed.

"Every day (Trump) says this deal is the worst in the US' history. As he put it, it is shameful for America, but still he has not been able to do anything with this agreement," said Rouhani in a televised speech on Monday.

Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council  the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China  plus Germany signed the the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.

Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.

On October 13, Trump refused to formally certify that Iran was complying with the 2015 nuclear deal and warned that he might ultimately terminate the agreement.

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.

Rouhani went on to noted that only a handful of countries, including Israel, have showed support of Trump's move while the rest of the world strongly supports it.

The Iranian president also stressed that his country's arms are meant as a threat deterrent, while noting that no country is permitted to speak out against Iran's military power.

"Iran's weapons are like those of the rest of the countries of the world," he said, adding that the US is not allowed to speak out against Iran's defense capabilities.

Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Es'haq Al-e Habib says the country's missile program is not open to negotiation and will continue with strength and according to the Islamic Republic's national defense agenda.

Trump also recently falsely accused the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) of destabilizing the Middle East and threatening American interests in the region. Following Trump's announcement, the US Treasury added the IRGC to its anti-terrorism sanctions list, claiming in a statement that the elite military force was "providing support to a number of terrorist groups, including Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as to the Taliban."

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U.K. Foreign Minister Sees 'No Doubt' Iran Nuclear Deal Will Survive Despite Trump Move

RFE/RL October 24, 2017

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson says there is "absolutely no doubt" the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers will survive despite the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump not to recertify the deal.

Johnson, in a London speech on foreign affairs on October 23, said after meeting with the "most influential figures" in the U.S. Congress -- "none of them fans of the Iranian regime" -- he was reassured Trump's action would not kill the landmark accord.

"I have absolutely no doubt that with determination and courage the [deal] can be preserved," Johnson said.

Under terms of the landmark accord, Tehran agreed to curtail its nuclear activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions.

Many U.S. and other officials see it as a way to slow Iran's potential path toward creating a nuclear weapon. Tehran says its nuclear program has purely peaceful aims.

Trump on October 13 stopped short of renouncing the accord but he refused to certify Iran's compliance, accusing Tehran of violating the "spirit" of the agreement, in part for its continued testing of ballistic missiles and its support for extremists in the Middle East.

Trump said he would ask lawmakers to strengthen a U.S. law to put additional pressure on Tehran, leaving the Republican-controlled Congress has 60 days to consider any amendments to agreement.

In his October 23 speech, the British foreign minister said the deal had been vital because Iran had been "only months away" from producing a nuclear weapon.

He did not criticize the U.S. president directly, saying Trump had "not junked" the accord and in fact had "continued to waive nuclear-related sanctions against Iran."

Johnson acknowledged Tehran's "disruptive behavior" in the region, but added "that does not mean for one minute that we should write Iran off."

"On the contrary, we should continue to work to demonstrate to the [Iranian] population that they will be better off under this deal."

In reaction to Trump's move, U.S. allies Britain, France, and Germany reinforced their stance in favor of maintaining the hard-won deal, which they said was "in our shared national security interest."

European Union foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini called the nuclear deal a "robust agreement" that is working and cannot be terminated by any one leader.

Russia and China are also signatories to the accord.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, BuzzFeed, and The Independent

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/britain-boris-johnson-iran- nuclear-deal-trump/28812072.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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Hashd al-Sha'abi commander calls for US forces withdrawal from Iraq

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 24, 2017 02:25PM

A top commander of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Sha'abi) has called for the immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq after the elimination of Daesh Takfiri terrorists.

"To the US secretary of state, your military forces must prepare now to get out of our homeland Iraq immediately and without delay once the ISIS elimination excuse is over," Qais al-Khaz'ali, the secretary general of the League of Righteous, an Iraqi armed group fighting Daesh as part of Hashd al-Sha'abi, wrote on his Twitter page.

The statement came after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a Sunday joint press conference with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir in Riyadh that Iran and all other countries currently helping Iraq in its fight against the Daesh terrorist group needed to leave the Arab country now that the battle was drawing to a close.

A day later, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's media office criticized Tillerson's meddlesome comments, saying, "No party has the right to interfere in Iraqi matters."

Hashd al-Sha'abi is an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization composed of some 40 groups, which are mainly Shia Muslims. The force reportedly numbers more than 100,000 fighters. Iraqi authorities say there are between 25,000 and 30,000 Sunni tribal fighters within its ranks in addition to Kurdish Izadi and Christian units.

The fighters have played a major role in the liberation of Daesh-held areas to the south, northeast and north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, ever since the terrorists launched an offensive in the country in June 2014.

Iran has been providing advisory military assistance to the central government in Baghdad and the regional government in the Iraqi Kurdistan, helping them both maintain ground and win back territory lost to the terrorist group in 2014.

On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also slammed Tillerson's remarks, saying they had been uttered under the influence of petrodollars of certain states.

"Exactly what country is it that Iraqis, who rose up to defend their homes against ISIS, return to?" Zarif said in a tweet late on Sunday, using an alternative name for Daesh. "Shameful US FP (foreign policy), dictated by petrodollars," he tweeted.

Daesh launched a terrorist offensive inside Iraq in 2014. It swiftly took over territory in the Arab country and posed a threat to seize Baghdad.

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Iraqi Army Denies Claims of Clashes With Kurdish Peshmerga Near Syrian Border

Sputnik News

14:29 24.10.2017(updated 18:50 24.10.2017)

The tensions between Baghdad and Erbil have escalated after an independence referendum had been held in the Iraqi Kurdistan, as well as in disputed areas.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Iraqi army's press service has refuted claims about clashes with the Kurdish Peshmerga forces near the northwestern town of Rabia near the Syrian border.

"The reports about clashes between Hashd Shaabi units and the Peshmerga forces near the village of Mahmoudiya of the Rabia district do not correspond with reality," the press service said in a statement quoted by the Iraqi NRT broadcaster.

Hemin Hawrami, a senior assistant to Iraqi Kurdistan's President Masoud Barzani stated earlier in the day, "This morning in Mahmudia near Rabiaa, PMF attacked peshemrge [Peshmerga] forces. Peshemrge repelled the attack and pushed PMF back in to Rabiaa."

Later in the day, the Kurdish official accused the Iraqi forces of furher boosting military buildup along the line of contact with Iraqi Kurdistan and vowed that the region would mobilize all its resources for defense in case of an attack. Baghdad hasn't commented on the claims so far.

The statements came just a day after Erbil had demanded an "immediate" withdrawal of Iraqi troops from the Kurdistan region's territory.

Following the independence referendum strongly criticized by Baghdad and many regional countries, the Iraqi government launched a military operation aiming to gain control over disputed territories, including those of Kirkuk, an oil-rich region, which followed the Iraqi Kurdistan's decision to strive for separation.

The operation continued with Iraqi forces advancing toward the Syrian border in and the area of the Mosul Dam, according to information provided by the Kurdish Peshmerga Ministry.

 Sputnik

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US 'considering sanctions' against Myanmar

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 24, 2017 06:36AM

The United States says it is considering sanctions against parties responsible for the atrocities against minority Rohingya Muslims in the Buddhist-majority Myanmar.

"We express our gravest concern with recent events in Myanmar's Rakhine State and the violent, traumatic abuses Rohingya and other communities have endured," the US State Department said on Monday. "It is imperative that any individuals or entities responsible for atrocities, including non-state actors and vigilantes, be held accountable."

"We are exploring accountability mechanisms available under US law, including Global Magnitsky targeted sanctions," it added, referring to a US law that allows penalties against perpetrators of human rights violations.

Rakhine State, where Rohingya Muslims have lived for generations, has been under military siege since late last year. Access is denied to journalists and rights activists, but the Muslims who have managed to flee to Bangladesh have told of horrendous violence being carried out there. Soldiers have been killing and raping the Muslims and have even been shooting at fleeing civilians, including women and children, at random, according to witnesses.

The brutal atrocities have been deemed "ethnic cleansing" by the United Nations and have sent more than one million Rohingya Muslims to neighboring Bangladesh, creating a humanitarian emergency there.

The US State Department said some minor measures have already been taken against Myanmar, including ending travel waivers for current and former members of the Southeast Asian country's military.

"We have rescinded invitations for senior Burmese security forces to attend US-sponsored events; we are working with international partners to urge that Burma enables unhindered access to relevant areas for the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission, international humanitarian organizations, and media," the statement said.

In addition, Washington is "consulting with allies and partners on accountability options at the UN, the UN Human Rights Council, and other appropriate venues," it said.

The US seems to be attempting to divert blame away from Myanmar's government, headed by Aung San Suu Kyi, and pin the blame specifically on the country's military.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday the United States held Myanmar's military leadership responsible for the crackdown on the Rohingya.

But as leader of Myanmar, Suu Kyi has taken almost no meaningful action to end the abuses against the Rohingya. While some reports have said she may not have an influence over the military leaders, she has taken a stance that strikingly resembles theirs.

Washington maintains close ties with her government.

During an urgent meeting on Monday, the UN Council for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief in Geneva described the Rohingya refugee crisis as a "shocking humanitarian emergency."

The International Organization for Migration (IOM)'s Director General William Lacy Swing warned that "the speed, scope and scale of the Rohingya refugee crisis requires a massive humanitarian response from the international community."

The IOM has estimated that since August 25, more than 90 percent of the Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine have fled their ancestral homes amid the government-sanctioned violence.

US may declare 'ethnic cleansing' taking place

Meanwhile, US officials are preparing a recommendation for Tillerson to declare that "ethnic cleansing" is occurring against the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

Tillerson could receive the recommendation as early as this week, said officials familiar with the process.

Earlier, 43 US lawmakers had urged the government to slap US travel bans on Myanmar's military leaders and prepare targeted sanctions against those responsible for the atrocities.

Pope weighs in

Separately, Pope Francis has expressed sorrow over the plight of the Rohingya in Bangladesh.

"Two hundred thousand Rohingya children in refugee camps. They have barely enough to eat, though they have a right to food. Malnourished, without medicine," he said.

The pontiff is scheduled to visit Myanmar at the end of November before moving on to Bangladesh.

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US Revokes Aid to Myanmar Military, Eyeing Sanctions Over Rohingya Crisis

Sputnik News

11:54 24.10.2017

The United States has announced new restrictions concerning engagement with the Myanmar military over the violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Rakhine State. Washington is also weighing economic measures against those involved in the reported atrocities.

"We express our gravest concern over recent events in Rakhine State and the violent, traumatic abuses Rohingya and other communities have endured. It is imperative that any individuals or entities responsible for atrocities, including non-state actors and vigilantes, be held accountable," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement on Monday.

In the statement, she also outlined the measures that Washington is going to take "in pursuit of accountability and an end to violence."

In particular, the US is withdrawing military assistance programs for Myanmar units and officers "involved in operations in northern Rakhine State." The measure will add to Washington's already limited engagement with the Myanmar military and its long-standing embargo on all military sales.

In addition, the State Department said it has ceased its consideration of travel waivers for senior Myanmar military officials and is weighing economic sanctions against individuals "associated with atrocities."

According to Bloomberg, this statement is one of the first signals that the US could re-impose the sanctions on Myanmar that were lifted last year as the country shifted toward democracy after the National League for Democracy party led by Aung San Suu Kyi won the country's first openly contested election for decades in 2015.

"The Government of Burma, including its armed forces, must take immediate action to ensure peace and security; implement commitments to ensure humanitarian access to communities in desperate need; facilitate the safe and voluntary return of those who have fled or been displaced in Rakhine State; and address the root causes of systematic discrimination against the Rohingya," Nauert said.

The Rohingya crisis, which actually originated in a conflict from the 19th century, intensified on August 25, 2017, when Muslim insurgents of Rohingya origin attacked security posts in Myanmar's Rakhine State.

Myanmar's subsequent brutal crackdown led to a spate of clashes and the death of hundreds of Rohingya people. More than half a million Rohingya Muslims have already fled Myanmar, crossing into neighboring Bangladesh.

 Sputnik

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Briefing by Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southeast Asia W. Patrick Murphy on Burma

Special Briefing

W. Patrick Murphy

Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma

Washington, DC

October 24, 2017

MS NAUERT: Thank you, all of you, for coming today. I know a lot of you are interested in the issue of Burma and what is happening with the Rohingya there. We have talked about it a lot from this podium about our level of engagement at the State Department on that issue. We have been proud to have announced $104 million in 2017 that has gone to both internally and externally displaced people. We've talked quite a bit about the good work that the Government of Bangladesh has done in accepting so many of those refugees.

So because of that, because of the focus on this and I know your intense interest, I brought our Deputy Assistant Secretary Patrick Murphy. He was on the Hill earlier today briefing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with assessment of our U.S. policy toward Burma. That included the geopolitical, economic, and humanitarian considerations. He's going to join us for just a short briefing. He has a very tight schedule today. He'll take a couple of your questions, and then I'll handle the rest of the briefing from there.

So with that, I'd like to welcome Deputy Assistant Secretary Murphy. Thank you so much for coming on in today, sir. Go right ahead.

MR MURPHY: Thank you very much, Heather. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Indeed, Burma has preoccupied us quite significantly since August 25th when armed attacks took place on security forces, and the ensuing humanitarian crisis is of epic proportions. Many of the challenges in Burma have preoccupied us for decades, but this current crisis has been quite devastating. I had a very good morning joined by colleagues from our refugee bureau and USAID with the members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as we did a couple of weeks ago with their counterparts on the House side of Congress.

Let me give you a few top lines of our discussion today, where we are with regards to our actions addressing the crisis, and then take your questions. Burma's long struggle defied authoritarian rule to transition to a democratic society. The terrible Rakhine State crisis has exacerbated longstanding suffering of Rohingya and other populations, and threatens this peaceful transition as do other challenges the elected civilian authority inherited just 16 months ago. Our efforts seek to end the violence, support the displaced and their return home, and address the conditions that sparked this colossal population movement. We also want accountability for atrocities.

As we announced here last night, we have identified new and ongoing actions to hold responsible those who have committed violence, including the following measures, and let me share them with you: suspending travel waivers for military leaders; assessing existing authorities to consider options to target individuals responsible for atrocities; finding that all units and officers involved in operations in northern Rakhine State are ineligible for U.S. assistance programs; rescinding invitations for Burmese security leaders to travel to U.S.-sponsored programs; maintaining a longstanding arms embargo; consulting on accountability options at the United Nations, the Human Rights Council, and other venues; and pressing for access for the UN Fact-Finding Mission  a mission that we helped support the establishment of.

There is also a need to address long-term causes of instability in Rakhine State. We support Burma in implementing the recommendations of the Kofi Annan Rakhine Advisory Commission to take on underdevelopment, lack of services, access to justice, and a citizenship process for all people in Rakhine State.

At the same time, Burma's overall success is very important for the peoples of Burma, for the region, indeed, for U.S. national interests. We will continue to work with the democratically-elected civilian leadership, Burma's diverse populations and other stakeholders inside the country, and the region on this crisis and other daunting challenges in the post-military era of that country.

Today, as I said, we testified before the Senate and several weeks ago before the House. There have been many questions there about how best to describe the appalling treatment of the Rohingya. I want to be very clear: We are not shying away from the use of any appropriate terminology. We have a deliberative process to examine facts and a policy to support the pursuit of additional information to make such determinations, thus our support, for example, for the UN Fact-Finding Mission.

In the meantime, as Secretary of State Tillerson said, the violence has been characterized by many as ethnic cleansing. Our Ambassador to the United Nations Haley has said that action  actions appear to be a brutal, sustained campaign to cleanse the country of an ethnic minority.

There is no question in our minds that atrocities have been committed, and we will work with the international community and Burmese stakeholders to pursue all means available to hold accountable those responsible for these acts.

Thank you. With that, I'll take a few questions.

MS NAUERT: Thanks. We'll start with Josh Lederman from AP.

QUESTION: Thank you for being here. You mentioned the considerations about ethnic cleansing terminology. Are you also considering whether the terms "crimes against humanity" or "genocide" are appropriate in this case?

MR MURPHY: I refer in general terms to any terminology to best describe this human tragedy, disaster, and collective set of atrocities. There are a variety of terms. Some of this is legal in assessing the best terminology, so all options are on the table on how best to describe this.

In the meantime, I want to emphasize we're not waiting for any determination on what best to call it to take actions. We see that atrocities have been committed. Accountability is necessary to both end the violence, ensure that responsibility is taken for actions and acts that have been committed, and to forestall future violence in this complicated part of the country.

MS NAUERT: Warren from Reuters.

QUESTION: So if the U.S. Government does decide to use the words "crimes against humanity" or "genocide," does that cause you to have to take certain policy steps? I remember during the debate over Darfur several years ago, there was a debate about whether to use the term "genocide." The U.S. Government eventually did, but I don't think it kind of precipitated necessary policy action.

MR MURPHY: I'm actually not the expert on it. I think there are some legal issues involved with what obligations there might be with any particular determination. What I can say as a matter of policy, we've assessed that atrocities have been committed and we must pursue accountability. And to do so we're working with members of the international community, but equally as important stakeholders inside the country. And I want to emphasize here that there are many stakeholders when it comes to perpetuating violence and taking responsibility to end it. There's the government, the armed forces, local authorities in Rakhine State, and the general population across Burma; all of them have some responsibilities to contribute to ending the violence, helping reveal all of the facts necessary for accountability going forward.

MS NAUERT: Nike, go ahead.

QUESTION: Thank you.

MS NAUERT: And this has to be our last question. Thanks.

QUESTION: Sure. Just to follow up on Warren's question, does the determination of ethnic cleansing give you authorization for new sanctions? And separately, do you know when is the last time Secretary Tillerson called Aung San Suu Kyi? Did they ever talk after October 12th?

MR MURPHY: Listen, I've  over the course of my career, sadly  have encountered many humanitarian crises of a very serious nature around the world, and I understand the frustrations and the emotions in trying to describe them with the strongest terms possible. What I have offered for you, what we've seen inside Rakhine State, is a collection of serious atrocities. There's no question about that. There has been violence. There have been many individuals and entities contributing to that violence. We don't have all the facts. Security forces have responsibility and they have responded to the initial attacks in August in a disproportionate manner. They also have a responsibility to protect civilians, and we assess they have had some shortcomings.

There are other contributors to violence, including Rohingya militants, local vigilantes, and the like. Our effort now is to stop the violence and to pursue accountability, so the terminology is really not a factor for us. We know that violence has been committed and acts associated with atrocities have been undertaken, and we are pursuing and encouraging voices in the international community and inside Burma to provide the information necessary to come about with the measures leading to accountability. We view that, I think, as our most important priority.

MS NAUERT: Thank you.

QUESTION: Can I have just a follow-up on --

MS NAUERT: We've got to go.

QUESTION: On one thing? Just a really quick follow-up on --

MS NAUERT: Any questions I  Said, any questions, I can collect them and get them for you later. Okay?

MR MURPHY: Thank you very much.

MS NAUERT: And I neglected to say you're East Asia and Pacific Affairs, so.

MR MURPHY: Great. Thank you very much, Heather. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

MS NAUERT: Thank you, sir. Thank you. Great to see you, and thank you, everybody.

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UN migration agency delivers hygiene kits to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

24 October 2017  Soap, toothbrushes, water containers and liquid antiseptic are among the items the United Nations migration agency is distributing to the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees that have settled in sprawling camps that cover the Cox's Bazar district of southern Bangladesh.

"These kits ensure that Rohingya families  particularly women and children  can at least meet their personal care and hygiene needs as they face the harsh reality of life in the makeshift settlements," Sarat Dash, International Organization for Migration's (IOM) Bangladesh Chief of Mission said on Tuesday.

The kits, which also include hygienic cloths, menstrual hygiene products, undergarments, and other small personal items, are funded by the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

To date, IOM has distributed 6,626 hygiene kits to the most vulnerable families, reaching an estimated 33,130 people among those that have arrived in Bangladesh after fleeing violence in Myanmar's Northern Rakhine state.

The kits are part of a $5 million CERF contribution to fund IOM shelter, health, water, sanitation and hygiene operations in Cox's Bazar.

"CERF funding has been critical to saving lives in this humanitarian crisis. It has allowed us to scale up and respond to the escalating needs of Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar in a very short timeframe," Mr. Dash stressed.

An estimated 603,000 refugees have arrived in the Cox's Bazar district of southern Bangladesh since August  joining some 200,000 others already sheltering in the settlements. Most of the new arrivals come with nothing but the clothes on their back, often having walked for days without food or water. Many have experienced devastating physical and emotional trauma.

Committing to help

On Monday, IOM, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) organized a pledging conference in Geneva co-hosted by the European Union and the Government of Kuwait. There, 35 international donors pledged $345 million to ramp up, over the next six months, critical humanitarian assistance for the refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.

The pledges, which include money already committed, cover nearly 80 per cent of the $434 million appealed for in the UN Joint Response Plan  aimed to meet the basic needs of 1.2 million newly arrived and existing refugees and their Bangladeshi hosts in Cox's Bazar through February 2018.

"Without these vital funds, humanitarian agencies will not be able to continue to provide protection and life-saving aid to one of the most vulnerable groups in the world," said IOM Director General William Lacy Swing, after the pledging conference.

"We welcome these pledges, but I hope that the end of this conference does not mean the end of new funding commitments. We have not reached our target and each percentage point we are under means thousands are left without food, healthcare and shelter," he added.

IOM is appealing for $120 million to meet the needs of the most vulnerable Rohingya and the Bangladeshi communities hosting them over the next six months.

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US Not Yet Classifying Violence Against Myanmar Rohingya as 'Ethnic Cleansing'

By VOA News October 24, 2017

U.S. officials have declined to refer to violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar as ethnic cleansing before they complete a review into the issue.

Though multiple senators called the violence ethnic cleansing during a hearing on the conflict Tuesday, representatives from the State Department and USAID said their agencies could not yet make that declaration.

"This is ethnic cleansing," ranking member Senator Ben Cardin said, echoing statements by his Senate colleagues and also by the United Nations, who qualified the conflict as ethnic cleansing last month.

"Ethnic cleansing is defined by the United Nations Commission of experts as rendering an area ethnically homogeneous by using force or intimidation to remove persons of given groups from area," he said at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.

Cardin, as well as representatives of the State Department, noted the Trump administration is currently evaluating whether the United States will officially call the violence in Myanmar ethnic cleansing. The Associated Press is reporting that determination could come this week.

The State Department has separately called on the Myanmar government to address the matter, while promising U.S. support for the country's transition to democracy.

"The Government of Burma [Myanmar], including its armed forces, must take immediate action to ensure peace and security; implement commitments to ensure humanitarian access to communities in desperate need; facilitate the safe and voluntary return of those who have fled or been displaced in Rakhine State; and address the root causes of systematic discrimination against the Rohingya by implementing the Rakhine Advisory Commission's recommendations, which includes providing a credible path to citizenship. We are ready to support these efforts," a statement released by State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said.

The United Nations said last week that 589,000 Rohingya refugees have fled Myanmar to Bangladesh since August 25, fleeing violence amid reports of entire villages being burned. Access to the troubled northern Rakhine state has been severely limited to both aid agencies and journalists.

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US Lawmakers: Ethnic Cleansing Taking Place in Myanmar

By Nike Ching, Michael Bowman October 24, 2017

U.S. lawmakers are pressing the Trump administration to declare that ethnic cleansing is taking place against the Rohingya Muslim population in Myanmar  a majority-Buddhist nation also known as Burma, which has seen improved ties with Washington in recent years.

Meanwhile, the State Department is assessing further punitive options, including economic sanctions, against individuals and entities associated with violence and atrocities against Rohingya Muslims.

"What we've seen inside Rakhine state is a collection of serious atrocities," Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Southeast Asia Patrick Murphy told VOA on Tuesday in a briefing, being careful about the wording.

"All options are on the table on how best to describe this," he added, referring to a question about whether Washington will consider defining the violence against the Rohingya as "genocide" or "ethnic cleansing."

Murphy, along with U.S. Ambassador Scot Marciel, traveled recently to parts of the northern Rakhine state and saw firsthand the situation there.

While the State Department has identified and announced new and ongoing actions to punish those who have committed atrocities, senior officials declined to refer to violence against the Rohingya Muslims as "ethnic cleansing" on Tuesday, before a complete review is announced.

"I'm not in a position ... to characterize it today, but to me this very closely resembles some of the worst kind of atrocities that I've seen during a long career," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration Affairs Mark Storella at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, when pressed by lawmakers about whether he viewed the plight of the Rohingya as ethnic cleansing.

"This is ethnic cleansing, it's pretty clear," said Senator Ben Cardin, a Maryland Democrat. "Yes, I think it's genocide."

The United Nations said last week that 589,000 Rohingya refugees have fled Myanmar to Bangladesh since Aug. 25, the day the latest round of violence broke. Subsequent clashes and a military counteroffensive have triggered the exodus of Rohingya villagers to Bangladesh.

Reputable international nongovernmental organizations have reported new satellite images reveal nearly 300 villages were partially or completely destroyed by fire since Aug. 25  more than half of the approximately 470 Muslim villages in northern Rakhine state.

"Genocide is a legal term, it's defined by the treaty  the Genocide Convention. Ethnic cleansing is not a legal term. It is a phrase we use to describe certain kind of atrocities," former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Affairs Tom Malinowski told VOA.

"Therefore, those determinations [ethnic cleansing] are not quite as serious," said Malinowski.

However, a determination of "ethnic cleansing" by Washington would carry a very strong political implication, as the U.S. continues its support of Burma's civilian government, which is under the leadership of Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Aung San Suu Kyi and her government allies have little control over Burma's still powerful military.

"The United States has developed good relations since the transition to democracy in Burma, but using the phrase doesn't carry any particular obligation," Malinowski told VOA.

Participating countries of the "Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide" are advised to prevent and punish actions of genocide in war and in peacetime.

State Department officials said individuals associated with Rohingya violence include Burmese security forces, Rohingya militants, local vigilantes, and the like.

The State Department has cut off travel waivers allowing current and former senior military leaders into the United States. All military units and officers involved in operations in northern Rakhine state are ineligible to receive American assistance.

The current crisis, now under way for two months, has exacerbated longstanding challenges for the Rohingya minorities, who lack basic rights, including recognition as a nationality and citizenship.

The United States has provided $104 million in humanitarian aid for displaced populations in both Myanmar and neighboring Bangladesh since this fiscal year.

The State Department separately has called on the Myanmar government to address the matter, while promising U.S. support for the country's transition to democracy.

"The Government of Burma, including its armed forces, must take immediate action to ensure peace and security; implement commitments to ensure humanitarian access to communities in desperate need; facilitate the safe and voluntary return of those who have fled or been displaced in Rakhine State; and address the root causes of systematic discrimination against the Rohingya by implementing the Rakhine Advisory Commission's recommendations, which includes providing a credible path to citizenship. We are ready to support these efforts," according to a statement released by State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert.

Esha Sarai contributed to this report.

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A Lancaster County jury deadlocked Thursday, leading to a mistrial in a case over a drive-by shooting in central Lincoln last February.

Shantrell Hickey, 22, pleaded not guilty to discharge of a firearm near a vehicle or building and use of a firearm to commit a felony.

In closing arguments Monday morning, Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Jeff Mathers said Hickey was the one who fired at least seven shots at a Jeep pulling away from the Super C at 21st and G streets just before 8 p.m. Feb. 21.

"The shooter was Shantrell Hickey. How do we know? Well, the video helps," he said, the surveillance video showing a gun hanging out the Jeep window as it started to pull away, two men ducking behind a Mercury Grand Marquis, then one coming up firing the shots.

Not only did it look like Hickey, Mathers said, but also two officers swore on the stand that in their opinion it was him, and the backseat passenger, when pressed, said so, too.

This was not self-defense, he argued. The men in the Mercury saw the Jeep and pulled into the lot.

Hickey's public defender, Nathan Sohriakoff, said before they even watched the video police rushed to judgment that it was Hickey.

But the man in the Jeep, Tayron Jennings, was called by the defense and testified that it wasn't.

"If that isn't reasonable doubt I don't know what is," Sohriakoff said.

He conceded that Hickey generally matched the shooter's description but asked the jury to look for his tattoos on the video. They aren't there.

"I don't know who the shooter was," Sohriakoff said. "But the shooter was acting in self-defense. That's clear to me."

He said a flash on the video coming from the Jeep looked like a muzzle flash from a gun being fired.

Mathers said the state convicted Jennings for it (he got 330 days in jail and probation), so he likely didn't want to help it prosecute Hickey.

He said there's no way it was self-defense. After firing the shots the man didn't call police to report that someone in the Jeep shot at him. He ran away, Mathers said.

The jury got the case around 10:30 a.m. Monday. Jurors worked through lunch and took a 20-minute break for dinner before being sequestered at a hotel overnight.

Tuesday morning, jurors returned but told Lancaster County District Judge Robert Otte they were deadlocked, and he declared a mistrial.

The state can retry Hickey.
Syria calls on UNSC to immediately stop US-led coalition crimes

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 24, 2017 06:56PM

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has called on the UN Security Council to take immediate measures to put an end to the atrocities of the US-led coalition against the people in the country.

In two letters to the UN Secretary General and Chairman of the Security Council, the Ministry condemned the Monday airstrike by the US-led coalition on al-Qussour neighborhood in Dayr al-Zawr city, which claimed the lives of 14 civilians and injured over 40 others.

The attack reveals the "suspicious" and "subversive" role of the US-led coalition in Syria, as the bloc was aware of the presence of the large number of civilians in the district after the Syrian army evacuated Daesh Takfiri terrorists from the area, the letters pointed out.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry slammed the "frantic" efforts by the US-led coalition to hinder the advance of the Syrian Arab Army and its allies following their victories against Daesh terrorists, particularly in Dayr al-Zawr.

The US-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes against what are said to be Daesh targets inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate.

The military alliance has repeatedly been accused of killing and injuring civilians and destroying the civilian infrastructure. It has also been largely incapable of achieving its declared goal of destroying Daesh.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry described the US-led coalition's newly-announced plans to reconstruct the city of Raqqah, as an attempt to cover up its "heinous" crimes in the city.

The coalition "will not succeed in consolidating the de facto situation it seeks to achieve in cooperation with its agents, in a gross violation of the Syrian Arab Republic's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity," the letters pointed out.

The letter noted that the countries which hail the US-led operations in Raqqah but turn a blind eye to the deaths of thousands of civilians and the full destruction of the city are "complicit" in shedding the blood of the Syrians and ruining their cities and infrastructure.

Earlier this month, the so-called Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed coalition of mainly Kurdish militants, captured the city of Raqqah from the Daesh terror group following a military operation, which was launched in July without the central government's approval.

On Sunday, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the US has wiped Raqqah "off the face of the earth" with carpet bombing in the same way the United States and Britain bombed Germany's Dresden in 1945.

The Russian Defense Ministry also accused the West of having rushed to provide aid to Raqqah to cover up its own crimes.

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Daesh controls less than 5% of Syrian territory: Russia

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 24, 2017 10:04AM

Moscow says less than five percent of the Syrian territory remains under the grip of Daesh terrorists as government forces, backed by Russian air power, press ahead with an offensive to drive the Takfiri outfit out of its main stronghold in eastern Syria.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a conference in the Philippines on Monday that terrorists used to control more than 70 percent of Syria before the Russian military launched an aerial campaign in support of Syrian counterterrorism operations in September 2015.

Russian warplanes have destroyed more than 900 training camps and a multitude of heavy weaponry that belonged to the terrorists.

In recent weeks, the Syrian army, under Russian air cover, has focused its efforts on the eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr.

Backed by the Russian military and allied forces, the Syrian army has managed to break Daesh's three-year siege on Dayr al-Zawr province, though the total elimination of the group is yet to come.

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.

US-led coalition denies fatal raid

The US-led coalition, purportedly fighting Daesh terrorists in Syria, has denied that it was behind an airstrike which killed over a dozen civilians in a government-held region in Dayr al-Zawr, a spokesman for the coalition said on Tuesday.

The spokesman said the coalition's only air raid in the vicinity in recent weeks took place in September across the Euphrates from Dayr al-Zawr City.

Syrian state television reported on Monday that the strike had been launched by coalition jets against the government-held region of Qusur, leaving 14 civilians dead and 32 more injured.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a pro-opposition monitoring group, put the death toll at around 22, without confirming the origin of the strikes.

The US-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes against what are said to be Daesh targets inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate.

The military alliance has repeatedly been accused of targeting and killing civilians.

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Under SDF rule, Raqqah can't be called liberated: Syria

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 24, 2017 08:41AM

A Syrian minister says no land is considered liberated in the country unless national army forces regain control of it and raise the Syrian flag atop its buildings.

"We do not consider any city liberated until the Syrian Arab army enters it and lifts the Syrian flag over it. This applies to any point of the Syrian map," Information Minister Mohammad Ramez Tardjaman told Russia's Sputnik news agency in an interview published on Monday.

Earlier this month, the so-called Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed coalition of mainly Kurdish militants, captured the city of Raqqah from the Daesh terror group following a military operation, which was launched in July without the central government's approval.

US President Donald Trump, whose country has been leading a bombing campaign in Syria since 2014, claimed that the city's "liberation" was a result of the purported changes that he had brought to the US military's strategy.

Tardjaman described the withdrawal of Daesh from its former Syrian base as a "positive event," but emphasized that the city was not yet liberated.

"Regardless of whether Daesh is there or some other faction or organization," the Syrian army needs to enter and retake control of Raqqah in order for the city to be called free.

He also denounced any unauthorized "local compromises, truces, and establishment of de-escalation areas" by forces controlling Raqqah.

"The Syrian administration will never bow down to compromises that violate Syria's national unity and sovereignty," he asserted.

Some, he said, wrongfully assumed that such arrangements, which do not have Damascus' approval, could lead to "federalism, confederalism, or autonomy."

He also lambasted "factitious demarcations, such as 'east Euphrates and west Euphrates,' which the US and its allies have been promoting."

The Syrian government does not accord any importance to these terms and delineations, and will never recognize them, the minister stated.

He was apparently reacting to an October 20 statement by the SDF, in which it announced the "liberation" of Raqqah and said the city will be part of a system of "federal government" in the country's north.

The Syrian military has not so far engaged the SDF, which has reportedly shelled the positions of government troops on several occasions in recent weeks.

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Russia Vetoes UN Resolution To Extend Syrian Chemical-Weapons Probe

October 24, 2017

Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have extended for one year the work of international inspectors investigating chemical-weapons attacks in Syria.

The October 24 veto came immediately after Moscow failed to secure a one-month postponement of the vote in order to allow the body to consider a report from the inspectors that is due on October 26.

Russian UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said the United States -- which drafted the resolution -- called the vote "to show up and dishonor Russia."

The October 26 report will cover an April 4 chemical-weapons attack using sarin gas in the village of Khan Sheikhun, which was controlled by the Syrian opposition at the time.

The United States, France, and Britain have accused forces loyal to Assad of carrying out the attack, which left more than 80 people dead.

Russia, which is a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has criticized the inspectors, or Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), in the past.

On October 13, Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov accused the JIM of failing to carry out a "qualitative investigation" of the incident.

The JIM has previously determined that Syrian government forces were responsible for three chlorine-gas attacks in 2014 and 2015 and that Islamic State (IS) militants had used mustard gas.

The Syrian government has denied ever using chemical weapons.

After the Russian veto, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley issued a statement accusing Moscow of "once again" siding with dictators and terrorists.

"Russia has once again demonstrated it will do whatever it takes to ensure the barbaric Assad regime never faces consequences for its continued use of chemicals as weapons," Haley's statement said.

"We are disappointed, we are very disappointed that Russia put what it considered to be political considerations over the Syrian people who were so brutally murdered," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told a regular briefing on October 24.

In addition to Russia, Bolivia voted against the resolution, while China and Kazakhstan abstained. The other 11 Security Council members voted in favor.

It was the ninth time Russia has used it UN veto power to support Assad.

The JIM was authorized by the Security Council in 2015 and had its mandate renewed for another year in 2016.

Its current mandate expires on November 17.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, dpa, and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-vetoes-un-chemical- weapons-resolution/28813467.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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Damascus Urges UNSC to Put End to Coalition's Alleged 'Crimes' Against Civilians

Sputnik News

22:04 24.10.2017(updated 01:36 25.10.2017)

The US-led coalition, whose operation in Syria had not been authorized by the UN or Damascus, has denied that its airstrike resulted in civilian casualties in Deir ez-Zor.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Syrian Foreign Ministry has urged the UN Security Council to put an end to the crimes against civilians committed by the US-led coalition.

"We once again ask the Security Council to take responsibility for preserving international peace and security and take immediate action to stop the brutal crimes committed by the illegitimate international coalition against the Syrian people," the Damascus statement read, as quoted by the Syrian state news agency SANA.

In two letters addressed to the UN secretary general and the chairman of the Security Council, the ministry mentioned Monday's deadly airstrikes conducted by an unidentified aircraft in the neighborhood of Deir ez-Zor, which Damascus has blamed the US-led coalition for.

According to Damascus, the coalition's plans to reconstruct the destroyed city of Raqqa would not help to cover up its "heinous" crimes in the city.

On Monday, several media outlets reported citing the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights of deadly airstrikes conducted by an unidentified aircraft on the Syrian government-held neighborhood of Deir ez-Zor, killing at least 14 civilians and leaving 30 others injured. Army Col. Ryan Dillon, the spokesman for US-led anti-Daesh coalition's Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), has denied that the coalition carried out an airstrike in the area.

Nevertheless, the Syrian Arab Crescent has reported that one of its volunteers had been killed and another one injured in Syria's eastern city of Deir ez-Zor.

"Syrian Arab Red Crescent mourns the loss of red crescent volunteer, Mohamed Zakaria Al-Ahmad, who sacrificed his life in the line of duty in Deir Ezzour on Monday, 23/10/2017 due to the current circumstances in the city. at the same time, another volunteer, Rashed Al-Dandal, is wounded there."

The organization has urged all parties to the conflict in Syria to respect and protect humanitarian aid workers, and to facilitate their mission.

The alliance, which includes over 70 members, has been conducting military actions in Syria without Damascus' consent or a UN mandate. Damascus has recently rebuked the US-led coalition's activities in the country, describing it as an "aggression" and a violation of Syria's sovereignty and UN resolutions.

 Sputnik

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Russia Vetoes UNSC Resolution on Probing Syria Chemical Attacks

Sputnik News

18:02 24.10.2017(updated 21:28 24.10.2017)

Moscow has repeatedly called for a thorough investigation into chemical attacks in Syria, in particular, the April Khan Sheikhoun incident that killed at least 80 people. The US and its allies accused Damascus of the chemical attack, while the Syrian government insisted that it has no such weapons since 2014.

Russia has vetoed the US-draft resolution to extend the mandate of the United Nations-Organization for the Protection of Chemical Weapons (UN-OPCW) Joint Investigative Mechanism that was tasked to probe cases of possible chemical weapons use in Syria.

"The result of the voting is as follows: eleven votes in favor, two votes against, two abstentions. The draft resolution has not been not adopted owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the [UN Security] Council," UN Security Council President and French Ambassador Francois Delattre said after the vote.

The Russian envoy to the UN, Vasily Nebenzia has explained Moscow's decision to veto the resolution.

"We didn't shut down the JIM [Joint Investigative Mechanism], we just didn't make a decision to extend its mandate today, but we will come back to this issue," Nebenzia has stated.

Speaking to reporters after the UN Security Council meeting, Nebenzia said the meeting was "a show" and the fate of the JIM should be decided in due course and in due time and suggested discussing the report in a non-politicized atmosphere.

"Russia has always been in favor of carrying out the work of the Joint Mechanism systematically and in planned order. The issue of a new JIM report is expected in the near future. We will study it most thoroughly, and after that propose further steps," the Russian Foreign Ministry has stated.

The vote came a day after the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that it was necessary to study the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism report which was expected to be delievered on October 26. However, the US insisted that the mandate should be extended immediately as it would expire on November 16.

According to Moscow, Russia's position on the extension of the mandate would depend on the quality of the investigation and its compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Khan Sheikhoun Chemical Attack

The OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism was tasked to probe chemical attacks in Syria, with the Khan Sheikhoun incident that took place in Syria's Idlib province on April 4, 2017, leaving 80 people dead and injuring 200 more, being one of the instances of the use of banned weapons in the war-torn state. The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, supported by the United States, immediately blamed the Syrian government for using the chemical weapons against civilian population.

Damascus has refuted the allegations, pointing out that it does not possess any chemical weapons and that the full destruction of its arsenal was confirmed by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

Commenting on the accusations against Damascus, Russia has multiple times reiterated its position that all chemical weapons were taken out of Syria in mid-2014 with Washington's assistance and called for a thorough probe into the Khan Sheikhoun events.

In an April interview with Sputnik, Syrian President Bashar Assad said that there was no chemical weapon attack in Idlib, adding that the reports of it were a false flag and fabrication which was supposed to justify a US missile strike on the Syrian airbase.

Despite Washington blaming the Syrian government for the Idlib chemical incident even before the probe into it was launched, most recently, the US has admitted that terrorists in the country are in possession of such weapons.

 Sputnik

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Security Council fails to extend mandate of panel investigating use of chemical weapons in Syria

24 October 2017  The Security Council on Tuesday failed to adopt a resolution extending the mandate of a joint United Nations-Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapon (OPCW) body to identify the perpetrators of chemical-weapons attacks in Syria due to a 'no' vote by permanent member Russia.

Eleven of the Council's 15 members voted in favour, while Russia and non-permanent member Bolivia voted against the text. Permanent member China, and non-permanent Kazakhstan abstained.

A negative vote  or veto  from one of the Council's five permanent members means a resolution cannot be adopted.

Had the United States-proposed text been adopted, it would have extended the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism's mandate  established unanimously by the Council in 2015 and set to expire on 17 November  for a further one year.

In an earlier procedural action, the Security Council defeated Russia's proposal to adjourn the meeting by four votes in favour of the adjournment to eight opposed, with three abstentions.

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Russia Vetoes UN Resolution to Extend Syria Gas Attacks Probe

By Margaret Besheer October 24, 2017

Russia used its U.N. veto Tuesday to block a resolution extending the mandate of the investigators probing chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

In a Security Council vote, 11 countries supported extending the mission for another year, while Russia and Bolivia voted against the measure, and China and Kazakhstan abstained.

The investigating team, known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism or JIM, is expected to make public a report on Thursday that could identify the party responsible for a deadly April 4 attack in the rebel-controlled town of Khan Sheikhoun in southern Idlib that killed and sickened scores of civilians.

Three days later, the United States launched an airstrike on a Syrian air base which Washington accused the regime of Bashar al-Assad of having used to launch the poison gas attack.

Accountability

While the question of whether sarin or a sarin-like substance is not disputed, who used it still has to be officially confirmed, and it is anticipated the JIM's report could shed light on the matter.

It would be politically embarrassing for Russia, a staunch ally of President Assad, if evidence shows that the regime  and not, for example, Islamic State militants  are responsible for the attack. In Syria, the government is the only party to the conflict that possesses air capabilities. Russia has previously suggested that the gas was released from a bomb on the ground and not in the air.

Russia's U.N. envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, first sought to postpone Tuesday's vote through a procedural measure until after the release of the JIM's report, saying the hastily-called vote was an effort by Washington to embarrass Moscow.

"You need to show up Russia and show that Russia is guilty of not extending the JIM, in fact you are the one who is begging for confrontation," Nebenzia said of the U.S. delegation, which drafted the text and pushed for the vote.

While the procedural vote had the support of China, Kazakhstan and Bolivia, it fell short of the required eight-vote majority and failed to prevent the other vote going ahead, forcing Russia to use its veto.

Eighth veto on Syria

"I want to underscore that today's voting is senseless also, because it won't have any impact on the future of the JIM," Nebenzia said after casting his veto  the eighth time Russia has done so on Syria. "We will return to the issue of extension in the future  we have not stopped it."

The mission's mandate does not expire until November 16, so the council has three weeks to approve an extension without disrupting the team's work, as happened last year when consensus could not be reached on the JIM's extension.

"The question we must ask ourselves is, whether the JIM is being attacked because it has failed in its job to determine the truth in Syria, or because its conclusions have been politically inconvenient for some council members," said U.S. envoy Michele Sison.

"Russia called for the formation of the JIM, they negotiated its terms, they agreed its mission, and yet when faced with the prospect of the JIM revealing the truth, why has Russia alone chosen to shoot the messenger?" asked British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft.

Some diplomats said the move for the vote now was intended to avoid politicizing whatever conclusions the report draws and avoiding having them affect votes for the extension.

All council members expressed the hope that they could return to the issue and reach consensus on extending the JIM's mandate before it expires next month.

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Pentagon Shoots Down Reports of 24-Hour Nuke Alert

Sputnik News

22:00 24.10.2017

A Defense Department official on Monday denied reports that preparations are underway to put B-52 nuclear bombers on 24-hour alert.

"There's not any discussion or plans to bring bombers on a 24-hour nuclear alert right now," Brig. Gen. Ed Thomas said during a Monday Pentagon briefing, Military.com reports.

On Sunday, US Air Force Chief of Staff David Goldfein told Defense One that preparations were underway to put the B-52 Stratofortresses on constant standby. "This is yet one more step in ensuring that we're prepared," the official said. "I look at it more as not planning for any specific event, but more for the reality of the global situation we find ourselves in and how we ensure we're prepared going forward," he also noted.

If the order had been given, which it so far has not, it would have been the first implementation of the "strip alert" policy since the end of the Cold War.

Regarding facility upgrades at US air bases that might be used to put the bombers back on alert, particularly runway renovations at the Barksdale, Louisiana, Air Force base where the bombers would sit 24 hours a day if the order actually was given, Thomas said "we're routinely upgrading our facilities. Whether it's Barksdale or Offutt [Air Force Base, Nebraska] or other locations."

"[Civil engineers] are always able to take the limited tax dollars we have and be able to keep [facilities] in a high state of readiness," the Defense Department official added.

"Could we do the mission? We could stand that up very quickly," Thomas said, but the decision would have to come from US Strategic Command, he noted.

 Sputnik

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Bob Whitehouse, chairman of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, said Wednesday he would not seek a third term on the university's governing board next year.

"A self-imposed limit of two terms (12 years) is the right time to allow someone else the opportunity to bring new ideas and a fresh vision to the university," Whitehouse said in a statement.

Whitehouse, a former principal at Omaha Bryan High School, was first elected to the District 4 seat in 2006, representing a swath of Douglas and Sarpy counties including downtown and south Omaha.

In addition to his current chairmanship, Whitehouse led the board in 2011.

Whitehouse said NU has experienced "remarkable momentum" marked by thousands of graduates, enrollment records, upgraded facilities and research growth.

"We have benefited from collaborations with the state legislative body, alumni and friends, leaders in business and agriculture, and all Nebraskans, and our state is stronger as a result," Whitehouse said.
Nancy Hicks Reporter Nancy Hicks reports on Lincoln city government, but shes been following the leaders of local and state government for more than 40 years. Follow Nancy Hicks 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

The city usually spends more money to get rid of a problem house in a neighborhood than it can get when it sells the property.

And City Council members usually comment on these lopsided transactions when the money-losing sales come to them for a final decision.

Take the lot at 3268 Randolph St., once a neighborhood eyesore, that will be the site of a new home, thanks to city efforts.

The city demolished the stucco house at that address in October 2013 and is now selling the vacant lot to Kelly Custom Homes, which operates under the name Nebraska Cottage Co. and plans to build a cottage there.

But the transformation will cost taxpayers.

The city will sell the lot for about $18,000, an agreement approved by the City Council at its Monday meeting.

The city paid nothing for the house. But it did cost about $12,676 to take care of back taxes, liens and to get a clear title. It cost the city another $15,000 to demolish it.

This is one of the areas where the city doesn't make money, Councilman Carl Eskridge said during a public hearing on the sale.

But the citys intervention makes a neighborhood nicer, increases property values and decreases stress, he said.

Neighborhoods just want the building to be gone, said David Landis, Urban Development Department director. So demolishing the building is already a significant improvement.

The new house will likely have a property value of around $140,000, adding to city property tax revenue, Landis pointed out.

Radioactive needles found

The city health department responded to a hazmat call last spring when duffel bags containing several containers of syringes  labeled Technetium 99, which is used for medical radiotherapy  were found in a van sold at the auto auction.

The local health department staff did not know how the duffel bags got into the van or who originally owned them.

But they determined fairly quickly the syringes were originally produced in 2012 and had gone through more than 7,200 half-lives.

After 12 half-lives the syringes can be disposed of as biohazard waste, a pretty standard procedure for pharmacies and medical offices, according to Scott Holmes, environmental public health division manager.

This was not a radiological hazard and was pretty much a minor hazmat call. But it was included in a hazmat report to show the diversity of calls the department gets.

Follow the street sweepers

You can now track the city's street sweepers using an online map at the citys website, Lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: street sweeping).

The data is the result of automatic vehicle-location technology recently installed on the citys four sweepers.

Downtown streets are swept weekly. The sweepers hit residential streets around three times a year.

My street in east Lincoln was last swept on Sept. 6 at 8:52 a.m., according to the map.

This is not the most sought-after city information. However, the same technology will soon be used for city snowplows.

The residential street sweeping map shows the areas that have been swept in the last five, 30 and 120 days.
Announced in September, the new iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X are the first smartphones by Apple that support wireless charging. Now the Cupertino company acquired a New Zealand company named PowerbyProxi that specializes in designing wireless power products for consumers and industry.

Apple is quite late to the party of wireless charging. Android competitors have used the technology for several years now. The acquisition is expected to bring more wireless products with the Apple logo, including a large pad that can support up to 150 watts through non-metallic material.

According to Jake Saunders of ABI Research, consumers will get attracted to multi-device chargers, instead of the conventional single-device pads. This means an Apple Watch, iPhone and AirPod charging case batteries could be topped up at the same time.

Interestingly, PowerbyProxi was founded in 2007 after Samsung Ventures invested $4 million in the company back in 2013. Now it will continue its growth in Auckland and contribute to the great innovation in wireless charging, according to a statement from the company founder and CEO Fady Mishriki.

Via
Google is officially making Gmail add-ons available for everyone today, following a developer preview release that happened earlier this year. That has helped third parties build various add-ons for Gmail.

Add-ons simplify your workflow because they allow you to perform certain actions (that so far would have required jumping to other apps) straight in Gmail. Your inbox can contextually surface specific add-ons based on the messages you receive, thus helping you get things done faster.

Add-ons for Gmail work in both the Android app and the web client, and you only need to install once to access them on all your devices. To start using these, click the settings wheel in the top right of your inbox and choose Get add-ons.

At the moment you'll find add-ons from Asana, Dialpad, Hire, Intuit QuickBooks Invoicing, ProsperWorks, RingCentral, Smartsheet, Streak, Trello, and Wrike, with DocuSign coming soon.

Source
Earlier in 2017 Google promised that Assistant will learn more languages and now Italians can finally talk to it in their native language. Following the last update, now Assistant can answer all questions and actions with a deep soothing Italian voice.

According to Italian media, the update will reach all Android users in Italy by November 1.



Google Assistant in Italian

Google already said the incorporation of new languages happens after working with natives and collecting speech samples. After that the machines train themselves to improve accuracy when exposed to more examples.

Our initial tests reveal that Google understands dialects both from Northern and Southern Italy. To allow the Assistant to speak back, the language must be added as primary on the phone for Google to work.

Via 1 (in Italian)  Via 2 (in Italian)
The Nokia 6, 5, and 3 have all received updates this month. However, unlike the first two, the Nokia 3 didn't get Android 7.1.2 as part of the update. Well, HMD has now confirmed that the phone will indeed be getting the updated Nougat OS version.

The company also revealed the reason behind the delay. The Mediatek processor on Nokia 3 means slight delay in getting updated drivers and some more time required to complete their testing.

The update should arrive sometime next month (likely along with the monthly security patch) because the device - as well as all other Nokia branded devices from HMD - is already confirmed to get Oreo before the end of the year.

Via
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department has issued food enforcement warnings to:

IHOP, 4501 N. 27th St. Numerous employees with expired or lacking permits. Old list of food handler information provided, repeat. Employee failed to wash hands after cracking eggs then handling plates that would go out to customers, repeat, instructed on washing hands, corrected. Sanitizer in bucket too strong, repeat.

Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits, 741 N. 48th St. Box of degreaser stored on stack of boxes of single service items, relocated, corrected. Tube of burn gel on prep/serving counter, relocated, corrected. Live and dead cockroaches found on glue traps, roach egg case found, flies present in kitchen.

Subway, 555 S. 70th St. Employee(s) working without having current food handler permit. No person in charge with a current Food Protection Manager permit. Minimal concentration of sanitizer in wiping cloth pail, corrected. No thermometer available for use at 3 compartment sink, repeat.

Alfourat, 1434 N. 27th St. Employee used cell phone then failed to wash hands when returning to prep. No Food Manager associated with establishment. Product with meat spread being sold at room temp. Bread with meat spread being stored at room temp. Some knives and chopper with residues on magnet.

Bison Witches Bar & Grill, 1320 P St. #100. Employee(s) working without having current food handler permit, repeat. Food handler data sheet is incomplete. WD-40 and ice machine cleaner stored on same shelf as salt and pepper shakers. D Con loose bait in compressor room, which is open by means of hallway to food establishment. Spray bottle not labeled at bar, corrected. Fruit flies present in bar area, repeat.
HTC is launching its Finance Program to customers who purchase any of HTCs smartphones directly from its website. The news comes just in time before the Taiwanese phone maker is getting ready to announce a new HTC U device on November 2.

When the HTC U11 came out back in May, customers had the option to take advantage of 24 month financing through PayPal Credit. So financing an unlocked HTC phone in the States is not a brand-new occurrence.

The new HTC Financing Program can instantly approve customers online, for those making purchases of smartphones and accessories totaling $599 or more.

Payments are divided into 24 months with no finance fees for well-qualified customers.

HTC is expected to announce a new smartphone on November 2. We've already seen leaks and teasers from HTC. From what we've seen so far, it's safe to say we might expect a new version of the HTC U11, one with an updated 18:9 display.

Check out the Source link for more details from HTC.

Source
Microsoft has ended the production of Kinect and permanently discontinued the device, according to a report by Fast Company.

The Microsoft Kinect was first introduced back in 2009 at E3 under the codename Project Natal and was launched next year after it was officially given the name Kinect at E3 2010. Unlike the motion tracking systems of that time, which included the Wii and PlayStation Move controllers, the Kinect did not require any device in the users' hands and would track the entire person using multiple cameras and sensors. This allowed for a more elaborate motion tracking experience as your entire bodys movement could be tracked, something the competition simply could not do.

The Kinect went on to become the fastest selling consumer device in history, something it holds a Guinness World Record for. However, the demand eventually tapered off as not a lot of content was being developed for it.

When Microsoft launched the Xbox One, it also launched an updated version of the Kinect alongside it and to make sure this time the developers made content for it, it was bundled along with every Xbox One console. However, this resulted in high price of the overall bundle, which meant while Sony was selling PS4s hand over fist, Microsoft was struggling to get the Xbox One off the shelves.

This resulted in Microsoft eventually unbundling the Kinect from the Xbox One and reducing the price of the console. For all intents and purposes, this was the death knell for Kinect and todays announcement just put the final nail in the coffin that was made three years ago.

While Kinect may be dead, Microsoft eventually moved on to other motion tracking projects, such as HoloLens and the recent Windows Mixed Reality. Meanwhile, PrimeSense, the company behind the sensors in the original Kinect, was acquired by Apple and is likely responsible for the FaceID camera system on the iPhone X. So in some ways, Kinect continues to live with us in spirit.

Source
Samsung is already working on the Oreo update for its smartphones but won't release it before early 2018. The information comes from a Turkish Samsung representative.

Sadly the source doesn't give out specifics about which phones will receive the Android 8.0 Oreo update first but it's a good guess that the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ along with the Galaxy Note8 will get the honor.

We can only speculate if the news concerns only Turkish Samsung phones or whether Samsung will start its Oreo rollout a bit earlier in other markets, but chances seem slim at this point.

We'll keep you posted as soon as we hear anything new.

Source | Via
In the US, the LG V30 is already available from carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, and has been for a couple of weeks in some cases. But what if you don't want anything to do with any of those companies and would rather purchase an unlocked unit?

Well, if you don't want to go the eBay route and having a US warranty is essential to you (along with no band compatibility issues), then here's some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the unlocked LG V30 for the US market is now officially up for pre-order at B&H (only in Cloud Silver at the moment).

The bad news is two-fold. First off, it's definitely not cheap at $829.99. Second, it will only become available on December 5, and that's a long time from now. Still, if you want to be sure that you're among the first people in the US to grab one of these unlocked models, then by all means pre-order yours as soon as possible.

Via
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.
A northeast Nebraska farmer who is a rural historian and former educator will seek the 2018 Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Rep. Adrian Smith in Nebraska's sprawling 3rd Congressional District.

"It's time to send someone to Congress who will work on behalf of rural people, communities, businesses and schools instead of corporate powers," Paul Theobald said in a news release announcing his candidacy.

Smith is seeking re-election to a seventh term in the district, which spreads across all of western and central Nebraska and includes the northeastern and southeastern corners of the state.

Theobald's dedication to rural communities is a legacy of his family roots, his announcement stated. He is the grandson of farmers and son of a rural mail carrier.

Theobald and his wife, Maureen, live on a small farm in Pierce County near Foster where they pasture-raise purebred heritage breed hogs.

The couple raised their children while he worked at Wayne State College and she worked at Providence Medical Center in Wayne.

Theobald said current U.S. agricultural policy is "built to maximize agribusiness profits" rather than benefit farmers and ranchers.

A critic of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, Theobald said it is supported by the super wealthy because of their investment in TransCanada, a foreign corporation that would build and own the pipeline.

"We will not stand idly by while the rights of Nebraska farmers and ranchers are trampled," he said. "We will not stand for the deadly chemicals they will inevitably spill into our water."

Theobald said he would support health care reform that extends Medicare coverage to all Americans.
Three members of the five-member Elmwood Village Board resigned last week, citing what Jack Hovick described as a culture of "poison."

Hovick said Wednesday that after months spent trying to work through board issues in a logical manner, it all "snowballed" and came to a head at an Oct. 18 meeting, where he, Brody Baer and Mike Krass submitted their resignations.

Without a quorum, Secretary of State John Gale this week scheduled a special election Dec. 12 to fill the vacancies.

In an interview, Hovick said his year on the board was filled with drama and conflict.

"The big thing was the park project," he said, referring to an ongoing improvement project. After a budget was set and $128,000 had been allocated to the project, Hovick said that Village Board Chairwoman Pat Wray allocated an additional $28,500 without gaining approval from other board members.

When a motion to approve minutes of two previous meetings failed 3-2 during the Oct. 18 meeting, a heated discussion between board members ensued.

Krass, who was elected in 2014, was the first to resign, followed by Hovick and Baer.

In his resignation letter, which according to board policy must be presented in writing during a meeting, Baer said that Wray's actions during her time as chairwoman were rude, unethical and illegal.

"I can't make it through a single meeting without some sort of fear (that) you are going to yell at me ... or be upset," wrote Baer, an Elmwood native who had been on the board for a year. "That is essentially you shunning me for my actions if they don't agree with yours."

In his resignation, Hovick said Wray makes decisions without consulting other board members, and that she does not honor decisions made by the board as a whole.

Both Baer and Hovick cited an instance where Wray had gone through with adding rock to a village street after the board had voted against the proposal.

The board chair is appointed annually by other members.

"To be completely honest, I did nominate and vote for the current chairperson and it is probably the biggest mistake I have ever made," Hovick said in his letter.

Hovick and Baer have called for Wray to resign or be removed from office. Wray and Julie Anderson are the only remaining members of the board.

Wray said Tuesday they are "in the process of figuring it out," but did not comment on the former board members' accusations. Until the election, "the board has no way to function," she said.

The special election will have two separate races. One will determine two board members with terms through December 2018. The other is for a board member through December 2020.

Candidates have until Nov. 9 to file. If no one files in either of the races, the election will be determined by write-in votes. It has not yet been determined whether the election will be held at the polls or by mail.

Elmwood is located 23 miles east of Lincoln.
I recently voted in favor of an increased tax levy that will help improve the facilities at Southeast Community College.

It was a difficult decision. As a farmer, I, too, have been critical of the high property taxes this state demands of farmers and ranchers. I ran for this office because I felt rural areas have been ignored by SCC. Out of the 15 counties SCC serves, the focus -- and majority of the money -- was going to one county, Lancaster.

Since joining SCC's Board of Governors two years ago, I have demanded that SCC give attention to teaching skills and educating the people of rural communities. To that end, we're on the verge of opening six learning centers in different communities, which will provide the training to fill local needs for those areas.

A plant manager in Falls City spoke to me, pleading that he can't find qualified welders to maintain his business. One of those learning centers will train those workers to fill Falls City's industrial needs.

The facilities in Beatrice and Milford are run down and in need of replacement. The students who attend these campuses are the backbone of rural Nebraska. Mechanics fix our equipment, nurses care for our families and agriculture majors improve our farms and ranches.

I voted against last year's SCC bond issue because I felt it was excessive and too much money was being spend on the Lincoln campus. A community college educates and doesn't need an extravagant building to lure students; the locality and cost are the attraction.

Notwithstanding my vote against the bond, I am aware of the state of disrepair our buildings suffer. While SCC students do not need marble pillars, they do need a roof that doesn't leak.

Our mechanics, nurses, welders and agriculture employees are trained by SCC. For southeast Nebraska to keep businesses, we must provide the needed training and skills to fill those jobs. One can't blame a business for moving if it can't find skilled workers.

I am acutely aware that this state relies too heavily on property taxes. A group of legislators and politicians recently criticized SCC's tax levy. I remind the reader that these are the same people who have failed to provide meaningful property tax relief for the past decade.

These are the same elected officials who cut state funding to SCC by 3.5 percent last year and another 0.5 percent this year -- a loss that exceeds $1 million -- without even giving serious debate to property tax relief. As farmers ask for property tax relief, our Legislature and governor instead debate income tax cuts that will benefit Omaha and Lincoln.

This property tax increase will train the skilled workers or rural Nebraska. This is why I voted for it. Thank you to those who have reached out and discussed this important matter with me.
The Iraqi Kurds dreams of independence, endorsed by a Kurdish referendum last month, have come to a crushing halt.

Last week. the hostile Baghdad government clawed back the key oil-town of Kirkuk from Kurdish forces, along with other territory both sides claim. The Kurds, close American allies, feel that Washington betrayed them by effectively taking the side of Baghdad. There is some truth to the claim, but the Kurds were also betrayed from within.

More important is how Washington deals with the Kurdish issue in the future -- in both Iraq and Syria, Kurdish fighters have been crucial U.S. allies against the Islamic State. That battle is almost ended, now that the last Islamic State stronghold -- the Syrian city of Raqqa -- is falling.

Yet signals from Washington indicate small interest in the Kurds fate once their fighters are no longer needed.

How the United States treats its Kurdish friends now will signal whether the Trump team has a long-term strategy to help keep the region stable post-Islamic State. If it doesnt, the biggest victor will be Iran.

To understand why, you need some background. No Mideast group deserves self-determination more than the Kurds. An ancient non-Arab group, they were promised independence by the great powers after the breakup of the Ottoman empire. Instead, the World War I allies divided their mountainous lands among Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran.

The United States bears much responsibility for the Iraqi Kurds recent gallop toward independence. After the 1991 Gulf War, Washington established a no-fly zone over Iraqi Kurdistan that enabled them to establish an autonomous zone. Following Saddam Husseins ouster in 2003, the 6 million Kurds set up their own Kurdish regional government, or KRG.

When Islamic State troops pushed into Iraq in 2014 as Iraqi forces fled, the Kurds defended their region. They later rolled the Islamic State back from huge swaths of land with support from U.S. airpower.

As for Kirkuk, this multiethnic city, surrounded by rich oil fields, is dear to the Kurdish psyche and wallet. But, as I witnessed firsthand in 1991, Saddam drove thousands of Kurds out of the city, dynamited their homes and resettled their districts with Iraqi Arabs. The Kurds took back Kirkuk during the fight against the Islamic State.

Kirkuks fate was supposed to be decided by a referendum no later than 2007. But the Baghdad government never scheduled the vote, nor did it ever conduct serious negotiations with Kurdish leaders on Kirkuk or other contentious issues. The KRGs frustration helped drive the decision to hold the referendum.

The Baghdad government, along with neighboring Turkey and Iran, all opposed the referendum. So did Washington. But the Kurds argued that it would finally give them leverage in bargaining with Baghdad. However, the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said it would only talk if Iraqi Kurdish President Masoud Barzani rescinded the referendum. That he would not do.

In recent days, Iraqi security forces, including Iranian-backed Shiite militias, massed outside Kirkuk. Iraqi media reports say a senior general of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps told Kurdish commanders in the city to surrender or be crushed. Iran is trying to dominate post-Islamic State Iraq, and the famous IRGC Quds force chief, Gen. Qasem Soleimani, travels there often.

But here comes the internal Kurdish betrayal. Leaders of one political faction in Kurdistan made a side deal with Baghdad and told their forces to pull back from Kirkuk without informing Barzani. So Kirkuk essentially fell because of Kurdish disunion, followed by a negotiated Kurdish troop pullback from other areas.

The referendum is over and belongs in the past, crowed Abadi. But will the Iraqi government seek to further humiliate the Kurds, or will the Iraqi leader finally negotiate with the KRG over territory and oil?

The answer to that question revolves heavily around what the United States does now. In years past, U.S. diplomats proved crucial in mediating disputes between Iraqi Kurds and Baghdad. Only the United States is in position to do that again.

Yet President Donald Trump has shown little interest in post-Islamic State diplomacy, and an understaffed State Department is in poor position to handle negotiations. Disinterest in Washington is the first step to betrayal of our Kurdish allies. (Washington also seems ready to abandon our Syrian Kurdish allies once the Raqqa battle is complete).

However, if the Baghdad-Erbil dispute comes to a boil, Iran will be inserting itself in the middle. Tehran is eager to end the U.S. presence in Iraq and to dominate Baghdad.

It behooves the United States to push Abadi to sit down and negotiate, says Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, the KRG representative in Washington. We know the United States wants to teach the Kurds a lesson, but how far does the U.S. want Baghdad to go?

Now is the time to get everyone around the table, Abdul Rahman adds. Lets get to talking.

Too bad Washington didnt get that dialogue going sooner, but later is better than never.

Betrayal may be easier, but a record of abandoning ones allies can come to haunt the betrayer. So the time for Washington to act on the Kurdish question is now.
Sheltered by a cove of golden sand and fringed by coconut palms, a new upscale resort paradise is being developed on the southeast coast of Koh Samui, Thailand. Scheduled to open in September 2018, the Avani Sunset Coast Samui Resort & Villas will feature a collection of 58 rooms with private balconies and sea facing villas with plunge pools. The One Bedroom Pool Villas and One or Two Bedroom Beachfront Pool Villas will offer a stylish lounge and outdoor patio, pool and sundeck. All rooms will feature a full range of modern comforts, including free WiFi, modern furnishings, large LCD TVs and stylish, bathrooms with a rain shower. Resort facilities will include a spa, two swimming pools, a gym and The Pantry, where guests will be able to grab a quick bite or picnic essentials. The beachside bar and restaurant, specialising in freshly caught fish dishes, promises to be a great spot for long leisurely lunches, whilst the resort"s Watersports Centre will offer a comprehensive range of activities for all ages. Set within Pang Kha Bay overlooking the sea and Five Islands, the resort is a 40-minute drive from Samui International Airport, which is well connected with numerous daily flights from Bangkok and other Thai cities, along with direct flights from around Asia.

Hotel website
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement with HR Group for a Hyatt House hotel in Frankfurt, Germany. Expected to open in late 2019, the hotel will be owned by benchmark. REAL Estate Development GmbH and will be leased and managed by HR Group. Hyatt House Frankfurt/Eschborn will mark the second Hyatt House and third select service hotel for Hyatt in Germany, an important step towards increasing Hyatt"s portfolio throughout the country.

The Hyatt House brand is rooted in extensive consumer insights indicating that guests seek stylish, comfortable, seamless experiences that accommodate their lifestyles and familiar routines. To embody this, the brand offers casual hospitality and purposeful service in a smartly designed, high-tech and contemporary environment.

The new Hyatt House hotel will be located in Frankfurt Eschborn, a well-established business area on Frankfurt"s Ring Road, known to be the city"s international financial and economic center. The hotel"s immediate surrounding area is currently home to numerous high-profile corporations. Eschborn benefits from a great infrastructure with easy access to the main highways, convenient connections into Frankfurt city center and Frankfurt airport. It also offers a range of local amenities such as shopping facilities, restaurants, and recreation areas.

Hyatt House Frankfurt/Eschborn will offer:

190 rooms and apartment-style Kitchen Suites with fully equipped kitchens, comfortable living rooms, spacious bedrooms, and stylish bathrooms with complimentary skin and hair care amenities

with fully equipped kitchens, comfortable living rooms, spacious bedrooms, and stylish bathrooms with complimentary skin and hair care amenities Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and guestrooms

throughout the hotel and guestrooms The Commons , a comfortable lounge with an open and welcoming space for guests to relax, gather and socialize

, a comfortable lounge with an open and welcoming space for guests to relax, gather and socialize 24/7 H Market to meet the everyday needs of guests, from snacks and sundries

to meet the everyday needs of guests, from snacks and sundries A 24-hour Workout Room to keep fitness routines going

to keep fitness routines going Borrows Menu with often-forgotten items from phone charges to razors

with often-forgotten items from phone charges to razors A Very Important Resident (VIR) program, including complimentary grocery shopping, and other personalized perks, for guests with 30 plus consecutive nights

program, including complimentary grocery shopping, and other personalized perks, for guests with 30 plus consecutive nights Additional services, including guest laundry and complimentary grocery shopping available to extended stay guests

Hotel website
rtfully combining sophisticated minimalism with the industrial aesthetic of an early 20th-century warehouse, The Robey Hall puts guests at the heart of the action in Chicago"s Wicker Park neighborhood. The hip younger sister property of The Robey offers up Modern American cuisine at the neighboring Cafe Robey, as well as rooftop cocktails with cityscape views at Up & Up and Cabana Club. High ceilings, exposed brickwork, and polished concrete floors in the 20 loft-style guestrooms are home to box-style beds in birch plywood and steel, while the open-plan lobby acts as a neighborhood hub with an "everybody welcome" attitude.

Originally opened as The Hollander, the property has undergone renovations to create a fluid extension of The Robey hotel, which is located in the adjoining Northwest tower. Housed in the former Hollander Fireproof Warehouse, which stands as a monument to Chicago"s industrial epoch, the structure"s industrial intentions provided French design studios Cigue and Delordinaire with the inspiration for the hotel"s design concept. The Robey Hall"s 20 private rooms and suites all boast soaring 11-foot-high ceilings, as well as rough-textured brick walls. Beds rendered in crisp, blond-hued birch plywood and black steel are illuminated by Schoolhouse Electric bedside lamps and framed by custom-made folded steel shelving. Spanning between 260 and 390 square feet, each guestroom offers a sitting area, a workspace, and polished concrete floors.

However, it is the communal spacescomplete with cement panel cladding, oak tables and touches of leatherthat are the beating heart of the hotel. The hotel"s open-plan lobby lounge and bar H!Bar is dominated by a 27-foot-long wooden workbench by Delordinaire, and is also home to a Metric Coffee Co. espresso bar and bicycle hire shop in partnership with Tokyobike. A tucked-away neighborhood spot for Chicago natives and guest alike, the space is defined by design, curated house sounds, and vinyl. H!Bar and the Robey Lounge feature a progressive program of events and live music.

From the ground up, the sixth-floor rooftop of The Robey Hall plays host to Cabana Club, a stylish poolside cocktail bar and sun deck with 180-degree views of the city"s skyline. The cocktail list of classic warmer-climes concoctions including palomas, caiprinhas, and micheladas to extend the summer vibes all year long, and is complemented by a selection of tostadas and skewers. Outside, a wood-burning fireplace and chilled-out soundtrack courtesy of regular DJ sets ensure that, at The Robey Hall at least, the Windy City has just become decidedly hotter.

About Grupo Habita

The duo behind Grupo Habita has been bringing a design revolution to Mexico"s hospitality industry since 2000. Investment banker Moises Micha and citrus farmer Carlos Couturier have built up a collection of over a dozen diverse, award-winning hotels across Mexico and more recently in the USA. The ideological pair excels at choosing untapped locations in Mexico where they can integrate their vision into the personality of the city. As they put it: "It"s about creating experiences for your guests and making the world better through hospitality". The Robey Hall is the third U.S. hotel from the group, after New York"s Hotel Americano and Chicago"s The Robey hotel, and will be followed by a fourth in L.A. come late 2017.
There are many ways to make a bad hotel technology decision, but only a few ways to make a good one. To help you out with this process, StayNTouch has created a handbook titled, The Hotel Owners Playbook for Choosing the Right Technology Systems, featuring the top attributes for hotel owners to consider when shopping for any new hotel technology system.

With literally hundreds of different solutions to choose from, finding the right one for your hotel is a process that takes time and thought. So where do you start? While critical, simply having a list of business requirements is not enough information to begin evaluating hotel systems. Considered the market leader in developing the most innovative solutions for the hospitality industry, StayNTouch, has gathered insights from consultants, technologists, and their own team of experts to develop the most important requirements to make your technology choices much clearer. Highlights in the handbook include:

The features you really need (and those you don't) Ease of use, training and implementation Pricing and SSAs Platform/mobile compatibility Expert service and support

"All too often hotels spend thousands of dollars on a new hotel system, only to realize that it doesn't solve the daily pains, increase productivity or drive revenue," explains Jos Schaap, CEO of StayNTouch. "The reality is that one size does not fit all and many implementations end up failing to produce the expected results. By considering these five factors and approaches, hoteliers will be in a much better position to find the right system to take their business to the next level."

The time invested in finding the best hotel technology systems for your unique needs will be repaid many times over. Choosing the right techology can boost revenue, improve guest service, increase productivity and help to create a happier workplace.

To get a complimentary copy of The Hotel Owners Playbook for Choosing the Right Technology Systems, click here or visit http://go.stayntouch.com/TheHotelOwnersPlaybook.html?utm_source=Hsyndicate_HSMAI_HospitalityNet

About Stayntouch

Stayntouch delivers a fully mobile guest-centric hotel property management system (PMS) with a comprehensive library of over 1100+ best-of-breed integrations. Our cloud-native PMS platform empowers hotels to drive revenue, reduce costs, enhance service, and captivate their guests. Backed by a team of professionals with deep roots in the hospitality industry, Stayntouch is a trusted partner to industry-leading management companies such as Sage Hospitality, HEI Hotels & Resorts, and EOS Hospitality, innovated independent brands such as Village Hotels, Pod Hotels, and First Hotels, and iconic independent properties such as the TWA Hotel, Showboat Hotel Atlantic City, and Zoku Amsterdam. For more information, visit www.stayntouch.com.
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), producers of Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC), announced that attendee online registration for its second HITEC Amsterdam is now open. Also available on the HITEC Amsterdam website is information on travel and hotel reservations. HITEC Amsterdam will take place from 11-13 April 2018 at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

"2018 will be the second time HFTP brings HITEC to Europe," said HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe. "Amsterdam is a thriving technology and IT hub, and is a top choice for international professionals as the city features a large tech scene as well as numerous innovative companies."

HITEC Amsterdam full registration attendees will have access to two full days of education, two full days of exhibits and access to the Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) pre-conference event as well as the networking reception. The full schedule of events is available on the HITEC Amsterdam website.

Education. Full registration attendees will have access to two full days of education, carefully planned by the HITEC Amsterdam Advisory Council, starting Wednesday morning, 11 April 2018 and finishing off with a closing keynote on Friday afternoon, 13 April 2018 immediately following the exhibit hall closing.

Full registration attendees will have access to two full days of education, carefully planned by the HITEC Amsterdam Advisory Council, starting Wednesday morning, 11 April 2018 and finishing off with a closing keynote on Friday afternoon, 13 April 2018 immediately following the exhibit hall closing. Exhibits. Full Registration attendees, as well as those purchasing an exhibits only attendee pass will have access to two days of exhibits. Do not miss the only opportunity to see a number of new products and high-caliber existing products all in one location. Attendees will also have access to education opportunities right on the show floor.

Full Registration attendees, as well as those purchasing an exhibits only attendee pass will have access to two days of exhibits. Do not miss the only opportunity to see a number of new products and high-caliber existing products all in one location. Attendees will also have access to education opportunities right on the show floor. Entrepreneur 20X (E20X). This pre-conference event features ambitious, unfunded technology entrepreneurs presenting breakthrough business concepts to a room full of HITEC attendees as well as a panel of expert judges including hospitality CIOs, angel investors, serial entrepreneurs and industry insiders. All HITEC badges, including exhibits-only badges, will have the opportunity to watch some of the most innovative startups the hospitality technology industry has to offer compete in the Amsterdam version of the globally recognized pitch competition.

This pre-conference event features ambitious, unfunded technology entrepreneurs presenting breakthrough business concepts to a room full of HITEC attendees as well as a panel of expert judges including hospitality CIOs, angel investors, serial entrepreneurs and industry insiders. All HITEC badges, including exhibits-only badges, will have the opportunity to watch some of the most innovative startups the hospitality technology industry has to offer compete in the Amsterdam version of the globally recognized pitch competition. Networking. Attendees will have opportunities for networking with peers and leading industry experts from around the world throughout the conference and during the networking reception.

In addition to HITEC Amsterdam, HFTP will host the larger HITEC Houston on June 18-21, 2017 in Houston, Texas USA. For more information about HITEC and HFTP's other international activities, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at [email protected] or visit www.hftp.org and www.hftp.org/hitec.

About HITEC

Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC) is the world's largest and oldest hospitality technology exposition and conference brand. HITEC offers a unique combination of top-notch education, and brings together the brightest minds and hottest technologies from across the globe to one place. The unparalleled event offers attendees essential education, access to top hospitality technology industry experts and the resources to find cost-effective ways to improve company bottom lines. Combined with the intimate opportunities to connect with fellow professionals, HITEC has everything to enhance your career.

Historically hosted annually in a different city throughout the United States, HFTP decided to break tradition in 2017 by hosting three HITEC events all taking place outside of U.S. borders in Toronto, Amsterdam and Dubai. This was be the first time the global association's largest HITEC event  featuring thousands of hospitality professionals from around the world took place outside of the United States.

About HFTP

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) established in 1952, is an international, nonprofit association, headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA, with offices in Hong Kong, United Kingdom and the Netherlands. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with members and stakeholders spanning across the globe. HFTP uniquely understands the industry's pressing issues and assists its stakeholders in finding solutions to their challenges more efficiently than any organization. It does this via its expert networks, research, certification programs, information resources and conferences/events such as HITEC. HFTP also owns the world's only hospitality-specific search engine, PineappleSearch.com  .

For more information about HFTP, email [email protected] or download the HFTP/HITEC media kit. Follow HFTP/HITEC on HFTP Connect, Facebook (@HFTPGlobal; @HITECconference), LinkedIn, Twitter (@HFTP), Instagram (@HFTP_HITEC), Flickr and YouTube for the latest news. Stay tuned to HFTP's industry-specific, informational news sites: HFTP News, HITEC Bytes, HFTP Club Bytes and HFTP Finance Bytes.

Jessica Blankenship

Public Relations Manager

HFTP
Mandarin Orchard Singapore, flagship hotel of award-winning Asian hospitality brand Meritus Hotels & Resorts, was named "Best Upscale Hotel - Asia Pacific" at the Travel Weekly Asia Readers' Choice Awards 2017.

Now in its third year, the annual Travel Weekly Asia Readers' Choice Awards recognises outstanding accommodation, transportation, venue, service, and technology providers in their respective categories. Winners are determined from total votes by Travel Weekly Asia readers and industry professionals across Asia Pacific.

Themed "Saluting Brilliance" to toast stars of the travel trade, the Travel Weekly Asia Readers' Choice Awards 2017 saw over 100 industry movers from around the region attend the awards ceremony held on 23 October at Mandarin Orchard Singapore.

Hotels nominated for the "Best Upscale Hotel - Asia Pacific" category were judged based on their ability to offer upscale amenities, full service accommodations, and the highest level of personalised service.

Accepting the award for Mandarin Orchard Singapore was Tan Kim Seng, Chief Operating Officer for Meritus Hotels & Resorts.

"We are honoured and grateful to receive this prestigious accolade," said Mr Tan. "It bears testament to the positioning of Mandarin Orchard Singapore as an icon of world-class Asian hospitality, and the continuing commitment of our team to excel and set new benchmarks in Asia's highly competitive hospitality market."

The 1,077-room Mandarin Orchard Singapore stands tall in the heart of world-renowned shopping district, Orchard Road. Delivering the brand's signature Asian Grace, Warmth and Care since 1971, the hotel remains the accommodation of choice amongst discerning international travellers for its location and service excellence.

Rooms are equipped with advanced in-room technologies such as a complimentary movie platform for unlimited access to a rich selection of Hollywood blockbusters, and the handy smartphone for free local and international calls as well as unlimited access to 4G data.

Guests can look forward to bespoke services at the exclusive Meritus Club Lounge, and vibrant dining options that include Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro  the highest Michelin-rated Chinese restaurant in Singapore, and Chatterbox  home of the legendary Mandarin Chicken Rice.

For more information on Mandarin Orchard Singapore, visit www.meritushotels.com/orchard.

About Meritus Hotels & Resorts

Meritus Hotels & Resorts is the hospitality division of Overseas Union Enterprise Limited (OUE:SP) which is amongst the key property players in Asia, and one of the few integrated developers in Singapore boasting a complete portfolio of prime assets across the retail, commercial, residential, and hospitality sectors.

As a hospitality brand, Meritus is synonymous with Asian hospitality and heritage, with luxury properties strategically located in key cities and idyllic resort destinations in Singapore, Malaysia, and Mainland China. Its current portfolio includes the flagship Mandarin Orchard Singapore, Marina Mandarin Singapore, Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa Langkawi, Meritus Mandarin Haikou, and Meritus Shantou China.

Combining chic contemporary decor, comprehensive meetings, business and leisure facilities, and warm intuitive service, Meritus strives to consistently deliver an impeccable hospitality experience steeped in Asian grace, warmth, and care. For more information, visit www.meritushotels.com.
On Sunday, October 1, 2017, a gunman shot into a crowd of 22,000 people from his 32nd-story room in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. After 11 minutes, 59 people were killed and more than 500 were injured. Whether hotels can or will respond to this tragedy with security measures capable of preventing future mass shootings remains to be seen. In the wake of this tragedy, however, hotel security practices undoubtedly will come under severe scrutiny. As many of our hospitality clients have contacted us over the past three days to discuss their security obligations, we thought this short article might prove helpful by identifying certain legal principles applicable to hotel security and by outlining several security measures hotels will likely evaluate and implement in the near future.

An Innkeeper's Liability for Guest Safety

Innkeepers are obligated to exercise "reasonable care" for the safety of their guests. This duty of reasonable care requires vigilance in the protection of guests from foreseeable risks  a duty that requires not only warning guests, but also adequately policing the hotel premises. More specifically, innkeepers and hoteliers are liable for injuries to guests caused by the accidental, negligent, or intentional harmful acts of other guests, patrons, or strangers, if, by the exercise of reasonable diligence, the innkeeper could have discovered that such acts were being done or were about to be done and could have protected against harm either by controlling the conduct or giving an adequate warning to allow guests to avoid harm. That being said, innkeepers are not required to anticipate and guard against the unusual, unlikely or abnormal, or against something that reasonable care, skill, or foresight could not have discovered or prevented.

In the context of a guest suffering a violent assault by another guest, a hotel may be held responsible if the hotel knew or should have known that the offending guest may become violent and it could have evicted that attacking guest. Guests of an inn, hotel, restaurant, or similar establishment are entitled to rely on that establishment operator to exercise reasonable care for their safety. In addition, the operator may provide its own security employees or use the services of a private security vendor. Further, innkeepers owe a duty to protect strangers from the acts of guests while at the establishment. Nevertheless, innkeepers are liable to such strangers for the act of a guest only when the hotel knew or, by the exercise of ordinary care, could have known the guest was likely to commit some act resulting in injury to the stranger.

Whether a hotel is liable to its guests or strangers for a violent act by one of its guests primarily hinges upon the foreseeability of the act. Unfortunately for Mandalay Bay, hindsight is 20/20 and many questions will be asked about whether it should have noticed a guest making multiple trips to equip his 32nd floor room with an arsenal of guns and ammunition.

Possible Next Steps in Hotel Security

It is no easy feat to balance the safety of guests with their desire for privacy. Also, the many intrusions and encumbrances of thorough security measures may at times seem antithetical to notions of luxury and hospitality. Most hotels have safety, security, and emergency response procedures in place that are reviewed frequently, tested, rehearsed and updated accordingly. Still, hotel security and guest safety measures remain imperfect. In fact, advances in hotel security have largely developed in response to breaches in security, changes in technology and other unfortunate acts. Admittedly, security in the hospitality industry is more reactive than proactive. However, given the devastation caused during the Las Vegas massacre, hotels must become vigilant in pursuing preventative measures.

While many hotels already use closed-circuit surveillance systems, one such preventative measure may include installing state-of-the-art window locks and sensors to alert security personnel and law enforcement when a hotel window has been opened or broken. Additionally, many hotels may need to revisit their firearm policies to decide whether they will prohibit firearms on premises, or place restrictions on firearm possession, such as allowing guests to bring permitted, unloaded firearms for storage purposes only, and requiring that firearms remain locked in a firearms safe or container.

With regard to the implementation of security checkpoints, some hotels may consider installing entryway deterrents, such as dog sniffs, metal detectors, X-ray machines and the like. However, despite having proven to be an effective method of deterring individuals from checking in at airlines with firearms, establishing a visible security presence at hotel entryways collides with the immense premium hotel guests place on their privacy. And, while replacing seemingly loose hotel security protocols with more robust security measures that target guest luggage may be an obvious solution for some, the fact remains that such deterrents often make guests feel less safe  a concern that many in the hospitality sector can ill-afford to ignore.

In short, any overhaul in hotel security practices would likely have to be at an industry level. Absent an industry-wide change in security practices, it is unlikely that hotels will undertake the expense of implementing state-of-the-art security measures. This is especially true if hotels fear a potential loss of business to competitors with less intrusive security measures. What is likely, however, is that the impact of the Las Vegas massacre will force those in the hospitality industry to take a closer look at their security measures and adapt accordingly.

What does this mean for you? Before October 1, 2017, it may not have been reasonably foreseeable that a guest was going to check in to a hotel, arm himself, and use his room as a turret. Now, it very well may be. As a result, we suggest your hotel add this scenario to its list of considerations as it refines or develops a security program. At bare minimum, your hotel should ask itself (1) what measures are in place to prevent this type of tragedy; (2) if it occurred, what guidance is in place to ensure an appropriate and immediate response; and, (3) on a more mundane level, does the hotel's insurance policy provide or exclude coverage for such events?

Hotel security will never be perfect, but hotels have a longstanding legal duty to protect their guests and other visitors. Let's all take a moment and reflect upon what else we may be able to do to ensure that safety remains a cornerstone of hospitality.

Emani Pollard

Paralegal

Stokes Wagner
This is the first part of a two-part series. Catch the next edition on our website. The latest buzzword comes to Marketing in full force. Artificial Intelligence or A.I. There's nearly a million items that come up when you search Artificial Intelligence Marketing. The idea of A.I. has been around for 40 years with numerous false starts. However, today's computing power and advances in natural language are enabling us to make A.I. a reality.

In the words of author Malcolm Gladwell, A.I. is reaching a tipping point, "that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire." According to data from CB Insights, the number of companies and the amount of funding funneling into A.I.-based companies continues to rise. International Data Corporation (IDC) forecasts a 54% growth in Marketing spend on AI software over the next four years, from $360 million in 2016 to more than $2 billion in 2020. Why? Efficiency and transparency are the promise of A.I.  where a machine takes over a repetitive but vital task.

What tasks? A.I. is being used by Marketing both behind the scenes and on center stage. A.I. and Machine Learning (ML) are already mainstays within the realm of customer experience. Chatbots are replacing face-to-face interactions in brick-and-mortar stores. Most of us are familiar with the data-fueled algorithms used by Amazon, Netflix and other to make personalized recommendations based on prior purchasing behavior. Behind the scenes, A.I. supports data analysis and automation. It won't be long before we can use A.I. and ML to support A/B testing experiments. A.I. can be applied to support media purchases, program analysis to enable faster course corrections, mix planning and predictive modeling.

Before worrying about being replaced by a machine, it behooves us to realize that there are important and valuable uses for AI in Marketing that allows Marketers to be less stuck in the weeds and to play a more strategic role.

How To Truly Utilize the Power of A.I.

So far, Marketing organizations are experimenting with using A.I. on programmatic issues. The challenge today for most Marketing organizations isn't accessing data as much as it is interpreting and using it. It is a tragedy when Marketing doesn't use its data well, or worse, uses data incorrectly. The volume and constant flow of data is bringing many of us to our knees, actually increasing the analysis-paralysis syndrome. Gleaning information and identifying patterns is increasingly more challenging for the human brain. Before long we will reach the point when the value of the insights fails to increase in proportion to effort and investment.

There is a true opportunity for Marketing to use A.I. to help identify patterns in data and guide better Marketing decisions and performance. A.I. and ML enables Marketing to uncover rich and new insights worthy of action  accurately and quickly. It will still require us to take these insights and apply our experience and expertise to make wise and meaningful business decisions about customers, markets, and services/solutions. This is the real power of A.I. - supporting strategic direction.

Three actions every Marketing organization can do to tap A.I.:

Take an integrated approach. There is tremendous power in being able to quickly understand the relationship between all the channels, touch points, and content, and sequence them to create a whole that is greater than the individual parts. This is the domain of A.I. Inventory your repetitive tasks. The immediate value of A.I. is the ability to automate repetitive administrative tasks that sap Marketing's time and energy. Determine how much time each task takes. Decide if some of these tasks are candidates for A.I. Establish performance parameters. On the performance management front, machine learning can help quickly detect when performance is outside of acceptable parameters and help reduce the increasing Marketing Performance gap.

Understanding and harnessing A.I. and ML isn't something Marketing is going to do overnight. To be effective, we need to do more than beat the drum. We need to get smart about A.I. and how to use it to drive better decisions. Watch for Are You Ready To Make The Shift to A.I.? on our MeasureUp blog.

In the meantime, everyone in Marketing needs to understand the fundamentals of A.I. and how we can use it, for example to improve customer experience, Marketing processes, Marketing performance management, and Marketing data management. For me, that means turning to trusted resources to come up to speed. For example, I'm checking out the latest book by my friend and colleague, Jim Sterne's: Artificial Intelligence for Marketing: Practical Applications. Have some other resources and books to recommend? Hope you'll post and share them in the comments.

Laura Patterson

Vision Edge Marketing

visionedge marketing

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HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee  Canada's hotel industry reported positive year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the third quarter of 2017, according to data from STR.

Compared with Q3 2016:

Occupancy: +1.8% to 78.7%

Average daily rate (ADR): +5.7% to CAD174.44

Revenue per available room (RevPAR): +7.6% to CAD137.35

The absolute occupancy level was the highest for a Q3 in Canada since 1999. Earlier this year, STR analysts forecasted continued performance growth for the country with demand helped by celebrations around the 150th anniversary of Confederation. August was the strongest month of the quarter, in both absolute terms and year-over-year growth, for occupancy (80.5%/+3.3%), ADR (CAD177.17/+8.1%) and RevPAR (CAD142.57/+11.6%).

Overall, nine of 10 provinces reported growth in RevPAR for the quarter, while one of two reporting territories showed an increase in the metric.

Manitoba posted the only double-digit increase in occupancy (+13.9% to 76.3%) and the largest spike in RevPAR (+16.9% to CAD92.26).

Two additional provinces experienced a double-digit lift in RevPAR: Nova Scotia (+15.7% to CAD142.73) and British Columbia (+11.5% to CAD180.55). The Yukon Territory(+13.5% to CAD145.20) also registered double-digit RevPAR growth.

The double-digit increase in Nova Scotia was driven primarily by the quarter's only double-digit rise in ADR (+12.2% to CAD162.53).

Prince Edward Island saw the only occupancy decrease for the quarter (-1.8%) despite maintaining the highest absolute level in the metric (92.1%) among provinces.

Saskatchewan was the only province with declines in ADR (-3.8% to CAD117.14) and RevPAR (-0.4% to CAD69.26).

About STR

STR provides premium data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights for the global hospitality industry. Founded in 1985, STR maintains a presence in 15 countries with a corporate North American headquarters in Hendersonville, Tennessee, an international headquarters in London, and an Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore. STR was acquired in October 2019 by CoStar Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSGP), the leading provider of commercial real estate information, analytics and online marketplaces. For more information, please visit str.com and costargroup.com.

Nick Minerd

Public Relations Coordinator

+1 (615) 824 8664 ext. 3305

STR
HITEC Amsterdam 2018 Online Registration and Housing Bureau Open Now

HFTPs second annual HITEC Amsterdam is 11-13 April 2018 at the RAI Amsterdam

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), producers of Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC), announced that attendee online registration for its second HITEC Amsterdam is now open. Also available on the HITEC Amsterdam website is information on travel and hotel reservations. HITEC Amsterdam will take place from 11-13 April 2018 at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

"2018 will be the second time HFTP brings HITEC to Europe," said HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe. "Amsterdam is a thriving technology and IT hub, and is a top choice for international professionals as the city features a large tech scene as well as numerous innovative companies."

HITEC Amsterdam full registration attendees will have access to two full days of education, two full days of exhibits and access to the Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) pre-conference event as well as the networking reception. The full schedule of events is available on the HITEC Amsterdam website.

Education. Full registration attendees will have access to two full days of education, carefully planned by the HITEC Amsterdam Advisory Council, starting Wednesday morning, 11 April 2018 and finishing off with a closing keynote on Friday afternoon, 13 April 2018 immediately following the exhibit hall closing.

Full registration attendees will have access to two full days of education, carefully planned by the HITEC Amsterdam Advisory Council, starting Wednesday morning, 11 April 2018 and finishing off with a closing keynote on Friday afternoon, 13 April 2018 immediately following the exhibit hall closing. Exhibits. Full Registration attendees, as well as those purchasing an exhibits only attendee pass will have access to two days of exhibits. Do not miss the only opportunity to see a number of new products and high-caliber existing products all in one location. Attendees will also have access to education opportunities right on the show floor.

Full Registration attendees, as well as those purchasing an exhibits only attendee pass will have access to two days of exhibits. Do not miss the only opportunity to see a number of new products and high-caliber existing products all in one location. Attendees will also have access to education opportunities right on the show floor. Entrepreneur 20X (E20X). This pre-conference event features ambitious, unfunded technology entrepreneurs presenting breakthrough business concepts to a room full of HITEC attendees as well as a panel of expert judges including hospitality CIOs, angel investors, serial entrepreneurs and industry insiders. All HITEC badges, including exhibits-only badges, will have the opportunity to watch some of the most innovative startups the hospitality technology industry has to offer compete in the Amsterdam version of the globally recognized pitch competition.

This pre-conference event features ambitious, unfunded technology entrepreneurs presenting breakthrough business concepts to a room full of HITEC attendees as well as a panel of expert judges including hospitality CIOs, angel investors, serial entrepreneurs and industry insiders. All HITEC badges, including exhibits-only badges, will have the opportunity to watch some of the most innovative startups the hospitality technology industry has to offer compete in the Amsterdam version of the globally recognized pitch competition. Networking. Attendees will have opportunities for networking with peers and leading industry experts from around the world throughout the conference and during the networking reception.

In addition to HITEC Amsterdam, HFTP will host the larger HITEC Houston on June 18-21, 2017 in Houston, Texas USA. For more information about HITEC and HFTP's other international activities, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at education@hftp.org or visit www.hftp.org and www.hftp.org/hitec.

About HITEC

Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC) is the world's largest and oldest hospitality technology exposition and conference brand. HITEC offers a unique combination of top-notch education, and brings together the brightest minds and hottest technologies from across the globe to one place. The unparalleled event offers attendees essential education, access to top hospitality technology industry experts and the resources to find cost-effective ways to improve company bottom lines. Combined with the intimate opportunities to connect with fellow professionals, HITEC has everything to enhance your career.

Historically hosted annually in a different city throughout the United States, HFTP decided to break tradition in 2017 by hosting three HITEC events all taking place outside of U.S. borders in Toronto, Amsterdam and Dubai. This was be the first time the global association's largest HITEC event  featuring thousands of hospitality professionals from around the world took place outside of the United States.

About HFTP

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) established in 1952, is an international, nonprofit association, headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA, with offices in Hong Kong, United Kingdom and the Netherlands. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with members and stakeholders spanning across the globe. HFTP uniquely understands the industry's pressing issues and assists its stakeholders in finding solutions to their challenges more efficiently than any organization. It does this via its expert networks, research, certification programs, information resources and conferences/events such as HITEC. HFTP also owns the world's only hospitality-specific search engine, PineappleSearch.com.

For more information about HFTP, email membership@hftp.org or download the HFTP/HITEC media kit. Follow HFTP/HITEC on HFTP Connect, Facebook (@HFTPGlobal; @HITECconference), LinkedIn, Twitter (@HFTP), Instagram (@HFTP_HITEC), Flickr and YouTube for the latest news. Stay tuned to HFTP's industry-specific, informational news sites: HFTP News, HITEC Bytes, HFTP Club Bytes and HFTP Finance Bytes.
RACINE  A Milwaukee company proposes a $17 million to $18 million redevelopment of a piece of Racines history: the former Gold Medal Camp Furniture Manufacturing Co. buildings on the southern edge of Uptown.

J. Jeffers & Co. of Milwaukee plans to redevelop the larger of the two buildings, at 1701 Packard Ave., into affordable and market-rate housing. The second building, at 1700 Packard Ave., is much smaller and could be redeveloped into market-rate housing at some future time, J. Jeffers President Joshua Jeffers said Tuesday.

J. Jeffers & Co. is a real estate development and investment firm that is dedicated to economic development and revitalization in southeastern Wisconsin. The company has expertise in historic preservation, City Development Director Amy Connolly said.

We steered them toward properties that need historic renovation, Connolly said, and J. Jeffers chose the former Gold Medal buildings.

The site consists of two separate Cream City brick buildings, both constructed circa 1894, that are connected by a skywalk. Both buildings sit immediately north of Southside Industrial Park, and theyve been well cared for, Jeffers said.

Jeffers plan is to redevelop the 90,000-square-foot east building, which is the larger one, first. Plans call for constructing a combination of 72 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, studio apartments and townhouses. The units would range in size from a 690-square-foot studio apartment to a 1,450-square-foot townhouse.

Plans include about 2,900 square feet of amenity space on the first floor. Jeffers said amenities would include a fitness room, a club room with kitchenette for family gatherings and parties, and possibly a movie theater.

The site is zoned industrial. The City Plan Commission is scheduled to meet today to consider rezoning the property to allow residential development. Jeffers will also require a conditional-use permit.

The meeting starts at 4:30 p.m. in room 205 at Racine City Hall, 730 Washington Ave.

Tax credits needed

The projects financing depends upon Jeffers getting a total of about $2.5 million in state and federal historic preservation tax credits and a total of $11 million in low-income tax credits.

The result would be mixed-income housing, Jeffers said: 80 to 85 percent for low- and middle-income renters, and the rest market rate housing.

Gov. Scott Walker used his veto pen to slash a cap on state historic preservation tax credits in the 2017-19 state budget from what the Legislature voted on, $5 million per project, to $500,000.

However, Jeffers said its still possible to get a larger amount if an application is submitted and approved before July 1. That process includes getting the property listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Without the full amount of tax credits being sought, Jeffers said, the project would be aborted.

But, were pretty confident we will not have a problem getting them, he added.

The process of obtaining and reselling tax credits to finance a project is a complex and usually lengthy transaction, Jeffers explained. He expects to close on the purchase of the properties near the end of 2018, immediately begin interior construction and have the building ready for occupancy in late 2019.

The owner of Recon, the buildings first-floor commercial tenant, is supportive of the project and plans to relocate, Jeffers said.

Naming the development

Jeffers said naming the future development is currently a big topic of discussion at his company. We often try to incorporate the original identity with its new name, he said.

Gold Medal Camp Furniture was formed in 1890, somewhere on 13th Street, before constructing its Packard Avenue factory. It began by manufacturing camping furniture including a cot that was standard issue for the U.S. Army, Navy and National Guard. The plant had its own lumber yard on site and at one point employed well over 100 people, mostly skilled labor.

Later Gold Medal would also sell its iconic canvas-seat director chairs to Hollywood, said Matt Sadowski, assistant director of city development. Gold Medal chairs are still being manufactured today, in Sparta, Tenn., by TLT (The Lords Table) Inc.
Hotel de Crillon

When the rich and famous head to Paris, there are a select few addresses that their chauffeur-driven cars whisk them to.

These are the Palace hotels, the creme de la creme of its luxury hotels scene, which used to be seven and but are soon to be fourteen.

The Paris palaces have history, heritage, beautiful buildings and they cannot be replicated, says Gwenola Donet, JLLs head of Hotels and Hospitality in France. Theyre a key reason why Paris will remain one of the three gateway cities in the world for the top hotels, along with London and New York. There will be palaces in emerging cities such as Hong Kong  but you cannot recreate the atmosphere of Paris elsewhere, the remarkable real estate and the supply of these hotels is very limited.

In order to make the grade, hotels must meet strict criteria as set by the French Ministry of Tourism in 2010 to embody French standards of excellence and contribute to enhancing the image of France throughout the world. Guests of the Hotel de Crillon, for instance, can stay in the Suite Marie Antoinette where the Queen used to take piano lessons. Rooms have minimum space requirements and staff must be trilingual.

Such luxurious surroundings do not come cheap; since 2013, the average tariff for an overnight stay per room in the Palace category is nearly 1,000 (Average Daily Rate), according to Donet. This is a rate unrivaled anywhere in the world across a segment of 1,800 rooms, even in New York and London, she says. But for many of these Palaces the high price tag reflects ambitious refurbishment projects not to mention the costs of providing ultra-luxurious standards of service behind the scenes.



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Refurbishment projects have allowed owners to change parts of the Palace formula but they have focused on updating the concept of luxury without undermining the traditional charm. For instance, the Ritz reduced its number of bedrooms from 159 to 142, and Le Royal Monceau went down from 260 to 149. This allowed the hotels to allocate more private space to guests. The new rooms are much larger  a hybrid of the conventional Palace rooms and apartments, says Donet. And there is a higher proportion of suites.

Todays guests are more likely to want more spacious, slightly less formal accommodation than their predecessors. People visiting Palace hotels now are younger, and are searching for a good balance between ultra-luxury and lifestyle, including a more casual approach, says Guillaume Canciani, JLL Director in France for Project and Development Services. He cites the Hotel de Crillon, reopened in July after a four-year revamp. The staff are all trained to be able to respond in a manner that appeals both to the traditional guest and to ultra-wealthy Millennials who wants to feel like home with unlimited and immediate bespoke services, he adds.

The refurbishment of several Palaces has come at a time when ownership switched away from owner-managers to the major up-market brands. The Hotel Plaza Athenee, famed for its Eiffel Tower Views, was acquired by the Dorchester Collection in 2001  and then expanded, refurbished at a reported cost of over 200 million and reopened in 2014. The Dorchester also purchased the oldest Palace, Le Meurice, which dates back to 1835 and which was a favorite of Salvador Dali. The Oetker Collection owns Le Bristol, a staging post for George Clooney, and Raffles is the operator of Le Royal Monceau where Winston Churchill used to stay.

Like the rest of the Paris hospitality market, the Palaces are now highly branded, says Donet. This gives them more exposure as the brands draw on their distribution networks for guests. These owners have taken an extremely long view. They needed to because Palaces take a lot of money to build, renovate and maintain.

Creating a buzz in the public spaces

Although the outside of the buildings is all about old world glamour, inside modern hospitality strategies are helping the Palaces to appeal to modern guests. Hoteliers now focus on designing lively public areas to attract local socialites, says Canciani. That is crucial to their profitability. Le Crillon offers a mens lounge area, a barber shop and a retail space curated by the French trendsetter Thomas Erber. Guests often go from one Palace to another and wants to be entertained.

While the vast majority of guests who stay in the Palaces are from outside France, many also enjoy mixing with well-heeled locals  something that the hotels are keen to encourage, Donet points out. The Ritz, for example, runs fashion shows. The Four Seasons Hotel George V goes in for stunning Christmas decorations, and the Plaza Athenee turns its central courtyard into an ice rink for mid-winter. There is a greater focus on events. There is a continuing buzz  in order to encourage Parisians to drop in and foreign guests to return.

Although the Palaces have their loyal fans among their affluent client base, the increase in the supply of rooms has hit occupancy rates, taking them below the old 70-75 percent marker of the pre-2010 era. Since then the supply of rooms has increased 60 percent but its yet to be matched by a 60 percent rise in demand. We are at the end of a time of massive change, says Donet. In the next four years occupancy will reach 65-68 percent, which is a sustainable level for Palaces. The average daily rate has also significantly increased after renovation work.

For many, its a price worth paying. The Palaces make a contribution to world culture that goes way beyond their opulence. From the Ritzs Bar Hemingway to the wedding cake facade of the Shangri-La, they set parameters for the ultra-luxury hospitality sector. As Donet says: It all works because this is Paris and the property is excellent.

Source - JLL Real Views
For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2017

(Compared to the Quarter Ended September 30, 2016)

- Consolidated Net Revenue Increased 7.7% to $3.20 Billion

- Net Income Increased 13.0% to $685 Million

- GAAP Earnings per Diluted Share Increased 10.8% to $0.72; Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share Increased 8.5% to $0.77

- Consolidated Adjusted Property EBITDA Increased 6.0% to $1.21 Billion, While Hold-Normalized Adjusted Property EBITDA Increased 10.4% to $1.18 Billion

- In Macao, Adjusted Property EBITDA Increased 3.8% to $652 Million, While Hold-Normalized Adjusted Property EBITDA Increased 11.1% to $642 Million

- At Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Adjusted Property EBITDA Increased 13.0% to $442 Million, While Hold-Normalized Adjusted Property EBITDA Increased 11.4% to $410 Million

- At Our Las Vegas Operating Properties, Adjusted Property EBITDA Decreased 11.6% to $76 Million, While Hold-Normalized Adjusted Property EBITDA Increased 2.3% to $90 Million

- The Company Paid Quarterly Dividends of $0.73 per Share During the Quarter

- The Company Repurchased $75 Million of Common Stock During the Quarter

- The Company's Board of Directors Announced an $0.08 Increase in the Company's Recurring Common Stock Dividend for the 2018 Calendar Year, its Sixth Consecutive Annual Increase, Raising the Annual Dividend to $3.00($0.75 per Share per Quarter)

Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.

Third Quarter Overview

Mr. Sheldon G. Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer, said, "We are pleased to have delivered strong financial results again this quarter, led by growth in both Macao and Singapore. Our convention-based Integrated Resort business model remains the key driver of our financial results, with consolidated adjusted property EBITDA reaching $1.21 billion, while hold-normalized adjusted property EBITDA increased 10.4%. We also continued to return excess capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the quarter.

"In Macao, the market continues to recover, while Sands China's Mass and VIP gaming volumes both outpaced the growth in the Macao market overall. That strong gaming performance, coupled with higher hotel occupancy and retail mall revenues, helped drive an adjusted property EBITDA performance of $652 million, our best quarterly result since the first quarter of 2014.

"Strong visitation at The Parisian Macao continued to contribute to impressive growth in all segments, with the property delivering adjusted property EBITDA of $135 million for the quarter, up 27.4% compared to the second quarter of 2017. Now clearly established as a 'must-see' destination for visitors to the Cotai Strip, The Parisian delivered sequential growth in visitation, hotel occupancy, ADR and gaming volumes, while mass win per day of $2.58 million was the highest result since the property's opening last year. We expect The Parisian to deliver continued growth in the years ahead as we further align the property's suite of offerings to appeal to every segment of the evolving Macao market.

"While we have invested over $13 billion in Macao since 2002, consistently contributing to Macao's diversification and appeal as a business and leisure tourism destination, we see tremendous future opportunity in the Macao market as it continues to grow and evolve. We are therefore extremely excited to announce that we will invest over $1.1 billion in new capital projects over the next three years in Macao, at Sands Cotai Central and the Four Seasons Hotel Macao. The bulk of that investment will accomplish the expansion, renovation and rebranding of Sands Cotai Central into a new destination integrated resort, The Londoner Macao. The Londoner Macao will feature dynamic new attractions and features from London including some of London's most recognizable landmarks, an expanded and reimagined retail mall and 350 luxurious new suites, the St Regis Tower Suites. We will also be expanding the Four Seasons Hotel Macao by opening an additional 295 new suites in a separate tower, The Four Seasons Hotel Tower Suites.

"As we continue to make market-leading investments in our Integrated Resort offerings in Macao, we will also continue to lead in the marketing of Macao throughout China and the region as Asia's leading business and leisure tourism destination. We remain confident that our Cotai Strip property portfolio will continue to deliver important benefits to Macao in the form of economic diversification, greater numbers of business and leisure travelers, and a superior platform for growth in the years ahead.

"Marina Bay Sands again delivered outstanding financial results during the quarter with adjusted property EBITDA expanding 13% to reach $442 million. Marina Bay Sands' innovative programming, mass gaming play and non-gaming revenues underpin the continued success of this industry-leading property, while stronger VIP volumes and continued cost discipline also contributed to the strong performance. EBITDA margin increased 440 basis points in the quarter, reaching 55.7%. We are pleased to have established Marina Bay Sands as a reference site for other cities and countries that are considering harnessing the economic power and direct contributions to tourism, employment and GDP growth that are gained through our unique convention-based Integrated Resort business model.

"The strength of our business model enables us to increase the return of capital to shareholders while maintaining a strong balance sheet and ample liquidity to invest in future growth opportunities. The company's recurring quarterly dividend remains the cornerstone of our program to return excess capital to shareholders. Accordingly, I am extremely pleased to announce that the company's Board of Directors has increased the company's recurring common stock dividend for the 2018 calendar year to $3.00 per share, or $0.75 per quarter. After establishing our recurring quarterly dividend in 2012, this increase represents our sixth consecutive annual increase in our recurring quarterly dividend."

The company paid a recurring quarterly dividend of $0.73 per common share during the quarter. The company announced that its next quarterly dividend of $0.73 per common share will be paid on December 29, 2017, to Las Vegas Sands shareholders of record on December 21, 2017. In addition, the company repurchased $75 million of common stock (1.2 million shares at a weighted average price of $63.90) during the quarter ended September 30, 2017.

Company-Wide Operating Results

Net revenue for the third quarter of 2017 increased 7.7% to $3.20 billion, compared to $2.97 billion in the third quarter of 2016. Net income increased 13.0% to $685 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $606 million in the year-ago quarter.

On a GAAP (accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America) basis, operating income in the third quarter of 2017 increased 18.9% to $856 million, compared to $720 million in the third quarter of 2016. The increase in operating income was primarily due to a full quarter of operations for The Parisian Macao, stronger results at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and the impact of a change in our depreciation lives discussed further below. Consolidated adjusted property EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) of $1.21 billion increased 6.0% in the third quarter of 2017, compared to the year-ago quarter. On a hold-normalized basis, adjusted property EBITDA was $1.18 billion in the third quarter of 2017, an increase of 10.4% from the prior-year quarter.

On a GAAP basis, net income attributable to Las Vegas Sands in the third quarter of 2017 increased 11.1% to $570 million, compared to $513 million in the third quarter of 2016, while diluted earnings per share in the third quarter of 2017 of $0.72 represented an increase of 10.8% compared to the prior-year quarter. The increase in net income attributable to Las Vegas Sands reflected the increase in operating income described above, partially offset by increases in other expense and net income attributable to noncontrolling interests.

Adjusted net income attributable to Las Vegas Sands (a non-GAAP measure) increased 8.0% to $607 million, or $0.77per diluted share, compared to $562 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2016.

Sands China Ltd. Consolidated Financial Results

On a GAAP basis, total net revenues for Sands China Ltd. (SCL) increased 12.2% to $1.93 billion in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $1.72 billion in the third quarter of 2016. Net income for SCL increased 24.4% to $403 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $324 million in the third quarter of 2016.

The Venetian Macao Third Quarter Operating Results

The Venetian Macao generated revenue of $718 million and adjusted property EBITDA of $263 million in the third quarter, with an adjusted property EBITDA margin of 36.6%. In the third quarter of 2017, there were approximately 8% fewer rooms available compared to the same quarter of the prior year. Non-Rolling Chip drop increased 10.4% for the quarter, reaching $1.89 billion. Non-Rolling Chip win percentage was 22.8%, compared to 25.6% in the third quarter of 2016. Rolling Chip volume was $6.90 billion, with a Rolling Chip win percentage of 3.28%, within the expected range and below the 3.75% experienced in the prior-year quarter. Slot handle was $718 million for the quarter.

The following table summarizes the key operating results for The Venetian Macao for the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016:

Three Months Ended The Venetian Macao Operations September 30, (Dollars in millions) 2017 2016 $ Change Change Revenues: Casino $ 617 $ 670 $ (53) (7.9) % Rooms 45 47 (2) (4.3) % Food and Beverage 22 22   % Mall 55 52 3 5.8 % Convention, Retail and Other 17 23 (6) (26.1) % Less - Promotional Allowances (38) (41) 3 (7.3) % Net Revenues $ 718 $ 773 $ (55) (7.1) % Adjusted Property EBITDA $ 263 $ 315 $ (52) (16.5) % EBITDA Margin % 36.6 % 40.8 % (4.2) pts Gaming Statistics (Dollars in millions) Rolling Chip Volume $ 6,898 $ 6,868 $ 30 0.4 % Rolling Chip Win %(1) 3.28 % 3.75 % (0.47) pts Non-Rolling Chip Drop $ 1,892 $ 1,714 $ 178 10.4 % Non-Rolling Chip Win % 22.8 % 25.6 % (2.8) pts Slot Handle $ 718 $ 958 $ (240) (25.1) % Slot Hold % 5.1 % 4.7 % 0.4 pts Hotel Statistics Occupancy % 90.7 % 93.2 % (2.5) pts Average Daily Rate (ADR) $ 224 $ 209 $ 15 7.2 % Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) $ 203 $ 195 $ 8 4.1 %

(1) This compares to our expected Rolling Chip win percentage of 3.0% to 3.3% (calculated before discounts and commissions). We revised the expected range due to the Rolling Chip win percentage experienced over the last several years.

Sands Cotai Central Third Quarter Operating Results

Revenue and adjusted property EBITDA for the third quarter of 2017 at Sands Cotai Central were $474 million and $155 million, respectively, resulting in an adjusted property EBITDA margin of 32.7%.

Non-Rolling Chip drop was $1.44 billion in the third quarter, with a Non-Rolling Chip win percentage of 20.4%. Rolling Chip volume was $2.85 billion for the quarter, with a Rolling Chip win percentage of 2.66%, below the expected range and the 4.16% in the third quarter of 2016. Slot handle was $1.18 billion for the quarter.

The following table summarizes our key operating results for Sands Cotai Central for the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016:

Three Months Ended Sands Cotai Central Operations September 30, (Dollars in millions) 2017 2016 $ Change Change Revenues: Casino $ 390 $ 443 $ (53) (12.0) % Rooms 79 73 6 8.2 % Food and Beverage 27 26 1 3.8 % Mall 15 15   % Convention, Retail and Other 6 6   % Less - Promotional Allowances (43) (45) 2 (4.4) % Net Revenues $ 474 $ 518 $ (44) (8.5) % Adjusted Property EBITDA $ 155 $ 176 $ (21) (11.9) % EBITDA Margin % 32.7 % 34.0 % (1.3) pts Gaming Statistics (Dollars in millions) Rolling Chip Volume $ 2,846 $ 2,817 $ 29 1.0 % Rolling Chip Win %(1) 2.66 % 4.16 % (1.50) pts Non-Rolling Chip Drop $ 1,442 $ 1,557 $ (115) (7.4) % Non-Rolling Chip Win % 20.4 % 20.2 % 0.2 pts Slot Handle $ 1,182 $ 1,477 $ (295) (20.0) % Slot Hold % 4.4 % 3.6 % 0.8 pts Hotel Statistics Occupancy % 93.0 % 89.2 % 3.8 pts Average Daily Rate (ADR) $ 148 $ 145 $ 3 2.1 % Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) $ 138 $ 129 $ 9 7.0 %

(1) This compares to our expected Rolling Chip win percentage of 3.0% to 3.3% (calculated before discounts and commissions). We revised the expected range due to the Rolling Chip win percentage experienced over the last several years.

The Parisian Macao Third Quarter Operating Results

The Parisian Macao opened on September 13, 2016. Revenue and adjusted property EBITDA at The Parisian Macao were $418 million and $135 million, respectively, resulting in an adjusted property EBITDA margin of 32.3%.

Non-Rolling Chip drop was $1.0 billion, with a Non-Rolling Chip win percentage of 20.9%. Rolling Chip volume was $6.95 billion, with a Rolling Chip win percentage of 3.11%, within the expected range and below the second quarter 2017 win percentage of 3.89%. Slot handle was $927 million for the quarter.

The following table summarizes our key operating results for The Parisian Macao in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the second quarter of 2017:

Three Months Ended The Parisian Macao Operations September 30, June 30, (Dollars in millions) 2017(1) 2017 $ Change Change Revenues: Casino $ 379 $ 322 $ 57 17.7 % Rooms 35 32 3 9.4 % Food and Beverage 15 16 (1) (6.3) % Mall 16 17 (1) (5.9) % Convention, Retail and Other 5 5   % Less - Promotional Allowances (32) (31) (1) 3.2 % Net Revenues $ 418 $ 361 $ 57 15.8 % Adjusted Property EBITDA $ 135 $ 106 $ 29 27.4 % EBITDA Margin % 32.3 % 29.4 % 2.9 pts Gaming Statistics (Dollars in millions) Rolling Chip Volume $ 6,948 $ 3,760 $ 3,188 84.8 % Rolling Chip Win %(2) 3.11 % 3.89 % (0.78) pts Non-Rolling Chip Drop $ 1,001 $ 973 $ 28 2.9 % Non-Rolling Chip Win % 20.9 % 19.7 % 1.2 pts Slot Handle $ 927 $ 935 $ (8) (0.9) % Slot Hold % 3.1 % 3.3 % (0.2) pts Hotel Statistics Occupancy % 94.1 % 88.0 % 6.1 pts Average Daily Rate (ADR) $ 144 $ 138 $ 6 4.3 % Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) $ 136 $ 122 $ 14 11.5 %

(1) The Parisian Macao opened in September 2016. (2) This compares to our expected Rolling Chip win percentage of 3.0% to 3.3% (calculated before discounts and commissions). We revised the expected range due to the Rolling Chip win percentage experienced over the last several years.

The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao Third Quarter Operating Results

The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao generated revenue of $147 million and adjusted property EBITDA of $52 million, resulting in an adjusted property EBITDA margin of 35.4% in the third quarter of 2017. In the third quarter of 2017, there were approximately 6% fewer rooms available compared to the same quarter of the prior year. Non-Rolling Chip drop increased 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year, reaching $297 million, with a Non-Rolling Chip win percentage of 23.1%. Rolling Chip volume increased 56.1% to reach $3.13 billion for the quarter. Rolling Chip win percentage of 2.23% in the third quarter of 2017 was below the expected range and below the win percentage of 3.67% in the prior year. Slot handle increased 3.5% to $117 million during the quarter.

The following table summarizes our key operating results for The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao for the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016:

The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao Operations Three Months Ended September 30, (Dollars in millions) 2017 2016 $ Change Change Revenues: Casino $ 109 $ 124 $ (15) (12.1) % Rooms 9 9   % Food and Beverage 7 6 1 16.7 % Mall 31 32 (1) (3.1) % Convention, Retail and Other 1 1   % Less - Promotional Allowances (10) (11) 1 (9.1) % Net Revenues $ 147 $ 161 $ (14) (8.7) % Adjusted Property EBITDA $ 52 $ 62 $ (10) (16.1) % EBITDA Margin % 35.4 % 38.5 % (3.1) pts Gaming Statistics (Dollars in millions) Rolling Chip Volume $ 3,132 $ 2,007 $ 1,125 56.1 % Rolling Chip Win %(1) 2.23 % 3.67 % (1.44) pts Non-Rolling Chip Drop $ 297 $ 270 $ 27 10.0 % Non-Rolling Chip Win % 23.1 % 23.8 % (0.7) pts Slot Handle $ 117 $ 113 $ 4 3.5 % Slot Hold % 6.6 % 5.5 % 1.1 pts Hotel Statistics Occupancy % 80.8 % 80.8 %  pts Average Daily Rate (ADR) $ 335 $ 345 $ (10) (2.9) % Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) $ 271 $ 279 $ (8) (2.9) %

(1) This compares to our expected Rolling Chip win percentage of 3.0% to 3.3% (calculated before discounts and commissions). We revised the expected range due to the Rolling Chip win percentage experienced over the last several years.

Sands Macao Third Quarter Operating Results

Sands Macao generated revenue of $143 million and adjusted property EBITDA of $41 million in the third quarter, with an adjusted property EBITDA margin of 28.7%. Non-Rolling Chip drop was $603 million during the quarter, while slot handle was $602 million. Rolling Chip volume was $680 million for the quarter. The property realized 1.13% win on Rolling Chip volume during the quarter, below the expected range and the 2.03% experienced in the year-ago quarter.

The following table summarizes our key operating results for Sands Macao for the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016:

Three Months Ended Sands Macao Operations September 30, (Dollars in millions) 2017 2016 $ Change Change Revenues: Casino $ 138 $ 162 $ (24) (14.8) % Rooms 5 5   % Food and Beverage 6 7 (1) (14.3) % Convention, Retail and Other 1 2 (1) (50.0) % Less - Promotional Allowances (7) (9) 2 (22.2) % Net Revenues $ 143 $ 167 $ (24) (14.4) % Adjusted Property EBITDA $ 41 $ 46 $ (5) (10.9) % EBITDA Margin % 28.7 % 27.5 % 1.2 pts Gaming Statistics (Dollars in millions) Rolling Chip Volume $ 680 $ 1,416 $ (736) (52.0) % Rolling Chip Win %(1) 1.13 % 2.03 % (0.90) pts Non-Rolling Chip Drop $ 603 $ 671 $ (68) (10.1) % Non-Rolling Chip Win % 18.7 % 19.3 % (0.6) pts Slot Handle $ 602 $ 665 $ (63) (9.5) % Slot Hold % 3.4 % 3.3 % 0.1 pts Hotel Statistics Occupancy % 95.7 % 97.9 % (2.2) pts Average Daily Rate (ADR) $ 191 $ 190 $ 1 0.5 % Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) $ 183 $ 186 $ (3) (1.6) %

(1) This compares to our expected Rolling Chip win percentage of 3.0% to 3.3% (calculated before discounts and commissions). We revised the expected range due to the Rolling Chip win percentage experienced over the last several years.

Marina Bay Sands Third Quarter Operating Results

Marina Bay Sands' revenue increased 4.1% to $793 million and adjusted property EBITDA increased 13.0% to $442 million. In the third quarter of 2017, there were approximately 7% fewer rooms available compared to the same quarter of the prior year.

Rolling Chip win percentage of 3.29% in the third quarter of 2017 was above the 3.25% achieved in the third quarter of 2016 and above the expected range. Rolling Chip volume increased 30.1% compared to the third quarter of 2016, reaching $9.44 billion for the quarter.

Non-Rolling Chip drop was $943 million during the quarter, with a Non-Rolling Chip win percentage of 28.4%. Slot handle increased 5.8% to $3.66 billion for the quarter compared to the year-ago quarter.

The following table summarizes our key operating results for Marina Bay Sands for the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016:

Three Months Ended Marina Bay Sands Operations September 30, (Dollars in millions) 2017 2016 $ Change Change Revenues: Casino $ 629 $ 592 $ 37 6.3 % Rooms 93 109 (16) (14.7) % Food and Beverage 48 54 (6) (11.1) % Mall 42 42   % Convention, Retail and Other 25 27 (2) (7.4) % Less - Promotional Allowances (44) (62) 18 (29.0) % Net Revenues $ 793 $ 762 $ 31 4.1 % Adjusted Property EBITDA $ 442 $ 391 $ 51 13.0 % EBITDA Margin % 55.7 % 51.3 % 4.4 pts Gaming Statistics (Dollars in millions) Rolling Chip Volume $ 9,443 $ 7,258 $ 2,185 30.1 % Rolling Chip Win %(1) 3.29 % 3.25 % 0.04 pts Non-Rolling Chip Drop $ 943 $ 985 $ (42) (4.3) % Non-Rolling Chip Win % 28.4 % 28.8 % (0.4) pts Slot Handle $ 3,658 $ 3,457 $ 201 5.8 % Slot Hold % 4.2 % 4.5 % (0.3) pts Hotel Statistics Occupancy % 96.6 % 98.3 % (1.7) pts Average Daily Rate (ADR) $ 445 $ 475 $ (30) (6.3) % Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) $ 430 $ 467 $ (37) (7.9) %

(1) This compares to our expected Rolling Chip win percentage of 2.7% to 3.0% (calculated before discounts and commissions).

Las Vegas Operations Third Quarter Operating Results

Revenue at The Venetian Las Vegas and The Palazzo, including the Sands Expo and Convention Center, decreased 1.6% to $378 million, while adjusted property EBITDA decreased 11.6% to $76 million. EBITDA margin decreased 230 basis points to 20.1%. In the third quarter of 2017, there were approximately 3% fewer rooms available compared to the same quarter of the prior year.

RevPAR decreased 3.0% year-over-year to $225 in the quarter, reflecting a 3.3% decrease in ADR to $232, offset by a 0.5 percentage point increase in occupancy to 97.0%. Table games drop decreased 7.0% in the quarter to $401 million, with a win percentage of 17.1%, compared to a win percentage of 20.0% in the same quarter last year. Slot handle increased 3.8% to $658 million.

The following table summarizes our key operating results for our Las Vegas operations for the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016:

Three Months Ended Las Vegas Operations September 30, (Dollars in millions) 2017 2016 $ Change Change Revenues: Casino $ 111 $ 122 $ (11) (9.0) % Rooms 141 149 (8) (5.4) % Food and Beverage 66 58 8 13.8 % Convention, Retail and Other 84 82 2 2.4 % Less - Promotional Allowances (24) (27) 3 (11.1) % Net Revenues $ 378 $ 384 $ (6) (1.6) % Adjusted Property EBITDA $ 76 $ 86 $ (10) (11.6) % EBITDA Margin % 20.1 % 22.4 % (2.3) pts Gaming Statistics (Dollars in millions) Table Games Drop $ 401 $ 431 $ (30) (7.0) % Table Games Win %(1) 17.1 % 20.0 % (2.9) pts Slot Handle $ 658 $ 634 $ 24 3.8 % Slot Hold % 8.1 % 8.2 % (0.1) pts Hotel Statistics Occupancy % 97.0 % 96.5 % 0.5 pts Average Daily Rate (ADR) $ 232 $ 240 $ (8) (3.3) % Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) $ 225 $ 232 $ (7) (3.0) %

(1) This compares to our expected Baccarat win percentage of 18.0% to 26.0% and our expected non-Baccarat win percentage of 16.0% to 24.0% (calculated before discounts). We revised the expected ranges due to the respective win percentages experienced over the last several years.

Sands Bethlehem Third Quarter Operating Results

Revenue at Sands Bethlehem was $148 million, while adjusted property EBITDA was an all-time record of $40 million for the quarter. Table games drop increased 3.2% to $293 million for the quarter, while table games win percentage was 20.1%, above the 19.6% realized in the third quarter of 2016. Slot handle increased 3.5% year-over-year to $1.21 billion for the quarter, with a slot hold percentage of 6.5%.

The following table summarizes our key operating results for Sands Bethlehem for the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016:

Three Months Ended Sands Bethlehem Operations September 30, (Dollars in millions) 2017 2016 $ Change Change Revenues: Casino $ 138 $ 136 $ 2 1.5 % Rooms 4 4   % Food and Beverage 7 7   % Mall 1 1   % Convention, Retail and Other 5 5   % Less - Promotional Allowances (7) (6) (1) 16.7 % Net Revenues $ 148 $ 147 $ 1 0.7 % Adjusted Property EBITDA $ 40 $ 37 $ 3 8.1 % EBITDA Margin % 27.0 % 25.2 % 1.8 pts Gaming Statistics (Dollars in millions) Table Games Drop $ 293 $ 284 $ 9 3.2 % Table Games Win %(1) 20.1 % 19.6 % 0.5 pts Slot Handle $ 1,210 $ 1,169 $ 41 3.5 % Slot Hold % 6.5 % 6.7 % (0.2) pts Hotel Statistics Occupancy % 96.1 % 97.2 % (1.1) pts Average Daily Rate (ADR) $ 164 $ 164 $   % Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) $ 158 $ 160 $ (2) (1.3) %

Asian Retail Mall Operations

Gross revenue from tenants in the company's retail malls on Macao's Cotai Strip (The Venetian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Sands Cotai Central and The Parisian Macao) and Marina Bay Sands in Singaporeincreased 8.9% to $159 million for the third quarter of 2017, compared to the third quarter of 2016. Operating profit derived from these retail mall assets increased 8.5% year-over-year to $141 million.

For The Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 TTM September 30, 2017 (Dollars in millions except per square foot data) Gross Revenue(1) Operating Profit Operating Profit Margin Gross Leasable Area (sq. ft.) Occupancy % at End of Period Tenant Sales Per Sq. Ft.(2) Shoppes at Venetian $ 55 $ 49 89.1 % 785,973 97.3 % $ 1,357 Shoppes at Four Seasons Luxury Retail 21 20 95.2 % 142,562 100.0 % 4,538 Other Stores 10 9 90.0 % 115,830 100.0 % 1,533 Total 31 29 93.5 % 258,392 100.0 % 3,247 Shoppes at Cotai Central(3) 15 13 86.7 % 425,581 93.0 % 711 Shoppes at Parisian(4) 16 13 81.3 % 299,125 92.5 % 531 Total Cotai Strip in Macao 117 104 88.9 % 1,769,071 95.9 % 1,366 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands 42 37 88.1 % 606,946 97.2 % 1,506 Total $ 159 $ 141 88.7 % 2,376,017 96.2 % $ 1,401

(1) Gross revenue figures are net of intersegment revenue eliminations. (2) Tenant sales per square foot reflect sales from tenants only after the tenant has been open for a period of 12 months. (3) The Shoppes at Cotai Central will feature up to an estimated 600,000 square feet of gross leasable area at completion of all phases of Sands Cotai Central's renovation, rebranding and expansion to The Londoner Macao. (4) The Shoppes at Parisian opened in September 2016.

Other Factors Affecting Earnings

Depreciation and amortization expense was $265 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $277 million in the third quarter of 2016. This decrease was driven primarily by a change in the estimated useful lives of our buildings, building improvements and land improvements from a range of 15 to 40 years to 10 to 50 years from the date placed in service, as well as changes to the estimated useful lives of certain other furniture, fixtures and equipment, to better reflect the estimated periods during which these assets are expected to remain in service. The change in estimated useful lives was accounted for as a change in accounting estimate beginning on July 1, 2017, and resulted in a reduction of depreciation and amortization expense and an increase in operating income of $51 million, and an increase of net income of $46 million, or earnings per share of $0.06 on a basic and diluted basis, in the third quarter of 2017.

Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized, was $83 million for the third quarter of 2017, compared to $65 million in the prior-year quarter. Capitalized interest was $1 million during the third quarter of 2017, compared to $11 millionduring the third quarter of 2016. The decrease in capitalized interest was a result of the opening of The Parisian Macao in September 2016. Our weighted average borrowing cost in the third quarter of 2017 was approximately 3.2%, compared to 2.9% during the third quarter of 2016.

Other expense, which was comprised primarily of foreign currency losses due to a depreciation of the U.S. dollar versus the Singapore dollar during the period, was $19 million for the third quarter of 2017, compared to other income of $21 million in the third quarter of 2016.

The company's effective income tax rate for the third quarter of 2017 was 9.6% compared to 10.2% in the prior-year quarter. The tax rate is primarily driven by a provision for the earnings from Marina Bay Sands at the 17% Singaporeincome tax rate.

The net income attributable to noncontrolling interests during the third quarter of 2017 of $115 million was principally related to SCL.

Balance Sheet Items

Unrestricted cash balances as of September 30, 2017 were $2.00 billion.

As of September 30, 2017, total debt outstanding, including the current portion and net of deferred financing costs (excluding those costs related to our revolving facilities) and original issue discount, was $9.62 billion.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures during the third quarter totaled $212 million, including construction, development and maintenance activities of $124 million in Macao, $45 million at Marina Bay Sands, $37 million in Las Vegas and $6 millionat Sands Bethlehem.

Exhibit 1 Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (In millions, except per share data) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Revenues: Casino $ 2,511 $ 2,307 $ 7,379 $ 6,406 Rooms 411 402 1,194 1,123 Food and beverage 198 184 610 559 Mall 160 147 476 422 Convention, retail and other 128 141 400 389 3,408 3,181 10,059 8,899 Less - promotional allowances (209) (212) (613) (564) 3,199 2,969 9,446 8,335 Operating expenses: Resort operations 1,993 1,829 5,892 5,332 Corporate 51 39 136 208 Pre-opening 1 86 7 128 Development 3 3 8 7 Depreciation and amortization 265 277 913 792 Amortization of leasehold interests in land 9 10 28 29 Loss on disposal or impairment of assets 21 5 27 15 2,343 2,249 7,011 6,511 Operating income 856 720 2,435 1,824 Other income (expense): Interest income 4 2 11 6 Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized (83) (65) (240) (198) Other income (expense) (19) 21 (80) (33) Loss on modification or early retirement of debt  (3) (5) (3) Income before income taxes 758 675 2,121 1,596 Income tax expense (73) (69) (220) (187) Net income 685 606 1,901 1,409 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (115) (93) (306) (248) Net income attributable to Las Vegas Sands Corp. $ 570 $ 513 $ 1,595 $ 1,161 Earnings per share: Basic $ 0.72 $ 0.65 $ 2.01 $ 1.46 Diluted $ 0.72 $ 0.65 $ 2.01 $ 1.46 Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 791 795 792 795 Diluted 792 795 793 795 Dividends declared per common share $ 0.73 $ 0.72 $ 2.19 $ 2.16

Exhibit 2 Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Subsidiaries Net Revenues and Adjusted Property EBITDA (In millions) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Net Revenues The Venetian Macao $ 718 $ 773 $ 2,146 $ 2,188 Sands Cotai Central 474 518 1,386 1,521 The Parisian Macao 418 69 1,097 69 The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao 147 161 427 434 Sands Macao 143 167 486 527 Ferry Operations and Other 44 46 130 126 Macao Operations 1,944 1,734 5,672 4,865 Marina Bay Sands 793 762 2,329 2,076 Las Vegas Operating Properties 378 384 1,196 1,125 Sands Bethlehem 148 147 437 432 Intersegment Eliminations (64) (58) (188) (163) $ 3,199 $ 2,969 $ 9,446 $ 8,335 Adjusted Property EBITDA The Venetian Macao $ 263 $ 315 $ 808 $ 827 Sands Cotai Central 155 176 431 484 The Parisian Macao 135 19 323 19 The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao 52 62 162 154 Sands Macao 41 46 134 125 Ferry Operations and Other 6 10 18 25 Macao Operations 652 628 1,876 1,634 Marina Bay Sands 442 391 1,299 1,023 Las Vegas Operating Properties 76 86 277 245 Sands Bethlehem 40 37 113 113 $ 1,210 $ 1,142 $ 3,565 $ 3,015 Adjusted Property EBITDA as a Percentage of Net Revenues The Venetian Macao 36.6 % 40.8 % 37.7 % 37.8 % Sands Cotai Central 32.7 % 34.0 % 31.1 % 31.8 % The Parisian Macao 32.3 % 27.5 % 29.4 % 27.5 % The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao 35.4 % 38.5 % 37.9 % 35.5 % Sands Macao 28.7 % 27.5 % 27.6 % 23.7 % Ferry Operations and Other 13.6 % 21.7 % 13.8 % 19.8 % Macao Operations 33.5 % 36.2 % 33.1 % 33.6 % Marina Bay Sands 55.7 % 51.3 % 55.8 % 49.3 % Las Vegas Operating Properties 20.1 % 22.4 % 23.2 % 21.8 % Sands Bethlehem 27.0 % 25.2 % 25.9 % 26.2 % Total 37.8 % 38.5 % 37.7 % 36.2 %

Exhibit 3 Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Subsidiaries Supplemental Data (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Casino Statistics: The Venetian Macao: Table games win per unit per day (1) $ 12,648 $ 11,930 $ 12,845 $ 11,382 Slot machine win per unit per day (2) $ 239 $ 268 $ 243 $ 263 Average number of table games 565 635 560 643 Average number of slot machines 1,675 1,819 1,623 1,900 Sands Cotai Central: Table games win per unit per day (1) $ 10,264 $ 9,784 $ 10,286 $ 9,212 Slot machine win per unit per day (2) $ 314 $ 331 $ 307 $ 321 Average number of table games 392 480 398 504 Average number of slot machines 1,798 1,752 1,726 1,850 The Parisian Macao: (3) Table games win per unit per day (1) $ 12,258 $ 8,289 $ 10,055 $ 8,289 Slot machine win per unit per day (2) $ 205 $ 327 $ 225 $ 327 Average number of table games 377 404 381 404 Average number of slot machines 1,507 1,517 1,523 1,517 The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao: Table games win per unit per day (1) $ 14,627 $ 16,126 $ 14,066 $ 14,580 Slot machine win per unit per day (2) $ 380 $ 462 $ 444 $ 449 Average number of table games 103 93 101 96 Average number of slot machines 221 147 183 147 Sands Macao: Table games win per unit per day (1) $ 6,853 $ 7,046 $ 8,206 $ 7,297 Slot machine win per unit per day (2) $ 220 $ 274 $ 240 $ 267 Average number of table games 192 244 200 257 Average number of slot machines 1,000 879 919 906 Marina Bay Sands: Table games win per unit per day (1) $ 10,832 $ 9,576 $ 10,980 $ 8,883 Slot machine win per unit per day (2) $ 666 $ 680 $ 658 $ 664 Average number of table games 580 590 576 595 Average number of slot machines 2,499 2,487 2,493 2,463 Las Vegas Operating Properties: Table games win per unit per day (1) $ 3,193 $ 3,724 $ 3,331 $ 3,001 Slot machine win per unit per day (2) $ 306 $ 284 $ 282 $ 275 Average number of table games 233 251 241 246 Average number of slot machines 1,892 1,989 1,945 2,001 Sands Bethlehem: Table games win per unit per day (1) $ 3,651 $ 3,421 $ 3,539 $ 3,404 Slot machine win per unit per day (2) $ 270 $ 272 $ 271 $ 278 Average number of table games 175 177 176 177 Average number of slot machines 3,148 3,146 3,154 3,049

(1) Table games win per unit per day is shown before discounts and commissions. (2) Slot machine win per unit per day is shown before deducting cost for slot points. (3) The Parisian Macao opened on September 13, 2016.

Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Room Statistics: The Venetian Macao: Occupancy % 90.7 % 93.2 % 90.0 % 83.7 % Average daily room rate (ADR) (1) $ 224 $ 209 $ 214 $ 215 Revenue per available room (RevPAR) (2) $ 203 $ 195 $ 193 $ 180 Sands Cotai Central: Occupancy % 93.0 % 89.2 % 84.6 % 80.9 % Average daily room rate (ADR) (1) $ 148 $ 145 $ 147 $ 149 Revenue per available room (RevPAR) (2) $ 138 $ 129 $ 124 $ 121 The Parisian Macao: (3) Occupancy % 94.1 % 87.5 % 87.9 % 87.5 % Average daily room rate (ADR) (1) $ 144 $ 138 $ 140 $ 138 Revenue per available room (RevPAR) (2) $ 136 $ 121 $ 123 $ 121 The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao: Occupancy % 80.8 % 80.8 % 80.4 % 73.0 % Average daily room rate (ADR) (1) $ 335 $ 345 $ 352 $ 348 Revenue per available room (RevPAR) (2) $ 271 $ 279 $ 283 $ 254 Sands Macao: Occupancy % 95.7 % 97.9 % 97.4 % 96.6 % Average daily room rate (ADR) (1) $ 191 $ 190 $ 192 $ 200 Revenue per available room (RevPAR) (2) $ 183 $ 186 $ 187 $ 193 Marina Bay Sands: Occupancy % 96.6 % 98.3 % 95.9 % 97.6 % Average daily room rate (ADR) (1) $ 445 $ 475 $ 426 $ 415 Revenue per available room (RevPAR) (2) $ 430 $ 467 $ 409 $ 405 Las Vegas Operating Properties: Occupancy % 97.0 % 96.5 % 94.7 % 94.5 % Average daily room rate (ADR) (1) $ 232 $ 240 $ 248 $ 244 Revenue per available room (RevPAR) (2) $ 225 $ 232 $ 235 $ 230 Sands Bethlehem: Occupancy % 96.1 % 97.2 % 93.4 % 94.9 % Average daily room rate (ADR) (1) $ 164 $ 164 $ 161 $ 159 Revenue per available room (RevPAR) (2) $ 158 $ 160 $ 151 $ 151

(1) ADR is calculated by dividing total room revenue by total rooms occupied. (2) RevPAR is calculated by dividing total room revenue by total rooms available. (3) The Parisian Macao opened on September 13, 2016.

Exhibit 4 Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Subsidiaries Non-GAAP Measure Reconciliation (In millions) (Unaudited) The following is a reconciliation of Net Income to Consolidated Adjusted Property EBITDA and Hold-Normalized Adjusted Property EBITDA: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Net income $ 685 $ 606 $ 1,901 $ 1,409 Add (deduct): Income tax expense 73 69 220 187 Loss on modification or early retirement of debt  3 5 3 Other (income) expense 19 (21) 80 33 Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized 83 65 240 198 Interest income (4) (2) (11) (6) Loss on disposal or impairment of assets 21 5 27 15 Amortization of leasehold interests in land 9 10 28 29 Depreciation and amortization 265 277 913 792 Development expense 3 3 8 7 Pre-opening expense 1 86 7 128 Stock-based compensation (1) 4 2 11 12 Corporate expense 51 39 136 208 Consolidated Adjusted Property EBITDA $ 1,210 $ 1,142 $ 3,565 $ 3,015 Hold-normalized casino revenue (2) (5) (99) Hold-normalized casino expense (2) (23) 28 Consolidated Hold-Normalized Adjusted Property EBITDA $ 1,182 $ 1,071

(1) During the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $8 million and $7 million, respectively, of which $4 million is included in corporate expense on the company's condensed consolidated statements of operations. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $26 million and $28 million, respectively, of which $15 million is included in corporate expense on the company's condensed consolidated statements of operations. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $1 million in pre-opening and development expense on the company's condensed consolidated statements of operations. (2) See Exhibit 5.

Exhibit 5 Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Subsidiaries Non-GAAP Measure Reconciliation (In millions) (Unaudited) The following are reconciliations of Adjusted Property EBITDA to Hold-Normalized Adjusted Property EBITDA: Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 Hold-Normalized Adjusted Hold-Normalized Hold-Normalized Adjusted Property Casino Casino Property EBITDA Revenue (1) Expense (2) EBITDA Macao Operations $ 652 $ 18 $ (28) $ 642 Marina Bay Sands 442 (40) 8 410 United States: Las Vegas Operating Properties 76 17 (3) 90 Sands Bethlehem 40   40 $ 1,210 $ (5) $ (23) $ 1,182 Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 Hold-Normalized Adjusted Hold-Normalized Hold-Normalized Adjusted Property Casino Casino Property EBITDA Revenue (1) Expense (2) EBITDA Macao Operations $ 628 $ (73) $ 23 $ 578 Marina Bay Sands 391 (29) 6 368 United States: Las Vegas Operating Properties 86 3 (1) 88 Sands Bethlehem 37   37 $ 1,142 $ (99) $ 28 $ 1,071

(1) For Macao Operations and Marina Bay Sands, this represents the estimated incremental casino revenue related to Rolling volume play that would have been earned or lost had the company's current period win percentage equaled 3.15% for Macao Operations and 2.85% for Marina Bay Sands. This calculation will only be applied if the current period win percentage is outside the expected range of 3.0% to 3.3% for Macao Operations and 2.7% to 3.0% for Marina Bay Sands. The company revised the expected target and range for its Macao Operations due to the Rolling win percentage experienced over the last several years. The prior year non-GAAP measurement for our Macao Operations has also been adjusted to reflect this change for comparison purposes. For the Las Vegas Operating Properties, this represents the estimated incremental casino revenue related to all table games play that would have been earned or lost had the company's current period win percentage equaled 22.0% for Baccarat and 20.0% for non-Baccarat. This calculation will only be applied if the current period win percentages for Baccarat and non-Baccarat are outside the expected ranges of 18.0% to 26.0% and 16.0% to 24.0%, respectively. The company revised the expected target and range for its Las Vegas Operating Properties due to the win percentage experienced over the last several years. The prior year non-GAAP measurement has also been adjusted to reflect this change for comparison purposes. For Sands Bethlehem, no adjustments have been made. These amounts have been offset by the estimated commissions paid and discounts and other incentives rebated directly or indirectly to customers. (2) Represents the estimated incremental expenses (gaming taxes, bad debt expense and commissions paid to third parties) that would have been incurred or avoided on the incremental casino revenue calculated in (1) above.

Exhibit 6 Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Subsidiaries Non-GAAP Measure Reconciliation (In millions, except per share data) (Unaudited) The following is a reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to Las Vegas Sands Corp. to Adjusted Net Income and Hold-Normalized Adjusted Net Income: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2017 2016 (1) 2017 2016 (1) Net income attributable to Las Vegas Sands Corp. $ 570 $ 513 $ 1,595 $ 1,161 Nonrecurring corporate expense    79 Pre-opening expense 1 86 7 128 Development expense 3 3 8 7 Loss on disposal or impairment of assets 21 5 27 15 Other (income) expense 19 (21) 80 33 Loss on modification or early retirement of debt  3 5 3 Income tax impact on net income adjustments (2)  1  (19) Noncontrolling interest impact on net income adjustments (7) (28) (12) (49) Adjusted net income $ 607 $ 562 $ 1,710 $ 1,358 Hold-normalized casino revenue (3) (5) (99) Hold-normalized casino expense (3) (23) 28 Income tax impact on hold adjustments (2) 1 3 Noncontrolling interest impact on hold adjustments 3 15 Hold-normalized adjusted net income $ 583 $ 509 The following is a reconciliation of Diluted Earnings per Share to Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share and Hold-Normalized Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2017 2016 (1) 2017 2016 (1) Per diluted share of common stock: Net income attributable to Las Vegas Sands Corp. $ 0.72 $ 0.65 $ 2.01 $ 1.46 Nonrecurring corporate expense    0.10 Pre-opening expense  0.11 0.01 0.16 Development expense 0.01  0.01 0.01 Loss on disposal or impairment of assets 0.03 0.01 0.03 0.02 Other (income) expense 0.02 (0.03) 0.10 0.04 Loss on modification or early retirement of debt   0.01  Income tax impact on net income adjustments    (0.02) Noncontrolling interest impact on net income adjustments (0.01) (0.03) (0.01) (0.06) Adjusted earnings per diluted share $ 0.77 $ 0.71 $ 2.16 $ 1.71 Hold-normalized casino revenue (0.01) (0.13) Hold-normalized casino expense (0.03) 0.04 Income tax impact on hold adjustments   Noncontrolling interest impact on hold adjustments 0.01 0.02 Hold-normalized adjusted earnings per diluted share $ 0.74 $ 0.64 Weighted average diluted shares outstanding 792 795 793 795
Rome Fortunes been bubbling up over the past few years but its looking like 2018 is about to be his for the taking. The Atlanta rapper sets himself apart from others in his city with not only his look but his sound. He maintains the same feel of trap within his stuff but hes not restricted to it. Today, he continues to prove that his creativity in flowing with his latest record Ten Four.

Ten Four is Rome Fortunes latest single off of his upcoming Pimpstar Popstar EP. Its a fun new single that has a ridiculous amount of bounce to it. The song is definitely a good introduction to what he has coming on his upcoming project. The production was handled by Lava Dome, whos been working with Rome for quite some time. The two of them have great chemistry together and you could hear it once again on Ten Four.

In an interview with Billboard, he said he and Lava Dome wanted to make the song feel like its a party.

My producer Lava Dome and I stripped Ten Four down to make you feel like youre at a high-end, trap rave in a submerged submarine, Fortune told them. Their goal was met. The single falls in line with some of the other EDM type production hes worked with in the past and definitely feels like some sort of rave poppin off in your ears.

With the release of this single ahead of his EP, its safe to say that hell deliver yet another promising project. Back in 2016, he dropped his debut album Jerome Raheem Fortune. While hes previously dropped several mixtapes and EPs in the past, his debut album was met with positive reception by his fans and continued to prove that hes a force to be reckoned with. Now, well have to see what he has in store with his upcoming Pimpstar Popstar project.

Quotable Lyrics

Freestyle in a na phone

Im pissing and Im shitting on

My competition constantly

like honestly, I feel at home


We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector
TICHIGAN  Former eighth-grade teacher Justin D. Spiegelhoff, 35, of the 300 block of Wainwright Avenue in Burlington, is accused of sexually assaulting one of his former students at Washington-Caldwell Elementary School in the Tichigan area of the Town of Waterford.

According to the criminal complaint:

The alleged incidents of sexual assault occurred in the 2011-2012 school year. That year, Spiegelhoff would allegedly make extra time to spend with one of the students, keeping her in class at recess and holding her after school.

He also reportedly wrote the girl notes, gave her gifts and called her on her cellphone. In one of those calls, Spiegelhoff reportedly asked the girl if she had done anything sexually with anyone and if she would have sex with someone if she liked that person. He also reportedly told her he wanted to date her when she turned 18.

Spiegelhoff also reportedly touched the girl inappropriately on several occasions, including one time when he grabbed her, kissed her and reached under her shirt.

In August 2015, an investigator with the Racine County Sheriffs Office met with the girl, who said that Spiegelhoff had touched her inappropriately multiple times without her consent when she had been one of his students.

The Journal Times contacted the Racine County Sheriffs Office and the District Attorneys Office to establish why there was a two-year gap between the accusers meeting with the investigator and Spiegelhoffs arrest. Neither commented on the case.

A $10,000 warrant was issued for Spiegelhoff on Oct. 18. He turned himself in Monday and had his initial court appearance on Tuesday.

Spiegelhoff is charged with second-degree assault of a child, a class C felony.

On Tuesday, he posted his $50,000 bond. The conditions of his release were that he had to give a DNA sample and is not allowed contact with the alleged victim or any other minors aside from his own children.

Spiegelhoffs preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 15.

The Journal Times contacted the Washington-Caldwell School District but no one was available to comment. He is not listed as a current staff member, according to the districts online directory.

This story has been edited since publication to correct the location of Washington-Caldwell School.
Zambia National Day

Washington, DC - Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson: "On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, congratulations to the people of Zambia as you celebrate the 53rd anniversary of your nations independence.

"Over the last 53 years, we have seen Zambias continued development as a nation that shares many common values and interests with the United States. Zambia continues to be a strong regional leader in fostering peace and security. As a country, you have made remarkable strides in fighting HIV/AIDS. We applaud your history of democracy and democratic transitions and vision for achieving broad economic growth. Your countrys future rests on continued advancement in all of these areas, including constructive dialogue, reconciliation, and respect for due process and civil rights. The United States stands as a ready partner with the Zambian people as you chart your way forward.

"Best wishes to all Zambians on this day of your commemoration."
RACINE  One of the men charged after allegedly shooting at a man following an altercation in March pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday.

Jaquan L. Davis, 21, of the 3700 block of 21st Street, is charged with felony counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree recklessly endangering safety, both as a party to a crime with the use of a dangerous weapon.

Davis is in custody and is being held on a $50,000 cash bond, online records show.

The other suspect in the shooting, 25-year-old Marsean L. Herrington of the 1000 block of Washington Avenue, is charged with felony counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, possession of a firearm by a felon, first-degree recklessly endangering safety and bail jumping, and a misdemeanor count of bail jumping.

Online records indicate an arrest warrant has been issued for Herrington, but as of Wednesday afternoon, he did not appear to be in custody.

Shooting incident

On March 5, police investigated a shots-fired incident that occurred in the 1900 block of Cleveland Avenue. A witness said he heard a commotion and saw a group of people fighting.

The fight reportedly began because Herringtons girlfriend had allegedly been at an ex-boyfriends home. When Herrington saw the ex-boyfriend at McDonalds, he reportedly followed him back to Cleveland Avenue.

The group Herrington was with reportedly got into a confrontation with the ex-boyfriend, and a male with glasses  later identified as Davis  reportedly pulled out a gun.

This caused the men to stop fighting and a group of men, including the man with the gun, got into a PT Cruiser, then drove north on Cleveland Avenue. When the vehicle passed a Chevrolet Impala, several shots were reportedly fired from the PT Cruiser, the complaint stated.

Witnesses also stated they had seen Davis hand off a gun to Herrington, and they believe Herrington was the shooter in the incident.

A pre-trial hearing for Davis is scheduled for Dec. 8 at the Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave.
Gondhoraj Momos Take Over West Bengal; Have You Tried Them Yet?
What to get a city for its 1000th birthday?

Businessman Michael Smurfit settled for a 250,000 bronze monument in the heart of Dublin to commemorate the citys 1000th year. The Anna Livia monument was commissioned by Smurfit and dedicated to his father Jefferson Smurfit Senior.

Expand Close Michael Smurfit, who donated the Anna Livia Statue on behalf of the Smurfit family to the people of Dublin, pictured with the Lord Mayor, Carmencita Hederman / Facebook

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Whatsapp Michael Smurfit, who donated the Anna Livia Statue on behalf of the Smurfit family to the people of Dublin, pictured with the Lord Mayor, Carmencita Hederman

It was created by sculptor Eamonn ODoherty and named after a character in James Joyces Finnegans Wake, Anna Livia Plurabelle, the human embodiment of the River Liffey.

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The statue caused quite a stir with Dubliners, not least for its prominent position in the heart of OConnell Street. The reclining figure was positioned beneath a fountain, earning her the memorable nickname The Floozy in the Jacuzzi. The statue was unveiled on June 17th, 1988, but the event was dramatised by a group of anti-extradition protesters who swarmed the unveiling before being detained by Garda.

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Smurfit was joined by Dublin Mayor Carmencita Hederman in front of a crowd of onlookers. Among them was OConnell Streets other famous face Margaret Dunne, otherwise known as The Dancing Lady.

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Anna Livia became a focal point of OConnell Street over the years, until she was removed in 2001 to make way for the regeneration of the area. The statue was kept in storage for ten years until a new home was found in Croppies Memorial Park, beside the River Liffey.

Her second unveiling caused almost as much as a stir as the first did, with the statue being floated down the length of the River until it reached the Guinness Brewery. From there it was lifted by a truck and taken to what is hopefully its final resting place, overlooking the river that inspired its creation.

If you want to see more images like this, explore our galleries at Independent Archives
Placing time limits on abortion for women who received a diagnosis of severe or fatal foetal anomaly is unworkable, campaigners for those affected have said.

In an emotional address to the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, Gerry Edwards, chairman of Termination for Medical Reasons Ireland, laid bare the trauma of travelling home from the UK on a ferry or plane with the remains of a still born child.

He asked politicians if any of them would be comfortable with a relative or neighbour going through the ordeal.

Mr Edwards said mothers and fathers who find themselves in these distressing circumstances feel abandoned and treated like "medical refugees".

And he said they can only make a decision on whether to seek an abortion abroad after getting the best information on the diagnosis from their doctors.

"It is important that we point out here that it is impossible to require families to get this information and process it, and to arrive at a decision within a 22-week gestation limit," he said.

"This limit is one area that we feel must be reconsidered by this committee.

"Nobody should be judged for coming to the point where hope ends."

Mr Edwards's son Joshua died from anencephaly, a condition that prevents the normal development of the brain and skull.

He said some families have to leave the baby behind in the UK for a post mortem.

Others are later able to repatriate the ashes of their child.

He said there is then the question of whether a priest will grant a funeral in Ireland.

"It makes it almost impossible for us to grieve normally and leads to more traumatic, complicated and disenfranchised grief than would be expected if we were properly supported throughout this entire process," he said.

Mr Edwards said other families find the ordeal of travelling to the UK for an abortion too arduous.

He said abortion services should be part of maternity care and available to all regardless of location or financial means.

Mr Edwards also said protests or harassment of patients seeking abortion services should not be tolerated under any circumstances.

The Oireachtas committee met on Wednesday to examine recommendations on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution ahead of a planned referendum in the middle of next year.

A leading psychiatrist told the committee that everyone's mental health is being damaged by Ireland's constitutional rules and restrictions on abortion.

Professor Veronica O'Keane, of Tallaght Mental Health Services and Trinity College Dublin told politicians that there is no register of women who have sought a termination for mental health reasons and been denied.

She said there is no information to say some of those women did not die later.

The psychiatrist told the committee that legislation which allows for a termination if there is a real and substantial risk to a woman's life, including the threat of suicide, is clumsy and difficult for women.

Prof O'Keane said the experience of women who travel to the UK for an abortion has been made real, both at the Citizens' Assembly and during the @TwoWomenTravel publicity campaign.

She said: "I would go further and say that the mental health of every person in Ireland is being damaged by the Eighth Amendment.

"We are all shamed by the current situation."

Prof O'Keane said changing abortion legislation in Ireland will not lead to an increase in the number of women who terminate a pregnancy.

And she praised the Citizens' Assembly and its decision to recommend no distinction between mental and physical health for access to abortion.

"It is an enormous relief," she said.

"It is a relief to those of us working in psychiatry and to allied mental health professions, to colleagues from other medical and surgical disciplines, and to the many Irish people who suffer from mental health problems."

Prof O'Keane also noted research of more than 100,000 women in the US which found unwanted pregnancy increases the risk of perinatal depression by 50%.

She said the mental health risks associated with unwanted pregnancies are high, and are incalculable for women who are in a position where abortion care is not available.

Prof O'Keane said the mental health arguments for decent abortion services apply, but not just to the women who need abortion care and who can or who cannot travel, but to every citizen.

"We need a real-life solution to the real life problem of unwanted pregnancy and not a moral, ethical, metaphysical, philosophical discussion about abortion," she said.
EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said Britain must accept the full economic and legal status quo in a transition period after it leaves the EU and should expect no tailor-made terms on trade in its future relationship.

Suggesting a transition should run for 21 months from Brexit on March 30, 2019, until the current EU budget expires at the end of 2020, Mr Barnier said Britain would "certainly" remain subject to EU laws and courts during that transition.

"During this period, the EU legal framework including on jurisdiction would continue to apply to Britain," he said.

"We don't have time to invent a new model. So for a short time after the formal exit from the EU the economic status quo would continue to apply, which besides the internal market also includes the customs union and collective political decisions."

He also said: "The only difference is that the British would no longer take part in decisions on European legislation."

British Prime Minister Theresa May has proposed a transition of around two years to give time to put a new free trade pact in place, but she faces opposition in London from some Brexit supporters who want a clean, quick break.

Mr Barnier noted she had rejected the option of staying in the EU single market long term - the "Norwegian model" as he called it, referring to Norway's membership of the EU internal market, accepting all its rules and costs without having a say.

"So we must work on other hypotheses. Another option would be a free-trade treaty using the example of the Ceta agreement with Canada. It would take several years, however, to negotiate such an agreement," he said.

Asked if that meant "a specifically British model" along the lines of the "bespoke arrangements" Mrs May has referred to without giving detail, Mr Barnier replied simply: "No."

He said a trade deal could be agreed in three years - meaning that if talks start in December it would be ready just in time for a transition ending in December 2020.
MOUNT PLEASANT  The Village of Mount Pleasant has been in closed-session discussions with Racine County and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for days regarding road construction for the Foxconn Technology Group facility.

Although the deal between Foxconn and the state has not been finalized, attorney Alan Marcuvitz, who has been a legal adviser to the village, is confident Foxconn will be coming to Mount Pleasant.

Im not going to say if the Foxconn project does go ahead, Im just going to say, when the Foxconn project goes ahead, Marcuvitz said.

On Monday, the village took a major step forward and unanimously approved an agreement among the village, county and DOT to transfer jurisdiction of roads in the Foxconn construction area to the state during the building period starting in November.

The Racine County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on this same agreement on Thursday.

We have village roads, we have county roads, we have state roads and all of them need work to facilitate the project, Village President Dave DeGroot said. Its a temporary jurisdictional transfer.

According to the agreement, after construction is finished, jurisdiction will be transferred back to the village and county.

Marcuvitz said during the years of construction, the village and county will continue to receive the normal transportation aid from the state and the state is taking on the entire cost of construction of all roads.

The village, according to the agreement, has to pay the Department of Transportation $11.5 million by Jan. 1, 2023.

Marcuvitz said that money was already earmarked to develop Braun Road.

Instead, were going to turn $11.5 million over to the state and the state will do all of the work to complete this program, Marcuvitz said. The cost to the village will be exactly the same thats in the project budget but, as we pointed out with the state taking on the burdens of all of this work, we are removed from the possibility of having the extra cost overrun.

Home purchase approved by village

The village also approved one of the first property buys of a home on the 9400 block of Braun Road, for $192,000, and plans to close the sale before the end of November.

The story happens to be a person was going to buy a single-family home  and discovered two days before they were to close that this was part of the Foxconn Area 3 and decided he did not want to move his family into such a construction zone, Marcuvitz said.

Marcuvitz added the home buyer originally tried to get out of the contract but the seller was reluctant to allow it. The buyer then had a Burlington Realtor contact the village to see if they would be interested in buying the property.

Property does not have to be in, what you might call, distressed circumstances to be offered to the village, Marcuvitz said. The village would be happy to receive offers to sell on any property thats located within the boundaries.

Marcuvitz said the village is precluded from making offers to property owners until a relocation plan has been approved by the state.

Thats maybe 45 to 60 days from now, Marcuvitz said; however, property owners can approach the village with an offer. If they want to make an offer we are legally permitted to consider that offer. We just cant make offers until we go through this process.

Foxconn contracts approved

The Village Board also approved seven contracts related to the Foxconn development.

The contracts are for:

The Sigma Group, for environmental and site assessments.

Real Estate Underwriting Services, for appraisal review.

Single Source, for appraisal services.

G.J. Miesbauer and Associates/Terra Ventures, for acquisition and relocation services.

Pitts Brothers and Associates for appraisal services.

The Nicholson Group for appraisal engagement letter.

The Acquisition Connection for site acquisition and site assessment.

Two more appraisal contracts are expected to be voted on by the board at a future board meeting. Marcuvitz said the contracts were not done in time for Mondays meeting.

Marcuvitz said these contracts will help make sure the village is ready to start making moves on the properties.

Were not going to start spending money under these contracts until were satisfied that the Foxconn project is really moving ahead, Marcuvitz said.

Marcuvitz added that these contracts are not construction contracts, which is subject to the open bidding process; this is one of the exceptions to the open bidding process.

These firms work likely will be paid for with a $10 million grant by the state, Marcuvitz said.

The state assures us that the grant money will be made available to cover all of these expenses when they occur, Marcuvitz said. This will not be a cost to the village; it will be paid for by the state.

Trustee Gary Feest said hes worried the village is sucking up the good appraisal firms, causing residents to go further away to find an appraiser.

We have four firms for appraisal? I guess Im just a little concerned that youre taking all the appraisal firms out of here, and what do the residents do? Feest said. Theyre going to have to go to Madison to get an appraisal firm. Specifically, theres one of the two in this first batch Id rather have them on the appraisal side of the residents, who are going to be displaced, because theyre good.

Marcuvitz said the village has to move quickly for the project to be on time.
How to deal with the Border issue post-Brexit looks increasingly intractable.

Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has argued we are on the cusp of agreement on maintaining the Common Travel Area, which will ensure the free movement of people north and south. But maintaining current levels of cross border cooperation and integration, and ensuring the tariff-free movement of goods and business are key issues that so far remain unresolved.

A new report published jointly by the 11 border councils in Northern Ireland and the Republic highlights the economic and trade vulnerabilities in the region in the event of a hard Brexit.

The 46-page study concludes that even without Brexit, the region already suffers problems that could be exacerbated in the event of the UK crashing out of the EU, with productivity a particular issue of concern.

The report notes that in the North, just two local authority areas - Mid Ulster and Armagh City, and Banbridge and Craigavon - have productivity levels that in most years outperform the Northern Ireland average, which itself is behind the rest of the UK. The Republic's border region not only lags the national average and those for Dublin and the South West, but also other poorly performing regions such as the South East, the report states.

"Despite the fact that the Irish border corridor has received significant amounts of EU and other funding since the 1990s, it continues to lag behind national or regional averages in areas such as productivity and household incomes," said the report entitled 'Brexit and the Border Corridor on the island of Ireland: Risks, Opportunities and issues to Consider'

"Given the current levels of cross-border co-dependency across the local authority areas, a poorly managed Brexit could mean economic outcomes where the region falls further behind."

Read more: City firms warning over triggering Brexit plans

The report estimates that there are around 87,000 businesses in the border region as a whole, 40pc of which are in the agricultural sector. The report suggests that figure could be greater, as it states that the data excludes the self-employed, where agriculture and construction are particularly strong

Cross-border trade in goods totals over 3bn, the report states. While cross-border goods trade accounts for less than 2pc of Ireland's total exports, for firms in the border region in the Republic, its importance is central. It's a similar picture for the UK as a whole. In 2014, 18pc of the Republic's services exports and 14pc of goods went into the UK. But the share of exports from the Republic's border counties to the UK in the same year was as high as 33pc - almost twice the national average, the report noted.

Northern Ireland's exports are also highly concentrated in the at most risk market. In the same year, 58pc of Northern Ireland's total exports went to the EU, with more than a fifth of those to countries other than the Republic.

Agri-food is one of the sectors that could be worst hit, north and south. The report notes tariffs in the sector could vary considerably. It cites a recent report from InterTradeIreland which stated that the imposition of tariffs could see cross-border trade fall in value by 9pc.

The importance of cross-border trade to small firms, the integration of the agri-food industry and other sectors and the frequency of movement of people, have been helped in recent years by what the report terms "border management".

This includes cross-border co-operation between business bodies, third-level institutions, the health services and community and voluntary groups.

"The success of any future regime for the management of the Irish Border will be judged not only on how well it answers the political and economic dilemmas caused by Brexit, but also how far it allows the current level of co-dependencies which exist across council areas to continue unhindered," the report added.
Agents CBRE expect the increase in stamp duty from 2pc to 6pc to have little impact on the 17.3m sale of a Dublin car park - despite the property industry being up in arms at Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe's decision.

Developed in the early 1990s on the site of the former Moira Hotel, the Trinity Street mixed-use scheme, now known as Moira House, comprises the busy 171-space, multi-storey public car park, three retail units at ground level extending to a total floor area of 5,275 sq ft and four self-contained upper floor office suites extending to 2,060 sq ft overall.

While the car park might not attract too much attention from passing pedestrians, drivers venturing in to shop or dine out in Dublin 2 will be aware of its reputation as one of the city's most expensive places to leave a car.

Currently, the rate at Moira House comes in at a not inconsiderable 4 per hour.

Moira House is let under a single, 35-year lease which expires in 2029, at a current annual rent of 920,000.

The car park accounts for 636,000 of that income with the remaining 284,000 being derived from the retail and office elements.

The property's principal tenant operates the public car park itself and has sub-let the various retail and office accommodation to third parties including the renowned Pichet restaurant and Excel Dry Cleaners.

The scheme is located on Trinity Street with frontages to both St Andrew's Lane and Dame Lane.

The car park is well-positioned to cater for the demand thrown up by visitors to Grafton Street and Temple Bar.

The potential of the facility is bolstered further by a number of new hotels currently in the planning process in the area.

Based on the property's 17.3m guide price, its buyer can expect to secure a net initial yield of 4.9pc once standard purchasers' costs, including 6pc stamp duty, are deducted.

Notwithstanding the introduction of the higher stamp duty rate, CBRE executive director Willie Norse expects Moira House to be of interest to traditional investors and specialist car park-related investment funds.

The property will be one of a number of early litmus tests for Mr Donohoe's calculation that the commercial real estate sector will generate sufficient activity to deliver 376m in stamp duty receipts in the next 12 months.

While numerous property industry analysts have argued that international investors in particular will be deterred by the increase in the stamp duty rate, Mr Donohoe remains adamant that it will have little impact.

Addressing the issue at Davy's annual conference last Thursday night, he said: "I take advice in relation to what I think the yield will be. I'm satisfied as to the advice I've received.

"If I look at the contribution I believe it will make to my tax take next year, I believe it will deliver that yield. I also believe it's manageable."

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Plans to knock down one of Dublin's most famous pubs to make way for the construction of an aparthotel have been given the go-ahead, despite locals' objections.

Tom O'Connor wants to demolish Scruffy Murphy's - off Mount Street near the Grand Canal - as part of plans for new tourist accommodation with self-catering facilities.

Mr O'Connor was seeking planning for 36 suites. However, the number of suites is to be reduced after the city council ruled that one of the six floors be omitted from the permission granted.

The development also includes a restaurant, bar and cafe on the ground floor.

Consultants for Mr O'Connor said the development would address the deficit of flexible aparthotel rooms in Dublin.

The Council gave the plan the go-ahead in spite of residents complaining that an aparthotel would be unsuitable in a quiet residential area.

Residents were concerned about scale, noise, traffic and lack of parking facilities.

One local resident Dr Kevin Byrne told the Council that "the height and scale of this development is too big for the location and there would be multiple sizeable negative impacts on the amenity of the neighbouring residents".

The Council gave the plan the go-ahead after the planner in the case said the building was vacant and in poor condition.

The report states: "Therefore, the appropriate redevelopment is considered beneficial to the surrounding area."

The report also pointed out that, given the city centre location and previous use, the planned use is acceptable.
Farmers should remain watchful for signs of bluetongue virus following the detection of the virus in post import checks in Great Britain in a number of cattle imported from France.

That is the message from Northern Irelands Chief Veterinary Officer, Robert Huey. He is warning all herd and flock keepers to source animals responsibly and consider carefully the risks associated with sourcing animals from Continental Europe.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in Britain successfully picked up the infected animals through its post-import testing regime.

APHA is working closely with the livestock keepers affected to ensure that swift action is taken to prevent spread of the disease with movement restrictions at affected premises, targeted surveillance and the humane culling of animals where necessary.

The UK remains officially bluetongue-free and exports are not affected.

Mr Huey said: Bluetongue does not pose a threat to human health or food safety, but can have a severe impact on affected farms.

While I am pleased that the robust disease surveillance procedures in operation across the UK have worked, the identification offers a timely reminder to farmers for the need to remain vigilant and of the risks of importing animals from disease-affected areas into their herds.

Mr Huey added: It is vitally important that we continue to keep bluetongue out. The main risk to Northern Ireland continues to be the import of infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova). Our farmers need to avoid bringing animals here that may have been exposed to infection. This means they should not import animals from countries affected by bluetongue.

Farmers should consider the potentially adverse consequences of importing animals from or transiting through bluetongue affected countries or zones. The risk is not only to themselves but to the whole industry as trade can be badly affected as a result.

Mr Huey said: Anyone who does take a risk, faces the possibility that if the imported animals are subsequently found to be infected with bluetongue, they will be slaughtered and no compensation will be paid.
THE number of farm deaths so far in 2017 has equalled the total number of fatalities for all of 2016.

The Health and Safety Authority told the Farming Independent that the two deaths that occurred on farms in Cork and Wicklow over the weekend bring the total of farm accident deaths to 21  already matching the total from last year.
An artists impression of the data centre planned for Athenry in Co Galway

Two local residents have asked a High Court judge to allow them appeal his decision clearing the way for tech giant Apple to develop the first phase of a planned 850m data centre in Athenry, Co Galway.

Sinead Fitzpatrick and Allan Daly, of Lisheenkyle, Athenry, claim the High Court wrongly found that An Bord Pleanala met its obligations by carrying out an environmental impact assessment (EIA) on Apples planning application for one data hall.

Because Apples masterplan for the entire development will include eight data halls, the Board was required to do an EIA of the masterplan, their counsel Michael McDowell SC said.

Although an inspector with the Board raised concerns about the energy demands of the entire date centre and its impact on Irelands obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Board itself failed to take a position on that key issue, he said.

The Athenry site was selected because of its 500 acre size and the fact it could accommodate eight data halls and the project would not go ahead unless all eight were built in accordance with Apples masterplan, he said.

How was it permissible to go ahead with one eighth of a masterplan without a full assessment of the entire masterplan? he asked.

His side met the legal criteria entitling them to bring an appeal as they had shown the courts judgment dismissing their case raised points of law of exceptional public importance which were desirable, in the public interest, for the courts to decide, he said.

Their points of law include the extent to which interdependence between various developments needs to be considered in deciding whether a particular development is a standalone one. Another point concerned the obligation under national and EU law to identify the main effects of the development and the main measures to reduce or offset those.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott will hear closing arguments from Mr McDowell on Thursday on the application for leave to appeal his judgment delivered earlier this month.

Opposing permission for an appeal, Nuala Butler SC, for the Board, said the proposed development was unusual as no such development had proceeded in Ireland before and it was also very significant for the East Galway area.

However, the legal issues raised were not that unusual and the courts judgment raised no point of law of exceptional public importance entitling the applicants to appeal, she argued.

The Board had taken account of Apples overall masterplan although the masterplan was not the subject of the planning application, she said. The masterplan was relevant to the Boards consideration, including whether the Athenry site was appropriate.

The Board was not required to conduct a full EIA of the masterplan and the High Court had correctly found that was the case, she said.

The applicants had also failed to show an appeal was necessary in the public interest, she argued. Taking the matter further would delay the development and that was not in the public interest.

Rory Mulcahy SC, for Apple, endorsed Ms Butlers arguments and said the applicants had failed to identity any error in the High Courts judgment. Nor had they shown an appeal was necessary in the public interest, he argued.

Counsel for Brian McDonagh, whose separate challenge to the Apple permission was also rejected by the judge, told the judge he and solicitors had just been instructed in the case on Tuesday evening and wanted time to consider their position.

The judge said he had fixed this week to consider application for leave to appeal and Mr McDonagh should note that.

In his judgment on the case by Mr McDonagh, Ballymount Cross Business Park, Dublin, the judge found Mr McDonagh lacked the necessary legal standing to challenge the permission as he does not live close to the site and had not participated in the planning process.

Mr McDonagh should have disclosed at an early stage he was a director and shareholder of Ecologic Data Centre Ltd which had secured permission for a data centre on a Co Wicklow site considered as an alternative location for the Apple development, the judge added.
STURTEVANT  The Sturtevant Village Board on Tuesday night appeared resolute in its intention to defund city bus service to the village next year. And thats going to cause problems and lost jobs, the board was told.

Last week, it was disclosed that Sturtevants proposed 2018 budget omits any money for Ryde, formerly the Belle Urban System. On Tuesday night, Racines transit and parking system manager, Michael Maierle, made a presentation to the Village Board about Ryde and the Sturtevant bus routes. He offered four options for trustees to consider, including continuing the status quo and removing all bus service.

The moment Maierle concluded, trustees began unleashing their wrath and frustration with him. Trustee Mark Villalpando led off.

We went through this last year: same scenario, same presentation, and we asked you for three things, Villalpando said. One was a contract, which we just got a couple weeks ago. We asked you for data, which you promised to provide us in a timely manner; this is the first time weve seen data this year.

And, Villalpando continued, we asked for a change in a bus route which last year was option No. 3, and that never happened.

So, as of this point, were not really interested, he concluded.

Maierle responded: First of all, I am behind this year. Id like to acknowledge that. This was a big year for Transit and Parking; we had a number of contracts we needed to get to keep the lights on; with the bus service there were a number of lets call urgent things  not necessarily emergencies, but there were some urgent things that delayed me getting back to you.

Maierle also said his recollection of their last meeting was different than what Villalpando had described: that they asked him to look at the circle route for Route 27: an alteration that would send the buses back toward Racine along Highway 11 instead of Highway 20.

We did not have an agreement to do that, Maierle said.

Several trustees immediately disagreed and said there had indeed been direction to do the circle route.

I have an email right here, Trustee Carrie Harbach said. We discussed this on Jan. 23, 2017. And now here were facing again the community looking at us like were cutting a service to them, when the service wasnt provided to us.

I followed up with you personally, to make sure you were going to stay on task. I was told before I was seasoned on the board that historically, follow-up was an issue, that ridership was an issue, contracts were an issue. And there it happened again.

Despite the heat Maierle must have been feeling, Trustee John Johnson said at one point: Dont take it personally, Mr. Maierle. This has been the same song and dance weve gone through for many years. Weve never been able to get ridership numbers. Thats why I was impressed you had them in (the presentation).

But ridership by village residents has been minimal, Johnson said.

Important to many

Several people spoke about what the loss of bus service in Sturtevant would mean to workers, companies and the SC Johnson iMET Center, 2320 Renaissance Blvd., which is a part of Gateway Technical College.

I can see the dilemma you have got, Gateway Vice President for Operations Bill Whyte told the board. But he said students who take classes or boot camps at iMET will suffer without bus service.

Its a service that we really need, Whyte said. I wish there was a way that we could work something out, but he sounded doubtful that Gateway would or could help fund the buses.

Sturtevant resident Michelle Strauss asked why entities such as the Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles and Gateway couldnt contribute toward the bus cost, which would be $46,100 next year for the existing routing and $56,900 for the circle route.

But most comments were about the need for the bus service.

A representative from Kerry Food Ingredients said it has 12 workers, across three shifts, who ride the bus. It definitely would be a loss, he said.

Three people said those who work at Goodwill rely heavily on the buses and that many of those people with disabilities would lose their jobs there.

Barry Uhlenhake, a job counselor with Racine Vocational Ministries, said his participants depend on the bus.

I just know the impact it has on the people I work with year in, year out, Uhlenhake said, and your decision here has a real impact on them.
Dublin and London-listed venture capital investor Draper Esprit has announced the acquisition of Seedcamp Funds I and II for 17.9m (20m).

As a result the company has acquired stakes in a number of high profile growing technology companies including Transferwise.

UK-based Transferwise, an international money transfer platform, will be added to the company's core portfolio.

Launched in 2011, Transferwise is one of Europe's most successful fintech start-ups having raised $117m in funding from a number of investors including Richard Branson.

The portfolio also includes what Draper Esprit described as a number of promising companies including Codacy, Edited, Erply, Fishbrain, Codility, and Winnow.

Following the deal, Draper Esprit will continue to invest further in the portfolio to help it develop and grow, working closely with both the team at Seedcamp and within the portfolio companies as they grow.

The Seedcamp management team will continue to work closely alongside the Draper Esprit team to manage the portfolio and to create further value for founders and investors in the funds.

"This acquisition further bolsters our growing secondary business, and we are excited to work with a really good portfolio of European technology companies including Transferwise," Simon Cook, CEO Draper Esprit, said.

The news comes following yesterdays announcement from Draper Esprit that its portfolio value had increased by a massive 44pc to 162.8m in the six months to 30 September.

Net assets at the company were 266.8m, up from 150.7m in March this year, as the company benefited from substantial growth in its net asset value.

Profit after tax was 20.9m, down from 26m in the same period last year, while the company raised additional capital of 100m during the six month period, according to the groups interim results released yesterday.
Recruitment is currently ongoing for high-end specialist positions Stock photo

A leading biotechnology company is expanding its operations in Ireland with plans for an additional 300 jobs at its Limerick campus.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals' $100m investment project, which is supported by IDA Ireland, brings the total investment at the Industrial Operations and Product Supply (IOPS) bioprocessing site to $750m.

With this latest investment, it is expected that the company's employee base in Ireland of 500 will rise to 850 by the end of 2018, far exceeding initial projections.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD welcomed the additional highly skilled and diverse Regeneron jobs to Limerick.

"Regenerons decision to expand so significantly is testament to the talent pool and attractive business environment available to companies in Ireland," he said.

Recruitment is currently ongoing for high-end specialist positions in commercial manufacturing, process sciences, quality assurance/control/validation and various support functions at the 400,000 square foot, state-of-the-art production facility.

The construction of a number of manufacturing suites to increase drug substance production capacity will be enabled by the $100m investment.

Tanaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Frances Fitzgerald TD said that Regeneron, which set up in Limerick in 2014, has created a "world-class science hub to produce medicine for millions of people".

Dan Van Plew, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Industrial Operations and Product Supply (IOPS) at Regeneron the decision to locate to Limerick initially was based on "gut feel".

"A few years and a lot of experience later, I can now confidently say I know Limerick is a place where you can build and thrive as a biotech."

Regeneron also has a growing Dublin office, currently employing 30 people and serving as the companys European Business Administration headquarters.
The commitments come after they were hauled into meetings with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe (Stock picture)

Banks have lined up to promise faster redress for homeowners and investors who were stripped of their tracker mortgage illegally.

The commitments come after they were hauled into meetings with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe this week to explain their disgraceful behaviour on the tracker issue.

"Today all five banks have made statements unreservedly apologising to their customers who have been adversely and shamefully impacted by the tracker rate scandal," a statement from Minister Donohoe's read on Wednesday evening.

"Let me be very clear - the Government believes that the behaviour of the banking sector in relation to tracker mortgages was disgraceful. This is a scandal. It should never have happened and the Government is determined to ensure that it should be resolved."

"There has been a varying response from the banks and as a result, banks that did actually respond in a more appropriate and customer centric manner will not receive any credit for doing so," he said.

"It is now time that all banks seek to regain the trust of the Irish people by actions, not words."

Ulster Bank has again apologised unreservedly and said it will now pay refunds and compensation to 1,000 affected mortgage holders by the end of the year.

Most of the 3,500 account holders the bank says lost trackers have been restored to the correct rate, but the bank had only paid refunds to 50 people up to now.

Ulster Bank has promised Finance Minister another 1,500 Ulster Bank by the end of next March.

The rest will be refunded and compensated by June, bank boss Gerry Mallon told Mr Donohoe.

Ulster Bank added: Where we identify a customer who has lost their home as a result of the loss of a tracker rate, we communicate with them, arrange a meeting and offer an upfront initial payment of 50,000.

Mr Mallon said: I would like to apologise unreservedly for the failures which led to customers losing their tracker rates, as well as for the length of time which it is taking for us to put this right.

While we have returned existing customers to the correct tracker rate and started to pay redress and compensation, I acknowledge that this process is taking far too long to complete and this is not acceptable.

I apologise to all customers, even those not impacted by the examination for this. We have listened, we are learning and we are focused on completing this process, putting this right and rebuilding our customers trust in Ulster Bank.

Permanent TSB said it expects to have all impacted customers on the correct rate within the next week, and to have paid redress and compensation by the end of the year.

The bank has identified and paid refunds to 1,935 customers in 2015, including 242 accounts at its former subprime subsidiary Springboard.

Another 36 account holders will be put back on the correct tracker rate by the end of this month.

There are another 363 customers due refunds and compensation and they are to be paid by December 31, the bank said.

Chief executive Jeremy Masding said: Permanent TSB fully accepts the very strong concern and disapproval which the Minister expressed about the management of this issue across the banking sector.

KBC said that it sincerely apologises for the past errors the bank has made and the distress this has caused its impacted customers.

That bank said that 571 tracker mortgage customers were already rectified in 2010, and that a further 490 customers have been identified as impacted to date.

KBC said that it anticipates that up to an additional 200 to 600 cases may be impacted, and that it expects to have concluded the identification of the vast majority of customers impacted by year end.

AIB also issued a statement apologising to customers "and reiterates this should never have happened".

The bank said it has redressed and compensated the majority of impacted customers who were identified as no longer on a tracker and were incorrectly on a higher tracker margin for a period of time.

In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, The Central Bank said that its priority remains to ensure that lenders identify all customers affected.

Governor of the Central Bank, Philip R. Lane said: "While we note the commitment of the banks to meet the requirements of the Central Bank and Government, given some lenders past behaviour, the Central Bank is under no illusion that this will require continued and concerted pressure to ensure all affected customers receive redress and compensation.

"It is now incumbent on the heads of the banks to ensure that all affected customers are identified, and to ensure that redress and compensation are delivered swiftly to those to whom so much distress has been caused."
Customers Charles and Theresa Heaney, and Donal and Mary Deady, outside the branch. Photo: Liam Burke/Press 22

Thousands of members of Charleville Credit Union have been sent cheques to cover their deposits following the credit union's shock closure.

According to the Central Bank, payments by cheque have been issued to around 10,900 members of the troubled credit union.

Earlier this month, provisional liquidators were appointed to Charleville Credit Union after an application was made by the Central Bank to the High Court.

At the time, Charleville residents accused the Central Bank of launching an "blatant assault on rural Ireland".

The Central Bank said that the compensation paid amounts to approximately 39.2m, which represents over 98pc of eligible deposits covered by the scheme.

In a statement released on Wednesday morning, the bank said that members, whose deposits are covered under the deposit guarantee scheme (DGS), should start receiving their payments shortly.

However, the Central Bank also stated that the DGS may need some additional information before payments are made, for example in the case of a deceased members estate.
China is set to overtake the United States in 2022 as the worlds largest aviation market. Stock image

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has estimated that 7.8billion people will fly on commercial airlines in 2036 - almost double the four billion expected to fly this year.

And IATA has said that the Asia-Pacific region will account for more than half the new global air passengers over the next two decades.

The organisation has also predicted that China will become the world's largest aviation market, overtaking the United States, sooner than previously anticipated. IATA expects that to happen in 2022, rather than in 2024.

The accelerated timeline is due to slightly faster than expected growth in China and slightly reduced growth in the United States, according to IATA.

China will handle an estimated 1.5 billion passengers in 2036 compared to 571 million this year, IATA predicted. The United States will handle 1.1 billion in 2036, it added.

IATA also forecast that the UK will fall to be being the fifth-biggest air passenger market in 2025, when it will be surpassed by India, and then by Indonesia in 2030.

Europe should see passenger growth of about 2.3pc a year, to see 1.5 billion passengers in the region by 2036."All indicators lead to growing demand for global connectivity," said IATA CEO Alexandre de Juniac, the former CEO of Air France-KLM.

"The world needs to prepare for a doubling of passengers in the next 20 years," he added.

"It's fantastic news for innovation and prosperity, which is driven by air links. It is also a huge challenge for governments and industry to ensure we can successfully meet this essential demand."

Dublin Airport, Ireland's biggest, is expected to handle close to 30 million passengers this year and is hoping to see a new runway come into operation in 2021.

In an interview this month with an airport trade publication, Dublin Airport managing director Vincent Harrison said that the new runway has the potential to "open up connectivity to more challenging parts of our target markets, such as southeast Asia, South America and southern Africa".

Mr de Juniac said that increasing global air travel will result in a "significant infrastructure challenge" for airports.

"The solution does not lie in more complex processes or building bigger and bigger airports but in harnessing the power of new technology to move activity off-airport, streamline processes and improve efficiency," he said.

IATA also warned that if trade protectionism and travel restrictions are put in place, global air passenger growth could slow to 2.7pc per annum.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced plans to build a new city on the Red Sea coast, promising a lifestyle not available in today's Saudi Arabia as he seeks to remake the kingdom in a time of dwindling resources.

The prince said the city project, to be called "NEOM," will operate independently from the "existing governmental framework" with investors consulted at every step during development. The project will be backed by more than $500bn from the Saudi government, its sovereign wealth fund and local and international investors, according to a statement released yesterday at an international business conference in Riyadh.

The new project will likely surprise investors still trying to take stock of a series of major announcements made by the prince during his meteoric rise to power as he seeks to prepare Saudi Arabia for the post-oil era. In less than two years, he's revealed plans to sell a stake in oil giant Saudi Aramco and create the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, and has ended a long-standing ban on female drivers.

The prince, 32, made a rare public appearance at the conference to promote the project, telling the bankers and economic policy makers in attendance that the kingdom is moving to a "new generation of cities". NEOM will be powered by clean energy, he said, and will have no room "for anything traditional."

It will likely be met with the same mixture of optimism and doubt that has greeted his previous headline-grabbing announcements. His supporters can be expected to cheer what they see as a bold drive to transform the kingdom, while others will point to past failed attempts to overhaul the Saudi economy that also included industrial cities in the desert.

The ambitious plan includes a bridge spanning the Red Sea, connecting the proposed city to Egypt and the rest of Africa. Some 25,900 square kilometres have been allocated for the development of the urban area that will stretch into Jordan and Egypt.

Klaus Kleinfeld, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Siemens, was appointed to lead the development of NEOM. (Bloomberg)
Italy's biggest bank, UniCredit, has reported a third-quarter net profit of 2.82bn boosted by the sale of its Pioneer asset manager.

UniCredit said it had brought forward the publication of its third-quarter results after accidentally releasing some figures relating to the July-September period on Monday afternoon both on its website and in an email to investors and analysts.

It was due to publish third-quarter earnings on November 9.

Excluding the Pioneer sale and another one-off item, UniCredit's third-quarter net profit totalled 838m in July-September, compared with 447m in the same period a year ago.

The bank said fees rose 4pc from a year earlier, though they fell 8pc quarter-on-quarter. UniCredit's net interest and trading income fell both on a quarterly and yearly basis. Under new CEO Jean Pierre Mustier, the bank raised 13bn in a new share issue this year to finance a balance sheet clean-up which entailed offloading 17.7bn in bad debts.

UniCredit said it expected its fully-loaded core capital ratio - a measure of a bank's ability to absorb potential losses - to top 13.5pc at the end of September, up from 12.8pc at the end of June.

Shares in UniCredit were little changed at the open.

"The preliminary results confirmed the ongoing trend of normalisation and we do not expect them to be a driver for the stock," Milan-based broker Banca Akros said, reiterating a "neutral" rating on the stock.

UniCredit said fees rose 4pc in the three months through September from a year earlier, although they were down 8pc quarter-on-quarter.

Trading income fell sharply and net interest income was also down. (Reuters)
Congress is doing its dithering best to muddle a trio of investigations into purported Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections and frankly we doubt they will come to any sort of authoritative bipartisan conclusion.

Lack of staffing, bickering over scheduling and the scope of the investigations and delays have all impeded the progress of Congress investigations. The special investigation headed up by special counsel Robert S. Mueller might have slightly better odds of success.

But one of the sidebar issues to the political probe has been the revelation that Russian Internet trolls with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin have tried  and in some cases succeeded  in co-opting unwitting civil rights activists to stoke racial tensions and fuel political unrest.

A recent ABC news report chronicled how two online groups  BlackMattersUS and BlackFist  run by Russian operators contacted American activists to encourage them to help organize rallies, train in self-defense and create music videos.

In one instance, the Russian web sites convinced a St. Louis hip hop artist, Ronnie Houston, to record a song for them for a music video featuring clips from marches and graphics touting the BlackMattersUS website describing police as assassins.

Houston said had he known of the Russian roots of the website, No man, I wouldnt have done it. Wouldnt have done it at all.

In another instance, according to the ABC report, Conrad James, an activist from Raleigh, N.C., said he was approached to speak at a rally last September by a woman who claimed to be representing BlackMattersUS and asked to speak at a rally that drew 600 people in Charlotte, N.C.

They definitely were trying to stir up trouble, James said of BlackMattersUS. Their intent was obviously to have some type of emotionally filled rally where people are adding fuel to the fire that was already happening around Charlotte.

The website BlackFist reportedly paid a group of five trainers to offer free self-defense classes around the country, the network reported.

There is evidence to suggest that the Russians worked other sides of the political spectrum to foment dissent and cause unrest in our country. Other Russian websites that have been identified included ones with names like Being Patriotic, Heart of Texas, Secured Borders that promulgated pages and they contend wereshared 340 million times through Facebook and other social media, according to news reports.

From the traces so far, it is clear that Russian operatives are engaging in a concerted, coordinated campaign to foment unrest and dupe social and political activists into spreading that unrest.

On Nov. 1, Facebooks general counsel, Colin Stretch, is slated to appear before one of the congressional committees, and will hopefully shed more light on the extent of the Russian meddling in our domestic affairs.

Facebook needs to give a full accounting of that meddling and it needs to develop tools  yes, they can do that  to make Facebook and other social media more transparent so that Americans are not duped by foreign propaganda aimed at dividing the country and fueling the rage of zealots of all political stripe.

And social and political activists  be they left, right or center  need to step up their vigilance and do a better job of vetting the websites that come to them offering a helping hand when they are in fact co-opting their causes for a foreign purpose of their own.
Brian Dobson during his last Six One news broadcast

Bryan Dobson on his last day presenting the RTE Six One News after 21 years 25 October 2017

Bryan Dobson and Sharon Ni Bheolain share a joke last night as the broadcaster said farewell to viewers of Six One before leaving the studio for the final time

Bryan Dobson said his twenty-one years on the Six One news had been "a blast" as he completed his final broadcast this evening.

The TV star (57) bid farewell to viewers and his longtime co-host Sharon Ni Bheolain as he prepares to join the on-air team on Morning Ireland.

Ni Bheolain admitted she didn't look at her colleague while she was wishing him well as she didn't want to "get all teary".

"You've been a rock to us. You've been a rock to us, figuratively and literally" she said.

"I'm not going to look at you now because I know I'm going to get all teary."

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Ni Bheolain thanked Dobson for being both a friend and mentor to her over the years.

"From my point of view, you have been a great friend and a mentor and I'm sure the whole country joins me this evening and wishes you the very best," she said.

The programme played a highlight of Dobson's work on Six One which Ni Bheolain called "Dobbo through the ages".

Bryan Dobson has signed off on his final Six One News bulletin. Here's some of his many highlights pic.twitter.com/4ovGe1crnX #Dobo #Anchorman  RTE (@rte) October 25, 2017

It featured him reporting on several significant world moments such as Barack Obama's election as the first African-American president of the United States and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

It also featured issues closer to home including President Michael D. Higgins' state visit to the United Kingdom and an interview with former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

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Dobson said his final goodbye while looking ahead to his new role on Morning Ireland.

"I'm completely taken by surprise. It's been a blast, it really has benn but I'm afraid I have to," he said.
A 48-year-old accountant at Irish Rail was taking home 50,000 a year for little more than half an hours work a day after having been demoted from office management, a court has heard.

Barrister Stephen OSullivan told Judge Francis Comerford that Tracy Lynch had gone from being in charge of seven staff to a desk in a corridor with practically nothing to do.

Mr OSullivan, who appeared with Kent Carty Solicitors for Lynch, said the mother of three had developed mental issues as a result of her treatment. Judge Comerford today Wednesday awarded Ms Lynch, of River Forest, Leixlip, Co Kildare, 25,000 damages for personal injuries.

Cathy Maguire, counsel for Irish Rail, succeeded in having a 75,000 claim by Lynch for alleged bullying and harassment set aside. Ms Maguire told the Circuit Civil Court the only case that could proceed was a work stress claim.

Ms Maguire, who appeared with CIEs in-house solicitor Colm Costello, told the court the case arose out of the restructuring of Irish Rails finance accounts office in 2014. She said the company denied Ms Lynch had been demoted.

Ms Lynch told Mr OSullivan her enjoyment of work and relationships with management had deteriorated following her demotion to the extent that she developed serious depression. On one occasion she had nearly wet herself when a line manager had thumped his desk and told her to get out of his office after an error had been discovered in accounts.

Judge Comerford, in a reserved judgment, said Ms Lynch was claiming Irish Rail had created work conditions that caused her harm and which were foreseeable. He said there was a clear and obvious demotion which had significantly altered work she had been doing for the previous nine years.

He said Ms Lynch had been assigned to work at the same level as employees she had previously supervised. The shoddy manner in which the demotion was affected had shown a significant lack of concern for her and the effect of it on her.

Judge Comerford said Ms Lynch had suffered considerable upset, distress and humiliation. By August 2015 her concerns had resulted in depression of sufficient severity to require antidepressant medications and counselling.

She had felt the demotion, loss of status and reputational damage and the scant level of work she had afterwards been assigned had been a burden to her. Staring at the clock is the most taxing kind of work, she had told the court.

The judge said there was no dispute but that Ms Lynch had suffered a depressive illness and he was satisfied this had been occasioned by the conduct of Irish Rail. A proper response to her grievances would have shortened the duration of her illness which could be traced back to her demotion.

Awarding her 25,000 damages and costs Judge Comerford said she was now reconciled to her present position and was no longer suffering from a depressive illness which was a matter of grave seriousness and which did alter a persons life.
A MOTHER-of-two acted as a foot soldier for her body-building mentor when she illegally imported 27,000 worth of anabolic steroids, a court has heard.

Lynne Fitzmaurice, 38, from Corbally Green, Westbrook Lawns, Tallaght, Dublin was spared a jail sentence after she pleaded guilty to five charges under the Irish Medicines Board Act for unlawfully importing steroids which required a doctors prescription.

She was fined 7,000 and ordered to pay 3,500 in prosecution expenses, by Judge John Brennan at Dublin District Court. He described it as a substantial business and he was also told the steroids carried serious health risks if wrongly used.

She was prosecuted following an investigation by the Health Product Regulatory Authority (HPRA), the States medicines watchdog agency.

HPRA enforcement officer Brenda Kirby told the court that on Feb. 23 last year customs officers detained a large package sent from Romania and addressed to Lynne Fitzmaurices Tallaght home.

The package which was passed on to the HPRA was found to contain 452 boxes with 4,000 vials. They were anabolic steroids worth 27,000, Ms Kirby said.

A warrant was obtained to search her home where some unauthorised medicinal products were found.

Ms Kirby said that Fitzmaurice claimed they were for personal use; she was interviewed and made certain admissions. She was again interviewed on a later date with a solicitor present and made admissions about importing the steroids.

Ms Kirby said they were prescription only products. In relation to their possible health risks, prosecution solicitor Ronan ONeill told the court they can lead to heart disease or strokes if misused.

Defence counsel Stephen Montgomery told the court his client was previously employed in retail and telesales but is now working full time in the home.

The barrister said the married mother-of-two had been involved in body-building and was more of a foot soldier in this matter. There was a controlling mind who was a mentor to her and had previously trained her in body-building, counsel said.

However, she no longer has contact with the trainer, who was not named during the proceedings.

Pleading for leniency, counsel told the court Fitzmaurice did not live an extravagant lifestyle and she was taking full responsibility for her actions. She suffered a degree of anxiety and depression as a result of this matter, the barrister said, adding that she had no previous convictions and has not come to attention of the authorities since.

She had also agreed to pay the HPRAs 3,500 in expenses from getting the products tested. Mr Montgomery asked the court spare her a criminal conviction which could prevent her from visiting a family member who plans to move to New York.

The offence can result in a fine of 4,000 per charge and a jail term of up to 12 months.

Judge Brennan held that it was appropriate to record a conviction in light of the serious nature of the case and value of the steroids, adding, It was not just a minor matter, there was a substantial business going on.

He noted her guilty plea and said the fact she was a foot soldier went towards mitigation.

Sparing her a prison sentence, he imposed fines totalling 7,000 which have to be paid within eight months. He ordered that the case would be listed again in December for confirmation she has paid the HPRAs expenses.
A Kildare construction worker who attacked a man in a neighbour's row over noise and late night drinking has been found not guilty of his manslaughter.

Father-of-four Paul Gill (37) of Sarto Road, Naas, Co Kildare denied the unlawful killing of Patrick Patsy Kelly at Sarto Road, on August 22, 2015. He had admitted assaulting Mr Kelly causing him harm.

Mr Gill has also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Mr Kelly's friend, Martin Curtis, during the same incident.

After a six day trial a jury of eight men and four women returned a verdict of not guilty to manslaghter after just under two hours of deliberations. Mr Gill showed no reaction when the verdict was read out.

Mr Gill, who was remanded on continuing bail, will be sentenced on November 20 in relation to the assault on Mr Kelly and on Mr Curtis. Victim impact statements from Mr Kelly's family and friends will also be heard on this date.

The trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court had heard that the altercation between neighbours took place after seven years of complaints over anti-social behaviour, late-night drinking and noise.

During the course of the trial several eye witnesses described seeing Mr Gill grab Mr Kelly by the collar and drag him seven metres along the road.

The court heard the defendant repeatedly punched Mr Kelly in the face, and also kicked him the head or chest area.

In her charge to the jury of eight men and four women, Judge Melanie Greally said that the medical evidence was at the heart of the case.

She said that in order to convict Mr Gill of manslaughter the jury must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the assault on Mr Kelly was one of the causes which contributed to his death.

Earlier in the trial Professor Marie Cassidy, the State Pathologist said the main cause of death was heart disease, with high levels of alcohol in the deceased man's blood and the injuries sustained in the assault being contributory factors.

Prof. Cassidy told the court that a post-mortem revealed that Mr Kelly had an enlarged heart with several blocked arteries.

She said that none of the injuries inflicted on Mr Kelly during the course of the assault would be life threatening to a healthy individual. Prof. Cassidy said that the fear of threat or injury could have resulted in a fatal arrhythmia and death.

She said that it wasn't possible to say if the stress from the assault or Mr Kelly's level of intoxication played a bigger role in his death.

Dr Mary Sheppard, a cardiac pathologist, gave evidence that people can actually die from fright, Judge Greally said.

The court heard that this phenomenon was known as 'takotsubo', a Japanese word for a type of fishing pot, as the heart can contract into that shape as a result of stress.

Dr Sheppard said it was impossible to say if alcohol or stress was a bigger factor in Mr Kelly's death.

In her closing speech to the jury Orla Crowe SC, prosecuting, said that the fact that Mr Gill didn't intend to kill Mr Kelly was irrelevant.

She referred to medical evidence which showed that although Mr Kelly had consumed alcohol on the day he died, his toxicology report showed that his blood alcohol level was not in the potentially fatal range.

Ms Crowe told the jury that the assault left Mr Kelly with a deep cut to his forehead, bruising on his face, arms, hands and knees, while an internal examination revealed bruising on the deceased man's scalp.

In his closing remarks, Seamus Clarke SC, defending, said that all the evidence in the case came down to whether the assault was a substantial cause of Mr Kelly's death.

He said Mr Gill was at the end of his tether regarding the anti-social behaviour, and that it was a dispute which had been festering for a long period of time.

I remind you that medical evidence was given to the effect that there is no safe blood alcohol level for an individual with heart disease,he said.

Alcohol and Mr Kelly's state of intoxication on the night he died is at the foreground of this case.
Spanish authorities are seeking the surrender of an Irishman for a drugs trafficking charge related to the recovery of 148 kilograms of cannabis resin.

Patrick Joseph Mangan, (51) with an address at Valeview Drive in Finglas, is wanted for prosecution on a single drugs charge allegedly committed in Spain on November 29, 2010.

A European Arrest Warrant issued in respect of Mr Mangan states that his surrender is sought for alleged participation in an organisation dealing with drugs trafficking.

The warrant states that a British organisation purchased large amounts of drug[s] from the city of Melilla, obtained by paying a group composed of Spanish individuals. The narcotic drugs were controlled in Melilla on November 29, 2010 and that only 148 kilograms of hashish or cannabis resin was recovered.

Mr Mangan's extradition to Spain was ordered by the High Court in March. He appealed the High Court order to the three-judge Court of Appeal where judgment was reserved today.

The High Court heard that Spanish authorities monitored by judicial order or tapped the telephone of another named individual with whom a telephone registered to Mr Mangan had contact.

In the High Court, Ms Justice Donnelly said the crux of Mr Mangan's objection to being surrendered was the claim that, because he was in Ireland using his Irish registered telephone at the time these calls were intercepted, there had been an unlawful interference with his right to privacy.

His lawyers submitted that the Spanish authorities had not shown that they had authority to intercept a call in this jurisdiction and that the Minister had not given any authority to intercept a call in this jurisdiction.

Ms Justice Donnelly said the court rejected all points of objection to surrender and that the requirements for extradition were satisfied.

Appealing the order for surrender today, Mr Mangan's barrister, Dr Michael Forde SC, submitted that his client's constitutional right to privacy would be breached if the Spanish authorities used the fruits of a telephone tap of an Irish citizen speaking on a phone in Ireland.

Dr Forde accepted that the other person's phone was tapped under appropriate authority. However, given that Mr Mangan was an Irish citizen speaking in Ireland, foreign authorities are prohibited from using the fruits of the tap, Dr Forde submitted.

Reserving judgment in the three-judge Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, who sat with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, remanded Mr Mangan on continuing bail to December 11, when judgment is expected to be delivered.

In the High Court, Ms Justice Donnelly said the reference to telephone tapping was further explained by the Spanish authorities in a letter dated September 2016.

It alleged that: During the process of investigation that took place on different organizations involved in drug trafficking, it was found out through the telephone intervention works that took place by a judicial order that a group of people related to a lieutenant of the Spanish Military Police (Guardia Civil) were trying to perform a drug trafficking operation (hashish).

The criminal organization got the drug that came from Morocco and, for a price, it was delivered to another organization in Spain comprised of British and Irish people, being there chief Patrick Joseph Mangan, the person that paid for the drug.

The representative of the group in Costa del Sol was identified as another named individual, according to the letter received from Spanish authorities, who received orders from Patrick Joseph Mangan, as well as the money to buy the drug.

When they both spoke by telephone and spoke about Big Fella they might be referring to a second named individual, who was another defendant in the proceeding that belongs to another organized group in charge of getting the drug from Morocco, according to the letter received from Spanish authorities.

Since that person also had his telephone intervened it has been possible to find out about the conversations he used to have with the first named individual and, therefore, the connection of Patrick Joseph Mangan with the facts under investigation.

In order to clarify the kind of participation that Patrick Joseph Mangan, alias the general and alias the old, has in the facts, a file is attached with the original conversations that have been monitored by a judicial order, the letter from the Spanish authorities alleged.
Jackie Lavin's High Court action against her partner Bill Cullen and one of his companies over an alleged failure to complete a 1m deal for the sale of Killegy House in Co Kerry to the businesswoman has been adjourned to facilitate settlement talks.

Ms Lavin of Osberstown House Naas Co Kildare had brought proceedings against Glencullen Properties Ltd and Mr Cullen, also of Osbertown House, Naas.

Mr Cullen is the firm's sole shareholder and a director of the company. In 2012 Ulster Bank appointed accountancy firm Kavanagh Fennell as receivers over the company's assets including Killegy House, located at Muckross, Killarney.

The case was listed for hearing before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan at the High Court on Wednesday, but was adjourned to allow talks between the parties.

The case is due to be mentioned before the court on Thursday morning.

In her proceedings Ms Lavin, who says she is in a committed relationship with Mr Cullen, claims Killegy House is her home.

She claimed Ulster Bank created a charge over Glencullen's assets in 1999, including Killegy House.

In 2009 Glencullen sought additional credit facilities from Ulster Bank allowing it continue to trade during the downturn.

The bank, she claims, was unwilling to do this unless 1m was invested in the company.

Following the sale of a property they had in Florida for US$7.25m Ms Lavin said she agreed to advance Mr Cullen 1m so he could pay down Glencullen's liabilities.

As part of the arrangement she claimed Killegy House would be sold to her. She claims it has failed to complete the sale of the property to her.

She claims she suffered loss and damage as a result of being deprived of the opportunity to buy the house.

After the company was placed in receivership it secured an order from the Residential Tenancies Board requiring her to leave Killegy House.

She seeks an order for the specific performance directing the sale of Killegy House to her.

She also seeks an order prohibiting the defendants from entering into any contract for sale of the property other than with Ms Lavin.

Glencullen Properties denies all the claims and argues that she is not entitled to any of the orders she seeks.

In its defence the company said it accepted Ms Lavin agreed to advance Mr Cullen 1m so he could loan Glencullen funds to reduce its liabilities.

However the company denies the monies were advanced as part of an agreement to sell Killegy to Ms Lavin or that it agreed to sell her the premises.
Crowder Challenges College Students

To Change His Mind On Guns

By Tom Knighton. October 23rd, 2017

Steven Crowder is one of the more interesting personalities on YouTube, mostly because he's funny while also providing some pretty smart commentary. He recently tried something new. He set up a table at Texas University and challenged students to change his mind. In the process, he challenges their points of view.

Check it out:

Oh, let's see, a trans woman who believes that there is a police brutality problem in this country, but then only wants the police to be walking around armed all the time. Of course, she also believes the police have a legal responsibility to protect people. (Narrator voice: They don't.) .......

The outcome of the various exchanges tends to support the notion that many people are ill informed about firearms and self defense in general. Without the amount of disinformation handed out by groups such as "Everytown", and much of the media, there could be a public significantly more informed and better able to make up their minds based on truth rather than fiction.

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The jury in a double murder trial has been shown facial composites of the driver of the alleged getaway car used by the killers.

The jury in a double murder trial has been shown facial composites of the driver of the alleged getaway car used by the killers.

Police officers based in Newry had given the descriptions to an expert, after the car had failed to pull over in the city shortly after two bodies were found in a burning car in Louth.

The two PSNI officers and the facial imaging specialist also gave evidence this morning in the Central Criminal Court trial of a Dublin man, charged with murdering two fellow Dubliners in Co Louth.

Jason ODriscoll (34), with an address at Richmond Avenue, Fairview, has pleaded not guilty to murdering car thieves 31-year-old Anthony Burnett and 25-year-old Joseph Redmond on March 7, 2012.

The trial has already heard that firefighters were called to a burning car in Ravensdale Forest Park shortly before 11 o'clock that night. Two bodies with gunshot wounds to the head were discovered inside.

Lorna Heron, Facial Imaging Specialist with the PSNI, testified that she took separate descriptions from two PSNI officers in March 2012. She worked with the officers on different days.

She explained to Alexander Owens SC, prosecuting, that she had inputted the information into a computer programme. She then used computer-generated images before adding artwork to create two facial composites, which were shown to the jury.

She explained that, because there were two images, she morphed them together to produce a morphed composite. This was also shown to the jury.

The court also heard from the two PSNI officers, who gave her the descriptions. Sgt Stephen Downey and Constable Niamh Mulholland said they had seen the driver for about five seconds when they pulled up alongside the silver Mercedes he was driving in Newry on the night of the killings.

They told Mr Owens that the car had sped off once they requested the driver to pull over and activated the blue lights on their unmarked patrol car.

The court previously heard that a silver Mercedes with no registration plates was found abandoned early the following morning not far from the border.

Mr Owens said in his opening speech that this was the stolen car that had failed to stop in Newry, and in which the accused and another man had left the assassination in Ravensdale.

The trial continues this afternoon before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
Two local residents have asked a High Court judge to allow them appeal his decision clearing the way for tech giant Apple to develop the first phase of a planned 850m data centre in Athenry, Co Galway.

Sinead Fitzpatrick and Allan Daly, of Lisheenkyle, Athenry, claim the High Court wrongly found that An Bord Pleanala met its obligations by carrying out an environmental impact assessment (EIA) on Apples planning application for one data hall.

Because Apples masterplan for the entire development will include eight data halls, the Board was required to do an EIA of the masterplan, their counsel Michael McDowell SC said.

Although an inspector with the Board raised concerns about the energy demands of the entire date centre and its impact on Irelands obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Board itself failed to take a position on that key issue, he said.

The Athenry site was selected because of its 500 acre size and the fact it could accommodate eight data halls and the project would not go ahead unless all eight were built in accordance with Apples masterplan, he said.

How was it permissible to go ahead with one eighth of a masterplan without a full assessment of the entire masterplan? he asked.

His side met the legal criteria entitling them to bring an appeal as they had shown the courts judgment dismissing their case raised points of law of exceptional public importance which were desirable, in the public interest, for the courts to decide, he said.

Their points of law include the extent to which interdependence between various developments needs to be considered in deciding whether a particular development is a standalone one. Another point concerned the obligation under national and EU law to identify the main effects of the development and the main measures to reduce or offset those.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott will hear closing arguments from Mr McDowell tomorrow on the application for leave to appeal his judgment delivered earlier this month.

Opposing permission for an appeal, Nuala Butler SC, for the Board, said the proposed development was unusual as no such development had proceeded in Ireland before and it was also very significant for the East Galway area.

However, the legal issues raised were not that unusual and the courts judgment raised no point of law of exceptional public importance entitling the applicants to appeal, she argued.

The Board had taken account of Apples overall masterplan although the masterplan was not the subject of the planning application, she said. The masterplan was relevant to the Boards consideration, including whether the Athenry site was appropriate.

The Board was not required to conduct a full EIA of the masterplan and the High Court had correctly found that was the case, she said.

The applicants had also failed to show an appeal was necessary in the public interest, she argued. Taking the matter further would delay the development and that was not in the public interest.

Rory Mulcahy SC, for Apple, endorsed Ms Butlers arguments and said the applicants had failed to identity any error in the High Courts judgment. Nor had they shown an appeal was necessary in the public interest, he argued.

Counsel for Brian McDonagh, whose separate challenge to the Apple permission was also rejected by the judge, told the judge he and solicitors had just been instructed in the case on Tuesday evening and wanted time to consider their position.

The judge said he had fixed this week to consider application for leave to appeal and Mr McDonagh should note that.

In his judgment on the case by Mr McDonagh, Ballymount Cross Business Park, Dublin, the judge found Mr McDonagh lacked the necessary legal standing to challenge the permission as he does not live close to the site and had not participated in the planning process.

Mr McDonagh should have disclosed at an early stage he was a director and shareholder of Ecologic Data Centre Ltd which had secured permission for a data centre on a Co Wicklow site considered as an alternative location for the Apple development, the judge added.
A 21-year-old mother of one charged in connection with the handover of a loaded gun on a Dublin to Belfast train was refused bail today as she was returned for trial to the Special Criminal Court.

It was believed the weapon was to be used in the commission of a murder, Dublin District Court was told during a bail hearing today.

Nikita Murtagh from Mariners Port, Sheriff Street, Dublin 1, is charged with unlawful possession of a CZ model 70 semi-automatic pistol, two rounds of 7.65 Browning calibre ammunition and a shotgun cartridge which were allegedly recovered by gardai on the Dublin to Belfast train at Connolly Station on July 19 last.

A court order which had prevented reporters from identifying her was lifted in August following an application by the news media.

Ms Murtagh and Ciaran Ryan (23) from Summerhill, Dublin 1, were arrested following an intelligence led operation involving officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

She appeared again at Dublin District Court on Wednesday when she was served with a book of evidence. A State solicitor told Judge Bryan Smyth that Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has decided the ordinary courts were not suitable for the administration of justice in this case.

Judge Smyth acceded to the DPPs request to send the young woman forward for trial to the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

However, Garda Marguerite Reilly, attached to the Special Crime Task Force, said the woman was a flight risk and had strong links outside the jurisdiction, in Northern Ireland and in other parts of Europe. She said it was believed the loaded firearm was to be used in the commission of a murder. She said the arrest was made during an investigation targeting an organised crime gang in an on-going feud inside and outside this jurisdiction.

She said the woman was seen pushing a buggy with a young child. A handbag containing the firearm and ammunition was on the side of the buggy beside a young child during the handover, it was alleged.

She was arrested later on the same day outside Terminal 1 at Dublin Airport in possession of her passport.

There have been 12 murders in the feud but two of the deaths were not connected to it, Garda Reilly said. It was linked to the illegal importation and distribution of drugs with the proceeds being laundered. She said a criminal gang involved has made significant wealth.

She agreed with Michael Higgins SC, for Ms Murtagh, that the young woman was arrested at a bus stop outside Terminal 1 but she did not have a flight ticket. However, it was her belief Ms Murtagh intended to flee the jurisdiction.

The court heard she had no prior criminal convictions. Ms Murtagh, dressed in a white top and blue jeans, wept as she told the court that she would obey any bail condition set down.

She agreed with Mr OHiggins she has lived at her address all her life.

She said on the day she had missed the bus to Galway and was given a lift by her sons grandmother to the airport to pick up another bus there. She said her childs grandmother was going to take the child for the night and she decided to visit a friend in Galway.

She had her passport because she needed it with her in dealing with the social welfare authorities and because she always gets asked for ID when she buys cigarettes.

Ms Murtagh told the court she is being held in special confinement for 22 hours a day. She cried as she told the court that she gets let out at 10.50 am and at 6pm and its lights out at 11.15pm.

The defence submitted that she has strong ties to this country and her boyfriend has currently returned to Ireland. Mr OHiggins said the woman was not a principal in the case and it was alleged she was being used to transport an item from A to B.

Judge Smyth said he was was satisfied she was flight risk and refused bail. He also told her that she must notify the prosecution within 14 days if she intended to use an alibi in her defence.

A date for her appearance before the Special Criminal Court has not yet been allocated.

The co-defendant, Mr Ryan,who faces the same charges was also refused bail earlier, and is due to appear again at Cloverhill District Court on Nov. 7 next.

An order banning the media from naming him was lifted last month.
The High Court has heard that it is necessary for the Minister for Justice to have regard to the DPPs reasons not to prosecute an Irish man in this jurisdiction because of the profoundly serious consequences of his extradition to the US.

Eric Eoin Marques, who is alleged to be the owner and administrator of an anonymous hosting site known as Freedom Hosting, is wanted by the US authorities to face charges relating to conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography, as well as advertising and distributing child pornography.

He has been described by the FBI as the worlds largest facilitator of child pornography.

The charges against Mr Marques relate to images on over a hundred anonymous websites described as being extremely violent, graphic and depicting the rape and torture of pre-pubescent children.

The 32-year-old with an address at Mountjoy Square in central Dublin, has been in custody since his arrest in August 2013 and suffers from Aspergers Syndrome.

His surrender despite his opposition was ordered by the High Court in December 2015 and a subsequent appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

Mr Marques also brought actions over the DPP's decision not to prosecute him in respect of the offences for which his surrender is sought. He had offered to plead guilty to the alleged offences in Ireland.

Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal dismissed that action.

Last June, the Supreme Court turned down Marques bid to bring an appeal on that issue before it.

An application to the European Court of Human Rights, that would have put a stay on the extradition, had also been unsuccessful, the High Court previously heard.

Mr Marques has launched fresh judicial review proceedings aimed at halting his surrender over the Minister for Justice's alleged refusal to use her discretion to halt his extradition.

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Previously, Micheal P OHiggins SC, for Mr Marques, argued that his client should have access to records that were before the Minister for Justice when she allegedly refused to use her discretion.

Mr OHiggins told the court today (Wednesday) that his challenge to the adequacy of the reasons given by the Minister affect his clients rights in a significant way.

He said the Minister had confirmed by way of a uninformative letter that she had not sought or had regard to the DPPs reasons for not prosecuting Mr Marques in this jurisdiction.

The Minister was of the view that it was not necessary or appropriate to seek the DPPs reasons, the court heard.

The barrister said that while the DPP does not have to give reasons for her decisions, the Minister for Justice does not have any "such immunity.

Counsel said the Ministers letter did not pass muster for a decision that clearly impacted the interests of his client in a very significant way.

It follows that the Minister as a decision maker must not disregard potentially relevant considerations that arise in a case and must give reasons for the decision when they are requested, he said.

Mr O'Higgins submitted that if the DPP did provide her reasons to the Minister or if the Minister sought the reasons and received them, would there be an obligation to share them with the affected party and the court?

The court heard that flowing from the Ministers duty to act in the public interest, it was necessary for her to consider why the DPP had declined to prosecute Mr Marques.

We say this rendered the proposed extradition unfair and disproportionate, he said.

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Mr OHiggins described it as an unchartered decision making process that is largely untouched in case law but the Minister must have a sustainable reason for the decision made.

We say that having regard to the profoundly serious consequences of extradition for Mr Marques, it was necessary and important for the Minister to have regard to the DPPs reasoning not to prosecute, he said.

Counsel for the Minister for Justice, Patrick McGrath SC, told the court that the Minister was exercising a residual discretion" and the respondent was engaging in "wild speculation".

There is no reason identified as to why he needs to know, he said.

The barrister said that reasons have been given by the Minister and that they were adequate.

Mr Marques was not present in the High Court for todays hearing before Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly.

The hearing resumes at 10am tomorrow morning.
A baby boy died after he suffered a lack of oxygen to the brain shortly before birth, an inquest heard.

Baby Stevie Cullivan was born limp and unresponsive at Midlands Regional Hospital at 11.59pm on April 28 2015.

His mother Sandra Cullivan from Longwood, Co Meath was grieving the loss of her husband Stephen Cullivan, who died from a heart attack five months previously. She lost her baby two days later.

The second day of an inquest into the babys death heard evidence from pathologist Dr Emma Doyle.

The baby suffered some lack of oxygen or stress before delivery, the pathologist said, but she could not give the exact time this occurred.

Delivery had progressed rapidly and staff were not expecting any problems at birth, the inquest heard.

Ms Cullivan had experienced pains but was deemed not to be in labour by a midwife at 10pm. She spent 90 minutes alone in a private room in the hospital, a crucial period during which there was no CTG monitoring of the foetal heart rate, the inquest heard.

Dr Michael O'Grady, consultant pediatrician at hospital in Mullingar, told the inquest he was called into the hospital about seven minutes after midnight.

He said the pediatric team were not aware that an extremely sick baby would be delivered. Dr O'Grady said the hospital in Mullingar dealt with around 2,500 births a year but only two or three of these would require advanced resuscitation.

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Chest compressions were commenced shortly after birth and baby Stevie was given the opiate antidote narcan in a bid to counter any effects of pethidine, the pain relief given to his mother two hours earlier. Pethidine can effect the babys respiratory effort, the inquest heard. The infant was stabilised overnight before he was transferred to the Rotunda in Dublin shortly after 8am. He was gravely ill before he was transferred, Dr OGrady said.

Rotunda based Pediatrician Adrienne Foran described the baby as clinically and profoundly encephalopathic. Withdrawal of care was recommended. Staff continued to care for Stevie to allow for his mother to spend some time with him. Family and friends arrived and the baby was baptised. He passed away at 1.40am on April 30.

The cause of death was severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy as a result of an acute hypoxic ischemic event on a background of foetal vascular malperfusion. The baby suffered some lack of oxygen or stress before delivery, Pathologist Dr Emma Doyle said, but she could not give the exact time this occurred.

Dr Doyle said the placenta was hyper coiled with a coil every 2cm, which can affect foetal circulation. Its there and it compromised placental function so that any other acute event meant the baby couldnt appropriately respond, Dr Doyle said.

With all the evidence heard, Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane adjourned the inquest to deliver her verdict on November 15.
This is the disgraced nurse who faces losing her job for a drunken and "unsavoury'' attack on police and airport staff while waiting to catch a flight to Ibiza with friends.

Antrim Magistrates' Court heard that the incident had also cost Shauna Quinn her planned marriage to her partner.

Quinn (34), of The Blackthorns in Newry, had pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour, two counts of assaulting police officers and one charge of common assault on an airport worker.

A prosecution lawyer told the court that Quinn was in the departure lounge at Belfast International Airport at around 6.20am on August 21, 2017.

Passengers waiting to catch flights reported that Quinn was drunk and was being disorderly.

District Judge Oonagh Mullan heard that Quinn had grabbed an airport staff worker, putting two hands around her head and had "scratched her hand''.

Airport police went to the departure lounge and tried to calm the situation but noticed Quinn's "eyes were glazed over''.

"She was swearing persistently and was in an aggressive manner,'' said the prosecution lawyer.

"Police removed her from the lounge and (she) was lashing out at police and smacked one police officer to the face and continually swore at them.

"It was then police decided to put her in handcuffs and take her to Antrim police station.''

The court was told Quinn continued with her aggressive behaviour in the station and "for her own safety police had to put her in a wheelchair and she was continually banging her head off the perspex sheet in her cell''.

A defence solicitor said Quinn was "extremely remorseful and embarrassed'' about her behaviour at the airport, telling the court she "has little recollection'' of events.

He told the district judge his client had been drinking the previous night "and too much alcohol had been consumed in the morning'' with her friends who were heading on holiday to the island of Ibiza.

The solicitor described the injuries as "low level'', saying that as well as smacking a police officer across the face, she also "kicked them in the shins''.

"Miss Quinn has asked me to put on record her sincere apologies to the member of airport staff and also the police officers.''

He continued that Quinn was the mother of a 15-year-old daughter and that as a result of this incident her partner called off plans to marry her.

The solicitor told the court his client was currently on sick leave and was also the subject of disciplinary proceedings in her workplace as a result of the drunken attack.

"I have told her that as a result of these proceedings there is a real risk of her losing her job.''

He added that Quinn was currently addressing her alcohol problems.

District Judge Mullan told Quinn: "This was an unsavoury incident in an area where the public were present, waiting either to catch a flight to go on holiday or a business flight.

"Your behaviour was extremely poor on that day when you not only assaulted a member of airport staff but also a number of police officers.

"It was obvious that there were distressed people in the public area at the time. It is clear far too much alcohol was consumed by you. I have been told that you are ashamed and extremely remorseful."

The judge said she was placing Quinn on 12 months' probation and ordering her to serve 60 hours of community service.

Quinn was also fined 150 for disorderly behaviour.

But District Judge Mullan warned her: "If you do not complete this order you will be brought back to court to be re-sentenced.

"I am hopeful that you will complete the order and you will not be back before the court again.''
Details emerged last night of another alleged child sex case involving Humphries.

The Director of Public Prosecutions is expected to appeal against the leniency of the two-and-a-half year jail stretch given to Tom Humphries for grooming and sexually abusing a teenage girl, it has emerged.

The revelation came as some investigating gardai expressed their "disgust" at the length of the sentence. Some were expecting the paedophile journalist to get 10 years.

"The expectation is that this sentence will be appealed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)," said a senior source. "This is very much a realistic expectation."

Meanwhile, details emerged last night of another alleged child sex case involving Humphries.

A second young schoolgirl was allegedly attacked by Humphries in Croke Park, Letterkenny, and a Dublin Airport hotel between March and June 2007.

Senior gardai sources said the nature of these alleged crimes were "very similar" to the offences for which Humphries was sentenced yesterday.

Gardai investigated whether the former journalist had "groomed" the young girl, but the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the case because it was felt there was not enough evidence to secure a conviction.

Sexual abuse survivor Fiona Doyle branded the sentence "ridiculous".

Ms Doyle's father, Patrick Doyle, was sentenced to 12 years in jail with three suspended in 2015 for raping her, after the original sentence of 12 years with nine suspended was found to be too lenient.

Speaking yesterday to Joe Duffy on Liveline she said: "I'm absolutely sickened, it's so disheartening to hear this day after day that these paedophiles are getting such ridiculous sentences, it's unbelievable.

"It's never balanced against the crime, what he's done was to groom and sexually abuse a young girl, who will be affected for the rest of her life. He gets two and a half years, he could get a third off for good behaviour and remission.

"I hope and pray that the DPP will appeal the leniency of this sentence because it is absolutely appalling, the whole trial was really. I think he should have got life to be honest."

Noeline Blackwell, the chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, last night hit out at the "leniency" of the sentence. She called on the State to set up sentencing guidelines in sex crimes.

"This is a lenient sentence in terms of a crime that attracts a life sentence as a maximum penalty," said Ms Blackwell.

"In handing down the sentence, the judge took into account where Mr Humphries is now, and the consequences of his falling from grace, but there seems little consideration for the victim and her family.

"This is a disappointment for us as a group who represent people affected by sexual crimes.

"From what I have read, it seems the accused's fall from grace was the main issue and not the victim, whose childhood has been taken away.

"The impact on the victim appears to be less important than the impact on the accused. This lack of emphasis on the victim is hard to understand."

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has said there is widespread concern about apparently light sentences for sex abusers  especially those guilty of child sex abuse.

While Mr Martin did not name Tom Humphries in the Dail exchanges, he asked the Taoiseach when new legislation to deal with these issues would be presented to TDs.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he expected the draft law in question to be brought before the Dail before the end of the current parliamentary term.

Humphries was jailed for two-and-a-half years yesterday after he admitted grooming and sexually abusing a teenage girl.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard how his daughter discovered texts of a sexual nature he had sent to the young girl on an old phone she had asked him to donate to charity.

Forensic analysis showed he ha had exchanged more than 16,000 text messages with the girl over a three-month period at the beginning of 2011.

After this grooming, Humphries met the girl and the abuse escalated to sexual acts over a 14-month period.

Humphries, of Corr Castle, Sutton, admitted four counts of inviting a child to participate in a sexually explicit, obscene or indecent act between January 2010 and March 2011.

The offence comes with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

He also admitted two counts of defilement of the child at a place in Dublin between December 2010 and February 2011.

These took place when the victim was aged around 16 and Humphries was aged 47.

The charges are sample counts out of a larger number, including five for defilement and dozens for sexual exploitation.

The court heard that Humphries made contact with the girl through his volunteer work with junior GAA teams.

Judge O'Connor said Humphries had cultivated contact of a sexual nature with the teen and was aware of certain vulnerabilities she had at the time.
A woman who took over 10,000 in rental deposits from eight prospective lodgers and then refused them access to her house has been given 12 months to pay the money back.

Olga Leschen (50) with an address at Ballentree Drive, Tyrrelstown, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing the money over a six-week period between September and October 2015.

Judge Terence OSullivan adjourned the sentencing for 12 months to allow Leschen, who arrived in court with 5,000, the opportunity to pay the injured parties back their money.

Garda Tom McCarrick told Grainne ONeill BL, prosecuting, Leschen advertised renting her house on Daft.ie and took deposits from eight different parties. The amount of money paid to Leschen ranged from 200 to 2,600.

Leschen emailed each of the eight parties informing them of impending surgeries or other health issues and pushed back the date they were to move into her house. None of the parties were ever allowed to take up residence in her house and none of the deposits were returned.

Leschen was arrested on October 25th 2015. She initially denied the allegations saying that if I take something I always give it back.

Cathal McGreal BL, defending, said that Leschen pleaded guilty to the charges at her first date in the Circuit Court. He said she expressed remorse and had written letters of apology to each of the injured parties.

Mr McGreal said Leschens husband had been physically abusive and that he left her and their children without any money. Leschen has medical problems which prevent her from working.

Leschen has no previous convictions. She has already paid one of the injured parties the 200 she stole and arrived in court with 5,000.

Judge OSullivan said there was no sophistication to the theft. He ordered that the 5,000 be split evenly between the injured parties.

He adjourned sentencing until October 25th 2018. He said that if Leschen paid the injured parities back in that time it would be beneficial for her sentencing.
Detectives are investigating whether a pipe bomb which led to a city garda station being evacuated is connected to an out-of-control criminal linked to the Kinahan cartel.

The viable device was handed in to officers at Finglas Garda Station yesterday afternoon, and led to the building being closed off for several hours.

Members of the Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit were called to the scene, before eventually removing the device at around 5pm.

The suspected pipe bomb was last night being technically examined by specialist Defence Forces personnel.

The Herald can reveal that the device is linked to a flashy Finglas drug dealer currently embroiled in a local dispute with a Traveller mob.

The 25-year-old cartel criminal has been linked to a number of shootings and attacks in the Finglas area in recent months.

Sources said that gardai are probing whether the thugs mob was responsible for planting the device outside a home in Finglas, before it was handed in.

This dispute has seen the young criminals gang carry out a number of attacks against the Traveller mob over a killing, the source said.

Gardai believe that this is the latest attack by this drug dealer, who is becoming more and more volatile.

This dispute is one of several that the young Finglas criminal is involved in, and has led to him being threatened by a number of different crime groups.

He survived an attempt on his life last month after gardai foiled a gangland hit in the Ashtown area.

Glen OToole (39) was arrested with a loaded firearm, a silencer, a canister of petrol and a Halloween mask. He was charged but died by suicide in prison last week.

The drug dealer who was targeted has become the new kingpin for the Kinahan cartel in a major north Dublin patch.

The lucrative area was previously controlled by a psychotic criminal in his 30s, who is suspected of involvement in at least two feud murders.
RTE stalwart Bryan Dobson will read the headlines on the 'Six One News' for the final time tonight before he makes the leap to early morning radio.

But RTE has yet to decide who will replace the well-known journalist (57), who has co-anchored its main news programme since 1996.

While he may have hit the headlines due to the 60,000-80,000 gulf in salary between him and fellow presenter Sharon Ni Bheolain, there is clearly no divide between them off-air. He has indicated that he and Sharon may head out for a meal together followed by "a few drinks" with some key colleagues.

An RTE source said: "Bryan was reluctant to make a big deal about him leaving because the way he sees it, he's only moving across the room.

"He's a very under-stated guy and doesn't want a big fuss made. He would be happy enough with a low-key affair."

A spokesperson said that a replacement for Dobson, aka Dobbo, will be announced "in the coming weeks".

"It's likely there will be a rotating schedule of news presenters filling his role for an interim period, similar to what happened on 'Morning Ireland' when Cathal Mac Coille finished at the end of July," she added.

Among the names linked with the role are Ray Kennedy, David McCullough and Keelin Shanley.

Dobson will make his 'Morning Ireland' debut next Wednesday.

Speaking about the forthcoming radio job, he said he was looking forward to taking on a new challenge, despite admitting that he wasn't a morning person.

"The great thing now is that I get a change of direction but it's still in RTE so not as daunting," he said. "It's a challenge and I need it."

Like all RTE employees aged over 55, he recently received an envelope detailing his entitlements for an early retirement package, but he said he "put it in the trash can".
Emergency services are at the scene at Mountjoy Square

Gardai investigate a murder at a property on Gardiner Street in Dublin. Picture: Arthur Carron

Gardai investigate a murder at a property on Gardiner Street in Dublin. Picture: Arthur Carron

Gardai investigate a murder at a property on Gardiner Street in Dublin. Picture: Arthur Carron

Gardai investigate a murder at a property on Gardiner Street in Dublin. Picture: Arthur Carron

Scene of the fatal stabbing of a female in an apartment block Dorset Square on Gardiner St Dublin. Photo: Kyran O'Brien

Scene of the fatal stabbing of a female in an apartment block Dorset Square on Gardiner St Dublin. Photo: Kyran O'Brien

Scene of the fatal stabbing of a female in an apartment block Dorset Square on Gardiner St Dublin. Photo: Kyran O'Brien

Gardai at the scene of a murder investigation at Dorset Square

Forensic gardai at the scene of a murder investigation at Dorset Square

Gardai have launched a murder investigation after a woman (37) has died following a suspected domestic incident.

A man has been hospitalised following the incident in a property on Gardiner Street in Dublin's north inner city.

The incident was reported at approximately 11.30pm on Tuesday night.

The property was sealed off as gardai, Dublin Fire Brigade and paramedics attended the scene.

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When they arrived, they discovered the woman (37) and man (35) with serious injuries.

Dublin Fire Brigade treated both people at the scene, and the woman was pronounced dead.

The victim has been named locally as French woman Anne Colomines.

The 35-year-old lived at the Dorset Square apartment complex with her partner, and worked as a senior financial agent for the Dublin branch of a multi-national company.

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From her Facebook page it is evident that Ms Colomines was an animal lover with a particular interest in cats.

Several times she references the Phibsboro Cat Rescue charity who today confirmed that she had been in touch with them in the past with a view to volunteering with them and carrying out fundraising activities.

"She was a really kind lady. We are very sad to hear what has happened," said a spokeswoman for the charity.

The injured male is from Brazil and is reported to be the woman's partner. He was treated at the scene and transferred to the Mater Hospital, Dublin 1.

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Gardai based at Mountjoy Garda Station are investigating and the Garda Technical Bureau arrived at the scene shortly before 10am on Wednesday morning.

They have recovered what they believe to be the knife used during the attack.

Gardai are treating it as a domestic incident.

The scene at the Dorset Square apartments remained sealed off this morning and members of the garda technical bureau arrived early to carry out an examination of the apartment.

Residents leaving early for work said they did not know what had happened and were shocked to wake this morning and find gardai on the premises.

The Dorset Square is a large modern block of apartments built behind the period houses on Gardiner Street close to the Dorset Street junction.

The underground carpark is accessed by a lane at the rear of the apartments.

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It was to this car park that an ambulance from the city morgue arrived at around 12 noon.

Ms Colomines body was removed a short time later for post mortem.

A local woman who came on the aftermath of the scene said that she saw the commotion just after 12am.

I saw loads of flashing lights and I saw the ambulances and gardai, she told Independent.ie.

I saw a man being carried out of the building on a stretcher. He had an oxygen mask on his face and I dont know if he was conscious, the 60-year-old mother of two added.

I saw what appeared to be a woman talking to gardai on the footpath outside the building and she broke down as she spoke. Its terrible, said the shocked local woman.

Among the garda vehicles at the scene were a number of armed support unit as well as at least three fire engines and a number of ambulances.
Car involved in an accident on the Swords Rd near the Griffith Ave Junction.

Car involved in an accident on the Swords Rd near the Griffith Ave Junction.

A pedestrian was rushed to hospital with serious injuries following an early morning road traffic accident.

The collision occurred at approximately 4.10am on the Drumcondra Raod upper between the junctions of Griffith Ave and Homefarm Road.

A 19-year-old male was rushed to the Mater Hospital where his injuries are described as critical. The male driver of the car was uninjured.

The Swords Road was closed in both directions just before the Griffith Avenue junction to allow garda forensic investigators examine the scene, but it has since reopened.

Heavy traffic delays were experienced as a result.

Witness to the collision are asked to contact the Gardai in Santry on 01 666 4000, the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
A NEW study of life in the Irish Defence Forces has revealed that conditions have reached an all-time low, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has said.

He told the Dail that a major study for the University of Limerick (UL), which took evidence from 600 serving Army, Navy and Air Corps personnel of all ranks, had thrown up some very stark revelations.

These included an army officer revealing that he could not sleep at night with worry that travel in Air Corps aircraft was not safe. Mr Martin said he feared that so many skilled staff had left the service that maintenance was left to people without necessary skills and experience.

Mr Martin cited a number of other revelations from the UL study which he found extremely concerning:

One member said the Defence Forces had been reduced to the status of the infamous JobBridge scheme recently scrapped by Government.

Chaplains had spoken of giving up trying to persuade personnel to stay in on in the forces.

Staff speaking of having to leave to survive

Soldiers obliged to sleep in cars

The Fianna Fail leader cited a recent statement from Senator Gerard Craughwell, himself a former soldier. He had said that never before had any government so badly neglected the Irish Defence Forces.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar insisted the Government very much valued the work of the Defence Forces. He was proud of their overseas service in places like Mali and Lebanon, the civil defence work like last weeks Storm Ophelia, and ceremonial performances like the 2016 celebrations.

We very much value and respect our Defence Forces, the Taoiseach said.

He said the Defence Minister had spoken with the head of the Air Corps and was assured that health and safety were not neglected.

Mr Varadkar said he was aware of the need to keep up recruitment and try to keep personnel with special skills in the forces. He said retention was being addressed by a special public service Commission who were looking at all issues, including salary levels.

Its not just about pay  there can be other issues, the Taoiseach said.

Mr Varadkar added that pay restoration was now happening in the Defence Forces. There was also a major 406m capital allocation to buy new naval vessels, armed personnel carriers and carry out major barrack refurbishments.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has accused Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams of giving up on restoring the power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland.

The Assembly has been dissolved since Sinn Fein collapsed the Northern Ireland institutions over a renewable energy scandal last year.

In the Dail, Mr Adams accused the Taoiseach of being behind leaks suggesting Sinn Fein's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill was prepared to restore the Assembly but was shot down by the party's hierarchy.

Mr Varadkar denied the charge and accused Mr Adams of "setting the scene to ensure somebody else gets the blame for the failure to come to an agreement in Northern Ireland".

Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday Mr Adams plans to shut down bars in the Dail and Stormont.

He ramped up his efforts to close the Dail bar by asking an Oireachtas committee to consider a ban on alcohol sales while the parliament is sitting.

The Dail's Committee on Procedure and Privilege examined a submission from Mr Adams on banning the sale of alcohol in Leinster House while the Dail is in session.

In his letter, he said he had a "range of concerns" about the sale of alcohol in the Dail.

This included the opening hours of the Dail bar, the operation of the bar under privilege, the lack of licensing restrictions and the impact of opening hours on staff.

Mr Adams also said it was "unacceptable" that TDs had access to a "bar, in a workplace, where important legislation affecting the lives of citizens is debated".

However, a committee source said: "The Dail bar will not be closed - this is just another Sinn Fein stunt."

At the committee meeting, Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath criticised the Sinn Fein proposal and questioned why alcohol was not banned in Stormont where the Northern Ireland Assembly was held until Mr Adams's party collapsed the power-sharing executive.

Following questions from the Irish Independent, Sinn Fein said it also planned to close the members bar in Stormont when the Assembly was sitting if the executive was restored.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has asked ministers to examine if the Irish Governments statistics on sexual violence are adequate or if new research needs to be carried out.

It comes after criticism of the Government for not committing to fund a 1m study to update Irish research on sexual violence given that the last major study  the SAVI report - is 15 years old.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan along with the Ministers for Children and Health Katherine Zappone and Simon Harris, have been tasked by Mr Vardakar with considering if the current Irish statistics on sexual violence are adequate.

They are also to examine if the statistics are compatible with those collected in other EU countries.

If a gap in the information available is identified, they are to consider if a second SAVI report or another form of study is the best way to obtain new statistics.

On Tuesday the government was criticised by Sinn Fein TD Mary Lou McDonald in the Dail for not providing funding for up-to-date research on sexual violence.

The Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland (SAVI) report was published in 2002 and Ms McDonald said many aspects of the research are outdated.

She referred to remarks by Noeline Blackwell of the Dublin Rape Crisis Network said that decisions are being made on how to combat sexual violence based on evidence so out of date that it might as well be from Dickens.

Ms McDonald compared the 1m cost of a new report with the expected 5m cost of the Government's new Strategic Communications Unit, which minister have claimed is cost neutral.

She said five Savi reports could be produced for the same cost and argued "It is difficult to imagine that the Government could not find the money if it were so minded."

Minister Simon Coveney, who was answering questions on behalf of Mr Varadkar, said the Government would consider the issue.

He added: If it is right to prioritise spending on research, that will be done.

He said that since 2002 there has been two national strategies on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and there are additional sources of recent data relating to sexual violence.

He said the EU compiled such data across all 28 members states in 2014 and its statistics body, Eurostat is set to conduct a new survey of gender-based violence, which the Central Statistics Office here is to take part in.

Mr Coveney also said: Existing Garda data on sexual crimes published by the CSO have also been strengthened, thus ensuring we have more robust current data.

He also said more than 22m of funding is available to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for tackling domestic and sexual violence, which he said was a 1.5m increase on its funding in 2016.

Ms McDonald argued that none of the studies set out by Mr Coveney are comparable to the SAVI report in terms of the depth of data produced and the depiction of the entire scope of sexual violence in Ireland.
New laws to allow for 'class actions' are under consideration on the back of the tracker mortgage scandal.

Fianna Fail is examining what it has described as a "sea change" for the legal system.

It comes ahead of a much-hyped statement from Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe in the Dail tonight.

Mr Donohoe yesterday said the Government was "not satisfied with the progress lenders have made to date".

Speaking after his meetings with Bank of Ireland, KBC, Ulster Bank, AIB and Permanent TSB, the minister said he believed tracker mortgage borrowers had been "treated disgracefully".

"We should be clear that it was the mortgage lenders that caused this harm to their customers and that the primary responsibility for rectifying the problem rests with them.

"Therefore, all lenders need to bring the Central Bank examination to a conclusion without any further delay, and to do so to the satisfaction of the Central Bank and more particularly to the satisfaction of their impacted customers," he said.

The minister stopped short of saying what sanctions he would apply if the banks do not cede to his demands for immediate action.

The Dail will tonight debate a lengthy Fianna Fail motion which highlights major flaws in how the tracker mortgage debacle was handled by the banks and regulators.

As part of the 'next steps', the party argues it is time to seriously consider allowing a group of people to collectively sue banks or other bodies.

The idea is not being opposed by the Government. Ireland's justice system makes no provision for multi-party litigation, thereby forcing individuals to take on cases that can cost hundreds of thousands of euro.

As far back as 2003, the Law Reform Commission recommended the introduction of a class action under the jurisdiction of the High Court and Circuit Court.

Litigation

Fianna Fail's finance spokesman Michael McGrath said the dead end faced by people caught up in the tracker mortgage scandal showed the need for group litigation.

"The motivation behind raising that issue is that if a customer is not satisfied with the outcome of their case with the bank, the next step they can take is the Financial Ombudsman.

"If again they are still not satisfied that their case has not been handled properly, then the only recourse that they have is through the courts," he said.

"We all know that taking a High Court case is very expensive. It can be in excess of 100,000 in many cases."

Mr McGrath said his party was examining the possibility of bringing forward legislation to allow for class actions.

"It would be a sea change in terms of our legal system. There are pros and cons but we believe it's something that has to be examined and in principle we're in favour of moving in that direction," he said.

The CEO of the Free Legal Advice Centre (Flac), Eilis Barry, told the Irish Independent it would support the move. She said it would "increase access to justice" for people but would have to be backed up with funding for legal aid supports.

In Paris, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he had faith in the Central Bank despite the mortgage fiasco. Asked whether he believed there was collusion on the part of the banks, Mr Varadkar said there was "a divergence among the banks" in terms of their responses to Mr Donohoe.

"Some people endured enormous stress and I want them to know that the Government is very much on their side. This has gone on too long and we're going to make sure that it's sorted out," he said.
Two Irishmen have been seriously injured in an aircraft collision in the Czech Republic.

The two men from Portlaoise are understood to have received serious injuries after the aircraft incident near Prague on Wednesday morning.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that it was aware of the incident and are providing consular assistance.

Local Cllr Mary Sweeney said that the two men run an aviation business in Portlaoise.

They fly hang gliders and are very well known in the aviation industry. I am very anxious to see that they make a full recovery. My thoughts and prayers will be with them as I wish them a speedy recovery.

Portlaoise Fine Gael councillor William Aird said last night "I'm deeply concerned to hear the news. The two men are good friends who have a life-long interest in flying. They have their own hangar and they are often seen flying over the town in light planes.

"Both men are family men in their mid-50s. The whole community will be wishing them a speedy recovery."
22 injured in Kanchanpur bus accident

As many as 22 persons were injured when a bus they were travelling in met with an accident at Kaluwapur of Shuklaphanta Municipality of Kanchanpur along the East-West Highway on Wednesday.
Innovation: Rob and Sadie Laffan with the 'Tippy Talk' machine he developed for her. Photo: Press 22

Rob Laffan had to blink away tears when his four-year-old daughter told him she was happy. It was a watershed moment for the 38-year-old former pizza delivery man.

Sadie has autism and experiences great difficulty with verbal communication - but here she was using her daddy's own high-tech invention to express her feelings.

"I got a message from her saying 'Daddy I am happy!' Then Sadie went over on the sofa and jumped up and down looking at me," he recalls.

Laffan has just finished his final year degree course in Industrial Automation and Robotic Systems - one of the most challenging programmes in the third-level engineering sector.

And he completed his course on a wave of triumph. The former van driver, factory worker and pizza delivery man, who says he "hadn't lifted a pen or a book" in the 17 years before he started the course, was selected as the winner of the prestigious Engineers Ireland Innovative Student Engineer of the Year Award.

The final year automation and control engineering student at Limerick Institute of Technology won the award for his project titled 'Tippy Talk' which he developed as a result of first-hand experience with Sadie.

'Tippy Talk' involves the use of automation technology for communicating across a range of non-verbal disabilities. The device allows the user to select a want, need and feeling,all of which are pre-loaded, in the form of a variety of images on to a touch screen.

The user's chosen desire is then articulated in the form of an SMS sent directly to the carer's mobile phone. While apps with this functionality exist there is currently no dedicated device on the market.

Rob, from Limerick's Old Cork Road, had held down a number of different jobs since leaving school, and had been a van driver for the previous nine, when he lost his job in 2010.

"I couldn't find work; at the time there weren't any jobs so I researched the situation to see where the jobs were," he says.

Once he realised that the automation and control engineering course boasted a 100pc employment record, he went straight for it and signed up for the programme with the support of a mature grant and a Back to Education Allowance:

As to what exactly was involved, he says, he "had no idea, not a clue, but I was sick of being on the dole and I wanted to get back to work.

It's one of the toughest courses on the engineering prospectus, he says, and that first year at Limerick Institute of Technology was very difficult.

"I was 17 years out of education. I hadn't lifted a pen or opened a book in those 17 years and I felt like jacking it in a few times!," he laments.

Sadie was born on September 2010, just around the time he lost his job, and she was two-years-old when he became a student at LIT.

By the time Sadie was 18-months-old, he recalls, he and his wife Emily realised there was something wrong. "We knew we needed to look into it. Autism was the first thing that popped up.

"I was only about six weeks into the course when the suspicions were raised and by the time I finished my first year at LIT we had the diagnosis."

In second year, Rob got the idea for what would eventually develop into the Tippy Talk prototype - which he decided would form the basis of his final-year college project. The idea began to take form at the beginning of third year when, late one night, he got a brainwave.

"Sadie used to sleep only two or three hours a night at one stage During one of these late nights, I was standing at the back door when my phone beeped. Sadie grabbed it and came out to me.

"At the time I was studying a module on human/machine interface and as part of it we were learning to write code in which engineers in a factory would be alerted by text if a process went wrong."

Suddenly he made a crucial connection. Sadie had a whole library of laminated pictures which she used to communicate her needs and feelings to her family.

"They were all Velcro-ed and stuck inside a book and she would show us these pictures to communicate what she wanted.

"However, the pages were getting lost and ripped and torn and were costly to replace so I decided to upload these pictures onto a touch-screen.

"Every time Sadie selected a picture, it would send a verbal text message."

Rob worked on his idea for months and his lecturers were so impressed by the results that they advised him to enter it into the competition.

"One of the things that sticks out most is an incident two or three weeks ago when my wife and I were talking about going to the chipper to get a takeaway."

Emily suggested that Rob get Sadie some onion rings. Sadie overheard - but she had other ideas. By the time Rob arrived at the chipper there was a text message on the phone from Sadie.

It said: "Hi Daddy I'm hungry. I want chicken nuggets."

It was a very emotional moment, Rob recalls. And the fun has continued.

"Last Sunday I was cutting the grass and Sadie sent me a text saying she wanted to go shopping - she had touched an image of Rob, so that the message would be sent to him, then an image for want - "a lady holding her hands out" - and finally an image of the local Parkway Shopping Centre.

"When I got in she was standing by the front door with her coat in her hand, all ready to go. I abandoned the grass and we went shopping!"

"It's early days yet," Rob says, but he and Emily can already see a significant improvement in their daughter's behaviour and general demeanour.

"I only starting testing it with her at the end of April but she's less frustrated. She knows she's getting her message across and that we understand her better and that we can act on it.

"It's still very emotional because there are lovely messages coming through," he said, adding that the family are looking forward to eldest daughter Megan's return from her summer job in Spain.

The 18-year-old journalism student will get her chance to try out Tippy Talk and communicate with her little sister when she returns to Limerick.

The Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur of the Year award provides investment and support services as part of the prize, so he's hoping to build on this to develop the device for a global audience.

"We'll see what happens - we'll give the business the whole hog and see how it goes.

"It will be a great way to help other people, make a few jobs, and earn a few quid. Happy days!"
Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh has a reputation for unapologetic honesty - in the past, she has spoken about suffering with adult incontinence, the death of her father and her anxiety about having her first baby. But she wasn't initially open to sharing her experience with psoriasis.

"I had to be convinced to talk about this, because I was going, what difference is it going to make?" she says with a shrug.

Psoriasis is often dismissed as "just a skin condition" Blathnaid says, "because it doesn't kill you, there's no interest in it. But it does affect you, it affects your mental well-being, it affects your emotional well-being, and I get a little irate about it sometimes because nobody gets that."

The RTE star, from Monkstown, Co Dublin, is one of 120,000 people in Ireland who suffer from psoriasis. According to a recent survey by the Happiness Research Institute, just 22pc of Irish women and 35pc of men living with psoriasis report feeling good about themselves, compared to global averages of 37pc and 54pc respectively.

And yet we hear almost nothing about it, which means misconceptions abound - many believe psoriasis is contagious or that it's caused by poor hygiene, when in fact, it's a hereditary, chronic auto-immune disease that can develop into arthritis. This Sunday marks 'World Psoriasis Day', which aims to raise awareness about the condition.

"I know there are people who are much worse off, but for me, it's kind of a relief to say there is a day called 'World Psoriasis Day'. You don't feel as embarrassed talking about it as you would, and you don't feel as alone," says Blathnaid.

Psoriasis is often triggered by a streptococcal throat or periods of intense stress, and typically appears in adolescence. Blathnaid first encountered it at age 20, although it wasn't diagnosed properly until her third visit and after a change in doctors.

"It was brought on by a trauma. I'd had a bad experience a year previous to that, and like a lot of young people, you go 'okay, that happened', but it sits there and it obviously bothered me more than I realised," she recalls, describing how she lost a lot of weight and began to notice patches of scaly skin on her knees.

"It doesn't come up flaky at first, it's just a little angry red dot. It's not sore, but then it becomes flakier and flakier. I'd never even heard of it.

"When you're sort of pink and Irish and have sensitive skin, there's always something. But the fact that it was so scaly and spreading had me worried. I went to the doctor and then the dermatologist, and I was told 'no, you can't make it go away'. I thought, 'What? No, there has to be a tablet or something'. I suppose I'm of that era where a tablet fixes everything."

But a tablet wouldn't fix it, and so began a long process of dealing with unpredictable outbreaks. At 26, Blathnaid suffered a particularly severe one after having her first child, Sile.

"I remember that really affecting me. Before that, it wasn't too bad, and I was given creams and things. But I had a tough birth with my daughter, she was an emergency section. I had a very bad flare-up and I remember getting it everywhere - down below, anywhere where there was a hair follicle, there was psoriasis," she says.

"I remember thinking this was supposed to be the most joyous time of my life, and it was, I had a beautiful baby, but I remember feeling sick, I just didn't like myself, I thought I looked so ugly because of the psoriasis. Now I'm 46, I know it's stupid."

Blathnaid began getting ultraviolet light therapy, which involves shining UVA or UVB light on affected areas to reduce psoriasis.

"I would meet other people (at the hospital) and everyone would have their head down, everyone was so embarrassed to be seen going in. You're nude, and I know nurses don't care, but it's horrible, you look down and you think 'oh my god'."

She now has four children, Sile (21), Peadar (17), Comhghal (15) and Darach (14), with her husband Ciaran Byrne.

"Will one of my kids have it? Probably. I was always a little paranoid about their skin, and it doesn't matter how aware you are, you'll always blame yourself," she says, adding: "But when Kim Kardashian announced that she had psoriasis last year, my daughter was like 'oh my god, she has psoriasis just like you!' and that was her claim to fame. I roared laughing."

There are several forms of the condition. Blathnaid first experienced guttate psoriasis, the tiny red dots, and now suffers with plaque psoriasis, the most common form, which appears as raised patches of red, scaly skin.

These plaques, she explains, come and go across her back, elbows and knees, but the patches on her scalp pose a constant problem.

"I'm very conscious of my hair. My scalp is disgusting, it's another layer of skin constantly. Around my crown is just a belt of dry skin. It feels at the moment like elastic on my scalp, it's so tight.

"I often put my head out the window in the middle of the night just to cool it down," she says, rolling her eyes.

"I laugh because people say 'your hair is beautiful', and I am grateful, but I think 'if you only knew the itch in my head while you're talking to me'. I wonder is there an irony in it, my crowning glory is actually my crown of thorns!"

As she speaks, Blathnaid often scratches her scalp and wipes at her shoulders, a habit she frequently catches herself doing. She explains that she is due a tar pomade treatment, which will lift the scale from her scalp, but has to wait until she won't have any on-air appearances or photoshoots.

Her TV work can be an added pressure on her skin. Blathnaid recalls a big flare-up after she started working on The Afternoon Show, but says she has learned to manage stress with yoga, Pilates and walks with her dog in a bid to tackle the outbreaks.

While she used to visit the doctor every time the psoriasis flared up, the expense caught up with her, and now she'll head straight to her local pharmacist when she notices a new patch.

"There isn't one thing that works for me. There's nothing that I haven't done - I have rubbed horse's urine on my psoriasis, I have gone to a seventh son of a seventh son. I know you're thinking, you're an intelligent woman, why would you do that? Because you're at the end of your tether," she says with an exasperated sigh. "I have done everything, I've had them blessed, cursed, everything."

Blathnaid admits she's "in denial" about the prospect of developing psoriatic arthritis, but has come to accept psoariasis as a constant in her life. But that doesn't stop each flare-up bringing with it a fresh rush of frustration.

"When you have psoriasis, it's awful, and when the psoriasis goes, you feel so liberated, but then you remind yourself it could come back any day," she says.

"I'm quite a positive person, but psoriasis is the only thing that can take over my whole emotion and make me feel so out of control. You have no control of when it happens or to say 'it'll be gone in five days'. On the hottest day, I'm covered up completely, when it's bad."

She recalls a black-tie event she was attending a few years ago, for which she had planned to wear a beautiful gown with a low back.

As she was about to head out, her daughter pointed out that the plaques were visible on her back and she had to return the dress to the closet.

"I remember going upstairs and I started crying. But my fake lashes started coming out and I told myself 'cop on, it's alright'. I shook it off, but I hate that," she says.

Blathnaid shakes her head as she describes the "terrible" pressure on TV personalities to maintain a glamorous image, but says she doesn't worry about hurting her celebrity by speaking out about health issues, whether it's psoriasis, her struggles with breastfeeding or her sister's breast cancer. "I'm human and sometimes the world gets to me and I talk about it.

"I don't think people think I'm one of those perfect people, I'm not perfect, I don't pretend to be any of that. I've never pretended, I can't change who I am," she shrugs.

"But I don't feel sorry for myself, I have a good time when I can," Blathnaid adds with that familiar big laugh.

"I'm looking at my aging body for the first time at 46 and going, okay! I have a little promise to myself that at 50 I'll be fitter, I won't have injected myself at all, and I'll keep going and see how it goes, psoriasis or no psoriasis."
The trade-down buyer is one of the most important in the new apartments market, and this week sees the launch of two new developments that will appeal to this under-supplied market segment. In suburban new apartment developments, the downsizer can make up to two thirds of purchasers.

Down-sizers typically have a shopping list of specific requirements with location at the top. They prefer to buy in the traditional, leafy suburbs in which they have lived for decades; they tend to prioritise space, generous storage, and the energy efficiency of new builds.

Good transport links and proximity to amenities such as hospitals, shops and restaurants to future proof against decreased mobility are important too. Home security and low maintenance of any outdoor areas are also big pluses for these buyers as they tend to travel for large parts of the year.

And yet there continues to be a severe shortage of apartment stock. Economist and Sunday Independent columnist Ronan Lyons pointed out recently that the housing crisis is due to a shortage of apartments, rather than of houses. In a typical European country, he believes, apartments would make up 30-50pc of housing, while in Ireland they represent 10pc.

There iare approximately 500,000 fewer apartments than our population requires, says Lyons. Prohibitive building costs are an issue, as is the lack of tax incentives that might attract investors to the market.

The apartments at Neptune House, which launched this week, provide a rare opportunity to live in a large, luxury, modern, A-rated apartment within a protected structure.

Both launches this week are apartment blocks in developments with house units that launched previously, and are now virtually sold out. The 13 brand-new houses at Neptune House launched earlier this year to strong interest, now four extra-large apartments in the 250-year-old Georgian villa have come to the market.

After a careful restoration process, these units, which measure from 169-234sqm, retain many original features, including high ceilings throughout, original stained glass, sash windows (now double-glazed), original fireplaces where possible, and ornate plasterwork.

Situated between the villages of Blackrock and Monkstown, this property has been through a number of incarnations. Originally the home of the Earl of Clonmell, in 1916 it provided accommodation to British troops brought in to defeat the rebels in the GPO.

Modern features now added include gas-fired central heating, high levels of insulation, fitted kitchens and fitted wardrobes. En suites include large walk-in pressurised monsoon showers.

Also on the southside, Ardilea is just the sort of leafy suburban location that will appeal to the trade-down buyer. There are 48 apartments on this five-acre site, which includes a playground.

Minutes from UCD's Belfield campus, O'Malley Construction is launching a mixture of two-bedroom units 87-89sqm, from 495,000, and three-bed penthouses, 115-118 sqm, from 765,000.

All units, which enjoy BER ratings of between A2-A3, include utility rooms, Neff appliances and washer/dryers, floor and wall tiles as standard. There are storage spaces in every unit, as well as either a balcony or terrace space. All apartments have underfloor heating, meaning no radiators taking up wall space.

What: Nepture House, Temple Crescent, Blackrock, Co Dublin

Agent: Sherry FitzGerald New Homes (01) 667 1888

What: Ardilea Crescent, Heidelberg, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14

Viewing: Today, 11am-12.30pm

Agent: Hooke and MacDonald
Tightercross-border cooperation and an EU-wide database on mileage are needed immediately to cope with the growing car-clocking crisis, it is claimed today.

Cars crossing EU borders are more likely to be clocked, figures show. And now a senior Irish MEP is pressing for buyers to be better protected - sooner rather than later.

Deirdre Clune, Ireland South MEP (Fine Gael) and EU Transport Committee member, is exasperated over how long it is taking for protective checks to be put in place.

She first raised the issue with the EU's Transport Commissioner back in 2015, but there has been little or no progress.

Considering that consumers face being ripped off by buying clocked cars the commission's lethargy is surprising.

And we're not talking UK imports alone - clocking is prevalent across Europe, statistics suggest. But clocked UK imports have been a prime concern for Irish buyers for some time and have been highlighted regularly by Independent Motors and the likes of history-check company Cartell.ie.

There are indications as many as 20pc of UK imports have had their odometer tampered with. That's a 37pc increase on last year and reflects, among other things, the big increase in numbers buying imports.

Ms Clune says: "This is why we need cross border cooperation and an EU-wide database to ensure we deal with clocking. It's the only way to stamp it out in a single market.

"The key issue is not what each country is doing individually. Ireland has already moved to make car clocking illegal in 2014. The real issue is that cars crossing EU borders are shown to be more likely to be clocked."

Mileage fraud is something the commission needs to tackle 'head on'. She quotes estimates that up to 30pc of all used cars are clocked in the EU, costing consumers between 5.6bn to 9.6bn a year.

People need an EU-wide database of car mileage so they can compare and contrast mileage readings, she says.

The commission has implemented a "road worthiness directive" which includes a check on mileage and applies as of May 20, 2018. Ms Clune says is not nearly enough - while it lays the groundwork for an EU-wide database it does little for those buying cars here and now.

Belgium appears to have one of the best clocking solutions. Their CarPass system uses a central database into which mileage readings are regularly fed - such as when a car is in for repairs. The system shows the registered odometer readings and the dates they were recorded. Irregular odometer readings have plunged.

In the UK new research by car history experts HPI claims the number of cars being clocked has gone from 1-in-20 in 2014 to 1-in-16 last year. It estimates 2.3m cars have incorrect mileages.

ADAC, which represents 18m motorists, claims one-third of the 2m used cars sold annually in Germany have lower-than-real mileage, defrauding buyers of 3,000 per vehicle on average.

* What do you think?

ecunningham@independent.ie
A tiny island secreting away 1,400 years of built heritage is the Irish winner of the prestigious 2017 EDEN Awards.

Scattery Island in Co. Clare was recognised as the Irish destination which has best used its local tangible cultural assets to grow visitor numbers.

Uninhabited since 1979, the island - also known as Inish Cathaigh - is set a mile or so from Kilrush in the Shannon Estuary.

It's home to the surprising remains of a sixth-century monastic settlement founded by St. Senan... including a 120-foot Round Tower.

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We have always recognised Scattery Island as the jewel in the crown for local tourism," said Ian Lynch of the Scattery Island Heritage and Development Group.

The award will bring "international recognition" to the island, he added, and is a testament to the collaboration of community groups and state bodies like the OPW and Clare County Council.

EDEN (European Destination of Excellence) is an initiative that aims to promote local, sustainable tourism development models across the EU.

Held every two years in 29 member states, the awards see local winners honoured based on sustainable themes that vary each year.

In Ireland, the awards are managed by Failte Ireland.

Previous Irish EDEN Award winners include the Burren Food Trail (Tourism & Local Gastronomy), the Great Western Greenway (Tourism & the Regeneration of Physical Sites), Cavan (Accessible Tourism) and Loop Head (Aquatic Tourism).

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Scattery was one of three Irish destinations shortlisted under the 2017 theme (Tangible Cultural Assets), along with Mayo's Ceide Coast and The Norman Way in Co. Wexford.

This years theme focused on small, emerging, non-traditional destinations located off the beaten track that offered an authentic tourism experience," said Paddy Mathews, Head of Innovation for Failte Ireland.

"This is something Ireland has in abundance, which made for a close and fiercely competitive competition."

I am sure that this new accolade will go a long way to attracting even more visitors to the region, and indeed to The Wild Atlantic Way, added Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin TD, in announcing the winner this week.

Scattery Island will now receive a certificate of achievement, a marketing photo shoot, a profile on edenineurope.eu and participation in the EU EDEN network.

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3 TIA customs staffers suspended for assisting smugglers

The Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) Customs Office has suspended an officer and two non-gazetted officers for their alleged involvement in passing conserved animals through the customs.
Rape survivor Niamh Ni Dhomhnaill has said that the two-and-a-half year sentence handed down to Tom Humphries yesterday showed the lack of understanding by the judiciary on the power and damage that psychological abuse and coercive control can cause.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Niamh Ni Dhomhnaill also said that there should be no mitigating factors when it comes to abuse.

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Humphries' sentence yesterday caused widespread outrage and Ni Dhomhnaill said that she felt "incredibly sad for the young woman at the centre of the case".

Ni Dhomhnaill's former partner Magnus Meyer Hustveit, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault committed against her between 2011 and 2012.

He was given a wholly suspended seven-year sentence by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on July 13 2015.

In March 2016 he was re-sentenced to 15 months imprisonment following a finding by the Court of Appeal that his original term was unduly lenient.

Ni Dhomhnaill said that when it comes to abuse "it is not about the legal system, as it doesn't really fix any of it".

Then she agreed that we have a problem with lenient sentencing in Ireland before adding that we need to take a step back.

"We have to ask what is the point of sentencing in terms of inter-personal violence because realistically you can never undo the harm that has been done to someone when it comes to issues of sexual abuse or domestic abuse."

"Speaking from my own experience, I know when Magnus went to prison, I didn't necessarily feel better for it. I didn't feel anything had been returned to me that was taken."

Ni Dhomhnaill also criticised the legal system for how they treat crimes involving psychological abuse and control.

"He had agency, he was an adult," she said.

"All of this has been thrown on this young woman. She had absolutely no choice in anything. He groomed her.

"What a lot of this is speaking to within the legal system, as well as the public commentary, is our lack of understanding of the power and the damage done by psychological abuse and by coercive control.

"Perhaps if the judiciary understood a little bit more about the absolute grip that psychological control has on you - it is far greater than any kind of physical control someone could ever hold over someone - perhaps then we might see sentences that make more sense to our minds."

"Looking at this case there must have been incredible damage done to the young woman. I seem to know more about damage Tom Humphries has suffered."

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At the sentencing hearing yesterday for Humphries Judge OConnor said the sexual exploitation charges carried a maximum term of life in prison, but she considered a headline figure in this case, before considering mitigating factors, as three years.

In sentencing him to two-and-a-half years and two years respectively for the defilement and sexual exploitation charges, the judge said she was taking into account Humphries guilty plea last March.

However, the judge said that while this plea was the most valuable form of mitigation, she noted it was not an early plea, which would have been more helpful to the young woman who was subject to his abuse as a child.

She said she was taking into account that Humphries had lost his livelihood and his reputation.

Judge OConnor said she also considered letters from family members and the impact the case had had on his family.

She also said she considered letters from two close friends, as well as the fact Humphries had mental health issues and that one doctor had recommended he get psychiatric treatment.

However, Ni Dhomhnaill said that there should be no mitigating factors when it came to cases such as this.

"It is absolutely all his doing and it should be clear," she said.

"There can't be mitigating factors to abuse. I know that there are in a legal context but I think for the rest of us socially there is no getting around it, this man had full capacity."

There was also praise for the woman in the case who asked not be referred to as a victim, a move that Ni Dhomhnaill called "incredible".
Actress Natassia Malthe has accused Harvey Weinstein of raping her in a London hotel after a Bafta awards ceremony, in the latest allegation against the disgraced movie mogul.

The model and actress, who has appeared in around 50 films, said on Wednesday that she met Weinstein at the after party of the 2008 ceremony while she was working as a spokeswoman for LG.

In the latest of dozens of allegations of sexual harassment and assault, she told a press conference in New York that she felt pressured into telling Weinstein she was staying at the Sanderson Hotel after being put on the spot.

Malthe, now 43, said after her shift on February 10 she went back to her room and went to sleep, but was awoken by repeated pounding on her door, from someone yelling: Open the door Natassia Malthe, its Harvey Weinstein.

Feeling humiliated, she said she opened the door. She alleged Weinstein began implying sex would get her a role in an upcoming film while semi-undressed and then he began to masturbate.

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I was sitting on the bed talking to Harvey when he pushed me back and forced himself onto me. It was not consensual. He did not use a condom, she said.

I was completely grossed out. I believe that I disassociated during the time that he was having sex with me. I laid still and closed my eyes and just wanted it to end. I was like a dead person. Afterwards I lay there in complete disgust.

The next day she received a script, she alleged, before returning to Los Angeles where she said she was given the impression she had landed a role in the movie Nine, a film produced by Weinstein that would star Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman and Judi Dench.

Malthe claimed that Weinstein asked her to meet him at the Beverly Hills Peninsula Hotel where he allegedly said an assistant would be present. But instead he asked her to engage in a threesome with him and another woman, she alleged.

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She refused and when she later called him to say a role in a movie was not worth it, he became angry and called her an ungrateful c***, she claimed.

I had experienced sexual harassment from other powerful men in Hollywood, but my experiences with Harvey were the worst, Malthe added.

Press Conference Posted by Gloria Allred on Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Her lawyer Gloria Allred said Malthe is considering whether to make a report to police over the allegation, which is at least the sixth claim of rape against Weinstein.

Weinstein, 65, is the subject of criminal investigations in London, New York and Los Angeles and The Weinstein Company (TWC), which he co-founded, is the subject of a civil rights investigation.

TWC, which sacked Weinstein, is also being sued for five million dollars (3.8 million) by actress Dominique Huett, who claims the studio was negligent for having knowledge of his behaviour.

Weinstein has unequivocally denied allegations of non-consensual sex.
Emirates is one of four airlines starting new screening procedures (AP)

All flights arriving in the US are to be subject to new security screening procedures, with American citizens as well as foreigners possibly facing interviews by airline employees.

The announcement from the US Transportation Security Administration comes after five global long-haul airlines - Air France, Cathay Pacific, EgyptAir, Emirates and Lufthansa - said they would begin the new security interviews on Thursday.

A sixth carrier, Royal Jordanian, said it would begin the new procedures in mid-January after US authorities granted a delay in implementing the measures.

The airlines offered different descriptions of how the interviews would take place, ranging from another form a traveller will have to fill out to actually being questioned by an airline employee.

The new security measures come after the Trump administration previously rolled out a laptop ban and travel bans that have thrown the international travel industry into disarray.

The new rules come at the end of a 120-day deadline for airlines to meet new US regulations after the ban on laptops in plane cabins of some Middle Eastern airlines was lifted.

"The security measures affect all individuals, international passengers and US citizens, travelling to the United States from a last point of departure international location," said Lisa Farbstein, a spokeswoman for the TSA.

"These new measures will impact all flights from airports that serve as last points of departure locations to the United States."

She put the number of flights affected at around 2,100 daily. She also said it would include "heightened screening of personal electronic devices" and stricter security procedures around planes and in airport terminals.

Air France said it will begin new security interviews on Thursday at Paris Orly Airport and a week later, on November 2, at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

It said the extra screening will take the form of a questionnaire handed over to all passengers.

Emirates said it would begin "pre-screening interviews" at check-in counters for passengers flying out of Dubai and at boarding gates for transit and transfer fliers.

It urged those flying through Dubai International Airport, its headquarters, to allow extra time to check into flights and board.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific said it had suspended self-drop baggage services and that passengers heading to the US "will be subject to a short security interview" when checking their luggage.

Those without bags will have a similar interview at their gates.

EgyptAir said the new measures include more detailed searches of passengers and their luggage and interviews. The strict procedures will extend to unauthorised agricultural or veterinary products.

Germany's Lufthansa Group said: "In addition to the controls of electronic devices already introduced, travellers to the USA might now also face short interviews at check-in, document check or (their) gate."

Lufthansa Group includes Germany's largest carrier, Lufthansa, as well as Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Eurowings and several other airlines.

Basel Kilani, a spokesman for Royal Jordanian, said the airline will submit questions to passengers before check-in.

He did not know what types of questions would be asked. Royal Jordanian operates direct flights from Amman to New York, Chicago and Detroit.

AP
Conspiracies surrounding the assassination of President John F Kennedy abound even now, 54 years after his death.

The US president was shot while travelling in a topless limo through Dallas on November 22, 1963, with Lee Harvey Oswald deemed responsible.

The House Select Committee on Assassinations decided in the late 1970s Kennedy was probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy and that there was a high probability that two gunmen fired  but never identified anyone involved.

And whether its the number of shots fired, where the shots were fired from, Oswalds involvement or the involvement of other parties, the American public are still sceptical about the official story.

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The main conspiracy theory

Many of the conspiracy strands, which often interweave and cross over, revolve around those who stood to lose out as a result of Kennedys stance on Cuba, Vietnam and the Soviet Union.

These include big business, mafia men and former FBI agents, as well as anti-Castro Cuban exiles and CIA elements, who are alleged by conspiracy theorists to have had reason to want Kennedy gone.

Kennedys attempts to secure a peace deal in Vietnam and normalise relations with Fidel Castros Cuba and the Soviet Union, thus winding down the Cold War, supposedly angered the so-called military-industrial complex, an alliance between the military, security services and arms industry.

With Kennedy proving bad business for defence contractors, some theorise a shadow government of powerful businessmen, politicians and generals helped facilitate Kennedys death.

Also in opposition to Kennedy were organised crime and anti-Castro activists.

Pulitzer prize finalist and author Anthony Summers said in 1991: Sometimes people sort of glaze over about the notion that the Mafia and US intelligence and the anti-Castro activists were involved together in the assassination of President Kennedy. In fact, theres no contradiction there.

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Those three groups were all in bed together at the time and had been for several years in the fight to topple Fidel Castro.

Organised crime syndicates apparently wanted Castro gone because of the money they were losing out on in Cuba, while the CIA had attempted to assassinate Castro hoping it would lead to a more US-friendly government.

JFK was blamed by these groups for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, which angered many anti-Castro Cuban exiles.

The CIAs director Allen Dulles was fired by Kennedy as a result of the invasion, and some people theorise that all these things played into Kennedys death.

Was this theory ever investigated?

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New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison believed that a number of people, ranging from the citys mobsters and businessmen to FBI agents turned private investigators, were in on the plot to kill Kennedy.

His 1966 investigation led to the only trial surrounding the former presidents death  when businessman Clay Shaw was found not guilty on charges of conspiring to assassinate Kennedy.

Garrison believed a complicated web involving investigators Guy Banister and David Ferrie, as well as elements of the CIA, were responsible for Kennedys death  and that they also conspired to set up Oswold for the crime.

Other people believe the Secret Service was responsible

There are theories surrounding the Secret Service, which were investigated by the HSCA, who found that despite being deficient in the performance of its duties, they were not involved.

Some people believe that the Secret Service was complicit by simply not doing enough to protect him, with the HSCA naming one specific agent who didnt do enough to cover Kennedy with his body.

The book Mortal Error took the Secret Services involvement a step further, alleging that an agent accidentally fired the fatal shot. George Hickey, the man accused by author Bonar Menninger, sued because of the claims and settled on undisclosed terms.

Other detectives and authors, looking at data from the Warren Report as well as numerous claims that shots were fired from ground level rather than up high, have backed this theory.

Kennedys second in command has been accused

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A number of people think then Vice President Lyndon B Johnson was the real mastermind behind the assassination, mostly for fear of being dropped from the 1964 Democratic ticket.

This theory has lived on since the 1960s, and has had many books and documentaries written about it, although following a History Channel show the network was forced to apologise and say the claims were without merit.

Theres a theory about the Cuban government

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Apparently angered by the numerous attempts by the US to take his life, Castro decided it was time to enact revenge. Thats how the theory goes, and was reportedly something Lyndon Johnson is said to have believed.

Castro, whose autobiography has fond words for Kennedy, reportedly said about any Cuban involvement: It would have been absolute insanity by Cuba It would have been a provocation. Needless to say, it would have been to run the risk that our country would have been destroyed by the United States.

Other theories that surround the deceased Cuban leader are that people acting on his behalf, who believed it was in his and the countrys best interests, killed Kennedy  while Oswald himself was a huge admirer of Castro, and some people believe he killed Kennedy to win his admiration.

Other theories

That the Federal Reserve was behind it, because Kennedy was trying to reduce their power, is another theory.

This seems to be contradicted by the fact that Kennedy had signed a bill giving the Fed authority to issue small denomination notes  actively giving it more power.

Thousands of books have been written about JFKs assassination, and other theories include that it was an Israeli government conspiracy or a Soviet conspiracy, while theres even a theory that Oswald killed Kennedy because of an addiction to sugar.
Chinese president Xi Jinping has been launched into the same political league as Mao Tse-tung after China's Communist Party voted to enshrine his ideology into the state's constitution.

The move is being seen as significant in China, which is thought to have been ruled by collective responsibility and consensus among senior leaders since Chairman Mao's death in 1976.

With the party's support firmly behind him, Mr Xi will now be emboldened to continue his strong style of authoritarian rule at home and muscular foreign policy abroad.

There is growing speculation that Mr Xi is seeking to break with precedent and extend his power beyond two five-year terms. Any attempt to do so has now been made easier, given his pre-eminent position in the constitution. It means he could rule for life.

Only Mao, considered the founding father of modern China, had his ideology enshrined into the party constitution when he was still alive. Deng Xiaoping, architect of China's reforms, had the honour awarded after his death.

Hu Jintao and Zhang Zemin also had their guiding thoughts enshrined, but without their names attached and after they served as president.

"This is Xi's era - and it's an era he has created for himself," said Zhang Lifan, a Beijing-based political commentator.

"Mao had to wait 24 years until he had his ideology included in the constitution, but for Xi it was only five."

The party yesterday unanimously passed an amendment to include 'Xi Jinping: Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era' as one of its guiding principles.

It was agreed by a unanimous vote on the final day of the Communist Party's congress in Beijing's cavernous Great Hall of the People.

It gives greater powers to the ruling Communist Party, particularly with regards to China's rapidly modernising military. However, some experts say that although China has emerged as the world's second biggest economy, Beijing still struggles to pull millions out of poverty. By contrast, the country has also produced a free-spending generation of wealthy urban middle classes whose lifestyles are distant from Communist ideology.

"The challenge the party has of how it relates to people's daily lives remains," said Kerry Brown, a professor of Chinese Studies at King's College London and a former British diplomat in Beijing.

"The Chinese people and nation have a great and bright future ahead," Mr Xi told party delegates as the meeting came to a close.

"Living in such a great era, we are all the more confident and proud, and also feel the heavy weight of responsibility upon us," he said.

The concept Mr Xi has touted is seen as marking a break from the stage of economic reform ushered in by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s and continued under his successors.

For centuries, Chinese emperors were accorded ritual names that signalled either they were successors in a dynastic line or the founder of an entirely new dynasty. What Mr Xi accomplished this week was a modern equivalent of the latter, Mr Zhang said. "He wants to join that pantheon of leaders," he said.

Despite being elevated to the status of both a political and theoretical authority in the party, Mr Xi still lacks the broad popular support of the Chinese public that Mao had enjoyed, said Zhang Ming, a political analyst in Beijing who recently retired from a prestigious university.

"This [elevation] is a result of the party's political system and not of the sincere support of the people's hearts," Mr Zhang explained. ( Daily Telegraph, London)
An IRA unit fired three mortar shells on to the grounds of Quebec Barracks in Osnabrueck on June 28 1996

A Northern Ireland man has been convicted in Germany of attempted murder for participating in an IRA attack on a British Army barracks in the city of Osnabrueck more than two decades ago.

The court said James Anthony Oliver Corry was sentenced to four years in prison.

The 48-year-old Belfast man was extradited from the Republic of Ireland last December to face charges.

He was convicted of being part of an IRA unit that fired three mortar shells on to the grounds of the Quebec Barracks in Osnabrueck on June 28 1996.

Only one of the shells detonated, damaging buildings and vehicles but injuring no one.

The Provisional IRA killed nearly 1,800 people from 1970 to July 2005, when it formally renounced violence.
A note written on a Tokyo hotel official paper in 1922 by Albert Einstein is seen before it is sold at an auction in Jerusalem, October 24, 2017. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Albert Einstein predicted that a note he wrote 95 years ago for a courier would be more valuable than a regular tip - and he was right.

The handwritten message that the German-born physicist gave to the messenger in Tokyo briefly describing his theory on happy living sold at auction in Jerusalem on Tuesday for $1.56 million (1.33m), the auction house said.

The winning bid for the note far exceeded the pre-auction estimate of between $5,000 (4,251) and $8,000 (6,802), according to the website of Winner's auction house.

"It was an all-time record for an auction of a document in Israel," Winner's spokesman Meni Chadad told AFP.

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The buyer was a European who wished to remain anonymous, he said.

Bidding, in person, online and by phone, started at $2,000 (1,700). A flurry of offers pushed the price rapidly up for about 20 minutes until the final two potential buyers bid against each other by phone.

Applause broke out in the room when the sale was announced.

"I am really happy that there are people out there who are still interested in science and history and timeless deliveries in a world which is developing so fast," the unidentified seller told AFP after the sale.

A second Einstein note written at the same time that simply reads "where there's a will, there's a way" sold for $240,000, Winner's said.

Einstein dedicated his life to science, but suggested in the notes that fulfilling a long-term ambition doesn't necessarily guarantee happiness.

The theoretical physicist, who is celebrated for his groundbreaking theory of relativity, was on a lecture tour in Japan in 1922 when the encounter took place.

He was staying at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo but did not have any change available to tip the courier.

Instead, the Nobel Prize winner handed the man two handwritten notes, telling him: Maybe if you're lucky those notes will become much more valuable than just a regular tip.

Einstein wrote on one of the notes: A quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest.

Where there's a will, there's a way, he wrote on another sheet.

The notes, which were previously unknown to researchers, were being sold by an anonymous Hamburg resident.

Roni Grosz, an Einstein archivist at Jerusalem's Hebrew University, said: What we're doing here is painting the portrait of Einstein - the man, the scientist, his effect on the world - through his writings.

This is a stone in the mosaic.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
A timely phenomenon

Last week, the world was glued to the five-yearly 19th national congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The highlight was General Secretary of the Party, President Xi Jinpings three and a half hour long speech.
The womb with baby inside is operated on by surgeons

It might look like a glowing alien egg, but this red ovoid is actually a human womb containing a baby, removed temporarily from its mother before birth, in a groundbreaking operation.

Doctors in the US have been pioneering an astonishing new treatment for spina bifida in which the baby is operated on before birth.

Spina bifida occurs when a babys spine and spinal cord do not develop properly, causing a gap in the spine. It affects 24 babies in 100,000. The condition leaves sufferers unable to walk, with fluid build-up in the brain, lack of bladder control and other complications.

Foetal surgery for spina bifida has been common since the Nineties, but trying to repair the spine while the baby is still inside its mother is fraught with difficulty and cutting into the womb risks premature birth.

Now Dr Michael Belford, of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, has developed a new technique to remove the baby and womb so that any spinal defect can be fixed before amniotic fluid eats away further at the gap in the spinal nerve tissue.

Although the womb is still attached to the mother, once outside her body doctors can drain it, light it up and operate through incisions.

One of the first operations was performed last month on hairdresser Lexi Royer (28), who was initially offered an abortion, but chose instead to take part in the experimental surgery when her baby was 24 weeks old.

We were looking at brain damage, feeding tubes, a breathing tube, a wheelchair, just a bad quality of life, Mrs Royer told The New York Times.

Its not done, by any means, but I definitely feel its the right thing for us. Seeing the ultrasound and how good hes doing, moving his ankles and feet, its such a happy moment. I cant imagine going on further in the pregnancy not knowing every day what damage is being done. Its such a relief to move forward.

During the three-hour operation at Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston, Mr Belfort opened Mrs Royers abdomen but instead of cutting into the uterus, removed the whole womb. He then made two slits in the womb, one for a fetoscope  a tiny camera designed to light up and film inside  and another for surgical tools.

Doctors pumped in carbon dioxide to keep the uterus buoyant, giving them room to work and allowing them to see the spine more easily.

After injecting the foetus with anaesthetic, the team moved skin over the exposed spinal cord and stitched it in place. Doctors then refilled the womb with saltwater and placed it back into Mrs Royer.

To develop the procedure, Dr Belfort and colleague Dr Whitehead spent two years practising on sheep and a rubber ball with a doll inside, wrapped in chicken skin to mimic the defect in spina bifida.

The team is now reporting on its work in the journal Obstetrics & Gynaecology following 28 successful operations in which no foetuses have died, and only a few have needed shunts to drain fluid from the brain. Some of the mothers have also not even needed Caesarean sections.

Dr Belfort is now helping to train colleagues at Stanford University.

However, some doctors have warned that pumping the womb with carbon dioxide during the procedure could damage the baby and cause neurological problems in later life.

Dr Katie Morris, senior clinical lecturer and consultant in maternal foetal medicine, University of Birmingham, said: All of these techniques are exciting and novel in that they give an option for in-utero therapy.

Mrs Royers baby is due in January. ( Daily Telegraph, London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
George HW Bush posed with Heather Lind during a promotional tour for her TV series

A television actress has accused former US president George HW Bush of touching her from behind and telling her a dirty joke while she was posing for a photo with him.

Heather Lind said in a now-deleted Instagram post that the incident took place while she was posing for a picture with Mr Bush during a promotional tour for AMC series Turn: Washington's Spies, according to People magazine.

Lind appears alongside the 93-year-old, who is seated in a wheelchair, in a photo at a Houston screening of the series in 2014.

Bush spokesman Jim McGrath said in a statement: "President Bush would never - under any circumstance - intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologises if his attempt at humour offended Ms Lind."
The Australian owner of DIY chain Homebase has seen sales plummet in the first quarter as retailers continue to bear the brunt of a consumer spending slowdown.

Bunnings, which snapped up Homebase last year, posted an 11.9% slide in like for like sales in the first three months of the year, while total sales crashed 13.8% to 276 million.

The figures come alongside a slowing housing market in the UK following the Brexit vote and after rival B&Q also posted falling sales.

Bunnings, part of retail giant Wesfarmers, described the performance as disappointing as it pointed to difficult trading conditions.

It put the poor figures partly down to being adversely affected by the significant clearance of discontinued ranges last year.

Bunnings acquired Homebase in a 340 million deal last year and has been attempting to reposition the brand.

As well as revamping the stores and slashing prices, Homebase is in the process of being rebranded as Bunnings.

Bunnings managing director Michael Schneider said: While the performance of Homebase is disappointing, we continue to be encouraged by the performance of the Bunnings pilots.

The Bunnings UK and Ireland team remains focused on stabilising the performance of the Homebase stores as well as delivering proof of concept for the Bunnings format.

Eight Bunnings pilot stores are now operational and a total of 15 to 20 are expected to be trading by Christmas.

The trading update comes after Bunnings UK revealed an annual 54 million loss on revenue of 1.2 billion earlier this year.
Kenyan women gather outside the Supreme Court in Nairobi for a multi-faith demonstration calling for peace (AP)

Raila Odinga greets the crowd as he arrives for a rally in Uhuru Park, Nairobi (AP)

The leader of Kenya's main opposition party has urged his supporters to boycott a rerun of the country's disputed presidential election amid rising political tensions and fears of violence.

Raila Odinga urged his political coalition to become a "resistance movement" and called on them to boycott Thursday's repeat ballot.

"Do not participate," he said at a rally in Nairobi's Uhuru Park.

The country's Supreme Court on Wednesday failed to muster enough judges to hear a last-minute petition to postpone the elections.

Supreme Court chief justice David Maraga appeared alone in the courtroom and said only he and one other judge had shown up for the hearing. The shooting of one judge's driver the evening before raised fears about intimidation of the judiciary.

Outside the court, hundreds of women in white scarves gathered to call for peace amid rising uncertainty and fears of violence. Jubilant supporters of President Uhuru Kenyatta celebrated the news that the elections will proceed.

Hundreds of opposition supporters gathered in Uhuru Park, Nairobi, to hear Mr Odinga speak. Police had earlier banned the rally, but stood back and allowed it to take place.

The Supreme Court hearing was to hear a petition filed by three Kenyans, including a human rights activist, who urged the court to postpone the election, arguing that electoral officials have said they cannot ensure the polls will be free, fair and credible.

Harun Ndubi, a lawyer for the petitioners, suggested that some judges who did not attend the hearing may have violated their constitutional duties.

"The justices must forever be available," said Mr Ndubi, though he acknowledged that the deputy chief justice whose police driver was injured in a shooting on Tuesday evening may have been genuinely troubled.

"For the others, I don't buy their explanation," he said. "I don't see a credible or legitimate election happening tomorrow," he said, adding that the vote, if it occurs on Thursday, "would be a farce".

Busloads of opposition supporters arrived for the rally at Uhuru Park, despite the police ban. The mood was mostly cheerful and even celebratory. People danced, blew whistles and vuvuzelas, and banged drums. Orange caps and T-shirts with Odinga's initials, RAO, were handed out to the crowd.

Across the country, in the opposition stronghold of Kisumu, western Kenya, Odinga supporters suggested they would disrupt Thursday's elections.

The Supreme Court court shocked Kenya last month when it nullified Mr Kenyatta's August re-election, citing irregularities and illegalities and the electoral commission's unwillingness to let court-appointed technicians scrutinise its computer system.

Mr Odinga had challenged Mr Kenyatta's victory, claiming hackers had infiltrated the computer servers and manipulated the vote.

AP
Metro Bank has reported rising third quarter profits as it promised to take its revolution to the streets of Swindon, Canterbury and Peterborough.

The challenger bank, which launched in 2010, saw underlying pre-tax profits rise 77% to 7.2 million in the three months to September 30.

Metro Bank also notched up record quarterly customer growth as 79,000 new accounts were opened, taking its total to 1.1 million.

Vernon Hill, the lenders chairman and founder, said: We are the Revolution in British banking, offering real choice to consumers and businesses.

As we take the revolution to the high streets of Swindon, Canterbury and Peterborough, we are giving those urban communities and businesses a real alternative and a reason to love their bank at last.

The bank added that it saw a 10% increase in deposit growth to 10.8 billion quarter on quarter.

Lending grew 858 million, or 11% quarter-on-quarter to 8.6 billion.

Metro Bank opened its 50th store in Peterborough in September and a further five stores will open this year, including in Luton this month.

Next year the group will open 12 branches in cities such as Birmingham and Bristol as part of chief executive Craig Donaldsons plan to expand the banks branch network to 100 by 2020, creating 2,500 extra jobs and doubling the staff roster in the process.
New alleged victim of Harvey Weinstein, Natassia Malthe, speaks as she sits with lawyer Gloria Allred during a news conference in New York City, U.S., October 25, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Actress Natassia Malthe has accused Harvey Weinstein of raping her in a London hotel after a Bafta awards ceremony, in the latest allegation against the disgraced movie mogul.

The model and actress, who has appeared in around 50 films, said on Wednesday that she met Weinstein at the after party of the 2008 ceremony while she was working as a spokeswoman for LG.

In the latest of dozens of allegations of sexual harassment and assault, she told a press conference in New York that she felt pressured into telling Weinstein she was staying at the Sanderson Hotel after being put on the spot.

Malthe, now 43, said after her shift on February 10 she went back to her room and went to sleep, but was awoken by "repeated pounding" on her door, from someone yelling: "Open the door Natassia Malthe, it's Harvey Weinstein."

Feeling humiliated, she said she opened the door. She alleged Weinstein began implying sex would get her a role in an upcoming film while semi-undressed and then he began to masturbate.

"I was sitting on the bed talking to Harvey when he pushed me back and forced himself onto me. It was not consensual. He did not use a condom," she said.

"I was completely grossed out. I believe that I disassociated during the time that he was having sex with me. I laid still and closed my eyes and just wanted it to end. I was like a dead person. Afterwards I lay there in complete disgust."

The next day she received a script, she alleged, before returning to Los Angeles where she said she was given the impression she had landed a role in the movie Nine, a film produced by Weinstein that would star Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman and Judi Dench.

Malthe claimed that Weinstein asked her to meet him at the Beverly Hills Peninsula Hotel where he allegedly said an assistant would be present. But instead he asked her to engage in a threesome with him and another woman, she alleged.

She refused and when she later called him to say a role in a movie was not worth it, he became angry and called her an "ungrateful c***", she claimed.

"I had experienced sexual harassment from other powerful men in Hollywood, but my experiences with Harvey were the worst," Malthe added.

Her lawyer Gloria Allred said Malthe is "considering" whether to make a report to police over the allegation, which is at least the sixth claim of rape against Weinstein.

Weinstein, 65, is the subject of criminal investigations in London, New York and Los Angeles and The Weinstein Company (TWC), which he co-founded, is the subject of a civil rights investigation.

TWC, which sacked Weinstein, is also being sued for five million dollars (3.8 million) by actress Dominique Huett, who claims the studio was negligent for having knowledge of his behaviour.

Weinstein has "unequivocally denied" allegations of non-consensual sex.
Vladimir Putin has denied helping his entourage to get rich (AP)

A group of journalists behind the Panama Papers offshore accounts expose have published an investigation detailing how a relative of Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a fortune.

The Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project published a piece claiming that Mikhail Shelomov, the son of Mr Putin's cousin, has amassed nearly 450 million in assets.

Investigative journalists have written about Mr Putin's childhood friends and distant relatives amassing fortunes before, but he has denied helping his entourage to get rich.

Wednesday's piece detailed how Mr Shelomov's company amassed stakes in lucrative businesses run by Mr Putin's inner circle.

The OCCRP was one of the media outlets that brought to life documents of a Panamanian law firm showing how hundreds of rich and powerful people registered companies in tax havens.

Russia's Novaya Gazeta newspaper published a piece this summer about Mr Shelomov, who it described as a mid-level clerk in a shipping company.

In an interview with the newspaper, he confirmed that Accept, a company registered in his name, owns a broad range of assets including a share in Bank Rossii, which is co-owned by Mr Putin's childhood friends.

He refused to comment on a suggestion that his company was a front for somebody else.
Apiculture brings sweet success to farmers

Beekeeping has significantly increased in the remote mountainous areas in the Western Region as it has emerged as a big source of income and employment. There are several species of honey-producing bees in Nepal. However, only two of them are raised for apicultureCerana and Mellifera.
Republican senator Jeff Flake has hit back at Donald Trump, saying "you can't continue to just remain silent" about the president's politics and behaviour.

"There is a tipping point. ... I hope we're reaching that tipping point," Mr Flake told NBC's Today programme.

The Arizona senator made the rounds of morning television news shows to talk about his decision not to run for re-election in 2018 and his impassioned speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday, in which he said he could no longer be "complicit" with the Republican president.

"We are excusing undignified and outrageous and reckless speech and behaviour as 'telling it like it is'. That's not right," Mr Flake said on MSNBC.

Mr Trump immediately fired back on Twitter, saying Mr Flake and another retiring Senate Republican, Bob Corker of Tennessee - who criticised the president on Tuesday as "untruthful" and debasing the nation - are not running for re-election because "they had zero chance of being elected".

He also claimed the two senators stand alone, boasting in several tweets that he received standing ovations at a Senate Republicans' luncheon on Tuesday at the Capitol.

Mr Flake cited the era of Joseph McCarthy, the Republican Wisconsin senator whose smear tactics alleging communist infiltration ultimately led to his censure.

In a column in the Washington Post, Mr Flake quoted Joseph Welch, an army lawyer who stood up to McCarthy in a June 1954 hearing and demanded: "Have you no sense of decency, sir?"

"The moral power of Welch's words ended McCarthy's rampage on American values, and effectively his career as well," Mr Flake wrote. "We face just such a time now. We have again forgotten who we are supposed to be."

He also said he thinks more of his Republican colleagues will speak out.

"It's up to us to stand us and say, 'This is not acceptable'," he told ABC's Good Morning America.

Asked why others in his party have not yet done so, Mr Flake said: "There is some fatigue about it."

But he stopped short of saying Mr Trump should be declared unfit for office or impeached, adding: "The voters made their choice. He was elected fair and square."
House Republicans have launched new probes into the Obama administration and Hillary Clinton's emails, prompting accusations from Democrats who said the moves were meant as a "massive diversion" from investigations into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

The announcements of the investigations by three Republican committees came as two witnesses close to President Donald Trump faced tough questions before the House intelligence panel behind closed doors as part its Russia probe.

Mr Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, and his former campaign digital and data director, Brad Parscale, were both interviewed by the House panel behind closed doors on Tuesday. Mr Cohen's interview started in the morning and lasted around six hours, while Mr Parscale's lasted most of the afternoon.

Two politicians familiar with Mr Cohen's interview said it had been "contentious", especially with Mr Cohen's lawyer who tried to limit some questions.

Mr Cohen, a former executive with the Trump Organisation who had been subpoenaed by the House panel earlier this year, was in talks to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, but ended those negotiations as Trump's White House bid caught fire. In a statement to the Senate intelligence committee in August, Mr Cohen said the proposal was "solely a real estate deal and nothing more".

One of the politicians said Mr Parscale "categorically denied" he was involved in any collusion with Russia, repeating earlier public statements. Politicians have been investigating whether Russian efforts to influence social media in the US were in any way connected to Mr Trump's campaign.

As Mr Cohen spoke to investigators, House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes held a news conference outside the room to announce a separate committee investigation into an Obama-era uranium deal.

Mr Nunes earlier this year stepped back from the committee's investigation into Russian election interference after criticism that he was too close to the White House. But he has continued to be involved with some aspects of it, including signing subpoenas.

Mr Nunes's investigation into the uranium deal will be a joint effort with the House Oversight and Government Reform panel. The oversight committee also announced a second new investigation on Tuesday along with the House Judiciary Committee into the FBI's handling of the Clinton email investigation and the decision not to prosecute her.

California Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the intelligence panel, said the investigations show Republicans' "fundamental lack of seriousness" about Russian interference in the 2016 campaign.

"Acting on the urging of the president who has repeatedly denied the intelligence agencies' conclusions regarding Russian involvement in our election, they are designed to distract attention and pursue the president's preferred goal - attacking Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama," Mr Schiff said.

Representative Mike Conaway of Texas, the Republican who took over the Russia probe after Mr Nunes stepped back, said the uranium investigation will not be a distraction. "I'm not involved," he said.

Nunes and other Republicans who announced the probe said they want to know more about whether Obama's Department of Justice was investigating the purchase of American uranium mines by a Russian-backed company in 2010. The agreement was reached while Hillary Clinton led the State Department and some investors in the company had relationships with former President Bill Clinton and donated large sums to the Clinton Foundation.

While Democrats have dismissed the issue, which was also brought up during the campaign, as widely debunked, Trump has called it "the real Russia story." The White House praised Mr Nunes's move, with spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying the investigation is a "move in the right direction, and something that we've spoken about several times here - that if there was any collusion whatsoever during the campaigns of any point - or any collusion at any point with another country, that they should look at the Clintons".

Democrats on the House Judiciary and Oversight panels also criticised the new investigations, saying in a joint statement that another round of Clinton email investigations are a "massive diversion to distract from the lack of Republican oversight of the Trump administration and the national security threat that Russia poses".

AP
UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres has travelled to one of the most volatile towns in Central African Republic, where he thanked peacekeepers for their "extraordinary courage".

Nine United Nations peacekeepers have been killed so far this year in Bangassou, a town in the southeast where fighting has surged in recent months.

Some 2,000 Muslim civilians are seeking refuge at the town's Catholic church, fearing attacks from Christian militias in the area.

Mr Guterres praised the Moroccan and Cambodian peacekeepers in the area, saying they were protecting civilians under "very, very difficult circumstances".

Wednesday marked the second day of Mr Guterres' visit to Central African Republic.

The UN chief has said he hopes the trip highlights the problems facing the country as intercommunal violence has risen to its highest levels since 2014.

AP
Los Angeles, Oct 25 (IBNS): A new study from the Georgia Institute of Technology suggests that daydreaming during meetings isnat necessarily a bad thing. It might be a sign that youare really smart and creative.

People with efficient brains may have too much brain capacity to stop their minds from wandering, said Eric Schumacher, the Georgia Tech associate psychology professor who co-authored the study.

Schumacher and his students and colleagues, including lead co-author Christine Godwin, measured the brain patterns of more than 100 people while they lay in an MRI machine. Participants were instructed to focus on a stationary fixation point for five minutes. The Georgia Tech team used the data to identify which parts of the brain worked in unison.

The correlated brain regions gave us insight about which areas of the brain work together during an awake, resting state, said Godwin, a Georgia Tech psychology Ph.D. candidate.

Interestingly, research has suggested that these same brain patterns measured during these states are related to different cognitive abilities.

Once they figured out how the brain works together at rest, the team compared the data with tests the participants that measured their intellectual and creative ability. Participants also filled out a questionnaire about how much their mind wandered in daily life.

Those who reported more frequent daydreaming scored higher on intellectual and creative ability and had more efficient brain systems measured in the MRI machine.

People tend to think of mind wandering as something that is bad. You try to pay attention and you cant, said Schumacher. Our data are consistent with the idea that this isnt always true. Some people have more efficient brains.

Schumacher says higher efficiency means more capacity to think, and the brain may mind wander when performing easy tasks.

How can you tell if your brain is efficient? One clue is that you can zone in and out of conversations or tasks when appropriate, then naturally tune back in without missing important points or steps.

Our findings remind me of the absent-minded professor  someone whos brilliant, but off in his or her own world, sometimes oblivious to their own surroundings, said Schumacher. Or school children who are too intellectually advanced for their classes. While it may take five minutes for their friends to learn something new, they figure it out in a minute, then check out and start daydreaming.

Godwin and Schumacher think the findings open the door for follow-up research to further understand when mind wandering is harmful, and when it may actually be helpful.

"There are important individual differences to consider as well, such as a person's motivation or intent to stay focused on a particular task, said Godwin.

The paper, Functional connectivity within and between intrinsic brain networks correlates with trait mind wandering, is published in the journal Neuropsychologia.

Image: Wikimedia Commons
What is XAT? XAT or Xavier Aptitude Test is a national level MBA entrance exam conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur for admission to post graduate management programs at over 140 B-schools across India. It is a computer based test consisting of both objective and subjective type questions. The entrance exam is conducted by the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI) for admission in XLRI.

Several other prestigious MBA institutes also accept XAT scores, such as Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship - Bengaluru,Bharatiya Vidya Bhavans S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Xavier Institute of Management Bhubaneswar, Xavier Institute of Social Service  Ranchi, Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA) Chennai,SSN School of Management- Kalavakkam, AIMS Institutes- Bengaluru, and many more.

The Exam Pattern of XAT

The question paper is divided into two parts, as listed below:

Part 1  Verbal Ability, Decision Making and Analytical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation. The maximum allotted time to attempt this section is 140 minutes.



Part 2  GK and Essay. The maximum allotted time to attempt this section is 40 minutes.

Part Section Questions Time allotted Verbal and

Logical Ability 24 170 Decision

Making 21 Quantitative 27 Ability and

Data

Interpretation General

Knowledge 25 35 Essay 1

You sure would have noticed the section called decision making right? This is what makes XAT a unique exam. The decision making is regarded as the most difficult section by a plethora of students taking the examination.

The rest of the test consists of the sections for Verbal and Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, General KnowledgeandEssay as already covered above.

The Verbal and Logical Ability challenges you with standard English language questions. The level of difficulty of the questions itself isnt very high.Students who keep in touch with the regular language readingmight find it really easy to attempt this section without any significant problems.

The Quantitative Ability consists of standard mathematics questions that are, once again, not of a very high level of difficulty. Regular or even frequent practice shall keep you in sharp shape.

Then theres the General Knowledge section which is of considerably higher difficulty level. Be prepared for questions based on events you might have never even heard of before. Keep up to date with current events and also make sure to study all the relevant news from history as well, e.g. major historical events from Indian or world history.

The last category, essay writing, is a fairly easy section. Make sure you prepare a backbone for your essay before you start writing. Include good relevant examples that dive your point home. End the essay by providing a recap of all the included examples in a single sentence, with a fitting conclusionthus ensuring a perfect score.

So, is the decision-making segment impossible to prepare for? Fret not, follow the following tips and trick for a breakdown of how to approach the section. There is a solve example at the end of the list for clear understanding and demonstration.

Tips for Cracking the Decision-making Section

1. Stay calm and read the complete question

This seems like a generic advice that everyone offers to everyone else, but it is still one of the most helpful yet ignored advices. Students have a tendency to get impatient with the exam, especially when the timer is ticking. Still it is necessary to stay calm and read the complete question without missing a single word. It is necessary because the answers you will be choosing from would appear to be true at a cursory glance. Unless and until the context of the premise is clear, attempting the question will most probably result in a wrong answer, and consequently, negative marks.

2. Read and understand all the provided options

In order to determine the correct choice, you must understand all the provided options. As pointed out previously, all the options might appear correct at first, but as is the case with every exam, only one actually is.

3. Categorise and compare the statements

This is the tricky part. Categorise the option statement according to the context paragraph. Gather evidence from the context about the asked question by locating the portion relevant to the question. Now read the statements again and mark whether or not the statement is true or not in the provided context. Remember, all the statement might be true on their own, but only if it fits the context, will it be the right answer. Be careful.

4. Try to link the information provided in the options and in the context paragraph

The information provided in the different option statements would almost always make sense or hold true on their own. It is therefore necessary for you to compare it to the context paragraph. The options wouldcontradict the information in the context, provide alternative information or reuse a different portion of the paragraph with similar words but unnecessary information. If the any of these is the case, mark that option as wrong.

If the statement uses the correct information from the passage to provide a reasonable judgement, or is consistent with the statement, that option is true.

5. Avoid extreme language

One thing to be kept in mind while solving decision making questions is that if an option consists of extreme judgement, harsh or cruel reactions, or insensitive language, it can be safely concluded that it is the wrong answer.

6. Employ different perspectives in a given problem, but make sure they are correct

Recognise the parties involved that are either directly or indirectly involved. Make sure to understand which information is relevant. If there are multiple conflicts, make sure you pick the correct one from the passage. The context is important.



7. The priority is to minimize losses, or if possible, rectify them

Make sure that nobody suffers due to the judgement. The best decision might not bring the most profit, but it definitely makes sure losses are minimized. Sometimes, if there are two decisions that achieve the same level of loss management; choose the one where generosity is also offered alongside.

8. Do not let personal feelings affect the decision

Do not favour one side more than the other in any case. More often, it is seen that students adopt an approach based on their own values. PLEASE REMEMBER, agendas will lead to biased decisions. The correct option will be fair and as close to neutral as possible. Picking sides would land a manager in trouble in real life, which is why you should remember it in the exam too.

9. Immoral or unethical options are to be avoided at all cost

If there is an option that manages to minimize/rectify losses but does so in a shady manner, avoid that option. It has been already pointed out that this section is the closest it gets to providing crises that mirror real life. Even if unethical options are available to you, you shouldnt allow yourself to be swayed by them, just like you should ideally in real life. As tempting as it may sound, it is the wrong answer.

10. Revise and be sure of your decision before marking the answer

If you have followed the above guidelines, you have probably arrived at the correct answer. Still, it is necessary that you revise the answer before submitting it. Make sure you are confident with the choice youve picked and that it is the best option among the ones present.

Now for added benefit, let us take one example question from the decision-making segment

Question:A pastor had eaten at a restaurant with his family and friends. It was the norm to tip the waiter and about 20% of waiters salary came from these tips. However, while paying the bill, the pastor crossed out the automatic 18% tip charged for parties of more than eight and wrote I give god 10%, why do you get 18%? above his signature. The chagrined waitress at the restaurant posted a photo of this on the social media. She was subsequently fired for violating company policies on customer privacy.

This would have been understandable it the restaurant had not posted just two weeks ago a customer receipt that was complimenting them. Social media and social rights activists came heavily upon the managements ambivalent stand and the firing of the waitress. In response, the company posted the same note over and over again. There were also accusations of company deleting negative comments and blocking users. The restaurant also experienced a sizeable drop in their footfall.

Q. Who/what is the main cause for the situation becoming unmanageable?

A. The pastor for flouting the norm of restaurant.

B. The waitress for violating customer privacy.

C. The management for not taking action against the pastor.

D. The management for giving out disproportionate punishment t the waitress.

E. The management for removing negative comments from the social media.

Solution: Consider every option

A. It is true on its own but the information present does not stand true when fit with the context of the passage. The pastor is not the reason for the situation becoming unmanageable.

B. The waitress did violate the customer policy (according to the company at least) but this information in irrelevant, since the public isnt outraged about the behaviour of the waitress.

C. The information is not present in the context.

D. The management did give out disproportionate punishment to the waitress, considering the fact which is clearly stated in the passage This would have been understandable if the restaurant had not posted just two weeks ago a customer receipt that was complimenting them. The waitress and the company did the same thing (post customer feedback on social media) but only the waitress was punished for it, thus angering the masses on social media.

E. This information is picked from a different section of the passage and it must be pointed out that the allegations came to light after the outrage

Thus, D is the answer.

Question. The downward spiral continued for the restaurant as the management persisted in defending their actions and argued with those who criticized them. By the following week, the original post had generated over 18,000 negative comments.

Which of the following is the best way forward for the restaurant at this juncture?

A. Unconditionally restore the waitress to her former position and salary on the ground that she was never at fault in the first place.

B. Apologize to and reinstate the waitress and ask her to apologize for her breach of customer privacy and post both the apologies on social media.

C. Reinstate the waitress provided she apologises for her breach of customer privacy and post that apology on the restaurants social media page.

D. Reinstate the waitress if and only if she apologizes for the breach of customer privacy and posts that apology on her social media.

E. Recruit two waitresses at a higher wage but stick to the original decision of firing the waitress.

Solution: Remember the guidelines

A. Taking sides with the waitress.

B. Minimising losses and apology offered to two involved parties.

C. Minimising losses and apology offered to one involved party.

D. Language of the statement is too extreme

E. Doesnt minimise losses

It can be seen that C makes the best choice.

In conclusion, I would like to say that I hope students aspiring for XAT exam find this article useful. The guidelines have been crafted with a careful eyefor maximum benefit. Along with the above guidelines, I must also urge you to make sure youve had ample practice before you head on to tackle the examination. Please practice all previous year XAT questions, especially the decision-making questions. During my research I also came across some sites claiming to have the answer keys along with the previous XAT question papers, but the answer keys turned out to be fakes, so beware. Good luck!


Jaipur, known as Pink City, is a charming place to live with its unique architecture, a rich heritage and culture. Presently, it is one of Indiaas largest higher education hub.

In this article, we are going to look at some of the best B.Tech colleges in Jaipur and why it is an obvious choice for many B.Tech aspirants. In the recent years, this course has attracted students from various parts of India. This is same for other professional studies, also. At the same time, the huge number of colleges and private universities for B.Tech programs, does justice to the increased demand from students, along with promising quality education.

Headed in a new direction, this year, Rajasthan Technical University (RTU) decided to introduce human values and environmental engineering and disaster management as compulsory subjects in the first year of B.Tech course. The main purpose is to inculcate ethical values and increased social awareness among engineering students.

Following are the top 10 B.Tech colleges in Jaipur, along with their important criterion to get admission.



1.JECRCUniversity

This university was established in the year 2012. It is UGC recognized. Innovation-led research studies and subject-specific explorations, are often encouraged at JECRC university. It has been ranked 411 at all India level, out of 700 plus engineering colleges.

The B.Tech program here is offered under the School of Engineering. It also includes B.Tech- Lateral program. Bothincludes 5 specializations namely; Civil, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical, Mechanical, Electronics and Communication Engineering.

For admissions, 10th and12th pass with 55% marks in all subjects is mandatory. A compulsorily pass in English, Physics & Mathematics and one subject out of Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology and Technical Vocational Subjects from a recognizedboard or equivalentis required. Candidates from SC/ ST/ State OBC (non-creamy layer) and women categorygets 5% relaxation.

The first preference is usually given to candidates on merit basis based on their JEE Main score card conducted by CBSE.

For B.Tech- Lateral entry

 A Diploma pass from any AICTE approved institution with 50% marks is mandatory.Candidates from SC/ ST/ State OBC (Non-creamy layer) and women category will get 5% relaxation.

 B.Sc. Degree from any UGC recognized university with 50% marks is mandatory. Applicants from SC/ ST/ State OBC (Non-creamy layer) and women category will get 5% relaxation provided one has passed 10+2 with mathematics as a subject.

 Diploma holders and B.Sc holders are eligible for admission to second year of B.Tech course on merit basis in JEE Main, considering all subjects.

Moving further, Pre-placement trainings are often conducted for students. About 80% of the students were placed in the 2016-17 batch of students at JECRC University.

Reviews: Many students have reviewed this university as an active educational and research institute. This is because of the many tie-ups with national level projects, leading to better exposure among students.

2) Global Institute of Technology (GIT)

This college was established in 2002 by Global Institute of Technology Society.It is UGC recognized, ISO certified, AICTE approved and affiliated to Rajasthan Technical University, Kota.

The B.Tech program at GIT offers 6 specializations,namely, Information Technology, Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Electronics and Communication and Electronics Instrumentation and Control Engineering.

A 10+2 pass with Physics / Maths and one subject from Chemistry/ Biology/ Biotechnology/ Computer Science/ Technical Vocational Subjects with 45% in the above subject combination from a recognized board / university is a must. The results of JEE Main and REAP exams is another main criterion.

On course completion, the students are offered an average package about 2 lakhs during placements.

Reviews:Good alumni network, infrastructural facilities and extra-curricular activities are considered in high regard by the students.

3) Poornima College of Engineering

This engineering college, one of the main college of Poornima Group of Colleges, was established in the year 2000. Currently it is ranked 7thamong B.Tech colleges in Jaipur. It is affiliated to the Rajasthan Technical University and approved by AICTE and MHRD.

The B.Tech program hereoffers 6 specializations,namely; Information Technology, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical, Civil, Mechanical, Electronics and Communication Engineering.Admissions are offered on the basis of JEE(Main) score card. With this score card,candidates also have to apply for Rajasthan Engineering Admission Process (REAP).

A 10+2 pass or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. Also,any one of Chemistry/Biotechnology/Biology/Technical Vocational subject with 45% marks in each of these subjects is mandatory. The requirement is 40% for those from reserved category.

B.Tech- Lateral is also offered here. The criteria are:

 Diploma pass with 45% marks and 40% for candidates from reserved category.

 B.Sc. Degree with 45% marks and 40% forreserved category and 12th pass with mathematics as subject. Students from this stream should clear subjects of Engineering Graphics/Engineering Drawing and Engineering Mechanics of first year of engineering along with second year subjects.

On course completion, the students are offered an average package about 4 lakhs.

Reviews:Students mainly enjoy the good ambience, mentor support from senior students and infrastructural facilitiesat Poornima College.

4)Malaviya National Institute of Technology

This public college was established in 1963. In June 26, 2002, it was given the status of National Institute of Technology. Presently, it is funded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. It is also ranked1st among all B.Tech colleges in Jaipur.

The B.Tech program at MNIT consists of 7 specializations; Chemical, Computer, Civil , Electrical, Mechanical, Metallurgical and Materials, Electronics and Communication engineering.

With regards to admission, 10+2 pass or equivalent board with 75% marks is must. For SC/ST students, 65% at 10+2 level is a must. The first preference is given to candidates on merit based on their score in JEE Main.

MNIT has a record of good placements and an average package of 7 lakhs is offered to students on course completion.

Reviews:Students regard the easy availability of student scholarships, good management and experienced faculty as the main attraction.

5) Jaipur National University

The Jaipur National university was established in 2007. It is UGC recognized and consists of 13 schools. It has secured 13th position among all B.Tech colleges in Jaipur. In 2014, it was ranked as

Indias Best University by India Today.

The B.Tech program at JNU offers the following specializations; Biotechnology, Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication, Electrical, Food technology, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics and Computer Engineering.

Candidates must be 12th pass with Physics, Chemistry and Biology/ Mathematics as main subjects from a recognized board. Candidates are then evaluated on merit based on their JEE Main score.

An average package of 3.5 lakhs is offered on completion of course during college placements.

Reviews: The process of providing eligible students with scholarship every year is most appreciated by students. Apart from this, hostel, infrastructural facilities and placement process are other feathers to the cap at JNU.



6) The LNM Institute of Information Technology

The LNM Institute of Information Technologyis a deemed university, established in the year 2003. Presently, it has been given the 4th position among B.Tech colleges in Jaipur.

Here, the B.Tech specializations offered are in Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication, Communication and Computer, Mechanical Engineering with specialization in Mechatronics and Automotive Engineering.

Admission is on the basis of JEE Main scores. Apart from this, candidates should be 10+2 pass or equivalent in relevant discipline with 60% marks.

An average package of 13 lakhs is offered initially on completion of course during campus placements. Nearly 85-90% of students have been placed in a batch, every year.

Reviews: Cultural events, placement drives, active campus life and alumni network are regarded highly by students at this college.



7)Jagannath University

This university was established in the year 2008.It has six campuses in three states with main campus in Jaipur.

The B.Tech program at this university consists of 5 specializations;

Computer Science, Electronics and Communication, Civil,Mechanical, Electrical and Environmental Engineering.

A 10+2 pass with Physics, Mathematics, and any other subject from CBSE or other equivalent Board with 45% Marks in compulsory. Candidates are evaluated on basis of JEE Main score, RPET or JUEE followed by an interview.Those with Diploma in engineering/B.Sc. (Physics/Mathematics/Any other science subject) can pursue a B.Tech-Lateral Entry course.

An average package of Rs.4 lakhs is offered on course completion during most placements.

Reviews:Good faculty, great ambience and academic exposure are most appreciated by students.

8) Arya College of Engineering and IT (ACEIT)

This college is affiliated to Rajasthan Technical University and accredited by the National Board of Accreditation. It was established in 2000. Currently, it is ranked in 16th position among B.Tech colleges in Jaipur.

The B.Tech programs at ACEIT offers 7 specializations; Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication, Information Technology, Communication and Computer, Electrical, Automobile and Mechanical Engineering.

A 10+2 level pass with Physics / Maths and one subject from Chemistry/ Biology/ Biotechnology/ Computer Science/ Technical Vocational Subjects with 45% in above subject combination from a recognized board / University is must.

An average package of 3 to 7 lakh is offered to students, during most campus placements. They have usually 85-90% placed students in a batch.

Reviews: Students consider the management, campus placements and campus life as the best attractions at this college.

9) Swami Keshavanand Institute of Technology Management and Gramothan (SKIT)

This institute was established in the year 2000. Presently, it is ranked in 11th position among B.Tech colleges in Jaipur.

The B.Tech programs at SKIT offers 6 specializations. For admissions into B.Tech courses, a 10+2 pass from any recognized Board with 45% marks and 40% for reserved candidates, is required. It is also based on JEE Main score. The admissions are conducted primarily through REAP.

An average package of 3 lakh is offered on completion of course, during college placements.

Reviews:Extracurricular activities and job placements are valued the most by the students at this college.

10) Rajasthan University of Engineering and Technology (RIET)

This university was established in the year 2000. It is affiliated to Rajasthan Technical University (RTU).

The B.Tech programs offers 7 specializations; Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication, Electrical, Information Technology, Electrical, Civil and Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

For admissions, 10+2 pass or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics is mandatory. Further candidates have to qualify REAP .

Moving on, an average of 3.5 lakhs is offered during job placements during course completion.

Reviews:Overall infrastructure, good faculty, placement opportunities and scope for personal growth are held in high regard by students.

Anyone interested to pursue engineering as their field for further studies can choose from the wide list of colleges in Rajasthan. Every university/college has something unique and exciting to offer with excellent placement statistics. Remember, taking JEE Mains and REAP is a must to fulfil most of the colleges criteria.
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is a much sought-after exam which is primarily for admission into XLRI and allied institutes. Many B-schools accept XAT scores apart from CAT scores.

From around 60 years, XAT happens to be one of the must-sit exam for its rigorous selection process after CAT. Itis usually held after CAT, giving thestudents a chance to analyse their performance through it and improve their weaker areas to ace XAT.

XLRI Jamshedpur is atop-ratedcollege in India. It has constantly been ranked among the top 10 colleges and has accreditation for its doctoral and management programs from AACSB International. XAT is a must written exam to secure a seat in XLRI. The college achieved 100% placements for its 2014-2016 batch. Average salary offered wasINR 18.5 Lacs. This signifies the value of students from XLRI among the corporate companies.

Apart from XLRI, there is a huge demand of students from its affiliated colleges as well, such as XIMB, which is considered one of the top B schools. It has a record of achieving 100% placements with 102 participating companies in the recruitment process. In 2017, average salary of the college increased from INR 12.44 Lacs to INR 13.18 Lacs.

In addition to this, TAPMI is the first AICTE approved private B-School in India. The institution recorded 100% placements for its 2014-16 batch and 130 companies participated in its recruitment process with significant growth in the packages offered.

Most of the top corporate companies prefer the students from these institutions, which is reasonenough for students towork hard and secure a good rank in XAT. Other B-schools also have a very high placement rate. Lets examine top 5 colleges along with their placement statisticswhich accept XAT score:



Through this article, we bring in light the placement statistics of Top5 B-schools.

Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB)

Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar was established in 1987. It is considered as one of the top B-schools and has been awarded A*** by CRISIL. It has maintained its record of high placements through years. XIMB has a record of achieving 100% placements, making it every aspirants dream to securea seat in this institution.

102 companies participated in the recruitment process for 2015-17 batch, out of which around 60 were new. This shows the upward swing among the companies for this college which drew more than 50% new companies to participate in this drive. Average salary increased from INR 12.44 Lacs in 2016 to INR 13.18 Lacs.

This is the consecutive year for this institute with 100% placements. Average salary and the placement percentage mere speaks about this college. Top corporate companies like TCS, PwC, Tata steel and many others were a part of the recruitment drive. Even though IT sector is receiving major wind blows,various IT companies still participated in this drive to recruit students and offered good packages. The highest package offered wasINR 21 Lacs, which marks a significant growth and the figures are expected to increase in the coming years.

T. A. Pai Management Institute, Manipal (TAPMI)

TAPMI was founded by T.A. Pai in 1980. It earned accreditation by ACCSB International. TAPMI is the first AICTE approved private B-School in India. Due to its enormous historical, technical and academic changes incorporating with the latest trends in the industry, it is considered as the most trustable institution. The institution recorded 100% placement for its 2014-16 batch. 130 companies participated in its recruitment process.

Average package offered was INR 10.05 Lacs and has seen a significant growth in the past few years. This college attracted a wide range of companies in every domain. Many new companies visited the college to hire the young managerial talent who can help the companies reach their targets.

S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR)

SPJIMR is ranked among the top ten business schools in India. It is a constituent of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. As a premier business school, it has attracted young talents for its programs designed according to the innovation in the education system. 104 companies participated to hire 229 students for 2014-16 batch.

Highest salary offered was INR 39.5 Lacs and average salary was INR 20.9 Lacs. Many new giant companies like Goldman Sachs, Reckitt Benckiser, General Mills, ITC, Johnson & Johnson etcoffered pre-placement offers to the students.

Goa Institute of Management

More than 100 companies participated in the recruitment drive. Number of new recruiters increased in this placement season. A lot of companies showed interest to hire the students due to the academics incorporated by the institution.

Offers were made to the students in a wide variety of sectors. Almost all the major companies participated in this drive to hire the young talented minds. Highest salary offered was INR 16.1 lacsand median salary was INR 9 lacs. Highest salary was offered in the field of finance followed by marketing.



Jaipuria Institute of Management

More than 300 students were recruited. Students were very happy withtheir selection in the top-notch companies and they gave credits for the same to the institution. Students informed that the curriculum and opportunities offered at the institute incorporated confidence in them, which is the key reason for their success. IT giants and the top corporate companies were eager to hire the top talents and the students were offered great profiles withgood packages.

From the huge packages offered and the percentage of students placed, we can analyse that there is a lot of demand for the students who are graduating from these colleges. Demand for the managerial student in the corporate world is mainly due to the institutions working closely with the corporate world and making the changes in the academics so that their students can adopt to the changes and innovations in the industry.

These institutions provide their students the opportunities to work closely with the corporate sector so that they can understand the real-life situations and problems. Students get a chance to interact with the intellectual peers in their respective domains and gain better understanding & knowledge. Also,the lecturers are ready to help the students in every aspect. Instead of mugging up and writing in the exam, these institutions provide the students to gain more practical knowledge which trains them in thinking with a broader perspective and helps them in being innovative.

Students get a great exposure to the outside world which helps them in acquainting with the changes. As these institutions providestudents with a lot of opportunities to gain both theoretical and practical knowledge, many companies aspire to hire its students.

Companies are ready to offer huge packages to the deserving candidates. Even though the IT sector and few other sectors are going in odd times, these placement trends highlight that the value for the graduates from these institutions will not be affected by the global markets. Few students were offered multiple placement offers as well which signifies the demand for the students in the corporate world. Average package increased for most of the colleges compared to the last year and many new companies visited these institutions which highlights the growing importance for these institutions globally.
New Delhi, Oct 25 (IBNS): The Election Commission, on Wednesday, announced that the model code of conduct for the Gujarat Assembly polls come into effect immediately with the two-phase election scheduled for Dec 9 and 14, respectively.

The Chief Election Commissioner said that the model code of conduct applies to all, including the Union government.

The government faced severe criticism from the Opposition when the Election Commission did not announce the dates for Gujarat at the time it declared the dates for the upcoming Himachal Pradesh Assembly poll.

Counting for both states' assembly elections will be held on Dec 18, media reports said.

Media reports quoted the Chief Election Commissioner citing Gujarat floods as the reason for the delay in announcing the delay for the declaration of dates for Gujarat Assembly polls.

The CEC said that the elections will divert government workers from pending relief work in seven districts of Gujarat impacted by floods in July this year, media reported.

In Gujarat, in the first phase, 2.11 crore voters will vote for 89 seats in 19 districts while in the second phase, 2.21 crore voters will vote for 93 seats in 14 districts.

For the first phase, notification will be issued on November 14. The last date of nomination is on November 21, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is on November 24.

For the second phase, notification will be issued on November 20. The last date of nomination is on November 22, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is on November 30

Both Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be used for the elections in Gujarat; slips generated by VVPAT machine will be randomly selected and counted, the EC said.

CEC Joti said that CCTV cameras will be used at border check posts to prevent smuggling of liquor and money and to stop anti-social elements from entering the state.

Candidates can avail the online application called Suvidha for rallies or public meetings.

The EC fixed the upper limit of expenditure for the contesting candidates at Rs 28 lakhs,

Candidates will have to open separate account and use that for elections, said the Election Commission, adding that several agencies, including police and excise department, will be monitoring the situation.

Voter guide brochure should be put out in local language, the EC recommended.

Elaborate security arrangements will be in place -- CRPF will be available to help local police, the EC said.
Contempt of court writ filed against police chief

A contempt of court writ has been filed at the Supreme Court (SC) against Inspector General of Police (IGP) Prakash Aryal for failing to abide by the SC order to arrest murder convict Bal Krishna Dhungel, a CPN (Maoist Centre) leader.
Image: twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn

New Delhi, Oct 25 (IBNS): President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday sent his greetings to fellow citizens on the occasion of Chhath Pooja.

In his message, the President has said, On the occasion of Chhath Pooja, a festival traditionally associated with faith and fasting, I extend my good wishes to all fellow citizens."

"The offering of Ardhya to Surya, the Sun God, by millions of devotees is an embodiment of the spiritual consciousness of our people," he said

The President said: "May this festival, inspired by the energy of the sun, bless us with prosperity and happiness."
Guwahati, Oct 25 (IBNS): Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday called on Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at the latteras office in New Delhi and sought his intervention for announcing a new industrial policy for Assam and other North Eastern States before the proposed Global Investorsa Summit to be held in Guwahati on February 3 and 4, 2018.

Sonowal impressed upon the Union Minister and said that introduction of an industrial policy, announced exclusively for Assam and North East, to incentivise investments in Assam would augur well to create an investor friendly climate in the region before the investors summit.

He also requested the Union Finance Minister for a more liberal GST Regime which can aid in strengthening business confidence in the State.

The Assam CM also sought Jaitleys help in expeditiously releasing Rs. 1138 crore due for the Flood Management Programmes and said that release of the fund would help in early implementation of 141 of all ongoing and proposed flood and erosion management projects in the State.

Sonowal also sought Union Finance Ministers help in the revival of paper mills of Assam under Hindustan Paper Corporation as he drew Jaitleys attention of the role played by these industrial units for the industrial development and generation of employment in both Brahmaputra and Barak valley.

Seeking the Union Ministers immediate intervention for a revival package of Rs. 1700 crore to settle committed liability including wages to workers he said that resumption of these units would send across a positive signal to bring back business confidence and revive the investment cycle.

Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Babul Supriyo, who was also present in the meeting, conceded that a cabinet note has been prepared for the revival of these paper mills and his ministry sought assistance from Finance Minister to meet the financial implication.

Science and Technology Minister Keshab Mahanta, Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, Additional Chief Secretary Ravi Capoor, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjay Lohia were also present at the meeting.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)


Guwahati, Oct 25 (IBNS): Union Water Resources Ministry has accorded investment clearance against implementation of five flood and erosion management projects in Assam with an expenditure of Rs. 256.55 crore.

Union Water Resources and Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed this to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal when the later met him at Transport Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Gadkari said that the water resources ministry has sanctioned funds for implementation of three FMP projects in Dibrugarh district and one each in Morigaon and Kokrajhar district.



The approved schemes include Integrated Flood & Erosion Risk Management Project at Rohmoria, projects for anti-erosion measures at Bar Dirak and Na-chumoni as well as Sassoni Tingkhong in Dibrugarh district, construction of dyke along river bank from Dhankhunda to Gobardhan hills in Morigaon district and erosion protection work of river Aie.

Sonowal during discussion impressed upon the union minister to ensure early release of funds for the ongoing Flood Management Programmes.

He also requested him to announce a special package to carry out new FMP schemes.

Sonowal also drew attention of the union minister about the poor condition of national highways and urged him to take expeditious measures for early completion of four lane works in the state.

The Assam CM also informed him about the Global Investors Summit to be held in February, 2018 and requested him to take steps to complete repairing the National Highways for seamless transportation before the summit takes off.

Gadkari while assuring the Chief Minister of taking urgent measures informed that both NHAI and NHIDCL will work in tandem to accomplish the work.

He also directed VK Rajawat, Technical Director, NHIDCL to visit Assam and station in Guwahati to supervise the construction works.

The duo also discussed about the construction of Express Highway along both banks of river Brahmaputra. During discussion, Gadkari asked the state government to prepare an Integrated Approach Plan involving all line departments for carrying out the project.

The union minister expressed the view that once the express highway becomes a reality, it would work as advance transport network and protection measure against flood & erosion in Assam.

He also informed that funding for the IAP would be made by the union ministry of road transport and highways.

During the course of discussion, dredging of the Brahmaputra River was also raised by the Chief Minister. Regarding dredging, Gadkari informed that two more dredgers would be pressed into service apart from the four dredgers which are already stationed in the Brahmaputra and dredging will start from Sadia next month.

State Water Resources Minister Keshav Mahanta, PWD Minister Parimal Suklabaidya and several other senior officials of central and state governments were also present in the discussion.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)


New Delhi, Oct 25 (IBNS): The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday announced it will observe Nov 8 as the Anti Black Money Day.

Nov 8 will mark the first anniversary of the Demonetisation move which was taken by the BJP-led Central government last year.

BJP President Amit Shah tweeted: "BJP will observe 8 November as "Anti Black Money Day" to mark the anniversary of Demonetisation, a historic step of the Modi Government."

He said: "Demonetisation, Black Money SIT and other initiatives reflect our commitment towards building a nation free from Black Money and corruption."

He said: "I urge BJP Karyakartas to reach out to people and reaffirm our strong commitment for a developed India, free from all forms of corruption."

Earlier in the day, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had made same announcement.

"The BJP will observe Nov 8 as Anti Black Money Day," Jaitley said while addressing a press conference here.

Interestingly, the Opposition had decided to mark Nov 8 as Black day.

Nov 8 will mark one year completion of the decision taken by the Centre to ban old Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes.

Jaitley said : "We aim to make India an anti-corruption nation."

Jaitley said demonetisation was a huge step to make India a less cash economy.

He said top leaders of the party will travel across India to promote 'Anti-Black Money Day'.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said her party will observe 'Black Day' on Nov 8.

Nov 8 marks the one year anniversary of the decision taken by the Centre last year to ban old Rs 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes.

"We will observe Kala Dibas (Black Day) in all blocks on November 8 to mark the anniversary of demonetisation. Rallies will be organised between 2-3 PM. Prepare slogans to reach out to people," she said while addressing at the TMC's extended core committee meeting here.

Mamata Banerjee called the demonetisation as the biggest scam.

"There must be an investigation into it. I had tweeted within 45 minutes of the announcement. Today Manmohan Singh, P Chidambaram, Arun Shourie are saying the same thing. Even eminent economists have spoken out against demonetisation," she said.

She said: "What purpose did demonetisation serve? Did it weed out black money? No. Did it put an end to terrorism? No. Only one party converted its black money into white. They have also stashed away their black money abroad."
New Delhi, Oct 25 (IBNS): President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday hailed Tipu Sultan while addressing the Joint Session of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council on 60th anniversary of VidhanSoudha.

"Tipu Sultan died a heroic death fighting the British. He was also a pioneer in the development and use of Mysore rockets in warfare," said Kovind in Karnataka.

"This technology was later adopted by the Europeans. More recently, two of our finest army chiefs  Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General K.S. Thimayya  were sons of Karnataka," said he.

Full text of Kovind's speech:

Today is a memorable day for parliamentary democracy. I address this august Karnataka Legislature as the 14th President of the Republic of India on the occasion of the diamond jubilee of the VidhanSoudha. Personally also, it is a memorable day as I took oath as President of India in the presence of both Houses of Parliament on this very day, three months ago, that is 25th July, 2017.

This is my first visit to Karnataka since accepting the responsibility of the President of India. I have come on an occasion that celebrates the democratic traditions of our country and of this state. Today, we are commemorating the diamond jubilee of the VidhanSoudha, the seat of the legislature in Karnataka. It was inaugurated in October 1956 by the first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad. I am humbled to be following in his footsteps. It was my privilege to have served as Governor in the state of Bihar, the home-state of DrRajendra Prasad.

It is not just the 60th birthday of this building that we are marking. This is also the diamond jubilee of the debates and discussions in the two Houses, of legislations that have been passed and policies that have been shaped for the betterment of the lives of the people of Karnataka.

We are aware of the three Ds of the legislature, that it is a place to debate, dissent and finally decide. And if we add the fourth D, decency, only then does the fifth D, namely democracy, become a reality. The legislature is an embodiment of the will, aspirations and hopes of the people of Karnataka, irrespective of political belief, caste and religion, gender or language. It needs the collective wisdom of both Houses of the Legislature to fulfil the dreams of our people.

This spirit of debate and discussion, of inquiry and of service, is not limited to simply the VidhanSoudha or to political life. It has existed in the soil of this great state. Karnataka has been known through history for spiritualism as much as science, for its farmers as much as its technologists. Its contribution to the intellectual and cultural  and ultimately democratic  heritage of our country has been enormous.

This is a land with ancient Jain and Buddhist traditions. AdiShankaracharya founded the math in Sringeri in this very state. Gulbarga is a centre of Sufi culture. The reformist Lingayat movement under spiritual leaders such as Basavacharyawas also located in Karnataka. In their own way, each of these currents has contributed to nation building.

Karnataka is a land of formidable soldiers. Krishnadeva Raya was the greatest ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, and remains an inspiration for all Indians. Kempe Gowda was the founder of Bengaluru. Rani Chennamma of Kittur and Rani Abbakka led among the earliest battles against colonial powers.

Tipu Sultan died a heroic death fighting the British. He was also a pioneer in the development and use of Mysore rockets in warfare. This technology was later adopted by the Europeans. More recently, two of our finest army chiefs  Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General K.S. Thimayya  were sons of Karnataka.

This is also the seat of education, technology and science. The engineer-statesman M. Visvesvaraya was a builder of modern Karnataka and of modern India. He was responsible for major irrigation projects that continue to help farmers to this day. The Indian Institution of Science and the Indian Space Research Organisation are among so many of our crown jewel institutions that are based in Bengaluru. The dynamism of its entrepreneurs has made Bengaluru Indias IT capital. It is known the world over as the Silicon City.

Friends,

Both Houses of the Legislature jointly and collectively represent the will and aspirations of the people of Karnataka. Not just that, the two Houses also represent the ideals and optimism and the energy and dynamism of the Kannadiga people. This building is a monument to the history of public service in Karnataka. A galaxy of political stalwarts has participated in the proceedings of the two Houses that meet here. They have spoken in many memorable debates.

Todays events will honour the families of the first three chief ministers of Karnataka  K.C. Reddy, KengalHanumanthaiah and KadidalManjappa. There are so many other names we must recall and cherish S. Nijalingappa, DevrajUrs, B.D. Jatti, who later became Vice-President of India, Ramakrishna Hegde, S.R. Bommai, VeerendraPatil, S.M. Krishna and of course our former Prime Minister and my friend, Shri H. D. Deve Gowda.

It is for the current members of the two Houses to take forward the legacy of these remarkable public representatives. It is for the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council to function as sacred temples of democracy, and contribute to raising the level of political and policy discourse.

A member of the House is elected by his or her voters. But once elected, the MLA or MLC represents the entire constituency, and not just those who have voted for him. The legislator equally represents those who did not vote for him or in fact those who opposed him.

A rival in an election is a political competitor and not an enemy. After the election, the competitor could become a colleague in the task of ensuring the well-being and development of a constituency or of our shared society. This is the beauty of a democratic polity that we must appreciate.

Friends,

The opening of this building in 1956 coincided with the reorganisation of states and the creation of the boundaries of Karnataka state. In a sense, both these momentous happenings represented the sovereign will, the cultural and linguistic pride and the identity of the Kannadiga people. As such the people of this state are always the focal point of all our endeavours  and of all that is undertaken in this legislative building.

Having said that, Karnatakas dreams are not for Karnataka alone; they are dreams for all of India. Karnataka is an engine of the Indian economy. It is a mini-India that draws  without losing its cultural and linguistic distinctiveness  youth from all over the country. They come here for knowledge and for jobs, and they give their labour and intellect. Everybody gains.

There was a time when Hampi, here in Karnataka, was one of the richest and greatest cities in the world. Today, as our country strives to regain its importance in the global economy and international system, once again we look to Karnataka to provide India with the enlightenment, the technology and unity of purpose to take us forward. And as representatives of the people of Karnataka, the members of the two Houses here have a special responsibility.

Legislators are both public servants as well as nation builders. Indeed, anybody who performs his or her duties with honesty and dedication is a nation builder. Those who maintain this building are also nation builders.

Those who provide it security are nation builders too. It is by the efforts of ordinary citizens, who diligently carry out everyday tasks, that nations are built. As you sit and work in this VidhanSoudha, I am confident you will never forget this and will continue to draw inspiration from it.

Let us then make this diamond jubilee not just the celebration of a proud past  but a commitment to an even greater future. A great future for Karnataka and a great future for India!

Thank you

Jai Hind!
New York, Oct 25(Just Earth News): Some 3.9 million people across several regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been displaced from their homes, and amid growing violence and unrest, the United Nations refugee agency warned on Tuesday that the number could rise even further.

According to a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over the last three months alone, more than 428,000 people have been displaced.

With widespread militia activities, and unrest and violence fuelled by ethnic and political conflict affecting many areas, the risk of further displacement is high, UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards told journalists at a regular briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.

The challenges of getting aid to people in need are growing fast, he added.

In particular, the regions of Tanganyika, North and South Kivu, and Kasai are the worst affected due to intercommunal clashes, fighting between armed groups and increasing number of armed militia.

Complicating the matters is the onset of the rainy season, that has necessitated the need to beef up public health, sanitation and water supplies to prevent the outbreak of disease. Psychosocial support as well as care for people with specific needs is also urgently required.

In light of the worsening conditions, the UN agency and humanitarian partners have declared the situation in DRC to 'level 3'  the highest level of emergency.

Level 3 emergency

In the context of Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), a Level 3 emergency would typically be a sudden onset complex emergency requiring the activation of a UN system-wide response, with agreed mechanisms, tools and procedures.

In addition to the people displaced within DRC, over 620,000 Congolese refugees are sheltering in more than 11 African nations  about 100,000 of them within the past one year.

And at the same time, the number of refugees from neighbouring countries seeking refuge inside the DRC has grown by a third since early 2016 and now stands at 526,000 people.

We continue to see new arrivals from Burundi, the Central African Republic and South Sudan, said Edwards, noting that funding is urgently needed for the response.

Bettina Luescher, for the World Food Programme (WFP), said the agency is scaling up capacities in the provinces of Kasai (proper) and Kasai Central  the hardest-hit of Greater Kasai's five provinces, with a threefold increase in the number of severely hungry people over the past 18 months. Two thirds of the severely hungry are in Kasai province alone, she added.

Of the $236.2 million required for the needs of refugees, IDPs and other people of concern in the DRC, only $49.7 million has been received so far  a fifth of the amount required.

Photo: UNHCR/John Wessels

Source: www.justearthnews.com
New York, Oct 25(Just Earth News): Over the past 15 months, more than 2,000 migrants who have voluntarily returned home from Greece have successfully reintegrated back into their countries of origin, according to the United Nations migration agency. New York, Oct 25(Just Earth News): Over the past 15 months, more than 2,000 migrants who have voluntarily returned home from Greece have successfully reintegrated back into their countries of origin, according to the United Nations migration agency.





Building on the collaboration between Greece and the countries of origin, this reintegration support enhances opportunities for social and economic sustainability, both for returnees and local communities, said Gianluca Rocco, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Chief of Mission in Greece, in a press statement on Thursday.



Between June 2016 and September 2017, IOM supported 2,084 returnees, assisting their reintegration through a grant of 1,500 euros in in-kind support, provided exclusively or in combination to set up small businesses or receive medical assistance, education, temporary accommodation, vocational assistance, material assistance, and job placement.



Rocco explained the importance of reintegration support as an essential component of IOMs Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) projects, saying that it further strengthens a cooperative, humanitarian approach for people who have decided to return home from Greece.



For migrants who need to return home but lack the means to do so, assisted voluntary return and reintegration is often the only approach to address their immediate plight. AVRR allows the migrants concerned to prepare for their return, encouraging them to identify potential opportunities for socioeconomic reinsertion into communities of origin, thereby facilitating the sustainability of their return.



The vast majority of approved personalized reintegration plans  1,953  were for setting up small businesses, while IOMs social workers and psychologists worked with cultural mediators to conduct 3,671 individual counselling sessions with voluntary returnees, 2,084 of whom were eligible for reintegration assistance.



According to IOM, the main considerations for selecting candidates to be approved for reintegration support are a persons vulnerability, work experience and skills that can guarantee the sustainability of the reintegration plan.



Breaking down the origins of voluntarily returning migrants, Pakistan had 1,184  the most by far. Some 342 returned to Georgia and 173 to Iraq while about 1,750 beneficiaries were male and 334 female.



IOMs global presence makes reintegration assistance available worldwide, and the assistance is based on collaboration between the countries where the plans are being implemented.



The UN migration agency in Greece currently works closely with over 25 IOM offices and third countries to enhance tailored reintegration assistance, link it with the needs of the local labour market, and ensure long-term, sustainable reintegration assistance.



IOMs reintegration assistance is provided under the framework of the European Union (EU) and Greek government-supported programme, Implementation of Assisted Voluntary Returns, which includes AVRR and is funded by the EUs Asylum Migration and Integration Fund as well as the Greek Ministry of Interior.



Photo: IOM







Source: www.justearthnews.com








New York, Oct 26(Just Earth News): While Peru has made great strides over the past decade in reducing poverty, it needs to stand up firmly for human rights to ensure an economy that is sustainable and benefits all, according to the United Nations human rights chief.

I welcome Perus efforts to fight poverty and exclusion, and its economic progress is undeniable, said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein on Tuesday at the end of a two-day visit to the country  where he met with President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, authorities from Congress and the Judiciary, civil society representatives and the private sector.

The country must now consolidate such advances by continuing to strengthen the rule of law and the protection of human rights, he added.

Development, to be truly sustainable, should not leave anyone behind, and should never be at the expense of the rights of some members of society, the High Commissioner stressed.

The High Commissioner highlighted the Governments development of a National Human Rights Action Plan and called for the meaningful participation of all sectors, particularly civil society groups.

It is our sincere hope that the resulting National Action Plan can adequately address Perus human rights needs, particularly those of the most vulnerable groups, he said, reiterating his offices readiness to continue providing support and technical expertise.

Zeid also urged the Government to protect human rights defenders, saying Peru is no exception to a trend across the Americas  and indeed the world  of harassment, intimidation and alarming attacks on human rights activists.

The implementation of the 2016 legal framework and National Plan to search for people missing between 1980 and 2000 is also urgent, according to the High Commissioner who voiced concern that the recommendations made more than a decade ago by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission have to date been insufficiently implemented.

The high level of impunity for violations committed during this period is deeply troubling, the High Commissioner recalled, saying that victims needs must be addressed, including their right to truth, justice and reparations and resources must be made available to ensure that the search for the missing can be fully carried out.

Turning to the presidential pardon for former President Alberto Fujimori, who was sentenced in 2009 to 25 years in prison, Zeid stressed: Fujimori was convicted of crimes amounting to crimes against humanity, that is, crimes of interest to the international community as a whole. The international community must be approached and engaged in this highly important matter.

Zeid acknowledged that with women and girls at high risk of gender-based violence, laws designed to prevent and punish those crimes, including domestic violence and femicide, are important, however rigorous implementation and strong preventive measures are also required to ensure punishment for the perpetrator.

I urge the Government to address the social and cultural attitudes that continue to be used to justify violence against women, he said.

Zeid also appealed for improvements in womens sexual and reproductive rights, calling the countrys recent amendments aimed at promoting gender equality and LGBTI a setback.

UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre

Source: www.justearthnews.com
Herat, Oct 25 (IBNS): A large gathering of at least 300 Taliban militants were targeted by Afghan military as scores of terrorists were killed during an airstrike on Tuesday, local Khaama Press reported.

The raid was carried out in Chest-e-Sharif district of Herat province.

The provincial government said that scores of militants were either killed or injured, however, they didn't mention the exact figures.

The Taliban group has not comment on the report so far.
Ottawa, Oct 25 (IBMS): Benefiting western Canada the most, Canadian National Railways, country's largest railway, is eyeing on to hire workers, media reports said.

The hiring spree of the CN railways are going to benefit the western part of the country the most.

The railway has decided to recruit fresh legs as only few workers are going to return from the idle period than what was expected.

The CN railway is planning to hire 600 conductors and crews in the next month.

Around 250 people might be hired by the railway in the last quarter of the ongoing year, and another 400 workers in the first quarter of 2018.

The CN Railways has witnessed that the speed of the trains have dropped because of the lack of people.

Chief Operating Officer, Mike Cory, said: "Operating crews have proven to be our biggest challenge."

Cory said that it would be possible for the railways to increase trains and also profit with a limited workforce.

The areas where the hiring would be maximum include Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

CN Rail, in 2016, stated they had a drop in the workforce by nine percent which correspondents to 2,300 people in 2015.

The railway has also said they will invest $100 dollar in the infrastructure and equipment.

(Reporting by Suman Das)
Delhi positive about elections: Ex-envoy

Deep Kumar Upadhyay, Nepals former ambassador to India, said on Tuesday that New Delhi is positive about the elections to the House of Representatives and provincial assemblies scheduled for November 26 and December 7.
The Osage Nation has cleared another hurdle its long-running dispute with a wind farm in Oklahoma but the battle is far from over.

The tribe secured a landmark victory in September, when the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the developers of Osage Wind engaged in "mining" activities in Osage County in Oklahoma. But since the tribe -- which owns the mineral estate in the county -- didn't agree to the disturbance of its trust assets and wasn't compensated, the unanimous ruling cleared the way for the recovery of damages.

"This decision is an important victory for the OMC with expansive precedential effect for tribes regarding control over their lands, natural resources, and development of the two," the Osage Minerals Council (OMC) , which oversees the tribe's estate, said in a statement.

The Osage Wind developers subsequently asked the 10th Circuit to rehear the case. The request was denied on October 17 but the court went ahead and granted a "stay" of its final mandate in the case on Monday, before the Osage Minerals Council even had a chance to fully express its views

Osage Wind asked for a stay because they are preparing to take the dispute to the U.S. Supreme Court . A motion filed on October 20 positions the case as one with "far- reaching consequences" for developers in Indian Country.

According to the document, "the questions to be presented by Osage Wind in its petition for writ of certiorari qualify as substantial."

There is no guarantee that Osage Wind will submit a petition for writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court. It would be due January 18, according to the firm.

But if the developers follow through, it would heighten an already unusual level of litigation regarding contested energy infrastructure in Indian Country. In a separate case in Oklahoma, a federal judge has ordered the removal of a natural gas pipeline from an Indian allotment because the owners haven't been paid in nearly two decades.

In neighboring New Mexico, which also falls within the 10th Circuit, the Navajo Nation won a major ruling that prevents a public utility company from condemning allotments on the reservation . The Public Service Company of New Mexico is also planning to appeal to the Supreme Court even though it could negotiate a new agreement to compensate the landowners for operating a transmission line on their properties.

Turtle Talk has posted documents from the case, U.S. v. Osage Wind LLC

10th Circuit Court of Appeals Decision: United States v. Osage Wind LLC (September 18, 2017)

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Flake wont run again, opening likely free-for-all in Senate race

Arizona is home to more than 20 tribes; Native Americans are 5.4 percent of populationBy Isaac Windes and Andrew NiclaCronkite News

WASHINGTON  Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, walked away from a 2018 re-election bid Tuesday, saying in a speech on the Senate floor that he will not be complicit or silent about the ongoing degradation of the political climate.

The surprise announcement follows months of sparring between the junior senator and President Donald Trump, who has called out Flake on numerous occasions and threatened to run a challenger against him. Flake has battled Trump since the election for what he calls a coarsening of public debate.

We must never regard as normal the regular and casual undermining of our democratic norms and ideals, Flake said . We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country  the personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms, and institutions; the flagrant disregard for truth or decency, the reckless provocations, most often for the pettiest and most personal reasons, reasons having nothing whatsoever to do with the fortunes of the people that we have all been elected to serve.

But Flake also dropped out of a race that even he conceded would be difficult for him to win.

Flake said he would have sought re-election if he could have run the kind of race he wanted but that this is an odd time in politics, when he said the path to a GOP primary victory for traditional Republican like him is very narrow.

Cronkite News Video: Senator Jeff Flake announces he will not run for re-election

Political analysts agreed that Flake would have had a tough re-election fight, likely challenged from the left and the right, and said his announcement Tuesday sparks a free-for-all for the empty seat.

In terms of an Arizona political Richter scale, this is an 8.0, said Jason Rose, a political and public relations strategist based in Scottsdale. The Senate is the most select club on planet Earth for Republicans, so there is likely to be a free-for-all.

The announcement would appear to clear the Republican primary field for former state Sen. Kelli Ward, but Rose and others said Flakes absence is likely to attract heavyweights who have been sitting on the sidelines, including State Treasurer Jeff DeWit and former Arizona State Republican Chairman Robert Graham.

The announcement would also appear to be good news for Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, the Democratic front-runner for the seat, but analysts said Flakes absence could prove to be a challenge for her by drawing in a Republican candidate other than Ward.

Nathan Gonzales, the editor and publisher of Inside Elections, said that if through all of this Kelli Ward is not the candidate, then it could improve the Republicans chances of holding the Senate seat.

Ward, who was endorsed by former White House Chief of Staff Steve Bannon, welcomed Flakes announcement.

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) on YouTube: Sen. Flake Announces Senate Future

Arizona voters are the big winner in Jeff Flakes decision, she said in a statement from her campaign . Arizonans deserve a strong conservative  who supports President Trump and the America First agenda.

Gonzales said the president will likely claim Flakes announcement as a victory, and Rose said that in the battle between the two, this was practically a second round knockout.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called Flakes action probably the right decision, in response to questions about Flake and another retiring lawmaker, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee, who has made headlines by speaking out against Trump since announcing his retirement.

Flakes announcement comes as fellow Arizona Sen. John McCain  another prominent Trump critic  battles aggressive brain cancer that McCain said has a poor prognosis. It presents the possibility of Arizona soon having two new senators.

Rose said that while some may welcome the turnover, it would mean you dont have senators with expertise, which can be bad when it comes to things like water policy, or defense or keeping military bases open, which he said McCain was good at.

McCain took to the Senate floor to praise Flake, saying it was an honor to serve with him and lauding his commitment to serving Arizona, no matter the political cost.

Its been one of the great honors of my life to have the opportunity to serve with a man of integrity and honor and decency and commitment to not only Arizona, but the United States of America, McCain said. I have seen Jeff Flake stand up for what he believes in knowing full well that there would be a political price to pay.

Flake said in his speech that the decision did not come without regrets.

Regret because of the disrepair and destructiveness  the indecency of our discourse  the coarseness of our leadership  compromise of our moral authority  in this alarming and dangerous state of affairs, he said.

But he said that sustained incumbency is certainly not the point of seeking office and there are times we must risk our careers in favor of our principles  now is such a time.

Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior has become excused and countenanced as telling it like it is, when it actually just reckless, outrageous and undignified, he said.

By dropping his re-election bid, Flake said he should be better able to represent the people of Arizona  by freeing myself of the political consideration that consumed far too much bandwidth.

Meeting with reporters afterward, Flake said the spell or fever that were in right now must pass.

Resentment is not a governing philosophy. At some point, you have to have policies that work, not just rile up a base, he said. I do think it will come around, otherwise it (the GOP) will be a minority party for a long time.

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This is not the way to settle water claims

By David GanjeNative Sun News Columnist

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley recently signed an appeal brief in a water rights case now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

California state water agencies which lost in two courts are asking the Supreme Court to overturn a Circuit Court decision in the Agua Caliente case which granted an Indian tribe water rights to groundwater underneath its reservation. The Circuit Court ruled that the Indian tribe had reserved water rights to groundwater appurtenant to the reservation. Attorney General Jackley opposes this decision.

In my view if the Supreme Court accepts the fact that the Agua Caliente case is not a wholly litigated case, it will hear the case. In my view the arguments and position taken by Attorney General Jackley in a brief filed with the Supreme Court are unsound. Attorney General Jackley signed the brief on behalf of South Dakota as an amicus. The brief was written by the Nevada Attorney General and his staff. The brief was submitted by several states as an amicus. An amicus brief is written to offer the Supreme Court assistance in a case from non-parties who claim knowledge of the subject matter.

For over a hundred years the U.S. Supreme Court has granted Indian tribes the reserved right to surface water to accomplish the purposes of a reservation. This ruling based on the interpretation of an Indian treaty was issued in 1908 in the Winters case and has been since affirmed by numerous courts, including the U S Supreme Court again in 1976.

The Attorney Generals brief argues that states should have, primary control over their groundwater resources. The brief also attempts to assert that state water claims are greater than treaty water rights of Indian tribes. The Circuit Court decision, now under appeal, stated that rights reserved by treaties are not subject to appropriation under state law, nor did a state have authority to dispose of such water rights.

South Dakota maintains a Department of Indian Relations. A core principle of the state Department of Indian Relations is to engage in a government to government relationship with the tribes. Did the Attorney General review with and consult the department before arguing the positions taken in the filed brief? With the Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance which has an office in the state? With the nine tribes located in the state?

The brief asserts the longstanding Winters case should apply only to surface water rights of an Indian tribe. The U S Constitution does not provide for a state setting treaty policy or imposing treaty terms. No State shall enter into any Treaty. . . Article I Section 10 . . . all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding. Article VI

A treaty made by Congress as interpreted by the U S Supreme Court is the supreme law of the land. States are bound by a treatys terms. Indian treaties are the grant of rights given by tribes to the United States. When negotiating treaties Congress could have requested natural resources including surface water and groundwater on tribal reservations. It did not. These resources belong to the tribes, not to the United States and not to the states.

The brief states that in no case before the Agua Caliente case had a court granted an unqualified right to groundwater. This is erroneous. First, the court decision did not grant an unqualified right. The ruling limited water rights to what will be determined in the future as necessary for the reservations purpose. The question of quantifying groundwater rights was also intentionally left open and has not yet been decided by the case.

Second, the Attorney Generals brief fails to cite or acknowledge a 1999 Arizona Supreme Court case, a 2002 Montana Supreme Court case, and a 2005 State of Washington US District Court case all of which cases recognized that Indian water rights include the right to groundwater.

Support Native media and read the rest of the story on Native Sun News Today: This is not the way to settle water claims

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Rana Daggubati might have played a negative role in magnum opus Baahubali but he drove women crazy with his fierce avatar as Bhallaldev. With that deep baritone of voice and sexy aura that he has, the handsome hunk makes girls swoon. When he lights the screen with his machismo, women go weak in their knees.

BCCL/Prakash Chellamuthu

The handsome hunk impressed the heck out of us with his baddie avatar, and now in his next film titled 1945, he is playing the role of a soldier in Indian National Army. The actor has shaved off his beard, and fans are going bonkers over his new transformation.

Alright the beard gone!! Moving into another period!! Working on a new look for #1945. First look will be out November!! #faceunderthebeard pic.twitter.com/vmRgdxmxR6  Rana Daggubati (@RanaDaggubati) October 24, 2017

Looking sexy than before  manjunath (@chandamanju75) October 25, 2017

Love a guy like @RanaDaggubati who can really transform into a brand new Avatar jus like that!&luk damn perfectMannnn how can u do thattt!?  Varshi (@vsatyawada) October 24, 2017

Superb rana  venkatesh (@venktesh47) October 24, 2017

Looking So handsome.. Rugged look.. waiting for another interesting film Rana   Sahithya Reddy.P (@SweetieSayz) October 24, 2017

Its so different that it took me a few days to register that its my face and recently when I had gone to a cousins wedding reception, my family didnt recognise me without half of my trademark beard. The film journeys over three-four years and so there will be certain variations to my look, he said about his new look.

BCCL

The story is set in a time when a lot of people from the South were moving to Burma. Theres a love story between me and Regina Cassandra woven in. We wrap up the second schedule today, the actor told Mumbai Mirror adding that he will learn guerrilla warfare for action sequences.

All the best, Rana! We are looking forward to your next film.
The BJP government in Haryana has taken its obsession about cow protection to a new level. At a time when the state is facing accusations about cow deaths in state-run shelters due to lack of food, the government has come up with a new plan - PG hostels for cows and buffaloes.

AFP/ Representational Image

According to Om Prakash Dhankar, State Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister, the government would set up PG hostels on 50-100 acres land in major towns in Haryana for cattle.

The aim is to help people living in these urban areas to rear cows and produce milk.

If someone is living on a 10th floor apartment, one should not be deprived of cow milk and the joy of rearing a cow. With this facility, anyone living in a city can also rear their own cows," Dhankar explained.

AFP/ Representational Image

Haryana has some of the toughest laws in the country. The Manohar Lal Khattar government which assumed office in 2014 has made cow protection one of its priorities.

Despite these the gau shalas in the state have been often in the news for their poor conditions and mass deaths of cattle due to lack of food.
The family of Hemraj Banjade, who was killed along with Aarushi Talwar on the intervening night of May 15-16, 2008, plans to move the Supreme Court to identify the murderer.

They are accusing the CBI of messing up the investigation and say that justice has been denied to them.

bccl

"Doesn't the CBI have any responsibility after the Talwars have been acquitted," asks the brother of Hemraj's wife, Ashok Kumar, who gave up his job as an electrician in Iraq to support his brother's family.

"What action will they be taking now? They should clarify how they have messed up the investigation," says Kumar, adding that people need to know who murdered Aarushi and Hemraj.

Also Read: Rajesh Talwar Always Wanted To Clear Aarushi's Name From Sensational Allegations, Says Family

"We don't have the financial means to commute between Delhi and our village but we will move the Supreme Court. We are fighting for justice for my husband," Hemraj's widow, Khumkala Banjade, said.

bccl

The Allahabad high court, while acquit ting the Talwars, had slammed CBI for tampering with evidence, planting a witness and discrediting "clinching evidence" of the presence of Talwar's compounder, Krishna, in the flat on the night of the murder. The trial judge too had got a lot of flak in the order.

ALSO READ: Here Is Everything You Need To Know About The Aarushi Talwar Murder Case

Aarushi, 14, had been found murdered in her bedroom with her throat slit in their house in Noida on May 15-16, 2008. Initially, Hemraj (45) was suspected to have committed the crime but the case took a sensational turn after his decomposing body was found on the terrace of the house in Jalvayu Vihar in Noida.

ap

Khumkala said life was tough even when Hemraj was alive, and it has become miserable since then. They get by with the support of her brother, but her 20-year-old son is bedridden due to a chest problem while she herself is finding it difficult to work as the movement of her right arm is restricted. "We have a small patch of land here where I do some farming. I also work on other people's farms."

She said that Hemraj had gone to Delhi to find work when he was 12 years old. Since then, he was working as a domestic help at various places there. "We did not have money for even telephone calls.

The only way to keep in touch was through letters in which he used to tell us about his life and when he could send us money," she said. Khumkala said Hemraj had started working for the Talwars 10 months before he was murdered and had come to meet them in January 2008."

bccl

While the family is looking for answers, relatives are giving the other servants, namely Krishna Thadarai and Vijay Mandal, a clean chit. They said they have received no financial or legal help from anyone.

"My family members - brothers and sisters - have been supporting me financially and emotionally. We survive with whatever little help they provide us. No NGO or human rights group has come to our rescue," said Khumkala.
In a shocking incident, three minor girls were allegedly pushed down from a speeding train by their own family. The incident was reported from Sitapur, about 90 km from Lucknow on Tuesday.

According to Railway police, the family, originally from Bihar was on their way back from Amritsar, Punjab on the Amritsar-Saharsa Express.

BCCL/ Representational Image

Police found the three girls aged four, seven and nine thrown out on the railway tracks. While seven-year-old Muniya lost her life, her two siblings Algun Khatoon and Shamim, suffered a fractured skull were admitted to Sitapur district hospital.

Hindustan Times, quoting a police official, reported that the eldest of the girls, Algun initially told the cops that their father pushed them off the train, but later said an uncle committed the crime.

BCCL/ Representational Image

Police are yet to ascertain the motive behind the heinous act but assume that the family was trying to get rid of them because they were girls.

They are also trying to track the family who is said to be from Motihari in Bihar.
At a time when Karnataka is divided over the upcoming Tipu Jayanti celebrations in the state, Indian President Ramnath Kovind has hailed the 18th-century ruler of Mysuru as a hero.

President Kovind (Source: PTI)

"Tipu Sultan died historic death fighting British. He was also pioneer in use of Mysore rockets in warfare," President Kovind said on Wednesday while addressing the joint session of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council on 60th anniversary of Vidhan Soudha.

In his battles with the British, Tipu has been hailed for pioneering rocket warfare, with the use of Mysorean rockets which are said to be the first iron-cased rockets successfully deployed for military use, which was later adopted and developed further by the Europeans.

AFP/ File

The president's endorsement of Tipu comes at a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is vehemently opposed to the state government's plan to hold his birthday celebrations on November 10.

The BJP has accuses Tipu of being a tyrant and being anti-Hindu and anti-Kannada.

Many BJP leaders including Union Minister of State for Skill Development Anantkumar Hegde have refused to take part in the celebrations.

The BJP has accused the state government of using the Tipu Jayanti celebrations to gain political mileage before the Assembly elections that are due in May 2018.
Germany will work as interlocutor to Nepals peace process

German Ambassador to Nepal Roland Schaefer has expressed his interest to work as an interlocutor of Nepals peace process.
With a view to launch satellites and conduct scientific investigations in space in a cost-effective manner, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) is developing a CubeSat or a miniature satellite.

reuters/representational image

A team of seven, comprising faculty and PhD scholars from the Bengaluru-based institute, is developing CubeSat which will carry an Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph payload.

The cost of deployment is very low with CubeSats. It can piggyback on bigger satellites and doesnt need a dedicated launcher. There is an increasing trend worldwide to develop and launch CubeSats.

Even NASA has a CubeSat launch initiative, said Joice Mathew, from IIA team. Mathew added that the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph payload will look for transient events, supernova explosions, sudden brightness variations of astro sources.

We have already developed the prototype of Ultraviolet Imager while the Spectrograph is still in design phase, Mathew added.

twitter/representational image

The team has already finalised the design for the CubeSat. Many components to build CubeSat is available in market we can modify it to fit in the payload, he said. The same team has also developed a telescope called the Lunar Ultraviolet Cosmic Imager (LUCI).
Tim Cook may be the star of the show at Apple right now, but he knows he won't be there to steer the world's most valued company forever.

That's why, the Apple CEO is already prepping possible successors to eventually take over his spot at Apple's helm.

I see my role as CEO to prepare as many people as I can to be CEO, Cook said in an interview earlier this week with Buzzfeed News, at the opening of the companys new flagship store in Chicago. Thats what Im doing, and then the board makes a decision at that point in time, Cook said.

As such, at Cooks side was Apples head of retail Angela Ahrendts. However, her presence also seems to be a possible clue to the line of succession at Apple. Recruited by Cook himself from Burberry in 2014, Ahrendts has long since been rumoured to be the best possible candidate to take over as CEO, though it hasnt been confirmed. For her part, she denied the possibility when questioned during the interview, calling it fake news, and silly.

Either way, itll still be a while before the 56-year-old Cook reaches a point where he considers stepping down. In the meantime, you can be sure he's carefully grooming whoever his candidates of choice are for the role at the helm of one of the biggest tech giants in the world.
The Ongoing Coffee Plunge Best Weather Inc. - 3 minutes ago Jim Roemer's video tells about the recent hail damage in Brazil and how he called the major down-move in coffee prices during the last two months. KCH23 : 159.50s (-4.43%) JO : 46.00 (-3.05%)

Cotton Rallies on Tuesday Barchart - 1 hour ago Tuesdays cotton trade bounced back with 285 to 346 point gains. New crop Dec rallied 184 points on the day, which discounted it to now 984 points under the spot Dec contract. The 11/14 Cotlook A Index... CTZ22 : 88.74s (+4.06%) CTH23 : 86.97s (+4.01%) CTK23 : 85.84s (+4.05%)

Wheats Gain on Tuesday Barchart - 1 hour ago Wheat markets ended the day with gains. At the high, Dec SRW was up to $8.43 for a 24 cent gain, but closed 9 3/4 cents higher. The other front months were 7 3/4 to 9 3/4 cents higher. KC wheats ended... ZWZ22 : 828-2s (+1.19%) ZWH23 : 848-0s (+1.16%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.6241 (+1.42%) KEZ22 : 963-0s (+0.71%) KEPAWS.CM : 9.2132 (+0.74%) MWZ22 : 974-0s (+1.14%)

Hogs Gain on Tuesday Barchart - 1 hour ago Tuesday hog futures closed with $0.45 to $1.12 gains through the front months. The USDA National Average Base Hog Price for Tuesday was $1.46 stronger to $85.54. The CME Lean Hog Index was $88.65 on 11/11,... HEZ22 : 85.325s (+0.53%) HEJ23 : 95.500s (+1.19%) KMZ22 : 95.900s (+0.24%)

Cattle Close Mixed on Tuesday Barchart - 1 hour ago Front month cattle futures ended 7 to 30 cents lower in some of the contracts, while Feb and April closed 50c and 30c in the black. Feeders worked $1.80 to $2.42 in the red. USDA reported limited cash... LEZ22 : 151.275s (-0.20%) LEG23 : 153.050s (+0.33%) LEJ23 : 156.725s (+0.19%) GFX22 : 175.675s (-0.72%) GFF23 : 177.025s (-1.35%)

Corn Rises on Tuesday Barchart - 1 hour ago Corn futures worked 7 to 10 cents higher on Tuesday. December ended the day near the mid point of the range, which took the contract to $6.75 at the high. The USDA announced a private corn sale of 230,185... ZCZ22 : 666-6s (+1.45%) ZCPAUS.CM : 6.6694 (+1.57%) ZCH23 : 669-2s (+1.52%) ZCK23 : 667-6s (+1.40%)

Soy Rallies on Tuesday Barchart - 1 hour ago Soybean futures closed the session with 14 to 17 cent gains on Tuesday. Jan was trading with 24 cent gains at the days highs. Meal futures ended with gains of $3.90 to $4.80/ton. BO prices closed with... ZSF23 : 1457-2s (+1.16%) ZSPAUS.CM : 14.3095 (+1.37%) ZSH23 : 1461-6s (+1.18%) ZSK23 : 1467-0s (+1.10%)

Crude Shakes Off Weak IEA Demand Forecast and Closes Higher on Missile Strikes on Poland Barchart - 1 hour ago Dec WTI crude oil (CLZ22 ) on Tuesday closed up by +1.05 (+1.22%), and Dec RBOB gasoline (RBZ22 ) closed down by -1.24 (-0.49%). Crude oil and gasoline prices Tuesday settled mixed, with crude recovering... CLZ22 : 87.26 (+0.39%) RBF23 : 2.4848 (+0.43%)
Burma Myanmar-Bangladesh Meeting Fails to Reach Repatriation Agreement

The joint press conference of Myanmar and Bangladesh in Naypyitaw. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

Naypyitaw  Myanmar and Bangladesh on Tuesday agreed to cooperate to restore stability in restive Rakhine State but failed to reach an agreement over the repatriation of refugees.

Bangladesh wants to repatriate as soon as possible. But we will go step by step and form a joint working group for repatriation, U Kyaw Zeya, permanent secretary of Myanmars foreign affairs ministry, told reporters after the meeting.

About 600,000 self-identifying Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar since Aug. 25, when insurgent attacks on police outposts in Rakhine States Maungdaw Township prompted clearance operations by the Myanmar Army.

Myanmars home affairs minister lieutenant general Kyaw Swe and his Bangladeshi counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan met in the administrative capital on Tuesday, agreeing to halt the mass exodus of refugees to Bangladesh, and restore normalcy in Rakhine State in order to make repatriation possible.

We are however yet to rebuild infrastructure and draw up resettlement plans to accept them back. These works are being handled by state leaders themselves, and so it is difficult to predict [when they will be complete], said U Tint Myint, permanent secretary of the home affairs ministry.

Union minister for the State Counselors Office U Kyaw Tint Swe, during his meeting with Bangladeshi foreign minister Abdul Hassan Mahmood Ali in Bangladeshs Dhaka in October, discussed principles agreed by the two countries in 1993 regarding repatriation, and Bangladesh made a proposal, according to U Zaw Htay, spokesperson of the Presidents Office.

The cabinet meeting has discussed the proposal, and submitted the decision to State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Zaw Htay told the reporters last week.

He said he hoped there would be a final discussion on the proposal during the visit of the Bangladeshi home affairs minister.

However, at Tuesdays meeting, the two countries only signed two agreements covering security and border cooperation, but not on the repatriation of refugees.

The meeting mainly focused on opening liaison offices, cooperation in counter-terrorism and combating drug trafficking, exchange of information, and holding regular meetings and ensuring rule of law at the border, according to attendees.

We didnt discuss plans for refugees. What we discussed is repatriation to verify and accept back those who have settled in Myanmar and fled to Bangladesh after violence, said police Brig-Gen Aung Htay Myint of the cross-border crime department.

There is a huge gap regarding the numbers of people who fled to Bangladesh between the ground survey of Rakhine State government and UN statistics, according to the Presidents Office.

At Tuesdays meeting, Myanmar also handed over a list of suspects reportedly involved in the attacks who fled to Bangladesh and requested the authorities there to investigate and return them to Myanmar.

The Bangladeshi home affairs minister said that his country has never and will not accept any unlawful organization, insurgents and terrorists on its soil, said U Tin Myint.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.
Burma What has Parliament Done so far?

Members of parliament attend a meeting at the Lower House of Myanmar's Parliament in Naypyitaw March 10, 2016. / Soe Zayar Tun / Reuters

YANGON  Over the past one year and eight months, the Union Parliament has passed 46 lawsincluding the revocation of some oppressive legalization targeting political dissidents and amendments to a few controversial statutes. Lawmakers are set to discuss 29 new bills in the current parliamentary session.

Current Session

According to the Parliaments Joint Bill Committee, 29 bills will be debated during the current parliamentary session, which reconvened on Oct. 17.

The bills cover areas such as early child care and development; anti-hate speech; intellectual property rights on trademark, copyright, patent and industrial design; and amendments to the 2012 Vacant, Fallow and Virgin lands Management Law as well as the 1993 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law. The 1993 Child Law will also be revised.

Under the amendments of the 24-year-old narcotics law, drug users will no longer be punished with long-term imprisonment and the focus will instead be on ensuring an effective treatment plan and rehabilitation. It was approved in the Upper House and remains to be discussed in the Lower House.

The long awaited Prevention and Protection of Violence against Women Bill is also expected to submitted during the ongoing parliamentary session.

Significant Laws

State Protection Law

Soon after the new National League for Democracy (NLD)-dominated parliament convened on Feb. 1, 2016, a new bill that rescinded the 1975 State Protection Law, also known as the Law to Safeguard the State Against the Dangers of Those Desiring to Cause Subversive Acts, was approved.

Enacted during the countrys socialist era, the law was used to oppress political activists who disagreed with the government.

Junta-era Emergency Act

The 1950 Emergency Provisions Act was also widely used to jail individual political dissidents under the successive military administrations until it was revoked in Oct. 2016.

As a significant thing over the period, the NLD Parliament quickly revoked the laws which had long been used to suppress political activists, said Ko Htin Kyaw Aye, a research director of Open Myanmar Initiative, a think-tank and research center monitoring Parliament.

During ex-president U Thein Seins administration, the then leading opposition party NLD proposed scrapping the oppressive laws, but the move failed as the chamber was under the wider influence of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) majority at the time.

But there are some laws that failed to meet the expectation of rights groups and draft bills that have taken too long to arrive in Parliament, such as the bill tackling violence against women, said Ko Htin Kyaw Aye.

Telecoms Law

Despite calls to terminate Article 66(d) of the 2013 Telecommunications Law, a notorious clause that critics say curbs free speech, the provision will remain in place under the proposed amendments. Article 66(d) has been used in recent years to prosecute and jail individualsincluding media membersfor online defamation.

Under the amendments, the maximum prison terms will be lowered from three to two years, a move that will guarantee bail.

The amending bill was passed in Aug, 2017. It banned third parties from filing cases, welcomed as a move to reduce the cases opened under the law.

Protest Law

The government replaced the countrys flawed Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law enacted in 2012 under the previous administration and long used to imprison activists.

Overnight Guest Registration

Parliament passed a bill abolishing provisions of the countrys Ward or Village Tract Administration Law which required citizens to report overnight guests to authorities. Under the military regime and the previous government, the provision was used to hunt down political activists.

Privacy and Security of Citizens

A new law to protect citizens privacy, security and freedom from state surveillance and intrusion was enacted in March, 2017.

Under previous military and military-backed governments, political dissidents, student activists, and journalists routinely had their phones tapped and their movements closely followed by both Special Branch and Military Intelligence officers.

The law prohibits unwarranted household arrests and inspections, and surveillance of individuals and their private communication in a manner that harms their privacy or dignity, barring the approval of the President or Union ministers.

New Law for Over 60s

According to a UNFPA census report, the number of people aged 60 and over is projected to grow from 4.5 million to 13 million by 205020 percent of the population.

To protect the rights and well being of the elderly, senior citizens bill was passed in December, 2016. The law also carries a maximum two years prison sentence for abusing the elderly.

NLD Parliament vs USDP Parliament

The previous parliament passed and amended more than 100 laws, Ko Htin Kyaw Aye of Open Myanmar Initiative said.

If we took comparison over the same period between the previous and current parliament, there is not much difference yet. But they need to speed up on more important laws as currently there are only 46 laws [enacted under the current government], he said.

Under the previous government headed by the ex-military generals, most of the laws focused on investment, economics and administration matters, he said.

A controversial set of four so-called Protection of Race and Religion Laws were passed by the former government in 2015 despite opposition from womens rights group, who argued the laws were discriminatory against women and religious minorities.

A group of hardline nationalists known by the Myanmar acronym Ma Ba Tha first proposed the laws. The group was denounced under the NLD government by the state Buddhist Sangha authority in July.

Another one of the more controversial laws passed under ex-president Thein Sein was the Presidential Security Bill or Immunity Law, put forward to Parliament just three months before the end of his term. It includes a provision granting blanket immunity to the head of state for actions taken while in office after he or she steps down.

The bills will depend on what reforms the administration will focus on. The NLD had the political will to revoke the oppressive laws against the political dissidents even before they were sworn in. Thats why they did it soon after Parliament opened, he said.

The most significant aspect of the NLD administration, he said, is that it has legislated to protect citizens rights, such as the enactment of a new law protecting privacy and security of citizens and the amendment to the telecoms law in response to rights groups and media campaigns.

It seems they have the political objective to increase the citizens rights in general, added Ko Htin Kyaw Aye.

The Legal Affairs and Special Cases Assessment Commission headed by previous parliamentary speaker U Shwe Mann has recommended to Parliament 201 laws to be enacted, abolished or amended.

About 50 percent of the 46 enacted laws so far came from that list, said Ko Htin Kyaw Aye, adding that he expects more will come from the list.

But it is questionable whether theyll all be done in the remaining three years.
Burma US Weighs Calling Myanmars Self-Identifying Rohingya Crisis Ethnic Cleansing

Self-identifying Rohingya refugees carry their sick relative to a medical center at Kutupalong refugee camp near Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh October 24, 2017. / Adnan Abidi / Reuters

WASHINGTON, United States  The State Department is considering formally declaring the crackdown on Myanmars self-identifying Rohingya Muslims to be ethnic cleansing, US officials said on Tuesday, as lawmakers called for sanctions against the Southeast Asian countrys military.

Pressure has mounted for a tougher US response to the self-identifying Rohingya crisis ahead of President Donald Trumps maiden visit to Asia next month when he will attend a summit of Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, in Manila.

US officials are preparing a recommendation for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that would define the military-led campaign against the self-identifying Rohingya as ethnic cleansing, which could spur new sanctions, the US government sources said.

The proposalpart of an overall review of Myanmar policycould be sent to Tillerson as early as this week, and he would then decide whether to adopt it, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

More than 600,000 self-identifying Rohingya Muslims have fled Rakhine State in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, mostly to neighboring Bangladesh, since security forces responded to self-identifying Rohingya militants attacks on Aug. 25 by launching a crackdown.

The United Nations has already denounced it as a classic example of ethnic cleansing.

Three US officials testifying at a Senate hearing on Tuesday declined to say whether the treatment of the self-identifying Rohingya was ethnic cleansing, but listed new measures including targeted sanctions that Washington is considering.

Those steps, however, stopped short of the most drastic tools at Washingtons disposal such as reimposing broader economic sanctions suspended under the Obama administration.

Im not in a position  to characterize it today, but to me this very closely resembles some of the worst kind of atrocities that Ive seen during a long career, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Mark Storella said when pressed to say whether he viewed the situation as ethnic cleansing.

Senator Ben Cardin, the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, said he considered the treatment of the self-identifying Rohingya genocide and is working on bipartisan legislation that could spell out whether additional sanctions are needed.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, insists that action was needed to combat terrorists.

The recommendation to Tillersonfirst reported by the Associated Pressis not expected to include a determination on whether crimes against humanity have been committed, as this would require further legal deliberations, one US official said.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Some US lawmakers criticized Aung San Suu Kyi, head of Myanmars civilian-led government and a Nobel peace laureate once hugely popular in Washington, for failing to do more.

Senator Bob Corker, Republican chairman of the committee, chided Suu Kyi for what he called dismissiveness toward the plight of the self-identifying Rohingya and said it might be time for a policy adjustment toward Myanmar.

At the hearing, Patrick Murphy, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian And Pacific Affairs, said additional sanctions were being considered, but cautioned that doing so could lessen Washingtons ability to influence Myanmar.
News UNFC Edges Closer to Signing NCA, Military Issues Still Unresolved

The seventh round of peace talk between the government and the United Nationalities Federal Council in Yangon on Oct 23, 2017. / Chan Son / The Irrawaddy

The latest peace talks between the governments peace commission and ethnic bloc the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) concluded this week with an agreement in principle of the UNFCs eight-point proposal to signing the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA).

The seventh round of peace talkswhich took place in Yangon on Monday and Tuesdayhad been thoroughly conducted with only military-related affairs left to discuss, according to spokespersons from both parties.

Despite this latest successful meeting and four of the eight points of the UNFC proposal being agreed in August, the numerous formal and informal discussions over the last 16 months have not yet led to the signing of the NCA.

Government spokesperson U Zaw Htay said remaining discussionswhich focus on troop deployment and demarcation of territorywill continue on Nov. 8.

UNFC delegation spokesperson Nai Ong Ma-Nge said much of the necessary discussions had been completed and that only details such as codes of conducts and terms of references for the effectiveness of the NCA implementation were left to be established.

We hope that if we can finalize discussions on Nov. 8, we would be able to sign the NCA, he said.

Discussions of military affairs required military representatives from the UNFC, said U Zaw Htay.

He added, The key sensitive issue is the military affairs and we have to pay close attention to it. We have to be very careful even with NCA signatories. The situation could revert back to armed conflict at any time. Thus, the UNFC has been thoroughly discussing on it.

The government negotiators represented the Tatmadaw, the civilian government, and parliament and were led by U Thein Zaw, accompanied by military representatives Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and Lt-Gen Min Naung who are also members of the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC).

The UNFCs Delegation for Political Negotiation (DPN) was led by Khu Oo Reh who is the vice chair of the UNFC which is comprised of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Arakan National Council (ANC) and Lahu Democratic Union (LDU).

Also present at the meeting were observers from three groups who have signed the NCA already.

U Zaw Htay reiterated that the door was open for peace talks with every ethnic armed organization based in the north and northeast of the country.

He said, however, the government will only meet groups individually as the government does not recognize seven-member Federal Political Negotiations and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) formed in April and led by the United Wa State Army which reject the NCA approach to peace.

Even though the two sides are yet to sign an agreement, U Zaw Htay said they have reached to a common understanding through more open and thorough negotiations from step by step which is a key to move forward.

International representatives and peace NGOs are supporting the peace process and building trust between the Tatmadaw, the government and ethnic armed groups.

According to sources close to the peace process, a mixed delegation of the government, the Tatmadaw and both NCA signatory and non-signatory ethnic armed organizations will join a trip to Colombia to study the countrys peace process organized by the peace NGO Inter Mediate at the end of October and early November.
Maoist Centre not to recall ministers anytime soon

The CPN (Maoist Centre), whose 17 ministers were stripped of portfolios last week, has decided neither to recall them nor to pull out of the government.
The NextGen Awards tend to celebrate successful digital projects and applications, which can involve anything from broadband infrastructure to the development of Digital Skills or other related fields. The details of who won what and why arent always very clear, although B4RN needs no introduction for their long standing efforts and Divas award related to their Cityfibre linked FTTP deployment to the rural community of Eltofts ( here ).

The annual NextGen Digital Challenge Awards were held last night in London, which saw rural FTTH ISP B4RN win the Place Making Award for their efforts in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Meanwhile Diva Telecom scooped the Connected Britain Award for their Eltofts village project.

Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on Twitter Facebook and Linkedin

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One of the overriding questions driving the ongoing battle over net neutrality and the general direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is how to bridge the digital divide. That term, it should be pointed out, can refer to many disparities in access to telecommunications: between urban and suburban groups, age groups, groups that have attained different levels of education and others.

Things seem to be pointing toward more access. Last week, Common Sense Media released the third version of its tracking initiative. It found that far more children from zero to eight years of age own their own tablets. Usage is skyrocketing. That, of course, isnt necessarily good news. It does speak to increased access, however.

Broader findings are that access to broadband has increased since 2011. The gap between the percentage of higher and lower income families with access has shrunk from 50 percent to 22 percent during the six years. Other findings highlighted in the press release suggest a reduced access gap between lower and higher income families.

Farms, another front in the battle for digital access, are more connected as well. Agriculture.com cites a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey that found that 71 percent of farms are connected, which is very close to the national average. Its a big step up from 2009, when fewer than 60% of farms had a connection, the story said.

In March, Pew Research said that broadband and smartphone adoption have grown for all Americans. The analysts stopped far short of saying that the digital divide has been conquered, however:

But even as many aspects of the digital divide have narrowed over time, the digital lives of lower- and higher-income Americans remain markedly different.

California doesnt think the digital divide has been eliminated either. On October 15, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 1665 into law, according to the Sun Bonanza. The bill, known as Internet for All, allocates $330 million for broadband expansion into rural areas.

The sense is that the entire digital divide debate is becoming more nuanced. It is likely that a greater percentage of the population has access to broadband tools than a decade ago. Thats made clear simply by the evolution of wireless carriers coverage footprints. The new questions likely will focus on the quality of that broadband, prices, the level of competition in these areas, and other elements that are more subtle than simply whether there is broadband or not.

Carl Weinschenk covers telecom for IT Business Edge. He writes about wireless technology, disaster recovery/business continuity, cellular services, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies and platforms. He also covers net neutrality and related regulatory issues. Weinschenk has written about the phone companies, cable operators and related companies for decades and is senior editor of Broadband Technology Report. He can be reached at [email protected] and via twitter at @DailyMusicBrk.
Peter Dinham - retired in 2020. He is a veteran journalist and corporate communications consultant. He has worked as a journalist in all forms of media  newspapers/magazines, radio, television, press agency and now, online  including with the Canberra Times, The Examiner (Tasmania), the ABC and AAP-Reuters. As a freelance journalist he also had articles published in Australian and overseas magazines. He worked in the corporate communications/public relations sector, in-house with an airline, and as a senior executive in Australia of the worlds largest communications consultancy, Burson-Marsteller. He also ran his own communications consultancy and was a co-founder in Australia of the global photographic agency, the Image Bank (now Getty Images).
Successors of Microsoft's Kinect technology live on, but the peripheral that allows you to use yourself as an Xbox controller is no longer being manufactured.

A report has emerged, claiming Microsoft is officially discontinuing production of the Kinect peripheral for the Xbox One.

It first emerged with the Xbox 360, working with Israeli-licensed technology that Steve Jobs reportedly first turned down. For the Xbox One, Microsoft stopped using the Israeli company's technology in preference to its own, with the original company ending up being purchased by Apple after all.

The idea allowed you to become the controller in an even more natural way than was possible with Nintendo's handheld motion sensors, and while there was a lot of talk about natural user interfaces, it didn't succeed in its present form for Xboxes.

Co.Design's article , which claims exclusive status on the news, is listed as a 10-minute read, so it's a very detailed wrap of the story definitely worth reading, and going into detail on how the decision affects companies actively using Kinect technology for research and plenty more  and not for gaming.

However, just because a Kinect Xbox controller isn't being developed any more doesn't the technology isn't living on.

Co.Design notes that Kinect's, "core sensor lives on,", and notes that a "Kinect v4and soon to be, v5  power Microsofts augmented reality Hololens".

The report also states that "Kinects team of specialists have gone on to build essential Microsoft technologies, including the Cortana voice assistant, the Windows Hello biometric facial ID system, and a context-aware user interface for the future that Microsoft dubs Gaze, Gesture, and Voice (GGV)".

So Kinect as a standalone product has moved into the realms of one-day rare and very expensive early 21st century technology on eBay in about 10 or 20 years, but the idea and its technologies live on  and you'll just have to connect with those to get whatever job it is you're doing, done.
Data analysis by British multinational defence, security, and aerospace company BAe Systems has produced what the company claims are the six most common profiles of people involved in money laundering around the globe.

The Invisible Network report claimed that about between $1 trillion and $2 trillion was laundered each year, with about $4.5 billion of this being in Australia. The total was about 3% of global GDP.

Recently, the tracking agency AUSTRAC launched Federal Court action against the Commonwealth Bank over alleged violations of the money-laundering and terrorism-financing laws.

The BAe study listed the common personas involved in money-laundering as being:

The Source, who has dirty money, and theres a whole criminal industry to help them clean it;

The Leader, who needs hard cash to cling to power and keep his/her cronies loyal;

The Bystander, who works with clients who pay well;

The Watched are those in positions of power or influence;

The Shark, who swims along law-abiding workmates, subverting their organisations controls; and

The Shop Front persona who from the ground up helps to disguise criminals beneficial ownership.

"When it comes to money laundering it isnt simply about the illicit money. It is about the impact that the laundering causes. The invisible network of money launderers is keeping hospitals, schools and libraries from being built," the report said.

"They (money launderers) are bending the property market, pricing first time buyers out of many cities. And the profits of money laundering are the cause of crime and misery the world over."

Expanding on the different personas, the study said the Source was mainly a white collar fraudster, cyber criminal, or a member of an organised crime gang that made illegal profits that needed to be converted to legal tender.

This kind of person operated outside the law and was often a regular customer of other personas such as Sharks, Shop Fronts, and Bystanders, including money mules and organised crime gangs that fulfil many functions in illicit financial services.

The Leaders were denied access to legitimate markets by sanctions and were therefore short of dollars, euros or yuan to buy the loyalty of their enforcers and the other things they need to prop up their regimes.

This class usually had two key motivations: staying in power and enriching themselves and their followers. Both of these activities require some careful movement of wealth.

Bystanders were those who actively committed crimes, and those who are happy to pretend they hadnt seen it because it suited their ends.

Those falling into the category called the Watched were senior civil servants or public figures. They represented possible avenues of corruption and targets for bribery and other inducement by virtue of their

position.

Motivated by greed, Sharks committed crime and helped others to do the same. They helped those with illicit funds enter the banking system and present a cleaner face to the world, and turn a profit from their criminal acts.

Finally, the Shop Front operator realised there was plenty of money to be made helping launder funds, and built an entire business to do it.
Australian retailers are on track with technology adoption and uptake in their businesses but, according to a new report, there are still some real opportunities for retailers to grow their business through the use of technology.

According to the survey, commissioned by Pronto Software, real-time data is crucial in todays retail market, yet a staggering 49% of retailers admitted to not having an integrated POS system, limiting them from processing sales offline when disconnected from the network.

Pronto says that with two-thirds (66%) of respondents not having IT systems that track and provide insights on loss prevention, the report had identified how retailers are investing in end-to-end frictionless operations to address the emerging challenges in the sector.

Australian Retailers Associations executive director Russell Zimmerman believes the retail sector is set to get more competitive, particularly with the upcoming arrival of Amazon.

With the cost of retail rent escalating, it will be interesting to see what retail technology will look like in five years time. For example, I think well see smaller physical shopfronts and far more technology innovation, Zimmerman says.

As rapid delivery times have become expected, I believe the future of retail will allow customers to walk into a store and arrange a parcel to be delivered that night if an item is out of stock.

Chad Gates, managing director of Pronto Software, says that although retail has been a competitive landscape for many years, he believes it is one of the best industries to have been able to cope with change.

Given retail technology uptake is predominantly consumer-facing its critical retailers get their digital experience for customers right, and fast.

Retailers need to bring together an experience across multiple channels, so that it all starts to make sense. If your operations are disjointed and not integrated, you will get left behind pretty quickly.
Two members of the Labor Party's shadow cabinet have called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to provide details about how the anticipated lack of income from the national broadband network will affect the federal budget.

Finance spokesman Jim Chalmers and communications spokesperson Michelle Rowland issued a statement asking Turnbull to "release advice about how his mishandling of the NBN rollout could smash the budget by blowing out deficits and pushing up debt even higher".

The pair cited an article in The Australian newspaper which claimed the Liberal Party had been told officially that the multi-technology mix NBN was exposing the budget to billions in writedowns.

On Monday, NBN Co chief executive Bill Morrow expressed fears that the network would never make any money.

Saying the company was getting $43 per month from RSPs per connection and needed $52 to break even, Morrow added: "We, NBN and the board, are betting that future applications are going to bring more value into homes, that they are going to need more bandwidth or more data and that the retail service providers will pay us more."

Turnbull also criticised the network the same day, calling it a "calamitous train wreck" and blaming the Labor Party for the mess.

"No-one would've wanted to start from where Labor left us, so we have done the best we can getting that project on track," Turnbull said.

But Chalmers and Rowland said it was Turnbull who had "trashed the NBN business model so badly that he risks pushing record debt up even higher on his watch".

They said net debt was predicted to hit record highs over the next two years and gross debt had crashed through the half-a-trillion-dollar mark for the first time.

"Turnbull needs to immediately release the full advice so Australians can see just how bad his NBN bungles have jeopardised the budget," the Labor duo said.

"We also reiterate calls for the government to immediately endorse Recommendation 2 of the NBN Joint Standing Committee, which sought an independent audit of the assumptions underpinning the financial forecasts contained in the 2018 NBN Corporate Plan.

"If Turnbull really stands behind his multi-technology mix, then he needs to show (that) the numbers behind it stack up too."
If Amazon, Paypal and Netflix offered mobile services, would it be a glitch in the matrix, or would consumers break free and question the reality of enslavement to traditional telco practices?

A new survey of mobile users in the US and UK has revealed "customers prefer the experience of digital-first companies, with 73% saying they wish their mobile service provider operated more like Amazon".

We're told that "PayPal, Netflix and eBay also ranked high in digital experience, with respondents highlighting favourite features including ease of use, clear pricing structure, real-time access to services and the ability to personalise."

It sounds like digital-first companies with a strong record of disruption would be able to use their entrenched digital power and customer footprint to disrupt other markets, like mobile, and that customers would be very receptive.

It seems obvious and even inevitable that these brands will move into the communications space, with Paypal once having been in the Skype business by virtue of its eBay connections, and thus having already played in an earlier version of this space, while Amazon already sells all the smartphones you want, and has already been the subject of rumours for years that its own MVNO was in the works  just do a search for "Amazon MVNO" to see for yourself.

The thing is, if any of the companies listed or others you do business with emerge with an offer competitive to Kogan Mobile, Belong, Amaysim, Vaya, Boost and others, even the major telcos themselves, would you port your number across and be happily billed by Netflix instead for the service, while getting other benefits that only Netflix could offer?

Or Amazon with some kind of Amazon Prime tie-in, or any kind of promotion it wants given the breadth and depth of everything Amazon does?

There's clearly potential there, and naturally, depending on the deal, many would port to a Netflix or Paypal Mobile, and as long as that business didn't generate a massive amount of personalised call centre tech support or other unprofitable costs, which it shouldn't, then moving into the MVNO (and even NBN sales) space for some of today's digital-first companies seems, as already noted, practically inevitable.

We've already seen players such as MVNO pioneer Amaysim in Australia move into NBN broadband and now energy, too, showing that, for the right companies at least, the possibilities are endless as to what they can try disrupting next, should a business case be made for entering the market.

So, back to the survey, rather than my own reflections upon the nature of reality in the current mobile telco and digital space, which polled a total of 3077 mobile users across the US and UK and "surfaced compelling reasons for telcos to leverage mobile user experience as a way of boosting their bottom line and increasing customer acquisition".

You see, the lesson here isn't that Netflix, Amazon or Paypal might start up mobile MNVO telco brands to leverage their existing platforms and customer relationships, which some at least will do, the lesson is that telcos need to act more like Amazon, Netflix and Paypal in dealing with their customers.

It's a different perspective, and one that is also obvious when you think about it.

The survey backs this up by stating that: "Nearly 40% of UK mobile users would increase spending with their carrier if it operated more like a leading digital brand, while 52 percent of all respondents would recommend their carrier to friends and family."

It's also yet another demonstration that telcos are not destined to be dumb pipes, but rich ecosystems of their own that play nicely with others across the cloud, across services, apps, users, devices and more.

Sure, let innovation shine bright with over-the-top players and anyone else providing products, content and services across the Internet and in life, but the owners of that infrastructure need not refrain from being active players themselves, with many having gone down the path.

It's like digital transformation for telcos taking hold and coming to life, right alongside the transformation that 5G itself is bringing to the industry and to us all.

Jennifer Kyriakakis, founder and vice-president of marketing at MATRIXX Software Software, said: "The survey clearly demonstrates that digital-first brands have set a new baseline of expectation by which every other consumer service is judged.

Telcos have an opportunity to attract an entirely new crop of customers, ones who are motivated by intuitive engagement that results in a highly personalised, transparent and real-time mobile experience.

Survey results also "confirmed this strong focus on customer experience expectation, as an overwhelming 75% of respondents chose transparency in pricing as a feature they most want their mobile provider to adopt from their favourite app.

"Another 63% preferred ease of use, while 51% cited greater personalisation, and 49% wanted instant access to services."

Finally, we're told that "providing further insight into what consumers most want, the survey found 64% of mobile users would switch their carrier if offered a greater customer experience, underscoring that consumers want a better experience regardless of who offers it".

The quality of your customer service, coupled with the quality of your interactive customer engagement through your products, services and support systems can define whether an end-user, a customer chooses to do business with you, or with your competitor, and in the 21st century digital world in which we live, it can be something as simple as that.

So, with Matrixx Software delivering "an innovative digital commerce solution that enables always-on customer engagement", and wth the company proudly boasting of its "patented approach" that "makes it possible for Digital Service Providers to simultaneously serve millions of customers, and process billions of customer interactions precisely and instantly", you can see why Matrixx Software believes it is the one to help Digital Services Providers "build long-term strategic value through high-touch, digital customer relationships".

Is it truly possible for Digital Service Providers to mature their ongoing digital transformation into a new level of sophistication and quality, and thus finally know the answer to the question of "What is the Matrixx?"

Yes. This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill  the story ends, you wake up in your bed of existing customer relationships, and believe whatever you want to believe.

You take the red pill  you stay in telco-transformation Wonderland, and you get to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember: all Matrixx Software is offering is the truth of their entire range of products, services, knowledge, understanding and support. Nothing more.
MoFALD bodies try to evade dissolution plan

The government plan to dissolve some of the committees under the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) has hit a snag, with the concerned committees seeking greater role once the country has fully adopted the federal set-up.
Gigabits are going gangbusters in the gargantuan era of greatly growing data, connectivity and speed requirements for all societies, not just Germany's, with ZTE announcing "strategy for the road to the digital future".

Speaking at Broadband World Forum (BBWF) 2017, ZTEs senior vice-president Xiao Ming announced "the companys future business and broadband strategy for Europe and Germany, including ideas on how to support development of the Gigabit Society in Germany".

Highlighting the strong demand for targeted investments, innovative technologies and a 5G strategy for Europe, Xiao declared it was ZTEs goal "to lead the way into the Gigabit Society and to push ahead the development of a gigabit infrastructure in Germany".

Xiao said: In the last few months, the discussion about the digitisation of Germany has intensified and rapidly gained momentum, with leading organisations all pointing out that the need for a high-performance broadband infrastructure is indispensable for the further economic success of Germany, and that this future infrastructure must consist of a gigabit access network made of fibre."

The company says that a major part of its strategy is "to make targeted investments in key markets in Germany and Europe".

Since 2005, ZTE has been "active in Germany and has established itself as a reliable partner in the German telecommunications industry".

"Since then, ZTEs investments have grown steadily. In 2014 and 2015, ZTE invested over 80 million, making the company one of the largest Chinese investors in NRW."

As a global provider of technologies for building gigabit access networks, ZTE is "investing not only in the expansion of fibre optics, but also in the expansion of 5G technology, which also requires a fibre-based infrastructure".

In addition, ZTE invests 250 million each year in the research and development of 5G.

Xiao added: In the European market, the construction of 5G infrastructures is one of the long-term core objectives of ZTE. We are aiming to install the first commercial deployments of 5G in Europe by the third quarter of 2018 and to achieve a comprehensive market maturity by the first quarter of 2019.

In addition to investments, ZTE reports that another one of its strategic objectives is "to expand the broadband business in Germany to regional operators, city carriers and urban centres".

"The signing of a strategic partnership agreement on GPON and Gfast technologies with NetCologne, the leading provider of telecommunications technologies and services in Cologne, fits in perfectly with this strategy."

As a major global technology player, ZTE says it will "support NetCologne in Germany to enable gigabit access for up to 450,000 households in the coming months", while Xiao also explained that "ZTE plans to use its innovative technologies in the future to build up the gigabit infrastructure in Germany".

European governments are finally realising that a strong economy needs to be supported by the most powerful digital infrastructure available, and ZTE is committed to continuing its co-operation with governments and various market participants in order to lead the development of the Gigabit Society in Germany and Europe.

We are committed to supporting the construction of wide-coverage Gigabit networks by 2025," Xiao concluded.

More info at ZTE here.
The Firebug web development tool, an open source add-on to the Firefox browser, is being discontinued after 12 years, replaced by Firefox Developer Tools.

[ Get your websites up to speed with HTML5 today using the techniques in InfoWorlds HTML5 Deep Dive PDF how-to report. | Learn where HTML5 is headed next. ]

Firebug will be dropped with next months release of Firefox Quantum (version 57). The Firebug tool lets developers inspect, edit, and debug code in the Firefox browser as well as monitor CSS, HTML, and JavaScript in webpages. It still has more than a million people using it, said Jan Honza Odvarko, who has been the leader of the Firebug project. Many extensions were built for Firebug, which is itself is an extension to Firefox.

Mozilla began migrating Firebug features to the built-in Firefox debugging tools in 2016. Core Firefox developer tools include a page inspector, web console, JavaScript debugger, and network monitor.

The goal is to make debugging native to Firefox. Sometimes, its better to start from scratch, which is especially true for software development, Odvarko said. To try Firefox Developer Tools, you can download Firefox Quantum: Developer Edition or update to the current Firefox browser. Mozilla provides guidance on migrating from Firebug to Firefox Developer Tools.
NC's alliance is for sake of power: Joshi

Nepali Congress former General Secretary Govinda Raj Joshi has said that the party is forging alliance with other political parties just for the sake of power and not policies.
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

Saudi Crown prince Mohammad Bin Salman has announced that he wants to take his kingdom toward a more moderate Islam. The state religion of Saudi Arabia is what outsiders call Wahhabism, a puritanical and strident interpretation of the religion. Only about 40% of Saudis are thought to belong to it, but it governs everyones life in Saudi Arabia. At its fringes it has bled over into extremism, though most ordinary Wahhabis in Saudi Arabia could not be so characterized (in fact opinion polls show the Saudi public to be much more liberal than the Wahhabi establishment).

Aware that the kingdom suffers from bad publicity, and with the end of the oil bonanza just over the horizon, the young prince wants to do some PR for moderation. He has already cut down on the power of the religious police, who used to make everyones life miserable by going about on the lookout for infractions against puritanism. And allowing women to drive was probably his idea, as well. Reforms in Saudi Arabia are important because its oil money creates Salafis throughout the Muslim world, whom I view as Sunni wannabe Wahhabis.

Luckily for the prince, he has a good role model for the reform of Wahhabism, in Qatar. Qatar is the only other Wahhabi country, and no doubt it has its faults, but it is substantially better on many issues than Saudi Arabia. Of course, hes having a tiff with Qatar and may not be in a mood to hear that theyre doing something right. But they are. Here are some examples:

1. Qatars Al Jazeera English television channel has a left of center editorial line (admittedly it differs somewhat from the Arabic channel of that name in this regard) and a journalistic philosophy that all sides of an issue should be heard. Al Jazeera has been excellent on climate change issues, and on reporting on the Global South, on problems of the poor and workers. In contrast, Al Arabiya, which is Saudi-owned but based in Dubai, has gone to the dark side and recently did a hateful fake news report trying to implicate Iran in 9/11. The prince could commission a progressive television station to prepare people for the end of oil and the need to actually make political compromises instead of just buying dissidents off or lashing them and to educate Saudis to the realities of the outside world.

2. Qatar has licensed churches and allows resident Christians to worship in them. Saudi Arabia bans churches. In contrast, the Quran upholds freedom of worship and condemned the Christians and Jews of its own day who attacked synagogues and churches, respectively:

The Cow, 2:113-14: The Jews say, The Christians have nothing to stand on; and the Christians say, The Jews have nothing to stand oneven though they both recite the Bible . . . Who is more of a despot than one who forbids the mention of Gods name in the houses of God, and strives to tear them down? They should not have entered them save in fearful reverence. Their lot in this world is disgrace, and in the next they face severe torment.

So I dont think the scripture would approve of disallowing churches in the birthplace of Islam.

Heres a teen music talent show in a church in Qatar, which would violate all kinds of current Saudi law:

Church Of God In Qatar  Teens Group CGPF TALENT SHOW- GROUP SONG

3. Qatar has promised to allow independent trade unions and collective bargaining. Qatar has a way to go but at least it made the pledge. Saudi Arabia completely bans workers unions.

4. Qatari women have a 51% participation in the labor force, among the highest in the world, with full educational opportunities. Saudi women as of today still cannot so much as drive to work, and even with the proposed change in law are hemmed in by requirements of male guardianship.

5. Qatar has correct relations with Shiite Iran. This relationship stands despite Qatars having supported Syrian revolutionaries, putting it on the opposite side from Iran, which sided with Bashar al-Assads torturing one-party state. Riyadh at the moment, however, is trying to whip up anti Iranian feeling in the region.

6. Qatar declined to get much involved in the disastrous Yemen war, which is mainly a local struggle that Saudi interference has exacerbated.

7. The primary English Wahhabi translation of the Quran published in Riyadh, that of Muhammad Muhsin Khan and Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali, tampers with the meaning of the Quranic text. In the Opening, the first chapter, it says roughly Guide us to the straight path, the path of those on whom you have bestowed bounties, not that of those with whom you are angry, nor of those gone astray. The Wahhabi translation identifies those gone astray as Jews and Christians. The Quran says that in the Gospel and the Pentateuch there is guidance and light and praises Jews and Christians for believing in God and the last day. Those gone astray are the pagans who expelled the Muslims from Mecca, as in 4:167. Putting out hatred for members of other religions as the meaning of the Quran is blasphemy against the holy book and turns into bombs in Europe. The prince might want to look into that.
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By Reese Erlich | ( 48hills.org )- 

In Washington DC, Trumps moves against the Iran nuclear agreement are seen as getting tough on a dangerous enemy. In Iran, they are seen as the first steps towards another war in the Mideast.

Last week, Trump refused to certify the nuclear agreement. Under that accord Iran has agreed to stringent inspections of its nuclear facilities in return for lifting of economic sanctions.

Trump encouraged Congress to impose new sanctions on Iran, which could violate the accord and lead to serious military escalation in the region.

In email and phone interviews with me, Iranians across the political spectrum expressed outrage at Trumps escalating attacks on their country.

For the last year our economy has improved, said one Iran-Iraq War veteran who supports centrist President Hassan Rouhani. He and others interviewed preferred not to use their names in talking to a western reporter. If the US imposes new sanctions, even though weve lived up to all the terms of the agreement, thats an act of war. If the US forces war on us, we will fight back very hard.

In another provocative action, the Trump administration imposed new sanctions on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The IRGC supports groups such as the Lebanese Hezbollah and various militias in Syria and Iraq. But most Iranians argue that the IRGC defends the country from outside invaders and promotes Iranian interests abroad.

The war vet asked, How would Americans feel if Iran described the 181st Airborne as a terrorist group and imposed sanctions on their leaders?

So far both the IRGC and US troops have fought ISIS in Syria and Iraq without clashing. Hardline Iranian leaders say that could change.

IRGC Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari warned that if the US labeled the IRGC a terrorist organization, the Guards will also consider the American military all over the world, especially the Middle East, as equal to Daesh [ISIS].

In 2015, the US, Iran, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany agreed to the nuclear accord, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Contrary to popular rhetoric in Washington, Iran made major concessions.

Iran agreed to the worlds most robust nuclear inspections, according to the UNs International Atomic Energy Agency head Yukiya Amano. International inspectors are now tracking Irans uranium mining, fuel enrichment, use of fuel in nuclear power plants and medical research, and disposal of waste. If Iran diverts uranium for military purposes, the IAEA will find out.

Iran engages in plenty of nefarious activities abroad and repression at home. So does the Trump administration, I might point out. But those issues werent up for discussion as part of the nuclear agreement. The JCPOA only took up the nuclear issue and thus removed a major, potential source of war. Iran has agreed never to develop nuclear weapons and to allow intrusive international inspections in perpetuity.

In reality Iran has no nuclear bomb just as Saddam Hussein had no weapons of mass destruction at the time of the 2003 US invasion. Washington falsified both issues in order to justify continued US hegemony in the oil rich and geopolitically important region.

So right-wing Republicans and Democratic Party hawks never accepted the JCPOA. Now Trump is seeking to scuttle the accord as part of a major anti-Iran offensive. The Trump administration equates Shia Muslim Iran with the Sunni extremist group ISIS.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, CIA Director Mike Pompeo said in a speech, is Irans version of what the caliphate ought to look like under the control of an Ayatollah and  the IRGC.

But most experts, especially those outside the US, disagree with that view. To blame Iran for terrorism in the region is misleading at best, wrote Michael Axworthy, head of the Iran section at the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office between 19982000. Most of the Islamic terrorism worldwide, is inspired by extreme versions of Sunni Islam, not by the Shia Islam of the Iranian regime.

So far Rouhani has responded very carefully to Trump administration provocations, waiting to see what actions Congress may take. But Iran issued a clear warning.

Iran will not be the first to withdraw from the deal, read an official statement from the Rouhani administration. But if its rights are not respected, it will stop implementing all its commitments and will resume its peaceful nuclear program without any restrictions.

Trump claims to support the Iranian people against their repressive government. But US belligerence has had the opposite effect. Iranians are rallying behind their government, and Trump has emboldened Irans hardline conservatives, known as principalists.

The principalists have reasserted their power, an Iranian academic told me. They warned the country that you cant trust the United States. And Trump proved them right.

A liberal-minded rug merchant friend echoed a similar sentiment. He frequently interacts with Europeans and visitors from the Middle East and opposes the principalists. Who will believe the US now? he said. What will come next from the crazy man in the White House?

Foreign Correspondent, Reese Erlichs syndicated column on international affairs appears every two weeks in 48 Hills. The revised and updated edition of his book The Iran Agenda: the Real Story of US and Policy and the Mideast Crisis, will be published in 2018.

Reprinted with authors permission from a href=http://48hills.org/2017/10/22/trump-iranian-hardliners/> 48hills.org



Related video added by Juan Cole:

LSE Middle East Centre | In brief: Toby Dodge on Trump, Iran and the GCC
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trek Mining Inc. (TSX-V:TREK) (Trek Mining), NewCastle Gold Ltd. (TSX:NCA) (NewCastle) and Anfield Gold Corp. (TSX-V:ANF) (Anfield) are pleased to announce the signing of a definitive agreement (the Agreement) to combine their businesses (the Transaction).

The combined entity intends to operate under the name Equinox Gold Corp. (Equinox Gold) and expects to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the ticker symbol EQX. Led by Ross Beaty as Chairman, and the executive team led by Christian Milau as CEO and Greg Smith as President, Equinox Gold will be a well-financed gold mining company with a near-term strategy to become a profitable, multi-asset, low-cost gold producer. Shareholders of Trek Mining and NewCastle Gold will each own 44% of Equinox Gold, with Anfield Gold shareholders owning 12%.

EQUINOX GOLD HIGHLIGHTS

Near-term and growing gold production: First gold pour from Aurizona targeted for late 2018 with expected average annual production of 136,000 ounces 1 ; potential to significantly increase production with subsequent mine development at Castle Mountain

First gold pour from Aurizona targeted for late 2018 with expected average annual production of 136,000 ounces ; potential to significantly increase production with subsequent mine development at Castle Mountain Robust project portfolio: Multi-asset gold and copper portfolio including two advanced-stage gold projects in well-established mining jurisdictions

Multi-asset gold and copper portfolio including two advanced-stage gold projects in well-established mining jurisdictions Substantial gold resource: Combined Measured and Indicated gold resources of 5.8 million ounces and additional Inferred gold resources of 2.5 million ounces 2

Combined Measured and Indicated gold resources of 5.8 million ounces and additional Inferred gold resources of 2.5 million ounces Significant exploration potential: Drilling currently underway to potentially increase resources at both the Aurizona and Castle Mountain properties; plus upside from a portfolio of highly prospective gold and copper properties

Drilling currently underway to potentially increase resources at both the Aurizona and Castle Mountain properties; plus upside from a portfolio of highly prospective gold and copper properties Strong financial platform: Approximately C$98 million in cash and marketable securities, with plans to realize corporate G&A savings and monetize selected non-core assets. Well funded with a US$85 million credit facility to fully fund the construction of Aurizona, and access for up to US$200 million in funding for future project development and acquisitions, providing significant capacity to develop Castle Mountain and continue to grow the company

Approximately C$98 million in cash and marketable securities, with plans to realize corporate G&A savings and monetize selected non-core assets. Well funded with a US$85 million credit facility to fully fund the construction of Aurizona, and access for up to US$200 million in funding for future project development and acquisitions, providing significant capacity to develop Castle Mountain and continue to grow the company Strategic leader and shareholder: Ross Beaty will join as Chairman and invest approximately US$20 million to become a significant shareholder, owning approximately 11% of Equinox Gold after Transaction close

Ross Beaty will join as Chairman and invest approximately US$20 million to become a significant shareholder, owning approximately 11% of Equinox Gold after Transaction close Experienced leadership team: Executive team and directors are invested shareholders with significant technical, construction and operations experience

Ross Beaty, Anfields largest shareholder and Chairman of Equinox Gold, said: Combining these companies to form Equinox Gold creates a well-capitalized, growth-focused gold company with an experienced management team and an impressive portfolio of gold and copper assets. I look forward to working with the Equinox Gold team to rapidly build a leading gold producer.

Christian Milau, CEO of Trek Mining, said: The Aurizona and Castle Mountain projects are both large gold assets with a strong geological foundation and exceptional growth potential. Combining them in Equinox Gold creates a company that is well positioned among its peers, with fully-funded near-term production and a long-term growth profile. We are particularly pleased that Ross Beaty will be leading the Equinox Gold board as Chairman. Ross is one of the foremost mining entrepreneurs of our generation. His insight, experience and track record of success will be invaluable as we advance our assets and continue to build the company.

Richard Warke, Executive Chairman of NewCastle, said: Combining NewCastle with Trek Mining and Anfield significantly enhances the near- and long-term growth potential for NewCastle shareholders. With the Aurizona mine expected to commence production in late 2018 and potential to add significant production from Castle Mountain, Equinox Gold will have one of the most rapid growth profiles in its peer group. I look forward to working with Ross and the Equinox Gold management team as we work to build a significant gold company.

EQUINOX GOLD ASSETS

Upon completion of the Transaction, Equinox Gold will own 100% of two past-producing gold mines: Aurizona in Maranhao, Brazil and Castle Mountain in California, USA. A July 2017 feasibility study for Aurizona outlined the design of an open-pit gold mine producing on average approximately 136,000 ounces of gold per year with an initial 6.5-year mine life and significant exploration upside. Initial capital to fund construction and commissioning is estimated at US$130.8 million with all-in-sustaining costs estimated at US$754 per ounce.1 Early works construction has commenced at Aurizona and orders have been placed for long-lead items, with first gold pour planned for late 2018. At Castle Mountain, a pre-feasibility study is underway to assess a two-phase approach to resuming production before the end of 2020.

In addition to its Aurizona and Castle Mountain projects, Equinox Gold will hold an 83% interest in the Koricancha Mill, an operating gold processing facility in Peru; 100% of the Coringa project, a feasibility-stage gold project in Brazil; and 100% of the Elk Gold project, a high-grade past-producing gold project in Canada.

Combined, the gold projects have Proven & Probable gold reserves of 1.1 million ounces grading 1.71 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, Measured & Indicated gold resources (inclusive of reserves) estimated at 5.8 million ounces grading 0.81 g/t gold, and Inferred gold resources estimated at 2.5 million ounces grading 0.70 g/t gold.2

Equinox Gold will also hold 100% of the highly prospective Warintza and Ricardo porphyry copper exploration projects in Ecuador and Chile, respectively, and 60% of the La Verde porphyry copper project in Mexico. The La Verde project has Measured & Indicated copper resources of 3.7 billion pounds grading 0.41% copper and Inferred copper resources of 2.7 billion pounds grading 0.37% copper. The Warintza project has an Inferred copper-equivalent resource of 2.1 billion pounds grading 0.61% copper-equivalent.2

Anfield currently owns the Coringa gold deposit in Brazil and a financial receivable from the sale of its nickel deposit in Guatemala. Anfield is divesting both assets and will apply all sale proceeds toward the advancement of Equinox Golds flagship assets.

MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTORS

Equinox Gold will be managed by the current Trek Mining executive team and will be based in Vancouver. The operational teams for each project will remain in place. The proposed Board of Directors will be led by Ross Beaty as Chairman with Christian Milau, Greg Smith, and Marcel de Groot joining from Trek Mining, Jacques McMullen and Lenard Boggio joining from NewCastle, and Marshall Koval joining from Anfield. Richard Warke, Executive Chairman of NewCastle, will continue with Equinox Gold as a strategic advisor and significant shareholder.

SPROTT CREDIT FACILITY

Sprott Private Resource Lending (Collector), L.P. (Sprott) has received investment committee approval to provide Trek Mining with a US$85 million senior secured credit facility to be used for construction of the Aurizona mine (the Credit Facility). The Credit Facility will have a five-year term, incur interest at an annual rate of 7%, plus the greater of US 3-month LIBOR or 1%, and will be repaid in quarterly installments commencing in September 2019 and ending in September 2022.

In connection with the Credit Facility, Sprott will be entitled to a production payment of US$20 per gold ounce on 75% of the first 400,000 ounces of gold produced from Aurizona. Further, Trek Mining will issue to Sprott 8.0 million five-year at-market common share purchase warrants.

The terms of the Credit Facility are not subject to technical due diligence by Sprott. The Credit Facility remains conditional on completion of legal and formal documentation and is expected to be completed prior to closing the Transaction.

In addition to the Credit Facility, Sprott has agreed to provide up to US$200 million to fund future development projects and acquisitions (the Development and Acquisition Facility), which could include development of the Castle Mountain project. The Development and Acquisition Facility is subject to, among other items, negotiation, documentation and approval by Sprotts investment committee.

Greg Caione, Partner of Sprott, commented: Sprott is excited to partner with Equinox Gold on development of the Aurizona mine. Our partnership with the Equinox Gold team is consistent with our strategy of providing innovative and flexible capital to maximize the value of exceptional projects.

TRANSACTION DETAILS

Under the terms of the Agreement, Trek Mining will acquire all outstanding shares of NewCastle and Anfield at a share exchange ratio of 0.873 Trek Mining shares for each NewCastle share (the NewCastle Exchange Ratio) and 0.407 Trek Mining shares for each Anfield share (the Anfield Exchange Ratio). Each NewCastle and Anfield warrant and option will become exercisable for Trek Mining common shares, as adjusted in accordance with the appropriate Exchange Ratio. Based on the applicable Exchange Ratios, upon completion of the Arrangement, former Trek Mining shareholders will own 44% of Equinox Gold, former NewCastle shareholders will own 44% and former Anfield shareholders will own 12%.

Subject to, and concurrent with, closing of the Transaction, Ross Beaty will acquire approximately 22.5 million common shares of Equinox Gold. The shares will be purchased pursuant to a share and debenture purchase agreement between Trek Mining, Ross Beaty and Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (Sandstorm), whereby Sandstorm will sell to Ross Beaty 4.0 million common shares of Trek Mining and US$15.0 million principal of the debenture payable by Trek Mining to Sandstorm at a combined purchase price of approximately US$18.2 million. The debenture will be converted to approximately 18.5 million common shares concurrent with closing of the Transaction. On closing of the Transaction, Ross Beaty is expected to own approximately 11% of Equinox Gold.

Upon completion of the Transaction, Equinox Gold as the combined company will have approximately 423.0 million common shares issued and outstanding.

The Transaction is expected to be structured as a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and, in addition to other customary closing conditions, is subject to regulatory and court approvals or orders, and continuing NewCastle from Ontario to British Columbia. The Transaction will need to be approved by (i) two-thirds of the votes cast by NewCastle and Anfield shareholders at their respective shareholder meetings and (ii) if required, a simple majority of the votes cast by NewCastle and Anfield shareholders at their respective shareholder meetings, excluding the votes held by certain persons as required by Multilateral Instrument 61-101. There is no regulatory requirement for a meeting of Trek Mining shareholders.

The special meetings of NewCastle and Anfield are expected to be held in December 2017. A joint information circular detailing the terms and conditions of the Transaction will be filed with regulatory authorities and mailed to the shareholders of both NewCastle and Anfield in November in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Agreement includes customary deal-protection provisions, including non-solicitation of alternative transactions and break fees of C$18 million payable by Trek Mining or NewCastle, and C$3.2 million payable by Anfield, under certain circumstances.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDATIONS AND VOTING SUPPORT

The Board of Directors of both NewCastle and Anfield have received independent fairness opinions with respect to the fairness of the consideration to be received by the shareholders of NewCastle and Anfield under the Arrangement, respectively, from a financial point of view, and the Board of Directors of Trek Mining has received an independent fairness opinion that the Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to Trek Mining. The Board of Directors of each company have unanimously approved the Agreement.

The Board of Directors of both NewCastle and Anfield are recommending approval of the Agreement by their respective shareholders. All of the directors and senior officers of NewCastle and Anfield and certain significant shareholders of each company have entered into lock-up agreements pursuant to which each has agreed to vote in favour of the Agreement, representing approximately 25.5% of the issued and outstanding common shares of NewCastle and 27.2% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Anfield, respectively.

ADVISORS AND COUNSEL

Cormark Securities Inc. has provided a fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of Trek Mining, TD Securities Inc. has provided a fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of NewCastle and Fort Capital Partners has provided a fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of Anfield. Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is acting as legal counsel for Trek Mining, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP is acting as legal counsel for NewCastle and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is acting as legal counsel for Anfield.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

Interested analysts and investors are invited to participate in a joint conference call and webcast on October 25, 2017 at 4:30pm EST (1:30pm PST) using the following dial-in numbers. The webcast will be archived and accessible on all of the companies websites until closing of the Transaction.

Toll-free in U.S. and Canada: 1-800-319-8560

International callers: +1-604-638-5345

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A copy of the investor presentation, outlining the details of the Transaction and providing more information about Equinox Golds asset portfolio, is available on the companies websites at www.trekmining.com, www.newcastlegold.ca or www.anfieldgold.com.

QUALIFIED PERSONS

David Laing, BSc, MIMMM, Trek Minings Chief Operating Officer, and Scott Heffernan, MSc, P.Geo., Trek Minings EVP Exploration, are the Qualified Persons under NI 43-101 for Trek Mining and have reviewed, approved and verified the technical content of this news release as it relates to Trek Minings Aurizona, Warintza, Ricardo and Elk Gold Projects, and the Koricancha Mill.

Marc Leduc, P.Eng., NewCastles Interim Chief Executive Officer, is the Qualified Person under NI 43-101 for NewCastle and has reviewed, approved and verified the technical content of this news release as it relates to NewCastles Castle Mountain and La Verde projects.

Leo Hathaway, MSc, P.Geo., Anfields Chief Geological Officer, is the Qualified Person under NI 43-101 for Anfield and has reviewed, approved and verified the technical content of this news release as it relates to Anfields Coringa Project.
TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:ELO) (FSE:P2Q) (Eloro or the Corporation) is pleased to announce the Use of Water permit has been received which allows Eloro to commence diamond drilling on the Rufina Zone of the La Victoria Gold/Silver Project in Peru (La Victoria).

"Although La Victoria is located near world-class gold mines including Yanacocha (Newmont Mining), La Arena (Tahoe Resources) and Lagunas Norte (Barrick Gold) in Perus prolific Northern Central Mineral Belt, Eloros wholly-owned subsidiary in Peru is conducting the first drill program on La Victoria despite more than 30 years plus of artisanal mining on the property, said CEO Tom Larsen. "This program should provide effective insights into the continuity of mineralization at depth that the artisanal miners and our geological and geophysical teams have discovered on surface."

The planned diamond drilling program at Rufina will consist of 16 holes totalling 3,500 m to an approximate down hole depth of between 150 m to 280 metres. A drill contract has been signed with Energold Drilling Peru S.A.C. for NTW diamond drilling. The portable drill rig employed by Energold can be readily moved by existing public trails and requires only minimal drill pad preparation. Two drill rigs will be used with a staggered start to optimize efficiency and reduce overall cost per metre.

Thirteen of the holes are designed to be drilled across the mineralized shear zones and tear faults at Rufina; eight of them will test both the gold mineralization found on surface and the Induced Polarization (IP/Res) anomalies while the remaining three holes will test relevant IP/Res anomalies within the Rufina zone approximately 50 metres below surface.

The budget for the planned 3,500 metre drill program, including the completion of the geophysical program in progress, is CDN$2,000,000. The recent improved exchange rate for the $CDN versus the $US has had a positive effect on the budget numbers. Completion of this program will enable EHR Resources Limited., Eloros option and joint venture partner on the project, to satisfy the requirements of the Stage 1 Earn-in Period in order to acquire a 10% interest in La Victoria.

Assaying for the project will be done at SGS del Peru. Eloro employs an industry standard approach for QA/QC with use of standards, blanks and duplicate samples. Work in Peru is supervised by Luc Pigeon, P.Geo. a Qualified Person (QP) as defined under National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., Chief Technical Advisor for Eloro and a QP as defined under NI 43-101 will provide overall technical guidance for the program.

Results from drilling will be released as received.

About Eloro Resources Ltd.

Eloro is an exploration and mine development company with a portfolio of gold and base-metal properties in Peru and Quebec. Eloro owns a 100% interest in the La Victoria Gold/Silver Project, located in the North-Central Mineral Belt of Peru some 50 km south of Barrick's Lagunas Norte Gold Mine and Tahoe's La Arena Gold Mine. The Property consists of eight mining concessions and eight mining claims encompassing approximately 89 square kilometres. The Property has good infrastructure with access to road, water and electricity and is located at an altitude that ranges from 3,100 m to 4,200 m above sea level.
Vancouver, Canada / October 25, 2017 / JMN Wire / Nexus Gold Corp. (Nexus or the Company) (TSX-V: NXS, OTC: NXXGF, FSE: N6E) is pleased to report its upcoming fall work program will include a 3000-metre reverse circulation (RC) drill program at the newly optioned Rakounga property, located adjacent to the Companys Bouboulou gold concession in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

The exploration program at Rakounga has been designed to test the nature of the mineralization occurring at each of the three orpaillages that we have identified and sampled. Initially, the Koaltenga and Gounga orpaillages displayed shear hosted gold mineralization. The initial program will test this style of mineralization to depth by drilling under the exposed surface workings and then along strike as the work progresses. The Porphyry orpaillage displays more of a quartz vein-style mineralization. The goal of the program will be to gain as many intersections in the vein and attempt to determine grade and orientation (strike and dip).

To date, four rock samples were collected from the Porphyry orpaillage returning elevated gold values of 19.95 gram per tonne (g/t) gold (Au), 2.57 g/t Au, and 1.175 g/t Au, respectively.

A total of eight samples were collected from workings from the Gounga orpaillage, located approximately 1000 metres south of the Porphyry orpaillage. Samples GGA-05 and GGA-07 returned gold values of 14.90 g/t Au, and 5.30 g/t Au, respectively.

Initial rock samples from dumps of the artisanal workings at the Koaltenga orpaillage returned values of 17.30 g/t Au, 2.33 g/t Au, and 1.45 g/t Au, respectively.

We have been successful in identifying gold mineralization from three different areas at Rakounga. Now we are looking to establish structural relationships between them, and with the known trends on our contiguous Bouboulou property, said Peter Berdusco, President and CEO of Nexus Gold Corp. This puts Nexus Gold in an advantageous position of having multiple premium exploration properties in Burkina Faso in which to advance our goal of establishing a significant resource in West Africa, continued Mr. Berdusco.

Warren Robb P.Geo., Senior Geologist is the designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information contained in this release.
Ouch. The High Court has ruled:

The Court found Eminem Esque was a copy of Lose Yourself for three reasons.

The Court found the National Party committed three restricted acts amounting to copyright infringement.

The Court found Eight Mile Style is entitled to damages on a user principle basis in the sum of NZ$600,000, with interest, from 28 June 2014.

Although copyright infringement did occur, the National Partys actions were taken after receiving professional, commercial and media advice and were not reckless or contumelious of the rights of the copyright owner. No additional damages are awarded.

National will now seek to recover these damages from their advisers and/or the studio they purchased Eminem Esque from. That will be a further court battle.

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By Choi Ha-young

Around 50,000 clothing items made in North Korea have been sold in South Korea violating of the government's sanctions against Pyongyang, Rep. Kim Hyun-kwon of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea claimed Tuesday.

Labels on the clothes showed they were made in China, but they were actually produced in North Korea. South Korean smugglers are involved in the circulation of the products, the lawmaker said citing data from the Korea Coast Guard (KCG).

Since 2010, the South Korean government has banned North Korean products from entering the South by imposing the sanctions called May 24 measures. The KCG had been in charge of finding people smuggling North Korean goods primarily sold here disguised as being from China.

The nuclear-armed regime has long operated textile factories in China to earn foreign currency in the face of international sanctions. The former conservative President Park Geun-hye had vowed to close Pyongyang's purse strings but apparently no state institution was committed to a crackdown.

In 2014, only one smuggler was caught. Before then, the KCG detected seven cases involving 23 offenders in 2013; and 12 cases involving 20 offenders in 2012. The smugglers dealt with various North Korean products such as clothes, clams, crabs, fish, coal and handicrafts all under Chinese trademarks.

The nation's spy agency, National Intelligence Service, took issue with loopholes in 2015 and the KCG established security offices in three cities  Incheon, Sokcho and Donghae. Due to the shortage of manpower, however, the offices were not able to crack down on the smugglers.

The KCG's security department is still understaffed, Kim noted. "Considering the scale of the smuggled goods, it seems like organized crime," Kim said. "The KCG should rapidly build a system to detect smugglers and forgers."
Actors perform at last year's Rocky Horror Shadowcast. / Courtesy of Robert Evans



By John Redmond

The Seoul Players present the 7th Annual Rocky Horror Shadowcast at Club Freebird near Hongik University in western Seoul, Friday and Saturday.

Billed as one of Seoul's top must-see Halloween traditions, the Horror Shadowcast is an event where a movie is screened, while at the same time performers act out and dance to the movie on a stage.

In Rocky Horror tradition, audience participation is very much encouraged, as is dressing up.

Another activity, known as riffing, is where audience members call back to actors on stage.

"During a normal show, an audience will sit quietly and watch the show. Not so with Rocky. Callbacks are highly encouraged from the audience throughout the show," the organizer said.

"Our Rocky Horror Shadowcast does differ from other productions. Due to the policy of the venue, we are not allowed to bring items such as toilet paper, rice or toast into the club, and for safety's sake there will be no throwing of items at the cast members.

"But we really would love to hear your callbacks throughout the show. There will also be cast and crew members seeded throughout the audience providing our own colorful commentary, so be on the lookout."

The performance is directed by Makrenna Sterdan and choreographed by Sydney Langford.

This show has always sold out in the past, so guests are encouraged to come early to guarantee admission.

Proceeds go to Seoul Players' upcoming productions, including its 7th annual 10 Minute Play Festival.

There will also be special appearances by the dancers of Starlight Productions, previewing their upcoming Star Wars-themed show, "The Rule of Two."

Formed here in 2001, Seoul Players is a not-for-profit, volunteer-based English-language theater group.

Performances are 10 p.m. on Friday and 9 p.m. and midnight on Saturday.

Tickets cost 10,000 won at the door.

Club Freebird is located about five minutes from Sangsu Station.

There will be a costume contest following the show on Friday and the second show on Saturday.

Visit facebook.com/SeoulPlayers for more details and directions to the venue.
Nepal to sign air service pacts with Turkey, UAE

The Civil Aviation Ministry is ready to sign bilateral air service agreements (ASAs) with Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as soon as the Cabinet gives the go-ahead.
Nepali banks not prepared to ward off cyber threats

A day before cybercriminals hacked into the IT server of NIC Asia Bank to reportedly steal millions of rupees, another major commercial bank had witnessed suspicious activities of similar nature.
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Polls on scheduled dates to strengthen democracy: PM

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the elections to the House of Representatives and provincial assemblies will be held on the scheduled dates which would help consolidate the democracy in the country.
May 3, 2021, 5 AM

Senator Lee Metcalf (D-Montana) used the occasion of the release of the Sam Rayburn stamp to energize the 56 Montana County Democratic Party chairmen in anticipation of the upcoming congressional elections. The first-day cover Metcalf sent to the chairmen

The United States Post Office Department commemorated Sam Rayburn, a Democrat from Texas who served as speaker of the House for 17 years, on this 4 stamp issued Sept. 16, 1962.

U.S. Stamp Notes  By John M. Hotchner

Lee Warren Metcalf (1911-1978) was a four-term representative (1953-1961) and three-term senator (1961-1978) from Montana.

In June 1963, because of the illness of president pro tempore, Carl Hayden, Senator Metcalf was designated permanent acting president pro tempore of the United States Senate to carry out Haydens duties.

No term was imposed on this designation, so Metcalf retained it until he died in office in 1978. He was the only person to hold this title.

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If not a stamp collector, Metcalf must have been at least philatelically aware. The proof is the first-day cover, and the letter that accompanies it shown with this column.

The United States Post Office Department issued the 4 stamp honoring Speaker of the House of Representatives Sam Rayburn (D-Texas) Sept. 16, 1962 (Scott 1202), when Metcalf was a junior senator.

As a fellow Democrat and former member of the House of Representatives, Metcalf wanted to send the FDC to the Democratic Party chairmen in all 56 of Montanas counties, and to a few friends in the media.

The letter is an artful combination of the philatelic with an overtly political appeal:

Dear Democratic Chairman:

The envelope in which this arrived is a first-day cover mailed from Bonham, Texas, in honor of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn.

Mr. Sam, as he was affectionately known to hundreds of his friends and former colleagues, was a beloved, bi-partisan Speaker, but he was also an ardent and devoted Democrat. It is therefore appropriate to use this device to remind you of the importance of the election of Democratic Congressmen this November. In this unusual election year in Montana when the Congressmen are the top of the ticket, it is especially important that we participate in honoring Sam Rayburn by sending to the 88th Congress two Democrats from Montana.

Accept this souvenir and with it my assurances that with the adjournment of Congress, I shall do everything I can to help elect a complete Democratic slate this year.

Cordially yours,

Lee Metcalf

Apparently there was no problem in his using his Senate stationery for blatantly political messages.
In the 2010 film "Inception," Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) describes his wife Mal's trick for discerning reality from the fantastic dreamscape in which most of the film takes place: He uses what he calls a totem, a spinning top that will never fall over while he's dreaming. But a totem, known to psychologists who study lucid dreams as a reality check, is actually one of the less-effective ways to tell whether you're asleep, a new study from Australia finds.

If you've ever realized you were dreaming while you were still asleep, you've had what's called a lucid dream. Though these dreams can happen by chance, there are communities of people who try different techniques to bring them about.

So, in the new study, researchers decided to take these techniques to task, testing out which methods worked best for inducing lucid dreams. If people know how to effectively induce a lucid dream, then researchers will be able to learn more about the dreams themselves down the road, the researchers said. [7 Mind-Bending Facts about Dreams]

"Ultimately, I want to develop techniques that are effective enough to permit serious exploration of the many potential benefits and applications of lucid dreaming," said lead study author Denholm Aspy, a visiting research fellow in psychology at the University of Adelaide in Australia.

In the study, which was published in the journal Dreaming in September, the researchers asked nearly 170 participants to try out three techniques that have been said to increase the likelihood of lucid dreaming.

One of the techniques tested in the study was the use of reality checks. These included closing one's lips and trying to inhale; in a dream, you might get the sensation of breathing in because your body perceives the change in facial muscles. Another reality check was reading printed text, which, in dreams, often changes from one reading to another, the researchers said.

The two other techniques were called "wake back to bed" and "mnemonic induction of lucid dreams" (MILD). Both approaches involve waking up for a few minutes after 5 hours of sleep before going back to bed, but the MILD technique also involves repeating the phrase, "Next time I'm dreaming, I will remember that I'm dreaming," before falling back to sleep.

At the beginning of the study, the participants recorded the number of lucid dreams they had over the course of a week. Then, for the second week, the participants were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: reality check, reality check plus wake back to bed, and reality check plus wake back to bed plus MILD. Again, the participants recorded the number of lucid dreams they had.

The researchers found that when all three techniques were used (the third group), people were able to recall more lucid dreams after two weeks than those who had done only one or two of the techniques. The group that tried all three techniques reported having a lucid dream 17 percent of the time. And falling asleep within 5 minutes of practicing the MILD approach bumped the success rate up to around 46 percent compared with those who tried this technique but took longer to fall asleep. Reality checks alone, however, were not linked with an increased rate of lucid dreams.

"Inception" fans shouldn't necessarily throw out their collectible tops. Aspy told Live Science that other studies that ran as long as three weeks found more success with reality checks. Perhaps this technique wasn't as effective in the new study because the participants didn't have enough time to build up the habit to the point that they would think to try it while dreaming, Aspy said.

Dr. Rafael Pelayo, a sleep medicine specialist at Stanford University who was not involved in the research, said that "it's nice that there's actual research" lucid dreaming now. [Spooky! Top 10 Unexplained Phenomena]

Pelayo noted that lucid dreaming didn't seem to be linked to a reduction in sleep quality, but that this might be an area for future research. Some brain-scan studies have suggested that when a person is experiencing a lucid dream, the brain is in a sort of hybrid sleep-awake state rather than fully asleep, he said.

In the future, the researchers hope to study practical uses for lucid dreaming, though these are still largely speculative, Aspy said. Some research, for example, suggests that lucid dreaming could be used to practice hobbies and crafts, and then see an improvement in waking life.

"We're touching on some things that are hard to know," Pelayo told Live Science. He thinks it's unlikely, for example, that athletes could use lucid dreaming to effectively practice their sport, but he's also interested in seeing what future research reveals down the road. It's possible that one day, people with post-traumatic stress disorder could use lucid dreaming to help avoid nightmares, he said. But to study these applications, "the first step is teaching people to reliably do lucid dreaming, and that's what this paper offered," he added.

"Lucid dreaming has been around for a long time," Pelayo said. "There are online communities around it, people buying supplements online, so adding some science can only be helpful. I think its long overdue."

Originally published on Live Science.
Biologists who explore the Alaskan Arctic ecosystem aren't just interested in polar bears. Some are also captivated by the "gelatinous species" hidden below the ice.

Now, scientists have published rare footage of one of the Arctic's largest jellyfish drifting beneath the sea ice near Utqiagvik, also known as Barrow, off the north coast of Alaska.

Such videos aren't easy to get. From May to June each year between 2011 and 2014, the team of researchers drove onto the frozen Chukchi Sea with snowmobiles, sometimes nearly 2 miles (3 kilometers) from shore, and drilled holes into the thick sea ice. They sent a camera-equipped underwater vehicle into the water to have a look at the seafloor. [See Amazing Images of Jellyfish Swarms]

Scientists spotted this huge jellyfish (Chrysaora melanaster) dragging a crustacean with one of its tentacles under the sea ice covering the Chukchi Sea off the north coast of Alaska. (Image credit: Andrew Juhl and Craig Aumack)

The scientists captured footage of algae, crustaceans and several species of comb jellies (also know as ctenophores) under the ice. But the big surprise was finding adults of a species of jellyfish known as Chrysaora melanaster. The bell of this type of jellyfish can reach 24 inches (60 centimeters) across, with its two dozen or so tentacles extending up to nearly 10 feet (3 meters), according to the Census of Marine Life. The researchers counted 55 of these jellyfish, all of which appeared healthy and in their adult, or medusa, stage. They were often dragging their long tentacles along the seafloor, likely trying to pick up food with some apparent success. At least one of the jellyfish was seen carrying an isopod, a type of crustacean.

The presence of adult jellyfish during the late spring and early summer suggests these C. melanaster medusas can survive the Arctic winter, according to the research published in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series on Oct. 23. Like most jellyfish, this species was thought to live for only a few months. And scientists thought the species survived the winter only in the polyp stage of their life cycle. (Bottom-dwelling polyps settle on rocks or other surfaces and produce baby jellyfish in the spring.)

"Life under sea ice is like living in a refrigeratoreverything slows down," study co-author Andy Juhl, a marine biologist at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, told his department's blog. Juhl and his colleagues think that thick sea ice in winter helps protect the medusas from rough seas, while the low temperatures help slow their metabolism so they don't need much food to survive.

"We believe that the prevalence of jellyfish and ctenophores living through the winter is greater than generally appreciated," the researchers wrote.

The Arctic has been experiencing record-low levels of sea ice in recent years due to climate change. The authors of the new study noted that jellyfish populations could be more sensitive to these changes than scientists had thought.

"Understanding the implications of changing sea-ice conditions will become increasingly important as coastal Arctic seas become more open to transportation, commercial fishing, oil and gas exploration, and other forms of commercial exploitation," Juhl and his colleagues wrote.

Original article on Live Science.
While NASA is working to build a next-generation rocket and space capsule that could help send humans to Mars, another government agency is trying to build a versatile, uncrewed space plane for military applications closer to Earth. Recently, a representative from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) explained why the U.S. needs this kind of space capability.

"We are, frankly, in the midst of what I believe is a little bit of a crisis," Fred Kennedy, director of DARPA's Tactical Technology Office, said at the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Oct. 12.

The crisis, according to Kennedy, has to do with the obstacles to getting satellites into space quickly and cost effectively. The long lead times on launches (as well as frequent delays due to things like weather), the incredible cost of the launches and of the satellites themselves, and other hurdles that currently plague the spaceflight industry are not just an annoyance, but a national security risk, Kennedy argued, especially when satellites are used for things like military communications or tracking ballistic missiles. [DARPA's Experimental XS-1 Space Plane in Pictures]

"If it takes me 20 years to build a constellation of geosatellites to do, [for example], ballistic missile early warning, and it costs 20 billion dollars, that's a problem," Kennedy said. "Because someone else might figure out how to put up similar capabilities or develop countermeasures in that period. And you might not be surprised to find out that, guess what, our adversaries do just that."

DARPA's answer to this crisis was to create a concept for a space plane called the XS-1 that could put satellites into orbit (up to 3,000-lb. or 1,360-kilogram payloads) or service existing satellites. The plane would launch vertically using an AR-22 engine built by Aerojet Rocketdyne. The vehicle itself would have the reusability of a commercial airliner; specifically, DARPA's primary requirement is that the plane can fly to space 10 times in 10 days. Eventually, the cost of a launch could drop to less than $5 million, DARPA representatives have said. In May, the agency announced that it had selected Boeing to build the first XS-1 (which the company will name Phantom Express). The first test flights are scheduled to take place as early as 2020. A demonstration vehicle could fly as early as 2019.

"If we could go up into [geosynchronous orbit], perform inspections, potentially move satellites around, correct problems such as stuck booms or antennas, and install  new capabilities, I'll tell you right now, it would be great for the defense department," he said. "To be able to retrofit legacy spacecraft that we have spent billions on would be useful for us."

A digital representation of the XS-1 space plane in flight. (Image credit: Boeing)

Glimmers of hope from industry

Kennedy said he thinks there are certainly "glimmers of hope" that commercial-industry members are also addressing the satellite crisis. For example, SpaceX's arrival as a large-payload launch provider has increased the number of launches available to customers and has also introduced cost competition against United Launch Alliance (ULA), which was for many years the only large-rocket provider in the U.S.

But ultimately, Kennedy argued that both vehicles and satellites need to scale down. Large satellites are costly to build and carry a high risk if they can't be repaired or replaced easily. Kennedy applauded the handful of companies working to make smaller launch vehicles, which makes it possible for small payloads to get to orbit without piggybacking on larger payloads. These smaller vehicles also have the potential to launch more frequently than what's possible with massive rockets like the SpaceX Falcon 9 and ULA's Atlas V.

For all the new small-launch vehicles appearing on the market, Kennedy said he fears there aren't enough payloads to match. Satellite manufacturers need to make small satellites that have a wide range of capabilities, and that aren't as costly or as specialized as communications and defense satellites have historically been, he said.

"They're Rolls-Royces," Kennedy said of many legacy satellites, because they are "very expensive and very complex.  They require a lot of manual labor, a lot of testing, a lot of independent verification and validation activities. That's all [additional] cost. Its a fragile architecture."

A digital representation of the Boeing-built XS-1 space plane. (Image credit: Boeing)

Once again, Kennedy argued that this approach also makes the satellite owner vulnerable to attack. Constellations that consist of only two or three very expensive satellites that are difficult to get to space are much easier to disable or build countermeasures against than constellations consisting of tens or hundreds of small satellites that can be replaced or repaired quickly.

"We need to investigate alternatives; certainly for [Department of Defense] alternatives," Kennedy said. "But I think the beauty of this is, there's so much going on right now in the new space community that could potentially address this. It's very exciting. We have a renaissance underway. In a couple or three years, the fad will fade. The venture capitalists [are interested now], so what are we going to do about that? We need to strike while the iron is hot, while all that money is available on the commercial side."

In anticipation of an increase in the number of satellites orbiting the planet, DARPA has also initiated what it calls the Consortium For Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations (CONFERS), which will essentially bring together members of the spaceflight industry with representatives from government agencies involved in spaceflight to discuss "the rules of the road" for satellites and vehicles orbiting the Earth. He compared it to laws that dictate commercial and government activities on the ocean.

"This is not a normal DARPA play," he said. "However, we think it's so important that we get this right, that we want to be involved at the beginning. And we also want to make sure that in a couple of years, this is something that can stand on its own in industry. This should be a commercially driven activity first."

Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
Rebel candidates give left alliance hard time

Directives given by the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre), who have formed a left alliance targeting upcoming polls as a precursor to a united communist centre, to withdraw nominations have cut no ice with the rebel candidates.
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Politics

By Legislator Anker's Office Published: October 25 2017

To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker honored local Vietnam veterans with special pins and proclamations at an appreciation breakfast on Sunday, October 22.

Rocky Point, NY - October 25, 2017 - To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker honored local Vietnam veterans with special pins and proclamations at an appreciation breakfast on Sunday, October 22. Legislator Anker, Vice Chairwoman of the Suffolk County Veterans Committee, was joined by philanthropist and military advocate, Steve Castleton, to award 20 medals to local veterans and their families at Rocky Point VFW Post 6249.

It is important that we take time to honor our military men and women for their service and sacrifice, said Legislator Anker. As the daughter of a disabled Navy veteran, I understand that our military often goes unrecognized. Through the commemoration program and with the special pins, we honor and recognize Vietnam veterans for their service.

Former President Barack Obama proclaimed May 28, 2012 to November 11, 2025 as the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. Through the commemoration program, federal, state, and local officials and encouraged to honor the 3 million Vietnam veterans and their families. Through his work with veterans, Steve Castleton has awarded 7,500 medals to Vietnam veterans across the nation. For more information about the commemoration program through the Department of Defense, please visit www.vietnamwar50th.com. If you know a Vietnam veteran who would like to receive a pin, please contact Legislator Ankers office at 631-854-1600.
Local News, Crime, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: October 25 2017

AGs Prosecution Leads To Guilty Pleas Of Two More Defendants, Including Ringleader General Richard Rimbaugh  Who Forfeited Over $7 Million And Faces 3 To 9 Years In State Prison.

New York, NY - October 25, 2017 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the guilty pleas of two more defendants for their roles as members of a massive criminal theft and fencing ring that operated in New York and 27 other states across the country  including ringleader, Richard Rimbaugh, who was known as the General and now faces three to nine years in prison and the forfeiture of nearly $7.3 million. The Attorney Generals investigation, dubbed Operation Sticky Fingers was one of the largest-ever busts of a retail theft ring.

During Operation Sticky Fingers, a ten-month investigation conducted by the Attorney Generals Organized Crime Task Force with support from the New York State Police, law enforcement seized more than 5,300 stolen electronics and ink cartridges from the enterprises kingpin, Rimbaugh.

Today, Rimbaugh pleaded guilty to the top counts on the indictment - enterprise corruption, criminal possession of stolen property in the second degree, and money laundering in the second degree. He will be sentenced to 3 to 9 years in prison and forfeited $7,284,557.96 of illegal proceeds. Additionally, George Rapatsouleas, who served as the Captain of one of Rimbaughs theft crews, pleaded guilty and faces two to six years in prison.

Our investigation discovered a brazen crime ring methodically stealing millions from stores in New York and across the country, said Attorney General Schneiderman. Organized retail theft preys on businesses and ultimately harms consumers, who see the consequences in higher prices. These high-level thieves may have thought that the gravest penalty theyll face is a low-level shoplifting charge  but the years in prison theyll now face, along with the forfeiture of millions of dollars, makes clear we wont hesitate to prosecute these cases to the fullest extent of the law.

Rimbaugh, of Manhattan, who was referred to by members of the enterprise as the General, admitted today that dating back to at least 2012, he instructed several theft crews to steal specific printer ink cartridges, computer software, and other consumer retail electronics based on his ability to resell those stolen goods on Amazon and eBay. Rimbaugh dictated the price that the theft crews would receive for the stolen merchandise, typically paying between 30-50% of the retail value, then resold the stolen merchandise on the internet through his illegitimate business, American Media Soft, which he operated out of his Manhattan apartment. At this location, Rimbaugh received, sorted, catalogued, and shipped the stolen merchandise for resale. Rimbaugh also routinely met with theft crew members to pay them for the stolen merchandise. The crews are charged with stealing millions of dollars in merchandise  including electronic goods and printer cartridges  from Staples, Office Depot, BestBuy, and other retailers across 28 states.

Additionally, George Rapatsouleas, of Brooklyn, NY, also pleaded guilty today to enterprise corruption. He will be sentenced to 2 to 6 years in state prison. Rapatsouleas, who was referred to by members of the enterprise as Nipplehead, admitted to serving as the Captain, or crew leader, of one of Rimbaughs theft crews. As crew Captain, Rapatsouleas was responsible for managing and directing the other members of his crews known as the Lieutenant and the Sergeant. Rapatsouleas crew systematically traveled across the country, at the direction of Rimbaugh and Athanasatos, who issued credit cards to the crew to cover expenses such as flights, car rentals, and hotels.

Rimbaugh and Rapatsouleas, are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Maxwell Wiley in New York State Supreme Court - NY County on December 13, 2017.

The following defendants previously pled guilty:

George Athanasatos, of Brooklyn, NY, pleaded guilty to attempted enterprise corruption, criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, and money laundering in the second degree on September 27, 2017 for his role as the Field Marshall, or theft crew organizer. He is scheduled to be sentenced to 3  to 7 years in state prison on November 15, 2017, and as part of his plea he forfeited $439,204.88. Additionally, on October 5, 2017, Athanasatos pled guilty to welfare Fraud in the 4th degree in Nassau County and will be sentenced to 2 to 4 years in state prison.

Robert Scarano, a/k/a/ Reno, of Las Vegas, NV, pleaded guilty to enterprise corruption on September 27, 2017 for his role as a theft crew Captain. He is scheduled to be sentenced to 2 to 6 years in prison on November 15, 2017.

Joseph Pooler, a/k/a Baby Arm Johnson, of Stroudsburg, PA, pleaded guilty to enterprise corruption on September 27, 2017 for his role as a theft crew sergeant. He is scheduled to be sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison on November 15, 2017.

Frank Albergo, of Oviedo, FL, pleaded guilty to attempted enterprise corruption on April 26, 2017 and was sentenced to 1  to 4  years in prison for his role as a theft crew Lieutenant.

Krissylee Harris, of Brooklyn, NY, pleaded guilty to attempted enterprise corruption on May 10, 2017 for her role as a theft crew Lieutenant.

Nusret Srdanovic, of Brooklyn, NY, pleaded guilty to enterprise corruption on April 26, 2017 and was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison for his role as a theft crew Sergeant.

Kevin Cerrato, of Elmont, NY , pleaded guilty to enterprise corruption on July 6, 2017 for his role as a theft crew Sergeant. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 1, 2017.

The charges against the following defendants are still pending:

Roger Ringhiser, a/k/a Captain Rog, Captain, Long Beach, NY

Gregory Anastasiou, a/k/a Captain Frank, 38, Captain, East Stroudsburg, PA

Giovanna Bonello, 28, Lieutenant, Staten Island, NY

The charges against these defendants are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
At the American Society of Anesthesiologists annual meeting in Boston this week, Mindray, a Shenzhen, China firm, introduced its Neuromuscular Transmission (NMT) Module for the companys Passport 17m and 12m patient monitors. The device sends electric signals through the fingers and measures how the body responds to the stimulation. The technology provides a pretty clear indication whether a patient is properly relaxed when on a neuromuscular block.

The data related to the NMT test is visible on the Passport monitors display and can be uploaded to an electronic medical record or an anesthesia info system.

Mindray has become a leader in the complete perioperative continuum with comprehensive monitoring solutions, anesthesia delivery systems, and point-of-care ultrasound, said Wayne Quinn, President of Mindray North America, in a published statement. According to recent third-party market reports, Mindray now accounts for one of eight anesthesia machines delivered in the U.S. The continuing stream of new releases of capabilities for our popular Passport monitoring solutions reinforce our commitment to the anesthesia market. The OR gives us the opportunity to showcase all of our solutions, coming together to meet the needs of the anesthesia provider.

Via: Mindray
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, October 24, 2017

Twitter plans to begin requiring disclaimers on political ads, the company said Tuesday.

The microblogging service said it intends to launch a new "transparency center," which will show all ads on the service and will also include personalized information about how ads were targeted to particular users. The new center will also have a dedicated section for electioneering ads -- meaning ads that clearly refer to a candidate or a political party connected to that candidate. That section will include disclosures about the total campaign ad spend, the funding organization and targeting demographics. The company also says that electioneering ads will have a new look, aimed at distinguishing them from other ads.

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Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia), who is co-sponsoring a bill that would subject large Web platforms to some of the same disclosure rules as TV companies, praised the company's move. "A good first step, particularly public disclosure of ads info," he tweeted. "Online political ads need more transparency & disclosure."

Last week Warner, along with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) and John McCain (R-Arizona), unveiled the Honest Ads Act, which would require digital platforms with at least 50,000,000 monthly viewers to maintain publicly available copies of political ads purchased by groups spending more than a total of $500. The companies also would have to maintain public records about the target audience, number of views, rates charged, and dates and times of publication.

The Federal Election Commission is also considering whether online ads should be required to include the same disclaimers as TV and newspaper ads.

Separately, News Media Alliance CEO David Chavern told Congress Tuesday that Google and Facebook should make an effort to combat fake news distributed through their platforms.

Testifying at a House Oversight subcommittee on information technology, Chavern argued that traditional newspaper publishers have long helped to ensure that political advertisers comply with the disclosure rules, even though advertisers are the ones who must make the disclaimers.

He added: "It is now time that Google and Facebook be asked to make the same commitments as publishers and modernize their platforms to help stem the flow of misinformation."

This isn't the first time that the News Media Alliance, which represents many of the country's biggest newspapers, has taken aim at tech companies. In July, the organization urged Congress to revise antitrust laws in order to allow newspapers to bargain collectively with Google and Facebook.

Much of the current activity on Capitol Hill stems from recent revelations that Russian operatives purchased online ads during the last election cycle. Facebook said last month that accounts connected to Russia purchased around 3,000 political ads for $100,000 between June of 2015 and May of 2017. Twitter said recently that it found 200 accounts connected to the ones identified by Facebook. Google also may have run at least $50,000 worth of ads connected to Russia.
by Ray Schultz , October 25, 2017

Eastern Europe has been hit by a ransomware attack that occurs when victims attempt to install Adobe Flash, Kaspersky Labs reported on Tuesday.

The so-called Bad Rabbit malware has infected media companies and transportation centers in Russia and the Ukraine, Kaspersky reports. And while it seems to be mostly confined to Eastern Europe, it has also appeared in Germany and Turkey, Kaspersky says.

The perpetrators are demanding 0.05 in bitcoin as ransom for releasing files  roughly $280 at the current exchange rate, Kaspersky adds.

According to Kaspersky, victims download a fake Adobe Flash installer from infected websites and manually launch the .exe file, thus infecting themselves.

The attack resembles the ExPetr assault that occurred earlier this year. But it is not clear whether it is related to ExPetr, Kaspersky says.

"Weve already seen two large-scale ransomware attacks this year  were talking about the infamous WannaCry and ExPetr (also known as Petya and NotPetya), Kaspersky writes. "It seems that a third attack is on the rise:

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The extent of the damage is not yet known

What is known at the moment is that Bad Rabbit ransomware has infected several big Russian media outlets, with Interfax news agency and Fontanka.ru among the confirmed victims of the malware, Kaspersky writes.

Odessa International Airport has also reported on a cyberattack on its information system, although the origin is not clear, Kaspersky adds. And media reports state that the Kiev Metro has been victimized.

Meanwhile, the Independent reports that Cybereason claims to have a vaccine against the virus. Experts reportedly are warning victims not to pay the ransom.
Three held with pangolin scales

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) team on Tuesday arrested three people in possession of banned pangolin scales at Adamghat of Dhading.
by Ray Schultz , October 25, 2017

M-Files Corp. is offering a product that can help companies protect data and comply with the EUs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

M-Files GDPR features audit and reporting capabilities that allow firms to prove that they are protecting customer data, a key requirement of GDPR. The product facilitates production of documents needed to respond to requests by auditors.

M-Files notes that penalties for failing to protect Personally Identifiable Information can be up to 4% of a companys annual revenue or 20 million euros, whichever is higher. U.S. firms that have data on European consumers must also comply. This includes email data.

Research shows that many firms are not yet prepared for GDPR. For example, a study by Alert Logic shows that only 5% of European firms are now fully prepared for the regulation, which takes effect next May.

Companies should be ready to comply and make the necessary investment, M-Files says. In addition, they must be able to prove they are in compliance.

"In order to comply with GDPR, organizations must ensure that explicit policies and procedures are in place for handling personal information, and just as importantly, that those policies and procedures are being followed and that they can prove they are being followed," states Mika Javanainen, vice president of product management at M-Files Corp.
by Wayne Friedman , October 25, 2017

Toyota Motors Lexus unit, the big luxury auto brand, is pulling out of its longtime advertising/marketing agreement with The Weinstein Company and its Project Runway reality show.

Lexus was a big product placement/marketing sponsor of the Weinstein-produced Project Runway, which airs on A+E Networks Lifetime and previously on NBCUniversals Bravo channel.

Harvey Weinstein was fired as CEO of The Weinstein Company on October 8 and resigned from the companys board. This move followed The New York Times story into sexual-harassment allegations by Weinstein over many years, and subsequent allegations by nearly 60 women.

The current 16th season of Runway -- which will have appearances by Lexus cars -- will be the automakers last.

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In addition, the automaker was involved with The Weinstein Company on the Lexus Short Films project for up-and-coming directors.

"Lexus has chosen to terminate its agreements with The Weinstein Company that saw the luxury automaker working with the film studio on certain film and television projects," according to a Lexus spokesperson in a Reuters report.

In a separate development, Ovation, the U.S. cable channel with 47 million subscribers, has removed Weinstein as a member of its board.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, October 25, 2017

A high-stakes but messy fight between the Federal Trade Commission and AT&T over its mobile broadband practices may have just become even more complicated.

Late last week, the Federal Communications Commission said in new court papers that it disagreed with a key contention made by AT&T at a hearing. On Tuesday, the appellate court refused to consider the FCC's new filing.

The battle dates to late 2014, when the FTC sued AT&T for allegedly duping people by selling them plans with unlimited data, but throttling their mobile broadband connections after they exceeded a monthly cap of 3-5 GB.

AT&T has argued that the case should be thrown out on the theory that the FTC lacks jurisdiction over telecom companies. A trial judge disagreed with AT&T, but a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the telecom and dismissed the case.

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The 9th Circuit then agreed to review the case "en banc" -- meaning that 11 of the circuit's judges will vote on the matter.

Numerous outside groups -- including consumer advocates, lawmakers and the FCC -- weighed in against AT&T on the dispute. Among other arguments, they said that AT&T's theory would create a regulatory gap, meaning a situation where no agency can prosecute companies that offer common carrier services -- even if those services are only one component of a larger business -- for matters like deceiving consumers or violating privacy policies.

Last month, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held a hearing on the matter. At the hearing, Circuit Judge Alex Kozinski questioned AT&T's lawyer about whether a ruling in the company's favor would create a regulatory gap.

For instance, Kozinski asked, what would happen if Procter & Gamble purchased a common-carrier company specifically in order to avoid regulation by the FTC. "Do I say bye-bye FTC?" Kozinski asked.

AT&T's lawyer, Michael Kellogg, responded that the FCC could require Procter & Gamble to run its common carrier business as a separate subsidiary

On Friday, the FCC attempted to dispute AT&T's contention. The agency said in court papers that it could require not a company to separate a common-carrier service into a new subsidiary solely to ensure that the FTC can bring enforcement actions.

"AT&Ts argument that the FCC has the legal authority to require structural separation in order to facilitate FTC regulatory authority is baseless," the FCC wrote in a letter it unsuccessfully attempted to submit to the court.

"Even assuming it has the necessary authority, FCC imposition of structural separation requirements to allow the FTC to exercise jurisdiction over a carriers non-carrier activities would be unprecedented," the agency added. "The FCC has imposed separation requirements for one purpose only: to prevent abuses by carriers with market power."

It's not clear why the FCC waited four weeks to submit its letter, or why the 9th Circuit rejected the filing.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, October 25, 2017

Amazon continues to build up its advertising business and analysts, and industry insiders and analysts are taking notice. Advertising agency Merkle, for example, has begun analyzing Amazons impression share for home goods product listing ads, and added into its latest quarterly search report a breakout of the type of ad formats and the growth rates.

The biggest ad format on Amazon, Sponsored Products Ads, gets about 82% of the company's ad budget, estimates Mark Ballard, senior director of research at Merkle. Between second-quarter and third-quarter 2017, that ad format grew about 52%. Compare that with Google Shopping, which typically sees a seasonal decline in that time frame.

The data from Merkle's quarterly search report shows that Amazon's product display ad, the fastest growth format, grew more than 100% between the second and third quarter this year. "It's all pretty nascent, but growing rapidly," he said.

Total spending on paid-search ads grew 22% year-over-year in the third quarter, up from 20% compared with second-quarter 2017.

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Google had a successful third quarter despite UK antitrust concerns that now allows comparison shopping sites to participate in Google Shopping auctions. Product listing ads (PLAs) generated 57% of retailers Google search ad clicks this quarter in the UK. Interestingly, Google UK CPCs rose slightly in third-quarter 2017, up from a 4% Y/Y decline in the previous quarter. UK click growth has slowed to 13% in third-quarter 2017. Advertisers also spend less. UK spend growth slowed slightly to 13% in Q3, from 14% in Q2.

In the U.S., spending on Google search ads rose 24% YoY in third-quarter 2017, as clicks grew 19% and cost per click (CPC) growth accelerated for the fifth straight quarter, rising to 4%. Advertisers also spent more on Google Shopping ads. This media rose 37% Y/Y, while spend on Google text ads increased 15%. Google Minimum Bids were 11% lower in September than at the start of April, while non-brand campaigns rose 30%.
by Bob Garfield , Featured Columnist, October 25, 2017

For many decades, Ive plied my trade in the finding-fault-with-others industry. Ad critic, media critic, social critic. Its a decent living, all comfortably indoors. Ill leave it for you to decide whether I am a vigilant watchdog or just a parasite, but either way, criticism has its place in the world.

The problem is: identifying what the problem is gets you only so far.

As the media economy increasingly found itself blown to bits by the digital revolution  and with the very existence of journalism hanging in the balance  I resolved to try for once in my life to seek solutions. And so the Media Future Summit was born.

This is an annual gathering under the joint auspices of MediaPost, the Wharton Future of Advertising Program at the University of Pennsylvania and the trade associations representing the entirety of the media/marketing ecosystem.

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Every autumn, we tap owners, bosses and academics to convene for an entire business day and compare notes about business models, revenue streams, allies, adversaries, ethics, expediency, scale, sustainability, harebrained schemes, strokes of genius and everything else that concerns our mutual existential crisis.

Its an experience less business conference than marriage encounter.

Its also all (ironically) off the record, so the coin of the realm is truth. Plus, everybody gets an extremely rugged tote bag.

Oh, and youre not invited. Probably. To attend the Media Future Summit, you have to be a pretty big big shot, tapped by one of our 10 co-hosts or partner trade associations to participate. The privilege entitles you to do Gods work in preserving a crucial sector of the economy and the society. I

It also entitles you to pay an obscene sum for your badge and to devote an entire day to the process.

Congratulations! Youve been honored with an invitation to MFS! Please block out all of Nov. 16 and give us your credit-card number!

This is not an obvious marketing strategy, and yet, in its first two years, the MFS was fully attended and yielded exactly the level of idea-exchange, candor, news from the front lines and even occasional confrontation we envisioned. We succeeded partly because it is small.

Once the head count surpasses 80, intimacy begins to evaporate. There are a zillion conferences with content, no matter how compelling, that is essentially passive. We like the fur to fly.

And now here we are again. The Media Future Summit convenes at the Penn Club in New York City in three weeks. The agenda is mainly set. The delegation is coalescing. But getting back to the headline here, lurking within the quest for solutions to a problem that puts at risk nothing less than American democracy, is another problem: I am really bad at this job.

Oh, Im solid at identifying journalistic weaknesses in reporting at The New York Times and the inherent corruption of Fox News Channel. I am terrible at the impresario racket. Most especially, I am terrible at threading the needle of creating awareness while maintaining exclusivity.

I mentioned the irony of trying to save journalism with an off-the-record event. More ironic is to address the future of media and marketing and yet somehow keep the whole enterprise secret from the world.

How do our honored invitees know how honored they are, if theyve never heard of the honor they are being honored with? And how do our co-hosts and partners know whom to invite if they dont know who is champing at the bit to participate?

There is a lesson here somewhere. And Id entertain ideas for how to square this circle in 2018. For now I can only do what I do best  criticize (in this case, myself)  and what I do worst: fill a room with people who wish to save the world.
New research published in the European Heart Journal suggests that blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin may protect not only against stroke, but also against dementia in people who have atrial fibrillation. Share on Pinterest Anticoagulants, normally taken to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, may also help to stave off dementia. The new study was carried out by Leif Friberg and Marten Rosenqvist, from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. They started out from the already established link between atrial fibrillation (A-fib) and dementia. A-fib is a common form of irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, and studies have shown that patients living with it have a considerably higher risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimers disease. Other studies have added that this association has nothing to do with the blood-thinning treatment that most A-fib patients are on. But the precise role of anticoagulant, or blood-thinning, drugs on dementia risk is not yet known and has not been sufficiently investigated, explain the authors. One theory suggests that, since anticoagulants prevent stroke by protecting against large blood clots, they should also prevent dementia by protecting against the small blood clots and microinfarctions that characterize it. To explore this hypothesis, Friberg and Rosenqvist examined the incidence of dementia among patients with A-fib, comparing patients who took anticoagulants with those who did not. The researchers also wanted to see whether or not the type of anticoagulant made any difference  such as whether newer blood thinners had a different effect on dementia risk when compared with old ones.

Dementia risk cut by nearly half To this end, Friberg and Rosenqvist reviewed the history of 444,106 Swedish patients with A-fib between 2006 and 2014. At the beginning of the study, 54 percent of these patients were not taking oral blood thinners. During the study period, 26,210 of all patients developed dementia. A-fib patients who were on a blood-thinning treatment at the beginning of the study were 29 percent less likely to develop dementia than those who were not. Also, an on-treatment analysis revealed that patients who continued to take the anticoagulants had a 48 percent lower risk of dementia. Parkinsons disease, alcohol abuse, and the absence of a blood-thinning treatment seemed to be the strongest predictors for dementia. The findings provide strong evidence that oral blood thinners may prevent dementia in patients with A-fib. In order to prove this assumption, they explain, randomized placebo controlled trials would be needed, but [] such studies cannot be done because of ethical reasons. It is not possible to give placebo to [A-fib] patients and then wait for dementia or stroke to occur, write Friberg and Rosenqvist. Finally, the study found no difference between warfarin  which represents an older generation of anticoagulants  and newer ones.
Researchers have developed a new type of nanoparticle that allows itself to be heated up to a temperature that kills cancer cells, but not so high as to harm healthy tissue.

Share on Pinterest Self-regulating nanoparticles could revolutionize thermal therapy for cancer.

In a report about the breakthrough recently published in the journal Nanoscale, researchers from the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom and Dalian University of Technology in China describe how they developed and tested the self-regulating nanoparticle.

Nanotechnology allows scientists to manipulate materials at the level of atoms and molecules at a scale measured in nanometers, or billionths of a meter. It is the scale at which the most basic units of biology and life operate. For instance, a strand of DNA is 2 nanometers thick.

Hyperthermia, or thermal therapy, is a type of treatment that uses heat to shrink or destroy tumors without harming healthy tissue. Its use is not widespread, and it is most often given in conjunction with other treatments, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

When it was first suggested as a treatment for cancer around 30 years ago, hyperthermia was received with much enthusiasm.

However, interest in hyperthermia soon waned as practical problems began to emerge, including the difficulty of precisely controlling the temperature of the target tissue.
Imagine a future in which, rather than using symptoms to identify a disease, your genes, metabolism, and gut microbiome inform how your individual health is managed. This is the vision of precision medicine. Share on Pinterest Advances in technology are essential if precision medicine is going to become reality. Traditional medicine uses symptoms to diagnose diseases, and drugs to treat these symptoms. But precision medicine aims to turn this concept on its head. By identifying the factors that predispose a person to a particular disease and the molecular mechanisms that cause the condition, treatment and prevention strategies can be tailored to each individual. So, how do we get from traditional to precision medicine? Advances in genetics and molecular analysis techniques have been a deciding factor, as has getting patients involved with managing their own health. However, is precision medicine going to revolutionize how we treat all medical conditions, or will it be the privilege of a select few?

Innovation drives precision medicine To the National Institutes of Health (NIH), [P]recision medicine is a revolutionary approach for disease prevention and treatment that takes into account individual differences in lifestyle, environment, and biology. Launched by President Barack Obama in 2015, the Precision Medicine Initiative will pioneer a new model of patient-powered research that promises to accelerate biomedical discoveries and provide clinicians with new tools, knowledge, and therapies to select which treatments will work best for which patients. Breakthroughs in molecular biology have been key to getting precision medicine off the ground. Next-generation DNA sequencing is now routinely used to identify genetic mutations that drive specific cancers, and biomarkers that predict disease risk or how well a person will respond to a particular treatment are increasingly becoming reality in medical practice. Cancer is the one area wherein precision medicine seems to be making significant headway. New therapies seek to target the specific cellular pathway that is being exploited by a cancer, with the view to making short the life of the tumor. This approach is already being employed in clinical trials to treat patients with melanoma who have a mutation in the BRAF gene, as Medical News Today reported recently.

Precision medicine in cancer Last week, a study by Dr. Shumei Kato  an assistant clinical professor at the Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy and Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of California, San Diego Moores Cancer Center  used this approach in 40 patients with rare tumors. Rare tumors are classed as those that occur in fewer than 15 patients per 100,000 each year, Dr. Kato explains in the paper. While each type of rare cancer might only be shared by a few individuals, overall, 2225 percent of all adult tumors are rare tumors. Senior study author Dr. Razelle Kurzrock  a professor of medicine  and Dr. Kato explained to MNT that patients with rare tumors often have inadequate access to approved drugs or to clinical trials. However, along with the technological advancement, it is now feasible to perform genomic analysis [] as well as protein analysis among patients with rare tumors. Using this approach, the team sought to identify the genetic mutations underpinning each tumor, rather than the clinical classification. This way, they could match 37 of the 40 study participants to a therapy that was either designed for a different cancer or was in the clinical trial stage. From this group, 21 patients went on to receive a matched treatment and over half went into either partial or complete remission, or their cancer remained stable for at least 6 months. As Drs. Kurzrock and Kato highlighted: It was especially important to institute this approach in rare tumors, since there are often so few traditional therapies available to these patients. We were, therefore, filling an unmet need for new treatments for these patients by applying our internal expertise in genomics, immunotherapy, and personalized medicine.

The road ahead Prof. Zeev Ronai  chief scientific advisor at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) in La Jolla, CA  recently commented on the progress that precision medicine has made in the cancer field in an article in the October issue of Trends in Molecular Medicine. While at present only a small proportion of cancer patients benefit from targeted therapies, he explains, great efforts are ongoing to extend the scope of precision oncology to a broader spectrum of patients. Yet, according to Prof. Ronai, looking at genetic mutations alone is not going to be enough if we want to unlock the full potential of precision medicine. He says that while genomic profiling provides valuable information regarding genetic mutation [], there are certain inherent limitations of using an approach that simply tests the presence or absence of genetic driver events to inform therapeutic decision-making. Some cancers just do not fit into this category, and in such cases, tumors are driven by other factors. Future precision oncology treatment will need to include the broader landscape of genetic and epigenetic changes that take place in a tumor. Those include the tumor microenvironment, which comprises metabolic as well as immunological changes, in addition to the influence exerted by the microbiome. Prof. Zeev Ronai A combination of omics analyses is going to be key, Prof. Ronai concludes. This sentiment is echoed by Prof. Michael P. Snyder, who is the director of the Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine at Stanford University in California.

Combining omics in precision medicine Multi-omics profiling is the analysis of an individuals genetic makeup (genome) in combination with other factors, such as gene expression (transciptome), proteins (proteome), metabolism (metabolome), and gut microflora (microbiome). If we want to understand the multiple factors that might influence health and disease, precision medicine must go beyond genetic analysis. Prof. Snyder says that by measuring factors beyond the genome and including the environment over time, we can get a detailed portrait of a persons healthy state and understand what changes when he or she transitions to a disease state. In a presentation at the American Society of Human Genetics annual meeting, held in Orlando, FL, last Friday, Prof. Snyder highlighted how he used this approach to study the effects of early intervention strategies to prevent diabetes. For the study, the team followed 98 people with and seven without prediabetes over the course of 4 years, collecting multi-omics data along the way. According to Prof. Snyder, the results showed that this portrait really changes from person to person; we all have different molecular profiles. However, within the prediabetic group, a clear picture emerged between those sensitive to insulin and those resistant. We [found] the insulin resistant folks are dampened in their response to weight gain and other perturbations relative to [those who are] insulin sensitive. Even at baseline they have different molecular and microbial profiles, Prof. Snyder told MNT. I want to change medicine. The way we manage health now is Byzantine  its typically based on treating patients when theyre sick. By collecting a wealth of information at the individual level about a persons healthy state, we can identify ways to keep him or her healthy and prevent disease. Prof. Michael P. Snyder
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24.10.2017 LISTEN

Recent developments after the Presidential launch of the GhanaPost GPS and it's public use have generated concerns about SnooCODE, an alternative digital addressing solution.

Discussions about why many other solutions including SnooCode, a product of tinyDAVID did not make a cut in the selection process, have been opened in the wake of events.

Sesinam Dagadu, software developer, CEO and founder of tinyDAVID (SnooCODE) has in a number of social media rantings bemoaned that he lost out in the bidding process; a thing he expresses dissatisfaction about.

However, checks at the Communications Ministry reveal that following government's awarding of the contract to Vokacom, Sesinam relayed grievances to the Deputy Minister through Israeli Ambassador, H.E Ami Mehl. A subsequent meeting between GhanaPost Managing Director, the deputy minister and the SnooCODE Founder saw the aggrieved admitting to his incomplete submission of papers for official expression of interest to the bewilderment of all. I didn't submit complete documents, he said.

The digital addressing system under the steering authority of the Ghana Post Company Limited was procured under national competitive tendering procedures specified in The Public Procurement Act, 2003. It therefore leaves much to be questioned about the outcry of contempt by SnooCODE.
Istanbul, Turkey, 24 October 2017  As international institutions mobilize to meet the ambitious milestones of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Independent Evaluation Office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS remind us of the need to conduct systematic reviews of development activities to ensure their efficacy.

With the importance of monitoring and evaluation in mind, the UNDP organized the fifth National Evaluation Capacities (NEC) Conference, and called upon the African Legal support Facility (ALSF) to organize and deliver a workshop on performance indicators to the attending African government delegates.

The NEC Conference, which took place from 16-20 October, was co-hosted by the Government of Turkey and the UNDP on the theme, People, Planet, and Progress in the SDG Era. The four-day event provided a one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore emerging challenges, share new best practices, and to develop partnerships with the aim of strengthening national evaluation systems. In addition to exchanging and cataloguing the lessons learned since the last biennial Conference held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2015, the Conference focused on evaluation and monitoring in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The ALSF was called upon to deliver a French-language workshop, entitled Enhancing the use of evaluation by policymakers in government, on October 16, 2017 on the margins of the NEC Conference. As opposed to the 20 originally-expected attendees, 48 delegates eventually joined the workshop, an indication of the salience of strong monitoring and evaluation techniques to the attainment of the SDGs.

The ALSFs Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and workshops facilitator, Debazou Yantio presented the contemporary approach to the use of evaluation metrics. He also shared competing perspectives with participants concerning the varying conceptualizations of evaluation-use and influence, the link between research and policy, the stages of public policymaking, and the barriers and drivers of evaluation influence and use.

Yantio also advised the participants on how to develop a policy influence plan, which is necessary to increase the likelihood that their assessments will be used by the target audience: Government decision-makers.

To highlight this need, Yantio presided over hands-on group exercises which encouraged participants to explore a two-pronged approach to designing context-specific strategies which, in turn, would enhance the use of evaluation by policy-makers in government. The attending evaluators were invited to consider all aspects of their role in project development, and to plan and implement their evaluations with an open mind, remaining cognizant of the characteristic obstacles and drivers to evaluation influence.

The organizers of the NEC Conferencenamely, the Independent Evaluation Office of the UNDPgenerously invited the ALSF to establish an exhibition stand in order to disseminate the Facilitys promotional products, and to generate greater awareness of the ALSFs mission and mandate. This exhibition booth provided a unique opportunity to reach out and present the work of the Facility, underscoring the benefits of strong legal capacities and comprehensive evaluation techniques to the African delegates and global development partners in attendance.

The UNDP Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) has been organizing biennial National Evaluation Capacity (NEC) Conferences since the inaugural 2009 event held in Morocco. Subsequent conferences have been held in South Africa (2011), Brazil (2013), and Thailand (2015). This years NEC Conference is being supported not only by the UNDP IEO, but by the European Evaluation Society (EES) and the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe.
25.10.2017 LISTEN

Trump's climate skeptisms is perhaps the most dislusional populist propaganda that will forever remain on the trail of human history. US President Donald Trump is "standing on the wrong side of history" in withdrawing from the Paris climate accord, former UN chief Ban Ki-moon told AFP yesterday (Monday, 23rd October 2017).

Ban is so concerned of the fact that Trump is moving away from reality. "I am deeply concerned about what President Trump of (the) United States has declared that the US is withdrawing from this Paris agreement," he said.

"I have been speaking out that his vision is politically short-sighted, and economically irresponsible and scientifically wrong. So he is standing on the wrong side of history," Ban said on the sidelines of a London peace walk.

The former Secretary-General of the United Nations joined other members of The Elders, a group created by Nelson Mandela, on the procession through the city before a discussion on world peace.

Ban said despite Trump's decision to pull out of the historic Paris agreement, he remained heartened by a US civil society campaign to continue to honour the environmental deal.

"I am encouraged and hopeful that whole worlds will be united in moving ahead with this Paris climate change agreement. This is the political and moral responsibility of our political leaders," he said.

Trump announced in June the start of a three-year process to pull out of the 2015 agreement, signed by 195 countries, on the grounds that it would put the US at an economic disadvantage.

Reflecting on the broader political climate, Ban said he had been "working very closely" with Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, who last week criticised the "politics of division" which characterised the 2016 US presidential race.

Ban also decried the current "lack of commitment" to an international spirit.

"A lack of leaders' global vision that we are living in a very tightly-interconnected small world, and that whatever is happening in this country may affect the neighbouring countries and even all around the world," he said.

He cited the "very tense period" on the divided Korean peninsula -- with Pyongyang staging its sixth nuclear test and launching two intercontinental ballistic missiles -- as one area where world leaders needed to act collectively.

"As one of the Korean citizens, I'm very much committed that the whole international community should stand resolute and unified and strong voices, so that North Korea realises that there is no other way but to return to dialogue to address these issues," he said.

By Boaz Opio
The National Coordinator of the 1-District 1-Factory program , Gifty Ohene Konadu, has given assurances that her outfit will not rush to commission uncompleted or non-functional factories.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Monday, Gifty Konadu said her outfit is taking measures to ensure that all 216 factories across the country are fully operational by 2020.

The One District One Factory Secretariat in the interim has remained very focused and determined to roll out new factories with very strong commercial viability and high levels of sustainability. The painstaking efforts have been directed at ensuring the selection of projects with a solid raw material base. I don't want to create white elephants, so we will not cut sod just to excite people.  If you site a project at a place and the community people don't accept it, it will become a white elephant.  At the appropriate time, when we have exhausted all the teething problems, we will line up the projects and cut sod to begin construction of the projects, she said.

While giving assurances that the program will help reduce unemployment in the country, she said various chiefs were being engaged for lands to be released for the construction.

The Secretariat has so far engaged with different institutions whose activities are linked, in one way or the other, for the successful implementation of the policy. The chiefs are very important in the scheme of affairs of this policy of one district one factory, because one of the critical issues that we look out for is the acceptance by the community.  So the chiefs who are releasing lands, we are in constant talks with them because we want litigation-free lands, she said.

Again, we want to ensure that the land is properly owned by somebody because we have had experiences where lands have been released and later when projects spring up, people rise up and issues of ownership and all kinds of things come up; and then it stalls the progress of the project, she added.

President Akufo-Addo on 25th August, 2017, commissioned the first factory under the program ; a pineapple factory at Ekumfi in the Central Region.

He pledged his outfits commitment to ensuring that the program becomes successful.



By: Akosua Ofewaa Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana
In a smouldering heat on a Saturday afternoon at Elmina in the Central Region, a group of young men sat on the edge of a rusty metal bridge , reflecting on life. One of them, with a multi-coloured scarf around his neck, wearing black bathroom sandals and faded brown sleeveless shirt and a short pant, waved at some fishermen in a canoe approaching the shore from an overnight expedition.

There are no jobs so we sit around here hoping to assist market women with their goods for some money, he said with a heavy Fante accent.

we sit around here hoping to assist market women with their goods for some money

Elmina is the capital of Komenda, Edina, Eguafo and Abirem District stashed in the southern part of Ghana facing the Atlantic Ocean, West of Cape Coast, another slave castle. It has a population of about 33,000. It was the first town in West Africa where Europeans took up residence, leading to the construction of the famous castle, which harbors memories of a gory historical past, where millions of captured natives were kept, branded with hot iron, auctioned before wine sipping white merchants before being cramped into rickety ships, and sent to the Americas as slaves.

The Elmina castle is perhaps defined the town

The dark history has become an attraction for both local and international visitors, who visit the place with cameras in hand, listening to the harrowing stories often narrated by tour guides. Prices differ for both visitors and despite the amount of money often paid, the rippling effect on the local community is yet to be felt by-prompting some of the residents to defecate around the monument as a form of protest.

There are so many young people in this community who could be engaged but look at them, Ekow Sagoe, 34, told me, pointing in the direction of some residents attending to natures call in the view of tourists standing on top of one of the dungeons overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Ekow Sagoe

I am not supporting their act but when people feel they do not have a stake in something, they care less about how it is managed and that is what we are seeing with the continues open defecation around the castle.

Few meters away from the castle is a sea of canoes dotted on the main fishing bay lying on both ends of the ocean, which parts the market and the section of the town. The imposing Fort Sao Jago da Mina, which served as a military base where the slave merchants launched rockets at approaching enemies, now sits on a hill overlooking the canoes. The noise of aboard motors swells through the barking heat and amidst the singing of some fishermen trying to drill a nail into parts of a broken canoe together, the voice of a van selling medicine booms through a mangled public address system, cascading through the crowd of fishmongers trying to negotiate prices of crates of fishes fresh from the sea.

Sea of canoes dotted on the main fishing bay

The business has slowed down a bit, one fisherman told me. Light fishermen are still recalcitrant and the impact is being felt all around.

Looking glum and unhappy, a sign the expedition for the day had not gone right, Kwesi Attah, 32, who has been fishing for the past ten years, said their concerns have not been addressed by their leaders, though they are aware of their situation. Despite his age, years of hardships almost give one the impression he could be older than the stated age. He told me he has six children and a wife. Introduced into the fishing business by an uncle of his, Attah said he is determined to see his children go to school but dwindling nature of the fishing business means their future is uncertain.

Kwesi Atta looks way older than his age

I want them to go to school and it is my priority but they cannot be educated without money, he said.

President Nana Akufo-Addo has prioritized education as a major component of the transformation agenda of his regime and has already started his ambitious free education policy, starting with first-year students who gained admission to various senior high schools in the country.

According to him, education should not be the preserve of the rich but every child from across the country, who is qualified to access the policy.

Elmina is a beautiful place full of tourism potential

Ironically none of Kwesi Attahs children are qualified for the policy so will have to cough the fees from his pocket, a situation he dreads anytime the month or even the term is approaching.

Its difficult for us, my brother, he said.

Though records are not available to prove the authenticity of the claim, there is often the story that Dr Kwame Nkrumah spent his last night at Elmina before boarding a waiting ship which would take him abroad for his education and later political activism.

The historical wealth of this town which used to be known as Anomansah (the perpetual drink) cannot be over-emphasized, but wrenching poverty has covered its beauty.
25.10.2017 LISTEN

The Chief Executive Officer of RigWorld International Service, Kofi Amoa-Abban, is expected to be honoured with the African Young CEO Impact Award at the UK- Africa Trade and Investment Forum 2017.

According to the host, African Leadership Magazine, Dr Amoa-Abban was chosen because of his exceptional entrepreneurial achievements, both in Ghana and abroad.

Your choice for this important honor is in recognition of your exceptional entrepreneurial achievements which have seen your organization, RigWorld International Services Ltd, grow aggressively from a small operation into a conglomerate, offering diversified services to the upstream oil and gas industry and beyond, Ken Giami, Publisher/CEO of ALM, said in a statement.

The statement further added, this patriotism to fathers land is worth commending on this global platform, and having contributed to the economy development of Ghana and beyond.

The statement also indicated that a delegation of visiting United States Lawmakers from Georgia is also expected to honour his commitment toward economic growth and leadership excellence with a special Congressional Commendation / Proclamation.

The UK-Africa Trade and Investment Forum 2017 is birthed out of the United Kingdoms attempt to build an open, free and fair trade in the world, strengthening trade and investment arrangements with some of the worlds most dynamic economies  especially in Africa.

The forum would highlight the uniqueness of the challenges that have hitherto curtailed the free flow and actualization of economic growth in Africa, and especially aim to boost UK -Africa trade, the statement said.

UK- Africa Trade and Investment Forum 2017 is aimed at bringing together UK  Africa business leaders, investment bankers, funds managers, senior government officials, key private sector players, as well as diplomats, to discuss trade and investment priorities for UK  Africa Relations.

The Forum, slated for December 17, 2017, at the Hilton London Metropole, London UK, is themed: UK  Africa Relations Post Brexit: Building Trade and Investments Structures for Equitable Partnerships.

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor and Dr. Mo Ibrahim, Founder Ibrahim Prize for Leadership, are among the past outstanding recipients of the African Leadership Magazine Awards.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
The government concluded its roadshow in Accra on Monday, October, 23, 2017 toward the issuance of an energy bond to refinance the energy sector debt.

As at end-June 2016, the stock of debt of ECG, VRA, GRIDCO, GNGC and TOR stood at over GHC 22 billion. These outstanding payments in the energy sector is affecting the development of the sector, crippling banks and slowing down the economy in general.

The government intends to use an independent SPV, the ESLA Company Limited for the sole purpose of issuing debt securities to refinance the energy sector debt.

The primary aim of the SPV is to collect and manage proceeds from the bond and the ESLA receivables, and to repay the creditors and bond holders.

CLASSIFICATION OF THE BOND/DEBT

The IMF is of the view that the bond to be issued by ESLA Company Limited, the SPV should be treated as pure central government debt.

The fund insists that the SPV, established by a government decision is not independent of central government.

Minister Seth Terkper, however, argues that the ESLA-backed energy bond must not be classified as a pure public debt. For him, classifying the bond as such would be a backward step because the bond is backed by a special levy imposed by parliament.

At worse, Terkper argues that such bonds should be classified as contingent liabilities that only crystallise when government defaults.

Contrary views to Terkpers have emerged. Former Chief Executive of GNPC Alex Mould is reported to have said that these debts arose as a result of unpaid subsidies by government.

He contends, therefore, that unpaid subsidies must be classified as Public Debt. Former Minister of Power and MP for Pru East also argues that the entities involved are owned by the government and thus their debts must be seen as public debt.

DEFENDING THE GOVERNMENTS ENERGY BOND CLASSIFICATION

For the purposes of the program with the IMF, the use of government in the budget refers to the central government.

Central Government is defined to exclude government-controlled, but legally distinct and tax-funded entities like DACF.

It also excludes subnational and government-owned corporations. Adding those defines general government.

To all intents and purposes, Ghana uses budgetary central government for the purposes of defining budget deficit, and in the computation of public debt in consonance with the ECF program.

This explains why VRA debt is excluded from the definition of public debt. Likewise TOR debt and ECG debt and Ghana Gas debt and GRIDCO debt.

A cardinal principle of the Fund is consistency, to which they religiously adhere. So if the Fund has consistently excluded the energy sector debt from the computation of the public debt, why the sudden change?

Then there is the precedence argument. The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) issued a similar government-backed bond in 2011 to refinance arrears and aged payables in the Power SOE sector.

At the time, the Fund did not classify it as a government debt even though AMCON, in character, is like the ESLA SPV. Wherein lies the other cardinal IMF principle of even-handedness and fairness?

And, finally, a refresher on the ESLA Act, 2015 (Act 899) would not have led the Hon Isaac Adongo to conclude that GHC 3.6 billion a year for 3years will yield GHC10.8 billion from ESLA, sufficient to clear the energy sector debt.

For your information, GHC 3.3 billion was collected through ESLA in 2016 in total. Only GHC 1.2 billion of this amount was allocated to Energy Debt Recovery as specified in the first schedule of the Act.

The rest was allocated to the Road Fund, Energy Commission, National Petroleum Authority, for Public Lighting and for National Electrification.

So the government is right not to classify the ESLA-backed energy bond as public debt.
A post-graduate student of the University of Ghana has been installed as the Queen Mother of Akwamu Adumasa in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region.

Diana Agbayizah was picked on campus in a fashion that is characteristic of Rambo movies. The 32-year-old is also a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Institute of African Studies.

Being the first graduate to be crowned a queen mother in the area, she took the stool name Nana Afua Serwaa I.

She was installed after the seat was declared vacant four years ago. The area Chief, Nana Ansa Kwao IV and his council of elders vetted the background of several potential candidates before settling on her.

Some elders and Asafo groups from Akwamufie stormed the university's Department of African Studies to pick her up at a time she was attending lectures.

She was sent to Adumasa palace ahead of the installation.

The Asafo groups spent a couple of hours on the campus singing various Akwamu war songs and chanting until they finally grabbed their queen mother to be and poured libation to symbolise their success at getting their queen.

She was outdoored on Monday before a durbar of chiefs and people from the Akwamu Traditional Area. The required rituals were then performed to pave way for her initiation.

She proceeded to take the oath of allegiance in the full glare of the people and chief.

She held the sword and pledged her readiness to respond to the needs of her people and chief.

Nana Ansa Kwao IV used the opportunity to advise her to serve the community with humility and hard work.

He charged her to use her academic background to help bring the needed development in order to bring relief to the community.

In an interview with Myjoyonline.com , Nana Afua Serwaa I said she will tackle the issue of education in the area.

In attendance was the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP)'s Youth Organizer, Sammy Awuku, as well as a delegation from the Institue of African Studies led by Ebenezer Armah.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com David Andoh [email protected]
With the craze of launching anything launchable, the NPP government decided to beat the whole world to the ICT game. A software amateur decided to download Google map unto his laptop and created a front end application to hide the original Google map.

He further generated some "huhudious" codes like QZ, ST, SD, etc, that have no bearing on the Ghanas address system. GH stands for Ghana in the international comity of address systems. AR for Grater Accra, VR for Volta, UW for Upper West etc. Are you getting the example? Good. So a "huhudious" code like SD and ST for Upper West Region? Where is that coming from?

This confused GHPost address application asks you to key in your mobile phone number. And instructs you to stand in front of your gate to determine your location. If you don't have a gate, that one is your wahala. You can choose to stand on the street in front of your house. Do you know why? Because sometime back, the Google car drove on Ghana roads and captured most of the roads by satellite. Now you get my point.

But if per political accident, you are residing at a place which was developed after the Google car had left town, sorry for you. The azaa GHPost system will generate an 'unknown street' for you and add some selected numbers taken from your phone number to generate a confused code and only to be deceived by the Minister of Communication that Ghana Post onward will deliver letters to your non-existence letter boxes on your unnamed streets. If you have more than one phone number, you are bound to have more than one post code for same house. The more phone numbers you have, the multiple the GHPost code. If care is not taken, you may even find yourself on the streets of Qatar.

Ok, so now we get it. So let's get the money. This azaa GHPost code which was incubated on Atta Mills High Street was freight forwarded to Jubilee Flagstaff House. Where a high powered IT team which was more sophisticated and more complex than NASA and NATO ICT and military joint team, under the disabled chairmanship of Bawumia, was put together to proof test the software.

Eureka!!! There is it. We have beaten America and Britain. Even Canada is snow-frozen by the power of Ghanas superior digital address system. Indeed, Ghana has conquered the world.

When we implement the digital address system, I argue that it is going to be the most advanced addressing system in the world. We will leapfrog above the United States, Canada, and the UK and have a very modern address system. Bawumia declared to a sweaty and bemused audience.

Hehehe. Me sisi yemi ya. Nye dzi lo...... Bawumia will kill pregnant women in Ghana. Charlie, we still do not have digital address system. It does not exist. But we have to get the money.

In that case, no further negotiation on the software. Sharp Sharp, US $2.5 million dollars (GHC 15 million) under the urgent certificate of innovation was paid. And a lavish launch was orchestrated. So here we are. Ghana has paid GHC 15 million for Google map which is free on Google Playstore.

This Bawumiac and first to be invented digital address system launch, set the country in chaotic agog. So to take care of this agog until the next launch of hail the king, let the country discuss the opposition party.

Sir, why? Ooh, it will keep the NDC, the major opposition party busy with finding their digital location in the Kwesi Botchwey report. Just say Mahamas defeat was caused by Omane Boamah and Stan Dogbe. They will start fighting for gravitational digitality. Make sure you commission the Bipolar FM station to do it. They are in relapse at the moment.

Ayayaya. Let me drink my palmwine in front of my gate. May be, the gods of the drink may capture my stupor.

Kofi B. KUKUBOR
Former aspiring assembly member for Asafo Electoral Area in Kumasi, Ernest Okai, has appealed to the Ashanti Regional Police Command to provide security for the area during the night to allow residents live without fear.

According to him for several months now, the people of the area had suffered robberies at the hands of armed persons during the night making it impossible for people to go out.

Speaking in an interview with Otec news reporter Francis Appiah, Mr. Okai called on the police to beef up security in the area to allow the residents move freely during the night.

Several persons have suffered from the incident of being robbed under severe torture of the body and personal belongings including mobile phones and cash, he said.

He also said these robbery attacks have been necessitated by the lack of street lights in the area and has therefore called on the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), through the assembly woman of the area, to provide street lights especially at the Zion school and Asafo VIP bus terminal areas.

He also said the Asafo community has been taken over by foreign robbers as their operational grounds to attack market woman at dawn and travelers patronizing the VIP buses.

The best way to flush out these attackers is to institute a Watchdog Committee, who will be responsible for dealing with the foreigner robbers, because these committee members, residents of Asafo, know the hideouts of the attackers, he suggested.
Accra. 23rd October, 2017  Odebrecht Ghana has organised a free Breast Cancer Screening and Education exercise for its male and female employees as part of the global breast cancer awareness month. The main objective of the exercise is to educate, empower and encourage women to become proactive by engaging in preventive lifestyle, perform Breast Self-Examination and get appropriate screenings every year.

A medical officer from Medlab, one of the leading medical laboratories in the sub-region, Dr. Michael Kwarfo took staff members through the process of how to self-examine the breast for early detection of breast cancer. He emphasized the importance of early detection.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Ghana has an incidence rate of 2,260 per 100,000 women and 1% of cases of breast cancer is in men. Breast Cancer is the number two cause of death in Ghana and one of the leading causes of death globally.

Vanessa Ashun in charge of Human Resource at Odebrecht Ghana noted: There is an increasing number of cases of breast cancer among women globally and in Ghana and we at Odebrecht Ghana are investing in preventive measures to ensure the health and well-being of our staff. Their health is important to productivity and the achievement of the corporate objectives of our organisation: a healthy workforce is a productive workforce. We organise this intervention on a yearly basis, but there are other environmental, health and safety precautions and measures we adopt on a daily basis.

At the Screening and Education session, staff members were encouraged to, at least self-examine the breast monthly and that the more they do it the more they get better at the technique of examination.

According to Ms. Esther Oppomaah, a female staff at Odebrecht Ghana; I always look forward to the free Breast Cancer Screening and Education exercise because it helps me a lot. There is always something new to learn and pass on to other people as well as an opportunity to have my breasts examined. This is a good initiative and we sincerely thank our Management.

Last year, Odebrecht conducted a similar exercise for its female staff. In November, there would be a prostate cancer screening and education for male staff member of the company.

Odebrecht has presence in 21 countries, including Ghana. The company has diversified business activities and a decentralized structure and does business in the fields of engineering and construction, industry, and in the development and operation of infrastructure and energy projects, creating integrated and innovative solutions that serve both its clients and communities where it operates.
The perception has always been that Ghanaian youth in foreign destinations do not want to go to school but involve themselves in various acts of violence.

Again, those who goes to school to take advantage of educational opportunities their countries of residence offer either face the daunting task of financial difficulties.

But gradually, that perception is being erased as most parents, families as well as church organizations in Canada have realized the need to support the youth financially to successfully pursue their academic excellence.

This was discovered when Dr. David Firang, a Ghanaian professor at Trent Universitys department of social work, presented a scholarship to Mr. Fredrick Gyamfi recently in Toronto.

One of those parents or families which have supported several deserving Ghanaian youth financially to acquire requisite skills and knowledge at various institutes of higher learning in Ontario Province in Canada, is Dr. David Firang of the Firang family in Toronto-Canada.

Mercy Firang Memorial Foundation was one of the post-secondary scholarship schemes instituted and administered by Dr. David Firang, in conjunction with the Ghana Methodist Church of Toronto in Canada in honour of late Seth and Mercy Firang, the biological parents of Dr. David Firang.

It is intended to recognize academic excellence to support deserving students who demonstrates an enthusiasm to succeed academically to become a contributing member of the Christian community in Toronto-Canada.

Accordingly, late Seth and Mercy Firang over the course of their lives, devoted significant amount of their efforts in promoting Ghanaian Methodism in the 1960s and 1970s in most parts of Eastern Region and Ashanti Region in Ghana.

It was learnt that these great Methodists now in blessed memory, inculcated three key values: education, work and most of all values the fear of God for his wisdom in their children who are honouring them.

Dr. David Firang, adhering to these fundamental Christian values, it was learnt, has secured upward social mobility both in Ghana and Canada.

Since its inception in 2008, Mercy Firang Foundation is awarding annually to qualified applicant who is a staunch member of Ghana Methodist Church of Toronto-Canada and at the same time pursuing a university degree programme in Canada.

The application process is open annually to students who meet the criteria established by the scholarship donors [The Firang Family] in Canada.

The scholarship has its own specific set of eligibility requirements, and is reviewed by a separate selection committee appointed by Ghana Methodist Church of Toronto.

This years recipient of Mercy Firang Foundation scholarship is Mr. Fredrick Gyamfi who is currently pursuing a degree programme at Sheridan University College in Brampton, Ontario.

A family friend, Professor Joseph Mensah of York University, a grandchild Mr. Stephen Firang together with Dr. David Firang, urged the recipient to study hard in order to bring honour to the family.

The recipient also expressed his sincere gratitude to the Firang Family and promised to study hard to also follow in the footsteps of the donors by giving back to his community.
The Akufo Addo Government is gradually establishing a reputation as the government most intolerant of media freedom in Ghana since the inception of the Fourth Republic. This is evidenced by the high handed strategy and approach it has adopted to deal with radio stations that it perceives as being independent of government control through the National CommunicationAuthority (NCA) and the Ministry of Communications.

These two government institutions headed by staunch members of the ruling New Patriotic Party have embarked on an agenda to silence independent and critical radio stations in Ghana through draconian application of media regulations;and through the imposition of arbitrary and excessive fines. The primary objective of this agenda is to intimidate, cripple and shut down the operations of independent and critical media outlets so as to prevent Ghanaians from enjoying the benefits of balanced media reportage. In this regardMuntie Radio and Radio Gold which are perceived as friendly to the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) have been intimidated and targeted for closure in order to silence the opposition in Ghana.

In line with this NPP Government strategy, fines some as high as GH61, million (USD 14million) have been imposed on radio stations that do not generate revenue anywhere near theamount of fines arbitrarily imposed on them. Clearly these fines have been arbitrarily imposed with the sinister objective to ensure theirnonpayment in order to create the excuseto shut down radio stations that are critical and independent of Government control.

Ironically, all these negative developments in Ghanas media landscape are taking place under a Government headed by Nana Akufo-Addo who has always portrayed himself as a human rights activist and advocate of democracy and media freedom in Ghana. Interestingly the President once actedas lawyer for a petitioner who championed the cause of media freedom in a case decided by the Supreme Court of Ghana which statedcategorically that radio licenses are not required in Ghana for radio stations to operate.So what has changed now? Why is President Akufo Addo exhibiting a spirit intolerant of media freedom when much is expected of him?Why is he endorsing actions that are geared towards clampingdown on critical media outlets in Ghana so as to create media space for only praise singing media outlets? Should management of radio frequencies by the NCA be allowed by President AkufoAddos government to be handled in a manner that conflicts with media freedoms asguaranteed under Ghanas constitution?

The danger in all these developments is thatit is indicative of PresidentAkufoAddos inordinate desire to control most arms of Government and institutions of state, with a clear intent to stiflelegitimate opposition to his Government. It also goes to reinforcethe emerging perception that Ghana is breeding a dictator in President Akufo Addo.

In the mix of all of thesenegative developments isthe unproductive pestering of the highly recognized Electoral Commissioner of Ghana by pro-Government petitioners; who obviously are being encouraged by a willing President ever ready to forward anypetition against the EC that comes before him to a related Chief Justice for a preferredresult.

Media freedomis indeed under threat in Ghana, sadly so under a President who obviously has no thick skinfor dissent as permitted in the constitution. Unlike John Mahama who exhibited a high level of tolerance for media freedom and democracy during his era, President Akufo Addo is lowering the bar on Ghanas democratic credentials in many ways least of which is his recent endorsement of the closure of over a hundred radio stations, on flimsy and questionable criteria for the enforcement of the media regulations in Ghana.

Long Live Ghana.

Writer: Mensah Dekportor (Germany)

Email. [email protected]
L-R, Oliver Andrews, Executive Director, Chief Investment Officer Africa Finance Corporation; Pa Ousman Jarju, Director Country Programming, Green Climate Fund

25.10.2017 LISTEN

LAGOS, Nigeria, 24th October 2017,-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has signed an Accreditation Master Agreement (AMA) with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in Seoul, South Korea. Having received its accreditation in 2015, AFC is one of the first African development finance institutions to sign such an agreement.

Established in 2010 by the 194 countries founder members of the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the GCF launched its initial resource mobilization in 2014, which rapidly gathered pledges worth US$10.3 billion.

Following the signing of the AMA, AFC will have access to direct funding from GCF, rather than through intermediaries or third parties. Over time, the GCF is expected to become the main multilateral financing mechanism to support climate action in developing countries.

AFC intends to leverage this partnership by mobilizing GCF's capital to further its low carbon emission investments in 4 of its 5 focus sectors: power, transport, heavy industries and telecoms. To date, AFC has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to financing green energy in Africa through its early investment in the 26MW award winning Cabeolica wind farm in Cape Verde, the first commercial wind farm in sub-Saharan Africa. AFC is also currently developing more than 500MW of renewable power projects across the continent.

Oliver Andrews, Chief Investment Officer of AFC, commented: "The consequences of climate change impact may have serious implications for the successful development of Africa's economy. AFC is therefore highly committed to this partnership with GFC. Not only does AFC and the GCF have shared goals, we also have shared values. "

For example, AFC is committed to investing in post-conflict countries and those that face structural developmental challenges. Equally, the GCF also priorities societies that are highly vulnerable, in particular the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). As AFC is also driven by a belief in sustainable economic growth, in every sense this synergy is an excellent recipe for success."

Pa Ousman Jarju, Director of GCF's Country Programming Division, commented on the announcement: "AFC is well placed to support African entrepreneurs and explore the vast potential for economic growth across the continent in ways that do not harm the global environment. "

GCF activities are therefore aligned with the priorities of developing countries through the principle of country ownership. With the strategic injection of capital, African companies could one day lead the way in generating non-polluting energy for industry and local communities"

AFC is committed to proactively financing and managing the development of key infrastructure projects which will have a positive impact on the lives of Africans all over the continent. To date the Corporation has invested approximately US$4 billion in projects across 28 countries and in a wide range of sectors including power, telecommunications, transport and logistics, natural resources and heavy industries.
The Consul General to the United States, H.E. Professor Samuel Amoako, has been meeting Ghanaian communities since he took office earlier this year.

On Saturday, October 21st 2017, he met another section of the community, Amansie Kuo, on the behest of the associations leadership to attend its annual fundraising dinner held in the Bronx.

Mr. Emmanuel Adu Gyamfi, president of the association, revealed that the associations mission included funding schools, hospitals, and other community projects in Amansie and its surrounding towns in the district. The fundraiser was therefore to honor that purpose.

The president of the association was intrigued by His Excellencys good intentions and actions which demystify the office of the Consul General by giving audience to the members of the community it serves without having to go through unnecessary bureaucracies and protocols.

On his part, the Consul General thanked the association for performing its social responsibility with excellence.

The Consul General was at a separate event earlier in the week, where he was invited to be a guest of honor at the Ghanaian Hotel Workers Association inaugural dinner dance, as he continues to give meaning to his interactive work model and deepen his relationship with the Ghanaian community at large.

He reiterated President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos vision to industrialize the economy and urged the hotel workers to project the positive image of Ghana to the people they come into contact with at their various workplaces that will attract investors to Ghana.

In particular, Professor Samuel Amoako urged the audience to take advantage of the presidents initiatives, including One District, One Factory, One Village One Damn, and the Zongo Development projects and invest in them and in the hospitality industry. This, he argued are the key areas that will boost the capacity of the private sector as the engine of growth and produce jobs for the teeming unemployed youth.

In his final remarks, the Consul General broke the news to his audience about a new policy instrument in the offing for the Ghanaian family that will formalize the dual Citizenship status of Ghanaian children born in the United States.

He assured the communities of his preparedness to engage them to better serve them.
The Vice President of the Republic, H.E. Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has left Accra for Vienna, Austria to participate in the World Bank Groups Investment Competitiveness Forum, to be held from October 25-27, 2017.

A statement issued by the Bank indicated that Ghana has been selected to be a Founding Member of the Investment Reformers Network, which will be inaugurated at the Forum.

For a long time, different international indicators have captured reforms undertaken by Governments to improve the ease of undertaking business by small and medium firms. However, those indicators do not capture the transformational Investment Policy and Promotion (IPP) reforms that can unlock FDI. Thus, key reforms impacting FDI and its spillover effects on the domestic economy may go unnoticed by the international investment community.

The Investment Reformers Network aims at providing visibility to such transformational reforms with inputs from WBG (World Bank Group) support, and showcase their impact to the international business community.

Participation in the Investment Reformers Network is by invitation only, at a high political level and comprises a limited number of countries  about 15 worldwide selected for 2017, including the three Star Reformers, the statement, signed Anabel Gonzalez, Senior Director, Trade and Competiveness Global Practice of the World Bank Group, indicated.

In a related development, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is billed to participate in the 7th Nordic-African Business Summit in Oslo, Norway, slated for October 26, 2017.

According to the organisers, the summit is designed to promote and create awareness of the many business opportunities on the African continent, as well as bridging the Norwegian/Nordic and African business communities.

It is being organised by the Norwegian-African Business Association (NABA) and Norfund, the Norwegian governments investment fund for Africa  in partnership with the Financial Times (UK).

The Vice President returns to Accra on Friday October 27, 2017.
How true and sensible of our elders proverbial expression that the full length of a frog is known only after its demise?

Indeed, the truth is more likely to resurrect no matter how deep the grave.

Somehow, the truth has resurfaced in the NDC Party following years of needless secrecy.

Verily, I never dreamt that I will live to witness the sort of deep cleavages within the New Democratic Congress (NDC), as the party apparatchiks made us to believe that all was well with the party.

But there you go. The never ending tiffing within the NDC Party tells a different story, diametrical to what the NDC faithful sought to portray all along.

In fact, until their recent friction, we were made to believe that conflict is not synonymous with the NDC Party.

Unfortunately, however, the signs are already on the walls: the ongoing bickering could spell doom for the NDC Party, so to speak.

Well, whichever way you may view the ongoing confusion, we definitely need the NDC Party in our democratic dispensation, in spite of their maladaptive governance and ineffective opposition.

Apparently, the NDC faithful have been living in a denial all this while.

The fact however is: they managed to sweep the insidious conflict under the carpet until their 2016 humiliating election defeat.

Indeed, the humiliating 2016 election defeat resurrected the hidden, albeit pernicious conflict.

Background

Subsequent to their humiliating 2016 election loss, there have been corruption accusations and counter accusations.

It all started with the founder of the NDC Party, former President Rawlings, who has been consistently accusing the leadership of the NDC Party as the most corrupt in Ghanas political history.

The sensational exposition unsurprisingly infuriated the brassbound NDC faithful, who discourteously and uncharacteristically decided to revenge by tearing their founder, former President Rawlings into shreds.

It would, however, appear as an illustrative cliche of it takes one to know one or birds of the same feather flock together.

In retrospect, the shock of the 2016 election defeat and the ensuing hue and cry prompted the leadership of the NDC Party to set up a Fact-finding Committee to unravel the otherwise widely known reasons.

Of course, back then, the NDCs election defeat Facts finding Committee seemed extremely puzzling to many discerning Ghanaians, given the unpardonable incompetence, corruption and shenanigans they exhibited throughout their tenure in office which invariably caused their humiliating election loss.

So one wondered what more evidence they wanted to find about their 2016 election defeat.

Anyway, no matter how baffling it seemed at the time, they were within their right to go out there and conduct their Fact -finding.

After a few months of painstaking investigations, the Committee nonetheless produced a damning report.

The Committee has however beseeched the NDC Party to address the divisions in the party, especially among the party apparatchiks, the partys internal biometric registration of members, the licentious electioneering campaign, diversion of campaign cash and materials, public perception of corruption and complacency among others.

Interestingly, however, the vineyard news and other sources have it that the Professor Kwesi Botchwey Election Fact-finding Committees report has indicted a number of NDC stalwarts, including former President Mahama.

The sources have it that former President Mahama contributed largely to the NDCs 2016 humiliating election defeat.

Apparently, there are those who share the Fact-finding Committees report that Ex-President Mahamas woeful errors in judgement and the gargantuan corruptions accounted for the NDCs 2016 election loss.

However, the die-hard supporters of Ex-President Mahama do not accept such a view point and have vowed to bring back Mahama as the flagbearer for the 2020 election.

In fact, some of the alleged conspiratorial plotters have vowed to move heaven and earth to clear their name, even if their actions could disintegrate the party.

Take, for example, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the NDC Party who is being alleged to have pocketed close to GH1 million of the NDCs 2016 electioneering campaign funds is threatening to seek justice at the law court.

And prior to the aggrieved Eastern Regional Chairmans threats, the former Information Minister of the erstwhile NDC government had allegedly requested his legal advisers to request a copy of the Kwesi Botchways report to ascertain the veracity of the rumours that he had kept over two hundred vehicles which were supposed to be distributed to the media personnel.

Who says that interesting days are not ahead?

K. Badu, UK.

[email protected] ; please visit me at: alljoycom.wordpress.com
The United Nations Environment, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCOs) 2017/8 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report highlights the responsibility of governments to provide universal quality education and stresses that accountability is indispensable in achieving this goal.

The Report, released Tuesday warns that disproportionate blame on any one actor for systemic educational problems can have serious negative side effects, widen inequality and damage learning.

Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, said education is a shared responsibility between us all governments, schools, teachers, parents and private actors."

Accountability for these responsibilities defines the way teachers teach, students learn and governments act. It must be designed with care and with the principles of equity, inclusion and quality in mind.

Accountability in education: meeting our commitments,' the second in the GEM Report series, which monitors progress towards the internationally agreed Sustainable Development Goal for Education (SDG4), looks at the different ways people and institutions can be held accountable for reaching that goal, including regulations, testing, monitoring, audits, media scrutiny, and grass root movements.

The Report said blaming teachers for poor test scores and absenteeism is often both unjust and unconstructive.

It shows, for example, that nearly half of teacher absenteeism in Indonesia in 2013/14 was due to excused time for study for which replacements should have been provided.

Similarly, in Senegal, only 12 of the 80 missed school days in 2014 were due to teachers avoiding their responsibilities. People cannot be held accountable for outcomes that depend on the actions of others.

Using student test scores to sanction teachers and schools makes it more likely they will adjust their behaviour to protect themselves, which may mean leaving the weakest learners behind, said Manos Antoninis, Director of the GEM Report.

Accountability must start with governments. If a government is too quick to apportion blame to others, it is deflecting attention away from its own responsibility for creating a strong, supportive education system.

Whereas transparency would help identify problems, only one in six governments publishes annual education monitoring reports. Strong independent bodies such as ombudsmen, parliaments, and audit institutions are also needed to hold governments to account for education.

Lack of accountability opens the door to corruption. In the European Union in 2009-2014, 38 percent of education and training tenders only had one bidder, compared to 16 percent of tenders in the construction sector, indicating that the risk of corruption is higher in education than in the building industry.

Setting and enforcing regulations ranging from contract tendering to teacher qualifications are also crucial, the Report said. Fewer than half of low and middle-income countries had standards for early childhood education and just a handful had mechanisms to monitor compliance. There are no regulations on class sizes in almost half of countries.

Government regulations are often too slow to keep up with the fast growth of private schools and universities. In Lagos, Nigeria, only 26 percent of private schools in 2010/2011 had been approved by the State Ministry of Education.

It said in countries with weak accreditation processes, thousands of students graduate with unrecognized degrees. In Kenya and Uganda, private schools were operating without qualified teachers and with inadequate infrastructure before regulations were put in place and courts shut them down.

Where formal mechanisms fail, citizens play a vital role in holding governments to account for meeting their right to education. In Colombia, a citizens campaign successfully challenged the government in court leading to the establishment of free education.

In the United States, parents and media successfully lobbied for the removal of climate change denial from textbooks, and students in South Africa were able to halt university tuition hikes.

The Report emphasizes the importance of accountability in addressing gaps and inequalities. Globally, less than 20 percent of countries legally guarantee 12 years of free and compulsory education. There are 264 million children and youth out of school and 100 million young people currently unable to read.

The Report cites an accountability vacuum with donors not delivering on their aid commitments for those in need. The share of aid to education has fallen for six years in a row. At the same time, donors increasingly demand that in exchange for aid, countries achieve results that sometimes divert energy away from systemic improvements in the education system.

No approach to accountability will be successful without a strong enabling environment that provides actors with adequate resources, capacity, motivation, and information to fulfill their responsibilities.

The Report calls on governments to design accountability for schools and teachers that is supportive and avoid punitive mechanisms, especially those based on narrow performance measures.

It also calls for democratic participation, respect media freedom to scrutinize education and set up independent institutions to handle complaints.

The report called for the development of credible and efficient regulations with associated sanctions for all education providers, public and private, that ensure non-discrimination and the quality of education as well as make the right to education justifiable, which is not the case in 45 percent of countries.
An official of the Gender, Children and Social Protection Ministry says the mother of a four-year-old girl defiled at Assin Adadientem in the Central Region should not have reported the matter to the chief of the town.

Victoria Natsu, who is attached to the Domestic Violence Unit of the Gender Ministry, said being a criminal case, it should have been reported to the police to facilitate swift action.

Monica Nyarko, the mother of the four-year-old girl, told Joy News Maxwell Agbagba that the chief of the area is obstructing justice in the matter.

She told Maxwell at the St Francis-Xavier Hospital in Assin Fosu, where the girl is receiving treatment that, the chief says action cannot be taken against the man who defiled her daughter because the community deity says the suspect -- a man identified only as Kwabena -- is innocent.

Calls for the Gender Ministry to secure justice for the girl have since intensified.

However, speaking on current affairs programme, PM Express, Victoria Natsu said although the matter is reaching her outfit, the mother took a wrong first step.

I am just hearing this story. The first question I asked is why would the mother report the case to a chief? Because for defilement cases [they] must go to the police.

At least the police would have picked the gentleman up and then started an investigation process, she said.

She has urged that the matter should be reported to the police first before the Gender Ministry intervenes.

Related: Defiled 4-year-old girl fights for her life as 'gods' declare suspect innocent

Meanwhile, a local journalist, Oscar Dadzie, has told Joy News rape is common in the Assin Fosu municipality.

It is very rampant here. This year alone, a similar incident happened at Assin Ayitey in which a teacher defiled a 3-year-old child. Within a week, at Assin Lartey, a seven-month-old baby was defiled by her 24-year-old elder brother.

Also, at Assin Adiembra, a 13-year-old pupil was defiled by a 52-year-old man. Then again in Assin Awireso, a 15-year-old girl was defiled by her stepfather in the bush as they were going to tap palm wine," he recounted.

In another incident, the journalist said at Assin Manso, a 13-year-old iced water seller was gang-raped by three guys to the point of unconsciousness. She was dumped in the forest and her decomposed body was later found.

Again, last week a 16-year-old girl on her way to dump refuse was kidnapped and raped by a 32-year-old man for three days without food or water.

According to him, whenever such incidents happen, some of the chiefs sit and plan how to settle them without going to the police station.

Criminal justice not for chiefs

A human rights activist, Denis Armah, has blamed the situation on poor law enforcement.

He expects the police to be proactive in dealing with rape, defilement and other second-degree felony offences that are swept under the carpet.

Criminal justice should not be left for chiefs. The Courts Act and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act provides some rules for alternative dispute resolution procedure to be applied to some criminal cases, but there is a qualification that you cannot have it for such offences like rape or defilement, he said.

Watch more in the video link below.



Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | George Nyavor | [email protected]
A Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Sagre Bambangi, has defended his outfits decision to sole-source a contract worth GHc 9 million for the purchase of chemicals to fight armyworms without full approval from the Public Procurement Authority.

The contracts were eventually approved retroactively by the Authority.

He said the threat of the armyworms required that the Ministry had to act with urgency, which explains why they had to bypass the Procurement Authority processes.

We were under an emergency situation so everybody was running helter-skelter to ensure that we were not threatened by the fall armyworms the way it was going. So that is why the ministry engaged all the chemical sellers, he stated on Eyewitness News.

Dr. Bambangi reiterated the defense he made in Parliament when the Ashaiman Member of Parliament, Ernest Norgbey, questioned the legality of the retrospective approval.

We have a legal adviser in the ministry, and if it is not founded in law, he wouldn't have advised the ministry to go that way we applied to the Public Procurement Authority and if it was not founded in law, they wouldn't have approved it.

Sole-sourcing has been noted as a conduit for corruption, which the governing New Patriotic Party has criticized vehemently in the past, and even put in place a Minister of Procurement for the first time.

Dr. Bambangi however assured that, there was nothing shady underneath the deal for the chemicals.

He noted that everybody agreed it [the armyworms] was a threat to food security if we didn't control it well It is not as if we purchased from one chemical dealer. We purchased from 12 chemical dealers.

In all, 12 companies were assembled by the government to supply the insecticides to fight the armyworms, but without a competitive bidding process.

Legality or retrospective approval

A lecturer at the University of Education, B.B. Bingab, indicated that there was no aspect of the law that allowed for retrospective approval.

The closest aspect of the law, which Dr. Bambangi alluded to in his defense, is section 40(1) (c) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).

It states that a procurement entity may engage in single source procurement under section 41 with the approval of the board where owing to a catastrophic event, there is an urgent need for the goods, works or technical services, making it impractical to use any other methods of procurement because of the time involved in using those methods.

Dr. Bingab admitted the lack of any lawful avenue for retrospective action, but noted that there are certain instances where a decision has to be made bearing in mind the repercussions of not taking that decision.

In this instance, where a state of emergency was called over the impact and threat of armyworms, the lecturer noted that retrospective approval may have been justified.

In the event that if you don't take that decision [immediately], it makes no meaning to eventually get the approval you need, then you have got to act to wait till the final decision will suggest that even the request you are making will be in vain.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Deputy Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, is optimistic Ghana will benefit immensely from the just ended IMF/World Bank meetings in the US.

He noted the meetings were not only fruitful, but Ghana has a lot of leads to follow up on to boost the financial and energy sectors in particular.

Briefing the media after the meetings, Oppong  Nkrumah denied rumours that the Bretton Woods Institutions were against the Energy Bond.

It isn't true that the IMF was against our Energy Bond, he pointed out, adding There is a lot of investor appetite to take up the bond, which when successfully issued, will lead to permanently solving some of the challenges in the energy sector.

He was hopeful the 10 billion Cedi Energy Bond will be listed successfully to offset the energy sector debt, which contributed significantly to the challenges of some banks in the country. The bond, which will be auctioned in tranches, will start with a first tranche of six billion cedis, Mr.Oppong-Nkrumah stressed.

Ghana's delegation, which was led by Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Marfo, also met potential investors in an attempt to tickle their interest in the Ghanaian economy .

According to Oppong  Nkrumah, a lot of investors have shown immense interest in the government's flagship programme  One District, One Factory, stating that the Trade Ministry and the Secretariat in charge of the policy are collaborating to win the hearts of investors.

We also made some inroads in the financial sector, and the Finance Minister will follow up on them. We also met with officials of the IMF about the extended Credit Facility Programme and the next review. They were impressed with us and the progress we have made so far. Officials of the IMF are expected in the country for the fifth review on Wednesday so that we can access the next $90 million left to carry out developments, the Ofoase  Ayirebi legislator added.

He further stated that, Ghana's team also used the opportunity to update officials of the Millennium Challenge Account on the progress made with the ECG private sector participation program.

He promised that the team will follow up on every issue which came up at the meetings to ensure that President Akufo-Addo's vision for the country is achieved.



By: citifmonline.com/Ghana
25.10.2017 LISTEN

A 41-year-old farmer, Akwasi Agyeman has assaulted his wife, Akosua Brago, and subsequently committed suicide over fears of a reprisal attack at Sankore in the Asunafo South district of the Brong Ahafo Region.

Akosua Brago, who is in a critical condition, and the deceased, had been in a relationship for the last six months but had no children.

The Kukuom District Police commander, DSP Robert Kwasi Boakye who confirmed this to Citi News said the incident happened on Sunday, October 22, 2017 around 9:00pm.

Its true that a case of such nature has occurred at Sankore, but its not a murder case, its an attempted murder because the victim is still alive and what happened is that, the deceased person and the victim are in relationship but of late the relationship hit the rocks, so the lady (Akosua Brago) is living around and no one knows what happened that day.

The lady was about to bath and the man attacked her, alarm was blown and some people came to the scene and the man managed to escaped from the scene. The woman was sent to the hospital when the man was sought for. He was found lying in the bush dead, he said.

He added that the victim, Akosua Brago, whose age is yet to be determined, is now receiving treatment at Star of Hope Hospital in Sankore.

So far, the body of the deceased has been deposited at Goaso Government mortuary awaiting an autopsy.



By: Atiewin Mohammed/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Leadership of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) chapter of the Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG), has bemoaned the increasingly partisan politics in the affairs of student unions in the country.

The developments according to GRASSAG affects their activities.

KNUST-chapter President of the Association, Kizito Osei Fosu, expressed the concerns at the 2017 Educational Forum organized by the GRASAG-KNUST Women's Commission in Kumasi.

The forum, which was under theme, Today's Graduate; Exploring Numerous Opportunities exposed postgraduates, undergraduates and students from second cycle institutions to existing opportunities.

He said the infiltration of politics into student affairs, is affecting the entire administration of students unions in Ghana, and that steps must be taken to find a lasting solution.

Mr. Fosu described the happenings within as bad and sickening, saying that now as it stands, we don't have a NUGS President. And you know GRASAG-KNUST wouldn't be able to walk to the Presidency to table our issues because there are structures.

He indicated that, the absence of a NUGs President has halted all operations since no NEC meetings can take place, and grievances cannot be channeled to the appropriate quarters without someone spearheading such issues.

He further said students in Ghana have numerous concerns that need urgent attention, but that has not been done because of the current happenings within the student unions.



By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Former President John Mahama appears to be amused at recent discussions over a document supposed to be the final report of the Prof. Kwesi Botchwey led committee on the cause of the National Democratic Congress' (NDC) defeat in the December 2016 presidential elections.

John Mahama in a sniggery comment on his twitter account on Tuesday night, said the report appeared to have been adopted as a new handbook for addressing Ghanas challenges.

It appears 'KB report has been adopted by some media as the new handbook for any challenge facing Gh. In the event of crisis, open any page and quote. Lol, he tweeted.

The leadership of the NDC has been tight-lipped over findings of the report which was submitted in June 2017, after months of touring and holding consultative meetings with interest groups and individuals across the country.

However, some media outlets including the Daily Guide newspaper and Accra-based Joy FM in series of news stories, have made public what is claimed to be some findings of the report.

The publications, among others, have pointed to Stan Dogbe and Elvis Afyiie Ankrah as John Mahama's undoing.

It also indicated that, the report had cited some officials at the Flagstaff House during Mahama's tenure of shortchanging journalists by cutting down budgeted stipends for the presidential press corps and pocketing the rest.

But John Mahama, who seem concerned about the developments in the media appears to be laughing them off as untrue.



By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
STRANEK will like to call on H. E. Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia to help shed some light on the cost components of the recently announced GHC15 million GHANAPOSTGPS.

Having observed on various fora the doubts and raised eyebrows on the cost of the GHANAPOSTGPS and subsequent poor ratings by IT experts, we believe that this call to the Vice President is necessary to help rescue a project that although well-intended is gradually sinking into the quagmire of perceived corruption and abuse of state resources.

Although we welcome this initiative by government to solve the decades old problem of property addressing in Ghana, we believe that a project that is meant to improve on the efficiency of the operations of both the private and public sector must not be bedevilled by such a perception of inefficiency in terms of its pricing. The public deserves to have constant assurance that their representatives in government are not just working for personal interest but for the collective interest of all citizens.

Government must therefore in a quick and transparent exercise disclose a true and complete breakdown of the various cost elements associated with this project. This we believe will go a long way to allay the fears of citizens and restore the ever-waning faith of the people in this government.

STRANEK will also like to know categorically if there is anything proprietary about this project that warrants the cost currently being bandied about by government sources. Because if this projects is structured on existing platforms that are provided freely by various third parties then what amount of work accumulated into the GHc15m contract price?

In conclusion, we will like to remind all appointees of this government to keep to their oaths of office and protect the public purse even as they work towards improving the lives of Ghanaians.

We are all involved in building our motherland Ghana.

Signed.

Nii Tettey Tetteh

+233 249 659 467

Executive Director
25.10.2017 LISTEN

The main opposition NDC constituted a committee of eminent, well to do, respectable men to move across the length and breadth of the country entering every tunnel, every village, every cottage, and every hole to bring to them what accounted for their humiliating defeat in the 2016 General Election. The NDC had lost mercilessly in both the presidential and parliamentary election and the party dazed by the extent of beating the old man Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo gave to the young, energetic, well-resourced John Dramani Mahama consulted some elders of the party under the leadership of the Economic maestro Dr. Kwesi Botchewey to find out what caused their gargantuan defeat.

The K. Botchewey committee sometime in June submitted their report (KB Report) to the leadership of the party. Knowing the explosive expose in the report, their leadership decided to keep the report in the vault of the $20m plush modern headquarters of the party.

Someway somehow, the report is out and the NDC leadership themselves are amazed about how the report managed to move from the well secured, security tight, well locked underground vault to the doors of the media.

In an attempt to shift the pole, some communicators of the party rushed to say the leaked report was fake. Interestingly, the leadership of the party have gone loudly dumb on the report.

Realizing the fake chorus was not resonating with the good people of Ghana, they have now decided to shift the attention from fake to how does the report keep food on my table?

Really? Even if it didnt put food on my table nor construct the road from Cape Coast Pedu Junction to my village Twifu Heman, how a sitting president and a ruling party lost an election in such a miserable manner must interest everyone, voters inclusive. This party was until 10months ago, governing us. So why on earth will their things not interest me nor be a bread and butter matter? The lies told us in the name of politics are being exposed and you say it is needless?(Kwame Gyan, 2017)

Interestingly, after the defeat of the NPP in the 2008 election, Dr. Arthur Kennedy, then director of communication for the Akufo-Addo campaign wrote his book Chasing the elephant into the bush. Every single dot, comma, how a t was crossed from cover to cover was subjected to extensive scrutiny by the then NDC and the media. The media then were not cabals but are cabals against the NDC now(Such irony). Every single NDC communicator treated the book as only next to the Holy Quran or the Holy Bible and was more important at the time than any book majority of them had to read for their examination.

A complete figment of someones imagination deserved our time, space and attention and you tell me a report put together by a group of well to do, competent men should be thrown into the gutters because it is about the NDC and not any other party? Masa! Gyae saa.

Just as the sun was so shall the rain be. The #KBReport shall be given the needed attention it deserves. And oh, will someone spur us that it is not the true report? Then the NDC Eastern Regional Chairman Tawiah Boateng, former minister of Communication, Hon. Edward Omane Boamah need the report, can you make your so called original out? Okay, why doesnt the party take legal action against the media houses discussing the report then? Please spur us the gimmicks.

Just as Chasing elephant into the bush was treated, so shall the KB report be treated. What can come can come.

Kwasi Frimpong SayItRight

+233 20 183 3775

[email protected]

@fsayitright
25.10.2017 LISTEN

In a conversation quite recently, a well-educated friend from Nigeria asked in a rhetorical way why many Africans/leaders so obsessed with titles and other glittering generalities such as Do you know who Im or Im from this or that royal family. Like some of us, the Nigerian brother wonders why in many African societies we hardly point to our accomplishments, as well as what is it that we intend to leave behind for our community or the generation yet unborn when we depart this earth rather than always display/boast of chains of academic degrees or ones titles of nobility.

Dont get it twisted; for this is not to say that one does not have to be proud of a hard-earned degree or hide ones well-deserved academic degrees and other titles, whatever they may be. Many of us have university degrees and proud of them. Yet the fact is, majority of us as Africans are most likely the quickest to advertize the degrees and other titles we have than insisting on the quality of our work.

To a larger extent, it explains one of the raisons d'etre some African writers often display their college degree(s) before or after their names even in non-academic body of writings such as common newspaper articles. In the world-class news outlets like the New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, or the Wall Street Journal, hardly do the writers/contributors show off their titles/degrees. Perhaps for many of these self-confident writers, the most significant factor is the thoughtfulness or the caliber of their contributions as opposed to the exhibition of titles or nobility claims.

More so, the American sociopolitical culture deemphasizes titles and/or rejects any claim that entertains aristocratic pretenses invoking noble/royal birth. The Article I, Section 9, Sub 8 of the U.S. Constitution is self-explanatory regarding Americans disdain for the belief or for the institution of kingship/monarchy and all its appendages. The law forbids the United States or any of its territories from bestowing titles of nobility, especially, to the people holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.

Learning wisely from their revolutionary war for independence in the early 18th century, the founders of the United States democracy witnessed the perils and blatant arrogance inherent in the institution of monarchy. The American revolutionaries learned firsthand that kings/monarchs view power as non-negotiable which often produces people walking around as if theyre super-humans while arrogating to themselves titles or hints of nobility.

The colonial British monarchy hellishly gave the American independence fighters unforgettable nightmares during the era predating the countrys agitation for Independence. So after all the chips settled eventually and America gained its self-autonomy, the framers of the U.S. Constitution decided not to have anything to do with kings, queens, or titles of nobility within their infant nation.

To that end, the framers disavow the assumption that somehow there is a chosen group of mortal human beings who come directly from some more special place than the rest of the population. Thus, any suggestion close to the establishment of the kingdom or chieftaincy is antithetical to the American experience. Hence in the U.S. today, almost all Americans dont care much about titles, and pretty much refrain from addressing their presidents, governors, or any high-ranking leader as His/Her Excellency and many other needlessly vague titles.

Switching gears back to Ghana or Africa, a careful look at our sociocultural architectures reveals a sizable bunch of people hide behind titles of all kinds, and in most cases boast of having royal lineage. It is not surprising that land guard activities, and the like, are widespread in Ghana. Because behind the veils of illegal mining or land guard conundrums are some fat cats in the society parading titles of nobility and own most of the lands in Ghana.

Ever wonder why many people in this country or in many parts of Africa are unusually obsessed with earned or unearned titles of all types? They have come to realize that in this part of the world people with titles of nobility, Majesty, Excellency, Doctor, PhD, MSc, and what have you, are nearly untouchable. For the most part, the gullible among us viewed them as if they are repository all ideas; many of their assumptions go uncontested. The general mentality is: Who am I to question or challenge a doctor, prof., or a person of his/her high standing in this society?

Clearly, many Africans and for that matter Ghanaians are easily fazed by titles instead of focusing on the title holders real accomplishment or competence. The latter point, on so many levels, tries to form the basis for why some African leaders come to power and start grabbing or granting endlessly empty titles for themselves. For instance, many Ghanaian political literatures indicate the nations first head of state after independence went by the title Osagyefo (war savior) Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and The Life President of the Republic of Ghana. Faraway Democratic Republic of Congo, then army Sergeant-Major Joseph Mobutu seized power in coup and added titles to his name that runs: Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Waza Banga, which means The Powerful Warrior who moves from triumphs to triumphs while leaving behind trails of inferno.

Then we have old grandpa Mugabe who has a sizable fair share of the title pie: His Excellency, the President, First Secretary of the Peoples Party, and Head of State Robert Gabriel Mugabe, the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defense Force. The late dictator of Uganda went by the titles Field Marshal Dr. Idi Amin Dada, MC, DSO, and Conqueror of the British Empire. Also, the recently-deposed Gambian clownish president had self-bestowed titles like His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh Babili Mansa. The Babili Mansa is loosely translated as He who defeats or overruns rivers of all sizes. What did all these titles add to the sorry state of Gambian economy? Nothing save more misery.

It is meaningful to know the towering position and the most coveted title anyone can be granted is the title of the president of a country. Indeed, the title of president or prime minister has no parallels in terms of its preeminence and profound consequences to the wellbeing of every modern society. Throughout history people have risked and sacrificed their lives to become head of the government of their nations and thus earn the highest title of president or prime minister.

So it is mind-bogglingly funny that in most parts of Africa, including Ghana, once someone becomes president/prime minister, he/she starts accepting or grabbing meaningless titles such as His Excellency this or thata title which ironically serves to cast murky shadow over the most enviable and consequential title of all: Mr./Madam President or Prime Minister. Irrelevantly long titles never add anything of substance to ones competence and a sense of humility aside from stoking the holders puffy egos. In other words, why not simply but elegantly refer to our leaders as Mr./Madam President or Prime Minister? In all cases, ones quality of work and selfless care for humanity speak more potently than how many titles we show off everywhere we go.

Bernard Asubonteng is United States-based writer; send your comments: [email protected]
25.10.2017 LISTEN

We indubitably commend the President and his able Ministers for t!he magnum opus done in achieving an unprecedented campaign promises made to Ghanaians. We can now boast of moving away from the usual white paper campaign by politicians to practicable campaign promises. We believe that Ghana is indeed alive again after the NDC led by Mahama looted and raped Ghana.

We have come of age for our leaders to think deep and implement decisions that will benefit children born yesterday, today and in 20 to 30 years to come. Nana Addo has shown that he is such a leader we can count on to send Ghana into the promise land. We are sure Christians would not miss Aaron and David in the bible and so will Muslims not also miss Prophet Mohammed because Nana Addo has shown commitment that those afore- mentioned leaders showed towards the generation of their time. We equally have no doubt that Professor Addae shares the same positive sentiment.

To mention but a few achieved promises and the benefits it has brought to the nation, the Paperless Port system which has aided importers to clear their goods with quick fluidity and lifted the big burden that used to be on agents and has tremendously also reduced the unmonitored monies which went into the pockets of some self-seeking public officials instead of the government coffers.

We again commend the President for been able to restore the Teacher's and Nurse's training allowances which the NDC made us believe it was waste of government resources yet we never saw any prudent achievement by Mahama.

Furthermore, non can with full strength strike out the land mark achievement Free SHS which saw more students who used to drop out from school getting educated to meet the industrialized world in 18 years to come just as they are the same children that benefited from the Former President John Agyekum Kuffuor FREE MATERNAL CARE. A government focused on shaping the destiny of its citizens will never depart from the growth Ghana is enjoying now.

In furtherance to the achievements one can say the rolling out of Planting for and Jobs programme in Sunyani somewhere in April which will cover about 216 districts and has enormously employed most of the youth interested in the agricultural field. When one study carefully the planting for food and jobs, you will find that it has a direct link to yet another developmental project that was launched few days ago in Ejura ONE DISTRICT, ONE WAREHOUSE under the Infrastructure Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) which will take care of the surplus produce by farmers, it will also help in price regulation and sustainability to help sellers and buyers.

The whites are better because its citizens show commitment towards the projects and economic policies of the government, which we believe our country can emulate same act.

We the Pillars of Subin Youth Wing call on all Ghanaians to participate in National Identification registration to help the country to plan a well targeted development based on data availability etc.

We also call on the Media outly, District and Municipal Assemblies to support the Digital Address System which will go long way to provide security and cut down cost in the future.

More importantly we still wish draw the attention of the party and the government not to get head swollen for the praises but to continue to work hard to get most of the elephant foot soldiers employed to get them prepared for the battle 2020.

Long live Subin Constituency.

Long live Subin Youth.

Long live NPP.

Long live NANA ADDO. DANQUAH AKUFFO-ADDO.

Long live GHANA.

Yaw Geraldo ( Secretary )

0243072381

Michael Obalo

0247269012

Alex Akuffo

0249724591
Kenya's repeat presidential election looked set to go ahead after a last-ditch bid to delay the highly contentious vote failed on Wednesday when the Supreme Court was unable to reach a quorum.

The dramatic hearing on the eve of Thursday's poll had stoked opposition hopes of delaying the vote boycotted by their leader Raila Odinga.

With political tensions soaring ahead of the vote, even the country's top election official has said he cannot guarantee a free, fair and credible election, prompting concerns at home and abroad about the risks of holding another flawed election.

Chief Justice David Maraga, who overturned the August 8 victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta, was forced to ditch the planned hearing, as only two of seven judges were present in court.

At least five judges are needed to form a quorum.

"This matter cannot be heard this morning," Maraga said.

Maraga said his deputy, Philomena Mwilu, could not attend after her bodyguard was shot on Tuesday evening.

She was not in her car at the time but the incident fuelled anxiety in a country still reeling from the torture and murder of an IT official at the election commission before August's vote.

Another judge was ill and out of the country, one could not get a flight to Nairobi and two were "not able to come to court," he said.

The hearing was one of dozens of legal battles that have gripped the court system since Maraga's September 1 decision to cancel the result of the first election due to "irregularities" in the electronic transmission of results, and mismanagement by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Also Wednesday, the High Court said the appointment of 290 constituency returning officers, who scrutinise the ballot, had not been done in accordance with the constitution.

But the judge said quashing their appointment would create a "crisis of unimaginable magnitude", so the decision is unlikely to impact Thursday's election.

It will, however, open the way for further legal battles over the outcome.

Odinga to announce next move

The election was meant to pit Odinga, 72, and Kenyatta, 56, against each other for the third time, in a dynastic political rivalry that began with their fathers following independence from Britain.

But while Odinga secured a rare victory in having the August ballot overturned, he has refused to take part in the rerun.

He accuses the IEBC of failing to make sufficient reforms to ensure it is free, fair and credible

Although he initially called for mass protests on election day, on Tuesday in an interview with the BBC he denied doing that, urging supporters to "stay away".

However on Twitter, his National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition insisted the protests were still on.

Odinga has vowed to announce his final decision on the election at a rally in Nairobi on Wednesday afternoon, where several hundred supporters have already begun gathering.

Nairobi city officials have already branded the gathering "illegal", saying the opposition had not followed proper procedures to hold the meeting at Uhuru Park.

Meanwhile, in Odinga's western stronghold of Kisumu, hundreds of opposition supporters marched towards the IEBC's offices.

Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga has withdrawn from the re-run of the election

Top diplomats and observers have excoriated both Odinga and Kenyatta for sowing division with inflammatory rhetoric, and refusing to hold joint meetings with the IEBC that could open the way to a free and fair election.

The IEBC itself has also been riven by internal discord.

Last week, a top commissioner quit her job and fled the country, citing fears for her life and intimidation of poll officials, and just hours later IEBC boss Wafula Chebukati declared he could not guarantee a credible election.

He said the commission was logistically ready to carry out the election, but lambasted political interference in the vote and raised doubts that the environment was conducive for voters to exercise their rights.

Observers limit missions

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for peace ahead of the new vote on Thursday

Weeks of uncertainty have hit east Africa's richest economy hard.

"It's very disturbing, everything is at a standstill. We have to wait for this election to pass to go back to our daily normal routines," said voter Edward Irungu, 31.

Ahuya Achieng, 35, a travel consultant, said: "We are very tired, people say Kenya should move on, but where to?"

The crisis is the worst since a disputed 2007 election sparked months of politically-motivated ethnic violence that left 1,100 dead.

The 2017 crisis is different in many ways, although opposition protests have resulted in 40 people being killed, mostly at the hands of police and in poor opposition strongholds, according to rights groups.

Citing extreme tensions, an uncertain political environment and lack of a fully competitive election, missions from the European Union and Carter Centre have decided to limit their observation of the vote.
Ashanti Regional Secretary for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Samuel Pyne has described the Minority in Parliament as a confused group, with no focus on how to help move the country forward.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with OTEC fm's Evans Agyei Sikapa, Sam Pyne stated that the Minority in recent times has concerned themself with irrelevant issues which does not contribute or have any positive impact on the nation building.

He cited an example of the Minoritys walk out of Parliament over claims of bias against the Speaker of the Houses decision to forward the motion on the AMERI deal to the Houses Mines and Energy Committee without any debate.

If they think they are clean on the AMERI power deal, why have they decided to go to court to stop Parliament from investigating the deal, the walking out of Parliament will not stop the Majority from investigating them, he said.

He says the National Democratic Congress (NDC) minority in Parliament should keep the government on its toes by identifying issues which the governing party might be doing wrong but otherwise.

He believes the minority only want their voices to be heard by Ghanaians to showcase that they exist which to him makes no sense.

"Minority is only concern of ordinary politics and that is not how minority should act, they must be up and doing, and stop this cheap political games, he added.
Malaysia is set to partner with industries in the oil palm sector to develop their capacities. This would be done through the sharing of ideas and technology to grow its oil palm production for export.

Chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), Dato Lee Yeow Chor disclosed this at the opening of the 2017 Ghana-Malaysia Oil Palm Trade Seminar (POTS) in Accra to organize to foster the diplomatic relations between both countries.

Ghanas first international commercial trade in oil palm took place in 1820. Starting from the wild palm harvesting, oil palm evolved into an agricultural crop and plantations were established by 1850.

Ghana now has a total of 305,758ha of oil palm and more than 80% of this is cultivated by private small-scale farmers.

Currently, the West African country has an unmet demand of 35,000tons of palm oil. The estimated unmet demand in the ECOWAS sub-region is 850,000tons.

Based on this backdrop, Dato Lee Yeow Chor said Malaysia has established a research facility in Accra as a means of facilitating palm oil growth in Ghana.

He indicated that, the production of palm oil to meet export demand was a long-term achievement.

Mr. Chor also revealed that, the third quarter of 2017 has seen Ghana-Malaysia palm oil trade sit at $140 million.

He explained that imports into Ghana increased by 23.9% to 203,000 tonnes in 2016 as compared to 163,000 tonnes in 2015.

Within the first nine months of 2017, Malaysian palm imports into Ghana totaling 213,000 tonnes had already exceeded the palm oil imports for the entire 2016 he added.

Malaysia which is currently dominating the world palm oil market started the establishment of oil palm plantations with planting materials from Ghana.
OccupyGhana  has noted with grave concern, the ridiculously insignificant fines imposed on the NPP activists who either escaped from lawful custody or engaged in criminal acts under the banner of the Delta Forces.

On March 28th 2017 we issued a press statement condemning the acts of lawlessness, vandalism, violence, thuggery and assault by certain groups said to be associated with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) since it took over the reins of power on January 7th 2017.

We pointed to the Flagstaff House assault on January 9th 2017 by persons alleged to be members of the NPPs Invincible Forces, forcible takeovers of tollbooths by persons claiming NPP membership, and the March 24 attack in the Ashanti Region by persons alleged to belong to the NPP affiliate, Delta Force.

OccupyGhana minced no words in expressing our alarm that these unlawful and criminal acts were being brazenly carried out seemingly without condemnation by the government, and in the full glare of and a seeming lack of strong, swift, forceful and decisive intervention by the state security apparatus to stop it. We unreservedly condemned the acts as illegal and unlawful and called on the government, the NPP and the state security apparatus to act to curb them.

We are not aware that anyone was punished for the Flagstaff House attack and tollbooth takeovers. That was bad. But ultimately, what has happened with respect to the acts of the so-called Delta Force leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, makes a mockery of our law enforcement institutions and ridicules our judiciary. From the botched bail hearing which was disrupted by alleged Delta Force members, through the failure of the police to provide evidence to support a prosecution leading to the filing of a nolle prosequi, and ending with the farcical fines slapped on those who escaped lawful custody and the even more farcical fines imposed for rioting, the notion that one can get away with impunity and even criminality if one was an activist of a ruling government has been reinforced and fortified

That is wrong. We are shocked at how these matters have been handled and are even more appalled about the risible fines imposed on the persons found to have engaged in these criminal acts.

One would have thought that all would have learnt lessons from the Montie 3 incidents when it comes to dealing with the court. The physical attack on the circuit court in Kumasi was in our view worse than what the Montie 3 did on radio. One would have expected that the judiciary, like it did with the Montie 3, would send a strong message to all that similar conduct would not be tolerated. Unfortunately the meek fines imposed can at best be described as a stab in the back of the judiciary by the judiciary itself.

It is of little wonder that a self-proclaimed leader of the Delta Force is reported to have stated that they have no regrets for their acts. That is a sad testimony produced by the toxic mix of official complicity and judicial blessings in the imposition of those farcical fines.

It is hardly surprising that on Monday 16th October, in blatant disregard for the rule of law, the Burma Camp Youth Wing, a pro NPP youth group, attacked and chased out the Regional Coordinator & staff of the Ghana School Feeding Programme in Tamale over perceived unfair allocation of schools in the region to caterers. The group's chairman has since boldly defended their actions which included locking the Regional GSFP offices saying they would do whatever it takes to make the party succeed.

OccupyGhana registers its absolute disgust at and utter condemnation of these matters.

It is not too much to demand from political parties, especially those in power, that they call their supporters and support groups to order and educate them on these matters. It is not too much for the state security apparatus, especially the Ghana Police Service to thoroughly investigate acts of thuggery (irrespective of who engages in them), and arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book. It is not too much to demand that the state deal with this fast calcifying canker firmly, immediately and decisively without delay, without favour and resist interference from every quarter. It is not too much to ask of the judiciary that as the last bastion of the rule of law and constitutional harmony, it should do more than merely slap persons who engage in such acts on the wrist.

Our regret is that what has happened will give these or like-minded people and groups increased licence to perpetrate unlawful acts, embolden others to form new groups along similar lines, increase the likelihood of reprisal attacks from rival groups and spur violence between political opponents and on citizens. If the court can be attacked in this way, who can tell how far such people will be prepared to go?

We consider these as grave threats to our national security and cohesion. Ghana cannot afford this. We call on the Attorney-General to appeal against these sentences and to give a higher court an opportunity to review the sentences imposed. That is what will send a clear message that impunity is not tolerated in Ghana. Anything short of this is wrong and unacceptable.

Yours in the service of God and Country,

OccupyGhana
About 98 heads of Islamic institutions, teachers and clerics have resolved to promote education among poor Muslim communities in Ghana after stakeholders' conference.

The three-day event, which was organized by Barak Policy Institute (BPI), was held recently at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) at Madina in the Greater Accra Region.

It was under the theme, Towards Increased positive educational outcomes for poverty alleviation in deprived communities in Ghana-The Role of stakeholders in the Muslim Community

Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Minister for Inner Cities and Zongo Development, commended the organizers of the event for helping to ensure quality education among members of the Muslim community.

The Minister urged them to develop workable strategic plans to enhance education and mobility in deprived Muslim communities.

He reiterated the preparedness of the Ministry to collaborate with BPI to achieve the objectives.

This conference with such laudable objectives is long overdue for Inner City and Zongo communities, however let me express my profound appreciation to the USAID and the organizers since nothing is ever too late in life, he remarked.

Yvette Malcioln, Education Officer for United States Agency for International Development (USAID), stated that USAID is partnering the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to implement its specialized Learning Project.

According to her, the USAID Learning project targets the training of 31,000 teachers nationwide and is expected to improve reading among 1.1 million Ghanaian children in KG2, Primary 1&2.

There are many Islamic primary schools, teachers, head teachers and students in the country receiving assistance through the USAID Learning Project, and we are working very closely with the GES, decentralized entities, academia and other stakeholders to train teachers and head teachers to provide quality teaching and learning materials relevant for promoting a culture of reading, she stated.

The Education Officer further mentioned that it's the top priority of the USAID in Ghana to work with government to improve reading and mathematics in primary school.

Haruna Zagoon-Sayeed, Executive Director BPI, said expressed happiness that the conference achieved its objective of identifying some strategies, which will help it initiate activities to boost quality education delivery in Islamic institutions.

It's unfortunate that a lot of our youth abuse drugs and in our efforts, we will campaign against its use to help them to lead decent lifestyles, he stated.
Government will soon come out with transformation models to upscale poultry industry in its quest for increase production and job creation, the Ashanti Regional Director of Agriculture, Rev John Manu has said.

According to him, this may come in a form of support and creation of the enabling environment to make Ghana a hub for poultry meat production and promote protein intake in the face of challenging trading environment.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday ahead of Ghana Expo 2017's International Poultry, Aquaculture and Livestock exhibition and seminars in Kumasi, Rev Manu stated that poultry could be the engine for job creation because the value chain is great.

Government, and for that matter the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, is determined to revive the poultry industry because it is a sector that has a bright future for the growth of the economy, the ability to supply quick protein and job creation potential, he noted.

He said the exhibition, which is being organised by Pals Africa, is to create a platform for investors and international players of the industry to help grow the industry, afford investors the opportunity to commit money into areas where Government cannot afford.

It is to cut down the importation of frozen chicken and day-old chicks as well as many items and areas where production can be done locally.

The Agric Director said Ghana has the potential to take advantage of the existing poultry meat production through significant investment in automation and technology in an attempt to reduce cost to ensure the industry's revival and survival.

The exhibition will come off at Golden Tulip, Kumasi City, from November 2 to 3, 2017 and it is being done to bridge the gap in commercial animal production.

Chief Executive of Pals Africa, John Bewuah Edusei, said poultry and livestock industry contributed significantly to Ghana's agriculture production and Gross Domestic Product.

Despite this, it is an industry that has received little attention, intimating that it requires significant investment to modernise and increase production to achieve its full potential.

According to him, the poultry industry remains a highly global competitive industry, employing lots of hands and raking in revenues and foreign exchange to countries.

He called for collaboration between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to promote egg eating through the School Feeding Programme.

The CEO of Boris B's Farms and Veterinary Supplies Company Limited, Boris Baidoo thanked the Government and the Agric Ministry for its flagship programme  Planting for Food and Jobs.

He observed that it would be a great benefit to the country if government gives supports to organisations such as Pals Africa to organise events that promote agriculture and draw investors into the nation.
The Cuban Ambassador to Ghana, Pedro Luis Despaigne Gonzalez, stretched a friendship to the people of Ghana when he paid a courtesy call on the DAILY GUIDE yesterday.

Speaking to the Chief News Editor, A.R. Gomda, he said, as an envoy he has observed the stature of the DAILY GUIDE in the country and felt the need to undertake such a visit.

DAILY GUIDE, he said, is one of the newspapers his mission subscribes because of its stature in the media landscape in the country.

The role of newspapers in shaping public opinion in any country, he observed, cannot be overlooked even in a world driven by digitalization. 'Newspapers are managers of public opinion' he said out of deference to newspapers.

As an envoy, he said, it is his mission to build bridges employing novelties in diplomacy. He recalled the establishment of a Cuban embassy in Ghana in 1963 and pointed at the numerous Ghanaians who have undergone studied in various disciplines in his country.

Cuba, he noted, has attracted a poutpourri of impressions all of which depend on the source of the stories. In all, however, he said, Cuba is a nice country where there is racial harmony. As a black Cuban, he spoke proudly about the cordial relationship existing between races in Cuba.

In his response, the Chief News Editor, A.R. Gomda expressed delight at the kind words from the diplomat.

The cordial relationship between the two countries dates back to the early days after independence  a bond of friendship which, he added, has grown over the years.

The two exchanged pleasantries in an interesting discussion about the Cuban salsa which the Chief News Editor said he loves with the diplomat saying he has started eating some Ghanaians dishes.

The envoy was accompanied by the First Secretary of the Cuban Embassy Julio Cesar Sanchez Martinez.
The chiefs and people of Adumasa in the Akwamu Fie Traditional Area of the Eastern Region outdoored 31-year-old Dinah Agbayizah as queen mother at a colourful ceremony over the weekend.

The installation of Mrs Agbayizah, whose stool name is Nana Afua Ampofo Braketu Serwaa I, was performed by the chiefs and elders of Akwamu  Fie.

The ceremony was supervised by Nana Ansah Kwao I, the chief of Adumasa, who said that queen mothers were assisting in the socio-economic development of the community.

The ceremony, which started as early as 7am, saw both traditional and Christian traditions, as the chiefs of the traditional area showcased their rich and diverse culture.

The beating of the drums complemented the music performance by the Culture Dancing Groups, which attracted the traditional authorities, opinion leaders, politicians, tourists and the clergy, among others, to the dancing floor.

In her speech, Nana Afua Ampofo Braketu Serwaa I said she would use her position to advance education, especially that of the girl-child, to prevent them from migrating to the cities in search of non-existent jobs.

I will also work hand-in-hand with the traditional authorities and district assemblies to improve health and sanitation to ensure healthy lives for the development of the area, she added.

The ceremony was attended by personalities such Sammy Awuku, the National Youth Organiser of the ruling New Patriotic Party, who is the board chairman of Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and classmate of the newly installed queen mother, Georgina Opoku-Amankwah, a Deputy Electoral Commissioner, among other traditional rulers from other communities.

Nana Afua Serwaa was born on 18th April, 1986 to Opanin James Kwame Agbayizah of Ziope in the Volta Region and Awo Akosua Siawaa of Adumasa.

She started her elementary school at Gospel International at Madina and proceeded to Elim Cluster of Schools to complete her Junior Secondary School (JHS).

She continued to the Aburi Girls Secondary School in 2001 and completed in 2004.

In 2005, she continued her tertiary education at the University of Ghana, Legon and obtained Bachelor of Fine Arts and completed in May 2009.

The new Adumasa queen mother pursued her Masters of Philosophy in Applied Theatre with specialization in Theatre for Development at the University of Ghana while serving as a graduate assistant at the Institute of African Studies.

She is married with a child.

Drama

Ahead of her installation on Monday, the royals and Asafo groups from Akwamufie stormed the Institute of African Studies (IAS) to transport Nana Serwaa to Adumasa for the installation.

The young lady, who is an MPhil student and teaching assistant working with Professor Daniel Kodzo Avorgbedor, Head of Music, Art and Culture Department, fled to hid in the professor`s office upon seeing her people.

For over one hour, the royals and Asafo group sang various Akwamu war songs until every member of the Institute, including the Director of the Institute, Professor Dzodzi Tsikata, came out to observe the process.

After an hour, Prof Avorgbedor encouraged his student to come out. The people received her graciously and poured libation.

The new queen mother was ushered into a car while members of the Asafo company sang and danced to entertain themselves.
The Northern Regional Police Command has arrested Issah Abdul Mubarik, 34, from Bawku in the Upper East for posing as a military office.

A search conducted by the police in the suspect's room at Dungu revealed two sets of military uniforms bearing the name A. Mubarik, a pair of military trousers, two military pullovers, two military vests, a military combat boot, a military cup, a pair of military gloves, two pieces of 9mm ammunition, a rubber stamp bearing the name of Pay Regiment, Burma Camp Accra and some forged certificates.

During investigations, the suspect told police that the military accoutrements belonged to his grandfather who was a soldier.

Briefing the media, the Tamale Metro Police Commander, Supt. Dinam Zoiku, said the suspect went to the Tamale District Police dressed in military uniform and handed over a suspect he claimed stole his motorbike some months ago.

According to the police, the suspect told the police he was a soldier with the 6BN in Tamale and went ahead to write same in his statement to the police.

The information presented by the suspect was suspicious and upon further interrogation he admitted he was not a soldier and that the military accoutrements belonged to his grandfather.

The Tamale Metro Police Commander, Supt. Dinam Zoiku, advised the youth to desist from parading as security personnel.

He stated that possessing of police or security uniform without a reasonable excuse constitutes a criminal offence and punishable under the law.

Supt. Dinam Zoiku urged members of the general public, who have been defrauded by the suspect, to report to the nearest police station.

After police investigations, the suspect would be arraigned before court.
25.10.2017 LISTEN

The Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Michael Abikoye, yesterday charged the newly installed Chief Hamza Peregrino-Brimah VIII to reach out to those who vied for the position he now holds but did not make it.

When a chieftaincy position becomes vacant many people vie for it, but only one person becomes a chief eventually, he said, adding that God chooses who He wants to make chiefs.

He disclosed this when Chief Hamza Brimah VIII who was recently inducted into the Council of Zongo Chiefs, and executive members of the Yoruba Association paid a courtesy call on him at the Nigerian High Commission yesterday.

The envoy recalled the chieftaincy dispute among the Yorubas in Kumasi where he said he visited recently and asked that members of the ethnic group in Ghana should join hands in finding last solution to the impasse.

He expressed pleasure at the turnout of the chief and his entourage who were joined by the Yoruba Chief of Kasoa. I am proud of you, he said.

He asked members of the Yoruba community to support the new chief to make peace with those who opposed his ascension to the throne he now occupies.

Earlier Alhaji Musa Baba, President of the Yoruba Association, saluted the envoy for what according to him are the inroads he is making since he assumed office.

He pledged the support of the members of the association to, as he put it, make the work of the envoy smooth.

Continuing he said Yorubas are peace-loving people who have lived with the indigenous people for over 200 years now.
Four persons were arrested today [Wednesday], after chaos erupted during a press conference by the Abola Piam We (Clan), at Ga Mashie in Accra, following threats by the Royal House to install a new Ga Mantse.

According to the Abola Piam We, it is the rightful clan to install a new Ga Mantse.

There was heavy security presence amidst the chaos when Citi News arrived at the scene.

As the Abola Piam We press conference was ongoing, some youth besieged the venue, saying they had been sent by Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, who was installed on Monday as the new Ga Mantse.

Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II was installed at the North-Kaneshie Palace of the Ga State, amid heavy police presence to maintain law and order

The rampaging youth also threatened the lives of journalists, accusing them of fanning the tensions over a traditional ruler in the Ga state.

The confusion over who qualifies to be the Ga Mantse has existed since the demise of Boni Nii Amugi II in December 2004, which was followed by several people laying claim to the stool.

Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II became the fifth Ga Mantse to be installed since the death of Nii Amugi II.

According to Ga tradition, the kingship rotates among four royal houses, namely, Teiko Tsuru We, Amugi We, Abola Piam We and Tackie Kommey We.

The general consensus is that, it is the Abola Piam Wes turn to enstool a Ga Mantse.

Reverse Nii Adama Latse's induction as Ga Mantse  Ga Traditional Council

Just last week, acting President of the Ga Traditional Council, Nii Dodoo Nsaki II, who is also Otublohum Mantse, asked the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs to reverse the induction of Nii Adama Latse as the Ga Mantse into its fold.

The Council says it has picked reports in sections of the media suggesting that Nii Adama Latse has been inducted into the House of Chiefs as Ga Mantse.



By: citifmonline.com/Ghana
Lions Club of Turin, Italy, has donated a number of assorted eyeglasses to First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo's foundation.

The presentation is to support the activities of the charity organisation in the health sector, particularly women and child health.

The Honorary Consul of Ghana in Turin, Salvatore De Fazio, who presented the items to the first lady at her Ridge office, commended her for the humanitarian activities that the foundation had undertaken over the years before she became the first lady of Ghana.

He commended the first lady for her various initiatives and activities targeted at improving healthcare standards in the country.

Mr De Fazio expressed his confidence that the donation would not be a one-off event but the beginning of a long-term collaboration with the foundation to do whatever they can to support the first lady's good cause.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Rebecca Foundation, the first lady expressed her gratitude to the organisation for their kind gesture and promised all the items would be put to good use.

Lions Club is an international organisation whose members dedicate their time and services to various humanitarian causes, including helping the blind and people with visual problems.
It seems the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is not ready to make public the supposed true findings made by the Prof. Kwesi Botchwey committee on why the party was defeated in the 2016 polls.

That is the position of the partys General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who said its only meant for internal consumption.

We've taken a position that Kwesi Botchwey's report is meant for internal consumption, so it has not been published anywhere, he said in an interview with Citi News Umaru Sanda Amadu on Wednesday.

He made the remark on the back of some documents which some media houses have claimed to be a leaked report with findings from the Kwesi Botchwey committee.

The leadership of the NDC has been tight-lipped about the findings of the report, which was submitted in June 2017, after months of touring and holding consultative meetings with interest groups and individuals across the country.

However, some media outlets including the Daily Guide newspaper and Accra-based Joy FM in series of news stories, have made public what they claim to be some findings of the committee.

The publications, among others, have pointed to Stan Dogbe and Elvis Afyiie Ankrah as John Mahama's undoing.

It also indicated that, the report had cited some officials at the Flagstaff House during Mahama's tenure of shortchanging journalists by cutting down budgeted stipends for the presidential press corps and pocketing the rest.

But Asiedu Nketa in the interview rubbished the leaked report .

Any commentary that is being run or any alleged capturing of Botchwey's report and serialization cannot represent any genuine document coming from NDC.

When probed further on why the party has decided not to publish the report, Mr. Asiedu Nketia said Nobody publishes a management advise in the media, it doesn't happen anywhere. Those demanding for it are poor managers.

If you go and fabricate things and put them there hoping that the fabrication will force people to publish what the truth is, then you will be deceiving yourself. There is a party official position about how the report should be handled, he stressed.

He also accused the NPP of using the report to divert attention from important national issues.

I have also observed that it looks like the NPP government wants to use some fake Botchwey report to divert the attention of Ghanaians from the hardships that they are going through. So it's like they are always using something purporting to be coming from the Botchwey's report to divert attention of any major issue that seems to be indicting the government, he added.

Mahama laughs off supposed Kwesi Botchwey report

Former President John Mahama, who was amused by the recent publications purporting to be from the committees report, also took to social media platform Twitter, to make a mockery of it .

It appears 'KB report has been adopted by some media as the new handbook for any challenge facing Gh. In the event of crisis, open any page and quote. Lol, he tweeted.
25.10.2017 LISTEN

The General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has accused the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) of being behind the use of a fake document purported to be the outcome of investigations into the causes of the NDC's defeat by the Kwesi Botchwey committee.

He says the NPP is using these tactics to divert attention from the hardships Ghanaians are facing in the country.

According to him, such stories pop up in a section of the media anytime serious issues come to the fore which indicts the governing party.

Mr. Asiedu Nketia made the claim in an interview with Citi News' Umaru Amadu Sanda on Wednesday.

I have also observed that it looks like the NPP government wants to use some fake Botchwey report to divert the attention of Ghanaians from the hardships that they are going through. So it's like they are always using something purporting to be coming from the Botchwey's report to divert attention of any major issue that seems to be indicting the government, he added.

The NDC General Secretary recounted that on the day there was news about the 2.5 billion dollar scandal and everybody was debating, they published something allegedly coming from Botchwey's report.

Then we moved on to major Mahama's death, when everybody was discussing it, then another thing was published allegedly coming from Botchwey's report. Then we came to the contaminated fuel matter. When it was being discussed then another story came out allegedly from the report, he said.

Asiedu Nketia further advised the NPP government to stop what he described as diversionary tactics to help them know their shortfalls.

They should better allow for debate to happen on national issues and stop this diversionary tactics so they will know where they are going wrong and then the debate will inform the way the government should manage this country, he added.

Leaked Kwesi Botchwey report fake

Johnson Asiedu Nketia, in the interview, also rubbished the leaked documents alleged to be findings made by the Kwesi Botchwey committee.

Some media outlets including the Daily Guide newspaper and Accra-based Joy FM in series of news stories, have made public what they claim to be some findings of the committee.

But Asiedu Nketia said they will never make the report public because it is an internal party document.

We've taken a position that Kwesi Botchwey's report is meant for internal consumption so it has not been published anywhere. So any commentary that is being run or any alleged capturing of Botchwey's report and serialization cannot represent any genuine document coming from NDC.

Mahama laughs off supposed Kwesi Botchwey report

Former President John Mahama, who was amused by the recent publications, also took to social media platform Twitter, to make a mockery of it .

It appears 'KB report has been adopted by some media as the new handbook for any challenge facing Gh. In the event of crisis, open any page and quote. Lol, he tweeted.
A Paris court will Friday issue its verdict in the graft case of Equatorial Guinea Vice President Teodorin Obiang -- the first trial stemming from multiple investigations into assets linked to the leaders of three oil-rich African countries.

Equatorial Guinea, Congo-Brazzaville and Gabon all face investigations looking into claims of embezzlement and money-laundering.

Here are the key dates:

Elites accused

- December 2008: The French chapter of Transparency International (TI) and non-governmental group Sherpa file a suit against the three countries' presidents accusing them of acquiring luxury homes in France with embezzled public money.

- November 2010: A French court authorises judges to start investigating the allegations.

- September 2011: French judicial officials raid Paris property belonging to the family of Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, hauling away Bugattis, Ferraris, Rolls-Royce Phantoms and other cars.

Nine seized cars are auctioned in July 2013 for 3.21 million euros.

First warrant, charges

- July 2012: A court issues an international arrest warrant for Obiang's son Teodorin after he refuses to heed a summons. He is agriculture minister and deputy head of mission to UN cultural agency UNESCO, and tries to claim diplomatic immunity.

- July 2012: The Paris mansion of Teodorin Obiang is seized. The six-storey apartment is reportedly worth more than 100 million euros ($130 million dollars).

- March 2014: Teodorin Obiang is charged with corruption and embezzlement. He denies the charges.

Investigation widens

- August-September 2015: Judges seize several properties suspected of belonging to a nephew of Congo-Brazzaville President Denis Sassou Nguesso.

- December 2015: A French appeals court rules that Teodorin Obiang does not have immunity against prosecution.

- April 2016: French judges seize properties belonging to the family of Gabon's president Omar Bongo, who died in 2009, including a villa in Nice and a Paris mansion.

Two Paris apartments in the name of Nguesso's wife Antoinette are also confiscated.

- September 2016: French authorities announce that Teodorin Obiang, promoted to first vice president in June, will stand trial.

- January 2017: Teodorin Obiang trial begins in his absence and is postponed immediately. It resumes in June and ends in July with prosecutors demanding a three-year jail term and a 30-million-euro fine.

- March 2017: Nguesso's nephew, Wilfrid, is placed under investigation for money laundering and misuse of public funds in France.

- June 2017: Investigators charge a daughter and son-in-law of Congo's president with money laundering and misuse of public funds.

- July 2017: Another nephew of Nguesso and a former sister-in-law are charged. Five members of Nguesso's entourage have now been charged.

- August 2017: French judges wrap up their investigation into the Bongo family and no charges were announced.
Victor Ademang

25.10.2017 LISTEN

3G Media announces that Mr. Victor Kodjo Ademang, the Chief Executive Officer of Ahomka Beverages Limited will be honored at the 7th Edition of the 3G Awards 2017 in New York.

Mr. Ademang and his company are the proud producers of the famous Bie Gya Bitters which is currently the leading herb based alcoholic beverage on the Ghanaian market. Bie Gya Bitters has now become the toast for every Ghanaian living everywhere due to its unique herbal based natural ingredients.

As an entrepreneur and a very innovative businessman, he kept researching, exploring and experimenting on various products that will satisfy his numerous consumers until he recently veered into the production of alcoholic beverages. His companys current flagship product has so far taken over the alcoholic beverage industry in Ghana with the introduction of the latest high brand, quality and healthy afro-root non-chemical alcoholic beverage,

Some of the Ghanaian celebrities who will be honoured at the event include, Vivienne Achor, gospel duo Willie & Mike, among others.

The 3G Media Awards 2017 is in recognition of exceptional leaders and their contributions to the Ghanaian and global communities. The event will be held on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at Pak Banquet Hall, 4229 Park Avenue Bronx, New York.

The event will be co-hosted by Bernard Aduse Poku of Kumawood Fam and Ageorgia. DJs expected who are expected to grace the event include DJ Jeff, DJ Prince, DJ Prekese and Naasei. There will be a live musical performance from Akrofi and a host of others.

This years event is being sponsored by KTA Moblie, Investigroup, Royal Olives, Royal Estates Group, 1st Family Home Care, MayJay Property Management etc. Supported by the Permanent Missions of Ghana in New York, the National Council of Ghanaian Associations, Ghana Chamber of Commerce USA, Vitalghradio, Highlife Radio, Golden FM, Worcester, Anokyekrom and Club Noamesco.

Source:Charles N. Ntiamoah-Mensah (Mr. CNN) 3gmediaonline.com
Uganda's opposition leader Kizza Besigye and five others were charged with inciting violence and freed from jail on Wednesday after six nights in detention.

Besigye was arrested last week following the killing of an opposition supporter during a protest, ruled illegal by authorities, in the western city of Rukungiri.

The protesters were marching against a ruling party plan to amend the constitution to remove presidential age limits, a move that would allow President Yoweri Museveni to stand for a sixth consecutive term in 2021.

Mugisha Muntu, a senior official of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), said Besigye and five others had been "freed on non-cash bail of five million shillings ($1,400, 1,200 euros)".

Area police spokesman Elly Maate said the six are accused of inciting the public to assault a police officer, attacking the officer's house and damaging a police vehicle.

"Besigye and the others are also charged with disobedience of lawful duty by holding an unauthorised rally in Rukungiri on October 18, 2017," Maate said.

The six have denied all charges. The next court hearing is due in Rukungiri on November 18.
Cameroon on Wednesday blasted the International Crisis Group (ICG) as an "agency of destabilisation" after the thinktank warned an armed insurgency could erupt in the country's restive anglophone regions.

In a statement, government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary hit out at reports published by the ICG on August 2 and October 19 that criticised a crackdown in the two English-speaking regions.

The October 19 report notably called on Cameroon to rethink a policy of "murderous repression" that, it warned, could lead to an "armed uprising".

Tchiroma described the ICG as "a veritable agency of destabilisation (of Cameroon), in the pay of the secessionist movements and shadowy interests whose only dream is to sow chaos in our country".

The ICG's claims of many deaths "are simply a clumsy attempt at disinformation that are phantasmagorical at the very least", Tchiroma said.

He accused the ICG of being in a "coalition in league against our country". Other members of it, he charged, included Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

French-speaking Cameroon has a large anglophone minority which comprises around a fifth of its population of 22 million.

Gathered mainly in two regions, many English speakers say they suffer inequality and discrimination.

Simmering resentment has fuelled a breakaway movement that on October 1 issued a symbolic declaration of independence for the putative state of Ambazonia, prompting a crackdown by a government firmly opposed to secession.

In the face of mounting protests in the run-up to the declaration, the security forces "responded with disproportionate force, leading to at least 40 deaths and over 100 injured protesters between September 28 and 2 October", the ICG said on October 19.

It pointed to the use of live rounds and excessive use of teargas.

Amnesty International says more than 20 people have been shot dead by security forces, and at least 500 detained. According to an AFP tally, at least 14 people died. The authorities give a toll that varies between 10 and 12 dead.

Headquartered in Brussels, the ICG is a not-for-profit organisation that describes its mission as providing independent analysis and advice to try to head off potential conflict.

In a new report issued on Wednesday, the group said the fight against the Islamist group Boko Haram in northern Cameroon had further strained "the already-delicate economic situation" there.
25.10.2017 LISTEN

Nana Kwasi Adinkra Agyemang, the Bonohene of the Republic of Ivory Coast over the weekend advised the Ghanaian and Ivorian youth to be law-abiding citizens and remain disciplined to promote peace and progress in the two countries.

He said without discipline a youthful population as part of a nation's labour force could not contribute meaningfully towards its social and economic development.

The chief said this in an interview with the media at a grand durbar to mark the annual Adae Kese festival of the chiefs and people of Tarbane in the Ivory Coast.

The people of Tarbane are closely related to the 'Brongs' with their blood relations occupying the Jaman North and South Districts in Ghana but have found themselves in their present location because of artificial boundaries created by the colonial masters.

The festival, attended by politicians, traditional rulers and the general public is observed to give thanks and show reverence to their ancestors by performing number of traditional rites and showcasing the customary legacy and cultural heritage of the people.

It is also aimed at reminding the younger generation to be responsible ambassadors to promote their cultural heritage by leading lives worthy of emulation to honour and celebrate their ancestors who lived exemplary lives.

Nana Agyemang urged the youth to develop qualities of hard work and perseverance in order to take up responsible positions to contribute to national development.

'I entreat the youth to unite and maintain peace for progress' he said adding that every country needs unity to propel the holistic development of its citizens.

Odeneho Dr Affram Brempong III, Paramount Chief of Suma Traditional Area in the Jaman North District, commended the chief for working hard to maintain the relationship between the Jaman people in the Ivory Coast and their brothers and sisters in Ghana.

He appealed to Nana Agyemang and his people to continue to highlight the philosophies of the African tradition and cultural beliefs and practices as we are the same people with a common destiny.

In attendance at the event were Mr Daniel Kablan Duncan, the Vice President of Ivory Coast as well as other traditional rulers from Ghana and Ivory Coast.
Kenyan opposition chief leader Raila Odinga urged his supporters to stay at home on Thursday as the country forges ahead with a disputed presidential poll that could threaten the stability of the east African powerhouse.

In a move likely to ease fears of election-day violence, Odinga on Wednesday called on followers to "hold vigils and prayers away from polling stations or just stay at home" for the poll.

Supporters should stay away, for the "bloodthirsty regime is planning to use every excuse to massacre our people," he charged.

The election is the chaotic climax of a two-months political drama that began when the Supreme Court overturned the victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta in the August 8 elections.

It cited "irregularities" and mismanagement by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The repeat election is going ahead after clearing myriad legal and political hurdles, but anxiety remains high over the unpredictable consequences of a vote that will take place without Odinga.

Opposition protests have resulted in at least 40 people being killed, mostly at the hands of police and in poor opposition strongholds, according to rights groups.

In Odinga's western stronghold of Kisumu, one protester was shot in the hip on Wednesday, according to an AFP photographer, as demonstrators engaged in running battles with police.

Election chief Wafula Chebukati -- who said last week he could not guarantee a credible election -- appeared to soften his stance on Wednesday after "assurances" from security officials and authorities and "progress" within his divided commission.

"The election as scheduled will go ahead tomorrow, the 26th of October," he said.

The final legal hurdle came in the form of a last-minute Supreme Court petition to delay the election.

But the hearing was unable to go ahead after only two of seven judges showed up in court. At least five judges are needed to form a quorum.

Chief Justice David Maraga said one judge was ill and out of the country, one could not get a flight to Nairobi and two were "not able to come to court," he said.

There are concerns the vote could get messy in some areas, with Kenya's security forces on high alert

And his deputy, Philomena Mwilu, did not attend because her bodyguard was shot and seriously wounded on Tuesday evening.

She was not in her car at the time but the incident fuelled anxiety in a country still reeling from the torture and murder of a top official overseeing Kenya's electronic voting system just a week before the August poll.

The vote has also been plagued by opposition attacks on polling officials and a general atmosphere of intimidation.

Chebukati said last week one of his staff members' house had been burned down, saying when "midwifing democracy... becomes as risky as going to war, then we are at our lowest".

Outspoken opposition senator James Orengo said the failure to raise a quorum was "not by coincidence or by accident."

'Campaign of defiance'

Opposition supporters attend the funeral of three people who were shot dead earlier this month, bringing to 40 the total number killed in Kenya since the initial vote on August 8

The ballot was meant to pit Kenyatta, who turns 56 on Thursday, against 72-year-old Odinga for the third time, in a dynastic political rivalry that began with their fathers after the country gained independence from Britain.

But while Odinga secured a rare victory in having the August ballot overturned, he has refused to take part in the re-run.

The withdrawal assures a triumph for Kenyatta, although analysts say the flawed image of the election will tarnish his victory.

Odinga accuses the IEBC of failing to make sufficient reforms to ensure the vote would be free, fair and credible.

The veteran opposition leader, who has lost three previous elections claiming fraud in two of them, said his National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition would transform into "a resistance movement."

NASA will "embark on a national campaign of defiance of illegitimate governmental authority and non-cooperation with all its organs," he declared.

Odinga also reiterated his hope of forcing another "fresh, free and fair presidential election... within 90 days."

Top diplomats and observers have excoriated both Odinga and Kenyatta for sowing division with inflammatory rhetoric, and refusing to hold joint meetings with the IEBC that could open the way to a free and fair election.

The IEBC itself has also been riven by internal discord.

Last week, a top commissioner quit her job and fled the country, citing fears for her life and intimidation of poll officials.

Observers limit missions

Profile of Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga

Weeks of uncertainty have hit east Africa's richest economy hard.

"It's very disturbing, everything is at a standstill. We have to wait for this election to pass to go back to our daily normal routines," said voter Edward Irungu, 31.

Ahuya Achieng, 35, a travel consultant, said: "We are very tired, people say Kenya should move on, but where to?"

The crisis is the worst since a disputed 2007 election sparked months of politically-motivated ethnic violence that left 1,100 dead.

Citing extreme tensions, an uncertain political environment and lack of a fully competitive election, missions from the European Union and Carter Centre have decided to limit their observation of the vote.
October 24, 2017. South Africa has just been hit by the worst data breach in its history. The personal information of more than 30 million South Africans - more than half of the total population - has leaked online, potentially causing identity theft for each one of the affected individuals. The leaked data includes names, ID numbers, income information, employment history, phone numbers and home addresses of everyone on the list.

The leaked information, contained in a 27GB file dating to 2015, was discovered by an Australian Internet security provider, Troy Hunt.

When a huge amount of personal information is stolen, it can be used to steal bank account information or open bank accounts in that persons name,  said Marty P. Kamden, CMO of NordVPN (Virtual Private Network). Cyber criminals are not different from thieves who break into someones house - they just operate on a much larger scale, and are therefore even more dangerous. Governments still struggle with solutions for such massive-scale hacks, so our advice is for people to take their privacy into their own hands.

NordVPN recommends these steps post-data breach (these are general safety tips that should be followed by every Internet user regardless if their privacy has been breached or not):

1. Use only https URL. Make sure all websites that you give your data to have the secure https URL. The s in the URL means that it is a secure protocol and your data is encrypted properly.

2. Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). VPNs connect you to the Internet through an encrypted tunnel. VPN server acts as a relay between the Internet and a companys device, so nobody can see what data is being shared over the Internet. All that can be seen is that you are connected to a VPN server. A VPN service provider, such as NordVPN , can offer multiple benefits to small businesses and individuals, including secure data connections for remote workers and increased safety for business owners to share sensitive company data via an encrypted connection, so its not seen by any third parties.

3. Avoid downloading files from unknown senders. The rule is simple: if you are not familiar with the sender, better dont click to download any attachments or any links they might be sending.

4. Update your firewall. Most systems have an automatically installed firewalljust make sure you follow up with its regular updates.

5. Use antivirus. Use an updated virus protection to make sure your system is protected from malware such as malvertising (advertisement online with malicious codes).

6. Strong passwords. Perhaps the most basic requirement for any online account setup is using strong passwords . Weak passwords make it simple for hackers to break into your system and cause severe damage.

7. Update your operating system. It sounds simple and easy to do, but sometimes we ignore the pop-up reminders for software updates. However, its one of the most important things to do with a computer, as the updates fix security vulnerabilities and system bugs.

8. Secure your mobile. If you are happy that your system is now secure, you might be forgetting one important part - your mobile devices. You probably store important passwords on your smartphone and other sensitive information, therefore, remember to encrypt your phone either.

9. Do not provide your private information to any third party. When you need to enter your personal data anywhere online, provide it only if its absolutely necessary. You never know where it will end up.

For more information about staying safe online, visit NordVPN.com .

ABOUT NORDVPN

NordVPN is the worlds most advanced VPN service provider that is more security oriented than most VPN services. It offers double VPN encryption, anti DDoS & Onion Over VPN services. It offers easy-to-use Mac, iOS and Android apps that provide a unique algorithm, allowing to automatically connect to the fastest server. The product is very user friendly, offers one of the best prices on the market, has over 1,100 servers worldwide and is P2P friendly. One of the key features of NordVPN is zero logs policy.
25.10.2017 LISTEN

When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.  Harriet Beecher Stowe

Suicide is a serious public health problem; however, suicides are preventable with timely, evidence-based and often low-cost interventions. For national responses to be effective, a comprehensive multi-sectorial suicide prevention strategy is needed

History has is it that in the ancient world people took their own life in response to escape evil, avoid shame, express grief over a tragic death, or avoid capture or dishonor in battle. Overall, however, suicide was condemned. There are six instances of suicide in the Old Testament whiles in the New Testament, the only suicide mentioned is that of Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:3-5, Acts of the Apostles 1:18-20) who betrayed Jesus and proceeded to hang himself. Indeed the Bible suggests that this act is shameful.

Apart from the Christian religion all other religion does not approve of suicide as an appropriate means to exit the earth. The consequences of suicide beyond the fact that almost all religion disapproves of it, are not just that one person is dead, that a precious life has ended. It is also a tragedy of epic proportions for the people left behind.

This notwithstanding World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that every year close to 800 000 people take their own life and there are many more people who attempt suicide. Every suicide is a tragedy that affects families, communities and entire countries and has long-lasting effects on the people left behind. Suicide occurs throughout the lifespan and was the second leading cause of death among 1529-year-olds globally in 2015.

Suicide does not just occur in high-income countries, but is a global phenomenon in all regions of the world. In fact, over 78% of global suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries in 2015.

Interestingly suicide is reported as a major cause of premature mortality worldwide, but data on its epidemiology in Africa, the worlds second most populous continent, are limited. Regional or national suicide incidence data were available for less than one third (16/53) of African countries containing approximately 60% of Africas population; suicide attempt data were available for <20% of countries (7/53). Crude estimates suggest there are over 34,000 (inter-quartile range 13,141 to 63,757) suicides per year in Africa, with an overall incidence rate of 3.2 per 100,000 population. The recent Global Burden of Disease (GBD) estimate of 49,558 deaths is somewhat higher, but falls within the inter-quartile range of GBDs estimate. Suicide rates in men are typically at least three times higher than in women. The most frequently used methods of suicide are hanging and pesticide poisoning. Reported risk factors are similar for suicide and suicide attempts and include interpersonal difficulties, mental and physical health problems, socioeconomic problems and drug and alcohol use/abuse. Qualitative studies are needed to identify additional culturally relevant risk factors and to understand how risk factors may be connected to suicidal behaviour in different socio-cultural contexts.

Ghana records about 1,500 suicide cases annually, the Chief Executive of the Mental Health Authority, Dr. Akwasi Osei, has revealed. This figure constituted about seven per cent loss of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but little attention is paid to suicide cases in the country. The Mental Health Authority Chief notes that, in every single reported case of suicide, there are four unreported case of suicide, this therefore bring the number of unreported cases to about 6,000 annually.

This is a primitively outrageous statistics which should prompt Ghana to prioritize and mainstreaming issues of mental health much more seriously.

Who is at risk?

While the link between suicide and mental disorders (in particular, depression and alcohol use disorders) is well established in high-income countries, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life stresses, such as financial problems, relationship break-up or chronic pain and illness.

In addition, experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse, or loss and a sense of isolation are strongly associated with suicidal behaviour. Suicide rates are also high amongst vulnerable groups who experience discrimination, such as refugees and migrants; indigenous peoples; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) persons; and prisoners. By far the strongest risk factor for suicide is a previous suicide attempt.

Indeed mental health is a complex issue and its easy to become confused and unclear about its impact. What is for sure is that everyone's mental health is important and Ghana as a country should devise comprehensive measures to help anyone who is feeling stigmatized because of poor mental health.

Stigma, particularly surrounding mental disorders and suicide, means many people thinking of taking their own life or who have attempted suicide are not seeking help and are therefore not getting the help they need. The prevention of suicide has not been adequately addressed due to a lack of awareness of suicide as a major public health problem and the taboo in many societies to openly discuss it. To date, only a few countries have included suicide prevention among their health priorities and only 28 countries report having a national suicide prevention strategy.

Raising community awareness and breaking down the taboo is important for Ghana to make progress in preventing suicide.

Methods of suicide

WHO estimates that around 30% of global suicides are due to pesticide self-poisoning, most of which occur in rural agricultural areas in low- and middle-income countries. Other common methods of suicide are hanging and firearms.

Knowledge of the most commonly used suicide methods is important to devise prevention strategies which have shown to be effective, such as restriction of access to means of suicide.

Prevention and control

Suicides are preventable but certainly not what pertains in Ghanas criminal code of criminalizing suicide. Section 57 Clause 2 of the 1960 Criminal Code of Ghana should therefore be expunged without further delay. Additionally there are a number of measures that can be taken at population, sub-population and individual levels to prevent suicide and suicide attempts. These include:

reducing access to the means of suicide (e.g. pesticides, firearms, certain medications);

reporting by media in a responsible way;

introducing alcohol policies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol;

early identification, treatment and care of people with mental and substance use disorders, chronic pain and acute emotional distress;

training of non-specialized health workers in the assessment and management of suicidal behaviour;

follow-up care for people who attempted suicide and provision of community support.

Suicide is a complex issue and therefore suicide prevention efforts require coordination and collaboration among multiple sectors of society, including the health sector and other sectors such as education, labour, agriculture, business, justice, law, defense, politics, and the media. These efforts must be comprehensive and integrated as no single approach alone can make an impact on an issue as complex as suicide.

The author is an Industrial Relations and Development Practitioner and can be reached on [email protected] or 0243164704
25.10.2017 LISTEN

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, October 25, 2017,-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- African Leadership Academy and Mastercard Foundation are pleased to announce that 22 year old, Ibrahima Ben Aziz Konate from Cote D'Ivoire has been awarded the top prize at the seventh annual Anzisha Prize awards gala. Ibrahima Ben Aziz is the founder of Poultry D'Or, a poultry business that often has over 500 sales a day and employs 15 people. Ibrahima was selected from a competitive pool of diverse entrepreneurs from 14 African countries. For the first time ever, Anzisha Prize is thrilled to award the grand prize to an applicant from Cote D'Ivoire. This will truly expand the reach and impact of the Anzisha program across various countries.

"It is hard to believe that I was chosen as the winner of the prize. It has been a dream of mine to join the Anzisha Prize network since I first heard about it. The $25 000 is the difference that I need to scale my business and show the young people in my community that entrepreneurship is possible, even at a very young age," says Ibrahima.

Each prize winner has founded a business that responds directly to a social or economic need within their community. The two runner-ups were Edgar Edmund, 17, from Tanzania and Victoria Olimatunde, 15, from Nigeria. Edgar Edmund's business Green Venture Tanzania has created a method of turning recycled plastic materials found on the streets into durable construction blocks. His long-term vision impressed the Pan-African panel of judges and his business model showed potential for making a significant and long-term impact. While Victoria, the founder of Bizkidz, a board game that teaches students financial literacy was chosen from 219 applications from her home country. In her presentation to the judges she demonstrated great leadership potential and a commitment to job creation.

The winner of the Agriculture Sector Prize sponsored by the Louis Dreyfus Foundation was Ignatius Ahumuza from Uganda, founder of Art Planet Academy. Ignatius is already a role model proving that the agricultural sector can provide sustainable and fulfilling livelihoods for young people across Africa. Art Planet Academy's purpose is to expand agricultural education across rural communities to increase farming skills and food security. This is an example of how a driven, industrious and energetic 21 year old can contribute to his or her country's economic development.

"It is always a great privilege to meet the newest group of Anzisha Fellows. Their drive and commitment to improving the lives of their families, communities and nations is admirable and inspiring," said Koffi Assouan, Program Manager, Mastercard Foundation. "Entrepreneurialism is an important driver of economic growth across the continent. As these finalists return home, they will become role models who will inspire the next generation to pursue their dreams."

The Anzisha Prize is a partnership between African Leadership Academy and the Mastercard Foundation. The 15 Anzisha Prize finalists were selected from an applicant pool of more than 800 entrepreneurs from more than 32 African countries. The finalists and emerging business leaders were recognized at an exclusive, invitation-only ceremony on Tuesday 24 October 2017 in Johannesburg. The 15 finalists presented their ventures to a panel of judges after spending 10 days in a business accelerator camp to strengthen business fundamentals. They join a more than 70 strong pool of Anzisha Fellows and will receive ongoing business-consulting support, access to experts, and access to networking opportunities to enable sustainable venture growth.

"Young African entrepreneurs such as the Anzisha Fellows are a testimony to the need for youth organizations to promote and provide continued guidance on entrepreneurship and self-employment for young people. Ibrahima is an example of how entrepreneurship and self-employment is key for achieving smart, sustainable and inclusive growth." says Lerato Mdluli, Program Manager for the Anzisha Prize.

Applications for the next cycle of the Anzisha Prize will open on 15 February in 2017. Nominations for promising youth entrepreneurs are welcome all year round.
25.10.2017 LISTEN

Some irate youth in Karaga in the Northern Region, believed to be sympathizers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), have reportedly invaded a police station, and freed some members of the party who were in police custody.

A Citi News source who was close to the scene, said the youth took the decision because the District Chief Executive of Karaga, Alhassan Yabdoo, allegedly caused the arrest of some communicators of the party.

NPP youth revolts against Karaga DCE

Meanwhile, when citifmonline.com contacted the police in the Northern Region, they confirmed that the youth were on rampage, but could not specifically confirm reports that they stormed the police station to free their colleagues.

The Public Relations Officer of the Northern Regional Police Command, ASP Mohammed Tanko, in an interview with citifmonline.com, said his outfit has not yet been briefed on the matter with regards to the suspects that were allegedly set free.

I have not confirmed to you that some people were freed from the police cellsOur commander there has not yet briefed us on that, he said.

But he confirmed that the irate youth locked up some offices of the district assembly.

There was a problem in Karaga between the DCE and a section of the youth, and the report that we received indicated that, the youth went on rampage and locked offices of the district assembly. The police men there tried to contain the situation, but it was very difficult looking at the number of people who were rampaging against the number of policemen there. We have sent reinforcement from Tamale to augment their efforts.

ASP Tanko said the police have currently been able to secure both the police station in Karaga as well as the district Assembly.

He said the DCE is also safe and currently in Tamale, the regional capital.

What we are doing now is not to arrest. We are trying to secure the police station and also the district assembly premises to ensure that state property is not lost, and also we don't lose life. Subsequently, we will go after the perpetrators and arrest them. As I speak now, the DCE is very safe, he is in Tamale right now, he is with the crime officer writing his statement and trying to identify the persons so that we can get him arrested, the police PRO added.

Angry NPP youth at Karaga lock out office of DCE

This is not the first time the youth have revolted against the DCE for Karaga.

They took a similar action in August 2017.

The action of the youth at the time, was as a result of a disagreement between the DCE, who, until his appointment, was the constituency secretary of the NPP, and the NPP constituency chairman, who was suspended during the 2016 electioneering but had since been reinstated.
The Youth for Human Rights Africa (YoHRA), is demanding full-scale investigations into the alleged concealment of a defilement case, by the chief in Assin Addientem.

YoHRA wants a well collaborated full-scale investigation by the Ghana Police Service and all other government agencies into the matter.

A four-year-old girl is fighting for her life after she was defiled allegedly by a suspect she named as Kwabena in the community on October 14, 2017.

Her mother, Monica Nyarko, reported the case to the village chief who later told her that the said Kwabena has been declared innocent by the gods, therefore, there is nothing he or anyone could do to him.

Videos captured by Joy News Maxwell Agbagba, who broke the news, show the four-year-old weak with bandages of the intravenous therapy still on her hand.

The perpetrator has been left to walk freely because Assin Fosu police claim her father, Isaac Kofi who first reported the matter, has not returned to the station to lead them to effect the suspect's arrest.

Speaking on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM Wednesday, Divisional Police Commander, Chief Supt. Henry Bacho said the police are waiting to for father of the victim, to lead them to the village to arrest the named suspect.

But YoHRA in a statement issued Wednesday has condemned the act of concealment by the traditional rulers and has urged the state to take responsibility.

Take over the responsibility of the rehabilitation of the victim and her caretaker (s) until she is of sound mind, stable, healthy and an independent adult, the statement said.

Read the full statement below:



YOUTH FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AFRICA (YoHRA)

Press Release

ALL MEDIA HOUSES

October 25, 2017

TRADITIONAL AUTHORITIES MUST NOT INTERFERE WITH THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS IN CRIMINAL MATTERS

Youth for Human Rights Africa (YoHRA) has learnt of attempts by some traditional authorities, in the name of tradition to undermine the jurisdiction of the Supreme Law of the land under which the institution of Chieftaincy derives its authority.

This is in the wake of reports of an alleged defilement of a 4-year old girl in Asin Fosu.

Media reports by JoyFM, an Accra based radio station and social media reveal an attempt by the Chiefs of Assin Fosu to conceal a crime of defilement, committed by a member of their community by freeing him with reason that the "gods" of the land do not find him guilty.

YoHRA wishes to remind the Chiefs of Assin Fosu that, the Jurisdiction of the Chieftaincy institution and it functions as succinctly prescribed in the 1992 constitution of Ghana, specifically Articles 270, 272 and 273 does not include settlement of serious matters such as crimes which are well codified in our Criminal Offenses Act, 1960 (Act 29) with prescribed sanctions. Any such attempt to oust the proper Jurisdiction of the courts in the name of some tradition is an illegality and a crime in itself.

Chiefs must NOT in the name of tradition and beliefs attempt to undermine the SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND OR CONCEAL SERIOUS CRIMES AGAINST THE STATE AND VIOLATIONS OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF OTHERS AS PROTECTED BY LAW.

Article 12(1) and (2) of the Constitution of Ghana guarantees the fundamental rights and freedoms of all persons in Ghana including children and obligates the state to uphold such rights.

The UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child in Article 25(2) equally requires children to be given special care and assistance.

The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child also requires of us to ensure that children have special protection.

There is, therefore, an obligation on the state and government for that matter through appropriate state institutions and agencies to ensure full protection and safety of every child in Ghana.

Article 25 of UN Charter on Rights of a Child enjoins state Parties to recognize the rights of a child who has been placed by the competent authorities for the purposes of care, protection or treatment of his or her physical or mental health, to a periodic review of the treatment provided to the child and all other circumstances relevant to his or her placement.

Article 27 (1) (3) (4) of the UN CHARTER ON RIGHTS OF A CHILD clothes the state with responsibility towards the welfare, safety and security of the child.

Article(s).

1. State Parties recognize the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development.

3. State Parties, in accordance with national conditions and within their means, shall take appropriate measures to assist parents and others responsible for the child to implement this right and shall in case of need provide material assistance and support programmes, particularly with regard to nutrition, clothing and housing.

4. State Parties shall take all appropriate measures to secure the recovery of maintenance for the child from the parents or other persons having financial responsibility for the child, both within the State Party and from abroad. In particular, where the person having financial responsibility for the child lives in a State different from that of the child, States Parties shall promote the accession to international agreements or the conclusion of such agreements, as well as the making of other appropriate arrangements.

As a nation its important that agencies like the Ministry of Children, Gender and Social Protection take advantage of these reports, conduct investigations into the allegations and collaborate with the Ministry of Justice to bring perpetrators of this crimes to book which SHALL at the same time serve as a deterrent to others AND bring Justice to the Victim.

Youth for Human Rights Africa (YoHRA) is by this release condemning the act of concealment by the traditional rulers and seeking a WELL COLLABORATED FULL-SCALE INVESTIGATION BY THE GHANA POLICE SERVICE AND ALL OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES INTO THE MATTER.

We encourage the arrest of not only the perpetrator of the crime but the Chiefs as well.

The state MUST as a matter of urgency through social welfare and the ministry of Children, Gender and Social Protection FULLY TAKE OVER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE REHABILITATION OF THE VICTIM AND HER CARETAKER (S) UNTIL THE VICTIM IS OF SOUND MIND, STABLE, HEALTHY AND AN INDEPENDENT ADULT.

YoHRA will be left with no other option than to seek proper redress of the matter before the INTERNATIONAL COURTS should the state fail on it's obligation to the Victim.

Christopher Ankou

Director of Communications - YoHRA

0549199090

[email protected]

www.yohra.org

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Jerry Tsatro Mordy | Email: [email protected], Twitter: @jerrymordy
Works has commenced on a 40 kilometer access road which stretches from Bulemin junction off Gbawe Zero- Gonse road through to Bulemin last stop, a community located in Weija-Gbawe Constituency in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.

The works on the said stretch of access road in the constituency involves reshaping and leveling to make the road accessible to humans and vehicles. The reshaping and leveling of the road is part on an ongoing works on access roads in the constituency.

It can recalled that on Friday October 13, 2017, the State woman through the Hon. Joseph Nyarni Stephen deployed heavy duty machines on Tetegu access roads to reshape and level all pot holes on the said road to make it accessible, pending to be graveled in due course. The works on the said road is part of the stop gap measure initiated by Hon. Tina Naa Ayeley Mensah to make some roads mapped out accessible.

The current repair works On the Bulemin road is being facilitated by the Ga South Municipal Assembly in colloboration with Hon. Tina Naa Ayeley Mensah, the MP for the area and also Deputy Health Minister.

In a close up interview with the indefatigable state woman, she expressed her appreciation to the Municipal Chief Executive for Ga South Municipal Assembly, Hon. Joseph Nyarni Stephen for his swift response to move heavy duty machines to the site to reshape and level the Bulemin road road to make it motorable and accessible.

The access road which saw some works in the latter part of December, 2016 under the New Democratic Congress (NDC), but abandoned after losing power has seen massive repairs works.

I am happy the said road will soon see major construction works after the reshaping and leveling works she said. I have received several complains on the said 40 kilometer road since I assumed the seat as member of Parliament for area, particular the constituency, she stated. She could not hide her joy at the repair works on the Bulemin road. I can now sleep a bit, she remarked.

She seized the opportunity to informed constituents in other communities whose roads are in bad shape to exercise some restraints since plan are far advanced to carried out works on all roads in the constituency to make them accessible to humans and vehicles.
Introduction

In our last article, we stated that there is no right of appeal against the refusal of a DV visa. We stated that you could however pursue a remedy against your refusal by other means; either by a Request for Reconsideration or through an Advisory Opinion to the Visa Office. In the last article, we discussed Request for Reconsideration. In this article, we will discuss an Advisory Opinion to the Visa Office.

What is an Advisory Opinion?

The Visa Office at the Department of State has a dedicated email channel, [email protected] , available only for case-specific questions on the interpretation or application of immigration law. The LegalNet staff works with posts and other divisions in the Visa Office to prepare responses to appropriate inquiries that involve legal issues. If your DV visa is refused, you or your authorised representative may pose a legal question for determination on your refusal to [email protected] .

What does Advisory Opinion involve?

To consider requesting an Advisory Opinion, you may consider these important points:

Advisory opinion can be pursued on matters of law only. It cannot be used as an avenue to challenge factual determinations by the CO. To succeed you must show that you received a final decision on your DV case which you believe to be wrong as a matter of law. For example, if your visa was refused on the basis that you did not meet the educational requirement, you may submit legal argument to show that the CO made a mistake in law by reaching that conclusion.

Advisory Opinion is not an avenue to submit further evidence to overcome your refusal. If your basis for disputing the decision is solely on the basis of new evidence, you may rather consider making a Request for Reconsideration. The Visa Office will not respond to such a request.

Determinations on Advisory Opinion are strictly on matters of law. The procedure for filing your legal question must conform to specific procedures. You must cite all legal authorities upon which you wish to rely. You may therefore wish to speak to a professional conversant with this procedure to advice you on whether or not you have sufficient basis in law to pursue this remedy.

You may consider sending a legal inquiry if you have attempted to contact the consulate at least twice about your DV refusal and the consulate has refused or failed to respond to your request. You may do this if 30 days have passed since your second inquiry.

If your inquiry is favourably considered, you may be issued a visa only when visa numbers are available for your region. If the Visa Office makes a positive determination on your case, they may not compel the Post to issue you a visa. They may only recommend that the Post review your case and contact you. The Post will only issue you a visa if there are visa numbers available. If there are no visa numbers available, you cannot be issued a visa despite a favourable determination of your case.

Finally, a request for Advisory Opinion is free. You do not have to pay any fee for seeking an opinion. However, you may incur some fee should you decide to use the services of a professional.

How long will it take for me to receive a decision?

If you send a request, you will typically receive a notice that the inquiry has been received and is being processed. The time frame for receiving a final decision depends on the complexity of the matter and availability of essential information. You will usually receive a final decision within 30 days of the initial notice that the inquiry is being processed.

If you do not receive a final decision within 30 days of the initial notice, you or your designated representative may submit a follow-up email along with copies of any earlier correspondence.

Conclusion

An advisory opinion can be pursued in very limited circumstances. Since it involves legal interpretation, it may be pursued on grounds that the CO made an error of law. It is not advisable to bang your hopes on obtaining a DV visa. Even if you inquiry is favourably considered, you can only be issued a visa if visa numbers are available for your region.

By Emmanuel Opoku Acheampong

Disclaimer: This article only provides general information and guidance on US visas. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. The writer will not accept any liability for any claims or inconvenience as a result of the use of this information. The writer is an immigration law consultant and a practicing law attorney in Ghana. He advises on Ghana, U.S., UK, and Schengen immigration law. He is a Managing Partner for Acheampong & Associates Ltd, an immigration law firm in Accra. He may be contacted at [email protected] or www.acheampongassociates.com .
We the members of Modern Women of Wisdom International (MWOW), an all-Female public-spirited organization are still in a state of mourning and desolation when we read the numerous stories of rape cases at Assin in the Central Region of Ghana.

It is sad to note, that, innocent girls who have a greater chance of escaping poverty through education and live more productive lives could be subjected to such heartlessness. The innocent girls whose ages ranges from 7months to 16 years were raped by some able bodied men who had no sympathy for humanity.

As an Organization of Women who have pledged to seek justice for the oppressed in the society, we are totally embarrassed by the shocking news of rape cases emanating from the Assin area on our news desk.

Research shows children have strong curiosity to their surroundings as their mobility increases. Therefore, besides having a positive firm discipline, parents should be alert to possible abuse of their kids by unassuming persons.

Parents should kindly listen to the emotional expressions of their children emphatically as most rapists threaten their victims with death thereby decreasing their self-confidence, performance in school, physical health and social relationships.

We therefore call on the Ghana Police Service to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators of these monstrous crimes to serve as a deterrent to FUTURE RAPISTS. The Police must leave no stone unturned by bringing all the perpetrators of these scandalous acts in Assin to book.

Again, we call on the NCCE and the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to institute a robust advice system, spelling out the need for our dear chiefs to protect their subjects from evil minded persons by allowing the laws of Ghana to work without fear or favour.

Last but not least, we beseech Civil Society Groups, the Gender Ministry, the Ministry of Information, research institutions etc.to embark on ground-breaking investigations to find out the reasons behind this rampant rape cases in the area.

LONG LIVE GHANA,

LONG LIVE MWOW.

SPOKESPERSONS

Nana Akosua Takyiaw- 0240988300

Nana Ama Asantewaa -0244933893

Paulina Annor- 0244347722
The Nigerian military on Wednesday said it was investigating reports that a recent bombing raid killed one of the wives of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.

Fighter jets attacked what was said to be "a large gathering of Boko Haram terrorists" at the Durwawa settlement, near Urga in the Konduga area of Borno state on October 19.

The bombing killed jihadists on the ground and triggered a fire, air force spokesman Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya said in an emailed statement.

"Efforts are ongoing to confirm the reported killing of Shekau's wife, alongside other BHTs (Boko Haram terrorists)," he added.

The woman was identified only as Mallama Fitdasi. Mallama is an honorific in Hausa that translates as "madam".

Adesanya said Fitdasi was "reported to have been representing her husband in a coordinating meeting with other terrorists at the location of the airstrikes".

Shekau, a shadowy leader known for his lengthy, wild-eyed video messages, took over as leader of the group in 2009 after the death in custody of its founder, Muhammad Yusuf.

Shekau was known to have four wives, including one of Yusuf's widows.

Another wife, Hassana Yakubu, was arrested in an army raid in the northeastern city of Damaturu in 2012.

She was released the following year with another of Yusuf's widows, Mallama Zara, plus the wives of several other top commanders.

Boko Haram, whose eight-year Islamist insurgency has left at least 20,000 dead in northeast Nigeria, has long been factionalised.

But last year it suffered a major split, when the so-called Islamic State group recognised Yusuf's son, Abu Mus'ab al-Barnawi, as leader.

The United States has designed Shekau as a global terrorist and offered a reward of up to $7 million for information that brings him to justice.

In August, Nigerian forces conducted an unauthorised dawn raid on a UN compound in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, after rumours on social media that Shekau was hiding there.

Nigeria's security forces have previously declared Shekau to be dead on at least three occasions, only for him to resurface in taunting video messages.
A military court in Ouagadougou on Wednesday began an indictment hearing for 107 people, including two generals, who face charges over the failed 2015 coup in Burkina Faso.

Lead figures are generals Djibrill Bassole and Gilbert Diendere -- key allies to former president Blaise Compaore, whose bid to return to power was thwarted when protesters and the army attacked the barracks of elite troops loyal to him.

The defendants are accused of a range of crimes, including undermining the security of the state, murder and property damage.

Former transitional president Michel Kafando -- who replaced Compaore in 2014 -- was briefly overthrown in the coup led by the Presidential Security Regiment (RSP), but resumed power within days when plot leaders admitted they lacked popular support.

"Today, October 25, the hearing opened of the investigating chamber following the order issued by the investigating magistrate on July 21," said Paul Kere, lawyer of several defendants, after the private hearing.

"This hearing is to confirm the charges," he said.

The session, which is being held behind closed doors, had been postponed twice on September 14 and October 6.

"We hope that we will go to trial with elements that can be judged to avoid politicising this trial," said Kere who added the process should "avoid interferences by the executive".

Diendere, the RSP's former chief, and several other members of the now-dissolved unit, will appear in court on Thursday, another lawyer Rodrigue Bayala said.

Bassole, who is under house arrest, will appear in the "next days", he said, adding that a timetable for the long list of defendants would be established by the court.

Compaore, who led Burkina Faso from 1987 to 2014, is currently in Sierra Leone.
Uganda's opposition leader Kizza Besigye was arrested again Wednesday just five hours after being charged with inciting violence and released on bail, a leader of his political party told AFP.

"He was released today (Wednesday) but was rearrested thereafter. We don't know why," said Harold Kaija, an official of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party.

"His release was a cosmetic one," Kaija added. "Government is trying to bypass the long stay in detention by Besigye by rearresting him after he was set free by the court."

Besigye and five of his supporters had been charged with inciting violence and released on Wednesday after spending six days in detention, according to his party and police.

Ugandan police spokesman Asan Kasingye late Wednesday could not confirm if Besigye was arrested again.

However, Mugisha Muntu, a FDC senior official, told AFP that "he (Besigye) was rearrested after he was released by the court. We protest this kind of behaviour by government."

Besigye had been arrested last week following the killing of an opposition supporter during a protest, ruled illegal by authorities, in the western city of Rukungiri.

The protesters were marching against a ruling party plan to amend the constitution to remove presidential age limits, a move that would allow President Yoweri Museveni to stand for a sixth consecutive term in 2021.

Muntu earlier said that Besigye and five others had been "freed on non-cash bail of five million shillings ($1,400, 1,200 euros)".

Area police spokesman Elly Maate said the six are accused of inciting the public to assault a police officer, attacking the officer's house and damaging a police vehicle.

"Besigye and the others are also charged with disobedience of lawful duty by holding an unauthorised rally in Rukungiri on October 18, 2017," Maate said.

The six have denied all charges. The next court hearing is due in Rukungiri on November 18.
President Nana Akufo- Addo

26.10.2017 LISTEN

Nii Tackie Adama Latse, the current Ga Mantse, is leaving the Ga Mantse Palace in the same way as he entered; he has received the same rude overthrow in the same manner as he gave to Nii Tackie Tawiah, the late Ga Mantse.

Nii Tackie Tawiah was then the occupant of the Ga Stool, and was occupying the Mantse Palace. In 2011, while Nii Tackie Tawiah was still the recognized Paramount Chief of Ga, Nii Tackie Adama Latse (the currently embattled Ga Mantse), with the support of heavily armed Police personnel, stormed the Palace, and took over, installing himself the King of the Ga people.

Nii Tackie Tawiah was never able to return to the Palace, until he died in 2013, and was buried privately, without the performance of the rites associated with the death of a Ga Mantse.

Today a King Tackie Teiko Tsuru has been installed, while Nii Tackie Adama Latse (the person who overthrew King Tackie Tawiah) is still a recognized Ga Mantse, the same wrong behavior he put up, is the same he is getting from another wrong tactics, and the Police is still giving protection to those who are breaking the law, the same way as they gave protection to those who broke the law!

No civilized society will allow such lawlessness to prevail. The rule, as provided under the Chieftaincy law, is that if you feel aggrieved by the installation of a chief who has been recognised, you apply to the Judicial Committee of the Traditional Council, to have your case heard, and determined, and a ruling given.

I will not go into the merits and the demerits of who becomes a Ga Mantse, for I am not qualified to do so, as I do not belong to Ga Mashie, and I dont know their inherited customs.

But in the context of the chaos within the once respected royal thrones, we cannot allow the survival of the fitness to prevail, we cannot ask any group of people to break the law, like open defecation, as our Police Service is made to provide protection for lawless men seeking to occupy what was supposed to be a noble office.

Mr President, your Police Service is helping a lawless person to break the law! What Mr. Kelvin Nii Tackie (seeking to be known as Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru) has done is wrong! The Ghana Police Service is wrong, in providing protection for Mr. Kelvin Nii Tackie. The Police should, rather, be providing protection for Nii Tackie Adama Latse, the current occupant of the Ga Stool, against any intruder, unless and until a court order determines that Nii Tackie Adama Latse is not suppose to hold himself in the position of a Ga Mantse.

The fact that he, Nii Tackie Adama Latse, broke the law in the past, by installing himself while there was a substantive chief, does not make it right for you to allow the law to be broken again. The Judicial Committee of the Ga Traditional Council is available, the claimant, Mr. Kelvin Nii Tackie, must go there, and argue his case. If he wins his case, he can rightfully be installed as a Ga Mantse. At this point, our state resources, our Police Service, must not be used as an instrument of oppression of any citizen, regardless of our linage, and I know, Mr. President, that, that is what you stood for, the rule of law!

Chieftaincy is not meant for little minds; it is meant for matured composed wise traditionally grounded royals whose hard work and integrity must not be questionable; chieftaincy titles are decided by elders, independently, and conferred on rightful individuals, to provide sacred leadership, not as spoils of war for the individual occupants.

Today people of money, people of political influence, people of questionable corrupt characters are pushing themselves to the fore, making every available efforts to install themselves as chiefs, and aligning themselves with certain political parties, either NPP or NDC, and getting shielded, by state security, as they impose themselves on the people who do not need them.

Nii Tackie Adama Latse was clearly a politically backed chief; the manner in which his installation was done, armed police men and women preventing a sitting gazetted chief, Nii Tackie Tawiah, from entering his own palace, but allowing a counter questionably installed Nii Tackie Adama Latse, to have access to the Palace, in an instant police protection, was, all obviously, a political support for one against the other; for this was the doing of the NDC government.

That is exactly what has been played back this week; the installation of Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru, under such heavily armed police presence, in a palace which is still occupied by Nii Tackie Adama Latse, is a clear machinations of the NPP government, looking exactly a payback time for what was done against Nii Tackie Tawiah.

Otherwise how do we explain the police presence that prevents a sitting Mantse to enter his already occupied palace, while we allowed the claimant, who has no official locus, to rather have access to the palace, as it happened in the case of Nii Tackie Tawiah, and now in the case of Nii Tackie Adama Latse? What common sense explanation can we provide for such a partisan approach to policing, what kind of wrong governance is this?

Underlying all of these needless battles of noise is the selfish ambition for the wanton sale of stool and family lands, undeserved royalties, and political expediency.

Of course I will isolate a few, very few, chieftaincy title holders who have maintained the sacredness of their thrones, or who have demonstrated that their first priority of ascension was not the perks associated with their royalty. For instance, with all the recent departing views I have had with Nenyi Ghartey, the Paramount Chief of Effutu Council, he has never been part of the wanton sale of Effutu lands. No multiple land sales can ever be attributed to him, and for this I remain respectful.

A couple of months ago I overheard the Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs making a statement, to the effect, that, the government of Ghana is considering paying allowances for all gazetted sub-chiefs in the country. Remember, that, the government of Ghana is already paying monthly allowances for our recognized Paramount Chiefs.

While respecting the right of the government to make decisions on behalf of the citizenry, this one, giving monthly allowances to gazette sub-chiefs, would have been, not only the most irresponsible act of governance, but the dirtiest act of injustice perpetrated on the taxes of the population. It would look like, taflatse, paying thieves to steal our properties, or paying thugs to foment trouble.

These same chiefs who are supposed to be the custodians of our tradition, and who are supposed to be the ones who are keeping the peace, are themselves the subject of conflicts, dishonesty, stealing, thugery, and disgraceful vendetta. Some chiefs have perpetrated open fraud, others have found very questionable ways of having themselves gazetted, and still many others have taken advantage of the illiteracy of their elders to spew filth on their people.

Chiefs used to command large following, more followers than politicians used to attract. Those were the days when their legitimacy was largely unquestioned, and had natural aura of respect; they earned those respects, and so their citizens saw them as sacred leading extensions of their ancestors. With their self impositions, these chiefs have not only lost themselves, but have barely a handful of people respecting their presence.

So we have several hundreds of chiefs who are leading themselves; they buy support, paying thugs to follow them. These days individuals who have no affinity with their royal stools are paid to carry chiefs in palanquins, because no traditional citizens are willing to response to a selfless duty of carrying a chief, a duty that has long lost its sacred appeal, so now we have chiefs who sit in palanquins shrouded in fear, fear of being thrown into gutters, the very gutters from which they came.

I do not understand why politicians still believe that their political fortunes are tied to the support of some of these traditional leaders? Are we not in this country when many chiefs pledged 101% votes for political parties, yet those pledges turned back to whip them, what happened to their shame?

Occupiers of these rented royalties have faked themselves into who they are not, and have presented themselves a wrong inhabitants of thrones whose owners have no voice, and have gathered imaginary following to attract political hope for political activists who are failing to research into where their fortunes are brewed; the result is a state sponsored injustice that should not be allowed to flourish, and a never ending burden of gazette conflicts.

James Kofi Annan
File Photo

26.10.2017 LISTEN

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has pulled down the 3 storey building that was sinking and posing danger to human lives at Asafoin the Kumasi Metropolis. It was pulled down by a Brazilian construction firm called Contracta Construction.

The Kumasi Mayor, Osei Assibey Antwi, who was at the scene revealed plans by the Kumasi Metropolitan Authority (KMA) to demolish illegal buildings posing danger to human lives in the metropolis.

"Any property that is found to be unauthorised will go, and any property that is posing threat will also go," he said.

His comment comes after a three-storey building located at Asafo started collapsing in the early hours of Wednesday October 25.It is located behind the railway station in the area.

The pavement around the building had cracked up as the building sank into the ground.

Otec News Isaac Nsiah Foster reported earlier that the Ghana National Fire Service and officers from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) were at the scene trying to calm the shop owners.

"The awareness has already been created, because getting to about four months, we have been moving round with you. We have been telling the public. We have been advising them. We have even demolished some of the properties, especially those at Nhyiaeso and Krofrom," he indicated.

Mr Assibey said the KMA hired the services of a Brazilian construction firm, Contracta Construction, to pull down the sinking building.

The KMA Boss stated that no compensation will be given to the owner because the building was a death trap to mankind.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has just released 10,348 newly trained teachers from forty public and six private colleges of education to the regions for onward posting to the schools.

The fact is that good-quality education service delivery also hinges on teacher availability, teacher presence and the teachers time on task. But there still is the need for effective stakeholder support with the GES in order to reach out to our children and youth in the schools.

How are the schools in terms of teacher availability?

To give quality pre-tertiary education which develops in young people the relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes for laying the foundations for further education and sustainable livelihood, as being professed by EdQual (2010), there should be an equitable distribution of teachers across the country to include schools in deprived and underserved communities. The GES, therefore, takes a critical look at this and other factors in the posting of its teachers and staff.

A cursory look at the 2014/2015 report of MoEs Education Management Information System (EMIS), for example, suggests that teacher deficit is an issue of concern with efforts being made to tackle it fully. The focus of this article, however, is on how the situation is being managed regarding the posting of qualified teachers to basic schools (not senior high schools) in this year.

The 2014/2015 EMIS Report said that there are 37,147 public school teachers (with 3,712 male trained teachers and 19,222 females; 2,352 untrained males and 11,861 untrained females) serving 13,828 kindergartens in the country. There were 96,715 teachers (38,845 trained males and 33,707 females; 18,238 untrained males and 5,925 females) in 14,405 primary schools as 67,841 trained teachers (47,246 males and 20,595 females) out of a total of 77,239 teachers lived in 9,445 junior high schools. But as to whether or not all the teachers actually were in the schools and doing the right things is what this article lacks the strength to discuss.

As a spokesperson of the education agency, the writer does visit some of the schools to appreciate how the process of education service delivery has been happening. Take away the call for some logistical support, a common request which welcomes any officer visiting a school is that, We need maths and science teachers. We dont have this and that teacher. Help us!

Is there any hope for the schools at all?

We cannot be pessimistic, as a people, about our education. All of us must support the system to thrive. Whether or not there is hope for our schools is a matter for all of us to face together.

Are the schools for the President alone or for the Education Minister or for the GES Director-General (DG) alone? Certainly not! And the last time that I spoke at a schools anniversary celebrations somewhere in Volta Region, I mentioned, One Class, One Item. If we accept that all children are for us and are for the nation and that their education is valuable to us then how difficult is it to support the children with resources, including having to supply and to motivate their teachers to teach them well? Anyway, this can also be another issue for us to discuss later.

Acting GES DG Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, in a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, October 24, 2017, thanked the Government, the Ministry of Finance and MoE for having supported the Service to post to the regions all the 10,939 qualified teachers from the forty-six public and six private colleges of education, including Akim-Oda Methodist College of Education, Jackson College, Agona SDA College, Christ the Teacher College, McCoy College and Holy Spirit College at Ho. He urged the teachers to accept their postings with his admonition to them stemming from what the Handbook for GES Management Staff on Leadership for Change (2014, page 116) also says, One of the things our teachers need to know clearly is that, they are to serve in any school or station where their services are most needed.

The new teachers and their stations

The acting DG says all the 10,348 new diploma-holding teachers (comprising 6,001 males and 4,347 females) should report to their designated schools and stations by December 1, 2017. Of the number, 6,249 personnel (representing 60.4%) were sponsored by some districts with 4,099 of them not having any district sponsorship at all.

There were 459 personnel (361 females and 98 males) specialising in Early Childhood Education, 74 (with 41 males and 33 females) in French and 837 in Mathematics and Science, where there were 653 males and 184 females. Others included; 8,382 personnel for General programmes (including Social Studies, Religious and Moral Education and ICT), 9 persons (5 males and 4 females) for Physical Education and 587 for Technical (494 males and 93 females).

On regional allocations, Ashanti had 1,443 personnel (with 747 females and 696 males), Brong Ahafo, 992 (with 672 males and 320 females); Central, 861 (474 males and 387 females) and Eastern, 1,425 (758 males and 667 females). Others were 191 (118 females and 73 males) for Greater Accra; 1,169 (768 males and 401 females) for Northern; 1,242 (806 males and 436 females) for Upper East; 972 (560 males and 412 females) for Upper West as Volta and Western regions respectively took delivery of 1,092 personnel (712 males and 380 females) and 961 personnel (482 males and 479 females). The allocations were largely done on the basis of vacancies declared by the regions as against the number of qualified personnel available.

As we await other personnel to be posted under an ongoing limited recruitment exercise, the appeal would be that we all pull together our widows mites to motivate teachers, including the new teachers that are being sent to our localities, to stay and to work for our common good.

The writer is an educationist and a public relations officer at the Headquarters of the Ghana Education Service in Accra.

E-mail: [email protected]
26.10.2017 LISTEN

 Watch video interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvsMa8gMpeo

 Listen to podcast: http://bit.ly/2gJjWd1

Are we losing grip on the evidence-based basic principles that were in the core of fighting tuberculosis? Challenges like drug resistance which are posing a threat to global health security warrant a review. Also, the #endTB dream will continue to remain a mirage if we fail to address social influencers that increase TB risk for a large majority of our populations, severely impacting the most disadvantaged. These were some of the insights shared by Dr Anne Fanning, who has dedicatedly worked for fighting infectious diseases especially TB, and was instrumental in bringing issues of less heard populations such as indigenous peoples to the fore.

Dr Anne Fanning was in exclusive conversation with CNS (Citizen News Service) at the 48th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Dr Anne Fanning has earlier served a decade on the board of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), and has been its past President too. Earlier this year Dr Anne Fanning was inducted in the Alberta Order of Excellence. She has earlier served as Director of TB Services in Alberta, medical officer at the WHO Global Tuberculosis Programme, and as an eminent physician, emeritus professor and global health leader at the University of Alberta. Her work is decorated with several honours including the Order of Canada; the Japanese Anti-Tuberculosis Association TB Global Award; the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal; the Alberta Centennial Medal; and the Canadian Medical Associations highest honour, the Frederic Newton Gisborne Starr Award. She has also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Society for International Health; the May Cohen Award from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Canada; and Physician of the Year Award from the Capital Regional Medical Staff Association. Anne was also named as One of Albertas Physicians of the Century by the Alberta Medical Association in 2005.

ARE WE FORGETTING THE CORE PRINCIPLES TB TAUGHT US?

"We have gone a million miles from when I started in TB. And when I started, it was doctor knew best, patient did as he/she was told and we hoped they took their pills for 18 months, back then. We have enormously advanced in terms of having earlier diagnosis, better drugs, better systems, and better diagnostics, but we have missed out some of the core that TB taught us" said Dr Fanning.

These core lessons were taught to us by the programmes that were in poor countries like Tanzania, Malawi, Nicaragua, among other nations, that recognized that there are a few core things that you have to do  you had to find the case with simple and relied-on diagnosis, you had to assure that the drugs were on hand and there were no stock-outs, and you supervised the treatment until cure" added Dr Fanning.

THE UNHEARD VOICES...

Reflecting on basic lessons that helped lay the foundation for TB control, Dr Fanning said that We focused on the patient  that demonstrated, that, with a systematic approach you could do it  but that was not patient centric! We have to hear from the patients - we have to acknowledge that some patients we never hear from because they cannot afford to get into the system. I hear the strengthening of the drugs and diagnostics, but I worry about forgetting the core of the patient being at the centre, and the patient deserving respect and recognition and support to get through it, and having the right to an opinion. I think those were the things - I am not sure we ever had it [ideal patient-centric TB programme]! So we had some strengths, we engaged larger communities, scientific communities, the lab communities, the civil society and all of them have learned but there is still a dispersion of knowledge and I worry about the core of it. I think at the heart of it all we have to remember that the patient, and it is probably the poor patient is the neediest and thats where our focus should be."

DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!

As the oft-quoted analogy goes, 'locking the stable gates after the horse has bolted', it is vital that inter-sectoral efforts to eliminate TB are scaled up before it becomes too late to deliver on the promises enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our governments have promised to deliver on SDGs by 2030.

25 years ago, the message was if you do it right the first time you do not have to worry about drug resistance. We ignored the drug resistance probably because we had nothing much to offer. I think the first message was the key message. Do it right the first time. We still are not really doing it right and the horse has bolted and now we have to chase its tail. We have to have programmes, and expensive programmes and monitoring, to find those drug-resistant cases so we wont have a new epidemic. I have faith that we will do it, do you?"

Yes, we do have faith we can do it, but we also cannot deny that we are not doing enough to bring TB decline rates on track so that TB gets eliminated from the planet by 2030. "At current trajectory, TB will be beaten in 200 years' time" said UK parliamentarian Nick Herbert at a Symposium organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) before the 48th Union World Conference on Lung Health opened in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Dr Fanning advises "with all these players involved and with all these technologies, labs and new drugs, the key thing is to DO IT RIGHT whether it is the first treatment or the drug resistant treatment. Every treatment has to be patient-focussed, accepted by the patient, and accessible to all. And I worry that we get distracted."

CANNOT END TB IN SILOS, INTER-SECTORAL RESPONSE IS MUST!

Neither we can meet TB related SDGs in silo nor can we meet any other like ending hunger for instance. Malnutrition as evidence shows is the biggest risk factor for TB. Catastrophic costs related to TB drive people to even more severe levels of poverty. With over thirteen years left, how can we radically accelerate the progress towards ending TB, and thereby other SDGs too?

"I think the radical piece is contained within those SDGs. I think SDGs are extraordinary  they are a grassroots movement and they have been 'bought into by the world'  I think we have to make the world aware that it has bought into it  because I am not sure people in my community know that. I think we have to pay a lot of attention to those underlying social determinants of health that we have ignored  at our peril  because  the drugs are not enough! I think you can shut down TB if it is simple to teat, may be if it is drug resistant, but you are never going to wipe it out without addressing the housing, poverty, crowding and vulnerability of people. So, I will return to The Unions core values which are Health solutions for the poor - we have to remind ourselves of that again and again. The burden of disease for me and my peer group growing up in Canada is almost gone, and it is gone because we have had a healthy existence and we have to make that available for everybody emphasized Dr Anne Fanning.

THE SILVER LINING...

The urgency to act is now. There is no excuse for inaction while we wait for a perfect vaccine to hammer the final nail in the coffin and end infectious diseases. "Infectious diseases have laid up an opportunity to actually eradicate with, if not vaccine, then simple diagnosis and fairly simple, straightforward treatment. It is hard to think of a non-communicable disease that fits into that category and has simple tools, simple systems to find, detect and treat. Now, it is beginning to be done with diabetes, hypertension, and smoke cessation, which is critical. We need to find those simple population-based interventions and go for them as those are examples of health solutions for the poor said Dr Anne Fanning.

LATENT TB RESERVOIR CANNOT BE IGNORED

Frighteningly deep reservoir of latent TB infection (where TB bacteria is present in the body but does not cause disease or spread) is another elephant in the room. With over one-third of population estimated to have latent TB, it is impossible to end TB unless we sap this pool dry. Dr Anne Fanning shares the concern: "When you are thinking about a programme that is barely keeping its head above the water, in managing what you have, and adding on treatment of latent infection, thats a huge challenge, and we are not doing that well. We need to go beyond the known cases and start looking in the bushes for the missing TB cases but programmes are already overwhelmed.

I heard some encouraging stuff at this conference. I heard of people talking about a laboratory network that systematically executes quality control from the grounds up to the super national level and introduces that same quality for all the new tools, such as, Gene Xpert, LAM, new diagnostics and for drug susceptibility testing  thats fairly encouraging! But do not forget that they can be operating out here when the patient and the treater, the physician, is elsewhere - they got to talk to each other. They got to talk to the community!

EVEN HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE AT TB RISK!

Fragile health systems and overwhelming disease burdens are making it even more difficult to follow basic infection control practices in healthcare facilities. This elevates risk of infection transmission not only among patients but also other people in healthcare facility including the healthcare providers.

Dr Fanning stressed "We cannot ignore the need to protect healthcare workers  they are among the most valuable resource we have  the nurses, outreach people, among others - and we have ignored that responsibility at our peril. The cost of re-fitting treatment centres with air flow, ultra-violet and giving every healthcare worker a N95 mask which they can discard every hour, might be huge but we cannot ignore this issue anymore. Cutting the transmission chain of infection is critical if we are to end TB.

WHAT GETS MEASURED, GETS DONE (AND IMPROVED)!

I am really proud of The Union for its acknowledgement of the importance of health solutions for the poor. It is very exciting that TB system-approach did not forget the patients and did enable expansion substantially of the programme, and always being able to evaluate at the end of every year. It is the only disease apart from HIV probably where I know you can get data. That makes me really proud rightly said Dr Anne Fanning.

SERVICES MUST REACH THE MOST MARGINALIZED

"What I remember most was an indigenous patient I had met few years ago, after I had finished seeing patients (retired) who had been born in an indigenous community and had from the age of 4 onwards been in a residential school  and had been badly treated, traumatized and infected with TB. As for many of those indigenous kids, lost both his sisters to stories that sound like they could have been TB, and was severely physically damaged by a disease. His whole life is so severely affected  we just cannot let that happen anymore, anywhere, ANYWHERE! said Dr Anne Fanning.

Are these TB hotspots of marginalized people, on public health blindspots? Unless appropriate services and care reaches out to everyone who is in need, there is no ending TB.

Walking back from this insightful listening session with Dr Anne Fanning, one realization was stark clear: either we will fail on all SDGs or deliver reasonably well on all of them. If we end TB it will also imply that we have made radical progress on housing, ending poverty, ending hunger, reducing inequity, furthering urban sustainable models of development, among others  there is no other way around reaching the #endTB bulls eye.

This interview is part of CNS Inspire series  featuring people who have had decades of experience in health and development, and learning from them what went well and not-so-well, and how these learnings can shape the responses for sustainable development over the next decade.

Bobby Ramakant, CNS (Citizen News Service)

(Bobby Ramakant is the Policy Director at CNS (Citizen News Service) and a WHO Director General's WNTD Awardee (2008). Follow him on twitter: @bobbyramakant or visit www.citizen-news.org)
TO: The Director General CID.

The Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA) is issuing this statement petition to draw your attention and to strongly denounce the alleged defilement of a four year-old girl in Assin Dadientem in the Central Region, as reported in the media on Tuesday 24th October 2017.

The girl is alleged to have been defiled by a young man in the community, who has so far escaped punishment for his alleged crime.

The chief of the town as well as the police have reportedly been reluctant to bring him to book. Many right thinking members of the society; human rights activists and gender advocates have condemned the incident in no uncertain terms. AWMA is joining calls by the public for justice to be served to the victim.

THE INCIDENT

JOYNEWS reporter Maxwell Agbagba chanced upon the victim and her mother at the St Francis Xavier Hospital at Assin Fosu last week when he went to the town to cover another story. He noticed the girl was unable to stand and upon further interrogation, the mother, Monica Nyarko disclosed that a boy identified only as Kwabena had defiled her daughter in a toilet facility. According to the mother, the young man threatened to kill her daughter if she revealed the incident to anyone.

He reportedly carried the victim on his shoulder after the act and dropped her at 2 her house. Madam Nyarko revealed that her daughter bled for three days and they were forced to buy diapers to control the bleeding.

After the incident the victim was unable to pass urine for some days. The mother claims when the matter was reported to the chief of the town, the chief took the matter up with a deity who supposedly said the accused person did not commit the act.

AFTERMATH

A week after the incident, the victims father Isaac Kofi reported the matter to the Assin Fosu police. However the police are yet to apprehend the culprit because they claim Mr. Kofi has not returned to the station to lead officers to effect the arrest although the little girl had identified the perpetrator who is known in the community. Currently the victim has to go for regular treatment at the hospital and the incident has resulted in her inability to walk properly as before. The mother of the victim Monica Nyarko is demanding justice for her daughter.

ACTION

The Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA) as women, mothers and womens rights advocates calls on your esteem office to seek justice for the little innocent child. We Seek amongst others:

1. The immediate transfer of the case to the National Police headquarters in Accra, due to the lackadaisical attitude of the Municipal Police Command in handling the case;

2. Immediate arrest of the suspect of the pending full investigations;

3. A Special prosecutor to immediately handle the investigation;

4. Immediate arraignment of the case before a competent Court of jurisdiction;

5. Immediate medical attention for the victim in Accra by the Social Welfare Department and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection;

6. Support and protection for the mother and child who may become targets of families and friends of the alleged suspect.

7. The state must declare ZERO TOLERANCE for DEFILEMENT and RAPE. Defilement has a face- It is that of a 4-year-old girl, suffering in ASSIN 3 DADIENTEM. Let not the STATE fail HER and the many others suffering in pain and anger! SIGNED Alliance for Women in Media (AWMA).

cc:

National Coordinator DOVVSU

Chief Justice

Commissioner, CHRAG

MP Assin South, Rev Ntim Fordjour

Office of the President

Speaker of Parliament

First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo

Wife of Vice President, Mrs. Samira Bawumia

Gender Minister

Christian Council

Peace Council

National House of Chiefs

Central Regional House of Chiefs

*Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA) is a Women in Media and Communications advocacy and empowerment group made up of over 170 professionals from across the media industry in Ghana.
26.10.2017 LISTEN

Its prudent that in the course of solving problems, theres the need to be holistic in our approach so as to solve the problem right from the root of it. Two issues have warranted this piece. First its reported that a bill has been sent to parliament so as to legitimise a supposed fund to support the family of the late Major Mahamah and then the other is the Insurance cover for the police that was recently reported in the media.

Beyond passing a bill to support the family theres the need to start a nationwide agenda of educating the citizenry on matters of human rights. In the course of solving a problem, it is critical that the root of the problem be tackled rather than the consequences of the problem. As Parliament deliberates on this matter, Members of Parliament should equally think of ways of beginning a nationwide agenda of resourcing the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) adequately in all spheres and at all levels so as to enable it perform its constitutionally mandated functions.

The supposed fund will only alleviate one part of a bigger problem, but resourcing the NCCE to educate Ghanaians on matters of human right and the constitution, will bring mob justice to an end, if not minimise it. This will further reduce other forms of human rights abuses and enlighten the citizenry on their civic rights, responsibilities and limitations. Consequently, this will lead to an enlightened populace.

In the matter of the insurance cover for the police, its as good as gold. The purpose is to motivate the police to fight crime. Its important that the lives of police officers are covered so that they dont have to worry about what happens to their dependants should the unfortunate happen. Then again, its very important to question whether an insurance cover is what is needed most in an attempt to encourage the police to fight crime? As much as its good, the police needs more than just an insurance cover  they need more vehicles and motorbikes, a better accommodation than what currently exists, stationery, bullet proof vests, computers and other gadgets, properly functioning rifles and other weapons as well as constant refresher courses on best practices of fighting crime, and relating with the public.

Its so appalling that police divisional commands in most parts of the country lack these facilities and the opportunities for refresher courses. How then do we intend to reduce crime nationwide? All said and done, in the course of making decisions on the harsh consequences of the issues that confront us, lets consider a holistic approach that deals with the problems from the root.

The writer is a freelance journalist. [email protected]/[email protected]
Kweku Baako Jnr was absolutely right, when he poignantly beseeched the NDC faithful to furnish the public with the original copy of Kwesi Botchweys report, if what is already in the public domain is indeed a handiwork of propagandists.

Of course, it is not out of the ordinary for a secret document to fall into the wrongs hands. So, what makes Kwesi Botchweys report an exception to the norm?

If, indeed, the NDC Party apparatchiks believe that the report out there is not genuine, then they must, as a matter of urgency, prove otherwise.

In the meantime, the NDC apparatchiks must leave discerning Ghanaians alone to interrogate the report in their possession.

And until discerning Ghanaians can get the supposedly authentic copy of the Kwesi Botchweys report, we reserve the right to accept the one in our possession as the true copy.

It is, indeed, baffling that the NDC apparatchiks are refusing to accept the fact that discerning Ghanaians are now well aware of their propagandistic gimmicks.

What propagandistic tactics didnt the NDC strident communicators deploy during the 2016 electioneering campaign?

And, yet discerning Ghanaians brushed their gimmicks aside and voted massively for Akufo-Addo and the NPP Party.

The vociferous communicators failed to hoodwink unsuspecting electorates with the NDCs non-existent infrastructural achievements via a symbolic communist green book.

Back then, some observers contended that the NDCs infrastructural garble was in line with Hitlers observation on propaganda.

Hitler observed: "With the help of a skilful and continuous application of propaganda, it is possible to make the people conceive even of heaven as hell (Adolf Hitler).

It is absolutely true that the NDC Party was founded on communist ideals. Thus the party thrives on vile propaganda.

It is, therefore, worthy of mention that the founders of the NDC Party, who gleefully staged a series of coup detats, rather chose communist approach to ensuring sanity to the system, hence exterminating innocent people without any provocation whatsoever.

Apparently, some schools of thought contend that coup makers take their inspirations from communism.

Take, for example, in their hasty and fiendish attempt to get rid of the alleged sleazes and corruption back then, the NDC founders resorted to propaganda, and, many innocent Ghanaians were unjustifiably murdered or tortured mercilessly for apparent minimal offences.

Regrettably, through vile propaganda, market women were stripped naked in broad daylight and whipped mercilessly for allegedly hauling their products or selling on high prices.

While their male counterparts were barbarically shaved with broken bottles and whipped for offences that would not even warrant a Police caution in a civilized society.

As if that was not enough, their sheer propaganda led to the barbaric murder of three eminent high court judges and a prominent retired army officer on 30th June 1982 for carrying out their constitutionally mandated duties.

When the communist enthusiasts founders of the NDC Party burst onto the scene, they exhibited their propagandistic gimmicks and callously murdered people with more than two cars.

And, through propaganda, the NDC founders shamefully exhibited their communist ideals by going into war with business men and women in the country.

Ironically, they resorted to sheer propaganda and replaced our educational system with that of a communist model.

Hypocritically, however, after messing up our educational system, they turned around and sent their children abroad to study in what they saw as a superior educational system.

Clearly, the NDC faithful have a penchant for resorting to disinformation metastasising, or to put it euphemistically, systematic propagation of propaganda.

It is, however, worthy of note that the meaning of propaganda traces its roots to the Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide- a committee of Cardinals founded in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV to oversee the spread of Catholicism abroad, by any means necessary.

Consequently, the word propaganda came to mean the concerted effort to spread any belief the communist Propagandists are associated with. Therefore propaganda is regarded as "a deliberate attempt to alter or maintain a balance of power that is advantageous to the communists.

Propaganda may also be defined in its most neutral and simple sense as the persuasive dissemination of particular ideas or material disseminated by the advocates or opponents of a doctrine or cause.

In other words, propagandism is the systematic propagation of a doctrine or information reflecting the views and interests of those propagating such information or doctrine.

Moreover, the experts contend that a message can be classified as propaganda if it suggests something negative and dishonest.

In sum, we will ignore the propagandists desperation to obstruct us in our track and continue to interrogate the Kwesi Botchweys report in our possession.

K. Badu, UK.

[email protected] ; please visit me at: alljoycom.wordpress.com
Nollywood actor, Tunde Owokoniran, is currently a proud father and he also will be warming up for fathers day celebration come year 2018.

The actor, who got married to his pretty lover some months back, welcomed a baby girl in a US hospital and both wife and baby are said to be doing fine.

Tunde shared the good news of his wifes delivery accompanied with a verse of the Holy Quran to pass his message as he thanked Allah for successful nine months journey mercies.

According to him, Alhamdulillah,Then We (ALLAH)...made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed her into another creation.........Quran 23:14.
Popular TV couple of popular show, Goge Africa, Nneka and Isaac Moses, have just given their fans goose bumps as they celebrate their wedding anniversary.

The couple are currently celebrating their 20years of togetherness as they have been able to pull through different challenges marriage and life has thrown at them.

Isaac who could not hide his joy wondered how he has been able to sustain his home for 20years and still counting as he stated that he never believed he could stay true to the same woman for this long.

According to Issac, How on earth did I sustain a marriage for twenty years, no no its got to be God cos I did not think I could stay married to the same woman this long.. Sugar.. It's got to be God. It's my wedding anniversary folks.
This post will tell you all about the Director of one of the most important organizations in Nigeria - The Department of Petroleum Resources Nigeria. If you read it carefully, you will learn a lot of interesting facts on how the Nigerian DPR operates and one of the most influential personalities behind its operations!

Department of Petroleum Resources

Department of Petroleum Resources or just DPR is one of the departments of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. Its main responsibilities include the exploration, regulation and importation of petroleum resources. It is also saddled with the responsibility of coming up with safety regulations related to petroleum resources and petroleum companies in the country.

The department is also responsible for monitoring the activities of the petroleum market of Nigeria. This means it analyzes the upstream and downstream sector of petroleum products, not only in Nigeria but also all over the world.

According to the directives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the National Production Monitoring System was established to monitor all dealing in the petroleum market. The DPR is headed by a Director, who reports to the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

Department of Petroleum Resources Director

READ ALSO: List of oil and gas companies in Nigeria and their websites

The Director of petroleum resources of Nigeria is the highest position in the DPR; the Director oversees all actions in the organization. He/she monitors all the procedures of examination, importation and production of petroleum in Nigeria. He is also responsible for enforcing all necessary safety measures concerning his department.

Being a Director of Department of Petroleum Resources of Nigeria comes with great responsibilities; whoever holds this position is responsible for analyzing the Nigerian petroleum industry and making sure the country stays relevant in the petroleum market. The current Director of DPR is Mr Mordecai Ladan; he was appointed in June 2015.

Mordecai Ladan Profile

The Vanguard was one of the first news websites to publish an article on the appointment Mr Mordecai Ladan and the Director of DPR, when he was chosen to take over from Mr George Osahon.

According to the memorandum of the DPR, the date of the appointment (which is June 19, 2015) was defined as the first day of work of the new DPR director. According to the statement of the DPR memorandum, Mr Mordecai Ladan is a Petrochemist by profession.

He joined the DPR on November 23, 1987 as a Senior Analytical Chemist in the institutions Safety and Environment branch, which was a part of their Technical Services Division. He went on to obtain several promotions, continuously growing his rank in the DPR.

He also worked in Kaduna as a Zonal Operations Controller, after that, he rose to the position of Deputy Director, where he headed the Downstream Monitoring and Regulation Division. He worked there from October 2005 to June 2013.

After that, he was appointed as the Head of Gas Monitoring and Regulation Division, and occupied this position from June 2013 to May 2014. He then went on to become the Head of Safety, Health and Environment Division from May 2014 to June 2015.

Mr Mordecai Ladan has a fantastic educational background! He obtained his West African School Certificate from the Federal Government College, Kano in the year 1978, and obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree from the Ahmadu Bello University in June 1982.

Mr Ladan obtained his M.Sc degree from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology in the United Kingdom. His area of specialization is Petroleum and Hydrocarbon Chemistry. He is also a Fulbright Scholar and obtained a Fulbright Certificate in Public Affairs and Environmental & Regulatory Policy in June 1991. Mr Mordecai Ladan is married with children.

The Department of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria is very important to the country, and should be headed by only the most qualified and competent individuals. Mr Mordecai Ladan has an excellent professional and educational background, his skills and vision for the petroleum industry is very essential in helping Nigeria manage and control its petroleum products.

READ ALSO: Uses of limestone in Nigeria

Source: Legit.ng
- Some Biafran war veterans have denounced Biafra and pledged their loyalty to Nigeria forever

- The veterans pension entitlements were recently approved by the federal government

- The war veterans have had presidential pardon since May 29, 2000, but many of them remained unpaid for years

The war-affected police officers from the old Eastern Region have declared that they believe in one Nigeria and that the war is over and over forever.

The veterans stated this after approval for the payment of their pension entitlements by the federal government.

Legit.ng gathered that they had been pardoned and retired from the Nigeria Police Force through a presidential amnesty granted on May 29, 2000, by the administration of the then president, Olusegun Obasanjo, and their payment approved.

However, many years down the line, many of them remained unpaid.

Venue of where the veterans are receiving their pension payment in Enugu. Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Our reforms will ease pensioners' hardships  President Buhari

Speaking to Vanguard, the president of the Association of Retired War Affected Police Officers (ARWAPO), Chief Matthew Udeh, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his forthrightness and believing in one Nigeria.

His words: We believe we are all one, one Nigeria forever. The war is over and over forever. God will continue to bless President Muhammadu Buhari for looking at the nation as one indivisible entity.

I feel fulfilled today. The whole ARWAPO members are full of gratitude to Mr President for hearing our cry for over 40 years and running.

PTAD boss, Mrs Sharon Ikeazor in a group photograph with leaders of the pensioners. Source: PTAD

On his part, the president, Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria, Fidelis Oyakhilome, thanked the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) and the federal government for living up to their words and treating the officers fairly.

His words: I must commend ARWAPO members for their patience, endurance and perseverance all these years and as well thank Mr President, President Muhammadu Buhari, for making this possible.

A beneficiary, Francis Ukaraoha, said that he was happy to have received his first pension. Ukaraoha, who was elated, showed the amount (figure withheld) of pension arrears paid to his account to journalists.

At the launch of the pension payments to retired war-affected police officers in Enugu state, the executive secretary of PTAD, Sharon Ikeazor, said the federal government would end all the painful legacies of the war.

Her words: This represents another decision by the current federal government to bring closure to the painful legacies of the civil war, and indeed a clear demonstrate that President Muhammadu Buhari is indeed a father to all Nigerians.

His (Mr President) administrations reforms under the PTAD will ensure that Nigerians who spent the productive years of their lives serving their nation will not experience difficulties in getting their pensions.

She stated that the pension payment for the veterans, marks another milestone in re-integrating the hitherto neglected officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force who have suffered untold hardships over the years catering for their needs and that of their dependents.

In this particular batch of payment, 162 officers who have never been on the payroll and 57 Next of Kin who have also not been paid their death benefits will be paid today.

The others, 155 who are on payroll but were being short paid would be paid in the next batch as soon as their pension benefit computation is concluded, she added.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the organised labour in Kogi state has appealed to President Buhari to intervene over the issue of non-payment of salaries by the state government.

According to the unions, the issue has resulted to the deaths of many workers in the state.

READ ALSO: President Buhari needs a second term to consolidate on his achievements - Shuaibu

Nnamdi Kanu and Biafra agitation... the journey so far! on - Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- The APC says it is seriously embarrassed over how Abdulrasheed Maina was reinstated into the civil service

- The party is demanding that all those involved in the now shady reinstatement must be punished

- It however thanks President Buhari for taking action over the issue

All those involved in the reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina, the former chairman of the Presidential Committee on Pension Reforms, must be punished no matter how highly placed, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has demanded.

The Nation reports that the call for the sanction came from the national publicity secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who spoke with journalists at the APC secretariat.

READ ALSO: Despite being wanted for fraud, Maina allegedly got SSS, police protection - Report

We are all shocked like any other person. It is almost unbelievable that such a thing can happen.

"However, we are all delighted that President Buhari has taken very decisive and punitive action against those that are involved.

We are also delighted that he has ordered full scale investigation into the circumstances the led to this individual being reinstated into the public office.

We believe as a party that whoever was part of this or found to be part of this must face appropriate consequences because it is an embarrassment to the party, government and it is unacceptable, he said.

Concerning doubts that Buhari may not act on the issue judging from previous controversies like it, Abdullahi said: I cannot comment on this because it is the same President that has taken a decisive action on this that still has the other reports.

In his wisdom, he must have a reason and unless we know those reasons, we cannot come to conclusions that he has not acted.

We have to be willing to admit that in his judgement, he does not have all the facts because we are not sitting in that chair.

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We have no more doubt in our minds that the President will do what is necessary and do what is right. But he does not have to act because everybody wants him to act.

He has to exercise the best judgement at all time.

Legit.ng earlier reported that Governor Ayodele Fayose has declared that President Muhammadu Buharis directive for the immediate sack of Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, is an afterthought.

APC is the worst party in Nigeria, I regret being a member - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party are not happy with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari

- The governors claim the scandals that administration has faced so far have become embarrassing to Nigerians

- They promised to continue to tell truth to power

Nigerian governors in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have taken a swipe at the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the alleged scandals that have rocked the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governors said the series of scandals that have so far rocked the current administration have become embarrassing.

READ ALSO: Despite being wanted for fraud, Maina allegedly got SSS, police protection - Report

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state spoke for his colleagues during the opening session of the 76th PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

He said: If we dont expose them (APC government), nobody will do so.

The APC is now in many scandals, we have to keep our voices up to expose them. Armed robbers calling people thieves, who are the armed robbers now?

We must tell the whole world that the PDP is the best place to be; the last convention was applauded. I want to believe that this one will be the same.

In this convention, there will be winner and loser, but in all, the party must win.

The fact that you did not win should not make you to destroy the party.

Present at the meeting are governors including Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and the deputy governor of Bayelsa state, John Jonah.

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Legit.ng earlier reported that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) demanded that those involved in the reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina, the former chairman of the Presidential Committee on Pension Reforms, must be punished no matter how highly placed.

The Nation reports that the call for the sanction came from the national publicity secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who spoke with journalists at the APC secretariat.

APC official tells why his party could be voted out in 2019 - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Former military head of state, Yakubu Gowon, speaks on what caused the Biafran civil war in 1967

- According to him, the lies told by Ojukwu after the Aburi accord led to Biafra civil war

- The former head of state said secession was never part of the resolutions that was agreed on

Nigeria's former military Head of State, Yakubu Gowon (rtd) has revealed that the lies told by the late warlord, Odumegu Ojukwu after the Aburi accord led to Biafra civil war, between 1967 and 1970.

Legit.ng gathered that Gowon while speaking on AITs programme People, Politics and Power, on Tuesday, October 24, said the federal government went to Aburi unprepared, following a disagreement which broke out between the Supreme Military Council (SMC) and the eastern region, led by Ojukwu.

READ ALSO: PDP governors mock Buhari, APC over series of scandals rocking Nigeria

The former military head of state said the decision to go to Aburi was borne out of the desire to win back the trust and confidence of Nigerians, adding that secession was never part of the resolutions they agreed on.

He said: We agreed to put our heads together, to regain the trust and confidence of Nigerians. We went to Aburi, to agree to deal with the situation of our country, by ourselves.

We did not go with any prepared position on the federal side, but, Ojukwu came with a paper he prepared. His prepared position was on a pink paper. Usually, pink paper at the Staff College is directing staff solution to the problem.

The former head of state further said that most of the positions presented by Ojukwu at the conference were accepted and upon their return to Nigeria, he was determined to keep the country united by assuaging the southeast but Ojukwu felt otherwise.

Gowon said Ojukwus refusal may have been as a result of killings of Igbos in the north, a situation that made him (Ojukwu) insist on Nigerias breakup.

He disclosed that part of the agreement reached in Aburi was that upon return to Nigeria, he would be the first to make any statement concerning the resolutions before any governor makes any statement.

But, by the time I returned, I was ill; I had fever. I could not make any statement. But, Ojukwu went to the radio, to make a statement and said the things we never agreed on.

David Ejoor was the one who called me one early morning to ask if I had heard what Ojukwu said, and I said no. He then reeled out all that Ojukwu had said and I asked David, in all honesty, if that was what we agreed. He said no.

To keep the country together was not a task that I could do alone. I needed the cooperation and understanding of every Nigerian. And, in order to ensure we kept the country together, I reckoned that we needed to have discussions among ourselves. We had a civil servant who was exceptionally experienced and good.

We went there (Aburi) to restore the trust of our country. If we were working together, anyone with conscience will assuage the feelings (of the South-easterners). But, Ojukwu thought otherwise. He had in mind all along, based on what happened to his people in the North, that secession was the only way out. But, we were thinking of the whole country, because all parts of the country were involved. The military was not involved in the killings of South-easterners in the North, he said.

Meanwhile, a former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, said the late Ojukwu did not lie. He said: "Gen. Yakubu Gowon, an elder statesman who I revere,said Ojukwu caused the civil war by lying about what transpired in Aburi.This is false.Ojukwu told no lie.Gowon agreed to all the terms in Aburi but when he got home he reneged on the agreement.This is what led to the civil war."

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Legit.ng previously reported that Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, the founder of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), has disclosed that he assured late Odumegwu Ojukwu that there will not be another civil war in the quest for a sovereign Biafran state.

In an interview with Vanguard, Uwazurike blasted the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), for trying to cause chaos with their agitation.

He stated: I assured the late Odumegwu Ojukwu when he was alive, that there would be no other Civil War in Nigeria."

50 years later: Is Biafra really achievable? on Legit.ng TV.

Source: Legit.ng
- The Nigerian Air Force begins intensive day and night aerial bombardment of Boko Haram positions

- The spokesperson for the force, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, says NAF has conducted several air interdiction missions in the northeast, including one on a location in Garin Maloma

- He states that Boko Haram locations in places such as Arra and Boboshe, amongst others, have been attacked by the NAF Mi-17 helicopter and the newly acquired Mi-35M helicopter

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has bombed some Boko Haram targets in the northeast as it commenced Operation Ruwan Wuta II.

READ ALSO: We believe in one Nigeria forever - Biafran war veterans

The operation which began on October 23 is part of efforts by the air force to further decimate the ability of the insurgents to freely operate in the country.

The spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya in a statement on Wednesday, October 25, stated that the operation is essentially an intensive day and night aerial bombardment that is designed to rain significant fire on freshly discovered hideouts of the terrorist.

He said on the first day of the operation, the NAF conducted several air interdiction missions in the northeast, including one on a location in Garin Maloma.

The spokesperson disclosed that the attack on the Boko Haram positions was carried out based on previous intelligence reports, gathered through Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions by NAF ISR platforms which had revealed the presence of a large number of terrorists in some dispersed structures in Garin Maloma.

He said acting on the intelligence, two Alpha Jet aircraft were then dispatched to attack the settlement of the insurgents with bombs.

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Consequently, the location was attacked, in succession, by two Alpha Jet aircraft. The first Alpha Jet aircraft attacked the settlement with bombs, which destroyed the targeted structures and caused fire around the structures where the BHTs were hiding, sending a few survivors scampering for safety.

The second Alpha Jet aircraft, which strafed the area with rockets, subsequently took out some of the fleeing BHT survivors," he said.

The spokesperson said similar Boko Haram locations in places such as Arra and Boboshe, amongst others, were successfully attacked by the NAF Mi-17 helicopter and the newly acquired Mi-35M helicopter.

Watch a video of the strike against the terrorists below:

Meanwhile, a report by Daily Trust indicates that about 411 members of the Boko Haram sect were killed in an air strike carried out by the Nigerian military on Saturday, October 21.

According to the report, the airstrike was carried out in remote areas in the northern part of Borno state.

The report quoted local hunters and members of the Civilian JTF saying the airstrike took place around forested areas in Gudumbali village.

Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- The Peoples Democratic Party has announced a date for its forthcoming convention

- The elective convention of the opposition party will hold at the Eagle Square in Abuja

- The partys spokesperson, Dayo Adeyeye, said the National Executive Committee of the party has also approved party election guidelines for 2017 congresses and national convention

The National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has confirmed that it's elective convention will hold on Saturday, December 9.

Legit.ng gathered that Dayo Adeyeye, the PDP national caretaker committee publicity secretary, confirmed this on Tuesday, October 24, while addressing journalists after the 76th NEC meeting which held in Abuja.

READ ALSO: What Mainas recall exposed about Buharis government - Shehu Sani

Adeyeye said that the convention will hold at the Eagle Square, Abuja, adding that the proposed budget for the convention was also submitted for NEC consideration.

He said the party gave room to new entrants from Anambra and Oyo states to contest.

The party's spokesman also added that Abiodun Olujimi, a senator from Ekiti state, had dragged Governor Ayodele Fayose, before the committee for flouting portions of the partys constitution.

According to an earlier report by Legit.ng, the senators under the aegis of PDP caucus met in Abuja on Monday, October 23, to interview six candidates for the chairmanship position of the party.

The meeting was led by Senator Godswill Akpabio and was conducted in his house at Asokoro, Abuja.

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The candidates in attendance were Bode George, Tunde Adeniran, Raymond Dokpesi, Gbenga Daniel, Uche Secondus and Jimi Agbaje.

Nigerians want PDP back in 2019 - Goodluck Jonathan declares at PDP Caucus Meeting - on Legit.ng TV.

Source: Legit.ng
- Former President Goodluck Jonathan and his ex-National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki were absent at court over Metuh's trial

- Olisa Metuh is facing corruption charges leveled against him by the EFCC

- The court had ordered the former president to appear before it on Wednesday as one of the witnesses to Metuh

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and his ex-National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki were absent in court on Wednesday, October 25 as the hearing in the trial of a former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, resumed before the Federal High Court in Abuja

Punch reports that Jonathans absence from court could be because of inability of the court bailiff to serve him with the courts subpoena on Tuesday, October 24.

Legit.ng gathered that the Department of State Service in whose custody Dasuki is detained has yet to produce the ex-NSA in court.

READ ALSO: 257 stranded Nigerians return from Libya, land in Lagos

The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang had announced in court on Tuesday, October 24, that he had, on Monday, October 23, issued a subpoena to be served on Jonathan.

But a court registrar told the judge during the Tuesdays proceedings that the court bailiff had yet to serve the former President with the subpoena.

Also on Tuesday, the judge heard an application filed by Dasuki praying for an order setting setting aside the subpoena issued on him.

But the judge, who fixed Wednesday (today) for his ruling on Dasukis motion, had ordered that both the ex-NSA must appear in court on Wednesday (today).

The two men were summoned by the court upon an application by Metuh requesting that they be ordered to testify in his defence with respect to the sum of N400m which he was said to have received fraudulently from the Office of the NSA in 2014.

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The court is now delivering ruling on Dasukis motion.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that former president Goodluck Jonathan, was ordered to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja to testify as a witness in defence of a former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh.

The EFCC stage a walk against corruption - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting has been postponed to Thursday October 26

- The agenda of the meeting is the budget 2018 which is currently being finalised

- The federal government discloses that it will take Nigeria between 5 and 30 years to repay the external loan which it is seeking approval for from the National Assembly

President Muhammadu Buhari has postponed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting which was supposed to hold on Wednesday, October 25.

READ ALSO: We believe in one Nigeria forever - Biafran war veterans

The presidency in a statement via Twitter stated that the meeting will now hold on Thursday, October 26.

It said the agenda of the meeting on Thursday will be about the budget 2018 which is currently being finalised.

See the tweet form the presidency below:

Meanwhile, the federal government has disclosed that it will take Nigeria between 5 and 30 years to repay the external loan which it is seeking approval for from the National Assembly, Punch reports.

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This development was made known by the minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun, at a defense session which was convened by the Senate committee on local and foreign debts, on Thursday, October 19.

Legit.ng gathered that Adeosun who was represented by Patience Oniha, director-general, Debt Management Office, urged Nigerians to focus on the loans long term benefits.

President Muhammadu Buhari had previously written to both legislative chambers, urging them to allow the government to borrow the sum of $5.5 billion to finance the 2017 budget.

The government had further insisted that in order to complete some ongoing infrastructural projects, it would have to borrow.

STREET GIST: Signing of 2017 budget in June, same old story? on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- An All Progressives Congress (APC) senator has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is struggling with ruling Nigeria

- The senator said the expectations of Nigerians are high

- Aliyu Wamakko also said that Nigeria is a complex country and can be very difficult for an individual to handle

The senator representing Sokoto North senatorial district, Aliyu Wamakko, on Tuesday, October 24, said President Muhammadu Buhari is struggling to meet up with the expectations of Nigerians.

Wamakko also said that the challenges facing Nigeria is complex for any individual to handle.

While stating that the President Buhari's administration has done fairly well since assuming office in 2015, Wamakko said there is much work needed to be done in Nigeria for citizens too feel the impact.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Jonathan, Dasuki absent in court over Metuhs trial

My reflection about APC government and Buhari in two years: I will say depending on the circumstances we found ourselves and the challenges he had along the way, I think he (Buhari) has done fairly well but could do more.

READ ALSO: How Ojukwus lies caused Biafran civil war in 1967 - Gowon

Human beings have different expectations of government. Some will focus on health sector, water supply, agriculture, economy while some will look at security. In the area of security, he has done fairly well except the kidnap menace that has been bedevilling the country, the former governor said.

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Legit.ng earlier reported that the chairman of the Project Nigeria Movement and Igbo Leaders of Thought, Professor Ben Nwabueze, had accused President Buhari of instigating disunity among Nigerians.

Professor Nwabueze alleged that the president is only interested in issues and agenda in the northern region of Nigeria.

He said the president's utterances under reference manifest shows a pre-determined Islamisation/northernisation agenda.

STREET GIST: Name a Nigerian politician who is not corrupt - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- The political firmament in Nigeria, Ohandigbo Youths Organisation, is charged at the moment

- The group is planning to embark on a nationwide rally to convince President Buhari to re-contest the 2019 presidential election

- According to the group, Buhari has done a lot for Nigeria since he came into power compared to previous administration

A youth group named Ohandigbo Youths Organisation (OYO) has revealed its plans to embark on a nationwide rally to convince President Muhammadu Buhari to seek re-election ahead of the 2019 polls.

A statement signed in Abuja on Wednesday, October 25, by the convener of the group, Chief Nduka Anyanwu, said the group believes that President Buhari still holds the answers to some of the challenges confronting the nation.

Chief Nduka, who described himself as a "buharist", said convincing the president to contest is the first bold step the All Progressives Congress (APC) party must take.

He stated that the group is appreciative of where the present administration has taken Nigeria to presently, especially as regards the situation of the past.

READ ALSO: President Buhari needs a second term to consolidate on his achievements - Shuaibu

His words: We have achieved great success on the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. The Boko Haram insurgency has been dealt with more abruptly and that explains the steady progress and picking up of businesses in the north-east region which was a no go area under President Jonathan.

Secondly, look at the case of the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta region, the president applied wisdom to nip that too in the bud such that peace and stability has returned. Even some ex-militants who are now repentant are reportedly endorsing president Buhari for second term.

The administration of President Buhari has severally demonstrated zero tolerance for corruption and the result is the stability the entire system enjoys today. Our sense of the right value system occasioned by the change begins with me campaign is paying off and soon we shall see more of its dividends. Nigerians now know that corruption is no longer business as usual.

Speaking on why his group will hold a nationwide rally to convince President Buhari for re-election, the APC chieftain said: We cannot trust our collective commonwealth in the hands of hawks and vultures, that is why we want to persuade the president to re-contest in 2019.

Soon we are going to unveil our national programme and start the nationwide consultation of various youth groups in all the states of the federation.

Already student bodies and different youth groups have identified with us and together we are storming Abuja for the grand finale by the first quarter of 2018 where we shall present this demand to Mr President in writing. He cannot disregard the call to serve again by millions of Nigerian youths."

Asked if he thinks the southeast region will support the re-election of the president, Chief Nduka said the region will do everything possible to correct the 2015 mistake.

Chief Nduka says the APC is well rooted in the southeast region at the moment. Source: Bode Olagoke

He stated that in 2015, APC was not deeply rooted in the region, hence the sentimental attachment to Jonathan, but stressed that the situation has changed, adding that, APC is the party to beat in the southeast presently.

A lot of people left the PDP after the 2015 general elections and if you are talking about those that matter in the politics of the south-east today they are in the APC. Their people love them and follow in their lead. The region is tired of being in the opposition.

Again, Mr President has been magnanimous to the southeast. He has promised to construct the second Niger bridge and just few day ago in Anambra state, the Vice President made it clear that the FG has made payment to contractors to go back to site.

So soon it will be seen by everybody that President Buhari is a Nigerian president whose concern for all parts of the country is not hidden, he said.

Chief Nduka also referred to the meeting the president had with leaders of the southeast recently, suggesting that the meeting was successful.

Look at the Sukuk national road projects and expected costs of construction you would see that the region got its fair share of federal attention to some of the dilapidated roads abandoned by the PDP government for 16 years.

Yet, the region in those years gave her block votes to the PDP. These and more explain why the southeast must vote for President Buhari, he added.

In a related development, the deputy director of media, Buhari Campaign Organisation, Ayo Oyalowo, has stated that Nigerians are lucky to have President Buhari as their leader presently.

Oyalowo, who is also a member of the APC and a popular social media influencer, made the statement on a political programme aired on Channels Television recently.

I think he (Buhari) is a good person, I think hes honest, I think Nigeria is blessed and lucky to have him as president.

From 2011 I have been with the man, I supported him in 2011. Im very happy that he finally got it in 2015 and if God wills and he wants to do it again, I will gladly support him, Oyalowo said.

READ ALSO: Buhari support group warns Nwodo not to incite Igbos

Nigerians want PDP back in 2019 - Goodluck Jonathan declares at PDP Caucus Meeting on - Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Popular news outlet reports that Abdulrasheed Maina has allegedly escaped to Niamey in Niger Republic

- The online newspaper also reports that the former chairman of the presidential task force on pension reform was escorted by DSS officials

- The family of the embattled pension boss claims that Maina was begged to join the change agenda and vowed to expose the 'cabal' behind their son's ordeal

Popular media alleges that former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reform, Abdulrasheed Maina has reportedly escaped to Niamey in the Niger Republic and was escorted out of Nigeria by DSS officials.

In a related development, the family of Maina, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari's administration begged the embattled former pension boss to join the change agenda, with the assurance of security protection, Daily Trust reports.

Legit.ng gathered the family during a press conference in Kaduna on Wednesday, October 25, accused a cabal in Aso Rock of being behind the travails of their son.

READ ALSO: Senior civil servants break silence on Maina's recall

Aliyu Maina, the spokesman of the family, said his brother is not a fraudster but a messiah who brought reforms into the pension scheme.

The spokesman said based on his sterling record at the scheme, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari appealed to Maina to key into the change agenda.

Aliyu wondered why government officials were denying his brother, especially when the Department of State Services (DSS) provided security for him.

It is on record that Abdulrasheed Mainas reform put a stop to the fraudulent withdrawal of huge sums from both the Nigerian Pension Board, the Nigerian Police Pension Board, etc.

"Perhaps it is his noble efforts that made him enviable to the present administration when they came into power to convince him to come back and assist in its CHANGE agenda.

Abdulrasheed was in fact invited by this administration and he was promised security to come and clean up the mess and generate more revenue to the government by blocking leakages."

He succumbed to the present administration and came back to Nigeria. He has been working with the DSS for quite some time and he was given necessary security.

There is a letter from the attorney-general of the federation where he gave his own legal opinion regarding the court verdict which was submitted to the Civil Service Commission and the Head of Service respectively. So, one wonders why all the agencies and various individuals responsible for his return are now denying, he said.

When asked about Mainas whereabouts, Aliyu said: As you know Abdulrasheed Maina had been a target of in the past, so experience is the best teacher. But when his security is guaranteed, he will surface from wherever he is and tell Nigerians the truth.

All the same, we have contacted our solicitors, Messrs Mamman Nasir & Co and instructed them to act appropriately.

"We equally know that Abdulrasheed Maina is in possession of so facts that are against the cabal and interesting to the Nigerian populace, which he will disclose soonest. One must ask whether it is an offence for somebody to serve his fatherland.

The family also said that the houses recently seized in Kaduna by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was inherited by Maina.

He said the anti-graft agency had ordered the family members to vacate their residential house in Kaduna.

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Legit.ng previously reported that Abdulrasheed Maina, despite being on the run after being declared wanted by the EFCC for alleged corruption, the fugitive was provided federal security cover.

Maina is said to have received protection from operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service, SSS while the SSS allegedly provided an accommodation for him, Premium Times reports.

The EFCC stage a walk against corruption on Legit.ng TV.

Source: Legit.ng
- The Nigerian army has called for the establishment of a defence trust/support fund

- This is due to the dwindling financial allocations to the Nigerian army

- There are concerns that the current allocation cannot adequately accommodate the operational needs of the army

The acting chief of accounts and budget, army, Brigadier General Jehadi Ezra Jakko, has disclosed that there is need for the federal government to initiate new sources of funding to halt the continually dwindling financial allocations to the Nigerian army.

Jakko's suggestion was due to the expansion of the Nigerian Armys Order of Battle (ORBAT) 2016, leading to the establishment of 3 additional divisions (6, 7 and 8 divisions in Port Harcourt, Maiduguri and Sokoto respectively), thereby introducing an 8 division force structure.

He stated that the current budgeting system (envelop system) by the National Assembly cannot adequately accommodate the operational needs of the army.

Participants at the opening ceremony of the 11th Biennial Nigeria Army Finance Corps Training Conference. Photo credit: Nigerian Army

He made his concerns known at the opening ceremony of the 11th Biennial Nigeria Army Finance Corps Training Conference at the Command Officers Mess 2, Apapa in Lagos, on Tuesday, October 24.

READ ALSO: Group chides Nigerian Senate for summoning chief of army staff

According to him, the envelop system limits the resources at the disposal of the army for routine maintenance and full implementation of the 2016 ORBAT.

The theme for the 2017 conference is Military Expenditure and Combat Readiness: Realistic Funding as a Panacea for Sustaining Nigeria Army Operations.'

Dwindling resources through the envelop system has also impeded routine exercises required for operational readiness and efficiency.

There is therefore the need to exploit new budgeting windows to include other channels of funding for the Nigerian army as is done in other nations.

Available options include creating a Defence Support Fund as obtainable in Turkey, establishment of a Military Industrial Base and Investment Holdings as in Egypt or enacting a local Defence Trust Fund Act like existing Tertiary Education Trust Fund in Nigeria.

The government could also include defence and security sector as beneficiaries from the National Sovereign wealth Fund. These windows will reduce the burden of funding military on government, Jakko told his audience.

He however said despite the current financial situation, the Nigerian Army Finance Corps has ensured that available funds were prudently and transparently channels towards areas that would sustain Nigerian army operation.

To this end, funds were channeled towards payment of outstanding operations allowance to troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.

A dedicated data base was established at Headquarters NAFC Abuja and a special payment portal known as e-Tranzact Portal was installed to facilitate payment process of troops allowances in the northeast theater.

Also, on the spot verification exercise was conducted in 3 locations (Maiduguri, Yobe and Yola) to address issues of outstanding claims of operations allowances in Operation Lafiya Dole.

"This has assisted in boosting the morale of troops and rekindling their fighting spirits towards attaining the Nigerian army mission, he said.

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On the achievements recorded in the NAFC in the last two years, Jakko said: The level of professionalism has greatly increased through improved training, discipline and welfare. The Corps held the Warrant Officers/Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Training Week 2017 across all divisions which was adjudged successful.

It also held the Nigerian Army Leadership Development Seminar in the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA) which recorded increased participation.

Most recently, the Corps organized a training package for its personnel on the International Public Sector Accounting Standard in collaboration with the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. These deliberate training efforts have improved the capacity of NAFC personnel to the benefit of Nigeria army operations.

Participants at the ceremony included National Assembly members, retired and serving military officers, the academia as well as representatives of financial and business communities.

National Assembly members were not left out of the event. Photo credit: Nigerian Army

Also present were retired and serving senior officers of the Nigerian army.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian army has arrested over 40 suspects for various offences within Lagos and Ogun states after the launch of Exercise CROCODILE SMILE 2.

The army made this known through a statement on Tuesday, October 17, by the 81 Division spokesperson, Lt.-Col. Olaolu Daudu in Lagos.

READ ALSO: Operation Crocodile Smile not to torment citizens - Army

STREET GIST: Is Operation "Crocodile smile II" necessary? - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- A G-Wagon belonging to Governor Fayose was burnt down in Lagos on Wednesday, October 25

- It was earlier reported that the governor was not in the SUV during the incident and no casualty was recorded

- But new reports have it that the governor escaped from the burning car

- Cause of the fire, however, could not be ascertained

New details have emerged on the recent fire incident that completely destroyed Governor Fayose's G-Wagon on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos state.

Punch reports that a traffic official and witness said the driver of the G-Class, who waited behind until the fire was put off, went in to pack some burnt N500 notes and other items in the car.

The media outfit also reported that contrary to earlier report, the Ekiti state governor was in the SUV when it caught fire.

He said: The accident happened around 1.30pm on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway inward Airport Road. It happened on the Oshodi bridge, not too far from the LASTMAs headquarters.

We cannot tell the exact cause of the fire. We gathered from those at the scene that the governor was in the G-Class when the accident happened and he quickly escaped into another car in his convoy.

On getting to the scene, we saw the driver who tried to cover his face with a Fez cap. He watched helplessly as the fire raged on. We alerted the state fire service and LASEMA. The LASEMA response unit had to take one way to access the accident scene because the road was blocked because of the inferno.

On arrival, they were able to douse the fire. The vehicle was seriously burnt. The driver did not talk to anybody. We saw as he started packing some of the burnt cash in the car. They were N500 notes. He packed the money with some other items into a polythene bag. This was in the presence of traffic officials and the police. We later cleared the traffic as the carcass of the car was towed away by LASEMA.

Legit.ng earlier reported that Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose lost one of his choice cars as his white Mercedes Benz G-Wagon was completely burnt down in Lagos on Wednesday, October 25.

Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose's spokesperson who confirmed the incident said the SUV caught fire on the motion but the governor was not in the vehicle, New Telegraph reports.

READ ALSO: Breaking: Abu Shekau's wife allegedly killed as NAF fighter jets hit terrorists' base

A G Wagon belonging to Governor Fayose was burnt down in Lagos on Wednesday, October 24. Photo credit: New Telegraph

No casualty recorded. Cause of the fire not ascertained yet, he said.

Going further, he said: There was an accident involving the governors vehicle on his way to the airport yesterday. Though he was meant to be in the vehicle, by providence, he was not there.

Governor Fayose was not in the SUV during the incident and no casualty was recorded. Photo credit: New Telegraph

What caused the sudden fire under the vehicle is yet to be ascertained, he added.

Cause of the fire, however, could not be ascertained. Photo credit: New Telegraph

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that twelve years after the first forum was inaugurated, governors from 16 southern states in Nigeria met again in Lagos on Monday, October 23, for a forum meeting.

The only governor who was missing and did not send a representative to the summit was the Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha.

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Other governors present at the Southern Governors summit 2017 include the six southwest governors: Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose; Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu; Osun state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Oyo state governor, Abiola Ajimobi.

Also present were the governors of: Rivers state, Nyesom Wike; Edo state, Godwin Obaseki; Abia state, Okezie Ikpeazu; Enugu state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Akwa Ibom state, Emmanuel Udom and Ebonyi state, David Umahi.

Are Nigerians truly tired of President Buhari? - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Northeast Development Commission into law

- Consequently, the Act establishes the northeast development commission

- The Act would also help in tackling the menace of poverty and environmental challenges in the northeast

President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the Northeast Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2017.

The senior special assistant to the president on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, made this known in a statement on Wednesday, October 25.

According to him, the Act, establishes the northeast development commission.

He noted that the commission had the mandate to receive and manage funds allocated by the federal government and international donor agencies for the resettlement, rehabilitation, integration and reconstruction of roads, houses and business premises of victims of insurgency.

He added that the Act would also help in tackling the menace of poverty and environmental challenges in the northeast.

READ ALSO: Fayoses G-Wagon completely burnt down in Lagos

It provides for offices of chairman, managing director, executive director (administration and finance), executive director (humanitarian affairs), executive director (operations) and members representing the northeast zone to be rotated amongst member states of the commission.

The commission will among other things coordinate projects and programmes within the Master Plan for the rehabilitation, resettlement, reconciliation, reconstruction and sustainable development of the northeast zone.

This will be done in the field of infrastructure, human and social services, including health and nutrition, education and water supply, agriculture, wealth creation and employment opportunities, urban and rural development and poverty alleviation.

The commission will also liaise with federal ministries, departments, agencies, states and development partners on implementation of all measures approved in the Master Plan for stabilization and development of the northeast by the federal government.

It will equally assess and report on any project being funded or carried out in the northeast by any federal ministry, department and agency or company that has an agreement with the Federal Government, and ensure that funds released for such projects are properly utilised.

The commission will equally liaise with other stakeholders on tackling of humanitarian, ecological and environmental problems and degradation that arise from natural causes, insurgency and industrial activities in the northeast zone, he said.

Enang further said the commission would seek humanitarian, human, material, technical and financial support from development partners, local or international, and Non-Governmental Organisations, with a view to developing the northeast region.

He pointed out that the commission was saddled with the responsibility of co-coordinating civil-military confidence building, stabilization measures and activities that lie within the civil-military interface especially before, during and after military and security operations.

He stressed that one other key role of the commission was to act as the focal point to coordinate and harmonise all other interventions programmes and initiatives that the federal government was involved with in the North-East.

The senior special assistant said that the Act as assented to, had been communicated to appropriate authorities.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the presidency reacted to claims that Muhammadu Buhari did not follow due process in the disengagement of Abdulrasheed Maina the former former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms.

Maina was ordered to be sacked recently after he was allegedly, controversially reinstated and promoted.

Daughter of Buhari's aide leads protest against APC administration - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
By Bill Black, the author of The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Own One, an associate professor of economics and law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and co-founder of Bank Whistleblowers United. Originally published at New Economic Perspectives

This is the first in a series of columns I will write that are prompted by the joint 60 Minutes and Washington Post investigations of the role of Congress and the White House in making it far harder to sanction effectively companies selling massive numbers of opioids that they know will go largely to those addicted to opioids. I will use the case study to illustrate many important points that criminologists know about elite white-collar crime and how to limit it and sanction perpetrators.

In this column, I introduce one of the most important concepts in white-collar crime  seeming legitimacy. The most elite predators use the seemingly legitimate entities in the business, government, and non-profit sectors that they run as weapons of predation and shields against sanctions. The criminology term for this is control fraud. The same logic applies to non-criminal predation. I will show in later columns in this series that Representative Marino (R, PA), the worst of the political shills for the opioid Predator Class, repeatedly spread the falsehood that the worst of the opioid predators could not be predators because they structured their firm as if it were legitimate. As a former state and local prosecutor, Marino knows that CEOs running the largest frauds pose as seemingly legitimate firms because it optimizes control fraud.

Some of these columns will focus on the startling parallels to actions taken by Congress and the White House to aid the Predator Class epidemics of control fraud during the savings and loan (S&L) debacle and the opioid epidemic. Congress and the White House gave aid and comfort to the elite criminals leading epidemics of criminal conduct and predation that they knew would cause catastrophic harm in both crises.

Edwin Sutherland, who coined the term white-collar crime, demonstrated the many ways in which such criminals were able to gain great riches, cause vast harm, and avoid meaningful sanctions. At its worst, the predators so pervert truth and ethics that they successfully portray acts of murderous predation as laudatory. This is the case with many elite wholesale suppliers, pill mills, and prescribing physicians  the principal drivers and beneficiaries of the opioid crisis. It is an Alice in Wonderland world in which power and predation create an insane world dominated by the Predatory Class. Crony capitalism and kleptocracy represent the cases of maximal power for the Predatory Class.

The next level of a rigged system is one in which the Predator Class actions are unlawful, but there are no effective sanctions against their predation. This is why desupervision is typically far more destructive than deregulation.

The third level of a rigged system is when the only available enforcement actions against predation are non-criminal or the criminal and regulatory officials are unwilling to prosecute elite predators. It is exceptionally difficult to deter the elite Predatory Class without significant criminal sanctions directly against elite corporate officers.

The fourth level of a rigged system is that the Predator Class tolerate modest enforcement actions that gave the appearance of the rule of law. As long as the sanctions never threaten the overall predatory strategy of the most powerful CEOs the modest sanctions strengthen the Predatory Class by harassing smaller competitors. This makes the system appear legitimate. However, the Predator Class will suddenly push back and seek to use their elite social, political, and economic power to crush any enforcers or prosecutors who threaten to bring effective actions against the Predator Class.

In the opioid and S&L debacle, we witnessed elected traitors and anti-regulators who betrayed the citizens of the United States and their oaths of office, albeit for far more than 30 pieces of silver. Political contributions, lobbying, and the revolving door are generally not crimes, so no prosecutor will ever charge these politicians and anti-regulators in a court with treason. Their betrayal of the American people, however, maims and kills far more Americans than do those who commit formal treason or engage in street crimes. The fact that these political elites and the Predator Class cynically exploit loopholes in the law available as a practical matter only to the wealthiest of Americans makes their predation on the American people more reprehensible. Their fellow Americans gave the Predator Class vast benefits, yet the predators used their power and elite status to enrich themselves further by taking actions they know will cause immense misery and death. When we think of predators, we typically think of apex predators like lions and killer whales (orcas), but the mass killers are parasites. The Predator Class are parasites.

One of the things that white collar criminologists want the public to know is that elite fraud and corruption, in addition to causing extraordinary financial loss, maim and kill. In many countries, they maim and kill more people than do conventional street crimes. Opioids exemplify that point. Drug overdoses kill more Americans annually than died of AIDS at its peak U.S. death rate, homicides at their peak U.S. death rate, and car accidents at their peak. (These data exclude deaths from overdoses of a major drug category, alcohol.) The Congressional and White House scandal is about prescription opioids, but it is increasingly common for those addicted to prescription opioids to progress to using the far more lethal synthetic opioids such as Fentanyl, heroin, and drug cocktails. Crushing prescription opioids can defeat the designed delayed release and greatly intensify the effective dosage, as can other means of ingesting the drug.

Here is the bare bones background you need to understand the context of this first column. Big pharma pitched opioids to patients, doctors, regulators, and the Congress as being exceptionally unlikely to prove addictive. That was a lie. Many physicians prescribed opioids to patients for uses such as chronic back pain and arthritis. Doctors never should have prescribed opioids for such purposes. Long-term use of prescription opioids poses a serious risk of addiction and can exacerbate chronic pain. As the frequency of opioid use grew massively, everyone honest in the pharma chain realized that it posed a critical health threat to our Nation that required emergency steps to contain to prevent the deaths of many thousands of Americans annually.

Long before opioids kill their users they often cause devastating harm to the users, their families, and to local community budgets. Dr. Francis Colllns, the NIH director, recently testified.

According the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in 2016, over 11 million Americans misused prescription opioids, nearly 1 million used heroin, and 2.1 million had an opioid use disorder due to prescription opioids or heroin. Over the past decade, the U.S. has experienced significant increases in rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), hepatitis C infections, and opioid-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Most alarming are the continued increases in overdose deaths, especially the rapid increase since 2013 in deaths involving illicitly made fentanyl and other highly potent synthetic opioids. Since 2000, more than 300,000 Americans have died of an opioid overdose. Preliminary data for 2016 indicate at least 64,000 drug overdose deaths, the highest number ever recorded in the U.S. Too many of our citizens are being robbed of their God-given potential in the prime of their life.

The diversion and dealing of prescription opioids is a major part of the problem. In the U.S., three big pharma companies control the distribution of opioids. They have readily available data that allows them to identify quickly, cheaply, and reliably the primary sources of diversion and dealing because these drug stores and pain clinics purchase opioids in amounts that are nonsensical given the size of the local population and stores making the purchases. The first scandal, therefore, is that the big three distributors continue to sell to firms that they know are diverting and dealing opioids in ways that are illegal and murderous. We should not need laws or rules to prevent the distributors from profiting from sales to obvious diverters and dealers. The people who run big pharma are experts in what opioids do to humans. All of big pharma firms have senior officers who are doctors and chemists. They know the human misery and murder their sales to the diverters are certain to produce in staggering numbers. When elite doctors and chemists are willing to profit by selling to those they know to be dealers and diverters who will maim and murder their countrymen and women you know the rot lies deep in our elites.

As a criminologist and lawyer, I believe that much of what the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) does is harmful and represents insane priorities used selectively against blacks and Latinos in obscene manners. Criminalizing drug use is typically a fruitless and harmful approach. The criminal justice system should be only part of our response to the opioid crisis. Criminal sanctions are, however, the vital response to big pharma and the pill mills criminal and predatory acts.

The DEAs Joe Rannazzisi tried to warn Congress that legislation it was considering would gut one of the DEAs primary tools to prevent big pharma from making massive sales to pill mills. For the high crime of speaking truth to power, Representatives Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.) and Tom Marino (Pa.), the twin primary sponsors of the bill that big pharma drafted to gut DEAs ability to sanction big pharma, led the reprisals that forced Rannazzisi out after nearly 30 years of government service.

Congress gutting of DEAs enforcement authority against what Rannazzisi aptly labeled drug dealers in lab coats, was disgustingly parallel to multiple actions that Congress and the administration took to aid the Predatory Class leading the fraud epidemics that drove the S&L debacle. Each of these actions constitutes an act of unintentional self-parody. The supreme act of unintentional self-parody was President Trump seeking to appoint Marino to run the DEA. It takes a Trumpian level of talent to reward Marinos act of betraying the American people through obscene legislation and his leading the reprisals against DEA whistleblower with an appointment to run the DEA. Fortunately, the 60 Minutes documentarys disclosures about Marinos betrayal and unfitness showed that Trumps actions appalled the American people.

Trump and Congress should take three actions immediately in light of the recent disclosures. First, Trump said that he was going to declare a national opioid emergency over 70 days ago  and still failed to sign an emergency order. He should do so immediately.

Trump also told reporters he would formalize his Aug. 10 national emergency declaration by signing it and sending it to Congress this week. That would enable the executive branch to direct millions of federal dollars toward things like expanding drug treatment facilities and supplying police officers with the anti-overdose remedy naloxone.

Second, the same source makes clear that Congress should repeal Marinos act of betrayal.

Meanwhile, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., announced Monday she would introduce legislation that would repeal the law Marino championed, saying it has significantly affected the governments ability to crack down on opioid distributors that are failing to meet their obligations and endangering our communities.

Third, Trump should fill the DEA vacancy by nominating the public servant who has demonstrated his excellence, integrity, and courage  Joe Rannazzini.
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

The narrative of how we lost four special forces soldiers in Niger  four Nigerian[1] soldiers were killed as well  has rapidly devolved into a culture war skirmish over whether Trump insulted the troops; the more fevered sort of Democrat seems to think they have Trump by the Benghazis. Along with the culture war main comes a side of wonkish, tactical scrutiny: Were the troops ambushed, why werent they evacuated more quickly, and so on. There will, of course, be an investigation, in which the FBI has now involved itself. All this conveniently obscures the question of why we have a military presence in Niger to begin with (assuming that there is a reason other than the creation of yet another endless and profitable war). So why do we?

The Scene

First, let me apologize because this piece is a bit sprawling; Im feeling my way into the topic, as I suspect most readers who dont simply take what we read i the papers for granted.

Now lets look at Nigers geography, economy, and resources. Niger (which is not Nigeria) is the largest country in West Africa. Here is a handy map of Niger from ReliefWeb (PDF for full-sized version):

Translating the map into prose:

From East to West, the south of Niger is in the Sahel; the north is in the Sahara; the climate is said to be very hot and very dry.

Agadez, a city of 78,000 in the center of the country, is a waystation for migrant and smuggling routes

Niamey, the capital, in the far southwest of the country, has been subject to at least one assassination by a (putatively) Al Qaida affiliate

The United States has military presence

Uranium is found in the North

Since I think we know about the Sahara, a word on the Sahel from the United Nations (2017):

The Sahel region is vulnerable to desertification due to global warming. Additionally, unstable climatic patterns makes sustainable agriculture difficult. Soil erosion and overgrazing have also contributed to the expansion of the Sahara desert conditions into the relatively mild Sahel region. Over-population in the marginal areas result in exerting pressure on the productive areas. Desertification has led to threats of food security to the residents of these areas while endangering the existing animal and plant species. Despite efforts by various international organizations such as UN, the region remains under threat. Dust storms are a common feature in the region.

Expanding on food insecurity from Africa Renewal (2013):

When the Sahel is in the news, it is often because millions of people are at risk of going hungry. A humanitarian crisis usually unfolds on the back of a food crisis. In 2012, the lives of up to 18 million people were put at risk following a major food crisis in the region. This year, more than 11 million are facing the same plight, while 1.4 million children are threatened with severe malnutrition. Even in normal years, millions are in a permanent state of food insecurity. Over the past five decades, persistent droughts have contributed to famine episodes.

(Readers will be reminded by the drought conditions in Syria, where food security may have caused, and certainly intensified, the civil war.)

The CIA World Factbook provides a summary of the Niger Economy:

[Nigers] economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the worlds largest uranium deposits. Agriculture contributes approximately 25% of GDP and provides livelihood for 87% of the population. The UN ranked Niger as the second least developed country in the world in 2016 due to multiple factors such as food insecurity, lack of industry, high population growth, a weak educational sector, and few prospects for work outside of subsistence farming and herding [A]s of April 2017, there were no US firms operating in Niger.

The word that comes to my mind is grim, especially when I imagine overgrazing in the Sahel. And the word that leaps out from the background uranium.[1] From Barry Lando at HuffPo:

[Niger] has huge deposits of uranium, and the largest uranium miner is Areva, a sprawling French energy conglomerate, in which the French government has a major interest. Arevas Arlit mine is in a desolate northern region of Niger and the mission of the [French] Special Forces is to protect it. After all, France depends on nuclear reactors to provide 80 percent of the countrys electrical power. [T]he Chinese have huge interests of their own in the region  including their $300 million SOMINA uranium mine at the desert outpost of Azalik in northern Niger.

Not to be monocausual

The Players

Aside from the Nigeriens themselves, the major players seem to be the Jihadists (whatever that means), the United States plus France plus Nigeria, and the Chinese. Lets take each in turn.

First, the Jihadists (whatever that means). From CNN:

CNN has reported that 50 fighters of the regional ISIS in the Greater Sahara [whoever they are] were responsible for the attack. The Pentagon has claimed the group emerged in Niger [speaking one of Nigers eleven official languages, no doubt] because of defeats suffered by ISIS in Syria and Iraq. We do have information on the group that did it, their nature, their disposition and so on and so forth and appropriate organizations within the United States military are digging deeper into that and will take appropriate action if required, Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, told reporters last week.

Translating Milley: Nobody knows anything. Thats not unreasonable; we didnt know anything in Syria, Iraq, or Afghanistan either. You can read the Guardian for an important qualification: [N]o Islamic extremist faction in the Sahel currently has a fixed base, making it very difficult to track the whereabouts and evolution of any individual group. This too translates to Nobody knows anything. Secretary of Defense Mattis says only that the attackers were new to the area. Same. As with Syria, Im inclined to distrust all the reporting on general principle.

Next, the United States  AFRICOM address: Ashstrae, 70567 Stuttgart, Germany  and its mission. From Quartz:

The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) has 800 military personnel stationed in Niger, running a drone operation, and supporting the government in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance efforts. And as the threat of terrorism looms over the entire Sahel region, Niger has become an indispensable Western ally, closely working with the over 3,500 French troops based in the region

Drones. Great. Lets hope we dont whack any more wedding parties. And apparently we also do training. Reuters:

The U.S. military organizes an annual, high-profile U.S. drill as well as longer-term, more discreet training of regional forces. But experts say U.S. involvement in the fight does not stop there. It is likely that there are other operations going on aside from just the training operations, said Andrew Lebovich, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

So, training. And other stuff. Boots to clean, pots to mend. Always a thing going.[3]

Finally, from GlobalSecurity.org, the Chinese presence is commercial (very commercial) and not military at all:

China is building a major portfolio in Nigers resource sectors and will probably replace France as Nigers top foreign investor when projects under construction are fully operational. Chinese investments include oil and gas production, refining, uranium mining, and infrastructure. On the Nigerien side, the bilateral relationship was [***cough***] managed directly from President Tandjas office, and there is a striking lack of transparency in the terms of investment agreements, most of which had been negotiated without direct involvement of professional staff from the Ministry of Mines and Energy. There were no examples of US-China collaboration in Niger. There was little scope for US-China collaboration when the comparative advantage of the Chinese was their willingness to ignore international standards of transparency and commercial viability.

Interestingly, theres no indication the Chinese have been attacked, either.

Conclusion

So far as I can tell, there are only two reasons for us to have a military presence in Niger:

1) To help France hang on to its uranium supply, a vital national interest for them, and

2) The self-licking ice cream of the Global War on Terror, or whatever were calling it these days.

Since the political class seems to be lusting for war  whether with Russia or in North Korea  a war in Niger would have much to recommend it, since the only nuclear powers involved would be the United States and France (since its hard to see that China would have vital national interests involved; Nigers uranium would constitute some fraction of one-third of Chinas uranium supply).

If the United States runs true to form (and at this point we have form) a war in Niger would:

0) Never be declared;

1) Last for many years;

2) Not produce a victory (if victory be defined as parades and politicians claiming victory);

3) Be extremely expensive;

4) Cause enormous civilian suffering and many refugees;

5) Destabilize West Africa;

6) Strengthen the mercenary elements of the military-industrial complex;

7) Produce blowback, should adversaries once again focus, as Bin-Laden did, on the far enemy. In this regard, it would be interesting to see the social effects if the blowback operatives were Africans, and not from the Middle East, as were Bin Ladens.

What could go wrong?

NOTES

[1] Nigerian means from or of Nigeria, as opposed to Nigerien, which means from or of Niger.

[2] Niger produces 80,000 barrels of oil per day; the Chinese-owned oil refinery produces 20,000 barrels a day for domestic consumption. If Niger is the next Saudi Arabia  reserves discovered by China are said to be one billion barrels; Saudi proven reserves are said to be 268 billion  the information is closely held. It doesnt seem likely that Niger would be a war for oil, unlike Iraq.

[3] summary of all the Western players in Central Africa, from the Weekly Standard:
Lambert: A good round-up, but this looks to me like the same pattern of wierdly ineffectual response that we saw for Puerto Ricos roads, without which any water solutions will be difficult to deliver. The authors conclusion that ultimately, Puerto Ricos status as a U.S. territory might be behind its slow recovery could be too mild; one might rephrase status as a U.S. territory as Puerto Ricos de jure colonial status, and then ask how many other jurisdictions have de facto colonial status. Its hard to avoid the conclusion that vast swaths of the continent are simply being written off; the reasons may differ, but the bottom line is the same. Of course, today could be my day to be overly cynical.

By Justine Calma, a freelance multimedia journalist reporting across the U.S. and internationally on health, climate change, migration and human rights. Her work has appeared on NBC News, PBS, WNYC, PRIs The World, Quartz, The GroundTruth Project, Salon and Huffington Post. Originally published at Grist.

The numbers associated with the current situation in Puerto Rico, one month after Hurricane Maria struck the U.S. territory, are baffling.

More than 2.5 million residents are still without power. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is able to offer 200,000 meals to Puerto Ricans daily  but it needs to feed 2 million people. Perhaps most baffling, or at least exasperating, President Donald Trump gives himself a perfect 10 for his response to the storms aftermath.

One of the most pressing issues on the island is access to clean water. Officials estimate that more than 1 in 3 residents in Puerto Rico doesnt have it. Aid agencies on the ground say the number is closer to 1 in 2. Families are drinking water contaminated with sewage and dead animals. Others are drawing from toxic Superfund sites. There have been at least 10 cases of leptospirosis from drinking contaminated water  and officials are investigating four deaths which may have been caused by waterborne bacteria.

Simply put, this is an ongoing public health crisis.

Puerto Rico was in a tough spot before Maria tore through the Caribbean island. Economic and political factors complicated disaster response: The territory was already facing a debt crisis. And limited local resources and poor roads made it difficult to get supplies to storm survivors.

But aid agencies and relief experts believe the current predicament could have been avoided. There are international standards and a clear blueprint for how to get safe water to people after a disaster. But so far, the federal response has failed in providing both immediate help and longer-term solutions  and part of the reason for that could boil down to discrimination.

Were a very capable nation, yet we dont seem to have deployed our capabilities in this instance, says John Mutter, a Columbia University professor and international disaster relief expert. This isnt rocket science. We know what were supposed to do. The fact that were not doing it needs explanation.

According to the relief organization Oxfam, the minimum standards for disaster response have not been met. The aid group follows Sphere minimum standards  a set of universal benchmarks for humanitarian responses established in 1997  which require, for instance, four gallons of water to be provided per day per person for bathing, cooking, and drinking. The water should be delivered in safe containers through water trucks, water bladders, or filters. And initial assistance is supposed to arrive within three to five days after a disaster.

In this case, there has not been enough overall coordination of relief, according to Martha Thompson, Oxfam Americas program coordinator for disaster response in Puerto Rico. Truck deliveries of bottled water are sporadic, and she says that the military has sent water trucks to several sites without providing clean containers to safeguard the water.

U.S. Northern Command, which is coordinating the militarys aid efforts in Puerto Rico, confirmed reports that people are using potentially contaminated containers  often washed out detergent bottles  to collect water. In response, its distributing five-gallon collapsable buckets to residents to avoid the possibility of clean water being contaminated by dirty receptacles.

The military is focused on delivering safe and drinkable water, says Navy Lieutenant Sean McNevin. We are very concerned about the safety of Puerto Ricans affected by the hurricane and well make those recommendations and adjustments to what we deliver based on what we know on the ground.

According to Peter Gleick, a climate and water scientist with the Bay Area public policy nonprofit the Pacific Institute, the U.S. government could have taken steps prior to or immediately after Maria hit Puerto Rico to speed up recovery. Within days of the storms landfall, Gleick recommended that the United States quickly move military assets, like desalination units that pull salt out of ocean water, to the islands.

I urge the U.S. to send an aircraft carrier to Puerto Rico for the airstrip, but especially the #water desalination capacity  Peter Gleick (@PeterGleick) September 22, 2017

He adds that there should be more aggressive water testing to assure residents that they are using safe water sources. The idea that there are communities forced to take water from wells on Superfund sites is completely inexcusable, Gleick says.

On Thursday, CNN reported that Marc Edwards, the Virginia Tech environmental engineer who ran tests on the contaminated water in Flint, Michigan, had concluded that samples taken from wells at the Dorado Groundwater Contamination Superfund Site, near Puerto Ricos capital of San Juan, were safe to drink.

Still, residents searching for water on toxic sites or relying on bottled water are the sort of problems the aid community says should have been dealt with long before the one-month mark. Recovery efforts should be transitioning into more sustainable long-term solutions.

Its unacceptable that people are still depending on water bottle deliveries for day-to-day survival, says Oxfams Thompson, adding that people continue to fear that future shipments wont arrive.

By now, whats needed are water filters and solar-powered generators that communities can use to run pumps to access wells. There also needs to be significant improvement to the territorys municipal water system, which wasnt in great shape before the storm hit.

Earlier this year, the Natural Resources Defense Council published a report that found that Puerto Rico had the highest rate of drinking water violations of any state or territory in the United States.

Theres a question as to whether or not the population was receiving safe drinking water before the storm, says Adrianna Quintero, NRDCs director of partner engagement. So we can only expect that its going to be worse post-storm.

The islands current safe water shortage is closely tied to power outages, says Peter Gleick. With more than 70 percent of the island lacking power, he says, wastewater treatment and water delivery systems have stalled out.

This isnt just a water problem, Gleick says. Its an energy problem.

Ultimately, Puerto Ricos status as a U.S. territory might be behind its slow recovery. As part of the United States, the island hasnt seen the type of international aid that an independent developing country might receive. And yet Puerto Ricans have had to assert their U.S. citizenship to a federal government that allocates them no say in the electoral college or a Congress representative who can vote on legislation.

Theres this idea that these are not American citizens who are going through this, which is blatantly false, Quintero says. I think theres an element of discrimination there.

According to Columbias Mutter, FEMAs response to hurricanes Harvey in Houston and Irma in Florida seemed to show that it had learned its lessons from Hurricane Katrina. Critics attributed the agencys slow response to the 2005 storm and the resulting humanitarian emergency in part to the fact that they affected a primarily black and poor population.

Now it just seems like theyve forgotten their lessons, Mutter says about FEMA. It seems callous, but it looks like maybe they dont care as much about Puerto Rico.

FEMA did not respond to requests for comment.

Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello seemed to agree with Mutter when he met with President Trump in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Give the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico the adequate resources, Rossello pleaded. Treat us the same as citizens in Texas and Florida and elsewhere.
(Natural News) It may be too much to hope for, but it appears that we may actually be getting closer to the day when some of the most corrupt politicians in recent memory  Bill and Hillary Clinton, along with President Obama and several of his Cabinet officials  will finally be held legally responsible for things theyve done to our country.

By now it has become obvious, just based on open-source reporting, that the Obama regime spied on Team Trump under the guise of a phony national security probe. Thats where the Russian collusion story comes from; it was a hoax ginned up to legitimize politicizing the U.S. federal law enforcement and intelligence communities so that the Obama administration could keep tabs on Donald J. Trump and his staffers for anything that might help Hillary.

One of the ways they created this fake Russian narrative was by using a known Left-wing Democratic opposition firm called Fusion GPS, the group behind the infamous and discredited Trump dossier. That dossier, many in Congress believe, was used as justification for the secret surveillance warrants the Obama administration obtained in order to spy on Team Trump.

Now, lawmakers want to know more about Fusion GPS and in particular who paid for the dossier. The House Intelligence Committee earlier this month issued a subpoena to TD Bank seeking the firms banking records, which Fusion GPS says would ruin its business were that information to get out, The Daily Caller is reporting.

In short, compliance with this subpoena will not only harm Plantiffs business, it has a high likelihood of ruining it, said one of the arguments presented by the firms attorneys in court papers filed in Washington, D.C.

There is only one reason why Fusion GPS is scrambling to block the subpoena: Company execs dont want the House panel to find out who hired them to investigate the Trump campaign and the president himself. That has been a closely-held secret (in a city full of leaks) since the dossier, which was written by former British spy Christopher Steele, was published in January by the website Buzzfeed (which is now been sued by Russian firms mentioned in the document).

This dossier is just the tip of the scandal iceberg involving the Clintons, Obama, his former FBI chief, now-fired James Comey, and other officials. Another major scandal pertains to the sale of the company Uranium One to the Russians, which the FBI found early on involved racketeering, bribery, real Russian collusion, and other high crimes involving the Obama White House and the Clintons. (Related: Trump takes mainstream media to task for REFUSING to cover Billery uranium scandal: Thats your REAL Russia story)

Here are the highlights surrounding that scandal, as laid out perfectly by former federal prosecutor and national security expert Andrew McCarthy at National Review:

 The $500,000 payment given to Bill Clinton for a speech was funneled to him via the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin via a Kremlin-aligned bank. There was no independence to it; it was a bribe, pure and simple, and it was made to win favor with the ex-president and, it was believed at the time, his soon-to-be-president wife.

 The deal seriously compromised U.S. national security because it handed control over one-fifth of the United States strategic supply of uranium, which is a primary element in the manufacture of nuclear weapons and nuclear power.

 The Obama regime was well aware that Republicans in Congress were attempting to stop the deal from going through  because, again, it was a blow to national security.

 The Justice Department under then-Attorney General Eric Holder and the FBI under then-Director Robert Mueller, who is now a special counsel leading a collusion investigation into Trump, knew about improper payments and transfers of money to the Clintons and Clinton-aligned charities, principally the Clinton Foundation, to the tune of about $145 million from parties interested in seeing the deal go through.

 One witness who was undercover for the FBI was threatened with prison if he broke a non-disclosure agreement and went to Congress to tell lawmakers what he knew.

Taken together, this is just more evidence that Barack Obama presided over one of the most corrupt administrations in the history of the country.

Read more of J.D. Heyes work at The National Sentinel.

Sources include:

TheNationalSentinel.com

NationalReview.com

DailyCaller.com
(Natural News) A state senator in Maryland is now calling for lethal injection to be reinstated in the state for certain crimes, and he wants to use the same drugs that are already killing thousands of Americans each year to get the job done: heroin and fentanyl.

Hartford Country Republican Senator Robert G. Cassilly would like to see lethal injection used for crimes such as serial murders, murders of witnesses or law enforcement officials, murders that take place during a sex offense or hate crime, and killing two or more people in a single incident.

He expressed his intention to ask the Maryland General Assembly to restore capital punishment during the legislative session next year; it was repealed in 2013 during the administration of Governor Martin OMalley. The last execution in the state took place back in 1993.

His comments came just five days after a Maryland business park shooting saw three deaths and two injuries. The victims had been gunned down by a co-worker at the Advanced Granite Solutions office in Edgewood. The suspect then allegedly drove to Delaware, where he shot another individual. Radee Prince is being held on $2.1 million bond. He faces life in prison without parole for several first-degree murder charges.

Cassilly said: Theres got to be a penalty that says, Look, youve killed; now it can actually get a whole lot worse from this [if you re-offend] because we will hold your life over your head.

He came up with the idea of using heroin and fentanyl in order to counter an argument commonly used by lethal injection opponents  that the process is painful.

What weve seen is a mix of heroin and fentanyl obviously must not be too painful, he said, because we see people pumped up with [the antidote] Narcan on the verge of death, probably practically deadthey turn back around and they want to do [heroin and fentanyl] again.

Senator Cassillys brother is States Attorney Joseph Cassilly, who believes that choosing these substances for lethal injections would also send a message to the population about just how deadly a combination it is and hopefully help deter people from taking these drugs and becoming yet another tragic statistic.

Opioids inhibit respiration by blocking the brain from signaling to the body to breathe; those who take higher doses of it essentially forget how to breathe. At 100 times stronger than heroin, just a few grains of fentanyl can kill somebody, and the growing trend of heroin laced with fentanyl has been a key driver of the opioid crisis in the U.S.

Nevada already planning a lethal injection with fentanyl

Last month, Nevada announced plans of its own to use fentanyl in lethal injections. Murderer Scott Raymond Dosier is set to be injected with fentanyl, Valium, and the muscle relaxant cisatracurium, which is related to curare. The injection will take place next month in what will be the states first execution in more than a decade.

States that have the death penalty have been having trouble sourcing drugs for executions in recent years, prompting them to turn to new combinations. Many pharmaceutical makers are opposed to having their drugs associated with executions due to concerns about their reputation  nevermind the fact that their drugs kill countless innocent people each year.

Sources include:

Baltimore.CBSLocal.com

Patch.com

IBTimes.co.uk

TheDailyBeast.com
(Natural News) The 27-year Angolan Civil War has left indelible marks on the former Portuguese colony. The most enduring of these are, undoubtedly, the millions of undetonated landmines underneath the Angolan countryside. Tens of thousands of people have been seriously wounded or killed by landmines. In a bid to solve this crisis, people have turned to the superior senses of dogs and Gambian pouched rats to sniff out trinitrotoluene (TNT), the main component of landmines. Now, researchers from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, have identified another animal that could potentially help fix this problem: elephants.

It should come as no surprise that elephants have been considered for landmine detection. Ashadee Kay Miller, a postgraduate student from the University of Witwatersrand, explained that these animals have an exceptionally high number of olfactory receptor (OR) genes at nearly 2,000 OR genes. The higher the number of OR genes, the better the sense of smell. With dogs having just 811 OR genes and rats having 1,207, this makes elephants among the best sniffers in the animal kingdom.

With this in mind, Miller and her colleagues put their smelling abilities to the test. They recruited three African elephants from Adventures With Elephants, an educational tourism facility located in Limpopo, South Africa. The researchers utilized a rewards-based training system to teach the elephants how to identify TNT by scent  initially, among blank and odorless samples, then among distracting and strong-smelling odors.

According to DailyMail.co.uk, the researchers placed the samples in buckets that formed a straight line. The elephants were then tasked with walking beside and investigating the contents of each bucket, then raising and waving their front leg over the bucket they thought had TNT.

Of the 97 TNT samples used during the trials, the elephants only missed out on one. This put their sensitivity score at 99.7 percent, with sensitivity being defined as the propensity to indicate whenever a target substance (in this case TNT) is present. By comparison, TNT-detection dogs have a sensitivity score of 93.7 percent.

However, the elephants racked up a lower selectivity score, or the propensity to only indicate TNT, and not just any odorous substance. They made six false-positive identifications, having mistaken five out of 53 samples of acetone for TNT, as well as one out of 24 samples of petrol. Their selectivity score came to 95.1 percent, which is lower than the 100 percent scored by dogs.

Our findings indicate that elephants are almost five percent more likely than dogs to indicate the presence of TNT when, in fact, there is none. But dogs are almost six percent more likely to miss TNT than elephants are, noted Miller. She then added: Its obviously better for TNT detectors to be prone to false positives rather than false negatives: in fact it could be the difference between life and death.

As effective as elephants are at smelling out TNT, their massive size and weight makes them disadvantageous as infield TNT detectors. In lieu of actual fieldwork, elephants could instead be used to provide demining operations support from the sidelines.

Samples collected via Remote Explosive Scent Tracing by unmanned vehicles such as drones could be sent to the elephants for screening. The information gathered from TNT-detection elephants could be passed on to demining teams working at the front lines, even before they are deployed, said Miller. This early warning system could potentially save the lives of the deminers and their dedicated biosensor companions.

More than just demining efforts, Miller has suggested that elephants keen sniffing senses could be useful in other areas such as disease detection. Currently, specially trained dogs are being trained to screen patients for acute and chronic diseases. The accuracy and reliability of these animals has proven greater than that of machines in some cases. (Related: Scientists STUNNED: Dogs are able to detect cancer more accurately than many laboratories)

Elephants have several advantages over dogs, Miller explained: They require less maintenance training than dogs to keep them on the target scent. In addition, given their longevity  they can live to around 60 years in the wild  elephants, once trained, could serve as long-standing biosensors that far outlive any of their current biosensor counterparts.

And, importantly, biologically appropriate tasks that engage natural behaviors to gain reward is highly stimulating for captive animals. So not only could elephants potentially save lives while sniffing out danger  they could have fun at the same time.

For other stories in a similar vein to this, visit Scientific.news today.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Seeker.com
As firefighters gain on wildfires burning in Northern California's wine country, the many thousands who lost their houses, condos and apartments in those fires will have to find a new place to live in one of the toughest housing markets in the nation.

In San Francisco, an average one-bedroom apartment rents for more than $3,000 a month and the median home price is about $1.5 million. The climbing cost of living has reached the greater San Francisco Bay Area, which includes parts of the fire areas.

The fires that swept through parts of seven counties were the deadliest and most destructive series of blazes in in California history. At least 42 people were killed and 6,000 homes destroyed.

Crews made excellent progress Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, setting off controlled burns to deprive wildfires of added fuel, said Daniel Berlant, spokesman for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire. He said cooler weather and the lack of wind helped.

"We're hoping that Mother Nature will continue to cooperate with us," he said. "Increased moisture in the air and potential rainfall, all of those are welcome signs."

Also on Wednesday, Sonoma County increased its death count from 22 to 23 when officials reported they had found another body in Santa Rosa. Officials released no details.

Keeping positive is hard when facing the reality of starting from scratch, said John De Groot, whose home in Santa Rosa burned down along with a lifetime of memories.

"We've worked our whole lives," De Groot said. "We've had this house for 23 years. So there are a lot of memories there. Grandkids have been there. They love it. And it's not there. So now what?"

California, which was grappling with a housing shortage before the wildfires broke out, is faced with a massive logistical issue with entire neighborhoods destroyed and so many seeking to rebuild.

"This is a tremendous event for an urban area," Brock Long, an administrator with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Tuesday. "We've got a lot of thinking to do about how you mitigate this from happening in communities down the road and becoming more resilient."

An estimated 100,000 people were evacuated at the height of the fires, and about 34,000 remain under evacuation. Many have yet to find out if their homes are still standing.

"The good thing is we have each other," said Ramona Lancu, whose family home in Larkfield was destroyed. "We were able to escape. Now we just start a new life. It's hard."

Lancu was among tens of thousands who have drifted home to find their lives and their communities dramatically altered.

At a Red Cross shelter in Petaluma, 69-year-old Sue Wortman recalled the words that raced through her mind when she fled the flames near her home in Sonoma.

"We're all going up in smoke," she thought at the time. Since then, she's been walking around in a daze.

Firefighters gained more control Tuesday of the massive wine country wildfires, even as other blazes erupted in mountains near Los Angeles and Santa Cruz.

Meanwhile, officials and trauma experts worried about the emotional toll taken by the grueling week of blazes.

Wortman has been living in her RV outside the Petaluma shelter, while hundreds of other evacuees sought refuge in tents and trailers and on cots inside the fairground facility. She has sought comfort among friends and with her dogs but knows that feeling won't last.

"I think it's really going to hit when we go home and see the destruction," she said.

Highlighting the concerns of mental health professionals, the California Psychological Association has emailed an urgent request calling for volunteers to help wildfire evacuees cope with the trauma they have faced and its aftermath.

"There is tremendous acute and long term impact and we are needed right now to help," Dr. Chip Shreiber, the association's disaster resource coordinator, said in the email sent Monday to a distribution list of 13,000 licensed psychologists across California. "Please get the word out."

It's common for survivors to feel a range of emotions  sadness, anger, irritability  and to suffer flashbacks or nightmares while having trouble sleeping, especially in a shelter surrounded by strangers.

Evacuees were advised to pace their exposure to news and media, which provide information that can reduce anxiety but also become overwhelming.

Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer in Sonoma, Terry Chea in Santa Rosa, Jocelyn Gecker and Janie Har in San Francisco, and Andrew Dalton and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
A San Francisco house that was completely gutted by a fire is on the market for about $800,000  staggering evidence of the Bay Areas worsening housing crisis.

Located at 121 Gates Street in the Bernal Heights neighborhood, the 600-square-foot house offers one bedroom and one bathroom. It was built in 1907 and boasts views of the San Francisco Bay, according to the Coldwell Banker listing.

This list of attributes doesnt take into account the fact that the house, which sits on a 1,746-square-foot lot, was badly damaged in a 2016 fire. No one was injured.

Photographs of the house show stairs leading up to a charred house where sunlight streams through a window, highlighting charred walls, mangled appliances and interiors that are burned beyond recognition or repair.

However, in a city where housing stock cannot keep up with skyrocketing demand, the fire hasnt detracted from the houses appeal. In fact, realtor Jim Laufenberg told Business Insider that its price tag  $1,331 per square foot for a total of $799,000  is on the low side. The seller did so intentionally to generate interest, he said.

The house, which will need to be overhauled, is being billed as fixer upper.

Contractors! Fixer! However, great location North of Cortland with all its amenities, its listing reads.

NBC Bay Area has reached out to Coldwell Banker and is awaiting a comment.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information leading to the identification of the two suspects involved in the kidnapping of Sherri Papini in Northern California last year.

The two suspects are described by the FBI as a Hispanic female, between 20 and 30 years old, approximately 5'5", with a medium build, coarse, curly, dark brown hair, thin eyebrows, and pierced ears, and the second suspect is described as a Hispanic female, between 40 and 50 years old, approximately 5'7", with a large build, long, straight black hair with some gray in it, thick eyebrows, and pierced ears.

They were reported to be driving a dark-colored SUV.

On Nov. 2, 2016, Papini dropped her children off at daycare in the morning and disappeared later while jogging about a mile from her home in Shasta County, about 215 miles north of San Francisco.

Her husband found her phone and earphones near their home after she failed to pick up the children at daycare, and he later called police. He was initially a suspect, but the Shasta County sheriff said Wednesday that the husband passed a lie detector test and offered to take another.

Papini was found Thanksgiving Day when she flagged down a car along Interstate 5 in Yolo County, about 100 miles from her home. Her nose was broken and she was wearing a chain restraint around her waist. Her blonde hair had been cut to shoulder length and she had a brand burned into her right shoulder.

Investigators declined to discuss the brand in detail. Papini has said she was not sexually assaulted and has described her abductors as two women who took her at gunpoint.

Sheriffs Sgt. Brian Jackson said the sketches drawn by FBI artists are being released 10 months after her disappearance because of Papinis difficulty in recalling what her abductors looked like.

Authorities produced the sketches of the suspects based on Papinis limited recollections.

The FBI said in a statement Wednesday that it is working "in cooperation with the Shasta County Sheriff's Office" and "is asking for the public's assistance regarding Papinis disappearance."
A gunman shot down his 85-year-old father and killed his longtime friend during a bizarre rampage through this small Northern California town, sheriff's officials said Tuesday.

Alan Ashmore, 61, remained jailed Tuesday on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and robbery. He was being held without bail. It was unclear whether he had a lawyer

Investigators were unclear about the motive for the 90-minute series of attacks Monday morning in Ashmore's hometown northwest of Sacramento.

The rampage began when Ashmore argued with a 22-year-old Middletown, California, woman in his home, held her at knifepoint and shot her in the foot when she fled, Lake County sheriff's Lt. Norm Taylor said in a statement.

She ran to a neighbor's house.

Ashmore then shot his father, Douglas Ashmore, 85, outside the home and tried to shoot the neighbor but the handgun misfired, Taylor said.

Ashmore then got a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun from the house and drove off in his Chevrolet Tahoe, stopping to fire at several other homes, including the house of a former employer and a home where a woman escaped by jumping from a window, Taylor said.

Ashmore allegedly killed a longtime friend, 64-year-old Richard Braden, as the man sat in a car and wounded a California Highway Patrol officer who was responding to shooting reports, Taylor said.

The officer was treated for a leg wound, CHP Officer Kory Reynolds told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Ashmore went on to a Chevron gas station. As he walked into the station store with the shotgun, he bumped into a beer vendor who was leaving and nearly knocked over the man, owner Bob George said.

"The vendor turned to him and said, 'What the hell are you doing?'" George told the Chronicle. "And the guy turned around and shot the gun. He was like five feet away from the vendor when he shot the gun."

The round broke the front window. As George ran out of the back door, he saw Ashmore running to his vehicle with a shotgun and a 2-liter Pepsi. The beer vendor, who has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, returned fire, shattering the windows of Ashmore's SUV, George said.

Ashmore then drove off, stole cigarettes and a lighter at gunpoint from a convenience store and pointed a gun at someone at a winery and after a chase by sheriff's deputies was arrested at a roadblock, Taylor said.

He also set several small fires while driving in an effort to escape but firefighters quickly doused them.

At the time of his arrest, Ashmore had the shotgun, a .25-caliber pistol and numerous rounds of ammunition, Taylor said.
Two Hayward students were expelled after one created a list of racial slurs that the other then read out in class, but the parent of another school-goer said the step is too little, too late.

Taaj Avery said her 16-year-old daughter was shocked when a classmate at Moreau Catholic High School penned "The ABCs of Slurs." Another classmate read the list of slurs  one for each letter in the alphabet  aloud on campus last Monday.

"She was upset. She was confused. She was emotional. She was hurt," Avery said of her child's reaction to the offensive names that target a minority group.

A statement issued Friday on behalf of Moreau Catholic High School accused the students of causing "immeasurable" harm.

Avery, however, said she and her daughter were "livid," while others at the school were "upset" due to the administration's painfully slow response. The boys weren't expelled immediately after Monday's incident and parents weren't notified until later in the week, she said.

"Look were realists," Avery said. "We know what kind of climate we live in; we know whats going on in America right now; we know people have those feelings.

"But we were thoroughly disappointed in the fact (that) the school was almost complicit in it because they allowed this to go on unchecked for so many days."



Spokeswoman Donna Cumming on Friday acknowledged that a "delay in the decision-making process" caused "hurt, anxiety, and stress," and apologized for the pain inflicted on students, faculity members and families.

"Our administration recognizes that this process could have and should have been conducted in a more timely manner, and with better communication to our students and parents," Cumming continued. "There is nothing more important than all of our students feeling heard, valued, and above all, safe, every day they walk through the doors of our school."

On Friday, classes were replaced by opportunities for students to process and communicate their feelings and hear from others. On Monday, students attended a so-called Unity Day.

This is only the beginning as we will be partnering with an outside organization with specific programs to help build cultural awareness for our entire school community," Moreau Catholic High School officials said in a statement.

For her part, though, Avery views the efforts as belated and says the damage has already been done.

"It sends a message (that) this is not a culturally sensitive administration right now," she said.


A jail inmate in Alameda County who was released by mistake before he was about to be transferred to San Mateo County Jail turned himself in to authorities Tuesday afternoon, San Mateo County sheriff's officials said.

Rodney Jefferson, 27, of San Francisco, was released in error on Oct. 9 from a jail facility in Alameda County. He was being held on federal charges for an auto burglary, sheriff's officials said.

Sheriff's officials said there was no threat to the public, but a warrant was issued for his arrest.

At about 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jefferson turned himself in to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service in Oakland. Sheriff's deputies then took him to the Maguire Correctional Facility in San Mateo County without further incident, sheriff's officials said.

Jefferson was released because of a technical error and a miscommunication on the part of records staff in San Mateo County.

San Mateo County sheriff's officials said they have added additional steps in their procedures to prevent this situation from happening again.
Branciforte Middle School in Santa Cruz was placed on lockdown Wednesday afternoon after a gun was found in a trash can on campus, police and school administrators said.

Santa Cruz police said the lockdown was placed out of caution, adding that there was no threat to students or staff. The gun, an AR 7, which was disassembled inside of a bag, was found by a school staff member who initially thought it was a bag of trash, according to Santa Cruz City School District Superintendent Kris Munro. The rifle was unloaded, Munro said.



No ammunition was found, she said.

The lockdown took place between 12:45 p.m. and 1 p.m., and students were then released because Wednesday was a half day. Parents were sent an automated message which said that the school was on lockdown and that students would be released one class at a time.

Some students remained on campus because of scheduled after-school activities. Students said they were not given the reason for the lockdown.

As a precaution, police conducted a search of the campus and found nothing, Munro said.
Changes are coming to the screening process for carry-on luggage at Bradley International Airport and travelers are now being urged to arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes before the scheduled departure.

The Transportation Security Administration will be requiring travelers to remove all electronics larger than a cell phone from their carry-on bags and put them in bins for X-ray screening at the security checkpoint.

The administration says the electronics will have to be put in a bin with nothing on top or below it.

TSA continues to evaluate and modify its procedures to keep travelers safe, William Csontos, TSA Federal Security Director for Connecticut, said in a statement. TSA will work with passengers departing Bradley International Airport to ensure they are familiar with the new procedures and guide them through the security screening process quickly and efficiently,

TSA says there are no changes to what travelers can bring through the checkpoint. For instance, liquids in quantities less than 3.4 ounces, food, electronics and books continue to be allowed in carry-on bags.

Learn more about what you can bring on a plane here.

The new security measures will not apply to passengers enrolled as a Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler and are being screened in a dedicated TSA Pre Check lane.

The new procedures go into effect at airports nationwide in the coming weeks and months.

Get TSA's top travel tips on the TSA website.
New London police are taking to the web to target cyber criminals and those who are trafficking fentanyl and other drugs on the dark web.

Theyre one of 11 municipal police departments, along with seven federal agencies and state police to join the newly formed Connecticut Cyber Task Force.

It will go after criminals using computers to steal companys finances and information, and target criminals on the dark web buying or selling fentanyl and other dangerous drugs.

"Its happening in this city. You dont see it often. Its not prevalent because its not happening on the street corner. But it is taking place," said New London Acting Police Chief Peter Reichard.

One of his detectives is part of the task force  a way to keep up with the way crimes are evolving, he said. Over the last few years, the amount of heroin and fentanyl in the city has increased.

"We get reports all the time that people are changing their methods of selling narcotics to ads on Backpage and Craigslist," according to Reichard.

New London's involvement could help surrounding towns as well since detectives are in constant contact with other detectives in the area, Reichard added.

Two parents affected by addiction said New Londons involvement could good by keeping some of the drugs from getting into the community.

"You wonder if at the end of the day, youre still going to have your child," said Lori Forbes of Montville.

Her son is four days sober as of Wednesday. She said fentanyl, among other drugs, are to blame for his 13 overdoses in a five-year addiction battle.

"Every day I start my day with a prayer and I ask God to keep my son with me," Forbes said. "And every night I thank him when he does."

It's not an uncommon story. Lisa Johns lost her 33-year-old son, Christopher, to an opioid overdose back in 2014. He struggled with the use of fentanyl. One time, she even saved his life.

"He did overdose. It happened to be in my home. I did do the CPR on him," said Johns, an Uncasville resident.

While she longs to stop the sale of fentanyl completely and knows that some of it is coming from other countries. But thinks this task force could do some good.

"If we can stop it from coming in the mail for our particular areas or the state of Connecticut, yes itll help. Absolutely," Johns said.

Reichard said New London Police are also working to create a safe transfer site for people meeting to exchange good bought online. There have been cases where people pick a spot to meet and one person robs the other.
The suspect in an attempted murder and home invasion over the weekend is dead after a shootout with police officers and Connecticut State Police said their detectives are investigating.

The Norwich Police Department was involved in a search Tuesday for 25-year-old Brandon Uzialko, a suspect in an attempted murder and home invasion on Quarto Road in Norwich Saturday.

Police said Uzialko entered a home on Quarto Road Saturday, with knives and possibly a handgun, and stabbed a man inside several times.

The victim suffered life-threatening injuries and remains in intensive care.

During the search for him, Uzialko and Norwich police officers exchanged gunfire around 7 p.m. Tuesday, then Uzialko ran off, police said.

Uzialko and was located several hours later in the area of 13 Prospect St. and he was pronounced dead at the scene. It's not clear how he died.

NBC Connecticut reporters said they saw military style humvees, officers in camouflage and spotlights lighting up spaces between homes while the search was ongoing.

Connecticut State, Groton Town and Ledyard police were assisting Norwich officers.

Detectives from Eastern District Major Crime have assumed the investigation.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an examination to determine cause and manner of death.
Mimi Greenberg said she didnt give much thought to the location of her mailbox when she moved into her home in 2009.

The box was located on the opposite side of her home on Latimer Lane. She soon learned crossing the street to get the mail could be dangerous, especially in the winter.

"I could slip. I could get hit. You just cant be seen," she said.

Greenberg said she got into the habit of checking her mail every three or four days and sometimes missed time-sensitive letters.

The mailbox was broken when she moved in because it was damaged by a snow plow. Greenberg said she has replaced the mailbox four times.

In March, she wrote a letter to the postmaster in Simsbury, requesting permission to move the box, but she never got a response.

The mailbox was hit again in August. The damage was so bad, the post office stopped delivering her mail.

The fourth time was ridiculous and they should have listened, Greenberg said.

After that incident, she made the request in person.

"I waited two weeks. Nobody called me. So I called you," she said.

NBC Connecticut Responds contacted the U.S. Postal Service representative for Connecticut to inquire about the situation.

A spokesperson told NBC Connecticut Greenbergs initial request was overlooked due to a personnel matter. The spokesperson said Greenbergs case would be evaluated immediately.

About a week later, Greenberg received a letter from the Simsbury post office, granting her permission to move the box to the east side of her driveway.

The letter stated the relocation was allowed due to a change in her mail carriers route.

Greenberg said she did her happy dance when the letter arrived.

"I know it seems very silly and very minimal in the whole course of life. But it was so important to me. I was afraid to go across that street," Greenberg said.

The spokesperson told NBC Connecticut, "We are happy to announce that, in this instance, we were able to accommodate the customers request."

Anyone who wants to change the location of their mailbox needs to obtain permission from their local postmaster.

If a new mailbox is being installed, it must adhere to the guidelines set by the U.S. Postal Service.
Eight months ago, Attorney General Jeff Sessions asked 46 U.S attorneys across the country to resign. Connecticut U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly was one of them and this week, she will officially step down.

Daly's departure comes twenty years to the day since she first became a federal prosecutor.

"There's always so much more to be done," Daly told the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters during her final interview before her exit. She said she is fortunate that she had these last eight months of transition.

"It's a tremendous opportunity and it's a meaningful responsibility and that's, at core, the best part of the job," said Daly.

Daly and 45 other U.S. attorneys appointed by former President Barack Obama were asked in March by the Trump administration to resign, which is a common practice when a new president takes office.

Daly was appointed to lead Connecticut's U.S. Attorney's Office in 2014, becoming the first woman in state history to do so.

"Really focusing in on violent crime and the few people that are responsible for the vast amount of the violence," Daly said was among her accomplishments.

Daly highlights, in particular, the convictions of members of the Red Side Guerilla Brims gang, which lead to seven cold case homicides being solved. She also looked back proudly on how her office focused on vulnerable victims and created a task force on human and sex trafficking.

She said she is proud the office for going after public corruption, notably the Governor John Rowland case, and financial fraud cases that stretched from Wall Street into Connecticut.

Daly will leave her post in the midst of the growing opioid crisis, with the state's medical examiner projecting a staggering 1,078 deaths from drug overdoses in 2017.

"We're still trending in the wrong direction," said Daly.

Daly said her staff has prosecuted nearly one hundred dealers who sold substances, like fentanyl, that result in a person's death. Daly acknowledged that this epidemic will be gripping the state long after she leaves.

"It's not something that quiet and hidden," she said. "It's very public. It's also everywhere. No one is immune."

Daly said she will take some time before figuring out what she will do next. When her resignation is made official on Friday, Michael Gustafson will become acting U.S. Attorney until the Trump administration appoints a replacement.
Authorities in Grayson County are investigating the discovery of several farm animals who were left beheaded and mutilated by the roadside.

According to the Grayson County Sheriff's Office, three sheep and four goats were found dead by a driver Sunday in Tioga, lying just a few feet off a narrow country road. The animals' heads were missing, and they had been skinned.

"It's a strange situation, the manner in which the animals were found," said Capt. Sarah Bigham.

Texas SPCA is assisting Grayson County investigators. So far, authorities have not received any reports of missing animals from farms in the area. Investigators say those responsible could face felony animal cruelty charges.

On Tuesday, Bigham says another person reported finding a dead goat near a roadside, about 10 miles from Sunday's scene. That animal's head was also missing, and it was skinned.

Bigham says it's not uncommon for these types of animals to be used for processing or food. But to investigators, the circumstances of their roadside disposal just doesn't add up.

"That's not the case here," she said. "They were skinned and beheaded and left to rot basically on the side of the road."
Peter Hirschmann has often recounted his own story of fleeing Germany as a teenager to escape Adolf Hitler's persecution of the Jews, then joining the U.S. Army to fight the Nazis.

But the 92-year-old started to cry as he read a three-page letter, neatly printed in blue fountain pen, which arrived out of the blue from Nuremberg and stirred very different thoughts of his past.

Its author, Doris Schott-Neuse, told him how her grandfather had acquired Hirschmann's family home under the Nazis, expressing her shame and imploring him for forgiveness.

Spurred to look into her family's past after helping a friend dealing with traumatic issues related to her own, the 46-year-old civil servant was shocked to find the family narrative she'd believed for years was a half-truth at best, and felt compelled to reach out to the elderly man in Maplewood, New Jersey, near New York City.

"I am deeply ashamed for what us Germans did to yourself, your family and to your friends and relatives and to the members of the Nuremberg Jewish community," she wrote. "It is hardly bearable to start thinking about the details  what a horror and nightmare it must have been to live through this."

Included in the envelope were photos of the Hirschmann family home today.

"I teared up because it brought back to mind all of those memories of mine," Hirschmann recalled in an interview.

___

The home is a stately building on the northeastern outskirts of Nuremberg, on Eichendorffstrasse 15.

"It was probably one of the nicer homes around according to the standards of the day," Hirschmann said. "Of course things have changed; it wouldn't rank as one of the great mansions that you would see, but at the time it was a really lovely place."

Hirschmann fondly recalls helping tend his family's fruit, vegetable and flower gardens.

He also remembers how his parents set up sprinklers for him and his friends after the Nazis came to power and steadily removed of Jewish rights  like at the local public pool.

"All of a sudden there was a sign up there: 'Juden und Hunde Verboten,' which means Jews and dogs not allowed," he said.

Schott-Neuse has little memory of the home itself. Her aunt inherited it in 1969 after Schott-Neuse's grandmother died, and Schott-Neuse was 5 when her aunt sold it. She has vague recollections of Easter egg hunting in the garden and her aunt's small black-and-white television.

She didn't know either of her grandparents, and she'd never asked a lot of questions. From her aunt, she learned a vague story about the house.

"She told me there were Jews who were the owners, who were able to escape to the United States and my grandparents helped them,' she recalled. "I don't know if I want to believe that any longer. The letter was not only telling the family I was very sorry, but it was also searching for what was going on."

___

The medieval Bavarian city of Nuremberg was an early Nazi hub. It was at a rally in 1935 that the Nazis announced what became known as the Nuremberg Laws  revoking the citizenship of Jews and excluding them from many walks of life.

At that time, Hirschmann's father, Julius, was a successful businessman with a two-story, three-bedroom house in the suburbs.

By 1938, the so-called "Aryanization" process was in full swing, as Jewish businesses and properties were taken over by non-Jewish Germans, in the prelude to the full-scale mass murder of some 6 million European Jews several years later.

As Schott-Neuse combed through property registers in Nuremberg's city archives, she uncovered documents showing how the Nazis had methodically and bureaucratically seized the Hirschmann's home. By 1941, it was listed as being owned by by Muhr W., salesman.

Willi Muhr was Schott-Neuse's grandfather.

"I thought he bought it directly from the Jewish owners but this doesn't seem to be true," she said.

Though she knows little about her grandfather, she assumes he must have had Nazi connections, since "it was a prime real estate area and you probably don't get this really nice house with a large garden," without any.

"That is what prompted me to write the letter, because I thought that the family also doesn't know what happened and I wanted to say I'm so sorry, because it's not done and over... there are Holocaust survivors still living," she said.

After the war, Hirschmann's family was paid restitution, though because of the depressed German housing market, it was a tenth of what the home had been worth before.

___

Peter Hirschmann and his family managed to safely flee Nazi Germany before the outbreak of war in September 1939. They ended up in Newark, New Jersey, and started over.

By the time Peter turned 18, the U.S. had entered the war. He signed a waiver allowing him to be drafted even though he was still a German citizen.

As a soldier with the 78th Infantry Division, he saw his first major action in Belgium in December 1944, in the Battle of the Bulge.

Like thousands of other Americans he was captured, but as a German Jew, he was in unique peril. When his captors found out he spoke German, he bluffed, saying he learned it in high school. He survived the final months of the war in a Nazi camp.

"If he had found out my background I would have been shot without any explanation," he said.

He still chokes up remembering the young German soldier guarding him, who dug through his things and gave him a chocolate bar  and hope.

"He was my enemy, and he treated me like a human being," Hirschmann said.

More than 70 years later, when he received Schott-Neuse's letter, he accepted her overture without hesitation, telling her by email it was particularly touching "because it is obvious that you, too, are suffering and it pains me to think of that  you, who are blameless."

He told her that it would have been easy for her to remain silent. The two have been corresponding regularly, but currently have no plans to meet face-to-face.

"You were not satisfied with that and examined the depths of your heart to reveal the era's true impact. You had the option to ignore it and instead you confronted it," he wrote. "My tears reflect the fervent hope that the humanity, dignity, and compassion you have shown is shared by others of your generation and the generations to follow."

Rising reported from Berlin. Shawn Marsh in Trenton, New Jersey, contributed.
Police are looking for a man who briefly hopped out of his car to kick a man in the face amid a brutal, caught-on-camera brawl between two men in the middle of a busy Connecticut roadway earlier this week.

Two men have already been arrested in the brawl on Post Road in Westport about 9 a.m. on Tuesday, but police said the violence actually began well before a driver with a dashboard camera happened on the men pummeling one another in the four-lane highway.

Police in neighboring Derby said one of the men later seen in the video showed up at the others home and allegedly hit him with a hammer. When the hammer-wielding suspect left, the homeowner drove after him into Westport. The two men then crashed their vehicles, blocking two lanes.

Thats when the dash cam video picks up. By the time the driver happens on the scene, one of the two men had hopped out of a van, which rolled toward oncoming traffic. That man takes off running down the sidewalk, and the other mans car speeds over the curb and onto the sidewalk in an apparent attempt to hit his foe.

The car then crashed into bushes, and the two men can be seen running back onto the road. The man who was in the van trips to the ground, and the other man catches yup and drags him a short distance. Thats when the third man, in a burnt-orange Ford Explorer, pulls up.

The SUV nearly hits the two men, and the driver of the vehicle gets out and kicks the man who was in the van and looks down as the man who was in the car wails on the other man. The third man then hops back in his car and speeds down the road.

After the third man leaves, the man in the car kicks the man in the van several more times and appears to yell something. Thats when the man in the van, who was previously on the ground with his arms covering his head, makes a run for it. The two men then run out of the dash cam frame.

Westport police quickly arrived and cuffed both men, identified as Fernando Morales, 41, of Derby; and Rafael Valle, 34, of Bridgeport.

Morales was charged with assault, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment; Valle was charged with reckless endangerment. Both men have since been released on $5,000 bond and are due in court in November. Attorney information for the men wasnt immediately available.

If you know anything about the third man involved in the brawl, call Westport police at 203-341-6000.
Two women charged Monday with robbing a New Jersey bank are also suspected of trying to rob a bank in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains while dressed as nuns, The Associated Press reported.

Nineteen-year-old Swahilys Pedraza-Rodriguez, of New Haven, Connecticut, and 23-year-old Melisa Aquino Arias, of the Dominican Republic, appeared before a judge in Newark, New Jersey, on Monday. They're charged with robbing a bank in Garfield and were apprehended soon after leaving a bank in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Bergen County Sheriff's Office

The Garfield heist was Sept. 27. The women allegedly entered Spencer Savings Bank and asked a bank teller about opening an account there, according to a criminal complaint.

"Arias, who was wearing a blue hijab, took out a black handgun and demanded money, while Pedraza-Rodriguez stood guard by the bank manager," the complaint said.



Then on Sunday, the pair allegedly entered NVE Bank in Teaneck. This time Arias was wearing an orange hijab and Pedraza-Rodriguez wore a black head covering, according to the complaint.

After the women requested information about opening an account, an employee recognized them as the alleged Garfield bank robbers. The worker went to alert police but, the women fled. They were nabbed soon after.

Law enforcement officials say the women are also suspected in an attempted robbery of the Citizens Bank in Tannersville, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 28, the AP reported. The FBI told NBC the case was under investigation and had no further comment.

The FBI had posted surveillance photos on Twitter from the Pennsylvania heist, describing the women as wearing nuns' habits.

The women's attorneys didn't immediately return messages Tuesday.

CORRECTION (Oct. 18, 3:37 p.m.): This story and headline have been corrected to more accurately describe the womens' clothing in the incidents at banks in New Jersey and Pennslyvania. The women also haven't been charged in the Pennsylvania case. They were only charged in one of the bank incidents in New Jersey, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
An investigation is underway after thieves broke into several storage units in Wilmington, Delaware, causing thousands of dollars in damage.

A man, who did not want to be identified, told NBC10 he arrived at the Sentinel Self Storage Facility on 333 E. Lea Boulevard in Wilmington Tuesday around 8 a.m. and discovered dozens of self-storage units, including his own, broken into and damaged as well as a vandalized Corvette.

It was all over the place, he said. Smashed up. Some stuff was pulled outside the unit.

The man called police who responded to the scene. Investigators determined two suspects cut a hole in a perimeter fence around the facility and then broke into several storage units at some point between Monday around 11:30 p.m. and Tuesday at 4:35 a.m.

Police havent determined exactly how much was stolen but the victim who spoke with NBC10 said about $500 in merchandise was taken from his storage unit.

Police have not released a detailed description of the suspects but say they were both wearing dark clothing. They continue to contact victims as they figure out exactly how many units were impacted.

If you have any information on the incident, please call the Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or submit a tip to the Crime Stoppers website.


The U.S. military believes someone in a Niger village may have tipped off attackers to the presence of U.S. commandoes and Nigerien forces in the area, setting in motion the ambush that killed four Americans, a senior defense official said Tuesday.

The official said the Army Green Berets and about 30 Niger forces stopped in a village for an hour or two to get food and water after conducting an overnight reconnaissance mission. After they left, they were ambushed by about 50 heavily armed enemy fighters, who also killed four Niger fighters and wounded two Americans and several Nigerien troops.

Details about the attack and the events leading up to it have been murky, trickling out over the last three weeks. According to the official, the joint U.S. and Niger patrol was asked to help a second American commando team that had been hunting for a senior member of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb believed to be in the area.

The official wasn't authorized to discuss the incident publicly so spoke on condition of anonymity.

The joint U.S. and Niger team was initially sent on a routine mission to meet local tribal leaders and work with the Niger forces. But after they had set out on Oct. 3, they received a new assignment, the official said. They were asked to go to a location where the insurgent had last been seen, and collect intelligence. Because the insurgent was no longer in that area, military commanders believed the operation wasn't risky, the official said, adding there was no order to search for or find the AQIM member.

Under the rules, U.S. troops in Niger can accompany local forces on missions when "the chances of enemy contact are unlikely." The official said the decision to change the joint team's mission may have met those rules because the AQIM insurgent was no longer there, but those are some of the questions the ongoing investigations will answer.

U.S. military officials believe the intelligence mission went well during the night. But on their way back to their base in the morning, the U.S. and Niger troops stopped at a village about 85 kilometers (50 miles) north of Niger's capital, Niamey.

After getting supplies and meeting with tribal leaders, the joint patrol left the village. It is at that point, the official said, that the U.S. believes someone in the village alerted the IS-linked militants that American and Niger forces were in the area.

The joint team was attacked about 200 kilometers (120 miles) north of Niamey, by what officials believe was a relatively new offshoot of the Islamic State group that calls itself Islamic State in the Sahel. That group is not believed to be connected to the AQIM leader that the other American special forces team has been looking for.

The enemy fighters attacked on motorcycles, carrying rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns, setting off a long and complex battle.

Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Monday the U.S. special forces unit didn't call for help until an hour into their first contact with the enemy. And he acknowledged that many questions linger about the assault.

Those questions, said the defense official, will include who authorized the decision to change the team's mission, as well as why it took so long to evacuate the wounded and why one of the killed U.S. soldiers was missing for two days before his body was recovered.

Asked Tuesday about the decision to give the team another mission, Dunford declined to provide any details, saying those are the questions the investigation will answer. He added that once the investigation is complete, U.S. military officials will first meet with the families of the fallen soldiers and tell them what happened, then release the information publicly.

Speaking at the close of a daylong conference of defense chiefs from around the world, Dunford said that small numbers of Islamic State insurgents have been trying to recruit local fighters in places like Niger. Those fighters often rebrand themselves as IS. But he said the U.S. has not seen any significant numbers of IS insurgents outside of Iraq and Syria.
Southern California firefighters scrambled to contain fire outbreaks before the region's withering, gusty Santa Ana winds can whip them into infernos amid a record-breaking fall heat wave.

Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District and San Bernardino County Fire battled a vegetation fire at the 15/210 freeway sparked by a big rig.

The fire, which started north of the 210, jumped the freeway and was burning toward the south.

The California Highway Patrol closed southbound 15 to westbound 210 and the WB 210 was closed east of the 15 freeway.

Helicopters carried water drops and ground crews worked to establish fire lines to control the fire.

At 12:15 p.m., Rancho Cucamonga fire officials updated the incident on social media, asking residents to stay away from the area to give firefighters room to work. Fifteen acres had been burned.

As of 2:30 p.m., the forward rate of progress was stopped.

The so-called "Freeway Fire" burned 40 acres and was 80 percent contained as of 7 p.m., according to a tweet the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Department. All freeway closures were lifted but motorists were advised to use caution in the area.

Los Angeles fire crews jumped on at least three fires Tuesday morning along the northern edge of the city where gusts are whipping through nearby mountains.

About 50 miles to the east, Riverside County firefighters aided by water-dropping helicopters are fighting a fire that erupted in a lumber yard and spread over 5 acres in Jurupa Valley.

Forecasters say conditions are ripe for the second day of triple-digit heat spreading all the way out to the coastline.

After records fell Monday, some areas saw little relief as the Santa Anas kept temperatures in the 80s and 90s overnight.
A television actress accused former President George H.W. Bush of touching her from behind while she was posing for a photo alongside him and telling her a dirty joke several years ago.

Heather Lind said in a now-deleted Instagram post that the incident took place while she was posing for a photo with Bush and his wife during a promotional tour for her AMC series "TURN: Washington's Spies," E! News reported. Lind appears alongside the now-93-year-old Bush, who's seated in a wheelchair, in a photo together at a Houston screening of the series in 2014.

Bush spokesman Jim McGrath said in a statement: "President Bush would never  under any circumstance  intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologizes if his attempt at humor offended Ms. Lind."

Lind described the incident as sexual assault, writing, "He didnt shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side."

She added that Bush "told me a dirty joke" then touched her again while Barbara Bush rolled her eyes.

"His security guard told me I shouldnt have stood next to him for the photo," Lind wrote.

The former president's office released the following statement Wednesday night regarding the allegation:

"At age 93, President Bush has been confined to a wheelchair for roughly five years, so his arm falls on the lower waist of people with whom he takes pictures. To try to put people at ease, the president routinely tells the same joke  and on occasion, he has patted womens rears in what he intended to be a good-natured manner. Some have seen it as innocent; others clearly view it as inappropriate. To anyone he has offended, President Bush apologizes most sincerely."
One suspect is still at-large after a family was robbed and a man shot outside a home in Silver Spring, Maryland, Wednesday morning.

A man saw two men robbing his 77-year-old mother and 53-year-old sister in the driveway of their home on New Hampshire Avenue about 1:35 a.m., Montgomery County police said. The man was shot in the leg when he tried to go to their defense, News4's Pat Collins reports.

"Originally, it sounded like about 10 [gunshots] Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! And then, I was downstairs. I was listening by the door and then I heard a lady scream," said neighbor Vu Adeity.

The women had been coming home from the family's convenience store in D.C. In their purses, they had the store's earnings from the day.

"The suspects knew the victim so this was planned. These victims were targeted and these suspects wanted to make off with that money from that business that they believe those victims had," a spokeswoman for Montgomery County police said.



The suspects sped off in a car before police arrived.

It's not clear what the suspects took from the family.

A short time later, police in Takoma Park spotted that vehicle and alerted authorities in D.C. that the car was heading into the District.

That vehicle eventually crashed on the 400 block of Taylor Street NE, and one suspect was arrested. Police say the other suspect ran in the direction of Catholic University.

As the suspect fled toward Catholic University, the school told students to shelter in place. The shelter-in-place order was lifted about 3:30 a.m.

Police say the second suspect remains at-large.

No further information has been released.
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, was evacuated from a U.N. camp for displaced people in South Sudan on Wednesday because of a demonstration against President Salva Kiir, witnesses said.

Shortly after Haley left the camp, U.N. security guards fired tear gas to disperse the crowd of more than 100 residents who looted and destroyed the office of a charity operating there, an aid worker at the camp said. The aid worker spoke on condition of anonymity out of safety fears.

Haley, in the middle of a three-country African visit, met earlier Wednesday with Kiir over the country's long civil war. Speaking later to U.N. station Radio Miraya, Haley said she warned Kiir that the U.S. no longer trusted South Sudan's government and was no longer prepared to wait for change. She did not give details.

The United Nations confirmed the incident with Haley, saying camp residents "became upset that she was not able to meet with them, due to time constraint." The U.S. Embassy did not comment on Haley's evacuation.

Frustration has been growing inside and outside South Sudan over the conflict that has killed tens of thousands and created Africa's largest displacement of civilians since the Rwanda genocide in 1994.

"People are not happy," said one resident of the U.N. camp, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of his safety. He said camp residents had been waiting to hand Haley a letter with their position on the "current crisis." The U.N. said a "petition" was delivered before Haley's departure.

"We are disappointed by what we are seeing. This is not what we thought we were investing in," Haley said in remarks later released by the U.N. "What we thought we were investing in was a free, fair society where people could be safe and South Sudan is the opposite of that."

Haley is the highest-level U.S. government official to visit South Sudan since President Donald Trump took office. She is in Africa to see the involvement of the U.S. and United Nations in Ethiopia, South Sudan and Congo, where she will be on Thursday.

In his meeting with Haley, South Sudan's president appealed for the Trump administration to stay engaged with his devastated country. According to a statement by his office, Kiir "emphasized his commitment" to end the conflict through peace talks that took place in the capital, Juba, last week and are expected to resume in December.

"All disputes can only be resolved through dialogue and not arms," Kiir told Haley, the statement said. Multiple attempts at peace deals have failed in the past.

The United States is South Sudan's largest donor and was instrumental in the country's creation. Since the East African nation gained independence in 2011, the U.S. has given more than $5 billion for humanitarian and development initiatives, according to the U.S. Embassy.

South Sudan plunged into civil war in late 2013, and the country faces mass displacement, starvation and allegations of government corruption and war crimes. More than 2 million people have fled the country.

Before her visit to the U.N. camp, Haley said on Twitter that she hopes South Sudan's peace process succeeds. "The pain in the stories of refugees from S.Sudan is a reminder we can't look away. We can't let armed conflict be their only choice," she said.

South Sudan's president also said he was working with the United Nations to increase access for humanitarian workers across the country ravaged by hunger. The U.N. has long alleged government restrictions on aid, including harassment by troops.

Rights groups have urged the United States to take a tougher approach to Kiir's government.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn't said if he will stand for a fourth term. But with the election a little more than four months off, the presidential race is a melange of hypotheticals with one conclusion: None of the potential candidates appear in a position to unseat him.

The most visible and adept foe of the Putin regime, opposition figure Alexei Navalny, wants to run but is legally barred from doing so. TV host Ksenia Sobchak has tossed her hat in the ring, but no one knows if she can meet the registration requirements or if she's effectively a Kremlin red herring.

Other possible candidates include a liberal with little national visibility whose party hasn't held a parliament seat in the last decade; Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a fire-breathing nationalist whose repeated runs have produced few votes; and the party leader of the Communists.

Putin, who has run Russia since 2000 and consistently gets approval ratings of 80 percent or higher in public opinion polls, is expected to wait until December to state his intentions. The election is scheduled for March 18.

Delaying the re-election announcement is likely a matter of tactics, not indecision. Mindful of the nationwide protests Navalny called this year that were unprecedented in geographic scope across the vast country, Putin would want to give his opponents as little opportunity as possible to rally against his formal candidacy.

The mass protests unnerved the Kremlin, which had been inclined to dismiss Navalny's supporters as a small cadre of well-off urbanites. But Navalny, with adamantine determination and a canny use of social media, has spread his anti-corruption campaign deep into the provinces.

Just hours after his release from a Moscow jail Sunday after serving a 20-day sentence for organizing an unauthorized demonstration, Navalny attracted hundreds to hear him speak in far-flung Astrakhan, located 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from the capital.

Navalny has repeatedly served such short jail terms and shrugged them off. But two other cases, for which he served only a single night, may be the undoing of his candidacy.

He was convicted of fraud and embezzlement in trials in 2013 and 2014 that were widely viewed as political retaliation. He was released after one day in prison in the first case and given a suspended sentence in the second, but Russian law prohibits anyone with a felony conviction from seeking the presidency.

Enter Sobchak. Known for living in high style and having hosted a reality TV show, she announced last week that intends to declare her candidacy, but would suspend her campaign if Navalny is allowed to run.

Sobchak's announcement carried some echoes from U.S. President Donald Trump's time as a candidate. She portrayed herself as the candidate for people who want to vote "against everyone," a denunciation of the Russian political system's fundamental corruption. The message was not unlike Trump's pitch to "drain the swamp" in Washington.

Sobchak has worked in recent years to refashion herself as more politically serious, but many observers doubt her intentions and worry about her impact on the race.

Political analyst Kirill Rogov referred to her as "opposition lite" on his blog.

"By repeating Navalny's agenda in a softened and retouched way, she will demonstrate that it's possible to engage in opposition activities in Russia ... and work to legitimize the presidential campaign and Putin's future victory," Rogov wrote on his blog.

Sobchak's immediate task is to get on the ballot. Because she was not nominated by a registered political party, she must collect 300,000 signatures from at least 40 of Russia's 85 regions. The registration deadline is Jan. 6, posing a formidable challenge even for someone who claims 1.6 million Twitter followers.

Some in the anti-Putin ranks have a more benign view of Sobchak's move.

"If Ksenia feels the strength and desire, of course, there is reason against it," Mikhail Kasyanov, who was Putin's first prime minister before going into opposition, told the Interfax news agency. "In every possible way, I welcome the activity of different people, including participation in the presidential elections."

Both Kasyanov and analyst Rogov believe Navalny's candidacy will be blocked. Central Elections Commission chairwoman Ella Pamfilova said this year that only a "miracle" would allow him to get on the ballot.

Grigory Yavlinsky is likely to get on the ballot as the candidate of the liberal Yabloko party. Although Yabloko was part of a joint opposition effort that won about 15 percent of the seats in Moscow's recent City Council election, the party has less of a presence outside the capital.

Zhirinovsky, the nationalist known for his vehement and coarse assertions of Russian superiority, tallied only about 6 percent in the 2012 presidential election. Public opinion polls last month showed him garnering about 2 percent in 2018.
Granuloma inguinale, or donovanosis, is a chronic ulcerative disease which ordinarily affects the genitalia. This is an important clinical entity when assessing genital ulcer disease, particularly in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is also an important co-factor in the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Granuloma inguinale was one among the handful of bacterial infections that could be managed in the pre-antibiotic era. Antimony compounds were successfully used for primary infections, although with limited efficacy for disease recurrences and reinfections.

Antimicrobial Therapy

The first antimicrobial drug shown to be effective in the treatment of donovanosis was streptomycin in 1947; today, a plethora of different therapeutic regimens are at our disposal, partially reflecting local availability of various drug preparations.

Guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) endorse taking azithromycin 1 gram immediately, followed by 500 milligrams daily (without stating the recommended duration of therapy). Similarly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 1 gram of azithromycin weekly for at least three weeks, or until all lesions show complete healing.

Alternative regimens may include doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin base and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for a minimum three-week course. Addition of intravenous or intramuscular gentamicin (in a dose of 1 milligram per kilogram every eight hours) should be considered if lesions fail to respond adequately in the first couple of days of treatment. In pregnancy, erythromycin (500 milligrams four times per day) is still the preferred drug.

Children with granuloma inguinale should receive a short course of azithromycin (20 milligrams per kilogram). Moreover, children born to mothers with untreated granuloma inguinale should be given a prophylactic three-day course of azithromycin (20 milligrams per kilogram) once daily.

Education and Counseling

In the past, poor understanding and recognition of this clinical entity resulted in patients with severe donovanosis becoming shunned and rejected from the society. Many affected individuals had profound feelings of guilt, shame and embarrassment  some of them even resorting to (or contemplating) suicide.

As patients with large ulcerations and lesions necessitate prolonged courses of antimicrobial drugs, there is definitely a need for careful explanation and adequate reassurance. Health personnel that works in outpatient clinics for sexually-transmitted infections is often the best choice for non-judgmental, supportive approach.

Naturally, there is a need for continuing education of health-care workers about granuloma inguinale in endemic areas, and also a need to increase community awareness of the significance of genital ulcer disease (since it is a long-established risk factor for the transmission of HIV).

Disease Prevention

CDC recommends that individuals who have had sexual relations with a donovanosis patient (within the sixty days prior to the onset of patients symptoms) should be properly examined and offered antimicrobial therapy. Nevertheless, the value of prescribing empiric therapy without apparent symptoms and/or clinical signs has not yet been established.

The usefulness and justification of mass treatment campaigns is still questionable, but some examples show potential applicability of such approaches. For example, mass treatment of donovanosis cases that were identified in house-to-house visits in Papua New Guinea were instrumental in curbing a localized epidemic in the 1950s.

In conclusion, global eradication of donovanosis is feasible, but such effort will require substantial input and leadership from the WHO if the disease is to be placed on the eradication agenda. Until then, sustained vigilance will be needed, so that the diagnosis of granuloma inguinale is neither missed, nor forgotten.

Sources http://www.antimicrobe.org/b108.asp

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26882914

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11394976

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000636.htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1758360/

www.scielo.br/scielo.php

Lupi O, Chicralla P, Martins CJ. Donovanosis. In: Gross G, Tyring SK, editors. Sexually Transmitted Infections and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Springer Science & Business Media, 2011; pp. 191-196.

OFarrell N. Donovanosis. In: Kumar B, Gupta S, editors. Sexually Transmitted Infections, Second Edition. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2014; pp. 533-541.

Further Reading
Genetically modified leaner pigs are on the cards soon. Researchers in china used the gene-editing technology, CRISPR, to create pigs that are less fatty and leaner with more muscle. This could mean genetically modified bacon on the plates. Their study was published in the latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Bacon. Image Credit: D. Pimborough / Shutterstock

Lead author Jianguo Zhao of the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, and his team used the gene editing technology CRISPR-Cas9 to edit and correct a specific protein the pig genome or pig DNA called the Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). This protein works in normal animals by regulating body temperature with the help of burning fats in the body. The team in their experiment created 12 healthy pigs who had edited genomes that meant they were less fat and more muscular.

The pigs actually lack the UCP1 gene that codes for the protein. Most mammals have this protein UCP1 that actually leads to heat production from the brown fat and is called the key component of nonshivering thermogenesis or maintenance of body heat without shivering. The UCP1 protein is present over the inner mitochondrial membrane in the cells. Pigs lack this UCP1 protein and it has been found that this could be a reason for their fat accumulation as well as intolerance to cold weather.

The scientists inserted this gene coding for the protein in these experimental pig cells taken from mouse cells. These cells then were used to create over 2,553 cloned pig embryos that were implanted in 13 female pigs. Of these mother pigs, three became pregnant and they finally gave birth to the 12 healthy male pigs called the UCP1 KI pigs. These pigs could control and regulate their body temperatures better and also had 24 percent low fat.

The study began with the objective of reducing the UCP1 fat in the pigs to make the pigs in the farms less susceptible to the cold. This would cut costs for the farmers. However, as happens often in science, the results showed low fat pigs that completely baffled the scientists. Zhao said modifying the gene would have made the pigs maintain their body temperature much better helping them survive the cold weathers better and this is a big issue in the pig industry.

At six months these pigs were slaughtered and examined to test for any abnormalities and none were found. One of the male pigs in the experiment also mated and produced healthy offspring, the researchers wrote.

Now that the gene editing has resulted in the genetically modified pigs, he explained, that the taste of the bacon would hardly change. However experts speculate that the Food and Drug Administration would probably not approve of a genetically modified bacon very soon. These kinds of food items are still strictly regulated they experts say. Quite a few researchers have called these developments in gene editing exciting and significant. Authors of the study write about the significance of this study saying, UCP1 KI pigs are a potentially valuable resource for the pig industry that can improve pig welfare and reduce economic losses.
In the central nervous system of humans and all other mammals, a vital insulating sheath composed of lipids and proteins around nerve fibers helps speed the electrical signals or nerve impulses that direct our bodies to walk, talk, breathe, swallow or perform any routine physical act.

But diseases of the nervous system, including multiple sclerosis (MS) in people, degrade this essential insulation known as myelin, disrupting the flow of information between the brain and the body, impairing movement, dimming vision and blunting the ability to function normally.

And while scientists have long studied myelin and understand its role in disease when it degrades, they have puzzled over how myelin repairs itself naturally and whether the thinned sheaths that are a hallmark of the healing nervous system are adequate for restoring the brain's circuitry over the long haul.

This week (Oct. 23, 2017), in a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison reports that in long-lived animals, renewed but thin myelin sheaths are enough to restore the impaired nervous system and can do so for years after the onset of disease.

The team's findings reinforce the idea that thin myelin sheaths are a valid, persistent marker of remyelination, a hypothesis challenged by other recent research. "As the only biomarker of myelin repair available this would leave us without any means of identifying or quantifying myelin repair," explains Ian Duncan, an expert on demyelinating diseases at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine and the senior author of the new study.

Duncan and his team looked at a unique genetic disorder that naturally afflicts Weimaraners, a breed of dog that as 12- to 14-day-old pups develop a severe tremor and loss of coordination. The condition is known to occur as the development of the myelin sheath in parts of the dog's central nervous system is delayed. The symptoms gradually diminish and in most cases disappear altogether by 3-4 months of age.

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"This is a very widespread mutation in the breed," says Duncan, noting that myelin repair mimicking what is seen in remyelination is known to occur in these dogs as the rejuvenated nerve fibers have a thinned myelin sheath.

The new Wisconsin study was made possible as 13 years ago two Weimaraner pups, littermates, were seen as patients at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Duncan was able to maintain contact with the owners after the dogs were adopted and retrieve samples of spinal tissue after the dogs lived out their lives. As they aged, the dogs exhibited few signs of tremor and were deemed 'neurologically normal' up to 13 years of age.

The purpose of the study, says Duncan, was to confirm that thin myelin sheaths persisted and supported normal neurologic function.

To expand on the results, Duncan also looked at a condition in cats, another long-lived species that has been shown to fully recover nervous system function after demyelination. In particular, Duncan's team was interested in remyelination of the optic nerves.

That element of the study, looking at remyelination two years after the onset of the condition, Duncan notes, is an example of "true demyelination and remyelination. We found that nearly every optic nerve fiber was remyelinated with a thin myelin sheath, which is important for understanding human disease because in multiple sclerosis, the optic nerve is often the first to be demyelinated."

The new findings confirm that the gold standard for evaluating remyelination is the long-term persistence of thin myelin sheaths, which support nerve fiber function and survival, Duncan notes. The results are important for diseases like MS as it means that new therapies designed to promote myelin repair can be safely evaluated and quantified based on the presence of thin myelin sheaths.

Source: https://news.wisc.edu/42699-2/
Governor of New York Andrew M. Cuomo has signed a legislation that prohibits electronic cigarette smoking in areas and regions where smoking tobacco products are banned. This is an addition to the Clean Indoor Air Act. This bill - S.2543A/ A.516A, is meant to prevent the exposure to the harmful chemicals from the e-cigarettes to people around these smokers.

At present smoking tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars or pipes were banned in public places to protect non-smokers from the harmful effects of passive smoking.

Image Credit: Alex Borovsky / Shutterstock

Governor Cuomo said in a statement, These products are marketed as a healthier alternative to cigarettes but the reality is they also carry long-term risks to the health of users and those around them This measure closes another dangerous loophole in the law, creating a stronger, healthier New York for all. Several countries and other states such as California, Connecticut, New Jersey and Utah have already prohibited the use of e-cigarettes in public places such as work places, public transport, restaurants, cinemas etc. Some have banned their use in offices, Government areas and schools only. This year in July, Governor Cuomo had signed a legislation banning e-cigarette smoking in the public and private school grounds in New York State. This new legislation adds upon the earlier law.

According to Senator Kemp Hannon, As the proud sponsor of this legislation, I am pleased New York will be taking this step to protect New Yorkers from the potential harms of e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes often contain toxic chemicals in addition to nicotine, something bystanders should not be forced to breathe. With recent reports showing their use among minors increasing, New York must continue to work to regulate these devices in a common sense manner. Assembly member Linda B. Rosenthal too added that this was closing the e-cigarette loop hole in the Clean Indoor Air Act and was a long-overdue step that will help protect every New Yorker's right to enjoy indoor public spaces free from the intrusion of e-cigarette vapor. The law comes into effect from next month. The ban does not cover private homes, hotel rooms and tobacco outlets.

Electronic nicotine and vapor delivery systems or e-cigarettes are devices such as e-hookahs or vaping pens etc. that are made to deliver nicotine, albeit in lower doses. They are a growing industry worth $2.5-billion according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They are cited as a healthier alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes and the long term consequences of these devices on health is still not clear.

Last year in May, the Food and Drug Administration banned the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. This was part of new set of regulations that came into being. Studies have shown that up to 20 percent of children had tried these vaping devices believing that they were less harmful than regular tobacco products. These numbers have doubled from the previous two years say experts.

Manufacturers of these devices have protected these bans mounting legal actions. They argue that these vaping devices do not emit smoke and thus do not pose a danger to the people around a user. The latest challenge to New York Citys ban was rejected in the New York State Court of Appeals.
A tremendous amount of Amyloid- peptide (A) (a peptide of 40 amino acids) accumulates in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients. -Secretase inhibitors were designed to inhibit the enzymatic activity that produces A. By reducing A production, -secretase inhibitors were considered able to treat Alzheimer's disease (A hypothesis). In fact, nearly 50 clinical trials have been conducted using potential -secretase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease or several types of cancer. However, all of these trials have failed, except for two studies which are currently ongoing.

Osaka University scientists found that some potential -secretase inhibitors such as semagacestat, which have been used in large clinical trials that ended in failure, do not function as true inhibitors as originally expected, but rather cause accumulation of toxic intraneuronal A. They proved this by introducing an original method to measure direct intracellular products of -secretase. They commented that the application of their evaluation method may help develop truly effective drugs for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study can be seen in Cell Reports and provides an explanation for why the clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease drugs have failed and gives new light on the discord between preclinical and clinical findings.

"A accumulates in the brain at the very early stages of Alzheimer's disease," explains Osaka University Associate Professor Masayasu Okochi, an expert on the disease who managed the project. "A generation is based on the activity of presenilin/-secretase which mediates the cellular production of A."

Of the promising sets of drugs for Alzheimer's disease were -secretase inhibitors like semagacestat. However, a clinical trial that began almost 10 years ago was terminated early because not only was semagacestat found to fail, patient groups that received the drug showed exasperated symptoms compared to the placebo group. This finding has put great doubt into the A hypothesis.

To understand this surprising finding, Okochi considered whether semagacestat is indeed a -secretase inhibitor. In this study, he and colleagues revealed that semagacestat does not really inhibit the target function, i.e., the cleavage performed by -secretase (-cleavage) (Figure GA). What enabled them to reach this unexpected finding is an original method that this team established, which can measure direct products of -secretase (peptides of 3 to 5 small amino-acid residues which were named -byproducts) (Figure 2A and 3E).

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Surprisingly, non-transition state analog -secretase inhibitors including semagacestat did not decrease, but rather increased the levels of -byproducts (Figure 3D). This finding shattered the belief that these compounds truly inhibit the proteolytic function of -secretase and made the researchers "look" inside neurons for further assessment. As predicted from the increased level of -byproducts, an accumulation of A was found inside neurons derived from human iPS cells and various types of cultured cells (Figure 3B and 3C),), although semagacestat did in fact decrease secreted A, as has been previously reported (Figure 3A).

These results suggested to Okochi that semagacestat is not in fact a -secretase inhibitor, which is why he uses the term "pseudo -secretase inhibitor" in the study. Clinical tests of semagacestat tended to judge the drug based on A secretion but not -byproducts, which could explain why pseudo -secretase inhibitors have been repeatedly mislabeled.

"We found the type of assay gives different results. In our assay, we found -byproducts in the cell membrane. Semagacestat may prevent release of -byproducts from the membrane but not the generation of -byproducts," he said.

Ironically, notes Okochi, considering his findings, he argues the failed clinical trials affirm the A hypothesis.

"I believe normalization of production and secretion of A by sharpening -secretase is the right approach to treating Alzheimer's disease. Our tests suggest that molecularly targeted therapy should be thoroughly checked from all angles before its application to clinical studies. The new function of -secretase suggested in this study needs further analysis, which will contribute to the development of truly effective drugs for Alzheimer's disease and several types of cancer," he said.
Lori Wallace sits on a couch with her 11-year-old son and his new pet snake. It burrows under his armpit, as if afraid. Wallace is sure its not.

If he was terrified, he would be balled up, Wallace said. See, that is why they are called ball pythons. When they are scared, they turn into a little ball.

Wallace is dying of breast cancer, but a stranger wouldnt know. She has a pixie haircut and a warm tan. She is vibrant and chatty and looks you right in the eyes when she talks. Wallace doesnt shy away from what is happening to her. She shows me her cracked feet. They bleed from the chemotherapy pills she takes.

As Wallaces cancer has progressed over the past seven years, she has become more critical of what she sees as excessive positivity in health care marketing. Its everywhere: TV ads, radio commercials, billboards. The advertisements feature happy, healed patients and tell stories of miraculous recoveries. The messages are optimistic, about people beating steep odds. The ads spread false hope, Wallace said, and for a patient like her, they are a slap in the face.

A couple of decades ago, hospitals and clinics did not advertise much to customers. Now, they are spending more and more each year on marketing, according to university professors who study advertising.

Wallace, who lives in San Jose, Calif., said she used to be a hopeful person, someone who believed you could fight through any misfortune. Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer at 39. Her son was 4 at the time. She couldnt believe it.

She is now in her fifth round of chemotherapy and it makes her brain foggy, she said. Her stage 4 cancer has spread throughout her body. Its going to kill her, she said.

The median survival of a woman with metastatic breast cancer is 33 months, Wallace said. My 33 months would have been Dec. 6 last year. So I am on bonus time right now.

Wallace pulled up an ad on her computer from UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital, in San Francisco. An announcer intones, Amid a thousand maybes and a million nos, we believe in the profound and unstoppable power of yes.

There is a similar kind of optimism at the heart of a lot of the ad campaigns by health care providers  with slogans like Thrive and Smile Out. Wallace said the subtext of the ads is that people like her  who get sick and will die  maybe just arent being positive enough.

I didnt say yes to cancer, Wallace said. I have tried everything I can. I have done clinical trials. I have said yes to every possible treatment. And the cancer doesnt care.

Karuna Jaggar is executive director of Breast Cancer Action. She said health care providers are following in the footsteps of other companies.

Its the basics of marketing, Jaggar said. In order to sell products or services, you have to sell hope.

She said health care advertisers are adopting the kind of optimistic messaging that really began in force with the pink ribbons and rosy depictions of breast cancer.

Thirty years ago, breast cancer was the poster child of positive thinking, Jaggar said. Look good, feel better, dont let breast cancer get you down. Fight strong and be cheerful while you do it.'

Back then, health care providers marketed to physicians more than consumers. The ads were drier, more factual, said Guy David, an economist and professor of health care management at the University of Pennsylvania.

When the ads are more consumer-facing as opposed to professional-facing, the content tends to be more passionate, David said.

The hospital ads Wallace objects to tug at emotions, just like other advertising that is trying to win over consumers. With increasing health care costs and choices, patients are shopping around for care. These days hospitals have to sell themselves, said Tim Calkins, a professor of marketing at Northwestern University.

Right now in health care, if you dont have some leverage, if you dont have a brand people care about, if you dont have a reason for people to pick you over competitors  well, then you are in a really tough spot, he said.

Hospitals are spending more than ever on advertising, he said, and, as with other products, that advertising is filled with lots of promises. He noted that you dont see the same promises in the pharmaceutical industry. Their ads are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, which is why they have to list side effects and show scientific backing for their claims.

Hospitals arent held to any of those [FDA] standards at all, Calkins said. So a hospital can go out and say, This is where miracles happen. And heres Joe. Joe was about to die. And now Joe is going to live forever.'

Lori Wallace is not going to live forever. Before cancer, she said, she would have been attracted to the messages of hope. But now, she craves realism  acceptance of both the worlds beauty and its harshness. She wrote an essay about that for the women in her breast cancer support group.

The essay is titled F*** Silver Linings and Pink Ribbons. Wallace reads the whole piece aloud, from start to finish, sitting at her kitchen table. Her son is nearby with his pet snake.

Toward the middle of the essay, Wallace writes, My ovaries are gone, and without them my skin is aging at hyperspeed. I have hot flashes and cold flashes. My bones ache. My libido is shot and my vagina is a desert. The essay is open, funny and unflinching, just like Wallace.

She reads the final paragraph: I will try to be thankful for every laugh, hug and kiss, and other things, too. That is, if my chemo-brain allows me to remember.

Thats what I wrote, Wallace said. Thats what I wrote. Brutal honesty.

This story is part of a partnership that includes KQED, NPR and Kaiser Health News.
EAM Swaraj with US SoS Tillerson

New Delhi : India and the US have agreed that Pakistan should immediately take steps to finish the terror organisations and terrorist safe havens on its soil, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Wednesday after her meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Tillerson, the External Affairs Minister said both India and the US have agreed that President Donald Trump's new Afghanistan policy would be effective only if Pakistan takes action against terror groups on its soil.

"We discussed the issue of terrorism at length. This is a big threat for the whole world. We also discussed implementing President Trump's new Afghanistan and South Asia policy, so that it can achieve the desired results," Sushma Swaraj said.

The Minister said that both India and US have agreed that it is important to ensure that no country is a safe haven for terrorists.

Strengthening strategic partnership. EAM @SushmaSwaraj welcomes US Secretary of State Tillerson, his first India visit as Secretary of State pic.twitter.com/0SQqyzC29g  Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) October 25, 2017

"We expressed serious concerns over increasing terror attacks in Afghanistan. It proves even today there are elements that are providing safe havens and support to terrorists. We agreed that we need to together ensure that no country provides safe havens to terrorists," she said.

She said nations supporting terror should be held accountable.

"The nations that support terrorists or support them should be held accountable. We also agreed that Pakistan should take steps immediately to finish the safe havens for terror organisations that are there on its soil. We believe President Trump's new policy can be successful only when Pakistan indiscriminately acts against all terror groups," she said.

During his Islamabad visit on Tuesday, Tillerson told Pakistan that it must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country.
US House passes new sanctions bill against North Korea over its nuclear programme

Washington : Aiming to cut off Pyongyang's links to the global financial system, the US House of Representatives has approved a bill to impose more sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear programme.

The bill approved on Tuesday received 415 votes in favour and 2 against, Efe news reported.It is named after Otto Warmbier, an American student who died in June after spending more than a year in coma in a North Korean prison.

The legislation calls on the US Department of Treasury to freeze the accounts of foreign financial institutions that conduct business with North Korea.

"It's time for those banks to choose between aiding and abetting the North Korean government or standing for peace with America and its allies," Republican representative Andy Barr, the author of the bill, said during a house debate on Tuesday.

"Foreign banks can either do business benefiting North Korea or business with the United States. They cannot do both," Barr said, adding that the current sanctions still failed to completely eliminate Pyongyang's access to the global financial system.

The United Nations approved last month a new package of sanctions aimed at economically stifling North Korea, which includes limitations on the country's petroleum and by-product imports as well as a ban on its textiles export.

According to estimates by the US, North Korea would lose $ 2.7 billion or about 90 per cent of its sales abroad together with previous sets of sanctions, which imposed an embargo on coal, iron, fish and seafood exports.

Warmbier was detained in North Korea in January 2016 when he visited the country as a tourist.

Authorities sentenced him to 15 years of hard labour after the 22-year-old was found guilty of attempting to steal a political propaganda poster from his hotel in Pyongyang.He had fallen into a coma for more than a year before he was released in June 2017 and died a month after.

Warmbier's parents said alleged their son was tortured in North Korea, an allegation US President Donald Trump agreed with. Pyongyang, however, denied the allegations.

He died of complications stemming from a deficiency of blood and oxygen in his brain, according to the forensic report.
Chinas Air Force released on its weibo social media account two pictures, which show four J-20 stealth fighter jets flying in formation.

As of 2017, it is reported that control system, stealth coatings and hull materials, and infrared sensors still have technical issues as does the reliability of its WS-15 engines.

Some prototypes use the 14-ton thrust derivative of the Russian AL-31 or Chinese Shenyang WS-10 turbofan engines as they target 2019-2020 for all J-20s to use the 1819 ton WS-15 engine. The WS-15 will enable the J20 to super-cruise without using afterburners.



Chinas homegrown powerful WS-15 engine for its most advanced stealth fighter J-20. Mil.huanqiu.com photo

A Chinese aviation engineer told China Military Online on March 13,2017 that they are optimistic that the new WS15 engine for the fifth-generation fighter aircraft will be ready soon. The engines development is proceeding well. They also have begun to design a next-generation aviation engine with a thrust-to-weight ratio that is much higher than that of current types, he said.

They were still working are able to develop the two most important components in an advanced engine  the single crystal superalloy turbine blades and powder metallurgy superalloy turbine disks  but in mass production, the products quality is not very satisfactory.

There are online reports that China will deploy 4 air regiments of J-20 fighter jets by 2019. There are 96 fighter jets in 4 hinese air force regiments. It takes less than 3 years for China to build that many J-20s. In 2016, China had two J-20 production lines, one producing J-20 with Russian AL-31 engines and the other producing J-20A installed with Chinas WS-10B Taihang engines.

A third production line has recently gone into operation to produce J-20A. As each line makes one J-20 a month, their combined production capacity will be 36 a year.

By the end of 2019, there will be a fourth J-20 production line for trial production of J-20B using Chinas homegrown WS-15 Emei turbofans.

J-20B is an improved version of J-20 installed with Chinas new homegrown powerful WS-15 Emei turbofans. China has already developed WS-15 all-direction vector turbofan with thrust-weight ratio of 10. The turbofan is now undergoing intensive tests and will be ready to be installed in J-20B by 2019, an improved version of J-20.

If the WS-15 meets design goals then J-20Bs cruise speed will be Mach 1.8 and maximum speed exceeds Mach 2.2. Those would equal the US F-22. China will produce 500 J-20B, more than the future total number of other fifth-generation fighter jets in Asia-Pacific.

The US F-22 was in production for 15 years (1996-2011), at a rate of roughly two per month during peak production. China would be about 23 years behind US jet and jet engine technology. China could possibly achieve in 2019 what the US had in 1996). China stole US F22 and F35 designs and technology. Around 2030, China could have 500 J20B and 100 J20 and J20A stealth fighters. The US would have 185 F22 and perhaps 1500 F35s.

About 66 F35s will be made in 2017.

In 2021, full production rate of 150 F35s per year is planned.

The J-20 likely has inferior stealth to the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor stealth fighter aircraft or the F-35 Lightning II fighter. The J20 lacks thrust vectoring and is likely less maneuverable than American-made fifth-generation warplanes.

Russia has developed 99M1 to 99M4 improved versions of AL-31F, but China has also developed improved versions of WS-10, named WS-10A and WS-10B better than Russian ones with thrust-weight ratio of 9 than Russias 8.

China has a third-generation single-crystal blade used in WS-10B. It is reported to withstand 2000 degrees which enables engine life to be increased from 800 hours to 1,500 hours. This would be close to maintenance overhaul interval of western engines.
Rice grown on a commercial scale in diluted seawater has, for the first time, made it into the rice bowls of ordinary Chinese people after a breakthrough in food production following more than four decades of efforts by farmers, researchers, government agencies and businesses.

The rice was not grown in traditional rice paddy, where fields are filled with fresh water, but on a salty beach on the Yellow Sea coast in Qingdao, Shandong.

China has one million square kilometers of waste land, an area the size of Ethiopia, where plants struggle to grow because of high salinity or alkalinity levels in the soil.

Agricultural scientist Yuan Longping, known as Chinas father of hybrid rice, told mainland media that if a tenth of such areas were planted with rice species resistant to salt, they could boost Chinas rice production by nearly 20 per cent.

They could produce 50 million tonnes of food, enough to feed 200 million people.

Last month, at the nations largest seawater rice farm, in Qingdao, the output of Yuans seawater rice exceeded 4.5 tonnes a hectare.

Yuan Ce Biological Technology, a Qingdao-based start-up and business partner of Yuans team, said it set up an online shop in August, branding the rice Yuan Mi in honour of the projects chief scientist.

The rice now being sold was harvested last year. This years crop will enter barns next month.

Each kilogram of Yuan Mi costs 50 yuan (US$7.50), or eight times as much as ordinary rice. It is sold in packs weighing 1kg, 2kg, 5kg and 10kg.

The rice grains have a unique texture and pleasant flavor, according to the company. Consumers pay a high premium not just for the pleasurable eating experience, but also for some potential health and safety benefits.

The salt resistant rice could be rich in calcium and other micronutrients which are abundant in saline water.

Professor Huang Shiwen, the leader of the rice disease research team at the China National Rice Research Institute in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, said salt was a disinfectant that could reduce or cut off the transmission of some diseases caused by bacteria.

Nearly 1,000 people placed an order last month, and six tonnes of the rice had been sold since August, a Yuan Ce sales manager said.

Our sales revenue target is 10 million yuan by the end of this year, he said.

The seawater rice developed by Yuan and other research teams is not irrigated by pure seawater, but mixes it with fresh water to reduce the salt content to 6 grams per litre. The average litre of seawater contains five times as much salt.

Researchers said it would take years more research to develop a rice species that could grow in pure seawater.
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Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo vetoed a bill on Monday that would have legalized a classification of pocketknives known as gravity knives, which are currently illegal under a law that advocates say is disproportionately used against minorities.

It was the second straight year that the New York State Legislature had overwhelmingly approved such a measure, only to have it stopped at the governors desk.

The current law, instituted in 1958, bans knives that can be opened with the flick of a wrist. Such knives, sometimes used by professionals like construction workers and electricians, can be routinely bought without identification at hardware and sporting goods stores.

The bill tried to better define which knives were prohibited, and would have legalized common pocketknives that currently fall under the law. But in his veto, Mr. Cuomo wrote that the bill was written in a way that would essentially legalize all folding knives.
He was arrested, stripped of his gun and shield, and charged with betraying the thousands of correction officers who had entrusted their retirement funds to him. But if the first day of Norman Seabrooks trial on federal corruption charges was any indication, the fear and loyalty that Mr. Seabrook, the former president of New York Citys correction officers union, instilled in his members remain undiminished.

During his more than two decades as one of the most powerful labor leaders in the city, Mr. Seabrook established himself as a blunt advocate for the city jail systems rank-and-file and an unflinching opponent to reform at Rikers Island. He could be disarmingly charming or unapologetically hostile, depending on his interlocutor, and under his leadership, the citys correction officers saw large gains in their salaries and pension benefits. For himself, he accrued power and wealth, often outflanking mayors and correction commissioners in his influence.

On Tuesday, prosecutors and defense lawyers devoted much of their opening statements to recounting Mr. Seabrooks near-total control over the union, which represents more than 10,000 officers.

Neither side challenged the extent of Mr. Seabrooks power. Where they disagreed was on how he used that power.
A New Jersey high school teacher who was heard in a viral video urging students to speak American returned to work on Tuesday and issued a schoolwide apology, days after dozens of students sat in detention for walking out of class to protest her remarks.

Michael Romagnino, the superintendent of the Cliffside Park School District in North Jersey, did not reply to specific questions from The New York Times and did not return a phone call seeking comment on Tuesday.

But in a brief email sent Tuesday night, Mr. Romagnino pointed to comments he made to The Record that were published on its website, NorthJersey.com.

Everything you want can be found there, he wrote.

According to an article published on the site Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Romagnino identified the teacher who made the comments as Laura Amico. He said Ms. Amico had returned to the school on Tuesday morning after delivering an apology to students and staff members over the schools public-address system.
A tour of the Washington Heights and Harlem neighborhoods with the aid of an Audubon map amounts to a new sort of bird-watching. It takes a search to track down the Williamsons sapsucker, bigger than life, down by the West Side Highway. The black-billed magpie is visible all day now on the Broadway gates of the defunct New Happiness Chinese Restaurant. Elsewhere, Audubon himself is rendered in flesh tones and with mutton-chop sideburns, staring curiously at a cerulean warbler on his shoulder with neither his rifle nor palette at hand.
Bob Corker, part of the dying-in-the-dark-isnt-so-bad caucus during the primary campaign (and when he seemed to hope for a cabinet appointment), has become a fierce Trump critic  but only after deciding to retire from the Senate. George W. Bush and John McCain have each given speeches that read like broadsides against Trump  but very general critiques of his worldview, not political attacks on the man himself. And now Jeff Flake of Arizona has delivered a barnburner of a Senate address about the civic costs of the Trump presidency  while simultaneously declaring that because he cant win his primary in a Trumpified party, he wont even stay and fight it out.

To the extent that theres a plausible theory behind all of these halfhearted efforts, its that resisting Trump too vigorously only strengthens his hold on the partys base, by vindicating his claim to have all the establishment arrayed against him.

But the problem with this logic is that it offers a permanent excuse for doing nothing, no matter how bad Trumps reign becomes. (Id criticize him for accidentally nuking Manila, but you know, then Fox News would just make it all about me ) In the end, if you want Republican voters to reject Trumpism, you need to give them clear electoral opportunities to do so  even if you expect defeat, even if its all but certain. And an anti-Trump movement that gives high-minded speeches but never mounts candidates confirms Trumps claim to face establishment opposition while also confirming his judgment of the establishments guts and stamina  proving that theyre all low-energy, all liddle men, all unwilling to fight him man to man.

If Corker really means what he keeps saying about the danger posed by Trumps effective incapacity, he should call openly for impeachment or for 25th Amendment proceedings  and other anti-Trump Republicans should join him. If Flake really means what he said in his impassioned speech, and he doesnt want to waste time and energy on a foredoomed Senate primary campaign, then he should choose a different hopeless-seeming cause and primary Trump in 2020. George W. Bush should endorse him. So should McCain, and Corker, and Romney, and Kasich, and Sasse, and the rest of the anti-Trump list. They should expect to lose, and badly, but they should make Trump actually defeat them, instead of just clearing the field for his second nomination.

And not only for the sake of their honor. The presidents G.O.P. critics should engage in electoral battle because the act of campaigning, the work of actually trying to persuade voters, is the only way anti-Trump Republicans will come to grips with the legitimate reasons that their ideas had become so unpopular that voters opted for demagoguery instead.

A speechifying anti-Trumpism, distant from the fray, will always be self-regarding and self-deceiving  unwilling to see how the Iraq War discredited both the Bushist and McCainian styles of right-wing internationalism, incapable of addressing the economic disappointments that turned voters against Flakes Goldwaterite libertarianism and Romneys trust me, Im a businessman promises. Only in actual political competition can the Republican elite reckon with why it lost its party, and how it might win again without succumbing to Trumpian indecency.
In Iraq, the United States seems to still be basking in the feeling of victory after the liberation of Mosul this summer. Meanwhile, Iranian forces are working to sow discord inside Iraq, as we saw in Kirkuk; maneuver Iraqi politics against the United States; and turn next years election into a strategic setback that drives American influence out of the country.

Across the border in Syria, the Assad regime, backed by Russia, Iran, Hezbollah and an array of militias, has retaken most of the country, including many eastern areas that the United States has identified as strategically important. The future of Syria is being determined by force on the ground with little American initiative.

A web of Iranian proxies and allies is spreading from the Levant to the Arabian Peninsula, threatening stability, freedom of navigation and the territory of our partners and allies, including with advanced conventional weapons. Iran itself continues to test ballistic missiles, menace its neighbors and use its sanctions relief windfall to harmful ends.

Our Arab allies are absorbed in a diplomatic dispute with Qatar in the face of far more pressing threats. And behind all this is the shadow of Vladimir Putins Russia, which is re-establishing itself as a regional power broker actively hostile to American interests  and wholly unconcerned about human rights or civilian life.

This is a complicated and confusing set of problems, to be sure. But Americans need to understand the greater challenge: The Middle East is vitally important to the future of international security and the global economy, both of which benefit the American people. And right now, a network of anti-American groups  at times working together, at times on their own  is trying to drive American influence out of the Middle East and to remake the region in ways that are contrary to our interests and values. They are doing so by supporting terrorists and militias, subverting and intimidating our friends, displacing us diplomatically, and deploying and distributing military technology that makes it harder and more dangerous for the United States to maintain its presence.

If we keep sleepwalking on our current trajectory, we could wake up in the near future and find that American influence has been pushed out of one of the most important parts of the world. That is why Americans need to care about what is going on in the Middle East right now. That is why we need to stick with our true friends, like the Kurds. And that is why, now more than ever, we need a strategy that lifts our sights above the tactical level and separates the urgent from the truly important.
You know that part in Jurassic Park when Dr. Grant and the kids are about to get chomped by velociraptors, but the Tyrannosaurus rex shows up and demolishes the raptors with her superior jaws? And you kind of forgive the T. rex for the first half of the movie when she was insatiably hungry for child meat, because in the end she stuck her neck out, as only a dino could, so our heroes could get away?

Thats how I feel when Megyn Kelly goes in on Fox News and Bill OReilly. Except, of course, that Kelly, unlike a fictional dinosaur, has been through some truly horrific sexual violations, including vile and gendered comments from a man who is now the president of the United States, as well as an online silencing campaign that will most likely continue for as long as she refuses to capitulate. (Though, by the same token, that T. rex, as far as we know, has never gone on television and insisted that Santa just is white.)

Its a long, silly way to express the conflict at the heart of the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Sometimes the enemy of your enemy is still your enemy. Kelly spent more than a dozen years as part of the Fox News machine, churning out the same brand of soft propaganda that helped lead to the Iraq war, the Tea Party and, eventually, fake news and President Trump.

Kelly happily trafficked in racist tropes for profit  black communities have a thug mentality, asking repeatedly whether the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown were necessarily related to race  until her own dehumanization at the hands of Roger Ailes, OReilly and others became untenable. If youve heard the term white feminism tossed around your social media feeds, this is a prime example: fighting for freedom and justice as far as the boundaries of your own identity and not beyond.
When the nebbish lawyer Barry (Jason Alexander) says of his monstrous mother, Fausta, Shes been at loose ends since my father passed, Atalanta (Sherie Rene Scott) meaninglessly zings in response: Shes been at loose ends since the French and Indian War.

Or when Barrys young wife, Patty (Aimee Carrero), asks Atalantas boy toy, Freddie (Pico Alexander), how he could pick up a widow at her husbands funeral, he doltishly justifies himself: She came solo!

I believe Ive now provided enough bone fragments so you can confidently reconstruct the rest of the dinosaur. To spare you the effort, heres a precis. The weathered 50-somethings Atalanta and Barry, who grew up together in Providence, are mismatched with the shallow 20-somethings Freddie and Patty, who once had a disastrous affair. As hot-blooded Mediterranean stereotypes (though Patty is Puerto Rican) they cannot help but bay at the moon, write terrible poetry and shout the wrong names during sex. The plays burden, like that of any number of romantic roundelays, is to get these wounded lovebirds repaired and re-paired before anyone is killed.

Not that the knives and fists brandished onstage ever get close to doing real damage. The play is too superficial for that. Rather, the deadliest (and funniest) weapon wielded in The Portuguese Kid is the ferocious stink-eye of Mary Testa as Fausta, the dragon mother to end all dragon mothers. (Her last name, alas, is Dragonetti.) I pray to God I never have to violate these eyes with the sight of you again, she snarls at Atalanta when the widow shows up at Barrys office for help resolving a  tax problem.
For the past two years, Andy Techmanski ran a tiny family utility-contracting company out of his home in the ski town of Whitefish, Mont., getting relatively modest jobs out West. They helped rebuild a fire-ravaged power line in mountainous Washington State and are in the process of supplying a transformer to a Montana electric cooperative.

But now, Mr. Techmanski and his father-and-son firm, Whitefish Energy, are drawing widespread attention and congressional scrutiny for an outsized deal half a world away: a $300 million contract with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority to rebuild 100 miles of power transmission lines across the islands shattered electric grid.

We just answered the call, Mr. Techmanski said in an interview from Puerto Rico. We got on a plane and came over here right after.

The size of the contract and the scale of the job awarded to a company that had just two full-time employees is now raising questions about how Puerto Ricos bankrupt power authority awarded contracts and reached out for assistance in the chaotic days after Hurricane Maria, which snapped utility poles like Popsicle sticks and tore down hundreds of miles of power lines.
WASHINGTON  The presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee paid for research that was included in a dossier made public in January that contained salacious claims about connections between Donald J. Trump, his associates and Russia.

A spokesperson for a law firm said on Tuesday that it had hired Washington-based researchers last year to gather damaging information about Mr. Trump on numerous subjects  including possible ties to Russia  on behalf of the Clinton campaign and the D.N.C.

The revelation, which emerged from a letter filed in court on Tuesday, is likely to fuel new partisan attacks over federal and congressional investigations into Russias attempts to disrupt last years election and whether any of Mr. Trumps associates assisted in the effort.

The president and his allies have argued for months that the investigations are politically motivated. They have challenged the information contained in the dossier, which was compiled by a former British spy who had been contracted by the Washington research firm Fusion GPS.
WASHINGTON  House Republicans on Tuesday announced investigations into two of President Trumps most frequent grievances, unveiling new inquiries into actions of the Obama administration connected to Hillary Clinton.

In the first of two back-to-back announcements, the top Republicans on the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees said they would formally examine the Obama Justice Departments investigation of Mrs. Clintons emails. Less than an hour later, Republicans from the Intelligence and Oversight Committees said they were opening a separate inquiry into the administrations approval of a 2010 agreement that left a Russian-backed company in control of much of the United States uranium.

Representative Devin Nunes, Republican of California and the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, said he had not discussed his investigation with the White House. But the uranium deal and the Justice Departments handling of the Clinton case have been regular targets of Mr. Trumps, first on the 2016 presidential campaign trail and now in Washington.

Last week, the president wrote on Twitter that the uranium deal was done with Clinton help and Obama administration knowledge and was the biggest story that Fake Media doesnt want to follow!
Mr. Corker, who has been feuding with the man he once contemplated serving as vice president, accused Mr. Trump of serial lying and debasing the office.

Mr. Flake, who has been a persistent Trump foe since 2016, never mentioned Mr. Trump by name in his remarks. But there was no doubt who he was talking about when he pointed to the indecency of our discourse and the coarseness of our leadership, and suggested his beloved Republican Party was being complicit in an alarming and dangerous state of affairs.

We must never regard as normal the regular and casual undermining of our democratic norms and ideals, we must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country, Mr. Flake said.

But Mr. Corker, Mr. Flake and Mr. McCain remain the outliers. Mr. Corkers exceedingly harsh assessment of Mr. Trump  delivered in a series of morning TV interviews in a reasonable, studied tone  and Mr. Flakes announcement and damning speech bookended what was to be the initial centerpiece of a day on Capitol Hill intended to get lawmakers and the president on the same page with a difficult tax debate looming.

Mr. McConnell left his lunch with Mr. Trump and members of the caucus to emphasize the issues that bind congressional Republicans to Mr. Trump and play down the divisions underscored by Mr. Flake and Mr. Corker.

Theres a lot of noise out there, said Mr. McConnell, who made clear what the interests of the party are. Tax reform is what we are about.
Two months before Sgt. La David T. Johnson died in an ambush in Niger, he told his sister in an hourlong video chat that he was ready to come home. He wanted to see his children again and return to his wife, then four months pregnant with their third child.

He was ready, said Torneisha Ghent, 24, who along with her brother grew up in Carol City, a neighborhood in north Miami-Dade County.

But Sergeant Johnson remained committed to his role as an Army mechanic serving the 3rd Special Forces Group as part of a mission to train African troops in the fight against terrorism. He told friends and family he wanted to help his team. He also needed the money to buy a home for his growing family.

Ms. Ghent would never see her brother again. Weeks after their last exchange, Sergeant Johnsons family learned that he had disappeared in a firefight. Days later, they learned of his death after an ambush. And then came the controversy over President Trumps call to Sergeant Johnsons widow, Myeshia Johnson, and the swirling feud that followed involving the president, his chief of staff, John F. Kelly, Ms. Johnson and Representative Frederica S. Wilson, Democrat of Florida, over what was said in the call. Yet many who knew the slain soldier now lament that Sergeant Johnsons story has gotten lost amid the flurry of criticism and accusations.
CARACAS, Venezuela  One of Venezuelas most prominent opposition leaders threatened to break from the broad alliance of opposition parties on Tuesday, pushing the coalition to the brink of fracture and further deepening the nations political crisis.

Henrique Capriles, a two-time presidential candidate who narrowly lost to President Nicolas Maduro in 2013, coupled his threat with a full-throated demand for an overhaul of the alliance.

This is like when you go to the doctor and they detect a tumor, Mr. Capriles said in a broadcast on the Periscope live-streaming application. Its time to remove the tumor and cure the patient, Venezuela.

Mr. Capriless announcement highlighted the deepest public rift in the alliance since its founding about a decade ago. It came a day after the governors-elect from one of the coalitions most influential parties took the oath of office before the Constituent Assembly, an all-powerful body engineered by Mr. Maduro, infuriating many in the opposition.
BEIJING  Chinas Communist Party on Tuesday elevated President Xi Jinping to the same exalted status as the nations founding father, Mao Zedong, by writing his name and ideas into the party constitution.

The historic decision, at the end of a weeklong party congress, sent a clear signal to officials throughout China that questioning Mr. Xi and his policies would be ideological heresy.

The decision solidified Mr. Xis position as Chinas most powerful leader in decades after only five years of leading the country, making it harder for rivals to challenge him and his policies.

While there may be no Little Red Book of quotations for mass consumption like in the bygone Mao era, Mr. Xis thinking will now infuse every aspect of party ideology in schools, the media and government agencies.
For many dancers and film lovers, The Red Shoes is the only ballet movie that matters.

Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburgers ravishing 1948 film is a fantastical masterpiece in which everything is heightened: color, emotions and, above all, the urgency of artistic expression. Here, ballet is religion.

The movies secret, sacred ingredient? It is anchored by a real  and astonishingly good  ballerina, Moira Shearer, who danced with Sadler Wells Ballet and originated roles in dances by Frederick Ashton and Leonide Massine (hes in the film, too). In other words, as the rising star Victoria Page, Shearer didnt need a dance double. (This is not a Black Swan situation, in which an actress tries to convince us she is capable of balletic perfection.)

Vicky, though, has problems. She is torn between the total devotion to dance that her impresario, Boris Lermontov, insists upon and the love that she finds with the young composer Julian Craster. And those red slippers, drawn from the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale that the movie is based on, mean a dance to the death.

[Matthew Bourne brings the movie classic to the dance stage]

With Matthew Bourne presenting his own version of The Red Shoes at New York City Center through Nov. 5, it seemed like a good time to ask dancers how the movie affected them and their ideas about ballet. It turns out it wasnt easy to find dancers in their 20s (or even a decade older) who were moved by it or who had even seen it: They came of age with Center Stage and Black Swan. Connor Holloway, a 23-year-old member of American Ballet Theater, sat down with The Red Shoes just for us.
LONDON  The artist James Bridle remembers the first time he heard of military drones. Back then, some seven years ago, it took intensive online searching to track down an image of one. As reports of drones as weapons of war and instruments of surveillance became more common, he wanted to understand them better. For him, they were an idea without a physical reality.

Mr. Bridle found and downloaded the plans for a type of drone used by the United States Air Force and, using string and chalk, drew a full-size outline of the aircraft on the tarmac of the parking lot behind Bridles London studio. Seeing the form sketched out as if the drone were casting a full-scale shadow over an urban setting revealed that this previously unseen combat apparatus had a wingspan about the length of a bus.
In addition, wartime quilts were sometimes a means of behavior modification. In Britain at least, quilting was encouraged by the military and temperance organizations alike; they gave idle hands something to do between military engagements, staving off the temptations of drink and gambling. They also occupied the time of wounded soldiers recovering in military hospitals and prisoners of war. Some were made for families back home, others to be sold and a few by orderlies as gifts for their commanding officers.

With their pulsating squares, diamonds and triangles of color, these works attest to the expansiveness of geometry, as well as its use in flags, banners and coats of arms. The unusual quatrefoil motifs of some individual quilt blocks are based on the four-pronged footprint of battlements known as star forts.
In Toledo, the entire museum is kept open during its annual block party. Last July, during an exhibit of the ancient Mediterranean artist known as the Berlin Painter, museum officials said 7,000 people attended the event and 4,200 of them entered the museum. The Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Fla., holds an evening event each month during the academic year, where bands play in its enormous courtyard, while it serves drinks and opens a single gallery.

Those broad-brush appeals are one way to go, but tight targeting of specific audiences is another strategy. Mr. Zugazagoitia moved to the Nelson-Atkins in 2010 from El Museo del Barrio in New York. He has created events around various local cultures, but one that particularly resonated for him was the Day of the Dead, a traditional Mexican celebration. The museum hosts other free festivals to connect with other cultural groups. The American Indian Cultural Celebration, for example, came into being in part because the Haskell Indian Nations University, a school for Native Americans, is in nearby Lawrence, Kan.

The importance of the Hispanic audience is even more significant in San Antonio, where 65 percent of the population is Hispanic. Richard Aste, who took over the leadership last year of the McNay Art Museum, is its first Hispanic director. I think my coming to the museum is a matter of pride for everyone, said Mr. Aste, who before was a curator at the Brooklyn Museum. I want to include the Latino community in our conversation, he said. Among his efforts is Pop America 1965-1975, a show of Pop Art from the United States, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Cuba, Mexico and Peru that is scheduled to open next year.

Here are some exhibition highlights from the museums listings:
TORONTO  More than 20 years ago, a precocious teenage girl made a surprising request of the novelist Margaret Atwood. She had just read Ms. Atwoods Alias Grace and found herself entranced by the true story of Grace Marks, a 19th-century Irish immigrant and servant who became a celebrity murderess in Toronto. So she sent Ms. Atwood a letter seeking the movie rights.

Ms. Atwoods correspondent was Sarah Polley, then best known as a Canadian child star from the Disney Channels Road to Avonlea and years away from becoming a screenwriter and director of independent films like Away From Her and Take This Waltz. Ms. Atwood declined. Obviously.

She was 17! she said. I didnt think she had the wherewithal.

Now, at the age of 38, Ms. Polley is seeing her Hail Mary of a pitch come to fruition: She is the writer and a producer of the mini-series adaptation of the Booker Prize-shortlisted book, debuting on Netflix on Nov. 3.

After decades of sputtering starts  both Jodie Foster and Cate Blanchett were attached at various points  Alias Grace arrives at a time of peak Atwood. This September the Hulu adaptation of the novelists The Handmaids Tale became the first streaming-service show to win an Emmy for best drama; the iconic red cloaks the handmaids are forced to wear have become popular costumes for both protesting and Halloweening; her backlist is on best-seller lists; and the 77-year-old author is herself an internet star. (Ms. Atwood has 1.77 million followers on Twitter, and when she carried her black velvet purse on stage at the Emmys, a gotta-be-me violation of unwritten awards-show etiquette, she sent social media into a loving frenzy.)
Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown that lets you sleep  and lets us get paid to watch comedy. What do you think of it? What else are you interested in? Let us know: thearts@nytimes.com.

Kinda-Sorta Guts

On Late Night, Seth Meyers refused to celebrate Senator Jeff Flake, the Arizona Republican who delivered a fiery speech denouncing President Trump on the Senate floor on Tuesday. Clapping slowly and sarcastically, Mr. Meyers said Mr. Flakes address  in which he announced he would not seek re-election in 2018  was too little, too late.

All right! Jeff Flake! Way to eventually go! It took kinda-sorta guts to stand up only 11 months after the election and tell America not to elect Donald Trump. You said, Hey, I dont care if this hurts my 18 percent approval rating. And yeah, maybe I voted to confirm Jeff Sessions and Betsy DeVos, even though one lied during his confirmation hearing, and the other spells lie with an h. But Im going stand up and do what was right a year ago. Im going to fight for the American people  by quitting my job of fighting for the American people. This has been a Late Night slow clap.  SETH MEYERS

Jimmy Fallon looked at another Senate Republican whos embroiled in an insult battle with Mr. Trump: Bob Corker of Tennessee.


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

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What does a painting of a mob pulling down a statue of King George III teach you about American history? The answer could help green card holders become United States citizens. To become a naturalized citizen, a person has to be a green card holder, submit a 20-page application, be fingerprinted and pass an oral exam that requires deep knowledge of American history. The process can take six months or longer and costs about $700. So when Karen Moore  a nanny from Jamaica who became a permanent resident in 2010  applied for citizenship in January, she knew she needed help. I didnt know anything about New York history. I had been on the Circle Line, but thats about all I knew, she said with a laugh referring to the citys sightseeing cruises. At the suggestion of her employer, Ms. Moore became the first person to sign up for the Citizenship Project, a free class at the New-York Historical Society that helps green card holders prepare for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization test.

The historical societys leadership decided to take an active role in helping permanent residents become citizens after President Trump in January called for travel restrictions on Muslims entering the United States. The classes started in July, and the historical society has a goal of helping 750 to 1,000 people prepare for the citizenship exam. The project is a 32-hour interactive program that uses artifacts, documents and art from the museums permanent collection and covers all the questions used in the test. For many of them English is not their first language and so theyre really eager to get any assistance they can to make this test easier, said Jennifer Schantz, the historical societys executive vice president and chief operating officer. The historical societys teaching methods are enhanced by using physical objects. The program is so unique that citizenship and immigration services has invited the museum to host a seminar showing other museums across the country how to establish similar programs. Students spend time at the historical society both in a classroom and also walking through the gallery, observing and discussing the paintings and objects as they pertain to American history.

We can easily spend 10 or even 20 minutes just looking at one painting, said Samantha Rijkers, the manager of the Citizenship Project who developed the programs curriculum and oversees six part-time instructors. So, to prepare for test questions about the Declaration of Independence and Independence Day, students observed the painting Pulling Down the Statue of King George III, New York City, by Johannes Adam Simon Ortel. Some people might say I see a statue, others might make connections to protests that are going on today where people are taking down statues of Confederate soldiers, Ms. Rijkers said. What I think is great about our approach is that everyone can figure out the story by themselves just by looking at the painting and talking. Ms. Rijkers, who is from the Netherlands and moved to New York to get her masters degree, also is a green card holder who is in the process of gaining citizenship. My students always make fun of me that I dont have it yet, she said. Preparing for the test in a class setting is one thing, but taking it in a personal interview is another. Applicants are asked up to 10 out of a possible 100 questions and must answer six correctly. While the majority of green card holders pass the test, a study in 2012 by the Center for the Study of the American Dream at Xavier University showed that one in three citizens born in the United States fail it. What we hear a lot is many people have family members who are American citizens and they tell us, Oh, I went home and we talked about this and they had no idea,  Ms. Rijkers said. We dont shy away from the difficult chapters in American history. The classes so far have included people from six different continents and 28 different countries. The way we learn about history here, we internalize it because youre able to touch something or youre able to look at something so its not just random information that you force yourself to remember, said Ya Yun Teng, a digital collections coordinator at the Museum of Chinese in America who is from Taiwan and just completed the class and is waiting to take the citizenship exam. Im not too worried about memorizing or studying the test all the time, because all the stories or clues that I experienced during the courses will help me to remember the answers for the test.
Did GST, demonetisation hurt CG employees?

The reason the government is not giving into the demand of the CG employees is because there are not enough funds now. The economy has slowed down and also taken a beating due to GST and demonetisation and hence the hike of Rs 26,000 cannot be fulfilled officials say.

Notebandi hit everyone

While the decision on GST has slowed down things, the government says that it is only temporary. Demonetisation on the other hand has affected several persons including the CG employees. Due to these factors, the government has decided that the basic minimum pay would be hiked to Rs 21,000 and not Rs 26,000.

Not in position to accept demands now

The government says that it is not in a position to accept the demands of the CG employees now. The government has lost money due to GST and demonetisation. If the government decides to go accept the demand of the CG employees, then it would add to the burden of the exchequer. The Indian economy has considerably slowed down due to demonetisation and implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST). The GDP growth came down to 5.7 per cent in the first quarter of the financial year 2017-2018.

7th Pay Commission is last, pay will vary

However not all is lost of the CG employees. While the 7th Pay Commission is likely to be the last, the government is now proposing a variable pay hike for CG employees. The government is set to take the decision on pay hike in January and following that the pay hike would be variable and would be reviewed from year to year.
Why NOTA, a blank vote, is a waste with no impact on election results

How BJP's win in Gujarat, HP is spreading happiness in the Indian market

In new Himachal Assembly, 52 out of 68 MLAs are crorepatis

A village in Virbhadra Singh's Arki constituency to boycott polls

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Residents of the Rauri village in the Arki assembly constituency, from where Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh will contest elections, have warned the authorities of boycotting the polls if their village is not shifted to a pollution free zone.

The village is located close to he factory of Ambuja Cement, which is said to be the main reason for pollution in the area.

Nearly 500 villagers have reportedly warned the authorities and politicians to either shift the village to a pollution-free zone or face election boycott.

A report quoted one of the residents of Rauri village as saying that people are suffering rom skin and respiratory diseases due to the dust and air pollution due to the factory.

They have demanded that the village be shifted to a pollution free region.

The elections for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly are scheduled to be held on November 9.

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 12:04 [IST]
Only those from political families can eye a CMs post in Congress: Amit Shah

Uniform Civil Code in Himachal if BJP comes to power: Amit Shah

BJP will win most seats, break all records in Gujarat: Amit Shah

Amit Shah hails bank recapitalisation, calls it 'historic'

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Oct 25: BJP chief Amit Shah has hailed the Centre's announcement of Rs 2.11 lakh crore for bank recapitalisation and said the move will not just give an impetus to businesses, but also provide employment to the youth.

He also hailed the announcement on Rs 6.92 lakh crore spending on infrastructure.

The BJP national chief congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for the bank recapitalisation decision, terming it as "historic".

In a tweet last night, Shah said the "courageous" decision will not only give impetus to businesses but also provide job opportunities to the youth. In another tweet, he said spending on highways will lead to creation of world class infrastructure and give a fresh momentum to economy.

Jaitley had on Tuesday announced a massive Rs 6.92 lakh crore infrastructure spending and another Rs 2.11 lakh crore for bank recapitalisation to revive investments as well as growth.

The capital infusion, the finance minister said, will be accompanied by reforms to enable the state-owned banks to play major role in the financial system and give a strong push to the job-creating MSME sector.

PTI
Cong for Muslims, BJP for Hindus: Did Rahuls temple visits in Guj help to bust the myth?

BJP set to bag 115-125 seats in Gujarat polls: India Today-Axis My India opinion poll

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The BJP is set to retain its bastion in Gujarat despite facing a 22 year anti-incumbency factor, according to the results of the India Today-Axis My India Opinion Poll.

According to the opinion poll conducted by Axis between September 15 and October 15 in all the 182 constituencies of Gujarat, the BJP is projected to bag between 115-125 seats.

Gujarat elections: IB gives clear edge to BJP, says party will win 125 to 134 seats

The Congress, which is the principal opposition in the state, is projected to bag between 57-65 seats. In the last assembly elections held in 2012, the Congress party had bagged 60 seats.

Out of the 18,243 respondents sampled by Axis My India, 48 per cent said that they would vote for the BJP, while 38 per cent said that they would vote for the Congress.

The poll shows that the Congress has an edge among 32 per cent of the electorate - Muslims 10 per cent, Dalits 6 per cent and Patidars 16 per cent. On the other hand, the BJP has an edge among 67 per cent of the electorate - OBC 37 per cent, ST 15 per cent and General 15 per cent.

This opinion poll takes into account the extra votes the Congress may get with the support of OBC youth leader Alpesh Thakore and Dalit activist Jignesh Mewani. But the vote share predictions do not account for the additional bump the opposition can get if Patidar leader Hardik Patel announces that he too will back the Congress. Over the last few years, Hardik Patel has emerged as an influential leader of the Patidar community.

The Patidars are the dominant caste in the state, making up 16 per cent of the total electorate. They play a decisive role in 21 out of the state's 182 seats.

Axis My India asked respondents whether they would back whichever party Hardik decided to support. Two percent of the total respondents said they would back the party which had the support of the Patidar.

According to the pollsters at Axis My India, if Hardik openly supports the Congress, the party's vote share can climb from 38 per cent to 40 per cent. This could lead to a gain of about 5-10 seats for the Congress and a commensurate loss in seat share for the BJP.

In this poll, incumbent Vijay Rupani of the BJP emerges as the number one choice of the voters to be the state's next chief minister with 34 per cent of the respondents picking him as their number one choice. Shaktisinh Gohil of the Congress comes in second with 19 per cent approval ratings.

OneIndia News
Explained: Why did the ECI freeze the symbol of the Shiv Sena

Not just future of Sena but democracy at stake, says Uddhav

'Buying leaders has become business in Gujarat': Shiv Sena slams BJP

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

The Shiv Sena has launched a scathing attack on the BJP over Patidar leader Narendra Patel's allegations that he was offered money to join the saffron party.

The editorial in Shiv Sena's mouthpiece Saamna said asked how come so much money is being spent in Gujarat when there is poverty in the nation.

"Narendra Patel is not the only example of buying powerful politicians through money. This has now become a business in Gujarat," the editorial in Saamna said.

Hinting that the BJP is confident in Gujarat, the editorial further said that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not been on a foreign trip and spending most of his time in Gujarat.

"The way a game of gambling is being played in Gujarat, it does not seem like a hometown of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, but has now become Prime Minister Modi's and BJP president Amit Shah's," it added.

Narendra Patel, a local convenor of the Hardik Patel's Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, had earlier this week alleged that he was offered Rs 1 crore to join the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Patidar leader Nikhil Sawani, who had earlier joined the BJP, on Monday said that he would quit the saffron party as he was "upset" with Narendra Patel being alledgely offered money to join the BJP.

Patidar leaders Reshma Patel and Varun Patel on Saturday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in presence of party chief Amit Shah.

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 12:48 [IST]
Darjeeling: Probe initiated against foreign citizens holding public office

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

The District Administration, Darjeeling, has initiated a probe into alleged Nepal citizen holding public office in the Darjeeling Hills. The name of a Councillor of the Darjeeling Municipality is set to be struck off the electoral roll for holding Nepal citizenship.

Incidentally both India and Nepal do not allow citizens to hold dual citizenships. "Nira Sharma, Councillor of Ward 1 of Darjeeling Municipality is a citizen of Ilam district of Nepal. She has not surrendered her Nepal citizenship nor has she enrolled as per Ministry of Home Affairs norms. A complaint has been lodged under Citizen's Act and Foreigner's Act. Her name will be struck off the electoral rolls. Three others are also being investigated" stated Joyoshi Das Gupta, District Magistrate, Darjeeling.

Incidentally this is the second tenure for Sharma as a Ward Councillor. Earlier also she had won from Ward number 1 contesting in Gorkha Janmukti Morcha ticket. Her Councillorship will automatically stand terminated with her name struck off the electoral rolls.

Sharma could not be contacted for comments. She is believed to be absconding.

Meanwhile 28 councilors of the Darjeeling Municipality held a meeting in Darjeeling on Tuesday complaining that it is becoming difficult for the Municipality to function without a Chairman and Vice Chairman.

Incidentally DK Pradhan and Ramjung Golay had been sworn in as the Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively on May 29 this year.

DK Pradhan, a close confidant of Bimal Gurung, had been arrested from Gurugram, Haryana, along with 2 others on September 22.

They were arrested in connection with clashes between the police and GJM supporters on June 8 that had left many injured on both sides. The army was later deployed to control the situation. Pradhan at present is in jail custody.

Ram Jung Golay, The Vice Chairman, has also resigned from the post.

One Ambika Sharma, Municipal Councillor is also in judicial custody in connection with cases relating to the agitation. There are 32 wards in the Darjeeling Municipality.

OneIndia News
Foundation works for Ram Mandir to be ready by October, 'garbhagriha' by Dec 2023: VHP

Six temples of different deities in Ram temple's final blueprint

SC judges hearing Gyanvapi case were associated with Ayodhya matter as well

Ayodhya's Ram temple to be open for darshan in Jan 2024

December 6 2018: The day construction of Ram temple will begin

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is most likely to begin before December 6 2018.

Senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader and member of the Ram Janambhoomi Trust Ram Bilas Vedanti said the NDA government at the Centre would facilitate the temple construction through a Parliamentary legislation if the court's decision is not favourable.

Vedanti, a former BJP MP, also said many in the Muslim community support the temple construction. "The Shia Waqf Board has already supported building the Ram Temple," he also said.

He said that the BJP's strength in Rajya Sabha will go up after a string of Assembly polls, hinting that the temple legislation will have a smooth passage in the Upper House.

OneIndia News
JEE Main 2023 exam dates to be out soon: Check details

When this mom got a surprise gift, her reaction was 'gold' | Watch

Delhi: Armed men forcibly stop car, shoot dead a woman in Shalimar Bagh

India

oi-Madhuri

A woman was shot dead in Delhi's Shalimar Bagh when she was returning from a Gurudwara with her husband Pankaj Mehra and two-year-old son.

The woman has been identified as Priya Mehra. The incident took place when the family was travelling in the car and another speeding car overtook them and stopped the car.

As they stopped, a man whipped out his pistol and started firing on the couple. However, Priya suffered severe bullet injuries. Both the infant and the Pankaj escaped unscathed, while Priya died.

In another similar incident, two men were shot dead in separate incidents by unidentified bike-borne men in north Delhi's New Usmanpur and Krishna Nagar area of Shahdara on Monday.

A FIR has been registered in the case and cops are looking for the culprit.

OneIndia News
JEE Main 2023 exam dates to be out soon: Check details

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Delhi: Nigerian student repeatedly sexually assaulted by bookseller in school premises

India

oi-Madhuri

A bookseller was on Wednesday arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a foreign national student inside school premises in Greater Noida.

It is learnt that a Class VI student Nigerian student was sexually assaulted for the past five years by a bookseller on the premises of a reputed Greater Noida-based school.

A case has been registered in the incident under Indian Penal Code Section 377 for unnatural sex. The Noida Police is investigating the incident and is also probing the school's role in the gruesome incident.

The incident comes just a month after the murder of a class 2 student at Gurugram's Ryan International School.

Pradhyuman Thakur was found with his throat slit in the washroom of the school on September 8.

School bus conductor Ashok Kumar was arrested in connection with the crime following the incident.

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 10:20 [IST]
Demolish Humayun tomb solve Muslim graveyard problem: Shia Board

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

In a bid to solve the problem of graveyards, the UP Shia Central Waqf Board has suggested the demolition of the Humayun Tomb. It can be converted into a graveyard for Muslims, president of the Board, Waseem Rizvi said in a letter to the Prime Minister.

He said this would solve the grave problem being faced by the Muslims of Delhi for burying the dead.

The All India Rabta-e-Masajid and Madaris-e-Islamia of Yamuna Vihar, in letters to the UP Shia Central Waqf Board dated October 15, lamented the paucity of space for graveyard in the national capital. They said the old burial grounds had got filled up and there no space for building new ones either. The two organisations have requested the UP Shia Waqf Board to provide land for burial ground in the neighbouring state close to the Delhi border.

The Board said it examined the cities in UP close to the Delhi border but found that there was no land available with it for the purpose. However, it said, the problem concerning the Muslims living in Delhi was really serious and required to be solved in public interest.

The Board has suggested to the PM to demolish the Humayun's Tomb situated in the Nizamuddin area of the national capital and convert it into a burial ground.

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 7:35 [IST]
PM Modi should admit that demonetistion a failure: Owaisi on cash seizure in UP

Demonetisation deliberate move by 'PayPM' to help his friends: Rahul Gandhi

Fact Check: PM Modi did not take pleasure in peoples suffering post demonetisation

Demonetisation: Nov 8 is 'anti black money day'

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

To counter the opposition parties' "black day" on November 8, the Union Government on Wednesday said that it would observe "Anti-Black Money Day".

The Opposition parties, led by the Congress, had said that they would observe "black day" on November 8 to registered their protest against the demonetisation, which was announced on the same day last year.

"On 8th November 2017, BJP will celebrate 'Anti-Black Money Day' in the nation," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on November 8, 2016, banned the existing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in a bid to curb the mencaes of black money hoarding, terror financing and fake currency. The government then issued new currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 to replace the banned currency.

This had resulted in massive queues outside banks and ATMs as it took some time for the government to provide new currency notes to replce the old ones.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday said, "18-Party Opposition Coordination Committee met yesterday and decided to observe November 8 as a 'black day' due to demonetisation."

He said that former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was accurate when he estimated that the note ban would lead to a 2 percent drop in India's GDP.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 16:44 [IST]
Cong for Muslims, BJP for Hindus: Did Rahuls temple visits in Guj help to bust the myth?

My meet with Rahul would have prevented BJP's Gujarat win: Hardik Patel

Gujarat Assembly Elections to be held on Dec 9,14; Counting on Dec 18

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

The Election Commission on Wednesday said that the assembly elections in Gujarat would be held in two phases on December 9 and 14. The counting of votes would be held on December 18

89 assembly constituencies would go to polls during the first phase while 93 assemblies will vote in the second phase.

Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti said that VVPAT machines would be used in all polling stations. He also said that polling will be held across 50,128 polling booths.

"Model Code of Conduct shall be in place immediately; arrangements have been made to enforce MCC..Differently-abled voters will be given preference at polling booths..102 polling stations will have 100% women personnel," he said.

The CEC said polling booths would be randomly selected and VVPAT slips would be counted.

VVPAT is a machine which dispenses a slip with the symbol of the party for which a person has voted.

A ceiling of Rs 28 lakh per candidate has been fixed for election spending.

"Candidates will have to open new bank accounts for election spending," Joti said.

The CEC urged government officials to discharge duties in impartial and fair manner.

Gujarat Assembly Elections: Important Dates

Phase 1 Phase 2 Notification date 14-11-2017 20-11-2017 Last date of filing nomination 21-11-2017 27-11-2017 Last date of withdrawal of nomination 24-11-2017 30-11-2017 Polling Date 9-12-2017 14-12-2017 Counting 18-12-2017 18-12-2017 No.of Seats 89 93 No.of Voters 2.21Cr 2.11Cr

The EC had drawn flak from the opposition parties for not announcing the Gujarat polls date along with that of Himachal Pradesh where elections are scheduled to be held on November 9.

The Congress party in particular was very critical of the Election Comission for withholding Gujarat election dates, accusing the poll panel of working on the directions from the Centre.

The Congress had alleged that the NDA government had pressurised the EC to delay the announcement so that the Prime Minister could announce sops to his home state before the model code of conduct came into force.

The EC, had on its part, said that the flood relief work was still underway in Gujarat because of which poll dates could not be announced. It said the same government apparatus which is engaged in flood relief work is needed for conducting elections.

The Gujarat elections would be a trilateral contest between Indian National Congress (INC), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) which is contesting for the first time from the state.

The Gujarat Assembly has 182 seats and the current assembly has 118 MLAs of BJP, 42 from Congress, 2 members of NCP and one member of JD (U).

OneIndia News
Who will win Gujarat 2022 polls? Here's what ABP-C-Voter survey says

Gujarat ATS arrest suspected ISIS operatives from Surat

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested 2 suspected ISIS terrorists from Surat who were planning to execute a terror plot in Ahmedabad during the Gujarat Elections.

The ATS said that both the operatives were working for Islamic State (ISIS) and were planning to execute a terror plot in Ahmedabad during the Gujarat elections.

The ISIS operatives are identified as Kasim and Obaid, both residents of Surat. Kasim was planning to abscond to Jamaica after executing the blast.

Security across Gujarat has been intensified today after the Election Commission finally announced the schedule for the Gujarat Assembly elections.

Assembly elections in Gujarat will be held in two phases on December 9 and 14. The first phase will be held in 89 of the 182 seats and will cover 19 of 33 districts.

The votes will be counted on December 18, the same day as Himachal Pradesh.

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 23:33 [IST]
Home Ministrys advisory to states: Investigate attacks on journalists, ensure their safety

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

New Delhi, Oct 25: In a bid to protect the fourth estate that has witnessed several deadly attacks on its members in the recent times, the Ministry of Home Affairs has recently issued an advisory on "safety of journalists" to be followed by all states and union territories of the country.

"The fourth estate is an important institution of our democracy. It ensures that citizens are able to express their opinions freely without any fear and coercion as provided under the Constitution of India.

"It is the duty of states to ensure safety and security of journalists who ensure that the fourth estate discharges this key role," reads the advisory.

"From time to time, incidents of attack on journalists/media persons are reported in the media. All such cases need to be investigated promptly to ensure that criminals get prosecuted in a time bound manner.

"States should also take all preventive and deterrent action as deemed required. States are already empowered to provide security to individuals based on threat perceptions," adds the advisory, which was made public on Tuesday.

The advisory, dated October 20, 2017, has come at a time when the media has been rattled because of several fatal attacks on its members, including the killing of Bengaluru-based journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh on September 5.

The other two killings of journalists in recent times include the murder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader and journalist, Rajesh Mishra, who was shot dead by bike-borne assailants on October 22 in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur district and brutal death of journalist KJ Singh and his mother Gurcharan Kaur, who were found dead in their Mohali flat on September 23.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 7:28 [IST]
Hyderabad: Sana Iqbal who campaigned against depression dies in car accident

India

oi-Madhuri

Recommended Video

Female Biker and Activist Sana Iqbal from Hyderabad dies in car accident | Oneindia News

Activist Sana Iqbal from Hyderabad who campaigned on her bike against depression and suicide died in a car accident on the outskirts of the city on Tuesday.

Sana who herself was undergoing with depression had forcibly gone out with her estranged husband Abdul Nadeem, 35, on the day she met with an accident. On Tuesday, at around 2 am, Sana was asked to join him for a ride to check out his new car stereo system. When she refused, he threatened her that he will create a scene.

The accident occurred at 4 am. According to the police, the couple was travelling towards Gachibowli in west Hyderabad. Nadeem, who works as a manager with Amazon, suffered injuries, breaking two of his ribs and is undergoing treatment at a city hospital. While Sana died instantly in the early morning accident.

Sana's body was shifted to Osmania hospital for a post-mortem examination before handing it to family members for the funeral.

According to the police, the car was moving at a high speed and lost control after going over the median. The car turned left impacting the co-passenger.

The couple had got married in 2014. It is learnt that Sana has faced harassment from her husband and his family. She has been subjected to physical and verbal abuse.

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 9:32 [IST]
'Beauty is not about how you look': Mamata Banerjee apologises for Trinamool minister's comments on President

I will not link my phone with Aadhaar: Mamata Banerjee

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said she would not link her Aadhaar with phone. She accused the Union government of "autocratic" rule and said her party will "have to play a role so that BJP is removed from power" at the centre.

Challenging the the government over Aaadhaar, Banerjee said, "I will not link Aadhaar with phone, if they want to disconnect my phone, let them."

The Department of Telecom (DoT) had through a March 23 notification called for linking of mobile numbers with Aadhaar. Banerjee said that the TMC does not want to be in power in Delhi but "we have to play a role so that BJP is removed from power at the Centre".

Also, she announced that Trinamool Congress will observe 8th November as 'Black Day' and conduct rallies throughout the state carrying black flags.

On 8 November 2016, the Government of India announced the demonetisation, commonly called 'notebandi', of all 500 and 1,000 banknotes of the Mahatma Gandhi Series. The government claimed that the action would curtail the shadow economy and crack down on the use of illicit and counterfeit cash to fund illegal activity and terrorism.

(With agency inputs)

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 16:52 [IST]
IIIT-Hyderabad working on monitoring poor road conditions in city

India

oi-Madhuri

The International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad is working on putting their emerging technologies to use to solve day-to-day problems which have affected the common man.

The researchers have come up with a plan to solve the problems like water logging and potholes in the city due to incessant rainfall. The roads are filled with potholes and waterlogging after the recent spell in Hyderabad due to which common man has been facing a lot of problems.

According to Dr. C V Jawahar, faculty of IIIT- Hyderabad said,''the research students have recently started a project where they will experiment the road conditions by installing cameras in cars. These cameras will take videos of the road and by using the algorithm they will be able to detect how bad is the condition of potholes and waterlogging.

The Institute is currently in talks with the state government and has got a positive response for the project. Jawahar also said that the technology can also work for ride-hailing companies like Uber and Ola to detect driver performance.

OneIndia News
CDS chopper crash: What is CFIT that is pronounced as see-fit

India set to get new CDS: The importance of a military theatre command

NSA Ajit Doval, late CDS Gen Rawat among others to be awarded Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman

Intelligence, surveillance needed on western and northern borders: Army chief

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Army Chief Bipin Rawat on Wednesday underscored the requirement of surveillance on western and northern borders of the country.

He said, "Major requirement as of now is Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, to keep eye on adversaries on western and northern borders.

"We are also looking at Electronic Warfare (EW) system to keep an eye not just on borders but in hinterland also," said Rawat.

Rawat further said that security of installations in the hinterland is becoming a cause for concern.

"We are getting reports of Uri like attacks well in depth," he added.

Commenting on the appointment of new interlocutor, Rawat said, "Government has appointed him, let him work, it will not affect Army's operations."

Last week, Army Chief, during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir, blamed social media for radicalisation in the state, saying "it is a worldwide phenomenon and we are addressing it seriously."

OneIndia News
Bimal Gurung who is in hiding to depart for Delhi soon

Gorkhaland agitation: Gurung says he is ready for dialogue with Mamata Banerjee

Kalimpong shops down shutters with the death of Municipal Councillor in custody

India

oi-Amitava

By Amitava

Bimal Gurung, President of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha called for a bandh of the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts over the death of GJM leader and Kalimpong Municipal Councillor Barun Bhujel in jail custody in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Bhujel, the Municipal Councillor of Ward 16 of the Kalimpong Municipality (East main road area) had been arrested on June 15 for allegedly torching the Sericulture unit and Hill Top Tourist Lodge along with GJM leader Binod Pradhan from Kalimpong town.

"Though Barun was a political prisoner he was not treated as one. There were lapses in treatment including delay" claimed Biren Bhujen, the brother of the deceased.

While Bhujel's family members alleged of delay in treatment, Gurung alleged of police torture leading to death.

"He was suffering from chronic liver complications including pancreatitis. He was brought to SSKM Hospital in a critical state and was admitted at the ICU. Post mortem is being conducted" stated Manimoy Bandopadhyay, Superintendent, SSKM Hospital, Kolkata.

Gurung in audio message from an undisclosed location sent in the later part of the morning, stated that Bhujel had died for Gorkhaland and fighting the "black law of Bengal."

"Gorkhas should come out in the streets in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik, Terai and Dooars to protest against the death. Let us live for a short while but let us live with bravery. As the President of GJM I ask Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts to shut down in protest" stated Gurung.

Incidentally Gurung is on the run with a Look-out notice and arrest warrant in his name. He has been charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

Though life remained normal in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik and the plains, shops downed shutters in Kalimpong town from 9:30am. A condolence meeting and prayer meeting was organized at Dambar Chowk, Kalimpong where residents offered "Khada" (traditional scarves) on Bhujel's photograph.

"The shops have been closed as a mark of respect to the Municipal Councillor and not for any political reason" stated a resident.

Bhujel's dead body is expected to arrive by Thursday. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 13:08 [IST]
Karnataka celebrates 60th anniversary of 'Vidhan Soudha'

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

The Karnataka Government is celebrating 60th anniversary of 'Vidhan Soudha'- seat of the state legislature- on Wednesday. Its located on Dr Ambedkar Road, Seshadripuram.

Amidst reports about a proposal to spend Rs 26 crore to mark the 60th anniversary of the Vidhana Soudha, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah issued directions for curtailing funding for the event.

Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad had allegedly also proposed gifting gold biscuits to legislators and silver plate to employees. Stating that Siddaramaiah has refused sanctioning Rs 26 crore for the event, officials from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said he had issued directions to complete the event under Rs 10 crore. The chief minister has said there should be no gifts for legislators and has issued directions to curtail the celebrations from two days to one day, they said.

Vintage photo of Vidhan Soudha The majestic structure, built largely with "Bangalore granite", was the brainchild of Kengal Hanumanthaiya and has grand stairs in the front, a central dome supported by eight pillars and six smaller domes as its attraction. Vidhana Soudha is all decked up Built in a 'Neo-Dravidian' style of architecture, Vidhan Soudha is spread over 60 acres and houses the Legislative Assembly and Council chambers, along with the offices of chief minister, prominent ministers, and senior government officers. One of the imposing buildings in the country The foundation for the Vidhana Soudha, considered to be among the most imposing buildings in the country, was laid by Jawaharalal Nehru as prime minister on July 13,1951, and was completed in 1956, at a cost of about Rs 1.84 crore. It was inaugurated by President Rajendra Prasad in October 1956. Interior of Vidhan Soudha Vidhana Soudha is all decked up for the grand one-day diamond jubilee celebration on Wednesday. Interior of Vidhan Soudha being decorated ahead of the celebrations.

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 14:03 [IST]
In a first, Transgenders can now apply for jobs in Karnataka police for PSI

Kerala HC directs govt to include transgenders in female category

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday issued a directive to let transgenders write Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) examinations considering them under a female category.

The directive comes after a the Kerala State Youth Commission had decided to direct the Public Service Commission (PSC) to include a third column in its application forms, including those for the one-time registration, to enable transgenders to enter government service.

The youth commission's adalat had decided to direct various departments about the concerns of PSC rankholders. It was decided to seek a report from the department concerned about a complaint that a person was yet to receive a job even after nine months of receiving an advice memo.

But as per an earlier judgment of the Supreme Court, reservation for special categories cannot exceed 50 percent. The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014, passed by the Rajya Sabha proposes two percent reservation for transgender persons in public sector jobs.

The Kerala government will consider all these aspects before it arrives at a reservation percentage.

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 15:47 [IST]
Aviation rules for flights from UAE to US relaxed, laptops can now be carried

Fact Check: The government of India is not giving free laptops to students in India

Laptops likely to be banned from check-in luggage

India

oi-Madhuri

Large personal electronic devices like laptops may soon be soon banned from check-in bags to avoid any kind of fire incident in the aircraft.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has come up with this proposal and the United Nations will be studying the proposal in coming months, a report in the Extremetech said.

It is learnt that FAA conducted a series of tests where PED placed with aerosol inside the luggage and there is any thermal runaway event, there are chances that the aerosol can might explode. According to the FAA, in certain cases, if the fire suppression system of the aircraft is compromised, it can lead to the loss of the aircraft.

According to several media reports suggests that India may also follow the suit ince the decision is taken by any leading aviation agency.

Earlier, top airlines had banned the use of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones during flights following reports of battery explosion.

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 8:55 [IST]
Missing patient found deceased in the same hospital after 3 days

India

oi-Amitava

By Amitava

A patient allegedly missing from the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) was discovered dead in the corridor of the same hospital three days later.

Prakash Rai was admitted at the NBMCH on Friday night following a road accident at Fulbari, Jalpaiguri. The police of New Jalpaiguri police station had admitted him at the NBMCH and even informed his family members.

36 year old Rai was a resident of West Sikkim. On Saturday morning his elder sister Sujata Rai had arrived at the Hospital. On visiting the ward that had been communicated by the police to the family, Sujata was shocked to find that her brother was not there.

The Hospital authorities told her that soon after the patient was admitted he had gone missing. A missing diary had been lodged at the police outpost in the NBMCH premises.

After frantically searching the wards, Sujata visited her relatives at Kadamtala near Siliguri and narrated the incident.

Days passed without any news of Prakash. On Tuesday, Sujata again returned to the NBMCH to look for her brother. By sheer luck she chanced upon a dead body lying on the corridor of the Emergency Ward of the Hospital.

Closer inspection revealed that it was Prakash Rai. When Sujata challenged the authorities, she was told that the dead body had been identified as Akash Tamang.

However with pressure from Sujata providing identity evidence the body was identified as Prakash and post mortem conducted.

When questioned on this lapse, Maitreyi Kar, Superintendent of the Hospital claimed that there were two youth brought in on Friday night and both had gone missing. "Later one of the youths was found in the wards and readmitted as Akash Tamang by a group of youth. This had caused the confusion" added the Super.

Others claimed that the youth had died on Sunday. Questions have been raised as to how two youths disappeared from the ward.

The matter has been brought to notice of the West Bengal Human Rights' Commission by Aviraj Subba, the Convenor of the Human rights Cell of the Congress Party, Siliguri.

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 14:14 [IST]
Cong for Muslims, BJP for Hindus: Did Rahuls temple visits in Guj help to bust the myth?

Modi factor to help BJP in Gujarat elections: Times Now survey

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

A majority of people in Gujarat, which will go to polls later this year, are satisfied with the performance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hails from the state.

According to Times Now survey, around 81% of the respondents stated that they will continue to vote for the BJP in Gujarat because Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the son of the soil.

Gujarat elections: IB gives clear edge to BJP, says party will win 125 to 134 seats

In 2012, this sentiment was at 60% which means Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought 20% extra strike rate confirming Gujarat takes pride in Narendra Modi's prime ministerial status. This also dispels the notion that Narendra Modi at the centre has weakened the regional pull of the BJP.

Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat almost till he became the Prime Minister on May 26, 2014. He was on the chief minister's chair for more than 12 years.

Gujarat elections 2017: BJP set for big win, predicts Times Now-VMR survey

Around 46% of the respondents believe that the proposed Sardar Vallabhbai Patel statue enhances the 'Gujarat Asmita' while 21% believe that it is merely a poll stunt.

More or less like GST, a majority expressed their dissatisfaction with demonetisation, which PM Modi had announced on November 8 last year. While 40 per cent of the people felt that demonetisation was aorse, a majority, 28 per cent say improved, 18 percent thought it did not benefit.

The survey is based on a sample size of 6,000 respondents spread across all regions of the state. The survey has a margin of error of plus, minus 3 per cent.

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Opinion polls in Gujarat attempt to influence voters: Congress

India

pti-PTI

The Congress on Wednesday trashed opinion polls giving an edge to the BJP in Gujarat and alleged that it was an attempt to influence voters.

Ashok Gehlot, AICC general secretary incharge of Gujarat, said the Congress was working out tie-ups with like-minded parties and organisations in the state.

"Alliances and combinations are yet to emerge and here we have channels declaring victory for the BJP. This is a clear attempt to influence voters," Gujarat Congress President Bharat Sinh Solanki said, adding that the Congress party has given the slogan of 'Happiness Index' for people of the state.

He said the party is in talks with JDU rebel Chhotu Bhai Vasava who voted for party candidates in the recent Rajya Sabha election from the state.

The NCP is also in touch with Congress, said its leaders hinting at Praful Patel establishing contact.

Rahul Gandhi is set to campaign in South Gujarat from November 1 to 3 during his next tour.

Gehlot took a dig at Narendra Modi saying he was now the country's prime minister and not the chief minister of Gujarat.

"The prime minister is frequently visiting Gujarat. He is saying that he is development and he is Gujarat. I want to ask Modi that the same social media which helped him become the prime minister has given out a message that 'development has gone mad in Gujarat'.

"We have not said this. The prime minister himself said 'I am development, I am Gujarat'. I don't know what came on his mind. He is the country's prime minister. He is no longer the chief minister of Gujarat. He could have said this when he was chief minister for 20 years there," Gehlot told reporters.

He claimed no one wants to ally with the BJP any more.

The AICC general secretary incharge of Gujarat, however, remained evasive on the issue whether Rahul Gandhi met Patidar leader Hardik Patel or not.

PTI
Pakistan should be isolated globally: Sushma Swaraj

India

oi-Madhuri

The US secretary of state Rex Tillerson interacted with Indian leadership on Wednesday as Washington and New Delhi set to expand their strategic ties in South Asia and Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean region. Tillerson and Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday issued joint press statements in Delhi.

While addressing media, Swaraj said,''Happy to inform that our defence and strategic relations have deepened after PM's US visit.''

''"The recent attacks in Afghanistan are proof that safe havens and supporters of terrorism are active. Pakistan needs to act on this. President Trump's policy on terrorism can only succeed when Pakistan takes action on terror groups," she said.

The minister also said that India, USA, Afghanistan trilateral meeting will be held in December.

''We also discussed the important contribution of Indians working in the USA on H1B visa,'' said Swaraj after meeting with Rex Tillerson.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that US and India are natural allies and that they stand shoulder to shoulder against terror.

Asked if India is ready to cut diplomatic ties with North Korea, Swaraj said trade relations with Pyongyang are at a minimum, but it is important to continue having an embassy in North Korea.

Swaraj also said that Pakistan should be isolated globally.

Tillerson is visiting India after he made a trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan. This visit comes after the US government announced a new Afghan policy in August, envisaging greater role for India while faulting Pakistan for not walking the talk on reining in terror outfits. But the Trump administration mellowed its position after Pakistan authorities rescued a US-Canadian couple this month. Though the previous US administrations also talked tough on Pakistan, it did not yield much result as Islamabad remained a key ally of Washington in the region.

OneIndia News
Using govt jobs as covers how Hizbul chiefs sons facilitated funds from Saudi to further terror in J&K

Syed Salahuddins son got money in 7 installments to burn Kashmir

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Syed Salauddin's son who was arrested by the NIA received money in seven installments between 2011 and 2014 from a Pakistani national, the probe by the National Investigation Agency has found.

Syed Shahid Yousuf was one of the several contacts of Aijaz Bhat, a Pakistan national who is currently in Saudi Arabia, the probe also revealed. The NIA had registered the case in 2011 after one hawala transaction to the tune of Rs 3.4 lakh was found.

Yousuf an employee in the horticulture department in Jammu and Kashmir is said to have been handed over a set of codes by Bhat. NIA sources say that he stayed in touch with Bhat who was one of the main financiers of the Kashmir unrest. Yousuf got in touch with Bhat through his father Salahuddin who is a proscribed global terrorist.

Sources also say that Bhat and Yousuf were in touch with each other since the past 7 years. Following the death of Burhan Wani, it was decided to spread unrest in the Valley.

There were transfer of funds on various occasions, NIA officials say. The officials also said that Yousuf for every transaction would be provided with money transaction code. He would then use the codes to pick up the money and then pass it on to those creating the unrest.

The NIA would now probe his links with his father who has been instrumental in fuelling the unrest in the Valley since the death of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani.

The NIA will now seek to get the larger picture from Yousuf. The probe is at a very crucial stage and the questioning of Yousuf would help the NIA understand better the role played by his father. His father has been shown as an absconding accused in the case. The NIA names Syed Salahuddin in the chargesheet.

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 6:44 [IST]
'Medicine can also be studied in Tamil medium!' - CM Stalin's efforts are getting a growing response

Mayor Priya is not the puppet but the savior - How did Chennai recover from the floods?

Tamil Nadu: Palaniswami lays foundation for aerospace park in Kancheepuram

India

pti-PTI

Chennai, Oct 25: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami laid the foundation stone for an aerospace park, a facility which was expected to draw Rs 1,000 crore as investment in five years and create over 30,000 jobs, in Kancheepuram district on Wednesday.

Palaniswami laid the foundation stone for the aerospace park at Vallam-Vadakal SIPCOT Industrial Park premises in Sriperumbudur Taluk and gave away land allotment orders to nine companies. Late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had proposed the aerospace park a few years ago.

The aerospace park would have engineering and allied industries for manufacture of aerospace components and today's initiative was part of the government's ongoing push for industrialisation in the state, an official release here said.

The facility would come up over 245 acres of land at an estimated cost of Rs 198 crore and was being implemented by State Industries Promotion Corporation Ltd (SIPCOT) and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (TIDCO), the release said.

"About 50 companies are expected to set up their units here even as efforts are on to attract global aviation firms to Tamil Nadu," it said.

It was expected to attract Rs 1,000 crore worth investments in five years and provide 10,000 direct job opportunities. About 25,000 persons would benefit from indirect job opportunities, it added. To further aid the aviation industry, the government has also proposed to set up a Computing and Designing Centre, the release said. The proposed Rs 350 crore centre would have among others, avionics manufacturing facility, skill development centre and components designing unit, it said. The Tamil Nadu government was keen on promoting aerospace and military hardware industries, it added.

PTI
Tipu a great warrior: President Ram Nath Kovind

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday endorsed controversial Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan, saying the Sultan died historic death fighting the British.

President praised Tipu Sultan's sacrifice while addressing a joint session of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council on 60th anniversary of Vidhan Soudha.

He said, "Tipu Sultan died historic death fighting British. He also pioneered in use of Mysore rockets in warfare".

Highlighting the diversity in the state, he said, "This is a land with ancient Jain and Buddhist traditions. Adi Shankaracharya founded the math in Sringeri."

"Gulbarga is a centre of Sufi culture. The reformist Lingayat movement under Basavacharya was located in Karnataka," he added.

CM Siddaramaiah congratulated the President for his address to the legislature.

He tweeted,"Congratulations to Hon. President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind for a statesman like address to the Karnataka legislature."

Congratulations to Hon. President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind for a statesman like address to the Karnataka legislature. @rashtrapatibhvn  Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) October 25, 2017

He further said that Karnataka has been known through history for spiritualism as much as science, for its farmers as much as its technologists.

The President heaped praise on state's contribution to the Indian Army. "Two of our finest army chiefs - Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General K.S. Thimayya - were sons of Karnataka," he said.

At the outset, President said he was humbled to follow in footsteps of then President Rajendra Prasad, who had inaugurated the Vidhan Soudha in October 1956.

In an advice to the lawmakers, President said, "Legislature is a place to discuss, dissent and finally decide. It is an embodiment of the will, aspirations and hopes of people. Once elected, the MLA or MLC represents the entire constituency and not just those who have voted for him or her."

President Ram Nath Kovind praises Tipu Sultan President praised Tipu Sultan's sacrifice while addressing a joint session of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council on 60th anniversary of Vidhan Soudha. PTI photo Joint session of the Karnataka Legislature President Ram Nath Kovind addressing the joint session of the Karnataka Legislature to commemorate the the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru on Wednesday. PTI Photo President Ramnath Kovind meets MLAs President Ramnath Kovind meets MLAs after addressing the joint session of Karnata Legislature, as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the State Assembly building "Vidhan Soudha", in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah is also seen. PTI Photo Colourful display of Vidhan Soudha At the outset, President said he was humbled to follow in footsteps of then President Rajendra Prasad, who had inaugurated the Vidhan Soudha in October 1956. President pays homage to Kempe Gowda statue President Ramnath Kovind paid homage to Kempe Gowda statue at NR Square. Governor Vajubhai Rudhabhai Wala, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah attended the occasion. Courtesy: Karnataka Varthe

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JEE Main 2023 exam dates to be out soon: Check details

When this mom got a surprise gift, her reaction was 'gold' | Watch

Two men shot dead in northeast Delhi within 24 hours

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, October 25: Unidentified bike-borne men shot dead two persons in northeast Delhi's New Usmanpur and Krishna Nagar area of Shahdara, within 24 hours, the police said.

The incidents come close on the heels of two similar killings yesterday in the northeast areas of the national capital.

In New Usmanpur, 23-year-old Rohit Pal was shot in the head and the stomach, the police said, adding that he was accused in a couple of cases, including theft and extortion.

Pal's father works with a power discom in Delhi and the victim had left home to make preparations for a religious function, they said.

The police are scanning CCTV footages and questioning his friends to ascertain the reason behind the killing. His call details are also being scanned.

In Krishna Nagar, a 41-year-old man was shot dead this evening allegedly by unidentified bike-borne assailants, the police said.

Jafar, who dealt in scrap and also worked as a property dealer, was shot at outside his shop, they said.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital but could not be saved, the police added.

Eight empty bullet shell casings were found from the spot where Jafar was shot at, they said, adding further probe was underway.

Yesterday, one Wazid was shot dead while his friend injured in Brahmpuri and in another incident reported from nearby Brahmpuri, a 22-year-old man Aarif Khan was shot at multiple times. Khan died on the spot.

The police dismissed claims that pal's killing was was linked to yesterday's incidents and was a fall out of a gang war.

PTI
'Enduring defeat of IS must be the goal'

Trump enters US state department for first time as his favourite Mike Pompeo takes over as secy

Tillerson, Modi vow to step up efforts to combat terrorism

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his first official visit to South Asia, as the two countries look to further strengthen Indo-US strategic partnership in key areas.

In his meeting, PM Modi and Tillerson affirmed that a strengthened India-US partnership is not just of mutual benefit to both countries, but has significant positive impact on the prospects for regional and global stability and prosperity.

Also, PM Modi shared the resolve expressed by Tillerson on taking further steps in the direction of accelerating and strengthening the content, pace and scope of the bilateral engagement.

In the context of President Trump's new South Asia Policy, PM noted the commonality in the objectives of eradicating terrorism, terrorist infrastructure, safe havens, and support, while bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.

They further discussed stepping up effective cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and promoting regional stability and security.

Tillerson, is the second high-ranking official of the Trump administration to visit India in the last two months. US Defence Secretary James Mattis visited India last month.

Earlier in the day, Tillerson met Sushma Swaraj and backed India's emergence as a "leading power" and promised to provide the "best technology" for its military modernisation.

"US backs India's emergence as a leading power and will continue to help Indian capabilities in providing security for the region. We are ready to provide the best technology for India's military modernisation," said US secretary of state Rex Tillerson in a joint statement with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.

Highlighting the strengthening relationship between the two countries, the top American diplomat said that "India and USA are natural allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder against terror."

OneIndia News
China welcomes constructive suggestions: Xi jinping to media

International

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said China welcomes objective reporting and constructive suggestions.

In a first press meet after the conclusion of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Xi led other members of the Standing Committee of the 19th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau at the Great Hall of the People, reported Chinses news agency Xinhua.

"We do not need lavish praise from others, however, we do welcome objective reporting and constructive suggestions, for this is our motto: 'Not angling for compliments, I would be content that my integrity fills the universe,'" Xi said.

As per reports, Xi encouraged media persons to visit and see more of China, citing a Chinese saying that "it is better to see once that to hear a hundred times."

"We hope that after the Party Congress, you will continue to follow China's development and progress, and learn about and report on more dimensions of China," he said.

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 11:00 [IST]
5-year-old dies after being attacked by pack of dogs in MP

Man booked for rape of 12-year-old after video of injured girl surfaces on internet

Father of missing Sherin Matthews changes statement, says he had seen her choking to death over milk

International

oi-Amitava

By Amitava

The jigsaw puzzle of the missing 3 year old Sherin Matthews from Dallas, USA has started falling into place with Wesley Matthews the father changing his statement and stating that he had seen his adopted daughter choke over a glass of milk.

According to BBC News, according to the police warrant, Wesley has provided an alternative statement to the detectives.

He now claims that on that day he was trying to get her to try to drink her milk. The duo were in the garage of their Dallas home.

Eventually the 3 year old started drinking the milk. Wesley was physically assisting the 3 year old special needs child to drink the milk when she began to choke.

The child began to cough and started chocking. "Eventually Wesley Matthews no longer felt a pulse on the child and believes she had died" stated the report.

Police state that Wesley has admitted to removing the child's body from the house. Police however has not yet declared the cause of Sherin's death.

Wesley is being held for causing felony injury to a child, the charges for which carries a maximum penalty of life time imprisonment.

Incidentally 37 year old Wesley Matthews, the adoptive father of the missing girl had earlier told the police that he had left the girl on October 7, in an alley near the house located in the 900 block of Sunningdale at around 3am on that day as a punishment for not drinking her milk.

He claimed that he had returned after 15 minutes to check out on her to find her missing. Coyotes are known to frequent this area.

Wesley had then gone indoors waiting for her to return on her own or had decided to launch a search later during the morning.

He further claimed that his wife, the girl's mother Sini Mathew's was unaware of the incident as she was sleeping.

On Texas police on October 22 had discovered the body of a child who they believe could be of the 3 year old Sherin. The body was discovered by search dogs in a culvert near East Spring Valley and South Bowser Roads, east of US Highway 75. The location is less than a mile away from the missing girl's home.

Wesley Matthews was earlier arrested for endangering the life of a child. He was later released from jail after furnishing a bond and surrendering his passport. He is also required to wear an electronic tracking device.

On 9th October Child Protective Services also took custody of Sherin's 4 year old sister and placed her in foster care. Sherin's mother is engaged in a legal battle to regain custody of the 4 year old.

Reports state that the Mathew's couple, originally from Kerala, had adopted this special needs child Sherin from an NGO in Nalanada, Bihar.

OneIndia News
2 suspects arrested in connection with blast outside Hafiz Saeed's house in Pak

26/11: As India grieved, Saeed grew in Pak, while Lakhvi fathered a child in jail

Hafiz Saeed's name not on list of terrorists handed over by US: Pakistan

International

oi-PTI

Mumbai attack mastermind and banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed's name was not on a list of 75 terrorists the US had handed over to Pakistan, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday.

Saeed, who carries a $10 million bounty on his head for his role in terror activities, has been under house arrest in Pakistan since January this year.

Asif told senators during a session of the parliament's upper house that the US has "handed over a list of 75 terrorists while we gave them a list of around 100 terrorists."

The list was passed on during the maiden visit of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Pakistan on Tuesday.

"The Haqqani network is on the top of the (US) list but none of the terrorists are Pakistanis," Asif told senators.

Saeed, a Pakistani citizen, headed the JuD which was listed as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in 2014.

The JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of 2008.

The Afghan-based Haqqani network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan. The group is also blamed for several attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan, including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people.

The US, Asif said, had made a habit of handing over lists of wanted people to Pakistan, which traded them for favours - a matter that needed to be debated.

He said the US had been told that Pakistan no longer had influence over the Afghan Taliban as it did in the past.

"Neither are we supporting them (Afghan Taliban), nor do they need our help," Asif said."Somebody else is sponsoring them now," he added, without elaborating on it.

Asif asserted that many of the key Taliban names were now shadow governors in Afghanistan or no longer alive.

During his meeting with the Pakistani leaders, Tillerson renewed the US demand for tough action against the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.

Asif said the meeting with Tillerson was held in cordial atmosphere and there was no accusations from either side.

"We clarified to the visiting dignitaries that Pakistan will not indulge in any kind of proxy war but will continue to play its role for peace and security in the region," he said.

PTI

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Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 1:05 [IST]
With the number of anonymous rogues from Pak rising, here's how BSF is beating down the drones

Pakistan summons Indian Deputy High Commissioner over LoC firing issue

International

oi-Madhuri

Pakistan on Wednesday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad over the alleged ceasefire violations by the Indian Army along Line of Control (LoC).

Earlier on October 2, the Pakistan had summoned India's deputy high commissioner over the same. The Foreign Office, in a statement, alleged that Indian forces resorted to firing in Rukh Chakri and Rawalakot Sectors on September 30 and October 2, killing three civilians and injuring five others, including a woman. Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Mohmmad Faisal summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh and "condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations" by the Indian forces, it said.

India maintains that the UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control.

Pakistan claimed that Indian forces have carried out more than 900 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary this year, which have resulted in the deaths of 43 civilians and injuries to 153, as compared to 382 ceasefire violations in 2016.

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 12:36 [IST]
That is how far this drone delivered medicines in Bengal

Trump administration to seal Sea Guardian deal with India

International

oi-PTI

Washington, October 25: A senior US official has said the Trump administration is looking forward to completing the deal for transferring unarmed Sea Guardian drones to India.

The major decision to sell unarmed Sea Guardian drones was announced during the summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump on June 26.

The US "looks forward to completing the deal for transferring Sea Guardian unmanned drones," the official said.

The addition of 22 state-of-the-art unarmed drones to India would add to its Navy's surveillance capabilities in the strategic Indian Ocean region.

As part of India being designated as major defence partner, the Trump administration is taking additional steps to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks and accelerate the process of the sale of high-tech defence equipment to India.

A special focus is on strengthening Indian maritime capabilities.

The defence cooperation is only going to increase, the senior administration official said, adding that this is based on the fundamental understanding that interests of the two countries are now aligned.

This was the first major defence deal announced after India was designated as a major defence partner.

Vivek Lall, chief executive of US and international strategic development at General Atomics, said sale of Sea Guardian drones is a significant step in cementing the US- India bilateral defence relationship.

To be sold at an estimated cost of USD 2 billion, this would help create some 2,000 jobs in the US, he said.

The Sea Guardian is a variant of the tested MQ-9 platform which allows for greater interoperability with US and allied forces, Lall said adding that its use by the Indian Navy will also develop the country's credible capabilities, which is significant for Indian maritime security and naval power projection.

However, there have been no talks between the two countries on New Delhi's request for General Atomics Predator C Avenger armed drones.

It is understood that this was not raised by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her meeting with her US counterpart Jim Mattis during his visit to India last month.

The two are scheduled to meet again this week in the Philippines.

According to an industry source, this "case is being actively considered" by the White House as a next step after the Guardian deal.

"As military aviation transforms globally to autonomous systems, US and India have a great opportunity to collaborate at the highest levels of technology and innovation," the industry source said.

Last week, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had said that in keeping with India's status as a major defence partner and their mutual interest in expanding maritime cooperation, the Trump administration has offered a menu of defence options for India's consideration, including the Guardian UAV.

"We value the role India can play in global security and stability and are prepared to ensure they have even greater capabilities," Tillerson had said ahead of his visit to India.

Tillerson said the proposals the US has put forward, including for Guardian UAVs, aircraft carrier technologies, the Future Vertical Lift programme, and F-18 and F-16 fighter aircraft, are all potential game changers for our commercial and defence cooperation.

PTI

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 9:19 [IST]
How is Kerala going to end manual scavenging? Answer to age-old malpractice is robot

When it comes to surgeries, humans are better than robots: Study

International

pti-PTI

London, Oct 25: A recent study suggests that humans make better surgeons than robots. The study suggested that machine- assisted surgery for kidney removal not only takes longer to perform, but also costs more.

Researchers from Stanford University in the US looked at nearly 24,000 patients with kidney cancer. The analysis showed that the use of robot-assisted surgery to remove kidneys was not always more cost-effective than using traditional laparascopic methods.

However, the two approaches have comparable patient outcomes and lengths of hospital stay, researchers said. Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure in which surgical operations are done through small incisions.

The removal of the entire kidney is called radical nephrectomy.

"We found that, although there was no statistical difference in outcome or length of hospital stay, the robotic-assisted surgeries cost more and had a higher probability of prolonged operative time," said Benjamin Chung, associate professor at Stanford.

Surgical robots are helpful because they offer more dexterity than traditional laparoscopic instrumentation and use a three-dimensional, high-resolution camera to visualise and magnify the operating field. While some procedures require a high degree of delicate manoeuvring and extensive internal suturing that render the robot's assistance invaluable, researchers hypothesised that less technically challenging surgeries may not benefit as significantly from a robot's help.

They analysed data from 416 hospitals from 2003 to 2015. Researchers found that among nearly 24,000 patients, almost 19,000 underwent a traditional laparoscopic procedure and about 5,000 underwent a robotic-assisted procedure. They found that 46.3 per cent of those patients whose surgeon used the robot had a total procedure time of more than four hours. In contrast, about 28.5 per cent of the patients whose surgeon used the conventional laparoscopic procedure were in the operating room for more than four hours.

On average, the total hospital cost for the robot- assisted procedure exceeded that of the traditional laparoscopic procedures by about USD 2,700 per patient. The researchers speculated that the increased cost may be due to longer times spent in the operating room and the disposable instruments upon which surgical robots rely.

Researchers noted that the study covers a time period when many physicians were just learning to use the robots for this type of procedure. It is possible that the operating time will decrease and that the cost differences between the two procedures will narrow over time.

"But for now, the study suggests that robot-assisted surgery is not always the right choice," researchers said.

PTI
No decision to provide EWS flats to Rohingya illegal migrants in Delhi: MHA

What about undocumented Indians living abroad: Manish Tewari on BJP's Rohingya threat to nation comment

India's stand on Rohingyas gracious so far but housing them would be risky

The Rohingya influx continues as Tripura police nets seven of them

Why Bangladesh wants return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar

International

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

Dhaka, Oct 25: Since August 25, when violence broke out in Myanmar's Rakhine State, at least 600,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh. The refugees in Bangladesh have been given shelter in overcrowded camps in Cox's Bazar, which are not only unhygienic, but lack enough space, food and drinking water facilities.

Amid all these difficulties, aid workers warn that the camps are facing the risk of outbreak of killer diseases and in such a scenario several of the refugees might die.

Now, Bangladesh authorities, faced with such an unprecedented situation, described by the United Nations (UN) as the biggest refugee crisis of our times, want Myanmar to take back the Rohingyas.

However, it is not that Bangladesh just wants the return of Rohingyas to their "homeland", but insists that Myanmar should ensure safety of refugees once they reach their "homes".

"This is an untenable situation," Shameem Ahsan, Bangladesh's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, told at a conference, on Monday.

"Despite claims to the contrary, violence in Rakhine State has not stopped. Thousands still enter on a daily basis."

Ahsan stated that Myanmar must ensure "safe, dignified and voluntary return" of its nationals.

"It is of paramount importance that Myanmar delivers on its recent promises and works towards safe, dignified, voluntary return of its nationals back to their homes in Myanmar," Ahsan said.

Bangladesh's interior minister was in Yangon on Monday for talks to find a "durable solution", he added.

Recently, a senior official of Myanmar, during his visit to Bangladesh, agreed to take back the Rohingyas.

However, Myanmar is continuing with its "propaganda projecting Rohingyas as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh", Ahsan said, adding: "This blatant denial of the ethnic identity of Rohingyas remains a stumbling block."

Myanmar considers the Rohingyas to be stateless.

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Rohingya crisis: Is Myanmar ready to take back Rohingyas ? | Oneindia News

Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said that both Myanmar and Bangladesh had begun talks on "repatriation".

Conducive conditions have to be "recreated" in Rakhine, he said. "This must include a solution to the question of citizenship, or rather lack thereof for the Rohingya community," Grandi added.

Recently, Myanmar hosted a protest against the return of Rohingyas, where several Buddhist monks also took part.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 6:47 [IST]
Natural disasters are on the rise, and the lack of infrastructure funding, coupled with the continuation of dirty fuel production, will mean increased disasters unless we can create reliable and sustainable solutions to our problems. Since our national leaders are doing little to stop climate change, we need to work together at local and civic levels to prepare for the worst.

From restructuring our own homes and city buildings, to producing energy from clean and sustainable sources, it is time to make the climate crisis a personal issue and attack it, starting at a local level. Here are some great places to start:

Home Renovation and Retrofitting

Amidst the many recent natural disasters that have devastated and even destroyed homes, you may be wondering how your own home would fare if faced with a fire, hurricane, or earthquake. Depending on what potential dangers loom in the town in which you live and the current state of your home, you may be overwhelmed by the possibility of what may happen.

If, after looking into the structural integrity of your home, you want to make changes to ensure it will be able to withstand what Mother Nature could unexpectedly throw its way, investing money on home improvements is a smart move. Once you decide on what improvements to make, consider applying for a 203 (k) loan, a type of loan specifically for permanent home improvements. All one- to four-unit properties are eligible as long as part of the structure -- at least the foundation -- is still in place.

In addition to aesthetic renovations, the money may be put towards structural improvements to ensure your house would withstand an earthquake or hurricane. The money can also be put to landscape work, which can make a big difference if your house is ever threatened by a fire. Energy-conservation improvements are also eligible, which can help prevent further environmental damage. Not only can these improvements protect you and your family, but they also add value to your home, making it an all-around positive investment.

Designing a Better Future

While taking your personal safety and environmental responsibility into your own hands is a crucial first step, funneling energy into local improvements in your extending community is just as important. Better, mindful city planning should be at the forefront of building infrastructures and renovating old ones. Making sure buildings are not only up to code city-wide, but also building them to withstand natural disasters and working towards cleaner sources of energy needs to be a priority.

Fortunately, careers such as civil engineering are designed to do just that. Between coming up with high-quality uses for natural resources and providing ways to protect those resources from contamination, civil engineers help to identify and resolve environmental issues. For example, according to Ohio University, engineers are currently looking into algae blooms (the negative overgrowth of algae in water systems), water treatment methodology that is better on the environment, and eliminating micro-contaminants in natural waters.

Addressing Climate Justice

In the face of natural disasters, help can be found in unexpected places. Beyond nonprofit organizations, social entrepreneurs and IT professionals can help in disaster preparation and recovery. IT leaders claim that recognizing human value and adapting technology to better fit human needs can help be a driving force in the modern world.

As explained by Engineering for Change (E4C), IT can be incorporated into disaster relief in a number of ways: in situations involving missing people robots and drones can be used to locate them; when network coverage is out, technology can be used to allow phones to communicate with each other; tools can be used to find people buried under 20 feet of rubble. Additionally, technology can be used to predict floods, earthquakes, and the spread of wildfires, which can give people time to evacuate before disaster strikes.

Likewise, according to social work professionals at Case Western Reserve University, social workers not only provide emotional support to victims of ongoing natural disasters, but also help bring attention to issues. Though some cases like the contaminated water crisis in Flint, Michigan, don't receive much aid in response to nationwide media attention, other cases, like hurricane-ravished Puerto Rico, do benefit greatly from the efforts of advocates.

Thinking about potential threats to our safety is a human instinct that has helped us survive for hundreds of years. Though we now tend to rely on modern technology for survival, we shouldn't forget to plan for difficult situations. Disaster response is important, but we should also focus on building structurally sound communities and work to prepare ourselves for when it is necessary.
Human sexuality mirrors human culture. Mating dances of seduction and refusal, and acts of non-consensual aggression cannot be separated from traits witnessed, practiced and internalized by the people of a particular society. It is impossible to close the bedroom door to the culture at large. Eros not only inhabits the genitals and the heart but Anima mundi as well.

Sexuality is not going to go away because its nature, which is sublime in the sense of the beautiful and the monstrous, makes people uncomfortable. The phenomenon brings all things human to the fore of consciousness. Therefore, it is imperative we talk about it all, and without mind-negating shame and heart-freezing hysteria.

The late, archetypal psychologist James Hillman, in his final book, the brilliant but under recognized, A Terrible Love Of War, noted the consort, the backdoor man, of the Goddess of Love and Beauty is Ares, the God of War. Moments after her practical-minded husband Hephaestus would leave for work, Ares and Aphrodite would be ensconced in the lover's bed, locked in intimate embrace, under the very roof constructed by her craftsman spouse. Withal, libido translates, often, into impractical, irrational and dangerous phenomenon.

Hillman asks, "where else in human experience, except in the throes of ardor -- that strange coupling of love with war -- do we find ourselves transported to a mythical condition and the gods most real?" -- A Terrible Love of War (p. 9).

When human beings evince the erotic, we are gripped and grappled by primal forces. The ancient Greeks traced the phenomenon to the heights of Olympus while the lurid, Calvinist/Puritan imagination places it in lakes of torment-inflicting hellfire.

Under capitalism, the activity will be commodified. Sexuality is deemed a "human resource." And, as is the case with the finite resources of all things on planet earth, designated as fodder for exploitation by ruthless profiteers. The genitals of an individual are but another precinct to be colonized. One is advised to be ready with a local insurgency of the heart, mind and body to retain self-rule.

If only it was that easy. Where are the mountains of the heart from which to stage a guerrilla war? The option is possible. But expect a long struggle, and for your heart to receive all manner of wounds. Yet the pain of struggle provides us with a common tongue that limns the radiance of everyday catastrophe, including catastrophes attendant to the realm of Eros, son of errant and erratic Aphrodite. Thus we blunder into self-knowledge, are privy to our own biography, read by pressing fingertips to the braille of one's scars.

Taking It All

When sexuality has been degraded by inequitable power, and the powers at large have decreed all the things of the world theirs for exploitation then the system from which the predatory class gains their power over the individual must be challenged and dismantled. But the setup cannot be changed from within its own self-sustaining, self-defining order. The notion is as risible as a yellow fin tuna joining the crew of a massive, sea life-decimating fishing trawler, the tuna claiming it plans to reform the system from within.

Men who callously disregard the autonomy of others are only as powerful as the societal structures in place that not only protect but lavishly reward their hyper-aggressive mode of mind and attendant modus operandi -- apropos, the spoils gained by the capitalist class by means of their acts of perpetual plunder perpetrated against all of humanity and the whole of nature.

Speaking of which, the coal and steel processing company town, Birmingham, Alabama, where I was born was a colonized place. The small, Southern city, squatting at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, was founded, built and controlled by Northern industrialists. The homes of the city's affluent management class, known among us economic lessers as the Big Mules, luxuriated in the clear, fresh air upon Red Mountain (on which stands an imposing, iron ore cast statue of Vulcan, the Roman version of the Greek's Hephaestus) while the white laboring class and city's Jim Crow-shackled African-American community were relegated to dwelling in the industrial smog below.

As is the case with colonialist socio-economic structures, worldwide, in which a region's wealth is generated by a local, under-compensated labor force, it was imperative for the anger and resentment of the colonized masses to be shunted away from the colonizers. The time-tested method of racial animus did the trick. In my memory, the air of Birmingham was ridden with a heavy industry-generated, sulfuric, rotten egg-smelling reek that was inseparable from the miasmic rage of white working-class men such as my father.

The reasons for their fuming resentment included: When my father would ask for a raise, the stock reply from management was, "You know, I can go over to Colored Town, right now, and hire five n*gg*ers for what I pay, your narrow ass."

Thus the anger of Birmingham's Jim Crow era among working men was always close to the surface, and, at the slightest provocation, would come boiling forth like phalanxes of fire ants from a disturbed bed. Exposing the hateful social milieu of the Jim Crow-ruled South to the world at large was a primary factor in the decision of Martin Luther King et. al. to bring the Civil Rights cause to the city of my birth.

Denuded Empathy

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From Palestine Chronicle



Hamas and Fatah leaders at previous talks to end their ongoing conflict.

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The reconciliation agreement signed between rival Palestinian parties, Hamas and Fatah, in Cairo on October 12 was not a national unity accord -- at least, not yet. For the latter to be achieved, the agreement would have to make the interests of the Palestinian people a priority, above factional agendas.

The leadership crisis in Palestine is not new. It precedes Fatah and Hamas by decades.

Since the destruction of Palestine and the creation of Israel in 1948 -- and even further back -- Palestinians found themselves beholden to international and regional power play, beyond their ability to control or even influence.

The greatest achievement of Yasser Arafat, the late and iconic leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was his ability to foster an independent Palestinian political identity and a national movement that, although receiving Arab support, was not entirely appropriated by any particular Arab country.

The Oslo Accords, however, was the demise of that movement. Historians may quarrel on whether Arafat, the PLO and its largest political party, Fatah, had any other option but to engage in the so-called "peace process." However, in retrospect, we can surely argue that Oslo was the abrupt cancellation of every Palestinian political achievement, at least since the war of 1967.

Despite the resounding defeat of Arab countries by Israel and its powerful western allies in that war, hope for a new beginning was born. Israel reclaimed East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, but, unwittingly unified Palestinians as one nation, although one that is oppressed and occupied.

Moreover, the deep wounds suffered by Arab countries as a result of the disastrous war, gave Arafat and Fatah the opportunity to utilize the new margins that opened up as a result of the Arab retreat.

The PLO, which was originally managed by the late Egyptian President, Jamal Abdul Nasser, became an exclusively Palestinian platform. Fatah, which was established a few years prior to the war, was the party in charge.

When Israel occupied Lebanon in 1982, its aim was the annihilation of the Palestinian national movement, especially since Arafat was opening up new channels of dialogue, not only with Arab and Muslim countries, but internationally as well. The United Nations, among other global institutions, began recognizing Palestinians, not as hapless refugees needing handouts, but as a serious national movement deserving to be heard and respected.

At the time, Israel was obsessed with preventing Arafat from rebranding the PLO into a budding government. In the short term, Israel achieved its main objective: Arafat was driven to Tunisia with his party's leadership, and the rest of the PLO's fighters were scattered across the Middle East, once more falling hostage to Arab whims and priorities.

Between 1982 and the signing of Oslo in 1993, Arafat fought for relevance. The PLO's exile became particularly evident as Palestinians launched their First Intifada (the uprising of 1987). A whole new generation of Palestinian leaders began to emerge; a different identity that was incepted in Israeli prisons and nurtured in the streets of Gaza and Nablus was sculpted. The greater the sacrifices and the higher the Palestinian death toll rose, the more heightened that sense of collective identity grew.

The PLO's attempt to hijack the Intifada was one of the main reasons why the uprising eventually faltered. The Madrid talks in 1991 was the first time that true representatives of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories would take on an international platform to speak on behalf of Palestinians at home.

That endeavor was short-lived. Eventually, Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas (today's head of the Palestinian Authority -- PA) negotiated an alternative agreement secretly in Oslo. The agreement, largely sidelined the United Nations and allowed the United States to claim its position as a self-proclaimed "honest broker" in a US-sponsored "peace process."

While Arafat and his Tunisian faction were allowed back to rule over occupied Palestinians with a limited mandate provided by the Israeli government and military, Palestinian society fell into one of its most painful dilemmas in many years.

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From Mike Malloy Website



Donald Trump - Caricature

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...Has the war started? -- to quote Rhett Butler

The Civil War inside the GOP bubbled to the surface yesterday and popped up on our telescreens with an act of political courage by Republican Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, who said what so many of his comrades are thinking privately, but are too afraid of being primary'd to say publicly. He took to the Senate floor and announced he would not be seeking reelection because, in a nutshell (so to speak), Trump is a psychopath. And as such, he could not explain to his kids and grandkids why he remained silent and complicit in the willful destruction of our representative democracy.

Good on ya' Senator. Now, who's next?

We are engaged in a new American Revolution. Not against a foreign invader (unless you count the likely Kremlin infiltration), but against a nuclear-armed usurper who exploited electoral weaknesses, incipient racism, and distaste for traditional politicians to seize control of the most powerful political office in the world.

Not scary enough for you? Bob Corker, the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee is concerned this maniac might incite WW III. I doubt Corker says such things lightly. An early Trump supporter, he too has run out of patience waiting for some magical "reset" or "pivot" to occur.

Ain't gonna happen. Trump is Trump is Trump. Dead-eyed, as my grandmother used to say. A psychopath is a psychopath, there is no treatment. No cure. Hard-wired mental illness. We've been saying this for months. In fact, we have experienced a seven-year-long weirdly parallel psycho-dynamic in our own Girl Scout universe. We have been dealing with a serious behavioral issue with a (now former) scout in our Service Unit who has been an increasingly negative influence on some of the other easily intimidated girls. Repeated willful destruction of private property, malicious pranks on smaller scouts -- no remorse. Family in denial. I've had the unfortunate privilege of watching this girl's personality solidify into a permanently fixed position and there was literally no remedy, no way to ameliorate the situation or save this child.

It is scary to confront an out-of-control bully you know is incapable of change because ... that's just who they are. Incapable of personal growth, incapable of honesty or empathy or compassion, unable to admit error despite overwhelming eyewitness evidence of wrongdoing.

We spend our days swimming in this sweaty anxiety, never knowing what horror could be unleashed. Imagine a day at Trump's Day Care Center (aka the West Wing). He spends his waking hours glued to a wall of TV screens, Tweeting vile lies about Gold Star widows and reactionary threats against the other nuclear-armed nutjob. All we can do is cross our fingers and dig our nails into the seat, terrorized by this madman at the wheel. Hoping he doesn't wake up one day -- feel the noose tightening -- and decide to use his itchy finger to push the red button instead of the "send" button.

Wait, he's too smart for that, right? He's got better smarts than his Secretary of State, he bragged about it, remember? He's the most geniusy guy in Washington, knows more than all the generals. Certainly knows more about foreign policy than "liddle' Bob Corker" or the five living former presidents. Smarter than General Kelly for sure. He'll challenge you to an IQ duel anyday, just bring it on. He's got the biggest brain ever. Certainly has the biggest head. And hairflap.

Nothing dangerously delusional about that, right Trump-lovers? Flake worries about what to tell his grandkids." I worry if there will be any grandkids left to tell.

Trump invents his own reality and expects us to inhabit it. Worse, the only voice he hears is the fake news noise machine in his own head. He has declared war on the First Amendment, stating his desire to shut down networks and newspapers and silence free speech. Build walls, incite race riots, encourage police brutality, invite Russian interference into our political system (remember the call for Wikileaks to infiltrate HRC's email), wage class warfare on working Americans with threats to their health care and tax cuts for his uber-rich 1% cronies. Exploit taxpayer dollars on junkets in private jets for his elite inner circle, sell access to the Oval Office via MaraLago, attack war veterans in Congress and in combat. Dishonor and insult Gold Star families while praising White Supremacists.

This is a level of corruption befitting a true American Psycho. Now, what are we going to do about it?
From Our Future

The Wall Street wing of the Democratic Party will always be with us. Its policies -- on financial deregulation, trade, fiscal austerity, mass incarceration, and military intervention -- have been ruinous. Its political aversion to populist appeals has been self-defeating. But Wall Street has the money, so it will always enjoy upholstered think tanks, perches on op-ed pages, and gaggles of politicians eager to peddle its proposals.

As the Democratic Party finds itself in the wilderness, the Wall Streeters are trying to argue that they have a way out. Will Marshall, co-founder of the Democratic Leadership Council and rabid advocate of the Iraq War and the Libyan debacle, has announced another venture, New Democracy, to develop "really big ideas" for Democrats. Third Way, which championed disastrous trade accords, balanced budgets, and cutting the safety net, is now touting a $20 million program to discover how to talk to working people without alienating Wall Street. And Douglas Schoen, a pollster and partner in a corporate public-relations firm who also plays a Democrat on Fox News, recently offered a New York Times op-ed on "Why Democrats Need Wall Street."

Schoen blamed populism for the catastrophic losses Democrats suffered at the national and state level in the Obama years, and attributed Clinton's 2016 defeat to a "lurch to the left" that exists only in his imagination. To him, the model president is Bill Clinton, and Schoen hailed "two key legislative economic victories" for the Clinton administration: the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999. The former opened the door for the speculative boom and bust in telecommunications that wasted trillions and left consumers with higher prices. The latter repealed Glass-Steagall and was central to the financial deregulation that led directly to the Great Recession. Schoen ended his column with a pitch for more financial deregulation, which surely served his clients, if not Democratic prospects.

Schoen is another Wall Street-backed minstrel. This transparent silliness comes from self-enforced blindness. Schoen and his ideological allies can't fess up to the ruinous effect of the centrist policies of the past decades. Inequality is now an obstacle to growth. Unprecedented trade deficits ravage entire communities. Austerity and deregulation have left millions of Americans struggling to stay afloat. Big money perverts our democracy.

None of Schoen's arguments are borne out by recent political developments. Bernie Sanders is the most popular politician in America because he is free to tell Americans who rigged the rules, how they are getting screwed, and what should be done to change course. Trump's improbable victory derived in part from his populist critique of the failed "establishment," which he supercharged with racist appeals. Despite hand-wringing from Wall Street, nearly one-third of Senate Democrats have endorsed Sanders's Medicare-for-All legislation, including presidential hopefuls like Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Cory Booker.

Schoen did offer one serious argument about why Democrats need Wall Street: "an ugly fact of politics: money." Maintaining ties to Wall Street "keeps [Democrats'] coffers full," he argued. That's why some of the party's most visible potential presidential candidates -- Schoen named Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Deval Patrick, and Harris -- will always have ties to Wall Street.

But can populist candidates raise enough money to compete in America's billion-dollar presidential races and million-dollar Senate and House races? Even though he started late, Sanders raised about $220 million, mostly in small donations. Elizabeth Warren, the scourge of Wall Street, has been notably successful in funding her campaigns. Sherrod Brown, who pioneered populist campaigning in Ohio, has been able to be financially competitive. In the most expensive House race in 2016, progressive Jamie Raskin was able to defeat two multimillionaire opponents. Populist candidates will seldom be able to equal funds raised by Wall Street -- backed candidates or by self-funding billionaires, but if the populist temper of the time continues to build, more and more candidates may be able to combine small donations and volunteer energy to create competitive races.

There is no good alternative. The bankruptcy of the establishment is apparent. Unable and unwilling to challenge entrenched interests, the corporate Democrats have no answers for the challenges that now face the country. Attractive candidates like Barack Obama may be able to win elections and make some progress, and surely won't do as much damage as Donald Trump. But necessary and fundamental reforms will only happen if the populist movement in the country grows powerful enough to force the change.

Cross-posted from The Nation
From Our Future

No political ideology in modern American history has failed as consistently, or for as long, as the Wall Street-friendly political brand known as "Democratic centrism."

It's true that individual politicians have succeeded under this umbrella, through art and luck, but their party and their policies have faltered under this ideology. Yet its practitioners continue to hawk their wares, undeterred by a losing streak that has brought their party to its knees.

Consider the recent New York Times column from Steven Rattner, the Wall Street executive who helped Barack Obama rescue the auto industry.

Mr. Rattner is unhappy with Medicare For All's growing support among Democrats and centrism's waning fortunes. He frames that dissatisfaction, first and foremost, as a personal critique of Medicare For All's leading proponent.

Rattner tells us Sen. Bernie Sanders (full disclosure: I was the senior writer for Sanders' presidential campaign) is "banging on" about Medicare For All, that he is a "crusty Vermont independent," that he "wants to be a senatorial Pied Piper for Democrats," and -- in what may be the greatest sin of all for Mr. Rattner -- that he "isn't even a registered Democrat."

Nor are voters spared Rattner's scorn. Those who agree with Sanders on the issues are not "supporters" or "allies," but "acolytes," suggesting they are motivated more by religious fervor than by reason.

Another word for these "acolytes" might be "Democrats," since a poll conducted earlier this year showed that 80 percent of registered Democratic voters viewed Sanders favorably.

Although Mr. Rattner writes about "the fringe of our party," 65 percent of Democrats say that expanding Medicare to cover every American is a "good idea." Which begs the question: Who's really on the party's "fringe"?

Politically, Mr. Rattner characterizes Medicare For All as "a freight train coming at us." Who, one wonders, is the "us" in that sentence? Its popular appeal has been affirmed in a number of polls.

Mr. Rattner challenges that finding. "When factors like whether taxes would be raised or the Affordable Care Act would be repealed are introduced," he writes, "the consensus swings to opposition."

An informed reading of those polls suggests otherwise. First, the elastic word "consensus" suggests virtual unanimity among voters and obscures the idea's growing support. Yes, one poll did see a drop-off in support after questioners raised the possibility of higher taxes. But pollsters did not mention the fact that, overall, healthcare costs would be reduced for most households, in some cases dramatically.

That omission left respondents with the impression that their costs would go up, and was thus misleading. Significantly, when Democrats were warned of higher taxes, 59 percent of them still supported Medicare For All. That suggests that voters can be educated on this issue.

Concern about repealing the Affordable Care Act seems equally under-informed, since Medicare For All would replace it with substantially better coverage, and at significantly lower cost for all but the wealthiest households.

More broadly, Rattner expresses concern that the overall Sanders agenda lacks appeal beyond the Democratic base. He might want to note a recent poll showing that the "crusty Pied Piper" is not only popular among Democrats but, in Newsweek's words, is "far more popular among independents and Republicans" than the centrist Hillary Clinton.

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Total Economic Impact Study Reveals Epicor ERP Customers Can Achieve 264% ROI

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Dubai, United Arab Emirates - October 24, 2017 - Epicor Software Corporation, a global provider of industry-specific enterprise software to promote business growth, has announced the availability of a new Total Economic Impact (TEI) study that examines the potential return on investment (ROI) companies can achieve with the Epicor enterprise resource planning (ERP) suite. The August 2017 commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Epicor is titled, The Total Economic Impact of Epicor ERP: Driving Efficiency, Customer Responsiveness, And Cost Savings Through Epicor ERP.The study is based on detailed interviews conducted with a number of Epicor customers. Their combined attributes and experiences form a composite organization from which Forrester developed a framework to measure the potential financial impact and investment return of Epicor ERP to an organization.Based on the analysis, Epicor ERP enabled the composite organization to achieve risk-adjusted inventory savings of $4.4 million, with a risk-adjusted ROI of 264% and a payback period of 13 months, in addition to over $3.4 million in enterprise efficiency savings bringing the total economic benefit to more than $9 million. Furthermore, with Epicor ERP the composite organization achieved significant business benefits and productivity improvements across its supply chain, production management, planning and scheduling, sales, finance and IT functions such as: Increased versatility with deployment options such as the Epicor Cloud ERP offering Productivity gains and cost savings from improved manufacturing processes and increased visibility Increased sales from improved customer collaboration and customer relationship management IT cost savings from consolidation and replacement of legacy systems Faster access to data and improved real-time visibility that enables better decision making Increased competitiveness with quicker turnaround of customer quotes and improved pricing accuracy enabled by cost transparency Access to deep expertise in manufacturing best practices Increased agility for growth with multicompany operational efficiency with multibook capabilitiesThis Forrester TEI study substantiates the significant value that Epicor ERP delivers to our customers, said Celia Fleischaker, chief marketing officer, Epicor. The returns and benefits are even more compelling when you consider the rapid return on investment and low total cost of ownership. With Epicor ERP, our customers are improving productivity, increasing efficiency, and improving performance, all of which leads to a better experience for their partners and customers and positions them for business growth.Epicor ERP is a global enterprise resource planning solution that delivers the choice, flexibility and agility to drive growth and opportunity throughout your business without the complexity of legacy platforms. Epicor ERP offers a modular approach with robust capabilities focused on reducing costs, streamlining processes, and improving customer responsiveness across the enterpriseall top priorities toward achieving continued growth and profitability.Epicor Software Corporation drives business growth. We provide flexible, industry-specific software designed around the needs of our manufacturing, distribution, retail, and service industry customers. More than 40 years of experience with our customers unique business processes and operational requirements are built into every solutionin the cloud or on premises. With this deep understanding of your industry, Epicor solutions manage complexity, increase efficiency, and free up resources so you can focus on growth. For more information, connect with Epicor or visitVernon SaldanhaProcre8D02-12, Rahat, MudonDubai, UAEPO BOX 78835
Smart Sensor Market to grow at 17% CAGR from 2016 to 2024

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Smart sensor market will change the landscape of impending technologies as sensors are getting embedded in the devices to ensure an interface between the equipment and the surrounding world. Smart sensors have become an integral part of consumers daily lives as one interacts with several sensors even while performing even a mundane task. This shows that the smart sensor technology is no longer in its infancy and has been widely adopted in several application segments. A report published by Global Market Insights, Inc., brings to light the growth prospects of global smart sensor market, which is foreseen to attain a valuation of over USD 80 billion by 2024. The worldwide smart sensor shipments stood over 15 billion units in 2015 and is further estimated to record a CAGR of 17% over the period of 2016-2024.Request for a sample of this research report @The global smart sensor industry will chart out a lucrative growth path in the coming years with the increasing product penetration in consumer electronics and automotive industry. The automotive smart sensor market is estimated to grow considerably as sensor are deployed to achieve smart features such as automatic climate control, engine coolant temperature control, blind spot monitoring, etc. The expanding automotive electronics market which is projected to be worth USD 353 billion by 2023 will positively influence the smart sensor market trends over the years ahead.The smart position sensor market is slated to substantially grow with the escalating demand from the automotive & aerospace industries. The smart sensor market is also gaining traction in the aerospace and defense applications to sense the climate changes. Climate sensors are basically used to screen the conditions in the spacecraft operations. They are proved to be extremely beneficial in detecting fire conditions of the spacecraft as they measure elements such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and oxygen.Rising adoption of smart sensors in wireless networks, particularly in commercial spaces has further augmented the smart sensor industry share. The mounting inclination toward digitalization coupled with rising penetration of smartphones and tablets have enabled the touch sensor market to grow in terms of revenue & volume. Several government organizations are investing colossal amounts in R&D for the development of smart technologies. This has encouraged establishment of several manufacturing industries, particularly in Asia Pacific. Strong economic progression in India, Japan, and China has led to a growing inclination of consumers toward wireless and energy efficient technologies, which in turn has fueled regional smart sensor market Moreover, North America is leading the regional race in smart sensor industry, owing to the presence of prominent industry players and growing trend of IoT and smart homes.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Several manufacturers and designers have opened doors to lucrative growth of smart sensor industry by making valuable advancements in micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Over the period of 2016-2024, the MEMS technology is projected to grow at a rate of 15%, owing to rising adoption of wearable technology and growing trend of product miniaturization. Notable smart sensor industry players include General Electric, Eaton Corporation, Emerson Electric, Honeywell, and Robert Bosch.About Fractovia.orgFractovia.org is one of India's leading in-house and free news portal. It is fully automated, and operates on a constant premise, interfacing with news sites and offering redesigned breaking features to readers across the globe. Our mission is to offer individuals opportunities for connections with news writers and distributors which they can pursue. We operate by mapping articles pertaining to breaking news, constantly and progressively, against a pre-determined word-based theme, offering important connections to readers and clients, as well as distributers.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAFractovia.orgPhone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@fractovia.orgWebsite:
Edible Oil Co-Products and By-Products Market - Advanced technologies & growth opportunities in global Industry

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The edible oils industry in the Middle East has, over the years, witnessed considerable investment, which has resulted in a significant rise in workforce, number of factories, and total production capacity. The edible oil co-products and by-products market in the Middle East has benefited from these developments and from the growing affluence and rise in population in the region. In terms of value, the market is poised to expand at CAGR of 5.0% from 2016 to 2024. The demand for edible oil co-products and by-products is set to increase from 388,944.3 tonnes in 2015 to 559,775.89 tonnes, registering 4.2% CAGR therein.Consumers in the Middle East are constantly seeking new tastes, flavors, and applications and companies in the edible oil co-products and by-products market have been devising strategies around this trend to stay competitive.Get an exclusive sample of this report @Dried Soap Stock Exhibits Strong Demand and RevenueBy product type, edible oil co-products and by-products are segmented into dried soap stock, hard oil fatty acid distillate, pure soft oil fatty acid distillate, mixed soft oil fatty acid distillate, pure acid oil, palmitic acid, stearic acid, sludge, and earth distillate.Dried soap stock is projected to be the leading segment in the Middle East market for edible oil co-products and by-products in terms of value as well as volume. The market for dried soap stock in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is likely to grow considerably during the forecast period owing to the increasing utilization of this co-product in animal feed. The soap produced from dried soap stock is biodegradable and is widely used as anionic surfactant in powder detergents.Mixed soft oil fatty acid distillates are anticipated to exhibit a strong CAGR by volume and value during the forecast period of 2016 to 2024.Browse Press Release of this Research Report @Steady Demand Projected for Fatty Acid Distillates and Dried Soap Stock in EgyptBased on country, the Middle East edible oil co-products and by-products market is segmented into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, Algeria, and Turkey.The oil and soap industry is one of the oldest and most important industries in Egypt. There is a high demand for dried soap stock in the country as it reduces the expense of raw material required for soap manufacturing and provides several economic benefits. Stearic acid acts as an emulsifying and thickening agent when used in cosmetics. With the growing middle-class population in Egypt, the demand for personal care products is rising, which is projected to push the demand for stearic acid in Egypt during the forecast period.The market for dried soap stock in Saudi Arabia is set to rise over the course of the forecast period owing to the extensive use of this by-product for the production of soap and detergents and as an animal feed ingredient. Iran is a leading producer of soaps and detergents and there is immense potential for the growth of the dried soap stock and pure acid oil markets in the country. Egypt and Morocco are anticipated to witness considerable growth for fatty acid distillates in the Middle East. The demand for hard oil fatty acid is comparatively higher in Turkey than in any other country in the region, driven by the increasing production of soaps and detergents and the rising disposable income in the country.Some of the prominent players in the Middle East edible oil co-products and by-products market are VVF L.L.C., Cayman Chemical Company, Rade Chemicals, Chemipakhsh Iran Co. Ltd., Mallinath Group, A & B Chemical Corporation, Iran Chemical Provider Co., Genome Specialities Fzc, Oleo Misr, and Arabian Environmental Protection Co. LLC.About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.coWebsite:
Process Spectroscopy Market grow at 6.5% CAGR from 2016 to 2024

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Process spectroscopy industry analysis is covered in this latest research report that aims to help those taking daily business decisions by providing market trends information, competitive landscape scenario, forecasts and more. Surging demand from the manufacturing sector to minimize errors and optimize processes will augment process spectroscopy market over the next few years. Manufacturers often make use of process analytical technology with a view to reduce rework and errors.This mechanism helps design, analyze, and control manufacturing processes by monitoring vital parameters that may affect crucial quality attributes and by establishing efficient process control, which will spur process spectroscopy industry over the next few years. As per Global Market Insights, Inc., process spectroscopy market size, worth USD 800 million in 2015, is anticipated to cross a revenue of USD 1.47 billion by the year 2024, with a CAGR projection of 6.5% over 2016-2024.Request for a sample of this research report @Of late, companies have been reducing product prices and enhancing the quality to secure an edge over their rivals. Increasing public awareness has also prompted manufacturers to come up with high quality standards to meet the required demand.Having accounted for more than 60% of the total share in 2015, NIR based process spectroscopy market is anticipated to grow at a rate of 6.1% over 2016-2024. Subject to the huge demand for this technology across the food & beverage, plastics identification, quality monitoring, and biogas productions sectors, NIR technology will hold more than 55% of the overall process spectroscopy industry in 2024.The Fourier Transform (FT-IR) technology is being heavily deployed across material, compound, and chemical assessment for identifying residues, pesticides, narcotics, fibers, particulates, and chemical warfare agents. With a valuation of USD 170 million in 2015, FT-IR-based process spectroscopy market is anticipated to grow at a lucrative rate over 2016-2024, and will hold more than 20% of the overall share in 2024.Industry players have been concentrating on manufacturing numerous instruments and devising solutions that will incorporate both the FT-IR and NIR technologies in one device. Bruker Corporation, a leading process spectroscopy market participant, has already developed the MPA, a multifunctional FT-NIR analyzer.Make an inquiry for buying this report @The United States houses most of the companies operating in process spectroscopy industry. In addition, the government has enforced strict norms regarding the quality standards on the agriculture, pharmaceuticals, medical, and the food & beverage sectors, which will stimulate U.S. market share over 2016-2024.Many companies have been shifting their manufacturing base to emerging economies pertaining to the reduced production & operating costs and the availability of cheap labor. This will propel Asia Pacific process spectroscopy industry share, which is anticipated to grow at a rate of 8% over 2016-2024.Process spectroscopy market is characterized by the presence of numerous biggies such as Kett Electric Laboratory, Sartorius, Foss A/S, Shimadzu Horiba, ABB, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Yokogawa Electric, Bruker, Danaher, Buchi Labortechnik, and Agilent Technologies.This latest Process spectroscopy market research report offers in-depth analysis, key industry insights, market sizing & forecast on a granular level for key products, applications across number of regional markets. The report also analyzes the Process spectroscopy industry from business strategy perspective, describing in detail growth drivers, pitfalls &challenges for participants, accompanied by a detailed competitive benchmarking including company market share analysis and detailed business profiles.Browse key industry insights spread across 89 Pages with 48 market data tables & 42 figures from the report, Process Spectroscopy Market Size By Technology (NIR, FT-IR, Raman), By Application (Polymer, Oil and Gas, Pharmaceuticals, Food & Agriculture, Chemical), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, China, Mexico, Brazil), Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016  2024 in detail along with the table of contents:About Fractovia.orgFractovia.org is one of India's leading in-house and free news portal. It is fully automated, and operates on a constant premise, interfacing with news sites and offering redesigned breaking features to readers across the globe. Our mission is to offer individuals opportunities for connections with news writers and distributors which they can pursue. We operate by mapping articles pertaining to breaking news, constantly and progressively, against a pre-determined word-based theme, offering important connections to readers and clients, as well as distributers.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAFractovia.orgPhone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@fractovia.orgWebsite:
Human Papillomavirus Testing Market Size Estimated to Observe Significant Growth by 2025

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HPV testing is gradually becoming crucial for cervical cancer screening, according to recent report published by Persistence Market Research. The report estimates that in 2017, the global market for Human Papillomavirus testing will reach an estimated value of US$ 629.4 Mn. Improving reimbursement scenario, coupled with high sensitivity of Human Papillomavirus testing in low resource setting, is expected to drive the markets growth. By the end of 2025, the global market for Human Papillomavirus testing will have soared at 7.6% CAGR, bringing in more than US$ 1,100 Mn in revenues.Various healthcare and government insurance providers are offering reimbursement for diagnosis of chronic disorders such as cervical cancer screening. For instance, Medicare  U.S. government-funded health insurance provider, provides reimbursement to people who are of age 65 or older and some younger population with disabilities. Moreover, for cervical cancer diagnosis, such plans cover reimbursement for one pap test every three years or a combination of pap test & HPV testing every five years. Favorable government initiatives as such are expected to drive the demand for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing market in the years to come.A key limitation for Human Papillomavirus testing is that these tests are confined to women as men undergoing HPV testing have higher risks of getting infected with genital warts. In addition to this, patients are not willing to take Human Papillomavirus tests because of lack of diagnosis options. Over-diagnosis of Human Papillomavirus testing can cause more complications and can even risk the life of patients.Meanwhile, the global revenues from Human Papillomavirus testing are being lowered due to availability of HPV vaccines. Preference to HPV vaccines is directly impeding the revenues arising from Human Papillomavirus testing. High cost of HPV screening test, overburdened healthcare system, low awareness on HPV prevention, and imperfections in organized screening programs are some other challenges impacting the growth of global HPV testing market.View and Download TOC of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing Market Research Report@According to the report, North Americas Human Papillomavirus testing market will be valued at nearly US$ 640 Mn, dominating the global market revenues. The demand for Human Papillomavirus testing will also be significant in Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, while Middle East & Africas Human Papillomavirus testing revenues will attribute to less than 4% of global market value.The report also projects that over 60% of global HPV testing revenues will be accounted by DNA-based test products. While hospitals will be largest end-users of HPV testing globally, the end-use of Human Papillomavirus testing will gain traction in diagnostic centers as well. And, the report also reveals that close to 90% of global Human Papillomavirus testing market value throughout the forecast period will be accounted by molecular diagnostic application of Human Papillomavirus testing.Request and Download Sample Report@The report further profiles key players in the global Human Papillomavirus testing market, which include F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Agilent Technologies, Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Qiagen N.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Hologic Inc., Cepheid Inc., Seegene Inc., Takara Bio Inc., DaAn Gene Co., Ltd. of Sun Yat-Sen University, Promega Corporation, Greiner Bio-One International GmbH (Greiner Holding AG), Enzo Biochem Inc., Norgen Biotek Corp., DiagCor Bioscience Inc Ltd, Hybribio Limited, Zytovision GmbH, Arbor Vita Corporation, Medical & Biological Laboratories Co., Ltd. and Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc.Buy Full Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing Market Report@About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Download Sample Global B Cell Lymphoma Market and Clinical Pipeline Insight 2022

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For Report Sample Contact: neeraj@kuickresearch.comReport Weblink:Table of Contents1. Introduction to B Cell Lymphoma1.1 Outline1.1.1 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma1.1.2 Hodgkins Lymphoma1.2 Classification of the B Cell lymphoma1.2.1 Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma1.2.2 Follicular Lymphoma1.2.3 Mantle Cell Lymphoma1.2.4 Burkitt Lymphoma1.3 Stages of B Cell Lymphoma2. Role of B Cell Receptor for Lymphoma Development2.1 Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma2.2 Mantle Cell Lymphoma2.3 Burkitt Lymphoma3. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Risk Factors3.1 Overview of Risk Factors3.1.1 Infections3.1.2 Weakened Immune System3.1.3 Exposure to Radiation3.1.4 Exposure to Chemicals3.2 Causes of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma4. Strategies for B Cell Lymphoma Targeting Therapies4.1 Current Strategies4.1.1 Brutons Tyrosine Kinase (BTK)4.1.2 Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase anddelta; (PI3Ks)4.1.3 Spleen Tyrosine Kinase (SYK)4.2 Next Generation Strategies for the Vaccine Therapy4.2.1 Membrane Proteoliposomal Vaccine4.2.2 Cytotoxic Therapies5. Diagnosis of B Cell Lymphoma5.1 Traditional Methods of Detection5.1.1 Biopsy Method5.1.2 Flow Cytometry5.1.3 Molecular Genetic Tests5.1.4 Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan5.2 New Insights for Diagnosis of B Cell Lymphoma5.2.1 Genomic Studies in the Diagnosis5.2.2 Next Generation Sequencing5.3 Biomarker in B Cell Malignancies5.3.1 MicroRNA-1555.3.2 B Cell Markers6. Approaches for the Treatment B Cell Lymphoma6.1 Chemotherapy6.2 Radiation Therapy7. Targeted Therapy Drugs for B Cell Lymphoma7.1 Proteasome Inhibitors7.2 Anti-CD22 Antibody Epratuzumab7.3 Immunomodulators7.4 Fostamatinib Disodium (Syk Inhibitor)7.5 Membrane Target of Rapamycin (mTOR)8. Global B Cell Lymphoma Market Overview8.1 Current Scenario8.2 Prevalence8.3 B Cell Lymphoma Clinical Pipeline Overview9. Global B Cell Lymphoma Market Dynamics9.1 Accelerative Parameters9.2 Challenges to the Market Growth10. Global B Cell Lymphoma Market Future Scenario11. Global B Cell Lymphoma Clinical Pipeline by Company and Phase11.1 Research11.2 Preclinical11.3 Clinical11.4 Phase-I11.5 Phase-I/II11.6 Phase-II11.7 Phase-II/III11.8 Phase-III11.9 Preregistration11.10 Registered12. Marketed B Cell Lymphoma Clinical Insight12.1 Rituximab (MabThera and Rituxan)12.2 Rituximab Biosimilar (Novex)12.3 Rituximab Biosimilar (Maball)13. Competitive Landscape13.1 Abbott Laboratories13.2 Biogen Idec13.3 Celgene Corporation13.4 Genmab13.5 Hetero Drugs13.6 ImmunoGen13.7 Incyte Corporation13.8 mAbxience13.9 Merck13.10 Millennium Pharmaceuticals13.11 Ono Pharmaceutical13.12 Sandoz13.13 Seattle Genetics13.14 XencorFigure 1-1: Types of B Cell LymphomaFigure 1-2: B Cell Lymphoma StagesFigure 2-1: B Cell Receptor in Diffuse Large B Cell LymphomaFigure 2-2: B Cell Receptor Signaling Pathway in Mantle Cell LymphomaFigure 3-1: Risk Factors Associated with B Cell LymphomaFigure 4-1: Brutons Tyrosine Kinase Pathway for TargetingFigure 4-2: Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase anddelta; as Targeting TherapyFigure 4-3: Spleen Tyrosine Kinase for TargetingFigure 5-1: Traditional Methods for Diagnosis of B Cell LymphomaFigure 5-2: Noval Techniques for DetectionFigure 6-1: Approaches for the Treatment of B Cell LymphomaFigure 8-1: Global - Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Market (US$ Billion), 2016 - 2022Figure 8-2: Global - Hodgkin Lymphoma Market (US$ Million), 2016 - 2022Figure 8-3: Survival Rate of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, % (5, 10, 15 Years)Figure 8-4: Early Stage and Advance Stage Survival Rate, %Figure 8-5: Estimated Cases of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, 100,000 PersonsFigure 8-6: US - B Cell Lymphoma IncidenceFigure 8-7: UK - Diagnosed Cases in Males and FemalesFigure 8-8: UK - Mortality Cases in Males and FemalesFigure 8-9: India - Incidence Rate in Males and FemalesFigure 8-10: Global - B Cell Lymphoma Clinical Pipeline by Phase (%), 2017 till 2022Figure 8-11: Global -B Cell Lymphoma Clinical Pipeline by Phase (Number), 2017 till 2022Figure 8-12: Global - Discontinued and Suspended B Cell Lymphoma Drugs in Clinical Pipeline (%), 2017 till 2022Figure 8-13: Global - Discontinued and Suspended B Cell Lymphoma Drugs in Clinical Pipeline (Number), 2017 till 2022Figure 9-1: Market Drivers of B cell LymphomaFigure 9-2: Challenges to the Growth of the MarketKuick Research is a market research and analytics company that provides targeted information for critical decisions at business, product and service levels. We are quick, predictive and known by the recommendations we have made in the past. Our result-oriented research methodology offers understanding of multiple issues in a short period of time and gives us the capability to keep you full with loads of practical ideas. By translating research answers into strategic insight and direction, we not only rate the success potential of your products and/or services, but also help you identify the opportunities for growth in new demographies and find ways to beat competition.Neeraj Chawlaneeraj@kuickresearch.comKuicK ResearchNew Delhi-110001India+91-11-47067990
Global Flame Detectors Industry to grow at 6% CAGR from 2016 to 2024

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Regional analysis flame detectors market says U.S. flame detectors market share is forecast to witness considerable growth over the forecast timeline. This is mainly on account of presence of large number of industries across the region. Asia Pacific flame detectors market is likely to exhibit substantial growth prospects owing to rising adoption of these products across the region. Growth in the region can be attributed to increasing awareness regarding safety and security offered by these devices.The industry is characterized by the stringent regulatory norms across developed and developing economies. Continuous efforts across numerous business ventures in order to provide employees with safe and secure working environment will drive flame detectors market size through 2024.Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @These devices aid in early fire detection by efficiently detecting smoke, fire and flame in the surrounding. They exhibit flawless capability of detecting radiations from the flames and generate alert signals, and are produced to effectively operate even in extreme conditions. Responses to a detected flame includes buzzing of an alarm, fuel line deactivation (such as natural gas and propane line), and activation of a fire suppression system.Escalating adoption across diverse industry sectors such as oil and gas, manufacturing, energy and power is anticipated to offer massive growth potential from 2016 to 2024. Increasing industry participants focus of R&D in order to develop technically advanced products will positively impact flame detectors market size through 2024.These devices require expensive raw material which in turn is likely to increase product prices. High installation cost may hamper the product demand. In addition, substantial maintenance may negatively impact growth over the forecast timeline. However, training initiatives in by various organizations regarding safety at workplace could create massive opportunities.On the basis of the product, the flame detectors market share can be segregated into single IR, single UV, dual IR/UV, Multi IR, visible sensors, triple IR (IR3) and multi IR. IR3 or Triple IR types may experience potential growth prospects owing to its high range detection capability when compared to others such as single IR. UV detectors are expected to find in prominence in indoor applications due to its high precision for detecting organic as well as inorganic flames. These devices function well when exposed to sunlight and are ideal for indoor applications. Furthermore, advent of technically advanced products such as multi IR and triple IR (IR3) are forecast to witness tremendous growth prospects owing to inbuilt false alarm detection systems.Based on end-use, the industry can be bifurcated into energy and power, consumer goods and retail, government, manufacturing, healthcare, oil & gas, aerospace & defense, transportation & logistics, mining, automotive, marine, etc. On the basis of service, it can be categorized into inspection and managed services, engineering services, installation & design services, and maintenance services.Make an inquiry for buying this report @UV or IR flame detectors are widely implemented in numerous applications such as in gas-fueled cookers, industrial heating and drying systems, industrial gas turbines, hydrogen stations, domestic heating stations. In addition, other applications include MDF factories, fume cupboards, coal handling, felt manufacture, nuclear industry, waste handling, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, metal fabrication, power lands and power plants, printing, spray booths, tunnels, aircraft hangars, clothing dryers and high voltage equipment.Major manufacturers in flame detectors market include Honeywell, Siemens, General Monitors, Johnson Controls. Other prominent partners are Emerson, Det-tronics, Electric, Micropack, Spectrex, Simtronics ASA, United Technologies Corporation, Tyco, and Bosch. The industry has witnessed frequent mergers & acquisitions and new product development in order for manufacturers to maintain competitive edge. Industry players focus on expanding their presence into emerging markets such as Asia and Africa. Growing focus on developing improvised products with attributes such as robust, easy to install and fast response rate with wide angle detection capability will catalyze the industry demand from 2016 to 2024.About Global Market InsightsGlobal Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:
Online Language Training 2017 APAC Market Size, Status, Analysis and Forecast 2021

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APAC Online Language Training MarketDescriptionWiseGuyReports.Com adds Online Language Training Market in APAC 2017-2021 Research To Its Database.Online language training comprises digital content and products that facilitate the learning of languages through ICT tools, which include mobile apps, activities, e-books, games, videos, audio clips, digital software, learning lab equipment, and online language training. The online platform is interactive, allows real-time feedback, and enhances learning processes, as it involves different formats.The analysts forecast the online language training in APAC to grow at a CAGR of 21.83% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the online language training in APAC for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of the digital foreign language learning products and services provided by the language learning institutions and online language learning service providers.Get sample Report @The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Australia Bangladesh China Hong Kong India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Myanmar New Zealand Pakistan Singapore South Korea Sri Lanka Taiwan Thailand The Philippines VietnamThe Online Language Training in APAC 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors Linguatronics New Oriental Education & Technology Rosetta Stone SanakoOther prominent vendors Berlitz inlingua International iTutorGroup Onwards Learning OKpanda Sanoma SANSMarket driver Language learning delivery through online platform For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Increased threat from open sources For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Embedded analytical features For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Report Details @Table of Contents -Major Key PointsPART 01: Executive summaryPART 02: Scope of the reportPART 03: Research MethodologyPART 04: Introduction Global online language learning market: overviewPART 05: Market landscape Market size and forecast Five forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by language Online language training market in APAC by language Online English language training market in APAC Online Chinese language training market in APAC Online German language training market in APAC Online language training market in APAC by othersPART 07: Market segmentation by product Online language training market in APAC by product Online language training market in APAC by courses Online language training market in APAC by support Online language training market in APAC by appsPART 08: Market segmentation by end-user Online language training market in APAC by end-user Online language training market in APAC by individual learners Online language training market in APAC by institutional learnersPART 09: Key leading countries China IndiaPART 10: Decision frameworkPART 11: Drivers and challenges Market drivers Market challengesPART 12: Market trends Embedded analytical features Gamification in language learning Advances in technology Outsourcing of servicesPART 13: Vendor landscape Competitive scenario Competitive benchmarkingPART 14: Key vendor analysis Linguatronics New Oriental Education & Technology Rosetta Stone SanakoPART 15: Other prominent vendors Berlitz inlingua International iTutorGroup Onwards Learning OKpanda Sanoma SANS..CONTINUEDAbout UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, Industry research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)
Animal Health Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Market Size Estimated to Observe Significant Growth by 2025

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Asia Pacific (APAC) will continue to be the most lucrative region in the global animal health active pharmaceutical ingredient market, with sales exhibiting the second highest CAGR through 2025. APAC has remained one of the largest API suppliers, at affordable costs. Governments across APAC have been making investments and focusing on local manufacturing facilities of APIs. Favorable policies offered by these governments have been shifting the focus of API manufacturers in moving their production bases to APAC countries, such as India and China. In addition, limited insurance or government intervention provides smooth flow to market growth in these regions.However, animal health API products manufactured in APAC countries do not meet regulatory standards, and there has been increasing concerns pertaining to the quality of APIs, especially those produced in China and India. Western regulatory bodies are becoming stricter in the inspection of APIs produced in these regions. Manufacturers are further facing challenges in bridging the gap between the cost and quality of APIs. These factors will inhibit growth of the market in APAC.The global animal health active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) market is projected to register an impressive expansion at 7.3% CAGR during the forecast period 2017 to 2025, according to a recent study by Persistence Market Research (PMR). PMRs study estimates the market to increase from revenues worth US$ 5,216.1 Mn in 2017 to reach US$ 9,162.2 Mn by 2025-end.Europe will remain the second largest market for animal health active pharmaceutical ingredients. Leading healthcare companies are located in the Europe, which in turn has boosted requirement for veterinary APIs in the region. Consumption of veterinary drugs in Europe has surged substantially over the past few years. Spain has been witnessed to be the largest consumer of veterinary antimicrobial APIs in the EU. In addition, rising improvements in the animal productivity has driven growth of the animal health industry in this region. These incidences are expected to augment growth of the animal health API market in Europe.View and Download TOC of Animal Health APIs Market Research Report@However, the pharmaceutical industry in Europe has been concerned with potential short-term impacts of REACH regulations. This is likely to result in decreased supply of materials, or reagents, which are not preregistered by EU suppliers. In addition, dynamic changes in Europes macro-economic environment, such as the Brexit, has been impacting the intra-European trade and overall pharmaceutical sector. These factors might curb growth of the animal health API market in Europe.Antiparasitics will continue to be the largest adopted API in the market, followed by anti-infectives. Sales of Antiparasitics are expected to register the fastest expansion, to account for the largest revenues by 2025-end. In contrast, revenues from sales of anesthetics and NSAIDs will remain comparatively lower than antiparasitics and anti-infectives.Request and Download Sample Report@Key market players profiled in PMRs report include Glenmark Pharmaceutical Limited., Zoetis, Inc., Eli Lilly & Co., Sanofi Winthrop Industrie (CEPiA), Indukern, S.A., Ofichem BV, P&R S.p.A (Olon S.p.A), Lonza Group AG, Huvepharma AD, Ourofino Saude Animal, Blanver Farmoquimica E Farmaceutica S.A., Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Changzhou Yabang-Qh Pharmachem Co., Ltd., Shanghai Pharmtech Co., Ltd., Ningxia Tairui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shaanxi Hanjiang Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Sequent Scientific Ltd., NGL Fine-Chem Ltd., Omkar Speciality Chemicals Ltd., Excel Industries Ltd.Buy Full Animal Health APIs Market Report@About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Ethernet Controller Market Analysis  Forecasts To 2025

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Ethernet Controller Market InsightsThe global Ethernet controller market is estimated to grow at a significant rate over the forecast period. This growth is attributed to increased use of Ethernet protocols in industrial application. Improved network coverage, quality of transmission, and bandwidth capacity are few of the factors which are anticipated to drive the Ethernet controller market growth.Improvements in industrial Ethernet technologies such as PROFINET are helping different organizations to remotely access their assets from all over the world. These applications are safe and offer real-time operation coupled with assured security against the harsh environment.Fieldbus is one of the most widely used device networks protocol which expands into larger control networks through fieldbus-to-Ethernet integration. Factors such as difficulty in transferring the network of old systems to a new protocol along with critical network performance are likely to limit the Ethernet controller market growth.Ethernet Controller Market - Function InsightsEthernet controller functions through the software drivers which are installed on the computer. Advanced drivers for Ethernet controllers are delivering enhanced solutions such as the ability to communicate from the computer to a particular device. These new software applications are anticipated to provide immense growth opportunities for the Ethernet controller market.Based on the Function, the Ethernet controller market is segmented into phy chip and integrated chip. Phy chip includes a combination of Physical Coding Sub layer (PCS) and a Physical Medium Dependent layer (PMD). The PCS is generally used to code and decode the data that is transmitted and received. The demand for phy chips is anticipated to increase in the global Ethernet controller market owing to simplified recovery of the signal.Catch the research methodology of the ethernet market report @:Ethernet Controller Market: End-Use InsightsBased on end-use, the Ethernet controller market is divided into Routers, Switches, Servers, Desktops, and Embedded Systems, amongst others. Growing use of the Internet and related services globally has led to increasing demand for Ethernet controllers used in devices such as desktops and laptops.USB Ethernet controllers are mobile and can be easily installed in computers or laptops by simply plugging the device, in case of failure. USB capability has increased the overall demand for Ethernet controllers attributed to the ease of use and portability.Ethernet controllers locate the IP address from dynamic host control protocol server. It is helpful in sending the right information to their concerned destinations. Microcontrollers are small computers on a single integrated circuit, which contains input/output peripherals, processor core and memory. Microcontrollers are used in products such as telephones, automobiles and other home appliances for control purpose.The demand for microcontrollers is anticipated to increase over the forecast period leading to an increase in demand for Ethernet controllers. The integrated application of Ethernet controller and microcontrollers is anticipated to boost the overall demand for Ethernet controller market.Ethernet Controller Market: Regional InsightsThe market in Asia Pacific held the largest market share in 2016, and is further anticipated to grow at a significant rate. The expanding demand for consumer electronics in countries such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea is anticipated to boost the growth of the Ethernet controller market.Ethernet Controller Market: End-Use LandscapeThe end-use landscape includes a list of current and prospective consumers prevailing across the regions. This section provides company addresses, contact details, products, and regional presence of companies who are purchasing or are likely to purchase products from global Ethernet controller market. The major consumers of the product are Lenovo, Dell, and Apple.Ethernet Controller Market - Competitive LandscapeMajor players profiled in the global Ethernet controller market include Allied Telesis, Broadcom, Intel, Marvell, D-Link, and Cisco among others.In June 2015, Altera Corporation announced that its new product Arria 10 FPGAs is selected by Silkan, a provider of real-time data transmission, for its new deterministic real-time high-speed Ethernet interconnection technology.Request for a free sample of the Ethernet market report at:Were constantly identifying and analysing high growth markets and revenue pockets. In consultation with various industry experts, our team of highly-skilled industry analysts study these markets through sophisticated tools and fail-safe, industry-approved methodologies.Name: Global Market Estimates Research & Business ConsultantsAddress: A-9, Silver Croft CHSL, Mumbai:400064, IndiaContact No,: +91 9146632316Email Address: sales@globalmarketestimates.com
Supercapacitor Market : Rising Demand for High-performance Energy Harvesting Systems in Electronics bolsters Uptake

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A few top players accounted for a share of more than 10% in 2014 in otherwise fragmented landscape of the global supercapacitor market. The global market is intensely competitive characterized by the presence of a number of small- and mid-sized companies fiercely competing against each other. For instance, Maxwell Technologies Inc. accounted for the major share of approximately 25.0% in 2014. However, owing to intense rivalry amongst players the leading manufacturer is gradually losing its dominance, which is further predicted to decline over the years. In the recent years, the global supercapacitors market has witnessed a surge of new entrants with the number of players increasing to more than double. A major chunk of the players are from various countries of Asia Pacific.Obtain Report Details @Some of other prominent players operating in the global supercapacitors market are Nippon Chemi-Con Corporation., LS Mtron, Supreme Power Solutions Co., Ltd., Ioxus, Inc., and Nesscap CO. LTD. In the coming years, the competition in the market is likely to intensify further. The future horizon looks exciting with several players engaged in developing cutting-edge energy storage technologies to meet the rising demand for robust energy harvesting systems in a number of end-use industries.The global market for supercapacitors stood at US$1.21 bn in 2014 and is projected to rise at a significant CAGR of 22.3% from 2015 to 2023. Expanding at this pace, the opportunities in the market is projected to surge to US$7.37 bn by the end of the forecast period.The major product types in the market are pseudocapacitor, hybrid capacitor, and double layer supercapacitors. Of these the hybrid capacitor is predicted to rise at the major CAGR of 23.5% during 20152023 and is projected to lead the market in the coming years. Among key regional markets, Asia Pacific is projected to rise at the leading CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of the regional market is primarily fueled by the substantial demand for advanced energy storage systems in the electronics industry.Peak-output Auxiliary Power Supply for Smart Electronics to Boost MarketThe drive for supercapacitors essentially stems from the need for high-performance, flexible energy harvesting systems in a wide variety of applications. The rising demand for peak-output auxiliary power supply for a number of smart electronic appliances is a key factor driving the market. The need for rapid charge and discharge capabilities to extend battery lifespans in various end-use industries, especially automobiles, is a crucial factor leading to the preference of supercapacitors over conventional dielectrics. The growing demand for high-output in next-generation energy systems has led to the adoption of supercapacitor to be used along with a secondary battery.The intensifying demand for a cost-effective, durable, and powerful rechargeable electricity energy systems in several hybrid and electric vehicles has bolstered the uptake of supercapacitors.The application of capacitors for longer cyclic lives is also advocated by environmental conservationists, since the performance of conventional power systems, including lithium ion batteries, is constrained by the need for their frequent replacement over the product life-cycle. In addition, strengthening emission-control regulations, especially in countries of North America and Europe, is predicted to boost the supercapacitor market.The non-biodegradability of these batteries can cause significant environmental concerns. In recent years, the proliferation of IoT devices is a key trend bolstering the uptake of supercapacitors in developed and developing countries. These devices are multi-functionalized and hence require vast processing speeds.Make an Enquiry @Government Funding in Developed Markets to Provide Impetus to R&D ActivitiesThe high cost of development of supercapacitors and the limited commercialization are crucial factors likely to hinder the market growth to an extent. Nevertheless, intensifying inclinations by governments toward the development of next-generation energy harvesting systems. Substantial funding by governments in several developed regions, such as North America, is anticipated to offer sustained impetus to research and development activities undertaken by manufacturers. Furthermore, the growing focus of governments in various developing and developed nations on the adoption of renewable energy, such as development of photovoltaic cells, is likely to open up lucrative growth avenues for market players over the forecast period.The rising prominence of smart sensors for industrial and consumer applications and the growing popularity of hand-held devices are key factors expected to unlock exciting opportunities in the coming yearsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendationsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Forklift Trucks Market  Global Industry Size, Share, Analysis, Trend & Forecast 2017

Forklift Trucks Market

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Market Overview on Global Forklift Trucks Industry:Based on the Forklift Trucks industrial chain, this report mainly elaborate the definition, types, applications and major players of Forklift Trucks market in details. Deep analysis about market status (2012-2017), enterprise competition pattern, advantages and disadvantages of enterprise Products, industry development trends (2017-2022), regional industrial layout characteristics and macroeconomic policies, industrial policy has also be included. From raw materials to downstream buyers of this industry will be analyzed scientifically, the feature of product circulation and sales channel will be presented as well. In a word, this report will help you to establish a panorama of industrial development and characteristics of the Forklift Trucks market.Download Sample Copy@The Forklift Trucks market is characterized by constant technological innovation to keep pace with the changing industrial needs. This Forklift Trucks Market report provides detailed analysis of worldwide markets for Forklift Trucks from 2012-2017 and provides extensive market forecasts 2017-2022 by region/country and subsectors.The report firstly introduced the Forklift Trucks Market basics: definitions, classifications, applications and market overview; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures, raw materials and so on. Then it analyzed the worlds main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, supply, demand and market growth rate and forecast etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.Scope of the ReportThis report studies the Global Forklift Trucks market, analyzes and researches the Forklift Trucks development status and forecast in Global, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia.Following Key players are covered:UniCarriers, Hyster-Yale, Crown, Doosan, Hyundai, Paletrans, Hubtex, Kion, Hangcha, Anhui Heli, Tailift Group, Hytsu Group, Combilift, Mitsubishi Nichiyu, Lonking, Toyota, Jungheinrich, Clark, Komatsu, Godrej & BoyceMarket segment by Type, Forklift Trucks can be split intoElectric Motor Hand or Hand-Rider Trucks, Electric Motor Narrow Aisle Trucks, Electric Motor Rider TrucksMarket segment by Applications,Stations, Warehouses, Factoriesadditionally, this report recognizes pin-point investigation of adjusting competition subtleties and keeps you ahead in the competition. It offers a fast looking perception on different variables driving or averting the development of the Forklift Trucks market. It helps in understanding the key product areas and their future. It guides in taking knowledgeable business decisions by giving complete constitutions of the market and by enclosing a comprehensive analysis of market subdivisions. To sum up, it equally gives certain graphics and personalized SWOT analysis of premier market sectors.This Study on the Global Forklift Trucks Market is an all-inclusive study of the business sectors up-to-date outlines, industry enhancement drivers, and manacles. It provides market projections for the coming years. It contains an analysis of late augmentations in innovation, Porters five force model analysis and progressive profiles of hand-picked industry competitors. The report additionally formulates a survey of minor and full-scale factors charging for the new applicants in the Forklift Trucks market and the ones as of now in the market along with a systematic value chain exploration.Make Enquiry for this Report @Table of ContentGlobal Forklift Trucks Market Research Report 20171 Forklift Trucks Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Forklift Trucks1.2 Forklift Trucks Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Forklift Trucks Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)2 Global Forklift Trucks Market Competitions by Manufacturers3 Global Forklift Trucks Capacities, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Forklift Trucks Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global Forklift Trucks Productions, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Forklift Trucks Market Analyses by Application7 Global Forklift Trucks Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis10 Southeast Asia Forklift Trucks Development Status and Outlook11 Market Forecast by Regions, Type and Application (2017-2022)12 Forklift Trucks Market Dynamics13 Market Effect Factors AnalysisContinuedView Complete Report@About Reports Monitor:Reports Monitor is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Jay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Ignition System market 2022 | industry outlook, developments, trends and forecast

Ignition System Market

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Ignition System MarketReportsMonitor Publish a New Market Research Report on - Global Ignition System Industry Market Research ReportBased on the Automotive Ignition System industrial chain, this report mainly elaborate the definition, types, applications and major players of Automotive Ignition System market in details. Deep analysis about market status (2012-2017), enterprise competition pattern, advantages and disadvantages of enterprise Products, industry development trends (2017-2022), regional industrial layout characteristics and macroeconomic policies, industrial policy has also be included. From raw materials to downstream buyers of this industry will be analyzed scientifically, the feature of product circulation and sales channel will be presented as well. In a word, this report will help you to establish a panorama of industrial development and characteristics of the Automotive Ignition System market.The Automotive Ignition System market can be split based on product types, major applications, and important regions.If you want sample of Ignition System Market Report -Major Players in Automotive Ignition System market are:Robert Bosch GmbhDiamond Electric Mfg. Co. Ltd.Delphi Automotive PlcBorgwarner Inc.Valeo S.A.Federal-Mogul CorporationDenso CorporationHitachi Ltd.Mitsubishi Electric CorporationNGK Spark Plug Co., LtdMajor Regions play vital role in Automotive Ignition System market are:North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanMiddle East & AfricaIndiaSouth AmericaOthersMost important types of Automotive Ignition System products covered in this report are:Coil on PlugSimultaneousMost widely used downstream fields of Automotive Ignition System market covered in this report are:Gasoline VehicleDiesel VehicleIf you want to Check Discount on Ignition System Market Report -Table of ContentGlobal Ignition System Market Report 2017Global Automotive Ignition System Industry Market Research Report1 Automotive Ignition System Introduction and Market Overview1.1 Objectives of the Study1.2 Definition of Automotive Ignition System1.3 Automotive Ignition System Market Scope and Market Size Estimation1.3.1 Market Concentration Ratio and Market Maturity Analysis1.3.2 Global Automotive Ignition System Value ($) and Growth Rate from 2012-20221.4 Market Segmentation1.4.1 Types of Automotive Ignition System1.4.2 Applications of Automotive Ignition System1.4.3 Research Regions1.4.3.1 North America Automotive Ignition System Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.4.3.2 Europe Automotive Ignition System Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.4.3.3 China Automotive Ignition System Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.4.3.4 Japan Automotive Ignition System Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.4.3.5 Middle East & Africa Automotive Ignition System Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.4.3.6 India Automotive Ignition System Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.4.3.7 South America Automotive Ignition System Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Drivers1.5.1.1 Emerging Countries of Automotive Ignition System1.5.1.2 Growing Market of Automotive Ignition System1.5.2 Limitations1.5.3 Opportunities1.6 Industry News and Policies by Regions1.6.1 Industry News1.6.2 Industry PoliciesContinueFull Report Access -Reports Monitor is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights.Address: Office C & D - 4th Floor, Siddhi Towers, Above Rupee Bank, Kondhwa Road, Pune 411048, Maharashtra, India
Liability Insurance Egypt Market 2017-By Facilitate Decision Making on the Basis of Historic and Forecasts Data 2021

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Synopsis"Liability Insurance in Egypt to 2021: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics" contains detailed historic and forecast data covering Liability Insurance in Egypt. This databook provides values for key performance indicators such as policies and premiums (gross written premiums, direct written premiums, net written premiums, net earned premiums, net written premiums (% of GWP) and insurance penetration (ratio of direct premiums to GDP)) and claims & expenses (gross claims, paid claims, change in outstanding reserves, incurred loss and loss ratio (%)).The research handbook provides the up-to-date market data for period 2011-2015 and illustrative forecast to 2020. Values in the handbook are depicted in USD ($) and local currency by country and number of active policies are represented in millions.GET SAMPLE REPORT @SummaryLiability insurance is a part of the general insurance system of risk financing to protect the purchaser (the "insured") from the risks of liabilities imposed by lawsuits and similar claims. It protects the insured in the event he or she is sued for claims that come within the coverage of the insurance policy. Examples of liability insurance include Directors & Officers Liability, Workmen's Compensation & Professional Liability.The total amount of gross written premiums in the liability insurance in Egypt is valued at EGPxxx.xx billion (US$xxx.xx billion) in 2016, which is an increase of xx.xx% from 2012. The category has recorded a CAGR of xx.xx% during the review period (2012-2016).Liability Insurance in Egypt to 2021: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of Insurance industry in Egypt. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Egypt value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.ScopeLiability Insurance in Egypt to 2021: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics provides you with the following: Overall values of policies and premiums and claims & expenses in the Liability InsuranceReasons to Buy Understand the non-life insurance industry covering liability insurance life in Egypt. Enhance your knowledge of the market with a breakdown of data including gross written premiums, direct written premiums, net written premiums, net earned premiums, net written premiums (% of GWP) and insurance penetration (ratio of direct premiums to GDP) and gross claims, paid claims, change in outstanding reserves, incurred loss and loss ratio (%). Allows you to plan future business decisions using the forecast figures given for the segment. The broad but detailed perspective will help all the companies in the Insurance industry to understand and succeed in the challenging market.Table of Content: Key Points1 Introduction1.1 What is this Report About?1.2 Definitions1.3 Summary Methodology1.4 CAGR Definition and Calculation2 Liability Insurance2.1 Policies and Premiums2.1.1 Gross Written Premiums, 2012 - 20162.1.2 Gross Written Premiums Forecast, 2017 - 20212.1.3 Direct Written Premiums, 2012 - 20162.1.4 Direct Written Premiums Forecast, 2017 - 20212.1.5 Net Written Premiums, 2012 - 20162.1.6 Net Written Premium Forecast, 2017 - 20212.1.7 Net Written Premiums (% of GWP), 2012 - 20162.1.8 Net Written Premiums (% of GWP) Forecast, 2017 - 20212.1.9 Net Earned Premiums, 2012 - 20162.1.10 Net Earned Premiums Forecast, 2017 - 20212.1.11 Insurance Penetration (Ratio of Direct Premiums to GDP), 2012 - 20162.1.12 Insurance Penetration (Ratio of Direct Premiums to GDP) Forecast, 2017 - 20212.2 Claims and Expenses2.2.1 Gross Claims, 2012 - 20162.2.2 Gross Claims Forecast, 2017 - 20212.2.3 Paid Claims, 2012 - 20162.2.4 Paid Claims Forecast, 2017 - 20212.2.5 Change in Outstanding Reserves, 2012 - 20162.2.6 Change in Outstanding Reserves Forecast, 2017 - 20212.2.7 Incurred Loss, 2012 - 20162.2.8 Incurred Loss Forecast, 2017 - 20212.2.9 Loss Ratio %, 2012  2016ContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Wind Power Converter Global Market Top Key Players ABB , Alstom , Schneider , Corona ,CSR and Forecast to 2022

Wind Power Converter Market

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Global Wind Power Converter MarketDescriptionWiseGuyReports.Com adds Global Wind Power Converter Market Research Report 2017 Research To Its Database.Global Wind Power Converter Market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingABBAlstomAMSC Windtec(USA Suzhou)Emerson Network Power Co., LtdSchneiderSungrow Power Supply Co., LtdCoronaJiuzhou ElectricalChino-harvest wind power technologyGuodian Longyuan Electrical Co.,LtdDongfang HitachiCSRShanghai Hi-tech control systemRongxin Power ElectronicXin fengguang ElectronicShandong BOS Power supply Co. LtdShenzhen Hopewind Electric Co., LtdGet sample Report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Wind Power Converter in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoDouble-fed converterFull-power converterOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Wind Power Converter for each application, includingWind Power Generation SystemOtherReport Details @Table of Contents -Major Key PointsGlobal Wind Power Converter Market Research Report 20171 Wind Power Converter Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Wind Power Converter1.2 Wind Power Converter Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Wind Power Converter Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Wind Power Converter Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Double-fed converter1.2.4 Full-power converter1.3 Global Wind Power Converter Segment by Application1.3.1 Wind Power Converter Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Wind Power Generation System1.3.3 Other1.4 Global Wind Power Converter Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Wind Power Converter Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Wind Power Converter (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Wind Power Converter Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Wind Power Converter Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)2 Global Wind Power Converter Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Wind Power Converter Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Wind Power Converter Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Wind Power Converter Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Wind Power Converter Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Wind Power Converter Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Wind Power Converter Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Wind Power Converter Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Wind Power Converter Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Wind Power Converter Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion..7 Global Wind Power Converter Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 ABB7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Wind Power Converter Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 ABB Wind Power Converter Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Alstom7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Wind Power Converter Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Alstom Wind Power Converter Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 AMSC Windtec(USA Suzhou)7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Wind Power Converter Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 AMSC Windtec(USA Suzhou) Wind Power Converter Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Emerson Network Power Co., Ltd7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Wind Power Converter Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Emerson Network Power Co., Ltd Wind Power Converter Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Schneider7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Wind Power Converter Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Schneider Wind Power Converter Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Wind Power Converter Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd Wind Power Converter Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Corona7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Wind Power Converter Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Corona Wind Power Converter Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Jiuzhou Electrical7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Wind Power Converter Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Jiuzhou Electrical Wind Power Converter Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Chino-harvest wind power technology7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 Wind Power Converter Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 Chino-harvest wind power technology Wind Power Converter Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 Guodian Longyuan Electrical Co.,Ltd7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.10.2 Wind Power Converter Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 Guodian Longyuan Electrical Co.,Ltd Wind Power Converter Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.11 Dongfang Hitachi7.12 CSR7.13 Shanghai Hi-tech control system7.14 Rongxin Power Electronic7.15 Xin fengguang Electronic7.16 Shandong BOS Power supply Co. Ltd7.17 Shenzhen Hopewind Electric Co., Ltd..CONTINUEDAbout UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, Industry research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)
Water-Ionizer Market Analysis, Market Size, Application Analysis, Outlook, Strategies and Forecasts 2015 To 2022

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Water-Ionizer MarketWorldwide Water-Ionizer market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.For Requesting a Sample Copy of This Report, Please Visit @Global Water-Ionizer Market: Product Segment AnalysisCounter Top Water-Ionizer, Under Counter Water-IonizerGlobal Water-Ionizer Market: Application Segment AnalysisHousehold Application, Hospital Application, Commercial ApplicationGlobal Water-Ionizer Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSA, Europe, Japan, China, India, South East AsiaThe Players mentioned in our reportEnagic, AlkaViva (IonWays), VWA Water (Tyent), Alkalux, Chanson Water, KYK, Fujiiryoki, Panasonic, Vollara, Life Ionizers, Evontis, Alka Fresh, Air Water Life, PureProBrowse Full Table of Contents and Report Description @Table of ContentsChapter 3 World Portable Concrete Mixer Market share3.1 Major Production Market share by Players3.2 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share by Players3.3 Major Production Market share by Regions in 2017, Through 20223.4 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share By Regions in 2017, Through 2022Chapter 4 Supply Chain Analysis4.1 Industry Supply chain Analysis4.2 Raw material Market Analysis4.2.1 Raw material Prices Analysis 2012-20174.2.2 Raw material Supply Market Analysis4.2 Manufacturing Equipment Suppliers Analysis4.3 Production Process Analysis4.4 Production Cost Structure Benchmarks4.5 End users Market AnalysisContinuedAbout UsReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Global 5-Axis CNC Machining Centers Market to grow at a CAGR of 6.66% during 2017-2021 - Haas Automation, Hurco, Makino, Okuma, Shenyang Machine Tools

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5-axis CNC machining centers enable the cutting tool to move across the X, Y and Z linear axes. Two additional axes, A and B, help to move the object precisely in any direction. The global 5-Axis CNC machining centers market to grow at a CAGR of 6.66% during the period 2017-2021.The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global 5-Axis CNC machining centers market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the new installations, sales, value retrofit and replacement market.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- Americas- APAC- EMEAClick to get sample PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Global 5-Axis CNC Machining Centers Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- Haas Automation- Hurco- Makino- Okuma- Shenyang Machine ToolsOther prominent vendors- CMS North America- FANUC- Jyoti CNC Automation- Yamazaki Mazak Corporation- Mitsubishi Electric- Siemens AGMarket driver- Self-optimized machine cutting- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- Highly capital-intensive market- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend- Cloud-based CNC systems- For a full, detailed list, view our reportEnquiry:Key questions answered in this report- What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?- What are the key market trends?- What is driving this market?- What are the challenges to market growth?- Who are the key vendors in this market space?- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:
Global Sleep Apnea Market focuses on Top Companies like RESMED, KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., FISHER & PAYKEL

"Sleep Apnea Market" - Global Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024

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Global Sleep Apnea Market is expected to reach USD 14,119.5 million by 2024 from USD 7,800.0 million in 2016, at a CAGR of 7.7% in the forecast period 2017 to 2024. The new market report contains data for historic years 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2017 to 2024.Request For Sample:The global sleep apnea devices market is highly concentrated to a few big players and rest to local players who cater to domestic markets only. Resmed dominated the sleep apnea devices market accounting for a highest market share in 2016, followed by Philips Respironics, and Fisher Paykel, Somnetics, Inc. Other players in this market include Somnetics, Inc., Apex Medical, DeVilbiss and SomnoMedSomnetics International, Inc, Nox Medical, Natus Medical, SomnoMedics GmbH, Philips Respironics and Cadwell Industries, Inc., Nihon Kohden, Compumedics Limited.(Australia), Contec Medical System Co.Ltd.(China) and Becton Dickinson & Company (Carefusion) among others holds 29.7% of the global sleep apnea devices market in 2016.This report consists of below pages: No of pages: 400 No of Figures: 20 No of Tables: 341Browse Full Report:RESMED:ResMed was founded in 1989 and is headquartered at California, USA. It focuses on manufacturing devices that can be used for diagnosing, treating and managing sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other chronic diseases.Recent developments:In January, 2017, ResMed launched Sleep Score Labs is a joint venture between renowned surgeon and television host Dr. Mehmet Oz; ResMed, the global leader in medical devices and digital connected care; and private equity firm Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P., which invests in companies focused on sustainability and wellness.In November, 2016, ResMed introduced two masks named the AirFit N20 nasal mask and AirFit F20 full face mask for positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment of sleep apnea. The masks are innovatively designed to improve mask fit, comfort and ease of use, the new-generation ResMed masks are the result of more than three years of research and development.In November, 2016, ResMed announced two enhancements to AirView, the worlds largest cloud-based remote patient monitoring platform that enables care teams to securely access therapy data from three million sleep apnea and respiratory care patients every day. AirView Action Groups automatically filters a clinicians sleep apnea patients on positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy into actionable groups based on adherence status or a specific therapy issue they may be having. This will help in reducing time of clinicians and also help patients in getting more responsive and quality treatment.Request an Analyst Call:KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.:Koninklijke Philips N.V. was founded in 1976 and headquartered in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, U.S. Koninklijke Philips N.V. focuses on developing, manufacturing and distributing products for personal health, diagnosis & treatment, connected care & health informatics, health tech and many more. For sleep apnea devices, Koninklijke Philips N.V.has devices in diagnosis and treatment segmentRecent developments:In January, 2017, Philips and Bon Secours Charity Health System announce USD180 million, long-term strategic partnership to support transformation of patient care and build healthier communitiesIn February, 2017, Philips announced about partnering with the Mackenzie Innovation Institute (Mi2) in Canada on opportunities to develop, test and evaluate technological solutions and innovations intended to improve patient care across the healthcare system.In March, 2017, Koninklijke Philips N.V. announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Australian Pharmacy SleepServices (APSS). It will help Philips to provide better access to home sleep testing for those who need it, where and when they need it.FISHER & PAYKEL:Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Limited was founded in 1971 and is headquartered at Auckland, New Zealand. The company is focused in designing innovative medical products and therapies which meet the needs of patients and their caregivers. The company entered the respiratory care market by developing the unique respiratory humidifier system. The company now offers a broad range of products and systems for the use in respiratory care and acute care and thus in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).Recent Developments:In August, 2016, Fisher &Paykel Healthcare Limited launched a new hospital mask named F&P Nivairo, for non-invasive ventilation therapy. The key features of the new mask include unique, world-first TubeFit zones, and an advanced seal for ease of set up and patient comfort.In August 2016, Fisher &Paykel Healthcare Limited announced about updation in its earnings guidance for financial year ending 31 March 2017.The company also announced about the commencement of a new building programme in New Zealand and Mexico.In August, 2016, Fisher &Paykel Healthcare Limited announced the introduction of an innovative new mask anmed, F&P Brevida. This is a nasal pillows mask designed for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It features an AirPillow seal which inflates to form a pillow of air in and around the nose for a gentle and effective seal. It also incorporates VisiBlue highlights, which are subtle colour cues to help patients with mask orientation, use and assembly.Inquiry before buying:Table OF Content:1. INTRODUCTION1.1. OVERVIEW OF THE SLEEP APNEA DEVICES MARKET1.2. MARKET SEGMENTATION & COVERAGE1.2.1. CURRENCY AND PRICING1.2.2. LIMITATION2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY2.1. KEY TAKEAWAYS2.2. ARRIVING AT THE GLOBAL SLEEP APNEA DEVICES MARKET SIZE2.2.1. MARKET CRACKDOWN APPROACH2.2.2. COMPANY REVENUE AND MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS2.2.3. DATA TRIANGULATION2.2.4. KEY DATA POINTS FROM PRIMARY SOURCES2.2.5. KEY DATA POINTS FROM SECONDARY SOURCES2.2.6. PORTERS FIVE FORCES MATRIX2.2.7. PEST ANALYSIS2.3. ASSUMPTIONS2.4. GLOBAL SLEEP APNEA DEVICES MARKET: RESEARCH SNAPSHOT3. MARKET LANDSCAPE SUMMARY4. PREMIUM INSIGHTS4.1. OVERVIEW4.2. SLEEP APNEA DEVICES MARKET: KEY PRIMARY INSIGHTS4.3. MARKET OVERVIEW4.3.1. DRIVERS4.3.2. RESTRAINTS4.3.3. OPPURTUNITIES4.3.4. THREATS4.4. KEY MARKET TRENDS AND UPCOMING TECHNOLOGIES5. SLEEP APNEA DEVICES MARKET, BY TYPE5.1. OVERVIEW5.2. SLEEP APNEA THERAPEUTIC DEVICES5.3. SLEEP APNEA DIAGNOSTIC DEVICES6. SLEEP APNEA THERAPEUTIC DEVICES MARKET, BY PRODUCT TYPE6.1. OVERVIEW6.2. POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE DEVICES MARKET (PAP)6.2.1. CONTINUOUS AIRWAY PRESSURE DEVICES MARKET (CPAP)6.2.2. BI-LEVEL AIRWAY PRESSURE DEVICES MARKET (BIPAP)6.2.3. VARIABLE POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE (VPAP)6.2.4. AUTOMATICALLY-ADJUSTING POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE (APAP)6.3. MASKS6.3.1. NON-VENTED MASKS6.3.2. NASAL MASKS6.3.3. NASAL PILLOWS6.3.4. FULL FACE MASKS6.3.5. PAEDIATRIC MASKS6.3.6. OTHERS6.4. ADAPTIVE SERVO-VENTILATION (ASV)6.5. AIRWAY CLEARANCE SYSTEMS6.6. OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS6.6.1. STATIONARY CONCENTRATORS6.6.2. PORTABLE CONCENTRATORS6.7. ORAL SLEEP APNEA DEVICES6.7.1. MANDIBULAR ADVANCEMENT DEVICES (MAD)6.7.2. TONGUE RETAINING DEVICE (TRD)6.8. ACCESSORIES7. SLEEP APNEA DIAGNOSTIC DEVICES MARKET, BY PRODUCT TYPE7.1. OVERVIEW7.2. PULSE OXIMETERS7.2.1. HANDHELD PULSE OXIMETERS7.2.2. FINGERTIP PULSE OXIMETERS7.2.3. TABLETOP PULSE OXIMETERS7.2.4. WRIST-WORN PULSE OXIMETERS7.3. POLYSOMNOGRAPH (PSG)7.3.1. CLINICAL PSG7.3.2. AMBULATORY PSG DEVICES7.4. RESPIRATORY POLYGRAPH7.5. ACTIGRAPH8. SLEEP APNEA DEVICES MARKET, BY END USER8.1. OVERVIEW8.2. HOSPITALS8.3. HOME HEALTHCARE8.4. SLEEP CLINICS8.5. COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE9. SLEEP APNEA DEVICES MARKET, BY APNEA TYPE9.1. OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA9.1.1. PATIENT VOLUME9.1.2. MARKET SIZE9.2. CENTRAL SLEEP APNEA9.2.1. PATIENT VOLUME9.2.2. MARKET SIZE9.3. COMPLEX SLEEP APNEA9.3.1. PATIENT VOLUME9.3.2. MARKET SIZE10. SLEEP APNEA DEVICES MARKET, BY GEOGRAPHY10.1. COUNTRYWISE SLEEP APNEA DEVICES MARKET, (ALL SEGMENTATION PROVIDED ABOVE IS REPRESENTED IN THIS CHAPTER BY COUNTRY)10.1.1. NORTH AMERICA10.1.1.1. U.S.10.1.1.2. CANADA10.1.1.3. MEXICO10.1.2. EUROPE10.1.2.1. GERMANY10.1.2.2. FRANCE10.1.2.3. U.K.10.1.2.4. ITALY10.1.2.5. SPAIN10.1.2.6. RUSSIA10.1.2.7. TURKEY10.1.2.8. BELGIUM10.1.2.9. NETHERLANDS10.1.2.10. SWITZERLAND10.1.2.11. REST OF EUROPE10.1.3. ASIA-PACIFIC (APAC)10.1.3.1. JAPAN10.1.3.2. CHINA10.1.3.3. SOUTH KOREA10.1.3.4. INDIA10.1.3.5. AUSTRALIA10.1.3.6. SINGAPORE10.1.3.7. THAILAND10.1.3.8. MALAYSIA10.1.3.9. INDONESIA10.1.3.10. PHILIPPINES10.1.3.11. REST OF APAC10.1.4. SOUTH AMERICA10.1.4.1. BRAZIL10.1.4.2. REST OF LATIN AMERICA10.1.5. MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA10.1.5.1. SAUDI ARABIA10.1.5.2. REST OF MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA10.2. KEY PRIMARY INSIGHTS: BY MAJOR COUNTRIES11. SLEEP APNEA DEVICES MARKET: COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE11.1. GLOBAL SLEEP APNEA DEVICES MARKET: COMPANY SHARE ANALYSIS11.2. U.S. SLEEP APNEA DEVICES MARKET: COMPANY SHARE ANALYSIS11.3. EUROPE SLEEP APNEA DEVICES MARKET: COMPANY SHARE ANALYSIS11.4. APAC SLEEP APNEA DEVICES MARKET: COMPANY SHARE ANALYSIS11.5. MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS11.6. NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT & APPROVALS11.7. EXPANSIONS11.8. REGULATORY CHANGES11.9. PARTNERSHIP AND OTHER STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENTS12. SLEEP APNEA DEVICES MARKET, COMPANY PROFILES12.1. PHILIPS RESPIRONICS12.1.1. OVERVIEW12.1.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.1.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.1.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.1.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.2. RESMED12.2.1. OVERVIEW12.2.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.2.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.2.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.2.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.3. FISHER AND PAYKEL HEALTHCARE, LTD.12.3.1. OVERVIEW12.3.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.3.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.3.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.3.5. ANALYST VIEW12.4. COMPUMEDICS LIMITED12.4.1. OVERVIEW12.4.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.4.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.4.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.4.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.5. SOMNOMED12.5.1. OVERVIEW12.5.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.5.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.5.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.5.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.6. CAREFUSION CORPORATION12.6.1. OVERVIEW12.6.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.6.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.6.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.6.5. NALYSTS VIEW12.7. CURATIVE MEDICAL, INC.12.7.1. OVERVIEW12.7.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.7.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.7.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.7.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.8. BMC MEDICAL, CO. LTD.12.8.1. OVERVIEW12.8.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.8.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.8.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.8.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.9. NATUS MEDICAL, INC.12.9.1. OVERVIEW12.9.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.9.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.9.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.9.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.10. DEVILBISS HEALTHCARE12.10.1. OVERVIEW12.10.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.10.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.10.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.10.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.11. GLOBAL MEDICAL HOLDINGS, LLC12.11.1. OVERVIEW12.11.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.11.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.11.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.11.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.12. ITAMAR MEDICAL, LTD.12.12.1. OVERVIEW12.12.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.12.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.12.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.12.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.13. WEINMANN MEDICAL DEVICES GMBH & CO. KG12.13.1. OVERVIEW12.13.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.13.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.13.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.13.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.14. SIBELGROUP12.14.1. OVERVIEW12.14.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.14.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.14.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.14.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.15. AMBULATORY MONITORING, INC.12.15.1. OVERVIEW12.15.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.15.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.15.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.15.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.16. MEDICOM MTD, LTD.12.16.1. OVERVIEW12.16.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.16.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.16.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.16.5. NALYSTS VIEW12.17. CUSTO MED GMBH12.17.1. OVERVIEW12.17.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.17.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.17.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.17.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.18. HEINEN LOWENSTEIN GMBH & CO. KG12.18.1. OVERVIEW12.18.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.18.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.18.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.18.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.19. ERGOLINE GMBH12.19.1. OVERVIEW12.19.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.19.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.19.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.19.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.20. NEUROVIRTUAL12.20.1. OVERVIEW12.20.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.20.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.20.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.20.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.21. BMC MEDICAL CO., LTD.12.21.1. OVERVIEW12.21.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.21.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.21.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.21.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.22. SOMNOMEDICS GMBH12.22.1. OVERVIEW12.22.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.22.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.22.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.22.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.23. CONTEC MEDICAL SYSTEMS CO.,LTD.12.23.1. OVERVIEW12.23.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.23.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.23.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.23.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.24. CLEVELAND MEDICAL DEVICES INC.12.24.1. OVERVIEW12.24.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.24.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.24.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.24.5. ANALYSTS VIEW12.25. SOMNETICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.12.25.1. OVERVIEW12.25.2. SWOT ANALYSIS12.25.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO12.25.4. REVENUE ANALYSIS12.24.5. ANALYSTS VIEW13. APPENDIX13.1. RELATED REPORTS13.2. CUSTOMIZABLE OPTIONS13.3. SOURCE SHEET13.4. BIBLIOGRAPHY14. ABOUT DATA BRIDGE MARKET RESEARCHOther ReportGlobal Drug Delivery Devices Market  Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Drug Delivery Devices Market, By Route of Administration (Oral, Injectable, Topical, Pulmonary, Nasal, Ocular, Implantable, Transmucosal), End-User (Hospitals, Clinics, Home Care Settings), Distribution Channel (Direct Tenders,Hospital Pharmacies), Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East Africa)  Trends and Forecast To 2024Report Access:About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Ankit SinghData Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: Sales@databridgemarketresearch.comInvestor:investors@databridgemarketresearch.comVisit BlogFollow us on LinkedIn:
Allergy Diagnostic Market Enhancement in Medical sector 2017 to 2022-MRRSE

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A new report added to the repository of Market Research Reports Search Engine Allergy Diagnostics Market: North America will Remain Largest Market for Allergy Diagnostics: Global Industry Analysis (2012 - 2016) & Opportunity Assessment (2017 - 2022) is a comprehensive repository of information, providing market share, size, and forecast.Request For Free Sample Report:Future Market Insights (FMI) has offered a comprehensive, unbiased, and insightful report titled Allergy Diagnostics Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) & Opportunity Assessment (2017-2022). The report explores the global allergy diagnostics market in detail, providing an all-inclusive market dynamics of allergy diagnostics. The report provides a detailed analysis of trends that are influencing the highly competitive market of allergy diagnostics.Growth in older population, rise in environmental pollution level, and surge in healthcare expenditure in developing as well as developed economies are expected to drive the market growth. The rapidly changing lifestyles of people are resulting into health disorders such as allergies, thereby driving demand for diagnostic blood tests such as in-vivo and in-vitro tests. However, stringent regulations and policies imposed by the governments, and huge capital investment required for installation of diagnostic equipment related to allergic disorders are expected to impede growth of the market.The report has analysed data across different parameters, for arriving at market numbers associated with the global allergy diagnostics market. The information about competitive landscape of the market is also included in the report, offering intricate details about key players operating in the market.Report StructureThe report begins with an executive summary of the market, followed by its introduction and definition. The executive summary renders an overview of the market, offering pertinent market numbers, which are significant and include historical as well as the forecast data of the market. This chapter also offers information about lucrative regions in terms of revenues and CAGRs over the forecast period.The introduction of the market helps readers in to understand the wide scope of the market. The next chapter of the report offers detailed knowledge about key market dynamics. In the subsequent chapters of the report, cost structure analysis, pricing analysis, and raw material sourcing strategies in the global allergy diagnostics market are included.Browse Full Report With TOC:Market TaxonomyIn few chapters of the report, information about the market segmentation, which is done on the basis of product, end-users, allergen type, test type, and region, has been included and portrayed in the form of a taxonomy table. These chapters also comprise market forecasts on the basis of Y-o-Y growth, market share, and revenues. The regional segmentation rendered is extended further in terms of fastest expanding, emerging, and dominant countries that are included under respective regions.Competition LandscapeThe last chapter of the report provides insights about the competitive landscape of the market, where major players operating in the global market for allergy diagnostics are profiled in detail. Information about these companies is provided in terms of company overview, product overview, key financials, key developments made by that particular player, and SWOT analysis. This chapter is an imperative part of the report, comprising all essential knowledge about companies participating in the market, helping readers to study the growth aspects of these market players. The report also provides information about key strategies adopted by these players for retaining and expanding their presence in the market.Research MethodologyFuture Market Insights analysts leverage a proven & tested research methodology to arrive at revenue estimations of the market. An in-depth secondary research has been used for deducing the overall size of the global allergy diagnostics market. The list of market players has been developed with the help of a comprehensive discussion guide from exhaustive and detail primary interviews. The data gathered has then been scrutinized by utilising advanced tools for extracting apt insights about the global allergy diagnostics market.Enquire About this Report:About UsMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At:
GPON Technology Market AnalysisTrends,Growth Size, Status and Forecast 2022

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Get Sample@GPON Technology Market entails the qualitative and quantitative analysis of current and future market estimations. It also divulges details about the mode of research methodology used for the study. It includes data from primary as well as secondary resources. The report is a useful resource for industry players, new entrants in the marketplace, and investors as it helps them plan their business to gain fruitful and meaningful outcomes. It makes them aware of the production, capacity, revenue, supply, consumption, export, import, the challenges and risks associated with the industry, and much more. The report has a mention of the market drivers and opportunities. Key players are profiled in the report and their developments in recent years are mentioned, which helps in understanding the competitive outlook of the global GPON Technology MarketA brief overview of the global GPON Technology Market is provided in the report based on product scope and market status & outlook. The market is segmented on the basis of type, end-users/application, and geography. The report provides information about the production, price, revenue, market share, and growth rate of each type.Get 15% Discount on this Report@The global GPON Technology Market report also provides an analysis of the manufacturing cost of the product. This includes the key raw materials, the proportion of manufacturing cost structure, and manufacturing process analysis. The key raw materials encompass the price trend, key suppliers, and market concentration rate. The proportion of manufacturing cost structure incorporates the raw materials, labor cost, and manufacturing expenses.Global GPON Technology Market report also covers an analysis of the market effect factors. This includes the technology progress/risk (substitutes/threat and technology progress in the related industry), consumer needs/customer preference change, and economic/political environmental change.The key players which provide solutions in the Global GPON Technology Market include Huawei ZTE Nokia Fiberhome Calix ADTRAN DASAN Zhone Cisco NEC Allied Telesis Iskratel Unizyx AlphionInformation about the production, capacity, price, revenue (value), and market share of each of these manufacturers from 2012 to 2017 are clearly described in the report. In addition, the report details the basic information, manufacturing base, area of sales, and competitors of each of the players. The trends and marketing strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, adopted by each of the manufacturers provide an understanding of the level of competitiveness prevailing in the industry.Check Full Report With TOC@About Us:Research Beams uniqueness lies in its highly ethical reports at economical rates because we value your relationship and growth more than money. Your growth is our aim. With the arsenal of different search reports, we help you here to look and buy research reports that will be helpful to you and your organization. Our research reports have the capability and authenticity to support your organization for growth and consistency.Contact Us:Global Head Quarters5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United Statesphone+1 (800) 910-6452mail help@researchbeam.com
Plastic Gears Market: Study Applications, Types and Market Analysis including Growth, Trends and Forecasts to 2022

Plastic Gears Market

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Market Overview on Global Plastic Gears Industry:Based on the Plastic Gears industrial chain, this report mainly elaborate the definition, types, applications and major players of Plastic Gears market in details. Deep analysis about market status (2012-2017), enterprise competition pattern, advantages and disadvantages of enterprise Products, industry development trends (2017-2022), regional industrial layout characteristics and macroeconomic policies, industrial policy has also be included. From raw materials to downstream buyers of this industry will be analyzed scientifically, the feature of product circulation and sales channel will be presented as well. In a word, this report will help you to establish a panorama of industrial development and characteristics of the Plastic Gears market.Download Sample Copy@The Plastic Gears market is characterized by constant technological innovation to keep pace with the changing industrial needs. This Plastic Gears Market report provides detailed analysis of worldwide markets for Plastic Gears from 2012-2017 and provides extensive market forecasts 2017-2022 by region/country and subsectors.The report firstly introduced the Plastic Gears Market basics: definitions, classifications, applications and market overview; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures, raw materials and so on. Then it analyzed the worlds main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, supply, demand and market growth rate and forecast etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.Scope of the ReportThis report studies the Global Plastic Gears market, analyzes and researches the Plastic Gears development status and forecast in Global, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia.Following Key players are covered:AmTech International, Designatronics, Nozag, Ningbo Tianlong Electronics, Shuanglin Group, Creative & Bright Group, Song Horng Precise Plastic, Eurogear, Santomas Vietnam Joint - Stock Company, Essentra, Kohara Gear Industry, Nordex, OECHSLER, IMS Gear, Gleason, Winzeler Gear, Rush Gears, Yeh Der Enterprise, Ningbo Hago Electronics, Framo MoratMarket segment by Type, Plastic Gears can be split intoPET Plastic Gears, Nylon Resin Plastic Gears, PBT Plastic Gears, POM Plastic Gears, Others, High Performance Plastics Gears, PC Plastic GearsMarket segment by Applications,Medical Industry, Industrial Equipment, Electronic and Electrical Appliances, Automobile Industry, Othersadditionally, this report recognizes pin-point investigation of adjusting competition subtleties and keeps you ahead in the competition. It offers a fast looking perception on different variables driving or averting the development of the Plastic Gears market. It helps in understanding the key product areas and their future. It guides in taking knowledgeable business decisions by giving complete constitutions of the market and by enclosing a comprehensive analysis of market subdivisions. To sum up, it equally gives certain graphics and personalized SWOT analysis of premier market sectors.This Study on the Global Plastic Gears Market is an all-inclusive study of the business sectors up-to-date outlines, industry enhancement drivers, and manacles. It provides market projections for the coming years. It contains an analysis of late augmentations in innovation, Porters five force model analysis and progressive profiles of hand-picked industry competitors. The report additionally formulates a survey of minor and full-scale factors charging for the new applicants in the Plastic Gears market and the ones as of now in the market along with a systematic value chain exploration.Make Enquiry for this Report @Table of ContentGlobal Plastic Gears Market Research Report 20171 Plastic Gears Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Plastic Gears1.2 Plastic Gears Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Plastic Gears Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)2 Global Plastic Gears Market Competitions by Manufacturers3 Global Plastic Gears Capacities, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Plastic Gears Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global Plastic Gears Productions, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Plastic Gears Market Analyses by Application7 Global Plastic Gears Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis10 Southeast Asia Plastic Gears Development Status and Outlook11 Market Forecast by Regions, Type and Application (2017-2022)12 Plastic Gears Market Dynamics13 Market Effect Factors AnalysisContinuedView Complete Report@About Reports Monitor:Reports Monitor is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Jay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Egyptian Life-Insurance Industry Comprehensive Trends, Drivers, Analysis & Opportunities to 2021

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Market Research Hub (MRH) has included a new research report titled The Life-Insurance Industry in Egypt Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021, provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Egyptian life insurance segment, and a comparison of the Egyptian insurance industry with its regional counterparts. It provides key performance indicators such as written premium, incurred loss, loss ratio, commissions and expenses, total assets, total investment income and retentions during the review period (20122016) and forecast period (20162021).Request Free Sample Report @The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the Egyptian economy and demographics, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country.The report brings together MRHs research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and profiles of insurers operating in the country. The report also includes details of insurance regulations, and recent changes in the regulatory structure.SummaryMRH announced 'Life Insurance in Egypt Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report which provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Egyptian life insurance segment, including: An overview of the Egyptian life insurance segment The Egyptian life insurance segments growth prospects by category A comprehensive overview of the Egyptian economy and demographics A comparison of the Egyptian life insurance segment with its regional counterparts The various distribution channels in the Egyptian life insurance segment Details of the competitive landscape in the life insurance segment in Egypt Details of regulatory policy applicable to the Egyptian insurance industryScope: This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the life insurance segment in Egypt: It provides historical values for the Egyptian life insurance segment for the reports 20122016 review period, and projected figures for the 20162021 forecast period. It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the Egyptian life insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2021. It provides a comparison of the Egyptian life insurance segment with its regional counterparts It analyzes the various distribution channels for life insurance products in Egypt. It profiles the top life insurance companies in Egypt and outlines the key regulations affecting them.Reasons to buy: Make strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the Egyptian life insurance segment, and each category within it. Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Egyptian life insurance segment. Assess the competitive dynamics in the life insurance segment. Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories. Gain insights into key regulations governing the Egyptian insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future.Key Highlights: In May 2017, the Egyptian Society for Cooperative Insurance (ESCI) introduced mortgage insurance policy for the low-income group. In May 2017, Allianz Egypt announced its partnership with Orange Telecom to provide insurance to employees and assets of small- and medium-sized enterprises. FDI in Egypt increased from EGP17.0 billion (US$2.8 billion) in 2012 to EGP69.0 billion (US$6.8 billion) in 2016 at a review period CAGR of 42.1%. During the review period 20122016, the Egyptian life insurance gross written grew at a CAGR of 16.7%.Browse Full Report with TOC @Table of Content:1 Key Facts and Highlights2 Executive Summary3 Economy and Demographics4 Segment Outlook4.1 Regional Comparison4.2 Segment Indicators4.2.1 Gross written premium and penetration4.2.2 Active policies4.2.3 Claims4.2.4 Sum assured4.2.5 Assets and investments5 Outlook by Sub-Segment5.1 Individual Life Insurance5.1.1 Premium5.1.2 Penetration5.2 Group Life Insurance5.2.1 Premium5.2.2 Active policies5.2.3 Penetration6 Distribution Channel Outlook7 Competitive Landscape7.1 Company Profiles7.1.1 Misr Life Insurance Company company overview7.1.2 Allianz Life Assurance Company company overview7.1.3 MetLife Egypt Insurance Company company overview7.1.4 Commercial International Life Insurance Company company overview7.1.5 Suez Canal Life Insurance Company company overview.continueEnquire about this report @About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of Insurance industry research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients and customers.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News at -
Bulgarian Personal Accident and Health Insurance Industry Analysis, Key Trends, Drivers & Opportunities to 2021

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Market Research Hub (MRH) has included a new research report titled Personal Accident and Health Insurance in Bulgaria Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021, provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Bulgarian personal accident and health insurance segment, and a comparison of the Bulgarian insurance industry with its regional counterparts. It provides key performance indicators such as written premium, incurred loss, loss ratio, commissions and expenses, combined ratio, total assets and total investment income during the review period (2012-2016) and forecast period (2017-2021).Request Free Sample Report @The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the Bulgarian economy and demographics, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country.The report brings together Market Research Hub, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and profiles of insurers operating in the country. The report also includes details of insurance regulations, and recent changes in the regulatory structure.Summary: MRHs 'Personal Accident and Health Insurance in Bulgaria, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Bulgarian personal accident and health insurance segment, including: An overview of the Bulgarian personal accident and health insurance segment The Bulgarian personal accident and health insurance segments growth prospects by category A comprehensive overview of the Bulgarian economy and demographics A comparison of the Bulgarian personal accident and health insurance segment with its regional counterparts The various distribution channels in the Bulgarian personal accident and health insurance segment Details of the competitive landscape in the personal accident and health insurance segment in Bulgaria Details of regulatory policy applicable to the Bulgarian insurance industryScope: This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the personal accident and health insurance segment in Bulgaria: It provides historical values for the Bulgarian personal accident and health insurance segment for the reports 2012-2016 review period, and projected figures for the 2017-2021 forecast period. It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the Bulgarian personal accident and health insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2021. It provides a comparison of the Bulgarian personal accident and health insurance segment with its regional counterparts. It provides an overview of the various distribution channels for personal accident and health insurance products in Bulgaria. It profiles the top personal accident and health insurance companies in Bulgaria, and outlines the key regulations affecting them.Reasons to Buy: Make strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the Bulgarian personal accident and health insurance segment, and each category within it. Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Bulgarian personal accident and health insurance segment. Assess the competitive dynamics in the personal accident and health insurance segment. Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories. Gain insights into key regulations governing the Bulgarian insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future.Key Highlights: On April 1, 2017, the National Framework Agreement of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) came into effect. This agreement reinstated the contract basis between the NHIF and entities operating within the sector. On January 1, 2017, the Bulgarian government amended the ordinance on the terms and conditions for the registration and regulation of pharmaceuticals prices. This amendment is to improve the existing pricing regime of pharmaceuticals regarding the home treatment of chronic, genetic and rare diseases that are paid for by the NHIF. Solvency II came into effect on January 1, 2016, and is expected to have a considerable effect on the Bulgarian insurance industry. It is a reform of risk-management and capital-adequacy requirements to ensure a more accurate allocation of capital to risk.Browse Full Report with TOC @Table of Content:1 KEY FACTS AND HIGHLIGHTS2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY3 ECONOMY AND DEMOGRAPHICS4 SEGMENT OUTLOOK4.1 Regional Comparison4.2 Segment Indicators4.2.1 Gross written premium and penetration4.2.2 Claims4.2.3 Profitability4.2.4 Assets and investments5 OUTLOOK BY CATEGORY5.1 Personal Accident Insurance5.1.1 Premium5.1.2 Claims5.2 Health Insurance5.2.1 Premium5.2.2 Claims5.3 Travel Insurance5.3.1 Premium5.3.2 Claims6 DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL OUTLOOK6.1 Analysis by Distribution Channel7 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE7.1 Company Profiles7.1.1 Bulstrad Life Vienna Insurance Group JSC company overview7.1.2 DZI General Insurance company overview7.1.3 Victoria Insurance company overview7.1.4 Allianz Bulgaria Life company overview7.1.5 CCB Life company overview.continueEnquire about this report @About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of Insurance industry research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients and customers.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News at -
Special Steel Market Growth 2017-2022 Tata Steel, Hyundai, ArcelorMittal, Hesteel Group

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Special Steel Market Research ReportA market study  Global Special Steel Market  examines the performance of the Special Steel market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Special Steel market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Special Steel market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Request For Sample Report:The Global Special Steel Market 2017 report includes Special Steel market Size, Revenue, market Share, Special Steel industry volume, market Trends, Special Steel Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Special Steel Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Special Steel Market 2017:ArcelorMittal, Hesteel Group, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal, POSCO, Baosteel Group, Jiangsu Shagang, Ansteel Group, Company eight, JFE, Shougang, Tata Steel, Wuhan Iron and Steel Corporation, Shandong Iron and Steel Group, Hyundai Steel, Nucor Corporation, Maanshan Iron and Steel Company.Special Steel Market : Type Analysis Machinery Steel Tool Steel Plastic Mould Steel Abrasion Resistant Steel Plate High Tensile Steel Plate OthersSpecial Steel Market : Application Analysis Construction Machinery Parts Framing Product Automotive Parts OthersFirstly, the report covers the top Special Steel manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Special Steel report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Special Steel industry, Special Steel industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Special Steel Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Special Steel research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Special Steel market revenue worldwide.Finally, Special Steel market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA
Direct Marketing Services Market Growth 2017-2022 Rapp, Epsilon, Wunderman, FCB, Acxiom

Direct Marketing Services

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Direct Marketing Services Market Research ReportA market study  Global Direct Marketing Services Market  examines the performance of the Direct Marketing Services market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Direct Marketing Services market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Direct Marketing Services market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Request For Sample Report:The Global Direct Marketing Services Market 2017 report includes Direct Marketing Services market Size, Revenue, market Share, Direct Marketing Services industry volume, market Trends, Direct Marketing Services Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Direct Marketing Services Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Direct Marketing Services Market 2017:Rapp, Epsilon, Wunderman, FCB, Acxiom, Harte-Hanks Direct, OgilvyOne, Merkle, Harland Clarke Corp, MRM//McCann, DigitasLBi, Aimia, SourceLink, BBDO, SapientNitro, Leo Burnett.Direct Marketing Services Market : Type Analysis Direct mail Telemarketing Email marketing Text (SMS) marketing Handouts Social media marketing Direct selling OthersDirect Marketing Services Market : Application Analysis Business to Business Business to Government Business to Consumers OthersFirstly, the report covers the top Direct Marketing Services manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Direct Marketing Services report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Direct Marketing Services industry, Direct Marketing Services industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Direct Marketing Services Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Direct Marketing Services research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Direct Marketing Services market revenue worldwide.Finally, Direct Marketing Services market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA
Aerial Work Platform Truck Market Global Industry Analysis Forecast - 2022

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The global Aerial Work Platform Truck market was worth USD 1.50 billion in the year of 2012 and is expected to reach approximately USD 8.20 billion by 2022, while registering itself at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.50% during the forecast period. In 2014, the global aerial work platform (AWP) truck market was valued at over USD 2 billion. The increasing demand across the telecommunication industry, particularly in Taiwan, Brazil, Indonesia, India and China is anticipated to boost the development of the industry in the upcoming years. Increasing maintenance and repair activities in developed nations like North America and Europe may additionally boost the development of the aerial work platform truck market. Increasing investment by the government and rapid advancement in the infrastructure combined with developing private interest in the real-estate segment; especially in Asia Pacific is additionally assessed to raise demand throughout the following couple of years. The business is poised for development due to rising requirement for material handling hardware in production units and industrial facilities combined with developing concerns in regards to safety of workers.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @:Product Outlook and Trend AnalysisAerial work platform truck items for the most part involve boom lifts, personal portable lifts, scissor lifts and vertical mast lifts. Boom lifts are expected to display high development and record for most of the part of the overall industry throughout the following couple of years. In 2014, vertical mast lifts and scissor lifts represented more than 45% of the worldwide aerial work platform truck industry. Expanding demand in maintenance and establishment applications may boost scissor lifts demand throughout the following couple of years. Furthermore, operational advantages offered by scissor lifts, for example, moving ability in tight spaces may likewise boost item demand substantially.Market ClassificationAerial Work Platform Truck Market, By Product, Estimates and Forecast, 2012-2022 ($Million)Scissor LiftsBoom LiftsVertical Mast LiftsPersonnel Portable LiftsAerial Work Platform Truck Market, By Application, Estimates and Forecast, 2012-2022 ($Million)TelecommunicationGovernmentConstructionTransport & LogisticsOther ApplicationsObtain Report Details @:Research MethodologyWe use both primary as well as secondary research for our market surveys, estimates and for developing forecast. Our research process commence by analyzing the problem which enable us to design the scope for our research study. Our research process is uniquely designed with enough flexibility to adjust according to changing nature of products and markets, while retaining core element to ensure reliability and accuracy in research findings. We understand both macro and micro-economic factors to evaluate and forecast different market segments.Data MiningData is extensively collected through various secondary sources such as annual reports, investor presentations, SEC filings, and other corporate publications. We also refer trade magazines, technical journals, paid databases such as Factiva and Bloomberg, industry trade journals, scientific journals, and social media data to understand market dynamics and industry trends. Further, we also conduct primary research to understand market drivers, restraints, opportunities, challenges, and competitive scenario to build our analysis.Buy Report @ :About Crystal Market ResearchCrystal Market Research is a U.S. based market research and business intelligence company. Crystal offers one stop solution for market research, business intelligence, and consulting services to help clients make more informed decisions. It provides both syndicated as well as customized research studies for its customers spread across the globe. The company offers market intelligence reports across a broad range of industries including healthcare, chemicals & materials, technology, automotive, and energy.Contact:304 South Jones Blvd, Suite 1896,Las Vegas NV 89107,United StatesToll Free: +1-888-213-4282Email: sales@crystalmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Converged System Market Growth 2017-2022 NetApp Inc, Cisco, Hitachi Ltd, Hewlett

Converged System

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Converged System Market Research ReportA market study  Global Converged System Market  examines the performance of the Converged System market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Converged System market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Converged System market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Request For Sample Report:The Global Converged System Market 2017 report includes Converged System market Size, Revenue, market Share, Converged System industry volume, market Trends, Converged System Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Converged System Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Converged System Market 2017:1. Oracle Corporation2. NetApp Inc3. Cisco Systems Inc4. Lenovo Group Limited5. Hewlett Packard Enterprise6. Hitachi Ltd7. EMC CorporationConverged System Market : Type Analysis On-Premises CloudConverged System Market : Application Analysis IT and Telecom Education Banking Retail OthersFirstly, the report covers the top Converged System manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Converged System report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Converged System industry, Converged System industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Converged System Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Converged System research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Converged System market revenue worldwide.Finally, Converged System market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA
Auto Relay Market Size, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Application Development Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017  2022

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Auto Relay MarketWorldwide Auto Relay market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.For Requesting a Sample Copy of This Report, Please Visit @Global Auto Relay Market: Product Segment AnalysisPlug-in relay, PCB relayGlobal Auto Relay Market: Application Segment AnalysisHeating, Lamps & Filter capacitors, Solenoids, Motors & PumpsGlobal Auto Relay Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSA, Europe, Japan, China, India, South East AsiaThe Players mentioned in our reportPanasonic, TE Connectivity, HELLA, Fujitsu, LSIS, Gruner, NEC, American Zettler, Hongfa, Omron, Hu Gong, Song Chuan, Tianyi Electrical, Sanyou, Ningbo Forward, Songle Relay, Ningbo Huike, Qunli ElectricBrowse Full Table of Contents and Report Description @Table of ContentsChapter 3 World Portable Concrete Mixer Market share3.1 Major Production Market share by Players3.2 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share by Players3.3 Major Production Market share by Regions in 2017, Through 20223.4 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share By Regions in 2017, Through 2022Chapter 4 Supply Chain Analysis4.1 Industry Supply chain Analysis4.2 Raw material Market Analysis4.2.1 Raw material Prices Analysis 2012-20174.2.2 Raw material Supply Market Analysis4.2 Manufacturing Equipment Suppliers Analysis4.3 Production Process Analysis4.4 Production Cost Structure Benchmarks4.5 End users Market AnalysisContinuedAbout UsReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Managed VPN Market Growth 2017-2022 Alcatel Lucent, Ericsson, Avaya, Tata

Managed VPN

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Managed VPN Market Research ReportA market study  Global Managed VPN Market  examines the performance of the Managed VPN market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Managed VPN market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Managed VPN market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Request For Sample Report:The Global Managed VPN Market 2017 report includes Managed VPN market Size, Revenue, market Share, Managed VPN industry volume, market Trends, Managed VPN Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Managed VPN Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Managed VPN Market 2017:1. Cisco System Inc.2. Alcatel Lucent3. IBM Corporation4. Tata Communication5. Ericsson6. AvayaManaged VPN Market : Type Analysis Managed Network Device Network Implementation & Integration Managed Network MonitoringManaged VPN Market : Application Analysis Healthcare & Life Sciences Telecommunication & IT Energy & Resources Public Sector Media & Business Services Transport & Logistics OthersFirstly, the report covers the top Managed VPN manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Managed VPN report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Managed VPN industry, Managed VPN industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Managed VPN Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Managed VPN research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Managed VPN market revenue worldwide.Finally, Managed VPN market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA
Indoor Location System Market Growth 2017-2022 Google, Apple, Microsoft, Broadcom

Indoor Location System

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Indoor Location System Market Research ReportA market study  Global Indoor Location System Market  examines the performance of the Indoor Location System market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Indoor Location System market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Indoor Location System market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Request For Sample Report:The Global Indoor Location System Market 2017 report includes Indoor Location System market Size, Revenue, market Share, Indoor Location System industry volume, market Trends, Indoor Location System Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Indoor Location System Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Indoor Location System Market 2017:1. Apple, Inc.2. Cisco Systems, Inc.3. Google, Inc.4. Microsoft Corporation5. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.6. Broadcom Ltd.7. Ericsson8. Zebra Technologies9. Senionlab AB.10. StmicroelectronicsIndoor Location System Market : Type Analysis RF Based (Wi-Fi/BLE) Sensor and Tag BasedIndoor Location System Market : Application Analysis Transportation Hospitality Public BuildingsFirstly, the report covers the top Indoor Location System manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Indoor Location System report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Indoor Location System industry, Indoor Location System industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Indoor Location System Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Indoor Location System research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Indoor Location System market revenue worldwide.Finally, Indoor Location System market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA
MOSFET Power Drivers Market Growth 2017-2022 Texas, Microchip, Infineon, Intersil

MOSFET Power Drivers

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MOSFET Power Drivers Market Research ReportA market study  Global MOSFET Power Drivers Market  examines the performance of the MOSFET Power Drivers market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the MOSFET Power Drivers market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of MOSFET Power Drivers market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Request For Sample Report:The Global MOSFET Power Drivers Market 2017 report includes MOSFET Power Drivers market Size, Revenue, market Share, MOSFET Power Drivers industry volume, market Trends, MOSFET Power Drivers Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, MOSFET Power Drivers Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global MOSFET Power Drivers Market 2017:Microchip, Texas Instruments, ON Semiconductor, Infineon, NXP, Intersil, Fairchild Semiconductor, Silicon Labs, STMicroelectronics, Analog Devices, Semikron, Linear Technology, Maxim, Fuji, Micrel, AnalogicTech, New Japan RadioFirstly, the report covers the top MOSFET Power Drivers manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the MOSFET Power Drivers report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of MOSFET Power Drivers industry, MOSFET Power Drivers industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. MOSFET Power Drivers Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The MOSFET Power Drivers research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the MOSFET Power Drivers market revenue worldwide.Finally, MOSFET Power Drivers market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA
WiFi Equipment Market Growth 2017-2022 Netgear, Aerohive, Aruba, Alcatel Lucent

WiFi Equipment

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WiFi Equipment Market Research ReportA market study  Global WiFi Equipment Market  examines the performance of the WiFi Equipment market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the WiFi Equipment market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of WiFi Equipment market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Request For Sample Report:The Global WiFi Equipment Market 2017 report includes WiFi Equipment market Size, Revenue, market Share, WiFi Equipment industry volume, market Trends, WiFi Equipment Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, WiFi Equipment Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global WiFi Equipment Market 2017:Aruba Networks, Alcatel Lucent, Cisco Systems, Ericsson, Netgear, Ruckus Wireless, Juniper Netwokrs, Aptilo Networks, Aerohive, Ubiquiti NetworksFirstly, the report covers the top WiFi Equipment manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the WiFi Equipment report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of WiFi Equipment industry, WiFi Equipment industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. WiFi Equipment Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The WiFi Equipment research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the WiFi Equipment market revenue worldwide.Finally, WiFi Equipment market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA
Sorghum Seed Market Growth 2017-2022 Monsanto, Nufarm, Dupont Pioneer, Proline

Sorghum Seed

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Sorghum Seed Market Research ReportA market study  Global Sorghum Seed Market  examines the performance of the Sorghum Seed market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Sorghum Seed market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Sorghum Seed market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Request For Sample Report:The Global Sorghum Seed Market 2017 report includes Sorghum Seed market Size, Revenue, market Share, Sorghum Seed industry volume, market Trends, Sorghum Seed Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Sorghum Seed Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Sorghum Seed Market 2017:1. Advanta Seeds2. Monsanto3. KWS4. Nufarm5. Dupont Pioneer6. Chromatin7. Dyna-Gro Seed8. Proline9. Heritage Seeds10. Allied Seed11. Sustainable Seed Company12. Blue River Hybrids13. Safal Seeds & Biotech14. Seed Co LimitedSorghum Seed Market : Type Analysis Forage Sorghum Seed Grain Sorghum Seed Sweet Sorghum SeedSorghum Seed Market : Application Analysis Sorghum Planting Sorghum BreedingFirstly, the report covers the top Sorghum Seed manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Sorghum Seed report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Sorghum Seed industry, Sorghum Seed industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Sorghum Seed Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Sorghum Seed research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Sorghum Seed market revenue worldwide.Finally, Sorghum Seed market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA
Global Baby Diaper Machine Sales Market Analysis, Types & Sales 2017

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Baby Diaper Machine Sales Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Baby Diaper Machine market has been curated by research analysts of the industry, with a chief aim to put forth the current market conditions for the global Baby Diaper Machine. Its objective is to shed light on the prospects of growth of the market and reach out to a wide range of audience such as manufacturers of Baby Diaper Machine, government agencies, and different other consultancy services. The study report provides extensive analysis of the important driving aspects that will have a major impact on the global Baby Diaper Machine market. It also inspects the impeding or restraining factors, latest and upcoming trends in the Baby Diaper Machine market which the key players should make a note of to stay ahead in the race to the top. The potential of lesser factors of the Baby Diaper Machine market can be evaluated by analysing its multiple segments such as products, end users, types, application, services, and others, whichever are applicable. The report also inspects the future scenarios of Baby Diaper Machine market in all the important regions across the world, such as North America, Latin America, Middle East and Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific, and Europe.Sample of this report is available upon request @The report of the global Baby Diaper Machine market gives out the estimation of the market size in terms of its value (USD million). Bottom-up as well as top-down approaches are applied in the report to project and confirm the size of the global Baby Diaper Machine market and of its different other sub-segments. The study report also comprehensively discusses the opportunities that may come up in the market for Baby Diaper Machine by application and type of producing countries, and offers a forecast for the period of 2017-2022.Some of the established players in the global Baby Diaper Machine market has been mentioned to target the market shareholders. The mentioned companies are profiled individually in order to present their product portfolio, recent tactical decisions, and market share.This report studies sales (consumption) of Baby Diaper Machine in Global market, especially in United States, China, Europe and Japan, focuses on top players in these regions/countries, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player in these regions, coveringZuikoFameccanicaGDMJoaPeixinJWCHCHXingshiCCSBicmaTo Browse a Complete Report with TOC Visit @Table of ContentsGlobal Baby Diaper Machine Sales Market Report 20171 Baby Diaper Machine Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Baby Diaper Machine1.2 Classification of Baby Diaper Machine1.2.1 Full-Automatic Baby Diaper Machine1.2.2 Semi-Automatic Baby Diaper Machine1.3 Application of Baby Diaper Machine2 Global Baby Diaper Machine Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global Baby Diaper Machine Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global Baby Diaper Machine Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2011-2016)2.1.2 Global Baby Diaper Machine Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2011-2016)2.2 Global Baby Diaper Machine (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Baby Diaper Machine Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.2.2 Global Baby Diaper Machine Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)3 United States Baby Diaper Machine (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Baby Diaper Machine Sales and Value (2011-2016)3.1.1 United States Baby Diaper Machine Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.2 United States Baby Diaper Machine Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.3 United States Baby Diaper Machine Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)To Get Discount Of This Report Click here @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Baby Diaper MachineTable Classification of Baby Diaper MachineFigure Global Sales Market Share of Baby Diaper Machine by Type in 2015Figure Full-Automatic Baby Diaper Machine PictureFigure Semi-Automatic Baby Diaper Machine PictureFigure Southeast Asia Baby Diaper Machine Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure India Baby Diaper Machine Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Global Baby Diaper Machine Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Global Baby Diaper Machine Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Table Global Baby Diaper Machine Sales of Key Manufacturers (2011-2016)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
APD Avalanche Photodiode Industry: New Analysis & Forecasts 2022

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APD Avalanche Photodiode MarketWorld APD Avalanche Photodiode market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.For Requesting a Sample Copy of This Report, Please Visit @Global APD Avalanche Photodiode Market: Product Segment AnalysisSi APD, InGaAs APDGlobal APD Avalanche Photodiode Market: Application Segment AnalysisIndustrial, Medical, MobilityGlobal APD Avalanche Photodiode Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSA, Europe, Japan, China, India, South East AsiaThe Players mentioned in our reportFirst-sensor, Hamamatsu, Luna, Excelitas, Osi optoelectronics, Edmund Optics, GCS, SiFotonics, Kyosemi CorporationBrowse Full Table of Contents and Report Description @Table of ContentsChapter 3 World Portable Concrete Mixer Market share3.1 Major Production Market share by Players3.2 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share by Players3.3 Major Production Market share by Regions in 2017, Through 20223.4 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share By Regions in 2017, Through 2022Chapter 4 Supply Chain Analysis4.1 Industry Supply chain Analysis4.2 Raw material Market Analysis4.2.1 Raw material Prices Analysis 2012-20174.2.2 Raw material Supply Market Analysis4.2 Manufacturing Equipment Suppliers Analysis4.3 Production Process Analysis4.4 Production Cost Structure Benchmarks4.5 End users Market AnalysisContinuedAbout UsReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Pervious Pavement Market Growth 2017-2022 LafargeHolcim, CEMEX, CRH plc, BASF SE

Pervious Pavement

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http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-pervious-pavement-market-2017-demand-insight-key-plyers-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/

Pervious Pavement Market Research ReportA market study  Global Pervious Pavement Market  examines the performance of the Pervious Pavement market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Pervious Pavement market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Pervious Pavement market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Request For Sample Report:The Global Pervious Pavement Market 2017 report includes Pervious Pavement market Size, Revenue, market Share, Pervious Pavement industry volume, market Trends, Pervious Pavement Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Pervious Pavement Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Pervious Pavement Market 2017:1. LafargeHolcim (Switzerland)2. CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (Mexico)3. CRH plc (Ireland)4. BASF SE (Germany)Pervious Pavement Market : Type Analysis Pervious Concrete Porous Asphalt Interlocking Concrete PaversPervious Pavement Market : Application Analysis Hardscape Floors Other ConstructionFirstly, the report covers the top Pervious Pavement manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Pervious Pavement report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Pervious Pavement industry, Pervious Pavement industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Pervious Pavement Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Pervious Pavement research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Pervious Pavement market revenue worldwide.Finally, Pervious Pavement market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA
Bottled Water Market Growth 2017-2022 CG Roxane, Groupe Danone, Arrowhead, Hangzhou Wahaha

Bottled Water

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Bottled Water Market Research ReportA market study  Global Bottled Water Market  examines the performance of the Bottled Water market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Bottled Water market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Bottled Water market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.Request For Sample Report:The Global Bottled Water Market 2017 report includes Bottled Water market Size, Revenue, market Share, Bottled Water industry volume, market Trends, Bottled Water Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Bottled Water Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Bottled Water Market 2017:Ajegroup SA, CG Roxane, Coca-Cola Company, Groupe Danone, Arrowhead, HassiaWaters International, Hangzhou Wahaha, Grupo Vichy Catalan, Icelandic Water Holdings ehf., Mountain Valley Spring, Nestle Waters, PepsiCo, Suntory Beverage & Food, Ice Mountain, Unicer  Bebidas SA, Dasani, Aquafina, Fiji, Culligan, Evian, Acqua Panna.Bottled Water Market : Type Analysis Spring Water Purified Water Mineral Water Sparkling Bottled Water Artesian Well WaterBottled Water Market : Application Analysis Supermarket/hypermarket Retail Store/Convenience Store Online Store OthersFirstly, the report covers the top Bottled Water manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Enquiry for More Info@Further, the Bottled Water report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Bottled Water industry, Bottled Water industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Bottled Water Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.The Bottled Water research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Bottled Water market revenue worldwide.Finally, Bottled Water market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA
Global Grid Optimization Solutions Market 2017: ABB, General Electric, Hexagon, Simpson Electric

Grid Optimization Solutions Market 2017

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Global Grid Optimization Solutions Market 2017-2022QY Market Research include new Grid Optimization Solutions market research report "2016-2022 Report on Global Grid Optimization Solutions Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, Application" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Grid Optimization Solutions market is highly helpful because it covers all the aspects which are important in deciding the future of this industry. The Grid Optimization Solutions report is collated by full-fledged analysts who have created use of their market intelligence to explain all basic and crucial knowledge regarding the worldwide Grid Optimization Solutions industry.Get Free Sample of Report Here:The Grid Optimization Solutions market report makes use of tables, charts, graphs, maps, and statistics to present the data in the easiest way to understand. The Grid Optimization Solutions market report is a comprehensive analysis of the key factors impacting the global Grid Optimization Solutions industry. This Grid Optimization Solutions market report includes both the driving factors as well as the restraining factors that are influencing the market's performance positively and negatively, respectively.Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This Research Report,ABBAclara TechnologiesEatonGeneral ElectricPower TechnologiesFirstEnergyGreen Mountain PowerHexagonSimpson ElectricDoble Engineering CompanyEKM MeteringCGI GroupElectric Power GroupHolley MeteringThe present trends shaping the worldwide Grid Optimization Solutions market and the way it will influence the Grid Optimization Solutions market within the future are studied. Additionally to this, the future opportunities within the Grid Optimization Solutions market that have the potential to assist the market to expand are given within the Grid Optimization Solutions report.Enquire Here:The segments inside the global Grid Optimization Solutions industry and their sub-segments also are studied in detail. This ensures that the whole Grid Optimization Solutions market is covered. The leading segment along with the declining segment and also the most promising segment has been given during this Grid Optimization Solutions report. This helps the newcomers, shareholders, readers, stockholders and leading manufacturers to choose which segment or sub-segment to speculate on therefore on acquire most profits.The Grid Optimization Solutions market report discusses the degree of competition, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and a threat of substitutes, both internal and external substitute of Grid Optimization Solutions market. The threat of recent entrants or the barriers experienced by new and prime players in getting into the worldwide Grid Optimization Solutions market has been mentioned. This offers new players a plan on whether or not they will exist within the competitive Grid Optimization Solutions industry.About Us:Business Worldwide is a trusted brand in the research industry with a capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Business Worldwide, we believe in building long-term relations with our clients. Our services cover a broad spectrum of industries including Energy, Chemicals and Materials, Automotive, Software and Aerospace.Contact Us:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Camera Strap Market 2017- BESTTRENDY, Meco, Tethys, General, Vintage

Camera Strap Market

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Apex Research, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "Camera Strap Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of "Camera Strap Market" from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global Camera Strap industry, and estimates the future trend of Camera Strap market on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares "Camera Strap Market" performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportBlackRapidAltura PhotoBESTTRENDYMecoTethysGeneralVintageWorthTrustEggsnowMovoThe market research report explores the Camera Strap market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of "Camera Strap Market". The research report studies the entire value chain from raw material to end user industries. The report also shares import/export statistics along with production and consumption for all major regions and countries. Moreover, the research study classifies the Camera Strap market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Camera Strap. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Camera Strap market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.The competitive landscape of the global market for Camera Strap is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Camera Strap market's production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Camera Strap market globally.Enquire Before Buying @The global Camera Strap market 2017 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Camera Strap production volume, data pertaining to demand and Camera Strap supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Camera Strap along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for Camera Strap across the world.About UsApex Market Reports offers elevating market research globally. We have collection of various syndicated reports of different categories. Apex Market Reports provides you to best services, weather youre searching for new trends in market or competitive scenario in emerging market.Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezCorporate Sales Specialist155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4250Chicago, IL 60606Phone: +17739042683Email id - sales@apexmarketreports.comWebsite -
BFSI Security Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Growth, Forecasts 2016 - 2024

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Latest industry research report on: Global BFSI Security Market : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsBanking, Financial services and Insurance sector usually include insurance companies, commercial banks and cooperatives. Furthermore, it also includes non-banking financial companies, mutual funds and pension funds among others.Complete Report Details @The growing demand for integrated security solutions is one of the major factors driving the global BFSI security market. Furthermore, growing preference for a common security platform which reduces the cost and complications of financial services is also contributing to the positive growth of BFSI security market. Moreover, increasing mobile data usage and growing digitization is also stimulating the demand for BFSI security at the global level. Stringent government regulations pertaining to data security along with increasing penetration of internet of things is also expected to have a positive impact on the BFSI security market. In addition, increasing number of cyber-attacks in BFSI sector in the last few years, the demand for security solutions and services has grown to protect confidential data in the BFSI sector. However lack of awareness about modern BFSI security systems across developing economies and the need for convergence of various security solutions are the major factors restraining the BFSI security market.The BFSI security market can be segmented into three categories based on types, end use and region. By types the market is divided into physical security and information security. Physical security is further segmented into access control, video surveillance, intrusion and fire detection, physical security information management (PSIM), system integration, maintenance and support and design and consulting. Furthermore, information security segment is further segmented into identity and access management, risk and compliance management, encryption, disaster recovery, unified threat management (UTM), firewall, web filtering, data loss protection among others. By end use the BFSI security market is segmented into banking and insurance companies among others.Request For Sample Report @By geography, the market is segmented into four major regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the world including Middle East, South America and Africa. North America and Europe are the early adopters of technology and hence accounts for majority of the market share and are expected to follow the same trend throughout the forecast period. However, Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing market for BFSI security owing to the presence of developing nations such as India, South Korea, Australia and China among others. Rapid urbanization and increasing number of users on the online platform is one of the major factors fueling the demand in this region. Moreover, increasing demand for data security of the confidential data is also expected to have a positive impact on the demand for BFSI security market. In addition, due to changing financial regulations a large number of banking and financial institutions are expected to provide their service which in turn is also expected to contribute to the demand for BFSI security.Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @Some of the major players operating in the BFSI security market are Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. (United States), Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) (United States), EMC Corporation (United States), Cisco Systems Inc.(United States), Honeywell International, Inc. (United States), Mcafee, Inc. (United States), IBM Corporation,(United States), Sophos Group PLC.(United states), Symantec Corporation (United Sates) and Trend Micro Incorporated (Japan) among others.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Highly Visible Packaging Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Growth, Forecasts 2016 - 2024

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Latest industry research report on: Global Highly Visible Packaging Market : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsPackaging is one of the fastest growing industries that is in continuously changing according to demand from end users and consumers. Packaging not only represents the indent of a brand or company, but doubles as a means of offering consumers information and messages regarding various aspects of a product or brand. Highly visible packaging allows a company to differentiate its products from that of competitors in the market, and also helps to increase visibility owing to features such as attractiveness etc.Complete Report Details @In the food industry, packaging is required to carry information pertaining to health benefits and ingredients used, method of preparation in order to reinforce the hygiene aspect, besides displaying details such as manufacturing date, shelf-life period etc. These details serve to reinforce purchase decision, and is also supported by offering food products in highly visible packaging, thus enabling contents of the package to be seen before a purchase is made. The reason highly visible packaging is gaining popularity worldwide, is because it allows easy authentication of particular brands and product differentiation. In addition, ability to be produced with certain durable properties such as tamper-proof and highly protective covering makes it a lucrative option for product manufacturers, and indirectly for consumers.Packaging considered as highly visible include blister packaging, skin packaging, clamshell packaging, windowed packaging, shrink wrap packaging, plastic container packaging, glass container, and others.Request For Sample Report @The advantages offered by highly visible packaging are the main factors fueling demand for such products. This packaging enables efficient preservation and protection of products, besides offering convenience to customers to be able to make a purchase decision on the basis of what they see. This way, it not only helps customers in being selective, but also enables food production companies to maintain the competitive edge in the market. Conveying the proper information about products and legitimately communicating the brand image are some of the other main features that differentiate highly visible packaging from other types of packaging. These advantageous properties are the main factors expected to fuel growth of the highly visible packaging market in the near future.Innovation in highly visible packaging technology and growing awareness among end-users are factors also significantly driving market growth and this market is expected to account for substantially high revenue growth over the forecast period.Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @However, relatively high capital expenditure of this type of packaging technology currently is resulting in hesitation among manufacturers to invest in setting up this technology. This factor is expected to act as a restraint for growth of the highly visible packaging market over the forecast period.The global highly visible packaging market is segmented on the basis of types and regions. The product type segment is categorized into blister packaging, clamshell packaging, skin packaging, windowed packaging, shrink wrap packaging, plastic container packaging, glass container packaging, and others.Geographically, the global highly visible packaging market is segmented into seven main regions namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East & Africa, and Japan. Due to higher consumer awareness, North America is expected to hold largest market share in the global highly visible packaging market, followed by Europe gaining market share by the end of 2016. Asia Pacific region is expected to witness maximum growth in consumption of highly visible packaging during the forecast period, on account of rising awareness, increasing consumption of consumer products, and increasing population.Some key players in the global highly visible packaging market are Amcor, Bemis, MeadWestvaco, Sonoco Products, Mondi Group, Reynolds Group Holdings Limited, Rohrer Corporation, Bayer AG, Anchor Packaging, Imex Packaging, and others.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Global Deep Brain Stimulation Systems Industry Market Research Report 2017-2022

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Report on Global Deep Brain Stimulation Systems Industry Market With the valuation from the year 2017 to 2022Based on the Deep Brain Stimulation Systems industrial chain, this report mainly elaborate the definition, types, applications and major players of Deep Brain Stimulation Systems market in details. Deep analysis about market status (2012-2017), enterprise competition pattern, advantages and disadvantages of enterprise Products, industry development trends (2017-2022), regional industrial layout characteristics and macroeconomic policies, industrial policy has also be included. From raw materials to downstream buyers of this industry will be analyzed scientifically, the feature of product circulation and sales channel will be presented as well. In a word, this report will help you to establish a panorama of industrial development and characteristics of the Deep Brain Stimulation Systems market.GET A SAMPLE REPORT @Global Deep Brain Stimulation Systems Industry Market research report can be split based on Key players, product types, major applications, and important regions.Major Players in Deep Brain Stimulation Systems market are:Aleva NeurotherapeuticsMedtronicST.JudeBoston ScientificMajor Regions play vital role in Deep Brain Stimulation Systems market are:North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanMiddle East & AfricaIndiaSouth AmericaOthersMost important types of Deep Brain Stimulation Systems products covered in this report are:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)Most widely used downstream fields of Deep Brain Stimulation Systems market covered in this report are:Parkinson's DiseaseEssential TremorDystoniaOthersCHECK DISCOUNT FOR THIS REPORT @Some Points from Table of ContentIntroduction and Market Overview1.1 Objectives of the Study1.2 Definition of Deep Brain Stimulation Systems1.3 Deep Brain Stimulation Systems Market Scope and Market Size Estimation1.3.1 Market Concentration Ratio and Market Maturity Analysis2 Industry Chain Analysis2.1 Upstream Raw Material Suppliers of Deep Brain Stimulation Systems Analysis2.2 Major Players of Deep Brain Stimulation Systems2.2.1 Major Players Manufacturing Base and Market Share of Deep Brain Stimulation Systems in 20162.2.2 Major Players Product Types in 2016VIEW FULL REPORT @Reports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Jay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Flour Market: Extensive consumption of Bakery Products to Bolster Uptake

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Some of the prominent players in the global flour market are King Arthur Flour Company Inc., ITC Limited., Hodgson Mill, General Mills Inc., Hindustan Unilever Limited, ConAgra Foods Inc., Associated British Foods plc, Ardent Mills Canada, and Archer Daniels Midland Company. Several companies are offering products made with a unique baking mix and containing a variety of flavors. Leading companies are also focusing on emerging regions such as Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa to consolidate their market presence, observes Transparency Market Research (TMR). In some regional markets, the landscape is fairly competitive on account of domestic players who are offering locally milled flour with competitive pricing.Download ToC:The global flour market is projected to rise at a positive single-digit CAGR from 2014 to 2020. The market is expected to witness substantial opportunities from the rapidly growing demand for bakery products among a variety of consumers and the increasing uptake of fast food products in various populations world over.Of all the regional markets for flour, Europe is, currently, the major contributor of revenue and is projected to lead throughout the forecast period. The dominance of this regional market is attributed to the substantial per capita consumption of various flour types. The growth of the Europe market is expected to be fueled by the increasing production of wheat to meet the burgeoning demand for bread in several nations. Based on technology, the market is bifurcated into wet and dry milling. Of these, the dry milling technology for flour is projected to hold a lions share of the overall revenue and is expected to rise at an impressive pace. The growth of the segment is propelled by its extensive demand, attributed to the simplicity of the process.Browse Full Report at:Extensive consumption of Bakery Products to Bolster UptakeThe global flour market is primarily propelled by the rising consumption of flour and bakery products in various regions. The rapidly growing demand for fast food products in restaurants, cafes, and food chains in various developing and developed nations is bolstering the demand for flour milling. The rising demand for flour confections is expected to boost the market, especially in developing regions. Furthermore, the burgeoning flour milling industry in several emerging regions is anticipated to accentuate the market through the forecast period.The market is expected to benefit from a growing demand for bakery products with nutritional benefits and containing unique flavors. In addition, the decrease in flour prices in some regions and the development of a large number of flour mills in several developing nations is a key factor boosting the market.The advent of baking mix lines by players in developed markets and a vast growth of operations of local mills are crucial trends expected to catalyze the growth of the flour market. The growing expenditure on staple food is a key factor expected to accentuate the market. To meet a burgeoning demand for flour, there is a substantial increase in the production of wheat in some regions. In addition, the growing demand for noodles and breads in various regions is expected to bolster the uptake.Recent Advancements in Milling Process Bode Well for MarketThe variability of the prices of some of the flour types in international markets and the rising popularity of gluten-free foods in health conscious populations are the key factors likely to negatively affect the growth of the market. On the other hand, advancement in milling process has led to the production of gluten-free bakeries and an innovative line of baking mix. In addition, the rising prominence of the value-added processed bakery industry in developed regions, particularly in parts of Europe, is expected to open lucrative growth avenues for market players.The growing demand for flour confections with a variety of flavors is likely to open up exciting opportunities for market players. In addition, the substantial demand for wafers and biscuits in some populations is predicted to boost the market. Furthermore, the increasing acceptance of non-gelatinized flour in the making of processed food is expected to open up promising avenues for market players.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Liquid Encapsulants Market 2016 - 2024: Industry Size, Share, Growth, Forecasts

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Latest industry research report on: Global Liquid Encapsulants Market : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsFor electronic components firm structuring of electronic component which are shock and moisture proof are considered to be essential for smooth functioning. To avoid these issues electronics manufacturers are increasingly using products called liquid encapsulants. Liquid encapsulants provide additional protection to the electronics components liquid encapsulants are considered to be the better alternative to the molding in high volume manufacturing processes used through automated dispensing equipment. Growing consumer demand of electronics equipment and accumulative reach of technology in everyday life are considered to be the prime factors for the growth of the Liquid encapsulants market. Primarily, there are two types of liquid encapsulants i.e. glob top and dam-and-fill. In addition to the shock and moisture protection the liquid encapsulants also provide excellent film formability, high voltage resistance, impregnation, migration resistance. Some of the Liquid encapsulants are also used to provide reduce wafer warps.Complete Report Details @Global liquid encapsulants market is primarily driven by the growing use of electronics and semiconductor devices in everyday life. Electronics and semiconductor devices are progressively being used in healthcare, transportation, industrial automation and consumer electronics. Global liquid encapsulants market is driven by strong demand in consumer electronics primarily driven by changing lifestyle and growing per capita income. The growing use of complex structures in semiconductors for electronic and electrical application is anticipated to drive the global lencapsulants market. Miniaturization trend of consumer electronic devices is also anticipated to catalyze the demand for liquid encapsulants. On the other hand the sluggish growth of end use sectors in few regions might acts a restraint for global liquid encapsulants market.The opportunity for the global liquid encapsulants market lies in increasing the application horizon in electronics and electrical device manufacturing. Increasing use of semiconductors in transportation and industrial automation is considered to be the major opportunity for the global liquid encapsulants market players.Request For Sample Report @The global liquid encapsulants market is segmented on the basis of the material, product, application and geography. On the basis of material the global liquid encapsulants market is segmented into epoxy modified resins, epoxy resins, hardners colorants and others. On the basis of product the global liquid encapsulants market is segmented into sensors, semiconductors, integrated circuits, optoelectronics and others .On the basis of application the global liquid encapsulants market is segmented into consumer electronics, industrial electronics, automotive, industrials automation, telecommunication and others.On the basis of geography the global Liquid encapsulants Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), the Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Latin America. Asia Pacific is considered to be the leading consumer and manufacture of global Liquid encapsulants Market by volume and value. Japan, China, South Korea and others are considered to be the major consumers of the global Liquid encapsulants Market. Followed by Asia Pacific North America is considered to be the major market for the global Liquid encapsulants Market primarily due to growth in consumer electronics segment. Europe is considered to be a leading consumer especially due to growth in application sectors such as automotive, industrial equipments and healthcare equipments. Latin America is considered to show sluggish growth in the global Liquid encapsulants market. Middle East and Africa due to its growing economies is anticipated to contribute the growth in liquid encapsulants market.Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @Some of the key market participants in the global liquid encapsulants market are Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd., KYOCERA Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd., Sanyu Rec Co. Ltd., Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., NITTO DENKO CORPORATION., NAGASE & CO., LTD., Epic Resins and Others.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. 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Pharmacy Automation Market- Detailed Analysis and Forecast 2017-2025

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Global Pharmacy Automation Market: OverviewPharmacy automation is gaining steady traction as it has enabled seamless operations of innumerable tasks in pharmacies and healthcare industry. Introduction of automation has ensured lesser number of errors in medication management, thereby ensuring patient safety. Analysts predict that the global pharmacy automation market is likely to grow at a handsome CAGR in the near future institutions and organizations are increasingly focused toward offering patients quality healthcare. Products such as automated medication dispensing systems are likely to be popular due to their accuracy and timely dispensing of medications of patients seeking treatment. These systems have significantly reduced the chances of human errors in prescribing dosages and medications.Global Pharmacy Automation Market: Key TrendsThe shifting interest in technology due to growing awareness about its benefits are expected to propel the growth of the global pharmacy automation market in the near future. The pharmacy automation market will be driven by adoption on automation systems such as medication dispensing systems, packaging and labeling systems, table-top counters and compounding systems, and storage and retrieval systems among others in the healthcare industry. The increasing understanding about benefits of using these systems such as better productivity and efficiency and lower rate of errors has led to higher investments in automation of pharmacies.Request Sample Copy of the Report@The improving healthcare infrastructure in developing countries of China, India, and Brazil has opened up a plethora of growth opportunities for the global market. The rise of the medical tourism industry in developing countries and massive untapped medical needs have offered the pharmacy automation market a significant scope for growth in these regions.Global Pharmacy Automation Market: Market PotentialProduct innovation and upgradation are the key strategies being adopted by players in the global pharmacy automation market to stay ahead of the intensifying competition. Recently, Omnicell, Inc. announced that users of its AcuDose-Rx Automated Dispensing Cabinets will now be able to upgrade the product to XT Series, while using the installed software. The new improvements will allow users to have better security, capacity, and speed for its dispensing cabinets. The customers will be able to enjoy added benefits such as Guiding Lights that help the user reach the exact locations of medications in the cabinet and smart drawer designs that will have metal locking lids for better security and capacity. The company plans to continue adding products to its portfolio that will increase operational efficiency in the long-run to retain and expand their consumer base.Request TOC of the Report @Global Pharmacy Automation Market: Regional OutlookFrom a geographic point of view, the global pharmacy automation market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. According to the research report, North America held the largest share in the global market and is expected to dominate the global market dynamics in the coming years. The well-established healthcare infrastructure that has upped the number of prescriptions in the region are fuelling the growth of the North America pharmacy automation market. The regional market is also being driven by the growing pool of geriatrics and focus toward improving efficiency in healthcare management. Emerging economies in Latin America and Asia Pacific are also expected to show a steady growth in the global pharmacy automation market in the near future. The increasing investments in healthcare, widening patient pool, and growing demand for quality care are expected to fuel the growth of the pharmacy automation market in the developing regions.Get Discount @Key Players Mentioned in this Report are:The leading players operating in the global pharmacy automation market are Becton, Dickinson, and Company, Cerner Corporation, Omnicell, Inc., Capsa Healthcare, Parata Systems LLC, ScriptPro LLC, Baxter International, Inc., KUKA AG, TCGRx Pharmacy Workflow Solutions, ARxIUM Inc., Talyst systems LLC, and RxSafe, LLC.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Smart Factory Market- Future Market, Growth, and Forecast 2017 - 2025

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Global Smart Factory Market: OverviewThe global smart factory sector has been propelled by the need for efficient and precise ways of operating a manufacturing unit. The increasing adoption of industrial robots in the global manufacturing sector was the first step for the smart factory market. Modern factories incorporate sophisticated industrial robotic systems, Internet of Things technology, and machine communication technology to enable smooth automated manufacturing. The rising government support to the smart factory sector, due to their increased output and the benefit of the same on the nations economy, is likely to enable sustained growth of the smart factory market in the coming years.Global Smart Factory Market: Key TrendsThe rising demand for industrial robots and the steady technological progression of the industrial robotics sector is one of the key drivers for the global smart factory market. Industrial robots offer significantly higher precision and a lower error rate than human workers. Large-scale use of industrial robots also raises the productivity of the manufacturing unit, providing a significant cost advantage. As a result, human factory workers across the world could find themselves without a livelihood following steady growth of the global smart factory market.Request Sample Copy of the Report@The booming automotive industry is one of the prime consumers in the global smart factory market and is likely to remain influential in the smart factory sector in the coming years. Due to the rising need for extremely precise engineering in automotive design, smart factory solutions such as industrial robotics are becoming popular in the automotive industry. The steady growth of the automotive industry due to the rising disposable income of consumers across the world is thus one of the key drivers for the global smart factory market in the coming years. The rising automotive industry in Southeastern and Eastern Asia could play a particularly important role in the global smart factory market in the coming years.Global Smart Factory Market: Market PotentialSouth Korea is likely to be a leading regional market for smart factory technology in Asia Pacific due to rising government as well as corporate interest. The South Korean government had earlier set the target of having 10,000 smart factories operational in the country by 2020. In April 2017, the government extended its support to the smart factory market in the country by upping the target to 30,000 smart factories by 2025. South Koreas determination to remain a leading light in the industrial sector has made it a pioneer in terms of the adoption of digital and automation technologies, which is likely to benefit the smart factory market immensely in the coming years.Request TOC of the Report @Global Smart Factory Market: Geographical DynamicsDeveloping countries in Asia Pacific are likely to be the dominant leaders in the global smart factory market in the coming years. Apart from South Korea, the smart factory market has also received steady government support in China, Japan, Taiwan, and India. The rapid pace of urbanization in these dynamic economies is a prime factor aiding the smart factory markets growth in the region.Get Discount @Global Smart Factory Market: Competitive DynamicsThe global smart factory market is dominated by companies that have established mutually beneficial partnerships with technology companies. Fanuc-Cisco and Kuka-Huawei are among the leading lights in the global smart factory market. ABB-IBM, a relatively recent collaboration, could also play a key role in the development of the global smart factory market in the coming years. Other key players in the global smart factory market include Emerson Electric Co., General Electric Co., Atos SE, Schneider Electric SE, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Robert Bosch GmbH, Siemens AG, and Yaskawa Electric.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Market Research, Share, Growth & Sales Report 2017

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Market Research Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.A thorough overview of the global market for Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes has been furnished in this research report. It offers a detailed analysis of the prominent trends prevailing in the market, including important growth drivers and restraints. The report, at the outset, provides a detailed overview of the products and outlines their scope. It then segments the global market for Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes depending upon different parameters such as product type, application, and region. The report takes up each segment separately to understand the sales and revenues it generates and its prospects going forward.Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingP&GKimberly-ClarkNice-Pak ProductsJohnson & JohnsonSC JohnsonCloroxBeiersdorf3MGeorgia-PacificRequest for the Report Sample:The study also furnishes important information on the prominent players operating in the global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes market. It sheds light on their product portfolios, sales and revenues, and position in the market. It uses popular analytical tools, namely Porters Five Forces analysis and SWOT analysis to understand the competitive dynamics in the global market. The report discusses the key strategies of market participants and their growth prospects. The report also presents important data in a comprehensive and meaningful manner by leveraging graphs, charts, graphics, and tables that help to spot key trends in the market easily.To sum up, the report attempts to answers a number of important questions related to the global market for Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes pertaining to prominent trends, its estimated size, top regional segments, and others.The report also offers information on the prices of important raw materials and discusses suppliers and distributers in the global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes market. It further analyses the value chain and other important factors like technological progress and substitutes.Complete report with detailed table of content is available at:Table of ContentsGlobal Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Market Research Report 20171 Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes1.2 Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20162 Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)3 Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 Europe Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)Check Discount @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Baby Wet Tissues and WipesFigure Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Production (K Pcs) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Product Picture of Common TypeFigure Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Capacity, Production (K Pcs) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Major Players Product Capacity (K Pcs) (2012-2017)Table Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Capacity (K Pcs) of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)Table Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Capacity Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)Figure Global Baby Wet Tissues and Wipes Capacity (K Pcs) of Key Manufacturers in 2016About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Pet Wearable Market to cross $8bn by 2024 - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024

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ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Pet Wearable Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 " to it's Large Report database.This market research study analyses the Pet Wearable market on a global level and provides estimate in terms of revenue (USD million) from 2016 to 2024. The report segments the market based on the technologies which include Sensors, GPS and RFID. All these segments have been estimated on the basis of geography in terms of revenue (USD million). In addition, the market is segmented by applications such as medical diagnosis & treatment, behaviour monitoring & control, facilitation, safety & security, identification and tracking.Pet wearables essentially refer to devices designed for pets, which perform crucial functions including but not limited to identification, tracking, controlling and monitoring of pets. Furthermore, with the advancementof technology pet wearable devices for enabling medical diagnosis & treatment and facilitation, safety and security is fast emerging as a popular product segment globally. These devices are designed specifically for dogs, cats and other pets and pet owners use the information generated to gauge their pets health conditions and whereabouts in real time. Additionally, innovative features such as setting up geo fencing for pets, setting up an alert mechanism if a pet crosses the designated geo fence, gauging the amount of rest and activity of pets have become essential features to pet wearable devices.Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:The report elaborates on the type of technologies based on which pet wearable devices are designed. Primarily technologies used in the devices include (GPS) Global Positioning Systems, (RFID) Radio Frequency Identification and sensors. Moving along the study highlights the share of these technologies of the global pet wearable market. The report features the growth rate and market size of these technology segments along with the projected market sizes for the forecast period. The study also explains the factors driving or hindering the growth of individual technology segments. The study finds that the market is mainly dominated by GPS based trackers and RFID receivers however, devices equipped with temperature sensors, motion sensors and accelerometers among others, which monitor heat patterns of the animals body and environment and daily activity patterns such as playtime, walks, and rest duration are gaining significant demand in the global market.Browse more details @Table of ContentChapter 1 Preface1.1 Report Description1.2 Research Scope1.3 Research MethodologyChapter 2 Executive Summary2.1 Global Pet Wearable Market Snapshot2.2 Global Pet Wearable Market Revenue, 2016  2024 (USD Million)Chapter 3 Global Pet Wearable Market Analysis3.1 Overview3.2 Key Trends Analysis3.3 Market dynamics3.3.1 Drivers3.3.1.1 Increased Pet Ownership and Expenditure3.3.1.2 Rising Awareness3.3.1.3 Easy Set-up Infrastructure3.3.2 Market Restraints3.3.2.1 Unreliable Internet Connectivity in Developing Markets3.3.2.2 Higher Cost/ line of Wireless Technology3.3.3 Market opportunities3.3.3.1 Using Web Analytics to further provide value added insights3.4 Distribution Channel Analysis3.5 Global Pet Wearable Market Analysis, By Technology, 2016  2024 (USD Million)3.6 Global Pet Wearable Market Analysis, By Application, 2016  2024 (USD Million)3.6.1 Overview3.6.2 Medical diagnosis & treatment3.6.3 Behavior monitoring & control3.6.4 Facilitation, safety & security3.6.5 Identification and trackingAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the world's fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMoz's service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Contact Us:Mr. Nachiket Ghumare90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074 / Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:Follow me on Blogger at:
Gerotor Pump Market 2017: Key Players  Bosch Rexroth, Koge Micro Tech, GRIBI Hydraulics, Parker, SKF, Cascon and More

Gerotor Pump Market

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Market Overview on Global Gerotor Pump Industry:Based on the Gerotor Pump industrial chain, this report mainly elaborate the definition, types, applications and major players of Gerotor Pump market in details. Deep analysis about market status (2012-2017), enterprise competition pattern, advantages and disadvantages of enterprise Products, industry development trends (2017-2022), regional industrial layout characteristics and macroeconomic policies, industrial policy has also be included. From raw materials to downstream buyers of this industry will be analyzed scientifically, the feature of product circulation and sales channel will be presented as well. In a word, this report will help you to establish a panorama of industrial development and characteristics of the Gerotor Pump market.Download Sample Copy@The Gerotor Pump market is characterized by constant technological innovation to keep pace with the changing industrial needs. This Gerotor Pump Market report provides detailed analysis of worldwide markets for Gerotor Pump from 2012-2017 and provides extensive market forecasts 2017-2022 by region/country and subsectors.The report firstly introduced the Gerotor Pump Market basics: definitions, classifications, applications and market overview; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures, raw materials and so on. Then it analyzed the worlds main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, supply, demand and market growth rate and forecast etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.Scope of the ReportThis report studies the Global Gerotor Pump market, analyzes and researches the Gerotor Pump development status and forecast in Global, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia.Following Key players are covered:Bosch Rexroth, Koge Micro Tech, GRIBI Hydraulics, Parker, SKF, CasconMarket segment by Type, Gerotor Pump can be split intoHydraulic Fluid Pump, Lube Oil Pump, Light Fuel Oils Pump, OthersMarket segment by Applications,Automotive Drivetrain, Industrial, Othersadditionally, this report recognizes pin-point investigation of adjusting competition subtleties and keeps you ahead in the competition. It offers a fast looking perception on different variables driving or averting the development of the Gerotor Pump market. It helps in understanding the key product areas and their future. It guides in taking knowledgeable business decisions by giving complete constitutions of the market and by enclosing a comprehensive analysis of market subdivisions. To sum up, it equally gives certain graphics and personalized SWOT analysis of premier market sectors.This Study on the Global Gerotor Pump Market is an all-inclusive study of the business sectors up-to-date outlines, industry enhancement drivers, and manacles. It provides market projections for the coming years. It contains an analysis of late augmentations in innovation, Porters five force model analysis and progressive profiles of hand-picked industry competitors. The report additionally formulates a survey of minor and full-scale factors charging for the new applicants in the Gerotor Pump market and the ones as of now in the market along with a systematic value chain exploration.Make Enquiry for this Report @Table of ContentGlobal Gerotor Pump Market Research Report 20171 Gerotor Pump Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Gerotor Pump1.2 Gerotor Pump Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Gerotor Pump Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)2 Global Gerotor Pump Market Competitions by Manufacturers3 Global Gerotor Pump Capacities, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Gerotor Pump Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global Gerotor Pump Productions, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Gerotor Pump Market Analyses by Application7 Global Gerotor Pump Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis10 Southeast Asia Gerotor Pump Development Status and Outlook11 Market Forecast by Regions, Type and Application (2017-2022)12 Gerotor Pump Market Dynamics13 Market Effect Factors AnalysisContinuedView Complete Report@About Reports Monitor:Reports Monitor is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact usJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Smart Meters Market - Present Scenario and Growth Prospects 2017  2025

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Global Smart Meters Market: OverviewSmart meters are electronic devices that keep track of electric energy, gas, and water consumption in uniform time intervals and sends the information digitally to utility for monitoring and billing. They have been designed to better understand energy usage and ensure accurate energy bills. Besides this, they are also effective in controlling the levels of radioactive emissions in the eco-system. Smart meters are used for electricity, gas, and water and can be deployed across residential, industrial, and commercial sectors. These meters use technologies such as advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and automatic meter reading (AMR).Global Smart Meters Market: Key TrendsGovernment policies are playing a vital role in the growth of the global smart meters market. The ever-rising demand for energy in form of electricity is compelling governments worldwide to pay attention to not just its production and transmission but also keep a check on losses due to theft and leakage. This is promoting the installations of smart meters across the globe. In addition, the growing emphasis on energy and water conservation is augmenting the market. The global smart meters market is also supported by the increasing deployment of smart grid. Furthermore, the rising awareness regarding environment conservation is stoking the growth of the global market.Request Sample Copy of the Report@On the flip side, the lack of awareness among consumers is limiting the widespread adoption of smart meters. Moreover, the high cost of installation makes end users less willing to switch to these meters from traditional meters, thereby hampering the growth prospects of the market.Global Smart Meters Market: Market PotentialThe majority of key players in the global smart meters market are enjoying the encouraging policies by governments in several parts of the world to set up smart meters. For instance, with the digitization of the Energy Turnaround Act in July 2016 in Germany, the legislation established guidelines for initial smart meter rollout, which is set to begin in 2017. These guidelines lay the foundation for a new phase in Energiewende. Similarly, in the U.K. in July 2016, British Gas decided to offer free daytime electricity for one day per weekend to over 2 million customers who had smart meters deployed. Such initiatives encourage people around the world to deploy smart meters, thereby boosting the sales.Request TOC of the Report @Global Smart Meters Market: Geographical SegmentationThe North America market for smart meters is a highly lucrative marketplace for global participants. Continuous efforts by governments to improve the infrastructure pertaining to electricity, water, and gas supply along with deployment of devices that monitor and prevent their leakage are escalating the growth of the region. Governments in several parts of the U.S., and Mexico are rolling out smart meters at subsidized prices, which in turn is encouraging the growth of the market in North America.Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is an emerging market. The robust growth of the industrial sector and the pressing need for reliable systems to address growing electricity and water scarcity are driving the region. Besides this, the increasing investments in repairing and upgrading aging infrastructure and the booming concept of smart city are supplementing the growth of APAC.Get Discount @Global Smart Meters Market: Competition ScenarioThe high capital investment and technical acumen required for the manufacturing and distribution of smart meters is restricting new players from venturing into the global smart meters market. However, government regulations and strategic partnerships could help new players in overcoming high entry barriers. To deal with the high competitive rivalry, players are resorting to strategies such as product innovation and mergers and acquisitions. Some of the key companies operating in the global smart meters market are Itron Inc., Kamstrup A/S, Holley Metering Ltd., Landis+Gyr, Honeywell International Inc., and Toshiba Corporation.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Liquid Encapsulants Market show exponential growth by 2024 - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024

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ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Liquid Encapsulants Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 " to it's Large Report database.For electronic components firm structuring of electronic component which are shock and moisture proof are considered to be essential for smooth functioning. To avoid these issues electronics manufacturers are increasingly using products called liquid encapsulants. Liquid encapsulants provide additional protection to the electronics components liquid encapsulants are considered to be the better alternative to the molding in high volume manufacturing processes used through automated dispensing equipment. Growing consumer demand of electronics equipment and accumulative reach of technology in everyday life are considered to be the prime factors for the growth of the Liquid encapsulants market. Primarily, there are two types of liquid encapsulants i.e. glob top and dam-and-fill. In addition to the shock and moisture protection the liquid encapsulants also provide excellent film formability, high voltage resistance, impregnation, migration resistance. Some of the Liquid encapsulants are also used to provide reduce wafer warps.Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:Global liquid encapsulants market is primarily driven by the growing use of electronics and semiconductor devices in everyday life. Electronics and semiconductor devices are progressively being used in healthcare, transportation, industrial automation and consumer electronics. Global liquid encapsulants market is driven by strong demand in consumer electronics primarily driven by changing lifestyle and growing per capita income. The growing use of complex structures in semiconductors for electronic and electrical application is anticipated to drive the global lencapsulants market. Miniaturization trend of consumer electronic devices is also anticipated to catalyze the demand for liquid encapsulants. On the other hand the sluggish growth of end use sectors in few regions might acts a restraint for global liquid encapsulants market.The opportunity for the global liquid encapsulants market lies in increasing the application horizon in electronics and electrical device manufacturing. Increasing use of semiconductors in transportation and industrial automation is considered to be the major opportunity for the global liquid encapsulants market players.Browse more details @The global liquid encapsulants market is segmented on the basis of the material, product, application and geography. On the basis of material the global liquid encapsulants market is segmented into epoxy modified resins, epoxy resins, hardners colorants and others. On the basis of product the global liquid encapsulants market is segmented into sensors, semiconductors, integrated circuits, optoelectronics and others .On the basis of application the global liquid encapsulants market is segmented into consumer electronics, industrial electronics, automotive, industrials automation, telecommunication and others.On the basis of geography the global Liquid encapsulants Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), the Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Latin America. Asia Pacific is considered to be the leading consumer and manufacture of global Liquid encapsulants Market by volume and value. Japan, China, South Korea and others are considered to be the major consumers of the global Liquid encapsulants Market. Followed by Asia Pacific North America is considered to be the major market for the global Liquid encapsulants Market primarily due to growth in consumer electronics segment. Europe is considered to be a leading consumer especially due to growth in application sectors such as automotive, industrial equipments and healthcare equipments. Latin America is considered to show sluggish growth in the global Liquid encapsulants market. Middle East and Africa due to its growing economies is anticipated to contribute the growth in liquid encapsulants market.Some of the key market participants in the global liquid encapsulants market are Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd., KYOCERA Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd., Sanyu Rec Co. Ltd., Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., NITTO DENKO CORPORATION., NAGASE & CO., LTD., Epic Resins and Others.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the world's fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMoz's service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Contact Us:Mr. Nachiket Ghumare90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074 / Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:Follow me on Blogger at:
Starch Derivatives Market Size, Analysis, and Forecast Report 2015-2021

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The competitive landscape of the global starch derivatives market demonstrates a highly fragmented structure. In 2014, the top three participants, namely, Archer Daniels Midland Co., Ingredion Inc., AGRANA Group, and Tate & Lyle Plc, jointly held a share of only 22.3% in the overall market.Download ToC:Currently, the leading producers of starch derivatives are focusing on improving the quality of their offering in order to strengthen their market presence. However, over the coming years, these companies are likely to enter into strategic agreements with regional players in order to expand their reach. BENEO-Palatinit GmbH, Cargill Inc., Roquette Freres S.A., Emsland-Starke Gmbh, Avebe U.A., and Grain Processing Corp. are some of the other prominent starch derivatives producers across the world.Soaring Demand for Convenience Food and Beverages Boosts Opportunity in Starch DerivativesThe hyperactive lifestyle of people all over the world has left them with little time for proper meals, resulting in the soaring demand for convenience food and beverages. While the demand for starch derivatives is already high in developed nations such as the U.S., the U.K., and Germany, the rapid urbanization is expected to fuel their demand in emerging economies, such as China, India, and Brazil. The rising demand for these derivatives in natural sweeteners and their growing industrial application is also propelling the opportunities in them significantly.Browse Full Report at:On the flip side, the high volatility in prices of raw materials utilized to produce starch derivatives is a major hindrance to the growth of this market. The shortage of these raw materials, owing to their increasing utilization in other industrial processes, the dearth of customized starch derivative products, and the availability of alternatives, such as gum, may also limit the application of these derivatives during the forecast period, states TMR.Supported by Demand for Starch Derivatives in China and India, Asia Pacific Set to Retain LeadershipIn spite of these hindrances, the opportunity in starch derivatives, worldwide, is likely to report a healthy rise from US$45.3 bn in 2014 to US$68.7 bn by 2021, expanding at a CAGR of 5.90% during the period from 2015 to 2021.Asia Pacific is estimated to remain the leading regional market for starch derivatives throughout the forecast period. The APAC starch derivatives market is expected to grow from nearly US$14 bn in 2014 to US$20.6 bn by the end of 2023. The soaring demand for starch derivatives in China and India is the key factor behind the strong position of Asia Pacific in the global market for starch derivatives. Analysts at TMR estimate this trend to remain the same over the forecast period.These derivatives will continue to find most application avenues in the food and beverages sector and glucose syrup will retain its position as the segment witnessing the highest demand during the forecast period.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
High demand for Global Specialty Paper Market - Developed Economies is a key driver 2024

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ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Specialty Paper Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024 " to it's Large Report database.The specialty paper market has risen spectacularly in recent years following the rapid adoption of packaging mechanisms and home delivery facilities in a number of sectors. Growth of the consumer goods sector has been the prime driver for the specialty paper market, as packaging and labeling applications account for close to 40% of the global specialty paper market and are likely to remain the leading revenue generator for the market in the coming years. The booming demand for consumerism channels is thus likely to remain the key driver for the specialty paper market.The rising online shopping sector in emerging as well as developed economies is a key driver for the global specialty paper market. The convenience of shopping online has led to a consistent rise in user figures for ecommerce portals, which has led to a corresponding rise in the demand for packaging materials and other materials required to transport and store the products. The specialty paper market has been a key beneficiary of these developments, as it has widespread utility in several parts of the online shopping sector.Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:Regionally, Europe is likely to exhibit the leading share in the global specialty paper market in the coming years. The steady presence of paper processing framework in the region is a key driver for the Europe specialty paper market, while the steady rise in the use of online shopping channels in the developed and affluent region is also a consistent contributor to the global specialty paper market. Besides Europe, Asia Pacific is also likely to contribute significantly to the global specialty paper market in the coming years due to the increasingly prosperous economic growth in several countries in the region.Specialty paper is used to transport and safeguard a wide range of merchandise. High demand from the end use industry, such as packaging and labelling, is anticipated to drive growth of the specialty paper market over the forecast period. The specialty paper market constituted almost 6% of the global specialty paper and paperboard market in terms of volume in 2014. Europe was the leading exporter of specialty papers in 2014. Rapid increase in consumerism, in turn, is projected to drive demand for specialty papers in the developing countries.Browse more details @The convenience offered by customizable specialty paper products, coupled with their beneficial properties, is also among the major factors anticipated to drive growth of the specialty paper market over the forecast period. Thus, in view of all the above driving factors, the global specialty paper market is expected to witness high growth over the forecast period.Specialty Paper Market: Drivers and RestraintsGrowth witnessed in the end-use industry, such as packaging and labelling, in turn is expected to drive growth of the specialty paper market in the near future, as packaging and labelling constitutes almost 40% of the global specialty paper application. Change in lifestyle of people and rise in aging population are factors anticipated to increase demand for specialty paper in the food service, packaging, and medical applications. Besides, rise in the disposable income of people across the globe is expected to further fuel demand for specialty papers over the forecast period.Carbon emissions resulting from the paper manufacturing processes, coupled with deforestation, is projected to be a strong disadvantage of specialty papers, in turn hindering their market growth. Besides, the advent of the digitalization age is expected to be another major restraining factor for growth of the specialty paper market in the coming years. Furthermore, anticipated extermination of paper-based communication due to the increasing consumer preference for electronic media is expected to lead to further decline in growth of the specialty paper market over the forecast period. Moreover, the specialty paper market is extremely fragmented, which is another restraining factor for growth of the specialty paper market over the forecast period.Specialty Paper Market: SegmentationThe global specialty paper market is segmented based on raw materials into:AdditivesFillersBindersPulpOthers (fibre, chemicals)The global specialty paper market is segmented on the basis of product type into:Release & labelsDecor papersPharmaceutical leaflet papersFlexible packaging papersOthers (automotive, kitchen worktops, and abrasive backings)The global specialty paper market is segmented based on end use application into:IndustrialConstructionPackagingLabelFood ServicePrintingsOthersAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the world's fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMoz's service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Contact Us:Mr. Nachiket Ghumare90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074 / Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:Follow me on Blogger at:
Green Data Center 2017 Global Key Players  Cisco Systems, Dell, Emerson Network Power, HP, IBM, Green House Data, Oracle Market Analysis And Forecast To 2022

Green Data Center Market

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Green Data Center Market 2017Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Green Data Center -Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Manufacturers, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2022 To Its Research Database.Description:This report studies the global Green Data Center market, analyzes and researches the Green Data Center development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeCisco SystemsDellEmerson Network PowerHPIBMSiemensSchneider Electric3MAirdaleEatonEquinixWDMGreen House DataOracleHewlett-PackardEMC CorpAPC CorpHuawei TechnologiesFujitsu CorpRequest for Sample Report@Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, Green Data Center can be split intoSystem IntegrationMonitoring ServiceProfessional ServiceOthersMarket segment by Application, Green Data Center can be split intoColocation ProviderCloud Service ProviderEnterpriseEnquiry before Buying @If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table of Contents:Global Green Data Center Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Green Data Center1.1 Green Data Center Market Overview1.1.1 Green Data Center Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Green Data Center Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.2.1 United States1.2.2 EU1.2.3 Japan1.2.4 China1.2.5 India1.2.6 Southeast Asia1.3 Green Data Center Market by Type1.3.1 System Integration1.3.2 Monitoring Service1.3.3 Professional Service1.3.4 Others1.4 Green Data Center Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Colocation Provider1.4.2 Cloud Service Provider1.4.3 Enterprise2 Global Green Data Center Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Green Data Center Market Size (Value) by Players (2016 and 2017)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future..3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Cisco Systems3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Green Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Dell3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Green Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Emerson Network Power3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Green Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 HP3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Green Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 IBM3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Green Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 Siemens3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Green Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.6.5 Recent Developments3.7 Schneider Electric3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.7.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.7.4 Green Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.7.5 Recent Developments3.8 3M3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.8.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.8.4 Green Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.8.5 Recent Developments3.9 Airdale3.9.1 Company Profile3.9.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.9.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.9.4 Green Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.9.5 Recent Developments3.10 Eaton3.10.1 Company Profile3.10.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.10.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.10.4 Green Data Center Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.10.5 Recent Developments3.11 Equinix3.12 WDM3.13 Green House Data3.14 Oracle3.15 Hewlett-Packard3.16 EMC Corp3.17 APC Corp3.18 Huawei Technologies3.19 Fujitsu CorpContinued..Contact US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:: Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd: Pune  411028: Maharashtra,: Ph: +91 841 198 5042
Automatic Environmental Control Market - U.S. Industry Growth, Share, Analysis, Trends, Size, and Forecast 2017 - 2025

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IndexBox has just published a new report "U.S. Automatic Environmental Control For Residential, Commercial, And Appliance Use Market. Analysis And Forecast to 2025" ().This report is best suitable for you if you: Are planning to enter a new geographical market and wish to know which one is best for your product Are planning to enter a new product market and want to have a detailed overview of the market before entering Already work in a given market and want to update your knowledge on the topic Are developing/reviewing your company strategy and wish to know the existing trends in the market Want to find the best country to import a product from Are consulting a client in the given industry and wish to get a deep understanding of the situation in the market Are planning to open new production facilities and wish to choose the best location.The report serves the above mentioned purposes by providing a deep study of the key indicators of the automatic environmental control market. It includes a market overview, which consolidates the key conclusions made from the analysis of the market survey, giving insights on the most important markets based on the comparative analysis. The report also provides a outlook of how the market is expected to change in the coming years, based on historical trends, external and internal factors, and the main drivers changing the market. Each section contains a a comprehensive survey of the data provided. Specifically, the report outlines the historical developments and actual prospects of automatic environmental control production volumes, consumption data, as well as producer prices.The trade section provides crucial data, such as historical data on imports/exports, changes in the direction of trade, as well as import/export prices. Analysis of automatic environmental control trade shows the opportunities that are opening before producers and suppliers in a changing market.Product coverage: Automatic environmental controls for monitoring residential, commercial, and appliance use.Countries coverage: the U.S.Abstract:In 2015, the value of automatic environmental control production in the U.S. amounted to $2.3B, dropping by -14.1% against the previous year level. Overall, the U.S. automatic environmental control output pursued a prominent decline from 2007 to 2015. The total output figures decreased at an average annual rate of -2.7%. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticable fluctuations throughout the analyzed period. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2010, when the output figure increased by +13% from the previous year level. Over the period under review, the total value of automatic environmental control shipments in the United States attained its maximum level of $2.8B in 2011. Afterwards, the growth in terms of the automatic environmental control production failed to regain its strength through to 2015.Data coverage: Automatic environmental control market value and size; Major trends in the automatic environmental control market; Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term; Exports, imports and trade balance; Import and export prices; Life cycle of the automatic environmental control industry; Number of establishments and their locations; Automatic environmental control industry productivity. Key market players and their profiles.Methodology:Our methodology consists of obtaining information from various trusted sources (both paid and open), which include, but are not limited to: International official statistical agencies Governmental statistical agencies Official trade statistics Paid trade databases Industrial associations Company reports Industry experts.Companies mentioned:Siemens Industry,Megtec Systems,Automated Logic Corporation,Schneider Electric Buildings,Therm-O-Disc,Hart & Cooley,Phoenix Controls Corporation,Comverge, Schneider Automation,Ascent Capital Group,Pentair Thermal Management,LSB Industries,Flare Industries,Nailor Industries of Texas,Vanguard Energy Services,Tac,ABB Automation,Southern Environmental,Ruskin Company,United Technologies Electronic Controls,Robertshaw Controls Company,Stulz Investment Corporation of America,Carnes Company,Invensys Processs Systems,Bitzer Scroll Inc.,Robertshaw Holdings Corp,Schneider Electric Buildings Americas,First Quality Retail Services,Amtrol Holdings,Global Energy & Environmental SolutionsOur research team compare the information gathered, confirm it with sources when required, and analyze the collected data, developing a full clear picture of the market and coming up with the final numbers. It is crucial to understand the trends of the market, for which we do provide study, taking into account events in the market, in adjacent and related markets, raw material markets, and markets, which are the main demand creators for the product under research. As for the forecast, it is conducted using analytical models of data on consumption, production, exports, imports, prices, as well as the industry trends, economic trends, consumption trends, possible political and technological trends.Source:IndexBox is a leading market research publisher in the world. You can find more than 25,000 research reports in our web store, which cover global industries and regional markets. All the worldwide marketing data you need is at your fingertips.Company Name: IndexBoxContact Person: Kirill BezverhiEmail: kirill.bezverhi@indexbox.co.ukPhone: +44 20 3239 3063Adress: United Kingdom, 44 Main Street, Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML11 0QW
Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) Market- Trends, Price, Share and Growth Rate from 2017 to 2025

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Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) Market: OverviewThe rising demand for higher level of encryption for voice to meet the security needs for public safety organizations is boosting the global terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA) market. The ability of terrestrial trunked radios to transfer data quickly as compared to the mobile communications earlier is also boosting their demand. Terrestrial trunked radio is a private, digital mobile radiotechnology, finding its application in medical, transport, security, and fire services. As all communications via terrestrial trunked radio are private and secure, they are increasingly being adopted. As vendors operating in the terrestrial trunked radio market are putting all their efforts towards realizing a secure, reliable, and efficient communication method so as to fulfill the needs of consumers, the market is witnessing a growth.The demand for TETRA is also forecasted to increase in the coming years on account of the growing penetration of professional mobile radio (PMR) organizations. The growing usage of TETRA networks in the military and defense applications will further the growth of the market. Additionally, the high demand for consumer electronics will also help in furthering the growth of the global terrestrial trunked radio market.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) Market: Key TrendsThe rising need for mission critical communication and radio communication devices to shift from analog to digital will create a heightened demand for the deployment of terrestrial trunked radio worldwide. The use of terrestrial trunked radio for supporting the disaster relief and next generation public protection communications infrastructure will also push the market towards growth. In addition to this, the increasing need for efficient communication for home security and also for emergency medical services will ensure a growth of the TETRA market in the coming years. However, the installation cost of TETRA networks is very high and can pose a challenge for the growth of the market.Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) Market: Market PotentialThe military and defense sector is the largest applications segment for the TETRA market. Portable radios with inbuilt TETRA are catering to the needs of critical communication needs in the military and defense sector, which require seamless operation.Companies such as Hytera Communications Corporation Limited, have developed PT580H Plus, which has tamper proof protection, making the device more secure. The data stored in the radio is thus protected from security attacks. Such innovations in the industry are likely to boost the adoption rates and thus drive the market for terrestrial trunked radio in the future.Request TOC of the Report @Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) Market: Regional OutlookOn the basis of geography, the global terrestrial trunked radio market is segmented into Asia Pacific, Latin America, North America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. Of these, Asia Pacific is projected to hold key shares in the market on account of the growing acceptance of TETRA networks and a rise in the focus on critical communication operations. North America is expected to be second leading regional segment. Europe is expected to be one of the lucrative markets for TETRA on account of high adoption of these networks for both commercial and public applications. Moreover, the presence of a large number of established vendors is also proving to be beneficial for the growth of the market in the region.Get Discount @Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) Market: Competitive LandscapeThe key players operating in the Terrestrial Trunked Radio market includes Motorola Solutions, Inc. (The U.S), Simoco Group (U.K), Hytera Communications Corporation Limited (The U.S), Airbus Defense and Space Corporation (France), Bitea Limited (U.K), Rohill Engineering B.V. (Netherlands), Sepura PLC (UK), and Cellular Systems A/S (Denmark).About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
US Residential Electric Lighting Fixture Market, 2025

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IndexBox has just published a new report "U.S. Residential Electric Lighting Fixture Market. Analysis And Forecast to 2025" ().This report is best suitable for you if you: Are planning to enter a new geographical market and wish to know which one is best for your product Are planning to enter a new product market and want to have a detailed overview of the market before entering Already work in a given market and want to update your knowledge on the topic Are developing/reviewing your company strategy and wish to know the existing trends in the market Want to find the best country to import a product from Are consulting a client in the given industry and wish to get a deep understanding of the situation in the market Are planning to open new production facilities and wish to choose the best location.The report serves the above mentioned purposes by providing a deep analysis of the key indicators of the residential electric lighting fixture market. It includes a market overview, which consolidates the key conclusions made from the analysis of the market survey, giving insights on the most significant markets based on the comparative analysis. The report also provides a forecast of how the market is expected to change in the coming years, based on historical trends, external and internal factors, and the main drivers changing the market. Each section contains a a comprehensive analysis of the data provided. Specifically, the report outlines the historical developments and actual prospects of residential electric lighting fixture production volumes, consumption data, as well as producer prices.The trade section provides crucial data, such as historical data on imports/exports, changes in the direction of trade, as well as import/export prices. Analysis of residential electric lighting fixture trade shows the opportunities that are opening before producers and suppliers in a changing market.Product coverage: Residential-type electric lighting fixtures (excluding portable), including parts and accessories; Residential-type portable lighting fixtures, including parts and accessories; Residential electric lighting fixture manufacturing, nsk, total.Countries coverage: the U.S.Abstract:In 2015, the value of residential electric lighting fixture production in the U.S. amounted to $1.5B, jumping by +4.4% against the previous year level. Overall, the U.S. residential electric lighting fixture output pursued a prominent decline from 2007 to 2015. The total output figures decreased at an average annual rate of -5.4%. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticable fluctuations throughout the analyzed period. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2014, when the output figure increased by +13% from the previous year level. Over the period under review, the total value of residential electric lighting fixture shipments in the United States attained its maximum level of $2.2B in 2008. Afterwards, the growth in terms of the residential electric lighting fixture production failed to regain its strength through to 2015.Residential-type electric lighting fixtures (excluding portable), including parts and accessories accounted for the highest share (58% in 2015) of U.S. residential electric lighting fixture manufacturing, leaving a considerable room for residential-type portable lighting fixtures, including parts and accessories (32%). The other related products with less notable individual shares together comprised approx. 10% of the total output.Data coverage: Residential electric lighting fixture market value and size; Major trends in the residential electric lighting fixture market; Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term; Exports, imports and trade balance; Import and export prices; Life cycle of the residential electric lighting fixture industry; Number of establishments and their locations; Residential electric lighting fixture industry productivity. Key market players and their profiles.Methodology:Our methodology consists of obtaining information from various trusted sources (both paid and open), which include, but are not limited to: International official statistical agencies Governmental statistical agencies Official trade statistics Paid trade databases Industrial associations Company reports Industry experts.Companies mentioned:The L D Kichler Co,Feit Electric Company,Swarovski Lighting,Insight Lighting,Louis Poulsen USA Inc.,Evolution Lighting,B-K Lighting,Sea Gull Lighting Products,Premier Manufacturing Group,Hubbardton Forge,Afx,Visual Comfort of America,Lights of America,Maxim Lighting International,Stylecraft Home Collection,The Richard John Collection,Atlas Lighting Products,Blumberg Industries,Robert Abbey,Lava Lite,Mario Industries of Virginia,American Lighting Fixture Corp.,Washoe Equipment,Progress Lighting,Vestor Partners,Nulco Mfg. Corp.,Troy-Csl Lighting,Jimco Lamp & Manufacturing Co,Quality Home Brands Holdings,Maxim Lighting,Austin Lighting Products,Lampcrafters,Stein World Operating CompanyOur research team compare the information gathered, confirm it with sources when required, and analyze the collected data, developing a full clear picture of the market and coming up with the final numbers. It is crucial to understand the trends of the market, for which we do provide study, taking into account events in the market, in adjacent and related markets, raw material markets, and markets, which are the main demand creators for the product under research. As for the forecast, it is conducted using analytical models of data on consumption, production, exports, imports, prices, as well as the industry trends, economic trends, consumption trends, possible political and technological trends.Source:IndexBox is a leading market research publisher in the world. You can find more than 25,000 research reports in our web store, which cover global industries and regional markets. All the worldwide marketing data you need is at your fingertips.Company Name: IndexBoxContact Person: Kirill BezverhiEmail: kirill.bezverhi@indexbox.co.ukPhone: +44 20 3239 3063Adress: United Kingdom, 44 Main Street, Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML11 0QW
Antibacterial Glass Market to Witness a Rise of US$ 183.3 Million By the End of 2018

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A recent study by Transparency Market Research (TMR) forecasts that the global antibacterial glass market will grow at a CAGR of 6.3% between the years 2012 to 2018. TMR, a market intelligence firm based in the United States, in its report says that the antibacterial glass market which was valued at US$120 million will report a market value worth US$183.3 million by 2018. The report is titled Antibacterial Glass Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2012 - 2018.Browse Complete Report @This market research report states that the global antibacterial glass market is primarily driven by rising demand for health-improving equipment and devices, and technological developments. Antibacterial glass refers to glass that is characterized by fungicidal and bactericidal properties. Antibacterial glass is manufactured in a way that ensures the elimination of bacteria deposition on its surface, and also prevents the growth of fungi. Coating and Infusion are the two main processes that are used for manufacturing antibacterial glass. Silver is the most commonly used material in antibacterial glass, however other active ingredients like zinc and copper can also be used for producing the same. Antibacterial glass is generally used in highly sterile environments like in hotels, hospitals, bathrooms, and others.Request and Download Sample Report @According to the TMR report, the global antibacterial glass market is segmented on the basis of the active ingredients used, application, and geography. Based on active ingredients, the antibacterial glass market is segmented into silver, zinc, titanium, and copper amongst others. The various application segments in this market are household, hospitals, military, food and beverages, and others. The healthcare sector is by far the most profitable end-user in the overall antibacterial glass market. The global antibacterial glass market also comprises antibacterial infused glass and antibacterial/antimicrobial coated glass. Glass that is coated with antimicrobial substances like titanium, zinc, and copper for ensuring antibacterial properties is known as antibacterial/antimicrobial coated glass. Whereas, glass, that is infused with antibacterial component like silver for creating a germ free environment is known as antibacterial infused glass.View and Download TOC of Antibacterial Glass Market Research Report @Geographically, the global antibacterial glass market is classified into North America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. The global antibacterial glass market is led by Europe. It is also expected that this region will dominate the global antibacterial glass market in the forthcoming years as well, owing to widespread acceptance of antibacterial glass along with the presence of prominent companies like AGC Glass Europe in this region. Between the years 2012 and 2018, the European antibacterial glass market will grow at 7% CAGR, which is higher than the overall average CAGR of 6.3%. In the application segment, highest market share is held by hospitals. In the active ingredients segment, silver has the highest share in the overall antibacterial glass market. Most of the key players in the market are not engaged in the manufacturing process, instead they have distribution networks.The prominent players operating in the global antibacterial glass market are Glas Trosch Holding AG, VBT Glass, Saint-Gobain SA, Nippon Sheet Glass Company Limited, Ishizuka Glass Company Limited, Essex Safety Glass Ltd., BUFA Glas GmbH & Co. KG, Beijing JiYan-Tech Co. Ltd, and AGC Glass Europe.Buy Full Antibacterial Glass Market Research Report @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Self-Adhesive Labels Market to Reflect a Significant CAGR Growth of 5.3% through 2024

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The report also projects that by 2020, nearly 29,000 square meters of self-adhesive labels will be sold across the globe. Affordability of self-adhesive labels over other labels is cited as a key driver for the markets growth. The report also observes that superior adhesion offered by permanent self-adhesive labels will keep compelling manufacturers towards their adoption.According to Persistence Market Researchs report, the global market for self-adhesive labels, which is presently valued at nearly US$ 23,000 Mn, shall expand at 5.3% CAGR through 2024.View and Download TOC of Self Adhesive Label Market Research Report@Global Self-Adhesive Labels Market: Key Report HighlightsIn the due course of the forecast period, permanent self-adhesive labels will be observed as top-selling products, procuring more than three-fourth of global revenuesThrough 2024, the market will remain split among plastic and paper as base labeling materials, with the former securing 50.6% share of global market valueFood & beverage will remain the largest end-user of self-adhesive labels, global revenues from which are anticipated to register 5.5% CAGRCollectively, North America and Europe will account for half of global revenues, while Asia-Pacific will be observed as the largest market for self-adhesive labels  garnering revenue share of nearly 40%Manufacturers across multiple industrial verticals will continue to seek ways in which they can save costs, and adopting effective labeling solutions has become a popular modus to accomplish this objective. During selection of best-suited labeling techniques, self-adhesives labels behold higher competency and advantage. Self-adhesive labels are quality products offered at low cost compared to other types of labels, and are constrained to the limits of label design. Resistance to direct sunlight and icy water boosts the operating efficiency of self-adhesive labels to 15% and higher. Persistence Market Research predicts that self-adhesive labels will remain in great demand in the future, and by the end of 2024, their global sales will net revenues worth US$ 33,940 Mn.Request and Download Sample Report@In addition to this, growing retail sector, particularly in emerging markets, has led to emergence of modern retail formats that sell wide range of product categories in large quantities. The need to differentiate products on shelves has compelled self-adhesive label manufacturers to offer high quality labels that satisfy the packaging and labelling objectives of their clients operating in retail and food markets. The report has profiled self-adhesive label manufacturers that are actively participating in the global market and have a considerable contribution towards its growth. These include, Lintec Corporation, CCL Industries, Symbio, Inc., Avery Dennison Corporation, Thai KK, UPM-Raflatac, PMC Label, and Fuji Seal International, Inc.Self-Adhesive Labels  Market OpportunitiesAccording to the American Foundation for the Blind, at least 20 million people in the US are suffering from vision loss. Label manufacturers are willing to understand the need to serve this market, and it is now made mandatory to include braille labels on pharmaceutical labels. Production of braille self-adhesive labels will help manufacturers charter into explored market for blind consumers.Moreover, self-adhesive labels have emerged as an affective substitute for glue applied labels by eliminating the manual requirement for applying glue. Eliminating manual process also adds to overall cost-effectiveness of self-adhesive labels as automatic processes can be implemented for bulk application at faster speeds.Buy Full Self Adhesive Label Market Report@About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Well Intervention Market- Industry Analysis,Trends and Forecast 2017  2025

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Global Well Intervention Market: OverviewWell intervention refers to assessing the potential of the well towards the end of its lifecycle. Well intervention operations provide an exact and an accurate analysis and diagnostics of the well to better the production levels through repairs and maintenance. The global well intervention market has been growing at a rapid pace due to the skyrocketing demand for energy. The unstoppable pace of urbanization and industrialization has instigated an unending demand for well maintenance, which necessitates timely interventions. The soaring demand for oil and gas is expected to be the key growth driver for the global well intervention market over the forecast period.Global Well Intervention Market: Key TrendsThe report suggests that the global well intervention market is likely to grow at a healthy CAGR due to rising number of deeper water activities as the subsea well count increases. The need for servicing is likely to soar due to increasing number of subsea wells. Rapid technological advancements have enabled production and exploration of oil and gas in extreme weather conditions and in toughest of terrains. This has resulted in depleting shallow water resources, thereby creating a need for well intervention.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Discoveries of newer oil fields and gas reserves have also triggered significant demand for well intervention. Analysts indicate that the demand for better recovery rates will also compel end users to opt for frequent well interventions in developed fields. Factors such as increased water or sand production, scaling in wells, and reduced pressure have been assessed to bolster the growth of the overall market.Global Well Intervention Market: Market PotentialThe fluctuating oil and gas prices across the globe has drastically affected the well intervention companies. To combat the fallout of volatile political conditions that are negatively impacting business, players in the global well intervention market are focusing on mergers and acquisitions to stay strong against the headwinds. For instance, GE Oil & Gas and Baker Hughes' joined hands in 2016 to add value to their product portfolio. The collaboration will be able to offer better intervention services to the aging oilfields. The companies are looking enable consumers to extract more hydrocarbons from current fields instead of developing new fields. This move is aimed at catering to consumers to are looking at making opex-driven decisions.Request TOC of the Report @Global Well Intervention Market: Regional OutlookFrom a geographic point of view, the global well intervention market is segmented into North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Of these regional markets, North America well intervention market is expected to lead the pack. Currently, the U.S. holds a dominant share in the regional due to ongoing activities in the shale gas industry. Analysts project that the increasing investments in shale gas in the U.S. are likely to drive the North America well intervention market throughout the forecast period.Meanwhile, the Middle East and Africa market is also likely to experience a robust growth rate. Emerging economies of India and China are also likely to offer the global market a plethora of options to grow in the region of Asia Pacific. The burgeoning demand for oil and gas in these developing countries is expected to propel the Asia Pacific well intervention market over the forecast period.Get Discount @Key Players Mentioned in this Report are:Some of the key players operating in the global well intervention market are Baker Hughes Incorporated, GE Oil & Gas, Schlumberger Limited, Halliburton Company, Weatherford International plc, Archer Limited, Expro International Group Holdings Ltd., Welltec International ApS, Trican Well Service Ltd., TechnipFMC plc, Basic Energy Services, Inc., Key Energy Services, Inc., Superior Energy Services, Inc., and Lupatech SA , among others.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Hospital Artificial Intelligence: Markets 2017 to 2023 Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham, Womens Hospital Center for Clinical Data Science (Partners)

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This research report Hospital Artificial Intelligence Market studies the strategic alliances and lucrative acquisitions between various global and local players in the Hospital Artificial Intelligence Market. The players have majorly adopted the strategy of new product launches to enhance their business in the Hospital Artificial Intelligence market. Vendors are launching new products so as to cater to the need of diverse end users in different geographic regions.Key Companies Analysis: -Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Womens Hospital Center for Clinical Data Science (Partners)Sample Copy of Report @The Hospital Artificial Intelligence Industry report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Hospital Artificial Intelligence industry analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status.This report focuses on price, sales, revenue and growth rate of each type, as well as the types and each type price of key manufacturers, through interviewing key manufacturers.Segments by manufacturers, this report focuses on the sales, price of each type, average price of Hospital Artificial Intelligence, revenue and market share, for key manufacturers.Browse summary and TOC of Report @Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.This report focuses on the sales (consumption), production, import and export of Hospital Artificial Intelligence in North America, Japan, Europe, India, Southeast Asia and China.Finally by applications, this report focuses on consumption and growth rate of Hospital Artificial Intelligence in major applications.About Us:1MarketResearch is a global business market research providing syndicated research Report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains.We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed.We host more than 500,000 Industry research products.Contact US:1MarketResearch304, S. Jones Blvd, #3299,Las Vegas, NV - 89107USA : +1 702-425-8599Email : Sales@1MarketResearch.comWeb :
Global Cosmetic and Perfume Glass Bottle Market Size, Share - Industry Trend and Forecast 2016 - 2024

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Latest industry research report on: Global Cosmetic and Perfume Glass Bottle Market : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsThe improved lifestyle coupled with increased disposable income and desire towards better personality are the prime reasons for growing demands of beauty products. The rapid growth in consumption and production of these products is evident that the look and feel of the packaging is also a considerable factor. Hence, manufacturers are highly focusing on better packaging solutions which gives customers a premium feel in a cost effective way. Quality packaging not only offer an attractive options for customers but it also maintain the quality and effectiveness of the product inside the bottle.Complete Report Details @The global cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market is primarily driven by the growth in cosmetic and perfumery industry. The global cosmetic industry is forecasted to be of more than US $ 600 Bn by 2019. The growing aspirations of better physical appearance and beauty is anticipated to be the major driving factor for the cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market. The fierce competition in cosmetic industry is supposed to force the cosmetic and perfumery industry to choose innovative and better glass packaging solutions which is anticipated to be the driving factor for the global cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market. The increased disposable income and growing inclusion of cosmetic and perfumery products into everyday grooming practices is projected to the driving factor for the global cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market. On the other hand the growing use of plastic in cosmetic and perfumery packaging is anticipated to be the major restrain in the growth of the global cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market.Request For Sample Report @The opportunity of global cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market lies in providing durable packaging solutions at cost effective especially in mid and low range perfume and cosmetic segments. Improving the product visibility and attractiveness is anticipated to be the major challenges for the global cosmetic and cosmetic and perfumery which can be perceived as an opportunity for the global cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market by providing innovative packaging solutions.Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @The global cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market is segmented on the basis of product into high-end cosmetic and perfumes, mid-range and low range. The mid-range cosmetic and perfumery market is anticipated to register the highest growth in global cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market. By application the global cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market is segmented into hair care, skin care, make-up, fragrances, bath and shower and others. Where skin care and fragrances is anticipated to be the major contributor of the global cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market.On the basis of geography the global cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), the Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Latin America. Europe is anticipated to be the largest market for global cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market primarily driven by strong demand and higher consumption of cosmetic and perfumery products. Asia pacific is anticipated to be the second largest market for the global cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market primarily driven by growing per capita income and increasing awareness of cosmetic and perfumery especially in rapidly growing urban population. The strong demand in Japan, India and China are the major contributing factors for the demand in Asia pacific region. The North America is also anticipated to contribute significantly in the global cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market followed by Asia pacific. Middle East is also expected to contribute to the demand of global cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market primarily due to rapid urbanization and rising expenditure on beauty care products.Some of the key players in the global cosmetic and perfume glass bottle market are Heinz-Glas Group Holding, SGD Group, ZIGNAGO VETRO S.p.A., Rockwood & Hines, Gerresheimer Group, Saverglass, Piramal Glass, Groupe Pochet and others.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. 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Current Trends and Future Growth of Formaldehyde Resins Market

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Formaldehyde Resins to its huge collection of research reports.This given report on the global Formaldehyde Resins market, is a result of a research conducted by a group of market research analysis experts with an aim to act as a reliable business material for stake holders. The report offers information on the current market scenario and the prospects that may arise in future as well. Use of well proven research methodologies is done in generating this report which offers both qualitative and quantitative analysis of all the aspects that may influence the growth of the global Formaldehyde Resins market. The potential of lesser factors of the Formaldehyde Resins market can be evaluated by analysing its multiple segments such as products, end users, types, application, services, and others, whichever are applicable. The report also inspects the future scenarios of Formaldehyde Resins market in all the important regions across the world, such as North America, Latin America, Middle East and Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific, and Europe. The market potential of the Formaldehyde Resins of each region is provided by examining their related policies government, growth prospects, and demand percentage.Get free sample copy of the report with TOC at:The report of the global Formaldehyde Resins market gives out the estimation of the market size in terms of its value (USD million). Bottom-up as well as top-down approaches are applied in the report to project and confirm the size of the global Formaldehyde Resins market and of its different other sub-segments.One of the important features of the study report is the company profiling chapter, where several leading players of the Formaldehyde Resins market have been inspected. Moreover, the competitive landscape of the global Formaldehyde Resins market is researched along with identification of chances of upcoming players that are present in the market. The report give out some of the prominent companies in the global Formaldehyde Resins market and inspects their tactical decisions such as mergers, collaborations, and acquisitions, new product announcements, and investments. Crucial information about the companies such as market share, business sales price, margin, and revenue generation, are provided in the research report.This report studies Formaldehyde Resins in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2012 to 2016, and forecast to 2022.To check available discount on this report, visit at:This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringEsprix TechnologiesGeorgia-Pacific CorporationGeorgia-Pacific ChemicalsInterface Performance MaterialsMitsui Chemicals AmericaAdhesives PlusAkzo Nobel CoatingsB&H DistributorsBac2 LimitedBIMEX CorpNorplex-MicartaChemtan CompanyDynaChemHA InternationalHolders TechnologyKraydenNan Pao GroupPanolam IndustriesOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoAldehyde ResinKeto Aldehyde ResinOtherBy Application, the market can be split intoWood CoatingsMetal CoatingPaper CoatingList of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Formaldehyde ResinsTable Product Specifications of Formaldehyde ResinsTable Classification of Formaldehyde ResinsFigure Global Production Market Share of Formaldehyde Resins by Type in 2016Figure Aldehyde Resin PictureTable Major Manufacturers of Aldehyde ResinFigure Keto Aldehyde Resin PictureTable Major Manufacturers of Keto Aldehyde ResinFigure Other PictureTable Major Manufacturers of OtherTable Applications of Formaldehyde ResinsFigure Global Consumption Volume Market Share of Formaldehyde Resins by Application in 2016Figure Wood Coatings ExamplesTable Major Consumers in Wood CoatingsFigure Metal Coating ExamplesTable Major Consumers in Metal CoatingFigure Paper Coating ExamplesTable Major Consumers in Paper CoatingFigure Other ExamplesTable Major Consumers in Other...About QYReseachReports.comQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Hydropower Market Outlook, Growth, Demand, Strategy 2017-2023

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Market HighlightsThe global volatility in fossil fuel prices along with initiatives towards energy security will further complement the hydropower industry landscape. Hydropower is one of the oldest sources of energy which was used for thousands of years ago, to turn paddle wheels that help grind grain. Hydropower is a versatile, sustainable technology and it is the worlds largest source of the renewable energy and currently accounts for about 20% of the worlds total electricity supply. Hydropower has one of the best of conversion of all known energy sources. Harnessing water maturely can help take electricity access to millions of people. Stable, reliable and affordable electricity supply is also crucial for driving economic growth and ending the global poverty. Hydropower are classified based on their capacity as mini hydropower, micro and pico hydropower, small hydropower and large hydropower.Hydropower Market is expected to grow over the CAGR of more than 3% during the period 2017 to 2023.Request a Sample Copy @Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at the fastest rate.The mechanical energy storage market in the Asia-Pacific region is currently leading and is followed by Europe and North America market. The rapid industrial development in the countries such as India and China where there are issues with continuous reliable electricity supply, is driving the market for mechanical energy storage. Also R&D and utilization of modern flywheels in China and India with growing trend of compressing air and storing them it in large repositories, such as underground salt caverns, and releasing it to drive a turbine during periods of demand will drive mechanical energy storage market.Key PlayersThe key players of global hydropower market are Voith GmbH (Germany), ANDRITZ HYDRO GmbH (Austria), General Electric Company (U.S), China Three Gorges Corporation (China), Alfa Laval (Sweden), Metso Corporation (Sweden), Hydro-Quebec (Canada), ABB Ltd (Switzerland), Engie (France) and Tata Power Corporation (India).Scope of the ReportThe scope of the study segments the global hydropower market by its capacity and by region.By Capacity Mini Hydropower Micro and Pico Hydropower Small Hydropower Large HydropowerBy Regions North America Asia Pacific Europe Rest of the WorldFor further information on this report, visit @Table of Content1... Executive Summary2 Research Methodology2.1 Scope Of The Study2.1.1 Definition2.1.2 Research Objective2.1.3 Assumptions2.1.4 Limitations2.2 Research Process2.2.1 Primary Research2.2.2 Secondary Research2.3 Market Size Estimation2.4 Forecast Model3... Market Dynamics3.1 Market Drivers3.2 Market Inhibitors3.3 Supply/Value Chain Analysis3.4 Porters Five Forces Analysis4 Global Hydropower Market, By Capacity4.1 Introduction4.2 Mini Hydropower4.3 Micro And Pico Hydropower4.4 Small Hydropower4.5 Large Hydropower5 Regional Market AnalysisContinue.Key questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2023 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Purchase Now @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Hookah Tobacco Market to Witness Exponential Growth by 2022

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In this report, the global Hookah Tobacco market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Hookah Tobacco in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaRequest For Free Sample Of The Report @Global Hookah Tobacco market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingNakhlaStarbuzz Hookah TobaccoSocial SmokeFantasia Hookah TobaccoTangiers...On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoFruit FlavorHerbal FlavorMixed FlavorObtain Report Details @On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Hookah Tobacco for each application, includingOnline SalesOffline SalesIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.About UsAlltake Market Research is division of the Alltake LLC. that offers premium quality market intelligence, market research, industry analysis reports & forecast data for different domains across the business industry.Alltake Market Research understands the importance of market analysis for any strategy that is implemented in any organization or association. In order to provide the best solution, Alltake Market Research have associated with major organizations within market research and consultancy firm. This portfolio offers market analysis report at one place for different business verticals. Alltake Market Research ensures to offer you with the most reliable and quality market research available.Contact UsAlltake Market Research16192, Coastal Highway Lewes,DE 19958, United StatesUS - 188 8587 9717UK - 4480 0680 0195Email sales@alltakemarketresearch.com
Global Nanoporous Materials Market Size, Share - Industry Trend and Forecast 2016 - 2023

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Latest industry research report on: Global Nanoporous Materials Market | Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsNanoporous materials comprises of regular organic or inorganic framework that supports a porous structure. The size of these pores is primarily between 100 nanometers and can even be smaller. Nanoporous materials are classified into two broad categories including bulk materials and membranes. Nanoporous membranes include cell membranes while activated carbon and zeolites are examples of bulk nanoporous membranes. Nanoporous materials are manufactured out of natural raw materials; however, artificial nanoporous materials can also be produced. Nanoporous materials with evenly sized pores have the ability of letting only certain substances pass through, while blocking others. Nanoporous materials are sub divided into three types including microporous materials, mesoporous materials and macroporous materials.Complete Report Details @Nanoporous materials are used as adsorbents and ion exchangers, they are also employed in the catalysis process, in nano-reactors, guest-host interactions, as a low dielectric constant mediate. In addition, nanoporous materials are also employed in a wide range of biomedical processes including decontamination, as an antibacterial agent, in the slow release of drugs and as a filter in hemodialysis. Moreover, nanoporous materials are of technological and scientific importance owing to their ability to absorb and cooperate with ions, atoms, molecules on their pore space and their sizable interior surfaces. Zeolites are the most widely used nanoporous materials and are the backbone of the already existing large-scale application segments in key sectors of the chemical industry. The application of zeolites range from high-end catalyst supports to detergent builders specifically in the petroleum and the chemical industry.Request For Sample Report @Some of the key driver of the nanoporous material market is its use in the biomedical industry. The nanoporous industry is a mature industry with a wide range of products having an array of applications and is employed in various industries including the chemical industry and the biomedical industry. However owing to the expanded scope, applicability, environmental rules, and regulations coupled with improved living standards and lifestyles of consumers around the world are stimulating increasing demand for nanoporous products. Furthermore, newly introduced specialized nanoporous adsorbent products are creating novel market opportunities in the electronics manufacturing industry and in the biomedical sector.Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @The demand for nanoporous materials has been the highest in North America owing to the increase in emerging technologies in the biomedical industry and the fast growing chemical industry. However, the nanoporous material industry is expected to be mature over the forecast period. Europe follows North America in the nanoporous materials industry. Owing to the growing chemical industries, the stringent rules and regulations in Europe and the wide scope of applications of nanopowders materials, the demand for these materials is expected to increase over the projected period. In addition, the North American region and the European regions prefer nanoporous materials over other materials as these materials are usually manufactured from natural raw materials and do not have rules and regulations put forth by their respective governments concerning their use either as catalysts or in the biomedical industry as decontamination or antibacterial agents. The demand of nanoporous materials in the Asia Pacific region is expected to increase during the projected period owing to the introduction of new technologies and the high number of chemical industries especially in emerging countries such as India and China.Some of the key companies operating in the nanoporous materials market include Albemarle Corp., American Colloid Company, Nanocor Inc., BASF SE, BASF Catalyst, ExxonMobil Chemical and Cloud Mining Company among others.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Global Free Space Optics Market - Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2024

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Free Space Optics Market - Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Free space optics (FSO) communication, also known as optical wireless or free space photonics (FSP) is a line-of-sight technology that propagates light in free space such as vacuum, air, or outer space in order to wirelessly transmit data for computer networking and telecommunication. This technology requires light, which can be focused by either using light emitting diodes or lasers. Free space optics uses optical signals as the carrier frequencies to offer point-to-point transmission of communication information through the atmosphere. This technology offers several benefits over the existing techniques such as radio, microwave, or optical systems. The advantages associated with FSO such as low initial investment, low power usage per transmitted bit, high bandwidth provisioning, flexible rollouts, high security, and quick establishment of communication link has led to increasing number of applications of free space optics in various industries.A surge in demand for high bandwidth and increasing application of free space optical technology in military environments is strongly driving the growth of the free space optics market. Bandwidth usage is experiencing unprecedented growth and the demand for bandwidth is not likely to slow down in the coming years. Free space optical communication is a viable solution for various military applications and the most promising military environments where FSO technology can be used include military bases, in between bases where bases are co-located within 2-4 km of one another, ship to shore communications, and ship to ship communications. In addition to these factors, the incorporation of free space optics in 3G and 4G networks is triggering the market growth.Furthermore, quicker time to market and reduced costs associated with free space optics technology is boosting the market growth. The conjoint effect of all these drivers is thus set to bolster the growth of the global free space optics market during the forecast period.Advancements in free space optics technology and healthy economic growth of emerging economies are offering potential growth opportunities to the free space optics market. Advancements in free space optics technology have led to growth in requirement of free space optical communication in several applications including telecommunications, military and defense.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Key players in the fiber space optics market are coming up with rapid technological advancements to mitigate the effect of atmospheric attenuation on the FSO signals and this is expected to offer potential growth opportunities to the growth of the global free space optics market. Further, an unexpected exponential growth of the telecommunications industry and tremendous increase in the online time used up by existing customers is witnessed in the developing regions of Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. This is persistently fuelling the demand for bandwidth and consequently offering lucrative opportunities for the growth of the FSO market.The competitive profiling of the major companies in the global free space optics market across five broad geographic regions has been included in the study. The competitive landscape is inclusive of the recent developments of the leading players in the field of free space optics and the various business strategies adopted by these companies. In the report, market attractive analysis of the chief application of free space optics has been provided in order to offer an insight into the global free space optics market. An extensive analysis of market dynamics which includes the drivers, restraints and opportunities of the global market is included under the scope of the study. Hence, the global free space optics market report offers an inclusive study of the market along with providing the forecast of the market for the period from 2016 to 2024.Some of the major players in the market are: Trimble Hungary Ltd. (Hungary), Mostcom Ltd. (Russia), AOptix Technologies Inc. (U.S.), Optelix (South Africa), LightPointe Communications, Inc. (U.S.), IBSENtelecom Ltd. (Norway), Harris Corporation (U.S.), Anova Technologies (U.S.), fSONA Networks Corp. (Canada) and Wireless Excellence Limited (U.K.) among others.The global free space optics market has been segmented into:Free Space Optics Market, by ComponentsTransmittersReceiversModulatorsDemodulatorsEncoders & DecodersOthersFree Space Optics Market, by ApplicationStorage Area NetworkData TransmissionDefenseSecurityAirborne ApplicationsHealthcareDisaster RecoverLast Mile AccessOthersFree Space Optics Market, by Geography: The market is broadly segmented on the basis of geography into:North AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle east and AfricaLatin AmericaBrowse More Details @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Lithium-ion Battery Market Worth USD 77.42 Billion by 2024

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Lithium-ion Battery Market Worth USD 77.42 Billion by 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Lithium-ion Battery are a part of rechargeable battery group. Lithium-ion batteries offer high storage capacity, better efficiency and long lifecycle than other batteries. The demand for these batteries are increasing in various applications such as consumer electronics products, automotive application such as EVs and HEVs and energy storage systems in power plants and household electricity. The global lithium-ion battery market is anticipated to grow with a significant rate between 2016 and 2024. The rising demand for electronic devices and the stringent government regulations to control pollution level are expected to drive the lithium-ion battery market during the forecast period.This study analyzes, estimates, and forecasts the global Lithium-ion Battery market in terms of volume (Units) and revenue (US$ Mn) from 2016 to 2024. Market numbers given in the report describe the demand for global lithium-ion battery, but not production or supply. The Lithium-ion Battery report also analyzes several driving and restraining factors and their impact on the market during the forecast period.The report provides comprehensive analysis of the Lithium-ion Battery by power capacity range and applications. It segments the lithium-ion battery market into range of power capacity that include 5-25 Wh, 48-95 Wh, 18-28 KWh, 100-250 KWh and more than 300 KWh. It further segments the market into the following key applications: consumer electronics, automotive and grid energy & industrial segment. The report also segments the market based on major geographies into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. It further provides volume and revenue for each application segment for each region. This includes 12 unique country-specific analysis.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Based on the application and country, the report analyzes the attractiveness of each segment and country with the help of an attractiveness tool. The study consist of value chain analysis, which offers a better understanding of key companies in the supply chain from raw material manufacturers to end-users. Additionally, the study examines market competition through Porters Five Forces Analysis.The report includes an overview of the market share of key companies in the global Lithium-ion Battery market. Market share of companies has been derived on the basis of production by manufacturers of controlled release fertilizers. Key market players profiled in the study include Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC), Panasonic Corporation, GA Yuasa Corporation, Hitachi Chemical Co. Ltd., Johnson Controls, Inc., LG Chem Power, Inc., Samsung SDI Co. Ltd., Toshiba Corporation. Profiles of key participants comprise important parameters such as company overview, financial overview, business strategy, and recent developments.Primary research represents the majority of our research efforts, complemented 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 technical writing, recent trade, Internet sources, and statistical data from government websites, trade associations, and agencies. This has proven to be the most consistent, effective, and productive approach for procuring precise market data, recognizing business opportunities, and understanding industry participants perceptions.Secondary research sources that are typically referred to include broker reports, corporation websites, external patented databases, financial reports, stockholder presentations, Securities & Exchange Commission filings, proprietary databases and relevant patent and regulatory databases, national government documents, statistical databases, and market reports, news articles, press releases, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market. Secondary sources referred for this study include Chemical Week Magazine, ICIS Chemical Business Magazine, Hoovers, Factiva, and company presentations.The report segments the global Lithium-ion Battery market as follows:This report segments the global Lithium-ion Battery Market as follows:Lithium-ion Battery Market  Power Capacity Analysis5-25 Wh48-95 Wh18-28 KWh100-250 KWhMore than 300 KWhLithium-ion Battery Market  Application AnalysisConsumer ElectronicsAutomotiveGrid Energy & IndustrialLithium-ion Battery Market  Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaRest of North AmericaEuropeGermanyFranceItalyU.K.Browse More Details @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Men's Grooming Products Market to Fetch Valuation Worth US$ 104,199.2 Million by 2024 End

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With nearly 40% revenue share, Europe will continue to remain the most attractive market for mens grooming products. Germany, France, and the UK remain the top three markets, collectively accounting for over half of the revenue share of the Europe mens grooming products market. North America, the second largest market globally, will rake in US$ 29 Bn in revenues by 2024. In terms of market value, the US$ 54 billion global market for mens grooming products will expand at a CAGR of 8.4% through 2024.Key Regional FindingsIn North America, shave care products and fragrances will be the top-selling mens grooming productsThe market in Asia Pacific will continue to post steady gains on account of rapidly growing sales in ChinaPersistence Market Researchs study on the global mens grooming products market has been compiled in the report titled Global Mens Grooming Products Sales Estimated to Reach US$ 104,199.2 Million by 2024 End; Europes Revenue Share to Remain Dominant. Personalized shopping through e-commerce outlets has been identified as a key driving factor mens grooming products globally. Increasing FDI in e-tailing businesses is further urging manufacturers of mens grooming products to intensify their distribution operations through online retail channels. Easy accessibility and low costs are key factors for the rising mens grooming products sales through e-commerce and online retail websites. Over the forecast period, online distribution channels will give rise to an absolute increment of more than US$ 12 billion. Nevertheless, sales of mens grooming products through supermarkets and independent retail outlets remain key for companies looking to improve their sales potential by catering to impulsive buying and focusing on customer rapport.View and Download TOC of Mens Grooming Products Market Research Report@Globally, the sales of mens shave care products such as trimmers will be way higher than any other types of grooming products. Being the highest-selling products in the global market, consumption of mens shave care products will be valued at over US$ 40 billion by the end of 2024. Subsequently, mens grooming products sales under fragrances will account for nearly 35% of the global market over the projected period. Hair care products sales will register a market value share of about 10%, while the demand for mens toiletries will be pared down as compared to the above types of grooming products.Higher disposable incomes dont necessarily instrument higher sales of mens grooming products in the premium price range. Half of the global mens grooming products revenues are concentrated in the mid-price range, with over 7,000 million expected to be sold globally over the forecast period.Request and Download Sample Report@Procter & Gamble Co. will retain its competitive position as the global leader in shave care products. Independently, the company will also be dominant in the overall global mens grooming products market by accounting for more than 10% market share. However, local manufacturers of mens grooming products will collectively dominate the global market by accounting for nearly one-third of its market value. Accordingly, acquisition of such native players will be a strategic measure of expanding market presence for global leaders in consumer goods. Johnson & Johnson Private Limited, Koninklijke Philips N.V., ITC Limited, Coty Inc., Unilever PLC., Colgate-Palmolive Company, and Edgewell Personal Care Co., among others, are some leading manufacturers of mens grooming products that intend to expand their businesses through acquisitions. Furthermore, LOreal S.A. and Beiersdorf AG are also some of the recognized players participating in the growth of the global mens grooming products market.Buy Full Mens Grooming Products Market Report@About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
BFSI Security Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2024

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "BFSI Security Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Banking, Financial services and Insurance sector usually include insurance companies, commercial banks and cooperatives. Furthermore, it also includes non-banking financial companies, mutual funds and pension funds among others.The growing demand for integrated security solutions is one of the major factors driving the global BFSI security market. Furthermore, growing preference for a common security platform which reduces the cost and complications of financial services is also contributing to the positive growth of BFSI security market. Moreover, increasing mobile data usage and growing digitization is also stimulating the demand for BFSI security at the global level. Stringent government regulations pertaining to data security along with increasing penetration of internet of things is also expected to have a positive impact on the BFSI security market. In addition, increasing number of cyber-attacks in BFSI sector in the last few years, the demand for security solutions and services has grown to protect confidential data in the BFSI sector. However lack of awareness about modern BFSI security systems across developing economies and the need for convergence of various security solutions are the major factors restraining the BFSI security market.The BFSI security market can be segmented into three categories based on types, end use and region. By types the market is divided into physical security and information security. Physical security is further segmented into access control, video surveillance, intrusion and fire detection, physical security information management (PSIM), system integration, maintenance and support and design and consulting. Furthermore, information security segment is further segmented into identity and access management, risk and compliance management, encryption, disaster recovery, unified threat management (UTM), firewall, web filtering, data loss protection among others. By end use the BFSI security market is segmented into banking and insurance companies among others.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @By geography, the market is segmented into four major regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the world including Middle East, South America and Africa. North America and Europe are the early adopters of technology and hence accounts for majority of the market share and are expected to follow the same trend throughout the forecast period. However, Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing market for BFSI security owing to the presence of developing nations such as India, South Korea, Australia and China among others. Rapid urbanization and increasing number of users on the online platform is one of the major factors fueling the demand in this region. Moreover, increasing demand for data security of the confidential data is also expected to have a positive impact on the demand for BFSI security market. In addition, due to changing financial regulations a large number of banking and financial institutions are expected to provide their service which in turn is also expected to contribute to the demand for BFSI security.Some of the major players operating in the BFSI security market are Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. (United States), Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) (United States), EMC Corporation (United States), Cisco Systems Inc.(United States), Honeywell International, Inc. (United States), Mcafee, Inc. (United States), IBM Corporation,(United States), Sophos Group PLC.(United states), Symantec Corporation (United Sates) and Trend Micro Incorporated (Japan) among others.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsBrowse More Details @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Automated Suturing Devices Market Projected to be Resilient During 2015-2025

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Future Market Insights (FMI), in its latest report titled, Automated Suturing Devices Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 20152025, forecasts the global automated suturing devices market revenue to expand at a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period (20152025). Global automated suturing devices market is estimated to account for US$ 471.0 Mn by the end of 2015, mainly driven by rising number of minimally invasive surgical procedures.Use of automated suturing devices in minimal invasive surgeries, open surgical procedures and major trauma cases that require surgery is expected to drive the market during the forecast period. Preference for automated suturing devices over conventional suturing devices during laparoscopic surgeries is a key reason for growth. Further, the device is also preferred by procurement teams at hospitals as it labelled under green products, resulting in considerably less impact on the environment as compared to plastic single-use disposable suturing devices.Rise in geriatric population is a macro factor thats driving demand for automated suturing devices.Request to download and view full ToC @High cost along with negative perception about certain automated suturing devices due tosome FDA-approved devices facing criticism regarding performance can impede the growth of the market.Region-wise, North America is expected to account for maximum volume share in the global market by 2015and this is expected to double over the forecast period. Western Europe is the second-most lucrative market for automated suturing devices companies. The market revenue in this region is projected to witness a healthy CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period.Request to view Sample Report:Among product types, disposable automated suturing devices segment is expected to dominate the global automated suturing devices market,followed by the reusable automated suturing devices segment. Increasingprevalence of obesity is expected to boost overall demand for disposable automated suturing devices at a comparatively higher pace.On the basis of application, automated suturing devices market is segmented into minimally invasive surgeries, open surgeries and trauma cases. Minimally invasive surgeries segment is expected to dominate the overall automated suturing devices market by the end of forecast period. The segment revenue is projected to register fastest growth rate over the forecast period. Open surgeries is projected to be the second fastest growing segment in terms of revenue. Increasing adoption of automated suturing devices among surgeons is fuelling growth of the minimally invasive surgeries segment.Browse Full Report @On the basis of end user, global automated suturing devices market has been segmented into hospitals, clinics and ambulatory surgical centers. Hospitals segment is expected to register fastest CAGR in terms of revenue over the forecast period.Key players profiled in FMIs market study include Medtronic Plc., Inc., Apollo Endosurgery, LSI Solutions, Inc., Boston Scientific, C. R. Bard, SuturTek Inc. and EndoEvolution, LLC.Buy Full Automated Suturing Devices Market Report @ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Transmission Towers Market 2017: SAE Tower Holdings, Associated Power Structures, Karamtara Engineering, China State Gride

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Global Transmission Towers Market 2017-2022QY Market Research include new Transmission Towers market research report "2016-2022 Report on Global Transmission Towers Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, Application" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on the global Transmission Towers market is highly helpful because it covers all the aspects which are important in deciding the future of this industry. The Transmission Towers report is collated by full-fledged analysts who have created use of their market intelligence to explain all basic and crucial knowledge regarding the worldwide Transmission Towers industry.Get Free Sample of Report Here:The Transmission Towers market report makes use of tables, charts, graphs, maps, and statistics to present the data in the easiest way to understand. The Transmission Towers market report is a comprehensive analysis of the key factors impacting the global Transmission Towers industry. This Transmission Towers market report includes both the driving factors as well as the restraining factors that are influencing the market's performance positively and negatively, respectively.Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This Research Report,SAE Tower HoldingsKalpataru Power TransmissionAssociated Power StructuresKaramtara EngineeringChina State GrideBS GroupPower Grid Corporation of India LimitedNanjing Daji Iron TowerWeifang Changan Steel TowerThe present trends shaping the worldwide Transmission Towers market and the way it will influence the Transmission Towers market within the future are studied. Additionally to this, the future opportunities within the Transmission Towers market that have the potential to assist the market to expand are given within the Transmission Towers report.Enquire Here:The segments inside the global Transmission Towers industry and their sub-segments also are studied in detail. This ensures that the whole Transmission Towers market is covered. The leading segment along with the declining segment and also the most promising segment has been given during this Transmission Towers report. This helps the newcomers, shareholders, readers, stockholders and leading manufacturers to choose which segment or sub-segment to speculate on therefore on acquire most profits.The Transmission Towers market report discusses the degree of competition, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and a threat of substitutes, both internal and external substitute of Transmission Towers market. The threat of recent entrants or the barriers experienced by new and prime players in getting into the worldwide Transmission Towers market has been mentioned. This offers new players a plan on whether or not they will exist within the competitive Transmission Towers industry.About Us:Business Worldwide is a trusted brand in the research industry with a capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Business Worldwide, we believe in building long-term relations with our clients. Our services cover a broad spectrum of industries including Energy, Chemicals and Materials, Automotive, Software and Aerospace.Contact Us:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Invisible Braces Market 2017 Global Industry Key Players, Share, Trend, Segmentation and Forecast to 2022

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The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Invisible Braces industry market by types, applications, players and regions. This report also displays the production, Consumption, revenue, Gross margin, Cost, Gross, market share, CAGR, and Market influencing factors of the Invisible Braces industry in USA, EU, China,India, Japan and other regions, and forecast to 2022, from 2017.Request a Sample Report @Market Analysis by PlayersAlign TechnologyAngelalignDentsply Sirona3MOrmcoSmarteeIrokClearCorrectMarket Analysis by Regions:North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanOthersMarket Anaysis by Types:Clear AlignersCeramic BracesLingual BracesMarket Analysis by Applications:AdultsTeenagersMake an enquiry of this Report @Table of Content1 Invisible Braces Market Overview1.1 Product Overview of Invisible Braces1.2 Classification and Application of Invisible Braces1.3 Global Invisible Braces Market Regional Analysis1.3.1 USA Market Present Situation Analysis1.3.2 Europe Market Present Situation Analysis1.3.3 Japan Market Present Situation Analysis1.3.4 China Market Present Situation Analysis1.3.5 India Market Present Situation Analysis1.3.6 Southeast Asia Market Present Situation Analysis1.3.7 South America Market Present Situation Analysis1.3.8 South Africa Market Present Situation Analysis1.3.9 Brazil Market Present Situation Analysis1.4 Invisible Braces Industry Development Factors Analysis1.4.1 Invisible Braces Industry Development Opportunities Analysis1.4.2 Invisible Braces Industry Development Challenges Analysis1.5 Invisible Braces Consumer Behavior Analysis2 Global Invisible Braces Competition by Players2.1 Global Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Players2.2 Global Invisible Braces Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Players (2016-2017)2.3 Global Invisible Braces Price (USD/Unit) by Players (2016-2017)2.4 Global Invisible Braces Gross Margin by Players (2016-2017)3 Global Invisible Braces Competition by Types3.1 Global Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Types3.2 Global Invisible Braces Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Type (2012-2017)3.3 Global Invisible Braces Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2012-2017)3.4 Global Invisible Braces Gross Margin by Type (2012-2017)3.5 USA Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.6 China Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.7 Europe Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.8 Japan Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.9 India Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.10 Southeast Asia Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.11 South America Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.12 South Africa Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.12 Brazil Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type4 Global Invisible Braces Competition by Application4.1 Global Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Application4.2 Global Invisible Braces Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Application (2012-2017)4.3 Global Invisible Braces Price (USD/Unit) by Application (2012-2017)4.4 Global Invisible Braces Gross Margin by Application (2012-2017)4.5 USA Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Application4.6 China Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Application4.7 Europe Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Application4.8 Japan Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Application4.9 India Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Application4.10 Southeast Asia Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Application4.11 South America Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Application4.12 South Africa Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Application4.13 Brazil Invisible Braces Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Application5 Global Invisible Braces Production Market Analysis by Region5.1 Global Invisible Braces Production (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Region5.1.1 USA Invisible Braces Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.2 Europe Invisible Braces Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.3 China Invisible Braces Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.4 Japan Invisible Braces Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.5 India Invisible Braces Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.6 Southeast Asia Invisible Braces Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.7 South America Invisible Braces Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.8 South Africa Invisible Braces Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.9 Brazil Invisible Braces Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.2 Global Invisible Braces Production Value (Million USD) and Share by Region (2012-2017)5.3 Global Invisible Braces Price (USD/Unit) by Region (2012-2017)5.4 Global Invisible Braces Gross Margin by Region (2012-2017)ContinuedPurchase Report @ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Bovine Respiratory Disease Treatment Market Anticipate to Grow at 7.6% CAGR from 2016 through 2024

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The global market for bovine respiratory disease treatment features a highly consolidated competitive landscape despite the presence of a large number of regional players, observes a recent report by Transparency Market Research. Owing to the small duration of product exclusivity in the animal health care industry  about three to five years - competition from generics and over-the-counter (OTC) products is a big threat.The rising consumption of bovine products in emerging economies such as India, China, and Brazil, the demand for effective treatment methods for respiratory disease has considerably increased. To exploit the vast growth potential, an increasing number of companies are establishing operations in these countries. A recent example is the 2016 collaboration between Merial and Zoetis, Inc., which is expected to allow the former to effectively market and distribute its product in India. Some of the other key companies in the market are Merck & Co., Inc., Bayer AG, Elanco, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, and Virbac Group.Browse Full Report @TMR estimates that the global bovine respiratory disease treatment market will exhibit a promising 7.6% CAGR from 2016 through 2024. At this rate, the market, which had a valuation of US$805.9 mn in 2015 is projected to reach US$1,543.9 mn by 2024.Asia Pacific to Lead to Lucrative Growth OpportunitiesIn terms of distribution channel, the segment of veterinary hospitals dominated, accounting for nearly 35% of the global market in terms of revenue in 2015. From a geographic perspective, North America which held nearly 37% of the market in 2015, dominated the global market and is expected to easily retain its dominance over the forecast period as well. However, owing to the rising population of cattle and the rising incidences of bovine respiratory diseases, the Asia Pacific market will emerge as one of the most lucrative regional markets for bovine respiratory disease treatment methods.View and Download TOC of Bovine Respiratory Disease Treatment Market Research Report@Rising Consumption of Animal Protein to Remain High-impact DriverOf the key factors driving the market, the rising consumption of beef is expected to have a prominent impact on the overall development of the market over the forecast period. According to a World Bank Group survey (2016), global human population is estimated to be 7.4 billion in 2016 and is growing at a rate of 1.8% per year. To sustain the ever rising demand for beef as well as other animal products from this mounting global population, there would be a vast rise in the worlds cattle population in the near future. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the global cattle population will increase by 73% between 2015 and 2050, from nearly 936 mn in 2015 to nearly 2.6 bn in 2050.As bovine respiratory diseases account for 65% to 80% of morbidity and 45% to 75% mortality rate in livestock animals, the rising cattle population will also intensify the need for effective treatment modalities for these diseases. This will have a significant positive impact on the global bovine respiratory disease treatment market.Request and Download Sample Report@Strict Government Regulations to Restrain MarketSeveral studies have demonstrated that bovine antibiotics can have a highly negative impact on human health. Issues such as induction of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and disruption of normal human intestinal flora are commonly observed in individuals who consume animal products with excessive amount of antibiotics. According to The New York Times, around 2 million people in the U.S. fall sick every year and about 23,000 of them die from antibiotic-resistant infections induced due to consumption of such products.These factors have urged government bodies to regulate the use of antibiotic therapeutics in animals too. In December 2013, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforced a new policy related to the limited use of antibiotics in production animals. This is likely to hamper the growth of the bovine respiratory disease treatment market over the forecast period.This review of the market is based on a recent market research report published by TMR, titled Bovine Respiratory Disease Treatment Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2016 - 2024.Buy Full Bovine Respiratory Disease Treatment Market Report@About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453
Blood Group Typing Market- Future Market, Growth & Forecast 2017 - 2025

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Global Blood Group Typing Market: OverviewBlood group typing consists of various methods and techniques that are used to detect the group of blood. The correct and reliable grouping of blood is vital to fulfil a variety of clinical ends, especially for safe blood transfusion and in organ donation processes. In recent years, there have been marked developments in the conventional detection methods. Constant technological advancements in microarray, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and other assay-based techniques have improved detection methods. As a result, the market has seen the advent of high-throughput devices that enable clinicians in multiplexed and quantitative detection of various blood group antigens. Advanced methods such as quantum dots (QDs) and magnetic beads in assays improve identification and enhance clinical safety of blood transfusion.Global Blood Group Typing Market: Key TrendsThe rising number of blood donations and increasing number of patients needing transfusion due to accidents and trauma are the primary factors driving the blood group typing market. The growing demand for blood group typing for pregnancy and prenatal testing has boosted the market. Blood typing is also crucial to detect the condition of hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) in pregnant women, thereby stimulating the demand for such tests. Increasing application of blood group typing in forensic sciences is further expected to catalyze the market growth.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The advent of novel molecular diagnostic tools that help in reliable and rapid identification of group in a large blood samples is expected to provide abundant opportunities to market players. For instance, the molecular genotyping of ABO blood groups in large populations can be accomplished with the help of these methods.Global Blood Group Typing Market: Market PotentialA recent clinical study published in International Journal of Nanomedicine reveals that scientists have developed a novel multiplexed method for the identification of ABO blood groups. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, a prominent military institution of higher learning in China. Researchers conducting the study, quantified blood group A and B antigens with QD fluorescence assay (QFA). The assay integrates the traditional QD labeling with magnetic beads to make high throughput and quantitative method for rapid detection of antigens present in the ABO blood groups of fairly large volume populations. The scientists evaluated the efficacy of the method by testing the blood samples for 791 people and they confirmed that the accuracy was 100%; in addition, they asserted that when the conditions were optimized, even detection in weak samples produced satisfactory results.An estimate by the researchers states that the multiplexed detection can be completed within the short span of 35 minutes with over 105 RBCs (red blood cells). This study holds marked significance for blood transfusion safety. The findings of the study show promising prospect for the blood group typing market, since the testing process can be used to devise an effective clinical strategy to improvise on the identification methods for ABO blood groups.Request TOC of the Report @Global Blood Group Typing Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, North America is a prominent market for blood group typing devices and consumables. The regional market is expected to witness substantial growth in the coming years. The growth of the market is attributed to the constant technological advancements in PCR and assays for blood grouping leading to the design of cost-effective and novel blood-grouping platforms.Meanwhile, Asia Pacific is expected to provide lucrative avenues over the forecast period from 2017 to 2025. The impressive pace of growth of the Asia Pacific market for blood group typing is driven by some promising clinical studies in high throughput devices, increasing healthcare spending, and the growing number of blood transfusions.Get Discount @Global Blood Group Typing Market: Competitive AnalysisSeveral players are making innovations in their offerings and using advanced technologies to discover novel methods for blood group typing. Key companies operating in the blood group typing market are Novacyt Group, Day medical SA, Rapid Labs, Quotient, Ltd., AXO Science, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Inc. Immucor, Inc., and Grifols, S.A.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Global Nanocapsules Market - Industry Analysis, Market Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Growth and Forecast, 2016 - 2024

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Nanocapsules Market - Industry Analysis, Market Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Growth and Forecast, 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Nanopharmacology is a new branch of pharmacology which deals with the application of nanotechnology in the field of nanomedicine. This is a potential step towards curing and prevention of disease by using molecular knowledge about human body and molecular tools. Nanopharmacology studies the interaction between nanoscale drugs and proteins such as DNA, RNA and cells & tissues. It also studies the interaction between physiological systems and traditional drugs at nanoscale level.Nanoparticles are solid colloidal particles that include both nanospheres and nanocapsules.Nanocapsule is any nanoparticles that consist of a shell and a space in which desired substances may be placed. It is made up of a nontoxic polymer. They are also known to be drug delivery agents in the size range of 10-1000 nm. These capsules are made up of molecules called as phospholipids such as liposomes. Now-a-days many other materials such as variety of polymers have been used to make nanocapsules by self assembly process. Polymeric capsules are studied extensively as particulate carriers in the medical and pharmaceutical fields as they act as good drug delivery systems as a result of their sustained and control release property and subcellular size.The ultrafine size of nanocapsules itself is one of the useful function as the finer drug are suitable to be absorbed easily through biological systems. The special features and functions of nanoparticles include slow release: the capsules releases drugs molecules slower over a long period of time, quick release: the capsule shell breaks and comes in contact with a surface, specific release: the shell is designed to break open when a molecule receptor binds to a specific chemical and moisture release: the shell breaks down and releases drug in the presence of water among other features. The state of the art nanocapsulation medications include drugs deliver to specific locations within the body, cuts down on the amount of drug per dose and reduces the risk of side effects. The only limitation is that it is designed to target pre-determined areas.Cancer, neutraceuticals, ethyl alcohol absorption, food usage and self healing materials are the major applications of nanocapsules. Water soluble polymer shells are manufactured to deliver a protein known as apoptin into cancer cells. Neutraceuticals are substances which are placed into food to enhance nutrition. The smaller the nanocarrier, the better the delivery particles and solubility of neutraceuticals. Nanocapsulation in foods includes the changing of texture, coloring, flavoring and stability in shelf life. Nanocapsules are known to reduce damage that is caused by high loads for components in microelectronics, polymeric coatings and adhesives.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Growing pharmaceutical industry along with the rising demand for nanocapsules are expected to be the major factor driving the global nanocapsules industry. The growing demand from the end user industry is also expected to boost demand for nanocapsules in the near future.Asia Pacific is expected to be the largest consumer of nanocapsules due to growing pharmaceutical industries in the region. North America and Europe are also expected to boost demand for nanocapsules owing to the growing demand from the end-user industries for various applications.Some of the major players profiled for global nanocapsules market include: Capsulation, Sanzyme Ltd, PlasmaChem GmbH, NoCamels, Indian Instruments Manufacturing Company, Encap, Sintef, and Carlina Technologies among others.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsBrowse More Details @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
2022 Lime Sulfur Market Analysis, Attractiveness & Development with Key Players Tessenderlo Kerley, Graus Chemicals, OR-CAL

Lime Sulfur Market Analysis

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A new research study published by HTF MI with title Global Lime Sulfur Market Professional Survey Report 2017 provides an in-depth strategic assessment of the Lime Sulfur including key market trends, upcoming & innovative technologies, industry drivers, challenges, regulatory policies and issues, future roadmap, value chain, and major players profile and strategies. The research study provides forecasts for Lime Sulfur investments till 2022.Get Access to sample pages @Global Lime Sulfur Market - Vendor Landscape: The analysts authoring the publication explain the nature and future changes in the competitive scenario of the worldwide Lime Sulfur market. Various companies are profiled in the publication guide, including North Country Organics, Tessenderlo Kerley, Miller Chemical & Fertilizer, Graus Chemicals, OR-CAL Inc, Specialty Crop Solutions, Anhui Sinotech Chemical & Mitsubishi Chemical Company.The Global Lime Sulfur market is prophesied to be cataloged into three important segments, i.e. Soluble Liquid Concentrate (SL) & Suspension Concentrate (SC) as per product classification. By application, the market could be classified into Agriculture, Horticulture & Veterinary Application.Global Lime Sulfur Sales (Thousands Units) by Application (2016-2022)Market Segment by Application 2012 2016 2022 Market Share (%)2022 CAGR (%)(2016-2022)Agriculture xx xx xx xx% xx%Horticulture xx xx xx xx% xx%Veterinary Application xx xx xx xx% xx%Total xx xx xx 100% xx%Buy this research report @In terms of geography, North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan & India could be the lucrative regions of the market. By the concluding forecast year, North America is envisioned to garner a US$ XX, whereas the China could rise at a XX% CAGR.Market Segment by Regions 2012 2016 2022 Share (%) CAGR (2016-2022)North America xx xx xx xx% xx%China xx xx xx xx% xx%Europe xx xx xx xx% xx%Southeast Asia xx xx xx xx% xx%Japan xx xx xx xx% xx%India xx xx xx xx% xx%Total xx xx xx xx% xx%The bottom-up approach is being utilized to project the global market size of Lime Sulfur based on end-user industry and region, in terms of value. With the data triangulation procedure and validation of data through primary interviews, the exact values of the overall primary market, and individual market share & sizes are determined and confirmed with this study. Various tables and graphs are available in the study also the data will be provided in excel format (if required) along with PDF file.Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @There are 15 chapters to deeply display the Global Lime Sulfur market.Chapter 1, to describe Lime Sulfur Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Lime Sulfur , with sales, revenue, and price of Lime Sulfur , in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Lime Sulfur , for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries / regions North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan & India;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application [Agriculture, Horticulture & Veterinary Application], from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Lime Sulfur market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Lime Sulfur sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Get customization & check discount for report @Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact Us:HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road, Edison, NJ USA - 08837sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218
Hydrazine Hydrate Market Trends & Opportunities with Forecast up to 2022

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According to Transparency Market Researchs new market research report, titled Hydrazine Hydrate Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2022, hydrazine hydrate is an inorganic compound used in many end-use industries due to its favorable chemical properties. Hydrazine hydrate is typically colorless and has an odor similar to ammonia. It is commercially manufactured using three production processes: the Bayer-Ketazine process, the peroxide process, and the Olin-Raschig process.View Full Report:These production processes also use various raw materials such as sodium hypochlorite, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and acetone along with catalysts to form hydrazine hydrate. The study report states that the global hydrazine hydrate market stood at US$350.0 million in 2013 and is further expected to reach US536.3 million by 2022. Owing to its use in a number of industrial applications, the global market for hydrazine hydrate is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.9% from 2014 to 2022.The report covers the impact of the various market drivers and restraints acting on the hydrazine hydrate market during the forecast period and highlights the growth opportunities in the hydrazine hydrate market globally and regionally. It also provides a decisive view of the global hydrazine hydrate market by segmenting it in terms of end user segments. The segmentation in the report has been analyzed based on present and future trends. By end use, the report enlists water treatment, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, polymerization and blowing agents, and others (including metal purification, etc) as some of the major end-use segments of the hydrazine hydrate market.Request to view Sample Report:As hydrazine hydrate is one of the main blowing agents used in the polymer industry, a strong outlook for polymer foams in the polymer industry is expected to drive the hydrazine hydrate market with significant growth. Polymerization and blowing agents was the largest end-use segment, with a market share of more than 35% in 2013. This segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment of the hydrazine hydrate market until 2022. Besides its usage in the polymer industry, hydrazine hydrate is also used in many other industries such as water treatment and agrochemicals. The global agrochemical industry revenue is expected to grow at a rapid pace between 2013 and 2022. Rise in the production of intermediates used in insecticides and fungicides is anticipated to boost the demand for hydrazine hydrate from the agrochemical industry in the near future.Request to download and view full ToC Hydrazine hydrate is toxic to humans and its usage is thus limited to a certain extent. However, its use in fuel cells as an effective substitute of polymers can bring about a resurgence of the overall market in major regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. By geography, the global hydrazine hydrate market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Among these regions, the highest demand for hydrazine hydrate from the polymer industry as a blowing agent is expected to be observed in Asia Pacific in the next few years.In 2013, Asia Pacific was the largest regional market for hydrazine hydrate, accounting for over 55% of the market. Furthermore, it is now expected to maintain its leading position in the global market for the next eight years. With China-based manufacturers expanding their existing production facilities to meet the local demand for hydrazine hydrate, the hydrazine hydrate market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to rise rapidly in the next few years.Buy Now This Report @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
U.S. HEPA Vacuum Filters Market Value to Increase to US$621.3 mn by 2018

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According to a market research report published by Transparency Market Research, the U.S. HEPA vacuum filters market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.10% during the period between 2010 and 2018. The report, titled U.S. HEPA Vacuum Filters Market: United States Industry Analysis, Size, Share And Forecast, 2010  2018, projects the U.S. HEPA vacuum filters market to reach a valuation of US$621.3 mn by 2018. The overall market was worth US$484.0 mn in 2013. In terms of volume, the U.S. HEPA vacuum filters market is expected to reach 31.88 kilo tons of filtration media by 2018.View and Download TOC of Us Hepa Vacuum Filters Market Research Report@High-efficiency particulate arresting vacuum filter, better known as HEPA vacuum filter, refers to a type of mechanical air filter that forces air through a fine mesh, thereby trapping harmful particles such as pet dander, dust mites, pollen, and tobacco smoke. According to the American Thoracic Society, HEPA filters are highly useful in trapping tiny particles that can be inhaled by humans. The rapidly rising air pollution has necessitated the usage of HEPA vacuum filters across homes and workplaces to prevent various airborne diseases.The report points out that the growing prevalence of asthma and allergies in the U.S. has propelled the growth of the HEPA vacuum filters market in the country. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), asthma is ranked as the fifth leading allergic disorder in the United States. The growing awareness about airborne infections and support from various regulatory bodies regarding the usage of HEPA filters have also augmented the market growth. The enforcement of stringent standards within various industries such as aircraft and automobile will drive the market during the forecast horizon. The affordable pricing of HEPA vacuum filters will further increase their demand in the near future. The overall market has a huge opportunity to grow with the advancements of technology. The report assesses the impact of Porters five forces on the growth of the U.S. HEPA vacuum filters market.Request and Download Sample Report@In terms of application, the U.S. HEPA vacuum filters market has been segmented into residential, commercial, electronics, power, metals, and others. In 2011, the residential sector accounted for 21.0% of the market. During the forecast horizon, the segment is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5.50% to reach a valuation of US$134.4 mn by 2018.Describing the competitive landscape, the report profiles some of the key players in the U.S. HEPA vacuum filters market such as Filtrauto S.A., 3M, and Pall Corporation. The report provides insightful information about the key players including their product segmentation, business strategy, and financial overview. Using SWOT analysis, the report analyzes the various growth opportunities for the market players during the forecast horizon. Currently, 3M dominates the U.S. market for HEPA vacuum filters. The company held 47.60% of the market in 2013.Buy Full Us Hepa Vacuum Filters MarketReport@About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Baby Care Products Market Reflecting a CAGR of 7.0% from 2012 to 2017

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A research report on the global baby care products market has been recently added to the comprehensive market research database of Transparency Market Research. The report, titled Baby Care Products Market  Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth and Forecast 2007  2017, states that the global baby care products market, which was valued at US$ 44.7 billion in 2011, is projected to observe growth at a CAGR of 7.0% from 2012 to 2017, and stand worth US$ 66.8 billion by 2017.Currently, the major chunk of revenues is collected by the segment of baby cosmetics and toiletries. In 2011, this segment accounted for nearly 92.2% revenues of the market and had a net worth of US$ 41.3 billion. This market segment is expected to observe growth at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period to achieve market value worth US$ 62.3 billion in 2017.Amongst the lucrative geographic regions for this market, the EMEA region, which currently leads the global market, is expected to continue its lead throughout the forecast period as well. This region is expected to amass nearly 34.7% shares of this market by the end of 2017. Market shares of this region are expected to be followed by those of Asia-Pacific majorly due to an overall rise in disposable incomes of parents in this region.View and Download TOC of Baby Care Products Market Research Report@The report focuses on two broad sections of the global baby care products market  baby cosmetics and toiletries, and baby safety and convenience products. The shares of these sections and their major sub-sections on the basis of a geographic segmentation of the global market are also explained.The report mentions that the major factor behind the overall growth of this market is the growing populations of babies in developing nations, supplemented by the considerable rise in disposable incomes of parents in these regions. What adds fuel to the growth of this market is the increase in the average lifespan of parents and the rising number of women entering the mainstream workforce throughout the globe. Being financially more stable, higher aged parents and working women spend more on baby care and convenience products, leading to positive growth of this market.Geography-wise, EMEA and Asia-Pacific are currently the major regional markets with huge growth prospects for the global baby care products market. In 2011, the revenue shares of these regions stood at 34.5% and 28.7% respectively. The global baby care products market in EMEA is expected to amass market worth of US$ 23.5 billion by 2017. During the forecast period, however, the geographic segment of Latin America is expected to grow at the fastest pace, at an expected CAGR of 8.9%.Request and Download Sample Report@Owing to the huge number of product categories, the baby care market is very fragmented. It is mainly dominated by toiletries manufacturers Kimberley-Clark, Procter & Gamble (P&G) and Johnson & Johnsons. Currently, P&G leads the global market with its premium brand of diapers Pampers. Kimberley-Clark holds the second market position with popular brands like Huggies, GoodNites, DryNites and Pull-Ups. The third largest baby care products manufacturer is Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and has products across product segments such as skin care, sun care, hair care and bathing products.Buy Full Baby Care Products MarketReport@About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Policing Technologies Market: Key Players and Production Information analysis with Forecast 2024

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The highly competitive policing technologies market in Europe has companies such as PredPol, Inc., Aventura Technologies, Inc, Reveal Media Ltd., Zepcam B.V., Basler AG, SmartWater Technology Limited, Computer Sciences Corporation, Brite-Strike Tactical Illumination Products Inc., Aeryon Labs Inc., and Taser International Inc at the forefront. Transparency Market Research predicts that the competition among the major players will intensify during the forecast period with manufacturers competing with each other for contracts of various projects.Competitive rivalry in terms of product upgrade and new product development will work in favor of the policing technologies market, the author of the study comments. Continuous research and development to introduce new features to existing technologies is a key growth strategy identified by TMR. For instance, Aventura Technologies launched a new software in February 2016 that has the ability to evaluate face recognition, access control, video analytics, and license plate recognition on a common operating platform.Obtain Report Details @Europe has been a witness to several terrorist attacks over the recent past, a factor that has forced law enforcement departments to become more vigilant and efficient in countering such attacks, the lead author of the report states.In 2014 alone, an estimated 774 individuals were arrested in the European Union for various terrorism-related offences. The number of deaths caused by terrorist attacks in Western Europe has risen significantly since 2004. This has greatly driven the need for effective and advanced policing technologies in the region.The crime rate in Europe has also exhibited an alarming increase, TMR finds. Crimes such as drug trafficking, theft, and assault are rather common and Europes comparatively lenient criminal-sentencing regimes have added to the troubles citizens face. This acts as a driving factor for the policing technologies market.Download Table of Content @The lack of proper training acts as a major deterrent to the policing technologies market in Europe. The incorporation of new technologies in the police departments requires additional staff training. There is also the need to thoroughly and regularly test, upgrade, and maintain these technologies and the various products and devices they encompass. The complexities associated with the adoption and use of new policing technologies is likely to limit its usage in Europe.Moreover, strict international human rights laws prohibiting the use of various weapons in the region is also a factor threatening to hamper the policing technologies market.The Europe policing technologies market is expected to register a 6.0% CAGR from 2016 to 2024, with the revenue set to increase from US$1.4 bn in 2015 to US$2.4 bn by the end of the forecast period. Accounting for a share of 36% in 2015, detection and surveillance technologies emerged as the leading policing technologies segment by type. This segment is poised to expand at a 6.2% CAGR during the course of the forecast period to cross US$910 mn by 2024. Registering a steady 6.8% CAGR from 2016 to 2024, aviation technology is projected to emerge as the fastest growing segment by revenue.Request A Sample Of Report @By geography, the U.K. formed the leading market for policing technologies. The country is also forecast to be the most rapidly growing regional segment in the overall market, fueled by the introduction of technologies such as automatic number plate recognition.This review is based on the findings of a TMR report titled Policing Technologies Market - Europe Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Africa Automotive Parts Aluminium & Magnesium Die Casting Market Report 2017, Trends, Analysis, Share, Estimates and Forecasts to 2022.

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The Africa Automotive Parts Aluminium & Magnesium Die-Casting report provides an in-depth analysis of the various market segments and its sub-segments.Product types Covered: Pressure die casting Semi-solid die casting Squeeze die casting Vacuum die castingApplications Covered: Body assemblies Engine Parts Transmission parts OthersFor More, Please Visit:The report focuses on current and upcoming market trends such as Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, and Challenges, technological advancements, Porters Five Forces analysis to assess the intensity of competition in the market. The market values are presented in the form of tables and graphs for better interpretation.Market Size EstimationsThe market assessment is made by the core industry experts using our 360 research approach. The data is derived from the most reliable, authenticated data sources and is validated by the industry experts (Primary Research). Both top down and bottom up analysis are implemented to enhance the accuracy of the market figures. The market projections are calculated for the next 8 years using the actual market numbers of previous year as the base year.Company ProfilingThis section provides the overview of the key players that are leading in the industry, covering their business operations, financials, list of products & services, SWOT analysis, major developments such as mergers & acquisitions, agreements, partnerships, joint ventures, new product launch, expansions etc.Report Highlights:- Market share assessments for all the mentioned market segments and sub-segments- Market share analysis of the top industry players- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants- Market forecasts for a minimum of 8 years for all the given segments- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations- Competitive landscaping, mapping the key common trends- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancementsFor More, Please Visit:We offer wide spectrum of research and consulting services with in-depth knowledge of different industries. We are known for customized research services, consulting services and Full Time Equivalent (FTE) services in the research world. We explore the market trends and draw our insights with valid assessments and analytical views. We use advanced techniques and tools among the quantitative and qualitative methodologies to identify the market trends. Our research reports and publications are routed to help our clients to design their business models and enhance their business growth in the competitive market scenario. We have a strong team with hand-picked consultants including project managers, implementers, industry experts, researchers, research evaluators and analysts with years of experience in delivering the complex projects.STRATISTICS MRC17049 King James Way, Gaithersburg,MD, 20877, USA
Global Dry Shampoo Market to Fetch Valuation Worth US$4,110.6 mn by 2022-end

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The global dry shampoo market is gaining from a number of favorable factors. Firstly, dry shampoo has aroused the interest of the growing working-class population, globally, who are looking for hair products that do not require much time for application suitable for their hectic lifestyle. This population group requires frequent hair washes as they are exposed to dirt and pollution while traveling to and from the workplace. Dry shampoo is best suited in this scenario, as frequent use of regular shampoo leads to loss of strength and sheen of hair. The ease of use as it does not require water to reduce greasing from the scalp and hair is also a significant factor boosting the demand for dry shampoo.According to estimates presented by a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global dry shampoo market will expand at a CAGR of 6.2% between 2017 and 2022 vis-a-vis revenue. Expanding at this pace, the market is likely to become US$4,110.6 mn by 2022-end from its estimated worth of US$3,043.5 mn in 2017.View and Download TOC of Dry Shampoo Market Research Report@Global Dry Shampoo Market: Key InsightsAmong the key form type segments, spray form is estimated to hold the leading 66.2% of market share in 2017. In absolute numbers, the spray form segment is estimated to be valued at US$2,016.3 mn in 2017. The form spray segment is anticipated to register a CAGR of 6.3% between 2017 and 2022, for the segment to touch a revenue valuation of US$2,738.4 mn by the end of 2022. The form spray type segment is estimated to display the leading year on year absolute growth of US$144.4 mn over the course of the forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Apart from this, the changing consumer preference for natural and organic hair care products is also stoking growth of dry shampoo market. To cater to this, a number of hair care brands have introduced natural and organic variants of dry shampoo, which are attracting a large number of consumers. These variants are not only free of harsh chemicals, which are associated with loss of luster and strength of hair, but also help improve hair health through nourishing the scalp. Further, rising hair fall concerns and the rising prevalence of scalp related diseases are increasingly leading consumes opt for natural and herbal hair care solutions.The influence of the fashion industry leading individuals to adopt hair care solutions endorsed by models and hair stylists has also been boosting the growth of the dry shampoo industry. The advent of new formula based hair care products briefly gained the interest of models and hair stylists for increasing hair volume and providing rich hair texture. However, excessive use of chemical-based hair styling solutions and frequent shampooing have been associated with severe scalp issues, with baldness being one of them. This has led models and hair stylists to switch to dry shampoo that substitutes chemical-based products for hair styling needs.Request and Download Sample Report@As per function classification, the segments of the global dry shampoo market include anti-dandruff, color protection, hair loss prevention, and others.From a geographical perspective, the report studies the global dry shampoo market across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific except Japan, Japan, and the Middle East and Africa. Of them, North America is expected to account for the leading revenue contribution of US$1,134.0 mn in 2022. However, Asia Pacific except Japan is expected to register the leading 7% CAGR over the forecast period between 2017 and 2022.Global Dry Shampoo Market: Competitive AnalysisThe global dry shampoo market is competitive with a presence of a considerable number of established players. Key players operating in the global dry shampoo market include The Unilever Group, The Procter and Gamble, Kao Corporation, The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Shiseido Company Limited, Church & Dwight Co. Inc., Coty Inc., Revlon Inc., Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, and LOreal SA.Buy Full Dry Shampoo MarketReport@About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Workforce Analytics Global Market by Vertical, Growth, Trends, Analysis and Forecasts to 2022

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According to Publisher, the Global Workforce Analytics market is accounted for $439.4 million in 2015 and is expected to reach $1.29 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR of 16.7% from 2015 to 2022. Workforce analytics is a combination of software and methodology that implements statistical models to employee related data. The driving factor for workforce analytics market is competition within the business which leads to better business development. Other factors such as huge requirement for skilled workforce, changing work dynamics, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) trend and implementing of consumer type applications in the workplace are impelling market growth. However, lack of awareness in organization and data security concerns are impeding the market. Demand for integrated workforce analytics solutions and cloud-based solutions along with demand for mobile applications will further provide opportunity for the market to grow.The workforce analytics solutions are estimated to have greater demand in the enterprise segment followed by consulting services. Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) segment contributes the largest market share. The workforce analytics market in the retail, healthcare, and energy & utilities sectors are also projected to grow further. North America is expected to be the largest market share for the given forecast period. Europe and Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow rapidly.For more informationSome of the key players in global Workforce Analytics market are ADP,LLC., IBM Corporation, ORACLE Corporation, SAP SE, TABLEAU SOFTWARE, Cornerstone OnDemand, Kronos Inc, Visier Inc, WorkForce Solutions, Cvent Inc, Active Network LLC, Workday Inc., Zerista, Inc., Eventzilla, Concentra .Deployment Models Covered:-On-Cloud-On-PremiseEnd Users Covered:- Large Enterprise-Small and Medium EnterpriseServices Covered:-Solutions-Services-Consulting Services-Managed Services-System IntegrationVerticals Covered:-Healthcare-Government and Public Sector-Education-Energy and Utilities-Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI)-Manufacturing-Telecom and IT-Retail-Travel and Hospitality-Other VerticalsRequest Sample CopyRegions Covered:-North America-US-Canada-Mexico-Europe-Germany-France-Italy-UK-Spain-Rest of Europe-Asia Pacific-Japan-China-India-Australia-New Zealand-Rest of Asia Pacific-Rest of the World-Middle East-Brazil-Argentina-South Africa-Egypt11 Company Profiling11.1 ADP, LLC.11.2 IBM Corporation11.3 ORACLE Corporation11.4 SAP SE11.5 TABLEAU SOFTWARE11.6 Cornerstone OnDemand11.7 Kronos Inc11.8 Visier Inc11.9 WorkForce Solutions11.10 Cvent Inc11.11 Active Network LLC11.12 Workday, Inc.11.13 Zerista, Inc.11.14 Eventzilla11.15 ConcentraMake an enquiry:Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Personal Accident Insurance in Egypt Market 2017- Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures 2021

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WiseGuyReports published new report, titled Personal Accident Insurance in EgyptSynopsis"Personal Accident Insurance in Egypt to 2021: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics" contains detailed historic and forecast data covering Personal Accident Insurance in Egypt. This databook provides values for key performance indicators such as policies and premiums (gross written premiums, direct written premiums, net written premiums, net earned premiums, net written premiums (% of GWP), insurance penetration (ratio of direct premiums to GDP) and number of active policies), and claims & expenses (gross claims, paid claims, change in outstanding reserves, incurred loss and loss ratio (%)).The research handbook provides the up-to-date market data for period 2011-2015 and illustrative forecast to 2020. Values in the handbook are depicted in USD ($) and local currency by country and number of active policies are represented in millions.GET SAMPLE REPORT @SummaryPersonal accident insurance is an insurance policy which provides coverage in the event of the policy holder sustaining bodily injuries resulting solely and directly from an accident caused by external, violent and visible means resulting into death or disablement. An accident may include events such as rail / road / air accident, injury due to any collision/fall, burn Injury and drowningThe total amount of gross written premiums in the personal accident insurance in Egypt is valued at EGPxxx.xx billion (US$xxx.xx billion) in 2016, which is an increase of xx.xx% from 2012. The category has recorded a CAGR of xx.xx% during the review period (2012-2016).Personal Accident Insurance in Egypt to 2021: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of Insurance industry in Egypt. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Egypt value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.ScopePersonal Accident Insurance in Egypt to 2021: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics provides you with the following: Overall values of policies and premiums in the Personal Accident Insurance Overall values of claims and expenses in the Personal Accident InsuranceKey points to buy Understand the personal accident and health insurance industry covering personal accident insurance life in Egypt. Enhance your knowledge of the market with a breakdown of data including gross written premiums, direct written premiums, net written premiums, net earned premiums, net written premiums (% of GWP), insurance penetration (ratio of direct premiums to GDP) and number of active policies, gross claims, paid claims, change in outstanding reserves, incurred loss and loss ratio (%). Allows you to plan future business decisions using the forecast figures given for the segment. The broad but detailed perspective will help all the companies in the Insurance industry to understand and succeed in the challenging market.Table of Contents1 Introduction2 Personal Accident Insurance - Policies and Premiums3 Personal Accident Insurance - Claims and Expenses4 Appendix..CONTINUEDWise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Human Vaccine Market to Show Impressive Growth Rate by 2023 & heavily guided by key players like Novartis , Sinovac & Walvax

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The global Human Vaccine Market report has been strategically curated to fulfil the needs of the customer through in-depth analysis of the Human Vaccine Market that can assist the customer in gaining actionable insights regarding the Human Vaccine Market.The global Human Vaccine Market report consists of information such as the drivers, challenges and market trends in the Human Vaccine Market, along with a horde of other information such as the explanation of the market, its various types and applications, and the major players.Moreover, the report covers the various segmentations in the market such as regions, revenue, volume, production, and the various policies which are rife in the Human Vaccine Market.Get Sample Pages of Report @The report on the Human Vaccine Market consists of the detailed statistical analysis of the market performance, depicted in a series of graphs and tables for the easy consumption of the customer. Furthermore, the top research professionals and market experts together have crunched a lot of numbers, running various algorithms and have come up with the most accurate Human Vaccine Market forecast for the period of 2013  2023. The detailed analysis of the market along with the forecast across all segments will be greatly beneficial for the customer to plan the future course of action for growth.All the top players in the Human Vaccine Market have been covered in the global Human Vaccine Market report. Each player profile consists of a detailed company analysis, new products and innovations they are working on, and the available product portfolio in the market. Each players market cap and perceived value along with future plans of expansion and growth and the latest acquisitions and mergers have been covered in the global Human Vaccine Market report. The customer can hence be well informed about the imminent competition in the Human Vaccine Market and work on an action plan to counter it accordingly.Some of the top players in the Human Vaccine Market are as follows:China National Biotec GroupHualan BioZhifeiSinovacWalvaxLiaoning ChengdaNeptunus GroupGSKMerckNovartisPfizerSanofiAstraZenecaJohnson & JohnsonBavarian NordicCSLEmergent BiosolutionsUnilabThe global Human Vaccine Market report has covered the market across all geographic regions which include the following:North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanRest APACLatin AmericaMake an Enquiry @Every regions market analysis has been covered in the global Human Vaccine Market report including the regions ranking in terms of revenue, volume, growth rate, leading applications and types of the product, and the major drivers and constraints for the specific regions. This is an ideal piece of intelligence for the consumer looking to expand their business across multiple locations and wishes to understand what works best in those regions in the Human Vaccine Market.Global Human Vaccine Market: Type Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume, Average Price, Revenue, Market Share and Trend 2013-2023):InactivatedAttenuatedToxoidSubunitConjugateExperimentalValenceHeterotypicThe global Human Vaccine Market report covers a detailed analysis of the performance of each type in the market globally as well as across all regions and presents the customers with an absolute overview of the Human Vaccine Market in terms of the types as to which is the best bet for the customer to invest upon.The predictions of the types also aids in the decision making process of the customer to plan towards the future of the business.Global Human Vaccine Market: Application Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume and Market Share 2013-2023; Downstream Customers and Market Analysis)PreventiveTherapeuticThe various applications analysis along with the detailed analysis of the players in the market together aids the customer in making valuable decisions regarding the direction in which they wish to head towards. The Human Vaccine Market report from Orbis Research has been curated by the best experts and professionals in the Human Vaccine Market and is sure to benefit the customer highly.Reasons for Buying this Report:This report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsBrowse Full Report @About Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Information:Hector CostelloSenior Manager  Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas  75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +9164101019Email: sales@orbisresearch.com
Telecom Power System Market by Manufacturers,Types,Regions and Applications Research Report Forecast to 2022

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Telecom Power System Market by Global Brands, Countries, Type and Applications 2017 updated report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Telecom Power System market focusing on the market size and trends with industry structure review.This report studies Telecom Power System in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with capacity, production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringEltekEatonEmerson Network PowerGEDeltaAlstomMitsubishi ElectricZTEInfineonAEG Power SolutionsACMECummins PowerPace Power SystemsAlta energyDyna Hitech Power SystemsRequest a sample of this report @Market Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of Telecom Power System in these regions, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast) , likeNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaSplit by product type, with production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoHigh Pressure Telecom Power SystemAtmospheric Pressure Telecom Power SystemLow Pressure Telecom Power SystemSplit by application, this report focuses on consumption, market share and growth rate of Telecom Power System in each application, can be divided intoCommercial power supplyLife in the power supplyBrowse Complete Report @Some points from TOC:Global Telecom Power System Market Research Report 20171 Telecom Power System Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Telecom Power System1.2 Telecom Power System Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Telecom Power System by Type in 20151.2.2 High Pressure Telecom Power System1.2.3 Atmospheric Pressure Telecom Power System1.2.4 Low Pressure Telecom Power System1.3 Telecom Power System Segment by Application1.3.1 Telecom Power System Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Commercial power supply1.3.3 Life in the power supply1.3.4 Application 31.4 Telecom Power System Market by Region1.4.1 North America Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 Europe Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 China Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Telecom Power System (2011-2021)2 Global Telecom Power System Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Telecom Power System Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global Telecom Power System Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.3 Global Telecom Power System Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.4 Manufacturers Telecom Power System Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Telecom Power System Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Telecom Power System Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Telecom Power System Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Telecom Power System Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2011-2016)3.1 Global Telecom Power System Production by Region (2011-2016)3.2 Global Telecom Power System Production Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.3 Global Telecom Power System Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.4 Global Telecom Power System Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.5 North America Telecom Power System Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.6 Europe Telecom Power System Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.7 China Telecom Power System Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.8 Japan Telecom Power System Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.9 Southeast Asia Telecom Power System Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.10 India Telecom Power System Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)4 Global Telecom Power System Supply (Production) , Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.1 Global Telecom Power System Consumption by Regions (2011-2016)4.2 North America Telecom Power System Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.3 Europe Telecom Power System Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.4 China Telecom Power System Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.5 Japan Telecom Power System Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.6 Southeast Asia Telecom Power System Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.7 India Telecom Power System Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)Purchase a copy of this report @Contact Information:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Pet Foods - Global Market by Type of Food & Data Validation, Analysis and Forecasts to 2022

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The Global Pet Food is estimated at $68.95 billion in 2015 and is poised to reach $91.67 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR at 4.15% from 2015 to 2022. The pet food market is mainly driven by increasing demand for best products by pet owners across the globe. The factors such as increasing disposable incomes, changing lifestyle and rapid urbanization are the factors favouring the market growth. However, factors such as pet allergies, obesity in pets and regulatory issues are the restraints of the market.The global pet food market, by food type is dominated by dry food segment followed by snacks/treats. North America dominated the global pet foods market followed by Europe. Asia Pacific is expected to witness a strong CAGR due to rising tendency of keeping pets at home.For more information @Some of the key market players include Arla Foods UK Plc, Dean Foods Company, Danone, Fonterra Group Cooprative limited, Meiji Dairies Corp, Nestle SA, Amul, Kraft Foods Inc, Parmalat S.P.A, Snacor Cooperative Unidas Limited, Dairy Farmers of America Inc, Groupe Lactalis SA, Megmilk Snow Brand Co. Ltd, Unilever, and Royal Fishland Campina N.V .Global Pet Food Market Pet Type Covered:- Cat Food- Dog Food- Other Pet FoodType of food Covered:- Wet/Canned Food- Nutrition Food- Snacks/Treats- Dry Food- OthersRequest Sample Copy dRegions Covered:- North America- US- Canada- Mexico- Europe- Germany- France- Italy- UK- Spain- Rest of Europe- Asia Pacific- Japan- China- India- Australia- New Zealand- Rest of Asia Pacific- Rest of the World- Middle East- Brazil- Argentina- South Africa- Egypt9 Company Profiling9.1 Introduction9.2 Arla Foods UK Plc9.3 Dean Foods Company9.4 Danone9.5 Fonterra Group Cooperative Limited9.6 Meiji Dairies Corp9.7 Nestle SA9.8 Amul9.9 Kraft Foods, Inc9.10 Parmalat S.P.A9.11 Sancor Cooperativas Unidas Limited9.12 Dairy Farmers of America Inc9.13 Groupe Lactalis SA9.14 Megmilk Snow Brand Co. Ltd9.15 Unilever N9.16 Royal FrieslandCampina N.VMake an enquiry:Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Photoelectric Sensors Market: Development Insight and Manufacturers Challenge Competitors

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According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research Photoelectric Sensors Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 the photoelectric sensors market was valued at US$400 million in 2015, which is expected to reach US$1,703.2 million by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 17.8% from 2015 to 2024,in terms of revenue. In terms of volume, the market was valued 30.5 million units in 2015 and is expected to reach 167.0 million units by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 21.2%.Browse the full Photoelectric Sensors Market (By Technology Retro-reflective, Diffuse and Through Beam, By Type - Proximity photoelectric sensor, Fiber optic photoelectric sensor and Others, By Application - Parking facilities, Elevators, Building Automation, Semiconductor Device, Packaging machines and Others ) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024? report atPhotoelectric sensors are used to detect the size, shape, color, distance, absence or presence of a target entity. These sensors use light for performing chosen tasks. Photoelectric sensors have the ability to detect non metal objects, apart from their ability to function over extensive sensing distances. Self contained photoelectric sensors are designed to enclose electronic components and optics conjointly. The sensor comprises a receiver and a light transmitter. The sensor emits light through the transmitter to the target which is then reflected and the light beam is received by the photoelectric receiver, activating the sensor output.Packaging, semiconductor device, logistics are some of the sectors where photoelectric sensors are used. Wide applicability of retro reflective photoelectric sensors is driving the growth global photoelectric sensors. The retro reflective photoelectric sensors are widely used in applications including glass detection, object detection and many others. These sensors with the help of polarization filter operate in visible red light and without polarization filter, operate in the infrared areas. Moreover, the sensors are used widely due to its reliability and less time consumption during setup.Download Table of Content @Industrial automation is also escalating the demand of photoelectric proximity sensors worldwide. These sensors are also used to detect non ferrous and ferrous metal and non metal objects. Moreover, proximity photoelectric sensors have the ability to detect targets less than 1mm diameter and these sensors have also the ability to detect object while operating 60m away from the target. The demand of photoelectric sensors is rising simultaneously with the increasing need of process efficiency in automobile, chemicals, manufacturing and other industries. During the forecast period, these demand side factors are .expected to positively impact the growth of global photoelectric sensors market.High cost of fiber optic photoelectric sensor is major setback for the growth of the market. The price of the fiber optic photoelectric sensors is higher as compared to the proximity photoelectric sensor which acts as major restraints in the growth of the market globally. Introduction of nano-technology is identified as a major opportunity in the global photoelectric sensor market. Nano technology makes it possible to manufacture photoelectric sensors that are smaller in size and are rarely visible with bare eyes.Based on technology, the market is segregated into retro-reflective, diffuse and through beam. As of 2015, in terms of revenue, photoelectric sensors using retro-reflective technology held the largest share and accounting for more than 45% share of total market. Photoelectric sensors using retro-reflective technology offer multiple benefits such as reliability in operation, better polarization, flexibility in application and precision sensing.Request A Sample Of Report @In terms of types, global photoelectric sensors market is segregated into proximity photoelectric sensor, fiber optic photoelectric sensor and others. As of 2015, in terms of revenue, proximity photoelectric sensor held the largest share. The proximity photoelectric sensors are used in several industries like packaging, food processing and material handling for positioning, counting and sorting process. Considering such wide scope of applications, proximity photoelectric sensors are expected to retain highest market share throughout the forecast period.By application, the market is segmented into parking facilities, elevators, building automation, semiconductor devices, packaging machines and others. As of 2015, in terms of revenue, parking facilities held the largest share. Rising demand for photoelectric sensors in parking infrastructure and automotive sectors has fuelled the growth of this application segment.Based on geography, the photoelectric sensors market is segmented into four regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World (ROW). The European photoelectric sensors market held the largest market share of 2015 and is expected to retain its position during the forecast period. Increasing demand of industrial automation is the primary factor driving the European photoelectric sensor market.The major players in the global photoelectric sensors market includes Rockwell Automation Inc. (U.S),`Keyence Corporation (Japan), Avago Corporation (Singapore), Panasonic Corporation (Japan), Omron Corporation (Japan), Balluff Inc. (U.S), Schneider Electric SE (France), Baumer Group (Switzerland), Sick AG (Germany), Eaton Corporation PLC (Ireland), Autonics Corporation (South Korea), IFM Electronic Ltd. (Germany) among others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Bridal Gowns Market Poised to Account for US$43,502.8 by the end of 2022

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For years, there has been a steady spending on bridal gowns as they are considered a vital part of wedding dresses, witnessed in their substantial demand in traditional wedding salons. The demand for bridal gowns is rising, accentuated by the belief that wedding is once-in-a-lifetime experience for families and brides need to look magnificent. This has accelerated the global spending on bridal outfit. A burgeoning wedding market in various developing and developed countries is reflecting positively on the growth of the bridal gown market. In addition, the recurrent belief in the sanctity and institution of marriage among various cultures is a key factor bolstering the spending on wedding. The extensive launch of bridal gowns with exotic designs and innovative styles in recent years has helped brides get a harmonious, majestic look thereby bolstering their demand.The bridal gowns market is projected to rise from a valuation of US$32,454.2 Mn in 2017 to reach US$43,502.8 by the end of 2022. The market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 6.0% during the forecast period of 20172022.View and Download TOC of Bridal Gowns Market Research Report@An elaborate assessment of various factors and trends impacting the growth of the bridal gowns market are:The rising spending on bridal wear in various cultures world over and the marketization of marriages, fueled by lavish spending on wedding, are key factors driving the bridal gowns market. A large number of millennials constantly entering the marriageable age, combined with the rising spending on bridal outfits, is a key factor fueling the demand for bridal gowns world over.The entry of online retailers in the market, supported by a burgeoning e-commerce, is expected to be a game-changing strategy for bridal as well as non-bridal companies as they seek to bridge the gap between mass markets and traditional salon experience. The rising relevance of online shopping experience for brides is attributed to some unique benefits they confers on them, such as in expediting the overall marriage planning process. To add to this, the presence of a centralized distribution facility of online retailers may in various parts of the world be an attractive proposition for buyers of bridal gowns. The launch of exotic bridal wear by online retailers is further providing a robust fillip to the market.The influx of low-priced bridal gowns may hamper the revenue margins of various retailers. In addition, a growing number of cultures that dissuade lavish spending on weddings is a key factor impeding the demand for bridal gowns. Nevertheless, bridal gowns with innovative designs and styles are capturing the attention of a rising millennial population. This is expected to open up exciting avenues in the coming years.Request and Download Sample Report@Geographically, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) is expected to be the most promising market for bridal gowns holding the dominant revenue. The regional market is projected to be worth US$13,529.3 Mn by the end of 2022. The rising spending on bridal wear in various cultures as a part of wedding and a rapidly growing disposable incomes of populations in emerging economies are key factors expected to accentuate the APEJ market.The major styles of bridal gowns are ball gowns, mermaid-style dresses, trumpet dresses, A-line dresses, sheath wedding dresses, and tea-length wedding dresses. Of these, ball gown is projected to be the most promising segment with its valuation estimated to be US$11,416.2 Mn by the end of 2022.Competitive DynamicsSeveral players are experimenting with unique workmanship, innovative designs, and better fabrics to design elegant and sophisticated bridal gowns, in order to gain a better foothold in the market. The entry of numerous players is expected to intensify the competition over the years. Some of the leading players operating in the market are Kleinfeld Bridal Corp., Davids Bridal, Inc., Elie Saab France, Harrods Limited, JLM Couture, Inc., Justin Alexander, Inc., Maggie Sottero Designs L.L.C., and Moonlight Bridal Design, Inc.Buy Full Bridal Gowns Market Report@About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Mammography Market- Industry Analysis,Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025

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Global Mammography Market: OverviewThe global mammography market is growing at a significant pace, owing to the increasing cancer cases worldwide. The key players in the market, government organizations, and NGOs are making notable efforts to create an awareness and offer treatment to patients, which is expected to enhance the growth of the market in the near future. Thus, the market is likely to register a strong growth rate in the forecast period.Global Mammography Market: Key TrendsThe high prevalence of breast cancer worldwide and the rising number of innovations concerning screening and diagnostics are estimated to offer lucrative opportunities for key players operating in the market. The improving healthcare facilities in the developing economies are projected to supplement the markets growth in the coming years. Furthermore, governments across the globe are making efforts to provide treatments at low cost in order to reach a large number of audience in the near future.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Mammography Market: Market PotentialTechnological advancements in the healthcare sector and the emergence of innovative devices and effective therapeutics are the key factors projected to fuel the growth of the global mammography market throughout the forecast period. In addition to this, the rising number of cancer cases across the globe is expected to accelerate the growth of the overall market in the near future.On the other hand, the lack of awareness among patients in several developing economies and the high cost of treatment are estimated to curb the growth of the global mammography market in the next few years. Nonetheless, the use of digital mammography devices is predicted to generate promising growth opportunities for the key players in the market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Mammography Market: Regional OutlookIn the previous years, the North America market for mammography held a major share of the global market and is estimated to retain its position over the forecast period. The rising number of breast cancer cases and the increasing women population are the key factors anticipated to encourage the development of the North America market in the coming years. In addition, the availability of advanced therapeutics and healthcare infrastructure are predicted to accelerate the markets growth in the near future.On the other hand, the development of the economy and the rising popularity of medical tourism are projected to augment the growth of the Asia Pacific market in the next few years. The increasing contribution from China and India and the rising awareness among patients are predicted to supplement the markets growth in the forecast period. Moreover, the favorable government initiatives and the enhancement of the healthcare sector are likely to contribute towards the growth of the Asia Pacific market in the near future.Get Discount @Global Mammography Market: Competitive AnalysisThe global market is projected to grow progressive throughout the forecast period. The rising emphasis of the leading players on introducing new therapeutics and devices to offer enhanced products to patients is likely to encourage the growth of the overall market in the coming years. As a result, several new players are predicted to participate in the market in order to create a brand name across the globe.Some of the leading players operating in the mammography market across the globe are I.M.S. Srl, GE Healthcare, Hologic, Planmed Oy, Phillips Healthcare, Fujifilm, Siemens Healthcare, Mindray Medical International Limited, Toshiba Medical Systems, and Metaltronica. The research study provides a detailed overview of the competitive landscape and throws light on the key strategies and policies that have been adopted by them in order to sustain in the global market.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Railway Wheel Market Growth Factors and Industry Size, Demand, Insights of 2017

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The New Report "Global Railway Wheel Market Professional Survey Report 2017" published by ReportsWeb, covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Global Railway Wheel market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingMA SteelGHH RadsatzInterpipeArriumNippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal (NSSMC)Sumitomo Metal IndustriesAmsted RailRail Wheel FactoryVyksa Steel Works (VSW)Hegenscheidt-MFDRequest a Sample atGeographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD) , market share and growth rate of Railway Wheel in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast) , coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaBrowse Complete Report atOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoSolid WheelsHollow WheelOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales) , market share and growth rate of Railway Wheel for each application, includingPassenger CarFreight CarGet discount on report purchase atKey Point from Table of Contents:1 Railway Wheel Market Overview2 Global Railway Wheel Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Railway Wheel Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Railway Wheel Supply (Production) , Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global Railway Wheel Production, Revenue (Value) , Price Trend by Type6 Global Railway Wheel Market Analysis by Application7 Global Railway Wheel Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 MA Steel7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Railway Wheel Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 MA Steel Railway Wheel Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 GHH Radsatz7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Railway Wheel Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 GHH Radsatz Railway Wheel Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Interpipe7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Railway Wheel Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Interpipe Railway Wheel Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview8 Railway Wheel Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Railway Wheel Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Research Findings and ConclusionPurchase Complete Report atContact Information:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
United States Blood Glucose Meter Users and Market Analysis (2011  2022)

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United States Blood Glucose Meter Market is likely to reach USD 650 Million by the year end of 2022.Market growth can be attributed to factors such as increasing number of diabetic patients, growing awareness towards diabetes mellitus, improved glucose control and flexible, userfriendly design, government efforts for better management of diabetes mellitus and technological advancement in blood glucose meter devices.The research report titled United States Blood Glucose Meter Market Insights, Opportunity, Analysis, Growth Potential & Forecast 2017  2022 examines the market, competitive landscape and trends of the United States Blood Glucose Meter Market. The study provides an indepth analysis of the type 1, type 2 and newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes and overall diabetes population. Moreover, it also provides an essential insight on insulin users.Browse the full report @The report provides a decisive view on the Blood Glucose Meter Users and Market. It also covers reimbursement pattern and offers a clear view of the regulatory landscape in the United States Blood Glucose Meter Market. Key trends in terms of collaboration, partnership, distribution and licensing agreement are analyzed with details. The report also explores detailed description of growth drivers and inhibitors of the United States Blood Glucose Meter Market. The report concludes with the profiles of major players in the United States Blood Glucose Meter Market. The key market players are evaluated on various parameters such as company overview, marketed products and latest development and trends of the Blood Glucose Meter Market.Key Topics Covered in the ReportUnited States Diabetes Population (2011  2022)Insulin Users (2011  2022)United States Blood Glucose Meter Users and Market Analysis (2011  2022)United States Blood Glucose Meter Market: Reimbursement & Regulation SystemUnited States Blood Glucose Meter Market  Major Deal TypesKey Companies AnalysisKey Drivers and Inhibitors of the United States Blood Glucose Meter MarketKey Companies Covered in the Report are as follows:RocheLifeScan IncAbbott Diabetes CareArkrayAscensia Diabetes CareFora CareEntra HealthFifty50 MedicalInfopiaGenesis Health TechnologiesiHealth LabsOak Tree HealthLivongo HealthNova Diabetes CareSanofi DiabetesTelcareWalgreensU.S. DiagnosticsProdigy Diabetes CareOmnis HealthDPI Research is a business solutions firm which offer bespoke market research reports, custom research solutions and consulting across multi geographies and industry verticals. We deliver wide range of cutting-edge research solutions that helps organizations in making better decisions of the business to business needs.DPI Research provides high standard of business research reports to the clients across industry verticals comprising Life Sciences, Information Technology, Telecom & Internet, Food Beverages & Agriculture, Travel & Tourism, Consumer Goods & Retail, Education and Social Sciences. We are committed to use advanced analytical tools and methodologies to help clients with crucial industry information for decision making.DPI Research approaches for the business research led by a team of dynamic industry experts. DPI Research provides a real insight for effective decisions to help business with the help of current source and accurate data available in the market. DPI Research reach across the globe with global standards from established markets in the North America and Europe to emerging markets in South America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa to provide the best business solutions.Contact Us:Maria RaiTel :+91 -7289949987Email: sales@dpiresearch.comWebsite:
The Digital Transformation has only just begun

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Frankfurt on the Main, 20 October 2017  Until a few years ago, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things were considered a science fiction. Today they belong to everyday life, both professionally and privately. However, the Digital Transformation continues to pick up speed, concludes the Software-QS-Tag 2017.About 500 experts used this years Software-QS-Tag, the leading conference for SW quality and testing in the German-speaking region, to intensely discuss the main topic Digital Transformation  Evolution, Innovation, Disruption. Attendees could customize their programme from the five parallel tracks Requirements, Test Automation, Test Design, Test Management and Special Topics. Altogether more than 60 lectures, workshops and tutorials examined practical examples and trends.Professor Dr Dr Frank Kirchner, head of the Robotics Innovation Center, underlined in his opening keynote about the testing of autonomous systems: Checking and testing artificial intelligences develop into a demanding field of work. New contexts, user stories and possible defects need to be mastered.There was the opportunity to leapfrog directly into the topic of testing autonomous systems in the workshop KI Testing. During a fishbowl conversation the most urgent questions were collected and an overview was provided showing which autonomous systems need attention today.In the same workshop format, attendees and specialists also discussed quality assurance and testing in the Internet of Things. Current techniques  from IoT devices through protocols and networks to corresponding cloud applications  and the standardization of verification and validation processes, test procedures and test languages for the Outernet were covered.The futurologist Dr Bernd Flessner explained that the Internet of Things and artificial intelligences will continue to develop rapidly. He presented the third amended and updated trend study The Future of Testing at the Software-QS-Tag. The German-language version is now available for download free of charge at. The English-language version will be online soon.The Software-QS-Tag continues onlineThe social media channels are the right choice for anyone, who wants to continue the technical exchange about the conferences main topic Digital Transformation  Evolution, Innovation, Disruption. On Twitter, speakers, participants and exhibitors have already discussed during the conference using #qstag. The discourse is still in full swing.Another central pivotal point is the group Software-QS-Tag on XING. The community is an exclusive platform for the participants and speakers of this years conference and of those of the years before. Are there any questions or comments on a particular lecture, workshop or tutorial? The speakers are glad to answer them.By the way, the interactive topic collection for the key issue of the Software-QS-Tag 2018 has already begun in the group. Members can post their ideas in the panel Call for Papers till 10 December 2017. After that, the community votes on the propositions and they are technically assessed by the programme committee. The official conference theme will be proclaimed at the beginning of 2018.If you are interested in taking part next year or in case you just want to keep yourself up to date about the Software-QS-Tag and its operator imbus, you can subscribe to the newsletter by sending an email to info@imbus.de.imbus is a leading solution partner for professional software testing and intelligent software quality assurance.Our portfolio includes consulting for process improvement, software testing services, test outsourcing, test tools, and training.With our comprehensive know-how, the latest tools, and our proven methodology, we increase the reliability and performance of software products, software-intensive systems, and complete IT structures, and as a manufacturer-independent partner, we assure their correct functionality.Since 1992, the experienced and highly-qualified imbus team has been synonymous with across-the-board software quality assurance from a single source that covers the entire lifecycle.The expertise acquired from around 6,000 successful projects over a period of 25 years provides a solid foundation for the daily work of our experts, all of whom are ISTQB Certified Testers. Here you can find the corresponding reference projects.imbus is currently represented by more than 270 employees at locations in Moehrendorf near Erlangen, Munich, Cologne, Hofheim near Frankfurt, Lehre near Braunschweig, Norderstedt near Hamburg, Toronto (Canada), Shanghai (China), Peja (Kosovo) and Sousse (Tunisia).imbus AGPress OfficeFiona ProellKleinseebacher Str. 991096 MoehrendorfGermanyPhone +49 9131 7518-0Fax +49 9131 7518-50Mail presse@imbus.de
Optical Fiber Composite Overhead Ground Wire (OPGW) Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Fujikura, ZTT, Elsewedy Cables, NKT Cables, Shenzhen SDG, Furukawa, Jiangsu Hongtu, Taihan and Others

Optical Fiber Composite Overhead Ground Wire (OPGW) Market

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Global Optical Fiber Composite Overhead Ground Wire (OPGW) market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely LS Cable, Jiangsu Hongtu, Taihan, Sichuan Huiyuan, Elsewedy Cables, Tratos, J-Power Systems, Fujikura, ZTT, NKT Cables, Tongguang Cable, Shenzhen SDG, Furukawa and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.OPGW is a dual functioning cable performing the duties of a ground wire and also providing a patch for the transmission of voice, video or data signals. The fibers are protected from environmental conditions (lightning, short circuit, loading) to ensure reliability and longevity. The cable is designed to be installed on transmission and distribution lines to carry voice, data and video communications, especially in lighting waveform monitoring system, an observation system for overhead test line, maintenance data information system, power line protection system, power line operation system, and unmanned substation monitoring.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Optical Fiber Composite Overhead Ground Wire (OPGW) Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:FujikuraZTTNKT CablesTongguang CableShenzhen SDGFurukawaLS CableJiangsu HongtuTaihanSichuan HuiyuanElsewedy CablesTratosJ-Power SystemsOthersGlobal Optical Fiber Composite Overhead Ground Wire (OPGW) Market: Key Product TypeCentral Tube StructureLayer Stranding StructureOthersGlobal Optical Fiber Composite Overhead Ground Wire (OPGW) Market: Key Application Type220KV Level500KV LevelOthersGlobal Optical Fiber Composite Overhead Ground Wire (OPGW) Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Optical Fiber Composite Overhead Ground Wire (OPGW) Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Optical Fiber Composite Overhead Ground Wire (OPGW) Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Optical Fiber Composite Overhead Ground Wire (OPGW) Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 Central Tube Structure1.1.2.2 Layer Stranding Structure1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 220KV Level1.1.3.2 500KV Level1.1.3.3 Others........................Continue (Global Optical Fiber Composite Overhead Ground Wire (OPGW) Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Global Market on School Administrative Software 2015-2019

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"Global School Administrative Software Market 2015-2019" The Report covers current Industries Trends, Worldwide Analysis, Global Forecast, Review, Share, Size, Growth, Effect.. .Description-' 'Market outlook of school administrative softwareThe growing demand for analytical applications in the education sector drives the global school administrative software market. Technavios market research analysts predict the global school administrative software market to grow at a CAGR of over 10% until 2019.. .Get Sample Report With TOC @' 'Like many business industries, the education market has begun to use data science to improve its operations. Business entities use big data for business activities like tracking consumer behavior and generating sales data for marketing strategy and campaigns. However, in the education market, the objective of using data science is to determine ways to improve the quality of education and enhance performance of schools. These objectives can be achieved by the implementation of school administrative software.School administrative software acts as a data source that collects and provides raw data for analysis. With a greater focus on learning outcomes, schools and colleges are using administrative software and analytical tools to gain deep insights into the students' performance and behavior. Hence, as demand for learning analytics surges the software requirements will also increase in tandem during the forecast period.Segmentation of global school administrative software market by modulesStudent AssessmentFinanceHRAlthough Student assessment will dominate the market in 2019, it is likely to lose some of its share to the finance module, followed by the HR module. Currently, the penetration of student assessment is higher than other two modules thanks to mass education digitization that has resulted in many new ways of student assessment.Geographical segmentation of global school administrative software marketNorth AmericaEuropeAPACROWThrough 2019, the North America will continue to dominate this market. Its dominance is attributed to the adoption of e-learning in the majority of its schools. The APAC and the ROW markets are also expected to witness phenomenal growth with evolving government education policies and increased broadband penetration in India, China, and Africa.Leading vendor analysis for the global school administrative software marketActive NetworkEduwareSkywardSunGardThinkWaveOther prominent vendors in this market include Ellucian, Foradian Technologies, Hobsons, Jenzabar, Scholastic, and Three Rivers Systems.The global school administrative software market has observed immense growth worldwide. It offers numerous opportunities for vendors to explore the market by designing software to fulfil the needs of stakeholders in the industry. The need to adopt technologies to reach out to students and learners in geographically diverse locations will buoy the market growth during the forecast period.Key questions answered in the reportWhat are the key factors driving the global school administrative software market?What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the global school administrative software market?What are the various opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global school administrative software market?Trending factors influencing the market shares for the global school administrative software market in the US?Market shares for North America, Europe, APAC, and ROW?Key outcome of the five forces analysis on the global school administrative software market in the US?Growth forecast of the global school administrative software market?Technavio also offers customization on reports based on specific client requirement.Table of ContentsPART 01: Executive summaryHighlightsPART 02: Scope of the reportMarket overviewTop-vendor offeringsPART 03: Market research methodologyResearch methodologyEconomic indicatorsPART 04: IntroductionKey market highlightsPART 05: Market landscapeGlobal digital classroom software: Market overviewMarket size and forecastFive forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by productGlobal school administrative software market by moduleGlobal school administrative software market for student assessmentGlobal school administrative software market by finance moduleGlobal school administrative software market by HR modulePART 07: Geographical segmentationGeographical segmentation of global school administrative software marketSchool administrative software market in North AmericaSchool administrative software market in EuropeSchool administrative software market in APACSchool administrative software market in ROWPART 08: Market driversSimplified management of schoolsAnalytical applicationsIncreased use of mobile devicesExpansion of application areasPART 09: Impact of driversPART 10: Market challengesLarge number of open-source software vendorsPrivacy, security, and ethical issuesLow digital literacy levelsLack of communication between stakeholdersPART 11: Impact of drivers and challengesPART 12: Market trendsCloud computingEmergence of regional offeringsRising need for skilled workforceNew learning modelsPART 13: Vendor landscapeCompetitive scenarioMarket vendor analysis 2014Other prominent vendorsPART 14: Key vendor analysisActive NetworkEduwareSkyward. .Report Enquiry and Other Query @ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074
Organic Elemental Analyzer Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 Thermo, Exeter, EuroVector, Eltra, Analytik Jena, and Others

Organic Elemental Analyzer Market

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Global Organic Elemental Analyzer market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Leco, Costech, Exeter, Eltra, Analytik Jena, Elementar, Thermo, PerkinElmer, EuroVector and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.Organic elemental analyzer is a High-precision instrument used for the rapid determination of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur or oxygen content in organic materials. Organic elemental analyzer has a wide range of applications, including energy, environment, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, geology, etc., such as coal, oil, waste, fertilizers, pesticides, fine chemicals, pharmaceutical products, polymers, synthetic rubber fiber materials, cement, ceramics, glass fiber and other samples. Due to the larger size differences, this definition does not include instruments just used for measuring single organic elements like C tester or azotometer.Generally, organic elemental analyzer consisting of four parts combustion systems, gas control system, separation system and detection system.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Organic Elemental Analyzer Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:ElementarThermoPerkinElmerEuroVectorLecoCostechExeterEltraAnalytik JenaOthersGlobal Organic Elemental Analyzer Market: Key Product TypeFrontal ChromatographyGC ChromatographyAdsorption-DesorptionOthersGlobal Organic Elemental Analyzer Market: Key Application TypeEnergyChemical IndustryEnvironmentAgricultureGeologyOthersGlobal Organic Elemental Analyzer Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Organic Elemental Analyzer Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Organic Elemental Analyzer Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Organic Elemental Analyzer Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Objectives of Research1.1.1 Definition1.1.2 Specifications1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 by Type1.2.1.1 Frontal Chromatography1.2.1.2 GC Chromatography1.2.1.3 Adsorption-Desorption1.2.1.4 Others........................Continue (Global Organic Elemental Analyzer Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Biological Drugs Market Anticipate to Raise at 10.1% CAGR Between (2014-2020)

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According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research Global Market Study on Biological Drugs: North America to Witness Highest Growth By 2020, the global biological drugs market was valued at US$ 161,056.5 Mn in 2014 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.1% from 2014 to 2020, to reach US$ 287,139.7 Mn by 2020.Biological drugs are typically derived from living cells and are used in the prevention and treatment of various diseases such as cancer, blood disorders, auto-immune diseases, and other medical disorders. Biological drugs have more complex structures compared to that of conventional drugs.Browse Full Report @Globally, the biological drugs market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and growing geriatric population. In addition, health and awareness initiatives by various government associations are also supporting the growth of the biological drugs market. However, high costs of biological drugs and patent expiry of blockbuster drugs impede the growth of the biological drugs market. Moreover, risks of adverse effects associated with biologic injectable drugs also inhibit the growth of the market.The global biological drugs market is anticipated to grow from an estimated US$ 161,056.5 Mn in 2014 to US$ 287,139.7 Mn by 2020 at a CAGR 10.1% during the forecast period.View and Download TOC of Biological Drugs Market Research Report @North America dominates the global biological drugs market. This is due to increasing use of biological drugs in the treatment of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and other chronic diseases in the region. In addition, several clinics in the region are focusing on biological drugs for the treatment of various diseases.The biological drugs market in Europe is growing due to increasing aging population in the region. For instance, according to a UN report, elderly people accounted for 23.2% of the total population in Germany in 2000, and the number is expected to reach 33.2% by 2025. Aging can lead to certain disorders such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma, which require effective biological drugs for their treatment.Request and Download Sample Report @Low manufacturing costs in Asia are attracting biopharmaceutical companies to invest in the region, supporting the growth of the biological drugs market. Moreover, governments of some Asian countries are also supporting the growth of the biological drugs market by providing funds to life sciences research institutes and biotech companies for the construction of R&D and manufacturing facilities.Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc., and Merck & Co., Inc. are some of the leading players in the global biological drugs market. Other major players in the market include Abbott Laboratories, Baxter International Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Biogen Idec, and Amgen Inc.Buy Full Biological Drugs Market Report @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Outboard Engine Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, Tohatsu and Others

Outboard Engine Market

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Global Outboard Engine market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Suzuki, Tohatsu, Parsun, Hidea, Weimin, Yamaha, Brunswick, Honda, BRP and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.Outboard Engine is a detachable propulsion system for boats installed outside of the hull (ship), consisting of a self-contained unit that includes engine, gearbox and propeller or jet drive, designed to be affixed to the outside of the transom. With features of simple structure, light weight, easy disassembly and operation, low noise, it is suitable for use in the river, lakes and coastal waters.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Outboard Engine Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:YamahaBrunswickHondaBRPSuzukiTohatsuParsunHideaWeiminOthersGlobal Outboard Engine Market: Key Product TypeFuel-oil outboardElectric outboardOthersGlobal Outboard Engine Market: Key Application TypePersonal BoatCommercial BoatGovernment Enforcement BoatOthersGlobal Outboard Engine Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Outboard Engine Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Outboard Engine Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Outboard Engine Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 Fuel-oil outboard1.1.2.2 Electric outboard1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Personal Boat1.1.3.2 Commercial Boat........................Continue (Global Outboard Engine Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Overhead Cranes Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Jinrui, Weihua, Henan Mine, GH Crane & Components, Eilbeck Cranes and Others

Overhead Cranes Market

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Global Overhead Cranes market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Gorbel, Eilbeck Cranes, ZPMC, Jinrui, Weihua, Henan Mine, Terex, Konecranes, KITO GROUP, ABUS, GH Crane & Components and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.Overhead Cranes is a type of crane found in industrial environments. An overhead crane consists of parallel runways with a traveling bridge spanning the gap. A hoist, the lifting component of a crane, travels along the bridge. If the bridge is rigidly supported on two or more legs running on a fixed rail at ground level, the crane is called a gantry crane (USA, ASME B30 series) or a goliath crane (UK, BS 466).Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Overhead Cranes Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:TerexKonecranesKITO GROUPABUSGH Crane & ComponentsGorbelEilbeck CranesZPMCJinruiWeihuaHenan MineOthersGlobal Overhead Cranes Market: Key Product TypeSingle-girder overhead cranesDouble-girder overhead cranesOthersGlobal Overhead Cranes Market: Key Application TypeFactory & PlantProduction LineWarehouseOthersGlobal Overhead Cranes Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Overhead Cranes Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Overhead Cranes Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Overhead Cranes Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 Single-girder overhead cranes1.1.2.2 Double-girder overhead cranes1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Factory & Plant1.1.3.2 Production Line1.1.3.3 Warehouse1.1.3.4 Others........................Continue (Global Overhead Cranes Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Industrial Focus on Refinery Catalysts Market - Global Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024

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"Refinery Catalysts Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024" The Report covers current Industries Trends, Worldwide Analysis, Global Forecast, Review, Share, Size, Growth, Effect.. .Description-' 'Refinery catalysts are widely employed in the refinery units to remove the impurities such as sulfur, nitrogen and other carbon compounds from the fuels. Stringent environmental regulations on fuel emissions across the globe is estimated to boost the demand for global refinery catalysts market. Zeolites are estimated to expand at a significant rate during the forecast period. Asia Pacific and Europe are likely to have a major share in refining catalysts market during the forecast period.. .Get Sample Report With TOC @' 'The report estimates and forecasts the refinery catalysts market on the global, regional, and country levels. The study provides forecast between 2016 and 2024 based on volume (kilo tons) and revenue (US$ Mn) with 2015 as the base year. The report comprises an exhaustive value chain analysis for each of the product segments. It provides a comprehensive view of the market. Value chain analysis also offers detailed information about value addition at each stage. The study includes drivers and restraints for the refinery catalysts market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. The study also provides key market indicators affecting the growth of the market. The report analyzes opportunities in the refinery catalysts market on the global and regional level. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities mentioned in the report are justified through quantitative and qualitative data. These have been verified through primary and secondary resources. Furthermore, the report analyzes substitute analysis of refinery catalysts and global average price trend analysis.The report includes Porters Five Forces Model to determine the degree of competition in the refinery catalysts market. The report comprises a qualitative write-up on market attractiveness analysis, wherein end-users and countries have been analyzed based on attractiveness for each region. Growth rate, market size, raw material availability, profit margin, impact strength, technology, competition, and other factors (such as environmental and legal) have been evaluated in order to derive the general attractiveness of the market. The report comprises price trend analysis for refinery catalysts between 2016 and 2024.The study provides a comprehensive view of the refinery catalysts market by dividing it into refining units, materials types, physical form and geography segments. The refinery units have been segmented into Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit, Hydrocracking Unit, H-Oil Unit, Hydrotreating Unit (Naphtha & Distillate), Catalytic Cracking Unit, and Alkylation Unit. The materials are segmented into Zeolites, Molybdenum, Cobalt, Nickel and others. The physical form is segmented into Powders, Beads and Extrudates. These segments have been analyzed based on historic, present, and future trends.Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for refinery catalysts in Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Additionally, the report comprises country-level analysis in terms of volume and revenue for all the segments. Key countries such as the U.S., Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the U.K., India, China, ASEAN, Mexico, Brazil, GCC, and Nigeria have been included in the study. Market segmentation includes demand for individual refining units in all the regions and countries.The report covers detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and profiles of key players operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Royal Dutch Shell Plc, ExxonMobil Corporation, BASF SE, Honeywell International Inc, Johnson Matthey Plc., Albemarle Corporation and Others. Company profiles include attributes such as company overview, number of employees, brand overview, key competitors, business overview, business strategies, recent/key developments, acquisitions, and financial overview (wherever applicable).Secondary research sources that were typically referred to include, but were not limited to company websites, financial reports, annual reports, investor presentations, broker reports, and SEC filings. Other sources such as internal and external proprietary databases, statistical databases and market reports, news articles, national government documents, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market have also been referred for the report.In-depth interviews and discussions with a wide range of key opinion leaders and industry participants were conducted to compile this research report. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. Key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents were reviewed for competitive analysis and market understanding. This helped in validating and strengthening secondary research findings. Primary research further helped in developing the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.The global refinery catalysts market has been segmented as follows: Refinery Catalysts Market  Refining Unit AnalysisFluid Catalytic CrackingHydrocrackingH-OilHydrotreatingCatalytic ReformingAlkylation Refinery Catalysts Market  Material AnalysisZeolitesMolybdenumCobaltNickelOthers (including platinum, etc.) Refinery Catalysts Market  Physical Form AnalysisPowdersBeadsExtrudates Refinery catalysts market  Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyFranceItalySpainU.K.Rest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaASEANRest of Asia PacificMiddle East & AfricaGCCNigeriaRest of Middle East & AfricaLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin America. .Report Enquiry and Other Query @ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074
Global Green Data Center Market to peak demand by 2021 at a CAGR of 13.50%: Cisco Systems, Dell, HP, IBM

Global Green Data Center Market Analysis

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Global Green Data Center Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 is latest research study released by HTF MI evaluating the market, highlighting opportunities, risk analysis, and leveraged with strategic and tactical decision-making support. This study recognizes that in this quick-evolving, competitive environment, up-to-date industry information is essential to monitor performance & make critical decisions for growth and profitability. It provides information on trends and developments, focuses on markets and materials, capacities, technologies, and on the changing structure of the Global Green Data Center Market.The Global Green Data Center Market consists of different international, regional, and local vendors. The market competition is foreseen to grow higher with the rise in technological innovation and M&A activities in the future. Moreover, many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new vendor entrants in the market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors based on quality, reliability, and innovations in technology.Get Access to sample pages @Global Green Data Center market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includes Cisco Systems, Dell, Emerson Network Power, HP, IBM, Siemens, Schneider Electric, 3M, Airdale, Eaton, Equinix, WDM, Green House Data, Oracle, Hewlett-Packard, EMC Corp, APC Corp, Huawei Technologies & Fujitsu CorpGlobal Green Data Center (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as System Integration, Monitoring Service, Professional Service & OthersMarket Segment by Type 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022System Integration xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Monitoring Service xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Professional Service xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Others xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%The research study is segmented by Application such as Colocation Provider, Cloud Service Provider & Enterprise with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate.Global Green Data Center (Thousands Units) by Application (2016-2022)Market Segment by Application 2012 2016 2022 Market Share (%)2022 CAGR (%)(2016-2022)Colocation Provider xx xx xx xx% xx%Cloud Service Provider xx xx xx xx% xx%Enterprise xx xx xx xx% xx%Total xx xx xx 100% xx%Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Green Data Center in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringMarket Segment by Regions 2012 2016 2022 Share (%) CAGR (2016-2022)United States xx xx xx xx% xx%EU xx xx xx xx% xx%Japan xx xx xx xx% xx%China xx xx xx xx% xx%India xx xx xx xx% xx%Southeast Asia xx xx xx xx% xx%Total xx xx xx xx% xx%This independent 107 page research with title Global Green Data Center Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 guarantees you will remain better informed than your competition. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions/countries like United States, EU, Japan, China, India & Southeast Asia and important players/vendors such as Cisco Systems, Dell, Emerson Network Power, HP, IBM, Siemens, Schneider Electric, 3M, Airdale, Eaton, Equinix, WDM, Green House Data, Oracle, Hewlett-Packard, EMC Corp, APC Corp, Huawei Technologies & Fujitsu Corp. With n-number of tables and figures examining the Green Data Center, the research gives you a visual, one-stop breakdown of the leading products, submarkets and market leaders market revenue forecasts as well as analysis to 2022Further it focuses on Global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. Whats more, the Green Data Center industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @The study is organized with the help of primary and secondary data collection including valuable information from key vendors and participants in the industry. It includes historical data from 2012 to 2016 and projected forecasts till 2022 which makes the research study a valuable resource for industry executives, marketing, sales and product managers, consultants, analysts, and other people looking for key industry related data in readily accessible documents with easy to analyze graphs and tables. The report answers future development trend of Green Data Center on the basis of stating current situation of the industry in 2017 to assist manufacturers and investment organization to better analyze the development course of Green Data Center Market.The research insights solutions to the following key questions:What will be the market size and the growth rate in 2022?What are the key factors driving the Global Green Data Center market?Who are the key market players and what are their strategies in the Global Green Data Center market?What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Global Green Data Center market?What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global Green Data Center market?What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Green Data Center market?Buy this research report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the Global Green Data Center market.Chapter 1, to describe Green Data Center Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Green Data Center , with sales, revenue, and price of Green Data Center , in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the Global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Green Data Center , for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in United States, EU, Japan, China, India & Southeast Asia;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application [Colocation Provider, Cloud Service Provider & Enterprise], from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Green Data Center market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Green Data Center sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Get customization & check discount for report @Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact Us:HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road, Edison, NJ USA - 08837sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218
Particle Size Analyzers Market Report for Period 2011 till 2022 Beckman Coulter, Chengdu Jingxin, Malvern, HORIBA, Retsch, OMEC, Bettersize and Others

Particle Size Analyzers Market Outlook

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Global Particle Size Analyzers market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely IZON, PSS, Shimadzu, Brookhaven, Retsch, OMEC, Bettersize, Winner Particle, Chengdu Jingxin, Malvern, Beckman Coulter, HORIBA, Microtrac, Micromeritics, SYMPATEC, CILAS and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.Particle Size Analyzer is an analytical technique by which the distribution of sizes in a sample of solid or liquid particulate material is measured and reported. Particle size analysis is an important tool in characterizing a wide range of final-product performance factors.Numerous analytical techniques and approaches exist for particle size analysis. Particle Size Analyzer range from the historical sieve to modern automated light scattering instruments. The most appropriate selection for a particular application depends on a number of factors including the size range of interest, nature of the sample, the information required from the analysis, the analytical method, and sample throughput.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Particle Size Analyzers Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:MalvernBeckman CoulterHORIBAMicrotracMicromeriticsSYMPATECCILASIZONPSSShimadzuBrookhavenRetschOMECBettersizeWinner ParticleChengdu JingxinOthersGlobal Particle Size Analyzers Market: Key Product TypeLaser DiffractionDynamic Light ScatteringImaging AnalysisCoulter PrincipleNanoparticle Tracking AnalysisOthersGlobal Particle Size Analyzers Market: Key Application TypeHealthcare IndustryPetrochemical IndustryMining, Minerals and CementFood and BeverageOthersGlobal Particle Size Analyzers Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Particle Size Analyzers Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Particle Size Analyzers Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Particle Size Analyzers Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Particle Size Analyzers Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Laser Diffraction1.2.2 Dynamic Light Scattering1.2.3 Imaging Analysis1.2.4 Coulter Principle1.2.5 Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis1.2.6 Others........................Continue (Global Particle Size Analyzers Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Global Cement Industry Analysis by Production Capacity, Dynamics of Demand and Supply  Forecast to 2022

Cement

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Orbis Research released a new research report of 151 pages on title Global Cement Industry Market Research Report, Regions, Product Types and Applications with detailed analysis, forecast and strategies.DescriptionThe Global Cement Market report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Cement industry. This report evaluates the Global market for " Global Cement".The Global Cement Market report provides complete analysis of the Global Cement Market by analysing all round market dynamics such as regional market opportunities, drivers, challenges, constraints, threats, and other market trends.The Global Cement Market report contains latest Business Data resulting from various Research sources that helps Decision Makers to deliver a Distinctive and Trustworthy Analysis for Companys Growth.Get a PDF Sample of Global Cement Market report at:The Global Cement Market Survey starts with Industry overview of Global Cement Market covering Major Regions Status, Industry Chain Structure, Definitions and Specifications, with a detailed focus on Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis including Raw Material Suppliers, Equipment Suppliers and Manufacturing Process.In Next Part, the researchers has collected and presented information on Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis which comprises of Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, R&D Status and Technology Source of Major Manufacturers in 2017.In following segment, with Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin, Business Region Distribution Analysis, Competition between various Company Profile has been given along with Product Pictures and Specifications in Global Cement Industry Report.Place a Purchase Order for this Report at:The Global Cement Industry Report is also a Great Source of Marketing Type Analysis consisting:1. Global Cement Regional Marketing Type Analysis2. Global Cement International Trade Type Analysis3. Traders or Distributors with Contact Information of Global Cement by Regions4. Global Cement Supply Chain AnalysisKey Regions North America Europe China Japan Middle East & Africa India South America OthersSome Points from Table of Contents:1 Cement Introduction and Market Overview1.1 Objectives of the Study1.2 Definition of Cement1.3 Cement Market Scope and Market Size Estimation1.3.1 Market Concentration Ratio and Market Maturity Analysis1.3.2 Global Cement Value ($) and Growth Rate from 2012-20221.4 Market Segmentation1.4.1 Types of Cement1.4.2 Applications of Cement1.4.3 Research Regions1.4.3.1 North America Cement Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.4.3.2 Europe Cement Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)1.4.3.3 China Cement Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)2 Industry Chain Analysis2.1 Upstream Raw Material Suppliers of Cement Analysis2.2 Major Players of Cement2.2.1 Major Players Manufacturing Base and Market Share of Cement in 20162.2.2 Major Players Product Types in 20162.3 Cement Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis2.3.1 Production Process Analysis2.3.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure of Cement3 Global Cement Market, by Type3.1 Analysis of Market Status and Feature by Type3.2 Global Cement Value ($) and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)3.3 Global Cement Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)3.4 Global Cement Value ($) and Growth Rate by Type (2012-2017)3.5 Global Cement Price Analysis by Type (2012-2017)4 Cement Market, by Application4.1 Downstream Market Overview4.2 Global Cement Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)4.3 Downstream Buyers by Application4.4 Global Cement Consumption and Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)Got any Query? Feel free to ask us at:Lastly, the Report provides Development Trend Analysis for 2017-2022 years which will forecast Market Size (Volume and Value), Sales Price, Consumption Forecast, Market Trend (Product Type) and Market Trend (Application). Also the List of Major Consumers is analyzed and Contact Details are provided to easy communicating.Finally, the Report is concluded with Various Methodology, Analyst Introduction and Data SourcesOrbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Hector CostelloSenior Manager  Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas  75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +9164101019Follow Us on LinkedIn:
Internet of Things (IOT) Market rising demand with key players Honeywell, GE, Amazon, Google

Internet of Things

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Global Internet of Things (IOT) Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 is latest research study released by HTF MI evaluating the market, highlighting opportunities, risk analysis, and leveraged with strategic and tactical decision-making support. This study recognizes that in this quick-evolving, competitive environment, up-to-date industry information is essential to monitor performance & make critical decisions for growth and profitability. It provides information on trends and developments, focuses on markets and materials, capacities, technologies, and on the changing structure of the Global Internet of Things (IOT) Market.The Global Internet of Things (IOT) Market consists of different international, regional, and local vendors. The market competition is foreseen to grow higher with the rise in technological innovation and M&A activities in the future. Moreover, many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new vendor entrants in the market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors based on quality, reliability, and innovations in technology.Get Access to sample pages @Global Internet of Things (IOT) market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includes Honeywell, GE, Amazon, Google, Texas Instruments, Garmin, Hitachi, Skyworks, Silicon Laboratories, IBM, Panasonic, NEC, Philips, Qualcomm, Intel, ZTE, Nokia, LG, Ericsson, Huawei, Sony, Samsung & MicrosoftGeographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Internet of Things (IOT) in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringMarket Segment by Regions 2012 2016 2022 Share (%) CAGR (2016-2022)United States xx xx xx xx% xx%EU xx xx xx xx% xx%Japan xx xx xx xx% xx%China xx xx xx xx% xx%India xx xx xx xx% xx%Korea xx xx xx xx% xx%Total xx xx xx xx% xx%This independent 131 page research with title Global Internet of Things (IOT) Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 guarantees you will remain better informed than your competition. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions/countries like United States, EU, Japan, China, India & Korea and important players/vendors such as Honeywell, GE, Amazon, Google, Texas Instruments, Garmin, Hitachi, Skyworks, Silicon Laboratories, IBM, Panasonic, NEC, Philips, Qualcomm, Intel, ZTE, Nokia, LG, Ericsson, Huawei, Sony, Samsung & Microsoft. With n-number of tables and figures examining the Internet of Things (IOT) , the research gives you a visual, one-stop breakdown of the leading products, submarkets and market leaders market revenue forecasts as well as analysis to 2022Further it focuses on Global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. Whats more, the Internet of Things (IOT) industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @The study is organized with the help of primary and secondary data collection including valuable information from key vendors and participants in the industry. It includes historical data from 2012 to 2016 and projected forecasts till 2022 which makes the research study a valuable resource for industry executives, marketing, sales and product managers, consultants, analysts, and other people looking for key industry related data in readily accessible documents with easy to analyze graphs and tables. The report answers future development trend of Internet of Things (IOT) on the basis of stating current situation of the industry in 2017 to assist manufacturers and investment organization to better analyze the development course of Internet of Things (IOT) Market.The research insights solutions to the following key questions:What will be the market size and the growth rate in 2022?What are the key factors driving the Global Internet of Things (IOT) market?Who are the key market players and what are their strategies in the Global Internet of Things (IOT) market?What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Global Internet of Things (IOT) market?What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global Internet of Things (IOT) market?What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Internet of Things (IOT) market?Buy this research report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the Global Internet of Things (IOT) market.Chapter 1, to describe Internet of Things (IOT) Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Internet of Things (IOT) , with sales, revenue, and price of Internet of Things (IOT) , in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the Global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Internet of Things (IOT) , for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in United States, EU, Japan, China, India & Korea;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application , from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Internet of Things (IOT) market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Internet of Things (IOT) sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Get customization & check discount for report @Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA  08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218
Phenolic Resin Grinding Wheel Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Camel grinding wheels discs and abrasives, JuLong, Wan Yuan GrindingWheels, DSA Products, DK Holdings, Elka, Thai GCI Resitop Co and Others

Phenolic Resin Grinding Wheel Market

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Global Phenolic Resin Grinding Wheel market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Andre Abrasive, DK Holdings, Elka, Thai GCI Resitop Co, LangFang JuLong, Wan Yuan GrindingWheels, White Dove, Henan YuXing, Norton, 3M, Kuretoishi, Camel grinding wheels discs and abrasives, Tyrolit Group, SHIN-EI Grinding Wheels, DSA Products and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.Phenolic Resin Grinding Wheel is the grinding wheel in which the phenolic resin is used as the Binding agent. Phenolic Resin Grinding wheel is the bond (Phenolic Resin) will be ordinary abrasive consolidation into a certain shape (most of the circular, the central through hole), and has a certain strength of the bonded abrasive. It is generally composed of abrasive, bonding agent and porosity, these three parts are often referred to as the three elements of the bonded abrasive tools.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Phenolic Resin Grinding Wheel Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Norton3MKuretoishiCamel grinding wheels discs and abrasivesTyrolit GroupSHIN-EI Grinding WheelsDSA ProductsAndre AbrasiveDK HoldingsElkaThai GCI Resitop CoLangFang JuLongWan Yuan GrindingWheelsWhite DoveHenan YuXingOthersGlobal Phenolic Resin Grinding Wheel Market: Key Product TypeLamp BlackAcetylene BlackGas BlackOthersGlobal Phenolic Resin Grinding Wheel Market: Key Application TypeMetalStonesSteelOthersGlobal Phenolic Resin Grinding Wheel Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Phenolic Resin Grinding Wheel Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Phenolic Resin Grinding Wheel Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Phenolic Resin Grinding Wheel Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 Lamp Black1.1.2.2 Acetylene Black1.1.2.3 Gas Black1.1.2.4 Others1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Metal1.1.3.2 Stones1.1.3.3 Steel1.1.3.4 Others........................Continue (Global Phenolic Resin Grinding Wheel Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Urinary Catheters Market Is Expected to Gain Worth US$1,755.0 Mn by 2021

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According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research titled "Global Market Study on Urinary Catheters: Intermittent Catheters Segment to Witness Highest Growth by 2021, the urinary catheters market is expected to be valued at US$1,377.5 Mn by the end of 2015. It is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of4.1% from 2015 to 2021, to reach US$1,755.0Mn by 2021.Browse Full Report @Presently, the urinary catheter market is mainly driven by factors such as growing ageing population, favorable reimbursement policies and increasing demand for advanced urinary catheters. However, factors such as growing incidence of urinary tract infections and the threat from substitutes are expected to hamper market growth. The urinary catheter market is segmented on the basis of product type and application.View and Download TOC of Urinary Catheters Market Research Report@The global catheter market was valued at around US$ 25,895.6Mn 2014. The urinary catheter market accounted for 5.1% of global catheter market in 2014 and was valued at US$ 1,326.0 million. Revenue contribution by urinary catheter market to the global catheter market is expected to increase to US$ 1,755.0 by the end of 2021, expanding at a CAGR of 4.1% between 2015 and 2021. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and growing ageing population are factors expected to positively affect the growth of the urinary catheter market across the globe.Request and Download Sample Report@By region, North America dominated the market with over 30% market share and is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. The urinary catheter market in Asia and Latin America are expected to expand at a CAGRs of 4.7% and 4.6% respectively during the forecast period.Key players covered in this report include B. Braun Melsungen AG, Coloplast A/S., CR Bard Inc., Teleflex Incorporation, Boston Scientific Corporation, Covidien Plc, Hollister Incorporated, and Cook Medical.Buy Full Urinary Catheters Market Report@About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Location Analytics Market: Developers (IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Cisco Systems), Regions, Applications

Location Analytics

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Global Location Analytics Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 is latest research study released by HTF MI evaluating the market, highlighting opportunities, risk analysis, and leveraged with strategic and tactical decision-making support. This study recognizes that in this quick-evolving, competitive environment, up-to-date industry information is essential to monitor performance & make critical decisions for growth and profitability. It provides information on trends and developments, focuses on markets and materials, capacities, technologies, and on the changing structure of the Global Location AnalyticsMarket.The Global Location Analytics Market consists of different international, regional, and local vendors. The market competition is foreseen to grow higher with the rise in technological innovation and M&A activities in the future. Moreover, many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new vendor entrants in the market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors based on quality, reliability, and innovations in technology.Get Access to sample pages @Global Location Analytics market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includes IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc., HP Enterprise Company, Google Inc., Oracle Corporation & SAP SEGlobal Location Analytics (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as Geocoding and Reverse Geocoding, Data Integration and Extract, Transform, and Load, Reporting and Visualization, Thematic Mapping and Spatial Analysis & OthersMarket Segment by Type 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022Geocoding and Reverse Geocoding xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Data Integration and Extract, Transform, and Load xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Reporting and Visualization xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Thematic Mapping and Spatial Analysis xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%Others xx xx xx xx xx Xx xx-Change (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%The research study is segmented by Application such as Risk Management, Emergency Response Management, Customer Experience Management, Remote Monitoring, Supply Chain Planning and Optimization, Sales and Marketing Optimization, Predictive Assets Management, Inventory Management & Others with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate.Global Location Analytics (Thousands Units) by Application (2016-2022)Market Segment by Application 2012 2016 2022 Market Share (%)2022 CAGR (%)(2016-2022)Risk Management xx xx xx xx% xx%Emergency Response Management xx xx xx xx% xx%Customer Experience Management xx xx xx xx% xx%Remote Monitoring xx xx xx xx% xx%Supply Chain Planning and Optimization xx xx xx xx% xx%Sales and Marketing Optimization xx xx xx xx% xx%Predictive Assets Management xx xx xx xx% xx%Inventory Management xx xx xx xx% xx%Others xx xx xx xx% xx%Total xx xx xx 100% xx%This independent 91 page research with title Global Location Analytics Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 guarantees you will remain better informed than your competition. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions/countries like United States, EU, Japan, China, India & Southeast Asia and important players/vendors such as IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc., HP Enterprise Company, Google Inc., Oracle Corporation & SAP SE. With n-number of tables and figures examining the Location Analytics , the research gives you a visual, one-stop breakdown of the leading products, submarkets and market leaders market revenue forecasts as well as analysis to 2022Further it focuses on Global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. Whats more, the Location Analytics industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @The research insights solutions to the following key questions:What will be the market size and the growth rate in 2022?What are the key factors driving the Global Location Analytics market?Who are the key market players and what are their strategies in the Global Location Analytics market?What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Global Location Analytics market?What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global Location Analytics market?What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Location Analytics market?Buy this research report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the Global Location Analytics market.Chapter 1, to describe Location Analytics Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Location Analytics , with sales, revenue, and price of Location Analytics , in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the Global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Location Analytics , for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in United States, EU, Japan, China, India & Southeast Asia;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application [Risk Management, Emergency Response Management, Customer Experience Management, Remote Monitoring, Supply Chain Planning and Optimization, Sales and Marketing Optimization, Predictive Assets Management, Inventory Management & Others], from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Location Analytics market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Location Analytics sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Get customization & check discount for report @Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA  08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors - Pipeline Insights 2017

Tyrosine kinase Inhibitors-Pipeline Insights 2017

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The Tyrosine kinase Inhibitors-Pipeline Insights 2017 report provides a comprehensive analysis of tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug candidates currently undergoing clinical trials. It covers detailed drug profiles of potential Akt inhibitors across various clinical development phases includingdiscovery, pre-clinical, IND, Phase I, Phase II, Phase III and pre-registration. The report also includes the pipeline products clinical trial data along with information on other development activities, including technology, licensing, collaborations, acquisitions, funding, patent, and USFDA and EMA designations. It also assesses the pipeline tyrosine kinase inhibitors by monotherapy, combination products, molecule type and route of administration. In addition to analysis on active pipeline molecules, the report also provides detailed information about discontinued and dormant drugs.View Report:The report profiles key players in developing potential tyrosine kinase drug candidates. The company profile section provides details such as company overview, business overview, financial overview, product portfolio, business strategies, and recent developments.Few of the key marketed tyrosine kinase inhibitors include Dasatinib (Sprycel), Erlotinib (Tarceva), Gefitinib (Iressa), Imatinib (Gleevec). Lapatinib (Tykerb), Nilotinib (Tasigna), Sorafenib (Nexavar), Sunitinib (Sutent).Over the past two decades, research studies have proved its efficacy for mitigation and control of non-cancerous diseases too. Thus research activity on use of inhibitors for various diseases such as Parkinson's disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder is gradually increasing. The growing availability of these agents has enabled the pharmaceutical companies to develop new combination molecules which have the capacity to provide greater insight into the bodys acceptance of inhibitors so as to develop more effective therapies.More recently, few molecules have been developed that inhibits tyrosine kinase these agents are in various stages of clinical development. The tyrosine kinase inhibitors pipeline has more than 15 molecules and is expected to achieve the regulatory approval in the near future, few of which are Oncoprex (CNVN202), ORS-1006, JNJ 49095397, RV-568, AP32788, APTO-500, and transtinib. In pipeline analysis, these are analyzed on the basis of route of administration (ROA) and type of molecule. The pipeline is also assessed based on monotherapy and combination therapy, and different clinical phases including Phase III, Phase II, Phase I and Pre-Clinical stage. Few of the companies which are involved in the development of tyrosine kinase inhibitor include IL-Yang Pharm, SRI, Sareum, Genprex, Arrien, J&J, and Takeda.Reasons to BuyTo gain erudite insights about the Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor pipeline landscapeTo ascertain unique product development dynamics and leverage it for new target identification, drug repositioning, and precision medicineTo optimize the pipeline product portfolio in correspondence with the dynamic pharmaceutical marketTo identify competitors and design strategic initiatives for drug development activitiesTo understand the market and choose right partners for strategic collaborationsTo obtain informed updates on drug termination/drug discontinuationView Report:Related Reports1) Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) Inhibitors - Pipeline Insights 20172) Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Immunotherapy - Pipeline Insights 2017About AriztonArizton  Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.Arizton has gained a paramount standpoint in the market research arena as it offers top of the line solutions to clients to assess market landscape and to finalize foolproof business strategies. We are committed to provide inclusive market research reports and consulting services to clients from diversified industries including Consumer Goods & Retail Technology, Automotive and Mobility, Smart Tech, Healthcare and Lifesciences, Industrial Machinery, Chemicals and Materials, IT and Media, Logistics and PackagingArizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.Arizton Advisory & IntelligenceChicago, Illinois, 60605Mail: enquiry@arizton.comCall: +1-312-465-7864
Blood Bank Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 Haier, Panasonic Biomedical, Summit, Dometic, Thermo Fisher Scientific, KIRSCH, Indrel, Telstar and Others

Blood Bank Market

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Global Blood Bank market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Telstar, Summit, SO-LOW, Dulas, KIRSCH, Indrel, Labcold, Lec Medical, Fiocchetti, Labrepco, Panasonic Biomedical, Dometic, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Vestfrost Solutions, Follett, Helmer Scientific, Norlake scientific, GEM Scientific, Haier and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2022, etc.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Blood Bank Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Panasonic BiomedicalDometicThermo Fisher ScientificVestfrost SolutionsFollettHelmer ScientificNorlake scientificGEM ScientificTelstarSummitSO-LOWDulasKIRSCHIndrelLabcoldLec MedicalFiocchettiLabrepcoHaierOthersGlobal Blood Bank Market: Key Product TypeType 1Type 2Type 3OthersGlobal Blood Bank Market: Key Application TypeApplication 1Application 2Application 3OthersGlobal Blood Bank Market: Key RegionNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)The Global Blood Bank Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Blood Bank Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Blood Bank Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Objectives of Research1.1.1 Definition1.1.2 Specifications1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 Upstream1.2.2 Downstream1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 by Type1.2.1.1 Type 11.2.1.2 Type 21.2.1.3 Type 3........................Continue (Global Blood Bank Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Hemostatic Agents Market Size 2017-2022: Pfizer, Covidien, Hemostasis, Cryolife, Cohera Medical

Hemostatic Agents

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Hemostatic Agents Market Research 2017A market study  Global Hemostatic Agents Market  examines the performance of the Hemostatic Agents market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Hemostatic Agents market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Hemostatic Agents market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Hemostatic Agents Market 2017 report includes Hemostatic Agents market Revenue, market Share, Hemostatic Agents industry volume, market Trends, Hemostatic Agents Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Hemostatic Agents Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Hemostatic Agents Market 2017 : Baxter International Inc. Johnson & Johnson C.R. BARD, Inc. Covidien PLC. Sanofi Group B. Braun Melsungen AG Atrium Medical Corporation Cryolife, Inc. Hemostasis LLC Stryker Corporation Advance Medical Solution (AMS) Group Plc. Cohera Medical Inc. Integra Life Sciences Corporation Pfizer Inc. Cohesion Technologies Inc HyperBranch Medical TechnologyHemostatic Agents Market : By Application Surgery Rescue Dentistry ResidentialHemostatic Agents Market : By Type Mechanical Hemostats Agents Active Hemostats Agents Flowable Hemostats AgentsFirstly, the report covers the top Hemostatic Agents manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Hemostatic Agents report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Hemostatic Agents industry, Hemostatic Agents industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Hemostatic Agents Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Hemostatic Agents research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Hemostatic Agents market revenue worldwide.Finally, Hemostatic Agents market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Soft Drink Concentrate Market Outlook 2017-2022: Royal Cosun, Pepsico, Cott, Kraft Foods, Dohler Group

Soft Drink Concentrate

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Soft Drink Concentrate Market Research 2017A market study  Global Soft Drink Concentrate Market  examines the performance of the Soft Drink Concentrate market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Soft Drink Concentrate market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Soft Drink Concentrate market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Soft Drink Concentrate Market 2017 report includes Soft Drink Concentrate market Revenue, market Share, Soft Drink Concentrate industry volume, market Trends, Soft Drink Concentrate Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Soft Drink Concentrate Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Soft Drink Concentrate Market 2017 : Pepsico The Coca-Cola Company Dr Pepper Snapple Group Monster Beverage Corporation Cott Corporation Dohler Group Royal Cosun David Berryman Limited Big Red Royal Crown Cola Company Kraft FoodsSoft Drink Concentrate Market : By Application Mass Merchandise Food Service Fountain MachineSoft Drink Concentrate Market : By Type Natural SyntheticFirstly, the report covers the top Soft Drink Concentrate manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Soft Drink Concentrate report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Soft Drink Concentrate industry, Soft Drink Concentrate industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Soft Drink Concentrate Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Soft Drink Concentrate research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Soft Drink Concentrate market revenue worldwide.Finally, Soft Drink Concentrate market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Small Arms Market Outlook 2017-2022: Herstal, Arsenal Jsco, Forjas Taurus, Glock Perfection, Heckler & Koch

Small Arms

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Small Arms Market Research 2017A market study  Global Small Arms Market  examines the performance of the Small Arms market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Small Arms market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Small Arms market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Small Arms Market 2017 report includes Small Arms market Revenue, market Share, Small Arms industry volume, market Trends, Small Arms Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Small Arms Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Small Arms Market 2017 : BAE Systems Heckler & Koch Israel Military Industries Alliant Techsystems Nammo Group Smith & Wesson Indian Ordnance Factories Arsenal Jsco Glock Perfection Fn Herstal Zak3ady Mechaniczne Tarnow Financial Highlights Orbital ATK STURM,Ruger & Company Freedom Group General Dynamics Forjas Taurus Herstal Beretta HoldingSmall Arms Market : By Application Civil MilitarySmall Arms Market : By Type Pistols Rifles Sub Machine Guns Assault Rifles Light Machine GunsFirstly, the report covers the top Small Arms manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Small Arms report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Small Arms industry, Small Arms industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Small Arms Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Small Arms research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Small Arms market revenue worldwide.Finally, Small Arms market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Military Avionic Systems Market Outlook 2017-2022: Embraer, Rockwell Collins, Harris, Honeywell Aerospace

Military Avionic Systems

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Military Avionic Systems Market Research 2017A market study  Global Military Avionic Systems Market  examines the performance of the Military Avionic Systems market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Military Avionic Systems market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Military Avionic Systems market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Military Avionic Systems Market 2017 report includes Military Avionic Systems market Revenue, market Share, Military Avionic Systems industry volume, market Trends, Military Avionic Systems Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Military Avionic Systems Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Military Avionic Systems Market 2017 : Honeywell Aerospace Thales Group BAE Systems Lockheed Martin Rockwell Collins Raytheon Company Northrop Grumman Harris Saab EmbraerMilitary Avionic Systems Market : By Application Combat Aircraft Transport Aircraft RotorcraftMilitary Avionic Systems Market : By Type Control Systems Communication Systems Navigation Systems Monitoring SystemsFirstly, the report covers the top Military Avionic Systems manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Military Avionic Systems report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Military Avionic Systems industry, Military Avionic Systems industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Military Avionic Systems Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Military Avionic Systems research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Military Avionic Systems market revenue worldwide.Finally, Military Avionic Systems market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Global Battery Alloys Market 2016  2023: Size, Share, Growth, Industry Trends and Forecast

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"The Latest Research Report Battery Alloys Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2023 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"The global battery market worth is worth USD 100 billion and is growing at a rapid pace owing to increasing application of batteries in various industries. Alloy used in batteries are one of the most important components, which sustain the battery functionality. Different kinds of battery require different varieties of battery alloy as per the requirement of the respective applications. Batteries can be broadly classified into primary batteries and secondary batteries. The most common types of battery alloys contain metals such as lead, selenium, calcium, antimony and tin. Alloys are generally used in the battery anodes.Get Sample copy of this Report @The battery alloys market has been propelled by the growth of battery market across the world. New applications of battery are developed every other day and the technological advancement and reach among the masses have augured well for the battery market and subsequently the battery alloy market. Battery alloys find most of its demand from the automotive industry. The growth of automotive market in Asia Pacific and the reviving market in North America has fuelled the growth of battery alloy market. Moreover the gradual transformation of petroleum driven car into battery operated vehicles and hybrid vehicles have boosted the battery alloy market. Industrial usage of batteries is the second largest market for battery alloys. Manufacturing industries require extensive battery service for power backup and storage. The grids in these high power batteries are made of alloys such as lead antimony, lead calcium and lead selenium. The high growth of manufacturing sector and the growth of transportation infrastructure are the leading causes for the growth of battery alloy market.There is very little threat to the battery alloy market since it is indispensible to the batteries. However some alloys are preferred over the others owing to environmental concerns as well as functionality. Although lead alloys display extremely good characteristics, the use of lead in battery alloys are increasingly discouraged. Lead calcium battery alloy is again preferred over lead antimony due to its higher longevity and performance dynamics.View Report @The major opportunity of the battery alloy market lies in the electric vehicles application. Matured economies of North America and Europe have shifted focus towards electric vehicles in a bid to achieve a sustainable future free of petroleum requirements. According to research about 40% of all cars on road in 2035 will be electrically powered in North America which is one of the largest market for automotives. Asia Pacific region has also initiated the process of promoting hybrid vehicles which is expected to provide tremendous stimulus to the battery alloy market.The battery alloy market is dominated by Asia Pacific region. More than 90 % of the market for battery alloys is derived from this region as Asia Pacific acts as the battery supplier to the world. Japan and South Korea used to be the main countries manufacturing batteries. However China has surged ahead in recent times and is the highest growing country in the world in terms of demand and production of battery alloys. North America and Europe account for high demand of batteries which are mostly imported from Asia. The battery alloy market is expected to be dominated by Asia Pacific in the near future as well.Som of the major companies operating in this market are Mitsubishi Corporation and Furukawa Co.Ltd among many others.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaSend An Enquiry Request @This report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsCheck Discount This Report From Here @About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Wine Sector in Ukraine is Forecast to Grow at 5.3% CAGR in Value Terms During 2016-2021

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SUMMARYWiseGuyReports published new report, titled Wine Sector in UkraineThe Ukrainian Wine sector is forecast to register growth at 5.3% CAGR in value terms during 2016-2121. The sector is led by the Still Wine market in value terms, while Sparkling Wine is expected to register the fastest value growth during 2016-2021. On-trade transactions led the distribution of Wine in the country in volume terms. Glass is the most commonly used package material, and is also expected to register fastest growth during 2016-2021. Inkerman Fine Vintage Wine Llc and Massandra Imperial Estate are the leading market players in the country.Country Profile report on the Wine sector in Ukraine provides insights on high growth markets to target, trends in the usage of packaging materials, category level distribution channel data and market share of brands.What else is contained?- Market data: Overall market value and volume data with growth analysis for 2011-2021.- Category coverage: Value and growth analysis for Fortified Wine, Sparkling Wine and Still Wine with inputs on individual category share within each market and the change in their market share forecast for 2016-2021- Leading players: Market share of brands and private labels, including private label growth analysis from 2011-2016- Distribution data: Percentage of sales within each market through distribution channels such as On-trade, Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Food & Drinks Specialists, and others- Packaging data: consumption breakdown for package materials and pack types in each market, in terms of percentage share of number of units sold. Package material data for Glass, Rigid Plastics, Paper & Board, Flexible Packaging, Rigid Metal and others; pack type data for: Bottle, Stand Up Pouch, Bag-In-Box, Carton-Liquid and Can.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Scope- The Wine sector in Ukraine is forecast to grow at 5.3% CAGR in value terms during 2016-2021- Per capita consumption in Still wine market high in Ukraine compared to the other markets- On-trade transactions led the distribution of Wine in Ukraine- Inkerman accounts for the leading share in Ukrainian Wine sectorKey points to buy- Identify high potential categories and explore further market opportunities based on detailed value and volume analysis- Existing and new players can analyze key distribution channels to identify and evaluate trends and opportunities- Gain an understanding of the total competitive landscape based on detailed brand share analysis to plan effective market positioning- Access the key and most influential consumer trends driving Wine consumption, and how they influence consumer behavior in the market which will help determine the best audiences to target- Our team of analysts have placed a significant emphasis on changes expected in the market that will provide a clear picture of the opportunities that can be tapped over the next five years, resulting in revenue expansion- The packaging analysis report helps manufacturers, in identifying the most commonly used packaging materials in the sector- Analysis on key macro-economic indicators such as GDP per capita, population (overall and breakdown by age), and consumer price index. It also covers a comparative analysis of political, economic, socio-demographic, and technological indicators (PEST) across 50 countries.Table of Contents1. Report Scope2. Executive summary3. Ukraine in the global and regional context4. Market size analysis - Wine sector5. Market and category analysis6. Distribution analysis7. Competitive landscape8. Packaging analysis9. Macroeconomic analysis10. Consumergraphics11. Methodology12. Definitions13. Appendix14. About15. Disclaimer16. Contact UsContinuedWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Physician Dispensed Cosmeceuticals Market | Analysis and Forecast up to 2024

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The Global Physician Dispensed Cosmeceuticals Market features the presence of prominent names from the skincare and cosmetic industry. The market is currently undergoing a paradigm shift with a large pool of skincare specialists, dermatologists, and trichologists emerging as entrepreneurs, states Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a new study. However, the top three companies, L'Oreal S.A., Valeant Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Allergan plc, held more than 56% of the market in 2015. Of these, L'Oreal S.A. accounted for a larger share of 28% in the same year.View Report-Since the physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market offers a plethora of products, it is important for manufacturers to cater to the consumer preference to gain a strong footing in the market. Product differentiation has therefore become a preferred strategy among competitors to enhance the marketability of their products. Even local manufacturers are focusing on advanced cosmeceuticals with a myriad of benefits to elevate rivalry.Request to download and view full ToC -Increased Sales Opportunities Expected as Dermatologists Venture into Cosmeceuticals ManufacturingWith dermatologists manufacturing cosmeceuticals alongside running their skincare centers, the market is expected to gain momentum in the forthcoming years. However, consumer apprehensions related to potential side effects associated with the use of cosmeceuticals may stand in the way of the markets growth. Besides this, the lack of awareness among customers regarding the revenue generating cosmeceuticals such as derma fillers and Botox is likely to create bottlenecks or the market in developing and under-developed countries. Since the products offered in the market are highly sensitive to prevailing economic trends, financial downturns are also expected to have a negative impact on their sale, said a lead analyst at TMR.Nevertheless, the rising demand for branded cosmeceuticals due to their safety and efficacy is expected to boost opportunities for the market in the near future, he added. Furthermore, the knowledge about new skin conditions caused by exposure to pollution and climate changes will also boost sales of cosmeceuticals.Among the products currently available in the market, the skincare products segment accounted for the leading market share in 2015. The increasing demand for cosmeceuticals across emerging economies and due to the rising geriatric population for treating various skin conditions will boost demand from this segment.Request to view Sample Report -North America Exhibits Most Lucrative Opportunities for Cosmeceuticals SaleRegionally, North America has been exhibiting the most lucrative prospects for the sales of cosmeceuticals. As per TMR, the regional market stood at US$4.7 bn in 2015 and is expected to reach US$10.52 by the end of 2024. If these valuations hold true, the physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market in North America will exhibit a CAGR of 9.6% between 2016 and 2024. However, TMR forecasts opportunities for the market in Asia Pacific to increase at the fastest CAGR. The Asia Pacific physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market is therefore expected to surge at a CAGR of 12.3% during the forecast period.According to TMR, the global physician dispensed cosmeceuticals market stood at US$11.2 bn in 2015. Rising at a CAGR of 10.6% between 2016 and 2024, the market is expected to reach US$27.6 bn by 2024.Physician Dispensed Cosmeceuticals Market Report is available @ US$ 5795About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Kaposi Sarcoma Market Key Trends and Opportunity Analysis 2024

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The Global Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) Market is immensely consolidated and the top two players, namely Johnson & Johnson and Merck & Co. Inc. accounted for almost 50% of the overall market in 2015. The contribution of domestic players such as Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited is presented low. However, Transparency Market Research predicts that the contribution of these companies will increase during the forecast period owing to the patent expiry of several major drugs.Partnerships, acquisitions, and collaborations with other leading companies for the development of newer products with improved efficacy are part of the growth strategies adopted by a number of players in the Kaposi sarcoma market. For instance, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd launched a new Global Access Program in September 2014 in partnership with the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and the Global Fund. The program was centered on HIV viral load testing.View Report-High Incidence of HIV/AIDS, Organ Transplants Driving Growth of KS MarketIncreased organ transplant procedures are a leading factor driving the Kaposi sarcoma market since the incidence of the cancer is high among patients who have undergone an organ transplant. Organ transplant patients are given immunosuppressive agents to prevent their body from rejecting the graft. This makes them highly susceptible to Kaposi sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection, the author of the study explains. The long term use of these agents increases the rate of risk of these patients by more than 100 times compared to the general population.The high incidence of HIV/AIDS associated Kaposi sarcoma is one of the major factors driving the adoption of HAART therapy, which subsequently fuels the overall KS market.Request to download and view full ToC -High Cost of Treatment a Major DrawbackThe cost of cancer drugs used for the treatment of Kaposi sarcoma has been on the rise in the past few years, making it difficult for patients to seek treatment. This is a major concern for both the patients and the payers. The prices of patented drugs have increased by over five times in the past few years in the U.S. and continue to rise, the TMR analyst comments. For instance, prices of major drugs used for the treatment of KS, such as liposomal doxorubicin, liposomal daunorubicin, or paclitaxel in combination with HAART, have been increasing significantly, making these unaffordable for middle and lower income groups.Request to view Sample Report -Slow but Steady Growth in Store for Kaposi Sarcoma MarketThe global market for Kaposi sarcoma is projected to expand at a modest 2.2% CAGR from 2016 to 2024, with the opportunity in the market rising from US$118.5 mn in 2015 to be worth US$143.2 mn by the end of the forecast period. Hospitals formed the leading distribution channel in 2015, generating over US$40 mn revenue that year. The segment is also slated emerge as the fastest growing segment in the KS market, expanding at a 2.6% CAGR from 2016 to 2024.By type of treatment, HAART led the overall Kaposi sarcoma market in terms of revenue, with chemotherapy and immunotherapy poised to register the highest growth rate over the coming years. In terms of region, the global Kaposi sarcoma market was led by North America in 2015 and the MEA region will record the fastest growth by 2024.Kaposi Sarcoma Market Report is available @ US$ 5795About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Contact Lens Market Key Trends and Opportunity Analysis 2024

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The Global Contact Lens Market witnesses a highly competitive and consolidated scenario, states Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a research report. The creme of all the companies present in the market are Bausch and Lomb, Alcona Inc., The Cooper Companies, and Johnson & Johnson. In 2015, these companies collectively held a share of approximately 68% in the global contact lens market. The leading vendor in the market in the same year with 31% of the overall share was Johnson & Johnson and is expected to maintain the lead over the years ahead. With the dominance of a handful of gigantic companies, the market is expected to witness innovation in the coming years as these companies will struggle to have a competitive advantage over each other.In order to boost their revenues and grasp a strong consumer base, the market players are integrating communication, monitoring, and electronics with their merchandises. With new products extensions and growing applications, the competition in the market is expected to further intensify in the years ahead. The other prominent companies are STAAR Surgical, Menicon Group, Carl Zeiss AG, Essilor International S.A., and Novartis International AG, among many others.According to a TMR analyst, The global market for contact lens is expected to register a CAGR of 7.6% between 2016 and 2024. In 2015, the market was worth US$9.74 bn and is projected to rise to a valuation of US$18.70 bn by the end of 2024.View Report-Cast Molding Surfaces as Most Preferred Manufacturing TechnologyThe core technologies that are used for contact lens manufacturing are lathe cutting, cast molding, and spin casting. Amongst all these the most sought after technology in 2015 was cast molding with an overall share of 80% in the global contact lens market and it is expected that it will maintain the dominant position in the coming years. The growth of the market can be attributed to the computer controlled and automated manufacturing of the contact lenses with the aid of the technology of cast molding. This process assures the manufacturer of high quality and accuracy in the end product. In addition, injection molding further enables bulk manufacturing for extensively prominent disposable lens types, thus making cast molding the most preferred method for cost reduction. However, cast molding will continue its reign in the market, it might lose its popularity to the technology of lathe cutting.Request to download and view full ToC -Region-wise, the global market for contact lens has been segmented into North America, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. At present, North America leads the market with almost 30% of the overall share in the global market owing to the number of senior and middle aged ophthalmological patients and a significant rise in ophthalmic issues in the region. However, Asia Pacific is expected to give a tough competition to North America with the most promising and lucrative opportunities present in the market for the players in the near future.Request to view Sample Report -Popularity of Lenses as a Fashion Accessory to Propel Demand GloballyThe rise in the number of cases of weekend eyesight and refractory errors among the young population has increased the adoption of contact lenses globally. Youngsters are incessantly preferring contact lenses for aesthetics, convenience, and comfort and their easy availability with variety of colors and disposable varieties have also triggered their use a fashion accessory among the young and middle aged population. Furthermore, regular attempts are being made by manufacturers of contact lens for educating the masses regarding their ease of use and benefits. But damage due to careless usage is expected limit its mass adoption in the coming years such as sleeping wearing lenses or poor handling during storage.Contact Lens Market Report is available @ US$ 5795About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Cold Working Die Steels Market Forecast 2017-2022: Schneider, Severstal, Yasugi, Arcelor Mittal, Tobata

Cold Working Die Steels

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Cold Working Die Steels Market Research 2017A market study  Global Cold Working Die Steels Market  examines the performance of the Cold Working Die Steels market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Cold Working Die Steels market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Cold Working Die Steels market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Cold Working Die Steels Market 2017 report includes Cold Working Die Steels market Revenue, market Share, Cold Working Die Steels industry volume, market Trends, Cold Working Die Steels Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Cold Working Die Steels Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Cold Working Die Steels Market 2017 : KIND & Co Kalyani Carpenter Arcelor Group KIND & Co SWG Hitachi Metals Indus Steel Sanyo Special Steel Severstal Eramet Schneider Tobata Era steel Daido Steel Sanyo Special Steel Nippon Koshuha steel Indus steel Era steel Yasugi Arcelor MittalCold Working Die Steels Market : By Application Construction Industry Industrial EquipmentsCold Working Die Steels Market : By Type Construction Industry Industrial EquipmentsFirstly, the report covers the top Cold Working Die Steels manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Cold Working Die Steels report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Cold Working Die Steels industry, Cold Working Die Steels industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Cold Working Die Steels Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Cold Working Die Steels research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Cold Working Die Steels market revenue worldwide.Finally, Cold Working Die Steels market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Logistics Outsourcing Market Set to Witness Steady Growth through (2014 - 2020)

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Logistics outsourcing, most commonly known as third-party logistics is a process or operation of sub-contracting industrial functions like cross-docking, inventory keeping, warehousing and transportation to a third party or supply chain management provider. Third party logistics providers include raw material suppliers, distributors and other value-added service providers. These services are generally integrated and used together to provide end-user convenience. The decision for outsourcing logistics by a parent company is generally dependent on company size, complication of logistics and relative economic benefits of outsourcing.Logistics outsourcing includes contracting of material management, supply chain management, distribution management, shipment packaging and channel management. E-business web portals and stores are in extensive need of on-clock dispatch and delivery services offered by outsourced logistics providers. The advantages associated with the logistics outsourcing market are  improvement of suppliers capability due to the use of information technology, specialization of operation, focus on core competencies and uniform growth. However, lack of monitoring control over logistics and risks associated with vendor reliability are some of the drawbacks of this market.Request Report Sample@Regions across the globe with an attractive logistics outsourcing market, in terms of contract logistics, include North America and Southeast Asia. RoW (Rest of the World) is showing growth in inter-regional logistics. Major factors driving the development of logistics outsourcing market are globalization, time-proportional economy, presence of virtual organizations, improved customer awareness, strategic concerns to achieve more flexibility and better IT infrastructural support. On the other hand, loss of logistics, poor transportation, local protection regulations and lack of post-outsourcing measurements are some of the factors hampering growth of this market.The global logistics outsourcing market is segmented on the basis of service type, transport media used and geography. The market can vary in service type as simple service, combined service, consulting service and value-added service. On the basis of transport media used to handle logistics, it can be classified into air freight, ocean carriers, railways and trucking. The market can be categorised on the basis of geography into North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Japan, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Middle East & Africa.Globalized product availability, demand for product individualization in terms of logistics, on-time delivery, just-in-time inventory, agility in time response transport, big data analytics and atomization of shipment are some of the global market trends guided by technological innovations like remote tracking and monitoring using RFID tags and EDI-based location of the shipment. Analytics based on big data is providing better accuracy of frequency of tasks and decision-making capabilities. There is a continuous insourcing trend by online retailers (like Amazon.com) for inventory so as to be more cost-effective and unified in terms of operations, and to emphasize on outsourcing for end-product transportation services only. These technological up gradations continuously enhance services provided by outsourced logistics providers.Visit For TOC@Exel Logistics (U.K.), Menlo Worldwide Logistics (U.S.), FedEx (U.S.), Ryder Logistics (U.S.) and Tibbett and Britten (U.K.) are some of the key outsourced logistics providers. These companies have a wide global presence and provide multi-sector services. They are continuously trying to reach influential market and customers by means of removing bottlenecks related to international shipments and reducing cost through geographical spread of inventory. The market in Asia-Pacific region shows a steady and consistent growth through service innovations by companies, so as to attract economic customers. The companies need to shift their focus from integrated services to offering broad range of products & services portfolio. With more focus on growing B2C sector, the scope for logistics outsourcing will extend towards value-added and specialized services.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Car Carrier Market Forecast 2017-2022: Boydstun, Cottrell, Hyundai Translead, Landoll, Delavan

Car Carrier

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Car Carrier Market Research 2017A market study  Global and Chinese Car Carrier Market  examines the performance of the Car Carrier market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Car Carrier market state and the competitive landscape Global and Chinesely. This report analyzes the potential of Car Carrier market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global and Chinese Car Carrier Market 2017 report includes Car Carrier market Revenue, market Share, Car Carrier industry volume, market Trends, Car Carrier Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Car Carrier Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global and Chinese Car Carrier Market 2017 : Cottrell Landoll Danco B/A Products Co. TEC Equipment, Inc. Delavan Boydstun Appalachian Trailers DownEaster Coastal Metal Fab Kaufman Trailers Sun Country Trailers Tom Nehl Truck Company CIMC Schmitz Cargobull Great Dane Trailers Hyundai Translead Krone Stoughton Trailers Koegel WeltonCar Carrier Market : By Application Residential Vehicle Transportation Goods Transportation MilitaryCar Carrier Market : By Type Open Carriers Closed CarriersFirstly, the report covers the top Car Carrier manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Car Carrier report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Car Carrier industry, Car Carrier industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Car Carrier Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Car Carrier research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Car Carrier market revenue worldwide.Finally, Car Carrier market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Automated Hospital Beds Market Forecast 2017-2022: Merivaara, Stryker, Paramount Bed, Invacare, Reverie

Automated Hospital Beds

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Automated Hospital Beds Market Research 2017A market study  Global Automated Hospital Beds Market  examines the performance of the Automated Hospital Beds market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Automated Hospital Beds market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Automated Hospital Beds market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Automated Hospital Beds Market 2017 report includes Automated Hospital Beds market Revenue, market Share, Automated Hospital Beds industry volume, market Trends, Automated Hospital Beds Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Automated Hospital Beds Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Automated Hospital Beds Market 2017 : Stryker Hill-Rom Invacare Linet Group Transfer Master Products Reverie Nova EHOB Joh. Stiegelmeyer Merivaara Paramount Bed MedlineAutomated Hospital Beds Market : By Application Hospital Nursing Home Medical School ResidentialAutomated Hospital Beds Market : By Type Semi Electric Total ElectricFirstly, the report covers the top Automated Hospital Beds manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Automated Hospital Beds report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Automated Hospital Beds industry, Automated Hospital Beds industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Automated Hospital Beds Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Automated Hospital Beds research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Automated Hospital Beds market revenue worldwide.Finally, Automated Hospital Beds market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Organic Milk Global Market 2017: Key Players  Horizon Organic, Arla, Organic Valley, Aurora Organic Dairy, Thise Dairy, Avalon

Organic Milk Market

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Organic Milk Market 2017Wiseguyreports.Com adds Organic Milk Market Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2022 To Its Research Database.Report Details:This report provides in depth study of Organic Milk Market using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The Organic Milk Market report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market which is based on the various objectives of an organization such as profiling, the product outline, the quantity of production, required raw material, and the financial health of the organization.This report studies Organic Milk in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2012 to 2016, and forecast to 2022.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringHorizon OrganicArlaOrganic ValleyEmmiAurora Organic DairyYeo ValleyAndechser Molkerei ScheitzThise DairyAvalonBruton DairyYiliMengniuShengmu Organic MilkRequest a Sample Report @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoWhole Organic MilkSkim Organic MilkSemi-skim Organic MilkBy Application, the market can be split intoFood & BeveragesCosmeticsPet FoodOthersBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Complete Report Details@Major Key Points in Table of Content:1 Industry Overview of Organic Milk1.1 Definition and Specifications of Organic Milk1.1.1 Definition of Organic Milk1.1.2 Specifications of Organic Milk1.2 Classification of Organic Milk1.2.1 Whole Organic Milk1.2.2 Skim Organic Milk1.2.3 Semi-skim Organic Milk1.3 Applications of Organic Milk1.3.1 Food & Beverages1.3.2 Cosmetics1.3.3 Pet Food1.3.4 Others1.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 India2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Organic Milk2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Organic Milk2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Organic Milk2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Organic Milk.8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Organic Milk8.1 Horizon Organic8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.2.1 Product A8.1.2.2 Product B8.1.3 Horizon Organic 2016 Organic Milk Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 Horizon Organic 2016 Organic Milk Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 Arla8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.2.1 Product A8.2.2.2 Product B8.2.3 Arla 2016 Organic Milk Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 Arla 2016 Organic Milk Business Region Distribution Analysis8.3 Organic Valley8.3.1 Company Profile8.3.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.3.2.1 Product A8.3.2.2 Product B8.3.3 Organic Valley 2016 Organic Milk Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.3.4 Organic Valley 2016 Organic Milk Business Region Distribution Analysis8.4 Emmi8.4.1 Company Profile8.4.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.4.2.1 Product A8.4.2.2 Product B8.4.3 Emmi 2016 Organic Milk Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.4.4 Emmi 2016 Organic Milk Business Region Distribution Analysis8.5 Aurora Organic Dairy8.5.1 Company Profile8.5.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.5.2.1 Product A8.5.2.2 Product B8.5.3 Aurora Organic Dairy 2016 Organic Milk Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.5.4 Aurora Organic Dairy 2016 Organic Milk Business Region Distribution Analysis8.6 Yeo Valley8.6.1 Company Profile8.6.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.6.2.1 Product A8.6.2.2 Product B8.6.3 Yeo Valley 2016 Organic Milk Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.6.4 Yeo Valley 2016 Organic Milk Business Region Distribution Analysis8.7 Andechser Molkerei Scheitz8.7.1 Company Profile8.7.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.7.2.1 Product A8.7.2.2 Product B8.7.3 Andechser Molkerei Scheitz 2016 Organic Milk Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.7.4 Andechser Molkerei Scheitz 2016 Organic Milk Business Region Distribution Analysis8.8 Thise Dairy8.8.1 Company Profile8.8.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.8.2.1 Product A8.8.2.2 Product B8.8.3 Thise Dairy 2016 Organic Milk Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.8.4 Thise Dairy 2016 Organic Milk Business Region Distribution Analysis8.9 Avalon8.9.1 Company Profile8.9.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.9.2.1 Product A8.9.2.2 Product B8.9.3 Avalon 2016 Organic Milk Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.9.4 Avalon 2016 Organic Milk Business Region Distribution Analysis8.10 Bruton Dairy8.10.1 Company Profile8.10.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.10.2.1 Product A8.10.2.2 Product B8.10.3 Bruton Dairy 2016 Organic Milk Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.10.4 Bruton Dairy 2016 Organic Milk Business Region Distribution AnalysisContinued.Buy now @Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Sales@Wiseguyreports.ComPh: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Forecast and Analysis on Cider Packaging Market for Period (2016-2026)

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Cider is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented juice of apples. Cider beverage is made up of cider apples which is mostly produced in U.S. There is great demand of innovation in packaging of cider in market. The growth of hard cider has been driven largely by the highly coveted millennial generation. Market is mainly driven by increased disposable income and demand for innovative packaging product and safe packaging.Global Cider Packaging Market: DynamicsReducing unit cider packagingsize is creating more consumption opportunities.The presence of premium brand such as woodchuck, Kopparberg and angry orchard has increased the demand for premium quality cider packaging. Premium cider packagingbrand are high in demand as compared to economically priced product due to rise in consumption of alcohol as a status symbol, disposable income and association of premium labels with the beverage quality and taste. cider packaging market is highly competitive which led competitors to come up with innovative product and new strategy in packaging world.The vendors in cider packaging are coming with bottles prepared with a high barrier coating technology to upturn its shelf life and minimize the risk of saturation. With the technological innovations in the cider packaging market, there is increasing demand for water-based coating technology as it is environmentally-friendly, tasteless, odorless and decreases the usage of sprig powder. The global demand of cider packaging is expected to grow at impressive CAGR in near future.Request Report Sample@Global Cider Packaging Market: SegmentationThe global cider packaging market can be segmented on the basis of material type packaging type and region. On the basis of material cider packaging market can be segmented on glass, plastic and metal. On the basis of packaging type cider packaging market can be segmented as bottles, cans and stand up pouches. Among all material type used for cider packaging, plastic is gaining preference over glass bottles and metal cans because plastic are light in weight, compatible lower in cost and are available in various design. The development of plastic packaging solution will be key driver for the growth of overall cider packaging market. Another driving factor for cider packaging id the increasing demand for alcoholic beverage has pushed vendors to focus on shelf-life packaging that is easy to store, easy to transport and is convenient to unpack. The manufactures are coming up with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, which shelters the cider products for long period. On the basis of region North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa.Global Cider Packaging Market: Regional OverviewNorth America cider packaging market is expected to register strong growth in near future while cider packaging market is expected to slowdown in largest market of Europe. Europe market is focusing in innovative packaging so that product become more appealing to consumers. The launch of low calorie and craft cider in Europe is expected to create demand in new cider packaging product which can add volume sale in this region. Cider packaging market in Asia Pacific region is expected to show nominal growth during forecast period. Middle East and Africa is expected to dominate the cider packaging market in near future and projected to account highest market share.Visit For TOC@Global Cider Packaging Market: Key PlayersThe main player of global cider packaging in market are Amcor limited , Ardagh group, Ball corporation, Crown Holdings, Rexam Owens-Illinois. Some of the other prominent players are Plastipak Packaging, Silgan Holdings, Consol Glass, Vetropack, Allied Glass Containers, Can-Pack, MeadWestvaco, Nampak and VidralaABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Treatment Market is Projected to Grow Steadily During (2016-2022)

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Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive malignant brain tumor in humans that involves glial cells. GBM is present in two variants namely, giant cell glioblastoma and gliosarcoma. Gliomas are tumors arising from glial cells and may occur in the spinal cord or the brain, the latter being more common. Gliomas are the most common type of brain tumor and can be either supratentorial or infratentorial. Seizure, nausea, headache, hemiparesis and memory loss are some of the common symptoms observed in the patients suffering from GBM. GBM is most commonly found in male with the age of 65 years and above.Alcohol consumption and malaria are the possible risk factors for the development of GBM. In addition, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, von-hippel-lindau disease, Li-fraumeni syndrome and turcot syndrome are some of the genetic disorders that are associated with increasing incidences of gliomas. Glioblastoma multiforme is a World Health Organization Grade IV tumor that represents 15 to 20% of all primary intracranial tumors.Request for Report TOC @Increasing habits of alcohol consumption, changing lifestyle and increasing incidence of seizure are some of the drivers for the growth of GBM market. GBM is generally treated by first surgically removing the tumor then treating with chemotherapy and radiation. While this treatment plan is the currently accepted standard of care, it does not effectively prevent tumor recurrence, which ultimately causes death in GBM patients. This factor is expected to be the prime restraint for the growth of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme market.Primary treatment involves surgery to achieve tumor debulking, followed by a multimodal regimen of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can be added to radiotherapy for patients with unfavorable low-grade glioma to improve progression free survival. The most frequently used chemotherapy regimens are a combination of procarbazine, lomustine and vincristine, or single-agent treatment with carmustine or lomustine. Temozolomide is recommended by NICE as an option for the treatment of newly diagnosed GBM. Concomitant and adjuvant chemotherapy with temozolomide given during and after radiotherapy improves survival. This drug used along with chemotherapy or radiotherapy has led to the growth of GBM treatment market to a great extent.Region wise, the global recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) market is classified into regions namely, North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. North America and Europe dominates the global GBM market owing to rising awareness, population aging, changing lifestyle and increasing healthcare awareness accentuates the growth of GBM market in these regions. In addition, Asia-Pacific region is expected to be an emerging market due to increasing demand for better healthcare facilities.Request for Report Sample @Some of the companies competing in recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment market are Astrazeneca, F. Hoffman-La Roche, Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline plc., Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer, Inc., AngioChem, Inc. Vascular Biogeneics and others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.Our client success stories feature a range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to fast-growing startups. PMRs collaborative environment is committed to building industry-specific solutions by transforming data from multiple streams into a strategic asset.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1-646-568-7751Tollfree: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Dermatophytic Onychomycosis Market Growth Analysis 2021

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Persistence Market Research (PMR) delivers key insights on The Global Dermatophytic Onychomycosis Therapeutics Market in its latest report titled Global Market Study on Dermatophytic Onychomycosis Therapeutics (DOT): North America Expected to Account for Maximum Market Share by 2021.The global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market is anticipated to expand at a healthy CAGR during the forecast period. By product type, the market is segmented into Nail paint and tablet, which is again sub-divided into prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) sub segments. The nail paint segment is expected to contribute a maximum share to the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market and expand at the fastest CAGR of 8.3% during the forecast period. By treatment, the market is segmented into topical and oral therapy.View Report-Among these, the topical segment is anticipated to be dominant throughout the forecast period and projected to account for about 70% share of the total global dermatophytic onychomycosis market revenue by 2021. By distribution channels, the market is segmented into hospitals, dermatology and podiatry clinics, independent pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, and drug stores. Among these, drug stores are estimated to be largest segment with 47% share of the total global market revenue by 2015 end. The drug stores segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Independent pharmacies are projected to be the second most attractive segment of the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market by 2015 end.Request to download and view full ToC -Market growth is primarily driven by factors such as increase in the prevalence of fungal toe nail infections in the U.S. and Canada, and rising per capita healthcare expenditure across the globe. Easy application of nail paints is also expected to drive demand for dermatophytic onychomycosis drugs. However, adverse effects associated with anti-fungal drugs and lack of awareness about dermatophytic onychomycosis in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America are expected to impede growth of the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market.This report covers global and regional trends along with an analysis of the market potential. North America is expected to account for over 43% revenue share of the total dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market by 2015 end i.e. holding the maximum market share. Whereas Europe is projected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 7.3% due to increasing awareness about fungal nail infections.Request to view Sample Report -Global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market report begins with an overview of the global market in terms of value. This section includes detailed analysis of key trends, drivers and restraints, and opportunities. All of these are factors that impact market growth. Impact analysis of key growth drivers and restraints based on the weighted average of each one of these factors in a model-based approach is included in the market report to better equip clients with crystal clear decision-making insights.Key players of the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market include Galderma S.A., Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and others. Leading companies in this market collaborate with healthcare solutions and services providers in order to advance operational efficiencies and provide improved patient care.Global Dermatophytic Onychomycosis Market Report is available @ US$ 4900About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Polaris Networks takes its involvement with Public Safety to the next level at the PSCR Next-Generation Deployable Network Summit

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Boulder, Colorado, October 25, 2017- Mr. Vinay Gupta (CTO) and Mr. Ameet Dhillon (Director of Business Development)  represented Polaris Networks at the recently held PSCR Next-Generation Network Summit. Polaris has been working extensively with PSCR and other similar agencies in the Public Safety sector for the last four years.The Summit addressed gap areas affecting deployable systems, dynamic coverage of existing network and intermittent backhaul, description of how deployable network solutions could address multiple gaps and value addition to Public Safety through a common deployable test environment. A brainstorming session on experiments that could be performed in a deployable test environment was also included during the two-day event.Polaris Networks has been working as a PSCR partner under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) since 2013. Presently, Polaris offers test platforms as well as system-on-wheels deployable solutions that cater to Public Safety Networks.The FNN Tester from Polaris helps test and verify the functions and performance of the core network and application servers, while implementing the interfaces and features specified in Rel.12 and Rel.13 specifications from 3GPP and other relevant standards related to Public Safety.The NetEPCPS, a comprehensive LTE core network solution developed for first responder networks by Polaris, is used in unmanned aerial or water borne vehicles and helps achieve improved situational awareness, while meeting the security requirements essential for a public safety application. This solution can also be deployed co-resident with an eNodeB when a backhaul link is not available or is unreliable.Polaris Networks is a global solution provider in the field of LTE and 5G Technology, offering a wide range of software for use as test tools in the lab and Packet Core deployment in private and public LTE networks. LTE solutions from Polaris Networks are actively used by Network Equipment Manufacturers, Telecom Service Providers, and Test Labs across several countries. The company is headquartered in San Jose, CA, USA and has two R&D centers in Kolkata, India. To learn more about Polaris Networks, visitPolaris Networks14856 Holden Way,San Jose, CA 95124Polaris Networks Contact:Bidisha TungaMarketing Communications and Public Relations+91-9836148468bidisha_tunga@polarisnetworks.net
Holter Monitoring Systems Market Growth Analysis 2024

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ECG monitoring devices are experiencing a paradigm technological shift from resting ECG systems to portable Holter monitoring systems. According to a new report by Persistence Market Research (PMR), titled, Holter Monitoring Systems Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2016-2024, this is attributed to advantages such as patient mobility, low prices, and longer period of patient monitoring. Holter monitoring systems are proving to be more efficient in ECG monitoring due to advancements in technology, thereby allowing healthcare providers to monitor recorded data remotely, and enhancements in Holter monitoring software, which enable better analysis of data. These factors are expected to promote drive growth of the global Holter monitoring systems market at a CAGR of 4.5 % between 2016 and 2026.View Report-PMRs report offers market forecast and analysis on the global Holter monitoring systems market. The global market has been segmented on the basis of product, enduser, and region. On the basis of region, the market has been segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Asia Pacific (APAC). As per regional analysis, North America (the U.S. and Canada) is the most lucrative market for Holter monitoring systems globally.This region is expected to hold highest market share over the forecast period (20162026) and is expected to exhibit more than average growth rate. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to witness fastest growth owing to high population and increasing incidence rate of cardiovascular diseases. APAC market is estimated to account for around 27 % revenue share by end of 2016 in the global Holter monitoring systems market. The market in MEA is also expected to expand significantly in revenue terms over the forecast period, owing to high public healthcare expenditure in countries in the region. Revenue from the market in the region is expected to expand at CAGR of 5.2% over the forecast period.Request to download and view full ToC -On the basis of product, the global Holter monitoring systems market has been segmented into Holter monitoring devices, event monitoring devices, and Holter monitoring software segments. Holter monitoring devices segment is expected to remain the dominant segment in the global market throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to high adoption rate of these devices globally.On the basis of end user, the Holter monitoring systems market has been segmented into hospitals, diagnostic centers, clinics, and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). PMR estimated the hospitals segment to account for highest revenue share among other end user segments, and it is expected to witness fastest growth over the forecast period. Factors such as increasing number of private hospitals in developing countries is expected to boost revenue share of the hospitals segment. Diagnostic centers segment is also expected to gain significant market share during the forecast period.Request to view Sample Report -The report discusses various factors positively impacting growth of the global Holter monitoring systems market such as increasing healthcare expenditure, key strategies of market players, regional reimbursement policies, and others.Some key market participants included in the report are GE Healthcare, Koninklijke Philips N.V, Welch Allyn (Hill-rom Company, Inc.), Schiller AG, Fukuda Denshi Co. Ltd., Nihon Kohden Corporation, Mortara Instrument Inc., and Spacelabs Healthcare Inc.Global Holter Monitoring Systems Market Report is available @ US$ 4900About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors Market Overview 2017-2022: Ceramtec, Epcos, Panasonic, Boston Piezo-Optics

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Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors Market Research 2017A market study  Global Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors Market  examines the performance of the Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors Market 2017 report includes Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors market Revenue, market Share, Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors industry volume, market Trends, Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors Market 2017 : API Technologies Vectron International AVX Corporation Boston Piezo-Optics Ceramtec CTS Corporation Epcos Honeywell International Teledyne Microwave Solutions Murata Manufacturing Panasonic Raltron ElectronicsSurface Acoustic Wave Sensors Market : By Application Automotive Aerospace and Defence Consumer Electronics Healthcare IndustrialSurface Acoustic Wave Sensors Market : By Type Pressure Sensors Torque Sensors Viscosity Sensors Chemical Sensors Humidity Sensors Mass Sensors Temperature SensorsFirstly, the report covers the top Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors industry, Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors market revenue worldwide.Finally, Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAWeb:Email: sales@spiremarketresearch.com
Organic Milk Market Set to Witness Steady Growth through (2016-2026)

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The organic milk market encompasses all milk and milk products derived from animals that are fed organic feed that is devoid of any animal by-products, have access to fresh pastures, and are not treated with any synthetic hormones or antibiotics. The term organic only refers to the process in which the milk is prepared and has no relation to the end-product nutrient profile. The market for organic milk is expected to grow at a rapid pace with the mainstreaming of natural and organic foods.Market Dynamics of Organic Milk MarketSimilar to all organic foods, the demand for organic milk is closely tied to the increasing consumer preference for naturally and organically grown products. This positive view of organics is due to several factors such as the perception of anything organic as healthy and pure, increasing care for environment and concern for farm animals. All these factors are crucial for the acceptance of organic milk products, thereby leading to the popularity of labels such as grass-fed and pasture-raised.Price is an important constraining factor for organic milk market as organic milk is almost thrice as costly as regular milk. This high difference limits the scope of the market only to urban and high-aware consumers.The consumer shift towards organic dairy products is also influenced by the large scale food adulteration scandals that have occurred recently. For instance, the 2008 Chinese milk scandal wherein a large number of children were hospitalized due to an excessive amount of melamine in the milk and infant formulas, has led to a great number of regulations, import restrictions and price fluctuations in the market. Events such as these have increased consumer interest in what the animal is fed, how it is raised and processing methods.The regulatory aspects of the organic milk market are mostly centered on the use of the organic label. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires that apart from the use of organic feed, cows should have access to fresh grass and spend at least four months a year grazing in pastures. The crucial aspect of organic milk market is a lack of use of synthetic hormones such as rBGH, a growth hormone given to almost 30% of the dairy cows in the US. These ingredients are considered very negatively by most consumers.Request Report Sample@Market Segmentation of Organic Milk MarketThe organic milk market is segmented on the basis of application, packaging type, distribution channel, and geography.On the basis of application, the organic milk market is segmented as milk, dairy products and milk-based beverages and others. The majority of organic milk is consumed directly in the form of boiled milk, coffee, tea, and in cooking certain dishes at home. The use of organic milk is particularly increasing in households with kids due to extra concerns about food safety and health. The dairy products segment is further segmented into butter, cheese, desserts, and others. The dairy products segment is expected to gain market share with the growing consumer interest in healthy indulgent foods. Further these products are used in some bakery and confectionery good like milk toffies, bars and cakes and cookies.On the basis of packaging type, the market can be segmented into pouches, cartons, bottles, and cans. The use of any specific packaging type depends on the end-purpose and use. For instance, pouches offer a relatively cheap way and easy way to pack milk and are therefore very popular in emerging nations such as India. Cartons are an important packaging type in terms of the longer shelf life and convenience. Bottles can be of both glass and plastic and are heavily used for packing milk and beverages. Cans are mainly used to transport heavy loads of organic milk and in the case of many dairy products.On the basis of distribution channels, the market is segmented into hypermarkets/supermarkets, convenience and grocery stores, specialty stores, the internet and direct selling. The use of internet limited in the case of organic milk market as the products are easily perishable. Hypermarkets and supermarkets occupy the dominant market share mainly because a significant number of organic products are concentrated in large stores. Direct selling in the form of home deliveries is also an important and growing distribution channel because such delivery systems usually source the organic milk from local sources thereby ensuring freshness and quality.Visit For TOC@Regional Outlook of Organic Milk MarketThe United States occupies the dominant market share in the organic milk market. The increasing consumer awareness about natural consumer goods and increase in the incidence of lifestyle conditions such as obesity. Europe is another very important region in the organic milk market due to the high-income levels, easy product accessibility and strict regulations against synthetic food ingredients. U.K is a major consumer of organic milk and also houses many producers and suppliers. Despite occupying small market share at the current time period, the organic milk market is expected to grow at a significant level in emerging nations such as India and Brazil. This is due to the increasing awareness levels and fears of food adulteration among consumers.Key Market Players in Organic Milk MarketSome of the key players in the organic milk market include Danone (WhiteWave Foods Company), Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited, Organic Valley, OMSCo (Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative), Dairy Farmers of America Inc., Agropur Dairy Cooperative, Arla Foods Amba, Donegal Investment Group plc. , etc. among the others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Anaplastic Oligoastrocytoma Market to Register Substantial Expansion by 2024

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Oligoastrocytomas is a part of a group of brain tumor called gliomas. Glioma tumor is originated in the brain or spine. Oligoastrocytomas contains both astrocytoma cells and oligodendroglioma. About 2.3% of the brain tumors reported are diagnosed as oligoastrocytomas.Oligoastrocytomas is divided into two parts, low grade and anaplastic. According to the WHO grading system, anaplastic oligoastrocytomas are usually identify as grade 1 and grade 2 but sometimes they appear to be grade 4. Anaplastic oligoastrocytomas can be characterized by high cellularity, conspicuous cytologic atypism, microvascular proliferation, mitotic activity and necrosis. Patients suffering from this condition show symptoms like headache, seizure and speech or motor changes. According to the American Brain Cancer Association, clinical trials for the treatment of this tumor are in process to minimize the recurrence rate of anaplastic oligoastocytoma caused after the surgical removal of tumor or chemotherapy and radiation therapy session.Request for Report TOC @Anaplastic oligoastrocytomas market is offers potential opportunities to cancer care industry. Factors contributing the growth of anaplastic oligoastrocytomas market are rising geriatric population, increasing incidence of anaplastic oligoastrocytomas and increasing pace of clinical trials for novel drug development. Moreover factors such as advancement in technology and innovations in diangositc techniques is expected to drive the growth of anaplastic oligoastrocytoma market over the forecast period. However, lack of specific treatment and critical diagnosis of anaplastic oligoastrocytoma is the major challenge for anaplastic oligoastrocytomas market.Basically the treatment of anaplastic oligoastrocytoma depends on the size of the tumor. The treatment is processed by surgery to remove the tumor. In order to eliminate the cancerous cells, the combinational therapies such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy are used as effective treatment for anaplastic oligoastrocytoma.Oligoastrocytomas is most common in adults and generally occurs at the age of 3550. Generally these type of tumors are found in both the genders. Children of age 0-14 are often diagnosed with oligoastrocytomas and these tumors comprises of only three percent of primary brain tumors. Factors such as increasing demand for treatment therapies for anaplastic oligoastrocytoma, increasing prevalence of anaplastic oligoastrocytoma in emerging economies are expected provide traction to the growth of anaplastic oligoastrocytoma over the forecast period (2016-2026)On the basis of region presence, anaplastic oligoastrocytoma market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. The North America and Europe market are at maturity level for clinical research of treatment for anaplastic oligoastrocytomas. Markets of Asia-Pacific region have also shown keen interest in clinical trials of this tumor and are showing growth at faster pace, due to increasing incidence of anaplastic oligoastrocytoma.Request for Report Sample @Following are the companies and institutions which are involved in clinical trials of treatment for anaplastic oligoastocytomas are Tocagen, Inc., Shandong Lanjin Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd, Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., Biogen Idec, Inc., Insys Therapeutics, Inc, Rush University Medical Center and University of California, San Diego.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.Our client success stories feature a range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to fast-growing startups. PMRs collaborative environment is committed to building industry-specific solutions by transforming data from multiple streams into a strategic asset.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1-646-568-7751Tollfree: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Learn Details of the Central Nervous System Disorder Drugs Market Report

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The market for central nervous system disorder drugs comprise of drugs used for the treatment of diseases affecting the brain or spinal cord such as epilepsy, Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers disease, depression, anxiety and bipolar disorders. Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder characterized by recurring seizures. Parkinsons disease is a degenerative CNS disorder associated with symptoms including tremor, rigidity, akinesia and bradykinesia. It is reported by Parkinsons disease Foundation that as of now 7-10 million people are affected with Parkinsons disease across the globe. These diseases are generally caused by neurodegeneration, autoimmune disorders, trauma, tumors and vascular disorders.View TOC for this Market Report @The market for CNS disorders is categorized into three segments namely psychiatry, neurology and pain drugs market. Psychiatry drugs market is further segmented into anxiety, depression, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Neurology drugs market is divided into migraine, epilepsy, Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis, narcolepsy and and Alzheimers disease. Pain management drugs market segment comprises of drugs used to treat pain associated with CNS disorders. Among these psychiatry segment holds the largest share accounting for more than 40% followed by neurology and pain segment.Rapidly increasing geriatric population base resulting in an elevated incidence levels of CNS disorders such as Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, schizophrenia and multiple disorders is one of the key factors driving the growth of the market for CNS disorders.. Currently, there is no drug to cure Alzheimers disease, the available medicines only treat the severity of symptoms and improve the quality of life to some extent. That is why companies such as Eli Lilly, Baxter International and Novartis AG are investing heavily in research and development in order to accelerate the treatment of Alzheimers disease.Geographically, North America holds the largest share of the total market of CNS disorders followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. Asia-Pacific is projected to grow at a CAGR more than other regions on account of high prevalence of diseases such as epilepsy, Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease. As of 2012, WHO (world health organization) suggests that around 50 million people are suffering from epilepsy worldwide, most of them (approximately 80%) belong to developing nations.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @Some of the key players operating in the market for CNS disorders are Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis AG, Sanofi, Merck & Co., Abbott Laboratories, Eli Lilly, UCB, Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co. and Astellas Pharma, Inc.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Decorative Concrete market 2017 key players: BASF, PPG, 3M, DuPont, RPM International

Decorative Concrete Market Report

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Decorative Concrete MarketSummary:The Global Decorative Concrete Market Report 2017 is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Decorative Concrete industry.This report studies Decorative Concrete in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2016, and forecast to 2023.In this report, the global Decorative Concrete market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate of Decorative Concrete for each application, including:Floors, Driveways & sidewalks, Walls, Patios, Pool decks, OthersRequest a sample copy of Decorative Concrete market report@Global Decorative Concrete market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Decorative Concrete sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players including:BASF, PPG, 3M, DuPont, RPM International, Huntsman International, The Sherwin-Williams Company, Boral Limited, CEMEX, SikaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into:Stamped concrete, Stained concrete, Concrete overlays, Colored concrete, Polished concrete, Epoxy coating, OthersMake an Enquiry of Decorative Concrete market report@Table of ContentsGlobal Decorative Concrete Sales Market Report 20171 Decorative Concrete Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Decorative Concrete1.2 Classification of Decorative Concrete by Product Category1.2.1 Global Decorative Concrete Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Decorative Concrete Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Stamped concrete1.2.4 Stained concrete1.2.5 Concrete overlays1.2.6 Colored concrete1.2.7 Polished concrete1.2.8 Epoxy coating1.2.9 Others1.3 Global Decorative Concrete Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global Decorative Concrete Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Floors1.3.3 Driveways & sidewalks1.3.4 Walls1.3.5 Patios1.3.6 Pool decks1.3.7 Others1.4 Global Decorative Concrete Market by Region12 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders12.1 Marketing Channel12.1.1 Direct Marketing12.1.2 Indirect Marketing12.1.3 Marketing Channel Development Trend12.2 Market Positioning12.2.1 Pricing Strategy12.2.2 Brand Strategy12.2.3 Target Client12.3 Distributors/Traders List13 Market Effect Factors Analysis13.1 Technology Progress/Risk13.1.1 Substitutes Threat13.1.2 Technology Progress in Related Industry13.2 Consumer Needs/Customer Preference Change13.3 Economic/Political Environmental ChangeContinued...Complete Report of Decorative Concrete Market with TOC@In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Contact usJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:About usReports Monitor is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights.Address: Office C & D - 4th Floor, Siddhi Towers, Above Rupee Bank, Kondhwa Road, Pune 411048, Maharashtra, India
Global Big Game Fishing Reel Market 2017 - Shakespeare,St. Croix,Shimano,Weihai Guangwei Group,Tica Fishing

Big Game Fishing Reel

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2017 Global Big Game Fishing Reel Market Research Report Is A Professional And In-Depth Study On The Current State Of The Global Global Big Game Fishing Reel Market With Focus On Major Countries/Markets In The World Like North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia,India And explore Economic Impact In Global Industries Manufactures, Growth, Size, Share, Trends, Development Challenges and Opportunities till 2022, Helping For Future Business Development.Right Strategey Is A Perfect Solution For A Better Business Growth.The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Global Big Game Fishing Reel manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.You get 100% satisfaction.in all major aspect of business.Get Sample Report @Then, the report explores the international industry players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2012-2017 market shares for each company.Through the statistical analysis, the report depicts the global market of Global Big Game Fishing Reel industry including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, supply/demand and Chinese import/export.The report then estimates 2017-2022 market development trends of Global Big Game Fishing Reel industry. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out. In the end, the report makes some important proposals for a new project of Global Big Game Fishing Reel Industry before evaluating its feasibility.Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2012-2022 global and Global Big Game Fishing Reel Market covering all important parameters.The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key vendors.The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies.Access Complete Report @This competitively priced report consists of an array of charts, statistical data, tables, graphs, and models to pictorially analyze the industry 2017-2022 and deliver easy to understand data in detail. This helps client to grasp the picture easily and understand which industry 2017-2022 shows the potential for growth.You get 100% satisfaction about product and their market current trends & opportunities.Features of our report:1. The market analysis of the global market share, position, and size from the different regions are done.2. The admired players in the market and their share in the global market are discussed.3. Suggestions and the strategic plans that will help the new market players to maintain the competitive edge are also included.4. Several other major points that are included in the Global Big Game Fishing Reel Market report are growth factors, limiting factors, challenges that are faced, new upcoming opportunities, the technological advancements, and much more.5. The current trends that are being followed in the market are included along with examples.6. How the technological advancements and the research and development activities are impacting the market are further explained in detail.7. Customer satisfaction is always our first goal.About Us: MRS Research Group provides syndicated market research reports to industries, organizations or even individuals with an aim of helping them in their decision making processes Market Insights Reports provides global and regional market intelligence coverage, a 360-degree market view which includes statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.MRS Research Group is the worlds giant collection of the Market research Reports. Where we specialized in global publisher, tailor made reports and specialists consulting. Global Publisher provides in-depth analysis of global and Chinese market. Tailor-made reports represent methodologies deliverable to proper insight of the client. While, expertise research specialist helps to provide strategic solution in specialists consulting. It consists of head such as, latest report, category, niche market and news. 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Global Marina Port Management Software Market 2017 - C Security Systems AB, Depagne, FenderCare, Image Soft Oy, IRM, mga

Marina Port Management Software Market

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http://bit.ly/2yNotS1

http://www.mrsresearchgroup.com/market-analysis/global-marina-port-management-software-market-2017-production.html

Global Marina Port Management Software Market 2017 Survival Strategies explore Economic Impact in Global Industries Manufactures, Growth, Size, Share, Trends, Development Challenges and Opportunities till 2022A Research study on " Global Marina Port Management Software Market 2017-2022 " represent the market share and size of Marina Port Management Software in international Industry. MRS Research Group added latest market research report by QY Research. Research Report provides an essential information and statistically evaluated data about the Marina Port Management Software. The research report provides a detailed study of the Marina Port Management Software market, enlightening the major areas such as future market scenario, market growth factors, market growth restraints, and others. The advanced technological trends and various new opportunities are also provided in this research report.Read Detail Information of Reseacrh Report @Report Focuses on Some Important Manufacturers in Global Market Includes :C Security Systems AB, Depagne, FenderCare, Image Soft Oy, IRM, mga, Pacsoft International, Plus Marine, SpecTec, STORM Ltd., Tallykey, Transas Marine International, Watch CaptainReport Focuses on the Status and Outlook for Major Applications/End Users Includes:Harbors, For Marinas, For Ships, For Boat Rental CompaniesReport Covers by Some Importatnt Regions/Countries as Following :United States, EU, Japan, China, India, Southeast AsiaThe research report provides the Marina Port Management Software markets classification in detail. The Marina Port Management Software market is bifurcated into a number of segments on the basis of materials,types,applications,and end-users. The geographical analysis of the global Marina Port Management Software market is also coveredin the report. The vital information mentioned in the research report helps in significantly predicting the future scope of the global market.Get Free Sample Copy Of Report @The various segmentation of the global market is based on the overall product profit, costing, global market growth, and manufacturing processes. The report covers a region-wise analysis which provides the customer with different market studies that give a detailed analysis of the product and its impact on the global market. The Marina Port Management Software report also highlights the growth statistics depending on the supply and demand in the different regions.Features of our report:1. The market analysis of the global market share, position, and size from the different regions are done.2. The admired players in the market and their share in the global market are discussed.3. Suggestions and the strategic plans that will help the new market players to maintain the competitive edge are also included.4. Several other major points that are included in the Marina Port Management Software Market report are growth factors, limiting factors, challenges that are faced, new upcoming opportunities, the technological advancements, and much more.5. On the basis of the estimations of the global market, the recommendations and the observations are included in the business segments.6. The current trends that are being followed in the market are included along with examples.7. How the technological advancements and the research and development activities are impacting the market are further explained in detail.Read Complete Report with TOC @The Marina Port Management Software report covers the precisely studied and evaluated data of the global market players and their scope in the market using a number of analytical tools. The analytical tools such as investment return analysis, SWOT analysis and feasibility study are used to analyze the key global market players growth in the Marina Port Management Software industry.About Us: MRS Research Group provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Prof Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free : +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@mrsresearchgroup.com
Construction in South Africa Market 2017By Identifying the Key Market Segments Poised for Strong Growth in Future

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Synopsis"Industrial Construction Market in South Africa: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2021" contains historic and forecast market data for the industrial construction market in South Africa, with a detailed breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) and by cost type( construction materials, construction equipment and construction services). This report also contains overall values of the industrial construction segments such as Industrial construction market covers the development of facilities for raw material processing, storage and manufacturing industries. This market includes four categories: chemical and pharmaceutical plants, manufacturing plants, metal and material processing plants and waste processing plants.. This research report provides up-to-date market size data for the period 2012-2016 and an illustrative forecast to 2021.GET SAMPLE REPORT @SummaryIndustrial construction market covers the development of facilities for raw material processing, storage and manufacturing industries. This market includes four categories: chemical and pharmaceutical plants, manufacturing plants, metal and material processing plants and waste processing plants.The South African industrial construction category continued to decline in the review period with a value of ZARxxx.xx million (US$xxx.xx million) in 2016 and increased at a rate of x.xx% over 2015. The market recorded a CARC of -x.xx% from 2012 through 2016."Industrial Construction Market in South Africa: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2021"' provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of the industrial construction market in South Africa. It is an essential tool for companies active across the South Africa construction value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.Scope An overview of the industrial construction market in South Africa. Historic (2012 through 2016) and forecast (2017 through 2021) construction market output values are provided. A detailed breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) is provided at the market level while the values for the segments are provided by cost types (construction materials, construction equipment & construction services). This report covers all the segments of commercial construction market including Industrial construction market covers the development of facilities for raw material processing, storage and manufacturing industries. This market includes four categories: chemical and pharmaceutical plants, manufacturing plants, metal and material processing plants and waste processing plants..Reasons to Buy Enhances your knowledge of the market with key figures detailing construction type. Provides you with a breakdown of the market by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition). Provides you with a breakdown of the segments by cost type (construction materials, construction equipment &construction services). Details the segments covered under commercial construction market. Allows you to plan future business decisions using the forecast figures given.Table of Content: Key Points1 Introduction1.1 What is this Report About?1.2 Definitions1.3 CAGR Definition and Calculation2 Overall Industrial Construction Value: Market Analysis2.1 Overall Industrial Construction Output Value, 2012 - 20162.2 Overall Industrial Construction Output Value Forecast, 2017 - 20212.3 Overall Industrial Construction Output Value by Cost Type2.3.1 Overall Industrial Construction Output Value by Cost Type, 2012 - 20162.3.2 Overall Industrial Construction Output Value by Cost Type Forecast, 2017 - 20213 Industrial Construction Output: Analysis by Category3.1 New Construction Output Value, 2012 - 20163.2 New Construction Output Value Forecast, 2017 - 20214 Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plants construction: Market Analysis4.1 Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plants construction Output Value, 2012 - 20164.2 Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plants construction Output Value Forecast, 2017 - 20214.3 Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plants construction Output, by Cost Type4.3.1 Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plants construction Output, by Cost Type, 2012 - 20164.3.2 Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plants construction Output Forecast, by Cost Type, 2017 - 20215 Manufacturing Plants construction: Market Analysis5.1 Manufacturing Plants construction Output Value, 2012 - 20165.2 Manufacturing Plants construction Output Value Forecast, 2017 - 20215.3 Manufacturing Plants construction Output, by Cost Type5.3.1 Manufacturing Plants construction Output, by Cost Type, 2012 - 20165.3.2 Manufacturing Plants construction Output Forecast, by Cost Type, 2017 - 20216 Metal and Material Production and Processing plants construction: Market Analysis6.1 Metal and Material Production and Processing plants construction Output Value, 2012  2016ContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Equine Healthcare Market Insights, Opportunity Analysis, and Industry Forecast till 2025

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https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/835

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Equine Healthcare refers to the activities and practices aimed for the maintenance of horses. Equine healthcare offers the veterinary services intended for treating horses to enhance their quality of life, develop quality animal food and increase lifespan. The total equine population is directly proportional to the quality of equine healthcare. Equine healthcare includes a number of activities including diagnosis, therapies and supplements for maintaining internal health of horses. The diagnostic products help detect bacteria, viruses and antibodies, therapeutic products helps to treat disease through vaccination and supplement products helps in maintaining specific requirements.Request for sample copy :High return on investment and rise in genotypic analyzers is expected to lead the market expansionEquine veterinary practice is expected to be a high overhead owing to prevent the rising diseases like influenza virus, herpes virus, west nile virus and encephalomyelitis, where the cost for global vaccination is estimated to be around 30 million dollars by the Euro Surveillance Journal in 2016. Rising investments and popularity in alternative forms of gambling like horse racing, online gaming, betting, competitive riding, high return on investment and leisure is expected to drive the global equine healthcare market. The growth and rising demand for gestation diagnosis products, increasing urine test kits, ultrasound devices and supplement products will boost the global equine healthcare market. Additionally, the growing initiatives by equine healthcare organizations to develop drugs for various diseases is expected to give impetus to the equine healthcare market. The non-invasive test kits are largely preferred by the veterinarians owing to the easy usage and affordability.Rising demand for equine diagnostic products is expected to boost equine healthcare marketThe global equine healthcare market is segmented on the basis of diagnostic products, therapeutic products, supplementary products and geography.On the basis of diagnostic products, the global equine healthcare market is segmented into:Pregnancy and Gestation DiagnosticUrine Test KitsUltrasound DevicesGenotyping AnalysisBreed Quality AnalyzersSemen Quality AnalyzersGenetic Disease Identification ProductsOn the basis of therapeutic products, the global equine healthcare market is segmented into:Dopamine AgonistsVaccinesAnti-BacterialAnti-ProtozoalAnti-ViralLaxativesAnti-InflammatoryOn the basis of supplement products, the global equine healthcare market is segmented into:Performance SupplementsProteins and Amino AcidsElectrolytesVitaminsOthersProtection SupplementProtection ProductsProstheticsRequest for table of content :Asia Pacific market is expected to show positive growth owing to the import of quality of quality breeds and their maintenanceRegional segmentation of the equine healthcare market by Coherent Market Insights comprises of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. According to the study conducted by the American Horse Council in 2004, U.S. has 9.2 million horses with $39 billion direct economic impact. Also, a total 22,849 horses were imported into the U.S. in 2013, thereby increasing the demand of equine healthcare in North America. The Australian market is among the leading horse breeding countries of Asia Pacific, hence contributing to the drastically increasing demand for healthcare products in Asia Pacific. Additionally, the maintenance of race-horse breeds by the rising investments from China by specific supplements, therapeutic and protection products drive the growth of Asia Pacific market.Animal-health innovation driven acquisition broadens global equine healthcare marketKey players operating the equine healthcare market include Affymetrix Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Bayer Health Care and Elanco Animal Health. The agreement of Sanofi with Bayer equine health to launch a variety of products to prevent gastric ulcer syndrome, westnile virus, equine influenza and rabies in horses. The launch of updated equine influenza vaccine ProteqFlu by Merial broadens the portfolio of leading products. Other prominent Vendors include Vetoquinol, Novartis Animal Health, Ceva Holdings and Signostics.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:
SOC services: Helping you get ahead of Cyber crime.

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www.sumasoft.com

Texas (USA), England( London)&; India (Business Network)- 10th May, 2017: SOC services is a centralized unit that deals with security issues on an organizational and technical level. Security Operations Centre services has mission to continuously monitor and improve an organizations security posture. It prevents, detects, analyzes, and responds to cyber security incidents with the aid of both technology and well-defined processes and procedures.McAfee Lab Report says 93% of respondents for being unable to triage all potential cyber threats and 67% for reporting an increase in security incidents which indicates a need of outsourcing SOC services.Distributed Denial of services (DSSoS) attacks increased by 15% in the year 2016. To best prepare for this kind of cyber attack, companies are starting to engage with service providers to detect, monitor, and respond to threats through Security Operations Center.What are the major advantages of SOC services?Prevent Data hacking:Preparing for known attacks is hard enough. A well-functioning SOC Services team can form the heart of effective threat detection. It can enable information security functions to respond faster and work more collaboratively to prevent data hacking.Prevent Threats, Vulnerabilities and Malware:SOC services collect data through analysis, remediation, reporting and forensics to deliver end-to-end security management. SOC services also help demonstrate compliance with industry and regulatory standards.Round-the-clock support:Depending on the organization's tolerance for downtime, a reliable SOC services team must be operational round-the-clock, that likely requires overlapping staff who help ensure that security incidents are effectively addressed regardless of time of day or day of week.Since 2000, Suma Soft has been providing advanced technical skills and subject-matter expertise to mitigate security threats. We offer SOC Services to both b2b and b2c enterprises globally. Oursuperior security monitoring services include superior security policies to check integrated and cross-device security layers across platforms.Our experts monitor the frequently changing threat scenario and analyze cross-platform threats to offer a wide range of IT security operations.Delivered 500+ SOC Services Projects247 Security Operation Center Team CoverageISO27001 & ISO9001 Certified Procedures & ProcessesImprove Downtime by 99.99%read:-Suma Soft has been an industry leader for over 17 years. We provide advanced BPO Solutions in USA-based environment, Software Development Solutions across USA and India, Technical Support Services, IT Security Audit Solutions USA and IT Security Consulting and Implementation Services.7880 San Felipe Street, Ste 120, Houston TX 77063-1647
Hot Drinks Sector in UK Market 2017  By Analyzing the Performance of Various Competitors 2021

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SUMMARYWiseGuyReports published new report, titled Hot Drinks Sector in the UKThe Hot Drinks sector in the UK is driven by rising popularity of coffee and increasing demand for novelty products in the country. Of all the markets, Hot Coffee was the largest in value terms in 2016, while Hot Tea is forecast to register the fastest growth in value terms during 2016-2021. Hypermarkets & Supermarkets is the leading channel for the distribution of Hot Drinks in the country. Paper & Board is the most commonly used package material in the sector. Nestle, Jacobs Douwe Egberts, and Unilever are the leading market players in the UK Hot Drinks sector.Country Profile report on the Hot Drinks sector in the UK provides insights on high growth markets to target, trends in the usage of packaging materials, category level distribution channel data and market share of brands.What else is contained?- Market data: Overall market value and volume data with growth analysis for 2011-2021. The overall market value and volume included in the report is split on the basis of On-trade and Off-trade- Category coverage: Value and growth analysis for Hot Coffee, Hot Tea and Other Hot drinks with inputs on individual category share within each market and the change in their market share forecast for 2016-2021- Leading players: Market share of brands and private labels, including private label growth analysis from 2011-2016- Distribution data: Percentage of sales within each market through distribution channels such as On-trade, Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Food & Drinks Specialists, eRetailers and others- Packaging data: consumption breakdown for package materials and pack types in each market, in terms of percentage share of number of units sold. Package material data for Glass, Flexible Packaging, Paper & Board, Rigid Plastics, Rigid Metal and others; pack type data for: Carton, Bag/Sachet, Tub, Bottle, Jar and Stand Up Pouch.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Scope- The Hot Drinks sector in the UK is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% in value terms during 2016-2021- Per capita consumption of Hot Tea is higher compared to Hot Coffee in the UK- Hypermarkets & Supermarkets account for the leading share in the distribution of Hot Drinks in the UK- Nescafe leads the UK Hot Drinks sector in both value and volume terms- Paper & Board is the most commonly used package material in the UK Hot Drinks sectorKey points to buy- Identify high potential categories and explore further market opportunities based on detailed value and volume analysis- Existing and new players can analyze key distribution channels to identify and evaluate trends and opportunities- Gain an understanding of the total competitive landscape based on detailed brand share analysis to plan effective market positioning- Access the key and most influential consumer trends driving Hot Drinks products consumption, and how they influence consumer behavior in the market which will help determine the best audiences to target- Our team of analysts have placed a significant emphasis on changes expected in the sector that will provide a clear picture of the opportunities that can be tapped over the next five years, resulting in revenue expansion- The packaging analysis report helps manufacturers, in identifying the most commonly used packaging materials in the sector- Analysis on key macro-economic indicators such as GDP per capita, population (overall and breakdown by age), and consumer price index. It also covers a comparative analysis of political, economic, socio-demographic, and technological indicators (PEST) across 50 countries.Table of Contents1. Report Scope2. Executive summary3. The UK in the global and regional context4. Market size analysis - Hot Drinks Sector5. Market and category analysis6. Distribution analysis7. Competitive landscape8. Packaging analysis9. Macroeconomic analysis10. Consumergraphics11. Methodology12. Definitions13. Appendix14. About15. Disclaimer16. Contact UsContinuedWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Global Flare Gas Measuring Equipment Market - Industry Size, Share, Trends, Growth and Forecast 2016 - 2023

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"The Latest Research Flare Gas Measuring Equipment Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Trends, Growth and Forecast 2016 - 2023 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"In crude oil and natural gas production, flare gas systems are utilized all across the globe, to burn and dispose off the excess gas. Accurate and authentic measurement of flare gas is important in order to assure systematic operations of flare gas system, thereby protecting people and environment and creating a safe work culture.Flow meters required for flare gas monitoring provides plant operation managers with an intelligent tool to convey message of abnormal process and early leak detection. They also comply with safety and environmental standards made by government. These systems are installed on onshore and offshore platforms, at storage tank farms, on transport ships and along distribution pipelines.Get Sample copy of this Report @Consequences of improper natural gas handling are well known and are strictly monitored by Environmental Protection Agency along with various other international safety organizations. The flammable and combustible properties of hydrocarbons make their handling a highly regulated process, thereby requiring flow meter design certifications from numerous international agencies.In a process to lower down the global warming, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and various agencies at different levels of government all around the world are imposing strict regulations that may differ for abatement and air pollution monitoring. The transformation of these waste gases to clean electricity and their integration into the power grid is also appreciated by governments of various countries.Many refineries and chemical plants have installed flare gas system that are especially designed for important flow conditions such as very low flow under normal conditions and sudden turbulent flow under very high upset condition. Plant operators and engineers are then further challenged to strictly comply with the emissions trading authorities and environmental agencies for flow meter accuracy across entire measuring range.View Report @Flow measurement systems bring various challenges to process and instrument engineers while selecting a flow meter solution. Apart from low flow rates and turbulent high flow rates at the time of upset conditions, there are numerous other criteria to consider at the time of selecting a flow meter system. Mixed gases require flow meter calibration especially for hydrocarbon gases and matches to the actual process conditions. Large pipe size increases the effective and flow metering technology options.At the time of selecting a flow meter for flare gas applications, plant operators and engineer have to go through consolidated check list. There are multiple flow measurement technologies to choose from and not all are well suited to provide proper reliability, accuracy and rugged operating environment in petroleum industry. For instance, flow meter technologies are better at recording volume than mass flow. Accuracy of flow meters is highly influenced by heat and some sensor technologies to maintain proper accuracy. Numerous moving parts are acceptable in some environments for providing better operational accuracy and allows for smooth functioning of the processes.Increasing population and rapid industrialization are some of the key drivers of the flare gas measuring equipment market. However, high cost required for the extraction of hydrocarbons can hinder the growth of the market. Ample opportunities are there for the flare gas measuring equipments market owing to the stringent government rules and regulations.Send An Enquiry Request @Some of the key companies in the business of flare gas measuring equipment are General Electric Company, Fluid Components International LLC, Thermal Instrument Co., Sage Metering Inc., PhotonControl and Sierra Instruments, Inc. among others.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsCheck Discount This Report From Here @About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Renewable Energy-based Commercial Aviation Market in Scandinavia to grow at a CAGR of 5.61% during the period 2017-2021

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ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Renewable Energy-based Commercial Aviation Market in Scandinavia " to it's Large Report database.Technavio Announces the Publication of its Research Report Renewable Energy-Based Commercial Aviation Market in Scandinavia 2017-2021Technavio recognizes the following companies as the key players in the renewable energy-based commercial aviation market in Scandinavia: Gaia Solar, Equator Aircraft Norway, Serenergy, SkyNRG and SWEDISH BIOFUELS.Commenting on the report, an analyst from Technavios team said: One trend in the market is development of second- and third-generation biofuels. Second-generation biofuels are those that can be synthesized from various kinds of biomass, i.e., any source of organic carbon that can be renewed rapidly as part of the carbon cycle. These biofuels are usually made from lignocellulosic biomass or woody crops, several kinds of agricultural residues, or waste.Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:According to the report, one driver in the market is easy access to feedstock in Scandinavian countries. In order to make sustainable jet fuel production commercially viable, the feedstock should be cost-effective and available in large quantities. Feedstocks for sustainable jet fuel are also potential feedstock for other renewable fuels (biodiesel or ethanol). Therefore, there is no need to establish a separate feedstock processing facility exclusive to jet fuel production. Instead, an already established base for producing sustainable fuels for road and other means of transport can be shared for producing sustainable jet fuels.Further, the report states that one challenge in the market is financial viability in producing advanced biofuel. Financing biofuels to a commercial level of production is a key challenge faced by airlines and the aviation industry. Many airlines are unable, economically, to support or invest in biofuel supply. In turn, biofuels become expensive to harness, which results in fewer investments in the sector.Browse more details @Table of ContentsPART 01: Executive summaryPART 02: Scope of the reportPART 03: Research MethodologyPART 04: IntroductionKey market highlightsPART 05: Market landscapeMarket overviewMarket size and forecastFive forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by typeMarket segmentation by type of renewable energy sourceAviation biofuel market in ScandinaviaAirport solar PV systems market in ScandinaviaPART 07: Segmentation by countryMarket segmentation by countryRenewable energy-based commercial aviation market in NorwayRenewable energy-based commercial aviation market in SwedenRenewable energy-based commercial aviation market in DenmarkPART 08: Decision frameworkPART 09: Drivers and challengesMarket driversImpact of drivers on key customer segmentsMarket challengesImpact of challenges on key customer segmentsPART 10: Market trendsGrowing emphasis on route developmentDevelopment of second- and third-generation biofuelsSupport from the Fly Green Fund initiativeAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the world's fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMoz's service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Contact Us:Mr. Nachiket Ghumare90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074 / Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:Follow me on Blogger at:
Landfill Compactor Market: Analysis and Forecast by Transparency Market Research 2016 - 2024

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Global Landfill Compactor Market: OverviewLandfill compactors are equipment that serve the purpose of spreading and distributing large proportions of waste in landfills by compressing them into smaller manageable volumes. Landfill compactors work by compressing waste twice  first at the primary collection center and then at the landfill site. With more waste being squeezed into the landfill site with the help of a landfill compactor, the lifespan of the landfill site gets enhanced. Landfill compactors crush, knead, and spread the waste materials with the help of their own staggering weight as well as specialized steel wheels.Landfill compactors have enhanced working speeds as compared to track machines, which are used if waste does not have to be raised to a greater distance. The curb weight of landfill compactors differs from model to model with a power ratings capacity of 600 kW. They can be custom-built by using a range of bucket designs and dozer blades to satisfy the specific requirements of various landfills. One drawback of this method is that since the density of garbage is increased during the process of landfill compaction, biodegradation of organic waste is hobbled significantly, leading to anaerobic production of greenhouse gases such as methane.Request For Report Brochure@A report by Transparency Market Research offers key insights into the global landfill compactor market. It furnishes a granular analysis of the market drivers and restraints and also estimates the market size and its growth prospects. The analysts have also thrown light on the major players and their strategies.Global Landfill Compactor Market: Drivers and TrendsAt the forefront of driving growth in the global landfill compactor market is the spike in the amount of waste generated everyday globally on account of the swift pace of urbanization and industrialization. Over a billion tons of solid waste is generated annually. This has resulted in shortage of landfill space which has led to the demand for landfill contractors to tackle the problem. Yet another factor majorly contributing to the market is the rapid rise in construction activities around the world, especially in developing countries. Construction of new buildings require a clean, waste-free area, and landfill compactors help in achieving that.Posing headwinds to the global market for landfill compactors is the steep price of the heavy-duty machines on account of their high manufacturing costs. Since emerging regions are major drivers of demand in the market, substantial research and development efforts are required to lower the cost of landfill compactors so as to improve their uptake. High operational and maintenance cost are also said to be negatively impacting their demand. Durability of the machine is the prime consideration when making a purchase.Global Landfill Compactor Market: Geographical OutlookDepending upon geography, the global landfill compactor market can be segmented into four key regions of Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America and Europe, among them, are major markets. Strong awareness about the efficiency of landfill compactors has been triggering substantial market growth in the two regions. Emerging economies across Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa, however, are slated to be major market gainers in the near future on account of the massive construction activities in the regions.Visit For TOC@Companies Mentioned in ReportTo furnish a thorough assessment of the competition prevailing in the global landfill compactor market, the report studies companies such as Caterpillar, BOMAG GmbH, Marcel Equipment Limited, HJ Industries Avon, Terra Compactor Wheel Corp., Tutt Bryant, Sinomach Heavy Industry, and Humdinger Equipment Ltd.About Us  Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among othersContact Us:Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Detailed Outlook on Life Insurance in Egypt, Key Trends, Growth Opportunities and Forecast to 2021

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ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Life Insurance in Egypt, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021 " to it's Large Report database.SynopsisTimetrics 'Life Insurance in Egypt Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Egyptian life insurance segment, and a comparison of the Egyptian insurance industry with its regional counterparts.It provides key performance indicators such as written premium, incurred loss, loss ratio, commissions and expenses, total assets, total investment income and retentions during the review period (20122016) and forecast period (20162021).The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the Egyptian economy and demographics, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country.The report brings together Timetrics research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and profiles of insurers operating in the country. The report also includes details of insurance regulations, and recent changes in the regulatory structure.Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:SummaryTimetrics 'Life Insurance in Egypt Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Egyptian life insurance segment, including:An overview of the Egyptian life insurance segmentThe Egyptian life insurance segments growth prospects by categoryA comprehensive overview of the Egyptian economy and demographicsA comparison of the Egyptian life insurance segment with its regional counterpartsThe various distribution channels in the Egyptian life insurance segmentDetails of the competitive landscape in the life insurance segment in EgyptDetails of regulatory policy applicable to the Egyptian insurance industryBrowse more details @Table of Contents1 Key Facts and Highlights2 Executive Summary3 Economy and Demographics4 Segment Outlook4.1 Regional Comparison4.2 Segment Indicators4.2.1 Gross written premium and penetration4.2.2 Active policies4.2.3 Claims4.2.4 Sum assured4.2.5 Assets and investments5 Outlook by Sub-Segment5.1 Individual Life Insurance5.1.1 Premium5.1.2 Penetration5.2 Group Life Insurance5.2.1 Premium5.2.2 Active policies5.2.3 Penetration6 Distribution Channel Outlook7 Competitive Landscape7.1 Company Profiles7.1.1 Misr Life Insurance Company company overview7.1.2 Allianz Life Assurance Company company overview7.1.3 MetLife Egypt Insurance Company company overview7.1.4 Commercial International Life Insurance Company company overview7.1.5 Suez Canal Life Insurance Company company overviewAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the world's fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMoz's service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Contact Us:Mr. Nachiket Ghumare90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074 / Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:Follow me on Blogger at:
Comprehensive Report on Dynamic Positioning Systems Market by Transparency Market Research 2015 - 2022

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Dynamic positioning systemsare computer driven system which automatically maintain a vessels heading and positionwith the help of its ownthrusters and propellers. It allows a vessel to automatically maintain its balance. Vessels installed with dynamic positioning systems have ability to operate with reliability, positioning accuracy, and safety. Due to which, such systems have been successfully accepted worldwide across various industries and the international maritime organizations such as General Electric Co. and Marine Technologies LLC. However, the deployment of these systems might be restricted due to the previously installed subsea structures on the seabed. But, for certain deepwater production and exploration scenarios, dynamic positioning operated vessels might be the only viable solution due to the length and depth of mooring lines required. Dynamic positioning system includes position reference sensors, combined with motion sensors, wind sensors, and gyrocompasses which provide information to the computer system about the position, magnitude and direction of environment forces in order to maintain vessels position and balance. The dynamic positioning system is also used in combination with mooring and anchoring to form position mooring systems for energy efficiency.The dynamic positioning system market has been experiencing accelerated growth in recent years due to increase in number of dynamic position vessels like survey vessels, drilling ships, supply vessels, diving support vessels and many more. Moreover, technological improvement and usage of dynamic positioning vessels for offshore drilling by oil industries is also boosting the demand of dynamic positioning systems. But at the same time, lack of competent dynamic position operators and system complexity is restraining the market growth. In addition, installation and operation of a dynamic positioning system are major challenges restraining the DPS market growth.Application of dynamic positioning system in floating production storage and offloading vessel operations creates new opportunities to the dynamic positioning system manufacturer. It is also expected that advancements in the usage of condition-based monitoring systems as a part of vessel maintenance strategies would shape and influence the dynamic positioning system market.Request For Report Brochure@The dynamic positioning systems market has been segmented by sub-system, by reference system, by equipment type, by application and by region. In terms of the equipment type, the dynamic positioning system market is segmented into equipment class 1, class 2 and class 3. The sub-system segmentation covers thruster systems, power systems, sensors and dynamic positioning control systems. On the basis of reference system, the market is segmented into Artemis, taut wire, differential global positioning systemhydro acoustic position reference, and laser based systems. The market is also segmented on the basis of applications, such as merchant vessels, passenger ships, naval vessels, and offshore vessels. Based on the geographic regions, the dynamic positioning systems market is categorized into Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific (APAC), and North America. The increasing deep-sea excavations and the rising maritime trade with the Asia-Pacific and Africa regions is boosting the market growth. Moreover, safety operations across deep ocean waters during offshore oil and gas operations is accelerating the demand for dynamic positioning systems in Asia-Pacific region.Visit For TOC@Some of the key players in dynamic positioning systems market are Rolls-Royce PLC, Marine Technologies LLC, Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, L-3 Communications corp., General Electric Co.,NORR Systems Pvt. Ltd., Navis Engineering Oy, AB Volvo Penta, and Praxis Automation and Technology B.V.About Us  Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among othersContact Us:Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Open API to Witness Decline in Demand By 2025

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An open API (Application Programming Interface) is openly or freely accessible application programming interface that offers developers with programmatic access to proprietary software application. These are the set of requirements that administrate the way an application will interact and communicate with another. Open application programming interface also allows developers to access definite internal functions of a program.A sample of this report is available upon request @Moreover, it aid an individual software to interact with another software. This technology is used both by the developers outside the organization who wish to register access to the interface or developers inside the organization that published the application programming interface. Open APIs are free for everyone to use, backed by open data and are based on an open standard. Some of the well-known open application programming interface are Twilio, eBay and Youtubes API.Urgency of creating business models is one of the important factors bolstering the demand of global application programming interface market. APIs are the components that allows diverse platforms, systems and apps to share and connect data with one another. Application programming interface are important for customizing and defining graphical user interface. Moreover, cloud platform providers too have wide-ranging APIs defined and functions in close collaboration with development partners to tweak the application performance. Customer centric development is another important factor boosting the demand of open application programming interface across the world during the forecast period. Organizations are emphasizing strong focus on the customers demand and are responsible for how the quality of the APIs turns out is important. Moreover, growing numbers of third party mobile applications is also an important factor responsible for the growth of the global application programming interface market during the forecast period. If a companys API is used by the third party developers, it will increase the revenue generation. It helps the API developers to capitalize on their existing assets i.e. hardware and software. It will also help the API providers to reach out to a greater customer base through different partners without experiencing huge distribution cost.Uncertainty and vulnerability of the third party apps in terms of security is one of the major restraining factors in the global application programming interface market. Since the third party developers gets access to the companys API, there is an increasing chance of threat levels and opportunities for the cyber criminals to exploit the weaknesses in banking system and online payment. There are intrinsic weaknesses in the APIs that communicate with back- end systems and transfer data. Moreover, continuous exposure to the internet makes them easy to probe. Additionally, insecure web browsers leave the API and UI exposed to attack.Implementation of innovative and advanced application programming interface in various sectors is likely to be an important opportunities in the global open API market. Advancement in security of the application programming interface is expected to help this technology to be used in various sectors where the use of open API is less.Based on types the open application programming interface encompasses web service API, Hardware API, class based API among others. Moreover, on the basis of levels, the global application programming interface market is bifurcated into partner API, Member API, Acquaintance API and Public API. On the basis of application, the market bifurcation comprises banking, healthcare, telecom, financial institutes, Hotels, E-commerce among others. The geographical split of the global application programming interface market encompasses North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. North America is likely to have the highest market revenue during the forecast period.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Some of the key players in the open API market are Apigee Corp.(U.S.), International Business Machines Corporation (U.S.), Twillo, Inc.(U.S.), Google Inc.(U.S.), Orange SA (France), Wipro Limited (India), Oracle Corporation (U.S.), Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) (Spain), SAP SE (Germany) and Visa Inc. (U.S.) among others.About USTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact Us-U.S. OFFICE:State Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207
Medical Electronics Market Foreseen to Grow exponentially over 2020

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Medical electronics is a branch of electronics that deals with design, implementation and use of electrical devices and equipment for medical purposes such as research, examination, diagnosis, treatment, assistance and care. Medical electronics utilizes field disciplines of both electronics and biomedical.Portable biomedical electronic devices are essential to movemedical products from the hospital atmosphere to home, and to move medical examination from the laboratoryand offer one-touch access to users. These devices offer secure access and enable both patients and doctors to stay in touch with each other remotely.A sample of this report is available upon request @Conventional medical devices have evolved over time, which is obvious with the advent of handheld smart phone-sized ultrasound systems, digital stethoscopes and digital X-ray systems.Small-sized medical devices are available for monitoring blood sugar levels, insulin, blood pressure and blood coagulation levels at home, and can send periodical reports to a doctor in a connected environment. Even consumer devices such as toothbrusheshave become modernized enough to send periodic information to dentists in a similar connected environment.The potential benefits associated with this technology includes improved quality of healthcare, increased output accuracy, remote health data availability,precise billing mechanism, easy to update patient electronic records and increase in level of patient experience. On other hand, there are some negative aspects such as decrease in productivity of medical professionals, lack of standard terminologies, significant learning difficulties and issues related to violation of patient data security.Increase in income levels,higher standard of living, rising health awareness rise in aging population in developed countries and development in health facilities in developing countries are key factors driving the rapid growth of the medical electronics market. High availability of electronic components such as microcontrollers, memory devices, display technologies etc., has contributed majorlyto the development of biomedical devices and equipment.The acceptance of electronic medical devices is difficult for the users as well as the doctors due to its high prices.The global medical electronics market is segmented on the basis of type, components, application and geography. Medical electronic device types vary depending on size, from handheld devices to heavy base devices, wearable gadgets to wireless connected devices, and from RFID-based health tracking device to RADAR technology-based ultrasound machines.On the basis of components, the market is segmented into sensor, battery, display, processors and memory. On the basis of application,the market is segmented into imaging, health monitoring, digital assistance, digital diagnostic, medical therapy, fitness and wellness and healthcare. On the basis of geography, the market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Japan, Western Europe, EasternEurope and the Middle East & Africa.The advancements in medical electronics include dynamic power path management, remote patient tracking, integrated analog front ends and tissue analysis of cancer cells. Some of the innovative products still in the developmental stage, which are to be introduced in the future, includeneedle-free diabetic care, robotic checkups andtouchscreen systems for treatment rooms.The opportunity for handheld wireless monitoring devicesis high.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Siemens AG,Analog Devices, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Canada), GE Healthcare (U.K.), Maxim Integrated (U.S.), Texas Instruments Incorporated (U.S.), Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc.,ON Semiconductor Corporation (U.S.), STMicroelectronics N.V. (Switzerland), Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (U.S.), Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, GE,and Biotronik GMBH & CO.KG. (Germany) are some of top players in the medical electronics market. The key strategies adopted by most of these players to maintain and enhance market sharesinclude mergers& acquisition, joint ventures, product launches and product enhancement. The medical electronics market is expected to grow along with technological innovations and focus more on accuracy, cost effectiveness and technological platform portability with other medical equipment. With the rise in data security threats and legal claims from patients, more technologically safe and data secured devices need to be deployed in the market to meet the medical infrastructural needs of society.About UsFuture Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.Contact UsU.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWeb:
Ventricular Assist Device Market will exhibit a promising 9.20% CAGR over the period between 2016 and 2024

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With a large number of well-established players, such as Berlin Heart, SynCardia Systems, Sunshine Heart, St. Jude Medical, Heart Ware International, and Abiomed, the market for ventricular assist devices (VADs) in North America demonstrates a fiercely competitive landscape, finds a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR).Most of the leading companies rely on innovation and technological advancements for business development. However, in the coming years, their focus is projected to shift towards strategic collaborations in order to curtail the competition within the market.According to TMR, the opportunity in the North America market for VADs, which stood at US$0.4 bn in 2015, is likely to expand at a healthy CAGR of 9.20% between 2016 and 2024 and increase to US$1.07 bn by the end of the forecast period. The destination therapy (DT) segment has been reporting a greater application of VADs than the other two indication segments. It is expected to remain the leader with its share rising to 66.7% in the overall market by 2024, states the report.north america ventricular assist device marketRequest to Download and View Full TOC @U.S. to Retain Leadership on Account of Rising Awareness Regarding VADsA geographical analysis of the North America VAD market has also been offered in this research report. As per the study, the U.S. and Canada are the prime domestic markets for ventricular assist devices in this region. Among the two, the U.S. has emerged as the leading contributor to the overall market, thanks to the rise in the awareness level among consumers regarding the benefits offered by VADs.Request to View Sample Report @Expanding at a CAGR of 9.70%, this domestic market is anticipated to remain leading throughout the forecast period. The significant increase in patient assistance and clinical research is likely to act as the key driving factor behind the growth of this market over the next few years, notes the research study.Increased Application of LVADs to Reflect Positively on VAD SalesBuy Full Ventricular Assist Device Market Report @Cardiovascular disorders have been a cause of concerns among people in North America since the last few years. As per the American Heart Association, nearly 70% of the geriatric population with diabetes die from heart disorders and almost 16% pass away from strokes in North America. Most of the advanced heart failures in humans are caused by left ventricular dysfunction, resulting in the increased application of LVADs, which eventually, is adding substantially to the overall demand for VADs in North America, says the author of this study.Other prominent factors, fueling the demand for VADs in North America are the limited number of heart donors and the growing awareness among consumers regarding the benefits of VADs, states the market report.Browse Full Report @High Cost Incurred in Treatment to Limit Demand for VADsWhile the North America market for ventricular assist devices looks thriving currently, the overall cost incurred in the treatment may create obstructions in the growth trajectory of this market over the forthcoming years. The increasing incidence of device malfunctioning and product recalls is also projected to restrict the progression of this market in the near future, notes the research study.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Transparency Market ResearchState Tower90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453
Olive Oil in Food and Beverages (Virgin Olive Oil, Refined Olive Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil) Market: Opportunity Assessment Research Study 2016 - 2024

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In the years to come, the success of the global olive oil market in the global food and beverages industry is expected to depend on the realization of the many health benefits of using olive oil. Besides being used in food and beverages, the use of olive oil is also increasing for manufacturing soaps, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. This is expected to propel the global olive oil market.Based on region, the global olive oil in food and beverages market is divided into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World. Currently, the demand for olive oil in the European food and beverages industries is the highest. Europe houses massive production facilities and infrastructure, which is benefiting its food and beverages companies. The rising use of olive oil in food and beverages will help Europe to maintain its dominance in the years to come. Massive production facilities in nations such as Greece, Spain, Turkey, and Italy will continue to make Europe as the leading producer of olive oil. At present, Spain and Italy collectively hold 55% of the global olive oil market.Request For Report Brochure@The report on the global olive oil in food and beverages market studies the factors driving and restricting the market. Current market trends and the future prospects of key players are listed in the report. With industry-standard tools such as Porters five force analysis and SWOT analysis, strengths, opportunities, threats, and weaknesses of key companies are measured. Analysts brief readers about technological improvements and innovations that have impacted the global market. For a better understanding of this global market, the report analysts have divided it into segments and sub-segments. Key companies and startups operating in this global market are listed in the report.Overview of the Olive Oil in Food and Beverages MarketThe global olive oil in food and beverages market is in its growth phase and is expected to grow at a robust pace. Olive oil has become an integral part of the rising Mediterranean food. Owing to its health benefits and its culinary importance, the demand for olive oil is predicted to increase in many regions across the globe. Olive oil has the ability to fight various health issues such as cancer, depression, cardiovascular diseases, and osteoporosis. This has led to the increasing use of olive oil in various food and beverages.At present, the North America olive oil in food and beverages market is driven by the increasing demand for olive oil in the United States. Currently, the United States is ranked as the third biggest consumer of olive oil across the globe. With production facilities in California, Arizona, and Texas, the U.S. is expected to maintain its dominance in the North America olive oil in food and beverages market.Going forward, Asia Pacific is predicted to register a considerable growth in the global market owing to the rising awareness of the health benefits of consuming olive oil. The demand for olive oil in food and beverages is predicted to increase in India, China, Japan, and Australia.Visit For TOC@Companies Mentioned in the Olive Oil in Food and Beverages Market ReportThe global olive oil in food and beverages market is currently offering opportunities for the key companies. Some of the leading players operating in the global olive oil in food and beverages market are Colavita, Salov, Deoleo, Borges, Sovena Group, Ybarra, and Pompeian.About Us  Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among othersContact Us:Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Nano Films Market 2016  2023: Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast

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"The Latest Research Report Nano Films Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2023 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Nano film is a fabrication of quantum dot layers with a built-in gradient of nanoparticle size, composition or density. The unique characteristics of nano films are finding its applications in energy storage devices and design of solar cells. Nano films are generally used for surface modification process in the technological world. Surface modification improves the performance of new and existing products. Techniques used for surface modification process include surface treatments, where the composition of mechanical properties is changed or the deposition of thin films or coatings is altered and a different material is deposited to create a new surface.Get Sample copy of this Report @Nano films have extensive applications in microelectronics industry, storage industry, solar energy and optics industry. The commercial method of manufacturing nano films is a challenge. Traditional methods of building nanostructured materials cant form nanostructures while more effective methods like langmuir-blodget microchemical method or atomic layer deposition are expensive. The cost-efficient alternative for manufacturing nano films is flying particles method. Nano films are used for photovoltaic applications to enhance transport of electrons and improve internal quantum efficiency and photocurrent. Magnetic nano films have unique properties and are used in medical industry for biomedical applications. Magnetic nano films are used as a solution for closing surgical wounds and as nanoplasters for localized drug release.The growth in end-use industries is expected to increase consumption of nano films. The growth of microelectronics, storage and solar industry is expected to boost demand for nano films for surface modification applications. In addition, rising consumption of electronics in emerging economies of Latin America and Asia Pacific is set to drive nano films market. Furthermore, nanotechnology?based thin films for biomedical applications are expected to provide new opportunities for market growth. However, availability of substitutes and volatile raw material prices could hamper the growth of this market.The Asia Pacific market is projected to be the fastest growing market for nano films due to increasing demand for electronics and solar energy. The BRIC (Brasil, Russia, India, China) countries are a major market for microelectronics industry. Most of the major international microelectronic manufacturers are focusing on expanding their base in BRIC. Rise in disposable income, large population and rapid economic development is expected to contribute to the growth of microelectronics in emerging economies such as China and India. The growth of microelectronic industry is expected to drive the growth of the nano films market. Mexico, Argentina, Thailand and Turkey are other potential markets for nano film industry. Europe and North America are mature markets and expected to experience moderate to high growth.View Report @The nano film industry is highly fragmented and dominated by small and medium enterprises. Companies are investing in research and development to develop different grades of nano films to compete in the market. In addition, companies are using strategic acquisitions and aggressive marketing to capture market share. Furthermore, companies are expanding their presence in emerging economies due to growing demand from end-use industries. Some of the key players operating in this market are Nanofilm( U.S.) , Nanofilm Technologies (U.S.) Nano Foam Technology Private Limited (India), Nano Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd (India), Nano Lab India (India), Cosmo Films Limited (India), Smart Source Technologies (India), NanoGram Corporation (U.S.), MAT-VAC Technology (U.S), LOT-Oriel (United Kingdom), Maxtek Technology (Taiwan) , MicroChem (U.S.) , MetaTechnica (U.S.) and Advanced Thin Film (U.S.) among others.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsSend An Enquiry Request @This report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsCheck Discount This Report From Here @About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Certificates Market Analysis, Forecast, and Assessment 2016 - 2023

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Certification services ensure that a product has been manufactured following the specified global standards; hence it is safe and secure. The standards are developed, designed and published by the different government organizations and non-government standardization institutions globally. The growing demand for safety and quality services are one of the major driving factors for certificates market globally. Furthermore, companies involved in certificates industry offers services such as shipments valuation performance of products, industrial inspection, outsourcing of laboratories, ensuring imports comply with international and domestic standards and supplier evaluation among others. The certificates market has been segmented by application into consumer products, petroleum, environmental compliance, agriculture, and mining among others. Furthermore, environmental compliance is segmented into soil, air, water and occupational hygiene. Petroleum segment is segmented into biofuels, refined petroleum products, petroleum cargo, feedstock and others. In addition, Consumer products is segmented into appliances, accessories, apparel , textiles, food & beverage, footwear, juvenile products, personal care, toys among others. Agriculture is further divided into seed and crop, food safety and quality, commodities and others. Mining is further segmented into mineral processing, geo-analytics, mine site laboratory, mineralogy among others.Certificates ensure proper assurance to the end-users and customers that the global regulations standards have been strictly followed by the manufacturing companies in order to meet the product quality. The growth of certificates market has increased globally, owing to the increasing consumer awareness about the product quality in every sector. Furthermore, the robust growth of the certificates industry is also influenced by growing globalization of international standards and laws along with introduction of new standards due to the improved safety standards and legislation and development of technology. Growing number of trade practices exports globally is fueling the certificates market. Products without authentic certification are not considered for sale in certain countries. Companies primarily focus on proper certification through quality check and audit for business expansion. Furthermore, audit along with follow-up processes through different certification bodies assures that the company has standard safety management systems. The lack of domestic government directives and internationally accepted standards are some of the restraining factors may hinder the growth of this market.Request For Report Brochure@North America and Europe dominated the market for certificates market in 2014 in terms of revenue followed by Asia Pacific. U.S. dominates the market for certificates market in North America. UK and Germany dominates the market for certificates in Europe. Economies such as China, Japan, India, Australia and Malaysia across Asia Pacific are potential market for certificates market. Changing consumer perception about safety and quality is creating positive impact on the market for certificates market in Rest of the World.Some of the key players operating in the certificates market are ALS Global in Australia, Bureau Veritas SA in France, The British Standards Institution in U.K., Dekra Certification GmbH in Germany, SAI Global in Australia, Intertek Group PLC in U.K., TUV SUD Group in Germany, UL LLC in U.S., AsureQuality Limited in New Zealand and SGS Group in Switzerland among others.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Visit For TOC@Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsAbout Us  Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among othersContact Us:Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Folding Cartons Market: Competitive Intelligence and Tracking Report 2016 - 2024

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Folding cartons are used for packing materials of different sizes and shapes, and can be said to be the pioneers in the packaging industry. Folding cartons are available in the form of paperboard with creasing, and are folded, cut, printed, and laminated to achieve a particular structure as per the packing requirements of the material. These cartons can be made from recycled paper stock, virgin wood pulp, or other fibres. These folding cartons find application in the field of food and beverages, cosmetics, confectionaries, pharmacy, and others. The healthcare industry is the largest user of folding cartons, followed by the tobacco industry. Carton manufacturing companies are coming up with new designs, processes, and innovative techniques to enable the brand owners to distinguish their products from competitors through attractive packaging. Similarly, there has been an advent of innovative printers and converters in the market, which adopt new printing technologies that are capable of offering more impactful finishing techniques such as spot varnishing, embossing and hot foiling.The constant significant growth witnessed in the healthcare, tobacco, and food processing industries is the major driving force for the anticipated growth of the global folding cartons market in the near future. Introduction of migration barriers to avoid contamination of carton board materials as a result of the food packed inside it, has made folding cartons a safer packaging option in the food industry. With technological advancements, carton packaging of products can now be modified and made more attractive and handy for the customers, thereby giving a competitive edge to the brand owners, thereby driving its market growth. However, folding cartons producing unit is an expensive project to start up. Hence, many entrepreneurs are not easily willing to invest in this industry. Also, these units need to achieve high volume production in order to recover their investment as well as to achieve a wafer-thin profit margin. These economic limitations related to folding cartons manufacturing could hinder growth of the global folding cartons market over the forecast period.Request For Report Brochure@The growth opportunity for players in the global folding cartons market lies in achieving cost savings on packaging materials by packing the products in folding cartons. The trend of industries to move towards single serve packs and introduce smaller packs of their products are increasingly driving them towards using folding cartons. However, the availability of substitutes for folding cartons packaging, such as plastics packaging materials, that offer a more flexible packing option than the folding cartons is a major factor that could hamper growth of the folding cartons market over the forecast period. The global folding cartons market is expanding at a modest growth rate currently, and is anticipated to expand at a single digit CAGR over the forecast period.The global folding cartons market is segmented based on product type, structure, and application. By product type, the global folding cartons is segmented into paperboard folding cartons, green folding cartons, and plastic folding cartons. By structure, the global folding cartons is segmented into rectangular sleeve, french reverse tuck, standard reverse tuck, airplane style straight, standard straight tuck, mailer lock, bellows tuck, and tuck & tongue. By application, the global folding cartons is segmented into tobacco, dairy products, hardware and electrical, personal care, confectionary, frozen food, dry food, and others.By geography, the global folding cartons market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. Asia Pacific is currently the leader in the global folding cartons market, owing to the flourishing industries in this region, such as food and beverages, tobacco, and pharmacy. North America is the second largest contributor to growth of the global folding cartons market currently, due to the thriving healthcare industry in the region. The upcoming personal care and confectionary industries in Europe and Latin America mark their significant presence in the global folding cartons market. The Middle East and Africa market is still at a nascent stage; however, it is anticipated to account for a considerable share of the global folding cartons market over the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Some of the key players in the global folding cartons market are Amcor Limited, Graphic Packaging International, Inc, WestRock Company, All Packaging Company, Artistic Carton Company, Bell Packaging, Caraustar, Cherokee Packaging Inc, Craftsman Packaging, Inc, F.P.Woll & Co, Menasha Packaging Company, LLC, and Midlands Packaging Corporation.About Us  Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among othersContact Us:Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Government Support will boost Easy Peel Film Packaging Market size During Forecast Period (2017  2027)

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Easy Peel Film Packaging Market: IntroductionThe revenue form the packaging industry sales globally is expected to continue to show strong growth as both increased consumption and demand for consumer goods and food has driven the needs for more sophisticated packaging, such as easy peel film packaging, supported by growing middle class and rising disposable income. Packaging film and even packaging product manufacturers are offering products with additional focus given to the convenience aspect for consumers, ultimately creating profitable market opportunities for companies providing easy peel film packaging. Easy peel film packaging has been one of the most innovative product offering from packaging companies, vastly benefitting the food and beverage industry in a very short span of time. Moreover, easy peel film packaging allows the customer to handle the product safely and with ease and also ensure consumers that the packaging can be separated from the product without leaving any residue and that it can be fully emptied, minimizing the wastage of the content. Easy peel film packaging is also moisture resistant, enhances product quality and also benefits both consumers with convenience and aids manufacturers in relation to its sustainable, and easy disposal nature. In addition, easy peel film packaging is also an economical solution for manufacturers, as it reduces the shipping and logistics cost during transportation, ultimately maximizing the profitability margin of suppliers.Easy Peel Film Packaging: Market DynamicsGrowth in demand for easy peel film packaging is anticipated to remain steady for various reasons. Firstly, the food & beverage industry is constantly striving to offer its products that not only make the packaging attractive but also offers convenience. Secondly, rising investment in product innovation, among packaging film and machinery manufacturers, expansion of production capacity to meet the demand is expected to drive the demand of easy peel film packaging throughout the forecast period. The trend of replacing conventional rigid plastic film with easy peel film packaging has been rather safe and economical option for packaging manufacturers, as they consume relatively less space during inventory and transportation. Moreover, offering customized easy peel films with dimensions and printing options as per the customer requirement is the new trend observed in the global easy peel film packaging market. Easy peel film packaging can be used for various types of plastic containers and cups and leaves no residue behind. The packaging form is non-sticky and perform well with all sorts of temperature. Despite growth opportunities, the manufacturing cost of such packaging is relatively high, resulting into low profitability margins for packaging film suppliers.Request Report Sample@Easy Peel Film Packaging: Market SegmentationThe global easy peel film packaging market is segmented on the basis of application, material, packaging and region. On the basis of application, the global easy peel film packaging market is segmented into food & beverage, medical application segment, industrial application segment and other consumer products segment. The food and beverage segment is further sub-segmented into seafood products, frozen food, dairy products, bakery & confectionary, microwaveable food products, and beverages. The medical application segment is further sub-segmented as syringes, catheter packaging film and infusion bags. Further the industrial application segment is sub-segmented into toner containers, ink cartridges and other industrial products. The consumer products is further segmented into air fresheners, deodorizers, washing detergents, wet wipes and other consumer products. Demand of easy peel film packaging from food application segment is anticipated to offer lucrative opportunities to the global easy peel film packaging market in terms of growth prospects. Moreover, on the basis of material type, the global easy peel film packaging market is segmented into linear low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and others. On the basis of packaging type, the global easy peel film packaging is segmented into cups, trays, pouches and other containers.Visit For TOC@Easy Peel Film Market: Regional outlookEasy peel film packaging market has been segmented on the basis of region into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Latin America. Among these region, North America and Europe are expected to collectively dominate the market throughout the forecast period. However, many packaging film suppliers and converter companies are investing in Asia Pacific to tap the growing unmet demand and potential, easy peel film packaging offers to packaging film manufacturers in the region. Furthermore, Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness maximum CAGR over the forecast period primarily driven by China, Japan and India. Latin America and Middle East & Africa are expected to witness sluggish growth and over the forecast period. In Latin America, Brazil and Mexico are expected to create maximum incremental opportunities in terms of revenue for companies involved in easy peel film packaging.Easy Peel Film Packaging Market: Key playersSome of the key players in the global easy peel film packaging market are J-Film Corporation, Evonik Industries, Mitsui Chemicals, Bemis Company Inc., Shrinath Rotopack Pvt Ltd, Tilak Polypack Pvt Ltd. A majority of easy peel packaging companies are largely headquartered in Europe and North America. However, China and India based packaging film manufacturers are looking to grab most of the opportunity offered in terms of revenue from the global easy peel film packaging market.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Iron Oxide Market Demand to Reach US$ 2.8 Billion by 2025

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Future Market Insights (FMI) delivers key insights on the global iron oxide market in its latest report titled, Iron Oxide Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2015-2025. In terms of value, the global iron oxide market is projected to increase at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period, owing to various factors, regarding which FMI offers vital insights in detail in this report.Click to View Complete Report @Iron oxides are chemical compounds that, apart from iron ores, find wide application as pigments, catalysts, etc. Construction and paints & coatings are the major end-use industries for iron oxides.Growth in construction industry, supported by rising urbanization, is expected to be among the major drivers for global iron oxide market. Major application of iron oxides in the construction industry is to colour concrete blocks and pavement bricks. Iron oxide pigments are being widely used in paints and coatings industry for their use as primers for automobiles and steel structures.View and Download TOC of Iron Oxide Market Research Report @Stringent government regulations are expected to adversely impact global iron oxide market significantly. This is especially the case in China, where, over the last two years, various small- and medium-scale companies have exited the iron oxide market due to high costs involved in ensuring regulatory compliance. The same trend is expected to continue over the near future.The iron oxide market is segmented on the basis of product type, application and region. On the basis of product type, the global iron oxide market is segmented into red iron oxide, yellow iron oxide, black iron oxide, orange iron oxide, brown iron oxide, green iron oxide and other blends. On the basis of application, the global iron oxide market is segmented into construction, paints & coatings, plastics, chemicals, paper & pulp manufacturing, textile, ceramics, leather and others (fertilizers, cosmetics and rubber). Regionally, the global iron oxide market is segmented into Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa and Japan.Request and Download Sample Report @Among product types, red iron oxide was the largest revenue contributor to the global iron oxide market in 2014. Wide application of red iron oxide across various industries is expected to support growth of the segment over the forecast period.In 2014, the construction industry segment dominated the global market, accounting for around 50% revenue share. Growth of the construction industry is in turn expected to drive growth of the iron oxide market over forecast period. In order to enhance their market share, iron oxide producers are focusing on development of new applications for iron oxides.In 2014, Asia pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) was the largest market for iron oxide, both in terms of production and consumption. In terms of consumption, APEJ was followed by Western Europe and North America, respectively.Key players profiled in this study of the global iron oxide market include LANXESS AG, Huntsman International Inc. Cathay Industries, Alabama Pigments Company LLC, Shenghua Group Deqing Huayuan Pigment Co LTD, TODA KOGYO CORPORATION, Jiangsu Yuxing Industry and Trade Co., Ltd., Hunan Three-ring Pigments Co., Ltd., Yaroslavsky Pigment Company and Tata Pigments Company. LANXESS AG has been estimated to account for the largest share in the global iron oxide market in 2015.Buy Full Iron Oxide Market Report @ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
TOC Analyzer market, sales, revenue and growth rate Global market report forecast 2017 to 2022

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TOC Analyzer MarketSummary:The Global TOC Analyzer Market Report 2017 is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the TOC Analyzer industry.This report studies TOC Analyzer in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2016, and forecast to 2022.The global TOC Analyzer market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2017, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Japan plays an important role in global market, with market size of xx million USD in 2016 and will be xx million USD in 2017, with a CAGR of xx%.This report, with focus on top players in the global and Japan, studies the TOC Analyzer market's development status and future trend in the global and Japan. It splits TOC Analyzer market by type and by applications to fully and deeply research and reveal market profile and prospect.Request a sample copy of TOC Analyzer market report@The major players include:General Electric Company (US), Shimadzu Corporation (Japan), Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (Canada), Hach Company (US), LAR Process Analysers AG. (Germany), Teledyne Tekemar Company Inc. (US), Xylem, Inc. (US), Endress+Hauser Management AG (Germany), ELTRA GmbH (Germany), Metrohm AG (Switzerland), Elementar Analysensysteme GmbH (Germany), Skalar Analytical B.V. (Netherlands), GE Power (US)Geographically, this report splits the Global market into the following regions:Asia Pacific, Japan, Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Others, China, Korea, India, Others, Europe, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, Others, North America, United States, Canada, Latin America, Brazil, Mexico, Others, Southeast Asia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Others, Middle East & Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, South Africa, OthersOn the basis of product, the TOC Analyzer market is primarily split into by Offering:Hardware, Software, Services, by TOC Analyzer Type, Online, Laboratory, by Technology, Ultraviolet (UV) Oxidation, UV Persulfate Oxidation, High-Temperature Combustion, OthersKey Applications:High Purity Water, Water for Injection, Source Water, Industrial Process Water, Wastewater Treatment, Surface WaterMake an Enquiry of TOC Analyzer market report@Table of Contents2017-2022 Global and Japan TOC Analyzer Market Analysis Report1 TOC Analyzer Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of TOC Analyzer1.2 Global and Japan TOC Analyzer Market by Applications/End Users1.2.1 Japan TOC Analyzer Sales (K Units) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.1.1 Japan TOC Analyzer Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.1.2 Japan TOC Analyzer Sales Growth Rate (%) by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.1.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities1.2.2 Japan TOC Analyzer Sales (K Units) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.3 Global TOC Analyzer Sales by Application (2012-2017)1.2.3.1 Global TOC Analyzer Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.3.2 Global TOC Analyzer Sales Growth Rate (%) by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.3.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities1.2.4 Global TOC Analyzer Sales (K Units) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2017)1.2.5 High Purity Water1.2.6 Water for Injection1.2.7 Source Water1.2.8 Industrial Process Water1.2.9 Wastewater Treatment1.2.10 Surface Water1.3 Global and Japan Market Size (Sales and Revenue) of TOC Analyzer (2012-2017)9 Global and Japan TOC Analyzer Market Size (Sales and Revenue) Forecast (2017-2022)9.1 Global and Japan TOC Analyzer Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD) Forecast (2017-2022)9.2 Global and Japan TOC Analyzer Sales (K Units) Forecast by Type (2017-2022)9.2.1 by Offering9.2.2 by TOC Analyzer Type9.2.3 by Technology9.3 Global and Japan TOC Analyzer Sales (K Units) Forecast by Application (2017-2022)9.4 Global and Japan TOC Analyzer Sales (K Units) Forecast by Regions (2017-2022)10 Research Findings and Conclusion11 Methodology and Data Source11.1 Methodology/Research Approach11.1.1 Research Programs/Design11.1.2 Market Size EstimationContinued...Complete Report of TOC Analyzer Market with TOC@In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Contact usJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:About usReports Monitor is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights.Address: Office C & D - 4th Floor, Siddhi Towers, Above Rupee Bank, Kondhwa Road, Pune 411048, Maharashtra, India
Intellectual Property and Regulatory Law: Recent Developments | Parallel Trade 2018

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Generic drug manufacturers can pose major financial threats to the companies that invent and develop the copied drugs both domestically and internationally. Even after a pharmaceutical company is granted patent protection on its products, there are other concerns about generics that Big Pharma face from abroad.SMis 12th annual Parallel Trade conference, will return to Central London, 6th  7th February 2018 to explore the relationship between parallel trader and the pharmaceutical industry. Already confirmed attendees include MHRA, Merck, Ferring Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Medac GmbH, Orifarm Generics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis and many more.Intellectual property, consists largely of ideas and knowledge, it is a vital element of parallel trade. Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLPs, Patent Litigation & Strategy Partner, Christopher Stothers will take the stage at next year's 12th annual Parallel Trade conference, in Central London, to address the evolving IPR strategy requiring a better focus and approach in the coming era, within the pharmaceutical industry.Christophers presentation will examine the following topics: IP developments in the EU and USA Regulatory issues Brexit focus: news and expectationsChristopher is a recognised expert in parallel trade, with a focus on the pharmaceutical sector - his 2007 textbook, Parallel Trade in Europe: Intellectual Property, Competition and Regulatory Law, has been cited by the UK Supreme Court. Christopher is also an experienced litigator on cross-border patent disputes, other types of intellectual property, antitrust, pharmaceutical regulation, EU law and commercial disputes. He has taken cases before the First Tier Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal, the Patents County Court, the High Court, the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords, the Supreme Court, the European Patent Office, and the European Court of Justice.For more information about the must-attend meeting please visit:For those interested in registering, there is currently a 400 early bird discount available for all registrations made before 31st October 2017.For media enquiries please contact Kyra Williams on +44 20 7827 6012 or email kwilliams@smi-online.co.ukFor delegate enquiries contact Fateja Begum +44 (0) 207 827 6184 or email fbegum@smi-online.co.ukFor sponsorship opportunities contact Alia Malick on +44 (0) 20 7827 6168 or email: amalick@smi-online.co.uk12th Annual Parallel Trade6th  7th February 2018Holiday Inn Kensington, London, UK#smiparalleltradeAbout SMi Group: Established since 1993, the SMi Group is a global event-production company that specializes in Business-to-Business Conferences, Workshops, Masterclasses and online Communities. We create and deliver events in the Defence, Security, Energy, Utilities, Finance and Pharmaceutical industries. We pride ourselves on having access to the worlds most forward thinking opinion leaders and visionaries, allowing us to bring our communities together to Learn, Engage, Share and Network. More information can be found at1 Westminister Bridge Road
Enterprise WLAN Market Rugged Expansion Foreseen by 2025

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Global Enterprise WLAN Market: OverviewWith a continuously rising adoption of mobility and the growing demand among people across the world to be connected to the internet regardless of their location, wireless networks are gaining popularity. A wireless LAN (WLAN) controller combines multiple access point protocols to manage them in large through network operations centers or network administrators. The controller has the ability to automatically handle the configuration of wireless access points. Enterprise WLAN helps maintain organizations seamless workflow and security. The different types of verticals where these networks are used, include telecom and IT, healthcare, banking, education, retail, hospitality, and logistics.Global Enterprise WLAN Market: Key TrendsThe emergence of cloud and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies is providing a fillip to the global enterprise WLAN market. IoT and cloud solutions provide an edge to enterprise wireless networks by improving their efficiency and reliability. Moreover, the growing trend of bring your own device (BYOD) is stoking the growth of the market. The proliferation of smartphones and devices is also augmenting the market.Request Sample Copy of the Report@On the flip side, the lack of awareness and dearth of workforce with high technical acumen are keeping the market from realizing its utmost potential. However, technological advancements are estimated to increase WLAN applications across numerous industry sectors, which will work in favor of the market.Global Enterprise WLAN Market: Market PotentialRecent trends in the global enterprise WLAN market indicate that the market participants are focusing on mergers and acquisitions to improve their offerings. The introduction of advanced technologies is rendering the market highly lucrative. In September 2016, Extreme Networks announced the acquisition of Zebra Technologies Wireless LAN (WLAN) business unit. The deal was worth US$55 mn. With this acquisition, the company announced that the combination will work towards delivering superior Enterprise Asset Intelligence solutions, that will provide customers with real-time visibility into their operations. Similarly, Hewlett-Packard acquired Aruba Networks in May 2015 for US$3 bn in an attempt to enhance its role in the WLAN market.Several players are also involved in expanding their outreach in emerging regions. They are pouring funds into research and development to introduce innovative and disruptive solutions for end to end networking requirements of enterprises. For instance, AXILSPOT, in December 2016, flagged off its operations in Indias enterprise wireless marketplace by launching Rscan range of products.Request TOC of the Report @Global Enterprise WLAN Market: Geographical SegmentationOn the basis of geography, the segments reviewed in the report are Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. North America will be a prominent market for enterprise WLAN. The high consumer awareness regarding the merits of these networks and early introduction of advanced technologies due to the presence of many key players are driving the growth of the region.Asia Pacific, on the other hand, will offer numerous promising prospects to global vendors. The widening pool of working population and emerging technology hubs is largely benefiting the market in the region. The escalating development and adoption of cloud-based services and growing investments in the IT and telecommunication sector are fuelling the growth of the region.Get Discount @Global Enterprise WLAN Market: Competitive LandscapeThe majority of players in the global WLAN enterprise market are focusing towards technological advancements and product innovation to enhance their visibility in the market. Key players are looking upon mergers and partnerships as viable growth strategies to stay ahead in the market. Some of the prominent vendors in the market are Cisco Systems, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprises, Extreme Network, Dell Inc., ZTE Corporation, Ruckus, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, Huawei, and Juniper Networks.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Food Processing Equipment Market : Size, Trends and Forecast Report 2025

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Global Food Processing Equipment Market: OverviewFood processing equipment come in several categories such as ovens, slicers, chillers, feeders, mixers, dryers, grinders, roasters, homogenizers, and separators. These equipment are of immense use in the confectionary, dairy, beverage, nuts, vegetable, fruits, chocolate manufacturing units, industrial bakery, and seafood industries, thus driving their market. Key manufacturers of food processing equipment are focusing on new product developments and enhancements of existing features, which is boosting the growth of this market. Manufacturers are devising new business strategies for establishing their products by making use of latest technology, thereby attracting potential customers.Global Food Processing Equipment Market: Key TrendsBusy and changing lifestyle has resulted in the need for food processing equipment that are quick and efficient. The availability of raw materials and the need for wider range of food processing equipment is also boosting the growth of the market. Among the various types of food processing equipment, the equipment most in demand is the bakery and pasta equipment. The increasing disposable income of the people across the globe is fuelling the demand for food processing equipment. Frequent change in the preference for food, especially by the large population living in Asia Pacific is resulting in higher investments in these equipment and is also driving the market.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Global Food Processing Equipment Market: Market PotentialWith new technology coming in the market consistently, consumers are replacing their old and existing equipment with the latest ones, and this is creating new growth opportunities in the market. Change in food trends also leads to newer investments in food processing equipment, thus driving the market.Companies such as Buhler are making use of sensors, radio networks, and internet of things (IoT) in their new generation roller mill Antares PlusTM, which is a product for the grain milling industry. The sensors continuously monitor the temperature on rolls and bearings as well as for the particle size distribution of ground products. The roller mill is always adjusted to optimum grinding degree, thereby benefitting customers from consistent quality and increased yield. Such developments are expected to drive the market and ensure the progress of the food processing equipment industry.Request TOC of the Report @Global Food Processing Equipment Market: Regional OutlookOn the basis of geography, the global food processing equipment market is segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. Of these, Asia Pacific is expected to witness a fast paced growth in the coming years. The large population base consuming poultry, meat, and seafood in Asia Pacific is driving the market in this region. Europe is another lucrative market for food processing equipment.Global Food Processing Equipment Market: Competitive LandscapeThe global food processing machinery market is fragmented with a large number of small and big players. The competition in the market is also intense owing to the presence of so many players. Most players are intending to expand their operations in the emerging markets of Asia Pacific and Africa, as European and North American markets have matured. The shift to these emerging economies is likely to cut down on costs of operation. On the basis of performance of equipment, technical innovation, and after sales service, these players are competing with each other. Some pf the leading manufacturers of food processing equipment are: JBT, Buhler, Anko Food Machine, Marlen International, Alfa Laval, Marel, GEA, Farm and Ranch Depot, John Bean Technologies, A&B Process Systems, IDMC, Tetra Laval, Feldmeier Equipment, Scherjon C. van't Riet, SPX, Paul Mueller, and Krones,Get Discount @About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of tContact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Cryptococcosis - Pipeline Review, H2 2017

Cryptococcosis - Pipeline Review, H2 2017

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ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Cryptococcosis - Pipeline Review, H2 2017 to its growing collection of premium market research reports.SummaryGlobal Markets Direct's latest Pharmaceutical and Healthcare disease pipeline guide Cryptococcosis - Pipeline Review, H2 2017, provides an overview of the Cryptococcosis (Infectious Disease) pipeline landscape.Cryptococcosis is infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans fungus. Symptoms include cough, fatigue, fever, head ache, nausea and skin rashes. Predisposing factors are most often seen in people with a weakened immune system, such as those with HIV infection, taking high doses of corticosteroid medications, cancer chemotherapy, or who have Hodgkin's disease. Treatment includes anti fungal drugs.To Enquire about this Report please visit @Report HighlightsGlobal Markets Direct's Pharmaceutical and Healthcare latest pipeline guide Cryptococcosis - Pipeline Review, H2 2017, provides comprehensive information on the therapeutics under development for Cryptococcosis (Infectious Disease), complete with analysis by stage of development, drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type. The guide covers the descriptive pharmacological action of the therapeutics, its complete research and development history and latest news and press releases.The Cryptococcosis (Infectious Disease) pipeline guide also reviews of key players involved in therapeutic development for Cryptococcosis and features dormant and discontinued projects. The guide covers therapeutics under Development by Companies /Universities /Institutes, the molecules developed by Companies in Preclinical stages are 3 respectively. Similarly, the Universities portfolio in Preclinical and Discovery stages comprises 2 and 1 molecules, respectively.Cryptococcosis (Infectious Disease) pipeline guide helps in identifying and tracking emerging players in the market and their portfolios, enhances decision making capabilities and helps to create effective counter strategies to gain competitive advantage. The guide is built using data and information sourced from Global Markets Directs proprietary databases, company/university websites, clinical trial registries, conferences, SEC filings, investor presentations and featured press releases from company/university sites and industry-specific third party sources. Additionally, various dynamic tracking processes ensure that the most recent developments are captured on a real time basis.Note: Certain content / sections in the pipeline guide may be removed or altered based on the availability and relevance of data.Scope- The pipeline guide provides a snapshot of the global therapeutic landscape of Cryptococcosis (Infectious Disease).- The pipeline guide reviews pipeline therapeutics for Cryptococcosis (Infectious Disease) by companies and universities/research institutes based on information derived from company and industry-specific sources.- The pipeline guide covers pipeline products based on several stages of development ranging from pre-registration till discovery and undisclosed stages.- The pipeline guide features descriptive drug profiles for the pipeline products which comprise, product description, descriptive licensing and collaboration details, R&D brief, MoA & other developmental activities.- The pipeline guide reviews key companies involved in Cryptococcosis (Infectious Disease) therapeutics and enlists all their major and minor projects.- The pipeline guide evaluates Cryptococcosis (Infectious Disease) therapeutics based on mechanism of action (MoA), drug target, route of administration (RoA) and molecule type.- The pipeline guide encapsulates all the dormant and discontinued pipeline projects.- The pipeline guide reviews latest news related to pipeline therapeutics for Cryptococcosis (Infectious Disease)To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:Reasons to buy- Procure strategically important competitor information, analysis, and insights to formulate effective R&D strategies.- Recognize emerging players with potentially strong product portfolio and create effective counter-strategies to gain competitive advantage.- Find and recognize significant and varied types of therapeutics under development for Cryptococcosis (Infectious Disease).- Classify potential new clients or partners in the target demographic.- Develop tactical initiatives by understanding the focus areas of leading companies.- Plan mergers and acquisitions meritoriously by identifying key players and its most promising pipeline therapeutics.- Formulate corrective measures for pipeline projects by understanding Cryptococcosis (Infectious Disease) pipeline depth and focus of Indication therapeutics.- Develop and design in-licensing and out-licensing strategies by identifying prospective partners with the most attractive projects to enhance and expand business potential and scope.- Adjust the therapeutic portfolio by recognizing discontinued projects and understand from the know-how what drove them from pipeline.ReportsWorldwide.com is a leading provider of global market intelligence reports and services. With research reports from top publishers, consulting and advisory firms, ReportsWorldwide.com offers instant online access to a growing database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, geographies and trends.Press Contact:Abigail CrastoSenior Vice President101, Arch StreetBoston,MA 02110USPhone +1 (617) 398-1947
Land Mobile Radio Market Expected to Be Biggest Emerging Market by 2025

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Global Land Mobile Radio Market: OverviewLand mobile radio systems (LMRS) are wireless communication system used by terrestrial users in vehicles or on foot. These systems can be hand portable or mobile. The technologies that are implemented in LMRS are analog and digital. Some of common applications of these systems are retail, transportation, mining, home security, and military and defense. These systems are used by dispatched services, public works organization, and first responder organizations such as fire, ambulance services, and police.Global Land Mobile Radio Market: Key TrendsOne of the primary drivers for the global land mobile radio (LMR) market is the gradual shift from analog to digital LMR. Merits such as high standards of performance, less power consumption, log display, high bandwidth, and better quality coverage are prompting manufacturers and users to shift towards digital LMR. The pressing need for efficient critical communication operations is also stirring up the demand for LMR. Moreover, these radios find application in various industries, such as transportation and military and defense. Thus, the robust growth of these sectors is positively impacting the growth of the market.Request Sample Copy of the Report@On the other hand, the limitation pertaining to the spectrum bandwidth of LMR is restricting the market from realizing its utmost potential. Moreover, the high capital required for developing LMR is inhibiting the growth of the market. The emergence of Internet of Things (IoT) coupled with the proliferation of IoT devices is emerging as a major challenge for players in the global land mobile radio market.Global Land Mobile Radio Market: Market PotentailWith the birthing of alternative communication systems, the much of the attention is on technological advancements for the global land mobile radio market to thrive. Market players are pouring funds into research and development activities to introduce products that are innovative and advanced and help them in sustaining. For instance, in June 2015, Icom America introduced a new transceiver, IC-F5122DD/IC-F6122DD, that oprates as a data modem and enables remote system management and field monitoring. The radio offers superior solutions to sectors such as transportation and utilities. It can be used for communication to one or multiple units with individual, groups, and all calls.Request TOC of the Report @Global Land Mobile Radio Market: Geographical SegmentationThe regions studied in the research report are Asia Pacific, Latin America, North America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. North America will account for a substantial share in the global market. The extensive research and development activities in the field of radio communication and the high demand for technologically advanced land mobile radios are bolstering the growth of the region. The presence of a large number of key players and research institutes in countries such as the U.S. and Canada is providing an edge to North America over other regions.Global Land Mobile Radio Market: Competitive LandscapeThe majority of players in the global land mobile radio market are focusing towards technological advancements and product innovation to enhance their visibility in the market. Key players are looking upon mergers and partnerships as viable growth strategies to stay ahead in the market. Some of the prominent participants in the global LMR market are Motorola Solutions Inc., Harris Corporation, JVCKENWOOD Corporation, Raytheon Company, Thales SA, Hytera Communications Corporation Limited, RELM Wireless Corporation, and Sepura PLC..Get Discount @About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Genetic Testing Market Poised to Witness a Significant Growth of 9.8% by 2023

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Global Genetic testing Market information, by Type (prescribed genetic testing, & DTC genetic testing), by Method, by Type of test, by Indication - Forecast to 2023Market Research Future adds new report of Genetic Testing Market- Global Forecast To 2023 it contains Company information, geographical data and Table of ContentCompetitive Analysis:Some of the key players in this market are: Abbott Laboratories (US), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (US), Illumina Inc. (US), Myriad Genetics (US), PerkinElmer Inc. (US), QIAGEN N.V. (Germany), and Quest Diagnostics (US)Get a Sample Report @Market Segments:Global genetic testing market has been segmented on the basis of type which prescribed genetic testing, and direct to consumer (DTC) genetic testing. Prescribed Genetic Testing accounted for the largest market share in 2016. On the basis of method, it is segmented into Molecular Genetic Test/ DNA Test, Chromosomal Genetic Test, Biochemical Genetic Test. Molecular Genetic tests/DNA was holding largest market share in 2016. On the basis of type of test, the market is segmented into Diagnostic Test, Predictive Test, Family DNA Test, and others. Diagnostic test accounted for the largest market share in 2016. On the basis of indication it is segmented into Cancer Testing, Neurogenetic Disorder Testing, Autoimmune Disorder Testing, Muscular dystrophies, and others. Cancer Testing accounted for the largest market share in 2016.Market Highlight:Genetic testing involves the use of laboratory methods to study the genes inherited from mother or father. These tests may be used to identify increased risks of health problems, to diagnose the mutations in the genes, to choose treatments, or to assess responses to treatment.The Global Genetic testing market is growing moderately. It is growing at the CAGR of ~9.8% during the forecast period. The global genetic testing market expected to reach USD 10,033.4 million by 2023 from USD 4,683 in 2016.Browse Report Details @Regional Analysis of Global Genetic Testing Market:Considering the global scenario of the market, due to continuous innovation, high awareness about the genetic testing and rapid adoption of new technology, Americas is largest market and was holding 46.3% market share of global Genetic testing in 2016. US is holding largest market share in North America region. European genetic testing market is expected to reach USD 2,553.10 million by 2023. On the other hand, due to increasing aging population and advances in the medical fields, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) is fastest growing market for Genetic testing and expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.1% during the forecast period. Middle East and Africa (ME&A) is likely to have a limited growth in the market due to less awareness and lack of required infrastructure.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Aid & Development Africa Summit Brings Technology to Close Healthcare Access Gap

Aid & Development Africa Summit brings technology to healthcare

http://africa.aidforum.org/agenda

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Access to healthcare in Africa differs greatly from region to region. The distance one lives to an urban centre determines the access they have to medical services, and is frequently a barrier. Africa holds a quarter of the worlds disease burden yet it is home to only 2% of its doctors. This gap is slowly being filled by innovations and mixed reality technologies that support health SDGs.While infectious diseases are declining in Africa, non-communicable diseases like cancer are on the rise. Cancer, even in treatable cases, is extremely deadly in Africa due to the lack of access to diagnostic services and treatment. Some regions only have one pathologist per one million people. Sierra Leone roboticist David Sengeh is using artificial intelligence to detect risk of cervical cancer, while Andrew Bastawrous eye-phone measures sight by taking images of the back of the eye and sending the results to the app. This technology could have a major impact on visual impairment in Africa, where 15% of the worlds blind population lives.Improved access to technology could drastically improve health in Africa and advance progress towards the Global Goals. Taking place on 27-28 February 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya, the Aid & Development Africa Summit will explore the impact of mixed reality technologies on the African healthcare landscape. The agenda offers an update on regional health programmes and collaborations, as well as innovations and best practice in disease prevention. View agendaExpert speakers will look into ways to leverage local innovation and engage key stakeholders in order to enable access to crucial health care services in East Africa. Hear from: Patrick Meier, International Consultant, World Bank Group / WeRobotics Mamadou Biteye, Managing Director, The Rockefeller Foundation Amit Thakker, Chair, Kenya Healthcare Foundation Kasirim Nwuke, Chief, New Technologies and Innovation, UNECA Niklas Danielsson, Senior Immunization Specialist, UNICEF Karin Kallander, Senior Research Advisor, Malaria Consortium Matthias Boyen, UAV Focal Point - HIV/Aids support project officer, UNICEF Jim Nasr, Chief Software Architect, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Michela Martini, Regional Migration Health Specialist for Horn, East and Southern Africa, International Organisation for Migration Patrick Paul Onyango, Programme Component Manager, Water Sector Reform, GIZ...and many more! View full list of speakers hereJoin the Aid & Development Africa Summit 2018 to engage with 300+ senior representatives and advisors from regional governments, UN and donor agencies, NGOs, development banks, Red Cross, solutions providers, and technology developers, looking to drive effectiveness of aid and development programmes in sub-Saharan Africa. Save the date and reserve your participation here to be part of the most influential aid and development conference in Africa. Register hereIt is shocking to see the growing toll that diseases like cancer and diabetes are taking on the people who can least afford healthcare. Governments must act on pledges to prevent these diseases in the first place, and to ensure that people can obtain services to treat them - Dr Tedros Ad-hanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-GeneralFor more information, please visitThe Aid & Development Africa Summit advocates for cross-sector approach through inclusive, effective collaboration and coordination between national and international NGOs, government and UN agencies, Red Cross, donors, investors, development banks and the private sector.Two America Square, London
Wireless Power Transmission Market - Evolving Industry Trends & Insights 2025

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Global Wireless Power Transmission Market: OverviewThe concept of wireless power transmission or transfer dates back to the mid-18th century when Nikola Tesla, a prominent contributor to the design of alternating current (AC) power supply systems, first worked on wireless power transmission projects. Wireless power transfer allows to lose the limitation of a power cord while keeping electrical devices constantly charged. Solar cells, resonance, and microwaves are the three principal systems employed for wireless power transmission. This concept is expected to resolve the complicated energy crisis concerning the entire world to this day.Global Wireless Power Transmission Market: Key TrendsThe global wireless power transmission market is expected to rise at a sturdy CAGR between 2017 and 2025 on account of certain factors propelling the growth. The requirement of effectual charging systems and surging consumer preference for wireless connectivity and the convenience offered are prognosticated to raise the hopes of vendors operating in the global wireless power transmission market. In the years to come, the global wireless power transmission market could witness the rise of the magnetic resonance technology making way into the introductory phase and inductive technology into the growth phase.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Smartphone giant Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. headquartered in South Korea possesses a powerful line of smartphones that flaunt the capabilities of a wireless charging receiver. Some of the popular smartphone series other than Samsung Galaxy that carry wireless charging capabilities are Google Nexus and Motorola Droid. The adoption in a range of smartphones in the inductive wireless power transmission market is predicted to hoist smartphones as a larger receiver application.Lack of common standards raising compatibility issues and trade-offs between safety, efficiency, and range of wireless power transmission is prophesied to injure the growth of the global wireless power transmission market to some extent. However, opportunities in various segmentation markets such as integrated implementation and induction technology are predicted to compensate for the effect of deterrents in the global wireless power transmission market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Wireless Power Transmission Market: Market PotentialA demonstration test of a motor-assisted bicycle was initiated in Kyoto Prefecture by a team functioning in the Kyoto University. The bicycle is capable of wirelessly receiving charge by merely parking it facing a charger stand. The front wheel of the bicycle is docked in a rack where power is drawn in the form of microwaves with the help of a battery pack and a receiver. The testing began early in March 2017. A differentiating aspect noticed is that the charging is only done late night to avoid potentially harmful contact of humans with microwaves equaling a 100 watts. The charging is designed in such a way that it stops as soon as anybody comes within a particular range.Global Wireless Power Transmission Market: Regional OutlookThe international wireless power transmission market is anticipated to see Asia Pacific receive a telling traction in terms of market size due to the snowballing presence of a significant number of consumer electronics industries. Countries such as South Korea, India, Japan, and China could lead the Asia Pacific wireless power transmission market from the front. Swift urbanization and aggressively increasing population are the other growth aspects of Asia Pacific in the wireless power transmission market. Researchers also point out Asia Pacific being a mammoth manufacturing hub of consumer electronics as another factor augmenting the progress of the regional wireless power transmission market.Get Discount @Global Wireless Power Transmission Market: Competitive LandscapeTDK Corp., Integrated Device Technology, Inc., Texas Instruments Inc., Witricity Corp., Qualcomm Inc., and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. could be the leading companies in the worldwide wireless power transmission market.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Downstream Processing Market Analysis (2012 - 2016) & Opportunity Assessment (2017 - 2022)

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A new report added to the repository of Market Research Reports Search Engine Downstream Processing Market: North America to Dominate the Market in Terms of Revenue Throughout the Forecast Period: Global Industry Analysis (2012 - 2016) & Opportunity Assessment (2017 - 2022) is a comprehensive repository of information, providing market share, size, and forecast.Request for Sample Report:Future Market Insights delivers yet another unbiased, comprehensive and insightful report titled Downstream Processing Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Opportunity Assessment (2017-2022). In this report, the global downstream processing market is explored in great detail, and the market dynamics of the global downstream processing market has been covered comprehensively, explaining to the report readers the drivers, restraints and trends operating in this highly competitive market. Also, analysis of the data over different parameters has been done in order to arrive at market numbers concerning the global downstream processing market. Besides, competition landscape of the global downstream processing market is also covered in this report, giving information about the key companies operating in the global downstream processing market.Report StructureIn the first part of the report, the executive summary and the introduction are given. The executive summary gives a summary of the global downstream processing market and gives the pertinent market numbers that are most significant, which include the historical CAGR growth from 2012 till 2016 and the forecasted CAGR from the year 2017 till the end of the forecast period in the year 2022. Information about lucrative markets from the point of view of leading revenue share and highest CAGR are also given in the executive summary.In the introduction section, the downstream processing market is defined in detail so that the report readers are clear about the scope of this market.The next section of the report gives information on the key dynamics of the downstream processing market. Key points covered in this section include the global economy, fiscal stimulus and bottom line of enterprises.Browse Full Report with TOC:In the subsequent section of the report, information is given on the cost structure analysis and pricing analysis of the global downstream processing market. An analysis on the market presence of key participants (intensity map) is also offered in this section.Market SegmentationThe next part of the report consists of the global downstream processing market analysis and forecast by product type, end-users, applications, technology and region. This section of the report contains important market numbers in the form of year-on-year growth comparison, market share comparison and revenue comparison. The global downstream processing market is also analysed across key regions- North America, Latin America, Europe, Japan, APEJ and MEA.Competition LandscapeThe last section of the report contains the competition landscape, where leading market players operating in the global downstream processing market are profiled in detail. This information is in the form of company overview, product overview, key financials and key developments pertaining to that particular company. The competition landscape also features the SWOT analysis of the selected companies, which gives the report readers information about the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and the threats that such companies operating in the global downstream processing market are facing. The competition landscape is an invaluable part of the report as it contains all the necessary information to study the leading companies operating in the global downstream processing market and how they implement their strategies and vision to stay in the pole position in this highly competitive market.Research MethodologyThe report on the global downstream processing market is backed by an exhaustive research methodology that relies on both primary and secondary research to gain all the necessary insights into the global downstream processing market. This report is validated several times by the team of diverse, expert analysts of Future Market Insights using proprietary tools so that it can be used as an authoritative source by the esteemed clients of Future Market Insights.Enquire about This Report:About UsMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.ContactState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At:
Global Gamma Knife Market to Surpass US$ 300 Million by 2025

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Gamma Knife Market which has been introduced decades ago, is one of the most effective non-invasive technologies that is steadily gaining traction in the treatment of tumors. Gamma knife surgery represents a major advancement in brain surgery, with a one-day treatment procedure. Patients can go home the same day after treatment with gamma knife.Leksell Gamma Knife is the among most efficient gamma knife devices in the market. The device radiates 201 beams that converge at the lesion point, thus destroying only the affected or target tissue. The device can be programmed to for multiple sessions.Increasing awareness about the high affectivity of these products and their lowering cost will increase the adoption of this device in the near future. Increase in healthcare investments in China, India, Brazil, and other emerging economies would be a major contributing factor towards increase in revenues of the global gamma knife market.This report segments the global gamma knife market on the basis of indication, anatomy and geography. On the basis of indication, the global gamma knife market is segmented into brain metastasis, trigeminal neuralgia, Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), cancer, movement disorders and others.Request a Sample Copy of the Business Report:Key features of the study:This report provides in-depth analysis of the gamma knife and provides market size (US$ Million) and Cumulative Annual Growth Rate (CAGR (%)) for the forecast period: 2017  2025, considering 2016 as the base yearIt elucidates potential revenue opportunity across different segments and explains attractive investment proposition matrix for this marketThis study also provides key insights about market drivers, restraints, opportunities, new product launches, approvals, regional outlook, and competitive strategies adopted by the leading playersIt profiles leading players in the global gamma knife market based on the following parameters  company overview, financial performance, product portfolio, geographical presence, distribution strategies, key developments and strategies and future plansAsk for customization:Detailed Segmentation:Global Gamma Knife Market, By Indication:Brain Metastasis,Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM),Cancer,Trigeminal Neuralgia,Movement Disorders,Others,.Global Gamma Knife Market, By Anatomy:Head,Neck,Others,.Gamma knife radiotherapy involves convergence of 201 beams that can treat the tumor cell leaving precisely leaving the surrounding healthy cells undamaged. Utilizing the pre-operative diagnostic images form CT/MRI scan, the instrument provides highly accurate irradiation at the tumor site. This is a major factor that drives the usage of gamma knife radiotherapy in treating brain tumors. Application of this procedure is increasing further in trigeminal neuralgia, and arteriovenous malformations. However, gamma knife is limited to 190 positions to reach the tumor cells.The U.S. federal government reduced Medicare reimbursement for gamma knife treatment from US $8,100 to US $3,400 in 2013. This further reduces the accessibility of a highly precise brain tumor treatment method to the general population in the U.S. Although an alternative technology, Cyber Knife, is available, many physician prefer using gamma knife over linac-based surgery based on their comfort and skills. Therefore, the gamma knife market is expected to experience a gradual growth.Complete Report Details:About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com
Telemedicine Market to Record an Exponential CAGR of 16.5% by 2022

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Global Telemedicine Market Information, by Type (Remote Monitoring and Real time interactive services), by Application - Forecast to 2022Market Research Future adds new report of Global Telemedicine Market Research Report - Forecast To 2022 it contains Company information, geographical data and Table of ContentTelemedicine (also referred to as "telehealth" or "e-health") allows health care professionals to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients in remote locations using telecommunications technology. Telemedicine allows patients in remote locations to access medical expertise quickly, efficiently and without travel. Telemedicine provides more efficient use of limited expert resources who can "see" patients in multiple locations wherever they are needed without leaving their facility.Competitive Analysis:Key players profiled in the report are Koninklijke Philips N.V. (The Netherlands), Medtronic (Ireland) AMD Telemedicine Technologies (U.S.), General Electric Company (U.K.), Neusoft Corporation (China), McKesson Corporation (US) , Intel (US), and IBM (US).Get a Sample Report @Market Segmentation:The global telemedicine market is segmented on the basis of type, which includes store and forward, remote monitoring, and real time interactive. On the basis of technology, the market is segmented into hardware, software, and services. The hardware is further segmented into on-site kiosks, telephone, and webcams. The software is further segmented into mobiles apps. The Services are further segmented into consultation, online video conferencing and academics. Furthermore, on the basis of application the market is classified into telecardiology, telepsychiatry, teleradiology, telepathology, teledermatology, teleaudiology, teleopthalmology, and others. On the basis of end users, the market is segmented into hospitals, clinical, medical institutes, and others.Market Highlights:The global telemedicine market is experiencing massive growth across the globe on account of extensive use of healthcare IT solutions, improved telecommunication infrastructure, and high demand for primary care services across the globe. Furthermore, rising prevalence of chronic diseases and technological advancement in the healthcare fuel the market growth. High installation cost of telemedicine solutions and availability of internet services in rural areas may restrain the market growth.The Global telemedicine market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.5% during the forecast period.Regional AnalysisThe global telemedicine market is segmented on the basis of regions: The Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. The Americas accounts is the leading player in the global telemedicine market owing to an increasing demand for healthcare IT solutions, concentration of prominent market players, and availability of infrastructure for telemedicine.Europe is experiencing a significant growth in the telemedicine market owing to the availability of funds from the Europe Union (EU) for telemedicine projects.Asia Pacific shows phenomenal growth in telemedicine market and is expected to the fastest growing region as result of rising geriatric population and increasing prevalence of chronic diseases.The Middle East & Africa also show a steady rise in the telemedicine market.Browse Report Details @Brief TOC1. Report Prologue2. Introduction3. Research Methodology4. Market Dynamics5. Market Factor Analysis6. Global Telemedicine Market by Type7. Global Telemedicine Market by Technology8. Global Telemedicine Market by Application9. Global Telemedicine Market by End User10. Global Cell Counting Market by Region11. Company Profile12. Conclusion13. AppendixAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Hemorrhage - Pipeline Review, H2 2017

Hemorrhage - Pipeline Review, H2 2017

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https://www.reportsworldwide.com/report/hemorrhage-pipeline-review-h2-2017

ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Hemorrhage - Pipeline Review, H2 2017 to its growing collection of premium market research reports.SummaryGlobal Markets Direct's latest Pharmaceutical and Healthcare disease pipeline guide Hemorrhage - Pipeline Review, H2 2017, provides an overview of the Hemorrhage (Hematological Disorders) pipeline landscape.Hemorrhage is a disease which results in excessive bleeding. Causes of hemorrhage include liver disease, bleeding disorder, high blood pressure, injury and aneurysm. Symptoms include nausea or vomiting, difficulty swallowing, loss of coordination, loss of consciousness, severe headache and tingling or numbness.To Enquire about this Report please visit @Report HighlightsGlobal Markets Direct's Pharmaceutical and Healthcare latest pipeline guide Hemorrhage - Pipeline Review, H2 2017, provides comprehensive information on the therapeutics under development for Hemorrhage (Hematological Disorders), complete with analysis by stage of development, drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type. The guide covers the descriptive pharmacological action of the therapeutics, its complete research and development history and latest news and press releases.The Hemorrhage (Hematological Disorders) pipeline guide also reviews of key players involved in therapeutic development for Hemorrhage and features dormant and discontinued projects. The guide covers therapeutics under Development by Companies /Universities /Institutes, the molecules developed by Companies in Filing rejected/Withdrawn, Phase II and Phase 0 stages are 1, 1 and 1 respectively. Similarly, the Universities portfolio in Preclinical and Discovery stages comprises 3 and 1 molecules, respectively.Hemorrhage (Hematological Disorders) pipeline guide helps in identifying and tracking emerging players in the market and their portfolios, enhances decision making capabilities and helps to create effective counter strategies to gain competitive advantage. The guide is built using data and information sourced from Global Markets Directs proprietary databases, company/university websites, clinical trial registries, conferences, SEC filings, investor presentations and featured press releases from company/university sites and industry-specific third party sources. Additionally, various dynamic tracking processes ensure that the most recent developments are captured on a real time basis.Note: Certain content / sections in the pipeline guide may be removed or altered based on the availability and relevance of data.Scope of the Research Report- The pipeline guide provides a snapshot of the global therapeutic landscape of Hemorrhage (Hematological Disorders).- The pipeline guide reviews pipeline therapeutics for Hemorrhage (Hematological Disorders) by companies and universities/research institutes based on information derived from company and industry-specific sources.- The pipeline guide covers pipeline products based on several stages of development ranging from pre-registration till discovery and undisclosed stages.- The pipeline guide features descriptive drug profiles for the pipeline products which comprise, product description, descriptive licensing and collaboration details, R&D brief, MoA & other developmental activities.- The pipeline guide reviews key companies involved in Hemorrhage (Hematological Disorders) therapeutics and enlists all their major and minor projects.- The pipeline guide evaluates Hemorrhage (Hematological Disorders) therapeutics based on mechanism of action (MoA), drug target, route of administration (RoA) and molecule type.- The pipeline guide encapsulates all the dormant and discontinued pipeline projects.- The pipeline guide reviews latest news related to pipeline therapeutics for Hemorrhage (Hematological Disorders)To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:Reasons to buy- Procure strategically important competitor information, analysis, and insights to formulate effective R&D strategies.- Recognize emerging players with potentially strong product portfolio and create effective counter-strategies to gain competitive advantage.- Find and recognize significant and varied types of therapeutics under development for Hemorrhage (Hematological Disorders).- Classify potential new clients or partners in the target demographic.- Develop tactical initiatives by understanding the focus areas of leading companies.- Plan mergers and acquisitions meritoriously by identifying key players and its most promising pipeline therapeutics.- Formulate corrective measures for pipeline projects by understanding Hemorrhage (Hematological Disorders) pipeline depth and focus of Indication therapeutics.- Develop and design in-licensing and out-licensing strategies by identifying prospective partners with the most attractive projects to enhance and expand business potential and scope.- Adjust the therapeutic portfolio by recognizing discontinued projects and understand from the know-how what drove them from pipeline.ReportsWorldwide.com is a leading provider of global market intelligence reports and services. With research reports from top publishers, consulting and advisory firms, ReportsWorldwide.com offers instant online access to a growing database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, geographies and trends.Press Contact:Abigail CrastoSenior Vice President101, Arch StreetBoston,MA 02110USPhone +1 (617) 398-1947
Oncology Information System Market Expected to Reach $3,755 Million, Globally, by 2022

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https://www.mrrse.com/oncology-information-system-market

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A new report added to the repository of Market Research Reports Search Engine Oncology Information System Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2022 is a comprehensive repository of information, providing market share, size, and forecast.Request for Sample Report:Global Oncology Information System Market: SnapshotThe global oncology information system market has mushroomed steadily out of the rising need to keep track of the various aspects of oncology treatments and the rising use of digital tools in healthcare for the purpose of data storage. Oncology information systems track patient information such as diagnostic details and patient history, as well as treatment patterns and prescriptions. The global oncology information system market is likely to exhibit smooth growth in the coming years due to a number of factors, as witnessed in the strong 7.6% CAGR projected for the market over the 2017-2022 forecast period.According to Transparency Market Research, the global oncology information system market was valued at US$2,285.6 mn in 2017 and is likely to rise to a valuation of US$3,293.8 mn by 2022.Patient Information Systems Likely to Dominate Revenue in Oncology Information System MarketThe key service types offered in the global oncology information system market are patient information systems, treatment planning systems, consulting services, implementation services, and post-sale and maintenance services. Of these, patient information systems are likely to remain the dominant revenue generator for the global oncology information system market in the coming years.Browse Full Report with TOC:The patient information systems segment accounted for 34.8% of the global oncology information system market in 2017, with a valuation of US$794.4 mn. The segment is expected to exhibit a strong 7.1% CAGR over the 2017-2022 forecast period to emerge with a valuation of US$1,117.7 mn by 2022. Nevertheless, the segments share in the global oncology information system market is expected to drop slightly to 33.9% over the 2017-2022 forecast period due to the growing demand for treatment planning systems and consulting services.North America to Dominate Demand from Oncology Information System MarketGeographically, North America is the leading contributor to the global oncology information system market and is likely to retain the position over the 2017-2022 forecast period. The North America oncology information system market was valued at US$933.7 mn in 2017 and is expected to rise to a valuation of US$1,411.5 mn by 2022 at a robust 8.6% CAGR therein. The rising presence of advanced cancer research facilities in North America and the steady acceptance of technological innovations in the healthcare sector is likely to remain a key driver for the North America oncology information system market in the coming years.Asia Pacific except Japan is likely to emerge as a leading regional entity for the global oncology information system market over the 2017-2022 forecast period, with the regional market expected to gain 100 BPS in its global market share over the period. The APEJ market for oncology information systems is likely to account for more than 16% of the global oncology information system markets revenue by the end of 2017, enabling smooth growth over the 2017-2022 forecast period.Hospitals to Remain Leading End UserHospitals, oncology clinics, and research centers are likely to remain crucial to the global oncology information system market over the coming years, with hospitals set to dominate the demand from the global market.Competitive DynamicsLeading players in the global oncology information system market include Accuray Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Cerner Corporation, Mckesson Corporation, Flatiron Health Inc., Raysearch Laboratories, Epic Systems Corporation, Verian Medical Systems Inc., and Elekta AB. The oncology information system market is set to be intensely competitive over the coming years due to the growing commercial promise of the market and the rising prevalence of cancer across the world, which has enabled growing awareness about the utility of oncology information systems.Enquire about This Report:About UsMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.ContactState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At:
Vacuum Cleaners Market 2017 Global Industry Analysis & Forecast to 2022

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Market Study Report adds Global Vacuum Cleaners Market By Manufacturers, Countries, Type And Application, Forecast To 2022 report to its research database. The report spread across 121 pages with table and figures in it.This report studies the Vacuum Cleaners market, Vacuum Cleaner is a device that uses an air pump, to create a partial vacuum to suck up dust and dirt, usually from floors, and from other surfaces such as upholstery and draperies.The dirt is collected by either a dust bag or a cyclone for later disposal. Vacuum cleaners, which are used in homes, public areas, as well as in industry, exist in a variety of sizes and models small battery-powered hand-held devices, wheeled canister models for home use, domestic central vacuum cleaners, huge stationary industrial appliances that can handle several hundred litres of dust before being emptied, and self-propelled vacuum trucks for recovery of large spills or removal of contaminated soil. Specialized shop vacuums can be used to suck up both dust and liquids.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Vacuum Cleaners in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample copy of Vacuum Cleaners Market Research Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers  Dyson, Electrolux, Shark Ninja (Euro-Pro), Miele, Bissell, Nilfisk, Philips, Bosch, SEB, TTI, Sanitaire, Rubbermaid, Panasonic, Numatic, Karcher, Midea, Haier, Goodway, Pacvac.Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers: North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Regions Growth drivers: Global Vacuum Cleaners Market Overview Global Vacuum Cleaners Market Manufacturers Profiles Global Vacuum Cleaners Market Competition, by Manufacturer Global Vacuum Cleaners Market Analysis by Regions Global Vacuum Cleaners by Countries Global Vacuum Cleaners Market Segment by Type Global Vacuum Cleaners Market Segment by Application Vacuum Cleaners Market Forecast (2017-2022) Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers Research Findings and Conclusion AppendixMarket Segment by Type, covers  Cord Cordless Upright & Handheld Bagged & Bagless RoboticsMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into  Residential Offices Restaurants Hotels & Resorts Supermarkets Hospitals IndustrialEnquire For Discount on Vacuum Cleaners Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Vacuum Cleaners market.Chapter 1, to describe Vacuum Cleaners Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Vacuum Cleaners, with sales, revenue, and price of Vacuum Cleaners, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Vacuum Cleaners, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Vacuum Cleaners market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Vacuum Cleaners sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceRelated Reports: -2017-2022 Global Top Countries Stairlift Market ReportIn 2016, the global Stairlift market size was xx million USD, and it will be xx million USD in 2022, with a CAGR of xx% between 2016 and 2022. This report studies Stairlift in Global market,Centralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
Solar Photovoltaic in Chile Market Outlook to 2030

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ReportsWeb.com published Solar Photovoltaic Market from its database. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market."Solar Photovoltaic (PV) in Chile, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2017-Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles", is the latest report from Publisher, the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information and understanding of the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market in Chile.The report provides in depth analysis on global renewable power market and global Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market with forecasts up to 2030. The report analyzes the power market scenario in Chile (includes conventional thermal, nuclear, large hydro and renewable energy sources) and provides future outlook with forecasts up to 2030. The research details renewable power market outlook in the country (includes hydro, small hydro, biopower and Solar Photovoltaic (PV)) and provides forecasts up to 2030. The report highlights installed capacity and power generation trends from 2006 to 2030 in Chile Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market. A detailed coverage of renewable energy policy framework governing the market with specific policies pertaining to Solar Photovoltaic (PV) is provided in the report. The research also provides company snapshots of some of the major market participants.The report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, secondary research and in-house analysis by Publisher's team of industry experts.For more information about this report atScopeThe report analyses global renewable power market, global Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market, Chile power market, Chile renewable power market and Chile Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market. The scope of the research includes--A brief introduction on global carbon emissions and global primary energy consumption.-An overview on global renewable power market, highlighting installed capacity trends, generation trends and installed capacity split by various renewable power sources. The information is covered for the historical period 2006-2016 (unless specified) and forecast period 2017-2030.-Renewable power sources include wind (both onshore and offshore), Solar Photovoltaic (PV), concentrated solar power (CSP), small hydro power (SHP), biomass, biogas and geothermal.-Detailed overview of the global Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market with installed capacity and generation trends, installed capacity split by major Solar Photovoltaic (PV)power countries in 2016 and key owners information of various regions.-Power market scenario in Chile and provides detailed market overview, installed capacity and power generation trends by various fuel types (includes thermal conventional, nuclear, large hydro and renewable energy sources) with forecasts up to 2030.-An overview on Chile renewable power market, highlighting installed capacity trends (2006-2030), generation trends(2006-2030) and installed capacity split by various renewable power sources in 2016.-Detailed overview of Chile Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market with installed capacity and generation trends and major active and upcoming Solar Photovoltaic (PV) projects.-Deal analysis of Chile Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market. Deals are analyzed on the basis of mergers, acquisitions, partnership, asset finance, debt offering, equity offering, private equity (PE) and venture capitalists (VC).-Key policies and regulatory framework supporting the development of renewable power sources in general and Solar Photovoltaic (PV) in particular.-Company snapshots of some of the major market participants in the country.Request a sample copy atReasons to buy-The report will enhance your decision making capability in a more rapid and time sensitive manner.-Identify key growth and investment opportunities in Chile Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market.-Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market.-Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industry's growth potential.-Develop strategies based on the latest regulatory events.-Identify key partners and business development avenues.-Understand and respond to your competitors' business structure, strategy and prospects.Companies MentionedTerraForm Power, Inc.SunEdison, Inc.Etrion CorporationEnel Green Power S.p.A.Inquire for Report atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Ductile Iron Pipe Market by Manufacturers,Types,Regions and Applications Research Report Forecast to 2021

Ductile Iron Pipe Industry

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - Ductile Iron Pipe Market by Manufacturers,Types,Regions and Applications Research Report Forecast to 2021.The Ductile Iron Pipe industry has also suffered a certain impact, but still maintained a relatively optimistic growth, the past four years, Ductile Iron Pipe market size to maintain the average annual growth rate of 2.23% from 8620 million $ in 2013 to 9210 million $ in 2016, The analysts believe that in the next few years, Ductile Iron Pipe market size will be further expanded, we expect that by 2021 , The market size of the Ductile Iron Pipe will reach 10100 million $.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comThis Report covers the manufacturers data, including: shipment, price, revenue, gross profit, interview record, business distribution etc., these data help the consumer know about the competitors better. This report also covers all the regions and countries of the world, which shows a regional development status, including market size, volume and value, as well as price data.Besides, the report also covers segment data, including: type segment, industry segment, channel segment etc. cover different segment market size, both volume and value. Also cover different industries clients information, which is very important for the manufacturers.Sections:-Section 1: FreeDefinitionSection (2 3): 1200 USDManufacturer DetailSaint-GobainKuboatUS PILE and Foundry companyJindal SAWElectro-steel SteelsMcwaneAMERICAN Cast Iron Pipe CompanyKurimotoXinxing Ductile Iron PipesBenxi BeitaiRizhao ZhufuAngang Group YongtongShandong ductile pipesShanxi GuanghuaSUNSJiangsu YongyiSection 4: 900 USDRegion SegmentationNorth America Country (United States, Canada)South AmericaAsia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea)Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy)Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC)ContinueReport Details @Table Of Contents  Major Key PointsSection 1 Ductile Iron Pipe Product DefinitionSection 2 Global Ductile Iron Pipe Market Manufacturer Share and Market Overview2.1 Global Manufacturer Ductile Iron Pipe Shipments2.2 Global Manufacturer Ductile Iron Pipe Business Revenue2.3 Global Ductile Iron Pipe Market OverviewSection 3 Manufacturer Ductile Iron Pipe Business Introduction3.1 Saint-Gobain Ductile Iron Pipe Business Introduction3.1.1 Saint-Gobain Ductile Iron Pipe Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2013-20163.1.2 Saint-Gobain Ductile Iron Pipe Business Distribution by Region3.1.3 Saint-Gobain Interview Record3.1.4 Saint-Gobain Ductile Iron Pipe Business Profile3.1.5 Saint-Gobain Ductile Iron Pipe Product Specification3.2 Kuboat Ductile Iron Pipe Business Introduction3.2.1 Kuboat Ductile Iron Pipe Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2013-20163.2.2 Kuboat Ductile Iron Pipe Business Distribution by Region3.2.3 Interview Record3.2.4 Kuboat Ductile Iron Pipe Business Overview3.2.5 Kuboat Ductile Iron Pipe Product Specification3.3 US PILE and Foundry company Ductile Iron Pipe Business Introduction3.3.1 US PILE and Foundry company Ductile Iron Pipe Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2013-20163.3.2 US PILE and Foundry company Ductile Iron Pipe Business Distribution by Region3.3.3 Interview Record3.3.4 US PILE and Foundry company Ductile Iron Pipe Business Overview3.3.5 US PILE and Foundry company Ductile Iron Pipe Product Specification3.4 Jindal SAW Ductile Iron Pipe Business Introduction3.5 Electro-steel Steels Ductile Iron Pipe Business Introduction3.6 Mcwane Ductile Iron Pipe Business IntroductionSection 4 Global Ductile Iron Pipe Market Segmentation (Region Level)4.1 North America Country4.1.1 United States Ductile Iron Pipe Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.1.2 Canada Ductile Iron Pipe Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.2 South America Country4.2.1 South America Ductile Iron Pipe Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.3 Asia Country4.3.1 China Ductile Iron Pipe Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.3.2 Japan Ductile Iron Pipe Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.3.3 India Ductile Iron Pipe Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.3.4 Korea Ductile Iron Pipe Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.4 Europe Country4.4.1 Germany Ductile Iron Pipe Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.4.2 UK Ductile Iron Pipe Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.4.3 France Ductile Iron Pipe Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.4.4 Italy Ductile Iron Pipe Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.4.5 Europe Ductile Iron Pipe Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.5 Other Country and Region4.5.1 Middle East Ductile Iron Pipe Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.5.2 Africa Ductile Iron Pipe Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.5.3 GCC Ductile Iron Pipe Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.6 Global Ductile Iron Pipe Market Segmentation (Region Level) Analysis 2013-20164.7 Global Ductile Iron Pipe Market Segmentation (Region Level) AnalysisSection 5 Global Ductile Iron Pipe Market Segmentation (Product Type Level)5.1 Global Ductile Iron Pipe Market Segmentation (Product Type Level) Market Size 2013-20165.2 Different Ductile Iron Pipe Product Type Price 2013-20165.3 Global Ductile Iron Pipe Market Segmentation (Product Type Level) AnalysisSection 6 Global Ductile Iron Pipe Market Segmentation (Industry Level)6.1 Global Ductile Iron Pipe Market Segmentation (Industry Level) Market Size 2013-20166.2 Different Industry Price 2013-20166.3 Global Ductile Iron Pipe Market Segmentation (Industry Level) AnalysisSection 7 Global Ductile Iron Pipe Market Segmentation (Channel Level)7.1 Global Ductile Iron Pipe Market Segmentation (Channel Level) Sales Volume and Share 2013-20167.2 Global Ductile Iron Pipe Market Segmentation (Channel Level) AnalysisContinue.For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Market Report 2017: LabCorp (Covance), PPD, Parexel, ICON, PRA

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Market Report 2017 to its huge collection of research reports.The business landscape of the global Contract Research Organization (CRO) market is undergoing dynamic changes. In order to facilitate a complete understanding of the complex industry scenario for clients and thus enhance their decision making process, the study on the global Contract Research Organization (CRO) market presents a methodological explanation of this dynamic market scenario. The research study also offers the growth prospects of the global Contract Research Organization (CRO) market in the coming few years.The research study begins with a brief overview of the industry and enlists details such as the definition, specifications, and classification of the global Contract Research Organization (CRO) market. This section of the report provides to business professionals the key historical developments of the industry with details such as applications of Contract Research Organization (CRO) and industry policy analysis. The manufacturing cost structure evaluation in the research study delivers an extensive analysis of the labor costs, equipment suppliers, and raw material suppliers, and manufacturing cost. In-depth segmentation analysis of the global Contract Research Organization (CRO) market by key criteria with the growth prospects of the key segments paints a clear picture of the growth framework of the market.Get A PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @A strategic business forecast for the volume and value of the global Contract Research Organization (CRO) market is covered in the report. The global and regional trends that will impact the growth of the various segments of the market further give insights to readers into the market scenario. Description of key strategies of the major companies operating in the global Contract Research Organization (CRO) market allows readers to estimate the competitive framework of the market. Further, the study offers details such as each key companys profile, contact information, sales, sales price, sales revenue, and gross margin analysis. Actionable insights from expert analysts on the new project investment feasibility of the global Contract Research Organization (CRO) market will support clients in forming sound business decisions to boost ROI.Table of ContentsGlobal Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Market Report 20171 Contract Research Organization (CRO) Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Contract Research Organization (CRO)1.2 Classification of Contract Research Organization (CRO) by Product Category1.2.1 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Ordinary1.2.4 Custom1.3 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Pharmaceutical Industry1.3.3 Biotechnology1.3.4 Medical Device Industry1.4 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Market by Region1.4.1 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States Contract Research Organization (CRO) Status and Prospect (2012-2022)Browse Complete Report with TOC @2 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.3.2 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.4 Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) (Volume) by Application3 United States Contract Research Organization (CRO) (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States Contract Research Organization (CRO) Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 United States Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 United States Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Volume and Market Share by Players3.3 United States Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Volume and Market Share by Type3.4 United States Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Volume and Market Share by Application4 China Contract Research Organization (CRO) (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales and Value (2012-2017)4.1.1 China Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.2 China Contract Research Organization (CRO) Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.3 China Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)4.2 China Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Volume and Market Share by Players4.3 China Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Volume and Market Share by Type4.4 China Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Volume and Market Share by Application5 Europe Contract Research Organization (CRO) (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales and Value (2012-2017)5.1.1 Europe Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.2 Europe Contract Research Organization (CRO) Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.3 Europe Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)5.2 Europe Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Volume and Market Share by Players5.3 Europe Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Volume and Market Share by Type5.4 Europe Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Volume and Market Share by ApplicationGet discount copy @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Product Picture of Contract Research Organization (CRO)Figure Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Volume Comparison (K Units) by Type (2012-2022)Figure Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Volume Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 2016Figure Ordinary Product PictureFigure Custom Product PictureFigure Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Sales Comparison (K Units) by Application (2012-2022)Figure Global Sales Market Share of Contract Research Organization (CRO) by Application in 2016Figure Pharmaceutical Industry ExamplesTable Key Downstream Customer in Pharmaceutical IndustryFigure Biotechnology ExamplesTable Key Downstream Customer in BiotechnologyFigure Medical Device Industry ExamplesTable Key Downstream Customer in Medical Device IndustryQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Man-Portable Military Electronics Market 2017-2027

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MarketResearchNest.com adds Global Man-Portable Military Electronics Market 2017-2027 new reports to its research database. The report spread across 140 pages with tables and figures in it.Global Man-Portable Military Electronics Market 2017-2027 report offers a detailed analysis of the industry, with market size forecasts covering the next ten years. This report will also analyze factors that influence demand for man-portable electronic systems, key market trends, and challenges faced by industry participants.With military operations becoming highly sophisticated around the world there is an increase in the demand for portable electronics for quick response, which resulted in several key defense spenders to invest heavily in this market of man-portable electronics devices. Increasing focus on soldier modernization program and rising demand for new man-pack communication devices as well as wearable night vision, thermal imaging systems and M-UAV is contributing significantly to the growth of the global man-portable electronics market.Get more details about report atScope- The global man-portable military electronics market, valued at US$4.7 billion in 2017, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.29% over the forecast period, to reach US$6.4 billion by 2027 and cumulatively value US$55.6 billion.- The market consists of three categories: communication, ISTAR and force protection.- The market is expected to be dominated by communication segment, which will account for 56.7% of the market, followed by ISTAR and force protection segments with shares of 28.4% and 14.9% respectively. North America is projected to dominate the sector with a share of 37.8%, followed by Asia Pacific, with an estimated share of 36.0%Order a Purchase Report Copy atReasons to buy- Determine prospective investment areas based on a detailed trend analysis of the global man-portable electronics market over the next ten years- Gain in-depth understanding about the underlying factors driving demand for different man-portable electronic systems segments in the top spending countries across the world and identify the opportunities offered by each of them- Strengthen your understanding of the market in terms of demand drivers, industry trends, and the latest technological developments, among others- Identify the major channels that are driving the global man-portable electronics market, providing a clear picture about future opportunities that can be tapped, resulting in revenue expansion- Channelize resources by focusing on the ongoing programs that are being undertaken by the defense ministries of different countries within the global military man-portable electronics market- Make correct business decisions based on thorough analysis of the total competitive landscape of the sector with detailed profiles of the top man-portable electronic solution providers around the world which include information about their products, alliances, recent contract wins and financial analysis wherever availableInquire before buying this report atMarketResearchNest.com is the most comprehensive collection of market research products and services on the Web. We offer reports from almost all top publishers and update our collection on daily basis to provide you with instant online access to the worlds most complete and recent database of expert insights on global industries, organizations, products, and trends.Mr. Jeet JainSales Managersales@marketresearchnest.com+1-240-284-8070 / +44-20-3290-4151
Smart Electric Meter Market Size to Register USD 11 Billion During the Period 2017-2024

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MarketStudyReport.com adds a new Smart Electric Meter Market research report that provides a detailed market overview as well as industry analysis for / of companies, manufacturers and distributors covering data on gross margin, cost structure, consumption value, sale price and more.Growing demand for accurate billing coupled with efforts towards energy conservation will augment the global Smart Electric Meter Market growth. Rapid development of electricity network along with growing investment in smart grid will further complement the business landscape.Request a sample copy of Smart Electric Meter Market Research Report @Smart Electric Meter Market size is set to exceed USD 11 billion by 2024; according to a new research report. Commercial smart electric meter market shipments could exceed 30 million units by 2024.Increasing energy prices and growing instances of electricity theft will further boost product demand. According to a 2013 IMF report, global electricity theft was over USD 100 million. Rising concerns towards accuracy in billing among end users may positively influence the industry size.The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) mandating strict regulations towards accurate billing along with increasing electricity demand will stimulate the U.S. smart electric meter market size. The U.S. Department of Energy and ARRA jointly invested USD 30 billion in 2009, to give an impetus to a wide range of sustainable energy projects and upgrade existing smart grid networks in the region.Stringent regulations towards adoption of intelligent systems to precisely track electricity consumption will augment the smart electric meter market share. European Union Directive 2009/72/EC mandates member countries to undertake initiatives which will increase consumer awareness towards the benefits of adopting these products. Directive 2014/724/EU provides guidance to regulators on safeguarding and protecting consumers' consumption data.Enquire about this report @In 2016, UK contributed to over 20% of the Europe smart electric meter market share in terms of unit shipments. Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy along with the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) have directed utility providers to install these products in every household by 2020, with a view to conserve electricity.Smart electric meter market size from Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) technology is anticipated to exceed USD 4 billion by 2024. Conventional AMR devices were programmed to collect meter readings and match with the utility provider's consumption data. Additional data parameters can be set in these products to control their functionality remotely, owing to technological advancement. These products give warning in case of meter tampering, low battery and leak detection.Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) systems will grow owing to increasing adoption of the advanced technology in developed nations including the U.S., UK, Sweden, Norway and Japan. These products provide enhanced features like notifications for demand response actions and time based pricing.Japan smart electric meter market is predicted to witness a paradigm shift owing to adoption of AMI products. In August 2015, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) launched an initiative to install over 2.7 million intelligent systems across the country and offer 24-hour customer support service through a Smart Meter Operation Centre.Notable players in the smart electric meter market include Siemens, Itron, Schneider Electric, Landis+GYR, Icsa, Circutor, Holley Metering, Iskraemeco, Osaki Electric, Honeywell International, Sensus Sentec, Elster Group, BadgerMeter and Neptune Technology.Read full report description @Related Reports: -Global Smart Electric Meter Market Professional Survey Report 2017This report studies Smart Electric Meter in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in thes...About Us:Centralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:
Global Hyperhidrosis Market Landscape Assessment: Trends, Forecasts and Opportunities in a Growing Market

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MarketResearchNest.com adds A Global Hyperhidrosis Market Landscape Assessment: Trends, Forecasts and Opportunities in a Growing Market new reports to its research database. The report spread across 63 pages with tables and figures in it.Latest report, "A Global Hyperhidrosis Market Landscape Assessment: Trends, Forecasts and Opportunities in a Growing Market" provides an in-depth assessment of the current trends in the global hyperhidrosis market, with a particular focus on primary axillary hyperhidrosis. This report also assesses the commercial landscape through multilevel analytics that include data split by stage of development, molecular target, molecule type and route of administration.Hyperhidrosis is a chronic disorder of excessive sweating beyond thermoregulatory needs and environmental conditions. It commonly arises in childhood and adolescence, and can affect patients for many years. Most cases of hyperhidrosis involve areas of high eccrine (sweat gland) density, particularly the armpits, palms and soles, and less often the facial area. According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society (IHS), the global prevalence population of hyperhidrosis is 367 million. The US has the most hyperhidrosis cases among the major developed countries covered in this report. Hyperhidrosis occurs in men and women equally, and can present at any age.A limited number of approved products are available to treat primary axillary hyperhidrosis. Anticholinergics, antiperspirants and other botulinum toxin products, which are currently used off-label to treat the condition, are major competitors for available approved products. Existing therapies for the treatment of primary axillary hyperhidrosis have the ability to slow down the symptoms of the disease, but are unable to provide a complete cure. Moreover, the primary axillary hyperhidrosis pipeline lacks novelty and is very weak in terms of number of molecules in the development.Get more details about report atThe IHS recommends the use of approved medical device therapies as a permanent therapy for primary axillary hyperhidrosis. A shift from drug therapy to approved medical device therapy - which can provide a permanent cure for the disease - is likely to restrict the growth of the overall primary axillary hyperhidrosis drug market.Results from GBI Research's secondary research efforts have been integrated and amalgamated with our own analytical views to create a cohesive, insightful and objective assessment, examining the current state of the primary axillary hyperhidrosis therapy market and its future commercial prospects. This new CBR report adds to our unique portfolio of trusted industry analyses that enable our clients to assess the promising commercial areas in the life sciences industry and exploit key business opportunities.ScopePrimary axillary hyperhidrosis in the major developed markets will show a slight increase in growth rate during the forecast period- How will the approved, late-stage and other off-label products contribute to market growth?- What will be the effect of approved medical devices on available drug therapies?The global primary axillary hyperhidrosis pipeline lacks novelty and contains relatively few products- What is the distribution of primary axillary hyperhidrosis pipeline products by stage of development?- What are the most common molecular targets for pipeline products?- How many companies are currently involved in drug development?- What are the current treatment patterns available for primary axillary hyperhidrosis?- What are the approved medical devices available in the primary axillary hyperhidrosis market, and how are those competing with the existing drug therapies?- What is the impact of hyperhidrosis on the overall quality of life of patients?Various barriers will influence the primary axillary hyperhidrosis market over the forecast period.- What are the barriers for the growth of primary axillary hyperhidrosis market, and what are the recommended steps to overcome these barriers?Order a Purchase Report Copy atKey Reasons to Purchase- Understand the current clinical and commercial landscape by considering disease etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and the treatment options available at each stage of diagnosis, including a clinical comparison of marketed therapies.- Visualize the primary axillary hyperhidrosis market in terms of dominant therapies for each patient subset. Unmet needs are highlighted to allow a competitive understanding of gaps in the market.- Analyze the primary axillary hyperhidrosis pipeline and stratify pipeline therapies by stage of development, route of administration, molecule type and molecular target.- Understand the potential of late-stage therapy, with profile of product that could enter the market over the forecast period, highlighting clinical performance, and competition with other therapies.- Predict primary axillary hyperhidrosis market growth in the seven major developed markets, with epidemiological and annual cost of therapy forecasts across the US, Japan, the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy.Inquire before buying this report atMarketResearchNest.com is the most comprehensive collection of market research products and services on the Web. We offer reports from almost all top publishers and update our collection on daily basis to provide you with instant online access to the worlds most complete and recent database of expert insights on global industries, organizations, products, and trends.Mr. Jeet JainSales Managersales@marketresearchnest.com+1-240-284-8070 / +44-20-3290-4151
Industrial Cooling System Market to grow at 6% CAGR from 2016 to 2024

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Power generation segment contributed to majority of the global industrial cooling system market share in 2015, with demand expected to remain robust in the coming years. It is also forecast to witness high growth on account of increased application in nuclear and thermal power plants. Importance of temperature and pressure control for efficient and safe operation will remain the major growth driver. Growing global population base and urbanization has resulted in increased application scope, particularly in the manufacturing and power sectors. This is projected to drive demand for processed materials and fuel growth across the industrial cooling system market.Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @Stringent environmental regulations have mandated reforms to focus on greener buildings and replacement of older methods with innovated and greener solutions to reduce the effect of pollution and global warming. This demand has mandated participation of private sectors into power projects, widening the scope of the industry.Requirements of large amount of water for maintaining efficiency presents a considerable growth challenge for industry participants. Water requirement is dealt by installation of industries near water resources. Dissolved chemicals, minerals and biofouling accelerate corrosion and scaling, which require careful treatment. Deionizing of water required for warming electronic devices pose increased risks of short circuits, this is being circumvented by closed re-circulating systems.Browse Full Research Report On Seaweed Extracts Market @Greenhouse gases emissions and energy demand have led to growing interest of major nations in the world for nuclear power, which will provide a platform for industry growth. Certain factories, such as dyes, chemical manufacturers and textile applications, where only air cooling can be utilized as the most cost effective solution will provide moderate growth prospects.Commercially, Asia Pacific industrial cooling system market was the largest regional segment and is expected to grow rapidly during the forecast timeframe primarily due to steady economic development in the region. In addition, growth of industrialization in countries such as China and India is also driving revenue. Factors inhibiting growth are labored increase of demand in developed counterparts such as Europe and North America. Innovative and eco friendly solutions may present opportunities in the U.S. industrial cooling system market for replacement of old equipment. Germany contributed considerably to European revenue in 2015, mainly due to the presence of a strong technological and innovation landscape.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Key operating participants in the global industrial cooling system market share are Baltimore Aircoil Company, Bell Cooling Tower, Brentwood Industries Inc., Hamon Group, Johnson Controls Inc., Paharpur Cooling Towers, SPIG S.P.A, SPX Corporation, Airedale, American Power Conversion Corporation, and Black Box Corp. Major strategies adopted include agreements, contracts, and partnerships, R&D investment, and acquisitions to consolidate market share. Industry participants also offer replacement parts for these products in order to ensure smooth operation over the long term.About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog:Connect with us: Facebook | Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
CAS9 Technology Market Comprehensive Analysis & Global Forecast to 2022

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CAS9 technology Market Analysis by application, by medium (Enzyme, RNA, others), by delivery (IV Infusion, Injection, Inhalation others), By Key Companies (Editas Medicine, Horizon Discovery Group plc., New England Biolabs., Transposagen Inc., CRISPR Therapeutics) by end-users (hospitals, cardiac care centers, ambulatory and others) - Forecast till 2022Market Synopsis of CAS9 Technology Market:Market Scenario:CAS9 is an exceptional technological innovation that empowers genetic and therapeutic analysts to alter parts of the genome by removing, including or changing sections of the DNA. This technology right now is less complex, most adaptable and has precise technique for genetic manipulation hence it is causing a buzz in the science world. CAS9 is a genome altering technology that is creating a buzz in the science/healthcare world. It is faster in operation, monetarily less expensive and more efficient than previous technology used for altering DNA and has an extensive range of potential applications.This technology is yet to be performed upon humans, focus is currently on animals and on isolated human cells. It will help the healthcare/science industry to treat patients with fatal diseases. Based on the promising results of this technology, companies are investing massively in its research and development and are hoping to get the technology out of clinical trials as soon as possible. Globally the market for CAS9 technology is growing steadily and has a bright future.Get a Copy of Sample Report @Regional Analysis of CAS9 Technology Market:Globally North America is the largest market for CAS9 technology. Europe is expected to be the second-largest market. Furthermore Asia Pacific market is expected to be the fastest growing market for CAS9 Technology.Key Players for CAS9 Technology Market: CRISPR Therapeutics Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Lonza, Agilent Technologies GenScript Editas Medicine Horizon Discovery Group plc. New England Biolabs Transposagen Inc. CRISPR Therapeutics Albany Molecular Research Inc.Study objectives of CAS9 Technology Market: Giving detail analysis of the market structure along with its growth forecast for the next 7 years related to various segments and sub-segments of the CAS9 Technology market. Providing an insight about factors affecting the market growth. Analyzing the market based on various factors which includes price analysis, supply chain analysis, Porters Five Force Analysis etc. To provide historical and forecasting the future revenue of the markets segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa. Providing the country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and estimated growth of the market. To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to technology used, by application, by medium, end-user and its sub-segments. Presenting an overview of key players and their strategic profiling in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the in the market. Tracking and analyzing competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions, new product developments along with research and developments in the global CAS9 technology marketBrowse Full Report Details @Segments:CAS9 technology market has been segmented on the basis of medium which comprises of enzyme, RNA and others. On the basis of application the market is segmented into DNA sequence, DNA repair, gene library development, cell line engineering, genetic engineering, cancer, hepatitis B, gene therapy and others. On the basis of delivery IV infusion, injection, inhalation. On the basis of end-user, market is segmented into hospitals, biotechnology companies, research centers, and others.The report for CAS9 Technology market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regionsContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Global CAS9 Technology Market Research Report- Forecast To 2022 chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Absolute Analysis on Patient Monitoring Devices Market & Global Foresight to 2022

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2484

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/patient-monitoring-devices-market-2484

Market Research Future published a research report on Patient Monitoring Devices Market - Global Forecast To 2022 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2022.Patient monitoring devices market information, by Product type (Central monitoring stations, Portable bedside monitors, Electrocardiogram (ECG) Devices, Hemodynamic Monitoring Devices, Fetal and neonatal monitors, Respiratory Monitors, Weight management monitors, Temperature monitoring devices, and Others), by end user (Hospitals and clinics, Ambulatory care centers, Home care, and others) - Forecast to 2022Market Synopsis of Patient monitoring devices Market:Market Scenario:Patient monitoring devices in this report refer to the sensors which are used in smart wearable devices. Global Patient monitoring devices market is driven by increasing demand of wearable for infants and continuously evolving sensor technology. With increasing personal care and health consciousness, for tracking biometrics such as calories burnt, heart rate and others, the demand for wearable fitness trackers and other wearable is increasing. Rapid expansion of internet of things (IoT) is driving demand of Patient monitoring devices in various application areas such as healthcare and fitness, consumer electronics and others.Get a Copy of Sample Report @Key Players for Patient Monitoring Devices Market: GE Healthcare Roche Diagnostics BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG Abbott Laboratories Siemens Healthcare Philips Healthcare CAS Medical Systems, Inc, Spacelabs Healthcare Honeywell International, Inc. Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co.Study objectives of Patient monitoring devices Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 7 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Patient monitoring devices market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To analyze the Patient monitoring devices market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective To provide country level analysis of the market for segments by product type, by end user and its sub-segments. To provide overview of key players and their strategic profiling in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the global Patient monitoring devices market.Browse Full Report Details @Segments:Patient monitoring devices market has been segmented on the basis of product type which comprises Central monitoring stations, Portable bedside monitors, Electrocardiogram (ECG) Devices, Hemodynamic Monitoring Devices, Fetal and neonatal monitors, Respiratory Monitors, Weight management monitors, Temperature monitoring devices, and others. On the basis of end user, the market is segmented into Hospitals and clinics, Ambulatory care centers, Home care and others.Regional Analysis of Patient Monitoring Devices Market:Considering the global scenario of the market, North America region is believed to be the largest market for Patient monitoring devices. Moreover the European market is also growing and second largest market for Patient monitoring devices. On the other hand, Asia-Pacific market is expected to grow at the fastest pace in the Patient monitoring devices during the forecasted period. Rest of the World is likely to have a limited but steady growth in the market.The report for Patient Monitoring Devices Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regionsContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Patient Monitoring Devices Market - Global Forecast To 2022 chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Lancet and Pen Needles Market by annual upping, Types, Countries and Manufacturers to 2021

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https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/lancet-pen-needles-market

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Lancet and Pen Needle Market is booming in European Medical industry, technological advancement, heavy investment in research and development are some of the key factors that are going to drive the demand. The pen needle and lancet market is expected to register a CAGR of 7.9%Get Sample Report @Pen needles arrive in an assortment of needle lengths and breadths and are utilized by wellbeing experts and patients for infusion of an assortment of medicines. They are generally utilized by individuals with diabetes who regularly require various day by day insulin infusions. A lancet on the other hand is a two edged, small blade or surgical knife with a sharp point which has various types like surgical lancet, blood lancet and vaccination lancet.Companies Involved:Becton, Dickinson and Company, Novo Nordisk, Ypsomed Holding AG, B. Braun Melsungen AG, HTL-Strefa S.A., Terumo Corporation, Artsana S.p.a, Owen Mumford Ltd, Allison Medical, Ultimed.Market Segments Needles:Segmentation by Length:Segmentation can be done on the basis on length: 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mmTherapy:Segmentation can be done on the basis of Therapy: - Insulin, Hormones and Glucagon-like peptideEnd Users:Segmentation can be done on the basis of End users: Clinics, Hospitals, Medical InstitutionsSegments Lancets:Segmentation Penetration Depth:Segmentation can be done on the basis of Penetration Depth: 0.8 MM TO 1.0 MM, 1.1 MM TO 1.5 MM, 1.6 MM TO 2.0 MM, 2.1 MM TO 2.5 MM, 2.5 MM TO 3.0 MMSegmentation Gauge:Segmentation can be done on the basis of Gauge: 17/18G, 21G, 23G, 25G, 28G, 30GStudy Objectives of Lancet and Pen Needles Market:To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next ten years of the various segments and sub-segments of the global Pen Needles and Lancets market.Insights about factors affecting the market growth.Analyze the Pen Needles and Lancets market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc.Provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW).Provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective.Browse Report @Provide country level analysis of the market for segment by Type, Applications, End Users and its sub-segments. To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market.Track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the global Pen Needles and Lancets market.Regional Analysis of Lancet and Pen Needles Market:North America is currently one of the leading markets for lancets and pen needles. With an established infrastructure, Technological advancement, heavy investment in research and development and development of new techniques and instruments gives the North American region opportunity to become a leading market for the lancet and pen needle industry. The European medical market is currently booming. The numbers of medical professionals in Europe are increasing steadily. Increasing awareness, rising literacy rate is also going to increase the demand for pen needles and lancet products.Geographical Analysis:AmericasNorth America, US, Canada, Latin AmericaEuropeWestern Europe, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, U.K, Rest of Western Europe, Eastern EuropeAsia PacificAsia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Rest of Asia, PacificThe Middle East& AfricaThe report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market.Get Discount @At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for , regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Hepatitis C Drugs Market Ultimate Analysis & Worldwide Foresight to 2022

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https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/hepatitis-c-drugs-market-2487

Market Research Future published a research report on Global Hepatitis C Drugs Market Research Report- Forecast to 2022  Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2022.Hepatitis C Drugs Market Analysis, By key Companies-( Gilead sciences Inc. Abbvie Inc Johnson & Johnson & others) By Drug Class (Anti-Viral, Immuno-modulators and others), By Medicine System (Allopathic, Alternative and Others), By Route of Administration (Oral, Injectable and others) and By End User (Hospitals and Private) - Forecast Till 2022Market Synopsis of Global Hepatitis C Drugs Market:Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver characterized by yellowed eyes and skin due to bilirubin, flu-like symptoms which include nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, joint pain, headaches, clay colored stools etc.Hepatitis is caused by a variety of factors both microbial and non-microbial. However hepatitis C is caused by hepatitis C virus and affects between 130150 million people globally every year of which approximately 700 000 people die from hepatitis C-related liver diseases. What is of greater concern is the fact that 15 to 20% of chronically infected patients develop liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.The market is also unitary with a few dominant players such as Gilead with a few brands such as Sovaldi, Harvoni etc are leading the market. The development pipeline is however strong in the vaccine segment and it is expected that a vaccine will make its foray in the near future as happened with other forms of hepatitis.The market for hepatitis C is driven by factors such as disease prevalence, rise in government subsidy and reimbursement especially in U.S., greater screening especially in developing nations, drug abuse and unsafe sex etc.However the restraints are overwhelming such as self-imitating nature of the disease in a sizable number of patients, challenge of herbal treatment offered at negligible prices especially in developing regions, price war between companies such as between Gilead and Merck, rising urbanization and better sanitation etc. Thus the market in developed regions appears to reach a plateau as the number of people affected is not rising in developed regions. The reevaluation of hepatitis C strategy by companies such as Boehringer Ingelheim and its decision to refrain from moving forward in hepatitis C research also is an indication of stagnancy in developed region markets. Taking into consideration all factors the market for global hepatitis drugs was estimated to rise from $18700 million to $22721.1 million by the end of forecasting period reflecting a sluggish CAGR of 3.3%.Get a Copy of Sample Report @Key Players for Global Hepatitis C Drugs Market:Gilead sciences Inc.Abbvie IncJohnson & JohnsonMerck & co. Inc.Glaxosmithkline plcNovartis AGBristol-Myers SquibbHoffmann-la Roche ltd.Study Objectives Global Hepatitis C Drugs Market: To provide detail analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 7 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the global Hepatitis C drugs market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To analyze the market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective To provide country level analysis of the market for segments by drug class (anti-viral, immuno-modulators and others), by medicine system (allopathic, alternative and others), by route of administration (oral, injectable and others) and by end user (hospitals and private) To provide overview of key players and their strategic profiling in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments globally.Browse Full Report Details @Segments:Global hepatitis c drugs market has been segmented on the basis of drug class which comprises anti-viral, immuno-modulators and others. On the basis of medicine system; market is segmented into allopathic, alternative and others. On the basis of route of administration; market is segmented into oral, injectable and others. On the basis of end user the market is segmented into hospitals and private.Regional Analysis of Global Hepatitis C Drugs Market:Globally America is the largest market for Hepatitis C drugs. Europe is the second-largest market for Hepatitis C drugs. The developed regions market is expected to remain stagnant and even may show negative CAGR due to falling patients number. Thus market of developing nations however will show moderate growth and is expected to catch on the developed regions. The Asia pacific region will be led by China and India. Africa is expected to be a laggard in the global hepatitis C market.The report for Global Hepatitis C Drugs Market of Market Research Future comprises extensive primary research along with the detail analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides detail information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regions.ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Global Hepatitis C Drugs Market Research Report- Forecast to 2022 chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Tungsten Market (By End-Use Application, By End-User Industries, By Region, By Country): Trends, Opportunities and Forecasts (2016-2021)

ReportsWeb

http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001572771/sample

http://www.reportsweb.com/global-tungsten-market-2016-2021

ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global TUNGSTEN Market Research Report 2017 The report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.According to Publisher research report, Global Tungsten Market (By End-Use Application, By End-User Industries, By Region, By Country): Trends, Opportunities and Forecasts (2016-2021), market is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.25% during 2016 - 2021. Global Tungsten Market has been segmented on basis of End-Use Application (Hard Metals, Mill Products, Steel and Alloys, Chemicals & Others), By End-User Industries (Automotive, Mining, Construction, Oil & Gas, Aerospace & Defense and Medical), By Region (North America, Europe, APAC and ROW) and By Country (U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, China, India, Japan, Brazil and Saudi Arabia).Global Tungsten Market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 4.25% during 2016 - 2021. Strong growth in tungsten market is driven by the surging demand for downstream tungsten products in varied end-user sectors including automotive, industrial engineering, energy, and aviation. Apart from that, the uncovering of the wide range of applications in allied industries like medical, defense and electric and electronic, has been impelling growth in the tungsten market.Although, hard metals hold the major percentage share in the total tungsten market in the present, consumption of tungsten for mill products is projected to display a faster growth in the future owing to the increasing application in high growth electronic and construction industries. Regionally, tungsten demand growth is likely to be the fastest in the Asia Pacific region against the backdrop of economic growth in emerging markets. Developed regions of North America and Europe are expected to display a steady paced growth, mainly due to high expenditure in automotive and engineering sectors.A comprehensive research report created through extensive primary research (inputs from industry experts, companies, stakeholders) and secondary research, the report aims to present the analysis of global tungsten market on the basis of End-Use Application (Hard Metals, Mill Products, Steel and Alloys, Chemicals & Others), By End-User Industries (Automotive, Mining, Construction, Oil & Gas, Aerospace & Defense and Medical), By Region (North America, Europe, APAC and ROW) and By Country (U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, China, India, Japan, Brazil and Saudi Arabia).Request a Sample copyScope of the ReportBy End-Use Application- Hard Metals- Steel and Other Alloys- Mill Products- Chemical- OtherBy End-User Industries- Automotive- Mining- Construction- Oil & Gas- Aerospace and Defense- MedicalBy Region- North America- Europe- APAC- ROWBy North America Tungsten Market- By Hard Metals, By Finished Product Type- By Hard Metals, By End-User IndustriesBy Country- U.S- Canada- Germany- U.K- China- India- Japan- Brazil- Saudi ArabiaComplete report is available at- Primary Research: Interviews conducted with key management people to gain quality responses and deeper insights.- Secondary Research: Data and insights from industry associations, annual reports, company presentations, premium journals and internal database.- Actual Period: Historical and current market sizing (2011-2015)- Forecast Period: Projected market sizing (2016E-2021F)Company Analysis15.1 Sandvik AB15.2 Kennametal Inc.15.3 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.15.4 Nippon Tungsten Co., Ltd15.5 NAECO, LLC.15.6 Toonney Alloy(Xiamen) Co.,Ltd.15.7 Federal Carbide Company15.8 Buffalo Tungsten Inc.Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Pune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Somatostatin Industry Global Production,Growth,Share,Demand and Applications Forecast to 2021

Somatostatin Market 2017

https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2415872-global-somatostatin-market-report-2017

https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/2415872-global-somatostatin-market-report-2017

WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - Somatostatin Industry Global Production,Growth,Share,Demand and Applications Forecast to 2021.The Somatostatin industry has also suffered a certain impact, but still maintained a relatively optimistic growth, the past four years, Somatostatin market size to maintain the average annual growth rate of 14.93% from 124.9 million $ in 2013 to 189.6 million $ in 2016, The analysts believe that in the next few years, Somatostatin market size will be further expanded, we expect that by 2021, The market size of the Somatostatin will reach 291.5 million $.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comThis Report covers the manufacturers data, including: shipment, price, revenue, gross profit, interview record, business distribution etc., these data help the consumer know about the competitors better. This report also covers all the regions and countries of the world, which shows a regional development status, including market size, volume and value, as well as price data.Besides, the report also covers segment data, including: industry segment, channel segment etc. cover different segment market size, both volume and value. Also cover different industries clients information, which is very important for the manufacturers.Sections:-Section 1: FreeDefinitionSection (2 3): 1200 USDManufacturer DetailMerck (Schweiz) AGSANOFI-AVENTIS FRANCELyomark Pharma GmbHALFA WASSERMANN S.p.A.Polypeptide Laboratories, IncSAMARTHUBPLHYBIOTianTaiShanYangtze RiverSiyaoShuangchengHainan ZhongheSL PHARMWuhan HualongQingdao GuodaChengdu ShengnuoLongjinSection 4: 900 USDRegion SegmentationNorth America Country (United States, Canada)South AmericaAsia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea)Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy)Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC)ContinueAsk Query About Report @Table Of Contents  Major Key PointsSection 1 Somatostatin Product DefinitionSection 2 Global Somatostatin Market Manufacturer Share and Market Overview2.1 Global Manufacturer Somatostatin Shipments2.2 Global Manufacturer Somatostatin Business Revenue2.3 Global Somatostatin Market OverviewSection 3 Manufacturer Somatostatin Business Introduction3.1 Merck (Schweiz) AG Somatostatin Business Introduction3.1.1 Merck (Schweiz) AG Somatostatin Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2013-20163.1.2 Merck (Schweiz) AG Somatostatin Business Distribution by Region3.1.3 Merck (Schweiz) AG Interview Record3.1.4 Merck (Schweiz) AG Somatostatin Business Profile3.1.5 Merck (Schweiz) AG Somatostatin Product Specification3.2 SANOFI-AVENTIS FRANCE Somatostatin Business Introduction3.2.1 SANOFI-AVENTIS FRANCE Somatostatin Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2013-20163.2.2 SANOFI-AVENTIS FRANCE Somatostatin Business Distribution by Region3.2.3 Interview Record3.2.4 SANOFI-AVENTIS FRANCE Somatostatin Business Overview3.2.5 SANOFI-AVENTIS FRANCE Somatostatin Product Specification3.3 Lyomark Pharma GmbH Somatostatin Business Introduction3.3.1 Lyomark Pharma GmbH Somatostatin Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2013-20163.3.2 Lyomark Pharma GmbH Somatostatin Business Distribution by Region3.3.3 Interview Record3.3.4 Lyomark Pharma GmbH Somatostatin Business Overview3.3.5 Lyomark Pharma GmbH Somatostatin Product Specification3.4 ALFA WASSERMANN S.p.A. Somatostatin Business Introduction3.5 Polypeptide Laboratories, Inc Somatostatin Business Introduction3.6 SAMARTH Somatostatin Business IntroductionSection 4 Global Somatostatin Market Segmentation (Region Level)4.1 North America Country4.1.1 United States Somatostatin Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.1.2 Canada Somatostatin Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.2 South America Country4.2.1 South America Somatostatin Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.3 Asia Country4.3.1 China Somatostatin Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.3.2 Japan Somatostatin Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.3.3 India Somatostatin Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.3.4 Korea Somatostatin Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.4 Europe Country4.4.1 Germany Somatostatin Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.4.2 UK Somatostatin Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.4.3 France Somatostatin Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.4.4 Italy Somatostatin Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.4.5 Europe Somatostatin Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.5 Other Country and Region4.5.1 Middle East Somatostatin Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.5.2 Africa Somatostatin Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.5.3 GCC Somatostatin Market Size and Price Analysis 2013-20164.6 Global Somatostatin Market Segmentation (Region Level) Analysis 2013-20164.7 Global Somatostatin Market Segmentation (Region Level) AnalysisSection 5 Global Somatostatin Market Segmentation (Industry Level)5.1 Global Somatostatin Market Segmentation (Industry Level) Market Size 2013-20165.2 Different Industry Price 2013-20165.3 Global Somatostatin Market Segmentation (Industry Level) AnalysisSection 6 Global Somatostatin Market Segmentation (Channel Level)6.1 Global Somatostatin Market Segmentation (Channel Level) Sales Volume and Share 2013-20166.2 Global Somatostatin Global Somatostatin Market Segmentation (Channel Level) AnalysisSection 7 Somatostatin Market Forecast 2017-20217.1 Somatostatin Segmentation Market Forecast (Region Level)7.2 Somatostatin Segmentation Market Forecast (Industry Level)7.3 Somatostatin Segmentation Market Forecast (Channel Level)Continue.For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Comprehensive Analysis on Spinal Implants Market & Worldwide Foresight to 2022

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https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/spinal-implants-market

Market Research Future published a research report on Spinal Implants Market Research Report - Global Forecast To 2022  Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2022.Spinal implants market information, by type (fusion implants, non-fusion implants), by procedure (open surgery, minimally invasive surgery) by material (titanium, titanium-alloy, stainless steel, and plastic) - Forecast till 2022Market Synopsis of Spinal implants Market:Market Scenario:Spinal implants are devices used by surgeons for treating deformities, stabilizing and providing strength to the spine and for expediting the fusion process. Spinal implants are used for treating disorders which include degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, kyphosis, fracture, and spondylolisthesis. Rise in the number of vehicular accidents, increased spinal injuries and disorders, continuous rise in the geriatric and obese population are some of the factors that are fueling growth of the global spinal implants market.Get a Copy of Sample Report @Key Players for Spinal implants Market: Alphatec Spine Inc Amedica Corporation Depuy Synthes Inc. (Johnson & Johnson) Exactech Inc. Globus Medical Inc. Integra LifeSciences, K2M Inc. LDR Holding Corporation Medtronic plc NuVasive Inc. Orthofix Holdings, Inc. RTI Surgical Inc. Stryker Corporation Quandary Medical LLC Zimmer BiometStudy Objectives of Spinal Implants Market: Providing detail analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 7 years of various segments and sub-segments of the spinal implants market. Giving insights about factors which are affecting the market growth. Analyzing the market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, Porters Five Force Analysis etc. Providing record about the past along with estimated future revenue of the markets segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa. Giving country level analysis of the market with respect to current market size and estimated future growth of the same. Providing country level analysis of the market segments by type, by procedure, by material and its sub-segments. Providing an overview of key players along with their strategic profiling in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies and drawing their current status in the market with respect to competition. Tracking and analyzing competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments along with research and developments currently happening in the global spinal implants market.Browse Full Report Details @Segments:Spinal implants market has been segmented on the basis of type of implant which comprises of fusion implants and non-fusion implants. On the basis of procedure, market is segmented into open surgery, and minimally invasive surgery. On the basis of material, market is again segmented into titanium, titanium-alloy, stainless steel and plastic.Regional Analysis of Spinal Implants Market:Globally North America is the largest market for spinal implants. Europe is the second-largest market. Furthermore Asia Pacific market is expected to be the fastest growing market for spinal implants.The report for spinal implants market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regionsContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Spinal Implants Market Research Report - Global Forecast To 2022chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Building Thermal Insulation Market Capacity, Generation, Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles report to 2017

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Market Study Report adds Global Building Thermal Insulation Market By Manufacturers, Countries, Type And Application, Forecast To 2022 report to its research database. The report spread across 117 pages with table and figures in it.Building insulation materials are the building materials which form the thermal envelope of a building or otherwise reduce heat transfer.This report focuses on the Building Thermal Insulation Material in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample copy of Building Thermal Insulation Market Research Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers  Lfhuaneng, Dow, Taishi, Beipeng, Rockwool, Sedant Roba, Shanghai ABM, Owenscorning, Kosenca, Beijing Wuzhou, Hengxiang Insulation Materials, Zhongjie Group, Xinxing Huamei, Huafon Puren, Beijing Beihai, First, Feininger, HuaXiaXinRong, Wenzhou Lucky, Ourgreen, Junxuan, Hongbaoli, Lecron Group.Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers: North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Regions Growth drivers: Global Building Thermal Insulation Market Overview Global Building Thermal Insulation Market Manufacturers Profiles Global Building Thermal Insulation Market Competition, by Manufacturer Global Building Thermal Insulation Market Analysis by Regions Global Building Thermal Insulation by Countries Global Building Thermal Insulation Market Segment by Type Global Building Thermal Insulation Market Segment by Application Building Thermal Insulation Market Forecast (2017-2022) Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers Research Findings and Conclusion AppendixMarket Segment by Type, covers  EPS Panels XPS Panels PU Panels Mineral Wool Panels OtherMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into  Roof Wall Floor OtherEnquire For Discount on Building Thermal Insulation Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Building Thermal Insulation Material market.Chapter 1, to describe Building Thermal Insulation Material Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Building Thermal Insulation Material, with sales, revenue, and price of Building Thermal Insulation Material, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Building Thermal Insulation Material, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Building Thermal Insulation Material market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Building Thermal Insulation Material sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceRelated Reports: -2017 Top 5 Aftermarket Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Players in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and AfricaThe Global Aftermarket Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) market size will be XX million (USD) in 2022, from the XX million (USD) in 2016, with a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of XX%Centralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
Hepatobiliary Disease Global Clinical Trials Review H2 2017

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ReportsWeb.com published Hepatobiliary Disease Global Clinical Trials Review H2 2017 from its database. The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials pertaining to the company. Report provides latest news for the past three months.Original Content:Publisher's clinical trial report, "Hepatobiliary Disease Global Clinical Trials Review, H2, 2017" provides an overview of Hepatobiliary Disease clinical trials scenario. This report provides top line data relating to the clinical trials on Hepatobiliary Disease. Report includes an overview of trial numbers and their average enrollment in top countries conducted across the globe. The report offers coverage of disease clinical trials by region, country (G7 & E7) , phase, trial status, end points status and sponsor type. Report also provides prominent drugs for in-progress trials (based on number of ongoing trials) . Publisher Clinical Trial Reports are generated using Publisher's proprietary database - Pharma eTrack Clinical trials database. Clinical trials are collated from 80+ different clinical trial registries, conferences, journals, news etc across the globe. Clinical trials database undergoes periodic update by dynamic process.For more information about this report@Report Scope- The report provides a snapshot of the global clinical trials landscape- Report provides top level data related to the clinical trials by Region, Country (G7 & E7) , Trial Status, Trial Phase, Sponsor Type and End point status- The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials (Trial title, Phase, and Status) pertaining to the company- The report provides all the unaccomplished trials (Terminated, Suspended and Withdrawn) with reason for unaccomplishment- The Report provides enrollment trends for the past five years- Report provides latest news for the past three monthsRequest Sample Copy at@Reasons to buyThis report will enhance your decision-making capability by allowing you to -- Develop business strategies by understanding the trends shaping and driving the Russian healthcare market- Drive revenues by understanding the key trends, reimbursement and regulatory policies, pharmaceutical market segments, and companies likely to impact the healthcare market in the future- Formulate effective sales and marketing strategies by understanding the competitive landscape and analyzing the performance of various competitors.Company Profile:SanofiStrides Shasun LtdPfizer IncOrifarm Group A/SNovo A/SNordic Group BVGenextra SpaConcordia International CorpChina Medical System Holdings LtdBuy@ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Embedded System Market: Popular Trends & Technological advancements to Watch Out for Near Future

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The global Embedded System Market is anticipated to witness a drastic growth opportunity in the coming years, as reported by Transparency Market Research (TMR). The aggressive contention in the worldwide market for embedded systems is relied upon to stay serious over the coming years, inferable from the substantial offers held by few key players. The general extent of provincial players is to a great degree because of the enormous measures of capital required to stay side by side in this quick paced market. Some if the leading names of this market are Atmel Corporation, Fujitsu, Texas Instruments, Samsung Electronics Corporation, and Freescale Semiconductor.Advent of wireless connectivity such as RapidIO and Infiniband norms has upgraded the execution of mechanical and in addition electrical systems. Moreover, it offers enhanced information examination that for the most part works on cutting edge embedded systems. IPv6 standard is a growth of TCP/IP, and is probably going to be the one of the propelled Internet Protocols (IP) installed in working frameworks (OSs). Growing demand from end utilize enterprises, for instance, human services is probably going to drive inserted framework market estimate development. Growing health care consumption combined with raising life span of the populace result in the requirement for cutting edge and reasonable restorative hardware. The decrease in inserted equipment cost and additionally rising demand in human services segment is expected to surge the business over the coming years.Sample With Latest Advancements @The worldwide market is expected to reach an evaluation of US$233.19 bn by 2021, which is the end of the forecast period. The market is expected to showcase a CAGR of 6.4% from 2015 to 2021.Advent of Automobile Industry Propels the Automotive Market Segment to LeadThe demand for embedded systems in the automotive business is relied upon to take up 18.3% of the market an incentive by 2021. This will be a pivotal offer, like this present industry's offer in market an incentive in 2014. Vehicles are one of the more flawless application fields for embedded systems because of the little size of these systems. They can without much of a stretch fit into different parts in an auto, which has prompted auto producers advancing their plans and ideas around the utilization of embedded systems and different gadgets.Browse Our Press Releases For More Information @The genuine estimation of embedded systems has just been acknowledged by ventures in the course of recent decades. The rising versatility that embedded systems give in the businesses of car, barrier and aviation, and customer hardware is very enormous and it doesn't appear to reduce at any point in the near future. Embedded systems have made considerable progress from their utilization in business-basic and security basic applications and are currently being utilized as a part of items that are composed around them.Advent of Smart Gadgets to Provide Lucrative Market OpportunityThe rising interest for embedded systems in North America is predicted to produce an income of US$89.87 bn, which will be the main offer at the time. The demand for embedded systems in this district has dependably been high because of a head begin this locale picked up from early infiltration in the U.S. This district has housed an incredible number of the key players as of now working in the worldwide market, including Intel Corporation, Texas Instruments, and Freescale Semiconductor.Browse Our Table of Content @"Savvy gadgets are presently one of the more looked for after electronic gadgets on the planet today, in all modern and business viewpoints," expresses a TMR examiner. "An ever increasing number of individuals are seeing the upside of utilizing cell phones that can perform exceptional errands that would some way or another require stationary PCs," the investigator includes.The current rate of advancement of gadgets and embedded systems has been especially solid, making critical extent of utilization and usefulness of brilliant gadgets and associated hardware. The current embedded systems are utilized to make and keep up correspondence between these gadgets and in this way make the shrewd system that enterprises are searching for to enhance operational effectiveness.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Food Service Equipment: New Business Opportunities & Investment Research Report

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https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/food-service-equipment.htm

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Transparency Market Research has published a report on the global Food Service Equipment (commercial Refrigeration) Market. As per the report, the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market is expected to expand at a 4.80% CAGR during the period between 2014 and 2020. The report, titled Food Service Equipment Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020, states that the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market was valued at US$31.5 bn in 2013 and is predicted to reach US$44.3 bn by 2020.Browse the full Food Service Equipment (Commercial Refrigeration) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020 report atSample With Latest Advancements @Constant developments in refrigeration technologies and increasing availability of large refrigerators has helped the growth of the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market in the recent past. Rapid growth of the hospitality industry is expected to be the major driver of the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market till 2020. Busy lifestyles have led to changes in the eating habits of the majority of the global population. Changes in eating habits have led to increasing demand for ready-to-eat-food products, thus fuelling the demand for refrigeration systems. Increase in the number of food outlets, restaurants, and hotels is expected to generate more opportunities for the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market during the forecast period.The global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market is segmented on the basis of product type and geography. Based on geography, the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market is divided into East Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, North West Europe, South West Europe, Russia, and Central Europe. In 2014, the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market was dominated by North America.Browse Our Press Releases For More Information @Growth of the North America market is driven by an increase in the activity of the hospitality industry and advancements in food refrigeration procedures. With recent developments, the leading players in the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market are expected to give tough competition to the new entrants. Some of the leading players in the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market are Ali Group, Hobart Corporation, Meiko, Manitowoc Company Inc., Cambro Manufacturing Company Inc., Hoshizaki Electric Co. Ltd., and Dover Corporation.Browse Our Table of Content @By product type, the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market is classified into ice machines, refrigerated vending machines, beverage dispensers, glass door merchandisers (GDMs), commercial fridges/freezers, blast freezers, ice cream machines, ice cream cabinets, walk ins, and others. In 2014, the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market was led by the walk ins segment; this segment registered the largest revenue, of close to US$5.3 bn, and is predicted to maintain its dominant position till 2020. In 2014, the walk ins segment registered sales of 990,790 units owing to the rising number of luxury hotels and restaurants in the hospitality sector. The beverage dispensers segment has the highest growth potential in the years to come. Advancements in cooling and refrigerating systems are expected to foster increased demand for better refrigeration systems, especially in the hospitality sector. Availability of commercial refrigerators in various sizes and with various capacities is expected to boost the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market during the forecast period.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Wearable Sensor Market: New Business Opportunities & Investment Research Report

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Some of the leading players operating in the global Wearable Sensor Market are NXP Semiconductors N.V., InvenSense, Inc., Infineon Technologies AG, Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Panasonic Corporation, Broadcom Corporation, and Analog Devices, Inc., notes Transparency Market Research (TMR). In the recent few years, several top manufacturers have been focusing on adopting advanced sensor technology to develop smarter wearable devices that can be used in a wide range of applications areas, observes TMR. The advent of smart watches and intelligent consumer devices has opened up lucrative avenues for market players, which is expected to intensify the competition in the coming years.The worldwide market for wearable sensor is predicted to rise at a substantial CAGR of 45.20% during 20142020. The market stood at a valuation of US$70 mn in 2014.Sample With Latest Advancements @Wearable Image Sensors to Witness Substantial DemandBased on product type, the wearable sensor market is segmented into motion sensors, medical based sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, image sensors, and position sensors. Of these, the wearable image sensor segment is projected to rise at the leading CAGR over the forecast period. The impressive growth of the segment is primarily attributed to their substantial applications in mobile devices in the area of infotainment and defense.Based on geography, the market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. Of these, the North America market for wearable sensor held the leading share of in 2014 and is anticipated to rise at an impressive pace over the forecast period.Browse Our Press Releases For More Information @Reducing Average Price of Wearable Sensors Unlocks New OpportunitiesThe growing number of applications of sensors in a variety of smart wearable devices, primarily to monitor and track several health parameters, is a key factor driving the wearable sensors market. Wearable smart devices have gained traction in the healthcare industry useful for the monitoring of various parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature. The increasing focus of populations about managing their health and fitness in real time has boosted the demand for wearable sensors in making smart devices. The growing popularity of proactive monitoring of patient data among healthcare providers to prevent life-threatening complications has further bolstered the uptake of wearable sensor technology.However, the mounting security and compliance concerns in smart wearable devices has hindered their adoption, which is likely to impede the wearable sensor market to an extent. Nevertheless, the rising efforts by manufacturers in the integration of wearable sensors with multifunctional smart devices is a key trend expected to accentuate the market. The growing focus of leading technology players such as Google and Microsoft in developing sophisticated devices bodes well for the wearable sensor market. In addition, in the coming years, the cost of raw materials used in manufacturing smart devices is likely to reduce, thereby increasing the penetration of wearable sensors. In addition, recent advancements in manufacturing methods, such as 3D printing, has opened up new avenues of growth for market players.Browse Our Table of Content @Recent mainstreaming of fitness bands and smart watches among consumers in various developing and developed regions has catalyzed the growth of wearable sensor market. Furthermore, substantial research in sensor and recent design innovations in smart wearable devices are crucial factors expected to unlock exciting opportunities for market players in the coming years.Key players in the wearable sensors market include Analog Devices, Inc. (U.S.), Broadcom Corporation (U.S.), Freescale Semiconductor Inc. (U.S.), Infineon Technologies AG (Germany), InvenSense, Inc. (U.S.), NXP Semiconductors N.V. (Netherlands), and Panasonic Corporation (Japan) among others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
High Content Screening Products Market: New Business Opportunities & Investment Research Report

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https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/high-content-screening-products-market.htm

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North America is spearheading the growth momentum in the global High Content Screening Products Market. High-content screening (HCS), also known as high-content analysis (HC) or cellomics comprises of a set of analytical methods such as microscopy, multi-parameter image processing, and visualization tools to gather quantitative data from cell populations. High-content screening (HCS) finds application in biological research and drug discovery.Rising thrust on cell-based research, increasing initiatives for drug discovery, and emergence of more sophisticated image analysis instruments are some of the factors that are having a positive influence on the global high-content screening (HCS) products market. Research organizations, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and academic and research institutes are the end-use segments in the market.Sample With Latest Advancements @According to Transparency Market Research, the global high content screening products market will likely rise at a CAGR of 8.0% from 2017 to 2022 to become worth US$1.23 bn by 2022.Here are the key insights into the global high content screening products market:Government support across countries worldwide for cell-based research has been providing a major boost to the global high content screening products market. Other factors having an equally positive impact on the growth of the market are demand for improved technologies for cell research, emergence of sophisticated informatics solutions, and rising demand for better screening systems. Besides, pressing need to develop new drug molecules, demand for advanced cell-based imaging are also stoking the global high content screening products market.Browse Our Press Releases For More Information @The increasing instances of chronic diseases, namely HIV AIDS, epilepsy and Parkinsons disease that require intensive treatment along with the growing requirement of determination and study of toxicity levels in the initial phases of drug discovery is also providing a boost to the market.The different types of products available in the global high content screening products market are consumables, microplates, instruments, software, and service. Of them, the segment of consumables accounts for maximum market share. By rising at a CAGR of 8.3%, the segment will become worth US$486.6 mn in 2022.Geographically, North America is the leading market which is expected to register a CAGR of 8.2% in the forecast period. Rising at this rate, the market which is worth US$271.4 mn now in 2017 will likely become worth US$402.1 mn in 2022. Rising prevalence of chronic diseases, large pool of elderly, various collaborations with research institutes, strategic mergers and acquisitions, and superior healthcare infrastructure have served to propel the market in the region.Browse Our Table of Content @In terms of contribution to revenue, Europe trails North America. It currently accounts for 25.8% revenue share in the global high content screening products market. This is mainly because of the substantial investments in healthcare and government regulations in the region. Vis-a-vis growth rate, Asia Pacific is projected to outpace all other regions. By the end of 2022, Japan high content screening products market is projected to reach US$ 113.1 mn, expanding at a CAGR of 7.8% over the forecast period.Competitive TrackingSome of the prominent participants in the global high content screening products market are Thermo Fisher Scientific, Molecular Devices, GE Healthcare, PerkinElmer Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Thorlabs, Inc., Merck KGaA, Cell Signaling Technology, Genedata AG, and Yokogawa Electric Corporation. These companies are expending time and money in developing novel technologies to satisfy unmet medical needs. They are also focusing on mergers and acquisitions in order to expand their market share.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Man-Portable Military Electronics Market Size | Grow at 3.29% CAGR | $6.4 billion by 2027

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Worldwide Man-Portable Military Electronics Market report of 2027 provides a detailed market overview as well as industry analysis for / of companies, manufacturers and distributors covering data on gross margin, cost structure, consumption value, sale price and more.A Global Man-Portable Military Electronics Market Landscape Assessment: Trends, Forecasts and Opportunities in a Growing MarketGlobal Man-Portable Military Electronics Market 2017-2027 With military operations becoming highly sophisticated around the world there is an increase in the demand for portable electronics for quick response, which resulted in several key defense spenders to invest heavily in this market of man-portable electronics devices. Increasing focus on soldier modernization program and rising demand for new man-pack communication devices as well as wearable night vision, thermal imaging systems and M-UAV is contributing significantly to the growth of the global man-portable electronics market.Global Man-Portable Military Electronics Market 2017-2027 report offers a detailed analysis of the industry, with market size forecasts covering the next ten years. This report will also analyze factors that influence demand for man-portable electronic systems, key market trends, and challenges faced by industry participants.Request a Free sample PDF of this research to evaluate more:Scope The global man-portable military electronics market, valued at US$4.7 billion in 2017, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.29% over the forecast period, to reach US$6.4 billion by 2027 and cumulatively value US$55.6 billion. The market consists of three categories: communication, ISTAR and force protection. The market is expected to be dominated by communication segment, which will account for 56.7% of the market, followed by ISTAR and force protection segments with shares of 28.4% and 14.9% respectively. North America is projected to dominate the sector with a share of 37.8%, followed by Asia Pacific, with an estimated share of 36.0%Request a discount on global Man-Portable Military Electronics research report @Reasons to buy: Determine prospective investment areas based on a detailed trend analysis of the global man-portable electronics market over the next ten years Gain in-depth understanding about the underlying factors driving demand for different man-portable electronic systems segments in the top spending countries across the world and identify the opportunities offered by each of them Strengthen your understanding of the market in terms of demand drivers, industry trends, and the latest technological developments, among others Identify the major channels that are driving the global man-portable electronics market, providing a clear picture about future opportunities that can be tapped, resulting in revenue expansion Channelize resources by focusing on the ongoing programs that are being undertaken by the defense ministries of different countries within the global military man-portable electronics market Make correct business decisions based on thorough analysis of the total competitive landscape of the sector with detailed profiles of the top man-portable electronic solution providers around the world which include information about their products, alliances, recent contract wins and financial analysis wherever availableRelated Reports: -Global Central Airspace Management Unit Market Professional Survey Report 2017This report studies Central Airspace Management Unit in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, importMarketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
Canada-Telecommunication Services Large market with fast acceptance of growing technologies

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There are exciting possibilities for telecommunication companies in Canada as 5G networks begin to launch. Huawei Canada is planning to invest US$500 million into establishing a 5G network in Ontario, with their focus mainly on advanced communications research initiatives, including faster Internet speeds and related technologies such as cloud computing, data analytics and mobile security. They have already started 5G trial runs for the next generation of cellular phone systems. This technology has a higher bandwidth and speeds of up to 29.3 gigabits per second (Gbps), much faster than the current fourth generation speed of 1Gbps. This technology will help Canada create a platform combining mobile apps, bandwidth and cloud technology.Publisher's Premium industry reports provide a comprehensive market view including sections on: industry risk & reward, key industry trends and drivers, industry SWOT analysis, industry benchmarking to compare key performance indicators with regional and global markets, competitive landscape, and innovation.Request a Sample copy atScope:--Risk/Reward Index-enables you to assess the risks and potential rewards of investing in the Canadian Telecommunications market in comparison with other North-American countries.-Industry Snapshot and Industry View-Key Telecommunications Industry Statistics including fixed/mobile revenue, subscriptions, churn, market share, and ARPS are analyzed to reveal the key issues and trends driving market performance in the Canadian Telecommunications market.-Industry SWOT Analysis-Discover the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats impacting market performance and investment in the Canadian Telecommunications market.-Industry Benchmarking-Benchmark how the Canadian telecommunications market is performing compared to regional and global markets in terms of fixed or mobile revenue, subscriptions, ARPS, penetration, and usage to gauge potential for growth or market entry.-Competitive Landscape-Analyze and compare the performance of the leading players in the Canadian Telecommunications market by business segment on metrics such as such as churn, ARPU, and subscriber and revenue growth.Key HighlightsBroadband services to get a cash injectionBroadband penetration offers a lot of growth opportunities for the country. It has increased from 34.4% in 2012 to 36.2% in 2016 and is expected to increase further to 38.9% by 2021. The governments of Ontario and Canada plan to invest US$180 million to help bring ultra-high speed internet to homes and businesses in southwestern Ontario. Bell Canada enterprises (BCE) also spent US$854 million in 2016 on fiber for home broadband connections in Montreal, US$1.14 billion in Toronto and US$225 million in Quebec in 2015 for fiber installation.Canada's telecommunications market proves to be robustThe decline in churn rate indicates higher customer retention in the market. Companies can retain their customers with rapid issue resolution and quality customer service. Canada reported a very low churn rate of 19.7% in 2016 in comparison to the North American average churn rate of 26.4% during the same period. It's peer countries also showed comparatively high churn rate with Mexico at 65.9% and the US at 26.9%. The decline is attributed to value added services offered by operators, along with adoption of the latest technology.Leading companies invest heavily in technological advancementThe focus of operators towards infrastructure development has driven the telecom market in Canada.In 2016, Bell invested US$1 billion in 2016 to extend the availability of its Gigabit Fiber Internet service to around 3 million homes and businesses in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, up from around 2.2 million at the end of 2015.Also, in 2016, Telus invested US$260million into fiber rollout to Quebec residences and businesses in both rural and urban communities.In 2017, CRTC declared broadband internet access a basic service which will boost internet service and speeds in rural and isolated areas.Complete report is available atReasons to buy :--How is Canada's telecommunications industry performing compared to other North-American countries--How committed are Canada's leading telecommunication companies to investing in new technology--What will Australia's broadband penetration look like in 2021--What are the Canadian Telecommunications industry's Strengths and Weaknesses and what Opportunities and Threats does it face-Get Discount atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Pune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Seat Belts Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022

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ReportsWeb.com published Seat Belts Market from its database. The report covers the marketlandscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Seat Belts-Global Market Status and Trend Report 2017- Top 20 Countries Data Version offers a comprehensive analysis on Seat Belts industry, standing on the readers' perspective, delivering detailed market data in Global major 20 countries and penetrating insights. No matter the client is industry insider, potential entrant or investor, the report will provides useful data and information. Key questions answered by this report include:Worldwide and Top 20 Countries Market Size of Seat Belts 2012-2016, and development forecast 2017-2022Main manufacturers/suppliers of Seat Belts worldwide and market share by regions, with company and product introduction, position in the Seat Belts marketMarket status and development trend of Seat Belts by types and applicationsCost and profit status of Seat Belts, and marketing statusMarket growth drivers and challengesFor more information about this report @The report segments the Global Seat Belts market as::Global Seat Belts Market: Countries Segment Analysis (Regional Production Volume, Consumption Volume, Revenue and Growth Rate 2012-2022):North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia, Spain and Benelux)Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, Southeast Asia and Australia)Latin America (Brazil, Argentina and Colombia)Middle East and AfricaGlobal Seat Belts Market: Type Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume, Average Price, Revenue, Market Share and Trend 2012-2022):Two Point Safety BeltShoulder BeltThree Point Safety BeltFour Point Safety BeltApplication of Flexible Solar CellPassenger VehiclesCommercial VehiclesRequest a sample copy @Companies MentionedAutoliv Inc.ZF TRW Automotive Holdings CorpTakata CorporationRobert Bosch GmbHContinental AGDenso CorporationKey Safety Systems IncToyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.Hyundai Mobis Co. LtdTokai Rika Co. LtdList of Tables and FiguresFigure Representative Commercial Product Picture of Seat BeltsFigure Global Shipments Volume Share of Seat Belts by Types in 2016Figure Representative Commercial Product Picture of Two Point Safety BeltTable Advantage and Disadvantage of Two Point Safety BeltFigure Representative Commercial Product Picture of Shoulder BeltTable Advantage and Disadvantage of Shoulder BeltFigure Representative Commercial Product Picture of Three Point Safety BeltTable Advantage and Disadvantage of Three Point Safety BeltFigure Representative Commercial Product Picture of Four Point Safety BeltTable Advantage and Disadvantage of Four Point Safety BeltFigure Demand Volume Share of Seat Belts by Downstream Industry in 2016Figure Passenger Vehicles Example of Seat BeltsFigure Commercial Vehicles Example of Seat BeltsFigure Global Seat Belts Revenue and Growth Rate 2012-2022Figure Global Seat Belts Market Size Comparison in 2012, 2016 and 2022Figure North America Seat Belts Revenue and Growth Rate 2012-2022Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Pune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Human Rotavirus Vaccine Market: Global Key Players Bharat Biotech, Merck & Co., Inc., GlaxoSmithKline

Human Rotavirus Vaccine Market

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Market Research Future has a half cooked research report on the global human rotavirus vaccine market. Human Rotavirus Vaccine Market is Expected to Grow CAGR at a ~ 11.2 % by 2023Human rotavirus vaccine market information: by type (Rotarix, RotaTeq, Rotavac, Rotavin-M1, Lanzhou lamb, others) by end users (hospitals & clinics, academic and research, others) - Global forecast till 2023Market Highlights:Rotavirus vaccine is used to protect against rotavirus infections which cause severe diarrhoea among young children. Rotavirus vaccine is administered by mouth and requires two or three doses which are given starting around six weeks of age. The vaccine first became available in the United States in 2006. Rotavirus is a double-stranded RNA virus of the family Reoviridae and is transmitted by the faecal-oral route. It infects the cell lining of the small intestine and causes gastroenteritis. According to National Center for Biotechnology Information, rotavirus related diarrhoea is responsible for killing about 600,000 children in 2015, with more than 80% of all rotavirus-related deaths occurring in in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Rotavirus-related deaths represent approximately 5% of all deaths in children younger than 5 years of age worldwide. Almost every child in the world is infected with rotavirus at least once by the age of five. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that rotavirus vaccine be included in national routine vaccinations programs. The vaccines is responsible to prevent 15 to 34% of severe diarrhoea in the developing world and 37 to 96% of severe diarrhoea in the developed world. According to World Health Organization (WHO) in Mexico a decline of up to 50% in diarrhoeal deaths in children less than 5 years of age was attributed directly to the use of the vaccine.Product development is the most attractive strategy for the human rotavirus vaccine industry. Latest vaccines have withstood historic safety profiles because intussusception was a complication of the first rotavirus vaccine, RotaShield. Cost effective production remains another challenge as human rotavirus vaccines are many times expensive per dose than the cheapest traditional treatment.Sample Report Available atGlobal Human Rotavirus Vaccine Market PlayersKey players profiled in the report are Bharat Biotech, Merck & Co., Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Sanofi and others.Regional AnalysisThe Americas account for a significant market share owing to extensive use of medications and high expenditure on the health care. Additionally, the fastest uptake of new technology in the US drives the global human rotavirus vaccine market. Also, concentration of major research companies and vaccine research sector in the developed countries of this region is adding fuel to the market growth.Europe is the second largest market in the world due to high income and healthcare penetration.Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly and China and India are likely to lead this market due to fast growing healthcare sector during the forecast period.Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are estimated to drive the Middle East & African market. The African region is expected to witness a moderate growth owing to poor economic and political conditions and poor healthcare development.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 50 market data tables and figures spread over 80 pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content (TOC) & market synopsis on Global Human rotavirus vaccine Market Research Report  Forecast till 2023.SegmentationThe global Human rotavirus vaccine market has been segmented on the basis of type and end users.Based on type, the market has been segmented as Rotarix, RotaTeq, Rotavac, Rotavin-M1, Lanzhou lamb and others.Based on the end users, the market has been segmented as hospitals & clinics, academic and research and others.Browse complete report atMarket scenarioRotavirus vaccine is used to protect against rotavirus infections which cause severe diarrhoea among young children. Symptoms of rotavirus infection include severe diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain which can result in disease. Rotavirus vaccine is administered by mouth and requires two or three doses starting around six weeks of age. The vaccine first became available in the United States in 2006.Rotavirus is a double-stranded RNA virus of the family Reoviridae and is transmitted through the faecal-oral route. It infects the cell lining of the small intestine and causes gastroenteritis. According to National Center for Biotechnology Information, rotavirus related diarrhoea was responsible for killing about 600,000 children in 2015, with more than 80% of all rotavirus-related deaths occurring in in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Rotavirus-related deaths represent approximately 5% of all deaths in children younger than 5 years of age worldwide. Almost every child in the world is infected with rotavirus at least once by the age of five. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that rotavirus vaccine be included in national routine vaccinations programs. The vaccines is responsible to prevent 15 to 34% of severe diarrhoea in the developing world and 37 to 96% of severe diarrhoea in the developed world. According to World Health Organization (WHO) in Mexico a decline of up to 50% in diarrhoeal deaths in children less than 5 years of age was attributed directly to the use of the vaccine.The market drivers for rotavirus vaccine market are its safety profile including use in HIV/AIDS patients, growing number of immunity-compromised individuals, increasing geriatric population, growing population and live births etc. The market restraints are risks such as immune reaction, babies who have had intussusception, low healthcare expenditure in developing regions, cleanliness initiatives by NGOs and health awareness creation to eradicate the prevalence of this virus etc.Regional analysis:The Americas account for a significant market share owing to extensive use of medications and high expenditure on the health care. Additionally, the fastest uptake of new technology in the US drives the global human rotavirus vaccine market. Also, concentration of major research companies and vaccine research sector in the developed countries of this region is adding fuel to the market growth.Europe is the second largest market in the world due to high income and healthcare penetration.Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly and China and India are likely to lead this market due to fast growing healthcare sector during the forecast period.Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are estimated to drive the Middle East & African market. The African region is expected to witness a moderate growth owing to poor economic and political conditions and poor healthcare development.Get a discount atThe report for Global Human rotavirus vaccine market by Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain a deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives a clear picture of the current market scenario which includes past and estimated future market size with respect to value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides detail information about and strategies used by top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.About usAt Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Akash AnandP: +1 646 845 9312W:sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Halitosis Treatment Market CAGR 18.58% Growth Forecasts by 2023

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The Global Halitosis Treatment Market is segmented into four main regions namely America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa.The Major Key players of Global Halitosis Treatment Market: Key players profiled in the report are Colgate-Palmolive Company (U.S), All USA Partners LLC (U.S), Dr. Harold Katz, LLC (U.S), Rowpar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (U.S), Abbott (U.S), Listerine (U.S), AstraZeneca (U.S).Get Sample Copy @The Americas account for a significant market share owing to rising prevalence of gum diseases and extensive use of oral care products such as toothpastes, mouth washes, mouth sprays, etc. In 2013, in the US, USD 810 million was spent for halitosis treatment.Europe is the second largest market in the world whose growth is attributed to an increase in awareness regarding halitosis and products available for its treatment. Furthermore, increasing demand for new oral care products influence the market growth.Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly due to rising prevalence of chronic diseases such diabetes, respiratory diseases, kidney or liver failure with the increasing population. Rising geriatric population suffering from these diseases also contribute to the market growth.In the Middle East & Africa, the market is expected to witness a moderate growth owing to poor economic conditions, and lack of awareness about oral health.The Global Halitosis Treatment Market is segmented into pathological halitosis and others. Pathological halitosis is divided into oral pathological halitosis and extra oral pathological halitosis. Other types include physiological halitosis.Halitosis is a clinical condition characterized by unpleasant odor present in the mouth due to various periodontal and chronic diseases. It has become a social problem affecting large number of people across the world. The most common cause of halitosis is lack of oral hygiene and lack of awareness about diagnosis of this disease. Halitosis treatment market is expected to show a massive growth due to availability of a wide range of dental health care products, increasing geriatric population and rising prevalence of periodontal diseases. The global halitosis treatment market is expected to reach USD 22,153.4 billion by 2023, and the market is projected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 18.58% during the forecast period 2017-2023.Get Discount @Major TOC Halitosis Treatment Market:Research methodologyMarket dynamicsMarket factor analysisGlobal Halitosis Treatment market, by typesGlobal Halitosis Treatment market, by sensor placementGlobal Halitosis Treatment market, by applicationGlobal Halitosis Treatment market, by regionCompetitive landscapeCompany profile...ContinuedAbout US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Crypto Currency Market 2017 Global Analysis By key Players  Bitfinex, BitFury Group, Bitstamp, Coinbase, Coinsecure, Litecoin

Crypto Currency Market 2017

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - Crypto Currency Market 2017 Global Analysis By key Players  Bitfinex, BitFury Group, Bitstamp, Coinbase, Coinsecure, Litecoin.Global Crypto Currency market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingBitfinexBitFury GroupBitstampCoinbaseCoinsecureLitecoinOKEX Fintech CompanyPoloniexRippleUnocoin Technologies PrivateZEB IT ServiceGet a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comGeographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Crypto Currency in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesEUChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoBitcoinLitecoinEtheriumZcashOtherOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingPrivateEnterpriseGovernmentOtherAsk Query About Report @Table Of Contents  Major Key PointsGlobal Crypto Currency Market Research Report 20171 Crypto Currency Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Crypto Currency1.2 Crypto Currency Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Crypto Currency Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Crypto Currency Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Bitcoin1.2.4 Litecoin1.2.5 Etherium1.2.6 Zcash1.2.7 Other1.3 Global Crypto Currency Segment by Application1.3.1 Crypto Currency Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Private1.3.3 Enterprise1.3.4 Government1.3.5 Other1.4 Global Crypto Currency Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Crypto Currency Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 EU Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 South Korea Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 Taiwan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Crypto Currency (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Crypto Currency Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Crypto Currency Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022).7 Global Crypto Currency Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Bitfinex7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Crypto Currency Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Bitfinex Crypto Currency Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 BitFury Group7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Crypto Currency Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 BitFury Group Crypto Currency Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Bitstamp7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Crypto Currency Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Bitstamp Crypto Currency Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Coinbase7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Crypto Currency Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Coinbase Crypto Currency Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Coinsecure7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Crypto Currency Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Coinsecure Crypto Currency Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Litecoin7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Crypto Currency Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Litecoin Crypto Currency Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 OKEX Fintech Company7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Crypto Currency Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 OKEX Fintech Company Crypto Currency Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Poloniex7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Crypto Currency Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Poloniex Crypto Currency Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Ripple7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 Crypto Currency Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 Ripple Crypto Currency Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business OverviewContinue.For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Healthcare Human Resources (HR) Software Market To Reach $ 1.4 billion With 2.3% CAGR Forecast to 2023

Healthcare Human Resources (HR) Software

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The Global Healthcare Human Resources (HR) Software Market Research Report provides detailed analysis of the key regional market status of the Healthcare Human Resources (HR) Software Industry.Global Healthcare Human Resources (HR) Software Market Research Report, by administration software (payroll, time and attendance, benefits management and others), type of software (Recruiting, software-as-a-service (SaaS), core HR and others), By Organizations Type (Medium Businesses, Large Enterprises, Small Business), by end user (Pharmaceuticals, hospital and laboratories and other) Forecast till 2023Market Scenario:Human resource (HR) software maintains the confidential data like information of employee, address, contact number and financial data. HR software is only software that provides Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model which is useful in total employee life-cycle management capabilities and is a key driver for growth of HR software market. Human resource department operates various functions like recruitment, salary hikes, vacation leaves, bonus, training, management and payment benefits management. HR software offer various benefits like document control and security. Introduction of the new tools in the software like advertisement management, candidate searching, and linkup with Facebook and LinkedIn contribute for the growth of HR software market.Increase in automation of healthcare fuel the growth of HR software market. HR software helps in minimizing the time exhausted on administration, increasing popularity and awareness regarding the benefits of HR software led to the ameliorating HR software market during the forecasted period. But rapid increase in cybercrime which may harm data security can hamper the market growth. The complexity of software increases as the size of organization increase.Request a Sample Report @Human resource software market in healthcare is around 1 billion and it is expected to grow upto 1.4 billion till 2023 at very low CAGR of 2.3% annually.Key Players for Human Resources Software MarketPaychex, Inc. (US), Paycom Software, Inc. (US), SumTotal Systems Inc. (US), SAP SE (Germany), Ceridian HCM, Inc. (US), Taleo Corporation(US), PeopleAdmin(US), Kenexa Corporation(US), Workday, Inc. (US), Halogen Software Inc(Canada), SuccessFactors (US), CoreHR (Ireland), Ultimate Software (US), International Business Machine (IBM) Corporation (US), EmployWise (India) and Oracle Corporation (US)SegmentationHR software market has been segmented on the basis of administration software which are payroll, time and attendance, benefits management and others. On the basis of type of software like Recruiting, software-as-a-service (SaaS), core HR and others. By Organizations Type, Medium Businesses, Large Enterprises, Small Business. By user end, they are Pharmaceuticals, hospital and laboratories and other. By region it is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia-pacific and Middle East and Africa.Study Objectives Global Healthcare Human Resources (HR) Software MarketTo provide detail analysis of market structure with the forecast for next 6 years of the various segments of Global Healthcare Human Resources (HR) Software Market.To provide the detail information about drivers and factors restraining the market growth.To provide the key players and their role in HR software market.To provide the trends and opportunities in HR software market.To analyse the market by porters five force analysis, price analysis etc.To provide the analysis of market for segments by type administration software, development model, end user and region.Global Healthcare Human Resources Software Market, by region 2016North America is the largest market for the healthcare human resource software market. This is because of development in healthcare sector. Asia pacific is expecting the high growth on HR software market due to rapidly boosting in the development of the industries in this regions and increase in the number of healthcare organization. In developing countries like India and china it is expecting there will be catalyse industry growth over the forecast period. Europe is also expecting the substantial growth because of increase in the number of several corporate offices in healthcare sectors.Ask Question to Expert @Table of Content1 INTRODUCTION1.1 DEFINITION1.2 SCOPE OF STUDY1.2.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE1.2.2 ASSUMPTIONS & LIMITATIONS1.2.2.1 ASSUMPTIONS1.2.2.2 LIMITATIONS1.3 MARKET STRUCTURE:2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY2.1 RESEARCH PROCESS:2.2 PRIMARY RESEARCH2.3 SECONDARY RESEARCH:3 MARKET DYNAMICS3.1 DRIVERS3.2 RESTRAINTS3.3 OPPORTUNITIES3.4 MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS4 MARKET FACTOR ANALYSIS4.1 PORTERS FIVE FORCES MODEL4.2 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS4.3 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS4.4 THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS4.5 THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES4.6 INTENSITY OF RIVALRY5 GLOBAL HEALTHCARE HUMAN RESOURCES SOFTWARE MARKET, BY ADMINISTRATION SOFTWARE5.1 PAYROLL5.2 TIME AND ATTENDANCE5.3 BENEFITS MANAGEMENT5.4 OTHERSAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.comMRFR has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions.Our Research Analysts are eager to share their knowledge and assist you in refining market research parameters, choosing right market studies, and evaluating both the market scope and the research methodologies of varied segments.We bridge the gap between our clients and their clients by identifying and decoding just the target group, while generating leads with the highest accuracy.Years of research into diverse fields of work has ingrained within us, a proficiency so distinguished that our industry-specific specialists identify with your business ideas and feel the pulse of your challenges and opportunities. This enables us for providing assistance, through our consulting and strategic consulting services, in informed managerial decision making. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industries, WantStats Research and Media often conducts industrial visits for its research analysts. Relevant inputs from various established market participants, help our clients make significant contribution in respective markets are a huge motivation for all of us to endlessly furnish quality. We depend greatly on profound insights into complex realms of our study.Pune, India
Industrial Hand Gloves Market to Register a Strong Growth by 2022

Industrial Hand Gloves Market

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Market Highlights:The industrial gloves can be disposable as well as reusable based on the working environment. Gloves are generally thicker and used in harsher work environment whereas the disposable gloves are usually used in product protection. Consumer awareness for health and hygiene and workplace accidents are the major factors fuelling the demand for industrial gloves across the globe. Additionally, Product innovation is one of key driver for industrial gloves market. The other factors such as high quality and convenience as well as light weight material driving the market of hang gloves. Moreover North America and Europe is referred as leading consumer for industrial hand gloves. The key strategy adopted by leading market players is product launch. The need of efficient gloves with better grip and convenience are the prime reasons attributing to consistent product launches.Request a Sample Copy @Key Players of Industrial Hand Gloves Market: Honeywell Safety Products Ansell Ltd. Protective Industrial Products Inc. Semperit A.G. Holding Towa Corporation Top Glove Shamrock Manufacturing Company Globus (Shetland) Rubberex.Market Research Future Analysis:North America is leading the market of Industrial hand gloves. Shift in focus towards growing worker safety across mining, construction, chemical and manufacturing sectors should drive the growth for the market. Additionally, wearing gloves reduces the relative risk of hand injury and makes it one of the most effective equipment for injury prevention. Whereas, Rapid industrialization in APAC region is anticipated to boost the demand for these products. Occupational safety regulations as well as mandated policies by agencies keep workers safety in industries driving the market of industrial hand gloves. The global Industrial hand gloves is expected to grow at CAGR of 3% between years 2016 to 2022.Market Research Future analysis show that the global market of Industrial hand gloves market is estimated to grow at USD 9,798 million by the end of year 2022.Brief TOC:1 Market Introduction1.1 Introduction1.2 Scope of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions1.2.3 Limitations1.3 Market Structure:1.3.1 Global Industrial Hand Gloves Market: By Product1.3.2 Global Industrial Hand Gloves Market: By Material1.3.3 Global Industrial Hand Gloves Market: By Application1.3.5 Global Industrial Hand Gloves Market: By Region2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Type2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research2.4 Forecast Model2.4.1 Market Data Collection, Analysis & Forecast2.4.2 Market Size Estimation2.4.3 Market Crackdown & Data Triangulation3 Market Dynamics3.1 Introduction3.2 Market Drivers3.3 Market Challenges3.4 Market OpportunitiesContinueAccess Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Technologies and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.ContactMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Automotive Remote Diagnostics Market Explores New Growth Opportunities By 2022

Automotive Remote diagnostics Market

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Market Scenario:Automotive remote diagnostics is a solution to monitor the health of a vehicle, figures the root cause of the issues and also enables the customer to access information about the vehicle. The awareness regarding vehicle diagnostics, the rising demand regarding safety and security of vehicles, and the growing inclination towards premium vehicles are some factors expected to drive the market. In connectivity segment, bluetooth is expected to have largest share in the automotive remote diagnostics market. As bluetooth offers various features and one of them is it connects the vehicle to the internet via smart phone to transfer data from and with server. There are various trends in the market such as integration of mobile phones with telematics systems and vehicle diagnostic-based insurance programs. The global Automotive Remote diagnostics market is expected to show a growth at CAGR of about 16.90% from 2016 to 2022.Request a Sample Copy @Key Players of Automotive Remote Diagnostics Market: Robert Bosch GmbH Continental AG Delphi Automotive PLC Onstar LLC Snap-On Inc. Magneti Marelli Softing AG VOXX International Corporation Vector Informatik Vidiwave Ltd.Regional Analysis of Global Automotive Remote diagnostics Market:The North America region has a largest share in the automotive remote diagnostics market. Also, Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This region is led by China and India due to increasing population, increasing per capita income, improving living standards, and hence increasing demand for purchase of high end vehicles. And this will significantly drive the market of automotive remote diagnostics.Browse Full Report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Automotive HVAC Market: Opportunities, Demand and Forecast 2022

Automotive HVAC Market

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Market Highlights:Automotive HVAC is a system combining three major functions such as heating, ventilation and air- conditioning. Factors such as increasing demand for thermal insulations for energy efficient applications, and growth in the automotive sector are driving the market of Automotive HVAC. Recent trend shows that Companies, such as Audi, Mercedes, and BMW, focus on customized and consumer-friendly HVAC systems and supports automatic air conditioning, fogging sensor, and automatic climate control system. Moreover, Due to least level of human intervention, the automatic HVAC system are being installed in large extent, especially in premium and luxury segment passenger vehicles. Additionally, R&D focuses on automotive HVAC market for improving fuel efficiency, reducing environmental effect and lowering the weight of HVAC system. Government initiatives acts as a driving factor for the growth of Automotive HVAC market. Awareness about the environment in countries such as China and India lead to the growth of Automotive HVAC market.Request a Sample Copy @Key Players of Automotive HVAC Market: Denso Corp Valeo SA Behr GmbH Halla Climate Control Corp. Delphi Automotive Visteon Corp. Sanden Corp. Air International Thermal Systems Calsonic Kansei DelStar TechnologiesMarket Research Analysis:The Asia-Pacific region dominating the market of Automotive HVAC. Presence of automobile manufacturers and growing demand for automobiles in developing countries such as China and India. Increasing adoption of premium automobile brands in developing nation such as India and Brazil provides growth opportunities for industry players. Whereas, Japan referred as one of the largest automobile manufacturing companies in the world such as Toyota and Honda. Increasing production capacities, investment in R&D and requirement for hybrid technology drive the HVAC automotive market. Moreover, favorable government policies pushing the market towards growth. Moreover, demand for effective thermal systems in electric and hybrid powertrains. Vehicles require low-temperature cooling equipment along with normal equipment for regulated battery cooling. Whereas, increasing vehicle production and stringent government regulations to encourage the energy efficiency are driving the market in North America.Brief TOC:1 Market Introduction1.1 Introduction1.2 Scope of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions1.2.3 Limitations1.3 Market Structure:1.3.1 Global Automotive Hvac Market: By Technology1.3.2 Global Automotive Hvac Market: By Vehicle Type1.3.5 Global Automotive Hvac Market: By Region2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Technology2.2 Primary Researchpt2.3 Secondary Research2.4 Forecast Model2.4.1 Market Data Collection, Analysis & Forecast2.4.2 Market Size Estimation2.4.3 Market Crackdown & Data Triangulation3 Market Dynamics3.1 Introduction3.2 Market Drivers3.3 Market Challenges3.4 Market Opportunities4 Executive Summary5 Market Factor Analysis5.1 Porters Five Forces Analysis5.2 Supply Chain AnalysisContinueScope of the Report:This study provides an overview of the global Automotive HVAC industry, tracking three market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the global Automotive HVAC market as type, component, and application. On the basis of technology it is segmented as manual and automatic. On the basis of Vehicle type it is segmented as passenger vehicle and commercial vehicle. On the basis of component it is segmented as pipes, ducts and others.Access Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Air Filter For Automotive Market Trends, Growth, Demand & Global Forecast To 2022

Air Filter For Automotive Market

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Market Scenario:Air filter for automotive is a device made up of fibrous material to remove solid particulates like dust, pollen, bacteria and others from the air intake of the engines of the automotive, air conditioners and its other components. Air filters are used in the vehicle engines for maintaining the quality of air.The global air filter for automotive market is majorly driven by the growing automotive sector. The rising concern of automobile consumers for air pollution is also contributing to the growth of this market. The growth of this market can also be attributed to the increase in the government norms regarding the control of carbon dioxide emissions and the growing health concerns. Vehicles equipped with air-conditioners largely require cabin air-filters. Air filter for automobiles is also gaining importance with the increased air pollution and harmful exhaust gases which increase the health risk of the passengers.Request for a Sample Copy @Key Players:The key players of Air filter for automotive are Donaldson Company Inc. (Minneapolis), NGK Insulators, Ltd (Japan), Sogefi SpA (Italy), Mahle International GmbH (Germany), C & R Fab Media Private Limited (India), Melkev Machinery Impex (India), Global Filters LLC (U.S.), Simplex Corporation (Russia) and others.Brief TOC:1 Executive Summary2 Research Methodology2.1 Scope of the Study2.1.1 Definition2.1.2 Research Objective2.1.3 Assumptions2.1.4 Limitations2.2 Research Process2.2.1 Primary Research2.2.2 Secondary Research2.3 Market size Estimation2.4 Forecast Model3 Market Dynamics3.1 Market Drivers3.2 Market Inhibitors3.3 Supply/Value Chain Analysis3.4 Porters Five Forces Analysis4 Global Air filter for Automotive Market, By Type4.1 Cabin air filter4.2 Intake air filterContinueBrowse Full Report @Regional Analysis of Air Filter for Automotive Market:Europe is the largest market for air filter for automotive, owing to the rapidly increasing automobile sector in the region. The Asia-pacific region is also expected to grow in the air filter for automotive market, owing to the existence of large automobile giants in the region such as Hero, Maruti and others, who extensively use air filters. Japan is technologically advanced in the automotive market and is expected to have maximum contribution in the growth of the air filter for automotive market.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Automotive Metal Stamping Market Growth, Demand, Key Players and Global Forecast to 2022

Automotive Metal stamping Market

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Market Scenario:Metal stamping is a process in which metals are punched to achieve the desired shape. The process is performed with the help of stamping dies. The Metals used in automotive metal stamping are aluminium, steel, brass, copper and stainless steel.The growth of global automotive metal stamping market is expected to be driven by the booming automotive industry and the rapid increase in demand for smart automobiles. The increase in competition in the automotive industry is also leading to the rising demand of the metal stamping market. The process of metal stamping is applied in various stages of manufacturing in the automotive industry, such as panels, brackets, bonnets, roofs, hangers, and others, thus constantly inducing demand in the automotive metal stamping market. Increase in the use of metal sheet for the manufacturing of automobile chassis, transmission components, interior & exterior structural components, is projected to drive the growth of global automotive stamping market over the forecast period.Request for a Sample Copy @Key Players of Automotive Metal Stamping Market: Aro Metal Stamping co. (U.S.) Kenmode Precision Metal Stamping (U.S.) Martinrea International Inc. (Canada) Shiloh Industries, Inc. (U.S.) Acro Metal Stamping Co. (U.S.) Manor Tool & Manufacturing Company (U.S.) American Industrial Company (U.S.) Wisconsin Metal Parts, Inc. (U.S.) Clow Stamping Co. (U.S.)Regional Analysis of Automotive Metal Stamping Market:The metal stamping market in North America and Europe region is expected to grow, owing to the growing automotive industry in the region. The emerging trend of replacing the ferrous materials with the non-ferrous materials for reducing the weight of the machinery, is further driving the market in the region. North America region is also expected to grow further due to the existence of major players such as Kenmode Precision Metal Stamping, and Wisconsin Metal Parts, Inc. in the region.Brief TOC:1 Executive Summary2 Research Methodology2.1 Scope of the Study2.1.1 Definition2.1.2 Research Objective2.1.3 Assumptions2.1.4 Limitations2.2 Research Process2.2.1 Primary Research2.2.2 Secondary Research2.3 Market size Estimation2.4 Forecast Model3 Market Dynamics3.1 Market Drivers3.2 Market Inhibitors3.3 Supply/Value Chain Analysis3.4 Porters Five Forces Analysis4 Global Automotive Metal Stamping Market, By Technology4.1 Blanking4.2 Embossing4.3 Flanging4.4 Bending4.3 Coining4.4 OthersContinueBrowse Full Report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Automotive Adhesives Market Is Expected To Grow At A CAGR Of 8% By 2022

Automotive Adhesives Market

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Market Highlights:The demand for automotive adhesives market is expected to grow with the rising trend of lightweight and fuel efficient vehicles, which is encouraging the use of aluminum and other materials. This in turn, boosts the use of adhesives in the automobiles. The increase in the average use of automotive adhesive in the developing nations is expected to fuel the demand of automotive adhesives. The rapidly growing automotive industry in the developing nations is also expected to drive the growth of the market. However, the growth is projected to be restrained by the rapid fluctuations in the prices of raw materials.Request a Sample Copy @Key Players of Automotive Adhesives Market: The Dow Chemical Company (U.S.) Henkel (Germany) BASF (Germany) 3M Company (U.S.) Ashland Specialty Chemical Company (U.S.) H.B. Fuller Company(U.S.), Hindustan Adhesives Limited (India) Dynea International Oy (Finland) Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc.(U.S) Covalence Specialty Adhesives LLC (U.S.)Market Research Analysis:Among all types, Polyurethane is expected to account for the largest share in the automotive adhesives market, owing to its superior properties such as the ability of bonding on different surfaces and UV & heat stability. Polyurethane adhesives are mostly used for the repair and maintenance work in automobiles. They are majorly used where there is requirement of higher efficiency at low operating costs. They possess the characteristics of fast curing, good chemical resistance, optical clarity and others.APAC region is expected to be the fastest growing region during the forecast period due to huge investments from existing key players in the region. The original equipment manufacturers of the region are working to incorporate lightweight materials in automotive manufacturing to reduce overall weight of the vehicle. For this, their major focus is on use of composite or plastic materials. These materials can only be bonded with the help of adhesives, thereby driving the growth of the automotive adhesives market. High economic growth rate and the increase in demand from end use automotive industry is also driving the growth of the market.Scope of the ReportThis study provides an overview of the global automotive adhesives market, tracking two market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (ROW). The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the global automotive adhesives market by its type, Application and region.By Type Polyurethane Acrylic Polyamide OthersBy Application Paint Shop Assembly Powertrain OthersBy Region North America Asia Pacific Europe Rest of the WorldBrief TOC:1 Executive Summary2 Research Methodology2.1 Scope of the Study2.1.1 Definition2.1.2 Research Objective2.1.3 Assumptions2.1.4 Limitations2.2 Research Process2.2.1 Primary Research2.2.2 Secondary Research2.3 Market size Estimation2.4 Forecast Model3 Market Dynamics3.1 Market Drivers3.2 Market Inhibitors3.3 Supply/Value Chain Analysis3.4 Porters Five Forces Analysis4 Global Automotive adhesives market, By Type4.1 Polyurethane4.2 Acrylic4.3 Polyamide4.4 Others5 Global Automotive adhesives market, By Application5.1 Introduction5.2 Paint Shop5.3 Assembly5.4 Powertrain5.5 OthersContinueAccess Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Lubricants Market for Automotive: Trends and Worldwide Industry Analysis 2027

Automotive Lubricants Market

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Market Scenario:Increasing number of automobiles globally and rapid surge in commercial activities has been one of the key factors of growth in the Automotive Lubricants Market. Growing number of passenger cars, growing popularity of Motor Sport and Auto Racing has also contributed to the growth of the Automotive Lubricants Market. Increasing demand for passenger and commercial vehicles is also going to fuel the demand in the Automotive Lubricants market.Request a Sample Copy @Key Player of Automotive Lubricants Market: ExxonMobil Corporation(U.S.A) Chevron Corporation(U.S.A) Fuchs Lubricants Co.(U.S.A) ConocoPhillips Corporation(U.S.A) BP plc (U.K.) LUKOIL Oil Company (Russia), IDEMITSU Kosan Co. Ltd.(Japan) Royal Dutch Shell plc (Netherlands) Total S.A. and Valvoline (U.S.A)Segments:The Automotive Lubricants market has been segmented on the basis of type as engine oil, gear oil, grease, transmission fluids, engine coolant, and other fluids. On the basis of vehicle the market has been segmented as light, commercial, and heavy.Regional Analysis of Automotive Lubricants Market:Asia-Pacific is one of the dominant regions for the Automotive Lubricants market. Increasing demand due to increasing population in the Asia-Pacific region is one of the key factors for the high growth in this region. North America and Europe being one of the saturated markets are showing steady growth in the Automotive Lubricants market.Access Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Technologies and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Muconic Acid Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation and Others

Muconic Acid Market

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Global Muconic Acid Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Muconic acid is a dicarboxylic acid. There are three isomeric forms designated trans,trans-muconic acid, cis,trans-muconic acid, and cis,cis-muconic acid which differ by the geometry around the double bonds.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Muconic Acid Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:MyriantAmyrisSanta Cruz BiotechnologySigma-Aldrich CorporationTCIToronto Research ChemicalsZhongxing Flavors & FragranceAlfa AesarThermo Fisher ScientificDynacareOthersGlobal Muconic Acid Market: Key Product TypeTrans, Trans-Muconic AcidCis, Cis-Muconic AcidCis, Trans-Muconic AcidOthersGlobal Muconic Acid Market: Key ApplicationAdipic AcidScientific ResearchOthersGlobal Muconic Acid Market: Key RegionAsia-PacificNorth AmericaEuropeSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaThe Global Muconic Acid Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Muconic Acid Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Muconic Acid Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 Trans, Trans-Muconic Acid1.1.2.2 Cis, Cis-Muconic Acid1.1.2.3 Cis, Trans-Muconic Acid1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Adipic Acid1.1.3.2 Scientific Research1.1.3.3 Others1.2 Global and Regional Market Size.......................Continue (Global Muconic Acid Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Mountain Bike Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Solomo, Sava, TRINX and Others

Mountain Bike Marke

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Global Mountain Bike Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Solomo, Sava, TRINX and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Mountain bike, all kinds of parts are different from ordinary bicycles, with cushioning, good seismic performance of the tires, solid strong, rigid material frame, not easy to fatigue hand, and even in the steep ramp can also be fun ride Of the transmission, so that mountain bike is more suitable for mountain climbing and cross-country travel.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Mountain Bike Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:ForeverXDSScottYetiLIV?PivotSolomoSavaTRINXSmhMARMOTMarin?GTJamis?JulianaOthersGlobal Mountain Bike Market: Key Product TypeOrdinaryTrailAll MoutainDual SlalomFree RideDirt JumpingDown HillOthersGlobal Mountain Bike Market: Key ApplicationHousehold useCompetition useOthersGlobal Mountain Bike Market: Key RegionAsia-PacificNorth AmericaEuropeSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaThe Global Mountain Bike Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Mountain Bike Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Mountain Bike Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 Ordinary1.1.2.2 Trail1.1.2.3 All Moutain1.1.2.4 Dual Slalom1.1.2.5 Free Ride1.1.2.6 Dirt Jumping1.1.2.7 Down Hill1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Household use1.1.3.2 Competition use1.2 Global and Regional Market Size......................Continue (Global Mountain Bike Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Observation Mini ROV Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Outland Technology, Ocean Modules Sweden, Seabotix and Others

Observation Mini ROV Market

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Global Observation Mini ROV Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Outland Technology, Ocean Modules Sweden, Seabotix and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Modern ROV systems can be categorized by size, depth capability, onboard horsepower, and whether they are all-electric or electro-hydraulic. Micro - typically Micro class ROVs are very small in size and weight. Todays Micro Class ROVs can weigh less than 3 kg. These ROVs are used as an alternative to a diver, specifically in places where a diver might not be able to physically enter such as a sewer, pipeline or small cavity. Mini - typically Mini Class ROVs weigh in around 15 kg. Mini Class ROVs are also used as a diver alternative. One person may be able to transport the complete ROV system out with them on a small boat, deploy it and complete the job without outside help. Occasionally both Micro and Mini classes are referred to as eyeball class to differentiate them from ROVs that may be able to perform intervention tasks. This report covers both micro and mini Observation ROVRequest for Free Sample Copy of Global Observation Mini ROV Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Deep TrekkerVideoRayMarineNavAC-CESSSubsea TechCISCREAOutland TechnologyOcean Modules SwedenSeabotixOthersGlobal Observation Mini ROV Market: Key Product TypeMicro Observation ROVMini Observation ROVOthersGlobal Observation Mini ROV Market: Key ApplicationOil and Gas IndustryDefenceOthersOthersGlobal Observation Mini ROV Market: Key RegionAsia-PacificNorth AmericaEuropeSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaThe Global Observation Mini ROV Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Observation Mini ROV Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Observation Mini ROV Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 Micro Observation ROV1.1.2.2 Mini Observation ROV1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Oil and Gas Industry1.1.3.2 Defence1.1.3.3 Others1.2 Global and Regional Market Size.......................Continue (Global Observation Mini ROV Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Mining Ventilator Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 France Odum, Rongxin, Zibo Fengji and Others

Mining Ventilator Market

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Global Mining Ventilator Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely France Odum, Rongxin, Zibo Fengji and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Mining Ventilator is used for circulation of adequate quantity and quality of air in mines. These systems include fans, airways, control devices to direct or restrict air flow, cool and filter the air, and systems for monitoring air quality and quantity.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Mining Ventilator Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Metso CorpSandvikCATJoy GlobalStrataTaizhongFrance OdumRongxinZibo FengjiPamica ElectricAnrui FengjiNanyang FangbaoOthersGlobal Mining Ventilator Market: Key Product TypeFlow-through Ventilation Mining VentilatorAuxiliary Ventilation Mining VentilatorOthersGlobal Mining Ventilator Market: Key ApplicationCoal IndustryMetal Ore IndustryOther IndustryGlobal Mining Ventilator Market: Key RegionAsia-PacificNorth AmericaEuropeSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaThe Global Mining Ventilator Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Mining Ventilator Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Mining Ventilator Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 Flow-through Ventilation Mining Ventilator1.1.2.2 Auxiliary Ventilation Mining Ventilator1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Coal Industry1.1.3.2 Metal Ore Industry1.1.3.3 Other Industry1.2 Global and Regional Market Size.......................Continue (Global Mining Ventilator Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Microplate Reader Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 PerkinElmer, Molecular Devices (MD), BIO-RAD and Others

Microplate Reader Market

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Global Microplate Reader Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely PerkinElmer, Molecular Devices (MD), BIO-RAD and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Microplate reader, also known as plate reader or microplate photometers, are instruments which are used to detect biological, chemical or physical events of samples in microtiter plates.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Microplate Reader Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Thermo FisherBiotekPerkinElmerMolecular Devices (MD)BIO-RADTecanBMG LabtechAwarenessBiochromSafedaPerlongRaytoAutobioSunostikTianshiSinothinkeCaihongKHBOthersGlobal Microplate Reader Market: Key Product TypeOptical filter microplate readerOptical grating microplate readerOthersGlobal Microplate Reader Market: Key ApplicationClinical FieldNonclinical FieldOthersGlobal Microplate Reader Market: Key RegionAsia-PacificNorth AmericaEuropeSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaThe Global Microplate Reader Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Microplate Reader Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Microplate Reader Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 Optical filter microplate reader1.1.2.2 Optical grating microplate reader1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Clinical Field1.1.3.2 Nonclinical Field1.2 Global and Regional Market Size......................Continue (Global Microplate Reader Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Metallographic Cutting Machine Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Allied, METKON, Kemet and Others

Metallographic Cutting Machine Market

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Global Metallographic Cutting Machine Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Allied, METKON, Kemet and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Metallographic Cutting Machine is used for cutting the metallographic specimens with irregular shapes such as cylinder, polygon etc., so as to observe the metallographic and lithofacies structure of the material. Most metallographic samples need to be cut to the area of interest and for easy handling. Depending upon the material, the cutting operation can be done by abrasive cutting wheels (metals and metal matrix composites), or diamond cutting wheels (ceramics, electronics, biomaterials, minerals).Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Metallographic Cutting Machine Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:StruersLECOBuehlerATMAlliedMETKONKemetPRESITOP TECHOthersGlobal Metallographic Cutting Machine Market: Key Product TypeAbrasive Cutting MachineDiamond Cutting MachineOthersGlobal Metallographic Cutting Machine Market: Key ApplicationLaboratoryIndustryOthersGlobal Metallographic Cutting Machine Market: Key RegionAsia-PacificNorth AmericaEuropeSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaThe Global Metallographic Cutting Machine Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Metallographic Cutting Machine Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Metallographic Cutting Machine Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 Abrasive Cutting Machine1.1.2.2 Diamond Cutting Machine1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Laboratory1.1.3.2 Industry1.2 Global and Regional Market Size.......................Continue (Global Metallographic Cutting Machine Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Computer Aided Detection Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 GE Healthcare, Toshiba Medical Systems, McKesson Corporation and Others

Computer Aided Detection Market

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Global Computer Aided Detection Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely GE Healthcare, Toshiba Medical Systems, McKesson Corporation and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Computer Aided Detection Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Hologic, Inc.EDDA Technology, Inc.Siemens HealthcarePhilips HealthcareiCAD, Inc.GE HealthcareToshiba Medical SystemsMcKesson CorporationAgfa-Gevaert N.V.Merge Healthcare, Inc.Riverain TechnologiesMedian technologiesOthersGlobal Computer Aided Detection Market: Key Product TypeX-Ray ImagingComputed TomographyUltrasound ImagingMagnetic Resonance ImagingNuclear Medicine ImagingOthersGlobal Computer Aided Detection Market: Key ApplicationBreast CancerLung CancerColorectal CancerProstate CancerLiver CancerBoner CancerNeurological/Musculoskeletal/CardiovascularOthersGlobal Computer Aided Detection Market: Key RegionAsia-PacificNorth AmericaEuropeSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaThe Global Computer Aided Detection Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Computer Aided Detection Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Computer Aided Detection Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 X-Ray Imaging1.1.2.2 Computed Tomography1.1.2.3 Ultrasound Imaging1.1.2.4 Magnetic Resonance Imaging1.1.2.5 Nuclear Medicine Imaging1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Breast Cancer1.1.3.2 Lung Cancer1.1.3.3 Colorectal Cancer1.1.3.4 Prostate Cancer1.1.3.5 Liver Cancer1.1.3.6 Boner Cancer1.1.3.7 Neurological/Musculoskeletal/Cardiovascular1.2 Global and Regional Market Size.......................Continue (Global Computer Aided Detection Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Reciprocating Compressor Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Burckhardt Compression, Ingersoll Rand, Howden and Others

Reciprocating Compressor Market

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Global Reciprocating Compressor Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Burckhardt Compression, Ingersoll Rand, Howden and Others. This report study includes global market statistics and analysis for example, company performance, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Reciprocating Compressor Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:ArielSiemensGEAtlas CopcoKobelcoBurckhardt CompressionIngersoll RandHowdenHitachiShenyang YuandaGardner DenverSundyneShenyang BlowerNeuman & EsserCorkenKAESEROthersGlobal Reciprocating Compressor Market: Key Product TypeVerticalHorizontalAngularOthersGlobal Reciprocating Compressor Market: Key ApplicationRefineryIndustrial GasesLNG and CNG Transport and StorageEthylene and LDPE PlantsOthersGlobal Reciprocating Compressor Market: Key RegionAsia-PacificNorth AmericaEuropeSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaThe Global Reciprocating Compressor Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Reciprocating Compressor Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities happened in current and past few years. The Global Reciprocating Compressor Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors.Enquire before Buying @Table of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Market Segment Overview1.1.1 Product Definition1.1.2 Market by Type1.1.2.1 Vertical1.1.2.2 Horizontal1.1.2.3 Angular1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Refinery1.1.3.2 Industrial Gases1.1.3.3 LNG and CNG Transport and Storage1.1.3.4 Ethylene and LDPE Plants1.2 Global and Regional Market Size.......................Continue (Global Reciprocating Compressor Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Us:Market Reports Company is a global research and consulting company. We provide customized reports. We can study and analyze any market based on wide range of parameters. We can provide market insights for any particular region, country across the globe within shortest possible turn around time.What we offer: Customized Reports: we provide customized report study on any market or industry. Region Specific Study: If you need region specific or if you are searching for particular region market study then, we have expert research team for that. How we work: We work in all domains and industries, you name it and we provide the market research industry report analysis of it. Expertise: Superior Research Team, 24*7 Customer Care ServiceContact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website:Email: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States
Yesterday, The Washington Post added some detail to old news, and then publicized it as if the story was completely new news.

Exclusive: The Clinton campaign and the DNC helped fund research that resulted in the now-famous Trump dossier https://t.co/La4uIJVvp1  Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 24, 2017

The only part of this story that's new is that the Clinton campaign and the DNC funded research behind the infamous pee tape dossier released by BuzzFeed earlier this year. However, we already knew that this dossier was partially funded by Democrats. Per CNN from January:

CNN has reviewed a 35-page compilation of the memos, from which the two-page synopsis was drawn. The memos have since been published by Buzzfeed. The memos originated as opposition research, first commissioned by anti-Trump Republicans, and later by Democrats.

This wasn't a secret. When Mother Jones, which is like a wing of the DNC, reported on the dossier last October, they also said that Democrats helped finance it.

This was for an opposition research project originally financed by a Republican client critical of the celebrity mogul. (Before the former spy was retained, the project's financing switched to a client allied with Democrats.)

The new detail reported by WaPo is that the Democrats who we already knew were financing the research were the DNC and Hillary Clinton. But thinking that all opposition research in a presidential election isn't eventually connected to the candidate or the party HQ is naive at best. This is normal. But because WaPo is pushing this like some gigantic revelation, many conservatives are following their lead.

"Clinton campaign & DNC paid for research that led to the anti-Trump Fake News Dossier. The victim here is the President." @FoxNews  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2017

Thanks to The Washington Post hyping their story more than it deserves, all of the people decrying them as AMAZON FAKE NEWS WAPO now believe they have proof that this entire Russia narrative is made up by Hillary Clinton and the DNC. Of course, this is nonsensesince the Russia story is far bigger than one piece of opposition researchbut those are details that will forever be obscured by the presence of Hillary Clinton and the DNC. The right buzzwords are all lined up in a row, so reason goes out the window in favor of pushing yet another expansive conspiracy from an alleged evil mastermind who also couldnt defeat Donald fucking Trump. This is all so incredibly stupid.

But many are rightfully asking, why would the Clinton campaign lie about their involvement with this dossier? Well, for one, have you been paying attention to the Clinton camp this century? Lying is kind of their thing. Secondly, look at the reaction to this news. The entire dossier was instantly discredited because Hillarys hands were one of the hundreds (thousands?) to touch this confusing piece of evidence that has been making the rounds across politics and media for well over a year. If the DNC told the truth that they were helping to fund the research into this dossier, the conservative freak-out would have happened much sooner. This risky brand of honesty ran against Hillarys awful campaign strategy of playing not to lose.

Plus, its not in any campaigns self-interest to pay for bad research. The fact that both Republican and Democratic campaigns paid good money to assemble this dossier gives it more, not less, credibility. Besides, the BBC reported back in March that U.S. officials verified a key part of the dossier, and were using it as something of a roadmap for the investigation. Thanks to The Washington Post framing this news as a bombshellinstead of the addendum to other reports that it really iswere now entering a narrative where the dossier = Hillary, despite the unimpeachable fact that it was born in Republican circles.

Campaigns dig up dirt on their opponents, and that doesnt come free. The irony of this entire situation is that many on the right regularly decry media manipulation, but their reaction to this non-bombshell bombshell is a demonstration of how easy it is to make people look at the news differently depending on how the media frames it. I get The Washington Post wanting to promote the fact that they obtained information which was not out there before, but the jist of it was. They just filled in one of the blanks, and as a result, a fraudulent narrative about the dossier has emerged, and that narrative isnt going anywhere any time soon.

Jacob Weindling is a staff writer for Paste politics. Follow him on Twitter at @Jakeweindling.
Wikileaks began as a broke whistleblowing outlet, but after their finances were cut off, their work changedas I wrote in my deep dive on Edward Snowden:

Wikileaks threatened that they would release documents on powerful individuals in Russia, and according to their spokesperson, Kristinn Hrafnsson Russian readers will learn a lot about their country. An official from the FSB (the successor to the KGB) responded Its essential to remember that given the will and the relevant orders, [WikiLeaks] can be made inaccessible forever.

The documents never came out. Two years later, Julian Assange had his own show on Russia Today, the Kremlins West-facing propaganda outlet. Wikileaks even sent a delegation to meet Bashar al-Assad, a President only two major countries support (Russia and Iran). While stuck in in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, Assange stated in a press release that he requested Russian security.

Fast-forward to last Octoberwhere Wikileaks slowly released hacked Hillary Clinton e-mailsand it became crystal clear that they now function as an arm of the Kremlins intelligence services. If they were truly interested in transparency, they would have dumped the entire cache at once, instead of the drip drip drip designed to control the media narrative in the wake of Trumps Access Hollywood tape.

There were already plenty of connections between the Trump camp and Wikileaks prior to todays new report: from Trumps incessant tweeting of their revelations the month before the election, to longtime Trump advisor Roger Stone tweeting out hints that he had been in communication with them.

Trust me, it will soon the Podesta's time in the barrel. #CrookedHillary  Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) August 21, 2016

I have total confidence that @wikileaks and my hero Julian Assange will educate the American people soon #LockHerUp  Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) October 3, 2016

Now, The Daily Beast is reporting that:

Alexander Nix, who heads a controversial data-analytics firm that worked for President Donald Trump's campaign, wrote in an email last year that he reached out to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange about Hillary Clinton's missing 33,000 emails.

Nix, who heads Cambridge Analytica, told a third party that he reached out to Assange about his firm somehow helping the WikiLeaks editor release Clinton's missing emails, according to two sources familiar with a congressional investigation into interactions between Trump associates and the Kremlin. Those sources also relayed that, according to Nix's email, Assange told the Cambridge Analytica CEO that he didn't want his help, and preferred to do the work on his own.

This provides further evidence to the suspicion that the Trump camp wanted to work with the Russians to obtain Hillary Clinton's deleted e-mails. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that a Republican operative was searching for Hillary Clinton's 33,000 deleted e-mails. Five weeks after Trump famously asked the Russians to find Hillary's deleted messages, Peter Smith reached out to hacker groups affiliated with the Kremlin, and said he was working on behalf of Michael Flynn, Trump's national security adviser. It has not been proven that Smith was actually working for Flynn, but he told everyone that he consulted on his search that he was. Unfortunately, Smith passed away earlier this year, so we may never know the truth of his activities last year.

Adding to this confusion, Trump didn't start saying 33,000 e-mails until the exact day of the infamous meeting between Don Jr. and the Kremlin-connected lawyerforty minutes after the meeting began if we're going by when Rob Goldstone, the publicist who set up the meeting, checked in on Facebook. Three weeks before this gathering, Trump tweeted that Hillary deleted 30,000 e-mails.

Wow, 30,000 e-mails were deleted by Crooked Hillary Clinton. She said they had to do with a wedding reception. Liar! How can she run?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 17, 2016

The day of the meeting that Don Jr. confirmed took place, Trump changed that number to 33,000.

How long did it take your staff of 823 people to think that upand where are your 33,000 emails that you deleted? https://t.co/gECLNtQizQ  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2016

Despite using the figure for an entire year-plus, Trump has not used 30,000 as the number of deleted Hillary e-mails since the meeting with the Kremlin-connected lawyera meeting which has drawn the attention of special counsel Robert Mueller. This could very easily be nothingsince the mans brain is mostly mushbut the timing of the figure change is inescapable. The Russian lawyer wanted to talk about the Magnitsky Act, which placed damaging sanctions on Kremlin-connected oligarchs. Its safe to assume that in order for them to convince the Trump camp to lift these sanctions, they would need to provide something valuable in return, and Trump is on record saying he wanted Hillarys deleted e-mails. I dont think its too far-fetched to imagine this lawyer floating the idea of obtaining 33,000 e-mails, and Trump was then briefed on this offer by either his son, son-in-law, or campaign manager who attended the meetingwhich explains the shift in his verbiage.

Between the WSJ report, Trumps change in behavior, and now The Daily Beast obtaining proof that Trumps analytics firm reached out to Julian Assange, we have a lot of compelling circumstantial evidence tying the Trump camp to the Russians in their search for Hillary Clintons deleted e-mails. Wikileaks even confirmed The Daily Beasts reporting, saying that we can confirm an approach by Cambridge Analytica and can confirm that it was rejected by WikiLeaks. Between this new report and Don Jr.s response of I love it! to a theoretical offer from the Crown prosecutor of Russia to provide damaging information on Hillary, the intent of the Trump camp to collude has practically been proven, even though the act of collusion is far from being certainfor now.

Jacob Weindling is a staff writer for Paste politics. Follow him on Twitter at @Jakeweindling.
Dear Mr. Rhode

I am 8 years old. Some of my online friends say that since George W. Bush gave a speech attacking President Trump, he is now a member of the #Resistance. Papa says, If you see it in Paste Magazine, its so. I thought he invaded Iraq. Please tell me the truth, is George W. Bush still a war criminal?

Virginia OHanlon

Virginia,

Your online friends are wrong. They have been affected by the foolishness of a foolish age.

Yes, Virginia, George W. Bush is still a war criminal. I publicly demonized him during his Presidency, and he deserved it, every bit. He is not your friend. He bombed Afghanistan, invaded Iraq, authorized torture, and let a city drown. He protected murderers and sadists with the loyalty of his Administration. He committed monstrous acts. Nothing Trump has done, even at his worst, comes close to the crimes of Bush. George Washington was the Father of Nation, but only George W. Bush could be the Father of Gitmo.

George W. Bush will never stop being a war criminal. Nothing anyone does or says will change that. For his administration, he picked a pack of blood-thirsty boobs and liars, and they were lovely in his sight. On his deathbed, he will be a war criminal. When he is painting, he is a war criminal. When he texts his friends, he is a war criminal. All his family members are the relations of a war criminal. Whenever Bill Clinton hosts George W. Bush on his plane, hes hosting a war criminal.

Bush should be tried at The Hague for crimes against humanity. After his assets have been removed, he should be shut in solitary confinement for the rest of his life. If there was any justice in the world, he would be shoved in the same spider-hole we found Saddam in, and kept there with biscuits and copies of The Purpose-Driven Life.

This is why I lost faith with the Democrats, and went left. Because centrists will do anything, crawl through any desert, drink molten lead, surrender all dignity, if you strike the right tone.

Dems now have a 51/42 favorable view of George W. Bush https://t.co/apCxphTX7zpic.twitter.com/U2JhDxbPZU  Ariel Edwards-Levy (@aedwardslevy) October 25, 2017

It is why they applaud Jeff Flake, despite the fact he voted with Trump 91.7% of the time. Flake said the Right Words, and they were ready to forgive him everything. But Flake's quitting the Senate is not the decent act of a principled man. Flake wouldn't know decency if he hit it with his car on the way to a public stoning. Flake's resignation was the craven self-preservation of a carnivore who saw a bigger predator on the way. Flake is from Arizona, and that's the snake-eatingest state there is. But he saw that alt-right Kelli Ward had a fifteen-point lead over him. He knew he couldn't win. Flake was just fine crashing ACA, and letting people die. That was dandy to him. But the moment he criticized Trump, the Resistance was ready to have him. When Tom Perez published a statement condemning Flake, this was the reaction in the comments:

...

...

...

..are you out of your GOD-DAMNED MIND!



A Republican stands up to Trump and you CRUCIFY HIM? Whose side are you ON?!?!?  Doug Hill (@DHStom) October 25, 2017

Anyone we can civilly disagree with solely on policy is NOT our enemy!  ??Chris Breseman?? (@flyboy80498) October 25, 2017

We can disagree with Flake on issues. But he gets Trump is an existential threat. That's more important.  Patriots 5-2 (@McRaeWrites) October 25, 2017

This was poorly thought out. You should have checked with @SenSchumer before kicking Flake  Jack (@wick3djack) October 24, 2017

Whatever weakness makes liberals run to embrace Flake, it makes them forgive Bush. He gave an anodyne speech obliquely criticizing the current President, and the reviews were ecstatic:

You've got to hand it to Bush: he's an ancient Republican who hates Trump even more than the rest of us do.  Nathan Rabin (@nathanrabin) February 5, 2017

Did you know that the aerial pounding of our good war in Afghanistan resulted in casualties that were several times greater than the lives lost on 9/11?

Even if we leave out Bushs major-league evil, his road is littered with shame. He passed the Patriot Act and the Authorization for the Use of Military Force. When he wasnt creating the department of Homeland Security and spying on ordinary Americans, he shoveled money to the rich, cut back on workplace safety, helped militarize the police, passed No Child Left Behind, and hid climate change data. Bush thought about bombing Al-Jazeera, according to the Daily Mirror.

Has Trump dropped white phosphorous on Fallujah? Did Trump make fracking legal? Did Trump give his banker buddies a free pass to crash the world economy in 2008? It took Obama to perfect the drone strike, but it was Bush who opened the door.

Bush is the villain. He was, is, and always will be. Hes not some dignified elder statesmen calling for decency, or whatever the #Resistance thinks he is. Hes a cheap Texas crook who oversaw the death of hundreds of thousands of human beings, at bare minimum. Thats a low estimate:

Credible estimates of Iraq War casualties range from 110,000 to 460,000. Other highly disputed estimates, such as the 2006 Lancet study, and the 2007 Opinion Research Business survey, put the numbers as high as 650,000 and 1.2 million respectively.

Bush is a war criminal. You know what I see, when I look at him? I see a man in a black hood, standing on a box, with electrodes attached to his body. Thats what Bush did, and what, at heart, he is.

Bush is not a member of the Resistance. He is the reason Resistance exists.
Harbor Springs frees up funding with public safety millage

The Harbor Springs public safety millage will free up some of the funds impacted by the Headlee Amendment, but city officials say it isn't a long-term fix.
How stoked am I? I'm literally shaking right now I'm so excited. I've never won anything in my life!



I donated for a variety of reasons. Sure, winning the bike would be great, but really it's more that I like to be able to donate to smaller charities that really put their money towards fruitful goals. YSC is for sure one of those.



What does f'ing up cancer mean to mean? I think it's much more than just seeking out a cure... It's also about providing support, education, and motivation to all those affected. It's about hitting all aspects of cancer from before it starts all the way up and through a cure.



Has it affected my family? Honestly, I've been extremely lucky in that my family has not had many battles with cancer. But, even now I'm getting a bit older (only 33), and I'm having friends and colleagues who are the same age and dealing with cancer. It's so freaking sad seeing all these people have this hurdle thrown at them. Still, it motivates me to be there for my friends and family in their times of need. It also stresses why groups such as the YSC are critical, as young people can and very much do get cancer.



I currently live in Tucson, Arizona, home to some of the gnarliest trails in the states. An Evil Wreckoning will be more than at home here on Mount Lemmon!  Nicholas DiRienzo
Fats Domino was one of the leading pioneers in rock 'n' roll with an impressive 35 records in the U.S. Billboard Top 40.

Rock 'n' Roll legend, Fats Domino, passed away peacefully in his home in New Orleans today after battling with a long illness. Domino first gained attention in 1949 with the release of his song called "The Fat Man" which has been credited as the beginning of rock 'n' roll. He rose to fame with other hits like "Blueberry Hill" and "Ain't That A Shame."

Domino was born in 1928 in New Orleans where he resided most of his life. His musical influence was largely taken from the boogie woogie music style of that time. He was also in the midst of the Louisiana blues style music that was prominent in New Orleans in the 1940s and 50s.

Talented piano player and vocalist, his style may sound dated to young listeners today, but he was one of the pioneers paving the way for rock 'n' roll and modern music as we know it. In 1956, five of his songs made it in the Top 40 with "Blueberry Hill" reaching number two. This song has also been recorded by Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin, and Jerry Lee Lewis. With 65 million record sales, Domino sold the most rock 'n' roll records after Elvis Presley.

Fats Domino get his photo taken in 1957

In 1986, Domino was included in the first group of musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Among other inducted with him that year were Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke and Buddy Holly.

According to The Independent UK, Fats Domino had such a prolific affect on Elvis Presley, that he refused to answer to his popular title "King of Rock 'n' Roll" when Fats Domino was around.

His music has influenced musicians from the 40s to today. Paul McCartney famously says that The Beatles song, Lady Madonna, was written to mirror the Fats Domino style.

Musicians and celebrities have been posting about their love for the musician on Twitter

Fats Domino was a music legend and is among the musicians who will be remembered for pioneering the world of rock 'n' roll and ultimately changing music. Losing him means losing another great rock legend who shall not soon be forgotten.

POP DUST | Read More...

RELEASE RADAR | John Carpenter released an anthology of his scores, plus more new music

TOP 10 | Haunted Hits for your Halloween ...that aren't Monster Mash or Thriller

Mimicking Birds played to an eager house in NYC last Thursday
"We're getting a good portion of it, but I can't say we're getting most of it."  James McDonald, director, Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency

Federal and local authorities have cooperated in the seizure of more than 60 pounds of methamphetamine at U.S. post offices on Guam since the start of this year alone, according to Assistant Inspector Kevin Rho from the San Francisco Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

How to help Contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's 24-hour hotline at 877-876-2455. The service offers up to a $50,000 reward for tips that lead to significant arrests.

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.

Rho spoke at a news conference yesterday at the U.S. Attorney's Office, along with Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio and officials from the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Guam customs Chief Vincent Perez said many more additional pounds of meth, or "ice," have been seized this year by his agents and Guam police at other locations outside the post offices, including FedEx and DHL offices, the airport and the port.

127.86 pounds of meth

Perez declined to provide a specific figure for the total amount seized this year. However, he did confirm for The Guam Daily Post that in 2016, a total of 127.86 pounds of meth was seized on island by Guam customs in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies.

The amounts seized, not to mention all the ice that got through undetected, is indicative of the problem of methamphetamine on Guam.

Rho called methamphetamine "a growing problem" and "higher than normal" compared to jurisdictions in the states. "It's a very serious problem for Guam," he said, adding it's "literally ruining lives."

Guam customs Director James McDonald said last year the amount seized was "much less than what we're seeing this year." He said the meth arriving on Guam is coming not only from the states, but from the Philippines and China.

'We still have some challenges'

"We're getting a good portion of it, but I can't say we're getting most of it," McDonald said. "We still have some challenges. We need to beef up our manpower and get smarter, because right now people are bringing it in, concealing it in candy, putting it in baggage, they're putting it on their person."

Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio said the drug problem is "really taking the soul away from a lot of families ... and the culture of our island."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marivic David said, "It's going to take a combined effort of all law enforcement and the community to help combat this problem."

"It's economics," Tenorio said. "The price per gram in Guam is much higher than you can find in other places ... they can buy it for $60 or $80 stateside, and sell it for up to $400 or $500 a gram here on Guam."

Rho said he came to Guam to conduct a news conference and thank the postal service's law enforcement partners on Guam for their cooperative effort on two joint interdiction efforts this year, during which they "profiled" 500 packages over a two-week period in January and February, and another two-week period in August. He said 3.5 pounds of meth was seized in those two operations alone. Thousands of other packages were never inspected.

Only two full-time inspectors

For the last four years, there have been only two full-time postal inspectors on Guam. They also have responsibility for the FSM and the CNMI, and there are no immediate plans to assign more inspectors to Guam, said Rho.

"We can't do this on our own," he said.

Rho urged the public to contact the postal service's 24-hour hotline if they see anything suspicious. The number is 877-876-2455.

"The inspection service does offer up to a $50,000 reward for viable tips that lead to significant arrests," he said.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-25 10:02:02

Atos positioned on Climate A List for fifth consecutive year

Paris, October 25 2017 - Atos, a global leader in digital transformation, has been awarded the highest score in climate performance by the CDP and is listed on the 2017 Climate A List for the fifth consecutive year.

Thousands of companies have submitted information to be independently assessed against the CDP scoring methodology. Among them, 112 companies have made it to the Climate A List worldwide in 2017. Atos is one of these 5% to be awarded an "A" grade for its performance and actions to cut emissions, mitigate climate risks and develop the low-carbon economy.

This award follows on from the official validation of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) which has just approved Atos' targets supporting the world effort to keep the global rise in temperature under 2C. This initiative is one of the four climate change initiatives that Atos has committed to following the COP21 resolutions. The others are: putting a price on carbon, corporate engagement in climate policy and reporting on climate change information in its mainstream reports.

Thierry Breton, Chairman & CEO of Atos, said: "As a leading provider of digital services, this recognition rewards the continuous work made by Atos to include the environmental challenge in its strategy and develop innovative solutions for its clients in their digital transformation journeys".

CDP's Executive Chair Paul Dickinson said: "Congratulations to all that made it onto the Climate A List this year. It's inspiring to see so many taking bold action to mitigate the risks of climate change and grasp the opportunities that come with the transition to a sustainable economy. As we approach a tipping point on environmental action, business is absolutely central to making that transition happen".

The Climate A List and full company scores are available on CDP's website: https://www.cdp.net/en/scores-2017

###

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with approximately 100,000 employees in 72 countries and annual revenue of around  12 billion. European number one in Big Data, Cybersecurity, High Performance Computing and Digital Workplace, the Group provides Cloud services, Infrastructure & Data Management, Business & Platform solutions, as well as transactional services through Worldline, the European leader in the payment industry. With its cutting-edge technologies, digital expertise and industry knowledge, Atos supports the digital transformation of its clients across various business sectors: Defense, Financial Services, Health, Manufacturing, Media, Energy & Utilities, Public sector, Retail, Telecommunications and Transportation. The Group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and operates under the brands Atos, Atos Consulting, Atos Worldgrid, Bull, Canopy, Unify and Worldline. Atos SE (Societas Europaea) is listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index.

Press contact:

Sylvie Raybaud - sylvie.raybaud@atos.net - +33 6 95 91 96 71 - @Sylvie_Raybaud





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: ATOS via Globenewswire


PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-25 09:23:14

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Future demands for automotive engine valves will be firmly driven by trends such as reduction in exhaust emissions and oil consumption, declining sulphur content in diesel fuel, and phasing out of leaded petrol. Such factors may create implications in production and design of automotive engine valves. Leading automakers will also seek newer materials for manufacturing engine valves with higher durability and greater sustenance to heat. With increasing adoption of alternative fuels, future requirements of automotive engine performance will change the dynamics of valve manufacturing.An exclusive forecast report published by Future Market Insights anticipates that the global automotive engine valves market will soar at a steady CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period, 2017-2022. The report also assesses that automotive engine valves worth over US$ 6.2 billion will be sold globally by the end of 2022. The steady demand for automotive engine valves will be factored by their essentiality in proper functioning of automobile engines, and their influence in enhancing the vehicles performance under diverse conditions.View and Download TOC of Automotive Engine Valve Market Research Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/automotive-engine-valves-market/toc Although, hollow valves will register a below-average demand over the next five yearsWhile the overall sales of automotive engine valves will be incurring a steady demand through 2022, the demand for hollow valves is likely to dwindle. Compared to bimetallic and monometallic valves, hollow valves will be garnering low uptake owing to their conventional drawbacks. Tests show that performance of engines equipped with hollow valves gets lowered when hollow valve stems absorb more heat than threshold. The tendency of hollow valves to overheat and burn in the absence of adequate cooling continues to factor their declining demand. Over the forecast period, hollow valves are anticipated to reflect a subpar CAGR of 4.7%, indicating a moderate growth in demand.Key insights offered in the reportIn 2017, monometallic valves being sold in the global market will reap over US$ 1.5 billion in revenuesCompact passenger cars will be observed as a leading vehicle segment in the market, followed by mid-sized passenger cars and light commercial vehiclesTitanium materials are forecasted to incur sluggish CAGR through 2022By 2022-end, aftermarket sales of automotive engine valves will bring in revenues worth over US$ 5 billion, globallyRequest and Download Sample Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3473 In 2017, Europe is poised to procure nearly one-fourth share of global revenues. The report also projects that the Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region will be the largest market for automotive engine valves. By the end of 2022, the APEJ automotive engine valve market is anticipated to reach a value of US$ 2.2 billion. North Americas automotive engine valve market is also expected to soar at a steady CAGR, while sales of automotive engine valves in Japan will reflect a moderate growth.Changing landscapes of automobile engineering will continue to foment considerable alterations in the manufacturing of automotive engine valves. New designs will be reviewed and tested, while conventional valves will be upgraded for boosting their performance abilities. The report observes that companies namely, Knorr-Bremse AG, FTE automotive GmbH, Hitachi Ltd., FUJI OOZX Inc., Mahle Group, Eaton Corporation Plc., Federal-Mogul Holdings Corp., Denso Corporation, Continental AG, and Delphi Automotive PLC will remain active in expansion of the global automotive engine valve market through 2022. These companies are anticipated to capture new materials and innovative production techniques to insure the valves from their existing defects.Buy Full Automotive Engine Valve Market Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/3473
PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-25 08:06:50

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Covering Asset & Liabilities Management, Funds Transfer Pricing and Liquidity ManagementNEW YORK, NY, Oct 24, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - Kamakura Corporation reported Wednesday that it had completed an agreement to implement the Kamakura Corporation suite of solutions for Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad, an Islamic bank based in Malaysia that has been in operation since July 1983, for its balance sheet management, funds transfer pricing, and liquidity management processes.Bank Islam was established primarily to assist the financial needs of Malaysia's Muslim population, and has since extended its services to the broader non-Muslim population fulfilling its "Banking-for-All" principle.Bank Islam is the first Shariah-based banking institution in Malaysia and South-East Asia, and has been playing the leading role in the development of the nation's Islamic banking industry. In fact, it has provided technical assistance in the setting up of several Islamic institutions in the Asian region such as Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka. With over 70 innovative and sophisticated Islamic banking products and services, Bank Islam offers a comprehensive range of Shariah-compliant banking and financial solutions to its more than five million customers.Primarily a retail bank with consumer banking constituting more than 70% of total financing, Bank Islam's list of products ranges from the traditional financing, savings and investment solutions exclusively for individual customers, to banking and financial solutions designed to fulfil the fast-changing financial needs of customers from all categories including those related to micro financing, wealth management, capital market, and treasury.The project will involve the complete implementation of the balance sheet management and funds transfer pricing solutions and followed a comprehensive evaluation exercise involving a complete proof of concept. Dr. Clement Ooi, EVP and Managing Director, Asia-Pacific Operations, Kamakura Corporation stated, "Bank Islam had a very clear understanding of its risk management and liquidity compliance needs. The vendor selection process had an extensive testing routine, and the Kamakura suite of solutions was an apt fit."Bank Islam not only has a range of intriguing products, but also a transaction volume that necessitated in them seeking a modular and integrated solution. The project will provide the bank with accurate assessment of transaction cashflows that can then be used for gap, duration, and mismatch management, as well as an accurate assessment of the margins associated with the transaction. All of these can be modelled based on different market conditions implying that the bank is prepared for any adverse movements in market conditions." Dr. Clement Ooi further stated, "Bank Islam has selected an integrated, holistic computation engine, and this certainly will be the platform upon which the bank will build its integrated risk framework. The bank will be one of the first to be able to generate both historical and forward-looking views of the balance sheet, a transaction-level understanding of the profit margins and a good appreciation of customer, product, business unit, and organisational profit and value dynamics."Kamakura Corporation has the full suite of risk management and regulatory compliance solutions including IAS39 / IFRS9, Basel II/III, Market risk, Credit risk, ALM, FTP, Liquidity Risk, Capital Management & Planning, Credit Estimation, Margin Management and Financial Accounting all through one integrated, holistic computation engine, and this certainly will be the platform upon which the bank will build its integrated risk framework." Martin Zorn, President and COO for Kamakura Corporation, said Tuesday, "The successful implementation of the balance sheet management, funds transfer pricing, and liquidity compliance project in Bank Islam is a clear indicator that banks are no longer looking for fragmented solutions for risk and compliance, but seek to adopt a customised framework that allows for the repeated use of data loaded once for various aspects of risk and compliance. It is a testimony to the credentials of Kamakura's subject matter experts. Kamakura is well-positioned to meet the burgeoning regulatory demands imposed on financial institutions in the region and has the wherewithal to keep pace with regulation; as a matter of fact, what is currently being introduced as risk regulation has been available in Kamakura Risk Manager for the past ten years." To follow risk commentary by Kamakura on a daily basis, please follow Kamakura CEO Dr Donald van Deventer ( www.twitter.com/dvandeventer) , Kamakura President Martin Zorn ( www.twitter.com/riskmgrhi) , Kamakura Principal Risk Officer Suresh Sankaran ( www.twitter.com/sureshkamakura) , and Kamakura's official twitter account ( www.twitter.com/KamakuraCo) About Kamakura CorporationFounded in 1990, Honolulu-based Kamakura Corporation is a leading provider of risk management information, processing and software. Kamakura was named to the World Finance 100 by the Editor and readers of World Finance magazine in 2012 as well as 2017. In 2010, Kamakura was the only vendor to win 2 Credit Magazine innovation awards, and it has won this award 3 years running. Kamakura Risk Manager, first sold commercially in 1993 and now in version 8.1, is the first enterprise risk management system with users focused on credit risk, asset-liability management, market risk, stress testing, liquidity risk, IFRS/IAS compliance, counterparty credit risk, and capital allocation from a single software solution.The KRIS public firm default service was launched in 2002. The KRIS sovereign default service, the world's first, was launched in 2008, and the KRIS non-public firm default service was offered beginning in 2011. Kamakura has served more than 220 clients ranging in size from $1.5 billion to $1.6 trillion in assets. Kamakura's risk management products are currently used in 37 countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Russia, the Ukraine, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, Australia, Japan, China, Korea, India and many other countries in Asia. Learn more at www.kamakuraco.com Kamakura has world-wide alliances with Fiserv ( www.fiserv.com) and SCSK Corporation ( www.scsk.jp/index_en.html) making Kamakura products available in almost every major city around the globe.About Bank Islam Malaysia BerhadBank Islam Malaysia Berhad was established in 1983 as Malaysia's first Islamic bank. To date, the Bank has a network of 147 branches and more than 1200 self-service terminals throughout Malaysia. To meet the diversity of the Malaysian public financial needs, Bank Islam offers more than 70 Shariah-based banking products and services which cater to Muslims and non-Muslims. For more information on Bank Islam products and services, call the Bank Islam Call Centre at +603-26 900 900 or visit www.bankislam.com.my For more information, please contact:Martin ZornPresident and COOKamakura CorporationT: 1-808-791-9888, ext. 8700E: pressroom@ kamakuraco.com U: www.kamakuraco.com U: www.kris-online.com Topic: Contract AwardedSectors: Investors/Exchanges, Daily Finance, Enterprise IT, Alternatives, Banking, LocalFrom the Asia Corporate News NetworkCopyright  2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-25 22:39:13

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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Bow Energy Ltd.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Calgary, Alberta (FSCWire) - Bow Energy Ltd. (TSX Venture:ONG). has issued a press release with the following headline:Bow Energy Ltd. Receives Acquisition Offer from Petrolia Energy CorporationTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Bow Energy Ltd., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Bow Energy Ltd.Source: Bow Energy Ltd. (TSX Venture: ONG)Date: October 25, 2017Time: 4:38 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Bow Energy Ltd. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-25 12:00:14

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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Callitas Health Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Cincinnati, OH, USA (FSCWire) - Callitas Health Inc. (CSE:LILY). has issued a press release with the following headline:Callitas Health Announces Addition of Joshua Maurice to Strategic Management TeamTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Callitas Health Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Callitas Health Inc.Source: Callitas Health Inc. (CSE: LILY, OTCQB: MPHMD, FWB: T3F3, ISIN: A2GSU1, WKN: CA13125C1068)Date: October 25, 2017Time: 6:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Callitas Health Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
Cubic Boron Nitrates Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-25 11:49:05

Press Information

Transparency Market Research





Rahul Singh

Marketing Head

+1-518-618-1030

email

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/



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# 532 Words

Marketing Head+1-518-618-1030Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

The nature of the global cubic boron nitrates market is highly consolidated, states Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a research report. The leading three companies collectively held a share of over 48% in the market in 2015. It has been projected that the scenario will be almost the constant in the years ahead. The leading players such as Saint-Gobain, Showa Denko K.K., and 3M are expected to display backward integration towards the hexahedron boron nitrates market. As a result of this the competitive landscape of the market is expected to be comparatively moderate. At present, the key strategy that has been adopted by the leading market players is product advancement for developing their business and keeping pace with the changing scenario along with increasing their consumer base.View Full Report:According to a TMR analyst, The global market for cubic boron nitrates is anticipated to rise at a 7.10% CAGR from 2016 to 2024. In 2015, the market was worth US$531.3 mn and is expected to rise to a valuation of US$978.9 mn by 2024.Inserts to Remain in Demand StronglyPowder, mesh, wheels, and inserts are the principle items accessible in the worldwide market for cubic boron nitrates. Amongst these, the demand for inserts is greater than others and is expected to remain so in the following couple of years. The expanding use of supplements in the metal preparing industry, inferable from the rising necessity of procedures, for instance, cutting, crushing, and completing for items in the aerospace, medical, and the automotive segments is relied upon to support the demand for inserts over the world sooner rather than later. Because of the expanding usage of inserts in cutting and granulating applications, the demand for wheels is probably going to decrease discernibly throughout the following couple of years.Request to view Sample Report:Region-wise, Asia Pacific dominated the global cubic boron nitrates with a share of 35% in the same year. Researchers anticipate that this territorial market will stay driving throughout the forecast period, because of the presence of a substantial number of market players and the broad interest for cubic boron nitrates in different Asian economies, Japan, India, and China.Proliferating Awareness to Accelerate Demand of Cubic Boron NitratesThe expanding mindfulness with respect to the advantages of cubic boron nitrates over other hard materials utilized for different modern procedures, for instance, cutting, pounding, boring, and exhausting, is having the extreme effect on the development of the worldwide market for cubic boron nitrates. Precious stone is said to be the hardest material used for these procedures however it additionally has different mechanical impediments, which gives a cubic boron nitrates an edge over it, considering decidedly the interest for the previous over the world.Request to download and view full ToC -Right now, the market looks flourishing and brimming with circumstances. Be that as it may, the high cost related with the creation procedures may stop this market from developing consistently in the years ahead.Global Cubic Boron Nitrates Market Report is available at US$ 5795 -
PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-25 11:02:01

Industry's first unified data management system delivers the scale of a data lake, the fast query performance of a data warehouse and the low-latency of streaming

SAN FRANCISCO and DUBLIN, Ireland, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Databricks, provider of the leading Unified Analytics Platform and founded by the team who created Apache Spark(TM), today announced Databricks Delta, the first unified data management system that provides the scale and cost-efficiency of a data lake, up to 100x increase in the query performance of a data warehouse, and the low latency of a streaming ingest system. Databricks Delta, a key component of the Databricks Unified Analytics Platform that runs in the cloud, eliminates the architectural complexity and operational overhead of maintaining three disparate systems: data lakes, data warehouses and streaming systems. With Delta, enterprise organizations no longer need complex, brittle extract, transform, and load (ETL) processes that run across a variety of systems and create high latency just to obtain access to relevant, business-critical data.

"At Edmunds, obtaining real-time customer and revenue insights is critical to our business. But we've always been challenged with complex ETL processing that slows down our access to data," said Greg Rokita, executive director of technology at Edmunds.com. "Databricks Delta allows us to overcome this roadblock by blending the performance of a data warehouse with the scale and cost-efficiency of a data lake. We now have a simplified data architecture that enables immediate access to business-critical data."

"Many enterprise organizations are struggling with the limitations of data lakes and data warehouses as well as the complexity of managing both and moving data between them," said Ali Ghodsi, cofounder and chief executive officer at Databricks. "Delta combines the performance of data warehouses with the scale of data lakes and low-latency of streaming systems. With this unified management system, enterprises now benefit from a simplified data architecture and faster access to relevant data - increasing their ability to make decisions that drive results. We have solved a massive struggle facing organizations that are on a mission to run their business in real-time."

Databricks Delta delivers the following capabilities to simplify enterprise data management:

Manage Continuously Changing Data Reliably: Industry's first unified data management system simplifies pipelines by allowing Delta tables to be used as a data source and sink. Delta tables provide transactional guarantees for multiple concurrent writers - batch and streaming jobs. Delta natively supports the real-time needs of the business by enabling a streaming data warehouse to return the most recent, consistent view of the writes. Upserts in Delta provide a clean way to change data after it has been written, instead of running the entire job again.

Industry's first unified data management system simplifies pipelines by allowing Delta tables to be used as a data source and sink. Delta tables provide transactional guarantees for multiple concurrent writers - batch and streaming jobs. Delta natively supports the real-time needs of the business by enabling a streaming data warehouse to return the most recent, consistent view of the writes. Upserts in Delta provide a clean way to change data after it has been written, instead of running the entire job again. Perform Fast Queries Without Manual Tuning: Delta automates performance management, removing the need for tedious performance tuning approaches. Self-optimizing data layout ensure data queried together is stored together. Delta automates compaction of small files for efficient reads. Intelligent data skipping and indexing leads to massive speedups by not reading unneeded data. Automated caching leads to subsequent reads being an order of magnitude faster.

Delta automates performance management, removing the need for tedious performance tuning approaches. Self-optimizing data layout ensure data queried together is stored together. Delta automates compaction of small files for efficient reads. Intelligent data skipping and indexing leads to massive speedups by not reading unneeded data. Automated caching leads to subsequent reads being an order of magnitude faster. Provide cost efficiency and scale of Data Lakes: Delta stores all its data in Amazon S3 for cost-efficiency and massive scale. The data in Delta is stored in a non-proprietary and open file format to ensure data portability and prevent vendor lock-in.

Delta stores all its data in Amazon S3 for cost-efficiency and massive scale. The data in Delta is stored in a non-proprietary and open file format to ensure data portability and prevent vendor lock-in. Integrate with Unified Analytics Platform: Databricks Delta data can be accessed from any Spark application running on the Databricks platform through the standard Spark APIs. Delta also integrates into the Databricks Enterprise Security model, including cell-level access control, auditing, and HIPAA-compliant processing. Data is stored inside customer's own cloud storage account for maximum control.

Databricks made today's announcement at Spark Summit Europe 2017 during Ali Ghodsi's keynote. For more information on Spark Summit keynotes and sessions, visit https://spark-summit.org/eu-2017.

Visit databricks.com for more information.

Contact Databricks to get started: http://go.databricks.com/contact-databricks.

About Databricks

Databricks' mission is to accelerate innovation for its customers by unifying Data Science, Engineering and Business. Founded by the team who created Apache Spark(TM), Databricks provides a Unified Analytics Platform for data science teams to collaborate with data engineering and lines of business to build data products. Users achieve faster time-to-value with Databricks by creating analytic workflows that go from ETL and interactive exploration to production. The company also makes it easier for its users to focus on their data by providing a fully managed, scalable, and secure cloud infrastructure that reduces operational complexity and total cost of ownership. Databricks, venture-backed by Andreessen Horowitz, NEA and Battery Ventures, among others, has a global customer base that includes Salesforce, Viacom, Shell and HP. For more information, visit www.databricks.com.

 Databricks 2017. All rights reserved. Apache, Apache Spark and Spark are trademarks of the Apache Software Foundation.

Media Contact:

Stacey Collins Burbach

P: 415-310-9767

E: stacey.burbach@databricks.com
Europe Telemedicine Market is poised to reach $13.824 billion by 2020  134 pages report by Market Data Forecast

Market Data Forecast

PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-25 05:40:12

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Hyderabad, India.



Abhishek Shukla

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# 608 Words

Hyderabad, India.Sales Manager (International Business Development)+1-888-702-9626

The Europe Telemedicine Market is estimated to grow from $7.148 billion in 2015 to $13.824 billion in 2020, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.1% over the next five years. Though it is a small sector in the healthcare market presently, it is one of the fastest growing sectors in the overall healthcare market. The recent healthcare reforms have transformed the telemedicine market and have been influential in expanding the reach of such applications.Browse Market data tables and in-depth TOC of the Europe Telemedicine Market to 2020 @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/europe-telemedicine-market-101/ The overall healthcare cost is rising due to the increase in the number of elderly patients who need maximum healthcare; Telemedicine helps in improving individual health with the assistance of electronic media. With healthcare experts spread across the world, the teleconsultationreferralssecond opinion chain has increased significantly to various parts of the globe. Obstacles such as distance barriers and a shortage of healthcare professionals can be bypassed with the use of tele medicine.Increasing population, growing number of chronic diseases and rising cost of healthcare services are some of the crucial drivers for the growth of the Europe telemedicine market. In addition, increased use of technology in healthcare conveyance and a shortage of physicians in rural areas is foreseen to offer new prospect for growth of telemedicine market. On the other hand, limited reimbursement facilities and a lack of consumer awareness are the main constraints hindering the growth of the Europe telemedicine market.Free sample of the report is available @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/europe-telemedicine-market-101/request-sample The Europe market for telemedicine is segmented on the basis of Technology (Hardware, Software, Telecommunications), Service (Remote Patient Monitoring, Store-and-Forward, Real-Time Interactive), Applications (Tele-Cardiology, Tele-Pathology, Tele-Radiology, Tele-Dermatology, Tele-Neurology, Emergency Care, Home Health), Delivery mode (Web-based, Cloud-based) and End User (Tele Hospitals, Tele Homes).Medical consultation services will keep on to be the most regularly used form of telemedicine used by physicians for escalating the outreach of their medical advice. The tele-monitoring segment will also enjoy an upward trend owing to the increasing diabetic and disabled population.Europe Telemedicine Market Geographical Analysis U.K Spain Germany Italy FranceEuropean Union has begun to promote the use of telemedicine for improving healthcare access while saving resources. Regulation and reimbursement for telemedicine in the European Union varies and it is up to the Member States to decide. Given the lack of public reimbursement, UK is one of the largest markets within the EU where a large number of people are privately insured.In Netherlands telephone consultations are reimbursed via fixed prices by HIC. Belgium provides the least mature telemedicine market due to lack of regulations and preference towards face-to-face consultation over remote consultation. However, countries retain their rights to either grant parity to telemedicine solutions, or embed telemedicine service within public healthcare systems or not.Inquire before buying @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/europe-telemedicine-market-101/inquire Europe Telemedicine Market Leaders' Analysis GE Healthcare AMD Telemedicine CISCO Systems, Inc. Medtronic, Inc. Honeywell Lifesciences Aerotel Medical Systems Philips healthcare McKesson Corp Cerner Corporation CardioCommAbout Us:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, we cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. Our analyst team comprises expert professionals in market research, who with their collective knowledge and skillset dedicatedly serve clients from various industries and regions.Contact:Abhishek ShuklaSales Manager (International Business Development)Market Data ForecastDirect Line: +1-888-702-9626Mobile: +91 998 555 0206Mail:abhishek@ marketdataforecast.com Visit MarketDataForecast Blog @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/blog/ View latest Press Releases of MDF @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/press-releases
PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-25 10:29:02

TOKYO, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GMO Internet's (https://ir.gmo.jp/en/) Bitcoin mining business will launch a token sale (ICO) in 2018, the purpose of which is to sell next-generation mining boards. We will issue tokens as a method to buy next-generation mining boards.

GMO Internet's Bitcoin mining business

Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) mining business requires computers enabling highly sophisticated and intensive computation and also requires securing stable power supply to operate and cool the computers. Accordingly, GMO Internet is currently preparing to provide the following with an aim to enter the Bitcoin mining business.

We will use cutting-edge 7 nm process technology for chips to be used in the mining process, and are currently working on its research and development with our alliance partner having semiconductor design technology to realize high performance computer for mining. It will be possible to reduce power consumption compared to the existing mining machines with the same performance, and achieve a computational performance of 10TH/s per chip. In terms of power supply, we will operate a next-generation mining center utilizing plentiful renewable energy in Northern Europe, and secure clean and inexpensive power supply, which will allow us to control the costs of operating facilities. After preparing the facilities, we will launch the mining based on ready-made mining computers by December 31, 2017, which will lead to the full-scale entry into the Bitcoin mining business.

After the launch of the Bitcoin mining business, we will also sell our own next-generation mining boards.

Launching token sale for the sales of next-generation mining boards

GMO Internet's Bitcoin mining business will launch a token sale (ICO) in 2018, planning the sales of next-generation mining boards.

We will consider properly the laws and regulations that are applicable to us under the current legislation including Payment Services Act and the Financial Instrument and Exchange Act, and will be conscious of the protection of token purchasers and stakeholders' profits when designing the token sale.

Press Inquiries

GMO Internet Group

Group Public / Investor Relations

TEL: +81-3-5456-2695

Email: pr@gmo.jp

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: GMO Internet, Inc. via Globenewswire


PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-25 10:46:02

Hitwise Partners with Kantar Media to Enhance Online Intelligence in the UK

3 Monkeys

Joshua Chatland

joshua.chatland@3monkeyszeno.com

+44 (0)20 7009 3100

or

hitwise@3monkeyszeno.com

Hitwise have announced a UK partnership with Kantar Media enabling marketers to not only define, measure and understand audiences based on search and website visitation behaviours, but now also by their opinions and attitudes.

This combination bridges the gap between online and offline consumer data at massive scale. TGI consumer audiences, delivered by Kantar Media, provide in-depth target intelligence related to all domains of product and lifestyle choice. Hitwise monitors a panel of three million consumers (half of which is mobile) and 160 million monthly searches. By integrating TGI consumer audiences into Hitwise, clients will now be able to focus their analysis around recognisable real-world audiences and client personas, and enrich their online view with valuable audience insights.

For example, travel companies can use the Hitwise and TGI consumer audience data to create segments of travellers who Try to go somewhere different on holiday every time AND search for boutique hotels vs groups of travellers who Like to go back to familiar places AND search for all-inclusive deals. Understanding the differences in attitudinal and online search behaviour between these two groups enables travel companies to create messaging tailored to each audience.

Kantar Media is delighted to be integrating TGI with Hitwise, said Richard Poustie, CEO of Kantar Media UK & Ireland. He added, In doing so we are extending the reach of actionable consumer insights and behaviours measured by TGI, which provide a common language between media buyers and sellers on and offline into the Hitwise platform for increased actionability.

The integration of TGIs rich survey data along with the existing strength of Hitwises online insight is a game changer for brands, said Nigel Wilson, Managing Director at Hitwise. He added, This marriage of online and offline data empowers our customers to understand audiences on a deeper level and engage with them in more meaningful and contextually relevant ways.

About Hitwise

Hitwises consumer behavior, search marketing and competitive insights platform helps digital marketers understand, acquire and retain profitable customer segments. Clients rely on Hitwise to improve the effectiveness of search, display, affiliate, email and social marketing campaigns.

In the UK Hitwise monitors a panel of three million consumers (half of which is mobile) and 160 million monthly searches. Hitwise works with over 1000 clients across industry sectors, including retail, travel, financial services, advertising, media, technology and pharmaceuticals.

About Kantar Media

Kantar Media is a global leader in media intelligence, providing clients with the data they need to make informed decisions on all aspects of media measurement, monitoring and selection. Part of Kantar, the data investment management arm of WPP, Kantar Media provides the most comprehensive and accurate intelligence on media consumption, performance and value.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201710250054
PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-25 18:04:03

Murgitroyd: UK Start-Up Funding Competition Returns

Murgitroyd

Fiona McKenzie

European Marketing Manager

T. +44 141 307 8400

E. fiona.mckenzie@murgitroyd.com

Innovator Launchpad, the start-up funding competition run by intellectual property attorneys Murgitroyd, has launched again with an increased prize fund and new competition sponsor.

The top prize now rises to 6,500 thanks to additional funding from new sponsor Leyton, the innovation funding advisory specialist.

Leyton will also be offering in-kind support to the final three in the competition, to complement the intellectual property advice supplied by Murgitroyd.

Betabrand, the San-Francisco-based online clothing community also continues to support the competition by supplying limited edition space jackets for the winners.

The competition invites pre-profit and non-profit businesses based in the UK to demonstrate that they solve a significant business or social problem, and involves the submission of a 30-second video and a short application form.

The initial competition launched in Spring of this year was won by Falkirk-based biotech start-up uFraction8 co-founded by Brian Miller and Monika Tomecka.

The video element is new to the latest competition and Murgitroyds European Marketing Manager, Fiona McKenzie, commented:

Were excited about the new on-screen element, as we feel this will really display the passion the applicants have for their business and the problem they solve.

Weve made several changes in this competition, guided by feedback we received from applicants last time, so were hoping this will make the competition as streamlined as possible.

The top ten applicants from the first phase will go through to a public voting stage where members of the public will be able to vote on Facebook for their top three videos.

The Final Three will then be judged by a cross-industry panel to decide on a first, second and third ranking, with the winner being announced in January 2018.

McKenzie encourages businesses to get their entries in as soon as possible: For the time it takes to make a 30-second video and fill in a short application form, businesses could win a substantial cash injection to their business.

We wish all applicants best of luck and look forward to seeing some great entries!.

The closing date for submissions is Wed. 15th Oct. at 1200 GMT, and applicants can enter at: facebook.com/innovatorlaunchpad.

Notes to Editors

Innovator Launchpad (facebook.com/innovatorlaunchpad) is a start-up funding competition run by intellectual property attorneys Murgitroyd. The competition was set up in Spring 2017 and after a successful first iteration, it is returning this Autumn with a top prize of 6,500 cash, an advice and PR package, and limited edition clothing from Betabrand.

Murgitroyd (murgitroyd.com) is a global firm of intellectual property attorneys with UK offices in Aberdeen, Belfast, Glasgow, London, Newcastle and York. The firm specialises in helping businesses protect and maximise return on their intellectual property assets.

Leyton (leyton.com) is a global provider of innovation funding advisory services with UK bases in Glasgow and London. Its specialisms include helping businesses to secure R&D tax credit and R&D grant funding and providing consultancy on company restructuring.

Betabrand (betabrand.com) is an innovative online clothing community, based in San Francisco. It designs, manufactures and releases new products continuously, assisted by design and crowdfunding input from its supporters.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201710250059

The Innovator Launchpad start-up funding competition is back! Apply now at: facebook.com/innovatorlaunchpad
North America Release Agents Market By Composition (Emulsifiers, Antioxidants, Vegetable Oils, Wax & Wax Esters), Application (Bakery & Confectionery, Meat, And Processed Food), Type (Fluid, Solid, And Others) And By Region

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PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-25 11:47:00

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# 396 Words

Hyderabad, IndiaSales manager+1-888-702-9626

Release agents are an essential part of numerous manufacturing processes. They are often crucial, but are not understood for the value which they can add. These release agents help in many ways like they increase productivity, increase tool/mold life, increase cycle times, increase part/surface quality and reduce scrap and defect rates, just to name a few of the many potential benefits.The significant drivers for Release Agents are increasing demand for bakery foodstuffs such as breads, pastries, cakes and biscuits in light of rising health awareness and changing lifestyle. Also surge in application of barrier agents in light of their increasing availability and low price in developing economies will boost this industry. Huge costs of development and research in the area of Release Agents limits this industry.Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the Release agents Industry to 2021 @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-release-agents-market-3574/ The North America market for Release Agents is segmented on the basis of composition, application, type and region. Based on composition, the market is segmented into Emulsifiers, Antioxidants, Vegetable Oils, and Wax & Wax Esters. Based on Application, the market is segmented into Bakery & Confectionery, Meat, and Processed Food. Based on type, the market is segmented into Fluid, Solid, and Others. Silicone release agents find application in casting and molding for providing separation of a mould and reduce imperfections in the surface. The use of these products result in inducing less material waste, faster throughput and longer life of mold and machinery.Free sample of the report is available @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/north-america-release-agents-market-3574/request-sample The North America market has been geographically segmented into segmented into US, Canada and Mexico. North America has the highest no. share in this market .USA has the highest demand followed by Canada and Mexico. The North America region is largely driven by industrial concerns.Associated British Foods ,Avatar Corporation (U.S.) and Archer Daniels Midland Company (U,S.) (U.K.) are the leaders in the North America Release Agents market.About Us:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, we cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. Our analyst team comprises expert professionals in market research, who with their collective knowledge and skillset dedicatedly serve clients from various industries and regions.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-25 09:20:45

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# 638 Words

Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Butyl Stearate: Introduction:Butyl Stearate is a chemical compound which is prepared by reacting stearic acid with an appropriate amount of alcohol. Butyl stearate has the unique properties of low viscosity and is oily in nature. Due to its significant characteristics, Butyl Stearate results in a non-greasy, hydrophobic film when applied to the skin or lips. Butyl Stearate is usually in the form of oily liquids or waxy solids. Its acid value is of maximum 1.0 and the saponification value ranges between 160 to 175. And its specific gravity value is approximately 0.85. To maintain its quality standards, Butyl Stearate is usually stored and maintained away from heat and direct sunlight.Request Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=31652 Butyl Stearate: Segmentation:The Butyl Stearate Market is usually segmented into its form, application and end use.On the basis of form, the Butyl Stearate market can be segmented into Oily liquid and Waxy solids. Among these forms, Butyl stearate market has been anticipated to higher volume share in oil liquid sector due to its wide application in various industries.On the basis of application, the Butyl Stearate market can be segmented into Plasticizer, Lubricant, Spinning compound and Emollient. Lubricant and emollient applications of Butyl stearate are expected to have higher value sales due to its large use in cosmetics and food industry. Butyl Stearate's Lubricant application in cosmetic industry has been surging significant growth.On the basis of end use, Butyl Stearate market can be segmented into the food industry, beverage industry, cosmetics industry, textile industry, personal care, paper industry and metal industry. The food industry can be further sub-segmented into baked goods, confectionery, desserts, and gelatin. Similarly, beverage industry segment can be further sub-segmented into alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Due to its popularity and large applications in food and cosmetics industry, these two industries holds the largest share in terms of volume sales as compared to other industry.Butyl Stearate: Regional Outlook:A regional segment for the market of Butyl Stearate is divided into five different regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. The LOreal Group, Procter and Gamble Company, Unilever are some of the big players in the global cosmetic industry. And most of these companies have their highest value share in European regions. And for obvious reasons, the volume sales of the cosmetic industry in Europe region has been growing significantly every year. As a result, butyl stearate market will have the highest value sales in these regions to come up as a prime ingredient in many cosmetic products. North America and Asia-Pacific region especially Japan has been considered to be the emerging market for the cosmetic industry due to consumer's desire for cosmetic products.Butyl Stearate: Drivers and Restraints:Butyl Stearate has widely being used in various industries. They act as a green chemical alternative to potentially hazardous ingredients, notably personal care, flavor & fragrance, and plastics industries. It acts as an emollient and skin conditioning agent in personal care formulations. It functions as an effective plasticizer in nail varnishes. It also acts as a masking agent in fragrances for the perfume industry. In the metal industry, it has been used as the prime ingredient for cutting oil. Their application includes flavoring, lubrication in plastic production, proofing for concrete production, texturing in ink and in various surfactant systems. Hence these above mentioned critical factors can help drive the demand for Butyl Stearate in various industries, especially in cosmetic industries.Visit For TOC @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=31652 Butyl Stearate: Key Players:Some of the key players in Butyl Stearate Market are Pacific Texchem Private Limited., A&A Fratelli Parodi Spa, Jacob Stern & Sons, Inc., Green Biologics Ltd, Esterchem Ltd., Stan Chem International, Fine Organics, Mohini Organics Pvt Ltd, Penta Manufacturing Company.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-25 09:22:23

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# 634 Words

Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Carboxypeptidase Market IntroductionCarboxypeptidase is a protease enzyme, which hydrolyzes the peptide bond present at the carboxy-terminal end of a peptide. Industrially, the Carboxypeptidase enzyme is prepared from GMO Aspergillus niger, which is produced by submerged fermentation of a selected, pure culture of Aspergillus niger. Carboxypeptidase enzyme - finds application in the production of cheese and in fermented meat. The dosage of the enzyme depends on the type of application, quality of the raw material and the processing conditions. The enzyme is used to speed up the development while ripening.Request Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=31658 Carboxypeptidase Market SegmentationThe Carboxypeptidase market can be segmented by form, source, types, application, and region.By form, Carboxypeptidase Market can be segmented into frozen solid form, spray-dried form, liquid form, and freeze-dried powdered form. Among all the forms of Carboxypeptidase enzyme, mostly sold form by the manufacturers is the freeze-dried form.By source, Carboxypeptidase can be segmented into Wheat Germ, Porcine Kidney, Calf Intestine, Bakers Yeast, Zucchini Squash, Aspergillus niger strain, and others. Among these sources, Carboxypeptidase enzyme is made industrially by the fermentation of Aspergillus nie and can also be converted into freeze-dried powdered.By types, Carboxypeptidase market can be segmented into Carboxypeptidase A, Carboxypeptidase B, Carboxypeptidase D, Carboxypeptidase E, Carboxypeptidase M, Carboxypeptidase N, and Carboxypeptidase Y. The enzymes play various roles in the cell from the control of peptide hormone to the growth factor activity on the cell surface to membrane-localized degradation of extracellular proteins.By application, Carboxypeptidase market can be segmented into the food industry, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. In the food industry, Carboxypeptidase enzyme is used in Cheese, Enzyme Modified Cheese (EMC), and Fermented Meat. In the production of cheese, Carboxypeptidase is used to accelerate the development of flavors and the de-bittering during the ripening process. In EMC, Carboxypeptidase is mainly used as a de-bittering aid. The EMC powder which is the end product is used to create a cheesy-taste to foods like soups and sauces. In fermented meat, by addition of Carboxypeptidase with the lactic acid bacteria during cutting and mixing of the meat, makes it up to the desired taste. Due to the nature of the dried meat, the enzyme stays no longer functional in the final food.Carboxypeptidase Market Drivers, Trends, and DriversAccording to the recent trend of launching new types of products in the market which are healthy, manufacturers and producers are bringing innovations in their products. Based on the innovations, different enzymes and organic substances are being used in the manufacturing of food products to make it nutritious and healthy. One of the enzymes is Carboxypeptidase, which is used in the food industry as it is a naturally occurring enzyme and found in both human cells and tissues. Carboxypeptidase enzyme is used in a very small quantity in the production of foods due to the presence of the same enzyme in the human body. Usage of the Carboxypeptidase enzyme makes the ripening of cheese and fermented meat faster than in normal condition or with other enzymes. This is the reason why manufacturers prefer the use of Carboxypeptidase enzyme in the production of cheese mainly, which is driving the Carboxypeptidase market globally.In spite of the benefits of the Carboxypeptidase enzyme in the food industry, it also has negative effects such as if the consumption or dosage of Carboxypeptidase increases in the human body, it can cause adverse effects and abnormality in the body.Visit For TOC @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=31658 Carboxypeptidase Market Key PlayersBased on the demand of Carboxypeptidase, few players are providing the enzyme to the food manufacturers, such as Calzyme Laboratories Inc., Abcam Plc., Abbiotec LLC., Prospect-Tany Technogene Ltd., Worthington Biochemical Corporation, BIOZYM Gesellschaft fur Enzymtechnologie mbH, and others.
The Latin America Enteral Feeding Devices Market was worth $0.23 billion in 2016 and estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 4.45%, to reach $0.28 billion by 2021

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PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-25 06:56:26

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Market Data Forecast

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Abhishek Shukla

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+1-888-702-9626

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# 559 Words

USASales Manager (International Business Development)+1-888-702-9626

The Latin America Enteral Feeding Devices Market was worth $0.23 billion in 2016 and estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 4.45%, to reach $0.28 billion by 2021. A growing number of hospitals and ambulatory care services are approving enteral nutrition as an efficient system of clinical nutrition.The enteral feeding devices market is observing a rising acceptance of technologically innovative, user-friendly safety systems that diminish difficulties such as misconnections, tube dislodgements, and tube blockage. Numerous manufacturers in the Enteral Feeding Devices market are also increasingly employing safety techniques to safeguard the patient.Full report at: http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/latin-america-enteral-feeding-devices-market-695/ The growth of the Latin America Enteral Feeding Devices Market is mainly driven by factors such as an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, increase in the number of pre-term births, and rising aging population. However, poor accessibility of proper care, and high costs associated with the purchase and operation of such devices are the main factors hindering the growth of the market in this region.The Latin America Enteral Feeding Devices market is segmented based on Product Type. The market for Enteral Feeding Devices, on the basis of product type, is segmented into Enteral Feeding Tubes, Giving Sets, Enteral Feeding Pumps, Administration Reservoirs, Enteral Syringes, and Others. Enteral Feeding Tubes are further sub segmented into Nasoenteric Feeding Tubes, Oroenteric Feeding Tubes, and Enterostomy Tubes. Enteral feeding pumps lead the market under the product type with more than half of the share going to such products. It is also anticipated to be the fastest-growing among the major five, during the projected period. On the basis of Stage, the Enteral Feeding Devices market is segmented into Adults and Paediatrics. On the basis of Application, the Enteral Feeding Devices market is segmented into Gastroenterology, Neurological Disorders, Oncology, Diabetes, and Hyper metabolism. On the basis of End User, the Enteral Feeding Devices market is segmented into Ambulatory Care Services, Hospitals, and Others. A growing number of hospitals and ambulatory care services, which are implementing enteral nutrition as an efficient system of clinical nutrition, are enhancing the growth of the market.Latin America market region includes countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and remaining countries of South America. Brazil accounts for the major part of the Enteral Feeding Devices market in this region followed by Mexico. Other important markets in this region are Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia, Chile, and Bolivia.Request sample: http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/latin-america-enteral-feeding-devices-market-695/request-sample Some of the major companies dominating this market in this region are Halyard Health Inc., C. R. Bard Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Fresenius SE, Covidien PLC, Cook Medical, Nestle S.A.About Market Data Forecast:The publisher of this report is Market Data Forecast whose forte lies in Market research and Business Intelligence. Handling both individual and corporate clients across multiple business domains they offer syndicated/customized research to suit the clients research objective. Their research reports section offers a wide variety of market studies ranging from all-encompassing comprehensive market studies to product specific niche markets covering North America among other regions of the global market as well. For more info kindly visit, www.marketdataforecast.com Contact:Abhishek ShuklaSales Manager (International Business Development)Market Data ForecastDirect Line: +1-888-702-9626Mobile: +91 998 555 0206Mail: abhishek@ marketdataforecast.com Visit MarketDataForecast Blog @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/blog/ View latest Press Releases of MDF @ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/press-releases
Take a tour with SPA MAGIC of 32 outstanding Thai resorts, their spas and the treatments that have made them unforgettable. Lots of detail, pix and videos. If you're planning a trip to Thailand, this book will help you decide where you want to stay and what treatments you'd like to have while there.

Morning Yoga at Chiva-Som Resort, Hua Hin

PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-25 07:38:11

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Jim Carr

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Jim Carr

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Published by

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905-333-1295

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# 365 Words

5027 Cenaber CourtBurlington, OntarioL7L 4Y6Writer905-333-1295Jim Carr905-333-1295

Why Thai spas are the talk of the spa worldIts the touch, says Jim Carr, whose new book on Thai resorts and spas takes you on a magical tour of 32 outstanding resorts, their spas and the treatments that have made them unforgettable.I asked that question of a lot of people in the Thai spa industry and got a lot of answers but at the end of the day, I put it down to the special touch Thai therapist, that and a desire to please and a strong Buddhist belief of being of service to others, said CarrAs one spa manager told him: We do treatments from the heart.That somehow gets translated into the their touch, he says.In gathering information for the book, Carr visited more than 60 resorts and their spas  from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the north to Phuket, Krabi and Samui in the south.One of the most memorable is Dhara Dhevi Resort in Chiang Mai. It's like something out of Disney World but with a decided Thai slant with its pointed double and even triple roofs and turquoise swimming pools. Its spa, which focuses on wellness, features a number of Ayurvedic treatments. The spa, itself, is a replica of a Mandalay palace and striking in every detail.His book, SPA MAGIC, is available as an ebook at Barnes and Nobel, Kobo, Apple iBooks, Amazon, Scribed,24 Symbols, Tolino, Overdrive and Playster. It features lots of pictures as well as videos to help give you a sense of presence.Plus in-depth details of treatments offered by these spas. Many people spend an hour of more pouring their spa menu of treatments, he added.A more expensive print edition is available from Amazon.Wellness treatments figure prominently, with an emphasis on Ayurvedic and Traditional Thai and Traditional Chinese Medicine.Pampering treatments like facials, scrubs, wraps and massages also figure prominently at all spas, although wellness is clearly the way of the future, said Carr, a former financial journalist. He currently as an associate editor for Spa Canada Magazine and writes a blog about Thai resorts and spas  www.thaispasnow.com For more information, see https://www.jimcarr.info
The United States on Tuesday said it would encourage more of its firms to invest in Nigerias oil and gas sector.

This promise was made during a meeting held between Nigerias Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, and the Secretary of Energy of the United States, Rick Perry, on the sidelines of the 24th Africa Oil Week currently holding in Cape Town, South Africa.

A statement by the media department of the ministry sent to PREMIUM TIMES revealed that the American official further pledged his nations support in the areas of newer technology and skill set training to deepen Nigerian participation and production in oil and gas.

Mr. Perry also commended Nigeria for the significant steps taken in the industry.

The key message and thrust of the United States administration is to be strategic partners with Nigeria, the statement quoted Mr. Perry as saying.

According to the statement, the U.S. official said his government has a high level of respect for Nigerians and pledged its willingness to continue to encourage American companies to invest in Nigerias oil sector.

The statement revealed that the meeting in Cape Town served as a follow-up to an earlier meeting that was hosted by the Office of the Secretary of Energy earlier in May 2017 at the United States Departments of State and Energy in Washington D.C. at the sidelines of the Offshore Technology Conference.

Mr. Kachikwu in response to the comments and feedback given by Mr. Perry, was quoted as saying: the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Buhari has clearly set out the choices that have to be made as a nation over the next four years and has also taken significant steps in achieving this through the continuous implementation of the seven BigWins  the Nigerian Petroleum roadmap; which focuses on stabilising the business environment, enshrining openness and transparency, and developing and entrenching new policies and regulations. These laudable achievements have contributed greatly in helping Nigeria claw back from recession.

Mr. Kachikwu also reportedly highlighted the roles the Nigerian government has played through the institution of the Joint Venture cash call payment agreement, ensuring adherence to due process in the sector.

He added that plans are in place to reduce governments role in the sector in order to increase private sector participation.

Mr. Kachikwu disclosed that a comprehensive and holistic infrastructural map, which is currently being developed by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, would be launched in December 2017.

He also highlighted the local content growth which the Nigeria Oil & Gas sector has experienced. He claimed it has moved from 5 per cent at the inception of the Buhari administration to about 40 per cent local content compliance currently.

The statement said the U.S. official extended an invitation to Mr. Kachikwu, to take a look at the Department of Energy sector laboratories, which specifically develop new technologies being currently deployed in oil and gas in the United States.

Mr. Kachikwu likewise invited the official to participate in the forthcoming maiden edition of the Nigerian International Petroleum Summit, NIPS, scheduled to hold in February, 2018 in Abuja, Nigeria.
A veteran actor, Segun Akinremi, popularly known as Chief Kanran, on Wednesday has called for the establishment of community theatres in the local government areas across the country, to enhance socioeconomic development.

Mr. Akinremi, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, lauded the giant steps taken by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, for the commencement of seven theatre projects in strategic locations in the state.

He, however, urged other state governors to replicate such in their individual states, to boost the states internally generated revenue.

According to him, the establishment of community theatres would create room for employment opportunities for youths to be positively pre-occupied and further reduce crime rate.

He said that such facility would also enable the children to learn more of Nigerian culture when they are taken to theatres on school excursion or by their parents.

I am calling on all state governors to build community theatres in each local government of their states to create employment opportunities and reduce crime rate.

In the long run, the states stand to benefit financially.

As a matter of fact, Lagos State recently began constructing some theaters, and I know the government will get there because the seven theatres which are under construction are not enough for the state.

Let us invest in this project so that people can know more about their culture and history.

We actors and actresses are willing and ready to stage plays in each of the theatres now that piracy has taken over the home movie productions, he said.

(NAN)
Kenyas repeat presidential elections will proceed as planned on October 26, said the head of the election board on Wednesday.

Chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Wafula Chebukati said: the elections as scheduled will go on tomorrow.

In cases where there will be problems (delivering materials) the polling officer will have the right to inform us and polling can be suspended to another day.

Kenya plunged deeper into crisis on Wednesday after a no-show by the majority of Supreme Court judges scupper an eleventh-hour petition to delay a presidential election and the governor of a volatile opposition region endorsed rebellion against the state.

Within minutes of Supreme Court chief justice David Maraga announcing that five judges had failed to turn up, preventing a quorum, hundreds of supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga took to the streets of Kisumu, his main stronghold.

Riot police used teargas to disperse them.

Mr. Odinga had successfully challenged the outcome of an initial ballot in August, which he lost, in the same court.

We were expecting Maraga to cancel (Thursdays) elections. This means the push for postponement of the election is on, said George Mbija, a motorcycle taxi driver in the western city, repeating an Odinga demand for a clear-out of election board officials.

As we wait for Raila to give us the direction, the status quo remains  No reforms, No election.

The opposition leader has called on loyalists to boycott Thursdays vote, because he said the election boards failure to institute reforms means it will be neither free nor fair.

Kisumu governor, Anyang Nyongo, a hardline Odinga supporter, went a step further.

If the government subverts the sovereign will of the people  then people are entitled to rebel against this government, Mr. Nyongo told reporters in Kisumu.

Such comments seem certain to fuel fears of a major confrontation with security forces, already blamed for killing nearly 50 people in Kisumu and Nairobi slums after the cancelled August vote.

For many in East Africas economic powerhouse, the instability will also rekindle memories of large-scale ethnic violence that killed 1,200 people following a disputed election in 2007.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who won the annulled election by 1.4 million votes, has made clear he wants the re-run to go ahead and with the Supreme Court, the only institution that can delay it, unable to meet, it appears he will get his way.

God is great! The evil schemes to deny Kenyans the right to vote kesho (tomorrow) have failed.

WE WILL DECIDE and move our country forward tomorrow, Deputy President William Ruto said in a tweet.

In his announcement on live television, Mr. Maraga said one judge was unwell, another was abroad and another was unable to attend after her bodyguard was shot and injured on Tuesday night.

It was unclear why the other two were absent.

Election board lawyer Paul Muite said Mr. Maragas statement meant the election would proceed as planned.

It means elections are on tomorrow. There is no order stopping the election, he told the Citizen TV station.

In the capital of Nairobi, hundreds of opposition supporters began to converge on Uhuru Park, waiting for Mr. Odinga to give a speech in which he promised to outline his strategy for election day.

If the election goes ahead, it is likely to deepen the ethnic and political divides that have frequently sparked violence in Kenya, a key Western ally in a turbulent region.

In a related ruling, High Court Judge George Odunga said some local election officials had been appointed in an irregular manner, but to withdraw at the last minute would only make an already dire situation worse.

For the elections to proceed in the absence of the said officers would in my view constitutional crisis of unimaginable magnitude. Simply put, it would be a recipe for chaos.

However, he admitted that not dismissing them could form the grounds for legal challenges afterwards.

The Supreme Court has said it is prepared to annul the re-run, and send the country of 45 million back to square one, if it does not pass muster.

Opposition lawyers seeking to challenge the October 26 polls could also cite the failure of the election board to hold elections in all parts of the country, if enough polling stations are unable to open.

In Kisumu, returning officer John Ngutai said that attacks by opposition supporters last week meant the election board had only managed to train 250 out of 1,300 staff they needed to hold the election in his constituency.

Our trainings were disrupted and officials attacked, so some people withdrew, he said.

Both the European Union and the Carter Centre-, an election-monitoring group run by former President Jimmy Carter, have said they will reduce their monitoring missions amid rising tensions between the Messrs. Kenyatta and Odinga camps.

Foreign observers were heavily criticised by the opposition in August for focusing on the vote, rather than the tallying process led by the IEBC election board.

The current political impasse constrains the IEBCs ability to conduct a credible election, the Carter Centre said.

There is a serious risk of election-related violence should the elections go forward.

(Reuters/NAN)
Police in Malawi have arrested 200 suspected members of vigilante mobs that have been killing people they believe are vampires.

Nine people have been killed since mid-September in southern Malawi where there is a widespread belief in witchcraft.

The violence has prompted the UN and the U.S. embassy to declare some parts of the country no-go zones.

The attacks spread last week to Blantyre, Malawis second largest city where a 22-year-old man was stoned then burned to death and another was stoned to death.

Both were accused of bloodsucking, although medical experts deny the existence of vampirism in Malawi.

Amos Daka, head of the Medical Society of Malawi, said his group was not aware that any one has adequate clinical evidence to support any of the many claims to date.

President Peter Mutharika has visited parts of the country affected by the violence.

On October 10, the UN pulled staff out of two areas in southern Malawi.

NAN reports that Malawian President Peter Mutharika said the reports were distressing and agonising.

This development has been of grave concern to the President and the entire Government, his office said in a statement.

A UN Department of Safety and Security report said the vampirism rumours appear to have originated in neighbouring Mozambique, although it was not clear what had sparked them.

It recommended the temporary suspension of UN activities in the area until the situation is normalised.

(Reuters/NAN)
The U.S. said it is deeply concerned about rising levels of violence and restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly in Togo related to protests over proposed constitutional reforms.

The Department of States spokesperson, Heather Nauert, said in a statement that the U.S. cautioned against excessive use of force and indiscriminate arrest of demonstrators.

We are particularly troubled by reports of excessive use of force by security forces and reports that Government-sponsored vigilantes are using force and the threat of force to disrupt protests and intimidate civilians.

The United States is also concerned with the Government of Togos decision to restrict demonstrations during the workweek and to arrest a prominent imam in the city of Sokode.

The U.S. called on the Government of Togo to uphold its citizens human rights, notably their freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and internet freedom.

Government of Togo should also ensure that all those arrested during demonstrations are afforded the right to due process, the statement said.

The United States deplores the violence that has claimed the lives of protesters and security forces alike.

We urge all parties to renounce violence. We encourage the Government and opposition to engage in dialogue without preconditions, which is the only solution to the current impasse.

NAN reports that on Tuesday Gambias Foreign Minister Ousainou Darboeogo urged President Faure Gnassingbe to resign immediately.

He called on the African Union and West African regional bloc ECOWAS to persuade him to step down.

Mr. Darboeogos comments indicate opinion is shifting against Gnassingbe who took power in 2005 on the death of his father who ruled from 1967.

Togo has been facing a political crisis in which at least ten have died since August as frustration builds over the slow pace of reform with Gnassingbes opponents seeking term limits and other constitutional reform.

The UN has called for action. (NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to announce his response nearly 48 hours after receiving a report on the controversial reinstatement of Abdulrsheed Maina, the former civil servant wanted for alleged corruption.

The report was submitted to the presidents office on Monday few hours after Mr. Buhari instructed the Head of Service, Winifred Oyo-Ita, to do so, presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, confirmed.

But by Wednesday evening, a decision was still awaited by many Nigerians anxious to know the presidents response to a scandal many see as a litmus test for his administrations anti-corruption sincerity.

Mr. Adesina told PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday he had no comment on the development as of the time.

The only media statement emanating from the presidency on Tuesday was one conveying Mr. Buharis advice to West African neighbour countries to be cautious about the planned introduction of a common currency.

The president made the call in Niamey, Niger, in a speech at the 4th meeting of the Presidential Task Force on the ECOWAS Currency Programme.

Back home, the secret recall of Mr. Maina to the civil service, a plot apparently masterminded by the Attorney General, Abubakar Malami and the Interior Minister, Abdurahman Dambazau, continued to spark outrage, with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, delivering an unprecedented public rebuke of a scandal considered by many as the administrations most brazen yet.

The Senate and the House of Representatives have launched separate investigations, and lawmakers have called for sanctions against those responsible.

Mr. Maina is accused of using fake workers names to steal billions of naira of federal pension funds. He denies the allegation, but has since 2013 refused to submit himself to investigation.

Despite his denials, investigators say they have traced expensive upmarket properties in Abuja to the former civil servant.

Mr. Maina, a former deputy director in the interior ministry, fled Nigeria for years after being declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. His reinstatement was exposed by PREMIUM TIMES, prompting a presidential directive he be immediately disengaged.

In a statement Monday, Mr. Buhari demanded a full report of the circumstances of Mainas recall and posting to the Ministry of Interior to be delivered to his office before close of work that day.

Since receiving the report, the presidency has not stated its content nor announced its decision, amid growing calls for sanctions against those responsible for Mr. Mainas recall.

When contacted on Tuesday night, Mr. Adesina simply said, No comment on this issue for now.

The apparent next step therefore is to do away with ministers and aides who have been implicated in previous, and the most recent attempts to undermine anti-graft efforts, said Ibrahim Zikrullahi, the Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education, in a statement.

For us, there is no better time to dissolve the current lacklustre cabinet and reconstitute it than now, he added.

The group said the administration must project the force of moral example by immediately ending its strange dithering on this case, and others involving the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke.

For the umpteenth time, CHRICED must make it clear that it is no longer tenable that months after the report of that committee was submitted, the President is yet to take action on it, thereby exposing the anti-corruption programme to ridicule and credibility crisis.

Another group, the Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria, on Wednesday also demanded the resignation of Mr. Malami over what it described as his less- than- impressive role in the reinstatement of the fugitive  Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina to the civil service.

In a statement, the groups national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, called for a comprehensive probe of the case.
Despite being on the run after being declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged corruption, embattled former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reform, Abdulrasheed Maina, was provided federal security cover, PREMIUM TIMES can report today.

Investigators have found that for months, Mr. Maina received protection from operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service, SSS. The SSS also provided an accommodation for him.

Mr. Maina is currently at large and did not report to duties on Monday at the Ministry of Interior where he was recently posted to.

The spokesperson of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the agency was intensifying its search for Mr. Maina.

The fresh search was triggered by a PREMIUM TIMES report on Friday detailing how the former pension boss, who fled Nigeria in 2013, sneaked back to the country and was reinstated into the civil service, and promoted.

The story sparked outrage amongst Nigerians and the civil society who viewed the case as a litmus test for the anti-corruption effort the Buhari administration.

On Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered for immediate disengagement of Mr. Maina and demanded a report of the circumstances leading to his reinstatement from the Head of Service of the Federation. The presidency said the report has been turned in.

SSS, Police involvement

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that all the while, Mr. Maina was being provided guards by the SSS. A safe house in Maitama, allegedly belonging to the SSS, was also provided for his use.

The SSS does not have a known spokesperson to respond to this story.

PREMIUM TIMES telephoned the director general of the SSS, Lawal Daura, and the services director of operations, identified as Mr. Bassey, but both officials did not respond to multiple calls.

This paper also found out that Mr. Mainas controversial $2 million house in Jabi, Abuja, was guarded by the police.

A PREMIUM TIMES reporter who saw an armed police guard at the property on Monday, confirmed that the operative was posted there from the Maitama police division.

The FCT Police spokesperson, Anjuguri Manzah, said he was not aware of the posting. He promised to find out and get back to this newspaper. He was yet to do so.

Mouthwatering offer

Meanwhile, PREMIUM TIMES has obtained more details about how Mr. Maina purchased the Jabi property.

As exclusively reported by this newspaper two years ago, Mr. Maina used bankers and other intermediaries to launder most of the money he allegedly embezzled from the pension funds in his care.

The process of purchasing the Jabi home, located at No. 10 Hamisu Musa Road, followed a similar pattern.

Investigators familiar with the deal told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Maina, who paid for the house in cash, made a mouth-watering offer to the first owner, identified as Adamu Modibbo, a former managing director of Sigma Pension.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the property was not in the market so Mr. Maina, acting through a middleman, approached Mr. Modibbo with an enticing offer.

Mr. Modibbo initially resisted the proposal to sell the house, where he was living with his family, but was given what an official called an irresistible offer.

Officials said both the buyer and the seller contravened provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act by transacting in cash, given the amount involved.

Investigators, who traced the land documents at the Abuja Geographic Information System, AGIS, found that the new title documents were collected by an official of Guarantee Trust Bank.

Investigators later found that the man had resigned his post from the bank and disappeared.

Contacted for comments, Mr. Modibbo said he would not want to make any comment. He said he would rather allow EFCC to get to the root of the matter.

EFCC continues search

Mr. Mainas whereabouts remained unknown by Tuesday evening.

A senior official at the EFCC however told PREMIUM TIMES that the commission had searched Mr. Mainas family house in Kaduna following a tip off that he was in the city to see his mother over the weekend. The search was fruitless.

Officials also said Mr. Maina has been unreachable even to close associates in the last two days.
The Nigerian Army on Tuesday apologised to the family of Abubakar Alhaji, a commercial motorcyclist who was beaten to death by a sergeant, Taiwo Owoeye, a soldier in Lagos.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the victims brother who witnessed the incident narrated it to the presidential panel investigating rights abuses by the military.

The Nigerian Army has detained Sgt. Owoeye for murder, we find the matter reprehensible and condemnable, the Nigerian Armys counsel, Bola Oyebanji, said on Tuesday.

However, this is a single act which showed that the sergeant was on his own.

We apologise and sympathise with the family of the deceased, Mr. Oyebanji said as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.

The panel, currently sitting in the South-west, is to sit in the six geo-political zones and the Federal Capital Territory from September 11 to November 3.

The head of the panel, Justice Biobel Goodwill also, giving his condolences, told the brother of the deceased apologies to you and your family for the death of your brother.

Mr. Goodwill after tendering the apology, told Lucas Koyejo, a counsel from the National Human Rights Commission to follow up with the military trial of Mr. Owoeye to ensure that justice is done and to liaise with the victims family.

Earlier, Mr. Alhajis brother, Salihu Mojahid, in his testimony before the panel, shed light on the series of events leading to his brothers death.

Mr. Mojahid said: On February 27, my brother called Abubakar Alhaji, a commercial motorcyclist, took a passenger to Maroko Roundabout beside Myhoung Barracks, Yaba, Lagos.

He parked at the back of a vehicle and unknown to him someone was in the vehicle, the person in the vehicle reversed and bystanders shouted that a commercial motorcyclist is behind him.

My brother knocked on the car to alert the owner that he parked behind him, the owner of the car came out and he was Sgt. Taiwo Owoeye.

Owoeye who was in full military uniform, slapped my brother twice and after he fell down, and he started kicking my brother several times in his stomach while he was on the ground.

Bystanders tried apologising to him but he refused to listen to them till my brother fell unconscious.

When my brother became unconscious, he wanted to leave and the bystanders said do you not see the state of the person you have beaten up?

Sgt. Owoeye told them let him die, even if he dies, nothing will happen.

Fellow commercial motorcyclists and military men took him to a hospital in the barracks , he was vomiting blood till the next day.

My brother died on February 28 and the Commandant ordered the arrest of Sergeant Owoeye.

Mr. Mojahid claimed that his brothers corpse was not released to the family until May 25 which was four months after the incident.

Anytime we asked the military for his corpse, they said that they needed to do an autopsy, till now we have not received an autopsy result.

The panel had during its proceedings dismissed a petition by Mohammed Okorie who was accused of treason, unlawful possession of firearms and conspiring to blow up a presidential aircraft with some accomplices in 2004.

I was wrongfully accused of being a missile importer. 76 military officers were arrested when I was also arrested.

A military plane was sent from Nigeria to Ghana, Lome and even Ivory Coast in connection with the charges, Mr. Okorie claimed.

Mr. Okorie through his lawyer, Charles Nzeagbuna, challenged his incarceration by the military, stating that he was subjected to inhumane treatment and torture during the four years he was in custody.

However, the Army, disputed Mr. Okories claims noting that he was arrested on the orders of the State Security Service and not the military and an investigation of his case was conducted by a special panel created by the federal government.

Dismissing the petition, Justice Georgewill said Mr. Okories petition did not fall within the terms of reference of the panel.

The situation weaved around this panel does not apply to the charges of treason and felony.

This situation in reality does not fall within the five terms of reference which is restricted to conflict and insurgency scenarios.

Arrests in regards to a felony does not fall under the jurisdiction of this panel; this panel lacks the jurisdiction to entertain this case, he ruled.

The panel also dismissed the petition of Anthony Azuibike on the grounds that his petition did not also fall within its terms of reference.

Mr. Azuibike in his petition against the Nigerian Military claimed that they unlawfully evicted him from a land he had bought from an army Commandant.

The piece of land on which he had built his home was located at Peace Estate, Command Road, Ipaja, Lagos.

He claimed that the military infringed on his rights by evicting him from the property, rendering him homeless and subjecting him to torture.

Mr. Azuibike had demanded N200 million damages from the military.
The Nigerian Army said its troops attached to Operation Lafiya Dole under the armys 3rd Battalion, 22 Brigade have killed 11 terrorists and rescued 85 hostages in its ongoing daily clearance of the remnants of Boko Haram.

The operation carried out on Tuesday ended with the rescue of the hostages at Mogola, Ngaiwa, Tongule and Warsele villages in Borno state.

A statement signed by Sani Usman, army spokesperson said the operation which was successful in achieving its objectives was supported by the Nigerian Air Force alongside some civilian JTF.

Earlier today, the unit in conjunction with gallant 22 Mobile Strike Team accompanied by some Civilian JTF, based on credible information carried out offensive operations at suspected Boko Haram terrorists hideouts at Mogola, Ngaiwa, Tongule and Warsele villages in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State, Mr. Usman said.

Mr. Usman, a brigadier general, added that the troops discovered and destroyed Boko Haram terrorists logistics base and workshop at Ngaiwa.

The gallant troops neutralised 11 Boko Haram terrorists, he added.

Weapons reportedly recovered from the raid are: one gun truck, four already prepared suicide vests, various IED making materials, three dane guns, one Barretta pistol and 22 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

Five motorcycles, 13 bicycles and a wheelbarrow were also recovered from the terrorists den.

The Boko Haram insurgency in Northern Nigeria has caused about 100,000 deaths since 2009.
Kenyan police sealed off the Supreme Court building in the capital on Wednesday as judges prepared to hear a petition to delay the repeat presidential polls.

NAN reports that those who filed the petition are Khelef Khalifa, Executive Director of Muslims for Human Rights; Samwel Mohochi, Executive Director of the International Commission of Jurists; and Nahason Kamau.

They said that the credibility of the vote is not assured, citing political interference among other concerns.

Streets around the court in downtown Nairobi were blocked by police barriers and officers in anti-riot gear.

The court, created by a 2010 constitution that followed a violent political crisis three years earlier, is due to hear several cases challenging the legality of Thursdays election, which is being boycotted by opposition leader Raila Odinga.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who won the August election before it was annulled due to procedural irregularities, has made clear he wants the vote to go ahead although some in his party fear Mr. Odingas boycott will undermine the credibility of any victory.

One petition, brought by prominent human rights activist, Khelef Khalifa, is calling for a delay in the vote on grounds that the election board is not sufficiently prepared.

Around 1,200 people were killed in ethnic clashes after the disputed election in 2007.

Since the August vote, nearly 50 people have been killed in political unrest, almost all of them at the hands of the police.

Tensions have been mounting in the East African country ahead of the poll rerun, with almost daily mass protests and foreign diplomats warning a fair election cannot be guaranteed.

On August 18, a senior official in the countrys electoral commission fled to the U.S. saying she had received death threats.

(Reuters/NAN)
The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has ordered its bailiff to ensure the service of its subpoena on former President Goodluck Jonathan within five days from Wednesday.

The subpoena is to make Mr. Jonathan appear as a defence witness in the ongoing trial of former Peoples Democratic Party spokesperson, Olisah Metuh.

Mr. Metuh is facing trial for alleged diversion of N400 million from the Office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

The defendant had also obtained a subpoena for the appearance of Mr. Dasuki in court as his witness.

On Wednesday, the court registrar confirmed the service of the subpoena on Mr. Dasuki but said Mr. Jonathan was yet to be served, after a first attempt to serve him (Jonathan) by the bailiff.

Consequently, Justice Okon Abang gave the court official five days to serve Mr. Jonathan with the subpoena.

He added that in the event that the bailiff was unable to serve the former President with the subpoena in person, Mr. Metuh, for whom the subpoena was approved, will have to apply to the court to allow the bailiff serve Mr. Jonathan through substituted means.

The bailiff is hereby given five days from today to serve the former President, after which the law will take its course. If it is impossible, the use of substituted means is allowed.

For that, the bailiff is an agent of the first defendant. If the bailiff is unable to serve the former President, the first defendant should make the application for the bailiff. The bailiff cannot apply to court because he is not a party, the judge said.

The court also ordered the prosecution to ensure that its client, (the federal government) compels the State Security Service to produce Mr. Dasuki in court or risk administrative action by the court, in compliance with the orders of the Appeal Court.

Following an order made by the Appeal Court on September 29, the lower court on Monday signed a subpoena for Mr. Metuh, represented by Onyeachi Ikpeazu, to ensure that Mr. Dasuki is produced in court as a witness for Mr. Metuh.

That same day, Mr. Dasukis lawyer, Ahmed Raji, asked the court to set aside the issuance of the subpoena until his client is released from detention.

Mr. Raji also told journalists that if his request is refused, he would approach the Court of Appeal because according to him, the order for the compulsory appearance of his client is a violation of Mr. Dasukis right.

The court on Wednesday dismissed Mr. Rajis application. Mr. Abang said the subpoena had already been issued and that the decision to comply with Mr. Metuhs request was based on an order of a higher court.

Mr. Abang further said section 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which deals with the issuance of court service, was problematic and called on federal lawmakers to consider amending it.

There is a problem with section 124. I hope that the lawmakers will take steps to amend section 124 of the ACJA, Mr. Abang said.

Before delivering his ruling, Mr. Abang warned journalists in court against misinterpreting proceedings.

Citing the headline of one of Nigerias dailies which suggested Mr. Abang insisted Mr. Jonathan and the former NSA must appear in Mr Metuhs case, the judge said, It is on record that it is the first defendant that applied to have Dasuki and Jonathan in court.

Apart from the fact that journalists are advised to have a human face, it is contemptuous to misinterpret court proceedings. Any media organisation that misleads court proceedings will have itself to blame.

As regards the absence of Dasuki, this will be addressed administratively. There is no reason for the absence of Dasuki in court. The learned counsel for government must convince its client to produce Dasuki in court. Failure of which it will be difficult for the matter to continue, Mr. Abang said.

He adjourned the case to October 31, at the instance of the defence.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday pushed back against absurd attempts by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to link him to the unfolding scandal of how a fugitive returned to the country and took a senior position in public service.

Mr. Jonathan said the fact that efforts are being made to link him to the return and reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina underscored how uncoordinated and rudderless the Buhari administration has become.

Are they saying it is President Jonathan that flew him back into Nigeria and promoted him in two levels ahead of where he was as at 2013 when he fled the from civil service? Mr. Jonathans spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, told PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday night.

They should stop insulting Nigerians or seeing them as fools, Mr. Eze said.

Mr. Buhari has come under intense public backlash since last week Friday when PREMIUM TIMES uncovered Mr. Mainas surreptitious return to civil service.

Mr. Maina was declared wanted by the EFCC on allegations of courting billions in public funds for his own use when he headed the pension reform task force.

The pension funds scandal broke out during Mr. Jonathans administration (2010-2015), and the government took disciplinary steps against Mr. Maina by dismissing him from service.

Mr. Maina was an assistant director at the time of his dismissal.

The presidency, in a statement by Garba Shehu Wednesday night, said top officials of the Jonathan administration benefitted from the funds Mr. Maina allegedly stole from pension funds.

Top officials in the PDP government, from sectoral heads, to those charged with responsibility for law and order received some of these billions of naira from Maina, the presidential spokesperson said. We have all the transaction records and these are matters that the EFCC has been pursuing to ensure that they all have their day in court.

Mr. Shehu also suggested that some influential officials loyal to the previous government may have been the invisible hand in the latest scandal that saw the return of Mr. Maina to the public service, despite being on the EFCCs wanted list.

He, however, assured Nigerians that President Buhari was determined to get to the bottom of the matter of the impunity that led to Mainas reinstatement.

Everything will be uncovered in due course, he said. This just goes to show us the scale of corruption that this government is fighting. And, as we can all see, corruption keeps fighting back viciously.

Firing back within minutes later when PREMIUM TIMES reached him for comments, Mr. Jonathans spokesperson said the Buhari administration officials should waste little time in bringing out any evidence of connivance between Mr. Jonathan and Mr. Maina if they have it.

Theres no need to warn that they will bring evidence out or that everything will be revealed on a later date, Mr. Eze said. They should present the evidence to Nigerians now.

Mr. Eze said Mr. Mainas family had already disclosed how the embattled former civil servant returned to the country and secured a new position in civil service even while he was being sought by the EFCC.

The Maina family spoke about how he returned to the country and they made it very clear that Buhari officials were the ones that orchestrated his return, Mr. Eze said.

Emerging details since Monday have pointed to the involvement of Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, the Federal Civil Service and the Ministry of Interior as playing critical roles in the reinstatement of Mr. Maina into the civil service.

PREMIUM TIMES also confirmed that Mr. Maina was accorded top-level security detail by the State Security Service since he returned to the country months ago.
The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, caretaker committee, Ahmed Makarfi , has said only the partys National Executive Committee, NEC, and convention could decide who emerges the partys chairman.

Mr. Makarfi was responding to claims that he was trying to influence the outcome of the contest for the chairmanship position which will take place at the partys convention slated for December.

Mr. Makarfi, who said this while addressing journalists at the partys secretariat in Abuja ahead of a peace parley between the National Caretaker Committee, and aspirants for the top slot, said only the best candidate would emerge from the contest.

It is still up to NEC to decide, in addition to whatever the convention decides.

So far, the decision on who can contest as chairman has been made. If today or tomorrow any other decision of the party is made, well implement that decision, Mr. Makarfi said.

I want to make one thing categorically clear about unfair insinuations. Some people think that I, as the chairman of the caretaker committee should assume the power that I dont have.

We have no power beyond the convention and I want to remind all of us, the only thing the party did was to zone positions and as chairman or caretaker committee, you cannot go beyond that, he added.

Also addressing the aspirants, he said the party leadership was putting measures in place to ensure a peaceful convention and harmony between the regions.

We have been calling on the north and south to put themselves together.

Whether north or south, we must subject ourselves to what the NEC decides in respect to the matters before us in the leadup of the elective convention.

We said that we should meet with you (aspirants) and discuss with you and hear from you to know your contribution to making proper preparation for the convention.

Also, Bode George, a former military governor of Ondo state who spoke with journalists, said with the preparations put in place by the party, only the best candidate can emerge winner at the end.

We had a very useful meeting with the NCC. We agreed that we will remain civil, educate our followers because it is a family contest and not a matter of life and death.

We have agreed and you can see us now holding our hands. There is no quarrel, let the best man win. That is the spirit of the party, that is the spirit we are sending to the public because we want to win the minds and hearts of the public that we are better managers.

If we can manage our party and our states, we will be able to manage this country, Mr. George said.

When asked if the candidates were considering agreeing on a consensus candidate as suggested recently by the Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose, Mr. George said they all agreed to work as a team.

Whatever it is, whether consensus or not, we are moving together as a team. The party is bigger than any individual. Nobody will be aggrieved, he said.

Aspirants for the position present at the meeting include DAAR Communication boss, Raymond Dokpesi; former Ogun state governor, Gbenga Daniel; former education minister, Tunde Adeniran; former Lagos state governorship aspirant, Jimi Agbaje; former Oyo state governor, Rasheed Ladoja, and erstwhile acting chairman, PDP, Uche Secondus.
The Vice Presidents spokesperson, Laolu Akande, has clarified the error in the publications credited to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on release of fund for construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge.

Mr. Akande gave the clarification on Tuesday following some media quoting of Mr. Osinbajo as announcing $2 billion released for the project instead of N2 billion.

According to Mr. Akande, during the APC governorship campaign in Onitsha, Anambra State, on October 20, Mr. Osinbajo had reiterated the Buhari administrations commitment to keeping its promises to the Nigerian people.

He said that one of those promises was the construction of the second Niger Bridge, adding that the correct amount released was in the official news release he sent on the vice presidents remarks during the campaign rally same day.

I did quote the VP as saying that the Sovereign Wealth Fund paid N2 billion for that same project (Sum paid to the contractor: Julius Berger for early works).

We will definitely see our second Niger Bridge, we will not make promises we cannot keep, Mr. Akande recalled.

He, however, observed that a short video clip from the event captured on the news segment of a television channel quoted Mr. Osinbajo as mentioning $2 billion and not N2 billion , which was what he had actually meant to say.

Mentioning the dollar currency was inadvertent.

As it happened, the excerpt from the video, which was shared online, was what was quoted in the headlines of some media houses, and in comments on social media.

The figures were misplaced. Kindly set the records straight, from the speech I had sent.

Please note, again, the sum provided for this is actually two billion naira (N2 billion), Mr. Akande added.

He stated that it was also pertinent to state that the highlight of the rally and Mr. Osinbajos remarks was the commitment of the administration to improve the countrys transportation network and economy.

The APC government is a government that will do everything it has promised. We are not making promises for nothing.

The second Niger Bridge we have been talking about for a long time, but for the first time, the President went by himself to negotiate the facility to do that second Niger Bridge.

That is why the second Niger Bridge is in our current budget and we have provided for it, the vice president was quoted to have stated.

(NAN)
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has confirmed December 9 as date slated for its elective convention.

The partys spokesperson, Dayo Adeyeye, confirmed this on Tuesday while addressing journalists after the 76th NEC meeting which held in Abuja yesterday.

Mr. Adeyeye said that the convention will hold at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

However while responding to questions concerning the partys budget for the convention, he said the budget is not a national issue, and cannot be discussed in the public.

He said the partys NEC gave room to new entrants from Anambra and Oyo states to contest.

Also at the NEC yesterday Mr. Adeyeye said Abiodun Olujimi, a senator from Ekiti state had dragged Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, before the committee for flouting portions of the partys constitution.

Mr. Adeyeye said the chairman of the party, Ahmed Makarfi is looking at the issue critically to avoid catastrophic situation in the coming election in Ekiti State.

What has been going on in Ekiti State was discussed especially the impunity in the state, the issue was raised by Senator Olujimi.

Mr. Fayose recently endorsed his deputy, Kolapo Olusola to replace him in the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship election. This has kicked up controversies in the state with other contestants expressing dissatisfaction over the endorsement.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it is making plans with the Nigeria Prisons Service to ensure prisoners can vote in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, said this on Tuesday in Abuja at a dialogue session tagged Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room Dialogue.

The dialogue session involved over 70 civil society organisations in Nigeria.

This development is coming three years after a Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State, ruled that prisoners in Nigeria have the right to vote in all elections conducted in the country.

Mr. Yakubu said the commission was considering creating polling units in Nigerian prisons to give some categories of prisoners the opportunity to vote.

He explained that only certain categories of prisoners would be given such an opportunity depending on the nature of the crimes committed.

We have already engaged the Comptroller-General of Prisons and we have statistics on the number of prisoners nationwide and the number of inmates registered.

We are looking at the possibility of creating polling units in the prisons and to enable some categories of prisoners to vote.

Ghana does it but there are some categories of prisoners who by the nature of crimes committed lose the right to vote. Whatever we can do to open up the process to ensure that as much as possible Nigerians are given the opportunity to vote, will be done.

Speaking on the forthcoming Anambra governorship election, he also said the commission would do everything to ensure that the election is not inconclusive or rigged.

Mr. Yakubu raised concerns on the wrong substitutions of names of governorship candidates by two political parties ahead of the governorship election but refused to disclose the names of these parties.

He however warned that if the act was challenged in court, the whole election could be voided because of that and the country will be made to bear the financial load of conducting a new election.

He said the high level of non-compliance to the Electoral Act by the political parties was threatening the electoral system.

Clement Nwankwo, the Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, and convener of Situation Room, said the event was organised to know the commissions preparations for the forthcoming Anambra State governorship poll as well as other elections.
The Canadian government has earmarked $3.5 billion to advance the health of women and children in Nigeria, Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Christopher Thorney has said.

Mr. Thorney made this known during the Multi-Country Dissemination of the Rapid Access Expansion (RAcE) Project on Integrated Community Case Management of Childhood Illnesses (iCCM) in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said that Canada has a long-standing history of working to advance the health of women and children in Nigeria, including polio eradication efforts and other health initiatives.

He noted that Canadas latest initiative will span a 2015-2020 template and targets related programs during the five years.

Mr. Thorney, who commended the remarkable progress made so far in reducing child mortality, said that significant work remains to be done.

Troubling statistics are there, in 2016, about 5.6 million children under the age of five died worldwide; to make that more understandable, that is about 15,000 child deaths per day.

We also understand that for three-quarters of under-five mortality, we are also dealing with a handful of leading causes such as diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia.

All of these can be prevented or treated with access to simple and affordable interventions when they are available and certainly they are not always available, he said.

He noted that most of the effective interventions for these diseases are known, simple and affordable, but they are often inaccessible for the families who cannot reach health facilities in time especially within the crucial 24 hours.

He said unless the barriers are tackled, the nation stood the risk of losing the momentum it had gained.

In his remarks, World Health Organisation Country Representative, Nigeria, Wondi Alemu, said WHO was very proud of the great work that had been done in Nigeria, Niger, DRC, Mozambique, Malawi on the iCCM.

As for Nigeria, I see for myself that iCCM is a successful program, I say a programme because it is a project that will last after this financing from the government of Canada.

I believe that this will be taken up by government and states ministries of health as well to make sure that the strategy is replicated in other states, he said.

He added that focus of iCCM was a reduction of the burden of deaths of under-fives from malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia in underserved, hard to reach areas using Community Oriented Resource Persons (CORPs).

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The Nigerian government has disclosed that 26 firms have shown interest in the plan to overhaul the nations oil refineries.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, made this known at an oil conference in Cape Town on Tuesday.

Mr. Kachikwu said the 26 firms had indicated their interest in the project that will require investment of $2 billion.

He explained further that Nigeria was close to finalising the process for the overhaul of the three existing refineries, adding 450,000 bpd as part of the effort by Africas biggest economy to reduce its reliance on imports.

We are almost at a threshold of finalising the process of selection, he said, adding that it could announce its selection by January or February.

Similarly, the minister said that the Dangote Refinery with capacity to process 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil being built in Nigeria is due to come on stream by the end of 2019.

That should be enough to meet local needs, Mr. Kachikwu said, according to Reuters.

In 2016, the NNPC launched bidding to find partners to overhaul its ailing refineries, which hardly produce any petrol due to decades of mismanagement, a development that forces the nation to rely on imported oil products.

The government had previously said it was in talks with Chevron, Total and ENI.

On Tuesday, Mr. Kachikwu told reporters that Nigeria aimed to lift oil output in January to 1.8 million bpd from about 1.6 million to 1.7 million bpd.

He, however, noted that the nation would not breach a ceiling agreed with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

OPEC, Russia and other producers cut oil output by about 1.8 million bpd since January, with Nigeria and two other oil producers granted exemption.

If we get to 1.8 (million), then we need to say hey, close off the taps, because we need to comply, Mr. Kachikwu said, adding that oil prices were now encouraging but OPEC had not ruled out further cuts to shore up the market.
The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday moved to end the plight of Nigerian students on scholarship abroad.

Moving the motion under order 42 and 52, Senate Chief Whip, Olusola Adeyeye, Osun-APC, bemoaned the pitiable condition of Nigerian students abroad who are been neglected by agencies of government.

Mr. Adeyeye noted that the students are currently stranded in Russia, United Kingdom, Canada and other countries due to inability of the Federal Government to pay their tuition fees and stipends.

Mr. President, just last night, I got a very lengthy e-mail from Nigerian scholars in the UK complaining just like those students that spoke in your presence in Russia. Specifically, among other things, the stipends on which these students will live for food, transportation, housing have not been paid for many months. In addition, their school fees have not been paid, he said.

Supporting the motion, James Manager, Delta-PDP, wants the agencies responsible to take urgent steps in addressing the issue.

I have travelled enough and I know the suffering of Nigerian students who are on scholarship, he said.

Many students are taken out of this country by government agencies. Mr. President, this is a very serious matter. The agencies of government should take steps in alleviating the sufferings of these young and brilliant Nigerians.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, Kwara-APC, said the governments shortcomings has led some Nigerian students to illegal activities abroad.

The situation is very pathetic and we must tackle it head-on. I have the opportunity to meet with our counterparts in Russia who categorically told us that they are ready to give us more scholarship but unfortunately, some who have been on scholarship for two years have not been paid. Some are just roaming the streets, doing illegal activities.

The minimum figure is about $500 per student. This is not acceptable. We must address this. Well meet with these agencies and find a way to putting this issue to an end.

The lawmakers agreed to summon various agencies of government responsible for scholarship to Nigerian students to meet with the Senate President with a view to bringing the plight of the students to an end.

The Senate also charged the agencies involved in the Amnesty Programme to ensure a refund to Nigerians who rescued Nigerian students in Moscow who have not been paid for over four years.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned high institutions in the country against charging mobilisation fees for prospective corps members.

The NYSC Director of Press, Adenike Adeyemi, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Mrs. Adeyemi was reacting to reports that students from some corps producing institutions were being charged NYSC mobilisation fees.

She said that the NYSC has not mandated any institution to charge mobilisation fees on its behalf or using its name.

She said that students graduating from institutions were not in any way required to pay fees before, during or after mobilisation for the one-year national service.

Mrs. Adeyemi therefore advised corps producing institutions not to charge any fee before mobilising students.

If institutions are charging fees for mobilisation in the pretext that it is compulsory for youth service, then it is wrong and we will counter this because students are not mandated to pay any fees to be mobilised for national service.

NYSC has not asked any corps producing institution to charge any fees in its name or on its behalf for mobilisation for service.

If any institution is doing so it is doing it sorely on its own.

We have heard reports that some institutions are charging mobilisation fees; we will ensure we investigate this and urge the institutions involved if any not to do so.

NYSC has not asked any institution to take anything from any student. I do not know what fees they are charging and what they are calling it but whatever they name it is not in any way related to or tied to the scheme.

The problem is that we cannot tell or direct these institutions not to charge mobilisation fees in the schools; we can only ask them, urge them not to do so and not to tie it to the NYSC, Mrs. Adeyemi said.

She said that the NYSC Director, Corps Mobilisation, was reaching out to institutions, who may be involved in this, and urge them not to do so either in the name of NYSC or on its behalf.

NAN reports that the corps has received several reports from students who claim that they are being charged fees for NYSC mobilisation from their institutions.

(NAN)
A former Minister of Education and leader of the Bring Back Our Girls Movement, Oby Ezekwesili, has described the reinstatement of fugitive civil servant, Abdulrasheed Maina, to the civil service as one scandal too many and the most lethal blow to the current administrations fight against corruption.

Ms. Ezekwesili took to her twitter page on Wednesday to express her disgust at the development.

She urged President Muhammadu Buhari to own up to the scandal and start with full disclosure before tackling the matter.

Something is FUNDAMENTALLY BROKEN in Governance & #MainaGate is a mere SYMPTOM. Pres. @MBuharis usual ALOOFNESS on such matters WONT WORK.

#MainaGate is the most LETHAL BLOW yet to a struggling anti-corruption agenda that had the @officialEFCC increasingly isolated by the AGF. There is no redeeming prospects in the COLOSSAL MESS made by officials of FG in the #MainaGate. But at least START with FULL DISCLOSURE, the ex-minister said.

She said that if President Buhari took public confidence building measures on Mainas case and other parties involved, she may yet have faith in his agenda.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Monday October 23, ordered the immediate dismissal of Mr. Maina from the Federal Civil Service and also called for a full report on the circumstances of Mr. Mainas recall and posting to the Ministry of Interior which generated angry reactions from Nigerians after PREMIUM TIMES broke the story.

Mr. Maina is currently on the run again after security operatives sealed his palatial homes in Abuja and Kaduna.
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday reserved ruling on a motion seeking to set aside the guilty plea of four firms allegedly used to launder $15.5 million allegedly belonging to a former First Lady, Patience Jonathan.

The motion was filed by a lawyer, Amajuoyi Briggs, who is standing trial alongside former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, and Adedamola Bolodeoku.

They are charged with concealing $15.5 million which is said to have formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act through various banks in Nigeria.

They were charged along with four firms namely  Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd and Avalon Global Property Development Company.

While the three accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, the four firms had pleaded guilty through their representatives  Friday Davies, Agbor Baro, Dioghowori Frederick and Taiwo Ebenezer.

Justice Babs Kuewumi had convicted the firms on the alleged offence following a review of the facts of the case by prosecution after their plea.

Dissatisfied, Messrs. Dudafa and Briggs had filed separate applications seeking to reverse the plea before the court.

The applications were, however, dismissed by Justice Kuewumi on the grounds that the same issues were being canvassed by the accused at the Court of Appeal.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal in its judgement on June 15, had directed the lower court to hear Mr. Briggs motion seeking to reverse the firms plea.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, sought the courts permission to continue with the examination-in-chief of the first prosecution witness.

The request was, however, opposed by the defence lawyers.

Mr. Briggs lawyer, Ige Asemudara, drew the courts attention to the Appeal Courts judgement which ordered the hearing of his clients motion challenging the guilty plea of the four firms.

He also disclosed that he had filed another motion seeking to set aside the conviction of the four firms.

In his own submissions, lawyer representing the four firms, Mike Ozekhome, also notified the court of the existence of a motion he filed since May 8 seeking to set aside the guilty plea of the firms.

According to him, the court cannot proceed to trial when the plea of the firms which are in joint trial with the other accused persons is in contention.

Lawyers to the other accused, Gboyega Oyewole and Joseph Okodieme, also aligned themselves with the submissions.

Justice Kuewumi then opted to hear Mr. Briggs motion as directed by the Court of Appeal.

Moving the motion, Mr. Asemudara, argued that the plea entered into by the firms where his client is secretary, did not comply with Sections 477 (3)and 478 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

Mr. Asemudara added that the prosecution had yet to file any counter-affidavit against the motion.

In his response, EFCCs lawyer, Mr. Oyedepo urged the court to rely on its record with regards to the service of the charge on the directors of the firms as well as their appearances before the court.

He added that in view of the firms plea which was made by the directors and upon the admission of the facts reviewed by the prosecution leading to the firms conviction, the motion is a violent abuse of courts process.

Mr. Oyedepo said that the applicant (Briggs) equally lacked the locus standi to complain about the plea of his co-accused because the plea of an accused person is peculiar and personal to him or her.

The court has fixed November 22 for hearing of other pending applications in the case.

(NAN)
Nsikakabasi Akpan-Jacobs, a pastor charged with defrauding Titi Atiku Abubakar, the wife of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of N918 million, has alleged that he was detained for three weeks by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Abuja on Mrs. Abubakars orders.

Mr. Akpan-Jacobs made the revelation on Wednesday at an Ikeja High Court on the second day of the trial-within-trial proceedings to determine the voluntariness of his statements to the anti-graft agency.

While being led in evidence by Amos Ibe, his defence counsel, Mr. Akpan-Jacobs said: I was first arrested by the Lagos office of the EFCC.

On the days when I honoured their invitation, I gave statements at various times to different operatives namely Mr. Dapo, Mr. Kabir, Mr. Lawal as well as a team of investigators comprising a lady and two men.

I received an unexpected call from the EFCC on Feb. 5, 2009 which I honoured and when I arrived, I was taken straight to the airport.

When I asked what was wrong, they told me that it was based on orders from above, I immediately called my wife and lawyer to inform them of the development.

When I arrived in Abuja, I was taken to an underground detention facility, the sureties in my bail by the EFCC were to be two directors in the civil service, who had landed property in Abuja.

When I saw the bail conditions, I told the second defendant that these people want to keep me here in perpetuity.

The defendant, who is Mrs. Abubakars business partner, alleged that he was taken from the underground detention facility belonging to the EFCC in Abuja and was interrogated by Mr. Pascal, Mr. Oron, and Mr. Baba-kura, operatives of the EFCC.

According to him, if his written statement was not satisfactory, operatives will shred the document and order him to write a fresh statement containing sentences approved by them.

Baba-kura, who was the head of the unit, acted like he owned the whole world and My Lord, to be honest, I gave it back to them.

However, when I was released, they were not going to budge; so, I wrote the statements.

While in Abuja, I had pneumonia, high blood pressure and the various times I went back to my cell, I had to lie down because I was standing all day.

My Lord, Mr. Chima (a member of Titi Atiku Abubakars legal team) read the statements I wrote to make sure I was writing what they wanted.

I did not give any undertaking while I was detained, an undertaking was brought to me by Mr. Chima which I signed.

I signed the undertaking to save the second defendant because the EFCC put so much pressure on him to turn against me and out of pity, I had to sign the undertaking.

All the statements I wrote were signed but not dated, I dated all my statements in one day under the instruction of the EFCC, I did not have access to my phones as well as my lawyer, who was within reach.

I never saw Florence Doregos (Mrs. Abubakar) at the EFCC office, she never came despite the EFCC operatives telling me that she would come.

I want the court to reject the statements I gave to the EFCC, Mr. Akpan-Jacobs pleaded.

Earlier during proceedings, a lawyer, Ikhide Daniels, testified that the EFCC denied him access to Mr. Akpan-Jacobs and Abdulmalik Ibrahim, the second defendant while they were in custody in Abuja.

He told the court: On February 5, 2009, on my way to the Court of Appeal, I got a distress call from the wife of the second defendant that that the EFCC had invaded their residence and their premises sealed off.

I got a call from an unidentified person that they were en route to Abuja, I got to Abuja at about 3.30 p.m. or 4.00 p.m. and I got to the EFCC office about 30 to 35 minutes later.

The team that took the defendants to Abuja was the Chairmans Special Monitoring Unit, I requested to see the first and second defendants but they never obliged me.

Mr. Daniels also disputed the October 24 testimony of Dickson Graymond, a retired detective of the EFCC, that Mr. Akpan-Jacobs gave his statements voluntarily.

The lawyer alleged that the defendants were brought to Abuja from Lagos due to Mrs. Abubakars influence.

In Abuja, I asked Graymond about their bail and he said that I should tell Akpan-Jacobs to cooperate with the EFCC.

Graymond said that there was a special order from above to bring the defendants to Abuja and that is why the case was assigned to the chairmans team.

The defendants spent three weeks in Abuja, I was in Abuja to make sure that they had legal representation and to secure their release but the only time I had access to them was the night they were released.

After we left Abuja for Lagos, their spirits were down and they were in shock necessitating our fundamental human rights suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The EFCC gave a lot of subtle, draconian threats while they were in custody such as there are orders from above and eyes are watching you.

We went to Federal High Court to nullify the statements and undertaking on the grounds that they were not given voluntarily.

Graymond, in his testimony, said that their office at the FCDA was an open office, that statement isnt true, the EFCC office at the FCDA had little cubicles that does not allow one to see whats going on inside.

It was not an open office because I could not see all that was going on there, he said.

Counsel to the EFCC, Babatunde Sonoiki, while cross-examining Mr. Daniels, alleged that the lawyer never came to Abuja to see his clients.

Mr. Sonoiki also denied that the Abuja office of the anti-graft agency had a detention facility and that the disputed undertaking was not made by Mr. Akpan-Jacobs while he was in EFCC custody in Abuja.

Responding, Mr. Daniels said: I came to your Abuja office, your log book will show that I was there, I was not there when the undertaking was given by Akpan-Jacobs because I was denied access to him.

I am not aware that Akpan-Jacobs brought a managers cheque to EFCC Abuja as a result of the undertaking.

The FCDA where the Chairmans Special Unit is based had no detention centre, the detention centre is located somewhere else, the location I cannot remember.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the EFCC had charged Mr. Akpan-Jacobs, Mr. Ibrahim, a lawyer; and Dana Motors Ltd with a 14-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent conversion of property worth N918 million belonging to THA Shipping Maritime Services Ltd.

THA Shipping Maritime Services Ltd, a company created in 2000, is owned by Mrs. Abubakar, Akpan-Jacobs and Fred Holmes, her German business partner.

Mrs. Abubakar was allegedly the majority shareholder with 49 per cent shares, while Messrs. Holmes and Akpan-Jacobs each had 25 per cent shares.

Akpan-Jacobs, who also doubled as the companys Managing Director and Secretary, was alleged to have gone to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to alter the shareholding in his favour and forged the companys board resolutions.

Under the new shareholding arrangement, he allegedly allotted 51 per cent shares to himself and 24.5 percent shares each to Mrs Atiku and Mr Holmes.

According to the EFCC, welding a fraudulent shareholding power, Akpan-Jacobs also sold a property belonging to the company to Dana Motors Nigeria Ltd for N918 million.

The property is located at Plot C63, Amuwo-Odofin Commercial Layout, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos.

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye adjourned the case until December 12 for the conclusion of the trial-within-trial.

(NAN)
The Nigerian Senate has urged the Auditor-General of the Federation, Anthony Ayine, to submit the 2016 Annual Audit Report.

The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Matthew Uroghide, made this call while addressing journalists on Wednesday.

Mr. Uroghide explained that the constitution mandates the Auditor-General to submit the report to the National Assembly.

Section 85 (5) of the 1999 Constitution states: The Auditor-General shall, within ninety days of receipt of the Accountant-Generals financial statement, submit his reports under this section to each House of the National Assembly and each House shall cause the reports to be considered by a committee of the House of the National Assembly responsible for public accounts.

According to Mr. Uroghide, The committee is aware of the backlog of reports before it and is determined to work tirelessly to ensure that the backlogs are cleared. Towards this end, the committee shall be sitting regularly to ensure that consideration is completed and reports submitted to the Senate.

The last report submitted by the Auditor General for the Federation is for the year ended 31st December 2015. The submission of the 2016 report is already due. The committee is therefore calling on the Auditor-General of the Federation to immediately submit the report.

He added that the committee would consider the Federal Audit Service Commission Bill to check possible embezzlement, misuse, misapplication, wastage and loss of public funds and resources.

The Senate Public Accounts Committee oversights compliance with rules, regulations and laws governing public expenditure by courts, ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
Kola Ologbondiyan, an editor with Thisday newspapers, who is vying for the PDP National Public Secretary seat, declared on Wednesday that the party needed an experienced professional as it spokesperson.

Mr. Ologbondiyan, ex-media aide to former Senate President David Mark, told journalists in Abuja that only an experienced technocrat and professional media practitioner could effectively launder the partys image at this critical time.

The party needs the best hands; it must assemble brilliant and tested professionals because the task is enormous, Mr. Ologbondiyan, who is currently on the Editorial Board of Thisday newspapers, said.

He advised party members to ensure that the best candidates emerged as national officers of the party at the national convention scheduled to hold in Abuja on December 9.

Mr. Ologbondiyan, from Kogi State in the North-central, where the position has been zoned to, said that he was ready and capable of serving as spokesman of the party.

I am joining the race so as to repackage the party in line with the desire for a new PDP, he said.

I believe that my journalism journey of 25 years, which cruised through news reporting to the image and perception manager of the number three citizen for eight uninterrupted years, has placed me in the best stead to manage and project the corporate image of the PDP.

If we must get our party back on track, the PDP needs the services of experienced technocrats.

The party needs professionals like me, to reinvent the narratives of the noble ideals for which it was known and accepted as the most populous political party in Africa.

It is also imperative for us to accept the reality that our party will not have the privilege of another learning curve in the 21st century, hence the need to carefully seek the best candidates for our leadership positions, he said.

Mr. Ologbondiyan pledged to do all that is noble, right and legitimate, to repackage and re-position the PDP as the hope of Nigeria and Nigerians, if elected as its National Publicity Secretary.

(NAN)
President Muhammadu Buharis spokesperson, Garba Shehu, on Tuesday explained that the president never took a photograph with Abdulrasheed Maina, fugitive former chairman of the Presidential Task Team on Pension Reforms, whose controversial reinstatement into the civil service elicited condemnation from Nigerians.

In a series of tweets, Mr. Shehu said the person in the photograph being mistaken to be Mr. Maina is Ado Doguwa, the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State.

DISCLAIMER: There is a photograph all over the Social Media of President @MBuhari, Senate President @bukolasaraki and Hon. Ado Garba Doguwa Alhassan being mistaken to be the embattled ex-chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, Mr. Shehu tweeted.

Clarifying that the said photograph was taken to mark Nigerias 57th independence in October, Mr. Shehu said, Hon. Doguwa represented the Speaker of the House of Representatives at the special Jummat prayers to mark the nations 57th year anniversary at the Presidential Villa weeks ago.

PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported Mr. Mainas recall to the interior ministry on Friday prompting condemnation from Nigerians.

The president on Monday ordered Mr. Mainas dis-engagement from the civil service and an investigation into how he was recalled.

Although the report was sent to the president on Monday evening, he is yet to comment on it.

Mr. Maina was declared wanted by the anti-graft agency, EFCC, in 2015.

Screenshots from Twitter
The presidential panel investigating alleged human rights abuses by the Armed Forces has called on Femi Falana and all lawyers representing suspected Boko Haram members detained in the South-west to come forward to present their case before the panel.

The chairman of the eight-member panel, Justice Biobel Goodwill of the Court of Appeal, made the call on Tuesday on the second day of the panels sitting at the Ikeja High Court, Lagos.

Mr Femi Falana and other counsel should come forward with their allegations of human rights abuses.

It is imperative that people in South-west with allegations against the armed forces should appear before the panel, Mr. Goodwill said.

The judge also invited interested parties to join members of the panel to a one-day fact finding mission on October 25 to the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, Lagos, where alleged Boko-Haram suspects are incarcerated.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had on August 11 inaugurated the presidential investigation panels to review compliance of the armed forces with human rights obligations and rules of engagement in conflict and insurgency cases.

The panel is to sit in the six geo-political zones and the Federal Capital Territory from September 11 to November 3.

(NAN)
Working in partnership with some Nigerian and Ethiopian media organizations, the U.S. Embassy in Abuja Nigeria and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, have initiated an exchange programme to promote connections between journalists in Africa especially between Ethiopian and Nigerian journalists.

The programme entitled Uniting African Journalists is scheduled for the last weeks of October and November 2017, in Abuja and Addis Ababa, respectively, the U.S. Embassy said in a statement Wednesday.

The statement added, In Abuja, the U.S. Embassy is partnering with Channels Television, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Radio Nigeria (FRCN), Premium Times, Daily Trust, and Cool/Wazobia/Nigeria Info.

The six Nigerian institutions will play host to a delegation of Ethiopian journalists accompanied by an Embassy official from Addis Ababa who are expected to arrive Abuja on Monday, October 30th for a four-day programme.

During their visit to Abuja, the Ethiopian journalists will receive briefings from Embassy officials, representatives of the Nigerian media partners, gain practical working experience, embedded in the news operations of the media organizations, and participate in a digital interaction with a U.S. journalism expert.

The immediate goal of this project is support for independent media in Ethiopia while the medium term goal is to explore the benefits of supporting continent-wide connections and networking between African journalists to strengthen the profession.

In pursuit of these objectives, representatives of the six Nigerian media partners accompanied by Embassy staff from Abuja will visit Ethiopia from November 27th on the reverse trip of the exchange program.

The Ethiopian media partners are: The Reporter Newspaper, Fortune Newspaper, Ethiopian Broadcasting Service, Sheger FM 102 Radio and Capital Newspaper-Crown Publishing.
The Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, has said more than half of the recent loan request by the federal government was to refinance loans taken by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

President Muhammadu Buhari recently wrote the Senate asking for permission to secure the $5.5 billion external loan.

Mrs. Adeosun, in a statement by her office, said $3 billion of that loan is to refinance the loan by the immediate past administration.

Read the full statement by the finance ministry below.

The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, on Wednesday revealed that the federal government would apply $3 billion in refinancing the legacy debts of the immediate past government.

The outlay is part of the $5.5 billion foreign loan being sourced from the International Financial Markets.

The Minister, who appeared on Arise TVs News Programme, said the proposed $5.5 billion loan was made up of two components  refinancing of heritage debts to the tune of $3 billion and new borrowing of $2.5 billion for the 2017 Budget.

She said, Let me explain the $5.5 billion borrowing because there have been some misrepresentations in the media in the last few weeks. The first component of $2.5 billion, represents new external borrowing provided for in the 2017 Appropriation Act to part finance the deficit in that Budget.

The borrowing will enable the country to bridge the gap in the 2017 budget currently facing liquidity problem to finance some capital projects.

For the second component, we are refinancing existing domestic debt with the US$3 billion external borrowing. This is purely a portfolio restructuring activity that will not result in any increase in the public debt, she disclosed.

Ms. Adeosun further noted that the countrys debt puzzlingly rose from N7.9 trillion in June 2013 to N12.1 trillion in June 2015, despite the fact that only 10 per cent of the budget was allocated to capital expenditure when oil price exceeded $120 per barrel.

She emphasised that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was investing in critical infrastructural projects such as roads, rails and power in order to deliver a fundamental structural change to the economy that would reduce the nations exposure to crude oil.

Under this dispensation, we are not borrowing to pay salaries. If all we do is to pay salaries, we cannot grow the economy. This Administration is also assiduously working to return Nigeria to a stable economic footing. In light of this, the government adopted an expansionary fiscal policy with an enlarged budget that will be funded in the short term, by borrowing, Adeosun stated.

She reassured that the $5.5 billion foreign borrowing was consistent with Nigerias Debt Management Strategy, whose main objective was to increase external financing with a view to rebalancing the public debt portfolio in favour of long-term external financing.

Nigerias debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) currently stands at 17.76% and compares favourably to all its peers. The debt to GDP ratio for Ghana is 67.5%, Egypt is 92.3%, South Africa (52%), Germany (68.3%) and United Kingdom (89.3%).

Nigerias debt to GDP ratio is still within a reasonable threshold. This Administration will continue to pursue a prudent debt strategy that is tied to gross capital formation. This will be attained by driving capital expenditure in our ailing infrastructure which will in turn, unlock productivity and create the much-needed jobs and growth, the minister added.
The family of fugitive ex-Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, on Wednesday rose to his defence, saying he is not a fraudster but a messiah engaged by government to cleanse the Nigerian Pension Scheme.

Addressing journalists in Kaduna, the spokesperson of the family, Aliyu Maina, said the controversy surrounding the fugitive is the handiwork of cabals bent on tarnishing the image of the family.

He said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration facilitated the return of Mr. Maina to Nigeria so as to assist in its change agenda.

He insisted that the cabals were merely out to tarnish the image of Mr. Maina in the media and that the family was in possession of facts that would expose the motive of the cabals.

You must have noticed the recent attempt by some cabals to ridicule and tarnish the image of the Maina family in the media, the spokesperson was quoted as saying by Punch Newspapers.

Where our brother, father, and uncle has been blackmailed as a fraudster (sic). The cabals have gone to the extent of marking our houses with red paints with the inscription of EFCC under investigation.

The entire family of Abdullahi Maina is hereby categorically stating that our son is not in any way a fraudster, rather, he is a messiah who brought remarkable reforms into the Nigerian Pension Scheme, whose efforts saw the disappearance of pensioners roaming the streets of the FCT and other states.

It is on record that Abdulrasheed Mainas reforms put a stop to the fraudulent withdrawal of huge sums from both the Nigerian Pension Board and the Nigerian Police Pension Board.

PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported how Mr. Maina was secretly recalled into the Federal Civil Service and promoted to the post of Director at the Ministry of Interior.

The public outcry generated by the report prompted President Buhari to direct the immediate dismissal of Maina and an investigation of his recall.

A statement by presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said Mr. Buhari had ordered immediate disengagement of Mr Abdulrasheed Maina from service, and a probe into the circumstances of Mr. Mainas return.
The Presidency on Wednesday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had no moral right to level any accusations against the current government in respect of Abdulrasheed Maina, the embattled former head of the presidential team on pension reforms.

In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES, Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, described Mr. Maina as one of the monsters created by the former PDP government, and which are still rearing their ugly heads long after the Party was soundly defeated in the 2015 elections.

Over and over again, the President Buhari government has pointed out that the administrations greatest problem is the mess left behind by the previous government. Maina is just one more example, he said.

Referring to document records from the investigations that led to the disgrace of the former pension boss and his being declared wanted by the EFCC, Mr. Shehu noted that Mr. Maina was not the only top member of the former government involved in the multibillion naira pensions scandal, but a man warmly ensconced in the bosom of power.

Top officials in the PDP government, from sectoral heads, to those charged with responsibility for law and order received some of these billions of naira from Maina, the presidential spokesperson said. We have all the transaction records and these are matters that the EFCC has been pursuing to ensure that they all have their day in court.

Mr. Shehu hinted that some influential officials loyal to the previous government may have been the invisible hand in the latest scandal that saw the return of Maina to the public service, despite being on the EFCCs wanted list. He, however, assured Nigerians that President Buhari was determined to get to the bottom of the matter of the impunity that led to Mr. Mainas reinstatement.

Everything will be uncovered in due course, he said. This just goes to show us the scale of corruption that this government is fighting. And, as we can all see, corruption keeps fighting back viciously.
Suspected members of Boko Haram sect on Tuesday attacked Sasawa village in Damaturu Local Government Area of Yobe.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Abdulmaliki Sumonu, confirmed to journalists that the village was attacked on Tuesday night.

The attack happened on Tuesday night; we are still working on the details, Mr. Summonu said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the attack came after a long time of relative peace enjoyed across the state.

Most people displaced by the insurgency had returned to their communities and engaged in agricultural activities to boost their resettlement and rehabilitation.

(NAN)
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Benue chapter, says its members are ready to leave the Benue valley as the November 1 deadline for the implementation of the states Anti-Open Grazing Law draws nearer.

The Chairman of the association, Garus Gololo, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Makurdi that since the Government made no provision to accommodate their cattle and was insistent on the implementation of the law, they had no option than to leave the state.

This law is confusing, for instance, they have said they are not chasing out the Fulanis from the state but they have made no provision for our cattle, the cattle markets and even other cattle.

They have told us to buy land for ranches, but the question is from who; you know that the process of getting land from the government is tedious, yet they are insisting that we must buy land for ranches.

When you buy the land, you need the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to qualify for ownership, how can we get all this within the time frame given by the government? Mr. Gololo asked

He said although the government had repeatedly explained that the law was not against the Fulani herdsmen, the requirements of the law were stringent and could not be met by the herdsmen within the time frame set by the government.

He said all entreaties to the government for extension of the time frame failed as Governor Samuel Ortom insisted there was no going back on the November 1 dateline for the implementation of the law.

NAN reports that Mr. Ortom had in May signed into law the Anti Open Grazing Law which seeks to prohibit open rearing and grazing of livestock and provides for the establishment of ranches and livestock administration in the state.

Although the law was signed in May, its implementation was extended to November 1, 2017 to give cattle breeders and other livestock owners time to build ranches.

The law seeks to end the perennial land skirmishes between farmers and herdsmen in the state.

NAN reports that dozens of people had died in clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the state with farmlands and crops amounting to millions of Naira being destroyed.

Reacting to the claims by Mr. Gololo, Benue Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Lawrence Onoja Jr., said enough time was given for land acquisition and the building of ranches.

He said the recent decision of the government to unbundle the procedure for land acquisition and reduce the cost of Certificate of Occupancy was to facilitate the process of land acquisition.

He explained that the law was not against any particular people but was aimed at livestock protection, stating that it also applied to indigenes of the state who had cattle and other livestock.

He said those who were unable to meet the requirement were free to leave the state.

Mr. Onoja Jr, explained that necessary structures for its implementation had been put in place and assured that no stone would be left unturned in its implementation.

He said if the herdsmen had issues with land acquisition they would have brought it to the attention of the government.

The commissioner further referred NAN to the chairman, Implementation Committee of the Anti-Open Grazing Law, Edwin Jando, for more clarification.

However, efforts to speak with Mr. Jando, a retired colonel, failed as he did not pick his calls or reply text messages sent to his phone.

(NAN)
A philanthropist and farmer, Akinwale Malcolm, on Wednesday donated 5,000 exercise books to students in 10 primary and secondary schools in Kabba area of Kogi State.

Mr. Malcolm, who is the Managing Director of Akincolms Integrated farms, Kabba, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja after the donation that the gesture was his little way of contributing to the education of the less privileged in the society.

The philanthropist said that his love for education had endeared him to inaugurate a foundation in the name of his company to support educational development in the area.

Mr. Malcolm urged parents to ensure that their wards went to school to attain minimum basic education.

We are targeting 10 schools in kabba and our next area of focus will be the schools around Bunu axis of the town, he said.

We have distributed notebooks and other educational materials to St. Monicas College, Sacred Heart Nursery and Primary School, St. Marys School, St Andrews Primary School and Comprehensive High School, all in kabba area of the state, he said.

He also said that the gesture was part of his companys social responsibility to the society and urged other Nigerians to emulate the gesture.

Mr. Malcolm expressed his determination to help students, especially the less privileged, to make sure that they fulfilled their dreams of acquiring education.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Emmanuel Oshamola, thanked the donor and appealed to other indigenes of the area to emulate the good gesture.

According to him, anyone that will be useful for the nation will start from home.

(NAN)
A few days after a director in the Kogi State civil service reportedly killed himself over unpaid emolument, 40 Nigerian senators have donated at least 1,260 bags of rice to civil servants in Kogi State, a lawmaker said.

Kogi is one of the many states currently owing workers salaries and entitlements.

The senators reportedly made the donation at the instance of one of their colleagues, Dino Melaye, Kogi-APC.

Earlier at the plenary, Mr. Melaye had called the attention of the Senate to the suffering of civil servants in Kogi State.

Today, in my state we live in perilous time and vicissitude. The social media and newspapers have been awash few days with unfortunate incident of a civil servant who committed suicide upon receiving information that his wife gave birth to triplets, he said.

He is (was) being owed 11 months salary. Another civil servant was seen crying because he could not provide N3000 for drugs and the child died.

Their salaries must be paid; pensioners must be paid. How many more people will commit suicide before Yahaya Bello pays salaries? We dont want to see more deaths in Kogi state.

Addressing journalists at the end of the plenary, Mr. Melaye disclosed that 40 senators had donated 1,260 bags of rice and other relief materials to ease the sufferings of the workers.

He said that Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, donated 100 bags of rice to Kogi workers while the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, donated 30 bags of rice.

Other senators, he added, donated between 10 to 70 bags.

He added that Philip Aduda donated 10 bags of fertiliser while other lawmakers would donate more materials within the week.

Mr. Melaye, while calling on good spirited Nigerians to also donate relief materials to Kogi State workers, said, these donations would help ameliorate the sufferings of the workers in this satanic manifestation of Yahaya Bellos administration.

He said the Nigerian Labour Congress in Kogi state will coordinate the distribution of the relief materials.

The Kogi State Government had earlier absolved itself of any blame in the death of the director, Edward Soje, saying he was involved in age falsification, which made him unable to receive his salary early.
The Katsina State Government is training 500 young entrepreneurs on profit maximisation in the bid to boost economic activities of the state.

Abdulkadir Nasir, the Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Masari, disclosed this at the opening of the training programme in Katsina on Wednesday.

According to the governors aide, the participants are real entrepreneurs selected from the Katsina State Amalgamated Traders Association.

He said that the training was being conducted in collaboration with the North-West Centre for Entrepreneurship Development in Kano.

Mr. Nasir said that the training would assist the entrepreneurs to know ways to maximise profit and expand their businesses.

He said that after the training, the state government would secure loans for the participants from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

After the training, participants will be issued with certificates that will be used to assist them to secure loans to expand their businesses, he said.

The special adviser said that the programme was part of the governments efforts to reduce unemployment among youths and to also boost economic activities in the state.

Mr. Nasir said that the government had disbursed millions of naira in loans to empower women and youths in a bid to reduce poverty, fight unemployment and enhance business activities in the state.

(NAN)
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.

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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.





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Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





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***@travelnewssource.com Widness & Wiggins PR

End

-- The best of all worlds, including creature comforts while glamping in the wilderness, come seamlessly together on Austin Adventures' new 8 day/7 night Costa Rica: Chiquita Glamping & Pacuare River Raft vacation. This is the latest of over 30 "online-only"trips featured on its award-winning website: https://www.austinadventures.com/With its newest Costa Rica program (https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/costa-rica-isla-chiquita-pacuare-lodge/), year-round departures are flexible and may be arranged when it best fits participant's own schedule, on a space-available basis. The per person double rate (based on a party of four or more) is from $3,998 for the core experience. Options exist to customize the itinerary to the guests' wishes.This luxury trip, without a lofty price tag, brings curious travelers to a country on the forefront of land and wildlife conservation. Over 25 percent of the country has been protected by the establishment of preserves, sanctuaries, refuges, and national parks. Costa Rica ( https://www.austinadventures.com/ destinations/ central-ame... ) also offers one of the most biodiverse places in the world, Carara National Park located in the transition zone between Costa Rica's wet southeast and hotter, drier northwest. The adventure begins here as guests explore the river basin of the River Tarcoles, which hosts one of the largest remaining populations of wild scarlet macaws in the country.Guests then journey by boat to Isla Chiquita Glamping Resort, far off the usual tourist track. Home for three pampered nights, each large platform tent accommodation is equipped with a king bed, day bed lounger, private shower and bathroom with double sinks, and spacious lounging deck with stunning ocean views. From this isolated island, guests visit Curu National Wildlife Refuge with pristine beaches and abundant wildlife while gliding through the still waters of a protected bay in a kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard, watching tropical birds soar overhead. One morning guests transfer to Tortuga Island where white sands contrast with brilliant Caribbean blue waters. Snorkeling is popular here, as guests marvel at surprisingly colorful crabs and lobsters as well as vibrant tropical fish.A local flight back to mainland beckons guests to engage in the premier whitewater rafting adventure in Costa Rica  on the Pacuare River (rated byas one of the Top 10 river trips in the world). Here they visit the Cabecar Indian village and meet with the largest indigenous tribe in Costa Rica. A family of the community shares traditions they have used for centuries. After zip lining comes more rafting, leading to the deluxe, eco-sensitive Pacuare Lodge, accessible only by whitewater raft. Located at the center of a series of over 1.2 million acres of wildlife reserves, the lodge is both secluded and beautiful. Guests may opt to dine 60 feet above the forest floor in a platform built on the branches of a century-old Kapok tree. This lodge enjoysstatus.After two nights at the lodge and a final morning on the river, guests are transferred back to San Jose for a last overnight at Hotel Grano de Oro, a "Tropical Victorian" house which features a world-class restaurant. Airport transfers are offered the next morning.For more information please see https://www.austinadventures.com/ packages/costa- rica-isla-chiquita- pacuare-lodge/ This is one of multiple programs Austin Adventures offers in Costa Rica where it has enjoyed relationships with top tourism purveyors for over 15 years."Costa Rica has always been our top selling international destination,"says Dan Austin, Founder and President of Austin Adventures. "We're always on the lookout and open to what our well-established in-country contacts have to share when it comes to new, unusual and cutting-edge adventure opportunities. Together, we look for experiences away from the usual tourist track and crowds. The key is developing tour itineraries that appeal and captivate our brand of intrepid travelers."In the print version of its catalog, Austin Adventures features 65 separate destinations representing over 100 published tour options with over 40 also offered as a Family-Focused version. The website also showcases over 30 additional trips and destinations (not included in the catalog) outlining core itineraries that can be customized upon customer request. These online-only programs include, in addition to the Costa Rica vacation:https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/arizona-havasupai/https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/ireland-kerry-county/https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/ireland-family-kerry-county/https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/scotland-family-scottish-highlands/https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/scotland-scottish-highlands/To help plan, Austin Adventures' 2018 catalog is available upon request. Please order ONLINE (http://www.austinadventures.com/request-catalog/)or call 1.800.575.1540 or email info@austinadventures.com. For a full roster of 2018 trips that is frequently updated please visit http://www.austinadventures.com.Based in Billings, Montana, Austin Adventures has spent more than 40 years building an international reputation as a top provider of luxury, small group, multisport tours for adults and families to the world's most captivating destinations. Creative itineraries feature exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations, and all-inclusive rates and services. In addition to scheduled group departures, Austin Adventures offers customized trip planning and a money-back satisfaction guarantee.Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / sara@widnesspr.comDave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / dave@travelnewssource.com
PORTLAND, Ore. and EVERETT, Wash., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- 7-Eleven, Inc. volunteers will help plant trees as part of a new pilot program called RENEW. The RENEW reduced emissions program launched in September at select 7-Eleven convenience stores in the Pacific Northwest region. As part of the ongoing benefits of the RENEW program, 7-Eleven will support tree-planting and local green-scape projects in the regions testing RENEW, including Portland, Seattle, and Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The first two volunteer projects will include planting trees in Everett and cleaning up a landmark park in Portland.

Since the start of the RENEW program in late August, the initiative has offset 2,838 tons of carbon dioxide and planted 3,000 trees. The program will not stop there.

Events planned are:

Hoyt Arboretum Clean-scape Project

Portland, Oregon

Thursday, Oct. 26, at 9 a.m.

7-Eleven and RENEW volunteers will join Hoyt Arboretum Friends to tackle green-scape cleanup at the arboretum. Located two miles west of downtown Portland, the Hoyt Arboretum is home to approximately 6,000 individual trees and shrubs, representing more than 2,000 species from all over the world including vulnerable and endangered ones. The arboretum has been a place of beauty in the Portland area for almost 100 years. RENEW volunteers will help clean trails and public areas so that the community can continue to enjoy and learn there.

Forest Park Tree-Planting

Everett, Washington

Saturday, Oct. 28, at 9 a.m.

As part of Green Everett Day, 7-Eleven will help plant more than 500 trees and shrubs at Forest Park, Everett's oldest public park. 7-Eleven RENEW will plant, weed and spread mulch to help restore the forest to a healthy state. Volunteers will plant native trees to ensure that the beloved park continues to thrive. The RENEW tree-planting will leave a lasting impact on the Everett community.

"We are pleased to join efforts with the 7-Eleven RENEW program to work in the Portland community. By rolling up their sleeves and literally digging in, their volunteers will make improvements at Hoyt Arboretum that benefit the thousands of visitors that come to connect with nature, learn about trees and get some exercise, "said Anna Goldrich, executive director of the Hoyt Arboretum Friends. "I look forward to getting our hands dirty with RENEW to make Portland an even greener city."

Customers are now able to reduce emissions by simply purchasing the same high-quality fuel they have always pumped at 7-Eleven stores. GreenPrint, which powers RENEW, calculates tailpipe emissions from gasoline sales to determine the amount to invest in certified carbon reduction projects to help neutralize those emissions in the atmosphere. Depending on the type of fuel purchased, emissions can be offset by up to 30 percent.

That means for an average American car with a 15-gallon tank, 7-Eleven can plant up to two trees per car or invest in equivalent solar power, wind power or gas capture projects to offset their car's emissions. These certified local, regional and global carbon reduction efforts are designed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

7-Eleven stores fill up an average of 300 cars per day. With the help of local fuel customers, each participating 7-Eleven station can contribute 1,075 trees in a year's time (based on an estimated 90 trees per month).

Additionally, as part of the one-year test, 100,000 trees will be planted across the United States in cooperation with the Arbor Day Foundation. These projects in the Pacific Northwest are two of the many local, regional and global initiative RENEW has invested in to reduce emissions.

"Our employees are just as excited to volunteer in this community as I am, and the RENEW program helps us make lasting contributions to current and future generations in Oregon and Washington communities. We look forward to these events where we can work side by side with members of the community and educate them on the positive impact RENEW can have on the environment," said 7-Eleven Zone Vice President Jason Murray.

The RENEW program is available across 93 participating 7-Eleven stations in Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. For additional information on the reduced emissions fuel program and a store locator, visit www.7-ElevenRENEW.com/locator.

About 7-Eleven, Inc.

7Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience-retailing industry. Based in Irving, Texas, 7Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 63,000 stores in 18 countries, including 10,900 in North America. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee, Big Bite and Big Gulp, 7-Eleven has expanded into high-quality salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings, cheeseburgers and hot chicken sandwiches. 7-Eleven offers customers industry-leading private brand products under the 7-Select brand including healthy options, decadent treats and everyday favorites, at an outstanding value. Customers also count on 7- Eleven for payment services, self-service lockers and other convenient services. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com, via the 7Rewards customer loyalty platform on the 7-Eleven mobile app, or on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About GreenPrint

Founded by a team of loyalty and rewards experts, GreenPrint created the first reduced emissions programs for fuel which is licensed to convenience store chains, energy companies, and corporate fleets  enabling them to sell, or fill up with, more environmentally friendly fuel. Today the company reduces emissions on almost 500 million gallons annually across hundreds of retail locations and 40,000 corporate and municipal fleets in 8 countries.

Hoyt Arboretum Friends

Hoyt Arboretum Friends (HAF) is a member-supported, non-profit organization working in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation to manage Hoyt Arboretum. HAF's mission is to maintain and improve Hoyt Arboretum and its collections for all people through advocacy, resources, awareness and education. HAF manages the Visitor Center and volunteer resources, promotes the arboretum, plans special events, publishes visitor information, and provides critical financial support for Hoyt Arboretum operations, maintenance, and capital improvements.

SOURCE GreenPrint, LLC

Related Links

http://GreenPrintCorp.com


MILWAUKEE, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Water technology company A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE-AOS) today announced record third quarter net earnings of $93.7 million or $0.54 per share. Earnings per share grew 15 percent compared with third quarter 2016 earnings per share of $0.47.

Sales in the quarter ended Sept. 30 increased nearly 10 percent to $749.9 million compared with sales of $683.9 million during the same period in 2016.

"We saw double digit sales growth in the third quarter due to strong demand for our Lochinvar branded boilers and mid-single digit growth in residential water heater volumes in the U.S.," noted Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ajita G. Rajendra. "Sales of our consumer products in China, particularly water treatment and air purification, contributed to our growth, as well."

"In early September, we welcomed the Hague team to the A. O. Smith family, through our acquisition of the U.S. water softener company. Hague fits squarely in our acquisition strategy to expand our global water treatment platform. We look forward to growing the business together and pursuing the global opportunities that we believe Hague's innovative and high quality products bring to A. O. Smith," Rajendra stated.

North America segment

Third quarter sales for the North America segment, which include U.S. and Canadian water heaters, boilers and water treatment products, increased eight percent to $486.0 million compared with third quarter 2016 sales of $450.8 million. The increase in sales was primarily due to increased sales of boilers, higher volumes of residential water heaters and pricing actions related to higher steel costs. Lochinvar branded products grew 17 percent in the third quarter. U.S. water treatment sales, comprised of recently acquired Hague branded products as well as a full quarter of Aquasana branded products, incrementally added approximately $8 million to the company's North America segment sales.

North America segment earnings of $110.3 million were 10 percent higher than the $100.5 million earned in the third quarter of the prior year. The favorable impact to profits from higher sales of boilers and residential water heaters and the pricing actions were partially offset by higher steel costs. These factors drove third quarter 2017 segment margin higher to 22.7 percent compared with last year's segment margin of 22.3 percent.

Rest of World segment

Sales of this segment, which is primarily comprised of China, Europe and India, increased approximately 12 percent in the third quarter of 2017 to $270.1 million compared with the year-ago quarter. Higher demand for the company's premium consumer products, as well as pricing actions due to higher steel and other costs, drove China sales up nearly 13 percent.

Segment earnings were nine percent higher at $33.8 million compared with $31.1 million achieved in the third quarter one year ago. The positive impact to profits from higher China sales, including the pricing actions, was partially offset by higher steel and installation costs and increased selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses in China. Costs associated with the expansion of retail outlets in tier 2 and 3 cities that sell the company's water treatment and air purification products and higher water treatment product development engineering costs were the primary drivers of higher SG&A costs in China. Third quarter 2017 segment margin was 12.5 percent compared with 12.9 percent segment margin during the same period last year due to these factors.

Share Repurchase and Other Items

During the first nine months of 2017, the company repurchased over 1.9 million shares of common stock at a total cost of $103 million. Approximately 3.0 million shares remained on the existing discretionary authority at the end of the third quarter.

Total debt as of Sept. 30, 2017, was $449.7 million, resulting in leverage of 21.3 percent as measured by the ratio of total debt to total capital. Cash and investments, located outside the U.S., totaled $767.9 million at Sept. 30, 2017. Cash provided by operations during the first nine months of 2017 was $150.2 million compared with $263.6 million during the same period last year. Higher earnings were more than offset by higher outlays for working capital in the 2017 period, which resulted in lower cash flow compared with the first nine months of 2016.

Primarily as a result of continued strong cash flow and escalating Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) premiums, the company made a $30.0 million voluntary contribution to its pension plan during the third quarter of 2017.

The company's effective income tax rate in the third quarter of 2017 was 28.8 percent. The rate was lower than the 29.7 percent in the prior year quarter primarily due to lower state income taxes.

2017 Outlook

"We expect continued solid demand for our products and project our global sales will grow between 11 and 12 percent this year," Rajendra shared. "With record results in the first nine months of the year, we upgraded the midpoint of our 2017 guidance range and now expect full-year 2017 earnings per share to be between $2.12 and $2.14. Our guidance excludes the impact from future acquisitions," continued Rajendra.

A. O. Smith will broadcast a live conference call at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) today. The call can be heard on the company's web site, www.aosmith.com. An audio replay of the call will be available on the company's web site after the live event.

Forward-looking statements

This release contains statements that the company believes are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "forecast," "guidance" or words of similar meaning. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated as of the date of this release. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations include, among other things, the following: a further slowdown in the growth rate of the Chinese economy and/or a decline in the growth rate of consumer spending in China; potential weakening in the high efficiency boiler segment in the U.S.; significant volatility in raw material prices; inability of the company to implement or maintain pricing actions; potential weakening in U.S. residential or commercial construction or instability in the company's replacement markets; foreign currency fluctuations; the company's inability to successfully integrate or achieve its strategic objectives resulting from acquisitions; competitive pressures on the company's businesses; the impact of potential information technology or data security breaches; changes in government regulations or regulatory requirements; and adverse developments in general economic, political and business conditions in key regions of the world. Forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this release, and the company is under no obligation to update these statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributed to the company, or persons acting on its behalf, are qualified entirely by these cautionary statements.

A. O. Smith Corporation, with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis., is a global leader applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. Listed on the S&P 500, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment and air purification products. For more information visit www.aosmith.com.

A. O. SMITH CORPORATION Statement of Earnings (condensed consolidated financial statements - dollars in millions, except share data) (unaudited)

























































Three Months Ended



Nine Months Ended





September 30,



September 30,





2017



2016



2017



2016

























Net sales $ 749.9

$ 683.9

$ 2,228.1

$ 1,987.8 Cost of products sold

443.2



400.6



1,313.2



1,158.1 Gross profit

306.7



283.3



914.9



829.7

























Selling, general and administrative expenses

175.8



164.7



535.2



484.1 Interest expense

2.5



2.1



7.2



5.7 Other income

(3.2)



(1.9)



(7.5)



(6.2) Earnings before provision for income taxes

131.6



118.4



380.0



346.1 Provision for income taxes

37.9



35.2



106.2



102.3

























Net earnings $ 93.7

$ 83.2

$ 273.8

$ 243.8



















































Diluted earnings per share of common stock $ 0.54

$ 0.47

$ 1.57

$ 1.38



























Average common shares outstanding (000's omitted)

174,356



176,548



174,885



177,117

A. O. SMITH CORPORATION Balance Sheet (dollars in millions)





(unaudited)









September 30,

December 31,



2017

2016 ASSETS:

























Cash and cash equivalents $ 321.9

$ 330.4

Marketable securities

446.0



424.2

Receivables

587.1



518.7

Inventories

292.1



251.1

Other current assets

51.0



37.6















Total Current Assets

1,698.1



1,562.0















Net property, plant and equipment

501.7



461.9

Goodwill and other intangibles

828.6



799.8

Other assets

76.2



67.3















Total Assets $ 3,104.6

$ 2,891.0



























LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

























Trade payables $ 500.1

$ 528.6

Accrued payroll and benefits

80.2



84.3

Accrued liabilities

99.7



101.0

Product warranties

44.2



44.5

Debt due within one year

7.5



7.2















Total Current Liabilities

731.7



765.6















Long-term debt

442.2



316.4

Pension liabilities

66.0



109.0

Other liabilities

198.8



184.7

Stockholders' equity

1,665.9



1,515.3















Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 3,104.6

$ 2,891.0

A. O. SMITH CORPORATION Statement of Cash Flows (dollars in millions) (unaudited)























Nine Months Ended







September 30,







2017



2016 Operating Activities











Net earnings $ 273.8

$ 243.8

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:













Depreciation & amortization

51.9



48.7



Stock based compensation expense

8.5



8.1



Net changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:













Current assets and liabilities

(154.5)



(23.5)



Noncurrent assets and liabilities

(29.5)



(13.5) Cash Provided by Operating Activities

150.2



263.6















Investing Activities











Capital expenditures

(66.4)



(58.7)

Acquisitions

(43.1)



(90.5)

Investment in marketable securities

(407.3)



(415.5)

Net proceeds from sale of marketable securities

405.3



318.2 Cash Used in Investing Activities

(111.5)



(246.5)















Financing Activities











Debt incurred

125.8



86.5

Common stock repurchases

(103.3)



(100.2)

Net proceeds from stock option activity

3.1



5.5

Dividends paid

(72.8)



(63.2) Cash Used In Financing Activities

(47.2)



(71.4)

















Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(8.5)



(54.3)

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period

330.4



323.6















Cash and Cash Equivalents - End of Period $ 321.9

$ 269.3

A. O. SMITH CORPORATION Business Segments (dollars in millions) (unaudited)

















































Three Months Ended



Nine Months Ended





September 30,



September 30,





2017

2016



2017

2016 Net sales



















North America $ 486.0 $ 450.8

$ 1,444.0 $ 1,307.5

Rest of World

270.1

240.3



802.4

697.6

Inter-segment sales

(6.2)

(7.2)



(18.3)

(17.3)



$ 749.9 $ 683.9

$ 2,228.1 $ 1,987.8





















Earnings



















North America $ 110.3 $ 100.5

$ 323.7 $ 296.5

Rest of World

33.8

31.1



98.8

90.9

Inter-segment earnings elimination

(0.1)

-



(0.3)

-





144.0

131.6



422.2

387.4





















Corporate expense

(9.9)

(11.1)



(35.0)

(35.6) Interest expense

(2.5)

(2.1)



(7.2)

(5.7)





















Earnings before income taxes

131.6

118.4



380.0

346.1





















Tax provision

37.9

35.2



106.2

102.3 Net earnings $ 93.7 $ 83.2

$ 273.8 $ 243.8

SOURCE A. O. Smith Corporation

Related Links

http://www.aosmith.com


REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Actiance, the leader in communications compliance, archiving, and analytics, today announced its Safe Landing Program for customers of CA Technologies, which announced its plans to "end-of-life" (EOL) CA Data Protection (formerly Orchestria). The program, available now, will enable a smooth, cost-effective path for customers to migrate from CA Data Protection to Actiance Alcatraz, enabling modern eCommunications review capabilities while offering preservation and access to historical supervision data, previously managed by CA Data Protection.

According to CA Technologies, the "stabilization" of CA Data Protection went into effect July 27, 2017, meaning that there will be no future enhancements, versions, developments or service packs. The product will officially reach end-of-life on June 30, 2019, after which support will be limited to "self-service" through each customer's maintenance term.

Companies are concerned about the risk and expense of managing millions of records of compliance data in an unlicensed and unsupported system. The natural solution is to migrate the data into an archive. Unfortunately, most archive providers can only ingest the base message and are unable to correlate it to the required surveillance metadata.

"The innovative and open Actiance Alcatraz archive platform supports the ingest of multi-dimensional surveillance data," said Danielle Amatulli, Owner & CEO, Technically Creative, Inc. "Using this advanced platform, the Technically Creative team has developed a streamlined process to extract each of these message components, tag the individual elements, ingest into the Alcatraz archive, and reassemble the messages with all required surveillance information for easy and compliant reference."

"Following CA's announcement, many companies that rely on its Data Protection product will naturally feel stranded, vulnerable to risk, and unsure about next steps," said Leo Haasbroek, SVP Global Services, Actiance. "With Actiance's Safe Landing program, they can easily transition while continuing to meet all existing eCommunications supervision requirements for regulatory compliance, and take a significant step up in terms of capabilities."

An opportunity to take a giant leap forward in archiving technology

By transitioning from CA Data Protection to Alcatraz, companies will not only avoid interrupting current workflows, but will position themselves to meet the compliance challenges of the next decade as number and complexity of eCommunications channels and regulatory requirements continue to proliferate. Serving as both a content store and data control layer, Alcatraz:

Can ingest and understand any form of structured or unstructured information, allowing organizations to create global user profiles, apply detection policies, and store content and review information in a SEC/FINRA compliant manner

Compliantly migrates and preserves CA Data Protection supervisory data and associated review and audit work product to demonstrate regulatory chain of custody and proof of supervision

Provides policy-based routing, content classification and enrichment to enable a variety of downstream enterprise applications to gain new insights from supervised content

Supports a single, unified view of all communication channels, the ability to retain and display conversational threads, and sub-second search and retrieval to expedite supervisory review

Interactive webinar to shed light on the transition to ensure continuous compliance

Actiance and Technically Creative will host an interactive webinar on Thursday October 26th to demonstrate how customers can chart a smooth, cost-effective migration to Actiance Alcatraz in 5 easy steps. Click here to register for the webinar.

The Data Protection Safe Landing Program is available now, and offers:

Annual service credits to offset the cost of migration

Access to policy migration tools to automatically convert retention, legal hold, and supervision policies

Complimentary training programs for end-users, legal, and supervisory staff

A no-cost health check to help you plan your migration

Additional Information

Become a fan of Actiance: http://www.facebook.com/actiance

Follow Actiance on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/actiance

About Actiance

Actiance is the leader in communications compliance, archiving, and analytics. We provide compliance across the broadest set of communications and social channels with insights on what's being captured. Actiance customers manage over 500 million daily conversations across 80 channels and growing. Customers include the top 10 U.S., top 5 Canadian, top 8 European, and top 3 Asian banks. The Actiance advantage is customers stay ahead of compliance and uncover patterns and relationships hidden within their data. Learn more at www.actiance.com. Actiance headquarters are in Redwood City, California. For more information, visit http://www.actiance.com or call 1-888-349-3223.

Actiance Media Team:

Lisa Bergamo

Vice President, Corporate Communications

Actiance, Inc.

Phone: 650.380.9250

Email:

[email protected]

Michael Burke

Phone: 415.989.9000

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Actiance

Related Links

https://www.actiance.com


BRISBANE, Australia, Oct. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Orocobre Limited (ORE:ASX, ORL:TSX) (Orocobre) is pleased to provide further drilling results announced by Advantage Lithium Corp. ("Advantage Lithium", TSXV:AAL, OTCQX: AVLIF, 35% owned by Orocobre) with sampling from the CAU09 rotary hole averaging 662 mg/l lithium with a Mg/Li ratio of 2.2:1.

Details are provided in the attached release from Advantage Lithium.

For more information please contact: Richard Seville Andrew Barber Managing Director Investor Relations Manager T: +61 7 3871 3985 T: +61 7 3871 3985 M:+61 419 916 338 M: +61 418 783 701 E: [email protected] E: [email protected]

Competent Persons Statement

The information in this report that relates to exploration reporting at the Cauchari JV project has been prepared by Mr Murray Brooker. Murray Brooker is a geologist and hydrogeologist and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Brooker is an employee of Hydrominex Geoscience Pty Ltd and is independent of Orocobre. Murray has sufficient relevant experience to qualify as a competent person as defined in the 2012 edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. He is also a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101. Murray Brooker consents to the inclusion in this announcement of this information in the form and context in which it appears.

About Orocobre Limited

Orocobre Limited (Orocobre) is a dynamic global lithium carbonate supplier and an established producer of boron.

Orocobre is dual listed on the Australia and Toronto Stock Exchanges (ASX: ORE), (TSE: ORL). Orocobre's operations include its Olaroz Lithium Facility in Northern Argentina, Borax Argentina, an established Argentine boron minerals and refined chemicals producer and a 35% interest in Advantage Lithium.

For further information, please visit www.orocobre.com

Cauchari JV Drill Program Update

Initial results from CAU09 rotary hole average 662 mg/l lithium

Mg/Li ratio of 2.2:1

Vancouver, British Columbia, October 24th , 2017  Advantage Lithium Corp. (the "Company" or "Advantage Lithium") (TSX Venture: AAL) (OTCQX: AVLIF) is pleased to announce further positive progress with its Cauchari JV drilling and pumping program where three drill rigs are now expanding the depth and lateral extent of the existing NI43-101 mineral resource dated December 20161.

CAU09 drilling results

The second rotary hole CAU09 is located in the SE sector of the project, approximately 2.5km SW from recently completed CAU10. Filter and casing sections along with gravel pack were installed to the 400m hole depth. The hole was subsequently cleaned and developed prior to the preliminary pumping test and sampling completed on the hole. The flow rate from this initial test was 4 l/s, with filters installed in the hole in intervals between 60m and the planned depth of 400 metres. The hole was constructed with 8 inch steel casing and filters to a depth of 125 m, to provide a chamber for the pump to be installed in, with 6 inch casing and filters to the base of the hole at 400 m depth.

A preliminary pumping test of 2.5 hours has been completed on CAU09, with 21 samples taken during the test, averaging 662 mg/l lithium and 6,169 mg/l potassium, with an average low Mg/Li ratio of 2.2:1. Quality control/assurance included three duplicate, 5 standard and 3 blank samples. All analyses were completed in a commercially accredited laboratory in Argentina.2 These initial pumped brine samples compare to an average of 682 mg/l for CAU10 and approximately 700 mg/l for Lithium Americas Corp. (LAC) hole PB13, ~2.5 km to the northeast and ~2.5 km to the north respectively.

CAU09 intersected a sequence of halite, clay and some sand like hole CAU10. The flow rate from the preliminary pumping test in CAU09 is similar to the closest LAC production well (PB1), which was flow tested at 4 l/s over 8 days3. Further to the north in the core of the salar CAU10 displayed a sustained flow rate of 2 l/s over the preliminary 48 hour pumping test.

The lithologies intersected in CAU09, CAU10 and PB1 are predominantly compact halite, confirming these holes are located in the halite core of the Cauchari salar. The halite core is interpreted to be limited to this central area of the salar, with more interbedded units of clay, halite, silt and sand located further to the south and east of CAU09, as intersected in drilling by Orocobre subsidiary South American Salars (SAS) in 2011. This area southeast of the halite core is now the focus of drilling with the remaining rotary holes (CAU08 and CAU11) in the SE sector. This will provide information on changes in sediment type and porosity/permeability away from the halite core.

NW Target Area

In salars it is typical that some areas display lower porosity and permeability characteristics (such as the halite core) and it is important to define areas with different flow and lithium grade characteristics for project planning and feasibility purposes. The operating Olaroz brine project ~20 km to the north of the Cauchari JV operates production wells extracting brine at a range of flow rates and lithium grades, with the most productive wells producing from sandy units (see Orocobre announcement - Olaroz Project Large Exploration Target Defined Beneath Existing Resource 23 October, 2014).

The Cauchari JV has been drilling sandy material in hole CAU07 in the NW target area, with more details to be provided as they become available.

New rotary drill holes in the SE Sector

In line with the program plan, the rotary drill rigs from hole CAU09 and CAU10 are currently drilling at sites CAU08 and CAU11 where they have reached the target depth of 400 m. These holes are now being widened to allow installation of pipe and filters. Drilling intersected a sequence of silt, clay, halite and sand. Further information will be provided as it comes available when wells are installed and sampled.

President & CEO Mr. David Sidoo said: "The drilling program has now picked up speed with three rigs on site. CAU09 has returned a lithium grade averaging 662 mg/l, which is very positive for the project and confirms our initial expectations of lithium brine chemistry that is similar to the nearby Olaroz lithium facility. The deeper drilling to 400 m has confirmed extension of brine to this depth, with positive implications for resource expansion. With holes CAU08 and CAU11 now having reached their target depths we look forward to reporting brine results from these holes and diamond hole CAU07 in the NW Sector in the near future."

The technical information in this news release has reviewed and approved on behalf of the company by Murray Brooker, MAIG, RPGEO, a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101.

About Advantage Lithium Corp.

Advantage Lithium Corp. is a resource company specializing in the strategic acquisition, exploration and development of lithium properties and is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. The common shares of the company are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V:AAL), and the company is also traded on the OTCQX Best Market in the U.S. (OTCQX: AVLIF). The company has acquired a 100% interest in five projects in Argentina and up to a 75% interest in a sixth, called Cauchari. Cauchari is located just 20 km south of Orocobre's flagship Olaroz Lithium Facility.

Further information about the Company can be found at www.advantagelithium.com.

ADVANTAGE LITHIUM CORP.

Cautionary Statement:

Certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information", within the meaning of Canadian legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "is expected","intends", or "has the potential to". Forward looking statements contained in this press release may include statements regarding the future operating or financial performance of Advantage that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

1 Inferred resource estimated at 230 million cubic metres of brine at 380 mg/l Li and 3,700 mg/l K representing in situ contained content of 470,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) and 1.62 million tonnes of potash (KCL). Source: Independent Technical Report, Murray Brooker et. al, December 2016.

2 Assaying completed at Alex Stewart Laboratories in Jujuy city, Argentina under strict QA/QC protocols.

3 LAC NI43-101 report Reserve Estimation and Lithium Carbonate Production at the Cauchari-Olaroz Salars, Jujuy Province, Argentina, March 29 2017 p131 and p125

SOURCE Orocobre Limited

Related Links

http://www.orocobre.com


SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- African Americans, more likely to face greater financial difficulties than other middle-income Americans, including saving for retirement, would welcome more financial education and guidance through their employers, according to a study by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual).

While 63 percent of middle-income Americans overall say they feel "very" or at least "somewhat" financially secure, only 51 percent of African Americans say the same, according to the MassMutual African American Middle America Finances Study1. The study, which surveyed 492 African Americans with annual household incomes of between $35,000 and $150,000, found that even higher earners expressed financial misgivings: 45 percent of African Americans with annual household incomes of $75,000 or more say they feel less than financially secure compared to just 28 percent of other Americans in the same income category.

"Across the board, African Americans are more likely to say they are unprepared for retirement and feel less financially secure but are more open to education and financial guidance," said Evan Taylor, head of MassMutual's African American Markets. "The findings demonstrate a real need to reach more people, make financial education and guidance more readily available, and focus on financial wellness."

Retirement

African Americans are more likely to say they are behind in saving for retirement and 41 percent of the survey respondents expressed concerns about making ends meet. Respondents indicated a greater proclivity to making withdrawals or loans from their 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan compared to the general population (24 percent vs. 14 percent, respectively). However, they are also more open to education from their employer about saving for retirement, setting financial priorities and learning about other financial products that can enhance their financial security.

To what extent do you agree with the following statements? African Americans General Population When it comes to retirement, I am behind where I need to be. 72% 63% I wish my employer offered more resources to help me set financial priorities. 67 52 I wish my employer did more to educate me about saving for retirement. 59 51 I wish my employer did more to educate me on other financial products and insurance that can help protect me and my family from financial hardship. 61 50 I struggle to make ends meet. 41 35

Financial Difficulties

Middle-income African Americans are more likely to report difficulty managing their household's monthly finances than others, the study finds. Thirty-six percent of African Americans said they found managing finances "somewhat" or "very difficult" compared to 27 percent of the general population. Nearly half of African Americans with annual household incomes of below $45,000 find it "much more difficult" to manage their finances.

According to the study, the top financial issues facing African Americans were debt (28 percent), lack of income (23 percent) and the cost of living (18 percent), all higher than the general population. Meanwhile, African Americans were nearly half as likely to worry about the cost of health care compared to others, the study finds.

Many middle-income African Americans have low levels of savings, with three in 10 reporting less than $500 in emergency savings compared to two in 10 respondents in the general population. Most African Americans feel they could manage a sudden expense of $500 but those who could not are more likely to use a payday loan than others, the study finds. More than half (55 percent) say an unexpected expense of $5,000 would cause significant discomfort or they wouldn't be able to get by. Forty-five percent of general population respondents say the same.

Middle-income African Americans are more likely to report negative repercussions stemming from financial issues, including their ability to eat healthy (42 percent), pay for a child's education (25 percent) and impact their marriage or romantic relationship (33 percent).

Knowledge vs. Education

While African Americans are less likely to say they lack the knowledge or wherewithal to manage their money, there is a high level of interest in receiving more education and information about financial planning and money management. In addition, African Americans are slightly more likely than others to agree that financial services companies want to help households like theirs. However, significantly fewer work with some type of financial professional compared to those in the general population (29 percent vs. 38 percent, respectively); half (48 percent) say they are unsure where to go for financial advice.

How interested would you be in receiving the following from your employer? African Americans General Population Financial planning services 74% 67% Social Security counseling 66 59 Budget assistance 64 49 Tuition Reimbursement 57 42 Debt counseling 57 39 College loan repayment 50 30

"The African American community is very open to education, information and advice about financial matters from their employers, financial services firms and financial professionals," Taylor said. "It's an opportunity for financial services firms, financial advisors and employers to make a difference.

About MassMutual

MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. MassMutual offers a wide range of financial products and services, including life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, annuities, retirement plans and other employee benefits. For more information, visit www.massmutual.com.

1 MassMutual African American Middle America Finances Study, https://www.massmutual.com/-/media/files/mm-2017-african-american-fin-sec-study

Contacts:

David Potter

Media Relations

860-562-1525

[email protected]

RS-43209-00

SOURCE MassMutual

Related Links

http://www.massmutual.com


HIAWATHA, KS, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - AgJunction Inc. (TSX: AJX), a leader in automated steering and machine control technology for precision agriculture, will hold a conference call on Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017. The company will report its financial results in a press release prior to the conference call.

AgJunction CEO Dave Vaughn and CFO Michael Manning will host the conference call, followed by a question and answer period.

Date: Thursday, November 9, 2017

Time: 11:00 a.m. Eastern time (8:00 a.m. Pacific time)

Toll-free dial-in number: 1-888-231-8191

International dial-in number: 1-647-427-7450

Conference ID: 99333720

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Liolios at 1-949-574-3860.

The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay via the investor center section of the company's website at www.corp.agjunction.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available after 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through November 23, 2017.

Toll-free replay number: 1-855-859-2056

International replay number: 1-416-849-0833

Replay ID: 99333720

About AgJunction

AgJunction is a leading provider of innovative hardware and software solutions for precision agriculture worldwide. AgJunction holds fundamental steering and machine control patents and markets its products and services under leading brand names, including Outback Guidance and Satloc. Its autosteering and machine control solutions are critical components in over 30 of the world's leading precision Ag manufactures and solution providers. AgJunction is headquartered in Hiawatha, Kansas, with facilities in Silicon Valley, Arizona, Canada, and Australia, and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol "AJX." For more information, please go to www.agjunction.com.

SOURCE Agjunction Inc.
STOCKHOLM, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Three important collaborations in place. Results in November from ADC-1013 clinical phase I study.

Significant events, July-September

 Aptevo Therapeutics and Alligator Bioscience signed a co-development agreement on the bispecific antibody ALG.APV-527. Preclinical development and initial production activities for clinical trial materials for ALG.APV-527 commenced.

 The immuno-oncology collaboration with Stanford University was expanded. The aim is to predict the clinical efficacy of Alligator's pipeline candidates using biomarkers.

 A research contract was signed with Professor Ignacio Melero, MD, PhD, from the University of Navarra in Spain, for 4-1BB as a target molecule in immunotherapy and cancer therapy.

 The results of the Alligator-led Phase I clinical trial for ADC-1013/JNJ-64457107 will be presented at the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) in November.

 Janssen's Phase I clinical trial for ADC-1013/JNJ-64457107 is ongoing with approximately 50 patients recruited to date.

Events after the end of the period

Alligator and collaboration partner Aptevo Therapeutics announced on 24 October that the tumor antigen 5T4, associated with many forms of solid tumors, is the second target for ALG.APV-527.

Financial summary

July-September

 Net sales, SEK 1.8 million (4.7).

 Operating loss, SEK 24.5 million (loss: 9.1).

 Loss for the period, SEK 25.8 million (loss: 7.5).

 Loss per share, SEK 0.36 (loss: 0.13).

 Cash and cash equivalents incl. bonds, SEK 588 million (659).

January-September

 Net sales, SEK 5.6 million (51.8).

 Operating loss, SEK 73.0 million (loss: 34.0)

 Loss for the period, SEK 76.3 million (loss: 29.0)

 Loss per share, SEK 1.07 (loss: 0.49)

 Cash flow for the period was a negative SEK 141.5 million (neg: 23.8), of which SEK 74.5 million was invested in corporate bonds.

 During the period, 1,275,000 warrants (230,000) were exercised for an equivalent number of shares.

Financial summary (Group) 2017 2016 2017 2016 2016

Jul-Sep Jul-Sep Jan-Sep Jan-Sep Jan-Dec Net sales, TSEK 1,770 4,661 5,576 51,808 58,240 Operating profit/loss, TSEK -24,459 -9,133 -73,032 -33,952 -56,082 Profit/loss for the period, TSEK -25,772 -7,545 -76,274 -29,008 -48,356 Cash flow for the period, TSEK -25,409 -17,780 -141,479 -23,759 287,135 Cash and cash equivalents including bonds, TSEK 587,578 346,457 513,220 346,457 659,136 Equity ratio, % 97% 97% 97% 97% 96% R&D costs as % of operating costs excluding impairments 69.3% 58.3% 69.5% 62.2% 64.3% Earnings per share before dilution, SEK -0.36 -0.13 -1.07 -0.49 -0.80 Earnings per share after dilution, SEK -0.36 -0.13 -1.07 -0.49 -0.80 Average number of employees 43 33 40 31 31

The complete report is attached in the link below.

For further information, please contact:

Per Norlen

CEO

[email protected]

+46-46-286-42-80



Per-Olof Schrewelius

CFO

[email protected]

+46-46-286-42-85



Rein Piir

VP IR

[email protected],

+46-46-286-42-80

Alligator Bioscience AB (publ) 556597-8201

Medicon Village, Scheelevagen 2, 223 81 Lund, Sweden.

Phone +46-46-286-42-80

www.alligatorbioscience.com

Alligator Bioscience AB (publ) is obligated to make public the information contained in this report pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Markets Act. This information was provided to the media, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, for publication on October 25, 2017 at 08.00 a.m. CEST.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/alligator-bioscience/r/alligator-bioscience-ab-interim-report-january-september-2017,c2374749

The following files are available for download:

http://mb.cision.com/Main/12681/2374749/741069.pdf Alligator Bioscience AB Interim Report January-September 2017. The complete report.

SOURCE Alligator Bioscience
LAS VEGAS, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- NAC Foundation, LLC, creator of the digital currency AML BitCoin, announced the appointment of Ricaurte "Catin" Vasquez to its board of advisors. Vasquez brings his more than 40 years of professional experience to the company, having worked with companies like General Electric and the Panama Canal, and in industries ranging from energy to finance and consulting.

He will serve on the board alongside Neil Sunkin, Raymond Robertson, John Crawford and Natko Vlahovic, advising AML BitCoin in its continued advancement as the only AML-KYC-compliant cryptocurrency.

"International expansion is on the forefront of our mind when selecting advisors," said Marcus Andrade, AML BitCoin's founder and chief executive officer. "We have a great group of individuals with a wide range of expertise and experience to serve on our board. I am confident that our advisors will help us plot a strong path forward for AML BitCoin as we continue global development."

Vasquez is currently the president and CEO of consulting firm Sigma Management Advisors Corporation. He previously held several leadership roles at General Electric (GE), most recently as executive director. During his time at GE, Vasquez oversaw business growth over a two-year period of doubled product orders for Central America and the Caribbean. He has also served on the board of directors for the Panama Canal; Petroterminal de Panama; and several international companies based in the Panama.

"Cryptocurrency is rapidly advancing, and AML BitCoin offers a unique product in the market," Vasquez said. "I am excited to join the AML BitCoin board of advisors, and I look forward to using my experience to further expand the company's offering."

Collectively, the AML BitCoin board of advisors has experience in politics, law, business, communication, education, strategic advising and crisis management.

Neil Sunkin is a former partner of a national law firm. He has over 32 years of experience in business and commercial matters, corporate governance, banking, financial institutions and real estate. Sunkin has a keen interest in the emerging law that will govern cryptocurrencies and the digital coin industry.

Raymond Robertson is a political strategist and public speaker with experience in conference planning and event management. He has been involved in politics in Scotland, Westminster and Europe for over 25 years. Robertson is a strong communicator with knowledge in crisis management and strategic advice.

John Crawford is a founding partner of Halogen Communications. Previously, he worked in the Scottish Parliament, developing policy, working on campaign strategy and interacting with the media. Throughout his career, Crawford has developed an understanding of civil service protocol and the workings of government at Westminster.

Natko Vlahovic is currently an untitled governor at the American Chamber of Commerce in Croatia. He previously founded two companies: Vlahovic Group LLC, a specialized government relations firm in Croatia and Croatia-EU Business Council, which advocates and promotes Croatian business interests. Vlahovic frequently lectures and writes about public affairs, lobbying and political representation for private- and public-sector organizations in Croatia and abroad.

The NAC Foundation created AML BitCoin with anti-money laundering, anti-terrorism and anti-theft properties built into the coin's code. For more information about NAC Foundation and AML BitCoin, visit www.amlbitcoin.com. Potential investors and other interested parties can visit www.amltoken.com to learn more.

About NAC Foundation:

NAC Foundation, headquartered in the U.S. and a member of the American Bank Association, created AML BitCoin and its predecessor digital currency, the Aten Coin, both of which were built with anti-money laundering, anti-terrorism and theft-resistant properties built into the coin. As a result, they are compliant with numerous laws, including Anti-Money Laundering (AML), PATRIOT Act, Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Fraud and Financial Crimes (AFF). NAC's mission is to strengthen the social sector by advancing knowledge about the use of regulated digital currencies and blockchain technology globally.

Media Contact:

Kate Kelly

SHIFT Communications

[email protected]

(415) 591-8425

SOURCE AML BitCoin

Related Links

http://www.amlbitcoin.com


BAYPORT, Minn., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Guy Hembling, owner of Charles B. Hembling & Son Construction in Shrewsbury, N.J., a longtime Andersen Corporation customer, will be traveling to Minneapolis during the first weekend of February to see the big game after he won the Andersen Windows' Big Game promotion drawing for game tickets and accommodations through the Contractor Rewards loyalty program.

"I was absolutely thrilled when I found out I'd won," Hembling said. "Traveling to Minneapolis wasn't on my radar, but I've lived in Canada and New England, so I'm not even worried about the winter weather."

Charles B. Hembling & Son is a third-generation company founded in 1918. Today, the company enjoys a strong presence in home and commercial construction, commercial high-tech projects, historical renovations, and ambulatory surgical centers.

"We've used Andersen for decades," Hembling added. "Andersen means a reliable, high-quality product at a fair price and the best part is, the product seems to just keep getting better and better."

Contractor Rewards is a free points-for-purchase loyalty program. Participants earn points when they purchase qualifying Andersen Window and Door products. Points earned can be redeemed for prizes or, in the case of this particular promotion, a chance to win a trip from Andersen Windows to the Big Game!

"Making the call to Guy notifying him that he had the winning entry for a trip to the Big Game in Andersen Corporation's hometown in February was a lot of fun!" said Leslie Kinsman, Andersen Corporation's senior director, marketing. "Rewarding trade professionals for their support and loyalty to Andersen window and door products is important to us."

About Andersen Corporation

Headquartered in Bayport, Minnesota, Andersen Corporation and its subsidiaries manufacture and market window and door products under the Andersen, Renewal by Andersen, Silver Line, American Craftsman, EMCO and Weiland brands. Andersen was founded in 1903 and employs over 12,000 people in locations across North America. Andersen is a privately held company. Visit us at andersencorporation.com.

"Andersen" and all other marks where denoted are trademarks of Andersen Corporation and its subsidiaries.

 2017 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Andersen Corporation

Related Links

https://www.andersenwindows.com


WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Brandon Moss has recently joined Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation as an Area Manager in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Moss's top producing branch will be offering a vast range of home loan products including jumbo loans, fixed and adjustable-rate mortgages, loans for first-time homebuyers, FHA, VA and Conventional loans, and what others might term as 'hard to do' niche loans. Brandon has a solid reputation of excellence in the mortgage industry, always working hard to meet his customers' needs, no matter how unique they may be. Moss has often been featured in Mortgage Executive Magazine's Top 200 Mortgage Originators in America. In 2016 Brandon was ranked 71st, overall. He has also been listed in Scotsman Guide as one of the Top 200 Mortgage Originators nationwide, for the past two years.

According to President of Sales Development and Recruitment Sarah Middleton, "Brandon and his team are consummate professionals and exemplify exactly what the mortgage industry needs. His commitment to daily disciplines and taking care of his customers each and every day, while providing the highest level of service is something we at Fairway believe is critical. With our operational support we see Brandon doing nothing but soaring to further success here at Fairway. We couldn't be more excited to have Brandon here."

Brandon brings more than fifteen years' experience to Fairway and is very pleased to be joining the company. He looks forward to assisting clients throughout the Los Angeles area. He had this to say: "Providing a superior experience for my clients and referral partners has always been my number one priority. Fairway's strong core values, multitude of products, technology, and marketing capabilities, creates an unrivalled platform for success and excellent customer service. I am proud to be joining the Fairway team."

"Brandon's energy, passion and commitment to helping and serving others is surely welcomed here at Fairway. We are thrilled to have Brandon here," stated Steve Jacobson, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Fairway.

Moss's team will soon be conveniently located in the Calabasas area. Brandon can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at 818-638-1818.

About Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation:

Founded in 1996 by Steve Jacobson, and named by a childhood best friend, colleague and forever member of the Fairway family, Randy Cross, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation is a mortgage lender headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin and Carrollton, Texas. The company has more than 400 locations and over 5900 employees nationwide. At Fairway, customer service is a way of life. Not only are we dedicated to finding great loan products and rates for our customers, we also offer some of the fastest turn times in the industry. Our goal is to act as a trusted advisor, providing highly personalized service and helping clients through every step of the loan process. It's all designed to exceed expectations, guarantee satisfaction and earn trust.

For more information, please visit our website at www.FairwayIndependentMC.com.

SOURCE Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation

Related Links

http://www.fairwayindependentmc.com


WARREN, Mich., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Art Van Furniture unwraps the unexpected in its new 2017 Wonderland Holiday Gift Guide which debuts November 2 online and in store. The 107-page catalog features a stylish selection of 642 specialty items, many created by internationally known designers and high-end global manufacturers of custom products.

Art Van Furniture buyers searched the globe to curate a unique collection of items for everyone on shoppers' gift lists. The catalog features handcrafted wood foosball, ping pong and poker tables, a hand-carved mahogany rocking horse with genuine leather saddle, and nostalgic scooters. Chic cashmere scarves and wraps with fur trim, evening bags encrusted with Swarovski crystals, glamorous faux fur throws, lamb bottle covers from Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines and sweet confections from Michigan-made Gayle's Chocolates will delight those who desire life's finer things.

Pre-lit indoor-outdoor trees with more than 8,000 micro LED lights, Prussian and Byzantine glass ornaments and decorative wreaths and centerpieces by MacKenzie-Childs accented with the company's trademark checkerboard design will beautify any home this holiday season. Hundreds of well-known designer decor and home entertaining items are included such as photo frames, jewelry boxes and serving pieces from Kate Spade New York, premium porcelain housewares from Villeroy & Boch, Garnier-Thiebaut table linens, and contemporary barware, bowls, nativity scenes and menorahs from nambe.

All gift items will be available at artvan.com as well as at Art Van Furniture's Warren, Royal Oak, Lansing, Novi, Grand Rapids, and Petoskey stores in Michigan, Downers Grove and Schaumburg locations in Chicagoland, and its Toledo store. For more information, visit artvan.com.

About Art Van Furniture

Art Van Furniture is the Midwest's largest furniture retailer. The company operates more than 120 stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, including freestanding Art Van PureSleep mattress stores, Art Van Flooring stores, Art Van Furniture franchise locations and Scott Shuptrine Interiors, the interior design division of Art Van Furniture, as well as a full-service e-commerce website. Founded in 1959, the company is headquartered in Warren, Mich. Visit artvan.com for more information.

SOURCE Art Van Furniture

Related Links

http://www.artvan.com


NEWTON, Mass., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Attivio, the leading cognitive search and insight platform company, today announced that it has partnered with Thomson Reuters (NYSE, TSX: TRI) to integrate its core technology with Thomson Reuters Intelligent Tagging (TRIT). This partnership combines Attivio's industry-leading text analytics and natural language processing technology with TRIT's structured taxonomy for financial services.

By integrating TRIT into its cognitive search platform, Attivio can now offer its financial services customers better answers to their queries, thanks to a deeper understanding of financial terms and abbreviations. This is especially important as a number of Attivio customers use the solution as a key component of their risk and compliance, equity research, and investment analytics initiatives.

"By tapping into Thomson Reuters' vast expertise, we are in a better position to train our machine learning models to understand the specific terms and language used in the financial services industry," said Attivio CEO Stephen Baker. "For companies operating in this sphere, the need to find the right information in real time is increasingly important."

TRIT takes structured and unstructured information and turns it into a structured taxonomy with a focus on the financial services industry. This means extracting everything from key phrases in context, to ticker symbols and industry-specific abbreviations. Attivio can then take that structured information and apply its own industry-leading text analytics and cognitive search technology to provide customers with better and faster answers to their queries.

About Attivio

Attivio is the leading cognitive search & insight platform company. Our mission is to help our Fortune 500 clients fuel their every decision and action with cognitive insight. Our solutions power innovation, drive operational efficiencies, and transform business outcomes at scale and feature industry-leading capabilities including natural language processing, machine learning, analytics, and knowledge graphing. Visit attivio.com.

Media contact: Chuck Tanowitz, 617-575-9643, [email protected]

SOURCE Attivio

Related Links

https://www.attivio.com


Forbes Nonprofit Council Is an Invitation-Only Community for Chief Executives in Successful Nonprofit Organizations

CHICAGO, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Atul Tandon, CEO of Opportunity International, a global non-profit organization that helps people in developing countries work their way out of poverty, has been accepted into the Forbes Nonprofit Council, an invitation-only community for chief executives in successful nonprofit organizations.

Tandon joins other Forbes Nonprofit Council members, who are hand-selected, to become part of a curated network of successful peers and get access to a variety of exclusive benefits and resources, including the opportunity to submit thought leadership articles and short tips on industry-related topics for publishing on Forbes.com.

Forbes Councils combines an innovative, high-touch approach to community management perfected by the team behind Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) with the extensive resources and global reach of Forbes. As a result, Forbes Council members get access to the people, benefits and expertise they need to grow their businesses  and a dedicated member concierge who acts as an extension of their own team, providing personalized one-on-one support.

"I'm delighted to be joining the Forbes Nonprofit Council and contributing my ideas and expertise to the community and readership," said Tandon. "Since 1971, Opportunity International has provided more than $12 billion in loans to help 24 million people living in poverty build sustainable livelihoods by helping them launch businesses, educate their children and create jobs in their communities. Acceptance to the Forbes Nonprofit Council will enhance Opportunity International's awareness and put the spotlight on our clientspeople around the world determined to lift themselves out of poverty. Through our work on the Council, we look forward to partnering with more corporations, the private sector, multilateral organizations, governments and donors, to achieve our mission of ending extreme poverty in our lifetimes."

Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, says, "We are honored to welcome Atul into the community. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to curate successful professionals from every industry, creating a vetted, social capital-driven network that helps every member make an even greater impact on the business world."

About Forbes Councils

Forbes partnered with the founders of Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) to launch Forbes Councils, invitation-only communities for world-class business professionals in a variety of industries. Members, who are hand-selected by each Council's community team, receive personalized introductions to each other based on their specific needs and gain access to a wide range of business benefits and services, including best-in-class concierge teams, personalized connections, peer-to-peer learning, a business services marketplace, and the opportunity to share thought leadership content on Forbes.com. For more information about Forbes Nonprofit Council, visit https://forbesnonprofitcouncil.com/. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com.

About Opportunity International

Opportunity International is a global non-profit organization that helps people in developing countries work their way out of poverty. Since 1971, the organization has provided more than $12 billion in loans to help 24 million clients launch and expand businesses, feed and educate their children and create jobs in their communities. At the end of 2016, more than 10 million clients in 22 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, were using an Opportunity International loan, savings account, insurance policy or training to improve their lives. Through microfinance and complementary products and services in education, agriculture and health, the organization has helped clients create or sustain 17 million jobs on the way to achieving its goal of 20 million jobs by 2020. More than 95 percent of Opportunity's loan clients are women who would otherwise likely not have access to financial services because of legal and cultural gender inequities. The global headquarters of Opportunity International are in Chicago, with other key offices in Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The organization serves clients through a network of more than 23,000 people worldwide. Discover more at opportunity.org or join the conversation on facebook.com/opportunityintl and twitter.com/opportunityintl.

SOURCE Opportunity International
ADELAIDE, Australia, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Evan Bulmer, a business growth expert from Adelaide, recently was inducted into the Million Dollar Consultant Hall of Fame, as announced at a ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dallas conducted by Alan Weiss, Ph.D., the globally-acclaimed "consultant's consultant." Bulmer is one of only six consultants recently selected to receive this honor.

Inductees are recognized outstanding accomplishments and are regarded by their peers as world leaders in consulting.

Evan Bulmer

"It is the hallmark of my career. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is validation that the work I do is important and meaningful and I pursue it with gusto," said Bulmer, who consults with small businesses who want to boost their cash flow and grow the value of their business. "I've modeled so much of my business based on Alan Weiss' ideas. I do the work I love. I was born to do this."

A lifelong learner, Bulmer realized he had gone as far as he could before discovering Mr. Weiss about 10 years ago at a seminar in Australia.

"I've put myself amongst people who are better than I. That's how you grow. There was nowhere to go in Australia. I was teaching my peers. When I went to Alan's seminar, I was totally blown away by his concepts," he said.

"I used to have 19 people working for me. Now I work by myself and make more money and have more satisfaction because I can take on bigger projects," he said. "By focusing on my clients, they've employed hundreds if not thousands of people in the last 10 years."

Bulmer teaches his clients about measuring their activities.

"I'm a big believer in the numbers. The language of business is the language of the accountant. Financial statements are scorecards. But most business owners don't understand the numbers and don't know how to turn those numbers into actions that improve results. I give them that knowledge," he said.

"In many companies, I see people moving without direction. I come along and provide direction and put metrics around it to build a culture of success," he said. "The outcome is a dramatic improvement in profit, revenue and cash flow."

About the Book, The Numbers that Matter

Bulmer also announced that his new book, The Numbers that Matters: Learning What to Measure to Achieve Financial Success in Your Business will be published in by Business Expert Press, December 2017.

The book helps CEOs and business owner understand what information they need so they can make decisions to improve their businesses.

"Business is about activity  a whole lot of people doing things. You have to measure the activity that leads to creating value," he said.

The book takes CEOS on a journey to understand such topics as:

Are we adding value to our business? Can we afford to pay for it? Return on capital Cash flow Balance sheet Grow your revenue Key reports How to manage people How to select employees and put good structures around them to achieve desired outcomes How to communicate and manage banks

About the Million Dollar Consultant Hall of Fame

Bulmer was selected for membership to this exclusive group of global consultants because he:

Serves as an exemplar to others in the profession.

Maintains the highest levels of integrity, ethics and accountability.

Has demonstrated revenue and profit achievement and growth.

Contributes intellectual capital to the profession.

Engages in continual, challenging, personal and professional development.

Takes risk and demonstrates resilience.

"Evan Bulmer exemplifies the entrepreneurial approach that his own clients profit most from. He streamlined his business, lowered his labor, increased his value, and thereby dramatically improved his own margins. He can do that for any of his clients in breathtakingly short time. He understands the dynamics of providing customers and clients with what's of highest value in their eyes, and enables his own clients to enter into that dynamic with minimal disruption and maximum gain. I'm proud to include him with the fewer than 100 elite consultants and experts in the Million Dollar Consulting Hall of Fame," said Alan Weiss, PhD, Summit Consulting Group, Inc.

For information about Evan Bulmer and Associates, go to www.ebaa.com.au/

Contact:

Evan Bulmer

+61 408244640

[email protected]

SOURCE Evan Bulmer

Related Links

http://www.ebaa.com.au


SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Edmunds, the leading car shopping and information platform, forecasts that 1,317,738 new cars and trucks will be sold in the U.S. in October, for an estimated Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) of 17.6 million. This reflects a 13.3 percent decrease in sales from September 2017 and a 3.5 percent decrease from October 2016.

Edmunds analysts say that while sales continue to be slower this year compared to 2016, if incentives can entice enough car buyers to clear out the high levels of 2017 inventory then the year should still finish historically strong.

"A 17.6 million SAAR in October is expected to be the second highest monthly sales rate of 2017, so despite the year-over-year decline, the industry can still consider it a solid month," said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds executive director of industry analysis. "We expect to see increasingly aggressive incentives offered on outgoing models through the end of the year as automakers look to build on this momentum, so car buyers can likely anticipate some door-buster deals this holiday season."

October sales are also expected to experience a continued lift from shoppers impacted by this summer's hurricanes.

"While replacement demand in Houston was higher in September, we anticipate that hurricane recovery efforts will continue to supplement October vehicle sales in the market," Caldwell said. "In Florida, far fewer vehicles were lost to flood damage, but we expect to see an incremental boost in vehicle sales primarily from shoppers who may have delayed their purchases due to the storm."

SALES VOLUME FORECAST, BY MANUFACTURER











Sales Volume October 2017 Forecast October 2016 September 2017 Change from October 2016 Change from September 2017 GM 239,775 258,626 279,397 -7.3% -14.2% Ford 196,556 187,080 221,643 5.1% -11.3% Toyota 190,969 186,295 226,632 2.5% -15.7% Fiat Chrysler 158,742 176,609 174,266 -10.1% -8.9% Honda 123,655 126,161 142,722 -2.0% -13.4% Nissan 107,541 113,520 139,932 -5.3% -23.1% Hyundai/Kia 99,560 111,482 109,475 -10.7% -9.1% VW/Audi 45,702 42,500 51,420 7.5% -11.1% Industry 1,317,738 1,365,756 1,519,093 -3.5% -13.3%











*NOTE: October 2017 had 25 selling days, October 2016 had 26 and September 2017 had 26.

Edmunds estimates that retail SAAR will come in at 14.6 million vehicles in October 2017, with fleet transactions accounting for 17.1 percent of total sales. An estimated 3.2 million used vehicles will be sold in October 2017, for a SAAR of 38.9 million (compared to 3.2 million  or a SAAR of 38.8 million  in September).

MARKET SHARE FORECAST, BY MANUFACTURER











Market Share October 2017 Forecast October 2016 September 2017 Change from October 2016 Change from September 2017 GM 18.2% 18.9% 18.4% -0.7% -0.2% Ford 14.9% 13.7% 14.6% 1.2% 0.3% Toyota 14.5% 13.6% 14.9% 0.9% -0.4% Fiat Chrysler 12.0% 12.9% 11.5% -0.9% 0.6% Honda 9.4% 9.2% 9.4% 0.1% 0.0% Nissan 8.2% 8.3% 9.2% -0.2% -1.1% Hyundai/Kia 7.6% 8.2% 7.2% -0.6% 0.3% VW/Audi 3.5% 3.1% 3.4% 0.4% 0.1%

More insight into recent auto industry trends can be found in the Edmunds Industry Center at http://www.edmunds.com/industry-center/.

About Edmunds

Edmunds is the leading car information and shopping platform, helping millions of visitors each month find their perfect car. With products such as Edmunds Your Price, Your Lease and Used+, shoppers can buy smarter with instant, upfront prices for cars and trucks currently for sale at more than 13,000 dealer franchises across the U.S. Edmunds' in-house team of unbiased car-shopping experts provide industry-leading vehicle reviews and shopping tips. Edmunds has a 20-year-old forums community of car shoppers and enthusiasts, where members can get shopping advice and learn what others are buying and leasing cars for. The company is regarded as one of America's best workplaces by Fortune and Great Place to Work. Edmunds is based in Santa Monica, California, and has a satellite office in downtown Detroit, Michigan.

CONTACT:

Talia James

Public Relations

[email protected]

310-309-4900

http://edmunds.com/about/press

SOURCE Edmunds

Related Links

http://www.edmunds.com


AfricaRice is a CGIAR Research Center  part of a global research partnership for a food-secure future. It is also an intergovernmental association of African member countries. For more information visit: www.AfricaRice.org

A propos dAfricaRice

AfricaRice est un Centre de recherche du CGIAR  un partenariat mondial de la recherche agricole pour un futur sans faim. AfricaRice est aussi une association intergouvernementale composee de pays membres africains. Pour plus dinformations, visiter : www.AfricaRice.org
BALTIMORE, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the United States, today will host a celebration marking the grand opening of the 14th library renovated as part of the Baltimore Elementary and Middle School Library Project. The newly renovated space is located at Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School, where today's official celebration will take place:

1425 E. Fort Avenue

Baltimore, MD 21230

Doors open at 10:00 a.m.

Featured speakers include

Baltimore Mayor Catherine E. Pugh

Dr. Sonja Santelises , CEO, Baltimore City Public Schools

The Baltimore Library Project is a multi-year, collaborative effort to build or transform up to 24 Baltimore City Public School libraries in selected elementary/middle schools where existing funds can be leveraged. Of the total $30 million invested by all Project partners, the Weinberg Foundation has committed $10 million as part of this effort to strengthen academic achievement among students. As of today, 14 new spaces serving 6,000 studentsor 10 percent of the total number of students, pre-kindergarten through grade eight, in all of Baltimore City Public Schoolshave been built or completely renovated.

Each new library is well-equipped, well-staffed, and well-resourced, including beautiful design, new furniture and graphics, and the latest technologies. The new spaces also feature an "Enoch Pratt Parent Place" for parents/guardians, and informal reading areas, as well as separate areas for study and research, instruction, and group discussion.

"We have always intended that these libraries would not only improve academic achievement but also engage the entire family and community more directly in the schools, and through partnerships and extracurricular programs," said Rachel Garbow Monroe, Weinberg Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer. "We hope that the Foundation's $28 million commitment over the past four years to Baltimore-focused education funding, including out-of-school time and summer programs like SummerREADS, has done just that." Monroe added, "This year alone, SummerREADS served more than 300 students and recorded the highest attendance to date."

In addition to this morning's event, Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School will be hosting a community celebration for families this evening where the Heart of America Foundation will be giving tours of the renovated library. Later this fall, the school will receive a mobile food pantry, coordinated by the Maryland Food Bank, that will provide 25 pounds of food, including fresh produce, for members of the school community.

In addition to the newest library renovation at Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School, the following 13 libraries were built or completely renovated by the Baltimore Library Project during its first five years: Arlington Elementary/Middle, Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle, Elmer A. Henderson: A Johns Hopkins Partnership School, George Washington Elementary, Hampden Elementary/Middle, Harford Heights Elementary, The Historic Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Elementary, Moravia Park Elementary, Morrell Park Elementary/Middle, Southwest Baltimore Charter, Thomas Johnson Elementary/Middle, Westport Academy, and Windsor Hills Elementary/Middle schools. Next year's library renovation will take place at James McHenry Elementary/Middle School.

Please follow all Baltimore Library Project developments at www.baltimorelibraryproject.org and on Facebook and Twitter at #libraryproject.

Baltimore Elementary and Middle School Library Project Partners:



The Abell Foundation

The Annie E. Casey Foundation

Art with a Heart

The Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers

Baltimore Campaign for Grade-Level Reading

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore Community Foundation

Baltimore Education Research Consortium (BERC)

The Baltimore Sun Media Group

Barnes and Noble

Bogdan Computer Services

Digital Harbor Foundation

Dyslexia Tutoring Program

Enoch Pratt Free Library

Fund for Educational Excellence

The Heart of America Foundation

Ironmark (formerly CPS Gumpert)

JMT Construction

JRS Architects

Kirk Designs

Maryland Book Bank

Maryland Food Bank

Maryland SPCA

Maryland State Department of Education

Office of Mayor Catherine Pugh

Operation Warm

Parks and People Foundation

Raising a Reader

Reading Partners

United Way of Central Maryland

VPC Incorporated

Wells Fargo Banking Corporation

Young Audiences



About The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private charitable foundations in the United States, provides approximately $100 million in annual grants to nonprofits that provide direct services to low-income and vulnerable individuals and families, primarily in the United States and Israel. Grants are focused on meeting basic needs and enhancing an individual's ability to meet those needs with emphasis on older adults, the Jewish community, and the Foundation's priority communities of Maryland, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Chicago, New York, rural communities in the United States, and Israel. The trustees, some of whom also serve as executive officers of the Foundation, are Chair Robert T. Kelly, Jr., Donn Weinberg, Alvin Awaya, and Fay Hartog-Levin. Rachel Garbow Monroe serves as the Weinberg Foundation's President and Chief Executive Officer. For more information, please visit www.hjweinbergfoundation.org.

Media Contact: Craig Demchak, 443-738-1159

[email protected]

SOURCE Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

Related Links

http://www.hjweinbergfoundation.org


PEABODY, Mass., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Barton Associates, a leading nationwide recruitment firm in the $3.6 billion healthcare staffing ("locum tenens") market, is hiring for more than 50 new job opportunities at its headquarters in Peabody, Massachusetts.

Peabody is one of Barton's eight locations across six states, including offices in Hardwick, MA; Worcester, MA; Keene, NH; West Palm Beach, FL; Windsor, CT; Austin, TX; and Tempe, AZ. Barton is slated to open two more offices in Las Vegas in early 2018, bringing more than 100 sales career opportunities to a new area of the country. The Peabody office is hiring account managers and recruiters who work together to place physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and dentists in short- and long-term locum tenens assignments throughout the United States.

Barton built its career platform around hiring young professionals and providing them opportunities to grow, both professionally and financially. Barton offers a competitive base salary, world-class training, industry-leading incentive programs, and a comprehensive benefits package. Employees at the Peabody office, located just off of Route 1, also have access to a variety of nearby conveniences, including restaurants, an on-site gym, shopping malls, pharmacies, banks, and more.

Barton takes advantage of the best talent from the area's new graduates and operates with a strong promote-from-within philosophy. Barton is currently hiring for various sales and corporate/support roles in all its offices.

To learn more about working at Barton Associates, visit BartonCareers.com.

About Barton Associates

Founded in 2001, Barton Associates is a leading national locum tenens staffing and recruiting firm. Barton efficiently matches talented locum tenens healthcare professionals with healthcare companies and facilities across the United States in a wide variety of practice areas.

Contact

Kelsey Flynn, Talent Acquisition Specialist

978.513.7683

[email protected]

SOURCE Barton Associates

Related Links

http://www.bartonassociates.com


"This is an exciting day for growing the community of Columbus and the State of Nebraska," said Governor Ricketts. "BD's $60 million expansion at their Columbus-East facility is another example of how the industry's faith in our state can help create new opportunities in our communities. With facilities in Columbus, Holdrege, and Broken Bow, BD has been a great partner in growing the Good Life and we appreciate their ongoing investment in Nebraska."

In addition to Gov. Ricketts, Columbus Mayor Jim Bulkley and Councilman John Lohr also offered words of support for the expansion. Duane Ostdiek, plant manager for the BD Columbus-West facility highlighted the 50th anniversary of cannula (metal part of a needle used in a variety of health care applications) manufacturing at that facility. Bill Campbell, plant manager of the BD Columbus-East facility also was present to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the BD Columbus-East plant.

"BD is one of the largest users of plastic injection molded products in the world, with hundreds of billions of units produced internally each year," said James Borzi, executive vice president and chief supply chain officer of BD. "The new facility will centralize a majority of BD's North American plastic molding production and will support multiple business units in the U.S. and around the world."

Laurie Reagan, the plant manager for the new plastic molding facility, also spoke at the event and highlighted BD's plans to invest $7 million to retain and retrain its associates for the different skill sets needed for plastic molding manufacturing or to facilitate their transfer to its other manufacturing facility in Columbus or other sites across the BD network. BD is partnering with Central Community College to create customized curriculum for its retraining needs.

In addition to Columbus, BD also has operations in Holdrege and Broken Bow, Neb. and employs approximately 2,500 people across the state. In September 2016, BD announced a $100 million investment in its Holdrege facility to expand its insulin syringe manufacturing operations.

About BD

BD is a global medical technology company that is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. BD leads in patient and health care worker safety and the technologies that enable medical research and clinical laboratories. The company provides innovative solutions that help advance medical research and genomics, enhance the diagnosis of infectious disease and cancer, improve medication management, promote infection prevention, equip surgical and interventional procedures, and support the management of diabetes. The company partners with organizations around the world to address some of the most challenging global health issues. BD has nearly 50,000 associates across 50 countries who work in close collaboration with customers and partners to help enhance outcomes, lower health care delivery costs, increase efficiencies, improve health care safety and expand access to health. For more information on BD, please visit bd.com.

Contacts:

Troy Kirkpatrick Monique N. Dolecki BD Public Relations BD Investor Relations 858.617.2361 201.847.5378 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)

Related Links

http://www.bd.com


The letters addressed to Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein and Vice-Chair David S. Johnson of the ITC urged strong support for the ITC's investigation into unfairly traded imports of hardwood plywood from China. In these bipartisan congressional letters, the members of Congress explain how the United States should not allow its capacity to manufacture high-quality products domestically to erode in the face of unfair trade practices that hurt America's hardwood plywood industry.

According to Senator Ron Wyden, "for too long, China has been using government subsidies to give an unfair advantage to its producers, then unleashing a flood of subsidized hardwood plywood on the U.S. market. It is critical that producers of hardwood plywood and millworkers across the United States get the relief they deserve."

"We greatly appreciate this Congressional support as we make our case this week before the ITC," said Timothy Brightbill, legal counsel for the Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood. "It is imperative that we have congressional support in our fight against China's illegal trade practices. We look forward to more congressional cooperation and support as we continue to fight against dumped and subsidized Chinese products."

Imports of Chinese hardwood plywood products have increased 35 to 45 percent since 2013, putting thousands of American jobs at risk. Several U.S. hardwood plywood mills have been forced to close their doors or significantly cut jobs.

Responding to this trade crisis, the ITC launched an investigation into illegal Chinese trade tactics and imports. Currently, the ITC is in its final phase of antidumping and countervailing duty investigation.

ABOUT THE COALITION FOR FAIR TRADE OF HARDWOOD PLYWOOD:

The Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood is a group of six producers and manufacturers that are committed to safeguarding the U.S. hardwood plywood industry and its thousands of workers. The law firm of Wiley Rein LLP is representing the Coalition in these investigations. For more information on the petition, visit: www.hardwoodplywoodfairtrade.com

SOURCE Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood

Related Links

https://hardwoodplywoodfairtrade.com


BOGOTA, Colombia, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackboard Inc., a leading education technology company for teaching, learning and student engagement, is strengthening its position across the Spanish-speaking countries in South America and the Caribbean. Since January, the company has signed more than 20 new partnerships and extended existing agreements with more than 35 clients, and it continues to enable millions of learners throughout the region to achieve educational success.

Blackboard has been improving the teaching and learning experience of students in Latin America for a number of years and further expanded its presence in the region in 2015 with the acquisition of Nivel Siete, a leading provider of Moodle solutions, establishing its regional headquarter in Bogota, Colombia. Today's announcement builds on the positive results achieved in Brazil and further testifies to the strong momentum the company is showing around the world.

"I am thrilled by the results we have achieved so far in the region," said Lee Blakemore, President of Blackboard International. "We are proud that a growing number of institutions and businesses are partnering with us to deliver quality education and training to millions of learners. This is another proof point of the unique value that Blackboard brings to our clients and their learners."

Among those organizations that decided to leverage Blackboard's solutions to address their complex challenges are:

Auditoria Superior del Estado de Coahuila  the Supreme Audit Authority of Coahuila State in Mexico. It adopted Blackboard Learn in 2015 as the platform to provide training on new national accounting practices, delivering three separate courses to over 100,000 public service participants. Based on the outstanding results achieved, the Authority decided to renew its partnership to meet the training needs of more than 150,000 learners altogether.

Universitaria Autonoma De Occidente  one of the top high-quality universities in Colombia with more than 10,000 students. It decided to move from a self-hosted Moodle implementation to Moodlerooms to leverage all the benefits related to a cloud delivery model, including zero downtime updates and continuous quality enhancements delivery. The institution will also implement the Personalized Learning Designer, a tool of Moodlerooms that automates course elements so that students have different experiences based on their interaction with the course.

Universidad Tecnologica Indoamerica  one of the fastest growing universities in Ecuador. It chose Moodlerooms and Blackboard Collaborate to deploy its blended and virtual learning programs to more than 4,000 students. Its aim is to leverage the best education technology solutions available to improve the overall quality of its courses and increase its reach among learners across the country.

Universidad de Concepcion de Chile (UDEC)  the third oldest university in Chile with more than 25,000 students. It selected Blackboard Collaborate to simplify and enhance its distance teaching and learning programs. Thanks to high-fidelity audio and video capabilities, ease of use and a sleek design, Blackboard Collaborate will be key to keep students engaged even outside of the classroom. The university will also use Blackboard Collaborate to deliver high-level virtual meetings and webinars to a broader audience, with the aim of being recognized as a hub for the local higher education community.

About Blackboard

Our mission is to partner with the global education community to enable learner and institutional success, leveraging innovative technologies and services. With an unmatched understanding of the world of the learner, the most comprehensive student-success solutions, and the greatest capacity for innovation, Blackboard is education's partner in change.

CONTACT

Massimo Morigi, Blackboard Inc.

+44 (0)20 7534 2063 or [email protected]

SOURCE Blackboard Inc.

Related Links

http://www.blackboard.com


CANTON, Mass., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company, a national provider of insurance solutions for individuals and at the workplace, today announced that it has appointed Marie Loughran as its new 2nd Vice President of Sales Operations, Workplace Solutions, in the company's Distribution division.

"Marie will play a key role in helping to drive our efforts as we expand and build on our foundation of providing a quality service experience," said Jim Jacobsen, Executive Vice President of Distribution at Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company. "Her extensive knowledge of sales and the enrollment process and technology as well as her long-standing tenure at the company is a huge asset to the team, and I look forward to working with her."

In this new position, Mrs. Loughran will help develop, train, and build out Boston Mutual's voluntary and employer-paid insurance sales support team to assist the company's growing sales efforts. She will be responsible for developing multi-department efforts to meet business and producer needs, as well as identifying opportunities to improve process efficiency.

Mrs. Loughran has worked at Boston Mutual for 25 years, most recently with the company's IT partner Onyx Data Solutions in project management for sales-related initiatives. Previously, she worked in Boston Mutual's voluntary insurance department. Mrs. Loughran serves on the Life Insurance and Market Research Association (LIMRA) technology committee. She is currently completing her bachelor's degree in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University.

About Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company

Founded in 1891, Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company has enjoyed a long history of financial strength and stability. Headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts, the national insurance carrier has been a recognized leader for more than 125 years in providing flexible insurance products for Americans and their families in the private and public sectors of the USA. Boston Mutual Life offers a range of insurance coverage options for both individuals and at the workplace. For more information, please visit www.bostonmutual.com or follow the company on Facebook (/BostonMutualLifeIns) or LinkedIn (/company/boston-mutual-life-insurance).

Media Contact:

Meredith D'Agostino

Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company

[email protected]

(800) 669-2668 x276

SOURCE Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company

Related Links

www.bostonmutual.com


TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Boys & Girls Clubs of America is reinforcing its commitment to the health and wellness of children and teens in Arizona, thanks to $10,000 in Triple Play grants from the CareMore Foundation. Triple Play is Boys & Girls Clubs of America's leading healthy lifestyles program, making a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of kids and teens during the critical after-school time at Boys & Girls Clubs around the country.

The CareMore Foundation will be issuing the Triple Play grants to the following Clubs to encourage healthy eating and physical activities for Club members:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson  Jim & Vicki Click Clubhouse

Pascua Yaqu Indian Reservation-Tucson

"It has been proven that children and teens are more likely to be inactive and consume less healthy foods during out-of-school hours," said Dr. Piyush Gupta, Regional Medical Officer for CareMore Health. "With Arizona youth back to school, we are excited to continue to support programs like Triple Play that educate and motivate youth to get active and develop healthy habits that lead to a great future."

As Boys & Girls Clubs of America's proven health and wellness program, Triple Play is a game plan for the mind, body and soul. Supported by founding sponsor The Coca-Cola Company and co-sponsor, CareMore Foundation, the program's three components encourage Club members to eat healthier (mind), become more physically active (body) and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships (soul).

"Boys & Girls Clubs of America is focused on providing programs that are designed to make a lasting impact during the critical after-school hours and beyond," said Dr. Jennifer Bateman, national vice president for programs, training and youth development with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Thanks to the CareMore Foundation this grant will create a healthy environment where youth across Arizona can adopt a healthy lifestyle that will positively influence their physical, social and intellectual wellness for years to come."

The CareMore Foundation is committed to improving health and strengthening communities. Through its Healthy Generations grant program, the CareMore Foundation works to identify the issues most in need of attention and then directs its financial support and volunteer efforts toward improving health in those areas. Promoting multi-generational health and active lifestyles is an ongoing focus of the foundation.

The Triple Play grants announced today are part of a five-year, $10 million commitment from CareMore Foundation's parent company to Boys & Girls Clubs of America to promote healthy lifestyles.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, 4,300 Clubs serve 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at on Facebook and Twitter.

About the CareMore Foundation

The CareMore Foundation is the philanthropic arm of CareMore Health, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anthem, Inc. Together, with local, regional and national organizations, the CareMore Foundation works to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that CareMore serves. CareMore Foundation funding is focused on strategic initiatives working to address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative with five areas of focus: Healthy Heart, Cancer Prevention, Healthy Maternal Practices, Type 2 Diabetes Prevention, and Healthy Active Lifestyle. The Foundation also coordinates the company's year-round Associate Giving program which provides a 50 percent match of associates' campaign pledges, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. To learn more about the CareMore Foundation, please visit www.anthem.foundation.

SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Related Links

http://www.bgca.org


WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Boys & Girls Clubs of America is reinforcing its commitment the health and wellness of children and teens in the District of Columbia, thanks to $10,000 in Triple Play grants from Amerigroup Foundation. Triple Play is Boys & Girls Clubs of America's leading healthy lifestyles program, making a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of kids and teens during the critical after-school time at Boys & Girls Clubs around the country.

The Amerigroup Foundation will be issuing the Triple Play grants to the following Clubs to encourage healthy eating and physical activities for Club members:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington - Club 14

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington - FBR Club @ THEARC

"As the newest Medicaid plan to D.C., we are looking for opportunities to support our local communities and programs such as Triple Play, which educate and motivate youth to get active and develop healthy habits, are a great fit," said Dr. Linda Elam, PhD, MPH, Amerigroup D.C. Medicaid plan president. "It has been proven that children and teens are more likely to be inactive and consume less healthy foods during out-of-school hours so supporting programs like Triple Play can improve health and lead to a great future for the youth of D.C."

As Boys & Girls Clubs of America's proven health and wellness program, Triple Play is a game plan for the mind, body and soul. Supported by founding sponsor The Coca-Cola Company and co-sponsor, Amerigroup Foundation, the program's three components encourage Club members to eat healthier (mind), become more physically active (body) and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships (soul).

"Boys & Girls Clubs of America is focused on providing programs that are designed to make a lasting impact during the critical after-school hours and beyond," said Dr. Jennifer Bateman, national vice president for programs, training and youth development with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Thanks to the Amerigroup Foundation this grant will create a healthy environment where youth across the District of Columbia can adopt a healthy lifestyle that will positively influence their physical, social and intellectual wellness for years to come."

The Amerigroup Foundation is committed to improving health and strengthening communities. Through its Healthy Generations grant program, the Amerigroup Foundation works to identify the issues most in need of attention and then directs its financial support and volunteer efforts toward improving health in those areas. Promoting youth health and active lifestyles is an ongoing focus of the foundation.

The Triple Play grants announced today are part of a five-year, $10 million commitment from Amerigroup Foundation's parent company foundation to Boys & Girls Clubs of America to promote healthy lifestyles.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, 4,300 Clubs serve 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Amerigroup Foundation

The Amerigroup Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Amerigroup, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anthem, Inc. Together with local, regional and national organizations, the Amerigroup Foundation works to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Amerigroup and its affiliated health plans serve. Amerigroup Foundation funding is focused on strategic initiatives working to address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative with five areas of focus: Healthy Heart, Cancer Prevention, Healthy Maternal Practices, Type 2 Diabetes Prevention, and Healthy Active Lifestyle. These disease states and medical conditions include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company's year-round Associate Giving program which provides a 50 percent match of associates' campaign pledges, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. To learn more about the Amerigroup Foundation, please visit www.anthem.foundation.

SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Related Links

http://www.bgca.org


HOUSTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Boys & Girls Clubs in Texas are in great shape for the new school year, thanks to $41,500 in total Triple Play grants from Amerigroup Foundation. Triple Play, sponsored by Amerigroup Foundation, is Boys & Girls Clubs of America's (BGCA) leading healthy lifestyles program, making a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of kids and teens during the critical after-school time at Boys & Girls Clubs around the country.

Amerigroup Foundation will be issuing the Triple Play grants to the following Clubs to encourage healthy eating and physical activities for Club members:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth

Maverick Boys & Girls Club of Amarillo

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas

The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Houston

Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Texas

Boys & Girls Clubs of Arlington

"After-school hours are a critical time for the health and wellness of our nation's kids and teens," said Tisch Scott, president of Amerigroup Texas. "With Texas youth back to school, we are committed to helping fill their open afternoons and weekends with constructive games and fun activities that will help build lifelong healthy habits."

As Boys & Girls Clubs of America's proven health and wellness program, Triple Play is a game plan for the mind, body and soul. Supported by founding sponsor The Coca-Cola Company and co-sponsor, Amerigroup Foundation, the program's three components encourage Club members to eat healthier (mind), become more physically active (body) and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships (soul).

"Year after year we experience tremendous adoption of our Triple Play programs, and thanks to continued support from our partner Amerigroup Foundation we are able to bring Triple Play to even more Clubs across the country," said Dr. Jennifer Bateman, national vice president for programs, training and youth development with BGCA. "The new grants in Texas will create a healthy environment where our youth can thrive, and the funds will have a lasting impact on the kids and teens served by these Clubs."

Amerigroup Foundation is committed to improving health and strengthening Texas communities. Through its Healthy Generations grant program, Amerigroup Foundation works to identify the issues most in need of attention and then directs its financial support and volunteer efforts toward improving health in those areas. Promoting youth health and active lifestyles is an ongoing focus of the foundation.

The Triple Play grants announced today are part of a five-year, $10 million commitment from Amerigroup Foundation's parent company foundation to BGCA to promote healthy lifestyles.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.

About the Amerigroup Foundation

The Amerigroup Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Amerigroup, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anthem, Inc. Together, with local, regional and national organizations, the Amerigroup Foundation works to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Amerigroup and its affiliated health plans serve. Amerigroup Foundation funding is focused on strategic initiatives working to address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative with five areas of focus: Healthy Heart, Cancer Prevention, Healthy Maternal Practices, Type 2 Diabetes Prevention, and Healthy Active Lifestyle. These disease states and medical conditions include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company's year-round Associate Giving program which provides a 50 percent match of associates' campaign pledges, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. To learn more about the Amerigroup Foundation, please visit www.anthem.foundation.

SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Related Links

http://www.bgca.org


HOUSTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (NYSE: COG) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular dividend of five cents ($0.05) per share on the Company's common stock. The dividend will be paid November 17, 2017 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business November 8, 2017.

Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas is a leading independent natural gas producer, with its entire resource base located in the continental United States. For additional information, visit the Company's homepage at www.cabotog.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Matt Kerin (281) 589-4642

SOURCE Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation

Related Links

http://www.cabotog.com


DENVER, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CCRM, one of the nation's leading fertility networks, has named Constance Rapson as the Chief Marketing Officer. She is responsible for furthering the brand positioning, as well as advertising and marketing strategy for patients and CCRM network physicians. She will oversee the network's marketing and media strategy, including advertising, creative, patient satisfaction and loyalty, consumer research, and corporate communications.

Rapson is an accomplished marketing and advertising executive bringing extensive experience in driving national brand strategy, integrated advertising, campaign development, consumer insights and consumer experience. She possesses a strong creative vision to lead the CCRM network in achieving its strategic marketing goals.

Rapson was previously the head of strategy at TDA_Boulder, an award-winning advertising agency in Colorado focused on brands in high-growth life stages. She was responsible for strategic brand planning, consumer research and marketing across the entire agency portfolio.

Prior to joining TDA_Boulder, Rapson was vice president of strategy and partnerships for iCrossing, a Hearst company in New York. A global digital agency, Constance led digital strategy for DIRECTV, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Ally Bank. She also worked for Planned Parenthood Federation of America in New York during the campaign to pass healthcare reform.

"We are delighted to welcome Constance's inspiration and energy to CCRM," said CCRM CEO Jon Pardew. "She has extensive leadership and marketing expertise, which will allow her to make an immediate contribution to help shape the direction of our network and position CCRM for continued growth while maintaining world-class service for our patients."

CCRM

Founded in 1987 by Dr. William Schoolcraft, the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine (CCRM) is one of the nation's leading infertility treatment centers, providing a wide spectrum of infertility treatments ranging from basic infertility care to advanced IVF technology. CCRM has locations in Colorado, Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Minneapolis, New York, Northern Virginia, Orange County, San Francisco and Toronto, Canada. Dr. Schoolcraft and his colleagues achieve some of the highest pregnancy rates in the country. CCRM has been ranked "The #1 Fertility Center in the U.S." by Parents.com. To learn more, visit www.ccrmivf.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE CCRM

Related Links

https://www.ccrmivf.com


AUBURN, Ala., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicken Salad Chick, the nation's only southern inspired, fast casual chicken salad restaurant concept, announced today it will be expanding in Georgia with its first location in Newnan. The new restaurant marks the 14th location in the state, emphasizing the brand's continued development plans in Georgia. Located in Ashley Park at 214 Newnan Crossing Bypass, the Newnan restaurant will open on November 8 and is owned and operated by franchisee team Lanier and Rod McLeod, and James Vigil of RLM Restaurant Group, LLC.

During grand opening week, guests will enjoy southern hospitality through giveaways and specials at the new Chicken Salad Chick restaurant:

Wednesday, Nov. 8  Free Chicken Salad for a Year  The first guest will win one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year; the next 99 guests receive a large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year.*

 Free Chicken Salad for a Year  The first guest will win one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year; the next 99 guests receive a large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year.* Thursday, Nov. 9  Thirsty Thursday  The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Special will receive a free stainless steel 30 oz. Chick Tumbler.

 Thirsty Thursday  The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Special will receive a free stainless steel 30 oz. Chick Tumbler. Friday, Nov. 10  Free Scoop Friday  The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Special will receive a free scoop card redeemable on their next visit.

 Free Scoop Friday  The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Special will receive a free scoop card redeemable on their next visit. Saturday, Nov. 11  Chick Cooler Saturday  The first 50 guests to purchase two Quick Chicks will receive a free Chick Large Cooler.

"Our first Chicken Salad Chick location in Warner Robins exceeded our initial expectations, and we are confident that our new location in Newnan will be just as well received," said Lanier. "The diverse flavors and quality interactions leave a lasting impression on each guest, and we're excited to offer this unique dining experience to the local community."

Lanier and Rod McLeod made their debut as Chicken Salad Chick franchisees with the opening of their first restaurant in Warner Robins, Georgia, in 2016. A year later, the McLeod's expanded their partnership and recruited James Vigil, a restaurant operations veteran with 20 years of experience, to join RLM Restaurant Group. Prior to Chicken Salad Chick, Lanier and Rod were part owners of a Zaxby's franchise, but decided to diversify their portfolio after experiencing the brand's fresh chicken salad. The McLeod's fell in love with the brand's unique culture and atmosphere, prompting their continued expansion with Chicken Salad Chick.

The Chicken Salad Chick concept, born in Auburn, Ala., was established in 2008 in the kitchen of founder, Stacy Brown. When Stacy discovered that the local county health department would not allow her to continue making and selling her delicious recipes out of her home kitchen, she overcame that obstacle by launching her first restaurant with the business expertise of her future husband and fellow founder, Kevin Brown. Together, they opened a small takeout restaurant, which quickly grew; the company now has more than 70 restaurants across the Southeast.

Chicken Salad Chick in Newnan will be open Monday  Saturday from 10:30 a.m.  8 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.chickensaladchick.com, or call 770-682-2696. Follow Chicken Salad Chick on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and trends.

*Eligible winners must be over 16 years of age, make a Chick purchase and are required to download the Craving Credits app. Redemption will start 11/13.

About Chicken Salad Chick

Chicken Salad Chick puts an edgy twist on a Southern classic, offering guests a "custom fit" chicken salad experience, with over a dozen original flavors to choose from, as well as gourmet soups, flavorful side salads and freshly-baked desserts. Chicken Salad Chick serves southern style chicken salad with heart and strives to spread joy, enrich lives and serve others every day. Today, the brand has more than 70 locations across the Southeast, and has currently sold 146 franchises to be developed across the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas. The brand was recently named as one of FastCasual.com's top Movers and Shakers and one of NRN's 2017 Next 20 brands. Chicken Salad Chick also ranked #37 on Inc.'s annual list of the 500 fastest-growing companies in the U.S. Corporate offices are located at 724 North Dean Road in Auburn, Alabama. See www.chickensaladchick.com for additional information.

Contact:

Nikki Rode

954-893-9150

[email protected]

SOURCE Chicken Salad Chick

Related Links

http://www.chickensaladchick.com


CHICAGO, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- It is Open Enrollment season - a time when millions of Americans make important health insurance decisions for the coming year. Chubb Workplace Benefits encourages consumers preparing to enroll to take time to consider supplemental insurance as they determine their insurance plans for the coming year.

"More employers are offering voluntary benefits as part of their employee benefit plans to help cover the out of pocket costs associated with health insurance and medical expenses," said Chris Martin, President of Chubb Workplace Benefits. "We strongly encourage consumers to consider these important supplemental insurance policies to ensure they have that extra protection should they or their dependents need it."

According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking poll1:

Four out of ten (43 percent) adults with health insurance say they have difficulty affording their deductible, and roughly a third say they have trouble affording their premiums.

Three out of ten (29 percent) Americans report problems paying medical bills, with seven in ten (73 percent) indicating they cut back spending on food, clothing or basic household items to put more money toward those bills.

Nearly half of Americans (45 percent) say they would have difficulty paying an unexpected $500 medical bill.

Regardless of whether an individual has major medical insurance through his or her employer or through an ACA exchange, gaps in coverage may still exist. Supplemental insurance can help cover those gaps, where benefits are paid directly to policyholders if the unexpected occurs.

Chubb Workplace Benefits offers several types of supplemental insurance policies, including:

Accident Insurance

Critical Illness

Hospital Indemnity Insurance

Disability Income Insurance

Life Insurance

Built around the Chubb tenets of superior underwriting, service, and execution, Chubb Workplace Benefits serves large and mid-market customers by partnering with benefit brokers, agents, and consultants, offering a line of supplemental insurance products, including accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, life and disability income. Click here to learn more about Chubb Workplace Benefits.

About Chubb

Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: chubb.com.

About Combined Insurance

Combined Insurance Company of America (Chicago, Ill.) is a leading provider of individual supplemental accident, disability, health, and life insurance products and a Chubb company. With a tradition of nearly 100 years of success, Combined Insurance is committed to making the world of supplemental insurance easy to understand. The company has an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, an A+ (Superior) rating by A.M. Best, and is one of Ward's Top 50 Performing Life-Health Insurance Companies. Combined Insurance is also a 2017 Top 10 Military Friendly Employer named by G.I. Jobs Magazinemarking the fifth consecutive year on the Top 10 employer list and third consecutive year in the Top 5. In New York, products are underwritten by Combined Life Insurance Company of New York (Latham, N.Y.). For more information, please visit combinedinsurance.com.

Media Contact:

Caitlin Morse

[email protected]

872-304-6381

1 https://www.kff.org/health-costs/poll-finding/data-note-americans-challenges-with-health-care-costs/

SOURCE Chubb Workplace Benefits
CINCINNATI, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cincinnati Human Resources veteran Todd Markle has launched Hello Hire, LLC, a first-of-its-kind consultancy focused exclusively on helping companies improve their Candidate Experience and compete more effectively for talent.

Markle, a long-time Talent Acquisition leader at Nielsen and past member of The Conference Board's Talent Acquisition Executive Council, says the competition in today's job market paired with advances in recruitment technology are raising candidate expectations when it comes to assessing potential employers.

Founder, Hello Hire

"With the current US unemployment rate at 4.2%, the competition for talent is fierce," says Markle, Founder and Principal Consultant. "Organizations can significantly increase their ability to attract outstanding talent by paying much closer attention to their Candidate Experience  essentially how they treat individuals who have potential interest in coming to work for their organization."

Other human resources leaders agree, it's time for companies to more carefully assess and improve the way they attract and work with candidates throughout the process.

"Today's employment candidates expect a process that is as simple, engaging and transparent as they might expect with other transactions, like ordering on Amazon or requesting a ride through Uber," says Susan Hunsberger, Chief HR Officer of ServiceMaster. "Unfortunately, most organizations fall short of this kind of frictionless retail experience, leaving applicants frustrated and brands labeled as dated and out of step with contemporary practices."

Hello Hire works with companies to provide an independent Candidate Experience Audit which informs an improvement plan based on the company's most critical recruitment gaps. "A crucial first step is a candid evaluation of what is currently working well and what is not," says Markle. "This type of assessment is often challenging for internal Talent Acquisition teams to do quickly and impartially."

You can learn more about Hello Hire by visiting their website at www.hellohirecxs.com or via the contact information below.

About Hello Hire: Hello hire is a boutique HR Consultancy focused on Candidate Experience and Talent Marketing. Their mission is to help clients across the US attract outstanding talent by providing a distinctively better Candidate Experience. The company is led by Founder and Principal Consultant, Todd Markle, and is based in West Chester, Ohio just outside of Cincinnati.

Media Contact:

Todd Markle

Hello Hire, LLC

1-833-Hello-CX (1-833-435-5629)

[email protected]

SOURCE Hello Hire, LLC

Related Links

http://www.hellohirecxs.com


ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In a nationwide campaign, the Comfort Inn and Comfort Suites brands asked Americans to sink their teeth into a flavor battle over a crowd-pleasing breakfast item asking, "What's Your Waffle?" In the end, Cinnamon Roll devoured the competition as guests' favorite new waffle flavor. Beginning January 1, 2018, participating Comfort brand hotels will serve freshly baked Cinnamon Roll waffles alongside the brand's Original flavor as part of a free hearty and healthy breakfast, which includes eggs, breakfast meats, cereals, Greek yogurt with wholesome toppings, pastries, fresh fruit, and more.

The coast-to-coast search to spice up the Comfort brand's signature breakfast, dubbed #WhatsYourWaffle, launched on National Waffle Day and attracted more than 100,000 ballots during the voting period. Voters were asked to pick between: Birthday Cake, Cinnamon Roll or Sweet Caramel. In the end, Cinnamon Roll secured the win with 54 percent of the vote, followed by Sweet Caramel (33 percent) and Birthday Cake (13 percent).

"The Comfort brand takes guest feedback and its popular free breakfast very seriously. So it only seemed fitting to enlist people across the country to help choose our next waffle flavor," said Megan Brumagim, head of Comfort brands for Choice Hotels. "We have been transforming the Comfort brand experience from welcome to goodbye, using the voice of the guest as our compass, and this new offering is just one small part."

Golden Malted, exclusive waffle vendor to Choice Hotels and its family of brands, developed all three flavors. Choice Hotels will be the only hotel company to offer the new Cinnamon Roll flavor in 2018.

In addition to delivering new flavors to guests during the #WhatsYourWaffle campaign, nearly 500 Comfort brand hotels across the country honored thousands of hometown heroes and first responders by hosting them for free breakfasts that included taste tests of the waffle flavor options.

People who cast ballots also had a chance to win 500,000 Choice Privileges rewards points through the #WhatsYourWaffle sweepstakes. One lucky winner was selected and will be able to redeem those points for the equivalent of 30 free nights at a Comfort brand hotel, or other prizes available through the award-winning Choice Privileges loyalty program.

With a proven track record of reliability, convenience and value, both Comfort Inn and Comfort Suites hotels offer everything business and leisure travelers need to feel refreshed and ready to take on the day. Comfort is the largest 100 percent smoke-free hotel brand in the North America with more than 1,800 properties open and operating. With a Comfort brand hotel everywhere travelers need to be, complimentary amenities include a free breakfast, Wi-Fi, business center, and fitness center or swimming pool at most locations.

Comfort Rested.Set.Go.

The Comfort brand, franchised by Choice Hotels, has been trusted by travelers and hotel owners for more than 30 years. With a proven track record of reliability, convenience and value, both Comfort Inn and Comfort Suites hotel properties offer everything you need to feel refreshed and ready to take on the day, whether you're traveling for business or leisure. Comfort is the largest 100 percent smoke-free hotel brand in the US and Canada, with more than 1,800 properties open and operating. With a Comfort brand hotel everywhere you need to be, complimentary amenities include a hot, hearty and healthy breakfast, free Wi-Fi, business center, and fitness center or swimming pool. Rested. Set. Go. Because behind every great day is great night. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com/comfort-inn or www.choicehotels.com/comfort-suites.

About Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the world's largest hotel companies. With over 6,500 hotels franchised in more than 40 countries and territories, Choice Hotels International represents more than 500,000 rooms around the globe. As of June 30, 2017, 792 hotels were in our development pipeline. Our company's Ascend Hotel Collection, Cambria Hotels, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, Quality, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, and Vacation Rentals by Choice Hotels brands provide a spectrum of lodging choices to meet guests' needs. With more than 32 million members, our Choice Privileges rewards program enhances every trip a guest takes, with benefits ranging from instant, every day rewards to exceptional experiences, starting right when they join. All hotels and vacation rentals are independently owned and operated. Visit us at www.choicehotels.com for more information.

About Golden Malted

Since 1937, Golden Malted has been the largest distributor of waffle irons and waffle and pancake mix in the world. Golden Malted's revolutionary Fresh-Baked Waffle Program has been an integral part of the hospitality and dining industry and continues to grow and expand across the globe. Golden Malted offers a complete suite of products with their waffle iron program including customer-friendly batter and syrup dispensers, syrups, fruit toppings, and a variety of waffle and pancake mixes. Golden Malted is also on the cutting edge of technology having recently launched a proprietary sales force automation application and a new online portal designed for customers to easily manage their accounts and make purchases at www.goldenmalted.com. Golden Malted provides complete distribution coverage in the United States and over 40 countries worldwide. Consumers can also purchase Golden Malted products to enjoy at home by visiting shop.goldenmalted.com.

2017 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.choicehotels.com


NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Civil, a decentralized newsmaking platform, today announced $5 million in funding from ConsenSys, the leading global blockchain venture studio. ConsenSys is committing $2.5 million in capital and $2.5 million in services in support of Civil's newsmaking platform that enables a direct relationship between journalists and readers.

In Civil's self-governing marketplace, readers may directly sponsor newsrooms, and journalists collaboratively run their own publications. Readers may subscribe to Civil-hosted publications, and will use Civil's cryptocurrency or "CVL" tokens to sponsor individual journalists, investigations and stories, creating a new collaborative model for the gathering and dissemination of news. Civil's independent journalism advisory board will govern the platform overall, in order to ensure that fair, objective, professional standards are met throughout the network.

The blockchain-based platform and its smart contracts will protect journalists against censorship and intellectual property disputes while fostering transparency across the network. Meanwhile, properly incentivized collaborative editing and fact-checking will substantially limit misinformation.

"By providing the economic incentives and governance structures for newsmakers  writers, editors, photographers, fact-checkers  to self-organize, Civil offers a new business model for journalism," said Civil founder Matthew Iles. "Our goal is to create a self-sustaining global marketplace for journalism that is free from advertising, fake news, and outside influence."

Initially the platform will focus on local, policy and investigative reporting. Civil has dedicated one million dollars to fund the First Fleet, a diverse group of top-tier journalists creating their own newsrooms and publications. Interested journalists can apply on Civil's website.

Civil's newsmaking platform and its CVL token sale will launch simultaneously in early 2018 with live newsrooms including Popula, an alternative news and culture publication. Journalist, editor and entrepreneur Maria Bustillos, whose writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The Awl, Harper's, the Guardian and The New York Times, will manage the Popula newsroom, joined by Sasha Frere-Jones, Ryan Bradley, Aaron Bady and other well-known journalists.

"The events of November 2016 demonstrated that our media is in a state of crisis, owing to the increased power of moneyed interests in our politics and publishing, as well as the colossal media power of platform companies such as Google and Facebook," said Bustillos. "Only a direct, incorruptible conduit between journalists and readers can protect our free press and First Amendment rights. Civil's development of an Ethereum-based platform for media is the first step, and I'm very proud to be involved."

Civil is partnering with ConsenSys; the cryptoeconomics advisory team at CoinFund, led by Jake Brukhman and Alex Bulkin; and editorial strategy firm Old Town Media, led by Josh Benson, Katherine Lehr and Tom McGeveran to launch the platform, tokens and newsrooms.

"Decentralizing technologies have enormous potential to unlock new business models and reinvigorate the digital media landscape, putting power back in the hands of journalists and readers. Built on the Ethereum platform, the most advanced manifestation of blockchain technology, Civil will provide opportunities for journalists to build reputations and take home value, and for users to access trustworthy, high-quality information. As a leader driving the development of the Ethereum ecosystem worldwide, ConsenSys is proud to support Civil, which is not only a natural, innovative, excellent use of the technology, but also backed up by a strong team and aligned with our mission to drive change which puts economic, social and political systems on firmer, healthier foundations," said Joseph Lubin, Ethereum co-founder and founder of ConsenSys.

Journalists can apply to become First Fleet newsmakers at www.joincivil.com. Those interested in participating in the community can follow Civil on Medium, Twitter, and Slack and subscribe to Civil's newsletter to learn more about the platform and token launch.

About Civil

Civil is a self-governing marketplace where citizens directly sponsor newsrooms and journalists collaboratively run their own publications. The blockchain-based platform will protect journalists against censorship and intellectual property disputes while substantially limiting misinformation through properly incentivized collaborative editing and fact-checking, increasing transparency and openness across the network. For more information visit http://joincivil.com/.

About ConsenSys

ConsenSys is a venture production studio and custom software development consultancy building decentralized applications (DApps), enterprise solutions and developer tools for blockchain ecosystems, focused primarily on Ethereum. Powered by smart contracts and secured through encryption, our applications provide the benefits of transparency, auditability, and immutability that are unique to blockchain-based solutions. For more information, please visit: http://www.consensys.net.

Press contact:

Christine Mohan

Civil Media

[email protected]

718-308-6467

SOURCE Civil Media

Related Links

joincivil.com


CLEVELAND, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cleveland Clinic today announced Top 10 Medical Innovations of 2018 at a presentation that capped off the 2017 Medical Innovation Summit. Now in its 15th year, the annual Medical Innovation Summit is organized by Cleveland Clinic Innovations, the development and commercialization arm of Cleveland Clinic.

The list of up-and-coming technologies was selected by a panel of Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists. Top 10 Medical Innovations of 2018:

1) Hybrid Closed-Loop Insulin Delivery System

Hailed as the world's first artificial pancreas, the hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery system helps make Type 1 diabetes more manageable. FDA approved in late 2016, this new technology enables direct communication between the continuous glucose monitoring device and insulin pump to stabilize blood glucose at an unprecedented level. The technology replaces the "open loop" concept that requires patient to use information from their continuous glucose monitor to determine how much insulin to inject.

Experts are optimistic that the outcomes demonstrated in Type 1 diabetes will accelerate a similar product for Type 2 diabetes patients in the near future.

2) Neuromodulation to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea, the most common sleep disturbance, impacts 21 million Americans and can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. While continuous positive airway pressure device, (C.P.A.P.) is the gold standard treatment, it is estimated that more than 40 percent of sleep apnea patients refuse to wear the device.

Companies are now marketing an implant that delivers stimulation to open key airway muscles during sleep. Controlled by a remote or wearable patch, the technology acts like a pacemaker, helping to synchronize the intake of air with the action of the tongue. These neuromodulation systems have had positive results in clinical testing.

3) Gene Therapy for Inherited Retinal Diseases

In 2018, the FDA is anticipated to approve a new gene therapy for inherited retinal diseases. The ability to deliver a new gene to targeted cells in the body via viral "vectors" is expected to provide visual function improvements in some patients with IRDs.

Caused by biallelic RPE65 mutations, these rare genetic conditions result in progressive vision loss and blindness. Currently, there are no FDA-approved treatments for them. This innovative gene therapy delivers a "normal" working copy of the gene that results in a functional protein. Researchers place this gene inside a modified virus and this "vector" delivers it to retinal cells.

In 2017, the FDA awarded orphan drug status to RPE65 gene therapy, and last week a panel of U.S. health advisers recommended approval for this approach.

4) The Unprecedented Reduction of LDL Cholesterol

Low-density lipoprotein ("LDL") cholesterol is known as bad cholesterol, bringing about fatty deposits that can clog arteries. With certain new drug combinations, LDL levels are reduced by 75 percent. While this stat is remarkable, many patients and doctors wonder how low is too low?

A number of trials have been in progress recently testing this theory. So far, the floor has yet to be found. New studies reported a 20 percent reduction in the risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or stroke for patients who took statins combined with a new class of cholesterol-lowering drugs (PCSK9 inhibitors) to reach ultra-low LDL levels.

Doctors now have the tools and the research to take the fight to LDL cholesterol.

5) The Emergence of Distance Health

Extending the healthcare environment to the patient's home has been a goal for decades. Removing geographic barriers to care can result in timelier, more efficient and more optimal outcomes as well as significant cost savings. Due to an increase in connectivity through mobile technology and consumer demand, hospitals are getting ready for widespread adoption in 2018.

These technologies are also expanding beyond the simple two-way video platform. More patients are now equipped with attachable devices that record and report medical information to doctors to monitor their condition. Over 19 million patients are projected to use these remote monitoring devices in 2018.

6) Next Generation Vaccine Platforms



Developing one vaccine is estimated to cost $200 million and take at least 10 years. The toughest challenges, however, often lie in timing and delivery. With the recent Ebola and Zika outbreaks, it was clear that the process needs to be expedited.

In 2018, innovators will be upgrading the entire vaccine infrastructure to support the rapid development of new vaccines, as well as breaking ground on novel mechanisms to deliver new and existing vaccines to vast populations. For example, innovators are perfecting the use of freeze drying vaccines which can allow shipment to more remote locations. Companies are finding faster ways to develop flu vaccines using tobacco plants, insects and nanoparticles.

At the point-of-care, innovators are thinking outside the syringe. Oral, edible and mucosally delivered vaccines, intranasal vaccines, and vaccine chips are all under development. In 2018, a Band-Aid-sized patch for the flu vaccine is expected to be on the market. These new ways of developing, shipping, storing and vaccinating are being swiftly connected to stave off current and future diseases and epidemics.

7) Arsenal of Targeted Breast Cancer Therapies

The most full-scale attack on breast cancer is currently underway. The tried-and-true treatment mechanisms  via hormone therapy, chemotherapy and radiation  are still valuable options for prolonging life. But these treatments are often not enough to keep cancer at bay, and can also lead to the collateral damage of healthy cells.

2018 marks the year that targeted therapies are most widely used to treat breast cancer. A variety of new targeted treatments, such as PARP inhibitors for patients with specific mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2, and novel CD K 4/6 inhibitors for ER-Positive/HER-2-negative breast cancer are having positive outcomes in clinical trials. Addtionally, HER-2 targeted agents continue to show benefit in this subgroup of HER-2-positive patients. Experts believe the results from these studies are pointing to an increasing survival rate, and perhaps the eventual end of chemotherapy for a significant population of breast cancer patients.

8) Enhanced Recovery After Surgery

For decades, the pre-and post-surgery routine has been standard for nearly all procedures: No eating before surgery; use pain medications; and stay in bed during recovery. After substantial growth in hospital readmissions and an opioid epidemic, innovators are overhauling post-surgery strategies, and delivering impressive results.

Several centers have been developing the concept of "fast-track" or "enhanced" recovery after surgery. Research indicates that ERAS ("Enhanced Recovery After Surgery") protocol that permits patients to eat before surgery, limits opioids by prescribing alternate medications, and encourages regular walking reduces complication rates and speeds recovery. These protocols can reduce blood clots, nausea, infection, muscle atrophy, hospital stay and more.



9) Centralized Monitoring of Hospital Patients

Hospitals have long struggled with "alarm fatigue," when busy caregivers become desensitized to the constant noise emanating from cardiac telemetry monitoring systems. Reports indicate that up to 44 percent of inpatient cardiac arrests are not detected appropriately.

Centralized monitoring has emerged as the answer, as part of a "mission control" operation in which off-site personnel use advanced equipment, including sensors and high-definition cameras to monitor blood pressure, heart rate, respiration and more. Complex data are assimilated to trigger on-site intervention when appropriate while filtering out unimportant alarms. In 2016, results from the CMU's first 13 months of using the standardized criteria were published showing that there's real hope of reducing rates of redundant or less significant alarms while improving clinical outcomes.

Since then, further innovation has yielded a system that can double the number of monitored patients per technician, improve clinical outcomes, and decrease communication transit times.

10) Scalp Cooling for Reducing Chemotherapy Hair Loss

Newly diagnosed cancer patients have a lot to process. For women, the inevitable loss of hair is often one of the hardest. There is a new technology making its way to the U.S. that is looking to eliminate this problem from some patients' lists of worries.

"Scalp cooling"  which works by reducing the temperature of the scalp a few degrees immediately before, during and after chemotherapy  has been shown to be effective for preserving hair in women receiving chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer. The scalp cooling system was FDA approved in May 2017.

For more information on the annual Top 10 Medical Innovations list visit: http://innovations.clevelandclinic.org/Summit/Top-10-Medical-Innovations.aspx.



SOURCE Cleveland Clinic

Related Links

http://www.clevelandclinic.org


WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- B2B reviews and research company Clutch announced the leading web design companies in Baltimore and Detroit. The research uses new industry data and client feedback to rank the leading companies in these cities.

The top Baltimore web design companies are: Unleashed Technologies, Fastspot, Sutter Group, Interactive Strategies, Mindgrub, Blue Water, Exit10, R2integrated, Modern Signal, and The Berndt Group.

Top Web Designers Baltimore 2017 Top Web Designers Detroit 2017

The top Detroit web design companies are: Teal Media, BMG Media Co., Crowd, Ralph Walker Designs, Kaleidico Digital Marketing, Traffic Digital Agency, High Level Marketing, and Commercial Progression.

"We live in an age where consumers are driven to the internet to find the right products and services," said DJ Fajana, Business Analyst at Clutch. "These web designers showed their ability to craft thoughtful websites to help their clients increase their online credibility and visibility."

Clutch analysts compiled research on dozens of companies in the Midwest and Mid Atlantic. They assessed the companies' previous work, client feedback, and industry recognition and awards.

Clutch's effort to identify top web design companies is ongoing, and Clutch encourages companies to apply to participate in future research. Upcoming reports will highlight top agencies in Latin America.

The full research can be found below:

https://clutch.co/web-designers/baltimore/leaders-matrix

https://clutch.co/web-designers/baltimore

https://clutch.co/web-designers/detroit/leaders-matrix

https://clutch.co/web-designers/detroit

About Clutch

A B2B research, ratings, and reviews firm in the heart of Washington, DC, Clutch connects small and medium businesses with the best-fit agencies, software, or consultants they need to tackle business challenges together and with confidence. Clutch's methodology compares business service providers and software in a specific market based on verified client reviews, services offered, work quality, and market presence.

Contact

DJ Fajana

202-796-2467

[email protected]

SOURCE Clutch
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CNFA (Cultivating New Frontier in Agriculture), an international agricultural development organization, announced that farmer and businesswoman Elin Miller has been appointed to chair the CNFA Board of Directors. Miller was voted into the position with the unanimous support of board members following CNFA's fall board meeting at its Washington, D.C. headquarters.

Miller, who owns and manages the UmpquaNut hazelnut farm and Umpqua Vineyards in Oregon, replaces John J. Cavanaugh, an attorney and former U.S. Representative from Nebraska who has chaired the board since 2014. Cavanaugh will continue to serve as a member of the CNFA board.

"I am honored to have been able to contribute to the important advances that CNFA has made during my tenure," said Cavanaugh. "I also am pleased to leave the chair in good hands. Elin brings CNFA a perfect balance of farming and corporate executive experience. I am confident she will provide the kind of high-quality, senior leadership required to further advance and expand CNFA's enterprise-based, agricultural development initiatives."

CNFA works with businesses, foundations, governments and communities to build customized local and global partnerships that meet the world's growing demand for food.

Miller formerly served in a number of top global leadership positions at Dow Chemical Co., including global vice president of public affairs, vice president of pest management, and vice president Asia Pacific. Among her government positions, Miller held an appointment as regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, with oversight of Alaska, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. She also has held numerous leadership positions on the boards of for-profit and non-profit organizations.

"Elin has gained valuable insights into CNFA's goals both in the boardroom and on the ground," said CNFA President and Chief Executive Officer Sylvain Roy. "Her decades of experience gained at the top levels of business and governmentcombined with her service as a CNFA board member and her volunteer work in the Farmer to Farmer Programhave prepared her with an excellent set of tools to ensure CNFA accomplishes its mission."

"I would like to thank the board for entrusting me with a new role in CNFA's efforts to improve livelihoods through agriculture," Miller said. "I look forward to working with the board to build on CNFA's successes, and to expand our growing portfolio of public-private partnerships."

In addition to her farming business, Miller also advises major corporations, offering them high-level counseling in strategic planning, regulatory and public affairs strategy, and C-suite recruitment.

Miller holds a Bachelor of Science in agronomy and plant protection from the University of Arizona, and is a graduate of the INSEAD Advanced Management Program.

CNFA: Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture, an international agricultural development organization, specializes in designing sustainable, market-led agricultural initiatives. CNFA builds strong local and global partnerships, incorporates innovative approaches in its programs, and fosters inclusive development to offer enhanced opportunities to under-served groups. Since 1985, CNFA has managed more than $600 million in donor-funded agriculture development programs and has worked in 45 countries across the world in Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and South and Central Asia.

For more information, visit www.CNFA.org.

Contact: [email protected]

Phone: 202.296.3920

SOURCE Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA)

Related Links

http://www.CNFA.org


WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) today expressed strong opposition to provisions included in the recently-released Unified Framework for Fixing our Broken Tax Code that would increase taxes for farmers across the country. By eliminating the Section 199 deduction that is passed down by farmer co-ops to their member-owners, money will flow from the pockets of farmers and rural communities to investment bankers on Wall Street and venture capitalists in Silicon Valley.

Section 199, also known as the Domestic Production Activities Deduction (DPAD) was enacted as part of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and applies to proceeds from agricultural products that are manufactured, produced, grown, or extracted by farmer cooperatives, or that are marketed through co-ops. The great majority of cooperatives pass the benefit through directly to their farmer members. It is estimated that the deduction returns nearly $2 billion annually to rural areas in all 50 states.

"Farmer co-ops have consistently supported tax reform and related policies that support economic growth in rural America as well as the broader economy," said Chuck Conner, president and CEO of NCFC. "The elimination of the Section 199 deduction for agriculture increases the tax burden on farmers and their co-ops and obviously runs counter to that goal. In a time of continued low commodity prices, those hardworking Americans who grow our food can ill afford for Congress to pass a law that will raise their taxes."

"As both the House Ways & Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee begin considering detailed tax reform packages, they must preserve the Section 199 deduction for agriculture and recognize that lower rates by themselves will not offset a loss of the deduction," Conner continued. "It would be a strange irony indeed if a Republican Congress and a Republican president pass a law that increases taxes on America's farmers."

About NCFC

Since 1929, NCFC has been the voice of America's farmer cooperatives. Our members are regional and national farmer cooperatives, which are in turn composed of over 2,000 local farmer cooperatives across the country. NCFC members also include 26 state and regional councils of cooperatives. Farmer cooperatives allow individual farmers the ability to own and lead organizations that are essential for continued competitiveness in both the domestic and international markets.

America's farmer-owned cooperatives provide a comprehensive array of services for their members. These diverse organizations handle, process and market virtually every type of agricultural commodity. They also provide farmers with access to infrastructure necessary to manufacture, distribute and sell a variety of farm inputs. Additionally, they provide credit and related financial services, including export financing.

Contact: Justin Darisse, 202-879-0816, [email protected]

SOURCE National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CoAdvantage Corporation ("CoAdvantage"), a leading national provider of strategic human resource solutions for small to mid-sized companies, announced today that it has acquired California-based Total HR Management ("Total HR"). The acquisition expands CoAdvantage's national footprint and represents the Company's first office in California. The acquisition follows the Florida-based PEMCO transaction (Oct-2017) and creates a combined platform serving more than 4,500 clients and approximately 90,000 work site employees with a range of HR outsourced solutions to small and medium sized businesses.

Total HR is a comprehensive human resources administration firm located in Los Angeles, CA that provides outsourced HR services, benefits and payroll to a white-collar client base. Total HR has demonstrated attractive growth while providing high-touch service to their clients, allowing the business to build scale through a reputation of service excellence. The business will become the core of CoAdvantage's California operations and will service the broader work site employee base, which is now approximately 4,000.

"The acquisition of Total HR provides CoAdvantage with a strategic entry-point to the California market through a strong regional provider with a history of success and service excellence," said Mike Maseda, President and CEO of CoAdvantage. "We look forward to coupling our scale with Total HR's relationship-based service model to further expand our presence in providing high-quality HR support to California's thriving small business community."

"CoAdvantage's scale and resources bring added value to our customers and the California market," said James Harwood, Founder and CEO of Total HR. "I am excited to join the CoAdvantage family and look forward to working with the broader CoAdvantage team as we grow our presence in California." Total HR will form part of CoAdvantage's West Region and James Harwood will continue with the combined Company as Vice President of California.

CoAdvantage's acquisition of Total HR follows the Company's merger with PEMCO in October 2017. Both transactions dramatically increase the Company's scale while adding strong management talent with similar client-focused operating strategies. These transactions follow the Company's acquisition of Discovery Outsourcing and Compensation Solutions in 2014. CoAdvantage now serves approximately 90,000 work site employees in all 50 states, offering the resources of a national provider with a local focus to business owners around the country.

About CoAdvantage

Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, CoAdvantage, Inc. is a leader in human resource solutions, providing Professional Employer Organization (PEO) services to small and medium-sized businesses nationwide. A portfolio company of Morgan Stanley Private Equity, the company has offices throughout Florida and Texas, as well as Colorado, California, New York and New Jersey, serving approximately 90,000 work site employees nationwide. For more information, visit www.coadvantage.com.

About Total HR: Total HR is a California-based Professional Employer Organization (PEO) with over 12 years of experience in providing payroll administration, workers' compensation, employee benefits and human resource solutions to small-to-medium size businesses in the California region. Founded in 2004, Total HR has built a strong book of business through service excellence and delivering high quality products to its clients. The business operates out of three client servicing operations: Los Angeles, CA, Orange County, CA and Malone, NY. For more information, visit www.totalhrmanagement.com.

SOURCE CoAdvantage Corporation
DETROIT, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The National American Arab Nurses Association (NAANA) announces that former U.S. congressman from Michigan, John D. Dingell will be presented the 2017 Angel of Mercy Award for his life-long support of the Arab American community and the cause of healthcare for all.

Mohamad Rustom, president of NAANA, said, "Mr. Dingell has been an icon in the Arab American community for years because of his staunch support of our community and for his fight for the rights of all Americans to receive affordable health care. We are honored that he accepted our invitation to attend and be recognized with our highest award. While we customarily recognize Arab American nurses, we also acknowledge the work of non-Arab American nurses and others who help or make a significant impact on the Arab American community."

Mr. Dingell and Henry Ford Hospital Transplant Institute unit nurse Annette Feeney will receive the award at NAANA's 6th annual banquet, held Thursday, October 26, at Byblos Banquets 7258 Chase Road in Dearborn, at 6:00 p.m. Beaumont Health is lead sponsor.

Bruce Nicely, RN, MSN, CPTC, chief clinical officer for Gift of Life Michigan will serve as keynote speaker.

In addition to presenting the Angel of Mercy winner, scholarships for 2017 will be awarded to four nursing students.

Individual tickets for the Angel of Mercy Banquet are $100. Individual banquet tickets and tables of 10 tickets as well as ticket for the seminar can be purchased at www.n-aana.org or by clicking here. Sponsorships are available by contacting Catherine Siladi, 586-944-6157, by e-mailing [email protected] or by visiting www.n-aana.org.

NAANA was established in 2003 as a voice, a network and a resource for men and women in their pursuit of employment and advancement within the nursing profession. NAANA focuses primarily on the Arab American nurse but it is an inclusive nursing organization fostering knowledge of cultural diversity and sensitivity between members and the community in the area of transcultural health care.

CONTACT: Rose Khalifa, 313-680-5049 or [email protected]

SOURCE National American Arab Nurses Association (NAANA)

Related Links

http://www.n-aana.org


The report " Connected Truck Market by Range (DSRC and Cellular), Service (Fleet Management and Cybersecurity & Updates), Component (Hardware and Software), Communication (V2V, V2I, and V2C), Vehicle (LCV and HCV), and Region - Global Forecast to 2022" , published by MarketsandMarkets. the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15.14% during the forecast period, to reach USD 37.64 Billion by 2022 from an estimated USD 18.60 Billion in 2017. Industry compliance norms and government mandates supporting connected technology of trucks, coupled with increasing customer satisfaction, drive the Connected Truck Market. Further, the regular vehicle data updates, which are generated by the telematics control unit (TCU) of a truck, are expected to reduce the overall recalling cost for OEMs.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 )

Browse 54 Market Data Tables and 50 Figures spread through 145 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Connected Truck Market - Global Forecast to 2022"

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/connected-truck-market-15414377.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on reports

North America: Largest market for Connected Truck

North America is projected to be the largest Connected Truck Market from 2017 to 2022. The market growth in the region can be attributed to various factors such as increasing connected devices in trucks, increasing digitization of various services in fleet management, and concerns of cybersecurity & updates. Also, strategic alliances between OEMs and non-automotive companies, exceptional communication infrastructure, and government regulations for vehicle data security are expected to fuel the demand for connected trucks.

Download PDF brochure @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=15414377

Light Commercial Vehicle is estimated to hold the largest market share during the forecast period

Along with the rise in light commercial vehicle production, the demand for safety and comfort features has also increased among the end-users. According to the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles (OICA) statistics, the global light commercial vehicle production has increased from 19.9 million units (2011) to 22.8 million units (2016), at a CAGR of 2.76% over the period of five years. Also, developing countries such as China and India have witnessed significant economic growth, which in turn is increasing the demand for commercial trucks that are equipped with connected devices to increase safety and reduce the operating cost of fleets. The considerable rise in digital services in fleets and growing vehicle to cloud (V2C) communication have increased the demand for connected devices, which in turn would fuel the Connected Truck Market.

Make an Inquiry @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=15414377

Dedicates Short-Range Communication (DSRC) for connected truck is estimated to hold the largest market share from 2017 to 2022

The growth of the Connected Truck Market is anticipated to be driven by the increasing government mandates regarding safety regulations. Various automotive OEMs, especially in North America and Europe, are offering driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, lane departure warning, and park assist system as a standard application in their vehicles. OEMs such as General Motors (US), Daimler (Germany), Volvo (Germany), and Volkswagen (Germany) provide these safety devices in their truck models.

The Connected Truck Market is dominated by a few globally established players such as Bosch (Germany), Continental (Germany), and ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Germany).

Browse Related Reports

Cockpit Electronics Market for Automotive by Product (HUD, Information Display, Infotainment & Navigation, Instrument Cluster, and Telematics), Type (Basic and Advanced), End Market, Fuel Type, and Region - Global Forecast to 2022

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/automotive-cockpit-electronic-market-38669396.html

Ride Hailing Market by Service Type (E-hailing, Car Sharing, Station-Based, Car Rental), Data Service (Navigation, Information, Payment, Others), Connectivity (3G, 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi and V2V, V2I, V2P, V2N), Vehicle Type & Region - Global Forecast to 2025

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/mobility-on-demand-market-198699113.html

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.

Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.

MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.



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MarketsandMarkets INC.

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USA: +1-888-600-6441

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Visit Our Blog: http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/automotive-and-transportation

Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets

SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
ONTARIO, Calif., Oct. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CU Direct, the nation's leading lending technology and automotive solutions provider for credit unions, has announced that its Lending 360 Account & Loan Origination System (LOS) has reached a new milestone, as more than 100 credit unions are using the platform to drive both loan efficiencies and originations.

In reaching this milestone, CU Direct recently partnered with seven credit unions to implement the LOS.

As an industry-leading, comprehensive account and loan origination system, Lending 360 offers dynamic features that streamline the entire loan application process, giving credit unions the ability to greatly enhance loan officer efficiency and member experience. As a result, credit unions and CUSOs gain a true competitive edge by increasing efficiency and productivity, improving overall lending performance.

"Choosing to partner with CU Direct for the Lending 360 direct and indirect lending platform is more than just choosing a powerful loan origination system. CU Direct also opens doors to new strategic opportunities for credit unions," stated Steve Owens, chief lending officer for Consumers Credit Union based in Kalamazoo, Michigan (84,003 members, $905.9 million in assets). "CU Direct's lending solution provides us with a significant opportunity to increase our productivity, reduce operating expenses and improve efficiency. We will serve members with greater efficiency, and we will be partnered with a strong credit union centric CUSO," concluded Owens.

"We are excited to be moving to the Lending 360 loan system and the efficiencies we will gain from the change," notes Mike Fisher, senior vice president of lending/CLO, Air Force Federal Credit Union, San Antonio, Texas (41,874 members, $385.5 million in assets). "As we reviewed the vendors who submitted proposals, we constantly referred back to our primary goal of this process, which was to find a partner for the future that could provide us a robust loan origination platform, as well as provide the level of support that we need on an ongoing basis. In selecting Lending 360, we feel that we were able to accomplish our goals."

The Lending 360 System's powerful, and configurable, workflow engine provides credit unions with a single platform that automates loan application processing activity across all consumer lending channels.

Additional credit unions that have recently implemented the Lending 360 LOS include:

1 st Northern California Credit Union, Martinez, California (27,397 members, $675.9 million in assets)

Northern California Credit Union, (27,397 members, in assets) Members First Credit Union, Midland, Michigan (51,415 members, $411.5 million in assets)

(51,415 members, in assets) G.P.O. FCU, New Hartford, New York (28,606 members, $242.4 million in assets)

(28,606 members, in assets) Deer Valley Credit Union of America, Phoenix, Arizona (16,031 members, $225.5 million is assets)

(16,031 members, is assets) Eagle Community Credit Union, Lake Forest, California (18,095 members, $224 million in assets)

"We're excited to be working with these new credit union partners, helping them gain a competitive edge in the marketplace, and greater market share, by leveraging our platform's capabilities," said Brit Barker, vice president of credit union solutions at CU Direct. "Credit unions are recognizing the need to get to 'yes' faster, not only to remain competitive, but to improve the member experience throughout the loan application and approval process, and to drive more loans; Lending 360 gives our credit union partners that ability."

About CU Direct

For more than twenty years, CU Direct has been a lending technology leader, helping credit unions fund $209 billion in loans. More than 1,100 credit unions rely on CU Direct's solutions to generate loans, create efficiencies, and grow membership. From CUDL, the industry's number one auto lending platform, to the industry's revolutionary Lending 360 Loan Origination System, and Lending Insights dynamic analytic tools, CU Direct develops the technology that helps credit unions advance their lending programs and overall portfolio success. 14,000 auto dealers nationwide use CU Direct's automotive solutions to connect with credit unions and their members to drive sales and increase their bottom lines. For more information, visit www.cudirect.com. Connect with CU Direct on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Bill Meyer

909.481.2360

[email protected]

SOURCE CU Direct

Related Links

http://www.cudirect.com


The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is just 9 percent . In order to save lives and double survival by 2020, PanCAN urges the community to join PurpleStride. Funds raised through the event support critical research, clinical initiatives and patient services, including Know Your Tumor , Precision Promise SM , Clinical Trial Finder and the Patient Registry .

Harley Sterns, a pancreatic cancer survivor, has made it his personal mission to improve patient outcomes since joining the local affiliate in November 2013.

"I realized that PurpleStride was a way to raise money and awareness for this terrible disease," said the 70-year-old North Richland Hills resident. "It is important to me and my family to help raise money for research so hopefully the life expectancy can increase and a cure can be found. I may not have a lot of time, but I will help however I can and continue to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer."

Texas  where more than 77,000 PanCAN supporters reside  has played an integral role in changing the course of pancreatic cancer. In fact, Texas-based researchers have received over 10 percent of the research grants PanCAN has awarded since 2003.

PurpleStride Dallas-Fort Worth will take place at Klyde Warren Park and will be hosted by CBS 11 senior investigative reporter Ginger Allen. The event is supported by national presenting sponsor Celgene, presenting sponsor Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP, national gold sponsor AbbVie, gold sponsors Methodist Digestive Institute and Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc, gold media sponsors CBS 11 & TXA 21 and iHeart DFW, silver sponsor Cherry Peterson Landry Albert LLP and bronze sponsor North Dallas Bank & Trust Co.

To register, donate or learn more about PurpleStride Dallas-Fort Worth, please visit purplestride.org/dfw.

To learn more about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and its signature walk PurpleStride, watch the PurpleStride PSA and the organization's PSA. Follow PanCAN on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is dedicated to fighting the world's toughest cancer. In our urgent mission to save lives, we attack pancreatic cancer on all fronts: research, clinical initiatives, patient services and advocacy. Our effort is amplified by a nationwide network of grassroots support. We are determined to improve patient outcomes today and to double survival by 2020.

Media Contact:

Angeli Bateman

Media Relations Chair

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network  DFW Affiliate

[email protected]; 915-920-9711

Zahra Nealy

Public Relations Specialist

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

[email protected]; 310-706-3532

SOURCE Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

Related Links

http://www.pancan.org


WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Thursday, October 26, President of the Syrian Interim Government Dr. Jawad Abu Hatab will hold a historic news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., to discuss his government's achievements and to outline strategies for the future of a free and democratic Syria.

WHEN: October 26, 2017, 9:00 to 11 A.M.

WHERE: National Press Club, 529 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20045

PRESS CONFERENCE SPEAKERS:

Dr. Jawad Abu Hatab  President of Syrian Interim Government

Mr. Abdulelah Fahad  (SOC) Syrian Opposition Coalition's Former Secretary General

MEDIA CONTACT: Mouaz Mostafa 501-772-0129

[email protected]

NOTE: Thursday's press conference will be followed by another event on Friday, October 27, at which leaders of Syrian-American Community will announce their full support for the initiatives of the Interim Government. (Syria Policy Forum, Friday, October 27, 3:30-6 P.M.)

Backgrounder:

Since the beginning of the Syrian revolution in March 2011, which started with peaceful demonstrations by people asking for democratic changes, Bashar Al Assad's brutal regime killed, imprisoned and tortured anyone calling for change. His regime converted the entire country into a human slaughterhouse, killing men, children, women, and the elderly without any mercy using barrel bombs and WMD like Sarin gas killing thousands of innocent people including children and women while the international community gave the Syrian People empty promises and invisible red lines and left them to face these horrific atrocities alone.

Iran, Hizbullah and other forces sided with Assad in his criminal activities. Over 6 million people became refugees in their own country and internally and over 8 million of the population left to other countries to save their lives and the lives of their loved ones. From such a devastating situation, Dr. Jawad Abu Hatab took the lead to help establish an Interim Government operating inside of Syria and building a strategy for a better Syria.

*** At this time this conference will not be opened for questions and answers session

http://syriaig.org/syr14/

SOURCE Syrian Interim Government
BOSTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- From October 25-27, the DentaQuest Foundation is hosting the fifth annual Oral Health 2020 National Network Gathering in Atlanta, Georgia. This year's meeting, expected to draw close to 400 attendees from across the country, will focus on building the capacity of the nation's first oral health network and mobilizing its collective strength for systems and policy change.

The theme of this year's convening, "A Unified Voice: Messaging to Mobilizing," focuses on aligning the network's efforts around communications and messaging. This includes conversations on the historical factors that have contributed to the current oral health discourse, strategies for reframing communications to improve the public perception of oral health, and a discussion on facilitating more productive conversations around difficult topics, like racism and equity.

"It is awe-inspiring to see this many advocates and partners come together in support of our common cause of improving oral health," said Mike Monopoli, Executive Director of the DentaQuest Foundation. "The time has come for the network to speak out, with a unified voice, for the right of all people to be healthy."

The convening will welcome such notable speakers as Mary Otto, journalist and author of Teeth: The Story of Beauty, Inequality, and the Struggle for Oral Health America, and Tom Ashbrook, host of NPR's "On Point" radio show. Dr. Camara Jones, senior fellow at Morehouse School of Medicine and noted health equity expert, will lead a session on understanding the roots and cost of structural racism, and how it impacts health and health equity.

Learn more about the gathering by following a livestream of the Twitter feed, using the hashtag #OH2020. Follow the network on Twitter, @OralHealth2020.

CONTACT: Katie Leonard

EMAIL: [email protected]

PHONE: 857-363-0911

SOURCE DentaQuest Foundation
"The Dickey family congratulates William and Rebecca Kaufman on opening their first Dickey's Barbecue Pit location," says Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. "With passionate owners such as the Kaufmans the Dickey's brand will continue to grow and be successful."

Dickey's will offer the following specials and giveaways for the next four weeks:

Thirsty Thursdays: Guests will receive a free Big Yellow Cup with free refills all day.

Philanthropy Fridays: "You Give, We Give"  Guests who donate to Dickey's charitable foundation, Barbecue, Boots & Badges, will receive a gift card as a thank you for their donation. All uniformed first responders also receive 50 percent off their meal.

Smokin' Saturday: Guests may purchase $2 Pulled Pork Sandwiches all day. Limit two.

Kids Eat Free Sundays: Kids eat free with an adult purchase of $10 or more.

This will be the first of two Dickey's Barbecue Pit locations the Kaufmans are planning to open with hopes of opening more in the future. Born and raised in Ann Arbor, William Kaufman found a passion of Texas-style barbecue after travelling to Texas to visit his family. "We are thrilled to bring Dickey's delicious barbecue to the Ann Arbor community and look forward to opening our second location," says William Kaufman.

To join Dickey's Big Yellow Cup Club and receive members-only specials and discounts, click here.

The new Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Ann Arbor is located at 3500 Washtenaw Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48104. The phone number is 734-263-0436.

To find the location nearest you, click here.

Find Dickey's on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

To learn more about franchising with Dickeys, visit www.dickeys.com/franchise or call 866-340-6188.

About Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the nation's largest barbecue chain was founded in 1941 by Travis Dickey. Today, all meats are still slow smoked on-site in each restaurant. The Dallas-based family-run barbecue franchise offers several slow-smoked meats and home style sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included. The fast-casual concept has expanded to more than 550 locations in 45 states. In 2016, Dickey's won first place on Fast Casual's "Top 100 Movers and Shakers" list and in 2017 again won a top 10 on the list. Dickey's Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine, Franchise Times, and Nation's Restaurant News. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com.

Media Contact:

Callie Head

[email protected]

Ashley Richardson

[email protected]

SOURCE Dickey's Barbecue

Related Links

http://www.dickeys.com


"The Dickey's Barbecue Pit family is thrilled to have Kash Khan as one of our own and we greatly look forward to the success of his first location," says Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. "We are always so proud when we are able to expand in our home state of Texas, especially with great franchisees such as Khan."

Dickey's will offer the following specials and giveaways for the next four weeks:

Thirsty Thursdays: Guests will receive a free Big Yellow Cup with free refills all day.

Philanthropy Fridays: "You Give, We Give"  Guests who donate to Dickey's charitable foundation, Barbecue, Boots & Badges, will receive a gift card as a thank you for their donation. All uniformed first responders also receive 50 percent off their meal.

Smokin' Saturday: Guests may purchase $2 Pulled Pork Sandwiches all day. Limit two.

Kids Eat Free Sundays: Kids eat free with an adult purchase of $10 or more.

The Kingwood location is the first Dickey's Barbecue Pit location opened by Khan. "I greatly look forward to opening my first location and serving the residents of Kingwood Dickey's slow-smoked barbecue," says Khan.

To join Dickey's Big Yellow Cup Club and receive members-only specials and discounts, click here.

The new Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Kingwood is located at 1800 Northpark Dr. Kingwood, TX 77339. The phone number is 281-358-5047.

To find the location nearest you, click here.

Find Dickey's on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

To learn more about franchising with Dickeys, visit www.dickeys.com/franchise or call 866-340-6188.

About Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the nation's largest barbecue chain was founded in 1941 by Travis Dickey. Today, all meats are still slow smoked on-site in each restaurant. The Dallas-based family-run barbecue franchise offers several slow-smoked meats and home style sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included. The fast-casual concept has expanded to more than 550 locations in 45 states. In 2016, Dickey's won first place on Fast Casual's "Top 100 Movers and Shakers" list and in 2017 again won a top 10 on the list. Dickey's Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine, Franchise Times, and Nation's Restaurant News. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com.

Media Contact:

Callie Head

[email protected]

Ashley Richardson

[email protected]

SOURCE Dickey's Barbecue

Related Links

http://www.dickeys.com


WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Noted German paleontologist Gunter Bechly has been deleted from Wikipedia, the self-described free and open encyclopedia, according to Discovery Institute. Bechly is a former curator at the State Museum of Natural History in Stuttgart and an expert on fossil history and systematics of insects. He has over 125 scientific publications (incl. a book at Cambridge University Press), more than 160 new species described by him (incl. three new insect orders), 8 species and even a dragonfly family named by other scientists in his honor.

Wikipedia editors are typically anonymous and adopt fanciful identities. "More startling than Bechly's deletion was that it came at the hands of a self-described 500-year-old wizard who goes by the pseudonym Jo-Jo," says Evolution News & Science Today editor David Klinghoffer. "That's what passes for scholarship at Wikipedia."

Wikipedia has been criticized in the past for advancing political and ideological agendas in its entries on scientific subjects such as climate change and intelligent design.

"Twisting the narrative isn't enough. Now they're trying to completely erase people they disagree with," says Klinghoffer.

Bechly, once a staunch believer in modern evolutionary theory who organized Germany's largest celebration of the 150th anniversary of Darwin's Origin of Species, has since gone public in his support for the emerging scientific theory of intelligent design. His current research for Biologic Institute focuses on design evidence in the fossil record. What seems to make Bechly dangerous for the self-proclaimed guardians of the naturalistic paradigm at Wikipedia is the very fact that he is an internationally distinguished paleontologist and evolutionary biologist, who changed his mind based only on scientific arguments, and now rejects Darwinian theory of evolution as not being a viable explanation for biological origins.

"Wiki editors have rigid and not altogether surprising biases," adds Klinghoffer, who has monitored Wikipedia's coverage of intelligent design and evolution over the past decade. "They are lightning fast at erasing corrections to pages they care about."

He continues: "Wikipedia's coverage of intelligent design, which they mischaracterize as 'a religious argument for the existence of God,' is hopelessly prejudiced and inaccurate."

It was while Bechly organized his museum's Darwin event that he began to change his views on intelligent design. This resulted in his being pushed out of the museum.

"When organizing the Darwin anniversary event I made one big mistake," explains Bechly. "I read the books against intelligent design. What I recognized to my surprise is that the arguments I found in those books were totally different from what I heard and read about the discussion of intelligent design versus neo-Darwinian evolution."

Bechly adds: "Then, I read Darwin's Black Box where Michael Behe introduces this concept of irreducible complexity, and the most important thing that I realized is there are clearly scientific arguments that show there are problems with the neo-Darwinian scenario."

According to Klinghoffer there's not much to be done to correct entries at Wikipedia. He knows from experience that fighting Wikipedia on its own pages is a waste of time. This incorrigible bias and censorship at Wikipedia is alarming, because Wikipedia is besides Google one of the most often frequented source of information on the Internet. Who controls Wikipedia, controls what people tend to think about certain controversial subjects.

"I recommend that people share this story with friends, as widely as possible, so that perhaps readers will take the online encyclopedia with a pinch of skepticism next time," says Klinghoffer.

He also suggests that people share the new online documentary Revolutionary: Michael Behe and the Mystery of Molecular Machines in which Dr. Bechly gets to tell a little bit of his own story.

SOURCE Discovery Institute

Related Links

http://www.discovery.org


The report "Distributed Control Systems Market by Industry (Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Power Generation, Metals and Mining, Pharmaceutical, Paper and Pulp, Food and Beverage), Component (Hardware, Software, Services), Application, and Region - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to grow from an estimated USD 15.95 Billion in 2017 to USD 20.33 Billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 4.97%. The market is set to grow due to the booming power sector and augmented power generation capacities worldwide, growing industrial infrastructure in regions such as Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa, and increased use of renewable and nuclear energy for power generation.

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Browse 74 Market Data Tables and 48 Figures spread through 158 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Distributed Control Systems Market"

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/distributed-control-system-market-239430160.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report

The software segment is expected to account for the largest share of the DCS market, by component, during the forecast period

The software segment of the DCS market is expected to be the largest market in 2017. Software components include IT application parts and services such as installation, maintenance, and upgradation. The upgradation of software and upcoming technologies are expected to drive the DCS market during the forecast period.

Download PDF Brochure @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=239430160

The continuous process segment is expected to be the largest DCS market in 2017

The continuous process segment is expected to lead the DCS market during the forecast period. Industries such as oil & gas, power generation, and water and wastewater treatment employ the continuous process. Investments in the nuclear and renewable sectors of the power generation industry will drive the continuous process segment during the forecast period.

Asia Pacific is expected to be the leading DCS market during the forecast period

The market in Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the global DCS market due to growing industrial infrastructure and increased investments in power generation in countries such as China, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The governments of these countries have ambitious plans to achieve complete electrification to support their rising population and industrial needs.

Make an Inquiry @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=239430160

To enable an in-depth understanding of the competitive landscape, the report includes the profiles of some of the top players in the Distributed Control Systems Market. These include ABB (Switzerland), Siemens (Germany), Honeywell (US), Yokogawa (Japan), Emerson (US), Schneider Electric (France), General Electric (US), Rockwell (US), Toshiba (Australia), Metso (Finland), Azbil (Japan), Novatech (US), Mitsubishi (Japan), Hitachi (Japan), Can-Technologies (Canada), CG Power (India), Chint Electric (China), Larsen & Toubro (India), Hyosung (South Korea), Andritz (Austria), Mobile Automation (Australia), HollySys (China), ZAT (Czech Republic), Concept Systems (US), and Ingeteam (Spain). The leading players are trying to understand the markets in developing economies and are adopting various strategies to increase their market shares.

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SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Elan Kaufman and the staff of the Kaufman Children's Dental Hospital are pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Jesse Wright to the Pediatric and Orthodontics team. Dr. Jesse Wright is a specialist, dual trained in Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry. Dual-specialization is quite rare amongst dental practitioners. He has completed four years of advanced post-graduate education and residencies after completing dental school. This rigorous training now allows him to provide exceptional holistic dental care for kids and adolescents throughout their stages of growth, and helps him give patients excellent smiles and oral health. We are proud to have Dr. Wright join our team.

Kaufman Children's Dental Hospital Brooklyn- KCDH Jesse Wright DDS - Pediatric dentist Brooklyn KCDH

Dr. Wright graduated from Princeton University for his undergraduate education. He then attended the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry where he was a member of the Tau Kappa Omega dental honor society. After graduating with Honors Dr. Wright then completed his post-doctoral residency in the Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry Program at Lutheran Medical Center. He then entered and completed his second residency in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at NYU Langone.

Dr. Wright is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, New York State Dental Association, American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, and Second District Dental Society. He has been active in organized dentistry, and has served as Vice President, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian of his dental school. Dr. Wright also served as a representative on the Council of Students, Residents, and Fellows for the American Dental Education Association. Dr. Wright has gone on dental mission trips to Jamaica, and often participates in volunteer oral health screenings and fairs. He is fluent in Spanish.

For more information on this and other activities of the Company, see http://kcdh.org.

About Kaufman Children's Dental Hospital

At Brooklyn, NY based Kaufman Children's Dental Hospital, every child receives personalized care at the most appropriate time during their growth. The pediatric dental specialists at KCDH can achieve exceptional results by working together with patients and parents. Establishing good oral health is an essential part of your child's overall health. Choosing KCDH as a child's dental care center will give them the gift of preventive dental care resulting in healthy teeth and gums.

Google Map: https://goo.gl/ajojQn

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KaufmanChildrensDental/

Contact:

Jehan Khanfour

718-571-8158

[email protected]

SOURCE Kaufman Childrens Dental Hospital

Related Links

http://kcdh.org


VANCOUVER, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - ElectraMeccanica Vehicles Corp. ("Electra Meccanica" or the "Company"), manufacturer of the all-electric SOLO commuter car and all-electric Tofino sport convertible, is pleased to announce that the Company has joined with Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson in support of the International Fossil Fuel-Free Cities Pledge.

"As a preeminent company designing and engineering electric vehicles, we couldn't be more pleased that our city's Mayor has taken this step toward the eventual elimination of tailpipe emissions from our city's vehicle fleets," said Jerry Kroll, CEO, of Electra Meccanica. "Mayor Robertson's leadership in this area is a testament to his hard work and dedication in positioning Vancouver as a leader in the global clean energy space."

The pledge was signed at the C40 Cities conference in Paris on Monday, October 23rd, and promotes buying only electric buses starting in 2025. Additionally, the pledge calls for cities to progressively abandon combustion engines completely by 2030 in a joint fossil-fuel-free streets declaration.

Vancouver joined other cities, including London, Paris, Seattle, Auckland, Barcelona, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Milan and Quito, in a pledge to make major areas within their municipalities emissions-free by 2030.

About ElectraMeccanica Vehicles Corp.

Electra Meccanica (OTCQB: ECCTF) designs and builds the innovative, all-electric SOLO, and the Tofino all-electric sport convertible. Both vehicles are tuned for the ultimate driving experience while making your commute more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

More information can be found at EMVauto.com.

Safe Harbor Statements

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian securities laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "anticipates", "estimates", "projects", "expects", "contemplates", "intends", "believes", "plans", "may", "will", or their negatives or other comparable words) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the prices of other electric vehicles, costs associated with manufacturing vehicles, the availability of capital to fund business plans and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, changes in the electric vehicle market, changes in government regulation, developments in alternative technologies, inexperience in servicing electric vehicles, labour disputes and other risks of the electric vehicle industry including, without limitation, those associated with the delays in obtaining governmental approvals and/or certifications. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release.

Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, the risks and uncertainties outlined in our most recent financial statements and reports and registration statement filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") (available at www.sec.gov) and with Canadian securities administrators (available at www.sedar.com). Although the Company believes that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance those beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consider all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosed in the Company's periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the SEC. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities of the Company nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

SOURCE Electrameccanica Vehicles Corp.
PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the face of the Administration's termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Emerson Collective will participate in the "Inside Out/Dreamers" project to provide communities and local leaders a unique platform to use art as an expression of standing in solidarity with Dreamers.

"Inside Out/Dreamers" is a nationwide participatory art initiative by award-winning artist JR to create a portrait of America that reflects its true diversity. "Inside Out/Dreamers" will travel the country taking individual portraits that give visual expression to the overwhelming support for Dreamers. From California to Florida, Emerson Collective will organize community events and pop-up press conferences with Dreamers, activists, elected officials and local leaders. These events will underscore that with the repeal of DACA in September, tens of thousands of DACA recipients are already losing their status and are at risk of deportation. Hundreds of thousands more will begin to lose their status early next year unless Congress acts now to pass The Dream Act.

"The immigrants in our midst seek opportunity and welcome responsibility. We should not be wary of them. We should welcome them," said Laurene Powell Jobs, President of Emerson Collective. "And their children are among our greatest assets. To hurt these children is to hurt ourselves, our society as a whole. The abolition of DACA represents a betrayal of both our values and our interests."

For more information about "Inside Out/Dreamers" please visit www.insideoutproject.net/dreamers/.

Cities and dates include:



Champaign, IL - Wednesday, October 25

- Springfield, IL - Thursday, October 26

- Naperville, IL - Saturday, October 28

- Chicago, IL - Monday, October 30-Tuesday, October 31

- San Diego, CA - Monday, October 30-Tuesday, October 31

- Batavia, IL - Wednesday, November 1

- Costa Mesa, CA - Wednesday, November 1

- Huntington Beach, CA - Thursday, November 2

- South Bend, IN - Friday, November 3

- Long Beach, CA - Saturday, November 4-Sunday, November 5

- Atlanta, GA - Monday, November 6

- Los Angeles, CA - Monday, November 6-Tuesday, November 7

- Tampa, FL - Wednesday, Nov 8

- Bakersfield, CA - Thursday, November 9-Friday, November 10

- Miami, FL - Friday, November 10-Saturday, November 11

- West Palm Beach, FL - Sunday, November 12

- Las Vegas, NV - Monday, November 13-Tuesday, November 14

- Orlando, FL - Wednesday, November 15-Thursday, November 16

- Carson City, NV - Thursday, November 16

- Reno, NV - Friday, November 17

- Charlotte, NC - Saturday, November 18

- Greensboro, NC - Sunday, November 19

- Salt Lake City, UT - Monday, November 20-Tuesday, November 21

- Fayetteville, NC - Tuesday, November 21

- Grand Junction, CO - Tuesday, November 28

- Phoenix, AZ - Thursday, November 30

- Tucson, AZ - Friday, December 1

Houston, TX - Tuesday, December 5-Wednesday, December 6

- Memphis, TN - Friday, December 8

- Nashville, TN - Monday, December 11

- Lancaster, PA - Wednesday, December 13

- Reading, PA - Thursday, December 14

- Philadelphia, PA - Friday, December 15-Saturday, December 16

- Washington, DC - Monday, December 18-Tuesday, December 19

PRESS interested in covering any of these stops, please contact:

Meridith Webster, [email protected], (202) 302-5626

For additional information, please visit: http://www.emersoncollective.com

ABOUT EMERSON COLLECTIVE

Emerson Collective is an organization dedicated to removing barriers to opportunity so people can live to their full potential. Established and led by Laurene Powell Jobs, Emerson Collective centers its work on education, immigration reform, the environment and other social justice initiatives. They use a wide range of tools and strategiespartnering with entrepreneurs and experts, parents and policymakers, advocates and administratorsto develop and execute innovative solutions that will spur change and promote equality.

ABOUT THE INSIDE OUT PROJECT AND ARTIST JR

JR is most recently known for his latest art installation of a child caught between the U.S.-Mexico border. Born to a Tunisian mother and European father in the banlieues of Paris, JR started out as a graffiti tagger. He has since become one of the most visible contemporary artists on the international stage. In 2004, JR created his first major project, photographing the faces of rioters in Paris' banlieues and pasting up large prints of their faces around the city. This approach, which humanized a largely immigrant populace, has become JR's trademark.

In 2011, JR won the TED prize at the TED Conference in Long Beach, California, and called for the creation of "Inside Out Project." Since 2011, over 300,000 people have participated in 138 countries. The project has traveled from Ecuador to Nepal, from Mexico to Indonesia, inspiring group actions on varied themes such as hope, diversity, gender-based violence and climate change.

SOURCE Emerson Collective

Related Links

http://www.emersoncollective.com/


"Electric vehicles have the potential to be one of the most disruptive technologies the modern electricity grid has faced in the last one hundred years," said Francesco Venturini , Head of Enel's Global e-Solutions division. "The electric mobility revolution is leading utilities, grid operators, and consumers to rethink traditional business models, invest in new infrastructure, and roll out new solutions to provide flexibility and resiliency to the grid. Our mission is to be on the cutting edge of this paradigm shift, where consumers can play a more active role in energy generation and use. This acquisition enriches our e-mobility offering and integrates a highly sophisticated smart EV charging solution within our portfolio of grid flexibility services, which includes the world's largest demand response network, distributed energy management systems and battery storage solutions."

"Electrification of transportation is one of the largest greenhouse gas reduction opportunities facing the planet and electric vehicles are quickly becoming the largest flexible resource on the grid. With smart energy management by JuiceNet, EVs can provide the bulk of the grid balancing capacity to enable the 100% renewable grid around the world. Additionally, as EV adoption grows, utilities must either add more infrastructure to meet energy demands or adopt smart-charging solutions. eMotorWerk's solution minimizes EV emissions and remotely optimizes charging load, which can reduce peak demands and increase the likelihood that EVs charge on cheaper and cleaner renewable energy," said Val Miftakhov, eMotorWerks Founder and CEO. "As the newest member of Enel family, eMotorWerks now has all the resources and go-to-market access required to scale our solutions globally and drive the faster adoption of a smart, grid-integrated EV future."

This acquisition further substantiates the implementation of Enel's strategy to deliver, innovative customer-focused products and services to the market, such as smart charging, integration between electric vehicles and distributed generation resources, as well as grid balancing and V2G services. Enel is planning to use JuiceNet platform's functions in all of its EV charging stations globally1.

With eMotorWerks' JuiceNet platform, users can remotely schedule and control the "greenest" and most cost-effective times to charge their EVs. For example, JuiceNet allows users to schedule EV charging when electricity from domestic solar rooftop systems is most abundant. Furthermore, through JuiceNet, EVs, V2G charging stations and other storage facilities can also be used to respond to network signals, aggregating charging and discharging activities in order to balance electricity flows in the grid when needed. These balancing services can provide additional revenue streams for EV owners, potentially lowering the total cost of ownership of these vehicles.

eMotorWerks is headquartered in San Carlos, CA and currently employs 55 people. This acquisition comes on the heels of eMotorWerks' listing as the 7th fastest growing company in Silicon Valley and the 19th fastest growing energy company in the U.S. eMotorWerks has deployed more than 25,000 smart-grid enabled charging stations to date.

Enel is a multinational power company and a leading integrated player in the global, power, gas and renewables markets. It is Europe's largest utility in terms of market capitalisation and figures among Europe's leading power companies in terms of installed capacity and reported EBITDA. The Group is present in over 30 countries worldwide, producing energy with more than 86 GW of managed capacity. Enel distributes electricity and gas through a network of over 2 million kilometres, and with over 65 million business and household customers globally, the Group has the largest customer base among European competitors. Enel's renewables arm Enel Green Power already manages more than 39 GW of wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and hydropower plants in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and has recently arrived in Australia.

In North America, Enel's renewable subsidiary Enel Green Power North America (EGPNA) operates around 100 plants with a managed capacity exceeding 3.3 GW powered by renewable hydropower, wind, geothermal and solar energy. Through EGPNA, in January Enel acquired the US-based company specialised in intelligent software and energy storage systems Demand Energy Networks, while in August it completed the acquisition of EnerNOC, a leading provider of demand response and energy services for utility, commercial, institutional and industrial customers.

About eMotorWerks

Founded in 2010, and based in the San Francisco Bay Area, eMotorWerks is revolutionizing the electric vehicle (EV) charging market with its JuiceNet-enabled smart grid EV charging solutions. JuiceNet enabled devices, such as the company's connected, high-power JuiceBox charging stations, maximize charging efficiency and speed while providing EV owners intuitive smartphone control and visibility. By shifting when and how much electricity JuiceNet-enabled stations draw from the grid, eMotorWerks helps utilities and grid operators reduce electricity costs, ease grid congestion, and maximize the use of solar and wind power. eMotorWerks grows the EV charging ecosystem by partnering with EVSE and EV manufacturers to provide an extensive cloud platform for grid balancing and optimization for utilities. The company is proud to be supported by a number of high-impact investors such as Ecosystem Integrity Fund, Hella Ventures, and VTF Capital. For more information on eMotorWerks, please visit www.emotorwerks.com. Follow us on Twitter (@eMotorWerks), on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/electric-motor-werks-inc-) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/eMotorWerks).

1 Enel has installed around 5,000 charging stations in Italy, Spain, Romania, Greece, Chile, Colombia and Argentina.

SOURCE eMotorWerks

Related Links

http://www.emotorwerks.com


Enterprise Connect 2018 will take place March 12-15 at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando, FL. For more information and to register, please visit: enterpriseconnect.com/orlando/.

"We're excited to have Amazon Web Services, Cisco, and Microsoft, three of the most important strategic vendors in the enterprise, delivering Keynotes again this year," said Eric Krapf, Enterprise Connect General Manager and Program Co-Chair. "All three companies are at the forefront of the disruptive change that's occurring in the enterprise communications and collaboration space. We're pleased to present our audience with the opportunity to hear these companies' visions for a future that's coming at our industry faster all the time."

Carlin Wiegner, General Manager, Amazon Web Services

As Amazon's General Manager, Wiegner's main responsibility is overseeing Amazon Chime, Amazon's Unified Communication as a Service offering, as well as Amazon Connect, Amazon's Call Center as a Service offering. Prior to joining Amazon, Wiegner held a variety of executive roles at large and small technology firms including CEO and Co-founder of three startups that were acquired. He will take the Keynote stage from 11:30 AM  Noon, Tuesday, March 13.

Jonathan Rosenberg, Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Collaboration Technology Group, Cisco

Rosenberg is responsible for the architecture and overall technology direction of Cisco's entire collaboration portfolio. He has personally directed the vision and architecture for Cisco Spark, Cisco's cloud based collaboration platform, across product, cloud architecture, and clients. Prior to rejoining Cisco in 2013, he was Chief Technology Strategist at Skype, where he guided the company's technology strategy. Prior to that, he was a Cisco Fellow, focused on IP collaboration. Rosenberg is most well-known for his primary authorship of the SIP protocol and many of his technologiesincluding SIP, STUN, TURN, ICE, and SIMPLEare now the foundations of modern IP telecommunications. In 2015 he was presented with the Ohio University Strowger Award for transformational innovation in the telecommunications industry. Rosenberg will present from the Keynote stage from 10  10:30 AM, Tuesday, March 13.

Bob Davis, Corporate Vice President, Office 365 Engineering, Microsoft

Davis is responsible for driving Microsoft's growth in Office 365's voice and conferencing services across Teams and Skype for Business, and for ensuring a great Office 365 experience throughout the lifecycle for customers and partners of all sizes. Davis has played an integral part in Office 365 since its inception to becoming a fast growing multi-billion-dollar business--with millions of customers. Davis joined Microsoft in 1993, and prior to helping lead its transformation to the cloud, was responsible for the company's global IT infrastructure including computer systems, datacenters, and networking worldwide. His Keynote address will take place from 10  10:30 AM, Wednesday, March 14.

Learn more about the Enterprise Connect Keynotes here: enterpriseconnect.com/orlando/conference/keynotes

Communications & Collaboration 2021

In addition to the Keynotes, Enterprise Connect announces that it will once again devote a day-long track of conference sessions to the changing environment for strategic decision-making in enterprise communications. This year's program, to be called Communications & Collaboration 2021, takes place on Monday, March 12, and follows on a highly successful version of this conference-within-a-conference launched last year at Enterprise Connect 2017.

"Our strategic technology track included some of the best-attended sessions at the entire event last year," Krapf said. "Our audience was clearly enthusiastic to learn about how today's changing technology environment is likely to affect their decision-making three years out."

The sessions in this conference-within-a-conference reflect the key technology streams that Enterprise Connect covers: Core Communications/Collaboration; Cloud Communications; Video; Contact Center; and Mobility. Forward-looking experts and industry watchers will head up these sessions, delving into the emerging technologies that promise to shape the next wave of strategic decisions that leading enterprises will have to make in 2021.

Follow Enterprise Connect online:

Facebook: facebook.com/enterprise.connect

Twitter: @enterprisecon

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/groups?gid=2710052

About Enterprise Connect

For more than 27 years, Enterprise Connect has been the leading conference and exhibition for enterprise communications and collaboration in North America. Enterprise Connect brings corporate IT decision makers together with the industry's vendors, analysts and consultants to focus on the issues central to enterprise networks and communications. Enterprise Connect owns and produces No Jitter, (nojitter.com), providing daily blogging and analysis of enterprise communications, and it also serves the community with a weekly email newsletter and a webinar series. For more information, visit enterpriseconnect.com/orlando. Enterprise Connect is organized by UBM Americas, a part of UBM plc (UBM.L), an Events First marketing and communications services business. For more information, visit ubmamericas.com.

SOURCE Enterprise Connect

Related Links

http://www.enterpriseconnect.com


LONG BEACH, Calif., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Who: Epson will be participating at next week's Chem Show in booth #437 to demonstrate its leading labeling and packaging solutions for chemical, hazardous material and GHS needs.



What: During Chem Show, Epson will be demonstrating its lineup of ColorWorks on-demand inkjet label printers, including the ColorWorks C831, C3500, and C7500, which deliver fast, efficient, durable GHS color label printing to the production floor. These simple, one-step solutions enhance workflow by eliminating the need to manage pre-printed label stock.





- ColorWorks C831  As Epson's industrial-strength inkjet label printer, the C831 is ideal for GHS large format drum and chemical labels and more. The C831 combines all the benefits of a rugged color inkjet printer with the accuracy of an 8-pin tractor feeder and was the first inkjet printing solution to be BS5609 certified, one of the most common benchmarks for certifying durability.





- ColorWorks C7500  The C7500 allows economical production of many unique label designs in short runs, while reducing the cost and inefficiency of pre-printed labels with full-color high-quality color labels on-demand.





- ColorWorks C3500  With speeds up to four inches per second1, the C3500 inkjet label printer can produce up to 2,000 high-quality full color labels per day at a lower entry price point.



When: The conference runs from Tuesday, Oct. 31 through Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017 and the exhibit hall is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday.



Where: Javits Center, New York; Epson America, Inc. booth #437



Why: Epson, a leader in the digital label and packaging industry, provides proven results for a wide range of on-demand, full-color labeling applications with its ColorWorks on-demand inkjet label printers. Epson ColorWorks label printer solutions are ideal for those in the chemical process industries looking for dependable, commercial inkjet printing with fast-drying, durable color inks that meet GHS-compliance requirements for chemical labels and packaging.





For additional information, visit www.epson.com/colorworks.

About Epson

Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to connecting people, things and information with its original efficient, compact and precision technologies. With a lineup that ranges from inkjet printers and digital printing systems to 3LCD projectors, smart glasses, sensing systems and industrial robots, the company is focused on driving innovations and exceeding customer expectations in inkjet, visual communications, wearables and robotics.

Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 72,000 employees in 88 companies around the world, and is proud of its contributions to the communities in which it operates and its ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impacts.

Epson America, Inc., based in Long Beach, Calif., is Epson's regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: epson.com. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), YouTube (youtube.com/EpsonAmerica), and Instagram (instagram.com/EpsonAmerica).

1 When printing 2.2-inches (56mm) width bidirectional mode, with banding reduction disabled in 360x360 dpi resolution.

Note: EPSON and ColorWorks are registered trademarks and EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. All other product brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks.

SOURCE Epson America, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.epson.com


WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of its celebration of Employee Ownership Month, The ESOP Association is proud to announce that this year 32 companies have earned the prestigious Silver ESOP Award.

The Silver ESOP Award has been in existence since 2008 and honors companies that have maintained their ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) for 25 years or more. Including this year's 32 honorees, 418 companies have earned the Silver ESOP Award.

Combined, these Silver ESOP companies represent 10,450 years of ESOP company management.

"The large number of companies that earned the Silver ESOP Award this year confirms what independent, rigorous researchers have foundthat ESOPs are more likely to remain in business than conventionally-owned businesses, and more likely to keep their employees working," said ESOP Association President J. Michael Keeling. "Overall, ESOPs are a boon to American employees, providing both a stable source of employment and a valuable source of retirement savings."

Employees who participate in an ESOP enjoy a unique relationship with their employers, Keeling noted. "When business owners sell their stock to an ESOP, the planand its trusteesare required to act in the best interest of the employees. What other arrangement exists that is tasked with pursuing the best interests of employees?"

The recipients of the 2017 Silver ESOP Award are:

Anchor Paper Company Gray Hodges Corporation Royal State Group Ben Tire Distributors, Ltd. Hansen Plastic Corporation Russ Davis Wholesale, Inc. Boyer Ford Trucks Industrial Spring Corporation Southern Refrigeration Corporation Bremer Trust Jacobsen Construction Company, Inc. Stern Brothers Valuation Advisors Building Materials Distributors Jedmed Instrument Company Strand Products, Inc. Chatsworth Products, Inc. Kelley Manufacturing Company Systems Technology, Inc. Coast Heat Treating Company Meadowvale, Inc. Terracon DHC Supplies, Inc. MSA Professional Services, Inc. Travel and Transport, Inc. Durham & Bates Agencies Inc. RESPEC Waterfront Services Company Eastern Shore Associates, Inc. Robert Peccia & Associates Western Contract GEOLABS, Inc. Roush Equipment, Inc.



About Employee Ownership Month

Employee Ownership Month is an annual celebration of the ESOP model. If features numerous educational and community outreach activities conducted by The ESOP Association's roughly 1,600 corporate members. Employee Ownership Month activities can be tracked on Twitter via the hash tag #EOMESOP.

About the ESOP Association

The ESOP Association is America's largest employer-sponsored advocacy and education association focused on employee stock ownership plans. Founded in 1978, the Association seeks to enhance federal laws governing ESOPs, provide members with expert information, and fund research via the Employee Ownership Foundation (an affiliate).

The ESOP Association is a national non-profit organization with 18 local Chapters. Its members include ESOP companies, companies considering an ESOP, and service providers that assist in setting up and maintaining ESOPs.

www.esopassociation.org

www.esopassociationblog.org

@ESOPAssociation

SOURCE The ESOP Association

Related Links

http://www.esopassociation.org


BERLIN, October 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

BBWF 2017, stand C110B, Berlin > Ethernity Networks (AIM: ENET.L), an innovative technology solutions provider that develops network data processing technology used in high-end Carrier Ethernet applications across the telecom, mobile, security and data centre markets, announces integration of the field-proven ENET4840z/99 with NG G.fast technology to improve transmission over existing copper cabling and symmetrical Gigabit access. The advancements, based on the latest ITU-T recommendations for NG G.fast, include 212 MHz spectrum and coordinated dynamic time allocation (cDTA), and together with the rich set of features and ultralow power requirements of 40G ENET48xx powerful flow processor platform make a winning combination for the market of residential and business communications. The extremely low power consumption of the solution is uniquely positioned for Reverse Power Feeding (RPF) deployments.

"From Ethernity's perspective, smoothly supporting 212MHz is a very important transition," said Eugene Zetserov, VP Product Marketing of Ethernity Networks. - "Ethernity adds the unbeatable small-form-factor and low power consumption to enable RPF option to the new solution that gives the broadband market long awaited extended access opportunities. NG G.fast will bring a new wave of products and drive development of new technologies including different flavors of NGPON, and as a leader in broadband data path solutions, Ethernity is ready to support it all. The huge benefit to our customers is that FPGA solution enables us to add new functionalities without a new chip - smoothly supporting the new technology" - Eugene Zetserov added.

The integration doubles the upstream performance of G.fast solution for FTTx applications. Telecom operators will be able to run data over fiber to multi-dwelling units (MDUs/DPUs) or multi-tenant business sites, and use the existing site wiring for connecting individual customers. Extending Gigabit access services to individual customers in the fastest and most cost-effective way is a challenge in advanced markets of the US, Europe and Asia, where competition and subscribers churn are high. NG G.fast technology answers the challenge, and to further reduce installation costs, RPF eliminates the need to provision infrastructure power to the DPU by syphoning limited power from the customer premise. For these deployments, expected to be common, low DPU power consumption is critical. The efficient Ethernity's solution enables ultra-low DPUs.

To support carrier grade requirements with the high-speed data plane, Ethernity offers a scalable solution with the new version of G.fast Digital Front-End (DFE). The scalable ENET platform supports DPUs with a range of NG G.Fast port configurations, including 8,12, 24 and 48 ports as well as a chassis configuration with 256 ports. Integrated, channelized 10GbE interfaces connect directly to the G.Fast modems and multiplex the access data to 10GbE uplinks. The Carrier Ethernet features of the ENET4840z/99 include L2 and L3 switching, EFM bonding and flexible uplink tunnelling. The flow processor's flexible H-QoS optimizes the use of variable speed cDTA links with fine-grained flow shaping and scheduling. The solution supports SDN through the Open Flow 1.3 API, extending SDN's benefits to the access point for carriers that are looking to SDN to reduce network Opex and improve service agility.

Broadband solutions experts from Ethernity Networks explain the benefits and features of the ENET portfolio in detail at at BBWF 2017 in Berlin, at the booth C110B, between 24 and 26 October 2017.

About Ethernity Networks:

Ethernity Networks is an innovative technology solutions provider that develops and delivers data processing technology used in high-end Carrier Ethernet applications across the telecom, mobile, security and data centre markets. The company's core technology, which is populated on programmable logic, enables data offloading at the pace of software development, improves performance and reduces power consumption and latency, therefore facilitating the deployment of virtualization of networking functionality.

Ethernity now offers VNF performance acceleration for the growing SDN&NFV market with All Programmable Intelligent NIC, controlled through OpenFlow.

Ethernity's technology gives telecom operators the ability to support the huge growth in users and data consumption. With Ethernity's technology that can be easily ported on any hardware, operators enjoy agile and future-proof NFV deployment, eliminate hardware vendor lock-in and decrease TCO.

For more information visit http://www.ethernitynet.com

Media contact:

Kaya Sorkin

Head of Marketing Communications

Ethernity Networks

E: [email protected]

E2: [email protected]

T: +972-544-504-510

T2: +371-288-892-94

W: http://www.ethernitynet.com

Skype: kayasorkin

SOURCE Ethernity Networks
"David offers clients tremendous experience handling disputes before a wide range of U.S. and international courts and tribunals," said Philip T. Inglima , chair of the firm's executive committee. "His international disputes practice fits nicely with the existing experience and the growth path of our IDR Group. We are pleased to welcome him aboard."

Baron's international dispute resolution experience includes involvement in multiple cases before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), international arbitral tribunals, as well as international issues before U.S. federal district and appellate courts. He has been involved in a number of international maritime boundary disputes and law of the sea issues, including work toward the delimitation of the Caspian Sea.

Baron counsels foreign and U.S. business clients regarding all aspects of international trade regulations, including economic sanctions policies and the Patriot Act, trade policy matters, customs, foreign corrupt practices and antidumping, as well as other U.S. investigations such as 301 proceedings. He has represented clients and client concerns before the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), International Trade Commission (ITC), International Trade Administration (ITA), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Baron is the chairman of the Belarus-U.S. Business Council, and for nearly 15 years, he has represented many of Belarus's largest state-owned enterprises and other entities in their dealings with Belarus. He regularly counsels both U.S. and non-U.S. clients regarding business and investment matters, as well as all aspects of international trade regulations, including economic sanctions policies.

"David is a true international lawyer with broad experience across numerous facets of international law," said Ian A. Laird, co-chair of the firm's IDR Group. "Investment disputes are on the rise, and David's experience will be particularly important to clients in Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and elsewhere."

Baron joins the firm from Greenberg Traurig LLP, where he was a member of the firm's Global Trade & Investment Practice Group. He was previously a partner at McDermott Will & Emery LLP. Early in his career, Baron worked at Crowell & Moring as a temporary legal secretary during his first-year summer while attending law school.

"After all these years, it is a wonderful opportunity to return to Crowell & Moring," Baron said. "Its culture and reputation are unmatched, and the firm provides an ideal platform to serve my clients across a range of practices. I look forward to working with its talented lawyers, many whom I have respected for years, including Cari Stinebower, George Ruttinger, and Ian Laird."

Baron earned his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School and his B.A. from American University. He is an adjunct professor of international law at American University's Washington College of Law, where he teaches advanced seminars in international law and international dispute resolution. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and New York.

About Crowell & Moring's International Dispute Resolution Group

Crowell & Moring's International Dispute Resolution (IDR) Group delivers end-to-end advice on the full range of business and governmental disputes worldwide. Together with its affiliate firm, C&M International (CMI)  an international policy and regulatory affairs consulting firm  and the firm's International Trade Group, the IDR Group provides pre-dispute counseling on investment decisions and dispute resolution clauses, pre-arbitration assistance on potential geopolitical approaches to resolving disputes, representation in international commercial and investment arbitrations, litigation involving sovereigns, and litigation to enforce international arbitral awards.

About Crowell & Moring LLP

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with approximately 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. The firm has offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, London, and Brussels.

Media Contact:

An Pham

Manager, Media PR & Communications

+1 202.508.8740

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Crowell & Moring LLP

Related Links

http://www.crowell.com


WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the wake of a recent news broadcast by WTVC TV in Chattanooga, TN., quoting a Georgia county coroner who claimed there have been 17 kratom deaths "this year" in Georgia, the American Kratom Association (AKA) is demanding that the TV station immediate retract the "totally unsupportable" and "bogus" story. In reality, there is nothing in the public medical record in Georgia ever attributing a single death to the non-opioid, coffee-like herb kratom.

AKA is also asking the Catoosa County Board of Commissioners and the Georgia Coroners Association to reprimand and to disassociate themselves from the "fake news" statement made by Catoosa County Coroner Vanita Hullander. The AKA letter to the WTVC TV is available online at http://bit.ly/AKAWTVC. The letter to the Catoosa County Board of Commissioners is at http://bit.ly/AKACatoosaCounty. The letter to the Georgia Coroners Association is available online at http://bit.ly/AKAGCA.

The statement by Catoosa County Coroner Vanita Hullander highlights a major concern for the three-million-person kratom community in the United States about the spread of "fake news" coverage of deaths incorrectly attributed to kratom. On October 12, 2017, the AKA released a report by a leading molecular biologist and lawyer showing that medical examiners and coroners in New York and Florida issued "mistaken, inaccurate, and now discredited reports" linking two deaths to the non-opioid, botanical kratom. See: http://bit.ly/KratomAnalysis.

In the October 12, 2017 WTVC TV story at http://newschannel9.com/news/local/opioid-mimicking-substance-becomes-popular-in-chattanooga-area, the following is attributed by reporter Hannah Lawrence to Catoosa County Coroner Vanita Hullander: "Hullander says Georgia has seen 17 kratom-related deaths this year. The closest to Chattanooga was in Chattooga County."

In demanding a retraction, the AKA letter to WTVC TV reads in part: "This story is 'fake news' of the worst kind in that it features completely false information of a highly inflammatory nature  There is absolutely no basis in fact for making any such outlandish 'fake news' statement about kratom. To the best of our knowledge, there is not one single death that has been formally attributed to kratom in Georgia at any point in time  We see no evidence that any real reporting was done here. If there had been, the outlandish Hullander claim would have been detected by Ms. Lawrence and not broadcast in the uncritical and unprofessional manner that it was by WTVC The story is unbalanced, and it is 100% wrong."

In writing to the Catoosa County Board of Commissioners, AKA Board Chairman David Herman notes: "I call on you and the other members of the Catoosa County Board of Commissioners to issue a formal reprimand to Catoosa County Coroner Vanita Hullander  This statement is untrue, completely unfair, and reflects a level of bias that calls into question the fitness of Coroner Hullander to make any reliable evaluation of the cause of death for any decedent where substance abuse is implicated  While I understand that Ms. Hullander is an elected official, it is my understanding that the Catoosa County Board of Commissioners has the authority to publicly disapprove of, and disassociate itself from, the statements or actions of any county official."

The same AKA letter also urges the following on Catoosa County: "The claim that there are 17 Georgia deaths caused by Kratom  would constitute a public health emergency that requires Coroner Hullander to produce the evidence on each of these alleged deaths showing the toxicological reports and death certificates that state the cause of death is due to kratom consumption. We ask that, upon receipt of these documents, that they be submitted to a panel of forensic toxicologists and medical experts to validate any claims by Coroner Hullander. The AKA would also have our panel of experts review these death records to provide the Commission with a detailed report on each death."

In the letter to the Georgia Coroners Association, AKA Chairman Herman writes: "I urge you to either expel from your ranks or, at a minimum, reprimand Catoosa County Coroner Vanita Hullander  As I am sure that you well know, there is absolutely no basis in fact for making any such outlandish 'fake news' statement about kratom  'Fake news' of the sort spread by Ms. Hullander reflects poorly on all coroners in Georgia. It undercuts your group's effort to foster higher, scientific-based standards and to encourage public understanding of the important role of coroners."

The AKA is concerned that the recent spate of "fake news" about kratom may reflect a "shadow campaign" by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) against the coffee-like herb. On October 19, 2017, the American Kratom Association filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for all records of kratom-related communications between the DEA and state lawmakers, local law enforcement officials, coroners and medical examiners. The AKA's FOIA request is available online here: http://bit.ly/deaFOIA.

The AKA has reason to believe that the incorrectly attributed death reports are part of a larger behind-the-scenes push against kratom by the DEA in the wake of its decision last year to suspend an emergency scheduling push that would have effectively banned the legal botanical product.

ABOUT AKA



The America Kratom Association, a consumer-based non-profit organization, is here to set the record straight, giving voice to those suffering and protecting our rights to possess and consume kratom. AKA represents tens of thousands of Americans, each of whom have a unique story to tell about the virtues of kratom and its positive effects on their lives. www.americankratom.org

SOURCE American Kratom Association, Washington, D.C.

Related Links

https://www.americankratom.org/


INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ardagh Group, Glass  North America, a division of Ardagh Group and a leading producer of glass containers for the food and beverage industries in the United States, is pleased to announce that four of its customers were awarded Clear Choice Awards by the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) this week. Ardagh Group manufactures the award-winning glass packaging for Wicked Weed Brewing's Coolcumber, Boathouse Beverage LLC's SpikedSeltzer, Newell Brands' Ball Sharing Jars and Constellation Brands' Robert Mondavi Private Selection.

The unique glass bottle Ardagh Group manufactured for Wicked Weed Brewing won GPI's Clear Choice Award in the Beer and Cider category. Beginning at the neck of the bottle, an embossed hops plant brings the design to a clean finish, and the amber glass preserves the mouth-watering taste of cucumber with a hint of juniper berries in this golden ale. In a mix of brisk basil and freshly grown cucumbers, Coolcumber set out to replicate summer in a bottle.

The customized bottle Ardagh Group manufactured for Boathouse Beverage LLC won GPI's Clear Choice Award in the Flavored Alcohol Beverage category. SpikedSeltzer is a category-creating, all-natural alcoholic beverage. Purified water mixed with natural ingredients fills the flint (clear) glass embossed with waves to resemble the ocean. Whether it's straight from the glass or mixed in your favorite cocktail, SpikedSeltzer is the perfect refresher.

The classic, tasteful design Ardagh Group manufactured for Newell Brands Ball Sharing Jars won GPI's Clear Choice Award in the Food category. When it comes to glass integrity, Newell Brands recognizes the need for durable, high-quality glass. From canning and gifting to crafting, the modern design of the Sharing Jars provides a better view of what's inside the container. For every package of Sharing Jars purchased, Newell Brands has partnered with Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, to donate four meals to those in need.

The elegant glass wine bottle Ardagh Group manufactured for Constellation Brands' Robert Mondavi Winery won GPI's Clear Choice Award in the Wine category. Founded in 1994, the Robert Mondavi Private Selection is now one of the most sought-after brands in the wine category. With only California's best Central Coast grapes picked from the vine, an intense fruit flavor is wrapped in every bottle. To represent a brand of this caliber, broad shoulders now encompass a tapered shape and flared bottom.

"Ardagh Group congratulates the outstanding products that were recognized with 2017 Clear Choice Awards," said Alex Robertson, Chief Commercial Officer at Ardagh Group's North American Glass division. "We are pleased to have brands, such as the Clear Choice Award winners, that choose glass packaging to preserve the products' integrity and collaborate with us to raise the bar and set the standard for innovative designs."

Since 1989, the Clear Choice Awards has honored consumer product goods (CPG) manufacturers who find unique ways to use glass packaging to tell the story of brands, create glass packaging designs that stand out on the shelf and demonstrate novel glass packaging looks.

The Clear Choice Awards are sponsored by the Glass Packaging Institute, the trade association representing the North American glass container manufacturers.

Awards were presented during BRANDPACKAGING's Packaging That Sells Conference in Chicago on Oct. 24.

Further Information

Gina Behrman, Director, Marketing & Communications at Ardagh Group, Glass  North America, [email protected], 765.741.7092

Paula Polei, Manager, Marketing & Communications at Ardagh Group, Glass  North America, [email protected], 765.741.7647

Notes to the Editor

Ardagh Group is a global leader in glass and metal packaging solutions, producing packaging for most of the world's leading food, beverage and consumer care brands. We operate 109 facilities in 22 countries, employ 23,500 people and have global sales exceeding approximately $8.4 billion (Eur7.7 billion). www.ardaghgroup.com

Download image.

SOURCE Ardagh Group, Glass - North America

Related Links

http://www.ardaghgroup.com


HOUSTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Gastar Exploration Inc. (NYSE American: GST) ("Gastar") announced today that it will release its third quarter 2017 results on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 after the market closes. In conjunction with the release, Gastar has scheduled a conference call for 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Central Time) on Thursday, November 9, 2017. Investors may participate in the call either by phone or audio webcast.

By Phone: Dial 1-412-902-0030 at least 10 minutes before the call. A telephone replay will be available through November 16 by dialing 1-201-612-7415 and using the conference ID: 13672652.



By Webcast: Visit the Investor Relations page of Gastar's website at www.gastar.com under "Events & Presentations." Please log on a few minutes in advance to register and download any necessary software. A replay will be available shortly after the call.

For more information, please contact Donna Washburn at Dennard-Lascar Associates at 713-529-6600 or e-mail [email protected].

About Gastar Exploration

Gastar Exploration Inc. is a pure play Mid-Continent independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of oil, condensate, natural gas and natural gas liquids. Gastar's principal business activities include the identification, acquisition, and subsequent exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties with an emphasis on unconventional reserves, such as shale resource plays. Gastar holds a concentrated acreage position in the normally pressured oil window of the STACK Play, an area of central Oklahoma that is home to multiple oil and natural gas-rich reservoirs including the Meramec and Osage limestone formations, the Oswego limestone, the Woodford shale and Hunton limestone formations. For more information, visit Gastar's website at www.gastar.com.

Contacts:

Gastar Exploration Inc.

Michael A. Gerlich, Chief Financial Officer

713-739-1800 / [email protected]



Investor Relations Counsel:

Lisa Elliott / [email protected]

Dennard-Lascar Associates: 713-529-6600

SOURCE Gastar Exploration Inc.

Related Links

http://www.gastar.com


FALLS CHURCH, Va., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $2.52 , up 6.8%

, up 6.8% Earnings from continuing operations up 4.5% to $764 million

Operating earnings up 3.6% to $1.1 billion

General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) today reported third-quarter 2017 earnings from continuing operations of $764 million, a 4.5 percent increase over third-quarter 2016, on revenue of $7.6 billion. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $2.52 compared to $2.36 in the year-ago quarter, a 6.8 percent increase.

"Our focus on operations continues to drive strong performance, exhibited this quarter by 13.9 percent operating margin and 10.1 percent return on sales," said Phebe N. Novakovic, chairman and chief executive officer of General Dynamics. "Total backlog rose to $63.9 billion, up 9.2 percent from the second quarter, with growth in every defense segment and good order activity at Gulfstream."

Margin

Company-wide operating margin for the third quarter of 2017 was 13.9 percent, a 60 basis-point increase when compared to 13.3 percent in third-quarter 2016, with expansion in the Combat Systems and Information Systems and Technology groups.

Cash

Net cash provided by operating activities in the quarter totaled $871 million, compared to $499 million in the year-ago quarter. Free cash flow from operations, defined as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures, was $751 million.

Capital Deployment

The company repurchased 1.2 million of its outstanding shares in the third quarter. Year-to-date, the company has repurchased 5.9 million outstanding shares.

Backlog

General Dynamics' total backlog at the end of third-quarter 2017 was $63.9 billion, up 9.2 percent from the end of second-quarter 2017. The estimated potential contract value, representing management's estimate of value in unfunded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts and unexercised options, was $25.7 billion. Total potential contract value, the sum of all backlog components, was $89.7 billion at the end of the quarter.

There was order activity across the Gulfstream product portfolio and strong demand for defense products, including a book-to-bill ratio (orders divided by revenue) greater than one-to-one in each of the defense segments. Significant awards in the quarter include $5.1 billion from the U.S. Navy to complete the design and prototype development of the lead Columbia-class submarine, the Navy's award of two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, $615 million from the U.S. Army to produce and modernize Abrams main battle tanks, $260 million from the Army and U.S. Air Force for ammunition and ordnance, $175 million from the Army for Stryker double-V-hull vehicles and $455 million from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for contact-center services.

About General Dynamics

Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, General Dynamics is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; C4ISR and IT solutions; and shipbuilding. The company's 2016 revenue was $30.6 billion. More information is available at www.generaldynamics.com.

Certain statements made in this press release, including any statements as to future results of operations and financial projections, may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict.

Therefore, actual future results and trends may differ materially from what is forecast in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors. Additional information regarding these factors is contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, its Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made. The company does not undertake any obligation to update or publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this press release.

WEBCAST INFORMATION: General Dynamics will webcast its third-quarter 2017 financial results conference call at 9 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, October 25, 2017. The webcast will be a listen-only audio event, available at www.generaldynamics.com. An on-demand replay of the webcast will be available by 12 p.m. on October 25 and will continue for 12 months. To hear a recording of the conference call by telephone, please call 877-344-7529 (international: 412-317-0088); passcode 10113242. The phone replay will be available from October 25 through November 1, 2017.

EXHIBIT A

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS































Three Months Ended

Variance

October 1, 2017

October 2, 2016*

$

% Revenue $ 7,580



$ 7,657



$ (77)



(1.0) % Operating costs and expenses 6,528



6,642



(114)





Operating earnings 1,052



1,015



37



3.6 % Interest, net (27)



(23)



(4)





Other, net 2



2









Earnings from continuing operations before income tax 1,027



994



33



3.3 % Provision for income tax, net 263



263









Earnings from continuing operations 764



731



33



4.5 % Discontinued operations, net of tax 



(84)



84





Net earnings $ 764



$ 647



$ 117



18.1 % Earnings per sharebasic















Continuing operations $ 2.56



$ 2.40



$ 0.16



6.7 % Discontinued operations 



(0.27)



0.27





Net earnings $ 2.56



$ 2.13



$ 0.43



20.2 % Basic weighted average shares outstanding 298.1



303.9













Earnings per sharediluted













Continuing operations $ 2.52



$ 2.36



$ 0.16



6.8 % Discontinued operations 



(0.27)



0.27





Net earnings $ 2.52



$ 2.09



$ 0.43



20.6 % Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 303.8



309.7











* Prior-period information has been restated for the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which we adopted on January 1, 2017.

EXHIBIT B

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS































Nine Months Ended

Variance

October 1, 2017

October 2, 2016*

$

% Revenue $ 22,696



$ 22,907



$ (211)



(0.9) % Operating costs and expenses 19,553



19,941



(388)





Operating earnings 3,143



2,966



177



6.0 % Interest, net (76)



(68)



(8)





Other, net 2



13



(11)





Earnings from continuing operations before income tax 3,069



2,911



158



5.4 % Provision for income tax, net 793



812



(19)





Earnings from continuing operations 2,276



2,099



177



8.4 % Discontinued operations, net of tax 



(97)



97





Net earnings $ 2,276



$ 2,002



$ 274



13.7 % Earnings per sharebasic













Continuing operations $ 7.59



$ 6.86



$ 0.73



10.6 % Discontinued operations 



(0.31)



0.31





Net earnings $ 7.59



$ 6.55



$ 1.04



15.9 % Basic weighted average shares outstanding 299.9



305.4









Earnings per sharediluted













Continuing operations $ 7.45



$ 6.74



$ 0.71



10.5 % Discontinued operations 



(0.31)



0.31





Net earnings $ 7.45



$ 6.43



$ 1.02



15.9 % Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 305.5



311.1











* Prior-period information has been restated for the adoption of ASC Topic 606, which we adopted on January 1, 2017.

EXHIBIT C

REVENUE AND OPERATING EARNINGS BY SEGMENT - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS































Three Months Ended

Variance

October 1, 2017

October 2, 2016*

$

% Revenue:













Aerospace $ 1,995



$ 1,925



$ 70



3.6 % Combat Systems 1,500



1,327



173



13.0 % Information Systems and Technology 2,154



2,330



(176)



(7.6) % Marine Systems 1,931



2,075



(144)



(6.9) % Total $ 7,580



$ 7,657



$ (77)



(1.0) % Operating earnings:













Aerospace $ 385



$ 377



$ 8



2.1 % Combat Systems 247



209



38



18.2 % Information Systems and Technology 253



239



14



5.9 % Marine Systems 179



197



(18)



(9.1) % Corporate (12)



(7)



(5)



(71.4) % Total $ 1,052



$ 1,015



$ 37



3.6 % Operating margin:













Aerospace 19.3 %

19.6 %







Combat Systems 16.5 %

15.7 %







Information Systems and Technology 11.7 %

10.3 %







Marine Systems 9.3 %

9.5 %







Total 13.9 %

13.3 %













* Prior-period information has been restated for the adoption of ASC Topic 606, which we adopted on January 1, 2017.





EXHIBIT D

REVENUE AND OPERATING EARNINGS BY SEGMENT - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS































Nine Months Ended

Variance

October 1, 2017

October 2, 2016*

$

% Revenue:













Aerospace $ 6,147



$ 5,990



$ 157



2.6 % Combat Systems 4,201



3,869



332



8.6 % Information Systems and Technology 6,404



6,873



(469)



(6.8) % Marine Systems 5,944



6,175



(231)



(3.7) % Total $ 22,696



$ 22,907



$ (211)



(0.9) % Operating earnings:













Aerospace $ 1,253



$ 1,133



$ 120



10.6 % Combat Systems 677



601



76



12.6 % Information Systems and Technology 729



710



19



2.7 % Marine Systems 518



553



(35)



(6.3) % Corporate (34)



(31)



(3)



(9.7) % Total $ 3,143



$ 2,966



$ 177



6.0 % Operating margin:













Aerospace 20.4 %

18.9 %







Combat Systems 16.1 %

15.5 %







Information Systems and Technology 11.4 %

10.3 %







Marine Systems 8.7 %

9.0 %







Total 13.8 %

12.9 %









* Prior-period information has been restated for the adoption of ASC Topic 606, which we adopted on January 1, 2017.

EXHIBIT E

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS

















October 1, 2017

December 31, 2016* ASSETS





Current assets:





Cash and equivalents $ 2,722



$ 2,334

Accounts receivable 3,391



3,399

Unbilled receivables 5,609



4,212

Inventories 5,781



5,817

Other current assets 577



772

Total current assets 18,080



16,534

Noncurrent assets:





Property, plant and equipment, net 3,461



3,477

Intangible assets, net 715



678

Goodwill 11,918



11,445

Other assets 740



1,038

Total noncurrent assets 16,834



16,638

Total assets $ 34,914



$ 33,172

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY





Current liabilities:





Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt $ 903



$ 900

Accounts payable 2,718



2,538

Customer advances and deposits 6,610



6,827

Other current liabilities 2,978



3,185

Total current liabilities 13,209



13,450

Noncurrent liabilities:





Long-term debt 3,979



2,988

Other liabilities 6,162



6,433

Total noncurrent liabilities 10,141



9,421

Shareholders' equity:





Common stock 482



482

Surplus 2,841



2,819

Retained earnings 26,058



24,543

Treasury stock (15,166)



(14,156)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (2,651)



(3,387)

Total shareholders' equity 11,564



10,301

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 34,914



$ 33,172



* Prior-period information has been restated for the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, and ASC Topic 606, both of which we adopted on January 1, 2017.

EXHIBIT F

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS

















Nine Months Ended

October 1, 2017

October 2, 2016* Cash flows from operating activitiescontinuing operations:





Net earnings $ 2,276



$ 2,002

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:





Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 269



270

Amortization of intangible assets 57



70

Equity-based compensation expense 75



76

Deferred income tax provision 155



148

Discontinued operations, net of tax 



97

(Increase) decrease in assets, net of effects of business acquisitions:





Accounts receivable 26



21

Unbilled receivables (1,361)



(907)

Inventories 57



(206)

Increase (decrease) in liabilities, net of effects of business acquisitions:





Accounts payable 167



305

Customer advances and deposits (296)



(554)

Income taxes payable 223



(14)

Other, net 233



64

Net cash provided by operating activities 1,881



1,372

Cash flows from investing activities:





Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired (364)



(56)

Capital expenditures (273)



(244)

Other, net 53



18

Net cash used by investing activities (584)



(282)

Cash flows from financing activities:





Purchases of common stock (1,172)



(1,514)

Proceeds from fixed-rate notes 985



992

Dividends paid (735)



(678)

Repayment of fixed-rate notes 



(500)

Other, net 41



172

Net cash used by financing activities (881)



(1,528)

Net cash used by discontinued operations (28)



(44)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents 388



(482)

Cash and equivalents at beginning of period 2,334



2,785

Cash and equivalents at end of period $ 2,722



$ 2,303



* Prior-period information has been restated for the adoption of ASC Topic 606, which we adopted on January 1, 2017.

EXHIBIT G

PRELIMINARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS

































2017





2016 (a)





Third Quarter





Third Quarter



Other Financial Information:













Debt-to-equity (b) 42.2 %





35.8 %



Debt-to-capital (c) 29.7 %





26.3 %



Book value per share (d) $ 38.73







$ 35.68





Total income tax payments $ 70







$ 217





Company-sponsored research and development (e) $ 120







$ 99





Shares outstanding 298,582,883







304,519,550





















Non-GAAP Financial Measures:















2017

2016

Third Quarter

Nine Months

Third Quarter

Nine Months Free cash flow from operations:













Net cash provided by operating activities $ 871



$ 1,881



$ 499



$ 1,372

Capital expenditures (120)



(273)



(110)



(244)

Free cash flow from operations (f) $ 751



$ 1,608



$ 389



$ 1,128



(a) Prior-period information has been restated for the adoption of ASC Topic 606, which we adopted on January 1, 2017.



(b) Debt-to-equity ratio is calculated as total debt divided by total equity as of the end of the period.



(c) Debt-to-capital ratio is calculated as total debt divided by the sum of total debt plus total equity as of the end of the period.



(d) Book value per share is calculated as total equity divided by total outstanding shares as of the end of the period.



(e) Includes independent research and development and Aerospace product-development costs.



(f) We believe free cash flow from operations is a useful measure for investors because it portrays our ability to generate cash from our businesses for purposes such as repaying maturing debt, funding business acquisitions, repurchasing our common stock and paying dividends. We use free cash flow from operations to assess the quality of our earnings and as a performance measure in evaluating management. The most directly comparable GAAP measure to free cash flow from operations is net cash provided by operating activities.

EXHIBIT H

BACKLOG - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS















































Funded

Unfunded

Total

Backlog

Estimated

Potential

Contract Value (a)

Total Potential

Contract

Value Third Quarter 2017:



















Aerospace

$ 11,729



$ 86



$ 11,815



$ 1,909



$ 13,724

Combat Systems

17,060



494



17,554



4,607



22,161

Information Systems and Technology

7,109



2,413



9,522



14,384



23,906

Marine Systems

16,791



8,247



25,038



4,826



29,864

Total

$ 52,689



$ 11,240



$ 63,929



$ 25,726



$ 89,655

Second Quarter 2017:



















Aerospace

$ 12,116



$ 120



$ 12,236



$ 1,911



$ 14,147

Combat Systems

16,749



281



17,030



4,845



21,875

Information Systems and Technology

6,809



2,085



8,894



14,389



23,283

Marine Systems

16,033



4,374



20,407



3,282



23,689

Total

$ 51,707



$ 6,860



$ 58,567



$ 24,427



$ 82,994

Third Quarter 2016 (b):



















Aerospace

$ 13,260



$ 108



$ 13,368



$ 2,158



$ 15,526

Combat Systems

17,723



436



18,159



4,469



22,628

Information Systems and Technology

7,155



2,057



9,212



14,444



23,656

Marine Systems

15,080



8,001



23,081



4,172



27,253

Total

$ 53,218



$ 10,602



$ 63,820



$ 25,243



$ 89,063



(a) The estimated potential contract value includes work awarded on unfunded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts and unexercised options associated with existing firm contracts, including options to purchase new aircraft and long-term agreements with fleet customers. The actual amount of funding received in the future may be higher or lower than our estimate of potential contract value. We recognize options in backlog when the customer exercises the option and establishes a firm order.







(b) Prior-period information has been restated for the adoption of ASC Topic 606, which we adopted on January 1, 2017.

EXHIBIT I

THIRD QUARTER 2017 SIGNIFICANT ORDERS - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS



We received the following significant contract awards during the third quarter of 2017:

Combat Systems:



 $310 from the U.S. Army to design, develop and integrate multiple engineering changes into the Abrams M1A2 System Enhancement Package Version 3 (SEPv3), creating a SEPv4.



 $270 from the Army to produce 45 Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 tanks, deliver M1A2 components and provide associated program support.



 $260 from the Army and U.S. Air Force for various calibers of ammunition and ordnance.



 $220 from an international customer to produce Piranha 3+ vehicles in five variants and provide associated program support.



 $195 from the Army for the production of Hydra-70 rockets.



 $175 from the Army for Stryker double-V-hull vehicles.



 $35 from the Army for engineering and logistics support services for the Abrams family of vehicles.

Information Systems and Technology:



 $455 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for contact center services and cloud hosting support.



 $110 from the Army for computing and communications equipment under the Common Hardware Systems-4 program.



 $95 from the U.S. Department of State to provide supply chain management services.



 $85 for work in support of the Trident II submarine weapons system.



 $70 to deploy, operate and maintain network infrastructure in support of Joint Service Provider customers.



 $70 from the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center for design, development and support of shipboard and airborne systems.



 $60 from the Defense Intelligence Agency to provide computer network defense support, information assurance and enterprise communication services.



 $60 from the Army to provide continued software support and engineering for the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical Increment 2 program.

Marine Systems:



 $5.1 billion from the Navy to complete the design and prototype development of the lead Columbia-class submarine. This contract has a potential value of approximately $6.1 billion, which includes our estimate of materials to be provisioned on the contract.



 $180 from the Navy to provide research and development and lead-yard services for Virginia-class submarines.



 $85 from the Navy to provide design, engineering, material and logistics support, and research and development activities for active U.S. submarines.



 $35 from the Navy to produce a large vertical array fixture for Navy submarine acoustic detection efforts. This contract has a potential value of approximately $400.



 $35 from the Navy to maintain Littoral Combat Ships.



 Full funding from the Navy for the planning and construction of two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, DDG 126 and DDG 127.

EXHIBIT J

AEROSPACE SUPPLEMENTAL DATA - (UNAUDITED)































Third Quarter

Nine Months



2017

2016*

2017

2016* Gulfstream Aircraft Deliveries (units):















Large-cabin aircraft



21



23



67



72 Mid-cabin aircraft



9



6



23



21 Total



30



29



90



93 Pre-owned Deliveries (units):



1



1



4



6

* Prior-period information has been restated for the adoption of ASC Topic 606, which we adopted on January 1, 2017.

SOURCE General Dynamics

Related Links

http://www.generaldynamics.com


DUBLIN, October 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Matcha Market Analysis by Grade (Ceremonial, Classic, Culinary), by Application (Regular Tea, Matcha Beverages, Food, Personal Care), by Region and Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering.

The global matcha market is expected to reach USD 5.07 billion by 2025

Rising prevalence of chronic diseases has augmented the demand for healthy and nutrient-rich food & beverage alternatives. Anti-oxidant and vitamin-rich composition of matcha tea has fueled the product demand across the globe.

Anti-oxidants, including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), prevent diseases such as cancer, Type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular problems. EGCG present in the product can repair DNA damage caused by UV radiation and controls the proliferation of cancerous cells. The product also has the potential to reduce stress and promotes a state of relaxation. L-theanine present in the product acts in a synergistic way to activate alpha waves in the brain and thus improves brain functioning. Furthermore, high chlorophyll content of the product prevents toxin accumulation in body.

Key product grades available in the industry include ceremonial, classic, and culinary. Ceremonial accounts to be the most expensive product grade owing to its superior and high-quality production process. Classic grade is the most widely consumed variety, owing to its enhanced taste and flavor. The demand for culinary grade is predicted to grow at a robust pace, due to emerging use in bakery and cooking applications.



Asia Pacific held the largest share of the global industry revenues in 2016, owing to traditional tea culture in Japan and China. The product was majorly consumed in form of regular tea, followed by other beverages in Asia Pacific. Experiment and innovation led to the preparation of various beverages, including smoothies, lattes, and juices. Various cafes and food chains have incorporated various matcha tea-based foods and beverages in their product portfolios. North America has exhibited spurring demand over the recent past, owing to heightened consumer awareness in the U.S.



Further key findings from the report suggest:

The global matcha market was valued at USD 2.62 billion in 2016 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2017 to 2025, owing to rising consumer awareness regarding product features, such as detoxification, anti-ageing, and improvements to immune system

in 2016 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2017 to 2025, owing to rising consumer awareness regarding product features, such as detoxification, anti-ageing, and improvements to immune system Culinary grade is estimated to be the fastest-growing segment of the overall product industry, over the forecast period, driven by the rapidly growing use of the product in formulation of snacks, desserts, bakery, and confectionery items

Classic grade was the largest segment of the industry, accounting for around 56% share of the global revenue in 2016, owing to the superior health benefits offered by this product grade

Regula tea application segment is expected to dominate the global market, owing to energy stimulation and detoxifying properties of the product

North America is expected to witness considerable growth over the forecast years, drive by the rising number of outlets selling matcha-based beverages in the U.S. market

is expected to witness considerable growth over the forecast years, drive by the rising number of outlets selling matcha-based beverages in the U.S. market Key players in the industry are focusing on expanding their product portfolios along with organizing events to boost consumer awareness, with the objective of sustaining major shares of the overall industry revenues



Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope



Chapter 2. Executive Summary



Chapter 3. Matcha Market Variables, Trends &Scope



Chapter 4. Matcha Market: Grade Estimates & Trend Analysis



Chapter 5. Matcha Market: Application Estimates & Trend Analysis



Chapter 6. Matcha Market: Regional Outlook



Chapter 7. Competitive Landscape



Chapter 8. Company Profiles



AYIA

The AOI Tea Company

Ippodo Tea Co., Ltd

Vivid Vitality Ltd

DoMatcha

Encha

Garden To Cup Organics

TEAJA Organic

Midori Spring LTD

Jade Monk LLC.

ITO EN, LTD.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/4gd24x/matcha_market





Media Contact:

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


TAMARAC, Fla., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Gurkha Cigars has created the perfect gift for when money is no object but the exclusive and memorable experience is. The premium cigar company has created three extremely limited, unique experiences for the cigar lover who has everything. Gurkha VIPS will enjoy the most exclusive and personalized opportunity.

"For the person who has everything, the uniqueness of the experience is very important," said Kaizad Hansotia, CEO of Gurkha Cigars. "They can witness the behind the scenes of the cigar industry and create their very own cigars with customized bands, boxes the works."

The Royalty package -$1,000,000 This package includes first class tickets from anywhere in the world to Miami, FL for a three night stay to visit the Gurkha Cigars headquarters. These VIPs will then visit Gurkha's factory in Nicaragua to blend and create 10,000 their own custom cigars. These cigars will include their own custom bands and boxes. The cigars can be infused with 1940 pre-embargo Cuban Tobacco and Remy Martin Louis XIII Black Pearl cognac. They will also receive a one-of-a-kind $200,000 humidor, a luxury Luggage set from Ghurka and a commemorative luxury watch to commemorate the experience.

The Baron package - $500,000 This package will also included first class tickets from anywhere in the world to Miami, FL for a three night stay to visit the Gurkha Cigars headquarters. These Gurkha VIPs will then visit Gurkha's factory in Nicaragua to create 5,000 their own custom cigars. These cigars will include their own custom bands and boxes. The cigars can be infused 25-year-old scotch or Remy Martin Louis the XIII cognac. They will also receive a special edition $50,000 humidor made exclusively for this package.

The Ultra package - $100,000 This package will also included first class tickets from anywhere in the world to Miami, FL for a three night stay to visit the Gurkha Cigars headquarters. These Gurkha VIPs will then visit Gurkha's factory in Nicaragua to create 1,000 their own custom cigars. These cigars will include their own custom bands and boxes. They will also receive a special edition $15,000 humidor made exclusively for this package.

For more information on these once in a lifetime opportunities, please call Gurkha's Marketing Director Eddy Guerra at 305-593-2254 x 3229 or 561-302-3496.

Gurkha Cigars are known throughout the world for their premium and luxurious cigars, so it's no surprise that they are the most sought-after cigars around the globe. Gurkha produces more than 12 million cigars per year that are sold in more than 70 countries worldwide. And while Gurkha is known for its exclusivity, it has an impressive array of 105 brands of flawlessly handcrafted, premium cigars created in a variety of strengths, tasting profiles, and price-points. No matter what your taste, there's a Gurkha cigar that's perfect for your palate. For additional information visit www.gurkhacigars.com.

Christine Martinez de Castro

[email protected]

305-978-7061

SOURCE Gurkha Cigars

Related Links

http://www.gurkhacigars.com


STOCKHOLM, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Sales in all of Haldex's geographic regions increased in Q3, with Asia leading the way. The market has continued to develop positively, with the largest improvement in North America. Haldex strengthened its position in Europe during the quarter, but has not been able to grow to the same extent as in the North American market. A number of product areas have shown strong growth, including disc brakes. Sales of actuators have also posted growth for the first time since the product recall in 2014. Operating income excluding one-off items is still lower than last year. The quarter continued to be burdened by the takeover process, which has diverted focus and resources from the core operations.

Net sales for Q3 totalled SEK 1,081 (1,076) m, which is in line with the same period of the previous year. After currency adjustments, net sales increased by 3%. Net sales for the first nine months of the year totalled SEK 3,413 (3,320) m, which is equivalent to a currency-adjusted increase of 0.4%.

Operating income excluding one-off items totalled SEK 68 (80) m for Q3 and SEK 226 (244) m for the first nine months of the year, which is equivalent to an operating margin of 6.3 (7.4)% for Q3 and 6.6 (7.3)% for the first nine months of the year. The operating margin including one-off items totalled SEK 4.5 (6.3)% for Q3 and SEK 3.4 (6.9)% for the first nine months of the year. One-off items totalled net SEK 19 (12) m for Q3 and SEK 110 (12) m for the first nine months of the year.

The net income after tax for Q3 totalled SEK 26 (37) m, and the earnings per share for Q3 totalled SEK 0.59 (0.82). The equivalent figures for the first nine months of the year are SEK 65 (147) m for net income before tax and SEK 1.45 (3.29) for earnings per share.

Cash flow from operating activities totalled SEK 27 (65) m for Q3 and SEK 85 (168) m for the first nine months of the year.

A takeover process for Haldex was initiated on 14 July 2016. On 29 June 2017, the Board announced that it no longer supported the bid from Knorr-Bremse due to the low probability of approval by the competition authorities. On 19 September 2017, Knorr-Bremse withdrew its bid.

Key figures for July - September 2017

(same period previous year in brackets)

Net sales, SEK m 1,081 (1,076)

Operating income, excl. one-off items, SEK m 68 (80)

Operating income, SEK m 48 (68)

Operating margin, excl. one-off items, % 6.3 (7.4)

Operating margin, % 4.5 (6.3)

Return on capital employed, excl. one-off items,%1 12.6 (14.6)

Return on capital employed,%1 4.2 (14.1)

Net income, SEK m 26 (37)

Earnings per share, SEK 0.59 (0.82)

Cash flow, operating activities, SEK m 27 (65)

1) Rolling twelve months

Key figures for January - September 2017

(same period previous year in brackets)

Net sales, SEK m 3,413 (3,320)

Operating income, excl. one-off items, SEK m 226 (244)

Operating income, SEK m 116 (232)

Operating margin, excl. one-off items, % 6.6 (7.3)

Operating margin, % 3.4 (6.9)

Return on capital employed, excl. one-off items,%1 12.6 (14.6)

Return on capital employed,%1 4.2 (14.1)

Net income, SEK m 65 (147)

Earnings per share, SEK 1.45 (3.29)

Cash flow, operating activities, SEK m 85 (168)

2) Rolling twelve months

Comment from Ake Bengtsson, Acting President and CEO:

"Q3 2017 is the first quarter for me in the role as President and CEO. The appointment from acting CEO occurred in conjunction with Knorr-Bremse's withdrawal of its bid for Haldex, and it is an exciting time to step into the CEO role. We can already see positive effects of no longer being under a bid. During the quarter, for example, we signed a three-year contract with a U.S. truck manufacturer for both actuators and brake adjusters; the customer had been waiting the outcome of the bid process. We also won back a U.S. truck customer who had chosen to buy brake adjusters from a competitor during the turbulent period that we were undergoing at the time.

Haldex will now accelerate the implementation of the strategy we laid the basis for in 2016. Our strategic position has been clarified over the past year through the feedback and support our customers have given us during the competition investigation. We are appreciated for our tailored, open and flexible solutions; we understand our customers' problems and are prepared to resolve them together. It is a position on which we will continue to build. With product leadership as one of the five pillars of the strategy, it is rewarding to see that our development efforts together with customers in the area for self-driving vehicles have intensified in the past month. We also reached a new milestone in our joint venture on electromechanical brakes as we completed a first test phase with positive results.

Future ownership

Haldex is demonstrably a sought-after company. Long-term and strategic owners are important in our industry, which is characterised by long life spans on each vehicle platform. Today we have a stable main owner and to create opportunities for a long-term owner base is important to us. The technology shift in the industry to autonomous driving and the position we have, will attract investments in Haldex' share.

Improved market conditions

The market conditions have gradually improved during the year, and we have seen that the North American market has clearly taken a turn for the better. Haldex increased its net sales in all regions during the third quarter, but has still not been able to fully benefit from the upturn. We won market shares in Europe, but despite growth in North America we have not successfully matched the market improvement. As a whole, however, we exceeded expectations in terms of staying focused on the operations.

Disc brake contracts in the USA

Some really good news is that our disc brakes were approved as an option for one of the market leading axle manufacturers in the USA. This is an important milestone for winning reference customers leading up to the approaching technology shift in the USA. Interest in switching from drum brakes to disc brakes is steadily increasing, and we are now laying the foundation for future expansion. Disc brake sales also continued to grow in Europe during the quarter.

Trend reversal for actuators

Last quarter we could see that the downward trend in actuators had been broken, and this quarter sales of actuators posted double-digit growth. It is very positive that we successfully broke the trend that started with the product recall at the end of 2014. During the third quarter, we also relaunched an upgraded version of the actuator that was the cause of the recall. After very extensive testing, we are now ready to once again offer our customers actiatprs with an sealed design ,able to withstand extra tough road conditions. Haldex is since before the market leader in this product area with few competitors having sufficiently advanced technology to match our functionality.

New law boosts demand for brake adjusters

Another large product group that grew sharply during the quarter is the brake adjuster. This world leading product is popular on the U.S. market, and the upswing in the number of manufactured vehicles has a positive effect on demand for brake adjusters. A change in the law in China will also boost demand for brake adjusters since it has now been decided that new manufacture of heavy vehicles must use automatic brake adjusters starting in January 2018. Brake adjusters will contribute positively to the profit margin going forward.

Profitability and cost levels

As previously announced, Haldex's margin will not reach the level from previous years. The higher cost level is due to a number of factors. We believe that it is crucial for Haldex's future competitiveness to continue to carry out important development projects. Higher R&D expenditure is thus the right road forward. The launch of the actuator has result in a temporary increase in inventories, which is expected to fall once the product reaches the market. The upswing in demand during the third quarter, while positive, also resulted in higher costs. For example, we added more shifts in some factories and deliveries had to be rescheduled at a higher cost.

Market outlook and forecast for 2017

The assessment of 2017 is that it will be a year during which production volumes could exceed last year's levels, but with the unexpected and rapid change in demand we are still in a situation where we cannot fully benefit from the situation. Our earnings forecast for 2017 has not changed. Our ambition is to continue to ensure good profitability, but due to higher costs from the takeover process, the operating margin for 2017 is forecast to be slightly lower than in 2016.

However, we are convinced that, as we approach 2018, Haldex will be able to benefit from the improved market conditions and current strategic partnerships will result in an even stronger position in the market. We can also close the door on an uncertain and very intense period. As a company, we are emerging from the process much stronger in many aspects, primarily thanks to the great support we received from customers around the world. Our dedicated employees have also created a strong sense of unity and forward drive in the company."

Ake Bengtsson

President and CEO

Full interim report

The full interim report is available at http://corporate.haldex.com/en/investors/financialreports or at http://news.cision.com/haldex

Press and analyst meeting

Media and analysts are invited to a telephone conference at which the report will be presented with comments by Ake Bengtsson, President and CEO and Andreas Ekberg, acting CFO. The presentation will also be webcasted live and you can participate with questions by telephone.

Date & Time: Wednesday, October 25 18 at 11.00 CET

The press conference is broadcasted at:

https://tv.streamfabriken.com/haldex-q3-2017

To join the telephone conference:

SE: +46-8-519-99-364

UK: +44-203-00-898-03

US: +1-855-831-59-44

The webcast will also be available afterwards and you can download the Interim report and the presentation from Haldex website: http://corporate.haldex.com/en/investors



For further information, visit http://corporate.haldex.com or contact:

Ake Bengtsson, President & CEO

Phone: +46-418-476150

Andreas Ekberg, acting CFO

Phone: +46-418-476150

Catharina Paulcen, SVP Corporate Communications

Phone: +46-418-476157

E-mail: [email protected]

Haldex AB (publ) is required to publish the above information under the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication by the Haldex media contact stated in the release on October 25, 2017 at 7.20 CEST.

This document is essentially a translation of Swedish language original thereof. In the event of any discrepancies between this translation and the original Swedish document the latter shall be deemed correct

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/haldex/r/haldex-interim-report--january---september-2017--revenue-growth-in-an-improved-market,c2374925

The following files are available for download:

http://mb.cision.com/Main/1432/2374925/741195.pdf Full interim report http://mb.cision.com/Public/1432/2374925/965a5af6ed67446f.pdf Appendix Q3 2017

SOURCE Haldex
HELSINKI, Finland, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- HumanCharger (www.humancharger.com), the world's first portable bright light therapy device, is recognized by Interbrand, the global branding, and marketing authority, as one of the top next-generation, disruptive brands that define progress and the potential to grow.

HumanCharger

HumanCharger, valued at 64.67 MUSD, is included in "Health in your hands" - a category in the annual Interbrand Breakthrough Brands report (www.interbrand.com/best-brands/interbrand-breakthrough-brands/2017) that was published in partnership with New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Ready Set Rocket, and Facebook on May 23, 2017.

The Interbrand Breakthrough Brands report is designed to be both a curated collection of the most exciting new brands from around the globe and a cross-section of future growth in the brand space. "These brands are catalysts as they are not just setting new standards for other brands, they're breaking them," says Interbrand's Global CEO Jez Frampton.

"We are honored to be recognized among innovators like Slack, Thalmic Labs and Thrive Global," says Aki Backman, CEO of the HumanCharger maker Valkee Ltd. "We consider ourselves as a market disruptor with a revolutionary and effective product that improves lives. Our growing userbase of satisfied customers shows that we help people perform better in all walks of life. This recognition by Interbrand is an important validation and feedback to us, that also as a brand we are on a correct path."

The importance of the sunlight to healthy living is already well understood. The problem is that the modern lifestyles lack natural light. HumanCharger is designed to bring light back to the modern lifestyles safely and efficiently. HumanCharger's unique and patented mechanism of action is based on recent discoveries (www.humancharger.com/research) that have shown that the surface of the brain has photosensitive receptors, much like those located in the retina of the eye. HumanCharger earbuds beam calibrated UV-free white light through the ear canals to those photosensitive receptors and stimulate the brain.

Already 12 minute's dose of HumanCharger bright light therapy helps to

+ increase energy levels,

+ improve mood,

+ increase mental alertness,

+ reduce effects of jet lag and

+ keep the winter blues at bay.

HumanCharger is used by athletes, shift workers, travelers with jet lag, office workers spending a long time inside, winter blues beaters, and more.

Valkee Ltd., the maker of HumanCharger, is a health technology company focused on harnessing the benefits of bright light for both mind and performance.

With the HumanCharger, bright light therapy treatment has evolved beyond a bulky lamp, into an easy to us, beautifully-designed discreet personal appliance to accompany users wherever they are. Valkee Ltd. continues to pioneer research and develop bright light therapy technology further.

For more information:

Please visit www.humancharger.com or contact CEO Aki Backman at +358 40 1239872 or [email protected]

SOURCE HumanCharger

Related Links

http://www.humancharger.com


CHICAGO, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- HighTower, one of the nation's largest Registered Investment Advisors, today announced it has signed a definitive recapitalization agreement under which funds affiliated with Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. ("THL"), a premier private equity firm, will acquire a significant stake in HighTower. In connection with this transaction, certain existing institutional investors will sell their equity interests in HighTower. To accelerate HighTower's next phase of growth, THL will also commit to invest an additional $100 million of new equity capital after the closing, subject to certain approvals.

HighTower will leverage THL's deep industry experience and operating and business development capabilities to enhance its platform and build on its strong momentum. The partnership is strengthened by the two firms' cultural alignment and THL's support for HighTower's vision of delivering independent, objective financial advice to its clients.

"For ten years, HighTower has set a new standard for investors, delivering sophisticated financial advice without the conflicts of the conventional financial services firms," said HighTower CEO Elliot Weissbluth. "THL fully supports our mission of delivering objectivity, transparency and independent thinking to investors, while always putting their best interests first. Our partnership will help us reach more advisors and clients who refuse to settle for the industry's status quo."

"HighTower's elite advisors, unique business model, and culture clearly set it apart, and provide a blueprint for the future of financial advice and services in North America," said Ganesh Rao, Managing Director at THL. "We want to be at the forefront of the changes disrupting the wealth management space, and we proactively sought out HighTower as the ideal partner  they are driving change and have been succeeding at it for a decade. We are excited to support HighTower's outstanding team of advisors as they continue to pursue rapid growth and their mission to become one of the premier brands within the wealth management industry."

Dave Pottruck, the former CEO of Charles Schwab and the Chairman of HighTower's Board of Directors, remains one of the largest individual investors in the company. Mr. Weissbluth, HighTower's Founder and CEO, and Doug Brown of DLB Capital, HighTower's first large institutional investor, are not selling any equity in this transaction, reflecting their continued confidence in HighTower's future.

HighTower has signed a total of 22 advisor teams to date this year, and in May 2017 executed its largest acquisition to date by purchasing 10 financial advisor teams from WealthTrust. The new teams, along with HighTower's organic growth, have increased total client assets to approximately $50 billion, a 27% increase of $10 billion since the beginning of 2017.

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions, and is expected to close in Q4 2017 or Q1 2018.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to HighTower. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to THL. THL was represented by Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, the Company was represented by Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP and certain of the Company's institutional investors were represented by Willkie Farr & Gallagher, LLP.

About HighTower

HighTower is reshaping the financial services industry from the inside out. As one of the nation's largest Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) dedicated to providing advice, not selling a product, we are a relentless champion of the fiduciary standard. We believe the wealth management industry can and should do a better job of serving the needs of individual investors and their financial advisors. We built HighTower upon a commitment to put our clients' best interests first. For the 6th consecutive year, HighTower ranks on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America (2012  2017). For more information, see www.hightoweradvisors.com and www.byadvisorsforadvisors.com.

About Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P.

Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. ("THL") is a premier private equity firm investing in middle market growth companies, headquartered in North America, exclusively in four industry sectors: Business & Financial Services, Consumer & Retail, Healthcare, and Media, Information Services & Technology. Using the firm's deep domain expertise and the internal operating capabilities of its Strategic Resource Group, THL seeks to create deal sourcing advantages, and to accelerate growth and improve operations in its portfolio companies in partnership with management teams. Since its founding in 1974, THL has raised over $22 billion of equity capital, acquired over 140 portfolio companies and completed over 360 add-on acquisitions which collectively represent a combined enterprise value at the time of acquisition of over $200 billion.

HighTower:

Melinda Brodbeck

JConnelly

973-850-7348

[email protected]

THL:

Matt Benson/Devin Broda

Sard Verbinnen & Co

212-687-8080

SOURCE HighTower

Related Links

http://www.hightoweradvisors.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- hiQ Labs, the start-up data analytics company waging a landmark legal battle against LinkedIn over access to publicly available information on the Internet, today announced that it is utilizing CrowdJustice to launch a fundraising effort in support of the litigation.

hiQ's CrowdJustice site can be found at: crowdjustice.com/case/hiq

hiQ's CrowdJustice campaign seeks to fund litigation costs, including the cost of its current appeal to the 9th Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals. In August, hiQ Labs won a preliminary injunction in federal court to prevent Microsoft-owned LinkedIn from threatening criminal prosecution if hiQ continued to view publicly available member profiles. hiQ uses this information to provide analysis and insight to businesses that want to retain key employees and optimize talent. Significantly, hiQ only uses information from profiles that LinkedIn members themselves have decided to display publicly. hiQ doesn't republish the information or sell raw data to third parties, anddespite LinkedIn's allegationsdoesn't alert employers whenever a LinkedIn member makes a change to a profile.

hiQ Labs has 13 employees and was founded in 2012. Microsoft acquired LinkedIn, which has more than 8,000 employees, for $26.2 billion in 2016.

"This is a David versus Goliath case if there ever was one, and David just got himself a bigger slingshot," said Mark Weidick, CEO of hiQ Labs. "Since the federal district court ruled in our favor in August, we've been amazed and heartened at the outpouring of support. So many people have asked us how they can help, we've decided to create this new vehicle to harness this energy and help defer the costs of our defense of Internet access, free speech and fair competition."

"Our needs are great, but our goals with this particular campaign are modest," Mr. Weidick said. "We're looking to raise just $100,000 in this initial push to help fund our response to LinkedIn's appeal. But we firmly believe the value of this effort goes far beyond the actual funding. So many have expressed belief in our cause that we wanted to offer a way for them to come together, to join the cause and to take action."

CrowdJustice is a crowdfunding platform that was founded to increase access to the legal system. The site enables individuals to come together to fund legal action, particularly where issues of public interest are at stake. Since its founding, CrowdJustice has raised more than $4 million (USD) to fund litigation in the UK and United States, including lawsuits relating to voting rights, the environment, immigration issues and discrimination. In recent months, the site has been involved in the fight against the Trump administration's travel ban and Brexit litigation in the U.K.

About hiQ Labs v. LinkedIn

On August 14, 2017, Judge Edward Chen of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted hiQ Labs' request for a Preliminary Injunction against LinkedIn to prevent LinkedIn from using legal or technological measures to restrict hiQ's access to publicly available LinkedIn profile information. Judge Chen rejected LinkedIn's attempt to cast hiQ's analysis of publicly available information from the LinkedIn website as a violation of a federal criminal statute. Specifically, the judge ruled "the Court is doubtful that the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) may be invoked by LinkedIn to punish hiQ for accessing publicly available data; the broad interpretation of the CFAA advocated by LinkedIn, if adopted, could profoundly impact open access to the Internet, a result that Congress could not have intended when it enacted the CFAA over three decades ago." The court also ruled that "hiQ has raised serious questions as to whether LinkedIn, in blocking hiQ's access to public data, possibly as a means to limiting competition, violates state law."

It is hiQ's contention that LinkedIn is trying to force a smaller competitor out of business by illegal violating free speech and competition laws. Earlier this month, LinkedIn introduced its own "Talent Insights" product at an HR conference in Nashville that bears a remarkable resemblance to hiQ Labs product offerings.

Mr. Weidick said: "We understand LinkedIn wants to get into our business, and that's fine. But we believe LinkedIn is trying to illegally force us out so that they can have the business for themselves."

"It is important to understand that LinkedIn doesn't own the data contained in member profiles," Weidick added. "And despite their protests that they are only trying to protect the privacy of members, the federal court judge noted that LinkedIn's marketing materials indicate they are, right now, selling services to third parties based on LinkedIn profile information in its entiretyregardless of whether members have designated the information private."

Reacting to this revelation in court, the San Francisco Chronicle characterized LinkedIn as being "guilty of blatant hypocrisy" in it is efforts, claiming to protect member privacy while selling member data to third parties.

The appeal in hiQ Labs v. LinkedIn (Case No. 17-16783) is expected to be heard in early 2018.

About hiQ Labs, Inc.

hiQ Labs, Inc., based in San Francisco, is a tech startup that collects and analyzes public information to provide its clientsmostly large companieswith insights about their employees. The company offers two main products: Keeper, which analyzes which employees are at risk of leaving the company; and Skill Mapper, which shows the range of skills possessed by employees so that employers can optimize internal talent.

For more information, visit: www.hiqlabs.com

Media Contact:

Andrea M. Garcia

PRCG | Haggerty

[email protected]

212.683.8100

SOURCE hiQ Labs

Related Links

http://www.hiqlabs.com


TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras and WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, the Honduran Supreme Electoral Tribunal announced that it will release preliminary results from the November 26 national election to electoral observing missions from the European Union and the Organization of American States.

"Honduras's elections are free and fair," Honduran President of the Electoral Tribunal David Matamoros said. "With real-time voting results going straight to electoral observing missions from the European Union (EU) and the Organization of American States (OAS), Hondurans and the international community alike can be confident in our election's integrity."

Matamoros met with OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro and U.S. State Department officials in Washington, D.C to discuss election monitoring details.

Matamoros said that the EU and the OAS will receive images of voting tallies from across Honduras via a secure server. Those images will also be immediately available to all 10 political parties participating in the election.

"Anyone who has doubts [about the results] can verify the information in a correct and reliable way," Matamoros told the Honduran press.

Matamoros also announced that several former Latin American and European presidents and heads of state will help monitor the Honduran election, including former presidents Felipe Gonzalez from Spain; Vicente Fox and Felipe Calderon from Mexico; Ricardo Lagos from Chile; Martin Torrijos from Panama; Alvaro Colon from Guatemala; Jorge Quiroga from Bolivia; and Laura Chinchilla from Costa Rica.

"The Supreme Electoral Tribunal is preserving the integrity of our national election by asking the global community to verify the results," President Hernandez said. "I'm looking forward to a free and fair election next month."

Media Contact:

Andrew Grafton

(202)-471-4228 ext. 119

[email protected]

www.keybridgecommunications.com

SOURCE Republic of Honduras
PHOENIX, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The helicopter industry can now take advantage of higher-speed onboard Wi-Fi, video transmission and telemedicine capability in Europe and North America using Honeywell's (NYSE: HON) Connected Aircraft solution, the Aspire 200 system.

Honeywell was awarded a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) supplemental type certificate (STC) for the Aspire 200 satellite communications system on the Airbus Helicopters AS350 and Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk and have applied for an FAA STC for the Bell 429, while Transport Canada has certified the system on the Bell 429. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approvals for those helicopters are also underway. In addition, EASA recently approved the installation of the Aspire 200 system on the Leonardo AW139 helicopter.

Honeywell's system provides reliable connectivity service for helicopters, enabling constant communication, even when in remote areas. The Aspire 200 system, combined with the SwiftBroadband High-Data Rate (HDR) software package, brings high-bandwidth connectivity to the helicopter cabin for the first time while allowing the pilot or operator to mitigate any signal connectivity issues.

"There has always been a need for in-flight connectivity on helicopters, particularly to support VIP, air ambulance, police and military ISR applications," said Mark Goodman, product director, Honeywell Aerospace. "The small, lightweight Aspire 200 provides a robust, reliable link that works through helicopter rotors."

To complement Aspire 200, Honeywell's GoDirect Cabin Connectivity service includes access to a selection of GoDirect apps, such as GoDirect Satcom Toolkit and GoDirect Global Mobile Data, allowing improved productivity with real-time communications through access to emails, videoconferencing and higher-speed broadband transmission. In today's helicopter environment, Honeywell's satellite communication systems and services provide a one-stop connectivity shop for fleet owners and operators.

Supporting Resources

Learn more about Honeywell's Satellite Communications

Read more about Honeywell Aerospace on the Follow The Aero blog

Like Honeywell Aerospace on Facebook

Follow @Honeywell_Aero on Twitter

Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on virtually every commercial, defense and space aircraft, and its turbochargers are used by nearly every automaker and truck manufacturer around the world. The Aerospace business unit develops innovative solutions for more fuel-efficient automobiles and airplanes, more direct and on-time flights, safer flying and runway traffic, along with aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity services, logistics, and more. The business delivers safer, faster, and more efficient and comfortable transportation-related experiences worldwide. For more information, visit www.honeywell.com or follow us at @Honeywell_Aero and @Honeywell_Turbo.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 software-industrial company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace and automotive products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, cars, homes and buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Honeywell

Related Links

http://www.honeywell.com


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Damage from hurricanes Harvey and Irma temporarily shut down schools in Texas and throughout the Southeast, causing some schools to extend the school year into the upcoming holiday break.

In the midst of one of the most active Atlantic hurricane seasons in history, some schools in Texas, Florida, South Carolina and Georgia are extending the school year to make up for lost days. Travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth, explains how travel insurance can cover travelers if the extended school year cuts into their travel plans.

Some policies with Trip Cancellation can cover travelers who are unable to take pre-planned trips because of an unexpected extension of the school year. This type of coverage can get travelers their money back for airline tickets, hotels, and excursions.

Often times travelers think an extended school year means that classes continue into summer vacation, but in some policies, it can also apply to Thanksgiving and winter break, according to travel insurance provider, TravelSafe.

For travelers with trips affected by hurricanes Harvey and Irma to be eligible for this benefit, they must have purchased their policy before their respective storm was named.

Squaremouth's Hurricane Travel Insurance Information Center explains travel insurance coverage with up-to-date information for travelers whose trips are affected by a storm, including answers to FAQs and statements from providers.

ABOUT SQUAREMOUTH

Squaremouth compares travel insurance policies from every major travel insurance provider in the United States. Using Squaremouth's comparison engine and third-party reviews, travelers can research and compare insurance products side-by-side. More information can be found at www.squaremouth.com

Available Topic Expert

Amy Haywood

[email protected]

SOURCE Squaremouth

Related Links

http://www.squaremouth.com


"This devastating storm hit the southeast only weeks after Hurricane Harvey slammed into Texas, and the Red Cross responded to both disasters, providing emergency relief to hundreds of thousands of people. In Florida, people will be recovering from Hurricane Irma for months  if not years  to come," said Brad Kieserman, vice president of Disaster Services Operations and Logistics for the Red Cross. "Thanks to the generous support of our donors, the Red Cross was able to provide comfort and support to people with nowhere else to turn, and now we will be there to help them recover and rebuild their lives."

Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys on September 10 as a Category 4 storm, the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. since 2005. Before hitting the U.S. mainland, the massive storm carved a path of destruction through the Caribbean, devastating several island countries, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and parts of Puerto Rico. In Florida, Irma caused damage from Naples to Jacksonville and brought flooding and wind damage across the southeast as far as Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas.

Today, communities impacted by the storm continue to recover, and the Red Cross is working with government and local partners to help residents connect with critical services and resources they need to get back on their feet.

In addition, the American Red Cross has provided aid to Caribbean nations impacted by Hurricane Irma, which includes making a $100,000 contribution for Red Cross disaster relief in St. Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbudaand $200,000 towards Red Cross relief efforts in Cuba.

WHERE YOUR DONATIONS ARE GOING

As of October 10, the Red Cross raised $56.4 million in designated donations for the Irma relief effort. All donations earmarked for Hurricane Irma will be used to support relief and recovery efforts for this disaster. Learn more about how donations are helping in this video or in our detailed report. The following are examples of how donations are being used:

Donations pay for provision and delivery of food, shelter and relief items , accounting for $29.6 million of our preliminary budget estimate. In the first month, the Red Cross served more than 1.5 million meals and snacks, provided nearly 650,000 overnight stays in shelters, and distributed more than 1 million relief items.

, accounting for of our preliminary budget estimate. In the first month, the Red Cross served more than 1.5 million meals and snacks, provided nearly 650,000 overnight stays in shelters, and distributed more than 1 million relief items. Donations pay for health and mental health services , accounting for $1.7 million of our preliminary budget estimate. In the first month, the Red Cross provided more than 49,000 services to support and care for people.

, accounting for of our preliminary budget estimate. In the first month, the Red Cross provided more than 49,000 services to support and care for people. Donations pay for immediate financial assistance, accounting for $7.8 million of our preliminary budget estimate. To help people recover and get back on their feet, the Red Cross has opened more than 11,000 cases, reaching more than 37,000 people across Florida .

accounting for of our preliminary budget estimate. To help people recover and get back on their feet, the Red Cross has opened more than 11,000 cases, reaching more than 37,000 people across . Donations pay for individual and community recovery programs , accounting for $12.2 million of our preliminary budget estimate. The Red Cross is working alongside our community partners to plan for long-term recovery services, such as additional financial assistance for people who need extra help with their recovery efforts and programs to help the hardest-hit communities rebound and prepare for future disasters.

, accounting for of our preliminary budget estimate. The Red Cross is working alongside our community partners to plan for long-term recovery services, such as additional financial assistance for people who need extra help with their recovery efforts and programs to help the hardest-hit communities rebound and prepare for future disasters. Donations pay to transport, lodge and feed thousands of trained disaster workers who work in shelters, drive food trucks, hand out relief supplies, replace medications and eyeglasses, provide emotional support and coordinate with local officials.

who work in shelters, drive food trucks, hand out relief supplies, replace medications and eyeglasses, provide emotional support and coordinate with local officials. Donations pay for the freight and warehousing expenses that enable the Red Cross to provide cots and blankets for people in shelters, and the hundreds of tractor-trailer loads of relief items we've given out to help people clean up their homes.

expenses that enable the Red Cross to provide cots and blankets for people in shelters, and the hundreds of tractor-trailer loads of relief items we've given out to help people clean up their homes. Donations pay for the equipment, maintenance and fueling of emergency vehicles that deliver meals and relief items to people in need.

that deliver meals and relief items to people in need. Donations also pay for the full-time program staff, disaster information technology, communications and call center infrastructure that make all of this help possible for Hurricane Irma.

and that make all of this help possible for Hurricane Irma. Donations also pay for our management, general and fundraising expenses that support our work at its core and are indispensable to running the organization and helping people in need. They include the people and systems to maintain our enterprise-wide computer and telecommunications, HR and payroll systems to support our more than 20,000 employees and nearly 314,000 volunteers, fundraising and communications functions, and other support services across all program lines.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

SOURCE American Red Cross

Related Links

http://www.redcross.org


PERTH, Australia, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr Simon Towler, Clinical Lead for South Metropolitan Health Service and a staff specialist in Intensive Care at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, Australia, has been invited to present the results of the Western Australia Patient Blood Management Program at the HAA 2017 Annual Scientific Meeting to be held on 29th October to 1st November in Sydney, Australia. The HAA is the combined meeting of the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand, the Australian & New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion, and the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society of Australia and New Zealand.

The Western Australia Patient Blood Management Program has attracted international attention and is widely recognised as an excellent example of what can be accomplished on a state level to improve patient care, delivering substantial benefits for both patients and the community.

Dr Towler, who was the Chief Medical Officer at the time the program was implemented, will be speaking during the Choosing Wisely symposium. Choosing Wisely is an international initiative with the goal of improving the quality of patient care by eliminating overused and sometimes harmful medical procedures. Blood transfusion has been identified by medical societies and health care quality organizations as one of the top five overused procedures and is associated with negative patient outcomes and increased costs. Anaemia, also common in patients admitted to hospital, is associated with negative health outcomes and increases the risk of receiving a transfusion.

Dr Towler said "The presentation will highlight that, despite being implemented in a state with one of the lowest red blood cell transfusion rates in the world, blood use in Western Australia decreased by 41%. The number of elective surgery patients who were admitted anaemic also decreased significantly." He added "The program was associated with significantly reduced in-hospital deaths and hospital-acquired complications, and millions of dollars in cost savings."

Co-designer and co-implementer of the Program, Shannon Farmer, an IFPBM scientific associate, added: "Patient Blood Management has become the new standard of care, and other countries are looking to the Western Australia Patient Blood Management Program as a model to follow."

About IFPBM



The International Foundation for Patient Blood Management (IFPBM) is a Swiss foundation headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. IFPBM is a multi-disciplinary organization whose core purpose is to improve patient safety and outcomes in clinical practice through optimal Patient Blood Management. IFPBM promotes evidence-based cost-effective practice through education and training, facilitating the highest standard of health care.

To request a one-on-one meeting with representatives attending from IFPBM please email your request to [email protected].

SOURCE The International Foundation for Patient Blood Management
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Biotech Holdings announced today a collaboration with Biorasi, a global CRO specializing in delivering Clinical Research Optimized and accelerated development of innovative therapeutics. As part of the partnership, Biorasi will provide regulatory and clinical trial support to Biotech Holdings as the Company advances its ProCell microbiome activated stem cell therapy through the FDA approval process.

"Biorasi is unique in its ability to apply a multidisciplinary, highly focused and goal-oriented approach during clinical trials in order to provide optimized results in an extremely accelerated manner. We are very eager to engage in this collaboration with a proven industry leader, and excited to take advantage of their TALOS platform for trial management and optimization," said Thomas Ichim, Ph.D, President and CEO of Biotech Holdings. "Given that Biorasi has a strong history in the Regenerative Medicine space, as well as ability to rapidly initiate and execute clinical trials, we are honored to partner with this organization in the development and eventual commercialization of Procell."

Biotech Holdings is the first company to utilize microbiome derived compounds to enhance the activity of stem cells. The Company is currently pursuing disease indications associated with deficient circulation such as critical limb ischemia and congestive heart failure. To date the Company has demonstrated efficacy in small animal trials and demonstrated preliminary safety in a pilot clinical investigation.

"We at Biorasi are eager to deploy our TALOS platform for industry leaders advancing development of novel means of treating human illness. It is our honor to participate in the development of the first stem cell therapeutic that harnesses the power of the microbiome," said Boris Reznik, Ph.D, Chairman of Biorasi. "The collaboration we are embarking on, if successful, will provide a new means of increasing the potency of stem cell therapeutics, which applies to almost unlimited areas of medicine."

About Biotech Holdings

Biotech Holdings was founded on technologies and patents developed by Dr. Amit Patel and Dr. Thomas Ichim focused on identifying interactions between gut bacteria (microbiome) and stem cells. The Company has identified several bacterially derived compounds that enhance stem cell activity and is applying these to chronic diseases associated with circulation deficiencies. Initial therapeutic indications the company is targeting are: Critical Limb Ischemia and Ischemic Heart Failure. The Company has 10 patent applications filed covering stem cell modulation, augmentation, and differentiation by bacterial compounds.

About TALOS:

TALOS, Biorasi's groundbreaking clinical research optimization platform, guides our clinical project teams to deliver Clinical Research Optimized in the most challenging trials using a data-driven approach to trial management. Using innovative systems, supported by best-in-industry training and a culture that embraces growth and ownership, TALOS guides Biorasi towards success in the most challenging clinical trials.

About Biorasi:

Biorasi is an award-winning Clinical Research Optimized CRO. From study design to execution success, optimization is ingrained in TALOS, the most robust and innovative trial management and optimization platform in the industry. Equipped with TALOS, Biorasi's full-service project teams have help pharmaceutical companies around the world develop numerous drugs, biologics and devices approved by the FDA, EMA and other regulatory agencies. Founded in 2002, Biorasi is headquartered in Miami, FL and has regional offices and operations across North America and around the world. It has been featured on the Inc. 500 list of the fastest growing US companies, and has received multiple awards for quality and service in pharmaceutical development.

Contacts

Thomas E Ichim, Ph.D

President and Chief Executive Officer

BioTech Holdings

9255 Towne Centre Drive, #450

San Diego, CA 92121

[email protected]

858 353 4303

SOURCE Biotech Holdings
WICHITA, Kan., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM), the global leader in storage and information management services, today announced the opening of a new information management facility in Wichita at 3144 N Ohio St. The opening of the records storage and secure shredding facility featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony and was attended by State Senator Oletha Faust-Goudeau (District 29), State Representative Ponka-We Victors (District 103), Sedgwick County Commissioner Richard Ranzau (District 4), and Vice Mayor Janet Miller, along with guided facility tours.

The 22,000 square foot facility has a total storage capacity of 350,000 records storage boxes and will serve the greater Wichita south Central Kansas business community. It joins Iron Mountain's underground and above ground facilities in Kansas City, the recently acquired Stacks Secure Records in Topeka, Kansas (as well as the company's 1,400-plus facilities worldwide) in providing services for records storage, data management, data centers, secure shredding and document imaging.

"I commend Iron Mountain's decision to open one of their facilities here in the Wichita area creating jobs through economic development," said State Senator Faust-Goudeau. "This new business will make a substantial economic impact in our community and the state of Kansas."

"Wichita enjoys a thriving economy. Iron Mountain will create new jobs and further strengthen our economy and community," said State Representative Victors.

"Wichita is pleased to welcome Iron Mountain and further add to our vibrant employer mix," said Vice Mayor Miller. "As we look to add more employers to our community, having a high-performing, secure enterprise storage organization in our city will help make our community even more attractive to prospective new businesses."

"We chose Wichita due to the combination of local existing Iron Mountain customers and the opportunity to grow our presence in Kansas," said Jim Dodson, senior vice president & general manager, Records Management, Iron Mountain. "Organizations are looking to tap into their information assets as a valuable source of insight for improving their business and bottom line. As a first step toward realizing that value, they need to understand what they have and how best to store and manage it. Our services can help by ensuring that information is accessible while also secure and protected. We look forward to serving the local and regional Wichita business community with our world-class solutions for storing and managing their most critical information."

For more information on Iron Mountain's services for information management, visit www.ironmountain.com.

About Iron Mountain

Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM) is the global leader for storage and information management services. Trusted by more than 230,000 organizations around the world, Iron Mountain boasts a real estate network of more than 85 million square feet across more than 1,400 facilities in 53 countries dedicated to protecting and preserving what matters most for its customers. Iron Mountain's solutions portfolio includes records management, data management, cloud services, document management, data centers, art storage and logistics, and secure shredding to help organizations to lower storage costs, comply with regulations, recover from disaster, and better use their information. Founded in 1951, Iron Mountain stores and protects billions of information assets, including critical business documents, electronic information, medical data and cultural and historical artifacts. Visit www.ironmountain.com for more information.

Contact :

Christian T. Potts

Iron Mountain Incorporated

(617) 535-8721

[email protected]

SOURCE Iron Mountain Incorporated

Related Links

http://www.ironmountain.com


BALTIMORE, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Legg Mason, Inc. (NYSE: LM) today reported its operating results for the second fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2017.











Quarters Ended

Six Months Ended Financial Results Sep

Jun

Sep

Sep

Sep (Amounts in millions, except per share amounts) 2017

2017

2016

2017

2016 Operating Revenues $ 768.3



$ 793.8



$ 748.4



$ 1,562.2



$ 1,448.5

Operating Expenses 623.9



686.6



620.7



1,310.6



1,247.3

Operating Income 144.4



107.2



127.6



251.6



201.2

Net Income1 75.7



50.9



66.4



126.6



99.9

Net Income Per Share - Diluted1 0.78



0.52



0.63



1.29



0.94





















Assets Under Management2

















(Amounts in billions)

















End of Period Assets Under Management $ 754.4



$ 741.2



$ 732.9



$ 754.4



$ 732.9

Average Assets Under Management 750.3



740.3



742.1



745.8



723.3





















(1) Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. (2) September 2016 AUM excludes $12.8 billion of separately managed account assets classified as Assets Under Advisement reported in September and June 2017 as Assets Under Management

Joseph A. Sullivan, Chairman and CEO of Legg Mason said, "We are pleased to have delivered a strong operating quarter driven by solid core revenues and prudent expense management. The diversification of our business mix contributed to these results and the resiliency of our operating revenue yield. We are realizing greater client asset persistency in the retail channels as we continue to provide greater choice in investment strategies and vehicles. Net sales across our Global Distribution platform also reflect the diversification of our business by geography, channel and investment affiliate. We will continue to execute our strategy of expanding client choice to meet the rapidly evolving needs of our global client base."

Assets Under Management of $754.4 Billion

Assets Under Management ("AUM") were $754.4 billion at September 30, 2017 compared with $741.2 billion at June 30, 2017, resulting from $12.5 billion in positive market performance and other, $2.2 billion in positive foreign exchange and liquidity inflows of $0.2 billion, partially offset by long-term outflows of $1.2 billion.





















Quarter Ended September 30, 2017



Assets Under Management AUM (in billions)

Flows (in billions)

Operating

Revenue

Yield 1



Equity $ 201.2



$ (2.0)



63 bps



Fixed Income 411.9



1.5



27 bps



Alternative 65.8



(0.7)2



64 bps



Long-Term Assets 678.9



(1.2)









Liquidity 75.5



0.2



13 bps



Total $ 754.4



$ (1.0)



38 bps



















(1) Operating revenue yield equals total operating revenues less performance fees divided by average AUM



(2) Excludes realizations of $0.5 billion



At September 30, 2017, fixed income represented 54% of AUM, while equity represented 27%, liquidity represented 10% and alternatives represented 9%.

By geography, 68% of AUM was from clients domiciled in the United States and 32% from non-US domiciled clients.

Average AUM during the quarter was $750.3 billion compared to $740.3 billion in the prior quarter and $742.1 billion in the second quarter of fiscal year 2017. Average long-term AUM was $675.1 billion compared to $658.7 billion in the prior quarter and $631.9 billion in the second quarter of fiscal year 2017.



























Quarterly Performance











































At September 30, 2017:

1-Year

3-Year

5-Year

10-Year



% of Strategy AUM beating Benchmark3

74%

74%

79%

85%



























% of Long-Term U.S. Fund Assets Beating Lipper Category Average





















Fixed Income

81%

74%

79%

87%





Equity

39%

50%

52%

74%





Alternatives (performance relates to only 3 funds)

100%

100%

100%

n/a





Total U.S. Fund Assets

59%

62%

64%

80%





























(3) See "Supplemental Data Regarding Quarterly Performance."



















Of Legg Mason's long-term U.S. mutual fund assets, 52% were in funds rated 4 or 5 stars by Morningstar.

Operating Results - Comparison to the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2018

Net income was $75.7 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, compared to net income of $50.9 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018. In addition to the net impact of the factors listed below, the increased earnings were driven by higher average AUM, one additional day in the quarter, higher non-pass through performance fees and lower compensation expenses due to seasonal factors in the prior quarter.

This quarter's results included:

Severance charges of $1.7 million , or $0.01 per diluted share.

, or per diluted share. EnTrustPermal acquisition and transition-related costs of $1.4 million , or $0.01 per diluted share.

, or per diluted share. Year-to-date annualization tax benefit of $1.2 million , or $0.01 per diluted share.

The prior quarter's results included:

Non-cash impairment charges totaling $34.0 million , or $0.24 per diluted share.

, or per diluted share. Contingent consideration credit adjustments of $16.6 million , or $0.12 per diluted share.

, or per diluted share. EnTrustPermal acquisition and transition-related costs of $2.6 million , or $0.02 per diluted share.

Operating revenues of $768.3 million were down 3% compared with $793.8 million in the prior quarter reflecting:

A reduction in pass through performance fees at Clarion of $45.5 million , which, per the terms of the acquisition, were passed through as compensation.

, which, per the terms of the acquisition, were passed through as compensation. Excluding the pass through performance fees, revenues increased 3% due to higher average long-term AUM, one additional day in the quarter and an increase of 30% in non-pass through performance fees.

Operating expenses of $623.9 million were down 9% compared with $686.6 million in the prior quarter reflecting:

Lower compensation of $45.4 million driven by the decrease in Clarion pass through performance fees.

driven by the decrease in Clarion pass through performance fees. Acquisition and transition-related charges of $1.4 million , as compared to $2.6 million in the prior quarter.

, as compared to in the prior quarter. The prior quarter included non-cash impairment charges of $34.0 million , as well as credits of $16.6 million for contingent consideration fair value adjustments.

, as well as credits of for contingent consideration fair value adjustments. A $4.8 million gain in the market value of deferred compensation and seed investments, which is recorded as an increase in compensation and benefits with an offset in non-operating income, in line with the prior quarter.

Non-operating expense was $18.1 million, as compared to $15.4 million in the prior quarter reflecting:

Gains on corporate investments, not offset in compensation, were $2.4 million compared with gains of $5.7 million in the prior quarter. The prior quarter included a $2.3 million gain related to an accelerated contingent payment received on a prior sale of a non-strategic manager.

compared with gains of in the prior quarter. The prior quarter included a gain related to an accelerated contingent payment received on a prior sale of a non-strategic manager. Gains on funded deferred compensation and seed investments, as described above.

A $2.1 million gain associated with the consolidation of sponsored investment vehicles compared to $1.2 million in gains in the prior quarter. The consolidation of sponsored investment vehicles has no impact on net income as the effects of consolidation are fully attributable to noncontrolling interests.

Operating margin was 18.8% compared to 13.5% in the prior quarter. Operating margin, as adjusted4, was 24.9%, as compared to 22.5% in the prior quarter.

(4) See "Use of Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information."

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, excluding consolidated investment vehicles, was $10.4 million compared to $12.0 million in the prior quarter, principally related to Clarion, EnTrustPermal, RARE and Royce.

Operating Results - Comparison to the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2017

Net income was $75.7 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, compared to net income of $66.4 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal year 2017. The increased earnings were driven by higher average long-term AUM, higher non-pass through performance fees and lower acquisition and transition-related costs.

This quarter's results included:

Severance charges of $1.7 million , or $0.01 per diluted share.

, or per diluted share. EnTrustPermal acquisition and transition-related costs of $1.4 million , or $0.01 per diluted share.

, or per diluted share. Year-to-date annualization tax benefit of $1.2 million , or $0.01 per diluted share.

The prior year quarter's results included:

EnTrustPermal and Clarion acquisition and transition-related costs of $13.2 million , or $0.09 per diluted share.

, or per diluted share. Contingent consideration credit adjustments of $7.0 million , or $0.05 per diluted share.

, or per diluted share. A tax benefit of $6.3 million , or $0.06 per diluted share.

Operating revenues of $768.3 million were up 3% compared with $748.4 million in the prior year quarter reflecting:

Increases principally due to higher average long-term AUM.

An increase in non-pass through performance fees of $14.8 million , partially offsetting a decrease in pass through performance fees of $15.9 million .

Operating expenses of $623.9 million were up 1% compared with $620.7 million in the prior year quarter reflecting:

Increased compensation, excluding acquisition and transition-related charges of $5.3 million , related to increased revenues driven by higher average long-term AUM.

, related to increased revenues driven by higher average long-term AUM. Acquisition and transition-related charges of $1.4 million , as compared with $13.2 million in the prior year.

, as compared with in the prior year. The prior year quarter included a contingent consideration credit adjustment of $7.0 million .

. A $4.8 million gain in the market value of deferred compensation and seed investments, which is recorded as an increase in compensation and benefits with an offset in non-operating income, compared with a gain of $5.4 million in the prior year quarter.

Non-operating expense was $18.1 million, compared to $11.2 million in the prior year quarter reflecting:

A $1.2 million increase in interest expense for debt raised to pay for the Clarion and EnTrust acquisitions.

increase in interest expense for debt raised to pay for the Clarion and EnTrust acquisitions. A $3.7 million loss on the termination of an interest rate swap in the prior year quarter.

loss on the termination of an interest rate swap in the prior year quarter. Gains on corporate investments, not offset in compensation, were $2.4 million compared with gains of $7.3 million in the prior year quarter.

compared with gains of in the prior year quarter. Gains on funded deferred compensation and seed investments, as described above.

$2.1 million in gains associated with the consolidation of sponsored investment vehicles, as compared to $6.2 million in gains in the prior year quarter. The consolidation of sponsored investment vehicles has no impact on net income as the effects of consolidation are fully attributable to noncontrolling interests.

Operating margin was 18.8% as compared to 17.1% in the prior year quarter . Operating margin, as adjusted, was 24.9%, as compared to 22.7% in the prior year quarter.

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, excluding consolidated investment vehicles, was $10.4 million, compared to $14.4 million in the prior year quarter, principally related to Clarion, EnTrustPermal, RARE and Royce.

Quarterly Business Developments and Recent Announcements

ClearBridge's Large Cap Growth portfolio co-managers Margaret Vitrano and Peter Bourbeau won the Investment Advisor 2017 SMA Manager of the Year Award in the large cap equity category.

and won the 2017 SMA Manager of the Year Award in the large cap equity category. On July 14, 2017 , Legg Mason launched its first dedicated small-cap, multi-factor ETF sub-advised by Royce & Associates; Legg Mason Small-Cap Quality Value ETF (NASDAQ: SQLV).

, Legg Mason launched its first dedicated small-cap, multi-factor ETF sub-advised by Royce & Associates; Legg Mason Small-Cap Quality Value ETF (NASDAQ: SQLV). On October 5, 2017 , Moody's Investor Services affirmed the Baa1 senior debt rating of Legg Mason and moved the rating outlook from negative to stable.

Balance Sheet

At September 30, 2017, Legg Mason's cash position was $654 million. Total debt, net was $2.2 billion and stockholders' equity was $4.0 billion. The ratio of total debt to total capital was 36%, in line with the prior quarter. Seed investments totaled $279 million.

In the second fiscal quarter, the Company retired $90 million, or 2.3 million shares, in the open market. The net impact of the share activity reduced the weighted average shares by 1.1 million.

Conference Call to Discuss Results

A conference call to discuss the Company's results, hosted by Joseph A. Sullivan, will be held at 5:00 p.m. EDT today. The call will be open to the general public. Interested participants should access the call by dialing 1-800-447-0521 (or for international calls 1-847-413-3238), confirmation number 45681143, at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start to ensure connection. A live, listen-only webcast will also be available via the Investor Relations section of www.leggmason.com.

The presentation slides that will be reviewed during the discussion of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Legg Mason website shortly after the release of the financial results.

A replay of the live broadcast will be available on the Legg Mason website, www.leggmason.com, in the Investor Relations section, or by dialing 1-888-843-7419 (or for international calls 1-630-652-3042), enter pass code 45681143# when prompted. Please note that the replay will be available beginning at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, and ending at 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, November 8, 2017.

About Legg Mason

Legg Mason is a global asset management firm, with $754.4 billion in AUM as of September 30, 2017. The Company provides active asset management in many major investment centers throughout the world. Legg Mason is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, and its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: LM).

This release contains forward-looking statements subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, see "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Legg Mason's Annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 and in the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

Supplemental Data Regarding Quarterly Performance

Strategy Performance

For purposes of investment performance comparisons, strategies are an aggregation of discretionary portfolios (separate accounts, investment funds, and other products) into a single group that represents a particular investment objective. In the case of separate accounts, the investment performance of the account is based upon the performance of the strategy to which the account has been assigned. Each of our asset managers has its own specific guidelines for including portfolios in their strategies. For those managers which manage both separate accounts and investment funds in the same strategy, the performance comparison for all of the assets is based upon the performance of the separate account.

Approximately eighty-eight percent of total AUM is included in strategy AUM as of September 30, 2017, although not all strategies have three-, five-, and ten-year histories. Total strategy AUM includes liquidity assets. Certain assets are not included in reported performance comparisons. These include: accounts that are not managed in accordance with the guidelines outlined above; accounts in strategies not marketed to potential clients; accounts that have not yet been assigned to a strategy; and certain smaller products at some of our affiliates.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. For AUM included in institutional and retail separate accounts and investment funds managed in the same strategy as separate accounts, performance comparisons are based on gross-of-fee performance. For investment funds which are not managed in a separate account format, performance comparisons are based on net-of-fee performance. Funds-of-hedge funds generally do not have specified benchmarks. For purposes of this comparison, performance of those products is net of fees, and is compared to the relevant HFRX index. These performance comparisons do not reflect the actual performance of any specific separate account or investment fund; individual separate account and investment fund performance may differ. The information in this presentation is provided solely for use regarding this presentation, and is not directed toward existing or potential clients of Legg Mason.

Long-term US Fund Assets Beating Lipper Category Average

Long-term US fund assets include open-end, closed-end, and variable annuity funds. These performance comparisons do not reflect the actual performance of any specific fund; individual fund performance may differ. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Source: Lipper Inc.

LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited)

































Quarters Ended

Six Months Ended







September

June

September

September

September







2017

2017

2016

2017

2016 Operating Revenues:



















Investment advisory fees:





















Separate accounts (1) $ 253,128

$ 250,046

$ 233,328

$ 503,174

$ 460,181



Funds 393,035

382,228

377,079

775,263

740,542



Performance fees 40,821

81,537

41,970

122,358

59,429

Distribution and service fees (1) 80,668

78,906

94,545

159,574

185,927

Other 686

1,125

1,448

1,811

2,456





Total operating revenues 768,338

793,842

748,370

1,562,180

1,448,535

























Operating Expenses: (2)



















Compensation and benefits 367,951

413,307

368,330

781,258

726,955

Distribution and servicing 123,634

122,349

128,868

245,983

253,531

Communications and technology 51,299

50,303

51,281

101,602

104,013

Occupancy 25,171

24,408

30,558

49,579

63,700

Amortization of intangible assets 6,082

6,339

6,271

12,421

11,974

Impairment of intangible assets 

34,000



34,000



Contingent consideration fair value adjustments 

(16,550)

(7,000)

(16,550)

(25,000)

Other 49,782

52,481

42,429

102,263

112,174





Total operating expenses 623,919

686,637

620,737

1,310,556

1,247,347

























Operating Income 144,419

107,205

127,633

251,624

201,188

























Non-Operating Income (Expense):



















Interest income 1,572

1,468

1,545

3,040

3,393

Interest expense (29,077)

(29,266)

(27,925)

(58,343)

(52,490)

Other income, net 7,289

11,388

9,975

18,677

16,560

Non-operating income of





















consolidated investment vehicles, net 2,094

997

5,206

3,091

8,434





Total non-operating income (expense) (18,122)

(15,413)

(11,199)

(33,535)

(24,103)

























Income Before Income Tax Provision 126,297

91,792

116,434

218,089

177,085



























Income tax provision 38,673

28,255

29,902

66,928

45,213

























Net Income 87,624

63,537

86,532

151,161

131,872

Less: Net income attributable





















to noncontrolling interests 11,960

12,617

20,091

24,577

31,979

























Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. $ 75,664

$ 50,920

$ 66,441

$ 126,584

$ 99,893









































(Continued)

























(1) For the quarters ended September 30, 2017 and June 30, 2017, separate accounts advisory fees include $13.8 million and $12.4 million, respectively, of revenue relating to retail separately managed accounts for which revenues were previously classified as Distribution and service fees. See note 2 on page 12.

























(2) Operating expenses include acquisition and transition-related costs related to business combinations.



























Acquisition and transition-related costs:





















Compensation $ 1,115

$ 2,364

$ 6,821

$ 3,479

$ 37,007



Occupancy (23)

121

5,086

98

14,179



Other 266

77

1,269

343

18,775





Total acquisition and transition-related costs $ 1,358

$ 2,562

$ 13,176

$ 3,920

$ 69,961

LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, CONTINUED (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)























Quarters Ended

Six Months Ended

September

June

September

September

September

2017

2017

2016

2017

2016



















Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. $ 75,664

$ 50,920

$ 66,441

$ 126,584

$ 99,893



















Less: Earnings (distributed and undistributed)

















allocated to participating securities (1) 2,687

1,736

2,183

4,387

3,173



















Net Income (Distributed and Undistributed)

















Allocated to Shareholders (Excluding

















Participating Securities) $ 72,977

$ 49,184

$ 64,258

$ 122,197

$ 96,720



















Net Income per Share Attributable to

















Legg Mason, Inc. Shareholders:

















Basic $ 0.78

$ 0.52

$ 0.63

$ 1.30

$ 0.94



















Diluted $ 0.78

$ 0.52

$ 0.63

$ 1.29

$ 0.94



















Weighted-Average Number of Shares

















Outstanding:

















Basic 93,087

94,869

101,817

93,973

103,075 Diluted 93,496

95,297

102,057

94,390

103,301





















(1) Participating securities excluded from weighted-average number of shares outstanding were 3,417, 3,192, and 3,447 for the quarters ended September 2017, June 2017, and September 2016, respectively, and 3,305 and 3,291 for the six months ended September 2017 and September 2016, respectively.

LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited)







Quarters Ended







September 2017

June 2017

September 2016

















































Balance Before

Consolidation of

Consolidated

Investment

Vehicles and

Other (1)

Consolidated

Investment

Vehicles and

Other (1)

Consolidated

Totals Balance Before

Consolidation of

Consolidated

Investment

Vehicles and

Other (1)

Consolidated

Investment

Vehicles and

Other (1)

Consolidated

Totals Balance Before

Consolidation of

Consolidated

Investment

Vehicles and

Other(1)

Consolidated

Investment

Vehicles and

Other(1)

Consolidated

Totals





































Total operating revenues $ 768,361

$ (23)

$ 768,338 $ 793,886

$ (44)

$ 793,842 $ 748,384

$ (14)

$ 748,370 Total operating expenses 623,814

105

623,919 686,614

23

686,637 620,613

124

620,737 Operating Income (Loss) 144,547

(128)

144,419 107,272

(67)

107,205 127,771

(138)

127,633 Non-operating income (expense) (19,794)

1,672

(18,122) (16,128)

715

(15,413) (17,023)

5,824

(11,199) Income Before Income Tax Provision 124,753

1,544

126,297 91,144

648

91,792 110,748

5,686

116,434 Income tax provision 38,673



38,673 28,255



28,255 29,902



29,902 Net Income 86,080

1,544

87,624 62,889

648

63,537 80,846

5,686

86,532 Less: Net income attributable





























to noncontrolling interests 10,416

1,544

11,960 11,969

648

12,617 14,405

5,686

20,091 Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. $ 75,664

$ 

$ 75,664 $ 50,920

$ 

$ 50,920 $ 66,441

$ 

$ 66,441



























































































Six Months Ended



















September 2017

September 2016





























































Balance Before Consolidation of Consolidated Investment Vehicles and

Other (1)

Consolidated Investment Vehicles and Other (1)

Consolidated Totals Balance Before Consolidation of Consolidated Investment Vehicles and

Other(1)

Consolidated Investment Vehicles and

Other(1)

Consolidated Totals















































Total operating revenues $ 1,562,247

$ (67)

$ 1,562,180 $ 1,448,561

$ (26)

$ 1,448,535









Total operating expenses 1,310,428

128

1,310,556 1,247,124

223

1,247,347









Operating Income (Loss) 251,819

(195)

251,624 201,437

(249)

201,188









Non-operating income (expense) (35,922)

2,387

(33,535) (32,518)

8,415

(24,103)









Income Before Income Tax Provision 215,897

2,192

218,089 168,919

8,166

177,085









Income tax provision 66,928



66,928 45,213



45,213









Net Income 148,969

2,192

151,161 123,706

8,166

131,872









Less: Net income attributable





























to noncontrolling interests 22,385

2,192

24,577 23,813

8,166

31,979









Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. $ 126,584

$ 

$ 126,584 $ 99,893

$ 

$ 99,893



















































(1) Other represents consolidated sponsored investment products that are not designated as CIVs













LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING MARGIN, AS ADJUSTED (1)

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)







































Quarters Ended



Six Months Ended







































September

June

September



September

September









2017

2017

2016



2017

2016































Operating Revenues, GAAP basis $ 768,338

$ 793,842

$ 748,370



$ 1,562,180

$ 1,448,535

































Plus (less):

























Pass-through performance fees (19,874)

(65,431)

(35,831)



(85,305)

(50,431)





Operating revenues eliminated upon



























consolidation of investment vehicles 23

44

14



67

26





Distribution and servicing expense excluding



























consolidated investment vehicles (123,578)

(122,349)

(128,806)



(245,927)

(253,396)































Operating Revenues, as Adjusted $ 624,909

$ 606,106

$ 583,747



$ 1,231,015

$ 1,144,734





























































Operating Income, GAAP basis $ 144,419

$ 107,205

$ 127,633



$ 251,624

$ 201,188

































Plus (less):

























Gains on deferred compensation



























and seed investments, net 4,824

5,428

5,432



10,252

7,598





Impairment of intangible assets 

34,000





34,000







Amortization of intangible assets 6,082

6,339

6,271



12,421

11,974





Contingent consideration fair value adjustments 

(16,550)

(7,000)



(16,550)

(25,000)





Operating loss of consolidated investment



























vehicles, net 128

67

138



195

249































Operating Income, as Adjusted $ 155,453

$ 136,489

$ 132,474



$ 291,942

$ 196,009































Operating Margin, GAAP basis 18.8 % 13.5 % 17.1 %

16.1 % 13.9 % Operating Margin, as Adjusted 24.9

22.5

22.7



23.7

17.1































(1) See explanations for "Use of Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information."



LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SUPPLEMENTAL DATA RECONCILIATION OF CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO ADJUSTED EBITDA (1) (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited)

































Quarters Ended

Six Months Ended

































September

June

September

September

September







2017

2017

2016

2017

2016

























Cash provided by (used in) operating activities, GAAP basis $ 289,329

$ (113,580)

$ 303,829

$ 175,749

$ 137,859



























Plus (less):





















Interest expense, net of accretion and amortization























of debt discounts and premiums 28,343

28,330

26,487

56,673

50,393



Current tax expense 9,662

6,072

15,689

15,734

14,906



Net change in assets and liabilities (145,656)

213,323

(92,837)

67,667

129,588



Net change in assets and liabilities























of consolidated investment vehicles 1,235

31,789

(97,344)

33,024

(58,773)



Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (11,960)

(12,617)

(20,091)

(24,577)

(31,979)



Net gains (losses) and earnings on investments 1,491

5,546

1,103

7,037

(3,391)



Net gains on consolidated investment vehicles 2,094

997

5,206

3,091

8,434



Other 194

77

948

271

(499)

























Adjusted EBITDA $ 174,732

$ 159,937

$ 142,990

$ 334,669

$ 246,538



















































(1) See explanations for "Use of Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information."









LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (Amounts in billions) (Unaudited)































Assets Under Management





























Quarters Ended







By asset class: September 2017

June 2017

March 2017

December 2016

September 2016









Equity $ 201.2

$ 196.2

$ 179.8

$ 169.0

$ 168.4









Fixed Income 411.9

403.6

394.3

381.1

396.9









Alternative 65.8

66.5

67.9

71.5

72.0











Long-Term Assets 678.9

666.3

642.0

621.6

637.3









Liquidity 75.5

74.9

86.4

88.8

95.6











Total $ 754.4

$ 741.2

$ 728.4

$ 710.4

$ 732.9













































Quarters Ended

Six Months Ended By asset class (average): September 2017

June 2017

March 2017

December 2016

September 2016

September 2017

September 2016

Equity $ 198.9

$ 190.6

$ 174.2

$ 166.7

$ 166.1

$ 194.5

$ 164.6

Fixed Income 410.2

400.7

388.1

387.8

393.7

405.7

385.5

Alternative 66.0

67.4

70.4

71.3

72.1

66.7

63.8



Long-Term Assets 675.1

658.7

632.7

625.8

631.9

666.9

613.9

Liquidity 75.2

81.6

86.2

90.9

110.2

78.9

109.4



Total $ 750.3

$ 740.3

$ 718.9

$ 716.7

$ 742.1

$ 745.8

$ 723.3































































Component Changes in Assets Under Management

























Quarters Ended

Six Months Ended





September 2017

June 2017

March 2017

December 2016

September 2016

September 2017

September 2016 Beginning of period $ 741.2

$ 728.4

$ 710.4

$ 732.9

$ 741.9

$ 728.4

$ 669.6 Net client cash flows:

























Equity (2.0)

1.0

3.1

(3.7)

(1.5)

(1.0)

(4.5) Fixed Income 1.5

0.3

3.5

0.5

2.8

1.7

6.7 Alternative (0.7)

(0.8)

(2.7)

(0.8)

(1.6)

(1.5)

(3.6) Long-Term flows (1.2)

0.5

3.9

(4.0)

(0.3)

(0.8)

(1.4) Liquidity 0.2

(11.5)

(3.1)

(6.9)

(25.4)

(11.3)

(17.4) Total net client cash flows (1.0)

(11.0)

0.8

(10.9)

(25.7)

(12.1)

(18.8) Realizations(1) (0.5)

(1.3)







(1.9)

 Market performance and other(2) 12.5

24.7

17.1

(2.3)

15.7

37.4

27.9 Impact of foreign exchange 2.2

0.7

4.0

(8.4)

1.0

2.9

3.1 Acquisitions (disposition), net 

(0.3)

(3.9)

(0.9)



(0.3)

51.1 End of period $ 754.4

$ 741.2

$ 728.4

$ 710.4

$ 732.9

$ 754.4

$ 732.9































(1) Realizations represent investment manager-driven distributions primarily related to the sale of assets. Realizations are specific to our alternative managers and do not include client-driven distributions (e.g. client requested redemptions, liquidations or asset transfers). Realizations of $0.2 billion, $0.4 billion, $0.4 billion, and $0.3 billion were included in net client cash flows for the quarters ended March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016, September 30, 2016, and June 30, 2016, respectively.

(2) For the quarter ended June 30, 2017, Other includes a reclass, effective April 1, 2017, of $16.0 billion of certain assets which were previously included in Assets Under Advisement to Assets Under Management, specifically retail separately managed account programs that operate and have fee rates comparable to programs managed on a fully discretionary basis. These Assets Under Advisement as of the quarters ended March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016, and September 30, 2016 were $16.0 billion, $13.7 billion, and $12.8 billion, respectively. For the quarter ended June 30, 2017, Other also includes a $3.7 billion reconciliation to previously reported amounts.

(3) Due to effects of rounding, the sum of the quarterly results may differ immaterially from the year-to-date results.

































Use of Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information

As supplemental information, we are providing a performance measure for "Operating Margin, as Adjusted" and a liquidity measure for "Adjusted EBITDA", each of which are based on methodologies other than generally accepted accounting principles ("non-GAAP"). Our management uses these measures as benchmarks in evaluating and comparing our period-to-period operating performance and liquidity.

Operating Margin, as Adjusted

We calculate "Operating Margin, as Adjusted," by dividing (i) Operating Income, adjusted to exclude the impact on compensation expense of gains or losses on investments made to fund deferred compensation plans, the impact on compensation expense of gains or losses on seed capital investments by our affiliates under revenue sharing agreements, amortization related to intangible assets, income (loss) of consolidated investment vehicles, the impact of fair value adjustments of contingent consideration liabilities, if any, and impairment charges by (ii) our operating revenues, adjusted to add back net investment advisory fees eliminated upon consolidation of investment vehicles, less distribution and servicing expenses which we use as an approximate measure of revenues that are passed through to third parties, and less performance fees that are passed through as compensation expenses or net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests, which we refer to as "Operating Revenues, as Adjusted". The deferred compensation items are removed from Operating Income in the calculation because they are offset by an equal amount in Non-operating income (expense), and thus have no impact on Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. We adjust for the impact of amortization of management contract assets and the impact of fair value adjustments of contingent consideration liabilities, if any, which arise from acquisitions to reflect the fact that these items distort comparison of our operating results with results of other asset management firms that have not engaged in significant acquisitions. Impairment charges and income (loss) of consolidated investment vehicles are removed from Operating Income in the calculation because these items are not reflective of our core asset management operations. We use Operating Revenues, as Adjusted in the calculation to show the operating margin without distribution and servicing expenses, which we use to approximate our distribution revenues that are passed through to third parties as a direct cost of selling our products, although distribution and servicing expenses may include commissions paid in connection with the launching of closed-end funds for which there is no corresponding revenue in the period. We also use Operating Revenues, as Adjusted in the calculation to show the operating margin without performance fees, which are passed through as compensation expense or net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests per the terms of certain more recent acquisitions. Operating Revenues as adjusted also include our advisory revenues we receive from consolidated investment vehicles that are eliminated in consolidation under GAAP.

We believe that Operating Margin, as Adjusted, is a useful measure of our performance because it provides a measure of our core business activities. It excludes items that have no impact on Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. and indicates what our operating margin would have been without the distribution revenues that are passed through to third parties as a direct cost of selling our products, performance fees that are passed through as compensation expense or net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests per the terms of certain more recent acquisitions, amortization related to intangible assets, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities, if any, impairment charges, and the impact of the consolidation of certain investment vehicles described above. The consolidation of these investment vehicles does not have an impact on Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. This measure is provided in addition to our operating margin calculated under GAAP, but is not a substitute for calculations of margins under GAAP and may not be comparable to non-GAAP performance measures, including measures of adjusted margins of other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA

We define Adjusted EBITDA as cash provided by (used in) operating activities plus (minus) interest expense, net of accretion and amortization of debt discounts and premiums, current income tax expense (benefit), the net change in assets and liabilities, net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, net gains (losses) and earnings on investments, net gains (losses) on consolidated investment vehicles, and other. The net change in assets and liabilities adjustment aligns with the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Adjusted EBITDA is not reduced by equity-based compensation expense, including management equity plan non-cash issuance-related charges. Most management equity plan units may be put to or called by Legg Mason for cash payment, although their terms do not require this to occur.

We believe that this measure is useful to investors and us as it provides additional information with regard to our ability to meet working capital requirements, service our debt, and return capital to our shareholders. This measure is provided in addition to Cash provided by operating activities and may not be comparable to non-GAAP performance measures or liquidity measures of other companies, including their measures of EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA. Further, this measure is not to be confused with Net Income, Cash provided by operating activities, or other measures of earnings or cash flows under GAAP, and are provided as a supplement to, and not in replacement of, GAAP measures.

We have previously disclosed Adjusted EBITDA that conformed to calculations required by our debt covenants, which adjusted for certain items that required cash settlement that are not part of the current definition.

SOURCE Legg Mason, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.leggmason.com


MIAMI, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Skyscanner, the global travel search engine, has compiled all the necessary data to aid users as they plan their travel for the Thanksgiving holiday. Before joining the more than 20 million passengers planning to fly to a destination this season, Skyscanner identified the areas of most interest for travelers and unveiled some new data from its more than 60 million monthly users to help guide the decision-making process.

As far as duration of travel, Skyscanner found that the most common itineraries are those lasting four and seven days. This is an interesting data point as it shows travelers are more and more inclined to extend their travel during this time of year. In addition, rather than analyze which airports are expected to receive the most traffic overall during Thanksgiving, Skyscanner created a day-by-day breakdown to show which airports are expected to be busiest and which travelers may want to consider avoiding throughout the entire holiday week. (Note: Seattle, you're in trouble).

"The best time to book travel is not only about finding the best fare but also about being prepared for what can undoubtedly be an overwhelming time for air travel," said Randi Wolfson, Head of Communications for the Americas, Skyscanner. "Our data answers the questions on the minds of most travelers in order to facilitate the booking process as well as the travel experience itself."

MOST POPULAR TRAVEL ITINERARY DATES 1 - Flying out Saturday, November 18, 2017 - Returning Saturday, November 25, 2017 2 - Flying out Wednesday, November 22, 2017 - Returning Sunday, November 26, 2017 3 - Flying out Wednesday, November 22, 2017 - Returning Monday, November 27, 2017 4 - Flying out Friday, November 17, 2017 - Returning Sunday November 26, 2017

BUSIEST AIRPORTS Monday, November 20 - Boston (BOS) - Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Tuesday, November 21 - Boston (BOS - Denver (DEN) Wednesday, November 22 - Chicago (ORD) - Seattle (SEA) Thursday, November 23 - New York-La Guardia (LGA) - Seattle (SEA) Friday, November 24 - Orlando (MCO) - Seattle (SEA) Saturday, November 25 - Honolulu (HNL) - Orlando (MCO) Sunday, November 26 - Newark (EWR) - Seattle (SEA)

Skyscanner helps travelers save time and money by finding the best travel options wherever they want to go. As one if not the most anticipated times for travel all year long, Skyscanner encourages travelers to do their research when it comes to booking their travel for the holidays so they are able to find the best deals:

Consider nearby airports other than your home airport to help lower costs.

The Show Whole Month search tool allows users to view the entire month at-a-glance to determine the best dates by price.

Price alerts allow travelers to track the cost of a desired flight route and purchase a fare once the price drops.

For more information, please visit: https://www.skyscanner.com/news/skyscanner-unveils-best-time-book-thanksgiving-flights

About Skyscanner

Skyscanner is a leading global travel search company providing free search of flights, hotels and car rental. Founded in 2003 Skyscanner helps to meet the travel planning needs of over 60 million people each month. Skyscanner is available in over 30 languages. Skyscanner's highly-rated free mobile app has been downloaded over 60 million times. The privately-owned company employs over 900 staff and has ten global offices in Edinburgh, Singapore, Beijing, Shenzhen, Miami, Barcelona, Glasgow, Sofia, Budapest and London. For more information, please visit http://www.skyscanner.com and our news site.

Methodology:

Skyscanner holiday travel data is based on historic search and exit data collated over the past two years. US to US round-trip travel for one-adult ticket was analyzed.

SOURCE Skyscanner

Related Links

http://skyscanner.net


The Company has now completed a total of 12 holes for 1,010 metres testing the Main and Northwest zones on the Glencore Bucke Property. Cobalt camp style mineralization has visually been noted in every drill hole that the Company has completed. The historical drilling program outlined two separate vein systems hosting significant cobalt and silver values. The Main Zone, currently is 152 m in length, and the Northwest Zone, measuring 70 m in length. The Main Zone had a north-south strike, which is hypothesized as the southern extension of the #3 vein from the Cobalt Contact Mine located immediately to the north of the property (Bresee, 1982).

Building on what can be described as a successful start to its exploration program, the Company has decided to add a second drill rig to fast forward the overall exploration program. Furthermore, late last week the Company began the preparation of the Teledyne property for drilling its initial drill targets. As of Sunday October 22, 2017, this added drill rig commenced drilling on the Teledyne Property. The first drill hole testing the cobalt/silver targets of the Teledyne property that were previously identified by Teledyne Canada Ltd., that are considered to be extensions from the past producing Agaunico Mine.

Tim Fernback, President & CEO of LiCo, states, "We are still encouraged with the visual results that have been noted in the drill core to date and also excited with the second drill rig has now started to test the Teledyne Property. The core samples from the initial drill holes have recently been sent to the laboratory for analysis and LiCo is anxiously waiting to receive the results." For more information on LiCo's Teledyne and Glencore Bucke Properties listen to Tim Fernback's latest audio interview with SmallCapVoice.com here: http://smallcapvoice.com/blog/10-23-17-smallcapvoice-interview-with-lico-energy-metals-inc-wctxf/.

LiCo will remain drilling on the Glencore Bucke property, while the second drill rig will be used to test the drill targets identified by management on the Teledyne Property. The Teledyne and Glencore Bucke Properties are managed by Joerg Kleinboeck, P.Geo. (LiCo's QP), and supervised by Mr. Dwayne Melrose, Director and Head of the Technical Advisory Board of LiCo.

The overall drilling program will be conducted as part of LiCo's flow thru financing and work commitments for the Glencore Bucke and Teledyne Properties.

About LiCo Energy Metals: https://licoenergymetals.com/

LiCo Energy Metals Inc. is a Canadian-based exploration company whose primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's focus is directed towards exploration for high value metals integral to the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries.

Glencore Bucke Cobalt Project, Cobalt, Ontario :

The Company has entered into a property purchase agreement to acquire a 100% interest from Glencore Canada Corporation (subsidiary of Glencore plc) in the Glencore Bucke Property, situated in Bucke Township, 6 km east-northeast of Cobalt, Ontario, subject to a back-in provision, production royalty and off-take agreement. Strategically, the Glencore Bucke Property consists of 16.2 hectares and sits along the west boundary of LiCo's Teledyne Cobalt Project. The Property covers the southern extension of the #3 vein that was historically mined on the neighbouring Cobalt Contact Property located to the north of the Glencore Bucke Property. Diamond drilling in 1981 on the Glencore Bucke Property delineated two zones of mineralization measuring 150 m and 70 m in length.

Ontario Teledyne Cobalt Project:

The Company has an option to earn 100% ownership, subject to a royalty, in the Teledyne Project located near Cobalt, Ontario. The Property adjoins the south and west boundaries of claims that hosted the Agaunico Mine. From 1905 through to 1961, the Agaunico Mine produced a total of 4,350,000 lbs. of cobalt and 980,000 oz. of silver. A significant portion of the cobalt that was produced at the Agaunico Mine located along structures that extended southward onto property currently under option to LiCo Energy Metals.

Chile Purickuta Lithium Project:

The Purickuta Project is located within Salar de Atacama, a salt flat encompassing 3,000 km2, being about 100 km long, 80 km wide and home to approximately 37% of the worlds Lithium production. The salar possesses a very high grade of both Lithium (1,840mg/l) and Potassium (22,630mg/l) and is close to power, labour, communications, transportation and other infrastructure. The property of 160 hectares is enveloped by a concession owned by Sociedad Quimica y Minera ("SQM") and lies, significantly, within a few kilometers of the property of CORFO (the Chilean Economic Development Agency) where its leases to both SQM and Albermarle's Rockwood Lithium Corp Together these two companies have combined production of over 62,000 tonnes of LCE (Lithium Carbonate Equivalent) annually making up 100% of Chile's current lithium output. The unique characteristics of Salar de Atacama make finished lithium carbonate easier and cheaper to produce than any of its peer group globally.

Purickuta is a smaller exploitation concession rather than a large exploration concession thereby accelerating the task of taking the project to production once a measured reserve can be established. Currently, the Chilean government retains ownership of lithium separate from other minerals and thus production can only proceed upon receipt of a special lithium operation contract know as a "CEOL". In the future, it will be necessary for LiCo and partner to negotiate a production contract with CORFO concurrently with completing any positive feasibility study. "Chile, which has one of the world's most plentiful supplies of lithium, is pushing ahead with new policies to develop those reserves". (Reuters Jan 2, 2017).

Nevada Dixie Valley Lithium Project:

The Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest, subject to a 3% NSR, on a large lithium exploration project at the Humboldt Salt Marsh in Dixie Valley, Nevada. The geologic setting and presence of lithium in active geothermal fluids and surface salts in Dixie Valley match characteristics of producing lithium brine deposits at Clayton Valley, Nevada and in South America.

Nevada Black Rock Desert Lithium Project:

The Company has entered into an option agreement whereby the Company may earn an undivided 100% interest, subject to a 3% NSR, in the Black Rock Desert Lithium Project in southwest Black Rock Desert, Washoe County, Nevada.

The Company is planning exploration programs on a number of its properties over the next several months. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved Joerg Kleinboeck, P.Geo., an independent consulting geologist and a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Tim Fernback, President & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information:

This news release may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statements.

Contact:

Phone: +1(236)521-0207

LiCoEnergyMetals.com



SOURCE LiCo Energy Metals Inc.

Related Links

https://licoenergymetals.com/


The Company has now completed a total of 12 holes for 1,010 metres testing the Main and Northwest zones on the Glencore Bucke Property. Cobalt camp style mineralization has visually been noted in every drill hole that the Company has completed. The historical drilling program outlined two separate vein systems hosting significant cobalt and silver values. The Main Zone, currently is 152 m in length, and the Northwest Zone, measuring 70 m in length. The Main Zone had a north-south strike, which is hypothesized as the southern extension of the #3 vein from the Cobalt Contact Mine located immediately to the north of the Property (Bresee, 1982).

Building on what can be described as a successful start to its exploration program, the Company has decided to add a second drill rig to fast forward the overall exploration program. Furthermore, late last week the Company begun the preparation of the Teledyne property for drilling its initial drill targets. As of Sunday October 22, 2017, this added drill rig commenced drilling on the Teledyne Property. The first drill hole testing the cobalt/silver targets of the Teledyne property that were previously identified by Teledyne Canada Ltd., that are considered to be extensions from the past producing Agaunico Mine.

Tim Fernback, President & CEO of LiCo, stated, "We are still encouraged with the visual results that have been noted in the drill core to date and also excited with the second drill rig has now started to test the Teledyne Property. The core samples from the initial drill holes have recently been sent to the laboratory for analysis and LiCo is anxiously waiting to receive the results." For more information on LiCo's Teledyne and Glencore Bucke Properties, listen to Tim Fernback's latest audio interview with SmallCapVoice.com here: http://smallcapvoice.com/blog/10-23-17-smallcapvoice-interview-with-lico-energy-metals-inc-wctxf/.

LiCo will remain drilling on the Glencore Bucke property, while the second drill rig will be used to test the drill targets identified by management on the Teledyne Property. The Teledyne and Glencore Bucke Properties are managed by Joerg Kleinboeck, P.Geo. (LiCo's QP), and supervised by Mr. Dwayne Melrose, Director and Head of the Technical Advisory Board of LiCo.

The overall drilling program will be conducted as part of LiCo's flow thru financing and work commitments for the Glencore Bucke and Teledyne Properties.

About LiCo Energy Metals: https://licoenergymetals.com/



LiCo Energy Metals Inc. is a Canadian based exploration company whose primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's focus is directed towards exploration for high value metals integral to the manufacture of lithium ion batteries.

Glencore Bucke Cobalt Project, Cobalt, Ontario : The Company has entered into a property purchase agreement to acquire a 100% interest from Glencore Canada Corporation (subsidiary of Glencore plc) in the Glencore Bucke Property, situated in Bucke Township, 6 km east-northeast of Cobalt, Ontario, subject to a back-in provision, production royalty and off-take agreement. Strategically, the Glencore Bucke Property consists of 16.2 hectares and sits along the west boundary of LiCo's Teledyne Cobalt Project. The Property covers the southern extension of the #3 vein that was historically mined on the neighbouring Cobalt Contact Property located to the north of the Glencore Bucke Property. Diamond drilling in 1981 on the Glencore Bucke Property delineated two zones of mineralization measuring 150 m and 70 m in length.

Ontario Teledyne Cobalt Project:



The Company has an option to earn 100% ownership, subject to a royalty, in the Teledyne Project located near Cobalt. Ontario. The Property adjoins the south and west boundaries of claims that hosted the Agaunico Mine. From 1905 through to 1961, the Agaunico Mine produced a total of 4,350,000 lbs. of cobalt and 980,000 oz. of silver. A significant portion of the cobalt that was produced at the Agaunico Mine located along structures that extended southward onto property currently under option to LiCo Energy Metals.

Chile Purickuta Lithium Project:



The Purickuta Project is located within Salar de Atacama, a salt flat encompassing 3,000 km2, being about 100 km long, 80 km wide and home to approximately 37% of the worlds Lithium production. The salar possesses a very high grade of both Lithium (1,840mg/l) and Potassium (22,630mg/l and is close to power, labour, communications, transportation and other infrastructure. The property of 160 hectares is enveloped by a concession owned by Sociedad Quimica y Minera ("SQM") and lies, significantly, within a few kilometers of the property of CORFO (the Chilean Economic Development Agency) where its leases to both SQM and Albermarle's Rockwood Lithium Corp Together these two companies have combined production of over 62,000 tonnes of LCE (Lithium Carbonate Equivalent) annually making up 100% of Chile's current lithium output. The unique characteristics of Salar de Atacama make finished lithium carbonate easier and cheaper to produce than any of its peer group globally.

Purickuta is a smaller exploitation concession rather than a large exploration concession thereby accelerating the task of taking the project to production once a measured reserve can be established. Currently, the Chilean government retains ownership of lithium separate from other minerals and thus production can only proceed upon receipt of a special lithium operation contract know as a "CEOL". In the future, it will be necessary for LiCo and partner to negotiate a production contract with CORFO concurrently with completing any positive feasibility study. "Chile, which has one of the world's most plentiful supplies of lithium, is pushing ahead with new policies to develop those reserves". (Reuters, Jan 2, 2017).

Nevada Dixie Valley Lithium Project:



The Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest, subject to a 3% NSR, on a large lithium exploration project at the Humboldt Salt Marsh in Dixie Valley, Nevada. The geologic setting and presence of lithium in active geothermal fluids and surface salts in Dixie Valley match characteristics of producing lithium brine deposits at Clayton Valley, Nevada and in South America.

Nevada Black Rock Desert Lithium Project:



The Company has entered into an option agreement whereby the Company may earn an undivided 100% interest, subject to a 3% NSR, in the Black Rock Desert Lithium Project in southwest Black Rock Desert, Washoe County, Nevada.

The Company is planning an exploration programs on a number of its properties over the next several months. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved Joerg Kleinboeck, P.Geo., an independent consulting geologist and a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors



Tim Fernback, President & CEO



Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information:



This news release may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statements.

Contact:

Phone : +1(236) 521-0207

LiCoEnergyMetals.com

SOURCE LiCo Energy Metals Inc.

Related Links

https://licoenergymetals.com/


The yogi is the first home environmental test kit that enables consumers to get a complete snapshot of their indoor air quality (IAQ) from a certified laboratory. Before the yogi, in order to get a robust IAQ assessment, consumers had to cobble together various off-the-shelf products that often only test for one contaminant, or hire a team of professionals, often costing triple the price of the yogi.

Empowering Consumers

The Live Pure brand was established to educate and empower people to be their own health advocates. "The trend of consumers taking their health decisions into their own hands has been growing for the last two decades, and is underscored by what's been happening in the health insurance industry," notes Live Pure founder, Greg Sancoff.

"The yogi ultimately represents an important step in a consumer's journey to improved health. It delivers professional, reliable, actionable results at a do-it-yourself price, typically about one-third the cost of hiring a team of professionals," states Sancoff.

Peace of mind  Simplicity  Value

Along with value, the yogi offers simplicity and peace of mind. After completing easy sample collections, customers send their samples to our certified lab, with all lab fees and shipping charges included. Next, a full lab report and results summary are electronically delivered within 10 business days, with privacy assured.

Another valuable service the yogi provides is a complimentary 15-minute consultation with Live Pure's certified industrial hygienists should customers receive a report with high contaminant levels. This unbiased consult equips consumers with the key information needed to address these challenges.

Following product launch, the yogi will be featured at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology's Annual Scientific Meeting October 27-29, 2017.

About Live Pure, Inc.

Live Pure, Inc. is a designer and manufacturer of products that help consumers assess the quality, health and safety of their indoor environments. Our mission is to educate our customers about their indoor air and drinking water quality, and provide the information necessary to take action to improve their well-being. The yogi was inspired by our vision of bringing innovative, professional tools to market that enable consumers to assess their indoor environment and become their own health advocates. Live Pure's products are assembled at its corporate headquarters located in the beautiful New Hampshire seacoast region.

SOURCE Live Pure, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.livepureinc.com


ROSEVILLE, Calif., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Always Best Care Senior Services, one of the leading senior care franchise systems in the United States, announced today that Teemol Nadakal, with support from her husband Mat, has opened Always Best Care of Northern Dallas. Located at 6401 Eldorado Pkwy, Suite 328, the new McKinney-based agency provides senior care to communities throughout McKinney and the surrounding areas of Allen and East Frisco.

"Always Best Care upholds a strong set of values that reflected my own. After many years working in patient care, I decided it was time to make a bigger impact in my community and open my own senior care agency," said Nadakal. "The Always Best Care business model offers limitless resources for its franchisees to utilize. This path is aligned with my family's goal to engage in philanthropic work and I look forward to providing the families of Northern Dallas with the best care possible."

Originally from India, the Nadakals have lived in the United States for thirty years, and moved to the Dallas area in 2012. Prior to joining Always Best Care, Teemol established a career in the healthcare industry by caring for elderly clients for nearly two decades. Additionally, the couple is actively involved in community activities associated with their Catholic congregations.

"We have seen the tremendous potential for Always Best Care in Texas, which is why it continues to be a target of our expansion efforts," said Jake Brown, CEO of Always Best Care Senior Services. "The Nadakals are perfect addition to our franchise system, bringing both experience and passion to Always Best Care. We're thrilled they have chosen to join us and bring our services to the communities of McKinney, Allen and East Frisco."

Always Best Care is one of the nation's leading providers of non-medical in-home care, assisted living placement services and skilled home health care. The company delivers its services through an international network of more than 200 independently owned and operated franchise territories throughout the United States and Canada. Always Best Care of Northern Dallas will specialize in memory care, dementia care and fall prevention.

By working with case managers, social workers, discharge planners, doctors, and families, Always Best Care franchise owners provide affordable, comprehensive solutions that can be specifically matched to meet a client's particular physical or social needs. The hallmark services of the Always Best Care include non-medical in-home care and assisted living finder and referral services, with skilled home health care now being phased in throughout the country.

For additional information on services available through Always Best Care of Northern Dallas, or for a free evaluation, please call 469-900-9944, email [email protected] or visit www.abc-northerndallas.com.

About Always Best Care

Founded in 1996, Always Best Care Senior Services is based on the belief that having the right people for the right level of care means peace of mind for the client and family. Always Best Care assists seniors with a wide range of illnesses and personal needs, and currently provides more than 4 million hours of care every year.

Always Best Care also offers an exclusive program called Always in Touch, a telephone reassurance program that provides a daily phone call to seniors and disabled adults who are living alone and have limited contact with the outside world. Always in Touch is the only absolutely free national telephone reassurance program of its kind anywhere in the USA and Canada. For more information on Always in Touch, or to request an application, visit www.Always-in-Touch.com.

CONTACT:

Chelsea Bear

Fish Consulting

954-893-9150

[email protected]

SOURCE Always Best Care

Related Links

http://www.alwaysbestcare.com


DENVER, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LoHi Merchant Bank, a middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of Andrews Securities, a FINRA registered broker dealer with over 20 licensed representatives in 10 states. The acquisition now brings together the two synergistic firms under the management of LoHi Merchant Bank co-founders Bobbi Babitz and Brett Story. The business, to be renamed LoHi Securities, offers tailored compliance services for independent investment bankers, banking teams and alternative investment funds.

The acquisition will further fuel LoHi Securities' growth across the country and allow it to attract larger investment banking teams as well as top-tier placement agents working with private investment funds and registered investment advisors who require FINRA registration. Registered representatives will have the opportunity to collaborate with LoHi Merchant bank on transactions, as well as with other representatives on the platform.

"We are delighted to announce this milestone," noted Babitz. "As bankers first and foremost, we experienced the frustration of trying to find an independent broker dealer that understood institutional investment banking and alternative investment fundraising, so when we couldn't find one, we developed our own."

LoHi Securities has invested heavily in technology to enhance its service offering  resulting in strong growth in 2017. Additionally, in contrast to other small broker dealers which outsource compliance functions, LoHi Securities maintains a dedicated, full-time staff with decades of finance, legal, technology and operations experience.

In addition to Story and Babitz, the LoHi Securities team consists of Chief Financial Officer Andrew Hurry, Managing Director Katie Jaffe, and Chief Technology Officer Sarel Doglu. For more information, please visit www.lohicap.com.

About LoHi Merchant Bank: Founded in 2013, LoHi Merchant Bank specializes in capital raise and M&A transactions for middle market companies in North America and Europe where it acts as both intermediary and in a co-investment capacity on a deal by deal basis.

Media contact:

Bobbi Babitz

[email protected]

303-717-9869

SOURCE LoHi Merchant Bank
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lonely Planet, the largest travel guide publisher in the world, has ranked Jacksonville in its Best in Travel 2018 list as one of the world's Top 10 Best Value Destinations.

Jacksonville is the only American city to make the list in the #9 spot. The publisher highlights Jacksonville's beaches, park system, family-friendly food scene, craft beer scene, affordable hotel rates, and all that can be experienced in the city as the main attributes for the ranking. While Jacksonville was the only American city on the list, Arizona as a whole state took the #2 spot on the Top 10 list.

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2018 is the highly anticipated collection of the world's hottest destinations that should be on every traveler's wish list in the year ahead. The travel media authority reveals its selections of the Top 10 Countries, Cities, Regions and Best Value Destinations that Lonely Planet's experts recommend travelers experience in 2018.

Check out the rest of Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2018 list: www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel and read what they have to say about Jacksonville HERE.

In 2017, Jacksonville has also been ranked as one of Florida's and the nations' most affordable travel destinations by TripAdvisor, Expedia, TripstoDiscover.com, SmartAssert.com and CNBC. To find out all there is to do, see and explore in this destination go to www.visitjacksonville.com.

Read this release online HERE.

About Visit Jacksonville

Visit Jacksonville is a Destinations International accredited Destination Marketing Organization contracted by the Duval County Tourist Development Council (TDC) to champion the growth of business and leisure tourism in Northeast Florida. For a closer look at all there is to see and do in Jacksonville, go to www.VisitJacksonville.com or contact 800-733-2668.

About Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveler since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travelers. Lonely Planet can be found on lonelyplanet.com, mobile, video and in 14 languages, nine international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks and more. Visit us at lonelyplanet.com.

Media Contact:

Patty Jimenez

[email protected]

(904) 421- 9169

SOURCE Visit Jacksonville and the Beaches

Related Links

https://www.visitjacksonville.com


LOS ANGELES, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of South Los Angeles children will now have access to high-speed Internet for homework and educational purposes thanks to a new partnership between Bel Air Internet, a Southern California-based Internet provider, and the Newton LAPD Community Youth Activities League (C.Y.A.L) program, just the first step in Bel Air Internet's larger goal in bridging the digital divide for children throughout underserved parts of Los Angeles.

Bel Air Internet's larger goal in bridging the digital divide for children

The LAPD C.Y.A.L. Program provides safe, supervised after-school educational and recreational activities for children in their neighborhoods. Bel Air Internet has donated much-needed high-speed Internet for the Newton Division C.Y.A.L. program's two community centers, both of which service hundreds of children after school each week.

While the C.Y.A.L. center at the Newton police station had 40 working laptops, there was only enough broadband for two of them to access the Internet at a time. With the new high-speed Internet service donated by Bel Air Internet both there and at the Alba Recreational Center, students at these C.Y.A.L centers can now more effectively use the Internet to complete assignments and perform research projects, as well as to utilize educational software to learn vital reading and math skills. Adults in the community will also have the opportunity to use the Internet to complete ESL coursework and learn valuable tech skills.

"Finally, we get this here," said C.Y.A.L. Program Coordinator Gerardo Gomez. "It gives the kids an opportunity to work on their homeworkMost of the kids here cannot afford Internet at home."

The partnership came together with the assistance of Councilman Curren D. Price, Jr., who was aware of the need for broadband in his community. When he met with Terry Koosed, the CEO of Bel Air Internet, who was actively looking for ways to help bridge the "digital divide" among underserved children throughout the city, Councilman Price immediately pointed them to the Newton Division C.Y.A.L. program in his district.

Christopher Zuniga, a young C.Y.A.L. participant, was excited at the prospect of being able to use the Internet to research items for his homework. "I don't own a computer and I would always have to ask my neighbor to let me borrow his computer. Now I don't have to."

Koosed points to the C.Y.A.L. program partnership as a promising first step in his larger goal of bridging the digital divide among the youth of Los Angeles. "Unfortunately, the large Telco's have all decided it's not worth it to bring high-speed Internet into certain neighborhoods. By donating high-speed Internet to these centers, we're hoping to do our part to even the playing field and create a more successful future for these kids. Who knows what genius mind is out there just waiting to be given a fantastic educational opportunity?"

Bel Air Internet is in the process of donating high-speed Internet to several more community centers in need, with a goal of lighting up Internet for 5000 underserved Los Angeles children by the end of year.

Media Contact:

Jessica Etting

[email protected]

8184492626

SOURCE Bel Air Internet
The proceeds from the placement will be used to facilitate strategic initiatives, support the company's organic growth and market expansion activities, and for general corporate purposes. The company placed the common stock with accredited investors from the communities the bank serves as well as existing institutional investors.

QUOTES: "We're experiencing phenomenal growth at MainStreet. This new capital will support our continued growth opportunities as we strive to enhance value for our shareholders," said Chairman and CEO Jeff W. Dick. "The Washington, DC metropolitan area remains vibrant with diverse opportunities for good conservative growth."

"This capital raise is a vote of confidence from the market - especially since the offering was over-subscribed beyond what we offered." said Chris Brockett, MainStreet's President. "We proudly welcome our new shareholders to the MNSB family and appreciate the confidence they have shown in our team."

FinPro Capital Advisors, Inc. served as the sole placement agent for the private placement. MainStreet Bancshares, Inc. was advised by the law firm of Jones Walker LLP. The common shares sold in the private placement are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or the securities laws of any other state or other jurisdiction and were issued pursuant to exemptions from registration.

ABOUT MAINSTREET BANK: MainStreet operates five branches in Herndon, Fairfax, Fairfax City, McLean and Clarendon, with a sixth branch coming soon to Leesburg Virginia. In addition, MainStreet has 55,000 free ATMs and a fully integrated online and mobile banking solution. The Bank is not restricted by a conventional branching system, as it can offer business customers the ability to Put Our Bank in Your Office. With robust and easy-to-use online business banking technology, MainStreet has literally "put our bank" in over 1,000 businesses in the Metropolitan area.

MainStreet has a full complement of payment system services for third party payment providers. MainStreet has a nationally known and leading market expert on-staff ready to help payment providers create a solution perfect for their needs.

MainStreet has a robust line of business and professional lending products, including government contracting lines of credit, commercial lines and term loans, residential and commercial construction and commercial real estate. MainStreet also works with the SBA to offer 7A and 504 lending solutions. From mobile banking and Apple Pay to instant-issue Debit Cards, MainStreet Bank is always looking for ways to improve its customer experience. Additionally, MainStreet released Aircharity in 2012. Aircharity is a unique solution that empowers people and organizations to raise money via email, websites and social media. The product allows a customer to open an account and accept donations from debit cards, credit cards and electronic checks.

MainStreet Bank was the first community bank in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area to offer a full online business banking solution. MainStreet Bank was also the first bank headquartered in the Commonwealth of Virginia to offer CDARS  a solution that provides multi-million-dollar FDIC insurance. Further information on the Bank can be obtained by visiting its website at mstreetbank.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements, including our expectations with respect to future events that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations include: fluctuation in market rates of interest and loan and deposit pricing, adverse changes in the overall national economy as well as adverse economic conditions in our specific market areas, maintenance and development of well-established and valued client relationships and referral source relationships, and acquisition or loss of key production personnel. Other risks that can affect the Bank are detailed from time to time in our annual reports. We caution readers that the list of factors above is not exclusive. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and we may not undertake steps to update the forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of any circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements are made. In addition, our past results of operations are not necessarily indicative of future performance.

Contact: Jeff W. Dick

(703) 481-4567

SOURCE MainStreet Bancshares, Inc.
TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (TSX: CF) is scheduled to release its second quarter results and supplementary financial information on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 after TSX market close. Interested investors, the media and other stakeholders may review the earnings release and supplementary financial information at www.canaccordgenuitygroup.com.

QUARTERLY CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST:

Interested parties are invited to listen to Canaccord Genuity's second quarter results conference call, via live webcast or a toll-free number. The conference call is scheduled for Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 5:00 a.m. Pacific time, 8:00 a.m. Eastern time, 1:00 p.m. UK time, 9:00 p.m. China Standard Time, and midnight Australia EDT. During the call, senior executives will comment on the results and respond to questions from analysts and institutional investors.

The conference call may be accessed live and archived on a listen-only basis at: http://www.canaccordgenuitygroup.com/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Events.aspx

Analysts and institutional investors can call in via telephone at:

647-427-7450 (within Toronto )

) 1-888-231-8191 (toll free outside Toronto )

) 0-800-051-7107 (toll free from the United Kingdom )

) 0-800-91-7449 (toll free from France )

) 10-800-714-1191 (toll free from Northern China )

) 10-800-140-1195 (toll free from Southern China )

) 1-800-287-011 (toll free from Australia )

) 800-017-8071 (toll free from United Arab Emirates )

Please ask to participate in the Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. Q2/18 results call. If a passcode is requested, please use 93950590.

A replay of the conference call will be made available from approximately two hours after the live call on November 8, 2017, until December 22, 2017 at 416-849-0833 or 1-855-859-2056 by entering passcode 93950590 followed by the (#) key.

ABOUT CANACCORD GENUITY GROUP INC.:

Through its principal subsidiaries, Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (the "Company") is a leading independent, full-service financial services firm, with operations in two principal segments of the securities industry: wealth management and capital markets. Since its establishment in 1950, the Company has been driven by an unwavering commitment to building lasting client relationships. We achieve this by generating value for our individual, institutional and corporate clients through comprehensive investment solutions, brokerage services and investment banking services. The Company has offices in 10 countries worldwide, including Wealth Management offices located in Canada, the UK, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man and Australia. Canaccord Genuity, the international capital markets division, operates in Canada, the US, the UK, France, Ireland, Hong Kong, China, Australia and Dubai. To us there are no foreign markets.TM

Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. is publicly traded under the symbol CF on the TSX.

SOURCE Canaccord Genuity Group Inc.

Related Links

http://www.canaccord.com


MIAMI, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The upcoming conference, Progress Made Possible: Better Outcomes at the Intersection of Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice will be held in Miami, Florida, Dec. 3-5, 2017. The conference is being organized with support from the Mental Health Foundation and is being hosted by the Institute for Behavioral Healthcare Improvements. Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz, MD, Ph.D., recently confirmed to serve as the head of the federal government's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), will join other national leaders at an upcoming conference.

Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz, MD, Ph.D. Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse in the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. McCance-Katz advises the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary on improving Behavioral Health Care in America and leads SAMHSA's efforts.

As the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse in the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. McCance-Katz advises the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary on improving Behavioral Health Care in America and leads SAMHSA's efforts.

The Institute for Behavioral Healthcare Improvement (IBHI) with support from the Mental Health Foundation, is presenting the conference. It will showcase the remarkable progress that can be achieved when community leaders and other stakeholders work together to better coordinate efforts and integrate programs. This is IBHI's second national conference.

"Communities across the country are struggling with behavioral health challenges but there are places where the right set of leaders are coming together and making progress," said Stuart Buttlaire, President of the IBHI Board of Directors. "We can learn from each other and having Secretary McCance-Katz join us provides a great opportunity for meaningful national dialogue."

The conference will also feature the Hon. Steven Leifman, Associate Administrative Judge, Miami-Dade County, who has earned national recognition for his tireless reform work to bring people together to improve Florida's criminal justice and behavioral health systems. His keynote address and other program presentations will highlight Miami's story. It is an example of what is possible with a city's dedication and hard work to improve conditions and help people. The conference will also provide opportunities for participants to tour facilities and ride-along with Crisis Intervention Teams.

The conference will focus on model practices underway in communities around the country to help individuals and strengthen communities by diverting individuals in need away from jails and emergency departments and into more effective help. The models stress the importance of peer to peer programs, crisis intervention teams and evidence-based practices for better outcomes.

The program is targeted at public officials, public safety leaders, behavioral health advocates and providers. Sessions covering a range of Best Practice experiences from communities across the country will also be featured including presentations from representatives of the National Association of Counties and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

IBHI is a not-for-profit organization focused on promoting the use of evidence-based practices to improve outcomes for people, families and communities facing the challenges of behavioral health problems. The Mental Health Foundation is also a not-for-profit organization with a mission to support best practices that help end stigma associated with behavioral health.

For full information and registration visit www.ibhi.net or www.mentalhealthfoundation.net.

Related Files

IBHI News Release - SAMHSA Asst Sectretary.pdf

SOURCE Mental Health Foundation

Related Links

http://www.mentalhealthfoundation.net


The Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering for Rising Stars), a program founded and produced by the Society for Science & the Public, encourages middle school students to translate their personal interests into a passion for STEM by participation in science fairs, which inspires them to continue their studies throughout high school and college and enter STEM careers. In addition to showcasing their projects for the public, the 30 finalists also completed a rigorous competition that tested their STEM knowledge as well as their critical thinking, communication, creativity and collaboration skills.

"Congratulations to Faris, whose impressive project has the potential to help us better understand the sun's power to influence weather, such as cyclones," said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of the Society for Science & the Public and Publisher of Science News. "Now, more than ever, it is critical that we support our young scientists and cultivate their interest in STEM so that they can go on and solve many of our world's most intractable problems."

"It is a thrill to celebrate the achievements of these young men and women who competed their hearts out in complex STEM challenges in the Broadcom MASTERS this week. Many of their interests touch on saving our planet and improving the lives of others, and Faris exemplifies their collective commitment as a generation, deserving top honors for his achievements in team leadership and STEM aptitude," said Paula Golden, President of the Broadcom Foundation. "Faris and his colleagues in the Broadcom MASTERS Class of 2017 now join a very special cohort of alumni who are poised to change our world for the better."

Faris Wald, 15, Santa Fe, NM, won the $25,000 Prize, for his overall mastery of science and engineering as well as for his project, which found a correlation between coronal holes and cyclones. Faris has always been curious about the strength of the sun's power and its effect on our planet, which prompted him to analyze data related to sunspot and coronal hole events. The prize is a gift of Dr. Henry Samueli, co-founder of Broadcom Corporation and Chair of the Broadcom Foundation and his wife, Dr. Susan Samueli, President of the Samueli Foundation.

Emily Tianshi, 14, San Diego, CA, won the $20,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement, which recognizes the student whose work and performance shows the most promise in health-related fields. A Californian, Emily is concerned about the draught and its effects on our population as well as the environment. Emily's project examines Torrey Pine needles  a tree that grows in an area of California that has been having a long draught, but still gets enough water to survive. Emily hopes that by learning more about the pine needles, future technology could mimic the Torrey Pines' moisture-harvesting mechanism, helping people cope better with droughts.

Meghna Behari, 14, Sewickley, PA, won the $10,000 Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation, an honor made possible by Samueli's generous donation of his 2012 Marconi Society Prize Award. Finding that current water testing methods are inefficient, Meghna developed the "Aquabot," an automated testing device that can wirelessly collect and transmit data on water quality.

Helen Lyons, 14, New York, NY, won the $7,500 Lemelson Award for Invention, awarded by The Lemelson Foundation to a young inventor creating promising solutions to real-world problems. Through her project, Helen investigated a renewable energy technology, specifically generating electricity using Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction.

Broadcom MASTERS winners were chosen from the 30 finalists (15 girls and 15 boys) selected from 2,499 applicants in 37 states, Puerto Rico and the Department of Defense overseas. Winners were selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, engineers and educators. Each finalist's school will receive $1,000 from the Broadcom MASTERS to benefit their science program.

In addition to the top prizes, the Broadcom Foundation and the Society also announced first and second place winners in each of the STEM categories of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, the Team Award and two Rising Stars who will be the U.S. delegates at the Broadcom MASTERS International and official observers to Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

Winners Include:



The Samueli Foundation Prize: $25,000

Faris Irwin Wald

Project: The Correlation Between Solar Coronal Hole Occurrences and the Formation of Tropical and Extra-Tropical Cyclones

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement: $20,000

Emily Tianshi

Project: Microscopic Study of Torrey Pine Needles for Moisture Condensation

Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation: $10,000

Meghna Behari

Project: Aquabot: An Integrated Modular Platform for Testing and Monitoring Surface Water Quality

Lemelson Award for Invention: $7,500

Helen Lyons

Project: Using Flotation Systems to Harness Wave Power Using Electromagnetism



STEM Award Winners:

First and second place winners of STEM Awards demonstrated acumen and promise in science, technology, engineering and math. First place winners were awarded $3,500 and second place winners receive $2,500 to support his or her choice of a STEM summer camp experience in the U.S. Each STEM Award winner also received an iPad.

Science Award:

First place: Pujita Tangirala, Los Gatos, CA , A Green, Low-Cost Adsorbent for the Removal of Dye from Aqueous Solutions

, A Green, Second place: Jessie Gan, San Diego, CA , Natural Antioxidant and Nano-Antioxidant Effects Against Oxidative Stress

Technology Award:

First place: Herin Kang, Los Gatos, CA , Energy Efficient Oxygen Generator Using Micro Algae as an Alternative to Window Ventilation

, Second place: Anthony Hill, Holladay, UT , No Pressure: The Effects of Martian-Like Atmospheric Pressure on Enzyme Catalyzed Reactions in Plants

Engineering Award:

First place: Andrew Chiang, San Jose, CA , Manipulation of Ultrasonic Force Field

, Second place: Spencer Green, Huntington Beach, CA , The Sonification of Accelerometers for the Training of Elite Gymnasts

Mathematics Award:

First place: Zoe Gotthold, Richland, WA , A Novel Method for the Efficient Determination of Long-Term Emulsion Stability

, A Second place: Sara L. Kaufman, Cooper City, FL , The Effects of Wind Mitigation Devices on Gabled Roofs

Rising Stars Award:

In recognition of their promise as the youngest competitors, two Rising Stars win a trip to Pittsburgh in May 2018 as the United States delegate to Broadcom MASTERS International and Official Observer at Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world's largest international high school science fair competition.

Mithra Karamchedu, Portland, OR , Remote Sensing the Ablation or Accumulation of a Glacier by Using Fractal Analysis on Glacier Images

, Regan Williams , Wilmington, NC , Marsh Attacks: Context-Dependent Effects of Intraspecific Trait Variation in a Marsh Ecosystem Predator-Prey Interaction

Team Award:

Each member of the team that best demonstrates their ability to work together and solve problems through shared decision making, communication and scientific and engineering collaboration will receive an iPod Touch.

Andrew Chiang , Arjun Moorthy , Zoe Gotthold , Regan Williams , Mithra Karamchedu

Scott A. McGregor Leadership Award:

Finalists select one student from the group based on their leadership abilities to represent their class as a speaker at the awards ceremony.

Arjun Moorthy

Resources:

For more information on the Broadcom MASTERS, visit the Broadcom Foundation and Society websites. To keep up with the Broadcom MASTERS, use hashtag #brcmMASTERS or follow Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public on Twitter or Society for Science & the Public on Instagram. And to stay connected, visit the Broadcom MASTERS and Society for Science & the Public Facebook pages. You can also follow the Society on Snapchat (Society4Science).

About Broadcom Foundation:

Founded in April 2009, the Broadcom Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with its main mission to advance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education by funding research, recognizing scholarship and increasing opportunity.

The foundation inspires young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through its signature programs, the Broadcom MASTERS and the Broadcom MASTERS International, premier science and engineering competitions for middle school students around the United States and the world. The foundation is a founding member of the STEM Funders Network and the National STEM Ecosystem initiative. It sponsors premier academic workshops in partnership with select universities on three continents.

Learn more at www.broadcomfoundation.org/masters and follow us on Twitter (@BroadcomSTEM) and Snapchat (Brcm_Foundation).

About Society for Science & the Public

Society for Science & the Public is dedicated to the achievement of young scientists in independent research and to public engagement in science. Established in 1921, the Society is a nonprofit whose vision is to promote the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Through its world-class competitions, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and the Broadcom MASTERS, and its award-winning magazine, Science News and Science News for Students, Society for Science & the Public is committed to inform, educate, and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science).

Society for Science & the Public Press Contact:

Gayle Kansagor

703-489-1131

[email protected]

SOURCE Society for Science & the Public

Related Links

http://www.societyforscience.org


YOKNEAM, Israel, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Missouri University of Science and Technology has chosen Datumate's Site Survey Solution to educate their students in the geological engineering program with the latest mapping and surveying technologies.

The geological engineering program will use Datumate's professional surveying suite that includes a DJI drone, DatuFly professional imagery app for drones and DatuSurvey Enterprise photogrammetry software for generating multitude of maps and models. These forefront surveying and mapping technologies coupled with hands-on practice will equip Missouri S&T students with up-to-date knowledge and tools to gain a competitive advantage in the market.

"We needed a state-of-art solution that is simple and can be quickly mastered. Spending the majority of the semester on technical software training was just impractical," says Lee Bunch, a lecturer in the Geological Engineering program. "Datumate has provided us an intuitive, accurate and inclusive solution, which was a perfect fit for our students."

The use of advanced automation in professional geological engineering studies is turning surveying into a more attractive, technology oriented profession and is expected to increase students' satisfaction and grow enrollment by 10 to 15 percent.

"Datumate is committed to help educating the new generation of civil engineers and surveyors with the latest photogrammetry technologies," says Datumate's VP Products and Marketing Itay Segev. "We promote the increase of automation, digitalization, efficiency and safety of field-to-plan processes."

Datumate's founder and CTO Dr. Jad Jarroush is also serving as lecturer and educator of civil engineer students at the Israeli's Institute of Technology - The Technion.

Datumate's solution is also presented in the Emerging Construction Technologies (ECT) website, which highlights emerging technologies that can produce "High Impact" in the construction industry. The ECT website is owned and operated by the Division of Construction Engineering and Management, School of Civil Engineering at Purdue University, Indiana.

About Missouri S&T

Founded in 1870 as the University of Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a research university of more than 8,800 students and part of the four-campus University of Missouri System. Located in Rolla, Missouri, Missouri S&T offers 98 degree programs in 39 areas of study and awards bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. degrees in engineering, the sciences, business and information technology, the humanities, and the liberal arts. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.

About Datumate

Datumate is digitally transforming civil engineering processes used in construction, surveying, and infrastructure inspection markets with fully automated, high precision and cost effective solutions that keep field crews safe. Datumate utilizes state-of-the-art computer vision, big data analytics, machine learning, drone and camera technologies that dramatically reduce the amount of time surveying crews spend in the field, speed up construction progress and shorten infrastructure inspection duration, while maintaining survey grade accuracy.

Datumate's intuitive, simple, and automated solutions and services increase productivity by delivering quick, precise, and analyzed field progress data for civil engineering and construction infrastructure projects such as roads, intersections, stockpile volumes, topography, piping, industrial facilities, bridges, property surveys, building facades, railways, and more.

Datumate's core competency is rooted in a team of construction experts and high-tech professionals. Datumate is a Construction-Tech company that promotes innovation and digital transformation in the construction market.

Datumate was recognized by CIO review magazine as one of the "20 most promising construction technology solution providers 2017" that are at the forefront of providing technology solutions for the construction industry and having a significant impact in the marketplace.

For more information, visit our website.

Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

Contact information:

Itay Segev

VP Products & Marketing

[email protected]

+1-888-765-2903

SOURCE Datumate

Related Links

https://www.datumate.com/


PHOENIX, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an effort to inform criminal justice reform, the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University published a major new report titled Reforming Criminal Justice. The culmination of a yearlong collaboration, the four-volume publication involved 120 of the nation's foremost academics to discuss specific topics within the reform movement. The report was made possible with support from the Charles Koch Foundation.

There is bipartisan agreement that the criminal justice system is broken. For the past decade, policymakers and researchers have begun to successfully correct decades of over-criminalization and mass incarceration. And though many felt federal progress on reform had stalled over the past year, we are now seeing momentum build.

Erik Luna, ASU Law Amelia D. Lewis professor of constitutional and criminal law, directs the project. "The goal of this report is to connect academics with those responsible for criminal justice policy," said Luna. "In recent years, academics have not effectively participated in and contributed to the conversation. This is a way for them not only to be a part of the discussion, but also to impact real-world policy."

The coalition of scholars, known as the Academy for Justice, was inspired by a bipartisan summit in 2015, which brought together prominent figures in the reform movement to discuss the problems of criminal justice and to propose real, meaningful, lasting solutions.

Following the 2015 summit, Professor Luna spearheaded an effort to integrate the expertise of the nation's leading academics into the criminal justice reform movement. That effort ultimately led to the idea of creating an unprecedented report with perspectives from criminal justice experts from colleges and universities such as Berkeley, Chicago, Columbia, Georgetown, Harvard, NYU, Penn, Stanford, Vanderbilt, and Virginia. The scholars gathered at ASU Law's Beus Center for Law and Society in February 2017, to share ideas, review and provide feedback on each other's work, and ensure the highest quality content and issue development.

Although academics have participated in recent reform discussions, they have long been an underutilized resource, called upon to address specific issues only as they arise on a case-by-case basis. Their frequent writings have seldom been widely publicized, typically hidden from public view in law libraries or behind online paywalls.

The project is made possible by a grant from the Charles Koch Foundation, a charitable foundation supporting students and scholars exploring issues related to free and open societies including criminal justice reform.

"The foundation's work is guided by an appreciation for the role scholarship and scientific scrutiny can play in informing and driving progress on critical issues," said John Hardin, director of University Relations at the Charles Koch Foundation. "That's the case when it comes to addressing problems within our criminal justice system. And the foundation believes Professor Luna is uniquely positioned to help fill some of the biggest gaps in knowledge."

The report provides both detailed analysis and specific policy proposals, a resource of unrivaled breadth and depth in the reform movement. The 57 separate contributions cover a wide range of specific topics within criminal justice: from criminalization and policing to adjudication and incarceration.

To maintain and increase its momentum, policymakers, thought leaders, and community members must encourage a broader and deeper understanding of the problems and forge thoughtful solutions to these difficult issues. This is where academics have an important role to play.

The report is being distributed to policymakers, criminal justice officials, think tanks, non-profit organizations, and community activists, but will also be freely available to the public through a dedicated website, academyforjustice.org.

Media Contact:

Karen Sung

[email protected]

480-727-9052

SOURCE Sandra Day OConnor College of Law at Arizona State University

Related Links

http://academyforjustice.org


HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Saturday, Oct. 28, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. the public and media are invited to attend the 7th annual International Observe the Moon Night celebration at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. The free event will be in the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's Shuttle Park, under the Pathfinder Space Shuttle, in Huntsville, Alabama. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is the official visitor center for Marshall.

Saturday's event will include Moon-related and solar system exhibits and hands-on activities for children and adults. Activities will include Doctor Osborn's Science Magic Show, a face painting station, and a meet and greet with Janet Ivey from the PBS show "Janet's Planet." Live music will be provided by DJ Shell. Several large amateur telescopes will be set up to view the Moon, stars, and other visible planets. Visitors also can take a virtual 3-D trip to the Moon with the astronomy van, offering a magnified, command-module-like view of the lunar surface. The family movie, "Scooby-Doo Moon Monster Madness," will begin at dusk.

The event is hosted by the Planetary Missions Program at Marshall and encourages the observation and appreciation of the Moon. All are invited to learn more about the Moon and its connection to NASA planetary science and exploration, as well as our cultural and personal connections to it.

Dr. Renee Weber, a planetary scientist, and other NASA planetary team members will be available to answer questions from the public and media from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the "Ask the Scientist" table.

News media interested in covering the event should contact Shannon Ridinger in the Office of Communications at 256-544-3774 no later than 3 p.m. CDT Oct. 27. Media participating in the event should come through the gate located by the Pathfinder Space Shuttle.

For more information on NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/home/index.html.

For more information on the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, visit:

http://rocketcenter.com.

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


NEO Tech performs product design and engineering service activity for its OEM customers. The company operates as a seamless extension of its customers engineering organizations, adding scale, flexibility and speed to their design process. It is NEO Tech's engineering services strategy to become its customer's engineering partner at any stage of the design cycle to assist in transforming ideas into production-ready products. This strategy led one emerging technology eye care OEM to choose NEO Tech as their commercialization partner, assisting them in launching an innovative capsulotomy cataract treatment.

This extensive engineering collaboration and acceleration of the eye care OEM's product commercialization process was the basis for the ECN Contract Manufacturing Innovation award. The OEM realized that to optimize the challenges of a short time-to-market window and commercializing a new technology, they would need a partner with both medical product design capabilities and medical product manufacturing expertise. NEO Tech fit the bill and used its integrated medical device design and manufacturing expertise to reduce knowledge transfer risk and minimize latency in the process. The partnership with NEO Tech enabled the OEM to successfully lunch from concept to commercial volume production in two years.

Now in its fifth year, the Electronic Component News (ECN) Impact Awards program recognizes design excellence. This year's winners have shown excellence in engineering through electronic design and groundbreaking innovation. ECN is a global trade publication providing product information, news and editorial to the electronic design community for more than 50 years.

To find out more about NEO Tech and its award-winning services and solutions, visit www.neotech.com.

About NEO Tech

NEO Tech combines the strengths of three leading contract manufacturers: NATEL, EPIC, and OnCore. With over 40 years of heritage in electronics manufacturing, NEO Tech focuses on low-medium-volume/high-mix, high-complexity products primarily in the medical, aerospace & defense and industrial markets.

NEO Tech offers full product lifecycle engineering services, manufacturing and testing of microelectronics, cable & harness interconnect products, PCBA, full box build services and aftermarket repair and fulfillment services. The companies that form NEO Tech have been known for solving tough engineering problems that result in high-reliability, high-quality electronic solutions for customers.

Headquartered in Chatsworth, CA, NEO Tech has manufacturing and engineering locations in California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, Ohio, Mexico, and China. NEO Tech holds and maintains industry specific certifications that include ISO9001, AS9100, ISO13485, ISO/TS16949, ISO14001 and MIL-PRF-38534. To learn more, visit www.NEOTech.com.

Steve Heinzen

V.P. Marketing

NEO Tech

408-609-1325

[email protected]

This release was issued through WebWire(R). For more information visit http://www.webwire.com.

SOURCE NEO Tech

Related Links

http://www.neotech.com


BOSTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In his latest book, The New Mobile Age: How Technology Will Extend the Healthspan and Optimize the Lifespan, connected health visionary Joseph C. Kvedar, MD, explores the critical steps needed to help us lead more active, healthier and more fulfilling lives as we get older, and the connected health solutions urgently needed to accommodate the aging population.

"We've added 25 years to our lifespan in the last century through various public health innovations, but we haven't provided tools to help us use those additional years in the most productive, fulfilling way. Instead, at retirement age individuals are considered 'old,' and perceived as no longer adding value or, even worse, become a burden to their 'sandwich generation' adult children," said Kvedar, Vice President, Connected Health, Partners HealthCare. "Now that we've extended the lifespan, our first priority should be to enhance the healthspan, by giving people the tools needed to improve their health and inspire them to maintain healthy lifestyle choices through their later years. And of course, connected health is an important part of the solution."

But Kvedar cautions, "It has to be the right technology, designed for an aging population, not just what technologists and app developers think people want." Social robots, artificial intelligence (AI), vocal biomarkers and facial decoding will analyze emotion, anticipate health problems, improve quality of life and enable better relationships with healthcare providers. Data can be used to better understand the 'soft science' of wellbeing and address the neglected crisis of caregiving. Digital technologies can also address issues such as loneliness and isolation.

In the book Foreword, Charlotte S. Yeh, MD, Chief Medical Officer, AARP Services, Inc., redefines 'old.' "It's not really about whether or not we should be embracing technology, but whether or not technology is embracing us, whatever our age. If we can use technology to keep our minds active as we age, bring social connectedness that is meaningful and results in creating purpose each and every day, we will have done much to transform aging and enhance longevity."

In The New Mobile Age, Dr. Kvedar outlines strategies to extend the healthspan and enhance the lifespan:

Consider aging as an opportunity rather than a burden. The aging population represents more than 100 million people and is growing, flooding Medicare and social services, accelerating the shortage of healthcare providers and rising healthcare costs -- important market opportunities.

Rethink predictors of longevity to include: sense of purpose, social connections and physical activity, and the role connected health can play.

Create one-to-many care delivery models to manage chronic illness via more user-friendly personal health technologies; update reimbursement models, provider attitudes and workflows to support this new approach to providing care.

In a national poll measuring public perception of aging and technology, conducted this month by The Bernett Group on behalf of Partners Connected Health, respondents (1,003 adults, 18+ years old) revealed:

72% believe today's society does not show proper respect to older adults, and does not make them feel valued or that they have a sense of purpose

86% reported they would use personal health technologies to get or stay healthy at home, and 90% think patient-generated health data can help their doctor treat medical conditions or help patients maintain health

72% over the age of 50 feel confident in their ability to use personal health technologies, versus 83% of the total survey population

73% said they would purchase a personal health tracker if it was prescribed by their doctor

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by 2020, the number of people aged 65 plus will outnumber children younger than five years old for the first time in history. By 2050, the number of people 65 plus is expected to triple to 1.5 billion, representing 16% of the world's population. And, although they comprise less than 15% of the population, people over age 65 account for about 34% of total healthcare expenditures in the U.S.

The New Mobile Age: How Technology Will Extend the Healthspan and Optimize the Lifespan is available on Amazon. Read an excerpt, connect with and learn more about Dr. Kvedar at www.newmobileage.com.

Joseph C. Kvedar, MD, Vice President, Connected Health, Partners HealthCare

Dr. Kvedar is creating a new model of health care delivery, moving care from the hospital or doctor's office into the day-to-day lives of patients, by leveraging personal health technologies to improve care delivery and help providers and patients better manage chronic conditions, maintain health and wellness and improve adherence, engagement and clinical outcomes. He is also the author of The Internet of Healthy Things, describing how everyday objects will capture and use real-time biometric data to ultimately change behavior to improve our health.

Under Dr. Kvedar's two decades of leadership, Partners Connected Health has launched a number of innovative health tracking programs, mobile health, virtual care initiatives, and clinical research programs for the more than 1.5 million patients served at Partners HealthCare-affiliated hospitals, including Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, community and specialty hospitals, community health centers, home care and other health-related entities.

Dr. Kvedar, internationally recognized as a pioneer and visionary in the field of connected health, has authored over 1,000 publications on the subject. He currently serves on the Editorial Board of npj Digital Medicine, a Nature Research journal. The popular cHealth Blog provides his insights and vision for connected health. Dr. Kvedar serves as a strategic advisor at Wave Edge Capital, Puretech Ventures and Qualcomm Life, and he is a judge for the Harvard President's Challenge for Entrepreneurship. Dr. Kvedar is co- chair of the American Medical Association's Digital Medicine Payment Advisory Group; he is also a member of the Board of Xcertia, a collaboration between AHA, AMA, DHX Group and HIMSS dedicated to improving the quality, safety and effectiveness of mobile health applications (apps).

Based on the technology platform developed at Partners Connected Health, a personalized health tech company was launched and later acquired by a leading insurance company to support healthy behavior and wellness education among employee populations. In 2013, Dr. Kvedar launched Wellocracy, a leading source of impartial, easy-to-understand information on new personal "self-health" technologies like activity trackers, wireless devices and mobile apps to empower people to get and stay healthy.

Partners Connected Health

Partners Connected Health, at Partners HealthCare, is leveraging information technology  mobile phones, tablets, wearables, sensors and remote health monitoring tools  to deliver quality patient care outside of traditional medical settings. Partners Connected Health programs are also helping providers and patients better manage chronic conditions, maintain health and wellness and improve adherence, engagement and clinical outcomes. The Connected Health team creates and deploys mobile technologies in a number of patient populations and care settings, and is conducting innovative research studies to test the effectiveness of mobile health technologies in various clinical applications, including medication adherence, care coordination, chronic disease management, prevention and wellness.

Partners HealthCare

Partners HealthCare, an integrated health system founded by Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, includes two academic medical centers, community and specialty hospitals, a managed care organization, community health centers, a physician network, home health and long-term care services, and other health care entities. Partners HealthCare is committed to patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community. Partners is one of the nation's leading biomedical research organizations and a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

CONTACT: Gina Cella, Cella Communications

781-799-3137

[email protected]

SOURCE Partners Connected Health
Nexeon's Director of Clinical Research Dr. Navid Khodaparast commented on the study's preliminary results as follows, "Our aVNS system supported our original hypothesis by demonstrating a significant stimulation-induced effect on heart rate variability, which may prove to be effective in treating atrial fibrillation. It is our belief that a more holistic approach to the application of neurostimulation will usher in a new era of neuro-technological advances. While our near-term target is to discover an improved therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation, we recognize the greater implication of monitoring, and potentially modulating, signals from the heart in a population of patients suffering from chronic diseases who are managing multiple comorbidities."

Next steps related to this clinical program will be the completion of a study on twenty patients suffering from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The protocol includes an assessment of therapeutic safety and feasibility while participants receive chronic aVNS.

VNS has been used for years to treat epilepsy. Researchers worldwide are investigating whether delivering pulses of electricity to the nerve can help treat tinnitus, stroke, headache, asthma, obesity, depression, Crohn's disease, and more.

For more information, visit nexeonmed.com/press

About Nexeon MedSystems Inc: Nexeon is a global bioelectronics medical device company focused on providing innovative neurostimulation products that improve the quality-of-life of patients suffering from debilitating neurological diseases.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements: Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical may be "forward-looking" statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, and Nexeon undertakes no obligation to update any such statements to reflect later developments. These risks and uncertainties include Nexeon's ability to successfully complete on the terms and conditions contemplated, and the financial impact of, its strategic portfolio repositioning actions, as well as economic and currency conditions, market demand, pricing, protection of intellectual property, and competitive and technological factors, among others, as set forth in Nexeon's subsequent reports filed with the SEC.

SOURCE Nexeon MedSystems Inc.

Related Links

http://nexeonmed.com


HUNTINGTON, Ind., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQB: NIDB), the parent company of First Federal Savings Bank, is proud to announce the Corporation has increased the cash dividend paid to shareholders for the 23rd year in row.

The cash dividend of $0.24 per common share represents a $0.02 per share or 9.1% increase over the Company's previous quarterly dividend. President and CEO Michael S. Zahn stated, "We are pleased to reward our shareholders with our 23rd consecutive year of increasing our cash dividend. Due to our continued strong financial performance and capital levels, the Board of Directors feels the dividend increase is warranted." The dividend will be payable on November 21, 2017 to shareholders of record on November 7, 2017. This makes an annualized dividend yield of 2.8% based on a closing price of $34.20 per common share, which was the last reported trade on October 24, 2017.

The book value of NIDB's stock was $29.97 per common share as of September 30, 2017 with 1,214,879 shares outstanding. Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc. is headquartered at 648 N. Jefferson Street, Huntington, Indiana. The company offers a full array of banking and financial brokerage services to its customers through its main office in Huntington and five full-service Indiana offices in Huntington (2), Warsaw and Fort Wayne(2). The Company is traded on the OTC Markets Group, Inc. (www.otcmarkets.com) utilizing the OTCQB platform under the symbol "NIDB". Our web site address is www.firstfedindiana.bank.

SOURCE Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.firstfedindiana.bank


TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - This is a reminder that the Company's results for the 2017 third quarter will be issued by press release on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 after the close of business at 5:00 p.m. ET.

An Investor Conference Call will be hosted by Brian R. Hedges, Chief Executive Officer, John G. Reid, President and Chief Operating Officer and Marion E. Britton, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. ET to review the results.

The dial-in telephone numbers for the call are 416-764-8688 (Toronto and International callers) and 1-888-390-0546 (U.S. and Canada). Please dial in 10 minutes prior to the call to ensure that you get a line.

A replay of the call will be available at 416-764-8677 (Toronto and International callers) and 1-888-390-0541 (U.S. and Canada) until midnight, Thursday, November 23, 2017. You will be required to enter pass code 272752# in order to access the call.

If you would like to unsubscribe from receiving notices of our Investor Quarterly Conference Calls, you may do so by emailing [email protected]; or by calling our Investor Relations Line: 905-816-5178.

If you have any additional questions, please contact our Investor Relations Department at [email protected] or 905-816-5178.

SOURCE Russel Metals Inc.

Related Links

http://www.russelmetals.com


ACTON, Mass., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lauren Corduck is a 46-year old ovarian cancer survivor. She is BRCA positive. She is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. She lost her grandmother to breast cancer. And she has started a new organization called Oneinforty with the mission to make Ashkenazi Jews aware of their increased risk of inheriting a cancer-causing BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, educate them on resources including genetic counseling, and support them emotionally as they face their risk.

The risk among the public of having a BRCA gene mutation is approximately one in 400. For those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, the risk is ten times higher or one in 40. Having a BRCA gene mutation puts one at significantly higher risk of developing hereditary breast, ovarian and prostate cancer.

Lauren founded Oneinforty because she, like most people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, was unaware of this risk. Shortly after learning she is BRCA+, she received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. As Lauren explains, "I am now in remission and on a mission. Oneinforty educates and empowers those at risk of a BRCA gene mutation to advocate for their health, and in turn, educate and empower others to advocate for their health."

"We are delighted that Oneinforty is taking on the important problem of reducing BRCA cancer in individuals of Eastern European Jewish heritage. Forewarned is forearmed, and Oneinforty is trying to make it easier for people to learn of their risk before cancer strikes. A Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center research study called BRCA Founder Outreach Study (BFOR) will offer 1000 people of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry in the Boston area testing for the BRCA genes. We are pleased to be collaborating with Oneinforty to spread awareness and make testing more available to the Jewish community," said Judy E. Garber, MD, MPH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Nadine Tung, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Oneinforty has assembled a stellar medical advisory board of experts in oncology, psychiatry, social work, genetic counseling, primary care medicine, and clinical research. Oneinforty also has a National Ambassador Corps of passionate volunteers who are dedicated to advancing the organization's mission.

Oneinforty will host symposia in Massachusetts, and eventually nationally. The first symposium, "Knowledge is Empowering: Understanding the Jewish-Cancer Connection" takes place November 9 in Concord. This event is co-sponsored by Congregation Kerem Shalom and Hadassah, free of charge and open to the public. Register here.

About Oneinforty

Founded in 2017 by Lauren Corduck, Oneinforty is dedicated to stopping BRCA-related cancer in its tracks by raising awareness among Ashkenazi Jews of their high risk of inheriting cancer-causing BRCA gene mutations and providing the support needed to face this risk, prevent cancer and detect cancer early. Learn more at www.oneinforty.org.

Media Contact:

Helen Shik

Shik Communications

617-510-4373

[email protected]

SOURCE Oneinforty

Related Links

http://www.oneinforty.org


EVERGREEN, Colo., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Osmosis Pur Medical Skincare is excited to announce that it has accepted a settlement offer from the State of Iowa regarding our Harmonized Water Supplements. This will terminate the pending lawsuit without any finding or admission of any wrongdoing by Osmosis. After a short period, during which Osmosis will in good faith be modifying some of the marketing used to describe our cutting-edge technology, Osmosis will resume sales of all Harmonized Water products into Iowa. Osmosis continues to sell its Harmonized Water supplements worldwide.

It is worth mentioning that after the State of Iowa spent hundreds of hours talking to our customers, clients and the scientific directors of the 2 double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trials, they found no evidence that the frequency waters were ineffective or that refuted the remarkable results of the clinical trials. At no time has there been a single Iowa Harmonized Water customer who complained of the water's efficacy or reported being hurt by any of the formulas. Nevertheless, Osmosis decided to pay an amount of $70,000, virtually all of which will be used for future consumer protection efforts, as an alternative to spending much more than that in protracted litigation and a trial where we remain quite confident that we would have been victorious.

We feel it is important to reiterate that Harmonized Water is based on the current scientific fact in quantum physics that everything in nature and the universe is both a wave and a particle at the same time (aka "Wave-Particle Duality"). Our technology allows us to coerce some of the existing waves in water into beneficial frequencies based on NASA data amongst other science.

Founder, Dr. Ben Johnson states, "We hope everyone will look at the definitive success of our clinical trials, the undeniable test results from independent laboratories and our loyal, expanding clientele's rave reviews and be open to trying this powerful technology."

Harmonized Water products are not intended to replace treatment for medical conditions. If you have a medical condition, consult a doctor. To learn more about Harmonized Water, please visit https://www.osmosisskincare.com/AboutHarmonizedWater.aspx

View Consent Order: https://www.osmosisskincare.com/Assets/Files/20171024-ConsentOrder.pdf

About Osmosis Pur Medical Skincare

Osmosis is one of the most scientifically advanced skincare lines available. This is not just because of our remarkable technology, but also the fact that our exclusive patented approach works in partnership with the skin. Osmosis provides the tools needed to create the ideal environment to encourage permanent change and overall radiance. Our unique philosophy is based on analyzing the skin and body as a whole to treat skin conditions at their source, restoring beauty and wellness. Our wellness system is a program designed to optimize the skin and body's rejuvenation process. We holistically take aim at the origin of imbalances to impart real change. Using a multi-tiered approach, we partner with the skin to remodel and heal without causing inflammation.

SOURCE Osmosis Pur Medical Skincare

Related Links

https://www.osmosisskincare.com


SAN DIEGO, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PacketSled, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based network visibility, detection, incident response and breach forensics, today named John Keister as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. He steps in at an important time for PacketSled as it aims to build its market position and expand its customer footprint. The company also announced that it raised more than $3.5 million, primarily from existing investors, to continue to fund the company's growth.

Fred Wilmot, who has served as CTO since June 2016 and as interim CEO since November 2016, will remain as CTO. Wilmot is a former Splunk executive and a security industry expert, serving as an advisor at the Managed Security Services Provider Ravenii and as a principal at AM Cyber. The company's VP Sales, Jared Ballou, is a former sales executive at the public cybersecurity company Rapid7, and he will continue in his current position. Justin Stottlemyer, an Intuit engineering executive with previous technical leadership roles at Facebook and PayPal, will remain on the board as an outside director.

Keister has previous experience as a co-founder, president and chief operating officer at two technology companies focused on search, online advertising and analytics. These two companies, Go2Net and Marchex, each successfully grew to an annual revenue run rate of more than $100 million and successfully completed the IPO process. Keister's previous operating responsibilities included oversight of sales, business development, marketing, engineering and technical operations. He also has 10-plus years of experience investing in early-stage software companies and sitting on the boards of directors for several of these companies.

"John's experience as a founder and operator at both early-stage companies and public companies will amplify PacketSled's product team as we prepare for the next phase of our growth," said Wilmot.

"The cloud is transforming the security analytics space in important ways, and Fred and the team have built a strong technology platform to compete going forward," Keister added. "We believe that there is significant growth ahead in this category. I am excited to work with this team of security experts to deliver great products to our customers."

"PacketSled is positioned to take advantage of the growing awareness among companies of the need for a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy," Stottlemyer said. "We believe John is the right leader at the right time for us. We look forward to having John join us to bring balance and depth to our management team, to help us on the fundraising side and to capitalize on the growth in the category."

Keister will also join the PacketSled board of directors, joining Stottlemyer and Wilmot.

For more information about the PacketSled platform, please visit www.packetsled.com.

About PacketSled

PacketSled, the network analytics platform of choice for security experts, automates incident response by bringing together business context, AI, entity enrichment and detection with network visibility. Used for real-time analysis and response, PacketSled's platform leverages continuous stream monitoring and retrospection to provide network forensics and security analytics. Used by response teams worldwide, security analysts and SOC teams can integrate PacketSled's deep network context into their playbooks, SIEMS, or independently to dramatically reduce investigation time, cost and expertise required to respond to persistent threats, malware, insider attacks, and nation state espionage efforts. The company has been named an innovator in leading publications and by security analysts, including SC Magazine, earning a perfect score in the online fraud group test. Based in San Diego, the company is backed by investors including Keshif Ventures and Blu Venture Investors. The company is headquartered in San Diego, with offices in Seattle, WA. For continuous product updates and industry news, please visit us at www.packetsled.com or follow us @packetsled.

Press Contact

Christina Patten

Business Operations

(858) 225-2352

[email protected]

SOURCE PacketSled, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.packetsled.com


NORTH ADAMS, Mass., Oct. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A museum dedicated to dogs is opening in the Berkshires just blocks from the country's largest contemporary art museum, MASS MoCA. At the east entrance to downtown North Adams, Museum of Dog (M.O.D) will feature a private collection of dog inspired paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs and accessories. The 8,000 square-foot historic space, at the merging point of Union Street and the Mohawk Trail, formerly housed Quinn's Wallpaper & Paint. The museum will feature over 180 pieces from more than 50 notable artists ranging from William Wegman photographs to Mary Engel "Watch Dog" sculptures and rare dog collars dating back to the 1800s.

"I'm excited to bring this vision to life, just blocks from MASS MoCA and downtown North Adams. The museum will recognize dogs and the joy they bring to our lives," said owner and founder David York. "Museum of Dog is the first of its kind in Massachusetts and I'm excited to share it with the thousands of visitors from around the world."

Tanglewood, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, The Clark Institute, Williams College and Jacob's Pillow are all nearby and as a seasoned real estate investor, York saw the opportunity to both revitalize a great building and showcase his collection of art.

For more information, please visit www.museumofdog.com

ABOUT OWNER, DAVID YORK

For more than 20 years, David York has been caring for canines and supporting some of the nation's most worthwhile charities. York grew up on his family's farm, north of Memphis, where he developed a love for dogs, horses and other animals on the farm. After a successful NYC fashion career, York, founded Barking Hound Village, in 1989, when he realized the void for a fun and comfortable place to care for his most beloved rescue dog, Sophie. He remains an avid supporter of national rescue projects. Museum of Dog, in the Berkshires, is York's latest philanthropic venture.

SOURCE Museum of Dog
NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area.

You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network  it's easy and free. Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform

EXPERT ALERTS

California Wildfires: Rebuilding Infrastructure and Long-Term Economic Impact

ACA: Reform and Plan Modifications

MEDIA JOBS

Politics Editor  Newsweek (NY/DC)

Reporter  U.S. Right to Know (US)

Energy Reporter  The Oklahoman (OK)

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

Stay Ahead of the Curve: Five Visual Trends to Watch

Authors: How to Sign a Top Literary Agent

Blog Profiles: Political Blogs

-------------------------------------------------------------------

EXPERT ALERTS:

California Wildfires: Rebuilding Infrastructure and Long-Term Economic Impact

Gary Hall

Senior Managing Director, National Head of Investment Banking

Siebert Cisneros Shank

"The magnitude of destruction may be greater than any similar disaster we have seen. With now more than 8,400 structures destroyed over nearly a quarter million acres, including roads, schools, power grids, major public facilities, businesses and homes, the affected communities will need to rebuild virtually from scratch. The first priority will be re-establishing public rights of way to deliver essential services and undertake a thorough assessment of the extent of the damage. Looking ahead, the focus should be on how to rebuild our major public infrastructure in a way that doesn't replicate but improves upon what was there before, technologically as well as in terms of location and fire resistance. Localities, as well as the state and federal government are going to need to begin thinking about how to create long-range investment and strategies needed to raise the capital to rebuild."

Hall, a partner at one of the nation's most prominent infrastructure finance firms, based in Oakland, is available to discuss the immediate and long-term challenges facing businesses and communities in rebuilding public and private infrastructure following the wild fires in California. Hall, who has led the financing of major roads, airports, water and power systems and other large-scale infrastructure, can discuss what governments and businesses must do to rebuild and what the long-range economic impact will be on the region.

Website: https://siebertcisnerosshank.com

Contact: Jason Fink, [email protected]



ACA: Reform and Plan Modifications

Jen McCormick

Vice President, Consulting

The Phia Group, LLC

"Even though President Trump was unable to pass a specific law to dismantle ACA, the piecemeal changes and regulations will have an impact on employers -- and their self-funded plans. Renewal is right around the corner and the healthcare discussion is getting even hotter. So many feel really uneasy about renewing without knowing what to expect. I'm hopeful that any change(s) will be implemented in a fashion that allows employers time to adjust."

ProfNet Profile: http://www.profnetconnect.com/jenmccormick

Website: https://www.phiagroup.com

Contact: Matthew Painten, [email protected]

****************

MEDIA JOBS:

Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers, editors and producers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/community/jobs/

Politics Editor  Newsweek (NY/DC)

Reporter  U.S. Right to Know (US)

Energy Reporter  The Oklahoman (OK)

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OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at [email protected]

STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE: FIVE VISUAL TRENDS TO WATCH. It has become increasingly challenging to stay on top of the news business. As technology continues to evolve, so does the way consumers view and engage with stories. Whether it's breaking or soft news, there is an increased appetite for instant access to information that's also visually stimulating. Here's a look at five visual trends to keep an eye on if you want to remain competitive: http://prn.to/2l1t2TK

AUTHORS: HOW TO SIGN A TOP LITERARY AGENT. For many authors, landing an agent is the most sought-after goal. It's long been considered the fastest and most profitable path to publishing success. If that's your goal, you'll want to check out these tips, techniques and resources to help you land the quality literary agent you're seeking: cisn.co/2xWj7DA

BLOG PROFILES: POLITICAL BLOGS. Each week, PR Newswire's Audience Relations team selects an industry/subject and profiles a handful of sites that do a good job with promoting and contributing to the conversation. This week, they look at a few political blogs: http://prn.to/2yKWT5V

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PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire.

To contact ProfNet: [email protected] or 800-776-3638, ext. 1

SOURCE ProfNet

Related Links

http://www.profnet.com


The crew of three, traveled by Recreational Vehicle (RV) from Charlotte, North Carolina through The Great Smoky Mountains to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. They made stops at the small river rafting town of Hartford, Tennessee and nearby Asheville and Maggie Valley, North Carolina to film as well.

"I'm originally from Tennessee and have many fond memories of visiting the towns and communities around the Smoky Mountains when growing up. I was distraught to see the reports of the devastation from the 2016 fire," states Robert G. Rose, Executive Producer and Host of Raw Travel. "So many folks here depend on tourism for their livelihood, we wanted to showcase the beauty, unique culture and friendly people that make visiting here so delightful. I hope that in some small way this episode will help spread the word that they are open for business and inspire new travelers who've yet to discover the unique charm of this area of the country," Rose continued.

Rose and crew were first time RV travelers and also wanted to document their unique travel experience for other nascent RV travelers while showcasing first-hand why RV travel has become so popular in recent years.

From practical tips, to the varying features of different RV parks and the experience of driving a 30-foot motor home, the producers hoped to showcase authentic RV travel for a broader base of adventurers and vacationers who may not have considered RV travel before.

Visit www.RawTravel.tv for more info, www.RawTravel.tv/wheretowatch for local listings in 168 U.S. cities and https://goo.gl/ajKRnF for a video trailer of the RV Road Trip episode.

ABOUT RAW TRAVEL TV

Raw Travel is the most watched authentic travel show on U.S. commercial television and is an adventure travel & lifestyle series showcasing socially and environmentally aware travel. The series weaves together themes of authentic experiences, eco-tourism, volun-tourism (giving back), underground music and culture. Each weekend the show can be seen in 168 U.S. cities and in several international territories (Asia, Africa, Europe, etc.). It can also be found on several major airlines and soon in Over the Top (OTT / digital) platforms as well. Raw Travel is produced and distributed by AIM Tell-A-Vision Group. Visit www.RawTravel.tv for more information.

ABOUT AIM TELL-A-VISION GROUP

AIM Tell-A-Vision (AIM TV) is a New York City based independent content and distribution company founded by media entrepreneur Robert G. Rose. Since 2000, AIM TV has been producing and distributing positive, compelling content that reflects a mission of presenting "Media That Matters". Visit www.AIMTVGroup.com for more information.

ABOUT GO RVING

AWAY is a place that's not on any map, but you know it when you find it. It's your place - wherever you want to discover, escape, play, and make memories with the people you love. And an RV can take you there for less than you might think. It's the only way to pick up and go, without any reservations, without any hassles, and with all the comforts of home. So bring the kids. Bring the dog. Bring your fishing poles, your mountain bikes, a kayak. Find your AWAY - wherever it may be.



RV dealer locations, rental tips, campgrounds, recipes, activities, stories from other RVers, and so much more - Go RVing has everything you need to find your AWAY. Visit GoRVing.com and be one click closer to finding your AWAY. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/GoRVing, on Instagram at @GoRVing, and on Twitter at @GoRVing.

AIM Tell-A-Vision Group

[email protected]

www.RawTravel.tv / http://aimtvgroup.com

SOURCE AIM Tell-A-Vision Group

Related Links

http://aimtvgroup.com


KALAMAZOO, Mich., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AmeriFirst Home Mortgage, a division of AmeriFirst Financial Corp., announces that its premier mortgage lending team in the Southeast region of the U.S. has grown stronger with the addition of its new leader, Doug Long, a recognized mortgage industry veteran, who is serving as Southeast Divisional President.

Charged with advancing AmeriFirst's penetration of the Florida market, Long works from the independent community mortgage lender's office in Winter Park, Fla.

"Doug combines the exact qualities we look for in leaders of our company. He is an individual with the utmost integrity who understands how to successfully combine the nuances of production and marketing with exceptional organizational leadership skills to motivate his team," said David Gahm, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of AmeriFirst Mortgage Banking Group.

Long joins an organization comprised of over 550 professionals who recognize the important role they each play in expanding homeownership, improving local communities, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

"We are assembling an incredible team in the Southeast region that has limitless potential for growth. Doug truly embodies the quality of talent we are bringing to AmeriFirst," said Mark Jones, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of AmeriFirst. "We couldn't be more excited to have someone like Doug serve as a standard-bearer for our organization."

Prior to joining AmeriFirst, Long served as Executive Vice President for HomeBridge Financial Services where he oversaw branch operations after HomeBridge acquired certain assets of Prospect Mortgage, LLC, a large, independent residential retail mortgage lender. Long was the former President of National Lending at Prospect where he led a sales team of more than 800 originators and 200 branches since 2011. Before joining Prospect, Long was the co-founder of Pinnacle Financial where he helped establish Pinnacle as a top-50 lender. "I see an opportunity to replicate AmeriFirst's culture in regions under my authority, honor their value proposition for first-time homebuyers, and assist individuals seeking FHA, VA and Conventional financing along with renovation home loans," said Long. "I feel confident that my team will be able to back up and complement the AmeriFirst team."

Long is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and a member of the school's Hall of Fame.

About AmeriFirst Home Mortgage:

Headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, AmeriFirst Home Mortgage is an independent community mortgage lender founded in 1983 by entrepreneurs Mark Jones and David Gahm. AmeriFirst is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of its customers, its employees and the communities they serve. The AmeriFirst team of over 500 professionals offers a full line of mortgage products including FHA loans, VA mortgage loans, USDA Rural Development loans, Renovation loans and conventional lending. AmeriFirst is licensed in a dozen states across the Midwest and Southeast Regions, and takes great pride in establishing quality relationships with its customers by continuing to service their loans. AmeriFirst Home Mortgage is a division of AmeriFirst Financial Corp.

SOURCE AmeriFirst Home Mortgage

Related Links

http://www.amerifirst.com


MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE symbol: RHI) today reported revenues and earnings for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2017, net income was $85 million, or $.68 per share, on revenues of $1.32 billion. Net income for the prior year's third quarter was $91 million, or $.71 per share, on revenues of $1.34 billion.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, net income was $244 million, or $1.94 per share, on revenues of $3.92 billion. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, net income was $266 million, or $2.06 per share, on revenues of $3.99 billion.

"Our third-quarter results were generally as expected and within the range of our previous guidance, led by our strong European operations," said Harold M. Messmer, Jr., chairman and CEO of Robert Half. "Trends strengthened during the quarter, and we are very encouraged by the broad-based improvement in revenue growth rates that began in September and continued into October, particularly in the United States."

Messmer added, "During the third quarter, return on invested capital for the company was 30 percent."

Robert Half management will conduct a conference call today at 5 p.m. EDT. The prepared remarks for this call are available now in the Investor Center of the Robert Half website ( www.roberthalf.com/investor-center ). Simply click on the Quarterly Conference Calls link. The dial-in number to listen to today's conference call is 877-814-0475 (+1-706-643-9224 outside the United States). The password is "Robert Half."

A taped recording of this call will be available for replay beginning at approximately 8 p.m. EDT today and ending at 11:59 p.m. EST on November 24. The dial-in number for the replay is 855-859-2056 (+1-404-537-3406 outside the United States). To access the replay, enter conference ID# 92846415. The conference call also will be archived in audio format on the company's website at www.roberthalf.com/investor-center .

Founded in 1948, Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm and a recognized leader in professional consulting and staffing services. The company's specialized staffing divisions include Accountemps, Robert Half Finance & Accounting and Robert Half Management Resources, for temporary, full-time and senior-level project professionals, respectively, in the fields of accounting and finance; OfficeTeam, for highly skilled administrative support professionals; Robert Half Technology, for project and full-time technology professionals; Robert Half Legal, for project and full-time staffing of lawyers, paralegals and legal support personnel; and The Creative Group, for interactive, design, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals. Robert Half also is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm that provides clients with consulting solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, analytics, governance, risk and internal audit.

Robert Half has staffing and consulting operations in more than 400 locations worldwide.

Certain information contained in this press release and its attachments may be deemed forward-looking statements regarding events and financial trends that may affect the company's future operating results or financial positions. These statements may be identified by words such as "estimate", "forecast", "project", "plan", "intend", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", or variations or negatives thereof, or by similar or comparable words or phrases. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements.

These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the global financial and economic situation; changes in levels of unemployment and other economic conditions in the United States or foreign countries where the company does business, or in particular regions or industries; reduction in the supply of candidates for temporary employment or the company's ability to attract candidates; the entry of new competitors into the marketplace or expansion by existing competitors; the ability of the company to maintain existing client relationships and attract new clients in the context of changing economic or competitive conditions; the impact of competitive pressures, including any change in the demand for the company's services, on the company's ability to maintain its margins; the possibility of the company incurring liability for its activities, including the activities of its temporary employees, or for events impacting its temporary employees on clients' premises; the possibility that adverse publicity could impact the company's ability to attract and retain clients and candidates; the success of the company in attracting, training, and retaining qualified management personnel and other staff employees; the company's ability to comply with governmental regulations affecting personnel services businesses in particular or employer/employee relationships in general; whether there will be ongoing demand for Sarbanes-Oxley or other regulatory compliance services; the company's reliance on short-term contracts for a significant percentage of its business; litigation relating to prior or current transactions or activities, including litigation that may be disclosed from time to time in the company's SEC filings; the ability of the company to manage its international operations and comply with foreign laws and regulations; the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the possibility that the additional costs the company will incur as a result of healthcare reform legislation may adversely affect the company's profit margins or the demand for the company's services; the possibility that the company's computer and communications hardware and software systems could be damaged or their service interrupted; and the possibility that the company may fail to maintain adequate financial and management controls and as a result suffer errors in its financial reporting.

Additionally, with respect to Protiviti, other risks and uncertainties include the fact that future success will depend on its ability to retain employees and attract clients; there can be no assurance that there will be ongoing demand for Sarbanes-Oxley or other regulatory compliance services; failure to produce projected revenues could adversely affect financial results; and there is the possibility of involvement in litigation relating to prior or current transactions or activities.

Because long-term contracts are not a significant part of the company's business, future results cannot be reliably predicted by considering past trends or extrapolating past results. The company undertakes no obligation to update information contained in this release.

A copy of this release is available at www.roberthalf.com/investor-center .











ATTACHED :

Summary of Operations Supplemental Financial Information Non-GAAP Financial Measures



ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except per share amounts)





































Quarter Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,



2017

2016

2017

2016



(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

















Net service revenues

$ 1,324,709



$ 1,338,541



$ 3,920,507



$ 3,985,326

Direct costs of services

778,309



786,032



2,309,841



2,343,852



















Gross margin

546,400



552,509



1,610,666



1,641,474



















Selling, general and administrative expenses

414,179



406,142



1,222,149



1,211,712

Amortization of intangible assets

481



326



1,147



928

Interest income, net

(530)



(283)



(1,108)



(695)



















Income before income taxes

132,270



146,324



388,478



429,529

Provision for income taxes

47,570



55,755



144,941



163,928



















Net income

$ 84,700



$ 90,569



$ 243,537



$ 265,601



















Diluted net income per share

$ .68



$ .71



$ 1.94



$ 2.06



















Shares:















Basic

123,569



127,615



124,567



128,491

Diluted

124,200



128,191



125,233



129,216



ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION (in thousands)





























































Quarter Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,



2017

2016

2017

2016



(Unaudited)

(Unaudited) REVENUES:































Accountemps

$ 443,376



33.5 %

$ 452,338



33.8 %

$ 1,319,649



33.7 %

$ 1,361,118



34.1 % OfficeTeam

246,207



18.6 %

245,445



18.3 %

726,755



18.5 %

732,556



18.4 % Robert Half Technology

157,038



11.9 %

167,566



12.5 %

472,309



12.1 %

500,444



12.6 % Robert Half Management Resources

158,187



11.9 %

150,899



11.3 %

471,997



12.0 %

463,378



11.6 % Robert Half Finance & Accounting

111,333



8.4 %

105,117



7.9 %

327,619



8.3 %

324,845



8.2 % Protiviti

208,568



15.7 %

217,176



16.2 %

602,178



15.4 %

602,985



15.1 % Total

$ 1,324,709



100.0 %

$ 1,338,541



100.0 %

$ 3,920,507



100.0 %

$ 3,985,326



100.0 %

































GROSS MARGIN:































Temporary and consultant staffing

$ 373,487



37.2 %

$ 380,437



37.4 %

$ 1,116,184



37.3 %

$ 1,142,980



37.4 % Permanent placement staffing

111,098



99.8 %

104,865



99.8 %

326,969



99.8 %

324,232



99.8 % Risk consulting and internal audit services

61,815



29.6 %

67,207



30.9 %

167,513



27.8 %

174,262



28.9 % Total

$ 546,400



41.2 %

$ 552,509



41.3 %

$ 1,610,666



41.1 %

$ 1,641,474



41.2 %

































OPERATING INCOME:































Temporary and consultant staffing

$ 87,703



8.7 %

$ 97,786



9.6 %

$ 271,162



9.1 %

$ 302,802



9.9 % Permanent placement staffing

19,945



17.9 %

20,286



19.3 %

59,293



18.1 %

66,364



20.4 % Risk consulting and internal audit services

24,573



11.8 %

28,295



13.0 %

58,062



9.6 %

60,596



10.0 % Total

$ 132,221



10.0 %

$ 146,367



10.9 %

$ 388,517



9.9 %

$ 429,762



10.8 %

































SELECTED CASH FLOW INFORMATION:































Amortization of intangible assets

$ 481







$ 326







$ 1,147







$ 928





Depreciation expense

$ 16,071







$ 16,061







$ 47,916







$ 46,771





Capital expenditures

$ 7,354







$ 19,540







$ 28,540







$ 63,280





Open market repurchases of common stock (shares)

820







1,239







2,957







2,933







ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION (in thousands)





















September 30,



2017

2016



(Unaudited) SELECTED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION:







Cash and cash equivalents

$ 347,127



$ 292,451

Accounts receivable, less allowances

$ 737,901



$ 742,824

Total assets

$ 1,931,643



$ 1,837,449

Current liabilities

$ 777,139



$ 729,676

Notes payable and other indebtedness, less current portion

$ 704



$ 883

Total stockholders' equity

$ 1,139,818



$ 1,094,930



ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

The financial results of Robert Half International Inc. (the "Company") are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). To help readers understand the Company's financial performance, the Company supplements its GAAP financial results with revenue growth rates derived from non-GAAP revenue amounts.

Variations in the Company's financial results include the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and billing days. The Company provides "same billing days and constant currency" revenue growth calculations to remove the impact of these items. These calculations show the year-over-year revenue growth rates for the Company's lines of business on both a reported basis and also on a same-day, constant-currency basis for global, U.S. and international operations. This information is presented for each of the six most recent quarters. The Company has provided this data because management believes it better reflects the Company's actual revenue growth rates and aids in evaluating revenue trends over time. The Company expresses year-over-year revenue changes as calculated percentages using the same number of billing days and constant currency exchange rates.

The non-GAAP financial measures provided herein may not provide information that is directly comparable to that provided by other companies in the Company's industry, as other companies may calculate such financial results differently. The Company's non-GAAP financial measures are not measurements of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to actual revenue growth derived from revenue amounts presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company does not consider these non-GAAP financial measures to be a substitute for, or superior to, the information provided by GAAP financial results. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is provided on the following pages.

ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

REVENUE GROWTH RATES (%) (UNAUDITED):





















































Year-Over-Year Growth Rates

(As Reported)

Non-GAAP Year-Over-Year Growth Rates

(Same Billing Days and Constant Currency)



2016

2017

2016

2017



Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3 Global















































Accountemps

7.1

4.2

-3.0

-2.7

-4.5

-2.0

6.5

4.9

-0.8

-3.3

-2.8

-1.1 OfficeTeam

1.8

-1.5

-4.7

-1.9

-0.8

0.3

0.6

-1.3

-3.0

-2.6

0.8

0.9 RH Technology

1.8

-1.6

-4.9

-4.2

-6.4

-6.3

0.9

-1.4

-3.4

-5.2

-5.1

-5.2 RH Management Resources

10.2

3.1

-3.7

1.2

-0.3

4.8

9.4

3.7

-1.3

0.8

1.9

5.2 Temporary and consultant staffing

5.4

1.6

-3.8

-2.1

-3.3

-1.1

4.5

2.1

-1.8

-2.8

-1.6

-0.4 Permanent placement staffing

2.6

-5.1

-7.1

-2.5

-0.7

5.9

2.1

-4.5

-4.9

-3.1

1.4

6.7 Total staffing

5.1

1.0

-4.1

-2.2

-3.0

-0.5

4.3

1.5

-2.1

-2.8

-1.3

0.3 Protiviti

9.2

7.4

3.2

4.8

-0.6

-4.0

8.3

7.8

5.3

4.2

1.1

-2.7 Total

5.7

2.0

-3.0

-1.2

-2.7

-1.0

4.9

2.4

-1.0

-1.8

-0.9

-0.2

















































United States











































Temporary and consultant staffing

4.6

0.4

-4.9

-4.4

-4.5

-4.5

3.5

0.6

-3.5

-5.6

-3.5

-3.0 Permanent placement staffing

3.8

-5.2

-9.4

-6.4

-2.6

1.5

2.7

-5.0

-8.1

-7.6

-1.6

3.2 Total staffing

4.5

-0.1

-5.3

-4.6

-4.3

-4.0

3.4

0.1

-3.9

-5.8

-3.4

-2.5 Protiviti

7.6

6.1

3.7

4.8

0.6

-6.9

6.5

6.3

5.3

3.6

1.6

-5.4 Total

5.0

0.9

-3.9

-3.2

-3.6

-4.5

3.9

1.1

-2.4

-4.4

-2.6

-3.0

















































International











































Temporary and consultant staffing

8.6

7.0

0.8

8.1

1.7

12.6

8.9

8.8

5.3

9.4

6.4

10.2 Permanent placement staffing

-0.3

-4.9

-1.3

7.6

4.0

16.5

0.8

-3.4

2.9

8.4

8.7

15.1 Total staffing

7.2

5.3

0.5

8.0

2.1

13.2

7.7

7.0

5.0

9.3

6.7

10.9 Protiviti

17.3

15.2

0.7

4.5

-6.0

11.5

17.5

16.6

5.3

7.2

-1.1

11.6 Total

8.4

6.5

0.5

7.6

1.0

12.9

8.9

8.1

5.0

9.0

5.7

11.0

The non-GAAP financial measures included in the table above adjust for the following items:

Foreign Currency Translation. The "As Reported" revenue growth rates are based upon reported revenues, which include the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. In order to calculate "Constant Currency" revenue growth rates, as-reported amounts are retranslated using foreign exchange rates from the prior year's comparable period.

Billing Days. The "As Reported" revenue growth rates are based upon reported revenues. Management calculates a global, weighted-average number of billing days for each reporting period based upon input from all countries and all lines of business. In order to remove the fluctuations caused by comparable periods having different billing days, the company calculates "same billing day" revenue growth rates by dividing each comparative period's reported revenues by the calculated number of billing days for that period to arrive at a "per billing day" amount. The "same billing day" growth rates are then calculated based upon the "per billing day" amounts.

The term "same billing days and constant currency" means that the impact of different billing days has been removed from the constant currency calculation. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP year-over-year revenue growth rates to the "As Reported" year-over-year revenue growth rates is included herein on Pages 8-10.

ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

REVENUE GROWTH RATE (%) RECONCILIATION (UNAUDITED):





































Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth  GLOBAL



Q2 2016

Q3 2016

Q4 2016

Q1 2017

Q2 2017

Q3 2017 Accountemps















As Reported

7.1



4.2



-3.0



-2.7



-4.5



-2.0

Billing Days Impact

-1.1



0.2



1.4



-1.1



1.0



1.6

Currency Impact

0.5



0.5



0.8



0.5



0.7



-0.7

Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

6.5



4.9



-0.8



-3.3



-2.8



-1.1

OfficeTeam























As Reported

1.8



-1.5



-4.7



-1.9



-0.8



0.3

Billing Days Impact

-1.1



0.2



1.4



-1.2



1.0



1.6

Currency Impact

-0.1



0.0



0.3



0.5



0.6



-1.0

Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

0.6



-1.3



-3.0



-2.6



0.8



0.9

Robert Half Technology























As Reported

1.8



-1.6



-4.9



-4.2



-6.4



-6.3

Billing Days Impact

-1.1



0.2



1.4



-1.1



0.9



1.5

Currency Impact

0.2



0.0



0.1



0.1



0.4



-0.4

Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

0.9



-1.4



-3.4



-5.2



-5.1



-5.2

Robert Half Management Resources























As Reported

10.2



3.1



-3.7



1.2



-0.3



4.8

Billing Days Impact

-1.2



0.2



1.5



-1.2



1.0



1.6

Currency Impact

0.4



0.4



0.9



0.8



1.2



-1.2

Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

9.4



3.7



-1.3



0.8



1.9



5.2

Temporary and consultant staffing























As Reported

5.4



1.6



-3.8



-2.1



-3.3



-1.1

Billing Days Impact

-1.2



0.2



1.4



-1.2



1.0



1.5

Currency Impact

0.3



0.3



0.6



0.5



0.7



-0.8

Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

4.5



2.1



-1.8



-2.8



-1.6



-0.4

Permanent placement staffing























As Reported

2.6



-5.1



-7.1



-2.5



-0.7



5.9

Billing Days Impact

-1.2



0.2



1.4



-1.2



1.1



1.7

Currency Impact

0.7



0.4



0.8



0.6



1.0



-0.9

Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

2.1



-4.5



-4.9



-3.1



1.4



6.7

Total staffing























As Reported

5.1



1.0



-4.1



-2.2



-3.0



-0.5

Billing Days Impact

-1.1



0.2



1.4



-1.1



1.0



1.6

Currency Impact

0.3



0.3



0.6



0.5



0.7



-0.8

Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

4.3



1.5



-2.1



-2.8



-1.3



0.3

Protiviti























As Reported

9.2



7.4



3.2



4.8



-0.6



-4.0

Billing Days Impact

-1.1



0.2



1.6



-1.2



1.0



1.6

Currency Impact

0.2



0.2



0.5



0.6



0.7



-0.3

Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

8.3



7.8



5.3



4.2



1.1



-2.7

Total























As Reported

5.7



2.0



-3.0



-1.2



-2.7



-1.0

Billing Days Impact

-1.1



0.1



1.4



-1.1



1.1



1.5

Currency Impact

0.3



0.3



0.6



0.5



0.7



-0.7

Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

4.9



2.4



-1.0



-1.8



-0.9



-0.2



ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

REVENUE GROWTH RATE (%) RECONCILIATION (UNAUDITED):





































Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth  UNITED STATES



Q2 2016

Q3 2016

Q4 2016

Q1 2017

Q2 2017

Q3 2017 Temporary and consultant staffing







As Reported

4.6



0.4



-4.9



-4.4



-4.5



-4.5

Billing Days Impact

-1.1



0.2



1.4



-1.2



1.0



1.5

Currency Impact























Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

3.5



0.6



-3.5



-5.6



-3.5



-3.0



























Permanent placement staffing























As Reported

3.8



-5.2



-9.4



-6.4



-2.6



1.5

Billing Days Impact

-1.1



0.2



1.3



-1.2



1.0



1.7

Currency Impact























Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

2.7



-5.0



-8.1



-7.6



-1.6



3.2



























Total staffing























As Reported

4.5



-0.1



-5.3



-4.6



-4.3



-4.0

Billing Days Impact

-1.1



0.2



1.4



-1.2



0.9



1.5

Currency Impact























Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

3.4



0.1



-3.9



-5.8



-3.4



-2.5



























Protiviti























As Reported

7.6



6.1



3.7



4.8



0.6



-6.9

Billing Days Impact

-1.1



0.2



1.6



-1.2



1.0



1.5

Currency Impact























Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

6.5



6.3



5.3



3.6



1.6



-5.4



























Total























As Reported

5.0



0.9



-3.9



-3.2



-3.6



-4.5

Billing Days Impact

-1.1



0.2



1.5



-1.2



1.0



1.5

Currency Impact























Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

3.9



1.1



-2.4



-4.4



-2.6



-3.0



ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

REVENUE GROWTH RATE (%) RECONCILIATION (UNAUDITED):





































Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth  INTERNATIONAL



Q2 2016

Q3 2016

Q4 2016

Q1 2017

Q2 2017

Q3 2017 Temporary and consultant staffing







As Reported

8.6



7.0



0.8



8.1



1.7



12.6

Billing Days Impact

-1.2



0.3



1.5



-1.4



1.1



1.7

Currency Impact

1.5



1.5



3.0



2.7



3.6



-4.1

Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

8.9



8.8



5.3



9.4



6.4



10.2



























Permanent placement staffing























As Reported

-0.3



-4.9



-1.3



7.6



4.0



16.5

Billing Days Impact

-1.1



0.2



1.4



-1.3



1.1



1.8

Currency Impact

2.2



1.3



2.8



2.1



3.6



-3.2

Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

0.8



-3.4



2.9



8.4



8.7



15.1



























Total staffing























As Reported

7.2



5.3



0.5



8.0



2.1



13.2

Billing Days Impact

-1.1



0.2



1.6



-1.3



1.0



1.7

Currency Impact

1.6



1.5



2.9



2.6



3.6



-4.0

Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

7.7



7.0



5.0



9.3



6.7



10.9



























Protiviti























As Reported

17.3



15.2



0.7



4.5



-6.0



11.5

Billing Days Impact

-1.3



0.3



1.5



-1.3



1.0



1.7

Currency Impact

1.5



1.1



3.1



4.0



3.9



-1.6

Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

17.5



16.6



5.3



7.2



-1.1



11.6



























Total























As Reported

8.4



6.5



0.5



7.6



1.0



12.9

Billing Days Impact

-1.1



0.2



1.6



-1.4



1.1



1.8

Currency Impact

1.6



1.4



2.9



2.8



3.6



-3.7

Same Billing Days and Constant Currency

8.9



8.1



5.0



9.0



5.7



11.0



SOURCE Robert Half

Related Links

http://www.roberthalf.com


CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SentryOne today announced the release of version 11.2 to the SentryOne Platform. New features of the release include a new Top SQL interface, the ability to execute PowerShell Condition Actions from within SentryOne, an enhanced Advisory Condition framework for VMware hosts and Azure SQL Database, SQL Server on Linux monitoring; and the addition of application telemetry.

"This release offers our customers the ability to not only dig more deeply into their data, but to do so with an even more precise roadmap that pinpoints where to dig," said Jason Hall, Vice President of Product for SentryOne. "The Top SQL improvements provide a superior solution to diagnose and optimize queries and the PowerShell Action provides new options for automation and remediation."

"We are very excited about the depth and breadth of this release and how it will translate into better software serving the data platform community," said John Martin, Microsoft MVP and SentryOne Product Manager. "Our amazing software engineering team really went above and beyond in delivering this update."

SentryOne is a Charlotte-based technology company whose award-winning solutions empower Microsoft data professionals to achieve breakthrough performance across physical, virtual, and cloud environments. Its team includes an unprecedented eight Microsoft MVPs, individuals recognized by Microsoft for their subject matter expertise and community impact. Over the years, SentryOne has developed cutting-edge capabilities to optimize SQL Server performance, including its popular free query tool Plan Explorer.

The company was founded by CEO Greg Gonzalez and Ken Teeter in 2004 as SQL Sentry LLC, and it employs more than 100 people in Charlotte. In 2015, the company secured a $25 million investment from San Francisco-based growth-equity firm Mainsail Partners.

Contact:

Jeanne Bernish

(704) 990-2242

[email protected]

SOURCE SentryOne
HOUSTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI), the largest provider of deathcare products and services in North America, reported results for the third quarter of 2017. Our unaudited consolidated financial statements can be found at the end of this press release. The table below summarizes our key financial results:

(In millions, except for per share amounts) Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016 Revenue $ 731.3



$ 721.5



$ 2,282.3



$ 2,222.1

Operating income $ 109.1



$ 114.4



$ 392.3



$ 332.6

Net income attributable to common stockholders $ 56.2



$ 47.7



$ 299.3



$ 110.8

Diluted earnings per share $ 0.29



$ 0.24



$ 1.56



$ 0.56

Earnings excluding special items(1) $ 63.0



$ 51.6



$ 203.5



$ 162.7

Diluted earnings per share excluding special items(1) $ 0.33



$ 0.26



$ 1.06



$ 0.83

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 192.2



196.6



192.4



197.2

Net cash provided by operating activities $ 165.4



$ 133.0



$ 389.6



$ 358.5

Net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items(1) $ 165.4



$ 143.0



$ 430.1



$ 401.6







(1) Earnings excluding special items, diluted earnings per share excluding special items, and net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items are non-GAAP financial measures. These items are also referred to as "adjusted earnings per share" and "adjusted operating cash flow". A reconciliation from net income attributable to common stockholders, diluted earnings per share, and net cash provided by operating activities computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) can be found later in this press release under the headings "Cash Flow and Capital Spending" and "Non-GAAP Financial Measures".

Quarterly Highlights:

Diluted earnings per share were $0.29 in the third quarter of 2017 compared to $0.24 in the third quarter of 2016. The third quarter of 2017 was negatively impacted by an $11.5 million legal settlement. The third quarter of 2016 was impacted by system transition costs. Diluted earnings per share excluding special items was $0.33 in the third quarter of 2017 compared to $0.26 in the third quarter of 2016. The increase in diluted earnings per share excluding special items was primarily driven by strong cemetery results and a lower effective tax rate. We also encountered temporary business interruptions in certain of our businesses in Texas , Florida and Puerto Rico related to the three hurricanes during the quarter (the Hurricanes). We believe these temporary business interruptions impacted our operating results by about two cents per share during the quarter.

in the third quarter of 2017 compared to in the third quarter of 2016. The third quarter of 2017 was negatively impacted by an legal settlement. The third quarter of 2016 was impacted by system transition costs. Diluted earnings per share excluding special items was in the third quarter of 2017 compared to in the third quarter of 2016. The increase in diluted earnings per share excluding special items was primarily driven by strong cemetery results and a lower effective tax rate. We also encountered temporary business interruptions in certain of our businesses in , and related to the three hurricanes during the quarter (the Hurricanes). We believe these temporary business interruptions impacted our operating results by about per share during the quarter. Net cash provided by operating activities was $165.4 million in the third quarter of 2017 compared to $133.0 million in the third quarter of 2016. The third quarter of 2016 was impacted by system transition costs and excess tax benefits from share-based awards, which reduced cash provided by operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items as noted above was $165.4 million in the third quarter of 2017 compared to $143.0 million in the prior year quarter. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items is primarily due to increased cash flow from earnings growth and lower cash tax payments partially offset by an increase in working capital uses during the quarter.

in the third quarter of 2017 compared to in the third quarter of 2016. The third quarter of 2016 was impacted by system transition costs and excess tax benefits from share-based awards, which reduced cash provided by operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items as noted above was in the third quarter of 2017 compared to in the prior year quarter. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items is primarily due to increased cash flow from earnings growth and lower cash tax payments partially offset by an increase in working capital uses during the quarter. During the third quarter, we returned $56.9 million to shareholders through a combination of share repurchases and dividends and deployed $33.3 million of capital to accretive acquisitions and the construction of new funeral homes.

Tom Ryan, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the third quarter of 2017:

"This quarter our Company and many of the communities in which we operate were personally impacted by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Additionally, we have faced the challenges of the devastating events in Las Vegas and Northern California. While hundreds of our associates' homes, vehicles and personal items were damaged, and many of our business locations impacted, the important thing is that everyone in our SCI family is safe and accounted for. I am so proud of the way our team reacted helping each other and taking care of our client families, going to extraordinary lengths. Thank you and I could not be more proud than I am today.

Now shifting to our quarterly results, we are pleased to report a 27% increase in adjusted earnings per share and a 16% increase in adjusted operating cash flow. Growth in cemetery revenue coupled with benefits from effective tax planning and excess tax benefits were the drivers of our growth for the quarter. We are increasing our full year guidance for adjusted earnings per share to $1.48 to $1.54 per share, and maintaining our midpoint of $500 million of adjusted operating cash flow, with a revised range of $485 million to $515 million. The midpoint of our revised guidance for adjusted earnings per share is about 10% higher than the original guidance midpoint we issued in February 2017. Our results are a testament to our hard-working associates who focus on delivering extraordinary service to our client families. We are confident that our solid operating platform and healthy financial position will allow us to continue to grow revenues by remaining relevant to the customer, drive future markets share by growing our preneed sales, continuing to leverage scale, and deploy capital to enhance shareholder value."

REVISED OUTLOOK FOR 2017

Our revised outlook for Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations excluding special items is anticipated to exceed our expected long-term growth framework of 8%-12% after special items in 2016, even after removing a nine cent benefit recognized to date in 2017 from tax benefits recognized on the anticipated settlement of employee share-based awards, which under current accounting guidance, no such benefits were recognized in 2016.

Our revised outlook for potential earnings and cash flow in 2017 is as follows:

(In millions, except per share amounts) Previous 2017 Outlook

Revised 2017 Outlook Diluted earnings per share excluding special items (Adjusted EPS)(1) $1.42 to $1.52

$1.48 to $1.54 Net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items (Adjusted Operating Cash Flow)(1) $480 to $520

$485 to $515 Capital improvements at existing facilities and cemetery development expenditures Approximately $180

Approximately $180





(1) Diluted earnings per share excluding special items and Net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items are non-GAAP financial measures. We normally reconcile these non-GAAP financial measures from diluted earnings per share and net cash provided by operating activities; however, diluted earnings per share and net cash provided by operating activities calculated in accordance with GAAP are not currently accessible on a forward-looking basis. Our outlook for 2017 excludes the following because this information is not currently available for 2017: Expenses related to the Hurricanes, gains or losses associated with asset divestitures, gains or losses associated with the early extinguishment of debt, potential tax reserve adjustments and IRS settlement payments, acquisition and integration costs, system implementation and transition costs, and potential costs associated with settlements of litigation or the recognition of receivables for insurance recoveries associated with litigation. The foregoing items, especially gains or losses associated with asset divestitures, could materially impact our forward-looking diluted EPS and/or our net cash provided by operating activities calculated in accordance with GAAP, consistent with the historical disclosures found in this press release under the headings "Cash Flow and Capital Spending" and "Non-GAAP Financial Measures".

REVIEW OF RESULTS FOR THIRD QUARTER 2017

Consolidated Segment Results (See definitions of revenue line items later in this earnings release.)

(In millions, except funeral services performed and average revenue per service) Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016 Funeral:













Atneed revenue $ 236.0



$ 248.5



$ 756.9



$ 786.4

Matured preneed revenue 135.1



127.8



425.2



398.0

Core revenue 371.1



376.3



1,182.1



1,184.4

Non-funeral home revenue 11.1



10.5



35.1



32.7

Recognized preneed revenue 26.6



27.8



88.9



86.0

Other revenue 28.7



30.9



89.1



101.7

Total revenue $ 437.5



$ 445.5



$ 1,395.2



$ 1,404.8

















Operating profit $ 70.1



$ 74.5



$ 274.8



$ 271.2

Operating margin percentage 16.0 %

16.7 %

19.7 %

19.3 %















Funeral services performed 72,049



72,680



230,533



230,516

Average revenue per service 5,305



$ 5,322



5,280



5,280

















Cemetery:













Atneed revenue $ 76.1



$ 74.2



$ 238.2



$ 230.9

Recognized preneed revenue 198.9



182.7



584.9



515.9

Core revenue 275.0



256.9



823.1



746.8

Other revenue 18.8



19.1



64.0



70.5

Total revenue $ 293.8



$ 276.0



$ 887.1



$ 817.3

















Operating profit $ 79.6



$ 66.2



$ 235.5



$ 194.5

Operating margin percentage 27.1 %

24.0 %

26.5 %

23.8 %

Comparable Funeral Results

The table below details comparable funeral results of operations ("same store") for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. We consider comparable operations to be those owned for the entire period beginning January 1, 2016 and ending September 30, 2017.

(Dollars in millions, except average revenue per service and average revenue per contract sold)





Three Months Ended September 30,



2017

2016





% Comparable revenue:















Atneed revenue(1)

$ 230.1



$ 240.3



$ (10.2)



(4.2) % Matured preneed revenue(2)

133.0



123.7



9.3



7.5 % Core revenue(3)

363.1



364.0



(0.9)



(0.2) % Non-funeral home revenue(4)

11.0



10.5



0.5



4.8 % Recognized preneed revenue(5)

26.6



27.7



(1.1)



(4.0) % Other revenue(6)

28.4



29.6



(1.2)



(4.1) % Total comparable revenue

$ 429.1



$ 431.8



$ (2.7)



(0.6) %

















Comparable operating profit

$ 69.8



$ 73.0



$ (3.2)



(4.4) % Comparable operating margin percentage

16.3 %

16.9 %

(0.6) %

(3.6) %

















Comparable funeral services performed:















Atneed

39,660



40,770



(1,110)



(2.7) % Matured preneed

22,137



21,092



1,045



5.0 % Total core

61,797



61,862



(65)



(0.1) % Non-funeral home

9,177



9,067



110



1.2 % Total comparable funeral services performed

70,974



70,929



45



0.1 % Core cremation rate

46.7 %

45.9 %

0.8 %

1.7 % Total comparable cremation rate

53.5 %

52.7 %

0.8 %

1.5 %

















Comparable average revenue per service:















Atneed

$ 5,802



$ 5,894



$ (92)



(1.6) % Matured preneed

6,008



5,865



143



2.4 % Total core

5,876



5,884



(8)



(0.1) % Non-funeral home

1,199



1,158



41



3.5 % Total comparable average revenue per service

$ 5,271



$ 5,280



$ (9)



(0.2) %

















Comparable preneed sales production:















Total preneed sales

$ 198.6



$ 202.2



$ (3.6)



(1.8) % Core contracts sold

27,012



26,826



186



0.7 % Non-funeral home contracts sold

16,294



17,028



(734)



(4.3) % Core average revenue per contract sold

$ 5,913



$ 6,101



$ (188)



(3.1) % Non-funeral home average revenue per contract sold

$ 2,385



$ 2,265



$ 120



5.3 %





(1) Atneed revenue represents merchandise and services sold and delivered or performed once death has occurred. (2) Matured preneed revenue represents merchandise and services sold on a preneed contract through our core funeral homes and delivered or performed once death has occurred. (3) Core revenue represents the sum of merchandise and services sold on an atneed contract or preneed contract and delivered or performed once death has occurred through our core funeral homes. (4) Non-funeral home revenue represents services sold on a preneed or atneed contract through one of our non-funeral home sales channels (e.g. SCI Direct) and performed once death has occurred. (5) Recognized preneed revenue represents merchandise and travel protection sold on a preneed contract and delivered before death has occurred. (6) Other revenue primarily comprises general agency revenue, which is commissions we receive from third-party insurance companies for life insurance policies sold to preneed customers for the purpose of funding preneed arrangements.

Total comparable funeral revenue decreased by $2.7 million , or 0.6%, in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same period of 2016, primarily due to lower general agency revenue, which was due to lower insurance sales discussed below. We also had lower recognized preneed revenue and core revenue.

, or 0.6%, in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same period of 2016, primarily due to lower general agency revenue, which was due to lower insurance sales discussed below. We also had lower recognized preneed revenue and core revenue. The $0.9 million core revenue decrease was primarily the result of a 0.1% decrease in core services performed and a 0.1% decrease in core average revenue per service. Organic sales average, excluding impacts from foreign currency and cremation rate, was essentially flat.

core revenue decrease was primarily the result of a 0.1% decrease in core services performed and a 0.1% decrease in core average revenue per service. Organic sales average, excluding impacts from foreign currency and cremation rate, was essentially flat. Total non-funeral home revenue increased by $0.5 million , or 4.8%, which was primarily the result of a 1.2% increase in non-funeral home services performed and a 3.5% increase in non-funeral home average revenue per service.

, or 4.8%, which was primarily the result of a 1.2% increase in non-funeral home services performed and a 3.5% increase in non-funeral home average revenue per service. Recognized preneed revenue decreased $1.1 million , or 4.0%, primarily driven by a decrease in the number of contracts sold through our non-funeral home sales channel in certain markets in Florida , due to a temporary interruption of preneed sales activity caused by the Hurricanes, partially offset by an increase in the average price per contract.

, or 4.0%, primarily driven by a decrease in the number of contracts sold through our non-funeral home sales channel in certain markets in , due to a temporary interruption of preneed sales activity caused by the Hurricanes, partially offset by an increase in the average price per contract. Comparable funeral operating profit decreased $3.2 million to $69.8 million and the operating margin percentage decreased 60 basis points to 16.3%, which is primarily due to the decrease in revenue mentioned above and normal fixed cost growth partially offset by selling cost efficiencies.

to and the operating margin percentage decreased 60 basis points to 16.3%, which is primarily due to the decrease in revenue mentioned above and normal fixed cost growth partially offset by selling cost efficiencies. Comparable preneed funeral sales production decreased $3.6 million , or 1.8%, in the third quarter of 2017 compared to 2016. The overall decrease in funeral production from certain hurricane impacted locations is estimated to be approximately $5 million , from both our core and non-funeral home sales channels. Additionally, the decline in total production reflects the continued impact of changes to sales counselor productivity metrics, which resulted in a more acute emphasis on preneed cemetery property sales as well as terminally imminent preneed funeral trust sales. Core preneed funeral insurance production declined $7.5 million , which was partially offset by a $4.7 million increase in core preneed funeral trust production.

Comparable Cemetery Results

The table below details comparable cemetery results of operations ("same store") for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. We consider comparable operations to be those owned for the entire period beginning January 1, 2016 and ending September 30, 2017.

(Dollars in millions)

Three Months Ended September 30,



2017

2016





% Comparable revenue:















Atneed revenue(1)

$ 75.3



$ 74.1



$ 1.2



1.6 % Recognized preneed revenue(2)

198.2



182.7



15.5



8.5 % Core revenue(3)

273.5



256.8



16.7



6.5 % Other revenue(4)

18.7



19.2



(0.5)



(2.6) % Total comparable revenue

$ 292.2



$ 276.0



$ 16.2



5.9 %

















Comparable operating profit

$ 79.3



$ 66.5



$ 12.8



19.2 % Comparable operating margin percentage

27.1 %

24.1 %

3.0 %

12.4 %

















Comparable preneed and atneed sales production:















Property

$ 143.9



$ 139.1



$ 4.8



3.5 % Merchandise and services

124.3



124.1



0.2



0.2 % Other

(0.4)



(1.0)



0.6



60.0 % Preneed and atneed sales production

$ 267.8



$ 262.2



$ 5.6



2.1 % Preneed property production

$ 123.0



$ 119.6



$ 3.4



2.8 %

















Recognition rate(5)

102.1 %

97.9 %













(1) Atneed revenue represents property, merchandise, and services sold and delivered or performed once death has occurred. (2) Recognized preneed revenue represents property, merchandise, and services sold on a preneed contract that have been delivered or performed and includes the related merchandise and service trust fund income. (3) Core revenue represents the sum of property, merchandise, and services that have been delivered or performed as well as the related merchandise and service trust fund income. (4) Other revenue is primarily related to endowment care trust fund income, royalty income, and interest and finance charges earned from customer receivables on preneed installment contracts. (5) Represents the ratio of current period core revenue stated as a percentage of current period preneed and atneed sales production.

Comparable cemetery revenue grew $16.2 million , or 5.9%, in the third quarter of 2017 compared to 2016, led by an increase in recognized preneed revenue of $15.5 million , or 8.5%. We experienced growth over the prior year quarter due to increases in both the sales and recognition of cemetery property, as well as increases in cemetery merchandise and services delivered during the quarter. The increase in the recognition of cemetery property revenue can be attributed to the continuance of sales of developed inventory projects.

, or 5.9%, in the third quarter of 2017 compared to 2016, led by an increase in recognized preneed revenue of , or 8.5%. We experienced growth over the prior year quarter due to increases in both the sales and recognition of cemetery property, as well as increases in cemetery merchandise and services delivered during the quarter. The increase in the recognition of cemetery property revenue can be attributed to the continuance of sales of developed inventory projects. Comparable preneed cemetery sales production increased $4.0 million , or 2.1%, quarter over quarter. The growth over the prior year quarter is due primarily to our continued momentum in large cemetery property sales offset by a temporary interruption of preneed sales resulting from the impact of Hurricanes in certain markets. The estimated production loss from hurricane impacted locations is approximately $8 million , which we expect to rebound in the fourth quarter.

, or 2.1%, quarter over quarter. The growth over the prior year quarter is due primarily to our continued momentum in large cemetery property sales offset by a temporary interruption of preneed sales resulting from the impact of Hurricanes in certain markets. The estimated production loss from hurricane impacted locations is approximately , which we expect to rebound in the fourth quarter. Comparable cemetery operating profit increased $12.8 million to $79.3 million and the operating margin percentage increased 300 basis points to 27.1%. The increase was primarily the result of high margin core revenue growth when taking into account our fixed cost structure.

Other Financial Results

General and administrative expenses increased $12.3 million to $39.2 million in the third quarter of 2017. We finalized a legal settlement for $11.5 million . The prior year quarter included $2.3 million of system transition costs. Excluding these costs in both periods, general and administrative expenses increased $3.1 million primarily related to higher incentive compensation costs compared to the prior year quarter.

to in the third quarter of 2017. We finalized a legal settlement for . The prior year quarter included of system transition costs. Excluding these costs in both periods, general and administrative expenses increased primarily related to higher incentive compensation costs compared to the prior year quarter. Hurricane expense, net, reflects $5.8 million in damages incurred through September 30, 2017 at various locations caused by the Hurricanes, offset by $4.5 million of insurance proceeds received through September 30, 2017 .

in damages incurred through at various locations caused by the Hurricanes, offset by of insurance proceeds received through . Interest expense increased $3.2 million to $42.8 million in the third quarter of 2017 as we were impacted by increased rates on our floating rate debt as well as higher Bank Credit Facility balances as we continued to maintain our leverage ratio.

to in the third quarter of 2017 as we were impacted by increased rates on our floating rate debt as well as higher Bank Credit Facility balances as we continued to maintain our leverage ratio. The effective income tax rate for the third quarter of 2017 was 15.7%, down from the prior year third quarter rate of 36.6% for 2016. The effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2017 is lower than the federal statutory tax rate of 35% due to tax benefits recognized on the settlement of employee share-based awards and certain tax planning initiatives. The higher effective tax rate for the prior year quarter was the result of non-deductible goodwill related to funeral home divestitures. Our adjusted effective income tax rate was 19.5% in the third quarter of 2017 compared to 32.9% in the prior year quarter. The reduction in our adjusted effective income tax rate was primarily the result of tax benefits recognized during the quarter on the settlement of employee share-based awards in accordance with a revised accounting standard for share-based compensation (A).

Footnotes

(A) In the first quarter of 2017, as required, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-09, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) - Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting," which recognizes the tax effect related to the settlement of share-based awards in income tax benefit or expense in the statements of earnings rather than in additional paid-in-capital. This ASU guidance also eliminates the requirement to reclassify excess tax benefits from operating activities to financing activities within the statement of cash flows. The impact of the restricted stock deliveries and option exercises in the third quarter of 2017 was a reduction to our adjusted provision for income taxes of $7.6 million, which had the effect of increasing our diluted earnings per share excluding special items by approximately $0.04 per share. The impact of the restricted stock deliveries and option exercises in the nine months of 2017 was a reduction to our adjusted provision for income taxes of $16.9 million, which had the effect of increasing our diluted earnings per share excluding special items by approximately $0.09 per share.

Cash Flow and Capital Spending

Set forth below is a reconciliation of our reported net cash provided by operating activities prepared in accordance with GAAP to net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items (or sometimes referred to as adjusted operating cash flow). We do not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

(In millions) Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016 Net cash provided by operating activities, as reported $ 165.4



$ 133.0



$ 389.6



$ 358.5

Add: Pension Settlement 







6.3





Add: Premiums paid on early extinguishment of debt 











20.5

Add: System and process transition costs 



2.8







11.1

Add: Excess tax benefits from share based awards 



7.2







11.5

Add: IRS tax settlement payments (1) 







34.2





Net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items $ 165.4



$ 143.0



$ 430.1



$ 401.6

Cash taxes included in net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items $ 4.0



$ 39.7



$ 87.3



$ 100.9







(1) 2017 is primarily impacted by the settlement of IRS tax audits related to tax years 1999-2005. Please see our Form 8-K filed on March 6, 2017 for more information.

Net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items was $165.4 million in the third quarter of 2017 compared to $143.0 million in the prior year quarter. Cash taxes decreased by approximately $35 million in the quarter. The IRS permitted us to defer $25 million of cash taxes that would have been paid in the third quarter as a result of the Hurricane relief efforts, which will now be paid in December 2017. Additionally, we reduced cash taxes by an additional $10 million, primarily as a result of certain tax planning initiatives as well as from a positive true up of cash taxes paid resulting from filing our 2016 federal tax return. Our cash flows were also impacted in the quarter by lower cash receipts and higher expenses both of which were primarily attributable to temporary business interruptions late in the third quarter related to the Hurricanes.

A summary of our capital expenditures is set forth below:

(In millions) Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016 Capital improvements at existing locations $ 30.8



$ 21.1



$ 73.2



$ 62.5

Development of cemetery property 21.7



21.2



54.6



56.1

Subtotal 52.5



42.3



127.8



118.6

Construction of new funeral home facilities 3.8



5.7



13.8



12.6

Total capital expenditures $ 56.3



$ 48.0



$ 141.6



$ 131.2



Total capital expenditures increased as expected in the current quarter by $8.3 million as we invested more this year on infrastructure improvements within our facilities as we continue to remain relevant with our customers.

TRUST FUND RETURNS

Total trust fund returns include realized and unrealized gains and losses, interest, and dividends. These trust fund returns are net of portfolio management fees and expenses, but are shown prior to other trust administration fees, expenses, and taxes. A summary of our consolidated trust fund returns for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 is set forth below:





Three Months

Nine Months Preneed funeral

4.1%

12.4% Preneed cemetery

4.1%

12.9% Cemetery perpetual care

2.6%

7.1% Combined trust funds

3.6%

10.8%

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Earnings excluding special items and diluted earnings per share excluding special items shown above are non-GAAP financial measures. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide a consistent basis for comparison between quarters and better reflect the performance of our core operations, as they are not influenced by certain income or expense items not affecting continuing operations. We also believe these measures help facilitate comparisons to our competitors' operating results.

Set forth below is a reconciliation of our reported net income attributable to common stockholders to earnings excluding special items and our GAAP diluted earnings per share to diluted earnings per share excluding special items. We do not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

(In millions, except diluted EPS) Three Months Ended September 30,

2017

2016

Net

Income

Diluted

EPS

Net

Income

Diluted

EPS Net income attributable to common stockholders, as reported $ 56.2



$ 0.29



$ 47.7



$ 0.24

Pre-tax reconciling items:













Losses (gains) on divestitures and impairment charges, net 0.1







(0.6)





Legal settlement 11.5



0.06









System transition costs 







2.3



0.01

Tax reconciling items:













Tax (benefit) expense from special items noted above (4.0)



(0.02)



1.4



0.01

Change in certain tax reserves and other (0.8)







0.8





Earnings excluding special items and diluted earnings per share excluding special items $ 63.0



$ 0.33



$ 51.6



$ 0.26

















Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in thousands)



192,243







196,567



(In millions, except diluted EPS) Nine Months Ended September 30,

2017

2016

Net

Income

Diluted

EPS

Net

Income

Diluted

EPS Net income attributable to common stockholders, as reported $ 299.3



$ 1.56



$ 110.8



$ 0.56

Pre-tax reconciling items:













(Gains) losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net (5.5)



(0.03)



30.4



0.16

Losses on early extinguishment of debt 







22.5



0.11

Acquisition and integration costs 







5.5



0.03

System transition costs 







11.2



0.06

Pension termination settlements 12.8



0.07









Legal settlement 11.5



0.06









Tax reconciling items:













Tax benefit from special items noted above (6.6)



(0.03)



(21.1)



(0.11)

Change in certain tax reserves and other (1) (108.0)



(0.57)



3.4



0.02

Earnings excluding special items and diluted earnings per share excluding special items $ 203.5



$ 1.06



$ 162.7



$ 0.83

















Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in thousands)



192,417







197,175







(1) 2017 is primarily impacted by the settlement of IRS tax audits related to tax years 1999-2005. Please see our Form 8-K filed on March 6, 2017 for more information.

Conference Call and Webcast

We will host a conference call on Thursday, October 26, 2017, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time. A question and answer session will follow a brief presentation made by management. The conference call dial-in number is (847) 413-3238 with the passcode of 45765404. The conference call will also be broadcast live via the Internet and can be accessed through our website at www.sci-corp.com . A replay of the conference call will be available through November 3, 2017 and can be accessed at (630) 652-3042 with the passcode of 45765404#. Additionally, a replay of the conference call will be available on our website for approximately two weeks.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this press release that may be deemed forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are made in reliance on the "safe harbor" protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be accompanied by words such as "believe," "estimate," "project," "expect," "anticipate," or "predict" that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements are based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable; however, many important factors could cause our actual results in the future to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein and in any other documents or oral presentations made by us, or on our behalf. Important factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:

Our affiliated funeral and cemetery trust funds own investments in equity securities, fixed income securities, and mutual funds, which are affected by market conditions that are beyond our control.

We may be required to replenish our affiliated funeral and cemetery trust funds to meet minimum funding requirements, which would have a negative effect on our earnings and cash flow.

Our ability to execute our strategic plan depends on many factors, some of which are beyond our control.

Our credit agreements contain covenants that may prevent us from engaging in certain transactions.

If we lost the ability to use surety bonding to support our preneed funeral and preneed cemetery activities, we may be required to make material cash payments to fund certain trust funds.

The funeral and cemetery industry is competitive.

Increasing death benefits related to preneed contracts funded through life insurance contracts may not cover future increases in the cost of providing a price-guaranteed service.

The financial condition of third-party insurance companies that fund our preneed funeral contracts may impact our future revenue.

Unfavorable results of litigation could have a material adverse impact on our financial statements.

Unfavorable publicity could affect our reputation and business.

If the number of deaths in our markets declines, our cash flows and revenue may decrease.

If we are not able to respond effectively to changing consumer preferences, our market share, revenue, and profitability could decrease.

The continuing upward trend in the number of cremations performed in North America could result in lower revenue, gross profit, and cash flows.

could result in lower revenue, gross profit, and cash flows. Our funeral home and cemetery businesses are high fixed-cost businesses.

Regulation and compliance could have a material adverse impact on our financial results.

Cemetery burial practice legal claims could have a material adverse impact on our financial results.

We use a combination of insurance, self-insurance, and large deductibles in managing our exposure to certain inherent risks; as such, we could be exposed to unexpected costs that could negatively affect our financial performance.

A number of years elapse before particular tax matters, for which we have established accruals, are audited and finally resolved.

Declines in overall economic conditions beyond our control could reduce future potential earnings and cash flows and could result in future impairments to goodwill and/or other intangible assets.

Any failure to maintain the security of the information relating to our customers, their loved ones, our associates, and our vendors could damage our reputation, could cause us to incur substantial additional costs and to become subject to litigation, and could adversely affect our operating results.

Our Canadian business exposes us to operational, economic, and currency risks.

Our level of indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry, and may prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under our indebtedness.

A failure of a key information technology system or process could disrupt and adversely affect our business.

Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could adversely affect our results of operations, investor confidence, and our stock price.

The application of unclaimed property laws by certain states to our preneed funeral and cemetery backlog could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity, cash flows, and our financial results.

For further information on these and other risks and uncertainties, see our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K/A and as updated in our Form 10-Q filings. Copies of this document as well as other SEC filings can be obtained from our website at www.sci-corp.com. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by us, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Service Corporation International

Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is North America's leading provider of deathcare products and services. At September 30, 2017, we owned and operated 1,509 funeral homes and 476 cemeteries (of which 287 are combination locations) in 45 states, eight Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Through our businesses, we market the Dignity Memorial brand, which offers assurance of quality, value, caring service, and exceptional customer satisfaction. For more information about Service Corporation International, please visit our website at www.sci-corp.com . For more information about Dignity Memorial, please visit www.dignitymemorial.com .

For additional information contact:



Investors:

Debbie Young - Director / Investor Relations

(713) 525-9088 Media:

Jay Andrew - Managing Director / Corporate Communications

(713) 525-5235

SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS



Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016

(In thousands, except per share amounts) Revenue $ 731,346



$ 721,467



$ 2,282,298



$ 2,222,083

Costs and expenses (581,644)



(580,722)



(1,771,986)



(1,756,425)

Operating profit 149,702



140,745



510,312



465,658

General and administrative expenses (39,213)



(26,916)



(122,307)



(102,668)

(Losses) gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net (143)



557



5,545



(30,432)

Hurricane expenses, net of insurance proceeds (1,290)







(1,290)





Operating income 109,056



114,386



392,260



332,558

Interest expense (42,754)



(39,508)



(125,473)



(121,988)

Loss on early extinguishment of debt 



(25)







(22,503)

Other income (expense), net 276



110



(165)



(697)

Income before income taxes 66,578



74,963



266,622



187,370

(Provision for) benefit from income taxes (10,437)



(27,422)



32,830



(76,482)

Net income 56,141



47,541



299,452



110,888

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests 23



186



(105)



(96)

Net income attributable to common stockholders $ 56,164



$ 47,727



$ 299,347



$ 110,792

Basic earnings per share:













Net income attributable to common stockholders $ 0.30



$ 0.25



$ 1.59



$ 0.57

Basic weighted average number of shares 187,435



193,274



187,761



193,999

Diluted earnings per share:













Net income attributable to common stockholders $ 0.29



$ 0.24



$ 1.56



$ 0.56

Diluted weighted average number of shares 192,243



196,567



192,417



197,175

Dividends declared per share $ 0.15



$ 0.13



$ 0.43



$ 0.38



SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET



September 30, 2017

December 31, 2016

(In thousands, except share amounts) ASSETS





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 267,956



$ 194,986

Receivables, net 77,426



98,455

Inventories 27,161



26,431

Other 32,340



34,524

Total current assets 404,883



354,396









Preneed receivables, net and trust investments 4,677,585



4,305,165

Cemetery property 1,792,843



1,776,935

Property and equipment, net 1,859,408



1,827,587

Goodwill 1,807,816



1,799,081

Deferred charges and other assets 592,462



567,520

Cemetery perpetual care trust investments 1,490,201



1,407,465

Total assets $ 12,625,198



$ 12,038,149









LIABILITIES & EQUITY





Current liabilities:





Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 494,020



$ 439,936

Current maturities of long-term debt 76,314



89,974

Income taxes payable 9,395



7,960

Total current liabilities 579,729



537,870

Long-term debt 3,292,816



3,196,616

Deferred revenue 1,796,756



1,731,417

Deferred tax liability 451,273



454,638

Other liabilities 375,504



510,322

Deferred receipts held in trust 3,399,644



3,103,796

Care trusts' corpus 1,490,525



1,408,243

Commitments and contingencies





Equity:





Common stock, $1 per share par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 198,538,478 and 195,403,644 shares issued, respectively, and 187,746,443 and 189,405,244 shares outstanding, respectively 187,746



189,405

Capital in excess of par value 971,131



990,203

Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) 33,140



(103,387)

Accumulated other comprehensive income 46,661



16,492

Total common stockholders' equity 1,238,678



1,092,713

Noncontrolling interests 273



2,534

Total equity 1,238,951



1,095,247

Total liabilities and equity $ 12,625,198



$ 12,038,149



SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands, except share amounts)



Nine Months Ended September 30,

2017

2016 Cash flows from operating activities:





Net income $ 299,452



$ 110,888

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:





Loss on early extinguishment of debt 



22,503

Premiums paid on early extinguishment of debt 



(20,524)

Depreciation and amortization 113,641



109,531

Amortization of intangibles 20,923



22,210

Amortization of cemetery property 46,533



42,573

Amortization of loan costs 4,344



4,406

Provision for doubtful accounts 6,846



4,048

Benefit from deferred income taxes (148,465)



(11,421)

(Gains) losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net (5,545)



30,432

Share-based compensation 10,719



10,199

Excess tax benefits from share-based awards 



(11,512)

Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:





Decrease in receivables 12,568



11,447

Increase in other assets (15,683)



(7,660)

Increase in payables and other liabilities 66,455



37,565

Effect of preneed sales production and maturities:





Increase in preneed receivables, net and trust investments (58,631)



(48,837)

Increase in deferred revenue 37,438



67,977

Decrease in deferred receipts held in trust (981)



(15,315)

Net cash provided by operating activities 389,614



358,510

Cash flows from investing activities:





Capital expenditures (141,652)



(131,195)

Acquisitions (49,635)



(66,109)

Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment 12,547



13,044

Net withdrawals of restricted funds and other 175



5,120

Net cash used in investing activities (178,565)



(179,140)

Cash flows from financing activities:





Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 120,000



1,035,000

Debt issuance costs 



(5,232)

Payments of debt (26,376)



(27,632)

Early extinguishment of debt 



(875,110)

Principal payments on capital leases (40,509)



(25,220)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options 30,672



16,029

Excess tax benefits from share-based awards 



11,512

Purchase of Company common stock (148,818)



(192,991)

Payments of dividends (80,711)



(73,665)

Purchase of noncontrolling interest (4,580)



(1,961)

Bank overdrafts and other 2,790



(1,066)

Net cash used in financing activities (147,532)



(140,336)

Effect of foreign currency on cash and cash equivalents 9,453



3,938

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 72,970



42,972

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 194,986



134,599

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 267,956



$ 177,571



SOURCE Service Corporation International

Related Links

http://www.sci-corp.com


SHANGHAI, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Shanghai ChemPartner today announced their sponsorship of the Peptide Therapeutics Foundation (PTF), a not-for-profit organization established to promote the research and development of peptide therapeutics.

ChemPartner, a leading research organization, is a true partner in therapeutic peptide drug discovery and offers high-quality and cost-effective integrated partnerships for the biopharmaceutical industry. ChemPartner's dedication to life science can be seen in all the integrated services from discovery biologics, discovery peptide and medicinal chemistry, discovery biology, through preclinical development, DMPK and CMC. The company serves a diverse global client base with laboratories, business offices, and representatives in the US, Europe, China, and Japan. ChemPartner's center of excellence in South San Francisco, California has extensive industry experience in peptide, medicinal, synthetic, analytical and computational chemistry as well as biologics.

"We are excited to be a corporate sponsor of the Peptide Therapeutics Foundation. PTF brings the biopharmaceutical industry together to discuss and develop all aspects of peptide R&D. ChemPartner has always been at the forefront of science and technology. This sponsorship is a testament to our commitment to moving healthcare forward," said Yvonne Angell, Director of Peptide Chemistry at ChemPartner.

The chemists at ChemPartner have designed and synthesized millions of molecules and peptides for hundreds of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. A large number of these have contributed to the clinical development pipelines of the company's biopharmaceutical partners, including an array of early-phase clinical candidates, and a recent entry into Phase III clinical studies for a major pharmaceutical client.

ChemPartner understands how important peptides are as a class of therapeutics as there are more than 60 approved peptide drugs in the United States and other markets. Therefore, this sponsorship is a step forward towards innovation and the advancement of global health.

About ChemPartner

Shanghai ChemPartner is a full-service life science CRO with over 15 years of pharmaceutical research experience. With a team of over 2000 experienced scientists, hundreds of western-trained pharmaceutical industry leaders, and experienced pharmaceutical executive leadership at the helm, ChemPartner is aligned and dedicated to technically and strategically accomplishing the research initiatives of pharma and biotech companies worldwide.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Livia Legg, MS, Chief Commercial Officer

[email protected]

Shanghai Chempartner

No. 5 Building, 998 Halel Rd., Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China

+86 21 5132 008 | www.ChemPartner.com

SOURCE ShangPharma Corporation

Related Links

http://www.ChemPartner.com


NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Rio Tinto plc ("Rio Tinto" or the "Company") (NYSE: RIO). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980.

The investigation concerns whether Rio Tinto and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here to join a class action]

In August 2011, Rio Tinto acquired certain Riversdale Mining Limited coal assets in Mozambique for approximately $3.7 billion. In or around December 2012, the Chairman of the Board of Rio Tinto ordered an investigation into the true value of these coal assets. In January 15, 2013, the Company's Board determined that the assets were severely impaired and should be written down to $611 million. On February 15, 2013, Rio Tinto disclosed the initial impact of the impairment to investors in a press release announcing the Company's financial and operating results for 2012. On this disclosure, Rio Tinto's American Depositary Receipt price fell sharply over the following trading sessions, damaging investors. After recording hundreds of millions of dollars in additional impairment charges, Rio Tinto ultimately sold the assets at issue for $50 million (less than two percent of the original $3.7 billion acquisition price).

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Related Links

http://www.pomerantzlaw.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mighway, a platform connecting owners of RVs with guests, is working with its owner community to provide temporary, discounted emergency accommodations for those displaced by fires in Northern California.

"With the generous help of our owner community, we have been able to provide RVs as a temporary housing solution to those affected," said Mighway CEO Dave Simmons. "We know there is a housing shortage already, and we still have many RVs available that can be accessed right away so victims don't need to relocate. The Mighway platform is normally used by travelers  but the potential to connect those in need with those who can assist is something we would always look to leverage in a crisis. This is a core benefit of the sharing economy."

As a business, Mighway has waived its service fee related to these bookings. It also has extensive insurance options to give owners peace of mind when lending vehicles. "My family is so grateful to Mighway for the assistance they provided when my sister's home was lost in the Sonoma County fires," said Elis Imboden, whose sister was displaced by the fires. "They went out of their way to provide her with a clean, comfortable RV that same day, which allowed my sister and her family to stay in the area while figuring out their next steps. They even offered a discounted rate and waived certain fees, which was a huge help given the chaos."

Those requiring emergency accommodation assistance should call Mighway on (844) 462 9510 or email [email protected] and best efforts will be made to find a suitable vehicle.

RV owners listed with Mighway  and or, owners who would like to make available their vehicles  should contact us on (844) 462 9299, or email [email protected] so we can connect these vehicles with people in need of emergency accommodation.

Vehicles are also available to relief workers and staff coming into affected areas to assist with recovery.

Most RVs listed with Mighway are self-contained  including bathroom and kitchen facilities  offering portability and flexibility to fire victims and emergency workers.

Dave Simmons adds, "It's hard to comprehend the scale of this disaster. For those who don't have a home to return, it's a long road ahead. We're grateful to be able to help in this way and committed to supporting as many people as possible."

Visit www.mighway.com/emergency for more details.

About Mighway

Labelled the 'Airbnb' of motorhomes, Mighway is a Tourism Holdings Limited (thl) brand, and is the world's largest operator of RV & motorhomes  both Peer to Peer and traditional rentals. Mighway is currently one of the world's largest and fastest growing peer-to-peer motorhome rental service and has been operating in New Zealand since 2015 and launched in California in early 2017. Its plans to roll out across the US in stages from late 2017. www.mighway.com

Media Contact:

Jeanne Sullivan

[email protected]

650.215.8156

SOURCE Mighway

Related Links

http://www.mighway.com


This marks an important step in developing maintenance and aircrew training devices, courseware products and the training required to support the initial CRH maintenance and aircrew cadre. This progress is critical to the smooth entry of the HH-60W aircraft into the U.S. Air Force (USAF) fleet.

The joint Sikorsky and Air Force teams met over four days in September with key program participants from government and industry for an in-depth review.

Those attending included leaders from the USAF and key suppliers who took part in technical presentations. Operational combat rescue community representatives from USAF Air Education and Training Command and Air Combat Command also played an important role in the CDR.

The USAF program of record calls for 112 helicopters to replace the USAF's aging HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which perform critical combat search and rescue operations as well as personnel recovery for all U.S. military services.

"I am really excited about achieving yet another program milestone in support of a six-month accelerated schedule. This capability is badly needed by the USAF rescue warriors that have continually engaged in combat operations since 1991. Sikorsky is absolutely committed to them and the accelerated schedule," said Tim Healy, Sikorsky CRH program director. "The aircraft production is well under way, and with our training system design well understood by all parties, we can now begin assembly of the training devices and courseware as well."

The $1.5 billion Engineering Manufacturing & Development (EMD) contract includes development and integration of the next generation combat rescue helicopter and mission systems. This includes delivery of nine HH-60W helicopters as well as six aircrew and maintenance training devices and instructional courseware designed specifically for the HH-60W aircraft. The training devices run the spectrum from full motion simulators, full aircraft maintenance trainers, and discrete "part task training devices" for aircraft systems such as avionics, rescue hoist and landing gear.

The flight simulators will conform to the highest FAA standards and include the capability to link with other simulators on the Combat Air Forces Distributed Mission Operations network. The flight simulators will be used to train the full aircrew allowing pilots and special mission aviators to train together. Avionics desk-top trainers will have an array of touch screens mimicking the "glass cockpit" and include the ability to learn aircraft systems troubleshooting while in a classroom or squadron environment.

The part task training devices are designed to train maintenance personnel and to provide hands-on training in operations, servicing, inspection, and component removal and installation.

The instructional courseware will provide interactive instruction and computer-based training for HH-60W maintainers and operators.

"This is an important step forward for the CRH program. The CRH team is working hard to provide our warfighters the capability they require to continue to conduct the critical personnel recovery mission far into the future. Having highly capable training devices and courseware that mirror aircraft capability absolutely underpins our ability to perform rescue operations," said Dave Schairbaum, USAF CRH program manager. "This CRH training system will provide well-trained aircrew and aircraft maintainers to conduct this demanding mission."

First flight of the HH-60W aircraft is expected in late 2018. Training devices and courseware are expected to be ready for training in early 2020.

For additional information, visit our website: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/blackhawk

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

SOURCE Lockheed Martin

Related Links

http://www.lockheedmartin.com


"It's quite an honor to be ranked among the top 5000 of America's fastest growing companies, and then to see how previously ranked companies moved on to the top of their industries. Our expectation is to stay on track and hit the top of our industry."

The 2017 Inc. 5000, unveiled online at Inc.com and with the top 500 companies featured in the September issue of Inc. (available on newsstands August 16), is the most competitive crop in the list's history. The average company on the list achieved a mind-boggling three-year average growth of 481%. The Inc. 5000's aggregate revenue is $206 billion, and the companies on the list collectively generated 619,500 jobs over the past three years. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.

"The Inc. 5000 is the most persuasive evidence I know that the American Dream is still alive," says Inc. President and Editor-In-Chief Eric Schurenberg. "The founders and CEOs of the Inc. 5000 tell us they think determination, risk taking, and vision were the keys to their success, and I believe them."

About SolidSurface.com

SolidSurface.com is an online supplier and outlet of solid surface sheet material and accessories, attracting over 60,000 visitors per month. Our mission is to create rich online experiences--using a unique blend of marketing, technology, and customer support--that enhance the way consumers and businesses shop for surface-related products.

With an eco-friendly focus on selling discontinued, partial sheets and overstock material from major manufacturers, including Corian, we also offer full product lines such as Formica, LG HI-MACS and Samsung Staron.

Powerful search tools allow filtering by brand, color, pattern, size, and price; accessories include color-matched adhesives, tooling, and sinks.

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000

Methodology

The 2017 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2013 to 2016. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2013. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2016. (Since then, some companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2013 is $100,000; the minimum for 2016 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.'s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

The Inc. 5000 is a list of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Started in 1982, this prestigious list of the nation's most successful private companies has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success. The Inc. 5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony is an annual event that celebrates their remarkable achievements. The event also offers informative workshops, celebrated keynote speakers, and evening functions.

SOURCE SolidSurface.com

Related Links

http://www.solidsurface.com


SAN FRANCISCO, October 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --



Today, at the 2017 edition of the Virtual Reality Strategy conference, Starbreeze and LUCKYHAMMERS will premiere the next generation of Location Based Virtual Reality Experiences (LBVRE) with APE-X. Published by Starbreeze Publishing and developed as an original IP by Montreal based LUCKYHAMMERS, APE-X has been built from the ground up to fully take advantage of the StarVR Virtual Reality HMD.

APE-X raises the bar for a LBVRE and is the perfect blend between gaming and immersive storytelling and is Starbreeze flagship for its vision for the future of out-of-home VR.

Fight for your freedom atop a towering building while battling bots high above the city Streets. You are Big Mike, a massive weaponized cybernetic Ape, whose creator, the APE-X Program, desperately wants you back! Your experience begins with breathtaking views of Cavendish city as the sun begins to set with the sounds of the metropolis humming around you too quickly your solitude is interrupted by the buzz of the laboratory drones. Listen closely to your ally, Doctor Plant and her instructions if you hope to survive this ordeal and finally gain your freedom. With 360 degrees of mobility around the peak of the high rise, keep your wits and shuffle around the building's ledge in order to avoid being spotted. Inevitably you will need to defend yourself and discover the full extent of your capabilities in Big Mike's cybernetic body as you shoot, blast and swat drones out of the sky.

With the technological advantages presented by the StarVR platform, users will experience for themselves the immersive power of a 210-degree field of view.

Using custom controllers, players will have an experience unique to the LBVRE market. Starbreeze and LUCKYHAMMERS have constructed a physical tower and purpose-built controllers in the shape of Monkey-Fisted gauntlets which users will wear as they punch, shoot, and grab drones. Enabling users to forget complicated button combinations and minimizing the learning curve allows users of any skill level to take to the rooftops and smash robots with the best of them.

APE-X is premiering in Starbreeze upcoming VR Centre in Dubai soon with more details to come in Q4 2017. APE-X will be showcased in other LBE venues in early 2018.

Download the latest press assets here: http://www.starbreeze.com/presskit

CONTACT:

For more information, please contact:

Maeva Sponbergs, EVP Communication

Tel: +46-(0)-8-209-208, email: [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/starbreeze-ab/r/starbreeze-and-luckyhammers-exclusively-premiere-ape-x---bringing-the-big-guns-to-vrs-2017,c2375885

The following files are available for download:

http://mb.cision.com/Main/14632/2375885/741821.pdf PDF http://news.cision.com/starbreeze-ab/i/apex,c2259023 APEX http://news.cision.com/starbreeze-ab/i/apex-logo-red-1000,c2259024 Apex Logo Red 1000

SOURCE Starbreeze AB
NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- "The synthetic quartz market is projected to reach USD 95.0 million by 2022, at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2017 to 2022."



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05160297





The synthetic quartz market is estimated at USD 72.4 million in 2017 and is projected to reach USD 95.0 million by 2022, at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2017 to 2022. A key driving factor for the growth of the synthetic quartz market across the globe is the increased demand for advanced electronics devices. Moreover, increased demand for synthetic quartz from the automotive sector for manufacturing smart cars carrying in-vehicle audiovisual equipment, car navigation systems, driving control systems, and safety control systems are some of the other factors fueling the synthetic quartz market growth.



"Among types, the synthetic quartz crystal segment of the synthetic quartz market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2017 to 2022, in terms of value."

Based on type, the synthetic quartz market has been classified into synthetic quartz crystal, synthetic quartz glass, and others. The synthetic quartz crystal type segment of the synthetic quartz market is estimated to grow at a significant pace during the forecast period. The growth of this segment of the market can be attributed to the increasing demand for synthetic quartz crystal from consumer electronics and automotive industries for advanced electronic devices and wireless technologies.



"In terms of value, the synthetic quartz market in Asia Pacific is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period."

The synthetic quartz market in Asia Pacific is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2017 to 2022, in terms of value. Asia Pacific is currently witnessing a prosperous growth curve in terms of consumption of synthetic quartz in various applications, especially the electronics & electrical segment. The region also witnessed a continuous growth in the overall production of light vehicles.

BREAKDOWN OF PRIMARIES



In the process of determining and verifying the market size gathered through secondary research for different segments and subsegments of the synthetic quartz market, extensive primary interviews were conducted with the key industry experts. The break-up of profiles of primary participants is given below.

BREAK-UP OF PROFILES OF PRIMARY PARTICIPANTS:

 By Company Type: Tier 1 - 50%, Tier 2 - 37%, and Tier 3 - 13%

 By Designation: C Level - 48%, Director Level - 31%, and Others - 21%

 By Region: North America - 33%, Europe - 28%, Asia Pacific - 21%, Middle East & Africa  10%, and South America - 8%



The key players operating in the synthetic quartz market include NIHON DEMPA KOGYO (Japan), Shin-Etsu (Japan), Seiko Epson (Japan), Murata Manufacturing (Japan), Kyocera (Japan), and TXC Corporation (Taiwan).



Research Coverage:

This report offers an overview of the market trends, drivers, and barriers with respect to the synthetic quartz market. It also provides a detailed overview of the market across five regions, namely, Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and South America. The report categorizes the synthetic quartz market based on type, application, and region. A detailed analysis of the leading players, along with the key growth strategies adopted by them is also covered in this report on the synthetic quartz market.



Reasons to Buy the Report:

This report covers the following key aspects:

 What would be the size of the synthetic quartz market by 2022 and what would be its growth rate from 2017 to 2022

 What are the key market trends in the synthetic quartz market

 What are the factors expected to drive the growth of the synthetic quartz market

 What are the barriers that impact the growth of the synthetic quartz market

 Who are the key players in the synthetic quartz market

 The report on the synthetic quartz market covers key regions, such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America including key countries of these regions.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05160297



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

__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker

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SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Talkdesk, the leading intelligent contact centers cloud platform, today announced unprecedented momentum across all facets of its business. In the first half of its fiscal year, the company achieved exceptional growth in new customer wins in the U.S. and Europe and attracted top-tier talent from competitors. Additionally, Talkdesk was recently named a Visionary in the 2017 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Contact Center as a Service, North America.* Talkdesk new customers include Indochino, Evernote and Education First English Live.

Several companies adopted Talkdesk over other contact center software providers, citing Talkdesk's superior call quality, impressive product roadmap and features that benefit both businesses and their end customers. On average, Talkdesk customers achieve a 20 percent improvement in contact center productivity and a 19 percent improvement in customer satisfaction (CSAT).

Talkdesk was founded in 2011 by engineer and entrepreneur Tiago Paiva, who had a vision for reinventing contact center solutions. Talkdesk has continued to expand, doubling its engineering staff and adding a European general manager and sales office.

"When we started, we had a simple goal to improve contact centers by delivering the best call quality and an easy to use interface," said Tiago Paiva, Talkdesk CEO. "There's a bigger opportunity today  leveraging AI and machine learning to radically rethink and shape the way businesses communicate with their customers."

Talkdesk's momentum has attracted top talent, including seasoned industry executives and key product hires. Recent additions include:

Jafar Adibi, Head of Data Science and AI, joined Talkdesk to continue development of AI-enabled functionality. Previously, Adibi focused on data science and consumer intelligence at companies including Reunify, PwC and Incentica. Adibi holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Southern California.

Jack Chawla joined Talkdesk from competitor Avaya to advance Talkdesk enterprise strategy and product roadmap. Before Avaya, Chawla was a Vice President of Product Marketing at SAP, Senior Director of Product at Webex and Director of Product Management at eGain. Chawla holds an MBA in Finance from Texas A&M University and B.E. in Engineering.

Peter Ekman, Vice President of People, joined Talkdesk with vast experience in building people processes and culture in iconic companies like Pandora and StubHub. Peter holds a B.S. in Managerial Economics from University of California at Davis.

*Gartner, "Magic Quadrant for Contact Center as a Service, North America," Drew Kraus, Steve Blood, Daniel O'Connell, Simon Harrison, 18 October 2017

Gartner Disclaimer:

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Talkdesk:

Talkdesk, the leading intelligent contact center cloud platform, empowers business to have more effective customer conversations. Talkdesk provides an intuitive user experience, seamless integration to more than 25 business tools and intelligence capabilities that increase representative productivity and customer satisfaction. With headquarters in SF and multiple offices in Europe, Talkdesk serves customers in more than 50 countries globally. Over 1,400 customers, including Box, Dropbox, Peet's Coffee & Tea and Shopify, rely on Talkdesk to power their contact centers. Request a demo of Talkdesk at www.talkdesk.com/demo/

SOURCE Talkdesk

Related Links

http://www.talkdesk.com


WILTON MANORS, Fla., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fourth consecutive year, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has awarded Wilton Manors with a perfect score of 100 in the HRC's Municipal Equality Index (MEI).

Out of the 506 cities that were scored nationwide, a record breaking 68 cities scored a perfect 100 this year. Four Florida cities achieved this honor: Wilton Manors, Tallahassee, Orlando and St. Petersburg. Not only did Wilton Manors receive a perfect score of 100, Wilton Manors is also an "MEI All-Star," receiving a high score in a state without LGBT supportive laws. Nine cities in Florida share this honor, with scores ranging from 86 to 100.

"Treating all individuals with respect and equal rights is not negotiable in the Island City," said Mayor Gary Resnick. "This type of recognition is the result of our community continuously coming together and working together to achieve harmony. We are so proud to have been recognized alongside the four other cities in Florida and hope we can serve as an example for other cities across the nation."

Overall HRC examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies and services are towards an area's LGBTQ community. For more information about the City of Wilton Manors, visit www.wiltonmanors.com. Further information about the Human Rights Campaign can be found at www.hrc.org/mei.

ABOUT THE CITY OF WILTON MANORS

Wilton Manors was laid out in 1925 by Edward John "Ned" Willingham, a land developer from Georgia, as an upscale residential community. It was recognized as a Village in 1947 and incorporated as a City in 1953. Today, the City of Wilton Manors offers all the benefits of a big city from shopping, to hip restaurants and bars, a burgeoning arts community and tons of community events, yet still maintains a cozy, community-feeling offering miles of natural waterways perfect for kayaking, paddle boarding and other outdoor activities. Recently named the "Second Gayest City" in the United States, the City of Wilton Manors celebrates a diverse population of approximately 12,000 residents. To learn more about the live, work and play opportunities in Wilton Manors call (954) 390-2100 or visit www.wiltonmanors.com.

CONTACT: Laurie Menekou, (954) 732-0754 (or) [email protected]

SOURCE City of Wilton Manors

Related Links

http://www.wiltonmanors.com


LONDON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Collection, Purification, Testing and Distribution of Water:

The South African water sector, which employed approximately 11,600 people in 2016, is divided into two sub-sectors, water resources and water services. The water resource sector includes the development and management of water infrastructure, including dams and rivers, and the process of water abstraction, including collection and bulk piping, to supply water service providers. The water services sector meanwhile involves the treatment and supply of water to users and includes sanitation services. Municipal sales of water totalled some R30bn in 2016 while sanitation service charges amounted to R11.8bn.







Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4124624







Successes and Challenges:

The water sector has met with some success in the continued roll-out of basic water and sanitation services to South Africa's population of 55.2 million. Some 88.8% of the country's 16.6 million households have access to piped or tap water, either in their premises or nearby, while 80.9% of households have access to improved sanitation in the form of a flush toilet, septic tank or ventilated pit latrine. However, dilapidated infrastructure and widespread non-payment continue to present problems. The quality of wastewater treatment has shown a marked decrease over the last year and many industry analysts suggest that South African water sector is on the verge of an infrastructural crisis exacerbated by institutional ineffectiveness and under-investment.



Report Coverage:

The detailed report on the South African Water sector examines current conditions, achievements and developments as well as factors that influence the success of the sector. Profiles for 40 entities are provided. These include municipal Water Boards countrywide and companies such as Water and Sanitation Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd whose clients include metropolitan, district and local municipalities, national and provincial government departments, water boards and mines. Also profiled are companies such as DD Science CC, an independent commercial laboratory that undertakes water analysis, and SGS South Africa (Pty) Ltd which is involved in wastewater treatment.



Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4124624



About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers

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For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

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DOHA, Qatar, October 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

2,000 participants from 100 countries to gather to re-imagine education at a time of disruption and economic uncertainty

Some of the world's most creative leaders in the fields of education, technology, social entrepreneurship, global development, media and philanthropy will convene in Doha, Qatar on November 14-16 for the eighth World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE).

Up to 2,000 participants from 100 countries are expected to attend the biennial global Summit which, since its establishment in 2009, has become a premier international gathering on the future of education. The theme of WISE 2017, "Co-Exist, Co-Create: Learning to Live and Work Together", sparks debate around the education challenges in times of global disruption and economic uncertainty.

Central to discussions will be the role of education in a post-truth world, with sessions focusing on media literacy; artificial intelligence and virtual reality; social entrepreneurship; design thinking and nudging for right education choices, among others.

Confirmed speakers include: Prof Sebastien Thrun, chairman and co-founder, Udacity and founder of Google X Labs (USA); Mr Fareed Zakaria, writer and columnist, CNN host (USA); Dr Armel Karboul, commissioner, International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity (Tunisia); Ms Wendy Kopp, CEO and co-founder, Teach for All (USA); Sir Michael Barber, founder and chairman, Delivery Associates (UK) and Ms Noella Coursaris Musunka, founder, Malaika (Democratic Republic of Congo).

The 2017 WISE Prize for Education Laureate will be announced at the opening of WISE on November 15. The Prize recognizes an individual or a team of up to six people for an outstanding, world-class contribution to education.

The Summit will also showcase projects championed by WISE all year round. These include the WISE Awards for high-impact education solutions; the WISE Accelerator, supporting promising edtech projects; the WISE Learners' Voice, a mentorship program for young education leaders, and the WISE Research series of reports authored by experts from leading international institutions.

Peer learning will be at the heart of WISE, with the possibility to set up "Braindates", a concept by e180 (Canada), allowing delegates to strike up knowledge-sharing conversations.

Certain sessions of WISE 2017 will be streamed live online:

15 November: opening ceremony; afternoon plenary

16 November: morning plenary session; closing ceremony



These sessions will also be streamed live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wiseqatar/

Discover the full program online: http://www.wise-qatar.org/program/2017-wise-summit-program

SOURCE WISE - World Innovation Summit for Education
ROSWELL, Ga., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MNS Group LLC, a global provider of wireless network infrastructure equipment and related integration support services, announced today that Thomas Eaton has joined the Company as its Chief Executive Officer.

Mark Gergel, Cofounder and Chief Financial Officer, said "We are extremely pleased to announce that Tom has joined MNS as our new Chief Executive Officer. Over the past twenty years, our key principals have worked with Tom in various capacities and have always been impressed with his industry knowledge, business development skills and professionalism. Tom's entire career has been focused on the wireless telecom industry where he's held sales executive positions at Lucent Technologies, Commnet Supply, Telmar Network Technology and Cisco Systems. His focus at Cisco the past five years has been selling software platforms for their packet core solutions and self-optimizing network (SON) architectures to wireless service providers in North America."

Mr. Gergel added, "All of us at MNS are excited to have Tom on board and look forward to his leadership in servicing the future needs of our customers, vendors and other strategic partners. His wireless network knowledge and experience serving national, regional and rural wireless carriers will greatly facilitate the continued profitable growth of all our MNS operating companies and affiliates."

About MNS Group

MNS Group LLC is a global provider of wireless network infrastructure equipment and related integration support services to wireless service providers. The Company was founded in 2007 and is based in Roswell, Georgia. MNS Group conducts its operations under three subsidiary companies:

Mobile Network Supply (Darien, IL) -- a NWBE certified provider of wireless network infrastructure equipment ranging from single component sales through the deployment of total network systems.

Mobile Network Solutions (Richmond, KY) -- a provider of wireless network engineering, systems integration, equipment installation and related support services.

Mobile Network Services (Roswell, GA)  an Authorized Technology Partner for Cisco's mobile packet core solutions and reseller of new and refurbished wireless network equipment.

Contacts

Tom Eaton Chief Executive Officer 470-275-3908 Mark Gergel Chief Financial Officer 470-275-3911

SOURCE MNS Group LLC

Related Links

http://www.mns3.com


PELLA, Iowa, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- TheBestSchools.org, a leading online publication for ranking schools and degree programs, has now published a comprehensive resource for students looking for affordable higher education options and for colleges and universities with the best return on investment: "The Affordable Colleges Source: Online, Public, Private, Best ROI."

https://thebestschools.org/affordable-colleges/

The Affordable Colleges Source - TheBestSchools.org

In this one-stop source, TheBestSchools.org provides ranking information and links to the following:

"The Most Affordable Four-Year College in Each State"

"The 25 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's Degrees in Business Studies"

"The 25 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's Degrees in Communications and Public Relations"

"The 25 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's Degrees in Criminal Justice Studies"

"25 Online Colleges with the Best Return on Investment"

"50 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment"

"50 Private Colleges with the Best Return on Investment"

"The Best Colleges Providing Free Tuition"

Also included are links and supporting information regarding affordability considerations, student loans, ROI essentials, and much more.

"Making the most of one's education dollars may be the most important consideration for students today, particularly older students seeking to finish an incomplete degree or those who must support a family while attending school," says Dan Edelen, director of marketing services for TheBestSchools.org. "To help students further, we grouped our affordability rankings and resources in one convenient source that combines outstanding information and user-friendly access."

College costs continue to rise. To address this, TheBestSchools.org offers "The Affordable Colleges Source: Online, Public, Private, Best ROI" in support of students seeking the most from their investment in education and, ultimately, their degree.

TheBestSchools.org is a leader in school rankings  K12, college, postgraduate, online, and on-campus  providing millions of prospective students with the information they need to find the right school for them. TheBestSchools.org is an independent educational website whose staff and advisory board believe learning transforms lives for the better and should be a lifelong pursuit.

Contact:

Dan Edelen, Director of Marketing Services

Web:https://thebestschools.org

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (513) 601-8202

SOURCE TheBestSchools.org

Related Links

https://thebestschools.org


WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in serving science, today reported its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.

Third Quarter 2017 Highlights

Reported revenue of $5.1 billion .

. Reported GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.34 .

Reported adjusted EPS of $2.31 .

. Reported adjusted EPS of . Launched four new electron microscopy systems for structural biology and materials science research, released the new iQ Series air-quality monitoring platform, and enabled the first FDA-approved gene therapy, which uses our proprietary magnetic bead technology.

Opened Precision Medicine Customer Experience Center in Guangzhou, China , to showcase our range of technologies and services for advancing personalized healthcare.

, to showcase our range of technologies and services for advancing personalized healthcare. Completed acquisition of Patheon, adding leading contract development and manufacturing outsourcing services to significantly enhance our value proposition for biopharma customers.

Adjusted EPS, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin and free cash flow are non-GAAP measures that exclude certain items detailed later in this press release under the heading "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

"Our team executed very well to deliver another excellent quarter, with strong performance on the top and bottom line," said Marc N. Casper, president and chief executive officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific.

"We also continued to set our company up for an even stronger future by successfully executing our growth strategy. Among the highlights in the quarter, we expanded our analytical instrument platforms for both life sciences and applied markets, and contributed to a groundbreaking achievement in gene therapy. In Asia-Pacific, we built on our industry-leading scale and depth of capabilities in China to help our customers advance precision medicine.

"We were also very pleased to close our acquisition of Patheon in late August. Two months into the integration, we're even more excited about the new opportunities we have to help our pharma and biotech customers achieve their goals."

Casper concluded, "We've made great progress during the past nine months, and are in an excellent position to achieve our growth goals for the year."

Third Quarter 2017

Revenue for the quarter grew 14% to $5.1 billion in 2017, versus $4.5 billion in the third quarter of 2016. Organic revenue growth was 5%; acquisitions increased revenue by 8% and currency translation increased revenue by 1%.

GAAP Earnings Results

GAAP diluted EPS in the third quarter increased 13% to $1.34, versus $1.19 in the same quarter last year. GAAP operating income for the third quarter of 2017 grew to $636 million, compared with $541 million in the third quarter of 2016. GAAP operating margin was 12.4%, compared with 12.0% in the third quarter last year.

Non-GAAP Earnings Results

Adjusted EPS in the third quarter of 2017 rose 14% to $2.31, versus $2.03 in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted operating income for the third quarter of 2017 grew 13% compared with the same quarter last year. Adjusted operating margin was 22.9%, compared with 23.0% in the third quarter of 2016, reflecting the dilutive impact from the acquisition of Patheon.

2017 Guidance Update

Thermo Fisher is raising its 2017 revenue and earnings guidance to reflect the acquisition of Patheon, strong operational performance and a more favorable foreign exchange environment. The company is raising its revenue guidance to a new range of $20.50 to $20.66 billion versus its previous guidance of $19.71 to $19.89 billion. This would result in 12 to 13% revenue growth over the previous year. The company is raising its adjusted EPS guidance to a new range of $9.29 to $9.38, versus the $9.15 to $9.28 previously communicated, for 12 to 13% growth over 2016.

Segment Results

Management uses adjusted operating results to monitor and evaluate performance of the company's four business segments, as highlighted below. Since these results are used for this purpose, they are also considered to be prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Life Sciences Solutions Segment

In the third quarter of 2017, Life Sciences Solutions Segment revenue grew 5% to $1.38 billion, compared with revenue of $1.31 billion in the third quarter of 2016. Segment adjusted operating margin increased to 32.8%, versus 29.6% in the 2016 quarter.

Analytical Instruments Segment

Analytical Instruments Segment results reflect the acquisition of FEI Company in September 2016. Revenue for the segment grew 32% to $1.19 billion in the third quarter of 2017, compared with revenue of $898 million in the third quarter of 2016. Segment adjusted operating margin increased to 21.6%, versus 21.2% in the 2016 quarter.

Specialty Diagnostics Segment

Specialty Diagnostics Segment revenue grew 6% to $844 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared with revenue of $799 million in the third quarter of 2016. Segment adjusted operating margin was 25.9%, versus 26.8% in the 2016 quarter.

Laboratory Products and Services Segment

Laboratory Products and Services Segment results reflect the acquisition of Patheon in late August 2017. In the third quarter of 2017, Laboratory Products and Services Segment revenue grew 15% to $1.93 billion, compared with revenue of $1.67 billion in the third quarter of 2016. Segment adjusted operating margin was 12.6%, versus 14.3% in the 2016 quarter.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we use certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EPS, adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin, which exclude certain acquisition-related costs, including charges for the sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition and significant transaction costs; restructuring and other costs/income; and amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets. Adjusted EPS also excludes certain other gains and losses that are either isolated or cannot be expected to occur again with any predictability, tax provisions/benefits related to the previous items, benefits from tax credit carryforwards, the impact of significant tax audits or events and the results of discontinued operations. We exclude the above items because they are outside of our normal operations and/or, in certain cases, are difficult to forecast accurately for future periods. We also use a non-GAAP measure, free cash flow, which is operating cash flow, net of capital expenditures, and also excludes operating cash flows from discontinued operations to provide a view of the continuing operations' ability to generate cash for use in acquisitions and other investing and financing activities. We believe that the use of non-GAAP measures helps investors to gain a better understanding of our core operating results and future prospects, consistent with how management measures and forecasts the company's performance, especially when comparing such results to previous periods or forecasts.

For example:

We exclude costs and tax effects associated with restructuring activities, such as reducing overhead and consolidating facilities. We believe that the costs related to these restructuring activities are not indicative of our normal operating costs.

We exclude certain acquisition-related costs, including charges for the sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition and significant transaction costs. We exclude these costs because we do not believe they are indicative of our normal operating costs.

We exclude the expense and tax effects associated with the amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets because a significant portion of the purchase price for acquisitions may be allocated to intangible assets that have lives of 5 to 20 years. In 2017, based on acquisitions closed through the end of the third quarter of 2017, our adjusted EPS will exclude approximately $2.85 of expense for the amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets. Exclusion of the amortization expense allows comparisons of operating results that are consistent over time for both our newly acquired and long-held businesses and with both acquisitive and non-acquisitive peer companies.

We also exclude certain gains/losses and related tax effects, benefits from tax credit carryforwards and the impact of significant tax audits or events (such as the effect on deferred tax balances of enacted changes in tax rates), which are either isolated or cannot be expected to occur again with any predictability and that we believe are not indicative of our normal operating gains and losses. For example, we exclude gains/losses from items such as the sale of a business or real estate, gains or losses on significant litigation-related matters, gains on curtailments of pension plans, the early retirement of debt and discontinued operations.

We also report free cash flow, which is operating cash flow, net of capital expenditures, and also excludes operating cash flows from discontinued operations to provide a view of the continuing operations' ability to generate cash for use in acquisitions and other investing and financing activities.

Thermo Fisher's management uses these non-GAAP measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, as the basis for measuring the company's core operating performance and comparing such performance to that of prior periods and to the performance of our competitors. Such measures are also used by management in their financial and operating decision-making and for compensation purposes.

The non-GAAP financial measures of Thermo Fisher's results of operations and cash flows included in this press release are not meant to be considered superior to or a substitute for Thermo Fisher's results of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of such non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are set forth in the accompanying tables. Thermo Fisher does not provide GAAP financial measures on a forward-looking basis because we are unable to predict with reasonable certainty and without unreasonable effort items such as the timing and amount of future restructuring actions and acquisition-related charges as well as gains or losses from sales of real estate and businesses, the early retirement of debt and the outcome of legal proceedings. The timing and amount of these items are uncertain and could be material to Thermo Fisher's results computed in accordance with GAAP.

Conference Call

Thermo Fisher Scientific will hold its earnings conference call today, October 25, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. To listen, dial (877) 201-0168 within the U.S. or (647) 788-4901 outside the U.S. You may also listen to the call live on our website, www.thermofisher.com, by clicking on "Investors." You will find this press release, including the accompanying reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures and related information, in that section of our website under "Financial Results." An audio archive of the call will be available under "Webcasts and Presentations" through Friday, November 3, 2017.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving science, with revenues of more than $20 billion and approximately 65,000 employees globally. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We help our customers accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics, deliver medicines to market and increase laboratory productivity. Through our premier brands  Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services  we offer an unmatched combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and comprehensive services. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

The following constitutes a "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties relating to: the need to develop new products and adapt to significant technological change; implementation of strategies for improving growth; general economic conditions and related uncertainties; dependence on customers' capital spending policies and government funding policies; the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on international operations; use and protection of intellectual property; the effect of changes in governmental regulations; and the effect of laws and regulations governing government contracts, as well as the possibility that expected benefits related to recent or pending acquisitions may not materialize as expected. Additional important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are set forth in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 1, 2017, which is on file with the SEC and available in the "Investors" section of our website under the heading "SEC Filings." While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if estimates change and, therefore, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to today.

Consolidated Statement of Income (unaudited) (a)(b)



















Three Months Ended



September 30,

% of

October 1,

% of (In millions except per share amounts)

2017

Revenues

2016

Revenues

















Revenues

$ 5,116.2







$ 4,490.9





Costs and Operating Expenses:















Cost of revenues (c)

2,685.7



52.5 %

2,327.2



51.8 % Selling, general and administrative expenses (d)

1,122.1



21.9 %

1,042.8



23.2 % Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets

405.0



7.9 %

341.6



7.6 % Research and development expenses

218.1



4.3 %

183.3



4.1 % Restructuring and other costs, net (e)

49.1



1.0 %

54.9



1.3 %



4,480.0



87.6 %

3,949.8



88.0 %

















Operating Income

636.2



12.4 %

541.1



12.0 % Interest Income

24.4







10.4





Interest Expense

(156.7)







(113.3)





Other Expense, Net (f)

(23.3)







(10.3)























Income Before Income Taxes

480.6







427.9





Benefit from Income Taxes (g)

53.3







45.6























Income from Continuing Operations

533.9







473.5























Loss from Discontinued Operations

































Net Income

$ 533.9



10.4 %

$ 473.5



10.5 %

















Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations:















Basic

$ 1.35







$ 1.20





Diluted

$ 1.34







$ 1.19























Earnings per Share:















Basic

$ 1.35







$ 1.20





Diluted

$ 1.34







$ 1.19























Weighted Average Shares:















Basic

396.2







394.7





Diluted

399.6







397.4









































Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin















GAAP Operating Income (a)

$ 636.2



12.4 %

$ 541.1



12.0 % Cost of Revenues Charges (c)

45.1



0.9 %

32.4



0.7 % Selling, General and Administrative Charges, Net (d)

36.4



0.7 %

62.5



1.4 % Restructuring and Other Costs, Net (e)

49.1



1.0 %

54.9



1.3 % Amortization of Acquisition-related Intangible Assets

405.0



7.9 %

341.6



7.6 %

















Adjusted Operating Income (b)

$ 1,171.8



22.9 %

$ 1,032.5



23.0 %

















Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income















GAAP Net Income (a)

$ 533.9



10.4 %

$ 473.5



10.5 % Cost of Revenues Charges (c)

45.1



0.9 %

32.4



0.7 % Selling, General and Administrative Charges, Net (d)

36.4



0.7 %

62.5



1.4 % Restructuring and Other Costs, Net (e)

49.1



1.0 %

54.9



1.3 % Amortization of Acquisition-related Intangible Assets

405.0



7.9 %

341.6



7.6 % Other Expense, Net (f)

30.3



0.6 %

11.1



0.2 % Provision for Income Taxes (g)

(176.3)



-3.4 %

(167.5)



-3.7 % Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax





0.0 %





0.0 %

















Adjusted Net Income (b)

$ 923.5



18.1 %

$ 808.5



18.0 %

















Reconciliation of Adjusted Earnings per Share















GAAP EPS (a)

$ 1.34







$ 1.19





Cost of Revenues Charges, Net of Tax (c)

0.07







0.05





Selling, General and Administrative Charges, Net of Tax (d)

0.07







0.11





Restructuring and Other Costs, Net of Tax (e)

0.07







0.09





Amortization of Acquisition-related Intangible Assets, Net of Tax

0.70







0.59





Other Expense, Net of Tax (f)

0.05







0.02





Provision for Income Taxes (g)

0.01







(0.02)





Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax

































Adjusted EPS (b)

$ 2.31







$ 2.03























Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow















GAAP Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities (a)

$ 928.6







$ 804.4





Net Cash Used in Discontinued Operations

0.7







1.1





Purchases of Property, Plant and Equipment

(111.4)







(81.0)





Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant and Equipment

2.0







1.4























Free Cash Flow

$ 819.9







$ 725.9







Segment Data

Three Months Ended



September 30,

% of

October 1,

% of (In millions)

2017

Revenues

2016

Revenues

















Revenues















Life Sciences Solutions

$ 1,382.0



27.0 %

$ 1,312.3



29.2 % Analytical Instruments

1,189.6



23.3 %

898.0



20.0 % Specialty Diagnostics

843.7



16.5 %

798.9



17.8 % Laboratory Products and Services

1,933.0



37.8 %

1,674.5



37.3 % Eliminations

(232.1)



-4.6 %

(192.8)



-4.3 %

















Consolidated Revenues

$ 5,116.2



100.0 %

$ 4,490.9



100.0 %

















Operating Income and Operating Margin















Life Sciences Solutions

$ 453.0



32.8 %

$ 387.9



29.6 % Analytical Instruments

256.6



21.6 %

190.1



21.2 % Specialty Diagnostics

218.8



25.9 %

214.4



26.8 % Laboratory Products and Services

243.4



12.6 %

240.1



14.3 %

















Subtotal Reportable Segments

1,171.8



22.9 %

1,032.5



23.0 %

















Cost of Revenues Charges (c)

(45.1)



-0.9 %

(32.4)



-0.7 % Selling, General and Administrative Charges, Net (d)

(36.4)



-0.7 %

(62.5)



-1.4 % Restructuring and Other Costs, Net (e)

(49.1)



-1.0 %

(54.9)



-1.3 % Amortization of Acquisition-related Intangible Assets

(405.0)



-7.9 %

(341.6)



-7.6 %

















GAAP Operating Income (a)

$ 636.2



12.4 %

$ 541.1



12.0 %



































(a) "GAAP" (reported) results were determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

(b) Adjusted results are non-GAAP measures and, for income measures, exclude certain charges to cost of revenues (see note (c) for details); certain credits/charges to selling, general and administrative expenses (see note (d) for details); amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets; restructuring and other costs, net (see note (e) for details); certain other gains or losses that are either isolated or cannot be expected to occur again with any predictability (see note (f) for details); and the tax consequences of the preceding items and certain other tax items (see note (g) for details).

(c) Reported results in 2017 and 2016 include i) $16.3 and $16.3, respectively, of charges for the sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition and ii) $26.8 and $16.1, respectively, of charges to conform the accounting policies of recently acquired businesses with the company's accounting policies. Reported results in 2017 include $2.0 of accelerated depreciation on manufacturing assets to be abandoned due to facility consolidations.

(d) Reported results in 2017 and 2016 include i) $38.0 and $36.4, respectively, of third-party transaction/integration costs primarily related to recently completed acquisitions; ii) $(8.0) and $17.2, respectively, of (income)/charges associated with product liability litigation; iii) $6.1 and $8.5, respectively, of charges to conform the accounting policies of recently acquired businesses with the company's accounting policies; and iv) $0.3 and $0.4, respectively, of accelerated depreciation on fixed assets to be abandoned due to integration synergies.

(e) Reported results in 2017 and 2016 include restructuring and other costs, net, consisting principally of severance, abandoned facility and other expenses of headcount reductions within several businesses and real estate consolidations. Reported results in 2017 include $14.9 of net charges for litigation and $6.0 of compensation due at an acquired business on the date of acquisition. Reported results in 2016 include $9.9 of net charges for litigation.

(f) Reported results in 2017 include a $28.8 charge related to fees paid to obtain bridge financing commitments for the acquisition of Patheon and $1.4 of losses on investments. Reported results in 2016 include $12.0 of charges related to fees paid to obtain bridge financing commitments for the acquisition of FEI, $0.3 of losses on the early extinguishment of debt and $0.5 of amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of the company's equity-method investments, offset in part by a $1.7 gain on investment.

(g) Reported provision for income taxes includes i) $179.1 and $158.9 of incremental tax benefit in 2017 and 2016, respectively, for the pre-tax reconciling items between GAAP and adjusted net income; and ii) in 2017 and 2016, $(2.8) and $8.6, respectively, of incremental tax (provision)/benefit from adjusting the company's deferred tax balances as a result of tax rate changes.

Notes: Consolidated depreciation expense is $111.8 and $91.4 in 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Consolidated Statement of Income (unaudited) (a)(b)



















Nine Months Ended



September 30,

% of

October 1,

% of (In millions except per share amounts)

2017

Revenues

2016

Revenues

















Revenues

$ 14,871.2







$ 13,320.9





Costs and Operating Expenses:















Cost of revenues (c)

7,711.2



51.9 %

6,912.5



51.9 % Selling, general and administrative expenses (d)

3,246.3



21.8 %

3,027.1



22.7 % Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets

1,153.4



7.8 %

1,001.6



7.5 % Research and development expenses

655.1



4.4 %

542.2



4.1 % Restructuring and other costs, net (e)

95.1



0.6 %

140.9



1.1 %



12,861.1



86.5 %

11,624.3



87.3 %

















Operating Income

2,010.1



13.5 %

1,696.6



12.7 % Interest Income

60.7







34.4





Interest Expense

(425.7)







(338.3)





Other Expense, Net (f)

(36.0)







(20.7)























Income Before Income Taxes

1,609.1







1,372.0





Benefit from Income Taxes (g)

88.4







20.6























Income from Continuing Operations

1,697.5







1,392.6























Loss from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax

(0.6)







(0.3)























Net Income

$ 1,696.9



11.4 %

$ 1,392.3



10.5 %

















Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations:















Basic

$ 4.33







$ 3.53





Diluted

$ 4.29







$ 3.50























Earnings per Share:















Basic

$ 4.32







$ 3.53





Diluted

$ 4.29







$ 3.50























Weighted Average Shares:















Basic

392.4







394.8





Diluted

395.6







397.6









































Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin















GAAP Operating Income (a)

$ 2,010.1



13.5 %

$ 1,696.6



12.7 % Cost of Revenues Charges (c)

76.7



0.5 %

60.4



0.5 % Selling, General and Administrative Charges, Net (d)

74.7



0.5 %

95.2



0.7 % Restructuring and Other Costs, Net (e)

95.1



0.6 %

140.9



1.1 % Amortization of Acquisition-related Intangible Assets

1,153.4



7.8 %

1,001.6



7.5 %

















Adjusted Operating Income (b)

$ 3,410.0



22.9 %

$ 2,994.7



22.5 %

















Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income















GAAP Net Income (a)

$ 1,696.9



11.4 %

$ 1,392.3



10.5 % Cost of Revenues Charges (c)

76.7



0.5 %

60.4



0.5 % Selling, General and Administrative Charges, Net (d)

74.7



0.5 %

95.2



0.7 % Restructuring and Other Costs, Net (e)

95.1



0.6 %

140.9



1.1 % Amortization of Acquisition-related Intangible Assets

1,153.4



7.8 %

1,001.6



7.5 % Other Expense, Net (f)

30.5



0.2 %

26.6



0.2 % Provision for Income Taxes (g)

(481.4)



-3.2 %

(385.2)



-3.0 % Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax

0.6



0.0 %

0.3



0.0 %

















Adjusted Net Income (b)

$ 2,646.5



17.8 %

$ 2,332.1



17.5 %

















Reconciliation of Adjusted Earnings per Share















GAAP EPS (a)

$ 4.29







$ 3.50





Cost of Revenues Charges, Net of Tax (c)

0.13







0.10





Selling, General and Administrative Charges, Net of Tax (d)

0.13







0.18





Restructuring and Other Costs, Net of Tax (e)

0.16







0.24





Amortization of Acquisition-related Intangible Assets, Net of Tax

2.08







1.81





Other Expense, Net of Tax (f)

0.05







0.04





(Benefit from) Provision for Income Taxes (g)

(0.15)













Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax

































Adjusted EPS (b)

$ 6.69







$ 5.87























Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow















GAAP Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities (a)

$ 2,138.5







$ 2,052.7





Net Cash Used in Discontinued Operations

1.8







3.0





Purchases of Property, Plant and Equipment

(292.8)







(310.9)





Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant and Equipment

4.3







23.1























Free Cash Flow

$ 1,851.8







$ 1,767.9







Segment Data

Nine Months Ended



September 30,

% of

October 1,

% of (In millions)

2017

Revenues

2016

Revenues

















Revenues















Life Sciences Solutions

$ 4,150.1



27.9 %

$ 3,897.9



29.3 % Analytical Instruments

3,407.4



22.9 %

2,451.2



18.4 % Specialty Diagnostics

2,571.9



17.3 %

2,504.8



18.8 % Laboratory Products and Services

5,424.5



36.5 %

5,043.0



37.9 % Eliminations

(682.7)



-4.6 %

(576.0)



-4.4 %

















Consolidated Revenues

$ 14,871.2



100.0 %

$ 13,320.9



100.0 %

















Operating Income and Operating Margin















Life Sciences Solutions

$ 1,335.0



32.2 %

$ 1,128.8



29.0 % Analytical Instruments

681.0



20.0 %

446.7



18.2 % Specialty Diagnostics

687.7



26.7 %

682.4



27.2 % Laboratory Products and Services

706.3



13.0 %

736.8



14.6 %

















Subtotal Reportable Segments

3,410.0



22.9 %

2,994.7



22.5 %

















Cost of Revenues Charges (c)

(76.7)



-0.5 %

(60.4)



-0.5 % Selling, General and Administrative Charges, Net (d)

(74.7)



-0.5 %

(95.2)



-0.7 % Restructuring and Other Costs, Net (e)

(95.1)



-0.6 %

(140.9)



-1.1 % Amortization of Acquisition-related Intangible Assets

(1,153.4)



-7.8 %

(1,001.6)



-7.5 %

















GAAP Operating Income (a)

$ 2,010.1



13.5 %

$ 1,696.6



12.7 %



































(a) "GAAP" (reported) results were determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

(b) Adjusted results are non-GAAP measures and, for income measures, exclude certain charges to cost of revenues (see note (c) for details); certain credits/charges to selling, general and administrative expenses (see note (d) for details); amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets; restructuring and other costs, net (see note (e) for details); certain other gains or losses that are either isolated or cannot be expected to occur again with any predictability (see note (f) for details); and the tax consequences of the preceding items and certain other tax items (see note (g) for details).

(c) Reported results in 2017 and 2016 include i) $47.3 and $38.7, respectively, of charges for the sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition; ii) $26.8 and $20.0 of charges to conform the accounting policies of recently acquired businesses with the company's accounting policies; and iii) $2.6 and $1.7, respectively, of accelerated depreciation on manufacturing assets to be abandoned due to facility consolidations.

(d) Reported results in 2017 and 2016 include i) $49.9 and $63.1, respectively, of third-party transaction/integration costs primarily related to recently completed acquisitions; ii) $(8.0) and $17.2, respectively, of (income)/charges associated with product liability litigation; iii) $6.1 and $8.5, respectively, of charges to conform the accounting policies of recently acquired businesses with the company's accounting policies; iv) $25.4 and $(1.9), respectively, of charges/(credits) from changes in estimates of contingent acquisition consideration; and v) $1.3 and $8.3, respectively, of accelerated depreciation on fixed assets to be abandoned due to integration synergies.

(e) Reported results in 2017 and 2016 include restructuring and other costs, net, consisting principally of severance, abandoned facility and other expenses of headcount reductions within several businesses and real estate consolidations. Reported results in 2017 include $18.4 of litigation charges, $6.0 of compensation due at an acquired business on the date of the acquisition, and $1.8 of charges for the settlement of retirement plans. Reported results in 2016 include $6.8 of environmental remediation costs, $4.4 of net charges for litigation and $5.0 of gains on sales of real estate and settlement of a retirement plan.

(f) Reported results in 2017 include a $32.2 charge related to fees paid to obtain bridge financing commitments for the acquisition of Patheon and $3.9 of losses on the early extinguishment of debt, offset in part by $5.7 of net gains from investments. Reported results in 2016 include $22.0 of charges related to fees paid to obtain bridge financing commitments for the acquisition of FEI, $6.5 of losses on the early extinguishment of debt and $1.6 of amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of the company's equity-method investments, offset in part by $3.5 of net gains from investments.

(g) Reported provision for income taxes includes i) $422.4 and $385.4 of incremental tax benefit in 2017 and 2016, respectively, for the pre-tax reconciling items between GAAP and adjusted net income; ii) $60.0 and $(0.2) of incremental tax benefit (provision) in 2017 and 2016, respectively, from adjusting the company's deferred tax balances as a result of tax rate changes and iii) $1.0 of incremental tax provision in 2017 due to an audit settlement.

Notes: Consolidated depreciation expense is $306.1 and $282.6 in 2017 and 2016, respectively.





Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (unaudited)





















September 30,

December 31, (In millions)

2017

2016









Assets







Current Assets:







Cash and cash equivalents

$ 741.1



$ 786.2

Accounts receivable, net

3,657.0



3,048.5

Inventories

3,125.5



2,213.3

Other current assets

1,320.4



973.0











Total current assets

8,844.0



7,021.0











Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

3,931.6



2,577.8











Acquisition-related Intangible Assets

17,029.6



13,969.0











Other Assets

1,051.2



1,011.9











Goodwill

25,128.9



21,327.8











Total Assets

$ 55,985.3



$ 45,907.5





















Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity







Current Liabilities:







Short-term obligations and current maturities of long-term obligations

$ 2,762.3



$ 1,255.5

Other current liabilities

4,269.0



3,610.3











Total current liabilities

7,031.3



4,865.8











Other Long-term Liabilities

5,021.8



4,130.0











Long-term Obligations

19,230.4



15,372.4











Total Shareholders' Equity

24,701.8



21,539.3











Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

$ 55,985.3



$ 45,907.5



Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited)





















Nine Months Ended



September 30,

October 1, (In millions)

2017

2016









Operating Activities







Net income

$ 1,696.9



$ 1,392.3

Loss from discontinued operations

0.6



0.3

Income from continuing operations

1,697.5



1,392.6











Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:







Depreciation and amortization

1,459.5



1,284.2

Change in deferred income taxes

(483.6)



(514.8)

Other non-cash expenses, net

229.9



189.7

Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions and dispositions

(763.0)



(296.0)











Net cash provided by continuing operations

2,140.3



2,055.7

Net cash used in discontinued operations

(1.8)



(3.0)











Net cash provided by operating activities

2,138.5



2,052.7











Investing Activities







Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(7,160.2)



(5,143.0)

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

(292.8)



(310.9)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

4.3



23.1

Other investing activities, net

3.1



2.9











Net cash used in investing activities

(7,445.6)



(5,427.9)











Financing Activities







Net proceeds from issuance of debt

6,459.0



7,605.8

Repayment of debt

(2,551.7)



(2,307.1)

Net proceeds from issuance of commercial paper

6,030.2



5,628.0

Repayment of commercial paper

(5,809.1)



(4,859.2)

Purchases of company common stock

(750.0)



(1,000.0)

Dividends paid

(177.1)



(179.2)

Net proceeds from issuance of company common stock

1,690.3





Net proceeds from issuance of company common stock under employee stock plans

107.7



75.1

Other financing activities, net

(1.0)



(13.6)











Net cash provided by financing activities

4,998.3



4,949.8











Exchange Rate Effect on Cash

256.1



(40.7)











(Decrease) Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

(52.7)



1,533.9

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Period

810.8



466.3











Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at End of Period

$ 758.1



$ 2,000.2





















Free Cash Flow (a)

$ 1,851.8



$ 1,767.9





















(a) Free cash flow is net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations less net purchases of property, plant and equipment.



Media Contact Information:

Karen Kirkwood

Phone: 781-622-1306

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.thermofisher.com

or

Investor Contact Information:

Ken Apicerno

Phone: 781-622-1294

E-mail: [email protected]



SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Related Links

http://www.thermofisher.com


"We are pleased to be working with Ingram Micro, a new global strategic distribution provider that will carry most of our product portfolio and expand the reach of the TIBCO Connected Intelligence Cloud," said Jason Johns, vice president of global channels, TIBCO. "As we further develop our Channels and Alliances business, Ingram Micro will be a key distributor for our partner community. We look forward to working closely with them."

Throughout this alliance, TIBCO will work closely with Ingram Micro to expand TIBCO's partner community and support the channel business. Product offerings distributed will include solutions sold through Ingram Micro's channels, such as IoT and streaming analytics. In addition, TIBCO will leverage Ingram Micro's channel reach, as well as its proven strengths in the areas of cloud services, partner enablement, and professional services.

"We are pleased to welcome TIBCO to our expanding analytics, digital transformation, cloud, and IoT portfolio," said Scott Zahl, vice president and general manager, Advanced Solutions, Ingram Micro. "Working together, we will further enable our channel partners to capitalize on the need for digital transformation and growing demand for more actionable analytics and managed IT services."

Follow us @TIBCO on Twitter, and on our Facebook and LinkedIn pages to hear the latest news and updates from our team.

For more information about TIBCO, please visit www.tibco.com.

About Ingram Micro Inc.

Ingram Micro helps businesses Realize the Promise of Technology. It delivers a full spectrum of global technology and supply chain services to businesses around the world. Deep expertise in technology solutions, mobility, cloud, and supply chain solutions enables its business partners to operate efficiently and successfully in the markets they serve. Unrivaled agility, deep market insights and the trust and dependability that come from decades of proven relationships, set Ingram Micro apart and ahead. More at www.ingrammicro.com.

About TIBCO

TIBCO fuels digital business by enabling better decisions and faster, smarter actions through the TIBCO Connected Intelligence Cloud. From APIs and systems to devices and people, we interconnect everything, capture data in real time wherever it is, and augment the intelligence of your business through analytical insights. Thousands of customers around the globe rely on us to build compelling experiences, energize operations, and propel innovation. Learn how TIBCO makes digital smarter at www.tibco.com.

TIBCO and the TIBCO logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TIBCO Software Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. All other product and company names and marks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners and are mentioned for identification.

Media Contact:

Lindsey Ashjian Torres

TIBCO Software Inc.

(650) 846-8862

[email protected]

SOURCE TIBCO Software Inc.

Related Links

http://www.tibco.com


LONDON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Summary

"Top Growth Opportunities: Bakery & Cereals in China", provides an overview of the bakery and cereals market, analyzing market data, demographic consumption patterns within the category, and the key consumer trends driving consumption. GlobalData's proprietary Risk vs Reward Opportunity model pinpoints the best growth opportunities for dairy and soy food producers, suppliers and retailers by combining robust, granular data and expert insight. The report uses this framework to identify the best opportunities, analyze white spaces in the market, and outline new product development that will effectively target the most pertinent consumer need states. These are combined to offer strategic recommendations to capitalize on evolving consumer landscapes.







Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5134593







China's bakery & cereals market is the second-largest in the world with a value of US$34,862 million in 2016, and it is forecast to see strong continued growth to 2021, making this a key opportunity for bakery and cereals producers.



The growth of China's middle class will contribute directly to the uptake of bakery and cereals products as this segment of the population have more globalized tastes. The growing economy, rising employment and increasing demand for convenience will drive growth in the bakery & cereals market in China over 2016-2021.



Scope

- The market is forecast to register faster growth at a CAGR of 10.0% during 2016-2021.

- The Chinese bakery & cereals market is being led by the cakes, pastries & sweet pies and cookies (sweet biscuits) categories in value terms.



Reasons to buy

- Get a detailed understanding of consumption to align your sales and marketing efforts with the latest trends in the market. Identify the areas of growth and opportunities, which will aid effective marketing planning.

- The differing growth rates in regional product sales drive fundamental shifts in the market.

- This report provides detailed, authoritative data on these changes - prime intelligence for marketers.

- Understand the market dynamics and essential data to benchmark your position and to identify where to compete in the future.



Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5134593



About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers

https://www.reportbuyer.com



For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

Related Links

http://www.reportbuyer.com


PHOENIX, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Troxell, a national leader in education technology and collaboration solutions for more than 60 years, is proud to announce it has been awarded the Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission (ESC) Cooperative Purchasing bid for Interactive Technology for Classrooms & Meeting Rooms  Catalog Sales. As one of the vendors awarded the contract, Troxell participated in the sealed bid process and was granted the award based on successful evaluations of required performance and provider criteria.

Contract number HCESC-CAT-17-02, awarded by Hunterdon County ESC, Califon, NJ, is effective from April 10, 2017 through April 9, 2019. On the contract, Troxell represents multiple manufacturers for products and services, offering a wide range of discounts up to 70%. The contract includes products in categories:

1:1

Audio

Audio Visual

Furniture

Mounts

Photo

Presentation Products

Projectors

Screens

TVs/Monitors

Video

"We are pleased to be awarded the Interactive Technology for Classrooms and Meeting Rooms contract through Hunterdon County ESC," said Dottie Stewart, Regional Vice President of Sales - Central and Northeast. "The co-op, with 450 members, gives school districts of all sizes access to the best resources through the bid program, allowing even the smaller school districts the opportunity to improve technology in their classrooms."

Through Hunterdon County ESC, Troxell participated in a comprehensive Request for Proposal (RFP) competitive solicitation. Hunterdon County ESC employs industry best practices, processes and procedures within a well-defined structure of accountability for effectiveness and efficiency to lighten the burden placed on local taxpayers.

Troxell continues to participate in multiple national, regional, state and local contracts, helping educational institutions pay less for products and reduce administrative costs in order to overcome the challenges of tight and diminishing budgets.

For more information, visit www.TroxellSolutions.com. Contact Frank Cermatori at 856-254-3734 or [email protected]. Contact Bob Bennett at 973-696-1728 or [email protected].

About Troxell

Headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, Troxell is the nation's leading end-to-end solution provider for technology and collaborative solutions in K-12 and higher ed. With 65 offices nationwide, we combine large-scale purchasing power with the high-touch, consultative approach of a local specialist. Find a location near you.

About Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission

The Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission operates a State of NJ approved Cooperative Pricing System, established in 1990, with the main objective of saving time and money.

For Press Inquiries Contact: Raigan Irwin-McCabe, VP of Marketing

SOURCE Troxell

Related Links

http://www.troxellsolutions.com


NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- President Trump is officially declaring the opioid crisis a "national emergency"an act usually reserved for natural disasters, mass infectious disease outbreaks, and terrorist attacks. This announcementthe first of its kindunderscores the magnitude of the crisis. The amount of prescription opioids legally sold almost quadrupled from 1999 to 2010. The leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. today is from drug overdosevirtually all involving an opioid.

Harvard University health economists put the price tag for necessary services to combat the growing opioid problem at roughly $190 billion over 10 years.

Logistically, the President could use the Stafford Act to cut through regulatory red tape and make funds available through, for example, FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund. The other route would be to apply the Public Health Service Act to make naloxone treatment more readily available to those hooked on pain killerseven in rural communities. Plans also include strengthening law enforcement.

However, the underlying cause, which seems to be missing from the emergency equation, is our national pain crisis. One in three Americans suffers from pain.

"In addition to the interdiction arm for dealing with medications finding their way onto the street, it's also critical that we protect the one out of three Americans dealing with pain," says board certified internist Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, bestselling author of Pain Free 1-2-3: A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain Now. "Fortunately, effective, new methods for pain management offer relief without the need for narcotics."

According to Dr. Teitelbaum, medicine is starting to understand that pain is not an outside invader, but rather it is like the oil light on a car's dashboard, telling us that something needs attention.

"By using the entire healthcare toolkitnot just medications and surgerypain can be much more effectively treated. This way, we can stem the flow of narcotics contributing to the 64,000 overdose deaths yearly, while still making sure that people in pain get pain-free."

Dr. Teitelbaum's published research has shown that pain does go away when the body gets what it needs. Using the devastating body-wide pain of fibromyalgia as a model, his S.H.I.N.E. protocol was found to provide dramatic pain relief in 90 percent of subjects. The majority of people in the study (Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 8:2,2001), no longer had fibromyalgia after three months.

Dr. Teitelbaum is one of the world's leading researchers on narcotic-free pain relief. He is the lead researcher on four published studies showing effective integrative treatments for pain and chronic fatigue without narcotics. He's the author of seven popular books on the subject. He also was on the other side of the white coat, when fibromyalgia knocked him out of medical school and left him homeless for a year. For more information on Dr. Teitelbaum's work, visit www.vitality101.com; for interviews contact Dean Draznin Communications [email protected] 641-472-2257.

SOURCE Dr. Teitelbaum

Related Links

http://www.vitality101.com


Tucked Trunks was developed to solve the age old problem of tucked in shirt bunching and coming un-tucked. Men have long struggled with their shirts slowly slinking out of their pants for generations, until now. With its patent-pending dual waistband and unique button security system, Tucked Trunks are the only underwear (boxer briefs) that ensure shirts remain tucked in without the use of additional straps or accessories.

"I've been wearing suits for more than a decade and I'm constantly fumbling with my dress shirt- pausing to adjust the extra material and fighting my waist band to tuck it back into my pants, sometimes up to a dozen times a day," said Rafael De Oliveira, Tucked Trunks CEO and founder which is the main reason he created Tucked Trunks. "I believe Tucked Trunks shines a light on a pain point men around the world suffer from, but have never had a viable, practical and comfortable solution for until now," added De Oliveira.

The company launched in November 2016 and has quickly expanded into 120 countries and has been featured on Business Insider, Daily Voice, Patch & The New York Post within months of the company's launch. The men's market has accepted this innovation with open arms which has allowed the company to grow quickly in such a short time.

SOURCE Tucked Trunks

Related Links

http://www.tuckedtrunks.com


CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ultimaker, the global leader in desktop 3D printing today announced that it has come to an agreement with NPM Capital, a leading private equity firm. NPM Capital invests a significant undisclosed amount to provide Ultimaker with growth capital. This will allow Ultimaker to accelerate product development and invest in additional sales, marketing and R&D resources, which will help Ultimaker to expand on their already leading global market position.

Ultimaker has experienced explosive growth since it was founded in 2011. With offices in The Netherlands and the USA, the company has built a worldwide distribution network selling its products in over 100 countries. The company is market leader in the high-end segment of industry grade desktop 3D printers. Key customers come from a large variety of markets in areas like product design, engineering, research, manufacturing and education. Ultimaker has proven to be very attractive in these areas because of its accessibility, ease of use, high quality results and extensive material support.

Ultimaker CEO Jos Burger explains: "I look forward to working with NPM Capital. They have a great and solid reputation as a committed longer term investor. NPM Capital has a flexible investment horizon focused on long term value creation. The company is not driven by the need to make a rapid exit, which enables us to continue our growth at a pace that our markets require. With the additional funding and support from NPM Capital we now have the ability to accelerate innovation and further empower professionals worldwide with the tools and knowledge required for them to stay ahead in a rapidly changing business environment."

For NPM Capital, Ultimaker is an exciting investment in a very attractive market, led by an impressive management team. Bart Coopmans, managing director of NPM Capital says: "Ultimaker fits in our strategy of investing in technology based growth platforms. We are impressed by Ultimaker's leading market position and clear growth strategy. We believe Ultimaker has a sustainable competitive advantage stemming from its integrated platform of hardware, software, materials and support network. Together with a strong community, an ambitious team of professionals and a highly-committed leadership, Ultimaker is very well positioned for further growth. We really look forward to working closely together with the Ultimaker team on their fascinating journey."

Ultimaker's three founders Martijn Elserman, Erik de Bruijn and Siert Wijnia will remain as shareholders alongside NPM Capital, which is part of a family-owned multinational SHV, who will become a majority shareholder.

About NPM Capital

NPM Capital is a leading investment company focusing on long term investments in the Benelux market. Founded in 1948, NPM Capital has a history of providing growth capital to entrepreneurial companies that goes back almost 70 years. NPM Capital is part of the family-owned multinational SHV. SHV has a total turnover of 18.1 billion with around 60,000 employees.

About Ultimaker

Ultimaker has been in operation since 2011, and over the years has grown to become a market leader; creating powerful, professional and accessible desktop 3D printers. With offices in the Netherlands, New York, and Boston, and production facilities in both Europe and the US, Ultimaker's team of over 300 employees continually strives to offer the highest-quality 3D printers, software, and materials on the market.

Media Contact:

Emily Adams

(617) 779 1891

[email protected]

Moniek Jansink

[email protected]

+31 (0)6 153 862 37

SOURCE Ultimaker

Related Links

http://www.ultimaker.com


KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) announced today that its reported net income attributable to UHS was $141.2 million, or $1.47 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2017 as compared to $151.9 million, or $1.54 per diluted share, during the comparable quarter of 2016. Net revenues increased 5.5% to $2.54 billion during the third quarter of 2017 as compared to $2.41 billion during the third quarter of 2016.

Our financial results for three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 were unfavorably impacted by an after-tax aggregate of approximately $14 million to $15 million ($22 million to $24 million pre-tax), or $.14 to $.15 per diluted share, resulting from the following: (i) an unfavorable after-tax impact of approximately $8 million to $9 million, or $.09 to $.10 per diluted share, related to the hurricane expenses and estimated business interruption impact incurred by 28 of our behavioral health care facilities located in Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and our 3 acute care hospitals located in Florida, and; (ii) an after-tax charge of approximately $5 million, or $.05 per diluted share, recorded in connection with a court order in Texas related to certain litigation.

Generally, our facilities impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria did not sustain extensive property damage and the vast majority have resumed normal operations. However, a portion of the beds at our 124-bed behavioral health facility located in Houston, Texas remain closed and, although our 3 behavioral health facilities located in Puerto Rico are operational (240 beds in the aggregate), they continue to operate on auxiliary power in areas that suffered extensive damage to surrounding infrastructure and properties. It is difficult to predict the impact that the hurricanes may have on the future operating results of these four facilities.

For the three-month period ended September 30, 2017, our adjusted net income attributable to UHS, as calculated on the attached Schedule of Non-GAAP Supplemental Information ("Supplemental Schedule"), was $143.4 million, or $1.49 per diluted share, as compared to $157.2 million, or $1.60 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2016. As reflected on the Supplemental Schedule, included in our reported results during the third quarter of 2017, is a net aggregate unfavorable after-tax impact of $2.1 million, or $.02 per diluted share, consisting of: (i) an unfavorable after-tax impact of $2.6 million, or $.03 per diluted share, related to the depreciation and amortization expense recorded in connection with the implementation of electronic health records ("EHR") applications at our acute care hospitals, partially offset by; (ii) a favorable after-tax impact of $487,000, or $.01 per diluted share, resulting from our January 1, 2017 adoption of ASU 2016-09, "Compensation  Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting" ("ASU 2016-09"), as discussed below. Included in our reported results during the three-month period ended September 30, 2016 is an unfavorable after-tax impact of $5.3 million, or $.06 per diluted share, related to the depreciation and amortization expense recorded in connection with the implementation of EHR applications at our acute care hospitals.

As calculated on the attached Supplemental Schedule, our earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation & amortization ("EBITDA"), which was unfavorably impacted by the approximately $22 million to $24 million above-mentioned hurricanes and litigation matter, decreased 3.3% to $363.4 million during the third quarter of 2017 as compared to $375.9 million during the third quarter of 2016.

Consolidated Results of Operations, As Reported and As Adjusted  Nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

Reported net income attributable to UHS was $532.7 million, or $5.50 per diluted share, during the first nine months of 2017 as compared to $528.2 million, or $5.36 per diluted share, during the comparable period of 2016.

Net revenues increased 6.5% to $7.77 billion during the first nine months of 2017 as compared to $7.29 billion during the first nine months of 2016. As calculated on the attached Supplemental Schedule, our EBITDA increased 2.1% to $1.26 billion during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $1.24 billion during the comparable nine-month period of 2016.

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017, our adjusted net income attributable to UHS, as calculated on the attached Supplemental Schedule, was $535.8 million, or $5.53 per diluted share, as compared to $544.3 million, or $5.52 per diluted share, during the first nine months of 2016. As reflected on the Supplemental Schedule, included in our reported results during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017, is a net aggregate unfavorable after-tax impact of $3.1 million, or $.03 per diluted share, consisting of: (i) an unfavorable after-tax impact of $11.7 million, or $.12 per diluted share, related to the depreciation and amortization expense recorded in connection with the implementation of EHR applications at our acute care hospitals, partially offset by; (ii) a favorable after-tax impact of $8.6 million, or $.09 per diluted share, resulting from our January 1, 2017 adoption of ASU 2016-09. Included in our reported results during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 is an unfavorable after tax impact of $16.1 million, or $.16 per diluted share, related to the depreciation and amortization expense recorded in connection with the implementation of EHR applications at our acute care hospitals.

Acute Care Services  Three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

During the third quarter of 2017, at our acute care hospitals owned during both periods ("same facility basis"), adjusted admissions (adjusted for outpatient activity) increased 3.5% and adjusted patient days increased 1.5%, as compared to the third quarter of 2016. Net revenues from our acute care services increased 2.2% during the third quarter of 2017 as compared to the comparable quarter of the prior year. At these facilities, net revenue per adjusted admission decreased 0.6% while net revenue per adjusted patient day increased 1.3% during the third quarter of 2017 as compared to the comparable quarter of 2016.

During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017, at our acute care hospitals on a same facility basis, adjusted admissions increased 4.9% and adjusted patient days increased 2.0%, as compared to the first nine months of 2016. Net revenues from our acute care services increased 4.0% during the first nine months of 2017 as compared to the comparable period of the prior year. At these facilities, net revenue per adjusted admission decreased 0.3% while net revenue per adjusted patient day increased 2.5% during the first nine months of 2017 as compared to the comparable nine-month period of 2016.

We provide care to patients who meet certain financial or economic criteria without charge or at amounts substantially less than our established rates. Because we do not pursue collection of amounts determined to qualify as charity care, they are not reported in net revenues or in accounts receivable, net. Our acute care hospitals provided charity care and uninsured discounts, based on gross charges, amounting to approximately $447 million and $370 million during the three-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $1.36 billion and $1.06 billion during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The provision for doubtful accounts at our acute care hospitals amounted to approximately $205 million and $173 million during the three-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $573 million and $492 million during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Behavioral Health Care Services  Three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

During the third quarter of 2017, at our behavioral health care facilities on a same facility basis, adjusted admissions increased 1.1% while adjusted patient days decreased 0.2% as compared to the third quarter of 2016. At these facilities, net revenue per adjusted admission increased 1.3% while net revenue per adjusted patient day increased 2.6% during the third quarter of 2017 as compared to the comparable quarter in 2016. On a same facility basis, our behavioral health care services' net revenues increased 1.8% during the third quarter of 2017 as compared to the third quarter of 2016.

During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017, at our behavioral health care facilities on a same facility basis, adjusted admissions increased 2.4% while adjusted patient days increased 0.5% as compared to the first nine months of 2016. At these facilities, net revenue per adjusted admission decreased 0.4% while net revenue per adjusted patient day increased 1.5% during the first nine months of 2017 as compared to the comparable nine-month period of 2016. On a same facility basis, our behavioral health care services' net revenues increased 1.8% during the first nine months of 2017 as compared to the comparable period of 2016.

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities and Share Repurchase Program:

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, our net cash provided by operating activities decreased to $878 million from $1.14 billion generated during the comparable nine-month period of 2016. The $258 million decrease was caused primarily by a $128 million unfavorable change in cash flows from foreign currency forward exchange contracts related to our investments in the U.K and a $101 million unfavorable change in other working capital accounts resulting primarily from changes in accounts payable and accrued expenses due to timing of disbursements.

In February of 2016, our Board of Directors authorized a $400 million increase to our stock repurchase program, which increased the aggregate authorization to $800 million from the previous $400 million authorization approved during the third quarter of 2014. Pursuant to this program, we may purchase shares of our Class B Common Stock, from time to time as conditions allow, on the open market or in negotiated private transactions.

In conjunction with this program, during the third quarter of 2017, we have repurchased 870,000 shares at an aggregate cost of $94.3 million. During the first nine months of 2017, we have repurchased approximately 1.96 million shares at an aggregate cost of $221.4 million. Since inception of the program through September 30, 2017, we have repurchased approximately 6.34 million shares at an aggregate cost of $735.6 million.

Revision of 2017 Full Year Earnings Guidance Range:

Based upon the operating trends and financial results experienced during the first nine months of 2017, we are revising our estimated range of adjusted net income attributable to UHS for the year ended December 31, 2017 to $7.25 to $7.50 per diluted share from the previously provided range of $7.50 to $8.00 per diluted share. This revised guidance range decreases the lower end of the previously provided range by approximately 3.3% and decreases the upper end of the previously provided range by approximately 6.3%.

This revised guidance excludes the expected EHR unfavorable impact of $.15 per diluted share for the year, as well as the impact on our provision for income taxes and net income attributable to UHS resulting from of our January 1, 2017 adoption of ASU 2016-09, which as discussed below, we are unable to estimate at this time. This guidance range also excludes the impact of future items, if applicable, that are nonrecurring or non-operational in nature including items such as, but not limited to, gains/losses on sales of assets and businesses, costs related to extinguishment of debt, reserves for settlements, legal judgments and lawsuits, impairments of long-lived assets, impact of share repurchases and other material amounts that may be reflected in our financial statements that relate to prior periods. It is also subject to certain conditions including those as set forth below in General Information, Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors and Non-GAAP Financial Measures.

Adoption of ASU 2016-09:

Effective January 1, 2017, we adopted ASU 2016-09, "Compensation  Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting", which amends the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions to require recognition of the tax effects resulting from the settlement of stock-based awards as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement in the reporting period in which they occur. In connection with the adoption of ASU 2016-09, during the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, we recorded reductions to our provision for income taxes of $487,000 and $8.6 million, respectively, which resulted in a corresponding increases in our net income attributable to UHS of $487,000, or $.01 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2017 and $8.6 million, or $.09 per diluted share, during the first nine months of 2017.

Since the impact of ASU 2016-09 on our future financial statements is dependent upon the timing of stock option exercises, and the market price of our stock at the time of exercise, we are unable to estimate the impact this adoption will have on our future provision for income taxes and net income attributable to UHS. This reporting change is applied prospectively, effective as of January 1, 2017, with the exception of the change in the presentation of the excess income tax benefits related to stock-based compensation in the Statement of Cash Flows, which was applied retrospectively.

Conference call information:

We will hold a conference call for investors and analysts at 9:00 a.m. eastern time on Thursday, October 26, 2017. The dial-in number is 1-877-648-7971.

A live broadcast of the conference call will be available on our website at www.uhsinc.com. A replay of the call will be available following the conclusion of the live call and will be available for one full year.

General Information, Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors and Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

Universal Health Services, Inc. ("UHS") is one of the nation's largest hospital companies operating through its subsidiaries acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities and ambulatory centers located throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It acts as the advisor to Universal Health Realty Income Trust, a real estate investment trust (NYSE:UHT). For additional information on the Company, visit our web site: http://www.uhsinc.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current management expectations. Numerous factors, including those disclosed herein, those related to healthcare industry trends and those detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (as set forth in Item 1A-Risk Factors and in Item 7-Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and in Item 2-Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors in our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017), may cause the results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that will determine our future results are beyond our capability to control or predict. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and therefore actual results may differ materially. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements which reflect management's view only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

We believe that adjusted net income attributable to UHS, adjusted net income attributable to UHS per diluted share, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures ("GAAP" is Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America), are helpful to our investors as measures of our operating performance. In addition, we believe that, when applicable, comparing and discussing our financial results based on these measures, as calculated, is helpful to our investors since it neutralizes the effect in each year of material items that are nonrecurring or non-operational in nature including, but not limited to, costs/benefits related to the impact on our provision for income taxes and net income attributable to UHS resulting from our January 1, 2017 adoption of ASU 2016-09, the implementation of EHR applications at our acute care hospitals, extinguishment of debt, gains/losses on sales of assets and businesses, reserves for settlements, legal judgments and lawsuits, impairments of long-lived assets, and other items and other material amounts that may be reflected in the current or prior year financial statements that relate to prior periods.

To obtain a complete understanding of our financial performance these measures should be examined in connection with net income, determined in accordance with GAAP, as presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in this report or in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including our Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and our Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017. Since the items included or excluded from these measures are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance under GAAP, these measures should not be considered to be alternatives to net income as a measure of our operating performance or profitability. Since these measures, as presented, are not determined in accordance with GAAP and are thus susceptible to varying calculations, they may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Investors are encouraged to use GAAP measures when evaluating our financial performance.

Universal Health Services, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Income (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)

















Three months

Nine months

ended September 30,

ended September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016















Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts $2,775,790

$2,610,911

$8,428,971

$7,869,352 Less: Provision for doubtful accounts 233,926

201,039

661,893

578,827 Net revenues 2,541,864

2,409,872

7,767,078

7,290,525















Operating charges:













Salaries, wages and benefits 1,251,528

1,149,729

3,725,786

3,428,801 Other operating expenses 628,523

597,270

1,868,076

1,744,849 Supplies expense 268,089

257,793

820,242

767,465 Depreciation and amortization 110,217

103,712

334,127

309,172 Lease and rental expense 26,197

23,799

77,413

73,057

2,284,554

2,132,303

6,825,644

6,323,344















Income from operations 257,310

277,569

941,434

967,181















Interest expense, net 36,956

32,129

108,383

92,171















Income before income taxes 220,354

245,440

833,051

875,010















Provision for income taxes 74,992

88,175

286,774

306,577















Net income 145,362

157,265

546,277

568,433















Less: Net income attributable to













noncontrolling interests 4,117

5,400

13,583

40,232















Net income attributable to UHS $141,245

$151,865

$532,694

$528,201















































































Basic earnings per share attributable to UHS (a) $1.48

$1.56

$5.54

$5.43















Diluted earnings per share attributable to UHS (a) $1.47

$1.54

$5.50

$5.36

Universal Health Services, Inc. Footnotes to Consolidated Statements of Income (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)

















Three months

Nine months (a) Earnings per share calculation: ended September 30,

ended September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016 Basic and diluted:













Net income attributable to UHS $141,245

$151,865

$532,694

$528,201 Less: Net income attributable to unvested restricted share grants (81)

(69)

(257)

(242) Net income attributable to UHS - basic and diluted $141,164

$151,796

$532,437

$527,959















Weighted average number of common shares - basic 95,246

97,118

96,026

97,278















Basic earnings per share attributable to UHS: $1.48

$1.56

$5.54

$5.43















Weighted average number of common shares 95,246

97,118

96,026

97,278 Add: Other share equivalents 731

1,203

771

1,257 Weighted average number of common shares and equiv. - diluted 95,977

98,321

96,797

98,535















Diluted earnings per share attributable to UHS: $1.47

$1.54

$5.50

$5.36

Universal Health Services, Inc. Schedule of Non-GAAP Supplemental Information ("Supplemental Schedule") For the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)















































Calculation of Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA")

















Three months ended

% Net

Three months ended

% Net

September 30, 2017

revenues

September 30, 2016

revenues















Net income attributable to UHS $141,245





$151,865



Depreciation and amortization 110,217





103,712



Interest expense, net 36,956





32,129



Provision for income taxes 74,992





88,175



EBITDA $363,410

14.3%

$375,881

15.6% EHR-related net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, pre-tax (27)





(201)



Adjusted EBITDA $363,383

14.3%

$375,680

15.6%















Net revenues $2,541,864





$2,409,872



















































































Calculation of Adjusted Net Income Attributable to UHS

















Three months ended

Three months ended

September 30, 2017

September 30, 2016





Per





Per

Amount

Diluted Share

Amount

Diluted Share















Net income attributable to UHS $141,245

$1.47

$151,865

$1.54 Plus/minus after-tax adjustments:













Impact of ASU 2016-09 (487)

(0.01)

-

- After-tax impact of EHR-related items 2,636

0.03

5,349

0.06 Subtotal 2,149

0.02

5,349

0.06 Adjusted net income attributable to UHS $143,394

$1.49

$157,214

$1.60

Universal Health Services, Inc. Schedule of Non-GAAP Supplemental Information ("Supplemental Schedule") For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)















































Calculation of Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA")

















Nine months ended

% Net

Nine months ended

% Net

September 30, 2017

revenues

September 30, 2016

revenues















Net income attributable to UHS $532,694





$528,201



Depreciation and amortization 334,127





309,172



Interest expense, net 108,383





92,171



Provision for income taxes 286,774





306,577



EBITDA $1,261,978

16.2%

$1,236,121

17.0% EHR-related net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, pre-tax (200)





(1,618)



Adjusted EBITDA $1,261,778

16.2%

$1,234,503

16.9%















Net revenues $7,767,078





$7,290,525



















































































Calculation of Adjusted Net Income Attributable to UHS

















Nine months ended

Nine months ended

September 30, 2017

September 30, 2016





Per





Per

Amount

Diluted Share

Amount

Diluted Share















Net income attributable to UHS $532,694

$5.50

$528,201

$5.36 Plus/minus after-tax adjustments:













Impact of ASU 2016-09 (8,619)

(0.09)

-

- After-tax impact of EHR-related items 11,747

0.12

16,060

0.16 Subtotal 3,128

0.03

16,060

0.16 Adjusted net income attributable to UHS $535,822

$5.53

$544,261

$5.52

Universal Health Services, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (in thousands) (unaudited)

















Three months

Nine months

ended September 30,

ended September 30,

2017

2016

2017

2016















Net income $145,362

$157,265

$546,277

$568,433 Other comprehensive income (loss):













Unrealized derivative gains (losses) on cash flow hedges 610

6,424

3,547

(11,644) Amortization of terminated hedge 0

0

0

(167) Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable security (2,515)

(134)

1,645

(755) Foreign currency translation adjustment 983

(10,973)

9,932

(9,150) Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax (922)

(4,683)

15,124

(21,716) Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (711)

2,346

1,935

(4,681) Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (211)

(7,029)

13,189

(17,035)















Comprehensive income 145,151

150,236

559,466

551,398 Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests 4,117

5,400

13,583

40,232 Comprehensive income attributable to UHS $141,034

$144,836

$545,883

$511,166

Universal Health Services, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands) (unaudited)



















September 30,



December 31,





2017



2016 Assets











Current assets:











Cash and cash equivalents

$ 65,424

$ 33,747 Accounts receivable, net



1,452,018



1,439,553 Supplies



135,849



125,365 Other current assets



101,896



82,706 Total current assets



1,755,187



1,681,371













Property and equipment



7,769,073



7,314,437 Less: accumulated depreciation



(3,252,934)



(2,983,481)





4,516,139



4,330,956













Other assets:











Goodwill



3,821,610



3,784,106 Deferred charges



10,385



13,520 Deferred income taxes



1,340



1,234 Other



534,699



506,615 Total Assets

$ 10,639,360

$ 10,317,802













Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity











Current liabilities:











Current maturities of long-term debt

$ 112,757

$ 105,895 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities



1,284,740



1,209,329 Federal and state taxes



0



2,149 Total current liabilities



1,397,497



1,317,373













Other noncurrent liabilities



298,252



275,167 Long-term debt



3,927,396



4,030,230 Deferred income taxes



78,968



88,119













Redeemable noncontrolling interest



7,037



9,319













UHS common stockholders' equity



4,865,212



4,533,220 Noncontrolling interest



64,998



64,374 Total equity



4,930,210



4,597,594













Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

$ 10,639,360

$ 10,317,802

Universal Health Services, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands) (unaudited)

Nine months

ended September 30,

2017

2016







Cash Flows from Operating Activities:





Net income $546,277

$568,433 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net





cash provided by operating activities:





Depreciation & amortization 334,127

309,172 Stock-based compensation expense 42,838

36,358 Changes in assets & liabilities, net of effects from





acquisitions and dispositions:





Accounts receivable 10,090

(6,836) Accrued interest (5,747)

3,303 Accrued and deferred income taxes (20,177)

12,187 Other working capital accounts 23,729

124,987 Other assets and deferred charges (21,798)

(11,451) Other (54,664)

58,040 Excess income tax benefits related to stock-based compensation 0

36,407 Accrued insurance expense, net of commercial premiums paid 80,814

66,049 Payments made in settlement of self-insurance claims (57,224)

(60,137) Net cash provided by operating activities 878,265

1,136,512







Cash Flows from Investing Activities:





Property and equipment additions, net of disposals (418,693)

(396,163) Acquisition of property and businesses (19,610)

(136,221) Increase in capital reserves of commercial insurance subsidiary (3,000)

0 Costs incurred for purchase and implementation of information technology application (26,401)

0 Net cash used in investing activities (467,704)

(532,384)







Cash Flows from Financing Activities:





Reduction of long-term debt (143,526)

(814,971) Additional borrowings 43,124

1,026,000 Acquisition of noncontrolling interests in majority owned businesses 0

(418,000) Financing costs (34)

(12,330) Repurchase of common shares (242,870)

(297,177) Dividends paid (28,776)

(29,197) Issuance of common stock 7,637

6,379 Profit distributions to noncontrolling interests (15,924)

(61,053) Net cash used in financing activities (380,369)

(600,349)







Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 1,485

(3,263) Increase in cash and cash equivalents 31,677

516 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 33,747

61,228 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $65,424

$61,744







Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:





Interest paid $107,442

$82,883







Income taxes paid, net of refunds $305,885

$259,174







Noncash purchases of property and equipment $64,958

$45,319

Universal Health Services, Inc. Supplemental Statistical Information (unaudited)





































































% Change

% Change













Quarter ended

9 months ended



Same Facility:







9/30/2017

9/30/2017























Acute Care Hospitals

















Revenues







2.2%

4.0%



Adjusted Admissions







3.5%

4.9%



Adjusted Patient Days







1.5%

2.0%



Revenue Per Adjusted Admission





-0.6%

-0.3%



Revenue Per Adjusted Patient Day





1.3%

2.5%































































Behavioral Health Hospitals

















Revenues







1.8%

1.8%



Adjusted Admissions







1.1%

2.4%



Adjusted Patient Days







-0.2%

0.5%



Revenue Per Adjusted Admission





1.3%

-0.4%



Revenue Per Adjusted Patient Day





2.6%

1.5%



















































































UHS Consolidated



Third quarter ended

Nine months ended





9/30/2017

9/30/2016

9/30/2017

9/30/2016



















Revenues



$2,541,864

$2,409,872

$7,767,078

$7,290,525 EBITDA (1)



$363,410

$375,881

$1,261,978

$1,236,121 EBITDA Margin (1)



14.3%

15.6%

16.2%

17.0%







































Cash Flow From Operations



$344,673

$300,083

$878,265

$1,136,512 Days Sales Outstanding



53

50

51

49 Capital Expenditures



$156,241

$148,448

$418,693

$396,163



















Debt











$4,040,153

$3,634,169 UHS' Shareholders Equity











$4,865,212

$4,394,703 Debt / Total Capitalization











45.4%

45.3% Debt / EBITDA (2)











2.41

2.21 Debt / Cash From Operations (2)









3.76

2.64



















(1) Net of Minority Interest











(2) Latest 4 quarters



















Universal Health Services, Inc. Acute Care Hospital Services For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands)



































































Same Facility Basis - Acute Care Hospital Services





































































Three months ended

Three months ended

Nine months ended

Nine months ended



September 30, 2017

September 30, 2016

September 30, 2017

September 30, 2016



Amount

% of Net

Revenues

Amount

% of Net

Revenues

Amount

% of Net

Revenues

Amount

% of Net

Revenues Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts

$1,452,997





$1,402,732





$4,431,714





$4,224,695



Less: Provision for doubtful accounts

196,542





172,883





548,387





491,556



Net revenues

1,256,455

100.0%

1,229,849

100.0%

3,883,327

100.0%

3,733,139

100.0% Operating charges:































Salaries, wages and benefits

551,144

43.9%

528,249

43.0%

1,623,774

41.8%

1,547,580

41.5% Other operating expenses

307,909

24.5%

309,702

25.2%

925,122

23.8%

896,589

24.0% Supplies expense

212,350

16.9%

210,973

17.2%

654,218

16.8%

621,258

16.6% Depreciation and amortization

62,446

5.0%

59,252

4.8%

185,151

4.8%

174,855

4.7% Lease and rental expense

14,390

1.1%

12,572

1.0%

41,864

1.1%

39,489

1.1% Subtotal-operating expenses

1,148,239

91.4%

1,120,748

91.1%

3,430,129

88.3%

3,279,771

87.9% Income from operations

108,216

8.6%

109,101

8.9%

453,198

11.7%

453,368

12.1% Interest expense, net

639

0.1%

817

0.1%

2,073

0.1%

2,460

0.1% Income before income taxes

$107,577

8.6%

$108,284

8.8%

$451,125

11.6%

$450,908

12.1%





































































































All Acute Care Hospital Services





































































Three months ended

Three months ended

Nine months ended

Nine months ended



September 30, 2017

September 30, 2016

September 30, 2017

September 30, 2016



Amount

% of Net

Revenues

Amount

% of Net

Revenues

Amount

% of Net

Revenues

Amount

% of Net

Revenues Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts

$1,521,727





$1,426,749





$4,646,083





$4,285,897



Less: Provision for doubtful accounts

204,979





172,883





573,331





491,556



Net revenues

1,316,748

100.0%

1,253,866

100.0%

4,072,752

100.0%

3,794,341

100.0% Operating charges:































Salaries, wages and benefits

566,214

43.0%

529,544

42.2%

1,672,909

41.1%

1,549,311

40.8% Other operating expenses

342,486

26.0%

334,387

26.7%

1,018,454

25.0%

958,844

25.3% Supplies expense

217,035

16.5%

211,017

16.8%

670,444

16.5%

621,305

16.4% Depreciation and amortization

69,062

5.2%

67,982

5.4%

213,417

5.2%

202,079

5.3% Lease and rental expense

14,605

1.1%

12,577

1.0%

43,066

1.1%

39,510

1.0% Subtotal-operating expenses

1,209,402

91.8%

1,155,507

92.2%

3,618,290

88.8%

3,371,049

88.8% Income from operations

107,346

8.2%

98,359

7.8%

454,462

11.2%

423,292

11.2% Interest expense, net

639

0.0%

817

0.1%

2,074

0.1%

2,460

0.1% Income before income taxes

$106,707

8.1%

$97,542

7.8%

$452,388

11.1%

$420,832

11.1%



































































We believe that providing our results on a "Same Facility" basis (which is a non-GAAP measure), which includes the operating results for facilities and businesses operated in both the current year and prior year periods, is helpful to our investors as a measure of our operating performance. Our Same Facility results also neutralize (if applicable) the impact of the EHR applications, the effect of items that are non-operational in nature including items such as, but not limited to, gains on sales of assets and businesses, impacts of settlements, legal judgments and lawsuits and other amounts that may be reflected in the current or prior year financial statements that relate to prior periods. Our Same Facility basis results exclude from net revenues and other operating expenses, provider tax assessments incurred in each period.However, these provider tax assessments are included in net revenues and other operating expenses as reflected in the table under All Acute Care Hospital Services. The provider tax assessments had no impact on the income before income taxes as reflected on the above tables since the amounts offset between net revenues and other operating expenses. To obtain a complete understanding of our financial performance, the Same Facility results should be examined in connection with our net income as determined in accordance with GAAP and as presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as contained in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017.

































The All Acute Care Hospital Services table summarizes the results of operations for all our acute care operations during the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. These amounts include: (i) our acute care results on a same facility basis, as indicated above; (ii) the impact of the implementation of EHR applications at our acute care hospitals; (iii) the impact of provider tax assessments which increased net revenues and other operating expenses but had no impact on income before income taxes, and; (iv) certain other amounts including the results of facilities acquired or opened during the last twelve months.

Universal Health Services, Inc. Behavioral Health Services For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands)



































































Same Facility - Behavioral Health Care Services





































































Three months ended

Three months ended

Nine months ended

Nine months ended



September 30, 2017

September 30, 2016

September 30, 2017

September 30, 2016



Amount

% of Net

Revenues

Amount

% of Net

Revenues

Amount

% of Net

Revenues

Amount

% of Net

Revenues Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts

$1,175,860





$1,159,594





$3,566,216





$3,509,217



Less: Provision for doubtful accounts

24,311





28,109





82,973





87,004



Net revenues

1,151,549

100.0%

1,131,485

100.0%

3,483,243

100.0%

3,422,213

100.0% Operating charges:































Salaries, wages and benefits

595,571

51.7%

567,889

50.2%

1,770,122

50.8%

1,692,898

49.5% Other operating expenses

234,945

20.4%

223,940

19.8%

693,200

19.9%

660,559

19.3% Supplies expense

49,629

4.3%

49,001

4.3%

146,286

4.2%

145,626

4.3% Depreciation and amortization

34,206

3.0%

32,757

2.9%

100,838

2.9%

98,506

2.9% Lease and rental expense

11,491

1.0%

11,061

1.0%

32,988

0.9%

32,878

1.0% Subtotal-operating expenses

925,842

80.4%

884,648

78.2%

2,743,434

78.8%

2,630,467

76.9% Income from operations

225,707

19.6%

246,837

21.8%

739,809

21.2%

791,746

23.1% Interest expense, net

428

0.0%

420

0.0%

1,590

0.0%

1,302

0.0% Income before income taxes

$225,279

19.6%

$246,417

21.8%

$738,219

21.2%

$790,444

23.1%





































































































All Behavioral Health Care Services





































































Three months ended

Three months ended

Nine months ended

Nine months ended



September 30, 2017

September 30, 2016

September 30, 2017

September 30, 2016



Amount

% of Net

Revenues

Amount

% of Net

Revenues

Amount

% of Net

Revenues

Amount

% of Net

Revenues Net revenues before provision for doubtful accounts

$1,249,585





$1,182,041





$3,769,879





$3,576,957



Less: Provision for doubtful accounts

25,037





28,161





84,649





87,276



Net revenues

1,224,548

100.0%

1,153,880

100.0%

3,685,230

100.0%

3,489,681

100.0% Operating charges:































Salaries, wages and benefits

632,492

51.7%

571,070

49.5%

1,869,170

50.7%

1,703,222

48.8% Other operating expenses

261,959

21.4%

242,949

21.1%

784,678

21.3%

720,678

20.7% Supplies expense

50,947

4.2%

49,244

4.3%

149,967

4.1%

146,244

4.2% Depreciation and amortization

38,574

3.2%

33,584

2.9%

113,083

3.1%

101,003

2.9% Lease and rental expense

11,475

0.9%

11,098

1.0%

33,993

0.9%

33,216

1.0% Subtotal-operating expenses

995,447

81.3%

907,945

78.7%

2,950,891

80.1%

2,704,363

77.5% Income from operations

229,101

18.7%

245,935

21.3%

734,339

19.9%

785,318

22.5% Interest expense, net

428

0.0%

420

0.0%

1,590

0.0%

1,302

0.0% Income before income taxes

$228,673

18.7%

$245,515

21.3%

$732,749

19.9%

$784,016

22.5%



































































We believe that providing our results on a "Same Facility" basis (which is a non-GAAP measure), which includes the operating results for facilities and businesses operated in both the current year and prior year periods, is helpful to our investors as a measure of our operating performance. Our Same Facility results also neutralize (if applicable), the effect of items that are non-operational in nature including items such as, but not limited to, gains on sales of assets and businesses, impacts of settlements, legal judgments and lawsuits and other amounts that may be reflected in the current or prior year financial statements that relate to prior periods. Our Same Facility basis results exclude from net revenues and other operating expenses, provider tax assessments incurred in each period.However, these provider tax assessments are included in net revenues and other operating expenses as reflected in the table under All Behavioral Health Care Services. The provider tax assessments had no impact on the income before income taxes as reflected on the above tables since the amounts offset between net revenues and other operating expenses. To obtain a complete understanding of our financial performance, the Same Facility results should be examined in connection with our net income as determined in accordance with GAAP and as presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as contained in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017.

































The All Behavioral Health Care Services table summarizes the results of operations for all our behavioral health care facilities during the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. These amounts include: (i) our behavioral health results on a same facility basis, as indicated above; (ii) the impact of provider tax assessments which increased net revenues and other operating expenses but had no impact on income before income taxes, and; (iii) certain other amounts including the results of facilities acquired or opened during the last twelve months.

Universal Health Services, Inc. Selected Hospital Statistics For the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016



































AS REPORTED:























































ACUTE

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH



9/30/17 9/30/16 % change

9/30/17 9/30/16 % change

















Hospitals owned and leased

26 25 4.0%

298 213 39.9% Average licensed beds

6,147 5,926 3.7%

23,173 21,840 6.1% Patient days

324,697 309,505 4.9%

1,594,487 1,503,472 6.1% Average daily census

3,529.3 3,364.2 4.9%

17,331.4 16,342.1 6.1% Occupancy-licensed beds

57.4% 56.8% 1.1%

74.8% 74.8% 0.0% Admissions

73,692 68,165 8.1%

116,301 114,678 1.4% Length of stay

4.4 4.5 -3.0%

13.7 13.1 4.6%

















Inpatient revenue

$5,344,625 $4,647,578 15.0%

$2,257,231 $2,031,868 11.1% Outpatient revenue

3,199,066 2,854,851 12.1%

236,559 217,571 8.7% Total patient revenue

8,543,691 7,502,429 13.9%

2,493,790 2,249,439 10.9% Other revenue

113,346 114,344 -0.9%

50,143 53,570 -6.4% Gross hospital revenue

8,657,037 7,616,773 13.7%

2,543,933 2,303,009 10.5%

















Total deductions

7,135,310 6,190,024 15.3%

1,294,348 1,120,968 15.5%

















Net hospital revenue before















provision for doubtful accounts

1,521,727 1,426,749 6.7%

1,249,585 1,182,041 5.7%

















Provision for doubtful accounts

204,979 172,883 18.6%

25,037 28,161 -11.1%

















Net hospital revenue

$1,316,748 $1,253,866 5.0%

$1,224,548 $1,153,880 6.1%



































SAME FACILITY:





































ACUTE (1)

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (2)



9/30/17 9/30/16 % change

9/30/17 9/30/16 % change

















Hospitals owned and leased

25 25 0.0%

211 211 0.0% Average licensed beds

6,009 5,926 1.4%

21,814 21,607 1.0% Patient days

319,102 309,505 3.1%

1,485,837 1,485,616 0.0% Average daily census

3,468.5 3,364.2 3.1%

16,150.4 16,148.0 0.0% Occupancy-licensed beds

57.7% 56.8% 1.6%

74.0% 74.7% -0.9% Admissions

71,621 68,165 5.1%

115,826 114,356 1.3% Length of stay

4.5 4.5 -1.9%

12.8 13.0 -1.3%

















(1) Henderson Hospital is excluded in current year.





(2) CAMBIAN facilities are excluded in current year.









Universal Health Services, Inc. Selected Hospital Statistics For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016



































AS REPORTED:























































ACUTE

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH



9/30/17 9/30/16 % change

9/30/17 9/30/16 % change

















Hospitals owned and leased

26 25 4.0%

298 213 39.9% Average licensed beds

6,125 5,878 4.2%

23,121 21,804 6.0% Patient days

981,946 941,595 4.3%

4,812,633 4,515,381 6.6% Average daily census

3,596.9 3,436.5 4.7%

17,628.7 16,479.5 7.0% Occupancy-licensed beds

58.7% 58.5% 0.4%

76.2% 75.6% 0.9% Admissions

221,595 204,663 8.3%

353,773 344,972 2.6% Length of stay

4.4 4.6 -3.7%

13.6 13.1 3.9%

















Inpatient revenue

$16,373,472 $14,295,797 14.5%

$6,689,368 $5,987,430 11.7% Outpatient revenue

9,780,173 8,461,032 15.6%

740,331 668,457 10.8% Total patient revenue

26,153,645 22,756,829 14.9%

7,429,699 6,655,887 11.6% Other revenue

352,788 344,889 2.3%

154,501 157,161 -1.7% Gross hospital revenue

26,506,433 23,101,718 14.7%

7,584,200 6,813,048 11.3%

















Total deductions

21,860,350 18,815,821 16.2%

3,814,321 3,236,091 17.9%

















Net hospital revenue before















provision for doubtful accounts

4,646,083 4,285,897 8.4%

3,769,879 3,576,957 5.4%

















Provision for doubtful accounts

573,331 491,556 16.6%

84,649 87,276 -3.0%

















Net hospital revenue

$4,072,752 $3,794,341 7.3%

$3,685,230 $3,489,681 5.6%



































SAME FACILITY:





































ACUTE (1)

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (2)



9/30/17 9/30/16 % change

9/30/17 9/30/16 % change

















Hospitals owned and leased

25 25 0.0%

211 211 0.0% Average licensed beds

5,975 5,878 1.7%

21,831 21,603 1.1% Patient days

965,601 941,595 2.5%

4,506,056 4,481,544 0.5% Average daily census

3,537.0 3,436.5 2.9%

16,505.7 16,356.0 0.9% Occupancy-licensed beds

59.2% 58.5% 1.3%

75.6% 75.7% -0.1% Admissions

215,830 204,663 5.5%

352,668 344,118 2.5% Length of stay

4.5 4.6 -2.8%

12.8 13.0 -1.9%

















(1) Henderson Hospital is excluded in current year.









(2) CAMBIAN facilities are excluded in current year.







SOURCE Universal Health Services, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.uhsinc.com


"The U.S. Air Force and its foreign military sales partners realize significant savings in their defense budgets with our affordable and combat-proven LGBs," said Joe Serra, Precision Guided Systems director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "This innovative and cost-effective guidance package supports greater precision for warfighters."

Paveway II Plus includes an enhanced guidance package that improves accuracy over legacy LGBs. Qualified for full and unrestricted operational employment in GBU-10, -12 and -16 (1,000 pound) configurations, Paveway II Plus is cleared for use on U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and international aircraft authorized to carry and release LGBs. Lockheed Martin has been a qualified supplier of Paveway II LGB kits since 2001 and has delivered over 100,000 kits to customers.

Production of the guidance kits and air foil groups for GBU-10 (2,000 pound) and GBU-12 (500 pound) LGBs will begin in first quarter of 2018.

In addition to the Paveway II Plus LGB, Lockheed Martin's 350,000-square-foot production facility in Archbald, Pa., is the sole provider of the Enhanced Laser Guided Training Round and Paragon direct attack munition. Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 160,000 training rounds and 7,000 dual-mode LGB kits to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force and 24 international customers.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

PAVEWAY is a registered trademark of a third party in the EU and several other countries and is used by Lockheed Martin Corporation under license.

SOURCE Lockheed Martin
CARY, N.C., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a North Carolina district court judgment finding World Programming Ltd. (WPL) liable for fraud and breach of a software license against SAS, the leader in analytics. In addition, the appeals court ruling affirmed that WPL violated the North Carolina Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which mandates the award of trebled damages to SAS, with the cumulative judgment against WPL totaling more than $79 million.

"Our legal system continues to validate the fact that WPL has been engaging in unfair and illegal acts," said John Boswell, Chief Legal Counsel for SAS. "By doing so, it has continued to place itself, and its customers, in an untenable position. While WPL has been trying to avoid the consequences of its actions, SAS has continued to deliver innovative solutions to its customers and partners in a good and ethical way  as we have for more than 40 years. We are a trusted and stable entity, and our primary focus will always be on putting our customers first."

In October 2015, a federal jury awarded SAS $26.4 million in damages when it found that WPL violated the software license for the SAS Learning Edition by reverse engineering portions of that product in order to create its World Programming System software (WPS), as well as using SAS Learning Edition for prohibited production purposes. The trebling (or tripling) of the $26.4 million results in a total judgment of more than $79 million.

The Court of Appeals also vacated WPL's earlier summary judgment win related to infringement of SAS's copyrights, meaning that the material WPL copied may indeed be covered by SAS's copyrights.

About SAS

SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative analytics, business intelligence and data management software and services, SAS helps customers at more than 83,000 sites make better decisions faster. Since 1976, SAS has been giving customers around the world THE POWER TO KNOW.

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries.  indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright  2017 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.

SOURCE SAS

Related Links

http://www.sas.com


DURHAM, N.C., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Validic, the leading provider of data connectivity solutions for healthcare, announced today the launch of Inform, Validic's next-generation data connectivity platform. Inform provides a robust and scalable architecture offering the ability to stream near real-time data into your system and set configurable rules signaling which data should be acted upon. As healthcare's first streaming platform providing access to personal health data, this release signals an important shift for Validic and the larger healthcare market toward improved remote care, preventive wellness, and continuous monitoring programs.

Consistently, Validic has proven to be a leader in connected health, pioneering the most advanced connectivity solutions available to providers, payers, pharma, wellness, and health IT. The Inform technology retrieves, standardizes, and delivers continuous streams of user-permissioned health data from nearly 400 clinical and consumer data sources. Similar to the previous iteration of Validic's connectivity platform, personal health data is accessible via a single, secure connection point between your system and Validic's behind-the-scenes platform.

Inform's state-of-the-art streaming capabilities provide the most efficient means to integrating continuous, near real-time personal health data from home health devices - meaning the data is accessible to practitioners as soon as the event occurs. With the addition of configurable rules, a practitioner can set triggers that notify him or her when a reading falls outside a set threshold or when a reading has not been submitted. Together, these functionalities provide a forward-looking platform focused on turning disparate data into action and insights.

"Inform signals an important shift for Validic's core offering today," Validic CEO Drew Schiller said. "Validic is providing the next-generation platform for healthcare with the ability to stream continuous, near real-time patient health data. Continuous monitoring data, time series data, and data points not yet integrated by healthcare require a platform that can push data in near real-time. This is the platform we have re-engineered for healthcare. It allows for scale. It enables only the most important data to trigger events or actions. And, perhaps most importantly, it provides the structure for personal health events to be delivered to care or program managers as soon as they happen."

Moreover, the critical enhancements made as part of the Inform development also enable Validic to support more data entering the system and ensure scale as millions of users continue to be added. The enhanced data model offers simplified data context, metrics, and reporting features and allows for scalability ensuring future device and data types are added routinely. Currently, Validic's Inform platform is the only streaming data platform available in healthcare.

For more information on Validic Inform, please visit us at the Connected Health Conference Booth #217. You can also join Validic CEO Drew Schiller in his session with Ochsner Health System, Fitbit Health Solutions, Qualcomm Life, and Nokia Digital Health discussing "Wearables in the Clinical Setting" on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 1:40pm EDT.

About Validic:

Validic's advanced data connectivity platform removes the burdens associated with data access, integration, standardization, and storage. Validic continues to work with leaders across healthcare and pioneer solutions that simplify device connectivity and data access  enabling our clients to derive and analyze meaningful insights and interactions with their population. We guide healthcare and wellness organizations through the technical complexities associated with operationalizing personal health data by delivering scalable technology that increases efficiency, effectiveness, and security. By delivering standardized data from home health devices seamlessly into any system, we help empower healthcare organizations to create more personalized, integrative and engaging user experiences. To learn more about Validic, please visit www.validic.com and follow us on Twitter at @validic.

Media Contact:

Becka Brown

[email protected]

984-999-0574

SOURCE Validic

Related Links

https://validic.com


PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) today announced it has been selected by Penn Medicine to install a Varian ProBeam Compact single-room proton therapy system in a new cancer treatment center. In addition to the equipment, Varian will also provide its ARIA information management system and Eclipse treatment planning system. Construction of the new center is expected to start in January 2018, with the first patient treatments commencing in January 2020.

The Varian ProBeam Compact system is the only single room system capable of fully rotational intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT). Treatments can be delivered with an unmatched combination of speed, flexibility and cost efficiency. The full-featured ProBeam Compact includes a cyclotron, Varian's unique Dynamic Peak scanning technology for IMPT, a fully rotational gantry, robotic patient positioning tools, and a comprehensive suite of motion management tools. It incorporates cone beam CT imaging for positioning the patient based on high quality anatomical images with excellent soft tissue resolution, and Varian's world-class Eclipse and ARIA software systems for the planning and managing of treatments

"We are excited to be working with Penn Medicine on the development of this new facility," said Dr. Moataz Karmalawy, general manager of Varian's Particle Therapy division. "Penn Medicine recently partnered with Varian on the testing and launch of our newest photon system, Halcyon, and we look forward to their partnership in the advancement of proton therapy."

"Penn Medicine and Varian have a long history of partnership on advanced photon hardware and software and the inclusion of the ProBeam proton technology is a natural extension," said James Metz, MD, chair of Radiation Oncology at Penn. "This new center is part of Penn Medicine's program to expand its multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer into the surrounding community."

Varian booked the order for the equipment in the third quarter of its fiscal year 2017. Varian is also working on proton therapy system installations at 18 other sites around the world.

For more information on ProBeam Compact, visit: www.varian.com/probeamcompact

About Varian Medical Systems

Varian Medical Systems focuses energy on saving lives and is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating and managing cancer. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Varian employs approximately 6,600 people around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com and follow @VarianMedSys on Twitter.

Press Contact

Mark Plungy

Varian Medical Systems

+1 (650) 424-5630

[email protected]

SOURCE Varian Medical Systems

Related Links

http://www.varian.com


Over the past 10 years, Miller Johnson has seen a 45 percent growth in revenue. Given the significant progress of the firm, management responsibilities will be shared between these two highly-qualified partners with complementary skills and a commitment for continuing to practice law even as they assume their new roles.

Mr. Wolford will be responsible for the client and community facing functions of the firm, including leading client service strategies and marketplace development. Mr. Lubben will be responsible for the business functions of the firm, including chairing the Management Committee and overseeing long-term professional and operational interests. Both Managing Members will sit on the firm's five-person Management Committee and serve multi-year terms in their respective roles. Mr. Wolford and Mr. Lubben will continue to serve their clients and grow their respective practices in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, while looking at opportunities to expand Miller Johnson beyond West Michigan.

"This is a reflection of the growth and forward-looking perspective our firm puts on client service," said Mr. Wolford. "We continue to build relationships with the leading companies, organizations, and individuals that rely on expert legal counsel."

Mr. Lubben added, "The sophistication of providing that counsel requires competencies in management, analytics, technology, communication, and financial matters. But beyond that, we also place high critical value in the age-old practice of knowing your clients as well as you know yourself. This model of management will allow us to focus on both aspects of our business equally."

Mr. Wolford and Mr. Lubben succeed Craig A. Mutch, who has served as Managing Member of Miller Johnson for the past nine years. After 40 years as a practicing labor and employment attorney, he is retiring at the end of the year, coinciding with completing his term as Managing Member. During his tenure as Managing Member, Mr. Mutch has overseen the firm adding new practices, increasing its number of attorneys, and moving to new offices in Grand Rapids at Arena Place and in Kalamazoo at the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites.

"I have been honored to serve Miller Johnson's clients for the past 40 years, including the last nine as the Managing Member," said Mr. Mutch. "The reality is the responsibilities of the Managing Member are varied and extensive, so passing the torch to my two colleagues to continue the commitment to exceptional service is as easy a task as I've had in my time here. I wish them well and know the team at Miller Johnson will prosper along with our valued clients."

A member of Miller Johnson's Grand Rapids office since 2001, Mr. Wolford regularly represents buyers and sellers throughout the country in mergers, acquisitions, recapitalizations, reorganizations, private equity investments and other transactions. Recognized for his legal expertise by numerous organizations, he is listed in the "Best Lawyers in America." Mr. Wolford is the Secretary/Legal Counsel of The Economic Club of Grand Rapids, and President of East Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education.

Joining Miller Johnson in 1981 and based in Kalamazoo, Mr. Lubben's practice is focused on representing business entities, executives, medical professionals, and other individuals in commercial disputes in state and federal court. During his career, he has received various awards as a top litigator, including being named as Best Lawyers Kalamazoo Litigation  Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year three times this decade. He was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to serve on the Attorney Discipline Board for two consecutive terms and served as the Board's Vice-Chairperson. Mr. Lubben is the Chair of Calvin College's Board of Trustees.

"We are grateful to have served under Craig Mutch for nearly a decade and appreciate the opportunity to build upon his legacy at Miller Johnson," said Mr. Lubben. "His commitment to 'the team, the team, the team,' stems from his days playing for the legendary Bo Schembechler at the University of Michigan and is ingrained in our firm's culture."

Mr. Wolford added, "It was that commitment to 'the team' that resulted in the development of not only our roster of exceptional professionals at Miller Johnson, but also a strong administrative team led by Betsy Raymond, providing clients with peace of mind knowing legal counsel is able to focus all of their attention on the critical matters at hand."

For more information on Mr. Wolford and Mr. Lubben, visit www.millerjohnson.com.

About Miller Johnson

Founded in 1959, Miller Johnson's attorneys provide legal counsel to businesses and individuals in areas such as business and corporate, litigation, employment and labor, mergers and acquisitions, employee benefits, and estate planning and family law. For more information, follow on LinkedIn and at millerjohnson.com

SOURCE Miller Johnson

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PLANO, Texas, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ZeOmega Inc., a market leader in population health management (PHM) solutions, has recently enhanced its Jiva platform to help improve the management of Medicare Advantage (MA) programs and the members they serve.

ZeOmega's enhancements come at a critical time. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) shows Medicare Advantage enrollment has grown 71% since 2010 to reach 19 million in 2017. KFF also shows 29% of Medicare beneficiaries are diagnosed with cognitive/mental impairment. In a 2015 study, Statista noted that 66% of Medicare beneficiaries suffer from three or more chronic conditions. Furthermore, the recently released CMS Medicare star ratings shows only 44% of MA plans earned four stars or higher in 2017, a drop from 49% last year.

Amid these various challenges, ZeOmega recognizes CMS compliance as the foundation for program design. To help clients proactively meet CMS compliance requirements, ZeOmega has formed a dedicated government group led by Elizabeth "Liz" Barnett, B.S.N, J.D., Vice President of Government Solutions and Innovation. In this role, Liz is responsible for the proactive development and enhancement of products that fully support the government healthcare segments. Liz has served in significant leadership positions specializing in insurance, health law, and clinical practice, bringing unique expertise and insight to Jiva's MA solution.

To meet the growing medical and administrative challenges of MA programs, ZeOmega's enhanced Jiva MA suite offers key benefits for:

Improving Outcomes and Lowering Costs

Analytics for risk identification and stratification for key indicators such as likelihood of admission, readmission, and overall cost.

Proprietary clinical content addressing medical behavioral and social determinants of health.

Model of Care (MOC) capabilities designed to support Special Needs Plans, including Dual Eligible.

Reducing Administrative Costs

Provider-facing capabilities designed to facilitate automated authorization and co-management of care plans and quality measures.

Standard interfaces allowing information sharing between health plans and related entities.

Supporting CMS Compliance

Out-of-box reports and letter templates.

Easy-to-use dashboards allowing effective management of compliance timelines.

"ZeOmega recognizes the importance of Medicare Advantage in this rapidly evolving healthcare marketplace," says Barnett. "We have developed a government solutions team to design capabilities that can help our clients successfully optimize their costs, quality, and revenue in a demonstrably compliant fashion."

About ZeOmega

ZeOmega's powerful population health management platform delivers high-value, strategic solutions enabling payers and care-delivery organizations to improve individual health and provider performance. With deep domain expertise and a comprehensive understanding of complex population health challenges, ZeOmega serves as a "true-north" partner for clientsoffering flexible deployment and delivery models that leverage an innovative platform designed to integrate workflow, analytics, content and communication capabilities. By consistently meeting customer expectations and project benchmarks, ZeOmega has earned a sterling reputation in the industry for responsiveness and reliability. For more information, visit www.zeomega.com or call 214-618-9880. Follow ZeOmega on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

SOURCE ZeOmega

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The pan-European open-ended Core+ fund Encore+ has made another acquisition in the Netherlands, with the purchase of the office tower Kennedytoren in Eindhoven for circa 50 million.

Kennedytoren is located in the centre of Eindhoven, directly adjacent to the main railway and bus station and within...

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Actor and author Jason Segel and novelist Kirsten Miller, who have collaborated on four books in Delacortes middle grade Nightmares! series (the latest of which, Everything You Need to Know About NIGHTMARES! and How to Defeat Them, pubbed in September), explore a very different realm of altered reality in their latest book project, Otherworld. Due from Delacorte on October 31 with a 125,000-copy first printing, this YA novel introduces awkward gamer Simon, a teen who gets the chance to be the first to test the newest set of virtual reality goggles before they hit the market. But when his friend Katherine disappears, it is no longer a game; she has been kidnapped by someone or something inside the virtual world, and its up to Simon to save her. To learn more about their new book, which will be followed by Other Earth in fall 2018, PW recently spoke by phone to the authors, who were in Los Angeles shooting a promotional video for Otherworld.

An addictive virtual reality game in which players can indulge their every desirebefore realizing theyre the ones being playedis a frightening premise. What was its genesis?

Jason Segel: When I was a teenager, I was one of the lucky few who got to experience a game very much like Otherworld before it was shut down. When I heard rumblings it was being reimagined for virtual reality, I knew it was something Kirsten and I had to write about. At the Sundance Film Festival in 2015, I was invited to a demonstration of the newest Oculus Rift VR hardware and software, and in 10 short minutes I was transported to several different realms where I could have anything. One thing was clear to me: this technology changes everything, and if we can be anything we want [there], why would we ever want to leave?

Are you both fascinated with technologys seemingly limitless potential and where it has taken us at this point?

JS: Yes! Every morning when I wake up I immediately go on to macrumors.com to see whats new. I am very interested in technology and where its all headed, and am sort of obsessed with this idea that some technological developments are purportedly meant to bring us together socially, but do not seem to be doing that. I realized recently that the iPhone is only a decade old, and now it is an indelible part of my life and culture. I lived 27 years without my iPhone, and now Im completely dependent on it: I have outsourced my memory, my sense of direction, and my communication with friends.

Kirsten Miller: It really is so fascinating to see how new technologies seem to be so much in control of our lives. At a recent ComicCon program, a panelist mentioned that the future has not turned out to be what everyone suspectedthere are no jet packs or flying carsand that in essence everyone that was sitting in the room was a cyborg! No one expected that little black rectangles would have such a profound impact on our lives.

JS: And I think a lot of the time, new developments that have positive intentions are very quickly misused, with unintended and unforeseen consequences. Facebook was started to communicate with friends on campusand ends up disrupting our presidential election. I think virtual reality was also created with a lot of excitementand has also had some amazingly unanticipated consequences.

How did these realizations help inspire Otherworld?

JS: After experiencing the Oculus Rift VR demonstration, it became clear to me that there was a story for Kirsten and me to tell here. So we set about building our own virtual reality in the form of this part mythic adventure, part sci-fi love story, and entirely cautionary tale. We were inspired by the fact that so many things that are making headlines in the technological world are challenging our notion of what is realand making us wonder how we are going to define reality once all our senses are engaged in virtual reality, if it gets good enough. Will we know how to differentiate between whats reality and whats not? As technology develops, the two are getting very closeand the difference becomes almost indecipherable.

KM: I agreereality and whats not real are blending together at a rapid pace today. What is real is getting harder and harder to judge, especially given social media and what happened with our election. One of the biggest questions going forward is how do we draw the line between whats real and not? This was fascinating to explore in Otherworld.

Kirsten, as the author of The Eternal Ones, All You Desire, and How to Lead a Life of Crime, you are obviously no newcomer to YA. But since this marks your young adult debut, Jason, did you find that writing for this audience was a different challengeand was your collaborative process the same with Otherworld as it was with the Nightmares! novels?

JS: Actually, Id say that writing for teens was a bit less challenging than writing for younger readers. It uses the same skill set, and you do the same digging for the story, but with YA you get to use all of your voiceand you can swear! Our collaborative process with Otherworld remained the same. The way it works is that I start with a rough idea of what the story should be. Ive been very influenced by Christopher Voglers The Writers Journey, which is a wonderful book on storytelling.

KM: With Otherworld, as before, we spent a lot of time upfront discussing plotting and charactersas well as the crazy stuff we both felt like throwing in. We worked together on plot sketches to get the details down. And were lucky, since we have complementary skills. Jason is particularly good at dialogue, and comes up with some really great details and extra touches.

JS: And Kirsten knows how to take a story and run with itshe really is a genius at executing ideas.

Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller. Delacorte, $18.99 Oct. 31 ISBN 978-1-101-93932-1
Childrens authors and illustrators, along with programming for childrens booksellers, were among the factors that made the 2017 Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association Fall Discovery Show, held at the Renaissance Denver Stapleton Hotel from October 1214, a record-breaker. Attendance, which had been growing steadily in recent years, broke 600, making this the biggest fall trade show the association has mounted since executive director Laura Burnett began running it in 2011. That figure includes 350 booksellers, nearly double the number in 2015. Im beyond pleased, Burnett told PW. Im thrilled. I thought all the authors [adult and kids] were phenomenal and moving.

Discovering Authorsat Breakfast, Tea, and Dinner

MPIBA, which traditionally kicks off with a childrens breakfast and has long had a speed-dating tea (or Young Readers Roundup), also included a childrens author and artist at the adult author banquet on the final night of this years show. Writer Matt de la Pena and illustrator Loren Long, co-creators of the picture book Love (Putnam, Jan. 2018), made the most of the opportunity. After speaking about their book, which de la Pena said that he wrote for his young daughter to counter todays divisiveness, the pair gleefully read it aloud.

At the banquet, Uzodinma Iweala (Speak No Evil: A Novel, Harper, Mar. 2018) underscored the importance of childrens literacy as he spoke about growing up in Washington, D.C. He would visit the library and buy books at the Cheshire Cat childrens bookstore (now part of Politics & Prose). At the bookstore, Iweala met his first president, Jimmy Carter, when he was just 11 years old. As for his favorite books growing up, the Choose Your Own Adventure series was dope.

Im interested in the authors, Joanne Walker Matzenbacher of Bookworks in Albuquerque, N.M., said, explaining why she attends MPIBA. She called the childrens breakfast, with Peter Sis (Robinson, Scholastic Press, Sept.), Jessica Brody (The Chaos of Standing Still, Simon Pulse, Nov.), and Shannon and Dean Hale (The Princess in Black and the Mysterious Playdate, Candlewick, Sept.), fabulous. Sis, who came to the U.S. 34 years ago to work on two films, one for MTV and one on the 1984 Olympics, spoke about the dangers of the written word in his native land, Czechoslovakia. People were never sure which books they were allowed to read and which were banned, he said. He tried several creative professions before getting his big break. A friend had sent some of Siss pictures to Maurice Sendak, who called him collect and asked if he wanted to be in childrens books. Broke, Sis said yes. His latest book, Sis said, was inspired by his boyhood infatuation with Daniel Defoes Robinson Crusoe and a photograph he found of himself as a boy dressed up in a pirate costume made by his mother.

Jessica Brody had written a number of upbeat rom-com novels for teens that she felt good aboutbooks like 52 Reasons to Hate My Father and My Life Undecided. Everything I set out to do, I accomplished, she said. That was until she began to write The Chaos of Standing Still (which had the working title Delayed). Her earlier formula didnt fit. Although the novel has humor, a boy in a Muppet shirt, and a girl stranded in an airport who falls in love with him, it also has that same girl trying to come to grips with the death of her best friend. Its the only book I ever cried over, said Brody, who called it her grief book.

Booksellers who werent already crying during Brodys presentation, as they thought of their own ways of grieving, had to wipe away tears during the Hales impassioned speech about why books for boys and girls should not be stereotyped. People are afraid to give books about girls to boys, Shannon Hale said. Theyd never think about giving a book about boys to girls. Reading helps us learn empathy. If were shielding boys, theyre not learning about half the human race. Maybe he can grow up in a world where he can see girls and women as human beings and equals.

As the parents of four kids, Shannon Hale said of her and her husband, we are desperate for early chapter books. We were hoping for imitators. If that didnt make the point that she wanted to see more books where girls could be both tomboys and princesses, she added, that if she were to die tomorrow, the only thing she wants on her tombstone is: Author of the Princess in Black.

By the time the Young Readers Roundup, hosted by Claudia Maceo of the Twig Book Shop in San Antonio, Tex., took place the following afternoon, those tears were a thing of the past. Booksellers were excited to hear about new and forthcoming books from 15 authors, ranging from Tochi Oneybuchi, whose YA fantasy based on a Nigerian folk tale, Beasts Made of Night (Razorbill, Oct.), was a YA buzz panel pick at BookExpo, to Ted Rechlin, whose graphic nonfiction book on dinosaurs, Jurassic (Rextooth Studios) came out earlier this summer, and Lindsay Eagar, whose Race to the Bottom of the Sea (Candlewick, Oct.) combines middle grade maritime adventure with science.

Kid-Friendly Educational Programming

While much of the educational programming was aimed at general booksellers, the ABA panel presented at each regional trade show on maximizing backlist, had plenty of information for childrens booksellers, who are no strangers to the importance of backlist, given the popularity of longtime classics like Goodnight Moon. ABA senior program officer Joy Dallanegra-Sanger and board member Valerie Koehler of Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston encouraged booksellers to take advantage of the many new publisher promotions for backlist. They pointed out that backlist continues to dominate bookstore sales. Dallanegra-Sanger quoted NPD Group figures when saying that this year through the end of August, 57% of all book sales (both adult and childrens) were for backlist titles, with 43% frontlist.

Koehler said that shes planning to use some of the new ABA backlist promotions to support her babys first year subscription box. Another place where the promotions will help out is her recently revamped classics section, which has gone from looking like a high school reading list section to a place to find interesting older books. Since the changeover, sales for the section have picked up.

But the educational session that most directly addressed the needs of childrens booksellers focused on Build a Better Book Fair. A lot of stores look at book fairs as a profit center, said moderator Margaret Brennan Neville of the Kings English in Salt Lake City, Utah. But thats not completely true. She tried to use her experiences in a relatively small bookstore, whose biggest book fairs are for private schools, with those of panelists Sarah Hopkins of the Bookworm of Edwards in Edwards, Colo., and Meghan Goel of BookPeople in Austin, Tex., which has been steadily growing its book fairs, up from 20 in 2016 to 30 this year, to temper expectations and keep book fairs in the black.

At the Bookworm of Edwards, book fair revenues average $1,500 to $5,000, while BookPeoples fairs range from $5,000 to 10 times that figure and have increased with the stores outreach to schools over the past dozen years. BookPeople added a separate warehouse and a new POS system just for its book fair business. It also has book fair accounts with all its publishers. That extra discount, which can be five or 10%, does add up, Goel said. Although shes had book book fair accounts with the major publishers for the past decade, shes only recently set up accounts with smaller publishers.

Like Goel, Hopkins encouraged booksellers to order directly from publishers and to analyze each book fair using Excel. Theres never too many analytics, she advised. Based on some of the stores findings, Hopkins said that theyre planning to experiment with remainders to make sure they have affordable books for all kids in the school. She is also using backlist promotions to keep inventory costs down.

But beyond the programming, one of the biggest show highlights was the nearly dozen new booksellers with stores that have recently opened or are about to open or who are about to take over seasoned locations. And as MPIBA president Anne Holman of the Kings English noted at the general meeting: Our stores are healthy. And thats a good thing.
New stores to open in Kentucky and Indiana; celebrating the Hudson Valley's book community; Baghdad's most famous female bookseller; Handselling tips from a bookselling legend; and more.

New Store Opens in Kentucky: Brier Books, which started as a pop-up shop, opens in Lexington this week.

Indiana Gets a New Bookstore: A new outpost of Books & Brews franchise opens in the town of Carmel this month. It is the chain's fifth location around Indianapolis.

Celebrating the Hudson Valley's Bookstores: Several booksellers, including from Barner Books in New Paltz and Oblong Books in Rhinebeck, discuss the passion of book lovers in the region.

Baghdad's Bookselling Street Welcomes Woman Owner: Baraa al-Bayati owns Al-Baraa bookshop and is the only woman to run a store on Al-Mutanabbi Street, the city's famous destination for buying books.

Owner of Legendary Bookstore Reommends Books: Jeannette Watson, founder and owner of New York City's beloved Books & Co., which closed in 1997, recalls her favorite titles to handsell.

UK Bookstore to Close: Southcart Books and Comics in the city of Birmingham is closing.


Earlier this year, Europa Editions and Other Press partnered on a program to send booksellers to the Turin Book Fair in Italy. The effort, called Bookselling Without Borders, has added supporters and expanded. It also has a Kickstarter campaign which will come to a close in four days.

Underwritten by additional presses--Graywolf Press, The New Press, and Catapult are now co-sponsors--Bookselling Without Borders is aiming to send four or five booksellers to three book fairs in 2018 (adding Frankfurt and Guadalajara to its destinations). Its Kickstarter campaign to finance the traveling had, at press time, reached just over $14,000 of its $30,000 goal.

We feel that to change the conversation around international literature, there needs to be a critical mass of people talking about international literature," said Europa's editor-in-chief, Michael Reynolds. "There are no better people to do this than booksellers.

Reynolds elaborated that, because small presses like his don't have "huge marketing budgets to promote their books," it was essential to find other key tastemakers in the industry to champion these kinds of titles. "Passionate booksellers are our principle discovery mechanism," he explained. "We think it is really important that, if we can create the opportunity for booksellers to make a connection abroad and exchange ideas, it is likely to make a sudden and immediate difference to how someone sells international literature.

It was Reynolds, who spearheaded the scholarship program after his press sponsored a bookseller to attend the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2016. Since then, he has fielded interest from publishers and booksellers in Australia and Germany who want to start a similar project. In addition, several book fairs, including ones in Istanbul and Cape Town, have contacted him to say they too want to host a delegation of booksellers.

Should the Kickstarter campaign fail to reach its funding goal, Reynolds said the program will still proceed, albeit with fewer booksellers. We think this is important enough that we will try again later, perhaps with a more modest funding goal."
Family-owned Christian publisher Tyndale House is unveiling the first release in a new wave of crossover books from its YA division. On sale this October, The Delusion by Laura Gallier brings a spiritual perspective to teen issues such as self-harm, suicide, and sexual purity.

If you look at young adult books outside of Christian publishing, its very dark and hopeless, asserted Linda Howard, associate publisher, children and youth at Tyndale, citing books such as 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Kids are encouraged to hurt themselves and sleep together before marriage.

Tyndale, which started to expand its childrens and YA divisions last year, wants to combine clean Christian content with challenging issues teens are faced with today, all while appealing to readers with various faith backgrounds.

We want strong writing and story that can be read by Christians and non-Christians and has a positive message, said Howard. It doesnt have to have violence and promiscuity to be enjoyed.

The Delusion follows Owen Edmonds, a senior in high school with an unstable home life. Unlike other teen characters in Tyndales YA books, Owen is not a Christian. After drinking mysterious sight-giving water, however, Owen is able to recognize the spiritual burdens of othersfeelings such as hate, guilt, and grief are apparent in the form of chains and shackles. Owen can also see evil demons intent on driving humans toward wrongdoing and self-destruction, and before he can share what hes learned about forgiveness and faith that can overcome the darkness, two of his classmates commit suicide.

We are piggybacking on whats out thereThe Delusion keeps the feel of dark, exploring hard thingsbut theres hope, said Howard. Its the furthest weve ever pushed it yet.

Author Laura Gallier explained that the inspiration behind the book stemmed from her work as a speaker on sex-related values and romantic relationships, and her writing is aimed toward warning teen readers of "the existence of unseen forces, both good and evil, while exposing strategies of the evil one," she said.

"The protagonist is an atheist, so even those with no faith in God can relate to the story," Gallier added. The Delusion was picked up for a film adaptation, but disagreements between the author and studio leave the future uncertain for a movie deal.

Next summer, Tyndale will release The Crescent Stone by Matt Mikalatos, first in a trilogy that deals with race and privilege, and more crossover books that tackle serious subjects are in the works. Marketing and publicity for the YA books will include partnerships with youth organizations and ministries, and the publisher is offering additional discounts at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retail outlets. Additionally, Tyndale is generating promotional video content on YouTube while also providing key influencers with review copies.
Finnish Thriller Sold in Italy

After an Italian auction, Piemme has acquired The Guardian Angel by Einar Hansen. Elina Ahlback Literary controls all rights for the Finnish title, which will be released in Finland by WSOY in March 2018. The novel is based on a double murder committed in Copenhagen in the 1950s. The case drew attention because some thought the perpetrator acted under hypnosis, and that the person who orchestrated the crime was never caught. The book was written alongside a feature film of the same name, which will be released internationally in 2018 and stars Josh Lucas. (The screenplay was written by the film's director Arto Halonen, while the novel was written under a pen name; the book's authors are connected to the movie production and did research for it.) Piemme plans to release The Guardian Angel in fall 2018, as a lead title.

Italian Book on Motorcross Sells in Germany

Originally published this month by Ponte alle Grazie in Italy, the nonfiction book The Great Jump by Vanni Oddera has sold at auction to Heyne in Germany. The Laura Ceccacci Agency is representing the title, about a motorcross champion who helps disabled children to ride motorcycles, and let them feel the adrenaline and emotions that they were seemingly destined never to experience. The 2 Seas Agency is handling rights for France, World English, Portuguese and the Nordic Countries.

Norwegian Novel Draws Flurry of Interest

Northern Stories, a new Norwegian literary agency, is representing Jomsviking by Bjrn Andreas Bull-Hansen, which has just sold in the Netherlands (Meulenhoff) and Germany (Penguin), among other territories. The novel, which is the first in a series, was originally published by Nidhogg Forlag in April. It opens in the year 993, and follows a 12-year-old named Torstein as he goes from slave to warrior for the brotherhood of Jomsvikings, who were mercenaries with a strict code of conduct.

Spanish Thriller Sells in Poland

The Black Jersey by Jorge Zepeda Patterson has sold to Sonia Draga in Poland, in a preempt. Rights are controlled by Pontas Literary and Film, and previous sales were made to Actes Sud (France) and Planeta (for Portuguese and Spanish). The novel, a whodunit set during the Tour de France, will be published by Actes Sud in June 2018.

Dalai Lama Book Sells in German Auction

A Call For Revolution by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Sofia Stril-Rever has sold in an eight-way auction to German publisher Benevento Books, while Brazilian Portuguese rights just sold to Alaude. (The book has also sold, in previous deals, to publishers in the U.K. and Italy.) The 2 Seas Agency is handling rights, excluding France, on behalf of Massot Editions in France, which published the book this month. Revolution delivers a message of hope aimed at millennials. Stril-Rever, the book's co-author, is an interpreter for the Dalai Lama.
The unfortunately politicized debate prompted by the death two weeks ago of four U.S. soldiers in Niger has revealed a great deal of ignorance about what, precisely, the U.S. is doing in Niger and why. The truth is that while its policy is debatable, the U.S. is right to be involved in Niger and support it in its fight against violent Islamist extremists.

Niger is a fragile democracy that, aside from uranium deposits, is rich in little other than culture. It is the poorest of the poor: Niger ranks 187 ( PDF ) on the United Nations' 2016 Human Development Index out of a total of 188 countries  only the Central African Republic gets a worse rating.

Yet, it has found itself at the epicenter of the local and regional war on terror, with overlapping local and regional violent groups based within Niger and coming into the country from nearly every side. Some of these groups are affiliated with al-Qaida, some with the Islamic State.

Regardless of which flag the terror groups fly, they threaten to tear Niger apart, or at the very least stymie the country's efforts to develop economically and politically and otherwise improve the life of its citizens. More to the point, it cannot hope to defend itself let alone make progress without outside help.

The wolves at Niger's heels, it is true, pose only a negligible direct threat to the U.S. It would be naive, however, to believe that the region's slide into anarchy and the unchecked progress of violent Islamist groups do not matter to the larger world or to the U.S.

Some of the terrorists in the region set their sights well beyond local borders and are keen on the larger, global jihad. In addition, the violence and instability they generate locally threaten the entire region and beyond.

They spur migration out of the region to the detriment of other parts of Africa as well as to Europe, which many of the migrants attempt to reach. However welcoming one might be toward African migrants, the progress of the far-right in recent German elections underscores how destabilizing the issue can be.

Anything that weakens the region is against U.S. interests; anything that weakens its Western allies likewise is against its interests. And speaking of allies, France currently is at war in Niger and in several of its neighbor nations. The French effort helps but is insufficient. They could use help themselves.

Unlike French forces, U.S. forces in the region are there to train and not to fight.

Helping Niger (and also France) is precisely why U.S. troops are there. To be clear, unlike French forces, U.S. forces in the region are there to train and not to fight. They work with Niger's security services, which are remarkably capable given their lack of just about everything, which means that whatever help the U.S. gives them goes a long way.

The U.S. government, moreover, provides security assistance as part of a larger aid package intended to help the country's economic development and improve its governance.

Helping Niger (and France) should not be controversial. It is the right thing to do. Putting soldiers there, where they might come under fire, also should not be controversial. Rather, the debate should be about the efficacy of U.S. assistance and its sufficiency. Is the U.S. doing enough? Is it doing the right things? Does it have the right strategy?

U.S. policy in the region since President Trump took office has been more or less a continuation of policies that date to the George W. Bush's administration, which is when U.S. troops began the present training effort, with some tweaks by Obama.

Obama wanted more focus on things like governance alongside pure security assistance; Trump puts greater emphasis on the security assistance, with the U.S. military playing a larger and more unfettered role.

The results of Bush's and Obama's policies are disputable, and there is good reason to think that Trump's policies are no more likely to succeed. Meanwhile, the security situation in Niger since the beginning of the Bush-era programs to the present day has continued to decline.

Maybe the right thing to do is carry on, but if America owes the fallen soldiers anything, it is an open debate about the next best steps, about how best to help Niger in line with what the U.S. can do there and U.S. national interests.

Michael Shurkin is a senior political scientist at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation.

This commentary originally appeared on The Hill on October 25, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
Body cameras for the Mooresville Police Department have arrived. Find out when they will be used.
An Afghan official says militants have stormed a security post in the western province of Farah, killing nine soldiers and wounding four others.

Provincial spokesman Naser Mehri said that the attack was launched late on October 24 and triggered a three-hour gunbattle.

Afghan war planes were deployed and 17 Taliban fighters were killed, Mehri added.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes as the Western-backed government in Kabul is struggling to beat back insurgents in the wake of the exit of most NATO forces in 2014.

In the western Herat Province, provincial governor spokesman Jailni Farhad told RFE/RL that an October 24 air strike inflicted heavy casualties on Taliban militants.

The strike was carried out in the Chest Sharif district where the insurgents had gathered for a meeting, he said.

Farhad could not provide further details about the incident, and the Taliban has not commented on the air strike.

With AP, dpa, and Pajhwok
VITSEBSK, Belarus -- A Russian Orthodox priest charged with attempted pimping and human-trafficking goes on trial in Belarus on October 25.

The Belarusian Investigative Committee branch in the eastern region of Vitsebsk said earlier this week that the trial will be held behind closed doors.

Nikolai Kireyev, 39, is accused of trying to take two Belarusian women to Russia to work as prostitutes. He was arrested in August.

Investigators say a 19-year-old woman from Tajikistan has already been convicted of involvement in the crime and is currently serving a five-year prison term in Belarus.

Kireyev is charged with "an attempt to benefit from prostitution...involving the transportation of individuals out of the country for prostitution," the Investigative Committee said.

If convicted, the priest could be sentenced to 10 years in prison.

After Kireyev's arrest, the Russian Orthodox Church said he would be barred from serving in the church pending a resolution of the case.
Some Bulgarian air force pilots have refused to fly their Soviet-built MiG-29 jets in planned training exercises, citing safety concerns with the outdated aircraft.

"Some of the pilots from Graf Ignatievo air base will not perform training flights because of insecurity," Bulgarian Deputy Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov said on October 24.

The pilots have also cited concerns about poor preparedness due to a lack of flying hours, Zapryanov said, but he insisted that the jets are fully airworthy.

Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004, but much of its military equipment is still Russian-made. Out of a fleet of 16, Bulgaria's air force currently has just seven aging MiG-29 aircraft in good flying order.

The Balkan country has launched a 770-million-euro tender to replace them with eight new fighter jets.

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's conservative government has been fighting President Rumen Radev - a former fighter pilot - and opposition Socialists since May over the purchase of the new aircraft.

At one point, an interim government appointed by Radev decided that Bulgaria would buy Swedish-made Gripen jets. But a parliamentary committee in June vetoed that, and instead asked for proposals to buy Portugal's secondhand U.S. F-16 jets and Eurofighter Typhoons.

Defense Minister Krasimir Karakadzhanow accused the boycotting pilots of starting a politically-motivated campaign. He insisted that Bulgaria will renovate all its MiG-29s and about 20 Russian-made Su-25 bombers.

The ministry recently received four new MiG-29 engines and six used ones in a deal with Russia, but problems with documentation have delayed their use.

As a NATO member, Bulgaria has an obligation to keep at least one squadron of 12 planes in good fighting order.

Since February 2016, the country's inability to do so has forced the parliament to authorize NATO to help protect its air space.

Based on reporting by dpa and AFP


Crimea is Ukrainian territory. Full stop.

Russia violated international law when it annexed the peninsula.

And the Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov -- a resident of Crimea who publicly opposed the annexation and was subsequently imprisoned for "terrorism" -- is a political prisoner who should be released.

Saying any of these things -- or even reposting or liking such remarks on social media -- could get most Russians prosecuted for supporting separatism and extremism.

But Ksenia Sobchak said all of them; and she said them live and on camera in her first press conference as a presidential candidate.

In a separate interview, Sobchak also said that Kremlin aide Vladislav Surkov "has blood on his hands" for his role in Russia's intervention in the Donbas.

It is, of course, highly unlikely that Sobchak will be prosecuted for separatism or extremism.

It's also unlikely that such positions will win her many votes.

And those taking a cynical view of her candidacy will be quick to point out that Sobchak is playing the role of Kremlin foil and patsy to a tee; that she is being the perfect caricature of a liberal opponent to Vladimir Putin.

But this all misses an important point.

By saying these true but forbidden facts openly, plainly, and publicly, Sobchak -- who, by the way, has more than 1.6 million Twitter followers -- is making them a legitimate part of the public discourse.

And that is long overdue.

Keep telling me what you think on The Power Vertical's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page.
Germany has expelled 14 rejected asylum seekers from Afghanistan amid angry protests that the war-wracked country is unsafe for those who return.

A chartered Czech plane with the Afghans on board, all of them men, took off late October 24 from Leipzig in eastern Germany and arrived in Kabul on October 25.

Around 150 demonstrators gathered at the airport in Leipzig to protest against the expulsions.

Eleven of those expelled had criminal records for acts such as manslaughter, causing grievous bodily harm, sexual abuse of children, fraud and theft, Interior Ministry spokeswoman Annegret Korff told reporters on October 25.

The other three Afghans had refused to cooperate on establishing their identity, she added.

Saxony state Interior Minister Markus Ulbig told public radio that Berlin was sending a "loud and clear message" that those not granted refugee status following an official review "no longer have a right to be in Germany."

Germany has granted asylum to mst refugees from war-torn Syria. But the German government has argued that it can safely repatriate asylum seekers to Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan.

In Berlin, leading Greens deputy Claudia Roth urged the authorities to stop the deportations, noting that about 250 people were killed in Taliban attacks in Afghanistan in the last week.



Chancellor Angela Merkel has been struggling to bring down the numbers of asylum seekers after the arrival of more than 1 million migrants and refugees -- mainly from Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan -- since 2015.

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa
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Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said that U.S. sanctions against Iran are targeting Iran's "destabilizing activities" -- not the Iranian people or the "legitimate" business activities of other countries.

Tillerson was speaking to journalists on October 25 following talks with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi.

"As we are taking actions to impose sanctions on the regime...its our objective to deny financing capacity and to disrupt the activities related to these malign behaviors," he said, citing Iran's ballistic-missile program, "export of arms to terrorist organizations," and involvement in conflicts in Syria and Yemen.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has taken a tougher line with Iran, threatening to withdraw the United States from the 2015 nuclear accord, under which the Islamic republic agreed to curtail its nuclear activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions.

Meanwhile, Washington has imposed several rounds of sanctions on individuals and entities over Tehrans missile program and other "destabilizing actions."

"Our fight is not with the Iranian people," Tillerson insisted. "Our disagreements are with the revolutionary regime."

Tillerson also said that the United States sought to give "support for modern voices inside of Iran."

"We know there are strong feelings and values inside of Iran that we want to promote in terms of one day the Iranian people being able to retake control of their government," he added.

Asked about India's planned investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in the Iranian port of Chabahar, Tillerson said he saw "no contradiction" in the U.S. call for sanctions and the project.

Washington does not aim to "interfere with legitimate business activities that are going on with other businesses whether they be from Europe [or] India," he said.

Trump refused this month to certify Iran's compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement.

Accusing Tehran of violating the "spirit" of the accord, Trump said on October 13 that he would ask Congress to strengthen a U.S. law to put additional pressure on Iran.

He added that the United States would work with allies to counter Irans "destabilizing activity" and support for "terrorist proxies," place additional sanctions on Tehran to block its financing of terror, and address the "regimes proliferation of missiles and weapons that threaten its neighbors."

With reporting by AFP
Several opposition and rights activists have been detained across Kazakhstan as the day of an early presidential election scheduled for November 20 nears.

Police in the southwestern town of Zhanaozen on November 15 detained noted opposition activist Estai Qarashaev, who was sentenced to six days in jail several hours later on a charge of violating regulations for holding public gatherings.

Qarashaev was among oil workers who protested in 2011 to demand higher wages. Police brutally dispersed the protests, killing at least 16 people.

In the country's largest city, Almaty, on November 15, police detained Aset Abishev, a member of the founding committee of the Algha Qazaqstan (Forward, Kazakhstan) party that has been trying unsuccessfully for eight months to get registered for the election.

It is not clear why Abishev was detained. Last week, five other members of the unregistered party were detained for taking part in an unsanctioned rally in August.

WATCH: Several activists of a Kazakh opposition movement have been arrested and police were stationed outside the door of another ahead of a snap presidential election scheduled for November 20.

Meanwhile, in the village of Bobrovka in the East Kazakhstan region, rights activist Serik Ydyryshev was detained, his wife Gulmira Berikqyzy told RFE/RL on November 15. According to Berikqyzy, her husband's arrest is linked to the upcoming early presidential election. The police department of the East Kazakhstan region was not available for comment.

One day earlier, opposition activist Rashid Qamaldanov was sentenced in Almaty to 15 days in jail for taking part in an unsanctioned rally earlier this year.

In Astana, the capital, jailed activist Sandughash Qantarbaeva stared a hunger strike last weekend, protesting her administrative arrest that she says was handed to her to prevent her from taking part in protests on the day of the presidential election.

Many activists complained to RFE/RL that they have been followed and that police have been monitoring their homes. According to the activists, the pressure imposed on them is directly linked to the presidential poll, while the countrys Constitution guarantees them freedom of expression and freedom of public gatherings. An Interior Ministry official denied that measures to prevent the activists from holding rallies on the day of election are under way.

President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, who has tried to position himself as a reformer, on September 1 called the early presidential election and proposed changing the presidential term to seven years from five years. Under the new system, future presidents will be barred from seeking more than one term.

Critics say Toqaev's initiatives have been mainly cosmetic and do not change the nature of the autocratic system in a country that has been plagued for years by rampant corruption and nepotism.

Toqaev's predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbaev, who ran the tightly controlled former Soviet republic with an iron fist for almost three decades, chose Toqaev as his successor when he stepped down in 2019.

Though he was no longer president, Nazarbaev retained sweeping powers as the head of the Security Council. He also enjoyed substantial powers by holding the title of elbasy or leader of the nation.

Many citizens, however, remained upset by the oppression during Nazarbaev's reign.

Those feelings came to a head in January when unprecedented antigovernment nationwide protests started over a fuel price hike, and then exploded into countrywide deadly unrest over perceived corruption under the Nazarbaev regime and the cronyism that allowed his family and close friends to enrich themselves while ordinary citizens failed to share in the oil-rich Central Asian nation's wealth.

Toqaev subsequently stripped Nazarbaev of his Security Council role, taking it over himself. Since then, several of Nazarbaevs relatives and allies have been pushed out of their positions or resigned. Some have been arrested on corruption charges.

A Toqaev-initiated referendum in June removed Nazarbaev's name from the constitution and annulled his status as elbasy.

msh/mj
The Moscow-based company Kaspersky Lab has acknowledged that its antivirus software took source code for a secret U.S. hacking tool from a personal computer in the United States.

The admission came in an October 25 statement on the preliminary results of an internal inquiry that the company launched after media reported that the Russian government used its antivirus software to collect U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) technology.

Concerns about Kaspersky's activities prompted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security last month to bar government agencies from using the companys products.

Kaspersky said that in 2014, the consumer version of its popular product analyzed questionable software from a computer in the United States -- which media reports said belonged to an NSA worker -- and found a zip file that was flagged as malicious.

While reviewing the file's contents, an analyst discovered it contained the source code for a hacking tool.

The statement said that the matter was reported to Kaspersky CEO Yevgeny Kaspersky, who ordered that the company's copy of the code be destroyed, and that after that the archive was deleted from all our systems."

The statement came after The Wall Street Journal reported on October 5 that the Russian government was able to modify Kaspersky software to turn it into an espionage tool.

And on October 10, The New York Times reported that Israeli intelligence officials have determined that Russian government hackers have used Kaspersky's software for espionage.

The Kremlin described the reports indicating that Kaspersky has been used as a conduit for Russian espionage as "absurd."

With reporting by Reuters and AP


It is strange and sad to watch relations between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan become so bitter, so quickly.



When you share borders in Central Asia, problems are inevitable. But Kazakh-Kyrgyz relations have generally been very cordial, both between the governments and peoples.



In fact, in the late 1990s, when all the Central Asian states were establishing new posts along borders with their formerly fraternal Soviet republic neighbors, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan were dismantling border posts along their common frontier.



So it is a surprise to see a recent spat leading to long lines of trucks sitting idle on the Kyrgyz side of the border, some carrying perishable goods that are rotting or have already gone bad.





It is also a surprise to hear Kazakh and Kyrgyz officials making so many snide comments about leaders and policy in the neighboring state.



And it is startling to see Kyrgyzstan's leadership so frustrated with Kazakhstan that Bishkek moved quickly to annul a deal to receive a $100 million windfall from Kazakhstan.



It took barely one month for all this to happen, starting with the September 19 meeting of then-Kyrgyz presidential candidate Omurbek Babanov with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev in Astana.



Kyrgyzstan's presidential election was scheduled for October 15 and incumbent President Almazbek Atambaev had thrown his complete support behind his pick for successor, former Prime Minister Sooronbai Jeenbekov.



Atambaev and others in Kyrgyzstan objected to the Nazarbaev-Babanov meeting, and it is indeed difficult to imagine a veteran politician like Nazarbaev, who has balanced relations with giant neighbors Russia and China for 26 years, was not aware of the problems he would spark in Kyrgyzstan by meeting with the main rival to Atambaev's preferred candidate.



The foreign ministries of the two countries exchanged some angry notes, but nothing more happened until October 7, when Atambaev finally vented at a state award ceremony.



Atambaev accused Kazakhstan of "meddling in Kyrgyzstan's internal affairs," accused the Kazakh government of having sympathies toward the regime of former Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev, who was ousted in a violent uprising in April 2010, and criticized Kazakhstan's pension system.



"In Kazakhstan, GDP is more than in Kyrgyzstan, [by] 20 times. Why then are pensions in Kazakhstan only 1.5 times higher, and tariffs five times higher?" Atambaev asked, before answering his own question: "Because they embezzle riches in Kazakhstan."





On the night of October 10, Kazakhstan closed its border with Kyrgyzstan.



Subsequent statements from Kazakh officials reminded Kyrgyzstan of the potential isolation it faced if Kazakhstan chose to close its borders to traffic to and from Kyrgyzstan for the long-term.



Atambaev skipped the October 11 CIS and Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) summits in Sochi, saying he could not attend due to intelligence that riots were planned ahead of the presidential election, but many believed it was an excuse to avoid seeing President Nazarbaev.



Kyrgyz authorities complained to the EEU and the World Trade Organization about fellow member Kazakhstan's actions.



Kyrgyz Prime Minister Sapar Isakov flew to Astana on October 18 for talks on the border situation. He did succeed in opening the border to travelers on foot, and later to private vehicles, but not to trucks hauling cargo.



The same day Isakov left for Kazakhstan, however, Atambaev attempted an apology, saying: "Perhaps I was wrong when I spoke emotionally about the president of Kazakhstan. He is a trusting person, as I am."



Atambaev deflected blame, saying that "much like any president, [Nazarbaev] trusts his entourage, but his entourage are oligarchs who think of their own future, not about Kazakhstan and Nazarbaev."



Then, on October 20, Kyrgyzstan's media reported that the government had submitted a proposal to parliament to rescind an agreement to receive $100 million from Kazakhstan.



That proposal sped through committee discussions and was adopted by parliament on October 25.



It is an "own goal" of epic proportions.



The money was essentially a gift given to help Kyrgyzstan update state entities to meet EEU trade standards.



Kyrgyzstan just joined the EEU in August 2015, but in order to trade with fellow EEU members the quality of Kyrgyz goods must be certified by qualified inspection bodies.



Kazakhstan was prepared to help by releasing the first tranche, $41 million, to Kyrgyzstan in November.



The Kyrgyz information website Kaktus.kg (formerly Zanoza.kg) broke down where the money would have gone.



More than $15.8 million was designated for the state agency overseeing vaccinations and sanitary safety; more than $6.1 million for agriculture, food processing, and land reclamation; and $5.2 million for the Health Ministry's department of disease prevention and sanitary regulations, to give just a few examples.



Just because Kyrgyzstan is not accepting money from Kazakhstan does not mean Kyrgyzstan does not need all these things to be able to trade within the EEU.





Which means Kyrgyzstan will need to come up with some other way to attract or raise that cash.



It is not likely to come from EEU member Russia.



On October 19, Kyrgyz Finance Minister Alylbek Kasymbekov told parliament that Kyrgyzstan no longer owes Russia any money after Russia agreed to write off Kyrgyzstan's $240 million debt.



It would be a brazen act to turn around and essentially say: "Now that we don't owe you $240 million anymore, can we borrow $100 million?"



And anyway, Kazakhstan is Russia's neighbor as well, and Nazarbaev and Russian President Vladimir Putin have been close for nearly two decades, so there is no reason to believe the Kremlin would side with Kyrgyzstan over Kazakhstan.



There are already hopes that when Atambaev officially steps down in early December and Jeenbekov becomes president the reset button on Kazakh-Kyrgyz relations will be hit.



But wounded relations in Central Asia don't heal quickly; some never do.



Jeenbekov is seen by many as Atambaev's proxy, and Jeenbekov himself said while campaigning that he would continue the outgoing president's policies.



Astana might not see much difference between Atambaev and Jeenbekov, who ended up winning a first-round victory.



Jeenbekov has already said that his first visit as president would be to Kazakhstan, but it will take some magnanimous gestures to get Kazakh-Kyrgyz ties back on track.



(The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL.)
U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said that he thinks it is possible to contain Iran's influence in the Middle East, and that a strong Iraq would be part of that. In an interview with Alhurra Television on October 25, he discussed the current view of the region inside U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. (Alhurra Television)
A bomb blast that Ukrainian authorities have described as a terrorist act killed two people and injured five others in Kyiv, including lawmaker Ihor Mosiychuk of the nationalist opposition Radical Party.

The explosion occurred late on October 25 as Mosiychuk and several other people were leaving a local television station in Kyiv's Solomyanskiy district.

A spokeswoman for the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), Olena Hitlyanska, wrote on Facebook on October 26 that the agency launched criminal proceedings into a suspected act of terrorism conducted by an organized terrorist group.

"Investigators are looking into all possible leads at this point; it has been established that unknown individuals blew up a motorcycle at the site where the lawmaker was passing by," Hitlyanska wrote.

The Interior Ministry said that one of the dead was a 30-year-old guard and special police officer.

The SBU's Hitlyanska was quoted as saying that the other person who was killed was a passerby she described as a local resident born in 1981.

Interior Ministry adviser Zoryan Shkiryak said earlier on Facebook that the explosion appeared to have been caused by a motorcycle parked near the exit of the TV station, and looked like "an attempt on somebody's life," and Mosiychuk's office said it was an attempt to assassinate him.

"There was an attempt on the life of Ihor Mosiychuk, a direct explosion when he was coming out of the building of Espreso TV6," the lawmaker's office said on Facebook.

Mosiychuk's Radical Party called the bombing an "assassination attempt."

"The assassination attempt against Mosiychuk is linked to his professional activities and political views," Radical Party leader Oleh Lyashko wrote on Facebook.

"Clearly, this is the work of our enemy's secret services," he said in an apparent reference to Russia, which seized Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014 and backs separatists in a war that has killed more than 10,000 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.

Speaking after surgery on October 26, Mosiychuk said he believed those behind the bomb blast are most likely in Russia and that it was carried out by agents of Russia in Kyiv. He said the hospital where he is being treated was cordoned off by guards.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, dismissed accusations of Russian involvement as "baseless."

In a regular conference call with reporters, Peskov described the allegations were part of an "anti-Russian campaign that has unfortunately swept across Ukraine and Kyiv."

The blast was the latest of several incidents in the Ukrainian capital targeting politicians and a journalist.

Former Russian lawmaker Denis Voronenkov -- a Kremlin critic who had moved to Kyiv -- was gunned down in broad daylight in the Ukrainian capital in March.

A car bomb in July 2016 killed journalist Pavlo Sheremet, an independent Ukrayinska Pravda reporter whose work had been critical of both Russia and Ukraine.

The two earlier cases remain unsolved.

Mosiychuck's fellow Radical Party lawmaker Dmytro Linko said on Facebook: "Ihor has many fragmentation wounds and is being operated on, an aide is also seriously wounded."

Radical party lawmaker Evhen Deidei posted photos on his Facebook page that showed the burnt-out shell of a motorcycle in front of a blast-hit vehicle.

"Judging by the damage to the car and the shrapnel holes in the doors, the power of the explosion was pretty strong," he said.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, AFP, and Reuters
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has voiced hope that his current visit to Russia will help improve strained ties between Berlin and Moscow.

Steinmeier, a two-time former foreign minister, told Russian President Vladimir Putin he was unhappy with the state of bilateral relations and that both sides needed to work to improve it.

Steinmeier's visit to Moscow, the first by a German president since 2010, took place amid strained relations over Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and its backing of a separatist uprising in eastern Ukraine which has killed more than 10,000 people since April 2014.

"We both believe that the current state of affairs cannot satisfy us and should not satisfy us," Steinmeier said following talks with Putin.

"We are far from [having] normal ties, open wounds are still out there, there are unresolved issues, first and foremost it concerns the takeover of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which are a burden and continue to be a burden for our ties," Steinmeier added.

Putin said Moscow was ready to advance its relations with Berlin, adding that German businesses were looking to expand their presence in Russia.

"Despite some certain political difficulties, Russian-German ties are not at a standstill," Putin said.

Before the meeting, the Kremlin had said Putin and Steinmeier planned to discuss the current state of Russian-German relations and the prospects for their development" as well as discussing "pressing global issues."

Steinmeier, who is the ceremonial German head of state and holds little real power, earlier in the day held talks with former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and representatives of Memorial, a widely respected human rights group.

The United States, other Western countries, and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Russia over its seizure of Crimea and its backing of separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Several cease-fire deals announced as part of the Minsk accords signed in September 2014 and February 2015 to resolve the conflict have failed to hold.

Steinmeier has long called for increased engagement with Moscow, and his Social Democrat Party wants a gradual easing of EU sanctions imposed on Moscow for its role in Ukraine.

The Social Democrats will go into opposition after being in a coalition government with Chancellor Angela Merkels conservatives for the past four years.

The German president also attended a ceremony for the return of ownership of Moscows St. Peter and Paul Cathedral to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia.

The cathedral was seized by the Soviet state in 1938.

Steinmeier praised the handover, saying he hoped the church would continue to serve as a place for Orthodox and Lutheran Christians to further their encounters. Germany has a large Lutheran population, while Russia has a majority Orthodox population.

As foreign minister, Steinmeier pressed the authorities to accelerate the handover, and his visit to Moscow was timed so he could attend the ceremony.

With reporting by dpa, AP, AFP, and TASS
Two prominent Russian journalists say they will sue their country's main security agency over its demand that Telegram hand over encryption keys enabling authorities to decipher encoded messages transmitted on the popular app.



The announcement by Oleg Kashin, an acerbic observer of Russias political landscape, and radio personality Aleksandr Plyushchev on October 25 comes less than two weeks after a Moscow court fined Telegram for refusing to provide its encryption keys to the Federal Security Service (FSB).



The messaging app, founded by enigmatic Russian tech mogul Pavel Durov but with developers now reportedly based in Dubai, has become a vibrant forum for political discussion in Russia, with prominent media outlets, journalists, and analysts maintaining popular channels.



The FSB has demanded that Telegram, which Durov and his brother founded in 2013 before its team "had to leave Russia due to local IT regulations," provide the app's encryption keys in order to comply with controversial counterterrorism laws that rights groups say violate privacy and can be used to stifle dissent.

Kashin said in the October 25 statement on his Telegram channel that he and Plyushchev believe that the FSB's demands on the messaging app "concern our right to confidential communication with sources."

"Trusting one another, my interlocutors and I always expect that our conversations won't end up in the hands of third parties," Kashin said. "And now, the Federal Security Service, using its special position in the government, is trying to violate our rights, and thereby harming all of society."

Tightening Grip

Russian authorities have increasingly tightened their grip on the countrys media landscape since President Vladimir Putin came to power nearly 18 years ago, leaving social-media networks and other digital forums as the countrys main outlets for freewheeling political debate.

But rights activists and media watchdogs accuse authorities of trying to rein in voices critical of the government online as well, often under the guise of countering extremism and terrorism. Senior Russian officials have dismissed these accusations as baseless.

Durov announced in 2014 that he had left Russia, saying he had sold his stake in VKontakte, the popular Russian-language social-networking site that he founded, after he refused to hand over personal data about Ukrainian opposition activists to the FSB.

He has said he intends to appeal the October 16 ruling by Moscows Meshchansky District Court fining Telegram 800,000 rubles ($14,000) over its refusal to provide its encryption keys to the FSB.

"The FSB's effort to get access to personal correspondence is an attempt to expand its influence at the expense of the constitutional rights of citizens," Durov wrote on VKontakte following the decision.



Kashin told RFE/RL in a telephone interview on October 25 that, while he has not seen eye-to-eye with Durov on many things, he is not "indifferent" to Telegrams fate.



"I would really be unhappy if the contents of my communications, or other information I do not want to share, ended up in the hands of people I dont trust," Kashin said.



Kashin, who suffered a brutal beating by assailants wielding metal rods in Moscow in 2010, and Plyushchev each have more than 17,000 subscribers to their respective Telegram channels.

'Precedent Setting'

Kashin told RFE/RL that he was in the process of finishing up the paperwork for the lawsuit, which he said would be filed with the Meshchansky court. He added, however, that given the FSBs "special" place in Russia, he is not expecting the court to rule in his favor.

The Agora rights group, which is representing Telegram in its clash with the FSB, is slated to represent Kashin and Plyushchev in their lawsuit as well.



The lawyer assigned to the lawsuit, Damir Gainutdinov, told RFE/RL that the matter could be "precedent-setting."



"After the FSB demanded these so-called encryption keys, any Telegram user now has a right to appeal to the courts because divulging these algorithms and giving these back doors to security services threatens the privacy of communications of any user," Gainutdinov said.



Durov said last month that Telegram has around 10 million users in Russia.


The Kremlin has criticized Russian presidential hopeful Ksenia Sobchak for saying that Crimea is legally part of Ukraine, while flamboyant nationalist lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky said she should be jailed for the remark.

Sobchak, a TV personality and opposition activist, caused controversy with the statement at a press conference on October 24 -- her first since she announced she will seek the presidency in the March 2018 election.

She said that by international law, Crimea "belongs to Ukraine" and that Russia, by occupying and seizing the peninsula in 2014, violated a 1994 pledge to to protect Ukraine's sovereignty.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said on October 25 that Sobchak's comments were wrong "in essence and in form."

Peskov stated that "Crimea is an inalienable part of the Russian Federation," although Moscow's claim to the region has little support worldwide and is rejected by dozens of countries.

While Russia has charged some people who have said that Crimea belongs to Ukraine with separatism, Peskov gave no indication that the Kremlin believes Sobchak should be investigated and said that was not a matter for the president's office to address.

Zhirinovsky, who has been in parliament since 1993 and is known for attention-grabbing remarks, said that Sobchak should be imprisoned "for about five years" for her comments.

Putin, who has held power as president or prime minister since 1999, is widely expected to seek a new six-year Kremlin term in the election.

Critics of Sobchak say her effort to run will play into the hands of Putin, who has strengthened Kremlin control over politics in Russia and is virtually assured of victory.

With reporting by RIA, TASS, Interfax, and Vesti
The leaders of Iraq and Turkey say they are ready to strengthen cooperation to end conflicts and instability in the region.

"We are part of a region suffering from conflict and instability, and it is time to cooperate to end these conflicts," Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi told a news conference on October 25 during a visit to Ankara.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it was his country's wish was that Iraq will rise again from the ashes and destruction. We will lend our support for this and take the steps necessary for the peace and security of the region."

The leaders have had tense relations in the past but appear to have found common ground recently in their mutual opposition to moves by Kurdish leaders in Iraq to push for independence from Baghdad.

Turkey fears that independence moves by Iraqi Kurds could further ignite similar aspirations among its own large Kurdish population.

"We have always said from the beginning that we support the territorial integrity of Iraq, and we will continue to say so," said Erdogan, who added that a September 25 Kurdish independence referendum was "unacceptable."

Iraqi Kurdistan on October 25 appeared ready to ramp down tensions in the dispute, proposing a "freeze" on the results of the referendum and to start "an open dialogue" with Baghdad.

Neither Abadi nor Erdogan commented on the proposal.

Based on reporting by AFP, Reuters, The Daily Sabah, and Alaraby
Social media giant Twitter, under pressure for running advertisements placed by Russian operatives during last year's U.S. presidential election, said it will make it easier in the future for people to see who is behind such political ads.

Twitter said on October 24 that it will add labels to political ads in the future and provide information about who is behind them.

The move comes a month after Facebook said it will disclose more about who is behind its widely viewed political ads.

Both companies have said their popular platforms, which have become major communications outlets in dozens of countries, were exploited by operatives based in Russia seeking to influence U.S. voters during last year's elections.

Twitter last month suspended about 200 Russia-linked accounts. The companies have also said they are investigating whether their platforms were used to try to influence elections in France, Germany, and other countries.

The social media companies are under pressure in the wake of investigations in the U.S. Congress and at the U.S. Justice Department into allegations that Russia sought to influence the U.S. election and may have coordinated with U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign -- charges denied both by the Kremlin and Trump.

Twitter said in a blog post it would establish a website where people can see the identities of ad buyers and find out which demographic groups their ads are targeting as well as the total amount spent on the ads.

Twitter said its changes will take effect first in the United States and then globally.

In the past, Silicon Valley firms have been exempt from U.S. laws that require disclosures and disclaimers on political ads placed on television and radio stations.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar said on October 24 that Twitter's plan to increase disclosure was "no substitute for updating our laws" to reflect the increasing prevalence of social media advertising by political campaigns.

Klobuchar, a Democrat, is co-sponsoring legislation in the U.S. Congress that would make such disclosures mandatory.

Senator Mark Warner, another co-sponsor, tweeted that Twitter's move was "a good first step."

Twitter said that it will in the future label as "promoted by political account" any election-related ads that appear on Twitter feeds.

"To make it clear when you are seeing or engaging with an electioneering ad, we will now require that electioneering advertisers identify their campaigns as such," Bruce Falck, a Twitter general manager, said in the blog post.

Twitter said it also would limit how political organizations can target election ads toward certain groups of voters, and introduce stronger penalties for election advertisers who violate its policies.

The company said it would also provide ways for people to see all the ads currently running on Twitter.

Twitter's latest move would not address the question of fake accounts that some lawmakers also blame for influencing last year's U.S. elections. Unlike Facebook, Twitter allows users to establish anonymous accounts and automated accounts, or bots.

Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, said Twitter's increased transparency measures are "not a solution to the deployment of bots that amplify fake or misleading content, or to the successful efforts of online trolls to promote divisive messages."

Executives from Facebook, Google, and Twitter are scheduled to testify next week before intelligence committees in the U.S. Senate and House on Russian use of their platforms during last year's campaigns.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters


Crimean Tatar leaders Akhtem Chiygoz and Ilmi Umerov, who were sentenced to prison by Russian courts on the occupied peninsula in September, have been released from custody and traveled to Turkey, Ukrainian officials, legislators, and lawyers said.

Umerov and Chiygoz were released on October 25, Ukrainian First Deputy Information Policy Minister Emine Dzheppar told RFE/RL.



Mustafa Dzhemilev, the veteran Crimean Tatar leader who is now a Ukrainian lawmaker, also told RFE/RL that Chiygoz and Umerov had been freed from Russian custody in Crimea and were on their way to Turkey.

A spokesman for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Svyatoslav Tseholko, later said on Facebook that they had arrived in Ankara.

"Two more hostages -- two political prisoners -- have obtained freedom," Nikolai Polozov, a lawyer for Chiygoz, said on Facebook.

The European Union called the development "good news" and demanded the immediate release of "all illegally detained Ukrainian citizens on the Crimean Peninsula and in Russia."

Dzhemilev told AFP he helped arrange the release by asking Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to call for the activists' release in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Erdogan has pledged to support Crimea's Tatar minority even as he has cultivated closer ties with Moscow recently.

While the Crimean Tatar leaders themselves refused to ask Putin for a pardon, Dzhemilev told AFP, eventually an order came down from the Kremlin saying the two would be "freed on humanitarian grounds."

Rights groups and Western governments have condemned the convictions, calling their trials part of a campaign of pressure and abuse conducted by Russia since it occupied and seized control of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

Kremlin critics say that Russia has targeted Crimean Tatars and others who opposed Moscow's takeover of the Black Sea peninsula, which followed the ouster of Moscow-friendly Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych by throngs of protesters in Kyiv.

Chiygoz was convicted of organizing an illegal demonstration and sentenced to eight years in prison on September 11 after what Amnesty International called a "sham trial."

Umerov was convicted of separatism on September 27 after a trial that Human Rights Watch called "ruthless retaliation" for his opposition to Moscow's takeover of the peninsula. He was sentenced to two years in a type of penitentiary called a colony settlement.

Polozov told RFE/RL that all charges against Chiygoz and Umerov have been dropped.

"Their release became possible thanks to the support of those who are not indifferent to political prisoners, who are not indifferent to Crimean Tatars," Polozov said. He said the releases were the result of "huge judicial, diplomatic, and political work" by Dzhemilev, Erdogan, and others.

"Neither Akhtem Chiygoz nor Ilmi Umerov asked for clemency or amnesty," Polozov said. "They are heroes of the Crimean Tatar people -- Ukrainian political prisoners for whom moral principles and conscience are more important than their own liberty. They are not people one can force to go on bended knee and ask for mercy from the Russian state."

In a Facebook post, Poroshenko thanked Erdogan for his role in the release of Chiygoz and Umerov, which came within weeks after Erdogan met with Putin in Ankara in late September and with Poroshenko in Kyiv on October 9.

"I thank...Erdogan for his efforts to release our heroes as we agreed in New York and Kyiv," Poroshenko said.

At a joint news conference with Poroshenko during his visit to Kyiv, Erdogan stressed that Turkey considers Crimea part of Ukraine and will continue to pay close attention to the plight of the Crimean Tatars, a Turkic-speaking, mostly Muslim minority whose members were largely opposed to the Russian takeover.

Russia seized Crimea in March 2014, sending in troops and staging a referendum denounced as illegal by dozens of countries.

Both Umerov and Chiygoz are deputy chairmen of the Mejlis, the Crimean Tatar self-governing body, which Russian authorities deemed extremist and outlawed in what rights groups and Western governments said was part of a persistent campaign of oppression targeting Crimean Tatars and other citizens who opposed Moscow's takeover.

Umerov, who suffers from diabetes and Parkinson's disease, was confined to a psychiatric hospital in August 2016, a decision condemned by Human Rights Watch as "an egregious violation of his rights."

The United States, the European Union, and others have condemned the trials of both men and called for their release.

A spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on October 25 said that while the men's release is "good news," Russia should also release other illegally detained Ukrainians, reverse its decision to ban the activities of the Mejlis, and respect the political rights of Crimean Tatars.

The spokesperson said the EU "appreciates the efforts of all those who also worked for this outcome."

In March, the European Parliament called on Russia to free more than 30 Ukrainian citizens it said were in prison or other conditions of restricted freedom in Russia, Crimea, and parts of eastern Ukraine that are controlled by Russia-backed separatists. Most of them remain in custody.

In his Facebook post, Poroshenko said he would seek the release of all Ukrainians held by Russia.

"This issue will remain as one of the urgent ones in my talks with the world's leaders," he said, vowing to continue what he called "the joint fight for liberation of all Ukrainian citizens and their return home."

With reporting by Merhat Sharipzhan and AFP
A Kazakh blogger who fled to Ukraine after criticizing President Nursultan Nazarbaev's government has been ordered held in custody amid fears she could be extradited, her lawyer says.

Zhanar Akhmet was detained in Kyiv on October 21, based on a Kazakh arrest warrant that accuses her of fraud, and was ordered held for 18 days on October 24, attorney Vladyslav Hryshchenko said.

Hryshchenko said that Akhmet announced a hunger strike after the Kyivo-Svyatoshyn District Court ruling was pronounced.

Kyiv regional police spokesman Mykola Zhukovych said earlier that Akhmet might be placed under arrest while Ukrainian authorities consider Kazakhstan's request for her extradition.

Akhmet fled Kazakhstan in March with her 9-year-old son, saying she feared for her safety if she remained in the Central Asian country.

Akhmet told RFE/RL she decided to flee when she learned from sources that she could face charges of "organizing an illegal group" that uses the Internet to advocate self-immolation.

Akhmet previously faced a series of court hearings in Almaty for alleged legal violations, including jaywalking, that she considered to be harassment by Kazakh authorities.

She says all of the accusations against her have been politically motivated retaliation for her writing.

At least four other Kazakh opposition and rights activists -- Ermek Narymbaev, Moldir Adilova, Aidos Sadyqov, and Natalya Sadyqova -- have also fled to Ukraine in recent years.

Nazarbaev, 77, has held power in Kazakhstan since before the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

He has established tight control over politics and the media and tolerates little dissent in the oil-producing former Soviet republic of some 18 million.

Based on reporting by Hromadske and UNIAN
The United States is calling on its allies to join it in imposing further sanctions on Iran for its "destabilizing activities" in the Middle East, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said during a visit to India on October 25. He said there was no contradiction between this and what he called "legitimate business activities" with Iran. (Reuters)
Republicans in the U.S. Congress have announced a new investigation into an Obama-era deal in which a Russian company bought a Canadian firm that owned some 20 percent of U.S. uranium supplies.

The Republican lawmakers said on October 24 that they want to know if the sale of Uranium One to Russias Rosatom nuclear company was fully investigated by the FBI and other U.S. law enforcement agencies before the deal was approved in 2010.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said on Twitter that the U.S. Justice Department should appoint a special counsel to investigate the uranium deal.

The announced probe addresses a longstanding grievance of U.S. President Donald Trump, who complained last week that the news media has ignored the uranium deal while focusing on whether any of his campaign aides colluded with Russia during last year's presidential election.

"That's your real Russia story," he said. "Not a story where they talk about collusion and there was none. It was a hoax."

But Democrats charged that the joint investigations announced on October 24 by the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is a "massive diversion" from investigations into Russia's alleged interference in the election that have been under way for months in Congress and at the Justice Department.

"Acting on the urging of the president, who has repeatedly denied the intelligence agencies' conclusions regarding Russian involvement in our election, they are designed to distract attention and pursue the president's preferred goal" of "attacking" former President Barack Obama and his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was Trump's opponent in last year's election, said Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the intelligence panel.

The uranium deal has been questioned numerous times by Republicans in Congress since 2010. Representative Peter King said he sent a letter to then-Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner raising "very, very real concerns about why we would allow a Russian-owned company to get access to 20 percent of America's uranium supply."

Some Republicans have said Clinton approved the deal after her husband's charitable foundation received a $145 million donation from executives involved in the uranium deal.

But the State Department has only one seat on the nine-member panel that oversees foreign investment in U.S. strategic assets, which approved the deal. Also, the department has said that Clinton did not participate in the decision.

Democrats also decried Republican leaders announcement on October 24 that they are reopening their longrunning investigations into Clinton's use of private e-mails while at the State Department, which former FBI Director James Comey declined to prosecute as a criminal offense last year.

"Apparently, House Republicans are more concerned about Jim Comey than Vladimir Putin," said Representative John Conyers.

With reporting by AP, Fox News, and Reuters
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U.S. President Donald Trumps top security adviser has told a television interview that the "malign, destructive" influence of Iran and its "proxies" must be removed from Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere in the Middle East.

"Its very difficult to see how can there be an enduring peace if one side that has perpetuated and accelerated the violence is not removed," national security adviser H.R. McMaster told U.S.-funded Alhurra television in an interview broadcast on October 25.

"So it's important for everyone in the region...to reduce the malign, destructive influence of Iran and the [Islamic] Revolutionary Guards Corps," he added.

The comments by McMaster, who is on active duty as a lieutenant general in the U.S. Army, come at a time of raised tensions in the already-unstable Middle East.

U.S.-backed forces appear on the verge of defeating Islamic State (IS) extremists in Syria and Iraq; a six-year civil war in Syria drags on; Kurdish leaders in Iraq have conducted an indepedence referendum in defiance of the government in Baghdad; Shi'ite-led rebels are fighting the government in Yemen; and the Shiite Hizballah movement continues to operate in Lebanon.

McMaster said he sees the effect of Tehran's influence in all the conflicts.

Iraq's Shiite-led government has close ties to the leadership of neighboring Iran, and experts have argued that Tehran is using militias, such as the Shi'ite-dominated Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and the Quds Force -- which has links to the [Islamic] Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) -- to widen its influence.

On October 22, during a visit to the region, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi that it was it was time for Iranian-backed militias and their Iranian advisers who helped Iraq defeat IS to go home.

"Certainly, Iranian militias that are in Iraq, now that the fighting against [Islamic State] is coming to a close, those militias need to go home," he said.

A day later, Abadi appeared to reject Tillersons comments, saying the PMF "is an official institution among state bodies," which includes "Iraqi fighters who fought terrorism and defended their country."

"We should encourage them because they will be a hope for the country and the region," Abadi's office quoted him as telling Tillerson.

McMaster said the goal was not to break all connections between Baghdad and Iran, but to contain Tehran's destructive influences.

The United States thinks that Iraq should have a relationship with Iran -- Iran is its neighbor, he said. But what we want is an Iraq that is strong.

McMaster said the Iranians have done a very good job...of infiltrating and subverting Iraqi state institutions and functions, as well as creating these militias that lay outside the Iraqi governments control.

They grow these militias...and threaten governments [in the region] with those militias if those governments take action against Iranian interests, he added.

[Iranian leaders] want governments to be weak. They want governments to be dependent on Iran for support, he said.

McMaster said it was important to confront Iran and its proxies elsewhere in the region, such as in Yemen, where Tehran has supported Shiite Huthi rebels against the Saudi Arabia-backed government.

In Syria, McMaster said the United States is working with partners in the region and allies elsewhere to forge an enduring political settlement to the war that has killed more than 310,000 people, created 6.1 million refugees, and internally displaced some 5 million Syrians.

McMaster indicated he did not see a role for Presidential Bashar al-Assad in any future Syrian government.

When you look at what is necessary to bring communities together, to end the cycle of violence, it is very difficult to imagine how Assad could be a part of that, he said.

I mean especially with the blood that is on his hands. And how he has had a hand in destroying his own country and creating so much human suffering, using some of the most heinous weapons on Earth to commit mass murder against his own people, McMaster added.
The U.S. State Department says it is still "working on" steps to implement legislation that Congress passed in July in an effort to strengthen sanctions against Russia.

The remarks by department spokeswoman Heather Nauert on October 24 came weeks after President Donald Trump's administration missed a key deadline related to the sanctions legislation, which he reluctantly signed on August 2.

The law is aimed at punishing Russian President Vladimir Putin's government for its alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, its aggression in Ukraine, and its support for President Bashar al-Assad throughout the more than six-year war in Syria.

The Trump administration was required to issue guidance by October 1 on how it was implementing the sanctions, including a list of individuals and organizations targeted for operating on behalf of the Russian intelligence and defense sectors.

Influential senators have criticized the White House for missing the deadline, saying that it raises questions about the administration's commitment to implementing the legislation -- which had overwhelming backing in Congress but was criticized by Trump.

"The sanctions bill includes a requirement that the State Department identify individuals linked to Russian defense and also intelligence operations that could be subject to new penalties, so we are working to try to complete that process," Nauert said.

Asked about the issue at a regular briefing, she said that the "people who are working on it...tell me that its pretty complicated, that it can take some time, that theyre working to complete the process...just as soon as possible."

The concerns in Congress about Trump's commitment to implementing the sanctions legislation come amid investigations by the Justice Department and congressional committees into Russia's alleged meddling in the U.S. election and whether there was any collusion between associates of Trump -- who said repeatedly during the 2016 campaign that he wanted warmer ties and closer cooperation with Moscow -- and Russia.

Nauert was also asked about Russian threats that it would place restrictions on the operations of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Voice of America (VOA), and other U.S.-based media in Russia, as well as whether the United States was placing any restrictions on state-supported Russian media organizations operating in the United States.

State-funded Russian television network RT said in September that the U.S. officials ordered it to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

The Justice Department has not confirmed that, repeatedly declining to comment, but Putin and other Russian officials have continually warned since then that Moscow could take action against both private and U.S.-government-supported media in response.

Earlier in October, the Russian Justice Ministry warned RFE/RL that its operations in Russia could be restricted under Russia's own "foreign agent" law.

Nauert said that the Russian law, which Kremlin critics and civil society activists say has been used by Putin's government to silence dissent and discourage a free exchange of ideas, is "very different" from FARA.

"Russias foreign agent law has been interpreted to apply to organizations that receive even minimal funding from any foreign sources, government or private, and engage in political activity, defined so broadly as it covers nearly all civic advocacy," she said.

Under the U.S. law, Nauert said, registration "is simply triggered when an entity or an individual engages in political activity. When the United States tells someone to register under a foreign agent requirement, we dont impact or affect the ability of them to report news and information. We just have them register. Its as simple as that."

Nauert did not specify whether RT has in fact been ordered to register under FARA.

Putin and other Russian officials have said that potential measures to restrict U.S. media would mirror any U.S. actions, but some U.S. media organizations already face limitations that Russian media organizations operating in the United States do not.

While RT distributes its programs freely in the United States on cable television, and Sputnik has an FM frequency in Washington, RFE/RL and VOA have no access to cable TV in Russia.

RFE/RL once had nearly 100 radio channels inside Russia, but had lost them all by 2012 following a campaign of pressure by the authorities.

With reporting by The Daily Beast
Goods like new cars, bikes, motorcycles, TV, refrigerators, AC, etc worth Rs 35,000 crores is now stuck on the road

The 21 day national lockdown as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been followed by all states in India with borders shut. This lockdown announcement was made on March 24 with only 4 hours notice which caught transporters and truck drivers off guard. This extended lockdown and the present uncertain scenario in the country has particularly hit the road transport fraternity who have been left stranded on the highways without food, water and any sort of sanitation facilities.

According to an estimate, there are around 3.5 lakh interstate trucks carrying goods amounting to around Rs.35,000 crores. These trucks are stranded either on the roads, outside factories and godowns and are carrying goods such as cars and SUVs, two wheelers and other white goods like ACs, washing machines, TV sets, refrigerators and items such as chemicals, steel and cement. The trucks carrying these items are not nearly at as much risk as those carrying perishable goods such as poultry, eggs, grain and vegetables.

The plight of the truckers is something to be noted. Apart from being left stranded without the basic necessities, the truckers are also afraid of decay and damage to goods and pilferage for which they will be held accountable. There is also the dearth of food and water to contend with while money is scarce.

Highway dhabbas, which are also few and far between, are taking advantage of the situation and charging exorbitant rates which the truck drivers and cleaners cannot afford due to shortage of money. The situation is such that many helpers and cleaners have also run away abandoning the trucks. This lack of support staff would prove a problem as there would be no one to help upload the goods once the lockdown is lifted and the good arrive at their destinations. Most drivers are surviving on food supplied by volunteers running community kitchens at various places.

A truck driver Jitendra Tiwari, 27, who drove his consignment from Bihar, has stated that drivers are living in abysmal conditions and forced to sleep in an 88 feet cabin with no facilities of toilet or water. Along with Tiwari there are many more drivers who have been forced to live in similar conditions with no hope in sight in the immediate future.

The Road transport system in India accounts for around 60 percent freight traffic and Kultaran Singh Atwal, President of All-India Motor Transport Corporation (AIMTC) stated that trucks carrying essential goods such as food, medicines and sanitation have been allowed to travel.

Naveen Kumar Gupta, secretary general of AIMTC stated that though the Government has allowed movement of essential and non-essential goods, the situation is very different at ground level. Officials have been stopping trucks at various check points which are a few kilometers apart and they were only allowed to proceed if the owners produced government circulars and notifications.

Source
Toyotas recent announcement of an alliance with Suzuki has resulted in cancel of Daihatsu India launch plans. Keen to penetrate the India small car market, Toyota had earlier decided to launch their low-cost brand, Daihatsu in India.

But, after their alliance with Suzuki was announced, it makes less sense to continue with plans to launch Daihatsu in India. The reason being, Daihatsu cars will largely compete with Maruti Suzuki cars in India.

Toyota and Suzuki partnership is a mutually beneficial one. Suzuki will gain access to Toyotas R&D while Toyota will get to use Suzukis brilliant network and resources in the Indian auto industry, which is set to become the top 3 auto market in a few years time.

They synergy of the two Japanese giants will see new green cars and autonomous driving technology being brought to India. The company is studying the Indian small car market with added interest, while Daihatsu will concentrate more on Indonesian and Malaysian markets for the time being.

Chairman of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Hiroyuki Fukui, who is also the CEO of Asia, Middle East and North Africa region stated that while India is one of the biggest markets, the company commands a 4-5% market share which is significantly lower than its 30-40% share in South East Asian markets. The immediate focus is to increase market share in India.

Toyota has much to learn from Suzuki in terms of small cars. The company seeks to bring in new cars into India to enhance market share and Toyota is also likely to set up a dedicated R&D center in India with special emphasis on small cars. The design studio from where the Etios facelift was designed is being upgraded to take on larger projects and expansion of networks is also on the cards.

Toyota is also planning launch of a new India-spec sedan in India sometime in the coming year. This new car, which is codenamed 23IB as on date, will be based on the Etios Core platform. It is heading to the Delhi Auto Expo in February 2018 and will compete with the Honda City, Maruti Ciaz and Hyundai Verna once launched. Toyota is also planning launch of the 230B Yaris hatchback in 2020.
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New York City's Earned Sick Time Act (also known as the paid-sick-leave law) will require employers to allow employees to use paid time off for "safe time" under an amendment (Int. 1313-A) passed by the New York City Council on Oct. 17. Under the revised law (the "Earned Safe and Sick Time Act"), employers will be required to provide paid time off for hours taken in connection with family offense matters, sexual offenses, stalking and human trafficking.

Int. 1313-A, sponsored by City Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, is expected to be signed into law by Mayor Bill de Blasio shortly. It will take effect 180 days after signing.

Under New York City's Earned Sick Time Act, covered employers must provide their employees with paid time off under certain circumstances. While the Earned Sick Time Act continues to be refined by administrative rules and other agency guidance, Int. 1313-A imposes an additional set of covered circumstances in which employers must allow employees to use paid time off.

The new circumstances allow absences from work resulting from the employee or a covered family member of the employee being the victim of family offense matters, sexual offenses, stalking or human trafficking. The new circumstances include:

To obtain services from a domestic violence shelter, rape crisis center, or other shelter or services program for relief from a family offense matter, sexual offense, stalking or human trafficking.



To participate in safety planning, temporarily relocate, or take other actions to increase the safety of the employee or employee's family members from future family offense matters, sexual offenses, stalking or human trafficking.



To meet with a civil attorney or other social service provider to obtain information and advice on, and prepare for or participate in, any criminal or civil proceeding, including but not limited to matters related to a family offense matter, sexual offense, stalking, human trafficking, custody, visitation, matrimonial issues, orders of protection, immigration, housing, discrimination in employment, housing or consumer credit.



To file a complaint or domestic incident report with law enforcement.



To meet with a district attorney's office.



To enroll children in a new school.



To take other actions necessary to maintain, improve or restore the physical, psychological, or economic health or safety of the employee or employee's family member or to protect those who associate or work with the employee.



Definitions of sexual offenses, stalking, and human trafficking are tied directly to statutory definitions found in the New York Penal Law, with "human tracking" defined to include sex trafficking and labor trafficking as defined by the Penal Law. A "family offense matter" is defined to include a broader class of household or family members than in the existing Earned Sick Time Act. Int. 1313-A expands the definition of family members to include "any other individual related by blood to the employee; and any other individual whose close association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship."

As with sick time, employers may require reasonable documentation that the use of safe time was covered by the law. For an absence of more than three consecutive workdays, an employer may require reasonable documentation from a wide-ranging group, such as various individuals working with or for the victim services organization, an attorney, a member of the clergy, or a medical or other professional service provider. Production of a police, court record, or even a notarized letter from the employee explaining the need for such time also may be reasonable documentation.

An employer cannot require that such documentation specify the details of the family offense matter, sexual offense, stalking or human trafficking. All other legal conditions and requirements of the Earned Sick Time Act, including the ability to require reasonable advance notice of foreseeable absences, also will apply to "safe time."

Employers will be required to provide notice to employees of their newly expanded rights to safe time within 30 days of the effective date (210 days after the mayor signs Int. 1313-A into law).

The city council is considering other expansions to the Earned Sick Time Act, such as establishing a private right of action and other legislation that would affect New York employers greatly.

Jonathan L. Bing, Richard I. Greenberg, Daniel J. Jacobs and James L. Ansorge are attorneys with Jackson Lewis in New York City.  Jackson Lewis. All rights reserved. Reposted with permission.


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.
Juan Valderrama y Aguilar's drawing of the solar flare he observed on Sept. 10, 1886, on a sunspot (with the darkest region in black and the less dark area shown with hashed lines). The solar flare is the tadpole-shaped feature in the drawing. The original document is currently at the Library of the Canary Islands Astrophysics Institute.

Recently, Spanish astronomers found the writings of a little-known teenager who made an incredible contribution to the study of the sun.

More than a century ago, 17-year-old Juan Valderrama y Aguilar turned to his notebook to draw a powerful white-light flare that was blasting off the sun's surface and casting a shadow near a sunspot, all visible to him through a small telescope. This marks the third-earliest recording of a white-light solar flare in history, according to a statement from the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology.

White-light solar flares occur when the sun's magnetic-field lines twist and reconnect with so much energy that they produce visible light and bursts of plasma that, should they reach Earth's atmosphere, may cause geomagnetic storms and disrupt telecommunications. Scientists observed at least nine powerful solar flares in early September of this year, and the X-class flare that was released on Sept. 6, 2017, was the most powerful blast seen in the past 12 years. [In Photos: The Sun's Monster X9.3 Solar Flare of Sept. 6, 2017]

"White-light flares correspond to the most extreme cases of [solar flares], where so much energy is dumped into the chromosphere and corona that the energy propagates downward to the photosphere, heating it up and producing the excess brightness that we observe in white light," Jorge Sanchez Almeida, of the Canary Islands Astrophysics Institute, said in the statement.

Images of the solar surface, as seen by the Hinode Solar Optical Telescope before and during a white-light solar flare on Dec. 14, 2006. (Image credit: NASA/JAXA)

Sanchez Almeida and his fellow researchers at the Canary Islands Astrophysics Institute and the University of Extremadura, both located in Spain, recently located Valderrama's drawing, which is the third recorded instance of a white-light flare..

Valderrama's amateur observations were just the beginning of his career in astronomy, and according to the statement, the young man would go on to become the director of the meteorological observatory of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands, where he was born.

To make his observation, Valderrama used a neutral density filter to dim the sunlight shooting into his telescope, and with a modest aperture of 6.6 centimeters (2.6 inches), he watched the spectacle unfold over the course of a day. "A huge, beautiful sunspot was formed," Valderrama wrote, according to the statement. "[B]y looking at it carefully, I noticed an extraordinary phenomenon on [it]: a very bright object ... producing a shadow clearly visible on the sunspot penumbra."

Valderrama sent his data to the French journal L'Astronomie, where it was published soon after.. The findings are incredible because white-light flares are rare, the researchers said, and because he observed the unique solar event despite being young and operating with limited technology.

"[T]he white-light flare observed by Valderrama is, chronologically, the third one recorded in the history of solar physics," Jose Manuel Vaquero, a lecturer at the University of Extremadura, said in the statement. The first solar flare was recorded in 1859 by British astronomer Richard Carrington, and Italian astronomer Pietro Angelo Secchi described the second flare in 1872.

Follow Doris Elin Salazar on Twitter@salazar_elin. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
Pope Francis will call the International Space Station to speak with Expedition 53 astronauts on Oct. 26.

Pope Francis is planning to make a call to the International Space Station tomorrow (Oct. 26) to speak with Expedition 53 crewmembers.

The video call will begin at 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT), and a webcast of the in-flight interview will broadcast live on NASA TV and on The Vatican's YouTube page. You can also watch it live here on Space.com.

The Oct. 26 conversation will be the second time a pope has spoken with astronauts aboard the orbiting lab. In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI made the first call to astronauts in orbit from the Vatican Library in Rome. [Space Station Photos: The Expedition 53 Crew in Orbit]

Pope Francis will speak with European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Paolo Nespoli and three NASA astronauts: Randy Bresnik, Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba, NASA spokesman Dan Huot told Space.com in an email. "It's possible the Russian crew members may join," he added.

"This is actually an event that was set up by our colleagues at ESA and ASI," Huot said. (ASI stands for Agenzia Spaziale Italian, the Italian Space Agency that is part of ESA.) "They did it the last time two Italians were onboard in 2011  Paulo was there," Huot added.

Nespoli, Bresnik and Russian cosmonaut Sergey Ryazanskiy launched to the space station on July 28. Vande Hei, Acaba and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin launched later on Sept. 12, rounding out the Expedition 53 crew.

During the 2011 call, Pope Benedict XVI spoke with 12 astronauts on the space station, including members of the space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 crew and the space station's Expedition 27.

The Pope asked the astronauts several questions about their unique vantage point in space and how it affected their view on the origins and destiny of the universe and humanity. He called the conversation an "extraordinary opportunity" and expressed his admiration for the astronauts "courage" and "discipline."

Pope Francis has also demonstrated his faith in science by publicly supporting theories of evolution and the Big Bang. Be sure to tune in to tomorrow's live broadcast to see what themes the Pope will discuss with the astronauts on the space station.

Follow Samantha Mathewson @Sam_Ashley13. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
An engineering test model of the Vector-R rocket at Pad 0B of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Island, Virginia.

ATLANTA  Vector, an Arizona-based company that has done test flights from California and Georgia, announced Oct. 19 it plans to make its first orbital launch from a Virginia site as soon as next summer.

Vector announced an agreement with the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority for three launches of the company's Vector-R rocket from Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), the commercial launch facilities on Wallops Island, Virginia, in the next two years. The agreement includes an option for five additional launches.

Those launches will take place from Pad 0B, one of two pads at MARS and the one devoted to smaller vehicles like the Vector-R. The company brought an engineering test model of the Vector-R to MARS for the announcement to demonstrate fueling and launch operations. [Vector Space System's Rocket Plan in Pictures]

"By leveraging the talent and expertise already present in the MARS workforce and creatively using the spaceport assets at Pad 0B, the opportunity existed for Vector to quickly capitalize on MARS infrastructure to promote and develop their business through the contracted launch operations," Dale Nash, executive director and chief executive of the authority, said in a statement issued by the office of Virginia Governor Terry McAulliffe.

The launches would provide some much-welcomed additional orbital launch activity at MARS. Pad 0B, used by Minotaur rockets, last hosted a launch in November 2013 when a Minotaur 1 rocket launched the ORS-3 mission. Neighboring Pad 0A, developed for Orbital ATK's Antares, has not been used since an Antares launch a year ago. The next Antares launch, of a Cygnus cargo spacecraft bound for the International Space Station, is scheduled for no earlier than Nov. 11.

The announcement gave no date for when the first Vector-R launch would take place. However, in an Oct. 19 speech at the Symposium on Space Innovations on the campus of Georgia Tech here, company chief executive Jim Cantrell said he expected that launch to take place as soon as next July.

"Our first orbital flights are planned for July, and we're already building those vehicles," he said. "Our first flights are going to be out of Wallops."

Vector has, to date, performed two test flights of the Vector, both only to very low altitudes. The first took place in May in California's Mojave Desert and the second in August at the future site of Spaceport Camden on Georgia's Atlantic coast. A third test, Cantrell said, is planned for January, back in the Mojave Desert.

He raised a note of caution about that test. "We have a high chance of planting that one in the desert, because it's using thrust vector control. We're taking the training wheels off," he said.

Cantrell said the company's long-term vision is for large numbers of launches  "we plan to fly them by the hundreds," he said  from multiple launch sites. However, he added that Vector can be profitable at a rate of 12 launches a year.

The Vector-R, as currently designed, can carry payloads weighing up to 60 kilograms to orbit at a price of $1.5 million. The company is also developing a larger vehicle, the Vector-H, which can launch 150 kilograms to orbit for $3 million.

Cantrell said that demand for the Vector-H was greater than anticipated. "It's turned out to be as popular, if not more, than the Vector-R, so we're working to rush that into production," he said. He did not give an anticipated first flight date for the Vector-H.

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
WASHINGTON  Google's experimental high-altitude balloon project is using connectivity from O3b satellites to provide emergency communications in hurricane-ravished Puerto Rico.

O3b owner SES said Oct. 23 that it is providing satellite capacity and a "rapidly deployable" O3b FastConnect terminal in order to connect Google Loons over Puerto Rico to the internet, which then beam 4G/LTE mobile connectivity to people on the ground.

The majority of Puerto Rico's cellphone towers were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Maria, which struck the U.S. island as a Category 4 storm Sept. 20. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission tallied 95.2 percent of cell sites across the island were knocked out by the storm. [Hurricane Maria Photos from Space]

Google received permission from the FCC on Oct. 7 for the Loon trial run. At the time, 81.9 percent of cell towers on the island were still offline. The FCC's most recent status report, released Oct. 22, said 66.6 percent of cell sites remain down.

In an interview with SpaceNews Oct. 23, SES Networks CEO Steve Collar said Puerto Rico is the satellite operator's second time working with Google Loon, the first being in March following flooding in Peru.

"Our target as SES Networks is to have somewhere between half a gig[abit per second link] and a gig[-abit per second link] of connectivity available anywhere in the world within 24 to 48 hours," he said.

Alastair Westgarth, head of Project Loon, wrote in an Oct. 20 blog post that Loon is working with AT&T to enable texting and internet access in Puerto Rico.

"We've never deployed Project Loon connectivity from scratch at such a rapid pace, and we're grateful for the support of AT&T and the many other partners and organizations that have made this possible," he wrote.

Collar said setting up the O3b link took slightly longer than SES Network's stated goal because of the complexity of the disaster response and the uniqueness of pairing satellite with Google Loon.

Along with SES Networks, local telco Liberty Cablevision also assisted in establishing the ground infrastructure for Loon, Westgarth wrote.

Emergency response officials continue to use satellite communications directly in Puerto Rico and the Gulf of Mexico to support relief efforts. Fleet operator Intelsat said Oct. 23 it is donating satellite connectivity through three Kymeta-equipped vehicles with Liberty Global Puerto Rico for the next eight weeks. The FCC says satellite-connected trucks are providing communications services in 11 counties across the island, including Arecibo, home of the Arecibo radio telescope.

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
Orionid Meteors Dazzle Skywatchers

Skywatchers and photographers set out into the night in October of 2017 to see the annual Orion meteor shower. Here are some of their most amazing photos.

Here:

Skywatching at Sunrise

An Orionid meteor passes over the Atlantic Ocean near the coast of New Jersey just before sunrise on Oct. 21.

On Orion's Shoulders

An Orionid meteor passes between the shoulders of Orion the Hunter. Orionid meteors typically appear to radiate from the constellation of Orion.

Into the Green

An Orionid fireball passes behind an ocotillo plant in this shot taken at Big Bend National Park in Texas in this shot by Sergio Garcia Rill.

The Orion Nebula

"The point was to capture Orionid meteors, but I captured a few other nice objects in the shot as a bonus," astrophotographer John Chumack told Space.com in an email. "Also visible on the eastern most star in Orion's Belt (Alnitak) are the glow of the Maple Leaf nebula and Famous Horsehead nebula, and below the belt is the Sword of Orion. 'The Great Orion Nebula'(pink/blue), with the Running Man reflection nebula (blue) just above it."

Over the Ocean

An Orionid meteor heads into the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean.

Shooting Stars and a Shipwreck

An Orionid meteor streaks across the sky over a shipwreck on the coast of New Jersey.

Emanating from Orion

An Orionid meteor streaks away from the constellation Orion in this view captured from the Jersey Shore on Saturday (Oct. 21).

Orion the Hunter

Gowrishankar L.

The constellation Orion the Hunter takes center stage in this Orionid meteor shower shot by astrophotographer Gowrishankar Lakshminarayanan. He captured these Orionid meteors streaking through the sky over New York's Catskill Mountains on Saturday (Oct. 21).

A Meteor 'Faceplant'

A meteor appears to pierce the Earth in this shot of the 2017 Orionid meteor shower. Photographer Sergio Garcia Rill was setting up a second camera at Big Bend National Park in Texas when he snapped this self-portrait.

A (Shooting) Starry Night

Steve Roellke

An Orionid meteor darts through the night sky in Shenandoah, Virginia at 4:33 a.m. EDT on Saturday (Oct. 21). You can watch the entire early-morning Orionid photo shoot on YouTube in 4K.
In 1978, physicist John Wheeler devised an experiment to test when light acts like a wave or a particle by changing the conditions of the experiment once it's already begun.

Researchers have taken a famous quantum-physics experiment to new heights by sending light, in the form of photons, to space and back, demonstrating the dual-particle-wave nature of light over much greater distances than scientists can achieve on Earth.

In the quantum theory of reality, particles like electrons and photons behave like waves as well, depending on how scientists measure them. Physicists call this phenomenon wave-particle duality, and it leads to many counterintuitive effects, like single particles traveling along two paths simultaneously.

In 1803, long before the conception of quantum theory, physicist Thomas Young conducted a famous experiment to demonstrate that light behaves like a wave. Young sent sunlight through two slits toward a blank paper card. When he observed the light on the card, it revealed a pattern of bright and dark bands that faded toward the edge. Rather than going through one slit or the other, the light had behaved like a wave, passing through both slits and interacting with itself to form a pattern, like ripples in a pond.

The Italian team used this instrument, called an interferometer, to split and recombine light. Here it's seen with an alignment laser beam. (Image credit: QuantumFuture Research Group/University of Padova - DEI)

In the 20th century, scientists placed detectors on such slits to determine which path the light actually took. When they did this, they always detected the photon in one slit or the other. What's more, the film developed two bright bands opposite the gaps instead of the ripples  the photons were going through one slit or the other instead of interacting like a wave. It's almost as if the light knew how the scientists wanted it to behave.

Scientists were baffled as to how the light determined what to do and, more importantly, when it "decided" to behave as a particle or a wave. Does light commit to one behavior at the beginning of an experiment, when it's produced; at the end, when it's detected; or some time in between?

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, theoretical physicist John Wheeler proposed some tests to answer this question. Some of these involved changing the experimental setup after the light had already entered the apparatus. This would delay when the light is able to choose its behavior until near the end of the test. It was one of Wheeler's delayed-choice experiments that the team at the University of Padova, in Italy, conducted and detailed Oct. 25 in the journal Science Advances.

Wheeler's experiment had been done before, but not at this scale. Using a reflector on an orbiting satellite allowed the team to test the predictions of quantum theory over greater distances than ever before.

"The law of quantum mechanics  should be valid for any distance, right?" Giuseppe Vallone, a researcher at the University of Padova and co-author of the study, told Space.com. "But of course, if we don't test it, we cannot be sure."

Testing quantum physics in space

The experimental apparatus on Earth sent out one photon at a time. That light was then split into two waves by a device called a beam splitter. The team sent one beam on a slightly longer path, so it ended up slightly behind its counterpart, Vallone explained.

The key was that the scientists split the light in such a way that the earlier wave had horizontal polarization and the latter one had vertical polarization. In other words, the waves were oriented in two different directions.

Then, the light beams were prepped and were ready to be sent to space. Vallone's team directed the light at a satellite, where a reflector sent it back toward the apparatus in Italy. At that point, two light waves were headed back toward Earth, one slightly ahead of the other.

A beam of light (top left) is split in two and heads down separate paths. If the paths are recombined the two waves create an interference pattern. If not, a particle is detected along only one path. The actual experiment conducted by the Italian researchers started and ended on Earth, traveling to an orbiting satellite on the way. (Image credit: Vedovato et al., Sci. Adv. 2017;3: e1701180)

This is when the "delayed choice" part of the experiment came in. After the light was reflected, a computer sent a random signal to a liquid crystal. Depending on the signal, the device either swapped both light beams' polarizations, or left them the same. At that point, the light passed through the beam splitter again. If the polarizations were left unchanged, the splitter simply recombined the light, making it act as a single wave. If the polarizations were swapped, it separated them even more, creating a distinct delay between the two pulses so the light would act as an individual particle.

The switch was decided only after the light was headed back to Earth, more than halfway through its 10-millisecond round-trip. This meant there was no way for the light to "know" what the scientists were expecting until the very end, when it hit the detector. If Vallone's group still saw the same behaviors  an interference pattern when the light was recombined, and single flashes when it wasn't  they would know that the light had been both a particle and a wave simultaneously, until their device made it choose one or the other at the very end.

And that's exactly what happened. The light split into two beams, like a wave and, at the same time, stayed together as a single photon, until the end, when the liquid crystal device forced it to behave as one or the other right before hitting the detector. The predictions of quantum theory were vindicated, Vallone said  and the surreal nature of quantum mechanics was reaffirmed.

Even though the Italian team's work focused on confirming previous experiments, the test was still worthwhile, according to Thomas Jennewein, a quantum physicist at the University of Waterloo, in Ontario, who is unaffiliated with the paper. The experiment Vallone's team conducted is closer to Wheeler's original proposal, Jennewein told Space.com, which relied on the distance the light traveled to keep it separated for a long time.

"It is out in space, and it is far away, and so we are getting closer to the original scheme," Jennewein said.

Wheeler's original thought experiment envisioned this test conducted on light from a distant galaxy, bent toward Earth along two possible paths by a massive object in between. In this situation, a single photon could have traveled along both paths simultaneously, only being forced to choose its behavior millions or billions of years after it began its journey. Vallone's group didn't replicate this aspect of the experiment, but they were able to keep the light in its bizarre double state, called a superposition, for 10 milliseconds  an impressively long amount of time compared to what was demonstrated in previous trials, according to Jennewein.

So, what does it mean?

The results of Wheeler's experiment can be unsettling for those who like to believe in a definitive, physical reality. The new findings suggest that the behavior of objects in the universe is fundamentally undetermined until something forces them to behave a certain way. Particles propagate like waves, waves coalesce into particles and nothing can be predicted with certainty, only a probability.

Physicists often set these qualms aside to focus on their work. There's a saying, "Shut up and calculate," said Jennewein, who attributed it to Cornell University professor David Mermin. The idea is that scientists should work on figuring out the mathematics behind how quantum theory works rather than attempting to understand its implications.

Neither Jennewein nor Vallone completely adhere to this mantra. "People spend lifetimes, almost, trying to get their heads around these questions," Jennewein said.

"My personal belief is that we just cannot maintain our classical view when we look at quantum particles," he added. "It's kind of a new type of concept for us which has no representation in our everyday life." And our daily life is where we derive our intuitions from, he noted.

Vallone approaches the concept in a similar manner. "When we think of a photon as a particle, as a little ball, we are [making a] mistake. When we think of a photon like a water wave, we are [also making] a mistake," he said. "The photon, in some cases, seems to behave like a wave or seems to behave like a particle. But actually, it's neither."

Vallone's team used the Italian Space Agency's Matera Laser Ranging Observatory in Matera, Italy to send their light beam skyward. (Image credit: QuantumFuture Research Group/University of Padova - DEI)

More quantum physics in space

The experiment conducted by Vallone's team joins a new trend of space-based quantum research. In August 2016, China launched the first satellite designed specifically to test quantum theory and its applications in quantum computing. A team in Shanghai used the satellite to set a record for the farthest quantum teleportation, sending the state of one photon about 1,000 to 1,500 miles (1,600 to 2,400 kilometers) away.

These feats may find applications in computing, according to Vallone. Quantum objects can be in two states at once, like the light in Vallone's experiment, so quatum computers can encode more information than traditional electronics, he said. Also, because quantum states change when they are observed, they promise greater security than conventional communication because you can tell that someone has tried to eavesdrop.

Jennewein foresees more experiments like the one Vallone's group conducted. Space-based experiments enable researchers to explore the limits of quantum mechanics. "This experiment is a first step toward it," he said, and "I'm hoping to see more foundational quantum physics tests in space."

Email Harrison Tasoff at htasoff@space.com or follow him @harrisontasoff. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
Orion meteors streak through the starry sky over Big Bend National Park in western Texas. This stellar self-portrait is a composite of four shots by Sergio Garcia Rill.

Orionid meteors put on a dazzling show for skywatchers and astrophotographers who stayed up late (or woke up early) last weekend to watch this year's Orionid meteor shower at its peak.

The meteor shower began in early October and will continue to produce "shooting stars" through the first week of November. But the best time to see the meteors was during the peak on Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 21-22), when skywatchers were treated to up to 30 meteors per hour.

To capture the meteors on camera, night-sky photographers set out to dark locations in the wee hours. Getting away from light pollution around big cities makes it easier to see meteors and stars  and the eerie, green "airglow" that is naturally emitted by Earth's atmosphere. [The Orionid Meteor Shower 2017 in Photos: Stunning Views by Stargazers]

The constellation Orion the Hunter takes center stage in this Orionid meteor shower shot by astrophotographer Gowrishankar Lakshminarayanan. He captured these Orionid meteors streaking through the sky over New York's Catskill Mountains on Saturday (Oct. 21). (Image credit: Gowrishankar L.)

"Airglow was extremely high over the weekend," astrophotographer Sergio Garcia Rill told Space.com in an email. Rill went to Big Bend National Park in western Texas to shoot the peak of the Orionid meteor shower. He set his Nikon D750 to continuously take photos, then combined four frames of bright meteors  and one of himself  to create a stunning meteor- shower selfie.

In New York, astrophotographer Gowrishankar Lakshminarayanan traveled to the Catskill Mountains for his Orionid meteor photo shoot. "I was fortunate to capture the Orionids in the early hours of Oct. 21 from North-South Lake Campground, which was pretty dark, and absolutely fantastic clear skies made for a great watch," he told Space.com in an email. "I was also able to capture a satellite flare to the right of Orion, which possibly is an Iridium flare."

Farther south on the coast of New Jersey, veteran astrophotographer Jeff Berkes captured a stunning view of an Orionid meteor darting through some early-morning airglow shortly before sunrise on Oct. 21. Berkes saw about 20 meteors per hour and "at least four fireballs," or super- bright meteors  one of which left "a trail that glowed blue," he told Space.com in an email.

An Orionid meteor passes over the Atlantic Ocean near the New Jersey coast just before sunrise on Oct. 21. (Image credit: Jeff Berkes

Orionid meteors are bits and pieces of Halley's Comet, which swings by Earth about every 75 years. That trail of comet crumbs from Halley's Comet collides with Earth once a year in October, producing as many as 80 meteors per hour some years, NASA's meteor expert Bill Cooke told Space.com.

If you missed the peak of the Orionid meteor shower this year, there's another meteor shower coming up soon. The Taurid meteor shower will peak in the Northern Hemisphere from Nov. 10 to Nov. 11. Then the Leonid meteor shower will follow shortly thereafter, peaking from Nov. 17 to Nov. 18.

Editor's note: If you have an amazing skywatching photo you'd like to share with Space.com and our news partners for a possible story or image gallery, please contact managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com.

Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
W hen Monarch Airlines fell to earth, we assumed its private equity backer, Greybull, would lose, big time.

Alongside Monarchs plucky management, it had done its best at turning around the stricken airline, but was foiled by the tough market conditions.

Thats why it felt just about tolerable that we taxpayers picked up the tab for repatriating the thousands of Monarch customers left stranded across Europe.

Then the narrative darkened. It emerged that Boeing, not Greybull, had forwarded much of the doomed cash put into the airline. Greybull stood to lose little, if anything at all.

Then, in what was the most infuriating development, we learned that Greybull was first in line to scoop the proceeds from the sale of Monarchs 18 daily take-off and landing slots at Gatwick  a cool 60 million.

If that made you cross, you werent alone. Executives at other airlines have been more than miffed at handing over slot money to their rivals financiers.

Now Im told that Airport Coordination Limited, which handles slot auctions, is considering taking legal action to stop the bust airline  under administration by KPMG  getting a penny from the slot sale.

Those close to the process say its arguing that only airlines can own slots. Monarch, being bust, is no longer an airline. Neither is KPMG. Ergo, the slot ownership should return to the ACL for free.

This would be a fine outcome. Let the bidding commence as before, but give the proceeds back to taxpayers.

After all, the 60 million the slots should fetch is precisely the cost of the state-funded repatriation programme. Rather a neat outcome, no?

Dorner is right call

After Jayne-Anne Gadhia spoke so scathingly to MPs yesterday about deeply embedded sexism in Britains banks, her Virgin Money board could only really appoint a woman chairman.

They have done so in the form of HSBC veteran Irene Dorner. This makes Virgin Money the only FTSE-350 company with an all-woman top duo of chairman and chief executive.

In banking, its the only serious UK firm with a woman doing either job, bar Spanish Santanders UK offshoot, chaired by Shriti Vadera.

Dorner is no token woman. She cleaned up HSBCs North American arm over its links with drug traffickers and breaching US sanctions, and handled the US Senate Committee with aplomb.

Not only will she make a strong chairman, but her appointment sends a message to the best women enduring sexism at their employers: come and work for Virgin.

A canny appointment indeed.
A s a bleeding-heart  but busy  liberal, its tough trying to remember what you were last outraged about.

You remember signing a lot of petitions, carefully choosing which kind of emoji face to use on Facebook (wows are never OK) and furiously tweeting. You may have even made a witty banner and gone on a wee march.

But then the news cycle moves on, and you get on with your busy life  and before you know it, theres a new hashtag movement in town.

But the issues remain as difficult as they ever were. Like the child refugees who are still alone in the woods near Calais and Dunkirk.

The refugee camp at Calais known as the Jungle was demolished a year ago but children are still there alone and the conditions are even worse.

Yesterday I attended a demonstration outside Parliament organised by the charities Help Refugees and Safe Passage to thank politicians for what has been done but to remind them that Britain promised to take 480 child refugees and yet only 200 of them are here.

There was an eclectic gathering of people of all ages, from all backgrounds and faiths, and there were a number of young refugees who had been brought over from Calais as a result of the Dubs Amendment. I am not a great one for protests but this was genuinely moving.

Also in attendance was the architect of the campaign, Lord Dubs, who came to this country as a child refugee on Kindertransport, actress Juliet Stevenson and Camilla Thurlow from the reality TV hit Love Island. I know thats mainly why I went, to be honest. Thankfully, I managed to restrain myself from asking deeply inappropriate questions about who got off with whom in the house.

Anyway, Camilla had just returned from France and she told me how adults and children now sleep outside in the open with no tents, and sometimes have their sleeping bags and blanket confiscated by the French police. And how mothers live with their toddlers among open sewage with nowhere to wash properly. When your eyes are open to this, its hard to close them. And all of this is happening just over an hour away from us.

Lord Dubs is practical about the challenge. We cant take everyone but we can at least fill the 480 places promised by the Government before the temperature drops and rescue more children by Christmas. Many already have family here and under a European Union agreement they can be reunited with them, although there are fears that Brexit will jeopardise that.

As we prepare to leave the EU it is all the more important to send a message about Britains place in the world and that we take our moral international obligations seriously  even the most ardent Brexiteer can see that is a proud part of our heritage and brand.

In the heat of the domestic row over immigration, freedom of labour and targets, its easy to forget about the 280 children we promised safe passage to and still havent. MPs must work with local authorities to make it happen.

How we honour our obligation on child refugees is a test of our national conscience, character and humanity

How we honour our obligation on child refugees is a test of our national conscience, character and humanity. I spoke to young people from Syria and Sudan. Their gratitude was simple and their message overwhelming: we lost our country and you gave us a home. Thank you for bringing us to safety.

We cannot save every child but we can save some, and surely, we must.

Gillian gets my royal approval

Netflix struck TV gold with The Crown, which has attracted critical acclaim and is also incredibly popular with the punters  a bit like Her Majesty herself.

There will be six series in total spanning Queen Elizabeths life and three actresses will share the role.

Series two is about to start starring Claire Foy, who has already won awards for her portrayal of the young Queen finding her feet, but this will be her last  and Netflix is casting for who to play the Queen for her middle years.

These are sizeable royal slippers to fill.

Gillian Anderson / Getty Images

Many names are in the frame but I would like to see Gillian Anderson get the job.

Although best known for Agent Scully in the The X-Files, I loved her in the gritty police drama The Fall, where she played DSI Stella Gibson with elegance and steel.

Anderson is a fabulous actress who is able to portray strong, complex female characters with a sense of regal restraint.

Its a no-brainer.

Anyone else and one will not be amused.

Laughing all the way to a political punch

TODO: define component type brightcove

The Russian Revolution started 100 years ago today. It changed the course of Western history and had a profound impact on politics. Its themes still loom large: anger, discontent, class struggle and a thirst for revolution. But thats enough about the Labour Party.

Armando Iannuccis new film, The Death of Stalin, is a sharp satire about what came next. It focuses on the death of Joseph Stalin and all the craven plotting and scheming about who should succeed him.

Dark humour oozes from this film like the urine from Stalins corpse and because of that, its timely lessons are all the more powerful.

It depicts the horror of Stalins blood-soaked dictatorship and the dangers of creating populist demagogues. As a stand-up, I know humour can deliver a political punch better than something dull and earnest.

Make people laugh and you have their attention.
F or months the Government has hoped for a fissure to open up in the united front the EU has presented in the Brexit negotiations.

Observe closely and you will see that a division has now emerged among the Europeans  but rather than helping the UK, it could make life even more difficult.

Until this week, the 27 other member states and the Brussels institutions had maintained a discipline that both surprised and frustrated British negotiators.

First, the EU said there had to be sufficient progress on the elements of the divorce settlement around money, EU citizens and the Irish border. Only then can there be a discussion of the long-term trading relationship that our government is desperate to get on to.

The EU agrees in principle that there can be a transition to that, but as Michel Barnier explained, only if it is framed by the maintenance of all of the regulatory architecture and European supervision, including jurisdictional. It would maintain the economic status quo and all obligations of the UK.

In other words, Britain will have to accept all EU rules, the rule of The European Court of Justice, free movement and pay contributions if it wants continued frictionless access to its largest export markets  the only difference being we no longer have a vote on those rules or how that money is spent.

It will be a hard pill to swallow for leading Brexiteers who promised we would be taking back control, instead of losing what control we had. It also dispels the illusion that Britain could cherry pick during a transition arrangement by, for example, leaving the Common Fisheries Policy in 2019 but remaining in the Common Agricultural Policy.

Fiction

This is only a prelude to the bigger disappointment looming as the Government seeks what it calls a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement.

Even this morning, the Government was maintaining the fiction that this could still be agreed in one year. No one, including Downing Street officials, believes that.

Mr Barnier says it will take several years to agree, and far from being the special deep and comprehensive deal Britain hopes for, it will instead look closer to the agreement with Canada because our government insists on leaving the single market and the customs union.

Remember, Theresa May herself said in Florence last month that a Canada-style deal compared with what exists between Britain and the EU today would represent such a restriction on our mutual market access that it would benefit neither of our economies.

So a transition deal where the only thing that changes is that Britain leaves the Council Chamber, and a Canada-like trade deal that restricts our trade and harms our economy is what has looked like the best outcome we could hope for.

Until this week. Now, some Europeans say thats too good a deal for us. Manfred Weber, leader of pan-European conservative group the EPP, told the European Parliament yesterday that even in transition we cannot accept that a country outside the EU will have the same conditions and the same status as inside the European Union, so there must be a difference.

What that difference is, he wont say publicly, but its thought it could include the City losing the financial passport it needs. This isnt the same as Mr Barniers proposal to maintain the economic status quo.

What is behind Mr Webers move? His conservatives, and the socialist bloc, fear that unless Britain is seen in 2019 to have suffered some palpable loss from leaving the EU, mainstream forces like his will have an uphill battle against fringe separatist parties in the elections to the parliament later that summer.

These MEPs have to agree to the terms of any post-Brexit transition. This latest salvo from Mr Weber and the Strasbourg Parliament is one of the most significant developments in the Brexit talks in months.

Sadly for the UK, it is not a positive one. If you thought Mr Barnier was being tough, take a look at whats behind him.
T "I'm not Halloween bashing but there's something so special about Day of the Dead," says Wahaca founder homasina Miers when asked about her affinity for Mexico's annual celebration of the deceased.

Having experienced her first taste of dia de los muertos while living in the Mexican city of Oaxaca, Miers has played a major part in bringing its vibrant traditions to life in the UK through her restaurant chain's own celebrations.

"It's a proper family affair and an amazing way to celebrate those lives that have been lost as well as those who have been left behind," she says. "It's about not being afraid of death. For Mexicans, it's not seen as morbid  they might wail and nash teeth but then they party."

With Aztec origins and intertwined with Catholic traditions following the arrival of Spanish conquistadors, Day of the Dead comes heavy on symbolism. Skulls and skeletons  in particular the so-called grand-dame of death, Calavera Catrina  figure highly and altars are decorated with offerings, or ofrendas, of candles, sugar skulls, marigolds, food and drinks as gifts for the dead.

Food and drink plays a central role with lavish banquets and plenty of toasts to those lost with mezcal and tequila. "Expect elaborate affairs," says Miers. "Each family will have their own recipes for with tamales and moles and will spend days preparing."

A national holiday in Mexico, there are plenty of chances to join the party in London, too. Wahaca's own Day of the Dead festival will see an "immersive celebration of the departed" take over the Vaults in Waterloo over three days. With live bands, DJs and street food on offer, Miers says that the ultimate aim is that everyone lets their hair down.

Catrinas Parade: Day of the Dead 2017 - In pictures 1 /26 Catrinas Parade: Day of the Dead 2017 - In pictures People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People participate in the the parade of 'Catrinas', in Mexico City, Mexico EPA People participate in the the parade of 'Catrinas' in Mexico City, Mexico EPA A woman disguised as "Catrina" (Mexican representation of death) takes part in the "Catrinas Parade" along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People march in the Grand Procession of the 'Catrinas', part of upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations, in Mexico City AP People march in the Grand Procession of the 'Catrinas', part of upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations, in Mexico City AP People dressed as Mexico's iconic 'Catrina' march in the Grand Procession of the Catrinas, part of upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City AP People march in the Grand Procession of the 'Catrinas', part of upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations, in Mexico City AP A woman dressed as Mexico's iconic 'Catrina' awaits the start of the Grand Procession of the Catrinas, part of upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City AP People participate in the the parade of 'Catrinas' in Mexico City, Mexico EPA A woman has her face painted ahead of the Grand Procession of the "Catrinas," part of upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City AP People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images A person participates in the the parade of 'Catrinas' in Mexico City, Mexico EPA

According to Miers, Day of the Dead's central message is more relevant than ever this year. "We've all been left shell-shocked by everything that's been happening," she says. "It's a turbulent time and it's easy to feel emotional about it. We felt it was appropriate to celebrate the dead. The whole point is that it's a cathartic celebration of life and remembering the people you care about."

Mexico suffered its own tragedy this year in the form of September's earthquake and all profits from Wahaca's Day of the Dead festival will go towards helping victims.

We'll raise a toast to that.

Wahaca's Day of the Dead festival takes place on November 2-4 and tickets can be booked here

Four other celebrations to die for

1. El Pastor, Borough

One of London's must-try Mexican restaurants, El Pastor is adding to its repertoire with a Dia de los Muertos lock-in from 10pm. Harnessing founders Sam Hart and Crispin Somerville's 15 years of experience at the helm of cult Mexico City nightclub El Colmillo, the team are hosting a one-off night of electronica alongside a traditional ofrenda, fuelled by plenty of high-grade tequila and mezcal courtesy of artesan producers Mezcal Amores.

November 3. Tickets cost 20 including welcome drink and are available here

2. Peyotito, Notting Hill

For those seeking a spiritual experience in west London, Notting Hill's Peyotito is putting on a commemorative set menu featuring sea bass aguachile, 24-hour marinated lamb and a chilli-spiked, vegetarian-friendly mole de olla. Mezcal tasting flights and Day of the Dead cocktails will ensure spirits are high and, for those wanting to go the whole hog, a group booking option includes a full suckling pig to share between friends.

November 1-2. For booking enquiries click here

3. Hope & Anchor, Brixton

Get a glimpse inside the newly revamped Brixton boozer  now under Young's ownership  with a major knees-up to celebrate its relaunch. Expect a mariachi band, street food, an outdoor tequila bar and DJs from 7pm to 11pm. Plus, makeup artists will be on hand to adorn your outfit.

November 2. Tickets costs 5 including a free drink and are available here

4. Corazon,Soho

Poland Street's Corazon is hosting a lavish midnight feast to celebrate Day of the Dead and the four-course menu will showcase some true Mexican staples. Kicking off at 11.30pm, this ticketed event will offer an agave cocktail on arrival followed by a nopales salad, two types of mole  sea bass and guinea fowl  as well as a cajeta flan and candied pumpkin to keep you going into the early hours.

Nov 4. Tickets are 48 and include a drink on arrival, mezcal pairing and charitable donation and are available here
T heres a chill in the air, possibly a sniffle in your nose, and when it comes to comforting your foodie hankerings, theres only one thing for it: a big, brothy bowl of ramen.

Were not sure if noodle soup actually has any healing properties but it sure feels like it if you get a good one.

In case you hadnt noticed, London has gone ravenous for ramen in recent years, a winning formula courtesy of the Japanese. If youre a soup groupie, check out our pick of the best ramen restaurants in London.

Tonkotsu

Having taken their name from one of the most popular types of ramen, youd be willing to bet these guys know their pork broth. Of course they do: and not only does theirs take 16 hours to create, but when mixed up for their eponymous (and hard to beat) Tonkotsu dish, it is joined by a sea salt base indulgently enriched with lardo, a Italian-style cured pork fat. Their Chilli Chicken Ramen (see above) is crystal clear but sparky and flavour-rich  when battling a bit of a cold, there are few dishes in London you would want to eat more. For less wholesome additions, a crunch of their kara-age (very deep fried) chicken and a swig of the Black Face Junmai Daiginjo sake will seal the deal.

E8, W1A, W1D, SE1, E8, W11, tonkotsu.co.uk

Kanada-Ya

Truffle ramen at Kanada-Ya

There are few restaurants in London that serve a recipe for wood ear fungus by a former Keirin cyclist, but Kanada-Ya is one of them. Kanada-San honed his recipe for ramen in his native Japan before bringing it to London and Hong Kong. Their bespoke-recipe noodles soak up flavour like nobodys business, and are cooked to your preference: a tip, go hard or go home. Ramen purists may gasp indignantly at the dish at the top-end of Kanada-Yas menu, but the Truffle Ramen is a luxuriously rich east-meets-west fusion, with the porcini truffle paste and white truffle oil seeing ramens umami and raising it spectacularly. Spice-fiends, the Gekikara has your back, with a meatball of tan-tan pork belly chashu floating innocently in the bowl before delivery a spicy sucker punch.

SW1, WC2, kanada-ya.com

Bone Daddies

Kimchee ramen at Bone Daddies

Grab your leather jackets, Bone Daddies is the rocknroll of London ramen. These are the people who gave us an izakaya-style bun bonanza at Flesh and Buns and Western-inspired Japanese food Shackfuyu  in other words, they do Japanese food the naughty way. Their ramen ranges from variations on the authentic to downright radical. The tonkotsu is punchy and deeply silky, with the Kani Tonkotsu option topping the charred pork belly turf with soft shell crab surf. A little more off-piste are some of the house ramens offered individually at their 5 locations - including the very un-Japanese sounding Harissa Lamb with aubergine at their original Peter Street branch. More authentic is the pillow-soft, pretty fantastic agedashi tofu side-dish, swimming in a zingy mix of shitake dashi, chilli and spring onion.

W1F, W1U, W8, EC1, SE16, bonedaddies.com

Shoryu

Ramen at Shoryu

Shoryu is the sophisticated cousin in Londons ramen family, with a refined, stylish take on ramen dining backed up by darn good soup. The food comes courtesy of Executive Chef Kanji Fukuoka, who was born and raised in Hakata, the homeland of Tonkotsu. Each bowl is ingredient packed and ingredient focused. Their pork broth is a luxuriously creamy affair, wrapped around meat slow cooked to a gloriously buttery end point. Shoryu top their ramen with a traditional nitimago  the soft boiled egg that makes any ramen dish even better  made with gloriously golden Burford Browns soaked in a soy, mirin, sake and ginger marinade overnight. Tradition is at the heart of Shoryus food, but rule flouters can go for a garlicky Dracula Tonkotsu or a jalapeno-topped Piri Piri version.

W1B (two locations), WC2, EC2 (two locations), WC1, SW1, W1D, E20, shoryuramen.com

Ippudo

Akamaru Tamago at Ippudo

For ramen pedants, were willing to bet that Ippudo is the closest thing youll get to real ramen in the capital  partly because the restaurant has more outlets in Japan than it does in the UK, with homeland and international accolades to boot. Originally a restaurant in Hakata, then the overall winner of the Tokyo Ramen of the Year competition, Ippudos ever-heightening reputation has lead to an ever growing empire: they now boast outlets across Asia, Europe and the United States. The reason is pretty clear: its very good ramen. A fragrant take on the dish, its richness is bolstered by fresh, precisely chosen toppings, with  shock horror  more than one veggie option to cater to us peculiar Brits.

WC2, E14, ippudo.co.uk

Nanban

Lets get one thing out the way: Nanban comes courtesy of Tim Anderson, who won Masterchef in 2011 (you remember, the American guy with the glasses). So now weve got over the giddy person-off-the-telly excitement, lets think about the food. The Brixton restaurant is a ramen bar/izakaya mash-up, inspired by the years Anderson spent living in Japan, mixed with a touch of the foods new surroundings. A penchant for produce from Brixton Market is evident in the Caribbean flavours of the Lazy Goat Tsukumen (curry goat and scotch bonnet to fire things up) and the fact that dishes are left open to change depending on whatever looks good in Brixton Market.

SW9, nanban.co.uk
A watch that can practically outshine a leather-clad Charlize Theron on screen must be a pretty special watch indeed.

Well thats exactly what Carl F Bucherers CentralChrono, the brilliant chunky timepiece which holds dangerous, game-changing Cold War secrets in the summers rollicking hit action movie Atomic Blonde, is.

So how did a mere time teller become such a movie star? Because the in-house watch brand of the Bucherer Group doesnt just make any old watches - the 130-year-old Swiss watch manufacturers pieces come with serious pedigree.

Carl Friedrich Bucherer founded the eponymous brand in Lucerne, Switzerland, in 1888, and to this day the manufacturer remains family owned. There, the five-floor Bucherer flagship boutique is a pilgrimage destination in itself, thronged daily with tourists from London, the US, Beijing and beyond looking to buy the timepiece of a lifetime.

Besides Bucherers own-branded Carl F Bucherer watches, the horological house sells some quite gorgeous pieces by more than 30 other brands, from Longines and Hublot to Jaeger-LeCoultre and Audemars Piguet.

Now Bucherer has taken over The Watch Gallery, rebranding the marvellously hushed studios across London that include the dangerously tempting main watch space in Selfridges, and house pieces that are truly works of art.

Price points range hugely, from a 160 Tissot Classic starter watch to genuine masterpieces, such as the limited edition, superhero-esque Ferrari Hublot at a cool 458,000.

The Carl F Bucherer watches themselves start at 1,400 and are sleekly, classically understated. Rather like the Bucherer atelier in Lucerne. Here, craftsmen who were trained for years go about the various stages of making a Bucherer watch: a lone woman paints watercolours of proposed earring designs; two men huddle round a computer turning data into 3D models of watches; in the cutting room lie bags of scrap gold - a 2kg bag of which is worth 60,000. Meanwhile, in a large workshop, as an apprentice practises on scrap material in the corner, the physical magic happens, and men and women painstakingly tweezer together watch components and set priceless diamonds into bespoke necklaces - jewellery makes up 15 per cent of Bucherers product range.

Getty Images

Back in London, and those hitting Selfridges for some self-indulgent early festive season shopping should be warned: there is yet more temptation than normal, in the form of Bucherers truly beautiful Blue Editions.

Twelve of its most highly esteemed brands have created limited runs of watches in the companys signature house blue, a colour which quietly but firmly proclaims its sophistication, seeming to radiate an inner, self-assured light.

Piaget Blue Editions

The Blue Editions include stunning pieces from the likes of IWC Schaffhausen (a Portugieser chronograph, with blue dial and warm red-gold case); Piaget, which redesigned its ultra thin, white gold-cased Altiplano with a blue alligator strap; and Jaeger-LeCoultres Master Ultra Thin in a blue so rich it practically glows on the wrist.

These arent just watches, theyre gorgeous personal statements, so its little wonder that its Millennials driving the market for such limited edition gems.

Watch out Hollywood - the revamped Bucherer 1888 really is a rising star.

Shop 100 per cent luxury Swiss watches with brilliant customer service in stores now and online at bucherer.com/uk
F or when words just arent enough, theres always an emoji thats got your back. And as Apple rolls out its new iOS 11.1 update, mothers everywhere will rejoice in the fact that theres a new icon celebrating something they do every day.

Thanks to one nurse at University College Hospital London, emoji fans will now be able to send a breastfeeding emoji in messages and across social media. The update may be seen by some as long overdue considering that the baby bottle has been knocking around for a few years now but the move could be a step forward in destigmatising breastfeeding.

In an attempt to normalise breastfeeding, Rachel Lee decided to send a proposal to Unicode; a non-profit organisation that develops character codes for software around the world and decides which emojis well be getting next. But while working in a neonatal unit, the nurse soon realised that other mums just dont have the time to complete the lengthy submission process.

Breastfeeding in public is not really a thing, she told the BBC.

There are a lot of people who still have very negative things to say about that and they think that women should be doing that behind closed doors, that its meant to be a private thing but I think by putting it out there in society more people talk about it.

The UK has among the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the world despite the fact that breast milk helps to reduce a whole host of unwanted illnesses from childhood leukaemia to type 2 diabetes.

Breastfeeding has been found to help prevent illness in babies / Shutterstock

However, Lee has been very clear that her new emoji isnt intended to criticise mums who dont breastfeed their babies: I dont want to shut mums out who dont choose to breastfeed because that is their choice and I dont think they should be judged on that.

Im sure they have their reasons and there are so many times that theyre judged as it is that this doesnt need to be another thing.

The debate surrounding breastfeeding isnt new but in recent months there have been moves to stop shaming mothers over a natural act between them and their babies.

Diana Channing took to Instagram as part of the #MeToo viral campaign this week to suggest that sexualising breastfeeding is a form of harassment in itself: What could be more perverse that asking a woman to feel shame for nurturing an innocent life in the way she was biologically designed to do?

While earlier this year, Senator Larissa Waters made headlines when she became the first politician to breastfeed in Australian parliament. Speaking to the BBC World Service, she said that she had hoped to not only be able to feed [her] baby but to send a message to young women that they belong in the parliament.

Waters fed her two-month-old during a vote / EPA

The decision to allow breastfeeding in the lower house followed outrage in 2015 after government minister Kelly ODwyer was requested to express her milk so as to not miss parliamentary duties.

This was despite the fact that breastfeeding mothers are allowed to vote by proxy as part of a parliamentary standing order.

Over five billion emojis are sent on Messenger every day and while its understandable that a crying laughing face might not change the world, the new surge of icons does show a welcome step towards diversity with gender-neutral faces, an elderly person and a person wearing a headscarf among the 56 new icons.

In a further attempt to break stereotypes, the #IWearFlats campaign is asking our favourite symbols to better represent the world around us by including a flat shoe for women. Currently, there are three emojis representing womens shoes and they all have heels.

Different organisations such as Apple take the emojis and redesign them

But Rachel Lee hopes that the power of her emoji will help to change the conversation surrounding breastfeeding: It normalises it a little bit and it allows society to hopefully see it in a different light and not as something that should be hidden.

Emojis are fun, its a fun thing to do and send to your friends.
B onfire Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Night, is on the horizon, with so many spectacular fireworks expected to be set off across the UK.

On top of the enchanting colours that are sure to decorate the sky on Saturday, November 5, there will be the usual toffee apples and sparklers galore. But do you actually know why we remember, remember the fifth of November?

Find out the history of Guy Fawkes Night and why we still celebrate it today below.

What is Bonfire Night?

Every year people gather around in early November to celebrate Bonfire Night across the UK.

There are firework displays in public parks across the country and people light bonfires with an effigy to represent the historical figure Guy Fawkes.

This quintessentially British activity celebrated every year, that refers to an event that could have changed the course of British history almost 400 years ago.

When is Guy Fawkes Night?

Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night, is celebrated on November 5, which this year falls on a Saturday.

Where to celebrate Bonfire Night in London

With incredible panoramic views over London, Ally Pallys fireworks festival will not disappoint.

Adult tickets are 16.50 while children pay 11.50. Act now if you want to attend as tickets are on the final release.

If north London is a little far, Wandsworth Council is putting on a display in Battersea Park, with two days of bonfires and fireworks to immerse yourself in this year. Children under 11 can go for free while adults pay 12.65 for entry.

Wimbledon Park will also be putting on its usual firework display.

Tickets are expected to sell out fast this year as some popular fireworks shows across the UK have been cancelled.

Unfortunately, Hackney has cancelled its Bonfire Night at Clissold Park for the third year running, citing the cost of living crisis as well as environmental concerns.

Hammersmith and Fulham councils have also cancelled their fireworks display.

What is the story behind Guy Fawkess gunpowder plot?

In 1605, a group of Roman Catholic activists arranged the gunpowder plot, but it failed. At the time, King James I reigned over a Protestant England and the group wanted the freedom to practise their religion.

Guy Fawkes, an explosives expert, along with the rest of the group, plotted to assassinate King James and blow up the Palace of Westminster during the state opening of Parliament. Fawkes smuggled 36 barrels into a cellar under the House of Lords.

However, he was caught and sent to the Tower of London, tortured to give up the names of his co-conspirators and then executed in January 1606 for high treason.

Bonfire Night Facts about Guy Fawkes night 1. Guy Fawkes was not the ringleader of the plot to blow up the House of Lords  he was just one of a group of 13 men. The leader was Robert Catesby. Fawkes was the one who had the job of lighting the fuse, and so it was he who was caught in parliaments cellars with 36 barrels of gunpowder. 2. November 5 was initially known as Gunpowder Treason Day and bonfires were lit as a celebration that the King hadnt been killed. 3. The tradition of burning an effigy of Guy Fawkes on a bonfire didnt start until around the 18th century. 4. Fawkes was born a Protestant but converted in his teens.

As a result of the failed plot, James I celebrated his survival by making the people of England have a bonfire on the night on November 5.

Throughout the years, countries belonging to the British Empire also celebrated his failure to blow up Parliament, but it is still a long-standing tradition to honour this day.
A fter all the trick or treating has finished and the over-the-top Halloween costumes have been put away, a holy day for many Christians across the world begins.

While many are more familiar with the Mexican traditions of the Day of the Dead, All Saints Day also celebrates the spiritual bond between those in heaven and the living.

Heres everything you need to know about it:

When is All Saints Day 2017?

The Christian festival that honours all saints and martyrs falls straight after Halloween on November 1 every year  this year it is Wednesday.

What is it and why do Christians celebrate it?

Acknowledging the way Church triumphant and Church militant are linked together, the believers attend church on this sacred day.

Although Saints have been a Christian tradition since the fourth century AD, all martyrs were not remembered until 609 AD. Pope Boniface IV introduced the beginnings of this long standing tradition.

Originally the celebrations were held on May 13 and it was known as Feast of All Holy Martyrs. But in 837 AD the date was changed to November 1 - as it remains today. Pope Gregory IV moved the date of the festival to commemorate all of the saints. He changed the name of the holiday to Feast of All Saints.

Catrinas Parade: Day of the Dead 2017 - In pictures 1 /26 Catrinas Parade: Day of the Dead 2017 - In pictures People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People participate in the the parade of 'Catrinas', in Mexico City, Mexico EPA People participate in the the parade of 'Catrinas' in Mexico City, Mexico EPA A woman disguised as "Catrina" (Mexican representation of death) takes part in the "Catrinas Parade" along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People march in the Grand Procession of the 'Catrinas', part of upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations, in Mexico City AP People march in the Grand Procession of the 'Catrinas', part of upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations, in Mexico City AP People dressed as Mexico's iconic 'Catrina' march in the Grand Procession of the Catrinas, part of upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City AP People march in the Grand Procession of the 'Catrinas', part of upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations, in Mexico City AP A woman dressed as Mexico's iconic 'Catrina' awaits the start of the Grand Procession of the Catrinas, part of upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City AP People participate in the the parade of 'Catrinas' in Mexico City, Mexico EPA A woman has her face painted ahead of the Grand Procession of the "Catrinas," part of upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City AP People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images People fancy dressed as 'Catrina' take part in the 'Catrinas Parade' along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images A person participates in the the parade of 'Catrinas' in Mexico City, Mexico EPA

Here in the UK, along with all other English speaking countries a hymn For All Saints by Walsham How is sung and candles are lit to honour the saints.

Is there a difference between All Saints Day and Day of the Dead?

In Mexico, Portugal, Guatemala and Spain offerings are also made on the day to the saints, but the festivities run from October 31 to November 2 to pray for lost loved ones and help them through their journey after passing.
A man accused of leaving two people partially blind and others disfigured in an acid attack at a London nightclub today told a court he grabbed a bottle which turned out to contain acid in an effort to save a woman from having her drink spiked.

Arthur Collins, 25, who is the father of The Only Way Is Essex star Ferne McCann's unborn child, said he overheard two men plotting to spike a woman's drink before the attack in east London on April 17, the court heard.

Collins said he heard two males he had never seen before talking in the moments leading up to the alleged attack, while he was upstairs in the club.

He said: "I heard them saying, 'you spike her, you do it'."

"I called them d***heads. I thought they was going to spike a girl's drink."

Collins, who has two brothers and four sisters, claimed one of his sisters had her drink spiked at a day party on April 16.

He said: "I knew a lot of girls in that night in the club. That's why I said what I thought of them.

"I have got four sisters and I was brought up to respect women. There's some things you don't do."

Collins, who has a previous conviction for assault over a 2015 incident in a nightclub, said: "When I got to the bottom of the stairs, I was tapped on the shoulder. I turned around and it was one of the males."

He said there was a brief verbal altercation, adding: "Then he got quite aggressive and threatened me. He said, 'don't shout at me like that. How about we spike you, you mug'."

Collins told jurors he then saw a "tiny, mini water bottle" in the man's left hand.

"I thought that was the date rape drug they was on about spiking girls' drinks with," he said.

"I snatched it out of his hand ... my friend Andre kept telling him to 'calm down'."

Collins is charged alongside Andre Phoenix, 21. They are alleged to have sprayed the crowd with acid at Mangle E8 nightclub in Dalston, east London.

Collins, denies five counts of grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, and nine counts of actual bodily harm (ABH) against 14 people. Phoenix denies four counts of GBH and two counts of ABH.

Collins does not deny throwing the liquid but claims not to have known it was acid.

He said the men were "really aggressive" as they came towards him in an attempt to get the bottle back.

"At this time I was pissed off," he said. "I remember undoing the bottle and I threw it at the males."

Collins said he threw the liquid two or three times near Phoenix's face and up in the air towards the men.

His barrister, George Carter-Stephenson QC, asked: "At the time you threw it, what was your intention?"

Collins replied: "I wanted to show them the drugs was gone so they wouldn't spike any girl's drink and show them there was nothing left in the bottle."

His lawyer said: "Did you have any idea that bottle contained a corrosive substance?"

"No, I didn't. No, never, no," Collins replied.

He insisted he had no idea anyone had been seriously injured during the incident, adding: "I was never aware no-one was hurt or anything."
T V star Ferne McCanns ex-boyfriend has admitted dousing clubbers with acid but claims he thought it was a date rape drug.

Arthur Collins, 25, who is the father of The Only Way Is Essex star's unborn child, said he threw the liquid following an argument with two men in Mangle E8 nightclub in Dalston, east London.

Giving evidence at Wood Green Crown Court, he told jurors he had snatched a small bottle off one of them after overhearing them planning to spike a girl's drink.

But he insisted he had no idea it contained a corrosive substance when he threw its contents two or three times in the air in the early hours of April 17.

Asked about his intentions by his barrister George Carter-Stephenson QC, Collins said: "I wanted to show them the drugs was gone so they wouldn't spike any girl's drink and show them there was nothing left in the bottle."

CCTV footage showed victims clutching their faces and running off the dancefloor after Collins was seen dousing revellers with the unidentified substance later found to have contained a liquid with a rating of pH1 - indicating a strong acid.

But Collins told jurors: "I was never aware no-one was hurt or anything."

He is standing trial alongside Andre Phoenix, 21, over the alleged attack, in which more than a dozen people were injured.

Collins told jurors he had been in a serious relationship with McCann for around a year at the time of the incident, and had found out the TV personality was pregnant just weeks earlier.

"It was the happiest I have ever felt. We were both really happy," he said.

Collins, who entered the club wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Candy Killer", said he knew a lot of people in the club and he and his group were "having a good time".

He denied being drunk when he heard two males he had never seen before saying: "You spike her, you do it."

"I called them dickheads. I thought they was going to spike a girl's drink," said Collins.

"I knew a lot of girls in that night in the club. That's why I said what I thought of them.

"I have got four sisters and I was brought up to respect women. There's some things you don't do."

Collins, who has a previous conviction for assault over a 2015 incident in a nightclub, said a row erupted before he saw a "tiny, mini water bottle" in one of the men's left hands.

"I thought that was the date rape drug they was on about spiking girls' drinks with," he said.

"I snatched it out of his hand ... my friend Andre kept telling him to 'calm down'."

He said the men were "really aggressive" as they came towards him in an attempt to get the bottle back.

Before Collins gave evidence on Wednesday, jurors were told that a number of the charges against him and Phoenix have been dropped following legal argument.

Collins, of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, denies five counts of grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, and nine counts of actual bodily harm (ABH) against 14 people.

Phoenix, of Clyde Road, Tottenham, north London, denies four counts of GBH and two counts of (ABH).
A gang has been jailed for using cloned Oyster cards to claim more than 370,000 in refunds.

The criminals made hundreds of cloned cards, and recruited others to visit tube stations across London to use them, taking a cut from the refunds.

Police launched a probe in 2015 when Transport for London reported that older Oyster cards were being used repeatedly at ticket machines to obtain multiple refunds.

Known as first generation cards, they had been replaced with new ones which were more secure.

But the gang had managed to clone the old cards, which were shipped from Hong Kong, and programmed them to show they had credit on when they did not.

They recruited people to visit London Underground stations to get cash refunds from the machines for 10 to 13 per card each time.

Officers identified and arrested 16 people involved in the scam.

Analysis of mobile phone records led them to identify the kingpins behind the operation - Remy Rankin, Nathan Jeffrey-Payne, Prince Henry, Jahmai Turner, Oliver Kassrongo and Brandon Massia.

They were arrested in August and October last year, and forensics linked them to the cloned oyster cards which had been shipped from Hong Kong.

Although Payne claimed to have no income, he had bought a BMW car for 20,000 in cash at the height of the operation in July 2016. They were jailed at Blackfriars Crown Court on Friday.

Rankin, 27, of Hatfield, Hertfordshire was sentenced to seven years jail after he was convicted of two counts of fraud.

Other members admitted their roles at the start of the trial.

Jeffrey-Payne, 28, of Ilford, east London, was jailed for six years and nine months for two counts of fraud and one count of money laundering.

Henry, 28, of Wood Green, north London, got four years jail for two counts of fraud.

Turner, 30, of Hornsey, north London, was sentenced to four years and 11 months in prison for two counts of fraud.

Kassrongo, 19, of Hackney, east London and Massia, 19, of Barnet, north London both admitted one count of fraud and got 18 months prison each.

Shashi Verma, Chief Technology Officer at TfL, said: Fraud like this is rare and we have robust monitoring and controls to identify and stop such activity.

"We work very closely with the British Transport Police to tackle it and welcome that these individuals have been brought to justice.
A 1.6 million support centre is to open for victims families and survivors of the Grenfell tower disaster.

The Family and Friends Assistance Centre will help people access support, including NHS post-traumatic stress disorder and child bereavement support.

It will also provide guidance on the public inquiry into the tragedy, police and victim support, and the coroners inquests.

The centre, off Kensington High Street, will be the long-term replacement for a temporary base set up in Holborn after the tower block blaze on June 14 which killed about 80 people.

It will be run and funded by Kensington and Chelsea council. It follows pressure from survivors to provide community support within the borough.

Grenfell Tower aftermath - In pictures 1 /18 Grenfell Tower aftermath - In pictures The top section of the death trap Grenfell Tower Jeremy Selwyn The tower today, after the flames were extinguished Jeremy Selwyn A close up of the tower's damaged windows PA Fire service personnel survey the damage PA The tower today, after it emerged at least 17 were killed Jeremy Selwyn Rows of blackened windows after the fire Jeremy Selwyn Police sent in sniffer dogs today to search for bodies Jeremy Selwyn PA The Grenfell Tower at dawn today Jeremy Selwyn Donations have flooded in for victims Jeremy Selwyn Water is sprayed on Grenfell Tower PA Rows and rows of blackened windows. It is feared over one hundred people may have perished Jeremy Selwyn Part of the scorched facade of the Grenfell Tower in London as firefighting continue to damp-down the deadly fire AP Fire crews examine the wreckage PA

Nicholas Burton, 50, who escaped from his 19th-floor flat with his wife on the night of the blaze, said: We requested it to be in Kensington High Street, and they have agreed to move it back into the borough and where people can actually get to.

A separate drop-in general assistance centre will continue to operate from The Curve, in Bard Road, near Latimer Road station. Kim Taylor-Smith, deputy leader of Kensington and Chelsea council, said: We are determined to do everything we can to provide the vital help and assistance victims and survivors need.

Today a row broke out over draft Government plans that would not require sprinklers to be fitted in schools. A consultation was dropped after Grenfell so the guidance was never changed.

However it emerged that the London Fire Brigade recommended sprinklers in 184 new or refurbished schools last year, but its advice was taken in only four cases.

London fire commissioner Dany Cotton told the BBC that the draft guidance was outrageous.
P lans for a third runway at Heathrow could be stalled as new research revealed Gatwick could still be a viable option for airport expansion.

Gatwick Airport said it still has a "credible, privately-financed runway plan", after a report published by the Government suggested it could offer greater economic benefits than the Heathrow expansion.

A public consultation on Heathrow has been reopened following the results series of reports from the Department of Transport (DfT) into the impact of building a third runway at Heathrow. The reports also considered extending Heathrow's northern runway or expanding Gatwick.

Analysis found that opting for the Heathrow expansion - the Government's preferred option - increases the risk of the UK breaching air pollution limits, while Gatwick was shown to offer greater economical reward.

The reports predicted that the total benefits to passengers and the wider economy would be worth up to 75.4bn at Gatwick, compared with 74.2bn at Heathrow.

This reverses an assessment by the Independent Airports Commission, which backed a third runway at Heathrow in 2015 after concluding it would be more advantageous to the economy.

A consultation on the draft Airports National Policy Statement (NPS) - which sets out the Government's support for expanding the west London hub - initially closed in May, but has now been reopened until December 19.

Another DfT report warned that expanding Heathrow with either a third runway or an extended northern runway could contribute to the UK breaching EU air quality limits.

A second runway at Gatwick has a "low risk" of leading to the UK breaking pollution rules, according to the study.

New analysis has shown that Gatwick may still be an option for expansion / PA Archive/PA Images

A Gatwick spokesman said: "We will look carefully at this new consultation material which is long and detailed. We continue to offer a credible privately-financed runway plan to the Government."

The DfT insisted it was "on track" to publish final proposals for expansion in the first half of 2018 for a vote in Parliament. They said that an updated Heathrow would be more accessible due to HS2, Crossrail and six more domestic flight routes.

The airport hopes to begin construction in early 2021, with the runway completed by the end of 2025.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said the case for expanding Heathrow is as strong as ever.

A Heathrow spokesman said: "The forecasts show expanding Heathrow, the UK's only hub airport, is even more important than previously realised.

"A third runway will ensure Britain's place in the world as an outward-looking trading nation. That's why the Government has committed to a final vote on expansion in the first half of 2018."
B ritain could end up with a bare bones Brexit deal which business chiefs are warning could further hit the economy, a Cabinet minister admitted today.

Brexit Secretary David Davis also told MPs that he believes the UK can get agreement with Brussels on a trade deal within a year - an aim which many experts have dismissed as over-optimistic.

He also outlined the Governments aim to agree the form of a transition deal, possibly of two years, in December, or at least shortly afterwards.

However, Mr Davis stressed that Britain wanted all the negotiations to be concluded, including on the trade deal and transition/implementation period by Brexit Day in March 2019.

Davis expects 'exciting' Brexit negotiations to go down to the wire

He also made clear that he expects the negotiations may well go down to the wire as often happens in EU talks and that the UK does not want to be having to agree a trade deal after March 2019. given that its negotiating position could be weakened having already left the EU.

Appearing before the Commons Brexit committee, Mr Davis said: What we are intending to do is get the form of the implementation period agreed quickly - December or thereabouts. But we want to conclude the overall negotiation by 2019, he said.

There are a number of reasons for that. One of them is: what is the implementation period taking you towards?

Are you going from where we are now to a free trade agreement? Are you going from where we are now to what you might call a bare bones agreement, which is WTO (World Trade Organisation) plus agreements on the fundamentals like aviation, and so on? So you need to know where you are going.

We are aiming for the conclusion of negotiations on all fronts - on the grounds that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed - by the end of March 2019.

A Government spokesman said: 'We are leaving the EU in March 2019 and have committed to a meaningful vote in Parliament on the final deal once it has been negotiated. Today the Secretary of State was asked a number of hypothetical questions about the process but to be clear: the final deal will be agreed before we leave, and MPs will get a vote on it.

Business chiefs have warned that having to rely on WTO rules to trade with the Continent, which would mean more tariffs on cars and other goods, would hit the economy.

Mr Davis also indicated that Britain may pay billions of pounds for EU pension liabilities as part of a political deal.

Asked about a demand for a payment reported to be up to 10 billion pounds towards the pensions of current European Commission officials, he said: I will have to make some political judgments later on, rather than legal ones.

The legal basis is not strong for many of the claims.

Mr Davis confirmed that the EU side had discussed a total divorce payment of 100 billion euros at one stage, saying the sum was one of the aspirations.

British legal experts have advised the Government that there is no legal requirement on the UK to pay a Brexit settlement, according to Whitehall sources. However, Theresa May last week signalled that she is prepared to pay tens of billions for the sake of a trade agreement.

In her Florence speech, the Prime Minister confirmed she will pay for existing budget commitments, adding up to around 18 billion.

But in the Brussels summit last week she signalled she could agree more, telling leaders of the 27 other countries that the Florence speech was not the final word.

Mr Davis today comments came after Theresa May appeared to suggest in the Commons that there could be no deal on a transition until there was agreement on Britains future relationship with EU - including a potential deal on free trade.

Her intervention led to warnings that businesses could be facing a cliff edge break when Britain leaves the EU in March 2019 if there is no overall deal.

Pressed by committee chairman Hilary Benn on whether he thought a free trade and customs agreement could be concluded in a year, he said: Yes.

The leaders of the other 27 EU member states agreed in Brussels last week to begin discussions among themselves on the transitional arrangements.

Mr Davis also told American banking chiefs not to waste your money by starting now to move staff and offices from the City to Frankfurt or Paris.

If I was being asked this in front of a bunch of American bankers I would give them advice to save their money for the moment, at least until January, he said.

Goldman Sachs has piled pressure on the Government over the Brexit talks, with the US banks chief executive, Lloyd Blankfein, saying he expected to be spending a lot more time in Frankfurt.
H alf of employers believe Brexit will have a negative impact on young people in the UK, according to a new report.

A survey of 800 managers by the Young Women's Trust found that only one in four thought quitting the EU would benefit those aged under 30.

Another poll by the charity, of 4,000 young people, showed that two out of five were anxious about the future outside the EU.

Young Women's Trust chief executive Carole Easton said: "Employers and young people alike tell us they are worried about young people's prospects post-Brexit.

"Young people - and young women especially - are already struggling with low pay and increasing prices in the shops.

"We are finding that they are increasingly relying on food banks and falling into debt and the worry is that this could get worse unless the Government takes action."

It comes after former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg said Brexit was "stupidest thing any country has ever done" - apart from electing Donald Trump US president.
G overnment minister Jo Johnson today rapped a senior Tory whip for writing to universities asking for the names of professors lecturing on Brexit and details of their courses.

Universities minister Mr Johnson said the letter from Chris Heaton-Harris should probably not have been sent in this way.

However, he insisted it was more of an academic inquiry rather than any attempt to constrain academic freedoms.

Mr Johnson took to the airwaves after staunch Brexiteer Mr Heaton-Harris infuriated academics with his letter which also asked for details of online lectures on Britains departure from the EU.

The letter from Chris Heaton-Harris / PA

Lord Patten, the former Conservative party chairman who is now chancellor of Oxford University, was one of the most outspoken, condemning the letter as an extraordinary example of outrageous and foolish behaviour, offensive and idiotic Leninism.

Speaking on BBC radio, Mr Johnson was asked at least four times whether the letter should have been sent before saying: A letter that could have been misinterpreted should probably not have been sent in this way.

He added: Chris, who is a super cerebral Member of Parliament was acting in an individual capacity as an MP rather than as a representative of the Government.

Chris has got a very long-standing interest in European affairs and the history of European thought and he, Ive spoken to him, was pursuing inquiries of his own that may in time lead to a book on these questions.

It was more of an academic inquiry rather than an attempt to constrain the freedom that academics rightly have.

Chris Heaton-Harris has been criticised for sending a "sinister" letter to universities which requested the names of professors teaching about Brexit / PA

He probably did not appreciate the extent to which this was going to be misinterpreted.

The critical thing is that Government is absolutely committed to academic freedom and to freedom of speech in our university system.

Mr Johnson also rejected some of the accusations including from Lord Patten, saying: To describe this as Leninism is a gross exaggeration.

Chris (Heaton-Harris) is of course not pursing any project of political re-education to dispel false consciousness in our universities.

Mr Heaton-Harris tweeted yesterday afternoon after the row broke: To be absolutely clear, I believe in free speech in our universities and in having an open and vigorous debate on Brexit.

Opposition MPs seized on his letter but some Tory MPs have defended him.

Tory MP for Sutton and Cheam Paul Scully tweeted a picture of a pro-Remain leaflet he says an engineering lecturer handed out to his daughter at university.

But Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: The universities minister should have wasted no time calling out this divisive and fundamentally illiberal attempt to put pressure on academics over Brexit.

Instead he came up with excuses that raise more questions than answers.
T he Briton who faced three months in a Dubai jail for touching a mans hip in a bar has landed back in the UK after being freed.

Jamie Harron, 27, was given an emotional welcome by family and friends after touching down at Glasgow Airport late on Tuesday evening.

He was sentenced to three months in prison after he was arrested in July and accused of putting his hand on a man's hip to avoid spilling a drink in a crowded bar.

Mr Harron said he was relieved to be back on home soil after facing the prospect of three years in a UAE jail.

He said: "It feels very good, I'm very happy to be home.

Despite branding his ordeal a "complete shambles", Mr Harron told reporters he would not rule out returning to Dubai.

Jamie Harron is reunited with his dad Graham at Glasgow Airport / PA

He said: "I would go back through work once everything has been cleared for me.

"I'm not going back in a hurry, but I would go back later on.

Mr Harron was freed after Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum made a special intervention / PA

"I think I've been caught up in a bad situation.

"I didn't see light at the end of the tunnel to be honest."

Asked what the first thing he would do when he got home was, the electrician added: "Get in a good bed, it's been a total shambles.

Jamie Harron hugs his mother Patricia as he arrives at Glasgow Airport after being freed / PA

"It's just total shock I feel. I get to sleep in my own bed because I've been sleeping on my mate's couch for three and half months.

"I can't believe it's been four months in total."

Mr Harron speaks to the press after touching down on Tuesday evening / PA

Campaign group Detained in Dubai (DiD), which has been representing Mr Harron, said he was sentenced to three months imprisonment at court on Sunday, but had his passport returned on Monday after authorities dropped the charges.

Radha Stirling, chief executive of DiD, then thanked Sheikh Mohammed, the Prime Minister of the UAE, for his personal intervention in the case.

She said: "This was a courageous and honourable decision on the part of Sheikh Mohammed, and while it highlights the urgent need for judicial reform in the country, it is also a hopeful sign that the United Arab Emirates' leadership possesses the will and vision to pursue such reforms in the future."

Mr Harron, from Stirling, had been working in Afghanistan and was on a two-day stopover in the United Arab Emirates in the summer.

But after his arrest for "public indecency", he lost his job and was told he faced up to three years in jail.

He was sentenced "in absentia" to 30 days in prison for failing to appear at a court hearing for making a rude gesture and drinking alcohol in the incident.

This resulted in him being locked up for five days at Al Barsha prison, before he was bailed and his passport confiscated.

After authorities intervened, Dubai police contacted Mr Harron on Monday morning, telling him the case against him had been dismissed and he could collect his passport.
B rits have shunned Europe in favour of more far-flung destinations in a bid to get more for their money after Brexit.

Holidaymakers seeking a half term break are more likely to fly to the likes of America, Morocco and Turkey instead of EU hotspots after the pound plunged against the Euro following the 2016 referendum.

Travel experts have claimed uncertainty amid Brexit negotiations sparked the shift in travel habits.

The pound is currently valued at 1.1251 Euros, according to XE Currency.

Bookings for international flights to medium and long-haul destinations are up 15 per cent compared with October half term last year, according to figures from Europes largest online travel company eDreams ODIGEO.

The United States was the top long-haul destination this year, with bookings up 27 per cent.

Among the top five destinations further afield were Turkey, Morocco, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel.

The US was the most popular destination for Brits this year ( Jacob Creswick/Unsplash) / Jacob Creswick/Unsplash

Separate figures from travel market researchers ForwardKeys showed long-haul bookings from the UK over the same period this year were seven per cent ahead of the equivalent period last year.

Travel to Europe only increased by 5.1 per cent.

Chief executive Olivier Jager said: No doubt, the decline in the value of sterling and media stories about tourism overcrowding in certain parts of Europe during the summer have made long-haul destinations appear relatively more attractive.

Top medium and long-haul destinations US Turkey Morocco UAE Israel Lebanon Mexico Tunisia Canada Jordan (eDreams at ODIGEO)

The UAE deserves a special mention for attracting a relatively high proportion of outbound travel.

Data on flight trends from lastminute.com showed that Greece and Turkey are making a comeback for Londoners.

Trips to Antalya, Turkey, increased 80 per cent on last year, and Corfu was rated as the top destination for travellers to Greece.

Tourists are increasingly choosing UAE as a holiday destination, which is known for its luxury airlines (PA ) / PA

Meanwhile, more Europeans, mainly from Germany and Austria, are choosing London as their top destination, after the UK was named one of the worlds best-value travel destinations by Lonely Planet.

Arrivals to the capital from Austria grew by 81 per cent and bookings from Germany by 48 per cent, with an overall 15 per cent growth in visitors compared to last year.

The head of eDREAMS UK, Robert McNamara, said: London is a hugely popular destination for holidaymakers from across the Channel and October half term proved no exception. Weve seen a significant 15 per cent spike in the number of Europeans flying to London for the holiday week."

He noted attractions such as the new Harry Potter exhibition at the British Library and the museums as possible reasons why Europeans are choosing to travel to London.

In July, the number of UK visitors rose about four million for the first time, according to the Office for National Statistics.
C offee lovers are shunning Costa in favour of more upmarket alternatives, latest sales growth figures have suggested.

Costas sales rose just 0.1 per cent in the last quarter to August compared with 1.1 per cent in the three months before  a massive drop for the high street chain which saw sales fly by seven per cent three years ago.

It comes as Britain is reportedly entering a third wave of coffee with drinkers adopting more sophisticated tastes with a higher price tag and quality, the boss of Costas parent company Whitbread said.

The cost of importing coffee into the UK has risen since the Brexit vote and is combined with higher labour costs because of the new national living wage and apprenticeship levy, the Daily Mail reported.

Costa has more than 2,300 stores across the UK. / Getty Images

Alison Brittain, the chief executive of Whitbread, told the Mail shoppers are now willing to spend more per cup for higher quality and innovative drinks.

She added there was a chance for mainstream coffee shops to appeal to more sophisticated drinkers.

But Jeffrey Young, at industry analyst Allegra Strategies, the UK is already in the fifth wave of coffee which appeals to millennials who are after well-designed quality products and fresh food.

Whitbreads entire group profits rose 20 per cent in the six months to the end of August.
M Ps have launched an inquiry into the effects of electronic cigarettes over concerns that there are significant gaps in knowledge over the impact that they have on health.

The Science and Technology committees investigation will address the health risks of e-cigarettes, as well as their effectiveness as a tool to help smokers quit.

Addressing the gap in knowledge surrounding e-cigarettes, Norman Lamb, MP, and chair of the Science and Technology committee said:

They are seen by some as valuable tools that will reduce the number of people smoking conventional cigarettes, and seen by others as re-normalising smoking for the younger generation.

He continued: "As a relatively new innovation, we also need to understand more about the potential long-term health impacts of vaping and its impact on public health and the NHS. It is crucial that the public has access to clear evidence on the potential benefits and risks of these products so that they can make informed decisions."

Currently in the UK, almost 3 million people use e-cigarettes, with many using them as a tool to quit smoking.

The UK Vaping Industry Association has said that it welcomes the inquiry and that it is keen to demonstrate that vaping is a healthier alternative to regular cigarettes.

With Public Health England recently endorsing vaping products in their Stoptober campaign, and the Royal College of Physicians, Cancer Research UK and the Royal Society of Public Health backing e-cigarettes as well, the evidence base for vaping is growing and growing. A spokesperson for the association said.

This will be an excellent opportunity to robustly interrogate the science behind e-cigarettes, and firmly establish vaping as the best way to change the lives of smokers in the UK.

Want to give up vaping this year? / Shutterstock

Globally, there has been conflicting research into e-cigarettes. A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine last year, compared vapers to regular smokers in their likelihood to develop cancer. The study determined that e-cigarettes were less carcinogenic than conventional cigarettes.

However, a study carried out by the University of Northern Carolina, suggested that e-cigarettes could be as dangerous as regular cigarettes, as vapers tested showed high levels of proteins linked to potentially life threatening lung conditions such as Cystic Fibrosis and Lupus.

In the UK, the Public Health England has so far found no evidence that e-cigarettes are acting as a gateway to smoking.

Mark Pawsey MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on E-cigarettes said:I am pleased that my colleagues in Parliament are showing an interest in vaping, as the All Party Parliamentary Group on E-cigarettes will be shortly releasing our first report on the impact of this technology on the nations health as well."

Mr Pawsey said that he believes that vaping could represent a "a huge public health opportunity for this country.
P rosecutors today announced a major drive to recruit terrorism lawyers, warning of a surge in cases involving Islamist and far-Right extremists.

Sue Hemming, the Crown Prosecution Services head of counter-terrorism, said her team had doubled in size to cope with cases emerging from Syria and the rise of Islamic State, as well as the recent attacks here. But she said even more lawyers were required.

In further remarks, Ms Hemming also delivered a veiled rebuff to the governments terror watchdog, Max Hill QC.

He has said that it would be desirable if no specialist counter-terrorism laws were needed, with suspects prosecuted using the ordinary criminal law instead.

But Ms Hemming said: We must recognise that specific counter terrorism powers are necessary, and acting early to safeguard public safety means that traditional investigative powers are not always sufficient.

"Prosecutors need offences available to prosecute those who rightly need to be brought to justice, where traditional criminal offences do not fit conduct that rightly calls for punishment.

We use offences such as murder, conspiracy to murder, explosive substances or incitement to hatred, but in many cases conduct needs to be prosecuted using the wide range of terrorism offences available to us.

These include acts preparatory to terrorism, attending terrorist training, support for a proscribed organisation and distribution of terrorist material.

She added that even when we charge using ordinary criminal offences, we do so as a terrorist connection because that allowed judges to impose stronger sentences.

Ms Hemmings most striking comments, however, were about the demands placed on prosecutors by the substantial increase in terrorism cases.

Terrorism-related arrests hit a record of 304 in the year to the end of March, up 18 per cent on the previous 12 months.

There had also been a 55 per cent increase in terrorism trials in the past year, with an 86 per cent conviction rate.

Speaking at the National Security Summit, Ms Hemming said: Much of the increase has been from [Islamic State] or similarly inspired activity, but we have also seen an increase in extreme Right-wing activity.

We have doubled the size of our team and we are still growing; we have a recruitment campaign for more prosecutors being launched shortly to help us deal with further increases.

Ms Hemming also gave an insight into the scale of social media evidence being gathered to bring terrorists to justice. She said that most, if not all, cases involve substantial amounts of digital material and this has been growing significantly over the last few years.

She added: The average terrorist case has around four terabytes of material  the more significant ones have over 10 terabytes and the biggest ones, well in excess of 20.

To give you some concept of quantity, you would need about 125 empty iPads with no apps or content to store four terabytes of material.

Her comments follow the disclosure by Met Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, the countrys top counter-terrorism officer, that police have used social media and other digital evidence to prepare prosecutions against many of the British terrorist fighters abroad.

Last week, Mr Hill suggested some returning Islamic State fighters should be reintegrated into society, rather than prosecuted, as they were naive.

Mr Rowley said it had so far not been possible to gather enough material to charge all returning fighters. Today, he told the summit greater co-operation was needed from tech firms, which should follow the example of banks.

He said: The relationship with the social media sector is positive... but they are not always as enthusiastic about tipping us off when they spot somebody of concern. If we dont tackle that then the ungoverned overseas  those parts of countries that are in a parlous state as we have seen in Syria and northern Iraq  those ungoverned locations can be connected to our communities through the online world.
D onald Trump has hit out after reports that Hilary Clintons team bankrolled a sleazy dossier of allegations linking him to Russia.

Former British spy Christopher Steele compiled the so-called golden showers dossier on the future presidents ties to the nation.

The dossier, which circulated in Washington last year and was turned over to the FBI for its review, contends that Russia was engaged in a longstanding effort to aid Mr Trump.

Responding to reports that Clintons team paid for the research, the US leader wrote on Twitter: The victim here is the President."

The dossier became subject to congressional probes into alleged Russian interference in the US election.

Mr Trump has repeatedly dismissed the documents as "fake news" and in recent days has questioned on Twitter whether Democrats or the FBI had helped fund it.

He had also previously suggested it was funded by political opponents.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted on Tuesday: "The real Russia scandal? Clinton campaign paid for the fake Russia dossier, then lied about it & covered it up."

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that Marc Elias, a lawyer for the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC), brokered a deal with a political research firm called Fusion GPS to conduct the research.

Fusions GPS is then reported to have employed Mr Steele to produce the dossier. It is not known how much Fusion GPS was paid for the alleged work.

The deal was struck in spring last year and last until just before election day.

Ex-MI6 agent behind Trump Russia dossier breaks silence

When Fusion approached Mr Elias, it had already been doing research work on Mr Trump for an unnamed client during the Republican primary.

It is not clear what the research firm had unearthed by the time law firm hired them in April 2016.

The earliest report from Mr Steele dates to June 2016, two months later, according to a copy of the dossier published by BuzzFeed last year.

The copy contained lurid but unsubstantiated details about Mr Trump's alleged perverted conduct, including extraordinary claims prostitutes performed a fetish act on him in 2013 at Russian capital's Ritz Carlton Hotel. Moscow denied possessing compromising material on Mr Trump.

Some material in the reports produced by the former British intelligence officer has since proved to be wrong, according to US officials, though most of his past work is considered to be credible.

Returning to work: Former MI6 agent Christopher Steele who compiled a dossier on Donald Trump / PA

Intelligence officers briefed the Republican and then president Barack Obama about the contents of the document in January after it began circulating among intelligence agencies, senior members of Congress and government officials.

After reports of the dossier emerged, Mr Trump branded them "fake news" and bemoaned a "political witch hunt".

It is also unclear how much money Fusion was paid or how many others in the Clinton campaign or DNC were aware that the firm had been retained.

A DNC spokeswoman said chairman Tom Perez had not been involved in the decision-making and was unaware that Mr Elias's law firm Perkins Coie was working with Fusion GPS.

"But let's be clear, there is a serious federal investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia, and the American public deserves to know what happened," the statement said.

Mr Elias did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Fusion GPS declined to comment.

Ms Clinton has not commented.

Former Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said he regretted not knowing about Mr Steele's being hired before the election.

He said he would have "volunteered to go to Europe and try to help him" had he known.

"I have no idea what Fusion or Steele were paid but if even a shred of that dossier ends up helping Mueller, it will prove money well spent," he tweeted.


E minem has won 315,000 from a New Zealand political party after it ripped off one of his most famous songs for an election advert.

The conservative National party will be forced to pay the rap legend NZ$600,000 after it used a track with a similar melody and rhythm to Eminem's 'Lose Yourself' in a 2014 election advert.

The tune, titled 'Eminem Esque', was only slightly different to the original, leading the New Zealand High Court to rule it was "sufficiently similar" to count as copyright infringement.

The news comes less than a week after the National Party was forced out of government following the successful formation of a Labour-led coalition government last week.

The judgement weighed up the drum patterns, background chords and violin tones of both tracks, all of which were said to have "close similarities".

The party's lawyers said that the song used was not actually 'Lose Yourself' but a song purchased from an online stock music library.

Soundalike music producers operate worldwide, offering relatively cheap tracks for independent and low-budget productions.

Their offerings are designed to imitate popular songs which would normally require huge sums of money to acquire the rights to.

The National party's lawyers also tried to challenge the "inherent originality" of the song, claiming it "substantially borrowed from other music and genres" and the sections copied were "too generic" to be considered copyright infringement.

'Lose Yourself', the lead single from the soundtrack to Eminem's 2002 semi-autobiographical film '8 Mile', is one of the rapper's biggest hits, winning the Academy Award for best original song in 2003 and a Grammy for best rap song in 2004.

Adam Simpson, director of Simpsons solicitors, which acted on behalf of Eminem's music company, Eight Mile Style, and writers Jeff Bass and Luis Resto, said: "This decision is a warning to soundalike music producers and their clients everywhere.

"The ruling clarifies and confirms the rights of artists and songwriters. It sets a major precedent in New Zealand and will be influential in Australia, the UK and elsewhere."

Eminem previously sued Apple for using 'Lose Yourself' in one of its TV commercials without permission in 2004.

The advert was used in National's successful 2014 campaign, rather than this years. Last month it won the biggest share of the 2017 vote but New Zealand's proportional representation system meant a bloc combing Labour, New Zealand First and the Green party sent National back to the opposition benches.
A n entire breeding herd of rhinos has been shot and killed in horrific scenes in South Africa.

The rhinos were almost valueless to poachers as their horns had already been removed, but they were shot and killed anyway in two separate attacks after they were tracked down on a game reserve.

Their distraught owner said he had spent years building up the herd of three males and two females and they were all at the stage to mate.

But two senseless attacks in a three weeks at Wildschutsberg Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape wiped them out.

The rhinos had already had their safely horns removed in a bid to put off poachers

Owner Greg Harvey said: It is just madness. I had five rhinos of breeding age and they are gone in the blink of an eye. My entire rhino population wiped out.

Four rhinos were dehorned as a counter-poaching measure earlier this year leaving only little stumps of horn so it was an absolutely pointless slaughter.

They still cut out the small bits that remained but would have got very little he said.

The five rhinos were killed in two separate attacks over the last three weeks

The poachers first struck earlier this month when they shot two male rhinos dead. On Sunday they shot a female and a young male dead and wounded one female.

Mr Harvey and a team of vets spent most of the day trying to save the female which still had her horn but sadly were unable to save her and she died in front of them.

It is suspected that a syndicate targeted the reserve using inside information as the existence of the herd was a closely kept secret and the animals were constantly on the move.

In 2014 Mr Harvey had two breeding rhino bulls shot dead by high powered hunting rifles and took the decision to build a new breeding herd which carried no horns.

But the poachers nevertheless shot them all dead and fled with little of value and the police Endangered Species Unit has been called in along with trackers to try and find them.

The two bulls killed earlier this month were about 10 years of age and shot in broad daylight.

Mr Harvey said: I got a panicked call saying it looks like there had been a poaching so I launched the helicopter and spotted two rhinos dead 300m apart in the bush.

Unfortunately attempts to track and locate the poachers failed.

In the latest attack three rhinos  two females aged about 8 and 15 and a four year old male where shot. A staff member spotted them on the floor in the distance.

It was only when I got there in the helicopter we saw one was still alive and got the vet out but unfortunately she succumbed to her injuries and died, he said.

Mr Harvey said he suspected a member of staff gave information to the poachers.

He said: These rhinos are roaming all day and night so no one knows where they are. The only way you would know where to look would be with inside information.

The furious game park boss has ordered all his staff to undertake a lie detector test.

Police in the South African province said they were investigating.
A production assistant has claimed Harvey Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her in his childs bedroom while she was on her period.

Mimi Haleyi said on Tuesday that she was assaulted by the movie mogul in his New York City apartment in 2006 when she was in her 20s.

She said she was aspiring to work in television and film production when she was first introduced to him at the London premiere of The Aviator around two years earlier and he helped her get experience on the set of a TV show being produced by The Weinstein Company.

But, she added, he repeatedly hassled her and even tried to force himself through her front door in an effort to get her to join him on a trip to Paris.

She said she thought she had put an end to his advances so she agreed to visit his New York loft apartment to keep a good relationship with the powerful producer but he quickly began making sexual advances and "backed" her into a bedroom covered in children's drawings.

Mimi Haleyi sits with attorney Gloria Allred during a press conference in New York / EPA

"I told him 'no, no, no'. But he insisted," Ms Haleyi told a press conference in New York.

"I said 'I'm on my period, there's no way this is going to happen, please stop'. He wouldn't take no for an answer.

"He held me down on the bed. I tried to get away, I tried to get him off of me and kept asking him to stop but it was impossible.

"He then orally forced himself on me while I was on my period. He then pulled my tampon out - I was mortified. I was in disbelief and disgusted."

Through tears, she added: "I would not have wanted anyone to do that to me even if the person had been a romantic partner."

Her lawyer Gloria Allred, who is representing "numerous" complainants against Weinstein, described the alleged incident as "a new low".

Ms Allred said the allegation may fall outside of the time limit required by law for a prosecution in the state but said her client would aid police with their inquiries.

Harvey Weinstein on the BFI London Film Festival red carpet seven years ago / Getty Images

Detectives in New York have already opened a criminal investigation, as have officers in Los Angeles and London.

The Weinstein Company, which sacked its co-founder after dozens of women came forward with allegations of sexual assault and harassment, is also the subject of a civil rights investigation by New York state's top prosecutor.

Weinstein has "unequivocally denied" allegations of non-consensual sex.
H illary Clintons presidential campaign helped to fund research that led to the infamous dossier of allegations on Donald Trumps connections with Russia, it has been reported.

Christopher Steele, a former British spy, compiled the so-called golden showers dossier on the future presidents ties to Russia.

The dossier, which circulated in Washington last year and was turned over to the FBI for its review, contends that Russia was engaged in a longstanding effort to aid Mr Trump.

It also contains unsubstantiated claims that Russians possess videos involving Mr Trump and prostitutes, filmed during a 2013 visit to a Moscow hotel for the Miss Universe contest. The footage was supposedly a means of blackmail.

Former MI6 agent Christopher Steele compiled the dossier on Donald Trump / PA

The dossier became subject to congressional probes into alleged Russian interference in the US election.

Mr Trump has repeatedly dismissed the documents as "fake news" and in recent days has questioned on Twitter whether Democrats or the FBI had helped fund it. He has previously suggested it was funded by political opponents.

The Washington Post has now reported that Marc Elias, a lawyer for the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC), brokered a deal with a political research firm called Fusion GPS to conduct the research.

Fusions GPS is then reported to have employed Mr Steele to produce the dossier. It is not known how much Fusion GPS was paid for the alleged work.

The deal allegedly began in the spring of 2016 and lasted until right before election day.

When Fusion approached Mr Elias, it had already been doing research work on Mr Trump for an unnamed client during the Republican primary. It is unclear what the research firm had unearthed by the time law firm hired them in April 2016.

According to a copy of the dossier published by BuzzFeed last year, the earliest report from Mr Steele dates to June 2016, two months later.

The copy contained lurid but unsubstantiated details about Mr Trump's alleged perverted conduct, including extraordinary claims prostitutes performed a fetish act on him in 2013 at Russian capital's Ritz Carlton Hotel. Moscow denied possessing compromising material on Mr Trump.

Some material in the reports produced by the former British intelligence officer has since proved to be wrong, according to US officials, though most of his past work is considered to be credible.

Intelligence officers briefed the Republican and then president Barack Obama about the contents of the document in January after it began circulating among intelligence agencies, senior members of Congress and government officials.

After reports of the dossier emerged, Mr Trump branded them "fake news" and bemoaned a "political witch hunt".

It is not known much money Fusion was paid or how many others in the Clinton campaign or DNC were aware that the firm had been retained.

Ms Clinton has not commented.

A DNC spokeswoman said chairman Tom Perez had not been involved in the decision-making and was unaware that Mr Elias's law firm Perkins Coie was working with Fusion GPS.

"But let's be clear, there is a serious federal investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia, and the American public deserves to know what happened," the statement said.

Mr Elias did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Fusion GPS declined to comment.

Ex-MI6 agent behind Trump Russia dossier breaks silence

Former Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said he regretted not knowing about Mr Steele's being hired before the election and, had he known, he would have "volunteered to go to Europe and try to help him".

"I have no idea what Fusion or Steele were paid but if even a shred of that dossier ends up helping Mueller, it will prove money well spent," he tweeted.

According to a letter obtained by the Associated Press on Tuesday night, representatives of Fusion GPS reached out to Perkins Coie in early March 2016 to express interest in continuing research on Mr Trump it had begun "for one or more other clients during the Republican primary contest".

At that time, the Clinton campaign was looking toward the general election and was pivoting attention toward Mr Trump, who was emerging as the Republican front-runner.

Mr Trump, by virtue of his extensive international business dealings, is said to have been seen as a natural target for complicated opposition research abroad.

Perkins Coie then engaged Fusion GPS in April 2016 "to perform a variety of research services during the 2016 election cycle," according to the letter.

The dossier created a political firestorm in January when it was revealed that then-FBI director James Comey had alerted Mr Trump to the existence of allegations about him and Russia.

Since then, Mr Trump has repeatedly attacked the dossier and Republicans in Congress have worked to discredit it, even issuing a subpoena to force the disclosure of Fusion GPS's bank records.

The letter, sent on Tuesday by the law firm's general counsel to a lawyer for Fusion GPS, was intended to release the research firm from its obligation to keep confidential the identity of its client.
A n undocumented teenage immigrant cannot be prevented from getting an abortion in the US, an appeals court has ruled.

The 17-year-old, who is 15 weeks pregnant, had been denied access to an abortion clinic under a new policy implemented by the Trump administration.

Identified only as Jane Doe, the teenager crossed the border from Mexico into Texas on September 7.

She was reportedly stopped by US border officials nearby and taken to a government-funded shelter.

After being told by medical staff she was nine weeks pregnant, Jane Doe requested an abortion, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

She had an appointment booked at a local abortion clinic for September 28 but officials from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) intervened the day before.

Brigitte Amiri, senior staff lawyer for the ACLU, said at the time: "The federal government is holding Jane Doe hostage and preventing her from having an abortion.

According to the new policy brought in by President Trump, government-funded shelters cannot assist a minor in their custody to obtain an abortion without authorisation from the ORR.

However, a district court judge ruled in accordance with the ACLU that Jane Doe should be taken to a clinic.

The federal government then successfully appealed and the ACLU was forced to file an emergency appeal to push the ruling through today.

Jane Doe has now had a second appointment at the clinic arranged, the BBC reported.

"She is brave and courageous and resilient," said Ms Amiri, the ACLU laywer.

"She is also tired by the entire ordeal."
A scribbled note describing Albert Einstein's theory of happiness has sold for 1.18m at auction.

The scientist wrote the note for a courier in Tokyo in 1922, shortly after learning he won the Nobel Prize in physics.

"A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness," it reads.

Einstein is said to have had no cash to tip the courier so wrote note and told him it would grow to be valuable.

While the message may not be as significant as Einstein's groundbreaking theory of relativity, it sheds light on one of the great modern minds and sparked a frantic 25-minute bidding war at Winner's Auctions and Exhibitions in Jerusalem.

Gal Wiener, chief executive of the auction house, said Einstein told the courier that his his fame meant the handwritten note "will probably be worth more than a regular tip".

Bidding began at $2,000 (1,520) and quickly escalated to $1.56m (.1.18), with two final buyers duelling by phone.

Applause reportedly broke out in the room when the sale was announced.

A second note Einstein gave the courier, reading "Where there's a will there's a way," sold for over $200,000 (150,900), Mr Wiener said.

Albert Einstein wrote the note shortly after being awarded the Nobel prize for physics / AP

He would not identify the buyer or seller of either note, which were written on the headed paper of the hotel where Einstein was staying.

Einstein was a founder of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and left the institution his literary estate and personal papers.

In 1952 the German-born physicist declined an invitation to serve as Israel's first president.

He died in 1955.
T imothy Spall says every part he plays teaches him more about what it is to be human, whether its good or bad.

The British actor, who has recently portrayed both Ian Paisley and J M W Turner, is in cinemas as a terminally ill professor in Sally Potters The Party.

Whatever the spirit is, to a larger or lesser degree, you take a little part of a character away and that stays with you for ever, he told the Standard.

Part of the process of trying to work out how other people think educates you about human beings really, for good and bad. Every character teaches you something in some way; its the great thing about playing a human being.

Kristin Scott Thomas talks about new film The Party V2

Spall, 60, won the Cannes best actor award in 2014 for Mike Leighs Mr Turner  and says the artist is the character who has most affected him. I worked on that for about three years, he said. So the amount of time having to research, I learned a lot about things there. Theres a little bit of him still floating around in me somewhere.

In Potters darkly comic drama, Spall, with co-stars Kristin Scott Thomas, Patricia Clarkson, Cillian Murphy, Emily Mortimer and Cherry Jones, had just two weeks to shoot intense scenes.

On screen: Timothy Spall and Tuppence Middleton as Ed and Linda in Electric Dreams: The Commuter / Sony

He said: Whats interesting about these characters is that theyre what wed regard as sophisticated and acutely intelligent intellectuals, but what they display is this human frailty and vulnerability that cannot hold itself against their better intellectual constraints.

And that in a sense is one of the cruxes of the piece  this tension between idealism and desire.

Spall can also be seen in Channel 4s Electric Dreams  a series of adaptations of Philip K Dicks sci-fi stories  starring opposite Anthony Boyle and Tuppence Middleton.

Having spent a career jumping between small and big screens, he said he views the two as identical. Its still storytelling, its a camera and a microphone and other actors, he said. Some peoples TVs are bigger than some cinemas, but from an acting point of view its all the same.
G ood Morning Britain viewers dubbed an 83-year-old grandmother supergran after she showcased her indoor skydiving skills live on air.

Glenn Mills, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, told the ITV breakfast show that her regular indoor skydiving sessions help her to manage the pain as well as strengthening her muscles.

Fans of the show called the daring octogenarian an inspiration, with one tweeting: Wow what an inspiration, go girl.

Another wrote: What a woman! The joy on her face fantastic(sic).

Supergran: Glen Mills during her skydiving session / ITV

Despite being confined to a wheelchair as a result of her condition, Mills manages to go skydiving every week.

She told presenter Katie Ricketts: It helps my mind and I work hard to try and keep [the MS at bay]. I could be 20 years old again [when Im skydiving].

Viewers watched as Mills donned a red helmet to go with her blue flying suit before taking to the wind tunnel at Manchesters iFly indoor skydiving centre.

The GMB studio broke into a round of applause when Mills came back down to earth.

Later in the programme the outgoing granny revealed she has tried other adrenaline activities including zip lining and abseiling, but that skydiving was her preferred sport.

The others I have enjoyed but this is what I look forward to all of the time. Its wonderful, she said.

The biggest and best TV shows of 2017 1 /13 The biggest and best TV shows of 2017 Doctor Who The classic sci-fi show got a new lease of life with new companion Bill Potts BBC Line of Duty The BBC's acclaimed crime drama moved up to BBC One with more twists than ever before World Productions / BBC / Aidan Monaghan Broadchurch Chris Chibnall's mystery drama came to a close with a compelling final series ITV The Moorside Sheridan Smith puts in a stellar performance as she returns to TV in the BBC's Shannon Matthews drama Stuart Wood/ITV/BBC Apple Tree Yard Emily Watson starred in the BBC's gripping psychological thriller BBC/Kudos/Nick Briggs Fortitude, Series 2 Sky Atlantic's original Nordic noir-inspired chiller is back for more bloody mysteries Sky Atlantic Sherlock, Series 4 Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman return as Holmes and Watson in the BBC's mega hit PA Taboo Tom Hardy's dark thriller is unlike any period drama you've seen before FX Networks No Offence, Series 2 Paul Abbott's comedy-drama continues to walk a tonal tightrope with total ease Channel 4/Ian Derry The Voice A move to ITV has given singing contest The Voice a new lease of life ITV

Good Morning Britain continues weekdays at 6am on ITV.
G reat British Bake Offs Sophie has been crowned star baker in the semi-final of the 2017 series, while Stacey was sent home.

Sophie wowed the judges with her perfectly-neat Miserable cakes during the technical task and once again proved her sculpting skills with a corset-shaped meringue showstopper.

Despite her success in the semi-final the contestant admitted she was already thinking ahead to the final.

Got star baker, week 9. But now its all about the final. So what happened today doesnt really mean anything anymore because its all about next week, she said.

Radio Time Great British Bake Off Issue - In pictures 1 /8 Radio Time Great British Bake Off Issue - In pictures The Great British Bake Off semi-finalists (left to right) Sophie Faldo, Kate Lyon, Stacey Hart and Steven Carter-Bailey as they appear in this week's edition of Radio Times Radio Times The Great British Bake Off semi-finalist Stacey Hart, 42, from Hertfordshire Radio Times The Great British Bake Off semi-finalist former soldier Sophie Faldo, 33, from Surrey Radio Times The Great British Bake Off semi-finalist Steven Carter-Bailey from Hertfordshire Radio Times The Great British Bake Off semi-finalist Kate Lyon, 29-year-old health and safety inspector from Merseyside Radio Times Radio Times

At the other end of the scale was Stacey, who failed to impress with her flamingo meringue and messy Miserables.

Judge Paul Hollywood told contestants that sending Stacey home was the hardest decision that Ive been involved in in 8 years of the Bake Off.

So close. Im glad I left on a high. It was a difficult decision for them, she commented.

Candice Brown praises 'incredible' Great British Bake Off series

Staceys elimination meant Stephen, Kate and, of course, star baker Sophie made it through to the final.

It was patisserie week on Bake Off which saw contestants tackle fiddly confections including choux pastries, meringue sculptures and the unusually-named Miserable cakes.

Several of the contestants struggled with heat in the tent as their meringues cracked and collapsed and their chocolate melted.

The chocolate basket section of Stephens rainbow hot air balloon sculpture liquified before his eyes, while one of Staceys meringue flamingoes literally lost its head thanks to a crack on its neck.

The final of the Great British Bake Off 2017 airs Tuesday, October 31 at 8pm on Channel 4.
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In late 2017 Australia ordered another 3,900 American SDB (Small Diameter Bomb also known as GBU-39) for $209,000 each (including training and maintenance accessories and support). This order is for the SDB II (GBU-39B) for its F-35 fighters. In early 2016 Australia ordered 2,950 of the earlier model (SDB I) that can only hit stationary targets. These cost $131,000 each. The 130 kg (285 pound) SDB entered service in 2006 and so far over 20,000 have been ordered or delivered, most by the U.S. Air Force.

A major reason for Australia buying so many SBDs is the success of JMMBRU, a special internal bomb rack that enables the F-35 to carry eight SDBs internally. Australia is buying a hundred F-35s in part because when flying with all weapons carried internally the aircraft is nearly invisible to radar. In a less stealthy configuration another 16 SDBs cab be carried externally giving the F-35 a maximum capacity for 24 of these smart bombs.

The U.S. Air Force completed development and testing the JMMBRU bomb rack in 2014. This made the F-35 a much more effective bomber, especially since the SDB has been upgraded that same year with hardware and software to enable it to hit moving targets as well as being more accurate. While the original SBD would land 5-8 meters (16-25 feet) of the aiming point the SDB II had guidance system options that enabled it to land within a meter (three feet). The SBD II began mass production in 2016 and Australia was already interested.

The SDB was supposed to be a revolutionary weapon and in many ways it was. But there was not as much demand as expected because there so many other small, precision weapons available. Even the availability of the SDB II, which can hit vehicles going at high speed and in bad weather, did not boost sales as much as anticipated. SDB II has an encrypted data link that enables the F-35 pilot to guide the SDB, with great precision, to hit moving targets. This communications capability enables the SDB movement to be controlled via the air force's airborne Internet (Link 16), which means the bomb driver can be anywhere, even another aircraft or on the ground. The SDB II has three different guidance systems: radar, heat seeker, and homing on laser light bounced off the target. That means no matter what the weather or time of day there is a guidance system that will find the target. Even without human intervention the three sensors enable SDB II to find targets in a cluttered and obscured (by weather or darkness) environment.

The SDB is basically an unpowered missile which can glide long distances. This makes the SDB even more compact, capable, and expensive (about $70,000 for SDB I and four times that for SDB II). The small wings allow the SDB to glide up to 70-80 kilometers (from high altitude). SDB also has a hard front end that can punch through nearly three meters (eight feet) of rock or concrete and a warhead that does less damage than the usual dumb bomb (explosives in a metal casing). Thats because the SDB warhead carries only 17 kg (38 pounds) of explosives, compared to 127 kg (280 pounds) in the 500 pound bomb.

The SDB is considered the next generation of smart bombs and the more compact design allows more to be carried. Thus, F-15/16/18 type aircraft can carry 24 or more SDBs. The SDBs are carried on a special carriage which holds 4 of them instead of one bomb of more traditional shape. The carriage is mounted on a bomber just like a single larger (500, 1,000, or 2,000) pound bomb would be. However, this feature was rarely needed in combat situations because one smart bomb does the work of hundreds of unguided ones. There are also a lot of other guided weapons out there.

The F-35 is armed with an internal 25mm cannon and, before the SDB, four internal air-to-air missiles (or two missiles and two smart bombs) plus four external smart bombs and two missiles. All sensors are carried internally and max weapon load is 6.8 tons. The aircraft is very stealthy when just carrying internal weapons. The user reports so far have been very positive and the F-35s are performing as advertised and then some. Details on that are often classified, which is sort of a good sign.

Like the F-22 fighter, the F-35 is stealthy and stuffed with a lot of new technology. Most (about 60 percent) of the F-35s built will be used by foreign nations. The rising cost of the F-35 brings with it reluctance to buy as many aircraft as currently planned. The success of smart bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan has also made it clear that fewer aircraft will be needed in the future. In any event, it's likely that F-35s will end up costing more than $100 million each. But with SBDs F-35s become a very potent bomber that can get at well protected targets.
by Austin Bay October 24, 2017

In his October 23 Pentagon press conference describing the U.S. military presence in Niger, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford demonstrated it is possible to address serious national security issues and finesse the current spate of domestic political hysterics.

"This area (in west Africa) is inherently dangerous," General Dunford said. "We're there because ISIS and al-Qaida are operating in that area."

Here's the predicate to Dunford's statement: on October 4, four U.S. Army Green Berets died in combat in Niger. They were part of a 12-man U.S. detachment accompanying 30 Nigerien soldiers on a patrol returning from the village of Tongo Tongo, near Niger's border with Mali. Five Nigerien troops died in the battle.

The Obama Administration sent military advisers to Niger with orders to help train and assist Nigerien forces in their battle against radical Islamist terrorist organizations that also threaten U.S. security. Niger was judged to be more secure than neighboring Mali.

Dunford said Americans are authorized to accompany Nigerien units when "chances of enemy contact are unlikely." Previously, Pentagon briefers said that during the last six months U.S. personnel had participated in 29 similar missions without encountering problems.

On October 3, when the patrol departed, intelligence analysts concluded enemy contact was "unlikely." They were wrong. As the patrol returned on October 4, it was ambushed by 50 tribesmen believed to belong to the "Islamic State in the Greater Sahel" militia. The militia aligns its grievances with ISIS' global power aspirations.

A recon patrol where contact with an enemy is unlikely is definitely a military operation, but it also serves as a counter-insurgency training opportunity that forwards long-range U.S. security goals. The Pentagon wants Nigeriens to learn the skills they need to fight and win without U.S. assistance. That is in America's interest, Niger's interest and in the interest of the entire civilized world.

Should the Green Berets have participated in the October patrol? Competing interests were involved, but this is always the case in military operations. Niger and America confront a common enemy -- Niger locally, America globally. Someone made a judgment call that the training opportunity was worth the risk. But the intel proved to be utterly wrong. Defense Department is conducting a full investigation of the entire mission, the plans, the decisions and the intelligence assessment.

In western Africa, ISIS and al-Qaida are trying to exploit regional political and tribal divisions to expand their political influence . The Obama Administration responded to the terrorists by increasing military assistance throughout the area, not just in Niger. The Obama Administration didn't hide the troop increase in Niger, but it didn't emphasize it, either. As a result, accusations of "shadow war" now appear in the sensationalist press.

All told, 6,000 U.S. military personnel are deployed in Africa. For the most part, U.S. forces in Africa operate as small detachments that can be deployed as needed around the continent.

That holds true for West Africa, where approximately 1,000 U.S. troops serve in nine different nations. Niger has the largest regional contingent, with 800 troops. The majority work on construction projects or support aerial drone surveillance operations in the region. France has 4,000 soldiers in West Africa, including a large force in Mali.

West African nations are willing to fight the terrorists, but need help. Given France's military assets in the region and American commitments in Syria and Iraq, the Obama Administration concluded that a small, focused military effort providing training assistance and logistics and intelligence support was an appropriate response.

General Dunford's press conference tells me that he thinks that conclusion was correct. It also says the Trump Administration agreed with the Obama Administration's goals in the region. However, that isn't a point domestic hysterics want to hear.
Back in July, it was reported that legislation had been passed in Honolulu making it illegal for anyone to look at a mobile electronic device while crossing the street. Yesterday, the law came into effect, meaning pedestrians of Hawaii's biggest city who are engrossed in their phones or tablets could face penalties reaching $99.

Police are allowed to fine those breaking the law up to $35 for a first offense. Doing it a second time sees the punishment rise to $75, while any further offenses will result in a $99 fine.

"This is really milestone legislation that sets the bar high for safety," said City Council member Brandon Elefante in an interview with the New York Times.

The bill defines "viewing" a device as "looking in the direction of the screen," so holding a phone to your ear while engaged in a call appears to be allowed. Exceptions are made for members of the emergency services performing their jobs, as well as members of the public who are trying to dial 911.

The Honolulu law classes a "mobile electronic device" as "any handheld or other portable electronic equipment capable of providing wireless and/or data communication between two or more persons or of providing amusement, including but not limited to a cellular phone, text messaging device, paging device, personal digital assistant, laptop computer, video game, or digital photographic device, but does not include any audio equipment."

Road traffic accidents caused by pedestrians distracted by their digital devices have become a problem in many cities. Embedded sidewalk traffic lights are one solution. The technology, which lets smartphone users know when to stop and cross without looking up from their screens, is being trialed in Germany, Australia, and Holland, while a more advanced version of the system recently appeared in the UK.

Pedestrian deaths in the US were up 10 percent to almost 6000 fatalities last year, the highest since 1990. And while not all of them were linked to distraction by mobile devices, it's thought to have played a part in many of the incidents. At least ten states have debated laws similar to the one in Honolulu, but none have passed.

If the the number of deaths start to drop in Honolulu as a result of the law's introduction, don't be surprised to see it arrive in other locations.
Robert Guillaume, the Emmy Award-winning actor famous in the gaming world for voicing Half-Life 2's Dr. Eli Vance, has died at the age of 89 at his home in Los Angeles. His widow, Donna Brown, told the Associated Press he had been battling prostate cancer.

While Guillaume is best known for his role as butler Benson DuBois in the sitcoms Soap and its spin-off series Benson, providing the voice of the resistance leader/Alyx Vance's father in the much-loved Half-Life 2 titles forever secured him a place in the hearts of gamers.

Guillaume appeared in Soap, for which he won an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor, from 1977 to 1981. He found more success with Benson, which ran from 1979 to 1986 and saw him receive an Emmy for outstanding lead actor---a first for a black actor.

In 1990, Guillaume's distinctive voice helped him become the first black actor to play Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera. A few years later he voiced Rafiki, the baboon in Disney's 1994 classic Lion King.

Valve writer Marc Laidlaw, who in August revealed what would have been the plot to the mythical Half-Life 3 game, paid tribute to the actor on twitter. "I am very sorry to hear about the demise of Robert Guillaume. I learned a lot from him about writing to the specific strengths of an actor," he wrote.

I am very sorry to hear about the demise of Robert Guillaume. I learned a lot from him about writing to the specific strengths of an actor. --- Marc Laidlaw (@marc_laidlaw) October 25, 2017

Guillaume is survived by his second wife, a son and three daughters.
On Tuesday, Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with envoys from the U.S. and China in the framework of the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference. | Read More
Mazda Unveils KAI CONCEPT and VISION COUPE at Tokyo Motor Show

Oct. 28 through Nov. 5, 2017

1:40 p.m.

HIROSHIMA, Japan - October 24, 2017: Mazda Motor Corporation unveiled two concept models, the Mazda KAI CONCEPT and the Mazda VISION COUPE at the 45th Tokyo Motor Show today. Organized by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, the show will be open to the public from. Mazda has scheduled a press conference fortoday.

The Mazda KAI CONCEPT compact hatchback heralds a new generation of Mazda cars. Featuring the next-generation SKYACTIV-X gasoline engine, SKYACTIV-Vehicle Architecture and a more mature expression of the KODO design language, the model embodies the technology, engineering and design concepts that will define the next generation of Mazda cars. Refinements in all areas of dynamic performance have produced a dramatically quieter, more comfortable ride and an enhanced performance feel. The KAI CONCEPT features muscular, solid proportions and its form is brought to life by a delicate flow of reflections over the body sides.

The VISION COUPE represents Mazda's design vision for next-generation models; a more mature expression of KODO applies a Japanese aesthetic to achieve more elegant and premium styling. The exterior features a "one motion" form that exudes a sense of speed and the interior combines three-dimensional depth with a strong longitudinal axis to create a relaxed space that maintains a sense of speed.

In line with its "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030" long-term vision for technology development, Mazda aims to use the fundamental appeal of the automobile  driving pleasure  to inspire people, enrich society and help bring about a beautiful earth. By offering an experience of car ownership that celebrates driving, the company hopes to enrich lives and build a strong bond with customers.
School Disciplines Student Who Kicked Chair Out From Another Sitting During Pledge of Allegiance

A Maryland public high school punished a student for kicking a chair out from under another student who had sat during the recital of the pledge of allegiance.

Winters Mills High School in Carroll County disciplined the student after a video of the incident went viral online, Carroll County Times reported.

Some people dont understand how disrespectful it is to sit during the pledge or national anthem and deserves to get their [expletive] kicked, the student wrote in the comment to the video. More of yall need to stand up to these [expletive] that sit during the pledge.

This Kid Sat For The Pleadge @candycorn.jpg~    #standthefuckup #america #dumbass #hedeservedmore #bitch A post shared by Keegan Gregory (@candycorn.jpg) on Oct 24, 2017 at 8:21am PDT

The Pledge of Allegiance is broadcast before announcements at Carroll County public schools, but students are not required to stand for it.

When school officials questioned the student who was sitting for the pledge, the student said that he was not participating in a protest. But his social media post about the event indicates otherwise.

I was practicing my right to free speech, a right given to me by the soldiers that I do respect, unlike what he says. I simply will not stand and pledge allegiance to a country that is run by a racist, sexist, bigoted, fascist, the student wrote. I will not stand for a country who mistreats those who arent white and rich. Forced patriotism is fascism, and nothing less. So I invite all to join me tomorrow, and #sitthe[expletive]down if you believe that free speech is a fundamental right of the people, and that it should be protected.

The school system would not comment on what punishment the student received or release his name, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

According to Dana Falls, the director of student services for the county public schools system, punishment ranges depending on the students history and the incident in question. The school principals have the final word in the matter and are expected to use progressive punishment: starting with the least necessary discipline and increasing the punishment if the students behavior does not improve.

The end game would be suspension if we cant make that behavior change, Falls said.

The school would not release the students disciplinary record, citing privacy laws.

The schools principal, Eric King, referred inquiries to the Carroll County Public Schools (CCPS) central office.

The CCPS handbook states that its schools will not tolerate any acts of bullying, harassment, intimidation, discrimination, or hazing on the part of students or employees.

The president of the board of education, Devon Rothschild, would not comment on the incident but said that the school system has a zero-tolerance policy toward bullying.

Falls said that the incident does not qualify as bullying in his view.

In my opinion, based on what I know about the initial incident  that would be considered an unsafe behavior or disrespect to the student, Falls said. If it continued, it would absolutely be considered bullying.

Schools dont usually contact law enforcement for an incident of this type, Falls said, adding that police are usually brought in if the violence falls into a pattern or if serious bodily harm is caused.

In this particular case, I highly doubt that the administrator would involve law enforcement, he said.

The people involved are still free to file charges, Falls added.

The First Amendment protects public school students from being forced to salute the flag or stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, based on a 1943 Supreme Court case of West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette.

The school cannot punish the student for not standing for the pledge, Falls said.

The school system never forces the students to stand for the pledge, Falls added, even if they do so in protest.

From NTD.tv
This undated photo provided by Eric Paddock shows his brother, Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock. (Courtesy of Eric Paddock via AP)

A Brother of Las Vegas Shooter Arrested for Alleged Child Pornography Crimes

A brother of Las Vegas mass killer Stephen Paddock was arrested in North Hollywood on charges related to child pornography, Los Angeles Times reported citing authorities.

The Los Angeles Police Department detained 58-year-old Bruce Paddock on Wednesday morning, Oct. 25, according to a source who spoke to the Los Angeles Times.

LAPD would only confirm that a man suspected of child pornography crimes has been detained on the 5300 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard. Police did not reveal the name of the man.

Police believe that Stephen Paddock, 64, single-handedly carried out the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history on Oct. 1. Paddock killed 58 people and injured more than 500 before turning the gun on himself, police said.

A spokeswoman for the FBI would not say if Bruce Paddocks arrest is related to the FBI investigation of the shooting.

We have no comment at this time, she said.

Investigators have yet to uncover a motive for the Las Vegas shooting. The ISIS terrorist group claimed responsibility for the massacre, but the FBI said that the probe has not turned up any clues to support the ISIS claim.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has changed the timeline of the shooting several times since the investigation started.

Bruce Paddock is not the brother that appeared in television interviews shortly after the massacre. That brother is Eric Paddock.

Eric Paddock traveled to Las Vegas a week after the shooting to pick up his brothers remains. He was interviewed for hours by the FBI. Eric Paddock is also handling Stephen Paddocks estate.

Controversy about the shooting continues to swirl online. Authorities have remained tight-lipped about the details surrounding the shooting and have released no video footage from the hotel surveillance cameras more than three weeks after the tragic event.

Several lawsuits have already been filed against the hotel where Paddock carried out the shooting from, the music venue, which he targeted, the concert organizers, and other parties.

Gus Castillas 28-year-old daughter died from a bullet fired from the Mandalay Bay hotel room. Copies of the suit filings sent to The Epoch Times by Castillas lawyer outline alleged failings of the Mandalay Bay and its parent company MGM Resorts; Live Nation, the concert promoters; and Slide Fire, the company that manufactures the bump stocks that accelerated Paddocks rate of fire to near-automatic speeds.

Castilla is seeking more than $50,000 in general damages and more than $50,000 in economic damages as well as an unspecified amount for other expenses, emotional distress, and other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.

The lawsuit alleges that after a preliminary investigation the plaintiffs uncovered several deficiencies among the defendants.

[I]ts inconceivable to us that the perpetrator was capable of transporting what amounts to an actual armory of weapons into the hotel, especially in an era in which shooting incidents and terrorism are front page news on a daily basis, it states.

From NTD.tv
North Korean soldiers look toward the south while a U.S. solider (front) stands guard with a South Korean soldier in the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone on the border between North and South Korea, on Oct. 27. (JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

Banks Begin Hunt for North Korean Front Companies

North Korea uses elaborate network of front companies to circumvent sanctions

The North Korean communist regime uses a global network of front companies to make purchases and conduct business, evading U.N. sanctions. International banks are now trying to identify and cut ties with these companies.

The U.N. Security Council recently passed two rounds of sanctions against North Korea at the behest of the Trump administration. China, North Koreas largest supporter, has agreed to enforce these sanctions.

In late September, China gave North Korean companies 120 days to close down. Chinas central bank told other banks to follow the U.N. sanctions, deny services to new North Korean customers, and begin winding down loans with existing North Korean customers.

Global banks are following this same trend. According to an Oct. 13 report by Daniel Bethencourt of ACAMS MoneyLaundering.com, a trade publication for bank compliance officers, banks have scaled up their efforts to find front companies tied to North Koreas nuclear weapons program.

Tracking down the North Korean front companies is tricky business, however. The report notes that the companies use a series of perpetually evolving sanctions-evasion schemes and that, despite international embargoes, North Korea has advanced these capabilities.

In order to maintain its global business, North Korea uses a network of corporate intermediaries and complicit banks, as well as other methods. The report says North Korea uses some of the front companies to double as money remitters and uses individuals to open multiple bank accounts under the names of relatives.

According to Keith Furst, founder of consulting firm Data Derivatives, its known in the industry that North Korea circumvents sanctions through elaborate front companies.

Its methods take advantage of irregularities in international laws for registering corporations and opening bank accounts, which make it difficult for banks to know who is behind the front companies.

In order to maintain its global business, North Korea uses a network of corporate intermediaries and complicit banks, as well as other methods.

Sometimes it may be a network of one company owning another company. Sometimes transactions are made through intermediary countries that refuse to share data. And some even more elaborate tricks are used.

Furst noted that for corporations, theres a push globally to get more transparent ownership. Currently, he said, its difficult even in the United States for banks to determine who is behind a given company.

In the past, Furst said, sanctions were often enforced by a list of names, and if a drug dealer, for example, were on the list, all the companies fully owned by that individual would also be there. This rule was updated slightly in 2008 to include companies that are at least 50 percent owned by a person on the list.

Due to the complexities of how company ownership is determined, however, this still leaves plenty of loopholes. Furst noted that a person could have 25 percent ownership in a company, have a secretary open an account, or even register a company as the owner of it.

These loopholes make it difficult for banks to comply with sanctions; yet for banks, compliance with sanctions is often at the top of their list of priorities. Furst said, Enforcing that is hard for an average bank or country.

According to the report from ACAMS MoneyLaundering.com, however, banks are currently trying to map out North Koreas complex business network.

It quotes Jende Huang, a member of the Wells Fargo financial crimes intelligence group, stating at the recent ACAMS AML & Financial Crime Conference in Las Vegas that the group has begun analyzing 12 North Korean front companies identified by U.N. officials.

It says Huang estimates that about 11 percent of the 1,500 entities whose transactions were mapped out by Wells Fargo from 2013 to 2016 had likely moved funds from North Korea. The methods used by the front companies would not have been detected by conventional transaction monitoring, according to Huang.

An unnamed compliance officer for a large European lender told ACAMS that his bank had conducted its own investigation and found that North Korean front companies often share common traits.

The North Korean front companies, the officer said, often hold a Chinese bank account, have no public footprint, and list their addresses in one of two Chinese provinces near North Korea.

These intermediaries tend to purchase highly specialized parts from arms manufacturers in European countries such as the Czech Republic and sometimes purchase raw metals and other goods from Europe as well, the report states.

The report says, Spotting North Korea-linked transactions can prove difficult because they tend to mimic conventional trade finance or wire transfers of more than $10,000, but are often small enough to avoid being flagged as suspicious.
Boy Fatally Shoots Playmate With Crossbow, Wounds Brother

A 13-year-old boy is in detention after fatally shooting his 10-year-old playmate in the abdomen with a crossbow and wounding another boy behind him.

The teen, whose name has not been released, was playing with friends Austin Almanza, 10, and his brother, Ayden Almanza, 8, at a tree fort near the brothers home in Oklahoma on Saturday, Oct. 21.

Austin, who was shot through the abdomen with a broad-head arrow, was pronounced dead at the scene while Ayden was transported to the hospital for injuries to his arm.

Lincoln County Sheriff Charlie Dougherty said at a press conference that the incident is being investigated as a homicide, although its possible the bow went off of its own accord.

Our investigation is leading us to the point that there was a disagreement amongst the three prior to the shooting, he said.

10-year-old Austin is not dead because of an accident. Hes dead because of an action that took place. So until something steers us in the other direction, were going to work it as a homicide.

When asked about a possible motive, Dougherty said it was too early to say. There were conflicting reports between the two boys, the only witnesses to the event, and investigators still had more people to interview.

The boys, who said they often played together at the treehouse, knew each other very well. Dougherty said he didnt think there was any animosity between the brothers and the suspect.

The brothers great aunt told Fox 25 that the 13-year-old boy was a likable kid, but he always seemed a little off.

The bow belonged to him, Dougherty said, and it was given to him by his mother.

The boys were in a clearing as big as a normal size bedroom, he said, so the arrow would have been discharged from a relatively short distance. The arrow traveled through Austins abdomen and hit Aydens arm who was standing to the right and behind him.

Ayden has been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
Han Zheng (R) talks to Li Zhanshu (C) and Zhao Leji (L) at the closing session of the 19th National Congress on Oct. 24, 2017. All three are newly appointed to the Chinese Communist Party's top decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee. (Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images)

Chinas New Leadership Lineup Leaves Out Key Members of Opposing Faction

Chinas 19th National Congress came to an end on Oct. 24, concluding a week of political horse-trading to determine the new generation of Party leadership. 204 Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members were chosen to sit in the high-ranking Central Committee. Those high-profile party members who were conspicuously left out had one thing in commontheir political affiliation to the faction opposing current Chinese regime leader Xi Jinping.

One exception is Han Zheng. At a press conference on Oct. 25, it was revealed that the incumbent Shanghai party secretary was chosen to be one of the elite seven in the Politburo Standing Committee, the Partys top decision-making body. Han has a long political career in Shanghai that began in the late 1980s, when he established ties with Jiang Zemin who was Party boss there before becoming the leader of the CCP. The city has become known as a breeding ground for Jiang allies.

Han has a tainted political legacy in Shanghai. Two major disastersa fire at a Shanghai apartment in November 2010 that killed at least 58, and a stampede at the Bund in 2014 that killed at least 36have angered local citizens. According to Hong Kong magazine Cheng Ming, Han also used public funds and tax money to offer free, spacious housing to department-level or higher retired officialsthough he stopped doing so when Xi was briefly the citys party secretary in 2007.

Putting Han in and three Jiang faction officialsZhang Dejiang, Zhang Gaoli and Liu Yunshanout of the Standing Committee signaled that Xi has greatly consolidated his power. He can not only better exert his policies across the country, but also extend his influence in Shanghai, one of the most important cities in China. After Han leaves his Shanghai post to join the Standing Committee, Xi can choose Hans replacement.

Zhang Dejiang, Zhang Gaoli, and Liu Yunshan were members of the previous Politburo Standing Committee, and they had risen to their powerful positions because of their loyalty to previous party leader Jiang Zemin. Though it might appear that they had stepped down naturally due to an unspoken party rule about retirement ageno one in the committee should be over the age of 67their leaving was also a signal that Xi had further consolidated his power against Jiang. Since Xi took power five years ago, the two have struggled for control of the party.

Zhang Dejiang, formerly ranked third behind Xi and premier Li Keqiang in the Standing Committee, was also the deputy head of the National Security Commission. He had deep roots in Chongqing, a hotbed for Jiang faction activity, and was the citys party secretary from March to November 2012. His predecessor Bo Xilai and successor Sun Zhengcai both had ties to Jiang and were purged in Xis anti-corruption campaign as a result. Just a few days ago, Liu Shiyu, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, openly accused Bo and Sun, among others, of plotting a political coup against Xi.

As for Zhang Gaoli, he won Jiangs favor during Jiangs sightseeing tour of Mount Tai in 2006. Zhang displayed his loyalty by sealing off the area from visitors, allowing Jiang to enjoy the scenery himself. Zhang was chair of the committee overseeing the One Belt One Road infrastructure project, an initiative by Xi to open up trade routes with countries in Europe and Africa. Chinese business publication Caixin Weekly has hinted that Sun was being investigated for corruption because he embezzled funds from the initiative. 

For years, Liu Yunshan, also a Standing Committee member and chief of the propaganda department, carried out Jiangs agenda, including the persecution of the Falun Gong spiritual practice. His propaganda department launched smear campaigns in state media to defame Falun Gong and its adherents.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a traditional self-improvement practice, with core principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, as well as a set of five slow, qigong-like exercise movements. Beginning in July 1999, Jiang launched a nationwide persecution of an estimated 100 million adherents of the practice, with hundreds of thousands thrown into jails, labor camps, and brainwashing centers, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center.

Liu has seen his political influence slowly getting chipped away by Xi. In October 2014, during the 4th Plenum of the Central Committee, Lius propaganda department did not host a key meeting until the day after the plenum concluded. China watchers noted that the delay in the meeting time was a strong indication that the propaganda department had lost its significance and political status.

In addition to the absence of powerful Jiang faction officials in the Standing Committee, several key allies of Jiang were also missing from new leadership roles. Meng Jianzhu, former head of the security apparatus and a member of the Shanghai gang, a group of officials who owe their careers to Jiangs political patronage, was left out of the Central Committee.

The World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) has named Meng, Zhang Dejiang, and Zhang Gaoli as lead perpetrators of the persecution.
(L-R) Alain Vendenborre, Executive Director, and Simon Murray, Vice Chairman of The Singapore Diamond Mint Company holding sample Diamond Bullion at the launch briefing, at the Conrad Hotel, Hong Kong on Oct 12, 2017 (Bill Cox/Epoch Times)

Diamond Bullion Exchange, a New Way to Invest in Diamonds

A new global, quick, easy, on-line way to invest and trade in diamonds was introduced by the Singapore Mint Company on Oct 12, Diamond Bullion TM, allows prepackaged diamonds to be traded globally through the Singapore Diamond Exchange. Although diamonds have been traded as a stable investment for many, many years it is normally conducted off-line through dealers.

What is different about this system is that individual investors are able to get real-time pricing directly from the Exchange, and conduct on-line trading through a fully regulated exchange authority.

The new system as explained by Alain Vendenborre, Executive Director of SDM Is a credit card-sized package of investment grade diamonds that provides a standardized, exchange traded format for investing in Diamonds.

It is the worlds first fully electronic exchange for trading investment grade diamonds.

The investment grade diamonds are pre sized, professionally graded, individually identified with a serial numbers and then several diamonds are sealed in a credit card size package. The Bullion package is also given a unique identification number which is inscribed on its case. The diamonds, and serial numbers are visible though a central window.

Investors can connect to the Exchange using a mobile phone App and by quoting the Bullion serial number and sending details of the bullion using the mobile phones camera, the Exchange will instantly confirm authenticity, allowing investors to view the certificate details for each diamond in the Bullion, and obtain valuation, and other data, including investor interest and trading volumes.

Bullion are purchased, owned and traded like shares. The bullion package can be left at the Exchange, kept at home, carried with you, or lodged with a bank or securities company.

The system was introduced, explained and demonstrated in Hong Kong on Oct 12, 2017. Following an introduction by Simon Murray, Vice Chairman of The Singapore Diamond Mint Company, the new system was further explained by Alain Vendenborre.

Diamonds are well known as a generally stable investment in which the value should rise, but may of course like Gold they may also fluctuate in value.
Florida Teacher Fired After Student Gets Hit by Scissors

A school teacher from Orange County, Florida, was fired from his job after a student said he threw a pair of scissors in classhitting her in the face.

The teacher, whose name has not been revealed yet due to the ongoing investigation, was an eighth-grade science teacher at Orange Countys Westridge Middle School on Oak Ridge Road, NBC affiliate WESH2 reported.

The teacher was cursing. He kept saying a couple words. He was angry. I guess the (other) kid kept doing the same thing and wouldnt listen, so he took the scissors away from the kid and tossed them and they hit her, the girls mother, Jayme Olivera told KPRC-TV. We teach (children not to) run with scissors. Why are you throwing scissors in class?

The girl said she had reported the incident to a counselor the day it happened, but her mother said she learned about the incident from her daughters Snapchat messages, not the school, KPRC-TV reported.

The unnamed teacher sent a photo to WESH2 of what he claimed to be a similar pair of scissors, they had blunt ends. He said he threw the scissors in frustration over another students misbehavior.

But that excuse does not sit will with Olivera.

If youre angry, if you feel like that, take the kid aside. You know, we should be able to deal with these things as adults. You know, we teach our kids not to run with scissors and thats a deadly weapon you just threw across the room because you got angry? Olivera told WESH2. Thats my kid. What if it was her eyeball? It wasnt, but what if?

The teacher did admit to throwing the scissors, but he denied they ever hit the students face and said he didnt know how she received the cuts.

I dont think I am in trouble. I threw the scissors in frustration, but not near any student and she was not hurt. I saw her face in class and saw the gash and I have no idea where that came from. That could not have happened from the scissors, the teacher told WESH2.

But the girl gave a conflicting report of what happened. She said when her teacher threw the scissors across the room, it ricocheted off a whiteboard and hit her in the face, leaving her with scratches, KPRC-TV reported.

As of writing on Wednesday, Oct. 25, the teacher has not been charged with any crime.

The Orange County Sheriffs Office is conducting an open investigation into the incident.

From NTD.tv
Help Me, Dad: Dad Recounts Daughters Last Moments on San Francisco Pier

Update: On Thursday, a jury rendered a decision: they found Garcia-Zarate not guilty on murder charges. A federal case may be opened up in his case, according to media reports.

A Mexican immigrant was acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges in San Francisco on Thursday, Nov. 30, in the politically charged shooting and death of a woman, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The case against Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, who immigrated illegally to the United States, became a rallying cry for President Donald Trump during his campaign for the White House, as he pushed to halt illegal immigration and penalize so-called sanctuary cities, including San Francisco.

Zarate, who had been deported to Mexico five times since first entering the U.S. as a juvenile, said the July 1, 2015, shooting of Kate Steinle on a pier in San Francisco, was an accident.

The San Francisco jury, while acquitting him of murder and manslaughter charges, found him guilty of the lesser charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, a San Francisco Chronicle reporter covering the case said on Twitter.



A father is recounting his daughter, Kate Steinles last moments alive before she was murdered on San Francisco Pier 14.

Jim Steinle said that he heard a bang and then saw his daughter collapse in his arms.

Help me, dad, were her three final words, The Associated Press reported.

I couldnt figure out what was wrong, he told a courtroom as he tried to hold back tears. She didnt have any health problems.

He saw her drop to the ground, her eyes were closed, and she had problems breathing.

After he rolled his daughter on her side, he lifted up her shirt and saw what was wrong: a bullet hole. Then he saw the blood.

Paramedics arrived on the scene and rushed her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

A witness also took the stand in the trialwith the help of an interpreter. Michelle Lo was on vacation with her family in San Francisco when she saw a man in black who looked like a homeless person and was spinning around in a chair grinning and laughing in a manner that made her feel uncomfortable, Fox reported.

Kate Steinle trial features testimony of witness to killing by illegal immigrant https://t.co/8K8teqXUXb  Fox News (@FoxNews) October 24, 2017

As Lo and her family continued down the pier, she recalled, she heard a very sharp scream and saw a woman on the ground. She saw the man in black walking away, Fox reported.

She took photos of the scene, showing both Steinle and the defendant, Jose Ines Garcia-Zarate, an illegal immigrant. At the time of his arrest, Garcia-Zarate went by the name Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez.

Garcia-Zarate, 54, admits shooting Steinle but claims it was an accident.

The womans death has been invoked by a number of officialsnamely President Donald Trumpsaying that illegal immigrants often bring crime. Garcia-Zarate had been deported five times in the past.

Deputy District Attorney Diana Garcia showed jurors the handgun that he used.

Why were there no calls from Democrats for #GunControlNow after the shooting death of #KateSteinle? pic.twitter.com/0h7fBUUxIV  Black & Conservative (@derrickwilburn) October 4, 2017

Its a very reliable, high-quality gun, Garcia said, AP reported. Its one that wont go off on accident.

Garcia-Zarates lawyer, Matt Gonzalez, said that his client didnt know that he had picked up a gun when he found it under a bench. He claimed that it was wrapped in a T-shirt.

He did not know he was handling a firearm, Gonzalez said.

He added, This gun is inherently dangerous in the hands of someone who isnt properly trained.

The gun belonged to a U.S. Bureau of Land Management ranger who had reported it stolen from his parked car a week prior to the shooting.

If hes convicted of second-degree murder charges, Garcia-Zarate could face 15 years to life in prison.

Reuters contributed to this report
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.)(C) stands with Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), (L) and Rep. Don DeSantis (R-Fla.) as he announces that his committee and the House oversight committee are starting the investigation into the Russia-Obama Administration uranium deal. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

House Republicans Investigating Sale of Uranium Rights to Russia, Clinton Emails

The House Intelligence Committee and the House Oversight Committee will investigate a 2010 deal for mining rights which gave Russia control over one-fifth of U.S. uranium production.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, (R-Calif.), says his committee will examine how and why a Canadian mining company, renamed Uranium One, was sold to Russias state-owned nuclear company Rosatom.

The Uranium One deal not only gave Russia legal control over one-fifth of U.S. uranium production, it gave Russia control over lucrative mines in Kazakhstan.

The deal was approved by nine U.S. agencies including the State Department, then under Sen. Hilary Clinton, and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, (CFIUS) on which Clinton held a seat.

Many of the people on the Canadian end of the deal were friends of the Clintons or major contributors to the Clinton Foundation, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. Also, a bank selling Uranium One stock paid former president Bill Clinton half a million dollars as a speaking fee.

The committees will be investigating potential conflicts of interest.

News reports indicate that the FBI has been investigating subsidiaries of the Russian company for bribery and improper business dealings since 2009.

Rep. Nunes said the investigation would focus on whether there was an FBI probe at the time and if so, why was Congress not informed of this matter.

Its important that we find out why that deal went through, Rep. Peter King, (R-N.Y.), said.

The committee is seeking information from a confidential FBI informant who has not been able to testify because of a non-disclosure agreement. Committee members are working with the Justice Department to determine under what conditions the informant might be allowed to testify.

Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), who sits on the Oversight Committee, suggested that the committee could issue subpoenas to get the information it sought.

Hilary Clinton addressed the new investigation in an interview on C-Span on Oct. 23, saying, Its the same baloney theyve been peddling for years, and theres been no credible evidence by anyone. In fact, its been debunked repeatedly and will continue to be debunked.

Further Probes Into Clinton Email Case

The House Oversight Committee and the House Judiciary Committee have announced a new investigation into how the FBI handled the matter of then-candidate Hilary Clintons use of a private server for some government emails.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, (R-S.C.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, (R-Va.) released a statement saying, Decisions made by the Department of Justice in 2016 have led to a host of outstanding questions that must be answered.

This investigation will focus on four aspects of the case:

*The FBIs decision to publicly announce the Clinton email investigation but not announce the probe of Trump campaign associates.

*The decision to notify Congress that the bureau was revisiting the email probe in the fall of 2016.

*The decision to appropriate full decision making in respect to charging or not charging Secretary Clinton to the FBI rather than the DOJ.

*The FBIs timeline in respect to charging decisions.

The FBI recently released emails showing that ex-Director James Comey might have been drafting his July 2016 statement exonerating Sen. Clinton of criminal charges regarding the emails, in May of that year.

Most of the emails are largely redacted, so it is unclear at this time what issues they addressed.

In June, Comey told the Senate Intelligence Committee that his decision to make a public statement was influenced by a meeting between Bill Clinton and then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch that occurred earlier in the month.

He also told the House Judiciary Committee in September 2016 that he made the decision not to recommend criminal charges after the FBI interviewed Clinton.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and committee member Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) believe these potentially contradictory statements deserve further investigation.

From NTD.tv
Elite Indonesian anti-terror police from Densus 88 escort four Turks arrested on arrival at Jakarta airport on Sept. 14, 2014. The four Turkish nationals were arrested in Sulawesi island and are suspected to be linked to the jihadist Islamic State group, police spokesman said. (BIMA SAKTI/AFP/Getty Images)

Indonesia Arrests Nine With Alleged ISIS Links

JAKARTAIndonesian authorities arrested nine men suspected of having links to a terrorist network loyal to ISIS and planning a series of attacks on police posts, said a police spokesman.

Counter-terrorism police have grappled with a recent resurgence in homegrown radicalism in the worlds largest Muslim-majority country, inspired by the extremist group ISIS.

Police said eight men were arrested on Tuesday in Riau province and one man in South Sulawesi province. They were alleged to have links to Indonesias most high-profile terrorist network Jemaah Asharut Daulah (JAD) which is loyal to ISIS.

They were planning attacks on police stations from the district level all the way to the provincial level, national police spokesman Rikwanto said of the men arrested in Riau.

He added that the men were suspected of joining a training camp in a neighboring province where they learned to shoot guns and assemble bombs.

Detachment 88, the countrys elite counter-terrorism police unit usually steps up surveillance and raids near the end of the year, foiling militant plots targeting New Years Eve and Christmas celebrations and popular tourist spots.

Authorities suspect there are hundreds of ISIS sympathizers in Indonesia, some of whom have traveled to Syria to fight alongside the group. There are heightened concerns over the return of battle-hardened terrorists as ISIS loses territory in the Middle East.

Four people were killed when ISIS-linked terrorists launched a gun-and-bomb attack in the heart of the capital Jakarta in January, 2016.
A general view of the Great Hall of the People during the closing session of 19th National Congress in Beijing, China on Oct. 24, 2017. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Meet Xi Jinpings Allies Who Will Help Him Rule the Chinese Communist Party

At the conclusion of Chinas 19th National Congress, the once-in-five-years Party reshuffle has emerged in current leader Xi Jinpings favor.

Many of the 200-plus top officials who comprise the Central Committee were due to retire at this congress, as per established Chinese Communist Party (CCP) convention.

How many of his allies are inserted into the Central Committee indicates how much authority Xi has over the Party.

On Oct. 24, Chinese state media released the full list of members of the Central Committee and the CCPs anti-corruption body, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). The CCDI has been the driving force behind Xis campaign to rid the Party of political enemiesnamely officials still loyal to former CCP leader Jiang Zemin.

In the past few weeks, speculation has abounded as to whether Xi would break convention to allow Wang Qishan, the spearhead of the CCDIs anti-corruption campaign, to stay on, as he is past the retirement age for membership in the Politburo Standing Committee (68 years old; Wang turned 69 in July).

Wang was dropped from the list of Central Committee members, confirming that he will retire from his seat of power in the Politburo Standing Committeeunder Xi, this Committee runs the CCP.

Xi could not hold on to Wang, but his other associates were placed in the Central Committee.

Zhao Leji was newly named into the CCDI, hinting at the possibility of him succeeding Wang to become head of the anti-corruption agency. As current head of the Organization Department, Zhao is in charge of making appointments to senior positions. He helped promote many of Xis allies, according to the Brookings Institute.

In 2015, Zhao also penned a 4,000-word article in Qiushi, a CCP political journal, publicly voicing his support for Xi.

Xi also kept many of his former subordinates in the Central Committee, including Li Zhanshu, who has served as Xis chief of staff since Xi took power in 2012. Li began his early career working closely with Xi. He and Xi both held posts as party secretaries of local counties in Hebei Province.

Wang Huning, Xis top foreign policy aide, is also a trusted ally. He has earned the nickname of Zhongnanhais wealth of knowledge, referring to the leadership compound in Beijing.

Li, Wang, and Wang Yang (no relation), current vice-premier, make up a tight circle that often accompanied Xi on his domestic and international trips.

Meanwhile, Cai Qi, current Beijing party secretary; Huang Kunming, vice minister of the propaganda department; and Li Qiang, Jiangsu Province party secretary, all worked under Xi during their time in Zhejiang Province, and have been newly appointed to the Central Committee (not members during the previous congress).

Zhang Dun contributed reporting.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) guides the multiple-rocket launching drill in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) April 24, 2014. (KCNA via REUTERS/File Photo)

North Korea: US Military in Top Gear

For months, President Donald Trump has been calling on the North Korean regime to abandon its nuclear weapons program. It appears now that North Korea has got the message.

North Korean state media reported on Tuesday that it has observed the U.S. military running into top gear.

In addition to pursuing a diplomatic solution, Trump is also using economic sanctions and the threat of military force to put pressure on Pyongyang.

President Donald Trump at the White House on Oct. 25, 2017. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Just this week, U.S. Pacific Command announced it has added two more aircraft carriers and their accompanying strike groups to the 7th

Fleet.

This is adding to already substantial forces near the Korean Peninsula. It also announced the deployment of F-35 fighter jets to Japan.

The U.S. strategic assets including nuclear strategic bomber, nuclear carrier and submarine are flooding into the Korean peninsula and war games are staged incessantly, North Koreas state media reported.

North Koreas state media also seems to think it is just a matter of time before the United States will carry out a strike against the communist regime.

Now the Korean peninsula situation is teetering on the edge of nuclear war, it said.

Sailors conduct flight operations on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Theodore Roosevelt is currently underway for a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Spencer Roberts)

While North Korea has for years called for war with its adversaries, the question now is whether it will be willing to abandon its nuclear weapons program to avert an actual war.

The U.S. military is far superior to North Koreas. And while North Korea has threatened to strike the United States, as well as allies Japan and South Korea, with nuclear weapons, experts believe it lacks the capability to successfully deliver a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile.

However, the military and intelligence community believe that North Korea might just be months away from solving the final engineering challenges that would allow it to do so.

Preparations for military options have been well underway. Trump has had several meetings with senior military leaders in recent weeks.

The Air Force announced last week that the munitions at its base in Guam, which is home to B1-B strategic bombers, have been completely restocked to a level 10 percent higher than last year.

In this June 20, 2017, file photo provided by South Korean Defense Ministry, U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers, top, and second from top, and South Korean F-15K fighter jets fly over the Korean Peninsula. (South Korean Defense Ministry via AP, File)

The inbound munitions ensure required assets are available in theater to support national objectives, said Maj. Erik Schmid, 36th Munitions Squadron commander, in a statement released on Oct. 18.

Decades of diplomatic talks with North Korea have been unable to solve the threat of North Korea developing nuclear weapons. An agreement reached between the Clinton administration and the Kim regime in 1994, which provided North Korea with financial aid as well as two light-water nuclear reactors in exchange for an end to its nuclear weapons program, was later broken by the North.

By 2006 North Korea conducted its first underground nuclear test. It has conducted five more since then, the most recent one in early September.

In response to the latest nuclear test, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to adopt new sanctions on North Korea, restricting its natural gas and oil supplies and limiting its ability to export.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Oct. 15 that Trump had instructed him to seek a diplomatic solution and that he would continue to try to talk with North Korea until the first bomb drops.

I think he does want to be clear with Kim Jong Un, that regime in North Korea, that he has military preparations ready to go, Tillerson told CNN.

But be clear, the president has also made clear to me that he wants this solved diplomatically. He is not seeking to go to war.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson delivers a statement at the State Department in Washington, DC, on Oct. 4, 2017. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

So far North Korea has not been willing to negotiate the abandoning of its nuclear weapons program.

In addition to the United States deploying military assets into the Korean Peninsula region, South Korea and Japan have also been preparing militarily.

The two countries have been conducting joint military drills with the United States in recent weeks and have been increasing their missile defense systems.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis warned earlier this year that an armed conflict with North Korea would be probably the worst kind of fighting in most peoples lifetime.

Since then, Mattis has instructed the U.S. military to be ready for such a conflict and has said that while the United States does not seek to attack North Korea, it has several options available for the total annihilation of the country.

Those comments were echoed by President Trump when he said before the U.N. General Assembly in September that the United States could totally destroy North Korea if it was forced to defend itself or its allies.
This picture from North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) taken on Aug. 29 and released on Aug. 30 shows North Koreas intermediate-range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 lifting off from the launching pad at an undisclosed location near Pyongyang. North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Tuesday after 74 days without a missile launch. (STR/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

North Korea Renews Threat to Explode Nuclear Bomb Over Pacific

A senior North Korean diplomat on Wednesday renewed threats to carry out a nuclear test over the Pacific Ocean.

The threat of conducting the nuclear test over the Pacific, which would lead to disastrous health effects, was first made by North Koreas foreign minister at the time of the U.N. General Assembly in New York in September.

Senior North Korean diplomat Ri Yong Pil told CNN on Wednesday that those threats should be taken literally.

The foreign minister is very well aware of the intentions of our supreme leader, so I think you should take his words literally, Ri said.

U.S. military leaders have warned of the effects that such a test would have.

North Koreas Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. Headquarters on Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. said last month that such a test would have similar effects to the Chernobyl disaster in the Soviet Union.

Thousands were killed and a large area was contaminated with radioactivity when a nuclear reactor at the Chernobyl power plant exploded in 1986.

We had significant health challenges for many years and obviously the loss of life, Dunford said.

President Donald Trump has also warned of the health impact of North Korea conducting a test with a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific.

Hes talking about a massive weapon exploding over the ocean, Pacific Ocean, which causes tremendous calamity, Trump said at a speech in Huntsville, Alabama, on Sept. 22. Where that plume goes, so goes cancer, so goes tremendous problems, he said.

During the rally, Trump vowed to keep America safe from the threat of a nuclear attack by North Korea.

Trump has said that the only solution to the North Korean crisis is for it to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

The Trump administration is attempting to find a diplomatic solution to the problem, while at the same time using economic sanctions and the threat of military force to put pressure on North Korea.

A giant television screen on a public square in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Sept. 23, 2017. (ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images)

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has so far not shown any inclination to abandon the nuclear weapons program, which he sees as a key tool for the survival of his regime.

Kim significantly stepped up the countrys nuclear program after his father died in 2011. Since then he has conducted some 85 ballistic missile tests, according to the U.S. State Department.

In total, North Korea has conducted 6 underground nuclear tests, the most recent one in early September. Some experts have suggested that an explosion over the Pacific would be a logical next step in North Koreas weapons development.

Such an atmospheric test would be the first globally since China detonated a device in 1980, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Tests of nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles are rarer still. The United States only test of an operational ballistic missile with a live warhead was fired from a submarine far out in the Pacific Ocean in 1962.

China was widely condemned for a similar test with a missile that exploded over its Lop Nur test site in the countrys western region in 1966.
Sheriff Releases New Details in the Sherri Papini Abduction Case

More details have been released by officials in the case of a mother who disappeared for three weeks in Northern California after going for a jogbefore she was found on the side of a road more than 100 miles away on Thanksgiving Day.

About a year ago, Sherri Papini was reported missing. When she was discovered, Papini was branded, beaten, and her blonde hair was chopped short, police said at the time.

The FBI has released two sketches of women that Papini claimed abducted her for weeks on Nov. 2, 2016, near her home close to the city of Redding. At the time, she was reported missing by her husband, Keith Papini, triggering a massive manhunt.

The first woman was described by Papini as Hispanic between the age of 20 and 30 and 5 feet 5 inches tall. She has coarse, curly dark hair, thin eyebrows, and pierced ears, the FBI said.

The other woman was also described as Hispanic between the age of 40 and 50 years old with long, straight black hair with some gray in it. Shes 5 feet 7 inches tall, the FBI said.

It has taken time for Sherri to recover to a point to be able to provide accurate details to the sketch artist, the Shasta County Sheriffs Office said in a release this week. The sketches then needed to be finalized and approved for release by the FBI.

Sherri continues to look at photographs of various makes and models of SUVs in an effort to provide a more detailed description, the sheriffs office noted. It added that the women were driving an SUV with a large rear side window.

Sherri appeared battered and bruised, her hair had been cut to shoulder length and she had a brand on her right shoulder, the sheriffs office said in its update. Sherri, however, stated she had not been sexually assaulted, and there is no physical evidence to indicate otherwise.

Papini said that two women abducted her, but, according to the sheriffs office, she had male DNA on her clothes when she was found, the Sacramento Bee reported. She also was exchanging text messages with a Michigan man whom she had planned to meet in the days leading up to the disappearance.

Detectives traveled to Michigan to speak with the man and determined that he wasnt involved in her disappearance, Sgt. Brian Jackson said Wednesday.

There were inconsistencies, Jackson told the Bee, which reported:

She told detectives she cut her right foot in the fight, but investigators didnt find evidence of the cut. Jackson said thats not necessarily a sign that Papini is making up that part of the story  or any other parts of her account. Obviously, in any investigation, especially something of this nature where theres trauma and its a prolonged thing, its not abnormal to have inconsistencies, because recall and circumstances in peoples perception, Jackson said. So thats normal in any case, even something that occurred over five minutes.

Female and male DNA was found on her clothes, and the male DNA wasnt from her husband, who has been ruled out as a suspect.

During the disappearance, her husband took a polygraph test and offered to take another one, detectives told the Bee this week.

Keith Papini describes what his wife says she did during her captivity. Would you have the will to survive? #ABC2020 pic.twitter.com/aZMjjSg005  20/20 (@ABC2020) December 3, 2016

How Sherri Papinis Town and Husband Rallied After She Vanished: Keith Inspired https://t.co/V4UOgm7iaR pic.twitter.com/BqA0CmY4pA  DANILNEWS (@braimahake) December 9, 2016
Tom Hanks Expects a General Upgrade in Ethics After Weinstein Accusations

Actor Tom Hanks says he hopes the revelations on the sexual predation of producer Harvey Weinstein will bring about a change in morality in the current culture.

The much-beloved and well-respected actor said he never heard any of the sexual assault accusations being leveled against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, but he is sure there were people who knew exactly what was going on and didnt say anything.

Hanks told NPR reporter David Greene that the culture of sexual abuse is not limited to Hollywood.

The aspect of Oh this is the Hollywood culture  Anywhere there are people in power who think its OK to manipulate those under them in a sexual manner under the guise of either helping or hindering their careerthat exists absolutely everywhere in Western societyactually, everywhere in the world.

Thats patently wrong.

Certainly it happens in Hollywood. They talk about the casting couch in between movies on Turner Classic Films, the actor explained in the interview on Oct. 23.

Hanks, who sits on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors, said that the recent revelations about Harvey Weinstein should usher in an era of ethical reform in the movie industry, and society in general.

God bless, that were now at the place where theres going to beI think everybodys going to have to define a code of ethics and theyre going to have to start living and working by that code of ethics.

Hanks said the culture of toleration for sexual abuse was already changing. He spoke of the courage needed to step forward, but also of the positive reception victims can now expect.

Its a traumatic moment of pain and grief and embarrassment and anyone who speaks up I think is crazy-brave, and now luckily has an awful lot of people who are going to listen.

In the movie industry as in all industries, Hanks explained there are people, both men and women who want power.

They think somehow this is how it works: Dont you understand, this is how it works. Im the boss, and you are going to have to please me somehow.'

That is not just in Hollywood; that exists absolutely anywhere.

And those days, I think, are close to beingwell, I dont know if theyll ever be over, but there will be some recompense for anybody who is on the other side of it.

I think the best thing that anybody who [is very] brave can say, the moment that it happens, is I have just been sexually harassed in the workplace, and thats against the law.

Harvey Weinstein has been accused of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape by a few dozen actresses and models. Emboldened by this some women are also revealing abuse at the hands of other Hollywood power brokers.

Weinstein is currently being investigated by police in London, New York, and Los Angeles for sex crimes committed in those jurisdictions.

Not a Product of His Times

Weinstein attempted to explain his behavior in a statement published in the New York Times on Oct. 5.

In it, Weinstein explained that his habits stemmed from the more permissive times and the male-dominated culture in which he grew up.

I came of age in the 60s and 70s, when all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different. That was the culture then.

I have since learned its not an excuse, in the officeor out of it. To anyone.

I realized some time ago that I needed to be a better person, and my interactions with the people I work with have changed.

I appreciate the way Ive behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it.

Weinstein said then that he was taking a sabbatical and seeking therapy. At the same time, he denied most of the allegations against him.

Tom Hanks, at age 61, is a contemporary of the 65-year-old Weinstein. Hanks has never been accused of anything even remotely unsavory.

From NTD.tv
Two Men Dead in Shooting at Grambling State University

Two men were shot and killed at Grambling State University in Louisiana where authorities are searching for the shooter early on Wednesday, local media reported.

Student Earl Andrews, 23, and Monquiarius Caldwell, 23, who was not a student, were killed during an altercation in a courtyard at about midnight, Will Sutton, the schools media relations director, told WISH-TV.

Our prayers go out to the victims and their families. Violence has no place on our campus. We will fully cooperate with the police investigation, Sutton said in a statement to the station.

Police were searching for the unknown shooter who fled the scene, Sutton said.

Grambling State University is a black college attended by about 4,800 students in Grambling in northern Louisiana.

By Brendan OBrien
Zayden Phillips in two family photos on the left and his father Charles Phillips. (Photos courtesy family and Monroe County Sheriff's Office)

2-Year-Old Shot by Father Last Week Dies

The 2-year-old boy who was shot in the head by his father Friday last week died due to his injuries on Tuesday night, the Strong Memorial Hospital confirmed, according to WHEC.

Police discovered Zayden Phillips with a gunshot wound at his familys home in Rochester, New York, just past noon on Friday. The boy was rushed to Strong Memorial where he was listed in a guarded condition over the weekend.

Investigators recovered a Century Arms Canik 9mm semi-automatic pistol loaded with nine bullets, the Democrat and Chronicle reported. The discovery led to the arrest of the boys 36-year-old father Charles Timothy Phillips.

Philips is a convicted felon, which makes it illegal for him to possess a gun. He is being held without bail at the Monroe County Jail with a court appearance scheduled for Thursday morning.

The two were alone at the family home at 24 Walnut Street when the shooting occurred. Court documents state that the boy was shot in the head and suffered life-threatening injuries.

Over the weekend, when the boy was still alive, Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Sara VanStrydonck said that charges against the father would be upgraded if the boys condition worsened. Additional charges would have to be decided by a grand jury.

Before the boy died, the father was charged with first-degree assault and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon for the shooting. The assault charges concerned depraved indifference to human life, VanStrydonck, the head of the Child Abuse Unit, explained.

That is, engaging in reckless conduct that led to this childs injuries, she said on Saturday when the child was still alive but his prognosis was not good.

Charles Phillips was convicted of attempted robbery in 2009 and sentenced to three-and-a-half-years of imprisonment.

He was released on parole in 2013 but returned to prison in 2015 after he violated parole conditions. He was then released again in April 2016. His parole supervision ran out two weeks before the fatal shooting.

Charles Phillips pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police did not say what led to the shooting.

Family members said the shooting was an accident, WIVB 4 reported.

From NTD.tv
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nation Nikki Haley (C) arrives to speak to reporters at the United Nations headquarters, in New York City, on March 27, 2017. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

UN Ambassador Nikki Haley Evacuated From South Sudan Camp: Reports

The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, was suddenly evacuated from South Sudan on Wednesday after looting and violence broke out during a demonstration.

Haley left a U.N. camp in the violence-wracked country after hundreds of protesters opposing President Salva Kiir approached, a spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations told Fox News on Wednesday.

They became upset that [Haley] was not able to meet with them, due to time constraint, the person said.

U.N. guards then fired tear gas into a crowd of demonstrators after she left. The protesters then looted and destroyed a charity office that was operating there.

We are disappointed by what we are seeing. This is not what we thought we were investing [in], Haley said in remarks that were released later by the U.N. about the ongoing violence in South Sudan thats killed thousands of people.

Haley, the former governor of South Carolina added: What we thought we were investing in was a free, fair society where people could be safe and South Sudan is the opposite of that.

A spokesman for the U.S. mission to the U.N. added to ABC News that her security team deemed that the situation wasnt safe and cut the event short by a few minutes. The demonstrators were pro-American and supported her, the person said.

The situation just got a little out of hand and our security colleagues decided it was better to be safe and depart a little early, the spokesman said.

Shes on a three-country trip in Africa. The spokesperson said shes now in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The United States is the largest donor to South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011. More than $5 billion has been given in humanitarian and development initiatives, the U.S. Embassy said.

But in 2013, South Sudan was plunged into a civil war that displaced millions of people and left thousands dead.
Update: More Details Revealed on Paddock Brother Arrest

Bruce Paddock, the brother of mass shooter Stephen Paddock, was arrested in North Hollywood on suspicion of possessing child pornography images, authorities said.

The Los Angeles Police Department detained 58-year-old Bruce Douglas Paddock on the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 25, according to a news release.

The Los Angeles Times reported that there were 20 criminal charges against Paddockall related to possessing hundreds of child pornography images or the sexual exploitation of children.

Evidence was discovered in a Sun Valley business where Paddock had been squatting, the LAPD said. The images and other evidence was discovered after he was evicted from the building, according to the LAPD news release.

#LAPD: Detectives have arrested Bruce Paddock for possession of Child Porn. In case there are more victims, call Juvenile Div 562-624-4027. pic.twitter.com/Qf0NJ66Wxg  LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) October 25, 2017

A photo of Bruce Paddock was provided by detectives in case there might be victims of unreported incidents and they are asking for the publics assistance in locating them, it added.

The Los Angeles District Attorneys Office will now investigate the matter further.

Bruce was homeless for some time and couldnt be found, and, according to the LA Times, he was tracked to the North Hollywood building where he was arrested Wednesday.

Police said the arrest was not related to the investigation into the mass shooting in Las Vegas that left 58 people dead and hundreds wounded on the night of Oct. 1.

Theres no connection, Josh Rubenstein, a spokesman for the LAPD, told the newspaper.

In an interview with NBC a day after the shooting, on Oct. 2, Bruce Paddock said that he hadnt spoken with Stephen for 10 years and had no idea why his brother would shoot hundreds of people.

I dont know how he could stoop to this low point, hurting someone else. It wasnt suicide by cop since he killed himself, he told NBC several weeks ago. He killed a bunch of people and then killed himself so he didnt have to face whatever it was.

Bruce Paddock revealed to the station that their father was a longtime bank robber and fugitive who once made the FBIs most-wanted list.

Court records show that Bruce Paddock has a criminal history that goes back to the 1980s, including vandalism, criminal threats, theft, and driving with a suspended license.

Im not proud of it, he said of the vandalism case. But I never went to prison.

Hes been visited twice since the shooting.

Bruce Paddock noted that hes been trying to reconnect with his family, leaving messages for brother Eric and others. I want to see if we could patch up what we destroyed so many years ago, he told NBC. He said that he only reached his mother, and shes yelling at me all the time not to talk to anyone.

NTD.tv contributed to this report.
Lifestyle: If You're Not Getting Closer to Achieving Your Goals, Try Using a Different Metric
Sailors conduct flight operations on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The Theodore Roosevelt is currently underway for a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. 7th in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Spencer Roberts)

US Adds 2 Aircraft Carriers and Strike Groups to Asia Pacific

Forces available to deal with North Korea grow

The U.S Pacific Command added two more aircraft carriers and their accompanying strike groups to the 7th Fleet this week, temporarily giving U.S. forces a significant increase in firepower near the Korean Peninsula.

The Pacific Command will also see its first deployment of F-35A stealth fighter jets in early November.

The Aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and its accompanying strike group entered the 7th Fleet area of operations (AOO) on Monday, Oct. 25, transferring its task force designation from the 5th Fleet to the seventh.

The Navy said the Roosevelt and its strike group will conduct maritime security operations, theater security cooperation, and port visits as part of the U.S. Navys ongoing presence in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

The Roosevelts strike group comprises the guided-missile cruiser the USS Bunker Hill, and three guided-missile destroyers: the USS Halsey, the USS Preble, and the USS Sampson.

The group also includes three squadrons of F-18 variant super hornets, the VMFA 312 Marine Fighter Attack Squadron, Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139, Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, and Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30.

USS Theodore Roosevelt is prepared to carry out the full spectrum of possible missions, from humanitarian relief to combat operations, said Capt. Carlos Sardiello, Theodore Roosevelts commanding officer.

When a carrier leaves on deployment, we have to be ready for anything, he said.

The Roosevelt and its strike group are on route to the 5th Fleets area of responsibility in the Middle East but fall under the authority of Pacific Command as they pass through its jurisdiction.

Thats just standard protocol, said Nicole Schwegman with Pacific Fleet public affairs.

There is no clear timeline of when the Roosevelt and its strike group will leave Pacific Commands area of responsibility and those assets could be tasked with other operations while in the region.

The Pacific Fleet will also see the return of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and its strike group, which had been conducting operations with the 5th Fleet in the Middle East as part of Operation Inherent Resolve to wipe out ISIS.

USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group wraps up @US5thFleet ops, returns to @US7thFleet area of operations @NimitzNews https://t.co/dXgKJgSXWu  U.S. Pacific Command (@PacificCommand) October 25, 2017

The Nimitz comes with the guided-missile cruiser the USS Princeton, and four guided-missile destroyers: the USS Howard, USS Shoup, USS Pinckney, and USS Kidd, as well as its own fighter jet squadrons, electronic warfare squadron, and more.

The Nimitz and its strike group are on route back to the United States, said Schwegman, but also fall under the authority of Pacific Command as they pass through the area.

For the time being, the two aircraft carriers and their strike groups join the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, which has been conducting training operations around the Korean Peninsula and went to port in Busan, South Korea on Saturday, Oct. 21.

Like the other two aircraft carriers, the Reagan has its own strike group made up of a long list of ships, fighter jets, and other aircraft.

The Reagans carrier strike group specializes in training and material readiness and has been focusing on bilateral training exercises and is to increase the readiness of U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) forces.

Meanwhile, the first operational deployment of the U.S. Air Forces F-35A Lightning II fighters are also set to deploy to Japan.

The Pacific Command, which oversees the Pacific Fleet and Pacific Air Force, will see approximately 300 airmen and 12 F-35A Lightning IIs join its Kadena Air Base in Japan for a six-month rotation in early November.

The F-35A gives the joint warfighter unprecedented global precision attack capability against current and emerging threats while complementing our air superiority fleet, said Gen. Terrence J. OShaughnessy, Pacific Air Forces commander.

The airframe is ideally suited to meet our commands obligations, and we look forward to integrating it into our training and operations, he said.

This story was updated from an earlier version to indicate the USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Nimitz are temporarily under Pacific Command.
Harvey Weinstein on Spike TV at MTV Studios in New York City on Mar. 8, 2017. (Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Spike)

Weinstein Co Faces Lawsuit Over Weinstein Sexual Assault Claims

An actress who claims she was sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein has filed a negligence lawsuit against his former company, in what may be the first civil case brought against The Weinstein Co or Weinstein himself after reports that the Hollywood movie producer sexually harassed or assaulted women.

The complaint, filed by Dominique Huett in state court in Los Angeles on Tuesday, says the company was aware that Weinstein had previously settled other allegations of harassment and assault and should not have let the movie producer meet privately with Huett in a hotel room in 2010.

Representatives for the Weinstein Company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokeswoman for Harvey Weinstein said any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein.

The New York Times reported on Oct. 5 that Weinstein had reached eight previously undisclosed settlements with women who accused him of sexual harassment and unwanted physical contact. The New Yorker magazine reported that 13 women had claimed that Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them.

The New York City Police Department has said it is investigating an allegation of sexual assault by Weinstein in 2004. The Los Angeles Police Department said earlier this month that it is investigating a 2013 sexual assault allegation against Weinstein.

Reuters has been unable to independently confirm any of the allegations.

However, in California, negligence claims must be brought within a two-year statute of limitations.

Jennifer Drobac, a law professor at the University of Indiana and an expert in sexual harassment law, said that Huett will have a tough time proving her case given the time limit in the statute of limitations has expired.

But in Huetts lawsuit, the actress says she could not have known about the alleged pattern of harassment by Weinstein, or the companys knowledge of it until media reports surfaced earlier this month.

Drobac argued though that Huett could have sued Weinstein after the alleged incident, which might have led her to discover more about Weinsteins past behavior and what the company knew about it.

Huett played a minor role in a 2015 episode of CBS television police drama Blue Bloods, according to the International Movie Database.

By Daniel Wiessner
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Trump to announce presidential run as Republicans debate party future

Trump is expected to announce he will run for the White House, even as weak midterm showings prompt debate about whether the GOP should move past him.
Selling Canadiana is proving tricky.

Roots Corp., known for its leather goods and casualwear imprinted with beavers and maple leaves, is on track for the second-worst Canadian trading debut of the year. The stock tumbled 20 per cent to $9.75 at 12:11 p.m. for a market value of $413 million. The Toronto-based retailer priced its shares at $12 apiece last week, lower than the targeted range of between $14 and $16 a share.

The drop puts it on track for the second-worst first day performance of 10 IPOs above $100 million in 2017, after pot producer MedReleaf Corp.s 21-per-cent drop. It also stands in contrast to a parka-maker Canada Goose Holdings Inc., which surged 40 per cent on its debut in March.

Retail IPOs have been a little hit and miss, Bruce Winder, co-founder and partner at Toronto-based Retail Advisors Network, said in a phone interview. Retail is a tough game right now, especially if youre focused on bricks and mortar.

Winder added that Roots brand is a little dusty and lacks the cache of Canada Goose. Global stock markets also dropped on Wednesday with the S&P/TSX Composite Index down 0.5 per cent to 15,820.56.

The upside is that Roots owns their own brand, he said. That gives them more control over pricing and marketing. Retailers that own their own brand have a fighting chance in the future.

The IPO, which raised $200 million, comes two years after the company agreed to sell a majority stake to New York-based private equity firm Searchlight Capital Partners.

Founded in 1973 by Michael Budman and Don Green, Roots has more than 200 retail stores in Canada, the U.S., China and Taiwan, selling products that seek to capture the essence of the Canadian outdoors.

The 16.7 million shares offered in the IPO were sold by Searchlight and the founding shareholders, according to a company filing. The company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale, it states.

The IPO was led by Toronto-Dominion Bank, Credit Suisse Group AG and Bank of Montreal. The banks have the option of purchasing additional shares that could bring the proceeds of the offering up to $230 million if exercised.

Following the IPO, Searchlight will control 48 per cent of the company while the founders will own about 12 per cent, according to the filing. If the over-allotment is exercised, that will fall to 43 per cent and 11 per cent respectively.

**

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As of early fall, it was clearer than ever that production problems meant Apple wouldnt have enough iPhone Xs in time for the holidays. The challenge was how to make the sophisticated phone  with advanced features such as facial recognition  in large enough numbers.

As Wall Street analysts and fan blogs watched for signs that the company would stumble, Apple came up with a solution: It quietly told suppliers they could reduce the accuracy of the face-recognition technology to make it easier to manufacture, according to people familiar with the situation.

With the iPhone X set to debut on Nov. 3, were about to find out whether the move has paid off.

Some analysts say there may still be too few iPhone Xs to meet initial demand. Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities predicts Apple will have two to three million handsets available on launch day and 25 million to 30 million units for the holiday quarter, down from his previous forecast of 40 million. For comparison, Apple sold 78 million phones during the same period last year, although that included all models.

Apple is famously demanding, leaning on suppliers and contract manufacturers to help it make technological leaps and retain a competitive edge.

While a less accurate Face ID will still be far better than the existing Touch ID, the company's decision to downgrade the technology for this model shows how hard its becoming to create cutting-edge features that consumers are hungry to try.

Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said Bloombergs claim that it reduced the accuracy spec for Face ID is completely false and we expect Face ID to be the new gold standard for facial authentication. The quality and accuracy of Face ID haven't changed; it continues to be one in a million probability of a random person unlocking your iPhone with Face ID.

While Apple has endured delays and supply constraints in the past, those typically have been restricted to certain iPhone colours or less important offerings such as the Apple Watch. This time the production hurdles affected a 10th-anniversary phone expected to generate much of the companys revenue.

About a month ago, Foxconn Technology Group pulled as many as 200 workers off an iPhone X production line. Apple was struggling to get sufficient components for the phone and needed fewer people to put it together. The main culprit, the people said, was the 3-D sensor that recognizes faces and unlocks the handset.

Foxconn declined to comment.

The sensor was always going to be a major technical challenge. Until the iPhone X, the most significant deployment of the technology was in Microsofts Kinect controller, which the Xbox console used to detect a gamers movements.

But the Kinect was the size of a large book, and Microsoft sold just 24 million units of the controller over two years, a far easier production challenge than the one confronted by Apple, which sells more than 200 million iPhones a year.

That technology is something we have been looking at for five years, chief design officer Jony Ive said in an onstage discussion hosted by The New Yorker this month.

We had prototypes that were this big, he added, holding his hands about a foot apart.

By the time Apple had greenlighted the iPhone X, the company was looking for technology that could be squeezed into a space a few centimetres across and millimetres deep.

Despite demanding the near impossible, Apple didnt add extra time to get it right  giving suppliers the typical two-year lead time.

The tight schedule underestimated the complexity of making and assembling exceedingly fragile components, said one of the people familiar with the production process.

That left suppliers short on time to prepare their factories and explains why the iPhone X is being released a full six weeks later than the iPhone 8, said this person, who asked to remain anonymous to discuss an internal matter. Its an aggressive design, the person said, and its a very aggressive schedule.

The 3-D sensor has three key elements: a dot projector, flood illuminator and infrared camera. The flood illuminator beams infrared light, which the camera uses to establish the presence of a face. The projector then flashes 30,000 dots onto the face which the phone uses to decide whether to unlock the home screen. The system uses a two-stage process because the dot projector makes big computational demands and would rapidly drain the battery if activated as frequently as the flood illuminator.

The dot projector is at the heart of Apples production problems.

Apple unveiled two new iPhones on Sept. 12, including the highly-anticipated iPhone X which boasts facial recognition and wireless charging. (The Associated Press)

In September, the Wall Street Journal reported that Apple was having trouble producing the modules that combine to make the dot projector, causing shortages.

The dot projector uses something called a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser, or VCSEL. The laser beams light through a lens known as a wafer-level optic, which focuses it into the 30,000 points of infra-red light projected onto the users face. The laser is made of gallium arsenide, a semiconductor material, and the lens is constructed of glass; both are fragile and easily broken.

Precision is key. If the microscopic components are off by even several microns, a fraction of a hairs breadth, the technology might not work properly, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

To make matters worse, Apple lost one of its laser suppliers early on. Finisar failed to meet Apples specifications in time for the start of production, and now the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company is racing to meet the standards by the end of October. That left Apple reliant on fewer laser suppliers: Lumentum Holdings and II-VI.

The fragility of the components created problems for LG and Sharp, both of which struggled to combine the laser and lens to make dot projectors.

At one point only about 20 per cent of the dot projectors the two companies produced were usable, according to a person familiar with the manufacturing process. LG Innotek and Sharp slowed the production process down in an effort to prevent breakages and ensure the components were assembled with the required level of precision.

LG confirmed in a conference call with analysts Wednesday that there has been a problem with yield and that mass production is just beginning. The current modules are significantly more difficult to produce than previous cameras, said Kim Jong-ho, who oversees the South Korean suppliers optical solution division.

He said manufacturing has improved enough to meet the iPhone X launch date, though supply may be limited, and stressed the company has been able to achieve a far stronger yield than a rival supplier  a reference to Sharp.

Sharp declined to comment.

To boost the number of usable dot projectors and accelerate production, Apple relaxed some of the specifications for Face ID, according to a different person with knowledge of the process.

As a result, it took less time to test completed modules, one of the major sticking points, the person said.

Its not clear how much the new specs will reduce the technologys efficacy.

At the phones official unveiling in September, executives boasted that there was a one in a million chance that an interloper could defeat Face ID to unlock a phone.

Even downgraded, it will probably still be far more accurate than TouchID, where the odds of someone other than the owner of a phone being able to unlock it are one in 50,000.

Besides struggling to produce enough 3-D sensors, Apple has suffered from a dearth of suppliers capable of making organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, Bloomberg reported last year.

The OLED, which delivers sharper images, is the iPhone Xs other main advance. But Apple is dependent on Samsung for its entire supply of the components.

For months, Apple investors have fretted that a shortage of iPhone Xs would send consumers into the arms of rival smartphone makers such as Samsung and Huawei.

Apple seems to have overcome the biggest production hurdles. Sharp is working to bring the production yield for dot projectors above 50 per cent, while LG has already surpassed that level, which both companies consider acceptable.

Meanwhile, Apple is working with Taiwans Himax Technologies to boost production of lenses to make up for lower-than-needed output from Heptagon, a Singaporean company that so far has been the only lens supplier.

The 3-D sensor shortage is expected to end in early 2018. Even so, signs of weakness in iPhone 8 sales means Apple could sell fewer handsets than last yeardespite all the fanfare surrounding the iPhone X.

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OTTAWAFinance Minister Bill Morneau says he of course participated in government discussions around the decision to give Bombardiers C Series and Global 7000 aircraft programs a $372.5-million repayable loan last winter.

Morneau dismissed as absurd comments made to the Star by Opposition critics that he should have recused himself from those discussions since he continued to hold shares in Morneau Shepell, which has the contract to run some, but not all, of Bombardiers pension regimes.

Morneau Shepell, the company the finance minister used to run, is one of Canadas largest administrators of pension and benefits plans, a point underlined by Morneau.

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In brief comments to the Star in a lockup for reporters on his fall economic update, Morneau said that when he stepped down as executive chairman of the company after he was elected in November 2015, Morneau Shepell had some 20,000 clients across Canada.

He suggested he didnt know all of the corporate clients, and a communications adviser standing with him added that in any event the conflict of interest screen that Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson had urged upon him was in place.

That screen, Morneaus office said on Monday, protects against conflicts arising from dealings specifically with or related to Morneau Shepell, and each instance is reported directly to the Ethics commissioner.

A source told the Star that Bombardiers contract with Morneau Shepell to administer benefits for some of its workers has been in place for more than a decade and there has been no substantial change since the 2015 election.

Neither Morneau Shepell nor Bombardier would discuss their contract.

Morneau says he remembered at least two times being taken out of meetings, and was unaware of any requirement to report the recusals. Dawsons office confirmed to the Star Tuesday that Morneaus office has reported no recusals to it.

Dawson only publishes recusals or instances when the screen fails to work in advance to prevent the ministers participation in a discussion in which he could have a conflict of interest  and he has to step out of, or recuse, from the discussion.

Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre said in an interview Tuesday Morneau exposed himself to a long list of real or perceived conflicts of interest in hanging onto his $20 million in Morneau Shepell shares, and the Bombardier loan raises concerns in his view.

When a finance minister forks over $372 million to a corporation like Bombardier, Canadians deserve to know hes doing it in their interests, not because of some other unknown reason.

The Bombardier bailout has turned into an absolute disaster, Poilievre said. Since it was announced, the executives have given themselves pay increases and theyre laying off 14,000 people. Now, we learn that their most cherished plane is being sold off to European investors. (Airbus is taking a controlling interest in Bombardiers C Series program, with no money or debt exchanging hands.)

Its very hard to see how all of this handout to Bombardier was in the public interest. So whose interests were involved in this terrible decision?

NDP ethics critic Nathan Cullen echoed similar concerns.

Im not sure whats worse: the transgression or refusing to admit there was a problem in the first place.

When it appears to be a conflict to everybody else except the person involved, you know you have a problem with the person involved and with the so-called ethical screen you could drive a truck through. He receives benefit from the decisions hes making. Hes involved in conversations that he should not be involved in, said Cullen, adding Morneau refuses to answer whether he was recused on C27 (a pension reform bill).

Last week, Morneau announced he would place his all his assets in a blind trust and move to sell some one million Morneau-Shepell shares  worth about $20.6 million and held by an Alberta numbered corporation  in an arms length transaction under the guidance of Dawson.

He meets with her Wednesday to discuss his next steps in that process, he told CBC.

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The director of Canadas spy service publicly acknowledged Wednesday that his agency suffers from a workplace climate of retribution, favouritism, bullying and other problems, which he said is categorically unacceptable in a high-functioning, professional organization.

David Vigneaults statement was accompanied by an executive summary of a workplace climate assessment conducted at the Toronto office of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, which uncovered low morale and a possible exodus of employees who said they felt disillusioned and disheartened.

One employee described the Toronto office as the region progress forgot.

The reports findings were specific to Toronto, but Vigneault said in his statement that information gathered in the assessment would benefit the entire service of more than 3,000 employees, with its headquarters in Ottawa.

Only by putting these kinds of issues on the table, and dealing with them directly, will the Service be able to continue to evolve as a strong, mission focused, and unified organization, Vigneault wrote.

The five intelligence officers and analysts who launched a $35-million lawsuit against CSIS this summer said they felt vindicated by the reports findings and the directors statement.

It took our group to come forward, at great personal cost, to finally get CSIS to admit that the organization is rife with harassment, discrimination and bullying. The place was toxic, and they have finally admitted it after years of denial, wrote Alex, one of the complainants in the lawsuit, in an email to the Star.

Alex alleged that he had faced years of homophobic harassment as an intelligence officer, including offensive emails sent by managers. One allegedly read: Careful your Muslim in-laws dont behead you in your sleep for being homo.

Bahira, a Muslim intelligence officer who had worked in Canada and abroad, thanked her Toronto colleagues for their candour and risking the wrath of their senior management in participating in the assessment. She also praised Vigneault for his transparency at what has traditionally been one of Canadas most secretive organizations.

For 15 years as I was working to advance national security investigations, I was also fighting racism and bigotry. Today, I feel somewhat vindicated. I believe CSIS needs a workforce that is strong, engaged, and diverse at all levels. Canadians deserve that, she wrote Wednesday in an email to the Star.

We have been harassed and bullied and beaten down for so long while CSIS managers denied that was a problem, that it is hard to believe that CSIS is finally admitting the truth. I hope it means that real change is possible, but Im cynical now. I know too much about the organization to trust that anything will be done.

In an interview last month with the Star, both Alex and Bahira said they had suffered by the stress of publicly confronting their employer, but felt they had no other choice.

In both court documents and during the interview last month, they used pseudonyms, since under Canadas Security of Information Act, identifying a spy can be considered an offence. All five of the complainants are still CSIS employees, but are on medical leave.

Alex had launched an internal complaint last year before taking a leave, which resulted in a third-party investigation and report. According to their statement of claim, that report found CSIS had an old boys culture and noted a general fear of managers reprisals, retribution and punishment.

But Alex said the findings went nowhere and he alleges his career suffered, forcing him to take a stress leave and seek legal action.

Although the lawsuit, first reported by the Star, wasnt filed until July, lawyer John Phillips said the government had been aware of the allegations of his five clients for months.

This latest workplace assessment at the Toronto office was conducted in April and June and about 30 per cent of the staff participated. It includes testimony from intelligence officers, non-intelligence officers, and managers.

Other findings in the workplace assessment include:

Frequent rotation of positions does not allow people to get a good handle on the files and managers have no time to make their mark or recover from their mistakes.

The culture of the organization is described as one where you are harshly blamed for mistakes and penalized; you do what you are told.

(S)ome pockets where jokes and discriminatory comments are still being made with regards to ethnicity and communities being monitored. There is still some bias against women and a general lack of thoughtfulness toward cultural differences and sensitivities.

Weekly drinking sessions of the in-group, either at the office or a nearby pub where decisions  often staffing decisions  were made.

Decisions regarding advancement are solely based on relationships and not competencies or experience. Reputations and relationships are therefore everything, but at the same time very fragile.

In describing a history of an old boys club climate, those interviewed spoke of behaviours that included yelling, swearing, disrespectful, demeaning, misogynistic, offensive and inappropriate comments and jokes about employees from other employees but also managers.

The report did not address any of the specific allegations of the five employees suing CSIS. Those have not been proven in court.

As the Star reported Tuesday, a federal judge slammed the Department of Justice for not responding faster to the claim.

(T)here is a course of action to be followed and you are no different from any other parties in Canada, Justice Simon Noel said told government lawyers, according to a transcript of a September teleconference call. It is not because you are the Attorney General of Canada that you can act as if the Rules do no apply. This is not acceptable.

Noel said the government had until Friday to file a statement of defence.

According to the transcript of the Sept. 13 call with Noel, the government is attempting to resolve the claim.

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HALIFAXDalhousie University is withdrawing a complaint against a student leader who criticized white fragility during a campus controversy over Canada 150 celebrations.

The Halifax university had faced a stiff backlash for taking disciplinary action against Masuma Khan for a profane Facebook post, igniting fierce debate about free speech, inclusion and equity on campus.

Arig al Shaibah, vice-provost of student affairs, said Wednesday the universitys code of conduct may not place two core institutional values  freedom of speech and the prevention of demeaning and intimidating behaviour  in sufficient and proper context.

Read more:

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There were enough questions and concerns about whether and how we balance these two fundamental principles, and I thought it was wise to withdraw the process so that we could have some thoughtful reflection and examination of that question, she said in an interview.

The administrator said the case has prompted the university to examine ways to resolve the complaint outside of the regular senate disciplinary process.

The complaint stems from a Dalhousie Student Union decision to not endorse Canada Day celebrations or hold celebratory events on campus in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples.

The decision prompted outcry from some groups, like the Nova Scotia Young Progressive Conservatives, who said in a Facebook post the student union should be helping instill pride in our country, not boycott it on our most significant national holiday.

The Dalhousie Student Union should prioritize advocating for student issues, not attacking Canada, the Facebook post said.

Khans response, which questioned why she should be proud of Canadas colonial past and 400 years of genocide, began with F--- you all and ended with the hashtags whitefragilitycankissmyass and whitetearsarentsacred.

Al Shaibah said she understood the comments were an effort to passionately express allyship for Indigenous peoples and name the legacy of colonialism.

But she said she also had to validate other students reasonable expectation to engage in campus debate without being demeaned and derogated by a student leader.

When Khan rejected an informal resolution to the complaint put forward by the university, the matter was referred to a senate discipline committee.

But rising tensions prompted the university to withdraw the complaint Wednesday.

Having considered and weighed all of the events of the last few weeks, and particularly the last couple of days, at this time, with the endorsement of the officers of senate and with the knowledge of the complainant and witnesses, I am withdrawing the complaint, al Shaibah said in a statement.

She said public conversations about the issue have become increasingly polarized, and in some instances, hateful, undermining the values of respect, inclusion and safety Dalhousie is seeking to foster.

It really saddened me, al Shaibah said of the vitriol on campus and online, including threats against Khan and her identity, a Muslim woman of colour.

However, some of the outcry came from faculty at the Nova Scotia university. A group of law professors at Dalhousies Schulich School of Law urged the university not to police and censor the tone of political speech, while the Ontario Civil Liberties Association accused the university of censoring political speech.

Khan, a fourth-year student, said she received an email from the university three minutes before the public memo went out.

They still havent reached out to me personally. They still havent included me in this conversation, she said. The email didnt really include any reasons as to why the university was withdrawing the case. Im sure they felt pressured.

Khan said she will be considering her options for holding the university accountable, but she said students deserve an apology.

I dont want this to be something that they sweep under the rug, she said. To me, this is still about the university not really addressing the issues of systemic racism on our campus. To me, this is about the university not really going about reconciliation in the right way and tokenizing us and silencing racialized women that are leading this work on our campus.

Yet al Shaibah  who said she has experienced racism and Islamophobia herself  said she is committed to taking action.

Its not enough to have rhetorical commitment. We have to move to the reality of action, she said. Im very much working with my colleagues and students who want to see action and change.

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OTTAWANDP Indigenous youth critic Charlie Angus called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Wednesday to end what he calls a child-focused system of apartheid in Canada.

The federal government refuses to put in place the same standards for First Nations children on reserve that any other child takes for granted, Angus said, forcing First Nations families to place their children in provincially-operated foster care systems.

Angus accusations are based on documents recently released to his office under the Access to Information Act.

In extreme situations, some families living on reserve have turned to child welfare agencies to gain access to assessment and interventions required for a child with complex care needs, said 2016 Health Canada documents.

The documents say in Manitoba, an often cited example is families being unable to access the services their children need, and so they turn they children over to child welfare agencies knowing the services will be provided there.

Angus remarks come after the federal Indigenous Services minister said this week that provinces and territories have not been at the table to the extent they need to be to address issues with First Nations child welfare.

Clearly, Indigenous leaders are a major part of the conversation  child welfare agencies need to be part of the conversation, Philpott said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

Some of those are First Nations-led, some of them are private, some of them are connected to provinces, but the federal government is obviously very engaged on the issue, but we will not be able to address the substantial changes that need to be made if provinces and territories are not part of the conversation.

Read more: High fertility rate, growing sense of self drives Canadas Indigenous population up, census finds

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Angus countered that provinces, in fact, are picking up the tab time and time again for the care of Indigenous children who need medical, mental health and family support.

In response to Angus, Trudeau said the Liberal government is committed to addressing oppressive government policies and working with Indigenous communities on a path toward reconciliation.

We feel passionately about the need to create a nation-to-nation relationship, create opportunities, to set Indigenous communities on the kind of path that they have not been on for centuries because of the oppressive policies of this place and of previous governments, he said.

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MONTREALPrime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared incredulous Wednesday at Quebecs efforts to clear up confusion surrounding its law on religious neutrality, which is widely seen as targeting Muslim women who wear face veils.

The provinces justice minister said last week Bill 62 would oblige people riding a bus or the subway to do so with their face uncovered for the entire journey.

On Tuesday, however, Stephanie Vallee backtracked, saying only those whose fare requires a card with photo ID will need to uncover their face before riding public transit  and that they can put the veil back on once theyve been identified.

Read more: Quebec justice minister explains how niqab ban would be applied after widespread criticism

Quebecs face veil ban may face a Supreme Court challenge

Asked specifically in Ottawa about Vallees clarifications, Trudeau replied: You call those clarifications?

I think were seeing there are still a lot of things to clarify in this bill, including how it will be applied, Trudeau said. We will do our homework here in Ottawa. As Ive said several times, I dont think a government should be telling a woman what to wear or not wear.

Immediately after Quebec passed Bill 62, Trudeau was hesitant to come out strongly against the legislation. He said the responsibility to challenge the law lied with citizens, not the federal government.

Trudeau, however, has become more critical since his initial comments, suggesting the law violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

He has also refused to rule out his governments involvement in any future Bill 62 court challenge.

I will always defend the charter, Trudeau said.

I will always stand up for individual rights and I will always stand up for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and we are looking very carefully at what tools we have and what steps we have to make sure we make this situation better for everyone.

In response, Vallee said Quebec has the right to legislate on matters within its jurisdiction.

Mr. Trudeau has the right to not share our opinion, she told reporters in Quebec City. And he has the right to have an opinion on the law. But I am not going to get into a debate in the media about that.

But I am really confident that the law is constitutional and I am convinced that it would withstand any legal challenge.

When asked if Quebec is willing to use the so-called notwithstanding clause, which allows provinces to override the Constitution, she said, Were not there yet.

The notwithstanding clause is not part of the debate because there is no legal challenge so far, she added.

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Airbnb is calling its new partnership with a Toronto condominium a milestone arrangement that is designed to improve the short-term rental market experience in the building near the citys waterfront.

But critics are crying foul, suggesting Airbnbs deal with the board at Neptune Waterpark Condominiums (209 and 215 Fort York Rd.) is further proof Airbnb is in the business of turning residential developments into hotels.

Countless studies have shown that short-term rental services like Airbnb make cities even more expensive to live in by reducing long-term rental stock, said Thorben Wieditz, of the Fairbnb, a coalition started by a union representing hospitality workers.

Buildings such as Neptune condos were designed, zoned, approved, and built to be residential condos, not hotels, he added.

Hotels have different zoning laws, design needs, safety requirements, regulatory obligations, and tax burdens than residential condos. If Airbnb and the Neptune condo board want to be in the hotel business, they should follow the same rules as the regulated hotel industry.

Under the arrangement with Neptune, Airbnb will provide its hosts with primary property insurance up to $1 million and extend liability insurance  also up to $1 million  to cover the buildings common areas.

The building will also have its own online portal showing short-term rental activity, including a record of how many guests are staying in a unit and when they are checking in or out.

And Airbnb will help establish rules, such as those relating to parking and pets. The building will receive a cut of each booking, anywhere between 5 and 15 per cent, an Airbnb news release said.

The agreement under Airbnbs Friendly Buildings Program is the first in Canada and outside the United States, said Aaron Zifkin, regional director for Airbnb in North America.

It also comes just as the city of Toronto moves ahead with plans to licence and regulate short-term rentals, limiting them to a persons principal residence.

Weve been working with buildings  and just really trying to understand what the opportunities are, Zifkin said Wednesday. We think that with this new program were going to really increase our involvement with these buildings.

Airbnb, which has listings for properties in 63,000 cities around the world, has struck similar deals with buildings in Jersey City, San Jose, and Kissimee, Florida.

Nick Bednarz, owner/resident and vice-president of the Neptune Condo board, rejected the characterization that the Airbnb deal turns the property into a hotel. It goes into effect Nov. 1.

Short-term rentals have been allowed and been in place since the building was constructed, he wrote in email. This doesnt change that, it puts a framework in place whereby we now have some controls to better manage the situation.

Renters live in 75 per cent of the complexs 871 units while the rest are owner occupied. Bednarz said Airbnb told him 80 units have appeared on the platform.

At a town hall meeting, building residents  both renters and owners  complained about noise and cleaning issues due to the high volume of traffic, though both equally apply to standard rentals, and Airbnb, he wrote.

As a result, the board initially sought to ban short-term rentals but that vote, requiring 80 per cent of owner support, failed.

About 100 owners attending an annual general meeting made it very clear they preferred the status quo allowing short-term rentals, leading the board to work directly with Airbnb, Bednarz said. The five-member board unanimously voted in favor of the deal.

At city hall on Wednesday, Mayor John Tory said he had some concerns about the Airbnb/Neptune deal, including the impact it has on the supply of housing for permanent residents.

We need every available housing unit to be available to people who are going to live in them, as opposed to staying in them on a transient basis or having them as hotel rooms or leaving them empty.

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Days after befriending a suspected terrorist living in Quebec, an undercover agent from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation used colourful language to describe the intense, loquacious and deeply religious young man.

Better tell the Canadians they have a s--- storm on their hands, the agent, known as Tamer Elnoury, recalls telling his colleagues in June 2012 while debriefing them about a burgeoning undercover operation.

This f----- is for real and they cant take their eyes off him.

The young Tunisian student scaring Elnoury was Chiheb Esseghaier, three years later convicted of multiple terrorism-related offences, including conspiring to derail a Via Rail passenger train heading from New York to Toronto.

Read more: Man convicted in Via Rail terror plot to appeal life sentence

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Esseghaiers conviction, alongside that of his co-conspirator Raed Jaser, was clinched thanks to the highly orchestrated undercover operation that unfolded after Elnourys first encounter with Esseghaier.

That strategic meeting on a flight had been arranged to test out whether the University of Sherbrooke student was a very bad man, as suspected by FBI officials, who first noticed Esseghaier when he made contact with Al Qaeda operatives online, according to an account in American Radical, a new book co-authored by Elnoury.

Still an active undercover agent, Elnoury provides a behind-the-scenes account of how he came to be the key actor in the terrorism case that played out in a Toronto courtroom. The agent is among the few Arabic-speaking Muslim undercover agents working in the FBIs covert counterterrorism unit, and Elnoury is a pseudonym to protect his identity.

Posing as a radical Muslim and a rich Egyptian-born real estate agent working in the U.S., Elnoury quickly gained the trust of Esseghaier then, later, Jaser.

For whole days during the duos trial, the jury heard audio surreptitiously recorded by Elnoury as Esseghaier and Jaser discussed terrorist attacks as punishment for Canadas military actions in Muslim countries. That included the plot to derail a Via Rail train heading from the U.S. to Toronto.

Many people, they will die, Esseghaier told Elnoury in a recorded conversation in 2012.

In a telephone interview from New York on Tuesday, his voice distorted to a baritone pitch, Elnoury said he resorted to his tactic of flipping a switch to control his response to murderous talk twisting his Muslim faith.

When I take on this other persona I have to shut down my true feelings or else obviously it would seep in  my micro-expressions, my body language, my pure and total disgust would eventually just come out, he said. Does it wear on me? Absolutely. But the end always justifies the means.

Throughout his testimony during the trial, extreme measures had to be taken to protect Elnourys identity. Reporters and the public had to be moved to another courtroom where an audio and video feed of the proceedings was piped in, without depicting the witness. During the trial, he lived in a safe house overlooking Lake Ontario, he writes in the book.

After 10 days of deliberation, the jury found Esseghaier and Jaser guilty on a total of eight terror-related charges. They were sentenced to life in prison, with no chance of parole until 2023.

Both are appealing their convictions. In a notice of appeal filed this summer with Ontarios top court, Esseghaier argues he was too mentally ill to make rational decisions throughout the trial, during which he regularly demanded to be tried according to the Quran.

He also alleges Elnoury incited him to plan the attack by feeding him money and meals. His parents, too, allege Elnoury played a central role in changing their son, telling the Star in an interview in their home in Tunisia that he was never an extremist.

Asked if he entrapped Esseghaier or anyone else, Elnoury said he would never become involved in a case where he and his colleagues did not have plenty of evidence to suggest that they are a threat already.

In Esseghaiers case, Elnoury said there was a time when he deliberately tested Esseghaier by acting as if he was having second thoughts about killing women and children.

He went on to scold me and went on to a 22-minute soliloquy to all the rationalizations and justifications, religiously and scientifically, why we were obliged to commit these atrocities. So he has no leg to stand on in that arena, Elnoury said.

The FBI agent was also accused of entrapping Ahmed Abassi, a third, lesser-known man connected to the Via terror trial.

A Tunisian national like Esseghaier, Abassi became connected to the case after Esseghaier and Jaser had a falling out. Looking for another jihadist recruit, Elnoury and Esseghaier met up with Abassi shortly thereafter in Quebec City, where Abassi was a student. Elnoury quickly established Abassi was the real deal, he writes in the book.

When Abassis Canadian visa was cancelled while he was visiting family in Tunisia, Elnoury  who says he had established trust with Abassi  wound up convincing him to come to America, where he could help him regain his Canadian visa. There, he made more secret recordings incriminating Abassi, including where he allegedly said America should be wiped off the face of the earth.

On the same April 2013 day when Esseghaier and Jaser were arrested, Abassi was apprehended in New York, where he spent the next 17 months in jail.

But prosecutors later offered a plea deal dropping terrorism from the charges. Abassi pleaded guilty to minor immigration offences, and was deported in 2014. Both Abassi and his lawyer, Sabrina Shroff, argued Elnoury entrapped Abassi.

You can get yourself into some really serious trouble just thinking and talking about things when you have no intention of following them up with any act, she told reporters, a calling Abassi nothing more than opinionated and stupid.

But Elnoury says he has no doubt that Abassi was a serious threat to national security  We just simply ran out of time.

We werent able to gauge his true intentions in time, before the case ran out, Elnoury said.

Elnoury says he wrote the book now to offer an unusual opportunity to showcase a deep cover, international terrorism operation while shedding light on a complex topic.

I have a very unique perspective on a socially relevant topic thats talked about a lot but often misunderstood, he said. So, its a rare window into a world that most Americans and Canadians dont know much about.

With a file from The Canadian Press

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This week, Toronto city councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon announced in a press conference and an op-ed in the Star that she would not be seeking a third term representing the constituents of her east-end ward. When she first ran in 2010, she promised to only serve two terms. She is keeping that promise.

Good for her. If, as she wrote, she thinks the upcoming election is a time for new ideas and new leadership to replace people like her, then stepping down to make way for fresh blood is an obvious move  a final service to constituents for whom she never thought shed have more than eight years of energy and ideas to offer.

Whats less obvious is why she thinks a similar injection of novelty ought to be forced onto voters across the city, no matter their preference. For that was another key part of the message she delivered this week: a call for term limits that would force every councillor to observe the same time limit she voluntarily put on her own service.

I mean, it is obvious enough why the idea of throwing a bunch of city councillors out of office is appealing enough, not just to McMahon, but to a lot of people.

Look at someone like Giorgio Mammoliti, who since 1995 has approached his responsibilities as a municipal elected official with all the solemnity, sincerity and dignity of a professional wrestling heel. He even adopted the costume of the WWE at one point by removing his shirt for the cameras in the council chamber. Earlier this month, he responded to a Toronto Star request for comment by tweeting a public statement saying, among other things, bite me Mammo style.

Many of us may well nod our heads at the idea that 23 years of continuous service is more than enough from him.

And many of us may well not miss many of the other councillors who are less visible, and risible, than Mammo. For there are more than a few long-serving mediocrities doing little more than occupying space on the council floor.

Sure, we may think, if Frank Di Giorgio were replaced by a potted fern, would anyone really notice? And while such a plant would certainly not deliver such forceful and lengthy non-sequitur-filled speeches as frequently as Anthony Perruzza, would we be any less enlightened as a result?

Theres a vantage point, Im saying, from which forcing councils dead weight to move on seems attractive.

But then there is the whole concept of representative democracy to consider. Because the problem, such as were identifying the puzzling ongoing incumbency of some elected officials as a problem, is that people keep electing them. Voters are choosing their representatives. In some cases, choosing them again and again and again and again. Are they not entitled to do so?

At a certain point, you have to deduce that they like those representatives. Or at least prefer them to the alternatives.

In fact, the idea of term limits comes up specifically because voters seem to like the representation they have. They seem likely to elect them again. This preference is seen as a problem to be solved  and the proposed solution is to forbid them the option we assume they will prefer.

I may be a condescending jerk in assessing the wisdom of some of my fellow voters and the performance of their councillors, but even for a condescending jerk like me, trying to restrict peoples rights to elect their preferred candidate is a paternalistic step too far.

On principle, I cannot see how arbitrarily limiting the choices available to voters enhances democracy.

Besides, you could just as easily point to long-serving councillors who remain engaged and very effective  more so than a newbie could expect to be. Pam McConnell, who recently died in office after more than 20 years serving the same ward, was an accomplished anti-poverty advocate under John Tory specifically because of her long experience. Denzil Minnan-Wong, after 23 years in office, is one of the most effective conservatives on council  a fact that frustrates those of us who disagree with him no end.

Lots of councillors seem to take a while to hit their stride. Paul Ainslie seemed to find his voice near the end of his second term, as Ana Bailao has now. Joe Cressy, a quick study, has emerged as a very strong councillor toward the end of his first term.

Thats because the city government is a complicated thing, and it often takes city councillors almost a full term just to really figure out how things work. After two terms, the good ones know the city organization and routine, they know their files, they better know their constituents, they have enough experience to learn from their mistakes and frustrations  and to avoid being cowed by career civil servants who are subject-area experts and know the bureaucracy inside and out.

Thats not an argument for their re-election if their constituents decide theyd like someone with different ideas, politics or manners. But that they have become good enough at the job to do it well is certainly not an argument that its time force them to go, either.

Theres another, separate question here, that to her credit McMahon also raises, about whether voters really do want to send some of these clowns back into centre ring again and again. In the last two elections in a row, Mammoliti has been elected with less than half of the votes against a divided opposition. Di Giorgio won with less than 30 per cent of the vote in both 2010 and 2014. Ranked ballots would at least clarify voter preferences. City council could adopt them, and chose recently not to. To their shame.

But ranked ballots, like more accessible voting hours and some other proposed electoral reforms, enhance democracy specifically because they make it easier for voters to indicate their preferences and express their will, and ensure theyre more able to get the option they prefer. Term limits set out to do the exact opposite, limiting the options available to voters, forbidding them from selecting the option they may prefer.

In some cases, like McMahons, candidates who feel theyve given all they have to give will take themselves off the ballot. Its a genuine public service for them to do so. But in cases where they do not, if we voters want fresh ideas and new leadership, we can vote for those things. And if we dont, then for better and for worse, we get the representation we deserve.

Edward Keenan writes on city issues ekeenan@thestar.ca. Follow: @thekeenanwire

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Toronto police issued a handful of warnings about the risks of social media for teens at a town hall event Tuesday that drew more than 50 concerned parents and residents to Rosedale United Church.

The event, organized by the North Rosedale and neighbouring residents associations, was an opportunity for the community to discuss safety and social media use among midtown teenagers following a series of park parties in the neighbourhood that turned violent.

Staff Sgt. James Hogan of Toronto Polices 53 Division said slower response time to complaints about noisy parties is largely a result of stretched resources. The police spend thousands of hours responding to mental health calls, which is important he noted, but can tie them up for hours at hospital because they cant hand over custody. Those types of things can delay response to events like noisy parties, which he described as a mid-priority call.

Read more:

Torontos Gossip Girl website scrutinized after Rosedale Jam park party stabbing

Community mourns boy fatally stabbed in Stan Wadlow Park

However, police responded to a call about a robbery that took place at one park party this fall in five minutes, he said.

Providing as much information about a call can help police determine its priority listing. A call about drug use or intoxicated or unconscious teenagers will be given a higher priority than one about a noisy party, Hogan said.

We cant be effective if we dont know what we need to know, he said.

While teen parties themselves are nothing new, both Hogan and his colleague, Const. Alex Li, who works in crime prevention and community relations at 53 Division, said news of parties can spread much further through social media.

The internet and social media have no boundaries, Li said, adding that people with even a little tech savvy can find out where they are and people from outside the local area are making their way there.

I am concerned about it, said Victoria Elliott, who brought her 13-year old son, Kalen Gibbons, to the event with her so he could hear what the police and others had to say.

When you hear of a child being stabbed whos only 15 in your neighbourhood, yeah thats a little bit worrisome I would say, Elliott said, noting she has two older stepdaughters who used to attend parties in Rosedale and the ravine.

They said there were a lot of kids who would be really messed up, she said.

As a parent, especially now with social media you dont always know where they are, they can tell one friend about something and then the next thing you know a hundred of those peoples friends and other friends end up showing up, she said, adding she wished more teens had come to event Tuesday evening.

A handout provided at the town hall shows the number of robberies in the Rosedale-Moore neighbourhood in the last year has increased. By this time last year 12 robberies had taken place, versus 19 this year, a 58 per cent increase. The number of break-and-enters and assaults have also increased by 18 and 5 per cent respectively. The year-over-year rate of reported sexual assault, meanwhile, decreased by 50 per cent and auto theft went down 60 per cent.

Jessica Green, who runs a public relations company, offered tips for how to use social media safely and positively.

Always think before you post, she said. Ask yourself is it true? Is it helpful? Is it inspiring? Is it necessary? And finally, is it kind?

Nothing on social media can ever be truly deleted, she said, adding theyre either stored on a server somewhere or may have been screen-capped.

We can see how deleting tweets has worked for Donald Trump, she said. Not so well.

The town-hall followed a series of parties in the area that resulted in robberies and other criminal activity, including one that local teen gossip site Miss Informed dubbed the Rosedale Jam on Sept. 16.

Several emergency calls were made that night from the Rosedale Park area reporting stabbings, assaults, robberies and unconscious teens. The party had been advertised across social media.

The suspects include eight to 10 teens wearing hoodies and bandanas across their faces and police believe theyve attended several parties to conduct similar robberies.

Fifteen-year-old Isaiah Witt was stabbed and killed at another party on Oct. 7 at Stan Wadlow Park, which police confirmed Tuesday is being investigated as part of their larger investigation into park parties in the area. Four men were arrested and two men aged 18 and 19 are facing second-degree murder charges.

A statement posted to Miss Informed on Friday said though the site doesnt take responsibility for the parties, it wouldnt be posting about the events anymore.

With files from Victoria Gibson, Samantha Beattie, and Tamar Harris

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As #MeToo floods social media with stories of sexual assault and harassment, more people are seeking support from a local crisis centre.

Deb Singh, a counsellor and activist at the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre  Multicultural Women Against Rape, has seen more people using the 24-hour crisis line and coming in for counselling over the past few weeks.

People have mentioned that the #MeToo campaign and all of the sexual-violence reporting following the New York Times investigation on Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein have been hard.

Theres just so many ways in which were bringing the conversation to individual people, but then theyre having to take care of themselves on their own, she said.

While the reporting is important, she said some of the reactions, like questioning why some women waited so long to come forward, invalidates survivors.

Ally Crockford, a public educator with the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre, didnt have firm numbers on hand for the last few weeks but said the organization did see an increase in calls between last October and January when the Access Hollywood Tape broke, featuring Donald Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women.

When theres a spike in national and international conversations, we see a similar increase in people reaching out, she said.

Thousands of women are identifying themselves as victims of sexual harassment or assault following a call to action propelled by Alyssa Milano in the wake of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein's downfall over of allegations of sexual misconduct. (The Associated Pre

Crockford gets asked a lot if theres a crisis of sexual violence right now.

My response is that theres not really been a change in the acts but theres a change in the conversation, she said. And what we havent yet seen and yet we hope well see as a result of this conversation, is an increase in funding to provide support.The #MeToo hashtag is actually over a decade old, started by activist Tarana Burke. It was revived after the Times recent stories on Weinstein sparked wider reporting on powerful men across various industries.

In Montreal, where Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon has been accused of sexual harassment and assault by multiple women, police have set up a special hotline for sex-assault complaints.

Spokesperson Sandrine Lapointe told Metro in an email that the temporary hotline was set up on Thursday given the breadth of the problem. They received 272 calls as of Tuesday.

Toronto police spokesperson Mark Pugash said they have no plan to do something similar and have not noticed any increase in reporting since the Weinstein allegations surfaced.

For Singh, a special police hotline would only go so far, as many survivors dont want to press charges given how tough it can be to tell their story in a courtroom.

While more resources for organizations that support survivors would help, shed like to see #MeToo move from people whove experienced sexual harassment and assault to those that have done it, or seen it and done nothing.

Where are the dudes who are doing this, who are not talking about consent in their communities, in their families, in their homes with their boys? she asks.

It would be a hot mess at first, but at least it would be a start.

By the numbers:

According to Canadian census numbers that came out in early October:

117,238 sexual assaults were reported to police in Canada between 2009 and 2014

98 per cent of those assaults were classified as level 1  without a weapon or evidence of bodily harm

When charges were laid, 87 per cent of people assaulted knew the person who did it

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The family of a man in crisis who was shot dead by police is calling on Ontarios Attorney General to ensure that all police officers receive thorough training on crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to reduce the risk of fatalities to those who are vulnerable due to mental health issues.

No one should die at the hands of police simply because they are not adequately trained, said Joanne MacIsaac, the sister of Michael MacIsaac, a 47-year-old man who was shot dead in Ajax by a Durham police officer in December 2013.

The Innocence Project and MacIsaac made its request in a letter delivered Wednesday to Attorney General Yasir Naqvi and Community Safety Minister Marie-France Lalonde.

The letter asks for an immediate amendment to Section 44 of the Police Services Act. Presently Section 44 demands that a police officer complete an initial period of training within six months of his or her appointment.

MacIsaac, who was working in conjunction with the Innocence Project, is demanding that the required training include training with respect to crisis intervention and de-escalation of conflicts with individuals who are or may be mentally ill and individuals in crisis.

I believe that if the officer who killed my brother had the type of training that were proposing today, Michael would still be alive, said MacIsaac.

Lalonde said that the government is committed to reviewing the police training program and enhancing it.

Were looking at the possibilities of giving other tools to officers who have to interact everyday with our most vulnerable population, said Lalonde.

At present, all police officers in Ontario receive comprehensive use of force training and part of that training includes de-escalation. As a requirement, all police officers have to go through this training every year.

We need to make sure the training component at (police) colleges moving forward is adequate in terms of the 2017 reality, she said.

Naqvi said the province is already working to update the Police Services Act but did not say whether that would include the change requested by the group.

Part of the work is looking at training, looking at how police interact with people with mental health issues and techniques and strategies around de-escalation, he said.

On the day MacIsaacs brother, Michael, was shot, he was experiencing the delirious aftermath effects of a seizure. While naked, he ran to a neighbours house and broke off the leg of a patio table. An officer, responding to the disturbance, asked him to drop his weapon. He shot at him after he refused to drop the table leg, in an interaction that lasted 12 seconds.

Training might not have changed the outcome, said Karolina Visic, a caseworker with the Innocence Project at Osgoode Hall. But what training does is gives you a mindset: okay this man, hes naked, its December, theres snow, its cold. Theres probably something not right here, she said.

[The police officer] couldve taken a step back, he couldve gone around his car, he couldve created space, created time, said Visic. Training would provide that mindset.

The Police Services Act has not been reformed in 27 years. To date, police recruits in Ontario are required to complete a 12-week basic training program; there is no standardized training after this. The Innocence Project found that much of this training focuses on use of force training.

The Project also found that since 1978, 65 individuals who were mentally ill have died in an interaction with police Ontario. In 1999, the jury in the coroners inquest into the death of Edmond Wai-Kong Yu recommended that the Police Services Act should be amended to require annual Crisis Resolution Training. In the 43 coroners inquests that subsequently took place over 18 years, similar recommendations were also made, that included additional calls for creating crisis teams, non-lethal use of force tactics and employing mental health specialists.

The inquest into Michael MacIsaacs death earlier this year also recommended that specific training should be providedaround effective (calming) communication and de-escalationthat such training focus on individuals with mental health issues.

Members of the government have also spoken about police reform on multiple occasions; earlier this year, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, announced that new legislation would be launched in the Fall of this year.

Alan Young, Director of the Innocence Project, said that they are asking the government to commit to something it has already promised. The time has come for the government to take real measures to end the violence and devastation that often occurs in interactions with the mentally ill, said Young. Its time for the government to act with some courage and some will.

MacIsaac doesnt understand the lack of action and instruction. It causes you to question everything about your surroundings, she said, who says she now gets nervous if she sees a police car in her rearview mirror.

Were here four years later, and were still trying to prevent this happening to another family.

With files from The Canadian Press

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Ursula Toaze, 25, and new husband Kevin Wheeler, 26, are giving up a little privacy by living with his dad rent-free for at least two years so they can save for a home.

In August they gave up their Danforth Ave. apartment.

Read more: The Star looks at the present and the future of Toronto housing

We absolutely loved it, said Toaze of the $1,100 monthly rental above a hair salon. But between rent, utilities, car expenses and her remaining student debt, the couple, who both work in retail, were struggling to save.

At the end of the day, we werent putting anything aside. We want a house, we want to settle down, we want kids, she said.

They are among a millennial cohort who are renting or staying longer with family while scrounging for a down payment for a house or condo in an increasingly unaffordable housing market, according to the latest census figures.

The figures show a modest but unmistakable decline in the number of 30-year-old Canadian homeowners. Only 50.2 per cent of millennials owned their homes in 2016, compared to 55 per cent of baby boomers, who were the same age in 1981.

In the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), 39 per cent of people aged 20 to 34 own their own home.

Young adults today are more likely to live in apartments than their 1981 counterparts, are less likely to live in single-detached homes, and  as Statistics Canada revealed in the summer  more likely than ever to still be living at home.

In the Toronto CMA, there were 22.5 per cent more renters in 2016 than in 2006 but 16.7 per cent more homeowners.

Graham Haines, 33, research manager for Ryersons City Building Institute, has a personal and a professional perspective on the citys millennial housing challenge.

The institute recently released a report calling for 8,000 new rentals a year in Toronto to increase the regions dire vacancy rate of about 1.4 per cent.

Meantime, he and his partner, who rent a two-bedroom place for about $1,800 a month, wonder about the feasibility of staying in Toronto long-term. I look at the cost of a mortgage for anything more than two bedrooms and its really expensive, he said.

If they moved, he said it would more likely be to a smaller city like Hamilton rather than one of the 905-area communities around Toronto.

Weve been lucky. Being professionals we look good on a lot rental applications. Not everyone has that advantage, he said.

Census data showed 40 per cent of Canadian renters are spending more than 30 per cent of their average monthly income on housing. Only 17 per cent of homeowners spent that much.

In the Toronto CMA, nearly half of tenants  46.9 per cent  spend 30 per cent or more on shelter, compared to 26.7 per cent of homeowners.

That suggests we need to adjust our policies toward rental housing and away from the promotion of home ownership that has been the focus of the last 20 years, said Haines.

If rent is going to start becoming a more important part of our real estate sector, how (do) we make sure were building the right type of rental, rental where we need it and rental thats affordable for the people who are going to be using it? he said.

Financing is only one factor delaying home ownership, said Royal LePage CEO Phil Soper. Canadians stay in school longer, marry and have children later in life. Baby boomers are working and living longer in their own homes, where they have room to house adult children, he said.

A study by his company this year showed that 69 per cent of millennials in the peak home-buying years of 25 to 30, still expect to purchase a home within the next five years.

The intent is there. The question is, will be they be able to afford a home and will their intent be realized, he said.

Meantime, young adults like Michelle German, 30, are looking at how to accumulate wealth outside the traditional home ownership model. She says millennials want to develop roots and civic engagement in neighbourhoods where they may never own a home.

My friends and I are talking about starting an investment club. Were looking at where we park our money instead of saving for a down payment, said German.

Its also a cohort that increasingly values experience over accumulation.

The experience of sitting in traffic for an hour going to Burlington is not something most people are interested in, she said. However, The experience of travel is more top of mind than owning a car.

With files from The Canadian Press

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Children with autism can receive treatment from their therapists on school premises, and classroom educational assistants will get more autism training through a provincial pilot project announced Wednesday.

News of the pilot, which starts this year at 18 Ontario school boards, including Toronto public and Catholic boards, came one day before a rally planned at Queens Park to protest the lack of school services for students with autism. And some advocates said the $5-million plan falls far short of whats needed.

But Education Minister Mitzie Hunter called it an important first step towards greater integration of autism services in schools.

Were really looking to implement a more seamless day for students through this pilot by having the dedicated space for practitioners to come on site, Hunter said in an interview.

School board policies on outside therapists who deliver applied behaviour analysis (ABA) have varied across the province; some schools quietly allow them into the building with students, while others refuse, leaving parents scrambling with logistical challenges of moving kids from school to treatment sessions and back, and robbing children of time in the classroom with peers.

Advocate Bruce McIntosh called the announcement a toe in the door, but said it wont change much for the roughly 20,000 Ontario students with autism, including those who need support from therapists in the classroom.

There are flaws, and the scale is very limited, said McIntosh, president of the Ontario Autism Coalition, which has organized a Thursday news conference and protest at the legislature over lack of school services.

Its not ABA in schools; its ABA in a room that happens to be in a school.

However, Toronto parent Brad Ryder called it a good start because it will minimize disruption for children like his 6-year-old daughter, who has benefitted from provincially-funded treatment but also needs socialization with classmates. She spent last year dividing her days between school and home where she received therapy.

This year, her Toronto public school is providing space for treatment as part of transitional support, which has been phenomenally beneficial, he said.

Children on the autism spectrum and their families shouldnt have to choose between school or therapy, says Ryder. Its both an equity issue and a common sense issue.

Given that the Ministry of Children and Youth Services funds intensive ABA, it makes sense that the two ministries co-ordinate delivery that is both in the best interest of children and makes the most use of scarce public funds.

Hunter said the pilot will provide 40 hours of online training for about 365 educational assistants, although they wont get a pay raise for volunteering to take the course. McIntosh noted they wont be required to take an exam.

To Beth Skrt of Mississauga, the pilot leaves out an important piece by sending children to a separate space instead of bringing therapists into the classroom to help them learn.

Her family has launched a widely-watched human rights case that began this fall, fighting for the right of her 5-year-old son Jack to receive ABA in class.

They (kids who benefit from ABA) have a right to learn and they need it to access the curriculum, she said Wednesday. Skrt said the provinces announcement needs to look beyond logistics and speak to the education of those children.

A union representing 13,000 educational assistants was quick to criticize the move, warning it is raising alarm bells about the future of accessible public education by opening the door to private providers of critical services on school grounds.

Parents of children with special needs, including children with autism, have every right to expect they can walk into their local school and receive the services their children need, fully funded and publicly provided, CUPE Ontario president Fred Hahn said in a statement.

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A group of HIV positive chefs will run a first-of-its-kind pop-up restaurant to combat the stigma faced by people living with the illness.

The pop-up is part of a campaign launched by Toronto-based hospital, Casey House, which is Canadas only stand-alone hospital dedicated to caring for those living with HIV-AIDS.

Junes HIV+ Eatery, named after Casey Houses founder June Callwood, will be open in Toronto Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 and is part of the campaign  called Break Bread Smash Stigma.

A Leger Research Intelligence Group survey, conducted for Casey House, found only half of Canadians would knowingly eat food prepared by someone who is HIV positive.

Casey House CEO Joanne Simons said the pop-restaurant will address the misconception that the illness can be spread through food preparation.

Talking about food and contraction highlights the massive challenge that our clients experience every day, she said.

We wanted to open up the public conversation to talk about the stigma associated with it and what has happening to HIV because the diagnosis rates are still extremely high. We want to challenge this notion around blame and shame.

Chef Matt Basile will work with the HIV positive chefs to develop the menu, train them and cook for the patrons.

Casey House announced Wednesday the hospital has recently completed a $38-million redevelopment project which doubles its capacity so it can now care for 650 people through upgraded clinical services and community programs.

Casey House CEO Joanne Simons says the facility, which was founded in 1988, is one of very few places where people living with HIV-AIDS can seek care without judgment.

Casey House is very proud to be a leader in HIV-AIDS care, she said, boldly advocating on behalf of our clients to demand the dignity they deserve and challenging stigma.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne praised the work of Casey House over the past three decades. The facility is a model that should be replicated in other places around the world, she said.

This new hospital is ready to meet their complex needs with twice the capacity, she said. More people will be embraced in high quality care and all under one roof.

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OTTAWAThe Toronto area remained the top destination for immigrants to Canada in the five years before the latest census, even as new arrivals flock to the Prairies in increasing numbers, newly-released data shows.

The share of recent immigrants to Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba more than doubled between 2001 and 2016, according to new data on the 2016 census that was published Wednesday by Statistics Canada. Of those provinces, Alberta experienced the biggest jump, with 17.1 per cent of new immigrants moving there in 2016, compared with just 6.9 per cent 15 years earlier.

At the same time, the proportion of new immigrants  defined as people who moved to Canada in the past five years  to Ontario has dropped significantly, from 55.9 per cent in 2001 to 39 per cent in 2016.

Despite this, the Toronto census metropolitan area, which includes the city itself and part of the surrounding region, remains the destination of choice for the largest number of immigrants to Canada. Between 2011 and 2016, almost 30 per cent of immigrants  356,930 people  made Toronto their new home, almost double the total that moved to the Montreal area.

At this point, nearly half the people in the Toronto area (46.1 per cent) were born outside Canada, the highest proportion of any major urban centre in the country. The area is home to 36 per cent of the 7.5 million immigrants living in Canada, according to Stats Can data.

According to Statistics Canada, economic conditions in the various regions undoubtedly played a major role in the geographic distribution of immigrants. Alberta enjoyed the largest employment growth between 2011 and 2016, for instance  a jump of 7.8 per cent versus the national average of 5 per cent.

Theres really a shift from central Canada and Toronto to the Prairie provinces, said Jean-Pierre Corbeil, assistant director of the social and Aboriginal statistics division at Statistics Canada.

Immigrants to Canada are also coming from all over the world. Of the 1.2 million immigrants to arrive between 2011 and 2016, the largest number was born in the Philippines  188,805. That was followed by India with 147,190, China with 129,020 and Iran at 42,070.

Corbeil said the top-three origin countries for immigrants to Toronto between 2011 and 2016 were India, China and the Philippines.

Almost 62 per cent of all immigrants between 2011 of 2016 were from Asia (versus 57 per cent in 2011), while 13.4 per cent of immigrants between 2011 and 2016 were born in Africa.

Matthew Cole, Data Analysis

Cameron Tulk, Data Visualization

This had a direct impact on the fact that the black population is above 1 million, Corbeil said. In terms of refugees, the biggest number  29,945  came from Syria, while Canada took in more than 15,000 refugees from Iraq, 6,100 from Afghanistan, 5,100 from Eritrea and 5,000 from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Read more: A majority of Torontonians now identify themselves as visible minorities, census shows

Home ownership rates drop as more young Canadians opt to rent: census

Ontario now home to Canadas largest Metis population, census shows

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WASHINGTONU.S. President Donald Trump talks about terminating NAFTA as if that would be as easy for him to do as firing off a tweet or ordering a second scoop of ice cream.

Some experts agree with him. But a bunch dont.

These experts say it is only Congress, not the president, that has the authority to kill the North American trade pact. If Trump tried, in other words, they believe he could be blocked by pro-NAFTA legislators.

The vigorous debate is taking place in corporate boardrooms, legal offices and think tanks across the continent. Once a matter of mere academic interest, it may now have huge stakes for Canada. And everybody involved agrees on just one thing: it will probably be decided by judges.

I think the only certainty is that if Trump were to go ahead and withdraw, or purport to withdraw, there would be lawsuits immediately. And probably injunctions. And this thing will be tied up in courts for a while, said Matthew Kronby, a Toronto trade lawyer with Bennett Jones and former director general of Canadas Trade Law Bureau.

I have spoken as recently as yesterday with a lawyer at a prominent U.S. law firm where one lawyer has looked at it and had a particular view  he thought the president did have the authority to do so unilaterally  but he acknowledged that there were several other people in his firm that came to the opposite conclusion, Kronby said.

The question is especially important because of the vast gulf between the views of Trump and many of his Republican colleagues on the subject. As Trump has derided NAFTA as the worst trade deal in world history, several senior Republicans have been outspokenly supportive of the agreement.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers have courted American legislators, but they say they arent counting on Congress to save the day. The governments read of the situation, an official said on condition of anonymity, is that Trump could probably dump the deal with a stroke of his pen.

That is obviously just completely uncharted legal territory. So its difficult to know what would exactly happen  But for our purposes, we do kind of believe theres a pretty good chance that he could just do this, the Canadian official said.

Read more: Thousands of Canadians live in the U.S. on NAFTA permits. So what happens if Trump kills the treaty?

There is yet more disagreement on a related subject: what would happen next if the agreement were indeed terminated in one way or another.

The foreign affairs minister says despite goodwill among parties in the ongoing NAFTA renegotiation talks, significant gaps remain. Chrystia Freeland said Tuesday shes glad the countries have agreed to extend talks into 2018. (The Canadian Press)

The official said the Canadian government has concluded that the old Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, which contained many of the same provisions as NAFTA, would snap back into force if NAFTA went away. They point out that the Canada-U.S. agreement was merely suspended with an exchange of diplomatic notes, rather than deleted, when NAFTA was created.

Jon Johnson, a C.D. Howe Institute senior fellow who worked for Canada on both agreements, agreed that the old deal would snap back automatically if NAFTA vanished  but he said it would be a mess requiring further action, since some important provisions, such as those on auto manufacturing, are different. Kronby, meanwhile, said he was not convinced the snap-back would be automatic; Trump, he said, might have to issue some sort of executive order to make it happen.

And then theres a third possibility.

Obviously, I guess (Trump) could theoretically withdraw from both at the same time, the Canadian official said.

The unresolved questions have taken on increasing urgency as NAFTA talks have faltered on account of Trump demands the Canadian and Mexican governments consider unreasonable. Canada and the U.S. traded public criticism at the end of the fourth round in Washington last week.

Trump has consistently promised to terminate the agreement if he cannot secure a new deal. In a television interview on Sunday, he sounded slightly less enthused than usual about the possibility of termination, saying: It will probably be renegotiated. But if its not successfully renegotiated so its fair for the United States, it will be terminated.

Trump regularly makes dramatic threats he does not plan to carry out. But he has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to make sharp breaks with existing international agreements. In his first nine months, he has abandoned the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Paris climate accord while taking steps to weaken the Iran nuclear deal.

The confusion over his threat to kill NAFTA is a product of the uniqueness of the situation. No court has ruled on the powers involved in terminating trade deals because the first and only time the U.S. terminated a deal was in 1866, the year before Canada came into existence.

The issue is so complicated because it involves the U.S. Constitution and multiple ambiguous laws.

NAFTA itself says a party can withdraw from the agreement after giving the other countries six months of notice. But it does not say whether the president himself counts as the U.S. party or whether he needs the endorsement of Congress.

The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations. (Point: Congress.) It also gives the president various powers over foreign affairs more generally. (Point: Trump.) Section 125 of the 1974 Trade Act, in which Congress grants various trade powers to the president, says every trade agreement  shall be subject to termination  but that sentence, unlike others, does not specifically identify the president as the person who can do the terminating. (Point: who knows.)

The only thing that seems certain in the event Trump begins the six-month notice period is the kind of uncertainty businesses hate.

Companies are going to become much more conservative in their business planning. And well see those impacts all the way down the supply chains, said Dan Ujczo, an Ohio trade lawyer with Dickinson Wright. Uncertainty equals conservative business planning.

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BRASILIA, BrazilPresident Michel Temer survived a key vote Wednesday night on whether he should be tried on corruption charges, mustering support in Brazils lower house of Congress despite abysmal approval ratings and widespread rejection among his countrymen.

To avoid being suspended and put on trial for charges of obstruction of justice and leading a criminal organization, the president needed the support of at least one third of the 513 deputies in the Chamber of Deputies.

Temer reached the threshold of 171 about two hours into the voting, compared to 151 voting against him at that point. The final tally was 251 in support of Temer and 233 against. The remaining were abstentions and absences.

Temer survived a similar vote in August on a separate bribery charge.

This accusation is fragile, inept and worse than the first one, legislator Celso Russomanno said while voting in favour of Temer.

The opposition, which spent much of the day manoeuvring to postpone the vote, blasted Temer.

I vote with more than 90 per cent of Brazilians who have already convicted Temers corrupted administration, said lawmaker Luiza Erundina.

While it was a clear win for Temer, the president has become so weakened by repeated scandals that it remains to be seen whether he can muster support for key reforms. Temer, then vice-president, took over last year after President Dilma Rousseff was impeached and removed from office. His term goes until Dec. 31, 2018.

The administration, which many feel lacks legitimacy because of how Temer came to power, has faced so many scandals that the presidents approval rating is around 3 per cent, according to recent polls.

Temer, 77, has spent recent weeks shoring up his support, doling out local projects, plum positions and favourable decrees, and his allies had predicted he would receive at least the same support as in the previous vote on trying him.

Congressman Alessandro Molon, who voted against Temer, summed up the predictions of many political observers after the vote.

We are going to be stuck with a lame duck president for one more year, Molon told The Associated Press. He is not getting what he wants from this Congress because of the elections. And we are not going to get an agenda that is good for Brazilians, who reject Temer.

For several hours Wednesday, many opposition lawmakers refused to enter the chamber, hoping to deny the necessary quorum and delay the vote for as long as possible. Some who entered the chamber shouted, Out with Temer! A quorum was finally reached late Wednesday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, Temer was hospitalized briefly for a urinary obstruction, but emerged smiling and flashing two thumbs up.

The charges against him stem from a mammoth corruption investigation that began as a probe into money laundering and ended up uncovering systemic graft in Brazils halls of power. Dozens of politicians and businessmen have been jailed in the probe.

Prosecutors allege Brazils government was run like a cartel for years, with political parties selling favours, votes and plum appointments to powerful businessmen. They say that Temer took over the scheme when he took power last year, after his predecessor was impeached and removed from office, and that his party has since received about $190 million in bribes.

Temer denied the charges and contends the prosecutor who brought them had a grudge against him. In an address to lawmakers Wednesday, Temers lawyer, Eduardo Carnelos, said the latest indictment contained no proof and was so confusing that it assaults the Portuguese language, it assaults logic.

Matthew M. Taylor, a professor at the School of International Service at American University and a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, noted that Temers durability is due in part because so many fellow politicians are accused of wrongdoing.

As you look at Congress and you recognize that somewhere between a third and a half of Congress is implicated in scandal, there arent many other people who have a national profile who could govern at this point, Taylor said.

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LOS ANGELESA brother of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock was arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of possessing child pornography, authorities said Wednesday.

The arrest of Bruce Paddock was confirmed by a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation but not authorized to discuss it publicly.

Bruce Paddock is not considered a suspect in the Las Vegas shooting. The child porn case predated the Oct. 1 shooting, the official said. It wasnt immediately known if he has an attorney.

Fifty-eight people were killed and hundreds more were wounded Oct. 1 at the Route 91 Harvest Festival on the Las Vegas Strip. Stephen Paddock opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay casino-hotel tower. Stephen Paddock was found dead.

Another brother, Eric Paddock, spoke to media following the shooting but Bruce Paddock did not.

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A SWAT team surrounded a house on the west side of Cleveland at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Inside was Tommie Griffin III, 52, a former police officer who once worked with several members of the SWAT team. Griffin had spent 22 years as a decorated member of the Cleveland Police Department, until he allegedly pistol-whipped and raped his girlfriend in January, which led to his arrest and subsequent resignation from the force.

He had spent the past several months under house arrest. Then on Saturday, he cut off his GPS ankle monitor, prompting a manhunt by the U.S. Marshals that eventually brought the SWAT team to the house in the Kamms Corners neighbourhood.

For six hours, police shouted over a bullhorn in a desperate attempt to contact Griffin, Cleveland.com reported. Two nearby schools went on lockdown. Eventually, the SWAT team entered the house.

But it was futile.

Griffin, hiding in the basement, held an AR-15 rifle to his chest and pulled the trigger. The SWAT team found his body. He didnt leave a note.

Its a tragedy, a tragedy for the division of police family and for his family, Daniel Fay, 1st District Commander, told FOX 8 Cleveland. We wanted him to come out peacefully and have his day in court, period.

I feel very sad in my heart for the Cleveland police officers who knew this individual and had to go in that house, U.S. Marshal Peter Elliott added.

Griffin joined the Cleveland Police Department in 1994. In 2009, while working as a patrol officer, he was awarded the distinguished service medal.

On Jan. 13, Griffin found his 42-year-old girlfriend with another man, according to court records obtained by Cleveland.com .

A little after midnight, Griffin returned to his girlfriends house in nearby Parma while she was sleeping. Still wearing his police uniform, he punched and pistol-whipped her several times, then held his gun next to her face before firing two shots into the mattress, according to court records.

Police said he then ordered her to take a shower before taking her to the basement, where he pointed the gun at her and forced her to perform a sex act on him. Then, he drove away from the house alone, according to court documents.

A relative of Griffins girlfriend called Parma police after not being able to reach her. The relative told police that Griffin and his girlfriend had a volatile relationship.

Police found the woman alone in her house on Jan. 14. Her face was severely injured, and her home was in disarray, Cleveland 19 reported. She was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Parma police arrested Griffin later that day.

Authorities later found more than 60 firearms in his home, including an Uzi submachine gun and five assault rifles, according to the Associated Press.

Griffin was charged with rape, kidnapping, domestic violence and felonious assault, according to online court records. His bond was set at $250,000 but later lowered to $200,000 after his attorney argued he was not a flight risk. He remained in jail until March, when he posted bond and was placed under house arrest.

Meanwhile, Griffin was placed on unpaid leave from the department while the case was pending, until he resigned in March.

He was set to go on trial on Oct. 30.

After cutting off the GPS monitor on Saturday, Griffin stayed at a Motel 6 for two days with an unnamed accomplice, Elliott said at a news conference. Elliott added that the accomplice would be charged, but he didnt elaborate on what the charges would be.

Another unnamed person brought him to the house where he killed himself, police said.

Mr. Griffin put Cleveland police in a very, very bad position, he said. Its not the ending we wanted to see, but it is what it is.

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More than 56 years after a plane crash killed Dag Hammarskjold, the secretary general of the United Nations, an authoritative report released Wednesday said it appeared plausible that an external attack or threat may have downed the airplane carrying him and 15 others on an epochal peace mission in Africa.

The finding by Justice Mohamed Chande Othman, a senior Tanzanian jurist who was asked by the United Nations to review both old and newly uncovered evidence, gave weight to a long-standing suspicion that Hammarskjold may have been assassinated.

The crash, which happened in the overnight hours of Sept. 17-18, 1961, remains a painful open wound in the history of the United Nations and one of the 20th centurys most enduring mysteries.

Othmans report, which was released after repeated delays, offered a further rebuttal of the idea, advanced in inquiries soon after the crash, that pilot error or some other accident had caused Hammarskjolds chartered DC-6 airplane to crash in woodlands in what is now Zambia.

Moreover, Othmans conclusion reinforced the theory that the plane had been deliberately brought down, either by what the judge called direct attack or by a momentary distraction that took away the pilots attention for a matter of seconds at the critical point at which they were on their descent.

At the time, Hammarskjold was flying to Ndola, in what was then Northern Rhodesia, for negotiations to end secession and civil war in the neighbouring mineral-rich Congolese province of Katanga. The Katangese separatists were supported by Western political and mining interests not eager to see Hammarskjolds diplomacy succeed.

In recent years, much attention has focused on the extent to which Western governments and their intelligence agencies, including those of Britain, the United States and Belgium, the former colonial power in Congo, have withheld information relating to Hammarskjolds death.

Othman said in a summary of the report that these countries had provided some valuable new information in response to his requests.

At the same time, he said, the burden of proof has now shifted to member states of the United Nations to show that they have conducted a full review of records and archives in their custody or possession, including those that remain classified, for potentially relevant information.

His remarks seemed to reinforce many earlier suggestions that, for whatever reason, Western governments were loath to disclose their full knowledge about what had befallen Hammarskjold, a Swedish diplomat who died at a tipping point in African history between colonial rule and independence.

At the time, Congo had achieved a fraught independence from Belgium, while British and Portuguese colonial rule still prevailed farther south. The secession of the southern Congolese province of Katanga illuminated the competition among rival superpowers and commercial interests for influence over the course of Africas future.

For supporters of Katangas secession, Hammarskjold was a reviled figure.

Such were the concerns about his safety that, in the hours before he died, his airplane, call-sign SE-BDY, flew a circuitous route, skirting Congolese territory and observing near-total radio silence before it began its approach to Ndola.

In the attempts to reconstruct the final moments of the flight, myriad theories about the causes of the crash have emerged, including miscalculations by the pilots of their altitude and the sudden appearance in the nighttime skies of a secessionist jet warplane flown by a mercenary pilot.

Othmans report said, There is a significant amount of evidence from eyewitnesses that they observed more than one aircraft in the air, that the other aircraft may have been a jet, that SE-BDY may have been on fire before it crashed and/or that SE-BDY was fired upon or otherwise actively engaged by another aircraft. In its totality, this evidence is not easily dismissed.

While the judges report is not a precursor to opening or reopening a formal investigation, he expressed hope it would help generate momentum to uncover more facts, which is now more than ever necessary to allow us to fill the remaining gaps in the narrative.

Susan Williams, a British academic whose 2011 book Who Killed Hammarskjold? inspired the latest phase of high-level interest in the crash, said Othmans report reinforces my strong suspicion of foul play.

The onus is now on the U.K., the U.S., Belgium, France and South Africa, to release all relevant documents, including the secret records of their security and intelligence agencies and all intercepts of radio traffic relating to the case, she said in an interview. She also urged multinational companies operating in the area to release relevant records.

One issue focused on the capability of Katangese secessionist forces and their foreign hires to attack Hammarskjolds plane.

At the time, the secessionists were using French-built Fouga Magister warplanes. Earlier inquiries had discounted their deployment because they lacked flying range, despite witness testimony about a second plane seen that night as Hammarskjolds DC-6 approached Ndola.

But more recent evidence suggested that one or more Fouga Magisters could have flown a combat mission or harassed the DC-6 at a critical moment on its approach.

Othman also said there had been evidence that the British colonial authorities had sought to ensure that early inquiries ascribed the crash to pilot error. But, he said, that conclusion should now be considered logically unsound.

He noted that, in the past few years, the United States had acknowledged the activities of CIA officers in the Congo region and changed the narrative about the presence of Fouga Magisters in Katanga and U.S. DC-3 Dakotas on the ground in Ndola at the time of the crash.

Judging from history and the manner in which potential new information has emerged over the years, his report said, it is still likely that additional information will be located, unearthed or made available.

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BAGHDADOnce derided as a traffic warden by members of his own party, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has won public and political praise for sending troops to reclaim disputed territory after the Kurdish independence vote.

The action has earned the Iraqi leader the prestige that eluded him after successive victories against Daesh, also known as ISIS. Even some of his traditional critics have called his decision wise and shrewd.

By moving forcefully, Abadi has burnished his nationalist credentials and quieted potential challengers in next years elections who are backed by Iran and espouse policies of Shiite dominance, analysts and Iraqi politicians said.

For the United States, Abadis surging popularity is probably the silver lining of a crisis that has pitted two of its closest political and military allies  the Iraqi government and the Kurds  against each other. Many Iraqi politicians say Abadi has all but assured his reelection next year.

Read more: Iraq threatens to seize oilfields, shut down international flights in northern Kurdish region

Iraqi ban on flights to Kurdish capital goes into effect

A referendum by arms, said Saad al-Muttalibi, a member of Baghdads provincial council and a close ally of former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, a likely challenger to Abadi in elections slated for next spring.

The general perception is that hes indecisive in his moves, Muttalibi said. But what he did last week proved everybody wrong, including myself. He was very decisive and very stubborn in his approach. He stuck to the law and the constitution.

It remains unclear how far Abadi is planning to go in the push to reclaim territory lost to the Kurds in 2014 as Daesh swept through the country. But Abadis supporters warn that he must resume negotiations with the Kurdish authorities and keep forces away from Kurdish cities, or risk squandering the goodwill he has earned with Iraqi voters and regional powers.

The referendum is over and now belongs to the past. We have finished it on the ground, Abadi declared last week in a rare moment of public bluster by a politician who never quite shed the perception that he has been indecisive since he came to office in 2014.

The first test of Abadis willingness to moderate his response to the Kurds came early Wednesday, when the Kurdish government issued a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire in exchange for suspending the results of the referendum and entering into negotiations with Baghdad based on constitutionally enshrined guidelines on borders and revenue sharing.

Abadi, who has said he will only enter talks if the referendum result is annulled, has not yet responded to what amounts to a precipitous comedown for the Kurdish authorities. Not engaging in talks raises the spectre of further military clashes between Iraqi and Kurdish forces to control northern borders with Syria and Turkey.

Although the military action in Kirkuk has sparked a feverish debate in Washington over waning U.S. influence as Iran asserts itself as a regional power, Iraqis have viewed it as a critical move to avoid a much-feared partition of the country.

Abadi may have decided to ride the wave of domestic chauvinism rather than being swept aside by it, the Crisis Group wrote in a report last week.

The move has also won the support of Sunni politicians who previously expressed reservations about a second term for Abadi.

His policies in leading the country are not entirely clear to us, said former deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zaubai, citing Abadis membership in Dawa, a Shiite Islamist party that also counts Maliki as a senior leader. But in general we are very comfortable with what happened in Kirkuk because it was something that needed to be done long time ago.

In the weeks leading up to the Kirkuk offensive, American officials made clear that the burden fell on the Kurdish leadership to offer concessions to Abadi, who the Trump administration thought was grievously hurt by the referendum, said one U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private negotiations.

Our policy is they need to do something to help Abadi. Its not starting out on an equal basis, the official said.

Trump administration officials were frustrated that the Kurds had rebuffed a proposal that U.S. officials claimed would have given the Kurdish leadership a face-saving way to postpone the referendum.

Abadi had informed U.S. diplomats of his intention to order forces into Kirkuk, but did not reveal the timing and scale of the operation, people close to Abadi said.

This was co-ordinated by Mr. Abadi himself; he did not have any other choice but to move, said Mowaffak al-Rubaie, a lawmaker who sits on the security and defence committee in parliament.

As the Iraqi forces swept into Kirkuk and reclaimed its vast oilfields and municipal buildings, the United States issued conflicting responses. U.S. diplomats in Baghdad said the United States supported Iraqs right to impose federal control over contested areas, while U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States remained neutral in the dispute.

The differing U.S. responses fuelled a perception among U.S. officials and some Iraqis that Iran had superseded the United States as the most important power broker in Iraq.

The Iraqi forces who moved on Kirkuk and other places in northern Iraq included Shiite militias with ties to Tehran, fuelling intense speculation of Irans role in the campaign.

Iraqi Kurdish officials and some Iraqi politicians have concluded that Abadi acted on behalf of Iran, which fears that Kurdish independence in Iraq would provoke a similar action among its own sizable Kurdish population.

The prime minister will take advantage of what happened, and of course it will raise his popularity in the street, said Izzat Shahbandar, a former Iraqi lawmaker. But the reality is that [Iran] had the main role in achieving this scenario.

Shahbandar pointed to the high-profile presence of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Irans military point man in Iraq and Syria, in Iraq before and after the referendum vote and in the lead-up to the sweep of Kirkuk.

Kurdish officials said Soleimani brokered a deal in which peshmerga fighters from a Kurdish faction who were lukewarm on the referendum stood down when Iraqi forces entered Kirkuk.

But two people close to Abadi, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive government planning, gave a different account of how it played out. They said Soleimani entered the negotiations only after Abadi and those Kurdish officials had reached the framework of an agreement. Soleimani helped persuade the Kurds to call on their forces to retreat, telling them they were vastly outnumbered.

Soleimanis interjection delayed Abadis plan to move on Kirkuk by two days in the hopes that Kurdish President Masoud Barzani would agree to enter negotiations. The talks failed, but Soleimanis warnings were partially helpful in convincing them to avoid bloodshed. Some of what he said had a profound impact, said a person close to Abadi who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive planning.

Soleimani came in, but he was not the architect of all this, the person said.

The perception that Abadi was not in full control of the Kirkuk operation is among the many challenges he faces.

The more extremist factions of the Shiite militias are agitating for a deeper push into Kurdish territory, a move that analysts say could backfire.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson signalled his concern about Abadis campaign, telling the prime minister during a meeting in Baghdad on Monday that further moves toward Kurdish-held territory could provoke more armed conflict and urged the two sides to enter serious negotiations.

Abadi has shown a willingness to take risks to turn political events to his advantage.

In the summer of 2016, Abadi faced a crisis when weekly protests staged by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr culminated with Sadrs supporters raiding Baghdads Green Zone.

To the surprise of American diplomats and his own military commanders, Abadi announced a campaign to evict Daesh from Fallujah  a city that was seen as an impenetrable base for the group.

Daesh collapsed in Fallujah in about three weeks, defying forecasts of a protracted battle and forcing Sadr to call off protests. The move proved decisive in raising the morale of Iraqs security forces, which carried over to the longer and tougher battle for Mosul.

Abadi took a big risk to get his rah-rah moment, and it paid off, said a former Western diplomat. The victory in Fallujah did bring the country together more than any other moment in recent memory.

Political opponents will be looking to exploit any strategic mistakes by Abadi, said Sajad Jiyad, an analyst at the Al-Bayan Center for Planning and Studies, a think tank based in Baghdad.

It means he has a bigger target on this back now that the perception is that he can win in a landslide, he said, and that other Shiite groups will have less of a say in how things are done.

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DALLASThe NAACP is warning African-Americans that if they fly on American Airlines they could be subject to discrimination or even unsafe conditions.

Americans CEO said Wednesday that he was disappointed by the announcement and that American wants to discuss the matter with the civil rights group.

The NAACP said that for several months it has watched a pattern of disturbing incidents reported by African-American passengers. Among them were separate cases in which an NAACP official and another civil rights activist were kicked off flights.

The groups president, Derrick Johnson, said the growing list of incidents suggesting racial bias reflects an unacceptable corporate culture and involves behaviour that cannot be dismissed as normal or random.

American Airlines issued a statement saying that it has a diverse group of employees and serves customers of all backgrounds.

Read more:

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In a memo to employees, CEO Doug Parker said American endorses the NAACPs mission statement against racial discrimination.

We do not and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind, Parker wrote. We have reached out to the NAACP and are eager to meet with them to listen to their issues and concerns.

The NAACP highlighted four recent incidents in which African-American passengers said they were treated in a discriminatory way.

One involved the head of the North Carolina NAACP, the Rev. William Barber, who sued American after being removed from a flight last year. Barber said police were called and removed him from the plane after he asked a flight attendant to tell a white passenger behind him to quiet down.

Barber accused the other passenger of making a comment about having a problem with those people.

An incident last week involved Tamika Mallory, an organizer of the Womens March on Washington in January. Mallory had changed her seat at an airport kiosk, only to be told at the gate that the seat had been assigned to another customer.

Mallory said she was treated disrespectfully by the gate agent  another African-American woman  and was outraged when a white male pilot asked if she could control herself while on the flight.

After being told she was being kicked off the plane, Mallory called the pilot a racist in a profanity-laced exchange. She took a later flight home to New York on American, then held a press conference two days later and threatened to take legal action against the airline.

The NAACP called its warning a travel advisory, a term it used to warn about discrimination in Missouri last month.

The groups latest advisory comes on top of several complaints of discrimination lodged against airlines in recent years, particularly by Muslims, some of whom have said they were booted off flights just because other passengers felt uncomfortable around them.

Last year a college student said he was kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight and subjected to additional questioning by security officers after another passenger overheard him speaking in Arabic before takeoff. Last month an art instructor removed from another Southwest flight said she was targeted because she is Muslim; the airline said she had claimed a life-threatening allergy to two dogs that were on the plane.

Airline officials are uncomfortable discussing complaints of bias, even when they believe they are unfounded. American took its time before issuing a cautious, restrained response to the NAACP charge.

Bruce Rubin, a Miami public-relations professional experienced in crisis reaction, praised Americans response including the invitation to NAACP leadership to talk. He said it was wiser than being confrontational.

The goal is to tamp down the story instead of feeding it, Rubin said. There arent very many options when the race card gets tossed at you.

American, based in Fort Worth, Texas, is the worlds largest airline. The NAACP describes itself as the nations oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization.

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CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA.Pope Francis is making his first phone call off the planet  and into space.

On Thursday, the pope will reach out to the six astronauts on the International Space Station. It will be only the second time a pope phones the heavens like this. Pope Benedict XVI called the space station in 2011.

Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli was aboard the orbiting lab for the first papal call, and hes back up there again, along with three Americans and two Russians.

Francis is known for his out-of-the-blue calls. But this one has been in the Earth-to-space pipeline for a while. The European Space Agency made the arrangements, with NASAs technical support.

A large Roman Catholic contingent led by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston, will gather at Mission Control for the long-distance chat.

Fresh from the space station, U.S. astronaut Jack Fischer said his faith grew while he was in orbit. He invited his priest to his Houston homecoming last month, after landing in a Russian capsule on the other side of the world.

You look out the window and you cant help but feel that were just one small part of a bigger whole, Fischer said. Just seeing this mind-blowing beauty of the universe, it grows your faith in ways that its hard to even describe.

Since his launch in July, Nespoli has posted stunning photos of Italy on Twitter; one of his latest scenery snapshots shows the Alps from 402 kilometres up.

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About three years ago, a married Portuguese woman began seeing another man. The affair was brief  and after two months, the woman wanted to end it.

In response, the womans former lover turned to her husband, telling him his wife had been unfaithful, according to Portuguese media outlets. The couple divorced. But the two men, both enraged, worked together to plan an attack on the woman.

In June 2015, the former paramour kidnapped the woman and held her down while the ex-husband beat her viciously with a nail-spiked club, leaving bruises and lashes all over her body.

After charges were filed in the assault, the ex-husband was given a 15-month suspended sentence and a fine of about $2,000, according to The Associated Press. A prosecutor thought he deserved a harsher sentence, and asked an appeals court in Porto, Portugals second largest city, for prison time of three years and six months.

But the appeals judges decided against it.

Why? Because the judges felt it was somewhat understandable that a husband in a depressive state would act out against a wife who had betrayed him.

In a written ruling that harked back to the 19th century, Judges Neto de Moura and Maria Luisa Abrantes justified the lighter sentence with biblical references that condemn adultery.

Now, adultery by a woman is a very serious attack on a mans honour and dignity, the judges wrote. Societies exist where the adulterous woman is stoned to death. In the Bible, we can read that the adulterous woman should be punished with death.

They argued that the disloyalty and sexual immorality of the woman caused her husband to fall into a deep depression. It was in this clouded mental state that the husband committed the act of aggression, the judges wrote.

The judges cited a criminal law from 1886 that called for merely a symbolic penalty against a husband who, finding his wife committing adultery, killed her.

These references are merely intended to emphasize that society has always strongly condemned adultery by a woman and therefore sees the violence by a betrayed, vexed and humiliated man with some understanding, the judges wrote.

The written ruling was filed Oct. 11 but was not made public until Portuguese news outlet Jornal de Noticias reported the news earlier this week.

The sentence has stunned womens rights activists, legal experts and even religious authorities who saw it as an attempt to justify domestic violence with references to the Bible. Across social media, Portuguese commentators and feminist groups called out the ruling for perpetuating victim-blaming and legitimizing violence against women.

Amnesty International Portugal said in a statement that citing the Old Testament in a court ruling presents a manifest violation of the separation of church and state, which is part of the Portugals constitution.

UMAR, the Womens Union for Alternative and Response, has called for a protest rally on Friday in downtown Lisbon in response to the ruling. In a statement, the group said the verdict was perplexing, revolting and violated the rights, freedoms and dignity of the individual.

Evoking the Bible does not combine with the rule of law in our country and discredits the judicial norms, UMAR said in the statement. The group said the decision could lead to serious consequences for Portuguese society, particularly for women.

It also conveys a message, especially to younger generations, of total impunity, it added.

Even some religious authorities condemned the ruling. The Rev. Manuel Barbosa, secretary of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, told the religious news agency Ecclesia that the judges incorrectly referred to scriptures in their ruling. He said no one should justify any kind of violence, in this case domestic violence, even in the case of adultery.

While Barbosa said adultery should not be accepted in his faith, he urged the importance of preserving the dignity of women. He cited teachings from Pope Francis on forgiveness and mercy.

The woman could appeal the decision to Portugals higher courts, the Associated Press reported.

It is evident that no human being can be satisfied with this, Erica Duraes, a lawyer representing the woman, told Portuguese news outlet Diario de Noticias. She said the victim is very worn out and tired from all of this but declined to say if she would be taking further legal action.

Portugals Superior Magistrates Council, which oversees judges, acknowledged the public criticism but said it could not intervene in judicial matters, even in light of archaic, inappropriate or unfortunate remarks from judges, according to Diario de Noticias

It does not appear to be the first time Judge Neto de Moura has turned to biblical teachings when preparing sentences for domestic violence cases, the BBC reported.

In one example, last year, the judge overturned a previous sentence of two years in prison in an assault case, questioning the reliability of the female victims testimony.

A woman who commits adultery is a false, hypocritical, dishonest, disloyal, futile, immoral person, he said at the time. In short, a person who lacks moral credibility.

According to Reuters, ultra-orthodox patriarchy, still exists in parts of the country. Before Portugals 1974 revolution, it was one of the cornerstones of the regime of dictator Antonio Salazar.

The deputy director of the Portuguese news outlet that first reported the news, Ines Cardoso, wrote commentary on Monday criticizing the court decision. Cardoso titled it: She was asking for it.

Is this an isolated case in the Portuguese courts? she asked. Perhaps not, because sentences with discriminatory and abusive references arise sporadically.

In a discussion that echoed recent commentary in the U.S. over sexual harassment and assault, Cardoso equated the judges ruling to victim-blaming.

Even when she is a victim of aggression, harassment or sexual abuse, she is often considered the cause of the crime, Cardoso wrote. Either because she dresses provocatively, or because she fails in her role as a dedicated wife, or because she acts with sexual disloyalty and immorality.

We know that there is much to be done to combat marital violence and gender inequality, she said. But the courts, like the other organs of sovereignty, exist to promote justice and equality. Not to validate prejudice and discrimination.

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DALLASHugh Aynesworth, a reporter for The Dallas Morning News, was watching the presidential motorcade downtown when he heard the shots that killed then-president John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963. Since then, much of his career has been devoted to investigating the events of that day.

Over the years, Aynesworth figures hes explored dozens, maybe hundreds, of different conspiracy theories about the assassination. His work will continue on Thursday when the government releases the latest batch of files kept classified for 54 years.

One things for certain: The new information wont put an end to the conspiracy theories, said Aynesworth, who is firmly in the camp that only one shooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, was responsible for Kennedys murder.

Read more: Trump plans to release last cache of secret JFK assassination files

Prof. Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia said it was "ridiculous" that so much time has passed since the assassination of president John F. Kennedy without the public release of documents. (The Associated Press)

What will come out of this is something that should have come out years and years ago, said Aynesworth, 86, who lives in Dallas.

He expects the files to produce more information about how much the CIA and FBI knew about Oswald before the assassination. In particular, the files could reveal how much the CIA knew about a trip Oswald made to Mexico City a month or so before the assassination.

Theres been a lot of speculation over the years about Oswalds trip to Mexico, said Aynesworth. While there, Oswald met with Cubans and Russians, he said.

The CIA had both the Russian and Cuban embassies bugged, said Aynesworth, author of November 22, 1963: Witness to History. So they knew exactly what he said, who he met with, and theyve kept this secret, he said.

The files may raise even more questions than they answer.

It will never stop the conspiracy crowd, Aynesworth said. They want to be somebody and make money. And theres an awful lot of money involved.

There are over 200 conspiracy books  that ought to tell you something.

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In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Jane Goodall started attributing personalities to the chimpanzees she followed in Gombe National Park in what is now Tanzania. In her descriptions, some were more playful or aggressive, affectionate or nurturing.

Many scientists at the time were horrified, she recalled. Considered an amateur  she didnt yet have her PhD  they contended she was inventing personality traits for animals.

Goodall, now 83, said in a phone interview Monday from her home in England that scientists thought I was guilty of the worst kind of anthropomorphism.

Read more:

At 81, Jane Goodall still crusading for chimpanzees

A chimp walks into a bar: Scientists observe apes regularly quaffing booze in jungle

Study says apes have ability to think like humans in an important way

But time has borne out her insights. Chimpanzees in the wild have personalities similar to those in captivity, and both strongly overlap with traits that are familiar in humans, a new study published in Scientific Data confirms.

The new examination of chimpanzees at Gombe updates personality research conducted on 24 animals in 1973 to include more than 100 additional chimps that were evaluated a few years ago. The animals were individually assessed by graduate students in the earlier study, and in the latest by Tanzanian field assistants, on personality traits such as agreeableness, extroversion, depression, aggression and self-control.

Researchers used different questionnaires to assess the chimps traits in the two studies, but most of the personality types were consistent across the two studies.

These traits seen among wild chimps matched ones seen among captive animals, the study found, and are similar to those described in people.

Goodall, who is promoting a new documentary, Jane, about those early days of her research, said shes not surprised. She knew from childhood experiences with guinea pigs, tortoises and her favourite dog, Rusty, that animals have personalities that are quite familiar.

I honestly dont think you can be close to any animals and not realize their very vivid personalities, she said.

Clive Wynne, a professor and director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., who was not involved in the research, said the new study offered a really rich picture of the overlap among species.

Its backing up and reinforcing a number of things that we assume about animal personality that are seldom established with this degree of security in substantial wild-living populations, said Wynne, who concurs that dogs, his area of specialty, also have similar personality traits.

Robert Latzman, an associate professor at Georgia State University, who was not involved in the study, said his research with chimpanzees in zoos has always left open the question of whether animals in the wild are somehow different.

Whats exciting about these data is theres some suggestion that wild apes look very similar to what we would expect in terms of basic dispositional traits and continuity of those traits  and I dont mean just to captive chimpanzees, but to humans, he said. The work in the wild underscores how similar these animals truly are to humans.

Alexander Weiss, who led the new study, said he was particularly interested in examining the personality traits of animals in the wild. His findings were in line with previous research hes done on chimpanzees in captivity.

The fact that were showing this consistency in the wild is nice, because it allows us to draw more general conclusions, said Weiss, a senior lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. Its not just being in a zoo thats causing these individual traits to be stable.

The studys underlying data will be made publicly available so other scientists can use them in their own research, he said.

Although most of the animals tested in 1973 had died by the time the recent analysis was conducted, the study also concluded that an animals personality traits were generally consistent over time.

Goodall said that fits what shes seen, too. She visits Gombe only twice a year now, and only two animals are still alive from the days when she knew them as individuals. One, a mother of twins named Gremlin, has changed a bit, Goodall said.

I think the main difference in her personality is shes become more confident as she gets older, just like people do, she said.

Goodall added that shes pleased that researchers are still finding so much of interest at Gombe, and tapping into the expertise of Tanzanian field workers.

And, of course, shes happy that the academic perspective has shifted from the time when she was told only humans had personalities, minds and emotions.

Today you can get your PhD studying animal personality. I think weve come around full-cycle, she said. It absolutely vindicates all that Ive ever believed.

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JUBA, SOUTH SUDANUN Ambassador Nikki Haley warned South Sudans president Wednesday that U.S. aid and other assistance were at stake, as Washington seeks to boost pressure on a leader it blames for helping plunge the worlds youngest nation into civil war.

The United States is at a crossroads, Haley said she told President Salva Kiir, a day after she heard refugees horrific stories of violence and cruelty they claim were carried out by Kiirs forces in a conflict largely fought along tribal lines.

We have to decide how were going to look at South Sudan going forward, and that will be based on how he goes from here, she said. And based on his actions the United States will act accordingly.

Read more:

United Nations, U.S. failed to prevent ethnic cleansing in South Sudan: investigation

Attacks on aid workers increasing in South Sudan, UN says

Canada contributes $86 million more to South Sudan as civil war rages on

In the balance is billions in U.S. aid, a potential international arms embargo and the goodwill of the United States, which gave critical backing to South Sudans independence from Sudan in 2011.

The United States has distanced itself from Kiir, the cowboy hat-wearing former rebel leader who presided over the promising birth of a nation blessed with oil and other natural resources.

But it fell to Haley to deliver an ultimatum.

It was a very honest conversation. I basically said the United States had invested well over $11 billion in South Sudan and into him, and that we were now questioning that investment. I told them that he couldnt deny the stories about his military, which include allegations of rape, murder, kidnapping, forced labour and the use of child soldiers.

Haley claimed Kiir did not deny those allegations. There was no immediate word from Kiir or South Sudanese officials about the meeting.

To his credit, he acknowledged everything I was saying, Haley said. He listened to everything I was saying and he was not defensive.

Haley spoke to reporters travelling with her immediately after two lengthy meetings with Kiir, one of them a longer-than-expected private session. U.S. expectations include an end to violence and full and consistent access for humanitarian groups, she said.

I told him that we need to see him right the ship, she said.

On Monday, Haley toured a sprawling refugee camp in Ethiopias Gambella region.

She ducked into a makeshift home for a newly arrived family of five, and heard the harrowing story of a weeks-long walk to flee renewed fighting across the border in South Sudan.

Haley crouched in the mud beside a nursing mother inside a hut that was little more than a tarp stamped with a UN humanitarian agency logo stretched over a frame of sticks. She promised to convey more details to UN colleagues and the Trump administration about the plight of the more than 400,000 South Sudanese now housed in Ethiopia. The UN estimates that 35,000 have arrived just since the end of September.

I was mad when I left the camp. How do you not go through listening to those women talk and hearing what their families went through and not just be totally angry at those that are responsible? Haley said afterward.

Inside a stifling, low-slung building reserved as a women- and girl-friendly space, one woman broke down in sobs as she and two others told Haley stories of rape, murder and survival.

One woman told Haley that her family was killedshe did not say by whom but suggested that it was South Sudanese Army forcesand her baby thrown into a fire. Then, the woman claimed, she had been forced to eat the flesh.

We want to go home, one woman said, according to a UN translator. We need our leader in the country.

That was a reference to former vice president Riek Machar, now in South Africa. Although some South Sudanese see Machar as their protector, the United States has long viewed him as part of the problem and has not advocated his return.

One woman told Haley that she blamed former president Barack Obama for the spiral of violence that began in 2013, and for the failed reconciliation effort in 2015. Haley looked startled at that, but did not respond.

Names of the women who spoke to Haley were not provided by the UN or humanitarian groups that serve the camp to protect their privacy and safety. Reporters were allowed to listen from several feet away.

Haley did not say that she would advocate for more U.S. humanitarian aid.

The Obama administration attempted to foster reconciliation talks between Kiir and Machar, and blamed both for squandering the democracy they helped to found.

President Obama didnt do this to these women, Haley said in a second interview. I think their perception is that they were let down by the United States back in 2013 when they really needed us.

Haley also toured a U.N.-run camp in Juba for internally displaced people. As Haley met with a family, protesters from Machars Nuer tribe gathered outside, shouting down, down, Salva Kiir. Kiir is a member of the rival Dinka tribe.

One held a sign reading, Salva Kiir is a killer and must go!

Haley and her party were quickly hustled into waiting cars.

Her five-day visit to Africa this week is heavily focused on South Sudan.

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By appointing former Ontario New Democratic Party premier Bob Rae to investigate Burmas Rohingya crisis, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has picked a singularly versatile envoy.

But its not exactly clear how Rae  and ultimately Canada  can curb what Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland has already called crimes against humanity.

Even Rae seemed uncharacteristically daunted when he met reporters Monday, noting that I dont pretend to be a miracle worker.

He said hed come up with something concrete by January.

Close to a million Rohingya Muslims have been driven from their homes in Burma  most of them in the last two months. They have flooded into refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh.

The United Nations calls this deliberate ethnic cleansing by the Burmese government and army. Canada concurs.

Burma argues that the Rohingya, most of whom have lived in the country for generations, are foreign interlopers who are merely going back to where they came from.

From a distance, it has all the hallmarks of a classic ethno-religious conflict  like that which roiled Bosnia and Rwanda in the 1990s.

Buddhist nationalists are said to be the driving force behind anti-Rohingya sentiment. Most Burmese are Buddhists.

Realistically, Raes ability to accomplish anything is tightly circumscribed. Ottawa has already pronounced the Burmese government culpable in crimes against humanity. That government is unlikely to help Rae gather facts to support this conclusion.

Still, there are things the special envoy can do.

First, he can look into why the Rohingya are so persecuted. Are these simply ancient hatreds playing themselves out? Or are there more proximate reasons such as disputes over land and resources?

We know there are Rohingya militants. The governments latest crackdown came after these militants killed 12 police officers in August. Does this insurgency pose a real threat to Burma?

Second, Rae could spell out any leverage that Canada does have. Should Ottawa threaten to reimpose the economic sanctions that were loosened five years ago when Burma became somewhat more democratic?

Should Ottawa insist that Canadian mining and other companies avoid Burma? Right now, government agencies such as Export Development Canada advertise that they help Canadian firms hoping to do business there.

Should Ottawa use its new Magnistky Act to impose sanctions on Burmese politicians, such as de facto government leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who are believed responsible for gross human rights violations?

Freeland has already signalled that the Trudeau government is unwilling to strip Suu Kyi of her honorary Canadian citizenship. Should it sanction her in other ways? Rae could look at that question.

Finally, Rae could look into any indirect leverage Canada has over Burma.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has considerable sway in the region, has chosen not to criticize Burmas handling of the Rohingya crisis. Could Trudeau persuade him to harden his position? Could he try similar tactics with Burmas other major trading partners, such as China and Japan?

These are a few of things Rae could reasonably look at. He is an energetic fellow and probably has many more in mind. The point is that this need not necessarily be an exercise in sheer futility.

The former New Democrat turned Liberal has a reputation as someone who knows a lot about a lot. Hes been hired by one government to look at whether universities should raise tuition fees (answer: yes) and by another to see whether there should be an inquiry into the 1985 Air India bombing (yes again),

He has been involved in trying to figure out what to do with Canadas blood supply and how to bail out the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. At one point, he investigated a constitutional solution for Sri Lankas civil war.

But his newest assignment is particularly tricky. The UN hasnt been able to winkle out a solution for the Rohingya crisis. Will Bob Rae have better luck?

We can only hope.

Thomas Walkom appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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Ten years ago, at Grand Valley Institution for Women, correctional officers obediently watched as Ashley Smith slowly asphyxiated from a ligature tied around her neck. It was the latest in an endless series of attempts by the 19-year-old to self-harm; her agonizing way of communicating her distress.

Ashleys death sparked massive media coverage and shocked the country. Once in a while, one individual comes to symbolize societal success or failure. In Ashleys case, we found it unfathomable that, in Canada, a severely troubled, mentally ill teenager could have been warehoused, virtually untreated, and left to die as correctional officers videotaped her.

Over time, additional horrifying facts dribbled out. Ashley had been held in solitary confinement for months on end with little or no treatment. She was denied basic amenities  paper, books, toilet paper, clothing. Her cell lights burned day and night and she was under constant surveillance.

We also learned that Ashley had been transferred more than a dozen times between seven different institutions during her 13 months in the custody of the Correctional Service of Canada. Moving Ashley from prison to prison across the country may have provided relief to frustrated prison staff, but it merely exacerbated her isolation and further alienated her from family in Nova Scotia. It also worsened her distress and self-harming behaviour.

The jury at the coroners inquest heard from dozens and dozens of witnesses, from correctional officers to the commissioner of CSC, as well as a number of experts in the field of psychiatry and prison management. In the end, they concluded her death was a homicide. They also came up with a number of important recommendations to improve our prison system.

The jury urged that mentally ill prisoners and those who self-harm be given proper psychiatric treatment in a hospital setting dedicated to diagnosis, treatment and recovery, not bars, locks and security.

They also made a series of recommendation aimed at reducing and eventually abolishing the use of segregation in Canadian prisons.  The jury recognized that solitary confinement is harmful and it only serves the utilitarian needs of the system. In fact, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has said prolonged segregation  defined as anything beyond 15 days  constitutes torture.

In the decade since Ashleys death, we have seen tremendous change in the outside world. But in the sluggish, security-obsessed world of prison administration little had changed. Calls for reform continue to be ignored. Reports on Ashleys death that urged change have been shelved, including reports from Canadas correctional investigator. And the jurys recommendations are yet to be implemented. On the 10-year anniversary of her death, we owe it to Ashley to highlight the lapsed promise of those recommendations.

Segregation is still vastly overused and fiercely defended by correctional authorities as a vital response to disorder, misconduct and vulnerability in their institutions. CSC continues to use solitary confinement to manage people with mental health problems. They might now call it medical observation but the effect is the same  people with serious mental illness and those who engage in self-harming behaviour are still being held in solitary confinement, not in hospitals.

When Justin Trudeau came into power in November 2015, he sent a mandate letter to the newly appointed minister of justice. In it, he identified as a top priority the implementation of recommendations from the inquest into the death of Ashley Smith regarding the restriction of the use of solitary confinement and the treatment of those with mental illness.

The government has introduced Bill C-56, which purports to set a 15-day limit on segregation, with a total of 60 days maximum per year. To be clear, Bill C-56 simply tries to prevent the Correctional Service of Canada from subjecting detainees to torture. That is not something Canadians should be proud of. We must expect and demand more of our correctional system.

But the glaring weakness of Bill C-56 is that it only holds out the allusion of limiting the use of segregation. In fact, the bill continues to give prison wardens discretion to hold people in solitary confinement for more than 15 days if they believe it is appropriate  and as history has shown, they most certainly will, over and over. One thing we learned from the coroners inquest into Ashleys death is that if you give CSC management a way to get around a rule, even an apparently clear rule, they will predictably exploit it.

With or without Bill C-56, it will be business as usual in the correctional system. Solitary confinement will continue to be the go to mechanism for managing people with mental illness or other difficulties in the institution.

Only the abolition of solitary confinement will force the Correctional Service of Canada to make the changes that are so desperately needed. Without abolition, the prison system will grind on, crushing the sick, disordered and discarded, as it always has.

The elimination of segregation would have been a fitting legacy for Ashley. And it still can be. We must ensure that another decade doesnt pass before we put an end to the unnecessary and inhumane practice that killed Ashley.

Breese Davies is a criminal lawyer in Toronto and a vice president of the Criminal Lawyers Association.

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Last year, Frances womens rights minister, Laurence Rossignol, using extremely offensive language, compared Muslim women who chose to wear the head scarf to negroes who accepted slavery.

This week, Andre Lamoureux, political scientist and spokesman for a Quebec-based movement for secularism, called the niqab a political symbol of the enslavement and de-empowerment of women that is supported by the most repressive regimes on the planet.

Both promote the idea that the veil is sexist, a symbol designed to signify the submission of women to men. It would seem benevolent then, to liberate these women, regardless of what their desires may be.

Yet, it is telling other women what they must and mustnt wear that reveals a history of colonial paternalism towards those who are different. European colonialism, both British and French, politically used the image of the veiled woman to fuel their colonial objectives.

The history of Western imagination of the veil is complex, but can be simplified into two main perceptions: the inaccessible-sensual-harem woman and the oppressed covered woman. In both scenarios, an itch that she be viewable.s

Painters such as Jean-Leon Gerome in the 1800s introduced the Eastern woman to the West using his own sensual fantasies to portray them in harems, lying and bathing nude in front of each other. Popular culture is full of examples of how this image is still perpetuated. You dont have to look too far, just watch for the veiled belly dancers in Disneys Aladdin.

At the same time, the veil was usurped by the colonizers to show the inferiority of the colonized and give an aura of moral justification to the occupation.

Take for example Lord Cromer, the British administrator to the Egyptian colony in the late 1800s. He writes that he [the colonizer] came not as a conqueror, but in a familiar garb of a saviour of society. Addressing the veil and its implications, he writes by confining the sphere of womens interest to a very limited horizon, cramps the intellect and withers the mental development of one-half of the population in Moslem countries.

His words seemingly hold a concern for the equality of women  ironic for a man who enacted laws restricting womens education and was opposed to the suffrage movement in Britain.

Justin Trudeau is weighing in further on the Quebec law banning people from covering their faces while receiving public services. The prime minister says it is not the role of government to tell women what they can or cant wear. (The Canadian Press)

Even today, whether it is at home or overseas, we are bombarded with images of the poor veiled woman who is in need of outside intervention to gain freedom. Military intervention is justified using veiled women as propaganda material and pretty titles such as Operation Iraqi Freedom.We are told that if she resists, it is her internalized oppression that has prevented her from using her brain. We, steeped in our patriarchal, paternalistic, benevolence, most definitely know what is best for her.

This is not to ignore the politicization of the veil in parts of the Middle East, it is used as a way to entrench their culture from the threat of the West. In countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, the veil is used as a method to protect our women from the modernization of the West. Again, patriarchal rhetoric that uses women to gain political legitimacy. Womens bodies are used as a stage to gain authenticity and give moral advantage to each side.

As we know, Quebec, throughout its history has always faced tensions between protecting its French-speaking culture and grappling with minorities within its community. Having a distinct selection process for immigration, Quebec targets francophone countries in order to protect its culture and maintain its language.

This requirement has led to large numbers of French-speaking Muslim immigrants to the province (mostly from past French colonies). It is estimated that 70 per cent of all Muslim immigrants come to Quebec. The increase in the Muslim minority population has seen a plethora of fear, anxiety and intolerance toward the community in the last 15 years. The veiled Muslim woman is (again) at the forefront characterizing the inability/ unwillingness of the Muslim community to assimilate.

The seeming threat to Quebecs culture led to the Bouchard-Taylor Commission being established to examine reasonable accommodation of minorities. The release of the report in 2008 promoted laicite overte an open secularism that promoted harmonization and tolerance for the veil and face covering. Yet, here we are a few years later with Bill 62.

Although it is important to question whether or achieve its objectives (because legally speaking, the correlation between form of dress and proselytization is difficult to make), I am here to talk to you about the veiled woman.

Actually, I am here to ask you to talk to the veiled woman. In fact, it is not about you. It is about the veiled woman, about all women in general. Do not make the bodies of women a stage to play your dirty politics. Let us decide what is good for us. Let us speak for ourselves. Let us do what we want.

Correction  October 25, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version to update a photo caption the misspelled Leenat Jilanis given name.

Leenat Jilani is currently articling at KSM law. A graduate of Windsor Law, she previously interned at the United Nations in New York.

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The recent spotlight on the Jones Act and Puerto Rico exhibits a broader truth about some protectionist policies: they often don't matter until they do.

The 1920s-era legislation that requires goods transported between U.S. ports be carried out by ships under the U.S. flag has garnered attention recent months in the wake of hurricanes in Texas, Florida and, most notably, Puerto Rico, with some lawmakers asking the act be scrapped or permanently waived. The effects of the law are generally so diffuse that they go unnoticed, allowing it to persist even though its critics say it benefits only a few.

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly referred to as the Jones Act, was initially passed to support the U.S. maritime industry and ensure the government had American ships and personnel to mobilize in case of emergency. Those who oppose it say it serves special interests -- namely, the shipping industry -- without benefiting the rest of the country and, in some cases, doing harm.

The detrimental effects of the Jones Act have come into view in the wake of Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico. Under pressure, the White House waived the act for 10 days on September 28. That waiver has since expired. Also in the meantime, the Washington Post reported on Monday that a small Montana company, Whitefish Energy, landed a $300 million contract with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority to repair large portions of the island's electrical infrastructure. The company is two years old and when Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico had just two full-time employees. It is based in Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's home town.

"The cost of the Jones Act for Puerto Rico is built into the cost of everything in Puerto Rico," said Dan Bergstresser, Brandeis University finance professor and author of a recent EconoFact paper on the Jones Act's effects on shipping costs. "It becomes a focal problem now because the island is in such dire straits, but it's been a problem all along, and it will be a problem even after the relief from this hurricane."

A handful of Republican lawmakers have called for the Jones Act to permanently be waived for Puerto Rico.

Senator John McCain (R-AZ), a longtime opponent of the Jones Act, in September reintroduced legislation to exempt the U.S. territory. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), James Lankford (R-OK) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) have signed on as cosponsors.

Lee has said he wants 30 minutes on the floor to speak about a handful of items, including the Jones Act, as part of a debate over a relief package following the hurricanes which devastated Texas and Florida as well as Puerto Rico. The Senate approved a $36.5 billion disaster aid bill on Tuesday.

The Jones Act has proven resistant to its opponents in part because of a very concentrated but forceful effort to keep it around. Shipments from the U.S. mainland to Puerto Rico are controlled by a small group of Jones Act-enabled companies, The Intercept explained recently, including Corley Maritime Corporation, Trailer Bridge Inc., Sea Star Line LLC and National Shipping of America. Companies and third-party trade associations such as the Transportation Institute and the American Maritime Congress have lobbied in favor of the law.

"That's just the typical story for a lot of these protectionist measures," said Marc Melitz, a Harvard economist who authored the Jones Act paper with Bergstresser. "They protect a small group of people that are...very concentrated, so it means they are very politically involved both in terms of lobbying and political donations."

President Donald Trump seemed to acknowledge as much when addressing reporters ahead of the short-term Puerto Rico waiver last month. "We have a lot of shippers and a lot of people...who work in the shipping industry that don't want the Jones Act lifted," he said.

A 2015 paper indicated that Puerto Rico's debt problems, which have forced the island into bankruptcy, could in part be tied to the Jones Act pushing import costs higher. A 2012 Federal Reserve Bank of New York analysis found that shipping a 20-foot container from mainland U.S. to Puerto Rico cost twice what it did a shipment to the Dominican Republic.

And it's not just Puerto Rico that might have a Jones Act problem. New Jersey in 2014 ran out of road salt in a particularly severe winter and had to pay more and wait longer to get a shipment from Maine. The Jones Act has also been blamed for driving up gas prices.

The World Trade Organization in 2013 described the act as "the most restrictive" protectionist shipping or transport law in the world. As The New York Times notes, many studies have found that repealing the Jones Act would contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to the U.S. economy annually.

"When it comes at the cost of the larger economy, it doesn't make sense," said Bergstresser.

To be sure, there are arguments against scrapping the Jones Act. The AFL-CIO has warned lifting it could jeopardize the U.S. maritime sector and risk thousands of jobs being outsourced. The Times also points out that the law has created a predictable market between the mainland U.S. and Puerto Rico.

The New York Fed study suggests a possible remedy could be exempting Puerto Rico from the Jones Act for five years to track trends in shipping costs, volumes and business practices and "assess the costs and benefits to determine if this exemption should be made permanent."

"Puerto Ricans are Americans, Puerto Rico is the United States of America, this is absolutely something that should be on everybody's mind right now," Bergstresser said. "But the Jones Act is a more general thing, and it is a more general illustration of why policy can fail sometimes."

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Editors' pick: Originally published Oct. 24.
Republicans hoping to pass a tax reform bill this year are searching for ways to offset trillions of dollars in potential corporate and individual tax cuts. And one such way, which has been floated since at least April, is something called "Rothification."

Under current law, some 132 million workers contribute to a 401(k) or similar plan on a pre-tax basis. These deferred wages, or what the IRS calls elective deferrals, are generally not subject to federal income tax withholding at the time of deferral. But distributions are taxed as ordinary income.

Now, truth be told, this tax deferral costs the government money in the short term. In fact, defined contribution plans will cost $583.6 billion in forgone tax revenue between 2016 and 2020 and traditional IRAs will cost $85.8 billion, according to the most recent numbers from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation.

If, however, the government caps the amount workers can save on a pre-tax basis but lets them continue to save with after-tax dollars, it will recoup some of that foregone tax revenue.

Or at least that's the idea behind the House Republicans latest plan to limit the amount workers can save in their 401(k) to $2,400, from its current level of $18,000, or $24,000 for those age 50 and older.

To be fair, the most recent Rothification plan was dead on arrival. Among other things, the plan contradicted the stated goals of the Trump administration's and Republicans' Unified Framework for Fixing Our Broken Tax Code. That document states that tax "reform will aim to maintain or raise retirement plan participation of workers and the resources available for retirement."

Rothification Is Misunderstood

So, why did Republicans float a dead-on-arrival idea? To make the tax cuts work over the budget-scoring window.

"As I understand it, the plan would limit the upfront tax deferment to $2,400, then anything above that amount would get Roth treatment," said Andrew Biggs, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). Contributions to a Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA are made with after-tax dollars.

According to Biggs, the motivation for the plan to cap pretax savings has very little to do with retirement policy, which GOP lawmakers, he noted, unfortunately don't think very much about it.

"The idea is that by shifting to a Roth treatment of contributions, you'd get more revenues up front which would help pay for the tax cut over the budget-scoring window," he said. "You don't get more total revenues over the long term, meaning -- that the policy doesn't really cut 401(k) subsidies, nor does it make the tax cut more affordable, because 401(k) balances would become tax-free on withdrawal. Basically, it's just a way to front load tax revenues to make the short-term budget figures work out."

In theory, the results need not be bad, said Biggs. "The overall tax treatment under Roth is basically the same as with regular contributions, you simply get the tax break later," he said. "While some people do better under regular treatment, others do better under Roth. On average, it's pretty similar and the differences from person-to-person aren't huge."

Moreover, Biggs said, research seems to find that when 401(k)s switch to Roth treatment, employees maintain more or less the same contribution rates. "That means an increase in net contributions equal to the average marginal tax rate," he said. "So in theory, a Roth switch could increase retirement saving, especially to the degree that contribution rates in the future will be driven by auto-enrollment."

Of course, not all agree with Biggs' assessment.

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Research earlier this year from the Investment Company Institute (ICI), the lobbying group for the mutual fund industry, found that Americans strongly value the current tax incentives for retirement saving and overwhelmingly oppose changing them.

In the study, American Views on Defined Contribution Plan Saving, 2016, ICI found that 89% of all U.S. households disagree with the statement that the government should take away the tax advantages of defined contribution (DC) accounts, and 90% disagree with the idea of reducing the amount that individuals can contribute to DC accounts.

Even among households that do not own DC accounts or individual retirement accounts (IRAs), 82% reject the idea of taking away the tax treatment of DC accounts.

Given that, Biggs said, people interpret the Roth switch as getting rid of the tax deferment. "A lot of public discussion and media headlines get this wrong," he said. "To counter that, the proposal would allow regular tax treatment on contributions up to $2,400. That helps a bit with the optics, and in reality, very few people -- and almost no low-earners -- would be affected."

Biggs noted, for instance, that 85% of people with incomes under $50,000 wouldn't hit that cap. "But if you think the current tax treatment is regressive, the cap makes some sense; it's high earners who'd be affected," he said.

But together, Biggs said he's not sure how well it works. "Those people who do save more than $2,400 may take that figure as a cap and reduce their saving, even if they could benefit from the Roth treatment," he said. "Moreover, if bosses or human resource managers who decide whether a firm sponsors a plan don't like the cap, they may be less willing to have a 401(k) for their employees."

Bad Optics or Bad Policy?

On paper, it's not a terrible policy, Biggs said. "But I think it gets screwed up by the budgeting and the politics," he said. "My big-picture political complaint for the GOP is that it often looks as if they care more about tax cuts for people at Mitt Romney-income levels than they do about ordinary people, say, middle class people saving for retirement. Even if that's not actually the case with this policy, it reinforces that view."

Others, meanwhile, say Rothification is not just bad optics but bad policy, too.

In September, for instance, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), promised "one hell of a fight" if tax reform negotiators consider shifting retirement savings tax incentives to Roth accounts instead of 401(k) plans, as a way to pay for corporate tax cuts.

And in July, the American Benefits Council wrote to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), suggested that Rothification was inconsistent with its 10 principles for a national retirement savings policy.

"Americans' retirement savings should not be viewed by policymakers as a 'piggy bank' to pay for other tax priorities," James Klein, the president of American Benefits Council, wrote at the time. "Rather than taxing contributions to retirement plans, we should be encouraging individuals to invest in their future, which is good for taxpayers and the nation's economy."

Who Is Affected by Rothification?

So, what percentage of 401(k) contributors would likely be affected by the $2,400 threshold and what is the percentage of 401(k) employee contributions that would be above $2,400 and thus subject to mandatory Rothification?

According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), even at the lowest wage levels ($10,000 to $25,000), 38% of the 401(k) contributors would be affected by the $2,400 threshold. This number drops slightly for those with wages of $25,000 to $50,000 but then increases substantially. For those with more than $100,000 in wages, 87% would be affected.

EBRI also examined the percentage of 2015 contributions that would be impacted by the $2,400 threshold. It found 58% of the contributions from 401(k) contributors at the lowest wage levels ($10,000 to $25,000) would be above $2,400 and thus subject to mandatory Rothification. This number drops slightly for those with wages of $25,000 to $50,000 but then increases substantially. For those with more than $100,000 in wages, 80% would be affected.

EBRI also found 43% of the youngest 401(k) contributors, those ages 25 to 34, would be affected by the $2,400 threshold. This number increases for older participants. For instance, 64% of those ages 55-64 would be affected.

EBRI also found that the percentage of 2015 contributions that would be impacted by the $2,400 threshold. For the youngest 401(k) contributors (ages 25-34), 53% of the contributions would be above $2,400 and thus subject to mandatory Rothification. This number increases for older participants. For those ages 55-64, 75% of the contributions would be subject to mandatory Rothification.

The Downsides to "Rothification" of 401(k) Plans

Financial advisers who work with those saving for retirement say there are some notable downsides to the Rothification of 401(k) plans and such plans could adversely affect your retirement.

For one, few Americans understand Roth 401(k) accounts. For instance, two out of three retirement savers have either no understanding or a mistaken understanding of Roth 401(k) contributions, according to recent research from Cerulli Associates.

Despite that lack of knowledge, there is a growing set of workers who are keen on the idea of Roth 401(k)s, according to a recent report on the subject by Rob Austin, director of research at Alight Solutions. Read Tax now or tax later? The 'Rothification' of 401(k) plans.

Still, advisers including Jeff Carbone, a managing partner for Cornerstone Financial Partners, said one of the biggest issues or concerns he has with Rothification is that investors have grown comfortable with the tax benefits or deduction a 401(k) or a deductible IRA offers. "We change that without giving one a choice, the savings rate of Americans will decline," he said.

"As we know, if one contributes to the 401 in the before-tax account, their income is decreased by that amount lowering the taxable income for the current year. If we change the deduction and income is taxable in the year received, that may affect one's ability or inclination to save ... They may feel 'I would rather use the money today,' or, if it is taxable, they not be able to save as much in the plan," Carbone said.

"We are a want-it-now society and have been taught, rightly so, that the tax benefits of the 401(k) are great," he said. "Take that away and delayed gratification of tax-free income may not be enough especially for the millennial generation."

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It wasn't all flat.

Coca-Cola Co. (KO) - Get Free Report reported better-than-feared third-quarter earnings on Wednesday, Oct. 25, as the beverage company continues to reinvent itself for more health-focused consumers.

During the quarter ending Sept. 29, Coca-Cola generated comparable earnings of 50 cents per share on revenue of $9.08 billion, down 15% year-over-year thanks to the refranchising of the company's bottling territories. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected earnings of 49 cents per sale on sales of $8.73 billion.

Coca-Cola's full year guidance is also mostly unchanged. The company still expects 3% organic revenue growth and earnings per share flat to declining 2% from last year's $1.91 per share.

"The Company continued to make progress on its multi-faceted transformation, including a fast-tracked evolution to build an even more consumer-centric brand portfolio," Coca-Cola said in a statement, touting its rollout of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar in the United States and acquisition of sparkling mineral water brand Topo Chico earlier this month. It's also launched ready-to-drink coffee partnerships with Dunkin Brands Group Inc.'s (DNKN) - Get Free Report Dunkin' Donuts and McDonald's Corp. (MCD) - Get Free Report .

"We think KO continues to do a good job driving relevancy with consumers and leveraging innovation and mix to drive solid pricing growth," wrote Wells Fargo analyst Bonnie Herzog. "We are encouraged by positive momentum in many intl. markets. However, with flat/neg. unit case volume growth for over a year, work clearly still remains to drive more balanced revenue growth going forward. We expect KO's stock to trade relatively flat today."

While Coca-Cola continues to "drive relevance" in its core brands like Coke, CEO James Quincey told analysts on the conference call that expanding its portfolio of smaller brands is crucial to the company's success.

"The consumer landscape is changing," he said. "We see an increasing number of smaller, faster competitors" catering to consumers seeking more variety. "In order to thrive in this kind of environment, we need to be more entrepreneurial and agile." The Topo Chico acquisition is one such effort at "growing our portfolio multiple ways."

Topo Chico, part of Coca-Cola's venturing and emerging brands unit, will follow the same playbook Coca-Cola used after acquiring Honest Tea, maintaining the brand's entrepreneurial spirit while rapidly expanding its reach.

"Growing premium beverage such as adult craft beverages," like mixers, is another priority, Quincey added. Coca-Cola introduced a premium mixer brand, Royal Bliss, in Spain, and also relaunched Schweppes mixers in the U.K.

Strong North American performance came after Coca-Cola's biggest competitor, PepsiCo Inc. (PEP) - Get Free Report , reported weak results in the region. Quincey downplayed the comparison, saying that in the highly competitive North American market, "it's not just one large competitor we face-there are lots of competitors, large, medium, and small."

But the grocery environment is changing rapidly, with Coca-Cola's retail customers becoming more price sensitive and private label brands becoming more common.

"The pricing conversation becomes more manageable because in the end you're creating disproportionate value to the customer" when products are innovative, Quincey said on the call. "We are a very multi-channel business. Yes, we have large presence in the grocery channel, but we have multiple other environments where we sell our beverages and part of it is being in lots of different places that helps manage the pricing dynamic."

The "emerging dynamic" of "extra pressure from private label or the stratification of pricing" is a challenge Coca-Cola has weathered in other parts of the world, he said. "We're believers in our way to create value...even in this ongoing changing environment."

In addition to private label and pricing pressure, more and more grocery shopping is done online, led by Amazon.com Inc.'s (AMZN) - Get Free Report acquisition of Whole Foods, Walmart Stores Inc.'s (WMT) - Get Free Report acquisition of Jet.com and subsequent e-commerce push, and Target Corp.'s (TGT) - Get Free Report grocery price cuts.

"We over-index in terms of share, generally speaking, online," Quincey said, noting that e-commerce is a broad term encompassing pure e-commerce players, brick-and-mortar retailers with an e-commerce presence and restaurant chains. "There's a wide spectrum of how consumers are interacting with customers that are digitally enabled." There's "progress" for Coca-Cola in all these channels.

Coca-Cola announced Monday that 30-year company veteran Sandy Douglas will retire, to be replaced as President of Coca-Cola North America by Jim Dinkins on Jan. 1. Quincey praised Dinkins, saying "there's no one better positioned to understand" Coca-Cola's challenges within North American than he is.

Coca-Cola shares rose 0.4% to $46.37 in Wednesday morning trading.

Former Pepsi CEO: Big Food Has Some Big Problems

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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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Mike Pence memoir: 'No regrets' about partnering with Donald Trump

Former Vice President Pence writes in a new memoir that any hardships he endured with Donald Trump were worth it because Roe was overturned.
A novel of adventure and human frailties, which also introduces a politically incorrect but contentious possible solution to the unknown origins of the Maori immigrants to New Zealand.

In 1282, Carlos, Marquis do Tuella de Tanez, became the head of one of Portugal's most influential and wealthiest families. It was a time of change and discovery. In Iberia, the Moors were finally being driven out of western Europe, philosophers all over Europe were attempting to expand their knowledge of the world, and inventors were desperately trying to find patrons to finance their work. In 1286, Carlos de Tanez took advantage of this change, and set sail on a voyage of discovery that took him across to the mouths of the Amazon and the River Plate, around Cape Horn and into the Pacific, touching on the outskirts of the Inca empire, the Polynesian islands, and the virgin lands of what is now New Zealand. His ship the Hahviccii Grande was a hybrid caravel, and the largest ocean going ship of its time, and possessed characteristics and innovations that only someone of immense wealth and dedication could ever hope to gather together at that time. Gathering workers and women from the Americas and the Pacific islands, he finally abandoned them all into four small settlements in the future New Zealand, before setting sail to return to Europe, thereby providing the ancestors of the Maori people.

21 Chapters 56000 words Kerry Dillon Published by Dolphin Books Ltd

New Direct from publisher. Unlimited Supply
Underway at the WTO: WAEMUs Trade Policy Review (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo)

Global Investment Competitiveness Report 2017-2018 (World Bank)

The report explores how FDI creates growth opportunities for local firms, assesses the power of tax holidays and other fiscal incentives to attract FDI, analyzes characteristics of FDI originating in developing countries, and examines the experience of foreign investors in countries affected by conflict and fragility. Combining first-hand investor perspectives with extensive research and data analysis, the report highlights the importance of a conducive and low-risk investment climate for multinational as well as local companies. It recommends specific reforms that can help countries attract foreign investment and maximize its benefits for development. The Global Investment Competitiveness Report (pdf) goes beyond an examination of broad trends in foreign investment. It explores key drivers of FDI in depth, said IFC Chief Economist Ted H. Chu. It also offers practical and actionable recommendations to help developing countries ensure they get the most out of international investment.

WTO Committee on Agriculture: preparing the ground for success at MC11

Report by Amb. Stephen Ndungu Karau, Chair of the Agriculture negotiations, to the meeting of the Committee on Agriculture in special session, 19 October: With that in mind, what do we need? Let me spell out seven elements which I consider as critical for our success. The first element is realism and pragmatism: The time has passed for Members to indicate their wish list for Buenos Aires. Our focus should be on what we think can realistically be achieved, while respecting our own red lines as well as those of other Members. The second element which directly derives from the first one is prioritization and focus: As mentioned by the DG at the Informal Heads of Delegations a month ago and again at Marrakech, we need to prioritize the issues and agree on the types of outcomes that can realistically be envisaged at MC11. We do not have the luxury of time to discuss possible outcomes that remain elusive. We must concentrate our discussions on outcomes that can realistically be achieved.

WTO Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries: market access for products and services of export interest to LDCs

The LDCs continued to record a sizable trade deficit, which reached $92.9bn in 2016, representing a nine-fold increase compared to the trade deficit in 2005. On the positive side, the sharp reduction of prices of primary commodities in 2015 had almost come to a halt in 2016, with the exception of energy prices. The stable prices of food and beverages have helped agricultural exporters to somehow arrest negative export growth. In 2016, the top merchandise exporter within the LDCs was Bangladesh (share of 24%), followed by Angola (17%) and Myanmar (8%). While the top ten exporters represented almost 80% of LDCs exports in 2005, this share went down to around 76% in 2016  indicating a slight decrease in terms of country concentration among the LDCs. The share of primary products in total exports of LDCs continued to decrease in 2016  from 73% in 2005 down to 49% in 2016. This was mostly due to the lower value of exports of petroleum products (HS 27.09, 27.11 and 27.10), which constituted more than half of all LDC exports in 2005, but accounted for only about a quarter (26%) of LDC exports in 2016. In contrast, the share of manufactured products in LDC exports increased from 21% in 2005 to 40% in 2016. This was mainly due to a higher share of clothing products in LDC merchandise exports, which increased from 13% in 2005 to 29% in 2016.

USTR announces new enforcement priorities for GSP

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has announced a new effort to ensure beneficiary countries are meeting the eligibility criteria of the Generalized System of Preferences trade preference program. This new effort includes a heightened focus on concluding outstanding GSP cases and a new interagency process to assess beneficiary country eligibility. The first assessment period will focus on GSP beneficiary countries in Asia. The Trump Administration will assess GSP beneficiary countries in other parts of the world in the second and third years of this process.

The ocean economy in Mauritius: making it happen, making it last (World Bank)

The book aims at assessing the overall potential of the Ocean Economy (OE) to contribute to Mauritius development, at identifying key sectoral and cross-cutting challenges to be overcome in order to seize that potential; and at evaluating ways to ensure the OEs longer-term sustainability, addressing in particular environmental and climate change concerns. While the book discusses specific projects in selected sectors, this is intended only to illustrate opportunities and challenges (including in terms of resource mobilization); an appraisal of the technical and financial feasibility of individual projects would go beyond the scope of this work and would have to be conducted as part of separate follow-on activities. This book reflects data and information available as of March 31, 2017. Extracts (pdf): Doubling Mauritius ocean economy is possible and worthwhile, but it will take time. Based on a macroeconomic modeling of the country developed in partnership with the Government of Mauritius, the book finds that doubling the GDP share of the OE (the O2 strategy) is possible; but achieving such a target is likely to take to at least 15 years. Attempts to pursue the O2 target over a shorter period may well result in undesirable economic outcomes, such as diseconomies of scale, price increases, excessive use of natural resources, and fiscal imbalances. The required investments are large but achievable. Over the next 10 years, with investments on the order of $580m per year, the O2 strategy can yield considerable growth results, including an increase in the OE GDP of 62% in absolute terms and 38% in terms of its share of the national total (rising from 12.6% to 17.5%).

Forthcoming IORA Workshops: Regional strategy to address the sustainable management and development of fisheries resources in the Indian Ocean Rim region (30-31 October, Zanzibar); Marine spatial planning: towards sustainable use of the Indian Ocean (22-23 November, Mauritus)

South Africa and IORA: New links to Indian Ocean Rim can bolster Africas blue economy; IORA Council of Ministers: Durban communique (18 October)

ECOWAS Currency Programme: updates from 4th meeting of the Presidential Task Force

(i) West African leaders plan shared currency by 2020. A group of four West African presidents said on Tuesday they planned steps to accelerate the creation of a shared currency for the 15-country ECOWAS bloc by 2020, according to a joint statement. The future currency, whose name is yet to be determined, would replace the dominant CFA Franc introduced by former colonial power France in 1945, and whose treasury still backs it. Our region needs this unifying instrument, symbol of our shared destiny, to consolidate our customs union, ECOWAS chairman and Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe said on Twitter. The statement was from the presidents of Togo, Ghana, Niger and Ivory Coast who form part of a task force on the envisaged currency. A committee is planned to lead the efforts, it said. But the president of the biggest economy in the region, Nigeria, urged caution, citing difficulties in the euro zone.

(ii) Nigeria wants single currency for ECOWAS slowed down. The president said domestic issues in ECOWAS member countries relating to their constitutions and dependence on aid continue to affect the framework for implementing the single currency in the sub-region. He said although the ECOWAS Commission has anchored its pursuit of the new impetus to monetary integration on the information presented to the Heads of State which were the basis for their recommendations, we are concerned that we have not properly articulated and analysed a comprehensive picture of the state of preparedness of individual countries for monetary integration in ECOWAS by 2020. In previous meetings, we had specifically raised observations on the state of preparedness of the member states, the credibility of the union if anchored on watered down criteria, and the continuing disparities between macroeconomic conditions in ECOWAS countries, amongst others. And I would like to reiterate this concerns. The president told the Heads of State that the conditions that pushed Nigeria into withdrawing from the process in the past had not changed. [Note: The Presidential Task Force will hold their next meeting in Accra, in February 2018]

Botswana: International merchandise trade statistics, July 2017 (pdf, Statistics Botswana)

Botswana recorded a trade deficit of P1, 006.0 million in July 2017. The deficit was influenced by the decrease in diamonds exports. During July 2017, total exports were valued at P4, 791.7 million, showing a decrease of 15% from the June 2017 value of P5, 635.0 million. This decrease was mainly due to the decrease of 19.8% in diamond exports, from P5, 187.3 million in June 2017 to P4, 160.2 million in July 2017. During July 2017, total imports were valued at P5, 797.7 million showing an increase of 29.2% from the June 2017 value of P4, 489.0 million. This increase was mainly attributed to the increase in imports of commodities such as fuel, machinery and electrical equipment and chemicals and rubber products to mention but a few. SACU was the major source of imports into Botswana, accounting for 71% of total imports during July 2017. South Africa was the main source of imports within the Union, with a contribution of 70% to total imports during the month under review.

Yash Ramkolowan: What is fair SACU customs compensation to the BLNS? (DNA Economics)

So, what does this all mean for SACU? Considering the current deadlock in SACU negotiations (particularly around the revenue sharing arrangement and the creation of a regional tariff board), it does need to be acknowledged that the BLNS have been more than fairly compensated for the externalisation of their tariff policy. Acceding to this point may finally ensure that the BLNS are able to play a greater role in determining SACUs trade and industrial policy. The analysis also suggests that the transparency and clarity of revenue distribution for compensation and development purposes can be improved. This could finally move SACU beyond a short-term and narrow focus on fiscal compensation, and toward a regional agenda that is more substantively concerned with the common and long-term development needs of all SACU member states.

Green foreign direct investment in developing countries (UNEP)

Beyond the government policy sphere, technological innovations (e.g., in fintech) and new market practices (e.g., in green banking and regarding disclosures of climate-related risks) are generating opportunities and expanding demand for green FDI. These developments present promise for a sustainable economy, but raise new governance challenges that will need to be addressed. In summary, there is reason to be hopeful about the potential contributions of green FDI; but real progress requires a more accurate and robust definition of green FDI, and stronger commitments across different layers of government and by private sector actors to ensure FDI helps address modern environmental challenges. This paper attempts to aid the effort by taking stock of where we are and highlighting potential ways forward.

The new digital economy and development (pdf, UNCTAD)

This technical note adopts the term NDE to frame a set of technologies and processes that most prominently include: 1) advanced production equipment, robotics and factory automation, 2) new sources of data from mobile and ubiquitous Internet connectivity, 3) cloud computing, 4) big data analytics, and 5) artificial intelligence. These technologies and processes are mainly based, in one way or another, on advanced information and communications technology (ICT). They seem poised to dramatically reduce demand for routine tasks and transform the location, organization, and content of knowledge work. Broad policy questions include:

International Debt Statistics 2018 (World Bank)

IDS 2018 presents statistics and analysis on the external debt and financial flows (debt and equity) of the worlds economies for 2016. It provides more than 200 time series indicators from 1970 to 2016 for most reporting countries. The new IDS format includes aggregate tables detailing the debtor and creditor composition, maturity structure, and debt burden, in relation to GNI; export earnings for each country and relevant regional and income groups; and a user guide. Extracts: A doubling of bilateral lending, driven by BRICs, notably China: New loan commitments from bilateral creditors to low- and middle-income more than doubled in 2016 to $84 billion. This rise was driven by financing from other low- and middle-income countries, primarily the BRICs, and notably China with its One Belt One Road initiative to build an integrated international economic corridor encompassing more than 60 countries in various regions. Foreign direct investment fell to its lowest level in 8 years: Traditionally, FDI has been the largest and least volatile component of external financial flows to low- and middle-income countries but 2016 showed that it is not immune to adverse developments in the global economy. FDI inflows fell 10% to $481bn - a level not seen since 2009.
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Hello,

I was reading the reviews for various excursions in Punta Cana and I see a couple make a stop at a local school and allow interactions with children. I see that some people bring school supplies for the school.

Just wondering what the consensus is on this practice? There's an article on the Cuba forum about rethinking bringing gifts for the locals (for different reasons) so does this apply to the Dominican Republic as well? I would love to bring them something useful, but if they are getting "school supplies" on a weekly basis, how much can they possibly use?
Ill cross the border from China to Lao Cai in April and taking a night train from there to Hanoi. Can I just show up at the station and buy the ticket for a night journey in the same day? Or, is it better to buy the ticket in advance?

Ill be in Ho Chi Minh a month earlier and I could buy the ticket in advance but not having a ticket wont force me to travel on a specific date.

Any comments?
I would like some help deciding when to visit Hanoi. I can only go either the beginning of January or mid August. I'd like to sightsee around Hanoi, visit Ha Long for an overnight excursion and travel some of Hi Van Pass for the views and scenery.

I am limited to about 10 days for my visit.

I'm not concerned about the temperatures per se for either of those months; I've read the average temps and both Jan. & Aug. are acceptable BUT other aspects of the climate may be of concern. Considering my main travel objectives, can anyone please weigh in as to pros and cons of each time of year? Of course, I realize weather is always unpredictable, but I'd appreciate any thoughts.

Thanks in advance.
Hi, my husband and I and our 17 yo daughter are wanting to book an 8 day holiday at the end of this year 30 December to 6 Jan flying from Perth. After reading forum im gathering Ho Chi Minh is the best to fly in to so thats cool i can organise that. We like exploring and site seeing (not that keen on lying on a beach). We love food experiences. Can anyone recommend a good itinerary for our 8 days? Suggestions of things to do, how to get there etc, book in advance or work it out when we get there. Also good hotel recommendations. Thanks in advance for any advice. First holiday in 4 years so excited!
Basically everything Tofugirl said! Hanoi for some culture, Halong Bay for some beauty and peace (Bai Tu Bay is part of Halong but less touristy and exactly the same scenery)and Hoi An for food and beaches and a more holiday feel.

Indochina junks do a great 2 night trip and we had no kids on ours but if you want exclusivity you will pay a lot. Also, at least if there are 10 people you can keep yourselves to yourselves without feeling rude whereas if its just one or two you might feel less comfy especially if you dont like them! 

Even if you book with a tour company you will still find some of the trip they will leave you to do exactly what you would do if alone. The forum members will all help you to fill in the gaps, you can be their very own tour operator for free! Have fun.
Hi

I am looking to travel to Japan for 8 nights in December with my two sons, aged 18 and 20. We are considering flying into KIK and departing from Haneda. I have to admit this is quite last minute and I haven't done much research, so am looking for some guidance as this will be our first trip to Japan. I am thinking 3 full days in/around Kyoto and the rest of the time in Tokyo. The boys are interested in sight seeing but not too many temples. They are keen to shop and like art/sculpture.

Any suggestions re itinerary?

Many thanks

Kaz
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- The EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) has pulled out a number of its observers in the repeat election

- EU has cited security concerns and lack of political goodwill as some of the reasons the decision was made

- The EOM has now indicated it will only focus on systemic issues, including results transmission and availability of relevant forms

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has pulled out a number of its observers in the repeat election slated for Thursday, October 26.

In a statement released Monday, October 24, and seen by TUKO.co.ke, the EU EOM cited security concerns as one of the reasons the decision was arrived at.

The mission will now turn its attention to systemic issues including transmission of results and availability of relevant forms such as 34A and B.

Foreign envoys in Kenya have come under criticism from the NASA for allegedly supporting Jubilee Photo: Twitter/US embassy in Kenya

READ ALSO: Let it be known that if the worst occurs you will be held responsible - Raila tells Uhuru

"We have assessed the safety of our observers considering the extreme tension, disruptions of polling preparations and strong criticism that has been made of the international community. Based on this, we have had to reconsider the extent to which we can observe across the country," the statement read in part.

READ ALSO: Matiang'i speaks after Deputy CJ's car is shot at

The mission further noted with concern the recent allegations tabled by Roselyne Akombe after she resigned from the IEBC as a commissioner.

EU EOM said it notes with regret the absence of meaningful political dialogue and called on all to fully respect independent institutions.

Akombe revealed that the IEBC had been infiltrated by politicians, with some commissioners allied to certain parties shooting down anything from the chairman Wafula Chebukati.

NASA leaders believe the international community is biased Photo: Raila Odinga/Facebook

READ ALSO: Raila leaves Kenyans on the edge yet again with pregnant statement a day to election

Chebukati himself cast doubt on the ability of the commission to provide a credible election and warned that he will no longer tolerate opposition from his colleagues.

EU EOM statement comes hours after NASA leader Raila Odinga castigated the foreign envoys in Kenya for allegedly siding with his rival, President Uhuru Kenyatta.

NASA demos meet Matiang'i full wrath on TUKO TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- Police boss Joseph Boinet was taken to task to explain how and why Jubilee politicians have been campaigning in military regalia

- Appearing on KTN, Boinet fumbled as he could not defend the actions of politicians which, according to the police act, are deemed illegal

- Boinet could not explain if the politicians had permission from the CS or any other authority to don the military fatigue

- Women leaders in Jubilee have been spotted donning military gear as they hit campaigns for President Uhuru Kenyatta

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinet was on the evening of Monday, October 24, taken to task to explain the move by Jubilee women leaders to campaign in military uniforms.

Appearing on KTN, Boinet fumbled as he tried to find words to explain the move that is deemed illegal.

The IG denied seeing the politicians in military gear, instead choosing to claim they were not Kenya's military fatigue.

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru and other women in Jubilee have been wearing military fatigue Photo: Twitter/Anne Wanjau

READ ALSO: I recognise Raila Odinga as my elder brother - Uhuru

Asked if the leaders had permission to wear the fatigue, Boinet said he has not seen any leader in military gear.

Pressed harder, the IG said he has only seen the leaders in television and could not ascertain if the uniforms were from Kenya's armed forces or the police force.

READ ALSO: Let it be known that if the worst occurs you will be held responsible - Raila tells Uhuru

As reported by TUKO.co.ke, a number of leaders have been campaigning for President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election wearing military regalia.

Among them are Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, Kandara MP Alice Wahome and nominated Senator Millicent Omanga.

Kenyans have raised concerns about their actions.

READ ALSO: European Union pulls out its observers in Kenya's repeat poll, cites security concerns

The leaders call themselves the Jubilee women brigade.

The police and military acts prohibit anyone from wearing disciplined forces' fatigue without permission from the CS in charge or the relevant authority.

MP Wahome in full military gear Photo: Twitter/Bel Akinyi

READ ALSO: Matiang'i speaks after Deputy CJ's car is shot at

It is not clear if the leaders have permission to wear military fatigue.

NASA demos meet Matiang'i full wrath on TUKO TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has warned Raila Odinga that he will soon be abandoned by his top lieutenants

- Kuria said NASA principals Kalonzo Musyoka,Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula will soon join Jubilee government

- The MP also laughed off a plan by Raila to turn NASA into a resistance movement

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has fired a shot at NASA leader Raila Odinga warning he will soon be abandoned by his fellow principals.

Kuria poured cold water on Railas move to turn the NASA coalition into a resistance movement during a rally at Uhuru Park on Wednesday, October 25.

The MP told the Opposition leader that he is alone in his quest to use civil and economic disobedience in an attempt to ascend to leadership.

Moses Kuria.Photo:Moses Kuria/Facebook.

READ ALSO: Raila is pimping the old revolution. He is alone - Mutahi Ngunyi

Kuria also claimed other NASA principals will soon abandon Raila and join the Jubilee government.

Dear Raila Odinga. This is how cruel life is. Next week Kalonzo Musyoka, Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula will be in the cabinet. Truly as the rebel leader of your National Resistance Movement you are alone, he said.

READ ALSO: 1,205 additional police officers sent to Nyanza to man repeat presidential election

Raila said he will transform the coalition into a resistance movement and mobilise his supporters to use civil defiance and boycott commodities of government allied firms.

He also said he would mobilize all progressive forces in the country to ensure that a fresh, free and fair presidential election is organized within 90 days."

READ ALSO: 2 police officers dead, IEBC officials injured in grisly road accident

The NASA leader also told his supporters not to participate in the Thursday, October 26 repeat presidential election in any way and to stay away from polling stations.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
It was fun in the sun on Sunday as the Aranguez savannah was the place to crown winners of t
Six crew members from a German container vessel have been kidnapped in Nigerian waters. A Ukrainian national was among those kidnapped.

Representative of Ukraines Foreign Ministry consular department Vasyl Kyrylych told this to BBC Ukraine.

According to Kyrylych, he learned this from the Consulate General in Hamburg, which referred to a German shipping company.

The Ukrainian diplomats in Germany and company representatives are trying to find out "the location of crew members of the vessel," Kyrylych specified.

Earlier, the charitable organization Seamen Relief fund Asol issued a report that the Ukrainian sailor was captured by pirates off Nigerias coast.

According to Reuters, apart from the Ukrainian citizen, pirates kidnapped four Filipinos and one Hungarian.

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Four Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the ATO zone in eastern Ukraine over the past 24 hours.

This is reported by the ATO press center.

"Two of our soldiers were killed as a result of the fighting. One soldier was wounded. In addition, as a result of the explosion of unknown explosive devices, two soldiers were killed and three were injured," the report reads.

Over the past day, illegal armed formations violated the ceasefire 15 times. The Ukrainian Armed Forces opened fire almost on every enemy shelling.

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Four Ukrainian soldiers were killed, and four servicepersons were wounded in the ATO zone in eastern Ukraine over the past twenty-four hours.

Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Spokesperson for ATO issues Andriy Lysenko said this at a press briefing on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Unfortunately, as a result of the fighting, four Ukrainian servicemen were killed, four more were injured. All wounded soldiers were promptly evacuated to military mobile hospitals and other institutions, nothing threatens their lives. We express our condolences to the families and friends of the deceased soldiers who gave their lives for Ukraine," he said.

According to Lysenko, illegal armed formations violated the ceasefire 15 times over the past day. The Ukrainian Armed Forces opened fire almost on every enemy shelling.

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Ukraine can become a country with the most successful economy of the continent within the framework of creating transparent business conditions and attracting investments.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said this during a government meeting, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We can become one of the most successful economies on the continent. For this, we need growth not by 3% but by 5-7% or higher. We need investments, conditions under which entrepreneurs can normally work," Groysman said.

He stressed that a strong economy would quickly provide quality education, quality health care, build roads and create a good environment for living.

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The Cabinet of Ministers intends to create the National Coal Company within three weeks.

Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk told this to journalists after a governments meeting on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The statutes of the National Coal Company will be represented at the next Cabinets meeting, Nasalyk said.

Asked when the company would be created, the minister said: We will establish it within three weeks.

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The United States and Ukraine have discussed the effective non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and the implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions against the backdrop of a nuclear-missile threat from North Korea.

According to the U.S. Department of State, a nonproliferation working group meeting was held in Kyiv on October 24, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"In light of the growing threat from the DPRK's nuclear and ballistic missile program, this meeting put special emphasis on promoting effective and robust implementation of strategic trade controls and all relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, including 2270 and 2321," the report says.

According to the report, the regularly-held meeting is one of several exchanges the United States and Ukraine hold each year "to strengthen bilateral cooperation to address the threat posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery."

In addition, the sides also discuss the proliferation of "advanced conventional weapons and sensitive dual-use technologies," the Department of State said.

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The Ukrainian State Border Service does not rule out that Russians are preparing for the exchange of two Ukrainian border guards who disappeared on the border with Russia in Sumy region for two FSB officers detained near Crimea.

The spokesperson for the State Border Service chairman, Oleh Slobodian, announced this live on the Espreso TV channel.

"We suspect that Russia is most likely trying to exchange our two servicemen for two Russian border guards that we detained several months ago on the administrative border with the temporarily occupied Crimea. We draw such a conclusion due to the Russian side's reluctance to enter dialogue," he said.

Slobodian said that this was evidenced by the refusal of the Russian side to immediately return two Ukrainian border guards from Sumy region and its complete reluctance to discuss this issue.

"As part of proper cooperation, on peaceful sections of the border, this issue is resolved at one meeting within a day or two after the incident if there are no aggravating circumstances," he said.

He said that such situations, in particular, occurred on the Belarusian border, when border guards from Belarus, due to circumstances that did not depend on them, violated the border, and then the State Border Service of Ukraine "transferred them back."

"There were also situations in different years with our border guards," Slobodian said.

However, he said, because of the unilateral refusal of Russians to discuss the issue of the return of two Ukrainian border guards, "it is still not known where our servicemen stay, in what condition they are and under what circumstances they found themselves in Russia."

On October 3, two officers of the Znob-Novhorodske border service unit of the Sumy border detachment monitored a state border section when connection with them was lost. The regional prosecutor's office opened criminal proceedings. Later, the Russian side officially confirmed the arrest of servicemen on the border with Sumy region. The FSB showed a video clip with the "interrogation" of abducted Ukrainian servicemen.

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The Ukrainian diaspora in Los Angeles are ready to present in their programs the interesting Ukrainian cultural projects, including the Charity Viennese Ball to be held in Kyiv on October 27-28.

This was stated by executive secretary of the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Los Angeles Olha Starova, an Ukrinform correspondent learnt from the organizing committee of the Charity Viennese Ball.

"We are very happy that we can show Americans the cultural life of Ukraine. Ukrainians in the United States seek to help young talents in different areas. We dream of a stronger Ukraine," the Ukrainian community representative said.

She assured that those Ukrainians in Los Angeles, who cannot go to the ball in Kyiv, really want to see this event on video and plan to show it in the centers programs in the US.

She noted that the American Ukrainians make efforts to bring the two countries closer and want to establish closer cultural ties between the diaspora and representatives of Ukrainian artistic circles.

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Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko and Mayor and Governor of Vienna Michael Haupl greet the future participants and guests of the Charity Viennese Ball, which will be held in the Ukrainian capital on October 27-28.

The addresses of the leaders of the two cities have been posted on the official website of the event.

"We are grateful to our guests from Europe and the USA for supporting the European cultural aspirations of our participants. We hope that the Viennese Ball committee will do justice to the efforts of debutants and give high grade to the ball in Kyiv," mayor Klitschko states.

The mayor of Kyiv reminds that the Ukrainian capital attracts and conducts a growing number of international cultural events and expresses confidence that the Charity Viennese Ball will open new talents among debutants and set precedents for large charitable projects in the classical Viennese tradition.

"The capital of Austria is a world-famous city of music. The great masters of the Viennese classics lived and worked here, as well as Johann Strauss, the king of the operetta and waltz. His work On the beautiful blue Danube became an international advertising melody card of Vienna. These unforgettable waltzes are always performed on the Viennese balls. I wish all the guests had a good time during the ball and wonderful memories after the ball!" Mayor and Governor of Vienna Haupl says.

As reported, the Charity Viennese Ball will be held in Kyiv on October 27-28. The event will be opened by Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko and Mayor and Governor of Vienna Michael Haupl. ol
University of Rochester Medical Center neurologist Gretchen L. Birbeck, M.D., M.P.H., has been recognized by the American Neurological Association (ANA) with one of its 2017 scientific awards for her research on the neurological damage associated with malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Birbeck divides her time between Rochester and health projects in Africa.

The ANA, a professional organization representing the nations top academic neurologists and neuroscientists, announced it 2017 scientific awards at its annual meeting last week in San Diego. The awards recognize leaders in academic neurology and neuroscience who have exemplified excellence in a number of areas, including stroke, dementia and neurodegenerative disease.

Birbeck was recognized with the ANAs Soriano Lectureship, which was established in 1987 by ANA member Victor Soriano and his wife to provide a brilliant lecture delivered by an outstanding scientist who is a member of the Association.

During her presentation, Birbeck described research to blunt neurological consequences behavioral disorders, cognitive impairment, and seizures  that can often accompany cases of pediatric cerebral malaria. The disease is a major global health concern and impacts approximately 400,000 children in Africa each year.

Birbeck is leading a new research project in Zambia and Malawi that will see if more aggressive efforts to control the fever associated with malaria with drugs like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can thwart the brain damage associated with the disease. Birbecks prior work with hospitals, universities, and government health ministries in these countries has made this type of research possible and the findings from this study could possible point to new treatments for conditions such as stroke and traumatic brain injury.

Founded in 1875, the American Neurological Association is the premier professional society of academic neurologists and neuroscientists devoted to the understanding of diseases of the nervous system and the professions ability to treat them. The Associations monthly Annals of Neurology was first published in 1977 and is considered one of the worlds leading medical journals on diseases of the central nervous system.
Lisbon, Portugal (UroToday.com) Repeat TURBT after an initial diagnosis of NMIBC, specifically high-grade T1 disease, is recommended by most guidelines. Due to moderate ~20-30% rate of understaging on initial TURBT, repeat TURBT is recommended to ensure that MIBC is not missed. However, considering the potential cost implications, patient discomfort, and potential risks of repeat TURBT, there has been renewed interest to reassess the need of repeat TURBT.This group from Iran provide their small single-institution experience with repeat TURBT. They examined 107 patients with either T1 or any high-grade urothelial carcinoma on TURBT  there is no comment on whether this was retrospective/prospective, initial diagnosis, etc. Repeat TURBT was completed within 6 weeks.They identified upstaging  not defined in the abstract  in 11 patients (10.3%) and residual tumor of the same grade/stage in 18 patients (16.8%). Tumor size, multifocality, and presence of muscle at resection were all associated with upstaging/upgrading  however, they dont document whether the were associated with more or less upstaging/upgrading.Among 48 patients with single, small (<3 cm) tumors who underwent adequate resection initially (muscle in specimen), neither upstaging or upgrading was noted. They suggest that this subset, there may be a role to avoid repeat TURBT.However, this single institution small series makes it quite difficult to make any significant conclusions. There are trials that approaching this question prospectively.Presented by: Mohsen AyatiWritten by: Thenappan Chandrasekar, MD, Clinical Fellow, University of Toronto, twitter: @tchandra_uromd, at the 37th Congress of Societe Internationale dUrologie - October 19-22, 2017 - Lisbon, Portugal
Cambodian-Americans in three U.S. cities were recognized at an awards ceremony in October for assisting members of their communities.

The honored work included helping rehabilitate prisoners, empowering girls and women, and lobbying about rights in the U.S. legal system.

The Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), a U.S.-based non-profit, held an awards reception this month at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Washington DC.

Many Uch received the Individual Changemaker award, while the group Khmer Girls in Action won the Transformative Movement Builder award and ReleaseMN8, another group, won the Campaign of the Year award. Three other groups also were honored.

Uch said that he created the group FIGHT (Former Incarcerated Group Healing Together) in 2015 in Seattle to provide support to Asian-American prisoners in Washington state, in the Pacific Northwest.

I dont look forward to getting an award or anything for my work and stuff, he told VOA Khmer before the reception. We do it out of compassion. We do it out of redemption. We want to make the world a better place.

Uch served prison time in the mid-1990s for driving a getaway car during a robbery and was placed in immigration detention for another two years, he said. During his time behind bars, he began to read and take community college courses, becoming a mentor for other inmates.

After he was released he spent his time as a social worker and was granted a pardon by the state governor in 2010, according to his online biography.

What the [justice] system offers is not enough, Uch said. Its only there to punish you and make you worse, or youre not learning anything productive or to better yourself.

The father of two says community support plays a vital role in helping prisoners improve themselves to be able to contribute positively to society upon release. If you dont do anything, they come back out the same person.

Sophal Ear, a SEARAC board member, and prominent Cambodia analyst, said he was proud of what the winners had accomplished.

They dont get paid very much as leaders in non-profit organizations and as volunteers. And so the only thing you can give them is recognition for the hard work theyre doing, Ear said after the reception.

Khmer Girls in Action organizes training courses and helps empower women and supports gender equality. It is based in Long Beach CA., home to more than 50,000 Cambodians.

Khmer Girls in Action executive director Lian Cheun said that as many as 60 women attended the groups training courses each week. She noted that gender equality was not widespread in the Cambodian-American community.

Often times in our culture, girls, and women are not valued as much as boys, Lian Cheun told VOA Khmer at the event. And in our organization, we uplift girls and women, because we value them and we want them to see themselves as equal. We value their leadership.

The third recipient, ReleaseMN8, was created as a lobby group in Minneapolis to campaign for the release of eight Cambodian residents of the US who were jailed and faced deportation to Cambodia from the Midwestern state of Minnesota.

Montha Chum, one of the groups co-founders, said solidarity among minority groups was crucial in demanding rights and justice for their communities.

When you come together, and organize and get along, and are there for one another in this time of crisis and doing the work that we've done, it really just shows that being a united is amazing, she said.

The group has grown and now campaigns nationally through public rallies, community education, and awareness raising, against the forced deportation of Asian residents in the U.S. who serve time after convictions.

What is happening right now to the Cambodian community, and to the Vietnamese community, to our Southeast Asian community is wrong and it's unjust, Chum added.

After the awards reception finished, Catherina Nou, chair of SEARAC, told VOA: I hope that it [the awards] continues to motivate them to continue doing their work because they know that there is a community behind them.
For journalists from Bangladesh and Myanmar, the Rohingya crisis is a big news story that demands both aggressive reporting and a sensitive approach.

Even for the most experienced reporters in both countries are having difficulty to report from the other side.

Though diplomatic ties are intact, relations between Bangladesh and Myanmar are strained over the crisis, which has seen more than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims flee from Myanmars Rakhine State to Coxs Bazar just across the border. Though Myanmar has agreed to take back refugees, doubts remain over the prospect of repatriation.

The exodus followed attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army on August 25, the second operation by the group in under a year.

In this tense climate, journalists from the two neighboring countries are even more restrained than usual.

For Myanmar reporters, the problem was highlighted in September when two prominent photographers were arrested in Coxs Bazar and initially suspected of espionage.

Charges were later downgraded to immigration offenses and they were let go after several weeks. Like many in the international media, they had traveled to Bangladesh on tourist visas  the case was also something of a cautionary tale.

Myanmar journalist Mratt Kyaw Thu, a senior reporter for Yangon- based Frontier magazine, said in an email he had planned to go to Bangladesh to report, but the experiences of the two detained journalists meant two foreign staff members went instead.

Still, even foreign journalists based in Myanmar can sometimes face suspicion by association.

Mratt Kyaw Thu said traveling to Bangladesh even from Myanmar can be expensive, and local budgets are small.

"One thing is that security is not only the one reason for Burmese journalists but costs and expenses and some publishing houses' policy," he said.

Bangladeshi journalists, who also have travel budget concerns, do have more ability to interview Rohingya refugees who have crossed over, but they run up against their own hurdles.

If they travel to Myanmar, it is usually in short, clandestine trips across the border to Rakhine States Maungdaw Township, and they cannot go very far into the territory.

They also may find it difficult to verify accounts they hear originating in other parts of the state, as Myanmar has only allowed local and some foreign journalists to travel on trips into northern Rakhine.

There are also, of course, safety concerns.

Hasan al-Javed, an award-winning reporter with the Dhaka-based Daily Amadersomoy, has crossed into Maungdaw from Bangladesh twice, including after August 25. He was terrified of the army, local mobs, and even landmines, and could not go very far because of the associated risks.

Every time I felt, if I could talk to people freely and move around the locality without any fear, I could give better descriptions for my readers and could find out the truth, he said.

Look, in Bangladesh, our government allowed foreign journalists to cover the events so that people can know the facts, said al-Javad. "Since Myanmar is led by a democratic government, it should allow journalists to visit Rakhine State for the sake of truth. Neither any U.N. bodies nor any international pressure groups can do it, rather democratic Myanmar should do it for the sake of humanity.

Religion -- Bangladesh is a Muslim-majority country, while Myanmar is largely Buddhist -- and nationality provide another potential obstacle.

Even if allowed to travel freely in other parts of Rakhine, Bangladeshi journalists would almost certainly face issues reporting, especially in the state capital, Sittwe, where suspicion of foreign journalists  let alone foreign Muslim journalists  runs high. Myanmar believes the Rohingya are from Bangladesh originally, and the government calls them Bengali.



The restrictions faced by journalists from Myanmar come in two forms - lack of ability to see the story from the Bangladesh side, and a similar lack of access to Rakhine State itself, which has only allowed them in on guided tours.



The Yangon-based Myanmar Institute for Democracy (MID) released an interim report this month showing that many Burmese-language news organizations have almost no stories on the humanitarian situation in Bangladesh, though sometimes they use articles from wire agencies.



The report also said sourcing is one of the main problems.



A big chunk of the coverage comes from the government organization, like the state counselor [Aung San Suu Kyis office], president, and then the armed forces, said Maw Zin, the institutes director.



MID recommends the government remove barriers to accessing parts of northern Rakhine State, which would help journalists in Myanmar get information from a variety of sources.
Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl returns to a military courtroom at Fort Bragg Wednesday for his sentencing hearing, where prosecutors plan to present evidence that fellow service members were seriously wounded in a fruitless search for him after he abandoned his post in Afghanistan.



Prosecutors are expected to start calling witnesses to discuss these search missions and resulting wounds to multiple soldiers and a Navy SEAL, which the judge ruled would not have happened had Bergdahl not endangered his comrades in 2009. They include an Army National Guard sergeant who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being shot in the head and a Navy SEAL whose career was ended by a leg wound.



The 31-year-old soldier who spent five years as a Taliban prisoner faces up to life behind bars in the U.S. after pleading guilty to the rare charge of misbehavior before the enemy as well as desertion.



President Donald Trump's criticism looms over the case. The military judge, Army Col. Jeffery R. Nance, has yet to rule on a defense motion that Bergdahl can't get a fair sentence with the Republican as commander in chief.



Nance said Monday that he would be fair and hasn't been influenced by Trump, but that he does have concerns that the president's comments are affecting public perceptions.



Legal scholars say Nance's comments Monday should resolve the issue of whether Trump directly influenced the court, but the judge must also consider whether proceedings would appear unfair to a reasonable observer, under a concept called apparent unlawful command influence.



While campaigning for president, Trump repeatedly called Bergdahl a traitor and suggested that he be shot or thrown from a plane without a parachute. Nance ruled in February that those comments didn't constitute unlawful command influence, noting that Trump was a civilian candidate for president at the time. The defense argued that Trump revived his campaign comments the day of Bergdahl's plea hearing, by saying at a news conference that he thinks people are aware of what he said before.



Prosecutors made no deal to cap Bergdahl's punishment, so the judge has wide leeway to decide his sentence. Several more days of testimony are expected.

Bergdahl, from Hailey, Idaho, was captured after walking off his remote post in 2009 and held by Taliban allies for five years. He has said he was caged, kept in darkness and beaten, and tried to escape more than a dozen times before President Barack Obama brought Bergdahl home in 2014 in a swap for five Taliban prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.
To play a blind woman for her latest film role, Blake Lively took no short cuts into the darkness.

The 30-year-old actress learned to use a walking cane, wore opaque contact lenses off-camera to better understand her character, and learned how to navigate the main set without her vision.

"I wanted to know the experience of filling in the blanks in my head, learning it and then opening my eyes and seeing that, no matter what I had in my head, it was so different than I imagined," she says.

Lively stars in All I See Is You, a dreamy, beautiful movie about a woman who lost her eyesight as an adolescent in a car accident but regains her vision through surgery in her 20s. She begins a period of self-discovery, which threatens to upend her life and marriage.

"That happens in all relationships, where you're in an established relationship and then you start to not see things," says Lively. "This movie speaks to relationships, I think, whether we have the literal blindness or it's just figurative."

It's the brainchild of director and co-writer Marc Forster, whose career includes varied films such as World War Z, Quantum of Solace, Monster's Ball and The Kite Runner. Inspiration for the new film came in one of the strangest places  the shower.

Forster, who has always admired fine art painters, was searching for a story that could lend itself to being painted onscreen. "I pushed it aside because I said, 'OK, you're a filmmaker. You're not a painter. You're not a true artist. You're just a visual storyteller,"' he says. But one day in the shower, with soap clouding his eyes, he realized he had a visual template.

All I See Is You is certainly arty, with scenes decorated with a blur of images, bleeding colors and abstract symbols, even giving physical sensations an intense visual representation.

Forster says he was trying to shake the Hollywood cookie-cutter approach and recapture the feel of films from the 1970s, when character studies and open-ended plots ruled. "Movies became more and more close-ended and they also had to tick every box emotionally for an audience," he says.

Indeed, Forster's film is hard to categorize  part mystery, part horror, part a woman's reawakening, part kaleidoscopic journey. He is very happy it cannot be pigeonholed.

"He's created something that I've never seen before with the visuals," says Lively. "So it was really just about taking a leap of faith with him and trusting him and being excited by that journey. But I think that if you even removed all of those visuals from this movie, it still works and that's what's important."

The film also gave Lively, last seen in a bikini in The Shallows, a meaty and complex role  though a challenging one, too, since it centers on a woman with a disability. She says she was sensitive to making sure it was correct.

"This isn't representative of any one person's story. I was trying to take different peoples' experiences and be as honest as possible," she says. One person she leaned on to get her performance right was Ryan Knighton, a blind author who taught Lively how the blind walk, move and even argue. (The filmmakers honored him by having Blakely wear his signature red-tinted glasses onscreen.)

Both Lively and Forster realize that the film  featuring a woman learning to be strong and independent  comes at a time when women across the country are talking about their role in male-centered businesses and society.

"I think what's happened in this past year, since the election, is that women have really stood up for themselves. I think we realized how much further we had to go than we thought we did," Lively says.

Foster, for his part, hopes the film will remind people to open their eyes, see what's actually happening and make better choices.

"We, as humanity, ultimately have to really wake up and become conscious and start seeing things," he says. "Otherwise, we're going to go down a path that will be unreturnable."
On October 1, Catalonia's 17,000-member regional police force faced a dilemma: Which government should it obey?

The one in its backyard in Barcelona or the more distant central government in Madrid, which demanded the force collaborate with national police and the Guardia Civil in trying to prevent the separatists' independence referendum, which the Spanish government declared illegal?

For the Mossos d'Esquadra, the Catalan regional force, the whole experience was emotionally wrenching and the reaction of officers and their commanders was mixed.

Conflicting loyalties

And with two days to go before Madrid is likely to start imposing direct rule over Spain's rebellious northeastern region, the Mossos are once again struggling to reconcile conflicting loyalties, say officers interviewed by VOA.

On October 1, most officers chose not to intervene; others heeded Madrid's orders and, according to some accounts, shuttered three times more polling stations than the national police and Civil Guards.

In a handful of incidences, scuffles broke out between Catalan officers and their national counterparts. A Spanish police union criticized the Catalan regional police, accusing it of disloyalty, saying, "the work of the Mossos d'Esquadra  remains dominated by inaction, laxness, neutrality and the aversion to the fulfillment of their legal obligations."

Now the Mossos are once again caught between the rock of Madrid and the hard place of Catalan nationalism. Since 1980, the force has operated under the broad authority of the Catalan regional government, but came under direct operational control in 1996.

Internal debate is raging within the Mossos about what officers should do when ordered by a Madrid-appointed chief to assist in curbing the self-rule powers of their region, which could include arresting intransigent separatist leaders.

Internal debate



Most of the rank and file, and to lesser extent the top echelons, are Catalan-born. Not only will they be instructed to move against compatriots, but in some cases they will have to confront relatives, neighbors and friends in the ranks of likely protesters.

Their current chief, Josep Lluis Trapero, is under investigation by the Spanish High Court for sedition and Madrid plans to remove him formally from his post Friday when the Senate endorses the central government's decision to invoke Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, allowing the suspension of Catalonia's semi-autonomy.

The central government of conservative Mariano Rajoy has put the Mossos on notice about what will be required. In a midweek interview, Spain's education minister, Mendez de Vigo, told The Times of London that "the government has to make sure that the law is obeyed, and if there are people on the other side who do not want to obey the law, then, through the Mossos d'Esquadra, we will have to restore the law."

Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria has said one the first things Madrid will do this weekend is to hand political control of the Mossos to Spain's interior ministry.

The Mossos' union has said officers will follow orders issued by a Madrid-appointed police chief. But according to two rank-and-file Mossos officers  they talked with VOA on the condition of anonymity  there's turmoil inside the force and rising anxiety, with deep splits emerging as debate rages over how to navigate conflicting loyalties.

Both officers gave very similar descriptions of the turmoil in the ranks of the Mossos. They said most of the rank-and-file favor independence and are reluctant to heed Madrid. A smaller but still large group are pro-unity and say they will obey the commands of a new police chief. They argue that Spanish law takes precedence and they are obliged to apply it.

Some officers worry that if they disobey orders they will lose their jobs. Others fear if Mossos fails to follow instructions, then Madrid will deploy more national forces to reinforce the 12,000 national policemen and civil guardsmen already in Catalonia, many billeted on cruise ships docked in Barcelona harbor. That would result in a harsher climate for Catalans.

Uncertainty

"I think the reaction of Mossos will be similar to October 1," said one officer in an interview near Barcelona's Placa de Catalunya. "Unpredictable and patchy. A lot of units will continue with their ordinary day-to-day police work, but will ignore orders requiring them to move against the regional government or parliament."

A 10-year police veteran, he said the senior echelons are less divided. "Many of the top officers are not from Catalonia, so it is easier for them," he said.

Madrid is planning for some Mossos units to disobey orders and is already plotting a fresh leadership structure for the regional police to assist a new Mossos chief. Amid fears that pro-independence supporters will stage massive civil disobedience to block the imposition of direct rule, the plans include seconding agents from the national police and Civil Guard to Mossos and have them lead the units more amenable to Madrid.

But in the topsy-turvy standoff between Barcelona and Madrid following the independence vote of October 1, there are signs that Carles Puigdemont, the Catalan leader, may make a last-minute bid to derail Rajoy's direct-rule plan by announcing snap regional elections.

That would likely lead the opposition socialist party in the Madrid parliament to withhold its backing of the imposition of direct rule on Catalonia. Nonetheless, Rajoy has the necessary votes in Spain's Senate to secure approval for his hardline plan.

Meanwhile, the directors of Catalonia's public service news outlets  TV3, Catalunya Radio and the Catalan News Agency  dismissed Spanish government allegations that they favor the separatists in their coverage. At a press conference Wednesday, they pledged to "continue to work as we do now and that's non-negotiable."

Spain's deputy prime minister said earlier this week that the Madrid government's "intention with public media outlets is to return them to neutrality."

In a joint statement, the Catalan news directors said: "The threat by the Spanish government to take direct control of Catalan public media  constitutes a direct attack on the citizens of Catalonia, and a denial of their right to true, objective, pluralistic, balanced information  fundamental right in any democracy."
Chinas ruling Communist Party has unveiled a new leadership lineup for its top decision making body, the Politburo Standing Committee, the apex of power in the worlds second largest economy.

In a break with past precedence, however, there was no clear successor among the new appointees, yet another sign some analysts say of Chinese leader Xi Jinpings uncontested power in authoritarian ruled China.

Zhang Ming, a political analyst who recently retired from Beijings Renmin University, said as Xi has shifted away from collective leadership and become the partys core leader, the role of the Standing Committee members has become meaningless.

In the Xi Era there is no such thing as a successor or a need for one, Zhang said, adding that it is difficult for the public to predict what might come next.

Watch

What is clear, he said, is that he has successfully transformed the countrys leadership to a system centered around the core (Xi).

Reshuffle



Premier Li Keqiang and Xi were the only two to remain in their posts in the Standing Committee as five other members  including the nations top graft buster Wang Qishan  were retired.

Wang, a man referred to by some analysts as Chinas second most powerful, has been at the forefront of a sweeping anti-corruption campaign that has not only seen more than a million rank and file members of the party punished, but taken down political heavyweights and smashed party cliques as well.

Whether he will slip quietly into retirement or retain some other senior role was not immediately clear.



According to state media, Zhao Leji, 60, the youngest party leader of those inducted to the Standing Committee, was immediately tapped to replace Wang as the head of the partys top anti-graft body, the Central Commission for Discipline

In addition to Zhao, four other prominent party politicians were chosen and include Vice Premier of the State Council Wang Yang, Shanghai Party Secretary Han Zheng, as well as two of Xis close advisors, Li Zhanshu and Wang Huning.

Wang, 62, is a political scientist by training who spent most of his academic career focusing on U.S. politics and has been called Chinas Kissinger. He has advised three of Chinas presidents and according to Chinese media reports is an advocate of neo-authoritarianism.



Both Wang and Li Zhanshu, a long-time friend of Xi, have accompanied Chinas leader on many of his trips overseas and are frequently seen at his side.



Both Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang were appointed to the Standing Committee in 2007 following the 17th Party Congress, five years before they took on their current roles in what was then an openly telegraphed political succession.

Political vision



Now, things are less clear. Xi Jinpings name and political vision for China has been written into the partys constitution and during the 19th Party Congress, he galvanized the partys focus on ambitious goals that stretch to the middle of this century.

Analysis of what his ultimate aim may be ranges widely, from state medias portrayal of him as a leader ushering in a new historic era for China to critics who see him angling toward dictatorship.

Absent from the list that was announced Wednesday were two politicians  Chongqing Party Secretary Chen Miner and Guangdong Party Secretary Hu Chunhua, widely seen as possible candidates to succeed Xi. Both Hu and Chen were given seats on the Politburo, a 25-member body one rung lower than the Standing Committee.

Alexander Neill, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies Asia said the lack of any clear successor could be more of an effort to ensure continuity and stability at a time when the Communist Party is clearly concerned about its integrity and fractures in society.

During the recently concluded Party Congress meetings, a senior party finance official said Xi Jinpings anti-corruption drive helped thwart an attempt by the former political heavyweights to usurp the partys leadership and seize state power.

Search for successors



Neill said that perhaps for now the Politburo will be the place to watch for possible successors.

When we look at the broader Politburo, I think he wants to incubate a few people in there. And over the course of the next five years you may see one or two individuals coming to prominence, Neill said, adding the move might also be part of an effort to stamp out factionalism or get it under control.

Party factions played a key role in Xi and Lis succession.

There are other possibilities too, he adds.
Western powers and institutions trying to halt Cambodias slide into outright dictatorship are grasping at desperate last ditch options as anti-foreign sentiment becomes an increasing focus of the countrys state media.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz stepped into the fracas on Tuesday threatening consequences if jailed opposition leader Kem Sokha is not released.

If your prime minister does not release Kem Sokha by November 9th, I will work with my colleagues in Congress and in the Trump administration to see that specified government officials responsible for these actions are prevented from traveling to the United States, Cruz said in a statement.



Voter registration for next years national election ends Nov. 9, with the government moving to dissolve its only credible opponent  the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

The United States already placed visa restrictions on a number of Cambodian Foreign Ministry officials and their families in September, though officially in response to a separate concern.

Cabinet spokesman Phay Siphan said the statement by Cruz was to his knowledge the most senior intervention from a U.S. figure so far, but not very concerning.

The foreign policy made by President Donald Trump, he stopped all interference to another country, to another nation, so the statement from Ted contradicts to his own president, he said.

Trump has declared that the days of U.S. nation-building in foreign countries are over, prompting some analysts to argue that authoritarian rulers around the world have been emboldened to dismantle democratic institutions.

Kem Sokha, along with exiled former leader Sam Rainsy and more the 50 civil society organizations, called earlier this week for Indonesia and France to reconvene a meeting of the parties to the Paris Peace Accords  a document that set out the democratic foundations for Cambodias 1993 elections.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of co-signatory Human Rights Watch, said the group is pursuing last-ditch ideas like this because the dissolution of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party ahead of next years elections is now being presented as a fait accompli.

If it turns out that the CNRP is dissolved, then the first step has to be that the Europeans and the Japanese need to suspend any sort of aid and assistance to this election, to drop the whole idea of having international observers, and basically walk away, he said.

Robertson said the next step after that would be to impose global Magnitsky-type sanctions that would target top members of the CPP and the military.

The Magnitsky Act is a punitive U.S. mechanism that allows the executive branch to freeze the assets of suspected human rights abusers held in United States banks, block their access to the financial system and ban them from entering the country.

It was originally passed in 2012 to punish Russian officials and businessmen related to the murder of a corruption investigator but was expanded globally in 2016.

Well take Cambodia back to the pre [1992] arrangements where they were a pariah state, Robertson threatened in reference to Cambodias post-Khmer Rouge standing before a U.N. intervention force was launched to implement democratic elections.

Souring climate

Cambodians working in human rights or independent media have long braved threats and intimidation, an atmosphere that is now looming over foreigners as well.

A conspiracy narrative that state media has been building for months  accusing various government critics of a treasonous plot to launch a color revolution  is expanding on a daily basis to incorporate increasingly unlikely targets, sowing seeds of paranoia far and wide.



National Police training materials revealed by The Phnom Penh Post on Tuesday present charts implicating three micro-finance institutions as well as some 300 organizations, both local and international, in the alleged plot.

State TV has been broadcasting similar accusations through a 46-minute video that often parrots globalist conspiracy narratives popular with far-right movements in the United States.

Media outlets including Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, Voice of Democracy, the Cambodia Daily and The Phnom Penh Post have been accused of abetting the conspirators.

Though the United States has been presented as the principal instigator of such a conspiracy, the European Union is emerging as a target as well.

Leaders of the U.S. and EU business communities unanimously declined to comment for this article.
Spurred by the chemical industry, President Donald Trump's administration is retreating from a congressionally mandated review of some of the most dangerous chemicals in public use: millions of tons of asbestos, flame retardants and other toxins in homes, offices and industrial plants across the United States.



Instead of following president Barack Obama's proposal to look at chemicals already in widespread use that result in some of the most common exposures, the new administration wants to limit the review to products still being manufactured and entering the marketplace.



For asbestos, that means gauging the risks from just a few hundred tons of the material imported annually - while excluding almost all of the estimated 8.9 million tons (8.1 million metric tons) of asbestos-containing products that the U.S. Geological Survey said entered the marketplace between 1970 and 2016.



The review was intended to be the first step toward enacting new regulations to protect the public. But critics - including health workers, consumer advocates, members of Congress and environmental groups - contend ignoring products already in use undermines that goal.



The administration's stance is the latest example of Trump siding with industry. In this case, firefighters and construction workers say the move jeopardizes their health.



Both groups risk harm from asbestos because of its historical popularity in construction materials ranging from roofing and flooring tiles to insulation used in tens of millions of homes. Most of the insulation came from a mine in a Montana town that's been declared a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site and where hundreds of people have died from asbestos exposure.



Hundreds of thousands of firefighters are going to be affected by this. It is by far the biggest hazard we have out there, said Patrick Morrison, assistant general president for health and safety at the International Association of Fire Fighters. My God, these are not just firefighters at risk. There are people that live in these structures and don't know the danger of asbestos.

The EPA told The Associated Press on Wednesday that there were measures to protect the public other than the law Congress passed last year, which mandated the review of asbestos and nine other chemicals to find better ways to manage their dangers. For example, workers handling asbestos and emergency responders can use respirators to limit exposure, the agency said in a statement.



Asbestos fibers can become deadly when disturbed in a fire or during remodeling, lodging in the lungs and causing problems including mesothelioma, a form of cancer. The material's dangers have long been recognized. But a 1989 attempt to ban most asbestos products was overturned by a federal court, and it remains in widespread use.



The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health analyzed cancer-related deaths among 30,000 firefighters from Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco. The 2015 study concluded firefighters contract mesothelioma at twice the rate of other U.S. residents.



Firefighters also face exposure to flame retardants included in the EPA's review that are used in furniture and other products.



I believe the chemical industry is killing firefighters, said Tony Stefani, a former San Francisco fireman who retired in 2003 after 28 years when diagnosed with cancer he believes resulted from exposure to chemicals in the review.



Stefani said he was one of five in his station to contract cancer in a short period. Three later died, while Stefani had a kidney removed and endured a year of treatment before being declared cancer-free.



When I entered the department in the early 70s, our biggest fear was dying in the line of duty or succumbing to a heart attack, he said. Those were the biggest killers, not cancer. But we work in a hazardous-materials situation every time we have a fire now.

Mesothelioma caused or contributed to more than 45,000 deaths nationwide between 1999 and 2015, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study in March. The number of people dying annually from the disease increased about 5 percent during that time.



In one of its last acts under Obama, the EPA said in January it would judge the chemicals in a comprehensive way based on their known, intended and reasonably foreseen uses.



Under Trump, the agency has aligned with the chemical industry, which sought to narrow the review's scope. The EPA now says it will focus only on toxins still being manufactured and entering commerce. It won't consider whether new handling and disposal rules are needed for legacy, or previously existing, materials.



EPA considers that such purposes generally fall outside of the circumstances Congress intended EPA to consider, said EPA spokeswoman Enesta Jones, adding the agency lacks authority to regulate noncommercial uses of the chemicals.



One of the law's co-authors, New Mexico Democratic Sen. Tom Udall, disputes that Congress wanted to limit the review.



It doesn't matter whether the dangerous substance is no longer being manufactured; if people are still being exposed, then there is still a risk,'' Udall told AP. Ignoring these circumstances would openly violate the letter and the underlying purpose of the law.



Democrats and public health advocates have criticized EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt for installing people with longstanding ties to the chemical industry into senior positions at the agency. On Wednesday, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, on a party-line vote, advanced the nomination of Michael Dourson, a toxicologist whose work has been paid for by the industry, to oversee the EPA's chemical safety program.



Two prior appointments worked for the American Chemistry Council, the industry's lobbying arm: Nancy Beck, deputy assistant administrator for chemical safety, and Liz Bowman, the associate administrator for public affairs.



The council pushed back against the Obama administration's interpretation of the law, urging the EPA's new leadership to narrow its review. The Trump administration did that in June.



Did we get everything we wanted? No. But we certainly agree the [Trump] administration put forth a reasonable final rule, said council vice president Michael Walls. Broadening the review, he added, would send the EPA down a rabbit hole chasing after illusory risks.



The politically influential National Association of Homebuilders, which represents the residential construction industry, fears broadly interpreting the new law would lead to burdensome regulations that are unnecessary because it says asbestos disposal rules already are adequate.



Many of those regulations are based on a 1994 Occupational Safety and Health Administration finding that materials had to contain at least 1 percent asbestos to qualify for regulation. But public health experts say the 1 percent threshold is arbitrary.



It's bad medicine, and it's harmful, said Michael Harbut, an internal medicine professor at Detroit's Wayne State University and medical adviser to an insulation workers' union.



There's still a lot of asbestos out there, said Harbut, who helped establish criteria used by physicians to diagnose and treat asbestos-related diseases. It's still legal, it's still deadly, and it's going to be a problem for decades to come.
The European Union has announced a $124 million humanitarian and development aid package for Sudan.

The EU Commission said Monday the money would go toward urgent food, water, sanitation, health and education needs, as well as supporting people who have been forced from their homes and the communities that are hosting them.

Christos Stylianides, the EU's commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management, said during a visit to South Darfur that the aid is necessary to meet the needs of displaced Sudanese as well as refugees who came from neighboring South Sudan.

"The humanitarian aid I am announcing today will help bring life-saving relief to the most vulnerable populations," Stylianides said. "Full humanitarian access throughout the country is crucial so that humanitarian workers can deliver aid safely to those in need."

According to the United Nations, 4.8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Sudan, with the majority located in the Darfur region.

The U.N. said this month that aid agencies were seeing improved access, particularly to places they had not been able to reach for several years, while thousands of displaced persons were able to return to home.
France's famed film institute La Cinematheque Francaise says it will go ahead with a retrospective of works by director Roman Polanski despite opposition by feminist groups.



La Cinematheque said Wednesday that calls to cancel the Polanski screenings - attended by the director - only began in the last few days as the sexual harassment accusations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein gained force. The statement said it would not change the program that begins Monday.



Weinstein denies the allegations.



The institute said its role was not to moralize - in regard to the Polish-born director who in the 1970s pleaded guilty to having sex in the U.S. with a 13-year-old girl whom he plied with champagne and Quaaludes.



Since Polanski fled the U.S., he mostly has lived in Paris.


Sometime in 2014, a group of analysts walked into the office of Eugene Kaspersky, the ebullient founder of Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab, to deliver some sobering news. The analysts were in possession of a cache of files belonging to the Equation Group, an extraordinarily powerful band of hackers that would later be exposed as an arm of the U.S. National Security Agency. But the analysts were worried; the files were classified.



"They immediately came to my office," Kaspersky recalled, "and they told me that they have a problem."



According to him, there was no hesitation about what to do with the cache.



"It must be deleted," Kaspersky says he told them.



The incident, recounted by Kaspersky during a brief telephone interview on Monday and supplemented by a preliminary timeline provided by company officials, could not be immediately corroborated. But it's the first public acknowledgement of a story that has been building for the past three weeks  that Kaspersky's popular anti-virus program uploaded powerful digital espionage tools belonging to the NSA and sent them to servers in Moscow.



The account provides new perspective on the U.S. government's recent move to blacklist Kaspersky from federal computer networks, even if it still leaves important questions unanswered.



To hear Kaspersky tell it, the incident was an accident borne of carelessness.



Kaspersky was already on the trail of the Equation Group when one of its customers in the United States  Kaspersky referred to them as a "malware developer"  ran at least two anti-virus scans on their home computer after it was infected by a pirated copy of Microsoft Office 2013, according to Kaspersky's timeline. That triggered an alert for Equation Group files hidden in a compressed archive which was spirited to Moscow for analysis.



Kaspersky's story at least partially matches accounts published in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. All three publications recently reported that someone at the NSA's elite hacking unit lost control of some of the agency's powerful surveillance tools after they brought their work home with them, leaving what should have been closely guarded code on a personal computer running Kaspersky's anti-virus software.



But information security experts reading the bits of information dropped by anonymous government officials are still puzzling at whether Kaspersky is suspected of deliberately hunting for confidential data or was merely doing its job by sniffing out suspicious files.



Much of the ambiguity is down to the nature of modern anti-virus software, which routinely submits rogue files back to company servers for analysis. The software can easily be quietly tweaked to scoop up other files too: perhaps classified documents belonging to a foreign rival's government, for example.

Concerns have been fanned by increasingly explicit warnings from U.S. government officials after tensions with Russia escalated in the wake of the 2016 presidential election.



Kaspersky denied any inappropriate link to the Russian government, and said in his interview that any classified documents inadvertently swept up by his software would be destroyed on discovery.



"If we see confidential or classified information, it will be immediately deleted and that was exactly [what happened in] this case,'' he said, adding that the order had since been written into company policy.



An AP request for a copy of that policy wasn't immediately granted.



Kaspersky's account still has some gaps. How did the analysts know, for example, that the data was classified? And why not alert American authorities to what happened? Several reports alleged that the U.S. learned that Kaspersky had acquired the NSA's tools via an Israeli spying operation.



Kaspersky declined to say whether he had ever alerted U.S. authorities to the incident.



"Do you really think that I want to see in the news that I tried to contact the NSA to report this case?" he said at one point. "Definitely I don't want to see that in the news."



So did he alert the NSA to the incident or not?



"I'm afraid I can't answer the question," he said.



Even if some questions linger, Kaspersky's explanation sounds plausible, said Jake Williams, a former NSA analyst and the founder of Augusta, Georgia-based Rendition InfoSec. He noted that Kaspersky was pitching itself at the time to government clients in the United States and may not have wanted the risk of having classified documents on its network.



"It makes sense that they pulled those up and looked at the classification marking and then deleted them," said Williams. "I can see where it's so toxic you may not want it on your systems."



As for the insinuation that someone at the NSA not only walked highly classified software out of the building but put it on a computer running a bootleg version of Office, Williams called it "absolutely wild."



"It's hard to imagine a worse PR nightmare for the NSA," he said.
National Security Adviser General H.R. McMaster is a longtime Army officer who gained national attention for a book that criticized the military's leadership and strategy in the Vietnam War.

In 2005, he was recognized for leading one of the first successful counterinsurgency campaigns in Iraq, and later became an adviser to General David Petraeus. In February 2017, the Army lieutenant general became President Donald Trump's national security adviser.

McMaster spoke this week with Alhurra, a U.S.-funded Arabic-language news network, discussing recent developments in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Qatar.

WATCH: McMaster Talks About Iran's Influence in Iraq

Question: Let's start from the recent developments; recently, the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on Iraqis to disband the Iran-backed militias. The Iraqi prime minister rejected that. Do you intend to pursue this matter and how?

McMaster: Well, we have to support the government of Iraq, we have to support Prime Minister [Haider al-] Abadi, who's done, I think, a tremendous job under very difficult conditions. But, as everybody knows, the Iranians have done a very good job, also, of infiltrating and subverting Iraqi state institutions and functions, as well as creating these militias that lay outside of the Iraqi government's control. And, I think, what they intend to do is use them opportunistically to advance Iranian interests. You see that in reaction to the Kurdish referendum, for example, and, so, what really needs to happen is all of the drivers of this terrible fitna, this terrible sectarian violence, have to be addressed and that has to be removing all causes of that kind of violence.

WATCH: McMaster Discusses Role Iran Played in Kurdish Referendum

Q: How much of a role did Iran play in that Kurdish referendum?

McMaster: Well, the role that they placed is they took advantage of divisions within the Kurdish Regional Government, divisions within the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan after the death of Jalal Talabani, God rest his soul, and what they have done is tried to advance their interest at the expense of long-term security and stability in Iraq.

Q: How much of a role did Iran play in the takeover of Kirkuk?

McMaster: Well, Iran did play a role in the recent actions, in the recent wake of the Kurdish referendum. They played a role politically, dividing the Kurdish Regional Government, and dividing the party in Sulaymaniyah, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and to use those divisions to assert their own interests and so this is what is concerning. The United States is very committed to a unified, strong Iraq. We're also committed to a strong Kurdish region within a unified Iraq. So, what we're very concerned about is violence that could continue, that could place in jeopardy all these gains against Daesh [Islamic State] in recent months.

Q: Could the U.S. have done more to stop the referendum that was unilateral? And you objected to it.

McMaster: Well, the United States was very clear, that we thought that the referendum was not a good idea, especially coming at this time when the Iraqi people are just emerging from this horrible trauma of fighting against these horrible terrorists who were perpetuating this cycle of violence and causing so much human suffering. And, so, what was important is for Iraq to emerge from this conflict in a way that brings communities together, not divides Iraq's communities further.

Q: And is it still possible to contain the Iranian influence in Iraq at this stage?

McMaster: I think it's very possible to contain the Iranian influence. The United States thinks that Iraq should have a relationship with Iran. Iran is its neighbor. But what we want is an Iraq that is strong and what we see with Iran is applying what you might call a Hezbollah model to the Middle East. In which they want governments to be weak, they want governments to be dependent on Iran for support, but what do they do? They grow these militias that lay outside the government's control and threaten governments with those militias if those governments take action against Iranian interest. This is not in the interest of the Iraqi people. And, I think, what's been clear about what the United States wants for Iraq that is different from what others want for Iraq is the United States wants Iraq to be strong.

Q: And, basically, I want to ask about the dispute going on between Baghdad and Irbil. I mean what do you think should be the solution from your point of view, to continue the dispute between the central government and the KRG?

McMaster: What I think we have to do is help, as we have been, facilitating the dialogue between the Kurdish leaders and between Prime Minister Abadi and to focus on what is really in the interest of the Iraqi people. What is within the interest of the Kurds, with whom we have such a close relationship over so many years after, you know, the trauma of Saddam Hussein and how he victimized the Kurdish people, how the United States came forward after 1991 to protect the Kurdish region and allowed it to flourish. If anyone who's traveled in Sulaymaniyah and Irbil and Dahuk and walked on those streets. I mean these are beautiful cites that have enjoyed peace and security. And it's an example, I think, for what all of Iraq should achieve, is with peace and security comes prosperity, comes better lives for people's children and everybody wants that. So, I think, this dialogue should focus on what is best for the people of Iraq, what is best for our Kurdish friends, for whom we have so much affection as well as all Iraqi people.

WATCH: Top US Security Official: Iran Threatens Regional Stability

Q: You mentioned the Hezbollah model and I would want to ask you, how concerned are you about a bigger, a possible bigger threat now that you took some actions including the bounties that were announced by the Department of State or the recent sanctions on the Revolutionary Guard?

McMaster: I think what the most dangerous course of action to take is to not confront Hezbollah, to not confront these Iranian proxies who are propping up and the Assad regime, and helping that regime continue to murder its own people. To not confront Iran's support for Houthis in Yemen in a way that was perpetuating that civil war there. In a way that is not only creating even more suffering inside Yemen, but is also posing a threat in the region to Saudi Arabia in particular. And so, wherever you see problems, wherever you see communities pitted against each other and a destructive cycle of violence, you see the hand of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps of Iran. And in Lebanon, this beautiful thriving now country, its security has been placed at risk by the continued Iranian support for Hezbollah and the provision of Hezbollah with weapons and other capabilities that threaten regional security.

Q: You and the vice president [Mike Pence] had harsh words, tough words, for Hezbollah at the anniversary of the bombing of the marine barracks in Beirut. How could you counter Hezbollah inside Lebanon when they are literally part of the government?

McMaster: Well, I think what really is necessary is to shine the light on Hezbollah. What are their actions? And what have been the consequences for the Lebanese people? So, we're commemorating yesterday the 34th anniversary of the mass murder attacks that killed U.S. marines and also killed French paratroopers and it killed soldiers who were there to bring peace, to end a very destructive civil war. But Hezbollah wanted to, as they always try to do, is to perpetuate conflict to allow them to portray themselves as patrons and protectors of an aggrieved community, the Shia community in Lebanon. So that consigned that bombing, that mass murder, consigned the Lebanese people to seven more years of deadly civil war. So, what is most important, not just for the United States but for all nations, is to confront the scourge of Hezbollah and to confront the scourge of the Iranians and the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] who sustain Hezbollah's operations.

Q: Would the sanctions be enough to sort of curb these activities of either Iran or its proxies, including Lebanon, in the region?

McMaster: Well, we hope so, right? Inshallah. We would love for sanctions and diplomacy to help convince the Iranian people. You know the president and the vice president recently have a very strong message to confront the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, to confront the Iranian dictatorship, but have very conciliatory words for the Iranian people. And, so, what we would hope for is that sanctions against the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps would incentivize others to organize groups within Iranian society to do legitimate business and not to do business to enrich an organization whose main export is murder and brutality.

Q: On that point, I mean, on the IRGC, why did the president stop short of announcing or designating the IRGC terrorist organization as many people expected?

McMaster: It's really just a matter of internal U.S. law. So what the president did is he used the most effective tool that he had, under executive authority, so he could immediately designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps for terrorist activities and that gives him all the authority he needs to sanction individuals, to sanction entities associated with the IRGC, and one of the things we're really emphasizing now is working with allies and partners and like-minded countries to understand better who really are the beneficial owners of companies in Iran. And what we're finding is the beneficial owners are people who are looting their own country, who are taking money away from the Iranian people and then using that money for violent action across the whole Middle East. So, this is what we hope to work on now, is to be able to sanction that organization, entities within that organization that are connected to generating the funds that are used to create so much human suffering.

Q: Let's continue, and moving on to Syria and I would ask you, I mean what would be or what is the administration strategy post ISIS [Islamic State] in Syria or what the president called the next or the new phase?

McMaster: So, what is most important is to defeat ISIS, defeat Daesh, defeat these other takfirien groups such as Al-Nusra, to ensure that they no longer pose a threat to the Syrian people but also to really all civilized people, but to ensure that after the defeat of these groups that there can be enduring security and stability there. There has to be an effort to end this Syrian civil war and end the Syrian civil war in a way that gives all Syrians a say in their future government. And so how can it be that a government is in power who has been a party to this horrible, devastating war that has used chemical weapons against its own people? So, what really has to happen is not only the defeat of ISIS but an end to the civil war in Syria and also an end to the civil war in Syria that addresses other regional problems, as well. That reduces the nefarious, you know, the Iranian influence for example within Syria. And so, we're working very hard with our partners in the region and our allies broadly to connect what is happening on the ground in Syria to an enduring political settlement, this is as you know happening under the Geneva process with Ambassador Staffan de Mistura, who's a very fine man, and who has the interest of the Syrian people foremost in his mind and in his heart, and so all of us have to support the end of this humanitarian catastrophe.

Q: What is the United States doing sort of underground to support that solution, that political solution, what is the United State contributing to that dialogue?

McMaster: The most important thing is to ensure enduring security in areas in which ISIS is defeated, Daesh is defeated, and then to set conditions for mediation between communities to remove the driver of this violence and to ensure that people can return to those areas, reconstruction can begin. But, of course, we have a huge coalition to help with this once security is established in certain areas, like in the Euphrates River Valley and the northeastern part of Syria now, with the Syrian Democratic Forces making tremendous gains defeating Daesh in Raqqa. And so now, there's conditions for some reconstruction to begin, some stability to begin under the auspices of the global coalition. But, really, what must happen is a broader political solution because, really, it's hard to convince anybody to spend one dollar to help repair infrastructure for the Assad regime. So, there has to be an effort, I think, to move toward a broader political settlement.

Q: Generally, this is  this front in Syria, to what extent does it represent a critical battlefield or front for you to curb Iran's influence in the Middle East?

McMaster: Well, it's a really critical battlefront for the Syrian people. It's a critical battlefront for the Iraqi people. It's a critical battlefront for the people of the region, who've suffered so much. I mean, if you think about just the millions of people, I think 6.1 million refugees, 5 million more people displaced internally. All of those who have been murdered and wounded and victimized in horrible ways, I mean this is  this is a traumatized society. The most important thing that can happen is that peace be brought back, and security be brought back. It's very difficult to see how can there be an enduring peace if one side that has perpetuated and accelerated that violence is not  is not removed? And so, it's important for everyone in the region, in particular, to reduce ... the destructive influence of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp, in particular.

Q: Of course. I mean, ISIS came right after al-Qaida, or al-Qaida was a real problem in the region, and how do you make sure another, you know, offshoot would not be generated in that region, and emerge after the fall of ISIS?

McMaster: Well, this is  this is the most important question, right? Is along with the reduction of Iran  Iran's malign activity. And so what has to happen is, the people, the people who had been the victims, they have to be empowered, with  with security and confidence in the security that they have. A legitimate security. They can generate some of that on their own, but they'll need support, you know, from others to be able to do that. But what's most important, as we all know, is to  is to break this cycle of violence by isolating  isolating these terrorists from the population. To not allow them any longer to portray themselves as patrons, as protectors, of mainly the Sunni Arab community. So, what is important is for that community to not feel any longer that it needs to depend on groups like this for their support, because they have a voice. They have a voice initially, locally, a political voice where they can  they can control their own future, their own destiny. But, ultimately, there has to be this broader political settlement that brings in all of Syria's communities, allows them to heal together, and to regenerate the kind of confidence that they need to live together in peace, and to pursue their interests through some form of a political system rather than through violence.

WATCH: McMaster Speaks About Assad and the Future of Syria

Q: About a political solution, I mean, do you see [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad playing any role in the political future of Syria at all?

McMaster: Well, when you  when you look at what is necessary to bring communities together, to end the cycle of violence, it is very difficult to imagine how Assad could be part of that. I mean, especially with the blood that's on his hands. And how he has had a hand in destroying his own country, and creating so much human suffering, using some of the most heinous weapons on Earth to commit mass murder against his own people. So what is, I think, necessary is to have the right leadership internationally, and then ultimately within Syria, that can  that can achieve the kind of accommodation, the kind of reconciliation that's necessary.

WATCH: McMaster Addresses the GCC Crisis

Q: I mean, quickly because I've  our time is running out, but I just want to ask you about the  the dispute between the GCC countries, the Gulf countries, and Qatar. I mean, did  is there any new initiative in the pipes that Tillerson  Secretary Tillerson took with him to the region? Are you  is there a new initiative to resolve that conflict?

McMaster: Well, the most important thing is for the  for the GCC to resolve this conflict in a way that makes good on the pledges from Riyadh from the president's very successful trip there, and his very productive meeting with the leaders of over 55 Muslim-majority nations. And, so, there is tremendous momentum coming out of that conference, and that momentum was based on those leaders' visions of how to defeat, how to defeat these terrorists that are victimizing so many across the world. And that vision was based on three things. Deny them any sort of safe haven [or] support bases; don't allow these terrorist organizations to control and victimize populations. The second was to cut off terrorist funding, funding to these organizations. And the third is to defeat their wicked ideology, this takfirien, you know, Qutbist ideology. And so, the leaders were committed to doing that. This is where we're seeing some  a lot of  progress in this area among the Gulf states, including with Qatar, but I think what everybody wants to see is what more can be done to fulfill that vision and restore unity within the GCC.
The White House and the Senate majority leader on Tuesday tried to cement over widening cracks in their governing Republican Party.

The most prominent new fissure came on the Senate floor when Jeff Flake of Arizona slammed the president's behavior and announced he would not run for re-election next year.

Flake, a first-term senator, who previously served 12 years in the House of Representatives, said it is "profoundly misguided" to "stay silent as the norms and values that keep America strong are undermined and as the alliances and agreements that ensure the stability of the entire world are routinely threatened by the level of thought that goes into 140 characters [the length of a Twitter message]."

Return to decency?

Flake said the Republican Party had fooled itself long enough that Trump would return to decency.

The unusually fierce attack by a sitting senator on a president from his own party came just hours as Trump tangled on Twitter with another Republican senator Bob Corker of Tennessee.

Corker, who has also decided not to run again for the U.S Senate where he has served for a decade, said the president's staff had asked him to intervene when Trump was "getting ready to do something that was really off the tracks."

Corker said, "someone of this mentality as president of the United States is something that is I think debasing to our country."

Trump on Tuesday renewed his social media attack on Corker, calling him the "incompetent head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee" who would not be able to get elected "dog catcher."

Corker responded with a tweet of his own: "Same untruths from an utterly untruthful president. #AlertTheDaycareStaff"

During the time between the online insults exchanged with Corker and Flake's surprise speech, the president made a rare trip to the Capitol to have lunch with Republican senators in an attempt to boost support for tax reform and other policy priorities.

Trump, on Twitter, said most of the Republican senators "are great people who want big Tax Cuts and success for U.S." noting he received "multiple standing ovations" during the meeting.

McConnell stands clear

Afterward the Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, refused to be drawn into the chasm.

"If there's anything that unites Republicans, it's tax reform," he told reporters. "We're going to concentrate on what our agenda is and not any of these other distractions."

The Republicans enjoy a 52-48 majority in the Senate, but several other Republican senators  for various reasons  have also wavered on backing Trump on major issues such as health care reform and may also do so on tax policy, according to political observers.

There was no attempt from the White House briefing room podium in the afternoon to try to assuage Flake and Corker.

"It's probably a good move," Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said of Flake's decision not to run again. And she accused Corker of "grandstanding on TV," rather than getting on board with the president's political agenda.



The pro-Trump Great America Alliance is hailing the Arizona senator's announcement as a "monumental win for the entire Trump movement and should serve as another warning shot to the failed Republican establishment that backed Flake and others like them that their time is up."

Populist wing takes control

What today's developments make clear is the Trump populist wing, "equivalent to the radical right in Europe," has now taken control of the party from the establishment Republicans, according to David Lublin, a professor of government at American University.

Flake's speech, he contends, "raises the specter of impeachment" if the opposition Democrats can gain control of the House of Representatives next year because "it directly attacks him for his anti-democratic behavior."

"At this point the question is less a crippled presidency than a crippled country  unable to manage our foreign alliances" as the United States is now viewed under President Trump as a "less reliable partner," Lublin tells VOA.

Flake made reference to this in his speech, saying "despotism loves a vacuum. And our allies are now looking elsewhere for leadership."

On the brink?

Corker had earlier said Trump's hostile rhetoric on North Korea and others could lead to World War III and suggested the president leave foreign policy "to the professionals."

The White House takes umbrage with those characterizations.

History will look at Trump "as somebody who helped defeat ISIS, who built an economy that was stronger than it's been in several decades, who brought unemployment to a 16-year low, who's created over 1.7 million jobs since being elected," Sanders told reporters Tuesday.



"I think those are the things that people actually care about, not some petty comments from Senator Corker and Senator Flake."
2 A staff member poses for photographs while looking at Chilean-born artist Ivan Navarro's light box and mirror installation, "The Twin Towers," during the media preview for the "Age of Terror: Art since 9/11" exhibition at the Imperial War Museum in London.
Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke to the country on Wednesday about waves of positive energy from the ruling Communist Party after its twice-a-decade leadership shuffle, but on the rural outskirts of Shanghai, not everyone was riveted to the screen.

As the party congress drew to a close and Xi prepared to unveil a new leadership team during the national broadcast, some elderly residents gathering for lunch in the sleepy suburb of Fengxian expressed indifference.

An 85-year-old man with a shock of white hair, who identified himself by the surname Cai, said he would not watch.

Whatever happens today, I dont care, he said with a smile.

Im a Christian and I go to worship after lunch, and I will be late if I watch. I am not cultured. I dont understand what they are saying.

Gathering in a crowded two-story compound with dusty concrete floors and solid wooden furniture heaving with fruit and snacks, Fei Jinxian, another 85-year-old Fengxian resident, said she was unclear of the significance of Wednesdays events.

Watching the broadcast, Fei and her friends nodded appreciatively when Xi emerged on to the stage, but she said she barely recognized any of the other figures appointed to the Politburo Standing Committee, including Premier Li Keqiang.

I recognize Xi Jinping, and I recognize Han Zheng because he is from our city, but the others I dont know about, Fei said in the local dialect.

As a Chinese television commentator reflected on the historical importance of this moment, 58-year-old Gu Wenfeng said she did not understand.

I dont normally pay much attention to politics, she said. I only watch it if my son is around and he puts it on.

Xi has emerged as Chinas most powerful leader since Mao Zedong after a congress that enshrined his own political theory into the constitution.

Xi told the gathering of Chinese and international reporters and a TV audience of millions about the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the waves of positive energy from the ruling Communist Party, but people in Fengxian were more concerned about local matters.

Fengxian has seen its population decline as its youth head into the cities for fresh opportunities and better wages, but rapid urbanization and a campaign to build a new socialist countryside through government infrastructure spending has transformed the area.

The leaders have been paying a lot of attention with the waterways, roads and whatnot, said Gu, pointing to a new drainage channel running through the village. I think the next five years are going to get better.

Shen Bo, a 31-year-old grassroots Communist Party official in Fengxian, told Reuters that he was unfamiliar with most of the new leadership line-up, but said he was proud of the powerful President Xi, who had a feeling for the times and remained in touch with Chinas rural heartlands.

I can use three characters to describe him, he said, using characters that mean touching the ground, or down to earth.

Because he has studied the grassroots more, and that is my strongest impression of him.
The end of a five-month war against Islamic State-backed Muslim rebels in the Philippines is now challenging the government to stop any retaliatory strikes and pay a multi-million dollar reconstruction bill -- or risk more discontent.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared Monday the battle between his troops and the Maute Group of Muslim rebels has finished after five months. Fighting has killed at least 700 people and displaced most inhabitants of the once 200,000-person city of Marawi on the Philippine archipelagos southernmost major island of Mindanao.

As battles wound down last week, Duterte warned of possible new violence on Mindanao, home to an estimated 20 Muslim rebel groups. Rebuilding Marawi will take at least $97 million before people can move back from nearby tent cities. There is also the question of what to do about martial law, which Duterte declared over all of Mindanao to fight the rebels.

The end of fighting this week doesnt mean the problem with violent extremism has also ended, said Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Philippine advocacy organization Institute for Political and Electoral Reform.

There may be other Marawis whose capability [has] not yet been totally destroyed, because were talking of an alliance of groups, he said.

Threat of another insurgency

The four-year-old Maute Group, though set back because of the war, has sympathizers among the ethnic Maranao who live near the battleground, Casiple said. Some may expect a victory later after the defeat in Marawi, he said. It had also pledged allegiance to Islamic State, a Middle Eastern sponsor of terrorist acts abroad.

Abu Sayyaf, a Philippine rebel group known for kidnapping foreign tourists and for its support from Islamic State, also remains intact after fighting alongside the Maute Group, experts believe.

The Maute Group has endured a huge loss but eventually it will regroup, possibly in poorly policed parts of nearby Indonesia, said Bibhu Routray, a visiting security and counter-terrorism professor at Murdoch University in Australia.

This war, its not going to end terrorism in the Mindanao region at all, Routray said. However, he said, it will take a while for the Maute Groups remaining people to go fight again. Theyll need some time to regroup, reorganize, recruit more people, the professor said.

The impoverished island of Mindanao, which has 21 million people, has shaken the government with violence over the past 50 years, leaving about 120,000 dead over that period. Clashes stem from resentment among Muslims who settled on the island and along the adjacent Sulu Sea some five centuries ago. They believe the Philippine Christian majority controls an unfair share of resources and some Muslims want more autonomy.

Duterte warned Thursday against possible retaliation from terrorist groups after the end of fighting in Marawi, Philippine media outlets report.

Any new violence on Mindanao before years end could prompt a second extension of martial law across the island as officials have not said its year-end expiration is necessarily the last. Some Filipinos worry Duterte aims to spread martial law to other parts of the country as a crime-fighting tool.

Millions of dollars in reconstruction work

The government is massing funds now for Marawis reconstruction. China, India and Thailand have offered aid so far, the presidential office website says.

The government could build a new city on its own land in one or two years rather than the longer process of clearing rubble to rebuild on the old sites of peoples houses, said Eduardo Araral, associate professor at the National University of Singapores public policy school.

It must come up with funds for reconstruction at the risk of making the largely poor displaced population feel sympathetic toward the rebels, he said. If needed, he added, it might borrow from a development bank or from China. A year ago this month, China pledged $24 billion in aid and investment.

These people have no more jobs, no more livelihood, Araral said. An estimated 72,000 refugees live in camps. The government would have to step up and do something about it. The least the government can do is to build back their lives.

The presidential office website, citing assistant civil defense secretary Kristoffer Purisima, says some of the $97 million for reconstruction will pay for construction of 1,100 transitional shelters.
The re-run of Kenyas presidential election has inflamed political tensions in the country. Nowhere has that been more evident than in the opposition stronghold of Kisumu, where protests against the electoral commission continued Wednesday, the day before the vote.

Taking to the streets for the fifth time this week, Kisumu residents demanded reforms before Thursdays presidential re-run. They marched to the electoral body offices. Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters throwing rocks and trying to block streets.

Meanwhile, VOA could find no signs of preparations for Thursdays vote at polling stations around the city. Local media report some election officers failed to show up for duty in Kisumu for fear of attack.

"Why bring ballot boxes? In Kisumu, we do not want to vote,"said voter Harry Otieno. "Let IEBC officials not come to Kisumu.

But Otieno has a plan.

I have been to my polling station yesterday, and today [I] am going to camp there in the evening," he said. "We are going to make sure no IEBC official is in the polling station, and no one will enter. We are ready to die.

Western Kenya is the home region of opposition leader Raila Odinga, and Kisumu, the regions biggest city, has been the site of some of the fiercest protests during this electoral period.

Odinga pulled out of the presidential re-run two weeks ago, saying a credible election is not possible.

His calls for a boycott have been heard loud and clear in Kisumu. Concerns of violence may also keep voters from the polls.

In Kisumu, there is one language," said voter Calvin Oringa. "They will not vote whether you [are] Jubilee party, whether you are NASA party coalition. ... If they marked ballot papers and brought it here, let them count and we see how many people voted and how many people did not vote.

Speaking to reporters in Nairobi, the head of electoral commission, Wafula Chebukati, said in the event of violence or logistical problems, they might suspend voting in some areas.

In cases where they will be problems of voting or delivery of materials or there are no materials, the law is very clear," said Chebukati. "The polling officer will have a right to inform us and polling can be suspended for another day, or the returning officer can still postpone the election in that area.

Shops were closed Wednesday in Kisumu and the city was for the most part quiet. But many residents continue to display branches and leaves attached to the fronts of their cars and motorcycles. The gesture is a show of solidarity with protesters, and an indicator of the deep-seated tensions still simmering beneath the surface.
Russia has freed two prominent Crimean Tatar activists opposed to Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region, their lawyer said Wednesday.

Ukraine's leader thanked Turkey's president for helping broker the release.

Ilmi Umerov, deputy head of the Crimean Tatars' semi-official Mejlis legislature before it was suspended by Moscow, was sentenced last month by a Russian court to two years in jail for separatism.

Ahtem Chiygoz, another Crimean Tatar leader, was sentenced at the same time to eight years for stirring anti-Russian protests.

"What everyone had been waiting for so long, has happened," a defense lawyer for the Crimean Tatars, Nikolai Polozov, wrote on his Facebook page. "Two more hostages, two Ukrainian political prisoners have gained their freedom."

There was no immediate confirmation of their release from Russian authorities.

The Tatars, a mainly Muslim Turkic community that makes up about 15 percent of Crimea's population, have largely opposed Russian rule in the peninsula and say the 2014 annexation was illegal, a view supported by the West. They suffered mass deportation under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

Nariman Dzhelyalov, a Crimean Tatar leader, told Reuters the two, Ilmi Umerov and Ahtem Chiygoz, had landed in Turkey.

"This is the result of Turkey's talks with Russia with Ukraine's participation," he told Reuters.

"After Erdogan's visit to Kyiv, representatives of Russian competent bodies turned up at Umerov's house in Crimea to agree the terms [of the release]."

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his role in helping free the pair.

Moscow says the overwhelming majority of Crimeans voted to join Russia in a proper and fair referendum.

Western governments and human rights groups had alleged the two Crimean Tatar leaders were imprisoned for speaking out against Russia's annexation of Crimea, and pressed Moscow to release them.

Umerov's supporters said at the time that the two-year jail term handed to him actually amounted to a death penalty for the elderly man who suffers from Parkinson's disease.

Russian officials denied the prosecutions were politically-motivated.

A U.N. human rights report said last month that Russia had committed grave human rights violations in Crimea, including its imposition of citizenship and deporting of prisoners. Moscow said it deemed those allegations "groundless."
Something extraordinary happened in the hours after the massive bomb attack that killed 358 people and wounded hundreds more in Mogadishu on Oct. 14: Hundreds of people rushed to hospitals to donate blood for the victims.

Such scenes are commonplace in many Western countries after a major disaster, such as the recent hurricane that ravaged the U.S. city of Houston. But in Somalia, a country ravaged by almost constant violence, social stigma and unfounded fears of needles or anemia have long prevented most people from donating blood.

As a result, the nation has lacked blood banks for more than two decades and hospitals have been hard-pressed to provide infusions to victims of blood loss. But a major effort to change those attitudes by a group of young doctors paid off in the wake of the latest terrorist atrocity.

Media campaign



Omar Habeeb, one of the recent graduates from Banadir medical school, said the group responded to the bombing by contacting hundreds of pre-registered blood volunteers and launching a social media campaign, including a Facebook appeal for donations from a reticent population.

We have organized our team and many blood donor volunteers we pre-registered. Then, we posted messages and appeals for blood donors on our page  Somali Blood Donation Volunteers  which got half a million views in the same day of the blast. Then hundreds of people voluntarily poured to the hospitals to donate blood," said Habeeb.

Many of the volunteers were sent home because the hospitals were not equipped to store blood they did not need immediately. But the young doctors took advantage by registering the would-be donors for future needs, establishing what they call a "mobile blood bank.

The people donating the blood who showed up at the hospitals outnumbered the blood storage capacity of the hospitals. They were told that blood available was enough at the time. So, we took the momentum by doing a mobile banking process. We enrolled the donors to contact them for future blood donation, Habeeb said.

No blood bank



Najma Ali Moalim, 28, another young doctor in the group, was among the first responders at the Mogadishu blast.



The fact that the country has no blood bank, and that we have seen patients dying because of loss of blood, including children, pregnant women, and gunshot patients, we have decided to stand up and ask our people to donate, she told VOA.

Mohamed Aden Jama, a young medical student was among the blood donors. The blood is the most valuable thing to donate. And for me it means saving a life, saving the life of brother or sister, said Jama. Save a life as you would love to be saved when you need it.

Religious scholars and health officials have long been using blood donation awareness campaigns to tell Somalis there are no religious restrictions against giving blood.

The doctors' group also joined other young Somalis to start a social media campaign to raise money for the families of the victims.
Two Somali civilians, an African Union soldier and four al-Shabab militants were killed in an ambush early Wednesday on the outskirts of Mogadishu.

Gunfire followed the explosion of an improvised explosive device that targeted an AU military vehicle, witnesses and officials said.

AMISOM spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Wilson Rono told VOA Somali a Ugandan soldier was killed and a second soldier was seriously injured in the ambush. He said AMISOM troops exchanged gunfire with al-Shabab militants, killing four of them.

Residents at Arbiska corridor said AU troops fired into different directions after the explosion.

Rono confirmed two civilians were killed in the gunfire. One was said to be a watchman, and the other was an English school teacher named Jafar Ali Mohamed, who also worked as a journalist for a local radio station in Afgoye.

Rono said he did not know if the bullets that killed the two civilians were fired by peacekeepers or by al-Shabab.

The National Union of Somali Journalists, NUSOJ, said Mohamed is the fourth journalist killed in Somalia this year.

Mohamed worked for Dayah (Moon) radio, an FM station based in Afgoye.
The United States pledged its commitment to deepening strategic ties with India as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi during a visit that highlighted their strong emerging alliance.

Combating terrorism and expanding India's role in helping Afghanistan's development were key issues discussed by Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and Tillerson, who arrived in the capital city after stops in Kabul and Islamabad.

At a news conference after the talks, Tillerson extended an assurance that "in the fight against terrorism, the United States will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with India. Terrorist safe havens will not be tolerated."

The top U.S. diplomat visited the region after the Trump administration unveiled a new South Asia strategy calling on India to play a larger role in Afghanistan's economic stabilization and on Pakistan to take more action against militant groups based in the country.

Indian foreign minister Swaraj said President Donald Trump's new strategy for the region "can only be successful if Pakistan acts decisively against all terror groups without any discrimination." New Delhi has long blamed Islamabad for supporting insurgent groups that carry out terror acts in India.

Tillerson expressed concern that extremist groups could threaten the security of Pakistan.

"Quite frankly, my view, and I expressed this to the leadership of Pakistan, is we also are concerned about the stability and security of Pakistan's government, as well as these terrorist organizations have enlarged their numbers, enlarged their strength and their capability," he told reporters. "This could lead to a threat to Pakistan's own stability. It is not in anyone's interests that the government of Pakistan be destabilized."

Gopalaswami Parthasarthy, a longtime Indian diplomat and India's Former High Commissioner to Pakistan, observed, "The Americans now are not going to accept excuses about the support Taliban receives from Pakistani territory. However much Pakistan may deny it, it is known that Taliban gets safe haven, and are armed and trained with the assistance of Pakistan's Inter Service Intelligence  that cuts no ice with anybody. What Mr. Tillerson is effectively saying is that, 'you better get your act together or there will be consequences.'"

Tillerson, who last week said that he sees India as a key partner in the face of what he considers negative Chinese influence in Asia, reiterated that India could play a wider role in the region. Analysts say Washington's overtures for closer ties with India are prompted by the need to counter China's rise.

Tillerson told reporters "the United States supports India's emergence as a leading power and will continue to contribute to Indian capabilities to provide security throughout the region." He said Washington was willing to provide New Delhi with advanced technologies for its military modernization.

"We also look forward to further cooperation in the broader Indo Pacific region as we both promote a rules-based approach to commerce, and a transparent and sustainable approach to economic development," he said.

Swaraj said India shares Washington's optimism about the relationship.

While underlining that the gains of a closer relationship with the U.S. can be substantial, foreign policy analysts in New Delhi also have urged some caution. India's former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal said in the Economic Times, "the difficult task is finding the right balance between protecting its [India's] own interests, and cooperating in advancing those of the U.S. under Trump's unpredictable stewardship."

Tillerson is on a multi-nation tour of the Middle East and South Asia. It also included an unannounced trip to Iraq.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday mocked Republican senators Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee who sharply criticized his White House performance.

The U.S. leader tweeted that "outside of Flake and Corker," his Capitol Hill meeting Tuesday with the Senate majority Republicans "was a love fest!"

Trump discounted that Flake, "with an 18 percent approval rating in Arizona," had said that other senators had privately voiced their own concerns about Trump.

He followed that with a tweet saying Republican lawmakers are "working hard on the biggest tax cut in U.S. history."

Later, as he left the White House for a political visit to Dallas, Trump told reporters, "There's great unity in the Republican party."

Trump said media reports of his feuds with figures across the U.S. political spectrum make "me more uncivil than I am. You know, people dont understand. I went to an Ivy League college. I was a nice student. I did very well. Im a very intelligent person. I, you know, the fact is I think  I really believe, I think the press creates a different image of Donald Trump than the real, the real person.

Trump's rebuke of Flake and Corker came a day after both lawmakers had offered brutal commentary on the first nine months of his presidency.

Flake, in a speech on the Senate floor, announced he would not seek another six-year term in the November 2018 elections, then slammed Trump's behavior as dangerous to our democracy and called on other Republicans to denounce the presidents conduct.

It is time for our complicity and our accommodation of the unacceptable to end, Flake said. Politics can make us silent when we should speak, and silence can equal complicity.

He added, We must never regard as normal the regular and casual undermining of our democratic norms and ideals. We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country  the personal attacks; the threats against principles, freedoms and institutions; the flagrant disregard for truth and decency.

His speech came after Corker and Trump traded taunts for hours.

"Standing up in front of the American people and stating untruths that everybody knows to be untrue, attempted bullying that he does, which everybody sees through, just the dividing of our country, the name-callings, for young people to be watching, not only here in our country but around the world, someone of this mentality as president of the United States is something that is I think debasing to our country," Corker said. "You would think he would aspire to be the president of the United States and act like a president of the United States."

"But that's just not going to be the case, apparently," he concluded.

In one of several Twitter comments about Corker, Trump called him a "lightweight" and "the incompetent head of the Foreign Relations Committee."

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Flakes and Corkers comments were petty. She boasted that Trump was more popular in Arizona and Tennessee, both states he carried in 2016, than the two departing senators.

The voters of these individual senators states are speaking in pretty loud volumes, Sanders said. I think that they were not likely to be reelected, and I think that shows that the support is more behind this president than it is those two individuals.
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order resuming the admission of refugees into the country, but imposed tougher scrutiny on nationals from 11 countries identified as posing a high risk to national security.

The new order was issued Tuesday as an earlier order that imposed a 120-day ban on refugee admissions expired. All refugees hoping to enter the United States will face additional, enhanced vetting measures, such as providing additional biographical information than previously required, under the new directive.

Nationals from the 11 countries identified as high risk will face an extra 90-day review on their application, and will be admitted into the United States on a case-by-case basis if their entry is deemed in the national interest, and they pose no threat to Americans.

Officials refused to name the 11 countries, but both Reuters and the French news agency have identified them as the same countries whose nationals are already required to undergo higher-level screening known as Security Advisory Opinions -- Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Refugee advocates say the tighter requirements on refugees from those nations could add months, if not years, to the application process, effectively banning them from coming into the United States.

Tuesday's order is the latest in President Trump's efforts to follow through on his campaign promises to curtail the number of refugees allowed to enter the United States. He issued temporary bans on refugees and travelers from several Muslim-majority countries within days of taking office in January. Lawsuits stymied the initial roll-out of the temporary ban. Later, the U.S. Supreme Court determined arrivals could continue as long as the refugees could demonstrate "bona fide" close family ties to the country.

The high court on Tuesday also dismissed a lawsuit by the state of Hawaii against an earlier version of Trump's travel ban - the same one that limited refugee arrivals. The new refugee vetting procedures, and a separate presidential proclamation in September limiting travelers from eight countries, replace much of what the two earlier travel bans attempted. Last week, a judge in Hawaii halted the administration's latest efforts to block travelers from Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

In addition to the forthcoming vetting changes, the Trump administration last month announced it would drop the ceiling on refugee arrivals for the 2018 fiscal year to 45,000, the lowest limit ever set for the program. Former President Barack Obama set the ceiling on refugee arrivals for the previous fiscal year that ended on September 30 at 110,000.
After a jaw-dropping day that saw President Donald Trump take fire from two of his own party's leading figures, he is fighting back in true Trump style, belittling critics and declaring another win in the campaign to remake the Republican Party in his own image.

Trump launched another blast of comments and tweets Wednesday at Republican Senators Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee, a day after Flake denounced the president as a "danger to democracy" in a dramatic speech on the Senate floor, one in which he announced he would not seek re-election next year.

WATCH: Senate Republicans Seek Unity after Flake, Corker Announce Retirements

Asked about the "danger to democracy" comment, Trump shot back, "He's saying that because he has nothing else to say."

Speaking to reporters as he left for a political fundraiser in Texas, Trump said he thought Flake's actions had helped the president politically in Arizona.

In three separate posts earlier in the day, Trump challenged Flake's assertion that Senate support for the president is eroding as he leads Republicans toward a "train wreck," noting that lawmakers had given him standing ovations during a Tuesday luncheon at the Capitol:

Wednesday morning on CNN, Flake suggested that the ovations Trump received should not be seen as an endorsement of the president's behavior.

"A lot of my colleagues share the concerns I expressed on the floor yesterday," he said. "We've hit the tipping point. At some point, the weight of it causes people to change and say, 'I can't take this anymore.' "

Reactions to Flake statement

But on Capitol Hill Wednesday, key Republican lawmakers brushed aside Flake's criticisms, even as prominent political commentator Mike Allen noted that Trump "enjoys public support (despite private gripes) from most of the 49 other Senate Republicans and 239 House Republicans, including every person in elected leadership."

"He [Flake] had a disagreement with the president and is doing what he believes is appropriate," Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma told VOA.

Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama suggested that Flake's decision to retire had much to do with his popularity in Arizona, where his poll numbers have slumped since he wrote a book criticizing Trump.

"A lot of people weren't surprised [by Flake's announcement]," Shelby told VOA. "People, when they decide to run or not run, we check  how we're doing at home. But if you check your polls and you're not doing well, you think of other reasons to leave [Congress]. That's the history of this place."

Senate Democrats, however, lamented the rancor surrounding Flake's impending departure.

"I worry about our standard of decency and honor," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said. "Everyone heard Senator Flake speak. It moved all of us. And it's a shame he's leaving this body."

"It [Flake's retirement] reflects a bitter and divisive politics that make it difficult for people in the middle to find a constituency," independent Senator Angus King of Maine said.

In his Axios newsletter, Allen described the standing ovations by Republican senators during Tuesday's luncheon as an acknowledgement of the president's continued popularity among the party's rank-and-file membership.

"Republican [senators] in private cringe at the thought of President Trump," Allen wrote. "But it's meaningless if they publicly bow to him, routinely vote for him and never condemn him. With few accomplishments, countless petty GOP fights and slights, Trump is strong as ever."

Several prominent Trump allies were crowing at Flake's retirement announcement.

Former adviser Steve Bannon's right-wing Breitbart website quoted sources close to Bannon as saying he had "added another scalp to his belt as another establishment domino falls."

Bannon had campaigned in Arizona last week for another Republican running for Flake's Senate seat.

Analysts skeptical

Many political analysts, however, are skeptical about Trump's ability to walk the fine line between satisfying supporters and alienating his own party's lawmakers, whose votes he will need to fulfill his legislative agenda.

"I don't see a legislative upside to these battles," Sarah Binder, a fellow at Washington's Brookings Institution, said. "This is a slim, fractured Republican Party and the president needs [nearly] every GOP senator's vote to advance his agenda in Congress."

Jonathan Turley, the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University, noted that any miscalculation in strategy on the president's part could prove disastrous.

"The predictable response would be investigations and a removal effort," Turley said in an email to VOA. "It would guarantee that the second half of his term is mired in investigations and hearings. With only a couple seat margin, the risks are very, very high."
The ruling partys bid to remove the presidential age limit from Uganda's constitution is stirring up controversy again, this time over the disbursement of a total of $3.5 million to lawmakers to fund ongoing consultations on the proposed amendment. The opposition has rejected the payments as a bribe.

Each of Ugandas 445 members of parliament has received a transfer of $8000 since late Tuesday, a total sum of $3.5 million. The opposition is calling it dirty money as parliament prepares to vote on a constitutional amendment to remove the presidential age limit.

Opposition lawmakers led by chief whip Semujju Nganda stormed the parliament accounts office to give it back Wednesday.

Give me a piece of paper," said Nganda. "No, no, what you do, count the money. No, he has to acknowledge before we leave here. We want to leave you with the money.

The office staff said they could not accept the cash. The opposition lawmakers left it anyway, scribbling their names on a piece of paper.

We have returned the money," he said. "We did not ask you to bring the money, we had said we will not take the money.

In 2005, the government gave each lawmaker about $2,500, to fund consultations on another controversial amendment, the one lifting presidential term limits. That amendment passed the same year.

The opposition chief whip Nganda said no additional funds are needed for consultations on this latest proposed amendment to lift the age limit.

They have paid me for my October emoluments and salary, with money for two rounds in my constituency," he said. "Mr. Museveni just wants to be smart. Last time, he bribed MPs with five million [Uganda shillings, $2500]. ... Ask yourself, who does the calculation to know that this time the consultation is for five million, this time its for 29. And we are saying No, we can not be part of that bribery. This money has been diverted from items for which we approved it as parliament of Uganda.

But ruling party member Kakooza Joseph said the money is facilitation for work allocated to them by parliament.

Once the commission gives an extra role, the commission must provide a facility to do that extra role," said Kalooza. "And I think the Speaker was very clear and said, you go and do such a role which is given to you by parliament.



Parliament gave lawmakers 30 days to consult their constituencies before the vote on the amendment, which is expected as soon as next month.

President Yoweri Museveni is currently serving his sixth term in office. But he will be 76 years old at the next elections in 2021, putting him over the constitutional age limit by one year and making him ineligible to run.

On Tuesday, Museveni called a meeting of the ruling party leadership, which voiced its support for lifting the age limit.

Consultations around the country continue, with the opposition feeling the wrath of the police dispersing their meetings using live bullets and tear gas, according to opposition MPs, while the ruling party members continue to hold small meetings in their homes and town halls.
Three-quarters of the world's people live in countries that either restrict the right to religion or belief or have "a high level of social hostility involving religion or belief,'' the U.N. special investigator on religious rights said Tuesday.

Ahmed Shaheed told the General Assembly's human rights committee that religious intolerance is prevalent globally - and rising around the world.

He said over 70 countries currently have anti-blasphemy laws that can be used to suppress dissenting views, in violation of international human rights standards.

Shaheed, a former politician and human rights expert from the Maldives, urged those countries to repeal the blasphemy laws.

He also called for the repeal of all laws that undermine the exercise of the right to freedom of religion or belief - or discriminate against that right.

Shaheed urged countries to adopt and enforce "adequate criminal sanctions penalizing violent and particularly egregious discriminatory acts perpetrated by state or non-state actors against persons based on their religion or belief.''

He said governments must also pay "particular attention'' to uphold the obligation to protect religious minorities.

Increases in unlawful government restrictions against religious groups remain one of the primary and most fundamental factors resulting in higher levels of religious intolerance in any given society,'' Shaheed said.

Some forms of discrimination are direct, such as prohibiting some or all religions or beliefs, he said. But others may be indirect, like zoning laws that prevent construction of certain houses of worship or bans on refugees or immigrants, ostensibly for national security reasons, from countries where majority populations belong to particular faith communities," he said.

The special investigator, or rapporteur, on freedom of religion or belief is an independent expert appointed by the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council. Shaheed previously served for almost six years as special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran.
A U.S. drone strike killed at least seven Islamic militants Wednesday in Yemen, security sources said.

The strikes hit two cars carrying armed individuals in al-Bayda province.

U.S. forces repeatedly have launched drone strikes and airstrikes in al-Bayda and southeastern Shabwa province, where dozens of al-Qaida and Islamic State members are thought to be based.

Yemen, an impoverished Arab country, has been gripped by one of the most active regional al-Qaida insurgencies in the Middle East.

Yemen's al-Qaida branch, Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), emerged in January 2009 and has claimed responsibility for a number of terrorist attacks against Yemen's army and government institutions.

The AQAP- and IS-linked terrorists have taken advantage of the security vacuum to expand their influence and seize more territory in southern Yemen.

Security in Yemen has further deteriorated since 2015, when Iran-aligned Houthi forces loyal to Yemen's former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, began clashing with President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi's Saudi-backed government.

More than 10,000 people have been killed in ground battles and airstrikes since then, many of them civilians.
U.S. Ambassador Scott Brown told a New Zealand website Wednesday he accepted advice that he should be more culturally aware after a U.S. inquiry into his conduct at a Peace Corps event in Samoa.

The Stuff website said Brown acknowledged complaints were made about his comments to a female food server and to arriving guests at the July event in the Pacific country. Stuff reported Brown told the server she could make hundreds of dollars as a waitress in the U.S. and told some guests they looked beautiful.



Brown, a former U.S. senator from Massachusetts, has been ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa since June. He was one of the first ambassadors tapped by President Donald Trump.



Brown attended the event with his wife and said he'd been complementing the well-dressed guests as they walked in. He said the complaints had come as a surprise but he accepted the advice from the inquiry.



"I was told that, 'You know, listen, you're not Scott Brown from Ryan, New Hampshire any more, you're an ambassador and you have to be culturally aware of different cultures, and different sensitivities.' And I'm always welcoming that kind of advice," Brown told Stuff.



He said there had been some cultural misunderstandings, but also that many people at the event didn't like Trump and he suspected there might be some political motivation behind the complaints.



"Sadly, it's politics, and it is what is," he told Stuff.



He said rumors about the incident had prompted him to speak out. The U.S. Embassy in New Zealand said Brown would not comment beyond the interview he gave to the news website.
By Anthony Wesaka & Juliet Kigongo

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com

KAMPALA. The leader of Boda Boda 2010, Mr Abdullah Kitatta, has been sued before the High Court in Kampala for allegedly beating up pupils, who were travelling to Nkumba in Entebbe, Wakiso District, to attend a police function early this month.

It is alleged that Mr Kitatta and his accomplices beat up pupils of Winterland Primary School at Busega roundabout because the girls wore red ribbons on their heads, which were part of their dress code. The red ribbons are currently being worn mainly by MPs, who are opposed to the lifting of the presidential age limit.

The lawsuit was filed by Mr Jamil Kiragga, a food vendor, Mr Daniel Mayombwe, the area LC1 chairperson, and Mr Evarist Kalungi, a coordinator of crime preventers.

Narrating the events of October 3 when the innocent pupils, all below 10 years, were allegedly assaulted, the petitioners contend that they were travelling with the pupils on an invitation by the police to participate in the police annual celebrations at Nkumba.

The applicants together with the children were stopped at Busega roundabout and beaten by men who claimed to be deployed by the 1st respondent (Kayihura) to fight people demonstrating against lifting the age limit from the Constitution, the petitioners state in their suit.

Through their lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi, the petitioners want court to declare that the members of Boda Boda 2010 are a danger to society and that they must be punished for all their crimes.

They also want court to declare that the men united under Boda Boda 2010 are very well known to Gen Kayihura and that they act on his behalf or under his instructions. The petitioners want court to order Mr Kitatta, Gen Kayihura and the Attorney General to pay punitive and compensatory damages to them at a 2 per cent interest.
The United States and its Gulf Arab allies announced on Wednesday a coordinated effort to sanction nine Yemenis and two Yemeni entities suspected of financing the Islamic State group and al-Qaida.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin described the sanctions list as the largest ever multilateral designation in the Middle East.

The designations were backed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, who all jointly agreed to the list  despite a monthslong diplomatic standoff between three of those Gulf states and Qatar.



This bold and innovative multilateral approach is needed because terrorism poses a threat to all of our nations, Mnuchin said as he announced the designations during a speech at an investment conference in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Mnuchin is also scheduled to visit the UAE, Qatar and Jerusalem during his Mideast trip.



The two Yemeni entities that were sanctioned are a supermarket chain and a charity organization. None of the nine Yemenis are particularly well-known figures in the war-torn country. Extremist groups like al-Qaida and the IS group have taken advantage of years of conflict and instability in Yemen to seize territory and expand their presence on the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.

Rare coordination

The sanctions announcement reflected rare coordination among the oil-rich Gulf states nearly four months after Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, severed ties with Qatar over its foreign policies. At the heart of the dispute is Qatars tolerance and support of opposition Islamist groups in the region, as well as its bilateral ties with Iran.

Washington and others have unsuccessfully tried to encourage an end to the dispute, concerned that the standoff will impact efforts to fight the Islamic State group. The Gulf states are all members of the U.S-led coalition that is fighting IS in Iraq and Syria. Qatar and Bahrain also host major U.S. military bases.

Mnuchins remarks at the investment conference come a day after Saudi Arabias powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, declared that Saudi Arabia would revert to moderate Islam as it embarks on social and economic reforms.

Strong relationship



Mnuchin tried to tie Saudi Arabias economic overhaul with President Donald Trumps plans for tax reform, saying that like Saudi Arabia, so are we in America in the middle of our own bold new program for reform.

The U.S.-Saudi relationship has strengthened since Trump took office. Mnuchin pointed to a new Terrorist Financing Targeting Center thats been established in Riyadh. The center, agreed upon during Trumps overseas visit to Saudi Arabia in May, is comprised of the six Gulf states and the U.S.

The Trump administration has also received applause from Saudi Arabia for increased sanctions against entities with ties to Irans Revolutionary Guard and its ballistic missile program, which Mnuchin highlighted in his remarks.
Nearly a year after Donald Trump won the U.S. presidency, Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives say they are opening new investigations into controversies linked to the challenger he defeated, Democrat Hillary Clinton.

House Judiciary Committee chairman Bob Goodlatte and Oversight Committee chief Trey Gowdy said they would probe how the Federal Bureau of Investigation reached its conclusion that Clinton was "extremely careless" in her handling of classified material in emails while she was secretary of state from 2009 to 2013, but that no criminal charges were warranted.

Meanwhile, House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes said he was opening an investigation into the complex 2013 sale of about 20 percent of the U.S. uranium assets to Russia at a time when Clinton's State Department was one of nine U.S. government agencies that reviewed foreign investments in the United States.

Clinton has on numerous occasions faulted herself for deciding to use a private email server based in her New York home while she served as the top U.S. diplomat.

But more recently she has cited the FBI's reopening of the email investigation less than two weeks before last November's election as one of the reasons Trump defied predictions and pulled off one of the most stunning upsets in American political history. Trump defeated her even though two days before Election Day, investigators said they had found nothing new in the email probe and again cleared her of wrongdoing.

Goodlatte and Gowdy, in announcing their probe, said "decisions made by the Department of Justice in 2016 have led to a host of outstanding questions that must be answered" about the Clinton email investigation.

The lawmakers said they want to know why then FBI Director James Comey in July 2016 announced the agency's conclusion about the Clinton investigation, but never announced it also was investigating possible Trump campaign links to Russian interests. That criminal investigation is still going on, now headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, another former FBI chief who took over the probe after Trump fired Comey last May.

In addition, Goodlatte and Gowdy said they want to know why the FBI, rather than its parent agency, the Department of Justice, had discretion to make the decision to not charge Clinton. They also want to know the timeline of the FBI's decision-making.

Uranium assets

The uranium company sale involves a major donor to the Clinton Foundation, the world charity run by Clinton, her husband, former President Bill Clinton and their daughter, Chelsea. The businessman, Frank Giustra, sold his uranium company, UrAsia, in 2007, to another company, Uranium One, which in turn sold a majority stake in the company in 2010 to Russia's nuclear agency, Rosatom, which secured the U.S. mining rights four years ago.

"It's important to learn why that deal went through," said Republican Congressman Peter King of New York.

During the 2016 presidential race, Trump alleged that Clinton approved the transfer of 20 percent of U.S. uranium assets to Russia at the same time as business executives linked to the deal were donating money to the Clinton Foundation.

Two years ago, Clinton said, "I was not personally involved [in reviewing the sale] because that wasn't something the secretary of state did."

Last week, Trump, in a Twitter comment, accused the national news media in the U.S. of ignoring the controversy over the uranium sale, including Clinton's role and that of the administration of former President Barack Obama.

Some Democrats in the House said the two new probes are an attempt by Republicans to divert attention from investigations into Trump campaign links to Russia and whether Trump obstructed justice by firing Comey at a time when he was heading the FBI's Russia investigation.
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved bipartisan legislation to block the flow of illegal funds to Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, and also to sanction Hezbollah for using civilians as human shields.

The measures were approved by voice vote Wednesday and are a blow to the group, designated a terrorist organization, that lawmakers say has close ties to the government of Iran.

The bill that targets Hezbollah funding places sanctions on people and businesses engaged in fundraising and recruitment for the group.

On Thursday, in a further lash at Iran, the House is expected to vote on placing sanctions on Tehrans ballistic missile program.

Missiles, missile technology

Thursdays vote concerns the Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act, which place sanctions on Iran if it tries to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use ballistic missiles or ballistic missile launch technology.

The move has bipartisan support from the chair and ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy has criticized the Iran deal as a piece of paper signed in a fancy ceremony.

Under former President Barack Obama, the United States committed to the nuclear accord as an executive agreement that can be revoked, not as a formal treaty binding future administrations.

For many Republicans, pulling out would be an appropriate use of President Donald Trumps authority. According to many Democrats, it would be a dangerous mistake.

Earlier Wednesday, a former United States ambassador to the United Nations chided lawmakers Wednesday for engaging in a little bit of a fake debate surrounding Trumps decision not to certify Irans compliance with the international nuclear accord.

Time to 'deal with Iran's behavior'

During testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mark Wallace, former ambassador to the U.N who now heads the activist group United Against Nuclear Iran, said the decision by the Trump administration will now allow the U.S. government to deal with issues left out of the agreement.

The sky didnt fall with certification or not certification, Wallace told lawmakers. Now we have to deal with Irans behavior, as Iran and our government did not want to include a variety of issues in its negotiations in the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action], it carved out everything from missiles to terrorism to human rights, lets now readdress those.

He said it is important to respect the deal already in place, but the decertification will give U.S. diplomats the ability to exert increased leverage over Iran, including the implementation of economic sanctions.

We have to push Iran, and we have to use our economic pressure to do that, and its worked in the past, it can work again, but it requires a bipartisan consensus, and this committee has always been able to do that, Wallace said.

Merits, pitfalls

Debate is intensifying in Washington on the merits and potential pitfalls of a possible U.S. exit from the international nuclear accord with Iran. Support for the deal on Capitol Hill is largely split down partisan lines, with Republicans calling for a withdrawal from the deal and Democrats warning of the international fallout such a move might cause.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham earlier this week echoed past comments from Trump, calling the agreement one of the worst deals I have ever seen and calling for it to either be changed or torn up.

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, who lost to Trump as a vice presidential candidate in the 2016 election, said pulling out of the deal would weaken diplomacy and raise the risk of unnecessary war.

We have given the power to the president to impose more sanctions on Iran for bellicose behavior, for activities in other countries, for violations of human rights, for violating U.N. Security Council resolutions on their missile program, Kaine said. The president should use the sanctions power we just gave him.

Philip Gordon, a former White House director for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf Region during the Obama administration, told the congressional panel Wednesday any move to reimpose sanctions on Iran would almost certainly lead to the collapse of the deal.

Its hard to see how Iran would ever agree to give up now what it would not give up when the international pressure campaign was at its peak, he said.

VOA House Correspondent Katherine Gypson contributed to this report.
An aspiring actress has sued The Weinstein Co. alleging it was aware of sexual misconduct by its co-founder, Harvey Weinstein.



Dominique Huett claims in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles that Weinstein performed oral sex on her against her wishes at a Beverly Hills hotel in 2010.



A representative for The Weinstein Co. and Weinstein himself did not immediately respond Wednesday to emails seeking comment.



Huett's negligence lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.



Her attorney, Jeff Herman, says Huett is suing Weinstein's former company because she only recently discovered claims that it knew of sex harassment allegations against its co-founder dating back to the 1990s.



Herman says the recent discovery argument is key to Huett overcoming the statute of limitations barring a lawsuit based on the alleged conduct.


From "princeling" to pauper to president, Chinese President Xi Jinping's reappointment to a second five-year term as Communist Party leader Wednesday caps a long, steady climb to power.

Born in 1953 to Xi Zhongxun, one of Communist China's founding fathers, the younger Xi was forced into hard labor in the remote village of Liangjiahe for seven years during the Cultural Revolution, after his father was purged from the party and imprisoned.

Xi survived the experience and entered Tsinghua University, where he earned a degree in chemical engineering in 1979. He then broke into the ranks of the ruling Communist Party, beginning as as deputy secretary in rural Hebei province before eventually rising to party chief in the economic hub of Shanghai.

His profile continued to rise after he was appointed in 2007 to the Politburo Standing Committee, China's top decision-making body, eventually becoming general secretary in 2012 and the nation's president a year later.

Under Xi's rule, China has taken a more assertive posture in both regional and world affairs, including an aggressive military build-up on uninhabited reefs and islands throughout the South China Sea, ignoring competing territorial claims made by its Asia-Pacific neighbors. He has also launched an aggressive campaign against official corruption, which has led to the punishment of more than one million Communist Party officials.

Observers say Xi has consolidated power by cultivating a cult of personality similar to that of Communist China founder Mao Zedong, while overseeing a growing crackdown on dissidents and human rights lawyers. His rise to power was cemented earlier this week when his name was enshrined in the Communist Party's constitution, alongside that of Mao and economic reformer Deng Xiaoping - meaning that any challenge to his rule could be seen as an act of treason.
Puerto Ricos financial oversight board is moving to install an emergency manager at the islands state-owned utility amid criticism of a $300 million contract it awarded to a small Montana energy firm for work on the territorys crippled electrical grid.

The board said Wednesday that it intends to appoint Noel Zamot, a retired Air Force colonel and member of the oversight panel, to oversee daily operations of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority.

The decision comes as House and Senate Democrats called for an investigation into the utilitys agreement with Whitefish Energy. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) pledged to examine the grid-rebuilding efforts at an upcoming hearing of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, which she chairs. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz on Tuesday told Yahoo News that the contract should be voided right away.

The Washington Post reported on Monday that Whitefish had only two full-time employees on the day Hurricane Maria hit the island and had never taken on repairs on the scale of the destruction suffered in Puerto Rico. Whitefish has said that its expertise working in mountainous terrain qualifies it for the job and that its business model calls for rapidly expanding using subcontractors.

Puerto Ricans have paid some of the highest energy costs in the U.S. to a notoriously unreliable utility that neglected their grid for years and runs fossil-fuel plants that may be damaging their lungs. (Xavier Garcia/Bloomberg)

[Small Montana firm lands Puerto Ricos biggest contract to get the power back on]

Whitefish and the utility struck an agreement on Sept. 26, six days after Maria swept through, without a formal bidding process. About 80 percent of customers still have no electricity.

Under the contract, Whitefish is charging $330 an hour for a site supervisor and $227.88 an hour for a journeyman lineman. The cost for subcontractors, which make up the bulk of Whitefishs workforce, is $462 per hour for a supervisor and $319.04 for a lineman.

PREPA has made clear it is not equipped for the enormous task of quickly restoring the Islands power, Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez (D-N.Y.) said in a statement, using the acronym for the utility. The Authoritys dubious decision to contract with a small, inexperienced and obscure company further underscored the need for intervention.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called the contract with Whitefish highly suspect and urged inspectors general to investigate.

Whitefish on Wednesday clashed with San Juans mayor on Twitter, saying her frustration was misplaced and demoralizing to workers who had come to the island to work on the recovery. Weve got 44 linemen rebuilding power lines in your city & 40 more men just arrived, Whitefish replied. Do you want us to send them back or keep working?

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello said in a statement Tuesday that he had directed his budget office to review the contracts awarded by the islands utility.

The U.S. Army continued its Hurricane Maria relief efforts by delivering food and water to residents in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico on October 22. (U.S. Army)

His spokesman, Carlos Mercader, on Wednesday appeared to reject the idea of an emergency manager.

The law is very clear, he said, referring to the legislation that created the oversight board this year when Puerto Rico could no longer meet payments on more than $70 billion in debt. The board can recommend whatever it wants, but its the decision of the governor how he is going to run the government. The law that was enacted does not allow them to do a takeover of the government.

The law says the oversight board may establish policies to require prior oversight board approval of certain contracts.

Parish Braden, a spokesman for the House Natural Resources Committee, which oversees the board, said the naming of an emergency manager was a tough but necessary move. The Board, created under the Obama administration and appointed on a bipartisan and bicameral basis, is doing its work.

[Congress approves another round of hurricane, wildfire funding]

The Senate on Tuesday approved a supplemental appropriations measure passed by the House that includes $4.9 billion for Puerto Rico and financial experts say that the territory will need more early next year.

Damian Paletta and Arelis R. Hernandez contributed to this report.
Theater critic

For riveting confirmation of how strong the resistance can be, consider the cut, ripped and hyper-fit performers of Belarus Free Theatres Burning Doors.

Theyre muscling their way Thursday into the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on the University of Marylands College Park campus to expose theatergoers to their ferociously theatrical style of attack on the forces of political oppression. And among the eight actors is one who makes a particularly convincing case for speaking truth to power: Maria Alyokhina, one of the three members of Pussy Riot, the Russian female punk-rock collective, who was sent to prison in 2012 after staging a demonstration in an Orthodox church in Moscow to protest the Russian clergys support for President Vladimir Putin.

Alyokhinas presence in the production, directed by Belarus Free Theatre founders Nicolai Khalezin and Natalia Kaliada, further bolsters the urgency and moral authority of Burning Doors, a multimedia paean to those who struggle for the rights of the individual and against the brutality of the state. Its a topic of ongoing concern for Belarus Free Theatre, which embarked in 2005 on a mission to dramatize  and criticize  aspects of a restrictive society in which the company challenged the limits being imposed on artistic expression. Going underground was the only way it was able to stage shows in Minsk, Belaruss capital; its founders went into exile, sending directorial instructions back home via Skype.

I've seen Belarus Free Theatre productions in New York and London; one of its first American visits was to Georgetown University, in 2009. And in its previous stop last week, at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in Manhattan's East Village, I caught a performance of the current show, which stops for two performances, Thursday and Friday, in College Park.

In the passionately intelligent "Burning Doors," Belarus Free Theatre presents a kaleidoscopic series of vignettes, in Russian and Belarusan with English surtitles, that look at civil disobedience and the punishments that result, through the prisms of personal sacrifice and art. The nature and permutations of protest are explored through the stories of dissidents such as Pussy Riot and the Ukrainian filmmaker and activist Oleg Sentsov, serving a 20-year prison term in Russia on what have been condemned as trumped-up terrorism charges.



Pavel Haradnitski and Kiryl Kanstantsinau in "Burning Doors" by Belarus Free Theatre. (Nicolai Khalezin)

Khalezin and Kaliada have their actors segue into dramatizations of classic literature  most powerfully, an excerpt from "The Grand Inquisitor" in Dostoevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov"  as a means of revealing how deeply embedded in Russian thought is a yearning for spiritual freedom, at the risk of physical suffering. On a set dominated by three numbered cell doors, with the plaintive drumbeat of Alexander Lyulakin's percussive score filling the space, the actors sing, tell tales of defiance against the Russian government, and offer up satirical portraits of Putin functionaries, entertaining one another with accounts of their own wealth.

At one point, the house lights come up and Alyokhina takes a seat at a table, and the audience is entreated to shoot questions at her, news-conference style. It can be awkward, as the interlude dissolves the shows carefully constructed artifices. But if youre curious about how Pussy Riot survived a terrifying ordeal, this is your opportunity to ask about it.

Nevertheless, the episodic evening builds to a hypnotizing finish, with the actors engaging in an ever more physically demanding set of routines. In one extended scene, a pair of men wrestle for supremacy, in a series of takedowns by one of the other. It goes on and on, for so long, in fact, that you wonder how either of them can remain upright. Burning Doors is all about levels of endurance, about how much a human being is capable of withstanding, when giving in is not an option.

Burning Doors, devised and performed by Belarus Free Theatre. Directed by Nicolai Khalezin and Natalia Kaliada. Lighting and video, Joshua Pharo; sound and additional music, Richard Hammarton; original score, Alexander Lyulakin. With Pavel Haradnitski, Kiryl Masheka, Siarhei Kvachonak. Maryia Sazonava, Stanislava Shablinskaya, Andrei Urazau, Maryna Yurevich. $7-$27. About 1 hour 45 minutes. Through Friday at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, 8270 Alumni Dr., College Park. 301-405-2787 or theclarice.umd.edu.
By Moses Kyeyune:

Parliament has asked opposition lawmakers to treat themselves and the institution they serve with dignity, lest they embarrass themselves.

The call by parliaments Director Communications and Public Affairs, Chris Obore follows accusations by the opposition that the 29 million shillings age limit facilitation money given to MPs is a bribe.

Obore says the allegation is false since the money was given by government, which funds all parliament activities including salaries.

Regarding the Bill coming from a private member, Obore says that consultations on the Bill by Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi is because of the significance if the bill and the fact that it touches the constitution.
Columnist

The following review appears in The Washington Posts 2018 Fall Dining Guide.



An injera-lined platter at Zenebech. (Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post)

Zenebech

(Good)

My nomination for best comeback goes to this tidy, family-run Ethiopian retreat in Adams Morgan, cheered for moving from cramped quarters in pricey Shaw last year, then mourned for going dark following a fire in December. Reopened in August, the kitchen still aces most of what youre here for: crackling turnovers packed with spicy lentils or minced meat; kitfo, the raw beef dish best eaten with a side of snowy house-made cottage cheese; a vegetable sampler  scarlet beets, garlicky collards, yellow cabbage, brick-colored lentils  that suggests a pinwheel on its underliner of injera, the tangy, crepe-like bread that also serves as an eating utensil. Awazi tibs doesnt taste like it came from the same chef. The lamb stew is timid, despite jalapenos in the mix. But a fan has to stop somewhere, right? A full bar means you can wash back your doro wat with (cheers!) a martini.

2 stars

Zenebech: 2420 18th St. NW. 202-667-4700. zenebechdc.com.

Open: Dinner daily, weekend lunch.

Price: Mains $13-$16.

Sound check: 69 decibels / Conversation is easy.

--

The following review was originally published Oct. 25, 2017.



Co-owner and chef Zenebech Dessu in the kitchen at Zenebech. (Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post)

(Good)

Ethiopian meals rank among the most intimate in the world. Even if a group of you order separate entrees, theyre all served on the same platter, invariably lined with injera, the tangy crepe-like bread that looks like a folded napkin but does double duty as both canvas and eating utensil. Sharing is expected, in other words. Among the sweetest displays of public affection is gursha (mouthful in Amharic), whereby one diner wraps some food in a swatch of injera and feeds another. If the feeling is mutual, the honor is returned.

Ethiopian cooking rates as some of my favorite, a sentiment born from my days as a student in Washington with an appetite for adventure but not a lot of money. Back then, Adams Morgan was ground zero for the stews known as tibs eaten around the basket-tables called mesobs. Celebrations  a new internship, the end of finals, the weekend  saw bottles of tej, honey-sweetened wine, being uncorked.

Nostalgia recently drew me back to the neighborhood, prompted by the news that Zenebech, one of the citys longtime East African outposts, had finally relocated to larger quarters in Adams Morgan after shuttering in pricey Shaw last year. Equally compelling is the flavor profile, similar to that of my favorite cuisine, Indian, a tapestry of warm spices and addictive heat.

My first taste of Zenebech is a sambusa, often the only appetizer youll see on an Ethiopian menu. The fried turnovers, assembled from wonton skins by chef and co-owner Zenebech Dessu, 65, come with three fillings  lentil, beef or chicken  and while each is delicious, best in class is minced chicken pulsing with garlic, ginger and black pepper. Take a moment to crack the golden packet, its texture as snappy as a fortune cookie; the pastry is served lawsuit-hot, and only sometimes with a warning. But $2.50 buys you several bites of serious pleasure, and if your server thinks to offer it with the red dip that tastes like ketchup having a temper tantrum, so much the finer.



Chicken sambusas. (Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post)

Goden tibs, middle, surrounded by other dishes on injera. (Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post)

One test of an Ethiopian kitchen is doro wat, a zesty chicken stew that takes hours to make and is considered a source of pride on its home turf. Indeed, in earlier times, men were known to judge potential wives on how they made their doro wat. The base relies on onions that are cooked to near-melting with clarified butter and berbere, the incendiary seasoning that takes your tongue to Addis Ababa. The chicken, which simmers to tenderness in the sauce, the color of lava but more of a tease than a torch, is presented with a hard-cooked egg. Consider the test passed at Zenebech.

[The 10 best Ethiopian restaurants in the D.C. area]

There are few Ethiopian dishes as captivating as the combination vegetable platter, reminiscent of a painters palette with its dabs of salads and stews in green and brown as well as autumnal shades of orange, gold and red. Zenebechs edible pinwheel is no exception; the injeras zones include tangy collard greens, dusky red lentils whose burn (from berbere) reveals itself over time, a tomato and onion salad spiked with chopped jalapeno, slightly sweet brown lentils and mellow yellow ones.

A menu item called 50/50 lets a customer order two meat entrees for $13. For contrast, and in deference to companions who arent hot heads, I tend to pair something mild, perhaps bozena shiro, tender bites of beef in a gravy of chickpeas and yellow lentils, with something racy, such as kitfo, Ethiopias version of steak tartare. Kitfo can be cooked rare, medium or not at all. The third option is likely to elicit a smile from your server. The best way to enjoy quality minced beef, glossed with seasoned butter and hair-raising heat, is raw.

To look at dulet is to be tempted to judge a book by its cover and opt for another dish. The gray-brown mash of lamb tripe and liver, along with beef and fiery peppers, is known to test some diners limits, but to them I say: The mix, with its pleasant mineral tang, is rich. The kitchen also makes a very good fish dulet, chopped tilapia that looks a bit like snow speckled with minced jalapeno, among other flavor bombs.



Hannah Katzen, left, and Vicki Harrington eat dinner at Zenebech. (Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post)

A vegetarian platter. (Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post)

My eyes lit up at the sight of curry goat on the list, goat being my red meat of choice, although the dish was a letdown. Chewy meat in a vague broth, thickened with potato chunks, wont get my repeat business. In contrast, I happily gnawed on goden tibs, beef short ribs that have been fried so the edges are crusty, and tore off pieces of injera, perforated like coral, with my right hand (only) to ferry sweet onions and sharp jalapenos from platter to mouth.

[Zenebech Injera, once the best Ethiopian restaurant in D.C., is reopening this summer]

Sometimes glimpsed through a small kitchen window, the chef whips up her own injera, using a combination of wheat and teff, the high-protein grain native to Ethiopia and also known as lovegrass. (Gluten-free injera or rice is also available). A pleasantly sour all-teff version, imported from abroad, is another option, but it lacks the elasticity and moistness of the fresh product.

The tidy, two-room storefront, ably managed by the chefs sons, Michael and Surafal Demissie, is dressed with glossy wood tables, a skylight and souvenirs Dessu collected on a trip to her homeland in May, including paintings of daily life in Ethiopia, some created by an artist-niece. A faux fire lights up the center of a wine rack.

Zenebech 2.0 comes with an amenity the original lacked: a full bar, just off the entrance. If you crave a martini with your food, no problem. The wine that best compliments the quilt of flavors is the crisp rose from Domaine Bellevue in the Loire Valley, fragrant with cherry notes.

A window seat looks onto a world of competition across the street: signs inviting you to try meze, pasta, jumbo pizza slices, Indian, Korean and Mexican. If my experiences are a gauge, one date with Zenebech is likely to lead to more Ethiopian.

A chalkboard sign outside flags passersby with daily specials and, charmingly, English translations of greetings and other Ethiopian expressions. On my last visit, I jotted down "ahmesugenalew" for future use. I hope to poke my head in the kitchen and say "Thank you" in the chef's native tongue.
In this March 15, 2016, photo, Dallas Seavey poses with his dogs Reef, left, and Tide after finishing the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska. Four of Seaveys dogs that competed in this years Iditarod tested positive for a banned substance, race organizers said this week. (Mark Thiessen/AP)

Dogsledding has become the latest professional sport to be involved in a doping scandal, this one involving the huskies that dash across the frozen landscape in Alaskas grueling, 1,000-mile Iditarod.

The governing board of the worlds most famous sled dog race revealed Monday that four dogs belonging to four-time Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey tested positive for a banned substance, the opioid painkiller tramadol, after his second-place finish in March.

It was the first time since the race instituted drug testing in 1994 that a test came back positive.

Seavey strongly denied giving any banned substances to his dogs, suggesting that he may have been the victim of sabotage by another musher or an animal rights activist. He accused the Iditarod of lax security at dog-food drop-off points and other spots.

Race officials said he will not be punished because they were unable to prove he acted intentionally.

But the finding was another blow to the Iditarod, which has seen the loss of major sponsors, many dog deaths, attacks on competitors and pressure from animal rights activists, who say huskies are run to death or left with severe infections and bloody paws.

Jeanne Olson, an Alaska veterinarian who treats sled dogs, sees no benefit in administering tramadol during a race because it causes drowsiness. Olson, who was the head veterinarian in the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race in the 1990s, prescribes it mostly for profound pain relief.

But I also caution that the dogs are going to become sedated from it, she said. So when I first heard . . . that it was tramadol as the drug, I thought, Well, thats surprising. Why would anybody use that? 

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) seized on the scandal Tuesday, saying its further proof that this race needs to end.

Dogs are subject to random testing before and during the race, and the first 20 teams to cross the finish line are automatically tested.

I did not give a drug to my dog. Ive never used a banned substance in the race, the 30-year-old Seavey said in an interview.

Five dogs connected to this years race died, bringing total deaths to more than 150 in the Iditarods 44-year history, according to PETAs count.

 Associated Press

Read more from KidsPost:

And theyre off! 71 mushers and more than 1,000 dogs set out on the Iditarod.

Father and son place second and first in Iditarod dog sled race

Iditarod dogs hit the trail despite warm conditions
Dear Readers: Apparently the debate between crisp versus soft cookies continues!

Dear Heloise: Ive been reading your column for many years. When my sister and I were younger, we told our mom that our neighbors cookies were better than hers! She asked the neighbor why, and was told that shortening in place of butter or margarine made them crispy. I still follow that advice.

Susan R. in San Antonio

Dear Heloise: I use the standard cookie recipe on the bag of chocolate chips, but the way I make the cookies makes all the difference. Not overbaking is the key. I bake them at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, which is perfect. I use a small cookie scoop and never change the amount of flour or the temperature. I let the cookies sit for about five minutes before removing them from the cookie sheet. I bake these a lot, and they turn out nice and soft and yummy!

Gail M., via email

Dear Heloise: When I hard-boil eggs, I always add a tablespoon of white vinegar to the water, which helps in peeling off the shells when Im ready to use them.

However, recently I ran out of vinegar and, in desperation, added pickle juice to the water because it contained vinegar. To my delight, it worked perfectly, and the shells peeled off like magic.

Angie Z., Englewood, Fla.

Dear Heloise: I love pico de gallo, and I used to have a recipe that you published a few years ago. It was out of this world, but now I cant find it! Would you please reprint that recipe?

Beatrice D., Little Rock

Beatrice D.: I've recently had several requests for my pico de gallo recipe, so here it is:

1 cup coarsely chopped tomato

 cup coarsely chopped onion

1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, finely chopped

2 or 3 fresh serrano peppers, minced

 teaspoon salt

Stir together tomato, onion, cilantro and peppers. Add the salt and mix well

Pico de gallo is best eaten on the same day its made, although it can be refrigerated for a couple of days. Here in the Southwest, we love our pico de gallo fresh when all the flavors are at their peak. If you like this recipe, youll love my pamphlet called Seasonings, Sauces and Substitutes. Just send a stamped (70 cents), self-addressed, business-size envelope, along with $3, to: Heloise/Seasonings, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. By the way, if you like pico, as we call it in Texas, on chips, youll also enjoy it on eggs, tacos and even potatoes.

Dear Heloise: Ive found I can use coffee filters instead of small paper plates for lightweight foods. I can get 100 filters for about a dollar.

I read your column every day in the Princeton (Ind.) Daily Clarion.

Doris E. in Haubstadt, Ind.

Dear Heloise: I make sure the handles of the serving tongs arent touching the food at the buffet. Peoples hands are dirty, and if theyve touched the tongs and the tongs touch the food, the food could become contaminated.

Carolyn M. in North Carolina

Heloises column appears six days a week at

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I never forget where I came from  ever, said Laura Ingraham, the conservative talk radio star now stepping up to television with a new Fox News show. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

On a recent Saturday afternoon, Laura Ingraham sat at the head of her long kitchen table. Her shoes were kicked off, but she was hardly relaxed, having just rushed home after giving a morning speech to a convention of social conservatives.

A stylist was touching up her lip gloss for a photo shoot. Holding very still as her hair was brushed, Ingraham sent her 12-year-old daughter Maria off to grab a guest a can of LaCroix. Her young sons, Dmitri and Nikolai, were playing outdoors, and Ingraham sent word that they should clean up the balls and pumps they had strewn about the garage of their gated Northern Virginia mansion.

We fed them, right? she asked her babysitter.

Ingraham has spent more than three decades in the D.C. political-media-industrial complex while perfecting the public performance of conservative firebrand, and its paid off. A big home on a tree-lined street, chummy relationships with politicians, fabulous family vacations with well-heeled friends, assistants to help her tend to her kids and remind her to pay her bills.

Next week, her star will rise even higher. The queen of conservative talk radio, whose Laura Ingraham Show is heard in 230 markets, is adding a nightly Fox News prime-time show to her media empire.

Even as shes climbed the ranks in Washington, Ingraham has maintained her connection with loyal listeners, who, like her, want to stick it to the establishment. She is a member of the East Coast media elite but says she wants to speak for the heartland.

In that way, shes similar to President Trump  a billionaire born into wealth who has positioned himself as champion of the working man. Like Trump, who lived in a gilded Manhattan tower before the White House, Ingraham sees no irony in enjoying the trappings of D.C. success while flouting the conventions of political correctness.

On her radio show last summer: Oh, we have a new transgender update for you as well, she said. For all of you who are bathroom-goers. . . . You use public restrooms? I think a lot of people are going to be walking around with just Depends on from now on. Theyre just not going to use the bathroom. Adult diapers, diapers for everybody.

Ingraham, 54, who said she doesnt spend a lot of time worrying about whom she offends, chooses to see herself as a happy conservative warrior, her mothers daughter and a woman with working-class roots.

I never forget where I came from  ever, said Ingraham, who grew up in Glastonbury, Conn., where her mother worked as a waitress. My mother told me when I left for college, Never forget your roots, and I never have. . . . I say to my kids regularly, Dont get used to any of this because tomorrow, if we have to, Ill be cleaning toilets. 



Ingraham, right, with Steve Bannon, at a campaign rally last week for Arizona GOP Senate candidate Kelli Ward, a primary challenger for Sen. Jeff Flake R-Ariz.), until Flake announced Tuesday he will not seek reelction. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

On a recent Thursday night, friends turned out to toast Ingraham's new book, "Billionaire at the Barricades: The Populist Revolution From Reagan to Trump." The party was held at the Capitol Hill rowhouse that serves as a headquarters for Breitbart News, the acerbic archconservative website, and a seat of power for its chairman Steve Bannon, the former White House strategist now attempting to lead a nationalist revolt within the Republican Party.

I dont know how you do it all, Bannon gushed, adding that Trump and our movement owed Ingraham a debt of gratitude.

The jubilant scene was more evidence that Ingrahams faction of the civil war ravaging the GOP is ascendant. The nationalist populists who drove Trump to power, including her old friend Stephen Miller, now senior policy adviser at the White House, mingled with mainstream journalists and establishment consultants.

And yet, it was still every bit the D.C. swamp that Ingraham has been railing against since she arrived in Washington 31 years ago as part of the pack of brash, young Reagan conservatives.

I never saw her wilt under pressure, said Gary Bauer, the conservative activist who gave Ingraham her first D.C. job, as a speechwriter, when he served as Department of Education deputy.



Ingraham as a young lawyer in 1995, as she began to make a name for herself in conservative punditry. (Robert A. Reeder/The Washington Post)

After earning a law degree at the University of Virginia, she returned to Washington to clerk at the Supreme Court for Clarence Thomas. She worked briefly for a law firm but soon broke out on TV as a political talking head. In the early days, her name was often mentioned alongside Ann Coulter and Kellyanne Fitzpatrick Conway  two other blond conservative pundits on their way up. Her first book, published in 2000, argued that then-first lady Hillary Clintons ideas had set women back, amounting to demanding special gender privileges to get ahead.

The next year, Ingraham got her talk radio show. In 2005, she used this megaphone to help sink President George W. Bushs nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court by asserting nonstop that the White House counsel was insufficiently conservative. During the Obama years, she railed against most everything he did. And, of course, she was an early proponent of Trumpism  an anti-immigration, tax-slashing America Firster who opposed big trade deals and international organizations such as the United Nations because, as she proclaims in her new book, they take power out of the hands of the voters and give it to a far-away and often hostile global elite.

She was Trump before Trump, said Brian Rosenwald, an instructor at the University of Pennsylvania who is writing a book about talk radios impact on politics and public policy.

Ingraham, the only woman in the top tier of conservative talk radio, has mastered the rhythm of the medium, he said. She and her producers use funny sound effects and toss off derisive nicknames  John F. Kerry as Lurch from The Addams Family. To drive home her restrictive views of immigration, shell reframe a mainstream media story about an immigrant as an illegal immigration sob story.

Its a rhetorical style thats made her a lightning rod for liberal critics, perhaps second only to Coulter.

"She's right-wing radio's high priestess of hate," said Rory O'Connor, a liberal journalist and author of "Shock Jocks," a book that lays out some of her more offensive lines through the years, such as calling the children of immigrants in the country illegally "anchor fetuses."

Ingraham argues that the left calls almost everyone who supported Trump a hater. They prefer to maintain their monopoly on satire and criticism  where only conservatives are the ones skewered, she said.



Ingraham at the Republican National Convention in 2016. (Paul Sancya/AP)

Fox News is banking on Ingraham's star power, though their longtime contributor has not yet proved that she can hold down a television show. In the late 1990s, Ingraham hosted a short-lived MSNBC show, "Watch It!"; the only other show built around her was "Just In," designed to fill a month-long void in Fox's weekday lineup in the summer of 2008. What works on radio doesn't always translate to the faster pace of TV, where personal chatter and brassy humor can come off as unsophisticated.

But with the channels prime-time lineup in flux since the departure of Megyn Kelly for NBC and the ouster of Bill OReilly amid sexual harassment allegations, Ingraham was tapped for the high-profile 10 p.m. slot. Most everyone assumes that Trump will be watching her.

Im going to be watching his administration very closely, and Ive never been shy of criticizing  I hope [in] a positive way  and critiquing when theyre falling short if theyre betraying the promise of America first, said Ingraham. She says she seriously considered joining the Trump White House in a communications role. But people who know her think Ingraham is more likely to run for office herself, with many speculating about a challenge to Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

As an attractive woman who came to prominence at a relatively young age, she has been an enduring fascination for Washington gossips, linked romantically to liberal VIPs such as Keith Olberman and Larry Summers. She took to the airwaves to explain her broken engagement with Washington businessman James Reyes, which ended soon after she was diagnosed with breast cancer about a decade ago.

She has also developed a reputation among those who frequent this citys green rooms as a temperamental colleague. Videos and audio clips of Ingraham sternly correcting her staff for slip-ups on her shows have circulated online. (LifeZette.com, the website she co-founded in 2015, has been blasted for trafficking in dubious conspiracy theories, though Ingraham has been only distantly involved and will step away from the site as she launches her show.)

Ingrahams longtime friend Raymond Arroyo, who had appeared on her radio show, scoffs at the criticism. Her observations can be so incisive that at times they might be cutting, said Arroyo, a news anchor for the Eternal Word Television Network. But, more often than not, those are over work-related issues where the other party didnt do what they were supposed to do.

Her friends add that adopting her children was transformative. Her daughter is from Guatemala, and her sons are from Russia, where Ingraham spent time in college.

Her children are regular characters in the stories Ingraham tells about herself on her radio show, and her life as a mother is a reference point she often uses to try to outline some commonality with people who disagree with her politically.

Gay Hart Gaines, a wealthy GOP donor who is hosting Ingraham and her children for Thanksgiving in West Palm Beach, Fla., put it this way: My God, that little girl from Guatemala was brought back from poverty in the embrace of Laura and now she is getting an amazing education, Gaines said. . . . My God, and those two little boys.



Ingraham with her children, Nikolai, 7, Dmitri, 9, and Maria, 12. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

What Ingraham has done well on her shows is conflict. On air, she often seems to be spoiling for a fight.

We are a nation divided, but thats what makes us, in a way, she said.

Ryan Williams, a GOP operative, went on Ingrahams show several times in the 2016 cycle representing Jeb Bushs campaign at a time when the former front-runner had become a punching bag for conservatives. Williams understood his role was to be her foil.

Shell rib you and talk over you, but I got to make my points and enjoyed the experience, Williams said. You have to understand the medium and know what youre getting into before you go on her radio show. . . . She would vehemently disagree with me, and she would talk over me and I talked over her. You cant back down, because she never will.

Away from the cameras, Ingrahams demeanor is more reserved, said Phil Lerman, an old neighbor who became a friend. Ingraham would come home in full TV makeup from appearances on Fox and sit down for a glass of chardonnay with him and his wife.

Lerman, a freelance producer and writer whose politics are liberal, would rib her  saying, Youve been out spreading the evil word.

Ingraham would laugh, Lerman recalled. They rarely talked politics.

Alice Crites contributed to this report.
Alexandria

These were among incidents reported by the Alexandria Police Department. For information, call 703-746-4444 or go to alexandriava.gov.

ASSAULTS

Armistead St. N., 400 block, 4:40 a.m. Oct. 14. An assault was reported. An arrest was made.

Armistead St. N., 400 block, 5:37 p.m. Oct. 14. An assault was reported.

Armistead St. N., 500 block, 10:12 p.m. Oct. 16. An assault was reported.

Duke St., 5300 block, 7:59 p.m. Oct. 13. An assault was reported.

Eisenhower Ave., 2200 block, 9:49 p.m. Oct. 15. An assault was reported.

Four Mile Rd., unit block, 3:45 p.m. Oct. 13. An assault was reported.

Jenkins St. S., 100 block, 12:34 a.m. Oct. 11. An assault was reported.

Kenmore Ave., 4800 block, 3:44 p.m. Oct. 13. An assault was reported.

Mill Rd., 2300 block, 12:45 a.m. Oct. 10. An assault was reported.

Mount Vernon Ave., 3800 block, 2:12 a.m. Oct. 15. An assault was reported and property was stolen.

Patrick St. S., 300 block, 10:37 a.m. Oct. 14. An assault was reported and property was damaged. An arrest was made.

Russell Rd., 3800 block, 11:20 a.m. Oct. 16. An assault was reported.

Russell Rd., 3800 block, 2:55 p.m. Oct. 12. An assault was reported.

Saint Asaph St. S., 400 block, 12:42 a.m. Oct. 12. An assault was reported and property was stolen. An arrest was made.

Saint Asaph St. S., 700 block, 11:06 p.m. Oct. 15. An assault was reported.

Sanger Ave., 5800 block, 7:43 p.m. Oct. 17. An assault was reported. An arrest was made.

Uhler Ave. E., unit block, 11:15 a.m. Oct. 13. An assault was reported.

Wolfe St., 900 block, 3:45 p.m. Oct. 14. An assault was reported. An arrest was made.

28th St. S., 3200 block, 6:24 p.m. Oct. 13. An assault was reported.

ABDUCTION

Jefferson Davis Hwy., 2900 block, 9:27 p.m. Oct. 13. Kidnapping was reported. An arrest was made.

ROBBERIES

Diamond Ave., 700 block, 9:38 p.m. Oct. 13. A robbery was reported.

Four Mile Rd., 500 block, 8:27 p.m. Oct. 14. A robbery was reported.

Jefferson Davis Hwy., 2900 block, 9:27 p.m. Oct. 13. A robbery was reported. An arrest was made.

King St., 1600 block, 2:29 a.m. Oct. 14. A robbery was reported.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Bishop Lane, 1300 block, 4:38 p.m. Oct. 14. A theft was reported.

Braddock Rd. W., 4700 block, 9:19 a.m. Oct. 11. A theft was reported.

Bragg St. S., 100 block, 4:31 p.m. Oct. 13. A theft was reported.

Calvert Ave., 400 block, 3:33 p.m. Oct. 17. A theft was reported.

Duke St., 3500 block, 11:06 a.m. Oct. 16. A theft was reported.

Duke St., 3500 block, 6:48 p.m. Oct. 12. Property was entered.

Duke St., 4500 block, 7:21 p.m. Oct. 16. A theft was reported.

Duke St., 5200 block, 6:17 a.m. Oct. 14. A theft was reported and property was damaged.

Duke St., 5200 block, 9 a.m. Oct. 14. A theft was reported and property was damaged.

Duke St., 5900 block, 5:52 p.m. Oct. 16. A theft was reported.

Eisenhower Ave., 4200 block, 8:35 a.m. Oct. 12. A theft was reported and property was damaged.

Eisenhower Ave., 5200 block, 12:24 p.m. Oct. 13. Property was stolen. An arrest was made.

Eisenhower Ave., 5600 block, 8:54 p.m. Oct. 16. A theft was reported.

Holmes Run Pkwy., 5300 block, 4:34 p.m. Oct. 17. A theft was reported.

Howard St. N., 200 block, 7:52 p.m. Oct. 16. A theft was reported.

Jefferson Davis Hwy., 3100 block, 1 a.m. Oct. 16. A theft was reported.

King St., 4300 block, 4:11 a.m. Oct. 17. A theft was reported.

Landover St., 3200 block, 1:02 p.m. Oct. 15. A theft was reported.

Luna Park Dr., 100 block, 10:19 a.m. Oct. 15. A theft was reported.

Maris Ave., 5200 block, 9:16 a.m. Oct. 11. A theft was reported.

Mill Rd., 2300 block, 3:34 p.m. Oct. 12. A theft was reported.

Mount Vernon Ave., 1000 block, 8:30 a.m. Oct. 13. A theft was reported.

Mount Vernon Ave., 1000 block, 9 a.m. Oct. 11. A theft was reported.

Mount Vernon Ave., 1000 block, noon Oct. 13. A theft was reported.

Mount Vernon Ave., 1000 block, 1 p.m. Oct. 13. A theft was reported.

Queen St., 400 block, 8:21 a.m. Oct. 13. A theft was reported.

Reynolds St. S., 200 block, 5:28 p.m. Oct. 10. A theft was reported.

Reynolds St. S., 300 block, 1:52 p.m. Oct. 11. A theft was reported.

Rosemont Ave. W., unit block, 3:26 p.m. Oct. 13. A theft was reported.

Seminary Rd., 4600 block, 12:47 p.m. Oct. 15. A theft was reported.

Seminary Rd., 5000 block, 4:17 a.m. Oct. 17. A theft was reported.

Slaters Lane, 900 block, 12:42 p.m. Oct. 11. An employee theft was reported.

Van Dorn St. S., 200 block, 2:52 p.m. Oct. 16. Property was stolen.

Van Dorn St. S., 500 block, 10:20 a.m. Oct. 16. A theft was reported.

Washington St. S., 800 block, 2:12 p.m. Oct. 13. A theft was reported.

Whiting St. S., 100 block, 11:52 a.m. Oct. 13. A theft was reported.

Yale Dr., 100 block, 1:30 p.m. Oct. 12. Property was entered and property was damaged.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS

Jefferson Davis Hwy., 3700 block, 7:17 p.m. Oct. 13. A vehicle was stolen.

VANDALISM

Alfred St. N., 600 block, 8:43 p.m. Oct. 14. Property was damaged.

Eisenhower Ave., 5000 block, 8:29 p.m. Oct. 16. Property was damaged.

Pitt St. N., 100 block, 8:22 p.m. Oct. 15. Property was damaged.

Quaker Lane N., 200 block, 2:31 p.m. Oct. 13. Property was damaged.

Arlington

These were among incidents reported by the Arlington County Police Department. For information, call 703-558-2222 or visit newsroom.arlingtonva.us.

ASSAULTS

Carlin Springs Rd. N., 4300 block, 5:30 a.m. Oct. 15. Two people fought.

Columbia Pike, 2600 block. An assault was reported.

Columbia Pike, 3200 block. An assault was reported.

Fairfax Dr., 4200 block, 5:05 p.m. Oct. 16. An assault was reported.

Hayes St. S., 1100 block. An assault was reported.

Orme St. S., 900 block, 1:48 a.m. Oct. 14. An assault was reported.

Vermont St. N., 1000 block, midnight Oct. 17. Two people fought.

Wilson Blvd., 2800 block. An assault was reported.

Yorktown Blvd., 5200 block. An assault was reported.

Third Rd. N., 4100 block, 7:56 p.m. Oct. 11. After a dispute, an individual was cut on the hand with a knife by an acquaintance. The victim was treated in a hospital. A 20-year-old Arlington man was charged.

Fourth and N. Thomas streets, 11:38 p.m. Oct. 15. An assault was reported.

Sixth and S. Wayne streets, 10:20 a.m. Oct. 15. An assault was reported.

INDECENT EXPOSURE

Buchanan St. S., 900 block, 6:03 p.m. Oct. 13. A man was seen fondling himself behind a tree while watching children play. The man fled when he was approached by an adult. An investigation is ongoing.

ROBBERIES

Glebe Rd. S., 2900 block, 1:30 p.m. Oct. 11. A man brandished a firearm and robbed an individual of cash. No injuries were reported. An investigation is ongoing.

Fourth St. N., 4300 block, 2:45 a.m. Oct. 15. A man arrived at his residence when two males approached and implied they were armed with a weapon. They forced the man to his parked vehicle and had him drive. After rummaging through the vehicle and taking items, both males fled. No injuries were reported. An investigation is ongoing.

12th St. N., 1500 block, 6:53 a.m. Oct. 12. A male was hit on the back of the head and his personal belongings were stolen. An investigation is ongoing.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Clarendon Blvd., 1500 block. Identity theft was reported.

Colonial Terr. N., 1600 block, 2:22 a.m. Oct. 13. Property was stolen from a vehicle.

Columbia Pike, 3000 block. Property was entered.

Crystal Dr., 1700 block. A theft was reported.

Edgewood St. N., 100 block, 3:15 p.m. Oct. 7 to 12:45 p.m. Oct. 8. An attempt was made to enter a residence by force. Nothing was reported missing. An investigation is ongoing.

Fairfax Dr., 2200 block, 10 a.m. Oct. 11. Property was stolen from a building.

Fairfax Dr., 3600 block, 5:45 a.m. Oct. 16. A theft was reported.

Fern St. S., 1200 block. A theft was reported.

Four Mile Run Dr. S., 4600 block. A theft was reported.

Glebe Rd. and S. Mead St. Property was entered.

Glebe Rd. N., 600 block, 10:46 a.m. Oct. 11. A purse was stolen at a grocery.

Glebe Rd. S., 2700 block. A theft was reported.

Glebe Rd. S., 2900 block. Shoplifting was reported.

Hayes St. S., 1000 block, 7:13 p.m. Oct. 12. Shoplifting was reported.

Hayes St. S., 1100 block, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 14. A credit card was stolen.

Hayes St. S., 1100 block, 3:59 p.m. Oct. 14. Shoplifting was reported.

Hayes St. S., 1100 block, 5:24 p.m. Oct. 13. A theft was reported.

Hayes St. S., 1100 block. Two shoplifting incidents were reported.

Lee Hwy., 4800 block. Employee theft was reported.

Manchester St. S., unit block. Property was stolen from a vehicle.

Pierce St. N., 1500 block. Employee theft was reported.

Quincy St. N., 800 block, 6 p.m. Oct. 16. Property was stolen from a vehicle.

Stafford St. N., 1300 block, 3:01 p.m. Oct. 16. Property was stolen from a school.

Utah St. N., 1000 block, 11:50 a.m. Oct. 15. Property was stolen from a building.

Williamsburg Blvd., 6200 block, 8:20 to 10 a.m. Oct. 13. Property was stolen from a residence. An investigation is ongoing.

Wilson Blvd., 1500 block, 3:53 p.m. Oct. 11. Shoplifting was reported.

Wilson Blvd., 2300 block. A theft was reported.

Wilson Blvd., 2300 block, 4 p.m. Oct. 14 to 4 a.m. Oct. 16. Property was stolen from several offices entered by force. An investigation is ongoing.

Wilson Blvd., 3100 block, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 11. Property was stolen from a building.

Wilson Blvd., 3900 block, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14. A theft was reported.

Woodrow St. S., 2800 block. Property was damaged.

Fourth St. N., 4400 block, 12:50 p.m. Oct. 11. Property was stolen from a building.

Seventh St. S., 5200 block, 1 to 8 a.m. Oct. 12. Property was stolen from a residence. An investigation is ongoing.

Ninth St. S., 2800 block, 9:50 a.m. Oct. 15. Property was stolen from a building.

10th Pl., 5100 block. Property was stolen from a vehicle.

15th St. N., 2100 block, 10:11 a.m. Oct. 12. Shoplifting was reported.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS

Carlin Springs Rd. S., unit block, Oct. 10. A maroon 2001 Ford Explorer was stolen.

Clark St. S., 2400 block, Oct. 16. A yellow 2003 Jeep Wrangler was stolen.

Colonial Ter. N., 1500 block, 11 p.m. Oct. 12. A vehicle was stolen.

Colonial Ter. N., 1500 block, Oct. 13. A red 2013 Ford Focus was stolen.

Dinwiddie St. S., 2300 block, Oct. 13. A gray 2005 Toyota 4-Runner was stolen.

VANDALISM

Colonial Terr. N., 1500 block. A vehicle was tampered with.

Lang St. S., 2800 block, 10:40 p.m. Oct. 8. A car window was smashed and a witness reported two people fleeing from the scene. Police found two individuals and discovered property stolen from two additional vehicles that were entered by smashing windows. Petitions were sought for both juveniles.

Lincoln St. S., 2000 block. A vehicle was damaged.

Washington Blvd., 5800 block. Graffiti was reported.

Wilson Blvd. and N. Manchester St. Graffiti was reported.

Seventh and N. Kensington streets. Graffiti was reported.

Seventh St. S., 4800 block. Graffiti was reported.

18th St. N., 5800 block. A vehicle was damaged.

23rd St. S., 500 block. Property was damaged.
Vicente Rodriguez runs an after-school program in Loma Linda, Calif., but dreams of becoming an English and ethnic studies teacher in a state desperate to fill teaching jobs.

But theres a problem: The 30-year-old Rodriguez has a work permit through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that will expire in 2019, before he even has a chance to set foot in a classroom.

My ability to become a teacher is slowly slipping away, Rodriguez said, speaking before an audience at a news conference Wednesday in the Capitol.

The Trump administration in September said it would wind down the DACA program, which granted work permits to about 690,000 people who, like Rodriguez, were brought to the United States illegally as children.

On Wednesday, Rodriguez rallied with leaders from the National Education Association to press Congress to pass the Dream Act of 2017, a proposal that would provide a pathway to citizenship for immigrants such as himself. The Migration Policy Institute, a Washington think tank, estimates that there are 20,000 immigrants with DACA working as educators, including 5,000 in California and 2,000 each in New York and Texas.

The DACA program, created by President Barack Obama in 2012, allowed hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the United States as children to work legally and to attend college. President Trump, who said Obama did not have the authority to create the program, has pressed Congress to come up with a fix that would allow DACA recipients to remain in the country.

[All she ever knew was America: This high school athlete had a plan. Then DACA was rescinded.]

Some districts, such as Denver Public Schools, have recruited DACA recipients, hoping to find teachers who can empathize with the struggles of their growing populations of immigrant students.

Now, schools are facing the possibility that they could lose educators if DACA ends without a legislative fix.

Many of these teachers are terrific role models for our kids, Denver Public Schools Superintendent Tom Boasberg said last month. The district educates many students who, like DACA recipients, came to the United States as children.

The American Federation of Teachers, whose 1.7 million members include teachers with work permits through DACA, last week joined the NAACP in suing the Trump administration, arguing that the presidents termination of DACA is illegal.

Five of Education Secretary Betsy DeVoss predecessors  including those who served under Republican presidents  also urged Congress last month to protect the immigrants.

DACA recipients are sharpening their minds in school, accelerating innovation by developing new technologies, teaching the next generation of leaders in our public schools, treating patients in our hospitals and contributing to rescue efforts in Houston, they wrote. Ending DACA without a legislative fix, they wrote, would trigger a chaotic reversal of the gains achieved by these Dreamers over the last five years.

[Trump administration announces end of immigration protection program for dreamers]

Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.), chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, commended educators for inspiring the next generation of immigrant students.

Theyre creating the next generation of hope and ambition and success for a country we all know and love, Grisham said. In my state, we have a very severe teacher shortage. A lot of this is shored up particularly in those rural isolated areas that have higher pockets of poverty and higher challenges. DACA recipients, dreamers, fill that gap willingly, courageously, and effectively make a difference in the classroom every single day.

Regardless of what Congress does, Rodriguez plans to apply to a masters program that will help him earn his teaching certificate. He plans to apply to the University of the Redlands in January.

My dream to become a teacher is so close I can grasp it, Rodriguez said. He said he hopes to inspire children in the same way his teachers pushed him: I want to be that teacher that says, Hey, you can do it! Anything is possible. 

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Police say that Anthony Sylvester Hewitt, 29, is a suspect in connection with a robbery in Silver Spring on Wednesday, Oct. 25. (D.C. Police photo.)

At 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, three owners of a family-run convenience store pulled up to their home in Silver Spring, Md., just north of Washington. Inside the purses of two of the store owners  a 77-year-old woman and her 53-year-old daughter  were cash proceeds.

Two armed men suddenly appeared.

The ensuing confrontation left one of the store owners shot in the leg and the two gunmen grabbing the purses, then fleeing south in a Nissan Sentra into Washington, police said.

They crashed the car near Catholic University of America, which was put on lockdown, and ran into a wooded area, according to authorities. D.C. police said they caught one of the suspects, but a second man was still at large Wednesday.

The victims are innocent, hard-working people just trying to get home, who were targeted, said Capt. Paul Starks, a spokesman for the Montgomery County Police Department.

Authorities identified the arrested suspect as Marlo Jenard Johnson, 25, of Northwest D.C. He was being held in D.C. and was expected to be charged with three counts of armed robbery and three counts of first-degree assault, Starks said.

Authorities identified the second, wanted suspect as Anthony Sylvester Hewitt, 29.

The shooting victim  a 51-year-old man  was taken to a hospital for injuries that were not life-threatening, according to Starks.

For police, the events began at 1:36 a.m., when they were called to the 9300 block of New Hampshire Avenue in Montgomery County for a reported shooting. They learned that the victims had just arrived from their store in two cars  the woman and her daughter in one vehicle and the womans son in another car.

The gunmen initially confronted the two women, according to authorities. The man came to help his sister and mother but was pushed to the ground and shot in the leg, police said.

Montgomery officers alerted nearby police agencies.

About 2 a.m. in D.C., police saw the Sentra with two occupants on New Hampshire Avenue. Police tried to get the driver to pull over, but he sped away and crashed into a tree in the 400 block of Taylor Street NE, according to D.C. police.

Both men bailed out. Police searched the Nissan and found a black Sig Sauer semiautomatic under the front passenger floor mat, authorities said.

Students at Catholic University, along Michigan Avenue, received warnings of an armed suspect and were ordered to shelter in place. The lockdown lasted about an hour, authorities said.

Police ask anyone with information about the case to call 202-727-9099.
Shots struck at least four houses over the weekend in Prince William County, Va. in incidents reminiscent of a series of similar incidents reported last year.

County police said bullet holes were found Saturday in in three townhouses in the 2500 block of Sedgwick Place in Dumfries. They said shots were fired behind the houses a number of hours earlier.

No injuries were reported.

Also on Saturday, police found that shots were fired early that morning that hit a vehicle and a house in the area of the 4300 block of Eileen Court in Woodbridge. Again, no injuries were reported.

No link was found between the two incidents, or the earlier incidents in which a combined total of at least a dozen houses were struck by gunfire in Fairfax and Prince William Counties.

Nor was any motive given in the incidents.

It is possible that the incidents may involve the random discharge of firearms within a relatively dense metropolitan area.
Jason Allen Johnson was arrested in New York. He was wanted on a murder charge in connection with a death in February in Arlington. (Courtesy of Arlington County Police)

Authorities said a District man who had been on the run and was wanted in connection with a February murder at a house party in Arlington has been caught.

Jason Allen Johnson, 37, was arrested and charged Tuesday evening in New York, according to Ashley Savage, a spokeswoman for the Arlington County Police Department.

[Man slain in Arlington after dispute at party]

Johnson was wanted on a murder charge in connection with the death of Michael Gray, 23, of Manassas, Va. Gray was fatally shot Feb. 19 after a dispute at a party on the 6300 block of N. 29th Street.

Savage said she had no additional information on his arrest or extradition.
A man from Texas was fatally stabbed after a dispute in a hotel in Manassas, Va., Tuesday morning and a suspect from New York has been arrested, city police said.

They said Joel Tavarez, 27, of Dallas, was found about 3 a.m. at the Home-Style Inn on Cockrell Road, and died at a hospital.

They said Alenny Encarnacion-Collado, 23, of New York was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

It was not clear how the two men were connected, and the nature of the dispute was not disclosed.
Pending. The head of CIDs media crimes, Mr Isaac Oketcho, told Mr Bichachi that he was waiting for courts to open.

BY ANDREW BAGALA

abagala@ug.nationmedia.com

KAMPALA. Police have extended the release bond for the Monitor Publications Executive Editor, Mr Charles Odoobo Bichachi, over presidential age limit stories to Wednesday next week.

The CID is investigating Mr Bichachi on allegations of offensive communication and libel over stories published about the budget of the planned removal of the presidential age limit from the Constitution. The Daily Monitor story was about the budget the parliamentary committee would spend while discussing the presidential age limit Bill in 10 days.

The head of CIDs media crimes, Mr Isaac Oketcho, told Mr Bichachi that he was waiting for courts to open.

I am busy today. Come back on Wednesday when the courts are open, Mr Oketcho told Mr Bichachi at CID headquarters in Kampala yesterday.

The prosecutors, who have to peruse the case file to determine whether it has merit or not, are on strike over pay.

Mr Bichachi said he will comply with the police directives, but he believes there is no merit in the case.

On October 17, detectives also interrogated Red Pepper editor Richard Kintu on similar stories. Mr Kintu is also reporting on police bond. According to the police, MP Raphael Magezi (Igara West Constituency) and nine of his colleagues on the committee, lodged a complaint about a story published on October 10 in Daily Monitor and another in Red Pepper the following day.

The police refused to name the other nine, saying they are still receiving complaints. Section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011 on offensive communication makes it criminal, with a punishment of one year or a fine of Shs480,000 or both, for any person to uses electronic communication to disturb or attempts to disturb the peace, quiet or right of privacy of any person.

Libel, under Section 179 of the Penal Code Act, indicates that any person who, by print, writing, painting, effigy or by any means otherwise than solely by gestures, spoken words or other sounds, unlawfully publishes any defamatory matter concerning another person, with intent to defame that other person, commits the misdemeanour termed libel.
These handguns were seized Oct. 20 during a stop of a car on the Kutz Bridge near the Tidal Basin in Washington and during a search of the homes of people in the car. (Courtesy of U.S. Park Police)

A police stop of a vehicle speeding across the Kutz Bridge at the Tidal Basin led authorities to a cache of drugs and weapons, including two long rifles, drugs and ammunition, according to law enforcement authorities.

U.S. Park Police on Tuesday posted a picture of the seized weapons on Twitter, noting that some were found in a vehicle on Independence Avenue near some of the Districts main tourist attractions  the Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool.

Police said they arrested Demetrice Spencer, 33, of Northeast and Kevin Howe, 24, of Southeast and charged each with several firearms violations and drug charges. The incident occurred Friday about 11:30 p.m.

Sgt. Anna Rose, a spokeswoman for the Park Police, said officers searched the stopped vehicle and found 11 sandwich bags with 37 grams of marijuana, a black ski mask and two handguns.

Rose said officers later searched Spencers residence in Northeast and found two rifles, ammunition and two pellet guns, along with crack and powdered cocaine. Spencer faces additional gun and drug distribution charges. Police identifed the rifles as a ATI 7.62 mm semi-automatic and a Special Weapons Inc. .233 caliber.

Earlier this month, Park Police reported finding another assault-style weapon in a separate, unrelated case on Hayes Street in Northeast Washington, at the Paradise at Parkside apartments. Police said they searched a 2010 Cadillac STS parked in the complex and found inside the trunk 44 ounces of suspected PCP, a Bushmaster .233 caliber rifle, 20 rounds of ammunition and a digital scale.

Police said they found drug paraphernalia inside an apartment there. Lamont Johnson, who lives in the apartment and whose age was not immediately available, was charged with federal drug and gun charges.
Calvert County

These were among reports received by the Calvert County Sheriffs Office and the Maryland State Police. Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to call the Criminal Investigation Division at 410-535-2800 or 301-855-1194, the Crime Solvers line at 410-535-2880 or the state police Prince Frederick Barrack at 410-535-1400.

CHESAPEAKE BEACH AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Bayview Hills, 8:30 p.m. Oct. 11 to 7:30 a.m. Oct. 12. A handicap placard was stolen from a vehicle at a residence.

PROPERTY DAMAGED

Pinewood Terr., Oct. 10. A resident reported that a basement window had been broken.

DUNKIRK AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Chaney Rd., 9 p.m. Oct. 13 to 8 a.m. Oct. 14. A pressure washer was stolen from a driveway at a residence.

McIntosh Dr., 12:30-8:30 a.m. Oct. 3. A wallet, a passport and coins were stolen from a vehicle's console.

HUNTINGTOWN AREA

PROPERTY DAMAGED

Plum Point Rd., 1200 block, 10:30 p.m. Oct. 13 to 8 a.m. Oct. 15. A no-parking sign, an aluminum sign and a kitchen play set were damaged, and a tree was knocked down at an elementary school.

Woodlow Dr., 12:50-2:50 p.m. Oct. 13. A chair and pipe were used to damage a rear bathroom window at a residence.

LUSBY AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Robin Ct., 7 p.m. Oct. 13 to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 14. An iPhone 6, coins, and Game of Thrones collector beers were stolen from several unlocked vehicles.

NORTH BEACH AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

8th St., 2:30-4:30 p.m. Oct. 12. A package containing an iPhone 8 was stolen from a front porch.

PRINCE FREDERICK AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Clay Hammond Rd., 9 p.m. Oct. 9 to 6:45 a.m. Oct. 10. An unlocked vehicle was entered. Nothing was reported missing.

Walters Lane, 10 p.m. Oct. 9 to 4 a.m. Oct. 10. Cash, coins, a jacket, sunglasses and a hunting mask were stolen from several unlocked vehicles.

St. Leonard AREA

PROPERTY DAMAGE

Eucalyptus Dr., 5 p.m. Oct. 7 to 3:55 p.m. Oct. 9. A trailer was spray-painted.

Charles County

These were among reports received by the Charles County Sheriffs Office and the Maryland State Police. For information, call 301-932-2222 or 301-870-3232. The website ccso.us has crime statistics and information on crime prevention programs.

REWARDS FOR INFORMATION

Crime Solvers will pay a reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment. The 24-hour hotline is 866-411-8477. Callers may remain anonymous.

WALDORF AREA

WEAPONS ARREST

Route 228 at Western Pkwy., 8:05 p.m. Oct. 15. A Waldorf man, 35, was arrested during a traffic stop for an equipment violation. The officer detected the odor of marijuana and searched the vehicle. The man was charged with handgun in vehicle and handgun on person.

St. Marys County

These were among reports received by the St. Marys County Sheriffs Office and the Maryland State Police. For information, call 301-475-8008.

To submit a tip, call Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333. The Leonardtown Barrack of the state police has an anonymous tip line at 301-475-2936.

CALIFORNIA AREA

ROBBERY

Lexington Village Way, 46000 block, Oct. 14. A man robbed someone of property while a second assailant assaulted the person.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Foxglove Way, 2300 block, Oct. 14. A rear license plate was stolen from a vehicle.

CHARLOTTE HALL AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Mohawk Dr., 37000 block, Oct. 17. Property was stolen from a house under construction.

GREAT MILLS AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Flour Mill Ct., 20000 block, Oct. 16. A residence was entered. Nothing was reported missing. ASSAULTS

Westbury Blvd. W., 45000 block, Oct. 14. Someone reported being assaulted by unknown assailants.

HOLLYWOOD AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Wit and Folly Way, 43000 block, Oct. 17. Property was stolen from a residence.

ROBBERIES

Sotterley Rd., 24000 block, Oct. 14. A male assaulted several people, took property from them and fled.

LEONARDTOWN AREA

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT

Merchant's Lane, 40000 block, Oct. 15. A vehicle was stolen from a parking lot.

LEXINGTON PARK AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Great Mills Rd., 21000 block, Oct. 15. Property was stolen from a shed entered by force.

Shangri-La Dr., 46000 block, Oct. 15. An attempt was made to enter a residence.

Valley Estates Dr., 22000 block, Oct. 14. An attempt was made to enter a residence.

MECHANICSVILLE AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Pt. Lookout Rd., 31000 block, Oct. 14. Property was stolen from the rear of a residence.

Queen Tree Rd., 27000 block, Oct. 15. Property was stolen from a residence entered by force.

ST. MARYS CITY AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

College Dr., 47000 block, Oct. 16. Property was stolen from a residence. There was no sign of forced entry.
The White House on Wednesday announced it will allow a swift and dramatic expansion of the way drones are used across the U.S., saying President Trump was following through on his promise to the industry to slash regulatory barriers that are sending companies to test the technology overseas.

Trump signed a memorandum directing Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to create a pilot program allowing local, state and tribal governments to apply to establish innovation zones where far-reaching drone operations would be permitted. Those zones could be as large as an entire state.

That would allow companies or governments to operate drones in ways that are restricted by the Federal Aviation Administration under current rules. Jurisdictions might, for example, be able to deliver packages overnight across an entire community, something not done under todays restrictions.

The proposal offers a path for jurisdictions that are enthusiastic about drones to push ahead quickly. It does not, however, answer growing questions about how communities that want to curtail drone usage might proceed.

The federal government has ruled the nations navigable airspace since early last century, and the proliferation of low-flying quadcopters and other unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS, has raised questions about what powers local governments have over their communities.

Legislation has been introduced in Congress to further limit what local and state governments can do  or to give them greater authority to impose reasonable limits on flights under 200 feet, for example.

An administration official said the goal of the pilot program is to enable, not restrict, UAS integration into the national airspace above local jurisdictions.

However, the official said, in the context of expansion certain limits could be part of the mix.

Localities that want to propose reasonable time, manner, and place restrictions in expanding UAS operations in their localities would be a model that could be piloted, the official said.

How that might work in practice remains unclear, as are some other program details, including how the U.S. Department of Transportation would determine if there is widespread local support for the state or local proposals.

[A U.S. drone advisory group has been meeting in secret for months. It has not gone well.]

White House officials said a transformation is already afoot and the economic development and social benefits of broadening drone use demand action to clear bureaucratic hurdles.

Americas skies are changing  UAS now outnumber manned aircraft, which had dominated our airspace since World War II, said Michael Kratsios, deputy assistant to the president at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Our regulatory framework has not kept pace with this change, he added.

Kratsios noted that Googles Project Wing, which is building delivery drones, is testing in Australia and Amazon, which is aggressively pursuing packing delivery, is testing in the United Kingdom.

(Amazon chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos owns The Washington Post.)

Kratsios said further opening American skies to infrastructure inspections and emergency management operations, and enabling commerce will be broadly beneficial and provide the government with data for rewriting regulations moving forward.

The White House said the pilot program will streamline the permission process in three key areas that are now restricted: flying over people, at night, and beyond the view of an operator.

Department of Transportation officials said in a statement that the pilot program will also tackle potential safety issues and examine how technology might address them. Those include using detect and avoid technologies, so drones would potentially veer away from collisions, and testing ways of disabling them under certain circumstances.

The administration said the program will also allow the testing of new air traffic management systems for drones, and help explore the best tech tools for tracking where drones go, an issue that has divided industry leaders and others.

Minnesota Rep. Jason Lewis (R) said he was pleased to see Trumps recognition of the role of drones in the nations future growth, but that the pilot program doesnt go far enough in protecting local control and the rights to privacy and property.

Lewis said an important next step is to ensure that our communities cannot only help expand the beneficial uses of drones, but that they also have the ability to take effective action when it comes to putting in place reasonable limitations on public use. Lewis said the bipartisan legislation he has proposed does that.

Doug Johnson, vice president of technology policy for the Consumer Technology Association, called the Trump administrations plan a smart way to engage local governments and community stakeholders, enable expanded and beneficial drone operations, and support a data-driven approach to future federal actions.

Johnson said the move will help realize the more than 100,000 jobs and $82 billion in economic impact drones can provide in the next decade. The group says 3.4 million drones will be sold in the U.S. this year, up 40 percent from 2016.

Federal transportation officials said governments should partner with the private sector to develop pilot proposals. They said they will invite a minimum of five partnerships, though that total could end up significantly higher.

The presidents memo said Chao should, in coordination with the secretaries of defense and homeland security, as well as the attorney general, take necessary and appropriate steps to mitigate risks to public safety and national security when choosing proposals, though it did not describe those steps.

Officials would use existing authorities to grant exceptions, exemptions, authorizations, and waivers from FAA regulations. In addition to trying out innovative ideas and developing future rules, another program objective would be to test and evaluate various models of State, local, and tribal government involvement in the development and enforcement of Federal regulations for drones.

The memo instructs Chao to begin the first pilot program within a year.


HANDOUT - A Democratic mailer in Virginia ties Republican gubernatorial Ed Gillespie to white nationalists who rallied in Charlottesville  drawing a rebuke from the state GOP. (N/A/Ralph Northam for Governor )

Virginias heated election cycle is becoming increasingly nasty, with the statewide Democratic ticket sending out a new mailer linking Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie and President Trump to the torch-bearing white nationalists who descended on Charlottesville over the summer.

In August, violent clashes between white supremacists in Charlottesville rallying to defend a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and counterprotestors left one woman dead and two state troopers died when their helicopter crashed.

The mailer features images of both Republican men above a photo of the white supremacists with the text, On Tuesday November 7th, Virginia Gets To Stand Up...To Hate.

[How Virginia candidates responded to Charlottesville unrest]

The back of the literature features a prominent image of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam, along with Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Justin Fairfax and Attorney General Mark Herring, with the message This is our chance to stand up to Trump, Gillespie, and hate. All three Democrats approved the ad, and the Democratic Party of Virginia paid for the mailer.

But Gillespie has repeatedly condemned the white nationalists behind the Charlottesville protest.

President Trump blamed both sides for the violence and said there were "very fine people" on both sides. Gillespie has said there was no "moral equivalency" between the white supremacists and counterprotesters and that he saw no "fine people" marching in Charlottesville but he stopped short of criticizing Trump, as many Republicans and Democrats did.

Gillespies campaign condemned the mailer, which was first reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

To now see Ralph Northam and the Democratic ticket exploit imagery from that tragic weekend to try to score political points is both outrageous and beneath the dignity of the offices they seek, Gillespie campaign manager Chris Leavitt said in a statement. This is an ugly political attack that has no place in our Commonwealths political discourse. Ralph Northam should be ashamed to have approved such a hateful mail piece.

Northam campaign spokesman David Turner countered that the mailer was fair because Gillespie did not explicitly condemn the presidents response to the Charlottesville unrest. Democrats pummeled Gillespie, a former Republican National Committee chairman, for not joining members of his own party, including Virginia U.S. Reps. Barbara Comstock and Scott W. Taylor, in directly criticizing Trumps reaction.

[Gillespies latest Trump headache is happening in his own backyard]

For 73 days, Ed Gillespie has refused to call out Donald Trumps response to Charlottesville for what it was: disheartening and wrong, said Turner. When the Charlottesville community wanted leadership to help them heal, he failed. Ed Gillespie should be willing to call out Donald Trump when hes wrong and because he wont, he gives voters a clear choice on Nov. 7.

Virginia politicians often pride themselves for the Virginia Way, a concept that stresses civil discourse and setting aside partisan divide for the public good and for most of the campaign, observers noted the genteel tone of the contest.

But in September, Gillespie began airing ads that aimed to link MS-13 gang violence to Northam, while using images of Latinos in a way Latino groups call racist and inflammatory. And another ad suggests Northam wanted to restore gun rights to violent felons.

[Parties spar over mailers targeting Latina candidates]

Northam has also aired commercials blasting Gillespie's record as lobbyist that claimed he lobbied for companies sending jobs overseas and companies trying to keep student loan rates high  claims fact-checkers found lacked context or were inaccurate.

He seemed to lament the nasty tone of the campaign when speaking at a retirement community on Monday.

We have tried to be positive, said Northam. Virginians deserve civility especially after 2016.

Election Day is Nov. 7.
By Moses Kyeyune:

State House has dismissed allegations by the opposition that the 29 million shilling to MPs in the guise of age limit consultations is a bribe from president Museveni.

This comes shortly after the opposition Chief Whip Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda told journalists at parliament that the money is a bribe for MPs to pass the controversial bill, for the amendment of article 102 (b) of the Constitution to lift the presidential age limit.

The Senior Presidential Press Secretary Don Wanyama has however described the allegations as unfortunate.

He says that President Museveni does not have to first bribe MPs for laws to be passed.

Allegations of the president bribing MPs to pass controversial bills came to the fore in 2005 after lawmakers allegedly received Shs5 million to scrap presidential term limits from the Constitution, to allow Museveni contest for president in the 2006 polls after he had served two terms that had been stipulated in the Constitution.
A federal court judge denied the effort by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and his counterparts in 17 other states and the District to force the Trump administration to maintain cost-sharing payments under the Affordable Care Act. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP)

A federal judge in California on Wednesday denied a request from 19 attorneys general across the country to force the Trump administration to resume funding of cost-sharing payments under the Affordable Care Act.

The ruling leaves intact President Trump's decision earlier this month to immediately end the payments that reimburse insurers for discounts the law requires them to give lower-income customers with health plans through ACA marketplaces. The attorneys general, from 18 states and the District, were seeking a temporary order that would have maintained the funding while the rest of the case is decided.

In his decision, Judge Vince Chhabria of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California wrote that resuming the payments to insurers would be counterproductive.

Chhabria pointed out that most states insurance regulators had already prepared for a possible end to the money, by allowing companies to charge higher rates for the coming year. Although you wouldnt know it from reading the states papers in this lawsuit, he wrote, the truth is that most state regulators have devised responses.

The judge did not decide the suits core question: whether the federal government must continue funding the cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments without a specific congressional appropriation.

Both sides have reasonable arguments, Chhabria said. But, he said, it initially appears that the Administration has the stronger legal position because the 2010 law did not explicitly provide permanent funding for the CSR payments in the same way it did for a separate subsidy that helps people with ACA health plans afford their monthly premiums.

The court ruling was one of several developments related to the health-care law on Wednesday. It coincided with a review by the internal watchdog for the Health and Human Services Department of one of the administration's first actions on the law, as well as a forecast by Congress's budget analysts of the effects of a bipartisan Senate plan to try to stabilize the ACA's marketplaces.

According to the HHS inspector general, hours after they were briefed on outreach activities for the final days of the last Affordable Care Act enrollment season, temporary political appointees at the department abruptly canceled those plans without assessing the impact.

That cancellation in January was marked by confusion over whether the appointees wanted to stop all or part of federal contracts for outreach and ended up costing the government $1 million that could not be recouped, the inspector general found. The report was released on Wednesday by two Democratic senators who had sought the inquiry.

Coming exactly a week before the start of the 2018 enrollment period for ACA plans, the findings circle back to Trumps first week in power and the beginnings of what has evolved into a succession of administration moves widely perceived to be undercutting the insurance marketplaces.

The inquiry found that, as part of their transition briefings with an early set of HHS appointees known as a beachhead team, career officials sent an email Jan. 25 that detailed the work still to be done by outside contractors to encourage consumers to buy ACA coverage before that enrollment period ended. The email provided information to be discussed at a staff meeting the next morning.

After the meeting, the inquiry found, a political appointee told the department's public affairs officials to cancel two outreach contracts. The directive was soon altered to cancel only the outreach activities for which the government could not recover payment. However, one contractor already had halted $1.1 million worth of work that could not be recouped.

The review also found that the career officials stressed how important the closing outreach activities were to attracting young, healthy customers to the marketplaces. But the materials did not contain a full analysis of the potential impact that canceling outreach might have on enrollment, and officials have not since assessed the impact.

Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office found that proposed bipartisan Senate legislation would lower the federal deficit by nearly $3.8 billion during the next decade and would not affect the number of people with health insurance.

The assessment of the plan, written by the chairman and top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, forecasts no fiscal effect from one of its main features: resuming for two years the cost-sharing payments Trump has stopped.

That central aspect of the bill would not itself affect the deficit, the nonpartisan budget analysts conclude, because the CBO had been assuming those payments would continue.

But the analysts still predict the relatively small savings because health insurers that raised their prices for the coming year to compensate for the funding loss would then need to give the government some kind of rebate for charging too much.

The score arrived slightly more than a week after Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) introduced legislation they had begun to negotiate after the failure of a succession of Republican-only Senate bills to dismantle major parts of the 2010 health-care law. The focus of their negotiations was to strengthen the ACA marketplaces that are designed for consumers who cannot get affordable health benefits through a job.

Read more
Lawmakers urged the Drug Enforcement Administration to seek more legal authority if it is needed to battle the nations opioid epidemic, telling an official they are awaiting suggestions on how they can help stem the worst drug crisis in U.S. history.

Give us suggestions. Talk to us. We want to do the right thing, Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.) implored at a hearing held Wednesday by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. We need to know the tools that you need to handle this. Were on the same team with regard to this.

The offers to Neil Doherty, deputy assistant administrator of the DEA's Office of Diversion Control, which battles abuse of prescription opioids, came in the wake of a joint report by The Washington Post and "60 Minutes" that Congress had stripped the DEA of its most potent enforcement weapon against giant companies whose drugs are sometimes illegally diverted onto the street.

The 2016 law, approved by unanimous consent in both houses of Congress and signed by President Barack Obama, was pushed through by a handful of lawmakers allied with the drug distribution companies.

In the House, where a drug industry attorney helped craft an early version of the bill, the leader of that effort was Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.), who fought the DEA for nearly two years to win passage of the measure. Marino was President Trump's nominee to head the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy but withdrew two days after the reports.

In the Senate, the laws primary sponsor was Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), who negotiated a final version with DEA and Justice Department officials.

Hatch and Marino have blasted the news reports, pointing out that Justice and the DEA agreed to the final version of the law and made no attempts to halt its passage or enlist a member of the Senate to stop it. DEA officials have said they accepted a compromise on a law they did not want after negotiating the best deal they believed they could get. Emails included in the Oct. 15 reports support that contention.

On Wednesday, Doherty repeatedly told the committee that the DEA would be happy to work with Congress and the Justice Department to develop recommendations for the authority it needs. He provided no specifics.

Asked by Bilirakis whether the new law had hampered enforcement, he said it changes the way we look at the issuance of immediate suspension orders, but we use an array of other tools.

Lawmakers referred at times to the joint investigation during Wednesdays hearing, called to review the federal effort against the opioid epidemic that is claiming 91 lives a day in the nation.

Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a co-sponsor of the Marino bill, noted that the DEAs use of its authority to freeze drug shipments from company warehouses began to decline sharply after 2011, years before the new law was enacted.

Unless the effect of the law occurred before the passage of the law, it isnt reasonable to blame Congresss action, he suggested.

But the reports by The Post and 60 Minutes said the slowdown began for another reason about 2013, when attorneys at DEA headquarters began to delay the enforcement efforts of agents in the field. Some DEA attorneys worried that courts might not support their legal arguments, though they had never lost that kind of case.

The new law, enacted in 2016, effectively stripped the DEA of the authority to issue immediate suspension orders.

The question is: Why did the agency stop using that tool or dramatically reduce the use of that tool? Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) asked Doherty.

A few lawmakers also threatened during the hearing to subpoena information from the DEA, accusing the agency of delaying responses for six months to their questions about wholesale drug distributors that poured millions of pain pills into West Virginia.

Read more

The drug industrys triumph over the DEA

How the DEA tried, and failed, to hold a major drug company accountable

Why hundreds of millions of pills ended up in the hands of users and dealers
LOUISIANA

Student, visitor killed at Grambling State

A student and a campus visitor were fatally shot overnight at Grambling State University, and the gunman is still on the loose, officials said Wednesday.

Authorities began receiving calls around midnight reporting shots fired on the historically black university campus in northern Louisiana.

Police found two males on the ground in a residential courtyard, both dead.

The victims were identified as Earl Andrews, a Grambling senior, and his friend, Monquiarious Caldwell, both 23.

The shooter remains at large, said Maj. Stephen Williams, a spokesman for the Lincoln Parish sheriffs office. Police on Wednesday afternoon were still interviewing witnesses, he said, and attempting to identify a suspect. An official from the sheriffs office told the Associated Press that the shooter and victims knew each other to some extent.

The fatal shooting apparently began as an altercation that started inside one of the dorm rooms and spilled out into the courtyard, Williams said. No weapons were found at the scene. The sheriffs office has taken over the investigation from campus police.

The shooting occurred during Homecoming Week, when the campus, in the city of Grambling, sees a spike in visitors.

Andrews, who was studying criminal justice at Grambling, lived with his older brother in Ruston, La., a short distance from the campus, said the brother, Ladarius Heard.

Heard told the AP that Andrews and Caldwell were friends from high school and cousins by marriage.

 J. Freedom du Lac,

Marwa Eltagouri and Amy B Wang

CALIFORNIA

Paddocks kin arrested in child porn case

A brother of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock was arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of possessing child pornography, authorities said Wednesday.

Bruce Paddock, 59, was arrested on a 20-count felony complaint, police said. He is not a suspect in the Las Vegas shooting.

The child porn case predated the Oct. 1 shooting, police said.

The felony complaint for his arrest alleges one count of possession of child or youth pornography and 19 counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

The complaint signed Tuesday by a Los Angeles County deputy district attorney specified that between Jan. 1 and Aug. 30 of 2014, Bruce Paddock knowingly possessed more than 600 images of child or youth pornography involving use of a person younger than 18 engaging in or simulating sexual conduct.

Police said Bruce Paddock came under investigation after evidence was discovered inside a business in the Sun Valley area of the city where he had been a squatter. The evidence was discovered after his eviction.

 Associated Press

City bans children at meeting to avoid breast-feeding: City leaders in Eau Claire, Wis., have banned children from their meeting platform after a councilwoman said she wanted to breast-feed her baby from the dais. The vote Tuesday follows months of debate after Catherine Emmanuelle breast-fed her baby while in her seat at the dais, the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram reported. Four council members complained, and Emmanuelle agreed to sit in the public area. The resolution banning children passed 7 to 1, with Emmanuelle and two others abstaining.

 Associated Press
Columnist

When Republicans brought their budget to the Senate floor last week, they were bracing for what is known on Capitol Hill as a "vote-a-rama," in which Democrats would keep the Senate in session until the wee hours, forcing Republicans to cast dozens of politically toxic votes on everything from gun control to legalizing the immigration status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients.

But the vote-a-rama never materialized. Democrats simply stood down.

Why? Because they knew that what was toxic for Republicans would be even more toxic for vulnerable Senate Democrats running for reelection in states President Trump won by double digits. Democrats are deeply worried about the fates of Sens. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia (which Trump won by 42 points), Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota (which Trump won by 36), Jon Tester of Montana (20), Claire McCaskill of Missouri (19) and Joe Donnelly of Indiana (19). If Trump can pick off some or all of these seats, then he could finally have what he needs to pass key legislation with GOP votes alone. And the Democrats' chances of taking control of the Senate two years later in 2020 could slip away.

This is good news for Republicans, but especially for Trump's efforts to pass tax reform. If Democrats are running scared in red states, then Trump can turn the screws on them to vote with him or pay a price in November.

For a while, it appeared Trump was actively courting these Democrats. In September, he hosted Heitkamp, Manchin and Donnelly for dinner at the White House to discuss tax reform. That same month, he invited Heitkamp to travel with him on Air Force One to a tax rally in North Dakota, where he declared her a "good woman" and said his supporters are "for you, 100 percent." A few weeks later, he did it again, this time inviting Donnelly aboard Air Force One for a speech in Indiana unveiling the framework of his tax plan. There he took a sharper edge, warning "If Sen. Donnelly doesn't approve it . . . we will come here, we will campaign against him like you wouldn't believe," adding "I think we'll have numerous Democrats come across because it's the right thing to do." All good.

But after this initial burst of activity, it looks as if Trump may be giving up. "It'll be hard getting the Democrats because they are obstructionists and they vote in blocs," he told the Heritage Foundation last week, "but if we get the Republicans we need, which is virtually every single one of them . . . you will see things happen like have never happened before."

Giving up would be a mistake. With Obamacare, Republicans preemptively announced that they planned to pass the repeal-and-replace bill with only Republican votes. That let red-state Democrats off the hook, and they paid no price for voting against Trump. He should not let them get away with failing to cooperate this time. Instead, he should turn up the heat. His national approval rating is in the high 30s, but in West Virginia, North Dakota, Montana, Missouri and Indiana, it ranges from 49 to 60 percent, which means Trump will be a formidable opponent if these senators cross him. He should be a constant presence in their home states for the next two months, rallying voters behind his tax-reform plan and warning that its success or failure depends on how their Democratic senator votes.

If he turns up the pressure, he wins, no matter what. If the Democrats capitulate, tax reform will almost certainly pass  giving Trump the major legislative victory that has so far eluded him. If they vote against him in spite of such a campaign, then Trump has teed up the GOP for big gains in the Senate.

The only bad option is giving them a free pass again, so Democrats can claim that they would have happily supported the president if he had continued trying to work with them. If Trump fails to put the squeeze on them and does not pass tax reform, the odds of losing the Senate will grow. If Democrats win the Senate, the Trump presidency would effectively be over. No more judges, no more nominees. Democrats would control the Senates investigative committees, handing them unbridled subpoena power. And, should they win the House as well, Democrats could have the votes to bring impeachment proceedings against Trump if they so choose.

In other words, the way forward for Trump is clear: Make Democrats vote for tax reform or pay a political price. Dont let them off the hook.

Read more from Marc Thiessen's archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
BY CHRISTOPHER KISEKKA & AL-MAHDI SSENKARWA

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com

MASAKA. Authorities at Muteesa 1 Royal University (MRU) have indefinitely closed all campuses after rising tension following persistent strikes that have paralysed lectures at the Buganda Kingdom-owned institution of higher learning for two weeks.

The striking staff, both academic and support staff, accuse the university leadership of promoting divisions among staff members and failing to pay their salary arrears for about five months.

In an October 24 letter to staff and students, the university vice chancellor, Prof Arthur Sserwanga, announced that the university council had advised him to close the institution until further notice.

Following the staffs decision to lay down their tools, I have been directed by the university council to close the university effective October 24, 2017 until further notice, he said in a letter.

Mr Trust Kirya, the university guild president told Daily Monitor that the decision to close the university was reached after a crisis council meeting yesterday.

Staff members laid down their tools on October 10, the day that had been set for the reopening of Masaka Campus. The university has suffered four strikes in less than a year and its closure has affected at least 2,424 students.

While presiding over the universitys 6th graduation ceremony recently, the university chancellor, Justice Julia Ssebutinde, threatened to resign if students continue to participate in strikes at the university, saying she will not accept to have her reputation tainted by irresponsible conduct, characterised by unjustified students strikes.

The university started operations in 2007. It has three campuses in Kakeeka-Mengo, Mubende and Masaka.
Columnist

Russias cyber-meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election has been accompanied by what U.S. and European experts describe as a worrisome Kremlin campaign to rewrite the rules for global cyberspace.

A draft of a Russian proposal for a new United Nations Convention on Cooperation in Combating Information Crimes was recently shown to me by a security expert who obtained a copy. The 54-page document includes 72 proposed articles, covering collection of Internet traffic by authorities, codes of conduct for cyberspace and joint investigation of malicious activity. The language sounds bureaucratic and harmless, but experts say that if adopted, it would allow Russia to squeeze cyberspace even more.

The Kremlins proposed convention would enhance the ability of Russia and other authoritarian nations to control communication within their countries, and to gain access to communications in other countries, according to several leading U.S. cyber experts. They described the latest draft as part of Moscows push over the past decade to shape the legal architecture of what Russian strategists like to call the information space.

The proposal was floated by the Kremlin early this year, and outlined in an April 4 article in Kommersant. The Moscow daily reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry had described the convention as an "innovative" and "universal" attempt to replace the 2001 Budapest Convention, which has been signed by the United States and 55 other countries but rejected by Russia. Kommersant said "Russian authorities saw a threat to the sovereignty of the country" in the Budapest pact.

Russia's bid to rewrite global rules through the United Nations was matched by a personal pitch on cyber-cooperation in July from President Vladimir Putin to President Trump at the Group of 20 summit in Hamburg. Putin "vehemently denied" to Trump that Russia had interfered in the U.S. election, Trump said in a tweet. Trump then floated a mystifying proposal: "Putin & I discussed forming an impenetrable Cyber Security unit so that election hacking, & many other negative things, will be guarded and safe."

Trumps suggestion that America join Russia in cyberdefense provoked an uproar in the United States. One Twitter commentator wrote: This is like the FBI asking the Mafia to form an anti-crime unit together.

The White House quickly backtracked after Trump's tweet. Homeland security adviser Tom Bossert told reporters on July 14: "I don't believe that the U.S. and Russia have come to that point yet in cyberspace. And until we do, we wouldn't have the conversation about partnership."

Many U.S. cyber experts share Bosserts view that although any formal treaty or partnership with Moscow now is unwise, quiet confidence-building discussions might be useful. Those could include military-to-military or technical contacts to explore how to avoid catastrophic cyber-events that might cripple strategic systems or pose systemic risk.

U.S. and Russian officials had maintained such a dialogue to explore norms for the Internet, but so far it has been a dead end. The Russians were led by Andrey Krutskikh, a foreign ministry official who is Putin's cyber adviser; and on the U.S. side, by Christopher Painter, who was White House cyber chief under President Barack Obama and then cyber coordinator at the State Department, a post he left this year.

These contacts are sensible, but they have withered as U.S.-Russia relations have deteriorated. A high-level working group stopped meeting after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014. A U.N.-sponsored Group of Governmental Experts on Information Security broke up in June after failing to reach consensus on measures for improving information security. Putin's bilateral proposal at Hamburg quickly disappeared after Trump's premature endorsement.

The Russians, meanwhile, continue their campaign to regulate cyberspace on their terms, by mobilizing allies to support their alternative to the Budapest convention; Moscow's biggest complaint is that the Budapest framework, in Article 32 (b), allows the owners of data to control its use, rather than governments. Moscow wants state control of information.

Russia got some global support for its effort at a September gathering in Xiamen, China, of the so-called BRICS countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. In their formal declaration, the countries "recognize the need for a universal regulatory binding instrument on combatting the criminal use of ICTs [information and communications technologies] under the UN auspices." The countries "acknowledge the initiative" of Russia in seeking such a binding pact.

If the events of the past year have taught us anything, its that Russia views information as a decisive political weapon and wants to control this potential battle space. The global regulatory side of this contest gets little attention, but it could help determine whether open information flows survive in the age of the autocrats.

Twitter: @IgnatiusPost

Read more from David Ignatius's archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
SERGEI MAGNITSKY's legacy continues to expand far beyond what he might have imagined. Magnitsky died at the age of 37 in a Moscow jail cell in 2009 after uncovering a mammoth fraud in which Russian officials awarded themselves a $230 million tax break. The United States later passed legislation bearing his name providing for sanctions against those who are serious human rights abusers. Britain has done the same, and recently, so did Canada. The Magnitsky acts are a protest against venality and a bulwark against impunity.

Magnitsky's death was cruel; Russian officials failed to give him proper medical treatment. His employer was William Browder, once the largest portfolio investor in Russia. Mr. Browder became a tireless advocate for sanctions against the officials who caused the death and others like them.

This principled activism angered Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wealthy cronies in Moscow, whose travel and financial freedoms were cramped by the sanctions. Last year, in the middle of the U.S. presidential campaign, a lawyer for some wealthy Russians visited Trump Tower with a wish list that included easing the Magnitsky sanctions. Just last week, Mr. Putin, at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, lashed out at Mr. Browder, accusing him of being involved in "crime, deception and theft." Russian officials have repeatedly tried to prosecute Mr. Browder on various trumped-up pretexts, including recently the outrageous charge that he, and not the prison officials, caused Magnitsky's death.

Now Mr. Putin is at it again. After Canada passed its version of the Magnitsky act this month, Russia on Oct. 17 filed a notice against Mr. Browder with Interpol, the international network of police forces. Unlike a "red notice" seeking arrest of a wanted person, which is checked to avoid its use for political purposes, Russia unilaterally filed a less formal "diffusion" notice, intended to request arrest or more information about a person or investigation. The diffusion notice went out to all 192 nations who are Interpol members, and Mr. Browder, who is a British citizen, says it had the effect of disabling, temporarily, his ability to enter the United States without a visa.

Interpol has been attempting to halt abuse of the red-notice system, as the nongovernmental organization Fair Trials has urged. The reform effort needs to run deeper and guard against politicization of the Interpol diffusion notices, too. The United States should also be on guard against diffusion notices intended to silence dissent. It is wrong to allow Mr. Putin's vengeful rants to be translated into action. Magnitsky's legacy is that violations of human rights will not be tolerated, and those who speak out will not be silenced.
The NAFTA war is heating up. Its a confusing conflict because perceptions are driven by political rhetoric, not economic reality.

NAFTA, of course, stands for the North American Free Trade Agreement, which has eliminated most tariffs among the United States, Mexico and Canada. During the campaign, candidate Donald Trump denounced NAFTA as a bad deal for the United States. He vowed to improve or scrap it. The trouble is that NAFTA actually isnt a bad deal for the United States.

Consider. Canada and Mexico are the first- and second-largest markets for U.S. exports. In 2015, these exports  counting both goods (such as computers) and services (such as tourism)  amounted to $600 billion. That's more than a quarter of total U.S. exports and almost four times U.S. exports to China.

Why would we want to attack our best foreign markets? But what about the massive trade deficit with Mexico? On inspection, it turns out not to be so large.

Its true that Mexico had a $63 billion surplus in goods traded with us in 2016. But it also runs a deficit with the United States in services. Likewise, Canada runs a slight overall deficit with us in goods and services. Counting these trade flows, the United States runs about a $50 billion deficit with the two countries on total trade of $1.2 trillion. The U.S. deficit roughly equals 4 percent of NAFTA trade.

Its a good deal for us and our partners. We all get more consumer choice. We all get more competition, which holds down prices. Jobs are created in all the countries. To be sure, some American jobs are lost, as factories move to Mexico. This is hard on the displaced workers, but so is competition that eliminates American jobs for other American jobs. Overall, benefits exceed costs.

No matter. The Trump administration is obsessed with economic nationalism and reducing the U.S. trade deficit, which  after China  it blames on NAFTA. Negotiations are underway to defuse U.S. complaints, but the lack of progress leaves open the possibility that Trump will withdraw from NAFTA.

The administration's increasingly acerbic rhetoric suggests that a showdown may be approaching. "I am surprised and disappointed by the resistance to change from our negotiating partners," said Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. trade representative and chief American negotiator, after the last bargaining session. "We have seen no indication that our partners are willing to make any changes that will . . . [reduce] these huge trade deficits."

Opposition to a U.S. withdrawal from the pact would come not only from Mexico and Canada but also from U.S. business and farm interests, which fear a loss of sales if NAFTA is crippled. "We're going to fight like hell to protect the agreement," said Tom Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in a recent speech outlining his group's position.

Indeed, some critics of the administration speculate that its proposed remedies are so extreme that theyre intended to cause a breakdown of negotiations. For example, one U.S. proposal would require that NAFTA be renewed every five years and be terminated if all three countries didnt agree that it should continue.

The business community is worried about the disruption of supply chains, says Chad Bown, a trade expert at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Supply chains are networks of contractors, spread over long distances including between countries, making components for the same product. Supply chains need dependable trade, which would be threatened if NAFTA could be ended every five years.

Under NAFTA, any country can withdraw with six months notice. Whether Trump could unilaterally withdraw  without the concurrence of Congress  under U.S. law is unclear. A move to abandon NAFTA would almost certainly be challenged in court. That is all that can be said with confidence.

Still, Trump seems determined to vilify Mexico and Canada. The facts say otherwise.

Read more from Robert Samuelson's archive.
SEN. JEFF FLAKE, an Arizona Republican, delivered an address to the U.S. Senate Tuesday that was profoundly eloquent in its diagnosis of the degradation that President Trump has brought to American politics. It was also profoundly depressing. If Republicans can be honest only after they have taken themselves out of the political arena  or if by being honest they disqualify themselves from future service  then their party and therefore the nation are in even graver trouble than we knew.

Mr. Flake had intended to run for reelection next year. But a book he published that criticized Mr. Trump made him vulnerable to a primary challenge. It is clear at this moment that a traditional conservative who believes in limited government and free markets, who is devoted to free trade, and who is pro-immigration has a narrower and narrower path to nomination in the Republican Party, Mr. Flake said Tuesday.  It is also clear to me for the moment we have given in or given up on those core principles in favor of the more viscerally satisfying anger and resentment.

So Mr. Flake will not run in 2018  and, liberated from political necessity, he offered a cogent lament for the state of the union: We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country  the personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms, and institutions; the flagrant disregard for truth or decency, the reckless provocations, most often for the pettiest and most personal reasons. . . . And when such behavior emanates from the top of our government, it is something else: It is dangerous to a democracy.

None of this is normal, Mr. Flake said. And what do we as United States senators have to say about it?

The answer: not much. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) has been speaking up  after he, too, decided not to stand for reelection. A few others have shown some courage at times: Mr. Flakes fellow Arizonan, the indomitable John McCain; the independent-minded Susan Collins of Maine; Alaskas Lisa Murkowski. But given that Mr. Flakes fellow Republicans privately agree with much of what he had to say, the silence from his leaders and most of his colleagues is overpowering.

Will they be emboldened by Mr. Flakes candor  or chastened by his example? We fear the latter is more likely. Republicans who fancy themselves true conservatives, such as Mr. Flake, should stand up against Mr. Trumps noxious politics, as the senator implored on Tuesday. But they have to do more than that. They have to fashion an agenda and a political style that can compete successfully in primaries against Trumpism. Until they do, all the eloquence in the world will not be enough.
AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY slammed into the coast of Texas, thousands of electrical workers from other states rushed in to repair power lines and get the lights back on. Ditto in Florida after Hurricane Irma. But after Hurricane Maria pummeled Puerto Rico, there were just a few hundred outside workers, which goes a long way toward explaining why, more than a month after Maria made landfall on the U.S. territory, roughly 8 out of 10 residents are still without power.

"We need trucks, we need poles, we need crews, we need lines, we need more people," a lineman for Puerto Rico's troubled power authority told the New York Times in a report that detailed the poor planning and dubious decision-making that have marked the local and federal response to the storm. While President Trump gave the recovery effort high marks  "I would give myself a 10" out of 10, he said last week  residents endured another week of life without power. No electricity means nights spent in darkness, no way to make calls, and long lines to get ice and water and cash and gas. Hospitals and other crucial facilities have to rely on generators. "It's like going back in time," said one resident.

The sorry, preexisting state of Puerto Rico's power system  an outside consultant last year judged the power lines to be "cracking, corroding, and collapsing"  clearly accounts for some of the delay. But that doesn't excuse the bad planning and questionable decisions that have marked the response to a calamity that was so clearly anticipated. The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, the debt-ridden utility responsible for the deterioration of the power grid, made the troubling decision to not activate the mutual-aid network that utilities typically use to get extra help after major service disruptions. Instead, it opted to hire a small Montana-based company with limited experience to oversee the work. Giving a no-bid $300 million contract to a company that had just two full-time employees on the day Maria struck is, at best, curious and deserving of more scrutiny.

The House Natural Resources Committee plans to examine the circumstances of the contract for Whitefish Energy. It also needs to assess the adequacy of efforts by the Army Corps of Engineers, charged by the Federal Emergency Management Agency with restoring Puerto Rico's power. It is simply unacceptable that the most optimistic  critics call it doubtful  prediction for getting most of the lights back on is by mid-December .

The people of Puerto Rico have proven to be enormously resilient in enduring the daily hardships of not having power or enough food and water. Neighbors have looked out and helped each other. Also stepping in have been charities and good Samaritans, some of whom have proven to be far more capable then the players of officialdom. Isn't it time for government to get its act together?
Columnist

If theres any redeeming news this week, its that no one will ever forget La David T. Johnsons name.

Johnson, of course, was one of the four U.S. soldiers recently killed in Niger. Apparently his name seemed to slip President Trump's mind when he called Johnson's widow to offer his condolences. According to Myeshia Johnson, Trump initially referred to her husband only in the third-person "he."

"He knew what he signed up for," the president reportedly said.

A wide-ranging debate ensued about who said what during the call, involving several players who contradicted each other. Among them, Trump's chief of staff, retired Marine Corps general John F. Kelly, who inexcusably referred to Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.), who listened to the call, as noisy "empty barrels."

As things devolved, the president characteristically dug in his heels, denying both the momentary name lapse as well as the strange salve he attempted to apply to Myeshia Johnsons broken heart.

He "made me cry," she recounted on ABC's "Good Morning America."

She may have cried no matter what the president said, as anyone familiar with grief well knows.

But this is clearly not the point, which is that the commander in chief should know the name of the deceased soldier when he calls the family to express condolences. Surely, Trump is familiar with the cheat sheet. Indeed, when he finally got around to saying Johnsons name, he told Myeshia Johnson that he knew her husbands name because he had his service papers right in front of him.

Would that he had not held himself so long in suspense.

Doubtless, many will think this is much ado. Trump, after all, did finally refer to Johnson by name. Surely, no one at this point expects artfulness  or authentic empathy  from this president.

To be fair, there are a number of reasons the president might have stumbled at first. One, he's a busy man and someone perhaps shoved a paper under his nose and said, "You must call this lady." Trump, you'll recall, bragged last week that he had called "virtually" all the Gold Star families, which wasn't so.

Kelly, meanwhile, contradicted his boss about the content of the conversation, saying that, in fact, he had suggested the approach Trump used. Kelly said he found the same sentiment  "he knew what he was getting into"  comforting when his own Marine son was killed in Afghanistan seven years ago. Perceptions undoubtedly differ among young widows and 67-year-old retired generals.

Another possible explanation for Trumps fumbling is that La David is not the most common of names. Trump may have feared mispronouncing it. Or maybe he, like many whose hair betrays a touch of gray, simply lost his place and needed to fill space until he could find it.

Trump could have put a quick end to Myeshia Johnsons anger were he the sort to apologize. Whatever the reason for his lack of grace, narcissism having been exhausted as an explanation, one is reminded that names are enormously important.

If names werent important, we wouldnt spend so much time agonizing over what to name our children. Getting names right is also the journalists eternal mandate. Once upon a time, a reporter could lose her job for misspelling the deceaseds name in an obituary. The operative principle was that most people get their name in the paper just twice in their lives  when theyre born and when they die. Get it right.

There's a reason the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is so effective as a monument. The more than 58,000 men and women who were killed or went missing are listed, made profoundly real and emotionally staggering by their names. For the same reason, each 9/11 anniversary, the names of the victims are read aloud. We hear them; we remember them; we honor them.

Names are recognition. Using them properly conveys respect. Remembering conveys that one is important. This is why Chinese artist Ai Weiwei created an exhibit that included a recording of the spoken names of more than 5,000 children who died in a 2008 earthquake. When the government tried to suppress the number of those killed, Ai drafted citizens and Twitter followers to investigate and collect the names. He printed them all in Chinese on white paper, which, during a 2012 installation, filled an entire wall of the Smithsonian Institution's Hirshhorn Museum in Washington.

Names  properly printed, etched, blogged, retweeted or spoken  humanize the voiceless and show respect for the living, as well as the dead. Whats in a name? asked Shakespeare. Sometimes, everything.

Rest in peace, Sgt. La David T. Johnson. We wont forget you.

Read more from Kathleen Parker's archive, follow her on Twitter or find her on Facebook.
An ongoing legal battle over a request from an immigrant teen, referred to as Jane Doe in court filings, for an abortion while in federal custody has sparked protests. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)

The 17-year-old crossed illegally into the United States after making the trek north from Central America. She dreamed of studying nursing and, someday, caring for senior citizens. Having a baby, her lawyers say, was not part of her plans.

But she was detained at the U.S.-Mexico border and, after a medical examination, told that she was pregnant. She tried to schedule an abortion, but the Trump administration blocked her, prompting a lawsuit in federal court.

Early Wednesday, after an appeals court ruling in her favor, the teenager identified as Jane Doe in court papers left a federally funded Texas shelter, where she had been kept under close watch, and terminated her pregnancy.

Im not ready to be a parent, she said in a statement provided by her lawyers. I made my decision, and that is between me and God. Through all of this, I have never changed my mind.

The abortion ended the girls individual court challenge in a case that drew widespread attention and evoked the incendiary issues of abortion rights and illegal immigration. But the broader legal battle over whether the federal government may continue to dissuade, and even block, undocumented teens in its custody from having abortions is still pending in U.S. District Court in Washington.

[Detained immigrant teen asks full appeals court to let her get abortion]

The Trump administration had no comment on the case Wednesday, even as a leading Republican in Texas criticized the Justice Departments failure to appeal the teens case to the Supreme Court in time to halt her abortion.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said that he and 11 other Republican state attorneys general were prepared to file a legal brief with the high court to help defend the Trump administration's position.

"This ruling not only cost a life, it could pave the way for anyone outside the United States to unlawfully enter and obtain an abortion," Paxton said in a statement.

New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, one of 14 Democratic attorneys general who filed a court brief in support of the girl, said the group stands "ready to support every other Jane Doe fighting for the fundamental right to make her own health care decisions."

The Trump administration said in court that it has a new policy of refusing to facilitate abortions for unaccompanied minors taken into federal custody after crossing the border illegally.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which represented the teen, said that policy violates the minors constitutional right to an abortion in the United States.

Hundreds of pregnant undocumented immigrants have been in federal custody in recent years, according to court filings.

Justice prevailed today for Jane Doe. But make no mistake about it, the administrations efforts to interfere in womens decisions wont stop with Jane, said Brigitte Amiri, the ACLU attorney who argued the case in court.

[Appeals court delays abortion for undocumented teen]

The abortion on Wednesday followed a roller-coaster legal battle that moved swiftly through the courts, with judges issuing contradictory rulings.

On Tuesday, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit took the unusual step of reversing a three-judge panel of the same court without first holding oral argument.

The panels decision, issued Friday, would have postponed the abortion.

Instead, the D.C. Circuits 6-to-3 ruling sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, who hours later reissued an earlier order requiring the government to let the teen have the abortion promptly and without delay.

Her guardians rushed to arrange transportation to the nearest abortion provider. The Justice Department mulled whether to ask the Supreme Court to put the D.C. Circuit order on hold.

Government lawyers, who did not immediately ask for a hold after the Tuesday ruling, may have miscalculated how quickly the teen could receive an abortion.

Texas law requires counseling from a doctor at least 24 hours in advance of an abortion, but the 17-year-old underwent that counseling Oct. 19, allowing her to go forward with the procedure once Chutkan issued her order.

By the time the Supreme Court opened for business Wednesday, it appears there was no issue left for the justices to decide.

The teen was more than 15 weeks pregnant when her pregnancy was terminated. Texas bars abortions, except in the case of a medical emergency, after 20 weeks. In her statement, the teen expressed frustration that the government earlier took her to a Christian pregnancy center, where workers urged her to carry the pregnancy to term.

They made me see a doctor that tried to convince me not to abort and to look at sonograms, she said. People I dont even know are trying to make me change my mind.

Democrats in Congress have pressed Eric Hargan, acting secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services, about why the Trump administration changed federal policy to block access to abortions for minors in custody.

HHS, which is responsible for caring for detained unaccompanied minors, has said the government is trying to promote child birth and fetal life. Scott Lloyd, who directs the agencys Office of Refugee Resettlement, has personally intervened to try to persuade unaccompanied minor girls not to have abortions, according to HHS.

HHS officials did not respond to multiple requests for comment Wednesday. Lloyd is slated to testify Thursday before the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on immigration and border security on unrelated immigration issues. He could also be asked about the abortion case.

The D.C. Circuits ruling on Tuesday to allow the abortion was opposed by the courts three active judges nominated to the bench by Republican presidents. Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh said the majority had created a new right for undocumented immigrant minors in custody to immediate abortion on demand.

Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson went further in a separate dissent finding that the undocumented teenager had no constitutional right to an elective abortion. To conclude otherwise rewards lawlessness and erases the fundamental difference between citizenship and illegal presence in our country, she wrote.

Attorneys for the undocumented teenager had asked the full appeals court to rehear her case after the three-judge panel ruled 2 to 1 to give HHS until Oct. 31 to find a sponsor to take custody of the girl. That would have allowed her to be released and to seek the abortion without government involvement.

Government lawyers told the court that prospective sponsors had inquired about the teenager. But the girl's lawyers on Sunday filed a sworn statement from the former ORR director during the Obama administration who said the vetting process could take weeks or months.

Matt Zapotosky and Robert Barnes contributed to this report.
President Trump on Wednesday revived the controversy over his handling of a condolence call with an Army soldiers widow, disputing Myeshias Johnsons claim that he did not seem to remember her husbands name and calling into question the memories of others who heard the conversation.

Speaking to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House before departing for a fundraiser in Dallas, Trump said he called Army Sgt. La David Johnson  who was killed after an Oct. 4 ambush in Niger that is still being investigated  by his correct name right from the beginning.

One of the great memories of all time, the president said, pointing at his head with his left hand. Theres no hesitation.

Trump also said he had not specifically authorized the mission in Niger, which left four U.S. soldiers including Johnson dead and has prompted a slew of unanswered questions about how the mission went awry.

No I didnt, not specifically, but I have generals that are great generals  these are great fighters, these are warriors, he said. I gave them authority to do whats right so that we win. Thats the authority they have. I want to win and were going to win.



President Trump speaks to reporters Wednesday before departing for a fundraiser in Dallas. (Scalzo/European Pressphoto Agency-EFE/Rex/Shutterstock)

After Trump first called Myeshia Johnson more than a week ago to express sympathy for her husbands death, the president has waged a back-and-forth war of words with the pregnant widow and others who listened in on the call.

Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.), a family friend of the Johnsons, had criticized the president for insensitivity, saying he had upset Johnson by saying her husband knew what he was getting into, and seeming to bungle his name.

The White House disputed Wilsons claims, which were then reiterated by an aunt who raised La David Johnson and by Johnsons widow, who in a Monday interview with ABCs Good Morning America told ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos, I heard him stumbling on trying to remember my husbands name.

And thats what hurt me the most, because if my husband is out here fighting for our country, and he risked his life for our country, why cant you remember his name? Myeshia Johnson said. And thats what made me upset and cry even more, because my husband was an awesome soldier.

On Wednesday, Trump again pushed back on the claim about La David Johnsons name, repeating it to reporters and saying he had stated it correctly during his initial call  in part because he was provided with a chart that had the fallen soldiers name written out.

I certainly respect La David, who I, by the way, called La David right from the beginning, he said. Just so you understand, they put a chart in front  La David, it says La David Johnson. So I called right from the beginning.

The firestorm has dragged in not only Trump, Wilson, and Johnson, but also the president's Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, who made a surprise appearance at the White House news briefing last Thursday to defend Trump and attack Wilson for allegedly politicizing a Gold Star family's heartache. But in doing so, Kelly made false claims about Wilson that were later disproved by videotape.

Trump struck a more deferential tone in his latest comments than he had in some earlier statements, largely praising Johnson and calling her a lovely lady while also defending himself.

I was extremely nice to her, Trump said. She sounds like a lovely lady. Ive never seen her, Ive never met her, but she sounds like a lovely lady. But I was extremely nice to her, I was extremely courteous, as I was to everyone else.

The president added that he respects both her and her family, including her late husband. I think shes a fantastic woman, he said. I was extremely nice to her, extremely respectful.

As for not authorizing the Niger mission, Trumps remarks were reminiscent to comments he made earlier this year following the death of Senior Chief Petty Officer William Ryan Owens, a U.S. Navy SEAL who was the first U.S. servicemember under killed in the line of duty during Trumps term.

At the time, Trump refused to accept responsibility for the covert mission he had authorized, saying in a Fox News interview that the mission "was started before I got here" and seeming to blame the military by saying, "And they lost Ryan."

Trumps impromptu, 15-minute news conference Wednesday came as he was fending off attacks from members of his own party  namely Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Jeff Flake (R-Az.), who announced Tuesday he was not seeking reelection and delivered a scathing floor speech excoriating Trump.

In response to a question about whether he should behave more civilly, the president, in rapid succession, blamed the media and cited his Ivy League education.

I think the press makes me more uncivil than I am, he said.  I went to an Ivy League college, I was a nice student, I did very well. Im a very intelligent person.

The press, he said, creates a different image of Donald Trump than the real person.

In the next breath, however, he returned to his attacks. Well I think its always okay, when somebody says something about you that is false, I think its always okay to counterpunch or to fight back, Trump said.
A pair of Republican senators sounded an alarm Tuesday about President Trumps fitness for office and warned that his actions were degrading and dangerous to the country  an extraordinary breach that threatens his legislative agenda and further escalates the civil war tearing apart the Republican Party.

Delivering an emotional speech on the Senate floor announcing that he will not seek reelection next year, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said Trump's behavior is "dangerous to our democracy" and summoned fellow Republicans to denounce the president's conduct.

It is time for our complicity and our accommodation of the unacceptable to end, Flake said. He added, Politics can make us silent when we should speak, and silence can equal complicity.

The charged remarks from Flake  a totem of traditional conservatism who has repeatedly spoken out about his isolation in Trumps GOP  came hours after Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) questioned the presidents stability and competence, reigniting a deeply personal feud with the president.

Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who also will not run for reelection in 2018, told reporters in assessing Trumps nine-month tenure: Ive seen no evolution in an upward way. As a matter of fact, it seems to me its almost devolving.

With their distress calls, Flake and Corker joined a chorus of mainstream political leaders newly emboldened to excoriate Trump. Last week, former presidents George W. Bush, a Republican, and Barack Obama, a Democrat, both indirectly rebuked Trump's deportment and warned of peril for the nation under his watch, as did Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who thundered about the rise of what he called "half-baked, spurious nationalism."

In his first response, Trump fired back with tweets early Wednesday characterizing Flake and Corker as bitter GOP outsiders who had zero chance of reelection. Trump also pointed to what he called a love fest with standing ovations by other Republican senators at a meeting Tuesday to discuss the partys tax plan.

The reason Flake and Corker dropped out of the Senate race is very simple, they had zero chance of being elected. Now act so hurt & wounded! Trump wrote.

The raw candor from two retiring senators came on a day when Trump made a rare trip to the Capitol for an intended show of party unity, lunching privately with Republican senators to rally support for his plan to cut taxes.

For a Republican Party that has been riven by internal turmoil for nearly a decade, the Flake-Corker rupture with Trump exacerbated the ferocious war between the partys seasoned leaders and its anti-establishment forces, now rallying under the banner of Trumpism. Polls show that the overwhelming majority of Republican voters back Trump, and the fact that two of the presidents most vocal critics in the Senate are retiring underscores how dangerous it is for politicians seeking reelection to break with the president and risk the wrath of his loyal supporters.

[Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona will retire, citing direction of GOP under Trump]

Flakes 18-minute speech was perhaps the most sweeping indictment of Trump delivered by a Republican to date. Flake, 54, spoke with bewilderment and sadness, his voice cracking at times, about what he viewed as the withering of morality and civility in the national dialogue.

We must never regard as normal the regular and casual undermining of our democratic norms and ideals, Flake said. We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country  the personal attacks; the threats against principles, freedoms and institutions; the flagrant disregard for truth and decency.

Flake added: We must stop pretending that the degradation of our politics and the conduct of some in our executive branch are normal. They are not normal. Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior has become excused and countenanced as telling it like it is when it is actually just reckless, outrageous and undignified.

Some Republican elder statesmen who have been highly critical of Trump celebrated Flakes remarks and called on other elected Republicans to further distance the party from the president.

Am I concerned about what we are supposed to do for the next three-plus years with this man in the White House? Yes, Im very concerned, said John C. Danforth, a former Republican senator from Missouri and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. But the best I can think of right now is simply making it clear to the American people that the Republican Party is what it has been in the past, and that is not Donald Trump.

Still, Danforth said he is concerned that by giving up their seats, Flake and Corker are "leaving the field open" to insurgent candidates inspired by former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, who is leading a rebellion against establishment Republicans.

Already, a crop of Bannon-inspired conservative outsiders is emerging nationally. From Alabama to Mississippi to Nevada, these contenders are hoping to disrupt the 2018 midterm elections. They could determine whether the GOP maintains its narrow majorities in the Senate and the House  and whether Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) hold their leadership positions.

Bannon claimed victory with Flakes departure. Many more to come, he predicted in a text message to The Washington Post.

Andy Surabian, a Bannon associate who advises Great America Alliance, a pro-Trump political group, said: This is a victory for President Trump and all of his supporters across the nation. Jeff Flake was Americas top Never Trumper, so getting his scalp is a signal to Never Trumpers everywhere that their time is up.

[The presidents wingman: Absent in the West Wing, Bannon stays close to Trump]

At the White House, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Flakes and Corkers comments were petty and suggested that they were retiring because they could not win reelection. She boasted from the briefing room lectern that Trump was more popular in Arizona and Tennessee, both states he carried in 2016, than the two departing senators.

The voters of these individual senators states are speaking in pretty loud volumes, Sanders said. I think that they were not likely to be reelected, and I think that shows that the support is more behind this president than it is those two individuals.

At the Capitol, meanwhile, Republican leaders reacted cautiously Tuesday, eager to offer support to their colleagues but fearful of breaking their fragile bonds with a president who has been quick to explode at personal slights.

Following Flake on the Senate floor, McConnell thanked him for the opportunity to listen to his remarks and honored the Arizonan, whom he called a very fine man, a man who clearly brings high principles to the office every day.

Tuesdays thunderclap exposed the threadbare relationship Trump has with the GOP. At the closed-door lunch, Trump received a standing ovation from Republican senators. Yet for months, many of these lawmakers privately have seethed at the presidents actions and language, as Flake and Corker did publicly in concluding that Trump is an unstable presence in American political life.

This is the ice beginning to crack, said Peter Wehner, a Trump critic who has advised several past Republican presidents. This is an extraordinary moment because the members of the presidents own party know that he is not fit in some fundamental way to be the president. These views that theyve kept in the shadows are now being exposed to the light.

Democrats balked at the notion that Republicans were somehow unsullied because two GOP senators rapped Trump.

Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress remain in lockstep with the Trump agenda and silent in the face of the presidents disgraceful behavior, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said in a statement.

[The great dealmaker? Lawmakers find Trump to be an untrustworthy negotiator.]

Flake's Tuesday speech was the surprise culmination of more than a year of simmering criticism of Trump and the direction the party has taken under him. Flake published a best-selling book this summer, "Conscience of a Conservative," that chastised the president's character and ideology, stunning his colleagues and stoking Trump's anger. The president vowed to work to defeat him if he sought reelection in 2018.

Recent polls showed Flake trailing the leading Democratic Senate candidate, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), as well as potential primary rivals.

The emerging Republican field is robust and includes Kelli Ward, a former Arizona state senator and hard-line conservative known for incendiary statements. Several members of the states congressional delegation, including Reps. Martha McSally and David Schweikert, are also considering bids, according to Arizona Republicans.

Flake said Tuesday that he was not comfortable making the policy concessions on issues such as trade and immigration  or withholding criticisms of Trumps behavior  that he felt he would have to make to satisfy Republican primary voters galvanized by anger and grievance.

Sustained incumbency is certainly not the point of seeking office, and there are times when we must risk our careers in favor of our principles, Flake said. Now is such a time.

Flake, who once ran the Goldwater Institute, a libertarian think tank based in Phoenix and named for the late Republican senator Barry Goldwater, won a seat in the House in 2000 and served there for a dozen years before being elected to the Senate in 2012.

As he spoke on the Senate floor, a handful of colleagues from both parties sat grimly across the chamber. When he concluded, Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), a sometime critic of Trump, clapped loudly, prompting others to stand and applaud.

McCain spoke a few minutes later and called his colleague a man of integrity and honor and decency and commitment, saying Flakes service to the country is one of honor, of brilliance and patriotism and love of country.

Asked later by reporters if he thought other senators should speak in the same terms about Trump as Flake had, McCain demurred. Its up to every senator, he said. Its not up to me.

[Utterly untruthful: Corker unbound as he attacks Trump over fitness, competence]

Corker unburdened himself Tuesday of his feelings about Trump  first in a trio of television morning show interviews, then in a tweet and then in a hallway gaggle with reporters.

Corker said Trump was utterly untruthful and called him the L-word; expressed hope that he would stand down to let Congress formulate a tax plan without him; said he should leave it to the professionals to handle the North Korea nuclear crisis; said he was not a role model for children; and urged West Wing aides to figure out ways of controlling him. Corker also said he would not support Trump for election again.

The succession of brittle comments seemed to enrage Trump, who responded with several tweets, calling the short-statured senator liddle and a lightweight, as well as incompetent.

Republican leaders were also swift to dismiss Corkers comments as mere distractions, insistent upon showcasing party cohesion despite the evident disorder.

All this stuff you see on a daily basis  Twitter this and Twitter that? Forget about it, Ryan told reporters.

Theres a lot of noise out there, McConnell said. We have a First Amendment in this country; everybody gets to express themselves. But what were concentrating on is the agenda the American people need.

Read more at PowerPost

Ed OKeefe, Ashley Parker, Elise Viebeck, David Weigel and Brian Murphy contributed to this report.
Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), has long warned about the governments red ink, but says he will now vote for a deficit-busting budget because the GOP needs a win on tax cuts. (Ted Richardson/For The Washington Post)

House conservatives have warned for years about the threat posed by the national debt, and for months they pushed to include a path to ambitious spending cuts in budget legislation.

On Thursday, most of them plan to vote for a Senate-written budget that not only fails to make way for spending cuts but also explicitly envisions adding up to $1.5 trillion to the existing $20 trillion national debt to accommodate a tax overhaul.

GOP hard-liners have frequently been willing to oppose must-pass legislation to achieve conservative policy goals, threatening government shutdowns and federal default as leverage.

But numerous House conservatives said in interviews this week that this time is different: Republicans are under enormous pressure to pass a tax bill, given the partys failure to take legislative action on health care, and they do not want to be seen as standing in the way.

[Senate approves budget in crucial step forward for Republican tax cuts]

Weve got to get something major done, said Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, whose members pushed earlier this year for hundreds of billions of dollars in spending cuts.

Had we repealed and replaced Obamacare, there may not have been as much flexibility or pressure, he added. Am I feeling the pressure to get this done? Yes. Have I been willing to negotiate a little bit more generously because of that pressure? Yeah. Thats just shooting straight with you.

The atmosphere of compliance emerged after President Trump called on House members to support the Senate budget language in a Sunday conference call to speed passage of the tax bill. He delivered an even blunter message on Tuesday, when he took fresh aim at Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.)  one of the few Republican lawmakers who has openly warned that he would oppose a tax bill that would explode the national debt.

"Bob Corker, who helped President O give us the bad Iran Deal & couldn't get elected dogcatcher in Tennessee, is now fighting Tax Cuts," Trump tweeted, adding: "People like liddle' Bob Corker have set the U.S. way back. Now we move forward!"

[Trump joins House GOP call to rally support for Senate budget bill]

The upshot is that House members are set to vote Thursday on a budget resolution that includes special procedures allowing a tax bill that adds as much as $1.5 trillion to the deficit over the coming decade to pass with solely Republican votes. It does not include House language that would have mandated a tax bill that did not add much to the debt and allowed at least $200 billion in cuts to mandatory programs to pass on the same basis.

As of Tuesday, the bigger threat to passage of the budget this week appeared to be a cadre of GOP lawmakers concerned about proposals to eliminate the income tax deduction for state and local taxes. At least three lawmakers who supported the House version said they would vote against the Senate version Thursday unless a deal is reached.

Budget hawks, meanwhile, have been mostly mum.

House leaders hailed their own version of the budget when it passed earlier this month, in part by highlighting its deficit-reduction components.

This is a budget that keeps our responsibilities to our children and our grandchildren, Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) said in a floor speech. That American legacy is seriously at risk because of our growing, deteriorating debt situation, because of our debt crisis. This budget tackles that.

Ryan, who as House Budget Committee chairman and the GOPs 2012 nominee for vice president routinely issued warnings about the nations long-term fiscal trajectory, did not mention the national debt in discussing the upcoming budget vote with reporters on Tuesday, focusing exclusively on the benefits of the tax plan.

[In a switch, GOP deserts its budget-cutting mantra]

"Adopting this budget is another sign of real momentum for tax reform, of getting the train on the tracks and getting this moving, so we can deliver real tax relief and a healthier, stronger economy for the American people," he said.

House Budget Committee Chairman Diane Black (R-Tenn.) said Monday she was disappointed by the decision to jettison the effort to pursue spending cuts but also said the political demands of the moment called for it.

The Senate really has no stomach for doing any kind of a conference committee, and obviously tax reform is very important, she said, referring to the process for resolving differences between the two chambers. So were going to move tax reform forward, and this is the way to do it.

But its not only top House leaders who have stepped away from budget hawkery in recent weeks as the tax bill has come together. Self-styled fiscal sentinels such as the Freedom Caucus and the Republican Study Committee have largely held their fire on deficit-related criticism.

Leaders of both groups cited promises of future action from the White House  Meadows said he expected a push for "welfare reform" legislation next year, and Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.), the RSC's chairman, said he had won a commitment for a vote on "deficit-reducing legislation." But neither pledge comes with a clear path to becoming law.

A few hard-liners have indicated they will vote no. Freshman Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) told reporters Tuesday that he was in no mood to vote for a budget nobody believes in so we have a chance to pass a tax bill nobody has read.

But those willing to go along include several members of the landmark GOP class of 2010, a group of 63 mostly stalwart conservatives who were as critical of their own partys failure to contain the national debt as they were of Democrats.

They include Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), who represents a solidly Republican northwest Arkansas district and is now a senior member of the Budget Committee. He complained in vivid terms Tuesday about having to vote for the Senate package  but confirmed he plans to support it.

The budget that came back to us is a crap sandwich, but it happens to be the only thing on the menu, Womack said.

The tax bill, he said, is driving the train and that political reality is that spending cuts will have to wait. When I go home and people ask me about the budget, it had little to do about the budget and it had everything to do about tax reform, he said. Its just as simple as that.

Other conservatives also said their constituents are simply not as concerned about the national debt as they are about the tax legislation.

"They think the main thing is the main thing, and the main thing is tax reform," said Rep. Bill Flores (R-Texas), a former chairman of the Republican Study Committee.

Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), who has served in the House less than a year after a successful campaign where fiscal discipline was a centerpiece, said Tuesday he has been dismayed by the utter disregard from both parties for the nations finances.

Having said that, this is something very important to the president. Its something that the people in my district expect us to pass, Comer said. They want an accomplishment from this Congress. They want this Congress to support the president. . . . So I support the tax cuts, but I wish we would cut spending more. But, apparently, Im in the minority.

Damian Paletta and Dave Weigel contributed to this report.

Read more at PowerPost
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), accompanied by his wife, Cheryl, leaves the Capitol on Tuesday after announcing he won't seek reelection in 2018. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

The surprise retirement of Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) boosted Democratic optimism about what once seemed unthinkable: winning control of the Senate in 2018.

At the same time, Flakes move emboldened progressives who want the party, locked out of power at every level, to move further to the left  even as the national party plays defense in states won last year by President Trump.

Before Flakes announcement, Democrats already were investing in Arizonas 2018 race on the theory that the states growing Latino electorate and Trumps unpopularity would make it competitive. In 2016, Trump won the state with just 48.1 percent of the vote, the worst performance by a Republican presidential nominee there in 20 years. In a Gallup poll of all 50 states conducted this summer, Trumps approval in Arizona had tumbled to 43 percent.

Republicans in Congress remain in lockstep with the Trump agenda and silent in the face of the presidents disgraceful behavior, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said in a statement. The last thing Arizonans need is another rubber-stamp Republican for Donald Trumps reckless right-wing policies that hurt working families.

[Jeff Flake retires, citing direction of GOP under Trump]

Democrats also had been competing in Arizona out of necessity. In 2018, just eight Republican senators face reelection, compared with 23 Democrats and two independents who caucus with their party. Only one Republican, Sen. Dean Heller (Nev.), is up in a state that voted last year for Hillary Clinton. In contrast, 10 Democrats are up in states that voted for Trump, five of them in states that also voted for Mitt Romney four years earlier.

But since the start of the year, Trumps troubled presidency and the nervous energy of progressive activists has brightened the picture for Democrats. In Nevada and Arizona, the partys top recruits  Reps. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.)  quickly organized campaigns and began raising more money than the Republican incumbents. In both states, conservative insurgent candidates, supported by former White House political strategist Stephen K. Bannon, have been attacking the incumbents from the left.

Senator Flakes retirement is another example of the divisiveness roiling Republican primaries, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman David Bergstein said in a statement. These dynamics will continue to hinder Republican efforts in Arizona, and whatever candidate succeeds in claiming their nomination will fall short of Kyrsten Sinema and her proven record of results for Arizonas working families.

Before Tuesday, Democratic incumbents have played defense and raked in cash. In the third fundraising quarter, almost all of the Democrats 2018 Senate candidates, with the sole exception of Sen. Joe Manchin III (W.Va.), raised more than $1 million. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), who some see as the Democrats most vulnerable incumbent, raised $2.9 million; Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) raised $2.6 million; and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) raised $2.4 million.

Democrats remain quietly nervous about Florida, where wealthy Gov. Rick Scott (R.) may challenge Sen. Bill Nelson (D). But in many 2018 battlegrounds, Republicans have struggled to recruit their top challengers, with musician Kid Rock confirming Tuesday  in an interview with Howard Stern  that he was only joking about a Michigan Senate bid.

And in Alabama, a state that Democrats have not contested since 1996, former U.S. attorney Doug Jones is running an unexpectedly cash-rich campaign ahead of a Dec. 12 special election, running television ads against Republican nominee Roy Moore.

Weve got to help Doug  hes an underdog, Perez said Saturday at the DNCs fall meeting in Las Vegas.

But the Democrats' opportunities also have inspired progressive activists to demand more  especially in Arizona. Sinema, who has represented a fast-

growing part of the Phoenix area since 2013, has one of the most conservative voting records of any House Democrat.

Sinema was one of just 11 Democrats to vote for legislation that would make it easier to deport immigrants who are gang members, and one of just seven to vote for legislation that would deny Affordable Care Act subsidies to undocumented immigrants. In a study by the data journalism site FiveThirtyEight, Sinema voted for Trump-favored legislation 51 percent of the time, more than almost any Democrat.

As the Flake news spread, some progressives suggested that Sinema might get a primary challenge  or might, at least, want to move to the left. Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), a longtime chair of the House Progressive Caucus, said there was buzz among progressives and labor about seeking an alternative candidate now that Flake was gone.

On some issues coming up  with DACA, with tax reform, with the budget  people are waiting to see how she positions herself, Grijalva said. DACA refers to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Some progressives, like Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), suggested that Phoenix-area Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) could run for the seat to Sinemas left. On Tuesday, the Voto Latino Action Network launched a Draft Gallego petition.

This seat will be a huge opportunity for Democrats if they run an inspiring candidate with a bold progressive, populist message on issues like Medicare for All and high wages for workers, said Kaitlin Sweeney, a spokeswoman for the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which trains and funds left-wing candidates. Arizonans arent looking for a milquetoast Blue Dog that runs as a Republican.

In a Tuesday interview, Gallego ruled out a run, saying that his 9-month-old son needs a father and that Republicans would find a serious contender to replace Flake.

Kyrstens a formidable candidate, and theres very few candidates who can run statewide, Gallego said.

As of Tuesday, Democrats also were confident that they could take advantage of the GOPs missteps without overstretching and abandoning some at-risk incumbents.

The only top-tier primary challenge of a Democratic senator is coming in California, where state Sen. Kevin De Leon is challenging Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) on a message of generational change. California Republicans, meanwhile, who failed to land a candidate for an open Senate race in 2016, seem ill-poised to take advantage of the Democrats division.

Khanna, who works with the progressive group Justice Democrats to promote insurgent candidates, suggested that primaries and competition would actually help the party.

The traditionalists look at this and say, hey, theres a finite amount of money  this should be put into swing states, Khanna said. My view is that the strongest moment for the Democratic Party in recent history was when Hillary Clinton ran against Barack Obama. More people got involved; more people gave money. We can expand the pie.

And Rep. Beto ORourke (D-Tex.), whose long-shot bid against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) has competed for progressives money and attention, said he isnt worried about Arizona.

Weve had 7,000 more individual contributors than Cruz in the last quarter, said ORourke. The fact that the only sitting Republican senator Bannon wont oppose is Ted Cruz  that speaks volumes.

Read more at PowerPost
Allies of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declared open warfare on Wednesday against Stephen K. Bannon, the former White House chief strategist and leader of an insurrection aimed at defeating mainstream Republican candidates in next years midterm elections.

More than a year ahead of the 2018 congressional contests, a super PAC aligned with McConnell (R-Ky.) revealed plans to attack Bannon personally as it works to protect GOP incumbents facing uphill primary fights. The effort reflects the growing concern of Republican lawmakers over the rise of anti-establishment forces and comes amid escalating frustration over President Trumps conduct, which has prompted a handful of lawmakers to publicly criticize the president.

Yet the retaliatory crusade does not aim to target Trump, whose popularity remains high among Republican voters. Instead, the McConnell-allied Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) will highlight Bannons hard-line populism and attempt to link him to white nationalism to discredit him and the candidates he will support. It will also boost candidates with traditional GOP profiles and excoriate those tied to Bannon, with plans to spend millions and launch a heavy social media presence in some states.

The turbulence presents a danger to Republicans narrow 52-seat majority in the Senate, with seasoned GOP lawmakers deciding against seeking reelection amid the political storm  and with many GOP voters cheering the rancor that Bannon has stoked from his perch at his website, Breitbart.

[Daily 202: Flake and Corker feel liberated. That should terrify Trump.]

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), in an emotional plea Tuesday, said that he would not run in 2018, after Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) had done the same in late September. Both men, no longer accountable to Republican primary voters, have taken on higher-profile roles as critics of the president, with Corker calling for a day care to step in and control him and Flake calling Trumps behavior unacceptable.

Some Republican lawmakers have privately fretted that simply speaking out against Trumps incendiary statements or the Bannon-aligned candidates that are rousing anger in their states will not be enough  and could backfire  as they try to survive the surge of grievance-driven politics that has gripped the GOPs base.

Its tough, Flake told CNN on Wednesday. Im competitive. I like to fight these battles. But I also knew that I couldnt run the kind of race that I would be proud of and win in a Republican primary at this time. The politics in that way have changed.

In the wake of Flakes announcement, the SLF called Arizona state Sen. Kelli Ward, Bannons pick to replace Flake, a conspiracy theorist and promised to ensure her defeat.

In recent weeks, Bannon has held court as dozens of candidates have streamed through his Capitol Hill townhouse, including Ward last week, urging them to pledge to vote against McConnell for majority leader. Mississippi state Sen. Chris McDaniel (R) is close to making a decision on a bid against Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and has won Bannons blessing, according to a person close to him.

Hedge fund executive Robert Mercer and his daughter Rebekah  Bannons wealthy allies  have pledged millions to the cause, said people briefed on their plans.

Bannons critics argue that he is causing unnecessary internal divisions that could make it harder to pass tax legislation  and to win general elections next fall. They also point to Sen. Luther Stranges defeat in last months Republican primary in a special Senate election in Alabama as an example of a dynamic they worry could repeat itself across the next year if left unchecked. The SLF spent more than $10 million to help Strange.

Strange was endorsed by Trump and McConnell but lost to a former state judge, Roy Moore, who had won the backing of Bannon and his orbit of allies. Moore is now in a tight race with Democratic nominee Doug Jones.

This is a guy who is more interested in seeing his name in the headlines than he is in any kind of accomplishment for the president, said Josh Holmes, a former chief of staff to McConnell who has been increasingly outspoken in his opposition to Bannon. It comes at great cost to the presidents term, the Republican Party and any hope they can have at working as a team.

On Wednesday, the SLFs Twitter account mocked Danny Tarkanian  a frequent conservative candidate in Nevada who is challenging Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.)  for suggesting that Heller join him in pledging to oppose McConnell as majority leader.

The tweets also turned the spotlight on Bannon.

The SLF tweeted a 2016 headline from the New York Daily News  Anti-Semitic Trump campaign CEO Stephen Bannon not a big fan of whiny brat Jews, ex-wife says  with space for Tarkanians signature.

Heres another pledge for @DannyTarkanian to sign, the PAC tweeted.

The Daily News reported last year that in a 2007 court statement, Bannons former wife Mary Louise Piccard said he didnt want their twin daughters attending a school because too many Jews attended. The biggest problem he had with Archer [School for Girls in Los Angeles] is the number of Jews that attend, Piccard said in her statement, the newspaper reported.

Bannons spokeswoman Alexandra Preate told The Washington Post last year that Bannon has denied saying that and proudly sent the girls to Archer. And after seeing the SLF tweet to Tarkanian on Wednesday, a Bannon confidant said, he responded to the groups social media blitz with laughter  as he has to other recent attacks on his character.

That attack was one of a number of swipes at Bannon that have popped up as the former White House adviser has emerged as a player on the national political scene. Holmes and others have called him a white supremacist.

Holmes defended his use of the term to describe Bannon in a recent interview. If you look at his associations, the people who are ecstatic about his efforts, the long history of conduct that he has been a part of, I will let others come to their conclusions, he said. But this is not a guy that just burst on the scene. Lets not act like everybody doesnt know exactly who Steve Bannon is.

Bannon has said repeatedly that his nationalist, populist vision includes a place for all races, sexual orientations and genders to succeed.

Do we need any further evidence than Mitch McConnell and his cronies reducing themselves to using left-wing talking points to attack Steve? Its pathetic to watch, said Andy Surabian, a senior adviser to the Great America Alliance super PAC and Bannons former deputy at the White House. The pro-Trump PAC is engaged in a slew of races, sending around a bus to rally activists, and counts longtime operative Edward Rollins as its strategist. Every poll shows Mitch McConnell is an albatross on the Republican candidates, Surabian said. If McConnell truly cared about our Republican majority in the Senate more than he cares about his own power, then he would step down as Senate majority leader today.

Bannons circle says the contents of his divorce proceedings, along with claims of racism, are unlikely to do new damage to his reputation, since he has been targeted in the past along those same lines by Democrats, and even in a Saturday Night Live caricature as an angel of death. Advisers also note that the attacks elevate Bannons profile, which could help carry his anti-establishment message.

In an email, SLF President Steven Law said he expects Bannon to become a liability for any insurgent candidates he supports in 2018.

But his real impact would be felt in general elections, where Bannons well-documented, toxic views and alt-right paper trail could become a liability for candidates who are perceived as closely tied to him, Law said.

According to public polling, neither McConnell nor Bannon is in good standing with voters. In an April poll conducted by Quinnipiac University, one of few to ask voters about Bannon, just 11 percent said they viewed him positively and 45 percent said they viewed him negatively. The numbers were better among Republicans, with a nine-point favorability margin.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), one of the incumbents mentioned as a possible target for Bannon in 2018, dismissed the effort to get Senate Republicans to sign pledges vowing to oppose McConnell.

No, I havent signed pledges. I didnt sign Grover Norquists pledge, Barrasso said on Wednesday, referring to the anti-tax advocates famous pledge. Im not a guy that signs pledges, and Im going to vote for whoever I believe is in the best interests of the people of Wyoming.

The reasons for Flakes decision may be tied less to the national environment surrounding the feud between McConnell and Bannon and more about raw home-state politics. Reams of public and private polling in recent months have found Flake to be an unpopular incumbent, especially among the Republican voters he would need to win over in a primary fight next year.

McConnells polling among Republicans has tumbled since the start of the year  a fact that Bannon has used to his advantage. On Tuesday, Bannons Breitbart website reported that a Harvard-Harris poll found 56 percent of Republicans in favor of dumping McConnell as leader. That same day, at a media roundtable organized by the conservative Heritage Foundation, a reporter for Breitbart asked members of the House Freedom Caucus to respond to the poll number.

It was that high? scoffed Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), wondering jokingly about why it wasnt even higher.

As the two sides spar, Senate Republicans are trying to demonstrate that the partys agenda is moving forward despite the infighting  and that relations with the White House are smooth. On Wednesday, a day after Flake made his charged speech, Ivanka Trump appeared with Republican senators to pitch a child tax credit that she has lobbied to include in the upcoming tax legislation.

Still, GOP donors who are friendly with McConnell welcomed the effort to thwart Bannons attempts to shape the 2018 contests and rattle McConnell as Senate Republicans are trying to work with Trump.

Absolutely. Why not? said Al Hoffman, a major Republican donor and McConnell ally. Youve got to get rid of the Bannon banner.

Ed OKeefe and Paul Kane in Washington and Sean Sullivan in Alabama contributed to this report.

Read more at PowerPost
Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, speaks to reporters last week on Capitol Hill. (Zach Gibson/Bloomberg News)

The Senate Intelligence Committee this week advanced a bill that renews a powerful surveillance authority enabling the government to collect foreign intelligence on U.S. soil.

The 12-to-3 vote reflected divisions on the panel over whether and how to strengthen privacy protections in the law, known as Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act. And it shows that a path to renewing the authority, which expires at the end of the year, is anything but clear in the Senate.

The National Security Agency calls the law its most important operational statute. The intelligence community would like to see it renewed without change. But that is unlikely to happen given strong opposition in the House.

Section 702 enables the NSA to collect from U.S. companies the emails and other communications of foreign targets overseas for intelligence purposes. Some of those communications may be with Americans, and civil-liberties advocates are concerned because the law does not require a warrant to search within the data for Americans information.

In an apparent attempt to address that concern, the Senate committee on Tuesday, during a closed session, agreed unanimously to impose a new procedural hurdle for the FBI to review and use Americans emails and other communications collected under the authority. But the measure, proposed by Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), the panels ranking Democrat, does not go as far as civil liberties advocates say is necessary.

It does not require the FBI to obtain a warrant before searching for Americans communications. Nor does it require the court to demonstrate that those Americans may be engaged in criminal activity or acting as agents of a foreign power.

Instead, it specifies that if an FBI query turns up information on a known United States person, it has one business day to submit a request to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which hears applications for foreign surveillance in the United States. The court then has two business days to rule on the requests legality, according to several people familiar with the measure.

Any request for a foreign intelligence or law enforcement purpose is legal under the secret courts rulings. That means that virtually all requests would be approved, analysts said.

If the court rules against the request, investigators are barred from using the information in any court proceeding. But the provision applies only to queries that turn up data on known U.S. persons. There is no requirement to run queries that yield data on possible U.S. persons or about foreigner citizens.

This is not reform, said Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. This is window dressing.

Moreover, she said, the measure would greatly add to the surveillance courts workload without any meaningful enhancement for Americans privacy.

A spokeswoman for Warner declined to comment.

[Bipartisan group of lawmakers seeks to impose new curb on U.S. spy power]

The committee bill, which has not been made public, stands in contrast to a House Judiciary Committee proposal to renew Section 702 that would instead require the FBI to obtain a warrant, based on probable cause, to review any communications turned up in a query seeking evidence of a crime. It would not apply to queries for counterterrorism, counterproliferation or counterespionage purposes.

Before adopting Warners amendment, the committee rejected a measure from two California Democrats  Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala D. Harris  that would have required the FBI to obtain a warrant before accessing the content of Americans emails. The move is noteworthy because Feinstein has been a staunch advocate of robust surveillance capabilities. Feinsteins decision to join forces with Harris comes barely two weeks after Feinstein announced her intention to run for reelection to a fifth full Senate term.

FBI Director Christopher A. Wray was in Feinsteins office Monday asking her not to offer the amendment. Intelligence officials have said that they do not think such a requirement is necessary or advisable.

Wray has said that the FBI receives information on 4.3 percent of the targets under NSA Section 702 collection. That translates to some 4,500 foreign targets. That is part of the data pool the FBI taps when doing its queries.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a committee member and one of the Senates most vocal privacy advocates, has filed a bill with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) that would require the FBI to obtain a warrant before querying Section 702 data when investigators are looking specifically for Americans communications.

Wyden was one of three senators who voted against the overall bill on privacy grounds. Joining him were Harris and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

A spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said that no scheduling decisions about the legislation have been made. Given the controversy, she said, the FISA bill is not expected to be sent to the Senate floor before senators outside the committee have a chance to weigh in.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), for his part, said he was not expecting to take up the intelligence panels bill.

Should the legislation clear the Senate, it is unlikely to make it through the House, where a coalition of liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans  including many members of the Freedom Caucus  support stronger privacy protections in Section 702.

Read more at PowerPost
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday that "too many terrorist organizations" find refuge in Pakistan and reiterated his call for the country to do more to address a growing problem of terrorism within its borders that, he said, threatensto destabilize Pakistan itself.

There are too many terrorist organizations that find a safe place in Pakistan from which to conduct their operations and attacks against other countries, Tillerson said, speaking in Indias capital on the final stop of a tour through the Middle East and South Asia. The extremist groups growing strength and capability can lead to a threat to Pakistans own stability, he said.

At a news conference at Indias Ministry of External Affairs, Tillerson said that in a meeting Tuesday with Pakistans interim prime minister, its army chief and other leaders in Islamabad, he had outlined certain expectations of mechanisms of cooperation that Pakistan must fulfill to address the problem or face U.S. reprisals. Pakistans government has long denied the existence of havens for terrorist groups.

Later, Tillerson met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two discussed terrorism and regional security, according to a ministry statement.

[Pakistan vows cooperation in fight against terrorist groups]



Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands before their meeting in New Delhi on Oct. 25, 2017. (Alex Brandon/AFP/Getty Images)

Pakistan has been mired in political turmoil since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was ousted by the countrys Supreme Court in a financial scandal in July. His close ally, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, is serving as interim prime minister.

Tillersons arrival in India  his first trip to the country as secretary of state  comes at a time when the U.S.-Pakistan relationship is increasingly under strain and the Trump administration seeks a closer relationship with natural ally India, the worlds most populous democracy and one of the United States biggest arms buyers.

[Pakistan pivots to China amid fresh concerns over U.S. ties with India]

The warm welcome for Tillerson in India  where he toured a memorial to Mohandas Gandhi, the revered leader of the country's independence movement  was a contrast to the chilly reception he had received in Pakistan's capital the day before. There, one prominent politician said Tillerson was "acting like a viceroy," a reference to leaders of the British Raj.

Indias minister of external affairs, Sushma Swaraj, echoed Tillersons criticism of Pakistan. Recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan are proof that safe havens and supporters of terrorism are active, she said. Pakistan needs to act on this.

Swaraj also said that she and Tillerson discussed Indias relationship with North Korea. India maintains an embassy in Pyongyang but has moved to put new limits on bilateral trade. Swaraj said she told Tillerson that the embassy should remain so that some channels of communication are kept open.

India gives Afghanistan billions in aid. Now Trump says India must help us more.

Earlier this month, in a major policy speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, Tillerson spoke of India and the United States as "bookends of stability on either side of the globe" amid the terrorist threat, North Korea's nuclear posturing and Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea.

"This is a signal to India that despite Trump's penchant to jettison or discard Obama policies, there will be a certain amount of continuity in the relationship," said C. Uday Bhaskar, director of the Society for Policy Studies in New Delhi.

Pakistan is a concern, Bhaskar said, "but the big ticket is China, and what kind of Asia is in the best interests of both India and the U.S. in the long term. He spoke of 100 years."

Read more:

Trump companys partners in India are no strangers to legal entanglements

India, China agree to pull back troops to resolve tense border dispute

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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The new members of the Standing Committee of the Politburo, from left to right: Han Zheng, Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, and Zhao Leji. (Young/European Pressphoto Agency-Efe/Rex/Shutterstock)

China's Communist Party unveiled its new leadership lineup on Wednesday, granting President Xi Jinping another five years in power as general secretary and including no obvious successor in the senior-most ranks.

Xi introduced the six other members of the Politburo Standing Committee to the media, breaking with recent convention by not including a potential heir in the lineup.

That appears to raise the chances Xi could stay in power beyond 2022.

On Tuesday, the Communist Party amended its constitution to insert Xi Jinping Thought as a guiding principle for the party, elevating Xi to the same status as its most important historical figures, Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.

That means Xi is likely to wield ultimate authority in the party as long as he is alive, experts say, and it makes any challenge to that authority tantamount to an attack on the party itself.

[China Party Congress makes Xi Jinping the most powerful leader in decades]

On Wednesday morning, Xi led his six colleagues onto a stage in one of the many rooms within the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

He first announced the party's Central Committee had voted to give him five more years as general secretary that morning  saying he sees this as "not just an approval of my work but encouragement to spur me on"  before naming his colleagues in the top leadership, all men in their 60s dressed in dark suits.

Apart from Xi, the only other member of the previous Standing Committee to retain his seat was Premier Li Keqiang, with the other five all newcomers replacing retiring members.

None of the newcomers is young enough to be a realistic candidate for the top job at the next Party Congress in five years time.

Among those stepping down was a key Xi ally, the head of the powerful anticorruption authority, Wang Qishan, who at 69 had reached the normal retirement age.

Xi, 64, and Li, 62, had both been promoted to the Standing Committee in 2007 while still in their early 50s, giving them five years' experience to draw on before they took the top two spots in the party hierarchy in 2012.



Chinese President Xi Jinping introduced six members of the Politburo Standing Committee during a news conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. (Young/European PressphotoAgency-Efe/Rex/Shutterstock)

This time around, there is no such succession plan.

Guangdong party Secretary Hu Chunhua, 54, and Chongqing party boss Chen Miner, 57, had been seen as possible contenders, but neither made it to the Standing Committee, both having to be content with a place at the next level down, in the 25-member Politburo.

Another prominent figure, Sun Zhengcai, was sensationally ousted this year, accused of corruption, removed from his post and kicked out of the party.

[Chinese women sidelined as Xi Jinping takes center stage]

In a clear break with party tradition, not a single one of his potential heirs has joined the innermost leadership circle, said Matthias Stepan, a politics and policy expert at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) in Berlin. This will fuel speculation that Xi plans to remain in power beyond the next Party Congress in 2022.

In the meantime, this leaves Xi more powerful than ever, having already overshadowed and undercut Li, whose role is mainly involved in the economy.

Third in seniority is Li Zhanshu, 67, who is seen as a close ally of the president, serves as his chief of staff and is expected to be appointed to run the rubber-stamp parliament, the National Peoples Congress.

Then comes Wang Yang, 62, who had a reputation for encouraging innovation and greener growth while party boss in the southern city of Guangdong.

Next is Wang Huning, also 62, director of the partys Central Policy Research Office. A former political scientist who worked on ideology for two previous presidents, he has since become a close ally of Xi and is thought to have helped him develop his Chinese Dream slogan.

Then comes Zhao Leji, 60, who takes over as head of the anti-corruption agency, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, and finally Shanghai party boss Han Zheng, 63.

Neither Wang Yang nor Zheng is seen as a Xi crony, but both would have had to work hard to prove their loyalty to the president to have risen this far. Nevertheless, their appointments will help broaden support for the leadership group within the broader party.

The status quo of coexistence between Xi allies and various factions at the top level will remain in place, said Zhang Lifan, a party historian. However, we can see that the factions are weakening, and there arent any powerful figures from any of them.

Xi has assumed absolute authority, he added.

Experts said the concentration of power poses a risk for China, making it harder for the Communist Party to change course when necessary and also raising the possibility of a power vacuum should Xi suddenly become ill or die.

Zhao Lejis role running the anti-corruption agency puts him at the center of efforts to maintain discipline and loyalty within the party. The youngest member of the Standing Committee, he could be a man to watch, with the potential to play an important role beyond 2022, Stepan at MERICS said.

Party convention suggests anyone age 68 or above at the Congress, which is held every five years, should retire, meaning none of the current Standing Committee members are young enough to be candidates for two terms as general secretary and president in 2022.

Xi ended the event by thanking the media for covering the Party Congress, saying China didnt need lavish praise from others but welcoming objective reporting and constructive suggestions.

Then he concluded with two lines from an ancient poem about a plum blossom in an ink painting, which doesnt need people to praise its nice color, but only wants to fill the universe with its light fragrance.

Yet in the hours that followed the event, CNN, BBC and CNBC faced intermittent blackouts in China when discussing the new leadership lineup.

Censorship has been significantly stepped up in China since Xi took power.

Amber Ziye Wang contributed to this report.

Read more

Move over, America. China presents itself as the model blazing a new trail for the world.

Xi Jinping at China Congress calls on party to tighten its grip on the country
 As Iraqi forces reclaim the last stretches of territory held by the Islamic State, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said he would not allow his country to become an arena for the United States, Iran and Sunni powers to fight out their rivalries.

We would like to work with you, both of you, Abadi said of the United States and Iran. But please dont bring your trouble inside Iraq. You can sort it anywhere else.

Abadi's comments came in a wide-ranging interview Tuesday about the Kurdish referendum on independence last month, his decision to send troops into areas disputed by his government and the Kurds, and the anticipated post-Islamic State era.

The prime minister said the United States has begun to draw down its military presence in the country from its peak of 5,200 troops since the battle against the Islamic State began. He said that U.S. air power wont be needed after the Islamic State is defeated in an area in western Iraq along the Syrian border.

The next phase of cooperation between the two nations will be centered on sharing intelligence and training Iraqi forces to ensure that another militant group doesnt emerge and that a weakened Islamic State does not conduct devastating attacks outside its shrinking pockets in Iraq.

Theyre going to cause problems somewhere else, Abadi said of the militant group. Its not in our interest, nor in the interest of other countries in the region, for terrorists to regroup again.

The Trump administration has vowed to take a tougher stance on Iranian expansionism but has not clearly defined the U.S. role in Iraq after the Islamic State has been evicted.

[Iraqs prime minister was tough on ISIS. But it was his approach to the Kurds that really made him popular.]

Abadi, who faces elections next spring, said he envisions Iraq becoming an important security and economic partner to its regional allies. The struggle to evict the Islamic State, lasting more than three years, has decimated large cities, displaced millions and contributed to a financial crisis.

Establishing strong state institutions and dealing with neighboring countries from a position of mutual interest are the keys to rebuilding the country, he told The Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times.

To that end, Abadi has traveled to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey in recent days to deliver a message that Iraq is open for business. He is expected to visit Iran this week.

Iraq is getting stronger, getting unified, Abadi said during the interview, which took place inside Baghdads fortified Green Zone. I think others, or the interference of others in the affairs of Iraq, will become less and less. This is a new-built confidence among Iraqis, the Iraqi national feeling, which our aim is to increase  peoples attachment to their own country.

A nascent vision of Iraqi nationalism has fueled support for Abadis tough military response to last months Kurdish bid for independence. His supporters and even some of his critics have praised his decision to take control of territory claimed by both his government and the Kurds.

[How the Kurdish independence referendum backfired spectacularly]

But Kurdish and some U.S. officials have questioned the role of Iranian-backed Shiite militias in the Iraqi operation, with accusations that Iran was largely in control of the decision to move in troops.

Abadi rejected that notion. He said he is sympathetic to Kurdish aspirations for independence but that their unilateral steps toward full autonomy was a threat to regional security. Abadi said he warned Masoud Barzani, the president of the Kurdish region, ahead of the referendum that he risked being on the wrong side of history.

"In all honesty, I think this aspiration has been pushed back many years now," Abadi said, adding that Kurdish independence would require nationwide consensus.

That is unlikely to ever happen. Powerful Shiite militias, some with strong backing from Iran, are stridently opposed to Kurdish independence and have participated in the military campaign to reclaim disputed territories, including the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

While the United States has supported Abadi's move on Kirkuk, it has expressed concern about the presence of Shiite militias in disputed areas. Abadi has defended the militias, which operate under the umbrella of a government-sanctioned force known as popular mobilization units, but said they must shed their sectarian political identities if they wish to remain part of the nation's security forces.

Some members of the most powerful groups, including the Badr Organization, hold ministerial posts and seats in parliament. Analysts say that a process to decouple the armed and political wings of the groups is far from making headway.

Abadi, who legally commands the popular mobilization units, has only nominal control over the most influential of the armed groups. Organizations like Badr are closer to Tehran than Baghdad and yet are well represented in Iraq's political and security institutions. Abadi said such groups must disarm if they wish to participate in politics.

Those who refuse, Abadi said, "would become outlaws. It's very clear."

Read more

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi listens during a meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Saudi King Salman on Oct. 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Once derided as a "traffic warden" by members of his own party, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has won public and political praise for sending troops to reclaim disputed territory after the Kurdish independence vote last month.

The action has earned the Iraqi leader the prestige that eluded him after successive victories against the Islamic State. Even some of his traditional critics have called his decision wise and shrewd.

By moving forcefully, Abadi has burnished his nationalist credentials and quieted potential challengers in next years elections who are backed by Iran and espouse policies of Shiite dominance, analysts and Iraqi politicians said.

For the United States, Abadis surging popularity is probably the silver lining of a crisis that has pitted two of its closest political and military allies  the Iraqi government and the Kurds  against each other. Many Iraqi politicians say Abadi has all but assured his reelection next year.

A referendum by arms, said Saad al-Muttalibi, a member of Baghdads provincial council and a close ally of former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, a likely challenger to Abadi in elections slated for next spring.

The general perception is that hes indecisive in his moves, Muttalibi said. But what he did last week proved everybody wrong, including myself. He was very decisive and very stubborn in his approach. He stuck to the law and the constitution.

It remains unclear how far Abadi is planning to go in the push to reclaim territory lost to the Kurds in 2014 as the Islamic State swept through the country. But Abadis supporters warn that he must resume negotiations with the Kurdish authorities and keep forces away from Kurdish cities, or risk squandering the goodwill he has earned with Iraqi voters and regional powers.

The referendum is over and now belongs to the past. We have finished it on the ground, Abadi declared last week in a rare moment of public bluster by a politician who has never quite shed the perception that he has been indecisive since he came to office in 2014.

[Abadi: Iraq is not the place for U.S. and Iran to fight out their rivalry]

The first test of Abadis willingness to moderate his response to the Kurds came early Wednesday, when the Kurdish government issued a statement calling for an immediate cease-fire in exchange for suspending the results of the referendum and entering into negotiations with Baghdad based on constitutionally enshrined guidelines on borders and revenue sharing.

Abadi, who has said he will enter talks only if the referendum result is annulled, has not yet responded to what amounts to a precipitous comedown for the Kurdish authorities. Not engaging in talks raises the specter of further military clashes between Iraqi and Kurdish forces to control northern borders with Syria and Turkey.

[How the Kurdish independence referendum backfired spectacularly]



Smoke rises from Iraqi security forces bombs as Kurdish security forces withdraw from a checkpoint in Alton Kupri, on the outskirts of Irbil, Iraq, on Oct. 20. (Khalid Mohammed/AP)

Although the military action in Kirkuk has sparked a feverish debate in Washington over waning U.S. influence as Iran asserts itself as a regional power, Iraqis have viewed it as a critical move to avoid a much-feared partition of the country.

Abadi "may have decided to ride the wave of domestic chauvinism rather than being swept aside by it," the Crisis Group wrote in a report last week.

The move has also won the support of Sunni politicians who previously expressed reservations about a second term for Abadi.

His policies in leading the country are not entirely clear to us, said former deputy prime minister Salam al-Zaubai, citing Abadis membership in Dawa, a Shiite Islamist party that also counts Maliki as a senior leader. But in general we are very comfortable with what happened in Kirkuk because it was something that needed to be done long time ago.

In the weeks leading up to the Kirkuk offensive, American officials made clear that the burden fell on the Kurdish leadership to offer concessions to Abadi, who the Trump administration thought was grievously hurt by the referendum, said one U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private negotiations.

Our policy is they need to do something to help Abadi. Its not starting out on an equal basis, the official said.

Trump administration officials were frustrated that the Kurds had rebuffed a proposal that U.S. officials claimed would have given the Kurdish leadership a face-saving way to postpone the referendum.

Abadi had informed U.S. diplomats of his intention to order forces into Kirkuk, but did not reveal the timing and scale of the operation, people close to Abadi said.

This was coordinated by Mr. Abadi himself; he did not have any other choice but to move, said Mowaffak al-Rubaie, a lawmaker who sits on the security and defense committee in parliament.

As the Iraqi forces swept into Kirkuk and reclaimed its vast oil fields and municipal buildings, the United States issued conflicting responses. U.S. diplomats in Baghdad said the United States supported Iraqs right to impose federal control over contested areas, while President Trump said the United States remained neutral in the dispute.

The differing U.S. responses fueled a perception among U.S. officials and some Iraqis that Iran had superseded the United States as the most important power broker in Iraq.

The Iraqi forces who moved on Kirkuk and other places in northern Iraq included Shiite militias with ties to Tehran, fueling intense speculation of Iran's role in the campaign.

Iraqi Kurdish officials and some Iraqi politicians have concluded that Abadi acted on behalf of Iran, which fears that Kurdish independence in Iraq would provoke a similar action among its own sizable Kurdish population.

The prime minister will take advantage of what happened, and of course it will raise his popularity in the street, said Izzat Shahbandar, a former Iraqi lawmaker. But the reality is that [Iran] had the main role in achieving this scenario.

[Sensationalized news is fueling tension over areas disputed between Iraqis and Kurds]

Shahbandar pointed to the high-profile presence of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Irans military point man in Iraq and Syria, in Iraq before and after the referendum vote and in the lead-up to the sweep of Kirkuk.

Kurdish officials said Soleimani brokered a deal in which peshmerga fighters from a Kurdish faction who were lukewarm on the referendum stood down when Iraqi forces entered Kirkuk.

But two people close to Abadi, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive government planning, gave a different account of how it played out. They said Soleimani entered the negotiations only after Abadi and those Kurdish officials had reached the framework of an agreement. Soleimani helped persuade the Kurds to call on their forces to retreat, telling them they were vastly outnumbered.

Soleimanis interjection delayed Abadis plan to move on Kirkuk by two days in the hopes that Kurdish President Masoud Barzani would agree to enter negotiations. The talks failed, but Soleimanis warnings were partially helpful in convincing them to avoid bloodshed. Some of what he said had a profound impact, said a person close to Abadi who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive planning.

Soleimani came in, but he was not the architect of all this, the person said.

The perception that Abadi was not in full control of the Kirkuk operation is among the many challenges he faces.

The more extremist factions of the Shiite militias are agitating for a deeper push into Kurdish territory, a move that analysts say could backfire.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson signaled his concern about Abadi's campaign, telling the prime minister during a meeting in Baghdad on Monday that further moves toward Kurdish-held territory could provoke more armed conflict. He urged the two sides to enter serious negotiations.

Abadi has shown a willingness to take risks to turn political events to his advantage.

In the summer of 2016, Abadi faced a crisis when weekly protests staged by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr culminated with Sadr's supporters raiding Baghdad's Green Zone.

To the surprise of American diplomats and his own military commanders, Abadi announced a campaign to evict the Islamic State from Fallujah  a city that was seen as an impenetrable base for the group.

The Islamic State collapsed in Fallujah in about three weeks, defying forecasts of a protracted battle and forcing Sadr to call off protests. The move proved decisive in raising the morale of Iraq's security forces, which carried over to the longer and tougher battle for Mosul.

"Abadi took a big risk to get his 'rah-rah' moment, and it paid off," said a former Western diplomat. "The victory in Fallujah did bring the country together more than any other moment in recent memory."

Political opponents will be looking to exploit strategic mistakes by Abadi, said Sajad Jiyad, an analyst at the Al-Bayan Center for Planning and Studies, a think tank based in Baghdad.

It means he has a bigger target on this back now that the perception is that he can win in a landslide, he said, and that other Shiite groups will have less of a say in how things are done.

Kareem Fahim in Irbil, Iraq, contributed to this report.

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A new battle in Iraq gives Iran the upper hand

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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French soldiers, seen here in Mali in 2013, have spent years providing training and support to the militaries of Mali, Niger and other vulnerable countries in this corner of Africa where Islamist extremism has become entrenched over the past decade. (Jerome Delay/AP)

The Trump administration has no plans  and anticipates no requests from the Defense Department  to change the mission of U.S. troops in Niger or the rules under which they operate, following the killing of four American service members in a militant ambush there early this month, according to senior administration and defense officials.

At the same time, officials this week expressed consternation over claims, sparked by the deaths, that Congress has been kept in the dark over how many American troops are in West Africa and what they are doing there.

Senior lawmakers, including Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), a member of the Armed Services Committee, and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), have said they did not know there were up to 1,000 U.S. troops in Niger. Armed Services Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the panel, both demanded more information.

Lets get a grip, responded an administration official familiar with U.S. operations in the region. This has been known for quite a while. The U.S. mission, the official noted, began years ago under President Barack Obama, has continued under President Trump, and has been repeatedly expanded and briefed on to Congress by both administrations.

The deaths of the four Americans, along with those of five Nigerien partner troops in an ambush while they were traveling from an outlying village to their home base, were the first from hostile action that the mission has experienced. The incident has sparked a domestic political firestorm over White House interaction with the family of Sgt. La David Johnson, one of those killed.

[Caught in a deadly ambush, U.S. troops in Niger waited an hour for French air power to arrive]

While they can defend themselves, U.S. forces based in Niger, and in neighboring Cameroon, have no authorization to conduct direct action offensive operations, according to senior officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss deployments in areas under a terrorism threat. In addition to training and advising local security forces, the United States also supplies logistical and intelligence assistance to a 4,000-member French force whose rules allow targeted offensive action against terrorism suspects.

The Pentagon has said it is still investigating the circumstances of the Oct. 4 attack. Once it determines whether there was a communications, intelligence or other operational failure, officials said, the military will adjust to prevent further incidents.

But there will be no mission creep, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Monday. Administration officials said the policy against terrorist groups in West Africa, including Nigeria-based Boko Haram, and those tied to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, will continue to focus on assisting local forces, and the French.

Dunford acknowledged that U.S. Africa Command, which has cited a lack of sufficient surveillance and reconnaissance resources, would like to have more. But such requests, he said, are received constantly from commanders all over the world. Most surveillance resources, including drones, are currently devoted to operations in Afghanistan.

The United States operates armed drones out of a base still under construction in Agadez, in central Niger. But those weapons are used in Libya and Somalia, the only places in Africa where direct action by U.S. forces is authorized. Unarmed U.S. surveillance drones are also based at a French airfield in Niamey, the Nigerien capital. Dunford said that a pilotless U.S. aircraft was dispatched to the site of the ambush once commanders were notified, but did not strike. He did not say where the drone had come from or whether it was armed.

The Agadez base was first approved in 2014, the year Obama outlined expanding military counterterror operations in a speech at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He described a network of partnerships from South Asia to the Sahel, allowing training of local forces to address emerging terrorism threats, assisting multinational forces and, in particular, facilitating French operations in West Africa.

But U.S. operations in the Sahel  the arid, sub-Saharan swath of Africa that includes Chad, Niger, Burkino Faso, Mali and Mauritania  had begun long before. U.S. Special Operations forces started a train-and-assist program in 2005, and have been authorized by Congress every year since then.

Obama regularly reported troop levels and described their mission in biannual reports to Congress under the War Powers Resolution, including his final report last December indicating a troop total of 575 in Niger and 285 in Cameroon. In June, using nearly identical terminology on the French-support and partner-training missions, Trump reported 645 troops in Niger and approximately 300 in Cameroon.

The senior administration official said about 200 troops had been added in Niger, some of whom military officials said were working on the Agadez base construction. The administration official said updates on the deployments were delivered in monthly counterterrorism assessments to members of national security committees in both houses of Congress, and by U.S. embassy and military officials on the ground during at least a half-dozen member and staff trips to the region this year.

You could go to the Africa Command website and find that they have troops there, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said at the Hudson Institute on Monday. Second, if you are on the Armed Services Committee, you could attend our hearings and hear testimony that we had troops there.

[U.S. will expand counterterrorism focus in Africa, Mattis tells senators]

Administration officials took issue with statements about mission changes made by Graham on Friday, following a closed-door briefing on West Africa that he and McCain received from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

Heres what the American people need to know, Graham told reporters. The counterterrorism rules under President Obama were overly restrictive and youre going to see more actions in Africa rather than less, with more aggressive rules that will include status-based targeting of unidentified but presumed militants.

The senior administration official said there were no plans to authorize such activities beyond where they already are permitted, in Somalia and Libya. In the rest of Africa, the official said, we remain committed to working with our partners and improving their ability to defeat terrorists.

The domestic uproar over the deaths in Niger is also likely to draw new attention to a simmering controversy between the administration and France. The French have backed the establishment of a U.N.-funded cross-border counterterrorism force of 5,000 troops, drawn from the five Sahel nations. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in an unreleased report to the Security Council, has also recommended some form of U.N. funding.

The administration, which has raised overall questions about the efficacy of U.N. operations and what Trump has said is an unfair burden on the United States to pay for them, is opposed to U.N. funding for the force, especially under the mantle of peacekeeping. The United States is assessed nearly 28 percent of the cost of U.N. peacekeeping missions, one of which already operates in the Sahel.

The United States is committed to supporting an African-led and -owned G5 force through bilateral security assistance, a U.S. official said, referring to the Sahel group. What we dont support is U.N. authorization or assistance to the force.

The controversy may come to a head on Monday, when French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian plans to chair a Security Council meeting on the subject. France will likely introduce a resolution including funding for the force.

France has said it expects the force to be operational by the end of the year. Discussions are currently ongoing with the U.S., in good faith and with a common will to reach a mutually agreed solution, said Francois Delattre, Frances U.N. ambassador. We are confident that we will get there soon.

Read more:

Trumps call to one widow has dominated the news. Here are the other U.S. soldiers killed in Niger.

The private life of Sgt. La David Johnson, the slain soldier ensnared in a Trump controversy
From left, Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black, 35, of Puyallup, Wash.; Staff Sgt. Jeremiah W. Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio; Sgt. La David Johnson of Miami Gardens, Fla.; and Staff Sgt. Dustin M. Wright, 29, of Lyons, Ga. All four were slain Oct. 4 by militants in Niger. (U.S. Army via AP) (AP)

Hours after they first learned of a deadly ambush on U.S. forces in Niger, senior officials in the White House believed that several American soldiers might be missing, according to a senior official familiar with the operation.

The White House did not officially receive word that three American bodies had been recovered, and that one soldier remained missing, until at least eight hours after the attack had begun on the morning of Oct. 4, Washington time.

President Trump was given updates throughout the day but was not given a full briefing on the situation by his chief of staff, John F. Kelly, until the following morning.

The initial report was more than one person missing and a number of people wounded, the official said. It was very confusing.

The confusion and delays in receiving and transmitting information between field commanders, through the U.S. Africa Command in Germany, to the Pentagon and then to the White House underscores the chaotic nature of the firefight. More broadly, it illustrates the difficulty of determining facts on faraway battlefields. In this case, the lack of firm information over so long a period was especially striking to those on the receiving end.

My whole life, Ive never seen something like that happen, the senior official said of the scramble to determine how many soldiers were missing or dead. I was dumbfounded by it.

Nearly three weeks later, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Monday described the deadly Niger attack as a very complex situation.

It remains unclear how long it took before officials at the Pentagon and U.S. Africa Command fully understood what had happened and confirmed that one soldier remained missing. Once that was clear, Pentagon officials that evening ordered the deployment of U.S.-based elite commando units to look for Sgt. La David Johnson, an Army mechanic. Johnson was attached to the Niger-based Special Operations unit that had come under attack.

It is unknown whether the commandos participated in the search for Johnson, whose body was eventually recovered and turned over to U.S. forces by Nigerien troops on Oct. 6, two days after the attack.

[Pentagon deployed elite commandos to Niger fearing militants were hunting missing soldier]

U.S. officials expressed skepticism that Johnson, alive or dead, was ever in the hands of the attacking enemy force, a local group believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State. I suspect that he got separated from the rest of the unit and was killed, the official said. I strongly doubt he was captured by the enemy. Administration and Washington-based defense officials who discussed the attack and the administration response spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.

Trump, who made no public comment about the deaths until more than a week after they occurred, said Wednesday that he did not specifically authorize the original mission, which officials have described as a routine reconnaissance tour by troops based in Niger to train local forces. The 12-man U.S. unit, accompanying about 30 Nigerien soldiers, traveled two hours by land to the village of Tongo Tongo, in the southwest corner of Niger, on Oct 3. The next morning, they spoke with village elders and began the trip back to their base.

U.S. officials are still probing exactly how the travelers were ambushed, became separated on the battlefield and apparently lost communication with each other. The team did not contact its commanders in Niamey for an hour after the attack began.

Two U.S. military officials said Johnson may have lost contact with his unit because they were ambushed twice in succession by the militants. That detail, first reported by NBC News, may explain the delayed call for assistance. Five Nigerien soldiers were also killed.

Dunford speculated that the troops delayed the request for help because they initially thought they had the situation under control.

U.S. officials, who have said that a U.S. surveillance drone was overhead during the incident, described a scene in which small elements of U.S. and Nigerien troops were firing and maneuvering for cover under the enemy assault. I personally think the American and Nigerien force was just overwhelmed, the administration official said. They met up with a pretty serious, professional force.

[Who were the four U.S. soldiers killed in Niger?]

Once the besieged U.S. troops contacted their headquarters, U.S. forces in Niamey requested aid from the much larger French military contingent based there. French Mirage jets took off within 30 minutes and reached the scene of the attack, near the border with Mali, a half-hour later. But they did not fire, officials said, to avoid hitting friendly forces scattered along with the enemy across the combat zone.

French helicopters, traveling farther and much more slowly from a base in the Malian city of Gao, did not arrive until an hour after that. It was unclear whether the battle was still underway when they reached the scene.

Still hours later, Dunford received a call from Marine Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, head of the U.S. Africa Command, that sparked the Pentagon to deploy members of the secretive Joint Special Operations Command to the region. With Johnson confirmed missing, military officials feared that he might be alive and could fall into enemy hands, three officials said.

The area where the U.S. unit was operating, on what its orders called a civil reconnaissance mission, was relatively new to American forces in Niger, who have conducted numerous similar trips to villages in the southeastern part of the country.

U.S. Special Operations forces have been in Niger to train and assist local troops in counterterrorism operations since at least 2005, and now number between 800 and 1,000. They are part of an initiative begun after the September 2001 al-Qaeda attacks, and expanded by the Obama administration, to train and assist government security forces in areas around the world where militant groups might use local unrest to expand their influence.

The U.S. military, which does not have authority for direct action offensive operations in the region, also provides logistics and intelligence assistance to the thousands-strong French force in West Africa. France, the former colonial power, deployed troops to Mali in 2012, when Tuareg tribesmen, who had launched a rebellion against the central government, were themselves attacked by Islamist groups tied to al-Qaeda affiliates in Libya.

That French mission later expanded to a more permanent force, called Operation Barkhane, in the Sahel, the arid sub-Saharan region of Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Mauritania. The French are the only foreign force with authorization to conduct direct actions and to cross borders in the region, which also hosts a U.N. peacekeeping force.

As they have spread in Libya, following the 2011 NATO-backed overthrow of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, both al-

Qaeda and more recently the Islamic State have sought adherents in the Sahel. They have found willing followers among poor and isolated populations, often abused by local government and military forces, and riven with ethnic and tribal divisions.

Over the last two years, U.S. and foreign officials have noted the rise of at least three new Mali-based Islamist groups, small in numbers but increasingly active in cross-border operations in the region. Officials believe that one of them, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, was responsible for the Oct. 4 ambush.

While it is believed to have no more than 60 pledged fighters, the Sahara group is frequently supplemented by sympathetic local villagers and temporary alliances with other localized groups. It is headed by Western Sahara-born Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahraoui, a veteran of an al-Qaeda affiliate that was part of the 2012 violence in Mali. Although the Sahara group was recognized by the Islamic State in late 2016, officials do not believe it receives much support beyond recognition from the larger Middle East organization.

Using small arms and traveling by motorcycle across the savannah, they have staged attacks against local military forces in the tri-border area of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, including the part of southwest Niger where the ill-fated U.S. unit was operating at the time of the attack.

Although U.S. officials say they await the results of their own investigation, local officials in the area of the attack said that the Americans and their Nigerien partners suggested local complicity, the Voice of America reported. "The attackers, the bandits and the terrorists have never lacked for accomplices among the local populations," Tongo-Tongo mayor Almou Hassane told VOA's French-to-Africa service by telephone.

VOA said that the village chief, Mounkaila Alassane, had been arrested by Nigerien authorities since the attack.

The Sahara group fighters usually flee across a neighboring border following attacks, where local forces cannot pursue them. France and the United Nations, along with the African Union, have backed formation by the five Sahel governments of a cross-border counterterrorism force with direct action authority. The United States is still considering whether and how to contribute to financial and other support for the group.

Dan Lamothe contributed to this report.
The troops searching for Bowe Bergdahl were sleep-deprived and thirsty. Temperatures in mountainous Ghazni, near Afghanistan's border with Pakistan, crested 100 degrees. Although it was unusual to be without ready resupply for more than a few days, the inconceivable disappearance of a U.S. soldier called for round-the-clock missions far from their logistical hubs.

After 10 days in the field, their socks began to rot. Protective gloves frayed. They were dependent on Russian contractors to airdrop in more drinking water, but the hasty resupply included none  only Gatorade, muffins and hygiene products. The soldiers vented their frustration by blowing up the pallets, then continued their search for Bergdahls ghost.

This episode, described to The Washington Post by a former member of Bergdahls unit, illustrates one of the Armys chief arguments for sending Bergdahl to prison: By abandoning his post in June 2009, he set in motion a chain of events that proved distracting to the Afghanistan war effort and put at grave risk the thousands of people tasked with finding him.

[Military judge will decide whether Bowe Bergdahl should be jailed for life]

Bergdahl, now 31, would spend five years in Taliban captivity before the Obama White House secured his release in a controversial prisoner exchange in 2014. He has pleaded guilty to charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The judge who will determine Bergdahls fate, Army Col. Jeffrey R. Nance, is set to hear on Wednesday from troops who say their serious injuries are linked to Bergdahls disappearance  testimony that could determine the severity of Bergdahls punishment.

Nance also is expected to rule on a motion to dismiss the case on the grounds that President Trump, who has referred to Bergdahl as a "dirty, rotten traitor," compromised the soldier's right to impartial proceedings.

Wednesdays testimony may include Army Sgt. 1st Class Mark Allen, who was shot in the head during a search mission and is confined to a wheelchair. Senior Chief Petty Officer James Hatch, a Navy SEAL, also has said his career was ended after being shot in the leg during a hastily planned operation to locate Bergdahl. He, too, may appear in court.

Neither Allen nor Hatch would have been where they were, doing what they were doing, but for the actions of the accused, Nance wrote in a July court filing.

The defense has argued that Bergdahl cannot be held responsible for successive events stemming from his disappearance and abduction. His lawyers have questioned how much blame Bergdahl shoulders for what occurred to others because of his actions.

More clear is how the expansive search effort affected the war in eastern Afghanistan at the time. Counterinsurgency operations were halted, along with preparations for a national election to shift all available resources to finding Bergdahl.

The former member of Bergdahls unit who described the botched resupply mission said a surge in related nighttime raids upset many Afghans at a time U.S. forces needed their support to help counter the Talibans influence. It angered most soldiers, too, he told The Post on the condition of anonymity to avoid conflicts with his current employer. The militarys sacred mantra of leave no man behind was challenged by the extraordinary event of a soldier leaving his post voluntarily, he said.

Resources flooded into Afghanistan's Paktika province, such as surveillance drones, Special Operations troops and helicopter support and equipment used to intercept phone and radio traffic. But that came at a cost to units outside the search area, forced to fight with fewer advantages, the former soldier said.

In one instance, five days after Bergdahl's disappearance, a U.S. combat outpost was nearly overrun by hundreds of Taliban fighters, resulting in the death of two U.S. soldiers in a sister battalion. Those soldiers were surprised by their attackers, they would later say, because they lacked drones and other intelligence assets that had been diverted to find Bergdahl, the former soldier recalled.

Both the prosecution and defense have the opportunity to present arguments that could influence the judge's decision. There is little doubt the prosecution will focus on how the war was affected by search efforts, said Brian Bouffard, a former Navy lawyer. The defense, meanwhile, might zero in on reports, such as one in Newsweek, that said search missions in Afghanistan continued even after the Pentagon was confident Bergdahl was being held in Pakistan.

"If anyone is wounded on a futile mission, there is a lot of blame to go around there," Bouffard said. "And I don't think you can lay that on Bergdahl."

But many who served with Bergdahl blame him for tragedies that befell other members of their unit, including several deaths, and frustration the former soldier said, adding that he is among the few who dispute that notion. Frustration has lingered among those who feel their combat tour  and everything since  remains defined by Bergdahl's disappearance, the former soldier said.

Its like, he added, the deployment that never ends.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley meets South Sudanese refugee children at the Nguenyyiel refugee camp in the Gambella region in Ethiopia on Oct. 24, 2017. (Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley warned South Sudan's president Wednesday that U.S. aid and other assistance were at stake, as Washington seeks to boost pressure on a leader it blames for helping plunge the world's youngest nation into civil war.

The United States is at a crossroads, Haley said she told President Salva Kiir, a day after she heard refugees horrific stories of violence and cruelty they claim were carried out by Kiirs forces in a conflict largely fought along tribal lines.

We have to decide how were going to look at South Sudan going forward, and that will be based on how he goes from here, she said. And based on his actions the United States will act accordingly.

In the balance is billions in U.S. aid, a potential international arms embargo and the goodwill of the United States, which gave critical backing to South Sudans independence from Sudan in 2011.

The United States has distanced itself from Kiir, the cowboy hat-wearing former rebel leader who presided over the promising birth of a nation blessed with oil and other natural resources.

But it fell to Haley to deliver an ultimatum.

It was a very honest conversation. I basically said the United States had invested well over $11 billion in South Sudan and into him, and that we were now questioning that investment. I told them that he couldnt deny the stories about his military, which include allegations of rape, murder, kidnapping, forced labor and the use of child soldiers.

Haley claimed Kiir did not deny those allegations. There was no immediate word from Kiir or South Sudanese officials about the meeting.

[The dilemma posed by South Sudan]

To his credit, he acknowledged everything I was saying, Haley said. He listened to everything I was saying and he was not defensive.

Haley spoke to reporters traveling with her immediately after two lengthy meetings with Kiir, one of them a longer-than-expected private session. U.S. expectations include an end to violence snd full and consistent access for humanitarian groups, she said.

I told him that we need to see him right the ship, she said.

On Tuesday, Haley toured a sprawling refugee camp in Ethiopias Gambella region.

She ducked into a makeshift home for a newly arrived family of five, and heard the harrowing story of a weeks-long walk to flee renewed fighting across the border in South Sudan.

Haley crouched in the mud beside a nursing mother inside a hut that was little more than a tarp stamped with a U.N. humanitarian agency logo stretched over a frame of sticks. She promised to convey more details to U.N. colleagues and the Trump administration about the plight of the more than 400,000 South Sudanese now housed in Ethiopia. The U.N. estimates that 35,000 have arrived just since the end of September.

I was mad when I left the camp. How do you not go through listening to those women talk and hearing what their families went through and not just be totally angry at those that are responsible? Haley said afterward.

Inside a stifling, low-slung building reserved as a women- and girl-friendly space, one woman broke down in sobs as she and two others told Haley stories of rape, murder and survival.

One woman told Haley that her family was killed  she did not say by whom but suggested that it was South Sudanese Army forces  and her baby thrown into a fire. Then, the woman claimed, she had been forced to eat the flesh.

[South Sudan is a disaster. Its president says: Not my fault.]

We want to go home, one woman said, according to a U.N. translator. We need our leader in the country.

That was a reference to former vice president Riek Machar, now in South Africa. Although some South Sudanese see Machar as their protector, the United States has long viewed him as part of the problem and has not advocated his return.

One woman told Haley that she blamed former president Barack Obama for the spiral of violence that began in 2013, and for the failed reconciliation effort in 2015. Haley looked startled at that, but did not respond.

Names of the women who spoke to Haley were not provided by the U.N. or humanitarian groups that serve the camp to protect their privacy and safety. Reporters were allowed to listen from several feet away.

Haley did not say that she would advocate for more U.S. humanitarian aid.

The Obama administration attempted to foster reconciliation talks between Kiir and Machar, and blamed both for squandering the democracy they helped to found.

President Obama didnt do this to these women, Haley said in a second interview. I think their perception is that they were let down by the United States back in 2013 when they really needed us.

Haley also toured a U.N.-run camp in Juba for internally displaced people. As Haley met with a family, protesters from Machars Nuer tribe gathered outside, shouting down, down, Salva Kiir. Kiir is a member of the rival Dinka tribe.

One held a sign reading, Salva Kiir is a killer and must go!

Haley and her party were quickly hustled into waiting cars.

Her five-day visit to Africa this week is heavily focused on South Sudan.
The Pentagon deployed elite commandos in response to the deadly ambush of a Special Forces team in Niger, fearing that one soldier who was missing at the time was alive and might fall into enemy hands, military officials said.

The commandos, with the secretive Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), were deployed late on Oct. 4 after three U.S. soldiers and five Nigerien troops partnered with them were declared killed in action, said three officials, who had familiarity with the operation and spoke on the condition of anonymity because of its sensitivity.

Earlier in the day, French Mirage jets were dispatched from their base in Niamey, the Nigerien capital, along with French attack helicopters from Gao, in neighboring Mali. The U.S. request for assistance came after the troops notified their home base, an hour after the ambush began, that they were in trouble.

The jets took off within 30 minutes, and took another half-hour to reach the scene of the attack in the southwest corner of Niger near the border with Mali. They did not fire on what officials said was a confusing battlefield, to avoid hitting friendly forces. The helicopters, travelling more slowly and from farther away, took an additional hour to arrive.

It remains unclear whether the firefight was ongoing when the helicopters arrived, and when it became apparent that Army Sgt. La David T. Johnson was missing. His body eventually was recovered the evening of Oct. 6, after it was found by local Nigeriens and turned over to Nigerien authorities working with U.S. troops. It was not clear whether JSOC forces ever became directly involved in the search.

Two U.S. military officials said Johnson may have become separated from his unit in part because they were ambushed twice in succession, by militants believed affiliated with the Islamic State. That detail, first reported by NBC News, may explain the chaotic nature of the mission and the delayed call for assistance. Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a news conference Monday that the U.S. and Nigerien troops first faced enemy fire that morning, but may have initially thought the situation was under control.

Johnsons separation triggered declaration of what the military calls a DUSTWUN, which stands for duty status whereabouts unknown, the officials said. Declaration of that status typically leads to an intense search for a missing service member. It is used when a commander suspects that a service member may be absent involuntarily, but does not think enough evidence exists to make a definitive determination, according to a U.S. military manual.

[Who were the four U.S. soldiers killed in Niger?]

Dunford appeared to allude to the deployment of JSOC members during his news conference Monday, saying that "national assets" were made available for the search. Dunford received a phone call from Marine Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, the chief of U.S. Africa Command, the night of the ambush  early the next morning, in Niger, which triggered approval for additional help, the chairman said.

Two U.S. military officials said it is unlikely JSOC would have deployed forces for the search if it was clear at the time that Johnson was dead. The concern, the officials said, was that the missing soldier could be captured alive.

All of us were preparing at the time for PR support, said one U.S. military official, alluding to sensitive personnel recovery operations.

The deployment of JSOC in response to Johnsons disappearance was first reported by ABC News. It has not previously been reported that the military issued a DUSTWUN alert, or that commanders had concerns that Johnson was alive and potentially attempting to evade those who had ambushed his unit.

JSOC includes several of the militarys most elite forces, including the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, better known as SEAL Team 6, and the Armys 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, better known as Delta Force. It is not clear which force was assigned to help, or if more than one was involved.

Dunford declined to detail the specialized units involved.

We have national assets and as soon as we had a missing soldier, we brought those assets to bear, the general said.

[Sergeants widow says Trumps stumbling call made her cry even worse]

Officials believe that those responsible for the attack were part of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, one of a number of small groups that began operating in Mali and Niger over the last two years. The Sahara group, led by Adnan Abu Walid Sahroui, a West African-born jihadist, pledged allegiance to and was officially recognized by the main Islamic State in late 2016. It is believed to have fewer than 60 adherents  although numbers and alliances fluctuate in the fluid situation in the sub-Saharan Sahel region  who operate mainly in the Niger-Mali border region.

The ambushed unit included 12 U.S. soldiers with the 3rd Special Forces Group, and deployed on a reconnaissance mission Oct. 3 while accompanied by about 30 Nigerien soldiers, Dunford said. They were attacked with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and vehicles with weapons mounted on them outside the village of Tongo Tongo while trying to return to their base in Niamey, he said.

Johnson, 25, worked as a mechanic and was attached to the 3rd Special Forces Group team. His death has been at the center of a political fight in which President Trump has been accused of being disrespectful in a phone call last week to the soldiers pregnant widow, Myeshia Johnson. Trump and some of his senior White House officials have denied that was the case.

The other U.S. soldiers killed in the operation were Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson, 39; Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black, 35; and Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright, 29. Johnson was a conventional soldier trained to work with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons, while Black and Wright were Green Beret soldiers.

The U.S. military has not clarified publicly when exactly Johnson died, although the military did announce that he died Oct. 4 in southwest Niger as a result of enemy fire.

Myeshia Johnson told ABCs Good Morning America on Monday that U.S. military officials said she should not view her husbands remains. Dunford, asked about that, said afterward that a casualty assistance officer may suggest that a family may not want to see their loved ones remains, but that it is the familys choice.

I dont know what happened in the case of Mrs. Johnson, but well certainly find that out, Dunford said. From a policy perspective, we would typically defer her to the familys desires, and we do that.

Read more:

Gold Star widow Myeshia Johnson said Trump stumbled recalling her husbands name

After delay, Trump fulfills his $25,000 promise to the father of a fallen U.S. soldier
Brazil's lower house on Wednesday blocked a corruption trial against President Michel Temer from moving forward after concessions by the embattled leader to pro-business lawmakers, including a pledge to lower official fines for environmental damage.

The clash unfolding in Brasilia, the capital, underscored the scope of the political crisis in Latin Americas largest nation, in which hundreds of politicians have been swept up in corruption and bribery allegations.

Opposition lawmakers vowed to stall the vote on whether to send charges against Temer to the Supreme Court, decrying what they characterized as Machiavellian deals meant to keep the president in office through the next election in 2018. Under Brazilian law, a two-thirds majority vote is required to permit a sitting president to stand trial.

On the floor of the lower house, pro-government lawmakers lambasted the opposition for engaging in delaying tactics. The drama escalated following an announcement that Temer had been taken to a hospital Wednesday morning after experiencing unspecified discomfort. His doctor determined he has a urological obstruction, according to his spokesman.

Temer prevailed with 251 votes in his favor, comfortably surpassing the 172 he needed to dodge corruption proceedings for a second time since he became president in May 2016. The opposition gained 233 votes, but needed 342 in order for the charges to move forward.



Members of the lower house of Brazils National Congress ahead of a session Wednesday to vote on whether President Michel Temer should stand trial before the Supreme Court on corruption charges. (Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty Images)

Temer, who inherited office after the impeachment of ousted President Dilma Rousseff, is deeply unpopular in Brazil, with polls showing his approval rating as low as 3 percent. Nevertheless, his supporters insist that keeping him in office is the only way to avoid plunging Brazil into even deeper trouble.

[How Brazils most hated president clung to his job]

The country can no longer endure political crisis. The decision today is to archive these charges, so that the country can continue growing, so that investors continue investing, so that jobs are created, said Jones Martins, a lawmaker from Temers Brazilian Democratic Movement Party.

Yet the backroom deals to keep Temer afloat risked further alienating Brazilian voters, many of whom say they have lost faith in their political class. Temer, Rousseff's former vice president, came to power after she was impeached for allegedly manipulating the budget and was more recently charged by the prosecutor general for running the government like a criminal organization. Her mentor and predecessor, Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva, is appealing his conviction on charges of money laundering and corruption brought under Brazil's Car Wash operation, a sweeping investigation of bribery and influence peddling by some of the nation's largest companies.

Temer is a president who wasnt democratically elected, with a 3 percent approval rating  what right does he have to do this? None! said Isabelle Ottoni, a 21-year-old university student attending an anti-Temer protest in Rio de Janeiro this week.

Temer is the first sitting president of Brazil to face criminal charges. In August, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to block a trial in which Temer faced bribery charges.

The current charges stem from allegations that he has led the Brazilian government like a criminal organization, based on kickback schemes and political favors, since he became president. Temer has also been charged by a federal prosecutor with obstruction of justice for instigating Joesley Batista  the owner of JBS S.A., the worlds largest meatpacker  to pay bribes to a former lawmaker who is now serving a 15-year prison sentence.

[How Brazils political class came undone]

Temer and his attorneys deny the charges and claim that prosecutors are biased against him.

The prosecutor general . . . deliberately ignored grave suspicions that weaken the allegations, Temers communications office said in a statement.

Despite the slew of corruption charges and the presidents dismal approval rating, he has managed to stay afloat thanks to his partys majority coalition in Congress and his political dealmaking. Ahead of this weeks vote, Temer reduced fines for environmental infractions up to 60 percent as a favor to lawmakers in rural districts. He also moved to soften the official definition of slave labor but reversed himself after a public backlash.

Temer additionally removed Sao Paulos Congonhas airport from a list of airports set to be privatized, allegedly to curry favor with an influential allied party. The Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper estimated that the consequences of Temers pork barrel and pledges could cost Brazil almost $10 billion.

Although Temer has avoided trial yet again, analysts say the president may emerge as a lame-duck leader, unable to force through more of his legislative agenda, particularly pension reform.

Temer has more or less exhausted his goodies, said David Fleischer, a professor emeritus at the University of Brasilia, referring to the political favors the president dealt out for the first lower house vote. Now hes passing out massive policy changes in exchange. . . . Hes a weak president and has no choice but to give into these pressures.

Anthony Faiola in Miami contributed to this report.

Read more:

Meet the corrupt, jailed politician who has the rest of Brazils political elite terrified

A corruption scandal wrecked Brazils economy. Now, workers face the consequences.

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
Opinion

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Officials from credit-rating agency DBRS were in Winnipeg last week, marketing their services and at the same time extolling the virtues of the Pallister governments debt-reduction efforts and successes to date.

Obviously, fiscal prudence is an important element of running the province and Manitoba voters assume that will be part of the equation.

But there is also an assumption, especially in Manitoba, that the province will be supportive of efforts to sustain, grow or build pockets of economic activity.

KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Don Leitch says the province needs to invest in policies to support job growth.

Manitobas diversified economy helps it through tough times and, in theory that works.

But limited resources in a small province means its tough on some sectors to be sustainable, no matter how enterprising the proponents are, without provincial government support.

For instance, about a year before artificial intelligence and machine learning became hot topics in the tech sector  even before close to $1 billion of federal supercluster funding was announced  a consortium of Manitoba academic and business folks hatched a plan to leverage a handful of clever businesses in Manitoba that were already offering commercial applications of machine learning into a broader, community-wide effort.

In the 2016 provincial election campaign, and in the subsequent portfolio mandates, the Pallister government expressed explicit support for the undertaking, called Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative (EMILI).

As it turned out, the initiative did not make the short list of projects to be funded, which was announced earlier this month. A much broader and deeper machine learning group from Montreal remains in the running. You win some and you lose some, but some of the organizers were less than impressed with the level of support EMILI received from the province.

Only nine of 50 proposals made it to the short list and no amount of support from the premiers office would guarantee success.

But it could easily be argued that Manitobas EMILI project stood a greater chance of success than Winnipegs pitch to land Amazons new headquarters against 237 other suitors, yet the premier has seemed to be a far more enthusiastic supporter of that one.

Meanwhile, provincial funding for every business development organization has been cut. The provinces financial support for Innovate Manitoba was eliminated and the organization is winding down. Funding for Composites Innovation Centre  a clear success in forging a new cluster over its 15-year history  was cut almost in half.

The Tories Look North report may be an honest effort to address economic development in the north, but its passing on the heavy lifting to the people of the north.

Christian Sinclair, chief of Opaskwayak Cree Nation, and one of the co-chairs of the Look North task force, said provincial financial support will be necessary but when it comes to provincial resources that will be brought to bear, all that Blaine Pedersen, minister of growth enterprise and trade, would acknowledge was that training assistance was a good fit for government.

And the province has insisted on taking a back seat in the messy, unproductive discussions about the future of the Hudson Bay Railway.

As the premier frets about gangs taking over the marijuana business, provincially licenced beer vendors  especially cash-strapped rural hotel owners whose institutions are vital to the social fabric of many rural communities  have made it known they are keen to have the opportunity to retail the soon-to-be-legal product.

We have a pre-existing relationship with the regulator, we deal with controlled substances already, said Scott Jocelyn, CEO of the Manitoba Hotel Association.

They (the province) will be looking for an answer for retailing marijuana. Thats us.

The association is waiting for the provinces plan slated for later this week.

Perhaps the longest-running debate about hands-on provincial government involvement in economic development  a government supported venture capital fund in the province  is still nowhere in sight. Its something else that Pallister campaigned enthusiastically on.

In a recent op-ed in the Free Press, Don Leitch, the president and CEO of the Business Council of Manitoba, argued about the virtues of provincial government investment in community infrastructure.

The membership of Leitchs organization is made up of the largest private sector employers in the province, arguably the most fiscally conservative bunch around.

Leitch wrote, fiscal management is only half of the equation to a more prosperous future. The other, and equally important, half is to pursue a strong economic development strategy, leading to job growth, increased incomes and enhanced revenue to support services and investments.

This month in its fall Metropolitan Outlook report, the Conference Board of Canada acknowledged the strong current state of the Manitoba economy, forecasting a healthy 2.9 per cent growth in GDP this year.

But for the next three years, the Conference Board is forecasting a woeful growth rate of one per cent.

Other forecasters are not as gloomy about Manitoba, but like Leitch, many believe that debt reduction alone does not a healthy economy make.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
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From the time the first log was lit at dawn, a couple dozen people stopped by a sacred fire Tuesday on their way to the fifth-annual National Conference on Ending Homelessness.

Each bent over a painted wooden bowl, took a pinch of tobacco and a sprig of cedar, and made an offering to the flames.

Its a sacred fire to honour the elders, to make prayers when you offer tobacco,said Bob French, a former homeless man from British Columbias Nazko First Nation who is among the conference delegates and volunteer fire keepers.

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES A woman sleeps under a blanket in a back lane in Winnipeg.

The scent of smoke drifted into the RBC Convention Centre along with the aroma of sage, an aromatic accompaniment to the conferences twin themes of Indigenous homelessness in Canada and its links in the spirit of truth and reconciliation to take action that will end it.

Over 1,000 housing and homeless experts are meeting in Winnipeg over the next three days.

In this room is the knowledge and leadership to end homelessness, said conference host Tim Richter, president of the Canadian Association to End Homelessness.

Ask yourself, Whats my role in reconciliation? What action will I take?'

In Canada, 35,000 people couch surf, sleep in temporary shelters or are on the streets on any given night in Canada, delegates heard.

Much of the focus is on the Indigenous face of homelessness in Canada, particularly on the Prairies. Across Canada, for instance, 37 per cent of people without homes are Indigenous, a number that leaps to 90 per cent in downtown cores of cities such as Winnipeg, according to statistics speakers referenced Wednesday.

Delegates include policy and decision makers from community agencies who craft social-service strategies and programs to representatives from various levels of government.

Others are front-line workers who deal daily with people on the street. A few are homeless themselves.

As a nation we have lost our way, Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman told delegates. There is no more painful example of that than the (legacy) of residential schools. And in a country as wealthy as Canada, it is a shame and an embarrassment that we have so many people without a place to rest their heads tonight.

Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Arlen Dumas applauded the conferences sponsorship of the CEO sleepout, a key event where business leaders will spend a night outside the convention centre Thursday to demonstrate their civic commitment, but he reminded the conference that humanity is key to their efforts.

The homeless dont get coffee and soup handed out to them. People arent there to cheer them on to get them through the night. And they certainly dont get respect from the people walking by them, he said.

We are supposed to be living in a First World country, but looking at our friends and relatives on the the street shows we have a long way to go. Its up to each and every one of us to treat each other with respect.

Manitoba Minister of Families Scott Fielding emphasized the provinces recent announcement of forthcoming reforms to the child-welfare system, and noted that 60 per cent of youth on the streets are kids who have aged out of state care.

Places like Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson, as the grand chief indicated show us that Indigenous people represent the majority of the homeless. The provinces housing strategy targets youth and those from rural (areas) moving to urban centres as priorities, Fielding said.

Living rough takes an enormous personal toll, with the average life expectancy of a homeless person in Canada is 59 years. In the latest Statistics Canada data from 2012, the average life expectancy in Canada is 79 years for males and 83 years for females.

While we are here, we are going to lose people, people are dying, said Louis Sorin, president and CEO of End Homelessness Winnipeg.

Think about that.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Low 29F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Low 29F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
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OTTAWA  Anti-Muslim incidents are on the rise in Manitoba, according to a provincial group that has asked Parliament to boost educational initiatives and workplace accommodations to curb discrimination.

We are experiencing a palpable increase in incidents that raise serious concerns, Idris Elbakri, past-president of the Manitoba Islamic Association, told the Commons heritage committee Monday.

He said graffiti and vandalism targeting Muslims, Jews and other minorities used to appear every few years in Winnipeg  not months  and bacon is being mailed to mosques and strung on windshields. (The consumption of pork is prohibited in Islam.)

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Idris Elbakri of the Manitoba Islamic Association said Muslims are concerned about the increased activity of fringe racists in the province.

Muslims are worried that fringe racists, who mostly spread their message online or spray graffiti under the cover of night will successfully claim public space and normalize their message as part of our nations discourse, Elbakri testified at hearings on Islamophobia.

Elbakri said he only has anecdotal evidence, but is confident in saying that we have seen a spike over the past couple of years in the province. That correlates to a national trend of reported hate crimes more than doubling between 2012 and 2015, according to Statistics Canada data.

He recalled a torrent of disparaging online comments when the Canadian Museum for Human Rights featured a Manitoba Muslim family in a promotional campaign.

He said Muslims are similarly jolted by incidents, such as when a family came home New Years Eve to see a gift box on their Wolseley neighbourhood porch containing a rock painted with a swastika and the words Die Jew.

But MIA president Osaed Khan said Muslims were moved by an outpouring of love and support in Winnipeg after a gunman slaughtered six at a mosque near Quebec City in January and more recently when counter-protesters drowned out a rally by the Worldwide Coalition Against Islam.

St. Boniface-area MP Dan Vandal, who sits on the committee, said he was troubled by the story of bacon appearing on someones window.

Thats really disturbing, because it means that person was followed and targeted. Thats the sort of thing that we just need to quell across the country, but (its) especially disturbing when it comes from the community youve grown up in, Vandal said.

The ongoing hearings stemmed from anti-Islamophobia motion M-103, which caused heated demonstrations across Canada by a mix of white-nationalist groups and free-speech advocates. The former claimed the motion was a backdoor effort to implement Sharia law (despite motions lacking any enforcement in Parliament), while free-speech advocates charge the term Islamophobia was ill-defined.

Vandal says his office got a noticeable number of concerned calls, which he blamed on misinformation from The Rebel  a fringe, but influential, online media outlet that has slid from supporting the oilsands in 2015 to posting an anti-Semitic video this past summer.

Its the old, extreme right-wing preying on peoples fears, he said. I think thats a significant part of what we need to combat with this discussion.

The Manitoba Islamic Association joined other groups in suggesting Ottawa implement an anti-discrimination strategy encompassing educational initiatives and workplace accommodations for things such as religious dress and holidays.

Vandal says that could look like public-educational campaigns by the Canadian Human Rights Commission, or changes to the employment code that only governs federal public servants. The vast majority of Canadian workers fall under provincial labour codes and Ottawa has virtually no say in provinces school curricula.

Elbakri said roughly 20,000 Muslims live in Manitoba  1.5 per cent of the population  with most living in Winnipeg but also in Brandon, Thompson, Winkler and Altona. He and Khan travelled to Ottawa to testify Oct. 4, but unexpected House votes caused MPs to cut the meeting short. They testified through a videoconferencing link.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
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OTTAWA  The number of Indigenous people in Manitoba continues to soar, and it appears this growth relies more on birth rates than adults discovering Indigenous roots.

Census data released Wednesday revealed nationally that the Aboriginal population has jumped four times the non-Aboriginal growth rate from 2006 to 2016, now accounting for 4.9 per cent of Canadas total population.

The data also revealed troubling housing trends for First Nations people in Manitoba. Winnipeg is still home to more Indigenous people than any other Canadian city, with 92,810  12.2 per cent of the metro areas population.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES A modern usage of computer components within beadwork on clothing is seen in a piece by Indigenous artist Barry Ace at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

While the number of Indigenous people in the city has grown 37.1 per cent over the past decade, the rate is much higher elsewhere, doubling in some Maritime and Quebec cities.

While there was a rise in adults claiming Indigenous ancestry, the increase in First Nations and Metis Manitobans was most noticeable among children.

We cant easily disentangle the difference between the so-called natural growth of higher fertility and the changes of self-reporting  but you get an idea, said Thomas Anderson, an analyst with Statistics Canada.

In 2016, Aboriginal people represented 18 per cent of Manitobas population, but they made up for 29.6 per cent of children aged four or younger.

Those figures highlight concerns about child-welfare issues. Data released in August showed Manitoba leading the country in children living in foster care, with 2.1 per cent of children aged 14 and under in the foster system in 2016. Researchers believe most are Indigenous kids.

Meanwhile, the census revealed a boom in people identifying as Metis nationally, growing 51.2 per cent from 2006 to 2016.

Winnipeg held the largest population of Metis people in 2016, with the 52,130. But Ontario, for the first time, holds the largest share of Metis people, more than one-fifth of Canadas Metispopulation, a number that rose 64.3 per cent in a decade.

The census was collected a month before the Supreme Court ruled Metis people, and Aboriginals lacking First Nations status, fell under the same federal jurisdiction as Inuit and status Aboriginals, though its unknown whether that had an effect.

First Nations populations continue to grow due to high birth rates, both on and off reserve, though Wednesdays data show migration to cities remains commonplace in Manitoba.

Nationally, one-fifth of Indigenous people reported living in homes in need of major repairs. That number has declined among Inuit people and off-reserve First Nations, but not those living on reserves.

One in three Aboriginal toddlers in Canada lives with a single parent.

A third of children living on reserves under the age of five live with at least one grandparent. Both these trends are higher than the general population, and its unclear how common either are in Manitoba.

The census focuses on immediate family members living in the same household, and does not tabulate relatives or friends who help raise children but dont live in the same home.

Despite a young population, Indigenous seniors are living longer, and health groups say the rising number of Aboriginals living past 65 require unique care.

The data also reveal a decline in the proportion of Indigenous people in Canada who can speak an Aboriginal language, from 21.4 per cent in 2006 to 15.6 per cent 10 years later.

Thats despite a 3.1 per cent rise in the actual number of Indigenous people who can speak a language  suggesting the growing population is losing its connection to Indigenous languages. Just 1.6 per cent of Canadas Metis can speak an Aboriginal language, and less than one-tenth of those people live in Manitoba.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
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OTTAWA  Manitoba may become the first province with a non-white majority if demographic trends continue.

Census data released Wednesday has Manitoba and British Columbia tied for the province with the lowest percentage of Caucasians. In May 2016, 63 per cent of respondents self-identified as Caucasian, meaning they were neither a visible minority nor Indigenous.

The data show that of all cities, Winnipeg has the second-highest proportion of new immigrants.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Landed immigrants hold up their right hands as they recite an oath to become Canadian citizens at a Citizenship Ceremony in February.

Some 6.9 per cent of people living in the Winnipeg area last year had only arrived in Canada in the previous five years. Reginas percentage is highest at seven per cent  though 56 per cent of immigrants settle around Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

And while Winnipeg has only 2.2 per cent of the countrys population, it accounts for 4.3 per cent of the countrys new immigrants.

Looking at immigrants overall  including those who arrived before 2011  the metro areas population is 23.9 per cent immigrants, a higher rate than in Montreal or Edmonton.

Provincially, the percentage of Manitobans who are immigrants rose from 1.8 per cent to 5.2 per cent from 2001 to 2016.

That trend, along with people discovering their Aboriginal roots and an Indigenous birth rate that is higher than the general population, is making Manitoba increasingly diverse.

In 2006, 70 per cent of Manitobans identified as Caucasian, a number that dropped to 65 per cent in 2011. In that same period, B.C. had a more gradual drop, from 71 per cent to 67 per cent.

Nationally, the population dropped to 71 per cent Caucasian in 2016 from 80 per cent in 2006. (Nunavut and the Northwest Territories have an Indigenous majority.)

Wednesdays data highlight the success of a program that has Manitobans select workers and nannies from abroad. Since 2001, just 16.4 per cent of all immigrants to Canada arrived through provincial or territorial nominee programs. But the rate is more than half for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the Yukon, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

Manitoba has welcomed 180,810 immigrants since 1980. More than half of them  91,840  were admitted through the nominee program. More than three-quarters live in the Winnipeg area.

The provinces top five sources of immigration overall are: the Philippines, India, Britain, Germany and China. Since 2011, immigrants from Nigeria and Pakistan have outpaced those from Britain and Germany.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
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An early-morning, single-vehicle rollover southwest of La Salle has left one man dead, police say.

At about 7:35 a.m. Wednesday, officers from Headingley RCMP detachment received a report of an incident on municipal Road 44 Northeast, near MacDonald Road, in the RM of MacDonald.

Investigators believe a pickup truck being driven by a 44-year-old man from Sanford was travelling westbound on Road 44 NE when the driver lost control of the vehicle, ending in a rollover.

The driver, who was the lone occupant of the vehicle, was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle, RCMP said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

It was not yet known if alcohol and speed were factors in the crash, police said Wednesday in a news release.
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When Sharon Redsky was 13, she would head downtown to look for her mother  and shed usually find her at the Main Street Project.

I used to visit her in places like that, Redsky told about 400 people gathered Tuesday in Winnipeg on the eve of the fifth National Conference on Ending Homelessness.

I just wanted my mom to be better  to stop drinking, Redsky said at a pre-conference summit on Indigenous homelessness.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Phil Goss, a peer advocate at the Main Street Project, works to find homes for the homeless.

Decades later, little has changed, said Phil Goss, a peer advocate at Main Street Project, which shelters and supports people experiencing homelessness and addiction. Goss works with homeless clients and tries to find them places to live.

Close to 90 per cent of the people he works with are Indigenous, said Goss, who used to live on the streets until Main Street Project took him in, helped him get into detox and get the supports he needed.

The housing crisis is a crisis, said Adrienne Dudek, director of supportive and transitional housing at Main Street Project.

A national housing strategy is scheduled to be revealed Nov. 22, and will have five main targets: Indigenous people, seniors, refugees, veterans and low-income people, sources have told the Free Press.

Dudek said she hopes it offers housing with supports that are person-centred, so youre not making decisions for them  thats how you create buy-in, while connecting them to the community with a sense of belonging.

For five years, Main Street Project has used that approach at the Bell Hotel, where residents previously were chronically homeless.

It delivers health, eviction prevention, harm reduction, life skills, capacity building, counselling, goal-setting and advocacy services through the lens of independence and tenant-defined success.

With weekly meetings and daily mentoring, theres been a significant decline in the residents contact with Winnipeg emergency services and law enforcement, Main Street Project figures show.

For Redsky, whose mother sought shelter at Main Street Project and died at 49 after turning to solvent abuse, homelessness is very much an Indigenous issue. End Homelessness Winnipeg estimates 74 per cent of the citys homeless are Indigenous.

Now on the board of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (organizer of the three-day national conference) and on the staff of Dakota Ojibway Child and Family Services, Redsky said she understands how her mother and so many Indigenous people end up battling addiction and homelessness.

Her mom was from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, which was stripped of its rights by the federal government, cut off and left without safe water to drink when Winnipeg wanted Shoal Lake to be its source of drinking water.

It has taken 100 years and thousands of people to advocate three levels of government to do the right thing and approve the construction of Freedom Road to safely connect the First Nation near the Ontario-Manitoba border to the rest of the world, Redsky said.

Its indicative of Canadas relationship with Indigenous people, said Redsky.

When she was young, her mother was sent to an Indian residential school near Kenora, Ont., and, when she contracted tuberculosis, she was sent to an Indian hospital near Brandon.

As a child, her mother was kept away from her community for seven years, Redsky said.

Its a shared legacy many are feeling the effects of today. Generations of Indigenous children were taken away from their families and now Manitoba has 11,000 children in care, said Redsky. Children aging out of foster care make up a large percentage of Manitobas homeless population, she said.

Weve just got to do better, said Redsky.

We need to have a voice and we need to be at the table, she said, calling on boards to make room for Indigenous members.

Its going to take all of us to challenge the government in so many ways so we dont have to beg for the things that are a foundation to who we are as a people.

Jesse Thistle, who went from street poverty and drugs to an award-winning career in academia, says any solutions to Indigenous homelessness must take into account historical displacement and cultural loss caused by ruptured spiritual connections to the land.

At the conference Thursday, Thistle will present his research on a revolutionary definition of Indigenous homelessness, one that goes further than simply lacking a home.

Its a more nuanced way. Its really about a lack of healthy relationships, said Thistle, whose Saskatchewan roots include Cree-Metis and Algonquin. He hopes the new definition will help craft policies that will can help Indigenous people gain stability.

We had to dispossess people to create the country that exists now. And through that lens it makes a lot of sense, he said. Its totally new way to look at the issue; its kind of turning the lens around.

 with files from Dylan Robertson

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
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We Day has arrived.

That means thousands of students from over 400 schools across Manitoba are converging in downtown WInnipeg today for a concert featuring performers and speakers such as George Takei, Jully Black, Kerry Kennedy, Kenyan Boys Choir and Tyler Shaw.

Before the show even started, the some 16,000 kids who packed out Bell MTS Place were already giving Jets fans a run for their money in terms of sheer decibels. Clad in brightly coloured T-shirts, the students were cheering and dancing; the energy was buzzing from the floor right up to the 300s.

Panicland performs at We Day in Winnipeg. (Boris Minkevich / Winnipeg Free Press)

International activists and We co-founder, Craig Kielburger and youth co-hosts Hannah Alper and Tai Young, will join the cast to celebrate the contributions of young people and kick-start another year of change.

I cant wait to take the stage at We Day Manitoba today, said Shaw, a platinum selling recording artist and actor. We Day gives students an opportunity to learn about issues they may not get the chance to in school, and how to put their ideas into action. With every speech and performance that takes place at We Day, you can feel the passion and energy grow within the thousands of young people in the stadium. Im confident these students will turn their dreams into reality.

We Day highlights include:

Actor, director, author, and activist, George Takei, shares his story of survival and inspires the youth at We Day Manitoba to embrace diversity and come together to make the world a better place.

Filmmaker, journalist and author, Alexandre Trudeau, takes the We Day stage to speak about the importance of kindness and compassion.

Platinum selling recording artist and actor, Tyler Shaw, performs his hit songs Cautious and Wicked.

Canadas Queen of R&B /Soul, Juno Award Winner, International Recording Artist and Humanitarian, Jully Black and Traditional African male choir, who sang at the 2009 inauguration of President Obama, Kenyan Boys Choir, perform Three Little Birds to close the show.

More than a one-day event, We Day is connected to the free, yearlong educational program We Schools. Providing schools and community groups with curriculum, educational resources and action campaigns, the program is designed to enhance a schools existing social initiatives or spark new ones. We Schools encourages students to further their curricular learning and develop life skills for success beyond the classroom.

Were honoured to celebrate with young change-makers from Generation We, who have earned their way to We Day by taking action on local and global issues, said Craig Kielburger, co-founder of We. Today, We Day Manitoba will unite hard-working students and educators as they experience a day of inspiration, while celebrating their incredible achievements in service.

We Daythe worlds largest youth empowerment eventis free of charge to students and educators across Canada.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/10/2017 (1847 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It has been six years since the NATO-supported Libyan uprising murdered the countrys president, Moammar Gadhafi, and toppled his regime. Canada was proud of the fact that the big boys  namely the U.K., the U.S. and France  had let us appear to be leading the charge against Libya.

Canadas then foreign minister, John Baird, was the loudest among the chorus of NATO voices bellowing for regime change, Lt.-Gen. Charles Bouchard was publicly named as the allied force commander, our CF-18 fighter jets were among the first in operation in the skies above Libya, and the RCN frigate HMCS Charlottetown plied the Mediterranean coastline to enforce the UN arms embargo.

While it was never admitted at the time, the fact that members of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment marched in the Nov. 24, 2011 victory parade on Parliament Hill would appear to confirm that we also had special-forces boots on the ground during that conflict.

Ammar El-Darwish, File / The Associated Press FILES Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, seen here after his capture by revolutionary fighters in Zintan in 2011, has emerged as a political contender in Libya.

In addition to that parade, complete with a ceremonial fly-past of fighter jets and helicopters, Canada also fast-tracked the Order of Canada process to bestow this honour on Lt.-Gen Bouchard in recognition of his glorious victory in the desert.

That is an awful lot of glory for such a one-sided martial contest, which pitted the worlds most capable military alliance against a fourth-rate developing-world African security force. It was also a very premature exercise in self-congratulation.

It quickly became evident that what NATO achieved was not regime change  in the absence of a replacement administration, we plunged Libya into a state of violent anarchy.

The disparate militias that had fought together against Gadhafi loyalists refused to disarm, and they immediately began fighting among each other.

A British parliamentary report into the Libya intervention was tabled last September, and it was a scathing indictment of former U.K. prime minister David Cameron.

The report concluded that the collective intervention of the U.K., France and the U.S. (no mention of Canada) resulted in Libyas political and economic collapse, inter-militia and inter-tribal warfare, humanitarian and migrant crises, widespread human rights violations, the spread of Gadhafi regime weapons across the region and the growth of IS (Islamic State) in North Africa.

Former U.S. president Barack Obama summed it up much more succinctly when he described the 2011 Libyan intervention as a shit show and called it the low point in his foreign-affairs legacy.

To be fair to Obama, Libya was then secretary of state Hillary Clintons pet project. Anyone doubting this need only watch the famous video clip of Clinton during her Oct. 20, 2011, CBS television interview.

At one point during the taping, the secretary of state learns Gadhafi has just been murdered in the street by a rebel mob. She throws her head back, laughs and says triumphantly, We came, we saw he died, followed by more unrestrained laughter. Laughing at news of a murder  any murder  is clinically sociopathic. But I digress.

Although Libya is not in the news much these days, there have been some significant developments in that war-ravaged country of late, not the least of which is the release of Saif al-Islam Gadhafi from captivity this past June.

Gadhafis second-oldest son had been held prisoner by a militia group in the city of Zintan since his capture in the waning days of the civil war. Saif had always been seen as the heir to his fathers throne. Those familiar with the Libyan uprising of 2011 know that it was primarily an inter-tribal affair, aided and abetted by Islamic extremists and the might of NATO.

The six years of subsequent anarchy have left Libya a failed state, with a citizenry longing for stability. For this reason alone, Saif has already become a political force on the embattled Libyan landscape.

Last week he announced his intention to run in next years presidential election. With the backing of the Warfalla and Qadhadhfa tribes  Libyas two most powerful tribes  and former loyalists of his father flocking to his banner, Saif has a strong shot at winning at the ballot box.

If that scenario does evolve, Canada will have to do some serious soul-searching into our own allegedly lead role in that disastrous 2011 intervention.

It is never too late for us to follow Britains lead in conducting an extensive parliamentary review into how we could have gotten it so wrong in Libya  so wrong that it looks like Gadhafis son will get the last laugh.

Scott Taylor is the founder and publisher of Esprit de Corps magazine. He is a bestselling author and award-winning documentary filmmaker.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/10/2017 (1847 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mayor Brian Bowman and Families Minister Scott Fielding, whose responsibilities include housing, are speaking in Winnipeg today at the National Conference on Ending Homelessness.

Ending homelessness obviously requires enough housing that people can afford, but adequate housing is not the reality here. Evidence shows that government investment is central to providing low-income housing, so what investments can we expect our political leaders to speak about at this conference?

Before the last provincial election, the NDP invested more than $100 million annually in preserving the aging public housing stock, and created 3,000 new units of social and affordable housing over a five-year period. It also introduced Rent Assist  a shelter benefit to help low-income people rent in the private market. This multi-pronged approach to housing addressed both supply and demand issues.

JUSTIN SAMANSKI-LANGILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Files Expectations will be high when Mayor Brian Bowman (above) and Families Minister Scott Fielding address this weeks conference on ending homelessness.

The current Progressive Conservative government has yet to announce its housing and homelessness strategy, but it has taken some action. Since being elected in April 2016, it has continued investments in the aging public housing stock. It has also invested in 50 new desperately needed shelter beds and 237 new affordable housing units, many for home ownership.

But social housing, with rents now set at 28 per cent of income, is most affordable to the lowest-income people, such as those experiencing homelessness. However, the new government increased social housing rents in July and has not approved funding to build a single new social housing unit.

A lack of social housing creates little choice but to rent more expensive private-market units with help from Rent Assist. The province reduced the benefit in July, impacting around 7,000 low-income households. A single mom with two children living at the poverty line saw her monthly benefit go from $119 to $49. Without program changes, her benefit would have increased to $148 to keep up with rising rents.

Progress toward addressing homelessness is at a standstill in Manitoba. If the province proceeds with recommendations from its KPMG report on social housing, then housing insecurity and homelessness will increase. Recommendations include further increases to social housing rents, postponing new housing construction, and further reductions to Rent Assist.

Most alarming is KPMGs recommendation to privatize public housing. Elsewhere, privatization has heightened the housing crisis for low-income people. The United Kingdom began a process of privatization in the 1980s, only to have an all-time high public housing wait list and Europes highest rate of homelessness decades later.

Canadas ongoing housing crisis is linked to the federal governments withdrawal from public housing in the 90s, leaving it to the private sector.

Why are we now again dabbling in this failed policy? The sale of our public housing stock is irreversible. Once its sold, its gone, and it would require many years and a significant financial investment to be built back up, depending on how far we go down that road.

Meanwhile, what has the City of Winnipeg been up to?

Mayor Bowman committed to tackling homelessness during the 2014 election campaign. City council has moved very slowly  it will soon be considering a plan to provide a tax-increment financing grant to housing developers that ensure 25 per cent of their units are affordable.

Although this would be the citys first affordable-housing program outside of the inner city, the program targets are not nearly ambitious enough. It is looking at achieving only 50 affordable units at or below median market rent.

The city also funds some organizations taking leadership to prevent and address homelessness. This support is important, but city hall must also take leadership, and it is nowhere close to using the full range of municipal planning, regulatory, and funding tools at its disposal to provide affordable and social housing.

The city must throw this weight behind providing additional units if it wants to tackle homelessness.

Winnipeg is one of a few comparable jurisdictions in the country in which the local government is not an active participant in social housing. With the federal government once again making funding available for housing, our local governments have a significant opportunity to advocate for additional resources aimed at addressing homelessness.

Today we want to hear the mayor and the minister tell us how they intend to address homelessness through a comprehensive plan that includes preserving and adding to our existing supply of social housing, while enhancing income benefits for those who rent in the private market.

Kirsten Bernas is the chair of the Provincial Working Group of the Right to Housing Coalition.
In an extraordinary step yesterday, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congress not only concluded with a ringing endorsement of President Xi Jinpings opening report. It also included his thought into the Chinese constitution. Barely known five years ago when he became president, Xi has consolidated his position as the core or indispensable strongman in the CCP apparatus.

Far from being a sign of strength, the elevation of Xi to supreme leader is a sign of crisis in the CCP regime. It is beset with mounting economic and financial turmoil, and the danger of growing social unrest at home, as well as an aggressive US administration that threatens war with North Korea and China itself.

All the key resolutions were passed overwhelmingly, if not unanimously, without significant debate. The 2,300 hand-picked delegates are not accountable to the CCPs 89 million members, let alone the broader population. However, significant differences over economic and foreign policy exist between the rival party factions. In these circumstances, Xi has emerged as political supremo to ensure and impose party unity.

By entrenching himself in the constitution, Xi undoubtedly hopes to make his position unchallengeable. The new constitution does not simply contain a symbolic reference to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It enshrines specific policies: the modernisation of and, absolute party control over, the army; Xis One Belt, One Road geo-strategic initiative; and target dates for enhancing Chinas position in the world.

In reality, this is a sign of political weakness. It is aimed at giving constitutional legitimacy to the ongoing purge of critics and potential rivals through Xis so-called anti-corruption drive and suppression of dissidents who express politically incorrect views. The tightening up of Xis control of the CCP and its police-state apparatus is the preparation for looming political and social explosions.

Xi is well aware that the CCP regime is sitting atop a social time bomb. He maintains the absurd fiction that China is progressing toward socialism in a desperate attempt to obscure the gross inequities of Chinese society that the CCPs policies of capitalist restoration have created. He told the congress social inequality is the number one challenge, but his policies of ensuring the decisive role of market forces and advancing supply-side structural reformnow enshrined in the constitutionwill only widen the gulf between rich and poor.

The CCP does not represent the hundreds of millions of Chinese workers and urban and rural poor, but a tiny stratum of ultra-rich billionaires, some of whom were congress delegates, as well as layers of the wealthy middle classes, inside and outside the party.

The ideological cement to bind the party together and to subordinate the masses to the interests of the capitalist class is Chinese nationalism and xenophobianow under the banner of Xis Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, which also has been included in the constitution.

By national rejuvenation, Xi means an end to Chinas colonial subjugation in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and its emergence as a strong nation that is moving to centre stage in the world. The Chinese people and nation have a great and bright future ahead, Xi told the congress as it concluded.

Xi came to power in 2012 as US President Barack Obama was implementing his pivot to Asiaa comprehensive diplomatic, economic and military strategy aimed at undermining and preparing for war against China. Trump is pursuing the same US objective more openly and aggressively, reflecting the view in American ruling circles that Beijing is the key obstacle to Washingtons world dominance.

Under Xi, China has reacted by accelerating its own military build-up and its efforts to expand its diplomatic and economic influence in Asia and around the world. Xis signature One Belt, One Road policy involves massive infrastructure projects, including rail, roads and ports, linking the Eurasian landmass, to the exclusion of the United States. It is aimed, in particular, at encouraging the major European powers to loosen their ties to Washington.

Xi has also sought to manoeuvre with Washington. The CCP has bowed to some US demands for greater access for trade and investment in China and for punitive sanctions on North Korea, while refusing to budge on key issues such as Chinese land reclamation in the South China Sea. In his opening report to the congress, Xi declared: No one should expect China to swallow anything that undermines its interests.

Xi has emerged from the congress as the partys undisputed strongman, publicly at least, but sharp differences undoubtedly remain. In 2012, a key potential rival, Bo Xilai, party boss in the major city of Chongqing, was removed on trumped-up corruption charges, expelled from the party, tried and jailed. Bo was an advocate of stronger measures to protect state-owned enterprises and a tougher response to the US pivot. While Bos closest supporters have been purged also, sections of the Chinese military no doubt continue to push for stronger measures against US provocations, particularly in the South China Sea.

At the same time, elements within the CCP apparatus are pushing for an acceleration of pro-market measures and the opening up of the Chinese economy to foreign investors. Premier Li Keqiang, who was installed in 2012 along with Xi, championed these policies and worked closely with the World Bank to draw up the China 2030 economic blueprint. Li, however, largely has been sidelined over the past five years. Xi has established key small groups under his control to manage many policy areas, including finance and the economy.

The congress concluded yesterday with the installation of a new central committee of 204 members and 172 alternate members. Today a central committee plenum will elect the politburo and the top decision-making body, the politburo standing committeecurrently with 25 and seven members, respectively.

The committees will be stacked with Xis close supporters. However, the new era proclaimed by Xi will not be one of peace and stability. The attempt to hold together the sclerotic CCP apparatus through bureaucratic means only sets the stage for future political turmoil as the regime attempts to grapple with acute internal and external crises.
Declassified documents published last week confirm that the US government was intimately involved in the campaign of mass murders conducted by the Indonesian military and Islamic organisations during the 1965-66 coup led by General Suharto.

Not only did Washington have detailed knowledge of the massacres that killed up to one million workers, peasants and suspected supporters of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). The US escalated covert operations to instigate the military takeover, encouraged the bloodbath, and urged the military to go further in order to overthrow President Sukarno.

Diplomats in the Jakarta Embassy kept a record of which PKI leaders were being executed, and regularly informed the US Secretary of State that tens of thousands of alleged PKI sympathisers were being murdered. It was a fantastic switch, one US official enthused.

This material is another warning of the utter ruthlessness of American imperialism. US governments and their diplomatic, military and intelligence agencies have a proven record of overthrowing governments and participating in immense violence and repression in order to pursue its strategic and economic interests.

In the words of one secret diplomatic cable, the United States had a heavy stake in the outcome of the bloody political purge. As Washington escalated the Vietnam War, it regarded Indonesia, the most populous and strategically located country in South East Asia, as a linchpin of its continued post-World War II domination of the region.

The US, led by Democrat President Lyndon Johnson, was determined to oust Sukarno, a bourgeois nationalist who collaborated with the PKI as a means of keeping control over the rising social, economic and political unrest among the many-millioned Indonesian working class and peasantry.

Suharto, who formally ousted Sukarno in March 1966, ruled Indonesia with US backing for the next 32 years before being toppled in May 1998. To this day, the countrys military retains far-reaching political and economic power, and basic democratic rights remain suppressed.

The 39 documents were posted on October 17 by the National Security Archive at George Washington University, after being processed by the National Declassification Center (NDC). They provide only a partial picture of Washingtons hand in one of the greatest imperialist crimes of the twentieth century.

Of the 30,000 pages processed by the NDC, several hundred documents remain confidential and are undergoing further review. The files do not include US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) documents, which remain secret.

Even without the CIA material, the record is undeniable. Documents published in 1999 already proved that the US and its allies, particularly Australia, helped orchestrate the coup. They drew up lists of PKI and other figures to be assassinated, and urged on the massacres to ensure that Suharto fully seized power and established a military dictatorship.

The latest material points to covert US operations to oust Sukarno, which had been underway since at least 1956, being intensified in the lead-up to the coup. The first document, dated June 7, 1965, records US diplomats welcoming a move by army commanders in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province, to overrule the local governor, using powers granted to the military by Sukarno himself. Army officials clear winner in first skirmish, the US consul in Medan, Robert Blackburn, reported to the Jakarta Embassy.

Significantly, this first skirmish was more than three months before the so-called September 30 Movement, an alleged PKI-orchestrated plot to kidnap and kill leading generals. Suharto seized upon this supposed plot, the circumstances of which remain highly questionable, to instigate the bloodshed.

Many examples can be cited of US culpability for the Indonesian killing fields. On October 12, 1965 recently-arrived US ambassador to Indonesia, Marshall Green, who played a key role in the coup, sent a telegram to Secretary of State David Dean Rusk reporting on a conversation with the German ambassador to Indonesia. According to the latter, Indo Army is now considering possibility of overthrowing Sukarno himself and is approaching several Western Embassies to let them know that such a move is possible.

The American Embassy made clear that any US aid was contingent on Sukarno being removed. In an October 23 letter, Norman Hannah, the political advisor to the commander-in-chief for the Pacific (CINCPAC) asked Ambassador Green how to respond to the reasonable possibility that the Indonesian Army might request our help. A week later, Green asked the Johnson administration to explore [the] possibility of short-term one shot aid on a covert, non-attributable basis, precipitating an expansion of US covert support that would include money, communications equipment and arms.

A November 20 Jakarta Embassy telegram to Rusk pointed to the fraudulent character of the September 30 Movement allegations. Reporting on conversations between Western observers and leading PKI members in Jakarta and central Java, including Jogjakarta, it indicated that the PKI figures had no knowledge of the supposed plot and there was great confusion in Party ranks on what they were supposed to do.

On November 30, a weekly embassy summary sent to the State Department said the repression had reached the stage of mass executions in several Indonesian provinces, apparently at the behest of General Suharto in Central Java at least.

In a December 21 weekly report, Embassy First Secretary Mary Louise Trent noted that at least 100,000 people had been killed, and lauded the striking Army success of its efforts to accumulate power.

US authorities knew the September 30 Movement plot was concocted as a pretext for the coup. Ambassador Green, in a March 4, 1966 telegram to the State Department said the allegations were manufactured to serve the propaganda needs of the moment. The military wanted to foster the notion that the whole pro-Communist movement  should be considered guilty in principle.

Two documents from 1967 underscored the corporate interests at stake, as Suhartos regime sought to meet the needs of US firms by drafting a new foreign investment law and signing concession agreements with oil, mining, and timber companies.

One report noted the red carpet treatment afforded a Greater San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Pacific Trade Mission that arrived in Jakarta on April 18, 1967, for a week-long stay. Indonesian regime and business leaders were cooperative and forthcoming.

After meeting Ambassador Green, Business International Corporation chairman Elliot Haynes wrote in a diary that multinational corporations, including Uniroyal and Goodyear, were interested in setting up operations in Indonesia, while companies like Alcoa wanted lower income taxes.

US and global media outlets have barely reported the release of the documents, and provided few details of their contents. One reason is that the corporate media was complicit in the coup, assisting the US and Suhartos regime to justify it and whitewashing the massacres.

A November 1966 report to the State Department recorded a trip embassy officials took with a New York Times reporter to central Java, accompanied by military representatives. In an early example of embedded journalism, officials showed off several model villages under military control. The author noted that the army had an ironclad grip on the province, complete with roadblocks, ID cards, house-to-house searches and a ban on gatherings of five people or more.

Today, the New York Times and the media establishment continue to collaborate closely with Washington as the US and its allies bomb civilians, devastate cities, assassinate people, provoke conflict after conflict, from the Middle East to Korea, and prepare for wars against their rivals, including China.

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Fifty years since the Indonesian coup

[1 October 2015]l

US orchestrated Suhartos 1965-66 slaughter in IndonesiaThree-part series

[19-21 July 1999]

Lessons of the 1965 Indonesian Coup


Three weeks after four US special forces soldiers were killed in a firefight in the landlocked West African nation of Niger, information has surfaced indicating that the American troops and their Nigerien counterparts were involved in a capture-kill mission aimed at the leader of a local Islamist militia operating on the Niger-Mali border.

The White House and the Pentagon has provided only a trickle of information about the abortive October 4 operation. The incident came to the public eye largely because of President Donald Trumps initial failure to say anything about the largest loss of US military personnel since he took office, along with his subsequent lies about contacting families of slain troops and his shameful public confrontation with the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson, one of the four Green Berets killed in Niger, over a callous condolence call.

Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Monday that the Green Berets had been engaged in a simple reconnaissance mission, and described the overall purpose of deploying some 1,000 US special operations troops in Niger as a train, advise and assist mission to support the Nigerien security forces.

It appears that Dunfords comments were deliberately misleading on both counts.

NBC News Tuesday cited multiple US officials as recounting that the US detachment of 12 US special forces troops and 30 Nigerien soldiers had been on what was effectively an assassination mission, aimed at killing a senior leader of a local Islamist militia.

NBC reported: One theory, said an official with direct knowledge of the militarys investigation, is that the soldiers were gathering information about the target, and, after learning his whereabouts, decided to pursue him. A big question would then be whether the unit got authorization, and whether the risks were assessed.

It added that the ill-fated Niger mission was conducted under the mantle of Operation Juniper Shield, a program begun under the Obama administration and continued under Trump, which is directed at using US military force to disrupt or neutralize organizations deemed connected to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State across the Sahel region of central west Africa.

This military intervention is being conducted in coordination with the French military, which is waging an even more intense neocolonial operation in neighboring Mali. Both countries have mounted a campaign against an insurgent group known as Al-Mourabitoun, which has been active throughout the region. Last January, Al-Mourabitoun took responsibility for a suicide bombing against a military base in the city of Gao in Mali, killing 77. Previous attacks have targeted foreigners in Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, while in 2013 the group seized a gas facility in Algeria, leading to a confrontation in which all 39 of its hostages were killed.

According to the sources cited by NBC, the Green Beret team involved in the October 4 firefight, officially known as Operational Detachment Alpha or ODA, was involved in an intelligence-directed operation, which included a meeting with an individual purported to have information on the whereabouts of an Islamist militant known as Abnan Abu Walid al-Sahraoui, who is believed to be the leader of at least one section of Al-Mourabitoun.

While the precise way in which the ambush that led to the deaths of the four US special forces troops remains shrouded in mystery, military sources have suggested that the unit was set up by hostile elements of the local population, who either led them into a trap or gave away their location to the Islamist insurgents.

Leading members of the US Senate and Houseincluding Democratic Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Senators John McCain (chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee) and Lindsey Grahamhave claimed to have been kept in the dark by the Pentagon on the escalating US intervention in the region and expressed surprise that up to 1,000 US special forces troops are deployed in Niger and on its borders.

A closed-door hearing has been scheduled for Thursday in which two senior Pentagon officials will deliver a classified briefing to the Senate Armed Services panel. The session was scheduled after McCain threatened to subpoena the administration for more information on the Niger operation.

In reality, the steadily escalating US military intervention in Africa has been a fairly open secret, provoking disquiet only after the October 4 debacle.

In February 2013, the Obama White House announced that the first 100 US troops were being sent into Niger, with hundreds more to follow. At the time, it was revealed that Washington had signed an agreement with the Niger government allowing the US military to set up a drone base on the countrys territory, creating the conditions for spreading the Obama administrations remote-control assassination spree throughout the region.

That base is now under construction in the city of Agadez, where the US is preparing major facilities to house and launch MQ-9 hunter-killer drones.

Last Friday, the Washington Post reported that the Pentagon is instituting a status-based targeting system in Niger allowing its troops to hunt down and employ lethal force against suspected members of Islamist insurgent groups even if that person does not pose an immediate threat. This appears to be what was involved in the abortive mission that claimed four US soldiers lives on October 4.

The employment of such assassination squads, along with drone killings and similar methods, will serve only to intensify civil war conditions throughout the region, providing the pretext for even greater US intervention.

Indeed, the principal source of the present conflict lies in the 2011 US-NATO war to topple Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, which shattered the tenuous equilibrium that Gaddafi had maintained among the Tuareg and other tribal groups in Niger and elsewhere in the Sahel. The rise of Islamist groups was directly tied to the utilization of Al Qaeda elements by Washington and its allies as proxy ground forces in the war for regime change that ended with Gaddafis lynching and the decimation of Libyan society. In the aftermath of the Libyan governments fall, its arms stockpiles found their way into the hands of Islamist groups throughout the region.

In the midst of the roiling controversy over the troop deaths in Niger and Trumps response, there has been a steadily escalating drumbeat from Democratic politicians and the media for Congress to debate the ongoing US military interventions and pass a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF).

This found fresh expression Tuesday in a piece in the Washington Post by the ostensibly liberal columnist Eugene Robinson, who wrote: Congress needs to do more than investigate the deaths. It needs to authorize this conflictor shut it down.

Robinson went on to describe the cabal of generalsKelly, Mattis and McMasterthat largely controls the White House and the Trump administrations foreign policy as the last line of defense between our great nation and the abyss.

At the same time, however, he suggested that this military domination of the administration made it all the more important for Congress to reclaim its war-making powers by passing a new AUMF.

Such columns reflect the increasing nervousness within ruling circles that the ugly controversy over Niger has lifted the lid on both the ever-expanding global military operations of the Pentagon and the increasingly open turn toward military control of the government at home. Any new AUMF passed by Congress, which long ago gave up even the pretense of defending its constitutional powers, will only provide a legislative fig leaf to facilitate this process.
Incoming Labour Party Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern signed a formal coalition agreement yesterday with the right-wing, anti-immigrant New Zealand First Party.

One month after the September 23 election, the Labour Party, which won 36.9 percent of the vote and 46 seats, is forming a government with NZ First, which received 7.2 percent and nine seats. The coalition will be supported by the Greens, which won 6.3 percent and eight seats. The National Party, which held office for almost nine years, received 44.4 percent of the vote and 56 seats, the largest bloc in the 120-member parliament. NZ First chose to form a highly unstable coalition with Labour and the Greens instead of partnering with National.

Labour has rewarded NZ First with a role in the government that is vastly out of proportion to the popular support for the far-right, Trump-like party. The party will get four key cabinet posts. Its leader Winston Peters will become deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister. NZ First deputy leader Ron Mark, a former army officer, will become defence minister.

The coalition agreement underscores the warnings made by the Socialist Equality Group that the Labour-NZ First-Greens government will pursue an extreme nationalist and militarist agenda, including attacks on immigrants, democratic rights and living conditions. No one voted for this right-wing agenda, which was agreed behind closed doors in secretive and anti-democratic talks.

NZ Firsts elevation parallels the rise of far-right and authoritarian formations in country after country, including UKIP in Britain, Trump in America, the French National Front, the Alternative for Germany, the Austrian Freedom Party and the Czech Republics new leader, billionaire Andre Babis. In response to deepening opposition to social inequality and capitalism, these forces are seeking to divide the working class by whipping up nationalism and xenophobia, while strengthening the repressive state apparatus and the military.

Ardern has criticised sections of the American media for likening her policies to those of Donald Trump. Like the Trump administration, however, Labour and NZ First have feigned concern over poverty and inequality, while scapegoating immigrants and ethnic minorities, especially Chinese, for low wages and the lack of affordable housing. In yesterdays press conference, Ardern and Peters reiterated plans to cut immigrant and foreign student numbers by up to 30,000 a year, or some 40 percent.

The ministerial appointments for NZ First signal a shift into even closer alignment with US war preparations against China and North Korea, in line with demands made by Trumps ambassador to New Zealand Scott Brown, in three media interviews following the election.

Ardern told TVNZ today that on Monday she had a warm conversation with Trump, who, she said, was genuinely interested in the New Zealand election. Ardern declared yesterday that New Zealands relationship with the US, which includes membership in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, is incredibly important. That has not changed and it will not change.

Just as significant was Arderns announcement that her first overseas visit will be to Australia, New Zealands main military ally. The Australian conservative government and Labor opposition have vowed full support for Trumps warmongering against North Korea and the broader US confrontational stance against China.

For years, NZ First and Labour attacked the National government for cultivating close business ties with China, New Zealands second-largest trading partner. Four days before the election, Peters claimed that China was starting to dominate the lives of New Zealanders and clearly our economic direction.

In a press conference today, the NZ First leader echoed the demands made in the McCarthyite report released by the Washington-based, US government-funded Wilson Center, just three days before the election, calling for an investigation into Chinese interference in New Zealand politics and society. Peters again reiterated his call for an inquiry into unsubstantiated allegations that National MP Jian Yang is a Chinese spy.

Mark, the new defence minister, has previously called for greater military spending to prepare for the prospect of war with China. In June 2016, after the National government announced $20 billion in additional military spending over 15 years, Mark told TV3 there should be even more funding for an air strike capability and elite SAS combat forces. He said National had dropped the ball over the threat that China is posing... in the South Pacific.

New Zealands financial elite considers large areas of the South Pacific and Antarctica to be its sphere of imperialist influence. Together with the US and Australia, major sections of the ruling class want to roll back Chinas growing economic and diplomatic weight in the region.

Workers should not be diverted by Arderns populist rhetoric to address poverty and homelessness, which has been hailed by pseudo-left groups and the trade union-funded Daily Blog. The latter has demonised Asian immigrants and supports the witch-hunt against Chinese influence. It declared yesterday that big corporate farming and big business interests have been defeated by Labour and we should be ecstatic.

In reality, Ardern stressed yesterday that Labour would abide by the budget responsibility rules that it agreed with the Greens in the run-up to the election. This means restricting government spending to below 30 percent of gross domestic product, about the same as the National governments austerity budgets over the past nine years. Ardern announced on Radio NZ this morning that her government will consider further tax concessions for some companies and businesses, which will be funded by further cuts to basic services.

To try to lessen immense social discontent and political alienation, Labour has proposed a grossly inadequate increase of 1,000 state houses per yearin a country where 41,000 people, or one in 100, are homeless. Ardern said her goal was to increase the minimum wage to $20 an hour from the current poverty level of $15.75. Even if this highly conditional promise were implemented, which is far from certain, the increase would take place gradually over the next four years and would not address soaring living costs.

Like the Trump administration, the Labour-led government is moving to strengthen the police, in preparation to suppress working class opposition to its real agenda of austerity, militarism and war. Labour campaigned for 1,000 extra police but Ardern and Peters announced that this has been boosted to 1,800 as part of the deal with NZ First. This is a 20 percent increase on the 2016 level of 9,000 sworn police officers, in a country with just 4.7 million people.

Former Police Association leader Greg OConnor, who is part of the government as a newly-elected Labour MP, has repeatedly defended acts of police brutality, including killings, and demanded that all officers be equipped with firearms.

The Greens, which previously described NZ Firsts policies as racist, will work closely with that party and support the governments anti-immigrant and anti-Chinese measures. Greens leader James Shaw told Newstalk ZB he paid a social visit to Peters yesterday and gave him a bottle of whisky to celebrate NZ Firsts coalition deal with Labour.

The Greens will have three ministers outside cabinet, mostly in environmental-related roles. Labour has promised $1 billion to develop low carbon industries to benefit the Greens corporate supporters.

The working class inevitably will come into conflict with the new governments reactionary agenda, sooner rather than later. The movement against war and austerity requires a conscious internationalist and socialist perspective and leadership, in opposition to the Labour-NZ First-Greens government and its defenders in the trade unions and pseudo-left groups.

We urge workers, students and young people to attend the Socialist Equality Groups public meeting to discuss the way forward after the election, this Sunday, October 29, at 1:15pm, at the Toi Poneke Arts Centre Community Room, 61/69 Abel Smith Street, Te Aro, Wellington.

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No to war and social inequality! For world socialism! Statement of the Socialist Equality Group on the New Zealand election

[19 September 2017]
Five weeks after Hurricane Maria cut a path of destruction through Puerto Rico, millions of the islands residents are still without power and are facing the danger of spreading disease and more fatalities. Trumps response has only exacerbated the human suffering while behind the scenes various corporate vultures with close connections to the administration are preparing to cash in from the disaster.

On Tuesday, the Washington Post revealed that a small company located in US Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinkes hometown of Whitefish, Montana, had won a $300 million contract to help restore the operations of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA or Autoridad de Energia ElectricaAEEin Spanish).

When the contract was signed the tiny two-year-old company, Whitefish Energy, had only two permanent employees. The companys Puerto Rican labor force now consists of 280 workers recruited under contingent contracts.

The deal with the largely inexperienced company is the biggest to date and is a damning exposure of the Trump administration, which promised to empty the swamp of bribe-taking and corrupt Washington officials.

Susan Tierney, a former Energy Department official, described as odd the selection of Whitefish Energy. The fact that there are so many utilities with experience in this and a huge track record of helping each other out, it is at least odd why [AEE] would go to Whitefish, Tierney said, Im scratching my head wondering how it all adds up.

Zinke responded to the Post article by admitting that he and Whitefish Director Andy Techmanski know each other but insisting that he had nothing to do with Whitefish Energy getting the contract Puerto Ricos public electrical utility.

NBC Montana, however, reported that Techmanski reached out to the Department of the Interior to seek its help in [freeing] up more resources.

Once the company got the go-ahead from PREPA on Sept. 26 to begin work, company executives did reach out to contacts in case they could help expedite getting qualified linesmen to the island, Chris Chiames, spokesperson for Whitefish Energy, told the Post .

A spokesperson for Zinkes office explained that nothing came of the request. The secretary always politely listens when citizens and the small business community approach him with concerns and ideas, the Interior Department said. Neither the secretary nor anyone in his office have taken any meetings or action on behalf of this company.

According to the Daily Beast Joe Colonnetta, the owner of HBC Investments, the private equity firm that funds Whitefish Energy, has close ties to the Republican Party and he and his wife both contributed to the Trump campaign. According to Federal Election Commission data, Colonnetta contributed $20,000 to the Trump Victory PAC during the general election, $2,700 to Trumps primary election campaign (then the maximum amount permitted), $2,700 to Trumps general election campaign (also the maximum), and a total of $30,700 to the Republican National Committee in 2016 alone.

The Daily Beast continued, Colonnettas wife, Kimberly, is no stranger to Republican politics either; shortly after Trumps victory, she gave $33,400 to the Republican National Committee, the maximum contribution permitted for party committees in 2016.

Ricardo Ramos, PREPAs executive director, said the government gave the $300 million contract to Whitefish and a separate $200 million deal to Oklahoma-based Cobra Acquisitions after evaluating up to six companies for the job. Ramos said that Whitefish was chosen because it did not ask for a $25 million down payment, like other companies had, which the bankrupt utility could not afford.

Ramos declined to say why PREPA failed to active mutual aid agreements with the American Public Power Association, a recognized US entity that provides linemen and other repair and maintenance workers during electrical infrastructure emergencies.

In contrast, the state of Florida was able to begin requesting assistance from the states mutual aid agency, the Emergency Mutual Aid Compact, six days before Irma made landfall and blacked out 60 percent of the Floridas 6.7 million households. It took 10 days to fully restore that states power grid, while nearly 80 percent of Puerto Rico remains in darkness.

Ramos claims the mutual aid agreement would have required him to negotiate over expenses. The Authority does not have the liquidity to cover all of the expenses, said Ramos. I have to pay them and then ask for a refund. Its a cash flow problem. Regardless, some mainland public utilities have offered help, including the New York Electric Authority, which has sent in work crews to the island.

PREPA has long been a target for privatization and has faced years of cost-cutting, including the layoff of hundreds of linemen who conducted repairs and maintained power lines that stretch across mountainous and remote rural areas. This economic sabotage is why the electrical system was vulnerable to powerful hurricane winds and is the chief reason why it will take months to restore power.

Whitefish is not the only corporation looking to make a bundle from the human suffering on the island. This week a group of investors that hold over $3.3 billion of Puerto Ricos estimated $70 billion in debt, including in Aurelius Capital Management, Stone Lion Capital and Monarch Alternative Capital, have made clear that they expect a share of all federal funds allocated to Puerto Rico for hurricane relief. They have declared they will fight in court to get money earmarked for survivors, based on the argument that these funds are merely replacing money Puerto Rico already spent on other expenses, in lieu of paying off their Wall Street creditors.

Billionaires Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson are also making a bid to restore the electricity grid and other giant corporations like Google and Amazon are already active on the island. As Vox noted, Companies like Tesla, Duracell, and German energy storage firm Sonnen are already sending battery and solar supplies to Puerto Rico, building a toe-hold in what may be a lucrative rebuilding project.
Texas police say they believe a childs body found in a drain in Richardson was a 3-year-old girl who went missing earlier this month after her father allegedly left her outside as punishment, PEOPLE confirms.

A medical examiner has not yet positively identified the body found in a culvert at around 11 a.m. on Sunday, but Sgt. Kevin Perlich of the Richardson Police Department tells PEOPLE the indications are that its most likely little Sherin Mathews.

As the investigation continued to unfold, more and more stuff came to surface and we followed up on that, Perlich said in a Sunday press conference.

It led to the search of that area with canines, and thats how we came across the body.

Sherin vanished on Oct. 7. Her father, 37-year-old Wesley Mathews, was arrested in connection with the disappearance after he allegedly told police that he made her stand next to a tree across an alley from their Richardson home at around 3 a.m. because she refused to drink her milk, the Associated Press reported.

Mathews, who adopted Sherin, said he went to check on the toddler about 15 minutes later but she was gone, according to the AP. He reported her missing about five hours later.

That does not seem like a normal response that one would do if you have a missing child, Perlich told the AP.

According to NBC-DFW, Mathews allegedly went back inside the house to do laundry and waited for the child to return on her own. Officials have said that the toddler suffers from developmental issues and has limited verbal communication skills, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Mathews was quickly arrested and charged with abandoning or endangering a child. He has neither entered a plea nor appeared in court, Perlich tells PEOPLE. His attorney, Rafael De La Garza, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from PEOPLE.

This charge was a result of his decision to place her outside a place of safety, which Mathews described to officers as being unsafe and contributing to her disappearance, police said in a statement following Mathews arrest.

Texas Child Protective Services took a 4-year-old from the home days after the incident, Perlich added to the AP. A CPS spokesperson told the outlet that the agency has had contact with the family in the past.
The body of a 3-year-old boy was found inside an underground water tank in a Florida park Sunday night hours after he went missing  and police have not ruled out foul play, PEOPLE confirms.

On Sunday afternoon, Amari Harley and his family had gathered for a party in Bruce Park in Jacksonville, Assistant Chief Scott Dingee of the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office told reporters at a news conference Sunday night.

Amari was last seen playing with relatives in the park, said Dingee. At about 3:30 p.m., his family realized he was missing and began searching for him.

 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click hereto get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

After searching unsuccessfully for the child, his family called 911 at about 4:45 p.m. to report him missing, said Dingee.

More than fifty officers, detectives, and members of the air and canine units searched for the boy.

Officers called the citys public works department to check the underground water holding tanks in the park. After draining one of the tanks, officials found the boys lifeless body.

Frankly, we do not know how he got into this water holding tank, said Dingee. The opening was large enough for someone to fit inside, so they were concerned he may have gone in there.

 PEOPLEs special edition True Crime Stories: 35 Real Cases That Inspired the Show Law & Orderis on sale now.

Dingee said foul play has not been ruled out. An autopsy was completed, the medical examiners office tells PEOPLE, but officials have not yet released the results.

This case is obviously active and ongoing. At this time all options are on the table, Dingee said.

Police are asking anyone with information to call the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office at 904-630-0500.
WATERLOO  Winter may be eight weeks away, but Indiana Department of Transportation plow trucks are ready to do battle with snow and ice on local highways.

An annual inspection of snow-and-ice-fighting equipment is taking place across INDOTs Fort Wayne District, including the Waterloo unit along U.S. 6.

Of the 140 yellow snowplowing trucks in the Fort Wayne District, 10 are based at the Waterloo unit, where 16 drivers are set to cover eight plowing routes on state and federal highways.

The Waterloo garage covers 380 lane-miles of highways in DeKalb County. Each individual plowing route covers up to 60 miles in 2-3 hours.

Plow drivers can work 12-hour shifts or up to 16 hours at a stretch in major storms. Some of the drivers have other duties in their day jobs at INDOT. Drivers also take part in mandatory snow and ice training each year, INDOT said.

The inspections made sure their trucks are mechanically sound, with special attention is paid to the trucks steering, engine and brakes. Inspectors also tested plows and controls, belts, wetting systems.

The diesel trucks carry plow blades 12 or 13 feet wide and weighing 800 pounds. Most trucks have underbody plows, as well.

With their wetting systems, plow trucks are equipped to mix a liquid beet heat chemical with salt to reduce the freezing point of water.

Every storms different, said Randy Wilson, foreman at the Waterloo unit. It can start out as rain, go to sleet, ice, snow.

Ice gives plow drivers the most difficulties, Wilson said. When ice is predicted, drivers will pretreat all bridges with salt brine. Bridges and concrete surfaces always freeze first, he explained. The dome at the Waterloo unit holds 1,800 tons of salt.
Texas police have definitively identified a childs body found in a drain in Richardson as a 3-year-old girl who went missing earlier this month after her father allegedly left her outside as punishment.

Sherin Mathews body was found in a culvert at around 11 a.m. on Sunday. The remains were identified on Tuesday afternoon using dental records. A cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Sherin vanished on Oct. 7. Her father, 37-year-old Wesley Mathews, was arrested in connection with the disappearance after he allegedly told police that he made her stand next to a tree across an alley from their Richardson home at around 3 a.m. because she refused to drink her milk, the Associated Press reported.

Mathews, who adopted Sherin, said he went to check on the toddler about 15 minutes later but she was gone, according to the AP. He reported her missing about five hours later.

Today Dallas M.E. has confirmed the identity of child recovered on 10/22 as 3yo Sherin Mathews using dental records. Cause of death pending. pic.twitter.com/Xkhg0TeEo4  Richardson Police (@RichardsonTX_PD) October 24, 2017

Also on Tuesday, police released an arrest warrant that seems to indicate that Wesley Mathews story allegedly has changed.

The affidavit says that Matthews was trying to get the 3 year old girl to drink her milk in the garage.Wesley Mathews said she wouldnt listen to him. Mathews then allegedly stated that he physically assisted her in drinking her milk, and the girl choked.

She was coughing and her breathing slowed, the statement claims. Eventually, Wesley Mathews no longer felt a pulse on the child and believed she had died.

Mathews was initially arrested and charged with abandoning or endangering a child. After his story allegedly changed, he was charged with injury to a child.

He has neither entered a plea nor appeared in court. His attorney, Rafael De La Garza, has not responded to requests for comment from PEOPLE.

Texas Child Protective Services took a 4-year-old from the home days after the incident. A CPS spokesperson has told the Associated Press that the agency has had contact with the family in the past.
Five teenagers, who were arrested in connection with the rock-throwing death of a Michigan man last week, were denied bail by a judge during their arraignment on Tuesday.

The teenagers, whose ages range from 15 to 17, have been charged as adults with second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder and malicious destruction of property, according to MLive.

They were arraigned before Genesee District Judge William H. Crawford II in connection with the death of Kenneth Andrew White, 32.

Trevor Gray

Alexander Miller

Alexander Miller, 15, Mikadyn Payne, 16, Trevor Gray, 15, Mark Sekelsky, 16 and Kyle Anger, 17, arrived in court Tuesday wearing grim expressions.

Not guilty pleas were entered for each teenager, according to The Washington Post. Investigators told the Post that after the rock-throwing incident, the teenagers left the overpass and drove to a nearby McDonalds for food.

One of the teenagers turned himself in to the Genesee County Jail after authorities sought the publics help to track down the suspects. The four others were arrested, the Post reported.

Mark Sekelsky

Mikadyn Payne

Anger allegedly threw the rock that killed White when it went through a vehicles windshield on Wednesday night while he was on his way back home from a construction job, Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton told PEOPLE.

Kyle Anger

Leyton said Whites cause of death was noted as a homicide, with blunt force trauma to the head and chest. There were lacerations and abrasions to Whites head and face, as well as a skull fracture and injury to the brain. White also suffered from a broken clavicle and broken upper ribs.

Andrew White with Aimee Cagle

Family members for both White and the suspects were in the courtroom, according to MLive. Crawford denied bail for all of them citing the seriousness of the nature of these charges and the danger to the public, the outlet reported.

If convicted, all five face up to life in prison, according to WXYZ.

Whites fiancee Aimee Cagle told Click on Detroit that she had to tell their 5-year-old son that his daddy was not coming home.

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He was a good man and a good father, she said. For some senseless act, for it to be just a rock, just to take him so soon.

On a GoFundMe page created to raise money for Whites burial expenses, the young mother spoke of her heartbreak and thanked those who donated for their support.

This was my heart that was destroyed but i just wanted to say thank you to all who have donated! Cagle wrote. There is still kindness and love out there i just hate that its because of the travesty. He was my best friend and the love of my life. Thank you to all.
Matt Damon and George Clooney added their voices to the particularly prominent dialogue surrounding sexual harassment culture. Their input was prompted by the continuously growing number of allegations being brought to light within the industry, primarily against their former colleague Harvey Weinstein.

At the premiere of Suburbicon Sunday night in Los Angeles, Clooney addressed past sexual harassment cases, specifically those involving Bill Cosby and former Fox News host Bill OReilly, which didnt ignite change quite the way they should have.

We hope this is a watershed moment for us as a society, where women feel safe enough to talk about this issue, feel believed, and where men who are committing these crimes, these violations, dont feel safe, and feel as if, if they do these things, theyre going to be outed, theyre going to be sued, they may even get litigated, maybe go to jail for it, he told reporters on the red carpet.

Clooney continued, If we can get to that point, weve actually succeeded and this thing wont just end up being Harvey Weinstein jokes in three months.

He also responded to Woody Allens comments to the BBC, in which Allen warned against a witch hunt against Weinstein.

Thats a stupid thing to say, Clooney said. The reality is, its not a witch hunt to these women who are trapped in a hotel room and told theyre going to get a part and, suddenly, here comes Harvey Weinstein in his birthday suit. Thats not a witch hunt; thats an assault.

Clooney commended Hollywoods response to the scandal, namely stripping Weinstein of his membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Im surprised, since we havent seen that happen before, he said. Weve seen some pretty bad behavior by some people before, and we havent seen it.

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Clooney went on, Im glad it happened, its long overdue. I think once people knew, that was the only decision they could possibly make. If they didnt do it, it would be a terrible mess.

The slow unraveling of events, however, disappointed Clooney.

Its also infuriating when I read stories about reporters who did investigations and said, I had a story and didnt print it for 10 years,' he said. You go, Why wouldnt you print that story? I would have liked to have seen it. And Id like to know who brought actresses up to Harvey Weinsteins room and left. Id like to know that.

Moving forward, he added, Maybe dont do meetings in hotel rooms. How about that?

Damon, who stars in the film, said the fallout of Weinstein remains to be seen. Still, hes confident there will be massive systemic change.

The fact that somebody that powerful, his career has been completely ruined, thats a real message to anybody who would behave like this, Damon said.

Damon pointed to social media movements for providing a platform where conversation can prosper.

Social media has given everybody a voice, he said. Women realize that theyre not alone and that their voice matters. That means behavior is going to change. It has to change.

Damon expressed his optimism about this being an inflection point in the culture of sexual harassment.

Maybe Im totally naive, I just dont see how somebody could even think they could get away with this anymore in this day and age, Damon said.

Damon recently denied claims that Weinstein asked him to help kill a 2004 New York Times story about the moguls history of sexual harassment.

Clooneys producing partner, Grant Heslov, said the swift decision to expel Weinstein from the Academy shows the industry is moving in the right direction.

Im just surprised more people havent been kicked out, Heslov told Variety. Hes not the only person who has done dastardly things.

The silver lining in all this, Heslov said, is the ballon has been burst.

Its going to be much harder for people to use their power because people will speak up and hopefully feel safe, he said. These idiots and animals, whoever is doing this, hopefully they get found out.

(Pictured: Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, and George Clooney at the premiere of Suburbicon)

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Julianne Moore has added her voice to the growing chorus of women speaking out against filmmaker James Toback.

After the Los Angeles Times Glenn Whipp published a story Sunday in which 38 women came forward to accuse the Bugsy screenwriter of sexual harassment, Moore shared her alleged experience with Toback in a two-part tweet Tuesday morning.

Julianne Moore at the Cannes Film Festival in May. (Photo: Oleg Nikishin/Epsilon/Getty Images)

James Toback approached me in the 80s on Columbus Ave with the same language  wanted me to audition, come to his apt, she tweeted at Whipp, seemingly referencing the accusers claims that Toback introduced himself as a movie director before asking his alleged targets if theyd ever seen his projects. I refused. One month later he did it again with the EXACT same language. I said dont u remember u did this before?

@GlennWhipp 1  #JamesToback approached me in the 80's on Columbus Ave with the same language  wanted me to audition, come to his apt.  Julianne Moore (@_juliannemoore) October 24, 2017

@GlennWhipp 2. I refused. One month later he did it again with the EXACT same language. I said don't u remember u did this before?  Julianne Moore (@_juliannemoore) October 24, 2017

Following the publication of the original Toback story, Whipp has since claimed an additional 200 women have come forward to share accounts of similar interactions with Toback, who told the Times hed never met the women speaking out against him, and if he did, it was for five minutes and [I] have no recollection. Toback also claimed that for over two decades, it was biologically impossible for him to engage in sexual behavior as a result of diabetes and a heart condition.

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TOBACK UPDATE: Law enforcement getting involved, more than additional 200 women contact me with their stories. https://t.co/AMGZFdqurb  Glenn Whipp (@GlennWhipp) October 24, 2017

The way he presented it, it was like, This is how things are done, Adrienne LaValley told the publication, recollecting a 2008 interaction with Toback in a hotel room, one she claims ended with him attempting to rub his crotch against her leg before ejaculating in his pants. I felt like a prostitute, an utter disappointment to myself, my parents, my friends. And I deserved not to tell anyone.

The Toback expose broke just under three weeks after an Oct. 5 New York Times investigative report revealed film producer Harvey Weinsteins alleged sexual misconduct in the industry throughout his career with Miramax and The Weinstein Co.

Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Lupita Nyongo contributed personal stories about Weinsteins behavior following the articles publication.

Moore was set to star in a Weinstein Co.-produced, David O. Russell-directed television series for Amazon, though the streaming service pulled the plug on the program in the wake of the Weinstein scandal.

More from Entertainment Weekly:
Its been proven that whatever the KarJenners touch turns to sold. And there is one lady behind-the-scenes that keeps it all on track: momager extraordinaire Kris Jenner.

The Jenner Communications CEO confirmed to CNBC that her daughter Kylie Jenners cosmetics company generated $420 million in revenue in just its first 18 months of operation. (According to WWD, if those numbers continue, Kylie is projected to be a billionaire by the time shes 25.)

The goal in the future is to just build the whole infrastructure, and figure out what a retail model might look like that could take it globally, Kris told CNBCs Courtney Reagan Tuesday. Shes just scratched the surface and there is so much more to do with the brand.

Jenner adds that Kylie Cosmetics is completely self-funded by the 20-year-old star (who is expecting her first child with boyfriend Travis Scott), and there are currently no equity partners.

Right now shes super smart about keeping it all in the business, Kris said. She owns it 100 percent herself, and she doesnt have any investors. It makes for a wonderful opportunity to expand.

When asked if cosmetic giants like Estee Lauder and LOreal have expressed interest in the brand, Kris maintain that attaching Kylie Cosmetics to a bigger brand would be really advantageous for the future of the company.

Weve talked to a few people, and certainly there is interest, but well see what happens, she said.

Regardless of any impending offers  and the impending new arrival on the way  Jenner says that she thinks her daughter will retain her laser focus on the success of the brand.

I dont think she sees herself stepping away from this brand for many years, Kris said, adding, Shes doing this because its really her passion. Its so authentic to who she is, because shes been wanting to do this since she was a little girl. To see her have this kind of success with something she really loves has been really great. 

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Kris continued to make her press rounds in NYC, attending WWD Apparel & Retail CEO Summit where she spoke on a panel moderated by designer Tommy Hilfiger about the Kardashian-Jenner retail empire.

She opened up about how she helped her daughter launch Kylie Cosmetics and the speed bumps they faced in the beginning.

It was always Kylies dream to have a beauty brand and makeup company. She said [to me], I really want you to help me do this and figure it out. And we tried launching some lip kits and they sold out in minutes, if not seconds, she shared. I realized that we have a real viable business on our hands. It was crazy. The fulfillment center couldnt really get them out fast enough and the site crashed three times. I realized we had to get a manufacturer really quickly that could handle the volume and get a fulfillment center pulled together.

Kris drove up and down the Southern California coast until she found the perfect spot.

I was looking things up on Google and visiting fulfillment centers and looking for a manufacturer that could manufacture at those quantities, she shared. I found the manufacturer that I was really excited about and they didnt have a fulfillment center. So I went to the factory and I said, What about this area over here? Lets just do it right over here. That was a bit of a push but I convinced them that it was a really good idea. That was amazing for us, because it made it so much easier and it kept everything really tight inside that circle. Before we knew it, Kylie was talking to her fans and her followers and every single social media platform that she had was so receptive to this brand. And it just exploded.

Another huge milestone for Kylie Cosmetics is the brands philanthropic partnership with Smile Train, to raise funding to provide cleft lip surgeries to young children.

She decided to name a Lip Kit Smile, and she gave all the proceeds to Smile Train, and she was able to make a million dollars. And she was 19 years old and making a difference in the world, and we flew Peru and see a surgery, Kris said And those are the things Im proudest of  when they do stuff like that.

She added: Any time your kids do something thats a success, it makes you very proud and very happy. And I think that makes me want to do it even more and work harder for the next one, the next time.

with reporting by Sharon Kanter
Paris Jackson is on a mission to heal the world.

The daughter of late king of pop, Michael Jackson, jetted to Puerto Rico on Friday to help distribute supplies to families living in Aguadilla  a town on the islands northwestern tip. Aguadilla is getting less attention and resources, as its largely cut off from San Juan due to downed bridges and other road infrastructure issues.

During her trip, Jackson brought supplies to a school located in the town that is without electricity and running water. She also donated a backpack, personal water purifier and solar light for each child at the school, as most  if not all  of the students do not have electricity in their homes and are unable to complete their homework.

i made friends today. feels good to be wit beings of light on dat mutual frequency. what incredible little bundles of joy. A post shared by Paris-Michael K. Jackalope (@parisjackson) on Oct 20, 2017 at 5:51pm PDT

I made friends today. Feels good to be with beings of light on that mutual frequency. What incredible little bundles of joy, Jackson captioned an Instagram photo, which showed her reading a book to a child at a school.

On September 20, Hurricane Maria  a powerful category 5 hurricane  made landfall on Puerto Rico, absolutely decimating the island and claiming many lives. Over a month later, there is still little power on the island and many are left without water to drink or bathe in, as well as limited food access and cell service.

From Hurricane Maria to Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, celebrities have been lending their time and money to assist their fellow Americans. Other celebrities making donations to Puerto Rico include Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Aniston and Chelsea Handler, who all donated $1 million each. Lopez also helped raise $35 million at a star-studded charity concert benefitting the island.

Just weeks ago, Bethenny Frankel, 46, chartered numerous planes leaving from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and New Jersey to distribute more than 20,000 lbs. of donated medical and survival supplies, such as water, canned goods, diapers, baby food, medical supplies, toys and insulin.

Bethenny Frankel

In addition, Frankel donated 2,000 pounds in non-perishable, nutrient-dense meals from Feeding America and City Harvest, $25,000 in cash gift cards and cash and $30,000 in Costco gift cards.
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) announced that he would be the latest Republican to retire from Congress, but he followed the announcement with a blistering speech from the Senate floor aimed at President Donald Trump and warning of the dangers of being complicit in accepting his behavior as normal.

In this century, a new phrase has entered the language to describe the accommodation of a new and undesirable order  that phrase being the new normal. But we must never adjust to the present coarseness of our national dialogue, with the tone set at the top, Flake said in a speech to the Senate. We must never regard as normal the regular and casual undermining of our democratic norms and ideals.

He added, If we simply become inured to this condition, thinking that it is just politics as usual, then heaven help us.

His announcement came less than an hour after Trump left the Capitol, where he had met with Republicans in their regular Tuesday caucus lunch to talk about tax reform. But the visit was overshadowed by Trumps Twitter attacks on Tuesday morning aimed at another Republican not seeking re-election, Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who has also warned fellow GOP members of the dangers of an impulsive occupant in the Oval Office.

Trump called Corker liddle and the incompetent head of the Foreign Relations Committee, among other attacks, an apparent response to Corkers criticisms of Trump in a series of morning show appearances.

Bob Corker, who helped President O give us the bad Iran Deal & couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee, is now fighting Tax Cuts.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 24, 2017

Corker responded with a tweet, writing, Same untruths from an utterly untruthful president. #AlertTheDayCareStaff.

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Same untruths from an utterly untruthful president. #AlertTheDaycareStaff  Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) October 24, 2017

He later told reporters that it appears to me that [Trump is] almost devolving. After supporting his presidential bid, he lately has been questioning Trumps fitness for office, and has suggested that many other fellow Republicans share the same thoughts privately.

But Corker, like Flake, announced last month that he would retire, rather than face a potentially bruising primary battle from a nationalist candidate on the right. In fact, as bold as their statements may be historically about a president of their own party, they are also a reflection that critics of Trump risk their own political fortunes in speaking out  and often lose.

Flakes speech quickly earned a rebuke from White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who said the comments were petty and added that she noticed a lot of the language I didnt think was befitting of the Senate floor.

Flake and Corker, now with nothing to lose, will likely become among the most visible GOP critics of Trumps behavior in the time they have remaining in their terms  setting up a scenario of more feuds with the president. Just after Flake delivered his floor speech, he went on CNN to further criticize Trump.

Flake said to the Senate that it was time for our complicity and our accommodation of the unacceptable to end, in what seemed like an alarm bell to other senators to speak out against Trumps behavior.

Reckless, outrageous, and undignified behavior has become excused and countenanced as telling it like it is, when it is actually just reckless, outrageous, and undignified, Flake said. And when such behavior emanates from the top of our government, it is something else: It is dangerous to a democracy. Such behavior does not project strength  because our strength comes from our values. It instead projects a corruption of the spirit, and weakness.

But so far, many other Republicans have been carefully choosing their words, and others in federal agencies have walked a fine line between criticizing him and correcting the record. After Trump tweeted earlier this month that NBCs FCC license should perhaps be revoked on the basis of its news coverage, Democrats pressed chairman Ajit Pai to speak out against the president and warned of the chilling effect it could have on the free press. After six days, Pai did, saying that he was a defender of the First Amendment and that the agency could not legally revoke a license based on a stations news content.

On Tuesday, speaking to reporters at an FCC meeting, Pai reiterated those comments but did not criticize Trump directly.

Rather, he suggested that Trumps tweets were a way for others to divert attention.

I understand that those who oppose my agenda would like to be distracted by the controversy of the day, Pai said.

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Youve heard of the Walker, Texas Ranger. Well, this is a Waller Texas Woofer.

Meet Cheech, a rescue dog in Waller, Texas, at the City of Waller Animal Shelter and Rescue. If you couldnt tell by his face, this little cutie is pleased to meet you.

The shelter pup, who arrived at the shelter on Thursday, became an Internet sensation the next day after the rescue posted photos of Cheech and his different smiles on Facebook.

Leah Sipe, the director of the shelter and a Waller police officer, told FOX 13 that, at first, some of the shelter workers thought that Cheech was snarling, but soon realized that he was giving everyone a goofy grin. The best part is that the black-and-tan barker knows how to smile on command, making him the perfect pet for someone looking to post a lot of photos.

Yall this smiling dog we got in at the shelter yesterday is ridiculous, reads the post introducing Cheech to the masses. Since then the pictures have been shared over 6,000 times, generating plenty of interest in the homeless canine.

Out of the numerous applications that came in following the post, the shelter found a pet parent perfect for the pooch.

I reviewed the applications for Cheech, and one story stood out the most. Carrie reached out to the shelter volunteers and shared her heartbreaking loss with us, she lost her beloved Shepherd to cancer on Friday- since then her other dog (Dusty) pictured here, has been severely depressed and had not eaten in days, the rescue posted on Facebook Monday, along with a photo of Cheech meeting his new family.

Cheech and the grieving Daisy instantly hit it off, acting as a beaming ray of sunshine during a dark time for Carrie and her surviving canine.

Congratulations on finding your forever home Cheech, we are very happy that youre going to the perfect home. Cheech needs this family as much as they need him. Nothing but smiles here today yall!, continues the Facebook update.

While its social media superstar found a home, the City of Waller Animal Shelter and Rescue is still looking to find forever homes for plenty of other pets. The rescue was founded by a first responder on the citys police force and is maintained by fellow first responders and volunteers from the community. The shelters current home, an oil jail, is under renovation, so all of the animals are living with fosters for the time being. The shelter, the first and only no-kill shelter in the area, hopes that Cheechs viral success spreads to help the other animals under its care.
Kris Jenner and her 20-year-old daughter, Kylie Jenner, mastered the art of marketing with nary an ad or spending a dollar to promote their joint beauty venture, Kylie Cosmetics.

The matriarch of Americas most famous TV family is the chief financial officer of Kylie Cosmetics (Kylies multihyphenate roles include founder, chief executive officer, chief marketing officer and chief creative officer), which launched with a bang on Nov. 30, 2015 with the brands now signature Kylie Lip Kits. Shortly thereafter, the cosmetics range became a fully realized, multiproduct assortment, with a constant stream of new product dropping  and selling out in record time.

Kris Jenner told WWD in August that the almost two-year-old company did $420 million in retail sales in just 18 months. For 2017, the company is projected to do $386 million in retail sales, a 25 percent increase from 2016. Already, Kylie Cosmetics nabbed a valuation upwards of $1 billion.

Thanks are in order to give to social media. Today, Jenner  who set Instagram abuzz Monday when daughter Kim posted a photo of her mother lounging in a silk pajama set with what looked like newly platinum blonde hair  herself has 18 million followers on Instagram (her signature pixie cut was back to black on Tuesday). Kim has 103 million followers on Instagram, Kylie has 98.8 million followers, Kendall has 84.1 million, and, well, you get the picture.

In a conversation with longtime friend Tommy Hilfiger during WWDs CEO Summit on Tuesday afternoon, Hilfiger referred to Jenner as her own marketing and pr departmentand she does it all through social media.

So many businesses have such a huge marketing budget[and] whats so interesting is that [my children] are their own marketing team. The whole marketing budget they need is the price of a smartphone, Jenner said of social media taking the place of traditional advertising channels.

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Oddly enough, it was Ryan Seacrest  coproducer of Keeping Up With the Kardashians  who spurred the Kardashian-Jenner clans early adoption of the social platforms, Jenner recounted to Hilfiger, adding that Seacrest initially told Kim that Twitter was something you might want to pay attention to.

It was remarkable how many people followed them and were hanging on to their every experience, good or bad.They became emotionally invested in the family through the show and then the businessbut social media became the single most important thing that we had as a tool to be able to build and grow a business, Jenner said.

She credited a perfect storm in 2007  the integration of Twitter into the familys life around the same time that they started shooting the first season of the Keeping Up With the Kardashians, which was also smack in the middle of a Hollywood writers strike  with transforming and catapulting the Kardashian Jenner family into superstardom. Fortunately, this confluence of events allowed for Jenner and her children to maintain a dialogue and communicate directly with fans from the very beginning.

Also: Jenner believes that the range of age groups within the family  she herself is a Baby Boomer; Kourtney, Kim and Khloe are Millennials and Kendall and Kylie are Gen Z  ensures that viewers connect with at least one Kardashian-Jenner.

Weve been so real and authentic in what we show on our showwe dont have scripts, we dont have things that we come up with because we want to entertain somebody. Were actually doing a reality show about our lives.When people watch us, theyve seen us get married, get divorced, have babies.Theres a certain familiarity that the kids, you know, [and] each one of them has people that follow their every move and want to be a part of their lives, and with the ability to have the show on the air, which is definitely the foundation of a lot of our business, we also have the ability to have a whole personal side on social media that was not even in existence years ago, Jenner explained, adding, I keep track of my kids sometimes with social media. I have to check TMZ every morning to see whats going on and then at night I go to bed with Snapchat.

Today, the family has a combined 750 million followers across all the social platforms theyre active upon. The show, which just started filming its 15th season (at the ceo summit during Jenners chat with Hilfiger), is aired in 167 countries. Jenner revealed on Tuesday that a long-term contract with E! was just inked, so the show wont be going anywhere soon.

Kim was the one who taught us how to use Twitter and how to engage and really capture the attention of followers and the fans, Jenner said. [We learned that] if we start Tweeting and getting on social media and Instagramming[using] Snapchat all those wonderful social media platforms, you can see the spike in ratings in the show Its remarkable how when you do use social media as a marketing tool how a brand can explode, and thats so amazing to see that happen in real-time. Its fascinating.

She stated that Kim was the first to use the platform to help grow her namesake Kim Kardashian fragrance business by using crowdsourcing to ask followers about different bottle options. This showed Jenner that one could involve everyone out there instantaneously, and it was then that Jenner surrendered to social media even though it wasnt the way things usually happen in retail.

For Jenner, helping her children build brands became her passion.

The kids had amazing intuition, they knew what they wanted to do.Any passion, anything they wanted. My role was helping my kids find their dream, and when anybody came to me and said, Id love to try this, or Id love to have a clothing linethey love fashionthey love beauty, Jenner said. I knew what would make sense and be so easy for them to do and that would resonate with the people that are watching this show.I just wanted to make sure they were doing something they loved for the rest of their lives.

She gave an example: when Kendall was 15 years old, she declared she wanted to be a Victorias Secret Angel. Jenner was figuring out how to make this happen when she was flying home from New York one day and watched a documentary that featured Russell James, most well-known for his work with Victorias Secret. After learning that he was the guy who really discovered the Victorias Secret models, Jenner was determined to find a way to reach James. She found his number and left a voicemail, and lo and behold, James eventually called her back while she was in San Diego having lunch with her mom (while shooting an episode of KUWTK, obviously). Ten days later, James came to Jenners home, met Kendall and told mom and daughter, I cant wait to work with her [Kendall].

Fast-forward several years to the inception of Kylie Cosmetics, which Jenner likened to the fast fashion of the beauty industry. While Kylies name was attached to the product, its unlikely the brand would have had the explosive launch it did if not for Kylies posting about the launch to her millions of followers.

And mom Kris, who from the moment she realized the two had a viable business on our hands with Kylie Lip Kits, was set on creating Kylie Cosmetics. The fulfillment center they used initially couldnt get the product out fast enough and Kris Jenner went on a mission to find a manufacturer that could handle the sales volume and have the ability to ship right from the facility.

Before we knew it, Kylie was talking to her fans and followers and every single social media platform that she had was so receptive to this brand. It just exploded, Jenner said.

As for what is next, Jenner said she might like one day to launch her own clothing line. She also hinted that she and Hilfiger are exploring the concept of allowing viewers to buy directly from the show by using their smartphones. Hilfiger admitted they were in talks with potential partners, to which Jenner said, Any further questions just direct them to Tommy, my spokesperson.

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Marriage is a surprisingly universal experience, and we have the tweets to prove it.

Below, 25 spot-on tweets youll definitely identify with if youre a husband or wife.

Ive reached the point in my marriage that my husband fell asleep on the couch and OMG I AM SO EXCITED I GET THE BED ALL TO MYSELF  Lady Lawya (@Parkerlawyer) October 15, 2017

I sent my wife a text.



Her typing bubble popped up for 10 minutes.



All she sent me was "K."



I'm as good as dead.  James Breakwell (@XplodingUnicorn) October 16, 2017

[grocery store]

me *hits back of wife's leg with the cart* Funny running into you h-

wife: Go wait in the car

me: Ok  Josh (@iwearaonesie) October 12, 2017

My husband wrote a note so he would remember to ask me how my hair appt went, in case you're wondering what it's like to be married 25 yrs.  (s) (@3sunzzz) October 17, 2017

[kids gone for the evening]

wife: DATE NIGHT???

me: DATE NIGHT!!!

[we fall asleep watching 60 minutes]  Grant Tanaka (@GrantTanaka) October 16, 2017

I picked a restaurant



- marriage sext  Jeff (@JeffSarcastic) July 5, 2016

"I really like our fall wreath this year"



Is a thing I instinctively say because I'm finally getting good at marriage.  Simon Holland (@simoncholland) October 11, 2017

Youre just getting in the shower NOW??? - Me to my husband 10 minutes before were supposed to leave for any event  SpacedMom (@copymama) October 22, 2017

ME: were not getting any younger. the decisions we make now will affect our future

WIFE: *holding phone to chest* do you want guac or not?  rob HELLiott (@rockymomax) October 15, 2017

Relationship status: I must be the authority because my wife always questions me.  Boyd's Backyard (@TheBoydP) October 11, 2017

Idk how many times my wife will yell down the stairs without the kids responding



So far, it's more than 36.  Jackson (@kerouac741) October 22, 2017

My favorite thing about being married is having someone to follow me around and shut off all the lights in every room of the house.  bubble girl (@JessObsess) September 28, 2017

Accidentally sent my husband a nice text when I was waiting for him to notice we werent speaking because I was vaguely mad about something.  EricaTriesToTrick (@EricaWhoToYou) October 25, 2017

So, Im not certain what the perfect tenth anniversary gift is...



But according to my wife, its not a BFF necklace from Claires Boutique.  AmishPornStar (@AmishPornStar1) October 18, 2017

Me: *sets down my beer*



Wife, three rooms away: I didn't hear a coaster.  James Breakwell (@XplodingUnicorn) October 14, 2017

ME: you know what they say, measure once, cut twice

WIFE: that's not right. What did you just build?

*kids fall out of treehouse*  Very Scary Kalvin (@KalvinMacleod) May 4, 2015

My wife asked me to slice up 4 blocks of cheese for a cheese tray to take to a party. We ended up bringing a cake.  Dan (@Social_Mime) October 19, 2017

me: Good morning

wife [not talking to me because of something I said in her dream]  Josh (@iwearaonesie) October 24, 2017

Wife: How many times have I told you NOT to use my face moisturizer as body lotion?

Me: *skin absolutely glowing* is this a trick question?  PunchyK (@AnkCoupleTO) April 19, 2017

Me: Did I snore last night?

My wife: No you woke up screaming from a nightmare.

Me: Awesome.  Phil (@geowizzacist) October 8, 2017

Riddle: If a couple has been married for 25 yrs and they go car shopping in the rain, how long until they fall out of love?



Answer: 14 mins  (s) (@3sunzzz) October 10, 2017

My husband arguing with me about how I like to argue is the spark that keeps this marriage alive.  Sarcastic Mommy (@sarcasticmommy4) October 22, 2017

Only marriage can turn a missing spatula into an act of war.  Jersey Devil  (@better_off_dad) October 15, 2017

Say what you will about Facebook but when my wife sees posts by my extended family, at least I dont look so bad.  Boyd's Backyard (@TheBoydP) October 22, 2017

WIFE: I'm having friends over tonight but ur welcome to hang out with us



NARRATOR: but he didn't hang out with them, not even for a second  Very Scary Kalvin (@KalvinMacleod) October 21, 2017

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Two new deaths in Puerto Rico linked to leptospirosis, an animal-borne bacterial disease, were confirmed on Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Both cases originated from the municipality of Bayamon, Puerto Rico state epidemiologist Carmen Deseda told HuffPost during a phone interview on Tuesday. Deseda on Friday had confirmed the first death linked to leptospirosis in the municipality of Carolina.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria last month, there remain at least 73 suspected leptospirosis cases on the island, with one person currently hospitalized in stable condition in Ponce, Deseda said. Puerto Ricos yearly average of suspected leptospirosis cases is just 63.

Israel Ayala takes a bath with water coming through a pipe on Oct. 19, 2017, after Puerto Rico was hit by Hurricane Maria in September. (Photo: Alvin Baez / Reuters)

As of Tuesday, at least a quarter of the U.S. territory had no access to drinking water and nearly 76 percent of the island lacked power. Only 49 hospitals are currently running off the power grid, while many others are relying on generators.

Last week, clinical epidemiologist David Capo told HuffPost that poor conditions meant Puerto Rico was at risk for outbreaks of leptospirosis, influenza and dengue if aggressive preventive measures werent immediately taken. The potential for outbreak is imminent, he said.

Deseda echoed that concern on Tuesday.

Well, there is a fear, she told HuffPost. Were concerned that it may happen, and thats why we have to let the people know that they have to take things into their own hands and [take] action to prevent this from happening. Because we have the possible factors that can contribute to the development of outbreaks to those diseases if no precautions to decrease the risk are taken.

While some local doctors have said that little has been done in terms of preventive public health campaigns across the island, Deseda said educational campaigns are happening and information is being passed on via radio, Twitter and phone. But she also warned citizens from wading or swimming in bodies of water  big or small  which could be contaminated with the urine of diseased animals.

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Deseda detailed other remaining medical risks for Puerto Rico, including a potential for an increase in cases of conjunctivitis and gastroenteritis, also known as the stomach flu.

Gastroenteritis is one of the conditions that we have to follow very closely and monitor, especially for people that dont have access to emergency rooms or hospitals, she said. We need to make sure that they have access to medical facilities so they can be hydrated to prevent further complications.

With the confirmations of the fatal leptospirosis cases, the death toll on the island in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria is now 51. But when HuffPost spoke to doctors about the disease, some expressed concern that cases were underreported or misdiagnosed.

Related...

Doctors Fear A Potentially Deadly Disease Outbreak In Puerto Rico

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
American premedical students may consider attending medical school overseas for a number of reasons, including more affordable tuition in certain countries, the opportunity to immerse themselves in a new culture and more flexible entrance requirements in some countries compared with U.S. medical schools.

But they also need to think long term before deciding to study overseas. Earning a medical degree outside the U.S. could lead to challenges with securing a residency placement.

[Learn about whether to consider medical school abroad.]

Here are three residency factors to keep in mind when considering international medical schools.

1. Desired U.S. residency: Given the anticipated 2020 merger of allopathic and osteopathic residency programs, as well as the current -- and presumably continued -- insufficient number of available U.S. residency spots, matching in the U.S. will likely become more difficult for all medical school graduates in the coming years.

Attending an international medical school could further increase your difficulty in securing a U.S. residency. One reason is that internationally trained medical school students do not match as well as their American-trained counterparts.

As an international medical student, you might find it difficult to balance your academic requirements with those of the United States Medical Licensing Examination, or USMLE, if your school's curriculum significantly diverges from that of a U.S. school. Residency programs may also not look favorably on graduates of international medical schools.

If you are considering a U.S. residency after studying overseas for medical school, first ensure that your prospective medical program will appropriately prepare you for the USMLE.

Then research the reputation of each prospective medical school. Is it well regarded in the U.S.? Is it licensed in its home country? Are its instructors appropriately educated and respected?

[Consider the pros and cons of attending medical school in Europe.]

2. Intended medical specialty: If you have a specific specialty in mind, consider how attending an international medical school will help or harm your career goals.

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Will instruction abroad enhance your understanding of your intended field in some way? For instance, if you are considering a career that involves primary care, will working with a particular underserved population abroad help you cultivate skills that you cannot imagine developing as a domestic student?

Your international experiences may allow you to build a rich personal statement or curriculum vitae for your residency application.

As you weigh whether to attend an international medical school, think about where you see yourself as a resident, and then explore whether an overseas medical education will benefit you during that residency.

[Explore the top global universities for clinical medicine research.]

3. Social and cultural factors: As you consider your life as an international medical school graduate, ask yourself how the program's location will influence your residency applications.

For example, are you planning to study in a predominantly Spanish-speaking country with the intention of matching for a residency in an American region with a large Spanish-speaking population? Will you attend medical school in a country with a specific underserved population, giving you the opportunity to acquire skills that will help a similar population back in the U.S.?

Is your prospective medical school heavily connected to the surrounding community and situated so that students are able to be experiential learners within that community? Special skills, like familiarity with a second or third language, may help you distinguish your residency application from others.

Given the stiff competition for residency placements, it is critical to identify the unique benefits your prospective international medical school will provide to prepare you for postgraduation success.

Cassie Kosarek is a professional tutor with Varsity Tutors, a live learning platform that connects students with personalized instruction to accelerate academic achievement. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Bryn Mawr College and is a member of the Class of 2020 at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College.
ABB Robotics isnt exactly a household name, unlike other players in the industrial robotics space like Kawasaki, Mitsubishi and Epson, but thats just because the companys best known products drive the production of facilities of some of the worlds biggest companies. The Swiss companys name is ubiquitous in factories and research facilities across the world, emblazoned on robotic arms that serve everything from aerospace to healthcare.

The Swiss companys CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer will be joining us this December at Disrupt Berlin to discuss running one of the worlds largest robotics corporations. The executive has headed up ABB since 2013, having worked in a number of different technology fields, including telecommunications and automotive.

His position at ABB gives Spiesshofer a front row seat to some of the most compelling issues facing technology today. ABB has operating in manufacturing for more than 35 years and has installed more than 300,000 industrial robotics globally, positioning that puts the company at the forefront of a global push toward automation.

Spiesshofer will join us to discuss ups and downs of this inevitable push toward robotics factories, including increased worker safety and some difficult questions surrounding potential job loss among their human counterparts.

Robotics is just one of several topics well be taking on at Disrupt Berlin, on December 4-5. You can get in on the action for 30-percent the regular price of admission if you pick up Early Bird tickets now. And look for a lot more exciting speaker announcements coming soon.
Four days ago, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky let employees know that Hong Ge, the company's VP of China, who'd taken on the role just four months ago, is leaving the company to pursue opportunities outside of Airbnb.

We reached out to Ge last night for more information and have yet to hear back. In the meantime, we've learned the Ronnie Gurion -- whose LinkedIn profile states that he has been leading Airbnb's international business development efforts since April of last year -- quietly stepped down in July to accept the role of chief strategy officer at the competing vacation rental platform HomeAway.

Asked about the move, Gurion declined to comment. Asked for more information, an Airbnb spokesperson also declined to comment for this story but, at our request, sent us some of the company's most recent metrics regarding its international reach.

The data reports that Airbnb currently offers four million listings across more than 191 countries, with the most listings in the U.S., followed France, Italy, Spain, and the U.K.

A source at Airbnb tells us that that employees often use whatever title they like on LinkedIn, suggesting that Gurion was far from key to the organization. Given Gurion's new C-level job, however, it seems unlikely that he dramatically exaggerated his position with Airbnb. His role was "managing director," a title that just four other people use to describe their roles at Airbnb, at least on LinkedIn.

One of them is Olivier Gremillon, who lists himself as the managing director of Europe, Middle East and Africa. Gremillon has been described by the Guardian as "Airbnbs European chief."

Before joining Airbnb, Gurion spent six years with Orbitz, including as president of its "partner network and media solutions." Earlier in his career, he also spent three years in a director-level role with the travel giant Expedia (which acquired HomeAway in 2015 for $3.9 billion).

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Airbnb, which employed 3,100 employees altogether as of May, was reportedly valued at $31 billion as of March of this year, when it closed on $1 billion to expand geographically, as well as enter into the business of travel tours and luxury rentals. At the time, a source told the FT that Airbnb turned profitable before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization last year, and that Airbnb expects to be profitable again for the full year this year.

Of course, like any "unicorn" company, Airbnb needs to maintain its growth in order to win over public market investors, who are turning bearish fast on tech companies that disappoint.

Snap Inc. has learned that lesson the hard way this year. No doubt it's a misstep that Airbnb aims to avoid, even if with a changing cast of employees.
Businesses in the sharing economy, like Uber and Airbnb, have had a difficult relationship with local governments, but it may be in officials best interests to work with these companies.

In September, Uber was banned in London, where Transport in London (the citys transit authority), decided that the ride-sharing service wasnt fit and proper to operate. In other words, Uber was doing its job, just not up to the standards of the agency, which oversees the cities buses, subways and taxi cabs.

When it comes to Airbnb, it cant seem to stay out of the news. The home-sharing service is currently battling local governments in a handful of cities that want to regulate and tax rental listings on the site. The battle over regulation is constant, but the financial impact of the sharing economy for average Americans is undeniable.

At the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit (AMS) NYUs Stern School of Business professor Arun Sundararajan explained how the sharing economy could redistribute wealth and benefit people with below-average income.

Over the last five years, if you look at where the Airbnb hosting is in New York City, and whos generating the revenue associated with Airbnb hosting, it has shifted dramatically out of Manhattan and to the outer boroughs and away from higher income and towards lower income neighborhoods, said Sundararajan.

Yale Professor David Schleicher predicts that local governments will actually work in unison with companies like Airbnb because of this.

At the summit, Schleicher shared his belief that cities will eventually hire sharing firms as contractors to provide support to existing services provided by local government agencies. This could include using ride-sharing platforms to transport students in remote rural areas versus paying for an entire school bus to complete that route.

The possibilities are endless, but for consumers to reap the benefits, both local governments and businesses in the sharing economy need to call a truce.

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Brittany is a reporter at Yahoo Finance.

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Archaeologists unearthed an ancient Coptic tombstone during a dig Sunday (Oct. 22), according to Egypt's antiquities ministry.

The tombstone is decorated with a cross and Coptic inscriptions that were carved onto a limestone block, the ministry said. It measures about 1.2 feet by 3 feet (38 by 98 centimeters).

It wasn't immediately clear for whom the gravestone was made or when it was produced, but archaeologists plan to study it more to find out, Mostafa Alsager, the general director of Karnak Antiquities and the Avenue of Sphinxes, said in a statement. [Photos: 2,000-Year-Old Tombs Found in Egyptian Oasis]

The tombstone was discovered by an Egyptian archaeological group that was excavating beneath the Al Mathan bridge in Luxor, on the eastern side of the Avenue of Sphinxes  a well-known historical road that is lined with small sphinxes.

The Coptic gravestone's age in unknown. Egypt Ministry of Antiquities

These days, Coptic Christians make up just 5 to 10 percent of Egypt's population, but the majority of Egyptians used to be Coptic, according to Paul Rowe, a professor of political and international studies at Trinity Western University in British Columbia, Canada.

The word "Copt" comes from an ancient Greek word that means "Egyptian," and it's used to refer to all Egyptian Christians, Rowe said.

According to the biblical book of Acts, Jews from Egypt visited Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost, a harvest festival that marked the birth of the Christian church just weeks after Jesus' crucifixion, Rowe said. These Egyptians took the Christian message back to their homes, which started the Coptic tradition.

The majority of Egyptians were Christian by the fourth century, but a few hundred years later, during the Middle Ages, Egyptians began to convert to Islam, Rowe said.

The discovery of the limestone tombstone may help archaeologists learn more about the ancient Coptic people who lived in Egypt, the ministry said.

Original article on Live Science.

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Conor McGregor is back in the limelight  just not for the right reasons. (Getty)

After beating Conor McGregors training partner at UFC Gdansk over the weekend, Andre Fili didnt take to kindly to being called an anti-gay slur by the UFC lightweight champion.

McGregor was caught on camera using the slur to refer to Fili while speaking to Artem Lobov after he dropped a unanimous decision to Fill.

Fili addressed McGregors use of the word to MMAFighting.com and went as far as suggesting that the Irishman was being fake with him.

Theres no need to use words like that, Fili said. You dont need to demean other people to make yourself seem bigger. Whenever you hear someone use that word or call someone a bitch, that makes you look so insecure.

Fili admits that seeing McGregor cageside fired him up for his fight against Lobov. He turned in a dominant performance and McGregor later congratulated him for it. But then Fili heard about what McGregor said and took issue with it.

Dont be fake with me, Fili said. Im as real a person as youre going to meet. Youre always going to know where you stand with me. For him to say what he said and then turn right around and act like were cool, thats so fake.

Fili bounced back from a loss and is looking to face Too Ho Choi in his next fight. As for McGregor and Lobov, Filis performance had Lobov questioning his future in MMA and the Russian suggested hed like to box Paulie Malignaggi next. And, as you can imagine, Malignaggi caught wind of Lobovs suggestion and offered to box both Lobov and McGregor on the same night.

Popular MMA video on Yahoo Sports:


Actor Robert Guillaume, best known for playing acerbic butler Benson DuBois on two ABC sitcoms, died Tuesday at the age of 89.

His wife, Donna Brown Guillaume, confirmed to The Associated Press that the actor had been battling prostate cancer. He died at home in Los Angeles.

Guillaume made his Broadway debut in 1960 in Finians Rainbow, but rose to fame in the late 1970s when he took the role of Benson for three years on Soap. He also played the role in the spinoff series Benson, where his character initially serves as an absent-minded governors director of household affairs and rises through the ranks to lieutenant governor. The sixth season cliffhanger showed him running for governor, but the show was canceled before viewers could discover the results, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

When I got the role of Benson, I was not the happiest camper, Guillaume said on an installment of Oprah: Where Are They Now? that aired in January 2016. I had reservations, because youre serving food, youre serving the family and all that sort of thing.  Its like nothing has changed since the 1800s.

But the more I examined the role and read the script, I figured out a way to take some of the stench off the idea, he said.

(Photo: Amy Graves via Getty Images)

Guillaume won two Emmys for the role: one in 1979 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, and the second for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 1985.

Besides Benson, Guillaume is known to modern audiences as the voice of Rafiki in Disneys The Lion King.

Most TV viewers knew Guillaume as a comedic actor, but he starred in many stage musicals, including the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webbers Phantom of the Opera.

He was nominated for a Tony in 1977 for playing Nathan Detroit in a revival of Guys and Dolls, according to Variety.

In January 1999, Guillaume was appearing in the TV series Sports Night when he suffered a stroke in his dressing room, according to AP.

I fell on the floor, and I couldnt get up, he told an interviewer in 2001. I kept floundering about on the floor and I didnt know why I couldnt do it. I didnt know it was it was caused by my left side being weaker than the other.

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Guillaume managed to recover enough to return to the show in its second season, with the stroke written into the series.

He later became a spokesman for the American Stroke Association as well as the American Heart Association.

Guillaume told his life story in the 2002 autobiography, Guillaume: A Life, which had this memorable opening sentence: Im a bastard, a Catholic, the son of a prostitute, and a product of the poorest slums of St. Louis.

He was born Robert Peter Williams, but changed his last name to the French spelling Guillaume when he started his professional career as a way to stand out.

He is survived by his second wife, three daughters and one son. Another son died in 1990.

Several celebrities tweeted out their condolences upon hearing the news.

Giant of stage + screen. Also let's remember that Robert Guillaume was among the first celebs to appear at AIDS fundraisers. Thank you, sir. pic.twitter.com/Zu1klgGAV3  Ava DuVernay (@ava) October 24, 2017

Robert Guillaume radiated such warmth, light, dignity, and above all, class. That smile and laugh touched us all. RIP to the best boss ever.  Josh Charles (@MrJoshCharles) October 24, 2017

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WASHINGTON  Soon after the long-whispered allegations concerning Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein came to light, former editors and writers at The New Republic, a 103-year-old political magazine, started emailing each other to share decades of stories about Leon Wieseltier, the magazines longtime literary editor.

The former editors and staffers described routine verbal harassment and invasive physical encounters that involved unwanted kisses on the lips and liquor-fueled lechery. Wieseltiers inappropriate comments were ubiquitous. The details were bad enough that he issued a public apology Tuesday without his victims needing to come forward. The email thread from former staffers may have helped to capsize Wieseltiers new magazine, Idea, funded by Laurene Powell Jobs Emerson Collective and set to launch soon.

A day after his apology became public, writers and editors are grappling with their culpability in the scandal. They are replaying their own interactions with Wieseltier, looking for clues they might have missed and thinking about colleagues they should have helped.

I accept I was blind and complicit and just, like, did nothing, one former top New Republic editor, who asked to remain anonymous to speak candidly, told HuffPost. There was a bully, and I was not standing up to the bully to protect people.

But he added that there were men and women in the office who did not know what was going on. They all should have looked out for each other more. It was kind of a collective failure. This sits heavily on me.

In part, Wieseltiers behavior went unchecked because there was no one in place to check it  or at least willing to. The New Republic had no human resources office where employees could safely lodge complaints about Wieseltier. It also didnt have a clear organizational structure; it wasnt always clear whom Wieseltier reported to or if he reported to anyone. If you asked me if I was Leons boss, I would probably answer, Im not sure. Like Im not even sure on paper if I was Leons boss, said the top editor.

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Former owner Marty Peretz could be quick to fire editors, and he was loyal to his friend Wieseltier.

Peretz claims no one ever complained to him about Wieseltier. I really had no inkling that Leon did anything remotely, remotely what other people have been charged with, he told HuffPost. He was, he is an intellectually and philosophically, an overwhelming character, and I dont mean character in the pejorative sense. Hes a formidable person, absolutely formidable. You talk to him, youre faced with a powerful intellectual and psychological force.

I mean, I could see how he sometimes overpowered me and overpowered other people on the staff. But that was because of his cerebral capacity.

This cult around Wieseltier helped protect him. He let it be known he held sway inside and outside The New Republic. In 1999, The New York Times called him a Wunderkind turned near-elder statesman. part Maimonides, part Oscar Wilde. Years earlier, he quipped to Vanity Fair that they should refer to him as Oscar very Wilde.

If you got on his good side, he could make your career, several former staffers said. If he turned on you, you felt it. In editorial meetings, Wieseltier had his own chair positioned at the end of a long table opposite the editor-in-chief. If anyone sat in his chair, he considered it a capital offense. Like Weinstein, he delighted in being cruel to others he perceived as weaker  which included the men on staff.

He was perceived as the person who capped editors, who created editors, made careers, said the top editor. He was somebody that held really vicious grudges against people. He was just a very intimidating person to deal with.

Several of the magazines former editors refused to comment for this story, including Franklin Foer, who left as editor in 2014. Andrew Sullivan, who edited the magazine in the early to mid-90s, did not return an email request for comment. Charles Lane, who was at the helm from September 1997 through October 1999, told HuffPost that no complaints from female staffers ever came to him. But he understands why that was the case.

I will tell you that the truth of the sort of reality of life at The New Republic was not what was represented on the masthead, Lane said. In other words, the editor was nominally the supervisor of Leon Wieseltier. But that was not reality, OK? I mean Leon had total autonomy as literary editor and a very close, almost brother-like relationship with the owner at the time, Marty Peretz, who, of course, was above both of us on the masthead and totally had complete untrammeled control of the magazine.

In reality I dont think I was the place where the buck stopped, given how the place worked, Lane said. The buck stopped with Marty. I think hes the person you need to be asking that question. I really do. I mean, if you want an answer from the person who was in authority, thats it.

But Wieseltiers reputation concerning women was well known, Lane says. I was aware, as everyone in Washington was aware, that Leon had extramarital affairs. I think those are public knowledge. Im racking my brain. I did not have specific knowledge of anything like what these people are talking about. Having said that, none of it surprises me.

Former New Republic Publisher Chris Hughes told Politico, which first broke the story, that he heard about Wieseltiers behavior only after a building manager complained that he tried to hit on one of the managers employees. We directed Mr. Wieseltier to immediately cease any communication with her, and I made sure he knew The New Republic had a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment of any kind, Hughes said.

One woman who was on the New Republic staff decades ago attributed Wieseltiers harassment to the magazines male-driven culture. What was so shocking, she said, was just how long it had been going on: Thats a long fucking time, and thats some bad judgment.

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A 3-year-old Florida boy who died after getting trapped in a water-holding tank was remembered Tuesday as a smart and curious child.

Amari Harley went missing Sunday during a family event at a local park, shortly after a sudden downpour of rain scattered those who had gathered for an annual kickball game, his family said. Relatives fanned out to look for Amari about 5 p.m. and called the police when he couldnt be found.

Hours later, Amaris body was discovered in an underground water-holding tank inside the park, which city officials had drained to find him, the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office said at a news conference. The opening of the tank is large enough for a child to fit inside, authorities said. But its a mystery to authorities and the boys family how he ended up inside the tank.

I was confused, lost, hurt, Amaris mother Jasmine Bates told TIME on Tuesday. It could have been avoided. He shouldnt have been able to do that.

Bates, 25, said she had just bought Amari a Ninja Turtle costume for Halloween, which he was excited to wear this year. But the toddler never got a chance to put it on. We still have it hanging up, Bates said.

Amaris grandmother, Michelle Kelsey, said Amari was quiet for the most part, but his thirst for knowledge made him speak up. He asked a lot questions. He was very curious, she said. He always wanted to ask, Why?

The city is investigating Amaris death. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said officials will always work to ensure safety and security in our parks.

Kelsey said shes in a state of shock over what happened. Its the worst thing  news you can never hear, she said. Its painful.
WASHINGTON  A 17-year-old undocumented immigrant was finally able to terminate her pregnancy on Wednesday morning after weeks of obstruction by the Trump administration. Jane Doe, as the girl is known in court, had an abortion after a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday afternoon that the federal government could no longer block her from leaving a shelter for the procedure.

But other undocumented minors are in similar situations. And while Jane Doe found relief, her abortion wont immediately resolve a broader issue: The Trump administration is going to great lengths to keep minors in its custody from getting abortions.

This is one battle in a war that we are in with the Trump administration about access to reproductive health care and attacks on immigrants and civil rights in general, Brigitte Amiri, senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union Reproductive Freedom Project who represented the teen, told HuffPost. What happened to Jane Doe is really symptomatic of a larger problem with the Trump administration. ... They have started with the most vulnerable, unaccompanied immigrant minors, but I have no doubt that they will try to escalate and roll back reproductive rights for many others.

The Planned Parenthood Federation of American and coalition partners protest efforts by the Trump administration to block teen immigrant "Jane Doe" from getting an abortion. (Photo: Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

There are hundreds of pregnant immigrant minors in U.S. government custody at any given time, according to the ACLU, although its unknown how many are seeking abortions. The legal fight will continue for them in a class action suit to block the administration policies that prevent them from obtaining abortions.

The Trump administration blocked Jane Doe from leaving a shelter to get an abortion for a full month, stretching her pregnancy to 16 weeks, even after she received permission from a Texas state judge on Sept. 25 to make her own decision about an abortion. The Office of Refugee Resettlement, which has her in its custody, had refused to allow her to leave a shelter to undergo the procedure at her own expense, although it did let her out to go to a crisis pregnancy center where she was urged to reconsider. Abortion is illegal in the girls home country.

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Jane Doe said in a statement released Wednesday that it had been very difficult to wait in the shelter for more than a month before she was allowed to proceed.

No one should be shamed for making the right decision for themselves, Jane Doe said in a statement released through her guardian. I would not tell any other girl in my situation what they should do. That decision is hers and hers alone.

The Trump administrations Office of Refugee Resettlement has implemented new policies to deter abortions for minors in its care. While previously office directors were involved only in decisions over whether government funding could be used for abortion, such as cases of rape, the new rules demand veto power on any abortion, even if it wouldnt be funded by the government. The current director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement is Scott Lloyd, a former attorney for the Knights of Columbus who opposes abortion.

Lloyd personally visited a shelter to urge another unaccompanied minor to continue her pregnancy, according to the ACLU. In another case, then-Office of Refugee Resettlement acting director Ken Tota made a minor go to the emergency room after she had taken the first of two doses for a medical abortion to see if the pregnancy could be continued, according to the suit. That minor was ultimately able to complete the abortion.

The Trump administration wrote in court filings that it has strong and constitutionally legitimate interests in promoting childbirth, in refusing to facilitate abortion, and in not providing incentives for pregnant minors to illegally cross the border to obtain elective abortions while in federal custody.

The Trump administration has argued that it is not blocking Jane Does access to abortion. A government attorney said she could leave the U.S. if she wanted to undergo the procedure  even though abortion is against the law in her native country  or be released to a sponsor. The teen is not yet in deportation proceedings, according to her attorneys, so it is unclear whether she has legal avenues to remain in the United States. She has been in U.S. custody since early September because the government has not found her a sponsor.

The government attorney said the Justice Department was not addressing the question of whether undocumented immigrants have the constitutional right to abortion as part of the Jane Doe hearing.

A Justice Department spokesman did not immediately respond to an inquiry on whether the Trump administration had been preparing to take the case to the Supreme Court.

The government also argued that it should not have to facilitate an abortion for Jane Doe, even though its involvement would only be to approve her temporarily leaving the shelter to obtain the procedure. The same argument about facilitation could be applied to women in prison or in custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and although the government has not raised it in those situations, their rights are also a concern, Amiri said.

It also falls in line with broader efforts to curb reproductive rights under the Trump administration, she said.

They have gone to incredible lengths to prevent Jane Doe from accessing an abortion, Amiri said. There is no doubt in my mind that they are going to do everything that they can to fight us not just with access for other unaccompanied minors but ... for many more women.

One judge wrote that the Trump administration had bulldozed over constitutional lines by arguing that Jane Doe should be forced to leave the country if she wanted an abortion.

Surely the mere act of entry into the United States without documentation does not mean that an immigrants body is no longer her or his own, Patricia Millett, the appeals court judge, wrote. Nor can the sanction for unlawful entry be forcing a child to have a baby. The bedrock protections of the Fifth Amendments Due Process Clause cannot be that shallow.

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April 2015

At an event hosted by Texas Patriots PAC: Everythings coming across the border: the illegals, the cars, the whole thing. Its like a big mess. Blah. Its like vomit.

June 2015

At a speech announcing his campaign: "When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best. Theyre not sending you. Theyre not sending you. Theyre sending people that have lots of problems, and theyre bringing those problems with us. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."

August 2015

On NBC's "Meet the Press": Were going to keep the families together, we have to keep the families together, but they have to go."

September 2015

On CBS's "60 Minutes": Were rounding em up in a very humane way, in a very nice way. And theyre going to be happy because they want to be legalized. And, by the way, I know it doesnt sound nice. But not everything is nice.

November 2015

On MSNBC's "Morning Joe": You are going to have a deportation force, and you are going to do it humanely."

February 2016

At a GOP primary debate: We have at least 11 million people in this country that came in illegally. They will go out. They will come back  some will come back, the best, through a process.

March 2016

At a press conference when asked if he would consider allowing undocumented immigrants to stay: "We either have a country or we dont. We either have a country or we dont. We have borders or we dont have borders. And at this moment, the answer is absolutely not.

April 2016

At an event hosted by NBC's "Today Show": Theyre going to go, and were going to create a path where we can get them into this country legally, OK? But it has to be done legally. ... Theyre going to go, and then come back and come back legally.

July 2016

At the Republican National Convention: "Tonight, I want every American whose demands for immigration security have been denied  and every politician who has denied them  to listen very closely to the words I am about to say. On January 21st of 2017, the day after I take the oath of office, Americans will finally wake up in a country where the laws of the United States are enforced."

September 2016

At a rally: Anyone who has entered the United States illegally is subject to deportation. That is what it means to have laws and to have a country. Otherwise we dont have a country.

September 2016

On "The Dr. Oz Show": Well, under my plan the undocumented or, as you would say, illegal immigrant wouldnt be in the country. They only come in the country legally.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Jerusalem (AFP) - The first Arab recognised by Israel's Holocaust memorial as a hero for risking his life to save Jews during World War II will finally be presented with the honour after a four-year delay.

Egyptian doctor Mohammed Helmy will be presented posthumously with the "Righteous Among the Nations" medal and certificate at a ceremony on Thursday in Berlin.

Helmy's great-nephew is to accept the honour.

Helmy had already been recognised back in 2013 as a "Righteous Among the Nations" -- the first Arab to be recognised as such -- but the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial said it had not been able to contact the doctor's next of kin.

Members of Helmy's family reportedly did not want to accept the honour because of its link to Israel, reports which were never confirmed by Yad Vashem.

However, the efforts of an Israeli filmmaker seemed to have helped reach a resolution.

Filmmaker Taliya Finkel was inspired by the story of an Egyptian saving Jews in Nazi Berlin and set out to make a movie about it, she said.

Her work led her to Helmy's great-nephew, Dr Nasser Kotby, also a physician, who will be travelling from Egypt to receive the honour in his great-uncle's name.

Helmy had hidden a young Jewish woman, Anna Boros, in a property he owned during the war, while also finding places for her grandmother and giving medical care to her parents.

- 'Something about him' -

Finkel's film, which includes animation of the historic events and is called "Anna and the Egyptian Doctor," brings together relatives of Boros and Helmy and accompanies them to the sites of the families' story.

She contacted Boros's daughter, US-born Carla Gutman Greenspan, and through a German producer, Finkel reached Helmy's family in Egypt.

Helmy had died childless in Berlin in 1982.

Finkel contacted Kotby and told AFP she had "built a relationship based on trust and friendship".

Relations between Israel and Egypt, which are bound by a peace treaty since 1979, remain strained by Israel's policies toward the Palestinians.

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Kotby was nonetheless willing to participate in the film.

"He admires Helmy, who was like a father to him," Finkel said of Kotby. "I told him this was the way to eternalise the story."

Kotby receiving the Righteous Among the Nations award was Finkel's idea for her film's finale. "I said, 'let's wrap up the film nicely,'" she said.

The award is to be handed to Kotby at the German foreign ministry by Israel's ambassador to Germany, Jeremy Issacharoff.

Irena Steinfeldt, director of the Righteous Among the Nations department at Yad Vashem, said that Helmy, who himself was targeted by the Nazis, "saw the persecuted as human beings, and felt it was his duty to stand up and act."

"Helmys humanity shows that every person, however marginalised by society, can make a difference," Steinfeldt said.

Finkel said she felt a personal connection to Helmy.

"There's something about him," she said. "He realised he couldn't change the world but that he could save the girl."

Yad Vashem says it has recognised more than 26,500 Righteous Among the Nations, including around 70 Muslims.
(Photo: Solidago via Getty Images)

Now that Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) is no longer seeking re-election in 2018, the Arizona Senate race is about to get very interesting. When the primaries wrap up next August, we could see the first openly bisexual member of Congress facing off against a woman who has been called an unhinged conspiracy theorist by members of her own party.

Flakes exit means former state Sen. Kelli Ward, the anointed candidate of the anti-establishment right, is now the most high-profile Republican in the race. Breitbart chairman and former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has endorsed her, as have conservative commentators Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham.

Bannon recently referred to Ward as a whirlwind at a campaign rally he hosted, but that is not her most well-known nickname. The Senate Leadership Fund, a GOP-aligned super PAC, released a campaign ad earlier this year that reprised an attack branding her as chemtrail Kelli Ward. The spot was referencing a town hall Ward hosted in 2014, during which she fielded a number of questions about a conspiracy theory saying government- or corporate-controlled aircraft regularly disperse mind-controlling pollutants into the atmosphere.

Ward has denied directly supporting those theories, however, and fact-checks say the ad took the town hall event out of context. Still, Ward clearly isnt shy around conspiracy theorists. When she went on Alex Jones nationally syndicated radio show last year, she appeared to suggest that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) may be trying to kill her. Ward lost to McCain in the 2016 GOP Senate primary.

In July, Ward also attracted criticism for suggesting McCain would die in office after being diagnosed with cancer. In a radio interview, she urged McCain to resign, laying the groundwork for her to be appointed to his Senate seat.

Veterans listen as Kelli Ward speaks during a campaign stop at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 720 in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2016. (Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Ward has aligned her campaign with President Donald Trump, expressing support for the presidents plans to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, pull up Obamacare by the roots and drain the swamp in Washington. But establishment Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) fear shes too similar to the unsuccessful class of tea party-affiliated candidates who lost a string of elections in 2010 and 2012. Still, recent surveys had shown Ward polling ahead of Flake by a substantial margin.

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On the Democratic side, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) has emerged as the clear front-runner. Sinema made history in 2012 when she became the first openly bisexual person elected to Congress. Months later, she broke ground again by becoming the first member of Congress to describe her religion as none. Sinema identifies as religiously unaffiliated, and has said she prefers a secular approach and is a student of all cultures in her community.

In a video announcing her candidacy last month, Sinema called herself a little bit different than most people in politics. She recounted being homeless for years while growing up, and described using a combination of hard work and public assistance to change her circumstances.

The divergent profiles of Sinema and Ward would make for a fascinating contrast  and, perhaps more likely, some disgusting mud-slinging. But who knows? Another challenger could shake up the race before next summer.

There are already other upstart candidates in the race, including Deedra Abboud, a Muslim American attorney from Phoenix who is running as a Democrat and has faced Islamophobic attacks.

Craig Brittain, a free speech activist whos best known for launching a now-defunct revenge porn website, has also said he intends to run in the GOP primary. Although he may seem like a natural fit for a party increasingly associated with proud misogynists and internet trolls, Brittain faces an uphill climb to collect enough signatures to get on the ballot.

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Melania and I send our thoughts and prayers to Senator McCain, Cindy, and their entire family. pic.twitter.com/SO4XYgnyug  President Trump (@POTUS) July 20, 2017

John McCain is an American hero & one of the bravest fighters I've ever known. Cancer doesn't know what it's up against. Give it hell, John.  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 20, 2017

John and I have been friends for 40 years. He's gotten through so much difficulty with so much grace. He is strong - and he will beat this.  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 20, 2017

John McCain is as tough as they come. Thinking of John, Cindy, their wonderful children, & their whole family tonight.  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 20, 2017

.@SenJohnMcCain is a hero to our Conference and a hero to our country. pic.twitter.com/Ld2lQH1mMn  Leader McConnell (@SenateMajLdr) July 20, 2017

.@SenJohnMcCain has always been a warrior. It's who he is. All of us, not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans, are behind him. pic.twitter.com/B6iDpPultM  Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) July 20, 2017

.@SenJohnMcCain is a hero, a patriot and a fighter. I am privileged to call him a friend. Paul & I pray for his recovery and his family.  Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) July 20, 2017

As hes shown his entire life, dont bet against John McCain. Best wishes to him for a swift recovery.  Bill Clinton (@billclinton) July 20, 2017

Hang in there @SenJohnMcCain. You're tough! You can beat this. Fight, fight, fight! I am proud to call you my friend.  Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) July 20, 2017

To say @SenJohnMcCain is a fighter is an understatement. Time and time again, he has shown all of us how to be courageous under fire.  Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (@SenatorHeitkamp) July 20, 2017

Counting on the legendary John McCain strength to give cancer its toughest fight ever. Rooting for you, dear friend.  Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) July 20, 2017

Hey John! We can't wait to welcome you to the club. You got this! @SenJohnMcCain #cancersurvivors  Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) July 20, 2017

I love @SenJohnMcCain. Unbeatable, unbreakable. He's Teddy Roosevelt's "man in the arena" even when we're on opposite sides. God bless. pic.twitter.com/0sBY4QynWp  John Kerry (@JohnKerry) July 20, 2017

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Arizona Senator Jeff Flake said Tuesday he will not seek reelection, and gave an extraordinary rebuke on the Senate floor to President Donald Trump and the rightward shift of the Republican party.

These forces, Flake told his colleagues, have made his path as a to the Senate nomination increasingly narrow as a conservative standard bearer, and he would rather step aside than remain complicit, both with the evolving viewpoints and the calls for unequivocal support of President Trump.

I have decided that I will be better able to represent the people of Arizona and to better serve my country and my conscience by freeing myself of the political consideration that consumed far too much bandwidth and would cause me to compromise far too many principals, he said on the Senate floor, adding that he would conclude his service in the Senate in January of 2019.

Flake is the second Senator to announce his retirement this cycle; Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, with whom Trump has been openly feuding, announced in September he would not seek reelection. Corker, who supported Trump during the 2016 election, said on Tuesday that he would not make that same decision again if given a do-over, that the President was a poor role model for the countrys children and that he has great difficulty with the truth.

Flakes remarks seemed as much a call to action for his colleagues to rebuke the President and his rhetoric as they were an announcement of his future plans. Although he never explicitly mentioned Trump by name, he cited how personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms, and institutions, the flagrant disregard for truth or decency are emanating from the executive branch of government, and that the chamber has an obligation to speak up because it is threatening democracy.

His past criticism of President Trump, he explained, has stemmed from that obligation.

Before taking the Senate floor, Flake had conveyed these sentiments in an interview with the Arizona Republic. There may not be a place for a Republican like me in the current Republican climate or the current Republican Party. He also told the Republic that the primary voters he would have needed to win over are concerned about candidates allegiance with Trump, and he was unwilling to falsely throw unequivocal support behind the President.

The open seat provides another opportunity for the Democrats to regain a majority in the Senate, but could also end up getting filled by a more right-wing and Trump-oriented member of the Republican party. The Senator was facing a primary challenge from Kelli Ward, a former state Senator who had unsuccessfully challenged Senator John McCain in 2016. Ward was recently endorsed by former White House strategist Steve Bannon, who has vowed a self-declared war on the Republican establishment.

Shortly after Flake finished his speech, Ward wrote on Twitter that his decision was a win for Arizonas constituents. They deserve a strong, conservative in the Senate who supports POTUS & the America First agenda. Our campaign proudly offers an optimistic path forward for Arizona & America. #MAGA, she wrote.
Yerevan (AFP) - Armenia plans to increase teaching Russian in schools in a move that has sparked widespread concerns that Moscow's influence is growing in the ex-Soviet state.

The education ministry has launched public discussion of the reform on the use of the Russian language, as the Caucasus country marks 26 years of independence from the former Soviet Union.

Learning Russian is already mandatory in Armenian primary schools.

But now the government wants Russian to be taught to an advanced level at a greater number of schools and for secondary schools to use both Armenian and Russian when teaching physics, maths and geography.

Russian "is the most widely used (foreign) language" in Armenia, Education Minister Levon Mkrtchyan said at a press conference.

He argued that similar teaching programmes already exist for other foreign languages such as English, French and German.

The education ministry's plans, however, have quickly turned into a political dispute, reflecting sensitivities over the use of the Russian language in Armenia and other former Soviet republics.

According to a poll this month on the website of Armenia's education ministry, only 25 percent back the linguistic reform, while 75 percent are against it.

"Nobody is against children learning several languages, but when we are talking about forced Russification, it becomes a direct threat to national sovereignty," said political analyst and former opposition lawmaker Stepan Safarian.

Opposition lawmaker Anahit Bakhshyan said she also firmly opposes the plans.

"Why is it necessary to popularise Russian in a country where 98 percent of the population is Armenian," she asked.

"All foreign languages are important, why should we single out Russian?... According to our constitution, our official language is Armenian. There cannot be a second one," she added.

After the fall of the USSR, Russian-language schools were closed and the use of Russian vastly decreased.

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Today, young Armenians prefer to continue their studies in the West.

Armenia's own language is Indo-European and totally unrelated to Russian, with its own unique alphabet.

But Yerevan has edged closer to Moscow in recent years, preferring an economic union with Russia over a trade agreement with the European Union.

The speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament Vyacheslav Volodin recently asked Armenia to make Russian an official language in exchange for Moscow recognising Armenian driving licences. Yerevan refused.

Armenia's plans to expand Russian teaching come shortly after Ukraine limited the use of Russian in schools with a controversial new law.

Kiev's law was met with criticism not only in hostile Moscow, but also in neighbouring Hungary and Romania.

- 'Everyone taking English' -

Critics of Armenia's plans say that English, not Russian, is most beneficial for young Armenians.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, international companies have set up offices in Yerevan and recruit primarily English speakers.

"All prestigious and well paid jobs require a good level of English," said Gohar Sukiasyan, who is in the final year at a Yerevan school.

"In my class, almost everyone is taking private English lessons in addition to learning it at school to further their careers," she said.

- 'Political influence' -

The government has in part justified the planned education reform as part of rapprochement with Russia.

"Armenia and Russia are part of the same military defence system in which the working language is Russian," the deputy speaker of Armenia's parliament Eduard Sharmazanov told AFP.

"Our future officers are trained in Russia."

He also stressed that the "language of communication" inside the Eurasian Economic Union which Armenia is part of -- along with ex-Soviet Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan -- is Russian.

In addition, Russia is home to a huge Armenian diaspora.

"If (Armenian migrants) did not speak Russian, it would complicate their employment," said Sharmazanov.

The number of Russian companies has grown considerably in the country and the demand for the Russian language has increased accordingly, said Serob Khachatryan, an expert on Armenia's education system.

"But everyone understands that a language is not only an instrument of communication," he added.

"It is first of all a tool to increase political influence in the country."
(In this version of the story the Sheriff's office corrects the suspect's first name to Arron, not Aaron in paragraph 2, and corrects victim Staci Jackson's age to 25, not 28, in paragraph 4)

By Suzannah Gonzales

(Reuters) - An Ohio man has been arrested in connection with the shooting deaths of four people in a rural area of the state this week after an extensive manhunt, the local sheriff said on Friday.

Arron Lawson, 23, of Pedro, a small community in southern Ohio, faces three counts of murder and one count of aggravated murder, Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless told reporters.

Lawson is charged with the deaths of three adults and an 8-year-old boy, all of whom were found shot to death in a Pedro trailer.

The adults' identities were not immediately provided by officials, but media reports named them as 25-year-old Staci Jackson, 43-year-old Tammie McGuire and 50-year-old Donald McGuire. The 8-year-old boy was identified by authorities as Devin Holston.

"I can't believe they're gone ... You don't go and kill family," Brandon McGuire, who said he was the son of Tammie McGuire, tearfully told reporters after the sheriff's news conference.

Police responded on Wednesday to the trailer after a report of a man being attacked there with a knife by someone believed to be Lawson, sheriff's officials said.

They found three adults shot to death inside but did not search the premises thoroughly because they did not want to disturb the scene, Lawless, the sheriff, said previously.

When they returned with search warrants and combed through the trailer, investigators found the boy's body on Thursday.

The sheriff's office had earlier issued a missing child alert for the boy, which was canceled after his body was found.

Family members of the victims told reporters that Lawson was related to Tammie McGuire. He was known to visit the mobile home where the victims were found and lived nearby, the sheriff said.

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The search for Lawson included local, tri-state and federal agencies, more than 100 officers, and the use of aircraft, Lawless said.

A resident who saw Lawson walking near Pedro notified sheriff's officials and the tip led to his capture, Lawless told reporters. He was arrested without incident and is being held in the county jail, Lawless said.

"It makes you feel good that our efforts, our very strong efforts, were successful. I know that the public were a little afraid and rightly so," Lawless said.

Additional charges could be brought against Lawson, the sheriff said. Officials still have no motive and are waiting for autopsy and coroner's reports and an investigation to determine the time of death of each person, he said.

(Editing by Patrick Enright and Bernadette Baum)
A plan to build a $250 million floating island on the Hudson River in Manhattan is alive.

IAC Chairman Barry Diller told Yahoo Editor-in-Chief Andy Serwer at the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit Wednesday afternoon that the project, dubbed Pier55, is not dead. The project had been scrapped last month when Diller said he was pulling his commitment to the plan.

We have a prospect of it continuing. There is imminent life there, Diller told Serwer, declining to elaborate.

During Dillers appearance at the summit, IAC issued a press statement on Pier55 where Diller said: Im going to make one last attempt to revive the plans to build the Park, so that the intended beneficiaries of our endeavor can fall in love with Pier55 in the way all of us have.

A project plagued by huge escalating costs

The project called for a new performing arts center and a 2.4-acre park. It was backed by the Hudson River Park Trust, which operates and oversees the park, local community as well as local government officials (New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo).

But the project was quickly plagued by a number of lawsuits, which claim it did not go through the proper public review process and that it would endanger protected parkland. The suits were primarily led by the City Club of New York, a civic organization, and financed by prominent real estate developer Douglas Durst. The suits have since been settled.

Pier55.com

Diller told The New York Times last month: Because of the huge escalating costs and the fact it would have been a continuing controversy over the next three years I decided it was no longer viable for us to proceed.

When the project was first conceived in 2011 its cost was pegged at $35 million. The litigation and its design inflated cost. According to the press statement, there are plans to reinstate agreements with the Hudson River Park Trust, state and federal agencies for the project.

Promise of no more litigation convinces Diller to move forward

According to Cuomos office, all parties involved in the earlier legal disputes against Pier55 have agreed to cease its efforts to stop the project.

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Given the change in circumstances, I have asked Mr. Diller to consider proceeding with the Pier55 project as his concept could be an important and lasting legacy, Cuomo said in a press statement. I know Mr. Dillers intent was to create a space that would benefit future generations. I applaud his philanthropy and motives and believe the dream is still within his grasp.

A founding member and counsel for the City Club confirmed that it would not oppose Pier55 in a statement.

The process to build Pier55 would have to start from the beginning: Agreements with the Hudson River Park Trust, state and federal agencies which had approved the project would have to be reinstated.

The governor has informed me that the City Club litigation will not be pursued if I go forward, and that is an important factor and welcomed news, Diller said in a statement. So, Im going to make one last attempt to revive the plans to build the park, so that the intended beneficiaries of our endeavor can fall in love with Pier55 in the way all of us have.

Amanda Fung is an editor at Yahoo Finance.

More from Yahoo Finances All Markets Summit:

Barry Diller: Its almost un-American what they want to do with the internet

Marriott CEO: Corporations overstate the impact of tax cuts on business investment

White House economist: Middle class will benefit from tax cuts in 3 to 5 years

Mark Zandi: This is a rip-roaring job market
The digital currency bitcoin keeps hitting new record highs. It topped $6,100 per coin earlier this week. That gave it a $100 billion market cap. Its up 450% in 2017 so far, and 50% in the past month. Clearly, speculative investors believe in bitcoin right now.

Big names in finance keep dismissing it anyway.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon called bitcoin a fraud and said its worse than tulip bulbs. Ray Dalio, founder of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, called it a bubble because, You cant spend it very easily and the amount of speculation that is going on and the lack of transactions. Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal said bitcoin, doesnt make sense I think this is Enron in the making.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, who has dismissed bitcoin as a a fraud

While it is in fashion to brush off bitcoin, some of the very same names have voiced enthusiasm around blockchain, the distributed ledger technology that underlies bitcoin and originated with bitcoin in 2009.

Dimon himself has publicly said he sees potential in blockchain tech, and his company just announced this month the launch of a blockchain-based pilot to significantly reduce the number of entities needed to verify global payments, which would cut down transaction settlement times.

In fact, blockchain fever has taken hold all over Wall Street. To name only a few: JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Citi, and Visa are all doing some form of pilot testing with blockchain. Startups like Chain, itBit, and Digital Asset, which build private blockchain solutions for enterprise, are some of the hottest and best-funded fintech companies around.

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Even Walmart is now using blockchain to track food shipments.

The fallacy of blockchain without bitcoin

Theres a paradox inherent in raving about blockchain but disparaging bitcoin, since the two originated together.

As many in the bitcoin world will tell you, the type of closed, permissioned systems that banks are testing defeat the point of the bitcoin blockchain, which is open and permissionless. They say there must be some form of digital token associated with a ledger in order for the system to work, as a way to dole out incentive to the machines recording transactions. (On the bitcoin blockchain, miners are rewarded with a small amount of bitcoin every time they upload a bundle of transaction records, called blocks, to the blockchain.)

For now, the way that banks are using blockchains, as a way to speed up and improve their back-end record-keeping, is not particularly revolutionary, but merely an incremental improvement in efficiency. (And yet the word itself, blockchain, manages to impress investors.)

At the end of the day, its not a very exciting innovation, Jerry Brito, executive director of the cryptocurrency non-profit Coin Center, told Yahoo Finance. The real innovation is a completely open and global ledger that is permission-less. Having a closed, permissioned ledger run by banks, that might allow for better auditing but theres no innovation there.

"Major banks complete first international transaction using a blockchain" You mean, the same thing bitcoin has done several million times?  Andreas M. Antonopoulos (@aantonop) October 24, 2016

Regardless of the blockchain hype (which is unlikely to die down any time soon), to dismiss bitcoin as a fraud shows a lack of understanding: bitcoin is a technology. It is neutral; there are criminal use cases and socially conscious use cases alike.

Similarly, those who dismiss bitcoin because it cant be spent as payment in many mainstream places are also missing the point. It may be the case that currency isnt the best word for bitcoin, but rather digital asset or token.

While people like to talk about needing a killer application for bitcoin that would show its value to the mainstream economy, it is likely that bitcoin itself is the killer app. After all, the coin has created nearly $100 billion in value from nothing.

Its steady rise in value alone  up more than 3,000% over the past five years  is an indication that the interest isnt waning, so financial markets cant look away. And as payment leaders like MasterCard push for the death of cash, bitcoin is getting us closer to that time. For many people, their money is already entirely digital anyway, numbers on a screen. (In the first episode of the show Mr. Robot, Christian Slaters character makes a similar point: Money hasnt been real since we got off the gold standard. Its become virtual. Software.)

Bitcoin price in 2017 through Oct. 25

A safe haven during economic turmoil

Bitcoins most obvious use case, the significance of which is instantly clear, is for sending money across borders with minimal fees and minimal transfer delays. Bitcoin has repeatedly saved peoples finances in emergency situations. During the Greek bank crisis in 2015, or in Venezuela this year, regular people have sought safe haven in bitcoin when their national currency was failing. It is why Chinas central bank has cracked down on bitcoin as a way to restrict capital outflows and buoy the yuan.

Bitcoins anonymity can also be a benefit in certain situations, such as charitable donations to organizations the government does not support (think WikiLeaks) or anonymous investment support. Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman has pinpointed this aspect specifically: The concept of anonymous currency is a very interesting concept, he said, interesting for the privacy protections it gives people, interesting because what it says to the central banking system about controlling that.

Then there are companies using bitcoin as the vehicle for something much bigger than cross-border payments or anonymous online purchases. Balaji Srinivasan at 21 Inc wants to create a machine economy where machines can ping each other with payment requests, in bitcoin, every time a machine visits a certain URL. You can imagine the possibilities for micro-payments, reducing the friction of entering your payment info on every website, and paying for online content like news.

Not everyone in the finance world is sour on bitcoin. Fidelity will link customer accounts to their Coinbase bitcoin wallets, and Fidelity CEO Abby Johnson says, Im a believer. Im one of the few standing before you today from a large financial services company that has not given up on digital currencies. Goldman Sachs is considering launching a bitcoin trading business. Even Larry Fink has said that if money were to go truly digital, we would not have money laundering anymore.

Ethereum and the rise of altcoins

Much like how Uber may not necessarily be the eventual big winner in the taxi app space just because it was first, bitcoin may not be the top cryptocurrency in a few years (though it likely will). But even if bitcoin were to lose favor  if it were to crash and stay down, say, or if the bitcoin blockchain experienced a terrible failure  its permanent, lasting influence is now clear.

Bitcoin has engendered a plethora of additional cryptocurrencies or altcoins, many of which are now significant in their own right. (And for that reason, some proponents resent the word altcoin since it implies theyre all automatically lesser than bitcoin.) Litecoin has a market cap near $3 billion, Dashcoin is at $2.2 billion, and Zcash approaches $1 billion. Ripple, the settlement token of the Ripple network, has a market cap of nearly $8 billion.

1/ If you consider all #cryptoassets outside of #bitcoin to be altcoins or alts, then you are missing the bigger picture.  Chris Burniske (@cburniske) October 22, 2017

But above all of those, second only to bitcoin, is ether, the coin of the Ethereum blockchain. Its market cap is nearly $28 billion, a stunning figure considering that Ethereum only launched (by mining its genesis block or first transaction bundle) in 2015. The significance of Ethereum is not in its token, but in the ability to store smart contracts on its ledgerthe Ethereum blockchain was designed specifically for that purpose.

The faith in the potential of the Ethereum chain is so high that the typical ICO (initial coin offering), a model for crypto startups to raise money via token sale, is built on the back of Ethereum. The model is: you buy a new startups own token, for later use within its ecosystem, and pay in ether (or, in many cases, bitcoin, if you choose). While investing in an ICO carries high risk, the model has already raised more than $1 billion in funding this year so far.

That is just one more influence bitcoin has had, among many. And the coin isnt going anywhere just yet, no matter how many finance titans rail that it is a bubble or scam.

Disclosure: The author owns less than 1 bitcoin, purchased in 2015 for reporting purposes.



Daniel Roberts covers bitcoin and blockchain at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @readDanwrite.

Read more:

Japan is poised to become the leading bitcoin market

Why Chinas central bank fears bitcoin

Why Ethereum is the hottest new thing in digital currency

More than 75 banks are now on Ripples blockchain network

Expect more blockchain hype in 2017

Heres why 21 Inc. is the most exciting bitcoin company right now

How bitcoin company Coinbase is staying relevant amid the blockchain craze
The Daily Beast

Fox NewsThe morning after his network called the Arizona governors race for Democrat Katie Hobbs, Fox News correspondent Kevin Corke seemed to cast doubt on the results while reassuring viewers that MAGA candidate Kari Lake still had an outside shot to win.At the same time, he repeatedly mocked the presumptive next governor of Arizona, throwing barbs at Hobbs while delivering a news report on Tuesday morning.Nearly a week after the polls closed, Hobbs was finally declared the winner on Monday e
By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The leader of a theft ring that stole millions of dollars of electronics and ink cartridges from big-box retailers and resold them on websites such as Amazon and eBay pleaded guilty to the top criminal charges he faced, New York's attorney general said.

Richard Rimbaugh, known to his co-conspirators as "The General," pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges of enterprise corruption, money laundering and criminal possession of stolen property, attorney general Eric Schneiderman said.

Rimbaugh, 65, of Manhattan, faces three to nine years in prison and will forfeit $7.28 million of illegal proceeds.

Twelve people had been indicted in March for their alleged involvement in the ring, following a 10-month probe known as "Operation Sticky Fingers."

Nine have pleaded guilty, including a plea on Wednesday by George Rapatsouleas, a leader of one of Rimbaugh's theft crews and known as "Nipplehead," the attorney general said.

Rapatsouleas, 31, of Brooklyn, faces two to six years in prison. Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 13 by state Supreme Court Justice Maxwell Wiley in Manhattan.

"Our investigation discovered a brazen crime ring methodically stealing millions from stores in New York and across the country," Schneiderman said in a statement. "Organized retail theft preys on businesses and ultimately harms consumers, who see the consequences in higher prices."

James Kousouros, a lawyer for Rimbaugh, said in an interview: "Mr. Rimbaugh accepted responsibility for his conduct, and accepted a significantly reduced sentence."

Lisa Pelosi, a lawyer for Rapatsouleas, in an interview said her client "took responsibility for his actions, and will move on to have a very productive life."

Investigators said the scheme involved thefts from Best Buy, Office Depot, Staples and other retailers across 28 U.S. states.

The attorney general said the scheme dated to at least 2012.

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He said Rimbaugh directed his crews to steal specific items based on his ability to resell them, and dictated the prices they were to receive, typically 30 percent to 50 percent of their retail value.

Rimbaugh then resold the goods through American Media Soft, a business he ran from his apartment, the attorney general said.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Tom Brown)
Brasilia (AFP) - Brazil's Congress rejected corruption charges against President Michel Temer on Wednesday, meaning he will not have to face trial and is free to pursue austerity reforms in Latin America's biggest economy.

The vote in the lower house threw out the charges just an hour after Temer, 77, was discharged from the Brasilia hospital where he had been admitted earlier with a blocked urinary tract.

Temer's allies had been widely expected to bar a demand by prosecutors for the president to face trial in the Supreme Court, but a note of drama was injected by the surprise news that he had been taken to hospital.

The president was admitted to the Army Hospital in the capital complaining of discomfort and underwent examination with a urinary catheter. He was then told to rest at home, the presidency said.

Following the medical scare, Temer said, "I am in one piece," although he could have said the same thing about his escape from a potential trial.

The first president in the country to face criminal charges while still in office, Temer is accused of obstruction of justice and racketeering. He denies any wrongdoing.

The lower house of Congress would have had to vote by a two-thirds majority to force Temer to stand down for 180 days and go on trial in the Supreme Court. However allies racked up a total of 251 votes, well above what was needed to prevent opponents reaching a super-majority.

A canny veteran of Brasilia's notoriously corrupt political scene, Temer has painted himself as indispensable when the country is making a cautious recovery from a deep recession.

In August, allies in Congress had already thrown out a bribery charge by a heavy margin.

"Those who underestimated him made a mistake," said loyalist legislator Carlos Marun, from Temer's PMDB party.

- 'Terrible' for Brazil -

Ironically, what made it easier for Temer was that scores of those judging him in the lower house are themselves targets of anti-corruption probes.

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Many deputies want to slow down Brazil's energetic anti-corruption prosecutors who have unleashed the historic "Car Wash" probe against the country's elite over the last three years.

The vote clearing Temer "was a terrible result for Brazil because the lower house obstructed justice. It is preventing someone from answering for crimes committed and that someone is no less than the president of the republic," Alessandro Molon, from the leftist Rede party, said afterward.

Critics say the president boosted his chances of survival through blatant vote buying, opening up the budgetary purse to give Congress members the projects back in their home states that will help their own causes.

Among the sweeteners handed out by Temer were removing Sao Paulo's Congonhas airport from a list of big privatizations and lowering environmental protection fines -- a gesture to the powerful agricultural industry lobby.

Temer had "more than sufficient votes to turn the page, even with an erosion of his political capital," a government source who asked not to be identified told AFP.

Opposition deputies acknowledged they did not have the numbers to bring down Temer, despite his huge unpopularity with Brazilians. They were reduced to trying to string out the debate by preventing a quorum and slowing down the vote.

As for Temer, he has promised to come out of the vote ready to "put Brazil on the rails" after a two-year recession that has seen many investors flee.

Market watchers say the most significant result of Wednesday's vote will be indications of how many deputies support the president's bid to cut the generous pension system.

Temer says the reforms are needed to tame a runaway budget, but the proposals are hugely unpopular with Brazilians and Congress has been cagey about whether to support the policies ahead of general elections in 2018.

Following the vote, his PMDB party issued a statement saying that now was the time "to focus on progress."

"Improving Brazilians' lives and accelerating the economic recovery will require the combined force of Congress and President Michel Temer," the party said.

Temer has record low ratings, with only three percent considering his government "good" or "very good," according to the latest opinion poll in September.
Brasilia (AFP) - Brazil's lower house of Congress is due to vote Wednesday on whether President Michel Temer should stand trial for corruption -- and the deeply unpopular center-right leader is expected to survive easily.

The canny 77-year-old veteran of Brasilia's notoriously corrupt political scene has struck a confident tone ahead of the vote, painting himself as needed at the helm of the country's cautious recovery from a deep recession.

The first president in the country to face criminal charges while in office, Temer is accused of obstruction of justice and racketeering. He denies any wrongdoing.

For opposition deputy Jose Guimaraes, from the leftist Workers' Party, this is an opportunity to ditch Temer, who took over in 2016 from impeached president Dilma Rousseff.

"This government no longer has the moral, institutional or political conditions to keep governing," Guimaraes said.

However, a two-thirds majority is required in the lower house of Congress to have Temer's case sent to the Supreme Court. Anything less and the case will be dropped as long as he remains in office.

Just as occurred in August, when Congress threw out an earlier criminal charge, Temer's allies are expected to reject a trial.

- Temer 'will not fall' -

This time, "there could be a few more or a few less votes than the first time, but the president will not fall," a source in the presidency told AFP, asking not to be identified.

Ironically, what makes it easier for Temer is that many of those judging him in the lower house -- 185 of the 513 deputies -- are themselves targets of anti-corruption probes.

Critics say the president is also boosting his chances of survival through blatant vote buying, opening up the budgetary purse to give Congress members the projects back in their home states that will help their own causes.

"Despite the damage already suffered by this government, deputies looking for favors can benefit from it," said Antonio Queiroz, an analyst with DIAP, a congressional watchdog representing trade unions.

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Some opposition deputies acknowledge they do not have the numbers to bring down Temer, despite his huge unpopularity with Brazilians.

However, they hope to obstruct the parliamentary session by preventing a quorum from being formed, delaying any vote clearing Temer.

As for Temer, he has promised to come out of the vote ready to "put Brazil on the rails" after a two-year recession that has seen many investors flee.

Market watchers say the most significant result of Wednesday's vote will be indications of how many deputies support the president's bid to cut the generous pension system.

Temer says the reforms are needed to tame a runaway budget, but the proposals are hugely unpopular with Brazilians.

After taking over the presidency in controversial circumstances following Rousseff's impeachment, Temer has never had any illusions about his public standing, and he is not going to run in general elections scheduled in October 2018.

He has record low ratings, with only three percent considering his government "good" or "very good," according to the latest opinion poll in September.
Californias state Senate has ordered an independent investigation into allegations of workplace sexual misconduct in the state Capitol, one week after more than 140 women working in state politics spoke out about the dehumanizing treatment theyve faced. The Assembly, meanwhile, intends to hold public hearings on the claims.

Kevin de Leon, the state Senate president pro tem, said Monday that the chamber has hired two outside firms to look into allegations that were detailed in an open letter published last week by The Los Angeles Times. The Law Offices of Amy Oppenheimer, a San Francisco firm that specializes in workplace investigations, will look into the sexual misconduct allegations, and CPS HR Consulting will review the state Senates policies concerning harassment and other issues.

Theres always more employers can do to protect their employees, de Leon said in a statement. Everyone deserves a workplace free of fear, harassment and sexual misbehavior and I applaud the courage of women working in and around the Capitol who are coming forward and making their voices heard.

De Leon also reached out to the Institute of Governmental Advocates, which represents lobbyists and lobbying groups, to assure the group that the Senate would take any and all actions necessary to hold anyone accused of harassment or assault accountable, regardless of whether they work for the government.

It is important that our zero tolerance policy not only protect Senate employees, but also the public and advocates who share and interact in our workplace, de Leon said in a letter to his Senate colleagues.

And on Tuesday afternoon, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Assembly Rules Committee Chair Ken Cooley and Assemblymember Laura Friedman, who chairs the Assemblys subcommittee dealing with harassment, announced they will hold public hearings on the allegations.

They will be open to the public and transparent so that we can air out institutional advancements that need to be made in a deliberate way, read a statement from the lawmakers.

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Female lawmakers, lobbyists and legislative staffers are among those who signed the letter and have gone on to form a group called We Said Enough.

Men have groped and touched us without our consent, made inappropriate comments about our bodies and our abilities, reads the letter. Insults and sexual innuendo, frequently disguised as jokes, have undermined our professional positions and capabilities. Men have made promises, or threats, about our jobs in exchange for our compliance, or our silence. They have leveraged their power and positions to treat us however they would like.

The legislature, however, has faced some criticism for not outsourcing the hiring decision to an ombudsman or other outside source.

Women in the Capitol need a truly independent investigation, not a secretly hand-picked self-investigation, Adama Iwu, a Visa government affairs director who helped organize the We Said Enough campaign, told the Sacramento Bee.

I know for myself I probably would not feel comfortable speaking to an investigator that was hired by the body that employs these people and has previously protected some of the people who do these acts, she said.

Iwu later raised concerns about the divergent paths of the Senate and Assemblys responses, telling the Los Angeles Times she is concerned that women who signed the open letter may be called on to testify at a hearing without legal guarantee against retaliation.

Christine Pelosi, the chairwoman of the California Democratic Partys Womens Caucus and a signatory of the letter, told Politicos California Playbook that having the Senate select its own investigators could have a chilling effect on the probe. She compared it to Chris Christie picking Rudy Giuliani to look into Bridgegate.

De Leons communications director, Anthony Reyes, said, This external review by nationally recognized experts in workplace discrimination and harassment will be done professionally and transparently while protecting the privacy of the victims.

De Leon said the independent investigators will interview all relevant Senate staff and identify any actionable steps to properly address any and all allegations raised in the course of this investigation. Its unclear to what extent the investigations findings will be made public.

The signatories, meanwhile, say they intend to further advocate for victims of sexual harassment and assault, as well as reassess how such allegations are reported and addressed.

Californians deserve a legislature and political system as ideal and decent as the people they serve, the group said Monday in a statement. We strive for equality in the workplace with zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment or abuse. We need new laws with teeth, accountability, disclosure and independent review of claims.

This story has been updated with comment from state Sen. Kevin de Leons office.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
The family of a soldier killed in Afghanistan has received a $25,000 check President Donald Trump promised them from his personal fortune months ago but sent just last week.

I am glad my legal counsel has been able to finally approve this contribution to you, Trump wrote in a letter to Chris Baldridge, the father of the slain soldier, enclosed with the check dated October 18 seen by ABC11 WTVD Monday.

Baldriges 22-year-old son Army Sgt. Dillon Baldridge was shot and killed along with two other soldiers on June 10 by an Afghan police officer.

10_24_TrumpCheck

Joshua Roberts/Reuters

Weeks later in July Baldridge received a phone call from Trump during which the president offered his condolences. After a 15 minute conversation, Trump also promised Baldridge $25,000 and said that he would get his staff to set up a fundraiser for the family online, according to an interview in The Washington Post.

Neither occurred for more than three months until Baldrige shared his story with the Post on Wednesday, October 18, after Trump kicked off a controversy early last week when he said past presidents didnt call the families of soldiers killed in combat.

Several families have disputed the presidents claim that he called every family of someone whos died.

On Monday the president again disputed the account of a phone call he made to the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson after her husband was killed in an ambush in Niger October 4. During an appearance on Good Morning America, Myeshia Johnson said Trump told her that her husband knew what he signed up for. Trump again denied making the statement.

Read more: Widow of Sgt. La David Johnson busts fake Facebook message attacking Rep. Frederica Wilson

The same day the story about Baldrige appeared in The Post a White House official confirmed to CNN that the check was in the mail and had been in the pipeline since Trumps call.

Story continues

The check has been sent, White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said. It's disgusting that the media is taking something that should be recognized as a generous and sincere gesture, made privately by the president, and using it to advance the media's biased agenda.

The check was delivered to Baldriges home in Zebulon, North Carolina, Monday by FedEx from Trump Tower in New York City.

After making a similar pledge to donate to a charity set up in the name of a woman held hostage and slain by the Islamic State, President Barack Obama didnt follow through for 17 months, according to ABC News.

I hope this will make things a bit easier, but nothing will ever replace your son, Dillon. He was an American hero, Trump wrote in his letter to Baldridge.

Baldridges wife Jessie Baldridge told ABC11 that they were so moved and grateful, and we promise to use the money to honor Dillon's legacy.

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Heres a look at some of the stocks the Yahoo Finance team will be watching for you today.

Chipotle (CMG) shares traded near a five-year low in early trading after the Mexican restaurant chain posted another disappointing quarter, trimmed its same-store sales forecast and scaled back store expansion plans. Its new queso cheesy dip has not been a hit with diners and the company is still trying to win back customers after numerous food borne illness outbreaks since 2015. Wall Street also weighed in this morning with at least nine brokerages cutting their price target on the stock.

Dow component Coca-Cola (KO) delivered a beat on quarterly revenue and earnings. The company said its new Coca-Cola Zero Sugar doubled in growth and it expects to launch the product worldwide in the first quarter of next year. Coca Cola also says sales in North America stayed flat but Sprite, tea and coffee sales grew.

Alphabets Google (GOOGL) and Cisco (CSCO) are teaming up to improve their cloud offerings. The two companies are combining their technology to help corporate customers more easily develop software for the cloud. Google and Cisco are trying to better compete with Cloud services from Amazon (AMZN) and Microsoft (MSFT).

And finally, Apple (AAPL) is reportedly reducing the accuracy of the iPhone X facial recognition system in order to speed up production. The report from Bloomberg comes just a day after Japans Nikkei said Apple may reduce the number of iPhone tens released Nov. 3rd due to facial recognition issues.
Alvina Yeh is the executive director of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO.

Although median household income rose last year for the second year in a row (thanks, Obama), working families still face overwhelming challenges. Immigrant rights are under attack. Workers are forced to fight for basic dignity and justice. Health care access is readily threatened. Quality childcare is scarce. But the biggest challenge is growing economic inequality.

This is fueled in part by businesses that rely on contract labor -- a well-known tactic to drive down worker wages in order to create million-dollar executive paydays. These corporations use contract labor as a tool to crush worker attempts to negotiate fair wages and as a loophole to avoid paying for quality health insurance, family and medical leave, worker education and worker retraining.

As an Asian American woman leader of a labor rights organization and a regular consumer with many choices, I am constantly faced with the decision of sacrificing my ideals for the sake of convenience or cost. That might mean looking past toxic corporate culture to take an Uber over a taxi or risking racial profiling to book an Airbnb over a hotel.

Choosing companies that rely on contract labor should pose similar dilemmas to conscious consumers. Behind small decisions, like what app to use, lie real consequences for workers. But when it comes to some of the worst offenders -- the biggest tech companies that have become an inextricable part of our everyday lives -- we arent left with much of a choice.

Facebook preaches its goal to focus every day on how to build real value for the world. Google famously shouts its motto, Dont be evil. But when it comes to treating workers fairly, the reality for Big Techs tens of thousands of contract workers can be dramatically different.

These workersmany of whom are people of colormake as little as $20,000 a year. The hardship and inequality this kind of treatment produces is staggering.

Story continues

The corporate executives behind ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft continue to cash in million dollar paychecks, while their drivers are unable to organize for better wages and economic security.

The contract workers who shuttle well-off Facebook techies from building to building sleep in their cars between shifts because they cannot afford nearby housing. A family of five lives in a garage because the parents cannot earn enough from their contract work in Facebooks cafeteria to pay for proper housing.

Contract workers at Googles warehouses have similar problems of low pay and poor working conditions. And, according to insiders, Google has an equal number of contract workers and employees, so these problems permeate the company.

If we are to lessen growing inequality, we must remember that every choice made for our convenience can come at a high cost to real workers. We can no longer accept this corporate practice of keeping contracted workers at arms length.

It is long past time for politicians, community activists and other advocates in the progressive community to call out big tech companies for their anti-worker practices and demand they employ all workers fairly. This is especially important for political leaders who are genuine friends of the labor movement but who have been silent until now on Big Techs contract worker policies.

Meanwhile, decades of labor organizing in other industries have shown that collective bargaining agreements, which include benefits likes medical leave, healthcare and educational opportunities, are indeed possible. This is something workers want and need. For example, more than 500 of those underpaid contract cafeteria workers from Facebook recently joined a new union for contractors in the tech industry, and campaigns like Silicon Valley Rising are encouraging more workers to unite.

The opportunities for the labor movement to organize within Big Tech is promising, but this fight is a shared struggle for all working people and families. We need all hands on deck -- labor organizers, political leaders, and conscious consumers like yourself -- to hold Big Tech and other corporations accountable.

We need to demand they offer sustainable jobs with fair wages, access to healthcare, and the ability to live and work with dignity, free from fear and discrimination.
Ouagadougou (AFP) - A military court in Ouagadougou on Wednesday began an indictment hearing for 107 people, including two generals, who face charges over the failed 2015 coup in Burkina Faso.

Lead figures are generals Djibrill Bassole and Gilbert Diendere -- key allies to former president Blaise Compaore, whose bid to return to power was thwarted when protesters and the army attacked the barracks of elite troops loyal to him.

The defendants are accused of a range of crimes, including undermining the security of the state, murder and property damage.

Former transitional president Michel Kafando -- who replaced Compaore in 2014 -- was briefly overthrown in the coup led by the Presidential Security Regiment (RSP), but resumed power within days when plot leaders admitted they lacked popular support.

"Today, October 25, the hearing opened of the investigating chamber following the order issued by the investigating magistrate on July 21," said Paul Kere, lawyer of several defendants, after the private hearing.

"This hearing is to confirm the charges," he said.

The session, which is being held behind closed doors, had been postponed twice on September 14 and October 6.

"We hope that we will go to trial with elements that can be judged to avoid politicising this trial," said Kere who added the process should "avoid interferences by the executive".

Diendere, the RSP's former chief, and several other members of the now-dissolved unit, will appear in court on Thursday, another lawyer Rodrigue Bayala said.

Bassole, who is under house arrest, will appear in the "next days", he said, adding that a timetable for the long list of defendants would be established by the court.

Compaore, who led Burkina Faso from 1987 to 2014, is currently in Sierra Leone.
A father live streamed his suicide as friends and family begged him to put down his gun.

Ayhan Uzun, 54, killed himself on Facebook, saying he was distraught that his daughter did not obtain his permission before becoming engaged, according to international reports.

Read: Man Shot and Killed While Live Streaming on Facebook: 'Tony... Wake Up!'

Nobody asked about me, nobody treated me like a man," he said from his home in Turkey, according to translations provided by Central European News and other media outlets. "My father-in-law took my place and without having a right, he approved my daughters wedding."

Viewers hit sad and wow emojis as Uzun talked about his displeasure and held a handgun to his head.

He complained that he learned about his daughters engagement in a telephone call, instead of in person.

Maybe some of you will call this a show," he said. "I do not want anybody to go through this thing that I am going through."

He pulled the trigger after counting to three, saying, Goodbye. I am leaving. Take good care of yourselves.

Read: The Dark, Disturbing Trend of Teens Live Streaming Suicide, and How It Can Be Stopped

He then collapsed on the floor.

His death is another entry in the list of people who have live streamed their suicides, several of them American teenagers.

Last year, 12-year-old Katelyn Nicole Davis hanged herself from a tree in a video that played for more than 40 minutes. In January, 14-year-old Nakia Venant hanged herself with a scarf in the bathroom of her Florida foster home and live streamed it on Facebook. Her video lasted two hours.

Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg has said he would add 3,000 employees dedicated to monitoring videos and posts for disturbing content.

Related Articles:
The fifth week of HuffPosts Listen To America road trip took us to Des Moines, Iowa.

Iowa plays an important role in the United States political process: Its where the first caucuses of the presidential primary cycle take place, and many candidates set up campaign offices in the capital city of Des Moines.

But despite that very American tradition, Des Moines gets its name from a French phrase. Its named after the Des Moines River  which had the French colonial name of Riviere des Moines, or River of the Monks.

After the HuffPost bus cruised past the glittering gold dome of the Iowa state Capitol building and staff members admired the art in Pappajohn Sculpture Park, we set up shop to talk to locals in the parking lot of Urban Dreams, a company that provides human service programs to people in the area.

We also held a panel in Drake Universitys Sussman Theater to discuss inequality in the city  including how it pertains to income, wealth, health, housing, education and the environment. The event flipped the script of a traditional panel: The panelists were Des Moines community members, and the audience was made up of the citys leaders and elected officials. You can watch the whole thing here.

Check out the photos below for more on our stop in Iowa:

HuffPost visits Des Moines on Oct. 9, as part of "Listen To America: A HuffPost Road Trip."

Sarah Bourassa interviews Wayne Ford and Mary Compos.

Ajamu El Amin (aka AJ The Dancer) dances on the sidewalk.

Hillary Frey and Emma Reilly discuss interviews.

People wait to be interviewed during HuffPost's visit to Des Moines.

Hillary Frey signs up Heaven Chamberlain and Heather Ryan to be interviewed.

Jo Confino interviews Ajamu El Amin (aka AJ The Dancer).

Staff members set up in preparation for interviews.

Mary Compos is interviewed.

Lawrence DaBarber is interviewed on the HuffPost bus.

Story continues

Moderator Wayne Ford speaks to panelists Nancy Mwirotsi, Victor Ayara, Lisa Thai, Yadira Figueroa, Art Turner (aka Country), Tilak and John Campbell during the panel event.

Nancy Mwirotsi speaks during the panel.

Tilak speaks to the audience.

Dr. Anita Fleming-Rife ask questions of the panel.

Moderator Wayne Ford speaks to the audience.

John Campbell responds to questions.

Ako Abdul-Samad asks questions of the panelists.

Victor Ayara speaks to the audience.

Art Turner (aka Country) talks about homelessness.

Polk County Supervisor John F. Mauro speaks about hunger in the community.

The HuffPost tour bus driving at night during its stop in Iowa.
The fifth week of HuffPosts Listen To America road trip took us to Des Moines, Iowa.

Iowa plays an important role in the United States political process: Its where the first caucuses of the presidential primary cycle take place, and many candidates set up campaign offices in the capital city of Des Moines.

But despite that very American tradition, Des Moines gets its name from a French phrase. Its named after the Des Moines River  which had the French colonial name of Riviere des Moines, or River of the Monks.

After the HuffPost bus cruised past the glittering gold dome of the Iowa state Capitol building and staff members admired the art in Pappajohn Sculpture Park, we set up shop to talk to locals in the parking lot of Urban Dreams, a company that provides human service programs to people in the area.

We also held a panel in Drake Universitys Sussman Theater to discuss inequality in the city  including how it pertains to income, wealth, health, housing, education and the environment. The event flipped the script of a traditional panel: The panelists were Des Moines community members, and the audience was made up of the citys leaders and elected officials. You can watch the whole thing here.

Check out the photos below for more on our stop in Iowa:

HuffPost visits Des Moines on Oct. 9, as part of "Listen To America: A HuffPost Road Trip."

Sarah Bourassa interviews Wayne Ford and Mary Compos.

Ajamu El Amin (aka AJ The Dancer) dances on the sidewalk.

Hillary Frey and Emma Reilly discuss interviews.

People wait to be interviewed during HuffPost's visit to Des Moines.

Hillary Frey signs up Heaven Chamberlain and Heather Ryan to be interviewed.

Jo Confino interviews Ajamu El Amin (aka AJ The Dancer).

Staff members set up in preparation for interviews.

Mary Compos is interviewed.

Lawrence DaBarber is interviewed on the HuffPost bus.

Moderator Wayne Ford speaks to panelists Nancy Mwirotsi, Victor Ayara, Lisa Thai, Yadira Figueroa, Art Turner (aka Country), Tilak and John Campbell during the panel event.

Nancy Mwirotsi speaks during the panel.

Tilak speaks to the audience.

Dr. Anita Fleming-Rife ask questions of the panel.

Moderator Wayne Ford speaks to the audience.

John Campbell responds to questions.

Ako Abdul-Samad asks questions of the panelists.

Victor Ayara speaks to the audience.

Art Turner (aka Country) talks about homelessness.

Polk County Supervisor John F. Mauro speaks about hunger in the community.

The HuffPost tour bus driving at night during its stop in Iowa.

MORE FROM LISTEN TO AMERICA

Shawn Johnson Believes Des Moines Is 'The Heart Of America'

Des Moines, Iowa Is Actually Cool

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Also on HuffPost

The HuffPost bus stops in Livingston, Montana, for the "Listen To America" tour on Oct. 16, 2017.

Pedestrians visit the HuffPost bus.

A table with postcards sits at the HuffPost video activation site.

Lei-Anna Bertelsen, Troy Bertelsen and Perry Hofferber chat near the HuffPost tents.

Photographer Allen Russell talks with HuffPost staff before his interview.

HuffPost's video activation site was the Livingston Depot Center building.

Melissa Nootz plays a game of cornhole with her daughters Esme and Iris.

Rebecca Halperin steps into the bus, whose surface reflects the Livingston Depot Center.

HuffPost staffer Samantha Tomaszewski works.

Helen Mulroney and Jo Anne Troxel check out a flyer.

Hayley Miller tries to recruit people to be interviewed.

Patricia Grabow is interviewed.

A view of the Murray Hotel from the Livingston Depot Center.

Moderator Greg Veis (far right) sits with panelists Walter Kirn, Seabring Davis and Jamie Harrison Potenberg during the "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" event at Elk River Books.

Walter Kirn speaks during the "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" event.

The audience fills the event space at Elk River Books to hear the "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" discussion.

Jamie Harrison Potenberg speaks during the event.

Ted Madden ask questions of the panelists during the Q&A part of the forum.

Seabring Davis speaks during the "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" discussion.

Moderator Greg Veis addresses the crowd.

A mural depicts life in Livingston, which lies just north of Yellowstone National Park.

The HuffPost tour bus crosses the Yellowstone River.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
It took Ms Clinton many months to apologise for her use of a private email server: Getty

Democrats have denounced as a massive diversion from the Trump administrations alleged links to Russia, a decision by Republicans to launch investigations into the FBIs handling of a probe into Hillary Clinton.

The Republican chairmen of two House committees said they would jointly investigate the Department of Justices handling of a 2016 inquiry into Ms Clintons use of a private email server.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, said they had many questions about the way Ms Clinton dealt with classified information.

Former FBI director James Comey led the investigation into Ms Clinton use of a private email server (Getty Images)

Our justice system is represented by a blind-folded woman holding a set of scales. Those scales do not tip to the right or the left; they do not recognise wealth, power, or social status, the congressmen said in a statement.

The impartiality of our justice system is the bedrock of our republic and our fellow citizens must have confidence in its objectivity, independence, and evenhandedness. No entity or individual is exempt from oversight.

In addition, Republican congressman Devin Nunes, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said he was to look into the details of a 2010 uranium deal with Russia, carried out while Barack Obama was president.

The FBI carried out an investigation into Ms Clintons private use of an email server while she was serving as Secretary of State.

While the bureau was very critical of her behaviour, then FBI Director James Comey announced in the summer of 2016 he did not believe there were grounds for criminal prosecution.

The move angered many Republicans and critics of Ms Clinton, who believed that Mr Comeys decision was politically motivated. In October of that year, with the presidential election looming, Mr Comey told Congress he was reopening the matter because of new emails found on the computer of disgraced former congressman Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of Ms Clinton senior aide, Huma Abedin. On November 6, two days before voting, he said the search of Mr Weiners computer had found no new evidence.

Story continues

Ms Clinton said she believed Mr Comey eve of election intervention had been a key factor in her surprise defeat to Donald Trump.

If the election had been on October 27, I would be your president, she told a womens conference in May.

It wasnt a perfect campaign, but I was on the way to winning until a combination of Comeys letter and Russian WikiLeaks. The reason why I believe we lost were the intervening events in the last 10 days.

A number of commentators suggested the flurry of Republican action was an effort to distract from the ongoing federal investigation, headed by Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller, into possible links between the Trump campaign and Russias alleged efforts to interfere in the presidential election.

Democrats reacted by casting the moves in such terms.

This new investigation is a massive diversion to distract from the lack of Republican oversight of the Trump administration and the national security threat that Russia poses, Democratic congressmen Elijah Cummings and John Conyers said in a statement.

Apparently, House Republicans are more concerned about Jim Comey than Vladimir Putin.

Related:

For more news videos visit Yahoo View.
In the middle of the night, with her house packed with grade school boys sleeping over for her sons birthday party, Karen Pieper Hildebrand got her first death threat. The man on the phone told Hildebrands husband to start digging your wife a hole, because Im going to put her in it.

Hildebrand, 59, was shaken, but decided against calling the police. She figured there wasnt much the authorities could do.

She was right.

When she met with police the following day at the now-shuttered Planned Parenthood clinic she headed in Odessa, Texas  a deeply conservative city in the western part of the state  they pretty much dismissed the incident.

Well, thats the price you pay for doing what youre doing, Hildebrand said an officer told her in response to the disturbing threat from the previous night.

It was not a supportive environment, she added.

During the more than 27 years she headed Planned Parenthood in Odessa, Texas, Karen Pieper Hildebrand received death threats, taunting from community members and constant picketing outside the office. Due to statewide funding cuts, the center closed in 2012. (Photo: Crisis Center of West Texas)

That was 23 years ago. Things have only gotten worse.

But despite the death threats, animosity from the community and sweeping actions by lawmakers that have forced closures of Texas abortion clinics, including the Planned Parenthood location where she worked for 27 years, Hildebrand is staying put.

Sure, shes been tempted to move to more progressive areas of the U.S. where her sons live. But for now, she said she feels compelled to remain in Odessa, where she continues to fight for womens health rights and support survivors of domestic abuse.

You can find your tribe anywhere you go  your like-minded people, Hildebrand said. I have a good tribe to associate with.

Still, Hildebrand recognizes she faces challenges that are pretty sizeable.

In 2011, state lawmakers cut family planning grants by 66 percent across Texas, which led to the closing of 82 family-planning clinics. That included Odessas Planned Parenthood, which shut down in 2012. The one based in Midland  about 20 miles away  closed in 2013.

That same year, the state legislature passed anti-abortion legislation that ordered abortion clinics to meet hospital-like standards. That further reduced the number of Texas clinics to 19 from more than 40. Most of the closures were in rural and low-income areas.

Story continues

While parts of that law were overturned in court last year, theres no timeline for when the shuttered clinics might reopen.

Hildebrand now serves as executive director of Crisis Center of West Texas, an emergency shelter for domestic abuse victims. She also volunteers with Fund Texas Choice, a nonprofit that covers womens costs associated with traveling to an abortion clinic.

Hildebrand acknowledged that her fervently religious community would resist efforts to open another abortion clinic in the area.

During her time at Planned Parenthood in Odessa, the physician who performed abortions wore a bulletproof vest. Protesters once put his face on wanted posters and plastered them all over town. As a safety measure, clinic employees never stayed late by themselves. In the 1990s, a Planned Parenthood construction contractor abandoned the job because of threats, stalling a remodeling project.

Hildebrand was once called a murdering Nazi at a community meeting.

Picketers would often record license plate numbers at the clinic, trace drivers addresses and send revealing information to patients homes or offices. In the worst cases, the harassment put patients lives at risk. One woman, who was with an abusive partner at the time, told Hildebrand her husband wouldve killed her if hed been the one to find documents from the protesters.

Hildebrand also saw hypocrisy in her dissenters.

Some of the very same protesters who called for her demise also called on her for help when it was their daughters who needed an abortion, she said.

An anti-abortion, pro-life activist prayed outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic last year in Austin, Texas, in the wake of the passing of the restrictive abortion bill in the Texas Legislature, HB2. (Photo: Christian Science Monitor via Getty Images)

It was frustrating, Hildebrand said of those moments. But the basic right of that woman was what we had deep in our hearts, so that overrode any frustration we felt over the situation.

Even people who appreciated Hildebrands efforts were reluctant to openly support her.

There are such wonderful people here, even when I was at Planned Parenthood, who would whisper in my ear, I support everything you do. I just cant be vocal about it, Hildebrand said.

Many would quietly write checks to the organization.

These days, Hildebrand concentrates mostly on improving crisis center services for about 350 domestic abuse and sexual assault survivors each year.

While the number of reported domestic violence cases in her area have declined in recent years, Hildebrand said the trend isnt permanent. During oil boom times, workers camp out in tents because of limited housing, put in long hours, and drink to burn off steam. Assault rates inevitably go up, Hildebrand explained. The area is currently experiencing a bust.

In 2015, there were 1,506 reported cases of family violence in Ector County  where Odessa is located. That was down from 2,676 in 2013.

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Karen Pieper Hildebrand now serves as the executive director of the Crisis Center of West Texas, an emergency shelter for domestic abuse victims. Her latest project is building a new $5 million shelter for victims. (Photo: Crisis Center of West Texas)

Hildebrands current major project is a $5-million building campaign for a new emergency shelter for her organization. The present shelter is hideous, she said.

The air conditioning system recently shut down. Pigeons had roosted on it, covering it in poop and feathers, which permeated the building with stink. The ovens arent safe to use. The building accommodates 30 residents, who sleep about four to a room and dont have much space to store their belongings.

Its not conducive to healing, Hildebrand said.

The new facility, slated to open in 2019, will have 17 bedrooms  each with its own bathroom  family rooms, kennels for pets and classrooms. The facility will be available to victims of physical violence, and those whove suffered emotional abuse, sexual assault, elder abuse or other issues.

Though some members of the community were initially wary of Hildebrand taking on her current role because of her past involvement with Planned Parenthood, she said shes experienced mostly support in her current position.

Still, shes unafraid to remind people she remains committed to her pro-abortion rights mission.

Until recently, she had a bumper sticker on her car that read: A world of wanted children would make a world of difference. But someone used a key to scratch it off her vehicle. Who could disagree? she asked.

MORE FROM LISTEN TO AMERICA

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
In an age where people can have careers as trendy as a fitness blogger or as traditional as an accountant, many adults say teens should set their sights on jobs in science, technology, engineering or math, commonly referred to as STEM.

More than 30 percent of Americans say they would encourage high school students to pursue jobs in a STEM-related field, according to a September report from the Pew Research Center.

President Donald Trump is also nudging young adults to consider STEM careers. In September, he signed a memo dedicating $200 million dollars a year for technology education grants for women and minorities.

College students can reap countless benefits by majoring in STEM, educators say.

"STEM workers actually do command higher wages, overall, compared to non-STEM workers, and the growth rate of STEM-related occupations is higher than non-STEM-related occupations," says Christina Tartaglia, a co-founder of Scientista, which supports women in college and graduate schools while they pursue STEM careers.

[Prepare for college classes as a STEM major.]

Employment for biomedical engineers and software developers, for example, is expected to grow by 23 percent and 17 percent, respectively, between 2014 and 2024, which is much faster than the 7-percent average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average pay for these jobs, which may require only a bachelor's degree, is more than $85,000 and $100,000 per year, respectively.

The skills students gain in STEM fields go beyond number crunching and technological innovation.

"Engineering degrees help students develop creative problem-solving techniques," says Jennifer Stephan, associate dean of undergraduate advising for the school of engineering at Tufts University in Massachusetts.

As a college applicant, it can be appealing to consider STEM. Prospective students who are trying to decide whether a STEM major is for them should think about what subjects naturally interest them and what the academic expectations are for STEM majors.

Story continues

"Applicants who might be considering an engineering field typically have successfully taken a lot of math and science at a rigorous level at their high school and have enjoyed it," says Stephan. Very often, she says, they've taken four years of math, four years of science and related electives, such as anatomy or Advanced Placement chemistry.

Once they enter college, students often have to plan for lots of studying.

"It's a full-time job," says Evan Korth, a clinical professor at New York University who teaches computer science. A student in that discipline may end up dedicating between 30 and 60 hours a week, he says, to attending class, completing homework and studying.

[Learn how women and minorities can find colleges that offer STEM support.]

About 42 percent of engineering majors and 40 percent for physical science, math and computer science majors spent between 11 and 20 hours per week preparing for class, according to the 2016 National Survey of Student Engagement. Engineering students might study discrete math and physics, while computer science undergrads might take courses on data structures and operating systems.

Patricia Blumeris, a junior at Tufts who's studying mechanical engineering, suggests prospective STEM students think about the courses they'll need to take to complete their degree at different institutions.

For example, many engineering programs, she says, have an online outline of what classes students will need to take each year.

"Do those classes interest you? Would you be happy taking those classes for four years?" she says. "Really base your decision off of that , because four years is a big chunk of your life, and so it's important that you're going to enjoy at least some of the classes."

Courses, however, may not give students a full perspective of a STEM discipline. One way prospective students can get a feel for how much they'll like a STEM major is to get hands-on exposure.

Those interested in computer science, for example, can try out coding through sites like Vidcode or Codecademy, says Korth.

[Explore resources for women undergrads interested in science and engineering.]

Applicants should also speak with STEM undergrads, says Blumeris.

"Try to find someone who's in an undergraduate engineering program," she says. "Pick their brain about what classes have been like." Prospective students can ask their high school's guidance counselors if they know of recent graduates who are now majoring in the discipline that interests them, she says.

One thing college applicants should not do, says Stephan, is to go into STEM solely for the job prospects.

"That approach just puts a student at risk of four years of probably painful study -- maybe not -- but in all likelihood working in a job that they really don't enjoy. And that's not a recipe for being successful," she says. "To be most successful, it's to do work that you find rewarding and engaging and that you enjoy."

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Delece Smith-Barrow is an education reporter at U.S. News, covering college admissions; she previously wrote about graduate schools. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at dsmithbarrow@usnews.com.
This morning, Chinese drone company DJI demonstrated its new AeroScope device that can track UAVs in a 5-kilometer radius. At the moment, it can only monitor the company's drones, but it's a potentially potent tool for law enforcement (or other DJI-authorized customers) to keep an eye on aerial activity within their radius.

The AeroScope tracks drones via the radio transmission between them and their remote control. This gives the device everything it needs to know, from the UAV's location and speed to its registration or serial number, and even where it took off -- and its operator's position. DJI preempted questions about the AeroScope in a series of tweets, assuring that it couldn't take control of a drone, receive videos or photos from it or automatically transmit personally identifiable information. Another tweet pointed out the system's low cost to law enforcement, ability to theoretically track every existing drone and that it "respects the rights of responsible pilots."

Drone identification has been on DJI's radar for awhile: Back in March, the company pitched an "electronic identification network," but US authorities didn't bite, nor did productive plans emerge from later industry and FAA summits in July. The AeroScope is the realization of that idea, down to the method of intercepting data over radio transmission. But instead of automatically tracking every drone in the sky, DJI is inviting other companies to make their products compatible with AeroScope. That would only take a firmware update, DJI told The Verge.

Of course, DJI made clear that the AeroScope would need to respect drone owners' privacy while being a useful tool.

"AeroScope is designed to meet authorities' legitimate needs concerning safety, security and privacy while also respecting the rights of people and businesses who use drones," Brendan Schulman, DJI's VP of policy and legal affairs, told The Verge. "DJI's solution provides the information authorities need, while ensuring that flight data is only collected on the small number of drone flights that could raise concerns. The overwhelming majority of drone flights are safe, responsible, and uneventful, and we believe there is no reason for them to be centrally tracked and recorded nationwide.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump restarted the U.S. refugee resettlement program on Tuesday after a 120-day suspension but added new vetting requirements and another review period that will make it harder and slower for vulnerable people to come to the United States.

For many refugees, the suspension of refugee resettlement will effectively continue. Trump ordered a 90-day review of procedures and security in 11 countries, which officials declined to name publicly. During that time, refugees will be allowed to resettle only if its deemed to be in the national interest of the U.S.

Trump also halted the program that allows family members to reunite with refugees already resettled in the U.S. The delay is until unnamed security measures have been implemented, which will affect individuals of all nationalities. And all refugees will be subject to the additional screening, including requirements that they provide information about their location for the past decade, Reuters reported.

The increased vetting measures were deemed adequate to generally, broadly resume refugee admissions by officials at the departments of State and Homeland Security, along with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, DHS spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said Tuesday.

He said government officials determined that 11 countries needed additional consideration. He and other officials noted to reporters that the 11 countries were designated areas of concern that would require stricter vetting in 2015  likely a defense against arguments that Trumps latest refugee order is a veiled effort to keep Muslims out of the country, as he vowed to do on the campaign trail.

Although the government did not identify the countries, as of the end of 2016 there were higher security vetting requirements for adult males from 11 nations, according to Reuters: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, along with some Palestinians.

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The government anticipates the requirements will make it slower for refugees of all nationalities to go through the screening process, although a senior administration official said they did not have estimates because the time periods vary. The security and background check that refugees in the resettlement pipeline undergo already involves a wide variety of federal agencies and takes at least 18 months.

The Trump administration plans to admit up to 45,000 refugees in the 2018 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1  the lowest-ever cap on resettlement.

Todays announcement makes the pattern undeniable. The Trump administration is seeking to dismantle the refugee resettlement program brick by brick, through any means necessary, Rev. John McCullough, the president of refugee resettlement organization Church World Service, said in a statement.

Officials declined to go into detail about the new screening measures, citing security and law enforcement concerns. They will require applicants to provide additional information and give those conducting screening more training and flexibility to detect fraud and determine if people are inadmissible, Jennifer Higgins, associate director of the Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, told reporters. She said they will also expand the review process for some applicants, including social media checks.

The security of the American people, of course, is our highest priority, Higgins said on the administrations call with reporters. The vetting and screening enhancements that the U.S. refugee admissions program is implementing ensures that the United States can continue to admit eligible refugees while also protecting the national security and welfare of the United States.

A State Department memo obtained by Reuters said that all refugees would be required to provide phone, email and address information going back ten years instead of five for anywhere they lived for more than 30 days. Refugees will also be required to give current phone and email addresses for all family members, rather than just those with connections to the U.S., Reuters reported.

A government official told reporters that the process will still focus on vulnerability versus other factors for determining whom to admit, and remains committed to nondiscrimination.

Refugees who already made it to the U.S. have struggled with the previous system, which already made it difficult for them to reunite with their families.

The U.S. family reunification program faced complaints over its narrow definition of who constituted family. It applies only to children, spouses or parents of the person making the request. And those children must be under the age of 21. This means that a refugee in the U.S. has no legal pathway to reunite with a sibling.

Sana Mustafa, a Syrian who claimed asylum in the U.S. in 2014, petitioned to reunite with her mother and sisters, who fled to Turkey. Since none of them could qualify under the reunification requirements, they decided to attempt going through the resettlement pipeline. They were denied earlier this year. Now, she said, they remain in Turkey, where refugees cannot legally work or attend school.

Rahim Hamid, 31, an Iranian refugee who was resettled in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2015, is also at a loss over what to do about his sister-in-law, he told HuffPost. She and her husband, Iranian refugees living in Turkey, applied to reunite with Hamid and his wife but were rejected after Trump entered office. They appealed earlier this year and were rejected again.

They even didnt give any clear justification or explanation why they have been denied, Hamid said. There is no solution. They are stranded in Turkey.

A limited version of Trumps ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries went into effect following a Supreme Court decision in June. This allowed a 120-day suspension of the refugee program to be enacted, along with a 90-day ban on travel from all non-visa holders from those countries. Trump attempted to impose yet another travel ban in September that wouldnt have affected the refugee program, but it was struck down in federal court last week.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Dustin Poirier poses for photographers during a weigh-in on May 12 in Dallas before UFC 211. ( AP)

Dustin Poirier will return to the Octagon on Nov. 11 to face Anthony Pettis in the main event of UFC Fight Night 120. And, for the second time, Poirier will be competing with a bigger cause in mind.

After his no contest with Eddie Alvarez at UFC 211, Poirier auctioned off his fight kit on eBay for $5,100 and donated the proceeds to Second Harvest Food Bank. This time, Poirier will auction his fight kit off to raise money for an officer from his hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana, who died in the line of duty. Poirier made the announcement on his Facebook page.

I will be selling my fight kit from my upcoming fight at UFC Fight Night 120. All of the proceeds will be going directly to the family of Corporal Michael Middlebrook, A 9-year veteran of the Lafayette [Louisiana] police dept. who lost his life in the line of duty earlier this month. He left behind a wife and 3 daughters.

Middlebrook died on Oct. 1 when he was shot while answering a call for help from employees of a convenience store who had been shot during a robbery. But Middlebrooks family has been in the middle of a controversy over health benefits when they found out that the late officers health insurance will not continue at the current rate. Instead, they would be subjected to the retiree-level health insurance and have their premiums increase by 125 percent.

Poirier is looking to help the family in the wake of this news.
Ankara (AFP) - A Turkish former interior minister once dubbed Turkey's Iron Lady and seen as a potentially strong challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a political party Wednesday after months of speculation.

Meral Aksener delivered a defiant speech promising a "strong, happy" Turkey at the official launch of the Iyi ("Good" in Turkish) Party in the capital Ankara.

"We have hope. We have dreams. We want a rich Turkey. We have strength. We want a fair Turkey... we want a free society. We want a happy Turkey," she said during a spirited speech filled with nationalism and an audience waving Turkish flags.

She was cheered by thousands of supporters and founding party members in a hall surrounded by the party's blue and yellow sun logo and banners of modern Turkey founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Aksener, 61, was a former member of the country's third largest opposition right-wing Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) until she failed to remove Devlet Bahceli as MHP leader in early 2016 and was later expelled from the party in September 2016.

Bahceli has led the MHP for over 20 years but opponents wanted a fresh face.

There has been frenzied talk of Aksener running against Erdogan in the presidential election in November 2019 when Turkey's parliamentary system will formally become an executive presidency after the referendum on constitutional changes earlier this year.

Turks approved giving the president greater powers including appointing ministers in the most radical political shake-up in the country's recent history.

- 'Doors are open' -

Aksener has been described in various ways, from Turkey's Iron Lady in a nod to the late British premier Margaret Thatcher to the mythical she-wolf Asena. She has also been compared to the French National Front leader Marine Le Pen, with both enjoying support from nationalist parties.

She served as interior minister for less than a year between 1996 and 1997, but was notably critical of the 1997 ousting of the then Islamist government by the military.

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A lawmaker from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Aytun Ciray, resigned on Monday to join Aksener's new party, which came as reports suggested she wanted to form a parliamentary group with MPs who are prepared to switch their allegiance.

Aksener has denied the reports, but said Monday the party's "doors would be open" to people of any political viewpoint.

The party's supporters believe it can win over CHP and AKP voters.

Aksener has now submitted a formal application to the interior ministry for the establishment of the party, Dogan news agency reported.
Addis Ababa (AFP) - Yetnebersh Nigussie's first battle for disability rights was in law school, when she successfully pushed university administrators to provide Braille textbooks for blind students such as herself.

Not long after, Yetnebersh, 35, left the legal profession to pursue a different type of advocacy as a full-time fighter for the rights and opportunities of Ethiopia's millions of disabled people.

Last month her life's work was recognised with a Right Livelihood Award, often called the "Alternative Nobel Prize".

But her work is not yet complete.

"There are still... millions of persons with disabilities who are living in a very destitute manner in a very undignified way," Yetnebersh told AFP.

"We really need to show people that people with disabilities have one disability, but have 99 abilities."

The award, founded by Swedish-German philatelist Jakob von Uexkull in 1980, is meant "to honour and support those offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today," according to the Right Livelihood Award Foundation.

Cited "for her inspiring work promoting the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities," Yetnebersh said she sees the prize as a way to amplify her message that disabled people must be treated as equals.

"It's one step forward in recognising that disability is not about charity, but equality. It's about human rights and justice," she said.

A 2011 joint report by the World Bank and World Health Organization estimated there are 15 million disabled Ethiopians, almost one in five people.

Most face grim prospects in a country that is among Africa's poorest and where many see being disabled as a curse.

"No one recognizes that abled bodies could be disabled tomorrow because of an accident or so on. People do not understand that," said Nemera Woyessa, country representative of Light for the World, a disability rights group that Yetnebersh works with.

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- Disability with dignity -

In cities like the capital Addis Ababa, disabled people wait at intersections and along sidewalks seeking handouts, a practice so commonplace that it raises few eyebrows.

"Begging takes away your dignity," Yetnebersh said. "It leaves your life in the hands of others."

Before she came on the scene, charities serving the disabled tended only to work with people with certain disabilities, an approach Yetnebersh feels only increased inequality.

"There were services for persons with disabilities before us, but those services were provided in a special setting, in an isolated manner, which resulted in ultimate segregation of persons with disabilities," she said.

Yetnebersh, who lost her eyesight to a meningitis infection at five years old, attended a Catholic school for the blind and excelled as a student, leading the student council as a high schooler and founding a female student's association at her university.

In 2005, she started the Ethiopian Centre for Disability and Development (ECDD) with the aim of tackling issues affecting the disabled in her own way.

Since then, she's worked to get the government to adopt a building code that requires the many new constructions springing up around Ethiopia to accommodate the disabled with things like wider doorways and Braille instruction panels.

She's also published a guide listing how accessible hotels, restaurants and government offices in the capital are to the disabled.

Her persistent lobbying has gotten results, said Nemera, and now "every government has to look within the lens of disability," when planning projects and policy.

- 'Can do' -

Getting disabled Ethiopians away from a life of begging remains among Yetnebersh's top priorities.

ECDD has worked with more than 120 groups of disabled entrepreneurs across Ethiopia to determine what kinds of businesses they are capable of running, and helped them become everything from dairy farmers to carpet makers.

"We don't want to capitalise on what they need, rather we capitalise on what they can do," said Yetnebersh, who is married with two daughters.

Yetnebersh is not sure what she will do with her share of the three-million-kronor ($373,000; 315,000-euro) prize that she splits with two other winners.

But she says she's already benefited from the award thanks to the platform it has given her.

"Inequality of any kind is a threat for equality of all humankind," she said. "That's the message I want to send."
Strasbourg (France) (AFP) - The European Commission on Tuesday proposed to renew the license for the weedkiller glyphosate for a shorter than usual five to seven years, as the EU took into account fears it causes cancer.

The commission, the European bloc's executive arm, had originally recommended the licence for the herbicide be renewed for 10 years, but faced a growing uproar over the alleged dangers of its use.

The EU commission's top officials "asked our representatives to explore ... if broad support is structured around a period of renewal of five to seven years," said commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas after a meeting of European commissioners in Strasbourg, France.

The shift came a day before the EU's 28 member states vote on whether to renew the glyphosate licence in Europe and just hours after the European Parliament approved a non-binding resolution calling for the chemical to be banned by 2022.

Glyphosate critics, led by environmental campaigners Greenpeace, are calling for an outright ban in Europe and on Monday activists handed the EU a petition signed by more than 1.3 million people backing such a move.

MEPs said the licence should be renewed for only five years and criticised the commission's proposal, saying it "fails to ensure a high level of protection of both human and animal health and the environment (and) fails to apply the precautionary principle".

They called for a halt to non-professional use of glyphosate when its licence runs out in December 15 and for its use to end near public parks and playgrounds.

- 'Probably carcinogenic' -

One of Europe's heaviest users France, whose government has said it wants to phase out the herbicide, said along with Italy and Austria it would vote against renewing the glyphosate licence for 10 years.

Opponents of glyphosate, used in Monsanto's best-selling herbicide Roundup, point to a 2015 study by the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer that concluded it was "probably carcinogenic".

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This contradicted findings by the European Food Safety Authority and the European Chemicals Agency, which both said glyphosate was unlikely to cause cancer in humans, in line with a 2016 review carried out by other WHO experts and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

Graeme Taylor of the European Crop Protection Association, said it was "encouraging" that parliament had voted to reapprove the weedkiller, albeit for a reduced period, but took aim at glyphosate critics.

"It's a real pity that MEPs allow themselves to be influenced by NGOs who claim to represent public opinion, but only represent hostility toward industry, and more worryingly, hostility toward science," he said.

Monsanto maintains that glyphosate "meets or exceeds all requirements for full renewal under European law and regulation" and says the renewal procedure has in "many respects been hijacked by populism."
Berlin (AFP) - A former member of an IRA splinter group was convicted on Wednesday of attempted murder for his role in an attack on a British base in Germany 21 years ago.

A court in Osnabrueck in northwestern Germany sentenced the Belfast-born man, identified in Irish papers as James Corry, to four years in jail. One year will be waived because of an unlawful procedural delay, it said.

The court found that the man had been a member of the so-called "active service unit" of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.

He and at least four other accomplices parked a truck with an improvised launch battery outside British barracks in Osnabrueck and fired three shells on June 28, 1996.

While the shells failed to injure anyone, they caused around 95,000 euros in today's money ($112,000) in damage.

"It was only thanks to chance that no one was harmed," the court said.

The man confessed to the crime during the trial in July but said he was no longer involved in the IRA.

German authorities arrested Corry last December after his extradition from Ireland.

The IRA aimed for Northern Ireland to break away from British rule and become a part of Ireland through three decades of bombings and shootings.

The organisation ended its armed struggle as part of the Northern Ireland peace process following the Good Friday agreement of 1998.
The family of one of the four U.S. soldiers recently killed in combat in Niger hopes the tragedy will shed light on any mistakes the military might have made leading to the deadly ambush in the African country.

Staff Sgt. Dustin Wrights family said in a statement Tuesday that they do not blame President Donald Trump or the U.S. Army for the death of the 29-year-old Green Beret from Georgia  but they are patiently waiting for answers on how the attack happened and why all four soldiers were not able to survive.

Even with adequate resources, a fully manned team and armored vehicles, these brave men would have been lucky to exit this situation with their lives, Wrights brother, Will, said in a statement to ABC News, on behalf of his family. Our hope through this tragedy is to discern where, if any, mistakes were made and to fix them going forward. We will wait patiently and work with our government and military, not against them, to find answers.

The familys remarks come hours after Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, left some questions unanswered during a Monday news conference about the assault. We owe you more information, and more importantly, we owe the families of the fallen more information, Dunford told reporters.

Wright died Oct. 4 in Niger  along with Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson and Sgt. La David Johnson  after ISIS-linked militants attacked them, officials said.

Dunford said U.S. forces accompanied Nigerian units on a reconnaissance mission to gather information on Oct. 3. They came under enemy fire the following day as they were returning to their operating base, and only called for help an hour later.

I make no judgment as to how long it took them to ask for support, Dunford said. I dont know that they thought they needed support prior to that time. I dont know how this attack unfolded. I dont know what their initial assessment was of what they were confronted with.

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Wright, Black and Jeremiah Johnson were killed in action, and their bodies were evacuated that evening. However, Dunford said La David Johnson was missing until his body was found Oct. 6. La David Johnsons death triggered controversy after a Florida lawmaker and the slain soldiers family said Trump seemed to forget his name during a condolence call, and that the President also said the soldier knew what he signed up for.

La David Johnsons pregnant widow, Myeshia Johnson, demanded answers about her husbands death in an interview Monday with Good Morning America. I want to know why it took them 48 hours to find my husband, Myeshia Johnson said. I dont know how he got killed, where he got killed or anything. They never told me, and thats what Ive been trying to find out since day one.

Wrights family said he understood the dangers of serving in the military. They said they hoped an investigation into the attack would help other soldiers in the future.

In short, nothing that comes from this report will bring our warriors back, but it can help to educate and prepare future operators to better combat our enemies, their statement said. We do not blame the Army or the President. War is hell, and even the best laid plans go to the wayside when the first bullet flies.
By Amanda Becker and Chris Kahn WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fewer than a third of Americans support Donald Trump's tax-cut plan, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, as the U.S. president went to Capitol Hill looking for Republican backing for his proposal to slash tax rates for individuals and companies. As the 2018 midterm congressional election campaigns grow nearer, the poll found that more than two-thirds of registered voters said reducing the U.S. federal budget deficit is more important than cutting taxes for the wealthy or for corporations. Trump's plan would balloon the deficit and add to the $20 trillion national debt, according to critics and independent analysts, but Republicans say the tax cuts proposed in the plan would be offset by economic growth that would generate new tax revenue. Among Republicans surveyed, 63 percent said deficit reduction should take priority over tax cuts for corporations, while 75 percent said deficit reduction should take priority over tax cuts for the wealthy. Democrats oppose Trump's plan, unveiled on Sept. 27, and say it is unfair to the poor and the working class. The plan is still only a nine-page "framework." It was drafted in secret by Trump administration and congressional leaders. Formal legislation is in development. Congressional leaders and Trump are trying to lock in support for the plan from rank-and-file Republicans, who were uninvolved in the framework drafting process. Trump, who has yet to score a major legislative win since taking office in January, wants his plan to become law before year's end, a timeframe that some policy analysts doubt is realistic. More than half of the adults surveyed in the poll agreed that "cutting taxes for the poor is more important than reducing the federal deficit," with 68 percent of Democrats and 47 percent of Republicans in accord with that statement, the poll showed. The Oct. 20-23 poll found that only 15 percent of registered voters said Republicans in Congress should prioritize tax reform over other issues. About a quarter of those polled, including 23 percent of Democrats and 30 percent of Republicans, agreed that Congress should continue working on a healthcare bill. Of those adults who said they had heard of the "tax reform plan recently proposed by congressional Republicans," just 28 percent said they support it, while 41 percent said they oppose it and another 31 percent said they do not know. The poll found opinions on Trump's plan were sharply divided along party lines, with 56 percent of Republicans and just 9 percent of Democrats supporting it. Of those who had heard of the plan, 14 percent said it would cut their taxes, while 30 percent said it would increase their taxes. Another 35 percent said their taxes would not change and 20 percent said they did not know how it would impact them. The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English in all 50 states. It gathered responses from 1,862 people, including 1,079 people who said they were aware of the Republican tax plan. It has a credibility interval, a measure of accuracy, of 3 percentage points. (Reporting by Amanda Becker and Chris Kahn; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Bill Rigby)
Fiona the hippo has given one lucky couple her blessing.

The baby hippo,who was born prematurelyatCincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden in January, stole a couples thunder when shephotobombed their proposal.

A post shared by Hayley Roll (@hayley_roll)on Oct 8, 2017 at 10:41am PDT

Nick Kelble and Hayley Roll were visiting the Cincinnati Zoo on Oct. 8 to celebrate their one-year anniversary and were happy to see Fiona in the window of her enclosure, Roll told the website Daily Buzz.

Nick, my boyfriend, and I were waiting in line to get our photo taken with Fiona and I gave my cell phone to someone to take the photo and when I turned back around, Nick was on one knee proposing, Roll told the outlet.

Fiona rose to internet fame when she was bornsix weeks early inJanuary. Videos of hertaking a shower and swimming in a pool for the first timeboast hundreds of thousands of views.

Hooray! Fiona's neck rolls are getting bigger! Today the scale read 421lbs for this chunky chunky hippo.#TeamFionapic.twitter.com/jlxaNNPs7e  Cincinnati Zoo (@CincinnatiZoo)August 7, 2017

Heres hoping the pair choose Fiona to be their flower girl.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Buenos Aires (AFP) - A former minister in the Argentine governments of Nestor and Cristina Kirchner was arrested for corruption Wednesday shortly after Congress stripped him of his parliamentary immunity.

Julio de Vido was the minister of planning in the husband-and-wife Kirchner governments that spanned 12 years between 2003-2015, handling billions of dollars while in charge of public works.

Judges investigating two corruption cases, involving the administration of a power station and the importation of liquefied gas, had ordered his arrest as soon as his immunity was lifted.

Currently a deputy in the Congress, De Vido, 67, was a fixture in the Kirchner governments while other ministers saw their political fortunes ebb and flow in various reshuffles.

"He was not just a simple minister. He was one of the most powerful Kirchnerists because he was the leader of the system of financing political activity," analyst Carlos Fara said.

Congress voted by 176 votes in favor of the measure to strip De Vido's immunity, with one abstention. The leftist Peronist bloc, from which the Kirchners drew their support, abstained.

Hector Recalde of the Peronist Victory Front party denounced what he called a government "plan to persecute opponents."

Former president Cristina Kirchner is facing several corruption charges of her own, but won a senate seat in Sunday's midterm elections which guarantees her immunity.
Buenos Aires (AFP) - A former key minister in Argentina's husband-and-wife Kirchner governments was arrested for corruption involving hundreds of millions of dollars Wednesday after a Congress vote stripped him of his parliamentary immunity.

Former planning minister Julio de Vido was a key figure in the 12-year period between 2003-2015, handling billions of dollars while in charge of Argentina's public works contracts and also acting as a gatekeeper to the Kirchners.

Acting on orders from judges investigating two separate cases, police went to De Vido's house to arrest him after the vote, but returned empty handed. De Vido had meanwhile driven himself to a Buenos Aires court to turn himself in.

The arrest of De Vido, 67, is the latest blow to the Kirchner legacy after Cristina Kirchner's setback in Sunday's legislative polls, which saw her support fall and appeared to dash her hopes of crowning a political comeback with a push for a third presidential term in 2019.

Currently a deputy in the Congress, De Vido was a fixture in the Kirchner governments while other ministers saw their political fortunes ebb and flow in various reshuffles.

"He was not just a simple minister," said analyst Carlos Fara. "He was the one who handled the most money in the government. He was the key to everything."

President Mauricio Macri won strong support for the move in Congress, which voted by 176-0 in favor of removing De Vido's immunity, with one abstention.

The leftist Peronist bloc, from which the Kirchners drew their support, decided not to participate in the vote. Hector Recalde of the Peronist Victory Front party denounced what he called a government "plan to persecute opponents."

Judges investigating two corruption cases -- the administration of the coal-fired Rio Turbio power plant and the alleged overpricing of imported liquefied gas -- had ordered De Vido's arrest as soon as his immunity was lifted.

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Kirchner is facing several corruption charges of her own, but won a senate seat in Sunday's midterm elections which guarantees her immunity from jail if convicted.

She was quoted in a recent interview as saying she was not going to "put her hands in the fire" for De Vido.

- Kirchner's legal woes -

The case marks another loose thread in the grand unravelling of the Kirchner legacy. Three other key figures from the free-spending era have been jailed, including former transport minister Ricardo Jaime, who was convicted of embezzlement in deals to purchase trains.

Another insider, real estate developer Lazaro Baez, is suspected of profiting from rigged tenders after receiving hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of public works contracts from the Kirchners.

The most bizarre case involves the deputy planning minister Jose Lopez, who was caught red-handed by police trying to hide nearly nine million dollars in cash in a Buenos Aires convent earlier this year.

Kirchner, who served two terms as president from 2007- 2015 after the death of her husband and ex-president Nestor, faces several corruption cases.

To cap a bad week, Kirchner is due at a court hearing Thursday to answer an obstruction of justice charge relating to the probe into the deadly 1994 bombing of a building housing Jewish institutions in Buenos Aires.

In April, she was charged with "illegal association and money laundering" in connection with real estate dealings, along with her adult children Maximo and Florencia.

She also faces trial on charges of financial mismanagement as president, accused of ordering the Central Bank to sell dollar futures at artificially low prices, causing Argentina to lose hundreds of millions.
Moscow (AFP) - German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday in Moscow called for better ties with Russia, saying "open wounds" in relations between the two countries should heal.

The first visit by a German president to Russia since 2010 comes as ties between the two countries remain strained over Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent uprising in eastern Ukraine that the West claims is backed by Moscow.

Steinmeier is a former foreign minister who was actively engaged in Germany's efforts to mediate the Ukraine crisis and has long called for engaging Russia.

"We both believe that the current state of affairs cannot satisfy us and should not satisfy us," Steinmeier said following talks with Putin in comments translated into Russian.

"We are far from (having) normal ties, open wounds are still out there, there are unresolved issues, first and foremost it concerns the takeover of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which are a burden and continue to be a burden for our ties."

Putin for his part said Moscow was ready to develop ties with Germany, adding that German businesses were interested in expanding their footprint in Russia.

"Despite some certain political difficulties Russian-German ties are not at a standstill," he added.

Earlier Wednesday Steinmeier spoke with former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, 86, soliciting his advice on how to improve ties between the two countries.

"He told me: 'The only thing that helps is to keep talking - even about difficult issues'," Steinmeier told journalists after the hour-long meeting.

"I come during times in which German-Russian relations have become difficult," Steinmeier said.

"I see it as my responsibility to contribute to make sure that this doesn't stay this way forever."

Steinmeier also visited Russia's top rights group Memorial and attended a ceremony for the Russian state's return of a cathedral building to the Protestant church.

He praised the handover of the cathedral, which was seized by the Soviets in 1938, and said he hoped that the church would continue to serve as a "place of encounter" between Orthodox and Lutheran Christians as well as Russians and Germans.
Berlin (AFP) - Germany expelled 14 rejected Afghan asylum seekers, the interior ministry said Wednesday, amid angry protests that the war-ravaged country is unsafe for returnees.

A chartered Czech plane with the Afghans on board, all of them men, took off late Tuesday from the eastern German city of Leipzig and arrived in Kabul on Wednesday.

Eleven of the deportees had criminal records for acts including manslaughter, causing grievous bodily harm, the sexual abuse of children, fraud and theft, interior ministry spokeswoman Annegret Korff told reporters.

The other three Afghans had refused to cooperate on establishing their identity, she added.

Saxony state interior minister Markus Ulbig told public broadcaster MDR that Germany was sending a "loud and clear message" that those not granted refugee status following an official review "no longer have a right to be in Germany".

While Germany has granted safe haven to most asylum seekers from war-torn Syria, Berlin has argued that it can safely repatriate people to Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan, even as Taliban and Islamic State militants terrorise much of the country.

Around 150 demonstrators gathered at the airport in Leipzig to protest against the expulsions.

In Berlin, leading Greens MP Claudia Roth called on the government to stop the deportations, noting that some 250 people were killed in attacks in Afghanistan in the last week.

"Under these conditions, expulsions to Afghanistan clearly violate our responsibility to provide humanitarian protection," she said in remarks reported by DPA news agency.

Germany resumed deportations of rejected asylum seekers from Afghanistan last month after suspending the process when a devastating truck bomb hit the Afghan capital in May.

That group of eight Afghans represented the sixth wave of repatriations of Afghans from Germany since December under a disputed Afghan-European Union deal aimed at curbing the influx of migrants.

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Amnesty International warned European governments earlier this month that a surge of failed Afghan asylum seekers "forcibly" returned are at risk of torture, kidnapping and death.

Almost 9,500 Afghans went back to their homeland in 2016 after their applications for asylum in Europe were rejected, compared with fewer than 3,300 a year earlier, the rights group said.

Berlin has set a policy of returning to Afghanistan convicted criminals, people feared by police to be planning an attack, and those who refuse to cooperate with authorities or give their names.

More than 13,300 Afghans have applied for asylum in Germany since the start of the year.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has been struggling to bring down the numbers of asylum seekers after the arrival of more than one million migrants -- mainly from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan -- since 2015.
Voting rights are at the center of a new and nasty attack from the GOP gubernatorial candidate in Virginia.

Ed Gillespie is accusing Democrats in the state of jeopardizing public safety by restoring voting rights to former felons who have completed their sentences, a claim the states governor says is outrageous.

Virginia strips felons of their voting rights, but they can be restored by the governor. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) has restored the voting rights of more than 168,000 former felons, a number he says is a record high. Hes restored all of them individually after the states Supreme Court ruled in 2016 he could not do so with a blanket order.

A new ad from Gillespie accuses McAuliffe and Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, the Democratic nominee for governor, of putting public safety at risk by enfranchising Virginians.

An ad from Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie accuses Democrats in the state of jeopardizing public safety by restoring voting rights to former felons. (Photo: Astrid Riecken/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Last year, Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam instituted the automatic restoration of rights for violent felons and sex offenders, making it easier for them to obtain firearms and allowing them to serve on juries, the ad says. It also singles out the case of a man who it says had his rights restored after being found with one of the largest child pornography collections in Virginias history. (The man actually lost his voting rights again after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography and is serving 15 years in prison, according to The Washington Post.)

Former felons in Virginia have to apply to McAuliffe to have their rights restored and are only considered eligible if they have completed all of their sentencing, including parole. McAuliffes new process for restoring voting rights does eliminate a step for former felons to regain their gun rights.

The ad marks an attack on an issue some Virginia Republicans have supported in the past, though Gillespie appears to be steadfast in his view. In 2013, then-Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) took executive action to automatically restore the rights of nonviolent felons. That same year, then-Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R), McAuliffes opponent in the governors race, was open to the idea after long opposing it.

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McAuliffe called Gillespies ad the lowest point yet in his campaign.

When our administration began the process of restoring the rights of thousands of former felons who had served their time and returned to their communities, we recognized that we were confronting an historic injustice intended to suppress African American voices, McAuliffe wrote in a HuffPost opinion piece. We also knew that many forces, such as those that led Ed Gillespie to run his latest ad, would oppose our actions vigorously.

David Turner, a Northam spokesman, accused Gillespie of lying in the ad and said he should be ashamed.

Tammie Hagen, a community organizer with New Virginia Majority, a group that works to restore felons rights, said allowing people to vote does not pose a safety threat. Hagen had her voting rights restored last year.

Im appalled by the antiquated mentality that seeks to permanently demonize people and withhold the ballot from us. I am a mother, a daughter, a friend, a taxpayer and a neighbor, she said in a statement. To claim that I shouldnt be able to have a say in who I want on my grandchildrens school board or who I want in office making decisions on my health care is ludicrous and has no bearing on the safety of my community.

The ad also highlights the high stakes for voting advocates in the governors race, which is being watched nationally. While McAuliffe has restored more voting rights than any other governor, he has done it through executive orders, meaning the progress could be quickly undone by an administration hostile to voting rights. Nationally, 6.1 million Americans are disenfranchised because of a felony conviction, according to The Sentencing Project, including 1 in 5 African Americans in Virginia.

Right now, the state of felony re-enfranchisement lies in the hands of the governor, Tram Nguyen, co-executive director of New Virginia Majority, told ThinkProgress. The entire rights restoration process is on the line with this November election.

Judith Browne Dianis, the executive director of the national office of Advancement Project, said the effort to restrict the vote in Virginia grew out of racism.

The right to vote is sacred, and pitting peoples fears against access to democracy is reprehensible, she said in a statement. In Virginia, the zeal to restrict the vote is linked inextricably to the states Jim Crow heritage, and attempts to demonize the right to vote must be condemned in the strongest of terms.

Related Coverage

67,000 Virginia Ex-Felons Just Got Their Voting Rights Back. This Man Wants To Make Sure They Keep Them.

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WASHINGTON  What does a Party of Donald Trump look like?

As a second mainstream Republican chooses to leave the Senate rather than run for re-election in a party led by President Trump, an organization molded by Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan appears to be in an identity crisis that typically afflicts a party out of power, not one that controls both chambers of Congress and the White House.

What party? laughed Rick Tyler, a longtime GOP consultant who worked for the presidential campaign of Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas last year. Its hard to say that its anyones party right now. It is both intellectually and ideologically unmoored.

Tyler said Trumps inability to focus on legislation, or even understand it, makes it virtually impossible for him to lead his own party, let alone the nation. He doesnt have a core set of beliefs. He never has. Hes going to believe in whats good for him at the moment, Tyler said. The president is supposed to be the North Star in all of these things. And hes just a constellation. And weve got no way of knowing where hes going to be in six months.

That possibility was raised as a warning by a number of Republicans as Trump rose in the polls in the summer and autumn of 2015, even as many party leaders argued the opposite: that Trump, as a nominee and a president, would come to adopt the values and objectives of their party.

Instead, though, Trump has shown little interest in Republican values or even much loyalty to longstanding members of the party whose structure got him elected to the White House.

Trump is pretty cavalier about all the work and sacrifice involved over the years to win Congress and now the White House, said Texas political consultant Matt Mackowiak.

As president, Trump has routinely attacked members of his own party, in speeches, media interviews and, most ubiquitously, on Twitter. He frequently blames Republicans for failing to pass legislation, as if they are some group he has no affiliation with.

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Now, just nine months into his term, both Tennessees Bob Corker and Arizonas Jeff Flake have decided not to seek re-election to the Senate next year  and are openly calling Trump a menace to the nation.

We must stop pretending that the degradation of our politics and the conduct of some in our executive branch are normal. They are not normal, Flake said from the floor of the Senate on Tuesday. And when such behavior emanates from the top of our government, it is something else. It is dangerous to a democracy.

Corker earlier this month criticized Trump for running the White House as if it were a reality show and possibly leading the country into World War III with his careless language.

On Tuesday, he told CNN that Trumps primary achievement would be debasing the office. Hes obviously not going to rise to the occasion as president, Corker said.

Trumps staff and supporters argue that Trump is doing what voters wanted him to do. I think he feels like America is winning, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Tuesday as she dismissed Corker and Flake as senators who were likely to lose re-election anyway.

And former top White House aide Steve Bannon, whose nationalist agenda and language were adopted by Trump during the course of the general election campaign, has been cheerfully promising to find challengers to most incumbent Republican senators in his battle against the establishment. He has also taken credit for the victory of former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore over Luther Strange in a Senate primary runoff. He backed Moore while Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Trump backed Strange, who was appointed to Jeff Sessions former Senate seat when Sessions became Trumps attorney general.

McConnell and the GOP Establishment have sown the wind  now be prepared to reap the whirlwind, Bannon told the website Axios.

That sort of talk, though, makes John Weaver laugh out loud. Roy Moore was going to win that race regardless, said the longtime consultant who ran Ohio Gov. John Kasichs Republican presidential run in 2016. Bannon had not a goddamned thing to do with it.

Weaver has a much simpler explanation as to how his party has gotten to where it is: We got a guy who hijacked our party, and the countrys in trouble because of it.

Weaver points to Trumps entry into the race in June 2015, when party leaders  fearful that Trumps near universal name recognition, thanks to a hit TV reality show and his bank account, would let him mount a third-party run  treated him with kid gloves. Most of his rivals for the nomination, meanwhile, assumed his unorthodox views and schoolyard behavior would bring him down, and therefore there was no need to attack him.

Those two factors instead combined to give Trump an imprimatur of party legitimacy, which helped him consolidate support as the field narrowed.

Now, Weaver said, he and other Republicans need to clean up the mess. We have a special obligation, because the nut job is from our party. Its our responsibility to go round up the crazy uncle.

But some top party leaders, speaking on the condition of anonymity in order to speak candidly about the de facto head of their party, argue that the country is too big and the federal bureaucracy and judiciary too slow-moving for any one president, even one as reckless as Trump, to make major changes, even if he were to serve two terms.

They point out that, despite all his bluster and angry tweets, Trump has served nine months without a single major legislative accomplishment, has been unable to pull troops from Afghanistan or withdraw from NATO, and has seen some of his executive actions tied up in court. This is proof, in their view, that the system of checks and balances is working.

One senior Republican National Committee member, also speaking on the condition of anonymity to speak frankly, said Trump in the end managed something that the previous two nominees could not. He won. Our job is to win, he said.

Tyler, Cruzs former aide, hears that sentiment a lot and cannot disagree more. The Republican Party is not its former self. It sacrificed itself for winning. I love winning. But what did we win? What did he win? He gets the use of Air Force One?

Mackowiak said it is too soon to guess what happens to the party after Trump. A lot of that depends on how the Trump era ends.

Whether that is a consequence of Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian meddling, a decision not to seek a second term or a successful re-election, Mackowiak said, it will determine if Republicanism will survive Trumpism.

And nobody knows that yet, he said.

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With over four million listings across more than 65,000 cities worldwide, Airbnb has not just upended the global hospitality industry -- it has inadvertently created an industry within an industry: demand for services that help hosts manage their properties efficiently and professionally.

It's a hot space, for sure. GuestReady, a one-year-old contender based in London, has pulled in $3 million in new funding as it looks to grow its presence in Europe and Asia.

The round -- which is described as seed stage -- by was led by Impulse VC, the Russian fund that is backed by billionaire Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, with participation from Australia's Xponova and Boost Heroes, a VC led by Lastminute founder Fabio Cannavale. Existing backers Swiss Founders Fund and Senn and Partner -- which contributed a $700,000 raise last year -- were among others in the round.

To recap, the startup is present in five cities -- London, Paris, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong -- where it provides all manner of services that an Airbnb host could need for management. That could include cleaning, laundry, or check-in and out services.

"Staying at an Airbnb is always a great experience but sometimes it is not as professional as wed like it to be. Sometimes it is the small things, like waiting for someone to let you in or an apartment that isnt really that clean," CEO Alex Limpert told TechCrunch when it first launched.

That continues to be the vision. The company currently manages over 600 properties and, to date, it has helped hosts with more than 20,000 stays from Airbnb guests. Talking to us this week, Limpert said the new money will be used to grow the tech team, double down on existing cities and expand into new ones.

To take a running jump, the startup has acquired a smaller rival. Three-year-old Easy Rental operates in London and Paris and its addition will help GuestReady grow in those cities.

Despite progress -- and apparent profitability in two cities already -- GuestReady has learned that not all markets are ripe for its wares. Earlier this year it exited Amsterdam, which was one of six initial cities when it went live.

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"We were excited about Amsterdam very early on, still in 2016. When we launched, we deliberately opened a few markets at once so that we could see which markets gain the best traction and then double down on them. In Amsterdam, demand for our services was very limited so that we didnt reach the planned traction and decided to focus our limited resources on the markets that were doing best," Limpert explained.

Despite that setback, the immediate goal is to open in one new city before the end of the year, with more planned for 2018.

"We see good growth opportunities in Southern Europe and in more developed urban areas in Asia," the GuestReady CEO added.
On the premiere episode of Drop the Mic, the beautiful Halle Berry went up against James Corden himself, who was creating a mini Storm above a lot of shade.

When it comes to getting married, three divorces is enough. Forget signing autographs, sign a prenup, rapped Corden. Oh no he didnt!

Whether or not Halle was expecting that, she made sure to make one thing clear, responding, You had to go there. And I do have prenups, anyway. But her love life wasnt the only thing Halle had to defend, she also had to go to bat for her movie career.

Tonight, the main event has me up against a legend, and I admit, Halle Berry is well-known in her profession. But lets not pretend that Catwoman didnt suck. Halle, that was a Batman movie. Howd you mess that up? rapped Corden. But, in the end, Halle made it clear that shes ballin with the only thing that really matters when she rapped back, James has a Tony, thats cool and all. But I have an Oscar, so suck my monster balls! You go, girl.

Drop the Mic airs Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. on TBS.

Check out Julia Roberts acting out her illustrious film career in less than 10 minutes:

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Leon E. Ware II, 29, of Black River Falls was arrested Oct. 3 in Black River Falls after assaulting and strangling a woman unconscious.

Ware was drinking according to the woman he assaulted before he began arguing with her, according to the report.

Ware eventually got upset and punched the woman in the eye knocking her out.

Ware continued to attack the woman, and then began strangling her until she fell unconscious according to the report.

She told officers that Ware took her cellphone and locked the door and window to prevent her from leaving.

While at the hospital for her injuries, Ware called the woman on the hospital phone at which point she enforced the no-contact prohibition.

Ware was arrested for strangulation and suffocation-domestic abuse, felony battery-domestic abuse, felony disorderly conduct-domestic abuse and misdemeanor bail jumping.
Actress Heather Lind says President George H.W. Bush sexually assaulted her. (Photo: Mike Pont/WireImage)

Heather Lind, the actress who accused President George H.W. Bush of sexually assaulting her during a photo op four years ago  prompting a sort-of apology from Bush  doesnt have the name recognition of a Gwyneth Paltrow or Lupita Nyongo or some of the other women whove taken their experiences with sexual misconduct public. But Lind has been racking up acting credits since 2011, when she did an episode of the CBS drama Blue Bloods.

Heres a look at the 34-year-old actress:

Where you might know her from

Fans of AMCs Turn: Washingtons Spies will recognize Lind as Anna Strong, whom she played for all four seasons of the show, which ended with its August finale. She co-starred with Al Pacino in The Merchant of Venice on Broadway for several months beginning in November 2010. Her most notable role was one of her first: a maid on HBOs Boardwalk Empire in episodes that aired in 2011 and 2012. As part of the cast, she took home a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble in 2012. She appeared in Mistress America with Greta Gerwig in 2015 and as the wife that Jake Gyllenhaal loses in a car crash in the 2016 dramedy Demolition.

This year, she also starred in the drama Fireworkers, which was written and directed by another Lind.

A bit about her background

That other Lind is Christina Bennett Lind, who happens to be Heathers identical twin sister. Christina is an actress too  she also stars in Fireworkers  and her credits include All My Children, House of Cards, and Z: The Beginning of Everything, where she portrayed Tallulah Bankhead.

The Lind sisters were born in 1983 in Upland, Pa., and attended Guilderland High School in New York. Heather went on to graduate from Fordham University, where she majored in theater performance, and from New York University, where she received an MFA in acting.

Why she was meeting with President Bush

George H.W. Bush and wife Barbara pose with Lind and the cast of AMCs Turn in 2014 in Houston. (Photo: Aaron M. Sprecher /Invision for AMC)

On the historical drama Turn: Washingtons Spies, Linds Anna Strong is the only woman on a team of spies helping George Washington during the Revolutionary War. In the now-deleted Instagram post in which she accused Bush, Lind wrote that she was promoting her show when she encountered the former president. It read, in part: When I got the chance to meet George H. W. Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo. He didnt shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke. And then, all the while being photographed, touched me again.

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She also noted in a 2016 interview that playing Strong had affected her outlook in a way that, quite possibly, could have led her to speak out.

I think she gives me a real sense of bravery and courage, she told FanSided when asked about her favorite part of her character. I feel I can say and do almost anything and stand behind what I believe in. Its a really cool feeling to experience that and see how it comes up in ways in my real life.

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Bill Browder has led a worldwide campaign for sanctions against Russians guilty of human rights abuses - Bloomberg

A prominent British critic of Vladimir Putin is being subjected to a "massive abuse of power" by Russia and should be offered protection by the UK Government, the Home Secretary has been told.

A senior Conservative MP urged Amber Rudd to challenge the Kremlin's repeated attempts to order the arrest of Bill Browder, a campaigner against Russian human rights abuses, through Interpol.

The intervention by Andrew Mitchell, a former cabinet minister, came after Russia made a fifth attempt to seek Mr Browder's detention through the international police body, as Mr Putin personally accused him of illegal activity.

In a letter to Ms Rudd, Mr Mitchell described Mr Browder as a "brave justice campaigner" and said he "deserves and should receive the protection" of the UK Government.

The latest Interpol notice filed by Russia resulted in Mr Browder's US visa waiver being briefly revoked, before the intervention of American politicians including John McCain, the former presidential candidate. The attempt was the second this year by Moscow, following an earlier request disclosed by the Telegraph in August.

In his letter to the Home Secretary, Mr Mitchell wrote: "Under Interpol's rules, each member country can challenge the actions of other national central bureaus. Given Russia's abuse of Interpol in this case, I hope the British Government will intervene as a matter of urgency.

"I hope you feel as Home Secretary that it is right and proper that we ensure that Mr Browder is protected from what looks like a clear and egregious breach of his human rights."

Mr Browder, a US-born financier, has led a worldwide campaign for sanctions against Russians guilty of human rights abuses, since his lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, was found dead in a Russian prison in 2009, in what the UK government labelled an atrocious murder.

Sergei Magnitsky, who was acting for Bill Browder in Moscow, was found dead in a Russian prison

Russia's latest attempt to seek Mr Browder's arrest using Interpol came after Canada passed a 'Magnitsky Act', targeting officials who have committed gross violations of human rights" - following similar measures taken by the US and the UK, as a result of Mr Browder's campaign.

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Mr Browder was barred from Russia in 2005 on grounds of "national security" and has been convicted in absentia of charges related to tax evasion, which he denies. Further charges against him were announced live on Russian state television in 2013.

Following the passage of Canada's Magnitsky Act last week, Mr Putin accused the country of playing "unconstructive political games", adding: "Underneath are the criminal activities of an entire gang led by one particular man, I believe Browder is his name."

A Council of Europe report this year cited earlier Russian attempts to seek Mr Browder's arrest through Interpol as an example of alleged "abuses" of the system by states pursuing "political goals".

Earlier this year Mr Browder gave evidence to the US Senate's judiciary committee on a controversial meeting Donald Trump Jr held with Natalia Veselnitskaya, a Russian lawyer, during the presidential election campaign. Ms Veselnitskaya has said that the meeting was about the US Magnitsky Act.

The legislation was brought about as a result of a campaign by Mr Browder and led to Moscow imposing a retaliatory ban on US adoptions of Russian children.

Mr Browder told the Senate judiciary committee that the Russian participants in the meeting "wouldn't have gone in without being prepared to offer something in return" for help repealing the Magnitsky Act.

In his letter to Ms Rudd, dated October 23, Mr Mitchell wrote: "It would appear that after four rejections, Russia still continues to seek to misuse the Interpol system.

"Last week Russia issued the fifth request to Interpol against Mr Browder in retaliation for Canada's passing of the Magnitsky Law.

"This bears all the hallmark[s] of a massive abuse of power by a sovereign state against an individual, Mr Browder, a UK citizen, a brave justice campaigner, and someone who deserves and should receive the protection of Her Majesty's Government."
Sahar Dofdaa lived a tragically short and painful life. With sunken eyes and frail, protruding bones, the famished infant hardly stood a chance. Trapped in a Syrian conflict zone, her mother was too malnourished to breastfeed, and her father too impoverished to afford milk supplements.

Freelance journalist Amer Almohibany photographed Sahar for the last time at a medical facility in the war-torn country on Saturday. She died hours later, barely a month old and weighing just 4 pounds.

Almohibanys heart-wrenching images of the emaciated newborn have once again turned Western attention to the Syrian regimes siege of eastern Ghouta, where as many as 400,000 people reside, including Sahars parents.

Hundreds of civilians in the dilapidated Damascus suburb  more than half of them children  have died from food and medication shortages since the siege began in 2012, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said in a report released Tuesday.

Experts warn President Bashar Assads government is tightening its noose in the region, causing the already dire situation to deteriorate further.

Theyre really pushing the enclave to the brink of catastrophe for hundreds of thousands of people, Valerie Szybala, executive director of the Washington-based Syria Institute, told HuffPost. Theres nothing hopeful to grab onto here.

Ghouta Under Siege

Eastern Ghouta has been under complete siege since 2013, shortly after a sarin gas attack by regime forces killed an estimated 1,429 people there.

For Assad, encircling Syrian territory and populations is a way to exert dominance and control while defying international human rights actors who oppose his leadership. He has kept the rebel-held area under an increasingly tight blockade, preventing his own desperate citizens from fleeing and keeping them from urgently needed aid supplies, with few exceptions.

One of the final photos of 1-month-old Sahar Dofdaa, taken Oct. 21. (Photo: AMER ALMOHIBANY via Getty Images)

The Russian military and Syrian rebels reached a de-escalation agreement on July 22, but Syrian-Russian alliance groups have continued to launch dozens of attacks against civilian facilities in recent months, the report notes.

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At this point, a lot of people have adjusted to this kind of caveman lifestyle that theyve been living: no electricity and no running water, Szybala said. But the Syrian government and its allies are still launching attacks on [civilians], and has recently taken steps to intensify the siege, limiting access to arable land and profiting off of basic supplies that have drastically escalated in price.

For Abu Azzam and his family in the town of Hamouriya, east Ghouta, this means eating one small meal per day, if theyre lucky. An airstrike on his home two years ago left him and his son permanently disabled, and killed one of his other children. He and his wife, Manal, struggle to care for their surviving sons and daughters.

Over the past three days, we have only eaten bread, Manal told the Syrian American Medical Society in a tearful interview. And thats thanks to our neighbor, who gave us a small amount of wheat.

There are approximately 1,100 cases of malnutrition in eastern Ghouta, including hundreds of people suffering from severe to acute malnourishment, said Dr. Mohamad Katoub, a doctor with SAMS.

Its not only malnutrition. Other medical services just arent available, Katoub, who is originally from eastern Ghouta, told HuffPost from Turkey. We continue to lose people because of this lack of medical treatment  people who could have been treated very easily.

The medical sector has been incredibly depleted, said Szybala, who worries the humanitarian situation will only worsen as autumn gives way to winter.

Starvation By Siege: Assads Weapon Of War

The tactic of sieges, among the most brutal in the Assad regimes playbook, has turned into a matter of starving and restricting civilians with no end in sight, according to Fadel Abdul Ghany, the founder and director of SNHR. Its cost is higher than any anticipated military objective, and has become a form of collective punishment that denied civilians basic services and food.

Szybala says she fears something akin to East Aleppo, referring to another siege imposed by the Syrian government that also resulted in a hunger crisis and widespread suffering. I expect were going to see a lot of deaths due to siege this winter.

The plight of eastern Ghoutas residents also bears gruesome similarities to a prolonged siege in Madaya, Syria. The government blocked aid supplies and basic goods there for over a year, leading to mass casualties.

The international communitys response to the crisis has been utterly inadequate, according to Szybala. People feel isolated, they feel alone, they feel abandoned  and they are absolutely right, she said. There is no help coming for them.

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A boy carries his belongings at a site hit by what activists said was a barrel bomb dropped by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo's al-Fardous district, Syria on April 2, 2015.

A boy walks past damaged shops in the rebel held Tariq al-Bab neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria on Aug. 22, 2016.

Residents inspect their damaged homes after an airstrike on the rebel-held Old Aleppo, Syria on Aug. 15, 2016.

Men ride on a pick-up truck past damaged buildings in the rebel-held Bab al-Hadid neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria on Aug. 18, 2016.

A girl is pictured in Manbij, in Aleppo Governorate, Syria on Aug. 9, 2016.

People walk past damaged buses positioned atop a building as barricades in the rebel-held Bab al-Hadid neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria on Aug. 18, 2016.

Smoke and flame rise after what fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces said were U.S.-led air strikes on the mills of Manbij where Islamic State militants are positioned, in Aleppo Governorate, Syria on June 16, 2016.

Residents inspect a damaged site after an airstrike on Aleppo's rebel held Al-Mashad neighbourhood, Syria on July 26, 2016.

A man burns beddings, which activists said are used to create smoke cover from warplanes, in Aleppo, Syria on Aug. 1, 2016.

People inspect a site hit by airstrikes in the rebel held town of Atareb in Aleppo province, Syria, on July 25, 2016.

Men look for survivors under the rubble of a damaged building after an airstrike on Aleppo's rebel held Kadi Askar area, Syria on July 8, 2016.

A medic inspects the damage inside Anadan Hospital, sponsored by Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM), after it was hit yesterday by an airstrike in the rebel held city of Anadan, northern Aleppo province, Syria on July 31, 2016.

People walk on the rubble of a site hit by an airstrike in the rebel held area of Aleppo's al-Marjeh neighborhood, Syria on June 6, 2016.

A general view shows rising smoke from a Syrian regime controlled cement factory, in Aleppo, Syria on Aug. 9, 2016.

Residents walk near damaged buildings in the rebel held area of Old Aleppo, Syria on May 5, 2016.

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Alabamas chief elections official intends to hand prosecutors the names of nearly 700 voters suspected of violating a new law by crossing party lines to vote in last months Republican Senate runoff.

Secretary of State John Merrill (R) will share the list of 674 people his office identified for newly illegal crossover voting after election officials verify the names. The law gives local district attorneys the authority to prosecute people who voted in the Democratic primary for Senate, then voted in the GOP runoff election between Sen. Luther Strange and Roy Moore on Sept. 26. Violators could be fined up to $15,000 and sentenced to as much as 10 years in prison.

Alabama banned so-called crossover voting in May, and the GOP runoff was the first time the measure was in effect. Merrill warned against crossover voting on the day of the GOP runoff, saying he had heard reports of poll workers wrongly allowing people to cast ballots even though they had voted in the Democratic primary. The state Democratic Party sent voters a letter three days before the runoff, warning against crossover voting.

Critics said that Merrill didnt do enough to educate people about the new law, and argued that county election officials could have prevented crossover voting. They said prosecuting voters may confuse people into thinking they cant vote in the Senate general election on Dec. 12 between Moore and Democrat Doug Jones.

We find it surprising that election officials, who must have had the voting records available to them, would have permitted any crossover voting, Randall Marshall, executive director of the ACLU of Alabama, said in a statement. He added: The states gotcha approach to voting rights is counterproductive.

Moore defeated Strange by more than 44,000 votes in the runoff for the GOP nomination. Jefferson County, the states most populous, had 380 people accused of crossover voting, the most in the state. In some counties, just one voter was accused.

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Merrill defended efforts to educate voters about the new law and said the low number of suspected crossover voters showed those efforts worked. He said he spoke about the law in media interviews, press releases and public appearances.

This was one of the most high-profile pieces of legislation that was considered during the 2017 regular session, Merrill said. That said, there wasnt a whole lot of additional attention that needed to be given to it. Everybody in the state who pays attention to the legislature, Im not saying thats everybody, because its certainly not, they all knew it would be enforced the next time there was an election.

Tom Ryan, chairman of the Madison County Democratic Party, said poll officials on Election Day could have allowed questionable runoff voters to cast a provisional ballot that wouldnt be counted if they were found to have voted in the Democratic primary.

If he had property educated the election officials, that person would not have been allowed to vote, or at most, only been allowed to vote a provisional ballot. None of those provisional ballots were counted, Ryan told WHNT, referring to Merrill.

Merrill said local probate judges were responsible for educating poll workers about the new law, but it was absolutely possible there was confusion.

Gov. Kay Ivey (R), who signed the law in May, told al.com on Tuesday people need to obey the law. But she also suggested prosecution might be going too far.

Its not the first time Merrill has been accused of failing to properly educate voters about a change in election law. After a new state law earlier this year clarifying which types of convicted felons were eligible to vote, Merrill said he didnt need to do anything to help those affected. Plaintiffs in a lawsuit against him asked a federal judge to force Merrill to act, but the judge declined.

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After eight years together, artist Yehuda Devir and his wife Maya have been through ups, downs and everything in between.

Their relationship has provided plenty of fodder for Yehudas illustration series One of Those Days, which chronicles the couples daily life in the form of relatable comics.

Yehuda and Maya began dating in 2010 and married in 2016. (Photo: Yehuda Devir)

The artist, who is based in Tel Aviv, Israel, told HuffPost that he and Maya often collaborate on the series. She helps him come up with the concept, build the composition and choose colors. Then Yehuda executes the actual illustrations.

Maya is a very talented artist as well, he told HuffPost. Better than me I think. But shell be angry that I said it.

The "One of Those Days" series captures the couple's everyday life. The inspiration behind this illustration? Maya's "Game of Thrones" obsession. (Photo: Yehuda Devir)

All of the illustrations in the series are based on real moments and experiences the couple has shared, with some exaggerations for artistic effect.

We dont illustrate moments that didnt happen to us because otherwise it would harm the authenticity of the story, Yehuda told HuffPost.

All of the illustrations are based on the couple's real-life banter. (Photo: Yehuda Devir)

"We had a fight." (Photo: Yehuda Devir)

The Devirs first met in the army and became close friends before eventually beginning a romantic relationship.

What made our relationship work very well from the beginning was the fact that we were very good friends before, Yehuda said. We highly respect each other and accept both the good and the bad things of each other.

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The Devirs, pictured above, want to thank all of their followers for their support. "The best part of this job is making people happy," Yehuda said. (Photo: YEHUDA DEVIR)

He added, All of our moments together  the good and the bad  is what makes our relationship special.

Check out more of Yehudas comics below. To see even more of his work, visit his website or follow him on Facebook or Instagram.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
Reykjavik (AFP) - Iceland on Saturday holds its second snap election in just a year after a slew of scandals ensnaring its politicians in a nation whose economy is thriving thanks to tourism.

Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson of the conservative Independence Party called the vote last month after a junior member of the three-party centre-right coalition quit the government over a legal scandal involving the prime minister's father.

Saturday's vote will be the fourth time Iceland has held legislative elections since its 2008 financial crisis, when its three major banks collapsed and the country teetered on the verge of bankruptcy.

But it has made a spectacular recovery and is basking in good times now, with robust growth of 7.2 percent in 2016 and unemployment at an enviable 2.5 percent.

The latest opinion polls put the prime minister's Independence Party neck-and-neck with its main rival the Left-Green Movement, each credited with around 20-25 percent support.

With the emergence of several anti-establishment parties, Iceland's political landscape is splintered, with at least eight parties vying for the 63 seats in the single-chamber parliament.

Under the Icelandic system, the president tasks the leader of the biggest party with trying to form a coalition government.

"The fear is whether there will be a possibility to form a government," Arnar Thor Jonsson, a law professor at Reykjavik University, told AFP, recalling that negotiations to form a coalition after the October 2016 election took three months.

"There seems to be a growing instability in Icelandic politics," Jonsson said.

- 'Serious lack of trust' -

A year ago, snap elections were called after then-prime minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson was pressured to resign when he was named in the so-called Panama Papers which exposed offshore tax havens.

More than 600 Icelanders -- a surprisingly high number in a country of 335,000 -- were also named in the documents, including Benediktsson, the then finance minister.

Story continues

Despite that, Benediktsson was able to build a coalition with the centrist Bright Future and centre-right Reform Party, holding a one-seat majority in parliament.

But Bright Future pulled out of the nine-month-old government in September, making it the shortest-lived administration in Iceland's history.

If the rightwing loses on Saturday, Iceland could find itself with only the second leftwing majority since its independence from Denmark in 1944.

The first came to power in 2009, after the "pots and pans revolution" that ousted the right, seen as responsible for the financial crisis.

Independence "suffered a huge defeat" in the 2009 election and now "they're not as dominant as they used to be," Egill Helgasson, political commentator at public broadcaster RUV, told AFP.

"There is a perception that the prime minister is part of the crash elite that crashed the system," he said.

Voters have expressed growing frustration with the political establishment.

Benediktsson, 47, and his influential, wealthy family "suffer from a serious lack of trust" after being implicated in several scandals, Helgasson said.

In addition to the Panama Papers, he has been accused of covering up the fact that his father, a business leader, wrote a recommendation letter for a convicted paedophile in a bid to help restore his civil rights.

And media reports recently alleged that Benediktsson sold nearly all of his assets just hours before the 2008 collapse.

- Growth and stability -

And yet, many voters still view Independence as the main force for economic stability and growth. Nearly half of the postwar prime ministers came from the Independence Party.

The party, which is opposed to EU membership for Iceland, has campaigned on tax cuts and business investments.

Given the country's strong economy, it would "be surprising if the Independence Party ... would not get good support," University of Iceland political science professor Hannes Gissurarson told AFP.

Thirty-one-year old voter Bjarki Reinarsson said he would be casting his ballot for Benediktsson.

"I would be worried if we would get a new party (in power that) would raise taxes for Icelanders and on tourism," he said.

But others are ready for a change.

Laufey Sigrun Haraldsdottir, a 35-year-old voter in Reykjavik, is drawn to the Left-Green Movement and its charismatic 41-year-old leader Katrin Jakobsdottir, who has called for investments in public health care and education and tax hikes for the wealthiest.

"They have much more of the ideas that I have in terms of school system, taxes and health care," Haraldsdottir said.
(WASHINGTON)  A federal appeals court on Tuesday cleared the way for a 17-year-old immigrant held in custody in Texas to obtain an abortion.

The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 6-3 that new dates should be set for the teen to obtain the procedure. The decision overruled a ruling by a three-judge panel of the court that at least temporarily blocked her from getting an abortion. Tuesdays decision could still be appealed to the Supreme Court.

The teen, whose name and country of origin have been withheld because shes a minor, is about 15 weeks pregnant. She entered the U.S. in September and learned she was pregnant while in federal custody in Texas.

She obtained a state court order Sept. 25 permitting her to have an abortion. But federal officials have refused to transport her or temporarily release her so that others may take her to have an abortion.

Lawyers for the Department of Health and Human Services, which is responsible for sheltering children who illegally enter the country unaccompanied by a parent, have said the department has a policy of refusing to facilitate abortions and that releasing the teenager would require arranging a transfer of custody and follow-up care.

The teenagers lawyers have said all the government needed to do was get out of the way. An attorney appointed to represent the teens interests has said she could transport her to and from appointments necessary for the procedure, and the federal government would not have to pay for it.

A federal judge sided with the teen and set dates for the procedure last week, but the government appealed. The three-judge panel of the appeals court ruled 2-1 on Friday that the government should have until Oct. 31 to release the teen, so she could obtain the abortion outside government custody.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration rolled back the Obama-era mandate that required employers to cover the copay for employee birth control, thus leaving up to 62 million women without contraceptive health care coverage.

Now, one group wants to protest the move by encouraging people to bill Trump directly for the amount those contraceptive copays would cost.

Keep Birth Control Copay Free, a campaign funded by the Womens Equality Center that advocates for access to contraceptives, launched a tool on Wednesday that allows users to select their contraceptive type from a drop down menu and get the estimate of what that contraceptive would cost annually.

Once the user selects their type of birth control, they see the annual cost. An IUD, for example, costs $1,111, and oral contraceptives cost $600 annually. (Keep Birth Control Free pulled the numbers from Planned Parenthood and health care research group Amino.)

Users are then prompted to send the invoice to the Trump administration and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Women are tired of footing the bill for male politicians attacks on essential reproductive health care, said Amy Runyon-Harms, Keep Birth Control Copay Free campaign coordinator, said in a press release on Wednesday.

Together, we are pushing back against President Trumps dangerous political decision to reduce access to birth control and today we are sending him the bill ... and we figure, with Donald Trumps frequent proclamations that hes very rich, he shouldnt have a problem absorbing the cost.

While its unlikely, to say the least, that Trump will change his mind about rolling back the mandate, the invoice campaign still serves to educate users about the actual costs of contraceptive care, and rally women around the hugely important issue of reproductive health care access.

H/T Cosmopolitan

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You Can Get It For Free

One of the most buzzed about parts of the Affordable Care Act is the so-called contraceptive mandate, which requires that most private health insurance plans cover birth control without a co-pay or deductible. In other words, for free. There are exceptions. Certain plans have been grandfathered in, or given more time before they have to adhere to the change. Religious employers are also exempt. And while the mandate requires that the full range of FDA-approved prescription contraceptives be covered, it does not require that all brands be covered, so you might have to switch to a generic drug in order to get your contraception for free. Planned Parenthood recommends calling the member services number on the back of your insurance card to talk about what is covered by your plan.

Inconsistency Is A Big Problem

The two-thirds of women who use contraception consistently and correctly account for just 5 percent of unintended pregnancies, the Guttmacher Institute reports. On the other hand, the 19 percent of women who use birth control inconsistently account for a whopping 43 percent of all unintended pregnancies. Take the birth control pill, for example. Every year, fewer than 1 in 100 women will become pregnant if they take the pill every day, but 9 in 100 will if they don't manage to take the pill daily. Women often absorb the message that the pill is practically 100 percent effective. That's only the case if they take it precisely as directed, day-in and out.

You May Have To Monitor Side Effects

All brands of the pill are equally effective at preventing pregnancy, but that doesn't mean they're all equally well-suited to you and your body. And for a lot of women, the onus is on them to figure out what is best."Gynecologists will prescribe the pill they have the most experience with or the one they currently have free samples of in the closet," Dr. James Simon of the Women's Health Research Center in Laurel, M.D., told Women's Health. Know the basics about what your options are. There are combination pills -- which contain both the hormone estrogen and the hormone progestin -- and progestin-only options, for women who can't take estrogen. Within those categories, there are different strengths and brands, and beyond that, there are plenty of modern, long-range options that aren't pills, like the IUD or the ring. If you're having side effects that you think might be related to your birth control, try tracking them in your calendar and taking that information with you to your next appointment with your gynecologist. It'll help your doctor or nurse get a sense of what you're experiencing and guide them toward better options for you. Some side effects may go away after your body adjusts, others may not. But you shouldn't have to settle for discomfort.

IUDs Are Most Effective

A study published last spring in the venerable New England Journal of Medicine found that intrauterine devices, or IUDs, are 20 times better at preventing unintended pregnancies than the birth control pill, patch or ring. Why? Because IUDs -- which are small t-shaped devices inserted into a woman's uterus -- eliminate human error. (For more on that, check out the previous slide.) They're currently the most effective long-acting, reversible option available -- and they are safe, despite lingering belief that they aren't.

Odds Are, The Pill Didn't Cause Your Weight Gain

Early versions of the birth control pill had higher doses of hormones and caused many women to gain weight, but most modern iterations do not. Numerous studies have found no link between combination pills and subsequent weight gain, although the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists points out that progestin-only pills can cause women to put on some pounds. As Time reports, there are two reasons why the birth-control-pill-weight-gain-connection endures: Girls often go on the pill when they are teenagers and may gain weight simply because they're growing up, but think it's because of the pill. Many women also go on the pill when they're in a committed relationship, and research suggests that coupled women tend to gain weight. However, as ABC reports, women can experience bloating or stomach distention when they switch or go on or off their birth control, so absolutely speak up if that's something you're experiencing.

Other Meds Matter

There's a reason your doctor asks what other medications you're on before writing a prescription: Some drugs don't mix with others. And that absolutely holds true for your hormonal birth control. The list of do-not-combine-with-birth-control drugs includes, but is by no means limited to, certain antibiotics, anti-fungal medications, antidepressants and even some natural supplements, like St. John's wort, which can diminish the efficacy of birth control pills with estrogen.

You Can Use Birth Control Indefinitely

As the Mayo Clinic says, healthy women who don't smoke can generally safely remain on birth control pills for as long as they'd like -- through menopause even. "Years ago it was thought that prolonged use of birth control pills would interfere with a woman's subsequent ability to conceive, but this has been shown to be false," Dr. Mary M. Gallenberg, a Mayo Clinic OBGYN explains. "Similarly, doctors used to recommend taking an occasional break from birth control pills, but this offers no benefits and may increase your risk of an unplanned pregnancy." Of course, there are permanent birth control options, like sterilization, that women and their partners can also consider if they're not having children or are done having kids.

Stopping? You Can Get Pregnant Right Away

"In the past, doctors had concerns that if you conceived immediately after stopping the pill, you had a higher risk of miscarriage. However, these concerns have proved to be largely unfounded. The hormones in birth control pills don't linger in your system," according to the Mayo Clinic. "Women dont need to get off the pill three to six months before theyre trying to conceive, their bodies return to normal right away," Dr. Katharine OConnell White, an OBGYN with Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., told Time. The same holds true for the IUD: ACOG says women can try to get pregnant as soon as it is removed. That said, some women may experience a gap between when they stop using contraception and when they begin ovulating. If you don't get your period within several months, you may have something referred to "post-pill amenorrhea." Talk to your health care provider.

You Can Get Protection 5 Days After Unprotected Sex

There has been a lot of confusion about what emergency contraception is and is not. Drugs like Plan B offer a means for women to prevent pregnancy up to five days after a woman has unprotected sex (although with Plan B effectiveness decreases the longer women wait; ella, another brand, which is available by prescription only, remains equally effective within that five day window). They are not the abortion pill. Another option is to have an IUD inserted within five days of unprotected sex. The point is, even if you have unprotected sex, there are safe methods that can help prevent pregnancy if that's what you want.

Male Birth Control Is On the Horizon

Though researchers are loathe to put a date on when we can expect it, they say that both hormonal and non-hormonal birth control options for men are on the way, with research efforts supported by high-profile groups such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Case in point, last summer scientists discovered a molecule that dramatically lowered sperm counts in mice and that could, one day, be used in humans.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Lori Chown, Jackson County Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers program director, joined over 50 other agencies from around the U.S. in Denver for a three-day training hosted by the Brookdale Foundation Group.

While the groups were from all across the nation, they had many things in common.

Each agency devotes the majority of their time assisting the elderly or disabled, they all have a passion for helping others and each agency has received funding from the Brookdale Foundation Group for a Dementia Respite Center or an Early Memory Care Program.

The Brookdale training served as a great kick off for Interfaith to start their new program, the Time for You Respite Center. Interfaith will have the center opened in early 2018 and will be located at the Family Worship Assembly in Black River Falls.

Family Worship Assembly has offered to house the program, which has been instrumental in the planning process.

Having such a convenient, accessible location has helped everything else fall into place and was one of the things that allowed us to receive the grant, Chown said.

We had the vision for the program, but the funding from the Brookdale Foundation was the first step in developing it. With the $10,000 grant we are able to hire a staff person, purchase some of the equipment needed and create the necessary training for our volunteers, Chown said.

Over the next few months, Interfaith will be working on adding volunteers to their team to meet the demands that the new program will create.

A volunteer training will be offered in the next few months and those interested should contact Interfaith to be added to the list of volunteers.

Volunteers will assist with daily activities such as bingo, arts and crafts, games and music activities. They can volunteer one day a month or one day a week depending on their availability.

There were many innovative program ideas that we can implement in our program. Many of the sessions discussed ways to integrate the arts into our program such as music, poetry and painting. One particular session, from Deborah Shouse, author of Connecting in the Land of Dementia shared ideas to engage the creative spirit so individuals can continue to experience meaningful moments, Chown said.

To participate in Interfaiths Time for You program, participants will complete an application form to determine the level of care necessary, and once approved they can attend the center one to two days a week, up to four hours a day. Activities will be based on the participants interests.

To keep the program affordable for all families, a minimal fee will be charged. Families are encouraged to sign up for the program now. If you are interested in learning more you can call Interfaith at 715-284-7058.
By Chris Kenning (Reuters) - The Iowa Supreme Court has maintained a block on a three-day waiting period for women seeking an abortion until a legal challenge concludes, a decision cheered by abortion-rights advocates. The provision was signed into law in May by former Republican Governor Terry Branstad, part of new regulations that also included a ban on most abortions after 20 weeks. The waiting period portion was challenged earlier this year by the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and Planned Parenthood. The Iowa state attorney general's office could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. The U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973 although states can limit and regulate abortions. U.S. state legislatures enacted 41 new abortion restrictions in the first half of 2017, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health group that supports abortion rights. Planned Parenthood on Tuesday praised the court's decision, issued on Monday, to keep in place a prior stay on the requirement that women wait 72 hours before having an abortion. "This ruling ensures that women in Iowa will have continued access to the health care they need throughout the course of this lawsuit," said Susan Allen, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. A lower court had earlier upheld the disputed provision of the law, noting that 27 states have implemented waiting periods for abortion, ranging from 18 to 72 hours, the Des Moines Register reported on Tuesday. In May, Planned Parenthood said it would shutter four of its 12 clinics in Iowa as a result of another Iowa measure that blocked public money for family planning services to abortion providers. (Reporting by Chris Kenning; editing by Grant McCool)
Arbil (Iraq) (AFP) - Iraqi Kurdish leaders offered Wednesday to freeze the outcome of last month's vote for independence, taking a step back in a major crisis after Baghdad delivered a body blow by seizing swathes of disputed territory.

The proposal came as world powers scrambled to avert any further escalation of the conflict between the key allies in the fight against the Islamic State group that has seen more than 30 combatants killed.

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi did not respond to the proposal during a visit to Ankara but once again slammed the Kurdish authorities for pushing on with the referendum "unilaterally and without any consideration for the rest of Iraq".

Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) force, whose mainly Iran-trained Shiite paramilitaries played a major role in the operation against the Kurds, said a freeze did not go far enough and demanded the outright annulment of the independence referendum.

Washington, Moscow and the United Nations have all pressed Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani to open talks with Baghdad on a way out of the crisis sparked by the fateful September 25 vote that he called.

The Kurdistan Regional Government, led by Barzani, said it would propose to the federal government "the freezing of the results of the referendum... and the start of an open dialogue" on the basis of the constitution.

It also called for "an immediate ceasefire and cessation of military operations in Kurdistan".

Since early last week, Iraqi federal troops and allied militia have retaken virtually all of the territory held by the Kurds outside their longstanding three-province autonomous region in the north.

There were clashes on Tuesday between government and Kurdish forces close to the frontier with Turkey as Baghdad made a push to reclaim control of key border crossings around the region.

- Vote must be annulled -

The Hashed al-Shaabi, which has taken a hard line in the dispute with the Kurds, demanded that they annul the independence vote as a precondition for any dialogue.

Story continues

"The Kurdish proposal is worthless because freezing the referendum means recognising it and the position of the Iraqi government is clear -- the referendum must be annulled," Hashed spokesman Ahmed al-Assadi told AFP.

The independence referendum deeply divided Iraqi Kurdish leaders and many commanders ordered their forces to pull back without resisting.

The loss of so much territory, including the major city of Kirkuk and lucrative oil fields, dealt a huge blow to Kurdish dreams of economic self-sufficiency and eventual independence.

"Today nobody is with us except for God," lamented Mohammed Ali, 59, a trader in the Kurdish capital Arbil.

Barzani's longtime political rival, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, had opposed the independence vote and backed a UN plan for negotiations on wider Kurdish autonomy.

The Iraqi constitution adopted during the US-led occupation of 2003-11 provides for plebiscites in the disputed areas on their possibile incorporation in the autonomous Kurdish region.

Washington has made clear that while it will not take sides in the conflict between its Iraq allies, it does not regard Baghdad's reoccupation of the disputed areas as a fait accompli.

"The reassertion of federal authority over disputed areas in no way changes their status -- they remain disputed until their status is resolved in accordance with the Iraqi constitution," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Friday.

- UN bids for talks -

The United Nations said on Tuesday that it stands ready to broker talks.

UN envoy Jan Kubis "expressed confidence that despite the recent tensions, Iraq will be able to ride this crisis".

"Both sides publicly expressed their willingness to engage in dialogue and negotiations on the basis of the Constitution. The UN is ready to assist, if requested," he said.

Abadi, whose domestic prestige has been sharply boosted by the return of the disputed territories to federal control, has been on a tour of regional countries which share his hostility to Kurdish moves towards secession.

He also held talks in Baghdad on Monday with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

During his visit to Turkey, which is fiercely opposed to Kurdish independence, he was expected to push his demand for the federal government to retake control of border crossings.

As Abadi was looking to press his advantage against the Kurds, Iran -- another neighbour opposed to the vote -- reopened one of its three border crossings with Kurdistan.

Iran closed the crossings in response to the referendum and, like other governments around the world, last month halted flights to Iraqi Kurdish airports at the request of the Baghdad government.
Jerusalem (AFP) - An Israeli parliamentarian who supports Jewish prayer at an ultra-sensitive Jerusalem holy site was permitted a one-off visit Wednesday despite a two-year ban for lawmakers.

Yehuda Glick of the ruling Likud party received special permission from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the Haram al-Sharif compound, known to Jews as Temple Mount, ahead of his son's wedding.

In a tweet, Glick warmly thanked Netanyahu, saying it was "a wonderful gift for my son's wedding, a very significant human gesture to me".

Glick, who was shot in 2014 over his campaign for Jewish prayer rights at the site prior to joining parliament, has petitioned the supreme court against Netanyahu's October 2015 decision to ban lawmakers from visiting the volatile complex.

The ban was meant to help calm unrest that erupted in part over Palestinian fears that Israel was planning to assert further control over the compound.

Located in the Old City of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, it houses the Al-Aqsa mosque complex and the Dome of the Rock.

Plans to allow a temporary lifting of the ban in July were put off after violence again erupted in and around the site. In August, Netanyahu lifted the ban for one day as a test.

The site is the holiest in Judaism and the third-holiest in Islam after Mecca and Medina.

It is central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A spokesman for Glick said the lawmaker was informed there was currently no change in the government's policy on forbidding MPs from visiting the site.
Bolgheri (Italy) (AFP) - Eating lunch in Italy's Bolgheri wine country, it is not hard to understand why the number of international visitors to this bucolic corner of Tuscany has doubled in five years.

"People have always come in the summer for the beaches," says Riccardo Binda, cutting into a succulently tender slice of Florentine steak,grilled over embers.

"Now we're getting visitors all year round. It's something new that has developed as the reputation of Bolgheri's wine has grown."

Binda is the general manager of the local consortium of winemakers in an area known for its production of high-quality Bordeaux-style reds.

Sourced from eighth generation master butcher Dario Cecchini and hung for 100 days, the T-bone he is eating is a popular choice.

On a sunny October afternoon, the Osteria Magona is packed and abuzz with the mingling murmurs of quiet foodie contentment and wine-fuelled chat in English, French, German and Japanese.

It's a scene to gladden the heart of Dario Franceschini, Italy's culture and tourism minister, as he prepares the accounts on what is expected to be a record year for tourism.

The sector accounts for around 10 percent of the country's GDP and has become a significant engine of growth for an economy emerging from years of stagnation.

A bumper summer season saw a 16 percent surge in the total number of visits to the country's long coastlines, with the number of overseas customers up a little more than five percent.

- World Wine Town -

But with just over 52 million foreign visitors in 2016, according to the UN's World Tourism Organization, Italy still lags behind its comparable neighbours France, with 82 million visitors last year, and Spain with 75 million.

The minister is also acutely aware that much of the recent growth in tourism can be attributed to terrorism-related security concerns that have diverted holidaymakers from Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey.

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Against that backdrop, authorities are looking to bolster year-round arrivals and target visitors in search of more than a sun tan.

Foreign directors have been brought in to revamp some of the country's major museums and art galleries, while a major upgrade of the Francigena pilgrim's route reflects an effort to draw in more hikers and cyclists.

But according to designer and entrepreneur Franco Malenotti, the country is not making the most of its celebrated wines and rich culinary heritage.

"Enogastronomic (food and wine) tourism is a big new trend," Malenotti told AFP, citing research that points to a major surge in Asian and Latin American foodies heading for Europe in the next few years.

"Italy should be in the avant-garde in this sector. But it's not. Why? Because we have done almost nothing to foster and promote it."

Malenotti's eclectic career has included designing Batman and other Hollywood costumes as well as owning the cult fashion label Belstaff.

His latest venture is a "World Wine Town", an accommodation and restaurant complex constructed around a recently opened museum dedicated to the story of Bolgheri's wines and designed by Oscar-winning cinema set designer Dante Ferretti.

- Airbnb boom -

With more than 1,000 wines on tap, Malenotti is banking on the complex drawing in people like German couple Susann and Rainer Schmidt.

"You want to taste and try the wines, but also to learn something," says Susann, glass in hand after a stroll round an exhibition in which holograms of famous winemakers such as Piero Antinori and Nicolo Incisa della Rocchetta recount their roles in making Bolgheri's reputation.

Malenotti was inspired by the example of Bordeaux's Cite du Vin.

"Whatever product you are selling, you need a back story. It is called storytelling and it is very important in marketing," he said.

"After coming here the majority of tourists go on to visit the wineries. In places like the Napa Valley (in the US), estates get more than half their sales from the cellar door, here in Bolgheri it is only five percent. That shows how much there is still to do."

As well as keeping restaurateurs busy, booming wine tourism has also impacted the local economy by creating a new demand for accommodation that the traditional hotel sector has yet to meet.

In Castagneto, the village closest to the museum, Malenotti estimates that three quarters of the properties are partly or fully available to rent on Airbnb-style platforms.

"It is a very disruptive trend, but not necessarily a bad one: the people really live in the area, buy stuff at the shop downstairs, eat out.

"And already there are service companies springing up offering to do the check-ins and check-outs, the cleaning and the laundry for these kind of rentals."

The wine town project will be completed over the next year with the opening of a school for sommeliers.

"I worked with Dante on many Hollywood films and I'd also seen the great success he had with his redesign of the Egyptian museum in Turin, which has doubled its visitor numbers and is now one of the most visited museums in all of Italy," said Malenotti.

"It is what people are looking for. Once vacations were about going to a disco, relaxing, having fun.

"Now culture and well-being are the things driving today's tourism. So Italy should really be leading the world."
Tokyo (AFP) - Japanese police have finally nabbed a nimble "ninja" thief who dressed in black and scrambled over walls to commit scores of break-ins over an eight-year career -- and were astonished to find he was 74.

Police in the western Japanese city of Osaka had been stumped by a string of burglaries, their only lead being security camera footage showing an agile thief with a black neck-warmer pulled up to the nose and a parker hood down to the eyebrows.

"He was dressed all in black just like a ninja," a senior official at the Kawachi police station told AFP.

But the master thief made a mistake in May -- his neck-warmer slipped and his identity was revealed on camera.

Police recognised their man as Mitsuaki Tanigawa, 74, who had a previous record of thefts.

They then started watching the aged crook and tried to trap him.

"Investigators watched him doddering out from his house like any other old man during daytime. He then went to an abandoned apartment room where he changed and waited until it got dark," the official said.

"When he came out in the dark, he was all in black... He did not take ordinary streets, squeezing through tight spaces between houses and running on the tops of walls," he added.

As investigators were unable to pursue the agile thief to catch him in the act, they finally pounced when he came back to his hideout at 4am after robbing an electronics store.

Under arrest, Tanigawa said he "hated working and thought stealing is quicker," according to the police official.

He has been charged for over 254 break-ins for thefts totalling 30 million yen ($260,000) over the past eight years.

He later told the police that he needed only 10 minutes to sneak into a house, stealing mainly cash from people as they slept.

"He's a pro. He told us 'I have confidence in my job'," the police official said.

"If I were younger, I wouldn't have been caught. I'll quit now as I'm 74 and old enough," the thief was quoted as saying.
WASHINGTON  It was supposed to be a day of unity, one where President Donald Trump and Republicans could circle the wagons and kick off their push for tax reform over lunch in the Senate.

Their day careened off the rails shortly after it began, however, as two GOP senators dealt successive blows to the president within hours of each other, sowing further uncertainty about the future of the Senate majority and the Republican Party at large.

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz) and his wife Cheryl Flake leave the U.S. Capitol after he announced he will not be seeking reelection. (Photo: Drew Angerer via Getty Images)

Retiring Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) fired the first shot in the early hours of the morning. Giving several cable news interviews, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman lamented that Trump would be remembered for the debasement of our nation. The senator further stated that he did not think Trump was a role model to children, and that he regretted supporting him during the 2016 presidential election.

Trump quickly fired back in a series of tweets, falsely accusing the Tennessee Republican of supporting the Iran nuclear deal and mocking him for retiring and that he couldnt get elected dog catcher.

Awkwardness at being in the same room aside, the two men did not speak at lunch, which took place shortly after noon. The discussion mostly centered on taxes and was positive, Corker told reporters afterward.

There were no fireworks, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said before jumping into an elevator.

The explosions came an hour later, however, after Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) walked onto the Senate floor and announced that he, too, would not be seeking reelection next year.

In a stunning takedown of Trump, Flake railed about the tone of politics in America and called the presidents behavior outrageous and dangerous to democracy. He again urged his many fellow Republicans to speak out against demagoguery and incivility in the Trump era.

I will not be complicit or silent, Flake said. When the next generation asks us, Why didnt you do something? Why didnt you speak up? What are we going to say?

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Speaking to reporters after delivering his remarks, Flake insisted he still wanted to work with Trump on several issues, like tax reform and passing a legislative fix to protect young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. (Hours after criticizing Trump, Flake also joined 49 of his colleagues to overturn a Barack Obama-regulation that would have allowed class-action lawsuits against big banks and credit card companies.)

Still, Flake acknowledged that a weight was lifted off his shoulders on Tuesday.

I certainly think that being unencumbered by a race coming up [makes] it easier to speak out, he told HuffPost after his speech.

Although Flake has been more outspoken about Trump than Corker  the Arizona Republican wrote a book earlier this year declaring conservatism in a crisis  both of their departures will likely make it even more difficult for Republicans to maintain unity after failing to come together to repeal Obamacare.

Flakes newfound freedom only adds to the pile of problems for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who controls a thin, two-seat majority. In addition to his feud with Trump, for example, Corker has sounded alarm bells by expressing his concern that the GOP tax plan could balloon the deficit.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who is battling brain cancer, has similarly ratcheted up his rhetoric about Trump. In another sharply worded speech last week, the Arizona Republican warned about the rise of nationalism.

A pending special Senate election in Alabama to replace the former seat of Attorney General Jeff Sessions could also deliver disappointing results. The favorite in the race, GOP nominee Roy Moore, is a controversial judge who has railed against swamp king McConnell and his allies in Washington. Moore has so far only picked up endorsements from the anti-establishment GOP wing in the Senate: Cruz, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), indicating he may vote as they do if he wins the seat.

Flakes decision to retire also signals a broader, coarser shift within the Republican Party. If that wasnt evident after Trumps election, it certainly was on Tuesday, when one of the GOPs most amiable and well-liked senators decided he had had enough.

If I could run the kind of race Id like to run, and believe I could win a Republican primary, I might move forward. Theres a very narrow path now as a Republican.

Resentment is not a governing philosophy, he added. At some point, youve got to have actual policies and not just rile up the base.

This post was updated to reflect that Flake joined his colleagues to overturn a regulation that would have allowed class-action lawsuits against big banks and credit card companies.

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The story of the Donald Trump presidency  of a politician repeatedly violating the norms of politics and basic civility, then getting away with it  played out in vivid form within the span of one remarkable hour on Tuesday afternoon.

It started on the Senate floor, with a speech by Arizona Republican Jeff Flake. Moments after announcing to a home-state newspaper that he would not seek reelection in 2018, Flake issued a blistering condemnation of Trumps behavior since taking office.

We must never adjust to the present coarseness of our national dialogue with the tone set up at the top, Flake said. We must never regard as normal the regular and casual undermining of our democratic norms and ideals, we must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country. The personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms and institution, the flagrant disregard for truth and decency.

A sitting senator attacking a sitting president from the same party, in such sweeping terms and in the formal setting of a floor speech  it was hard to think of anything remotely like it in recent memory. But Flake was not done. Having called out the president, he proceeded to call out his fellow Republicans for failing to speak out more forcefully, all but calling them enablers. Its time for our complicity and accommodation to the unacceptable to end, Flake said. Were the shoe on the other foot, would we Republicans meekly accept such behavior? Of course we wouldnt.

At Tuesday's briefing, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders defended President Trump by citing the poor poll numbers of his GOP critics. (Photo: SAUL LOEB via Getty Images)

Literally minutes after Flake was done, over at the White House, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders took the podium for her semi-regular briefing with reporters. Right away she got questions about the criticisms of Trump, which had come not just from Flake but also from Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who has also criticized Trump since announcing he wont be seeking reelection.

Relative to Flake, Corker has focused less on Trumps civility and more on his basic fitness for office, wondering aloud whether the president will start World War III and calling the White House an adult day care center. Like Flake, Corker has attacked Trump as a serial liar. The president has great difficulty with the truth, Corker deadpanned this morning.

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Sanders responded, though she didnt bother to refute the two senior and well-respected senators directly. She didnt claim that the president was actually more honest, less crass or better qualified to be president than Corker or Flake had suggested. Instead, Sanders pointed out several times that Corker and Flake had terrible poll numbers, suggesting they had lost the faith of their own supporters.

I think that the people both in Tennessee and Arizona supported this president, Sanders said. And I dont think that the numbers are in the favor of either of those two senators in their states.

It was probably a good move that Flake decided not to run again, Sanders said at another point, offering only a slightly nicer version of what Trump had tweeted about Corker earlier in the day, when the president said Corker couldnt get elected dog catcher.

This is pretty much how the past year has gone. In Trumpland, political might makes right.

Over and over again, Trump has told blatant, easily refutable lies about everything from health care policy to his ties with Russia. He has mused openly about nuclear first strikes, attacked Gold Star families and shown a shocking contempt for democratic norms  attacking the media, the FBI and the courts. He did it during the campaign, in the period before his inauguration and since then during his presidency.

And Trump has never stopped, because the consequences for his indiscretions have never been severe enough. Trumps behavior didnt cost him the presidential election and, at least so far, it hasnt cost him the loyalty of his party in Congress, either. Plenty of Republicans say privately what Corker and Flake say publicly. But GOP members of Congress continue to support him almost without exception. More importantly, they continue to take actions that help him politically  whether its by burying investigations of his potential misconduct or voting in ways that advance his priorities.

At this point, the most predictable part of any outrageous act or statement by Trump is the ensuing press conference by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), in which the speaker will dismiss whatever Trump has said or done with a joke  or by pretending not to have heard about it  and then shift the conversation to the importance of some legislative priority. In fact, it happened that way on Tuesday, after Trumps latest Twitter attack on Corker. I know Bob, who supported the budget, wants to get tax reform, Ryan said, and I know the president wants to get tax reform.

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has perfected the art of managing not to notice what Trump has said or done. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images)

That may be the explanation for GOP behavior right there: that Republicans are so committed to their agenda that they will tolerate a potentially unstable and dangerous president in order to enact it. Or Republicans may simply fear the wrath of Trump, figuring they are one errant tweet away from facing primary challengers who, with the help of former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, will end their political careers.

Thats undoubtedly a big part of the story with both Corker and Flake. Both were looking at serious primary challenges from the Breitbart wing of the Republican Party. And both stood a good chance of losing, according to the polls, just as Huckabee Sanders said. If their prospects of reelection were stronger, they might not be committing such heresies now (although Flake, to his credit, has been speaking out for a while).

Still, Republicans in Congress have the power to make a difference if they choose to. Its happened before, most memorably on repeal of Obamacare, when three Republican senators voted against a bill Trump desperately wanted to pass.

There will be more such opportunities in the future. Dissident Republicans could vote against the Republican tax cut, which will almost certainly violate repeated GOP pledges not to raise the deficit. They could insist upon disclosure of Trumps tax returns or more aggressive investigations of Trumps Russia connections. And in the Senate, where the GOP has only a 52-seat majority, a handful could even form an independent block that would remain committed to their conservative principles but operate as a check on Trumps power. It would take only three to make a difference, though its easy to think of a half-dozen who would be obvious candidates to join.

The possibility of an independent GOP caucus hasnt gotten serious attention, but Republicans truly worried about Trump would be foolish not to think about it. Trump isnt going to change his behavior until somebody makes him. And at least for now, that somebody would have to be the Republicans in Congress.

Tuesdays statements by Corker and Flake are a meaningful start, regardless of what steps they have or havent taken before. But to really have an impact, they will have to do more than give speeches. They will have to cast votes that live up to their rhetoric. And they will need some of their colleagues to do the same.

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Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) on Wednesday continued speaking out against President Donald Trump, saying his reasons for not seeking re-election include not wanting to cozy up to the president.

The bottom line is that if I were to run a campaign that I could be proud of and where I didnt have to cozy up to the president and his positions or his behavior, I could not win in a Republican primary, Flake said during an appearance on MSNBCs Morning Joe.

You cant question [Trumps] behavior and still be a Republican in good standing, apparently, Flake continued. So, you know, in poll after poll, youll see that majority of Republican primary voters ... are firmly behind the presidents policies. ... They take any criticism of the president as somehow something thats not conservative  and thats whats got to change.

Flake, an outspoken critic of Trump in recent months, announced Tuesday that his service in the Senate would conclude when his term ends in January 2019. During an evocative speech on the Senate floor, he stopped just short of saying he felt hed lose a re-election race.

WATCH: "Reckless, outrageous, and undignified behavior has become excused and countenanced as 'telling it like it is.'" @JeffFlake on POTUS pic.twitter.com/sS67CqIBWC  TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 25, 2017

I have decided that I will be better able to represent the people of Arizona and to better serve my country and my conscience by freeing myself from the political considerations that consume far too much bandwidth and would cause me to compromise far too many principles, Flake said during the speech.

It is clear at this moment that a traditional conservative who believes in limited government and free markets, who is devoted to free trade, and who is pro-immigration, has a narrower and narrower path to nomination in the Republican Party, he added.

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Flake is one of a few Republican lawmakers to speak out against Trumps behavior, condemning the presidents flagrant disregard for truth and decency. Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who also announced recently that he would not seek re-election, said Tuesday that Trumps legacy would be the debasement of our nation.

Flake said Wednesday that he felt many of his fellow GOP lawmakers shared concerns over the presidents leadership. He said he expects more Republicans will push back against the new normal of Trumps brand of politics.

A lot of my colleagues have spoken out and I think a lot more will, Flake said during an interview on ABCs Good Morning America Wednesday. The longer we wait, the more we basically normalize this kind of behavior, these kind of politics. And we cant do that. We just cant.

"The longer we wait, the more we basically normalize this kind of behavior... we can't do that." - Sen. Flake on President Trump pic.twitter.com/2vmWw2DNmi  Good Morning America (@GMA) October 25, 2017

Minutes later, Trump fired back against Flake on Twitter, claiming his lunch with Republican lawmakers Tuesday was a love fest.

The reason Flake and Corker dropped out of the Senate race is very simple, they had zero chance of being elected. Now act so hurt & wounded!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2017

The meeting with Republican Senators yesterday, outside of Flake and Corker, was a love fest with standing ovations and great ideas for USA!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2017

Jeff Flake, with an 18% approval rating in Arizona, said "a lot of my colleagues have spoken out." Really, they just gave me a standing O!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2017

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Former Vice President Joe Biden opened up about the immense grief hes experienced since the loss of his son Joseph Robinette Biden III, better known as Beau, in an interview with Vanity Fair published on Wednesday.

Biden unpacks the loss of 46-year-old Beau from brain cancer on May 30, 2015, in his forthcoming book, Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose. He spoke with Vanity Fair about the loss, his good friend former President Barack Obama, and the possibility of an upcoming presidential campaign.

(Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

On Beau:

Not even five minutes into the interview, writer David Kamp says, Bidens eyes suddenly flashed and reddened, as if he was seeing something in his mind that he didnt like seeing, and he bowed his head for a moment at the mere mention of his son.

Biden noted that his grieving was harder the second year than the first, that it lasted longer for me than the first time, the first time being when he lost his first wife and daughter Naomi in a car crash in 1972:

Anybody I know whos gone through serious tragedy, the first year, there are so many people around you, propping you up. But after a year, your family, your close friends  I mean, its normal, theyve got to get back to their lives. But then the reality of it sets in, in a profound way.

Biden describes Beau in his book, to be published next month, as a man who had all the best of me, but with the bugs and flaws engineered out and notes his sons repeated insistence that he seek the presidency.

At one point he said it was my obligation to run, my duty, Biden writes in a book excerpt included in the interview. Duty was a word Beau Biden did not use lightly.

Biden told Kamp that he was genuinely invested in running for president because itd be a play on words to say it would have killed him, but it would have bothered Beau a great deal if Id not run because of him.

On Barack:

Kamp notes that Biden refers to the former president as Barack in his book and tells a brief anecdote that solidifies notions people may have had about the mens friendship:

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One of the few people outside the family privy to the severity of Beaus condition, Obama served as Bidens confidant and grief counselor, and even made an offer (never taken up) to assist the family out of his own pocket if the going got tough for them financially during Beaus ordeal. Biden has never been a wealthy man; he is that rare creature in Washington who earned his living from a government salary the whole time he served, for 36 years as a senator and 8 years as vice president.

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM via Getty Images)

On writing the book:

Bidens Promise Me, Dad is a 250-page tribute to Beau with a title that stems from the sons insistence that his father pledge that no matter what happens, youll be all right. Considering Bidens illustrious political career, Kamp asked why he wrote this type of book. Biden said he hopes to help others dealing with immeasurable grief understand that one of the ways to get through tragedy is to find purpose.

He added: Ive got too much more to do to write an autobiography. For real. I dont consider my attempt to contribute to the public square finished.

On the whole will-he-or-wont-he run for president thing:

Again, Biden gave no clear-cut response, telling Kamp: I havent decided to run, but Ive decided Im not going to decide not to run.

Also on HuffPost

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Biden gives a thumbs-up after landing at Southwest Florida International Airport on Sept. 28, 2012.

Biden and Mongolian Prime Minister Sukhbaatar Batbold try out archery in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia, on Aug. 22, 2011.

Biden and granddaughter Finnegan Biden tour the Dachau concentration camp with Max Mannheimer, a 95-year-old Holocaust survivor, in Dachau, Germany, on Feb. 8, 2015.

Biden chats with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Feb. 1, 2013.

Biden tours the Decani Monastery with Serbian Orthodox Monk Father Sava, left, on May 21, 2009, in Decani, Kosovo.

Biden marches arm in arm with Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) and civil rights legend and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) across the Edmund Pettus Bridge during the 48th annual Bridge Crossing Ceremony in Selma, Alabama on March 3, 2013.

Biden smiles and waves as his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, introduces him at an event in Lynchburg, Virginia, on Oct. 27, 2012.



Biden takes a selfie with students, following an Its On Us event at the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois, on April 23, 2015.

Biden, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, left, and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell walk down the stairs underneath the Gateway Arch, at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 13, 2014.

Biden is handed a baby as he works a rope line after speaking at an event in Ocala, Florida, on Oct. 31, 2012.

Biden throws a football from the top of the stairs before boarding Air Force Two at Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh, on July 1, 2009.

This photo taken on July 2, 2009, shows Biden's airstream trailer loaded onto a military C-17 cargo plane.

Biden jogs up the stairs to Air Force Two at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, in St. Louis, Missouri, on Aug. 20, 2010.

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Sen. John McCain praised Jeff Flake, his fellow Republican Senator from Arizona, after he announced that he would not seek re-election in the coming midterms.

Its been one of the great honors of my life to have the opportunity to serve with a man of integrity, and honor, and decency, and commitment to not only Arizona, but the United States of America, McCain said of the 54-year-old senator on Tuesday.

I have seen Jeff Flake stand up for what he believes in, knowing full well there would be a political price to pay, McCain added.

Sen. John McCain: "I have seen Jeff Flake stand up for what he believes in, knowing full well there would be a political price to pay." pic.twitter.com/2tAziJJpvO  NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) October 24, 2017

Flake has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump despite their shared party. Recent polls conducted by both Republican and Democratic groups in Arizona show Flake is at risk of badly losing the states primary next August, according to CNN.

If I have been critical, its not because I relish criticizing the behavior of the President of the United States, Flake said during his retirement speech on the Senate floor Tuesday. If I have been critical, it is because I believe that it is my obligation to do so, as a matter of duty and conscience.

The notion that one should stay silent as the norms and values that keep America strong are undermined and as the alliances and agreements that ensure the stability of the entire world are routinely threatened by the level of thought that goes into 140 characters  the notion that one should say and do nothing in the face of such mercurial behavior is ahistoric and, I believe, profoundly misguided, Flake added.

Flake joins Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, another outspoken Republican critic of Trump who wont seek re-election in 2018.
The plans have been in the works for what feels like a long time to some, but on Tuesday it was made official as the new Kwik Trip on Hwy. A in Black River Falls held its official ribbon cutting ceremony.

Whether it was the excitement of a new store or just the need for groceries and gas there was a lot of foot traffic moving in and out of the new store.

The new store employs about 30-40 people in Jackson County.

I wanted to thank Kwik Trip for breathing life into this side of town, Black River Falls city administrator Brad Chown said.

The hope for city officials is that the new business will attract other businesses to that side of town.

Company officials stressed how important their work with the community is and made two donations at the ribbon cutting.

Both Friends Sharing Food and the Boys and Girls Club of Black River Falls received $1,000 donations from Kwik Trip during the event.

Jon Warmke of Friends Sharing Food said, Not only does this help our food pantries, but also our relationship with Rescue Foods.

This is definitely going to help us continue to do what we do every day, Diane Moen-Ross, center director for the Boys and Girls Club, said.

County chairman Ray Ransom also commented how important it is to have new business coming into the county.

This is truly a family-owned company and an employee-based company, you can see it when you walk in the door, Ransom said.

The location just off Interstate 94 at the intersection of Hwy. 54 and Hwy. A will make the Kwik Trip one of the first things people see when they come into Black River Falls from that side of town.

What a great thing to see when you come into the city, Chown said.
Earlier this month, reports surfaced that classified NSA documents detailing how US agencies defend their cyber networks and how they breach foreign ones were stolen by Russian hackers in 2015. Those reports noted that the files were spotted through Kaspersky security software used by an NSA contractor who had saved the classified documents on a home computer. Well, Kaspersky has now provided some more information about the incident and it has acknowledged that it did in fact have classified NSA materials in its possession, the Associated Press reports.

The company's founder, Eugene Kaspersky, said that in 2014, Kaspersky analysts informed him that their software had plucked some classified files from an NSA contractor's computer. Kaspersky said it was immediately clear what needed to be done -- the materials had to be deleted. And so they were. However, whether the files in question were obtained purposefully or as a result of normal functions of the security software is still up in the air.

As Kaspersky tells it, the company was already tracking a team of hackers called the Equation Group, which was later revealed to be part of the NSA. The NSA contractor that exposed the files had run Kaspersky software on his computer after infecting it with a bootleg copy of Microsoft Office and while the software cleaned up the viruses, it was also triggered by the Equation Group materials stored on the contractor's computer. Those were then sent to Kaspersky headquarters for evaluation and as soon as analysts saw that the files were classified NSA documents, they alerted Eugene Kaspersky and subsequently deleted the files.

Releasing this information is part of Kaspersky Lab's recent push towards transparency as mistrust in the US has mounted over the past few months. Best Buy pulled Kaspersky software from its shelves last month and the US government banned the software in all federal agencies. Earlier this year, the FBI was reportedly discouraging private companies from using Kaspersky products, which have been a focus in government investigations of late and an interest of both the Senate and House of Representatives. Earlier this week, in order to regain some trust, Kaspersky announced that it would allow its source code to be reviewed by third parties and would open three "transparency centers" around the world.

Jake Williams, a cybersecurity expert and former NSA analyst, told the AP that because Kaspersky was trying to woo US government clients at the time, it made sense that it would have chosen to delete the files. "It makes sense that they pulled those up and looked at the classification marking and then deleted them," he said. "I can see where it's so toxic you may not want it on your systems." However, he added the fact that an NSA employee put classified material on an already compromised home computer was "absolutely wild."
By Duncan Miriri NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenyan authorities will arrest and charge the sister of opposition leader Raila Odinga with incitement to violence after attacks on the election board, the chief prosecutor's office said on Monday. Odinga has pulled out of the re-run of an election he was due to contest on Thursday against President Uhuru Kenyatta, saying problems with the election board meant the vote would not be fair. He has called for protests and a boycott and on Sunday said on Twitter there would be "no election". "We resume our picketing at IEBC (election board) offices countrywide on Tuesday and Wednesday. We maintain that there will be no election on Thursday," he said, without giving details. Kenya is East Africa's richest economy and a trade and transport gateway as well as a hub for diplomacy and security, so its stability is considered vital for the region. Odinga's supporters disrupted a training session for election officials last week in the western city of Kisumu, which is his political stronghold. They attacked election staff and destroyed tents and polling material, witnesses said. Ruth Odinga, who is the opposition leader's sister and a former deputy governor of Kisumu county, was present at the protest, according to Reuters witnesses. Prosecutors instructed police to arrest her, opposition Senator Fred Outa and others. She will be charged with incitement, destruction of property, obstructing election officers and trespassing in an electoral centre, according to a letter that the director of public prosecution's office posted online. "The suspects should immediately be charged," the letter said. Neither Ruth Odinga nor Outa could immediately be contacted for comment. The arrests could anger Odinga's supporters and escalate tension over an election season that has divided the country and led to the deaths of at least 37 people since the first election was held on Aug. 8 including four in the last two weeks. Odinga says the election board had made insufficient reforms to prevent a repeat of the same mistakes that marred the previous presidential polls on Aug. 8. Kenyatta won that election but the Supreme Court last nullified the result, saying there had been procedural irregularities and a repeat must be held. The election board and Kenyatta say the poll will be held regardless of whether Odinga participates. (additional reporting by George Obulutsa; editing by Katharine Houreld and Matthew Mpoke Bigg)
By John Ndiso NAIROBI (Reuters) - Official results from Kenya's repeat presidential election on Thursday are likely to take several days to collate, election officials told Reuters, due to changes in the process to try to make it more transparent. The Supreme Court on Sept. 1 ordered a repeat of the election after judges annulled the results of an Aug. 8 poll, pitting incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta against opposition leader Raila Odinga, due to procedural irregularities. Official results said Kenyatta won on Aug. 8 by 1.4 million votes, but Odinga said the vote was rigged. Odinga has refused to participate in Thursday's rerun because he said election officials have not carried out sufficient reforms. Judges criticized the election board for rushing to announce the official results based only on numbers sent from the polling stations, without having the tally forms from all 40,883 polling stations showing the results. The paper forms are a back-up system meant to help prevent rigging. The board has up to a week to announce official results. This time, polling stations will only transmit scanned images of tally forms from polling stations, not numerical results, Andrew Limo, spokesman for the election commission, said on Tuesday. The scanned images will be posted online. The election board will collate and publish results by constituency once all polling stations there have reported. This could take several days in rural constituencies with poor phone networks and far-flung polling stations. There are 290 constituencies. Without Odinga running, Kenyatta is the firm favorite to win. The other six candidates failed to poll more than 1 percent in the August polls; one has since been disqualified for bankruptcy. Odinga has urged supporters to boycott the ballot and opposition leaders have called for protests on the day of the elections. "The key thing to watch in this election will be turnout," said Murithi Mutiga, a senior regional analyst for the International Crisis Group, a global thinktank. "This will really be a referendum on the legitimacy of Kenyatta's second term." Just over 79 percent of Kenya's 19.6 million registered voters cast a ballot in the last poll. (Additional reporting and writing by Katharine Houreld; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
By George Obulutsa and Katharine Houreld NAIROBI (Reuters) - Opposition leader Raila Odinga urged Kenyans to boycott Thursday's repeat presidential election, saying he would lead a campaign of civil disobedience. Odinga spoke shortly after the Supreme Court said it was unable to consider a last-minute appeal to delay the vote after five out of seven judges failed to turn up. The repeat election was ordered by the Supreme Court on Sept. 1 after judges nullified the results of the Aug. 8 presidential contest on procedural grounds. The election commission had said Odinga lost to President Uhuru Kenyatta by 1.4 million votes. Odinga is refusing to participate in Thursday's contest because he says the election commission has failed to implement reforms to prevent it being, once again, marred by irregularities. "We advise Kenyans who value democracy and justice to hold vigil and prayers away from polling stations, or just stay at home," he told a cheering crowd in Nairobi's Uhuru Park, backing away from previous promise to call large-scale protests. "Convince your friends, neighbors and everyone else not to participate," he said in English. If they support the president, he cautioned: "do not insult or assault them. Instead, seek to open their eyes." But several speakers who preceded him gave speeches in KiSwahili calling on opposition supporters not to allow people to vote. With the Supreme Court unable to hear petitions to delay the vote, election officials said it would go ahead, regardless of Odinga's decision. The head of the national election board, Wafula Chebukati, said the vote would proceed even if some polling stations were unable to open. "In cases where there will be problems (delivering materials) ... the polling officer will have the right to inform us and polling can be suspended to another day." Seeking to explain the Supreme Court's absences, Chief Justice David Maraga said one judge was unwell, another was abroad and another was unable to attend after her bodyguard was shot and wounded on Tuesday night. It was unclear why the others did not show up. Turmoil ahead of the election prompted the U.S. State Department to issue a statement saying it was "deeply concerned" by efforts by both parties to undermine the independence of the electoral commission. It condemned the attack on the deputy chief justice's bodyguard and urged Kenyans to reject violence. "ENTITLED TO REBEL" Minutes after Maraga's remarks on live television, hundreds of supporters took to the streets of Kisumu, Odinga's main stronghold. Riot police used teargas to disperse them. Two protesters received gunshot wounds, a Reuters witness said. "If the government subverts the sovereign will of the people ... then people are entitled to rebel against this government," Kisumu governor Anyang Nyong'o, a hardline Odinga supporter, told reporters. Such comments seem certain to fuel fears of a major confrontation with security forces, already blamed for killing nearly 50 people in Kisumu and Nairobi slums after the canceled August vote. Months of political uncertainty have blunted growth in Kenya, East Africa's biggest economy and a key Western ally valued for its relative freedom and stability in a tumultuous region. Kenyatta is keen for the poll to proceed to cement his rule. "Many wonder when or if ever all this politicking will end," he said in a televised speech on Wednesday evening. "I call to each and every one of us to turn out once again and vote." For some citizens, the instability has rekindled memories of large-scale ethnic violence that killed 1,200 people following a disputed election in 2007. Meanwhile, in anticipation of possible violence ahead of the elections on Thursday, shoppers crammed into Nairobi's upmarket Carrefour supermarket to stock up on food, said Jason Straziuso, who had to wait nearly two hours to pay for his groceries. "There was about 40 carts per register, everyone was jockeying for position trying to find the shortest line," he said. "Every single cart was as full as it could be." Single mother Marian Elema said she had paid double the usual bus fare for to take her five children to her home town Isiolo, in central Kenya, because she feared violence would break out in the port city of Mombasa where they live. "I decided to travel home to escape possible clashes between opposition supporters and police," she told Reuters. "I am not here to vote but for the safety of my children." CHALLENGES BREWING In Kisumu's tallying center, election officer John Ngutai sat huddled with a handful of other officials, waiting for missing election material and hundreds of absent colleagues. He said attacks by opposition supporters last week meant the election board had only managed to train 250 out of 1,300 staff needed to hold the election in his constituency. "Our trainings were disrupted and officials attacked, so some people withdrew," he said. Even if the election goes ahead, the opposition might still challenge the result in the Supreme Court. Judges said they were prepared to annul the re-run, and send the country of 45 million back to square one, if the election does not meet the required standards. In a ruling early on Wednesday, High Court Judge George Odunga said some local election officials had been appointed in an irregular manner, but to withdraw them at the last minute would only make an already dire situation worse. "For the elections to proceed in the absence of the said officers would in my view be a constitutional crisis of unimaginable magnitude. Simply put, it would be a recipe for chaos." However, he admitted that not dismissing them could form the grounds for legal challenges afterwards. Opposition lawyers seeking to challenge Thursday's vote might also cite the failure of the election board to hold elections in all parts of the country, if enough polling stations are unable to open. The constitution does not stipulate a minimum turnout, but says the election should be held at the same time in all parts of the country. (Additional reporting by Maggie Fick, David Lewis and John Ndiso in Nairobi, Noor Ali in Isiolo and Baz Ratner in Kisumu; Writing by Ed Cropley; Editing by Richard Balmforth, Robin Pomeroy and Diane Craft)
Nairobi (AFP) - Kenyan opposition chief Raila Odinga urged his supporters to stay at home on Thursday as the country forges ahead with a disputed presidential poll that could threaten the stability of the east African powerhouse.

In a move likely to ease fears of election-day violence, Odinga on Wednesday called on followers to "hold vigils and prayers away from polling stations or just stay at home".

The election is the chaotic climax of a two-months political drama that began when the Supreme Court overturned the victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta in the August 8 elections.

It cited "irregularities" and mismanagement by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The repeat election is going ahead after clearing myriad legal and political hurdles, but anxiety remains high over the unpredictable consequences of a vote that will take place without Odinga.

Opposition protests have resulted in at least 40 people being killed, mostly at the hands of police and in poor opposition strongholds, according to rights groups.

Odinga said supporters should stay away for the "bloodthirsty regime is planning to use every excuse to massacre our people."

In Odinga's western stronghold of Kisumu, one protester was shot in the hip on Wednesday, according to an AFP photographer, as demonstrators engaged in running battles with police.

Protester Gordon Oyeke vowed to stay at home for the election.

"We don't want elections, we will stay at home. Why fight for something we don't want and risk getting hit by bullets by the criminal police," he told AFP.

Kenyatta called for peace on election day, and said this chance for a fresh election would help the country cement its democracy.

"Tomorrow (Thursday) we have yet another opportunity to show the world that we are a free, modern state preoccupied by striving for unity, shared progress, peace and shared prosperity," he said in a televised address.

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- Final legal hurdle fails -

Election chief Wafula Chebukati -- who said last week he could not guarantee a credible election -- appeared to soften his stance on Wednesday after "assurances" from security officials and authorities and "progress" within his divided commission.

"The election as scheduled will go ahead tomorrow, the 26th of October," he said.

The final legal hurdle came in the form of a last-minute Supreme Court petition to delay the election.

But the hearing was unable to go ahead after only two of seven judges showed up in court. At least five judges are needed to form a quorum.

Chief Justice David Maraga said one judge was ill and out of the country, one could not get a flight to Nairobi and two were "not able to come to court," he said.

And his deputy, Philomena Mwilu, did not attend because her bodyguard was shot and seriously wounded on Tuesday evening.

She was not in her car at the time but the incident fuelled anxiety in a country still reeling from the torture and murder of a top official overseeing Kenya's electronic voting system just a week before the August poll.

The vote has also been plagued by opposition attacks on polling officials and a general atmosphere of intimidation.

Chebukati said last week one of his staff members' house had been burned down, saying when "midwifing democracy... becomes as risky as going to war, then we are at our lowest".

Outspoken opposition senator James Orengo said the failure to raise a quorum was "not by coincidence or by accident."

- 'Campaign of defiance' -

The ballot was meant to pit Kenyatta, who turns 56 on Thursday, against 72-year-old Odinga for the third time, in a dynastic political rivalry that began with their fathers after the country gained independence from Britain.

But while Odinga secured a rare victory in having the August ballot overturned, he has refused to take part in the re-run.

The withdrawal assures a triumph for Kenyatta, although analysts say the flawed image of the election will tarnish his victory.

Odinga accuses the IEBC of failing to make sufficient reforms to ensure the vote would be free, fair and credible.

The veteran opposition leader, who has lost three previous elections claiming fraud in two of them, said his National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition would transform into "a resistance movement."

NASA will "embark on a national campaign of defiance of illegitimate governmental authority and non-cooperation with all its organs," he declared.

- Observers limit missions -

Weeks of uncertainty have hit east Africa's richest economy hard.

"It's very disturbing, everything is at a standstill. We have to wait for this election to pass to go back to our daily normal routines," said voter Edward Irungu, 31.

Ahuya Achieng, 35, a travel consultant, said: "We are very tired, people say Kenya should move on, but where to?"

The crisis is the worst since a disputed 2007 election sparked months of politically-motivated ethnic violence that left 1,100 dead.

Citing extreme tensions, an uncertain political environment and lack of a fully competitive election, missions from the European Union and the Carter Centre have decided to limit their observation of the vote.
Iraqi forces gather in the area of Taza Khurmata on the southern outskirts of Kirkuk on October 15 - AFP

The Kurdistan Regional Government has offered to suspend its drive for independence in return for a promise from Iraq to halt its military activity, which has seen it seize huge swathes of territory in recent days.

The KRG said it was prepared to "freeze" the results of its September referendum and proposed a ceasefire to prevent further violence, which has so far seen scores killed and tens of thousands displaced.

As Iraq and Kurdistan are faced with grave and dangerous circumstances, we are all obliged to act responsibly in order to prevent further violence and clashes between Iraqi and Peshmerga forces, the KRGs statement said.

They called for dialogue with Baghdad in the hope of easing escalating tensions.

At a glance | The four Kurdistans

The KRG made the offer as Iraqi forces looked on Tuesday to be moving in on its border with Turkey, which is currently in Kurdish hands. Its loss to Baghdad would be devastating for Kurdistans autonomy and economic independence.

The offer to suspend the result of the referendum on secession - which won the support of 93 per cent of voters - is a humiliating blow for Kurdistans President Masoud Barzani, who defied international pressure to hold the vote.

Iraq's Kurds were last month celebrating their symbolic victory as a historic step toward their decades-old dream of statehood.

But by last week they had lost almost all the territory they had gained from Iraqi forces in recent years which lay outside their long-standing three-province autonomous region in the north.

Iraqi Kurdish President Masoud Barzani salutes the crowd while attending a rally to show their support for the September independence referendum in Duhuk Credit: Reuters

The forces were met with little resistance by their Peshmerga fighters, who withdrew without putting up a fight.

There was no immediate reaction from Baghdad to Wednesdays offer but the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) force, whose mainly Iran-trained Shia paramilitaries played a major role in the operation against the Kurds, said a freeze did not go far enough.

Supporters wave Kurdish flags in Erbil stadium as they wait to hear Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani address crowds ahead of a September referendum on independence Credit: Getty

One Iraqi MP told the Telegraph Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi may demand the outright annulment of the vote before talks could take place.

The United Nations said that it stands ready to broker talks. Jan Kubis, UN envoy, "expressed confidence that despite the recent tensions, Iraq will be able to ride this crisis".

"Both sides publicly expressed their willingness to engage in dialogue and negotiations on the basis of the Constitution. The UN is ready to assist, if requested," he said.
(Photo: royaltystockphoto via Getty Images)

At least 12 people have been hospitalized in Flushing, Queens, with the potentially fatal Legionnaires disease, the New York City Health Department announced on Tuesday.

The disease, which is spread by waterborne bacteria, is treatable by antibiotics, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one out of every 10 people who contract the illness will die of complications from it.

Typically, New York City sees between 200 and 400 cases of Legionnaires disease per year, so the dozen cases do not amount to an outbreak, according to Julien Martinez, assistant press secretary at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Weve had these kind of cluster investigations before, so its not anything unusual, he told HuffPost Wednesday.

Patients ranged in age from the early 30s to the late 80s. Seven people have already been released, and the five remaining hospitalized patients are expected to recover, Martinez said.

Two more cases are being investigated as potentially part of the cluster, the city said.

Legionnaires disease is not transmittable from person to person, but is instead spread through water contaminated with Legionella, the bacteria behind the disease.

A person acquires Legionnaires disease from mist, Martinez said over email on Tuesday. Most cases of Legionnaires disease can be traced to plumbing systems where conditions are favorable for Legionella growth, such as cooling towers, whirlpool spas, hot tubs, humidifiers, hot water tanks, and evaporative condensers of large air-conditioning systems.

The health department is urging Flushing residents exhibiting flu or pneumonia-like respiratory symptoms of the disease  fever, cough, chills and muscle aches  to seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms appear two to 10 days after exposure.

As with our previous Legionnaires disease investigations, we are in the process of investigating the source of the cluster and are working with building owners in the area to rapidly test and clean cooling towers, Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said in the citys press release.

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Health Department representatives handed out flyers and answered questions at subway stations and senior centers Tuesday night and plan to do so again Wednesday night during rush hour, Martinez said.

According to the CDC, about 6,000 cases of Legionnaires disease were reported in 2015. There is usually an uptick in the summer and early fall.

Middle-aged and older people are most susceptible to the disease, especially those with chronic lung disease, weakened immune systems or who are cigarette smokers.

Were taking every precaution to make sure people dont get sick and theyre aware, Martinez said.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Laurene Powell Jobs will no longer be funding Leon Wieseltier's new project. (Photo: Steve Jennings/Getty Images)

Laurene Powell Jobs has pulled out of her partnership with Leon Wieseltier for his new publication, leaving the former literary editor at The New Republic without his major financial backer.

Upon receiving information related to past inappropriate workplace conduct, Emerson Collective ended its business relationship with Leon Wieseltier, including a journal planned for publication under his editorial direction, Emerson Collective said in a statement to HuffPost. The production and distribution of the journal has been suspended.

For my offenses against some of my colleagues in the past I offer a shaken apology and ask for their forgiveness, Wieseltier said in a statement to Politico, which first reported the news. The women with whom I worked are smart and good people. I am ashamed to know that I made any of them feel demeaned and disrespected. I assure them that I will not waste this reckoning.

And I am profoundly sorry to my extraordinary collaborators at the journal we began together that the misdeeds of my past have made it impossible to go forward, he continued. My gratitude to them is boundless.

Wieseltier did not offer specific details, but his announcement came after several female journalists who previously worked at The New Republic began anonymously sharing stories over email about past behavior by Wieseltier that had made them feel uncomfortable.

Public plans for Wieseltiers new journal were vague, but New York magazine reported that it planned to discuss the effects of technology on our lives and think critically about it, among other things.

Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, was friends with Wieseltier  which makes her withdrawal all the more notable. Wieseltier helped Jobs and her organization, Emerson Collective, become more interested in investing in journalistic publications. She also recently struck a deal for a majority stake in The Atlantic.

It was a friend of many of us here, Leon Wieseltier, who first put me onto the possibility that Laurene might come to love The Atlantic as I have, Atlantic Media Chairman David Bradley wrote in a memo to staff in July. For its part, Emerson Collective had begun to invest in serious journalism for its own sake. And, as to Laurene personally, Leon said, If she were to take an interest in The Atlantic, it would be for all the right reasons.

Story continues

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The American Red Cross is hosting blood drives in La Crosse in the coming weeks. Donors of all blood types are needed. Donors must be 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and provide a drivers license or two other forms of identification. Advance appointments can be made by downloading the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-733-2767.
SOLDIERS GROVE  Winners of awards have been announced for this years 13th annual Driftless Area Art Festival, which attracted about 5,600 art lovers from 21 states and 255 zip codes, and enabled the 78 artists exhibiting their work to sell more than $140,000 worth of art.

The 2017 Best of Show Award went to Raymond Bock, a woodworker who has lived for the past 25 years on a farm near Viroqua. Formerly of Chicago, Bock has focused on designing and making custom furniture.

The Peoples Choice Award went for a second year in a row to Ken and Michelle Workowski of Viola. They create home furnishings from natural materials such as wood and bark.

The first of two Merit Awards went to Kathleen Aaker of La Crosse. She is known for her contemporary handwoven wearables, woven with linen and wool mixed with silks or Tencel.

A second Merit Award went to Joe Schwarte of Gays Mills. A Chicago native, he designed his first piece of furniture in 1967 while in the Army. He creates furniture that is functional, beautiful and sculptural.

The Teen Art Gallery also awarded ribbons and prizes. Lane Buchner, a junior at De Soto High School, won a first-place ribbon and a $75 prize for her acrylic piece Art Evolution.

A second-place ribbon and $50 went to Abbie Pickett, a junior at North Crawford High School, for her acrylic painting Lichtenstein Portrait.

Jacob Kindrai, a sophomore at Lancaster High School, won third-place honors and a $25 prize for his horsehair ceramic vase titled Serendipity.

Three blue ribbon winners were selected from more than 350 pieces from 13 area schools, exhibited in the KidsArt Gallery. Winners were third-grader Vincent Ubersox of Winskill Elementary in Lancaster for his chalk pastel piece Chalkman; sixth-grader Autumn Jacks of Kickapoo Middle School in Viola for her acrylic painting Night and Day; and seventh-grader Emma Krings of Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School in Viroqua for her watercolor painting Renaissance Breath of Life.

Auctions of winning pieces have raised $10,835 for school art programs since 2010, and the festival weekend, held Sept. 16-17 this year, was estimated to have had an economic impact on the area of about $420,000.

More details on the festival can be found online at www.driftlessareaartfestival.com.
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National Novel Writing Month begins Nov. 1, but a new collaboration between the La Crosse Public Library and five area organizations is giving literature lovers a head start, kicking off a series of speakers and workshops this Saturday.

The inaugural Great River Writes event, a partnership between the La Crosse and Winona public libraries, Women Writers Ink, the La Crosse Area Writers Group, the River Arts Alliance and the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, was created to offer both seasoned and aspiring authors an opportunity to explore different genres of prose with help from published authors. The four-week series will featured six programs throughout La Crosse and Winona and several write-ins.

The Driftless Region as a whole is really fortunate, it has a really robust arts community, said Barry McKnight, community engagement librarian for the La Crosse Public Library. But there hasnt been any kind of large regional writing event ... we wanted to have events and workshops delving into different aspects of writing.

Best-selling author and Eau Claire native Nickolas Butler will open the series with a keynote address from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the La Crosse Public Library, 800 Main St., followed by a question-and-answer session and book signing. Butler penned the award-winning novel The Hearts of Men, set at a Wisconsin Boy Scout camp, as well as several short stories, poetry collections and non-fiction books.

Were pretty excited, McKnight said. Nickolas Butler is a really engaging and amusing speaker.

On Sunday, romance novelist Ashlyn Monroe, author of more than 50 tales of love and lust, will host How to Plot Your Novel from noon to 2 p.m. at Cabin Coffee North, 2843 Darling Court, La Crosse. Worksheets will be available to help map out story lines.

The Nuts and Bolts of Writing for Kids will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at the Winona Public Library, 151 W. Fifth St., with author Laura Purdie Salas. Salas specializes in stories and poetry for children and teachers, many with an educational focus. Registration is required for this event. Call the library reference desk at 507-452-4860 to reserve a spot.

On Saturday, Nov. 3, the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) Local Author Fair and Creative Writing Workshop will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Winona Public Library. Guest authors, including Terri Karsten, whose historical romance novel, A Mistake of Consequence, is a Book Readers Appreciation Group Medallion Honoree, and Kent Stever, who detailed his childhood in Growing Up on the Mississippi: the 1950s in Winona, Minnesota. The creative writing workshops will cover topics including memoir writing, finding inspiration, getting published and character development.

Travel writer Blair Braverman will lead Setting as Character from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, at the La Crosse Public Library, with tips on writing about place. Braverman penned the memoir Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube, about moving to the arctic at 18 and learning to drive sled dogs, as well as articles for This American Life and Smithsonian. Registration is required for this program. Call Barry McKnight at 608-789-8189 to reserve a spot.

Great River Writes will conclude on Saturday, Nov. 11, with a Spoken Word Workshop, running 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, 800 Riverview Drive, Winona, and hosted by Black Sheep Poetry, a group of writers, storytellers and performers from Minnesota and Wisconsin. The workshop will focus on speaking with passion and flow.

All Great River Writes events are free and geared toward older teens and adults. For a detailed schedule, visit www.facebook.com/GreatRiverWrites.

Winona Public Library to host local author fair, creative writing workshop November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The Winona Public Library has several 
LILONGWE (Reuters) - Police in Malawi have arrested 200 suspected members of vigilante mobs that have been killing people they believe are vampires, a spokesman said on Tuesday. Nine people have been killed since mid-September in southern Malawi where there is a widespread belief in witchcraft. The violence has prompted the United Nations and the U.S. embassy to declare some parts of the country no-go zones. The attacks spread last week to Blantyre, Malawi's second largest city where a 22-year-old man was stoned then burned to death and another was stoned to death. Both were accused of bloodsucking, although medical experts deny the existence of vampirism in Malawi. Amos Daka, head of the Medical Society of Malawi, said his group was not aware "that any one has adequate clinical evidence to support any of the many claims to date." President Peter Mutharika has visited parts of the country affected by the violence. This month, the United Nations pulled staff out of two areas in southern Malawi. (Reporting by Mabvuto Banda; Editing by James Macharia and Robin Pomeroy)
A Texas man died of a rare flesh-eating disease two months after Hurricane Harvey slammed parts of the state, according to the Galveston County Health District.

Josue Zurita, a 31-year-old carpenter who had moved to Galveston from Mexico, was helping to repair several storm-damaged homes in the region when a wound on his left arm became severely infected.

Photo: Facebook

Zurita went to a local hospital on Oct. 10 where he was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, commonly known as a flesh-eating disease.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a serious bacterial skin infection that spreads quickly and kills the bodys soft tissue, according to the Center for Disease Control.

The disease can often prove extremely deadly in a very short period of time.

"Its most likely this person's infection occurred when bacteria from Harvey debris or floodwater entered his body through a wound or cut," said Galveston County local health authority Dr. Philip Keiser. "This is a very rare infection but that doesnt make it any less heartbreaking for this persons family and friends."

Tragically, Zurita succumbed to his wounds on Oct. 16, four days after his initial diagnosis.

"It's unbelievable," Brenda Avalos, a family friend, told KPRC. "We still don't accept that he's not here."

SEE: Before and after photos of Hurricane Harvey:
A reward is now being offered for information leading to the arrest of a man wanted for the rape and murder of a 13-month-old girl.

Police officers were called to a home in Conneaut, Ohio, on the morning of Oct. 7 over reports of a 1-year-old girl found unresponsive by her mother, according to WJW.

The baby, later identified as Sereniti Jazzlynn-Sky Blankenship-Sutley, couldn't be revived by emergency responders and was rushed to Conneaut Brown Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Sereniti died from blunt force trauma to her head and trunk, the Ashtabula County Coroner's Office said.

Photo: WJW

After questioning the toddler's 22-year-old mother, Kelsie Blankenship, and the mother's boyfriend, 37-year-old Joshua Gurto, the Conneaut Law Director's Office filed charges and obtained an arrest warrant for Gurto in the murder and rape of Sereniti, according to WJW.

Gurto is a 5-foot-10, 145-pound male with a deformed right ear, misaligned jaw and tattoos on his right forearm, according to the outlet. He has not been seen since he first spoke to officers on the day of Sereniti's death.



Photo: Conneaut Police Department

"This is a horrible, despicable and devastating crime, affecting everyone who has come into contact with it, including EMT personnel, Conneaut police officers and UH doctors, nurses and other medical personnel, investigators wrote in a statement released by the Law Directors Office on Friday afternoon.

Anyone with information on Gurto's whereabouts is asked to call the Conneaut Police Department at 440-593-7440. The tip line accepts anonymous calls at 440-593-7423.
Japanese manufacturer Mazda has pulled out all the stops by taking the covers off a stunning new concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. The vehicle in question is called the Vision Coupe, which is a full-size four-door design concept that looks like it would give Aston Martin a run for its money.

The Japanese automaker says the concept is a physical example of the next-generation of its famed Kodo design language, which draws inspiration from models of the past such as the 1960 R360 and the Mazda Luce of 1969.

Obviously, Mazda is known for producing sporty, affordable, and often reasonably small vehicles that are superb to drive. This model is therefore something of a departure for the brand, although it certainly conforms to the sporty tag.

At a time when crossovers are what most buyers appear to want, especially in the extremely important American market; this is an interesting direction for Mazda to be going in. What it signals more than anything else though, is Mazda's intention to move more upmarket in future. Several traditionally volume manufacturers seem to be going in this direction lately, such as Volvo, VW and even Kia, but few are quite as open about those intentions as Mazda appears to be.

Julien Montousse, who is Mazda North America's director of design, said of the Vision Coupe, "A big sedan has always been the symbol of a brand going premium. It's the icon of a brand. It tells that Mazda is becoming serious in reaching that goal."

The long-hood/short-trunk proportions of the Vision are those of a classic front-engine, rear-wheel-drive grand tourer, but although nothing was revealed about what would power the car, it's probably safe to assume it wouldn't be a standard V-8 gasoline engine.

Although achingly modern and likely to feature a very 21st century powerplant, not everything about the Mazda concept falls in line with modern convention, as this is designed to be a true driver's car, and not a shuttle on autopilot.

Montousse stated, "Mazda has made it clear that it is not going to follow the autonomous trend. Instead of the car acting as a cocoon, a personal assistant, to insulate and isolate, we believe it should be a copilot. To be there to enable bravery, and give you the tools to face the aggression."
Paddles is fast becoming Twitters favorite feline.

The adorable puss is set to become New Zealands first cat following the election of her owner, Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern, to prime minister. From the looks of the @FirstCatofNZ Twitter feed, shes already making the most of her new found fame:

Hi, I'm Paddles and I am the First Cat of New Zealand. I have opposable thumbs, I'm purrty special. pic.twitter.com/MPkxdhWCRu  Paddles (@FirstCatofNZ) October 21, 2017

Heres Paddles posing with Ardern:

Thanks Mum for bringing me out so I can speak to the press. Must give the people what they want - and what they want is me. Prrrrp  pic.twitter.com/uiA1jk3qeN  Paddles (@FirstCatofNZ) October 21, 2017

Paddles received good wishes from her United Kingdom counterpart, Larry:

@FirstCatofNZ Welcome to the party.  Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) October 24, 2017

And tweeted with Arderns partner, Clarke Gayford:

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WTF Paddles?! I KNEW you were pretend sleeping when I just checked.

....There's Snapper in the fridge. pic.twitter.com/BmlQwHl455  Clarke Gayford (@NZClarke) October 21, 2017

She was even approached by other cats for ministerial positions:

@FirstCatofNZ I wish to be considered for the position of Minister of Serious Stares in your cabinet pic.twitter.com/rWaGLK0KXa  Malt (@LMCB_NZ) October 24, 2017

But Paddles kept her paws firmly on the ground by staying true to her cat roots of doing whatever she wants, whenever she wants:

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Hi Rose. I love you too, when I feel like it. https://t.co/zOmqPsGwUN  Paddles (@FirstCatofNZ) October 24, 2017

Its unclear who was writing Paddles tweets. Both Ardern and Gayford denied responsibility, but were happy for it to continue, per The AM Show. Which is just as well, considering the splash Paddles has made online:

@FirstCatofNZ Let me know if you're ever in San Francisco. I think you're very cute, Paddles. I know the best seafood restaurants in SF.  Lola Cat (@calicolola) October 25, 2017

We really, really need a First Cat. Sending , Paddles @FirstCatofNZ.

  Nan Owen (@Nanniegoat19) October 25, 2017

@FirstCatofNZ Hi Paddles I'm new to this Twitter biz but I wondered...do you think you could be friends with a dog? My name's Zoe x pic.twitter.com/D4b08WtWG1  Andy Creighton (@notcosihateya) October 22, 2017

Paddles! You are adorable! Please consider a goodwill visit to the US.  Rainy (@jen_jourgris) October 24, 2017

OMG Paddles is First Cat and @NZClarke is First Man. This is AMAZING.  Feministing (@LWPurpose) October 19, 2017

Related Coverage

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Also on HuffPost

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Since her debut on NBC, former Fox anchor Megyn Kelly has been off to a rocky start.

But on Monday morning, Kelly shared an emotional denouncement of Bill O'Reilly's claim that there were no official complaints filed against him at Fox News, revealing that she had indeed complained to the network about him herself.

And audiences finally seemed to relate.

SEE ALSO: Well never stop workplace sexual harassment as long as we ignore everyday sexism

Just days after a New York Times report revealed yet another sexual harassment case settled by O'Reilly during his time at Fox (this time for a staggering $32 million), Kelly angrily shared her experiences with her former colleague with her Megyn Kelly Today audience.

OReillys suggestion that no one ever complained about his behavior is false. I know because I complained. @megynkelly on Bill OReilly pic.twitter.com/BO8ifQcJbu  TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 23, 2017

"Fox News was not exactly a friendly environment for harassment victims who wanted to report, in my experience," the Fox-turned-NBC anchor said. "However, O'Reilly's suggestion that no one ever complained about his behavior is false. I know, because I complained."

Kelly is referring to O'Reilly's claim to the New York Times that he "never had one complaint filed against [him] by a co-worker in any human-resources department in 43 years."

Kelly begs to differ.

She said her complaint was in response to O'Reilly's outrage over her comments about former Fox News CEO and chairman Roger Ailes in her memoir. Ailes left the network in the midst of a massive sexual harassment scandal.

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Kelly played a clip for her audience of O'Reilly's appearance on CBS the morning her memoir was released. The then-O'Reilly Factor host said he was, "not interested in basically litigating something that is finished, that makes my network look bad."

Watch Bill O'Reilly's reaction when I asked him about sexual harassment. Part of the full exchange @megynkelly aired this AM @CBSThisMorning pic.twitter.com/xivQOvjs38  Norah O'Donnell (@NorahODonnell) October 23, 2017

In response, Kelly said she sent a complaint straight to the co-presidents of Fox News. She shared this email for the first time with her audience on Monday because she thinks it "speaks volumes about powerful men and the roadblocks one can face in taking them on."

The Today show shared the full email on its website.

Image: MEGYN KELLY/NBC TODAY SHOW

In the message, Kelly says "perhaps [O'Reilly] didn't realize the kind of message his criticism sends to young women across this country about how men continue to view the issue of speaking out against sexual harassment."

She tells Bill Shine and Jack Abernethy, the co-presidents of Fox News, that O'Reilly's attitude of "shaming women into shutting the hell up about harassment" out of fear of disgracing the company is partially "how Fox News got into the decades-long Ailes mess to begin with."

Kelly said she received a call from Shine, who assured her that he would "deal with" O'Reilly, yet that evening, O'Reilly went on the air and sent a message to sexual harassment victims at Fox.

"If someone is paying you a wage, you owe that person or company allegiance. If you don't like what's happening in the workplace, go to Human Resources or leave," O'Reilly said on The O'Reilly Factor.

Kelly noted that workplace sexual harassment wasn't unique to her former employer.

"Women everywhere are used to being dismissed, ignored or attacked when raising complaints about men in authority positions," Kelly said. "They stay silent so often out of fear. Fear of ending their careers. Fear of lawyers, yes. And often fear of public shaming, including through the media."

She called out Fox News's media relations chief, Irena Briganti, for her "vindictiveness" in dealing with Ailes accusers, including Kelly herself.

Kelly ended her show's opening with a call to action: "This must stop. The abuse of women, the shaming of them, the threatening, the retaliation, the silencing of them after the fact ... It has to stop."

In the wake of horrifying news of sexual harassment and assault in the film industry, many praised Kelly for her response to the threatening culture of her own former workplace.

This is the Megyn Kelly that should be on the air every morningthe one who became a star. https://t.co/0s7E65KyoS  John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) October 23, 2017

Listen to the whole thing. Megyn Kelly just nuked Fox News from orbit.



I'm betting Tucker and Hannity retaliate tonight.



My God.  Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) October 23, 2017

Look at how angry @BillOReilly is at @NorahODonnell in that CBS clip. Bravo @megynkelly for challenging disturbed & predatory behavior https://t.co/vAfjHIaQwV  Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 23, 2017

Finally the real @megynkelly emerges on that sad ball of rage Bill OReilly  clear, tough, edgy and 100 percent correct: It has to stop. https://t.co/NWf3v2WIdt  Kara Swisher (@karaswisher) October 23, 2017

However, others were not as quick to praise Kelly for being a champion for all women, noting her less-than-inclusive point of view during her time as an anchor at Fox.

its great megyn kelly is speaking out on abuse of women. i just wish she had the same sympathy for the blacks she systematically demonized  Oliver Willis (@owillis) October 23, 2017

Megyn Kelly said the teen girl assaulted by a cop during the infamous McKinnley pool party incident was no saint either. https://t.co/muu0WmTrug  Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) October 23, 2017

If Megyn Kelly wants to talk about victim-blaming, maybe she can talk about the time she blamed Sandra Bland for her own death.  Aura Bogado (@aurabogado) October 23, 2017

O'Reilly shared his thoughts about Kelly's commentary on Glenn Beck's radio show on Monday.

"I don't know why Megyn Kelly is doing what she's doing. I don't know why. I've helped her dramatically in her career," he said. He also shared "thank you" notes Kelly sent him  a move slammed by O'Reilly's critics.

This is why the 2 notes from Megan Kelly to O'Reilly mean nothing & are a clueless, low & mean-spirited defense by O'Reilly's team. Shame. pic.twitter.com/OhKqFjGkyl  Paul Feig (@paulfeig) October 23, 2017

The verdict is still out on whether or not Kelly's career at NBC will reach the same levels of success that she had at Fox, but her honest appeal to her audience Monday morning will certainly be remembered as a highlight.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania walk the South Lawn of the White House to board the Marine One helicopter July 25, 2017 in Washington, DC: AFP/Getty Images

Melania Trump has been forced to deny that her husbands behaviour contradicted the message of her new anti-bullying campaign.

On a visit to a school in Michigan, the First Lady was challenged on the issue by reporters.

Her husband Donald has previously been accused of bullying his opponents.

Most recently he mocked Republican Senator Bob Corkers height and feuded with Democrat Frederica Wilson over his alleged remarks to the family of a deceased soldier.

Asked about the contradiction, the First Ladys communications director, Stephanie Grisham, stepped in and said there was not.

Ms Trump is independent and acts independently from her husband. She does what she feels is right, she said.

I hope the Fake News Media keeps talking about Wacky Congresswoman Wilson in that she, as a representative, is killing the Democrat Party!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 21, 2017

The Failing @nytimes set Liddle' Bob Corker up by recording his conversation. Was made to sound a fool, and that's what I am dealing with!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2017

She knows that she has a real opportunity through her role as first lady to have a positive impact on the lives of children. Her only focus is to effect change within our next generation.

"She wants to talk to kids about the importance of being inclusive and the negative effects of social isolation. This kind of activity also fosters integrity and leadership in young kids."

Secretary of education Betsy DeVos also joined Mrs Trump at the school.

Since taking up the role of First Lady, Mrs Trump has regularly used her platform to speak out against the issue of childhood bullying.

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In a speech to the United Nations in September, she said: We must turn our focus right now to the message and content children are exposed to on a daily basis through social media - the bullying, the experience online and in person.

As adults we are not merely responsible, we are accountable.

"I hope you will join me in recommitting ourselves to teaching the next generation to lead and honour the golden rule, do unto others as you would have do unto you."
On Monday, Melania Trump headed to Michigan to meet with middle school students. Accompanied by the US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who is from the state, the pair kicked off the White Houses Week of Inclusion as part of National Bullying Prevention Month and the first ladys anti-bullying campaign.

Wearing a 1,760 Valentino double breasted wool peacoat in cherry blossom, a similar colour to the coat she draped over her shoulders during her inauguration dresss induction ceremony into the Smithsonian, FLOTUS went for a business casual look with grey slacks and a matching sweater to eat lunch with kids at Orchard Lake Middle School in West Bloomfield.

I encourage you to find a new friend and eat with your new friend, Trump said during the meal, according to the Detroit Free Press. Ask them what they like, what their hobbies are. She also noted that there wasnt a lot of mingling of the sexes in the cafeteria. I see tables only girls and tables only boys. Maybe you can get together and become friends. Agree?

FLOTUSs tour of the school included a visit to a classroom of sixth graders as well and told them, I always believe in treating others with respect and kindness and compassion.

Throughout the day, Trump shook hands and posed for selfies with the students. She took to Twitter to share photos after the visit and shared that it was a wonderful experience. Thank you for having me, she added.

Wonderful to see kind children at Orchard Lake Middle School in Michigan! Thank you for having me! #nooneeatsalone pic.twitter.com/0m1k2OwTXZ  Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 24, 2017

Before heading back to Washington, D.C., she met with Michigan State Police and posed for a group photo in which her pink coat stood out amongst those in their brown and blue uniforms.

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Thank you for all you do! @MichStatePolice @oaklandsheriff @WestBlmfldPD W Bloomfield Fire Dept & Waterford Police Dept A post shared by First Lady Melania Trump (@flotus) on Oct 23, 2017 at 6:51pm PDT

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Melania Trump goes to work in dress designed by Samantha Cameron

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By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - A Mississippi woman who sat in a county jail for 96 days without being offered bail or a lawyer, on suspicion of a drug crime she swore she never committed, may pursue a civil rights lawsuit against the county and its sheriff, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday.

Reversing a lower court ruling, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Jessica Jauch was denied "basic procedural due process" by Choctaw County and Sheriff Cloyd Halford in being held so long, ostensibly because the court was not in session.

Jauch's innocence is now undisputed.

"A procedure calling for extended pre-trial detention without any sort of hearing is alien to our law," Circuit Judge Thomas Reavley wrote for a 3-0 panel of the New Orleans-based appeals court.

Danny Griffith, a lawyer for the defendants, and Victor Fleitas, who represents Jauch, declined to comment.

Brandon Buskey, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, said the decision reflects different levels of justice that people accused of crimes might receive while awaiting their day in court.

"You can't operate two justice systems based on wealth, and someone who could afford an attorney would not have sat in jail for 96 days," he said.

Jauch was taken into custody after police pulled her over on April 26, 2012 and issued several traffic tickets.

She later learned she had been indicted three months earlier over a sale of eight tablets of the anti-anxiety drug alprazolam, better known as Xanax, court papers show.

The case was dismissed in January 2013 after surveillance video showed Jauch merely borrowing $40 from a friend, who was working as a confidential informant.

Jauch sued in April 2015, but her case was dismissed in September 2016 by Chief Judge Sharion Aycock of the federal court in Aberdeen, Mississippi.

Aycock said that because Jauch was indicted by a grand jury, state law did not entitle her to the court hearing she sought.

Story continues

Reavley, however, said indefinite pre-trial detention without an arraignment or court appearance offended "fundamental principles of justice," potentially imperiling a suspect's job, income and family relationships.

"Heaping these consequences on an accused and blithely waiting months before affording the defendant access to the justice system is patently unfair in a society where guilt is not presumed," he wrote.

Hays Burchfield, who represented Jauch in the drug case, said recent changes in Mississippi law "may help indigent people like Jessica avoid sitting in jail" while awaiting a lawyer.

The case is Jauch v Choctaw County et al, 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 16-60690.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Grant McCool)
AARP Wisconsin is offering free Job Search in the Digital Age workshops from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at the La Crosse Public Library auditorium, 800 Main St.

The course is designed to help participants discover the best websites and apps to connect them to job resources. Participants are asked to bring their own smartphones. Advanced registration is required by calling 1-866-740-6947 or visiting www.aarp.org/wi.




Image via Facebook

Seven-year-old Tru Robinson had natural brown ringlets that swept the middle of her back. At day care, shed wear them up in pigtails  until staff decided to shave them off entirely.

The girls mother, Denise Robinson, says carers at Little Heroes Group Home, Conn., violated her daughter by shearing her locks without parental consent. Worse yet, Robinson claims, staff at the school told the child her hair would grow back straight.

The distraught mom opened up about the incident on Facebook.

Tru was assaulted yesterday at school and anyone who knows me know that I never claim racism  But why was my daughters head shaved?

There are three other girls in her class, two white girls, one black, none of these girls got scaled. Why Tru?? she wrote.

Image via Denise Robinson/Facebook

My child is mixed race and her hair WAS FULL and curly She DID NOT AND I REPEAT [NOT] HAVE HEAD LICE OR BUGS!! SO WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?

The behavioral school, where Tru stays part-time, said the haircut was necessary for hygienic reasons.

The program employs a diverse staff that is attentive to the needs of all children. Decisions regarding grooming are based on a variety of factors, including hygiene, it stated.

A review of the circumstances is underway to determine what occurred and, if necessary, appropriate action will be taken.

ALSO SEE: Scientists may have discovered the cause of dyslexia

But Robinson strongly disagrees, arguing that she should have at least received a phone call to ask her permission.

There was no hygienic reason for them to shave my childs head. There was no head lice, there were no bed bugs. There was no  what I refer to  as rasta locks going on, she told NECN.

Her hair was two pony tails on the side on Saturday and it was braided in the ponytails and there was nothing wrong.

Robinson is taking legal action against the childrens home and plans move her daughter out of the facility.

I was told a clinician gave permission to Tru to have this haircut done, she said.

Story continues

I am very upset. And Im not going to stop being upset because I feel like my child was assaulted and violated.

Image via Facebook

ALSO SEE: We can barely hold ourselves up: Blogger moms plea for her daughters life

The familys lawyer, Richard Kendall, told CBS Boston it was appalling that Tru was told her hair would grow back straight after it was shaved off.

Officials at Little Heroes Group Home have said privacy laws prevent them from further commenting but confirmed a review was being conducted.

For them to do this, its very upsetting, not just to me but to her.

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!




Members of a Chicago community are coming together in support of a nanny who was targeted in a racist letter.

Their plan: a mass play date designed to Stand Up to Hate.

A week ago, an unstamped, unsigned letter to Heather DeJonker was found in her mailbox.

The letter concerned DeJonkers African-American nanny, 24-year-old Ferrai Pickett, who has worked for the family since 2014, according to WGN-TV in Chicago.

The letter refers to Pickett by a racial slur, and one part of the brutally racist letter reads:

We do not need an infestation in our community. There are plenty educated Caucasian nannies available if you are willing to pay them accordingly

Pickett hasnt read the entire letter herself. Although she has experienced racism before, she admits being shocked to be the subject of such a letter.

This is my first experience of racism on the job and in this neighborhood, she told HuffPost. Its a quiet, diverse neighborhood. Its always been welcoming, and I get along with all the moms.

After receiving the letter, DeJonker was shocked, but not as much as her mother, who was the first one to read it.

She was horrified. She called me at work and told me about it, DeJonker told DNAInfo.com. When I read the letter, it felt like a punch in the stomach. I was nauseous, and I was praying to God that Ferrai didnt have to see it.

DeJonker and Maria Ippolito, who also employs Pickett as a nanny, filed a police report, notified local politicians and installed security cameras.

Pickett, who has a degree in early childhood education, said she and the two moms also reflected on the best way to combat the hatred in their neighborhood.

All of us are in education, and it felt like we could use this to teach the kids, she told HuffPost. We didnt want this person to be the voice of the neighborhood.

Step one was posting an open letter directed at the anonymous writer and stating clearly: Hate has no place in our home, community, or world and we wont tolerate it.

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Stand Up to Hate play date is at 5 p.m. this Thursday. pic.twitter.com/6g3XOw0af3  Alisa Hauser (@DNA_WPB) October 23, 2017

To that end, DeJonker, Ippolito and Pickett have also organized a Stand Up to Hate play date on Thursday at their local park.

We want to show this person this is not how our moms think, Pickett said. This is our way of fighting back.

Obviously, having kids of different backgrounds playing together is one way to demonstrate, but Pickett said the kids will also help make heart-shaped paper links that will be hung up around the playground as a symbol of unity against hatred.

Based on the kids shes seen on the playground, she thinks its possible to counteract the forces of racism.

In our country today, there seems to be a steady stream of bad news. There is so much negativity, but these kids know nothing other than they are friends and they love each other. These kids give me hope and help me keep the faith that change and unity is possible, Pickett told DNAInfo.com.

(Photo: Ferrai Pickett)

Also on HuffPost

What will my brown son's future be? What will your brown son's future be? I beg you to act NOW. Let us be heard. pic.twitter.com/1aEQ52GkPC  Halle Berry (@halleberry) July 8, 2016

Praying for my children. Praying for my children's children. Praying for NOW. Begging for change. #AltonSterling #PhilandoCastile  Ayesha Curry (@ayeshacurry) July 7, 2016

Make sure you hug your loved ones a little tighter this morning.  NE-YO (@NeYoCompound) July 7, 2016

I can count 5 parents in the last 3 hours who have text me and said my child just asked me "AM I GOING TO DIE"?!? pic.twitter.com/mXwlLYfqZq  solange knowles (@solangeknowles) July 7, 2016

The TRAUMA that is being passed on to us, and OUR CHILDREN by this non stop murder of our brothers and sisters is sickening...  solange knowles (@solangeknowles) July 7, 2016

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Malayya and Issah Zanasia Williams with their mother, Nashae Williams. All three were shot to death in Arkansas this month. (Photo: Jeremy Pierre/FOX13)

Gabrielle Linzy went to bed worrying about pre-calculus. Report cards came out at the end of the week, and Linzy, a senior at Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School in Arkansas, dreaded math.

She woke up at 4 a.m. to a knock on her bedroom door. It was her father, who asked Linzy and her three sisters to come into the living room at once. He had some bad news about their mother, who lived 80 miles away, in Forrest City.

He said their mom, Nashae Williams, had been shot and killed, along with two of their half-sisters, ages 6 and 9. Williams live-in boyfriend was the suspect.

As Linzys father told her this, the words didnt make sense. She was in shock. She locked herself in the bathroom for awhile. Then she got dressed and put on her makeup for school.

She cried all day, and her mascara ran.

The nation mourned when 58 people were killed and more than 500 injured in the hail of bullets on Oct. 1 in Las Vegas. The scope of the violence was breathtaking, incomprehensible. But since then, more than 2,738 people have been shot in the U.S., according to data collected by the Gun Violence Archive. A reported 840 of them died.

For these tragedies, there is no national spotlight. But victims and their families face the same devastating consequences. They must plan funerals, miss work, make child care arrangements and pay exorbitant health care bills. And their communities struggle with the same mind-numbing sense of loss.

In the Chicago area, more than 600 miles away from Arkansas, the rain was coming down hard. Earl McKay was in the basement of his house, making sure the backup sump pump was working, and his fiancee got a call.

Something had happened to McKays 26-year-old niece, Simone. Decades earlier, McKay had helped her pregnant mother get to the hospital, and he considered Simone to be more like a daughter. Assuming she might have been in a car accident, he decided to go to a trauma center. But on the way, Simones dad called, saying shed been shot and killed.

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McKay said he had just seen Simone, a pre-med student at Chicago State University, at a family birthday party. The bubbly, pretty mother of two was making jokes, hanging out and doing makeup for other women. When they said their goodbyes, McKay expected theyd catch up the next day.

Simone had been found shot in the head on the steps outside of her home. She had lain outside in the rain for an hour before police came. The Chicago Tribune reported she was not wearing a raincoat.

Simones death has shattered our family, the fabric, said McKay. The impact on us and her children has been tremendous, he added, noting that in our time of need, weve had an outpouring of love and support.

Simone McKay, 26, was fatally shot outside her home in Chicago. (Photo: Earl McKay)

The same month Simone was killed, other people were shot in a motel, inside their vehicles, leaving a party, getting out of a cab, standing on the street and in gas stations. Loved ones launched fundraisers to help cover medical costs for an 18-year-old who was shot in the face, and for a bartender who was held up and shot in the forearm on the same day as the Las Vegas shooting.

At Advanced Granite Solutions, a Maryland countertop-making company, Radee Price was acting strangely, his co-worker later told The Associated Press. He was speaking angrily, and then began gathering everyone together in a group.

Come with me, the employee recalled Price saying. I want to say something to everybody.

With that, Price allegedly opened fire on his colleagues. The witness ran away, his boot flying off in the process. He survived. But three of his co-workers were fatally shot, and two others critically wounded.

There were also other tragic incidents involving children.

In Orlando, a father left a 5-year-old boy in a car while he went to pick up another child, authorities said, and the boy found a gun, shot himself and died.

In North Carolina, a 4-year-old found a gun in a trucks tailgate and accidentally shot his grandfather to death.

One victim was only 2 months old. Her father was allegedly trying to unload a gun when it went off, shooting the infant girl in the head.

For trauma units, it was business as usual.

At Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, six gunshot wound victims arrived in the trauma bay during the course of Sunday night. One person died.

The patients usually come in quickly, especially when police transport them. The hospital counted 23 shooting cases between Oct. 1 and Oct. 22, with seven deaths, according to Chief of Trauma Lars Ola Sjoholm. He told HuffPost that one patient had been shot in the chest, arm, and through both of his eyes. That case stood out for its cruelty, but theyre all cruel, he said.

The shootings reverberated through communities, beyond victims immediate families.

In Aliso Viejo, California, Brandy Ferner, who is married to HuffPost reporter Matt Ferner, was home with her two kids, ages 4 and 10, when a friend in the neighborhood called her.

The friend told Ferner shed just seen a guy with bloody knees screaming, My roommate shot me. Not sure whether a shooter had been caught or was still on the loose, Ferner quickly brought the children upstairs.

Ferners husband was on his way home, but police would not let him near the house. So she stayed barricaded with the children for hours, waiting. This is our time to have our shooting, she thought to herself. At one point, her son grew teary. Mom, he said, Im scared.

A 26-year-old man was accused of shooting his father and his fathers girlfriend to death and wounding two others, according to The Orange County Register. Ferner said she felt fortunate that her family was not seriously affected, the way others were.

Its so common that these things happen, this is now what weve accepted as part of our lives, she said. The next day, she was fatigued and unfocused, and spent all day in bed. Neighbors closer to the shooting had it worse, she noted, showing signs of insomnia and anxiety and looking into therapy.

Its like a shattering, she said.

Gabrielle Linzy had turned 18  technically becoming an adult  two days before losing her mom to gun violence. It felt unfair, she said, because for much of her childhood, she lived with her father and didnt see her mom. But over the past year, they had started texting and video chatting. They grew closer and noticed their resemblances.

She liked to sing. I got that from her, she said. She was so happy to see me graduate this year. She wanted to help me with prom.

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By Shoon Naing NAYPYITAW (Reuters) - Myanmar and Bangladesh on Tuesday agreed to cooperate on the repatriation of Rohingya refugees and took steps to boost border security as relations between the neighbors have been strained by the continuing flow of refugees into Bangladesh. Over 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar since Aug. 25, when Rohingya insurgent attacks sparked a ferocious military response by the Myanmar army that the United Nations has called ethnic cleansing. At a meeting in Myanmar's capital Naypyitaw, attended by Myanmar's home affairs minister lieutenant general Kyaw Swe and his Bangladeshi counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan, the countries signed two agreements covering security and border cooperation. The two sides have also agreed to "to halt the outflow of Myanmar residents to Bangladesh," and "to form a joint working group," Tin Myint, permanent secretary from Myanmar's home affairs ministry told reporters after the meetings. "After joint working group, the verification, (the) two countries have agreed to arrange different steps so that these people can return to their homeland safely and honourably and in secure conditions," said Mostafa Kamal Uddin, secretary from Bangladeshi home affairs ministry. The officials did not elaborate on the specific steps the authorities would take for the repatriation, adding that the bulk of discussions was dedicated to border and security cooperation agreements which have been long in the making. Tin Myint said the two countries agreed "to restore normalcy in Rakhine to enable displaced Myanmar residents to return from Bangladesh at the earliest opportunity." He also said Myanmar had sent a list of suspects who had fled to Bangladesh and requested the authorities there to investigate and return them to Myanmar. Thousands of refugees have continued to arrived cross the Naf river separating Myanmar's western Rakhine state and Bangladesh in recent days, even though Myanmar says military operations ceased on Sept. 5. The United States said on Monday it was considering a range of further actions over Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority. While on Tuesday the officials said the talks were friendly, tensions are still high between the two countries. Bangladesh last month accused Myanmar of repeatedly violating its air space and warned that any more "provocative acts" could have "unwarranted consequences". On border and security, the two sides decided to establish border liaison offices, carry out regular meetings between two security forces, jointly combat drug trafficking across the border and set up a mechanism to communicate directly. Bangladesh has for decades faced influxes of Rohingya fleeing persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where the Rohingya are seen as illegal migrants. It was already home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya before the latest crisis. Though Rohingya families have lived in Myanmar for generations, they are denied citizenship and access to basic civil rights such as freedom of movement, decent education and healthcare. Hundreds in Rakhine on Sunday protested to urge Myanmar's government not to repatriate the Rohingya. (Reporting By Shoon Naing and Antoni Slodkowski in NAYPYITAW; additional reprorting by Thu Thu Aung in YANGON; Writing by Yimou Lee; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
American Airlines is coming under fire from the NAACP for the way it treats African-American passengers.

The nations oldest civil rights group released a travel advisory on Tuesday warning African-Americans that their safety and well-being may be at risk when traveling on the airline.

The NAACP for several months now has been monitoring a pattern of disturbing incidents reported by African-American passengers, specific to American Airlines, the organization said in a release. In light of these confrontations, we have today taken the action of issuing national advisory alerting travelers  especially African-Americans  to exercise caution, in that booking and boarding flights on American Airlines could subject them to disrespectful, discriminatory or unsafe conditions.

The release lists four such incidents dating back to last year:

An African-American man was required to relinquish his purchased seats aboard a flight from Washington, D.C., to Raleigh-Durham, merely because he responded to disrespectful and discriminatory comments directed toward him by two unruly white passengers. Despite having previously booked first-class tickets for herself and a traveling companion, an African-American womans seating assignment was switched to the coach section at the ticket counter, while her white companion remained assigned to a first-class seat. On a flight bound for New York from Miami, the pilot directed that an African-American woman be removed from the flight when she complained to the gate agent about having her seating assignment changed without her consent. An African-American woman and her infant child were removed from a flight from Atlanta to New York City when the woman (incidentally a Harvard Law School student) asked that her stroller be retrieved from checked baggage before she would disembark.

The third incident that occurred on Oct. 15 involved activist Tamika D. Mallory, best known for her work as national co-chair of the Womens March movement.

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Mallory said no one on the flight crew told her why she was removed from the flight. She later tweeted about the incident, saying that no matter how hard black women fight, white men are allowed to treat [us] like shit.

Doesn't matter how much we do and how hard we fight, white men are allowed to treat black women like shit .@AmericanAir  Tamika D. Mallory (@TamikaDMallory) October 15, 2017

The NAACP said that it typically issues travel advisories when conditions on the ground pose a substantial risk of harm to black Americans.

In August, it issued a travel advisory warning African-Americans about traveling to Missouri. The NAACP made the advisory announcement based on racist incidents, and the fact that African-Americans in Missouri are 75 percent more likely to be stopped and searched by law enforcement officers than Caucasians.

The organization fears that the examples posted above may represent only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to American Airlines documented mistreatment of African-American customers.

NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said the travel advisory will stand until the organization can meet with American Airlines executives to discuss their concerns and spur corrective action.

That could happen soon.

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said on Wednesday he is eager to meet with the NAACP.

In a memo written to airline employees, he made it clear that all passengers must be treated equally:

We fly over borders, walls and stereotypes to connect people from different races, religions, nationalities, economic backgrounds and sexual orientations. We make the world a smaller, more inclusive place. We do not and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind.

Also on HuffPost

Alaska Airlines

One percent of the vote.

JetBlue

American Airlines

Five per cent of the vote.

United Airlines

Seven per cent of the vote.

Virgin America

Nine per cent of the vote.

Frontier Airlines

Eleven per cent of the vote.

Air Canada

Fourteen per cent of the vote.

Spirit Airlines

Twenty-six per cent of the vote

Southwest Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines

Delta Airlines

US Airways

Allegiant Airlines

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Approximately 50,000 years ago, modern humans encountered Neanderthals and interbred. The consequences of these cross-species coital trysts on human populations today is starting to become clearer: Scientists believe that one to three percent of the genomes of modern Eurasians are derived from Neanderthal DNA, a genetic inheritance thats been associated with increased depression risk, certain skin and blood conditions, and an increased likelihood of nicotine addiction.

The way those ancient genes got into our gene pool, however, wasnt exactly straightforward.

On Friday, Vanderbilt University professor Tony Capra, Ph.D. graduate student Corrine Simonti presented unpublished research at the annual meeting of the American Society for Human Genetics showing that those ancient genes were at first lost  and later returned to the modern human gene pool.

A map of early human migration in favor of the "out of Africa" theory.

Neanderthals and humans are believed to have a shared hominin ancestor, so its believed that many of the gene variants in question  alternative forms of genes that are found at the same place on a chromosome, known as alleles  were once common to both Neanderthals and humans. Neanderthals continued to carry these old alleles, while the ancient humans lost most of them over several generations. But when Capra and Simonti analyzed the genes of supergroups of modern-day humans, they found one particular allele, responsible for changes in gene expression at a gene called OAS, that at first seemed to be derived from Neanderthals but was in fact an ancestral human allele that was introgressed, or reintroduced.

This finding motivated them to find more of these lost alleles and track how they got back into our gene pool. To do so, the researchers performed a genome-wide search for other lost alleles on introgressed Neanderthal haplotypes in large groups of Europeans, East Asians, and South Asians. They found that, just as these groups of people had greater levels of Neanderthal DNA, their genomes also more consistently showed the existence of reintroduced ancestral alleles. These findings support the idea that some of the modern humans that left Africa for Europe and Asia encountered Neanderthals there and mated, and thereby reintroduced ancestral alleles back into their offspring, together with Neanderthal alleles.

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Capra told Science News on Monday that present-day Europeans have about 47,000 of the reintroduced ancestral alleles and East Asians carry more than 56,000.

Neanderthal alleles were lost from the human gene pool then re-introduced as humans mated with Neanderthals after leaving Africa.

Whether or not its specifically these ancient alleles that have caused the effects previously credited to Neanderthal genes, like depression, isnt yet known, but the researchers also looked at the health record data of 20,000 people of European-ancestry to test whether reintroduced ancestral alleles were correlated to any specific health effects. They note that they identified and replicated several novel associations with clinical phenotypes that are likely driven by these introduced alleles, but its not yet certain whether these clinical effects are because of the ancient alleles or Neanderthal inheritance.

Additional testing is needed to know exactly how our lives are affected by ancient alleles, but one thing is for certain: Our ancestors decision to mate with other members of the hominin family tree was an ancient hook-up choice that still has repercussions today.

Thanks to evolution, genes linked to intelligence are becoming more scarce. Check out this video to find out more.

Photos via Wikimedia Commons, Flickr / Allan Henderson, Wikimedia Commons/Pixabay

Photos via Wikimedia Commons, Flickr / Allan Henderson, Wikimedia Commons/Pixabay

Written by Sarah Sloat

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A U.K. television programs attempt to shed light on Islamophobia is proving controversial  with some critics claiming that the shows tactics amount to brownface.

My Week As A Muslim, which aired on Channel 4 this Monday, follows the journey of a white woman named Katie Freeman. As part of a social experiment, Freeman is immersed into a Pakistani Muslim family in Manchester who lived just a few miles away from her own home.

While the purpose was to start a conversation about Islamophobia, the documentary has been criticized for its methods. In order to go undercover in her neighborhood, Freemans skin was darkened, and she was given a prosthetic nose, fake teeth, and brown contact lenses. She also donned a long, flowing robe and covered her head with a scarf.

The racist origins of blackface, brownface, and other costumes stemming from cultural appropriation are well documented. The impulse to assume another ethnic groups features often results in exaggerated, inaccurate, and even harmful stereotypes.

In this case, the apparent use of brownface had some critics appalled.

Katie Freeman dons 'brownface' to go undercover as a Muslim woman in the Channel 3 documentary "My Week As A Muslim." (Photo: Channel 4 / YouTube)

I remember getting that nose and teeth in my muslim starter pack when I converted. Don't leave home without it. #myweekasamuslim  Mosh Khan (@mosh_k88) October 23, 2017

Okay I get what #AsAMuslim is trying to do but slapping on prosthetic make-up?! What the hell does Muslim look like? We come in all colours!  Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) October 23, 2017

Journalist Radhika Sanghani wrote in the Guardian that while highlighting the effects of Islamophobia is a worthy goal, showing a white woman browning up with a larger, wider nose and fake teeth is not the way to do it.

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Instead of perpetuating old cliches and focusing on physical appearance, [the documentary] could have simply followed a Muslim family with cameras, hearing from the women themselves and observing the everyday racism they experience, Sanghani wrote. Women of colour are already under-represented in the media  why not give them a voice and hear from them directly?

In a parody of the documentary, British-Iraqi freelance writer Ruqaya Izzidien, flipped the roles around  imagining what it would be like if a Muslim went undercover as a white man.

Channel 4s My Week as a Muslim was a preposterous conception from the first minute, providing a platform for racism, brownface, crude caricatures, ethnocentrism and general all-round offence, Izzidien wrote, summarizing her opinion of the show. It was built on the antiquated, imperialist concept that a person of colours word cannot be trusted; their experiences and suffering dont exist until they are verified by a white person.

God forbid you ask an actual Muslim woman what it's like  We're not locked away you know, how else would I be tweeting?? #MyWeekAsAMuslim  Shehnaz Khan (@shehnazkhan) October 23, 2017

The shows producer, Fozia Khan, defended the decision in a Guardian op-ed, saying that Freemans appearances were changed to make her look and feel different, so she could go unrecognised in her hometown, convincingly experience what its like to be a Muslim woman, integrate her into her host community and experience it from within.

People have suggested that we could have used a different approach  such as giving Muslim women hidden cameras to show their experiences. This has been done before, and we wanted to try something different, Khan wrote.

Khan wrote that when Freeman started the documentary, she had negative opinions about Muslims. She reportedly felt fearful about women wearing the niqab. At one point in the documentary, she says, You see them and you think, are they going to blow something up? But over the course of the filming, as she has meaningful conversations and experiences with Muslims, her opinions begin to change.

Saima Alvi, the Muslim woman from Greater Manchester whose family Freeman befriended, wrote about this transformation in a blog for HuffPost. Alvi said she was initially reluctant to participate in the documentary, but decided to go through with it after being reassured that she would not be misrepresented.

Watch a trailer for the show below:

After the Manchester bombing, which happened just one day into filming the documentary, Freeman and Alvi watched the footage from the attack on television together. They were both uncertain about whether to continue.

Katie was worried that she might become a target dressed as a Muslim woman which was an important realisation. I explained that my attire is part of my identity and I must carry on in the outside world carrying this fear, Alvi wrote. We both decided to continue with the further five days of filming.

After the attack, Freeman experiences what it was like to walk through the neighborhood as a visible Muslim woman during a tense time  feeling fearful while simply walking down the street.

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No one should have to fear walking down the street every day... #MyWeekAsAMuslim pic.twitter.com/14gqQsDP1t  Channel 4 (@Channel4) October 24, 2017

Im just sick of it, the stuff they were shouting, she said after being heckled on camera. But thats, its only for a few days, isnt it? You know, and I can take this off and Ill go back to being Katie and they probably wouldnt even make a comment, would they? But for like, Saima, if she come here and her family came here, theyd have that abuse all the time, wouldnt they?

Alvi argued that Freemans prosthetic nose and other facial changes were meant to be a disguise  and that the makeover was never intended to mock an ethnic group, or create a caricature.

The programme made me realise that there are genuinely decent people out there who lack the opportunity to engage with the Muslim community, Alvi wrote in her blog. Thus their opinions are based on the commonplace demonisation of Muslims, which is generally perpetuated by the media. Katie was willing to learn about the environment she was immersed within and therefore changed many of her former negative opinions.

Khan claimed that her team met and received approval of the idea from Manchesters British Muslim Heritage Centre. But The Muslim Council of Britain, an umbrella body of over 500 Muslim organizations, told HuffPost that they wished Khan had also reached out to the national body.

There is value in consulting national Muslim bodies for advice, over and above the individuals in the programme, as this may help the production understand the potential national impact of sensitive issues - the strength of feeling of which appears to have been underestimated, a spokesperson said in a statement.

The Council nevertheless commended the documentarys participants.

We would like to praise the participants who demonstrated some of the best qualities and characteristics in the face of real challenges.

Also on HuffPost

A Muslim photographer is working on an ambitious project that he hopes will tackle stereotypes about American Muslims and showcase the communitys rich diversity. Since the fall of 2015, Carlos Khalil Guzman has been using his free time and his own funds to travel across the country to interview an array of Muslims. In the series, titled Muslims of America, Guzman is attempting to capture portraits of Muslims from all 50 states in the country. The series includes people of different sects of Islam, ethnicities and backgrounds  from Native American Muslims to Syrian refugees to queer Muslims.



Check out photos from Guzmans project below, along with captions explaining each subjects favorite verse. Some of their responses have been edited for clarity. Follow the series as it unfolds on Guzmans Instagram account.

Myree, Medical Assistant, California

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.  Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)



"This is so important to me not only as a Muslim but also as an Afro-Latina. This states that Islam is against racism and discrimination. All humans are created equal. All that matters to God is the good a person does and the devotion we have for our creator." - Myree

Shadi, College Student, Boston

Heaven lies under the feet of your mother - Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)



"This hadith is one of my favorites because it talks about being mindful of our parents. In todays world, a lot of people do not respect their parents and treat them as if they are nothing. Of course there are times when our parents get on our nerves but before I even think or dare to say anything to them, I remember this hadith and it brings me back to reality. It allows me to do good instead of bad and this has helped me build a stronger relationship with my parents." - Shadi

Kenneth, College Student, California

 And whoever fears God -- He will make a way out for him. And will provide for him from where he never expected. Whoever relies on God -- He will suffice him. God will accomplish His purpose. God has set a measure to all things. - Quran Chapter 65 / Verses 2-3



"These verses remind me to always place my trust in God, no matter how hard things get. I have had lots of ups and downs in my life in terms of mental health. During my downs, I remember this verse and it motivates me to keep hope in the future, and to keep hope in myself. It reminds me of the power of prayer, as God can turn any situation around. When we have faith in God, He will set things moving for us in ways that we cannot even imagine." - Kenneth

Rula, College Student, Louisiana

And never say of anything, 'Indeed, I will do that tomorrow,' without adding, 'If Allah wills.' And remember your Lord when you forget and say, 'Perhaps my Lord will guide me to what is nearer than this to right conduct.'" - Quran Chapter 18 / Verses 23-24



"This verse, to me, is a significant reminder of Allah (God). Remembering to say 'inshallah,' if God wills, before speaking about plans is acknowledgement that as humans, we are not in control of everything. In a sense it is reassuring and personal because it relates to everybody. Growing up, its common that parents tell their kids 'inshallah' as a way to brush off their requests, as in 'OK, OK, if God wills.' I know my parents did. But as I grew older, I understood the value in relying on God and the love bestowed upon us. Its a reminder of our humanity, and how not everything is in our control. To see God in all things is to also see God in our daily lives in the smallest plans we make, such as studying for a test, or even getting coffee. God is so great, and it is a reminder not to stress with all the free will we have." - Rula

Fida, Librarian Aide, Oregon

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. It is You we worship and You we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path. The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.  Quran Chapter 1 / Verses 1-7



"I chose the verses from the first chapter (Al-Fatiha) of the Quran. These verses remind me of my childhood. My sisters and I would all gather together and we would recite it together or one by one. We were so proud of ourselves when we memorized it and we could see our parents were proud of us too. This surah (chapter) is the first in the Quran and I have always said it in times of fear, when I would think a ghost was in the room or if I was walking home late. I knew Allah (God) was watching and helping me. These words are powerful and they have helped me feel and be protected." - Fida

Osoul, Nursing Student, New Jersey

Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear. - Quran Chapter 2 / Verse 286



"This specific ayah has gotten me through so much in my life, Alhamdulillah [Praise be to Allah]. I have had to deal with a lot growing up, whether it was family, illnesses or loss. In a way I was forced to mature at an early age and growing up I always wondered, 'Why!' You know, like why things happened the way they happened. But once I started getting closer to Allah, I realized that asking why things happen the way they do is the wrong approach to life. Instead we should ask Allah to make us strong enough to handle any obstacles thrown our way. Now every time something happens, I read this ayah and I remember that Allah will not burden me with anything I cannot handle. Allah wont burden me with something that will destroy me, it will only make me stronger for what is ahead inshallah. It is kind of like a little hope, you know, the light at the end of the tunnel." - Osoul

Nooran, College Student, New Hampshire

And Yunus (Jonah), when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree anything upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, 'There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.'" - Quran Chapter 21 / Verse 87



"I think it's the story and context of that verse that makes it my favorite. It is a prayer said by the Prophet Yunus (Jonah), who is swallowed by a whale and seems in a hopeless situation stuck in its belly. He makes this prayer when he realizes he has disobeyed God, and continues to repeat it so often that all the fish in the sea can hear him reciting it. God spares Yunus and he is spit out by the whale. This verse teaches me two very important things that I try to apply to my daily life. The first is that when a situation seems hopeless, put all your faith in God and rely on Him to make things better. The second is that self-critique is necessary even in hard times. The Prophet Yunus could not understand why God was doing this to him until he reflected and realized that he had been of the wrongdoers. In that very same way, we should strive to always reflect and better ourselves even in the hardest of times instead of being frustrated or angry at God." - Nooran

Hana, College Student, Georgia

"[Moses] said, 'No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.'" - Quran Chapter 26 / Verse 62



"An ayah (verse) so simple and powerful, yet can be difficult to recollect when we allow this reality and this world to cloud our own visions. When I thought I was capable of carrying and dealing with everything on my own, I found myself lost, hurt and misguided. I allowed myself to forget that Allah (swt) can heal all my wounds and guide me, if I just called on Him. I had willingly clouded my own vision.

No doubt, this life can be difficult at times. Hardship, confusion, pain and doubt are inevitable. All of humanity, believers and atheists, experience suffering and aching, however, the ones who truly believe and call on Allah (swt) will be at ease. Despite any circumstances, they rest knowing The Lord of Heavens, Earth and everything in between is in charge. They trust His plan and allow their hearts to focus. They know they are not capable of everything; they are simply imperfect humans. Humans who dont allow this reality to cloud their visions. A human I strive to be." - Hana

Bushra, College Student, Texas

And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination. - Quran Chapter 31 / Verse 14



"No religion puts greater emphasis on the status of parents in society than that which Islam puts. We always hear that a 'mother knows best,' but sometimes in life we get carried away by our own faults, forgetting to turn to those who know us the most. I'm always terrified that a day will come in which I can no longer write my mother's name and number as my emergency contact, whether it be for school or any other endeavor of mine. This verse keeps me grounded; it reminds me that life is short, so short, too short, and that one should never, ever take the lives of one's parents for granted." - Bushra

Zarin, College Student, South Dakota

And a sign for them is the night. We remove from it [the light of] day, so they are [left] in darkness. And the sun runs [on course] toward its stopping point. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing. And (as for) the moon, We have ordained for it stages till it becomes again as an old dry palm branch. It is not allowable for the sun to reach the moon, nor does the night overtake the day, but each, in an orbit, is swimming. - Quran Chapter 36 / Verses 37-40



"The reason I love these verses so much is that they are almost a reiteration of the age-old saying, and my personal favorite calming mechanism, that Allah does everything for a reason. If we ever look up to the sky to ask why the sun acts the way it does and why the moon acts the way it does, we can see that He has created a relationship between the two celestial bodies so that they work in harmony and makes sure that neither overpowers the other. It is also a beautiful image and representation and model of how we as humans should work, in harmony, never overtaking each other to benefit and 'over show' our power, but to work together and cooperate in peace as well as we can." - Zarin

Samah Safi Bayazid, Filmmaker, Washington, D.C.

Have you not considered how Allah sets forth a parable of a good word (being) like a good tree, whose root is firm and whose branches are in heaven. - Quran Chapter 14 / Verse 24



"This is one of my favorite verses in the Holy Quran. It really touches my heart, so I can relate to it in my life. 'Good word' and 'good work' is what I try to spread through my social media, where Im very blessed and honored to have over 200,000 followers. As a filmmaker, some of our works like the American drama series 'Inspiration' got millions of views and cleared many misconceptions about Islam and American Muslims. Many people tell me that my words/works have inspired them and touched their hearts and lives. This always makes me think about the power of sincere words and actions, and how words can really be like 'a good tree whose roots are firm and whose branches are in heaven.' I hope that some of my words and works can become like a good tree in my lifetime and after I leave this world too." - Samah

Yousef, High School Student, Chicago

Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended. Whoever migrates with an intention for Allah and His messenger, the migration will be for the sake of Allah and His messenger. And whoever migrates for the worldly gain or to marry a woman, then his migration will be for the sake of whatever he migrated for. - Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)



"This hadith has had a great impact in my life. When I was a little younger, I loved to give charity to others in front of people. I wanted to be seen in the public eye as a good kid; it mattered what people thought of me. Little did I know I was only looking to gain the pleasure of the people around me and not the pleasure of Allah. I was not thinking whether or not what I was doing made Allah be pleased with me. Then one day I heard this hadith and I knew I had to change the way I did things and my intentions toward doing them. I realized that the way I thought was wrong and that if I wanted to do a good deed, I needed to do it for the sake of Allah only. I understood that only through the pleasure and love of Allah I could gain the love of the people." - Yousef

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
America must take literally the threat of North Korea conducting a powerful nuclear test over the Pacific Ocean, according to a top official.

Dramatically upping the stakes as it showcases its bolstered military prowess, North Korea last month conducted its first test of a powerful hydrogen bomb. Shortly afterward, the countrys foreign minister responded to Donald Trumps threat to totally destroy North Korea by saying the country could conduct the strongest hydrogen bomb test over the Pacific Ocean.

It was not an idle warning, according to senior diplomat Ri Yong Pil, who told CNN the possibility was meant to be taken literally.

The foreign minister is very well aware of the intentions of our supreme leader, so I think you should take his words literally, Mr Ri told CNN.

The threat of a nuclear test came as North Korea renewed its warning that America was provoking a military conflict, calling joint naval exercises a prelude to nuclear war.

The claim, made in a letter from North Korean ambassador Ja Song Nam, is the latest in a series of threats and recriminations America and North Korea have exchanged over a tense few months. As North Korea has tested increasingly powerful weaponry and threatened to obliterate its enemies, the Trump administration has responded with vows to punish Korea with force if necessary.

It has also conducted joint military exercises with South Korea, including a Navy drills that dispatched around 40 vessels -among them the nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier - near the Korean Peninsula this month.

At the time North Korea referred to those drills as a rehearsal for war. In his letter, Mr Ja asked the United Nations Security Council to examine what he called the general mobilization of the strategic assets for the exercise.

Mr Ja said Donald Trump made the most ferocious declaration of war in history by claiming to totally destroy North Korea. The President issued that warning during a mid-September speech to the United Nations, continuing to match Korean bellicosity with American warnings of military reprisal. Defense Secretary James Mattis had said weeks earlier that North Korea risked total annihilation if it continued to defy the world and threaten allies.

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China, seen as crucial to reining in its belligerent neighbor, has joined the world effort to halt North Korea but has also echoed the countrys warnings about US military exercises functioning as acts of aggression.

In August, the countrys foreign ministry urged America to suspend planned military drills that it warned would escalate tensions. A state editorial condemning North Koreas nuclear test in September also reprimanded the US for its belligerent tone, cautioning that military exercises on DPRK's doorstep ate into Pyongyang's sense of security and suggesting that North Korea suspend its military programs in exchange for the suspension of military exercises.

The UN Security Council to which Mr Ja issued his plea has had limited success in containing North Korea. It has clamped successive rounds of sanctions on the North Korean economy but failed to deter the nation's military ambitions, leading American ambassador to the the UN Nikki Haley to declare diplomatic options exhausted

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A coalition of La Crosse Common Council members has put forth an effort for a complete third-party audit of the citys parks department.

Council member Andrea Richmond introduced a resolution this week that will go before the citys Finance & Personnel Committee on Nov. 2 after council members Barb Janssen, Roger Christians, Scott Neumeister and David Marshall signed on to fast-track the legislation.

I just felt it was important to have an external independent review of the expenditures and revenues that have been raised in the parks and recreation department, Richmond said.

The resolution calls for the city to pay WIPFLI $30,000 to conduct a review of the parks department procurement procedures, income generated, donations received, expenses incurred and associated accounts for three years.

It sends a clear message to the community that there is going to be a process thats going to explore the way weve done things in the past, Marshall said.

The move comes on the heels of an internal audit ordered by La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat two weeks ago, which directed the citys finance department to review six parks projects: Riverside Park, Veterans Memorial Pool, Copeland Park, Carroll Field, Trane Park and Poage Park.

Kabat introduced the audit in an effort to make sure the city is as transparent as possible when it comes to how money is allocated and spent on public projects, particularly those projects which also draw private donations.

While Marshall was pleased to see Kabats internal audit, he said his constituents had told him they would feel better knowing it was from a disinterested third party.

Any time that youre considering having an internal audit, you should weigh the pros and cons on having an internal versus an external, Marshall said.

Richmond expanded the audit to include all of the departments books for the past three years to get a complete analysis.

I think there needs to be a broader picture out there and not just a focus on those, Richmond said.

While Marshall said hed prefer the city prioritize projects that are private-public partnerships, he understood Richmonds reasoning.

This is not about the people. Its about the process, Marshall said.

Richmond agreed, adding that an outsiders perspective could be very useful.

I think we need to make sure were doing the right thing here, make sure were doing the right procedures and tracing invoices to expenses, Richmond said. Different eyes can see something different maybe.

Parks director Steve Carlyon said the process predates his tenure and funding allocation for parks projects is done through resolutions.

Its not bad to have a healthy look at way things are done, Carlyon said.

Marshall stressed that the audit is not a critique of the way Carlyon leads his department.

I have a lot of regard for Steve Carlyon. I think hes an individual with phenomenal leadership capabilities, Marshall said.

The mayors internal audit was scheduled to be completed in three months. Richmond said shes hoping for a similar time frame, but the external audit could take longer.
New Zealanders are really into creating social media accounts for their animals.

Even the country's incoming Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, whose cat Paddles  a ginger and white cat with opposable thumbs  has its own Twitter account, @FirstCatofNZ.

SEE ALSO: Get your fluffy cat snuggles without the cat

It's not exactly known who actually runs the account, according to Newshub. The account's description says it's an "independent cat" and that it's "not affurliated with the Labour Pawty."

However, there's speculation that it's run by Ardern's partner, Clarke Gayford, a host of a TV fishing show.

Hi, I'm Paddles and I am the First Cat of New Zealand. I have opposable thumbs, I'm purrty special. pic.twitter.com/MPkxdhWCRu  Paddles (@FirstCatofNZ) October 21, 2017

"There is indeed an account in the name of my cat and I have no idea who has created it," Ardern told the news outlet.

"I am quite happy for that person to continue logging on behalf of Paddles, keeping in mind Paddles has thumbs, I can't put it past her it's her own account as well."

Who wouldn't own up to being this the voice behind this adorable ball of fur?

Thanks Mum for bringing me out so I can speak to the press. Must give the people what they want - and what they want is me. Prrrrp  pic.twitter.com/uiA1jk3qeN  Paddles (@FirstCatofNZ) October 21, 2017

Me before becoming First Cat. Life was so easy. It was the campaign of my life and I am honoured to serve both people and puss. pic.twitter.com/dwf5hDVT5J  Paddles (@FirstCatofNZ) October 22, 2017

@FirstCatofNZ Hey Paddles. Thanks for keeping me company the other week when my daughter was watching your mum. #goodneighbours pic.twitter.com/SyQKuJX54B  Matt Martel (@matt_martel) October 23, 2017

just spent all morning explaining to cat that she's not even 1 yet so how can she possibly be writing her memoirs

Thanks a lot @FirstCatofNZ pic.twitter.com/JW92LNv926  Clarke Gayford (@NZClarke) October 24, 2017
No doubt Michael Jackson was smiling down Tuesday night as two of his children stood hand-in-hand in support of his longtime friend, the late Elizabeth Taylor.

Prince Jackson, 20, and 19-year-old Paris Jackson made a joint appearance at a fundraising gala for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, where they walked the red carpet looking happy as ever. Prince paired a sport coat with jeans while his sister opted for a bohemian off-the-shoulder maxi dress.

Paris is an ambassador for the foundation, which is particularly fitting since Taylor was her godmother. She hosted the evening alongside designer Zac Posen.

Over the past year, both Prince and Paris have become more comfortable with life in the spotlight. Prior to 2015, they rarely made public appearances -- perhaps in part because their father, who died in 2009, had a complicated relationship with the press.

Also in attendance at the Beverly Hills event, which benefited mothers2mothers in addition to the foundation, were John Stamos and his new fiance as well as Heidi Klum and James Corden.
(Photo: Tom Williams via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) privately conceded to a group of House conservatives on Tuesday that he plans to include a legislative fix for undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children in a year-end spending deal.

Asked if he envisioned a December omnibus spending bill including Cost Sharing Reductions for Obamacare or some sort of solution for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Ryan told leaders of the Republican Study Committee that he didnt believe CSR payments would be part of the deal with Democrats, but that DACA would.

He did talk about the fact that that would be good if we could get ahead of that as opposed to being reactionary, RSC Chairman Mark Walker (R-N.C.) told HuffPost Tuesday night.

When HuffPost asked Walker if Ryan had said Republicans didnt have the votes to do something on DACA alone, and therefore needed Democratic support, Walker said, It wasnt as clear cut as that  and it rarely is, actually  but he did make reference that [DACA provisions] would be something that might be part of the whole ball of wax.

RSC Steering Committee member Rob Woodall (R-Ga.) pushed back somewhat on the idea that Ryan was saying DACA would definitely be part of a year-end deal, but he agreed that Ryan suggested Republicans needed Democratic votes.

I would have said we were having a discussion about where the year was going, whats left thats out there to get done, Woodall said. Thats on the list of things to get done, and we just wouldnt have the votes to do it by itself, so it would have to get combined.

Two other Republicans, who were not part of the discussion but were briefed on it by a member who was in attendance, said they heard the speaker was clear that DACA would be part of a year-end deal. Ryans office did not return a request for comment.

Walker did note that the speaker was emphatic that additional border security measures would be part of any agreement legislatively codifying DACA, which President Donald Trump ended last month.

Story continues

He did talk about border security, Walker said of Ryan. The language that Ive used, when we did the poll in the RSC, 83 percent of the RSC members believe that a precursor of any kind of long-term DACA fix is securing the border. Now that could be defined different ways. I didnt get any impression that Speaker Ryan has moved off of that position.

But Walker conceded that enhanced border security didnt necessarily mean a wall.

I dont think that anybody has said definitively that the wall has to be part of that, Walker said.

There is some risk in taking Ryans comments too seriously. What he means by DACA could differ greatly from what Democrats want or believe is an acceptable solution. Ryan could also find significant opposition from his conference  or from the White House  and be forced to revise his negotiating strategy.

When HuffPost asked Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) on Tuesday about Ryan potentially including DACA in a year-end spending deal, Yoho said he better not.

You gotta get rid of DACA. DACA needs to go away, Yoho said.

Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) also said it would be a big problem if Ryan included those immigration provisions in a December omnibus bill. Thats true leadership, I guess, Labrador said facetiously.

But Ryans private comments are significant as Republicans and Democrats begin negotiations on a year-end spending deal. If the speaker already believes DACA will be included in an omnibus bill, it would be a huge Democratic win that could make discussions more difficult for Ryan  with his conference and with leaders on the other side of the aisle.

Trump put Republicans in this position when he announced he was ending the Obama executive action in March, throwing the fates of hundreds of thousands of undocumented young people in the hands of Congress. Suddenly, a party that had decried DACA and said they wanted a legislative solution was put in the position of either passing one or being responsible for so-called Dreamers losing their jobs and being deported.

Many Republicans have said they want to do something for Dreamers, but passing a stand-alone bill would likely only be possible if Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) chose to put a measure on the floor without majority support from their party.

Adding DACA provisions to an omnibus bill is a potential workaround, and likely the best chance for Dreamer protections to succeed, but it also still alienates many Republicans and would likely force a significant number of them to vote no, which in turn could strengthen the Democratic negotiating position on spending and other demands, like the Obamacare subsidies.

Democrats have said they will vote against the year-end spending bill if it doesnt include legal status for young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, and Republicans dont have enough votes to pass an omnibus bill in the Senate without at least some Democratic help.

Attaching Dreamer protections to the omnibus bill would also be a way for Republicans  including Trump  to save face. The president has already suggested he might act administratively if Congress fails to do anything for these immigrants. But, as Democrats have learned, anything Trump says could change quickly.

In September, Democratic leaders reported that Trump told them he would agree to Dreamer protections in exchange for border security, but Trump later reneged on that deal, and some White House staffers have tried to thwart an agreement by asking for demands that are unreasonable to Democrats.

Senate Republicans are reportedly working on a deal of their own that would include Dreamer protections along with other measures. But in the House, while Ryan created a working group to find a deal on Dreamers, he also included members who staunchly oppose legal status for undocumented immigrants.

Although Trump and some lawmakers have said they have until March of next year to act, the reality is that some Dreamers are already suffering from Trumps decision to rescind DACA. If Congress doesnt act, the situation will become even more dramatic on March 6; no DACA recipient whose permits expire after March 5 will able to renew them, so Dreamers will begin to lose protections in large numbers, forcing them to leave their jobs and putting them at risk of being detained and deported.

Democrats have said theyre willing to agree to certain border security measures  though not a wall  in exchange for a DACA deal. If Dreamer measures were part of a broader government spending bill, lawmakers could say they also got immigration enforcement funding as part of the package and both sides could claim some victories. But its clear that Democrats would believe they won the negotiations, even as Republicans in a number of swing districts would be blamed for any inaction.

Passing Dreamer measures is broadly popular. A Fox News poll in September found that 62 percent of voters said it was either extremely or very important for Congress to approve such a bill, and 86 percent believed Dreamers should be allowed to stay in the country.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
TOKYO (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will visit Japan for talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe this month, ahead of key regional meetings beginning with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering in Vietnam in November. "Japan and the Philippines have close ties and our strategic partnership can promote stability in the region," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Wednesday during a regular press briefing. Duterte will arrive on Oct 29 for a three day visit, Suga said. Japan is concerned about China's growing power in the South China Sea and sees cooperation with the Philippines, which lies on the waterway's eastern side, as key to helping prevent the spread of Beijing's influence into the western Pacific. Duterte, unlike his predecessor, Benigno Aquino, has courted China and has been less critical of its island building in the region. Following the two-day APEC meeting from Nov 11, which U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend, Asia Pacific leaders will travel to the Philippines for the East Asia Summit, including representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other Asia Pacific nations. Duterte's visit will mark his second trip to Japan and his third meeting with Abe. (Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Paul Tait and Sonali Paul)
Anthony Naiboa

A series of murders over the past two weeks in Seminole Heights, a residential section of Tampa, Florida, has residents on edge. Three people have been killed by gunshot, including Anthony Naiboa, a 20-year-old on the autism spectrum.

The police believe the killings are linked based on the timing and proximity of each incident, although the mayor, Bob Buckhorn, said he is cautious calling the person a serial killer. So far, the police have not identified a motive or a suspect.

The first victim, Benjamin Mitchell, 22, was a full-time student at Hillsborough Community College. Monica Hoffa, 32, an American Sign Language teacher, was the second victim. Naiboa, the latest victim, died after he was shot on the 19.

[Naiboa] was in the prime of his life and was taken instantly, said interim Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan during a news conference a day after Naiboa was killed.

Naiboa had gotten off at the wrong bus stop after work where he packaged hurricane relief supplies. Each shooting happened within a mile of each other, according to the Associated Press.

Related: I Have OCD. This Is What Its Like to Be in My Mind for 3 Minutes.

He wasnt any threat to nobody; he never did nothing to nobody, Casimar Naiboa, father of Anthony Naiboa, told WFLA-TV. I cant believe my son is gone.

Due to the current situation, police are escorting students to bus stops, and a city bus stop was rerouted to another location, according to the Tampa Bay Times. All three victims used the bus, police said.

Photo via Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay

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Temperatures were hot in San Francisco on Tuesday, as the trial of Jose Ines Garcia Zarate entered its second day.

Inside the San Francisco Superior Court, people fanned themselves and Judge Samuel Feng repeatedly invited attendees to take off their suit coats as the prosecution and defense tussled over the details of what happened on the evening that 32-year-old Kate Steinle was shot and killed.

The murder case has become a flashpoint in national debates over illegal immigration because Garcia Zarate  a Mexican citizen who has been deported five times  was released by the local sheriffs department weeks before the shooting took place in 2015, despite a federal request to detain him. The sheriff at the time has cited San Franciscos so-called sanctuary policies as the reason he was discharged, and President Trump has invoked Steinles name as evidence that border security must be tighter, immigration enforcement tougher.

No one denies that Garcia Zarate, who was homeless at the time, handled the gun that killed Steinle as she walked along Pier 14 with her father. But, while questions about the policies that helped lead an undocumented immigrant to that spot surround the trial, they will not play a role in the courtroom.

The issue at stake is what Garcia Zarates intentions were: did he discover a gun wrapped in rags under a bench and accidentally set it off, as his public defender has argued? Or did he shoot the firearm at a picturesque tourist location with an intent to kill, planning for the bullet to hit a human being?

The answer will determine whether he is convicted of second-degree murder, facing up to 15 years in prison. Matt Gonzalez, his attorney, described the incident as a tragedy while speaking to reporters outside the courtroom on Tuesday. He also said it was an accident waiting to happen. Investigators found that the bullet that killed Steinle hit the ground 78 feet away from her before ricocheting into her back.

Story continues

Inside the courtroom, Deputy District Attorney Diana Garcia brought forth several witnesses who testified about seeing Garcia Zarate on the pier that evening, asking questions that might help reveal his state of mind as the family of Steinle sat stoically behind her for much of the day.

One was Michelle Lo, a tourist from the East Coast who spoke to the court through a Cantonese interpreter (as Garcia Zarate listened to a Spanish translation through a headset). Lo described a man dressed in black who was turning around in a swiveling chair on the pier before the shooting, laughing and grinning and looking at people who walked past. She testified that he made her feel uncomfortable.

Another witness, a third grade teacher named Maria Moreno who watched the scene unfold from the fifth floor of a hotel across the street, described hearing a loud bang and screams of horror before watching Garcia Zarate briskly walk away from the scene with a scowl on his face. Gonzalez quizzed her about whether that might have been a determined look rather than a scowl. She said she couldnt say. He seemed to spend most of the day working to identify discrepancies and subjectivity in various accounts, drilling into details like the difference between staring and looking.

Speaking to reporters in the morning, Gonzalez also said that while his teams defense does not rest on issues of competence, it would be wrong to pretend that there arent also mental state and mental health issues in play.

As the day came to a close, the prosecution played a long video taken by crime scene investigators in the hours after Steinle was taken to the hospital. A police officer shot the video as he slowly walked along the Pier 14, which juts out in front of the Bay Bridge near the Ferry Building. The sun is setting in bright purples and pinks. The scenery is beautiful. But the camera lingers longest on splashes of red blood that remained on the ground.

No matter what happens in the case, such emotive images may find their way into debates over immigration policy in the future, even though there have been calls to leave her name out of the political arena out of respect for her family. Steinles death already inspired federal lawmakers to introduce an immigration bill that some called Kates Law, which would increase penalties for deported individuals.

That rhetoric will at least be absent over the next seven weeks or so, as lawyers in San Francisco drill down into the details of Steinles case rather than the big picture. Gonzalez said on Tuesday that he planned to use the video footage in future arguments about where Garcia Zarate was sitting and just how far that put him from the young woman.

The defense of accident is really also what happened, he said.
Madrid (AFP) - A Spanish prosecutor on Wednesday accused the ruling Popular Party (PP) of benefitting from funds obtained illegally by elected officials in the final days of a year-long corruption trial.

In July, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy testified in the trial, which centres on a vast bribery network that allegedly saw companies shower former PP lawmakers and party leaders with bribes in exchange for public contracts.

Rajoy denied any knowledge of the scheme, saying he never dealt with the financial affairs of the party he has led since 2004.

Prosecutor Concepcion Sabadell on Tuesday recalled that Rajoy's health minister Ana Mato resigned in 2014 after being accused of benefitting from gifts made to her then husband, Jesus Sepulveda, who was mayor of the city of Pozuelo de Alarcon near Madrid from 2003 to 2009.

"It is known that Sepulveda received commissions in connection with his duties as senator and mayor to award public contracts, cash and in kind, which benefited Ana Mato and the Popular Party," Sabadell told the court.

Altogether, 37 defendants are on trial accused of participating in a vast kickback scheme involving tens of millions of euros between 1999 and 2005, including two former party treasurers and businessman Francisco Correa, the alleged head of the network.

Companies would allegedly give Correa a commission of two to three percent on the value of public contracts.

His main accomplice was allegedly Luis Barcenas, a former PP treasurer who was close to Rajoy. Barcenas is accused of setting up a slush fund to top up the salaries of PP leaders.

The trial, which began near Madrid in October 2016, is expected to end on November 10.

A series of corruption scandals has hounded the PP and contributed to the party losing its absolute majority in 2015.

The trial is an added headache for Rajoy's government as Spain attempts to quash Catalonia's push for independence.
Thousands of peopleare fleeing Puerto Rico as the island remains without power and thedeath toll continues to climb more than a month after Hurricane Maria.

Even for those who can afford plane tickets and get to the airport, theres another hurdle: evacuating with pets.

Leaving the island with animals in tow has become a huge challenge, said Sarah Barnett of the Humane Society of the United States, which has workers on the ground in Puerto Rico. The pet owners Barnett has spoken with have been hysterical with worry, she said.

A dog roaming the streets of Old San Juan not long before Hurricane Maria hit the island.

Typically, airlines allow a passenger to fly with one cat or small dog in the cabin, though each airline has its own rules about the process and limits on how many pets can go on each flight.

Things get more complicated when it comes to flying larger pets or multiple animals. Under normal conditions, some airlines allow larger pets to fly in cargo holds. In the initial aftermath of Hurricane Maria, airlines werent allowing pets in cargo because of concerns about high temperatures and faulty power.

That means people wanting to leave the island by air with a large pet  or with multiple animals  were out of luck.

One woman had three cats, Barnett said. She said, I have a ticket for me and one cat, but what do I do with the other two?

Some pet owners stayed, remaining in dire conditions to care for animals. Others had to make gut-wrenching decisions. Claudia, a single mother who left for North Carolina with her baby and two dogs, left her other three dogs with a friend. Shes now desperately trying to bring those dogs to the mainland, too.

Sylvia Bedrosian, who runsPet Friendly Puerto Rico a group that promotes animal-friendly business policies on the island  told HuffPost she estimates thousands of pets have been left behind. However, Barnett cautioned it was difficult to know exact numbers.

A cat next to a destroyed home about two weeks after Hurricane Maria.

By now, some airlines are again flying out pets deemed too big for the main cabin. But the demand is greatly exceeding the number of available spaces for animals.

Story continues

Theyre inundated with people wanting to fly their animals out in cargo, Barnett said.

American Airlines is accepting a limited number of pets per flight as checked baggage, and United is transporting animals through its PetSafe program.

Delta, which previously waived fees for pets flying in the cabin from Puerto Rico, is also now flying out larger animals from San Juanvia Delta Cargo.

JetBlueandSouthwestnever transport pets in the cargo hold, though they both fly a limited number of small pets in the main cabin. A JetBlue spokesperson told HuffPost the airline haswaived all in-cabin pet fees for flights out of Puerto Rico through Nov. 15, and doubled the number of pets per flight from four to eight.

The state of Florida has also made accommodations,temporarily suspending some paperwork requirementsfor pets coming from Puerto Rico.

A dog next to fallen trees and damaged houses after the hurricane had passed.

On top of logistical issues, theres confusion about what airline policies actually are, and who is making the rules.A widely shared Daily Beast story said a federal ban was trapping pets in Puerto Rico.

However, both FEMA and the FAA told HuffPost they were not aware of such a ban. Multiple airlines said they did not know about any such embargo coming from federal authorities.

The intricacies of airline policies can be confusing, too, like the distinction between flying a pet in the cargo hold as checked baggage (which American Airlines is allowing) versus shipping a pet throughAmerican Airlines Cargo (which American Airlines is not permitting because of space restrictions).

Plus, with limited internet andcell phone coveragepost-hurricane, accessing information has been difficult. Some people have relied on mainland contacts to help them out, but not everyone has that luxury.

Meanwhile, animal rescue groups are helping mitigate the situation. Last week,The Sato Project, which cares for stray dogs on the island, was able to fly out seven dogs belonging to families leaving the island.

A post shared by The Sato Project (@thesatoproject)on Oct 20, 2017 at 6:08am PDT

Mostly, animal transport efforts are focused on bringing Puerto Rico shelter animals to mainland cities where they can be adopted. The Humane Society of the United States, in some cases working with volunteer pilots from the nonprofitWings of Rescue, has evacuated more than 1,500 cats and dogs, as well asa few pigs.

A post shared by humanesociety (@humanesociety)on Oct 18, 2017 at 1:01pm PDT

These mass transports not only help the shelter animals find homes, they also open up room in the already overcrowded shelters for any incoming pets.

Were trying to make it so they do have some room, allowing them to have that space, Barnett said.

This article has been updated to include comment from a Delta spokesperson.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
There's a new ransomware making the rounds today with confirmed targets in Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Germany. Kaspersky Labs says that nearly 200 victims have been hit with the ransomware that's been dubbed Bad Rabbit.

A number of cybersecurity groups -- including Kaspersky Labs and researchers at ESET and Proofpoint -- have stated that the attack was spread via a fake Adobe Flash update. And so far there have been reported cyberattacks on Russian media companies Interfax and Fontanka.ru. There have also been attacks on Ukraine's Odessa airport, the Kiev subway and Ukraine's Ministry of Infrastructure, though it's not immediately clear if they're all Bad Rabbit.

Once their computers are infected with the ransomware, users are sent to a darknet site that says they must pay 0.05 bitcoin (just over $281) in order to regain access to their encrypted files. They're given around 40 hours to make the payment before the price goes up, according to a countdown displayed on the site. Kaspersky Labs said in a post that it can't yet confirm that Bad Rabbit is related to NotPetya, which spread around the world earlier this year, but that it did use similar methods. However, ESET, a Czech Republic-based Slovakia-based security company said that, like NotPetya, Bad Rabbit is a variant of the Petya ransomware. Petya, NotPetya and WannaCry all spread through multiple countries earlier this year.

As of now, it's unclear who is behind the attack.
The state Department of Natural Resources policy board on Wednesday approved a controversial plan to add 200 miles of routes for all-terrain vehicles through Wisconsins largest state forest.

The master plan amendment for the 236,000-acre Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest is a landmark victory for ATV advocates, and a dramatic first step in the DNRs statewide search for ATV routes that can be built in parks and natural areas.

It was mandated by Gov. Scott Walker and the Legislature after years of campaign contributions and lobbying by ATV manufacturers. State government spends millions supporting off-road vehicle use, including paying for construction and maintenance of trails, mostly in county forests until now.

The Natural Resources Board unanimously approved the state forest plan with scant discussion of concerns raised by DNR staff, the public and scientific researchers that ATV noise, dust and trampling of wildlife habitat are likely to drive away hikers, campers and some hunters.

And the board told the DNR to open up even more of the forest to motor vehicles than department staff had proposed.

Board members added a master plan provision calling for the department to remove an unspecified number of soil berms that block access to hundreds of miles of back-country roads.

Opening the roads for cars and trucks would help elderly hunters who cant walk long distances, board members said. They acknowledged that ATVs might also use the opened-up routes. The berms keep park visitors away from logging operations.

In an interview with the Wisconsin State Journal before the meeting, board chairman Terry Hilgenberg said the cost of adding the motorized trails and modernizing campgrounds  which could run in the millions of dollars  was too high, but he didnt address that concern during the meeting.

Before approving the master plan, the board reduced the number of rustic campgrounds the plan designated for modernization. DNR staff had listed five rustic campgrounds for installation of flush toilets and electrical hookups. But landowners near the Big Lake campground contacted board members to object, so the board eliminated that project.

Modern amenities are designed to meet demand park administrators say they have observed from campers.

The DNR estimated a $450,000 cost for each new shower building with flush toilets and $250,000 for each bathroom with flush toilets, plus $250,000 for each sewage system pump station. Adding electric hook-ups would cost $4,000 to $5,000 per campsite.

The master plan didnt estimate the cost for developing 200 miles of ATV routes, but construction of much shorter routes was once estimated at more than $5 million.

State parks director Ben Bergey said he was working on a funding proposal that the governor and Legislature could consider for the next state budget less than two years from now.

Paying for trails

The DNR hasnt determined where all the ATV routes would be built. Most of the mileage is expected to follow primitive forest roads.

All routes would need to meet restrictions laid out in a 12-page DNR guidance document aimed at avoiding harm to sensitive areas or disturbing forest users seeking a quieter experience.

The master plan includes a map showing 42 miles of future ATV routes, but some were being reevaluated because they ran too close to an osprey nesting area.

In 2008, the board rejected 49 miles of trails that followed some of the same route through the southern part of the state forest south of Sayner. The price was $5.4 million or $110,000 per mile. An alternative in the northwestern part of the forest was $179,000 per mile.

One cost factor was building major bridge systems and boardwalks over wetlands and streams. And there was difficulty avoiding private land. Private property owners have been unwilling to allow ATV access because of potential for property damage and noise, advocates for off-road recreation say.

In 2008, DNR staff said the trail option near Sayner was likely to raise hackles because it ran close to recreational facilities such as a bike trail, three rustic campgrounds, and a natural area encompassing Bittersweet and Prong lakes.

Hilgenberg said Tuesday that if the ATV industry wanted expensive trails on public land it might need to come up with some money.

If all you ATVers and UTVers want this stuff, youre going to have to figure out how were going to pay for it because we dont have the money, Hilgenberg said. UTVs are utility terrain vehicles, which are larger than ATVs.

Currently, the state is sending money to ATV user groups.

About $6 million a year in fuel and registration fee revenue help support motorized recreation, including nearly $4 million a year in ATV trail maintenance grants that often go to ATV clubs. Another $500,000 annually in borrowed money is allocated for ATV and snowmobile facilities, including trails. And nearly $300,000 annually goes to a nonprofit set up by the state ATV association to promote safety.

The DNR has identified potential sites for ATV routes in a process it calls recreational opportunities analysis. It completed analysis for a large portion of northern Wisconsin and is working on two others, including one that tentatively lists DNR properties for ATV access.

Specific proposals are most likely to come forward in park master plans. The department has four master plan revisions in the works, and they will go to the Natural Resources Board for approval in the next six months, said DNR spokesman Jim Dick.

The DNR accepts public comment in both the writing of recreational opportunities analyses and revising of master plans.

Hilgenberg and board member Frederick Prehn said they want the DNR to find ways to ensure that the voices of individual campers, hikers and hunters are heard to supplement opinions from organizations for motorized vehicle users, hunters and others that already exert influence.

If all you ATVers and UTVers want this stuff, youre going to have to figure out how were going to pay for it because we dont have the money. Terry Hilgenberg, Natural Resources Board chairman
Former U.S. President George W. Bush speaks after being honored with the Sylvanus Thayer Award at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, on Oct. 19, 2017. (Photo: Brendan McDermid / Reuters)

The Trump era has offered no shortage of unusual partisan shifts. Trump voters now hate the NFL. Evangelical Christians no longer find personal immorality to be a deal breaker in their politicians.

And, as a new survey finds, former president George W. Bush is no longer persona non grata among Democrats.

A 51 percent majority of the party now holds at least a somewhat favorable view of Bush, according to a new YouGov/Economist survey, with just 42 percent still viewing him unfavorably. The share of Democrats who give him the most negative rating possible, very unfavorable, isnt much higher than the percentage of Trump voters who say the same.

Another poll released Wednesday, from Fox News, finds somewhat more mixed opinions, with 48 percent of Democratic voters viewing Bush favorably and 46 percent unfavorably.

Bushs newfound bipartisan popularity is a remarkable change from his tenure as president, when he was loathed by the left and broadly unpopular in the nation as a whole. Democratic approval of Bush dropped to as low as 4 percent during his final year in office.

(Photo: YouGov)

Much of Democratic criticism of Bush centered on the Iraq War, which, incidentally, hasnt received a similarly rosy reevaluation. Americans are now so vehement that it was a mistake that relatively few will admit they ever supported it.

Many Democrats, however, seem to have developed some nostalgia for a president who, regardless of his foreign policy record, offered a more traditional sense of presidential decorum  and didnt tweet.

They also have a common enemy. Bush, who stayed largely on the sidelines of politics during President Obamas tenure, has emerged to seemingly criticize Trump, if not by name.

We have seen our discourse degraded by casual cruelty, he said at a policy seminar earlier this month. Weve seen nationalism distorted into nativism, forgotten the dynamism that immigration has always brought to America.

Bush owes some of his newfound goodwill, however, simply to the passage of time: Most modern presidents see their images burnished to some extent after leaving office.

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Former President Bill Clinton, for instance, saw his favorability rating soar to 66 percent a decade after hed left office, thanks in large part to a significant softening in Republicans attitudes.

As data from Gallup makes clear, Democrats opinions of Bush started rising well before the Trump era (maybe it was the dog paintings), but appears to have taken an additional recent upswing. In spring 2009, after Bush had left office, just a tenth of Democrats rated him favorably; by 2013, that number had risen to 24 percent. In July 2016, as the most recent general election kicked off in earnest, a third of Democrats held a favorable opinion of Bush. By this summer, according to Gallup, 41 percent did.

The YouGov/Economist poll consisted of 1,500 completed interviews conducted Oct. 22-24 among U.S. adults, using a sample selected from YouGovs opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population.

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(Photo: POOL New / Reuters)

The Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee helped to pay for the research behind a secret dossier on Donald Trump and his alleged ties to Russia during the 2016 presidential election, according to a report from The Washington Post published Tuesday evening.

The outlet, citing unnamed sources familiar with the dossiers funding, said Mark Elias, a lawyer representing the Clinton campaign and the DNC, hired the firm Fusion GPS to conduct the opposition research. Fusion in turn hired Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer with ties to U.S. intelligence agencies.

The research was funded until just before the election, according to the Post report. The Posts sources said that neither the Clinton campaign nor the DNC directed Steeles research, and stressed that he was a contractor for Fusion GPS.

HuffPost has reached out to the DNC for comment.

Opposition research is standard practice in American elections, and its common for a campaign to hire an outside firm to investigate an opponent.

Not all opposition research is without scandal, however.

President Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr., came under fire this summer after The New York Times reported that he met with a Kremlin-connected Russian lawyer who promised to give him damaging information about Clinton. As The New York Times noted in July, its unusual for such research to come from other governments.

The Steele dossier first became public in January, when BuzzFeed published it in full. The document contains several unverified allegations against Trump and alleges that Russia holds compromising material against the president and his associates.

Trump, who has vehemently rejected the content of the report, was informed of its existence by then-FBI Director James Comey shortly before the presidents inauguration.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating possible ties between the Kremlin and Trumps presidential campaign team, is reportedly looking into the dossier. Several news outlets reported last month that Muellers investigators had spoken with Steele.

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Just last week Trump suggested on Twitter, without evidence, that the FBI may have helped pay for the dossier.

Fusion GPS has been fighting a subpoena by the House Intelligence Committee in federal court that would require the company to turn over its financial records, which would reveal who financed its research.

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Devin Nunes - AP

Republicans in Washington have announced an investigation into a uranium deal with Russia negotiated by the Obama administration.

The move was seen by Democrats as a Republican attempt to deflect attention away from continuing investigations into alleged Russian meddling in last year's presidential election.

In doing so the Republicans are moving to resurrect allegations that the Obama administration, in which Hillary Clinton served as Secretary of State, mishandled the deal which gave Russia control over more than 20 per cent of US uranium supplies.

Donald Trump and Republicans also allege that the uranium company donated to the Clinton Foundation to enlist Mrs Clinton's support - an accusation she dismissed as "baloney".

The investigation centres on Rosatom, the state-owned Russian nuclear energy company, which began buying shares in Uranium One - a Toronto based enterprise with interests in the US - in 2009.

Hillary Clinton Credit: Patrick Sermansky/AP

Rosatom became majority shareholders the following year before later assuming full ownership of the company.

The deal was approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a Government body made up of nine different administration agencies including the State Department.

Devin Nunes, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee insisted the new inquiry was separate from the investigation into its investigation of Russian involvement in the election.

"Well, the current Russia investigation is about the election. This is more about uranium and whether or not government functioned properly or not," Mr Nunes said.
Washington (AFP) - Republican lawmakers on Tuesday added to the already copious investigations swamping the US capital, announcing two new probes targeting Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

But Democrats quickly accused them of creating a "massive diversion" to distract from President Donald Trump's troubles.

One of the new probes is demanding more clarity on how the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice decided during the height of last year's White House race to not pursue charges against Clinton over her alleged misuse of a personal email server.

A second probe targets a 2013 decision by the Obama administration to approve the sale of a Canadian mining company Uranium One to Russian state-owned company Rosatom.

The move gave Rosatom control of 20 percent of US uranium stockpiles, and was decided after Uranium One made several donations to the Clinton Foundation of former president Bill Clinton.

The probes, involving the House Judiciary, Oversight and Intelligence Committees, came as Republicans and President Donald Trump weather increasing pressure from the multiple investigations into how Russia may have aided Trump's presidential campaign last year.

Announcing the Clinton-FBI probe, Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, both Republicans, stressed that Republicans cannot be the only targets of investigations.

"The law is the most equalizing force in this country. No entity or individual is exempt from oversight," Goodlatte and Gowdy said in a statement.

- Uranium deal -

Minutes later Devin Nunes, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and a prominent Trump defender, announced an examination of the uranium story.

The move came after a news article revealed last week that the FBI had been investigating the Uranium One-Rosatom deal in 2013 as part of an effort by Moscow to gain influence in the US nuclear industry, in part by paying bribes.

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Nunes said he wants to find out why Congress was not informed about any FBI investigation into the matter.

Nunes is an avid defender of Trump and was stripped of his lead role in the House Intelligence Committee's Russian interference investigation earlier this year for politicizing it.

He announced the new probe Tuesday after Trump repeatedly tweeted about the case.

"Uranium deal to Russia, with Clinton help and Obama Administration knowledge, is the biggest story that Fake Media doesn't want to follow!" Trump tweeted last Thursday.

Democrats, meanwhile, blasted Republicans for trying to distract attention and resources from the investigations into Russian election interference.

"This new investigation is a massive diversion to distract from the lack of Republican oversight of the Trump administration and the national security threat that Russia poses," said Democratic Representatives Elijah Cummings and John Conyers in a statement.

"Ten months into the Trump administration and House Republicans still have not held a single substantive oversight hearing on clear abuses by the president or his top aides."
Baghdad (AFP) - Thousands of foreign jihadists who have fled Islamic State group-held territories in Iraq and Syria could pose major security problems as they return home, a think-tank said Tuesday.

At least 5,600 citizens or residents of 33 countries had returned home as IS faced devastating assaults on territories it held in Iraq and Syria, said the Soufan Center, a non-profit security analysis group.

"Added to the unknown numbers from other countries, this represents a huge challenge for security and law enforcement entities," it said.

IS proclaimed a caliphate in 2014 on territories the size of Italy which it had seized in a sweeping assault across swathes of Iraq and Syria.

It has since lost some 85 percent of the territories it controlled to US and Russian-backed offensives.

But despite its collapse, Soufan warned that IS or something similar would likely survive as long as the "so long as the conditions that promoted its growth remain".

Some of the survivors among 40,000 foreign IS fighters from more than 110 countries would inevitably "remain committed to the form of violent 'jihad' that al-Qaeda and IS have popularised", it said.

"It is clear that anyone who wishes to continue the fight will find a way to do so."

IS has claimed a string of attacks across the Middle East, Europe and beyond since declaring its "caliphate".

The Soufan report cited Radicalisation Awareness Network figures saying around 30 percent of some 5,000 European Union residents thought to have gone to fight in Syria and Iraq had since returned home.

Soufan estimated that Russia was the source of the greatest number of jihadists (3,417), with more than 3,000 each from Saudi Arabia and Jordan, 2,962 from Tunisia and 1,910 from France.

The Soufan report said re-integrating women and children who had joined IS posed particular problems.

It said governments usually either incarcerate returning jihadists, which "only postpones the problem", or place them in reintegration programmes, which it says are "notoriously hard to design and run".

"The questions of identity, and the widespread mistrust of government institutions and mainstream politics that IS has managed to exploit are unlikely to go away," the report said.

"Nor therefore is the phenomenon of foreign fighters and returnees, whether they join the remnants of IS or other new groups that emerge in its image".
Washington (AFP) - A leading US civil rights group is warning black travelers against flying on American Airlines, saying that they could face "disrespectful, discriminatory or unsafe" treatment.

The NAACP said Tuesday that a series of "troublesome" recent incidents "suggest a corporate culture of racial insensitivity and possible racial bias on the part of American Airlines."

"In light of these confrontations, we have today taken the action of issuing national advisory alerting travelers -- especially African Americans -- to exercise caution, in that booking and boarding flights on American Airlines could subject them disrespectful, discriminatory or unsafe conditions," it said.

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said in a memo to employees Wednesday that the firm was "disappointed" about the advisory, adding: "we do not and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind."

Following a request from the rights group, American is extending an invitation for NAACP representatives to meet with airline executives at its headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.

"We have reached out to the NAACP and are eager to meet with them to listen to their issues and concerns," Parker said.

Among the incidents cited by the NAACP was one involving an African-American woman and her infant child who were removed from a flight from Atlanta to New York City after she asked that her stroller be retrieved from checked baggage before she left the plane.

The NAACP did not give names of the people involved in the incidents or indicate when they took place, and American did not comment on the specific allegations.
A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed the Ho-Chunk Nation from a lawsuit by a rival tribe protesting the expansion of the Ho-Chunk Nations northern Wisconsin casino, saying the lawsuit was filed at least three years too late.

U.S. District Judge James Peterson said that the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans, who had sought a preliminary injunction blocking slot machines and table games in the expansion of the Ho-Chunk casino in Wittenberg, should have filed its lawsuit before 2014, the end of a six-year statute of limitations.

The Stockbridge-Munsee have known about gaming compact violations it alleges were committed by the Ho-Chunk since the Ho-Chunk opened a casino there in 2008, he wrote.

Since 1992, the Stockbridge-Munsee Band has operated the North Star Casino Resort about 20 miles east of Wittenberg and feared that an expansion of the Ho-Chunk casino would hurt its profits. The Ho-Chunk plan to add more than 200 slot machines, 10 gaming tables, a hotel, a restaurant and a bar at the site.

Wittenberg is about 25 miles east of Wausau, in Shawano County.

The Stockbridge-Munsee also assert that the state has failed to enforce its gaming compact with the Ho-Chunk, and have threatened to withhold nearly $1 million in payments to the state, which they have said would be an unlawful tax in light of the gaming compact violations they allege.

Here it is entirely reasonable to expect the Stockbridge-Munsee to have sued the Ho-Chunk over the operation of the Wittenberg casino well before 2014, Peterson wrote. They have known the facts supporting each element of their claims since 2008. They could have sued the Ho-Chunk then. Instead, they acquiesced to the Wittenberg casino for nearly a decade until the Ho-Chunk decided to expand. In other words, the Stockbridge-Munsee had six years to call attention to the Wittenberg casinos alleged violations of the Ho-Chunk Compact, but failed to do so.

Petersons decision granted the Ho-Chunk Nations motion for a judgment based on written material submitted so far, and dismissed the Ho-Chunk from the lawsuit. He dismissed the Stockbridge-Munsees motion for a preliminary injunction barring the Ho-Chunk from operating any of the slot machines and gaming tables in the expansion.

Peterson did not decide whether the Stockbridge-Munsees claims against the other defendants in the case  the state of Wisconsin and Gov. Scott Walker  are similarly late. While the state and Walker havent asked for dismissal, Peterson wrote, he will allow them to address the timeliness issue.

Should the Stockbridge-Munsee fail to show that its claims against the state are timely, the court will dismiss the claims against the state, Peterson wrote.

Megan Hakes, spokeswoman for the Stockbridge-Munsee Band, said the tribe is reviewing the just-issued order and its options.

Ho-Chunk spokesman Collin Price said this was the decision that was expected and hoped for, so were happy the court ruled in our favor.

Price said the project is about 85 percent complete, and that the gaming floor will open on Nov. 1, with the hotel and the rest of the project to be finished in February.

According to Petersons decision, the Stockbridge-Munsee say the Ho-Chunk casino in Wittenberg violates the Ho-Chunk gaming compact because the land where it is located was acquired in trust after October 1988, making it ineligible for gaming.

The Stockbridge-Munsee argued that every day the Ho-Chunk casino operated, it was a continuing violation of its compact, so that the statute of limitations runs from the date of the last violation. Peterson wrote that while that was a closer call, its a narrow exception that doesnt save the tribes claim.
New York (AFP) - Fats Domino, whose rollicking boogie-woogie piano helped give birth to rock 'n' roll, has died in his lifelong home of New Orleans, the coroner said Wednesday. He was 89.

One of the top-selling artists of the 1950s, Domino had been hailed as an indispensable influence by legends including Elvis Presley, Bob Marley and especially The Beatles, who called his music their first encounter with rock.

The famously reclusive musician, who had made few public appearances over the past decade, died Tuesday morning of natural causes, said Gerry Cvitanovich, the coroner of Jefferson Parish.

"He was a world-class musician, known for his shaping of rock 'n' roll as we know it," New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said in a statement.

Domino's daughter earlier told a local television station that the rock legend died peacefully around family.

Despite finding global fame, Domino never moved out of the working-class Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans where he and his late wife Rosemary raised eight children and he would sometimes be spotted sleeping outside in a hammock.

In his heyday Domino rivaled Presley in record sales and for the crown of King of Rock 'n' Roll. But with a natural shyness, and segregation still reigning in much of the United States, the self-effacing Domino faded in prominence by the mid-1960s as a crop of swaggering rock stars came to dominate pop culture.

Born as Antoine Domino, the plump pianist picked up his nickname early -- which was cemented by the success of 1949's "The Fat Man," the first rock 'n' roll single to sell one million copies as post-World War II consumer culture took root.

With his rhythm-and-blues piano backed up by an energetic back-beat, Domino on "The Fat Man" offered self-deprecating humor -- "They call me the fat man / 'Cause I weigh 200 pounds" -- and turned his voice into a trumpet-like instrument, singing, "Wah-wah-wah, wah-wah."

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He later recorded hits that became omnipresent on American jukeboxes such as "Ain't That a Shame," "Blueberry Hill," "I'm Walking" and "It's You I Love."

- Inspiration to rockers -

Domino was part of the first group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

Beach Boys songwriter Brian Wilson said Domino dominated the radio as he was young, tweeting: "He was a great singer and piano player and his music will last forever."

The Beatles requested to see Domino when they first played New Orleans in 1964, with the Fab Four grinning in a huddle around him.

John Lennon said "Ain't That a Shame" was the first song he learned to play, while Paul McCartney later channeled Domino on the 1968 track "Lady Madonna" -- which Domino in turn covered in his last hit.

Born to a French Creole family of limited means, Domino as a child would work hauling ice in notoriously humid New Orleans in the age before air-conditioning. With most homes then keeping pianos, Domino would stop to play as he dropped off the often gigantic chunks.

Inspired by boogie-woogie pianists such as Meade Lux Lewis, Domino became innovative on the keys, notably with his use of triplet notes which added to the vibrant rhythms. He honed his musical skills with his father, a fiddler, and a brother-in-law who played banjo.

Domino found a global audience after being sought out by Lew Chudd, a Canadian-born advertising salesman who had seen the potential of recorded music and earlier worked with the jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman.

Domino signed onto the new Imperial Records, where he would co-write songs with longtime collaborator Dave Bartholomew, a New Orleans trumpeter.

- 'Ain't That a Shame' -

"Ain't That a Shame" marked a turning point for Domino and rock history. Working for the first time outside New Orleans, he recorded the song in Hollywood where Imperial Records seized on early studio effects to make the track more lively and less bluesy.

The 1955 song was the first by an African American artist to triumph on the US pop charts. He was soon performing on national television programs including "The Ed Sullivan Show" and touring the country.

But several of his shows in the segregated South were disrupted, with Domino -- like Chuck Berry soon after him -- offering the then unprecedented mix of music loved by both whites and blacks in venues with dancing and alcohol.

While his music helped break down the color barrier, Domino was soft-spoken. In a rare interview in 2004, he said he had grown up accustomed to segregation.

"That's the way it was when I started out," he told the New Orleans music magazine Offbeat. "I knew what they had going on so it was no use me trying to do anything about it. I just went along and did my thing."

He said he never thought of leaving New Orleans. Even when touring, he would often cook up shrimp for gumbo and other quintessentially Louisiana dishes.

"People would tell me -- well, they wouldn't tell me but other people would tell me -- 'They want to know why would you build an expensive house like that in that neighborhood.' Well, to me it didn't make no difference 'cause I like it and this is where I was born," he said.

Domino was briefly unaccounted for when Hurricane Katrina inundated the Ninth Ward of New Orleans in 2005. He was evacuated by boat and a year later released a final album, "Alive and Kicking," to benefit artists hit by the tragedy.
WASHINGTON  Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke  a former Navy SEAL  prides himself on being a follower of the rules, whether it be reviewing previous national monument designations or defending his occasional use of private aircraft for government business.

But a military tradition Zinke has revived at Interior Department headquarters in Washington appears to violate the agencys policy for displaying and flying flags.

Earlier this month, the Washington Post reported that when Zinke enters the building a security staffer takes the elevator to the seventh floor, climbs the stairs to the roof and hoists a special secretarial flag. And when he goes home for the day, the flag  light blue and featuring Interiors bison seal and seven white stars, one for each of the agency bureaus that existed when the flag was adopted  comes down.

The problem isnt when Zinke is in the office, as his specialty flag made clear he was Wednesday afternoon, its when hes gone.

If Zinke is away  say, manning the entrance station at Grand Canyon National Park or attending a National Rifle Association conference  a separate flag for deputy secretary David Bernhardt is swapped in, as the Washington Post reported. The story even included a photo of the flag for Bernhardt  identical to the one for Zinke, but white with blue stars  flying above the building.

The flag for the Interior Department's deputy secretary, bottom, flew last week above agency headquarters building in downtown Washington. The middle flag represents the department as a whole. (Photo: The Washington Post via Getty Images)

The Interior Departments manual  specifically Part 310, Chapter 5  spells out which flags are allowed to be flown outdoors. At the Secretarys direction, [the secretarys flag] may be flown over DOI-controlled buildings in which the Secretary is present.

The deputy secretarys ceremonial flag, however, is for indoor display only, in the immediate office of the Deputy Secretary, and at official functions and ceremonies at which the Deputy Secretary is the principal speaker.

(Photo: Screenshot/Interior Department)

The Interior Department did not respond to HuffPosts request for comment Wednesday. In a statement to the Post earlier this month, however, spokeswoman Heather Swift defended the flag-flying ritual as a major sign of transparency.

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Ryan Zinke is proud and honored to lead the Department of the Interior, and is restoring honor and tradition to the department, whether its flying the flag when he is in garrison or restoring traditional access to public lands, she told the publication.

Zinke came under fire late last month when, during a speech to an oil industry group, he said: I got 30 percent of the crew thats not loyal to the flag. The former Montana congressmans comment was met with outrage, including from a trio of groups representing retired Interior employees, which called the remarks ludicrous and deeply insulting.

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Samsung (SSNLF) wants you to talk to your phone more. Not in the traditional sense of calling someone, but rather by chatting directly with your handset via its Bixby voice assistant. Launched on the companys Galaxy S8, Bixby got off to a rough start. It lacked voice recognition out of the box and wouldnt gain the feature until months after its debut.

But Tim Baxter, president and CEO of Samsung North America, believes the companys assistant will power nearly all of its devices going forward.

We just announced last week at our developers conference what we call Bixby 2.0, which now brings this user interface not only in the phone, but in our televisions and appliances and other devices, he said at Yahoo Finances All Markets Summit. And we think that will create new multi-device experiences and new benefits for consumers.

Tim Baxter, president and ceo of Samsung North America, speaks at the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit.

Baxter envisions an ecosystem of Bixby-enabled devices across consumers homes. So if you want to see whats in your refrigerator, youll be able to ask Bixby and youll get a view of your old milk on your smartphone.

Thats not just a pipe dream, either. Samsung Vice President Eui-Suk Chung laid out a similar scenario in a blog post announcing Bixby 2.0 last week.

We see a world where digital assistants play a bigger role, an intelligent role, where one day everything from our phones, to our fridge, to our sprinkler system will have some sort of intelligence to help us seamlessly interact with all the technology we use each day, Chung wrote.

Bixbys biggest competitors, though, are heavyweights like Amazons (AMZN) Alexa, Googles (GOOG, GOOGL) Assistant and Apples (AAPL) Siri. Baxter, however, points out that Bixby was designed specifically to interact with Samsung devices rather than serve as a means to search the web or purchase items online.

Samsung is coming at it from, How do I utilize the technology and benefits in the device using a new UI and using voice? So, the ability to communicate directly to your device to learn more about it, he said.

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The phones we have are more and more complex, there is more and more power in it  So why not have machine learning do that and intuitively just say Take a selfie, post it on Instagram, or, Shut down for the night and have my phone go into mute, have my alarm set for 6 a.m., have the phone go into a lighter tone brightness on i. 

Bixby is still hobbled by the fact that the assistant doesnt have the kind of intelligence that Googles Assistant or Amazons Alexa currently offer. In time, though, the software could become more knowledgeable and eventually rival its chief competitors  but for now well have to wait and see.

More from Dan:

Email Daniel at dhowley@yahoo-inc.com; follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley.
San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz and the Montana-based energy company tasked with restoring Puerto Ricos hurricane-ravaged electrical grid engaged in a heated Twitter feud Wednesday.

Cruz was one of several political figures who expressed concern over Puerto Rico Electric Power Authoritys recent decision to award a $300 million contract to Whitefish Energy, a small energy firm that has been funded by a major donor to President Donald Trump and has ties to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

Cruz on Wednesday called the contract alarming and said it should be voided right away during an interview with Yahoo News.

A proper process which is clear, transparent, legal, moral and ethical should take place, Cruz said. What we need is somebody that can get the job done and that has the expertise to get the job done.

Whitefish fired back at Cruz on Twitter hours after the story was published, calling her comments misplaced and demoralizing.

We are making progress and doing work when others are not even here, the company said in a statement posted to Twitter.

Minutes later, Cruz, an outspoken critic of the Trump administrations hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico, went off on the firm in a series of tweets.

You think I am the only one in the world who has commented on this? Cruz tweeted. What is it about women having an opinion that irritates some?

You would think I am the only one in the world that has commented on this. What is it about women having an opinion that irritates some? pic.twitter.com/XxGNLomjQy  Carmen Yulin Cruz (@CarmenYulinCruz) October 25, 2017

Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D) and Congresswoman Jennifer Gonzalez (R) have expressed concerns are they also misplaced. @LuisGutierrez  Carmen Yulin Cruz (@CarmenYulinCruz) October 25, 2017

Here is another misplaced comment from Senator Dalmau. pic.twitter.com/EqEg3C3Cdu  Carmen Yulin Cruz (@CarmenYulinCruz) October 25, 2017

If @WhitefishEnergy feels that asking for transparency is misplaced, what are they afraid we will find.  Carmen Yulin Cruz (@CarmenYulinCruz) October 25, 2017

Soon after, Whitefish shot back at Cruz again, asking her if she would like the company to recall the electrical workers assigned to work on San Juans power lines in light of her comments.

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Weve got 44 linemen rebuilding power lines in your city & 40 more men just arrived. Do you want us to send them back or keep working?  Whitefish Energy (@WhitefishEnergy) October 25, 2017

Mayor, you called for our work to end. We do not want to leave the island without help. Were committed to restoring power to Puerto Rico.  Whitefish Energy (@WhitefishEnergy) October 25, 2017

The company quickly came under fire over its apparent threat to pull linemen from San Juan, which also prompted another response from Cruz.

@WhitefishEnergy implies that you will not treat the City of San Juan with the diligence it deserves. Thus admitting political motivations.  Carmen Yulin Cruz (@CarmenYulinCruz) October 25, 2017

Is this a joke? Are you threatening to deny life saving measures to PR? By the way, now that you're talking, how did you get that contract? https://t.co/jcsMV7sYN6  Juliette Kayyem (@juliettekayyem) October 25, 2017

Why are you arguing with someone on Twitter rather than, you know, RESTORING POWER TO THE ISLAND?  Matt LaCasse (@mattlacasse) October 25, 2017

Ken Luce, a spokesman for Whitefish Energy, defended the companys tweets and called the social media exchange a very straight and candid conversation with the mayor. He added Zinke did not do anything on the contract.

[Cruz] is using her platform to reach many people, in this case, with misguided anger, Luce told HuffPost. She was riling people up needlessly.

Her anger, frustration is just pointed in the wrong direction, he continued. Shes playing politics with this issue, at the moment, with the one company that is [in Puerto Rico] getting stuff done.

Representatives for both Cruz and the Department of Interior did not immediately respond to HuffPosts requests for comment.

Whitefish Energy is located in Zinkes hometown of Whitefish, Montana, and had just two full-time employees when back-to-back hurricanes pummeled Puerto Rico last month. It is financed in part by HBC Investments, a firm founded by Joe Colonnetta, who donated over $25,000 to Trumps 2016 presidential campaign, The Daily Beast reported on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Rep. Luiz Gutierrez (D-Ill.) called for an investigation into the contract and questioned why it was awarded to a company with no connection to Puerto Rico but plenty of connection to the Trump White House.

There is something very fishy about the Whitefish deal, Gutierrez said in a statement. I have been here 25 years and this doesnt pass the smell test.

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Kyra Murray holds a photo with victims of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School during a press conference at the US Capitol 18 September 2013 in Washington, DC: Win McNamee/Getty Images

The FBI has just released 1,500 pages of documents that shed more light on the tragic 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

Twenty children and six adults were gunned down that day by the shooter Adam Lanza, who then killed himself.

In the wake of the shooting, the FBI assisted local and state police with the exhaustive investigation and the documents released are comprised of field notes of witness statements from Lanzas neighbors, his life in the weeks and months leading up to the shooting, and more information from his school and medical records.

The trove also contains information gathered from grand jury subpoenas of internet companies Lanza frequently viewed.

There are also accounts of his relationship with his mother Nancy, whom Lanza shot four times and killed just before going to the elementary school.

According to agents field notes Lanza led an isolated existence in the months prior to the shooting, only listening to Japanese techno music and playing video games.

He and his mother only communicated via email because he did not leave his room for three months.

Ms Lanza, according to witness accounts, was worried and planned to move to Seattle the following spring in the hopes it would improve her sons life.

She had once worked at the school, which Lanza also attended, and one document detailed that "Lanza apparently felt his mother loved the students more than she loved him.

He also did not leave his house when superstorm Sandy had hit the east coast in October 2012, though the power had been cut for several days.

One set of notes indicated Lanza had no real friends.

A witness also told agents that the gunman had been bullied in school, but not excessively, due to his social awkwardness and physical appearance.

Lanza was considered underweight for his height and age at the time of his death.

An online friend, whom he met on a website dedicated to the 1999 Columbine High School mass shooting, called him the weirdest person online in one witness interview conducted.

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She also noted that Lanza used screen names that were styled to honour mass shooters like German Tim Kretschmer and Canadian Kimveer Gill.

The FBIs summary of the interview is chilling: "He was singularly focused and obsessed with mass murders  Lanza devoted almost all his internet activity to researching and discussing mass murders and spree killings.

Lanza also had a prior run-in with the bureau.

When he was in ninth grade, he had hacked through two levels of security into a government computer. The redacted documents did not indicate which agency.

Reportedly agents who visited the Lanza home spoke to Lanza's mother and told her that if her son was that smart, he could have a job with them someday.
Newtown school shooter Adam Lanza was a pedophile who thought he was saving children by killing them and was in such denial that he suffered from Asperger's syndrome that he refused medication for the disease.

The bombshell revelations were the first details from the FBI's secret trove of documents, which detail the bureau's investigation after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, on December, 14, 2012. About 1,500 pages of documents released Tuesday show Lanza didn't snap but rather planned his attack for more than a year, researching other mass shooting and smashing his computer's hard drive before he killed his mother and then left the gun-filled home he shared with her to kill 20 children and six teachers.

The documents shed light on some of the unknown aspects of the attack, but there is still much about Lanza, his planning and why he chose Sandy Hook that remains uncleareven though it's been nearly five years since the shooting that devastated the nation and world.

The FBI found Lanza's mother, Nancy, was a "gun nut" who lived a very paranoid life. She once didn't go to a party because she never opened the invitation out of fears it would have anthrax inside since there was not a return address, documents show.

Lanza sheltered her son and homeschooled him due to him suffering from Asperger's syndrome, which officials said made him anti-social, awkward around others and caused him to be bullied.

A friend of the family said Lanza was in "complete denial of his disease" and never took his medications.

Nancy Lanza volunteered at Sandy Hook school, and one person told the FBI that her son hated the school because he thought she loved the students more than him.

But another witness told agents that Adam Lanza "loved" the school and would pass frequently during his walks around the area.

The FBI's behavioral analysis unit gave a detailed assessment of Lanza's mental state and found he shared many of of the same characteristics and behaviors with other active shooters and concluded he "had an interest in children that could be categorized as pedophilia," an internal briefing document states.

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The FBI said there was no evidence that suggests Lanza ever acted on his interests in children, but the revelation do help pinpoint why he would open fire in an elementary school. Agents also found he'd been planning the attack since at least March 2011.

The analysis found in the weeks and months ahead of the attack, Lanza was having problems with his mother, which was "a significant challenge and stressor in his life."

Many described Lanza's mother as his only friend.

One woman, who claimed to have communicated with Lanza online, told the FBI he was unhappy with life and wrote frequently on a website dedicated to the mass shooting at Columbine High School, which left 13 innocent people dead in 1999.

In some of his blogs, the woman says Lanza talked about committing suicide. He also claimed to have a spreadsheet with all the details of other mass killings and said he hated the sunlight and found food unappealing.

Lanza wrote he felt "pity" for children and didn't like teachers or parents and their control over kids, the woman told FBI agents.

He also wrote about his "respect" for mass killers and about a dream where he watched a student shoot his classmates after they bullied him.

When agents asked her why Lanza shot children at Sandy Hook, the woman said he thought he was "saving them" and "taking them away from harmful influences" who were going to "brainwash" them, the documents show.

Throughout its search of Lanza's home, the FBI collected many things, including electronic devices, CDs and handwritten notes.

His computer was found with a broken hard drive and agents tried to pull some information from the device but the results were not released or were redacted in the 1,500 pages of documents. It's still unclear whether the computer holds details about Lanza's planning, or even a hidden manifesto.

One CD was found to have porn on it, while the others had Japanese videos and images on them. One of the handwritten notes found in his room had mentions of a gun shop, the FBI said.

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We know our galaxy is huge, and that theres an untold number of other galaxies out there in the unimaginably large universe. We also know that theres bound to be plenty of planets in those galaxies, and at least a portion of them are bound to be habitable by some form of life. So, why havent we detected, spotted, or at least heard the faint whispers of another intelligent civilization outside of Earth? A planetary scientist from Colorados Southwest Research Institute believes he might have the answer, and its literally chilling.

Speaking at a meeting of the American Astronomy Society Division for Planetary Sciences Division, Alan Stern proposed an incredible answer to the question which has long puzzled astronomers and first contact hopefuls: aliens arent living outside.

Don't Miss:I just replaced my sound bar with these wireless speakers and Im shocked at how good they sound

It sounds like total bunk to us since humans are spread across just about every nook and cranny of planet Earth, but theres a very real possibility that life could form, evolve, and even gain advanced intelligence without ever seeing the surface of their own planet. This would be most likely on frigid ocean worlds where underwater thermal vents would provide the heat energy to sustain life, and with the sheer number of frigid ocean worlds we already know exist, theres no shortage of opportunities for this to happen.

If an intelligent alien civilization evolved in the depths of an icy ocean world, it would be incredibly difficult for humanity to detect it, and even harder for them to contact us. In fact, even venturing to the surface of their own planet would be an incredibly difficult task, and as Stern notes, doing so would essentially be the equivalent of mankind venturing into space  a mysterious, frigid, and dangerous place.

Its obviously very difficult for us to imagine an entire civilization of intelligent creatures living deep within the ocean, but our understanding of the requirements for life mean that its entirely possible. The only question is whether or not it exists somewhere out there in the vast number of unexplored worlds.

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Yaounde (AFP) - A secessionist revolt is gaining ground in the English-speaking west of Cameroon, but for lack of charismatic local leaders, the impetus is coming from the diaspora, analysts say.

On October 1, secessionist militants proclaimed the independence of Ambazonia, the name they give to the two Anglophone regions, provoking a crackdown by President Paul Biya's security forces that left dozens dead and many injured.

The upheaval, which broke out at the end of 2016 and threatens to become an "armed insurrection" according to the International Crisis Group (ICG), was at first motivated by the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACSC), locally known as "the Consortium".

Formed in December 2016, the Consortium chaired by Felix Khongo Agbor Balla comprised four lawyers' associations and several teachers' unions, sharing a moderate attitude in favour of federal ties with the larger French-speaking parts of the country.

In January, the Consortium was dissolved and two leaders were arrested. They were later freed, but several others fled abroad, where their political stance hardened and they joined the ranks of the secessionists.

- Dangerous divisions -

France and Britain divided up the one-time German colony under League of Nations mandates after World War I. A year after the French-ruled territory became independent in 1961, the southern part of British Cameroons was integrated into a federal system, scrapped 11 years later for a "united republic".

In the Southwest and Northwest Regions, home to about 20 percent of Cameroon's population of 23 million, the secessionist struggle is waged "by local teams acting in semi-clandestine fashion", says Mathias Eric Owona Nguini, an academic researcher specialised in geostrategic analysis in central Africa.

While differences over strategy and tactics remain, small secessionist groups have in recent months emerged to call for violence, particularly against the security forces but also against francophone citizens. They intimidate hostile members of the local elite comfortable with the status quo.

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Yet the main political battle is "waged from abroad" by known individuals acting openly and favourable to independence of an angolophone Ambazonia, says Nguini Owona.

Living in the United States, Julius Ayuk Tabe Sisiku, the self-proclaimed president of Ambazonia, has a personal guard detail. A computer technician little known in Cameroon at large, Sisiku uses his Facebook page to give instructions to his followers. He also haunts the corridors of power to work quietly to win international recognition for his "country".

Two exiled members of the Consortium, Wilfred Tassang and Harmony Bobga, have announced the creation of a "Southern Cameroons Ambazonia Consortium United Front" (SCACUF), which preaches independence and gives guidance in the fight against the Yaounde government.

- A new generation -

Exiled members of the old Southern Cameroon National Council (SCNC), a secessionist movement that was decapitated over the past two decades by the security forces, have joined the front.

Inside the country, a famed radio personality, Mancho Bibixy or "BBC", came forward as the voice of the radicals in the anglophone town of Bamenda in the Northwest. He was arrested in January and remains in jail accused of "terrorism".

"This crisis also marked a generational renewal within the Anglophone movement and the diaspora," the ICG said in a report published in August. "The historic standard-bearers of the Anglophone question who came from the SCNC, the Cameroon Anglophone Movement or the AAC were not centre stage.

"Militants of the 1990s from Cameroon University who emigrated in the period after 1995 were succeeded by young people from Buea University and the University of Buea Student Union, who left Cameroon more recently."

The "radicalisation" of some anglophones is the result of intensive "propaganda" activity launched from abroad on social networks, which feeds into the feelings of marginalisation among local people, Nguini Owona says.

Separatists also have a cable television channel, the Southern Cameroon Broadcasting Corporation (SCBC TV), which is officially banned but operates from South Africa.

"Internet-based campaigns contributed to mounting public anger and increased the popularity of secessionist ideas," the ICG said. "The diaspora helped to give the crisis a higher profile at the international level."

But Cameroonians abroad did not provoke the revolt as they had in the past, the ICG noted. Their role became preponderant only after the arrest of leaders of the Consortium in January.

For the conflict prevention centre, separatist ideology is fuelled by crackdowns carried out by the regime, particularly the "murderous repression" of demonstrators who rallied to proclaim independence on October 1.

In such times, the ranks of the secessionists grow by the day. More and more of them are turning to the notion of "self-defence".
WASHINGTON  Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) plans to introduce sweeping legislation Wednesday to strengthen background checks on gun purchases, a measure intended to expand verifications for the sale or transfer of all firearms by private sellers.

The bill has slim chances in the Republican-controlled Congress, which Murphy readily acknowledged. But he argued that the legislation is important nevertheless for gun control advocates to have something to rally around ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.

The political movement around anti-gun violence is getting stronger, month by month, year by year, Murphy told HuffPost. The tragic reality is every time one of these [mass] shootings happen, more people sign up to be activists, donate to candidates, and run this up the priority list of the issues they care at the ballot box.

Murphys legislation would require anyone who buys a gun to pass a criminal background check, making it harder for convicted lawbreakers to get weapons. A study released in January found that nearly one-fourth of gun owners bought a firearm in the previous two years without a background check.

Support is widespread for such restrictions among gun owners and the general public.

But Republicans and the powerful gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, have opposed efforts to expand gun background checks, arguing such laws wouldnt hinder criminals from obtaining guns. They also point to cases like this months mass shooting in Las Vegas, where the shooter cleared all requirements when he purchased firearms at two Nevada gun shops.

Still, Murphy said he hopes his bill will be something Democrats can use as a campaign issue. Hes also advocating for states to put referendums for universal background checks on their 2018 ballots.

The vast majority of Republicans dont fear the electoral consequences of being wrong on this issue, Murphy said.

Murphy has pressed the gun control issue since the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in his home state. He accused Republican colleagues of a kind of sick complicity for failing to pass meaningful gun reform, even after 20 children and six educators were shot to death at the school by a lone gunman who then killed himself.

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It is positively infuriating that my colleagues in Congress are so afraid of the gun industry that they pretend there arent public policy responses to this epidemic, Murphy said at the time.

Democrats have often floated stronger background checks as a way to combat gun violence. Following the Las Vegas shooting, however, the focus in Congress shifted from background checks to bump stocks, devices that make semi-automatic weapons function like machine guns. Bump stocks helped Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock kill 58 people in a short time frame. Many lawmakers, as well as the NRA, expressed initial support for tighter restrictions on bump stocks.

Nearly a month since the shooting, however, momentum for legislation doing so appears to have stalled. The Trump administration has also not said whether they plan to direct the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to ban the bump stocks, as some have pushed for.

Murphy said he wants to rekindle the conversation around gun control because the NRA was using the bump stock issue to take the eye off the ball of background checks.

The gun lobby wants you to only be able to talk about gun laws that would have addressed the last high-profile shooting, he told HuffPost. They do that because they want us to take the eye off the ball of background checks. They know this would be the most meaningful change, and they dont want us to talk about this because they know that ultimately this will make the biggest difference.

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There's little question that former Facebook executive and venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya thoroughly enjoys challenging the way that startups are funded. Because he has the hot hand, so to speak, he's able to get away with it, too.

Last month, for example, Palihapitiya's firm, Social Capital, took the unusual step of raising $600 million in an IPO for a SPAC called Social Capital Hedosophia. The shell company will use the money to acquire all or part of a privately held tech company, thereby taking it public and circumventing what Palihapitiya sees as the unnecessarily long, expensive and distracting process of going public.

Now, Social Capital has another trick up its sleeve. It's beginning to invest in far-flung startups, sight unseen.

Entrepreneurs from anywhere in the world can fill out a questionnaire, then submit to Social Capital revenue figures and either raw engagement or transaction logs (or both), including sometimes by granting the firm direct access to the cloud services they use. It's entirely self-serve. If Social Capital likes what it sees, it will write a check of up to $250,000. If it doesn't, it will at least deliver feedback to the startup regarding tweaks it might make to its business model. (Entrepreneurs interested in applying can let the firm know here.)

How can Social Capital possibly know how to improve a company's business model when it hasn't even met its founders? Palihapitiya and Ashley Carroll, the firm's partner who oversees the program -- dubbed "capital-as-a-service" -- explain that Social Capital has already built up an enormous database of information over time with the help of its more traditional venture portfolio companies.

Its own internal platform team -- members of which came from the Facebook Growth team, including Ray Ko, who reported to Palihapitiya at Facebook, and Jonathan Hsu, who helped start the data science practice at Facebook -- uses this information to help the firm's companies figure out their growth strategies. Now Social Capital is simply using this same platform to find and fuel companies in harder-to-reach places.

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"VC has always been this high-touch, in-your-face-type business," says Palihapitiya. "When the talent was concentrated in Silicon Valley, that worked. But a negative byproduct [of that way of doing business] is that for every business that got funded, [other worthy startups did not] because of biases that didn't pattern match."

Now, adds Palihapitiya, "We can run A/B tests. We can say, here's how we think about cohorts, or here's how you optimize how you spend money on Google and Facebook. This data is [precious]. If a company can tell us how it's doing, we know how to help them, and how they look relative to all the other companies we've ever seen. Now, we can see a business in Africa or South America or Southeast Asia ... and algorithmically fund them at hyperspeed."

Stepping stone

Certainly the founders it has funded through the still-in-beta program think it's a great initiative, and there have been a few dozen to date. One of them is Vera Makarov, the co-founder of Apli, a 42-person, 15-month-old, Mexico City-based startup that aims to connect workers with flexible job opportunities.

Makarov has an undergraduate and business degree from Harvard. She has worked for Bain Capital. She has worked as an investor. She co-founded and was CEO of Carmudi, one of Latin America's biggest auto classifieds sites. As a result, she says that raising an initial $640,000 from local investors for Apli wasn't terribly challenging.

Things got tougher when the company started seeking out a Series A round, however.

"Mexico has made a lot of progress in the last four years," says Makarov. "We have some very good local funds funding innovative Mexican companies. But the fund sizes are still small, and their numbers are limited. Even with Silicon Valley connections," which Makarov says she has, "if you're based in an emerging market, forget about [attracting attention from Silicon Valley venture firms]."

Makarov calls her experience with Social Capital "very refreshing" in contrast. "It literally took a phone call, then they asked me to upload a questionnaire and data so they could look at our traction. I didn't have to fly to San Francisco to meet them. It took less than a month from [the call] to receiving money in the bank." Specifically, she says, Social Capital participated in a $1.5 million seed round, providing the company with a convertible note.

She adds that she sees the firm's participation as a "stepping stone" to Silicon Valley. Her understanding is that the firm will "continue receiving data from Apli and watching our evolution, and they'll be contenders to lead our Series A" in exchange for its help.

Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Unsurprisingly, Social Capital's plan has skeptics. Among them is Ian Sigalow, a New York-based partner and co-founder of Greycroft Partners, who doesn't put too much stock in sheer data analytics.

Greycroft maintains its own database, including startup ratings created by its partners that address a spectrum of factors. "When we look at our own data here," Sigalow says, "the most successful outcomes we've seen are correlated to the people we meet and their presentations."

Early-stage investing is "really betting on people," he adds. "People have tried to build an algorithm that [trumps this], but none exists that can replace the degree of pattern recognition involved. It defies putting a bunch of data into a computer and running a regression on it."

It isn't clear that Palihapitiya's co-founders at Social Capital approve of Palihapitiya's thinking, either. Co-founder Mamoon Hamid left last month to join Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. A third co-founder, Ted Maidenberg, also plans to leave the firm before it raises its next fund.

There've also been grumblings by some of the firm's investors, who worry that Palihapitiya may just innovate his way into trouble.

Palihapitiya downplays any strife, noting that the "overwhelming majority" of the capital the Social Capital has raised to date "comes from myself and four other people, and all of us are pretty happy with returns to date, which are exceptional."

Social Capital, which is just six years old, now manages more than $2.5 billion worth of assets and has reportedly deployed two-thirds of its third, $600 million, early-stage fund, which it closed in 2015. Because of its age, many of its companies remain in "scale mode," says the firm, though its exits include the enterprise companies Yammer, sold to Microsoft for $1.2 billion in 2012, and Box, which went public in 2015.

"What you saw, to be blunt and honest," continues Palihapitiya, "was the migration of very traditional LPs that we admitted, and as much as their realization about how this industry needs to change, them going through the seven stages of grief concerning the traditional model breaking, which has to do with a bunch of historical decisions they've made.

"Where the [investing world is going, where every industry is going, is [pairing] humans with software and tools to do the job better. It's how you do surgery. It's how you do loans. It's how you detect cancer. And it's probably how you do VC going forward, too."

Skeptics and supporters

Certainly, Social Capital has some support by VCs who also see the winds changing. Among them is Matt Turck, a managing director at FirstMark Capital in New York, who has long been intrigued by data-driven venture firms.

The way he sees it, the "venture capital model is under assault from different angles, and there are enough questions around it and the way the world is evolving that its worth thinking through it and trying different things."

Turck thinks Silicon Valley especially needs to start thinking differently, and fast. The way he sees it, there's a "tremendous amount of money in the system, making everything incredibly expensive, from salaries to the cost of living. Companies like Google are being increasingly aggressive around all the different areas that people see as impacting the future, like artificial intelligence." That makes it hard to grow a small AI business into a big independent company.

Another trend that's "super interesting if fairly obvious by now," says Turck, is the globalization of entrepreneurship.

"It's less and less clear to me where the next wave of unicorns will come from," he says. "Indonesia? Eastern Europe? South America? To capture the one that comes out of a non-obvious international place isn't so easy. I think the concept of creating a broad network globally, with this global contributory database of information, is really very smart."
Transparent panels can be used as windows while they generate electricity: Michigan State University

Solar cell technology could soon tap into the massive energy potential of windows and other transparent objects, new research has shown.

Scientists have been working on transparent solar panels which could be used as windows in cars or homes at the same time as generating electricity.

Highly transparent solar cells represent the wave of the future for new solar applications, said Richard Lunt, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Michigan State University.

"We analysed their potential and show that by harvesting only invisible light, these devices can provide a similar electricity-generation potential as rooftop solar while providing additional functionality to enhance the efficiency of buildings, automobiles and mobile electronics.

The material is designed to capture just ultraviolet and near-infrared light.

Commercial versions of the high tech new solar panels should be on the market in the next few years, Professor Lunt told Newsweek.

An estimated five billion to seven billion square metres of glass surface in the United States could be used to meet 40 per cent of the countrys energy demand, according to the authors of the report - rising to nearly 100 per cent, if energy storage capacity is improved.

In 2016, solar accounted for 1.4 per cent of US electrical generation, up from just 0.1 per cent in 2010

Meanwhile, the cost to install traditional solar panels in the US has fallen by more than 70 per cent since 2010.

In the UK, solars overall share of the market is higher, accounting for 3.4 per cent of all electricity generated in 2016.
Sweden said Tuesday China had informed it of the release of dissident publisher Gui Minhai, a Chinese-born Swedish citizen who wrote political gossip books about Chinese leaders.

However his daughter quickly cast doubt over the claim and said she had not yet heard from him.

Gui, a 53-year-old Swedish citizen and a Hong Kong publisher who often wrote about leaders from the Chinese Communist Party, disappeared in 2015 while on vacation in Thailand and has been detained at an undisclosed location in China ever since.

"We have received information from the Chinese authorities that he has been released," Swedish foreign ministry spokeswoman Sofia Karlberg told AFP, without specifying when Gui had been freed.

But his daughter Angela Gui refuted the announcement and said she and her family have not heard anything from him or about his whereabouts.

"Neither I nor any member of my family nor any of his friends have been contacted," she said in a statement.

On Twitter, she wrote: "Gui Minhai has disappeared again, likely by the Chinese government."

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom tweeted that she was "seeking further clarification".

"It's good news that he's been released, if he has," Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven told TT news agency.

"I assume (he has been released," Lofven said, adding the Swedish foreign ministry was trying to contact Gui.

In 2016, Gui appeared on Chinese television, weeping as he confessed he had committed a traffic violation.

In another interview the same year, he also confessed to trying to smuggle illegal books into China.

- 'Strange phone call' -

The Chinese foreign ministry told AFP that Gui had served his jail sentence over "a traffic accident" and "was released on October 17".

But Gui's daughter said that when Swedish consular officers arrived at the undisclosed location in China on October 17, Chinese authorities said he "had already been released at midnight" and that they "had no idea where he was".

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The Swedish consulate general in Shanghai on Monday received a "strange phone call from someone claiming to be" Gui Minhai, his daughter added.

"He was speaking Swedish and claimed that he intended to apply for a Swedish passport in one or two months, but that before doing so he wanted to spend some time with his mother 'who is ill,'" she said.

"To my knowledge my grandmother is not ill. My father is not in fact with her."

Gui worked for the Mighty Current publishing house, which produced books about political intrigue and love affairs at the highest levels of Chinese politics.
AT&T might not rely solely on other companies' devices to pipe DirecTV Now and other forms of internet-only video into your home. Variety has unearthed a new FCC filing for an Android TV-powered set-top box dubbed the "AT&T/DirecTV Wireless 4K OTT Client." Just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it? The hardware isn't much to look at, but the manual talks about a voice-guided remote with touchpad as well as full access to Google Play. In other words, this is really a general-purpose Android media player that happens to be focused on services like DirecTV. You could just as easily use it to watch Hulu or Netflix, if that's your inclination. And no, there's no connectors to plug into DirecTV's satellite services.

Filings like this don't reveal release dates or other launch details, but the appearance of external photos and a manual usually means that a debut isn't too far off. Variety's suggestion of a CES 2018 launch is plausible, if just because TV giants regularly use the January event to talk about set-top boxes. Either way, it's entirely logical that AT&T would get into the media hub market. It's no stranger to offering self-branded devices that showcase its services, and its current approach makes it somewhat beholden to other companies. The Apple TV isn't going to ship with DirecTV Now pre-installed any time soon. This gives AT&T more independence when offering internet-only video in the living room, and helps it prepare for a day when many of its customers aren't watching conventional TV.
Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, says the GOP tax cut package is moving quickly: This is a much faster thing than anyone expected. (Photo: SAUL LOEB via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The Republican tax cut package appears to be on a fast track to approval but with one key detail unresolved: how much, or even if, middle- and lower-income families will benefit at all.

With the House prepared to vote on the Senates version of a budget framework on Thursday, GOP leaders could start moving actual legislation slashing taxes and adding trillions of dollars to the national debt before the end of this month.

This is a much faster thing than anyone expected, said Grover Norquist, a longtime anti-tax activist who runs the powerful Americans for Tax Reform.

He added that even the conservative House Freedom Caucus, whose members have complained about increasing the national debt, are ready to a vote for the Senate budget, which permits a $1.5 trillion increase in the debt for the sake of tax cuts. What used to be the shutting down the government caucus is now the lets pass this thing caucus, Norquist said.

Yet even Norquist did not know what GOP lawmakers would agree upon when it comes to the one piece of the package that will determine whether most American families will see any tax relief at all: the child tax credit.

It currently stands at up to $1,000 per child, and while the White House and Republican congressional leaders in Congress have promised to increase it, they have not stated what that the new level would be.

Its not the size Ivanka wanted, Norquist said, adding that he believed President Donald Trumps daughter had been lobbying for an increase to $3,000.

If the new amount is only $1,500, that would give middle-income families barely a tax cut at all  a few hundred dollars per household for the bottom three-fifths of income earners, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, which used the $1,500 figure in its assumptions.

If the credit remains at $1,000, it would mean a tax increase for most households with even one child, because the new plan eliminates the current $4,050-per-person tax deduction while increasing the standard deduction by $11,300.

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Even more important to lower-income families is whether the larger child tax credit is made fully refundable, which it currently is not. Making that change would benefit the poorest families, to whom it would make the biggest difference, because their incomes are often too low for them to owe any income tax.

Norquist said this issue as well as some other pay-fors  elimination of existing tax breaks to make up for revenue lost by rate reductions  are still being hammered out but that the central pieces of the deal are set.

Among the agreed-to elements: lowering the top corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent; lowering the top rate on so-called pass-through small businesses from 39.5 percent to 25 percent; and cutting the top individual rate from 39.6 percent to 35 percent.

Im reasonably pleased, Norquist said.

Norquist said he has also won commitments from House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Vice President Mike Pence in recent meetings to move tax cut bills every year, not just this year. He said the promise of another bill next year will make it easier to win support from interest groups whose particular issue is not included in this years legislation.

If theres only one plane out of Casablanca, everyones got pretty sharp elbows, Norquist said.

The Tax Policy Center analysis estimated that the tax cuts would add $2.4 trillion to the debt over a decade, with half of the total benefit flowing to the richest 1 percent of Americans.

Related Coverage

Tax Reform Could Mean A Cut For The Rich, An Audit For The Poor

How Republicans Could Hike Taxes On The Poor

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Meet Rio Smith and her grandparents, Valerie and Wilson Ovenstone:

The trio looking fancy. (Photo: Rio Smith)

The family lives in Methil, an eastern coastal town in Scotland. Smith, 17, recently got her first big job and her grandparents could not be prouder.

When they found out, they were so excited for me, Smith told HuffPost. I would describe my relationship with my gran and grandad as really close  we almost see each other every day.

Smith also sees them on her commute into work: Her bus route just so happens to run through her grandparents neighborhood and every day, one of them rushes outside to wave to their granddaughter.

Late last week, Smith tweeted a video of her granddad on waving duty in the backyard  and yup, its as sweet as it sounds:

Every morning my Gran or Grandad stand outside and wave to me when am on the bus to work pic.twitter.com/8zWEPH211X  Rio (@Riosmithh) October 19, 2017

Did you catch it? Its a blink-and-youll-miss-it moment of cuteness:

Hi, Wilson! (Photo: Rio Smith)

Hi, Wilson! (Photo: Rio Smith)

The heartwarming video  which Smith posted late last week  has received over 45,000 reshares and a lot of love on Twitter:

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I've never wanted to hug two people i don't know more than i do right now  october (@carseatdeadrest) October 20, 2017

Cherish them, Rio  Sam van Geffen (@GeffenSam) October 19, 2017

Smiths commute into the office is about 40 minutes. She told HuffPost the dedicated wave she gets from her grandparents is definitely the highlight of the trek.

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It means a lot to me to have such lovely grandparents support me every day in life, she said. I dont know what I would do without them.

Valerie and Wilson Ovenstone: Youre the real grandparent MVPs.

Grandparents of the year right here. (Photo: Rio Smith)

H/T BuzzFeed

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Also on HuffPost

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Nairobi (AFP) - With Kenya facing its worst political crisis in a decade and the country poised to vote in its second presidential election in three months, what needs to happen to ensure change?

Edward Kisiangani, professor of political history at Nairobi's Kenyatta University, takes a look at some essential questions.

He says that since Kenya became independent in 1963, political and economic power has been concentrated in the hands of the Kikuyus, the largest of the country's 44 ethnic groups.

This prompts an urgent need for reform to ensure a fairer sharing of power and resources, says Kisiangani.

With the nation yet again locked in a tense struggle for power, pitting a Kikuyu president, Uhuru Kenyatta, against veteran opposition challenger Raila Odinga, a Luo, many are wondering what future lies ahead, he notes.

- How much is Kenyan society divided? -

"There have been such divisions since independence but this is unprecedented ... We are more divided than we have ever been before. It's about the crisis of sharing political power, it has never been very smooth," said Kisiangani.

He said that Kenyans believed that the only way members of their community could access power and resources was through political power -- which heightened levels of ethnicity and tribalism.

"Those who have wielded power in the past have tended to concentrate that power in their own communities and use it to benefit their own communities rather than the entire country. Because that feeling persists, people think the only solution to the problems of their community is to struggle to get power.

"This feeling -- that there is no hope without political power -- is really unhealthy,"

- How can this crisis be solved? -

Kisiangani proposes measures to restore confidence, such as making it a criminal offence to hire family and friends for government jobs, and make it impossible to use elections to "dominate or threaten others".

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"There are many many Kikuyus who don't think that the country is on the right path, just like they are many, many Luos who think the same. A lot of Kenyan communities think we must renegotiate how we share resources and power and how we can navigate through our social problems without hurting each other," he said.

"We need to make sure that everybody is included in the nationalistic discourse so that people feel a sense of belonging."

- What needs to change? -

Kisiangani feels the presidency needs to be structurally reformed to hand power back to the people.

"When President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner (in August), he said: 'We have a wonderful constitution, those who are not happy with it, go and appeal to the court.' He was only looking at it in one way: that the court will rule in his favour. But when the court did not, he took it as if the judiciary was against him, against his community, (so) we are not out of the woods...

"It doesn't matter if we hold the election on Thursday or not, it doesn't matter whether the next president comes from a different community, we have structural problems," he said.

Kisiangani suggested legal measures to weaken the presidency and strengthen institutions.

"A way of doing it is to create a federal constitution which will empower more the governors and will increase the allocation of resources, budget to the counties. We could have a referendum in the next one year and make sure that the problems we have do not reoccur."

And, while easier said than done, he argues issues of corruption and discrimination need to be properly policed.
Before landing a $300 million contract with Puerto Rico to bring back the islands electricity after Hurricane Maria destroyed its power infrastructure, Whitefish Energy had just two full-time employees, and, notably, coincidentally, was based in the same small Montana Town of Whitefish (pop. 7,279) as the countrys new Secretary of the Interior (and Big Buck Hunter enthusiast) Ryan Zinke.

There was no open bidding for the massive rebuilding deal, and offers of mutual aid went unanswered by Richard Ramos, the executive director of the PREPA, which is Puerto Ricos stated-owned power authority. Instead, Whitefish CEO Andy Techmanski says the massive deal for the two-year-old company came together with a phone call.

All I can say is, we took the call and were here, Techmanski told CNN on Friday.

The office of Zinke, chosen by President Donald Trump to run the Department of the Interior, told the Washington Post that the Secretary had nothing to do with the deal. The Post reports that Zinkes son worked for a summer for Whitefish Energy as a flagger. The coincidence is being viewed as surprising in news reports.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke

Its also raising concern in Washington: The size and unknown details of this contract raises numerous questions, said Parish Braden, a spokesperson for the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on September 20, knocking out 80 percent of the islands power. Whitefish Energy is tasked with rebuilding 100 miles of transmission lines, reported The Spokesman-Review. Techmanski told CNN that his company has experience in repairing power lines in hilly, mountainous terrain like youll find in Puerto Rico, making it more qualified that other companies.
Chiba (Japan) (AFP) - Toshiba's president Tuesday apologised "sincerely" over the $18-billion sale of its prized memory chip business, as shareholders demanded answers over the deal seen as pivotal to the survival of one of Japan's best-known firms.

Bowing deeply at the start of a tense shareholders' meeting, Satoshi Tsunakawa said: "We sincerely apologise for causing problems and worry."

More than 600 investors poured into the meeting as they voted in favour of the sale to a consortium led by US investor Bain Capital -- which includes US tech giants Apple and Dell as well as South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix -- after months of wrangling.

Angry jeers rang out from some stockholders who had little choice but to agree to unload the division so the cash-strapped company can plug massive losses at its US nuclear division, Westinghouse Electric.

Tsunakawa pledged to finish the sale by the end of March 2018 and stressed: "We will continue to have honest management, and improve our internal governance."

That pledge did not sit well with one 77-year-old pensioner who owns Toshiba stock, which has plunged about 25 percent since the losses were made public in late December.

"I cannot believe what the executives are saying about turning the company around," he told AFP.

"They all look smart and are eloquent. I wonder if they knew about the losses at Westinghouse years ago."

Former Toshiba employee Masayuki Sakurai said the firm's top brass was evasive about what would happen if the planned sale were to fall through.

"It's still not clear if the memory chip sale will be done by March and they couldn't give us a clear answer on what would happen if it was unsuccessful," Sakurai said. "That's worrying."

The chip unit brought in around a quarter of Toshiba's total annual revenue and is the crown jewel in a vast range of businesses ranging from home appliances to nuclear reactors.

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Toshiba, the world's number-two chipmaker behind Samsung, narrowly averted a delisting this year, but it still faces the humiliating prospect of being yanked from Japan's premier stock exchange if the sale does not raise enough money.

And some investors had doubts about whether things would change at the firm, which was recovering from a 2015 accounting scandal when the huge US losses were made public.

On Monday, the firm said it would post a 110 billion yen ($970 million) net loss in the current fiscal year because of a tax bill linked to the massive sale.

- 'It's really bad' -

"Executives never give us clear answers at these meetings," complained Ken Futoo, a 57-year-old former Toshiba employee turned real estate agent said before the meeting.

"They just do what big shareholders and the banks tell them to do. I regret that they have to sell the chip division. It's really bad but there was no choice if the banks told them to sell it."

He warned Toshiba could find itself in trouble again, despite the much-needed cash injection.

"What's at issue is the company's governance," Futoo said.

The Japanese industrial giant is trying to recover from the disastrous acquisition of Westinghouse, which racked up billions of dollars in losses before being placed in bankruptcy protection.

Those losses came to light as the group was still reeling from revelations that top executives had pressured underlings to cover up weak results for years after the 2008 global financial meltdown.

The twin crises were a major embarrassment for a cornerstone of Japan Inc, which traces its history back as far as 1875 when Toshiba started life as a telegraph factory in what is now Tokyo's Ginza shopping district.

"I came to listen to the president to find out why Toshiba, which used to be a great company, is now in this trouble," said Nobuko Kaneko, a 60-year-old teacher.

"There are many bright people I know, including friends, who worked for the company."
The killing of a young woman on a San Francisco pier two years ago was thrown into the political spotlight by President Donald Trump as he geared up his then-fledgling presidential campaign with hard-line anti-immigrant rhetoric.

On Monday, the trial of the Mexican immigrant accused of the killing started in San Francisco.

Kate Steinle, 32, was shot dead while walking on the pier with her father on July 1, 2015.

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Mark Wilson/Getty Images

The man accused of the killing, Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, claims he found a gun wrapped in a T-shirt under a bench, and it discharged accidentally, reported the Associated Press. The weapon was stolen from a vehicle and belonged to an agent from the Bureau of Land Management.

But prosecutors claim that Zarate carelessly aimed the weapon at Steinle. He is charged with second-degree murder and has pleaded not guilty.

Zarate had been deported several times and was convicted of illegal re-entry to the U.S. At the time of Steinles killing, he had just been released from a San Francisco jail after being arrested on a minor drugs charge.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had requested Zarate be kept detained by police, but he was released under the citys sanctuary laws. A sanctuary city is one that limits its cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Steinles killing provoked debate about illegal immigration into the U.S., and Trump leapt on it as he pushed strict anti-immigrant policies in his bid to secure the GOP presidential nomination.

This man, or this animal, that shot that wonderful, that beautiful woman in San Francisco, this guy was pushed back by Mexico, Trump told CNN in July 2015. Mexico pushes back people across the border that are criminals, that are drug dealers. Only weeks before, Trump had launched his candidacy as a rank outsider, describing immigrants living in the country illegally as "in many cases, criminals, drug dealers, rapists."

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Trump went on to unveil the campaign promise that defined his candidacythe construction of a wall along the Mexican-U.S. border designed to prevent immigrants from entering the country illegally.

At a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, in June, Trump again invoked Steinles name, hailing the passage of a House bill that would crack down on sanctuary cities, as well as a bill dubbed Kates Law that would introduce severer penalties for immigrants who re-enter the country illegally after deportation.

Sanctuary cities legislation has passed the House, along with Kates Law, named for Kate Steinle, who was brutally killed by a five-time-deported illegal immigrant. We are asking the Senate to vote on sanctuary cities and Kates Law legislation. Weve got to get it passed, Trump told the crowd.

But as the story snowballed into one of the defining modern political issues, the question of Zarates innocence or guilt remains to be decided.

Assistant District Attorney Diana Garcia on Monday accused Zarate of pointing the gun at Steinle or the crowd, reported The San Francisco Chronicle.

"Shes dead because this man, she told jurors.

Defense attorney Matt Gonzalez told the jurors "this was a tragedy and an accident," calling it a "freakish ricochet."

The trial continues.

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President Trump and Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program today -- an initiative aimed at exploring expanded use of drones. While the Obama administration began allowing some drone activity to take place in US airspace, a fair amount of restrictions were still applicable. This new program, however, will allow companies and local governments to use drones in ways that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) currently doesn't allow. That includes "beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights, nighttime operations, and flights over people," as White House advisor Michael Kratsios said today.

"This program supports the President's commitment to foster technological innovation that will be a catalyst for ideas that have the potential to change our day-to-day lives. Drones are proving to be especially valuable in emergency situations, including assessing damage from natural disasters such as the recent hurricanes and the wildfires in California," Secretary Chao said in a statement. Kratsios also said that it could "open the skies for delivery of life-saving medicines and commercial packages, inspections of critical infrastructure, support for emergency management operations."

The US is still figuring out how best to manage drone technology. Recently, regulations of local governments were pitted against those of the FAA, with the FAA coming out on top, and the FAA is currently trying to change the system that approves drone flights in restricted airspace. This test program could help national and local regulators figure out the best way to manage drones going forward. It could also help commercial companies itching to start delivering packages by drone. Amazon, 7-Eleven, Google and UPS have all expressed interest in using drones for delivery purposes and some of them have already started to do so. Amazon made its first delivery last year in the UK while 7-Eleven has made dozens of deliveries in Nevada using Flirtey's services. France, Canada, Switzerland and Iceland are all working on incorporating permanent drone delivery systems.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) said in a statement, "The pilot program will evaluate a variety of operational concepts, including night operations, flights over people, flights beyond the pilot's line of sight, package delivery, detect-and-avoid technologies, counter-UAS security operations, and the reliability and security of data links between pilot and aircraft." In order to participate in the program, local governments should partner with private sector groups and develop proposals. The DOT will then select at least five proposals for participation. More information on how to apply and how the program will function will be released in the next few days.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 8, 2017. (Photo: Reuters/Saul Loeb/Pool)

U.S. President Donald Trump turned to his favorite platform on Wednesday to fire off a quick congratulatory message to Chinese President Xi Jinping for his extraordinary elevation.

China had unveiled its new generation of leaders in a historic announcement earlier in the day, without presenting a clear successor to Xi  thus consolidating the Communist Party leaders ironclad grip on power.

Spoke to President Xi of China to congratulate him on his extraordinary elevation. Also discussed NoKo & trade, two very important subjects!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2017

Trumps tweet was conspicuously polite  contrasting with his repeated criticism of Chinas relations with North Korea and his claim that Beijing is fabricating the concept of global warming.

But it also raises questions as to whether or not Trump fully understands the implications of his Chinese counterparts ascension.

Referred to by some as Chinas COE, or Chairman of Everything, Xi is now arguably the most powerful Chinese leader in decades. He boasts near-absolute authority over the nation, which is home to some 1.4 billion people and the worlds second-largest economy. Human rights groups warn that government suppression of dissent and free speech has worsened under his leadership.

The Communist Party voted to enshrine Xis name and political thoughts in its constitution on Tuesday, elevating his status to that of Mao Zedong, the founder of modern China.

Vowing to spearhead the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Xi kicked off his second five-year term on Wednesday. But there is already speculation that he may amend the constitution to extend his tenure beyond 2022.

For now, Xi will rule with six other members of the new Communist Party Politburo Standing Committee, all hand-picked by his loyalists. As NBC News concludes in an analysis, this sends a clear signal that China may be entering an era of strongman rule.

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Trump will visit Xi in China next month during a 12-day trip through Asia. His praise for the authoritarian leader may be alarming, but it is certainly not surprising.

The U.S. president also congratulated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for winning a widely disputed referendum in April, cementing his increasingly despotic rule.

Trump also said that he and Egypts autocratic President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi agree on so many things. In April, he told the Egyptian leader hed done a fantastic job in a very difficult situation, though Egyptian security forces are accused of a litany of ongoing human rights violations, including the use of torture.

Trump has even offered kind words to Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte, an admitted killer who has encouraged citizens to shoot suspected drug dealers in the streets, resulting in thousands of extrajudicial killings.

And lets not forget Trumps bizarre justification for his flattery of Russian strongman Vladimir Putin: If he says great things about me, Im going to say great things about him.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Washington (AFP) - Donald Trump made a rare trip to Congress Tuesday to lobby for his tax reforms, but the president's efforts were overshadowed by an explosive new war of words pitting him against a top senator from his Republican Party.

Trump arrived on Capitol Hill to attend the Senate Republican caucus lunch for the first time since his inauguration, to rally support for passing a tax overhaul before year's end.

But attention instead has swerved to a brutal back-and-forth with Senator Bob Corker, who charged in response to a Twitter attack from the president that Trump is an "utterly untruthful" leader who "debases" the nation.

Corker, an influential Republican who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has emerged as an outspoken critic of the president, excoriated him earlier this month as dangerously impulsive and branded the White House an "adult day care center."

He appeared to further antagonize Trump when he told ABC early Tuesday that he would like the president to stand clear of the debate over tax legislation and "leave it to the professionals" to finalize the plan.

Trump rounded on Corker in a series of tweets, and the war of words was on, playing out on television and social media in real time.

"Bob Corker, who helped President O give us the bad Iran Deal & couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee, is now fighting Tax Cuts," Trump tweeted.

"Same untruths from an utterly untruthful president," shot back Corker.

"I don't know why he lowers himself to such a low, low standard and debases our country in the way that he does, but he does," Corker went on to tell reporters at the Senate. "He has proven himself unable to rise to the occasion."

Corker -- who himself is not running for re-election next year -- expressed regret for supporting Trump's presidential bid, and said he would not vote for him again.

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- 'Doesn't have a clue' -

The rapidly escalating feud has laid bare the tensions between Trump and some in his party on Capitol Hill, where the president has yet to grab a major legislative victory.

Trump's tax reform push is his latest attempt to do so.

Speaking in the Oval Office mid-day Tuesday, Trump said the United States is one of the highest-taxed countries in the world and a tax cut would, as he put it, restore America's competitive edge.

"If we get this fast, which I really believe we will because we have to as a country, it's going to bring back, I would say, four trillion dollars back into this country," Trump said.

He added: "That money will flow back in, it will be very quick and it will be very easy."

Inside Congress, as the president made his way to the Republican luncheon, a protester yelling "Trump is Treason" hurled small Russian flags into his path, accusing him of conspiring with Moscow to tilt the election his way.

In the past week Trump has been harshly criticized by two high-profile Republicans: former president George W. Bush, who said "bigotry seems emboldened" in the Trump era, and Senator John McCain, a former war hero and 2000 presidential nominee, who issued a searing rebuke to Trump's ideas and politics.

Neither Bush nor McCain mentioned Trump by name, but the target of their criticism was clear.

After Corker's diatribe, Trump pushed back on Twitter, branding him a "lightweight" and an "incompetent" foreign relations chairman who "doesn't have a clue."

"People like liddle' Bob Corker have set the U.S. way back. Now we move forward!" Trump added.

The stinging verbal blows marked the latest salvo in what is now a full-blown public war of words between the president and one of his party's most important lieutenants in Congress, a measured Republican who has immense sway over foreign policy issues as well as taxes.

The speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, sought to downplay the row, reminding reporters of the importance of staying focused on "a historic chance of actually fixing this tax code."

"So all this stuff you see on a daily basis, Twitter this and that, forget about it," Ryan said.
Donald Trump may not visit the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, breaking with what has become a rite of passage for US presidents seeking to demonstrate America's resolve to face down Pyongyang.

Most previous US presidents have visited the eerie sliver of land that separates US and South Korean troops from their North Korean adversaries.

"There are certain elements of the schedule that are still being worked out," said a senior administration official.

Trump has instead been invited by the government in Seoul to visit Camp Humphreys, south of the South Korean capital and away from the DMZ.

"Security is not a concern. The president is most likely going to be visiting Camp Humphreys, it's going to be very difficult for him to have time to visit both," the official said.

All recent presidents, except one-term commander-in-chief George H.W. Bush, have visited the DMZ.

But it would not be unheard of for the mercurial Trump to change plans at the last moment.

The frontier, which is 2.5 miles (four kilometers) wide, spreads from sea to sea and is just a short distance from Seoul.

For the most part, it is a chilling mix of near-empty farmland, forest, wire fencing, watchtowers and turrets, all set against a soundtrack of propaganda blasted from both sides.

- North Korea nuclear concerns -

The area has been guarded by both North Korea and the US-led United Nations Command since the Korean War ended with an armistice in 1953.

Despite its name, the DMZ separating the two Koreas is one of the world's most heavily-militarized frontiers, bristling with watchtowers and landmines.

In April, Vice President Mike Pence visited, declaring that standing with US forces in Korea, along with "courageous soldiers from the Republic of Korea is a message of resolve."

Trump will be in South Korea in early November as part of a five-nation Asia visit that is set to be dominated by concerns about North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

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Since coming to office, Trump has ratcheted up pressure on North Korea, insisting it must get rid of nuclear weapons. That is unlikely to happen, resulting in a dangerous standoff.

A bellicose Trump used his maiden address to the UN General Assembly in September to warn "Rocket Man" Kim Jong-Un that he will "totally destroy" North Korea if it threatens the United States or its allies.

Trump will arrive in Japan on November 5, heading on to South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

His visit also comes as leaders in Japan and China consolidate their power.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe this week won a huge electoral victory that would allow him to change Japan's pacifist constitution -- a move that could change the balance of power in the region.

And Chinese leader Xi Jinping declared a "new era" in for his country, as he secured another term in power and enshrined his thinking in Communist Party doctrine.
In March, President Trump attempted to make good on one of his tweeted campaign promises to reverse an executive action by President Obama. The only problem was that two senators from Alaska didn't actually want to pick up what the president was puttin' down.

Alaskan Senator Dan Sullivan recently told Alaska Dispatch News (ADN) that in a March meeting between President Trump, his fellow Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, and himself, President Trump asked the Senators whether he should re-name the highest mountain in Alaska (and North America) from Denali to Mt. McKinley.

SEE ALSO: Interior Dept. agency changes website from family visiting park to a giant pile of coal

"It was part of a conversation where they were discussing a number of harmful impacts to Alaska from the Obama administration," Sen. Murkowski's Communications Director Karina Petersen told Mashable. "While on that topic he asked if that was something he should undo that Obama did. Reverse that action of President Obama. And that was where they jumped in and said 'no, no, no. This is something that we do and we did support.'"

President Obama restored Denali with its Native Alaskan name in September 2015.

The mountain's Native Alaskan name was originally Denali. In 1896, the federal government named the 20,320 foot mountain "Mt. McKinley" for former President William McKinley. Then, in 1975, the state of Alaska reverted back to calling the mountain Denali. But the persistent introduction of legislation by representatives from Ohio  McKinley's home state  blocked the renaming on the federal level, until President Obama's executive action.

"The Alaska Native people named that mountain over 10,000 years ago," Sen. Sullivan told ADN. "Denali, that was the name."

In August 2015, then-candidate Trump expressed his ire at President Obama's actions, and promised to undo the name restoration.

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President Obama wants to change the name of Mt. McKinley to Denali after more than 100 years. Great insult to Ohio. I will change back!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2015

Faced with advising President Trump on this policy, the Alaska Senators answered with a resounding "no." There has been no further discussion of the issue between Senator Murkowski and President Trump. And Sen. Murkowski's office reports no adverse response from the Alaskan senator's constituents.

"This issue was part of a larger conversation," Ms. Petersen said. "And this issue on the mountain is pretty settled."

Sen. Murkowski has recently become known for breaking ranks with her party on the healthcare vote. Ms. Petersen said of her boss that "everything that she does, she does what's best for Alaska."

That includes rejecting the Republican healthcare proposals and staying true to the native name of Denali  and also exploring ways to open up Alaska's Naval Petroleum Reserve (NPR-A) to drilling. During the Obama administration, the President and then Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar placed restrictions on the development of the petroleum fields in their four-year management plan.

But in May 2017, Secretary Zinke signed an order seeking to reverse the former administration's stance and jump start the process of land evaluation, sale, and oil and gas resource development in the NPR-A and other formerly protected areas. The administration, with Congress help, is moving to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling as well.

Senator Murkowski remains committed to honoring and maintaining the heritage of Native Alaskans. On Saturday, Oct. 21, she spoke at the Alaska Federation of Natives' convention, the largest gathering of indigenous people's in the country, according to Ms. Petersen.

Performances showcasing the traditions that have been passed down through generations were just one of the many highlights of #2017AFN A post shared by Senator Lisa Murkowski (@senlisamurkowski) on Oct 24, 2017 at 12:24pm PDT

So while things are looking grim for Alaska's wildlife right now thanks to the new directive on oil and gas development, it seems that Denali is safe at the moment.
By Steve Holland and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will urge President Xi Jinping to make good on his commitments to pressure North Korea when he visits China next month, a senior White House official said on Monday, stepping up a strategy to have Beijing help rein in Pyongyang. Isolating North Korea further over its nuclear and ballistic missile tests is a key goal for Trump on what will be his longest foreign trip to date. Trump will call on Xi to fully implement U.N. Security Council resolutions against Pyongyang and take other steps to pressure North Korea. China, North Koreas sole major ally, accounts for more than 90 percent of trade with the isolated country. China has said it will strictly enforce U.N. Security Council sanctions banning imports of coal, textiles and seafood, while cutting off oil shipments to the North. But a senior White House official who briefed reporters ahead of Trump's trip said China needs to do more to comply with two U.N. Security Council resolutions that were approved unanimously, including with China's support. "We would like to see China follow through on those commitments. We would like to see China do things bilaterally as well that might even go beyond things that are mandated by those U.N. Security Council resolutions," the official said. Though China has been angered by North Koreas repeated nuclear and missile tests and demanded they stop, Beijing also sees the United States and South Korea sharing responsibility for rising tensions because of military drills they carry out in the region. South Korea, the United States and Japan started a two-day missile tracking drill on Tuesday, South Korea's military said in a statement, in preparation for any missile or nuclear threats from North Korea. The exercises will be held in waters off the coasts of South Korea and Japan, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, with four Aegis combat system-equipped ships from all three countries participating in the drill. "CRITICAL" THREAT China's special envoy for the North Korea nuclear issue, Kong Xuanyou, met his U.S. counterpart, Joseph Yun, in Beijing on Monday, China's Foreign Ministry said, where they had a "deep exchange of views on the Korean peninsula issue". The ministry did not elaborate. Trump, who has threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea, has frequently asked China to help rein in North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. But this strategy has so far failed to stop Pyongyang conducting nuclear bomb tests at an underground facility and firing ballistic missile tests into the Pacific Ocean over Japan. The threat from North Korea has grown to a "critical and imminent level" and the United States, Japan and South Korea must address the matter, Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera told his U.S. and South Korean counterparts in talks on Monday. Onodera's remarks underscored the deep concern in Tokyo about North Korean weapons tests as Pyongyang seeks to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the United States. The White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump is looking for a peaceful resolution of the North Korea standoff. Asked by reporters whether an offer by former President Jimmy Carter to serve as a U.S. envoy to North Korea would be accepted, the official said: "There's nothing planned." NO QUICK SOLUTION Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Monday he outlined for Trump his country's efforts to pressure North Korea over its nuclear program but also advised the U.S. leader to use talks to help resolve the conflict. "There is no quick and easy solution. Pressure is necessary but so is dialogue. The U.S. will need to work with others, including China, South Korea and Japan and Russia to resolve the issue," he said. With Xi consolidating power in the wake of a Communist Party Congress in Beijing, Trump believes the Chinese president will have a greater authority to take steps against North Korea, senior administration officials said last week. Trump's Nov. 3-14 trip will include visits to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. Trump will also be tough on trade during talks with Xi as he seeks to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with China, the White House official said. "We have huge barriers that Americans companies have to surmount to gain access to the Chinese market. The president is intent on rectifying that situation," the official said. Despite Trump's fierce criticism of China's trade practices during the presidential campaign, he has mostly held off on any major trade action while his administration works with Beijing on North Korea. China has insisted it is doing all it can, and some Chinese diplomats say the Trump administration has overestimated how much influence Beijing has over its defiant neighbor. Even as China has shown signs of tightening enforcement of sanctions on North Korea, it has stopped short of agreeing to U.S. demands for a fuel embargo and has urged the United States to negotiate with Pyongyang. (Additional reporting by Makini Brice in WASHINGTON, Ben Blanchard in BEIJING, and Christine Kim in SEOUL; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Alistair Bell and Paul Tait)
Both President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have been facing off in an ever-escalating battle of words describing devastation of biblical proportions on the other's country. While these violent, sometimes very personal threats do not amount to a declaration of war, lessons from Trump's short tenure as commander-in-chief already show he could attack North Korea without formally informing Congress or the American people.

U.S. law states that the president needs congressional authorization to conduct military action against a foreign state, but Trump has already circumvented this process with impunity. In April, reports emerged that Syrian warplanes had conducted a chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held town in northwestern Syria. Despite denials of involvement by both the Syrian and Russian governments, Trump decided less than 72 hours later to launch a salvo of Tomahawk cruise missiles from Navy warships against a Syrian air force base, without asking Congress' permission.

Related: No one can stop Trump from waging nuclear war, not even his generals

The sudden strike shocked the international community and raised serious concerns about the president's ability to attack foreign countries without legal oversight, many of which have not been answered since. Hours after the April attack on Syria, Trump began threatening nuclear-armed North Korea with similar action and has been approaching the crisis with increasingly militant rhetoric ever since.

"These actions are highly alarming, it goes beyond a violation of international law, it goes to the very core of what the U.N. is trying to prevent," Leila Sadat, the James Carr Professor of International Criminal Law and director of the Whitney R. Harris World Law Institute at Washington University, tells Newsweek.

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Handout/South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images

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Sadat, who also acts as special advisor on crimes against humanity to the International Criminal Court prosecutor, says Trump's intervention in Syria could potentially have been justified on humanitarian grounds, but did not appear to be designed that way. At the same time, she says the limited scope of the attack, which occurred in a country U.S. forces are already involved, helped mute the backlash against Trump's decision both at home and abroad.

Such a strike on North Korea, however, could have unprecedented deadly consequences and not even Trump's generals could stop him from ordering it. Kim, who took power after his father's death in 2011, has vastly expanded his country's military capabilities in a quest to deter any foreign plans for invasion. He oversaw two intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests in July and a hydrogen bomb test early last month, along with numerous other missile tests. If North Korea can't already attack the U.S. with a nuclear-tipped warhead, it's rapidly approaching the ability to do so.

Throughout North Korea's long road to building such a weapons of mass destruction capable of hitting the U.S., Pyongyang and all three generations of Kim's ruling family have launched colorful, apocalyptic threats to their enemies in Washington. Trump, however, may be the first U.S. leader to try and bark back "in language that Kim Jong Un would understand," as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told journalists in August.

"What's going on with North Korea is a war of words. This has been going on for decades," Sadat tells Newsweek. "It's the first time an American president has responded in kind," she added.

Trump appears to have adopted North Korea's infamous arsenal of insults. In early August, he threatened North Korea with "fire and fury like the world has never seen" and, during his first U.N. General Assembly speech last month, suggested he would "totally destroy" the reclusive, communist state. Trump called Kim a "Rocket Man on a suicide mission" during the speech, in which he also blasted Iran and other "evil regimes" around the world.

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Ford Williams/Courtesy U.S. Navy/Handout via REUTERS

These remarks, along with various others the Republican leader has made throughout his brief time in office, has not only raised serious concerns among world leaders, but may have seriously damaged the U.S.'s credibility as a reliable actor on the international stage. Sadat says Trump's "volatile" behavior, "impulsivity" and dismissal of international law has helped create a global political climate that mimics the ominous signs of a world war in the 1930s.

"He threatened Venezuela with military action, he lobbed missiles at Syria, he threatened Iran, he threatened North Korea. It's not the sign of a healthy, stable position," Sadat tells Newsweek.

"I don't think there is any constitutional basis for the president to launch this war on his own," she added. "I don't think the president is particularly concerned about this."

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President Donald Trump brought up a campaign promise during a March meeting with the U.S. senators from Alaska, asking whether he could roll back President Barack Obamas 2015 decision to rename the tallest mountain on the continent, spokespeople for the senators confirmed to Newsweek on Monday.

Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan were meeting with Trump and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in the Oval Office to talk about issues affecting Alaska, including the economy, the military and Arctic drilling. The senators brought up some Obama decisions they said hurt the state, and Trump asked Zinke after each one: Can we change that and help Alaska? The Alaska Dispatch News first reported the exchange after Sullivan mentioned it at a conference.

The president then raised another of Obama's Alaska decisions. Wasn't the name of a big mountain in Alaska changed by executive order? Trump asked, according to the newspaper. (Obama announced in 2015 the federal government was changing the name of Mount McKinley to Denali, the Native Alaska name for the peak.)

The president brought up the idea of changing the name back to Mount McKinley, named for a U.S. president who never visited the 49th state, and the senators quickly argued against it. "LisaSenator Murkowskiand I jumped over the desk. We said, 'No, no!'" said Sullivan, who was speaking at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage, the newspaper reported.

When the president asked, Why? Sullivan answered, The Alaska Native people named that mountain over 10,000 years ago. Denali, that was the name, according to the newspaper.

Trump Obama meeting

JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty

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Sullivan spokeswoman Karina Petersen and Murkowski spokesman Mike Anderson confirmed to Newsweek that Trump asked whether he should reverse the Obama administration decision to rename the mountain during the March 8 meeting.

While visiting Alaska in 2015, Obama announced his administration was scrapping the McKinley name and restoring the Athabascan name of Denali to the more than 20,000-foot mountain. This designation recognizes the sacred status of Denali to generations of Alaska Natives, his office said in a statement announcing the change.

Trump, then just two months into his presidential campaign, reacted strongly. President Obama wants to change the name of Mount McKinley to Denali after more than 100 years. Great insult to Ohio. I will change back! he said in a tweet, referring to President William McKinleys home state.

Alaskans slammed Trumps tweets. We wanted that change for a long time, and now we finally have it, and we need to leave it alone, Victor Joseph, president of Tanana Chiefs Conference, a consortium of 42 Athabascan tribes in Interior Alaska, told the Associated Press last year. It was an insult to the first people of this land when they took away the name and gave it to somebody else.

Trump critics have argued the president is obsessed with Obama. CNN anchor Don Lemon raised the issue on air earlier this month, stating the Republican was making it his mission to undo every last bit of the Obama legacy, while political analyst David Gergen replied that recent Trump decision were more about blowing up the former presidents legacy than anybody wants to admit.

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Istanbul (AFP) - Eleven human rights activists, including the two top figures with Amnesty International in Turkey, are due to go on trial Wednesday on contested terror charges, seen by the rights watchdog as a test case for the judiciary.

All bar two of the activists -- who include two foreigners -- have been behind bars since a police raid in July on a workshop run by Amnesty on a popular island off Istanbul.

They face up to 15 years in jail if convicted after the trial at Istanbul's main court.

The accused include the director of Amnesty Turkey Idil Eser, who was detained in the raid by police on the workshop on the island of Buyukada.

Also going on trial is Amnesty's Turkey chair Taner Kilic, who was detained in June and whose case has been merged with that of the other 10 activists as prosecutors claimed he was aware of preparations for the workshop.

He has been charged with membership of an armed terror group while the others are charged with "aiding" an armed terror group.

The activists are accused in the indictment of seeking to create "chaos in society", similar to the anti-government protests that rocked Turkey in the summer of 2013.

The charges amplified concerns over freedom of expression in Turkey under the state of emergency imposed after last year's failed coup aimed at unseating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ankara blamed the coup attempt on the self-exiled Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, who denies the accusations.

Erdogan in July said the activists were detained after a tip-off that they were working against the government, comparing them to those involved in the failed coup.

- 'Test case'-

Amnesty International's Turkey researcher Andrew Gardner said the case against the human rights defenders was "a completely baseless prosecution that doesn't have a shred of evidence and doesn't stand up to the slightest scrutiny".

"The case will be a test case for Turkey's judiciary," he told AFP.

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The two foreigners -- German Peter Steudtner and Swede Ali Gharavi -- were leading a digital information workshop on Buyukada and have been under arrest since the July raid.

Steudtner's detention has stoked tensions in particular with Berlin, and German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has described the terror charges as "incomprehensible".

Sweden this month summoned Turkey's ambassador over the case of Gharavi, saying it was "worried" about the accusations against him.

Amnesty posted a video message from Edward Snowden -- a former CIA employee who in 2013 revealed spying activities of the National Security Agency -- in support of the detained rights activists.

"The director and the chair of Amnesty International in Turkey are in prison for defending human rights," Snowden said.

"I know what it means to have support from the outside world in that moment, when you are alone, when you need it most. Join me, and together let's stand up for human rights defenders in Turkey."

Amnesty supporters from 110 countries worldwide stood up for Snowden as part of a campaign. Thousands wrote solidarity messages as well.

The suspects in Turkey are accused of links to outlawed groups including the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Gulen's organisation and the far-left Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C).

Gardner said the "scandalous case ... must be finally put to bed" three months later and that the human rights defenders must be released "unconditionally".
Istanbul (AFP) - Eight human rights activists, including Amnesty International's Turkey director Idil Eser, were greeted by celebrating relatives and supporters as they were released from jail near Istanbul early Thursday.

A court late Wednesday ordered the release of the eight, including two foreigners, who are among 11 activists on trial over contested terror charges.

A crowd of supporters gathered overnight outside the Silivri prison, with some dancing for joy and others unfurling banners saying "Free human rights defenders."

German activist Peter Steudtner hugged supporters as he walked free, overcome with emotion.

"I think we're all more than relieved. We feel really happy about what happened. To speak of me, I am really grateful and we are really grateful for everybody who supported us legally, diplomatically and for solidarity," he said tearfully.

Steudtner's detention had stoked tensions with Berlin, and German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel had described the terror charges as "incomprehensible".

Swedish colleague Ali Gharavi said: "We're a big family now, thank you everyone. Wherever you are, however you did it, you got us out, thank you very much."

Speaking after her release, Eser said she found the court verdict "very surprising".

"There are still a lot of friends, journalists who are in jail unfairly. We will continue to work until all human rights defenders and journalists are set free," she said.

The eight were among 11 activists who went on trial in Istanbul Wednesday in a case which Amnesty sees as a test for the Turkish judiciary.

While releasing eight of them who had been held in detention, the court ordered that Amnesty's Turkey chair Taner Kilic remain in jail, an AFP correspondent at the court said.

All bar two of the activists had been behind bars since a police raid in July on a workshop run by Amnesty on an island off Istanbul.

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The two foreigners are free to leave the country, a defence lawyer told AFP.

Kilic was detained in June and his case was merged with that of the other 10 activists as prosecutors claimed he was aware of preparations for the workshop.

He has been charged with membership of an armed terror group while the others are charged with "aiding" an armed terror group. Kilic appeared via video link from prison.

He will also appear at a hearing on Thursday in Izmir, western Turkey, on a separate charge of being a member of the organisation accused of launching last year's failed coup.

Amnesty International secretary general Salil Shetty said the rights group could "finally celebrate friends and colleagues" returning to loved ones and their homes, but "any joy is tainted by the ongoing detention" of Kilic.

- 'Test for judiciary'-

The activists are accused of seeking to wreak "chaos in society" -- a similar charge to the one brought against anti-government protesters whose demonstrations rocked Turkey in the summer of 2013.

Eser said she rejected all the accusations.

"Defending human rights is not a crime. It is out of the question for Amnesty International to set an agenda in line with terror groups," she told the court.

Eser said Amnesty defended individuals' rights irrespective of their political views, showing as an example the group's support for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan when he was jailed for reciting a poem in 1998.

Ozlem Dalkiran, of Citizens' Assembly, said she read the indictment many times but "as a human rights defender I barely understand how a workshop ends up being linked to aiding an armed terror group."

The charges amplified concerns over freedom of expression in Turkey under the state of emergency imposed after last year's failed coup.

Ankara blamed the coup attempt on the self-exiled Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, who denies the accusations.

Erdogan in July said the activists were detained after a tip-off that they were working against the government.

Amnesty International's Turkey researcher Andrew Gardner said the case against the human rights defenders was "a completely baseless prosecution that doesn't have a shred of evidence and doesn't stand up to the slightest scrutiny".

"The case will be a test case for Turkey's judiciary," he told AFP.

The activists are accused of links to outlawed groups including the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Gulen's organisation and the far-left Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C).
(Reuters) - A student and another man were shot and killed on Wednesday at Grambling State University in Louisiana, and police were searching for the assailant who fled the scene, school and law enforcement officials said.

The student, Earl Andrews, 23, and Monquiarious Caldwell, 23, who was not enrolled at the university, were fatally shot during an altercation in a campus courtyard shortly after midnight on Wednesday, the officials said.

The shooting came after an argument in a dormitory room, said Major Stephen Williams of the Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Department, the agency investigating the incident.

Sheriff Mike Stone said in a statement that the incident was not random and the victims knew the shooter. He told a local newspaper that there had been "bad blood" between the victims and the suspect.

It was the second shooting on Grambling's campus in five weeks. On Sept. 21, a fight in a dorm room led to a student being shot in the left arm, said Kathy Spurlock, a Grambling spokeswoman.

University President Richard Gallot offered condolences to the families of the victims on Wednesday. Both of the shooting victims were from Farmerville, Louisiana.

"We are working with authorities to do all that we can to ensure your safety on campus, our first priority," Gallot said in a statement.

Classes were held as scheduled on Wednesday.

Grambling State University is a historically black college attended by about 4,800 students in Grambling in northern Louisiana.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee and Bernie Woodall in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Sandra Maler)
A pair of senators from Donald Trumps own Republican Party launched stinging attacks on their leader on the same day. One accused the President of debasing our country.

Arizonas Jeff Flake, who has repeatedly and publicly clashed with the US President, took to the Senate floor to announce he would not seek re-election in 2018.

He said he had children and grandchildren to answer to, adding that he would not be complicit in going along with reckless, outrageous and undignified behaviour.

We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country  the personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms, and institutions, the flagrant disregard for truth or decency, the reckless provocations, most often for the pettiest and most personal reasons, Mr Flake said.

He reportedly received a standing ovation from fellow Arizonan Senator John McCain, Wyomings John Barrasso and Bob Corker, who had earlier made his own feelings about Mr Trump abundantly clear.

Hes obviously not going to rise to the occasion as President, said Mr Corker, the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee. He added that the debasement of our nation would be what Mr Trump will be remembered most for.

He said: Ive been with him on multiple occasions to create some kind of aspirational approach, if you will, to the way he conducts himself. But I dont think that thats possible. Unfortunately, I think world leaders are very aware that much of what he says is untrue.

I dont know why he lowers himself to such a low, low standard and debases our country in the way that he does.

The President fired back in typical style by tweeting: Corker dropped out of the race in Tennessee when I refused to endorse him, and now is only negative on anything Trump. Look at his record!

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, dismissed Mr Corker and Mr Flake as petty and said their decisions to step down next year were probably the right ones.

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It is estimated that the President has personally attacked one in five of his own partys senators.

The party has struggled to reconcile its more moderate, pro-business wing with the growing numbers of populists and nationalists who fuelled Mr Trumps political rise.

The President  a former Democrat with no ideological mooring to conservative principles or deep ties to the partys leaders  appears to have widened the gulf between millions of Republican voters and the congressional leaders sent to Washington to represent them.

Privately, many Republican officials have raised concerns about the direction in which Mr Trump is pulling the party, both on policy and tone.

He has moved it right on immigration and pulled out of a key Pacific Rim trade deal, attacked Germany, the FBI and London mayor Sadiq Khan.

The President has also drawn open support from some white nationalists.

Peter Wehner, a Trump critic who served in President George W Bushs White House, said there was a struggle going on for the soul of conservatism and the Republican Party.

He said: If this party is defined by Donald Trump and Steve Bannon, then a lot of these people arent going to want to be a part of that party anyway.

Aside from occasional criticism of Mr Trumps tweets or his most callous comments, most Republican office holders have stayed silent, in part out of fear of alienating the Presidents supporters.

Additional reporting by agencies
By Alana Wise

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The leading U.S. black civil rights group has urged black travelers not to fly with American Airlines after what it called a pattern of racially biased incidents reported by passengers.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) accused the airline of subjecting black passengers to "disrespectful, discriminatory or unsafe conditions" as part of a corporate culture of racial insensitivity.

"Historically, the NAACP has issued travel advisories when conditions on the ground pose a substantial risk of harm to black Americans," the group said in a statement on Tuesday. It said some recent incidents "may represent only the 'tip of the iceberg' when it comes to American Airlines' documented mistreatment of African-American customers."

The advisory against American Airlines is the second such warning the group has issued this year. In August it advised African-Americans to exercise extreme caution in Missouri, based on data that showed black drivers were much more likely to be stopped and searched by police in the state than white drivers.

American Airlines Chief Executive Doug Parker said he was disappointed by the NAACP's move and that the carrier had contacted the group to arrange a meeting.

"The mission statement of the NAACP states that it 'seeks to remove all barriers of racial discrimination,'" Parker wrote in a letter to employees on Wednesday, which was seen by Reuters. "That's a mission that the people of American Airlines endorse and facilitate every day - we do not and will not tolerate discrimination at any time."

The NAACP said it has not yet been in contact with American Airlines to schedule a meeting.

The group's advisory comes a week after popular black activist Tamika Mallory was removed from an American Airlines flight from Miami to New York after a seating dispute with a gate agent.

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The incident attracted widespread attention after Mallory took to Twitter to accuse the plane's pilot of asserting "his white male power" by having her removed, tagging a series of tweets #FlyingWhileBlack.

After the incident with Mallory, American Airlines said it had invited her to meet at the airline's Fort Worth, Texas-headquarters. Mallory wrote on Twitter that a meeting would be scheduled in the "near future."

In its Tuesday statement, the NAACP cited three other recent incidents between American Airlines and black passengers. In one case, a black man was forced to give up his seat on a Washington D.C. flight "merely because he responded to disrespectful and discriminatory comments directed toward him by two unruly white passengers," according to the NAACP.

It was not immediately clear if the advisory was having an effect on Wednesday, although American Airlines was a top trending topic on Twitter with more than 9,800 tweets mentioning the carrier. The company's shares were down 1.7 percent at $51.03.

Some of the top words associated with American Airlines were "boycott" and "racial discrimination," according to social media analytics firms Zoomph.

(Reporting by Alana Wise; Additonal reporting by Angela Moon; Editing by Bill Rigby)
By Scott Malone

BOSTON (Reuters) - A federal judge on Wednesday declined to dismiss a lawsuit by an Indonesian illegal immigrant challenging his detention in a Massachusetts county jail, finding that she had authority to challenge the conditions of his confinement.

Terry Rombot was part of a wave of Indonesian Christians who fled their country following deadly riots in 1998. About 70 members of that exodus have been allowed to remain, illegally, in New Hampshire since 2010 under a deal with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities.

However, in August, President Donald Trump instructed ICE in a directive that all immigrants in the United States illegally were subject to deportation. Rombot learned of the policy change when he arrived for an Aug. 1 check-in at ICE's Manchester, New Hampshire, office and was arrested.

He was initially held in Massachusetts at the Plymouth County house of corrections, which had filed a bid to dismiss the lawsuit, and since has been moved to Bristol County.

Federal courts do not have direct authority over immigration matters, which are handled by the Executive Office for Immigration Review, but Chief Judge Patti Saris of the U.S. District Court in Boston wrote in a court filing on Wednesday that she has a say over the terms of his confinement.

"The district court holds jurisdiction to review habeas (corpus) challenges to unlawful immigration detention," Saris wrote. Writs of habeas corpus challenge illegal detention.

At a Friday hearing, Saris expressed concern that ICE had broken its word with Rombot after telling him in 2015 that he would "be given an opportunity to prepare for an orderly departure" before being deported. She also expressed concern he was being held alongside potentially violent criminals.

Rombot is one of 47 Indonesian nationals living illegally in New Hampshire involved in a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's move to deport them.

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ICE officials said the arrangement had always been a temporary one and that the agency always had discretion to deport the people covered by the arrangement.

Members of the group and advocates say they fear they could face discrimination or violence if forced to return to the world's largest Muslim-majority country.

The Indonesians are part of an ethnic community of about 2,000 people clustered around the city of Dover in New Hampshire's seacoast region. Their cause has drawn the support of the state's all-Democratic congressional delegation, including U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Governor Chris Sununu.

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by James Dalgleish)
Climate change does make strange bedfellows.

Nicaragua has decided to join the Paris climate agreement, as the nations Vice President Rosario Murillo calls the agreement the only instrument we have to tackle climate change, leaving the United States and Syria as the only two countries that are not included in the global pact.

According to a report by The Guardian, Murillo told a local radio station on Monday that her country has already submitted relevant documents to the United Nations. It is the only instrument we have in the world that allows the unity of intentions and efforts to face up the climate change and natural disasters, she said.

Nicaragua did not support the agreement in the past because it was not strict enough to curb global warming. Paul Oquist, Nicaraguas lead envoy during the Paris climate talks in November 2015, told the website Climate Home that there was a disconnect between what the accord stipulated and what participating countries said they were going to do to protect the environment.

We are not going to submit because voluntary responsibility is a path to failure, Oquist said at the time. We dont want to be an accomplice to taking the world to 3 to 4 degrees and the death and destruction that represents.

Nicaragua acquires more than half of its energy from renewable resources and is hoping to reach 75 percent of renewable energy by the end of this year and 90 percent by 2020, website EcoWatch reported. A 2013 report by the World Bank called Nicaragua a renewable energy paradise in Central America thanks to its extensive geothermic resources resulting from its large volcanic chain and seismic activity with excellent exposure to the wind and sun and a variety of water sources.

In the case of Syria, the heaviest fighting of the countrys seven years of internal conflict occurred while the Paris agreement was taking place, according to The Washington Post. Due to the ravaging conflict during the Paris talks, Damascus could not commit to limiting climate emissions, the newspaper noted.

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However, isolated nations such as North Korea and war-torn countries like Iraq and Yemen became signatories, the Post added.

Unlike Nicaragua and Syria, President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris accord because he considered it detrimental to U.S. interests. However, in August, Trump said he was willing to remain in the deal as long as more favorable terms for the U.S. were established.

As the president indicated in his June 1 announcement and subsequently, he is open to re-engaging in the Paris Agreement if the U.S. can identify terms that are more favorable to the United States, its business, its workers, its people, and its taxpayers, The New York Times cited the State Departments statement.

Nicaraguas global emissions only reach 0.03 percent, while Syrias share stands at 0.14 percent. The United States, however, is considered the worlds biggest carbon polluter in history, according to The New York Times.

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By Phil Stewart and Manuel Mogato CLARK, Philippines (Reuters) - The timing of U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' trip to the Philippines this week couldn't have been better, coming just as it celebrated a victory against Islamist militants in Marawi City - with a critical dose of help from the U.S. military. But as Mattis met President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, five Russian warships were parked off the Philippines and Moscow was preparing to formally hand over thousands of assault rifles, a million rounds of ammunition and 20 army trucks at a public ceremony on Wednesday. Duterte, known for his strident anti-American rhetoric, has made no secret of his plans to cultivate ties with America's rivals, Russia and China. Those efforts appear to be starting to bear fruit. Just before he met Mattis, Duterte sat down with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Tuesday, who, like Mattis, was attending a gathering of Asian defense ministers north of Manila. Shoigu signed two military deals, including the procurement of unspecified equipment. On Wednesday, Duterte was scheduled to visit a Russian anti-submarine ship, the Admiral Pantaleyev, docked in Manila. U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim played down any U.S. concerns about Duterte's outreach to China and Russia and noted that the United States, a former colonial power, was the country's only treaty ally, with far deeper ties in the Philippines. "I'm not really threatened by this notion that China or Russia are providing some military equipment to the Philippines," Kim told a small group of reporters traveling with Mattis. "We have been providing very important equipment to the Philippines for many, many years. The fact that the Chinese and the Russians have provided some rifles, I'm not sure is really such a cause for concern for the United States." Duterte's often profanity-laden tirades against the United States have become his trademark during his year-old presidency, and he has chided Washington for treating his country "like a dog," despite the longstanding U.S. assistance. Still, Duterte's rhetoric has been inconsistent, and he warmly greeted visiting Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in August, calling himself a "humble friend" of the United States at the time. On Tuesday, he cautiously kept to scripted dialogue at the start of his meeting with Mattis, as he welcomed him to the Philippines and spoke warmly of ties. "I want to be (as) politically correct as possible and I want to be understood. So reading this speech will be good," he said before reporters were escorted out of the room. Ahead of a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to the Philippines, the U.S. envoy cited an improvement in "tone and substance" in bilateral ties over the 10 months since he's been in his post. "President Duterte has made clear that even as he pursues improved relations with countries like China and Russia, he will continue to focus on making sure that the U.S.-Philippines alliance remains strong," Kim said. MARAWI OPERATION The same day that Mattis landed in the Philippines, Manila announced the end of five months of military operations in a southern city of Marawi held by pro-Islamic State rebels, after a fierce and unfamiliar urban war that marked the country's biggest security crisis in years. The rebel occupation stunned a military inexperienced in urban combat and stoked wider concerns that Islamic State loyalists have gained influence among local Muslims and have ambitions to use the island of Mindanao as a base for operations in Southeast Asia. Mattis, on his flight to the Philippines, commended Manila on the operation and on Tuesday discussed ways to deepen U.S.-Philippines military ties in talks with the Philippine defense minister. "It was a tough fight," Mattis said during his flight, adding he thought the Philippines had sent "a very necessary message to the terrorists." Kim said the U.S. military assistance made a "huge difference" in the battle in Marawi, particularly its intelligence support, including with the deployment of Gray Eagle and P-3 Orion aircraft. "I think all of us were surprised by the extent of infiltration by the terrorists into Marawi City," he said. "When you encounter a situation like that, you obviously need good intelligence to be able to target key areas and I think that's where our support was quite critical." On Monday night, Philippine military chief General Eduardo Ano said the U.S. technical support "tilted the balance" because "we had a very hard grasp of the situation in the early days" until information flowed and helped defeat the militants. The United States also provided information Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi gave $1.5 million in January for the attack on Marawi, Ano said. But even on Marawi, Duterte has also credited U.S. rival China for its assistance. Duterte said it was one of the 100 sniper rifles donated by China that fired the bullet that killed Isnilon Hapilon, Islamic State's "emir" in Southeast Asia, on Oct. 16. The ranger unit conducting the operation said the shot was fired from a heavier weapon mounted on an armored vehicle. Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters on Tuesday about the receipt of heavy equipment from China to help rebuild Marawi, and also noted the receipt of rifles and ammunition from Beijing. He expected to receive four fast boats from China before the end of the year. The United States has for decades been the Philippines' defense treaty ally and its biggest source of hardware and training, providing about $1 billion in equipment since 2000. (Additional reporting Karen Lema; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Kampala (AFP) - Uganda's opposition leader Kizza Besigye was arrested again Wednesday just five hours after being charged with inciting violence and released on bail, a leader of his political party told AFP.

"He was released today (Wednesday) but was rearrested thereafter. We don't know why," said Harold Kaija, an official of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party.

"His release was a cosmetic one," Kaija added. "Government is trying to bypass the long stay in detention by Besigye by rearresting him after he was set free by the court."

Besigye and five of his supporters had been charged with inciting violence and released on Wednesday after spending six days in detention, according to his party and police.

Ugandan police spokesman Asan Kasingye late Wednesday could not confirm if Besigye was arrested again.

However, Mugisha Muntu, a FDC senior official, told AFP that "he (Besigye) was rearrested after he was released by the court. We protest this kind of behaviour by government."

Besigye had been arrested last week following the killing of an opposition supporter during a protest, ruled illegal by authorities, in the western city of Rukungiri.

The protesters were marching against a ruling party plan to amend the constitution to remove presidential age limits, a move that would allow President Yoweri Museveni to stand for a sixth consecutive term in 2021.

Muntu earlier said that Besigye and five others had been "freed on non-cash bail of five million shillings ($1,400, 1,200 euros)".

Area police spokesman Elly Maate said the six are accused of inciting the public to assault a police officer, attacking the officer's house and damaging a police vehicle.

"Besigye and the others are also charged with disobedience of lawful duty by holding an unauthorised rally in Rukungiri on October 18, 2017," Maate said.

The six have denied all charges. The next court hearing is due in Rukungiri on November 18.
Kiev (AFP) - Ukraine opened a "terror" probe Thursday after a lawmaker was wounded and two people killed in a bombing that his nationalist party called an assassination attempt linked to Russia.

Kiev's Espreso television said Radical Party member Igor Mosiychuk was walking out of its studio after giving an interview Wednesday when an explosive device went off near a scooter parked on the street.

Mosiychuk's bodyguard died on the way to hospital and a passerby was killed at the scene.

Security Service of Ukraine spokeswoman Olena Gitlyanska told AFP a terror probe had been launched and that "the investigation is looking into all versions" of events.

But Deputy Prosecutor General Pavlo Kononenko told reporters that "the first possibility we are examining -- one Mosiychuk uttered himself -- is that this was organised by Russia's secret service".

Mosiychuk is a highly outspoken critic of the Kremlin and its alleged backing of an insurgency in eastern Ukraine that broke out two months after Kiev's February 2014 ouster of its Russian-backed regime.

Moscow denies playing any role in the conflict despite overwhelming evidence of its tanks and troops entering a war zone in which more than 10,000 people have died.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was equally dismissive of Ukraine's suspicion that Russia was behind the latest high-profile bombing to hit Kiev.

He told reporters that putting the responsibility on any Russian official demonstrated Kiev's "groundless hysteria" and "Russophobia".

But Radical Party leader Oleg Lyashko was adamant that "this is the work of our enemy's secret services".

- String of bombings -

The blast was the latest in a string of politically charged bombings to have hit the Ukrainian capital since last year.

Former Russian lawmaker Denis Voronenkov -- a Kremlin critic who had moved to Kiev -- was gunned down in broad daylight in the Ukrainian capital in March.

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A car bomb killed journalist Pavlo Sheremet in July 2016. The independent Ukrainska Pravda news site's reporter had denounced the political courses taken by both Russia and Ukraine.

And a colonel with the Ukrainian defence ministry's intelligence service was killed when his car exploded in Kiev in June.

All three cases remain unsolved.

But Mosiychuk and the Radical Party play an ambiguous and relatively minor role in Ukrainian politics.

The small party stands in nominal opposition to the government but has also been willing to work with it in the past.

Mosiychuk himself spent 2011-2014 in jail after being convicted of involvement in an ultra-nationalist "terrorist" group.

The 45-year-old was further embroiled in a 2015 bribery case that was eventually dropped.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - A UN special rapporteur on Wednesday urged Iran to stop harassing BBC employees from the Persian service after Tehran launched a criminal investigation of 152 staff for "conspiracy against national security."

David Kaye, the special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, said he had raised concerns with the Iranian government and was awaiting a response.

"We urge the government of Iran to stop harassing the employees and the families of employees of the BBC Persian service as well as other journalists," Kaye told a news conference at UN headquarters.

The BBC filed an urgent complaint to Kaye and to Asma Jahangir, the UN special rapporteur for human rights in Iran, over the investigation and an Iranian court order freezing the assets of BBC Persian staff.

"The Iranian government is conducting what appears to be a politically motivated investigation into 152 BBC Persian staff, former staff and contributors, accusing them of conspiracy against national security in Iran," said Tony Hall, the BBC's director general.

Hall urged "the international community to use their own influence in Iran to persuade the authorities that this completely unacceptable treatment must end."

Under the court order, BBC Persian staff are barred from inheriting family assets and they are prevented, as well as their families, from selling assets, such as property or even cars, in Iran.

Kaye said the complaint was "very, very serious" and stressed that the journalists were "only trying to do their job -- which is a job that is protected by international human rights law."

The BBC said its Persian service staff have been targeted by Iranian authorities since the disputed 2009 presidential elections, when Tehran accused foreign powers of interference.

The families of BBC employees have suffered, including elderly parents who have been interrogated and the sister of a journalist who was held in prison for 17 days and forced to plead with the journalist via Skype to stop working for the BBC.

Many staff have been targeted by fake news reports accusing them of illegal sexual acts, including those punishable by the death penalty, the BBC said.

The BBC reaches 18 million people with its Persian service broadcast by radio, television and online from London.
The USS Ronald Reagan sails alongside Japan's Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer Ise: Reuters

A second US aircraft carrier strike group has entered the western Pacific in as many days, bringing the total number to three ahead of Donald Trumps Asia tour.

Amid heightened tensions with North Korea, The USS Nimitz and Theodore Roosevelt joined the Seventh Fleet operations area alongside the USS Ronald Reagan, which has been conducting exercises with South Koreas navy.

North Korea dubbed them a rehearsal for war.

The US Navy said the nuclear-powered carriers and their attendant smaller craft were due to conduct maritime security operations, theatre security cooperation, and port visits.

The so-called supercarriers are one of the main ways the US projects its power around the world.

Mr Trump will begin a tour of the Asia-Pacific region with a briefing by US Pacific Command in Hawaii on 3 November, before moving on to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

He will use his stop in Beijing to urge President Xi Jinping to do more to curtail North Koreas nuclear ambitions and missile tests.

The secretive communist state conducted a sixth nuclear test in recent months and launched a number of ballistic missiles, including two that passed over the Japanese mainland.

Mr Trump has threatened fire and fury like the world has never seen if the North continues to threaten its neighbours.

The Roosevelts commanding officer, Captain Carlos Sardiello, said: When a carrier leaves on deployment, we have to be ready for anything.

A US Navy spokeswoman told The Independent: Carrier strike groups routinely deploy to the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean. These deployments are part of a previously planned deployment cycle and it is not uncommon for incoming and outgoing carrier strike group transit timing to overlap.

Retired US Navy admiral John Kirby said the deployments would also send a message to China, which for some years has been building up islands and military installations in the South China Sea  a bone of contention in the region.

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"The navy is taking advantage of a scheduling overlap to demonstrate its capabilities to potential adversaries, he told CNN. America was making sure China knows its still the predominant force in the Pacific region, he added.

China currently operates just one aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, which is based on a Soviet-era hull, but has said it will develop its own ships using domestic technology.
Washington (AFP) - An American destroyer has come to the aid of an Iranian fishing boat after a pirate attack off Yemen, the US Navy said Wednesday.

Iran's coast guard called the US naval command in Bahrain to report Tuesday's incident and to ask for help following the attack south of Yemen's Socotra island, the Navy said in a statement

The US command coordinated with an international naval task force which is in the region to battle pirates.

Along with the Japanese destroyer JS Amagiri, the USS Howard reached the vessel and its sailors "provided food and water, made repairs, and gave medical aid to three injured civilian mariners," the statement read.

The coordination between Iranian authorities and the US stands in contrast to a series of recent encounters in which the US has complained of unprofessional Iranian naval behavior.

For instance, in July, a US Navy patrol ship fired warning shots at an Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessel in the Gulf as it closed in on the American vessel.
Companies like Microsoft and Google store some of their data overseas and when US agencies want access to that data, during a criminal case, for example, they often have a fight on their hands. That's because current laws don't require these companies to provide that data, just as they don't require these companies to hand over data stored in the US to foreign agencies. This has posed a problem on both sides because it can slow down investigations being conducted by US or other countries' officials and it puts tech companies in a sort of legal limbo as they've typically chosen to protect users' privacy since there are no laws compelling them to do otherwise.

However, as the Financial Times reports, the US and the UK are currently hashing out an agreement that would require tech companies based in either country to provide information requested by law enforcement agencies in both the US and the UK. The UK Home Office told the Financial Times, "Since 2015, the UK has been working with the US government, and representatives from US technology companies, on a proposed UK-US bilateral data access agreement that would allow companies in one country to comply with lawful orders for electronic communications from the other." It added, "This agreement would help law enforcement and security agencies protect the public through accessing data stored or controlled by companies in each others' countries in support of serious crime and terrorism investigations, and would include strong safeguards and maintain rigorous privacy protections for citizens."

This data-sharing plan would hinge on laws being changed in the US. Currently the laws governing these situations are around three decades old and were drafted well before email and social media were a way of life. And people from all sides have called for updated regulations. A group of senators have proposed new legislation and tech companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon have voiced their support for changes in the law through a letter to senators, an amicus brief and speeches. Companies such as Microsoft, Google and Yahoo have all butted heads with the government in court over access to data.

The White House's National Security Council told the Financial Times that the administration supports this agreement and that it could be extended to other countries in the future.
Washington (AFP) - The United States expressed deep concern about the political crisis in Kenya on Wednesday and urged parties to resolve their differences over a disputed election without resorting to violence.

Kenyans are due to vote Thursday in a re-run of August's presidential vote, which was annulled after the Supreme Court found "irregularities" and mismanagement by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

But opposition leader Raila Odinga has urged his own supporters to stay at home after protest violence left at least 40 dead, apparently clearing the way for President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election.

"The United States urges all Kenyans to remain calm, reject violence, and uphold the principles of their Constitution in the election scheduled for tomorrow," US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

"We are deeply concerned about the continuing efforts of both parties to interfere with and undermine the independent operation of the electoral commission, the judiciary, and other essential institutions," she warned.

"It is essential that there be immediate, open, and transparent dialogue between all parties and the IEBC to resolve the issues. Now is not the time for strife to divide Kenya, it is a time for all Kenyans to come together."

Nauert also condemned an attack on the bodyguard of Kenya's Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu.

The guard was shot and seriously wounded Tuesday evening, and Mwilu failed to attend a last minute legal challenge that could have halted the vote.
Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela's opposition appeared close to disintegration Tuesday after a key leader ditched the main coalition opposed to President Nicolas Maduro, bolstering the socialist leader ahead of elections due next year.

Henrique Capriles, a former presidential candidate, announced he was pulling out of the beleaguered opposition coalition after four of its governors pledged allegiance to a Constituent Assembly fiercely loyal to Maduro.

Capriles said he would not stay in the coalition as long as another prominent figure, Henry Ramos Allup, leader of the Democratic Action Party, remained.

Four Democratic Action Party governors pledged allegiance to the Constituent Assembly, which was elected in July in polls called by the unpopular leftist Maduro that were boycotted by the opposition.

"When a person is sick, you need to operate to remove the tumor," said Capriles, who lost to Maduro in 2013, as he called for an overhaul of the Democratic Union Roundtable (MUD) coalition.

Capriles's Justice First party appeared likely to follow him out of the coalition after a party vote.

"It's the perfect scenario for Chavism, allowing it to press ahead with its strategy of obtaining legitimacy for the Constituent Assembly, while the opposition is unravelling," said electoral expert Eugenio Martinez.

He was referring to the political movement launched by Maduro's predecessor Hugo Chavez.

The developments follow a period of soul-searching by the opposition, routed in October 15 regional elections by Maduro's socialists who swept the vote in 18 of Venezuela's 23 states.

Maduro had warned ahead of the polls that elected governors would have to be sworn in before the Constituent Assembly, which the opposition has consistently refused to recognize.

The Assembly has been handed sweeping powers, including over the opposition-dominated parliament, and has been condemned internationally as a naked power grab by Maduro.

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Despite the opposition saying it would not give in to government "blackmail," four of the five opposition governors-elect said they had decided to submit to the inevitable and take the oath before the Assembly.

Maduro met Tuesday with three of the four governors at the center of the controversy, saying "a new era of coexistence, harmony and cooperation has started with an important sector of the opposition."

Ramos Allup said the four had "exiled themselves" from his party. However, Capriles accused him of "washing his hands" as nobody in the party moved a finger without the veteran leader's approval.

"The decision will deepen divisions and potentially cause a rupture of the MUD," said Risa Grais-Targow, Latin America director for Eurasia political consultancy.

"It will also provide Maduro with additional incentives to accelerate the timelines for local and presidential elections," with a growing likelihood that Ramos Allup will be the only opposition figure permitted to run for president, she said.

- Opposition implosion -

Venezuela-based political scientist Luis Salamanca told AFP the government was on track to "seize power indefinitely, which means destroying its main political enemy. MUD may be imploding."

Another main component of the MUD, Voluntad Popular, or "Popular Will," condemned the oath as a "betrayal" and said it would not participate in the municipal elections.

"The MUD has lost is usefulness for Venezuela and has to re-think itself toward a new alliance," said the VP's Freddy Guevara.

The four opposition governors in the eye of the storm defended their decision.

"We are assuming the political cost of defending our electors' votes," said Laidy Gomez, governor of the western state of Tachira.

She was speaking to reporters in a hotel after the MUD-controlled assembly banned them from using its headquarters.

Electoral expert Martinez predicted the move would further distance the MUD from its support base, already discouraged after failing to unseat Maduro in four months of violent protest earlier this year that left 125 people dead.

"What a way to disenfranchise millions of people who were expecting resistance," said businesswoman Margarita Garcia in the Tachira regional capital of San Cristobal. "It means political death."

Businessman Gendrick Parra, 38, said the one holdout opposition governor, Juan Pablo Guanipa from the oil state of Zulia, would eventually have to take the oath of allegiance before the Constituent Assembly.

"The government is gaining more ground every day. It has reached the point where people are disappointed and no longer want to get out and vote," said Parra, speaking in Zulia's capital Maracaibo.

Evelinda Villalobos, a 55-year-old insurance broker in Maracaibo, said Guanipa, whose future will now be decided by the Constituent Assembly, is the only governor who has the "will" to face down the government.
A Vietnam War medic was awarded the Medal of Honor for treating at least 60 wounded personnel during four brutal days of combat.

Read: Vietnam Veteran Reunited With War Buddy 50 Years After Losing Touch, Thanks to Twitter

Retired Army Captain Gary Mike Rose, 71, was given the militarys highest honor, nearly 50 years after his heroism.

Mike, your will to endure, your love for your fellow soldiers and your devotion to your country inspires us all, President Trump said during the ceremony at the White House Monday.

Rose was honored for his bravery during a secret mission, titled Operation Tailwind, in Laos, where he was in charge of providing constant treatment for 16 special forces soldiers and 120 other fighters.

On the second day, Rose recalled being badly injured himself.

I got a hole blown through my foot about the size of my thumb. It took a piece of my hand, peppered with metal and bamboo, he said. [The other] guys were carrying a lot more ammo than they normally do. We continued to fight. We werent getting much sleep, we werent eating, we were constantly getting hit.

But Rose continued providing constant medical attention to the other troops.

I was raised in an environment that if you agreed to do something basically on a handshake, you have an obligation to do it, he said. Not only an obligation to do it, but to do it the best that you know how.

Extraction helicopters arrived on the fourth day.

Read: 93-Year-Old World War II Vet Will Reunite With His Wartime Sweetheart After 7 Decades Apart

Rose said he watched his fellow troops load into the first two helicopters. By the time he boarded the third helicopter, enemy troops began shooting.

At 4,500 feet in the air, the engine failed.

One of us said, We're going to crash, and the other one said, Yup, we're going down, he remembered. We just sat there, arm-in-arm, looking at the ground coming up. 

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But when a Marine tapped him on the shoulder, indicating that he had been hit with a bullet, Rose didnt hesitate to help him  even though they were sure they would crash and die.

It looked like someone took a sharp egg beater and chewed up the front of his neck, he was just bleeding like a stock pig, Rose said, recalling that he used bandanas to stop the Marines bleeding since they had run out of medical supplies by then.

While his memory from that point is blurry, Rose was eventually brought to safety. All 16 Special Forces, while injured, were confirmed to have survived that battle and all but four of the other fighters survived.

Read: 6 Veterans Who Left High School to Enlist Are Finally Honored With Diplomas

Its a collective medal from my perspective, Rose said. All the courage and honor and the dedication those men serve and went for 30 years not even being acknowledged, let alone being recognized. The men and women served in that time frame were honorable and they deserve some type of recognition. This medal somewhat points in the fact that you can say, Faithful servant, well done.
Vice President Mike Pence broke a 50-50 tie on the Senate floor Tuesday evening to repeal a rule that prevents financial institutions  banks and credit card companies, for example  from striking lawsuits filed by wronged consumers.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which was built out of the financial crisis, created the rule after five years of studying forced arbitration clauses, the fine print inserted by companies to insulate them from lawsuits, instead sending them to arbitration.

Congress is standing up for everyday consumers and community banks and credit unions, instead of the trial lawyers, who would have benefited the most from the CFPBs uninformed and ineffective policy, said the White House in a press release.

Vice President Mike Pence speaks on tax reform at the American Enterprise Institute, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

For the 145 million consumers who watched Equifax play fast and loose with their financial data, it may be difficult to see how allowing companies to kill class-action lawsuits is a good thing.

Tonights vote is a giant setback for every consumer in this country, said Richard Cordray, the CFPB director, in a statement. As a result, companies like Wells Fargo and Equifax remain free to break the law without fear of legal blowback from their customers.

A popular bill for financial institutions, unpopular for consumers

The bill was entirely and exclusively supported by the [finance] industry, said F. Paul Bland, an attorney at Public Justice, a consumer group. Every group that represents consumers was strongly against the bill.

Bland listed special interest groups that opposed the bill: armed service member groups, senior citizen groups, civil rights groups. Lots of polling said both Republicans and Democrats oppose the bill by heavy margins, said Bland. This was the Wells Fargo immunity act. Its essentially a bailout for those companies.

For Wells Fargo, Equifax, and other companies that behave badly on a major scale, preventing consumers from banding together to seek justice is a major boon that could save these companies from an unknowable amount of damages.

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According to Bland, without class-actions, most consumers will not take action. The argument that individual arbitration is better for consumers is laughable, he said. Look at Equifax: 145 million people. Each of them are supposed to separately file an individual arbitration for themselves? How many of them will even be able to find the American Arbitration Associations website?

Good lawyers and bad lawyers

The Trump administration said in the statement that the CFPBs rule would have benefited trial lawyers with frivolous lawsuits. Putting aside judging whether suing Equifax or Wells Fargo for negligence might be considered frivolity, the Trump administrations statement amounts to a blatant disregard for facts.

In the CFPBs massive study on arbitrations, the agency examined more than 400 class-action lawsuits. The attorney fees ended up being just 18% of the money recovered on average  a far cry from lawyers-take-all.

Within the Trump administrations comments about these trial lawyers, as the White House calls them, lies a hypocrisy, according to Bland.

Mike Pence has a view of trial lawyers that basically adds up to: If youre on the side of the rich and powerful youre a good lawyer, Bland said. If a lawyer is representing an individual person, theyre a trial lawyer and a leech on American society.

Another scandal will happen, and this will bite the Republicans

In the past two years, two large companies have been exposed for bad behavior on a massive scale: Equifax and Wells Fargo.

Down the road this is going to be a slow-rolling catastrophe for Republicans who voted for this bill, said Bland. I dont think its likely the last significant time were going to see consumers totally cheated, referring to Equifax and Wells Fargo

By removing consumers rights to class-action lawsuits, companies have less motivation to police their own behavior and play by the rules.

The next time we discover something like Wells Fargo having a couple million people that theyve opened phony unauthorized accounts for,l, said Bland. Fifty Senate Republicans and Mike Pence will own 100% of that scandal.

Ethan Wolff-Mann is a writer at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter @ewolffmann. Confidential tip line: emann[at]oath[.com].

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A recent study from the White House predicts that slashing the corporate tax rate would permanently boost the median family income by at least $4,000 per year. But theres a catch: it would take a while.

This is the disappointing answer in terms of timing, Kevin Hassett, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, said at the Yahoo Finance All-Markets Summit on October 25. If you go to the optimistic side of the literature, it could take 3 to 5 years. If you go to the pessimistic side, it would about double that.

Hassets paper makes a fairly intuitive argument: Lowering the corporate tax rate from 35%, the current rate, to 20%, which is President Trumps target, would lure more businesses to America, generate more economic activity, and increase demand for workers, which would push wages up. But the paper doesnt say how long it might take for this process to play out, which is what Hassett elaborated on at the Yahoo Finance summit.

Firms are going to say, Oh geez, we should go to the United States and locate our plants here,  Hassett told Yahoo Finance. But it takes a while for the machines to get nailed down and plugged in, the jobs to be listed online, people to apply and so on. That process takes a little bit of time.

Hassetts paper has drawn criticism from prominent economists such as Larry Summers and Jason Furman, who both worked in the Obama administration. But economists who have worked in Republican administrations support it, including Greg Mankiw and Casey Mulligan. The new caveat about the lag between tax cuts on businesses and benefits enjoyed by middle-class workers may actually improve the credibility of the CEA analysis, since it acknowledges that corporate tax cuts are not a magic formula that would push incomes up overnight.

But its politically problematic, because corporations would enjoy lower taxes and higher profits right away, while ordinary workers waited for the benefits to reach them. Hassetts best-case scenarioa three-year lagwould span at least two election cycles. If corporate tax cuts went into effect in 2018, ordinary folks wouldnt benefit until at least 2021. Republicans, meanwhile, would have to campaign for the 2018 midterms and the 2020 presidential election by promising that the tax relief already enjoyed by businesses will soon reach regular families.

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Individual tax rates

Cutting individual tax rates could offer a different form of relief for middle- and lower-income families, one they feel much sooner. During a different session at the Yahoo Finance summit, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum and former director of the Congressional Budget Office, predicted that the tax reform bill Congress eventually passes will go into effect as of January 1, 2018 (even if it must be retroactive) and push rates down for most taxpayers right away. That means the amount of tax withheld from paychecks would go down and take-home pay would go upwell before voters hit the polls next November.

Still, many economists argue that its the business tax code, rather than the individual side, that is in most need of repair. Thats because the US corporate rate of 35% is the highest among advanced economies, yet tax breaks and loopholes push the actual tax paid far lower than 35%. The CEA paper is an attempt to link cuts in the corporate rate to the well-being of ordinary Americans. Expect the debate over that to intensify.

Confidential tip line: rickjnewman@yahoo.com. Encrypted communication available.

Read more:

Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman
Jillian Corsie had only been at college for a month when she says she was sexually assaulted by a male classmate in her dorm.

It was 2005 and the conversation about campus sexual assault still had another decade before it became part of the mainstream discussion.

When she turned to her friends for support, she says one suite-mate advised her not to tell their dorm rooms R.A; another let out a sigh of relief: Thank God I wasnt there or it wouldve happened to me. Her boyfriend at the time later admitted that he thought Corsie had simply cheated on him and regretted it.

Corsie, who had turned 18 just a month before, went to local police for help.

When I reported it to the police, they told me, quote, not to mix alcohol and beauty and told me my experience was consensual, Corsie told HuffPost in a recent interview.

For the remainder of her freshman year, Corsie says she was forced to see her assailant three times a week in the class in which they had met. The rest of her college career, she says, was spent avoiding her attacker on campus. She struggled with anxiety and feelings of isolation, barely talking about her assault even years after it happened.

I didnt have any support, Corsie said.

Now, shes using her expertise as a filmmaker to highlight the impact of victim-blaming in sexual assault cases. Corsie and co-director Amy Rosner are raising money to create a documentary-style short film called Second Assault, in which viewers follow Corsie as she travels back to her college campus and confronts the different people and road blocks she faced when she reported her assault 12 years ago.

The film is about my journey to confront a system that failed me, and also to confront the culture that we live in, Corsie said. And how that supports this idea of a second assault, which isnt necessarily just what happens when you report, but also what happens when your friends and boyfriends and people around you dont believe you.

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The film is currently in production and Corsie and Rosner are awaiting more funding in order to complete it. As of Wednesday afternoon, the two had raised just over $9,000 on SeedAndSpark.

Jillian Corsie (L) and Amy Rosner (R). (Photo: Jillian Corsie/Amy Rosner)

Corsie and Rosner were inspired to create Second Assault after they heard the 2016 leaked audio of President Trump bragging about grabbing women by the pussy. Just days later, Corsie decided to publicly share her sexual assault story for the first time using the hashtag #NotOkay.

I started getting contacted by news outlets and other documentary filmmakers asking to tell my #NotOkay story. Im a documentary filmmaker and I knew that if anyones going to tell this story after a decade, it should be me, Corsie said. Amy and I had been friends already for a few years, and wed been talking about collaborating and just never had. So she just naturally became my co-director.

Rosner started her career as a union organizer, but quickly realized she could make a larger impact as a documentary storyteller.

There was so much learning along the way, Rosner told HuffPost about Second Assault. We realized that Jills story, as personal as it is, its really a universal experience shared by a lot of women.

HuffPost spoke with Corsie and Rosner about the creative process behind Second Assault and what they hope comes from such a personal film.

HuffPost: Why did you two decide to make this film?

Rosner: Something that we really wanted to highlight with this film is what does survivor justice look like? If you plagiarize, youre more likely to get expelled than if you rape someone. So, when people make the argument that we need to depend on the legal process what they need to understand is that only three percent of rapists go to jail and it can take up to six years for a case to be tried. So students, like Jillian, are usually forced to spend the rest of their college careers with their rapists.

The system is broken at every single level. When people come out about their assaults, theres so much personal and professional risk. Everyones afraid of retaliation. Jill was afraid that her school was going to come after her. We wanted to highlight just how many roadblocks survivors face when they come out.

What was it like  12 years later  confronting the different people and roadblocks you faced in your reporting process?

Corsie: I mean, frankly, a year ago I would have told you that I would never have done any of this. It wouldve taken a whole bottle of vodka. I couldnt tell you why but I had kept the business card of the cop who filed my report. I had considered calling and maybe trying to look at the report, and I had done that several times over the years, but I had always chickened out. I was just afraid that the report was going to tell me what everybody else told me, and that it was going to be one more thing that invalidated my experience. Now that its done it doesnt seem like as big of a deal, but at the time it was really challenging.

This past year has been wrought with discussions around sexual violence including the Trump tapes, the Cosby trial and now the Harvey Weinstein allegations and the #MeToo campaign. What has that been like for you as a survivor?

Corsie: I think the #MeToo campaign has been really interesting because I think it shows survivors that theyre not alone. Theres something about these collective voices of women coming out and coming forward that is empowering. Without the #NotOkay campaign last year, I would never have spoken out, and I would never have gotten the opportunity to heal.

Something one of the women in our film says is, Coming out about your sexual assault is like joining the worst sisterhood ever. Right?

Rosner: Yeah. Theres so many shitty, shitty fucking sisterhoods that women join that are not choices, and this is one of them. So I think while, yes, #MeToo is a trigger-fest and it has been really tough for a lot of people to take, I agree with Jill. I think we have to practice revolutionary self-care right now and always.

I think the universal issue here is that theres a deeper systemic problem within our culture that makes difficult for women to speak out publicly or see legal action. So seeing it in mass numbers like this, particularly men seeing this, I think has been a really helpful thing.

How do you think that the reporting processes  whether through Title IX or the justice system  can improve to better support survivors?

Corsie: If were talking about, how do we make change on campus with Title IX, with the legal process outside of campuses, how do we actually make actual positive change? I dont know. Its systemically broken at every level.

Rosner: Its just so absolutely depressing. Theres a systemic problem, and I think one of the major things that Jillian and I really believe in is the conversation around consent. A revolutionary start with this battle is how we talk about consent.

And involving men in that conversation is key.

Rosner: Yes! For Jill and I, we talk a lot about involving men in the conversation. In the beginning, it was really hard for Jill and I to talk about, and I think it is really triggering to even discuss including men, but then when you step back you go like, Why would we not?

First of all, why arent we talking about consent and what that really means? Why arent we educating people? People seem to be focusing so much time on educating our daughters about how not to get raped instead of talking to their sons about how not to rape. It starts with some kind of more profound sexual education.

Corsie: We keep saying rape is a womans issue, but its not: its a human issue.

What do you hope survivors take away from this film?

Corsie: The one thing that I would want survivors to take away is that we believe them. Because thats the hardest part. The go-to response to any assault survivor  male or female  is: We dont believe you. Stop whining. Its not that big of a deal. Once people started believing me, that changed everything.

What do you hope men (although men can be survivors, too) take away from the film?

Rosner: I would hope that men take away that talking about consent is important. Because talking about this, lets be honest, is really difficult, and theres a lot of land mines. Consent is not taught to be a part of masculinity. Our goal is for men to see this film and feel that consensual sex can be empowering and masculine.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Head over to Seed&Spark to read more about Second Assault.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
This will help you keep your chin up while scrolling through Instagram.

Michelle Liu, a 21-year-old student in Boston, Massachusetts, is documenting her journeys around the world with@chinventures, a travel Instagram account that combines the grand landmark photos youre accustomed to seeing with something she calls chinning.

The term is one that Liu came up with to describe her unique style of self-portraits, in which she snaps low-angled photos of an exaggerated double chin rather than well-curated, high-angled selfies.

A post shared by Michelle Liu  Chinchelle (@chinventures)on Oct 4, 2017 at 4:56pm PDT

Liu told HuffPost that she came up with the idea when she was in middle school.

A post shared by Michelle Liu  Chinchelle (@chinventures)on Jun 6, 2017 at 6:06pm PDT

I felt the pressures of society and my peers to look a certain way and felt that I wouldnt be able to live up to those standards, she told HuffPost. As an alternative of traditional beauty, I started chinning to allow myself to embrace my quirky side and my friends thought it was funny.

A post shared by Michelle Liu  Chinchelle (@chinventures)on Aug 31, 2017 at 1:15pm PDT

Liu continued to make her friends laugh with her chintastic photos throughout the years and eventually decided to combine it with her love of travel while studying abroad in September 2016.

And thus @chinventures was born.

A post shared by Michelle Liu  Chinchelle (@chinventures)on May 15, 2017 at 1:52pm PDT

Now that Liu chins on the regular, she has observed the way people respond to her choice of pose in real life.

Some appear shocked, others confused, but across the board from my experience, they are usually entertained, she said. Some people will come up and ask what I am doing as well and are surprised or excited about it.

The concept definitely has appeal; Lius account boasts over 56,000 followers

I think now my main message with chinning would be to encourage everyone to do what they love and be themselves without caring about potential critique from others about it, she said.

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A post shared by Michelle Liu  Chinchelle (@chinventures)on May 21, 2017 at 4:21pm PDT

Preach!

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Many women are none too thrilled about the Trump administrations new rules that roll back the contraceptive mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)  the part of Barack Obamas health care bill that guaranteed insurance plans would cover all forms of prescription birth control with a zero-dollar co-pay for women  and, starting today, they are sending their bills straight to President Trump.

Donald Trump on Oct. 23, 2017, in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Getty Images)

Keep Birth Control Copay Free campaign created a digital invoice generator for women to send the White House a bill for what birth control would cost should their employers move to end their no-cost contraception coverage.

One simply enters their FDA-approved form of prescription contraception, and the campaigns online tool calculates the average annual cost  $600 for oral contraceptives, $800 for an implant, and $1,111 for an IUD. And then the invoice generator immediately sends the bill to Trump and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Women at a birth control protest in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Getty Images)

Each invoice generated through the campaigns tool will also be submitted to the Federal Register as an official comment opposing the new birth control rules. The comment period on the new rules will end on Dec. 5, 2017.

Kristen Bell, Gloria Steinem, Kate Walsh, Martha Plimpton, Sasheer Zamata, Ana Gasteyer, Margaret Cho, Franchesca Ramsey, and Cecily Strong are just some of the boldface names of women who have come out to endorse the campaign  and would really love for you to send an invoice to President Trump.

The cost of birth control pills is $600 per year. This is an example of the invoice the Keep Birth Control Copay Free campaign will send to President Trump. (Photo: Keep Birth Control Copay Free)

The ACA, known colloquially as Obamacare, made no-cost contraception accessible to 62.4 million American women, saving these women an estimated $1.4 billion annually.

Women are tired of footing the bill for male politicians attacks on essential reproductive health care, said Amy Runyon-Harms, the Keep Birth Control Copay Free campaign coordinator. Together, we are pushing back against President Trumps dangerous political decision to reduce access to birth control, and today we are sending him the bill.

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Polling released in March 2017 by nonpartisan research firm PerryUndem found that 75 percent of all voters consider birth control to be a part of preventive health care for women, with 85 percent of women voters in agreement with that.

Furthermore, 33 percent of women of reproductive age polled said they could not afford to pay more than $10 a month for birth control. Fourteen percent said they could not afford it at any price should they have to pay for it out of pocket today.

And 68 percent of voters said that Congress and President Trumps top health care priority should be lowering peoples out-of-pocket costs  in other words, the exact opposite of what these new birth control rules stand to do.

Polling released this month by the Small Business Majority found that 71 percent of female small-business owners say health insurance issuers should be required to include birth control coverage in their health plans, with this majority opinion extending across all political, racial, religious, and age lines. And 56 percent of these women business owners said that the ability to access birth control and to decide if and when to have children allowed them to advance in their careers and start their own businesses.

However, Heritage Foundation research associate Melanie Israel told Yahoo Lifestyle this month that the Obamacare mandate was onerous, and a burden on employers, individuals, and religious organizations who, because of their beliefs concerning the protection of unborn human life, are faced with the decision to violate sincerely held religious or moral beliefs, pay steep fines, or forgo offering or obtaining health insurance entirely.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, who on Tuesday became his nations strongest leader since Mao Zedong, has set the wheels in motion for staying in power beyond his second five-year term by not appointing any young cadres to the top leadership committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Following the culmination of the CCPs 19th Congress on Tuesday, Chinas apex seven-member Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) was presented to assembled press Wednesday morningwithout any members below the age of 57, making it less likely that a leadership transition will occur at the 20th Congress in 2022.

Addressing the press after the unveiling, Xi did not make any mention of the omission of younger cadres, preferring to concentrate on his goals for Chinas new era that he defined during the Congress, when Xi had his signature political thought added to the national constitution  an act that puts the 64-year-old in the same lofty bracket as founding father Mao.

On the march toward common prosperity, no one must be left behind. We will mobilize the whole party and country to deliver on our pledge to eradicate poverty in China, Xi told the flashing cameras of assembled journalists in Beijings Great Hall of the People, though with a some high-profile international media  including the BBC, New York Times and U.K. Guardian  denied access.

The aspirations of the people to live a better life must always be the focus of our efforts, he added.

The new PSC is comprised of: Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Han Zheng and Zhao Leji, with the latter the youngest member at 60 years old. But the unofficial PSC retirement age at a Party Congress is 68, meaning any cadres must be aged 57 now in order to stay on the apex committee for three terms  as would be required of future presidents and premiers.

Xi and Li Keqiang were both younger than 57 upon joining the PSC at the 17th Party Congress in 2007, when they were blooded on the PSC for a full term before ascending to the top jobs, also as convention dictates.

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Xi Jinping has no intention of relinquishing power at the 20th Party Congress five years from now, says Prof. Steve Tsang, Director of the SOAS China Institute at the University of London. The only question is how he will stay.

Xis determination to stay on as leader, and his grip on power, are so apparent that potential future leaders have been cowed from coming forward. One likely successor, Sun Zhengcai, was purged from his role of boss of the central metropolis of Chongqing in the run up to the Congress, a move which sent a chill through party ranks. There are also rumors that another possible heir, Hu Chunhua, has been actively trying to avoid the limelight.

Hus a very smart politician in terms of self-preservation, adds Tsang. If you know thats theres no chance that you could actually be a successor, then why would you risk putting your head on the chopping block? Thats just about the most dangerous, vulnerable place you could be in Chinese politics.

It wasnt simply a Xi Jinping whitewash, however. Three of the seven PSC members loosely belong to the CCPs Youth League faction, rising through the ranks of the partys junior organization. Xi, by contrast, is a representative of the princeling faction comprising scions of the CCPs storied founders. Premier Li Keqiang, vice-premier Wang Yang and Shanghai chief Han Zheng are all loosely affiliated with the former and thus are not stone-cold Xi proteges.

But Li Keqiang has, if you like, been house trained, says Tsang, and neither Wang Yang nor Han Zhen will be able to do very much in terms of opposing Xi Jinping.
Harare (AFP) - An emergency tray at a public hospital in Zimbabwe stands empty, for medical supplies have run out -- one example why President Robert Mugabe's brief appointment as WHO "goodwill ambassador" provoked such outrage.

Under Mugabe's rule, life expectancy in Zimbabwe dived from 61 in 1985 to just 44 in 2002, before recovering to 60 today, due largely to international aid.

The major causes of the country's health crisis have been the collapse of healthcare, falling standards of living as the economy has crumbled, and the struggle to tackle HIV-AIDS, experts say.

At the large public hospital near the capital Harare, doctors say syringes, surgical gloves and basic painkillers are all in short supply day-to-day.

They requested that the hospital's name was not used to avoid repercussions from government officials.

Last week a medical team at the facility was forced to delay a caesarean section because there was no running water for doctors and nurses to wash before surgery.

"We had to wait about three hours so that water could start coming out of the borehole," a nurse said.

Such realities meant that Mugabe's appointment last week as "goodwill ambassador" for the World Health Organization (WHO) for non-communicable diseases in Africa was greeted with disbelief and anger.

As criticism spread globally, the nomination was abruptly rescinded.

But Zimbabweans were left shocked at the UN agency's apparent ignorance about life under Mugabe.

- 'How could WHO reward Mugabe?' -

Edgar Munatsi, president of the Hospital Doctors' Association, described public medical facilities in the country as "nearly collapsed."

"It's non-functional in so many aspects. In medical terms, we could say it's in intensive care and this is mainly due to lack of funding from government," he told AFP.

"If you knew these hospitals more than 10 years ago, you wouldn't believe the extent of the dilapidation."

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The health ministry was allocated $208 million in this year's budget -- far less than the $340.5 million given to the defence ministry.

When the appointment was announced last week, WHO chief Teodros Ghebreyesus hailed Zimbabwe as "a country that places universal health coverage and health promotion at the centre of its policies."

But local activists, public health experts and key WHO donors like Britain, Canada and US all condemned the move.

"How could WHO reward Mugabe for this?" Chrispen Magogo told AFP, pointing to a rusty stretcher and broken wheelchair at the entrance to a ward at another Harare hospital where he was visiting his mother.

"People come here because they have no choice and most survive by the grace of God, not because the system is working."

As graffiti sprayed outside the UN agency's Harare offices over the weekend said: "Thanx WHO. Don't do it again. We're watchin'".

- Human rights record -

The state-run Herald newspaper had earlier celebrated the appointment with the headline "New feather in President's cap".

But when WHO reversed its decision, the government said that he knew nothing about the role and would not have accepted it anyway.

The government's apparent embarrassment and confusion offered little comfort to Zimbabweans, who often point out that Mugabe, 93, and his family choose to go abroad to receive medical treatment.

"We have a broken health system and that is why the appointment was a complete surprise," Calvin Fambirai, director of Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights, told AFP.

"This is a president whose human rights record is not up to scratch. It was wrong to elevate a person with such a reputation."

Mugabe has ruled the country since independence from Britain in 1980, and is often accused of violent repression, systemic corruption, election rigging and presiding over the country's economic ruin.

Many patients at public hospitals pay for their own medicine and treatment, though cash is desperately short after the economy has halved since 2000.

Munatsi said that doctors are underpaid, but they often buy extra supplies out of their salaries.

"You look at a patient dying before your eyes and the next thing you end up taking money from your own pocket to buy drugs to save a life," he said.
Facebook's success has led to gentrification and hardship in some towns close to its Menlo Park headquarters. So while the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has committed more than $45 billion to solving health and education problems worldwide, today it's strengthening its hyper-local philanthropy.

The new CZI Community Fund will provide $25,000 to $100,000 grants to nonprofits and nonprofit or municipality-backed organizations working to improve education, housing, homelessness, immigration, transportation and workforce development in Belle Haven, East Palo Alto, North Fair Oaks and Redwood City, California. For reference, the average rent in East Palo Alto just two miles from Facebook HQ went up 24 percent in the past year alone.

"The Bay Area is our home. We love our community and are so proud to be raising our two daughters here," writes CZI co-founder Priscilla Chan, Mark Zuckerberg's wife. "But listening to the stories from our local leaders and neighbors, there is still a lot of work to do."

The CZI has already backed some local projects, including criminal justice reform in California, and put $5 million toward Y Combinator startup Landed that helps school teachers pay for home down payments in districts close to Facebook HQ. It also donated $3.1 million to Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto that helps families impacted by the local housing shortage who need legal protection, in some cases from wrongful evictions. Plus CZI put $500,000 into the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley to develop long-term answers to the regional housing crisis.

Organizations seeking funding from the CZI Community Fund can apply before December 1. They'll be evaluated on the basis of alignment with the fund's mission, impact potential, leadership, collaboration with other organizations, community engagement and fiscal responsibility to ensure funds aren't wasted on overhead.

Map showing Facebook's headquarters circled in blue, and the four nearby towns supported by the CZI Community Fund

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Back in 2014, TechCrunch advocated for more of this hyper-local philanthropy by tech companies. At the time, Google was helping to pay for free bus passes for kids trying to get to school, after-school programs and work.

While tech giants can have global impact with scalable apps, the high salaries they pay can lead to rising housing and living prices in nearby areas. That's fine for their employees, but can cause trouble for lower-income residents as well as the contractors these corporations employ to run their cafeterias or sweep their floors.

There are certainly worthy causes everywhere, and some in the developing world, like anti-malaria mosquito nets, can do a lot of good for a low price. But if tech companies want to be seen as good neighbors and offset the damage they do to nearby communities, they need to give back locally, not just globally.
Yes, we know twins are supposed to look alike, but these two brothers are making the Twitterverse do a serious double take. The 19-year-old studs stunned everyone with their uncanny resemblance when @ahmedtwinkie wished his older twin  by two minutes  @abdullahtwinkie a happy birthday on Twitter. The post went viral with nearly 60,000 tweets and 13,000 retweets.

Happy 19th birthday to a brother who has the worlds greatest brother, damn you're so lucky pic.twitter.com/DbYfEf9thk  ALMOND (@ahmedtwinkie) October 22, 2017

The post featured several photos of the teens wearing matching plaid shirts and navy slacks. They also wore matching belts and silver chains and rings. The internet had to carefully decipher whether the photo was real or merely edited to create the identical-twin illusion.

Is your brother on the left or on the right? pic.twitter.com/J9lzZFK2Sd  MileyFuckingCyrus (@No1StaysTheSame) October 22, 2017

Usually twins have that one thing u can tell them apart but y'all look like clones  Amina A. Said (@xomina816) October 22, 2017

I feel like I'm looking at one of those spot the differences pictures  Kiara Martin (@Kikidm08) October 22, 2017

So we just gonna act like we aint know one of you is a shadow clone  Dominican_Kai (@_DemiJordan) October 23, 2017

With all the commotion and questions as to whether this twin sitch was real or fake, Ahmed had to set the record straight with some throwback photos of the two.

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Ahmed and his twin Abdullah are from Bosnia but currently reside in Arizona. They go to college and also work part-time. The twins tell Yahoo Lifestyle they didnt expect a simple happy birthday tweet would gather so much attention.

That said, now that it has put them on the Twitterverse map, Abdullah says they want to use their platform to preach good.

I like this fit A post shared by LULA (@abdullahtwinkie) on Jul 27, 2017 at 3:57pm PDT

We want to make a good difference in this world. We want to bring peace and love, and for people to respect each and every religion and race out there, says Abdullah. We want to one day become as financially stable as possible so then we can start many charity organizations for the unfortunate all around the world.

are yall single..?? asking for a friend https://t.co/BHYhTAelXM  JB (@husidic_jen) October 22, 2017

For all the people asking if the twins are single or in a relationship, Ahmed says he is single, but Abdullah declined to comment.

Iooking like a tired father A post shared by ALMOND (@ahmedtwinkie) on May 24, 2017 at 6:06pm PDT

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A 17-year-old boy died Tuesday morning after being shot on the sidewalk of a southeast Yakima neighborhood.
MADISON  A few hundred yards from the UW-Madison College of Engineerings core campus is a fresh example of why engineering is more than classrooms and theory: Its a hands-on discipline for turning ideas into prototypes and products that help people.

Opened in September, the Grainger Innovation Design Innovation Laboratory is a makerspace open to inventors, designers, builders and old-fashioned tinkerers, primarily within the College of Engineering, but also to students and faculty elsewhere on campus.

Occupying 12,000 square feet in Wendt Commons, the space comes equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, machine tools, virtual and augmented reality software, microscopes, soldering irons, a paint shop and more tools to put physical form to ideas.

The makerspace also represents the changing face of higher education  and why Wisconsin has advantages worthy of nurturing through public and private support.

The UW-Madison College of Engineering leveraged a gift from the Grainger Foundation to outfit the makerspace, which is already producing innovative devices such as a haptic stethoscope, an electronic page turner and new ways to help visually impaired people find their way around a building.

Meanwhile, the college is busting at the seams when it comes to accepting students who want to be there and meeting industry demand for its graduates.

There are roughly 4,500 undergraduate students in UW-Madisons engineering sequence today. About 6,600 applied last year, including many qualified applicants from outside Wisconsin who could add to the states talent base.

The main barrier to taking more is a lack of faculty to educate more students without diminishing the quality of the experience for all. Private gifts help, but the core funding for faculty hires comes from state government support and student tuition. Neither source has grown much for years.

As a result, the college has seen some peer rankings slip, even though none of its core departments  biomedical, chemical, civil and environmental, electrical, engineering physics, industrial, materials science and mechanical  ranks below 24th nationally. Some are within the top 10.

The issue is similar in other colleges and universities, even as those institutions are being asked to produce more graduates to meet the demand for skilled workers in Wisconsin.

One of the reasons Foxconn Technology Group settled on Wisconsin as the site for its North American production facility is the quality of its education programs and partnerships, from Gateway Technical College, UW-Milwaukee and Marquette University in southeast Wisconsin to UW-Madison and Madison College in south-central Wisconsin and well beyond. Even with the signed contract pending, members of Foxconns team have been combing the state to establish relationships with schools and other sources of talent.

The same search for talent is true with existing Wisconsin companies and others hoping to expand in Wisconsin. With more Baby Boomers retiring, companies often look to higher education  which produces about 75,000 graduates per year in Wisconsin  to help them attract and retain workers.

At a recent meeting of the Wisconsin Technology Council board of directors, two researchers independently noted the mismatch between the states population growth and the much slower growth in supply of workers. Thats largely driven by the aging of the workforce, although a failure to attract and keep enough younger workers is also a problem.

Investing in proven sources of talent will help provide a solution. When the UW-Madison College of Engineering turns away qualified students by the hundreds, the state of Wisconsin is missing a chance to attract and keep some of the best and brightest. Higher education is evolving to become more responsive, but it cant do so by itself.
If You Go

Neighborhood public safety forum

 When: 6 p.m. Wednesday

 Where: Garfield Elementary School gymnasium, 612 N. Sixth Ave.

 More information: The forum conducted by the city of Yakima will be presented in English, but translation services are available. For more information, contact City Councilwoman Dulce Gutierrez at 509-823-7021.

Moment of Blessing for the community and those directly affected by violence after Yakimas most recent homicide

 When: Noon on Thursday

 Where: intersection of South Seventh Street and East Pine Street

 More information: Moments of Blessing are sponsored by the Yakima Association of Churches and Faith Communities.
The basic philosophies of modern politics, the famous liberalism and conservatism, were officially joined this week by Bibism.

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Addressing the Knesset, and not for the first time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explicitly expressed how he sees the political world he wants to live in, the ideology which is the most important thing during his years in power. Its a world based on flattering the leader and his regime, a world in which criticism is a crime, free thought is sourness, and ingratiation and sycophancy are a way of life.

This world spins on the axis of the Bibist worldview, which is a sort of hybridization between battered and unconscious liberalism, proclaimed but unimplemented conservatism, blatant egoism and a lot of opportunism.

The Bibists main goal is to amend and adjust reality to their own needs. In other words, to the needs of their omnipotent leader (Photo: Reuters)

While the liberals pursue personal liberty, secularization, absolute freedom, equality, human rights and separation of powers, and while the conservatives seek to preserve the current situation and to avoid causing any confusion through revolutions, the Bibists main goal is to amend and adjust reality to their own needs. In other words, to the needs of their omnipotent leader.

Everything is flexible and open to changes. There are no sacred cows. Everything that can be changed, to make reality more convenient for us to handle, matters. Everything that has to be destroyed/ruined/spoiled is open for discussion. And if you resist, youre traitors. It doesnt matter how much it costs, as long as no one stops us from doing what we want.

President Reuven Rivlin spoke Monday about the death of stateliness. Rivlin is optimistic and slightly naive. Stateliness did not die a natural death. It was brutally murdered years ago. Its bleeding body has been lying for several terms now on Israeli democracys floor, and no one caresdefinitely not the fans of Bibism, who enjoy being close to the leader.

Stateliness, after all, has no room in Bibism, because it hinders. It prevents the deceptive use of racism and incitement, it forbids creating a rift for the sake of a rift, spewing hatred for the sake of political gain and spreading lies and libels against police investigators, judges and journalists.

Thats why stateliness was murdered. Because it got in the way of implementing the Bibist ideology, which refers to legal offenses as gifts and to other offenses as takeaway food.

Stateliness wouldnt have allowed the invented buses heading nowhere in droves or the birth of leftist traitors who are bringing the Islamic State to the Western Wall. These contemptible lies, alongside other contemptible lies that pop up every two hours, would have been unacceptable in a world where there is still room for stateliness. But they flourish just fine in Bibism.

The Bibists see nothing wrong with anything they do. Theyre okay, more than okay. All they want to do is make a change, balance, fix. Theyre never trying to destroy, Heaven forbidnot the media, not the police, not the courts. They arent threatening anyone with personal bypass laws. No way. Its only the president, who hardly has any official authorities, whos intimidating. Hes the biggest threat. Because hes setting off the villages alarm bells.

Bibism isnt conservatism, and its definitely not liberalism. There is nothing from these famous ideologies in the modus operandi of Netanyahu's inner circle. They act according to pure Bibism, a new ideology lacking any basic guidelines apart from submissiveness to the leaders whims.

The Bibists shout that theyre rightists, but they have nothing to do with the original Israeli Right. Absolutely nothing. A real conservative Right seeks minimum governmental involvement in day-to-day life. Bibism seeks to be involved in everything, to determine everything, to tell every person what hes allowed and isnt allowed to say or do.

Bibism supports coercion, whether through legislation or through dictation. The president of the State of Israel, who voices his concern over the attempt to undermine all the foundations of Israeli democracy, is a threat. The rest are sourpusses. The Bibists are the only ones who are right.

Welcome to the golden age of Bibism.
The Iranian issue has recently made its way back to the top of the global agenda in general, and the Israeli agenda in particular: Starting from US President Donald Trumps threats to walk away from the nuclear agreement, through Tehrans involvement in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen and the warming relations with Hamas, to the growing presence of Revolutionary Guards representatives on the Golan Heights border.

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Looking at this list as it grows longer, many Israeli defense officials believe the most significant challenge concerning Iran these days has to do with the potential for self-production of precision-guided weaponsconverting simple rockets, through wingtip devices and other components, into missiles that are capable of hitting their target with an accuracy of some tens of meters. In light of the tight connection to Hezbollah and the improving relations with Hamas, this a very troubling weapon as far as Israel is concerned.

Rockets in the Gaza Strip. An Iranian upgrade coming soon? (: )

The knowledge required for upgrading the missiles already exists, and Irans military industry factories are advanced in this field. In addition to its expansion in the region, Iran intends to produce rockets in Syria too and set up a factory in Lebanon to perform the conversion into precision-guided missiles.

This plan isnt limited to the Lebanese-Syrian arena. Iran wants to build similar factories in Yemen for its allies, the Houthi rebels, who still control different areas, including the capital of Sanaa, and are in a war against the Saudi-led coalition and the forces of Yemens official president, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

Against this background, Israel is watching the Gaza Strip with a great amount of concern: As part of the warming relations with Hamas, Iran will likely seek to produce precision-guided missiles in Gaza too. Only recently, during a visit by senior organization members to Tehran, the Iranian foreign ministers advisor, Hussein Sheikh al-Islam, promised that Iran will give Hamas whatever Hamas asks for and Iran can comply with.

At the moment, there is no concrete operation taking place in Lebanon, Yemen or Gaza, but the planning and thought do exist. According to foreign sources, the Israel Air Force occasionally strikes in Syria to prevent the transfer of components and weapons aimed at helping in Hezbollah and Irans effort.

Russia caught between Assad and Israel

Furthermore, the Israeli defense establishment is concerned by a possible deployment of Iranian elements and pro-Iranian forces in the Golan Heights, a move which is likely only in its infancy. Its still unclear who was responsible for the rockets fired into Israel from Syria on Saturday. In any event, the Syrian Golan Heights is currently filled with a mixture of elements: Some of the areas are controlled by the regime (especially in the northern and central Golan), other areas are in the hands of rebel groups sitting just along the border in the central Golan, and the ISIS-affiliated Khalid ibn al-Walid Army is waiting on the tripoint in the southern Golan.

The Syrian regime is trying to regain territory in the Golan. There have been many reports recently on massive bombings carried out by the regime near the town of Beit Jann, at the foot of the Syrian Mount Hermon. Syrian President Bashar Assad appears to be progressing in a relatively fixed manner, which has been successful in other areas in Syria too: Shelling and an ongoing siege on a village until its residents surrender.

A Russian soldier in Syria. The Kremlin seeks to avoid an escalation with Israel (Photo: AP)

A key role in this battle is played by Russia, the dominant element in the area known as Assadstan (the areas controlled by the regime, although they dont necessarily have an abundance of members of the Alawi sect which the tyrants family comes from). The Russian goal is likely to reach an agreement and restore the Syrian regimes control in the Jordanian and Israeli border areas.

As Russia has no desire to create an escalation with Israel, its interest is to pressure Iran and Hezbollah to dilute their forces in those areas. The problem is it still needs their forces as the rebels have yet to be fully eradicated.

Despite many reports of cracks in the relations between Russia, Iran, Hezbollah and the Assad regime, the cooperation continues as all parties share the same interest: To secure the Assad regimes survival. Its clear, however, that each party has different interests and different aspirations.

Russia is interested in preserving its port on the Syrian coast in the Mediterranean Sea. Iran is interested in expanding in Syria and creating a platform against Israel. Assad may be more committed to Tehran than in the past, but contrary to the prevalent opinion, he has yet to open all doors to them and has yet to completely give up his assets.

The Iranian militarys chief of staff, General Mohammad Baqeri, who visited Syria (Photo: Reuters)

An interesting example emerged during a recent visit to Damascus by the Iranian militarys chief of staff, General Mohammad Baqeri. While the visit received wide media coverage, the agreements with the Syrians were apparently only in principle and no official documents were signed.

The Hezbollah enigma

The fourth element in the equation is Hezbollah, which has investedand is still investingmany resources in the civil war in Syria, led by its elite unit, the Radwan force. The involvement in Syria has already cost the Shiite organization 2,000 fighters, almost three times the number of Hezbollah fighters killed in the Second Lebanon War.

A Hezbollah show of force in Syria

In the past few years, it has often been reported that Hezbollah is pulling its forces out of Syria, but the organization is still there, and as its leader Hassan Nasrallah says, his people will be present wherever they are needed.

Nevertheless, they have likely started to think about the day after. It seems Hezbollah isnt interested in continuing its massive presence in Syria, but rather in diluting its forces. An Iranian presence in the area, along with a reduction in the Russian presence, will be convenient for Nasrallah, who will have no problem stationing his people in observation posts on the Golan Heights, and this situation should concern Israel in any event.

The organization has yet to appoint a replacement to the head of its military wing, Mustafa Badreddine , who was mysteriously assassinated in May 2015 in the Damascus Airport. The two people running Hezbollahs efforts in Syria these days are believed to be Nasrallah himself and the commander of the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, who is already being defined by some people as Irans sanctum in the Middle East.
- Ghanaians students granted scholarship to study in Russia are dying of hunger

- These stranded students say they have not been paid their stipends for over 10 months now

- Some of these students are currently into prostitution and hard manual labour

- Click here for the latest stories in Ghana

About 230 students under a scholarship program in Russia say government has failed to pay their allowances for over 10 months now.

READ ALSO: Nana Addo expresses concern over growing rate of Internet fraud

Troubling pictures cited by YEN.com.gh show the thorny conditions these young students have had to endure during their stay in the cold, harsh weather of Russia.

These stranded students all sleep in a makeshift single room like prison inmates

According to these stranded students, they are unable to meet up with the standard of living in Russia - a development which has seen most of them venture into various strenuous jobs just so they could survive.

"The current government has tend a deaf ear to our cries and neglected us totally. There's been so many calls and contacts with officials but still to no avail. Technically we have been sent here on a "hunger sentence," Everyone here has lost hope and frustrated," the frustrated students revealed in a message to YEN.com.gh.

YEN.com.gh is also gathering that some female scholars who also got this scholarship to Russia are now selling their bodies so as to make up for the payment of rent and other school related bills.

We have been sentenced to die - Stranded students in Russia cry to gov't

With no monthly stipend, these young students from Ghana are currently leaving the classrooms to engage in hard labour as construction workers just so they can survive in Russia.

Government through the scholarship secretariat and foreign affairs ministry is therefore urgently needed to save the lives and future of these young scholars who say they are eager to complete their education and return home to build Ghana.

YEN.com.gh is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other.

Witnessing an incident? Want to tell about a local problem?

Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Reggie Jackson, griot of the Black Holocaust Museum, did an excellent job of providing a lot of information in a short amount of time during his speech Saturday in La Crosse.

However, judging from conversations I have had about his presentation, there is still the mistaken impression among some that Wisconsins Supreme Court found the Fugitive Slave Act unconstitutional because of an anti-slavery stance. That court based its ruling and reasoning on a states rights basis as embodied in the 10th Amendment of the U.S. constitution.

It was not a ruling that was meant to stop slavery, and those escaping slavery were only incidental beneficiaries of that ruling and only for a very short time.

Wisconsin is the least safe of all U.S. states for black/African-American people, as Mr. Jackson so well explained, including with statistical data. Had this states highest court based its decisions regarding the Fugitive Slave Act on the rights of those escaping slavery or on some sort of moral high ground based in law, then perhaps this state would be in a better place as concerns its treatment of black/African-American people and, in general, people of color.

Deborah Kelly, La Crosse
The Tomah branch of the American Association of University Women will hold its November monthly meeting at the Tomah Area Chamber of Commerce Thursday Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m.

The presenter will be state Rep. Nancy VanderMeer, R-Tomah, who will discuss her experience serving in the state Assembly. She was first elected in 2014 and was re-elected to a second term in 2016.

Anyone with questions or who wants to join AAUW can contact Kathy Peterson, AAUW Tomah branch public relations officer, at 608-343-8632 or petesplace1208@yahoo.com. The groups website is tomah-wi.aauw.net.

AAUW advances equity for all women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research.
A 22-year-old Tomah man was referred to the Monroe County District Attorney on multiple charges after a Sept. 29 prowling incident in the town of Lincoln.

Police were called to a Hwy. EW residence, where a man reportedly had a gun outside the callers residence. When law enforcement arrived, a vehicle was coming toward the exit of the driveway when a man at the end of the driveway told police that the vehicle belonged to James Harvard Hensley. The report says police drew their weapons, and Hensley exited the vehicle with his hands up.

A resident said his dog alerted him to the presence of Hensley. The resident told police he went outside and confronted Hensley, who was still in his vehicle. He said Hensley pulled a handgun from next to his seat and told him he was hanging out at the ranch and that the president sent me.

The resident returned to the house, shut off the lights and ordered his family to the basement. He said Hensley exited his vehicle and walking outside the house, and police found a 44 magnum revolver on top of a refrigerator inside the garage attached to the house. A search of Hensleys person reportedly found five live 44 magnum rounds and one 44 magnum spent shell casing. Another resident reported hearing a gunshot.

Hensley was referred for disorderly conduct, unsafe use of a weapon, criminal trespass and operating a motor vehicle without the owners consent.

In other Monroe County Sheriffs Office news:

Ryan R. Brandau, 39, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for bail jumping. He is accused of violating a bond condition that prohibits him from consuming alcohol.

Police received a call about an intoxicated person on Nowlin Avenue in the town of Wellington shortly before 11 a.m. Sept. 14. The report says Brandaus speech was heavily slurred and that a preliminary breath test recorded a blood-alcohol level of .253.

Frank H. Brabant, 37, and Zachary J. Morgan, 28, both of Sparta, were referred to the district attorney for disorderly conduct after a Sept. 11 incident in the town of Sparta.

According to the report, the two got into an argument over an air compressor. Brabant said Morgan put him in a choke hold and that the two fell to the ground. Brabant said Morgan also kicked him in the stomach.

Morgan said he accidentally pushed Brabant and that Brabant responded by tackling him and putting him in a choke hold. He said he needed to punch Brabant in the rib cage five times before the hold was released. Brabant was also referred for bail jumping.

Michelle D. Benoit, 38, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for an Aug. 26 incident during booking at the Monroe County Jail.

Shortly after 1 p.m., the Tomah Police Department informed jail staff they were en route to the jail with a combative female. The report says Benoit resisted orders to change clothes in the booking area and that she kicked and clawed as law enforcement officers attempted to restrain her. The report said two officers suffered minor injuries. She was referred for battery by a prisoner, battery to a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct, resisting an officer and bail jumping.

Roger Donald Sullivan, 29, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for illegal possession of a prescription drug.

Police were dispatched to a Glider Avenue residence to arrest Sullivan for stealing a narcotic medication. A resident said 30 legally prescribed Lorazepam pills were missing and replaced in the bottle by different pills. Police accessed Sullivans cell phone and found several messages indicating an intent to buy and sell prescription drugs illegally, according to the report.

Sullivan was referred for illegally possessing a prescription and obstructing an officer.
A retired Army officer from Trempealeau County announced plans to challenge U.S. Rep. Ron Kind next year, saying the 11-term Democrat has nothing to show for his more than 20 years in Congress.

Steve Toft, 59, said the nation is facing challenges of epic proportions because of top-heavy agencies and skyrocketing debt.

No one party is fully to blame, Toft said. But Ron Kind and career politicians like him are part of the problem.

Toft said he favors transferring more power to state government and would work to repeal the Affordable Care Act and to enact tax reform while protecting Social Security and Medicare benefits.

A native of Osseo, Toft enlisted in the Army in 1984 and returned to Osseo last year after retiring as a colonel. This is his first run for elected office.

Toft said he supports the president though he doesnt agree with everything that President Trump stands for and wont just line up behind him. He said he is also confident in the leadership of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis.

Hes been a great American statesman from the state of Wisconsin, he said of Ryan, who has been in office since 1999. Hes been in Congress quite a while himself, but hes a leader.

Toft said Kind, who was first elected in 1996, is a career politician who has not supported Wisconsin farmers.

Campaigns start way too early, last way too long, and cost way too much money, Kind said in a response issued by his campaign. I remain focused the issues that impact Wisconsinites lives every day, including making sure they have access to affordable health care and good paying jobs.

According to federal campaign finance records, Kinds campaign had $2.8 million on hand at the end of September. Toft has yet to file a finance report.

Kind held off a similar challenger in 2014 when he defeated Tony Kurtz, a retired Army officer making his first bid for public office. He was re-elected to an 11th term after running unopposed in the 2016 general election after defeating a challenger in the Democratic primary.

Kind is one of just 12 Democrats to represent a House district won by Donald Trump in 2016. The district swung from 55-44 in favor of Democrat Barack Obama in 2012 to 49-45 for Trump.

Toft said he was recruited by party leaders to run against Kind when Kurtz declined to run again. He said he would welcome a primary challenge but expects to be on the ballot for the Third Congressional District in 2018.

If elected, Toft said he would limit himself to four terms.

Im not a politician, he said, and I dont want to become one.

The district includes all of Monroe County except the towns of LaGrange, Lincoln, Scott and Byron and villages of Wyeville and Warrens.
Senate Democrats are committed to supporting ideas and policies that increase the economic well-being of all Wisconsin families.

Democrats have authored a plan, Senate Bill 215, to expand and improve our current Family Medical Leave Law and create a Family Medical Leave Insurance Program.

Expanding our Family Medical Leave law to allow employees to take time off time to care for not only themselves, a spouse, child, parent, domestic partner, in-law but also grandparents, grandchildren and siblings makes sense and reflects the make-up of modern day families.

Our bill allows workers to take up 12 weeks off if they become seriously ill or need to care for a sick family member without facing the threat of losing their job. Furthermore, Senate Bill 215 creates a Family Medical Leave Insurance Fund so employees can set aside money to use when they are forced to take time off because of a serious illness or to take care of a loved one.

Not enough workers have access to paid Family and Medical Leave through their employer. Senate Bill 215 creates a new benefit for workers in every part of Wisconsin by enabling them to care for their families and keep their jobs in the event of a medical emergency.

Creating a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program will save businesses money and provide economic security for workers. This common sense solution does the right thing for Wisconsin businesses, workers and families.

Democrat Janis Ringhand, Evansville, represents the 15th state Senate District.
Nineteen states have called for a Constitutional amendment that would overturn the disastrous Citizens United decision. Rep. Scott Allen (R-Waukesha) wont even allow a public hearing on a resolution that would let Wisconsinites vote on this core issue of our time. While many politicians may like unlimited and often undisclosed campaign contributions, the rest of America is disgusted by it.

On Oct. 17, Allen refused a request to have AJR 53 placed on the public hearing agenda, calling the advisory referendum, politics at its worst. Wisconsin law provides for advisory referendums. There was a statewide referendum in 2006 pertaining to the death penalty.

Politics at its worst  really?? This is a cross-partisan issue. There are plenty of billionaires on both sides of the aisle. Both parties are raking in campaign cash. Money talks, and the rest of us have no say.

Its outrageous that Chairman Allen wont even allow this to be put on the agenda. This is the Constitution and Ethics Committee, after all. And Citizens United has torn a hole in our Constitution, drowning out our free speech rights as citizens and ushering in all sorts of ethical problems.

AJR 53 and SJR 54 were introduced by Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) and Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay). Polls show a vast majority of Americans view our election system as corrupt. Special interest money has enormous political influence and everyday citizens feel they are getting no representation.

It is stunning that Republican Representative Scott Allen considers giving the average Wisconsinite the opportunity to have their say at the ballot box to be politics at its worst, Subeck said. Wisconsinites are fed up with the massive corporate and special interest spending Citizens United has ushered into our elections, and it is time to let them be heard.

Matt Rothschild, executive director of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, summed it up succinctly: People across the ideological spectrum get it: All of our voices are being drowned out by those with big money.

Please contact Scott Allen (608-266-8580/Rep.Allen@legis.wisconsin.gov) and urge him to hold a public hearing on AJR 53. Demand that he let the people speak about the urgent need to proclaim, once and for all, that only people have inalienable rights  and that money is not the same thing as free speech.

Here in Wisconsin, 115 communities have called for an amendment to overturn Citizens United. Almost half of Wisconsinites live in jurisdictions that have voted for this and the Yes votes are in the 80 to 90 percent range. Across America, 19 state legislatures have voted for an amendment, as well as about 750 towns, villages, cities and counties.

Jim Crist is the co-chair of Wisconsin United To Amend.
To make our elections run securely and accurately, we need to repair the damage to the Wisconsin Elections Commission caused by Gov. Scott Walkers veto last month, which removed five necessary staff from the commission.

The simple reality is when government staff positions are eliminated, the services provided by those staff are also eliminated. Whether it is a snowplow driver, daycare license compliance officer, professor, veterans home nurse assistant or an elections specialist, cuts to staffing or funding cause services to suffer. The Wisconsin Elections Commission has been at the receiving end of many staffing cuts, and with Gov. Walkers veto of five additional staff provided by the Legislature in the budget, our election system will simply not function as we need it to.

Our Elections Commission staff investigate complaints of fraud and misconduct in elections, but they are also in charge of the integrity and security of our elections systems. Among their many responsibilities, the Elections Commission is charged with communicating with and training our local election officials. We have a unique system for elections in Wisconsin  they are run from the local level with 1,853 municipal election clerks and 72 county clerks, and even though we have a statewide voter list, it is the partnership between our local and state election officials that truly makes sure our elections are secure and accurate. The Elections Commission trains these local officials on the process, laws, technology, court decisions and security of our elections.

Governor Walker issued his veto of the staff and told the Wisconsin Elections Commission to hire limited-term employees and contract employees. The Elections Commission will undoubtedly do everything in its power to make it work and come back to the Legislature to request funding for staff in the next budget, but that doesnt do much to ensure the integrity or security of our elections in the meantime. The Wisconsin Elections Commission should have the minimum staff they say it needs to effectively and securely run elections in Wisconsin.

That is why we are co-authoring a bill restoring five full-time staff members to the Elections Commission  back to where the ommission was before Gov. Walkers veto  a provision that Republicans voted for in committee and on the floor of the Legislature. Yet, most Republicans did not sign onto this legislation despite supporting it mere months ago. We should at least restore the Elections Commission staff to the level provided for in the Legislatures budget, which ensures election integrity and security in Wisconsin.

Democrat Jon Erpenbach, Middleton, repreents the 27th state Senate District.
The Nepali children who gathered around Lander College for Men (LCM) student Eli Pollack as he tried to teach them to juggle might have noticed something different about him: his kippah.

Pollack together with twelve other students from LCM, Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush, and New York School of Career and Applied Sciences (NYSCAS), spent a week in Nepal this summer running medical camps and touring the country.

While the kippah might have surprised the children, the children had their own surprise for Pollack.

I was surprised by how happy and well-behaved the kids were, said Pollack. I thought it would be different because of how poor the country is.

The medical mission for Orthodox Jews was largely the work of Leah Gancz, a biology major and senior at LAS-Flatbush.

I always wanted to do a medical mission, recalled Gancz. But its hard to keep Shabbat and kosher if youre the only person who is observant. I asked in my chemistry class at the Avenue J Campus if anyone would be interested in joining and seven or eight people raised their hands.

She brought her idea to Touro President Dr. Allan Kadish who was receptive to the proposal. Dr. Kadish, in turn, put her in touch with Touro Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Krupka, to make it happen.

There are all these undergraduates who want to go into medicine, and try to get some experience in the field, said Gancz. But there is a limit of what were able to see. Performing a medical mission allows us to see what its like in a country where they dont have the same access to medicine as we do in the United States. It gives you a better appreciation of the field youre going into.

Gancz also contacted Chabad in Nepal and made arrangements for kosher food.

Ganczs Orthodox faith also motivated her to plan the trip.

Theres a Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam, Gancz stated. It means fixing the world. Were supposed to go out into the world and try to make it better. Helping out in Nepal truly made a difference for the people there.

When a first location in South America was decided to be too dangerous because of the Zika virus, Gancz considered Nepal.

She reached out to International Volunteer HQ, a New Zealand-based non-profit that organizes volunteer travel missions, and they put her in touch with Nepali Vertical Ascent. Fifty-seven percent of people in Nepal live below the poverty line, said Gancz. We figured that whatever help we could give them would be welcome.

Gancz recruited students from across Touro. Each was required to raise $400 for medical supplies along with covering their own flight. The trip was divided between working at make-shift hospital centers and touring. The group was chaperoned by Steve Jacobs, a professor at Touros School of Health Sciences Physician Assistant-Bayshore (Winthrop Campus) program. The trip was partially sponsored by Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM).

During the first part of the trip, the students, along with two Nepali doctors, set up a medical camp inside two schools in Kathmandu. Students took the vitals of more than 200 children, while giving them a quick evaluation before sending them to the doctors. Scabies, lice and vitamin deficiencies were common.

Many of the children also had issues with their teeth.

We saw a lot of mouths full of tooth decay, she said. The group provided the children with toothbrushes and toothpaste and spoke to them about the importance of oral health.

The group was surprised by the general positive atmosphere in the schools and how welcoming the Nepali population was.

I didnt realize how happy the kids were, said NYSCAS student Ben Barris. I thought the kids would be down but it was the opposite. The kids were very happy. It was eye-opening. Were so lucky for what we have in the United States. I gained appreciation for it.

For the third day, the students set up a medical camp in a rural village in Pokhara.

Almost everyone had super high blood pressure, recalled Barris. The older they got, the more likely they were to have high blood pressure.

The rest of the week the group toured Nepal engaged in a variety of activities including hiking and paragliding.

Gancz said she is planning to return to Nepal after she finishes medical school.

I hope to go back as professional and help out more people, she explained. The trip changed the way I saw things. I came back and looked at how much I had and I thought about how happy the people in Nepal were. It made me wonder if all of this stuff we have is really that necessary.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017

A recent magistrate judge's recommendation on a motion to strike in Hawaii alerted me to a problem with the Hawaii Local Rules of Practice for the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. The mistake is not the judge's; it is in the rules. The recommendation explains:

[An] LLC must be represented by an attorney. See Local Rule 83.11 ([b]usiness entities, including but not limited to ... limited liability corporations ... cannot appear before this court pro se and must be represented by an attorney) . . . .



THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATE HOLDERS OF THE CWMBS INC., CHL MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH TRUST 2006-OA5, MORTGAGE PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-OA5, a Delaware corporation, Plaintiffs, v. LEN C. PERRY JR.; NATHAN JON LEWIS; 3925 KAMEHAMEHA RD PRINCEVILLE, HI 96722, LLC, Defendants. , No. CV 17-00297 DKW-RLP, 2017 WL 4768271, at *1 (D. Haw. Oct. 2, 2017), report and recommendation adopted sub nom. THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON fka THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATE HOLDERS OF CWMBS INC.; CHL MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH TRUST 2006-OA5, MORTGAGE PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-OA5, a Delaware corporation, Plaintiff(s), v. LEN C. PERRY, JR.; NATHAN JON LEWIS; 3925 KAMEHAMEHA RD PRINCEVILLE, HI 96722, LLC Defendant(s). , No. CV 17-00297 DKW-RLP, 2017 WL 4767667 (D. Haw. Oct. 20, 2017). (I know this could be cited more succinctly, but I thought this was pretty great so I went with the whole enchilada.)

The local rules, available here, state, as quoted,

LR83.11. Business Entities. Business entities, including but not limited to corporations, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, limited liability corporations, and community associations, cannot appear before this court pro se and must be represented by an attorney. (emphasis added) LLCs (limited liability companies) are still not corporations, and too often courts and local rules insist on saying they are. But help is available. I made my first trip this summer to Hawaii with my family, and it was amazing. So I put this offer out there: if anyone in Hawaii would like some help cleaning up local rules (and other business-entity related laws, rules, and regulations) count me in. This rule is wrong, but there is a whole lot right about Hawaii.

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/business_law/2017/10/hawaii-courts-llcs-are-not-corporations.html
Wednesday, October 25, 2017





Yesterday, President Donald Trump allowed the resumption of refugee admissions as a complete ban he instituted four months ago expired, but the administration is adding "enhanced" screening procedures and a 90-day review for nationals from 11 countries believed to pose a higher risk to U.S. national security. Officials refused to identify the 11 countries, but said refugee applications from those nations will be accepted and judged case by case.

It has been reported that, based on statements from senior administration officials, the 11 countries appear to be: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. All but North Korea and South Sudan are majority-Muslim.

Presidential Executive Order on Resuming the United States Refugee Admissions Program with Enhanced Vetting Capabilities

Section 2 provides as follows:

Resumption of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

(a) Section 6(a) of Executive Order 13780 provided for a temporary, 120-day review of the USRAP [US Refugee Admissions Program] application and adjudication process and an accompanying worldwide suspension of refugee travel to the United States and of application decisions under the USRAP. That 120-day period expires on October 24, 2017. Section 6(a) further provided that refugee travel and application decisions could resume after 120 days for stateless persons and for the nationals of countries for which the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence jointly determine that the additional procedures identified through the USRAP review process are adequate to ensure the security and welfare of the United States. The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence have advised that the improvements to the USRAP vetting process are generally adequate to ensure the security and welfare of the United States, that the Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security may resume that program, and that they will apply special measures to certain categories of refugees whose entry continues to pose potential threats to the security and welfare of the United States.

(b) With the improvements identified by the section 6(a) working group and implemented by the participating agencies, the refugee screening and vetting process generally meets the uniform baseline for immigration screening and vetting established by the section 5 working group. Accordingly, a general resumption of the USRAP, subject to the conditions set forth in section 3 of this order, is consistent with the security and welfare of the United States.

(c) The suspension of the USRAP and other processes specified in section 6(a) of Executive Order 13780 are no longer in effect. Subject to the conditions set forth in section 3 of this order, the Secretary of State may resume travel of qualified and appropriately vetted refugees into the United States, and the Secretary of Homeland Security may resume adjudicating applications for refugee resettlement.

KJ

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2017/10/presidential-executive-order-on-resuming-the-united-states-refugee-admissions-program-with-enhanced-.html
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COZAD - Adding new business partners for Cozad Bible Churchs Loving Arms Missions store is not hard.

Businesses which provide much needed employment to those in other countries  started by Christian pastors, missionaries or helpers utilizing local skills  are usually referred to Stacey Calhoun by others without her seeking them out. Calhoun is a member of Cozad Bible Church and the coordinator of the store.

As a result more and more unique handmade products are now offered in the Loving Arms Missions store, located next to Cozad Bible Church in its own building at 1602 Ave. O in Cozad.

Products sold at the store include leather items such as clutches and wallets made by Indian workers for Elevate, a non-profit started by Nebraskans in Kearney and woven baskets made by women in Ghana.

Calhoun said a member of the Loving Arms Missions store board of directors told her she knew of a Christian pastor in Kenya who was taking in boys from the garbage dumps and teaching them to better themselves by making tote bags.

By selling these tote bags, made from used plastic bags collected from the dump, the boys could make some money, she said.

"Our first shipment (of tote bags) raised $700," Calhoun said.

She said church members decided to send tote bags made in Kenya to those affected by Hurricane Harvey in Houston.

The totes were filled with supplies people would need and then sent to a church in Red Cloud, which then transported them to Houston.

Also sold at the store are baskets made of grass from Bangladesh, fruit baskets made in Uganda of banana leaves with handles made of goatskin.

Headbands and tote bags made of cotton cloth are sold in the store made by people in Haiti who have learned how to sew with the help of a Christian Group called Three Cords Haiti, Calhoun said.

According to its website, mohhaiti.org/three_cords, the group is a small business initiative that employs Haitians with disabilities and at-risk women as a way to help them provide for their families.

"They work with men and women, amputees, the deaf and teach them how to sew," Calhoun said about the inclusiveness Three Cords Haiti takes to employing those in need.

Calhoun said she was connected to a lady from Wisconsin, an accountant, who travels to the Philippines to help the poor there find employment and a better life.

"She has rescued six ladies from the slums and has taught them how to sew. We sell aprons made in Manila. She takes supplies and sewing machines to the country and sells shipments of what the Philippines make," Calhoun said.

Other items, made in developing countries at the mission store includes leather goods from Elevate, a Christian group that supports workers in India, and a wide variety of jewelry made in Mexico and Uganda.

Hours for the store and the church are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday - Friday.

The store will be open during Taste of Cozad on Nov. 3 - 4 and will also have special hours on Saturday when the holidays draw closer, Calhoun said.
If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales. Albert Einstein
The ruling Communist Party yesterday formally lifted Xi Jinpings status to Chinas most powerful ruler in decades, setting the stage for the authoritarian leader to tighten his grip over the country while pursuing an increasingly muscular foreign policy and military expansion.

The move to insert Xis name and dogma into the partys constitution alongside the partys founders came at the close of a twice- a-decade congress that gathered the countrys ruling elite alongside rank-and-file party members. It not only places him in the first rank, with past leaders Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, but also effectively makes any act of opposing him tantamount to an attack on the party itself.

The Chinese people and nation have a great and bright future ahead, Xi told party delegates as the meeting came to a close after delegates approved the addition of Xis ideology of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era to the party charter.

Living in such a great era, we are all the more confident and proud, and also feel the heavy weight of responsibility upon us, he said.

The concept Xi has touted is seen as marking a break from the stage of economic reform ushered in by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s and continued under his successors Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao; Xi has spoken of China emerging into a new normal of slower, but higher quality economic growth. The placement of Xis thought among the partys leading guidelines also comes five years into his term  earlier than his predecessors.

In every sense, the Xi Jinping era has begun in earnest, said Zhang Lifan, an independent political commentator in Beijing. Only Maos name was enshrined in the party ideology while he was still alive. Were opening something that hasnt been broached before.

For centuries, Chinese emperors were accorded ritual names that signaled either they were successors in a dynastic line or the founders of an entirely new dynasty. What Xi accomplished this week was a modern equivalent of the latter, Zhang said.

He wants to join that pantheon of leaders, he said.

Despite being elevated to the status of both a political and theoretical authority in the party, Xi still lacks the broad popular support of the Chinese public that Mao had enjoyed, said Zhang Ming, a political analyst in Beijing who recently retired from a prestigious university.

This [elevation] is a result of the partys political system and not of the sincere support of the peoples hearts, Zhang Ming said. If he can achieve that, he would become Mao.

Xi has described his concept as central to setting China on the path to becoming a great modern socialist country by midcentury. This vision has at its core a ruling party that serves as the vanguard for everything from defending national security to providing moral guidance to ordinary Chinese.

He has set the target date of 2049, the Peoples Republics centenary, for the establishment of a prosperous, modern society. China has the worlds second-

largest economy and legions of newly wealthy urban residents, but raising living standards for millions of people continues to be a challenge.

Zhang Ming, the retired professor, said the goals Xi laid out were lofty but mostly mere rhetoric. These goals have nothing to do with the people but are just jargon that people shouldnt take seriously, Zhang said. It is not important for him to achieve these goals, just as long as his power reaches its peak.

The move came at the close of the 89 million-member partys national congress at Beijings hulking Great Hall of the People, where nearly 2,300 delegates gathered to elect the partys leading bodies and hear reports.

Although the delegates nominally have the power to vote on candidates, all choices are carefully vetted and the outcomes decided by negotiations among the top leaders.

The constitution was also amended to include references to the partys absolute leadership over the armed forces, which have been modernizing rapidly under Xi, and a commitment to promote Xis signature foreign policy and infrastructure initiative known as One Belt, One Road. That initiative seeks to link China to Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, Europe and beyond with a sprawling network of roads, railways, ports and other economic projects.

Delegates also elected a 204-member Central Committee, roughly 70 percent of whom are newcomers. The committee holds its first meeting Wednesday morning, after which the new 25-member politburo and its Standing Committee  the apex of Chinese political power  will be announced.

Five of the seven members of the current Standing Committee were left off the list of new Central Committee members, as was expected under the partys unwritten retirement age of 68.

That includes close Xi ally Wang Qishan, who led the partys much-feared anti-corruption agency that has investigated well over 1 million party members over the past years, bringing down two former top generals and a one-time member of the Standing Committee.

Wangs retirement ends a long career that saw him called on to help set up Chinas first investment bank, deal with the outbreak of SARS in Beijing and assist in organizing the 2008 Summer Olympics in the Chinese capital.

Along with civilian turnover, the military has also seen a considerable infusion of new blood. Seven of the 11 members of the Central Military Commission headed by Xi are expected to be newly appointed, including one of its two vice chairmen.

Meanwhile, the number of women on the Central Committee remains static at 10, though its still not clear how many, if any, will make it onto the Politburo, where two have been sitting. No woman has ever made it onto the Standing Committee, a sharp contrast to elsewhere in the region such as Taiwan and Hong Kong where women have been elected leaders. AP
Many drug trafficking crimes have taken place recently, the authorities announced this week.

During a press conference, the Judiciary Police (PJ) said that Macau and Guangdong anti-drugs joint operations resulted in the arrest of 43 people in total, with six of them arrested in Macau.

For the past six months, Macau and Guangdong police authorities have been investigating a criminal group based in Zhuhai. The group reportedly sells drugs to customers in Zhuhai and Macau.

On October 21, the mainland police force informed the Macau police authority that one of the core members of the group, surnamed Su, had travelled to Macau. With the information provided by the Guangdong police, Macau authorities followed Su, catching him just as he was selling drugs to a mainland customer.

At the same time, the police arrested another mainland resident who was responsible for transferring money to the mainland on Sus behalf.

On the same day, the Zhuhai police also arrested eight drug dealers in the city, aged between 21 and 30 years of age.

According to the PJ, the chance that more people connected to the drug trafficking incident will be arrested has not been excluded.

In another independent case, a Hong Kong resident was arrested for drug consumption. The man was arrested after being seen climbing the exterior of a 30-story tall building

On October 21, a woman, who lives in an apartment located in the vicinity of Areia Preta, reported to the police that she had seen a man sneaking into her building illegally.

The police then went to the building for inspection. While there, many of the buildings residents told the police that they had witnessed an unknown man climbing up the windows of the building.

The police later found the man on a platform located on the buildings second floor, while he was still affected by the drugs he had taken.

The man was also found to have been a frequent drug user. The police went to the mans apartment, where they found some drugs as well as equipment associated with the consumption drugs.

Another phone scam added to the record

A local woman fell victim to a phone scam and lost RMB30,000, according to the PSP. According to the police, the victim received a call from an unknown man, in September, who claimed to be the victims previous co-worker. He told the victim that he had been arrested in the mainland, and needed RMB10,000 for bail. The victim then transferred RMB10,000 to a mainland bank account upon the criminals request. The following day, the criminal asked the victim to transfer a further RMB20,000 to the same account, which she did. Upon realizing that she was a victim of a phone scam, the woman reported the incident to the police.
The Conservative Party has won the general election by a small majority, making Winston Churchill prime minister for the second time.

Mr Churchill is nearly 77 and the second oldest prime minister in history. William Gladstone was 83 when he formed his last government.

The first results, which started coming in late last night, put Labour ahead. But by early this afternoon, the Conservatives had taken the lead.

At about 1730, when it became clear the Conservatives had a majority, Clement Attlee drove to Buckingham Palace to tender his resignation as Labour Prime Minister.

Mr Churchill was received by the King soon afterwards and accepted his invitation to form Great Britains 40th government.

Opinion polls throughout the five-week election campaign had predicted a comfortable majority for the Conservatives and it will come as some disappointment the gap was not bigger.

Several main issues were highlighted during the campaign including the rising cost of living, housing and the expensive rearmament programme which has been ongoing since the war.

Voters rejected Labours tactic of labelling Mr Churchill as a warmonger and instead embraced the Conservatives election promise that they would now create a strong and free Britain.

Throughout the campaign Mr Churchill has spoken of the need for a broad-based government and he is widely expected to appoint a Cabinet with as wide a representation as possible.

Following his victory in his constituency of Woodford, Essex, he said: We have all, I feel, a great deal in common; and now, perhaps there will be a lull in our party strife which will enable us to understand more what is good in our opponents and not to be so very clever at finding out all their shortcomings.

Mr Attlee was in his constituency of West Walthamstow the day before the election. He recorded his vote at Caxton Hall and was returned with a majority of more than 11,000.

The new Parliament will be sworn in on Wednesday 31 October and the State opening of Parliament will take place on 6 November.

Results from Inverness, Orkney and Zetland, the Western Isles and Argyll are expected some time tomorrow.

Voting in constituency of Barnsley in Yorkshire wont take place until 8 November because of the sudden death of Labour candidate, Mr F Collindridge.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

The final result was Conservatives and Associates  321 seats; Labour  295; Liberal  6; and others 3.

The results gave the Conservatives a majority of just 17 over all other parties.

In 1953 Mr Churchill was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter in recognition of his services to his country.

He resigned in 1955 at the age of 81 due to ill health but remained a backbencher until 1964.

He died on 24 January 1965, aged 90 at his London home at Hyde Park Gate.

In 2002, Winston Churchill was named the greatest Briton of all time in a nationwide poll which attracted well over a million votes.
Hong Kongs highest court freed pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong and Nathan Law on bail yesterday pending an appeal of their prison sentences after they were convicted of sparking massive protests in 2014.

The pair were imprisoned after the justice secretary succeeded in getting an earlier, more lenient sentence overturned, raising concerns about political interference in the courts and dealing a setback to the movement for full democracy in the Chinese-controlled city.

The decision to release Wong, Hong Kongs most famous activist, and Law, a disqualified lawmaker, coincidentally came the same day Chinas Communist Party was ending a twice-a-decade congress in Beijing that expanded President Xi Jinpings power.

Though the events were unrelated, they highlighted the widening rift between mainland China and semiautonomous Hong Kong.

Wong, 21, and Law, 24, told reporters outside the Court of Final Appeal that they were granted bail until their appeals are heard on Nov. 7.

They said they were looking forward to having meals with their families after what Law said were some uncomfortable times during their two months in prison.

Even though theyve been bailed, they said that it was unclear if their appeals will be successful and that theyre prepared to go back to prison.

There will be more occasions in the future when our group of young people will go to prison, but we will persist in keeping the faith and working together to fight for democracy, said Wong, who is also awaiting sentencing for a separate contempt case.

The government can lock up our bodies but cannot lock up our minds, said Wong, who was sporting a prison-issued buzz cut. He added that their time in prison was a chance for them to strengthen their determination.

The world is watching the result of the case, and what it means for rule of law and the one country, two systems principle that guarantees Hong Kong wide autonomy and civil liberties unseen in mainland China, Law said.

Broadcaster RTHK reported that Judge Geoffrey Ma required each to post HKD50,000 (USD6,400) for bail, surrender their travel documents and report to police once a week.

Wong and Law were originally given community service sentences that let them avoid prison after convictions for involvement in an unlawful assembly that kicked off the Umbrella Movement protests.

Hong Kongs justice secretary, however, requested that the courts review those punishments. In August, Wong was given six months in prison and Law received eight months. The move sparked fears that authorities were undermining the citys independent judiciary.

Wong gained fame, including a starring role in a Netflix documentary, because he was still a teen when he helped spearhead the 2014 protests against Beijings decision to restrict elections that brought major Hong Kong thoroughfares to a standstill for 79 days.

Law, also a former protest leader, was elected to the legislature last year, becoming the citys youngest-ever lawmaker, but was disqualified from office after a government legal challenge.

Wong had expressed a desire to run for office, but the prison sentence prevents him from doing so for five years.

A third student leader, Alex Chow, didnt request bail in the same case.

Also Tuesday, Swedens Foreign Ministry said it was informed by Chinese authorities that a China-born Hong Kong bookseller with Swedish citizenship was released from Chinese detention, though his daughter disputed the news.

Ministry spokesman Patric Nilsson said the information about Gui Minhai came overnight, but he declined to give further details.

Gui disappeared from his Thai holiday home in late 2015, one of five Hong Kong booksellers believed to have been abducted and spirited to mainland China for selling gossipy titles about elite Chinese politics to Chinese readers.

His daughter Angela Gui said in a statement that her father was supposed to have been released Oct. 17 after serving a two-year sentence for an alleged traffic offense dating from 2003.

However, she said her fathers whereabouts were still unknown, adding that on Monday she received a strange phone call from someone claiming to be my father saying he intended to apply for a Swedish passport but first wanted to spend time with his ill mother.

To my knowledge, my grandmother is not ill. My father is not in fact with her. It is still very unclear where he is. I am deeply concerned for his wellbeing, she said. Kelvin Chan, Hong Kong, AP
Aiming to complement the existing social security regime and to offer more protection to the elderly in the MSAR, Law 7/2017 on the Non-Mandatory Central Pension Scheme was approved in June, but will only come into effect on January 1, 2018.

Though the ground rules of the new regime are laid down in the new regulation, Law 7/2017 is supposed to be further regulated by other complementary diplomas, which are still yet to come. Regardless, even without the particulars that the complementary diplomas are supposed to add, it seems clear that this new regime offers Macaus residents a way to plan their retirement and to look into old age with more confidence.

The first aspect of the terms that stands out in this new law is the fact that it only applies to permanent residents of Macau (regardless of the type of employment contract they have) who are older than 18 years or permanent residents who are not older than 18 years, but are already registered for the Social Security Fund. Non-permanent Macau residents and blue card holders are, therefore, excluded from this new regime.

Another important aspect of this new regime is the fact that it is not mandatory, so individuals and employers only adhere to it if they choose to. This allows for contributions to be made on an individual or joint basis, which means that if the employer decides not to join the employees, who qualify for the conditions, they can still do it on their own. Also, if the employer constitutes a joint contribution plan, the employees are free to join it.

The good news for employers who already have private pension schemes in place is that the new joint pension plans can be articulated with private pension funds. This means that an employer who previously constituted a private pension fund can constitute a joint pension fund and maintain both in force simultaneously or cancel the private pension fund without prejudice to its employees.

When it comes to the value of the contributions, the law establishes that contributions will be 5 percent of the employees base salary (5 percent deducted from the employee and 5 percent deducted from the employer). However, if after the deduction of the contribution the employees salary is less than MOP 6,240, the employee (but not the employer) is exempted from making its contribution. If the base salary of the employee is more than MOP31,200, both employer and employee are not required to contribute more than MOP1,560 per month each. Regardless, the employer and the employee can agree on a higher contribution rate or contribute above the MOP31,200 threshold set in the law.

One aspect that stands out in the new regime, though frequently seen in private pension fund policies, is that contributions made by the employers to joint pension funds only revert to the employees upon termination of the work relationship if the employees stay with the company for more than three years. In fact, the reversion rates of the contributions made by the employers increase in accordance with the seniority of the employee, which means that workers who stay longer with a company get higher benefits upon leaving their jobs.

So, in practical terms, the implementation of these plans might be the right tool to help Macaus employers with the retention of local talent, as employees might feel compelled to stay longer in their jobs in light of these benefits, which are lost if they change jobs frequently.

*Senior Associate, MdME
The last section of deck of the bridge between Maputo and Catembe will be laid today, ahead of schedule by about three weeks, the Mozambican press reported. The assembly of the 57 metal modules on the bridges main deck took just 22 days, compared to an initial forecast was 45 days.

The deck, which will cover a 600-metre suspension span, is estimated to weigh more than 7,000 tones. Each module is 12 meters wide, 26 meters long and 3 meters thick.

The deck links the towers built over the bay, in Maputo and Catembe, which are 135 and 137 meters tall, respectively.

The metal cables that support the modules weigh about 2,000 tones each, and are over 1 kilometer long.

The company responsible for the work has given assurances that nothing will compromise the completion of the works in December, as scheduled in the initial phase of the project.

The bridge will be 3 kilometers long and its two access viaducts will be 2.3 kilometers long.

Construction of the bridge, by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CBRC), will cost USD725 million and was funded by the Export Import Bank of China (ExIm). MDT/Macauhub
Chinas ruling Communist Party has promoted three potential successors to long-serving central bank chief Zhou Xiaochuan, setting up a possible handover as Beijing tries to rein in surging debt and financial risks.

The three officials were among 204 people named to the partys Central Committee as the party closed a twice-a-decade congress.

Zhou has led the Peoples Bank of China since 2002 and at 69 is well beyond standard retirement age. He stayed on during the last leadership change in 2012 in what was seen as an effort to project stability as a new generation of leaders under President Xi Jinping took power.

The newly promoted officials were bank regulator Guo Shuqing, securities regulator Liu Shiyu and Jiang Chaoliang, party secretary of populous Hubei province, which surrounds Beijing.

Private sector analysts say all three have the experience to succeed Zhou.

Guo would be well received by foreign investors, who know his views, said Citigroup economists in a report. It might take longer to fully digest Jiangs thinking on monetary policy.

The Citigroup analysts noted Jiangs financial experience dates to the 1997 Asian financial crisis, when he helped to shut down a failed government-run investment trust in the southern province of Guangdong.

The next central bank governor will play a key role in efforts to cool surging bank lending that has propelled debt to the equivalent of 270 percent of annual economic output.

Zhou warned last week that Chinas relatively robust economic growth could face dangers from an excessive debt and financial risk.

Speaking at the party congress, he warned systemic financial risk may trigger a financial crisis. He said that could have a severe impact on the whole economy and employment.

Zhou issued a similar warning about rising Chinese corporate debt at the Oct. 15 meeting of the International Monetary Fund.

The central bank is part of Chinas finance ministry. Official tradition suggests if a new bank governor is appointed, it would happen after the Chinese legislature appoints a new finance minister in March. AP
The Islamic State group sent at least USD1.5 million to finance the recently ended siege of the southern Philippine city of Marawi, with the assault leaders using the 2014 IS seizure of the Iraqi city of Mosul as a blueprint, the Philippine military chief said.

The battle defeats of the brutal group in Syria and Iraq, and now the IS-aligned gunmen in Marawi, however, show a major vulnerability of the extremists: Their audacious territorial occupations tend to crumble over time as theyre cornered in urban settings by the relentless firepower of U.S.-backed offensives, Gen. Eduardo Ano said in an interview with The Associated Press this week.

The counterterrorism victories have given governments confidence that IS  which shocked the world with its rise a few years ago  could be stopped and defeated, said Ano, who oversaw the military campaign that ended the five-month siege in Marawi this week.

They underestimated the reaction of the different countries in the world, the alliances, he said.

With what happened in Mosul, the Philippines and Raqqa, the different countries are now confident that if ever an ISIS siege would erupt [] they now have the recipe or the formula to fight it, Ano said, adding that the Philippine military is ready to share its battle experiences in mosque-studded Marawi.

The siege, which was launched on May 23, left more than 1,100 combatants and civilians dead, including more than 900 militants, and displaced some 400,000 residents, including the entire population of Marawi, a bastion of the Islamic faith in the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines. Military airstrikes, artillery and heavy machine-gun fire turned the lakeside citys central business district and outlying communities into a smoldering wasteland of disfigured buildings and bullet-pocked mosques and houses.

It was one of the most devastating urban fights the country has witnessed since World War II, the military chief said.

Like in Mosul, the black-flag waving militants plotted to launch the Marawi siege on the first day of Ramadan, the holy Muslim month of fasting, but they were forced to stage the attack prematurely after Philippine army troops raided the hideout of its leaders. They also took hundreds of hostages as human shields and employed snipers to slow the advance of the military, Ano said.

Every day, they watched videos of ISIS in Mosul, Ano said of the Marawi siege leaders, including Isnilon Hapilon, a top Asian terror suspect who was killed by Filipino troops last week.

That was their blueprint, that was their pattern, he said, adding that troops recovered Islamic State group video discs of the Mosul violence in captured militant positions in Marawi.

It took about three weeks for thousands of government forces, which have been battling insurgents in jungle settings, to adopt to the urban fighting, Ano said. Two battalions of marines, for example, got stuck in a beach until a combat engineering battalion was quickly organized to clear mounds of debris that allowed them to move inland.

The massive offensive led to the killings of at least 10 key terror suspects from different extremist groups that have pledged allegiance to the IS, including Hapilon, four siblings belonging to the local Maute clan, and Indonesian and Malaysian militants, he said.

It would have taken five to 10 years for troops to hunt down and find all those militant leaders in the jungles of the south, where Ano said the extremists had mastery of the terrain and support from local clans.

The leaders of the bloody insurrection, who came from different ethnic backgrounds, were linked by their desire to be recognized by IS as its Southeast Asian branch and obtain funding from the Middle East-based group.

When the militants forged an alliance, IS sent USD1.5 million in batches to finance the attack, Ano said, citing intelligence information, including some provided by the U.S.

But Ano said the Marawi militants, like their Middle East counterparts, were blindsided by their ambition and miscalculated the response to their plot, which involved the seizure of a military camp in Marawi.

They thought that they can get the helicopters and armored vehicles and the people of Marawi will protect them, and there will be a flag flying and they can all it their own, an enclave, and probably more foreign fighters will come, Ano said.

Tens of thousands of Marawi residents, however, abandoned the city in panic and troops managed to secure Marawis military camp and other vital areas. The United States and Australia later deployed surveillance aircraft that provided real-time images of militant positions, even at night  modern warfare technology that, coupled with the tenacity of Filipino troops, became a game changer in the massive effort to liberate the city, Ano said.

The military firepower was designed to push the militants to a coastal area where they could be overcome more easily, said the veteran combat general, who called the Marawi offensive the greatest battle of his military career. He retires on Thursday.

We designed a very good campaign to flush them out and pressure them and canalize them into the chosen engagement areas, he said. We call it constriction. AP
Womens rights groups in Portugal have reacted angrily to a court decision that quoted the Bible and a 19th-century law in justifying a suspended sentence for a man convicted of assaulting his ex-wife with a bat because she allegedly committed adultery.

The man was given a 15-month suspended sentence and a fine of 1,750 euros (USD2,000) for using a bat spiked with nails to assault the woman in the street in 2015, leaving her covered in cuts and bruises.

The prosecutor had argued the sentence was too lenient and asked an appeals court for prison time of 3 years and 6 months. But the appeal judges on Oct. 11 rejected his request.

In their written ruling, the judges expressed some understanding for the attacker, saying a womans adultery is a very serious offense against a mans honor and dignity.

They noted the Bible says an adulterous woman should be punished by death and also cited a 1886 Portuguese law that gave only symbolic sentences to men who killed their wives for suspected adultery.

The judges at the appeals court in Porto, Portugals second-largest city, wrote that they were making reference to the Bible and an old law to stress that a womans adultery amounts to conduct which society has always condemned and condemned very strongly.

The written ruling became public this week and sparked outrage on Portuguese social media, with numerous rights groups speaking out.

One of them, the Womens Alternative and Response Union, described the ruling as inadmissible because it legitimized violence against women and blamed the victim. It said the separation of powers in Portugal means there is no place for the Bible in courtrooms.

The group planned street protests for Friday.

Portugals Superior Magistrates Council, an oversight body, said it had taken note of the vivid criticism from broad sections of public opinion. However, it said courts are independent and it could not intervene, even when faced with archaic, inappropriate or unfortunate comments by judges.

The woman could appeal to Portugals higher courts. Barry Hatton, Lisbon, AP
The Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAL)s latest proposal suggests that theaters and cinemas should only be permitted to operate in hotels or licensed commercial places. The suggestion has been met with fierce opposition from the art sector.

Currently, Macau has numerous arts groups based in industrial buildings. However, according to the provisions of the current policy, these groups will likely have to cease operations.

The art sector has criticized the proposed restrictions on performance venues as an act that would suffocate the industry.

DSAL held a public consultation meeting last Friday. Some participants suggested that the government can supervise theaters and cinemas by regulating the safety of these sites and the number of people accommodated in each venue.

Other participants commented that the suggestion is an unnecessary blanket option and does not apply equally to all situations.

DSALs deputy director Carmen Maria Chung responded that the ordinance needs to have a broader scope because it is now necessary to consider regulations for small theaters. She added that industrial buildings are only for businesses in the manufacturing industry.

Performance [] should not be that kind of activity which should be carried out on industrial premises. The existing laws also have such regulations, said Chung.
Five global long-haul airlines will begin new security interviews of all passengers on U.S.-

bound flights beginning today at the request of American officials, the companies said.

Long-haul carriers Air France, Cathay Pacific, EgyptAir, Emirates and Lufthansa all said theyd start the screenings. However, the airlines offered different descriptions of how the interviews would take place.

It wasnt immediately clear if other global airlines would be affected, though the Trump administration previously rolled out a laptop ban and travel bans that have thrown global airlines into disarray.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, it comes at the end of a 120-day deadline for airlines to meet new U.S. regulations following the ban on laptops in airplane cabins of some Mideast airlines being lifted.

Air France said it will begin new security interviews today at Paris Orly Airport and a week later, on Nov. 2, at Charles de Gaulle Airport. It said the extra screening will take the form of a questionnaire handed over to 100 percent of passengers.

Emirates said in a statement it would begin doing pre-screening interviews at its check-in counters for passengers flying out of Dubai and at boarding gates for transit and transfer fliers. It urged those flying through Dubai International Airport, its headquarters, to allow extra time to check into flights and board.

These measures will work in complement with the current additional screening measures conducted at the boarding gate, it said.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. said on its website that it had suspended self-drop baggage services and that passengers heading to the U.S. will be subject to a short security interview. Those without bags would have a similar interview at their gates.

EgyptAir said in a statement the new measures include more detailed searches of passengers and their luggage and interviews. The strict procedures will extend to unauthorized agricultural or veterinary products.

Germanys Lufthansa said the new rules came from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, which is under Homeland Security.

In addition to the controls of electronic devices already introduced, travelers to the U.S.A. might now also face short interviews at check-in, document check or gate, Lufthansa said in a statement.

In March, U.S. officials instituted the ban on laptops in airplane cabins across 10 Middle East cities over concerns Islamic State fighters and other extremists could hide bombs inside of them. That ban was lifted after those airlines began using devices like CT scanners to examine electronics just before passengers board airplanes heading to the United States.

That laptop ban, as well as travel bans affecting predominantly Muslim countries, have hurt Mideast airlines. Emirates, the regions biggest, said it slashed 20 percent of its flights to America in the wake of the restrictions.

It wasnt immediately clear if other Mideast airlines were affected by the new rules.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad said its operations were normal without elaborating, while Doha-

based Qatar Airways did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jon Gambrell, Dubai, AP
Facebook Inc. could be in the firing line of data privacy regulators across the European Union if the blocs top court follows the opinion of an adviser who said the social media giant may be policed by authorities in the country where users are based.

Yves Bot, an advocate general of the EU Court of Justice, said yesterday that national watchdogs spread across the 28-nation bloc could in some cases have power to take direct action against Facebook when they suspect illegal data processing has taken place  even though its EU base is in Ireland.

The case, which concerns a German dispute over a fan page set up on Facebook by a local user, could end up having wide effects and refute the U.S. companys long-held view that the Irish privacy regulator is the only watchdog with a say over its data processing in Europe.

The German case is one of many clashes between the Menlo Park, California-based and national authorities. Belgiums privacy regulator told a court this month that the company was engaged in unprecedented in monitoring the browsing habits of millions of people.

Facebook said in a statement that we respectfully disagree with the Advocate General and await the European Courts decision.

The Luxembourg-based courts ruling, which usually comes 4 to 6 months after an opinion, would be binding and become law across the EU.

A new EU privacy law that will take effect in May 2018 will give national regulators the power to fine companies as much as 4 percent of their global annual sales for violations. It will also put some regulators in charge of companies having a base in their territory.

The Advocate General in his opinion yesterday said the court should disregard this law change as far as the case at issue was concerned, given that the changes arent yet in force. Stephanie Bodoni, Bloomberg
For more than 50 years, every American president has been forced to grapple, in one way or another, with the quagmire of the Vietnam War. Now its Donald Trumps turn.

The ghosts of Vietnam are stirring anew, just as Trump prepares to visit the nation on his first presidential tour of Asia. Vietnam war hero Sen. John McCain, who spent more than five years in a prisoner of war camp after his plane was shot down, this week put an unwelcome spotlight on Trumps five draft deferments to avoid military service. And Trumps prolonged political tussle over the proper way for presidents to honor and grieve with the families of fallen soldiers has focused attention on his lack of military service as well.

Trump tried to set all that aside yesterday [Macau time] as he presented the Medal of Honor to retired Capt. Gary Rose, a Vietnam era medic who repeatedly ran into the line of enemy fire and ignored his own wounds to save his colleagues during a fierce firefight in enemy-controlled territory in September 1970.

Mike, this is serious stuff, Trump said. Your love for your fellow soldier, your devotion to your country inspires us all.

But the matter of Trumps lack of service wasnt far off stage.

McCain, the Arizona Republican who has frequently clashed with the president, made clear he had Trump in mind as he criticized the Vietnam draft system that forced low-income Americans to serve while the wealthy could avoid war with a doctors note. Trump, the son of a millionaire developer, received draft deferments, one attained with a physicians letter stating that he suffered from bone spurs in his feet.

I dont consider him so much a draft dodger as I feel that the system was so wrong that certain Americans could evade their responsibilities to serve the country, McCain said on ABCs The View. McCain was being pressed about earlier comments on C-SPAN in which he lamented that the military drafted the lowest income level of America and the highest income level found a doctor that would say they had a bone spur.

When a host on the ABC show remarked that people thought McCain had been talking about Trump on C-SPAN because the president had sought a medical deferment, McCain interjected, More than once, yes.

Over the decades, Vietnam has become shorthand for a bogged-down military conflict, a comparison invoked during more recent struggles in Afghanistan and Iraq. It has served as a cautionary lesson about the political peril for presidents ensnared in prolonged overseas military operations.

President Lyndon Johnson abandoned his re-election quest after an escalation in the war led to more American deaths, while President Richard Nixon took fierce criticism for expanding the conflict. President Bill Clintons wartime deferment before he entered the Vietnam draft generated considerable heat during the 1992 presidential campaign.

More recently, questions about the service of George W. Bush and John Kerry were prominent in the 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns. Bush served in the Texas Air National Guard but faced scrutiny over his status and why he was never deployed overseas. Kerry was a decorated veteran who threw away his medals and testified against the war before Congress. His service record was questioned in campaign ads.

Obama, the first post-Vietnam president, positioned himself as the one who might heal the rift between those who served and those who didnt. Although he, too, was burdened with lessons of the war.

Let us resolve that when America sends our sons and daughters into harms way, we will always give them a clear mission; we will always give them a sound strategy; we will give them the equipment they need to get the job done, Obama said at a visit to the Vietnam Memorial in 2012. We will have their backs.

Trump is slated to make his first presidential trip to Vietnam early next month as part of his 12-day, five-nation Asia tour. He will participate in an international summit in Da Nang before meeting the Vietnamese president in Hanoi. The White House said it had not been decided if Trump would visit any war sites, like the prison where McCain was held.

Trump ignited a feud with McCain in July 2015 when he belittled the senators time in captivity.

Hes not a war hero, said Trump. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured.

Trump once compared his ability to avoid sexually transmitted diseases in the Manhattan dating scene of the 1980s and 1990s to the perils of wartime that claimed the lives of more than 58,000 Americans in Vietnam.

It is a dangerous world out there, Trump said in a 1997 interview with shock jock Howard Stern. Its like Vietnam, sort of. It is my personal Vietnam. I feel like a great and very brave soldier.

The renewed focus on Trumps lack of service in Vietnam comes as he faces scrutiny over his treatment of the families of Americas war dead.

Trump has been pushing back against criticism from the family of slain Army Sgt. La David Johnson, killed this month in Niger, that he was disrespectful in his condolence call to the new widow.

Trump has steadfastly denied the claim. But the Johnsons are not the only family of a slain solider to be angry at Trump.

The family of Capt. Ben Cross of Bethel, Maine, who was one of three Marines killed in an MV-22 Osprey crash in August off the coast of Australia, received a condolence letter from Trump on Friday.

The family questioned the timing of the letter, which arrived via overnight mail after the controversy over Gold Star families had erupted.

I think that anyone who received five deferrals in order to avoid military service is unfit to be commander in chief and even less qualified to console a grieving family who has lost a loved one defending our country, Cross brother Ryan said. He doesnt know the first thing about service or sacrifice. Jonathan Lemire, New York, AP

Diplomat says us played key role in marawi success

The top U.S. diplomat in the Philippines said yesterday the U.S. has no credible reports of human rights violations by the Philippine armed forces or police during their five-month campaign to oust Islamist militants from the southern city of Marawi. There were no credible reports or allegations that the armed forces of the Philippines engaged in any abuse or any activity that violated human rights of people of Marawi, Ambassador Sung Y. Kim, said in an interview with U.S. reporters, adding, Its quite positive that the Philippines military behaved in a responsible manner in a very difficult situation. Kim said the U.S. military provided surveillance aircraft and other equipment to help monitor and assess the militants positions during the Marawi campaign. He said this assistance was critical to a successful outcome. Kim said the extent of the militants infiltration of Marawi was a surprise to both the U.S. and Philippine governments. They overran the city in May, setting off alarms in Southeast Asia and the West because of their affiliation with the Islamic State group.
KENYA The leader of Kenyas main opposition party urged his supporters to boycott a rerun of the countrys disputed presidential election scheduled for today amid rising political tensions and fears of violence. The countrys Supreme Court yesterday failed to muster enough judges to hear a last-minute petition to postpone the elections.

VIETNAM A court in northern Vietnam yesterday sentenced a student activist to six years in prison for using social media to promote a multiparty system and press freedom amid a heightened crackdown on dissent.

PHILIPPINES-JAPAN Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will visit Japan next week for talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on key regional concerns including North Korea. The two leaders also will be hosting President Donald Trump when he makes his first presidential Asia tour next month.

KOREA British Olympic leaders have plans in place to evacuate athletes from the 2018 Pyeongchang Games amid heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula. While it is not expected the emergency procedures will be implemented, the British Olympics Association is preparing for the worst-case scenario.

RUSSIA-TURKEY Two prominent Crimean Tatar leaders who were imprisoned in Russian-occupied Crimea have been released and flown to Turkey, Ukraines president said yesterday. President Petro Poroshenko thanked the Turkish president for his help in mediating the releases of Ilmi Umerov and Akhtem Chiygoz.

IRAQs self-ruled Kurdish region yesterday offered to freeze the results of its controversial independence vote last month as part of a dialogue with Baghdad. The proposal, however, is unlikely to be accepted by Baghdad, which demands that the results be annulled before it takes part in any negotiations.

SAUDI ARABIAs powerful crown prince has announced plans to build a futuristic city run entirely on alternative sources of energy and said the ultraconservative kingdom must return to moderate Islam.

FRANCEs government spokesman Christophe Castaner says he is a candidate to lead President Emmanuel Macrons recently created party. Castaner said yesterday on RTL radio that Macron supports his candidacy, which makes him the favorite for the job.

PANAMA The United States has lifted restrictions on two Panama newspapers wrapped up in money laundering allegations against their owner.

BRAZIL Two military police officers have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a Spanish tourist who was on a guided tour of one of Brazils largest slums.
TWIN FALLS  Bumpin Bernies, a popular after-hours hangout downtown, needs to control its customers and do more to eliminate rowdiness outside or the city may force the business to close earlier.

Essentially, the city is asking for a little less bumpin.

The bar, nightclub and hookah lounge at 139 Shoshone St. N. operates until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, but stops serving alcohol at 1 a.m. per state statute. Police say they receive more calls for fights, batteries and disturbances there than at similar bars in town that close at 1:30 a.m.

Police had asked the Planning and Zoning Commission to amend the bars special use permit to limit hours to 1:30 a.m. But after hearing testimony on the business behalf, the commission decided to table the item and allow Bumpin Bernies more time to step up its cleanup efforts and work to address security in the Urban Renewal Agency-owned parking lot behind it.

You guys got to get control, chairman Tom Frank said at the public hearing Tuesday. Theyre your customers, whether they go in the building or not. Theyre probably using your bathrooms when theyre not out doing something else.

The issue will come up again before the P&Z at a public hearing Dec. 12.

Things wont be so forgiving at that time, Frank said. This is kind of your Jesus  pardon that term  meeting, and you guys really need to get a handle on it.

Bumpin Bernies co-owner Burhan Hetemi said the business has already taken action toward improving the situation.

I took it upon myself to get a No Loitering sign, Hetemi said.

Since installing the sign about seven weeks ago, he said, there have been no incidents outside the bar  and there has never been a fight inside the bar, Hetemi added. But police reports show there have been a few calls for service at the address of the establishment during that time period.

Im really skeptical signing is going to change a drunk persons behavior, Commissioner Ed Musser said.

Still, the commission was impressed by Hetemis willingness to step up and work with law enforcement.

Since Bumpin Bernies received its permit for extended hours of operation in 2011, police have responded to the address 283 times  including 88 times for fights or disturbances.

Just in the past year  from Oct. 1, 2016, to Sept. 30, 2017  there were 108 calls for service at Bumpin Bernies.

About 48 percent of the calls for service occurred in that 1:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. timeframe, Police Sgt. Kevin Loosli said.

But Tim Stastny, owner of the Slice restaurant nearby, also said the problems are occurring in the URA-owned parking lot. Just last Saturday, his own son was accosted in the parking lot, he said. Stastny has also found blood and vomit on his back door.

They cant control it  its not their fault, he said. You cant control the maniacs that are coming down there. You never hear of a problem going on inside the bar.

Artem Petrosyan, an employee who helps manage Bumpin Bernies, said his staff call the police when necessary, to make the area safe. And the issues arent with the business patrons.

We dont know who causes the problems, he said.

Petrosyan also highlighted the business role in the community by hosting fundraisers and a venue for local artists to perform.

But the commission seemed to agree that having an establishment open past 1:30 a.m. would by nature attract more people to that area.

Theyre causing it indirectly, Commissioner Gerardo Munoz said.

Yet the commission understood the need for such a business to cater to the 21-to-40-year-olds who stay up at that time of night.

My greatest fear is if we keep shutting down at 1:30, our hopes of developing the downtown the way we want it suffers, Commissioner Kevin Grey said. It really does.

 My hats off to the owner of this establishment for making those phone calls, and I think its unfortunate that thats counted against them.

After another downtown business owner complained of broken beer bottles and public urination, commissioners discussed that Bumpin Bernies could do more to help clean up. Furthermore, it could discuss the possibility with the URA of lighting that parking lot.

I think theres a bigger issue that the city or the owner of the parking lot need to address to make that place safe, Commissioner Danielle Dawson said.

After the meeting, Bumpin Bernies employees spoke to law enforcement and a commissioner, and they seemed eager to pursue more lighting and better communication.

If the conditions dont improve, Hetemi could face a cut to his hours that would be detrimental to his business. Most customers arrive after 12:45 a.m., he said.

Most people just think were open 1 to 3, Hetemi said.

Its an image he has been trying to move away from over the past couple of years. Bumpin Bernies serves European food from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It opens again from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; and 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

But since the establishment began operating a hookah lounge in March, Hetemi has noticed more police patrols happening and feels that his business is being targeted.

I try my best to work with them, he said.

Bumpin Bernies is the only establishment in the area open past 1:30 a.m.

Theres never been a complaint about the bar, never a written note, never a phone call from a neighbor, Petrosyan said.
TWIN FALLS  Bail was set at $2 million Tuesday for a Twin Falls mother charged with murdering her 20-month-old daughter.

Amanda J. Dunlap, 22, faces charges of first-degree murder and eight felony counts of injury to a child in Twin Falls County Magistrate Court. Shes being represented by a public defender.

Judge Thomas D. Kershaw Jr. approved a motion from prosecutors to seal the court records from the public and media, ruling that the details of the case were so highly intimate that their publication would be highly objectionable to a reasonable person.

Authorities have declined to discuss what caused the babys death. Asked over the weekend, Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs struggled to find words: I wouldnt know how to answer that.

In a brief statement issued Saturday, police said Dunlap was arrested late Friday in Ada County. Her baby died Oct. 14 in Boise. The girl lived a week in a Boise hospital after being flown from St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center on Oct. 8, when police first began investigating.

According to court records, Dunlap was already facing charges for possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia at the time of the babys death.

A preliminary hearing in the murder case is set for Nov. 3.
TWIN FALLS  African-American and American Indian children are faring better in Idaho than elsewhere across the nation, but white, Latino and Asian/Pacific Islander children are doing worse.

The 2017 Race for Results: Building a Path to Opportunity for All Children report was released Tuesday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. It makes comparisons by race and ethnic background on topics such as education and health.

As Idaho becomes more diverse, one childhood advocacy official says its important to pay attention to barriers children face in being successful. After identifying gaps in progress, she says the next step is discussion and seeking to make policy changes.

We all have a stake in planning for the next generation and making sure children have what they need for reaching their full potential, said Alejandra Cerna, policy analyst for Idaho Voices for Children, a nonprofit based in Boise.

The report focuses heavily on obstacles facing immigrant children and those in minority groups. Idaho has 56,000 children in immigrant families, the report notes. The largest group  67 percent  are Latino.

The report includes several recommendations: keep families together and in their communities, help children in immigrant families meet key developmental milestones and increase economic opportunity for immigrant parents.

Idaho is ranked second-best in the nation for how African-American children are faring.

The Gem State ranks 11th best for American Indian children, 29th for Asian/Pacific Islander children, 37th for Latino children and 41st for white children.

In Idaho, theres such a small population of African-American and American Indian children, its hard to generalize compared with states with a much larger population, Cerna said. That was an interesting finding, but something we have to interpret a little for folks.

Its the second time the Annie E. Casey Foundation has done this type of report.

Scores are based on factors such as babies born at a normal birthweight, percentage of students reaching proficiency in reading and math, teenage girls who delay childbearing until adulthood, high schoolers graduating on time, children living in two-parent families, parents educational attainment and children who are living in poverty.

One area where attention could be focused to help address gaps is early learning, Cerna said.

Preschool and home visiting programs are proven to help children prepare for academic and life experiences, she said.

Children who come from a family with severe economic disadvantages or are learning English as a second language have the most to gain from quality interventions, Cerna said.

Hispanic children in Idaho, for example, are much less likely to be enrolled in early learning program compared with their peers, she said, and are less likely to do well on reading proficiency assessments by fourth-grade.

Idaho is among six U.S. states that dont offer public preschool programs.

Early childhood education advocates say the lack of state-funded preschool is holding Idaho children back. But opponents say its the responsibility of parents, not the government, to prepare children for school.

In past years, state legislators have also expressed concerns about the large price tag of implementing a program, and the impact on school facilities and the already existing teacher shortage.
TWIN FALLS  For Susan Hatch, raising money and awareness for breast cancer has become deeply personal.

Hatch, a clinical assistant at St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center, came up with an idea last year for medical workers to wear pink scrubs for breast cancer awareness month.

The hospital purchased a few pairs of pink scrubs for employees to wear during October and, in walkathon fashion, workers found sponsors to donate for their time spent in the scrubs. The donations paid for mammograms for under-served and uninsured women.

I found out during pink scrubs week just how many lives had been affected, she said. It seemed everyone had a story about someone they loved.

St. Lukes scrubs are color coded so that patients can identify who comes into their rooms. Pink is not in St. Lukes spectrum, but because of the popularity of mammography fundraiser, the hospital approved Hatchs Pink Scrubs campaign again this year.

It really inspires us, said Dawn Soto, director of the St. Lukes Health Foundation, a separate, fundraising entity from the hospital.

We work hand in hand with the hospital, Soto said. Its a partnership.

The foundation is now selling pink scrubs for $125  the price of a mammogram  for workers to wear from Oct. 22 to Oct. 28. The money raised will go toward mammograms: one pair equals one mammogram. To date, more than 115 pink scrubs have been sold.

Employees can buy their own scrubs or donate a pair to another caregiver, Hatch said.

The foundation will also sell to the public, Soto said. St. Lukes hospitals in Twin Falls and Jerome are both participating in Pink Scrubs week.

The Jerome hospital performs some 700 mammograms each year; Twin Falls performs nearly 10,000.

Meanwhile, Hatch received news that no mother wants to hear, she said, that my daughter has breast cancer.

In addition, her father has advanced cancer that will soon take his life.

Cancer touches every life. Thats what I told everyone when I first had the idea..., Hatch said in a recent email to the Times-News. How could I have known as the pink scrubs idea took off, that cancer would deal its devastating blow to my own family?

I suppose the pink scrubs idea was perhaps a premonition, a calling, or a whisper to my heart of what was to come and what is truly important.
TWIN FALLS  South Central Public Health District has hired a new executive director.

Melody Bowyer, whos worked in the Environmental Health Division of the district for 15 years, replaces Interim Director Jeremy St. Clair, the department announced Wednesday.

St. Clair was appointed after former director Rene LeBlanc left the office in May following a state investigation  the details of which are unclear. LeBlanc resigned June 14.

LeBlanc came under fire in 2013, when former employee Patricia Scott accused him of disciplining her improperly, complaining to the Idaho Personnel Commission.

At the time, Scott and other former employees accused the Health District of mistreating and harassing employees.
DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday the government is closely monitoring Filipinos returning from the Middle East after fighting for the Islamic State to guard against potential acts of terror following their defeat in Syria and Iraq.

On the sidelines of the Asean Defense Ministers Meeting in Clark, Pampanga, Lorenzana said the home-bound Filipinos with links to ISIS were in a long list of names provided by Kurdish intelligence.

They have a long list of namesof Malaysians and Indonesians fighting in Iraq, [and] couple of Filipinos who might come back. So we are monitoring these people, Lorenzana said.

The Islamic State fighting in Syria and Iraq has been crushed by coalition forces after years of trying to establish a caliphate in the Middle East.

Islamic State-inspired terrorists under Isnilon Hapilon, described as the emir of ISIS in Southeast Asia, were crushed after a five-month battle for Marawi City.

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Even before the Marawi siege, the Philippines was already coordinating closely with Malaysia and Indonesia on the ISIS-inspired fighters, Lorenzana said.

Dozens of Malaysians and a couple of Indonesians who left their country and joined Philippine terrorist groups such as the Abu Sayyaf were among those killed in the fierce battle with ground troops in Marawi.

At the same event in Clark, Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne underscored the need to fortify entry points against returning compatriots bent on sowing terror in their homeland.

SECURITY SUPPORT. Australia announces the expansion of its security support to the Philippines, which will involve training in urban counter-terrorism, to fight the rise and spread of extremism in the region during a joint news conference Tuesday in Clark between Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (left) and Australias Defense Minister Marise Ann Payne (right) [left photo]. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary James Mattis attends the 11th Asean Defense Ministers and 4th ADMM-Plus, also in Clark [right photo]. AFP

They are battled-trained, they are hardened, they are extremists of the highest order who have been prepared to do the most appalling things, using civilians as human shields and collaterals, Payne said.

Payne said they are ready to assist Southeast Asian countries in monitoring and interdicting terrorists.

We are focused on working with our neighbors in the region, working with the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Its a complex task across oceans, seas, land and air domains to try and to do that. But it is important for us to work closely together, Payne said.

I think is it important to recognize that this is not just a defense issue its a national security issue its a legal issue, its an immigration issue, as well as a defense issue. We work together closely with our counterparts and particularly with the relationship I have with Secretary Lorenzana, Payne said.

Both Australia and the Philippines have agreed to increase military cooperation to address the threats of terrorism, she said.

Specifically, the Australian Defense Force will send mobile training teams to train Philippine soldiers in urban warfare and counter-terrorism.

Its very practical training by the ADF which will provide and support the Philippine defense force to be able to counter what are very brutal tactics employed by terrorists, Payne said.

Canberra has been aiding Manila against local supporters of the Islamic State group in Marawi since September, deploying two AP-3C Orion aircraft for surveillance while helping in information-gathering and analysis.

Defense and military officials in the Philippines declared victory after a five-month battle there that claimed more than 1,100 lives and destroyed swathes of the city.

While it ended immediate fears that the Islamic State would establish a Southeast Asian base in Marawi, concerns remain about its longer-term intentions and capabilities for the region.

Australia has experience tackling the group in Iraq and Syria and Payne said it was crucial the Philippines had the know-how to keep extremists at bay now that the key fight had been won.

She said Canberra would send teams immediately to provide urban warfare counter-terrorism training.

Globally we have seen the effect of extremist ideology and terrorist threats on millions of civilians and it is alarming to see this disruption come to our region, Payne said.

Payne said the spread of Islamic State-inspired terrorism was a direct threat to Australia and its interests, and Canberra was determined it cannot establish a geographic foothold in the region.

As part of the boosted cooperation, the two sides will also work together to enhance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in the south.

They will also bolster maritime security engagement and bilateral maritime patrols and co-host a seminar on post-conflict rehabilitation efforts.

Hundreds of local and foreign gunmen who had pledged allegiance to IS rampaged through Marawi on May 23.

They then took over parts of the city using civilians as human shields.

More than 400,000 residents were displaced as near-daily airstrikes and intense ground combat left large parts of the city in ruins.

In Clark, Lorenzana said the threat from the Maute group was diminished.

The Maute family is practically wiped out. The seven sons of the Mautes Farhana and Cayamora were all killed in Marawi so I think the Mautes are finished for the moment, he said.

Police on Monday said an alleged financier and member of the Maute group, Aminkisa Romato Macadato, was arrested in Valenzuela City.

Macadato, the nephew of the Maute matriarch, is accused of being involved in the rebellion in Mindanao and is allegedly connected to the Maute-ISIS local terrorist group, police said. With AFP

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King Mohammed VI on Tuesday fired three ministers, a secretary of state and several senior officials, after an audit showed their responsibility in the malfunctions and delays recorded in the implementation of a large-scale development program, the Al Hoceima Lighthouse of the Mediterranean.

The $665-million worth program, designed to promote the development of the Northern city of Al Hoceima and its region, was launched in October 2015, under the previous government of Abdelilah Benkirane, leader of the Justice and Development Party (PJD).

The findings of the audit, commissioned by the king to determine the reasons for the delay in the Al Hoceima program and carried out by the Court of Auditors, known for its objectivity and transparency of its investigations, were presented to the Monarch Tuesday.

The Court underlined in the report that the investigation confirmed the existence of several malfunctions under the previous government.

The report also revealed that several ministerial departments and public institutions did not fulfill their duties as regards the implementation of the projects and that the explanations they provided do not justify the delay in implementing the Al Hoceima development program. Even worse the vast majority of these projects had not even been launched, the report noted. Yet, the report made it clear that there were no malpractices or misappropriations.

The lengthy audit process of the Court of Accounts, chaired by former Prime Minister Driss Jettou, helped provide the necessary transparency and distance that dissociate the report results from the protests staged in late 2016 and early 2017 in the city of Al Hoceima.

Three members of the current cabinet, who also held portfolios in Benkiranes government, were thus dismissed. These are Mohamed Hassad, Minister of Education, who was at the time of the launch of the Al Hoceima program Minister of the Interior, as well as the Ministers of Health Houcine El Ouardi and of Housing Nabil Benabdellah.

Larbi Bencheikh, Secretary of State for Vocational Training, who was director of OFPPT, a public vocational training body, and Ali Fassi Fihri, head of the National Office of Electricity and Water (ONEE) have also been relieved of their duties.

The firing decision made by King Mohammed VI after consultation with the Head of the Government, is part of the application of the principle of accountability stipulated in the 2011 Moroccan.

King Mohammed VI instructed the Head of the government Saad Eddine El Othmani to submit new names for the vacant positions.

It was also decided that the 20 or so other former ministers and officials mentioned in the report for their liability in the malfunctions will never again be named to official positions. These include the former ministers of National Education, tourism, Youth and Sports, and culture and the junior minister in charge of environment.

The audit report, on the other hand, noted a greater mobilization of the various stakeholders, as well as a notable progress in the projects implementation, following the Council of Ministers, held on June 25, 2017. During this Council, King Mohammed VI had voiced his disappointment, discontent and concern over the slow pace of development projects and given directives to relevant departments to speed up the implementation of the projects in the Rif region. It was during this council that the Monarch ordered the audit.

The King, while praising the efforts made by the current government to speed up the implementation of the programmed projects, instructed the cabinet to draw lessons from the difficulties encountered in implementing the Al Hoceima Lighthouse of the Mediterranean program in order to avoid the dysfunctions and obstacles that could hinder the implementation of development projects in the different regions of the Kingdom.

The Tuesday unprecedented move comes after King Mohammed VI has repeatedly underlined in several royal speeches the need to enhance the performance of the administration and improve the services provided to citizens, deeming managing citizens affairs and serving their interests are both a national responsibility and a sacred trust, leaving no room for negligence or procrastination.

Holding public office is linked with accountability, and during which appropriate answers and solutions to citizens pressing problems and issues must be found, the King had said in a speech earlier this October when opening the Parliament fall session.

As the guarantor and custodian of the rule of law, and the first person to respect it, I have never hesitated to hold to account anyone who has patently underperformed while carrying out his or her professional or national duties. However, the situation today commands greater firmness in order to put an end to complacency and to disregard for citizens interests, the Monarch had stated, urging the Court of Auditors to monitor and assess the implementation of public projects in all of the Kingdoms regions.
A Bahraini senior official Tuesday said the Gulf diplomatic crisis opposing Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt on one side and Qatar on the other will not be permanent, indicating therefore a likely settlement of the worst crisis that has ever shaken the region.

I think that the issue we have with Qatar is not something of a long-term nature  the dispute is going to get solved sooner or later, said Zayed Al-Zayani, the Bahraini minister of industry, commerce and tourism.

Zayani made the comment at Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh also attended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman who is rumored to be a staunch supporter of Qatars isolation.

The quartet on June 5 parted diplomatically with Qatar accusing it of backing terrorism. The four cut off air, sea and ground links with the tiny oil-rich monarchy.

The longstanding crisis has affected business in the region.

The Saudi camp, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson noted on Sunday, is not willing to start talks with Qatar, which says it will not abide by conditions set by the four.

The Saudi-led quartet issued in June a list of 13 conditions for the normalization of the ties.

The US mediation has stumbled on roadblocks. Monday, a former President Trumps senior advisor, Steve Bannon indicated that the crisis was sparked by the US Presidents visit to Riyadh in May.

Bannon who was Trumps Chief Strategist said Washington was not happy about Qatars binary stance.

You cant have it both ways. You cant on one side say youre a friend and an ally and on the other side be financing the Muslim Brotherhood or Hamas, he said.
The Turkish ministry of Justice Tuesday said it canceled a delegations planned trip to the US because of the visa crisis opposing the two ally countries.

Due to the recent visa crisis between the two countries, the visit was cancelled by our Ministry, the Justice Ministry said in a statement, denying that the US has rejected the delegations visa applications as reported.

A delegation of the ministry was due to fly to the US to inspect detention centers in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Omaha, Nebraska.

Earlier reports suggested that US authorities have shunned visa applications by the delegation.

Ankara and Washington have seen their ties frustrated early this month after US embassy in Ankara suspended the issuance of all non-migrant visas to protest against the arrest of one Turkish personnel working at US consulate in Istanbul. The man, a translator was arrested in May over alleged links with Gulenist Terror Group (FETO) led by Turkish cleric Gulen living in the US.

Ankara accuses the FETO for being responsible for the botched military coup in July last year.

The Turkish embassy in Washington retaliated suspending all visa applications.

Turkish authorities on October 9 issued an arrest warrant against another personnel at the US consulate in Istanbul for testimony.

Authorities have rounded the wife and the son of the suspect for investigation.
Doha will fund the construction of the Palestinian Authority (PA) headquarters in Gaza in a move supporting reconciliation between West Bank-based government dominated by Fatah and Gaza ruler Hamas, Qatars envoy to Gaza said on Tuesday.

Qatar has agreed to build the headquarters of the presidency and the headquarters of the Palestinian government in Gaza after the consensus government assumes its duties fully, Mohammed al-Amadi announced.

Amadi said that Doha agreed to sponsor the projects after PA leader Mahmoud Abbas made the request.

Hamas and its rival Fatah this month agreed to put aside their rivalries and to form a unity government with the PA taking control of Gaza.

The Islamist movement has accepted to relinquish the enclave Strip to the PA by December 1.

The Presidency and headquarters of the Palestinian government were targeted in Israeli 2008-2009 and 2012 airstrikes as part of wars fought between the Islamist movement and the Jewish state.

Qatar has been a strong supporter for Hamas and has emerged as the leading state in the reconstruction of the impoverished Strip following the 50-day war between Hamas and Israel in 2014.

The reconciliation deal signed in Cairo and blessed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will hatch out a unity government to include Hamas-backed ministers.

Israel has vowed not to recognize any Palestinian unity government encompassing the Islamist movement, which maintains its call for Israel destruction.
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Beekeeping Test Base Opens in Mukhuri

Minister of Agriculture of Georgia Levan Davitashvili and Otar Danelia, head of the parliaments agrarian committee, have opened a beekeeping test base of the agriculture research center in the village of Mukhuri, Samegrelo Region. The base consists of two laboratories, office and auxiliary facilities.Mukhuri beekeeping test base is an important center for the field development. The base comprises selection and breeding farms for selection and dissemination of high-productive varieties of Georgian bee all over the country.This is an unique genetical material that was at the verge of extinction and Ministry of Agriculture has managed to restore it. And now it is necessary to introduce those methods at the base that will enable to maximally multiply and return this new variety to practical use, Minister of Agriculture Levan Davitashvili said.Otar Danelia, head of the parliaments agrarian committee, noted that Mukhuri beekeeping test base has no analogue in Georgia and it aims to restore and popularize Caucasus gray bee.Levan Ujmajuridze, director of scientific-research center, noted that the center has restored the Megrelian population of the old Georgian bee. The center also plans to restore Gurian and other populations for the beekeeping sector development.It is worth noting that the Mukhuri base will permanently host open door and demonstration days for farmers and interested bodies. Workshops will be held on bee breeding and bee disease prevention measures. The participants will receive information on modern technologies related to artificial fertilization and production of healthy products.Deputy Agriculture Minister Iuri Nozadze and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Governor Levan Shonia attended the Mukhuri Beekeeping test base inauguration ceremony.
Bonuses continue to cause unrest

By Messenger Staff

Tbilisis vice-mayor and deputy mayors received GEL 7200 in total as a bonus in 2016, says the statement of Tbilisi City Hall.The statement reads the amount of bonuses received by the Deputy Mayors under the previous United National Movement government was twelve times higher than the bonuses of the incumbent deputy mayors."Given the high interest on the issue, we would like to inform the public about the amount of the bonuses received by the deputy mayors. We would like to clarify that in 2016 Tbilisi vice-mayor and deputy mayors received 7200 GEL as bonuses, says the statement.The City Hall issued the statement in response to some allegations on growing expenditures. City Hall claims it is a false allegation that the administrative expenses of the City Hall have been increased.The administrative expenses were cut down by 22.3 million GEL in 2017, says the statement.There are two different approaches to bonuses.One side, mainly the opposition, say that in the situation when many people live in poverty in Georgia the state officials should not take salary supplements or bonuses.Others, the government members and not only, claim that encouraging good employees is essential.It is only welcoming that good employees are encouraged. However, an amount must be specified and procedures should be transparent. The information on why a person, for what merit, takes a bonus or a salary supplement should be public and accessible to interested parties.There have been many situations when some high-level management employees sign relevant documents by themselves and take bonuses or salary supplements several times higher than their monthly pay.Most of the times, while being in power the representatives of Georgian Dream try to acquit themselves by throwing back accusations in the direction of former government. A repeated comparison with the previous authorities actions is tiresome and irritating since by now the Georgian Dream party has had ample opportunities to prove itself after five years in power.
The News in Brief

Parliamentary Committees Finalize Initial Discussions on 2018 Draft State Budget



The parliamentary committees have finalized discussions on the initial draft of the 2018 state budget with final hearing held at the finance and budget committee on October 16.



The draft state budget was presented by Deputy Finance Minister Giorgi Kakauridze, who said that the new budget, envisaging increased funding for infrastructure projects, was elaborated based on the economic growth prospects.



The initial draft of the 2018 state budget sets overall revenues at GEL 10.12 billion (GEL 9.48 billion in 2017) and expenditures at GEL 9.5 billion (GEL 9.12 billion in 2017).



The government expects GEL 9.47 billion in tax revenues next year, up by GEL 650 million from this years figure. Revenues from grants will decrease by GEL 19 million and amount to GEL 265 million; other revenues will remain unchanged at GEL 385 million.



The government projects 4.5% economic growth next year. This year governments forecast for economic growth stands at 4%; economy grew 4.7% in the second quarter of 2017.



Budgetary parameters in the initial draft are tentative and are expected to be revised in the process of discussions by the Parliament.



Breakdown of funding per ministry in the initial draft is as follows:



Ministry of Healthcare and Social Protection - GEL 3.52 billion (up by GEL 111.2 million compared to the 2017 budget). 2.46 billion from the total amount will be spent on social protection and pensions provision; GEL 982.8 million on healthcare programs; GEL 25 million on medical facilities update.



Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure - GEL 1.83 billion (GEL 1.25 billion in 2017); 70% of the funding will be spent on road infrastructure projects;



Ministry of Education and Science - GEL 1.178 billion (up by GEL 62.6 million compared to 2017). Almost 60% of the funding will be spent on general education projects;



Ministry of Agriculture - GEL 266 million (up by GEL 8 million compared to 2017); GEL 45 million from the total amount will be spent on agriculture loans;



Ministry of Economy - GEL 253.8 million (down by GEL 116 million compared to 2017);



Ministry of Defense - GEL 702 million (down from GEL 748 million in 2017);



Ministry of Internal Affairs - GEL 605 million (up from GEL 585 million in 2017). The surplus amount will be spent on purchasing firefighting and rescue equipment;



Ministry of Penitentiary - GEL 145 million (up by GEL 5.9 million compared to 2017);



Ministry of Energy - GEL 131 million (down by GEL 1.3 million compared to 2017); GEL 30 million will be spent on gas connection works;



Ministry of Foreign Affairs - GEL 114 million (up by GEL 4 million compared to 2017);



Ministry of Culture - GEL 116.5 million (up by GEL 17 million compared to 2017);



Ministry of Justice - GEL 62 million (the funding will remain almost unchanged);



Ministry of Finance - GEL 82.3 million;



Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons - GEL 96 million (up by GEL 11 million compared to 2017);



Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs - GEL 165.7 million (up by GEL 28.8 million compared to 2017);



Ministry of Environment Protection - GEL 43 million (up by GEL 7 million compared to 2017);



Office of the State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration - GEL 2.95 million;



Office of the State Minister for Reintegration and Civil Equality - GEL 1.25 million;



State Security Service - GEL 123 million (up by GEL 5 million compared to 2017).



According to the initial draft, funding for the Parliament and the Government administrations is set at GEL 52 million and 16.5 million, respectively - same as this year; funding for the Presidents administration will also remain unchanged at GEL 9.8 million and the Presidents reserve fund will receive GEL 5 million, same as this year. Funding for the State Audit Service will also remain unchanged at GEL 14.5 million. The Governments reserve fund will increase by GEL 10 million and amount to GEL 50 million.



Funding for the Central Election Commission will increase by GEL 7 million, narrowly exceeding GEL 67 million. More than GEL 40 million from the amount will be spent on conducting the presidential elections.



Funding for the judiciary will increase insignificantly: common courts will receive GEL 71.4 million (up by GEL 2.4 million compared to 2017); Supreme Court  GEL 8 million (up by GEL 300 000); Constitutional Court  GEL 4.15 million (up by GEL 40 000).



Funding for the Georgian Public Defenders Office will also increase to GEL 5.5 million (up by GEL 700 000).



Funding for the Georgian Public Broadcaster will increase by almost GEL 5.7 million and reach GEL 52.1 million in 2018.



Funding for the Georgian Orthodox Church will remain unchanged at GEL 25 million.



Funding for regional administrations will also remain unchanged next year (GEL 6.12 million); transfers to cities and municipalities will increase by almost GEL 45 million and amount to GEL 720 million.



The Government submitted the initial draft of the 2018 state budget to the Parliament on September 29. The Parliament launched committee discussions on October 9. The parliamentary factions, the parliamentary majority and minority groups discussed the initial draft on October 12.



Opposition lawmakers slammed the draft budget for keeping the amounts of social allowances and pension provisions unchanged.



According to the budgetary code of Georgia, the Parliament has to present its remarks to the Government before October 23. The Government will then submit the revised draft to the legislature (no later than November 5). (civil.ge)




@alextdaugherty

Marco Rubio isn't going anywhere.

The Florida Republican was in Arizona two weeks ago campaigning on behalf of Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, a conservative who faced a daunting primary challenge in 2018 after he refused to endorse Donald Trump during the 2016 election.

But Flake isn't sticking around.

On Tuesday, Flake became the second Senate Republican to announce that he won't week reelection in a matter of weeks following Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker. But Rubio said Wednesday that he has no plans of backing away from the Senate after deciding to run for reelection in 2016 a few months after losing to Trump in the GOP presidential primary.

"Jeff is a friend of mine," Rubio said. "We disagree on one fundamental issue, on Cuba, but have been able to do so very respectfully and one of the reasons why is because he's a respectful guy and because he's a quality person."

Rubio then went into a long comparison between the Roman Empire and America, arguing that the empire failed in part due to a Senate "that refused to address the issues of the day."

"A lot of bad things got ahead of them and they never fixed them," Rubio said.

He also blamed "the breakdown of societal norms and behaviors," while insisting that Trump is not solely responsible for the current political climate in America.

"Without signaling out an individual, I don't behave like the president, we're different people," Rubio said. "The president has a way of expressing himself and it appeals to a lot of very frustrated people. There's a populist backlash that's not only economic but cultural. I think the overreach of political correctness went way too far."

During his minutes-long comparison of Rome and America, Rubio stressed that Rome was successful because it was able to include many different groups of people in its empire, a shot at certain Republicans who want to drastically reduce legal immigration.

"If the ethnic Italians said, 'No, Rome is only for ethnic Italians' the empire would have never held on,'" Rubio said.

Rubio argued that his willingness to work with Trump on issues like Venezuela and Cuba gives him ability to positively influence policy changes, and that simply criticizing the president isn't a productive way to govern.

"I have disagreements with the White House and I have been able to address some of them privately and a couple of them more publicly, whether it was the initial response in Puerto Rico or some of the foreign policy issues in different parts of the world," Rubio said. "But my view is this: 95 percent of what is going to happen to me today, I cannot control. What I can control is how I react to what happens. And what Ive chosen to do more than ever is focus like a laser on the things that I can control and get done."

Rubio also made a comment on Twitter, the President's chosen medium of communication.
We may not know how to live with wildfire, but the question wont go away for lack of answers.

A panel of experts from insurance agents to national forest supervisors and fire ecologists agreed that people in the forested West need to make choices about how much smoke they can stand, how much work theyre willing to do, and what theyre willing to lose for the opportunity to live in a beautiful landscape. The gathering, put on by TreeSource.org, drew more than 100 people to the University of Montana on Tuesday night.

The ecology just is, UM fire ecologist Phil Higuera answered to the question is there too much fire ecologically or socially? You may lose some of the things youre used to. Is that good or bad? Its the humans that value whats out there.

But the ecology is changing, panelists agreed. This summer, Western Montana experienced possibly its worst fire year on record in terms of smoke intensity and length of fire activity. The dry conditions and fuel buildups that contributed to that record-setting season look likely to persist as the climate gets hotter and drier. And they amplify past conditions humans set up for themselves.

Remember that 100 years of fire exclusion is a form of active management, U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Manager Colin Hardy said. Dont be in denial that were mitigating deliberate choices from before.

That presents some hard choices for people who want to build houses in forests or communities in valleys with poor air circulation. The Rice Ridge and Liberty fires around Seeley Lake poured unprecedented levels of smoke pollution into peoples lungs and livelihoods all summer. Farmers Insurance Agent Emily Rindal said it affected more than just the tourism business.

The evacuation warnings affected 1,090 residences, Rindal said. It left everyone feeling distress, anxiety, fear, anger  a lot of people were just always short-tempered.

And because the fire threatened so much of the community, no insurance companies would write policies while conditions remained extreme. That meant no one could buy or sell property for weeks.

Air quality was the worst in Missoula County since we started counting, Missoula County Air Quality Specialist Sarah Coefield said. But it wasnt just the flames on the horizon: Coefield showed satellite images of fires in California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho all contributing to the bad summer air.

That smoke problem can be mitigated by prescribed burning and thinning activities. But those must be carefully timed in spring and fall when conditions limit fire spread. UM air quality chemist Bob Yokelson said prescribed fires burn 17 times less pollution per acre than wildfires do. But Coefield added that public land managers often lack the funding to prepare such treatments or light them when air conditions are favorable.

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Supervisor Bill Avey noted that his agency has lost 40 percent of its non-fire personnel since 2000. While it has boosted some of its firefighting capacity in the same time, its nevertheless limited in what kind of prevention work it can do without those resources.

Fire has always been here, Avey said. Were the ones that have come.
A Democratic congressman on Tuesday called for an investigation into a $300 million contract awarded to a small company based in Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's hometown of Whitefish.

A company spokesperson for Whitefish Energy Holdings said the company would be happy to answer any questions Congress may have.

Its unclear what they think the issues are or what their jurisdiction is, but we would certainly be cooperative, said Whitefish Energy spokesman Chris Chiames.

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority awarded the contract to Whitefish Energy Holdings to help crews restore transmission and distribution lines damaged or destroyed during Hurricane Maria.

At the time, the company only had two employees and its largest federal contract had been a $1.3 million deal to replace and upgrade parts of a 4.8 mile transmission line in Arizona.

Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, senior Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, said Congress "needs to understand why the Whitefish contract was awarded and whether other, more cost-effective options were available."

Rep. Greg Gianforte of Montana serves on the same committee. His press secretary directed questions Tuesday to the committee's staff.

Chaimes said the company already had a connection with PREPA before the hurricane struck on Sept. 20.

Whitefish CEO Andy Techmanski visited Puerto Rico in late summer while on vacation and established contact with PREPA and discussed potential future work, Chiames said. When Maria struck, Whitefish was one of the companies that power authority officials were able to reach by satellite phone.

"We got here quicker than anybody else and we built a plan that PREPA had confidence in," Chiames said in telephone interview.

The companys business model is to ramp up quickly when it earns a contract.

At this point, Chiames said the company has 300 people working in Puerto Rico. Its numbers are growing by about 10 to 20 a day as workers obtain the necessary clearances to begin working in the U.S. territory.

Our goal is 1,000-plus, Chiames said. How fast that occurs depends on a number of factors. We have 100 in the queue to come online.  There is a steady stream of interest.

The company has been tasked with rebuilding six transmission lines that go from the southern end of the island, where most of the power generation capabilities are located, to the north where the industrial and population centers are found.

Crews are working in difficult and rugged terrain and face challenges getting the necessary equipment to the sites.

Many times we are first on the scene to assess the damage, Chiames said. We have had to revise what needs to be done completely once we actually see it.

Ricardo Ramos, director of Puerto Rico's power authority, said the government has a $300 million contract with Whitefish and a separate $200 million contract with Oklahoma-based Cobra Acquisitions after evaluating up to six companies for the job.

Whitefish was one of two companies on the government's shortlist, Ramos said. The other company was requiring a $25 million down payment, given the power authority's troubled finances. PREPA filed for bankruptcy in July and has put off badly needed maintenance for years. It just finished dealing with outages from Hurricane Irma in early September.

Whitefish is providing hotel rooms for it workers and brought its own materials, Ramos said.

"They're doing an excellent job," he said.

The Interior Department said Zinke, a former Montana congressman, played no role in the contract award. Zinke's son had a summer job at a Whitefish construction site.

"Neither the secretary nor anyone in his office have taken any meetings or action on behalf of this company," the department said in a statement.

Zinke knows Techmanski "because they both live in a small town where everyone knows everyone," the statement said.

Grijalva said lawmakers also need to know why the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Army Corps of Engineers and public sector utilities "failed in Puerto Rico to conduct the disaster-response planning they carried out ahead of other disasters this year" in Texas, Florida and other states.

In a briefing last week, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite said responding to the hurricanes on the island and mainland were completely different paradigms.

On the mainland, Semonite said power companies can call on neighboring states to help respond with hundreds of crews following a hurricane. That wasnt possible on Puerto Rico.

Semonite said it could take nearly a year for the Corps, working in concert with PREPA, to fully restore power to all the islands inhabitants.

The Corps of Engineers has spent or committed about $1.1 billion in funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including a recent $240 million contract to Fluor Corp. for work on power restoration. Semonite said the eventual cost of the Fluor contract could reach $1.3 billion.

Chiames said Whitefish Energys contract is with PREPA.

Whitefish Energy was formed in 2015 by Techmanski, who had more than 20 years experience in the electrical field in the West.

Techmanski told the Flathead Beacon he hoped to build a transformer manufacturing plant on the former site of the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. in partnership with a Brazilian firm. But the deal had not materialized because Whitefish needed up to $20 million in orders to make it happen.

NBC Montana reported Oct. 1 that Techmanski had asked Zinke for help in getting personnel and equipment to Puerto Rico.

Chiames confirmed that to the Washington Post.

Once the company got the go-ahead from PREPA on September 26 to begin work, company executives did reach out to contacts in case they could help expedite getting qualified linesmen to the island, he said.

But he took issue with the Post's characterization of the $300 million contract with Whitefish as unusual.

"We're here. We have a good-sized workforce and we're building a bigger one," Chiames said. "We're doing work while others are still trying to figure out how to get here. The Washington Post spent a week reporting that story and all they could come up with was allegations, but there's no proof of anything nor will there be because the work we secured was directly with PREPA.

"It didn't involve federal officials," he said. "We're not working for the federal government. We're working for PREPA."

This story contains information from the Associated Press.
The woman who, in a phone call to a radio show last week, said she would have shot the reporter who was assaulted by now-Rep. Greg Gianforte on the eve of his election has resigned her post with a Republican organization.

Gallatin County Republican Women said in a Facebook post Monday that Karen Marshall, who was vice president of programs for the group, had submitted a letter of resignation. She is also no longer listed as a member of the executive board on the group's website.

Marshall called into the radio program Voices of Montana last week when John Heenan, a Democrat running in the primary for Montana's seat in the U.S. House, was the guest.

Marshall told the show host and Heenan she "would have shot" Ben Jacobs, the Guardian reporter who was assaulted by then-candidate Greg Gianforte the day before his election.

Last May, Jacobs entered a room where Gianforte was about to conduct another interview, and began asking him questions.

If that kid had done to me what he did to Greg, I would have shot him, Marshall said on the program.

When contacted last week, Marshall hung up on a reporter, saying I don't really speak to reporters before the line went dead.

Gianforte strongly denounced Marshall's remarks last week.

Greg disagrees with those remarks, repudiates them and remains focused on being a strong voice for Montana in Washington," spokesman Travis Hall said.

Last May, on the eve of his election, Gianforte assaulted the reporter, Ben Jacobs of The Guardian. Jacobs recorded audio of the altercation in which Gianforte can be heard yelling Get the hell out of here.

Gianforte was charged with misdemeanor assault, to which he pleaded guilty. He performed community service as required. He also apologized to Jacobs, saying his "physical response to your legitimate question was unprofessional, unacceptable and unlawful." He also donated $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Marshall told Voices of Montana: That kid came on private property, came into a private building and went into a very private room that I would not even have gone into. It was a setup. A complete setup. He just pushed a little too hard.

The event was a picnic, to which several members of statewide media were invited. At the time of the assault, Gianforte was preparing to do an interview with Fox television reporters.
Members of our group, Public Land/Water Access Association, Inc., feel that State Land Board member Matt Rosendale torpedoed the Keogh Conservation Easement Proposal at the September Land Board meeting.

Three generations of the Keogh Ranch family, 10 miles north of Whitehall, have always allowed recreational use of their property and worked around the large numbers of elk, deer and antelope on their extensive ranch.

Although Rosendale did a thorough research of the easement proposal, in my opinion, he opposed the proposal for all the wrong reasons. The money that would be used for a portion of the easement would come from hunting license dollars within the Habitat for Montana program.

All groups at the hearing, including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Jefferson Valley Sportsmens Association, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, as well as others, were in favor of the proposal.

It appeared that Rosendales priorities cling to his background as a developer, as is sometimes all too typical of a new-to-Montana landowner. He also adheres to his party platform plank, which mandates transfer of public lands. The transfer of public lands in Montana to private ownership absolutely inhibits recreational opportunities.

Rosendale should understand that Montana recreationists are willing to pay to play and that Montanans want to keep their public lands in public hands. The Keogh Conservation Easement Proposal included access to adjoining Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands, so recreational uses would be available into perpetuity.

If the Keogh Conservation Easement would have been accepted by the Land Board, it would have protected key elk, deer and antelope habitat as well as water rights and existing agricultural uses forever. Now, existing and future generations of recreationists will be the biggest losers.
I am proud to be the digital projects librarian at the Montana Historical Society (MHS), working with local libraries and museums to digitize their local historic newspapers.

These types of projects make local history accessible to everyone, which is essential as we move further into the digital age. But cuts to the state budget put it all at risk.

Due to the initial state budget cuts, the section I worked in no longer exists. Digital Services, part of the Research Center, was responsible for setting up a digital preservation system. The percentage of digital photos, documents and government records is increasing  thats why a digital preservation system is important.

How many of you have tried to open an old file and failed? How many different versions of Microsoft Office have you used in the last 10 years? Do you remember WordPerfect? Digital preservation makes sure that the electronic records created today are still accessible in 10, 20, 30-plus years.

Now, as we fall further behind due to budget cuts, theres no one working on digital preservation and no money to fund it. I call on Montanas legislators to do the right thing: raise revenue and fund Montanas state services.

Natasha Hollenbach,

East Helena
Texas Weekly Gas

Texas, TX, October 23- Average retail gasoline prices in Texas have fallen 3.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.25/g yesterday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 13,114 gas outlets in Texas. This compares with the national average that has fallen 1.6 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.44/g, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.



Including the change in gas prices in Texas during the past week, prices yesterday were 21.6 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 19.4 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 12.0 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 22.2 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.



According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on October 23 in Texas have ranged widely over the last five years:

$2.03/g in 2016, $1.96/g in 2015, $2.87/g in 2014, $3.09/g in 2013 and $3.42/g in 2012.



Areas near Texas and their current gas price climate:

Midland Odessa- $2.44/g, down 3.6 cents per gallon from last week's $2.47/g.

San Antonio- $2.15/g, down 5.9 cents per gallon from last week's $2.20/g.

Austin- $2.25/g, down 5.8 cents per gallon from last week's $2.31/g.



"The national average gas price is lower for the sixth straight week, the longest such decline since the summer of 2016," said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "Perhaps even more wild is that the national average has now remained under $3 per gallon for nearly 3 years, or 1,087 days as the days of cheap oil have continued. While recent actions from OPEC may cause oil prices to hold above the key $50 per barrel level, there is no threat of a quick return to the $3 per gallon days. In fact, the national average may continue to decline for a few weeks before leveling off as gasoline inventories continue to heal after Harvey. The future isn't all roses, however- some areas of the Midwest have seen prices rise as refineries undergo seasonal maintenance and inventories in the region remain tight, keeping prices elevated. Regional hotspots like this may continue in the weeks ahead as gas stations come closer to fully passing along lower gas prices after Harvey and now become subject to new factors driving prices up and down."



GasBuddy.com.


Citizens Superfund meeting is Thursday

Citizen Technical Environmental Committee, a voluntary group that translates Buttes Superfund for the general public, will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Butte Archives, 17 W. Quartz St. to discuss waterfowl, the Montana Pole Plant and an upcoming health study. Details: 406-723-6247; online at ButteCTEC.org; Facebook CTECbutte; email, ButteCTEC@hotmail.com

Deadline Nov. 30 for fisheries grant

The winter deadline to apply for a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Future Fisheries Improvement Program grant is Nov. 30.

The program's goal is to restore rivers, streams, and lakes to improve wild fish habitat. Each project is assessed by an independent review panel and final funding decisions are made by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.

The application and more information about the program can be found at fwp.mt.gov/fishing or call FWP at 406-444-2432.

Applications are due on or before 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 30 and should be sent electronically to mmcgree@mt.gov. Paper applications can be sent to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Fisheries Habitat Bureau, Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.

Birthday ball planned Nov. 10

The U.S. Marine Corps League Detachment #724 will host the Marine Corps Birthday Ball Friday, Nov. 10, at the Copper King Convention Center, 4655 Harrison Ave.

Social hour starts at 6 p.m., with a ceremony at 6:30. Dinner is served at 7:15, with guest speaker, Lt. Col. Joseph Rogish. Music will be by Andy Larson. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by calling 406-835-2141.

Toastmasters list weekly winners

Lorri DePlazes was best speaker at this weeks Top O The Mornin Toastmasters meeting. There was a tie for best topic respondent between Mike Gribben and John Grill. Best evaluator was Joe McBride.

The next meeting will be held at 6:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 30, at Perkins.

Shelter lists September stats

Following are statistics from the Butte Animal Shelter, 699 Centennial Ave., for September. The information is provided by the shelter.

DOGS:

 Turned in by owners: 3

 Turned in by citizens: 7

 Picked up by animal control officer: 36

 Adopted: 9

 Reclaimed by their owners: 29

 Sent to rescue: 1

 Died/euthanized: 0

CATS:

 Turned in by owners: 5

 Turned in by citizens: 6

 Picked up by Animal Control officer: 37

 Adopted: 27

 Reclaimed by their owners: 5

 Sent to rescue: 3

 Died/euthanized: 9 (4 died; 5 euthanized)

Animal Control impounds listed

These animals have been picked up by Butte Animal Control. Details, call Chelsea Bailey Butte-Silver Bow Animal Shelter at 406-497-6528 or stop by 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Dog:

One-year-old male Lab cross, neutered, black and white, picked up Tuesday on the 2800 block of Locust St.

Cats:

Adult male shorthaired, white and apricot, picked up Oct. 19 on the 2200 block of Massachusetts

Four-week-old female shorthaired, black, picked up Oct. 18 on the 400 block of Granite
DEER LODGE  The 7th Annual Rocky Mountain Stockgrowers Association membership meeting and banquet will be held Saturday, Nov. 4, in Deer Lodge.

The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. at the Deer Lodge City Hall. Guest speakers will be Fred Staedler, retired Department of Natural Resources and Conservation land manager, who will talk about the DNRC/FWP land sale proposal on Spotted Dog Wildlife Management Area; and Abby St. Lawrence, an agriculture property rights attorney from Helena. The election of directors will be held.

The banquet will be held at the Elks Lodge. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m. with dinner served at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30. For tickets call Kim Skinner 581-1852 or Will Graveley 492-0049.

Rick Haines, owner of the Independent Ag Network with headquarters in Twin Falls, Idaho, will be the keynote speaker.

Luke Holland of Drummond, recipient of the 2017 Investment Heifer, will give a presentation.

A silent auction and live auction will be held. Proceeds support the RMSGA scholarship fund and educational programs.

Live auction items include a custom-made saddle, handcrafted wooden seat, and a longhorn skull.

To donate auction items, call 406-492-0049 or 406-693-9080.

 Pat Hansen
DEER LODGE  A proposed walking-biking trail along the former Milwaukee Road right-of-way between Garrison and Deer Lodge is moving closer to reality.

The Powell County Parks Board has an opportunity to purchase 107 acres, 7.5 miles, of the old rail bed from James Branning to convert into a trail for public use.

Carl Hamming, the countys planning director, said the trail would connect to the Grant-Kohrs Ranch trail system that is maintained by the National Park Service.

He explained the property was appraised at $160,000 and money for the purchase will come from the Natural Resource Damage (NRD) Program Upper Clark Fork River Aquatic and Terrestrial Resources Restoration Plans, 2016, Section 5.2.1 Recreational Enhancements in Injured Areas.

Hamming stressed that no taxpayer dollars would be used.

Public comments can be made until Nov. 3, by mail or email to: Carl Hamming, Powell County Planning Dept., 409 Missouri Ave-Suite 101, Deer Lodge, 59722 or chamming@powellcountymt.gov

The funding application and public comments will be presented to the NRD Advisory Committee in mid-November for approval.

Inspired by public support during development of the Arrowstone Park master plan in 2014-2015, as well as a survey conducted by the Deer Lodge Medical Center, a Trails Plan developed by the Parks Board and Trails Sub-committee was approved by the county commissioners in October 2016.

During the Arrowstone Park and Trails Plan processes, people said they wanted a trail system throughout the Deer Lodge Valley, especially near the Clark Fork River, and cited the potential of the old Milwaukee rail bed.

No trail system exists in the valley, but the proposed trail would create a new recreational opportunity for residents and visitors to enjoy the river and surrounding scenery.

The types of recreational use on the trail have not yet been determined, although non-motorized use is anticipated, Hamming said.

In addition to Grant-Kohrs Ranch, the Parks Board and Trails Subcommittee, support for the proposal has come from several groups and nonprofit organizations including the Anaconda Trails Group, City of Deer Lodge, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, George Grant Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Clark Fork Coalition.

If approved, Hamming said the county will work with Rock Creek Cattle Co. and other landowners along the trail to be good neighbors and to establish a minimally intrusive trail connector between Grant-Kohrs Ranch and the old Milwaukee Road rail line.
North Korea has exploded six nuclear bombs in its quest for military respect. Montanans pass that many well-tested nuclear missiles driving along Highway 89 between Augusta and Choteau.

Retired Ambassador to China Max Baucus doesnt think theres much chance the United States will use force to halt the Hermit Kingdoms atomic saber-rattling. But he does believe the world needs a resolution to Kim Jong-uns disruptive actions, and the United States should get busy.

Theres a real opportunity for President Trump to stop the tweets and the public statements, and privately sit down with the Chinese and say, Weve got a problem, Baucus said, a former U.S. senator from Montana. Hes your problem and hes our problem. Dont call Kim Little Rocket Man, and dont criticize China. Lets think this through here and talk like adults.

Baucus was in Missoula on Tuesday to address both local students and the Montana World Affairs Council on the latest North Korea developments. It was the second gathering in two weeks, following a World Affairs Council session that drew 225 people on Oct. 9.

Its important to remember this is a criminal regime, but a rational regime, with a clear set of strategic objectives, said Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea who spoke at the earlier session. Their foremost goal is survival. To stay in power, Kim needs nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles. But he also has to keep key elites happy. And to do that, the regime needs hard currency and resources. It extracts those resources primarily through illegal activities and exploiting its own people to the maximum.

That presents real challenges to negotiating a solution. Chinese officials in both government and academic circles say the debate lies only between the United States and North Korea, with the U.S. clinging to Cold War grievances when it should simply settle a peace treaty and move on.

Thats a standard line I heard constantly, Baucus said of his three years in Beijing as ambassador. They advocate a double freeze, where Kim freezes his missiles and the U.S. freezes military operations and deploying the THADD (missile defense) system. Frankly, its a clever dodge so the pressure is not on them. Thats a tactic for buying time, so they dont have to worry about pressuring Kim.

North Korea has its own Iron Dome missile defense system, paid for by the Chinese. By placing most of its nuclear bomb development activity next to the Yalu River border, the North Koreans ensured that any attempted strike on their facilities would be indistinguishable from a preemptive attack on China, to which China would respond with equal force.

But the Chinese do need to worry about Kims world relations for several reasons. For one, a collapse of North Korea as a state would send a flood of refugees into China. If the United States cant stop the nuclear bomb development in North Korea, then Japan, South Korea and other Asian states may feel the need to build their own nuclear arsenals. And if the Korean Peninsula were to reunify, would it do so under a Chinese-aligned North Korean leadership or a U.S.-aligned South Korea leadership?

We need to start talking about the aftermath, Baucus said. Whats the peninsula going to look like if we can reach a deal? Weve got to put different things on the table that right now arent talked about. If we do that, well find a resolution.

Scarlatoiu said thats where human rights might play a strong role. While some nations might waffle about losing North Korean business through international sanctions, they have less wiggle room to ignore the conditions Kim has imposed on his own population.

These are fellow human beings brutalized by their own regime, Scarlatoiu said. Confronting that is legally the right thing to do. Following the two great wars of the 20th century, weve had a system of international laws and regulations to protect the individual human being. North Korea cannot be an exception.

Baucus added that allowing Kims nuclear blackmail to continue wasnt just a war issue. Establishing North Korea as an unstoppable bully would have economic consequences throughout Asia.

Down the road if Kim knows theres going to be no regime change, when hes developed all this (nuclear) stuff, hell be in a position to talk to other countries about his economic health with his hole-card, Baucus said. He will want them to help his country as long as he still has his nuclear capability. The answer is China has to be involved.
A Frenchtown music teacher has been charged with misdemeanor sexual assault in Missoula County Justice Court for allegedly fondling and attempting to kiss one of his female students, who is a minor.

According to an affidavit filed Monday, the case involved one of Troy Bashor's student aides, which prosecutors say gave him the opportunity to interact with her outside the classroom setting.

Frenchtown School District Superintendent Randy Cline said the school district learned of the charges Tuesday and that they were based on allegations from a "former" student. Cline confirmed the girl is no longer a student at Frenchtown.

"In the best interests of the Frenchtown School community, Mr. Bashor will be on leave with pay indefinitely," Cline said. "During this time, he will not perform any duties on behalf of the District."

The student reported that Bashor has been touchy in the past with her and other female students, according to the court documents.

She told prosecutors that several times, during school hours, Bashor put his hand on her behind over her clothes. She also told them Bashor had previously lifted up her shirt and touched her belly button during school hours, according to the affidavit.

At one point, she allegedly told Bashor she was interested in becoming a massage therapist and Bashor offered to teach her specific techniques, even demonstrating some. The victim said that once, Bashor pulled her onto his lap while she was proofreading his emails and that when she abruptly got off, he said, My wife will be here soon anyways and Im sure she wouldnt like that.

The student said that on Dec. 20, 2016, she and another student were in the theater during the school day helping Bashor take down a set from a play. She was trying to hang a curtain on the stage when, she said, Bashor approached her and placed his hand on her butt.

She moved away and the other student left the theater. At that point, she said, Bashor followed her and tried to hug her. She pulled away, but Bashor allegedly grabbed her arms and flung them over his shoulders. She said Bashor then stuck his hands up the girls shirt and moved his hands toward her breast, according to the affidavit.

She said she pulled away, but Bashor advanced toward her with his eyes closed, his mouth open and head tilted in attempt to kiss her, according to the affidavit. She said she jumped back to avoid this contact, at which point Bashor said, Oh, that was awkward. The other student then returned to the room.

The Missoula County Sheriff's Office was notified by the Child Abuse Hotline on Jan. 11 that it had information indicating a Frenchtown High School student had been sexually abused by Bashor.

A Missoula County Sheriffs deputy spoke with Bashor, who denied touching the student.

The crime is punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a $500 fine.

Little has been known publicly about the case since early April, when the Missoula County Attorneys Office sent the file back to the sheriffs detective, asking for further investigation.

In March, a student at Frenchtown High School was granted an order of protection against Bashor by Justice of the Peace Landee Holloway after the girl reported he inappropriately touched and molested her. The order of protection lists sexual assault as its basis.

In her request for the order of protection, the student described several incidents in which Bashor allegedly touched her in ways  including sliding his hands under her shirt and into her pants  that made her so uncomfortable that she pulled away from him.

The student said she wanted to be in school but feels "unsafe." She described feeling anxious and nauseous when she sees him, according to the protection order.

Bashor, who teaches music to grades five through 12, has been at the school since the order of protection was put in place. Under its limitations he was able to continue to work, but could not approach the girl.

A second girl told school officials Bashor has touched her inappropriately over the course of three school years.

At the start of the year, after learning of the girls allegations, Frenchtown School District conducted an internal Title IX investigation that ended with Bashor being suspended for three days.

Based on his own admissions and the statements of the students filing complaints, as well as several witnesses, Mr. Bashor has broken several professional boundaries with female students, said a report summarizing the districts investigation.

Cline said in the spring that not all of the girls allegations were brought to the districts attention during the investigation.

In early 2016 another Frenchtown teacher, Michael Botsford, was charged with endangering the welfare of children, a misdemeanor, for exchanging thousands of text messages  including ones that were sexual  with a student. Botsford resigned from the school after being put on leave in April 2015, around the same time that a criminal investigation into his conduct began. He eventually pleaded guilty and received a six-month suspended sentence.
HILLSBORO, Ore.  Authorities say someone stole more than $300,000 worth of merchandise from two vendors who attended the Portland Regional Gem & Mineral Show.

Hillsboro police Lt. Henry Reimann said Tuesday that Randy and Katie Gneiting of Columbus, Montana, reported the theft Oct. 15. It happened after they left the show at the Washington County Fairgrounds and grabbed a bite to eat at a McDonald's in Hillsboro.

Reimann says the couple sat at a window so they could watch their Ford Expedition. But they missed the thieves who acted quickly. Reimann says it's apparent they knew exactly what they wanted and where to find it.

The thieves removed heavy aluminum cases that contained gems and jewelry.

Surveillance video released Tuesday shows the suspect vehicle to be a gray Dodge Journey.
Veterans from around the state expressed frustration over the Veterans Choice program, meant to increase access to health care, during a listening session in Helena on Monday night.

Nearly 50 veterans came to American Legion Post No. 2 to talk about their experiences with Veterans Affairs Department health care. The town hall is one of about a dozen the Legion will hold around the country this year to gather feedback to share with state congressional delegations and VA officials.

That Choice is broke, broke, broke, said veteran Tom Johnson, who said he was employed by the VA for more than three decades. The VA has gone downhill drastically in the last eight years.

Johnson, like many others who spoke, had conflicting views about Fort Harrison, the VA's medical center in Helena. Johnson said while he has nothing but accolades and applause for most of the care hes received, he also has concerns about the direction the VA is going.

Johnson said he spends time at the VA at least once a month, drinking coffee with the staff and visiting with patients.

Overall, for the most part those patients have nothing but praise for the hospital out there, the medical care theyre receiving. But on the downside, trying to get in for appointments, scheduling, administration stuff  it isnt working.

Karen Semple said her husband, who is 100 percent disabled, had a serious accident recently and went to the VA, where several of his doctors were veterans.

It made all the difference in the world how he was treated, she said. That is a fantastic connection you cant always get in the civilian world.

She said she was frustrated with the Choice program because it makes it less likely veterans will have fellow veterans as their doctors.

Thats what bothers me about this Choice stuff and getting funnelled to civilian doctors, she said. This is really important to us to not get funnelled to the civilian world where people do not understand your mentality because you are a veteran. Theyre civilians. Theyre clueless.

Don Paul said the Choice program has been a disaster. After having some problems with his throat, he was told he needed to see an ear, nose and throat doctor. He went through a maddening process to schedule an appointment and get an authorization, which at one point was canceled because his appointment was not scheduled quickly enough.

He was then told there was not a specialist in the program locally and he would need to travel to Salt Lake City, only to later meet one in his own neighborhood who said he participated in the Choice program.

I ended up calling it the last Choice instead of the first Choice, he said.

Kelly Ackerman, a service officer with the Legion, said the Choice program has not worked as effectively in Montana as more populated areas.

The Choice program was passed by Congress in 2014 in an effort to reduce wait times for veterans at VA facilities. Its goal was to allow veterans who live more than 40 miles away from the nearest VA clinic or who are unable to get appointments in a reasonable time frame to get treatment at a non-VA facility.

It didnt work in a rural state, Ackerman said.

She told those gathered that Montana is a pilot site for an alternative to Choice, a program called Care. It stands for Coordinated Access, Rewarding Experience. Ackerman said the program puts scheduling, something many who spoke Monday were frustrated with, back in the hands of the VA.

Other frustrations veterans discussed included hassles with getting emergency care paid for at non-VA facilities.

James Heffernan, who told the crowd hes 80-some years old, went to a hospital out of state last May when he was experiencing chest pains and has struggled to get his claims processed.

He held several letters as he spoke, all with conflicting information from the VA about billing.

It was convoluted, frustrating and confusing all the way around, Heffernan said.

Ackerman said network authorizations can get get really messy, a statement that got head nods from many in the crowd.

Steve Combes, from Kalispell, had a slew of appointments with the VA in town, including two on the day of the meeting. He said he recently had to wait 92 days to be reimbursed for his mileage to appointments.

It didnt hurt me at all, but there are many veterans who have friends, neighbors, who have people that drive them over (from) Ekalaka, Plentywood and so forth. Why does it take so long?
Todays high school seniors, adult learners, and returning college students should take the necessary steps now, to be certain they have the money they need to pay for college next fall. Starting October 1, 2017, students, parents and caregivers can submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2018-2019 academic year. While next fall may seem like a long time from now, filing the FAFSA early  especially ahead of the December 1 priority deadline  is the first step to understanding resources for which students may qualify. Students who wait, or worse, choose not to file the FAFSA, risk leaving money on the table that could help make college an affordable reality.

Often, people think that they may not qualify for financial assistance to pay for college. Almost everyone is eligible for some type of financial aid, which includes grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study opportunities. Many colleges use the FAFSA to award institutional scholarships available only to students who attend their specific school. Without filing the FAFSA, you may be eliminated from consideration for some of these funds. Filing the FAFSA does not commit students to any particular school, nor does it commit them to any particular funding source. One thing is for certain  if you dont fill out the FAFSA, you have a limited picture of the resources available to help you pay for college.

As part of our commitment to helping Montana students pursue higher education, Reach Higher Montana collaborates with high schools and colleges throughout Montana to provide hands-on, individual assistance completing the FAFSA. To find a FAFSA event near you, check out our College Goal calendar on our website, www.ReachHigherMontana.org. If theres not an event in your community, or if you are unable to attend an event, our knowledgeable advisors provide assistance completing the FAFSA at absolutely no cost to you. Financial aid professionals at your local college, or the college you hope to attend, are also helpful allies in your pursuit to fund your education. Finally, students, parents and caregivers can text FAFSAHelp to 41411 to receive free text messages with reminders and tips on FAFSA completion.

Completing the FAFSA is probably simpler and faster than you might think. The process has been significantly simplified, and since your FAFSA will be calculated using tax information from 2016, you can have your tax information imported into your FAFSA with the click of a button. Using this feature  the IRS Data Retrieval Tool  ensures that the correct information from your taxes is entered into the correct space on your FAFSA. This means fewer mistakes and a faster response on the resources for which you qualify. Make sure that you use fafsa.gov to complete your FAFSA, as other sites crop up each year that are not the federal site, and instead, charge fees for FAFSA completion.

Ready to get started? The first step to completing the FAFSA is for the student and at least one parent to obtain their Federal Student Aid Identification (FSA ID). This ID is used to verify identity and electronically sign the FAFSA, and its a good idea to have this step completed in advance of sitting down to do the FAFSA. Go to studentaid.gov/FSAID to get yours.

College can be an exciting time for both students and parents. As you continue your journey to the first day of college, know that nonprofit Reach Higher Montana is here to help you achieve your higher education goals.
Journalism dean's decision set poor example

The University of Montana's Journalism School isn't what it used to be.

When I was an undergrad, Dean Nate Blumberg, a man of strong liberal convictions, invited a far-right newspaper columnist named Westbrook Pegler to speak to his senior seminar. Later, he invited Norman Cousins, a leading liberal activist, to speak to the same class.

Blumberg did not ask his students if either man's appearance would offend them. Blumberg was dean of his department, a professor and a scholar. He was there to teach his students to open their minds, to listen to different opinions and to be fair-minded journalists. Pegler, Cousins and the then-editor of The New York Times all spoke to us and all were received cordially by the students.

Of all the "diversities" people seek to "celebrate" in a university setting, diversity of thought and opinion are foremost. Critical thinking and intellectualism are impossible in their absence. The present dean of the J-School doesn't understand that. His decision regarding speaker Mike Adams sets the worst possible example for aspiring journalists.

 Jeff Gibson, Butte
MUSCATINE  This past week, a delegation from China donated a stack of more than 30 books to Musser Library in downtown Muscatine.

The books were presented as part of the Window of Shanghai, a cultural exchange program that donates books about China to overseas readers. The group of six represented the Shanghai Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

"They are used primarily for people to learn about China and all the various aspects of China," Pam Collins, director of Musser Library, said. "Really it comes down to what people come in looking for. Maybe you come in looking for new types of businesses. Or maybe the art or decor or food books catch your eye. The library might point you might get pointed to the Windows of Shanghai section."

According to Robert Fiedler, assistant director of Mussser Library, this exchange has been going on since 2015.

Since then, theyve given us 538 books, Fiedler said. Its a really unique project in that there are a select group of libraries that get asked to be a part of the program. This, I believe, is a continuation of that (initial connection).

Fiedler said that the exchanges such as the book swap are ways of exchanging culture with Muscatine residents.

The whole point of (the Window of Shanghai) is to bridge the cultural divide between China and the United States and all the places they give these books, Fiedler said. The idea is that it enriches the exchange between cultures as a bridge between different places. In a nutshell, its all about strengthening the bonds between China and Muscatine.

Collins said the collection began with a large gift of 500 books to Musser from the Windows of Shanghai program. Since then, delegations have brought new books that supplement and update the section.

"I think one of the most amazing things is the beauty of the collection," Collins said. "The books are absolutely packed with illustrations and photos."

She added some of the books may not be available in English, but people can "just go down and absorb the beauty of the books."

Because of the expense of many of the books in the collection, it is only by virtue of their donation that Muscatine natives have access to them through the library.

"We dont buy a lot of those (coffee table) books because they are so expensive," Collins said. "People spend that money because you can lose yourself in them. You pick up one of them and it is like seeing the soul of China."

Collins said the books offer a vantage point that looks past flags and borders and into something more human.

"I think they really teach you something about the culture of China," Collins said. "When you meet someone from China there is a whole depth of culture under all of us and that isnt easily obtained without this material."
MUSCATINE  Last week, a United States District Court judge sentenced three Muscatine residents to prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Danielle Graves, 35, received 135 months in prison; Nathan Wagner, 36, was sentenced to 300 months in prison; Charles Rhoades, 39, received 106 months in prison. Graves and Rhoades were ordered to serve three years of supervised release following their imprisonment, while Wagner will serve five years of supervised release, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Marc Krickbaum.

On May 31, Rhoades pleaded guilty to methamphetamine conspiracy arising from transportation of the drug from Des Moines to Muscatine, and distribution in southeast Iowa. According to the plea agreement, Rhoades distributed seven grams of methamphetamine and also possessed more than 100 grams, with the intent to distribute in Nichols.

On June 2, Graves and Wagner both pleaded guilty to similar charges, for distributing around 30 pounds of methamphetamine from Des Moines to Muscatine, according to a news release.

The case was investigated by the Muscatine County Drug Task Force, the Des Moines Police Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa, according to a news release.

Sarah Ritter
MUSCATINE  In 1955, residents and students planted a tree and placed a plaque in Muscatine, honoring the United Nations' 10th anniversary. After outliving its home at Muscatine City Hall, the tree was eventually replaced, and today, the plaque's worn writing is growing increasingly more difficult to read.

Cindi Kautz, however, said Tuesday on United Nations Day that the U.N.'s message and values are still present throughout all of Muscatine.

"This small community surprisingly has large international ties," Kautz said. "(We have ties) through business, sister cities, student exchanges. I think it's exceptional for the size of our community."

While the localization of United Nations Day has changed over the past 70 years, Kautz wants the U.N. Committee to always have a presence in Muscatine.

"People may be critical of the U.N., but not of the concept, the U.N.'s values, the work they do in the world," she said. "Although it's not a perfect organization, they are a force for global good."

At the end of World War II, the U.N. was formed on Oct. 24, 1945, in a worldwide effort to prevent another conflict of the same scale. In Muscatine, city leaders and residents traveled to the U.N. headquarters in New York, and Muscatine High School students formed their own U.N. Club.

Then led by the Muscatine mayor, Kautz said the local group organized to spread awareness about the U.N.'s mission of peace and advocacy for human rights.

A major celebration was held on the 10th anniversary of the U.N., in which 10-year-old children placed scoops of dirt from countries around the world on the lawn of City Hall, planting the U.N. Tree, according to a 1955 article from the Muscatine Journal. The MHS Brass Choir, Boy Scouts, VFW, participated in the ceremony, while elementary schools held presentations and folk dances to commemorate the day.

Over the years, the group has passed out posters and informational fliers at local schools and designated a person at each grade school to teach students about world affairs. Kautz said late Muscatine activist and long-time teacher, Catherine Miller led the initiative.

"She was the early leader and brought Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF to Muscatine," Kautz said. "She was quite a force to be reckoned with."
Sen. Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican, announced Tuesday he would not run for re-election in 2018, condemning in a speech aimed at President Donald Trump the "flagrant disregard of truth and decency" Flake says is undermining American democracy.
The desire to protect young people from offensive ideas and words is an understandable instinct. In the context of bullying, it is a requirement. In the context of great literature, it is nearly always mistaken.

The distinction between the language of the schoolyard and the language of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" has somehow been lost on the Biloxi, Mississippi, school board, which recently decided to remove the book from the eighth-grade curriculum. "There is some language in the book that makes people uncomfortable," explained Kenny Holloway, the vice president of the board.

The purpose of Lee's classic, of course, is to make people uncomfortable with racial prejudice. To do so, it reflects the language employed by bigots in the segregated South, including the N-word. Given a desire to present the repulsive reality of racism, it could hardly do otherwise.

But are the eighth-graders talking and giggling in the back row ready to handle that reality? Some, surely, are not. How, then, are children adequately prepared? For generations of students, an essential part of that preparation has been the reading of "To Kill a Mockingbird," which is an education in empathy.

The book may be narrated by a white child, but its whole purpose is to place the reader in the shoes of an unjustly accused black man -- to provoke anger at a legal system that betrays him and disgust with a social system that dehumanizes him. One child, Dill, nearly vomits in reaction to the sick parody of justice he sees in the courtroom. We are intended to feel the same nausea.

The themes of the book -- social stratification, the sexual subtext of racism, the institutionalization of injustice -- are suited to adults. But Lee attempted to capture and encourage the pre-cynical outrage of children toward the horrors of the adult world. This is exactly what we would hope an educated eighth-grader to feel.

Some of the best literature for children and young adults encourages moral reflection on the cruel reality created by adults. Read "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes," as I did with my son. It is the story of a 12-year-old Japanese girl who develops leukemia as a result of the Hiroshima atom bomb. In order to be granted a wish, she resolves to fold 1,000 origami cranes, reaching 644 before she is too sick to continue. Her friends and family finish the task, and the cranes are buried with her.

Is it uncomfortable to consider that America took actions resulting in the irradiation of Japanese children? Is it hard to explain to a child? It should be.

Or consider the fine graphic novel "American Born Chinese," in which Danny, the Americanized, suburban child of Chinese immigrants, is embarrassed by the yearly arrival of his cousin Chin-Kee, who embodies every destructive Asian stereotype. In the book, Chin-Kee turns out to be the Monkey King, a deity who encourages Danny to embrace his true identity.

Was the exaggerated presentation of Asian stereotypes in the book uncomfortable for my biracial child? I should hope so. But it was placed within a moral story that rejects exclusion and encourages the acceptance of ethnic identity. Cutting out the offensive parts would have left the story powerless.

Our society has developed a deep confusion about the meaning of education. For some -- both the advocates of safe spaces and the banners of books -- the goal is the preservation of purity. They want to protect students and educational institutions from defilement by words and ideas they find offensive. It is more of a tendency than an ideology. The same pursuit of purity can motivate offended conservatives or offended liberals. "To Kill a Mockingbird" has been targeted, at various times, by both.

But education must mean more than the avoidance of offense. One purpose is surely to take the horrible, offensive things that populate reality and put them in a moral context -- to train our emotional and intellectual reactions to uncomfortable human failings. The greatest stories confront the worst of human nature with the best of the human spirit. We diminish their power by lowering the stakes.

This means that true education always involves risk -- particularly the risk of giving offense. But students are not defiled by the existence of terrible words and ideas. They are defiled by the acceptance or normalization of those words and ideas. Which is precisely what "To Kill a Mockingbird" -- and all true education -- sets out to prevent.
Last week, many Iowans showed up to an important hearing on Iowas new voter ID law to voice their opposition to it. But instead of listening to their concerns, Secretary of State Paul Pate shut out the 150 people who showed up. If youre the chief election officer of your state, you have two main jobs: make sure that every eligible voter can vote and that only eligible voters cast a ballot. The good secretaries of State also make the process as convenient as possible. That must not be Secretary Pates philosophy because in 2016, he was the only chief election official in the country to file a voter ID bill himself-- and then didnt even show voters the time of day at last weeks hearing.

The bill was HF 516, and it also cut Iowas early voting period by 11 days. Secretary Pates bill doesnt make sure people get to vote, nor does it strengthen our electoral system. Instead, it makes voting more bureaucratic and costs Iowa taxpayers more money. Nevertheless, the bill became law and thousands of Iowans who have been voting for decades may not be able to vote when the law takes effect in 2019.

I know most folks out there have an ID, but there are about 290,000 Iowa voters who dont have the identification required to vote under this bill. Theyre getting through life just fine without one, so why should they lose the right to vote if they dont want to get the government identification Iowa Republicans want them to have?

Overall, HF 516 shortens Iowas early voting period from 40 to 29 days and requires specific, state-issued photo ID at the polls, which has a vastly disproportionate effect on low income workers, seniors, rural voters, and people with disabilities. Secretary Pate decided he wanted to make voting even more inconvenient.

Who out there was clamoring for Iowa legislators to take away voting days besides Secretary Pate? No one. Certainly not elderly Iowans who arent able to drive anymore, and may not have a valid, state-issued drivers license. Thats why being forced to buy an ID to vote in elections once or twice a year is simply voter suppression. The financial and logistical barriers of voter ID laws mean that many people who have legally voted for years will be kept from voting in Iowa in upcoming elections.

Beyond that, voter ID laws are inconvenient, discriminatory, and purely partisan. In 2013, then-Secretary of State Matt Schultz admitted that the motivation to pass voter ID laws was political, and that passing voter ID laws was the first step to enacting a Republican policy agenda. With the passage of HF 516, Secretary of State Paul Pate and Iowa Republicans are taking that manipulative strategy in stride. State Representative Ken Rizers explanation for passing HF 516 sums it up: It is true that there isnt widespread voter fraud. But there is a perception that the system can be cheated. Thats one of the reasons for doing this. You read that right-- Republicans voted to stop people from voting because of perception, not reality.

So how does a policy that could stop 260,000 Iowans from voting gain enough traction to become law? The answer is misinformation. Secretary Pate was caught manipulating statistics on voting irregularities to try and build a better case for his undemocratic bill. His own staff tried to stop him, but he ignored them and misled the public in the name of politics anyway because Pate, like far too many other politicians across America, is trying to choose his voters instead of having voters elect him.

Besides being explicitly partisan and undermining the sanctity of our democracy, Iowas new law is expected to end up costing taxpayer money that could be used in much better ways. It is estimated that implementing Iowas voter ID law will cost at least $500,000 in the first year alone -- money that could be put towards fixing roads and funding schools, but instead is funding the obstacles that will keep many Iowans from voting.

Theres one thing that all voters, regardless of political party, can agree on: elections should be fair, accurate and secure. Thats why instead of stopping eligible voters from voting, Secretary Pate should focus on making it more convenient to vote. Iowa could become a leader in election security by implementing an automatic voter registration system -- a system where voters will be electronically registered to vote by state officials unless they choose to opt out. Automatic voter registration is one of the best ways to make sure that voter rolls remain accurate and as up-to-date as possible, and prevents people from being registered in two places at once.

Secretary Pate and Republicans in the Iowa legislature injected intense partisanship into the administration of elections. Politics should play out on the campaign trail, not in the voting booth, and elected officials should listen to their voters. Their actions were wrong, which is why Let America Vote is opening an office in Iowa to make them answer for their bad choices.
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 []
Douglas Frank Bernet

1924-2017

Douglas Frank Bernet was born January 16, 1924 in Winona, Minnesota. He met Shirley Ripp (born September 14, 1921, New Orleans, Louisiana), who became the love of his life. He described her as lovely, classy, helpful, the best of the best. They married on September 25, 1946.

Shirley and Douglas were made for each other. No two people could have been more compatible. They prospered together, took care of each other, and enjoyed life to the fullest in the company of so many friends and relatives.

Shirley's health was in decline for many years and she left this life on September 11, 2016, held by Douglas at her side.

Douglas was left in grief and loneliness. As with many great love stories, Douglas found it too difficult to be in this world without her. After a brief, unexpected illness, he passed away on May 23, 2017.

Shirley was interred at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery after her passing. Douglas went every week to take her flowers. He will be joining her there, in their final repose, on November 9, 2017 at 2:00pm.

Douglas will receive full Navy honors at the service. As was Douglas and Shirley's way, welcoming everyone with open arms, all are welcome to join. Please arrive at the cemetery by 1:30pm for the 2:00pm ceremony.

Douglas and Shirley always wanted to help people who need a leg up. To that end, donations in their honor can be made to Share the Care Napa Valley, PO Box 6863, Napa, CA 94581.
California regulators auditing Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s work in the field cited the company for late repairs and maintenance jobs far more frequently than any other electric utility in the state, according to documents made public in the wake of this month's deadly Wine Country fires.

But the utility, whose upkeep of its power lines and other equipment has come under intense scrutiny since the fires began, says the high numbers of late repairs reflect its effort to tackle a backlog of maintenance work -- not an ongoing safety problem.

In a series of audits conducted from 2013 through this year, safety experts with the California Public Utilities Commission examined PG&E's maintenance of its electricity distribution network -- its power poles, overhead lines and underground vaults -- in nine administrative districts covering the Bay Area. Each audit typically examined the previous five years of PG&E's operations in that district.

The most recent audit of PG&E's work in Sonoma County, conducted in 2015, found 3,527 maintenance and repair jobs that had been finished past their scheduled due dates. A 2013 audit of PG&E's North Bay division, which includes Marin and Napa counties, counted 9,520 repair or maintenance orders finished late and 3,270 still overdue.

The commission, whose auditing division is currently severely understaffed, counted more than 1,000 late repair or maintenance jobs in six of PG&E's nine Bay Area districts.

No other California utility, or utility division, was found to have more than 1,000 late corrective actions in audits the commission performed from 2013 through this year. Only the Sacramento Municipal Utility District came close, with 993 late repair or maintenance jobs cited in an audit this year.

While PG&E is by far the largest of California's electric utilities, covering roughly two-thirds of the state, other utilities have districts every bit as populous as PG&E's Bay Area districts.

While it may seem paradoxical, PG&E spokesman Keith Stephens said, the higher late-repair numbers were the result of a decision by the company, years ago, to do more maintenance and repair work, not less.

Starting in 2008 and 2009, around the time that regulators at the Public Utilities Commission were increasingly focused on maintenance work, the utility made a concerted effort to chip away at a backlog of safety-related upkeep and repair jobs in the field, Stephens said. PG&E conducted more such work than in the past and did not always finish it on schedule. But most of the tasks cited as overdue by the commission had been completed several years before the commission's auditors performed their reviews. In addition, some tasks had been canceled after the utility decided they weren't necessary.

"As we moved from more of a 'monitor only and fix when we can' process, we were much more focused on getting work done," Stephens said.

The utility was not fined or otherwise penalized for the late work, he said. Representatives of the California Public Utilities Commission did not respond to a request for comment on whether the regulatory agency considers the late repairs a safety concern.

Investigators with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, are looking at the possibility that power poles downed by fierce winds or electrical lines tangling with tree branches could have sparked the fires.

California's larger utility companies break their service territories into administrative districts -- PG&E has 19 -- and the utilities commission tries to audit each district once every five years. That schedule does not always hold. The commission's Electric Safety and Reliability Branch, which conducts the audits, reported early this year that it was seriously shorthanded, with 10 open positions on a staff that should have numbered 27.

Auditors review maintenance records for each district, then conduct spot checks of equipment in the field. They look to see whether the company's employees are conducting routine equipment inspections as often as they should. They also flag specific problems encountered in the field, such as utility poles not marked with the proper "high voltage" signs or overgrown with vegetation.

The 2015 audit of PG&E's Sonoma operations, for example, included spot-check inspections of PG&E equipment in Cazadero, Guerneville, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sonoma and Windsor. Problems found include one instance of vegetation growing too close to a power line, one of vegetation obstructing the climbing space on a pole and several instances of improperly installed guy wires, which help hold a pole in place.
LDoyle McManusast week, U.S.-backed forces in Syria expelled Islamic State from its self-proclaimed capital of Raqqah, a major victory after three years of fighting against the caliphate that once terrified much of the West. But there was strikingly little celebration. President Trump made no formal announcement of success. There was no banner declaring Mission Accomplished.

That was partly because the struggle against Islamic State is no longer the main event. The Trump administration has already declared a broader war in the Middle East, this time against Iran.

The (Iranian) regime remains the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism, Trump said Oct. 13. The longer we ignore a threat, the more dangerous that threat becomes. He said the United States will escalate its efforts _ political, economic and military _ to prevent Iran from expanding its influence across the Middle East.

Heres the problem: The Trump administration doesnt actually know how to accomplish that goal. Or if it does, its not telling anyone.

Although the White House released a New Strategy on Iran this month, the four-page document was mostly a laundry list of grievances against Tehran, with no clear description of consequences for alleged misbehavior.

There is no strategic plan, complained James F. Jeffrey, a former senior official in the George W. Bush administration, who has advised Trump aides. Theres no organizing principle.

Hes challenged Iran to a duel, but he hasnt gotten any pistols out, he said.

In Syria, Iran is projecting its power already. The Damascus government of Bashar Assad depends heavily on Iran for military and economic aid. And U.S. officials charge that most of the troops fighting for Assad in the Syrian civil war are Iranian-led proxy forces, not Syrian Army units.

Worse, Assad and his Iranian allies appear to be winning. The regime has gradually consolidated its control over most of western Syria, and now  amid the collapse of Islamic State  its moving into eastern Syria, too.

Last week, Iranian-backed government forces moved into Mayadeen, a town southeast of Raqqah that U.S.-backed rebels had hoped to seize. The area is important for two reasons: Its a crossing point on the Iraqi border, and its near an oil and gas field that is a major prize in the war.

At this point, the Trump administration faces a dilemma: Should it continue to supply training, weapons and air support to the Syrian rebels who took Raqqah, at the risk of clashes with government forces who not only have a friend in Iran, but also Russia?

It also needs to decide if it will keep hundreds of U.S. advisors inside Syria. The rebels, unsurprisingly, have said they hope the Americans will stay _ for decades to come, one spokesman said recently.

Pulling them out would mean withdrawing help from a force the United States organized, trained and  last week  praised for its valor in battle. And it would deprive the United States of a tool to help prevent the Assad regime and its Iranian allies from taking over the territory that the rebels now hold.

If youre serious about pushing back against Iran, you have to stay involved, said Frederic C. Hof, a former State Department official who now heads the Atlantic Councils Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. Otherwise, youre just standing by as the Assad regime, the people who created the vacuum that allowed IS to grow, come back.

But the advisers were deployed to help Syrian rebels in their fight against Islamic State, not in the civil war against the Assad regime.

Jeffrey, now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, suggested another alternative: a stronger U.S. alliance with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel and other regional powers to bolster the Syrian rebels and keep Iran out.

What we need to do is form an alliance to keep Iran from projecting its power further, he said. Thats not happening.

As before, Syria offers only unappetizing choices. The United States can keep its troops in the country, at the risk of enmeshing them in Syrias civil war. Or it can pull them out, which could mean acceding to increased Iranian influence  the problem Trump has promised to address.

The administration hasnt chosen its course. That may be the worst alternative of all: drifting ahead without a clear plan.

That, after all, is what happened in Iraq after an earlier military success, the U.S. conquest of Baghdad in 2003. Military officials coined a bittersweet term to describe the results. It was, they said, a catastrophic success.
The Atlas, Nuns/Partrick and Tubbs fires took a bite out of the countys rural housing stock.

Napa County wildfires damaged up to 1,115 structuresincluding 652 homes, of which 569 were destroyedthough a final tally has yet to be released.

All of those structures are outside of cities and inside the unincorporated county.

We lost 6 percent of (rural) housing in the last two weeks, county Planning, Building and Environmental Services Director David Morrison said.

Morrison announced those figures at Tuesdays Board of Supervisors meeting and said they came from Cal Fire. A wildfire damage count by the county on its website said just over 700 structures are too damaged to be used and 37 are so damaged that only limited use is safe.

Morrison said the county will work to reconcile its own tally by building inspectors with the tally by Cal Fire.

One reason for the difference is the county focused on housing, as opposed to such structures as barns. Also, the county focused on damage that rendered buildings unsafe to enter.

By any count, the county has tons of debris that needs to be hauled away. Owners of destroyed homes have the option of letting the government do the job at no cost to them or paying to do it themselves. The county is coordinating the effort with such agencies as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Those choosing the government option have until 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6 to submit a right-of-entry form to the county. The form requires homeowners to give the county any insurance money for debris removal.

Supervisor Diane Dillon said some homeowners might decide to hire a contractor and do the job themselves to save time. Then they might find out eight months from now that insurance wont cover the entire cost and the government removal option is gone.

Theres a lot of evaluation by property owners thats needed right now in weighing their options, Dillon said. Thats a very, very difficult process.

As of Tuesday, no one was allowed to haul off debris from ruined homes. The county is working with the Army Corps, the federal Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies on the cleanup standards. Morrison said the county hopes to release the standards within a couple of days.

We are trying to wind our way through the labyrinth of state and federal regulations, trying to understand what rules will be applied to homeowners and property owners wanting to rebuild in Napa, he said.

Dillon said state and federal officials are viewing the California wildfires as a bigger disaster in terms of structures destroyed than recent hurricane disasters.

This is a new thing for them to do, to basically be able to have enough people to respond to the seven counties in California that simultaneously had this destruction, she said.

Cal Fire estimates recent wildfires statewide have destroyed 8,400 structures. The Tubbs fire alone destroyed an estimated 5,400 structures, making it the most destructive wildfire in California history. Though it started near Calistoga, the fire wreaked most of its property destruction in Sonoma County.

The first phase in hauling off the debris from destroyed homes is dealing with hazardous waste amid the ash and ruins.

These are things like freon in a refrigerator, gasoline in a lawnmower, paint cans, oil cans, pesticides, cleaners, Morrison said.

Morrison said that U.S. EPA intends to inspect properties after hazard waste cleanup before the rest of the demolition work can go forward.

People wanting to remove debris themselves will have a contractor submit a work plan to the county. Plans will say how they will remove the debris, where they will take it, how they will transport it, how they will test the soil to ensure it is clean enough for reconstruction.

If they want to reuse the foundation, they must have an engineer inspect it to ensure its structurally sound and test soils underneath to make certain the sub-base is undamaged.

We do have people who want to move (forward) now, Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza said.

Morrison said the county wants people to be able to get back to normal as quickly as possible. But it must make certain a property is cleaned up appropriately so it doesnt pollute the environment or a neighboring property and that the foundation is sound.

If people can do that quickly and efficiently, were all for it, he said.

Pedroza said he understood the steps that must be taken.

We cant compromise the health of the community, he said.

Also Tuesday, the county worked on streamlining how fire victims can obtain county permits for rebuilding.

Morrison said the county will make things as simple and quick as possible for people who want to rebuild a similar home. Those who want to do such things such as double the size of their home might find things less streamlined.
Doubt: A Parable opens Nov. 1 in St. Helena

UpStage Napa Valley will open Doubt: A Parable on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at Grace Episcopal Church in St. Helena.

The play is directed by Sharie Renault, and performances will be Nov. 1-5 at Grace Episcopal Church and Nov. 8-19 at St. Helena Presbyterian Church. There are no Thursday performances.

A special performance to benefit the Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund will be 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Grace Episcopal Church.

The main characters are a priest, Father Flynn, played by Rob Barlow, and the school principal, Sister Aloysius, played Elaine Jennings. Danielle Devitt plays Sister James and Carlet Langford plays Mrs. Muller.

The story is set in 1964, a time when the United States was in mourning over the assassination of President Kennedy. Black Americans were organizing marches and protests to claim their Civil Rights. The Second Vatican Council opened and was charged with bringing spiritual renewal and reunion to the Catholic Church. It was a time when young men were being drafted and the country witnessed the beginnings of anti-war protests of the Vietnam War.

According to a press release, Doubt poses questions, challenges power structures, and drives a stake into the heart of smug virtue.

Tickets are $25 general admission and may be ordered by calling 341-3278 or online at upstagenapavalley.org.
County to aid fire rebuilding

Napa County supervisors on Tuesday discussed what regulations they might ease for people who lost homes and businesses to the recent wildfires and want to rebuild.

The Atlas, Nuns and Tubbs fires destroyed or severely damaged more than 700 structures in the county, ranging from homes to second units to wineries to barns, records show. Another 37 suffered damaged that limits their use. All are in the unincorporated county and within the jurisdiction of county government.

Supervisors started the rebuilding conversation last week.

Lets try to streamline as much as we can, Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza said.

The result is several proposed exceptions to county rules. These rebuilding exceptions would apply not only to victims of the recent fires, but to victims of future county-declared disasters, whether fire, flood or earthquake.

A big need for people with fire-damaged homes is finding a place to live. One proposal would allow them to place on their lots recreational vehicles or mobile homes without permanent foundations. Owners could stay there for a year and perhaps longer if they have a rebuilding application on file with the county.

First, though, they would have to receive a county building permit.

Reconnections to municipal electric, water, sewer, natural gas and propane systems would be allowed with temporary fittings, if the utility approves. The county would issue a special inspection permit to ensure the connections are safe.
A committee that will play a key role in evaluating St. Helenas public facilities, including the Adams Street property, was appointed at Tuesdays City Council meeting.

Eleven applicants were appointed to the SHAPE (St. Helena Asset Planning Engagement) Committee. A council subcommittee consisting of Paul Dohring and Mary Koberstein interviewed applicants and recommended a slate of candidates to Mayor Alan Galbraith, who appointed the full slate consisting of:

Mark Smithers, winery CFO (committee chair)

Jeff Feeney, commercial real estate agent

Doug Barr, writer/director/producer and vintner

Susanne Salvestrin, retired/volunteer/Salvestrin Winery

Oliver Caldwell, art dealer

Pat Dell, retired nurse

Joshua Parke, architectural designer

Anna Chouteau, mother and school volunteer

Tim Nieman, consultant  decision analysis

Glenn Smith, retired

Stan Knight, tour operator/real estate investor

The other applicants were Michael Oliver, Jeff Burton, Mike Thomas, Leon Allen, Susan Allen, Paul Leary, Lois Battuello, Tom Vence and George David.

The committee will identify alternatives to address deficiencies and opportunities identified in a Facilities Condition and Needs Assessment that will be prepared by a consultant. It will also study the challenges identified in the citys Long Range Financial Forecast and the feasibility of the 2009 Visioning Statement for Adams Street.

The committee will also update the financial forecast and recommend financial strategies to the council in a report scheduled to be presented to the council by April 2018.

Facilities consultant hired

The council also approved a contract with EMG to perform a Facilities Condition and Needs Assessment for various city buildings and properties.

EMG will compile a comprehensive inventory of city-owned buildings, including systems and components; identify conditions and deficiencies; evaluate the structural integrity and physical state of each building; assess the ability of each building to serve the citys needs; make recommendations regarding the adequacy of each facility; study whether the buildings are over- or under-utilized; present a financial analysis based on market values and estimated replacement/renovation costs; and suggest a priority list and timeline for recommended renovations, consolidation and/or replacement.

Five companies responded to the citys Request For Proposals (RFP), and a council subcommittee of Paul Dohring and Mary Koberstein recommended the Walnut Creek-based EMG as the best firm for the job. EMG has conducted similar studies for other local governments, including Napa County.

The contract is for $80,869, and staff is authorized to amend the contract for an additional $10,000 if necessary.

Bridge appeal

The council denied an appeal of the Planning Commissions approval of a pedestrian bridge between Beringer and the Las Alcobas hotel.

Mike Griffin, a neighbor, appealed to the council, saying the city hadnt adequately studied the bridges potential effects on noise, traffic and biological resources in York Creek.

In a 4-1 vote, with Councilmember Geoff Ellsworth dissenting, the council denied the appeal, allowing the project to move forward.

Councilmembers noted that the applicants still need a streambed alteration permit from the Department of Fish & Wildlife, which will study some of the environmental concerns raised in the appeal. Since the bridge doesnt require a use permit, the citys discretion is limited to design review.
A variety of events, fundraisers and donations have been planned or made to benefit those who are victims of the recent wildfires that swept through Northern California, including Napa and Sonoma counties.

They are as follows:

A community potluck, giving thanks and gratitude for first responders and firefighters, will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at Lyman Park in St. Helena. All who live and work in St. Helena are welcome. Please bring a food dish, dessert of non-alcoholic drink to share. Beer, wine, plates, napkins and silverware will be provided.

***

From 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, a wine tasting with jazz music will be held at Tres Sabores Winery, 1620 S. Whitehall Lane in St. Helena. The event is hosted by Phil Summers and will feature Latin Jazz music with The Real Thing quartet, featuring musicians from Yolo Mambo. For details send an email to visitus@tressabores.com or call 967-8027.

***

The first Wizards of Elixirs Cocktail Competition to benefit families affected by the fires in Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake counties will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, at the CIA at Copia, 500 First St. in Napa.

The event is a friendly cocktail competition fashioned in a walk-around style. Guests will sample 13 cocktails prepared by the areas top bartenders. After the victor is crowned, a Halloween costume dance party is from 8 to 11 p.m.

Cost is $35 in advance at perfectpuree.com/wizards or $40 at the door. Tickets include the cocktail tasting, light snacks and one raffle ticket. The event is sponsored by The Perfect Puree of Napa Valley and Charbay Distillery.

***

Nancy Merha, owner of St. Helenas Klass Cleaners is offering free cleaning of sleeping bags for emergency personnel and first responders. Klass Cleaners is at 1141 Main St., phone is 963-2811.

***

UpStage Napa Valley has planned a benefit performance of Doubt, A Parable written by John Patrick Shanley for 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 11, at Grace Episcopal Church, 1314 Spring St. A portion of the proceeds from this performance will be donated to the Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund. The play opens on Wednesday, Nov. 1, and continues through Nov. 19. Performances are both at Grace Episcopal Church and St. Helena Presbyterian Church. For tickets call 341-3278 or order online at upstagenapavalley.org.

***

Foley Family Charitable Foundation and Foley Family Wines recently donated $225,000 in support of the communities devastated by the Northern California wildfires.

The funds will be divided among the Community Foundation Sonoma County (Sonoma County Resilience Fund), the Napa Valley Community Foundation (Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund), and the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation (Housing Support for Ag Workers Displaced by Fires Fund). The Foley Family Charitable Foundation has also set up a GoFundMe account to support those affected by fires in the community. Employee contributions to this fund will also be matched up to $75,000.

We are deeply saddened by the destruction and devastation we see all around us, and our hearts go out to our wine country community. Our first priority is the safety and support of our employees who have been deeply affected by the fires. We remain hopeful as we combine efforts with our neighbors, to support victims displaced by these fires and rebuild. We know that our contributions are going to three conscientious charities that will put relief money to work in the areas theyre needed most, said Bill Foley.

***

Krupp Brothers will donate 10 percent of all consumer sales of 2014 The Doctor through Tuesday, Oct. 31. Ten percent of sales of The Doctor at the Winery and Estate and Tasting Room Downtown Napa will also be donated. All donations will be made to the Napa Valley Community Foundation. For details call 415-515-3782.

***

St. Helenas Charles Krug Winery is grateful to announce that their infrastructure and team of employees remain safe after the recent series of Northern California wildfires.

The C. Mondavi & Family owned winery, under the direction of co-proprietors Peter Jr. and Marc Mondavi, expresses their most heartfelt wishes and thoughts to the entirety of the Northern California community.

Thank you for all the calls, texts and emails checking in on Charles Krug Winery, said Peter Mondavi Jr. We are so thankful for your support and concern. Although there were some close calls, the winery is unscathed and in good shape, as are all of our vineyards. We applaud the inspiring work of first responders, firefighters, and volunteers who have helped so many people get back on their feet as this whole area starts the return to normalcy.

Charles Krug winery will be donating 20 percent of its tasting room sales in November  up to $20,000  to the Napa Valley Community Foundation. The winery is naming the initiative its Thanks. Giving. effort, and asks those who are able to join in with their partners in supporting the rebuilding effort that is soon to take place across all of wine country and much of Northern California.

***

The Napa Valley Wine Train team is thankful and grateful for the heroes and helpers that stepped forward during this challenging time. From neighbors, to business partners, to public agencies, law enforcement, National Guard, first-responders, medical and EMS, to the brave and selfless firefighters, both local and out of area who saved lives, homes, businesses and properties.

To say thank you, the Napa Valley Wine Train is offering complimentary lunch on the Gourmet Express Train with a guest to first responders, firefighters, all branches of law enforcement and public agencies who were directly involved in the fire relief efforts for Napa and Sonoma counties for their heroic work now through Oct. 31. To book this offer, guests can call 707-251-5280 to make a reservation and present official ID when checking in at the train station.
The Napa Valley spirit is on full display with neighbors helping neighbors, volunteers making difficult times a little less difficult, and firefighters, first responders and law enforcement putting the needs of others first during the largest wildfires in Californias history.

In Napa County, the wildfires mostly affected the eastern and western hills surrounding the valley floor. Many of the hotels, wineries, restaurants and other businesses throughout the Napa Valley have remained open or reopened last week to welcome visitors. Visit Napa Valley encourages visitors to finalize their itineraries directly with their hotel, winery, restaurant or other activity.

We are humbled by the incredible dedication we have seen from the emergency service response teams who continue to work to keep everyone safe, said Clay Gregory, president and CEO of Visit Napa Valley. The outpouring of support from around the world has been heartwarming to everyone in our community, and the spirit of collaboration to rebuild and reopen is remarkable. Our thoughts remain with those impacted by these wildfires, as well as the more than 13,000 people whose jobs are supported by the Napa Valley tourism industry.

The economic impact of the wildfires in Napa County is not yet known and the October 2017 lodging revenue will not be reported for many weeks.

Updated visitor information may be found on VisitNapaValley.com" target="_blank">VisitNapaValley.com. The Visit Napa Valley Welcome Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Napa to assist guests with personalized itineraries, as are the welcome centers in American Canyon, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga.

To contribute to relief efforts and support those who have been affected or displaced by the fires, Visit Napa Valley is recommending donating to the Napa Valley Community Foundation.

A list of fire relief fundraisers may also be found on VisitNapaValley.com.

We are also thinking about our wine country partners in Sonoma and Mendocino counties and will continue to support each other. Im confident that the entire California wine country will be stronger and better than ever, added Gregory.
- Philippines signs weapons agreement with Russia, ignores the U.S.





- The U.S. is currently the Philippines' biggest weapons supplier.





- U.S. defense secretary says the deal is insignificant.

The Philippines has received a donation of thousands of assault riffles, helmets and other military gear from the Russian government, officials reported on Wednesday.





This comes as Russia, who are looking to expand their arms market in Southeast Asia are also looking to exploit the fact that the Phillipines government is also seeking to diversify its weapons systems.





The Philippines received about 5,000 Kalashnikov rifles, 5,000 steel helmets, about a million rounds of ammunition for the rifles and 20 army trucks in a ceremony attended by President Rodrigo Duterte, who also toured one of five visiting Russian warships.





The gift came a day after Russia and the Philippines signed two military pacts, including a sales contract with Rosoboronexport, a state-owned vendor of Russian defense equipment.





"We are looking at acquiring some equipment for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, but there are no specifics yet," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told Reuters. "We are still discussing."





But the Philippines' biggest source of arms, the United States, was not worried at the prospect of equipment donated by its rivals China and Russia.





"I don't attach very much significance to it, some trucks or guns being dropped off to a country that's fighting terrorists right now," U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters on the plane to Bangkok.





"It's a sovereign decision by the Philippines," he added. "So it's not a big issue...other nations are coming to their help."
- Myanmar signs agreement for "sustainable" repatriation of citizens from Bangladesh.





- Joint working group to be formed between both countries.





- Agreement is signed days after the U.S. imposed several sanctions including withdrawal of military assistance on Myanmar.

After a joint meeting with Bangladeshi officials, Myanmar has agreed for Rohingya Muslims who fled the recent violence in Rakhine state to return to the country.





Myanmar's Home Affairs Minister Lieutenant General Kyaw Swe and Bangladesh's Home Secretary Mostafa Kamal Uddin signed two memorandums of understanding in Naypyidaw where they met to discuss plans to repatriate hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled to Bangladesh after a brutal military crackdown in northern Rakhine in response to terrorist attacks on Aug. 25.





Last month, Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed to begin a process to repatriate the refugees under a 1993 agreement that allows the return of Rohingya who can prove residence in Myanmar. This however may be extremely difficult for many of the Rohingya Muslims who have fled burnt homes and properties.





"The Myanmar authorities have informed our honorable minister that the joint working group will be formed by Nov. 30," Sharif Mahmud Apu, the public relations officer of Bangladesh's Home Ministry, told BenarNews, an RFA-affliated online news service, on Tuesday.





"They have also assured us that they will take the Rohingya refugees back," he said.





A statement issued later in the day said that Bangladesh's Home Ministry said Myanmar authorities agreed to a "sustainable" repatriation of Myanmar citizens from Bangladesh, but avoided referring to the refugees as Rohingya.





This will be the most notable move from Myanmar since the violence began in August and it has come days after the U.S. imposed several sanctions on the country including withdrawal of militart assistance.
- Qatar reaffirms commitment to dialogue in resolving GCC diplomatic dispute.





- Agrees with the Emir of Kuwait that the GCC may collapse if the dispute remains unresolved.





- Hails the appeal from Kuwait.

Qatar has reaffirmed its commitment to resolving the ongoing GCC cconflict through dialogue and has called on other parties involved to do the same.





The Emir of Kuwait on Tuesday warned that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) may collapse if the parties involved in the diplomatic dispute do not take necessary steps towards resolution.





A statement was released by Qatar's foreign ministry on Tuesday in response to the Kuwaiti emir's warning of a potential collapse.





The statement said Doha "hailed the appeal" made by the Kuwaiti leader and did not seek to "escalate the situation".





"In line with the approach laid down by HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in his address to the people of Qatar on 21 July 2017, calls upon citizens, residents and all media in Qatar to avoid slipping into the abuse of Gulf symbols," the statement read.





"Qatar has a strong belief in the fairness of its position in this crisis and its adherence to dialogue based on mutual respect, on the basis of its principles and values," it added.
08:38

United States President Donald Trump has slammed his Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton after news reports appeared that her campaign had funded research that resulted in a dossier which contained allegations that he had links with the Russians.

"It's a disgrace. It's a very sad commentary on politics in this country," Trump told reporters at the White House yesterday.

First reported by The Washington Post, the dossier prepared by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele and Fusion GPS has now has become a central focus of ongoing congressional probes into Russian election interference during the 2016 general election.

"I think it's very sad what they've done with this fake dossier. It was made up, and I understand they paid a tremendous amount of money, and Hillary Clinton always denied it. The Democrats always denied it. Now only because it's going to come out in a court case, they said, yes, they did it.

They admitted it, and they're embarrassed by it," Trump said.

He said the whole Russian thing has now turned out to be a hoax.

"This was the Democrats coming up with an excuse for losing an election...They didn't know what to say, so they made up the whole Russia hoax.

"Now it's turning out that the hoax has turned around. And you look at what's happened with Russia, and you look at the uranium deal, and you look at the fake dossier.

So that's all turned around," he said in response to another question.

Trump said the uranium sale to Russia and the way it was done, "with tremendous amounts of money being passed, I actually think that's Watergate, modern age."

According to The Hill, the news has created a problem for Democrats, as the report shows the Democratic presidential campaign funded a foreign spy's opposition research -- an accusation similar to complaints that Democrats have brought against Trump's campaign.

The Republican National Committee chairwoman Dana McDaniel told Fox News that it is incredibly concerning that the DNC and the Clinton campaign funded this Fusion GPS through a third party.

"They touted this fake Russia dossier through Washington, tried to push it into news outlets. It ended up being the basis of some of the Comey investigation," she alleged.

"They never owned up to the fact that they were behind it. They've lied about it, now they're playing hot potato. We need to get to the bottom of why they did this, how they funded it.

And there's a lot of questions that need to be answered by the Clinton campaign and the DNC," she said.

The Washington Post said Clinton and top officials of her presidential campaign were largely silent in response to the damaging revelation. -- PTI
Police Units of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) stand in position after concluding training in the Somali capital Mogadishu Thursday May 30, 2013. (Xinhua/Faisal Isse)

MOGADISHU, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Tuesday reiterated its commitment to building the capacity of the Somali National Army (SNA), ahead of its planned exit.

AMISOM Force Commander Osman Noor Soubagleh also lauded the cordial working relations between AMISOM and SNA, in the effort to rid the country of Al-Shabaab and to restore peace and stability to the Horn of Africa country.

"As AMISOM we remain committed to supporting the SNA whenever needed, within the available means to ensure a smooth transition," Soubagleh said in a statement released after meeting new SNA Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Abdiweli Jama Hussein in Mogadishu.

The AMISOM force commander pledged to continue fostering the good working relations.

"Your appointment comes at a time when the focus is on beginning the exit of AMISOM from Somalia and handover to the Somali National Security Forces," he said.

As part of its exit strategy, AMISOM will reduce its troops by 1,000 by December, followed by further cuts next year, an exercise expected to end by 2020.

However, AMISOM's exit is also pegged on the ability of the Somali National Security Forces, particularly the SNA to ably take over the security of the country.

Soubagleh noted that both AMISOM and SNA have a common enemy, the Al-Shabaab militants, who are linked to the recent bomb attack that killed more than 300 people.

Speaking at the meeting, Abdiweli pledged to work closely with AMISOM to build the capacity of the SNA, to enable it to take over the security responsibilities of the country.

"As time approaches for AMISOM to exit, we will continue to work hard together with AMISOM so that the SNA can assume responsibility for the security of the country," he said, stressing the need to eradicate Al-Shabaab to pave the way for a smooth AMISOM exit.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 02:31:22|Editor: Zhou Xin

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Visiting Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (R, front) is welcomed by his Armenian counterpart Karen Karapetyan (L, front) at the Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan, Armenia, on Oct. 24, 2017. Armenia and Russia signed joint cooperation agreements in the fields of transportation, IT and telecommunications, and industrial security here on Tuesday during the visit of a Russian delegation led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. (Xinhua/Gevorg Ghazaryan)

Yerevan, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Armenia and Russia signed joint cooperation agreements in the fields of transportation, IT and telecommunications, and industrial security here on Tuesday during the visit of a Russian delegation led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Medvedev arrived in Yerevan for official visit on Tuesday and was welcomed by his Armenian counterpart Karen Karapetyan at the airport, reported the official website of the Government of Armenia.

The negotiations between the both sides started after visiting the Armenian Genocide Memorial, according to the report.

There was a huge potential for bilateral relations between Armenia and Russia, said Karapetyan during the meeting.

Recently our countries have managed to set the correct model of interaction not only on a bilateral track, but also within the multilateral framework, noted Medvedev during the negotiations.

Medvedev said that the trade turnover increased by around 30 percent in January-August this year.

His delegation is consisted of First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications Nikolay Nikiforov, Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov and other high-ranking officials. Chairman of Gazprom's Management Committee Alexey Miller is also among the members of delegation.

Medvedev is going to participate in the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Yerevan on Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 02:56:30|Editor: Zhou Xin

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GAZA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Yehya Sinwar, chief of Islamic Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, announced on Tuesday that the crossing points of the coastal enclave will be handed over to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Oct. 31.

Sinwar made his remarks during a meeting held at a Gaza city seaside resort with heads of unions and local organizations in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas has agreed to hand over control of Gaza to PNA in an Egyptian-brokered reconciliation deal reached between Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party in Cairo on Oct. 12.

"Hamas intends to zero all its internal differences, especially with Fatah, as well as with all Arab countries," Sinwar said, adding that "Hamas made a strategic decision to go for internal reconciliation and doesn't intend to regret it or withdraw it."

Hamas had violently seized control of the Gaza Strip in mid 2007 and routed Abbas security forces. Since then, feuds and differences between the rivals had turned life of more than 2 million Gazan people into misery.

"We will burn all the bridges that the internal reconciliation went through because we don't want to retreat or go back to the first quarter," said Sinwar, who was elected as the movement's chief in Gaza in March.

Asked about the arms of his group's armed wing al-Qassam Brigades, Sinwar said "these arms are the Palestinian people's ownership, so we accumulate and develop our arms to use it for liberation and not for internal conflicts."

He also called on Abbas to visit Gaza and chair the meetings of his Fatah Party's central committee and the meetings of Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 04:37:12|Editor: yan

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HARARE, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- A fresh typhoid outbreak has been recorded in Harare's oldest, impoverished suburb of Mbare where at least 18 cases of the waterborne disease have been confirmed, an official said Tuesday.

"I can confirm that we are experiencing an outbreak of typhoid in Harare and the epicenter is Matapi hostels in Mbare," City of Harare Health Director Prosper Chonzi was quoted as saying by the state-run news agency New Ziana.

"So far we have confirmed around 18 patients with salmonella typhoid. Others I believe are still incubating as you know the incubation period for typhoid is 21 days," said Chonzi.

Chonzi said there were no deaths recorded from the current outbreak, which started at the weekend.

He attributed the renewed outbreak to poor hygienic standards in the suburb and suspected that a contaminated borehole in the area was the source of the outbreak.

Harare has over the last few years been recording recurrent outbreaks of typhoid and other water borne diseases due to water shortages, raw sewer spillages and uncollected garbage.

At least six people are reported to have succumbed to typhoid and other related diseases in Harare in 83 recorded cases of diarrhea illnesses since 2016.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 04:42:15|Editor: Zhou Xin

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RABAT, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's King Mohammed VI dismissed on Tuesday four ministers over their involvement in delaying development projects in the northeastern city of Al Hoceima that was rocked by protest for months.

According to a statement from the king's office, the dismissed ministers are Mohamed Hassad, minister of education, El Houcine Louardi, minister of Health, Nabil Benabdallah, minister of housing, and Larbi Bencheikh, Secretary of State in charge of Vocational Training.

In 2015, Morocco launched Lighthouse of the Mediterranean, a large-scale development program in the northeastern province of Al Hoceima, but many of its projects have been marred by "delay or failure," according to an official investigation committee set up by the king in June.

The delays were strongly criticized by the protest movement, which sparked a year ago when fish vendor Mouhcine Fikri was crushed to death after climbing into a rubbish lorry to retrieve his swordfish confiscated by police.

The king also reprimanded five other former ministers, who are also incriminated by the investigation commission.

The list of dismissed officials includes also director-general of National Office of Electricity and Water Supply and 14 other lower level public service officials.

The king has asked the head of government to make propositions to replace the ministers that have been dismissed.

Currently returning to calm, Morocco has not witnessed any protest of this size since the pro-democracy demonstrations during the Arab spring in 2011.
This file photo illustration taken on September 25, 2013, shows a woman smoking a "Blu" electronical cigarette in Washington,D.C. (Xinhua/AFP PHOTO)

NEW YORK, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Electronic cigarettes and vaping are being banned in bars, restaurants and most workplaces in the U.S. state of New York under a new law that takes effective in 30 days.

"These products are marketed as a healthier alternative to cigarettes but the reality is they also carry long-term risks to the health of users and those around them," said Governor Andrew Cuomo in a news release after he signed the legislation on Monday, adding electronic cigarettes to the Clean Indoor Air Act which bans their use everywhere that smoking tobacco products are prohibited.

"This measure closes another dangerous loophole in the law, creating a stronger, healthier New York for all," Cuomo said.

New York joins a growing list of U.S. states, such as California, Connecticut and New Jersey, that have banned vaping in indoor public spaces such as bars and restaurants, in much the same way they restrict smoking.

In July, Cuomo signed a legislation that immediately banned the use of e-cigarettes on all public and private school grounds in the Empire state.

Electronic nicotine and vapor delivery systems, which include e-cigarettes, vaping pens, e-hookah and similar devices, typically contain nicotine. Some ingredients found in e-cigarettes are considered toxic and there is no regulation of what chemicals e-cigarettes contain how much nicotine the user is inhaling. These factors could lead to long-term adverse health effects for e-cigarette users and bystanders.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 08:37:53|Editor: Zhou Xin

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ISLAMABAD, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani military said late Tuesday that at least two women were killed and six other injured in Indian forces' firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region.

"Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing with artillery, heavy mortars and automatic weapons along the LoC, targeting innocent civil population of villages Naukot and Qaiser Kot in Lipa Valley," an army statement said.

"Pakistan army troops effectively engaged Indian troops and destroyed 4 Indian posts causing heavy damage," the statement from the army's media wing the Inter-Services Public Relations said.

"Two Pakistani citizens Sumaira Younis and Maryam were martyred and 6 were injured due to Indian unprovoked firing," the statement said.

The injured were provided medical treatment at army medical facility at Lipa, a border town in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

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 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 155 injuries, as compared to 382 ceasefire violations in 2016, according to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 08:57:56|Editor: Zhou Xin

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ISLAMABAD, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Islamabad and underlined the importance of high level engagements between Pakistan and the United States, the Prime Minister Office said.

The U.S. secretary of state accompanied by a high-level delegation visited Islamabad for talks on important issues, focusing on anti-terror cooperation and exploring Pakistan's role in peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, the office said on Tuesday.

This was Tillerson's first visit to Islamabad as secretary of state. The visit was a follow-up to the meeting between Abbasi and U.S. vice President Mike Pence in New York in September in which the two sides agreed to resume full scale engagements between the two governments.

Abbasi expressed satisfaction on the progress made during these interactions in recent months and informed the delegation of the significant strides Pakistan had made in improving the overall security and economic environment of the country resulting in significantly improved business and investment opportunities available to foreign businesses and investors.

The talks covered in detail all aspects of bilateral relations, the regional situation, as well as the evolving international environment and the Pakistan delegation outlined the government's policy of a peaceful neighborhood and steps taken to promote cooperation and stability in Afghanistan and the region, the statement said.

The U. S. delegation was also apprised of the tremendous sacrifices made by the Pakistan nation including security forces and Law Enforcement Agencies in the war against terror.

"The fact that Pakistani security forces have successfully carried out the largest counterterrorism operation was detailed along with Pakistan's sustained commitment and interest in supporting peace and stability in Afghanistan as well as the broader region. The delegation was also informed of the ongoing efforts on securing the Pak-Afghan border out of national resources," the statement further said.

The two sides agreed to build upon the understandings reached in the dialogue process and to continue the pace and scope of high level engagements in future.

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said in a statement that Tillerson in the meeting "reiterated President Trump's message that Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country."

"To address those concerns, the secretary outlined the United States' new South Asia Strategy and the vital role that Pakistan can play in working with the United States and others to facilitate a peace process in Afghanistan that can bring stability and security to the region," the embassy said in a statement.

Tillerson left for India late Tuesday at the conclusion of talks in Islamabad.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 10:23:15|Editor: Zhou Xin

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WELLINGTON, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister-designate Jacinda Ardern on Wednesday named Winston Peters, leader of the New Zealand First Party, as the deputy prime minister and foreign minister under a coalition government.

Ardern, leader of the Labor Party, has named ministers both inside and outside cabinet of her new government, which is due to be sworn in on Thursday.

The New Zealand First Party decided to side with the Labor Party to form a coalition government on Oct. 18.

Peters, 72, will hold the two positions which he is familiar with. He served as the deputy prime minister under the Bolger cabinet from 1996 to 1998, and foreign minister under the Clark cabinet from 2005 to 2008.

Ardern said that she hoped Peters can bring "experiences and expertise" to both roles of the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, especially in the coming APEC meetings and international trade.

The 37-year-old PM-designate herself will also hold the ministerial portfolios of arts culture and heritage, national security and intelligence, as well as child poverty reduction. She said reducing child poverty is a key focus of the new government. "As prime minister I want to see urgent progress in this area."

Kelvin Davis, deputy leader of the Labor Party, will hold a new role of minister of crown/maori relations, as well as tourism minister and corrections minister.

Under the new government, the role of minister of primary industries will cease to exist. The ministry will be split up, with fisheries, agriculture and forestry being separated.

David Parker, a senior Labor MP, will become minister of economic development, minister of environment and minister of trade and export growth. Ardern said she hoped that Parker and Peters will come to Vietnam for next month's APEC meetings with her.

Ron Mark, deputy leader of NZ First and a former soldier mechanic, is set to become the defence minister. NZ First MPs also hold the cabinet-ministerial positions of internal affairs, infrastructure and regional development.

In last month's election, the Labor Party and its campaign partner the Green Party secured 54 seats out of 120-seat parliament, while the ruling National Party for the last nine years won 56 seats.

As neither sides has a majority advantage, Peters and the NZ First Party, which won 9 seats became the "kingmaker" and chose the Labor Party three weeks after the Sept. 23 vote.

The Green Party did not join the coalition, but as a supporting party for the new government. The party will hold three minister roles outside the cabinet. James Shaw, the leader of the Green Party, will be the minister for climate change and minister of statistics.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 10:28:17|Editor: Zhou Xin

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CARACAS, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan opposition leader and former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski on Tuesday announced his withdrawal from the right-wing coalition, the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD).

"I am not going to continue at the roundtable, I am not going to be a part of it any longer," Capriles said in a statement.

The move marks further cracks in the conservative coalition following its resounding defeat in the Oct. 15 regional elections, in which the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) won 18 of 23 governorships.

In addition, four out of the five winning opposition candidates pledged allegiance to the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), which was elected in July in polls called by President Nicolas Maduro that were boycotted by the opposition.

Capriles lost to Maduro in the 2013 elections.

The MUD's longstanding strategy against the Maduro administration has been boycotting elections and public institutions in favor of anti-government demonstrations.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 10:43:20|Editor: Zhou Xin

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Less than one third of Americans support U.S. President Donald Trump's tax cut plan, a poll released by market and public opinion research groups showed on Tuesday.

According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, of the adults who said they had heard of the tax reform, 28 percent said they support it, while 41 percent oppose it and another 31 percent said they do not know.

The U.S. Senate approved a budget resolution last week that would add up to 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars in fiscal deficit during the next decade, paving the way for Trump's tax cut plan.

The Trump administration, together with congressional Republicans, last month released a unified framework for tax reform, which will cut tax rates for businesses and individuals but lacks details about how to consolidate the fiscal position in face of big tax cuts.

The U.S. national debt is ballooning at over 20 trillion dollars, which is more than the nation's annual gross domestic product.

Independent analysts believe Trump's tax cut plan would leave the debt even larger, while some Republicans say the tax cut could be offset by stronger economic growth that would generate more tax revenue.

More than two-thirds of registered voters said reducing the U.S. federal budget deficit is more important than cutting taxes for the wealthy or for corporations, the poll showed.

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Tuesday that House Republicans will unveil the long-awaited tax reform legislation next week and pass the bill by the Thanksgiving week.

Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have said recently that they hoped to pass the tax bill by the end of the year.

The poll found that only 15 percent of registered voters said Republicans in Congress should prioritize tax reform over other issues. About a quarter of those polled agreed that Congress should continue working on a healthcare bill.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in all 50 U.S. states.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 10:43:21|Editor: Zhou Xin

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YANGON, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Non-ceasefire signatory armed groups in Myanmar are expected to sign the government's Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA) on Nov. 8, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Wednesday.

The breakthrough was made following the 7th meeting between the Delegation for Political Negotiation (DPN) of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) and the government's Peace Commission.

Most of the eight points that UNFC proposed have been agreed by both sides, leaving the fifth point related to military codes of conduct and monitoring for continued negotiation with the military on Nov. 8 for finalization, deputy leader of the DPN Nai Aung Ma Ngay was quoted as saying.

The eight points of the UNFC amendment proposal include bilateral ceasefire agreement; to build a federal union; tripartite dialogue composition agreement; drafting and promulgation of constitutional law based on the outcome of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference; and formation of a neutral, enforcement tribunal for NCA.

U Zaw Htay, representative of the Peace Commission, described the negotiation as a commitment made by both sides to overcome the challenges for the best results.

Following the initiation of the NCA between the government and eight ethnic armed groups out of 15 on Oct. 15, 2015, Myanmar's government 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 peace process for the first time in Myanmar's history.

The 37 adopted principles were signed by representatives of participating groups of the government, parliament, military, signatory armed groups to the NCA and political parties as Part One of the Union Accord.

The third meeting of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference is expected to be held later this year when unfinished fundamental principles as well as new principles on federalism will be discussed.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 10:48:22|Editor: Zhou Xin

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SYDNEY, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- For the first time in decades, koalas have been spotted in the wild on Australia's Central Coast, 80 km north of Sydney.

The cute and cuddly duo were recorded by night vision cameras set up to monitor wildlife at the Dharug National Park.

National Parks and Wildlife Service Ranger Sarah Brookes told Xinhua on Wednesday that she has worked in the park for more than 20 years and never saw a koala.

Over that time, the dwindling numbers in the area have mostly been caused by habitat disruption from continued urbanization.

But rangers hope the sighting could be a sign that the koala population might be on the rise again.

"A neighbouring land owner has also shared an audio recording with us," Brookes said, which they were able to identify as the call of a female koala.

This could indicate the pair are on the move as a result of the koala's mating season, which begins in August and lasts until February.

"It's a time of increased movement for koalas as they leave their trees and disperse, running the risk of crossing paths with cars and dogs," Brookes said.

Due to the decline of the koala population on New South Wales' east coast, the state government has made 800,000 Australian dollars (618,000 U.S. dollars) available for koala conservation projects and are urging anyone who has seen a koala in the Dharug National Park to record the sighting for research.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 11:23:29|Editor: Zhou Xin

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CANBERRA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Extremist refugees who carry out terrorist attacks in the name of Islamic State (IS) on Australian soil are the product of Australian culture, the boss of the nation's intelligence body has said.

Fronting a Senate Estimates committee late on Tuesday night Duncan Lewis, Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), said that refugees who ended up the target of counter-terror operations usually had limited exposure to their home countries.

He said that 13 counter-terrorism operations had been executed by Australian authorities in the last three years.

"There were 56 individuals who were primary targets of these 13 disruption operations and they were either arrested, charged or the subject or search warrants," Lewis said.

"Only seven of the 56 individuals came to Australia as refugees and six of those seven migrated to Australia with their parents as young children aged 11 or younger.

"The trend since 2014 is consistent with longer-term trends dating back to 2002. Where an individual is involved in attack planning and arrived as a refugee they generally arrived as a child and have spent more time in Australia than they have elsewhere."

Since the start of 2014 there has been seven terror incidents in Australia resulting in nine deaths, four of which were the perpetrators in a situation.

The most notable is the 2014 Sydney cafe siege where Man Haron Monis took 18 people hostage in a Central Business District cafe. Police stormed the building after a 16-hour standoff when Monis executed one of the hostages. A second hostage was killed by a ricocheted bullet while Monis was killed by police.

Lewis told the committee that it remained critical that Australian authorities maintain a good relationship with the Islamic Australian community, saying the overwhelming majority did not pose a threat.

"Stereotyping any group as a source of threat is not helpful. It is behaviour, not background, which ASIO is investigating," he said.

"Our focus is identification and prevention of terrorist attacks and to achieve this we have to be vigilant regarding the course of threat."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 12:18:48|Editor: ying

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Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), speaks when meeting the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 25, 2017. Xi Jinping and the other newly-elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng met the press on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), presented the Party's new central leadership when meeting the press Wednesday at the Great Hall of the People.

"I was re-elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. I see this as not just approval of my work, but also encouragement that will spur me on," Xi told journalists.

He presented the other six newly elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee: Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng.

Li Keqiang served on the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee, while all the others were members of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee, Xi said.

"Here, on behalf of the newly elected central leadership, I wish to express our heartfelt thanks to all other members of the Party for the trust they have placed in us," he said.

"We will work diligently to meet our duty, fulfill our mission and be worthy of their trust," Xi said.

Related:

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Xi promises further reform, opening China wider to the world

Xi promises realizing common prosperity for everyone

Xi vows greater contributions to peace, development for humanity

Xi eyes sustained, healthy growth of Chinese economy in 2019
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 12:23:50|Editor: Yang Yi

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BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said China will strive for sustained and healthy economic growth in 2019 which marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Xi made the remarks when meeting the press after the first plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee closed on Wednesday.

"We will act on the new vision for development, and strive for sustained and healthy economic growth that benefits people in China and around the world," Xi said.

"We will continue our efforts to accomplish all the tasks laid down in the 13th Five-Year Plan, develop new blueprints for China's future, and see the flourishing of all our endeavors," he said.

These efforts will contribute toward a more prosperous and strong People's Republic, he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 12:28:52|Editor: Yang Yi

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BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said Wednesday China will make new and greater contributions to peace and development for all humanity.

The CPC and the Chinese people have gone through trials and tribulations, said Xi, when leading a new top CPC leadership to meet the press.

"These experiences have taught us that peace is precious and development must be valued," he told reporters.

"With confidence and pride, the Chinese people will be steadfast in upholding our country's sovereignty, security and development interests," he said.

Xi said China will work with other nations to build a global community with a shared future, and make new and greater contributions to the noble cause of peace and development for all humanity.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 12:43:56|Editor: Zhou Xin

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian Senate Ethics Committee on Tuesday announced its decision to dismiss an accusation of corruption against Senator Aecio Neves, who ran for president in the last election.

Neves, at the center of the most recent struggle between the legislature and the Justice, was accused of obstruction of justice in a corruption case.

He was caught on tape negotiating a large sum of money with businessman Joesley Batista, from meatpacker JBS. Batista said the money was a bribe, but Neves denied it, calling it a loan.

The Supreme Court suspended his post from the Senate during the investigation, leading to strong reactions in the Senate, which accused the Supreme Court of interfering in Congress.

The Court had to rule that the Senate vote to cancel Neves' suspension from Congress. Neves was returned to the Senate by a 44-to-26 vote.

Neves, who narrowly lost the presidency in 2014, is chairman of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party, one of the biggest in Congress.

Local media reported that President Michel Temer, who is being investigated for corruption crimes himself, was personally involved in getting enough votes in Neves' favor.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 12:43:57|Editor: Yang Yi

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BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Facial recognition is becoming increasingly common in China, where it has been installed at ATM machines and KFC restaurants. Now the technology has arrived in university classrooms to track student attendance.

Shen Hao, a professor with Communication University of China, is using facial recognition in his six courses to keep track of the attendance of more than 300 students.

Before every class, Shen activates a new attendance system installed on his tablet computer. Students stand in front of the screen one by one to have their photos taken and matched with those in the school's database.

The system is based on facial recognition technology from Chinese Internet giant Baidu's open AI platform.

Currently, the platform has offered more than 80 different technological services to the public, helping program developers like Shen to develop their own applications.

"The traditional way of tracking attendance is through a roll call. The new system saves time and reduces the workload of teachers," said Shen.

Students have joked that facial recognition is harsh as it doesn't allow for skipping classes. "But they support the technology to enter colleges," said Cui Yuqin, a student majoring in data journalism with the university.

China's Forward-looking Industry Institute said that the facial recognition market in China surpassed 1 billion yuan (about 150 million U.S. dollars) in 2016 and is expected to hit 5.1 billion yuan by 2021.

Facial recognition technology has already been put to creative use. Beijing's Temple of Heaven has used it in toilets to deter toilet paper theft. In east China's Jinan, traffic police installed facial scanners at intersections to catch and shame jaywalkers, and a Beijing university has used the technology to guard its dorms.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 13:24:27|Editor: Zhou Xin

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BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Salary expectations for Chinese graduates of overseas universities fell 3.3 percent year on year in 2017, dropping to 8,315 yuan per month, according to a recent report.

Overseas returnees who graduated in 2017 earned 7,306 yuan (1,102 U.S. dollars) each month on average, said a report released by Chinese job hunting company Bosszhipin. According to the report, returnees who graduated from French institutions were paid the most in 2017, earning 9,124 yuan on average, while those returning from Germany ranked second with 8,713 yuan.

In 2017, the average salary of fresh graduates of overseas institutions was 17.2 percent higher than graduates of domestic schools at the same educational level.

According to big data by Bosszhipin, after working for eight years, 43.2 percent of Chinese graduates educated abroad are paid a monthly salary of more than 20,000 yuan, about 20 percent higher than those who have not studied overseas.

People with overseas study experience describe themselves as quality-oriented with open minds, higher stress tolerance, vision and efficiency, the report said.

The report also said that about 66.7 percent of entrepreneurs with overseas study experience were under age 30, up 10 percent from 2015.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 13:29:30|Editor: Zhou Xin

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ISLAMABAD, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khwaja Muhammad Asif said that Pakistan has told U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that the United States should review its policies in Afghanistan.

After a meeting with Tillerson late Tuesday, the foreign minister told a local TV channel that the secretary was informed that the U.S. assessment in Afghanistan is wrong and it should be blamed for its policies.

The minister said that Tillerson insisted Pakistan deal with the Haqqani Network and other terrorists, who are launching attacks in Afghanistan from Pakistani soil.

Asif said that the guest, who had a four-hour meeting with civil and military leadership, was firmly told that Pakistan is neither protecting nor supporting Haqqani network

He said that the Taliban controls a big piece of land in Afghanistan so they do not need Pakistani land for making their sanctuaries. "There are no safe havens of Taliban in Pakistan, neither do they plan nor execute terrorist attacks from Pakistani soil."

He suggested that the U.S. side should provide actionable intelligence tip-off to Pakistan if they believe that Haqqani network or other Taliban militants are hiding in Pakistan and the Pakistani army will take action against them.

"Our armed forces have taken action against terrorists in military operations (in the past), which have brought forth positive results, we are fighting terrorists for the stability of our country and not for the U.S. or Afghanistan," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 13:49:36|Editor: Yurou

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U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (L) meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, India on Oct. 25, 2017. Tillerson arrived in the Indian capital late Tuesday night for his maiden official visit to this country. (Xinhua/PIB)

NEW DELHI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in the Indian capital late Tuesday night for his maiden official visit to this country.

Tillerson is slated to call on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during his three-day stay.

His visit is part of a five-nation tour that also includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan and Switzerland.

Tillerson arrived in Delhi from Pakistan where he received a frosty welcome after he recently accused Islamabad of providing "safe havens" to Taliban militants.

Addressing the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, he had said the U.S. expected Islamabad to take "decisive action" against terrorist groups operating in Pakistan.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 13:49:37|Editor: Zhou Xin

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NEW DELHI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- A major fire has engulfed a sanitary napkins factory in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, officials said on Wednesday.

"The fire broke out at Unicharm India Limited in the Japanese Industrial Zone at Neemrana in the state's Alwar district, barely 100 km from the Indian capital, late Tuesday night and soon engulfed its entire premises," a senior police official said.

Though there have been no reports of any casualty, the inferno has still not been contained.

"Some 24 fire tenders have been pressed into service to control the raging fire," a senior fire official said.

Local TV channels showed footage of the raging fire and reported that there were around 600 workers in the factory when the inferno started. "However, all of them managed to rush out of the premises," a factory official was quoted as saying.

A probe has been ordered into the incident, the police official said.

In March, a major fire engulfed a plastic items manufacturing factory in Alwar district. The fire damaged goods worth millions of rupees, but there had been no loss of life.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 14:09:42|Editor: Yang Yi

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BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese economy will be able to steer clear of rapid declines of GDP growth during the new development era, a prominent economist has said, but ruling out the possibility of an immediate rebound.

"After getting rid of the downward trend, the growth will level out in the future, rather than accelerating quickly," Liu Yuanchun, vice president of Renmin University of China, said when addressing a forum.

The economy showed strong resilience in the first three quarters as reforms created fresh momentum, with GDP expansion holding steady at 6.9 percent year on year. Services and consumption played a greater role in driving growth, and high-end manufacturing and IT sector witnessed booming increases.

Liu expects the country's economic restructuring will continue to generate tangible results, with structural improvements in both external and internal demand.

His remarks came after a report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China said the economy is in "the new era, a pivotal period for transforming the growth model, improving economic structure, and fostering new drivers of growth."

China has been transitioning from a phase of rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development, according to the report.

Liu said that risks in the economy would be eased in the new era but attention should remain.

"The downward cycle in the financial sector will likely be more complicated than predictions, which will lead to a very different deleveraging process compared with the European and U.S. market," Liu said. "It is not the time to sound the all clear yet."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 14:09:43|Editor: Zhou Xin

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) helped fund research for a controversial dossier about U.S. President Donald Trump's alleged ties to Russia, according to U.S. media.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Marc Elias, a lawyer representing the Clinton campaign and the DNC, retained a private research firm called Fusion GPS in April 2016 to probe Trump's background.

The Clinton campaign and the DNC funded the firm's efforts through the end of October 2016, days before the Election Day on Nov. 8, according to the report.

In response, the DNC issued a statement Tuesday evening, distancing its current leadership from Fusion GPS.

"Tom Perez and the new leadership of the DNC were not involved in any decision-making regarding Fusion GPS, nor were they aware that Perkins Coie (an international law firm) was working with the organization," said the statement.

"But let's be clear, there is a serious federal investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia, and the American public deserves to know what happened," the statement said.

Perez is the DNC chair, and Elias is the chair of Perkins Coie's political law practice.

The 35-page dossier created by the firm contains salacious unverified allegations against Trump.

In August, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders cast blame on Russia and Democrats for the "phony" dossier, while an attorney for Fusion GPS said the firm is "proud" of the claims in the dossier.

Fusion GPS's research on Trump began during the Republican presidential primaries, when a still unknown GOP donor paid for the firm to investigate the real estate magnate's background.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 14:14:45|Editor: Yang Yi

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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Matrix Global Education, an education service provider in Malaysia, is betting big on opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative in the education sector.

After tying up with Shanghai Zhangjiang Specialized College to provide an 18-month preparatory program for students from China in 2016, it entered into an education collaboration agreement with Hengshui Yizhong, a company incorporated in Malaysia and affiliated with Hengshui No.1 High School in north China's Hebei Province.

Lee Thian Hock, chief executive officer and managing director of Matrix Concepts, the parent company of Matrix Global Education, told Xinhua in an email that he sees vast potential in the initiative in many areas, including in the education sector.

Should the latest collaboration with Hengshui Yizhong materialize as planned, Lee expects additional enrolments of around 200 students each year over the next few years with students from Hengshui Yizhong eventually accounting to more than 1,000 in the education group.

The first batch of 200 students, he said, is expected to arrive in March next year, which will immediately grow the group's enrolled students by 25 percent.

"We foresee strong potential in this partnership as Hengshui Yizhong has more than 300,000 registered students in China," Lee said, adding that the management will constantly review the progress of this collaboration and input of stakeholders especially teachers, students, parents as a guide for further strategic undertakings.

It is also noted that Hengshui Yizhong has agreed to build its own hostel on a one-acre land within the school's compound which it has purchased.

On the competition in attracting Chinese students among the region, Lee said students from China have often found familiarity in terms of their culture and languages in Malaysia.

"We look forward to more fruitful collaborations with other prominent education institutions, both foreign and local," Lee said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 14:34:47|Editor: Zhou Xin

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NEW DELHI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- India's federal government issued an advisory asking states to ensure safety and security of journalists working in the country, an official said Wednesday.

The directive issued by Indian home ministry said all cases of attacks on journalists should be investigated promptly to ensure that criminals responsible are booked in a time bound manner.

"Fourth Estate is an important institution of the democracy. It ensures that citizens are able to express their opinions freely without any fear and coercion as provided under the Constitution of India," reads the advisory.

"It is the duty of the state to ensure safety and security of the journalists who ensure that the Fourth Estate discharges this key duty."

The federal government's missive was issued in backdrop of the last month's killing of two journalists, Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru and Shantanu Bhowmick in Agartala.

Lankesh, a senior Indian journalist and an outspoken activist, was shot dead outside her residence in southwestern state of Karnataka, while as Bhowmick was hacked to death by mob in India's northeastern state of Tripura while covering a protest.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 14:39:49|Editor: Yamei

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Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), speaks when meeting the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 25, 2017. Xi Jinping and the other newly-elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng met the press on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Soon after being re-elected general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi Jinping on Wednesday presented the new CPC central leadership to the press and laid down a roadmap for the next five years.

Amid applause, Xi led the other six newly elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee into a brightly-lit room inside the grandiose Great Hall of the People, facing rows of eager journalists.

Xi, 64, was flanked by Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng.

He smiled, waved to the journalists and took the podium.

"I was re-elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee," said a confident Xi against the backdrop of a giant Chinese landscape painting featuring the Great Wall.

"I see this as not just approval of my work, but also encouragement that will spur me on," he said.

Xi thanked all other members of the Party for the trust they have placed in the new leadership and vowed to work diligently to "meet our duty, fulfill our mission and be worthy of their trust."

The coming five years, Xi said, will see several important junctures and signposts.

"Not only must we deliver the first centenary goal, we must also embark on the journey toward the second centenary goal," he said.

The year of 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the launch of reform and opening-up.

Xi said China will make determined efforts to comprehensively deepen reform and open still wider to the world.

The year of 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The CPC will continue efforts to accomplish all the tasks laid down in the 13th Five-Year Plan, develop new blueprints for China's future, and see the flourishing of all the endeavors, he said.

Xi reiterated the resolve to establish a moderately prosperous society across all metrics in 2020.

He said the Party must remain committed to a people-centered philosophy of development and make steady progress toward enhancing the people's sense of fulfillment and realizing common prosperity for everyone.

The CPC will mark its centenary in 2021.

Xi said the Party will generate waves of positive energy which can build into a mighty and nationwide force driving China's development and progress.

"For a party which fights for the eternal wellbeing of the Chinese nation, the centenary only ushers in the prime of life," Xi said. "As the world's largest political party, the CPC must behave in a way commensurate with this status."

Xi said China will work with other nations to build a global community with a shared future, and make new and greater contributions to the noble cause of peace and development for all humanity.

He said the 19th Party Congress has received extensive and detailed reporting and the media coverage has captured the attention of the world.

A total of 452 major political parties in 165 countries have sent 855 messages of congratulation to the CPC on the congress.

Xi encouraged the press to continue to follow China's development and progress, and learn about and report on more dimensions of China.

"We do not need lavish praise from others, however, we do welcome objective reporting and constructive suggestions, for this is our motto: 'Not angling for compliments, I would be content that my integrity fills the universe,'" Xi said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 14:44:51|Editor: Zhou Xin

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SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's childbirth posted a double-digit fall for nine months to August, boosting worry about low growth potential amid a falling workforce, statistical agency data showed Wednesday.

The number of newborn babies was 30,200 in August, down 10.9 percent from a year earlier, according to Statistics Korea.

It was the lowest for any August figure since the agency began compiling the data in 2000, keeping a double-digit decline for the ninth consecutive month.

The double-digit fall was attributable to the falling number of women of childbearing age as well as the social trend to delay marriage and the first childbirth.

The number of marriage dropped 12.6 percent from a year earlier to 20,100 in August, keeping a downward trend for three months in a row.

The country's childbirth continued to fall since 2013 except for the increase of 3,000 in 2015. The falling trend lasted for the first eight months of this year, heralding a fresh record low in 2017.

In the January-August period, the number of newborn babies came in at 248,000, down 12.2 percent from the same period of last year.

The low birth rate has been a headache for the South Korean economy as it reduces the workforce amid the fast-aging population. The low childbirth and the population aging would drag down the economy's growth potential.

The government under President Moon Jae-in vowed to actively address the prolonged low childbirth to raise the economy's growth potential.

The finance ministry created a new department dedicated to dealing with low childbirth and the population aging as part of efforts to reduce living costs necessary to raise children.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 14:54:54|Editor: Yang Yi

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JINAN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The eastern Chinese city of Jinan has deployed a new army of air pollution monitors: taxis.

Local authorities said they have installed air quality monitors on top of 100 taxis. The monitors are capable of measuring atmospheric particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM10, generating data every three seconds and transmitting the location and measurements on a real-time basis.

The 100 taxis are estimated to travel over 23,000 kilometers a day and cover over 95 percent of the roads of Jinan, home to over 7 million people and capital of eastern Shandong Province.

The upside of the taxis is that they go everywhere within the city and leave no corner unturned, according to a spokesperson with the city's environment protection agency.

A total of 1.2 million sets of data will be generated every day, and the 100 taxis are only the first batch of cars deployed in the literal mobile monitoring of air quality.

North China, including Jinan, which is one-and-a-half hours away by bullet train to the south of Beijing, is under intense pressure to meet clean air targets, particularly in winter, when residential heating systems are switched on, typically in mid-November.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 15:55:12|Editor: liuxin

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MANILA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will undertake a three-day working visit to Japan starting on Sunday, a government spokesman announced Wednesday.

Robespierre Bolivar, the spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs, said Duterte is making the visit "to further enhance these strong bilateral relations between Manila and Tokyo."

He said Duterte will discuss with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe "matters of mutual interest to both countries."

Duterte is also scheduled to meet with "other high-ranking Japanese government officials and influential captains of industry," Bolivar said.

Aside from bilateral issues in the economic, industrial, social and security arena, Bolivar said discussions are also expected to include regional developments, including peace and stability in the region, particularly in the Korean Peninsula.

Duterte cancelled his scheduled trip to Japan last June following the attack of pro-Islamic State (IS) militants in Marawi City.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 16:00:15|Editor: liuxin

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DOHA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Qatar highly appreciates Kuwaiti emir's speech about the ongoing Gulf dispute at the opening session of the Kuwaiti parliament, Qatar News Agency (QNA) quoted Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying on Wednesday.

Doha hails Kuwaiti emir's call to preserve the rights of the future generations in the Gulf countries, an official statement issued by the ministry said.

In an address to parliament on Tuesday, Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah said that Kuwait's mediation efforts should be seen through the lens of the family of Gulf nations.

"We are not a third party in this crisis. Rather, we are a party of one in this crisis," Al-Sabah said.

The Saudi Arabia-led Arab quartet, which also includes the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, cut diplomatic ties with Qatar on June 5 and has imposed an air, sea and land embargo against the tiny gas-rich Gulf state, citing Doha's support to terrorism and extremists.

Qatar has strongly denied these charges and has been seeking diplomatic and economic support from Turkey and Iran, which is Saudi's arch rival, to break the blockade.

Kuwait has been acting as a mediator since the Gulf crisis.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 16:05:16|Editor: liuxin

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FARAH, Afghanistan, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- A total of nine Afghan soldiers and 13 Taliban insurgents were killed after an overnight clash in Farah province, west of Afghanistan, a provincial government spokesman said Wednesday.

"Several militants attacked an army checkpoint in Pusht Rod district, but the army personnel fought back the attackers," spokesman Mohammad Naser Mehri told Xinhua, adding during the clashes nine army soldiers and 13 militants were killed.

Among the killed militants were two local Taliban commanders, Mehri said, adding that four soldiers and several militants were also wounded during the fighting in the province bordering Iran.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since April when the militant group launched its annual rebel offensive in different places of the country.

Scores of security forces and civilians were killed and wounded in a series of attacks by Taliban and Islamic State (IS) fighters over the past two weeks.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 16:10:19|Editor: liuxin

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ULAN BATOR, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The bodies of all 17 mountaineers, who went missing after successfully climbing to the summit of Mount Otgontenger in Mongolia despite a ban, have been found, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of Mongolia said Wednesday.

Brigadier General Gombojav Ariunbuyan, first deputy head of the NEMA, said at a press conference that the climbers could have fallen from the cliff.

The 17 Mongolians, including seven women, were among a group of 27 climbers who successfully stood on Mount Otgontenger, the highest peak of the Khangai Mountains in Mongolia standing 4,021 meters above sea level. But they ran into an avalanche during their descent and were reported missing Sunday.

The bodies were found at an altitude of 3,200-3,450 meters on the mountain, the NEMA official said.

A rescue team from the NEMA searched for the missing mountaineers from Oct. 23 to 25, discovering 10 bodies Monday. Four more were found Tuesday and the last three found Wednesday.

The search and rescue operation led by Deputy Prime Minister Ulziisaikhan Enkhtuvshin involved over 200 people and two helicopters.

Since 2015, the authorities have banned climbing Mount Otgontenger for environmental protection.

The mountaineers went up despite the ban and ignored a call by the inspector for environmental protection of Zavkhan Province, where the peak is located, to suspend their ascent.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 16:20:23|Editor: Liangyu

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HONG KONG, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Secretary for Home Affairs of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will visit on Thursday Hong Kong youths doing business at entrepreneurship bases in Shenzhen to learn the city's opportunities for Hong Kong youth entrepreneurs.

Secretary for Home Affairs of the HKSAR government Lau Kong-wah is scheduled to visit two youth entrepreneurship bases in Shenzhen and exchange views with young people from Hong Kong who have started their businesses in these two bases to learn more about their working situation there.

Representatives from seven non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Hong Kong will join the visit and "gain insights into Shenzhen's vibrant atmosphere for innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as the opportunities for young Hong Kong entrepreneurs," the HKSAR government said in a press release.

The seven NGOs are subsidized by the Entrepreneurship Matching Fund (EMF) under the HKSAR's Youth Development Fund (YDF), which assists Hong Kong young people in starting their own business, including setting up new business in cities of the Chinese mainland, by providing financial support in the form of matching funds for NGOs.

The EMF has approved subsidies to nine NGOs in the first round to implement their entrepreneurship projects. Among them, five have completed the selection of young entrepreneurs, three are vetting the applications and the remaining one has started recruiting young entrepreneurs.

Young people aged 18 to 35 can approach the subsidized NGOs to apply for their entrepreneurship projects. The NGOs are expected to provide mentorship programs with relevant guidance and support to young entrepreneurs.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 16:35:30|Editor: Liangyu

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BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- China will launch a nationwide inspection on sale prices of commercial property in its latest effort to standardize the country's property market.

From Oct. 30 to Nov. 30, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the National Development and Reform Commission will jointly inspect irregularities of real estate developers and agents on commercial property sales.

Irregularities include fabricating information on housing sales,publishing fake advertisements and artificially inflating housing prices, market manipulation and hoarding unsold homes, according to a notice released by the two departments.

Irregularities will be punished severely and typical cases will be exposed publicly to ensure effectiveness of the inspection, according to the notice.

China's property market continued to cool as home prices faltered or posted slower growth in major cities amid tough policies to curb speculation.

Of 70 cities surveyed, home prices in 44 cities rose month on month in September, compared with 46 in August, the National Bureau of Statistics said.

The Chinese authorities have constantly reiterated that "houses are built for living in, not speculation," and analysts expect housing controls to last for the rest of the year at least.

Authorities are studying a "long-term mechanism" for real estate regulation and advancing legislative work on the development of the home rental market.
NAIROBI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's local investors have said the country had lost approximately 7 billion U.S. dollars in the last four months due to political uncertainty associated with electioneering.

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) told a media briefing in Nairobi on Tuesday that between July and October economic activity has slowed down due to anxiety surrounding the elections.

"The private sector having reviewed the loss, has estimated it to be about 10 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) which is equivalent to 7 billion dollars," KEPSA Trustee Patrick Obath said.

Kenyans went to the presidential polls on Aug. 8 but the Supreme Court later nullified the results on Sept. 1 and ordered a re-run within 60 days.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) set the date for repeat presidential polls for Thursday.

Leading opposition leader Raila Odinga has boycotted the polls, citing lack of requested reforms at the IEBC before the repeat balloting.

The opposition has been holding regular street demonstrations to protest the repeat presidential polls and has been demanding the elections to be postponed.

Obath said the prevailing political uncertainty in the country is threatening to destabilize the economy.

He said the private sector shares Kenyans' pain from any damage that comes from election-related chaos.

"Our members, especially the small and medium enterprises, have experienced financial loss arising from the election itself, and from associated chaos," he added.

"This is why we have consistently called Kenyans' attention to the disastrous economic consequences of the present uncertainty which affects all Kenyans," Obath said.

According to KEPSA, the public transport sector lost 7 million dollars in the week following the elections and is experiencing daily losses of up to 750,000 dollars since Sept. 1.
(File Photo) A Kurdish man puts his finger into a bottle of ink at a polling station during the referendum vote in Erbil, Iraq, on Sept. 25, 2017. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

BAGHDAD, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) on Wednesday proposed freeze of the results of the Kurdish independence referendum to pave the way for a dialogue with Baghdad government on the basis of the Iraqi constitution.

"We offer to the government, as well as the Iraqi and global public opinion, immediate cease-fire and the halt of all military operations in the Kurdistan region," a KRG statement said.

"Freeze the results of the referendum conducted in Iraqi Kurdistan, and to initiate an open dialogue between the regional government and the federal government on the basis of the Iraqi constitution," the statement said.

It said the KRG does not want war with Baghdad which "will have no winner. It will instead lead the country to great devastation in all aspects of life."

The Iraqi government has not yet responded to the Kurdish offer that came after sporadic clashes occurred between the Kurdish Peshmerga forces and the federal forces which advanced in the disputed areas claimed by both sides outside the region.

On Oct. 16, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, also the commander-in-chief of Iraqi forces, ordered the government forces to enter the oil-rich Kirkuk province in northern Iraq to regain control of the ethnically-mixed disputed areas.

Tensions are escalating between Baghdad and the region of Kurdistan after the Kurds held a controversial referendum on the independence of the Kurdistan region and the disputed areas.

The ethnic Kurds consider the northern Kirkuk province and parts of Nineveh, Diyala and Salahudin provinces as disputed areas and want them to be incorporated into their region, a move fiercely opposed by the Arabs and Turkmens in the region as well as the central government.

The independence of Kurdistan is opposed not only by the Iraqi central government, but also by other countries as it would threaten the integrity of Iraq and undermine the fight against IS militants.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 17:00:39|Editor: Yamei

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TOKYO, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The scandal-hit Japanese government-backed Shoko Chukin Bank said Wednesday that an internal probe had revealed the lender had issued dodgy loans to 265 billion yen (2.3 billion U.S. dollars).

The bank's President Kenyu Adachi told a press briefing that he would step down "at an appropriate time" as the bank's chief to take responsibility for the wide-reaching scandal.

The scandal also includes more than 400 employees of Shoko Chukin's Japan-based offices being involved in 4,609 counts of malpractice.

The malpractice included the fabricating of documentation so that loans could be made to small and medium-sized companies.

The bank was found to have approved low-interest loans to firms that did not fulfill the criteria to provide them with aid in the wake of natural or financial disasters.

The scheme, which was put into place by the government, was found to have been abused by Shoko Chukin Bank since 2008, with such financing accounting for more than 30 percent of the bank's outstanding loans.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, on Wednesday, issued its second business improvement order since May to the scandal-mired bank.

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko and other senior officials at the ministry will return part or all of their salaries for the past two months to account for their lapses in overseeing the bank, Kyodo News reported.

The bank's past and present executives, including its president, who allowed the improprieties to happen will also be fined.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 17:05:41|Editor: liuxin

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ABUJA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian troops have killed 11 fighters of the terror group Boko Haram in an operation aimed at routing the terrorists from their stronghold in the country's northeastern state of Borno, the army said Wednesday.

Nigerian army spokesman Sani Usman told Xinhua the troops also destroyed a bomb-making factory operated by the terrorists in Ngala local area of Borno in the same operation on Tuesday.

A gun truck, four suicide bomb vests and various improvised explosive devices were among the arms and ammunition recovered from the terrorists, Usman added.

Nigeria has made a considerable gain on the Boko Haram front, with its security forces having dislodged Boko Haram fighters from the Sambisa Forest, the group's largest training camp in the country.

Boko Haram has been blamed for the deaths of more than 20,000 people and displacing of 2.3 million others in Nigeria since 2009.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 17:05:43|Editor: liuxin

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MANILA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte boarded Russia's anti-submarine destroyer Admiral Panteleyev on Wednesday to witness the handover of 5,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles and military equipment that Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted to the Philippines.

The Malacanang presidential palace said in a statement that Duterte also toured the shipboard main alley, air defense platform, main artillery unit, and the wardroom. Admiral Panteleyev has been docked in Manila since Friday for a goodwill visit.

Following his tour, the statement said Duterte then witnessed the signing of the certificate of donation. After the signing, Duterte inspected the weapons and ammunition.

Aside from 5,000 units of AK-74M Kalashnikov, Russia also donated 20 units of Ural-4320 multi-purpose vehicles, one million units of 1943-type cartridges with steel core bullets and 5,000 units of steel helmets.

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu signed an agreement for Military-Technical Cooperation between the two countries on the sidelines of the fourth Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting - Plus, held in Clark, Pampanga, a province north of Manila.

"The document contained provisions on various areas of military and technical cooperation such as research, production support, as well as possible exchange of experts and training of personnel for joint programs," Lorenzana said.

In addition, he said the two governments also signed the contract for the Philippines' procurement of defense articles from Rosoboronexport, a Russian state-owned company."

Also Lorenzana and Shoigu had a bilateral meeting on Tuesday. Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev said Shoigu is the first ever Russian defense minister to visit the Philippines.

In a text message to Xinhua, Khovaev said a number of documents on bilateral military cooperation, including contracts for supply of Russian weaponry and ammunition, have been signed during (Shoigu's) visit.

Three Russian warships - large anti-submarine destroyers Admiral Panteleyev and Admiral Vinogradov, and large sea tanker Boris Butoma - anchored in Manila on Friday in time for Shoigu's visit. The warships are scheduled to leave port on Thursday.

It was the third port visit this year by Russian warships.

Duterte announced Russia's donations earlier this month, saying his "good friend" Putin sent the military equipment.

Duterte visited Russia in May, but his trip was cut short after pro-Islamic State militants attacked the southern Philippine city of Marawi.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 17:10:44|Editor: Liangyu

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BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- China Wednesday announced a final ruling on imposing anti-dumping duties on polyformaldehyde (POM) copolymer imported from the Republic of Korea, Thailand and Malaysia.

The Ministry of Commerce ruled that the three countries had dumped the product into China, causing substantial damage to the domestic industry, according to a statement on its website.

Starting Tuesday, Chinese importers of the product will be required to pay anti-dumping duties based on dumping margins of between 6.2 percent and 34.9 percent over the next five years, the ministry said.

POM copolymer is a thermoplastic resin frequently used to replace metals in manufacturing.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 17:30:50|Editor: liuxin

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JUBA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least six people have been reported missing and 37 others rescued after a boat capsized on Monday night on the River Nile in South Sudan, an official told Xinhua on Wednesday.

According to deputy chairperson of boat associations in Jonglei State, David Garang Aleer, a sailboat capsized after it rammed into a stationed one at the dock due to over-speeding.

"A boat carrying 41 passengers capsized at 8 p.m. local time on Monday, leaving six people missing including three children," Aleer said.

He said the boat was overloaded with passengers as well as grain, fuel and dried fish before its capsized.

Aleer said the two boat drivers were arrested and awaiting investigations.

Meanwhile, local journalists who spoke to Xinhua on condition of anonymity said the boat was carrying over 55 passengers before it departed from north-eastern Jonglei State.

"Survivors I spoke to on Tuesday evening said the number registered was more than 55 people without even counting the children," said the journalist.

He noted that out of 37 people rescued, two were seriously injured. One old woman was laying on the ground unconscious and in serious condition.

River Nile is not only a major source of drinking water in South Sudan but also provides a critical means of transport for passengers and goods.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 17:40:52|Editor: Liangyu

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MACAO, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The second Boao Forum for Asia Development Summit is to kick off in China's Macao Special Administrative Region early next month, organizers said in a press release on Wednesday.

The two-day event, starting on Nov. 5, will be themed smart city and the development of Asia. It is co-organized by the Boao Forum for Asia, the Macao Youth Federation and Macau University of Science and Technology.

The topics of the summit will include smart city and the development of Asia, youth talents and the future of Asia, the Belt and Road Initiative and the specialized financial services.

The first Boao Forum for Asia Development Summit was held in May 2015 in Macao.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 17:50:56|Editor: Song Lifang

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ABUJA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Troops in Nigeria's Borno state have rescued 85 people held hostage by terror group Boko Haram, the army said on Wednesday.

The captives were rescued late Tuesday in a combined military operation in the northeastern state, Sani Usman, the army spokesman, said.

Sani told Xinhua the captives were rescued as troops launched an offensive on Boko Haram hideouts in four villages in Ngala local area.

The troops also destroyed a Boko Haram logistics base and a workshop in two of the villages, he said.

The military operation was aimed at routing the terrorists from their stronghold in Borno.

Nigeria has made a considerable gain on the Boko Haram front, with its security forces operating in the restive northeastern region dislodging Boko Haram fighters from the Sambisa Forest, the group's largest training camp in the country.

Boko Haram has been blamed for the deaths of more than 20,000 people and displacing of 2.3 million others in Nigeria since 2009.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 18:26:03|Editor: liuxin

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NAIROBI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Supreme Court on Wednesday failed to rule on a petition seeking to stop Thursday's repeat presidential election, citing a lack of quorum.

Chief Justice David Maraga said only he and one of his colleagues, Justice Isaac Lenaola, were available for the hearing of the case.

Five out of the court's seven judges are needed for a quorum. The announcement means the Thursday's election will proceed as planned.

Maraga said that due to Tuesday night's shooting at the bodyguard of Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, she could not be available for the hearing of the petition.

Another judge Ibrahim Mohammed is out of the country for medical treatment, said Maraga, who is also the president of the Supreme Court.

Maraga said two judges, Jackton Ojwang and Smokin Wanjala, are not able to come to court while Njoki Ndung'u who was out of Nairobi is unable to get a flight back.

"As the two of us can not form a quorum under Article 163 (2) of the constitution, this matter can not therefore be heard this morning. It's accordingly adjourned to a date to be taken in the registry," Maraga said.

Another judge, Justice Ibrahim, has been unwell since the last case that nullified the results of the Aug. 8 presidential elections.

Petitioners had moved to the Supreme Court to demand an order to postpone the repeat election, arguing the current political atmosphere was polarized, and that it was impossible for the electoral commission to conduct a free, fair and credible election.

Meanwhile, the High Court ruled on Wednesday that the appointment of Constituency Returning officers and their deputies for the fresh election was illegal.

High Court Judge George Odunga ruled that the process of appointing was not in accordance with regulations.

He however declined to quash the gazette notice appointing them, arguing that there was no prayer for cancellation and/or postponement of the election, and therefore the orders sought could not be granted.

The ruling now leaves Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) at a crossroad on whether the same Returning officers and their deputies have the power to oversee Thursday's election.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 18:36:05|Editor: liuxin

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ISLAMABAD, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Wednesday summoned Indian deputy high commissioner and strongly condemned the "unprovoked ceasefire violation" by the Indian forces, which killed two civilians and injured six others, the Foreign Ministry said.

The Pakistani military said late Tuesday that at least two women were killed and six other civilians were injured in Indian forces' firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region.

The Indian forces used artillery, heavy mortars and automatic weapons along the LoC, "targeting innocent civil population" of villages Naukot and Qaiser Kot in Lipa Valley, said the military.

Director General South Asian Desk at the Foreign Ministry summoned Indian deputy high commissioner and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian forces, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws," the statement said.

Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire in 2003 along the LoC. However, both sides accuse each other of violation of the agreement.

"The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation," the Foreign Ministry said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 18:56:11|Editor: liuxin

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BERLIN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called for dialogue between his country and Russia on Tuesday.

Speaking during an interview with the newspaper "Kommersant", which was also published on the website of the German presidency, Steinmeier said that politicians from Germany and Russia "owed it to their people" to prevent the two countries from drifting apart.

"We cannot allow ourselves, not to speak with each other", Steinmeier warned.

However, the German president also noted that his country's government would continue to abide by the European Union sanctions against Russia because it did not recognise what he described as the "internationally-unlawful annexation of Crimea".

Steinmeier further sided with the German industrial concern Siemens with regards to the recent appearance of four of its turbines in Crimea in contradiction of the existing sanctions regime. Siemens claims that it is a "victim" in the affair, having been commissioned to deliver the turbines to a project on the Southern Russian peninsula of Taman.

The German president criticized that Russian businessmen had hereby broken their contract with Siemens and "damaged the trust" of German investors.

Steinmeier arrives in Moscow for talks on Wednesday as the first German Head of State to do so since 2010. During his visit, Steinmeier will hold discussions with Russian President Wladimir Putin, as well as former president Michail Gorbatschow.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 19:01:13|Editor: liuxin

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TRIPOLI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Several soldiers of Libya's eastern-based army were killed and injured on Wednesday morning in a terrorist attack on a checkpoint in eastern Libya, according to local sources.

The attack is believed to be carried out by Islamic State (IS) affiliates, targeting an army checkpoint stationed in south of the eastern city Ejdabia.

IS affiliates in Libya attacked an army checkpoint in southern Libya in August, and slaughtered nine soldiers.

The army, led by General Khalifa Haftar, defeated extremist groups in the eastern city Benghazi.

IS affiliates were also expelled from Sirte, some 450 km east the capital Tripoli, by forces of the UN-backed government last year, forcing them to flee to desert and mountain areas in the south.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 19:06:17|Editor: Song Lifang

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PUL-E-Alam, Afghanistan, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 militants including a Taliban shadow district chief and eight foreign nationals, were killed and five others injured, following an air raid in Charkh district of the eastern province of Logar, an official said Wednesday.

"Security forces launched an overnight operation against Taliban in Charkh district, killing 10 militants including eight foreign nationals and a shadow district chief besides injuring five others," spokesman for provincial government, Salim Saleh, told Xinhua.

Without identifying the nationalities of foreign fighters, the official said investigation has been initiated into the case.

Taliban militants who are active in parts of Logar province and enjoying the support of foreign fighters are yet to make comments.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 19:16:21|Editor: Liangyu

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HONG KONG, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Monetary authorities of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Singapore signed on Wednesday an agreement to strengthen cooperation on fintech, with a view to bolstering ties between the two sides and fostering fintech development within the region.

The agreement, signed between heads of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), was exchanged in Hong Kong at the Fintech Day organized by the HKMA.

The HKMA and MAS will collaborate on a number of initiatives, including joint innovation projects, referrals of innovative businesses, information sharing and exchange of expertise, to facilitate financial innovation in Hong Kong and Singapore, the HKMA said in a press release.

The two sides have also committed to working on a strategy project on trade finance cross-border infrastructure, based on Distributed Ledger Technology, as their first collaborative initiative, which will facilitate cross-border trade and financing.

Details will be announced by the two authorities next month.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 19:16:21|Editor: Liangyu

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NAIROBI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's supermarkets are intensifying efforts to lure Chinese consumers to boost their revenues, a lobby group said on Wednesday.

Retail Trade Association of Kenya (RETRAK) CEO Wambui Mbarire told Xinhua in an interview that local supermarkets chains are stocking products that appeal to the Chinese community.

"The retail sector is seeking to expand its revenues by tapping into the growing Chinese population in Kenya," Mbarire said.

In the past decade, the size of the Chinese population has expanded due to growing Sino-Kenya relations. China has now emerged as the largest financier of infrastructure projects in Kenya.

Mbarire noted that a lot of the local supermarkets especially in the urban areas have dedicated shelves for their Chinese customers.

She noted that Chinese consumers have high purchasing power and will therefore help the retailers diversify their revenues.

Kenya's supermarket sector is facing challenges with some of the leading retailers having huge debts to their suppliers. Leading regional supermarket chain Nakumatt has so far closed six of its branches since the beginning of the year.

Mbarire said that formal supermarkets currently account for 30 percent of the total retail trade in Kenya.

According to RETRAK, the growth of formal retail sector is set to expand due to increasing population as well as urbanization.

"People are being draw to shop in supermarkets as they offer consumers an opportunity to conveniently buy all household goods in one place," she added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 19:26:25|Editor: liuxin

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BERLIN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU), Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens agreed on the outlines of the household and finance policy of a prospective "Jamaica coalition" on Tuesday night.

According to a resulting joint paper drafted by negotiators, Germany's next government intends to launch an investment program and lower a range of taxes while maintaining a balanced budget.

"The negotiation partners agree that the debt ceiling enshrined in the German constitution must be abided by," the paper reads.

CDU secretary-general Peter Tauber described the talks as a "very good evening", while his FDP counterpart Nicola Beer praised the "good result of talks."

Greens leader Cem Oezdemir said the negotiations on spending policy were a "start", but noted that all proposals agreed were still subject to the availability of funds.

The parties agreed to devise their own joint spending framework for the next four years which could entail greater room for additional expenditure than the 30 billion euros (35 billion U.S. dollars) currently envisioned by the finance ministry.

Contrary to the Green party's redistributive ambitions, the negotiators ruled out introducing new "substance taxes" such as a levy on wealth or inheritances. However, Tuesday's paper did raise the prospect of lowering the fiscal burden on families as well as low and middle-income earners.

The likely next coalition government in Berlin wants to create more fiscal incentives for the construction of rental housing properties, as well as corporate research and development spending. The Jamaica partners also want to cut subsidies, in particular those which "contradict" Germany's climate policy goals.

FDP parliamentary vice-president Wolfgang Kubicki further told the press that negotiators were in agreement about eliminating Germany's controversial "solidarity tax" that has come under fire from the EU because of issues surrounding the gender pay gap, an issue long championed by his party.

Addressing strained transatlantic relations, Oezdemir wrote on his party's website that plans by the last government to raise defense spending were not part of the "Jamaica" coalition's spending objectives.

The finance plan of the "grand coalition", which included a commitment to gradually increase military expenditure to meet the official NATO goal of 2.0 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), no longer formed a "shared foundation" for future household policy, Oezdemir wrote.

In contrast to the harmonious talks on finances, the Greens clashed with the CDU, CSU and FDP over their attitudes towards European Union (EU) reform and German-Turkish relations on Tuesday night.

The Greens opposed demands by the CDU, CSU and FDP to formally end EU accession talks with Turkey. Calls by the Greens for Germany to embrace EU reform proposals made by French President Emmanuel Macron were met with skepticism from the CDU, CSU and FDP. (1 euro = 1.177 U.S. dollars)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 19:56:37|Editor: Liangyu

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HONG KONG, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Chief Executive Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor visited a Short-term Food Assistance Service center in Kwun Tong District and a kindergarten in Wong Tai Sin District Wednesday to learn about the services provided and listen to the views of users and operators.

Lam first visited the Daily Meal Network of the Kwun Tong Methodist Social Service in the afternoon to learn about the current operation of the Short-term Food Assistance Service.

Since its introduction in 2009, the Short-term Food Assistance Service has provided basic food supply for low-income earners who have difficulties in coping with their food expenditure temporarily for a period of up to eight weeks.

Lam said as stated in her Policy Address, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government will allocate an additional 447 million HK dollars (about 57 million U.S. dollars) for extending the service for three years to 2021 to help people in need to meet urgent needs.

She then visited Ho Lap Kindergarten to look at the current rehabilitation services provided to children in pre-primary education who have special needs.

This kindergarten receives on-site cross-disciplinary services provided by occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, psychologists, social workers and special child care workers, and there are currently 11 children receiving services at this kindergarten.

Lam said there are more than 200 specific measures to promote Hong Kong's economic development and improve people's livelihood in the Policy Address and the Policy Agenda.

"I will continue to get in touch with different sectors of the community and listen to their views in the future, as well as personally supervise the implementation of these measures," she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 20:01:40|Editor: liuxin

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MADRID, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish Interior Ministry confirmed that a 52-year-old man was detained here on Wednesday on suspicion of belonging to the Islamic State (DAESH).

The arrested man has been named as Luis Jose Fernandez Galan, also known as Yusuf Galan, and is the only Spanish terrorist to form part of the Al Quaeda cell to be tried and condemned in Spain for the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack against the United States.

Fernandez Galan was sentenced in October 2005 to nine years and six months in prison for forming part of a terrorist organization, and was released in May 2011.

His recent arrest is for attempting to recruit and indoctrinate people for the Islamic State, using a "sophisticated modus operandi" to spread propaganda on a large scale without being detected, using various profiles to send instant messages to as many people as possible.

The ministry also informs that he published videos to teach the use of blade weapons accompanied by messages inciting people to carry out terror attacks.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 20:16:45|Editor: liuxin

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MOGADISHU, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least ten people were killed and more than 16 others injured on Wednesday when a landmine blast hit the Africa Union peacekeeping mission (AMISOM) convoy south of Somalia's Mogadishu.

A security official told Xinhua by phone that the incident happened at area between Arbiska and Lafole near Afgoye town, about 30 km south of the capital Mogadishu.

"We have the report that over 10 people mostly civilians who were in a commuter bus were killed, and 16 others injured after landmine explosion hit to AMISOM convoy sparking an exchange of gunfire with Al-Shabaab militants there," the security official said.

AMISOM Force Spokesperson Wilson Rono confirmed the incident, saying the victims were killed during a fighting between the AU forces and Al-Shabaab militants.

Rono said AMISOM lost one soldier and another was injured during the ambush.

Independent sources said at least three AU soldiers, two teachers, some students, a security guard and more than four Al-Shabaab fighters were those killed in the fighting.

Al-Shabaab did not comment on the latest deadly incident along Mogadishu-Afgoye road but their affiliate websites said the AU forces massacred civilians after Al-Shabaab fighters ambushed the AU mission's convoy.

The latest incident came after some 358 people were killed in Oct. 14 bomb attacks in Mogadishu that has left several people still missing.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 20:26:47|Editor: liuxin

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MANILA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The defense ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and eight dialogue partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Russia, India, Australia and New Zealand, have reaffirmed their "strong commitment" to eradicating extremist groups in the region, the Philippine defense chief said on Wednesday.

In a chairman's statement issued on the following day of the 4th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) held on Tuesday, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the 18 ministers agreed that "the emergence of extremist and terrorist groups is not only a problem of few countries but the whole region."

"The meeting also expressed strong commitment to contribute in eradicating extremist groups and in the de-radicalization efforts to prevent proliferation of such groups," said Lorenzana, who chaired the 11th ADMM and the 4th ADMM-Plus, as the Philippines is chair of ASEAN this year.

Terrorism and violent extremism were top on the agenda, the statement reads, adding the ministers also exchanged views on maritime security, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, cyber security and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The ADMM-Plus ministers took off from the joint statement issued by the 10 ASEAN defense ministers on Monday where they agreed "to explore creative approaches and to combat (terrorism and violent extremism), encourage stronger intelligence sharing on movement of terrorists and terrorist financing as well as develop and enhance collaboration with civil society and other institutions to promote moderation and tolerance as an integral component of a comprehensive approach in combatting terrorism and extremism."

On maritime security, Lorenzana said the ministers are also committed to promoting peace, and ensuring security and stability in the region, stressing the need to peacefully resolve the sea disputes.

On the security situation in the Korean Peninsula, Lorenzana said the ministers expressed concerns on the escalation of tension in that region and called for peaceful conflict resolution through diplomatic means.

"Some countries condemned the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for its multiple ballistic missile launches which violates UN Security Council resolutions," Lorenzana said.

"Also discussed during the meeting is the situation in Myanmar's State of Rakhine and the implication to regional stability of the migration of people thereat to neighboring countries (especially) in the Southeast Asian states," Lorenzana said.

Moreover, due to the growing complexity of security challenges buffeting the region, Lorenzana said the ministers moved to make the ADMM-Plus meeting yearly, instead of biennially or every two years.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 20:41:50|Editor: Song Lifang

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SHANGHAI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 18,000 firms have registered with the customs authorities in the Shanghai free trade zone (FTZ) since it was launched four years ago, Shanghai Customs said Wednesday.

The figure doubled the number of companies that were already operating in the four bonded zones that merged to become the Shanghai FTZ in September 2013, bringing the total now operating within the zone to more than 27,000, the customs said.

Of the newly-registered companies, 13,600 are privately owned, more than 3,200 are wholly foreign-funded businesses, and 940 are Chinese-foreign joint ventures.

The companies cover 54 industries. Some 94 percent are wholesale or retail firms, while 5 percent are financial enterprises. The rest mainly concern transportation, storage and postal businesses.

The surge in company registrations has helped boost trade in Shanghai despite trade gloom nationwide.

In the first three quarters this year, foreign trade in the Shanghai FTZ rose 16.2 percent year on year to 997.6 billion yuan (150.2 billion U.S. dollars).

When the Shanghai FTZ was launched it streamlined procedures for business registration. Companies can obtain licenses to operate in the zone in three working days of applying, compared with 40 working days in the previous bonded zones.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 20:41:51|Editor: liuxin

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PHNOM PENH, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Wednesday renewed his call for the opposition members to defect to his ruling party before their party is dissolved.

The government lodged a complaint to the Supreme Court on Oct. 6 requesting the dissolution of the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), a month after its leader Kem Sokha was arrested for allegedly plotting the overthrow of the government with the U.S. support. He was charged with treason, the charge that could face up to 30 years in prison.

Speaking to about 14,000 garment workers in a factory in northern Phnom Penh suburb, Hun Sen said the government had found concrete evidence to prove Sokha's treasonous act and his party's involvement in the act.

"When the party (CNRP) is dissolved, we don't want to see its effect on innocent party members, so we welcome every defection from the party's lawmakers, members, and commune councilors to the Cambodian People's Party (CPP)," said Hun Sen, who is also the CPP's president.

The prime minister also promised to keep the same positions for CNRP commune councilors who had defected to the CPP before their party was disbanded.

On Oct. 22, CNRP lawmaker Long Buny of Prey Veng province announced his defection to the CPP after the prime minister's first appeal.

Also, a number of CNRP commune councilors had already defected to the CPP, according to local media on Wednesday.

CNRP is the main rival to the CPP, as the Southeast Asian country is gearing up for the national elections in July 2018.

In the last national elections in 2013, the CNRP earned 55 parliamentary seats and the CPP won 68 seats in the 123-seat parliament.

In the commune elections in June this year, the CNRP received about 3 million votes, or 43.83 percent of the total votes, as the CPP won 3.54 million votes, or 50.76 percent.

The CNRP is currently holding 5,007 commune council seats, including 489 commune chief seats.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 20:41:52|Editor: liuxin

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PHNOM PENH, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Wednesday signed a royal decree to deliver a pardon to former opposition senator Hong Sok Hour at the request of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

In the royal decree, the monarch said he granted amnesty to convict Hong Sok Hour, 59, who was convicted by the Appeal Court to seven years in prison on June 29, this year for falsifying a public document, using the falsified document, and inciting chaos to social security.

"Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen of the Kingdom of Cambodia must take responsibility to implement this royal decree from the day of signature," the king wrote.

Sok Hour is a former senator of the Sam Rainsy Party that was merged with the Human Rights Party in late 2012 to form a major opposition party called the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

He was arrested in August 2015 in Phnom Penh after posting to Facebook a fake version of a border treaty signed between Cambodia and Vietnam in 1979.

The pardon came after Sok Hour sent Hun Sen a written apology last month, expressing his regret for using the fake document to attack the Cambodian government in the border issue with Vietnam.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 20:51:56|Editor: Song Lifang

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TIRANA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Albania has adopted two important aspects of environmental policies aimed at keeping the country clean, Albanian minister of tourism and environment Blendi Klosi told reporters Wednesday.

The new policies foresee toughening the law on anyone who commits an environmental crime, and a massive education initiative geared towards young people to keep Albania clean.

"The penal measures against those committing environmental crimes will toughen, while the massive education for a clean environment will be a priority of the ministry of tourism and environment," Klosi said while addressing a conference.

According to him, those who pollute the environment, the country's common wealth, and commit an environmental crime, has to be punished.

He informed that Albanian authorities would soon start talks with the big polluters in Albania in order to tackle air pollution.

Referring to the national action "For a clean Albania" that was launched last summer, Klosi invited citizens to join in institutional efforts to build a culture of maintaining the environment for everyone.

Albania is considered a country with high pollution.

According to international reports, the air pollution here has deteriorated, causing a significant number of deaths in Albania.

Some 2,120 people died in Albania in 2016 as a result of deterioration of air pollution, a 2016 report on European air quality by the European Environment Agency showed recently.

According to Beqiri, municipalities continue to perform poorly in terms of pollution reduction and waste management, in spite of the territorial reform, which was expected to increase the efficiency of municipalities in this regard.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 21:06:58|Editor: Song Lifang

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SHENZHEN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Residents in Hong Kong and Macao will be able to buy train tickets from vending machines at all high-speed rail stations in south China's Guangdong Province before the end of the year.

Currently, Hong Kong and Macao residents generally have to buy tickets at ticket windows or pick up tickets at ticket windows after purchasing online.

Chen Xiaomei, deputy director of passenger traffic at Guangzhou Railway Group Corporation, said recently that Hong Kong and Macao residents with Chinese mainland travel permits were already able to buy tickets from vending machines at some major train stations in Guangdong.

By the end of this year, all train stations in Guangdong are expected to provide such services, said Chen.

Currently, 48 ticket vending machines in Shenzhen, neighbouring Hong Kong, provide the service. Another 35 will be open soon.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 21:22:02|Editor: Liangyu

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Xi Jinping is elected as general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Oct. 25, 2017. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The following is the biographical sketch of Xi Jinping:

Xi Jinping, male, Han ethnicity, was born in June 1953 and is from Fuping, Shaanxi Province. He began his first job in January 1969 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in January 1974. Xi graduated from School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tsinghua University where he completed an in-service graduate program in Marxist theory and ideological and political education. He holds a Doctor of Law degree.

Xi is currently General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, President of the People's Republic of China (PRC), and Chairman of the PRC Central Military Commission.

2013 - General Secretary, CPC Central Committee

Chairman, CPC Central Military Commission

President, PRC

Chairman, PRC Central Military Commission

2012-2013 General Secretary, CPC Central Committee

Chairman, CPC Central Military Commission

Vice President, PRC

Vice Chairman, PRC Central Military Commission

2010-2012 Member, Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Member, CPC Central Committee Secretariat

Vice President, PRC

Vice Chairman, CPC Central Military Commission

Vice Chairman, PRC Central Military Commission

President, Central Party School

2008-2010 Member, Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Member, CPC Central Committee Secretariat

Vice President, PRC

President, Central Party School

2007-2008 Member, Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Member, CPC Central Committee Secretariat

President, Central Party School

2007 Secretary, CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee

First Secretary, Party Committee of the Shanghai Garrison Command

2003-2007 Secretary, CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee

Chairman, Standing Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress

First Secretary, Party Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial Military Region

2002-2003 Secretary, CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee

Acting Governor, Zhejiang Province

First Secretary, Party Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial Military Region

Vice Chairman, National Defense Mobilization Committee of the Nanjing Military Area Command

Chairman, Zhejiang Provincial National Defense Mobilization Committee

2002 Deputy Secretary, CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee

Acting Governor, Zhejiang Province

Vice Chairman, National Defense Mobilization Committee of the Nanjing Military Area Command

Chairman, Zhejiang Provincial National Defense Mobilization Committee

2000-2002 Deputy Secretary, CPC Fujian Provincial Committee

Governor, Fujian Province

Vice Chairman, National Defense Mobilization Committee of the Nanjing Military Area Command

Chairman, Fujian Provincial National Defense Mobilization Committee

First Political Commissar, Fujian Provincial Anti-aircraft Artillery Reserve Division

Attended an in-service graduate program in Marxist theory and ideological and political education at School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tsinghua University and was awarded a Doctor of Law degree (1998-2002)

1999-2000 Deputy Secretary, CPC Fujian Provincial Committee

Acting Governor, Fujian Province

Vice Chairman, National Defense Mobilization Committee of the Nanjing Military Area Command

Chairman, Fujian Provincial National Defense Mobilization Committee

First Political Commissar, Fujian Provincial Anti-aircraft Artillery Reserve Division

1996-1999 Deputy Secretary, CPC Fujian Provincial Committee

First Political Commissar, Fujian Provincial Anti-aircraft Artillery Reserve Division

1995-1996 Deputy Secretary, CPC Fujian Provincial Committee

Secretary, CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee

Chairman, Standing Committee of the Fuzhou Municipal People's Congress

First Secretary, Party Committee of the Fuzhou Military Sub-region

1993-1995 Member, Standing Committee of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee

Secretary, CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee

Chairman, Standing Committee of the Fuzhou Municipal People's Congress

First Secretary, Party Committee of the Fuzhou Military Sub-region

1990-1993 Secretary, CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, Fujian Province

Chairman, Standing Committee of the Fuzhou Municipal People's Congress, Fujian Province

First Secretary, Party Committee of the Fuzhou Military Sub-region

1988-1990 Secretary, CPC Ningde Prefectural Committee, Fujian Province

First Secretary, Party Committee of the Ningde Military Sub-region

1985-1988 Member, Standing Committee of the CPC Xiamen Municipal Committee, Fujian Province

Vice Mayor, Xiamen

1983-1985 Secretary, CPC Zhengding County Committee, Hebei Province

First Political Commissar and Party Committee First Secretary, Zhengding County Military Affairs Department, Hebei Province

1982-1983 Deputy Secretary, CPC Zhengding County Committee, Hebei Province

1979-1982 Office secretary, General Office of the State Council

Office secretary, General Office of the Central Military Commission (active duty)

1975-1979 Studied basic organic synthesis at Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University

1969-1975 Educated youth and Party branch secretary, Liangjiahe Brigade, Wen'anyi Commune, Yanchuan County, Shaanxi Province

Alternate member, 15th CPC Central Committee

Member, 16th through 19th CPC Central Committees

Member, Political Bureau and its Standing Committee, and Secretariat, 17th CPC Central Committee

Member, Political Bureau and its Standing Committee, and General Secretary, 18th and 19th CPC Central Committees

Elected PRC Vice President at the First Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC)

Appointed CPC Central Military Commission Vice Chairman at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee

Appointed PRC Central Military Commission Vice Chairman at the 17th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 11th NPC

Appointed CPC Central Military Commission Chairman at the First Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee

Elected PRC President and PRC Central Military Commission Chairman at the First Session of the 12th NPC

Appointed CPC Central Military Commission Chairman at the First Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 21:27:04|Editor: Yamei

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BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, re-elected general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Wednesday, said the CPC and Kuomintang (KMT) Party should contribute to the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait and "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

Xi's comment was in response to KMT Chairman Wu Den-yih congratulating him on his election for a second term.

In his congratulatory message, Wu said that with joint efforts from the two parties, cross-Strait relations have changed from tense opposition to peaceful development.

Wu said he hoped the KMT and the CPC can further adhere to the 1992 Consensus, deepen mutual trust and enhance cooperation in order to make new progress of peaceful development across the Strait.

In reply, Xi expressed hopes that the two parties would keep in mind the well-being of compatriots across the Strait and the interests of the Chinese nation. He said the two parties should consolidate the existing political foundations, increase mutual trust and strengthen cooperation, to make contributions to the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait and "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

Xi said that since 2005, the two parties have brought about the peaceful development of relations across the Strait on a common political basis of both adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence," which has benefited people on both sides of the Strait.

People First Party Chairman James Soong and New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming, among others in Taiwan, also sent congratulatory messages to Xi.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 21:32:08|Editor: Liangyu

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Wang Huning is elected as a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Oct. 25, 2017. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The following is the biographical sketch of Wang Huning:

Wang Huning, male, Han ethnicity, was born in October 1955 and is from Laizhou, Shandong Province. He began his first job in February 1977 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in April 1984. Wang graduated from Department of International Politics, Fudan University where he completed a graduate program in international politics and was awarded a Master of Law degree. He is a professor.

Wang is currently a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, a member of CPC Central Committee Secretariat, Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform.

2017- Member, Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Member, CPC Central Committee Secretariat

Director, Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee

Director, Office of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform

2014-2017 Member, CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Director, Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee

Director, Office of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform

2012-2014 Member, CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Director, Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee

2007-2012 Member, CPC Central Committee Secretariat

Director, Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee

2002-2007 Director, Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee

1998-2002 Deputy Director, Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee

1995-1998 Head, Politics Division, Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee

1994-1995 Dean, Law School, Fudan University

1989-1994 Dean, Department of International Politics, Fudan University

1981-1989 Teacher; Associate Professor; and Professor, Department of International Politics, Fudan University

1978-1981 Attended a Master's degree graduate program in international politics, Department of International Politics, Fudan University

1977-1978 Staff member, Shanghai Municipal Publishing Bureau

1972-1977 Attended a foreign languages training course at Officials School, Shanghai Normal University

Member, 16th through 19th CPC Central Committees

Member, Secretariat, 17th CPC Central Committee

Member, Political Bureau, 18th CPC Central Committee

Member, Political Bureau and its Standing Committee, and Secretariat, 19th CPC Central Committee
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 21:47:13|Editor: liuxin

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BUDAPEST, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The two-day World Export Development Forum 2017 started here on Wednesday, with the aim to exchange views and policies boosting competitiveness and infrastructure through connectivity, skills, and innovation.

Executive director of the Geneva-based International Trade Centre (ITC), Arancha Gonzales, spoke in a keynote speech about the importance of open markets.

"Open markets drive growth and also contribute to reducing poverty," said the head of the agency, which has a joint mandate with the World Trade Organization and the United Nations through the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

She also said it was important to understand that trade was not an "aim in itself, but an important tool leading to the sharing of prosperity."

"Trade is a force for good, but we must find ways to work together in order to make it even better," she said.

In order to do so, it is important to give more significance and support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Gonzales said.

"These small firms must be helped in their development process, mainly with the reduction of bureaucracy, the improvement of logistics, and with an access to investment capital," she said.

"The SMEs will be helped with an online tool, to be launched by the World Trade Organization (WTO), that will assist them in targeting their export markets," she said.

Hungarian President Janos Ader spoke about the importance of protecting the environment, especially as it relates to carbon emissions caused by massive ships transporting merchandise worldwide.

"A stunning 80 percent of international trade is conducted via marine transportation, and these boats are liable for three percent of the total CO2 emission of the world. The Paris accord must be extended to maritime transport as well," Ader demanded.

He also spoke of the dangers of excessive packaging of traded goods. "We use a plastic bag for 20 minutes on average, and nature needs 200 years to degrade it, which is unacceptable, given the fact that an Argentina-sized trash island floats in the ocean and we are slowly poisoning ourselves," he pointed.

Meanwhile, Peter Szijjarto, Hungary's minister of foreign affairs and trade, presented the positive effects of diplomacy focusing on trade and economics for a small country with an open economy such as Hungary.

"The success of our diplomats is not measured by the number of receptions they attend, but by the number of deals or investments they bring back home," he explained, noting that his ministry was not only responsible for diplomatic affairs, but also for international trade.

"The trade to GDP ration of Hungary is over 90 percent," he concluded, explaining that the goal of Hungary was to become a manufacturing hub in Europe, despite the strong regional competition.

"Inclusiveness and sustainability are two important concepts, inclusiveness meaning that every people, and every country, man, woman and youth, should share the prosperity from entrepreneurship and from manufacturing," Li Yong, director-general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) told the participants.

"We invite governments to support small and medium-sized enterprises with appropriate policies," he advocated.

Answering a question posed by a representative from Ghana inquiring how to turn an economy based on raw material exports to one that exports value-added goods, Li said Ghana had been helped by UNIDO in the conception of an industrial park where raw cocoa beans were turned into cocoa butter, cocoa powder and cocoa oil.

"We supported them with equipment, and we also trained technicians, and now they are connected to different markets of the world," he explained.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 21:52:15|Editor: liuxin

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BERLIN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- A 40-year-old German man has been arrested after Berlin police, acting on a tipoff, carried out raids in four separate locations in the German capital Tuesday and seized large amounts of ammunition, police said Wednesday.

The raids were conducted after months of joint investigations by Berlin police and the Attorney General's office.

Prior to Tuesday's raids, authorities received a tipoff that the man may have gained access to dangerous arms, including military weapons.

There was no immediate information if the suspect had plotted an actual attack.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 21:57:16|Editor: liuxin

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DUBAI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Dubai-based low-cost airline flydubai said here on Wednesday in a statement that it will launch daily flights to Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport from Nov. 29, marking the first UAE carrier to this airport.

Flydubai's new service will increase the carrier's frequency to the Russian capital to double the existing daily service to Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport.

Ghaith Al-Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, said "the launch of our new daily flights to Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport is based on the increase in demand for more affordable and reliable direct links to the UAE and beyond."

The airline said it recorded a 45-percent year-on-year growth in passenger amount to Russia in the first half of 2017.

Flydubai first started operating flights to Moscow in 2014 and has grown its network in Russia to 11 destinations.

Early this year, the UAE granted citizens of the Russian Federation entry visa on arrival valid for 30 days for the first time, renewable one time only for another 30 days.

This change of the Emirati visa policy has contributed to the increase in passenger number from Russia, flyduybai said quoting reports by Dubai Airports.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 22:07:20|Editor: liuxin

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TOKYO, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's dominance of the political scene will probably carry on after his ruling camp won a two-thirds "supermajority" in Sunday's lower house election, local analysts said.

The victory, nevertheless, largely a "win by default," will also see the prime minister go on struggling with low popularity which would backfire on him if he continues with some controversial policies, they added.

"WIN BY DEFAULT"

Sunday's election saw the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secure a stable majority and thus a big win for the prime minister.

While attributing the victory largely to a disparate opposition camp which had little time to fully gear up, and an electorate system that worked in the ruling camp's favor, analysts here also admitted that the victory would boost Abe's chance for winning a third term in the LDP presidential election next autumn.

"It's becoming more or less certain now that Abe will become the longest-serving prime minister in postwar Japan," said Yoichi Funabashi, political analyst and former editor in chief of Asahi Shimbun newspaper, though admitting there are still challenges against Abe inside his party.

The election win naturally helped Abe garner more support within the party, with backing from the LDP's major factions led by Hiroyuki Hosoda and by Taro Aso respectively, and LDP Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai also indicated at a press conference his support for Abe seeking a third term, according to local reports.

Funabashi said the weak opposition was also failing to form a threat to the ruling camp, with the once-main opposition Democratic Party (DP) now splitting into four parts - those joining the Party of Hope, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), those running as independents, and the DP members in the upper house of parliament.

"The CDPJ is now the main opposition, with 54 seats in the lower house. But they are still the smallest leading opposition over half a century," said Funabashi.

He added that the biggest challenge for CDPJ is not yet in number of members, but in its deficiency in national policies. "Though it is still too early to tell what kind of policies they are going to formulate in the coming months, judging from the election campaign, they are very singularly focused on constitutional and security issues," said Funabashi.

As for the Party of Hope which shared the LDP's conservative views on constitutional change and security laws, after its fatal mistake of rejecting the liberal wing of the DP, the public's enthusiasm for it has largely ebbed.

The expected enduring dominance of Abe has triggered concerns, with the LDP now controlling all legislative committees of the lower house with a majority of seats.

"Japan still needs to consolidate a major viable opposition party that is able to contend the ruling party and give options to the voters," said Funabashi.

LOW POPULARITY

Despite a landslide win for his party, Abe is still facing a low rate of public support which might backfire on him some time, analysts also pointed out.

"The people are still opposed to the Abe administration and Abe. While Abe tries to push forward his policies with the momentum of the election win, his support rate might still drop drastically. There might be much chaos," said Ukeru Magosaki, a former senior official with Japan's foreign ministry.

An Asahi Shimbun election exit poll showed that 47 percent of the voters did not want Abe to stay as prime minister. In a different poll by Kyodo News, 51 percent said they did not trust him.

"The Moritomo scandal, Kake educational institute scandal, economic deterioration, the DPRK issue, cabinet members' scandals, slip of speech...it is not known yet from which point the regime will be shaken," said Tase Yasuhiro, political analyst and Nikkei columnist.

"The point is whether there is a possibility that the people will get bored with the Abe administration. People want a stable government for economy's sake, but they also want reform in politics," he added.

Jin Jianmin, senior fellow of Fujitsu Research Institute, pointed out that with the "Abenomics" and Japan's super easy monetary policy carrying on, there might be a superficial bloom for a while, but in the long run, "the ship might sink slowly."

Abe's platform of using revenue generated by the planned 2019 consumption tax hike for welfare policies instead of reducing the nation's monumental public debt, has raised concerns over the further deterioration of Japan's fiscal health, with the nation's debt already well over twice the size of gross domestic product,

In Funabashi's opinion, Abe's relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, which has been an asset for him in the election, could also backfire on him.

"Abe visited New York to meet Trump even before his inauguration. His gamble is paying off. But we still don't know about Trump's Asian policy and trade policy yet, and judging from the past eight months, they are still worrisome. He could pose serious risks to Abe and Japan and elsewhere," said Funabashi.

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM FACING CHALLENGE

Sunday's victory is also expected give the ruling bloc a new impetus to pursue the prime minister's long-term ambition of revising the postwar pacifist Constitution, which could cause further division and chaos among the people, local analysts said.

Abe told a television program after the election that he expects "debates on revising the Constitution to deepen" in the parliament so as to seek more support from various forces on the issue, though adding that there was not time frame set for the debate.

"It is Abe's biggest passion to revise the Constitution. But I think the chance for success is still very slim. I would say it won't happen in the next three or four years," said Funabashi.

He said opposition parties such as the CDPJ will not compromise on this issue, and even the ruling camp force it through the parliament, "the public will be much split up, and at the end of day they may say no. That will be very challenging for the Abe government," said Funabashi.

"The ruling LDP will continue to try to revise the Constitution, but the Komeito party which has been cautious about it will continue to keep the LDP in check. Therefore, discussions on constitutional revision will go on for a long time," said Kazuya Iwamura, commentator from Kyodo News.

"There might also be a chance that during that stretch of time those opposed to changing constitution recover their strength," said Iwamura.

Professor Liu Di of Kyorin University in Tokyo, meanwhile, said that Abe has turned to the flag of "making Japan a normal country" in an attempt to win sympathy.

"The possibility that he might succeed in this could not be ruled out. Abe changing the pacifist Constitution is to challenge the postwar order dominated by the U.S.. In the long run, it might pave the way for Japan to become a military power again," said Liu.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 22:27:25|Editor: liuxin

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TEHRAN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday vowed that Tehran will never negotiate on its defense capabilities, including its missile program.

The Iranian leader made the remarks at a ceremony attended by Iran's army commanders, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

"Today, our conflict with the arrogant powers is over their intention to dominate our region," Khamenei said, referring to the United States and its major Western allies.

He added that the U.S. opposes Iran's influence in the Middle East and beyond.

"One of the main issues of the country is the people's livelihood, which depends upon the economy. Economy requires security and must be built on a secure foundation," Khamenei said.

The Iranian leader reaffirmed that, to ensure Iran's security, "the defense capabilities of the country are never negotiable."

U.S. President Donald Trump has refused to recertify the 2015 nuclear deal signed between Iran and some major powers, while blasting Iran for violating the spirit of the deal by continuing its missile program.

Trump has suggested that the Iranian missiles might be used for carrying a nuclear warhead, an allegation that Iran has strongly rejected.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 22:32:28|Editor: Hou Qiang

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ALGIERS, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Maintenance staff with the Algerian state-run airline Air Algerie have launched an "unlimited" strike, forcing the company to cancel several domestic and international flights.

The aircraft maintenance engineers and workers are claiming the revision of the professional classification grid and wages in accordance with the provisions of the collective agreement, Head of the Algerian Union of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians, Ahmed Boutoumi, was quoted as saying by APS news agency on Wednesday.

Boutoumi further specified that the strike is maintained all across the airports of Algeria until their claims are met.

CEO of Air Algerie, Bekhouche Allache, said the strike is "illegal," as it was launched without any prior notice.

Allache further noted that all flights scheduled for Tuesday afternoon took off normally without any disruption.

The maintenance staff launched a similar strike in May, as they forced the company to cancel and delay several flights. The strike was suspended after the company's general management promised to meet the demands of the maintenance staff.
File photo taken on Jan. 29, 2017 shows demonstrators participating in a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily barring all refugees and seven Mideast and North African countries' citizens from entry into the U.S. in front of the White House in Washington D.C., the Unite States. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order that lifted his previous seven-month moratorium on refugee admissions, replacing it with what he has called "extreme vetting."

The order allows the Trump administration to restart the Refugee Admissions Program under new rules on the special screening of refugees "whose entry continues to pose potential threats to the security and welfare of the United States."

The new vetting measures include more in-depth interviews of families seeking refugee status and biometric information to be checked against a various federal watch lists and databases.

These measures "provide an opportunity for the United States to welcome those in need into our country, while ensuring a safer, more secure homeland," said Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke.

The order also initiates a new 90-day review period for the Trump administration to conduct an "in-depth threat assessment" on refugees from 11 countries on a case-by-case basis. However, the Trump administration refused to identify the 11 countries.

The move came as the previous moratorium expired on Tuesday. Last month, Trump signed a separate directive setting the annual refugee cap at 45,000, the lowest annual limit since 1980.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 22:37:30|Editor: yan

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BUDAPEST, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Minister of Agriculture Sandor Fazekas said here Wednesday that his country is against the change of the European Union's common agricultural policy (CAP).

"If there were no agricultural subsidies, the price of quality food would go up to the skies," Fazekas said on Hungarian public television M1. "We have to remember that the ultimate benefiters of the subsidies are the end users who buy the food," he added.

CAP, the agricultural policy of the EU, was introduced in 1962 and has undergone several changes to reduce the cost. It has been criticized on the grounds of its cost and its environmental and humanitarian impacts.

The European Commission is in the process of elaborating the guidelines of the new CAP 2020. "Hence, diplomatic movements around EU agricultural subsidies are now lively," Fazekas explained.

Hungary's interest is to keep the actual model of CAP of the EU, which consists of two pillars: the direct agricultural funds and the rural development funds.

Hungary is a net recipient of EU agricultural subsidies and it is against the interest of the country to cut the funds, as projected by the European Commission, according to media reports from Brussels.

"It is in Hungary's primary interest to maintain the current or at least a very similar agricultural support system in the next EU budget cycle," Fazekas declared. "The present aid scheme serves farmers and consumers alike," he concluded.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 22:37:31|Editor: ZD

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Liu He is elected as a member of the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Oct. 25, 2017. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The following is the biographical sketch of Liu He:

Liu He, male, Han ethnicity, was born in January 1952 and is from Changli, Hebei Province. He began his first job in April 1969 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in December 1976. Liu graduated from Department of Industrial Economy, Renmin University of China where he completed an undergraduate program in industrial economy. He holds a Master of Economics degree and a Master of Public Administration degree. He is a research fellow and a professor.

Liu is currently a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, General Office Director of the Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs, and also Vice Minister and Leading Party Members Group Deputy Secretary of National Development and Reform Commission.

2017- Member, Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee

Director, General Office, Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs

Vice Minister and Leading Party Members Group Deputy Secretary, National Development and Reform Commission

2014-2017 Director, General Office, Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs

Vice Minister and Leading Party Members Group Deputy Secretary, National Development and Reform Commission

2013-2014 Director, General Office, Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs

Vice Minister and Leading Party Members Group member, National Development and Reform Commission

2011-2013 Leading Party Members Group Secretary and Deputy Director, Development Research Center of the State Council

Deputy Director, General Office, Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs

2003-2011 Deputy Director, General Office, Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs

2001-2003 Deputy Director and Leading Party Members Group member, State Council Informatization Office

Director, Advisory Committee for State Informatization

1998-2001 Executive Deputy Director (director general level), State Information Center

President, China Economic Information Network

1994-1998 Deputy Director General, Long-term Planning and Industrial Policy Department, National Planning Commission

Studied international finance and trade at Harvard Kennedy School and was awarded a Master of Public Administration degree (Jul 1994-Jun 1995)

1993-1994 Deputy Director, Policy Research Office, National Planning Commission

1991-1993 Chief, Industrial Structure Section, Long-term Planning and Industrial Policy Department, National Planning Commission

Visiting Scholar, Stillman School of Business, Seton Hall University (Jan 1992-Jan 1993)

1988-1991 Deputy Chief and Chief, Industrial Structure Section, Industrial Policy Department, National Planning Commission

1987-1988 Staff member, Comprehensive Industrial Bureau, National Planning Commission

1986-1987 Staff member, Development Research Center, State Council

1983-1986 Attended a graduate program in industrial economy at Department of Industrial Economy, Renmin University of China

1983 Teacher, Department of Industrial Economy, Renmin University of China

1979-1983 Studied management of industrial economy at Department of Industrial Economy, Renmin University of China No.2 Campus

1973-1979 Worker; administrative secretary of CYL Committee; and Secretary of CYL Committee, Beijing Radio Factory

1970-1973 Solider and vice squad leader, 2nd Company, 57th Battalion, Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, 112th Division, 38th Army, PLA

1969-1970 Educated youth, Wafang Commune, Taonan County, Jilin Province

Member, 18th and 19th CPC Central Committee

Member, Political Bureau, 19th CPC Central Committee.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 22:42:34|Editor: Yurou

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by Xinhua writer Hu Tao, Zhang Jianxin

TIANJIN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- An A320neo aircraft, the first assembled at the Airbus Final Assembly Line Asia (FALA) in north China's port city of Tianjin, was delivered to AirAsia Wednesday.

"The delivery of the A320neo is a milestone for our Asia Final Assembly Line, which will help us to meet the robust demand from the customers in China and the Asia-Pacific region," said Eric Chen, president with Airbus Commercial Aircraft China.

The Airbus FALA in Tianjin, inaugurated in 2008, is the third single-aisle aircraft final assembly line location of Airbus worldwide, following Toulouse and Hamburg.

It is also the first Airbus Final Assembly Line outside Europe. To date, about 340 aircraft have been assembled and delivered from Tianjin.

The new A320 aircraft is powered by CFM LEAP-1A and capable of carrying 186 passengers.

"We are very proud to receive the first Airbus A320neo fully assembled in Tianjin. And we would like to congratulate Airbus, as well as the Chinese Government for achieving yet another milestone," said Aireen Omar, CEO with AirAsia.

"China today is one of the world's most important aviation markets, and we are honored to be part of the development and rapid growth."

She added that, as AirAsia is expanding its network and grow the fleet, it is important for the airliner to stay at the forefront of the market.

Based in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, AirAsia is Asia's leading low-cost carrier with an airline network of more than 120 destinations across the Asia-Pacific region.

It is also the largest airline customer for the A320 family. It has placed orders for a total of 578 aircraft from Airbus, including 404 A320neo family aircraft.

The A320neo family, the newest series of Airbus single-aisle aircraft, incorporates the latest technology such as new generation engines and sharklets, which contribute to fuel-saving and emission-reduction.

With more than 5,200 orders received from 95 customers worldwide since its launch in 2010, the A320neo family has gained around 60 percent of the market share of its class.

As of this August, the in-service Airbus fleet in Chinese mainland has reached 1,484, including 1,263 A320 Family aircraft.

Over the next 20 years, China will require about 6,000 new aircraft, about 18 percent of total world demand, according to an Airbus forecast.

Along with the growth of its fleet in China, Airbus is expanding its industrial footprint. To date, it has five joint ventures with Chinese partners.

On Sept. 20 this year, Airbus inaugurated its A330 Completion and Delivery Center (CDC) in Tianjin, the first such center for its wide-body aircraft outside Europe.

The center will complete tasks such as cabin installation, painting and flight testing, as well as customer flight acceptance and aircraft delivery, according to Airbus.

"We have set a clear target of making Tianjin as our base in Asia to serve for the region with Chinese partners. Airbus will gain more competitiveness by non-stop innovation," said Chen.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 22:42:35|Editor: Yurou

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Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov (R) and South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon attend a joint press conference in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Oct. 25, 2017. Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on Wednesday invited his visiting South Korean counterpart Lee Nak-yon to invest in information technology (IT) and car manufacturing sectors. (Xinhua/Zhan Xiaoyi)

SOFIA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on Wednesday invited his visiting South Korean counterpart Lee Nak-yon to invest in information technology (IT) and car manufacturing sectors.

The two countries had the potential to cooperate in areas such as agriculture, energy and shipbuilding, but he wanted priority to be given to IT and production of electric cars, Borissov said.

He highlighted good industrial conditions in Bulgaria such as stability, low taxes and a skilled workforce.

Referring to tensions in the Korean Peninsula, Borissov said he would support peaceful resolving of the issue through negotiations during the rotating Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2018.

South Korean Prime Minister Lee expressed her gratitude for Bulgaria's position on the Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue.

Lee said Borissov in particular called for investment from South Korean companies Hyundai and Samsung Electronics.

Later on Wednesday, Lee will meet with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 22:42:36|Editor: ZD

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Sun Chunlan is elected as a member of the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Oct. 25, 2017. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The following is the biographical sketch of Sun Chunlan:

Sun Chunlan, female, Han ethnicity, was born in May 1950 and is from Raoyang, Hebei Province. She began her first job in November 1969 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in May 1973. She received a graduate education at the Central Party School.

Sun is currently a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Head of its United Front Work Department.

2014- Member, CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Head, United Front Work Department, CPC Central Committee

2012-2014 Member, CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Secretary, CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee

2012 Member, CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Secretary, CPC Fujian Provincial Committee

Chairperson, Standing Committee of the Fujian Provincial People's Congress

2010-2012 Secretary, CPC Fujian Provincial Committee

Chairperson, Standing Committee of the Fujian Provincial People's Congress

2009-2010 Secretary, CPC Fujian Provincial Committee

2005-2009 Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group; Vice Chairperson; and First Member of the Secretariat, All-China Federation of Trade Unions

2001-2005 Deputy Secretary, CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee

Secretary, CPC Dalian Municipal Committee

Attended an in-service graduate program in political science for provincial- and ministerial-level officials through Correspondence School of the Central Party School (2000-2003)

2001 Deputy Secretary, CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee

President, Party School of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee

Secretary, CPC Dalian Municipal Committee

1998-2001 Deputy Secretary, CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee

President, Party School of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee

1997-1998 Deputy Secretary, CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee

1995-1997 Member, Standing Committee of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee

Chairperson and Leading Party Members Group Secretary, Liaoning Provincial Federation of Trade Unions

Attended an in-service graduate program in decision making and management at Liaoning University (1992-1995)

1994-1995 Chairperson and Leading Party Members Group Secretary, Liaoning Provincial Federation of Trade Unions

1993-1994 Chairperson and Leading Party Members Group Secretary, Liaoning Provincial Women's Federation

1991-1993 Vice Chairperson, Liaoning Provincial Federation of Trade Unions

Took a one-year training course for young and middle-aged officials at the Central Party School (1992-1993)

Attended an undergraduate correspondence program in economic management at Party School of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee (1989-1991)

1988-1991 Director, Anshan Municipal Women's Federation, Liaoning Province

1986-1988 Secretary, Party Committee of the Anshan Chemical Fiber Wool Textile Factory, Liaoning Province

1985-1986 Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Director, Anshan Chemical Fiber Wool Textile Factory, Liaoning Province (in charge of the Party Committee's work, Feb-Nov 1986)

1980-1985 Deputy Director, Anshan Chemical Fiber Wool Textile Factory, Liaoning Province

Attended a correspondence program in economic management at Department of Economics, Liaoning University (1981-1984)

1979-1980 Member of the Party Committee's Standing Committee and Deputy Director of the Political Section (person in charge), Anshan Chemical Fiber Wool Textile Factory, Liaoning Province

1977-1979 Member, Standing Committee of the Party Committee, Anshan Chemical Fiber Wool Textile Factory, Liaoning Province

1975-1977 Member of the Party Committee's Standing Committee and Secretary of the CYL Committee, Anshan Municipal Light Industry Textile Bureau, Liaoning Province

1974-1975 Member of the Party Committee's Standing Committee and Secretary of the CYL Committee, Anshan Municipal First Light Industry Bureau, Liaoning Province

1969-1974 Worker; member of a workshop Party branch; head of the CYL Committee; and member of the Party Committee, Anshan Watch Factory, Liaoning Province

1965-1969 Studied machinery at Anshan Industrial Technology School, Liaoning Province

Alternate member, 15th and 16th CPC Central Committees

Member, 17th through 19th CPC Central Committees

Member, Political Bureau, 18th and 19th CPC Central Committees
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 22:42:36|Editor: yan

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BERLIN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The trial of German human rights activist Peter Steudtner commenced on Wednesday in Turkey.

Steudtner has been in Turkish custody for more than three months after being arrested on charges of being a member of a terrorist organization. Steudtner is being tried along with ten other defendants, all of whom face jail sentences of up to ten years if found guilty.

Crowds of demonstrators and journalists gathered in front of the court building under a large police presence.

Officials in Germany have repeatedly urged Turkey to release Steudtner, who is one of at least eleven German citizens currently being held in Turkish custody.

The incident has added to already severe strains on the relationship between Ankara and Berlin and has caused German policymakers to issue new travel guidelines warning tourists against the risk of being arbitrarily arrested in Turkey.

The Social Democratic Party of Germany's (SPD) Michael Roth, the German Foreign Office's state secretary, told public broadcaster ZDF on Wednesday that his government expected a "swift, fair trial".

Roth urged Turkey to demonstrate that it was "committed to the rule of law." The state secretary voiced optimism that Steudtner would be freed of the allegations against him for which there was "no evidence."

However, Greens politician Claudia Roth described it as a "scandal" that Steudtner's "completely fabricated" case had been admitted to a court trial in the first place.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 22:42:38|Editor: Yamei

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Xu Qiliang is elected as a member of the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Oct. 25, 2017. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The following is the biographical sketch of Xu Qiliang:

Xu Qiliang, male, Han ethnicity, was born in March 1950 and is from Linqu, Shandong Province. He joined the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in July 1966 and the Communist Party of China (CPC) in July 1967. He graduated from the PLA Air Force's Fifth Aviation School, and has a junior college education.

Xu is currently a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, serves as Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission and the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China (PRC), and holds the rank of general in the PLA Air Force.

2013- Member, CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Vice Chairman, CPC Central Military Commission

Vice Chairman, PRC Central Military Commission

2012-2013 Member, CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Vice Chairman, CPC Central Military Commission

Member, PRC Central Military Commission

2008-2012 Member, CPC Central Military Commission

Member, PRC Central Military Commission

Commander-in-Chief, Air Force

2007-2008 Member, CPC Central Military Commission

Commander-in-Chief, Air Force

2007 Commander-in-Chief, Air Force

2004-2007 Deputy Chief of the General Staff, PLA

1999-2004 Deputy Commander and Air Force Commander, Shenyang Military Area Command

Attended a training course for officers at the rank of army commander and above at the University of National Defense (Mar-Jul 2001)

1994-1999 Chief of Staff, Air Force

Studied at Department of National Defense Studies, University of National Defense (Jul-Oct 1998)

Took a continuing studies course in military campaigns at the University of National Defense (Sep-Nov 1994)

1993-1994 Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force

1990-1993 Commander, 8th Army, Air Force

1989-1990 Chief of Staff, 8th Army, Air Force

1988-1989 Acting Deputy Commander, 8th Army, Air Force

1986-1988 Student, Basic Department, University of National Defense

1985-1986 Chief of Staff, Shanghai Command Post, Air Force

1984-1985 Deputy Commander, 4th Army, Air Force

1983-1984 Commander, 26th Division, Air Force

1980-1983 Deputy Commander, 26th Division, Air Force

Attended an advanced military course at the Air Force Command Academy (Mar-Oct 1982)

1976-1980 Commander, Independent Brigade, 26th Division, Air Force

1973-1976 Deputy Commander, Independent Brigade, 26th Division, Air Force

1970-1973 Pilot, Independent Brigade, 26th Division, Air Force

1969-1970 Pilot, 77th Regiment, 26th Division, Air Force

1968-1969 Cadet, PLA Air Force's Fifth Aviation School

1967-1968 Cadet, PLA Air Force's Eighth Aviation School

1966-1967 Soldier, 335th Regiment, 112th Division, 38th Army, PLA Ground Force

1966 Cadet, PLA Air Force's First Aviation Reserve School

Alternate member, 14th and 15th CPC Central Committees

Member, 16th through 19th CPC Central Committees

Member, Political Bureau, 18th and 19th CPC Central Committees

Appointed CPC Central Military Commission member at the First Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central CommitteeH Appointed PRC Central Military Commission member at the First Session of the 11th NPC

Appointed CPC Central Military Commission Vice Chairman at the Seventh Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee

Appointed CPC Central Military Commission Vice Chairman at the First Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee

Appointed PRC Central Military Commission Vice Chairman at the First Session of the 12th NPC

Appointed CPC Central Military Commission Vice Chairman at the First Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 22:47:41|Editor: ZD

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Li Qiang is elected as a member of the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Oct. 25, 2017. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The following is the biographical sketch of Li Qiang:

Li Qiang, male, Han ethnicity, was born in July 1959 and is from Rui'an County, Zhejiang Province. He began his first job in July 1976 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in April 1983. He received a graduate education at the Central Party School and holds an executive MBA degree.

Li is currently a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress.

2017 Member, CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Secretary, CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee

Chairman, Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress

2017 Secretary, CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee

Chairman, Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress

2016-2017 Secretary, CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee

2013-2016 Deputy Secretary, CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee

Governor, Zhejiang Province

2012-2013 Deputy Secretary, CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee

Acting Governor, Zhejiang Province

2012 Deputy Secretary, CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee

Secretary, Political and Legal Affairs Committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee

2011-2012 Deputy Secretary and Secretary-General, CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee

Secretary, Political and Legal Affairs Committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee

2005-2011 Standing Committee member and Secretary-General, CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee

Studied executive business administration at Faculty of Business, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and received an executive MBA degree (2003-2005)

2004-2005 Secretary-General, CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee

2003-2004 Secretary, CPC Wenzhou Municipal Committee, Zhejiang Province

Chairman, Standing Committee of the Wenzhou Municipal People's Congress

Attended an in-service graduate program in world economy at the Central Party School (2001-2004)

2002-2003 Secretary, CPC Wenzhou Municipal Committee, Zhejiang Province

2000-2002 Director and Party Committee Secretary, Zhejiang Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce

Took a one-year training course for young and middle-aged officials at the Central Party School (2001-2002)

1998-2000 Deputy Director and Leading Party Members Group member, General Office of the Zhejiang Provincial Government

1998 Member, Standing Committee of the CPC Jinhua Municipal Committee, Zhejiang Province

Secretary, CPC Yongkang Municipal Committee, Zhejiang Province

Chairman, Standing Committee of the Jinhua Municipal People's Congress

1996-1998 Member, Standing Committee of the CPC Jinhua Municipal Committee, Zhejiang Province

Secretary, CPC Yongkang Municipal Committee, Zhejiang Province

Attended a graduate program in management engineering at Zhejiang University (1995-1997)

1992-1996 Deputy Director and Leading Party Members Group member, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Civil Affairs

1991-1992 Member of the Leading Party Members Group and Chief of the Personnel Office, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Civil Affairs

1990-1991 Chief, Disaster Relief Office, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Civil Affairs

1988-1990 Chief, Rural Poverty Relief Office, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Civil Affairs

1985-1988 Deputy Chief, Rural Poverty Relief Office, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Civil Affairs

Studied sociology through Correspondence University of Chinese Sociology (1985-1987)

Department of Disaster Relief, Ministry of Civil Affairs (on secondment, Dec 1985-Jul 1986)

1984-1985 Staff member, Rural Poverty Relief Office, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Civil Affairs

1984 Secretary, CYL Rui'an County Committee, Zhejiang Province

1983-1984 Staff member, CYL Rui'an County Committee, Zhejiang Province

1982-1983 Head, CYL Xincheng Area Committee, Rui'an County, Zhejiang Province

1978-1982 Studied agricultural mechanization at Department of Agricultural Mechanization, Ningbo Campus, Zhejiang Agricultural University

1977-1978 Employee, Number Three Tools Plant, Rui'an County, Zhejiang Province

1976-1977 Employee, Mayu Area Electric Pumping Station, Rui'an County, Zhejiang Province

Sub-team in Jiangxi Commune, Lines Education Work Team, Rui'an County, Zhejiang Province (on secondment, Apr-Oct 1977)

Alternate member, 18th CPC Central Committee

Appointed member of the 18th CPC Central Committee at the Seventh Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee

Member, 19th CPC Central Committee

Member, 19th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 22:47:42|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The United States and the African Union (AU) have vowed to partner in countering violent extremism on the African continent.

The U.S. mission to the AU and the AU on Wednesday kicked off a three-day session dubbed "Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Week" at the headquarters of the pan-African bloc in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

Amadou Diaw, Assistant Senior Strategic Advisor to the Chairperson of the AU Commission, said Africa has suffered a significant share of the world's extremism attacks, with the latest being the bomb attack that claimed over 350 lives in Somalia's Mogadishu.

Jessica Davis Ba, Deputy Chief of the U.S. Mission to the AU, pledged partnership to "put an end to horrific events like the one in Mogadishu or like the attack in Egypt."

"Violent extremism is a threat to us all," she noted.

She also recalled that during her visit to AU on Monday, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, expressed the U.S. commitment to partner with Africa to defeat terrorism.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 22:47:43|Editor: ZD

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Li Xi is elected as a member of the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Oct. 25, 2017. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The following is the biographical sketch of Li Xi:

Li Xi, male, Han ethnicity, was born in October 1956 and is from Liangdang, Gansu Province. He began his first job in July 1975 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in January 1982. He graduated from Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Northwest Normal University where he completed an undergraduate program in Chinese language and literature. He holds an executive MBA degree.

Li is currently a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Liaoning Provincial People's Congress.

2017- Member, CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Secretary, CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee

Chairman, Standing Committee of the Liaoning Provincial People's Congress

2015-2017 Secretary, CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee

Chairman, Standing Committee of the Liaoning Provincial People's Congress

2014-2015 Deputy Secretary, CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee

Acting Governor, Liaoning Province

Governor, Liaoning Province

2013-2014 Deputy Secretary, CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee

Executive Council Vice Chairman and First Vice President, China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong

2011-2013 Standing Committee member and Organization Department Director, CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee

2006-2011 Member, Standing Committee of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee

Secretary, CPC Yan'an Municipal Committee, Shaanxi Province

Chairman, Standing Committee of the Yan'an Municipal People's Congress (concurrently 2007-2009)

Attended an MBA program for senior executives at School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University and was awarded an executive MBA degree (2008-2011)

2004-2006 Standing Committee member and Secretary-General, CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee

2004 Secretary-General, CPC Gansu Provincial Committee

2002-2004 Secretary, CPC Zhangye Municipal Committee, Gansu Province

Took a continuing studies course for prefectural- and director general-level officials at the Central Party School (Mar-Jul 2004)

2001-2002 Secretary, CPC Zhangye Prefectural Committee, Gansu Province

1999-2001 Deputy Secretary and Organization Department Director, CPC Lanzhou Municipal Committee, Gansu Province

1996-1999 Standing Committee member and Organization Department Director, CPC Lanzhou Municipal Committee, Gansu Province

1995-1996 Secretary, CPC Xigu District Committee, Lanzhou, Gansu Province

1990-1995 Director-level organization officer, Organization Department, CPC Gansu Provincial Committee

Deputy Director, Office for Work concerning Intellectuals, CPC Gansu Provincial Committee

Chief, Section for Party and Government Officials, Organization Department, CPC Gansu Provincial Committee

1987-1990 Deputy Chief, Section for Official Staffing, Organization Department, CPC Gansu Provincial Committee

1986-1987 Deputy director-level organization officer, Organization Section, Organization Department, CPC Gansu Provincial Committee

1985-1986 Deputy director-level secretary, General Office, CPC Gansu Provincial Committee

1982-1985 Administrative secretary, Secretariat of the Publicity Department, CPC Gansu Provincial Committee

1978-1982 Studied Chinese language and literature at Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Northwest Normal University

1976-1978 Administrative secretary, Culture and Education Bureau, Liangdang County, Gansu Province

Administrative secretary, Office of the CPC Liangdang County Committee, Gansu Province

1975-1976 Educated youth, Yunping Commune, Liangdang County, Gansu Province

Alternate member, 17th and 18th CPC Central Committees

Member, 19th CPC Central Committee

Member, 19th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 22:52:46|Editor: ZD

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Yang Jiechi is elected as a member of the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Oct. 25, 2017. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The following is the biographical sketch of Yang Jiechi:

Yang Jiechi, male, Han ethnicity, was born in May 1950 and is from Shanghai. He began his first job in September 1968 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in December 1971. Yang graduated from History Department, Nanjing University where he completed an in-service graduate program in world history. He holds a Doctor of History degree.

Yang is currently a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. He is also a State Councilor, a member of the Leading Party Members Group of the State Council, Director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Foreign Affairs, and Director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Safeguarding Maritime Rights and Interests.

2017- Member, CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

State Councilor and Leading Party Members Group member, State Council

Director, Office of the Central Leading Group for Foreign Affairs

Director, Office of the Central Leading Group for Safeguarding Maritime Rights and Interests

2013-2017 State Councilor and Leading Party Members Group member, State Council

Director, Office of the Central Leading Group for Foreign Affairs

Director, Office of the Central Leading Group for National Security Affairs (up to Feb 2014)

Director, Office of the Central Leading Group for Safeguarding Maritime Rights and Interests

2007-2013 Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Deputy Secretary, Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2005-2007 Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Deputy Secretary, Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Attended an in-service graduate program in world history at History Department, Nanjing University and was awarded a Doctor of History degree (2001-2006)

2004-2005 Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Member, Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2000-2004 Ambassador of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the United States of America

1998-2000 Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Member, Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1995-1998 Assistant Minister and Party Committee member, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Director General, Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (concurrently, Aug 1995-Mar 1996)

Attended a continuing studies course for provincial- and ministerial-level officials at the Central Party School (Sep-Nov 1996)

1993-1995 Minister, Embassy of the PRC in the United States of America

1990-1993 Counselor and concurrently Office Director; Deputy Director General, Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1987-1990 Counselor and concurrently Office Director, Department of Translation and Interpretation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1983-1987 Second Secretary; First Secretary; and Counselor, Embassy of the PRC in the United States of America

1975-1983 Staff member, Department of Translation and Interpretation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1973-1975 Studied at Ealing College and University of Bath

Studied international relations in London School of Economics and Political Science

1972-1973 Attended a training course in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in preparation for overseas education

1968-1972 Worker, Pujiang Electric Meter Factory, Shanghai

Alternate member, 16th CPC Central Committee

Member, 17th through 19th CPC Central Committees

Member, 19th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 22:52:47|Editor: ZD

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Li Hongzhong is elected as a member of the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Oct. 25, 2017. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The following is the biographical sketch of Li Hongzhong:

Li Hongzhong, male, Han ethnicity, was born in August 1956 and is from Changle County, Shandong Province. He began his first job in August 1975 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in December 1976. Li graduated from Department of History, Jilin University where he completed an undergraduate program in history. He is an economist.

Li is currently a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee.

2017- Member, CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Secretary, CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee

2016-2017 Secretary, CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee

2011-2016 Secretary, CPC Hubei Provincial Committee

Chairman, Standing Committee of the Hubei Provincial People's Congress

2010-2011 Secretary, CPC Hubei Provincial Committee

2008-2010 Deputy Secretary, CPC Hubei Provincial Committee

Governor, Hubei Province

2007-2008 Deputy Secretary, CPC Hubei Provincial Committee

Acting Governor, Hubei Province

2005-2007 Member, Standing Committee of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee

Secretary, CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee

Chairman, Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress

2004-2005 Member, Standing Committee of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee

Deputy Secretary, CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee

Mayor, Shenzhen

2003-2004 Member, Standing Committee of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee

Deputy Secretary, CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee

Acting Mayor, Shenzhen

2002-2003 Member, Standing Committee of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee

Vice Governor, Guangdong Province

2001-2002 Vice Governor, Guangdong Province

2000-2001 Secretary, CPC Huizhou Municipal Committee, Guangdong Province

1995-2000 Deputy Secretary, CPC Huizhou Municipal Committee, Guangdong Province

Acting Mayor; Mayor, Huizhou, Guangdong Province

Took a one-year training course for young and middle-aged officials at the Central Party School (1996-1997)

1988-1995 Vice Mayor, Huizhou, Guangdong Province (on secondment)

Chairman and Leading Party Members Group Secretary, Administration Committee of Zhongkai National High-tech Industrial Development Park in Huizhou (concurrently 1993-1995); and

Secretary, Leading Party Members Group, Administration Committee of Huizhou Daya Bay Industrial Area (concurrently 1990-1991)

1987-1988 Deputy Chief (director level), General Office of the Leading Party Members Group of the Ministry of Electronics Industry

1985-1987 Office secretary, General Office of the Ministry of Electronics Industry (deputy director level from Jul 1986)

1985 Office secretary, General Office of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee

1984-1985 Deputy Head, Documents Management Office, General Office, Shenyang Municipal Government, Liaoning Province

1982-1984 Staff member, Secretariat of the General Office, Shenyang Municipal Government, Liaoning Province

1978-1982 Studied history at Department of History, Jilin University

1975-1978 Educated youth; militia company commander; public security chief; CYL General Branch secretary; and deputy director of the revolutionary committee, Qiandou Brigade, Yaoqian Commune, Sujiatun District, Shenyang, Liaoning Province

Alternate member, 16th and 17th CPC Central Committees

Member, 18th and 19th CPC Central Committees

Member, 19th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 23:02:59|Editor: yan

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VILNIUS, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Lithuanian police announced Wednesday it had exposed a large pedophilia network following a wide-scale international operation.

During an operation earlier this month, the Lithuanian police launched 41 criminal investigations into the possession and distribution of child pornography, and conducted 44 raids. A total of 18 suspects, mostly middle-aged Lithuanian men, received criminal charges, the Lithuanian police announced on Wednesday.

The operation in Lithuania was a part of a wide-scale international operation coordinated by Europol, according to Lithuanian police.

The five-day-long operation was preventive, and any victims have been identified so far, according to the country's police. Special attention is being paid to identify possible child sexual abuse cases, said the Lithuanian police.

Lithuanian police chief Linas Pernavas told a local press conference the investigations against child sexual abuse was a priority for the Lithuanian police.

"We do everything to prevent the distribution of child pornography on the internet," Pernavas told local press conference.

Pernavas noted that criminal intelligence operations conducted by the police indicate there is "a big interest in child pornography in Lithuania."

"It is really a huge problem," Pernavas told journalists.

The police chief said establishing a monitoring center in the country would help identify potential child pornography suspects.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 23:08:02|Editor: yan

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KIEV, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and five others injured in eastern Ukraine in the past 24 hours, marking the highest daily casualty toll in the conflict since August, according to reports from the conflicting parties on Wednesday.

The government military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said that two Ukrainian servicemen were killed in combat with pro-independence insurgents, while two others died after stepping on landmines.

According to Lysenko, four government soldiers were injured in the past day.

Meanwhile, Ruslan Yakubov, an insurgent military representative, said that a 63-year-old civilian was injured by shrapnel during the shelling in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk.

The conflict between government troops and insurgents in eastern Ukraine has been raging since April 2014, claiming about 10,000 lives.

On Aug. 25, the confronting sides declared a ceasefire to ensure children's security ahead of the new school year. The truce has decreased the hostilities in the restive region.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 23:08:03|Editor: Yamei

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Cai Qi is elected as a member of the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Oct. 25, 2017. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The following is the biographical sketch of Cai Qi:

Cai Qi, male, Han ethnicity, was born in December 1955 and is from Youxi County, Fujian Province. He began his first job in March 1973 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in August 1975. Cai graduated from School of Economics and Law, Fujian Normal University where he majored in political economy. He completed an in-service graduate studies and holds a Doctor of Economics degree.

Cai is currently a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, Chairman and Secretary of Leading Party Members Group of the Organizing Committee for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

2017- Member, CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Secretary, CPC Beijing Municipal Committee

Chairman and Secretary of Leading Party Members Group, Organizing Committee for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games

2017 Secretary, CPC Beijing Municipal Committee

Chairman and Secretary of Leading Party Members Group, Organizing Committee for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games

2016-2017 Deputy Secretary, CPC Beijing Municipal Committee

Acting Mayor and Mayor, Beijing

Executive Chairman and Deputy Secretary of Leading Party Members Group, Organizing Committee for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games

2015-2016 Executive Deputy Director (minister level), General Office of the National Security Commission of the CPC Central Committee

2014-2015 Deputy Director, General Office of the National Security Commission of the CPC Central Committee

2013-2014 Member, Standing Committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee

Vice Governor, Zhejiang Province

2010-2013 Member, Standing Committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee

Head, Organization Department of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee

2007-2010 Deputy Secretary, CPC Hangzhou Municipal Committee, Zhejiang Province

Mayor, Hangzhou

2004-2007 Secretary, CPC Taizhou Municipal Committee, Zhejiang Province

2002-2004 Secretary, CPC Quzhou Municipal Committee, Zhejiang Province

Chairman, Standing Committee of the Quzhou Municipal People's Congress

1999-2002 Deputy Secretary, CPC Quzhou Municipal Committee, Zhejiang Province

Mayor, Quzhou

Attended a doctoral program in political economy at School of Economics and Law, Fujian Normal University and was awarded a Doctor of Economics degree (1998-2001)

1997-1999 Deputy Secretary, CPC Sanming Municipal Committee, Fujian Province

Deputy Mayor and Mayor, Sanming

1996-1997 Deputy Secretary, CPC Sanming Municipal Committee, Fujian Province

Attended a Master's program at School of Economics and Law,Fujian Normal University (1994-1997)

1993-1996 Deputy Director and member of Executive Meeting, General Office of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee

Took a training course for prefectural- and director general-level officials at the Central Party School (Mar-Jul 1996)

Deputy Secretary, CPC Sanming Municipal Committee, Fujian Province (on secondment, 1994-1996)

1992-1993 Deputy Director, Party Building Office of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee

Member of Executive Meeting, General Office of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee

1991-1992 Deputy Director, Political Structural Reform Office of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee

1987-1991 Office secretary (director level), General Office of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee

1983-1987 Staff member and Deputy Director, General Affairs Office of the General Office of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee

1978-1983 Staff member, General Office of the Party Committee, Fujian Normal University

1975-1978 Studied ideological and political education at Department of Ideological and Political Education, Fujian Normal University

1973-1975 Educated youth, Xiyang Commune, Yong'an County, Fujian Province

Member, 19th CPC Central Committee

Member, Political Bureau, 19th CPC Central Committee
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 23:13:04|Editor: Hou Qiang

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BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) received good wishes from foreign leaders, political parties and organizations around the world before it concluded on Tuesday.

The messages speak highly of the CPC's leadership as well as China's socio-economic development and global contributions, and express full confidence that the CPC will lead China to even greater prosperity.

The following is an edited summary of some of the messages.

Edgar Lungu, president of Zambia:

"Zambia truly appreciates the support rendered under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) framework as well as the Twinning Program, both of which will greatly contribute to the acceleration of our country's growth."

Joseph Kabila, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo:

The 19th CPC National Congress is of crucial importance and is set to benefit the Chinese people.

Azali Assoumani, president of the Comoros:

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, China has made historic achievements in structural reforms and steady development. The Comoros wishes the 19th CPC National Congress a success and pays its highest respects to General Secretary Xi Jinping.

Nabih Berri, chairman of the Amal Movement and speaker of the parliament of Lebanon:

Wish the 19th CPC National Congress a success in leading the Chinese people to achieve national rejuvenation, address challenges and promote economic and social development.

Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed, leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives and speaker of the Maldives parliament:

China has witnessed strong economic and social development in recent years and the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core deserves all the credit.

Kabir Hashim, general secretary of the United National Party and minister of public enterprise development of Sri Lanka:

The endeavors of the CPC enjoy support of the Chinese people and promote China's social development in all areas.

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of People's Party of South Korea:

The 19th CPC National Congress will open a new era for China's developments in all areas.

Raivis Dzintars, co-chairman of the National Alliance "All For Latvia!"-"For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK":

The 19th CPC National Congress "is a major political event that will reinforce the rule of the party, leadership and the nation, as well as its engagement with the world."

Ahmad Hariri, secretary general of the Future Movement of Lebanon:

The 19th CPC National Congress will further enhance the role China plays in the international and regional affairs.

Taulant Balla, secretary general of the Socialist Party of Albania:

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, "China has made remarkable progress under the leadership of the CPC and remains an inspiration to developing countries and the whole world."

Sardar Yaqoob Khan Nasar, senior vice president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz:

Pakistan wishes to deepen the friendship between the two peoples and further promote bilateral relations.

Patrick Pruaitch, leader of Papua New Guinea's National Alliance Party:

Under the leadership of the CPC, China has developed its economy rapidly and raised the living standard of its people greatly.

Nicolas Sarkozy, former French president:

The 19th CPC National Congress is a key event in China's political life, so critical to the country's future.

Christine Muttonen, president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe:

Look forward to deepening bilateral cooperation and wish the congress a success.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 23:28:09|Editor: Hou Qiang

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BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) received good wishes from foreign leaders, political parties and organizations around the world before it concluded on Tuesday.

The messages speak highly of the CPC's leadership as well as China's socio-economic development and global contributions, and express full confidence that the CPC will lead China to even greater prosperity.

The following is an edited summary of some of the messages.

Hage Geingob, president of Namibia and president of SWAPO Party of Namibia:

China's sustained economic growth has provided a reference model for numerous developing countries including Namibia. With practical actions, the CPC and Chinese people have vividly illustrated "A friend in need is a friend indeed." The Chinese people and Namibian people are friends indeed.

Khaleda Zia, chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party and former prime minister of Bangladesh:

Through unremitting efforts, the CPC has been continuously promoting modernization of the country. After the 19th CPC National Congress, the CPC will definitely lead China to achieve greater success, opening a new chapter in building a modern society and establishing a harmonious world.

Hussain Muhammad Ershad, chairman of Bangladesh Jatiya Party and former president of Bangladesh:

The CPC has made tremendous achievements in promoting China's economic development and maintaining social stability. Bangladesh highly appreciates the Belt and Road Initiative, which will absolutely promote economic growth and achieve development and prosperity in developing and underdeveloped countries.

Jonas Gahr Store, leader of Norway's Labor Party:

"China has made enormous progress in our time, and your achievements in creating rapid social and economic progress are truly impressive. We look to China in meeting the great global challenges of our time, such as Climate Change, and to harvest the benefits of multilateral cooperation and trade."

Ricardo Anaya, president of Mexico's National Action Party:

I strongly believe that the CPC is capable of leading its people to develop China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful.

Bernard Accoyer, general secretary of The Republicans party of France:

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC has introduced a series of major initiatives in promoting peace and socio-economic development, protecting the environment and eliminating poverty.

Felipe Uscategui Romero, general secretary of the Social Party of National Unity of Colombia:

We wish the CPC will continue its important mission of leading China's development and improving people's living standard.

German Cordoba Ordonez, general secretary of the Radical Change party of Colombia:

The CPC stands for the supreme interest of the Chinese people, and bears the important tasks of promoting further comprehensive development and raising people's living standard.

Richard Mdakane, president of the South African National Civic Organization:

"I am confident that the world will benefit profoundly from the resolutions of this 19th CPC National Congress."

Dominique de Villepin, former French prime minister:

The Belt and Road Initiative has rapidly achieved remarkable and concrete results in infrastructure construction and transnational investment. We believe that under the leadership of the CPC, China will provide the world with more and more plans of Chinese fashion based on previous achievements.

Leonid Kravchuk, former and first president of Ukraine and honorary chairman of Ukraine's Friendship Association with China:

During the past five years, China has made great performance in both domestic and foreign affairs. The Belt and Road Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping will promote global economic development as well as global peace.

Manolo Pichardo, president of the Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean:

The leaders of the CPC have effectively responded to profound changes of the international situation, and have turned China into a hub of development and prosperity.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 23:33:11|Editor: Hou Qiang

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BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) received good wishes from foreign leaders, political parties and organizations around the world before it concluded on Tuesday.

The messages speak highly of the CPC's leadership as well as China's socio-economic development and global contributions, and express full confidence that the CPC will lead China to even greater prosperity.

The following is an edited summary of some of the messages.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee:

The 19th CPC National Congress shows the Chinese people's resolve to achieve national rejuvenation and make China one of the world's leading countries, a move to benefit the whole humankind as well.

Surinamese President Desi Bouterse, chairman of the National Democratic Party, and Ramon Abrahams, deputy chairman of the National Democratic Party:

"With great respect and admiration we have been following the sustainable policy guidelines of the Communist Party of China in re-structuring the Chinese society. We are really impressed by the future perspectives, which the party is preparing for the coming decades."

President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo:

The CPC, which has long cherished the wish to build up a just, fair and prosperous world, has made strenuous efforts to make China an exemplary country in the world.

President Hery Rajaonarimampianina of Madagascar:

China is a known safeguard of global stability, working hard to promote globalization and free trade, and responding responsibly to climate change. With its far sight, the 19th CPC National Congress will produce guidelines to boost China's economic growth and social progress.

President Abdulla Yameen of the Maldives:

Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, the CPC and China will constantly make progress, bringing more opportunities for global cooperation and common development.

Prime Minister Henry Puna of the Cook Islands, leader of the Cook Islands Party:

China "has a crucial role to play in world affairs and the Cook Islands and the Pacific look to China for leadership in the global community on the great issues of our time, including climate change and global multilateral financing for development."

Arvils Aseradens, chairman of the Unity party of Latvia:

Under Xi Jinping's leadership, "China has continued to enhance its growth and remained one of the world's leading economies."

Gregory Bowen, chairman of the New National Party of Grenada:

Since its 18th national congress, the CPC has led the Chinese people "to achieve new victories to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation." China's successes are "a result of great vision, careful planning and timely implementation by the party's leadership and industrious members."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 23:48:19|Editor: yan

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LUSAKA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Armyworms, blamed for the decimation of maize crops in the 2016/2017 season, have broken out in Zambia, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Minister of Agriculture Dora Siliya said the armyworms have been detected in Chilanga district, about 25 kilometers south of Lusaka, the country's capital.

She said the outbreak was a wake-up call to farmers to be wary of the crop-munching pests.

Earlier this month, Minister of Communications and Transport Brian Mushimba, who is in charge of the department of meteorology, said the country expects another outbreak of armyworms in the 2017/2018 farming season but noted that the government was working round the clock to fight the pests.

The crop-munching pests ravaged the southern African region during the previous farming season and countries affected included Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa.

Zambia however went on to produce a bumper harvest of maize of 3.6 million tonnes, up from 2.8 million tonnes the previous season.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 23:53:22|Editor: yan

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by Xinhua writer Li Jia

MINSK, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The presence of large Chinese corporations in the China-Belarus industrial park Great Stone helps attract investors to the park, the head of the park's administration has said.

Major Chinese companies have become a guiding light for investors not only from China, but also from other countries, Alexander Yaroshenko said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

"Invested by Chinese corporations such as China Merchants Group and Sinomach (China National Machinery Industry Corporation), the first facility in the industrial park was completed in 2017," Yaroshenko said.

"In less than two years, the infrastructure construction of the park was also finished in the same year, which was originally scheduled to be completed in 2018," Yaroshenko said.

Yaroshenko said that these large Chinese companies were also the main shareholders of China-Belarus Industrial Park Development Company.

"Accordingly, their money, their share capital and their financial resources are being actively used in the infrastructure of our parks. Meanwhile, they are positively promoting the development of the park and participating in the construction of the park," he added.

China Merchants China-Belarus Commerce & Logistics Corporation, a subsidiary of China Merchants Group, is the first resident company in the China-Belarus industrial park.

In May, the first stage of the China-Belarus Commerce & Logistics Park on the territory of Great Stone was commissioned. About 120 million U.S. dollars have been invested in the construction of the subpark.

"Within the framework of the project, three logistics warehouses with a total area of 47,000 square meters have been already completed as well as an open container yard with 54,000 square meters. Besides, the trading center and the commercial center with a hotel are nearing completion," he added.

In addition, YTO Group Corporation, a subsidiary of Sinomach, has entered the industrial park, in which it intends to carry out business activities in the field of scientific research, Yaroshenko said.

Sinomach's subsidiary in the park also includes China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd. As the general contractor for the infrastructure construction of the park, it participated in the construction of the integrated office building and the standard workshop for leasing to other resident companies in the park, he said.

Yaroshenko hoped that Sinomach will implement some new projects and carry out production activities in the park.

"The role that these Chinese corporations play in the construction of the China-Belarus industrial park is huge and very important," Yaroshenko said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-25 23:58:24|Editor: yan

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AMMAN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Jordan will host the first regional conference on sustainable tourism in November, official said on Wednesday.

Themed "Tourism in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Competitiveness for Sustainable Growth," the conference will raise awareness and exchange of knowledge on the impact of sustainable tourism development, said Lina Mazhar Annab, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities.

The conference is part of the activities of the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism, she added, to reflect the global goals of sustainable development until 2030.

Sustainable urban tourism aims at developing the environment and preserving the cultural heritage of local communities, therefore providing a unique tourist experience for visitors, Annab added.

The conference also seeks to highlight a method of collaboration between the concerned parties to bring about change.

Moreover, an agreement will be signed between the World Tourism Organization and seven international companies, along with the Jordanian National Tourism Associations to promote social responsibility values and practices.

The two-day regional conference will be held in cooperation with the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Greater Amman Municipality and with the technical support of the World Tourism Organization, she added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 00:03:26|Editor: yan

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by Sudeshna Sarkar, Sui Lixi

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- If Diarra Boubacar did not have very good reflexes and a pair of sturdy legs, he might never have been able to distinguish himself as a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in China.

The 53-year-old still has a good laugh when he talks about his first day working as a doctor at a private hospital in Chengdu, the city in southwest China known for its panda museum and research base.

For three days, he didn't get a single patient. Then on the fourth, a matronly woman opened the door to his office, saw him - and ran away. "I had to run after her, saying I can help you with the problem," he said laughingly.

When she stopped, arrested by the sight of a foreigner speaking Chinese, he put on his best persuasive manner. "If I am not effective, I will not take any money from you," he promised her.

Reassured partly by that and partly by his Chinese, she came back, underwent treatment and felt better. "Finally, she started bringing her parents, her husband and they all became my patients," he reminisced.

Dr. Boubacar grew up in a small town in south-central Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa, which finds it challenging to provide affordable healthcare to its 18 million people, having suffered a series of conflicts following colonial rule by France.

From his father, Dr. Thiemoko Diarra, who worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross in his hometown, Dr. Boubacar learnt to build up trust with his patients and tried to be conscious of their payment capacity.

"When my father saw patients at home, he never took any fee from them," he said. "He would tell me, a doctor's job is to love his patients and serve his community."

A DIFFICULT START

Dr. Boubacar first came to China in 1984 on a student exchange program majoring in Chinese language and culture at Beijing Language and Culture University.

After the two-year course, he intended to enroll at Beijing Medical University but then switched to studying TCM at Guangzhou University of TCM, preferring to study something typical in China. The start, as he remembered, was very difficult.

"It's not like now when you have places in China where foreigners can go and (attend) class in English," he explained to Xinhua.

"I went to university with Chinese students (and) we did it in Chinese. So it was very, very hard for us. In the beginning we couldn't understand the teachers."

Since TCM is also related to Chinese history and culture, students have to study ancient Chinese literatures as most of the medical texts are written in ancient Chinese characters. "That's a subject even the Chinese find difficult; so think of me, a foreigner!" he said.

What inspired him to plod on was the similarities in TCM and traditional African medicine, such as using certain herbs to treat the same diseases and letting out blood.

However, the greatest challenge for him was to convince people that even though he was a "laowai" - a foreigner - he could still treat them effectively with TCM. Fortunately, his fluency in Chinese improved, which helped.

In 1997, he became the first foreigner to receive a doctoral degree in acupuncture from Chengdu University of TCM. The same year, he also got married.

He met his wife, Yang Mei, while attending a local church in Chengdu. Since then, his Chinese has further improved as well as his knowledge of Chinese culture. After 20 years of marriage, the proud couple has two children.

Dr. Boubacar said he is so well integrated into Chinese culture and society that every time he goes back home, his friends complain about his being "more Chinese than African!"

His philosophy is simple. Life is about living in harmony with friends, and it "doesn't matter whether here in China or in Africa."

Besides his work in a private sector, Dr. Boubacar has also been working with Medecins Sans Frontieres, the international medical humanitarian organization, going to underdeveloped villages to treat impoverished patients.

A major part of his work was to treat leprosy patients. In 1999, Dr. Boubacar participated in an HIV prevention and awareness project in Sichuan and southwest China's Yunnan Province, where he is based today.

"In the past few years, AIDS prevention and treatment has really improved in China and TCM is being used effectively to build up the immunity system," he told ChinAfrica magazine.

"AFRICAN NORMAN BETHUNE"

Due to his work in the community, where he has also been training village doctors in TCM, Dr. Boubacar is also known as "China's barefoot doctor" and the "African Norman Bethune."

Dr. Bethune was a Canadian frontline doctor who ran mobile hospitals in north China in the 1930s.

Dr. Boubacar's contribution has been recognized by the Chinese authorities. He has been awarded by the local government of Yunnan and hailed as one of China's top 10 humanitarian workers in a public vote organized by a Chinese TV channel. In 2013, he received a national award from Premier Li Keqiang.

Buoyed by his medical expertise, experience, and the connections that he has built up in China, he has a dream. For 10 years he had been dreaming the dream but finally, it is on solid ground.

"I want to have this big center," he described his vision. "I want to (build) not only a hospital but also an educational center where people can come and learn about Chinese medicine."

The center, besides combining a hospital and a teaching institution, will also have a facility for advanced research into both TCM and African herbal medicine. Dr. Boubacar has been networking with 15 African doctors studying in China and is hopeful they would be part of the project.

He is also looking for investors, in China and elsewhere. This dream, he says would not have been born if he had not come to China.

"All these years in China, I learned a lot," he said. "I am very thankful and grateful to my teachers ... Now I have got enough resources and enough knowledge. I will be able to go back to Africa and start this project."

He plans to start on a small scale and will be training doctors in Africa like he did in rural China. "If they learn TCM, they will be able to treat people in Africa in a very cheap and effective way," he said.

TCM has received global attention after the Chinese government's vigorous promotion, followed by Chinese pharmacologist Tu Youyou receiving the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2015 for her formulation of a cure for malaria from ancient Chinese medical texts.

The rise of TCM on the international stage inspires him. "Chinese medicine has become more and more well-known in the world. We have this new initiative. It's time now to do it," he said.

UNDERSTANDING AFRICA

As an African who has embraced China, Dr. Boubacar has another dream. While he is promoting Chinese culture in Africa through TCM, he wants Chinese to learn more about Africa and African culture.

"I hope the Chinese can understand Africa (better) because China and Africa, we have a very long history together. We have been growing together," he said.

However, many Chinese, he said, do not still understand Africa. "Africa is not one country, it is 54 countries. Different countries have different customs," he said. "Many think Africa is only one country (full of) famine and war. We have more than that."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 00:13:32|Editor: Hou Qiang

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BAKU, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will ensure China's further development, strengthen its weight globally and bring prosperity to its people, said Siyavush Novruzov, deputy head of Azerbaijan's ruling party.

In an interview with Xinhua on Monday, a day before the conclusion of the CPC congress, the Yeni Azerbaijan party leader, who also serves as a lawmaker, spoke highly of China's leading role on the world stage.

The CPC meeting took place at a time of unprecedented international uncertainties, which endowed the landmark event with unique significance, noted Novruzov, adding that its decisions will contribute to the further development of China and the world.

"We have witnessed that the Chinese economy has made remarkable strides over the past decade," which has drawn growing attention in Azerbaijan, Novruzov said.

Under the leadership of the CPC, he said, China has also improved people's living standards and promoted its foreign trade and global political influence.

On Azerbaijan-China relations, Novruzov said the two countries, which celebrate the 25th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year, share deep historical roots.

Bilateral trade, student exchanges and high-level visits, among others, have all contributed to the development of bilateral relations, added the Azerbaijani lawmaker.

Commenting on the Belt and Road Initiative, Novruzov said it is aimed at promoting common development along the routes of the ancient Silk Road and Azerbaijan fully supports it.

Put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, the initiative is aimed at promoting 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.

On cooperation between the CPC and the Yeni Azerbaijan party, he noted that the Azerbaijan-China working group on inter-parliamentary relations is the largest inter-parliamentary group for the Azerbaijani parliament.

"We highly appreciate the sincere and friendly relations that have developed between our countries and parliaments, and we are making efforts for their further development," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 00:23:37|Editor: Yurou

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Photo taken on Oct. 25, 2017 shows the general view of a session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Yerevan, Armenia. The five member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), namely Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, have reached 11 agreements on enhancing their economic relations, Armenpress reported Wednesday. The agreements were reached at the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council that concluded Wednesday here. (Xinhua/Gevorg Ghazaryan)

YEREVAN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The five member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), namely Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, have reached 11 agreements on enhancing their economic relations, Armenpress reported Wednesday.

The agreements were reached at a session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council that concluded Wednesday in Yerevan, capital of Armenia.

During the session, issues concerning internal markets and economic cooperation in agriculture, trade and infrastructure were discussed.

According to Tigran Sargsyan, chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission, the EEU will design projects to create branding for Eurasian joint enterprises.

"Today, it is impossible to talk about modernization of the economy and raising competitiveness without the digital agenda," said Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan during the session and added that it will decrease the expenses.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said technical obstacles impeding free movement of goods, services, labor and capital should be overcome.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev highlighted the work carried out in line with current trends so that the EEU economies could maintain competitiveness, ensuring a comfortable life and welfare for their citizens.

The next session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council will take place in Sochi, Russia, in early 2018.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 00:33:39|Editor: yan

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ABUJA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The wife of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau appeared to have been killed in a recent airstrike, the Nigerian air force said on Wednesday.

"Human intelligence" indicated the death of Malama Fitdasi Shekau, wife of Abubakar Shekau, believed to be the supreme commander of the ruthless terror group, said Olatokunbo Adesanya, spokesperson for the air force.

She was feared killed while representing her husband in a coordinating meeting on Oct. 19 with other terrorists at the location of the military airstrike, the spokesperson said.

"Battle damage assessment had indeed revealed that the aerial attack set off a fire, causing damage to the insurgents' structures within the settlement," he said.

The airstrike killed most of the Boko Haram fighters at the site, but a few of them fled, the spokesman said.

Nigeria has made a considerable gain in fighting the terror group, dislodging Boko Haram fighters from the Sambisa Forest, the group's largest training camp in the country.

Boko Haram has been blamed for the death of more than 20,000 people and the displacement of 2.3 million others in Nigeria since 2009.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 00:38:40|Editor: Yurou

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KHARTOUM, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to participating in China's Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative and working to achieve its main objectives.

"There is a standing deeply-rooted relationship between Sudan and China," Awad Ahmed al-Jaz, a Sudanese presidential assistant in charge of maintaining the Sudan-China relations, spoke at a symposium entitled "the Arab-China Cooperation and the Silk Road Initiative."

He said that there is "a joint willingness for enhancing the cooperation and achieving benefits without intervention in the affairs of one another."

Al-Jaz added that Sudan is committed to playing "a key role" in implementing the Belt and Road Initiative.

Chinese Ambassador to Sudan Li Lianhe reiterated the importance of the B&R Initiative in strengthening the spirit of regional cooperation and creating positive participation among countries.

Li said the initiative will helps encourage and promote trade, financial integration and exchanges among nations.

Ali Yousif Ahmed, executive director of the Arab-Chinese Friendship Societies' League, an affiliate of the Arab League based in Sudan, also highlighted the importance of the initiative for the Arab countries.

"Our Arab world needs this initiative, which is likely to enhance the trade, initiate sustainable development and establish infrastructure projects," he said.

Put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 00:43:41|Editor: Yurou

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U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (L) meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, India on Oct. 25, 2017. Tillerson arrived in the Indian capital late Tuesday night for his maiden official visit to this country. (Xinhua/PIB)

NEW DELHI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on bilateral relations, officials said.

"The prime minister shared the resolve expressed by Secretary Tillerson on taking further steps in the direction of accelerating and strengthening the content, pace and scope of the bilateral engagement," an official spokesman said.

Tillerson arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday night on a three-day visit to India. Prior to visiting India, Tillerson paid a visit to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"Secretary Tillerson exchanged views on his recent travels in the region with the prime minister," the spokesman said.

Earlier in the day, Tillerson held detailed discussions with Indian Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

The United States has shown keen interest to involve India with a much greater role in Afghanistan.

India recently declined the U.S. request to send troops to Afghanistan but reiterated its commitment to training Afghan security personnel and helping in reconstruction of the war-torn country.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 00:48:43|Editor: Hou Qiang

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HARARE, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean state enterprises and parastatals recorded a 270 million U.S. dollar loss in 2016, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda said Wednesday.

Addressing a workshop on the Public Entities Corporate Bill, Sibanda attributed the loss to ineffective internal control systems, which resulted in management paying themselves hefty pay at the expense of service delivery.

"Audited financial statistics for 2016 for 93 state enterprises and parastatals (SEPs) revealed an overall loss of 270 million dollars by the 38 surveyed commercial entities," Sibanda was quoted as saying by the state-run news agency New Ziana.

He said 70 percent of 93 SEPs were either "technically insolvent" or "illiquid."

Sibanda said weak corporate governance and ineffective internal control systems significantly contributed to the under-performance of state enterprises.

"Some entities have operated for extended periods without a full board," he said. "In one case, admittedly extreme, a strategic entity was run by a one-person board for more than two years."

He said the Public Entities Bill, currently before parliament, is designed to address those governance weaknesses.

Speaking at the same occasion, Finance and Economic Development Minister Ignatius Chombo reaffirmed the government's commitment to addressing weak corporate governance prevalent across state entities.

"The days of no boards, incomplete boards, one-man boards, nonexistent board committees and indefinite acting CEOs are well and truly gone," he said.

The newly appointed finance minister said bonuses, if they were to be paid at all in state-owned entities, should only be awarded after annual audited financial statements confirmed a satisfactory overall entity performance.

President Robert Mugabe recently threatened to shut down perennially non-performing state-owned firms.

The sector's contribution to national gross domestic product has slumped to around 2 percent, down from 40 percent two decades ago.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 00:53:45|Editor: Yurou

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GENEVA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Swiss government said Wednesday it has imposed a control system to oversee the trade in mercury -- a neurotoxin which can cause serious health problems.

The government, however, stopped short of an immediate outright ban.

Subject to approval by the Swiss Federal Environmental Office, exports of mercury dental mix will be permitted until the end of 2027, a government statement said.

The deadline for other mercury exports, for electric discharge lamps and welding machines, was set for the end of 2020.

The measures are aimed at withdrawing recycled mercury from the global market and storing it safely, according to the statement.

A network of European environmental organizations sought to impose an outright ban on mercury exports, in line with the European Union.

The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) urged the Swiss government to ignore commercial pressure, otherwise the country would remain the weak link in the efforts to outlaw mercury flows from Europe to the rest of the world.

"If Switzerland wants to be the flag bearer for the [Minamata] Convention, it needs to show exemplary leadership," the EEB said in statement before the Swiss government decision.

At the beginning of October, members of the Minamata Convention held their first conference in Geneva.

Switzerland is an important trader and recycler of mercury and it ratified the Minamata Convention in May 2016, Swissinfo,the website of the Swiss national broadcaster, reported.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 00:58:47|Editor: yan

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TIRANA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Albanian parliament decided Wednesday with 75 votes of majority to turn down a request made by the Prosecution for Serious Crimes of seeking the arrest of Socialist Party (SP) member of parliament Saimir Tahiri.

Tahiri is facing with accusations of being involved in narcotic substances trafficking, mainly to neighboring country Italy.

The Parliament casted an open vote on two reports, one prepared by the majority and the second one presented by the opposition, to whether arrest MP Saimir Tahiri or not.

While the opposition supported prosecution's request to arrest Tahiri, the majority said that they were in favor of the investigation, property control but not the arrest.

Tahiri, the former minister of Interior, who is now an MP, has been mentioned in the recorded conversations of several people involved in the trafficking of narcotics made by Italian authorities.

According to the prosecution office's press office, Tahiri will be investigated for the penal offence of "trafficking of narcotics", committed in collaboration in criminal group and "passive corruption of top state officials."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 01:03:48|Editor: Yurou

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NAIROBI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's main opposition alliance said on Wednesday that it will transform itself into a national resistance movement.

National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga said the opposition is preparing to convene a people's assembly to chart the way forward back to democracy within 90 days with the holding of credible elections.

"The Aug. 8 election and the one scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday) are part of the emerging trend of electoral autocracy gaining ground in Africa," Odinga said.

"This is a system where dictators give cloak of democratic respectability by organizing sham elections every four or five years which they must win at all costs," he said.

The opposition leader reiterated the boycott of the re-run of presidential elections scheduled for Thursday.

"We start a battle for electoral justice where we have credible election," he said.

He announced the start of month-long economic sabotage targeting companies, asking his supporters to take instructions to boycott newspapers, TV stations, products and services in their bid for change in Kenya.

"There are many ways of killing a cat. We shall kill this cat (of election autocracy). To our people, I do not want you to be shooting targets," said Odinga.

The opposition dropped out of the repeat presidential elections earlier, saying efforts to begin a cleanup of the electoral procedures to ensure a credible process were resisted by a biased electoral body.

At NASA's political rally Thursday in Uhuru Park, Odinga said his party refused to be part of "flower girls" to participate in an election meant to return President Uhuru Kenyatta back to political power without the electoral body addressing the concerns raised by the opposition.

"We call on Kenyans who love democracy to hold vigils and prayers and stay away from polling stations," he said. "We are aware that they plan to massacre our people. Let us deny them that chance."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 01:08:49|Editor: Hou Qiang

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HELSINKI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Leading Finnish media company Sanoma reported on Wednesday improved third quarter results and predicted a 12-percent profit this year, exceeding predictions previously done by analysts.

The company's chief executive officer Susan Duinhoven said in a press release that the flagship newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, the biggest newspaper in Finland, showed an increase in both the total number of subscriptions and the share of digital subscriptions, reaching new heights during the third quarter this year.

Sanoma's Finnish Nelonen TV channels kept their positions as market leaders.

"Our ability to keep sales stable in Finland in a challenging advertising market shows the strength of our portfolio and good work of our teams," she said. The sales of learning materials increased particularly in Poland, she added.

Sanoma's operational surplus increased to 89 million euros (104 million U.S. dollars) from 70 million in 2016. The turnover rose to 405 million euros from last year's 388 million euros. (1 euro=1.18 U.S. dollars)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 01:23:52|Editor: yan

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RIGA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The final documents for the demarcation of the Latvian-Russian border were signed during a ceremony in Riga on Thursday, the Latvian Foreign Ministry said.

Irina Mangule, Consul General of Latvia in St. Petersburg, and Alexey Obukhov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, signed the border demarcation documents on behalf of their own countries.

Mangule and Obukhov co-chaired the Latvia-Russia Border Demarcation Commission, which has now concluded its work.

Latvian Foreign Ministry State Secretary Andrejs Pildegovics said at the signing ceremony that a legally defined and demarcated state border will not only boost Latvia's security but also help tackling illegal immigration and organized crime.

The Latvian diplomat also noted that Latvia's border with Russia is at the same time also the European Union's external border and its proper demarcation is essential for Latvia to perform its function as a member of the Schengen Agreement.

The demarcation of the two neighboring countries' border is also an important signal about developing bilateral relations between Latvia and Russia, Pildegovics said.

Obukhov indicated that the demarcation process had been a major diplomatic, political and physical work, which has been done constructively. The result is important because a well-organized and protected border is necessary to both countries.

The border demarcation documents will now be submitted to the Latvian and Russian governments for approval, and after an exchange of notes, the demarcation of the Latvia-Russia border will be completed, the foreign ministry said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 01:38:57|Editor: yan

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ADEN, Yemen, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. airstrikes have killed on Wednesday six Islamic State (IS) militants in Yemen's central province of al-Bayda, a military official told Xinhua.

The unmanned aircraft conducted two raids and hit an IS terrorist hideout in Qayfa area of al-Bayda province, with six militants killed at the scene, the Yemeni military source said on condition of anonymity.

He said that most of the killed were IS members and were involved in establishing new training centers in al-Bayda province.

However, a tribal chief told Xinhua by phone that the six militants may possibly be al-Qaida militants.

The central province of al-Bayda and southeastern Shabwa, where dozens of al-Qaida and IS members are believed to be based, have been the focus of U.S.-led airstrikes.

Yemen, an impoverished Arab country, has been gripped by one of the most active regional al-Qaida insurgencies in the Middle East.

The Yemen-based Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), also known locally as "Ansar al-Sharia," emerged in January 2009, and has claimed responsibility for a number of terrorist attacks against Yemen's army and governmental institutions.

The AQAP and IS-linked terrorists took advantage of the security vacuum and ongoing civil war to expand their influence and seize more territories in southern Yemen.

Security in Yemen has further deteriorated since March 2015, when a war broke out between the Shiite Houthi group, supported by former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and government forces backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition.

Over 10,000 people have been killed in ground battles and airstrikes since then, many of them civilians.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 02:14:03|Editor: Hou Qiang

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CAIRO/RIYADH, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's just-concluded tour to the Middle East aimed at containing the expansion of influence by its top adversary Iran, but with limited results.

Tillerson on Sunday visited Saudi Arabia, a sworn enemy of Iran, before flying to Doha with an aim to mediate a crisis between Qatar and the Saudi-led Arab quartet.

On Monday, he paid a surprise visit to Iraq in a bid to calm the rising tensions between the Iraqi government and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, which is seeking independence.

Tillerson's trip reflected the adjustment of the U.S. policy priorities in the region at a time when the anti-terror war has achieved crucial victories and U.S. President Donald Trump decided to walk away from a landmark nuclear deal the previous administration signed with Iran.

U.S. ALARMED BY EXPANSION OF IRAN'S REGIONAL INFLUENCE

The growing Iranian influence in the Middle East recently has apparently alarmed the Trump administration, which is poised to confront the Islamic republic with new sanctions.

Indeed, Iran has been flexing its muscles across the region, where new developments and conflicts have created new opportunities for the Islamic republic.

From the Gulf to the Mediterranean, Iran has been exerting its clout thanks to the conflicts and new crises in those nations.

In Syria, Iran has been assisting the government of President Bashar al-Assad, together with Russia, in fighting the Islamic State (IS) militants and rebel groups backed by the U.S.-led coalition.

Qatar has greatly improved its ties with Iran since June, as the gas-rich Gulf nation is facing a total blockade imposed by the Saudi Arabia-led quartet, which also includes Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

In Iraq, which is also a Shiite-dominant country like Iran, Iranian-backed fighters have been helping Iraqi government forces defeat both IS militants and the Kurds seeking independence from Baghdad.

In Yemen, Iran has been supporting the Houthis in battling the government of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is supported by a coalition led by Saudi Arabia.

Despite a halt in its nuclear weapons program under the deal it signed with the U.S. and other major countries in 2015, Iran has been continuing its efforts to develop ballistic missiles. Iranian Navy has occasionally confronted the U.S. naval ships patrolling the Gulf, risking military conflicts.

The U.S. is also uneasy at the fast rapprochement between Iran and Turkey, a U.S. ally whose ties with Washington have worsened recently over a series of disputes.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a rare visit to Iran in early October, to boost Turkey's political and military ties with Tehran to coordinate the stances on curbing the Kurdish independence movement in Iraq and settling the Syria conflict.

BARRIERS STAND IN U.S. WAY TO CONFRONT IRAN

During his visit to Saudi Arabia, a Sunni-dominant state that has been a staunch U.S. ally, Tillerson witnessed the establishment of the Saudi-Iraq Coordination Council, which aims to coordinate their fight against IS and rebuild Iraq.

The major goal for the U.S. in brokering closer ties between Riyadh and Baghdad is to prevent Iraq from being dragged away by Iran, which has been assisting the Iraqi government in defeating IS and confronting the Kurdish independence.

Tillerson hailed the council as one of the ways "to counter some of the unproductive influences of Iran" inside Iraq, but suspicion remains between the two countries due to their decades-long estrangement and religious differences.

In both Riyadh and Doha, Tillerson called for dialogue to resolve the standoff between the Saudi-led bloc and Qatar, but once again he hit a stone wall.

Despite the U.S. pressure, Qatar is not willing now to take steps to damage its growing ties with Iran. The U.S. failure to broker a dialogue to end the standoff makes it more unlikely.

In August, Qatar, which severed diplomatic ties with Iran to show solidarity with Saudi in 2016, decided to restore its ties with Iran. Noticeably, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited Doha in early October to discuss increasing cooperation with Qatar in various fields.

Even the Iraqi government, which relies heavily on the U.S. for protecting its security, has distanced itself from Washington when it comes to its ties with Iran.

Speaking in Riyadh on Sunday, Tillerson publicly demanded the pro-Iran Shiite fighters in Iraq, or Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi), "go home" as the fight against IS is ending.

But he ignored the pro-Iran force's key role in helping the Iraqi government not only in defeating the IS militants, but also in retaking the oil-rich Kirkuk province and other disputed areas from Kurdish forces recently.

Not surprisingly, Tillerson received a slap in the face by the Iraqi government, which swiftly rejected his demand, citing that the Hashd al-Shaabi fighters are fully Iraqi.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told Tillerson straight to his face when they met in Baghdad Monday that the Hashd al-Shaabi fighters are Iraqi who have fought terrorism, defended their country and made sacrifices to defeat IS.

"Nobody has the right to interfere in Iraqi affairs," the Iraqi prime minister's office said earlier in a sternly-worded statement in response to Tillerson's remarks.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 02:14:04|Editor: Hou Qiang

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NAIROBI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday assured foreign investors of peace and prosperity in the East African nation ahead of the repeat presidential election on Thursday.

Addressing the nation in a televised news conference in Nairobi, Kenyatta also said the security forces were prepared to secure the safety of civilians and the property of foreign investors.

He said Kenya would not slide into anarchy under his watch and issued a warning to the main opposition that it must operate within the confines of the constitution.

"Better days lie ahead of our country," Kenyatta said, shortly after the main opposition leader Raila Odinga said his National Super Alliance (NASA) would begin a program of civil disobedience and boycott of products and services of companies supporting Kenyatta in power.

Kenyan voters were due to begin voting on Thursday in a repeat election where the president and his running mate, William Ruto, are seeking to recapture the presidency after the withdrawal of the main opposition leader from the race, citing lack of transparency in the process.

At least 19.6 million voters are eligible to take part and eight candidates are listed on the ballot, including the NASA leader and seven others.

Kenyatta said the opposition leaders and every citizen should respect the independence of state institutions and participate in the governance process to build confidence in those institutions.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 02:19:06|Editor: Hou Qiang

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VILNIUS, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Lithuanian government plans to radically reform the state enterprise which administrates main state's asset registers, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said on Wednesday.

The Centre of Register (CR), which currently operates under the Ministry of Justice, would be transferred to the Ministry of Transport and Communications in order to consolidate the state's resources in the area of IT, Skvernelis said.

"It would be an important interim step towards consolidation of IT resources. I believe the Ministry of Transport and Communication will be able to make decisions as regards continuous problems of the CR," Skvernelis was quoted by local media as saying after a governmental meeting.

As local website 15min.lt reported, the prime minister was referring to the problems of transparency within the CR which has recently become a subject of the investigation initiated by the Lithuanian Parliament.

"The Ministry of Transport shows a decent level of potential as regards the reorganization of state companies," Skvernelis added.

Recently, the ministry implemented overhaul of the state enterprise Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways) which had become a target of law enforcement scrutiny earlier this year.

Rokas Masiulis, minister of transportation, told reporters that "transparent, clear and understandable to everybody management" would be introduced in the CR.

"First of all, we will try to increase transparency," Masiulis said.

The parliamentary Anti-corruption Commission was earlier obliged by the parliament to carry out an investigation due to doubtful public procurement and other cases at the CR.

The state company also struggles to find a new chief executive after the former director stepped down at the beginning of this year without naming clear reasons for his decision.

The primary function of the CR is the administration of five main state registers, such as real property, legal entities and population.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 02:54:13|Editor: Hou Qiang

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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Bruce Paddock, the brother of Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock, was detained Wednesday due to suspected connection to child pornography, local media cited law enforcement source as saying.

NBC news channel reported that the 58-year-old suspect was detained at an assisted-living facility, where he was awaiting surgery for spinal stenosis. A felony complaint said he could face 19 counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography as he had more than 600 explicit images of minors in 2014 and also swapped pornography.

Los Angeles Police Department Officer Mike Lopez confirmed to local KTLA news channel that a child pornography investigation took place this morning. However, he did not confirm either Bruce Paddock was the subject of the investigation or a man showed in a video clips posted online Wednesday morning, who was in a wheelchair being put by authorities into a police van, was Bruce Paddock.

64-year-old Stephen Paddock rained down about 1,600 rounds of ammo from the 32th floor suite of Mandalay Bay hotel into a crowd of 22,000 concertgoers on Oct. 1. The incident became the largest mass shooting in U.S. modern history, leaving 58 dead and wounding more than 500.

After the bloody massacre, Bruce Paddock took many media interviews, saying he had not been in touch with his brother Stephen for 10 years and had no idea why the murder would have done in the tragedy.

Bruce Paddock also revealed that their father was a bank robber who once made the FBI's most-wanted list and was judged by authorities to be "psychopathic" with "suicidal tendencies."

NBC reported earlier Paddock went to the coroner's office in Nevada to see if he could claim Stephen Paddock's remains.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 03:04:16|Editor: yan

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RAMALLAH, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) condemned on Wednesday the Israeli government's decision to build 176 new more housing units in the Israeli settlements in east Jerusalem.

Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesman of the PNA presidency said in an official statement that the Palestinians call on the United States administration to intervene in order to stop the decision.

"Basically, all settlement activities in the Palestinian territories are illegal, in accordance to the United Nations Security Council resolution 2334," said Abu Rudeina, in a statement published in the official (WAFA) news agency.

He stressed that "making a just and a comprehensive peace needs an establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on the borders of 1967."

Abu Rudeina also called on the administration of President Donald Trump "to immediately intervene to rescue the efforts it exerts to revive the peace process in the Middle East."

Earlier, the Israeli Haaretz Daily reported that the planning and construction committee that belongs to the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem agreed on licensing the construction of the 176 units in Jabel Mukaber in the city.

Last week, Israel announced that it intends to construct hundreds of housing units in the Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The Palestinians and the European Union opposed the plan.

Israeli settlement expansion is one of the stickiest issues, which was the main reason behind halting the direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

The direct peace talks, sponsored by the United States, had stopped in April 2014 after it went on for nine months without achieving any progress due to differences between the two sides on settlement expansion.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 03:49:28|Editor: yan

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GENEVA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Swiss cabinet gave green light on Wednesday for the country to officially take up a protecting power mandate in the Iran-Saudi Arabia conflict, representing the two nations' consular interests in each other's capital, according to a cabinet statement.

The so-called protecting power mandates involve taking on some consular and diplomatic tasks in the event of a breakdown in relations between two states, allowing for the continuation of low-level engagement.

Switzerland has been in negotiations with the two countries since February 2016.

Saudi Arabia severed its diplomatic relations with Iran in January 2016, following demonstrations in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran and its consulate in the northeastern city of Mashhad.

Angry protesters set the diplomatic missions ablaze for the execution of top Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia.

In the past, Switzerland has fulfilled over 200 such missions, notably during the World War II.

However, Wednesday's cabinet statement indicated no intention for Switzerland to get involved at a more substantial level of mediation and facilitation efforts in the case of the Iran-Saudi standoff.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 04:49:45|Editor: yan

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ANKARA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and Iraq declared on Wednesday their willingness to boost bilateral cooperation and join forces against northern Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), following last month independence referendum.

"Turkey had to impose sanctions as the illegitimate referendum was held despite all of our warnings," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters at the presidential complex after meeting Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi who is visiting Ankara, insisting that "Turkey is supporting the territorial integrity of Iraq."

Erdogan said that trilateral talks between Turkey, Iran and Iraq in the aftermath of the controversial vote in the Kurdish region "are heading towards a positive point."

"We have discussed what political, military, cultural, trade and economic steps we could take" to boost relations, Erdogan said, insisting that his country would now consider the central Baghdad administration as sole interlocutor for improving ties with the neighboring country.

Abadi hailed the "fraternal" relations with Turkey and remarked that the battle against the Islamic State (IS) was coming towards an end with the government forces having retaken recently its Iraqi headquarters of Mossoul.

He also said that Iraq's authorities will continue exerting the federal power, preserving the country's unity.

Last week, Turkey said it had closed its air space to northern Iraq and work to hand control of the main border crossing into the region to the Iraqi central government.

While Abadi was traveling Wednesday to Ankara to have talks with Turkish leaders, Iraq's KRG said it's prepared to freeze the results of last month's independence referendum that triggered deadly clashes with government troops and hurt oil exports.

The KRG also proposed an immediate ceasefire and talks with Baghdad "on the basis of the constitution."

"As Iraq and Kurdistan are faced with grave and dangerous circumstances, we are all obliged to act responsibly in order to prevent further violence and clashes," the KRG said in a statement on its website.

More than 90 percent of Iraqi Kurds voted for independence in the non-binding referendum, which was fiercely opposed by Baghdad as well as neighboring countries such as Turkey and Iran, fearing it could embolden their own Kurdish minorities.

The federal government sent troops this month to retake disputed areas that Kurdish Peshmerga fighters had seized in 2014 after IS routed Iraqi forces, including the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, important also for Turley because of the its turcoman minority.

The clashes led to the interruption of output at some of Iraq's northern oil fields, reducing exports. Output halted at some sections of the giant Kirkuk oil field and other nearby deposits after federal forces captured them from the Kurds and as some workers and guards stayed away from work.

Iraq had been exporting close to 600,000 barrels a day on average this year from fields in Kirkuk and the Kurdish enclave, shipping them together through the same pipeline to Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has hinted that his government wants to take control of revenue generated from Kurdish oil exports, following the controversial ban on international flights to and from the Kurdistan Region.

President Erdogan also said that Turkey was ready to give all support to Baghdad as it seeks to reopen the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, through which Iraq stopped sending oil in 2014.

Abadi said in a tweet that his government wanted to pay monthly salaries of KRG employees with money from Kurdish oil sales.

"Federal government control of oil revenues is in order to pay KRG employee salaries in full and so that money will not go to the corrupt," Abadi tweeted.

Turkey and Baghdad who had difficult ties in the past over Turkey's presence at a military base in northern Iraq, have operated a spectacular rapprochement after the KRG referendum.

Ankara has since been training with the Iraqi army, and achieved to rally Teheran's support in order to isolate the Kurdish regime with whom she enjoyed vast trade relations.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 05:09:51|Editor: yan

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KIGALI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 10 member states of the Nile Basin Initiative on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation to ensure all people living in the basin have water security.

A resolution was announced at the closure of the fifth Nile Basin Development Forum in the Rwandan capital Kigali.

The three-day meeting drew more than 400 participants from member states and across the world.

Closing the forum, Rwanda's Minister of Environment Vincent Biruta said the recommendations agreed in Kigali will inform the regional and national agendas for water resources management and development for the coming years.

The recommendations mirror the Nile Basin Initiative's 10-year strategy and its aspirations, he said.

Technical solutions are available to achieve the objective of water security in the basin, said Innocent Ntabana, secretariat executive director of the Nile Basin Initiative, an intergovernmental partnership of 10 Nile Basin countries -- Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Ntabana urged member states to take advantage of the solution pathways that have emerged from the forum and build on the networks established.

By 2050, the population of the Nile Basin countries is projected to more than double from around 400 million to 1 billion.

This, along with changes in the climate and the desired socioeconomic transformation, will put even greater pressure on Nile Basin water resources, according to experts.

The forum featured a number of side events to raise awareness of the latest trends in integrated water resources management, including an exhibition showcasing water-related innovations and policy solutions.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 05:34:59|Editor: yan

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HAVANA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Cuba has been holding trials to implement online commerce services for the first time in the country, an official source said on Wednesday.

Beatriz Milian, deputy director of the Central Bank of Cuba (BCC), said that since July 2016, a pilot test had been carried out in the country to implement the payment gateway, which would allow real-time transactions between commercial banks and customers.

Milian added the trial started with payment by phone services within a controlled environment, before certain currency transactions were allowed, through the state-run foreign exchange system.

"During this process, we were able to ratify the correct operations, we tested the entire flow of operations to the bank, introduced banking identity providers for client authentication and incorporated the possibility of including reverse transactions and returns," she said.

Cuba has more than 900 ATMs nationwide, as well as almost four million bank cards among the population. As such, it seems natural for services such as mobile banking and paying bills online to become increasingly popular.

The implementation process involves the Metropolitan Bank, the Popular Bank of Savings and the Bank of Credit and Commerce, and the state-owned telecommunications company, Etecsa.

The Cuban government intends to increase the population's access to new technologies as part of the computerization of the society.

According to official figures last July, there were 4.3 million mobile lines and four million users with Internet access across Cuba, including over 1.5 million people with permanent accounts.

Last February, Etecsa unveiled home Internet access, although monthly costs range from 15-70 U.S. dollars for 30 hours a month, which is very high as the average national salary stands at 20 U.S. dollars.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 05:40:01|Editor: yan

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RABAT, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Ministers of the Islamic states gathered in the Moroccan capital Rabat on Wednesday to discuss cooperation on achieving sustainable development goals.

The seventh session of the Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers opened here on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) in the Moroccan capital Rabat.

Held under the slogan "Towards an Effective Islamic Cooperation to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals," the conference brings together environment ministers of the Organization of Islamic Conference member states, as well as representatives of international and regional organizations.

In a message of Morocco's King Mohammed VI, which is read to the participants, the king underlined that this conference "provides a good opportunity to take stock of environmental challenges and to go ahead with consultation and the exchange of experiences on the issue of climate change, its consequences and risks.

"The Kingdom of Morocco has been proactively and responsibly engaged in the fight against climate change," the king said, adding that "this steadfast determination was demonstrated in particular in November 2016 when we hosted the Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP22), which was a success on a global scale."

"It is also reflected by the proactive policy we are implementing, through the promotion of a low carbon economy, to strike a balance between the requirements of economic development and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," he added.

For his part, the Director General of the ISESCO, Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, said that the "promotion of effective Islamic cooperation to achieve sustainable development goals" should be at the forefront of concerns.

"COP 22 was a successful Conference that the Kingdom of Morocco has managed to turn into an international forum for dialogue and research on major global issues, in order to preserve the environment and adequately address the climate changes affecting the planet's safety," he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 05:45:02|Editor: Yurou

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KIEV, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and three others, including a Ukrainian lawmaker, were wounded in a vehicle blast in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, on late Wednesday, authorities said.

An unidentified man was killed, while Igor Mosiychuk, a lawmaker from the Radical Party, his aide and a well-known political analyst Vitaly Bala were wounded in the blast of the motorcycle in front of them, Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukrainian Interior Minister wrote on Facebook.

Meanwhile, Oksana Blishchuk, Kiev police spokesperson, said that four men were wounded, when the car parked in front of the building of the local TV channel exploded at about 10 p.m. local time (GMT 1900). One of them died on the way to the hospital.

Later in the day, Oleg Lyashko, the leader of the Radical Party, said the blast was an "assassination attempt" on Mosiychuk linked to his professional activity.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 05:45:03|Editor: yan

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SANAA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations' envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, on Wednesday offered a new road map proposal to rebuild confidence between the Yemeni rival forces as a preparation step to end the country's civil war.

In a press statement distributed by the UN envoy's office and obtained by Xinhua, Ould Cheikh Ahmed declared his new proposal in a press conference in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

The offer came following the conclusion of the UN envoy's visit to the Saudi kingdom where he met with Yemeni exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and senior Saudi officials.

"We are currently considering steps that can be taken by all Yemeni rival parties to restore confidence and move forward towards a viable negotiated settlement," Ould Cheikh said.

"These steps are based on three pillars: the re-establishment of the agreement of the cessation of hostilities, re-building confidence measures and the return to the negotiating table with a view to reaching a comprehensive peace agreement," he said.

He said the conflict in Yemen is essentially a "political conflict" that can only be solved through political negotiations.

Ould Cheikh called on all Yemeni parties to make the necessary concessions that could help pave the way for a long-term peace.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni internationally recognized government of President Hadi welcomed the new UN proposal, in a statement carried by the state Saba news agency.

For rebel part, the spokesman of the dominant Shiite Houthi rebels, Mohammed Abdulsalam, told the Houthis-owned Almasira TV that his group is open for any solution that can guarantee a long-term peace and end the war.

Abdulsalam, however, repeated his group's official stance from the UN envoy Ould Cheikh, saying "Ould Cheikh is no longer welcomed anymore and this affirmed position came from our assessment of Ould Cheikh's role in his managing the talks as an intermediary."

Houthis gave accused the UN mediator of bias in favor of the coalition countries led by Saudi Arabia against their group.

On June 5, the Houthi group denied the UN envoy access to Yemen over the alleged partiality.

On May 22, protesters in the rebel-held capital Sanaa pelted the motorcade of the UN envoy with stones and shoes as Ould Cheikh was leaving for the airport following his visit to meet Houthi officials in Sanaa.

The envoy was not hurt in the attack, and left the country successfully.

Despite several rounds of previously failed peace mediations, the United Nations envoy is still seeking to mediate a new political settlement in Yemen to end the war that last over two and a half years.

The war pitted forces of the country's internationally recognized government and backed by the Saudi-led coalition against Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi rebels and backed by forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The war has killed more than 10,000, mostly civilians, and led to the displacement of 3 million Yemenis.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 05:45:04|Editor: yan

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DAMASCUS, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian government forces are advancing in the countryside of Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria in fighting the Islamic State (IS) in al-Bukamal, the last major IS stronghold near the Iraqi border, a military source told Xinhua on Wednesday.

The Syrian troops are now fighting to retake the T2 oilfield all the way to reach al-Bukamal, just days after the government forces dislodged IS from the city of al-Mayadeen, which was deemed as the IS' capital in Deir al-Zour, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group also reported the progress of the Syrian army, saying the troops are advancing toward al-Bukamal under heavy cover of shelling.

Al-Bukamal is very important for IS due to its proximity to IS-held areas on the Iraqi side of the border.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Hashid Shaabi, or the Popular Mobilization Forces, are bracing to eliminate IS in the areas they control on the Iraqi side of the border in tandem with the Syrian military operations against al-Bukamal.

The operation seemed coordinated between the Syrian and Iraqi forces in the border region to clear it completely from IS.

In the capital city of Deir al-Zour, the Syrian army captured the al-Sina' neighborhood from IS, as activists said the government troops are now controlling over 90 percent of Deir al-Zour city as a result of the weeks-long offensive in that key area.

Politically, the Riyadh-backed Syrian opposition groups will convene in the Saudi capital next month in a bid to reach an agreement to unify the opposition delegation to the upcoming intra-Syrian talks in Geneva.

Uniting the opposition delegations in one is a demand of Russia, which said that the Geneva talks won't take place if the Syrian opposition groups didn't unite in one delegation.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 05:50:06|Editor: Yang Yi

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Chinese ambassador to Cuba Chen Xi (2nd L) and Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca (2nd R) attend a signing ceremony in Havana, Cuba, on Oct. 25, 2017. China and Cuba on Wednesday signed five cooperation and legal agreements, which reaffirm the willingness of both nations to strengthen and expand their economic and trade relations. (Xinhua/Str)

HAVANA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- China and Cuba on Wednesday signed five cooperation and legal agreements, which reaffirm the willingness of both nations to strengthen and expand their economic and trade relations.

According to local media, Rodrigo Malmierca, Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, and Chen Xi, the Chinese ambassador to Cuba, signed the documents, including a donation of one million U.S. dollars by the Chinese government to help the recovery of areas affected by Hurricane Irma.

Both nations also formalized a new credit line granted by China to remodel and modernize Cuba's electronic industry.

The Cuban official said these new agreements are a sign of the "friendship and brotherhood" between China and Cuba.

"The accords are aimed at supporting the process of recovery of the damages caused by Hurricane Irma. China was one of the first nations to express its condolences and willingness to help," added Malmierca.

Both sides signed a record of delivery and receipt of emergency humanitarian aid granted by China, consisting of relief materials such as tents, generators, mattresses, blankets, water pumps, and lighting, among others.

Chen said these new legal documents and agreements are a "testimony of the existing friendly relations between the two countries."

"Immediately after the impact of the hurricane, the Chinese government prepared a humanitarian aid package aimed at helping Cuba succeed in its recovery," he added.

In 2016, China became Cuba's biggest commercial partner with bilateral trade reaching 2.5 billion U.S. dollars, according to the Cuban Bureau of Statistics and Information.
Syrian government forces close in on last Islamic State (IS) key stronghold in al-Bukamal. (Xinhua Photo)

DAMASCUS, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian government forces are advancing in the countryside of Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria in fighting the Islamic State (IS) in al-Bukamal, the last major IS stronghold near the Iraqi border, a military source told Xinhua on Wednesday.

The Syrian troops are now fighting to retake the T2 oilfield all the way to reach al-Bukamal, just days after the government forces dislodged IS from the city of al-Mayadeen, which was deemed as the IS' capital in Deir al-Zour, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group also reported the progress of the Syrian army, saying the troops are advancing toward al-Bukamal under heavy cover of shelling.

Al-Bukamal is very important for IS due to its proximity to IS-held areas on the Iraqi side of the border.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Hashid Shaabi, or the Popular Mobilization Forces, are bracing to eliminate IS in the areas they control on the Iraqi side of the border in tandem with the Syrian military operations against al-Bukamal.

The operation seemed coordinated between the Syrian and Iraqi forces in the border region to clear it completely from IS.

In the capital city of Deir al-Zour, the Syrian army captured the al-Sina' neighborhood from IS, as activists said the government troops are now controlling over 90 percent of Deir al-Zour city as a result of the weeks-long offensive in that key area.

Politically, the Riyadh-backed Syrian opposition groups will convene in the Saudi capital next month in a bid to reach an agreement to unify the opposition delegation to the upcoming intra-Syrian talks in Geneva.

Uniting the opposition delegations in one is a demand of Russia, which said that the Geneva talks won't take place if the Syrian opposition groups didn't unite in one delegation.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 06:00:09|Editor: yan

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BEIRUT, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- A forum of cultural exchanges between China and the Arab world kicked off here Wednesday, aiming at enhancing bilateral cooperation in the context of Belt and Road Initiative.

The forum of the second Translation and Cultural Exchanges between China and the Arab World, which lasts two days, was held in the Lebanese University, under the auspices of its president Fuad Ayoub.

China's Ambassador to Lebanon Wang Kejian said on the occasion that "the friendship that develops in the communication between peoples is the key to good relations among nations."

He stressed that "cultural and human exchange remained one of the important pillars of China-Arab cooperation within the context of the Belt and Road Initiative."

Wang noted that "translation, which is an important bridge for intercultural communication, plays an irreplaceable role in increasing rapprochement, enhancing mutual trust and pursuing friendship between China and Arab countries."

Zhu Weilie from Shanghai University said the forum aims at enhancing communication and cooperation between China and Lebanon, adding that Lebanon is a "cultural and civilized country that can play a bigger and continuous role in the human communication and cultural cooperation between the two sides."

Zhu also expressed hope that the forum would become a stable mechanism between China and Lebanon.

Ayoub said that the university is making effort to build bridges with various cultures and civilizations in the world, including China, which is its focus.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 06:20:13|Editor: Yurou

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TRIPOLI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UN Support Mission in Libya, Ghassan Salame, on Wednesday expressed hope to reopen its desk in southern city of Sebha and further communication with southern Libya.

Salame made his remarks during a meeting on Wednesday with representatives of southern Libya in the capital Tripoli.

"Our meeting today is an opportunity to discuss needs of the south and challenges it faces. After closing our office in Sebha in 2013 for reasons beyond our control, we are seriously considering reopening it, in order to open important channels of communications to implement significant programs of supporting stability in the important parts of Libya," Salame said during the meeting.

"All assistance provided by UN-related organizations is not enough. I personally try to double these programs and allocate them to the south, because they need more help," Salame said.

Visits by any international officials to southern Libyan have not been possible for security reasons.

There is no formal representation of any international organizations in the region. Delivering international assistance to conflict-affected areas in the south is done in partnerships with local organizations.

"I wanted and planned to visit the south many times, but that was not possible. I will continue my strenuous efforts to achieve my hope of visiting the people of the south," Salame said.

Ismail Sharif, representative of the south in the Libyan Parliament, said that the people of the south were keen throughout the conflict in Libya to be a national front rather than a regional one.

Southern Libya has been suffering severe lack of services and insecurity over the past years, particularly tribal violence, as well attacks carried out by IS affiliates, who recently fled to southern desert and mountains areas after being defeated in Benghazi and Sirte.

The region also suffers crimes of armed robbery, kidnapping, human and drugs trafficking,weapon smuggling.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 06:55:18|Editor: yan

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian authorities on Wednesday closed the biggest park in Sao Paulo, due to a suspected outbreak of yellow fever.

Local officials announced the closing of Anhanguera park, and recommended residents stay away from two other parks, Canivete and Corrego do Bispo.

The decision follows other closures, including the Huerto Florestal (Forest Orchard) in north of the city, where a howler monkey was recently found dead. Preliminary lab tests showed the animal died of yellow fever.

In a statement, the city Health Secretariat said the new closings were precautionary measures pending further tests.

Experts believe the Haemagogus mosquito, mostly found in tropical Central and South America, infected the monkey in the wild.

The monkey was found just a few weeks after Brazil's Health Ministry announced the end of a yellow fever outbreak in Sao Paulo, which left 261 dead and 777 people infected.

The city also announced a mass vaccination campaign focusing on people living around the Huerto Forestal.
IAF Landing Operations on Agra-Lucknow Expressway

Agra-Lucknow, Wed, 25 Oct 2017 NI Wire

Indian Air Force carried out major landing operations on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway, about 60 km west of Lucknow, yesterday. The series of landings took place close to Bangarmau in Unnao District of Uttar Pradesh, where a 3 km stretch was specially prepared for such operations. The landing operations commenced at around 1015 hrs and continued till about 1200 hrs. A total of sixteen aircraft participated in the operation which comprised IAFs frontline Air Superiority Fighters including the Sukhoi-30, Mirage-2000 and Jaguar fighter aircraft. These aircraft took off from Bareilly, Gwalior and Gorakhpur respectively. In addition, the IAF carried out drills in which Garud Commandos were inserted and extricated for ground operations, by the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft which took off from Hindon airbase.

A team of Senior IAF Officials headed by Senior Air Staff Officer HQ CAC, IAF Allahabad Air Marshal AS Butola were present to oversee the operations. While the operation was conducted under the aegis of HQ CAC, Bamrauli Allahabad, Air Force Station Bakshi Ka Talab Station Commander, Gp Capt J Suares and his team, were responsible for the overall control and coordination of the exercise.

On site arrangements were made for a Mobile Air Traffic Control, Radar Control, Meteorological Facility, Aerospace Safety and Security Control. In addition, to deal with any situation, crash, firefighting, rescue and medical teams were positioned. IAF sought assistance from State Government authorities for temporary closure of the expressway and other matters like crowd control, etc. A large number of police personnel were stationed along the stretch to ensure smooth conduct of operations.

The exercise commenced with an impressive short landing by the C-130 which on its landing roll itself started off loading the Garud Commandos and their vehicle in manoeuvre called Combat ERO (Engine Running Offload). Immediately on disembarking from the C-130, the Commandos took up position on either side of the airstrip to cordon it off for the fighter operations. This was followed by two sets of 3-3 Mirages, five SU30s and three Jaguars. All 14 fighter aircraft carried out a roller/touch and go manoeuvre on the expressway. The C-130 then returned for another short landing to extricate the Garud Commandos.

Over the past few years, IAF has been increasing its efforts to utilise certain straight stretches of National Highways for emergency landings. Such highway stretches are planned to be used in emergencies, if an active airport is not available for some reason. These operations increase the flexibility in the use of Air Power. In addition, use of transport aircraft for quick insertion of forces for Human Assistance and Disaster Relief into civil area and Special Forces in case of contingencies has been validated.

IAF had already carried out landings by fighter aircraft for the first time on the Yamuna expressway on 21 May 2015. The stretch of Agra  Lucknow expressway was earlier activated for the first time for IAF operations in November 2016 in which six fighter aircraft of the IAF landed on the expressway. However, in this exercise, IAF included the Jaguar fighter aircraft for the first time. Also for the first time, IAFs C-130J transport aircraft participated in highway landing operations for insertion and extrication of Garud Special Forces. While the operations on 24 October 2017 required the closure of the portion of the expressway for road traffic, through the excellent support of the UP State Government and UPEIDA, once the planned works are completed, such road traffic closure will not be required henceforth. Two diversion roads on either side of the airstrip are near completion. In addition, wire fencing on both sides is also being undertaken to keep the airstrip clear of stray animals. Two parking areas for aircraft at both ends of the airstrip are also nearing completion.

Several countries like Germany, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan, Finland, Switzerland, Poland, Singapore, Czechoslovakia, Pakistan, etc. have dedicated stretches on their highways and expressways for aircraft to land and take off in emergencies or war like events.

This operation has majorly boosted IAFs capability to undertake unhindered operations even during non-availability of standard runways. It has demonstrated the expert flying skills of its fighter and transport aircrew, and the capability of its ground crew in activating such expressway airstrips on short notice. Such activations of highway stretches all across India are planned to be practised regularly by the IAF in future.

Source: PIB
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In a decision that signals the end of impunity for officials failing to deliver their duties, King Mohammed VI sacked four ministers of the current cabinet for falling short of achieving social and development goals and held other senior officials and former ministers responsible for the delay witnessed in the implementation of a set of state-funded projects, .

The officials were relieved of their duties after the King received a report of Moroccos court of auditors pointing out to the numerous delays and negligence of the dismissed ministers and officials. He also asked the head of the government to prepare for a government reshuffle to replace the sacked ministers.

The move comes after several royal speeches where enhancing the performance of administrative bodies and improving the services they provide was a salient theme. Managing the citizens affairs and serving their interests are both a national responsibility and a sacred trust, and in this regard there is no room for negligence or procrastination, the King said in a speech in October 2016.

Last July, in a speech on the occasion of the Throne Day, King Mohammed VI expressed the aspirations of the Moroccan citizen to an administration that serves the interests of the homeland first and foremost. The speech echoed the demands of protesters for a dignified life and an administration that fulfills its duties within reasonable time limits.

Therefore, the sacking of underperforming ministers was foreseeable. At a Ministers Council held last June, King Mohammed VI criticized several ministers for the delay in the delivery of a set of development and social projects he had launched in Al Hoceima in October 2015, a year before the wave of popular protests outbroke in the region.

The Al Hoceima Lighthouse of the Mediterranean program, worth $665-million, is meant to promote the regions development through implementing a host of projects slated for completion in 2019. Unfortunately, many of the projects scheduled in the program never saw the light of the day due to the lack of follow-up by relevant ministries.

The King has previously expressed his disappointment, discontent and concern, over the slow pace of the development projects in the Rif and ordered a probe to determine those responsible for stalling some projects.

Today, the probe unmasked the ministers who failed in their mission. The list includes ministers in the outgoing government who continued to hold portfolios in the current cabinet. These are Mohamed Hassad, Minister of National Education, former Minister of the Interior in the outgoing government; El Houssaine El Ouardi, Health Minister; and Mohamed Nabil Benabdellah, Housing Minister, a statement by the royal office said.

Larbi Benckheikh, Secretary of State in charge of vocational training and former Director General of the Vocational Training Institute (OFPPT) as well as Ali Fassi Fihri, Director General of the National Office for Water and Electricity, were also sacked, the statement said.

The Royal statement also expressed the kings disappointment regarding the performance of five ministers who served in Benkiranes government and stressed that they will never be entrusted again with a public mission. These include Rachid Belmokhtar, former Minister of National Education, Lahcen Haddad, former Minister of Tourism, Lahcen Sekkouri, former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Amine Sbihi, former Minister of Culture, and Hakima El Haite, former Secretary of State in charge of the environment.

The Royal rant against low performing ministers and officials is indicative of the Kings personal interest and high priority he attaches to the implementation of development projects in all Moroccan regions.

The Royal decision also shows that there will be no compromise with upholding the Constitution notably the second paragraph of Article 1, which links public office with accountability.

Whether a project concerns a district, a hamlet, a city, a region or the entire country, it still has the same objective, which is to serve citizens. In the eyes of citizens, digging a well or building a dam, for instance, are equally important, the Monarch stressed in the State of the Nation Speech last July.

This is the dawn of a new era in which there is no difference between officials and citizens as far as civic rights and obligations are concerned; nor is there room for shirking responsibility or avoiding sanction, King Mohammed VI had underscored.
As Morocco prepares to launch its first reconnaissance satellite on November, Spanish military officials are voicing their concerns.

The satellite will bridge the gap in terms of spatial reconnaissance between Morocco and Spain to the disappointment of Spanish military officials who are keen to maintain their countrys upper hand, Spains El Pais paper reported.

Despite the friendly ties between Morocco and Spain, the two countries have lingering issues concerning the status of the occupied Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla as well as small islands and rocks in the Mediterranean.

The satellite will be launched from the European space port of Kourou in French Guiana, according to some Moroccan web sites.

Built by Airbus defense & Space Company, this Moroccan satellite will be launched with an Italian Vega rocket.

Designed as a dual civil/military system, Pleiades deliver very-high-resolution optical data products in record time and offer a daily revisit capability to any point on the globe.

They are able to obtain data in double-quick time. These types of satellites operate as a constellation in the same orbit, phased 180 apart.

Pleiades can also provide imagery anywhere in the world in less than 24 hours in response to a crisis or natural disaster. These satellites offer a wide coverage, fine detail, intensive monitoring, extensive archives and 50 cm resolution imagery.

This satellite system was born under the French-Italian ORFEO program (Optical & Radar Federated Earth Observation) between 2001 and 2003.

Equipped with innovative latest-generation space technologies like fiber-optic gyros and control moment gyros, Pleiades-HR 1A and 1B offer exceptional roll, pitch and yaw (slew) agility, enabling the system to maximize the number of acquisitions above a given area.
I am not a sheep, I have my own mind

I have had enough of being told what and how to think

Whilst we are still allowed the remnants of free speech,

I will speak out.



I also reserve the right to discuss less controversial matters should I feel the urge.
Photo: Mike Knell/CC/flickr Not everyone will be happy to see cash bail go.

Californias cash-bail system unnecessarily compromises victim and public safety and exacerbates socioeconomic disparities and racial bias, according to a report released this week. This unsafe and unfair system, which disproportionately advantages those with big bank accounts, should be abolished, said Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who established the group that issued the report and endorsed its results.

I support the conclusion that Californias current pretrial system unnecessarily compromises victim and public safety, she said in a statement Tuesday.

The report suggests replacing Californias current cash-bail system with a risk-based pretrial assessment, which would assess a defendants public safety and flight risk before determining if they should remain in jail as they await trial.

Cantil-Sakauye is only the latest high-profile figure in California to throw her support behind bail reform. Governor Jerry Brown favors a change, and Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and Senator Kamala Harris, among others, have endorsed the idea.

Couldnt agree more. An individuals freedom should not be based on their ATM balance, Newsom tweeted. Harris also tweeted her reaction, writing, I agree with the Chief Justice  the money bail system isnt safe and it isnt smart. We can do better.

If California, which has some of the highest bail costs in the country, is successful in eliminating cash bail, it will be following the lead of New Jersey and New Mexico, which have made similar moves. But it will not be achieved without opposition. The bail industry is already pushing back, suggesting that the proposed changes to Californias bail system would make the state more dangerous.
If this Jane Doe could be denied an abortion because the government disapproves, who really has a right to choose? Photo: Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Well, turns out the case didnt make it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court after all. Making swift use of an order from the D.C. Court of Appeals to the Trump administration to stop trying to interfere with her constitutional right to choose, a detained unauthorized immigrant (known in the court proceedings as Jane Doe) obtained the abortion she has been seeking for weeks, according to a news release from the ACLU. The full Court of Appeals overruled an earlier decision by two conservative members of the three-judge panel to let the government prevent the abortion until at least the end of October while it searched for a friends-or-family sponsor to take responsibility for the young womans actions.

While the abortion makes the legal controversy moot, the implications of this case will hang over the courts and the political debate over abortion for some time, in part because of the eerie Handmaids Tale parallels it invokes of a theocratic government treating a pregnant woman as a breeding asset of the state rather than an autonomous individual. As Dahlia Lithwick acutely observed, the Trump administration seemed to be trying to appropriate for the federal government the same broad prerogatives to interfere with reproductive rights so as not to violate its religiously informed conscience as individuals and even businesses have secured through religious liberty protections:

In defending its inchoate and unconstitutional maneuvering to avoid facilitating a lawful abortion for which it pays no fees, the Trump administration argues it is respecting fetal life. Simultaneously, to shrink Jane Does actual interests in not carrying an unwanted pregnancy to term, the administration has painstakingly dismissed her as a non-citizen, a minor, and of course, a female, and thus in need of adult supervision. And in this way the road to the perfect dehumanization of humans is achieved. That road was paved in the Supreme Courts Hobby Lobby ruling, in which the justices affirmed similar arguments about the complex spiritual lives of for-profit corporations.

As it continues to pursue via appointments to the Supreme Court the explicit power to ban abortions and force all pregnant women within the boundaries of the United States to carry every single pregnancy to term, this administration is testing the courts willingness to let it thwart abortions whenever it can get away with it on grounds of religion-based concern for fetal life. Six judges of the D.C. Court of Appeals rejected this argument out of hand, but three did not. And that is why the administrations struggle to reshape the federal courts at every level is such a very big deal, with tangible implications for the daily lives of many millions of Americans  especially women who imagine their control of their own bodies is secure.
Still not talking about what Trumps true objective is. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call,Inc.

Most weeks, New York Magazine writer-at-large Frank Rich speaks with contributor Alex Carp about the biggest stories in politics and culture. Today: Jeff Flakes revolt, what the latest Bill OReilly revelations mean for Fox News, and the ineffectiveness of John Kelly.

With yesterdays speech on the Senate floor, Jeff Flake becomes the third Establishment conservative, after Bob Corker and John McCain, to begin attacking the direction of the GOP in general terms  and just as the party puts its fundraising muscle behind Alabamas Roy Moore. Will this trios rebellion have any impact?Flakes powerful indictment of Trump has been viewed by many as a Have you no sense of decency? tipping point in fond memory of that moment when the lawyer Joseph Welchs challenge to Joe McCarthy in a Senate hearing room sped McCarthys demise. Yesterday was the day when you could see the ice beginning to crack, in the widely repeated words of Peter Wehner, a longtime adviser to Republican presidents whos a leading Never Trump-er.

But the notion that Flakes words  or Corkers or McCains  are going to change the mind of a single member of the Trump base, or that lame-duck senators might at last encourage an anti-Trump outpouring among their GOP colleagues on Capitol Hill, is preposterous. They can read polls. Some 80 percent of Republicans still support Trump. If those voters didnt get off the reservation after grab em by the pussy or the health-care debacle (to take two of countless examples), the scales will not fall from their eyes now because of the jeremiads of a pair of retiring senators. These loyalists will react to Flakes speech much as they react to any liberal pundits attack on Trump: They love to hear us squeal! Trumps loyal base knows that all these critics are elitist pawns of the fake news network. Their own news sources, led by Steve Bannons Breitbart and Fox News Sean Hannity, tell them so every day.

Sitting Republicans remain as terrified of this base as ever. After all, Flake and Corker are retiring in part because that base was threatening to vote them out in favor of true Trumpists in the 2018 primaries.

The Vichy leaders Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan will remain as supine as ever, hoping they land their beloved deep tax cuts in the bargain. Yet even that aim is in jeopardy now that Trump seems determined to alienate some of the 50 senators he needs to get a bill to his desk. It looks like repeal and replace deja vu all over again. But McConnell and Ryan are in too deep, too compromised morally, and too in hock to their donors to bolt now.

They still fail to concede that legislation is not Trumps aim, not even classic conservative GOP legislation like tax cuts. We have a president who doesnt know how a bill becomes a law and doesnt give a damn. With Bannon as his wingman, his aim is to blow up the Republican Party, purge it of a feckless and tired Establishment, and remake it with his own shock troops into a nativist and nationalist regime.

The departure of Corker and Flake, like Roy Moores primary victory in Alabama and like the other announced retirements of Republicans in the House, all suggest that the purge is well underway.

Every congressional incumbent who steps down, of course, is a potential gain for the opposition party. What remains to be seen is if the Democrats will find new ways to screw it up.

On her NBC morning show on Monday, Megyn Kelly shared part of an email she had sent to Fox News executives about Bill OReillys behavior when they both worked at the network, rebutting OReillys constant refrain that there had been no internal complaints about him. What does news of the $32 million sexual-harassment settlement, or the revelation that Fox increased OReillys salary afterward, mean for Fox News?

What it means is that the Murdochs, despite their pious public protestations to the contrary, have not cleaned out the putrid culture of sexual harassment and assault that they allowed to metastasize under Roger Ailes for decades. Instead they keep trying to cover it up. The PR

release given to the Times in response to the latest OReilly expose claimed that 21st Century Fox has taken concerted action to transform Fox News including installing new leaders, overhauling management and on-air talent, expanding training, and increasing the channels through which employees can report harassment or discrimination. The release added that these changes come from the top. But one of the two executives Kelly said had ignored her own complaints about sexual harassment, Jack Abernethy, remains in place. So does the notorious Fox News media relations enforcer Irena Briganti, whom Kelly says even now pushes negative articles on certain Ailes accusers. And, as the Times reported, it was all three Murdochs who signed off on a $100 million contract extension for OReilly the month after he settled with Lis Wiehl for $32 million. Thats all you need to know about whats going on at the top of 21st Century Fox.

The Murdochs survived the News Corporation phone-hacking scandal in the U.K. by denying, stonewalling, pleading ignorance and amnesia, and simply powering through. Maybe they will escape again. One of the more astonishing examples of how much they force their executives to tow the company line took place last week at a Wall Street Journal conference in California. Gerard Baker, the WSJ editor best known for his obsequious interview of Donald Trump earlier this year, conducted an onstage conversation with the Hollywood mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg during which Katzenberg implausibly claimed to be one of the few executives in Hollywood who never heard about Harvey Weinsteins sexual history. Baker was incredulous. How on Earth could powerful people, yourself included, not have known that he was behaving like this? he asked.

When Katzenberg held firm, Baker wouldnt let it go: You say in all your encounters with Mr. Weinstein directly, youve never seen behavior like this. But you must have heard about it? Which leads to the obvious question: Are we really to believe that Baker, as a top Murdoch executive and powerful journalist, never heard about the behavior of Ailes and OReilly? The Journals offices are in the same building as the Fox News studios. For years, the Journal has even had its own weekly show on Fox News, The Journal Editorial Report. Katzenberg didnt have the presence of mind, unfortunately, to turn the tables on Baker.

For all the new revelations of sexual harassment that have cascaded into view since the Fox News and Weinstein revelations  from Hollywood to Wall Street to Congress to previous management of The New Republic to an esteemed restaurant empire in New Orleans  this much is clear: Were not even close to unmasking and eradicating a misogynistic outlaw culture of sexual harassment and violence that has blighted America from the highest levels of society on down since the days of the Salem witch trials.

Donald Trumps clumsy condolence call to Myeshia Johnson, the widow of one of the four soldiers recently killed in Niger, has become a weeklong slog of White House accusations and outright lies against Gold Star families, a slog that roped in John Kelly. Does Kellys inability to contain this feud change your idea of how he manages the White House?

I never believed that Kelly would have any impact on Trump or his White House. Nobody can put that big baby in a corner. The speed with which Kelly has debased himself is impressive even when compared to the likes of a Steven Mnuchin. His lies about Congresswoman Frederica Wilson still remain uncorrected. And that he would even think of casting himself as a noble defender of female virtue and military sacrifice while standing on a podium in Donald Trumps White House suggests, quite honestly, that he has completely lost touch with reality. He is no more to be trusted with the nuclear codes than the president whose trigger finger he is supposed to be holding in check.
Flake. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

In recent days, and with varying degrees of euphemism, President Trump has been publicly denounced by John McCain, George W. Bush, Bob Corker, and Jeff Flake. These men share different convictions, but have converged on a common critique of the president: He is a bigot, a liar, a bully, and personally unstable. They all share a far more salient quality: none of them plans to run for office soon, or ever.

They are trying to navigate a political world in which direct criticism of Trump within the Republican Party is no longer possible. It is better that they are speaking out against Trump than if they didnt. But the fact that they can do so only from retirement indicates how thoroughly Trump has captured the party, and how little resistance the Constitutional separation of powers has put up against his takeover.

In his dramatic resignation speech on the Senate floor, Flake holds up as the solution the separation of powers created in 1789:

I stand to say that we would better serve the country and better fulfill our obligations under the constitution by adhering to our Article 1 old normal  Mr. Madisons doctrine of the separation of powers. This genius innovation which affirms Madisons status as a true visionary and for which Madison argued in Federalist 51  held that the equal branches of our government would balance and counteract each other when necessary. Ambition counteracts ambition, he wrote

Whatever its other successes, this aspect of the Constitutions design is proving a failure. Ambition is not counteracting ambition. Members of the Legislative branch are able to oppose Trump only if they surrender their ambition. The Constitution did not anticipate the role that would be played by political parties, which has created a reality in which the Legislative and Executive branches are either set in implacable opposition to each other (if under split control or in which the former is a tool of the latter (if under unified control).

This stark reality was illustrated most recently today by John Cornyn, the Senate Majority Whip. Reporters asked Cornyn where he stands on an incipient bipartisan agreement to shore up the Obamacare exchanges. Im with the president, Cornyn said. Asked where Trump was on it  the president has vacillated repeatedly  Cornyn threw up his hands.

The gesture may have been ironic, but it was no joke. Cornyn does not have an independent position on this policy question. He views his role as adopting whatever stance the president takes. His frustration is that he does not yet know what that stance is. Cornyn does not consider it part of his job to form an independent judgment on the policy. He sees his job as merely supporting Trumps preferences. And the fact that Trump is too feeble-minded to form a stable preference  and that he is repeatedly swayed to the side of whoever speaks to him last  does not dissuade Cornyn to break free of his subservient role.

On the converse, the failure of republican government is also a triumph of sorts of democracy. Flake and Corker do not occupy an ideological faction, but they share in common an identification with their partys elitist wing. Corker is a thoughtful foreign-policy specialist with a passion for fiscal responsibility. Flake is a fanatic small-government libertarian. A decade ago, he told Jeffrey Goldberg, The Republican Party has always had three tenets  economic freedom, limited government, and individual responsibility, apparently not realizing that these are all the same thing.

None of these passions are shared in a widespread way by Republican voters. The conservative identity of the modern party is a function of elites harnessing ethno-nationalist resentment, and using it to advance a policy agenda favored by conservative elites. At times they have succeeded (a series of tax cuts) and at times they have failed (attempting to privatize Social Security and reform immigration). But they largely declined to question the underlying cast of their party and their method of using one kind of political appeal to harvest votes, and using the power acquired thereby on another kind of policy altogether. Trump stole their base from them fair and square by appealing directly to what they wanted.

Republicans who are not retiring have  almost without exception  made their peace with the bully-in-chief. Some of them are actually angry at the dissenters. Many GOP senators friendly to Corker are furious at his latest comments, making tax reform harder, a GOP, estab-friendly insider tells Josh Kraushaar. The rest are simply going along. Theyre blocking Democratic bills to force the release of Trumps tax returns. Theyre endorsing a corrupt bigot in Alabama who openly flouts the rule of law.

Flake expresses confidence that the hold of Trumpism over his party will not last. This spell will pass, he promises. In the meantime, it is taking deeper hold.
Trumps temporary ban on refugees is expiring but stricter vetting will take place. Photo: David McNew/Getty Images

President Donald Trumps 120-day temporary ban on refugees is expiring. But starting Wednesday, the administration is moving ahead with stricter screening procedures for all those seeking to come to the United States. It will also delay processing for an additional 11 high-risk countries, reports Reuters.

The details of the new vetting procedures are still a bit murky, but reports suggest that the Trump administration will require refugees to provide more extensive biographical details, including phone, email, and address, for all places theyve lived going as far back as a decade  nearly double the amount of time required now. The administration is also likely to conduct more stringent screening of social-media activities, and to collect contact information for all family members of all refugee applicants. Previously, according to Reuters, information was just collected for relatives with ties to the United States.

The Wall Street Journal also reports that at least 11 high-risk countries will face additional scrutiny over the next 90 days  which will significantly slow down, if not effectively halt, the application process for some refugees. Which 11 countries are on that list hasnt been officially announced yet, but its likely to include those countries whose refugees already face more aggressive screening from multiple federal agencies, known as Security Advisory Opinion. It appears that agencies that process applicants abroad cant request SAOs until the administration issues new guidelines. Officials told the Wall Street Journal that technically refugees from these countries could still be accepted during this period, but practically, it doesnt sound all that likely. Were not saying no one but it will be less, one official said. Right now, refugees who apply from countries including Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, North Korea, Mali, and Sudan must undergo SAO, so expect those countries to appear on this list of 11.

The new rules will cover new refugee applicants and those already in the process of applying  so it appears some may have to go back and supplement the already intensive vetting. Additionally, the new requirements  such as collecting biographical details dating back a decade  are likely to complicate, if not outright disqualify, some of the most vulnerable refugees. For example, those fleeing war-ravaged areas like Syria, or places such as Somalia with poor government infrastructure, often lack paperwork and proper documentation.

These stricter guidelines are set to go into effect Wednesday. The administration has already dramatically reduced the number of refugees it will accept in 2018 to a maximum of 45,000. It is the lowest number allowed since the White House began capping refugee arrivals in 1980, according to NPR. It is not even clear  particularly with these rigid vetting requirements, which are likely to slow the application process  if the U.S. will even meet this number, despite the global refugee crisis.
Minority turnout was down in 2016, and its usually not high in non-presidential years anyway. It may not rebound in 2018 without a real effort from Democrats. Photo: Sara D. Davis/Getty Images

For all the discussion about Donald Trumps success among Rust Belt white working-class voters in 2016, another big factor in his upset win was unexpectedly low turnout among Obama Coalition voters (usually defined as young and minority voters), especially African-Americans. Despite Trumps constant deployment of sub-rosa and not-so sub-rosa appeals to white racial resentments, according to census data, African-American turnout dropped from 66.6 percent in 2012 to 59.6 percent in 2016, the largest presidential cycle-to-cycle turnout slump for black voters in recorded history. Latino turnout was stable, a major disappointment to Democrats who thought Trumps constant immigrant-baiting might create a large backlash. Millennial turnout was up, but not massively.

Some reasons for the African-American turnout drop-off in 2016 are reasonably obvious: It was the first presidential election since 2004 (when black turnout was very similar to 2016 levels) when the first African-American president was not on the ballot. And as Ari Berman has demonstrated, GOP-engineered voter suppression may have played an important role in reducing African-American turnout in some key states, notably Wisconsin.

Postmortems aside, the collapse of the Obama Coalition should cast a long shadow over Democratic hopes of a 2018 wave election. Thats because these voters traditionally have not participated proportionately in non-presidential elections. Unless the pattern changes  and after 2016 we now know that Donald Trumps presence as leader of the GOP wont likely change it without some additional encouragement  then Democrats looking to win back the House in 2018 may need a level of success with white voters beyond anything theyve accomplished lately. In the last Democratic midterm wave election, in 2006, Democrats won 47 percent of the white vote. Barring something really unimaginable, that is not going to happen in 2018 (Republicans have now won at or near 60 percent of the white vote in four consecutive presidential and midterm elections).

In 2014, Democrats were worried enough about the midterm falloff problem in their electoral base that the Democratic National Committee created and funded an initiative  known as the Bannock Street Project to address it. Utilizing the digital voter-targeting and outreach methodologies pioneered in the 2012 Obama campaign, the $60 million project targeted pro-Democratic demographic groups in ten states. All ten of those states had Senate elections in 2014; Republicans won nine of them  a net gain of six Senate seats in this relatively small slice of the country.

There is some empirical evidence the Bannock Street Project actually did boost base turnout, making a 2014 debacle less severe than it otherwise might have been, but its tough to get around the bottom-line failure. And given the uninspiring numbers from 2016, Democrats face 2018 with this very large problem still unsolved.

That is one reason to look closely at what is happening in the competitive off-year gubernatorial election in Virginia, a state with a large African-American population and a growing Latino presence as well. Despite a pro-Democratic trend in presidential elections (Virginia has now gone Democratic in three consecutive presidential years, after going Republican ten straight times dating back to 1964), the party has suffered underwhelming election finishes in the last two non-presidential years: in 2013, Terry McAuliffe undershot the polls in dispatching ultraconservative Republican Ken Cuccinelli; and in 2014, Republican Ed Gillespie nearly upset Senator Mark Warner. So the possibility of midterm falloff among minority voters is and should be a big concern.

At least one observer, civil-rights activist Steve Phillips, is warning that Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ralph Northam and his campaign are ignoring African-American voters in the pursuit of white swing voters to an extent that may doom his candidacy:

Northam has spent over $17 million as of October 1, 2017. [T]he Northam campaigns biggest line itemnearly $9 millionconsists of funds given to an advertising firm led by an all-white board to run television ads. These campaign ads attack the Republican nominee for his ties to the oil company Enron. What is the strategic rationale of such an advertising campaign? Clearly, those ads are not supposed to motivate African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and other people of color to take time from their busy lives to come out and support the Democratic ticket.

Phillips also deplores the scant attention and support pro-Democratic groups in Virginia have given to Northams African-American running mate, Justin Fairfax.

There are actually some signs in Virginia of Democratic concern for motivating base voters instead of simply competing for swing voters, including a high-profile appearance by President Obama. Swing-voter-focused ads have also been supplemented by more base-oriented efforts, including a flier that directly links Republican candidate Ed Gillespie to Donald Trump and to the infamous neo-Confederate protesters in Charlottesville. And its also possible Gillespies own racially tinged ads that demagogue about the MS-13 criminal gang or the restoration of felons rights will backfire (in one famous case, in Georgia in 1998, an over-the-top white racial appeal orchestrated by GOP operative Ralph Reed boosted African-American turnout in a midterm election significantly and produced a surprise Democratic statewide sweep).

It is not clear, moreover, that non-presidential election falloff among African-Americans in Virginia is as severe a problem as it is in some states. According to exit polls, the African-American percentage of the Virginia electorate was virtually the same (ranging from 20 percent to 21 percent) in 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2016. The one exception, though, shows the potentially calamitous results of poor minority turnout: In 2009 African-Americans represented just 16 percent of the Virginia electorate, and Democrat Creigh Deeds lost decisively.

So minority turnout in Virginia (and for that matter, in the less competitive contest in New Jersey) is worth watching on November 7. Heading into 2018, Democrats would be well advised to conduct a full public discussion of the Bannock Street Project and other investments in base turnout, while making voter mobilization just as important a factor as swing voter persuasion in all the partys investments. The potential Democratic vote in midterms probably isnt going to show up at the polls just because the Donkey Party points at Donald Trump and says Boo!
Have arrived in Kampala. Will be home in an hour, the message from Chris arrived as it approached six.

My heart began racing. This was it; the final lap. If Chris kept time, I would be on my way to a new life by eight.

Greg had been in touch earlier in the afternoon to say his broker had found a house and that he had already embarked on having it furnished.

Located in Kireka, it was a perfect mid-point between town where I hoped to get work, and Bweyogerere where Chris mother lived, and I was touched that Greg had obviously taken its location into consideration when finding the place.

He was now on standby, waiting for my message to send a car, and it was a message I could not wait to send. Thankfully, Chris did keep time and got home just a few minutes past seven while I was feeding C.G his dinner at the dining table.

Hey, he greeted us cheerily as he walked in.

Hi, welcome back, I greeted him nervously.

Thanks, he answered and then as he bent down to take off his shoes, he appeared to notice the packed cases and bags for the first time.

Whats all this? he asked, a confused look on his face.

I took a deep breath and steeled myself for whatever reaction followed, then answered quietly: My bags; Im leaving you, Chris.

His frown deepened.

Leaving? To go where?

Thats not important, Ive got a place.

I see C.Gs stuff here as well; so, you bet its important. Or did you think you were just going to waltz out of here with my son and not tell me where you were planning on taking him?

I obviously cant leave without him, but Ill bring him to your mothers place whenever you want to see him. If shes alright with it, he can even stay with her for a while; so, no, where Im going isnt important.

He clearly had not been expecting this response as a brief look of surprise flittered across his face, and without a ready answer, he simply sighed and finished taking off his shoes.

Once he was done with that, he picked up his own overnight bag, and headed for the bedroom.

Im going to freshen up; could I have some food when Im done? he changed the subject and walked off.

Once he was out of sight, instead of heading to the kitchen to serve him his food as he had requested, I quickly picked up my phone and messaged Greg: Chris is back. Ive told him. Please send car now.

His reply came barely a minute later; Its on its way. Itll be there in fifteen minutes. Are you OK?

Yes, Im fine.

Good. See you soon, he replied and then seconds later sent another: Love you.

Although I had told Greg I was fine, I didnt know how long that would last, for while Chris had changed the subject and walked off, I knew the matter wasnt resolved yet  at least not for him. All I could do was pray the car got here quickly.



celebsteph@yahoo.com
Debate on the removal of presidential age caps from the Constitution has sharply split MPs within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.

Among those who have broken ranks with the establishment, is Kabarole Woman MP Sylvia Rwabwogo, a single-minded first-termer who publicly rejected Constitution Amendment (No 2) Bill, which seeks to amend Article 102 (b) to remove the lower and upper presidential age limits of 35 and 75 years.

She spoke to Olive Eyotaru about her stand and why the NRM must not impose its position on legislators.

Kabarole Woman MP Sylvia Rwabwogo

You have expressed strong views against the lifting of the age limit, even defying the NRM caucus position on this matter

My view is that Uganda is speaking and the voices out there need to be heard, listened to and considered as well.

Although we know there are other contrary voices to what has been proposed, both sides need to come together because at the end of the day we dont need to be divided by our divergent views.

Nobody is willing to listen to dissenting voices from within the NRM and the opposition. This is not about opposing the government but a Constitution, which concerns every Ugandan, irrespective of their age.

It will affect us either today or tomorrow, whether we are there or not. I dont think we should handle it as an internal NRM thing; that I should be loyal to my party and forget that at the end of the day, it is about Ugandans and the future of all of us.



You were one of the NRM MPs who were kicked out of the party caucus over your dissenting views. Had you anticipated that?

When we were invited to that caucus, I knew it was time for us to communicate to our colleagues who we do not agree with on the age limit issue. I thought we would be listened to.

Right from the beginning, the NRM has never discussed this issue but forced it on the people. A few people sat down and made their resolution to support the [Igara West MP Raphael] Magyezi bill and then they want to force it on everyone.

I thought I was fighting with my mind on one side because my conscience tells me that it [bill] is not right for the future of this country. We cannot say we want to be in Uganda and not have standards for people who want to govern this country.

We thought we would talk about these issues. It is not about opening up for the youths because it is more than that. How many youths will be able to stand for president? Will they deal with the other issues hindering youths from running for president like funds?

We need to remain with safeguards in the Constitution. The people who came before us in 2005 removed the term limits and one of the strong arguments I understand they put up was that the age limit is there.

Now that the age limit may be removed, what next? Power belongs to the people and I have listened to people in my area and outside. Those voices should not be ignored because it is about their future. I am not forcing my idea on them but I want their views to come out, unlike the manner in which we are being forced to take a position in NRM.

The consultations are not about convincing people. Some people are paying money to people, sometimes taking people to sign for it like they did with veterans in my district. If the people of Kabarole are left free to decide against my stand, I shall bring their views to Parliament.



Arent you afraid that your stand will be used by the party to fight you in the constituency?

Some members of parliament are really scared. I did not know it would come to this and I wished it had come at the end of the term.

We are standing at crossroads; the demand from our party; then the fight with our conscience and the will of the people. If I follow my conscience, I will live with it forever. I would not lose it and lose my soul for anything because we are here in parliament in passing.

Maybe I will be here for one term but I would not want to tie my decisions to the interest of coming back to parliament.

Most people are actually afraid and think that if they say something contrary to the party position, they will be fought in the constituencies. Who says that people who have lost elections have been fought by government? We have seen people who have returned to parliament when they have taken decisions contrary to government positions.



So, are you persuading some NRM members you think are quietly opposed to the removal of age limits to join you?

We are talking with these people. We are not enemies and those we are talking to are willing to support us but still fear being torn between listening to their people and listening to the government.

That is the dilemma they are faced with. If we are going to divide ourselves for every decision, at the end of the day Uganda will not be one. We must enjoy our country irrespective of our tribal and political inclinations.

I still belong to the NRM party and dont hate it or my president. When I say this, people think I am trying to hide my decision but it is firm and I am not doing it in hatred.

I am not even looking at any other party but I want to serve NRM objectively, and not against my conscience. I have been in this party for the last 10 years; so, when I disagree with them objectively, I think I have the right to do so.

If you are vulnerable to anything, you will not be able to make a decision. There are many women who think like we do but for one reason or another, they fear to come out. Being a journalist by profession, it is within my training that you have to be objective at all times.



The NRM issued guidelines calling on its members to consult small, carefully chosen groups of people. Is that workable for you?

The regulations we are getting from the party are that we call party and religious leaders. I dont want to be selective and I am not a delegate. I am a representative of [all] the people, not a selected section of the people. I do not only represent women, but represent all.

These are matters for all Ugandans; so, we are going out to consult the general public. I am not campaigning or holding general rallies and speaking against this matter. I will educate them about the advantages of either decision. Depending on the majoritys decision, I will reserve my personal views in their favour.

I have already held some meetings in light of these proposed amendments and it is overwhelming that the people do not support the removal of the presidential age limit. I have people from neighbouring districts backing me.



On Monday, parliament disbursed Shs 13 billion to legislators (each MP allocated Shs 29 million) to hold consultative meetings on the age limit bill. Are you going to take it?

We have discussed so much about the money and our colleagues in the opposition say that when we take that money, you are being bribed. The money for consultation is a right to every member of parliament, irrespective of their party.

So, if I say I will not take the money and consult the people, whose money am I going to use?

This is not a personal Constitution like I am doing it for my family. I am doing this because I am an MP and it is one of the roles that are facilitated outside the normal facilitation that we get.

I have spoken to my people about the money and they have told me to use the money because how will I hire the tents, mobile system and run radio announcements on the consultation meetings.

I must take the money as a right, not because I am going to decide otherwise, but to facilitate my trips because these are extraordinary [meetings]. I have been telling my colleagues that we take the facilitation because it is from parliament, not from anyone.



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Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi yesterday responded angrily to constituency demands for him to withdraw his hugely controversial private members bill, which seeks to scrap presidential age limits.

With firmness, he said he cannot under any circumstances; withdraw the draft legislation, which is being processed by the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee.

He becomes the latest frontline leader in the push to remove age limits to come under fire right in his backyard. A few days ago, Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa was shocked when her constituents directed her to oppose the bill.

Similar scenes have played out elsewhere.

But Magyezi told The Observer in an interview yesterday that whoever feels aggrieved should consult the people of Igara West whom he says allowed him to table the bill, which seeks to amend Article 102(b) of the constitution.

Mover of the age limit bill Raphael Magyezi

I am not withdrawing that bill simply because some 10 or 20 youths have come to Kampala. Things dont happen like that, Magyezi said by telephone.

If it passes, the amendment backed by State House could see President Museveni extend his 31-year rule into a presidency for life  a possibility many feel will hurt Uganda even more.

In the public appeal, the NRM youth leader for Magyezis constituency, Bukuri Kakooza Kajambiya, noted that Uganda is headed for more trouble if their MP persists.

Already, one Ugandan (Edison Nasasira, October 18) has been killed and several others injured in shootings during the current police clampdown on countrywide resistance to the Magyezi proposal.

Kakooza told journalists during a briefing at the Kampala Serena hotel that Magyezi must realise that the project he is spearheading has been roundly rejected by majority of Ugandans.

The bill is going to cause problems for Ugandans; you see what is already happening in Kampala and other areas; live bullets, teargas, people dying, others being arrested because of this bill, Kakooza said.

We, the youth of Igara West are sorry. Our MP betrayed us. Fellow Ugandans, we are sorry for what is happening in the country caused by the idea of amending the constitution brought to parliament by our MP Kakooza said.

A young man died in Rukungiri last week because of that amendment brought by our MP who never consulted us. The youth in the constituency told him to go and lobby for services and development. We never sent him to bring the presidential age limit bill, he added.

According to the youth, Magyezis views on the constitutional amendment are personal to him and his family. Kakooza said the countrys biggest problem today is not the presidential age limit but unemployment among youths, poverty and high taxes.

But the MP was unmoved by the appeal.

Igara West is not in Kampala. If you or the youth want to know the views of the people of Igara, they should go to Igara. I will find them there next week after my meeting with the legal committee. And if they want to be consulted, they should go to Igara, he said.

Magyezi also claimed that the youth of Igara West may not have been consulted because they are not within the structures of leadership in the constituency.

Bukuru Kakooza wants Magyezi to withdraw the age limit amendment bill

Kakooza, who graduated from Islamic University In Uganda last year with a bachelors degree in Mass Communication but remains unemployed, said he failed to speak to Magyezi directly hence yesterdays press conference.

I called him last week to seek an appointment but he told me he was from abroad and needed time to rest; he promised to call me on Monday but he didnt, Kakooza said. We are requesting him to withdraw the bill and let it, if at all, be brought by another MP. Most of our people dont want our constitution to be touched, the young man said.

Magyezis Constitution Amendment (N0 2) Bill 2017 was tabled on September 27, following chaotic scenes in parliament.

With the police surrounding the compound, troops from the presidential guard stormed the main chamber and unleashed violence on MPs opposed to the bill.

It is now before the legal and parliamentary affairs committee for scrutiny. Wilfred Niwagaba, the shadow attorney general, said the bill can be withdrawn if the main sponsor decides so.

He said although he was not sure of the provisions in the parliamentary rules of procedure, government already set a precedent of withdrawing a bill when it withdrew the Marriage and Divorce Bill a few years ago.

The rules may be silent but a precedent was set. Government tabled the marriage and divorce bill, facilitated the MPs to go for consultations but along the way it withdrew that bill. Therefore, when it comes for the second reading it can be withdrawn, Niwagaba said.

It can also be withdrawn while in the committee if the mover of the bill indicates that he wants it withdrawn and the committee can then report to the House, he added.

Earlier, Bukooli North MP Gaster Mugoya said it was not possible to have the bill withdrawn after government released money to facilitate MPs to go to their constituencies for consultations.



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In a last-ditch bid to save her job and name, Geraldine Ssali Busuulwa, the outgoing deputy managing director of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), has sought the intervention of President Museveni.

Her four-page letter to the president requesting for a meeting with the head of state was received by the Presidents Office on Monday afternoon, hours after she received Finance minister Matia Kasaijas letter asking her to hand over office.

Im writing to let you know that my three-year contract expires on October 28 and my prayer is to accord me a renewal if you deem it fit. I believe that I have a lot to give if you allowed me a well empowered chance to continue in service, Ssali told Museveni.

She did not copy her letter to anyone.

It has been a wonderful experience as well as a challenging one that tested my mental strength to the limit for all sorts of reasons, she said.

Outgoing NSSF deputy managing director Geraldine Ssali (L) with celebrated athlete Dorcus Inzikuru earlier this year

Her letter takes Museveni through her time at the private sector workers fund, and more specifically the years 2014 to 2015 when she was acting managing director and NSSF made Shs 5 trillion and grew its net income by eight per cent.

That was the period when NSSF invested Shs 108.9billion in power distributor Umeme Limited. In her letter, she questions the decision by NSSF to invest Shs 1.6 trillion around the East African region yet it could be used to help struggling grassroots businesses.

In the spirit of patriotism, this should be discouraged and funds should be rolled back into Uganda to support the macroeconomic dynamics of industries such as agriculture, low-cost housing, energy and infrastructure, Ssali wrote, echoing the theme, which frequently turns up in the presidents national speeches.

She suggests that NSSF should sink money in local companies like the newly formed Uganda Re-insurance Company to champion agricultural insurance.

She also told Museveni that under Section 36 of the NSSF Act, the fund can use the Shs 24 billion held on its reserve account in unclaimed balances for meaningful investments.

She, therefore, suggested that this money can go to a military hospital, which can be self-sustaining from user fees collected from non-military patients.

In me, you have a big advocate to amend the NSSF Act into a relevant and useful national financial asset as opposed to [leaving] it for the benefit of a few selfish individuals, Ssali wrote.

Ssali told Museveni that her proposals are in line with his middle-income agenda envisaged for most Ugandans by 2020.



WRONG TIMING

Her appeal to Museveni, however, seemed too late since Kasaija in an October 13 letter had told Ssali that her contract will not be renewed beyond October 29.

I regret to inform you that your contract and appointment as deputy MD of NSSF will not be renewed beyond your current appointment end date of October 29, Kasaija wrote.

Although it was delivered to her on Monday, October 23, Kasaijas letter (dated October 13) was written three days before Ssali wrote to him on October 16, asking for renewal of her contract.

Having not heard from you in writing, three months prior to the end of this month, I have decided to write and relay both my concerns and position on the matter, Ssali wrote to Kasaija.

I have been compelled to write because I feel that I didnt get an opportunity to be heard and explain the alleged grounds for refusal to renew my contract, she said.

Her letter followed a September 26 report to Kasaija by the NSSF board, which recommended renewal of contracts of key statutory officers at NSSF, excluding Ssali.

The report was a result of two board meetings that sat on September 20 and September 25, which resolved to give the MD Richard Byarugaba and Corporation Secretary Richard Wejuli Wabwire new five-year contracts.

Her good performance over the last three years has been just good enough (between A and C, even though she contests that assessment for some period, and most of it alluded to the good performance of her direct reports/subordinates), her attitude and character has been abrasive as evidenced by the various caution letters in her file, the board chairman Patrick Byabakama Kaberenge wrote to Kasaija.

It was on the basis of the same report that Kasaija made a prompt appointment of Patrick Ayota, hitherto NSSF chief finance officer, as the new deputy MD.

Ssali appeared to lecture the minister, saying that before coming up with the recommendations against her, the board should have given her a fair hearing instead of relying on a one-man report by Byarugaba.

She claims that Byarugaba should have sat her down and carried out a performance appraisal in line with the NSSF guidelines.

Contrary to this, I saw the MDs unilateral three-year report to the board about my performance for the first time on September 18 in an email from a junior administrator to the board directly in contrast with Section 9.5.3 of the funds human resource manual, Ssali wrote.

At best, the MD would have recused himself from drawing up the final [appraisal] of my performance by declaring conflict of interest since he was a respondent in the judicial review suit last year, which I filed challenging the decision to oust me out of office without any valid legal or administrative reason, she told Kasaija.

To Ssali, the resolution not to renew her contract was a follow-up on action to earlier failed attempts to oust her.

Kasaija yesterday said he committed no crime in not renewing Ssalis contract.

I dont have to be coerced to renew a contract if it has ended. Okay, dont waste my time that issue is closed, Kasaija said before he hung up.



sadabkk@observer.ug
RPC John Peter Ematu

An angry mob raided the home of John Peter Ematu, the North Kyoga regional police commander (RPC) in Lira district accusing him of ordering police to brutalise their members of parliament.

The angry mob stormed Ematu's home in Ireda, some 3 kilometers out of Lira town on Tuesday evening and started pelting it with stones.

Ematu locked up himself inside the house to escape the wrath of the angry residents. It took the intervention of anti-riot police who rushed to the area to disperse the rowdy residents.

The raid came after police used teargas to disperse a consultative meeting on the presidential age limit organised by the Lira Woman MP, Joy Atim Ongom Adyel division headquarters playgrounds.

All was well until she was joined by her colleagues on the stage, forcing police to disperse the crowd. The officers fired tear gas and live bullets to disperse the group.

Some people who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity accused Ematu of ordering police to disrupt a peaceful meeting and brutalise their members of parliament.



They cited the example of Joel Tubanone, the Lira district police commander (DPC) who they allegedly saw kicking Cecilia Atim Ogwal, the Dokolo Woman MP and her Otuke counterpart, Sylvia Akello before discharging a teargas canister directly at them. The two legislators are hospitalised at Lira medical center.



Others who were hospitalised and discharged include Charles Angiro Gutumoi, the Erute North MP, Jonathan Odur, the Erute South MP and Joy Atim Ongom, the Lira Woman MP.

Odur, wants the DPC and RPC held accountable for the fracas. He says they intend to drag the two police bosses to court for brutalizing them.



Patrick Ogwang, a political activist claims that police used goons to attack the legislators. He says several people lost their property like motorcycles and other valuables to the goons under police watch.

While speaking to the Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda on phone from her sick bed, Cecilia Atim Ogwal, the Dokolo Woman MP accused him on betrayal.



Ogwal explained that they received assurances from the premier to continue with their planned joint consultative meeting, saying nothing will happen to them. Rugunda reportedly apologized for the police brutality.



Felix Okot Ogong, the chairperson of the Lango parliamentary group has condemned police action arguing that it was uncalled for.

Okot claims they got clearance for the joint consultation meetings from the office of the Prime Minister and Internal Affairs and wonders police in Lira acted that way.
At least six opposition Members of Parliament have each returned Shs 29 million paid to them by Parliament to facilitate consultative meetings on the age limit bill.

The Constitution Amendment (No 2) Bill, 2017, seeks to remove presidential age limit currently capped between 35 and 75 years.

On Monday, Chris Obore, Parliaments director of Communications and Public Affairs confirmed that Shs 13 billion had been diverted from the MPs emoluments to facilitate the age limit consultations.

However, the opposition has rejected the monies and kick-started the process to return the funds, which they termed as dirty money, to Parliament.

Opposition MPs addressing the MPs on the age limit 'bribe'

Led by Opposition chief whip, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda (Kira Municipality), the legislators explained that they will not be part of attempts by President Yoweri Museveni to bribe legislators to pass the controversial bill that has stoked debate across the country.

Ssemujju, Moses Kasibante (Rubaga North), Angellina Osegge (Soroti Woman), Muwanga Kivumbi (Butambala), Medard Ssegona (Busiro East), William Nzoghu (Busongora North) later carried and deposited Shs 174 million in cash wads of Shs 10,000, Shs 20,000 and Shs 50,000 to Parliaments Finance office in charge of refunds.

Anna Adeke (National Female Youth) and Anna Adeke (National Female Youth) did not bring the money, stating that they had not received the money yet.

Just in; MPs opposed to lifting #AgeLimit are returning the 29M that was credited to their accounts for consultations @observerug pic.twitter.com/rX5NIttijH  nicholas Bamulanzeki (@bamulanzeki) October 25, 2017

Addressing the media at Parliament today, Ssemujju said that the move is a collective position from the opposition in Parliament, agreeing to return the funds which they say was not budgeted for by Parliament during the 2017/2018 budget process.

All these actions by the state are illegal. We intend to write to the Inspector General of Government (IGG) and Auditor General (AG) to investigate the source of this amount of moneythe budget of Parliament did not include money for this kind of consultation, Ssemujju said.

Ssemujju added, People are trying to be smart but this is a bribe; the same like what President Museveni gave them in 2005 to remove presidential age limit. We all like money but we must take legitimate money.

Nzoghu accused the president of taking leaders for granted through using money to front his selfish interests.

This is a litmus test for us leaders and touches our integrityI have started on the consultations and dont need money. What the country should know is that in our monthly facilitation, money for consulting with our voters is incorporated so no one should say that they need this Shs 29 million, Nzoghu said.

Kivumbi, on the other hand, asked the public to reject the money from legislators.

The public thinks leaders must obtain money whether crudely or badly to bring it to them to do some work. We appeal to the public that a good leader must donate hard, earned and clean money. This age limit money is dirty money, he said.

Betty Aol Ochan (Gulu Woman) however seemed undecided on whether to keep or return the money. Explaining that she has previously returned money given to her by Parliament to hold consultations on the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) and Marriage and Divorce bill, Aol said she will consult them first.

I am receiving some contrary views from my constituents on this money. Other people are telling me that I bring the money. Now I am divided because my bosses are those people. But they must know that this is bad money, Aol said.

Some of the money returned by the MPs

Medard Ssegona (Busiro East) however urged the opposition MPs to reject the money and return in to Parliament.

Ugandans may not have allowances to pay their MPs allowances for December because the money has been re-channeled to facilitate this Museveni project. We need money but I can only use my money. I dont know where this money is coming from. It must be rejected, Ssegona added.

But some NRM MPs have blamed their colleagues for playing to the gallery saying the money is not a bribe but facilitation to enable MPs do 'extra' work given to them by Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga.

Kabula MP James Kakooza says the bill demands extra work on part of the MPs hence the need for facilitation.

#AgeLimit: MP James Kakooza says Shs 29m not a bribe as opposition claims. It is for extra work MPs are going to do ? @bamulanzeki pic.twitter.com/CyDlHJPWTS  The Observer (@observerug) October 25, 2017

Ruhinda county MP, Donozio Kahonda Mugabe wondered why his colleagues who have rejected the money have to physically carry it to Parliament. He says they should instead make electronic transfers and present documentation as evidence

6 opposition MPs have returned the Shs 29m that had been given to them by Parliament for consultations on #AgeLimit bill ? @bamulanzeki pic.twitter.com/dmnh0dFsCR  The Observer (@observerug) October 25, 2017

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Jahangir Tareen to produce trail of 4.6 million pounds which he transmitted abroad: SC

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary-General Jahangir Tareen to produce the trail of 4.6 million pounds which he transmitted abroad to spend on the construction of his 12-acre residence in London.



A three-member Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Faisal Arab, was hearing a petition filed by PML-N leader Hanif Abbassi seeking disqualification of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Secretary-General Jahangir Tareen for non-disclosure of their assets, ownership of offshore companies, and PTI being a foreign-funded party.



Resuming his arguments, Sikandar Bashir Mohmand, counsel for Jahangir Tareen, submitted that his client purchased a piece of land measuring 12 acres on the outskirts of London and constructed a house for his children, for which he transferred 4.6 million pounds. He said the property was purchased for 2.1 million pounds, while 2.5 million pounds were spent on construction of the house.



He contended that this amount was legally transferred to London in 2011, adding that Tareen earned this money from his lawful business. He said since the amount was transferred to London in the name of a trust, which is exempt from taxes, thus it did not constitute an asset and hence not declared in the income tax returns and the nomination papers.



You have very rightly admitted that your client did not disclose this property in his nomination papers, Justice Fasial Arab told the counsel. The chief justice then noted that the court has to understand and differentiate between the nature and legality of a trust and an offshore company.



To a court query that who was the trustee of Shiny View Limited (SVL), an offshore company, the counsel stated that the EFG Corporate Bank was its trustee. The chief justice asked the counsel to explain how the money was transferred, as the real purpose of these proceedings was to judge the honesty of a public office holder.



The counsel contended that his client had transferred the money through a banking channel, adding that the money was earned legally from the business.



He said the property belonged to an offshore company SVL, which was now owned by a trust. He said now his client was not the legal owner of this property and the trust was owned by his children.



Justice Umar Ata Bandial noted that it was beyond his comprehension that Tareen formed a trust for his children, but does not have faith in them to run it, adding that it was a general practice that people send illegal money abroad to purchase property in the name of a trust.



When the chief justice asked the counsel to help him understand the process of purchasing a property abroad, the counsel stated that a trust is formed first and then a company is formed under it to purchase the property.



To a court query, Mohmand stated that a plot worth over two million pounds was purchased through an offshore company, which was registered on April 27, 2011, and later the plot was mortgaged to construct the house.



When the court asked the counsel to produce the trust deed of the property, he contended that the trust deed was a secret document thus could not be shared.



To a court query that whether the tax authorities had access to all of the amount as it was transferred abroad, Mohmand stated that a foreign currency account was fully protected under the law. You had told us initially that all details of the case will be shared, the chief justice noted, adding, You have to satisfy the court that your client has no control of the London property now.



He stated that he will provide the court the trust deed as well as tax returns of Tareens children, however these documents should not be made public being the private documents.
Pakistan have produced results fighting militants: Shahid Khaqan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday reconfirmed Pakistans commitment to the war on terror saying his country had produced results fighting the militants, as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson pressed Islamabad to increase its efforts to eradicate terrorists operating within the country.



We are committed in the war against terror, Abbasi told Tillerson, as the two men sat facing each other on a long table. We have produced results. And we are looking forward to moving ahead with the US and building a tremendous relationship, added Abbasi, who sat next to army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.



The US can rest assured that we are strategic partners in the war against terror and that today Pakistan is fighting the largest war in the world against terror, Abbasi said. We appreciate the understandings that we agreed and we appreciate the engagement.



A US Embassy statement issued after the meeting said that Secretary Tillerson discussed continued bilateral cooperation and partnership, expanding economic ties between the United States and Pakistan as well as Islamabads critical role in the region. The secretary reiterated President Trumps message that Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country. To address those concerns, the secretary outlined the United States new South Asia strategy and the vital role that Pakistan can play in working with the United States and others to facilitate a peace process in Afghanistan that can bring stability and security to the region, the statement read.



The secretary noted that Pakistan and the United States share common interests in establishing a stable, peaceful Afghanistan, defeating ISIS in South Asia, and eliminating terrorist groups that threaten both Pakistan and the United States. It added.



In all meetings with Pakistans leaders, the secretary expressed appreciation for Pakistans sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. The secretary also expressed his gratitude to the Government of Pakistan and the Pakistan Army for their cooperation in securing the release of the Boyle-Coleman family from captivity, it concluded.



During a short part of the meeting available to media, Tillerson told the Pakistani delegation that the nuclear-armed nation was an important US ally in the region.



(Pakistan is) important regionally to our joint goals of providing peace and security to the region and providing opportunity for greater economic relationship as well, he said.



President Donald Trumps top foreign policy aide was quietly greeted by a mid-level Foreign Office official at the military airport in Rawalpindi  a welcome devoid of the pomp that usually marks high-level visits.



He was then driven in a convoy of Land Cruisers amid tight security to the US Embassy in the Diplomatic Enclave, before the scheduled meetings.



The meeting was held in the federal capital where attendees also included Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and DG ISI, among others.



Prime Minister Abbasi underlined the importance of high level engagements between the two countries and expressed satisfaction on the progress made during these interactions in recent months, a statement issued by Islamabad after the meeting read. Prime Minister informed the visiting delegation of the significant strides Pakistan had made in improving the overall security and economic environment of the country resulting in significantly improved business and investment opportunities available to foreign businesses and investors, it said.



Talks covered in detail all aspects of bilateral relations, the regional situation as well as the evolving international environment. Pakistan delegation outlined the governments policy of a peaceful neighbourhood and steps taken to promote cooperation and stability in Afghanistan and the region, the statement read.



The US delegation was informed that progress in promoting peace and stability in the region was linked to the resolution of Kashmir dispute. The ongoing grave violations of human rights by the Indian occupation forces in Indian-occupied Kashmir were highlighted during the meeting, the statement said.



The delegation was apprised of the tremendous sacrifices made by Pakistani nation including security forces and law enforcement agencies in the war against terror.



The fact that Pakistani security forces have successfully carried out the largest counterterrorism operation was detailed along with Pakistans sustained commitment and interest in supporting peace and stability in Afghanistan as well as the broader region. The delegation was also informed of the ongoing efforts on securing the Pak-Afghan border out of national resources, the statement added.
BOLTON  For the second time this year, Bolton voters have rejected an expansion plan for Bolton Central School, voting 392-281 Tuesday night to turn down the $8.78 million expansion project

"We cut the cost, and it was rejected by a larger margin," Superintendent Michael Graney said Tuesday after the vote. "We were trying to do what we thought was best for the students, but the voters sent a message, and we will respect that."

Graney said he would have to talk to school board members to see what to do next.

The proposal would have built a 17,000-square-foot addition that would have included a new 300-seat auditorium and would have allowed expansion of the schools technology classrooms.

The projects cost was about $300,000 less than the $9.07 million put before voters in March. That was defeated 273-240.
QUEENSBURY  A ceremony will be held Saturday to dedicate a memorial stone that honors a Fort Ann veteran of the Civil War.

The event will take place at 11 a.m. in Pine View Cemetery on Quaker Road and is being organized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2475.

The organization was contacted by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society to research Sgt. Lester Archer, who had no permanent marker or gravestone. Archer was killed in action in the fall of 1864 at the battle of Fort Harrison in Virginia, according to a news release. He was born and raised near what is now known as Fort Ann, and there is a small stone at Veterans Park.

VFW Commander Michael Hoag and a small committee of post members worked to establish a permanent memorial. They researched several cemeteries and decided the most appropriate location was the American Legion plot at Pine View Cemetery.

The ceremony will feature Civil War re-enactors, a flower-laying ceremony by local scouts and remarks from U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro. It is open to the public.
GLENS FALLS  Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced at Glens Falls Hospital on Wednesday a new statewide initiative aimed at determining why there is a 20 percent disparity in cancer rates between Warren County residents and New York City residents.

Warren County has one of the highest rates of cancer in this state. New York City has some of the lowest rates of cancer in the state. Erie County, Buffalo, just under Warren County.  Why? What is the difference? Whats going on in Warren County thats different than whats going on in Queens and Brooklyn? Cuomo asked. There has to be an answer.

State Sen. Elizabeth Little, R-Queensbury, introduced the governor, talking about his commitment to Warren County.

He has made investments in our economy and we were the first city to get $10 million to revitalize the city, she said referring to Glens Falls. And the hospital got a $20 million grant from the governor; look at all we can do with this.

Little continued: Cancer is a scourge in America and has taken the lives of too many. There are 1 million people in New York living with a cancer diagnosis.

Cuomo opened his presentation by thanking Glens Falls Hospital staff for their work and dedication to patients.

The topic today is a serious one. Its one we live with. The good news is were proud of what the state is doing on this topic. Were making it better. Topic is cancer. The C word. Its a word that nobody wants to hear, its a word that you have to deal with every day and I dont know where you find the intestinal strength to do that every day, Cuomo said to a packed room of more than 150, primarily comprised of hospital staff.

My family has always been involved in fighting cancer, even when I was a young kid. My mother was very involved as a volunteer in the American Cancer Society. I have an older sister who is a doctor. She is the smart one, Margaret.

According to Cuomo, there are 110,000 new cancer cases diagnosed every year in the state and 35,000 people die.

The New York State Cancer Registry collects reports on cancer diagnoses from health care providers, which include the anatomical sites of tumors, the stages at diagnosis, the cell types of the cancer as well as the treatment information and demographic information of those diagnosed with cancer.

Using New Yorks cancer registry, the Department of Health identified the counties with the highest cancer rates in the state and New York City and will begin this new initiative by focusing on four regions of the state.

The question for us is always, What else can we do? Because the numbers are still terrible.  We have about 1 million people in this state who are living with cancer, maybe in remission, but you either have or had cancer, Cuomo said. When a family member comes home with that diagnosis, it just changes the familys life. Its like a shadow that is there all the time.  It ruins as well as ends so many lives. I want to make sure that everything we can possibly do, we are doing. And we are.

Talking about early breast cancer detection, Cuomo said New York has the most aggressive screening program and laws in the nation. Women living in the state said the cost and time were keeping them from routine screening, so the state made it easier for women, Cuomo said.

We eliminated any co-pay for a woman for any breast screening test or follow-up test, he said to audience applause. We also have clinics that have to be open beyond nine to five, and on the weekends, so women can actually get the screening done. We call it the no excuses campaign.

Over the next year, researchers will examine cancer trends and the potential causes of cancer in four regions across the state, including Warren County. The Department of Health will review cancer data, potential demographic and occupational factors and will consult with the DEC on environmental factors contributing to patterns of cancer incidences in the state.This new data-driven effort will help identify the central causes leading to higher rates of cancer in certain regions and, ultimately, help develop the most effective programs to prevent and treat cancer.

According to Cuomo, the state is budgeting up to $500,000 to conduct the regional studies, with results expected in one year.

For the first time ever, the state is going to undertake a study  in four clusters of the state. Capital District, Glens Falls/Warren County, Western New York, New York City and Long Island, because those are the places of the deviation. Cuomo said. The Department of Health and DEC both, because there could be environmental factors at play here also, will participate in this study. It will take about one year and the question is very simple. What is driving that deviation?

During Wednesdays presentation, Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said that information is a key weapon in New York.

We track down certain regions and some are hit harder than other areas, he said.

Cuomo joked about the one-year deadline.

Im proud of Commissioner Zucker and proud of Commissioner Seggos. We should have a study in about a year. I told the commissioners that if they dont have a cure at the end of the year, we are going to cut their salary in half. No performance bonus for them and no vacation, and whatever other things I can think of to torture them I will do, he said laughing. So, seriously, I applaud them for their creativity and their thoughtfulness, and hopefully it will be another positive step down a long road.

Additionally, while at Glens Falls Hospital, Cuomo addressed several other issues, including the uncertain future of the nations health care and the potential loss of funding for the Childrens Health Initiative Program.

Back story about CHIP: It was started in the state of New York. There was a governor named Mario Cuomo. And he started a child health insurance program for poor children. President Clinton came in, said I want to copy your program and bring it nationwide. My father said fine, just make sure you give me credit, he said. Clinton never gave him credit, but thats politics. And its been in existence ever since. And now, for the first time ever, they want to eliminate that program. Just think about that: 300,000 children without health insurance in this state. So, we have a lot of challenges, and I know youre dealing with them every day.
QUEENSBURY  A second resignation has resulted from the uncovering of a political scheme to pretend that an unwilling candidate was trying to win a campaign for town office.

John Aspland, managing partner of FitzGerald Morris Baker & Firth, resigned his position as vice chairman of the Queensbury Republican Committee on Monday.

He said his dual roles with the committee and his law firm had led to an unnecessary distraction for our community, our committee and town government.

Asplands law firm represents the town of Queensbury. He came under criticism for participating in an email conversation in which then-Councilman Doug Irish proposed running Hal Bain for Ward 1 councilman, even though Bain wanted to drop out of the race. Once he won, Irish said, Bain could resign and the Republicans could appoint someone else for however long election law allows. The idea was to tell no one that Bain was dropping out and get the Ward 1 committee members to campaign hard for him.

Aspland responded that the plan was optimal.

The scheme was uncovered two weeks ago, after Democrats submitted a Freedom of Information Law request for Irishs emails. Bain resigned from the race Tuesday in the wake of it.

Aspland did not return multiple calls from The Post-Star, seeking comment on his optimal statement in the emails. In his resignation letter to the town Republican Committee, he claimed that no one from The Post-Star had ever called him.

His optimal statement was actually legal advice, he said in the letter.

I gave the candidate and party leaders my best advice on complying with the Election Law, he said. Regrettably, the Post-Star has chosen to misconstrue my advice and malign me. A simple phone call or question could have resolved their concern, but there was no phone call and no question.

Post-Star Editor Ken Tingley defended the papers work.

John Asplands accusations about the quality and accuracy of The Post-Stars reporting are an outrage and an obvious attempt to deflect from his own ethical shortcomings and political dirty tricks, Tingley said. The Post-Star stands by its reporting and commentary on this ongoing issue in Queensbury, and the fact Mr. Aspland has not made any mention of specific factual errors speaks volumes.

Aspland did not return two calls Wednesday, asking him why he had not returned three previous calls, which were placed to both his office and cell phones.

He also did not send the resignation letter to The Post-Star, but Queensbury supervisor candidate Rachel Seeber brought it to her Editorial Board meeting Wednesday afternoon. She gave it to board members when they asked her whether she would keep a law firm in which a principal member played a leadership role in a political party.

Seeber also defended Aspland and his firm.

They didnt break the law. In my opinion, they answered a question, she said. What he was part of was saying (Hal Bain) cant come off the ballot after July 25. It is optimal to follow the election law.
QUEENSBURY  The Glens Falls man accused of killing a mother and daughter is scheduled to stand trial in Warren County Court starting Feb. 5.

Warren County Judge John Hall scheduled a jury trial in the double murder case against Bryan M. Redden to start with jury selection the first Monday in February. The court blocked off two weeks for the trial.

The court action comes as Redden was assigned a new court-appointed lawyer in recent days. Martin McGuinness, a former Washington County assistant public defender, will represent Redden after the Warren County Public Defenders Office stepped away because of an unspecified conflict of interest.

McGuinness did not respond to requests for comment on the case Monday or Wednesday.

Hall had not scheduled any pretrial hearings as of Wednesday. Police said Redden confessed to officers, and hearings to determine whether those admissions were legally obtained would be held before trial.

Acting Warren County District Attorney Jason Carusone said he had no comment on the case as of Wednesday.

Redden, 21, was arrested hours after 33-year-old Crystal Riley and 4-year-old Lilly Frasier were killed Aug. 11 with a knife in their South Street, Glens Falls, apartment. Redden was found driving Rileys vehicle in Glens Falls, and confessed to multiple police officers that he killed the two.

He told police that he had used heroin beforehand, was high and didnt know what he was doing, police said in court records. Police said he and Riley were believed to have been involved in a short-term romantic relationship, but a motive for the killings has not been released.

Police videotaped their initial questioning of Redden, but Hall has refused to allow public access to the video that was filed in court.

A Warren County grand jury has indicted him on eight counts, including two counts each of first-degree murder and second-degree murder and numerous lesser counts in connection with the theft of Rileys Toyota sport-utility vehicle, possession of a weapon and tampering with evidence by throwing the suspected murder weapon in a trash bin.

Redden faces life in prison without possibility of parole if convicted of first-degree murder. He is being held in Warren County Jail without bail.
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Answering questions about numerous diverse issues, including school funding, juvenile crime, climate change and the role of the citys Riverfront Improvement Commission, 12 candidates for Davenport City Council provided their opinions during a forum Tuesday at Davenport Central High School.

The 90-minute forum was attended by about 80 people who heard from 2nd Ward candidate Mike Prunchak, 2nd Ward incumbent Maria Dickmann, 3rd Ward incumbent Marion Meginnis, 3rd Ward challenger Wil Patton, 4th Ward challenger Susan Weir, 6th Ward candidates Richard Clewell and Sean Liddell, and at-large candidates Toby Paone, James Condon, Andrew Arnold and incumbent Kyle Gripp.

Ray Ambrose, the 4th Ward incumbent, was absent from the forum.

The forum was sponsored by Progressive Action for the Common Good, while each of the organizations that helped with the forum asked a question. The organizations included the Sierra Club-Eagle View, NAACP Davenport, Quad-City Interfaith, Iowa Federation of Labor, One Human Family QCA, American Association of University Women, League of United Latin American Citizens, Quad-City Alliance for Retired Americans and Quad-Cities Queer Committee.

Among the questions put to the candidates included one from the Davenport NAACP, which said that the drop in enrollment in Davenport schools cannot be entirely blamed on inequity in funding since six other districts receive funding on par with Davenport.

The question asked each candidate their ideas on how to stop the steady decline in enrollment.

Meginnis said that inequitable funding does affect school enrollment and that Superintendent Art Tate is working to address that issue. I dont have much faith that next years legislature will get anything done, she said. What concerned Meginnis is the number of schools in the 3rd Ward that have closed.

Patton, her challenger, said it is important for the city to have an educated populace, and declining enrollment in schools subverts that effort. It is necessary to work with other areas of the community to ensure that education is available at all levels including at the libraries and community centers, to increase access to education and so people may pursue their interests outside of a formal education.

Weir said that curbing declining enrollment means growing the inner city. She suggested revamping abandoned houses, bringing in families and putting our attention on the inner city.

Clewell said that Davenport Community School District receives $2.7 million less annually than other school districts in the state of similar size. A collaborative effort by the city and school district is working to ensure enrollment and continue the quality education provided by Davenport schools.

Liddell said that people need to continue lobbying state legislators to close the gap in funding. Parents need to be involved in PTA and supporting our teachers and make sure that kids value the education they receive.

Gripp said inequitable funding is a big issue but still the city needs to dig to find out why the city grew 3.5 percent last year but Davenport schools lost 125 students.

Arnold said more teachers are needed which means more funding. He said that 35 students for one teacher does not work.

Paone said instead of looking at the negatives, the district's strengths should be emphasized, which would help to change the negative psychology.

Condon agreed in that the district should get out and sell its success stories and all the great things happening in the schools.

Both Prunchak and Dickmann concentrated on the funding issue. Dickmann said that people need to contact their legislators about the lack of funding.

Davenport municipal elections will be held Nov. 7.
Jessica Russell remembered the light turning red as she drove to work in downtown Davenport just before 6 p.m. on Jan. 30.

I went to mess with my radio and I heard a big, I would say it was like a boom, behind me, she said as she broke down in tears. I went in circles and when I woke up, I just knew I was involved in an accident. It was pretty bad.

In front of her, she could see fire in the road. To her left, she saw a red Chevy Monte Carlo that was driven by Cynthia Elaine Jones, 53, of Davenport.

To her left, Russell saw a blue Dodge Ram driven by Lauria Lee Kelly, the woman who prosecutors say caused the fatal crash that left Jones dead.

Russell was one of six witnesses to testify Wednesday in a bench trial for Kelly, 58, of Alvarado, Texas. She is charged with one count of homicide by vehicle-reckless driving.

Kelly earlier this month waived her right to a jury trial and opted instead to have the case decided by Scott County Chief District Judge Marlita Greve. Her attorney, Harlan Giese Jr., previously filed a notice that she would seek a defense of insanity or diminished responsibility.

She remains in the Scott County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond.

Police say Kelly was driving east on 2nd Street at a high rate of speed when she struck the rear of Joness Monte Carlo that was stopped at a red light at 2nd and Brady.

The Monte Carlo then was pushed into the rear of Russells green 1999 Buick Regal, which was in front of it. The force of the crash was so great that all three vehicles came to a rest on the other side of the intersection, more than 100 feet away, according to police.

Cpl. Kris Mayer, a crash scene investigator for the Davenport Police Department, said that after hitting the Monte Carlo, the Dodge Ram powered through the car and made full contact with the back of the Buick Regal.

He said that while he could not determine exactly how fast Kelly was driving, he estimated that she was driving at interstate speeds.

The speed limit downtown is 25 mph, he added.

Mike Priester, a concrete driver, was driving east on 2nd Street between 5:30 and 6 p.m. that night, headed toward the post office, when he heard what sounded like a tornado siren for a really long time.

He cracked his window and realized that it was a car horn that sounded like it was stuck. Priester looked into his rearview mirror and noticed that the car horn sound was coming from a Dodge Ram truck.

He said he pulled into the post office parking lot and the truck pulled in right behind him. Russell said he jumped out of his truck, walked toward the Dodge Ram, to find what was going on.

When he noticed that the truck had Texas license plates and saw a woman inside who he had never seen before, he figured there was not going to be a confrontation.

I noticed there was a pile of clothes on the passenger side, Texas license plates, kind of threw me off, Priester said. Then the lady looked at me and she goes King Jesus, I salute you.

Priester said he went into the post office and when he walked out a short time later, he saw the Dodge Ram tear out of the parking lot and head east on 2nd Street. He said he also headed east and saw all the carnage from the vehicle.

Another witness, Chelsie Dusenberry, testified that she had gotten off work and was in the crosswalk by the Radisson Quad-City Plaza when she heard a loud revving sound coming down the road.

She said she saw a red car pop out of line and was spinning around like a pin ball. A truck drove through the intersection and had pushed a second car, the green Buick Regal, over by QC Works, she said.

Dusenberry said she walked past the truck when it came to a stop and heard an EMT ask Kelly, the driver, why she was driving so fast.

She never really answered, she said. It was just a glazed look. Unaffected. No emotion.

Another witness testified that Kelly ran three red lights and had almost hit his car before the crash.

Russell, who was seven months pregnant at the time, said after the crash she started to scream for help to get out of her car.

Thats when several bystanders actually tried to help me out, but my car doors wouldnt open, she testified. So, they tried to keep me calm as long as they could until the paramedics got there. Thats when, if Im correct, they might have used the Jaws of Life to get my doors open.

She was taken to a local hospital, where she was monitored because she was having contractions. Russell said she suffered whiplash and was very worked up emotionally but was OK. Her unborn son also was OK.

Kelly was taken to the hospital before being taken to the Scott County Jail.

Davenport Police Sgt. Janet Martin testified Wednesday that she had gone to the hospital to find out if Kelly had any family members she could call to let them know about the crash.

She talked to Kellys sister, who said she had no idea Kelly was in Davenport and that she thought her sister was supposed to help her take care of their mother, who had recently had surgery.

Martin said she overheard Kelly tell hospital staff that God had sent her here.

Firefighters who responded to the crash also said that Kelly was acting a little strange and that she talked about President Trump and the military, Martin said.

Assistant Scott County Attorney Kimberly Shepherd rested her case after calling the six witnesses and entering several stipulated reports into evidence.

Giese rested his case without calling any witnesses. The burden of proof is on prosecutors, so the defense is not obligated to call any witnesses. That cannot be held against them.

Greve gave Shepherd until Friday to submit a final trial brief and until Nov. 3 for Giese to file a response. She will announce her verdict sometime after Nov. 3, she said.

As Kelly was led out of the courtroom, she apologized to Jones family and said God bless you.
Witness testimony

Jessica Russell remembered the light turning red as she drove to work in downtown Davenport just before 6 p.m. on Jan. 30.

I went to mess with my radio and I heard a big, I would say it was like a boom behind me, she said as she broke down into tears. I went in circles and when I woke up, I just knew I was involved in an accident. It was pretty bad.

In front of her, she could see fire in the road. To her left, she saw a red Chevy Monte Carlo that was driven by Cynthia Elaine Jones, 53, of Davenport.

Reporter Tara Becker covers the full day of testimony here.

Union battle

Forced to fight for their survival by a new collective bargaining law, public employee unions in the Iowa Quad-City area emerged largely victorious in recertification elections, according to state figures and local union officials Wednesday.

Of 31 elections in Scott, Clinton and Muscatine counties, unions won 26 as of early Wednesday. Results from another four area elections were not known as of midday Wednesday.

There was just one loss.

Reporter Ed Tibbetts explains that loss in his latest story.

Grassley's deer tweet

Five years ago today, a deer died and a social media legend was born.

Well, we assume the deer died.

It was five years ago today  Oct. 25, 2012  that U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassleys vehicle hit a deer on an eastern Iowa road, presumably killing the animal.

Find out why the tweet is still a legend here.

Weather

Tonight should be clear skies with a low of 39 degrees.

Traffic

I-74 traffic is back to normal after lane closures.
J.B. Young, a long-ago superintendent of Davenport schools, might be surprised to see what the school bearing his name looks like in 2017.

Young died in 1918, a year before the historic structure opened. Today, the first floor includes 12 social-services agencies and educational programs that aim to serve the Davenport community.

It is now known as the J.B. Young Opportunity Center.

John Border, community education specialist for the Davenport Community School District, was one of those advocating for the project. He emceed the program Tuesday to officially open the facility.

"You're excited!" he said to the crowd of about 200 supporters. "I'm excited, too!"

Neighbors deserve the services in the center, he said, describing it as a "place that cares about the people, and the neighbors, in the neighborhoods."

Border's enthusiasm was echoed by students working at the grand opening event. Rykevius Edwards, 18, of Davenport, is with the Safer Foundation. The people at the Opportunity Center make Rykevius feel comfortable, he said, and he appreciates the renovated facilities and access to areas like the gym.

The Safer Foundation moved to J.B. Young from The Center, 1411 Brady St. It has been in Davenport since 1978 and helps teens in the court system, ages 16-21 years old, to get academic tools and job readiness training needed to succeed in life.

Davenport Mayor Frank Klipsch spoke to the crowd, noting while his four children attended Williams Intermediate School, the family spent a lot of time in the gym at J.B. Young.

Many children, Klipsch said, have the potential to achieve if they have a chance. He described the center as "urban revitalization" and said it will give the neighborhood children the support they need to succeed.

The former school was a central part of the Hilltop Campus Village, organized eight years ago, executive director Scott Tunnicliff said.

While it is difficult to close a school, Tunnicliff said officials will applaud the center if services are promoted and accessed by the entire community.

"It's a new set of assets here," he said, and it can be used by multiple generations. He also cited the new parking lot, which is parallel to Locust Street, and said the design will add a park-like atmosphere with walking trails.

"We'll cherish the legacy of J.B. Young, but this is a significant asset for our community," he said.

Rex Hutchinson worked at J.B. Young for almost 29 years, as a teacher, associate principal and principal. When he arrived in 1970, the school had 1,200 students, he said.

Hutchinson saluted the 2017 renovation and said it has roots in the former Stepping Stones program located at the site. "I am excited about this place," he said, adding that all things, including schools, run their course.

Fans of the new Opportunity Center included Kendrick Lee, 17, Davenport. Kendrick is with the Safer Foundation today but a few years ago he was in eighth grade at J.B. Young K-8 School.

"I like it," he said of the center. "I like being here and it all looks new."
Forced to fight for their survival by a new collective bargaining law, public employee unions in Iowa and the Quad-City area emerged Wednesday as big winners in recertification elections.

The results were announced by the Iowa Public Employee Relations Board, which oversaw the elections.

Of the 31 elections in Scott, Clinton and Muscatine counties, unions won 30 of them. There was just one loss.

Unions representing Davenport firefighters and educators in the Pleasant Valley School District were among the winners. The firefighters, in fact, voted unanimously to retain their bargaining unit, with all 125 people covered by its contract voting in favor, according to state figures.

Of the 347 people covered by the Pleasant Valley Education Association's contract with the school district, 325 cast ballots to retain the union. Only one person cast a "no" vote.

Eric Larew, a past president and current secretary for the Pleasant Valley union, said officials were confident going into the election, but that the margin of victory was probably a reaction to the way the rules were set up to count people not voting as "no" votes.

"I think there was some backlash from that," he said.

He added there also was the feeling that the election diverted time and resources when there wasn't a problem in the first place.

The elections, which ran from Oct. 10-24, were prompted by the new collective bargaining law that former Gov. Terry Branstad and the Republican-led legislature approved in February.

The law significantly curtailed the number of subjects that public workers, except most public safety employees, could negotiate over. But it also set up a system by which public employee unions, including those representing public safety workers, had to seek recertification in the final months of their contracts.

Union officials complained the move was aimed at breaking them up, and that the rules are not fair because unions had to get a majority of the votes of people covered by their contracts to win, rather than just a majority of those who vote.

Still, unions marshaled their efforts and of 468 elections statewide, they won 436 and lost only 32, according to results compiled by the Iowa Public Employee Relations Board, which oversaw the elections. Unions won all 13 recertification elections in September.

Statewide union leaders hailed the results Wednesday.

Danny Homan, president of AFSCME, Council 61, called it a "sweeping victory" and confirmed that employees covered by union contracts, even those who are not members, "value their voice in the workplace."

The Iowa State Education Association said 216 of its 220 locals across the state won recertification elections.

Of the 33,252 eligible voters statewide, 28,448 voted to retain their unions and only 624 cast ballots in opposition.

In other Quad-City area results, two bargaining units representing North Scott School District workers also were retained. They are represented by SEIU, Local 199. Ten bargaining units representing public workers in Muscatine County were retained in separate elections. Eleven unions in Clinton County were retained.

The news wasn't so good for a bargaining unit covering bus drivers in the Central Clinton Community School District in DeWitt. The union lost that election, even though seven of the people covered by its contract with the district voted for retention and no one opposed it.

There were 16 eligible votes in the election, however, meaning nine were needed to win. A single vote was voided and another eight did not cast ballots, according to state figures.

The result of the elections are still considered preliminary, but an official with SEIU, Local 199, which represents the bus drivers, said the result showed the unfairness of the system.

This is not about democracy, this is about rigging the system against employees," Jim Jacobson, general counsel for SEIU, Local 199, said Wednesday. He said the union is considering its options, and that it has 10 days to challenge the election.

Already, the collective bargaining law is being challenged in court by labor unions.

Officials with the public employees relations board have previously said if a union were to lose a recertification vote its contract would be voided immediately, even if it was not set to expire for months.

In the bus drivers' situation, their contract was not scheduled to expire until next June, Jacobson said.

Mike Cormack, chairman of the public employee relations board, said there has been debate about this interpretation and it could be subject to challenge. However, he said the agency's case law tends to support its point of view.
Rev. Rich Hendricks and the Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad-Cities invite the community to a candlelight service, Love, Light and Healing, at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The event will include the opportunity to learn more about local resources, better understand domestic violence and sexual assault, and offer support to those who have been impacted.

Worship will include music, inspirational readings, and an open table for communion. For more information, contact Hendricks at 563-324-8281 or at richdhendricks@msn.com.

After the service, those attending can stay for fellowship and games. Coffee and tea will be provided and soft drinks will be available for purchase. Guests are encouraged, but not required to bring a light snack to share. A fire pit and smores will be available, weather permitting.
MUSCATINE  A District Court Judge ruled Tuesday the Muscatine City Councils removal of Mayor Diana Broderson from office last May was a violation of her right to due process.

Muscatine County District Court Judge Mark Cleve issued a final ruling, vacating the city councils impeachment vote and requiring the defendants the city and city council  to pay the mayors legal fees.

The people are not pleased at the expense that has been spent of the taxpayers money to go through all of this, and even so theres only two weeks left to the election, so this was a lot of money spent for nothing really, Broderson said in an interview. And to pit neighbor against neighbor in our community  it was bad decisions all throughout.

Broderson said she was pleased the judge ruled in her favor before the election on Nov. 7, in which she is seeking a second term.

This is a win for the people, not just a win for me, she said. The peoples voice is what put me in office. In fact, the current council thought they could take away the peoples voice by a vote. But this goes to a great deal to say, no, you cant.

Broderson first took office in 2016, and almost immediately, contention arose between herself, council members and the city administrator. The city council claimed Broderson was overstepping her authority as mayor, violating the city code and making false and baseless allegations against the city.

Last winter, the council ordered the city attorney to file written charges of removal against the mayor. The council retained retired judge John Nahra as a prosecutor and held 20 hours of removal hearings at city hall. In May, the council voted unanimously to remove her from office.

The mayor appealed the vote in district court, arguing the council violated her right to a fair trial, by overseeing the removal proceedings and not taking the case to court immediately. About a month later, a district court judge reinstated Broderson as mayor, and she has been awaiting a final ruling on her appeal ever since.

While Broderson also claimed her conduct did not rise to the level of willful misconduct and maladministration of office, which the council would be required to prove for a public officials removal, the judge stuck to the issue of due process. At a minimum, Cleve said due process requires a fair trial in a fair tribunal.

First, the judge said the city council violated Brodersons right to due process by intermingling the functions of investigator, prosecutor and judge. In order to understand the councils process in the mayors removal, he examined transcripts of five closed session meetings, held by the council to discuss litigation.

At multiple closed meetings, the judge said the city attorney and council members discussed the mayors alleged transgressions and how to go about the removal process. At the Dec. 15, 2016 meeting, the city attorney told the council it needed to decide what the end goal was in regard to the mayor: whether it was to remove her or just weaken her to ensure she would lose the next election.

The council voted to determine its end goal, with all but two council members voting in favor of removing the mayor from office, according to the judge. By the Jan. 5, 2017 meeting, six of the seven councilmen were in favor of removing the mayor. The judge said it is important to note that vote took place prior to the filing of charges or holding the removal hearings.

Despite hiring a special prosecutor, the judge said the council had done a substantial amount of investigating and strategizing before the hearings. Also, the council voting 6-1 to remove the mayor before the hearing had been scheduled shows the council had a will to win.

Due process requires a fair trial before a fair tribunal, not simply the empty appearance of fairness, the judge wrote in the final ruling.

Cleve argued the city council also violated Brodersons right to a fair trial because the councilmen had an interest in the outcome. City Administrator Gregg Mandsager considered bringing a defamation suit against the mayor, and the attorney claimed Broderson defamed numerous people, including the councilmen.

The judge said it is also clear from the record that the city council believed that the mayor had damaged the councils reputation in the community.

He said the mayor accused the council of being bullies and good ol boys, for not supporting her and taking away her powers. She also claimed the council discriminated against her because of her gender and also spoke to the city attorney about one council member allegedly breaking the law.

"The Court makes no determination as to the accuracy and soundness of any or all of the mayor's statements, allegations, or complaints, as they were known to the defendants at the time of the removal hearing, Cleve wrote.

He continued, However, when the council made the decision to remove the mayor from office, the councilmembers had strong interest in shielding themselves from potential personal liability, in preventing the council from being the focus of further accusations, and in restoring its image in the community while negatively impacting the mayor's image."

In summary, the judge ruled the Muscatine City Council violated Brodersons right to a fair trial, sustaining her appeal, vacating the removal vote, as well as requiring the city and council to pay her legal fees.

The City Council could now accept the judges final ruling or appeal the decision.
BELLE FOURCHE - Owners of historic buildings, even some farm and ranch property, have opportunities for property tax breaks and possibly even restoration grants through the South Dakota Historical Societys state preservation office.

That was the message last Tuesday, Oct. 17, as Belle Fourche and area commercial, public and residential property owners as well as Belle Fourche city officials, were among a crowd of about 30 people from across Butte County to hear an informal program from South Dakota State Preservation Office officials at the Branding Iron Social Club in Belle Fourche.

The meeting was hosted by the citys Historic Preservation Commission as part of the Belle Fourche requirement for certified local government status with the state and National Park Service that have oversight over the National Register of Historic Places.

Belle Fourche currently has the downtown historic district on the national register, and a recent state grant covered the production of a new booklet on a walking tour of the district.

The citys participation also includes annual attendance at a state historic preservation seminar, this year held in June in Pierre, and an annual preservation community meeting with the public to offer an overview of available programs.

The city has now met both those minimums for this year.

At the meeting were Mayor Gloria Landphere and council president Katie Satzinger, as well as representatives of the Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Revitalization, Belle Fourche Development Corporation and Center of the Nation Business Association and Linda Velder, Newell museum director and historic preservation contact for that community.

From the state historic preservation office were Kate Nelson, Restoration Specialist with the South Dakota State Historical Society and State Historic Preservation Office, and Liz Almlie and Katelyn Weber, historic preservation specialists.

The state preservation office administers federal and state tax incentive programs, and handles review and compliance issues on historic building architecture.

Belle Fourche currently has a registered historic downtown district, but other structures may qualify for the state and national registers of historic places.

Milo Dailey, chair of the Belle Fourche Historic Preservation Commission under city and state auspices, said that some building owners not currently listed as historic structures may now qualify.

He added that last weeks meeting was an opportunity for Belle Fourche and Butte County building owners, private and public, to meet with state officials informally to see if their structures meet historic listing standards and then qualify for preservation grants and tax incentives.

The state officials left both information on historic preservation opportunities and contact information for more details on programs that may fit an individual property both in Belle Fourche and outside the city.
NEWELL  Student leaders from Newell High School and Sturgis Brown High School had the opportunity to receive training from a nationally known organization from Washington, DC. The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) was in Newell for two days of training. CADCA represents 5000 community coalitions across the United States that work to prevent youth substance abuse.

The training was given free to the students. Sabrina Harmon, who works with Newells students through the WIT (Whatever It Takes) program and other organizations, had contacted CADCA. According to Leah Farchmin, one of the CADCA trainers, Harmon had reached out to other communities to see what other areas had done about drug and tobacco use. CADCA chose Newell because of her interest and knew they could make a difference in that community.

The training combines CADCAs youth leadership key essentials course with an advocacy project call Photovoice. Specific topics include advocating for smoke-free parks and rodeos, addressing smokeless tobacco products, and other topics. The students receive training in prevention, public health, action planning, and personal development. Attendees are involved in peer-to-peer training, learning effective problem solving skills, leadership characteristics, and working together.

The Photovoice project prepares youth to use pictures to emphasize what they want local officials to see to pass policies that will prevail youth to not use tobacco. Photovoice uses real life examples for the youth to pass on.

In the Newell and Sturgis areas, the biggest concern that the students see is the use of smokeless tobacco products said Keith Vensey, CADCA spokesperson. One of the first questions that the trainers ask, he said, is What do you see that needs a change and what can you do about it.

The training is centered on what the students can do about the problems they see. Part of each session includes brainstorming and is very interactive between speaker and students. The young people learn to use the skills they possess to become leaders and to impact change using the information they receive during the two days of training.

Concrete plans were made to go on to the next steps to promote better understanding. The students learned to work together as a team to make a difference.

Magaret Mead said, Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, its the only thing that ever has. Her words exemplify the outlook of the young students from Newell and Sturgis who are ready to take on the changes and challenges they see in the future.
SEATTLE, Wash.- Janice Louise (Fondy) Ames was born Oct. 31, 1928, to Homer/Florence Fondy in Steamboat Springs, CO and passed away at her home in Seattle, Wash., on Aug. 9, 2017.

The family moved to Edgerton, Wyo., in the late 20's and Janice attended school at Midwest, Wyo., until 1941 when they moved to Belle Fourche, SD. Janice graduated from Belle Fourche High School in 1945 and started college at South Dakota State College at the age of 16, graduating with a degree in Journalism.

She was married to William E. Ames in 1949. After graduation, they moved to Ames, IA. In the mid 1950s, they moved to Seattle, WA where Bill became a professor of Communications at the University of Washington. In 1969, Janice received a graduate degree from UW in Librarianship which led to part-time work and eventually Director of the Washington Talking Book and Braille library, retiring in 2003.

Janice is survived by her brother, Vic (Donna) Fondy, Whitewood, SD, sister, Phyllis (John) Skurla, Anchorage, Alaska, daughter, Laurie Ames, Seattle, WA, son, Tim (Cathy) Ames, Seattle, WA and numerous grandchildren.

The full obituary can be read online at https://funerals.coop/obituaries/ which also has an online guest book.
BELLE FOURCHE - Belle Fourche businesses and high school students last week got a fresh look at opportunities at the states technical schools that offer training for skills needed in the states businesses as well as job training opportunities for both new high school grads and non-traditional students looking to upgrade their working skills.

Two sessions were held in Belle Fourche to introduce the Build South Dakota scholarship fund.

First, Wednesday evening, was an opportunity for local employers to learn about possible partnerships to sponsor students and meet local employment needs.

Thursday presentations were given at Belle Fourche High School to let students know how many more options they have for life beyond high school.

Deni Amundson, Program Manager for the new Build South Dakota scholarship fund, noted the new full ride scholarship opportunities for students who hope for good-paying jobs in their own communities, or at least within South Dakota.

Obviously there is a workforce shortage in South Dakota, Amundson told local business leaders at the Wednesday evening meeting.

There is a myth out there that you have to leave South Dakota for a good job.

The reality is that there are good opportunities in the state for a good paycheck and a chance to stay in the state  and the states tech schools are getting the word out both on the innovative programs for students and employers.

This really is a great time for young people in South Dakota, she said.

She said programs eligible for the new scholarships include the overall agriculture industry, automotive, building trades, energy technicians, engineering technicians and health care.

And, she added, not only are many of the states job openings in these fields paying as well as many jobs for college grads, they also carry far less student debt.

The scholarship program, Amundson said, is a full ride scholarship except for living expenses, but Its not a free ride.

The scholarship awardees must remain in their field in South Dakota jobs for three years.

State labor department officials Wednesday added that there may be opportunities for both the scholarship winners and other students to cover transportation and living costs at the tech schools.

Employer opportunities under the new program go beyond input on needed skills and potential sponsorship of a scholarship winner or other student interested in the employers field.

Amundson said theres potential for employers to sponsor a good employee to study at one of the tech schools to increase job skills to benefit everyone involved and help the entire local community as well.

It is for students of all ages, Amundson said. That includes non-traditional students as well as new high school grads.

She pointed at Muth Electric as one example of a statewide business that has a recruitment program tied to the states tech schools.

Overall, she said the partnership with the states businesses also helps match graduates with the best possible jobs.

Representatives of the states schools also noted that the two-year programs now increasingly have school-associated student housing as well as many part-time job opportunities in the students field of study.

Clayton Deuter, director of admissions at the Mitchell Technical Institute added, People dont know about these opportunities.

Chellee Unruh of Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls said that since core class programs are now transferrable to the states university system that brings yet another long-term option.

She said that offers education opportunities for small town students and small community needs for new small business operators such as electricians. That option is one that is a challenge for many of the states smaller towns where there is a need for specialist technicians in their own shop, whether its building trades, automotive or electrical.

Unruh added, Were no vo-tech for kids who cant make four-year college; we hold them to the exact same level as a four-year student.

The difference, she said, is that there are more opportunities today for two-year tech grads than for four-year college grads.

Amundson praised Belle Fourche as being a leader in technical education with support across the community for the expanding high school programs.

She added that the community also welcomed the tech school presentations for both businesses and the high school.

The meeting for business operators also is part of the Leadership Belle Fourche program supported by both the chamber of commerce and Belle Fourche Development Corporation and held at the BFDC meeting room.

As for the meetings in Belle Fourche, she said, There are so many benefits that people are not aware of.

Proof of that, she said, is that many four-year college grads are applying for the states technical schools.

Along with the new scholarship program, the state labor department also has programs for both scholarship winners and other students at the states tech schools.

Jonathan Englund of the Spearfish labor department office said there are a number of programs available.

Its a case-to-case basis, he said, adding that potential tech students should check with his office to see what funding streams might be available for help.
Ana M. Brooks passed away at the Chadron Community Hospital Oct. 24, 2017, at age 84.

She lived a storied and eventful life.

Ana Mae Mitchell was born Feb. 25, 1933, in Hurley, Missouri. As a child, her family relocated from Missouri to central California during the Dust Bowl years of the Great Depression, then on to Oregon, by the late-1940s. Ana attended middle school and high school in Modesto, California, and graduated from Stayton Union High School, in Stayton, Oregon, in 1950.

In 1953, she met and married Graydon Gimpel, a depot agent on the Southern Pacific Railroad in Los Banos, California. They moved back to his home state of South Dakota in 1955, where he found employment on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, working frequently between Wall and Pierre, South Dakota. By the early-1960s, they were looking to settle down permanently, and decided on Chadron as a central location and suitably sized town for their family of four children: Pamela, Marcia, Douglas and James.

In 1967, once her youngest had started school, and at a time when women rarely started their own businesses, she opened a business repairing shoes, leather products, canvas and other heavy fabric goods. Initially located in a garage at Fourth and Maple Streets, where they resided at the time, the business expanded at a location on West Second Street, to include retail western wear. About 1970, the business moved to the 200 block of Main Street. Graydon left the employment of the C&NW Railroad at that time, and joined Ana in the business where they worked side-by-side for 20 years until his death in 1990. She remained the public face of the business from the beginning.

In 1991, she was remarried to Francis Brooks, a long time Chadron resident. Mr. Brooks died in 2007.

In 1992, she sold the business to an outside interest and retired from full-time employment, though she earned a modest income quilting and sewing, and was actively involved in raising her grandchildren.

During these later years, operating from home, she repaired and replaced literally hundreds of zippers, hemmed and altered thousands of garments and continued serving many of the same customers she had met in the store. She could operate industrial grade sewing machines with skill and finesse, and could sew complicated quilts and other projects without a pattern. An elaborate network of loyal customers was built entirely through word-of-mouth.

During her years in business and as a spouse and mother, she taught her children and grandchildren many great virtues. Chiefly among them was perseverance, or what she liked to call stick-to-it-iveness. Just by watching her you learned the value of hard work; self-discipline; how to finish what you started; how to live down your mistakes and keep trying; the virtue of generosity; how to serve others cheerfully; not to overcharge for your services; how to repay justly incurred debts promptly; how to put aside considerations of pride and status; how to treat everyone fairly and equally; and how to give people a break and a hand-up when they needed it. These lessons are a priceless inheritance she left for her children and grandchildren.

She loved her customers and the townspeople of Chadron. She was always enthusiastic about getting to work in the morning, and was remarkably upbeat even when the cash register went quiet in the slow winter months. She was not inclined to take slights personally, forgave readily, and offered prayers and encouragement always.

She was active as a congregant in several church congregations throughout her life. She enjoyed visits from Pastor Mark of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Chadron and thought a great deal of him. She occasionally attended Mass with her late husband, Francis, at St. Patricks Catholic Church. She was a confessing Christian, but did not identify with any particular denomination.

She is survived by her daughter Marcia Scherbarth (Wayne) of Hay Springs; sons Douglas Gimpel (Tina) of Rapid City, South Dakota; and James Gimpel (Veronica) of Columbia, Maryland; 16 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren; sisters Mary of Loveland, Colorado; Shirley Dodson of DeKalb, Texas; and Darlene Buell of Hephizabah, Georgia; brothers George Mitchell of Los Banos, California; and David Mitchell of Stayton, Oregon.

She is predeceased by her husband, Graydon Gimpel; her second husband, Francis Brooks, daughter, Pamela Hubbard and great-grandson Erik Fisher.

Memorial services will be Thursday, Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church with Anas grandson, Rev. Chet Scherbarth, a Lutheran minister in San Diego, California, officiating. Inurnment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the Chadron Senior Center.
The only known witness in a fatal stabbing at a Rapid City motel in January said the attack was preceded by the victim and defendant arguing over a phone and charger.

Christian Mexican told a Pennington County jury on Tuesday that she had been awakened inside her room at the South Dakota Rose Inn that evening by an argument between Jeremy Little and Nathan Chase.

She said she saw Little, her boyfriends 30-year-old half brother, shove Chase, who staggered backward. Then Chase hit Little on the side of his neck, in what looked like a punch. The next thing Mexican said she saw was a lot of blood coming out of Littles neck.

Why did you do that? Mexican said she screamed at Chase, a recent acquaintance of her boyfriend. She said she didnt get a reply but heard Chase say, I was never here, before he left Room 156.

Little, bearing stab wounds on his cheek and neck, was pronounced dead at the scene around 8 p.m. Jan. 23. His death is the third of seven homicides in Rapid City this year, according to law enforcement.

Chase, 26, is now on trial for second-degree murder in Littles death. If convicted, he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Chases lawyer, Ellery Grey, said during opening statements Tuesday that Chase had only been defending himself.

Jeremy Little, he wasnt that little, Grey said, describing him as 6 feet tall and 200 pounds against Chases 5-foot-5, 135-pound frame.

The defense attorney said also that Little had been ornery, drunk and mean, based on a 911 call Littles mother made after dropping him off at the motel earlier that evening. His mother also reported him carrying a big jug of alcohol on his way to visit his half brother, Percival Mexican.

Littles mother has since died, but Grey received the courts permission to include hearsay evidence regarding her at the trial. Witnesses could discuss her 911 call and her concerns over Littles well-being.

After the call, police tried in vain to find Little at the motel, on East Boulevard North, Grey said. Moments later, police get another call, he told the eight female and five male jurors, including an alternate. Now, theres a stabbing.

Several crime scene photos were presented to the jury, including ones showing Little lifeless on the floor, vodka bottles around him. He was lying by the door, partly blocking the entry of responding police officers, who testified Tuesday.

Did Little prevent Chase from getting to the door during their argument? In response to Greys question, Christian Mexican said the men were positioned in a way that both had been blocking the door. Her boyfriend was also in the room but had passed out, she said.

Grey repeatedly underscored the fact that the Mexican couple and Chase were drinking without incident until Little showed up. Only 12 minutes went by from the time Little entered Room 156 and Chase exited it, Grey said the motels security cameras revealed.

Chase, who had moved from Montana just a few weeks before the incident, was seen by a sheriffs deputy walking along East Boulevard around 2:30 a.m. the next day. Inside Chases pocket, the deputy found a folding knife, said Pennington County Deputy States Attorney Josh Hendrickson.

There was blood on the knife, and it matched the victims blood, Hendrickson said in his opening statement. That knife is the murder weapon, he said.

Chase gave multiple versions to explain how Little got killed and how he ended up with the knife, the prosecutor said. Some versions reportedly included the victims half brother being the killer; in the last one, Chase claimed self-defense.

Im gonna ask you to return the only verdict that fits the evidence in this case, a guilty verdict, Hendrickson said.

He was nervous, he was scared.  He really didnt trust police, Grey said in response. Is there a real possibility that what happened there was an act of self-defense?

The trial, before 7th Circuit Judge Matthew Brown, started with jury selection Monday and is expected to continue through Thursday.

The countys last murder trial took place last month, in which Brian Duncan was found not guilty of killing his girlfriend at a local motel in 2015.
WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK | Gaping eyes in bearded faces fixate on the menace of park service workers standing above, backlit by a pewter sky.

Positioned above the bison, They see us as predators, says Greg Schroeder, Wind Cave chief of resource management. Handlers crouch quietly to reduce animal stress.

Tuesdays biennial project to thin the herd gathers not only wary animals but also scores of efficient park service hands to smear blood, give inoculations and pull tail hairs for genetic analysis. Theres a bookkeeper here, a maintenance worker there. Voices stay hushed. Only grunts from a few of the chocolate-brown animals reach the surrounding beige hills.

Four-wheel-drive utility trucks drive a small group of bison toward the red and silver pens that funnel individuals toward a head chute, a hydraulic contraption that restricts movement, enabling work. An expert here calls out the sex and age of the newly captured. Theres a rhythmic pace, a couple of minutes per animal, sometimes with longer waits between.

In four holding pens beyond the head chute gather chewing 2-year-olds and yearlings. Later this week, trucks bound for Arizona, Washington, Indiana and Kansas will collect the 600- to 900-pound beasts waiting inside.

Bison too old or too young for these pens happily run the gantlet of gates and return to the prairie that molded them, created them. Evolution  genetics  is a big part of what this day is about.

Like Yellowstone bison, Wind Cave bison are a herd apart. Wind Cave bison genes, handed down undiluted since a handful of diverse ancestors arrived at the park from the Bronx Zoo in 1913, makes these bison prized among peers.

Millions of bison once roamed North Americas immense grasslands before their numbers fell to a few hundred. The Bronx ancestors of Wind Cave bison were gathered from far corners of the Great Plains. Today, Wind Cave bison have 10 genetic variations unseen in bison from anywhere else.

This lineage will remain intact even for the descendants of those traveling to Raymond Wildlife Area in northern Arizona or Smokey Valley Ranch in Kansas. Should disease wipe out Wind Caves bison, Schroeder says, a genetically identical herd could be rapidly repopulated.

Theyre good producers, he says, which explains another reason for this days efforts. Every two years, between 130 and 160 bison must be removed to maintain the population near 550, which the park can support. Bison eat a lot of grass.

Ted Anchor of The Nature Conservancy Kankakee Sands prairie restoration project is counting on that.

Its easy to grow 10-foot-tall prairie grass beneath the 38 inches of rainfall that annually covers northwest Indiana. But the tall grass crowds out shorter species that thrived when bison manicured the lands.

A prairie without bison isnt a prairie, Anchor says. Bison and the prairie shaped one another, evolved together, he says. They cant exist apart.

Bison disappeared from Indiana in 1830, before the arrival of farmers who turned the prairie in favor of corn. Indiana sits on the eastern edge of what was once a vast grassland that sustained bison stretching west to the Rocky Mountains.

The Conservancy has spent the last 20 years restoring natural prairie on 8,800 acres at Kankakee Sands. It's a work in progress.

Shelly Shepherd with the Arizona Game and Fish Department says Raymond Wildlife Area near Flagstaff first reached out to obtain Wind Cave bison two years ago. The preserve there will replace an earlier bison herd that had cattle genes, which was harvested through hunting.

Bison historically roamed Arizona but in smaller numbers. Raymond, a reserve of 15,000 acres that is home to juniper and grass, sits near the same elevation as Wind Cave.

The unique genetics of the Wind Cave herd attracted Arizonas interest, Shepherd said.

The pure bison lineage is a great opportunity for us.
The Trump administration, its foreign policy largely shaped by military men, urgently needs to tell Congress and the American people what we're doing in Niger  and where else we're doing it.

Like most Americans, I had no idea that roughly 800 U.S. troops were deployed in the arid, landlocked West African nation where four soldiers were killed in an ambush on Oct. 4. Much more troubling is the fact that many key members of Congress, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., were clueless as well.

"We don't know exactly where we're at in the world, militarily, and what we're doing," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a champion of the war against terrorism, said Sunday.

President Trump, you will recall, promised during the campaign to scale back military deployments overseas. Now, he has a duty to let Americans know to what ends U.S. military force is being used around the world and where our troops are being sent into harm's way. The weeklong focus on Trump's phone call with the widow of one of the soldiers slain in Niger obscures the central question: Why were they there in the first place?

The Constitution gives Congress and only Congress the authority to declare war. U.S. troop deployments in Niger, Yemen, Somalia and many other countries are being justified under umbrella laws, such as the 2001 authorization to use military force against al-Qaeda, or even the 1973 War Powers Resolution.

But the main target of anti-terrorism operations in Niger and elsewhere is the Islamic State, along with its affiliates. Congress needs to do more than investigate the deaths. It needs to authorize this conflict or shut it down.

Trump is hardly the first president to ignore the Constitution in wielding military power. All recent presidents have done so. But the makeup of the Trump administration makes the need more pressing for Congress to reclaim its war-making powers.

Trump's chief of staff, John F. Kelly, was a four-star Marine Corps general. His defense secretary, Jim Mattis, was another four-star Marine Corps general. His national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, is a three-star Army general. All three men occupy positions usually filled by civilians.

Meanwhile, Trump's secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, is a businessman with no prior experience in government, politics or the military. As a practical matter, this means that the administration views the world's problems mostly through a military prism.

Generals whom I've met tend to be very smart and tend not to be reckless with the lives of the young men and women in their charge. But Kelly, Mattis and McMaster have spent their careers wielding the mighty hammer that is the U.S. armed forces. And if what you know best is how to use a hammer, every problem tends to look like a nail.

Thus the generals convinced Trump to send more troops to Afghanistan rather than bring U.S. forces home. They persuaded him to increase our military involvement in Syria. They appear to have changed his whole worldview from "America First" neo-isolationism to conventional hawkishness.

I have mixed feelings about all of this. On most days, I feel that Kelly, Mattis and McMaster (along with Tillerson) are the last line of defense between our great nation and the abyss. Trump's impulsiveness, belligerence and insecurity would be a dangerous combination in any commander, let alone the commander in chief. But the president respects military men, meaning that the generals may be able to keep him from doing something rash and apocalyptic that could get us all killed.

On the other hand, Trump had a point when he pledged to reassess the role of the United States in world affairs. Insofar as he's doing anything, it's the wrong thing: He's giving us more military action and less diplomacy, when it ought to be the other way around. But Trump's generals are not likely to come up with any sort of new paradigm for U.S. foreign policy, and I worry that the default posture is waging endless war in more and more places such as Niger.

Are U.S. troops necessary to contain the spread of Islamist militancy in the Sahel? Does the presence of U.S. forces win hearts and minds, or does it harden them against us? Are we prepared to stay for months? Years? Generations?

It's past time for the people's representatives in Congress to give Trump and the generals their marching orders
U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., gave a speech recently that deserves to be heard or read by every American. McCain talked about what it means to be American, with all of its blessings and its obligations, and what America means to the world.

McCain was being honored with the Liberty Medal of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia for his efforts to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe.

Press coverage of the event focused on McCains veiled shot at the Trump administration for shirking Americas leadership role in the world: To fear the world we have organized and led for three-quarters of a century, to abandon the ideals we have advanced around the globe, to refuse the obligations of international leadership and our duty to remain the last best hope of earth for the sake of some half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems is as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past that Americans consigned to the ash heap of history.

That was the money quote, but there was much more, including a condemnation of the blood and soil rhetoric of neo-Nazis who marched in Charlottesville, Va., in August:

We live in a land made of ideals, not blood and soil. We are the custodians of those ideals at home, and their champion abroad. We have done great good in the world. That leadership has had its costs, but we have become incomparably powerful and wealthy as we did. We have a moral obligation to continue in our just cause, and we would bring more than shame on ourselves if we dont. We will not thrive in a world where our leadership and ideals are absent. We wouldnt deserve to.

Context is as important as content. McCain, 81, has been given what he calls a very poor prognosis for an aggressive brain cancer. He appears to be writing the last chapter of an extraordinary life. He has gone from Naval Academy wild man to heroic prisoner of war to maverick Republican senator to conventional Republican nominee for president who, despite his Country First slogan, chose the spectacularly unqualified Sarah Palin as his running mate.

He is now back in maverick mode, casting the deciding vote against his partys Obamacare repeal-and-replace bill in July. He voted against GOP tax cuts in 2001 and 2003 because they were fiscally irresponsible and tilted to the rich. He might do it again.

President Donald Trump was unhappy with McCains remarks, saying, Im being very, very nice but at some point I fight back, and it wont be pretty. To which McCain replied, I have faced tougher adversaries.

John McCain needs no lecturing on patriotism or duty. But his country still needs him.
Convicted ex-senator gets 8.5 years in prison for $3.3 mln embezzlement

ST. PETERSBURG, October 25 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov)  Former Russian senator and owner of Liviz liquor producer Alexander Sabadash, who had been earlier convicted of attempted embezzlement, was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for stealing 190 million rubles ($3.3 million) from Bank Tavrichesky, according to the regional prosecutors office.

Accomplices of Sabadash, the banks chairman Sergey Somov and his deputy Dmitry Garkusha, have been sentenced to 7 years in prison each. Additionally, all the defendants were fined 100,000 rubles ($1,700) each, the prosecutors office told RAPSI.

According to case papers, from June to December 2013, Somov, Garkusha and Sabadash stole 190 million rubles by signing credit contracts in violation of a procedure of approval and processing of loans established in the bank. The defendants transferred the embezzled money to accounts of foreign companies controlled by Sabadash.

In 2015, Sabadash received a 6-year prison sentence for attempted embezzlement of 1.8 billion rubles (about $32 million) involving Arkhangelsk-based developer ES-Kontaktstroy and JSC Vyborgskaya Cellulose. Sabadash, believed to be the owner of Vyborgskaya Cellulose, has organized a fraudulent VAT refund scheme, according to investigators.

Sabadash was stripped of his seat in the parliaments upper house, the Federation Council, in 2006 after he was accused of carrying out business activities, which senators are forbidden to do.
Russian e-commerce giants co-owner charged with credit fraud to stay under house arrest

ST. PETERSBURG, October 25 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov)  The St. Petersburg City Court has upheld a ruling to put Dmitry Kostygin, a co-owner of Russian Internet retailer Ulmart, under house arrest in credit fraud case, the courts representative told RAPSI on Wednesday.

On October 11, a lower court placed Kostygin under house arrest until December 9. The defendant appealed the ruling. He sought to release him on a 50-million-ruble bail (around $870,000) or ease imposed restrictions.

According to case papers, Kostygin acting as the Board Chairman of Ulmart provided false information on the companys financial position to Sberbank for signing a loan agreement. In April, Sberbank transferred 1 billion rubles ($17.3 million at the current exchange rate) to the companys account. The accused allegedly managed the money in his discretion.

The defendant pleaded not guilty, his lawyer Konstantin Dobrynin told RAPSI.

Earlier, the Smolninsky District Court of St. Petersburg granted an application by Sberbank seeking to invalidate the contract concluded between Kostygin and businessman Oleg Morozov, on the basis of which a bankruptcy petition was filed against Ulmart.

In February 2015, Ulmart received a 250-millionruble credit from Kostygin for a year. In early 2016, Kostygin assigned his right to claim a debt to Morozov. The businessman in turn filed a bankruptcy petition against Ulmart with a commercial court because the company did not pay the debt.

Moreover, the Dzerzhinsky District Court of St. Petersburg collected 653 million rubles ($11.3 million) in debt from Kostygin in favor of VTB bank.

Ulmart group of companies is the largest Russian private Internet holding focusing on e-commerce segment. The companys distribution network consists of over 400 sales outlets across more than 240 Russian cities and towns.
Alleged member of notorious Russian gang charged with 16 murders to go on trial

MOSCOW, October 25 (RAPSI)  A criminal case against alleged member of the notorious criminal syndicate, Orekhovo gang, Igor Sosnovsky, who stands charged with 16 killings and 5 attempted murders, has been forwarded to court for hearing, the statement published on the Investigative Committees website on Wednesday reads.

Sosnovsky has been on the international wanted list since 1998.

According to investigators, the gang committed at least 50 killings and attempted assassinations in Moscow, the Moscow and Vladimir regions, Greece and Ukraine. The most notorious hits include the murder of the head of Foundation for Social Support to Athletes, Otari Kvantrishvili, in 1994; the murder in Greece of infamous hitman Alexander Solonik and his friend Svetlana Kotova; and the murder of major crimes police investigator Yury Kerez in 1998.

Moreover, several members of the criminal group including Sosnovsky have been charged with the murder of prominent lawyer Tatyana Akimtseva, who had represented the interests of the victims in an Orekhovo gang trial, and her driver in September 2014. Investigators claimed that Sosnovsky had performed the murder along with his accomplice Sergey Frolov.

The gang was active since the early 1990s and included more than 30 members. Over 10 individuals have been already convicted and sentenced. The criminal syndicates leader Dmitry Belkin was sentenced to life in prison in October 2014.
Russian Supreme Court upholds acquittal of infamous gangs alleged leader

MOSCOW, October 25 (RAPSI)  The Supreme Court of Russia has upheld acquittal of the alleged leader of the Shchyolkovo organized crime gang, Alexander Matusov, who had been charged with murders and attempted assassinations, the courts press-service told RAPSI on Wednesday.

The courts panel dismissed an appeal against the acquittal and upheld the July 4 ruling of the Moscow Regional Court.

Matusov was acquitted based on the jurors verdict because he had not been involved in the incriminated crimes, and recognized his right to rehabilitation.

Matusov, aka Basmach, was arrested in Thailand at the request of Interpols National Central Bureau for Russia in June 2014.

He was charged with series of murders and attempted murders of businessmen. According to investigators, in November 1996 gangsters, including Basmach, attacked four businessmen, killing three of them. One of the victims survived, but was severely wounded.

Matusov was put on the wanted list in 2009, when police brought three murder charges against members of his crime group.

The Shchyolkovo gang was active from 1995 to 2009 and was notorious for contract killings, extortion and kidnappings in the Moscow and St. Petersburg areas. The gang members are suspected of having killed at least 60 people. In 2009, police found the bodies of 15 of the gangs alleged victims in forests near Moscow.
High-ranking Crimean Tatar Majlis member freed from prison

MOSCOW, October 25 (RAPSI)  The deputy chairman of Majlis of Crimean Tatars, Ilmi Umerov, who was found guilty of calls for separatism earlier this year, was freed from prison on Wednesday and is now en route to Turkey, Umerovs lawyer Mark Feygin wrote on his Twitter account.

He was freed and is on his way to Ankara. How he was freed and why Ankara, I cant say. He will make his own statement later, Feygin wrote.

On September 27, the Simferopol District Court in Crimea sentenced Umerov to two years in a penal colony for calls for separatism. The courts ruling read that the convict is prohibited from participating in social activities.

Another lawyer, Nikolay Polozov, said that this ruling equates death sentence for Umerov considering the latters problems with health and subpar quality of healthcare in Russian penitentiary facilities. He added that the sentence is disproportionately tough because of Umerovs Crimean Tatar nationality. The lawyer expressed concern that the convict may be transferred outside Crimea to restrict his meetings with lawyers and relatives.

On January 30, Investigative Department of the Federal Security Services (FSB) Directorate for Crimea and Sevastopol charged Umerov with public calls for separatism.

In the spring of 2016, a criminal case over calls for violation of Russias territorial integrity was launched against Umerov. He was questioned by the FSB and as a suspect in the case pledged not to leave country.

On April 26, the Supreme Court of Crimea granted a lawsuit filed by then republics Prosecutor Natalia Poklonskaya and banned the Majlis of Crimean Tatars as extremist organization. This ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court of Russia on September 29, 2016.

On May 20, the Moscow City Court ruled that Dzhemilev, along with another leader of the Majlis, Refat Chubarov, are banned from entering Crimea for five years. The regional officials claim that the Tatar leaders activity incited inter-ethnic hatred.
The Greater Montana Foundation has granted $80,000 to the Irwin and Florence Rosten Foundation, known as MAPS Media Institute. MAPS originated as Media Arts in the Public Schools in 2004.

The money comes in two grants; one for ongoing operations funding and the other for a Media Mobil Lab program to share positive experiences with students across Montana in a rural outreach program.

The $20,000 grant supports the award-winning MAPS free after-school program serving four county schools, a summer session, work with the Salish-Kootenai College on the reservation, and an expansion to the Blackfeet Reservation.

The Greater Montana Foundation has supported MAPS programming since 2013. Their funding helps keep all of MAPS programming free-of charge to all 8th-12th grade students.

The media arts program is a public and private partnership that integrates science, technology, engineering, the arts and math concepts (STEAM) within multiple hands-on media courses and an entrepreneurial program.

The Greater Montana Foundation has been a supporter of us for many years and they are a believer in what we do, said Clare Ann Harff, MAPS executive director.

Sidney Armstrong, executive director of GMF, said supporting MAPS is an investment in Montana youth.

The Greater Montana Foundation is proud to continue our investment in MAPS Media Institute as it commits to build its programs for the benefit of our states youth, especially in rural and tribal communities, Armstrong said. We are especially gratified that its excellence is being recognized on a local, regional and national levels.

A $60,000 grant will kick-start a new MAPS Media Lab program that will take the hands-on program to other rural and tribal communities.

The idea for a mobile lab program came out of a four-year partnership with Montana GEAR UP that allowed MAPS to offer intensive media arts workshops with students on the Flathead and Blackfeet reservations. This success encouraged MAPS to form a partnership with Salish Kootenai College to create an afterschool pilot program to Lake County-Flathead Reservation that will continue through 2018.

Harff said proposed MAPS Media Lab workshops will include a four- or five-minute mini documentary on the Hunger Prevention Project of the Blackfeet Reservation and a collaboration with the Holter Museum in Helena.

MAPS will work with the Holter's Art for Survival afterschool art program for 8th-12th graders, Harff said. This film will be about the life of teens in the 21st century: the incredibly high rate of social anxiety, fear, and feelings of failing at life. The mental health issues many are dealing with - they are aware of what we all know as teen angst. Helena has had seven teen suicides in the last five years.

Harff said the Greater Montana Foundation's funding will have impact.

Their funding for the media lab will help us reach students with limited access due to the rural nature or socio-economic challenges, she said. It lets us develop an established outreach program. It is paying for program development and creating a web page where communities can see what we are all about and contact us.

Harff said the MAPS Media program receives many requests from communities asking them to come to share their program.

A designated program like this will allow us to manage that, she said.

MAPS is community-based and dependent on partners like Ravalli County, area schools, the local home-school community, and the local church (St. Marys documentary).

We have to have these engaged partnerships because MAPS is free, Harff said. We need to be in partnership with local supporters.

Harff credited the partnership with GEAR UP to get MAPS into rural areas and reservations.

It gives us the in because we are going in partnership with them, Harff said. Once we establish that we are legitimate, that we work hard, that we care about your kids and were going to deliver on what we say - we get more production opportunities.

Harff said the MAPS history of success and partnerships give her confidence that it will be an asset to all of Montana.

This is the 14th year of MAPS programming and we are ready to expand our geographic reach beyond the Bitterroot, Harff said. With the MAPS Media Lab well share the MAPS experience across the state. By sharing our creative program we aim to help Montana students build skills to inspire and achieve their futures.

MAPS programming stands out when compared to other after school programming in that it while it uses technology, MAPS really is about teaching students to communicate effectively, Harff said.

Harff said Peter Rosten was a passionate advocate for entrepreneurial education.

Peter believed that teaching young people how to turn their ideas into business is critical to long-lasting economic growth benefiting all citizens, she said. MAPS continually challenges people to think outside the box and learn effective 21st century skills to invent their own economic opportunities.

Statewide, the Greater Montana Foundation awarded more than $274,000 in grants and reserved another $40,000 for potential commercial grants in 2017.

Our grant awards are intended to support excellence in carrying out the mission envisioned by our founder," said William Whitsitt, the board's chair. "It is our goal to help members of the media improve their reporting of the top issue, jobs and the economy, through educational assistance. This will result in a better informed public.

In addition to the GMF funding, two MAPS students recently won awards in the 41st Fresh Film Northwest Film Festival (FFNW). There were more than 200 entries by up-and-coming teen filmmakers in five states.

Chase Hall, a senior from Browning, won an Honorable Mention for directing The Last Day. Hall created the production in five days, from concept to big screen, at a MAPS-Montana GEAR Up summer film making workshop on the Blackfeet Reservation.

MAPS graduate and production assistant Lucas Laparra won for his four-minute production Special Olympics Montana Bitterroot Winter Games.

In addition, both filmmaker's won the FFNW Heart Award for authenticity and human treatment of a subject.

Awards like this lift all of us up, said Harff. At MAPS, our students find their voices through technical skills, self-expression, teamwork, and leadership. But they're also learning how to sculpt and share stories, with their communities and with the world.
The U.S. Forest Service has the authority to exclude motorized travel, including snowmobiles and mountain bikes, from areas recommended for wilderness, a Missoula judge ruled last week.

U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen rejected a challenge from snowmobilers and others who sought to overturn wilderness recommendations for areas on the Kootenai National Forest and Idaho Panhandle National Forest in northern Idaho.

Christensen ruled the Forest Service does have broad authority to manage recommended wilderness areas to preserve their wilderness values, including limiting motorized and mechanized use in the remote areas.

The judge also ruled that the Kootenai Forest will need to reopen public comment on its plan to include segments of two tributaries to the Bull River  Callahan and Ross Creeks  before the agency can recommend them for protection under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

The Kootenai Forest erred by adding the two creeks late in the land-use revision process, which didnt give the public the opportunity to offer its opinions on the recommendation, Christensen ruled.

The Kootenai National Forest released a revision of its land-use plans in 2015 that included provisions that excluded motorized use from the 89,000 acres of land of recommended wilderness adjacent to the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness and the Scotchman Peaks area and another 26,000 acres of the 34,000-acre Ten Lakes wilderness study as recommended wilderness.

That same year, the Ten Lakes Snowmobile Club, an irrigation district and other off-road vehicle organizations filed a lawsuit that said the agency had erred in prohibiting motorized and mechanized recreation in the areas recommended for wilderness.

The lawsuit claimed the Forest Service lacked clear guidelines on defining a potential wilderness area and therefore had no way to justify banning snowmobiles and mountain bikes from areas where they had historically been used, including the Ten Lakes area.

Christensen ruled the agencys decision to restrict snowmobiles and other mechanized used in the recommended wilderness areas to avoid degradation of wilderness characteristics was adequately explained by the Forest Service, and its decision was not arbitrary or capricious.

The judge pointed to the 2006 USFS Handbook: Any inventoried roadless area recommended for wilderness  is not available for any use that may reduce the wilderness potential of an area. Activities currently permitted may continue, pending designation, if the activities do not compromise values of the area.

On the Kootenai Forest, Christensen said the agency considered the potential impacts of snowmobiling on grizzly bears and other big game. On the Panhandle, the agencys analysis focused more on lynx and wolverines.

Several conservation organizations filed as interveners in the lawsuit.

We are pleased that the court rejected this unfounded attempt to limit the Forest Services authority to manage recommended wilderness areas to preserve their wilderness values, said Peter Aengst, The Wilderness Societys Northern Rockies Region senior director. Protecting the wilderness character or recommended wilderness areas is essential to the long-term preservation of these irreplaceable landscapes for present and future generations.

Amy Robinson of the Montana Wilderness Association agreed.

This decision validates longstanding efforts of our members and volunteers to ensure non-motorized, wilderness protection for the most wild and deserving areas of the Kootenai National Forest, Robinson said. This includes lands adjacent to the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness, areas in the Yaak and Scotchman Peaks. By affirming the Forest Services authority to manage recommended wilderness to protect wilderness values, this decision ensures that these areas will maintain the potential for future wilderness designation.

Headwaters Montana director Dave Hadden said: This court decision demonstrates that the Forest Service can and should protect the last vestiges of wilderness land on our national forest. The Kootenai and Panhandle forests are heavily devoted to timber and motorized recreation. This decision protects the small percentage of wild country for wildlife and for people seeking a wilderness experience.

Paul Turke of Boise served as the attorney for the snowmobile groups that filed the lawsuit.

He said the debate over recommended wilderness and wilderness study areas is far from over.

Turke is working on a similar legal challenge on the Bitterroot National Forest focused on the agencys decision to prohibit mountain biking on both wilderness study areas and areas recommended for wilderness. That decision was made when the Bitterroot Forest released its updated travel plan.

In both cases, Turke alleges the national forests were using a policy created under the radar in the Forest Services Northern Region to eliminate non-conforming uses under a formal wilderness designation.

Christensen rejected that notion as unfounded and purely speculative.

The judge said the record demonstrated the Kootenai and Panhandle forests considered site-specific impacts of motorized and mechanized vehicles and omitted some areas that had been recommended as wilderness under early land-use plans.

While there was some historical motorized use in the areas recommended for wilderness, Turke said none of it is being used extensively by snowmobilers.

These are the most remote of the remote areas in the dead of winter, Turke said. Were not talking about a large number of people or conflicts between backcountry skiers and snowmobilers. What we are talking about is the kind of a peak experience for a handful of people.

Our view is that the Forest Service is playing politics when it calls balls and strikes on wilderness areas, he said. My clients appreciate wilderness values, too. They want them to remain in as good a condition as they are now, if not better. There should be other ways to address these issues rather than closure.
As it's Chucky, The Notorious Killer Doll Day, we thought we would take a look at the relationship lessons horror movies can teach young lovers.

Relationships on Female First

Stay a virgin for the rest of your days!

Cross your legs, hide the contraception and ignore your twitchy bits people. You may be as happy as Larry in your relationship, but by bumping uglies- you are putting yourself at greater risk of getting stabbed, slashed or punched aka Scream and Cherry Falls.

Stay local

Don't go to your boyfriend's cabin in the arse end of nowhere, because we all know the electricity will cut out, the signal will go and there will be no-one to call to for help within a 100 mile radius. No-one will have brought a match, a torch or a spare set of keysthe list is endless of brain farts where randy teenagers are concerned. Think; Cabin in the Woods, Evil Dead and Texas Chainsaw- nothing good ever came from getting away from it all. Avoid dirt paths and wooded areas too. I'm just saying

Don't go anywhere alone

I know the key to a successful relationship is to have some 'me time', but that can work to your disadvantage too- empty attics, cellars and hidden rooms are out of bounds unless you are with your partner. Insidious, The Conjuring and Paranormal Activity 4; hello?! You might meet a demon, or a ghost and neither would be interested in hanging out or engaging in any three-way action!

Lower your standards

Looks are not all they're cracked up to be. Take Megan Fox in Jennifer's Body for instance- drop-dead-gorgeous- literally! Ryan Reynolds in Amityville Horror- normally- yes please- but with all weird and starey blood shot eye business going on- I'll pass thanks!

Don't read other people's stuff

It's nice that you can find a hobby together, but please, anything but reading. If you date a man who reads- dump him (now!)- they are ultimately going to conjure up an evil spirit or anger something from the netherworld. What is wrong with TV- seriously?!

Don't always trust your man

If he starts looking at you funny, pulling stuff out his eyes, chanting, rocking or digging holes in the back yard for no reason, it might be time to call it a day. This guy has issues and is probably seeing dead people- anyone remember Stir of Echoes?

Be wary of his 'lady' friends

If every picture you have together always has the same chick dressed head to toe in black in the background- the one who follows you literally everywhere- it's time get back on Tinder because your relationship isn't built to last- and neither is he.

by Lucy Moore for relationships.femalefirst.co.uk

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I quote from article: Dubious new era in China: Larger role in world affairs & stricter rule on a billion Chinese. https://t.co/vbmIfosooH via The Post and Courier I quote from article:

1. LARGER ROLE IN WORLD AFFAIRS & STRICTER RULE ON A BILLION CHINESE, GREATER CONFRONTATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND WITH THEIR OWN PEOPLE, RISKY POLICY2. : "China officially entered a new era in its history of Communist rule Tuesday, in which it plans to demand a larger role in world affairs and impose stricter rule on a billion Chinese. Both aims will push Chinas rulers into greater confrontation in the international community and with their own people. History suggests both policies are risky, unstable and cannot last."

2. PARTY CHOSE MORE CENTRALIZATION TOGETHER WITH REPRESSION OF POLITICAL DISSENT: "FACED with a choice between two risky steps, more decentralization together with more democracy, or more centralization together with repression of political dissent, the ruling Communist Party chose the latter approach, as summed up in the phrase Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era.

3. XI ELEVATED: "Xi Jinping is both president of China and chairman of its huge Communist Party. By getting the party convention to adopt his thought as a part of its constitution he has put himself on equal footing with founder Mao Zedong, who ruled from 1949 to 1976. He has become more individually powerful than any ruler since Mao."

4. XI ROSE TO HIGHER POWER BY PURGING RIVALS: "Xi has consolidated his power by purging rival party leaders, often on charges of corruption, and installing his own followers in the top positions of the Chinese military, which he is busily strengthening. There are reports that he recently crushed a move by some top party officials to overthrow him and that the plotters have been arrested."

5. XI GAINED WIDE FOLLOWING AMONG ORDINARY CHINESE BECAUSE OF POPULIST PROGRAM - ANTI CORRUPTION, LOW LEVEL EXTORTIONIST, AND ABUSIVE RICH: "But he has also gained a wide following among ordinary Chinese by his populist program of going after tigers, flies, foxes and property speculators, and by his jingoistic promotion of Chinas military strength and territorial claims. Tigers are powerful officials who steal billions, flies are low-level bureaucrats and party officials who extort money from the poor, and foxes are the rich who stash their money abroad and flee China. Property speculators have forced up the price of housing in Chinese cities and driven the poor away."

6. XI JINPING THOUGHT IN CONSTITUTION: Xi Jinping thought was summed up by the BBC as having already led him to assert and expand Chinas overseas interests, for example, with the program of building military bases on contested islands in the South China Sea, creating a potential threat to freedom of navigation. He has placed more pressure against democracy in Hong Kong and clouded the future independence of the Hong Kong government. He has suggested a new Chinese drive to end Taiwans independence, and to further purge corrupt officials and military officers.

7. NEW IDEAS: "He also has called for new ideas and stressed the absolute power of the Communist Party in all aspects of Chinese life.

8. MUST CONTEND WITH SLOWING CHINESE ECONOMY, INSTABILITY IN CHINESE MARKETS, A SLOWDOWN IN EXPORTS, THE POTENTIAL COLLAPSE OF A REAL ESTATE BUBBLE AND OTHER ECONOMIC WOES: "BUT President Xi also has had to contend with a slowing Chinese economy, instability in Chinese markets, a slowdown in exports, the potential collapse of a real estate bubble and other economic woes. In the longer run, China faces a demographic challenge because the now discarded one-child policy has left it with a large aging generation and a smaller work force."

9. CENTRAL COMMAND AND CENTRAL PLANNING NEVER WORKED IN THE LONG RUN: Central command and central planning may be able to cope short-term with the market distortions that now plague the Chinese economy. But they have never worked in the long run, and China is eventually going to have to pay the price of giving one man so much power. Unfortunately, that action also will have serious consequences for the rest of the world.








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I want all women to feel beautiful. Shoot for your dreams. Dont let anyone or anything stop you. Dont be afraid to show off what your momma gave you. It is not going to change who you are.

Julia Rose Miller, aspiring model
Two years after suing Twitter for gender discrimination, engineer Tina Huang is looking to renew her fight against the tech giant, this time coming at them with data regarding pay from her peers still working there. Bloomberg reports that Huang's been gathering data since her 2015 lawsuit, and now, she's hoping to use all of that to represent the reported 133 female engineers working at the company "in what would be the first group case of its kind in the Bay Area if certified."

It seems like much of her case centers on gender and pay equity, which has been a longstanding battle within the tech industry itself (not to mention within nearly all other industries as well). Google is dealing with a similar complaint still being investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, which accused the search engine giant of "extreme systemic disparity in pay based on gender." Huang's case cites this case as an example, and her lawyer, Jason Lohr, said, "By using statistical samples to show how it takes women longer to be promoted or that there are fewer women being promoted, the lawsuit will focus on company policies that produce that outcome."

Huang first took on Twitter when she sued them in March 2015, alleging that she was passed over for a promotion because of her gender. She accused the company of favoring men over women in such promotions, as they use a "black box" (i.e., mysterious, inscrutable) promotion process, which makes understanding the whys and wherefores of promotions all but impossible. Huang wanted to know exactly why she was passed over, and informed the CEO about her concerns regarding the process' lack of transparency. Later, she was allegedly told by a colleague that her coding skills that were to blame, which she did not agree with. The HR department then allegedly told her to take some time off while they figured things out, but then she was placed on indefinite leave while her case was left "in limbo." When she returned to work at the request of HR, she was allegedly berated for taking leave, and she says she was ultimately let go for that. In court, Twitter said they never recommended she take time off in the first place. Huang told Bloomberg, "There was no intention of rectifying the situation. They didnt really want me back in the office." It's unclear whether Twitter still uses that "black box" promotion process, but what is clear is that Huang still believes the company is guilty of "stacking the deck" against women.

Huang said her renewed interest in taking up the battle against Twitter stems from another high-profile case of gender discrimination and harassment: that of Susan Fowler, whose blog post detailing her experiences at Uber brought on a fresh volley of accusations from many other women working in the tech industry. Huang told Bloomberg, "You not only saw real action happen at Uber but you also saw the amount of the conversation. Women were emboldened by it." She's not wrong, either; Fowler's blog post brought on a veritable sea change, at least in the public eye, with Uber moving to course-correct its by-then reportedly "fratty" culture, ultimately resulting in the ousting of Travis Kalanick, former CEO and founder. Twitter has its own reputation for being a bit "fratty," as back in 2015, they threw a fraternity/Greek-themed party merely a few months after Huang launched her initial discrimination lawsuit. They acknowledged that it was in poor taste, but, as with many of Twitter's thus-far empty apologies, the damage had already been done.

Bloomberg says that Twitter has responded to Huang's previous accusations, saying that, "Twitter is deeply committed to a diverse and supportive workplace, and we believe the facts will show Ms. Huang was treated fairly."

Related: Google Employee Writes Internal Memo Railing Against Women, Diversity; Rage Ensues
Bernal neighbors are angry over a party on a Saturday night ten days ago that ended with an eruption of gunfire and a scattering of scared partygoers, with some running across roofs and others fleeing down the street. The party was being thrown at a two-bedroom at 212 Banks Street that according to the Examiner has been "frequently rented [out] on Airbnb and VRBO by 'Erik,' an owner who apparently lives in Indonesia." It's unclear if the house had been a nuisance to neighbors before, but as the Examiner notes, because it's an entire single-family home being allegedly rented out by an absentee owner, it's in violation of the city's short-term rental law, and it was not registered with the city.

Airbnb and competitor VRBO have until January to remove all such scofflaw listings, and the Ex confirms that they have now removed this one, which was on both sites, with Airbnb issuing a statement saying, "We have zero tolerance for this type of behavior and upon learning of this incident, we permanently banned this guest from our platform, suspended the listing and reached out to law enforcement to offer our assistance." Airbnb has also offered to reimburse any neighboring homeowners who may have suffered any property damage.

Wednesday: Community Safety Meeting with City Officials to Discuss Recent Crime https://t.co/7STxaCbfZv pic.twitter.com/7UXeXLgbb8  Bernalwood (@Bernalwood) October 24, 2017

According to a police report obtained by Bernalwood, the incident on Saturday, October 14/early Sunday, October 15 began with a party that some gang-affiliated party people were throwing and advertising with flyers. Allegedly, rival gang members found out about the party from one of the flyers, showed up, and multiple people with guns opened fire. Ingleside Capt. Joseph McFadden says that "houses and cars were hit with many bullets," and "amazingly," no one was hurt except for one individual who was shot "in the butt." And witnesses have been cooperating with the investigation.

"The shootout on Banks Street was terrifying and outrageous, Supervisor Hillary Ronen tells the Examiner in a statement. "What occurred was the result of a flagrant disregard for San Francisco law."

Under a compromised settlement reached earlier this year, Airbnb and its rivals have agreed to force all of their users to register with the city's Office of Short-Term Rentals, and to ban anyone from the platform who does not have such registration. The companies have until January 2018 to reach full compliance, after which they will be fined $1000 per day per illegal listing, by the city.

A community meeting to address the shooting, among other concerns of the neighborhood, is scheduled Wednesday evening from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Bernal Heights Community Center, as Bernalwood reports.
The truth is going to arrive slowly, and perhaps incompletely, in the investigation into the causes of the multiple Northern California wildfires that sprung into deadly strength the night of October 8. But according to an audit conducted over two years ago by the California Public Utilities Commission into PG&E's Sonoma division, one often cited potential culprit, power lines equipment, was found to be woefully behind in terms of scheduled maintenance.

As NBC Bay Area reports of the audit, which covered a five-year period from August 2010 to September 2015, PG&E was found to have completed 3,527 work orders past their scheduled due date.*

Further, the audit found that more than 50 pieces of overhead equipment had not received the annual inspections they require under state law. Britt Strottman, an attorney for the counties affected by the San Bruno pipeline fire and the Butte fire in 2015, tells NBC Bay Area, "PG&E has a history of neglecting its infrastructure and this is more evidence of that."

PG&E pushed back against the findings in the audit, which were released Monday, issuing a statement to the Chronicle saying that most of the work "cited as late had been completed by the end of 2011, several years before the audit took place."

But other audits by the CPUC, including a spot check of PG&E equipment in Cazadero, Guerneville, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sonoma and Windsor, suggest ongoing lack of maintenance in the very area that experts have surmised could have played a significant role in the ignition of the fires: vegetation too close to power lines. Per the Chron, "Problems found [in the spot-check] include one instance of vegetation growing too close to a power line, one of vegetation obstructing the climbing space on a pole and several instances of improperly installed guy wires, which help hold a pole in place."

As the New York Times reports, fire investigators are closing in on where they think the ignition points were in Napa and Sonoma counties, where the deadliest and most destructive of the fires occurred.

"If there are high velocity winds, theres every reason to suspect that power lines are a source, says USGS fire expert Jon E. Keeley to the times. "We have many documented cases of power lines igniting fires during these high wind events."

All related coverage of the North Bay wildfires on SFist.

* This story has been updated to show that NBC Bay Area broke the news of the audit.


Eatsa, the automat-style eatery which saw rapid expansion after landing in San Francisco in 2015, has abruptly closed its shops in Berkeley, New York, and Washington, D.C. The reason for the closure is due to a "scaling back" of operations, writes Eater SF.

In a statement written on their blog, Eatsa explained the reason behind the closures, writing, "... in our eagerness to get the eatsa experience in front of as many people as possible, we now realize that we expanded our retail footprint too quickly. In particular, operating in four different markets has made it difficult to quickly test and iterate our food product  something that is critical in any restaurant business, but is even more important when it comes to introducing a new type of nutritious fare." To that end, they write that they're still going to keep their two locations in San Francisco open, in the hopes that they "can experiment and innovate faster."

It boils down to this: Eatsa grew way too fast, and they're refocusing their efforts by concentrating on their original market where they were, at least initially, wildly popular.

You'll remember that Eatsa made headlines when they were served a lawsuit by the Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), a national nonprofit. Their lawsuit alleged that Eatsa's central feature  exclusively in-app ordering and automat-style food pickup  discriminated against blind people, who may be unable to navigate the app menus or pick up food because of their lack of audio or tactile feedback cues. Then, Eatsa responded by saying that their Hosts  the single human point of contact at each location  were there to assist customers who needed help, but the DRA argued that such help wasn't enough, and that the seeing-impaired should be able to serve themselves if they wish. We've also previously mentioned that Eatsa closed briefly in March following that lawsuit, though they say that was an unrelated matter. They had closed to revamp their menu, expanding from their initially quinoa-only dishes to offer new dishes like noodles.

Related: Eatsa's Automated Quinoa Empire Expands With New FiDi Location Next Week
Were still a full week away from Halloween itself, but just days out from from the high holy days of the San Francisco party calendar known as Halloween Weekend. As darkness falls across the land (its the final full weekend of Daylight Savings Time before we fall back next weekend), and as the weather is forecasted to settle into the comfortable mid-60s this weekend, SFist has carved out this list of creepy, kooky, altogether-ooky list of Halloween leadup parties. This week, were up to our eyeballs in ghoulishly good activities.

Tuesday, October 24

Barbie Mutilation Night

Have you been yet to the new Docs Clock, just down the street from the old Docs Clock? If not, youve fewer finer weeknights for your first than Barbie Mutilation Night, where the art supplies are provided for free, Barbies are provided on a sliding scale, and all proceeds go to Puerto Rican hurricane relief efforts. 50 percent of the bar take will also be donated to hurricane relief, so all you mutilators and mad scientists can benefit a good cause. Mattel em Large Marge sent you!

Docs Clock, 2417 Mission Street, 7 p.m. - 10 p.m., Free

16mm Movie Night: Vintage Monster & Horror Movies

The Gallery Cafe does classic scary films on a vintage old-timey 16mm projector every fourth Tuesday. But this months pre-Halloween special invades your senses with Byron Haskins 1953 War of the Worlds, which does not in any way involve Orson Welles. Beer, wine, and coffee are served. Gallery Cafe, 1200 Mason Street, 6:30 - 9 p.m., Free

Wednesday, October 25

Leather and Lace Free Clothing SWAP

Monarch Bar hosts a triple-threat of a free Halloween clothing swap, face-stuffing hot dogs and Red Hots Burlesque. Bring clothes for the clothing swap at 6, then stick around for Red Hot Wiener Wednesday at 7, and the weekly striptease-stravaganze of Red Hots Burlesque at 8. If youve still got skeletons in your closet, bring those clothes, and the leftovers will be donated to Out of the Closet. Monarch, 101 6th Street, 7 p.m. - 10 p.m., Free, $5-10 donation suggested



Pops 80th Anniversary Party

You read that right  Pops Bar is turning freaking 80 years old! You dont often get to attend a bars 80th anniversary party, so head on down to your favorite 6 a.m. watering hole to ring in the occasion. BBQ begins at 5 p.m., DJs and tequila specials go all night, and raffles will benefit the Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund. Pops Bar, 2800 24th Street, 5 p.m. - Close, Free





Thursday, October 26

Creatures of the NightLife

Peaches Christ does a full takeover of the California Academy of Sciences, turning the joint into an 80s horror movie set piece. Your normal, brainiac Academy of Sciences installations will be up and running, but youll also get a drag show called Stranger Queens and a costume contest. Therell be no shortage of fright wigs, with performances by Peaches, Kegel Kater, Meredeath, and Chaka Corn. California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, 6:30-11 p.m., Members $17, Non-Members $20

2017 Halloween Ghost Walk at City Hall

Walking tour? More like Walking Dead tour, ammirite? This particular walking tour focuses on disinterred remains, assassinations and other ghostly lore, starting at San Francisco City Hall, which itself used to be a cemetery. Meet in South Light Court, through the Polk Street entrance. City Hall, One Carlton Goodlett Plaza, 6:30 p.m., Free

Friday, October 27

LoveBoat Halloween

The party formerly known as Ghost Ship actually rages both Friday and Saturday nights, with Moby and Fatboy Slim. (Friday night is Fatboy Slim, Saturday night is Moby) This will be the events final year at Pier 70, so bust out your Burning Man blinkies and get ready to dig on their unparalleled art installations. Pier 70, 420 22nd Street, 9 p.m. - 4 a.m., $85-90 single night, $180-190 both nights



Avenues Dry Goods One Year Anniversary Party

Fans of SFists Eve Batey ought to know that Eve has been moonlighting on us as a purveyor of ephemera from local artists and makers at her boutique Avenues Dry Goods. An emporium of inside-joke t-shirts, works by great S.F. authors, and locally made loveliness, Avenues Dry Goods will also have an adorable dog present for petting, and the shop will offer drinks and treats, bonkers sale prices. Avenues Dry Goods, 4120 Irving Street, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Free

Saturday, October 28

Phantasm: Hall of Mirrors

The Armory no longer makes porn, but they still have an annual Halloween at the Armory blowout that is this year called "Phantasm: Hall of Mirrors." No place does a haunted house quite like the Armory, and no one has their same bazillion feet of dance floor. Big deal national headliners include Miss Kittin, Hot Since 82, and Stanton Warriors, with more performances from local legend Syd Gris and Vau de Vire. The Armory, 1800 Mission Street, 9 p.m. Tickets start at $75

Journey to the End of the Night

Some Logans Run-Hunger Games kind of action is in store for those of you who dig being chased, as the SF iteration of the Journey to the End of Night street game comes to town. Chasers chase you across town while you have to try to hit certain checkpoints, and it being Halloween weekend, costumes are encouraged. And its free! But there are no refunds. Meetup is at Japantown Peace Plaza. Japantown Peace Plaza, 1610 Geary Blvd, 5 p.m. - 11 p.m., Free



A Sea of Bubbles

We continue to mourn local queer nightlife icon Bubbles, and the memorials keep on popping. This is a sort of dress up as Bubbles gathering for Halloween weekend, hence the Sea of Bubbles. The event is at Terra Gallery, and all proceeds with be donated to the LGBTQ Center of SF in Bubbles name. Terra Gallery, 511 Harrison Street, 10 p.m.-2 a.m., Free

Sunday, October 29

Glow in the Streets: A Comfort & Joy Block Party

Queer Burning Man collective Comfort & Joy resurrects the spirit of the old GayGlo Guerrilla Theater and their legacy Halloween shenanigans. The boys (and those dressed as girls) will be taking over Noe Street for a block party between Market Street and Beaver Street, with six hours worth of name DJs and plenty of LED magic. And yes, that band is getting back together as GayGlo Guerrilla Theater will be performing the finale. Noe Street between Market and Beaver, 2298 Market Street, 4 p.m-10p.m., $10 suggested donation
Just in time for Halloween weekend, we have the first teaser trailer  actually a pretty extended teaser at that  for the Winchester Mystery House movie that you've been hearing about all year, now set for a winter premiere. Winchester: The House That Ghosts Built, starring Helen Mirren and Jason Clarke, centers on the true story of Sarah Winchester, the widow and heir to the Winchester firearms fortune, who as the legend goes, built her sprawling, creepy, idiosyncratic manse in San Jose in an effort to outrun and confuse the ghosts she believed were haunting her  ghosts of those who were killed by Winchester guns.

Up until now, all we've seen of the film is the imposing portrait of Mirren, decked in black and sitting in a carriage. Now we have a glimpse into the vision of filmmakers Michael and Peter Spierig (Daybreakers, Saw: Legacy), who have clearly taken liberties with real-life events to tell the story of Winchester, who was being treated by a San Francisco psychiatrist, played by Clarke, apparently hired by other Winchester heirs in an effort to declare Sarah mentally unfit to manage her own funds.

The trailer has a few of its own ghostly, jump-in-your-seat moments, and it just might be a winner! As Michael Spierig told People Magazine earlier this year, "I think everyone will be pretty scared."

And, clearly, never has the Winchester Mystery House looked so scary  though as we heard when they were shooting earlier this year, most of the interiors were done on a studio set in Australia, to save money.

Winchester: The House That Ghosts Built hits theaters February 2.

Previously: Helen Mirren Is In San Jose Shooting 'Winchester' Right Now
U. Cal Berkeley chancellor condemns antisemitic cartoon attacking Alan Dershowitz in student newspaper. https://t.co/SFocUOZ6Zs  Jeremy Burton (@BurtonJM) October 25, 2017

There's long been a tension in left-wing politics over the Israel-Palestine issue, and elements of the pro-Palestinian movement have often toed the line of outright anti-Semitism. We have complaints of this phenomenon from UC Berkeley this week, in the wake of the campus hosting a speech two weeks ago by big-deal attorney, pundit, and author Alan Dershowitz. The above cartoon was published in the student paper the Daily Cal on October 18, and has brought condemnation from readers, the UC Berkeley chancellor, and Dershowitz himself.

The cartoon comes in response to Dershowitz's October 11 speech, "The Liberal Case for Israel". As far as anti-Semitic caricatures go, Ive seen worse. But its the use of blood, in color when much of the rest of the cartoon is in black and white, that many readers saw as a dog whistle of anti-Zionist, arguably anti-Jewish sentiment.

Are you aware that its anti-Semitic imagery connects directly to the centuries-old blood libel that falsely accused Jews of engaging in ritual murder? I cannot recall anything similar in The Daily Californian, UC Berkeley chancellor Carol Christ wrote in a letter to the editor. Berkeley Hillel executive director Rabbi Adam Naftalin-Kelman also wrote a letter to the editor, saying, To see The Daily Californians anti-Semitic cartoon online depicting Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz was a reminder that as a Jew living in our open society, we are still plagued by undertones of historical anti-Semitism. There should be no excuse or rationalization for why this cartoon is simply a critique of Israeli policy or the speakers opinion. Like any bigoted cartoon, it should be called out.

And if you can bring yourself to click on revolting right-wing website the Daily Wire, they do have Dershowitz's exclusive response. My first reaction was surprise that the official student newspaper of a major state university would publish a Dur Sturmer-type cartoon which would have fit comfortably into any Nazi publication, Dershowitz told the blog.

I can't see the Daily Wire publishing a pro-Muslim cause cartoon, but thats just me.

Remember, this is a reaction to a speech in which I said I support a Palestinian state; I support the end of the occupation, Dershowitz continued. I am against Israeli policies on settlements. Imagine what the reaction would be if somebody came and gave a more unbalanced [speech], or imagine what the reaction would be if somebody gave an anti-Israel speech, and somebody tried to put a comparable anti-Palestinian cartoon or anti-Muslim cartoon in the newspapers.

As a footnote, a flyer for the speech was found on campus with a swastika scrawled onto it. Dershowitz said the cartoon is much worse since "the swastika was done by, as far as we know, one person, whereas his caricature was an official cartoon endorsed by a major student newspaper.

Related: Oakland Synagogue Vandalized With Anti-Semitic Graffiti
The teen suspect at the center of a high-profile child killing will be tried as an adult, officials said this week.

You might recall the awful case: Eight-year-old Maddy Middleton was last seen riding a white Razor scooter outside Santa Cruz's Tannery Arts Center on July 26, 2015. After a frantic search, her body was discovered in a nearby dumpster.

A then-15-year-old neighbor named Adrian Jerry Gonzalez was arrested, with officials saying that the boy had raped and strangled the child before dumping her in the trash.

Gonzalez, who police say knew Maddy, allegedly lured the child to his family's apartment, where he allegedly attacked and killed her. He caught police attention by lurking around the trash bins on the first floor of the complex while the search for Middleton was taking place, news reports at the time said, and was even standing nearby watching as they searched the bin where the body was discovered.

Gonzalez pled not guilty to first-degree murder, with the special circumstances of sexual assault, kidnapping, and lying in wait following his arrest, and has remained in custody without bail since. News reports in June of 2016 promised a trial in February of 2017  but obviously that didn't happen, as just this week a judge determined that the now 17-year-old Gonzalez, when he is tried, will do so as an adult.

According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, the decision was made Tuesday after a nine-week "transfer hearing" to move Gonzalez from the county's juvenile justice system (which continues to work with wards until the age of 23) to its adult jail and eventually, court.

Gonzalez, who admitted on tape to the crime, "did not suit the juvenile system," Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge John Salazar said in his ruling.

Salazar summarized the testimony from many doctors and psychiatric professionals called throughout the case. One of the witnesses said A.J. may have tried to kill someone to create enough guilt that he would commit suicide. The boy had a history of neglect and suffered from depression. A.J. was sociopathic  lacking empathy  and one doctor said A.J.s sociopathic tendencies were so severe, that person only had seen those behaviors exhibited by inmates on death row, Salazar said. It could have been anyone, Salazar said, summarizing the testimony. He said others found A.J. to be sophisticated without learning disabilities. Salazar said the acts were cruel, calloused and calculated.

According to Gonzalez's defense attorney, Larry Biggam, his client suffers from autism and attention-deficit disorder and "can be rehabilitated," NBC Bay Area reports.

I am disappointed, but I am not surprised, Biggam said. I think the ruling reflects many peoples understandable anger about the crime." They will be appealing the ruling, Biggam said.

Maddy's family celebrated the verdict, with her mother telling the Sentinel that Were howling with delight...A.J. does not present like anyone they have ever seen. Hes a serial killer in the beginning."

Maddy's grandfather, Dan Middleton, was similarly relived. "The facts of this horrible crime could not ethically be viewed in any other way: Gonzalez has shown no remorse and has given no explanation for what he did and the experts have testified that he cannot be adequately reformed and poses a continuing threat to society."

Despite his age at the time of Maddys tragic death, he has shown a level of criminal sophistication beyond his years and a frightening indifference to the suffering he has caused.

Following the ruling, Gonzalez was transferred to Santa Cruz County Jail, where he will await trial with the adult inmates. His first hearing in the now-adult case is scheduled for November, with a trial date that has yet to be determined.

"I feel very bad for the jury who is going to have to look at all those awful photos of what he did to my daughter," Jordan told NBC Bay Area.

"We were spared the photos this time. We heard the details. The jury is going to have to see it all. And you can't un-see things."

Previously: Teen Accused In Santa Cruz Murder Of Maddy Middleton Won't Be Tried Until 2017
He also spoke highly of outcomes of the talks between Deputy PM Sonexay Siphandone and his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Hoa Binh.The Party leader urged the two Governments to instruct ministries, agencies, localities and businesses to proactively work together to effectively realise Vietnam-Laos joint statements, high-level agreements reached by leaders of the CPV and the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party (LPRP) as well as the two countries, cooperation agreements between the two Governments, along with joint programmes and plans.The two sides should focus on the exchange of information, experience and measures to materialise resolutions adopted at national congresses of each Party, he said.The General Secretary called for joint efforts to prepare for the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, and organise activities marking the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017.Vietnam strongly and comprehensively supports the reform cause in Laos and believes that under the leadership of the LPRP, the management of the Government and the supervision of the National Assembly, Lao people will reap more achievements in the reform process, he said.Host and guest noted with delight the development of the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos in all fields.Sonexay Siphandone expressed his sympathy for human and property losses suffered by Vietnamese people during the recent floods, noting his belief that under the leadership of the CPV, Vietnamese people will overcome all difficulties and challenges to gain greater attainments in the reform process.The Lao Government will closely coordinate with its Vietnamese counterpart to instruct ministries, agencies and localities to effectively implement agreements signed by high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and countries, as well as agreements reached at the 39th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee, while preparing for the 40th meeting of the committee, he affirmed.

Vietnamplus
Innovative city solutions in 12 key focus areas identified by the city governments and the smart city steering committees of Vietnam focused on affordable housing, energy efficiency, traffic management and smarter parking, drainage, sewerage and waste management, urban agriculture, water purification and delivery, public security and monitoring of natural disasters, ecotourism and environmental planning, health care, education, e-government services, and more greenery and public spaces.



This is the latest in a series of innovation challenges by MBI, which also pioneered the MIST: Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism challenge earlier this year. Innovation challenges in other industry verticals include MATCh for Agritech and the Vietnam Fintech Challenge. The MBI challenges are funded and supported by the Australian Government and the Asian Development Bank.

The details of the 15 shortlisted teams can be found in Annex B.

All finalists will compete in the Demo Day to showcase their solutions to local government authorities, potential corporate partners, and investors. Leading up to the Demo Day teams will be matched with noteworthy mentors within the Vietnamese ecosystem, offered co-working space, and connected with local companies and stakeholders.

Finalists will be evaluated on their concepts relevance to address real urban challenges in Vietnam, the companys business potential, uniqueness of idea, and the teams ability to execute the plans.

Up to three winners will be selected at the Demo Day. They will receive cash prizes and be fast-tracked to the cities acceleration programs to help localize their solutions, thereafter securing projects if agreed milestones are met.

Other teams who applied for the Smart City Innovation Challenge still stand to gain from attending the demo day as it provides a platform for them to work with potential corporate champions and industry mentors, network with key stakeholders within Vietnams smart city community, meet investors and accelerators, and connect with co-creators within the industry.

The Demo Day is being organized by MBI in cooperation with The National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Development (NATEC-MOST), HCMC Department of Science and Technology, Da Nang Business Incubator (DNES) and Vietnam Angel Investor Network (iAngel).

By HAM YEN  Translated by UYEN PHUONG
The local, family-owned McClintock Insurance agency has been serving Siouxlanders' insurance needs for 55 years.

In business for two generations, the successful independent agency offers auto, recreational vehicle, home, life, business, umbrella and bond insurance policies, and is licensed to provide coverage in the states of Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Arizona and Utah.

In 1962, McClintock Insurance Inc. was started in Jim and Mary McClintock's house at 3207 Pierce St. Since then, their agency has changed locations twice. Their office moved to 2212 Pierce St. in 1978 and to 908 Pierce St. in 1992. They recently completed a remodel of their current building, parking lot, sidewalk and landscaping in 2016.

"It has turned out to be a nice facility. We get a lot of compliments," said Tim McClintock, one of the family partners in the business.

McClintock Insurance Inc. has locations in Sioux City, Le Mars and Mapleton to serve a large customer base. Tim and his brother, Jeff, manage the agency in Sioux City and their brother, Bob, manages the agency in Le Mars. Mark Boehm is the producer in the agency in Mapleton. Tim and Bob joined the family business in 1992, and Jeff joined the agency in 1987. The support staff in the Sioux City office is Ethel, Nancy and Carla and in the Le Mars office is Sarah and Lynn.

"The family affair continues," he said.

In September, McClintock Insurance brought another agency into its fold: Mary Baklund Insurance, an independent multi-line insurance agency.

McClintock Insurance Inc. offers up to 15 to 20 different carriers, depending on the market area they serve and the contracts they have with those carriers.

"It allows us to give our customers a greater selection of products," Tim said. "Our agency is available for customers who want to be able to talk to an agent, service their policies and make any changes."

At McClintock Insurance Inc. they believe your insurance should meet your needs at an affordable price.

"When you work with us, we take the time to understand your insurance needs and match you with the best coverage possible. We have a comprehensive list of plans available," he said.

McClintock Insurance Inc. has locations at 908 Pierce St. in Sioux City, phone 712-277-4600; 19 Central Ave S.W. in Le Mars, phone 712-546-4129 and 101 Fifth St. in Mapleton, phone, 712-881-4007.

Office hours are 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. To make changes to your coverage, you can call or text, email them, or visit their website at www.mcclintockinsurance.com. For more information, you can also visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/McClintockInsurance/.
SAC CITY, Iowa | A man allegedly breaking into a Sac City apartment was shot twice by a resident inside Wednesday.

Bendjy Joseph, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, has been charged with burglary and is in stable condition after he was flown to a Sioux City hospital for his gunshot wounds.

The Sac City Police Department responded to a call of shots fired at 211 S. Fifth St. at 4 a.m. Wednesday. After an investigation, a press release said that Joseph forcibly entered the apartment without permission with the intent to commit a serious or aggravated assault. Fearing serious bodily injury or death, Miguel Alcantara, one of the apartments occupants, fired two shots at Joseph with a 9mm pistol, hitting him twice.

Joseph was transported to Loring Hospital in Sac City for treatment and was later life-flighted to Mercy Hospital in Sioux City, where he is believed to be in stable condition.

Joseph has been charged with third-degree burglary, a Class D felony, and first-degree burglary, a Class B felony.

The investigation is ongoing.
STORM LAKE, Iowa | The Storm Lake Police Department is searching for leads after a pair of trees and piece of chainsaw art were vandalized at Awaysis and Sunset parks last week.

Storm Lake Public Safety Director Mark Prosser said the incident occurred over a period of time late last week along the lake trail. An unknown suspect or suspects cut down two trees and damaged a wood carving of a bird created by a chainsaw artist during the city's Wood, Wine and Blues Festival that was on display.

Prosser said police are requesting anyone with information to contact the department at 712-749-2525 or 712-732-8010.

He said the vandalism would likely result in a criminal mischief charge, with the severity based on the value of the damaged materials. Prosser did not immediately have information on the value of the chainsaw art.
SIOUX CITY | For years, constituents seeking help in dealing with federal agencies, people receiving war medals and protesters who didn't like his policies visited the same downtown Sioux City office for U.S. Rep. Steve King.

Since he began his congressional career in 2003, King has maintained his office on the corner of Sixth and Nebraska streets. However, King's office on Monday will move to the Federal Building, a few blocks east at 320 Sixth Street.

King's office will be in Room 122 in the Federal Building, where Iowa's two U.S. senators, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, also have offices.

When I first selected a site for our Sioux City office, I picked a downtown, street level location so the office would be as accessible as possible to the public, King said in a Wednesday release. Relocating to the Federal Building preserves accessibility and offers constituents a closer proximity to our two U.S. Senators."

The current King office is in the historic Commerce Building. However, last week a renovation plan was announced to convert the building into 76 apartments, retail space and modern offices in a $14.6 million project.

The Sioux City office business hours remain unchanged -- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday

King. a Republican from Kiron, represents Iowa's 4th congressional district. His other district offices are in Spencer, Fort Dodge, Ames and Mason City.
HINTON, Iowa  Brenda Miller of rural Hinton always considered herself a girly-girl growing up.

At Ponca High School in Nebraska, the then Brenda Johnson was a cheerleader, always wore the latest fashions, maintained a fresh hairdo and made sure her make-up was perfectly applied.

Obviously, Miller shocked a lot of people  including her parents  when she enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves 31 year ago in the midst of her senior year.

I went home and said, Mom and dad, Im going in the Army. You could have heard a pin drop, Miller recalled.

Her parents, Joe and Barbara Johnson, initially questioned her but supported her decision after she affirmed that she was committed to seeing it through.

Miller started attending regular meetings that spring, went through basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and went on to Advanced Infantry Training in Fort Lee, Virginia, to receive her supply quartermaster training.

It was hard, Miller said of basics. It was really hard. It was very challenging  a lot of running, a lot of push-ups, a lot of sit-ups  but I felt physically fit; it was a good feeling.

So what motivated a self-proclaimed girly-girl to go from cheering at Ponca Indians games to joining the ranks of one of the most elite military forces?

To pay for college, said the 49-year-old, who earned two degrees from Briar Cliff University in Sioux City after she left the service in 1992.

Besides helping finance her education, Miller also holds a deep affection for veterans and active military personnel. Her father and brother both served in the Army and one of her paternal uncles served in Korea.

I was the only girl on my dads side of the family that served in the military, said Miller, who never pressured her daughters, Mariah and Kourtney, to follow in her footsteps.

Becoming part of her familys military legacy wasnt something Miller thought about much then, but in retrospect, she says it felt good to stand up and do that.

Having direct access to Army insiders also benefited Miller when she was going through basic training.

My brother and dad really helped me out, she said. They were like, The drill sergeants are going to pick on you, they are going to try break you; its their job (and) theyre not really mean people. Just keep your chin up and go with the flow and keep a sense of humor.

As a reservist, Miller reported for duty one weekend a month for most of her six-year tenure in the Army with the exception of an eight-month deployment to Saudi Arabia from November 1990 to June of 1991.

Miller was deployed with a supply unit in Saudi Arabia. She said they were tasked with unloading Connex boxes, giant metal containers that inspired the design of modern shipping containers, and distributing the materials held inside of them.

After her deployment, Miller married her longtime boyfriend, Jeff Miller, a farmer from rural Hinton who she was introduced to by a mutual friend.

The two started their family on the acreage and it's where they also raise cattle, chickens, ducks, geese and horses, breed bobtail English shepherds and farm cats roam free.

Miller, who works as director of operations for a Sioux City medical clinic, also does what she can to help her fellow vets.

She is the chairwoman of Plymouth County Veteran Affairs Commision, which oversees the countys VA office thats tasked with providing all types of assistance to former service members.

Although she spent six years in the Army, Miller said she thinks she had it pretty easy compared to women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and those who have taken on combat roles.

I dont know if I really reflect on my time that often, but I am very pro-military, I support our military and Im just proud of all the men and women that are serving today, she said. When people are deployed, my heart goes out to all the families that are left back here because its scary.

It has been more than 30 years since Miller traded in her pom-poms for combat boots and she is still happy to have made the switch.
President Donald Trump, during a meeting earlier this year with Alaska's two Republican senators, asked about reversing a decision made by the Obama administration and renaming the nation's largest mountain, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan.

In a nod to Alaska's native population, former President Barack Obama announced in 2015 that he was officially renaming the country's tallest mountain from Mt. McKinley to Denali, its name in the indigenous Athabascan language.

But during a March 2017 meeting in the Oval Office with Trump and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the President asked about changing the name back, Sullivan told the Alaska Federation of Natives convention, as reported by the Anchorage Dispatch News.

The meeting came as Trump and the senators discussed several Obama administration moves limiting development in Alaska.

But Trump had one final issue on his mind. "He looked at me and said, 'I heard that the big mountain in Alaska also had -- also its name was changed by executive action. Do you want us to reverse that?'" Sullivan said.

"Lisa -- Sen. Murkowski -- and I jumped over the desk," Sullivan said. "We said no, no!"

Trump, perplexed that the two Republicans wanted to keep an Obama-era decision, asked why.

"The Alaska Native people named that mountain over 10,000 years ago," Sullivan said. "Denali, that was the name."

Sullivan's office confirmed the conversation to CNN. The White House declined to comment.

A spokesperson for Murkowski said Trump didn't express an explicit desire to change the name, but simply asked the Alaska senators if it's something he "should do" to reverse Obama's actions.

The 20,320-foot behemoth that anchors Denali National Park was named for the former president in 1896, shortly after President William McKinley was nominated as a candidate for office.

During the campaign, Trump railed against Obama's move to rename the mountain Denali.

"President Obama wants to change the name of Mt. McKinley to Denali after more than 100 years," Trump tweeted after Obama announced his decision. "Great insult to Ohio. I will change back!"

Trump was backed up by politicians from McKinley's home state -- Ohio -- who protested that changing the name was disrespecting the nation's 25th president, who was assassinated in 1901 while in office.

Trump, since taking office in January, has systematically chipped away at numerous decisions made under Obama, including moves to undermine the former president's sweeping health care law and his nuclear deal with Iran.

This story has been updated.
SERGEANT BLUFF | At least 31 bargaining units in Iowa, including one in the Sergeant Bluff-Luton school district, face decertification as a result of elections required by the state's new collective bargaining law.

An overwhelming number of city, county and school district employees, though, voted to maintain their union affiliation in preliminary and unofficial election results posted Wednesday by the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board.

PERB totals so far indicate that 26,965 employees participated in recertification votes that took place over a two-week period that ended Tuesday afternoon. Of those, 23,056 voted to keep their current union representation while 533 cast no votes in balloting required under legislation approved by the 2017 Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature.

Preliminary results indicate that 407 units agreed to keep their union affiliation, while 31 units did not achieve the required simple majority of eligible members covered under their current contract to stay certified and PERB has another 39 units to tabulate with final numbers expected on Wednesday.

According to the posted results, 40 Sergeant Bluff-Luton transportation workers voted to stay represented by Teamsters Local 554, but recertification required a simple majority of at least 51 votes. Three workers voted no. A total of 113 voters were eligible.

Unofficial results also show two unions in Cherokee County in danger of decertification after zero votes were cast in each election. Twenty-two secondary roads workers and 15 employees in the sheriff's office were eligible to vote.

Mike Cormack, a former legislator and current PERB chairman, said Iowa is one of only two states with a stipulation that eligible bargaining units who do not participate in the recertification balloting are counted as no votes  a provision in House File 291 modeled after a Wisconsin law.

Bargaining units that will be dissolved once a 10-day appeal period expires because they did not garner the votes need to remain certified were spread throughout the state and includes school employees, bus drivers, public works and road workers, courthouse and public safety employees.

Under Iowas previous collective bargaining law approved in the 1970s, public-sector workers held votes to initially certify their unions as their paid representatives to negotiate contracts collectively. They only faced elections if one of their members petitioned for decertification.

But, the rewrite of Iowas collective bargaining law that was passed by majority Republicans and signed by former Go. Terry Branstad in February now requires that public-sector unions must recertify every time they face a new contract negotiation. If a local association is unsuccessful in its recertification vote, its contract is immediately considered void, according to the Public Employee Relations Board.

Eventually, all of Iowas 1,200 public bargaining units and more than 120,000 public employees will be involved in similar recertification elections. State employees will vote next year.

In each eligible Northwest Iowa school district, teacher unions voted overwhelmingly for recertification, with few, if any, dissenting votes.

The Sioux City Educational Support Personnel Association voted 328-3 to recertify, according to unofficial results. No results were listed by PERB for the Sioux City Education Association, which represents the district's teachers.

All 113 eligible voters for the Sergeant Bluff-Luton Education Association voted to keep their union, according to preliminary results. By a 128-7 margin, so too did members of the Le Mars Education Association.

AFSCME and ISEA have filed separate challenges to the new legislation that stripped many of the bargaining rights Iowa public employees enjoyed under a previous law. A Polk County District Court judge has heard arguments in the AFSCME case is and his decision is pending, while a separate judge recently rejected ISEAs motion for a summary judgment in a case challenging Iowas new collective bargaining law.

The Journal's Dave Dreeszen contributed to this story.
Having been on the receiving end after the death of our son, I understand that sometimes people just really do not know what to say. Having said that, I understand where Mr. Kelly was coming from when trying to advise President Trump on what to say. Less is more in these cases. I also understand that perception is 9/10th of this deal. If those words were delivered by someone standing right by the recipient and delivered with clear empathy, they would have been received differently.
The Sanford Center provides Siouxland with unprecedented behavioral, academic and mental health services to youth, families, schools and neighborhoods. The centers staff and leadership team have taught us all how to build trust and relationships with those among us who far too often feel marginalized, powerless, or vulnerable to acts of crime, mental illness, poverty, drug addiction and violence.

City and school officials from around the state are desperate to engage allies from all ethnicities, political preferences, social and economic backgrounds and abilities in the fight against these corrosive trends. The Sanford Center is a community model for others on how to contain the violence, identify critical community needs and assets, and then deliver a tiered response to behavioral and mental health needs for those perpetrating harm.

Why are civic leaders proposing to remove funding to the one agency in Siouxlands racially and ethnically diverse community who demonstrates competency and a 30-plus-year track record of meeting the social, academic and emotional needs of its most vulnerable citizens?

There are no easy answers to the mental health and safety challenges that diverse communities face moving forward. However, few organizations are as poised as the Sanford Center to offer tried and true approaches that get at the core issues plaguing our broader society  lack of empathy for others and access to positive role models. Sustaining meaningful relationships is foundational to our mental and physical well-being. No professional organization in Siouxland does this better than the Sanford Center. - Alan Heisterkamp, Cedar Falls, Iowa (formerly of Sioux City)
On a recent trip out of the country, my husband and I met a lovely couple from Seattle. In the course of our conversations, we revealed to them that we were from Sioux City. With a knowing look at each other, they responded that yes, indeed, they did know Sioux City. The $250 speeding camera ticket they received while driving through our lovely city will forever cause them to remember us. No, it wont be the attractions or the lovely riverfront or even our unending road construction. We will be remembered by this couple, and anyone they speak to about it, for the speeding ticket that they received by one of our speed cameras (for going somewhere around 5 mph over the limit).
The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless.



The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well.







By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism.
CENTREVILLE, Md. (October 24, 2017)State Police from the Centreville Barrack arrested a school bus driver for driving under the influence Tuesday in Queen Anne's County.



The accused is identified as Dale Clark, 54, of Chester, Md. Clark was charged with DUI and related traffic charges. He was the sole occupant in the school bus. Police believe Clark was driving for Queen Anne's County Public Schools.



At 2:00 p.m. today, the Centreville Barrack received 9-1-1 calls from two motorists who witnessed erratic driving behavior by Clark, who was driving the school bus eastbound at Route 50 near Kent Narrows in Queen Anne's County. Troopers were immediately dispatched to the area.



The school bus continued northbound on Route 301 from Route 50, where it was observed by Maryland State Police. Troopers observed numerous traffic violations and subsequently, conducted a traffic stop on northbound 301, south of Warrington Farm Lane.



Clark failed the standardized field sobriety test on scene. He was arrested without incident and transported to the Centreville Barrack for processing. The Queen Anne's County School Board was contacted and sent a replacement driver to pick up the school bus from the scene.
BALTIMORE, Md.

(Oct. 25, 2017)The United States Attorney's Office has charged Daryl Christopher Wade, age 50, of Rosedale, Maryland, today on charges related to an extortion scheme.The charges were announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Acting Inspector General Stephen J. Lesniewski Jr. of the Baltimore City Office of Inspector General.Wade has been a City of Baltimore employee since 1988 and is currently employed by the Baltimore City Department of Transportation ("DOT") as a Construction Project Supervisor II within the DOT's Street Cut Unit. The DOT Street Cut Unit helps to monitor and administer fines associated with street cuts and street cut permits. According to the criminal complaint, Wade used his official position at City of Baltimore's Department of Transportation to claim that he could void street cut fines in return for payments.According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Wade accepted multiple cash payments, from a confidential human source ("CHS2") in exchange for claiming that he could erasing his street cut fines. Baltimore City street cut permits are required for companies who need to impede into a public street, alley, sidewalk, or other right-of-way for purposes of construction. The street cut permits are valid for 120 days before they expire and a fine is assessed by DOT at $50 per day for each street cut not repaired past the expiration date.In March 2016, the criminal complaint alleges that an individual with the initials J.S., an owner of a Maryland construction and utilities company, was involved in attempting to broker bribe payments to Wade from the Vice President of a Virginia based construction company ("CHS1"). CHS1's company required street cuts within the City of Baltimore. CHS1's company provides all phases of underground utility construction and sewer rehabilitation throughout the east coast of United States. At the time of J.S. and Wade's attempt to broker bribe payments from CHS1's company it had approximately $55 million in contracts with the City of Baltimore to restore and/or replace water and sewage lines throughout the City. In November 2015 and February 2016, the Virginia company was also awarded approximately $36 million in contracts with the City of Baltimore to conduct sewer and waterline overhauls, including street cuts. In order to complete those contracts, CHS1's company conducted street cuts to reach water and sewer lines.In January 2016, J.S. told CHS1 that CHS1's company would be receiving $1.3 million in street cut fines from DOT in the near future. J.S. then said he had a connection that could reduce the $1.3 million in fines by 80% to $260,000, if CHS1 paid 20%, ($52,000) to J.S.'s connection. This offer was rejected by the Virginia based company.The complaint also alleges that a second confidential human source ("CHS2"), who runs a plumbing and drain construction business in Baltimore, Maryland was previously fined approximately $17,000 for street cuts in Baltimore City. In March 2016, CHS2 attended a Baltimore City street cut appeal hearing regarding the fine. In attendance at the hearing were CHS2 and Baltimore City employees including Wade. During the hearing, CHS2 explained to the attendees, that he was not responsible for acquiring permits for the work site and therefore should not be held liable for the fines. Wade stopped the hearing, stating that he had heard enough and that the fines determination was on hold pending further review. Wade then requested to speak with CHS2 outside the hearing. Once outside the hearing, Wade explained to CHS2 that if CHS2 helped Wade that he would help CHS2.On or about September 19, 2016, at the direction of law enforcement, CHS2 participated in a recorded telephone conversation with Wade, where CHS2 explained that he did not have money to pay the $17,000 fine. Following this call, Wade met in-person with CHS2 and asked CHS2 "what is it worth to you?" CHS2 understood that this meant that if he (CHS2) paid Wade, Wade would void the $17,000 fine. CHS2 stated, it would be worth $5,000 for him to pay Wade to remove the fine. Wade explained that he had to also pay a female at the office to push the fine reduction paperwork through but accepted the $5,000 offer. Wade told CHS2 that after making the $5,000 payment, CHS2 would not have to worry about any future fines.On September 22, 2016, CHS2 paid Wade the first $3,000 in cash. Wade arrived at the meeting driving a Baltimore City issued government vehicle. At the direction of Wade, CHS2 threw the $3,000 into Wade's Baltimore City government vehicle. After the money was in his Baltimore City government vehicle, Wade stated "you good for life with me . . . ." and later laughed and further stated to CHS2, "we in cahoots now . . . . "On or about September 28, 2016, CHS2 paid Wade the remaining $2,000 in cash, and that same day a $17,000 journal entry was posted to the Baltimore City Dynamics accounting system voiding the $17,000 in street cut fines for CHS2's construction site. The entry was made by a female Baltimore City employee and Baltimore City records indicate that the female employee is an accountant working at the Baltimore Bureau of Accounting and Payroll Services.A complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.Wade's initial appearance is scheduled for today at 2:30 p.m. in United States District Court in Baltimore, Maryland in courtroom 3A.Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the FBI and Baltimore City Office of Inspector General for their work in the investigation. Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phil Selden and Leo Wise, who are prosecuting the case.
A pair of bisexual sisters from Ireland are making the effort to educate more people about safe sex.

Melanie Murphy and Jessie B, who both blog about fitness, beauty and lifestyle, took to YouTube together to talk about being sexually responsible as bisexuals. Talking about everything from contraceptive pills to testing options, they drew from their own personal experiences on the topic.

Theres so much stuff they dont talk about in school, so I think this is sort of a brilliant way to have a chat, Murphy said in the video. This is going to be very chatty, its not going to be a lecture.

The duo also spoke about protection while being single and while in a relationship, and the fact that a sexually transmitted infection test cost $106 and can be easily accessed. Murphy and Jessie B, who have over 52 and two million video views respectively, said they previously did not know sex between women could cause the transfer of STIs.
This Saturday, Oct., 28, The Pride Center celebrates their 7th Annual Community Day event from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The free family-friendly event at The Pride Center promises activities for pets, kids, and adults alike as The Pride Center once again brings the community together to celebrate each other, and in the process, have a damn good time.

Pride Centers Chief Operations Officer Kristofer Fegenbush tells SFGN Community Day is one of arguably one of The Pride Centers best events, but inarguably, one of the most fun.

Community Day is at the top of my favorite days at The Pride Center each year. Not to lean into a stereotype, but LGBTQ parents really know how to go over-the-top when it comes to Halloween costumes. Fegenbush said.

My favorites are those when the whole family dresses in one theme; I become acutely aware of how much I lack in creativity when I witness the fantastic artistry of our local families. The costume contests for kids and for pets are a blast and have some great prizes. The Pride Center and South Florida Family Pride look forward every year to seeing all those kids and pets in their Halloween finest.

A huge part of all our communities are the men and women that ensure we can live our everyday lives safely, thats why, according to Fegenbush, The Pride Center and The Broward Sheriffs Office teamed up for an event that celebrates the community as a whole.

This is our seventh year collaborating with Broward Sheriffs Office and South Florida Family Pride. BSO looks forward to this day to deepen relationships within the LGBTQ communities. They work to educate the community on their resource and build trust and healthy dialogue with families in our community. Fegenbush told SFGN.

The Pride Center has a reputation of supporting the community as a whole, not just the LGBT crowd. Theyve consistently made efforts to bring together families, regardless of sexual orientation, color, or religion. According to Fegenbush, their Community Day celebration is just another example of The Pride Center wanting to bring together families, regardless of what that family may look like or whoever they love.

Community Day is all about connection. Its a day to celebrate your family and welcome them. We all have unique familiesgiven or chosen. For some that include partners or spouses. For some that include kids. Fegenbush said For some that include pets. For some, its the chosen family of close friends. Whatever your family looks like, youre welcome here. Whatever your age or relationships status, youre welcome here.
Wilton Manors is once again on top  again.

The city received a perfect score of 100 in the Human Rights Campaigns annual Municipal Equality Indexs report.

Of the 18 official cities included in the report only 4 received perfect scores including Orlando; St. Petersburg; Tallahassee and Wilton Manors. The cities with the lowest scores include Hialeah (49), Cape Coral (39), Port St. Lucie (31); and Daytona Beach (30).

Wilton Manors is the only official city in South Florida to receive a perfect score. And its done so since at least 2013.

But two other local cities, West Palm Beach and Miami Beach, self-submitted themselves to be scored. They also received perfect scores.

The other South Florida cities featured in the official report include Coral Gables (61); Fort Lauderdale (87); Hialeah (49); Hollywood (67); Miami (59); Miami Shores (91); Oakland Park (99); Pembroke Pines (78); Port St. Lucie (31).

Before bonus points were added in, Wilton Manors received a score of 94. But the city received additional points for providing services to LGBT youth; LGBT homeless people; LGBT elders; people living with HIV; and services for the transgender community.

Wilton Manors continued perfect score on the HRC municipal equality index reflects that from policies to daily practices and operations our community has an unparalleled commitment to equality and inclusiveness, said Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Justin S. Flippen. We dont just talk the talk about equality in the Island City, we walk the walk and live up it, striving to be an example community of neighbors and businesses others look to as a model worth pursuing. Whatever color of the rainbow you most identify with, whether LGBT or ally, you are valued and welcomed in Wilton Manors. Our commitment to equality is one more reason why Lifes Just Better Here.
Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme  La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza.



Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres.




The natural paradise of mountains, plant life, and ocean shore makes the Pacific Northwest an undeniable source of inspiration. But for many, inspiration can be found elsewhere, and especially in a place such as Cascade Brewing Barrel House. Not long ago, Jorden Foss, co-owner of Steel & Oak Brewing Co. from New Westminster, BC, found himself in a situation familiar to many beer drinkers on the West Coast: He was drinking incredible beers at Cascade. However, it was just one beer in particular, and the distinct taste he encountered, that would inspire and lead the way for what Steel & Oak now calls Kaffee.

When I had the Oblique Black and White Coffee Stout from Cascade, it was insane, he says. I had never seen anything like it beforea blonde-colored beer that could have such deep coffee notes, says Foss. This beer inspired him to work with his head brewer in creating their first coffee beer and was the guiding light and point of reference for crafting the taste profile they sought. The idea was to create a coffee beer that was lighter in roast and style so that we could prove that coffee beers dont always have to be dark and rich.

Once they had the inspiration and the idea, they were still missing a pretty key ingredient: the coffee. Lucky for them, New West is just a stones throw from Vancouver and its multitude of coffee options to choose from. Foss was already a fan of the citys Timbertrain Coffee Roasters, so it was a bonus that he had a friend actually working there. Having had previous experience creating coffee beer collaborations with Twin Sails Brewing and Russell Brewing Company, Timbertrain didnt take long to jump on board as the admiration for Steel & Oak was mutual. Steel & Oak really fit our brand and we appreciated the direction they wanted to take highlighting the coffee, says Timbertrain co-owner Jeff Shin.

Although this specific beer doesnt follow Steel & Oaks typical MO of German-style brewing, that didnt stop the brewer from naming the beer as such. We do a lot of German beers here, and when we were trying to come up with something unique that had a ring to it, we literally went to Google and wrote, translate coffee into German, says Foss. We loved the way it sounded so we rolled with it. With a name and partner sorted, they began looking for the base beer to use. Knowing that they wanted to achieve a look and taste visually with a blonde style, their Royal City Ale was the ideal choice with its classic mix of pale malts and a body and mild bitterness that would work wonderfully with the coffee additive.

The current iteration of Kaffee is actually the second release from the two companies. The first release used the same base beer, but with coffee from Ethiopias Yirgacheffe Beriti region. This beer had a strong floral aroma and notes of citrus fruit that played well with the blonde style of beer. When deciding on a way to brew the second release, the team looked to get a more classic coffee presence in the beer while still maintaining the citrus and other qualities that make a blonde coffee beer unique. The coffee chosen was again from Ethiopia, but this time from Sidama Guji, which had similar flavors as the Yirg, but also included notes of caramel, biscuit, and cocoa. We chose a roast with a bit more development so the coffee came out with more punch in the brew, says Shin. The combination delivered the delightful mix they were hoping to achieve. It is a beer that is bright and unique, while still providing the body and flavor of coffee.

Immediately after pouring the Sidama Guji Kaffee, the nose is met with notes of sweet citrus from a stunning golden color that plays with the eye as you would expect a darker shade coming from the brown bottle. The first taste is light and sweet on the tongue with a mildly bitter finish of grapefruit. The malts complement the roasted coffee flavors nicely to create a smoother mouthfeel than a typical blonde ale. After allowing the beer to sit and slightly warm, the coffee notes really come forward. Caramel, brown sugar, and cocoa reveal themselves and round out a wonderful drink from start to finish.

Although this version of Kaffee is a limited release, both the roaster and the brewer have confirmed that they have every intention of producing a third installment. Now with two successful attempts under their belts, it will be exciting to see what combination of beans and brew these guys choose next.

Peter de Vooght is a freelance journalist and photographer based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Read more Peter de Vooght on Sprudge.
Its been one week since Erika Lee Vonie, a green coffee seller at Crop To Cup in New York, took home top honors at the 2017 Coffee Masters tournament at the New York Coffee Festival. People are still buzzing about this win, which featured what were unabashedly calling the most exciting finals round in Coffee Masters history between Vonie and her able opponent, Agnieszka Rojewska of Poland. In the end, Vonie won out by just .4 points, with the competitors matching each other at every turn throughout the two-hour final.

Thrilling, inspiring, unforgettablewe had to learn more, and so Erika Lee Vonie is our featured guest on this weeks episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast, a coffee podcast from Sprudge founders Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen. Listen in as we talk with Vonie about her big win, learn the secrets of her cotton candy signature drink, and catch a glimpse at what the future holds for her (hint: shes roasting).

Check out The Coffee Sprudgecast on iTunes or download the episode here. The Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored KitchenAid craft coffee equipment, Urnex Brands, and Swiss Water Process Decaf.

All this and much more on this weeks episode of the cast, including delicious coffees from Clifton Coffees own Coffee Masters competitor Jimmy Dimitrov, a tasty coffee beer from Four Barrel Coffee & Anchor Brewing Company of San Francisco, a new edition of Robyn Reads The News with Sprudge newscaster Robyn Brems, and even some gluten-free recipes to help you hit your macros. Thanks for listening!

Got a tip, query, or piping hot take? Call the party line at 1-888-55-SPRUDGE and leave a message for our hosts.
Breeders Crown officials have announced that two horses have been scratched from the finals that will be raced this weekend at Hoosier Park.

JL Cruze, a winner of $364,974 this year who finished third in his Crown elimination last weekend  was scratched today (Tuesday, October 24) due to a slight injury. JL Cruze had drawn Post 2 for the $526,250 Breeders Crown Open Trot Final.

It looks like he might have pulled a suspensory, said trainer Eric Ell. My second trainer wasnt sure if it was something that happened in the race, like he hit himself or what. He jogged today and had some filling, so he did the right thing and got it checked out.

Weve had a pretty good year  been third and fourth a lot and we were looking forward to being in the Breeders Crown  but I have to do whats right by him. If we tried to race, we might put him out for longer, but as it is, we will scratch him, bring him home and get him looked at and shoot for next year.

The scratch-time deadline is Wednesday, so, per the race conditions, the Also Eligible #1, Gural Hanover, who was sixth in his Crown elimination, will move into the final and will start from Post 9.

Pasithea Face S, who racked up wins in the Steele Memorial, Ms. Versatility and Allerage on her way to $308,764 in earnings this year, was reported as scratched from the mare trot by her owner Courant AB on social media. She was officially scratched by trainer Jimmy Takter today. The scratch reduces the $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot to just four starters, and fifth-place money will go home with the winner.

(Breeders Crown)
Trot Insider has learned that two-time OBrien Award-winning mare Warzover (4,1:56.1s - $368,777) has passed away at the age of 26.

News of the Balanced Image mares passing comes courtesy of her breeder/owner/trainer Ted MacDonnell, who stated that the career winner of 23 races passed away earlier this week at his Allenford, Ont. farm.

She was very special to my family, MacDonnell told Trot Insider. She passed away here at home due to old age.

Warzover, a bay that was out of the Dream Of Glory mare D L Zoe, was surely battled tested through her 94-race career. She regularly slugged it out with some of her top male counterparts while racing in the Junior Free For All ranks on the Ontario Jockey Club circuit.

Warzover also traded blows with some of the best trotting mares the sport has ever seen while racing in legs of The Classic Series in the late 1990s. She won a Classic Series leg at the Meadowlands Racetrack in 1997, and later followed that victory up with a pair of on-the-board finishes against Moni Maker, arguably the best trotting mare the world has ever seen.



Warzover, pictured in victory with driver Steve Condren at Woodbine Racetrack (Photo courtesy Brian Smiley / Smile For Smiley)

From her 94 career starts, Warzover compiled a record of 23 wins, 16 second-place finishes and 13 thirds. She banked a total of $368,777 in purses and took her record of 1:56.1 over Woodbine Racetrack at the age of four.

MacDonnell bred Warzover along with fellow Allenford residents Perry Siegrist and Robert MacDonnell.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Warzover.
Evangelist Will Graham Shares Hope of Jesus in Romania, Third Generation to Preach in Eastern European Country

Contact: Erik Ogren, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 704-577-2109, eogren@bgea.org



CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 25, 2017 /Standard Newswire/ -- More than three decades after his famous grandfather, evangelist Billy Graham, preached behind the Iron Curtain during a seven-city tour in Romania, Will Graham returned this weekend to share the Gospel in the city of Cluj-Napoca. The younger Graham spoke to overflow crowds totaling 24,500 over two days, Oct. 21-22, at Polyvalenta Hall, not far from St. Michael's Church, the soaring cathedral in which his grandfather preached in 1985.



"Jesus is Truth; the truth that you're looking for. He's the answer to your problems. You'll never regret giving your life to Him," said Graham from the stage, speaking through an interpreter. "I'm here to tell you that your Heavenly Father loves you and is ready for you to come home!"



More than 570 people responded to the invitation to make a commitment to Christ, including 90 at a special pre-Celebration service on Friday night, Oct. 20.



"My faith is strengthened and restored. We see that all of our prayers and the time and everything we've prepared for is not in vain," said Paul Tuns, one of many volunteers who helped to lead the Celebration effort in Cluj-Napoca. "I think the main thing is we see that God is alive, He's working, and He's listening to our prayers. As a Christian, yeah, you have that amazing feeling."



Graham was joined by several talented Romanian artists, a 1,500-voice choir made up of students, pianist Huntley Brown and worship leader Aaron Shust.



Graham is actually the third generation to preach the Gospel in the country. In addition to his grandfather's 1985 tour, his father, Franklin Graham, visited Timisoara, Romania, in July 2008.



Graham's next event  his last of the year  will be held Nov. 4-5 in Charlottetown, Canada. His previous 2017 events have been in Dothan, Ala.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Pachuca, Mexico.



A photo gallery of Graham's time in Cluj-Napoca is available at www.billygraham.org.



About Will Graham

Will is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). He is the grandson of Billy Graham and the oldest son of Franklin Graham. He also serves as vice president of the BGEA, and as executive director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, N.C. Follow Will on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/WillGraham4 and on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TellaGraham.
500 Years After the Protestant Reformation -- Can the Differences be Overcome?

Contact: Kevin Wandra, 404-788-1276, KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2017 / Standard Newswire / -- October 31st marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, which split the Catholic Church. Dr. Peter Kreeft, a Catholic convert himself and author of CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS: What We Can Learn From Each Other, says that Protestants and Catholics are not as far apart as it seems.But can the differences between the two Christian sects be overcome? Can they be unified?Kreeft acknowledges in CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS that the differences are indeed significant yet emphasizes that they agree on the important issue of justification.Dr. Kreeft is honest and fair in the book, noting that overcoming differences would be difficult, but Protestants and Catholics need to stop "directing arrows not against each other but against our own hearts and minds and wills."The 500th anniversary of the Reformation is monumental and Dr. Kreeft would agree. But he makes the case that the ties broken that day can not only be put back together, but by Christ's Word "will" be done."Peter Kreeft, one of our finest Christian writers today, has given us a passionate plea for Christian unity, one that builds upon the great common core of Christian belief confessed by faithful Protestants and Catholics alike," Timothy George, dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University, says of CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS. "A volume full of faith  and hope."For more information, to request a review copy or to schedule an interview with Dr. Peter Kreeft, please contact Kevin Wandra (404-788-1276 or KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com ) of Carmel Communications.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has claimed that criticism of Saudi Arabia in Parliament is hindering Britains ability to secure sales of fighter jets to the oil-rich kingdom.

The extraordinary claim came as Sir Michael was quizzed on why a deal on Eurofighter Typhoon jets to the Middle Eastern country  currently being brokered by BAE and the British Government with Riyadh  was yet to be agreed.

The Defence Secretary said: I have to repeat sadly that obviously other criticism of Saudi Arabia in this Parliament is not helpful and Ill leave it there.

We need to do everything possible to encourage Saudi Arabia towards batch two and I believe they will commit toward batch two and we continue to work away on the timing.

Speaking to Parliaments Defence Committee, Sir Michael continued: Well weve been working extremely hard on the batch two deal and I travelled to Saudi Arabia back in September and discussed progress on the deal with my opposite number the crown prince of Saudi Arabia and we continue to press for signature of at least a statement of intent.

His comments were immediately seized upon by the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) who branded Mr Fallons warning to colleagues as disgraceful.

He is calling on other parliamentarians to join him in putting arms sales ahead of human rights, democracy and international humanitarian law, said Andrew Smith.

Arms sales to human rights abusing regimes like Saudi Arabia would not be possible without the support of Ministers like Fallon. If the Governments main concern is jobs then it should be shifting that support into more positive areas like renewable energy and low carbon technology, and other industries which are not dependent on war and conflict for profit.

Emily Thornberry, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, described Sir Michael's comments as "extremley concerning", adding: "The sale of arms should never be prioritised over human rights, the rule of law, and the lives of innocent children in Yemen.

Jo Swinson, the Liberal Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson, added: There is no justification for the UK to continue selling billions of pounds worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia while they continue their deadly operation in Yemen. We must suspend arms sales to Saudi immediately.

This is a conflict which has killed thousands of civilians and subjected millions to famine and disease. Britain is better than this, we should stand firm for our values, not sell them to the highest bidder.

A Tory source later said Mr Fallon had been aiming to attack Labour over its approach to the country, adding: "Their policy of denouncing and disengaging with Saudi Arabia is not going to help the UK. It won't help it with defence exports and it won't help it bring about change over human rights."

During the session Sir Michael also said there had been an extraordinary increase in Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic. On the current military capability review, which is under way across the Ministry of Defence, he said its principal driver was that the threats identified in 2015 have got markedly worse.

We have seen an extraordinary increase in Russian submarine activity over the last couple of years in the North Atlantic, Sir Michael told the House of Commons Defence Committee.

We have seen North Korea testing their missiles, we have seen cyber attacks on our own country and on our own Parliament.

We have had terror attacks  five this year on our own streets. These threats have intensified since we carried out the 2015 [Security Defence Spending] review.

I think it is right we look again and make sure, across the board of security and defence, we have our capabilities in the right place.
But, quietly, its fueling a more difficult debate than whether a phone call or a letter suffices in the aftermath of tragedy; mainly, why were U.S. troops in the country in the first place , and does Congress need to exert more authority when it comes such deployments?

Many lawmakers assiduously duck these questions. But on the Sunday shows, several were forced to address them in the aftermath of four soldiers dying under still-mysterious circumstances near the small town of Tongo Tongo. In the process, two powerful Senators tacitly admitted that they hadnt even known the extent of U.S. involvement in Niger in the first place.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of the chambers most hawkish members, told host Chuck Todd on Meet the Press that he didnt know until recently that a thousand U.S. troops are stationed in Niger.

Graham is on the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee , tasked with overseeing the Pentagon. And he made the admission when Todd pressed him on whether Congress needs to vote on an Authorization of Use of Military Force (AUMF) for that mission.

The military determines who the threats are, they come up with the engagement policy and if we dont like what the military does, we can defund the operation, Graham said. But I didnt know there was a thousand troops in Niger.

Graham added that as long as American military activity involves countering radical Islamist fundamentalism and the spread of it, Congress doesnt need to give the Pentagon any special permission since, in his view, the AUMFs that passed in 2001 was sufficient. That AUMF, which sailed through Congress after the attacks on 9/11 has been used as legal justification for numerous campaigns beyond counteracting the Taliban in Afghanistan; most prominently in Syria to target ISIS and, now, as far-flung as Niger.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the chambers most powerful Democrat, admitted later on the same show that he was just as ignorant as Graham about the number of U.S. troops in Niger. When Todd asked him if he knew previously about the thousand troops there, he said he didnt.

And what it means, Chuck [Todd], for the war authorization, is I agree with Senator [Rand] Paul (R-KY) that we ought to look at this carefully, Schumer continued. We are in a brave new world, you know, there are no set battle plans.

Paul, who occupies the other end of the foreign policy spectrum from Graham, has long argued that Congress needs to have a vote on whether or not to reauthorize American military involvement around the globe related to the War on Terror.

It should be a simple vote, he said in September . It is like pulling teeth.

But the Kentucky Republican remains in the minority. Though a bipartisan group of Senators have introduced an updated AUMF for counter-terror operations, congressional leaders have declined to act on it. The Obama administration had called for an updated AUMF as well. And, recently, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) called for a sober national conversation about Congress constitutional role in authorizing the use of military force.

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But the Trump administration has not asked for new war powers , arguing that the current ones are sufficient.

On Oct. 30, Defense Sec. Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the issue. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), one of the authors of the bipartisan AUMF, has specifically invoked the four deaths in Niger in arguing for a vote.

The many questions surrounding the death of American service members in Niger show the urgent need to have a public discussion about the current extent of our military operations around the world, Kaine said. For sixteen years, Congress has remained largely silent on this issue, allowing administrations to go to war anywhere, anytime.

If members of Congress have to vote on such a matter, many expect to face political blowback. And the consequences arent hypothetical; theres wide agreement that Hillary Clintons 2002 vote to authorize the Iraq War played a key role in her defeat in the 2008 Democrat presidential primary.
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It's Election season and our editor's mailbox is overflowing. Who do your neighbors support? Read about it here.
Cowlitz County Democrats have announced their nominees to succeed outgoing County Auditor Kris Swanson. They include the county elections director, the director of a legal non-profit and a chicken farmer.

Swanson announced last month she was retiring. Her last day is Nov. 1.

According to the Democrats website, their three candidates are Lori Bashor, Mike Kayser and Carolyn Fundingsland.

Fundingsland is the countys elections supervisor and has worked with Swanson since 2005. She has Swansons endorsement for the position.

I thought she not only knew what she would be getting into, shes also a fantastic leader, Swanson said of Fundingsland just after announcing her resignation last month. Shes highly respected by leadership in this county and both political parties in this county, and thats a good base to start from.

Although Fundingsland, 45, had said in the past she enjoyed working in Elections and had no desire to become Auditor, she changed her mind upon learning of Swansons resignation.

Things are changing, and to keep this office running smoothly and the transition as easy as possible, Im willing to step up to the plate, Fundingsland said in September. I think Im ready for it.

Bashor, 56, is currently the Executive Director of Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Legal Aid, a commissioner on the Board of Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington and secretary for the Cowlitz County Democratic Party.

Bashor is also the former president of the League of Women Voters and said she spent 22 years working for a large retail corporation (she didnt specify which one, but Democrats Chairwoman Twylla Corrie said it was The Home Depot), part of that time in leadership positions. She has interacted with the Auditors Office when she helped register voters and with her non-profit work.

Bashor is married to Superior Court Judge Gary Bashor.

The third candidate, Mike Kayser, 61, is a Castle Rock chicken farmer and fire commissioner who has unsuccessfully run for several offices, including the Port of Longview in 2007, Cowlitz PUD commissioner in 2016, Cowlitz County commissioner in 2014 and the Legislature in 2002 and 2003.

Kayser did not respond to multiple calls for comment, and Corrie said she did not know much about Kaysers background.

According to Corrie, the three candidates were nominated by precinct committee officers, and on Oct. 15, the officers all gathered and officially decided on the three candidates.

Corrie said the county commissioners will pick from one of the three candidates offered after Swanson officially resigns on Nov. 1.

Im sure the commissioners will choose the candidate that brings the most to the job, Corrie said. Im confident of that.
Weapons  Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Monday arrested Buddy Ray Wakefield, 30, of Longview on suspicion of possession of a dangerous weapon and a felony drug offense.

Assault  Kelso police Monday arrested Everett Raymond Bowen, 65, of Kelso on suspicion of third-degree assault.

Drugs  Longview police Monday arrested William George Lineham, 28, of Seattle on suspicion of a violating a protection order and a felony drug offense.

Assault  Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Monday arrested Douglas Charles Bowers, 46, of Rainier on suspicion of second-degree assault.

Impersonation  Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Monday arrested Chad Russel Crow, 40, of Kelso on suspicion of first-degree criminal impersonation.

Stolen vehicle  Longview police Monday arrested Shilo Elania Hall, 23, of Longview on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle.

Stolen vehicle

500 block of 19th Avenue, Longview. Monday. White 2005 Mazda RX8. Unknown license plate.

Vehicle prowl

1100 block of Lewis River, Woodland. Sunday. Plates stolen off of truck.

Vandalism

1300 block of Rose Valley Road, Kelso. Monday. Vehicle windshield damaged.

Thefts

200 block of Ostrander Avenue, Kelso. Monday. Theft of gas from four-wheeler.

2300 block of Lynnwood Drive, Longview. Monday. Stolen mail.
Beyond dreaming

The Woodland Swimming Pool and Recreation District has a placed a bond request on the November ballot. This is your opportunity to make a long held dream come true for our community. The agreement with the YMCA of Columbia Willamette and the Woodland Community Swimming Pool Committee will offer sustainment of the facility and accessibility to everyone. Without this partnership, in order to have a pool we would all have to pay attendance fees high enough to cover maintenance, insurance, wages and taxes to keep it open. A YMCA/Pool will enhance the quality and desirability of our town. It is time to make this a reality. Instead of just dreaming, your yes vote can make decades of donations and work for the pool in Woodland to finally come true.

Lorie Vogel

Woodland

Quality leaders

One of the best things we can do to make Longview a place that attracts families and new business is to provide an excellent education for our children. That requires high-quality leaders making good decisions.

CJ Nickerson has a doctorate in education and has spent a career focused on teaching and learning. He has demonstrated his high level of expertise and leadership  he has twice been elected by his fellow board members to serve as their president.

There are a lot of challenging issues in education now which require intelligent, thoughtful decision-making. We can be confident CJ has the experience and broad perspective required to make good decisions on our behalf.

Please cast your vote to re-elect CJ Nickerson to the Longview School Board and keep him working for us for another four years.

Marlene Norman

Longview

A prosperous future

It was gratifying to see TDNs endorsement of MaryAlice Wallis for the council position of District 5 in Longview.

The city will be in good hands with MaryAlice, there is no one that works harder and is more dedicated. She has demonstrated this by her campaign, and many other community endeavors over the years. I have worked with her and seen this commitment. Secure the future of Longview by voting for MaryAlice.

Jerry R. Bakken

Longview

No to the bond

In regard to the upcoming school bond. I would like to share some reasons on why the schools should not be demolished.

Through all the years I have lived in the Longview area, we have passed bonds that were for M&O (maintenance and operation), which by definition should have been used for maintenance of the buildings, equipment, buses etc. Yet instead the majority of the funds from these bonds went to teacher pay. Seems more like a bait and switch, which should be illegal, yet no one has brought that up. So now our schools are lacking in maintenance and repairs. Its like your home, if you dont repair and fix things through the years, you end up with higher costs. Our Longview schools are at the bottom scholastically for scores in math, reading and science according to the 2013 Washington state records.

New schools are not the answer to better grades. Seems to me, our educators have a problem. Why not renovate all the schools and save the taxpayers millions of dollars instead? The lousy mismanagement of bond funds needs to be stopped.

The school district is planning another multimillion dollar bond in February 2018.

Join me and vote no on Nov. 7.

David Millard

Longview

Big bond

This Longview school levy is a big one. they need it this time, and I will be voting yes for it. The facilities group spent a lot time trying to put this levy together in what the schools need.

Ray Van Tongeren

Longview
Obamacare repeal? Dead.

Tax reform? Dead and demoted to tax cuts, now also on life support.

Republicans may have unified control of government, but they seem curiously incapable of getting major agenda items through.

Maybe its because Republicans have insisted on cutting out Democrats and doing things unilaterally. Or at least they had been until Thursday, when a bipartisan coalition of 24 senators signed onto a bill to patch up Obamacare. While President Trump and congressional Republican leadership remain skeptical about working with the enemy, this could be the start of a turnaround for the GOP.

To be clear, bipartisan ideas are not necessarily good ideas. Sometimes a policy that both parties support turns out to be a huge mistake.

As a political matter, though, it can be extremely useful for the majority party to get buy-in from the other side, for three reasons.

First, it offers political cover to do necessary but unpopular things.

If you actually want to reform and simplify the tax code, you have to close loopholes benefitting some constituents. If you want to cut rates without increasing deficits, you need to find money elsewhere, either through spending cuts or other tax increases. Which some affected group is going to be unhappy about.

Likewise, if you want to wring money out of the health-care system, you likely have to inflict pain on someone, whether its patients, providers, insurers or drugmakers.

In other words, despite what Trump may claim, few policy changes are really win-win. Theres almost always going to be at least one loser, who will likely be loud and angry.

And if your party and your party alone takes ownership of these changes, that loud and angry loser is going to direct this rage at you.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., surely knows this. Its one reason he refused to work with President Barack Obama on almost any major policy initiative. That way, whenever bad things happened, Republicans could throw up their hands and proclaim: Dont blame us!

And in fact Republicans said this all the time, even over bad stuff unrelated to any Democratic policy decisions.

Now, surprisingly, McConnell has boxed in his own party in the exact same way.

He declared his intention for Republicans to govern solo, both by crafting bills of major consequence in secret, without Democratic input, and by attempting to pass those bills through a process requiring zero Democratic votes.

In so doing, hes forced Republicans to take the heat for every controversial decision Congress makes.

No wonder, then, that the party appears to be giving up or watering down basically every major pay-for in their tax overhaul. These include the border-adjustment tax (remember that?) and full elimination of the state and local tax deduction.

Republicans are similarly stuck with the blame for everything that goes wrong in the health-care system. A majority of Americans already say that Trump and congressional Republicans are responsible for any problems with Obamacare moving forward because theyre the ones in charge, according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll.

And when the broader economy softens  which it inevitably will  Republicans will again get stuck holding the bag. Because they hogged the bag.

Second, if Republicans worked with Democrats to find some middle ground and pass their initiatives through so-called regular order, the Grand Old Party wouldnt be so easily tripped up by hostage takers.

Right now, Republican leadership is beholden to the craziest members of its own party. Someone such as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) knows he can make unreasonable demands because McConnell cant afford defections.

And of course giving in to fringe demands can cost leadership the votes of more moderate members of their caucus, a dynamic we saw during the Obamacare repeal efforts.

Aiming for a bipartisan coalition of the middle 60 or so votes, instead of requiring the vote of nearly every Republican, would avoid giving undue power to any one legislator (crazy or otherwise).

Finally, if the majority party successfully achieves meaningful support from the minority, its less likely that a major policy initiative would be undone or sabotaged when the balance of power shifts.

Thats a lesson the Democrats have of course learned with Obamacare, which passed along party lines (despite Obamas efforts to woo Republican votes).

Presumably GOP leadership fears that working with Democrats on an Obamacare fix could leave Republicans vulnerable to being primaried from the right. But whats a bigger threat: some criticism for playing nice today or facing millions of uninsured Americans a few years from now?
HARMAN International announced new initiatives for consumers in India by launching its new line-up of over two dozen audio products and by opening three new consumer service centers in the country. HARMAN also announced that its popular JBL and Harman Kardon audio products will now be available through 350 of Samsungs key brand stores across India by the end of 2017. HARMAN became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics in March 2017.

The products launched include a variety of audio portables, headphones, home and multimedia, and car aftermarket products from HARMANs JBL, Harman Kardon and Infinity brands. Consumers in India will now have wider choice, with products starting from Rs. 1,119 and going up to Rs. 39,990.

Products launched include:

JBL Flip 4: The next generation of JBLs popular Flip series and the winner of the 2017 CES Innovation Award.

The next generation of JBLs popular Flip series and the winner of the 2017 CES Innovation Award. JBL Pulse 3 : Waterproof Bluetooth speaker with an outstanding 360 sound and electrifying light show.

: Waterproof Bluetooth speaker with an outstanding 360 sound and electrifying light show. Harman Kardon Traveler : Beautifully crafted, portable travel speaker, designed for on-the-go professionals.

: Beautifully crafted, portable travel speaker, designed for on-the-go professionals. Harman Kardon OMNI+ series : Next Generation of Wi-Fi HD Home audio systems with advanced streaming capabilities.

: Next Generation of Wi-Fi HD Home audio systems with advanced streaming capabilities. JBL Cinema SB450 : Successor of JBLs popular home cinema line up, a 2.1 sound bar with a wireless subwoofer designed to complement ultra HD video devices.

: Successor of JBLs popular home cinema line up, a 2.1 sound bar with a wireless subwoofer designed to complement ultra HD video devices. Infinity Kappa Perfect 600: New automotive speaker system combined with superior technology and a compact design.

Additionally, HARMAN showcased its latest audio innovations launched at the trade show IFA in Berlin, last month. The IFA line up, which includes JBL LINK series, JBL Boombox, JBL Jr. and JBL Free will be available in India starting first quarter of 2018. The IFA lineup includes:

JBL LINK series : First voice-activated speaker series that bring together JBLs Signature Sound with Google Assistant.

: First voice-activated speaker series that bring together JBLs Signature Sound with Google Assistant. Harman Kardon Allure : First and only high-end speaker in the market with Amazon Alexa, Harman Kardon Allure combines far-field voice recognition technology with refined 360 degree sound and a sleek design.

: First and only high-end speaker in the market with Amazon Alexa, Harman Kardon Allure combines far-field voice recognition technology with refined 360 degree sound and a sleek design. JBL Boombox : Powerful portable Bluetooth speaker that delivers exceptional sound and hard hitting bass and keeps the music experience going for up to 24 hours.

: Powerful portable Bluetooth speaker that delivers exceptional sound and hard hitting bass and keeps the music experience going for up to 24 hours. JBL Jr .: JBLs first line of kids headphones that perfectly blend youngsters entertainment needs with parents safety and quality expectations.

.: JBLs first line of kids headphones that perfectly blend youngsters entertainment needs with parents safety and quality expectations. JBL Free: The perfect, truly wireless music companion for the everyday active lifestyle for calls, music, and exercise.

The company also detailed its plans to grow its R&D capabilities in India. Last year, HARMAN opened a new center of competence (CoC) for its consumer audio division in Bengaluru.

Pradeep Chaudhry, Country Manager, HARMAN India, said, Our India CoC team works in tandem with HARMANs other CoCs in China, Europe and the U.S. and is focused on developing robust and scalable software solutions for the consumer and car audio products. Our Bengaluru team is playing a crucial role in driving innovation and differentiation at the software development stage to make HARMANs audio solutions smarter and more connected.

New Consumer Service Centers

To strengthen HARMANs consumer service experience, the company has opened three new service centers this year. With these additions, HARMAN now has service centers in key metros including New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru.

Product Availability

The new product line up will be immediately available through select Samsung brand stores, other large format retail partners and through various online channels including the companys own e-commerce platform  www.harmanaudio.in.

The car aftermarket products from JBL and Infinity will be available through HARMANs extensive channel network of over 2,000 partners across India.

The IFA line up, which includes JBL LINK series, JBL Boombox, JBL Jr. and JBL Free will be available in India starting first quarter of 2018.

Technuter.com News Service
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Tigers in their final mission face Proteas in first T20 today



Bangladesh will be looking to salvage some of their lost prestige as they embark on a mission in an unfamiliar zone as they take on South Africa in the first T20 of the two- match series scheduled to be held today (Thursday) at Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein.

The match kicks off at 10 pm (BST).

Bangladesh began their tour at this venue on a dismal condition after suffering a crushing defeat against South Africa in the first Tests and now they are returning to same place meeting them in T20 their weakest in three format with host rather in a menacing mood who would be loking to continue on with their bashing.

Tigers arrived in South Africa with high hopes of proving they had become a team that can compete away from home, if not as well as they do at home, then at least adequately. They succumbed to extra pace and the short ball, even though pitches were far more placid than they usually are. This T20 format may present the best opportunity for Bangladesh to simply play, with no preconceived ideas of what to expect from conditions or opposition especially as South Africa's attack has grown more depleted as the series has gone on.

Morne Morkel was injured in the first Test, Wayne Parnell ahead of the ODIs and Kagiso Rabada and Imran Tahir have been rested for the T20s.

Host South Africa will be using this series on a more experimental basis trying their rookie players at the highest level. He will now get the chance to have a look at a few more. Left-arm seamer Beuran Hendrucks, spinners Aaron Phangiso and Tabraiz Shamsi and allrounder Robbie Frylinck come into the mix.

Since his Test retirement, JP Duminy has been given greater responsibility in the shorter formats. He led a CSA Invitation side against Bangladesh in a fifty-over match earlier in the tour and will now take charge of the team for the two T20s in the absence of Faf du Plessis. After opting out of the Tests and making a small impact in the ODIs with one half-century Shakib Al Hasan will become Bangladesh's third captain of the tour as he takes the reins for the T20s.

While Bangladesh will hope a more an just a solid performance from him to turn their fortunes around, something substantial from Shakib, be it runs, wickets or a stern team talk, won't go amiss in a change room that is desperate for positivity.

Bangladesh (probable): 1 Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim(wk), Mahmudullah Liton Das/Nasir Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain.

South Africa (probable): Quinton de Kock (wk), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy (capt), David Miller/Mangaliso Mosehle, Andile Phehlukwayo, Robbie Frylinck, Dane Paterson, Beuran Hendricks, Aaron Phangiso/Tabraiz Shamsi.




Young woman found dead in Chandpur

UNB, Chandpur :



Police recovered an unidentified slaughtered body of a young woman floating in a canal at Dakkhin Raghunathpur area in Sadar upazila on Monday evening.

Md Jahangir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Puranbazar Police Camp, said local spotted the body of the girl, aged around 20, floating in Sri Rampur Bazar Khal and informed police. Later, police recovered the body, the OC added.
Potato price fall worries growers in Dinajpur

Amar Chand Gupta Apu, Dinajpur (South) Correspondent :



Potato growers are facing heavy loss in Dinajpur this season as the price of their crop is quite low in the markets.

"We did not see such a low price of potato in the markets in the last five years," said

Mohidul Islam Mazu, a potato grower at Uttor Raghunapur village in Phulbari upazila of Dinajpur.

Many farmers in the district are preparing their land for the upcoming potato season, but most of them are yet to collect their previous season's potatoes from cold storages due to the low rate, he added.

Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension said, the districts produced around seven lakh tonnes of potatoes in the last season, of which 70 percent was kept in 17 cold storages for better price.

During visit to the local retail markets in the districts, potato was being sold at Tk 10 to Tk 12 per kg while it was around Tk 22 to Tk 24 per kg in October last year, traders said.

Farmer Jotish Chandra Roy of Gopalpur village in upazila, said he spent Tk 1,200 for each bag (80 kg) of potatoes, but is selling them for Tk 700 to Tk 750 per bag. He said he stored 2,400 bags of potatoes at a local cold storage in the upazila.

Ajit Swarnoker said he would suffer a loss of around Tk 12 lakh due to the price fall.

Traders in the districts said the potato price dropped due to huge supply of the crop this year. Besides, number of buyers from other districts is less than previous years.

Phulbari Cold Storage Manager Mizanur Rahman said most growers in Phulbari who stored potatoes in cold storages with the hope of good profit are not collecting their crop to avoid transportation costs and cold storage charges.

They prefer selling their potatoes at the cold storage gate instead of the market, he added.

11 hurt in clash over paddy harvesting: At least 11 people were injured in a clash over harvesting paddy on disputed land in Birampur upazila in Dinajpur district 24th October Thusday.

The injured -- Rina Orao, 60, Abdus Sattar, 47, Asim Orao, 28, Rashidul Mondal, 32, Shefali, 30, Abul Khayer, 40, Pronab Kumar, 32, Sohag, 26, Rezaul Karim, 35, Naresh Tigga, 35, and Sourav 15 -- are under treatment at Birampur Upazila Health Complex.

Locals said Rina cultivated paddy on 50 decimals of disputed land at Chowgharia village. She and her hired labourers went to harvest the paddy, but Abdul Sattar's men stopped them.

The two groups then clashed with each other, leaving 11 people of both sides injured.


News In Brief

Turkey activists in Amnesty case to stand trial



AFP, Istanbul



Eleven human rights activists, including the two top figures with Amnesty International in Turkey, are due to go on trial Wednesday on contested terror charges, seen by the rights watchdog as a test case for the judiciary.

All bar two of the activists-who include two foreigners-have been behind bars since a police raid in July on a workshop run by Amnesty on a popular island off Istanbul.



Macron backs Sisi fight against terrorism



AFP, Paris



French President Emmanuel Macron backed visiting Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in his country's fight against terrorism on Tuesday and brushed off calls to pressure him on human rights.

The 39-year-old French centrist had faced calls from rights groups to raise torture and political repression in Egypt publicly after the first face-to-face meeting between the pair. But Macron said he would not "give lessons" to a sovereign state.



Iran sentences 'Mossad agent' to death



Reuters, London



Iran has sentenced to death a person found guilty of providing information to Israel to help it assassinate several senior nuclear scientists, Tehran's prosecutor said on Tuesday.

Dolatabadi did not identify the defendant, but Amnesty International said on Monday that Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian doctor who studied and taught in Sweden, had been sentenced to death in Iran on espionage charges.



Duterte receives Russian assault rifles



AFP, Manila



Russia handed over army trucks and thousands of assault rifles to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday as the two nations celebrated their growing military ties.

Duterte accepted the weaponry during a visit to a Russian naval ship docked in Manila, the latest move to embrace Russia and China while distancing the Philippines from its longtime ally and mutual defence partner, the United States. Following a tour of the mammoth anti-submarine warship Admiral Panteleyev, Duterte personally handled some of the 5,000 donated Kalashnikov rifles along with ammunition and 20 trucks to the poorly-equipped Philippine military.
Anti-dumping duty not helpful to free trade

JUTE goods exporters to India faces big setback as an Indian anti-dumping court recently rejected appeal by five Bangladeshi exporters against anti-dumping duty imposed on January 5 this year. The anti-dumping duty ranges between $19 and $352 per tonne to suggest that local exporters have to incur major loss if they want to continue business with Indian buyers who import jute yarns to run factories. The other option is to stop exporting to India; which accounted for 17 percent or 1.41 lakh tonnes of our export of 8.25 lakh tonnes of jute goods in 2015-16 and 37 percent of our overall export of $ $689 million in that year.





Indian government has acted on the complaints of its domestic producers that Bangladeshi exporters are under-pricing the jute goods forcing them to sell their product at lower cost and incur losses. Our exporters are also enjoying 10 percent cash incentive; they argued to keep the jute goods competitive in Indian market. The court has therefore rejected the appeal finally dismissing our exporters plea that the anti-dumping duty is not justified according to a news item in a local daily on Wednesday.







Media reports said quoting the Indian revenue authorities that the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) of India has found based on investigation that Bangladeshi exporters were selling jute goods to Indian market at a lower price than their domestic market price. It violates the rule of fair competition. The court has upheld the decision of the Indian anti-dumping authorities. Bangladeshi jute goods exporters will have to pay the duty now if they want to continue export to Indian market.







We must say Bangladesh is now the biggest Indian market of all goods and services and using total monopoly in many cases forcing out local producers. In contrast to such aggressive export of Indian products here, Bangladesh has just few product to sell to India, which is visible from the poor balance of payment account. Bangladesh is exporting goods just over $600 million now annually as against $6.0 billion India's formal trade. The overall trade balance is much higher taking into account Indian informal exports and remittance of Indian workers from Bangladesh.











We must say India must be accommodative to Bangladesh in trade issues but it is creating obstacle to Bangladesh's major exports including readymade garments with anti-dumping duty. It is unfortunate that the Indian government has even sidetracked our Prime Minister's plea with Indian Prime Minister to rescind anti-dumping duty on jute goods during her visit to Delhi in April this year. In our view more export from Bangladesh to India will enable Bangladesh to buy back more from India to create more trade to the benefit of both countries. India should therefore refrain from using anti-dumping duty without strong ground.






SP`s wealth and many more questions

THE man was promoted to the post of Superintendent of Police (SP) of Faridpur 11 years after passing his BCS exams. In his new position, which he held for eight months, he earned approximately Tk 70,000 per month under the fifth grade of the government pay scale, his highest till date, as per reports of a local daily.





A recent investigation by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) however revealed that the SP Subash Chandra Saha and his wife have amassed Tk 8.36 crore in bank accounts in only four years, an amount beyond any of their known source of income. After completion of the investigation, ACC officer filed a case against the SP and his wife Rina Chowdhury with Bangshal Police Station on Tuesday under the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012.





According to the case statement, the SP and his wife jointly opened 19 fixed deposit receipts (FDR) with three branches of One Bank Ltd and deposited Tk 7.97 crore between 2013 and 2017. The accumulated value of the FDRs, including interest, now stands at Tk 8,36,13,367. The ACC began the inquiry in the middle of the year after an unidentified person filed a complaint against the SP accusing him of amassing huge amount of wealth illegally. The inquiry report was submitted to the Commission one and half months before filing of the case. Last week, the SP was withdrawn from Faridpur and he was attached to the police headquarters in Dhaka.





The entire nation would like to know how the SP has managed to acquire over 8 crores of takas in only four years of his posting as a senior officer. The incident only came to light when this unidentified person filed a complaint against him. It is unfortunate that we have to rely upon the animosities of people to find out the level of corruption of public officials. SPs are among the highest ranking police officials on active duty. If some of them can amass eight crores or more then what can be said about other people working with law enforcement agencies and such other positions.





Far more alarming than the discovery should be the fact that police themselves don't do anything to find out instances of corruption among its officials. Why should it take someone else to find out that public officials are corrupt ? Why don't the police have an internal affairs division to find out the level of corruption? It is entirely possible that this is merely the tip of an iceberg -- but it seems unlikely that either the police or ACC will try to find out more.





It is a national tragedy that we have to depend upon a chance to find out the high level of corruption among public officials. There is no proper monitoring of their performance in any level. Indeed, if one has to pay money to get a job or be transferred, what more can one expect from people in our law enforcement departments. Such cases at higher places must be sternly dealt with.
China wants peaceful solution to Rohingya crisis

China wants to see a peaceful solution to Rohingya crisis bilaterally and send them back to their homeland - Myanmar, says an official on Wednesday.

"Their intention and commitment for sending them (Rohingyas) back is now stronger," Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque told reporters quoting Chinese special envoy of Asian Affairs Sun Guoxiang after their meeting.

He said naturally Bangladesh raised their stance and he informed the Chinese envoy that six months ago when he came here, the number of Rohingyas was four lakh and now it is one million. "It's reality."

The Foreign Secretary said they (China) are very worried about the crisis thinking that it is not good for this region.

He, however, said the question of mediating by China into the crisis did not come up for discussion.

"We sought support in the areas where we need. We're always optimistic and this time, too (regarding repatriation)," said the Foreign Secretary adding that he sees some positive signs.

He said the only issue discussed at the meeting was Rohingya issue and Bangladesh's position is to send them back safely.

"Our stance is that their nationals will have to be taken back. It's our one-point agenda. It's unbearable burden. The Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) allowed them to stay here on humanitarian ground. But their stay can't be lingered," he said.

Replying to a query what is China's position over the issue, the Foreign Secretary said Myanmar and Bangladesh are both friends of China. "They want to bring a peaceful resolution working with the two friends."

Sun Guoxiang, who arrived at 12:50am on Wednesday, will leave Dhaka for Beijing early Thursday.
Protester throws Russian flags at Trump as he walks through the Senate

A protester threw Russian flags at President Donald Trump as he walked through the Capitol on Tuesday. Internet photo

Business Insider :

A protester threw Russian flags at President Donald Trump as he walked through the Capitol on Tuesday.

"Trump is treason!" the protester shouted as Trump passed the press pool.

The man said Congress should be "talking about treason," not tax cuts.

A man began throwing confetti-like Russian flags at President Donald Trump as he walked through the lobby of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on Tuesday.

Trump was on his way to a working lunch with Republican senators to discuss their efforts to push tax cuts when the protester, who identified himself as Ryan Clayton from the group Americans Take Action, interrupted pool reporters and threw the Russian flags at Trump.

As the press pool asked Trump whether he had any response to recent criticism from Republican Sen. Bob Corker, Clayton began shouting, "Trump is treason!"

Trump continued walking past the pool and did not respond to Clayton's comments.

"Why are you talking about tax cuts when you should be talking about treason?" Clayton said, as several reporters turned around and began recording the outburst.

"This president conspired with agents of the Russian government to steal an election, we should be talking about treason in Congress, not about tax cuts," Clayton said before being detained by Capitol Hill police.

The congressional intelligence committees and Justice Department are conducting parallel investigations Russia's interference in the 2016 election. The investigations are also looking into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow to tilt the race in his favor.


We will never accept them back

The Buddhist abbot tucked his legs under his robes and began to explain.

Rohingya Muslims do not belong in Myanmar, and they never have, he said. Their fertility allowed them to overwhelm the local Buddhist population. But now, somehow, many Rohingya seemed to be gone.

"We thank the Lord Buddha for this," said U Thu Min Gala, the 57-year-old abbot of the Damarama Monastery in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State in western Myanmar. "They stole our land, our food and our water. We will never accept them back."

An overwhelming body of published accounts has detailed the Myanmar Army's campaign of killing, rape and arson in Rakhine, which has driven more than 600,000 Rohingya out of the country since late August, in what the United Nations says is the fastest displacement of a people since the Rwanda genocide.

But in Myanmar, and even in Rakhine itself, there is stark denial that any ethnic cleansing is taking place.

The divergence between how Myanmar and much of the outside world see the Rohingya is not limited to one segment of local society. Nor can hatred in Myanmar of the largely stateless Muslim group be dismissed as a fringe attitude.

Government officials, opposition politicians, religious leaders and even local human-rights activists have become unified behind this narrative: The Rohingya are not rightful citizens of Buddhist-majority Myanmar, and now, through the power of a globally resurgent Islam, the minority is falsely trying to hijack the world's sympathy.

Social media postings have amplified the message, claiming that international aid workers are openly siding with the Rohingya. Accordingly, the Myanmar government has blocked aid agencies' access to Rohingya still trapped in Myanmar - about 120,000 confined to camps in central Rakhine and tens of thousands more in desperate conditions in the north.

The official answer to United Nations accounts of the military's mass burning of villages and targeting of civilians has been to insist that the Rohingya have been doing it to themselves.

"There is no case of the military killing Muslim civilians," said Dr. Win Myat Aye, the country's social welfare minister and the governing National League for Democracy party's point person on Rakhine. "Muslim people killed their own Muslim people."

When asked in an interview about the evidence against the military, the minister noted that the Myanmar government had not sent any investigators to Bangladesh to vet the testimony of fleeing Rohingya, but that he would raise the possibility of doing so in a future meeting.

"Thank you for advising us on this idea," he said.

The Rohingya, who speak a Bengali dialect and tend to look distinct from most of Myanmar's other ethnic groups, have had roots in Rakhine for generations. Communal tensions between the Rohingya and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists exploded in World War II, when the Rakhine aligned themselves with the Japanese, while the Rohingya chose the British.

Although many Rohingya were considered citizens when Myanmar, also known as Burma, became independent in 1948, the military junta that wrested power in 1962 began stripping them of their rights. After a restrictive citizenship law was introduced in 1982, most Rohingya became stateless.

Even the name Rohingya, which the ethnic group has identified with more vocally in recent years, has been taken from them. The Myanmar government usually refers to the Rohingya as Bengalis, implying they belong in Bangladesh. The public tends to call them an epithet used for all Muslims in Myanmar: kalar.

The nomenclature is so sensitive that in a speech this month, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and de facto leader of the government, referred only to "those who have crossed over to Bangladesh."

Some ethnic Rakhine politicians are hailing the Rohingya exodus as a good thing.

"All the Bengalis learn in their religious schools is to brutally kill and attack," said Daw Khin Saw Wai, a Rakhine member of Parliament from Rathedaung Township. "It is impossible to live together in the future."

Buddhist monks, moral arbiters in a pious land, have been at the forefront of a campaign to dehumanize the Rohingya. In popular videos, extremist monks refer to the Rohingya as "snakes" or "worse than dogs."

Outside Mr. Thu Min Gala's monastery in Sittwe, a pair of signs reflected an alternate sense of reality. One said that the monastery, which is sheltering ethnic Rakhine who fled the conflict zone, would not accept any donations from international agencies. The other warned that multifaith groups were not welcome.

The abbot claimed that the authorities in Rakhine had stopped a car owned by the International Committee of the Red Cross that was filled with weaponry destined for Rohingya militants who carried out attacks against the security forces in August. Mr. Thu Min Gala claimed that sticks of dynamite had been wrapped in paper with the Red Cross logo. The Red Cross denied these accusations.

"We don't trust the international society," the abbot said. "They are only on the side of the terrorists."

At another monastery in Sittwe, an elderly abbot, U Baddanta Thaw Ma, halted my conversation with a young monk by slapping the air in front of my face. "Go! Go! Go!" he yelled in English, before switching to the local Rakhine dialect. "Go away, you foreigner! Go away, you kalar lover."

Public sentiment against Muslims - who are about 4 percent of Myanmar's population, encompassing several ethnic groups, including the Rohingya - has spread beyond Rakhine. In 2015 elections, no major political party fielded a Muslim candidate. Today no Muslims serve in Parliament, the first time since the country's independence.

A couple of hours outside Yangon, the country's largest city, U Aye Swe, an administrator for Sin Ma Kaw village, said he was proud to oversee one of Myanmar's "Muslim-free" villages, which bar Muslims from spending the night, among other restrictions.

"Kalar are not welcome here because they are violent and they multiply like crazy, with so many wives and children," he said.
Suu Kyi says her govt is working on taking back refugees

bdnews24.com :

Myanmar has begun to work on taking back the Rohingyas who crossed the border into Bangladesh from its western Rakhine state, says the country's de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Her statement came on Wednesday while meeting Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar.

A ten-member delegation led by Khan attended the hour-long discussion with Suu Kyi, said Home Ministry Public Relations Officer Sharif Mahmud.

The Myanmar state counsellor and leader of the ruling party said her government is working on the repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.

She also spoke of adopting the recommendations of the Kofi Annan Commission, according to Mahmud.

The home minister invited Suu Kyi for a visit to Bangladesh on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. "She told the home minister that she would make the trip at a time convenient to both countries."

Khan flew to Naypyidaw on Monday following a Myanmar delegation's Dhaka visit led by Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor Kyaw Tint Swe earlier this month. On Wednesday, the countries reached a 10-point agreement on the refugees at a meeting between home ministry officials of the two countries, reports local news outlet Mizzima. The agreement includes "stopping immediately entry by Myanmar nationals into Bangladesh and repatriation of refugees at the earliest date and restoring normalcy in Rakhine Region for their resettlement". Both sides also agreed to finish forming of the joint working committee, which was announced in Dhaka early October, by next month to arrange resettlement of displaced Rohingyas. On Aug 25, Rohingya insurgents attacked 30 police border posts and a military encampment in Myanmar's Rakhine state. In response, the military began a violent crackdown that forced members of the Rohingya minority to flee across the border to Bangladesh.
7 DB men arrested by Army for kidnapping businessman in Teknaf

They were suspended after recovering of Taka 17 lakh ransom money realised by them

Members of the Armed Forces on Wednesday arrested seven DB police from Teknaf area of Cox\'s Bazar and recovered 17 lakh taka as ransom money realized by them from businessman.

UNB, Cox's Bazar :

Seven members of Cox's Bazar DB police, who were arrested by army personnel on charge of kidnapping a businessman in Teknaf upazila, were suspended on Wednesday.

The suspended detectives are sub-inspectors Maniruzzaman, Abul Kalam Azad, assistant sub-inspectors Firoz Ahmed, Mostafa Kamal and Alauddin, and constables Al Amin and Mostafa Azam.

Afruzul Haq Tutul, additional superintendent of Cox's Bazar Police, said departmental action will be taken against the suspended detectives.

Earlier in the day, a team of army personnel arrested the seven DB men along with a bag containing Tk 17 lakh from Marine Drive area in Teknaf upazila around 4:30 am, said Major Nazim Ahmed, in-charge of Rohingya relief centre in Teknaf.

When the army men were heading towards the army check-post in a vehicle with the arrestees, Maniruzzaman jumped off the vehicle and managed to flee.

On Tuesday, the DB men picked Abdul Gafur, a businessman, up from a restaurant along the Teknaf border and took him to the DB office, said Gafur's brother Maniruzzaman, a councillor of Teknaf municipality.

Later, they took Gafur to his residence and demanded Tk 50 lakh for his release, said Maniruzzaman.

After negotiations, the DB men released Gafur after taking Tk 17 lakh from his family members, he claimed.

Later, the victim's family informed the matter to the temporary check-post of army and the army men arrested the DB officials along with the money after a chase.




Sonali Bank UK shuts three branches

Special Correspondent :



Sonali Bank (UK) Limited has closed three out of five branches due to continuous losses.



The branches--Luton, Camden and Bradford--were closed in 2016, according to Bangladesh Bank (BB).



Continuous losses by these branches and reducing the risk of facing regulatory issues were main reasons for the closure,  a BB official told The New Nation yesterday.



He said, not only these branches, even the overall operation of the bank has gone into losses due to bad governance and anomalies.



Two other branches-- London and Birmingham--however remain operative, said the official.



Recently, the UKs Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) asked the Sonali Bank (UK) Limited (SBUK) to wind down its business for several anomalies including lack of internal control and anti-money laundering activities and poor risk management.



The banks net loss stood at 296,006 in 2016 and 1,532,910 in 2015, according to an official figure. It also incurred losses in 2006,2009 and 2010.



Officials attributed the banks operating losses to improper business plan, excessive operating expenses and inefficiently of the senior officials.



Even, the bank has to accommodate huge expenses to hold a board meeting.



The board of SBUK consists with eight members. Of them, four are Bangladeshi government officials and four others are British.



Former Secretary of Bank and Financial Institution Division (BFID) Dr S Aslam Alam and Sonali Bank Bangladesh Limiteds Managing Director Md. Obayed Ullah Al Masud are among the board members.



The banks operating expenses stood at 6,143,314 in 2016, while it stood at 4,780,896 in 2015.



Sonali Bank (UK) Limited was established in 2001 to render wholesale banking to Bangladeshi banks and retail banking services to the Bangladeshi Community living in the UK.



Sources said despite having huge potential, the bank has failed to expand its business due to absence of much needed dynamism within the board. Directors of the banks board are busy with their personal agenda rather crafting business plan.






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HARRISBURG  In his first public appearance representing Brian Burns, Duane Verity said he anticipates having no problems being ready for trial this January, in which Burns stands accused of murdering his wife, Carla Burns.

Verity has taken the place of Bryan Drew as Burns attorney after Drews motion to withdraw was granted on Sept. 28. Drew also withdrew from representing Burns in his kidnapping case, citing irreconcilable differences between himself and Burns. This came after Burns was found guilty in May of attempting to kidnap late Saline County States Attorney Mike Henshaw.

Addressing Judge Walden Morris, Verity said after taking the case from Drew, he received 80 pounds of documents relating to the case, including about 20 DVDs. However, he said he needs new copies of some discs, as some of his were damaged.

Verity said beyond some procedural motions that could need a hearing, he sees no reason to need to appear in court before the Jan. 5 final pretrial hearing in the case.

Saline County States Attorney Jayson Olson also said he was ready for the Jan. 17 trial date.

After Tuesdays hearing, Verity said he is doing his best to comply with his clients wishes.

Dr. Burns wants to go forward, Verity said, adding that while it may seem like a lot to prepare for a murder trial in just three months, the workload isnt too bad.

When you are doing a trial with no evidence, I dont think its that hard, he said.

Both of Burns cases have been full of starts and stops. After heavy media coverage, Drew attempted in January to secure a change in venue for Burns' murder trial, claiming there was a strong possibility of a tainted jury pool. Morris denied that request.

After being convicted in May of attempted kidnapping, Burns sentencing was postponed twice, both times for a change in counsel  Drew left the case in July and during the rescheduled sentencing hearing in August, Burns informed the court he still had not secured another attorney because of insufficient funds. He was then granted public defender Nathan Rowland in September. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 11.

Burns, a former Saline County physician, will stand trial in January on two murder charges and a charge of concealment in the 2016 death of Carla Burns. It is alleged that Burns shot his wife and later attempted to conceal the crime by burning her body and spreading the ashes. As previously reported in The Southern, the two were estranged and had filed divorce papers in 2014.
Arthur Eckles Jr., 43, of Calumet City has been indicted by a grand jury in Jackson County on charges of armed robbery and aggravated robbery resulting from a robbery of Circle K at 1901 S. Illinois Ave. in Carbondale on Oct. 13, according to a news release from Jackson County States Attorney Michael C. Carr.

The indictment alleges that on or about Oct. 13, Eckles, while acting with others, took money and cigarettes from a store employee by threatening the imminent use of force. Eckles was armed with a firearm at the time, the release states.

Armed robbery is a Class X felony. If convicted, the defendant faces six to 30 years in prison. The alleged use of a firearm in the crime could result in an additional 15 years in prison being imposed by the court. It is a nonprobationable offense.

Eckles is currently in custody at Jackson County Jail with bond at $500,000. He is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment at 12:45 p.m. Oct. 31.

A news release last week from Carbondale Police Department said Eckles had been arrested after the most recent armed robbery of a business that involved two suspects wearing Halloween masks. An investigation into the series of armed robberies, which have taken place in Carbondale and Herrin since July, is continuing, the CPD previously said.
SPRINGFIELD  Democrats who control the Illinois General Assembly began another showdown Tuesday with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner over vetoes, less than four months after overriding him to end the longest state budget stalemate in modern U.S. history.

On the first day of a special session called to address Rauner's vetoes of several bills, the Senate voted 42-13 to override him on union-friendly legislation he had staunchly opposed. The House still must pass the override on a three-fifths vote.

Other expected override votes involve issues that have defined Rauner's nearly three years in office and come just a day after the conservative businessman announced his intention to seek a second term in November 2018.

The bill the Senate passed again Tuesday, over Rauner's opposition, would prohibit local governments from establishing areas in which an employee can work in a union job with union benefits without paying labor dues. The village of Lincolnshire established such so-called "right-to-work" jurisdictions in 2015 after Rauner failed to enact the system statewide.

A federal judge ruled against Lincolnshire in January, saying only the Legislature can establish a statewide right-to-work area, as 28 states have.

"Today's vote could create a damaging loss for the economic competitiveness of Illinois," Rauner said Tuesday in a statement.

Another potential override, pushed by Democratic Comptroller Susana Mendoza, would require state agencies to report monthly on the bills they've incurred but not yet sent to the comptroller for processing. Mendoza said it would help her budget for paying down a $16.3 billion pile of past-due bills.

A plan Rauner rejected that would increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2022 awaits further action, as does a proposal to require companies writing workers' compensation insurance to get state approval for the premiums they charge.

Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan's legislation to create a "bill of rights" for student-loan recipients is up for override, as is a measure from Democratic Treasurer Michael Frerichs to make it easier to collect life insurance benefits when a beneficiary dies.

The contentious budget Democrats approved in July after a historic stalemate is likely to be a major issue in Rauner's re-election campaign, although he contends it's still $1.7 billion out of balance.

He proposed as much as $370 million in budget cuts, according to a legislative analysis, largely to programs popular with Democrats. And there's still as much as $1.2 billion from the year that ended June 30 that the administration already spent, even without authorization from lawmakers.

Rep. Greg Harris, a Chicago Democrat and House budget negotiator, said the Democratic budget would allow the state to settle those old bills while tightening the financial outlook going forward.

"It's a huge problem," Harris said.
SPRINGFIELD  Illinois House Democrats on Tuesday endorsed banning firepower-boosting "bump stocks," the same device used by the Las Vegas gunman in the nation's deadliest mass shooting three weeks ago.

The Judiciary Committee's 7-5 tally along party lines signals a floor vote involving a device few people had even heard of before 58 people died Oct. 1 in the Nevada massacre.

Only one other state  Massachusetts  has thus far taken up bump-stock restrictions.

"It's a device used to kill and injure as many people as you can by modifying a semi-automatic weapon into an automatic weapon," the legislation's sponsor, Democratic Rep. Marin Moylan of Des Plaines, told the committee.

Critics call it an overreach because Moylan's measure technically addresses "trigger modification." It's defined in part as any implement "intended to accelerate the rate of fire of a firearm."

Sport-shooters routinely make after-market modifications to get an edge on firing speed, the National Rifle Association's Todd Vandermyde testified. He labeled Moylan's language so broad, "it would make a criminal out of the vast majority of the state's 2.2 million" Illinois firearm-permit holders.

Bump stocks were found on 12 of the rifles stockpiled by the Las Vegas gunman. Bump stocks don't affect the trigger but allow more rapid firing by relying on the inertia of the recoil to simulate a rapid-fire weapon.

The national NRA has endorsed the request by nine Republican U.S. senators for federal authorities to review bump stocks' capacity for harm. A U.S. Senate bill would ban them nationally but appears stalled, said Avery Gardiner, co-president of Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

A bump stock ban has the support of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker. He awaits legislation, approved by both houses, which must be reconciled.

California explicitly bans bump stocks and New York restricts weapons that "simulate machine guns," Gardiner said. Minnesota, Michigan, New Jersey and Oregon have laws restricting devices that accelerate firing rate. And seven states and the District of Columbia have assault-weapons bans.

Gardiner said, however, that the answer is on Capitol Hill, not in patchwork state laws.

"They're important, they're effective, they're good," Gardiner said. "But without a federal standard, there's the opportunity for people to take advantage of weaker laws in neighboring states and import them, thereby endangering Illinois."

The Illinois State Rifle Association opposes Moylan's proposal, too, citing the restriction on law-abiding sport-shooters. But it differs from the NRA on bump stocks.

"They're used by bad people," Illinois State Rifle Association lobbyist Ed Sullivan told the committee. "But the unintended consequences of this bill are that it prohibits altering a trigger to advance the rate of speed."

The bill is HB4117.

 AP researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this report.
SPRINGFIELD  Lawmakers in the Illinois House overwhelmingly sided with the state's Democratic comptroller in what had devolved into a political spat with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

The House voted 112-0 Wednesday to override Rauner's veto of a plan to require state agencies to report incoming bills monthly to the check-writing comptroller.

Years of battling between Rauner and Democrats who control the Legislature left the state without an annual budget for two years. Spending continued, leaving today a pile of $16.6 billion in past due bills.

But Comptroller Susana Mendoza estimates nearly half of that total is still at the agencies. She can't plan for what's coming, what to pay and out of what fund without knowing who's owed.

Rauner called it an attempt by his rival to "micromanage" the executive's control of the budget.

The bill is HB3649.
I am deeply concerned about the news coming out of Carbondale regarding the future of the Department of Africana Studies (DAS) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. I heard Chancellor Carlo Montemagno on a radio program for WSIU dismissing the need for the department and his intention to eliminate the department. This will send an immediate uproar throughout the African-American alumni community. I am so appalled by the disdain of the SIUC administration toward DAS that I am in the process of organizing a national campaign to protect the department and we are ready to march onto that campus to express our anger and outrage.

What will you do to ensure that SIUC will keep DAS on campus?

I am currently an associate professor in both the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies (AAADS) and the Department of History at Indiana University. I am an alumnus of the Department of Africana Studies at SIUC and would not be where I am today without the guidance and support of DAS and its faculty. I owe all that I have accomplished to DAS and will fight tooth and nail to defend the unit and prevent its elimination.

What will you do to ensure that SIUC will keep DAS on campus?

I was a history major only because I was unable to major in what was then known as Black American Studies. I, like most black students on that predominately white campus, received a full engagement of the entire student by DAS faculty. I heard Montemagno refer to DAS derogatorily as a social work unit. DAS provided students like me who did not feel safe and included on SIUCs campus with a safe space to learn and be nurtured by rigorous scholarship as well as faculty who actually sincerely cared about our future and achievements.

I have been on my own since I was 13, born and raised on the south side of Chicago (Englewood), and made it to SIUC as a transfer student from Kennedy King Community College. I did not have any direction and did not believe in myself. I also arrived on campus with my younger siblings and disabled cousin, all of whom I raised as a full-time student. DAS faculty helped me to obtain legal custody of my family members and acquire financial support so that I could focus solely on academics and preparation for graduate school. The history department treated me like an outsider, while DAS faculty forced me to reach my full potential.

DAS faculty were so notoriously tough in the classroom (Joseph Brown, Pamela Smoot, Leo Gadzekpo and others) that my graduate experience in both the MA and Ph.D. program at UCLA was a cake walk. I wanted to stay at SIUC for graduate school but DAS faculty encouraged me to aim higher and Im thankful for the push. When I was a student there, advisors used to tell students (myself included) not to enroll in DAS courses. I suspect the practice is still alive and well. If I had listened to such racism and disregard for diversity of ideas I would not be where I am today.

What will you do to ensure that SIUC will keep DAS on campus?

Brown and Smoot took me to conferences, forced me to submit my senior thesis for publication which became my first edited book, and influenced me to develop vantage points for how I view the world in a global and inclusive context. DAS in simple terms, literally saved my life and others. This statement is not hyperbole, as I have adopted all the values and methods I learned during my four years affiliated with DAS in all the work that I do as a scholar and mentor. Using the same fervor that DAS provided in order for me to reach my full potential, I am preparing to embark upon a national campaign, spend my political capital, and exhaust my network in academia in support of preventing the elimination of DAS.

Black studies have been under attack across academia, and my colleagues and I who value black studies have successfully defended units at Cornell, Ohio State, Illinois and several other universities. I am hoping that we dont have to wage such a battle at SIUC. I hope to appeal to the Board of Trustees for help and I seek your support. We live in one of the most racially polarized climates in American history. Academic units like DAS are evermore necessary in such times of racial strife and social justice movements.

Again, what will you do to ensure that SIUC will keep DAS on campus?

DAS is not just a department at SIUC, it is a community. I have returned to Carbondale on many occasions at the request of students and faculty and even staff (Tish Whitlock, DAS office manager who has since passed away and who taught me how to organize and run an office effectively) to mentor, engage the community, provide lectures, and work on joint scholarship/publications.

I cant stress enough the severely negative impact removing DAS from SIUCs campus will have on African-American students specifically and the community at large. I appeal to you to employ your influence to help save the Department of Africana Studies and I am eager to assist and support you and others in any way possible in support of DAS as well.

What will you do to ensure that SIUC will keep DAS on campus?
The Day of the Dead is a holiday observed in Mexico and other Latin American countries that celebrates and honors the memory of deceased loved ones. Falling on Nov. 1, just a day after Halloween celebrations, the holiday shares some of the sentiment of Halloween, but it is a very different occasion.

Where Halloween views the dead as spooky haunts, the day known locally as Dia de los Muertos remembers them as beloved citizens of the afterlife. Through the building of altars, lively fiestas, and offerings of the departed's favorite foods, Dia de los Muertos is a true celebration, shared between the living and the dead.

And while there are many ways to celebrate, here at The Culinary Institute of America we have a habit of focusing on the dinner table. Luckily, the rich cultures surrounding the day are a wealth of traditional recipes and ingredients. Day of the Dead bread and tamales are a good place to start, but we especially love the ritual involved in creating flavorful and traditional moles, as in CIA Chef Sofia Sada's recipe for Mole Poblano.

Today, Mexico has identified more than 50 different moles, but a mole is really whatever you want your sauce to be. Of course, this traditional Mole Poblano is the most well-known variety, and so it's a perfect representation of Mexico's culinary tradition.

If you're looking at the ingredient list and thinking, "Wow, that's a lot of ingredients," you're right. This complex sauce is not something you can throw together quickly on a Wednesday night, but for a special occasion, it is well worth the effort. Luckily, the sauce can be made well ahead of time and frozen, which means any weeknight can be that special occasion.

Not all moles contain chocolate, but this recipe calls for Mexican chocolate, which is a unique ingredient that you can easily find at Latin American markets or from online retailers. Cacao, the large bean from which chocolate is produced, is native to Mexico, and chocolate has a long history in the many ancient cultures of the region. Today, Mexican chocolate is unique in that it contains cinnamon and other spices, and helps bring out the flavors of the mole.

You may not use dried chilies every day, but they offer a more intense flavor than their fresh counterparts. Just like the chocolate, they are abundant at markets if you know where to look, and they store well, so keep some on hand for experimenting. Dried chilies should be toasted and then soaked, to help break down the tough skin before cooking.

We could write a book (or 100) on the recipes and ingredients of Mexican cuisine, but in the interest of time, this recipe will have to suffice. And even if you don't celebrate Dia de los Muertos in the traditional way, this recipe is a labor of love that you can share with your beloved family, whether they are at your table or in your heart.

Mole poblano

Servings: 8

Start to finish: 2 hours, 45 minutes (Active time: 2 hours)

1/4 cup lard or unsalted butter (1/2 stick)

4 mulato chiles, wiped clean, seeds and veins removed, seeds reserved

2 ancho chiles, wiped clean, seeds and veins removed, seeds reserved

3 pasilla chiles, wiped clean, seeds and veins removed, seeds reserved

2 chipotle chiles, wiped clean, seeds and veins removed, seeds reserved

2 Roma tomatoes, quartered

3 tomatillos, quartered

1/4 cup raisins

10 whole almonds

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup sesame seeds

2 tablespoons peanuts

2 tablespoons pecans

1 stale corn tortilla

1/2 white onion, halved

2 garlic cloves, unpeeled

5 black peppercorns

1 whole clove

1 Mexican canela stick or cinnamon stick (about 1 inch)

1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds

1/4 teaspoon anise seeds

3 tablespoon canola oil

2 cups chicken broth

2 ounces Mexican chocolate, roughly chopped

1/4 cup sugar

Salt, to taste

Heat the lard in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the mulato chilies and fry until the chilies begin to blister and change color, about 2 minutes on each side. Use tongs to transfer to a large heat-safe bowl. Repeat the process with the ancho, pasilla, and chipotle chilies. Fill the bowl with enough hot water to cover the chilies and set aside to soak for 15 minutes.

Drain the chilies and transfer to a blender. Blend, adding water as needed, until a smooth puree forms. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve and set aside.

In the same pot, add the tomatoes and tomatillos and fry until soft, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside. Add the raisins and fry until plump, about 1 minute. Transfer to the bowl with the tomatoes. Repeat the process with the almonds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, peanuts, pecans, tortilla, and reserved chili seeds. Set aside 1 tablespoon of the lard.

Meanwhile, in a dry skillet over medium-high heat, cook the onion and garlic until the papery skin of the garlic turns brown, about 3 minutes. Carefully remove the skin, then return to the skillet and cook until the vegetables are soft and blackened all over, about 4 minutes.

Add the reserved lard to a small skillet over low heat. Add the black pepper, cloves, canela, coriander, and anise seeds and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Transfer the reserved vegetables, seeds, tortilla, and spices to a blender and puree, adding water as needed, until smooth. Strain through a sieve and set aside.

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the reserved chili puree and cook until it deepens in color and you can see the bottom of the pan when scraped with a wooden spoon, about 15 minutes. Add the strained vegetable and spice mixture. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mole thickens, about 45 minutes.

Add chicken broth and continue cooking until the mole coats the back of a spoon, about 30 minutes. Add the chocolate and continue cooking, about 30 minutes. Add 1/2 of the sugar, the remaining to your taste.

Season with salt, to taste.

Serve the mole over poached chicken or turkey, with warmed corn tortillas and toasted sesame seeds for garnish.
A Bowman man will be 34 years old when he gets out of prison for taking the life of another man in a felony driving under the influence.

Circuit Judge Ed Dickson sentenced Kadeem Shanaire Neals, 24, of 860 Rail St., to 10 years in prison for killing 22-year-old Nigel Dominique Willis of Bowman on Nov. 23, 2016.

Neals pleaded guilty to the charge on July 13, but Dickson sentenced him last week.

Duirng Neals plea hearing in July, Assistant Solicitor Josh Edwards said the incident occurred when Neals was driving away from Bowman to Branchville at nearly 100 mph.

He struck Willis, who was riding a skateboard.

After striking Willis, Neals vehicle flipped and came to rest upside down in a field, Edwards said.

Medics took Neals to the hospital, where blood work showed he had .14 blood alcohol content.

Edwards said there werent any other drugs in his system.

Neals apologized to Willis family.

I apologize to the victim. I knew her son. I was a friend to him, Neals told the court.

I never in a million years thought that there would be anyone in the curve right there, he said.

Prior to the fatal collision, Neals had spent time in prison.

On Oct. 22, 2013, he pleaded guilty to violent second-degree burglary, and a judge sentenced him to 10 years.

He told the court he served time and got out of prison in February 2015.

In September 2011, Neals and two other Bowman men were charged with four counts of attempted murder related to a shooting that took place in the Cattle Creek Road area south of S.C. Highway 210.

An Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office investigator came upon a group of men talking, and when the investigator pulled up, at least one of the three men allegedly began firing at the officer and others.

The three men fled into the woods, but Neals surrendered almost immediately.

Neals later pleaded guilty to unlawful carrying of a pistol, and his four charges of attempted murder were dropped.
COLUMBIA  Bond was set Tuesday for a Republican political consultant and several current and former state representatives with ties to him on charges related to an alleged corruption scheme in South Carolina's Legislature.

Circuit Judge Jocelyn Newman allowed all five defendants to remain free on their own personal recognizance until their next court appearances.

Richard Quinn faces charges of criminal conspiracy and failure to register as a lobbyist. Along with his son, former House Majority Leader Rick Quinn  prosecutors say  the elder Quinn conspired to violate ethics and campaign finance laws as early as April 2011, "for the purpose of attaining a financial or economic advantage," according to indictments.

Richard Quinn literally put lawmakers on his payroll, working with now-former Reps. Tracy Edge and Jim Harrison to peddle influence on certain legislation that would benefit his private industry clients, prosecutor David Pascoe said. Edge and Harrison, both Republicans, received regular, monthly payments from Quinn's firm for the duration of their House service, never reporting on financial disclosure forms -- as is required for lawmakers -- any income their employer made from lobbyist principals, Pascoe said.

"The defendant used legislators, groomed legislators and conspired with legislators and others to violate multiple sections of the ethics act so they could make money," Pascoe said.

Edge and Harrison were each granted bond Tuesday on their several charges, including criminal conspiracy and misconduct. Pascoe said both have been cooperative with his investigation.

Richard Quinn has advised some of South Carolina's leading Republicans, including Gov. Henry McMaster, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson. In March, state police agents raided a Columbia office that housed his consulting shop, as well as son Rick Quinn's direct-mail business, retrieving documents and flash drives, among other items.

From 2006 through this month, Richard Quinn tried to influence lawmakers' votes without being a registered lobbyist, Pascoe said.

Quinn made money off power companies, telecommunications companies and payday lenders, "all under the radar because his legislative employees failed to put that information on their statement of economic interest," Pascoe said. Quinn spread it around, too, paying out more than $1 million to legislative leaders over efforts to benefit his clients in the health care industry, Pascoe added.

"The defendant has absolutely had tentacles throughout South Carolina, and he has used those tentacles to corrupt the system," Pascoe said.

Debbie Barbier, Richard Quinn's attorney, denied allegations that her client has acted as a lobbyist. But she said she'd save the rest of his defense for a later time in court.

The lawmakers in court Tuesday have all been affiliated in some way with Richard Quinn, as have the other two former lawmakers already convicted in the case. Former House Speaker Bobby Harrell and House Majority Leader Jim Merrill were sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to misconduct charges of their own. Both were Quinn clients.

Two lawmakers already charged in the case appeared on new charges. Rep. Rick Quinn, the elder Quinn's son, engaged in criminal conspiracy with his father and other lawmakers, Pascoe said, giving an example of both Quinns asking a state lawmaker to "take a dive" on a piece of legislation in a way that would benefit a Quinn client. Sen. John Courson was charged with statutory misconduct in office. Both men already faced other misconduct charges and were allowed to remain free on bond.

Pascoe has declined to comment further on the case, which has been ongoing for years. After court, Rick Quinn told reporters the charges against him are false and reiterated previous comments about his family being caught in the middle of political gamesmanship.

Citing an unspecified conflict, state Attorney General Alan Wilson  also a Quinn client  several years ago turned his prosecution of Harrell over to Pascoe, a special prosecutor and Democratic solicitor who has mulled a bid for attorney general. Wilson unsuccessfully fought to get the probe back under his control when Pascoe sought to expand it to other lawmakers.

The younger Quinn said Tuesday the entire investigation is politically tainted, alleging that Pascoe hasn't gone after any of his fellow Democrats with the same intensity as he has Republicans.

"We are very anxious to get our day in court," Rick Quinn said.
In January, Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Rep. Ted Lieu of California -- both Democrats -- introduced legislation that would prohibit the president of the United States from conducting a first-use nuclear strike," unless such an attack had been authorized by a prior declaration of war by Congress.

At last check, nine senators (all Democrats or Independents) and 54 representatives (including one Republican) had signed on as co-sponsors. The bill, known as the "Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017" was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Neither body has taken any further action.

Requiring a formal declaration of war prior to any potential use of nuclear weapons would be sound policy, no matter who is occupying the White House. The proposed legislation would reclaim some of the authority Congress has ceded to the executive branch over the past 70 years, and help restore the balance of powers the founders envisioned in our Constitution. In the extreme circumstances under which such congressional action might be required, the debate and vote itself could also serve as a powerful incentive to bring an adversary to the negotiating table before nuclear weapons were actually used.

One of Congress's most solemn and crucial duties is to declare war (or not) against a foreign power. The Constitution places that responsibility squarely in the hands of Congress, and no one else. But Congress has been hesitant to exercise this authority.

The years of war our nation has undertaken in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the Middle East have all been carried out without a declaration of war. Instead, our military continues to fight under congressional consent from a long-outdated "Authorization for the Use of Military Force" (AUMF) passed shortly after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Congress has not revisited that action since, nor actually declared war on any nation, despite spending well over a trillion dollars to support those military actions. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine has been pushing for a new, updated AUMF for several years.

Prior to the current conflicts, we fought in Korea, Vietnam and Southeast Asia, the Balkans, Panama and elsewhere. None of these military actions was preceded by a formal declaration of war from Congress. In fact the last declared war our troops fought and died in was World War II.

This is a critical problem. The singular power of Congress to declare war is an essential check on the war-fighting capacity of the administrative branch of government and the military it commands. The framers of the Constitution clearly did not want the president or the military to wage war on their own, without consent of the people, through the Congress that represents them.

Nuclear weapons can be launched in a matter of minutes. Once the missiles are fired, they cannot be recalled. The president, should he or she choose, can launch a nuclear strike against pre-programmed targets with essentially no fail-safe mechanism. During the Cold War, this Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) was intended to strengthen our nuclear deterrence -- the Soviets knew that if they chose to mount a nuclear attack, our missiles and bombers would be on their way to a devastating retaliation before our own country was destroyed.

And third, lawmakers must consider the current occupant of the White House. This is a man who, rather than pursue negotiations and allow economic sanctions time to pressure North Korea, has called its leader names and threatened his nuclear-armed nation with "fire and fury like the world has never seen." This is exactly the kind of impetuous, ill-conceived behavior that calls for a constitutional check from another branch of our government.

Arms control experts have long advocated an explicit national policy of No First Use of nuclear weapons. Such a policy would reduce the level of tension and danger with North Korea. And in addition, it would immediately reduce tensions between our country and other nations -- both those who also possess a nuclear arsenal and those who rely exclusively on conventional weapons..

Formally committing the United States to a No First Use policy will be one small step toward a safer, saner planet.
By Azernews





By Sara Israfilbayova

The two-day Republican scientific conference of doctoral candidates and young researchers kicked off on October 24 in Baku State University (BSU).

Making introductory remarks rector of BSU, Professor Abel Maharramov underlined the reforms in the direction of transforming the economic potential into intellectual capital.

Maharramov emphasized that the corresponding work in the field of education is aimed at the development of youth with modern thinking.

Education Minister Mikayil Jabbarov, in turn, noted that research universities will receive the appropriate material support from the state.

With the adoption of the Law on Science, a provision on the establishment of research universities has been included into Azerbaijani legislation, Jabbarov said, adding that the universities that are endowed with this status will receive the appropriate material support from the state.

Addressing the conference, Jabbarov noted that the research activity of universities is one of the main criteria taken into account when compiling global ratings.

Further, touching upon the problem connected with the current level of master program and doctoral studies, he said that the main problem is that the training of scientific personnel in higher education institutions is not carried out at the expense of the state, but at the expense of the universities themselves.

This approach creates the ground for some of the negative phenomena observed in recent years, and does not fully reflect the priorities of state policy, the minister stressed.

He went on to say that currently, the majority of doctoral candidates receive education in Azerbaijan in the humanitarian, social and economic spheres, but the priorities of the national economy require special attention to the training of scientists in the technological, technical and agricultural spheres.

The minister stressed that the program of studying abroad played a special role in the training of scientific personnel in Azerbaijan.

Of 3,558 scholarships allocated within the State Program for the Education of Azerbaijani Youth Abroad in 2015-2017, 63 percent were directed to those studying to receive masters and doctoral degrees, Jabbarov said. This means that these young people will contribute to the development of science and education in Azerbaijan.

The minister added that state funds within the second state program should be allocated for those studying to receive masters and doctoral degrees not in foreign countries, but in local universities that have the appropriate scientific potential and human resources.
















Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund (PIF) aims to increase its assets under management (AUM) to over $400 billion by 2020, according to the Saudi Press Agency, citing senior officials.



They were speaking at the launch of PIF Programme for 2018-2020 being implemented as part of the Kingdoms Vision 2030 Realisation Programmes, stated the SPA report.



The PIF programme, which is underpinned by 30 separate initiatives, will see the funds AUMs surge to a new high in three years, creating 20,000 direct domestic jobs, more than half of which are high-skilled roles, said the officials.



It will also create 256,000 construction jobs, which will increase PIFs contribution to real gross domestic product (GDP) from 4.4 per cent to 6.3 per cent, and increase the share of local content to over $13 billion, they stated.



The PIF Programme is one of 12 Vision Realisation Programmes (VRP) and acts as a roadmap for the next three years to strengthen the wealth fund's position as the engine behind economic diversification in the kingdom, and underpins PIFs role in supporting a crucial component of the Vision 2030 agenda to transform Saudi Arabia into a global investment powerhouse, reported SPA.



It also encompasses efforts to maximise value in PIFs existing assets, which make up the majority of the funds holdings, and a new target to increase PIFs total shareholder returns, TSR, up from 3 per cent to between 4 to 5 per cent, the report added.
Canon Middle East, a leader in imaging and printing solutions, has signed United Electronics Company (eXtra), as a strategic partner for Canon Office Personal Products (OPP) in Saudi Arabia.



With its many exhibitions and impressive website, eXtra is considered as one of the biggest retail companies in the GCC. It is one of the largest e-commerce concepts in the region, having a large digital presence and offering an extensive product range including TV, audio systems, computers, mobile phones and IT communications, cameras, home appliances and personal care products.



With the help of a strong partner such as eXtra, Canon will deliver innovative, technology led solutions for its customers in the kingdom; the aim is to come closer to its customers, providing them with the tools they want and need to achieve their imaging and printing goals, said a statement.



The kingdom's retail sector is in the frontline of the 2030 Vision. Alpen Capitals GCC retail industry 2017 report stated the GCC retail sector is expected to recover in 2018 and grow at a steady pace through 2021 to reach $313 billion, with that Saudi Arabia growing the fastest.



In a recent development, Saudi Arabia was named as a leading global retail market in A T Kearneys 2016 Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), titled Global Retail Expansion at a Crossroads.



Venkatasubramanian Hariharan, business unit director, B2C, Canon Middle East, said: The Middle East is undergoing a largescale transformation, and Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of this change.



People in Saudi Arabia are technologically advanced, and with a connected young population, the country will continue to lead retail consumption, thereby contributing to economic growth, he said.



Together with eXtra, we will create unique consumer retail experiences through eXtras large network of stores in the kingdom, he added.



Hariharan continued: This partnership is a testament to our commitment to Saudi Arabia, in the form of creating economic opportunities. Through our enhanced presence in the kingdom, we will further grow our services to new and existing customers in the kingdom who will benefit from better product availability and services, product warranty and support.



We believe that the key to success is to surround yourself with dependable and like-minded partners and Canon aims to be the partner of choice for every business, helping them to reimagine and realise their full potential, he said.



Usama Bukhari, marketing director, eXtra, said: This is an exciting partnership with Canon Middle East, and together we look to unlock synergies and the potential of an innovative portfolio of products.



We are delighted with this new partnership which enables us to broaden our print solutions portfolio and helps us bring great value proposition to our customers. The move demonstrates Canons confidence in our ability to help grow their brand across the kingdom, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of commercial and community ports within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, has joined hands with local ferry services company Jalboot Marine to start cruise trips to the Louvre Abu Dhabi in addition to other city landmarks.



The agreement also allows Jalboot Marine to operate cruise ships and tours from Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Mina Zayed, said a statement from Abu Dhabi Ports.



"This partnership with Jalboot will open new gateways for Abu Dhabis tourism and leisure as well as offer a unique sight-seeing experience around the citys touristic attractions," remarked Abdulkareem Al Masabi, the executive VP of Ports, after signing deal with Mohamed Roestali, the CEO of Jalboot Holdings in the presence of Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, the CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports.



"We will continue to work closely with all relevant organisations to showcase Abu Dhabis spectacular views through the maritime transportation sector," he stated.



Captain Al Shamisi said: "It has been a remarkable season for Abu Dhabis marine tourism sector with Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal and Sir Bani Yas Island being key factors in this continued prosperity."



"We have signed an agreement with Jalboot Marine to operate marine cruise ships and tours to Abu Dhabi's most important cultural and tourist attractions as part of our efforts to enhance customer experiences and provide a variety of activities and attractions," he added.



According to him, Abu Dhabi Ports is keen to play a pivotal role in further supporting the UAE capitals positioning as a unique touristic destination.



"We can see ample avenues to expand alongside our partners and stakeholders and look forward to this opportunity to work with Jalboot Holdings and to further contribute to the success of the cruise sector," he added.



Expected to start operating in the current season, Abu Dhabis first water-taxi shuttle services will be available for residents and visitors for city sight-seeing and drop-off, revealed Captain Al Shamisi.



Passenger pickup will be from Zayed Ports Cruise Terminal and will include several stops at destinations such as Louvre Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Yas Island and Etihad Towers, he added.



Roestali said the support from strategic partners such as the Department of Culture and Tourism, Miral and Aldar for Jalboot will go a long way in the development of the water transportation sector in Abu Dhabi.



The agreement also includes the building of a new 20m jetty with wheelchair and secure gated access, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre in Abu Dhabi, and Temenos, the software specialist for banking and finance, will collaborate and strengthen the fintech ecosystem in Abu Dhabi, following the unveiling of ADGMs Innovation Centre at the recent fintech Abu Dhabi Summit.



Temenos will support the ADGM fintech Innovation Centre, a physical hub where fintech communities can come together to foster collaboration and innovation in financial services, said a statement.



A key aspect of the collaboration will see Temenos provide a sandbox service to the start-ups residing at the innovation centre. This sandbox, a non-production cloud-based version of the Temenos best-selling core banking system, will enable start-ups to integrate their solutions with banking data and functionality as well as to test them for scalability and robustness, it said.



Temenos and ADGM will also collaborate on events and other community-building activities. It is envisaged that the ADGM would play host to Temenos events, such as the Middle East leg of its global Innovation Jam, while Temenos would provide technical assistance and a sandbox environment to support ADGM events, such as hackathons, it added.



The successful start-ups could join the Temenos MarketPlace, its award-winning app store connecting banks and fintechs.



Jean-Paul Mergeai, managing director for Middle East and Africa (MEA), Temenos, said: We are excited to be working with the ADGM on its Innovation Centre.



We passionately believe in supporting the communities around us, in promoting innovation and in fintech, he said.



The Temenos MarketPlace is founded on the notion that bringing together banks and fintechs is a win-win situation and we hope that by working with ADGM we can foster the fintech scene in UAE as well as offer a route to market to the most successful start-ups, he added.



Richard Teng, chief executive officer of ADGMs Financial Services Regulatory Authority, said: We are thrilled to partner with Temenos in the development of the fintech ecosystem for the region.



As one of the top software specialists in core banking systems serving a rich client network of banks and financial institutions, Temenos brings along a wealth of expertise and an extensive access to banking APIs through its digital sandbox platform, he said.



This will enable our RegLab and fintech firms to collaborate with banks to test and develop innovation in a wide spectrum of financial services that would benefit UAE and the region, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
Egypt-based DP World Sokhna, a marine terminal of global shipping terminal operator DP World, today (October 25) welcomed the first regular cruise ship, the Cleo , since 2011 in Sokhna port.



The port is expected to receive weekly cruise ships bringing tourists to Egypt, said a statement from DP World.



To celebrate the occasion, DP World-Sokhna hosted a welcome event for over 100 tourists on the cruise ship featuring an Egyptian folkloric troupe, it said.



The tourists then travelled for a short visit to Cairo to see the pyramids before proceeding their cruise to Hurghada, it added.



Ajay Singh, CEO of DP World-Sokhna, said: We are honoured to welcome the first regular cruise ship to Sokhna port since 2011.



This is a unique milestone highlighting our capability to serve cargo and passenger ships alike, he said.



We are expanding our business to introduce cruise ship services to support the tourism sector of the country and its importance to the local economy, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
Aramex, a global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions, has announced a brand new addition to its innovative and hugely successful last-mile delivery service, Shop & Ship (S&S).



Due to the global high demand for Shop & Ship, increasing customer base, and rapidly evolving needs of e-commerce customers, Aramex has launched its new and exclusive membership option: Shop & Ship FLEX, said a statement.



The main benefit of "S&S FLEX" membership is the rate calculation, which is based on 100 grams versus the usual 500 grams weight breaks, enabling customers to save up to 90 per cent on shipping costs compared to similar services. It will also provide customers with a number of additional benefits, including:



 Complimentary protection against damage and loss of all shipments (up to $2,500 in value).

 25 per cent off on S&S Perfume, a hugely popular perfume shipping service.

 Smart Saver, a service offering extra savings on packages when shipped together.

 25 per cent off on S&S Select, an affordable way to shop and ship personal beauty products from around the world.

 20 per cent off on heavyweight shipments (packages of over 3kg).

 30 per cent off on return services.



Hassan Mikail, chief e-commerce officer at Aramex, said: We are pleased to have launched our new S&S FLEX membership program.



We continue to see significant demand from our customers and want to provide them with innovative solutions which meet their global online shopping needs. We put a heavy focus on extending our global footprint to better connect more consumers worldwide, and our use of integrated technology will continue to be a key differentiator for us, he said.



Our ongoing innovation and investment in technology is what has allowed us to introduce FLEX in record time, from ideation to implementation. Such programmes will also boost the rollout of the service faster and wider, across the globe, he added.



The new service will also serve as a remedy to consolidation of goods, since the savings are happening now at much smaller 100 gram weight breaks, Mikail added.



The new membership is competitively priced at $119 per year for both existing and new customers. The membership benefits will give members more value and flexibility when shopping online globally, said a statement.



Mikail continued: We think the programme will also serve the merchant side of the ecommerce industry, allowing them to be more competitive and on global scale.



Shop & Ship is an online last-mile delivery service from Aramex which enables hundreds of thousands of consumers around the world to receive purchased goods from online stores in the US, the UK, and more than 20 other countries - quickly and at affordable rates. The service is available in over 50 countries worldwide, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Dubai Municipality has signed an agreement to produce a highly efficient water tap that can make a significant saving in water consumption.

The product, named Dubai Tap, will be used to save ablution water in Dubai's mosques during the first phase of the project, said a Wam news agency report.

Dubai Tap is expected to save 80 per cent of ablution water from being wasted.

Ahmed Saeed Al Badwawi, director of Applied Sustainability and Renewable Energy Department of Dubai Municipality, signed the agreement with Ali Majid Al Shamsi, assistant director of the Hamad Rahma Al Shamsi General Trading Corporation, in the presence of Hussain Nasser Lootah, director-general of Dubai Municipality.

The company will produce and market Dubai Tap by employing modern and innovative technology in this field, said the report.

Lootah said the agreement is in line with the UAE Vision and Dubai Strategic Plan 2021 to make Dubai the most innovative and sustainable city by improving air quality, conserving water resources, increasing clean energy contribution and implementing green growth plans.

"It is an embodiment of the objectives of the Applied Sustainability and Renewable Energy Department in Dubai Municipality to start the first innovation in water saving. This tap will achieve the greatest possible savings in water ablution, and will be used in all existing and new mosques in Dubai as a first phase," he said.

Lootah pointed out that every year approximately 35,100 litres of water is consumed by a person during ablution.

As per the agreement, the company shall bear all production and marketing costs for the product, while the municipality shall encourage property developers to use Dubai Tap and work on the success of the initiative by all possible means. A joint working group has also been formed for overseeing the implementation of the agreement, it said.
The all-new Bentley Continental GT has debuted in the Middle East following its global unveiling at the IAA Frankfurt in September.

The third generation of the legendary, luxury Grand Tourer will tour the region over the next two months, visiting Bentleys key Middle East and South Africa markets in a series of exclusive VIP events.

This month, the all-new Continental GT has visited Abu Dhabi, the Dubai flagship showroom, and Kuwait, where it was displayed at Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Cultural Centre, before heading to Saudi Arabia next week where it will be seen at events in Riyadh and Jeddah. In November and December, the tour will re-visit the UAE, and then move on to Oman, said a statement.

The all-new Continental GT sets new standards in luxury grand touring. Designed, engineered and hand-crafted in Crewe, the new model seamlessly blends artistry with cutting-edge technology and innovation.

An enhanced version of Bentleys renowned 6.0-litre W12 TSI engine will be available on the new model, delivering 635 PS (626 bhp) and reaching 0-100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 333 km/h.

Firas Kandalaft, head of marketing and communications for Bentley Middle East, Africa and India, said: Bentley has defined luxury grand touring with the new Continental GT and we believe this new model is the finest Grand Tourer ever produced. The Middle East is an incredibly important region for Bentley Motors, with some of the countries ranking amongst the top ten markets in the world. We are looking forward to introducing this exciting new model to our prospective and existing customers in the region. - TradeArabia News Service
Singapore Airlines (SIA) hopes to sign an agreement with Boeing for planes worth $13.8 billion during Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's visit to Washington next week, reports said.

Lee said this in an interview with American news broadcaster CNBC, said a report in Straits Times.

In February, SIA agreed to place firm orders with Boeing for 20 777-9s and 19 787-10 Dreamliners, for additional growth and fleet modernisation through the next decade.

Singapore Airlines spokesman Nicholas Ionides confirmed that the aircraft order announced as a letter of intent earlier this year is expected to be formally signed during PM Lee's visit to Washington, the report said.

"More details will be announced after the signing of the purchase agreement with Boeing," he said.

The letter of intent that SIA signed with the US airframe manufacturer also included six additional options for each aircraft type, which would enlarge the deal to as many as 51 planes.
Shoppers raking up reward points with Citibank cards can now turn them in flight miles with Turkish Airlines.



The two companies recently signed a partnership agreement, allowing Turkish Airlines to extend the reach of its loyalty program, Miles & Smiles, to a global level.



Citibank Credit Cardholders can now convert their accumulated Citi Rewards Program Points to Miles&Smiles Frequent Flyer Program Miles in 16 countries including Australia, Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, UAE, US, and Vietnam. - TradeArabia News Service
Official: Russian missile strikes cross into Poland

Russian missiles crossed over into NATO member Poland, killing two people, a senior official said. It's Tuesday's news.
A federal judge has granted Michael J. Ruffatto, the infamous developer of a failed energy park, yet another continuance before the sentencing hearing that could send him to prison for up to three years.

This marks the fifth time the 71-year-old lawyer has been granted more time. Ruffattos lawyers argued in court documents that they were getting closer to a financial settlement that they think could weigh on the sentencing decision.

Ruffatto pleaded guilty last year to defrauding the federal government out of millions by fabricating invoices for work that never happened on the Two Elk property in Campbell County.

Over a 20-year period, the developer sold the myth of Two Elk, despite slowly losing interested investors, university partnerships and Wyoming support. Millions of federal dollars and state tax exemptions later, the park was nothing more than a couple concrete pads among the sage brush.

The money meant for research instead served Ruffattos lavish lifestyle, expensive jewelry, clothes and travel.

Federal prosecutors described Ruffattos behavior as methodical and driven by greed deserving some three years of jail time and probation.

In an emotional, hand-written letter, Ruffattos wife pleaded for pity for her husband. Ruffattos lawyers have argued the mans age and his intent to repay the money he took should keep him out of prison.

The sentencing is now scheduled for Jan. 31.
Wednesday support meetings

Alcoholics Anonymous: 6:30 a.m., 917 N. Beech; 8:30 a.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 10 a.m., 328 E. A; noon, 500 S. Wolcott; 2 p.m., 917 N. Beech; 5:30 p.m., 1124 Elma, Imitate the Image Church; 5:30 p.m., 328 E. A; 7 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, closed; 7 p.m., 520 CY; 8 p.m., 328-1/2 E. A; 8 p.m., 328 E. A; 8 p.m., 917 N. Beech. Douglas: 7:30 p.m., 628 E. Richards (upstairs in back). Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open. Casper info: 266-9578; Douglas info: (307) 351-1688.

Narcotics Anonymous: Noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 7 p.m., 15th and Melrose, at the church. Web site: http://www.urmrna.org.

TOPS #162, weight loss support, 8:30 a.m., 1868 S. Poplar.

Pumpkins for a purpose

Join Meals On Wheels for its third annual pumpkin patch at the Meals on Wheels Building, 1760 E. 12th St. Pumpkin sales continue through Oct. 31. All pumpkins are Wyoming grown. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pumpkins will be $5 for a small, $10 for a medium and $15 for a large. Specialty pumpkins will be available in limited quantities. For more information or questions, please call the office at 265-8659 or visit www.mealswheels.com. Find us on Facebook under Natrona County Meals On Wheels.

Bachs Lunch recitals resume

Bachs Lunch, 12:15 Wednesday recitals, resume beginning Wednesday, Oct. 25, at First United Methodist Church downtown. Guest organist Jan Kraybill will play Bachs Lunch on November 1, followed by a talk on the mission of the Hymn Society of America, of which she is the executive director. Her evening concert will be at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 2, also at First United Methodist Church.

Caps 4 Kids

All knitters and crocheters are invited to the Senior Center, 1831 E. 4th St., from 12:30 to 2:30 or 3 p.m. The group makes caps for kids of all ages. Approximately 1,400 caps have recently been distributed to ward off the cold temperatures to come.

Because of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, there are no meetings during November and December. After next week, the next meeting will be Wednesday, Jan. 24. The yarn closet is stocked at all times, so feel free to pick up your favorite colors and continue to keep your hands busy during the windy and cold days and nights ahead.

Should you need more information, please contact the Senior Center at 265-4678, and they will pass your message on to one of us. Happy crafting to all.

Quilts of Valor every Wednesday

The Central Wyoming Chapter of Quilts of Valor meets from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays to sew at the Central Wyoming Senior Services Center, 1831 E. Fourth St. Quilts of Valor are made by volunteers. Donated fabrics, supplies or monetary donations are appreciated. The chapter awards quilts to veterans who reside in the Central Wyoming region. Dues are $5 per year, and new members are always welcome. If you have any questions, please contact Yung Hui Torske at 258-5578, Sandy Elliott at 307-554-0331 or any chapter member.

Church pumpkins

First Christian Church Pumpkin Patch, 520 CY Ave., is open 4 to 7 p.m.

Fried chicken at the Elks

Wednesday Night Special at the Casper Elks Lodge is fried chicken with mashed potatoes, green beans and corn. All you can eat for $7, children 5 to 12 are $3, serving from 6 to 7 p.m. or until gone. Members, significant other and guest accompanied by a member. For more information, call 234-4839. All proceeds go to Elks charities.

Gold prospectors meet Wednesday

The Casper Chapter of the Gold Prospectors Association of America will have its monthly meeting at 7 p.m., at the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Building, 2211 King Blvd. Enter through the east door. Members and guests are welcome. The club will have its general business meeting. The club will be holding the raffle for the Gold n Sand hand pump suction dredge. Tickets may be purchased at the meeting. The club will also be discussing plans for the Holiday party in December. For more information about the GPAA or the Casper Chapter, or about prospecting in general, call Eric Weaner at 513-259-7902 or visit the clubs webpage at caspergpaa.org or email the club at caspergpaa@gmail.com.

Halloween lights

The Wagners present the fourth annual Halloween light show at their house, 3148 Whispering Springs. The show will run nightly from 6 to 10 p.m. and from 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. There will be candy for kids on Halloween night. The Christmas light show, which includes an optional donation of food for Joshuas Storehouse, will begin on Nov. 25.
Two Wyoming residents pleaded guilty Wednesday to drug conspiracy charges connected to a 10-defendant drug trafficking case thats related to a local doctor suspected of illegally prescribing drugs.

Charlie Edwards and Tammy Jonas originally pleaded not guilty in June to the charges before taking deals in Natrona County District Court that would limit the sentences they face.

Edwards, wearing jail garments, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deliver oxycodone and conspiracy to deliver heroin, both felonies. Two additional charges against him were dropped as a part of the deal. Under the deal, the prosecution will not argue for more than four-to-seven years imprisonment. The defense can argue for any sentencing option when Edwards next appears in court.

Jonas, free on bail and wearing a hooded sweatshirt, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to deliver oxycodone and had an additional felony dismissed. Prosecution and defense attorneys will present a joint recommendation for three years of probation in lieu of a three-to-five year prison sentence at Jonas sentencing hearing. The recommendation would mean Jonas would not serve prison time if she complies with the terms of probation.

Prosecutors alleged that Casper Doctor Shakeel Kahn prescribed the oxycodone to Jonas and Edwards.

In Wednesdays change of plea hearings, Judge Daniel Forgey also agreed to reduce Edwards bond from $25,000 cash or surety to personal recognizance so he could attend substance use treatment. The new bond condition will take effect Nov. 6, the day he is due to enter treatment.

Jonas appeared to tell the judge she had brokered at least one oxycodone deal between her friends. She received oxycodone for herself as part of that deal, she said.

Kahn and his wife, Lyn Kahn, are facing a total of 45 federal charges in their case. The doctor asked for one charge against him to be dismissed earlier this month.

Prosecutors allege that Kahn sold painkiller prescriptions in exchange for cash. Defendants in the case are alleged to have signed forms at Kahns request indicating they would not describe the doctor as a drug dealer.
Little more than 14 hours after the Natrona County school board voted to close four schools, trustee Dana Howie said if she ever had to deliver such a heavy blow again, shed resign.

This is not what I got on the board to do, she said, echoing a comment made by fellow board member Toni Billings the night before, after eight of the nine trustees voted to close Frontier Middle and Mountain View, Willard and University Park elementary schools.

Despite trustees voiced anguish, the vote has been made, and at the end of this academic year, the four Natrona County schools will close. More than 700 students and roughly 140 staff members who call those buildings home will leave to schools yet determined.

The work to incorporate the displaced students elsewhere is already underway, officials said Tuesday morning.

The district is scheduling open houses for its 18 Casper-area elementary schools, staggered so that families can attend any and every one. Officials are looking at current enrollment to determine which schools can expand and absorb the students. District personnel are being made available to meet with families who, at the end of this school year, will see their school close.

Meanwhile, district officials maintain that no staff  from custodians to principals to nontenured teachers  will be laid off as a result of the closures, despite some rumors to the contrary.

We are not laying anybody off, period, Howie said, as Michael Jennings, the executive director of human resources, nodded.

Avoiding pink slips was, in part, the point of closing the schools. The district has already slashed more than $4 million from its budget and in a best-case scenario will have to cut at least that much in each of the next two years. Because more than 80 percent of the districts budget is tied up in personnel, the district has had to rely heavily on attrition to trim costs. Officials have repeatedly said that had the schools not closed, layoffs would have been likely.

Shuttering the four schools will save around $2.5 million annually, officials have said, and, barring drastic legislative moves, the district should be able to avoid any layoffs.

The preparation all leads up to Jan. 3, when the two-week window for enrollment opens. Because Natrona County is a district of choice, any student can attend any school. The hundreds whose schools will close will be bumped up in the queue for priority on placement, though officials stressed that they wont kick a student out from one school so another can take the seat.

Rick Skatula, the executive director of school improvement, said Tuesday that the district is looking at which schools have empty classrooms that can be filled with the newly displaced students and teachers.

While families can look into available schools now, he suggested they wait until open enrollment, when the district will wipe the slate clean and have a better idea of openings and capacity.

Students will select their top three choices for new schools. Though he referred to it as a lottery system, Skatula said the vast majority of students end up in one of the three schools they prefer.

After the task of placing students is complete, the district can begin staffing to meet those needs, officials said.

At Mondays meeting and in the weeks leading up to it, some parents and staff had warned that the change would impact the students of the four schools, which are all Title I. They said the students wouldnt receive the same support at different schools.

But Jennings and Skatula said staff across the district have experience and will be able to care for the students. The Title I funding will follow the students wherever they go, the officials said.

The same goes for programs like functional life skills and classic kindergarten. Though the schools that are closing hosted those programs, they will still be offered elsewhere in the district, depending on student need.

Concern that those programs will cease to exist is common among the schools communities. The three officials  Howie, Skatula and Jennings, along with spokeswoman Tanya Southerland  lamented that there was significant confusion among the public about the district, its budget and why the schools were being closed.

Asked why the district didnt hold parent meetings  as it did after Grant Elementary was targeted for closure last year  the officials said the public had nearly four weeks to submit comment to the district, and that organizing a meeting with four sets of parents was more difficult, given the timeline. They said the meeting at Grant ended up being less of a dialogue, where school officials could answer questions, and more a chance for the community to voice frustration and concern.

That need was filled at the Oct. 9 and Oct. 23 board meetings, they said, when the public could submit comment.

But the board rarely responds during public comment at its meetings, and there was thus an environment where confusion could fester, the officials acknowledged. Still, they said, they took ample public comment and intentionally gave the communities several weeks to absorb the news. The district had been releasing information hinting that closures were possible for months.

Grant didnt know this was coming, Howie said of the closures. Other schools couldnt have said the same.

As for the future, theres no sign that more closures will be needed. The 970 empty enrollment seats have been trimmed to around 200 now. But the study of facilities that led to the shutterings continues, and Jennings warned that what the Legislature decides in the coming months could force the districts hand in a number of directions.
CODY  Zemriya Bright, a Cody High School student, has put in a lot of legwork to be able to bring her service dog to school every day to assist her with her disabilities.

Ellie, a 7-year-old Doberman Pinscher, can perform a variety of acts to assist Bright if needed, including giving deep pressure therapy, and leading her if she becomes disoriented to medication. She also wont bark, show aggression, is potty trained and wont lead Bright when heeling. All of which took more than a year of training.

With Ellie at her side, one of Brights biggest problems now is dogs who arent properly trained interfering with Ellie in locations off limits to all but trained service animals. At one point Ellie was attacked by another dog at Walmart.

Now Bright and School Resource Officer Rayna Wortham are trying to get the word out that it is now a crime to falsely claim to have a service animal in order to bring a pet into restricted areas.

House Bill 0114 was passed into law at the end of the last legislative session. Under the new misdemeanor, the penalty for misrepresenting a service animal is a maximum $750 fine. If a legitimate service animal is attacked, injured or killed, the owner of a non-service animal can be charged with the fine, six months in jail or both and may have to either replace the service animal or pay to have the service animal retrained if possible.

That language alone could cost someone thousands of dollars for replacement or tens of thousands of dollars for replacement of a service animal, Wortham said. There is clearly a need for this law to protect those people who have trained service animals. The problem that I have encountered in the past is that people want to have their pets with them in prohibited places such as restaurants and stores.

Many of these animals have little or no discipline and/or basic obedience skills and become disruptive and sometimes offensive to other patrons of these facilities by barking, lunging, snapping at people, defecating and urinating where they shouldnt, etc.

Bright has had first-hand experience with undisciplined animals interacting with Ellie in spaces reserved for service animals only.

Ive had dogs completely out of control, she said, adding that theyve even lunged at Ellie.

That behavior can make it hard for legitimate service dogs to perform their duties, Bright added, which in some cases could be a life-or-death issue.

She has been a lifesaver, she said of Ellie. Without her I dont know if I would be here anymore.

Bright said issues with untrained dogs are far worse than the many questions she answers at school and in town about why she needs the dog, or whether or not they can get service dogs too.

While many people are sensitive when talking with her, some are more blunt.

People are very ignorant in the general public about service dogs, Bright said.

One problem is the lack of knowledge on the difference between service animals and therapy animals. Service animals require extensive training on both maintaining calm in all situations and in providing needed assistance.

Service animals are only allowed for those with qualifying disabilities, including blindness, epilepsy and a variety of other conditions. A doctor then needs to sign off on a patient being allowed to utilize a service animal.

Therapy animals are simply animals who can provide comfort, often at nursing homes or hospitals, although some airlines have been allowing therapy animals onboard. They dont have any training requirements and are not supposed to be allowed in no-pet zones where service animals are exempt, like schools and many stores.

Bright said its easy, however, for people to bring their own pets in these locations and pass them off as service animals because of how uncomfortable many people are asking questions of those who claim to need a service animal.

I receive many complaints about people taking their pets into facilities where they would not legally be entitled to be and creating a disturbance due to their lack of training, Wortham said. Many business owners are fearful of being sued by approaching people with animals and asking legitimate questions regarding their animals.

Bright doesnt mind answering questions, as long as they dont move into the realm of interrogation. But often people dont even notice she has a dog, especially in class at CHS.

Thats why she said the experience of having a service animal in regard to going about her daily life has been surprising.

Its been a lot better than expected, Bright said. Shes so well behaved, people wont know shes there until I leave. Shes there, but shes out of the scene unless I need her.

Its the mark of a true, well-trained service dog. Now Bright and Wortham are hoping the new law will keep away distractions in the form of untrained animals for Ellie and other service animals like her. And fewer people misrepresenting their pets as service animals may also ease some questioning.

I am glad to see a law that addresses this issue so that people who have a real need for their service animals are given the right to enter facilities without worrying about their animals being attacked by untrained animals that give all service animals a bad name, Wortham said.
The homecoming king and queen will be crowned, the Pride of Arizona marching band will play, cheerleaders will cheer and a bonfire will light up at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27, at the west side of Old Main.
PHOENIX  Saying state law trumps local control, Attorney General Mark Brnovich ruled Tuesday that a Bisbee ordinance banning plastic bags is illegal.

Brnovich said City Attorney Britt Hanson presented several compelling reasons why the community should be able to outlaw plastic bags and require retailers to charge a nickel for paper ones. And the attorney general said he understands the concerns about dealing with flyaway trash.

But he said all that is legally irrelevant. The only thing that matters, Brnovich said, is that the Arizona Legislature voted last year to prohibit local governments from regulating auxiliary containers. That means no fees or prohibitions are allowed on containers ranging from bottles and cans to bags.

He said the 2016 law spells out that lawmakers believe such issues are a matter of statewide concern and not subject to local regulations, which overrules the citys contention that the ban is strictly a local issue.

Brnovich, using the power granted to him under a separate 2016 law, gave the city 30 days to rescind the ordinance. If the City Council refuses, the attorney general said he will direct the state treasurer to begin withholding Bisbees share of state aid.

The more likely prospect is that the city will file suit, asking a judge to block the cash loss until there is a final ruling by a court on whether the ordinance conflicts with the preemption.

Among the arguments will be that Bisbee is a charter city with state constitutional powers to enact laws on strictly local matters.

Bisbee Mayor Dave Smith said the council will discuss Brnovichs ruling  and what to do next  at its regularly scheduled Nov. 7 meeting, if not earlier, given the 30-day deadline.

But the odds of the city winning a legal battle may not be good.

Earlier this year, the Arizona Supreme Court looked at a Tucson ordinance that required police to destroy guns that are seized or surrendered. Officials from Tucson argued that it, too, is a charter city and that what happens to guns is none of the states business.

But the justices unanimously noted that the Legislature had approved various laws declaring the regulation of guns to be a matter of statewide concern. That overrode the city ordinance, they concluded.

The justices strongly suggested they believe that the right of charter cities to ignore state laws applies only in two areas: how and when cities conduct local elections and how they sell or otherwise dispose of land.

The ordinance prohibits retailers from providing free single-use plastic bags; paper bags from recycled material are OK, but are sold for a nickel.
PHOENIX  The former head of the Department of Economic Security, Tim Jeffries, is suing the state for libel, saying his reputation was damaged.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday in Maricopa County Superior Court says a report prepared by the Department of Public Safety about Jeffries and his conduct at DES is filled with lies. These range from statements that he carried a gun on state property to claims he was taking ammunition from DES inventory that belonged to the state, the lawsuit says.

Also filing suit is Charles Loftus, who was DESs chief law enforcement officer. He lists what he calls false statements in the DPS report, including that the amount of ammunition purchased under his supervision was excessive.

The lawsuit seeks damages in a reasonable amount to compensate them for their losses. No specific amount is mentioned, as that is prohibited under Arizona court rules.

But in a formal claim made in August, a precursor to filing suit, Jeffries said he wanted $5.1 million to repair his damaged reputation.

Gubernatorial press aide Daniel Scarpinato said Gov. Doug Duceys office will review the lawsuit but had no immediate comment Tuesday.

Ducey fired Jeffries last November from the $215,250-a-year-job because of a series of incidents, Scarpinato has said.

Loftus was fired at the same time along with several other top DES officials in a shakeup at the agency, which oversees a host of programs ranging from food stamps and welfare benefits to unemployment benefits.

The libel suit, however, stems not from the firing but a DPS report prepared after the discovery that the DES, which had its own security force, had a cache of weapons and ammunition.

State troopers eventually seized 55 handguns and nearly 89,000 rounds of ammunition stored in the basement at DES. And Henry Darwin, named by Ducey as interim DES director, said the officers followed Jeffries to his Scottsdale home where they confiscated a gun he had purchased for himself with public funds.

Ducey asked DPS to audit the stockpile and review the purchases and security procedures. Among the findings was that the amount of ammunition may reasonably be described as excessive, with the report saying that is three or four times what a large police department might need in a year. Investigators also said they could not find about 4,000 rounds.

The report also said policies and procedures for purchases were violated, there was essentially no security for the ammunition and DES employees had easy access to the weapons.

Jeffries also took exception to other statements in the report. One is the conclusion that Jeffries was building and wanted to control a police force at DES, partly in response to a terrorist attack in San Bernardino, Calif.

Attorney Tom Horne, who represents Jeffries, said the people who made the statements were agents of the state who were acting in the course and scope of their employment. That makes the state itself liable, he said.
PHOENIX  Sensing Sen. Jeff Flakes vulnerability even before Tuesdays announcement that he wont seek reelection, other Arizona Republicans were already testing the waters to run.

One of those is Jay Heiler, who now serves on the Arizona Board of Regents and was chief of staff in the 1990s to Republican Gov. Fife Symington.

Heiler, who confirmed his interest Tuesday, starts out with the endorsement of former Gov. Jan Brewer, who has been  and remains  one of Trumps key supporters. That could send a signal to those who back Trump that Heiler would be acceptable.

Hes a breath of fresh air, said Brewer, who was supporting Heiler to run even before Flakes announcement. I think he can get the job done and represent Arizona in a fashion that it should be represented.

Former state GOP Chairman Robert Graham said Tuesday he also is exploring whether to enter the race, saying he may be the best bet to keep the seat in Republican hands.

I dont think its any secret that Im not a fan of Kelli Ward, Graham said, referring to the only announced candidate in the 2018 GOP primary race now that Flake has withdrawn. I believe that if she were to become the nominee shell have a hard-pressed chance to win.

But Graham acknowledged members of the GOP congressional delegation may have their own ideas, including Reps. David Schweikert, Martha McSally, Paul Gosar and Trent Franks.

Then theres state Treasurer Jeff DeWit, who also has shown some interest in the seat. Graham said hes close to DeWit and will meet with him, with the presumption that if one runs the other will not.

Ward, a former state senator, was endorsed last week by former Trump White House strategist Stephen Bannon. Arizona voters are the big winner in Jeff Flakes decision to not seek reelection, Ward said in a prepared statement Tuesday. They deserve a strong conservative in the U.S. Senate who supports President Trump and the America First agenda.

But Flakes withdrawal from the race could decrease the chances that Ward will end up as the partys nominee.

An open seat could give Democrats, meanwhile, the first chance in decades to put an Arizonan in the U.S. Senate.

The last time that happened was 1976 when a divisive GOP primary between Sam Steiger and John Conlan, both members of Congress, left so much bad blood that Democrat Dennis DeConcini from Tucson snatched the seat in the general election with 54 percent of the vote.

At this point, the presumed Democratic frontrunner for Flakes seat is U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema.

Other announced candidates include Deedra Abboud, Bob Bishop, Jim Moss, Chris Russell and Chris Sherzan.

However, there was no immediate comment Tuesday from Sinema.
Early in Sen. Jeff Flakes dramatic Tuesday speech, he made what sounded like a bold statement.

There are times when we must risk our careers in favor of our principles. Now is such a time.

Appearing as this did at the beginning of his speech, it suggested Flake was about to do so. But he didnt.

Instead, Flake announced he is not going to run for re-election after his first term. Hes leaving the Republican nomination to Kelli Ward or a candidate as yet unrevealed, and hes announcing he wont be bound by the usual political considerations as he wraps up his remaining 14 months in office. Hell be Jeff Flake Unbound, defending the honor of our institutions.

Thats interesting, and we should listen to the warnings hes giving us about the dangerous degradation of our politics. But its not risking a political career.

Flake, speaking to fellow senators, would have been more accurate if he had said There are times when YOU must risk YOUR careers in favor of YOUR principles. Now is such a time. And Im outta here.

Much of his speech  which was filled with weighty concepts such as duty, conscience, and moral authority  was actually directed at his Senate colleagues, it appears. Flake was exhorting them to act in line with their consciences even as they risk their careers to do so. Listen to this phrasing from later in his speech:

When we remain silent and fail to act when we know that that silence and inaction is the wrong thing to do  because of political considerations, because we might make enemies, because we might alienate the base, because we might provoke a primary challenge, because ad infinitum, ad nauseam  when we succumb to those considerations in spite of what should be greater considerations and imperatives in defense of the institutions of our liberty, then we dishonor our principles and forsake our obligations.

You could hear in those words the backroom conversations those GOP senators who are not Trump loyalists must be having. They oppose Trumps behavior and some of his policies. They want to speak out, but they are afraid of a primary challenge, of making enemies, of the GOP base.

They are afraid of the same factors that ultimately made Flake give up and withdraw prematurely from the race.

Hes not wrong about the challenges. Despite some loud and proud GOP critics of Trump, most of the party loves him. Trump has an 80 percent approval rating among Republicans, according to the latest Gallup poll.

Pima County GOP chair David Eppihimer said local Republicans are happy with Trump and excited about Ward, the only announced challenger for Flakes seat.

The fact of the matter is, when he attacks Trump, hes attacking the people who voted him in, Eppihimer said. The people who voted for Trump are sticking with him.

Eppihimer is right  the GOP is solidly with Trump and against those who criticize him.

I think that is a shame. It is a shame that Republicans have not broadly rejected Trumps wild fear-mongering against immigrants, Muslims and others, his unnecessary inflaming of world tensions, and his undignified lashing out against even powerless critics. The fact Republican voters have not yanked the leash on Trump for his indecency is disturbing.

But why didnt Flake take a real risk and continue to fight that fight in the electoral realm? Why not face the challenge? Why be so delicate as to unfold a broad critique of Trump for the damage he is doing to our politics, but not even mention his name?

Trump is not Voldemort, the evil lord in the Harry Potter series who is so feared that people referred to him as He who must not be named. If Flake is going to take Trump on, he should name him, cite his transgressions, and fight them in the Senate and on the ballot.

He said Tuesday, I have decided that I will be better able to represent the people of Arizona and to better serve my country and my conscience by freeing myself from the political considerations that consume far too much bandwidth and would cause me to compromise far too many principles.

But an even bolder decision would have been to free himself from political considerations and continue to run.

Dramatically, Flake said in his speech, When the next generation asks us why didnt you do something, why didnt you speak up  what are you going to say?

After Tuesday, Flake will be able to tell his grandchildren that when faced with this threat to our institutions, he chose to retire from the Senate.
BOSTON (AP)  For decades, the existence of secret government files linked to President John F. Kennedy's assassination has helped fuel conspiracy theories that others besides Lee Harvey Oswald were involved in his murder. Now the public is going to get a deeper look at the collection.

The government is required by Thursday to release the final batch of files related to Kennedy's assassination on Nov. 22, 1963. Experts say the publication of the last trove of evidence could help allay suspicions of a conspiracy  at least for some.

"As long as the government is withholding documents like these, it's going to fuel suspicion that there is a smoking gun out there about the Kennedy assassination," said Patrick Maney, a presidential historian at Boston College.

Here's a look at what to expect from the files:

HOW MANY FILES ARE THERE AND HOW CAN I SEE THEM?

The collection includes more than 3,100 documents  comprising hundreds of thousands of pages  that have never been seen by the public. About 30,000 documents were released previously with redactions. The National Archives is planning to post the files on its website.

WILL ALL OF THEM BE RELEASED?

It's unclear exactly how many files will be released. President Donald Trump is the only person who can stop any of the documents from becoming public. Trump pledged in a tweet on Saturday that  "subject to the receipt of further information"  he will allow the "long blocked and classified JFK FILES to be opened."

The CIA and FBI, whose files make up the bulk of the final batch, have refused to say whether they're lobbying the president to keep any of the files under wraps. Experts expect certain IRS files to remain secret, like the tax return of Jack Ruby, the man who killed Oswald two days after Kennedy's assassination when the suspect was in police custody.

WHY ARE THEY BECOMING PUBLIC NOW?

President George H.W. Bush signed a law on Oct. 26, 1992, requiring that all documents related to the assassination be released within 25 years, unless the president says doing so would harm intelligence, law enforcement, military operations or foreign relations. The push for transparency was driven in part by the uproar in the wake of Oliver Stone's 1991 conspiracy-theory filled film "JFK."

WILL THERE BE ANY BOMBSHELLS?

The chances are slim, according to the judge who led the independent board that reviewed and released thousands of the assassination documents in the 1990s. The files that were withheld in full were those the Assassination Records Review Board deemed "not believed relevant," Judge John Tunheim of Minnesota told The Associated Press. But Tunheim said it's possible the files contain information the board didn't realize was important two decades ago.

JFK experts believe the files will provide insight into the inner workings of the CIA and FBI. But they stress that it will take weeks to mine the documents for potentially new and interesting information.

WHAT WILL THE FILES SHOW?

Some of the documents are related to Oswald's mysterious six-day trip to Mexico City right before the assassination, scholars say. Oswald said he was visiting the Cuban and Soviet Union embassies there to get visas, but much about his time there remains unknown.
Re: the Oct. 21 column In the end, #metoo was about jumping on sympathy bandwagon. For centuries, women who have been abused have been silenced and punished for speaking out. Thanks to social media, thousands of women have been given an opportunity to add their voices  via #metoo  to those brave women who are coming forward and reporting their abuse. Columnist Christine Flowers thinks were confusing harassment with actual abuse when harassment IS abuse.

By pitting victim against victim, woman against woman, woman against man (some of whom also are abused), she diminishes the importance of this huge social problem were only now beginning to face. Wouldnt it be great if all of us were to join together and speak out about ALL abuse, from minor aggressions (sexism, racism, homophobia and all the other isms) to sexual harassment to sexual assault, instead of complaining about people speaking out?

Tim Wernette, Foothills
Next week ABC will feature Live coverage of the Centenary Of The Battle Of Beersheba from Israel.

On 31 October 2017, the Australian Government will conduct a National Commemorative service  the Centenary of the Battle of Beersheba, SinaiPalestine Campaign at Beersheba War Cemetery and Park of the Australian Soldier in Beer Sheba, Israel.

Live Services  31 October 2017

Service 1  Australia Remembers: Beersheba Centenary Service

ABC News Live 6pm AEDT / ABC 12.20am

Service 2  Australia Remembers: Beersheba Australian Service

ABC and ABC News Live 1.30am AEDT

On 31 October 2017, the Australian Government will conduct a National Commemorative service  the Centenary of the Battle of Beersheba, SinaiPalestine Campaign at Beersheba War Cemetery and Park of the Australian Soldier in Beer Sheba, Israel. This service will commemorate the centenary of many battles within the region. Malcolm Turnbull and Benjamin Netanyahu to attend Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, Beersheba.

Coverage includes; Joint Australian and New Zealand Commemorative Service, ANZAC museum opening, Turkish memorial service and a re-enactment of the charge of the Light Horse.

In association with the Department of Veterans Affairs the ABC will broadcast coverage of the events. Senior government and military officials from Australia, Israel and the Commonwealth will attend both services.

ABC News will also screen preview stories in the lead up to the event:

Peter McCutcheon presents Indig Beersheeba: One little-known contribution to the Battle for Beersheba is the significant number of indigenous soldiers who stormed the Turkish positions in charge of the Light Brigade. And while indigenous soldiers were respected in their units, their experience returning home was different.

Phil Williams presents Return to Beersheeba: Families of soldiers who fought at Beersheba  including those who took part in the charge  are recreating the journey. Around 100 riders will recreate the charge of the Light Horse.

Bedouin Beersheeba  Sophie McNeill spends time with the Bedouin tribes who still live as nomads across the lands where the campaign fought  truly displaced by WW1 fighting. Talent talk about family stories told of the campaign and one man who says his horses are descendants of the whalers left behind by the light horse.
After two ripping seasons of The Missing I must confess to being on board for any new drama that has Harry & Jack Williams as writers.

The latest, Liar, has been attracting considerable attention in the UK and its not hard to see why.

Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey) plays teacher Laura Nielson who has recently split with boyfriend Tom (Warren Brown). But a school drop-off meeting with recently widowed surgeon Andrew (Ioan Gruffudd) changes all that when she agrees to a dinner date.

From this juncture Liar quickly detours into a He Said / She Said series of events designed to keep the audience guessing. Through flashbacks and present-time repercussions, questions of consent, date-rape, and secrets unravel.

Outwardly, surgeon Andrew seems a charmer, and Laura a perfectly-pleasant catch. So just what did go down that night after he walked her home? Was his text the next morning, What an amazing night x genuine, or does it conceal something more sinister?

Whilst this doesnt quite subscribe to Japans classic Rashomon, in which different perspectives dramatise a singular incident, the weight of sympathy here lays with Laura. As she struggles to detail the ordeal to her sister Katy (Zoe Tapper), she is urged to report her rape to police.

Scenes at a Rape Assault Centre are so traumatic and humiliating, they could be from a documentary.

I will tell the police what happened and then I dont want to talk about it anymore, Laura insists.

But for Andrew, who has a spring in his step from a perfect date night, police questioning will turn his world upside down.

Other sub-plots will add further layers to various back stories which will no doubt deepen across the 6 episodes.

Froggatt extends her acting range from her fine performance in Downton Abbey (its a surprise she takes on another with the grim subject of rape), powering through the equivalent of a dramatic hand-grenade. Gruffudd is suitably charming as to cast audience doubts about his sincerity, without ever feeling like he is truly duplicitous.

The script juggles its puzzle pieces, complemented by hand-held cameras where the drama is most fragile. And there is a closing scene that could not be more timely given recent news headlines.

The series has already been renewed for a second season which, given the Williams brothers work in the past, may mean not everything is tied up neatly by its conclusion. It doesnt matter. Theres more than enough here to make it worth your while.

Gripping stuff.

Liar premieres 8:45pm Monday on Seven.
China looks set to be getting its own version of Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries with format rights sold by Every Cloud Productions.

The format deal allows Shanghai 99 the option to produce up to 52 episodes.

Fiona Eagger, CEO and Co-Founder Every Cloud Productions said, China has definitely been a significant strategic territory for us to break into over these past few years and Shanghai 99 is the ideal company for us to enter into the China market. The three seasons of Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries achieved a great reputation and successful ratings during its broadcast on ABC domestically and has been sold in original format to over 220 territories

Deb Cox, Every Cloud Productions Creative Director and Co-Founder said, Miss Fisher has been embraced all over the world with fans deeply engaged with the stories, the world and the characters led by our crime fighting action hero Phryne Fisher. We believe Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries tailored to a local market will again see strong resonance among Chinese audiences

We are so delighted and honoured to cooperate with Every Cloud Productions to produce a Chinese version of Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries said Rebecca Wu, Vice President Shanghai 99 Visual Company.

We have full confidence that we will produce a successful drama and believe the independent, glamorous and unflappable leading lady detective Phryne Fisher will sweep the country.

Every Cloud recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for a Miss Fisher feature film, which has exceeded expectations raising over $730,000. Filming is expected to begin next Autumn.
If Eddie McGuire is the most powerful talent in television, as an article suggested last weekend, then comedian Trevor Marmalade just got an open invitation to return to The Footy Show.

McGuire, who has just returned from MIPCOM in Cannes, was yesterday in attendance at Nines Upfront event in Melbourne.

Asked about the plans for the AFL show following the departure of Dave Hughes he told News Corp., I havent spoken to Trev since Ive been back, but were gonna catch up.

Well have a chat to the great man and see whats going on.

Part of the joy of doing The Footy Show in the first place was Trev behind the bar, Sams sense of humour, and all the humour coming out from all the players.

Marmalade was part of the original Footy Show line-up from 1994  2008.

Hughes is off to TEN for his own panel show but may make occasional appearances later in 2018.
Help India!

TCN News

Aligarh: If it was not for the Smt Urmila Mittal Memorial Scholarship, lives of 88 girl students attending various courses in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) would have been different. These girls, who come from lower-income-group, are now getting Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 per month to support their education in AMU.

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While distributing scholarship certificates to students from the faculties of commerce, agriculture science, law, engineering and technology and vocational courses at the universitys Womens Polytechnic; CD Mittal, Chairperson, Smt Urmila Mittal Memorial Scholarship, said that his mother was a semi-literate woman, but she always stressed on educating girls.

We started this scholarship programme for AMU girl students to fulfil my late mothers wish, said Mittal. He added that the scholarship programme to support girls from weaker sections will continue even after he passes away. My mother believed that spending money for educating girls is the best investment for the betterment of humanity.

Mittal urged the recipients of the scholarship to do philanthropy after getting settled in life. Mittal attended the programme with family members Vijai Govil and Usha Gupta.

Speaking on the occasion, AMU Vice Chancellor, Professor Tariq Mansoor said that education is the solution to all problems. He added that since financial conditions often deprive girls of education, it is necessary to focus on female education.

Praising the Mittal family for the scholarship, Prof Mansoor said that that the societies we live in, need to be more aware on female education. He pointed out that the Pan American, European and many Asian countries have endowment funds for female education and it is good that such charities have started working in India too. Prof Mansoor urged the recipients to make the best use of their scholarships.

Earlier, Professor Jamshed Siddiqui (Dean Students Welfare) said that the Mittal family has been running this programme for the past three years.

Prof M Sagheer Khan (Deputy, Dean Students Welfare) conducted the programme, while Prof Badar Jahan proposed the vote of thanks. Previous year scholarship recipients, Ms Nida Ansari and Ms Nimisha Gupta also spoke on how this scholarship has helped them to continue their university education.
What do you think of when you hear Wes Anderson's name? Meticulously symmetrical cinematography? Grotesquely saturated colour palettes? Dysfunctional familial themes? An exclusively 60's and 70's pop soundtrack? From his debut, Rushmore to Fantastic Mr Fox, the Academy Award-winning Grand Budapest Hotel to even his 2016 H&M Christmas advert, Anderson's influence on Hollywood and filmmaking has been palpable over the last decade. So now comes his second stop motion animated Film after his acclaimed adaptation of Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr Fox, Isle of Dogs.

Great storyline

In a dystopian Japan, dogs have been banished to the titular location due to an outbreak of "dog flu". Following five dogs Rex (Edward Norton), Boss (Bill Murray), Duke (Jeff Goldblum), King (Bob Balaban) and Chief (Bryan Cranston), they're thrust into a quirky quest when the mayor's son, Atari Kobayashi, arrives on the island searching for his beloved dog, Spots. As the Japanese government pursue Atari and try to bring him back home, the dogs must protect him from the ensuing danger while on the search for man's best friend.

The hallmarks of Anderson's previous works are ever present, and as expected, the premise is as intriguingly bizarre as ever. Anderson has taken a story which shouldn't work and has turned it into an action-packed adventure with a mix of seriousness and his trademark surreal humour.

It frankly amazed me how much was established in two minutes without diving into spoiler territory or talking down to the audience.

Anderson's stop motion is an art form

The animation is top-notch and could be almost to the point of photorealistic. With no signs of CGI to be found, the effort from the animators shows in every single frame.

It makes you appreciate the time and hard work spent into creating the world in comparison to the mainstream CGI animated films dominating cinemas. Arguably larger in scale compared to Fantastic Mr Fox, the mix of the caricatured and realistic character designs along with the Japanese influenced setting and sweeping camera angles create its own unique style.

You immediately know from frame one it's Wes Anderson, and he has shown why stop motion is an art form which mustn't fade from the public eye.

Great cast

If the animation or Anderson's name won't convince you to see this movie, then the stellar cast certainly will. On top of Edward Norton, Bill Murray and Bryan Cranston, there's also Scarlett Johansson (reuniting with Murray after 2003's Lost in Translation), Tilda Swinton, Ken Watanabe, Liev Schreiber, Yoko Ono and Frances McDormand joining the proceedings. As much as it's strange not seeing Jason Schwartzman or Owen Wilson in the cast list, you'll be reassured to know that Schwartzman was involved with developing the story along with Roman Coppola.

Isle Of Dogs will be released on March 23, 2018.
Glen Mitchell, 53, was diagnosed with tinnitus only 12 weeks before his death. After attending a Rock gig at his local club, he was left with country and western songs playing in his head on a loop. As time went on, the retired fireman couldn't even bare a kettle boiling, the noise of the extractor fan or his wife Linda breathing too close to him. Mrs Mitchell has now blasted NHS doctors for the lack of support and information given to her husband when he was diagnosed with the condition.

What is tinnitus?

The Latin for 'noise', tinnitus is the sensation of hearing ringing, buzzing, hissing, chirping, whistling, or other sounds when they aren't there.

Varying in loudness, the condition is normally continuous but can also be intermittent - symptoms stemming from damaged ears. We can all subject our ears to potentially damaging noise; from loud noises in our homes to nightclubs and gigs. You've probably already experienced ringing after a night out but thought nothing of it, but this is the warning signs of damaged ears which can lead to tinnitus. After trying to take his life a first time, Mr Mitchell was referred to ears, nose and throat (ENT) specialists. However, none of which confirmed he had hearing damage. Linda says "By this time he had also developed hyperacusis, a sensitivity to sound, and I was really pushing for more support." Now, four years later, Mrs Mitchell has shared her story as part of British Tinnitus Associations (BTA) 'Share Your Sound' campaign.

What is being done about it?

Unfortunately, over 30% of the world's population is expected to experience tinnitus in their life, and 10% will have the condition permanently. There are ways to cope with it, but also a number of ways to ensure you don't develop the condition. BTA has a number wide-reaching campaigns that target people suffering from tinnitus, including 'Share Your Sound'.

The blockbuster film Baby Driver also recently addressed the condition where the star suffered from tinnitus. Specifically, within music venues, this is one initiative raising awareness about this condition and offering prevention to ensure people don't meet the same harrowing fate as Glen Mitchell. Alpine Hearing Protection and Watch The Hype have partnered to create the All Ears campaign, shedding light on the risks involved with prolonged exposure to loud music whilst providing people with solutions to avoid irreversible damage.

After all, the most precious sense for any music lover is their hearing!

So far over 10 prominent electronic music venues, including Oval Space, Corsica Studios, Village Underground and The Pickle Factory in London, have shown their support for this initiative and now offer high fidelity hearing protection. Consisting of this physical presence within clubs, there is also a dedicated #AllEars website which offers information about tinnitus and tips for those who already suffer. All Ears is supported by the British Tinnitus Association, industry professionals, artists, the London Night Czar and other hearing loss charities.

High-fidelity earplugs, which All Ears are supplying in venues, have advanced music filters that reduce the volume of the music to safe levels whilst keeping the music clear.

Wearing these is the primary prevention method when attending music concerts and gigs.

Why not just turn down the music?

The campaign says "the immersive experience of club music isnt just down to hearing, its down to feeling. If you turn the music down, you lose all the low-end power your body needs to feel present. However, with this low-end power comes dangerously loud mid and high frequencies." To find out more about the campaign, visit their website allearscampaign.com.
The EU is worried. Britain is refusing to pay Brussels' proposed divorce settlement based on the figures they have issued. Understandably, British taxpayers and 52 per cent of those who voted for Brexit last year, and the many Remainers who want the Government to continue with the process of leaving the trading bloc, cannot stomach such a figure.

The EU has a series of mini crises unfolding throughout the continent. In Spain, Catalonian independence is threatening to tear apart that nation state, which could have consequences for the fragile construction of the trading bloc's economy.

In Italy, the Five Star Movement is on the verge of winning power and pulling their country out of the euro, which they view as a populist solution to Italy's problems. Brexit is the last situation they need to deal with. Euroscepticism is now more widespread than ever before, especially with Austria and the Czech Republic electing anti-EU politicians. Of course, the refugee crisis continues to challenge the EU's foundations.

A financial transactions tax will never work

With the UK on the verge of leaving, regional leaders who gathered for the CPRM meeting in Helsinki have proposed an old solution to the new problem of Brexit; a financial transactions tax. Such an answer will never work. David Cameron rightly earned universal praise across Britain in 2011 when he vetoed this ludicrous idea and here is why it will not work now.

When banks employ new staff, they have to pay a tax to the Government through a percentage of the employee's salary. But to add a financial transactions tax on top of that would decrease their profits further and destroy jobs, as opposed to creating them.

Sweden once had a financial transactions tax. The results were devastating and resulted in thousands of jobs losses.

Once the situation was reversed, the Scandinavian nation then succeeded in creating more jobs. A unilateral financial transactions tax would result in reduced business across Europe.

The EU is in a vulnerable position

As already stated, the EU is in a vulnerable position. Its days as an organisation are numbered. A financial transactions tax would result in lower volumes and lower productivity.

This means, critically, less tax revenue for the EU. And who does that benefit? Nobody. If the trading bloc hopes to survive, it needs to create an innovative solution to make up for the shortfall caused by Brexit, but this tax is not the answer.
The latest Crime figures from the UK are truly shocking with the total figure topping five million in one year for the first time. The reason behind this is that we are beginning to reap the consequences of a Perfect Storm that has been brewing for years. Three overarching problems have now joined forces and are bringing destruction.

Funding

The United Kingdom's budget, the current account for this country is still in deficit. We are still spending far more than we are earning. This is a massive problem as it means our overall debt is nearing 2 trillion pounds.

The amount we have to pay each year just to service that enormous amount is about the equivalent to the overall yearly spend on the police and prison service combined. The Cameron/ Osborne Government made it a priority to reduce this, but now targets are being put on a backburner because Corbyn has had some success in the election by promising more reckless spending, borrowing, and taxing.

Every sector of society is demanding more money. Schools, the NHS, social housing, railways, HS2, social services, student grants etc. In addition, Corbyn feels it is wise to despise big business and rich people and the profits they bring to the UK and the Conservatives are so electorally afraid, they go along with the nonsense.

If this does not stop the rating agencies will downgrade the UK economy further. The cost of the loans will increase and the country will follow Greece down the fiscal toilet. The resultant funding consequences for law enforcement is obvious.

Demand

President Trump's recent comments equating the grim crime figures with the increase in Islamic extremism upset many.

It was poorly explained, it is difficult to explain complex issues within Twitter's 140 characters which is why most senior politicians don't even try. However, he has a valid point. There are now thousands of police, all heavily armed and well trained, patrolling swathes of London, Manchester, Birmingham and every other large city which did not need it before.

Thousands of known jihadists are being monitored round the clock and one-third of a million extra people are flooding into the UK each year. This does not allow Dixon of Dock Green much time to patrol the area on foot catching burglars (sorry police don't bother with that anymore) or clipping young yobs round the ear (nor that either, Dixon would end up in the dock himself and add to the figures).

Political choices

Liberal thinking has now taken over. We have no physical control over anyone from the age of about six upwards. Hate crime is now more important than burglary, theft or actual assault. By hate crime police mean anything said either in person or online that any sensitive soul may be upset about.

"Don't be such a wretched toe-rag" tweeted online from a white person to a black one is a hate crime needing investigation if the black person believes it is racially motivated. Eighty-year-old Mrs Smith's house getting burgled and placing her in fear for the rest of her life - sorry, no time for that.

Have you any idea how family members stop an idiot female teenager from going round to the taxi firm at fourteen and spending hours with sleazy men? Nor me. Social Services take them into care and it gets worse. They can't restrain them or lock them in, so they follow them and give them a lift back. Don't believe me? Google Rotherham or Leeds or Bristol or most other major cities. Taking control of how parents should parent is going really well for the State!

We also now want to have enquiries into everything. Ted Heath died twelve years ago. Some fantasist accuses him of paedophilia. Lets group that with several other similar claims with no proof call it "Operation Conifer" and waste 1.4 million pounds, while coming up with nothing of benefit through it.

How should we deal with this crisis?

It is time to go back to policing that protects people from real threats and punishes the perpetrators harshly. We must remove any terrorist threats that we can from the country in any way that we need to, without paying for lawyers to set up spurious Human Rights cases. Gangs carrying guns or acid and using violence against people should be imprisoned not excused, as should people with more than two previous convictions against them.

Others in worse circumstances don't behave like this, there is no excuse. Prison must be a disciplined punishment and policing should not include getting officers to paint their nails or wear high heels or dress in bear costumes to show political empathy. Projects that neither catch and punish nor protect people should be scrapped.

It's simple really, if people break the law stop them and punish them, if people are in danger protect them. It's straightforward, cost effective and it secured great results since the end of World War two until we gave over control to the so called intellectual elite, who live nowhere near crime Hellholes.

The Liberals and Socialists are pushing the UK into lawlessness. It is time to push back!
The Brexit Secretary is to face questions today from MPs who claim the Brexit talks are moving too slowly.

David Davis will appear before the Commons Exiting the EU select committee where he faces accusations that he has not kept to his end of the bargain and for failing to prepare for these negotiations, according to a Cabinet source from The Daily Telegraph.

He is also expected to be criticised for failing to ensure the Brexit Bill will be brought forward to a new date after it failed to clear its first Commons hurdle in September and was expected to return in October.

Mr. Davis has also been accused of missing meetings with senior MPs to pave the way for the EU Withdrawal Bill and the 400 amendments that have been tabled.

On Monday, Sky News reported that five significant business groups are writing a letter to the Brexit Secretary to advise him of the need for a transitional period after March 2019, the date the UK is due to leave the trading bloc. They want this transitional period to mirror Britain's current arrangements with Brussels as possible.

Britain's budgetary contributions will be sorely missed

The European Union (EU) has revealed that it fears Brexit because Britain's budgetary contributions will be sorely missed once it leaves the trading bloc.

The continent's regional leaders met in the Finnish capital of Helsinki for the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPRM), where they examined the consequences of Brexit on Brussels' budget, which will leave the EU 70 billions euros short once the UK quits the EU.

They may witness funding fall due to Britain's exit from the trading bloc

Enrico Rossi, the President of Tuscany, warned the CPRM that they may witness a funding gap due to Britain's exit from the trading bloc. He urged his counterparts to produce innovative solutions to plug the gaps in their finances likely to be caused by Britain's departure, saying a financial transactions tax could be the answer to this growing crisis.

On Tuesday, the European Council's President, Donald Tusk, advised Britain it can cancel the Brexit negotiations at any stage.

So far in the negotiations, the EU's Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, said it may take seven years for Britain and the EU to negotiate a Canadian-style free trade agreement. He said only a short transition period in which the UK would have to accept EU law would lead to the creation of a trade deal between both sides.

The deal struck between Canada and Brussels, known as the Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, lifts 98 per cent of tariffs on imports and creates a significant movement towards free trade. It does not significantly reduce non-tariff barriers for trade and regulations would apply to UK exports to the EU.

Mr. Barnier said such a deal would take several years to negotiate due to approval being needed from Europe's regional parliaments.

No deal with the EU will be a disaster

Meanwhile, Gina Miller, who won a court case against the Government earlier this year over its claims it can trigger Article 50 without parliamentary consent, said on BBC News that no deal with the EU will be a disaster.

The anti-Brexit campaigner warned Government in-fighting would ruin the UK's Brexit plans with the trading bloc.

She added that a cross-party negotiating team should be conducting the Brexit negotiations because it was not just England, but the United Kingdom as a whole, that voted to leave the EU last year.

Ms Miller said she fears the Government has only got six weeks to produce a plan and that time is running out.

Ms Miller also requested the Government release a series of reports that should consist of details on how to reverse Brexit. She is calling on the Department for Exiting the EU to publish figures they collected confirming how leaving the EU will "damage" certain sectors of the economy.

She believes the reports will portray the Government in a bad light and hinder its "hard" Brexit plans. This includes its legal position when it comes to rescinding Article 50.
The Chinese Communist Party has just concluded its twice in a decade party congress. This was a historic meeting as it marked the elevation of President Xi as a"great leader" and incorporated his name in the constitution of China on a par with Mao Tse Tung and Deng Xiaoping. He has now been given another five-year term, but by incorporating his name in the constitution, Xi for all practical purposes is a leader as long as he lives, according to CNN.

Xi has become China's most powerful leader in decades and the stage has been set for the authoritarian leader to tighten his grip over the country while pursuing an aggressive foreign policy and military expansion.

With Xi as the supreme leader, an attack on him is tantamount to an attack on the party and China itself and could land the accuser a stringent jail term.

Xi will now head the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee which is staffed by his handpicked men. Despite this, power will remain concentrated in the hands of Xi, who is now a virtual dictator of China as opined by Times of India.

Flashback

A flashback in history will show that in 1934, a German leader of the National Socialist Party similarly got himself elected by supplicating members of the Reichstag. Comparisons are always odious, but one can't avoid the similarity between the two events. With his name in the constitution, Xi has become the nation's ultimate authority, likely giving him the last word on all major decisions.

He is now on par with the greats of Chinese Communist Party rule like Mao and Deng. Mao is credited with laying the foundation of the present Industrial power and nuclear weapons program while Deng ushered in economic reforms that helped China to catch up with the West and Japan.

President Xi

President Xi has a clear vision of China's role on the global stage and he believes that the all the policies and international agreements reflecting western thought need to be rejected.

This caused China to reject the decision of the International Tribunal on its claim in the South China Sea. By building a first overseas base at Djibouti in Africa, China has signalled its arrival as a world power, intent on dominating the world. This is a first in 4000 years of Chinese history.

Sobering thought

It is well to remember, that the German regime and later the regime of Josef Stalin lasted just a few decades and were overthrown. This should be a sobering thought for President Xi. As it stands, Xi has become the nation's ultimate authority, likely giving him the last word on all major decisions.
Over the last two and a half years, Donald Trump has caused many in the mainstream media to lash out in opposition to his rhetoric, policy proposals, and overall behavior. After yet another controversial day in Washington, D.C., a host on MSNBC decided to unload on the president.

MSNBC on Trump

Donald Trump has caused controversy since the day he announced his campaign for president back in the summer of 2015 and labeled illegal immigrants from Mexico as "rapists" and "murderers." Trump's comments triggered a negative response from the majority of the mainstream media, as well as a growing number of Republicans who were worried about the potential damage the billionaire real estate mogul could cause to the party's brand.

Over the course of the 2016 presidential election, Trump created an even greater frenzy, which appeared to peak following his election win over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and since his inauguration earlier this year. Despite vowing to hire the "best people" in his administration, Trump has been forced to deal with a high turnover ratio, from cabinet members to those serving on his staff. In addition, congressional Republicans have decided not to run for re-election in opposition to the president, including Sen. Bob Corker and Sen. Jeff Flake, who recently announced the end of tenure in Washington on Tuesday. As reported by Medaite on October 24, one host on MSNBC brought these issues up and ripped into the president in the process.

During a panel discussion on MSNBC on Tuesday, host Nicole Wallace highlighted the feud between Donald Trump and Sen. Bob Corker, as well as Sen. Jeff Flake's surprising announcement earlier in the day to not seek re-election due to the current commander in chief. Wallace didn't hold back when giving her thoughts about Trump and his administration, accusing them of not even being "human beings," while quickly bringing up the phone call the president made to the pregnant widow of a solider killed earlier this month in Niger, Africa.

"I want to bring this back to this concept...of deflection, of projection, a lack of irony," Nicolle Wallace said before adding, "theres no capacity for humanity, these do not appear to be human beings." Wallace then cited Donald Trump's decision to send John Kelly to the press to defend his controversial remarks to the war widow, labeling the Chief of Staff a "political human shield" who was sent by the president to do his dirty work.

Nicolle Wallace on Trump Administration: They 'Do Not Appear to Be Human Beings' https://t.co/yc0jZcWzM4 (VIDEO) pic.twitter.com/E7tjJJ6VUh  Mediaite (@Mediaite) October 24, 2017

Nicolle Wallace didn't stop there, going as far as calling Donald Trump a "disgrace" who "wasn't man enough" to confront the press about the aforementioned phone call. Wallace has been critical of Trump in the past and is yet another well-known Republican to speak out against the president.

Moving forward

While many in the media continue to hit back at Donald Trump and hold his feet to the fire, the White House has done their best to discredit the press. Though Trump claims to be in good standing with the American people despite the negative reporting from the media, his approval rating has remained at just 35 percent since the summer.
On a day when yet another Republican senator announced that he would not seek re-election due to his opposition to the current president, Donald Trump took time to praise most GOP senators on social media. After a social media post by the president on Tuesday night, Trump was quickly reminded that not everything is going well on his side of the political aisle.

Trump on Twitter

It's no secret that Donald Trump doesn't see eye to eye with many in Washington. Trump's first feud started with the majority of the mainstream media during the early days of his campaign, which has transformed into an all out war at times.

While it was expected that the former of "The Apprentice" would clash with most Democrats, it's been the growing opposition from Republicans that have caused internal issues for the White House. Trump would often personally attack his Republican opponents during the primary, but that has carried over into his presidency, which has prevented the GOP from moving forward on legislation dealing with health care and tax reform. Over the last few weeks, Trump has engaged in a war of words with Sen. John McCain and Sen. Bob Corker, who had already announced he would not be running for re-election, mostly in part to his feelings towards the White House. On Tuesday, Sen. Jeff flake also came forward to confirm he won't be seeking re-election, while delivering critical remarks about Trump.

As seen on Twitter on October 24, Trump appeared to ignore the negativity and brag about getting several "standing ovations' from most of the GOP in the senate.

So nice being with Republican Senators today. Multiple standing ovations! Most are great people who want big Tax Cuts and success for U.S.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 24, 2017

Taking to his Twitter feed on Tuesday night, Donald Trump commented on his recent lunch meeting with Republican members of the United States Senate.

After being nearly hit with dozens of mini Russian flags on his way to the Senate meeting, Trump expressed his satisfaction during the gathering of Republicans.

"So nice being with Republican Senators today," Donald Trump tweeted out, before adding, "Multiple standing ovations!" "Most are great people who want big Tax Cuts and success for U.S." Trump noted.

Twitter fact-checks

Not long after Donald Trump sent out his tweet, critics responded on social media and pointed out that the president's own party is getting fed up with him. "Today was probably the worst day any Republican president has ever had in the history of America within his own party," one tweet read.

Jeff Flake and Bob Corker have made you look like a fool today. How's that make you feel?  Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) October 24, 2017

Jeff Flake voted against disaster relief for Hurricane Katrina. And even this guy hates Trump.  Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) October 24, 2017

"When even the bad guys like Jeff Flake and Bob Corker don't like you, that's when you know you are pure evil," Eugene Gu tweeted back.

"Are you really talking about crowd sizes and ovations again?" another Twitter user wondered, before adding, "For god's sake another Republican Senator basically said screw you to you today."

He remember when a protestor called you a "traitor" and threw Russian flags at you when you were walking by?



He was speaking for 65% of us!  Pe Resists (@4everNeverTrump) October 24, 2017

Your party is unraveling at it seams and it's all because of you. What an extraordinary accomplishment  Impeach Donald Trump (@Impeach_D_Trump) October 24, 2017

I mean, to point out that he got multiple standing ovations, whether its true or not, is just absurd.  Brad Ripka (@bradripka) October 24, 2017

"Look at you, pretending like you don't care that two of the Senators in room called you a danger to the Republic and world.

We know you do," an additional tweet stated. Those who oppose Donald Trump continued to pile on and remind the commander in chief that well-respected members of the GOP are jumping off the so-called "Trump Train."
Ami Brown is battling lung cancer and the fans have been really worried about the star of "Alaskan Bush People." Now In Touch Weekly is sharing that her daughter rain brown is actually giving fans the update they have been waiting on about her health. Rain has been doing a great job of going to her Instagram to let fans know what is going on.

What did Rain have to say about her mom?

Rain Brown actually shared that she had spent the morning with her mom hanging out and drinking tea. She said that they made peach tea and also their own mix of essential oils that they love.

They used frankincense, eucalyptus, pink grapefruit, and spearmint plus coconut oil and also a bit of shimmer. It sounds like a great time for mother and daughter to spend together.

So how is Ami Brown doing now? Well, according to her daughter she is now going through her second round of chemo. This means that Ami is still getting the treatment done. Rain shared that she can't really give a big update on how her mom is doing just yet. It sounds like this could be because the family is going to be filming again.

Rain shared that she has been trying really hard to stay positive about everything that is going on with them right now. She posted saying, "Worrying about it only makes it worse. There is hope and that hope is having faith in God.

You cant give up. I tell people be happy. Just be happy. Its a choice. Things can be hard and you just want to curl up but you have to shine."

Could this hit show be coming back again?

There has been a lot of talk about if "Alaskan Bush People" will be back again or not. The last season was supposed to be the last, but it doesn't really seem that way.

There is no reason to think that a show with this big of a fan following and that huge of ratings wouldn't come back again.

The fans would love to see another season of "Alaskan Bush People." Right now, it is just unknown, but everyone is hopeful that Discovery will announce another season coming soon or a spin-off of some kind with some of the kids from the show.

There have been a lot of rumors flying that the family will end up moving to Colorado. They have made it pretty clear that they are done living in Alaska and will now be in the lower 48 states.

Are you excited to hear that Ami Brown is doing well? Do you feel like the show "Alaskan Bush People" will be returning again? Sound off in the comments below, and don't miss new episodes of "Alaskan Bush People" if they actually do get to return to Discovery.
In spite of the secrecy of Game of Thrones Season 8, Kit Harington, who plays the role of Jon Snow, revealed that he now knows everything that will happen. In an interview with The One Show on BBC on Oct. 20, the 30-year-old star talked about the recent table read with his fellow cast members.

He, too, teased what will happen in the final chapter of the television adaptation of George R.R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire novel series. He even hinted his reaction when he attended their final read through.

An emotional goodbye

I know everything now, Kit Harington said about Game of Thrones Season 8 after the recent table read.

Rose Leslies soon-to-be husband also teased that the final installment of the epic fantasy series is going to be pretty emotional. "I cried at the end," he revealed. Is someone close to him set to die?

Harington explained that their final read through brought back a lot of memories. Remembering the eight years of doing the television show, he confessed that no one really cares about it more than them. In fact, it is the longest institution he has ever been part of. School, drama school, anything," he said.

He admitted that he got a little bit emotional thinking about the series start and its coming to an end. It would be a strange year for him as he is about to say goodbye to the staff and crew and is doing final scenes with the other cast members.

An effort to fight leaks and hackers

In spite of teasing the emotional finale, Kit Harington didnt really reveal what is going to happen in Game of Thrones Season 8.

The final installment will still be bound to secrecy, even though the Gunpowder star and producer hinted that he already knew how its story is going to roll.

The English actor divulged that someone told him that he shouldnt tell anyone that he is filming the series. He, too, should not take photos in Belfast. Its on lockdown! he warned.

HBO is working hard to avoid leakages just like what happened in the previous season. W Magazine reported that the network is going to use an earpiece to give the actors their scripts.

It is also said before that the television show is going to shoot multiple endings so that hackers will be confused about the series real finale. Even the onlookers and the staff won't have any idea how the program will come to an end. It is rumored that the final season of "Game of Thrones" will be released at some point in early 2019 by HBO.
When Sara Lance picks up a distress call from the Time Bureau, she believes the Legends need to help. Off they go to the future, where they lead A.R.G.U.S. directly to their rogue time traveler. Unfortunately for them, the rogue time traveler is ready for the A.R.G.U.S. bot, but the Legends arent. Will they be able to explain what theyre really doing and talk their way out of this one?

The promo and sneak peeks for Legends of tomorrow season 3, episode 3 are finally here. This will give us a snapshot into what to expect in the episode.

The Legends are taken prisoner

The first sneak peek of the week gives us a glimpse into whats in store for the main Legends this week. Sara, Rory, and others take a trip to the future to bring back Zari, only to find out A.R.G.U.S. is waiting for them. The bot is able to figure out who each of the travelers is and makes it clear that they are to remain stationary to be picked up.

Despite an initial wish to fight, the four Legends are arrested by S.W.A.T.-looking A.R.G.U.S. soldiers. Their rogue time-traveler uses her device to cover herself from the bot and get away without capture. That wont be for long, though, as we see from the next sneak peek.

How does Zari get away?

In the second sneak peek, we see our rogue time traveler in the back of an A.R.G.U.S.

van. The van is stopped by a meta-human, who clearly wants to do more than free the hacktivist traveler. However, that isnt possible, as Zari manages to get out of the cuffs and disappear.

Will we find out how she escaped? It's more than likely that we will, as there is a guy filming the whole thing. He then sends a Code 99 through his phone to get some help.

An attempt to save Amaya

While all this happens. Dr. Stein, Amaya, and Nate have been left behind. Dr. Stein needs to diagnose Amayas new condition and find a treatment for it. When Nate thinks he may have found one, he needs to get Amaya to agree to try it. Its out of the ordinary and it sounds like it could be dangerous.

You can find out more about the episode from the trailer below. Share what you hope to see happen.

Many fans also want to know what the sneak peeks mean for other meta humans in Arrowverse. Does this mean The Flash and Black Siren have been taken somewhere? What fans need to remember right now is that Legends of Tomorrow shows just one future possibility. There are many other futures available, which is something The Flash touched on after Barry saved his mothers life.

Legends of Tomorrow season 3 continues on Tuesday at 9/8c on The CW.
Ninoska Vasquez from Venezuela emerged as the winner in the resorts wear preliminary competition of Miss Earth 2017. This round that included the first group of delegates was held at Laus Event Center in Pampanga, Philippines on October 24.

The resorts wear competition featured the ladies wearing summer-inspired outfits and accessories. The outfits included floral prints, bright colors, and hats as headpieces.

Vasquez works as a psychologist in her country. Though she came from an underprivileged family and her mother worked as a street vendor, she was able to support her family with a lot of faith in God.

She currently has won two medals in the pre-pageant activities.

This Venezuelan beauty bagged a silver medal in her groups swimsuit preliminaries.

The best thing about my family is that they are hardworking people and we did not have to have a special date to enjoy and put together a good party at my house, Vasquez said. Even though I only attend university studies, the members of my family are very intelligent, enterprising and dedicated.

Medal tally

During the resorts wear competition held in San Fernando in Pampanga, Faith Landman from the Netherlands and Dominika Szymanska from Poland tied in the second place. Honduras Valeria Cardona and Wales Sophie Bettridge tied in the third place and bagged bronze medals.

Earlier, a long gown preliminary competition was held.

Karla Aponte from Puerto was declared the winner in their group. This marked her second gold medal after also winning first place during the swimsuit round.

Mexicos delegate Karen Bustos won a silver medal and Vietnams representative Le Thi Ha Thu won a bronze medal. During the first groups talent competition, the winners were contestants from Crimea, Guatemala, and Wales.

Provincial leg

Miss Earth 2017 organizers partnered with the Laus Group Event Centre in Pampanga to host various events such as the resorts wear contest and tree-planting activities, local newspaper SunStar reported. The ladies presented their advocacies for the environment and participated in immersion activities.

The provincial leg kicked off with a tree-planting affair held at the Laus Group Complex as part of the pageants advocacy to protect nature.

Some of the ladies planted a native flowering tree and an herbal plant in the venue.

Other recent activities included a courtesy visit to the seat of the Philippines executive office at the Malacanang Palace with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea. They also visited Masungi Georeserve and a resort in Batangas.
A German man stabbed and injured eight people in a knife rampage in six different locations in Munich in Germany on Saturday morning, lead to police launching a city-wide manhunt. A 33-year-old man was arrested by a SWAT team. Police do not consider the attack to be terror-related, saying they believe the suspect suffered from mental health issues.

Manhunt launched for knife-wielding suspect in Munich

According to German police, the suspect allegedly stabbed eight people in his knife attack, but none of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries and only received superficial wounds.

Of the eight injured, police said their ages ranged from a 12-year-old boy to a person 77 years of age.

While a three-hour manhunt was in progress with helicopters and ground-based officers, locals were advised to stay indoors as the attacks were random and the suspect was considered highly volatile and dangerous. Residents in Rosenheimer Platz, Ostpark and close to Ostbahnof railway station were particularly warned to stay inside, while they had all available police officers searching for the suspect.

Terrorism ruled out in knife attack in Munich

Police chief Hubertus Andrae made a statement to say terrorism and religion were both ruled out as a motive for the knife attacks.

The suspect was known to police for other offenses and was believed to have mental health issues. Preliminary reports show the assailant had reportedly acted alone and had randomly targeted his victims in six different areas of the city.

As reported by RT News, while the manhunt was ongoing, police had described the man as being thickset with short blond hair and around 40 years of age.

The suspect was unshaven and was wearing gray pants, a green jacket and a backpack, to which a sleeping pad had been attached. He was seen to be riding a black bicycle.

Officials eventually detained the suspect in Ottobrunner Strasse, around 2.1 miles from Rosenheimer Platz where one of the knife attacks took place in the city.

The suspect is to be sent to a psychiatric clinic for further evaluation, according to the police chief.

Memories of previous attack in Munich

As reported by Deutsche Welle, Saturdays knife attacks revived memories of a similar attack in Munich in 2016, where an 18-year-old man attacked and killed nine people, all youths of Albanian and Turkish backgrounds. That shooter had identified himself as being a German and an Aryan and turned his gun on himself, committing suicide soon after the shooting incident.
Seven of the world's top 10 most highly valued non-US "unicorns" - private companies valued at more than $1 billion each - began in China, according to a report from US consulting firm CB Insights.

Chinese ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing is the world's second-most highly valued unicorn, just behind the US-based Uber, another car-hailing service provider.

Although more than 50 percent of the world's 214 unicorn companies are located in the United States, an increasing number of unicorns have been popping up in global markets.

China, home to 55 unicorns, has become the world's second-richest country in unicorn companies, followed by India and the UK.

India's largest unicorn Flipkart, an e-commerce platform with Chinese internet giant Tencent as its strategic investor, is the world's fifth most highly valued non-US unicorn.

Let's take a look at the top 10 most highly valued unicorns outside the US.

No 10 Snapdeal

Valuation: $7 billion

Country: India
This file photo taken on Jan 30, 2011 shows US currency viewed in Manassas, Virgina. [Photo/VCG]

Finance Ministry to discuss details with potential investors in HK on Wednesday

The Ministry of Finance will kick-start its plans to issue US dollar-denominated sovereign bonds worth $2 billion by holding investment and financing discussions with potential investors in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Half of the $2 billion in debt will consist of five-year bonds and the other half will be 10-year bonds. It would mean a re-opening of the financing channel connecting the international capital markets by adding an important investment and risk-hedge instrument, said a statement released on the ministry's website on Tuesday.

The bond offering will support a much more balanced structure of China's sovereign bonds, said the statement.

It would also be the first time that the Chinese government has issued US dollar-denominated sovereign bonds in the last 13 years.

The last offering of a similar bond was for $1.7 billion.

"The priority is not to raise capital, as there is no strong need for the Chinese government to borrow from overseas based on its current stable economic growth and supplementary foreign exchange reserves," according to the ministry. "So this time the total issuance amount is not quite large. The funds that would be raised will be used for general government expenditure."

The bond issue is more of an indication that the country's financial sector will be further opened up to global investors, while also fulfilling the purpose of international financing to support the development of China's real economy, said Liang Hong, chief economist with China International Capital Corp.

The ministry's statement said that there has been strong demand from international investors for China-issued sovereign bonds, as the issuer has strong economic foundations as well as a top-level credit rating among emerging markets. "Global investors are willing to better understand the development situation of China's whole economy and financial sector," it said.

Lian Ping, chief economist of Bank of Communications, said the issue would set a benchmark for China's sovereign bond pricing and improve the foreign currency-denominated bond's yield curve.

It is also expected to improve financing efficiency for Chinese enterprises when they need to raise funds from global capital markets, said Lian.

By the end of last year, the foreign debt of China's central government totaled $18.1 billion, accounting for 1.06 percent of total treasury bonds.

Nearly 85 percent of the foreign debt is yuan-denominated which was issued in the offshore market.

"China's current foreign debt ratio is much lower than the international level," the ministry said.

By choosing to launch the bond issue in Hong Kong, the central government has also reaffirmed its commitment to maintain the region as a global financial center, the statement said.
Tim Blackburn, CEO of Swire Properties of Chinese Mainland. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Hong Kong developer Swire Properties Ltd will see its real estate business on the mainland ramping up, accounting for a major portion of its global portfolio this year, a top company executive said.

The developer, owner and operator of mixed-use commercial properties expects over 30 percent of its global real estate projects to be in the mainland by the end of this year, with the opening of its second Taikoo Hui branded projectHKRI Taikoo Hui, in Shanghai by December.

"That will increase our square footage to 8.8 million square feet on the mainland, 33 percent of our world portfolio, compared with nothing 10 years ago," said Tim Blackburn, chief executive officer at Swire Properties of Chinese Mainland.

"We see it as strong evidence and confidence in the Chinese mainland market."

Eyeing Shanghai's rapid urbanization and the increasing demand for commercial space outside the Lujiazui financial center, Swire is also currently in the process of negotiating a retail project in Qiantan, one of Shanghai's hottest areas. The company aims to form the joint venture partnership with Lujiazui Co by the first quarter of next year and hold a 50 percent stake in the project with an expected total floor area of approximately 124,000 square meters.

Blackburn said the company's strategy is to develop retail-led mixed-use projects in tier-one cities. However, the company also has a strong residential brand in Hong Kong and if the right opportunity came along in the mainland, the company would look at it, he said.

Swire attaches great importance to the mainland, with past investment here having borne fruit, said Blackburn, adding that it was also a key component for the company's sustainable growth.

"We will continue to commit ourselves on long-term development in the mainland and keep our expansion radar on for good opportunities that fit in with our long-term strategy and business model," he added.

Blackburn said the real estate market is changing with more demand for high quality development in the fields of design, environment and operational excellence.

"In the past, as long as you build it people will come, but now after you build it, you need to manage it well and curate it for the long term," he said.

Swire Properties has formed various cooperation agreements with local companies including Sino-Ocean Group, CITIC Group and HKR International, and more are on the anvil, he said.

"We definitely see more partnership opportunities with mainland developers," he said.
A driver uses Tesla's charging station in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province. LIU QIANG / FOR CHINA DAILY

If Tesla Inc has reached an agreement with Shanghai's government to build a fully owned manufacturing facility in the city's free trade zone, then other automakers will seek approval and that could change the dynamics of the auto industry in China, according to US auto analysts.

Tesla Inc on Monday again confirmed it is talking with the Shanghai municipal government to set up a factory in the region and expects to agree on a plan by the end of the year. But the electric car maker declined to comment on a Wall Street Journal report over the weekend that it and the Shanghai government have reached a deal to allow Elon Musk's company to become the first foreign car maker to own a manufacturing plant in China.

Most foreign auto companies partner with Chinese companies in a joint venture (JV) and share their technology.If Tesla strikes a deal with Shanghai's government for a wholly owned plant, it would allow Tesla to slash the production and shipping costs of its cars sold to China. But since the cars would be manufactured in the city's free trade zone, it would not get an exemption from the import tax of 25 percent.

"Other foreign companies will try to follow the same path or use this opportunity to push removing the JV requirements. Chinese policy makers have been debating the pros and cons of the restriction anyway. I will not be surprised to see the policy change in the near future," Qiang Hong, a senior research scientist at the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan, said in an email.

Stephanie Brinley, industry analyst with IHS Marki, agreed that other automakers would seek to follow Tesla's move. "China has indicated it will consider granting these requests as a measure to increase production of new-energy vehicles," he said in an email.

David Keith, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management, said in an interview that Western auto companies have been concerned about their intellectual property rights in the joint ventures with Chinese firms.

"You can understand why Tesla would not be interested in a joint venture," Keith said. If Tesla gets to own its plant it would "signal an opening of the industry at a time of dramatic change in the automotive industry," he added.

Arthur Wheaton, an automotive expert with Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, wrote in an email that having "100 percent ownership is highly unusual in China. For internal combustion cars the law requires about 50 percent Chinese ownership for cars to be sold in China. Honda has a plant with 100 percent ownership but it is export only."

Wheaton said the Chinese facility would help Tesla to meet current demand. Keith agreed and noted that the company is producing vehicles in a small number of countries.

"This would give Tesla an opportunity to increase production, bring down costs and perhaps help the company expand its sales in Asia," Keith said.

Tesla delivered 13,500 cars in the first nine months of 2017 in China, more than double from a year earlier, according to the China Passenger Car Association.

Tesla has just one manufacturing facility, in California, which has been facing several production bottlenecks.

Li Fusheng in Beijing contributed to this report.
Delegatesto the 19th CPC National Congressvote to amend the Party Constitution in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday before the congress adjourned. XU JINGXING / CHINA DAILY

The Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was written into the Constitution of the Communist Party of China as a new component of the Party's guide for action, according to a resolution of the 19th CPC National Congress.

Unanimously agreed upon by Party delegates, the amendment to the Constitution  the CPC's fundamental document for its more than 89 million members  juxtaposed Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development.

In response to contemporary developments and by integrating theory with practice, Chinese Communists, with Xi, also China's president, as their chief representative, have given shape to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era since the 18th CPC National Congress, the resolution said.

It has "systematically addressed the major question of our times  what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics the new era requires us to uphold and develop and how we should uphold and develop it," according to the document.

It "must be upheld long term and constantly developed," said the resolution.

"The Thought is a continuation and development of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development," it said.

"It is the latest achievement in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, a crystallization of the practical experience and collective wisdom of the Party and the people," it said.

The resolution hailed the new era thought as "an important component of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and a guide to action for the entire Party and all the Chinese people to strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation".

Under the guidance of Xi's new era thought, "the CPC has led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to carry out a great struggle, develop a great project, advance a great cause, and realize a great dream, ushering in a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics," it said.

In the resolution, the CPC urged all Party members to use new era thought to achieve unity in thinking and action and be more purposeful and determined in studying and applying it throughout the drive toward China's socialist modernization and Party building.

According to the resolution, a wide range of new ideas, thinking and strategies put forward by the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core have also been added to the Constitution, such as giving play to the decisive role of market forces in resource allocation, advancing supply-side structural reform and enhancing the country's cultural soft power.

Xi Jinping's military thinking and the Party's "absolute" leadership over the armed forces also have been included in the Party's Constitution.

According to the resolution, the CPC will uphold its absolute leadership over the People's Liberation Army and other people's armed forces and implement Xi Jinping's thinking on strengthening the military.

The development of the PLA will be strengthened by enhancing its political loyalty, strengthening it through reform and technology, and running it in accordance with the law, the resolution read.

The CPC will build people's forces that obey the Party's command, can fight and win, and maintain excellent conduct to ensure that the PLA accomplishes its missions and tasks in the new era, it said.

The inclusion of these statements in the Party Constitution will "help ensure the Party's absolute leadership over the people's armed forces, (and) modernize national defense and the military," it said.

In addition, the amendment to the CPC Constitution also clarified that the chairperson of the Central Military Commission assumes overall responsibility over the work of the commission and that the CMC is responsible for Party work and political work in the armed forces.

This complies with the realistic requirement to ensure the CMC fulfills its responsibility for Party self-supervision and self-governance after the military reform, the resolution said.

Congress delegates also agreed to write the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics into the CPC Constitution, along with the path, theory and system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

In addition, the amendment included an assessment of the change in the "principal contradiction" facing Chinese society, which serves as an important basis on which the CPC and China formulate major policies and long-term strategies.

The CPC said the contradiction facing Chinese society is "between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing need for a better life".

Previously the maxim, which had stood for 36 years, was described as one between "the ever-growing material and cultural needs of the people and backward social production."
The sector has grown rapidly as filmmakers developed and embraced new techniques and subject matter, as Xu Fan reports.

Wolf Warrior 2 is the highest-grossing film in the history of China's movie industry, with box-office receipts of more than 5.5 billion yuan ($830 million). [Photo/China Daily]

The rapid development of China's movie industry in the past five years has seen the number of silver screens rise to 49,000, the highest in any country, according to Zhang Hongsen, vice-minister of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, and Television.

From The Taking of Tiger Mountain to Operation Mekong to Wolf Warrior 2, China has seen a surge in domestic blockbusters, and the achievements have attracted attention across the globe, he said, speaking at a media briefing during the 19th Communist Party of China's National Congress.

According to the State-owned online movie news portal 1905, the latest figures show that there are 8,260 cinemas nationwide.

Between Jan 1 and Oct 16 box-office takings topped 46 billion yuan ($7 billion), and industry observers predict that the figure will rise to 55 billion yuan by the end of the year, signaling stable, continuous growth from 2012, the year China's movie industry underwent two pivotal changes.

The first was China overtaking Japan to become the world's second-largest movie market, while the second was the administration's decision to raise the annual quota of foreign moviesusually Hollywood blockbustersfrom 20 to 34.

In addition, Lost in Thailand, a comedy by actor-turned director Xu Zheng, was China's highest-grossing movie in 2012, becoming the first film in the history of Chinese cinema to make more than 1 billion yuan and ushering in a new era for domestic blockbusters.

So far this year, 13 homemade movies have taken more than 1 billion yuan and the number is expected to rise by the end of December.

Box-office boost

Figures from the administration show that the annual box-office take rose to 49 billion yuan last year from 17 billion yuan in 2012, signaling average year-on-year growth of 30.35 percent.

Chinese are also more willing to head to movie theaters now than they were five years ago; annual visits rose to 1.37 billion last year from 466 million in 2012.

Homemade films have now dominated box-office takings for three successive years.

Following the success of Monster Hunt, which beat the Hollywood hit Furious 7 to top box-office earnings in 2015, The Mermaid made by Stephen Chow, Hong Kong's "king of comedy", more than doubled the box-office revenue of Disney's Zootopia to become the most successful movie in China last year.

In addition, the homemade Special Forces-themed action movie Wolf Warrior 2 is now the highest-grossing film in Chinese movie history, with box-office receipts of 5.68 billion yuan.

"Chinese movies have gained unique influence and power thanks to the rapid development of the movie industry (in the past five years)," said Zhang at an earlier meeting in Qingdao, Shandong province.

He added that China may overtake the United States, or even the entire North American market (the US and Canada), to become the world's biggest movie market by 2019.

Rise of domestic titles

For many industry insiders, filmmakers and decision-makers, the rise of domestic blockbusters is reflected in a number of ways, including a wider list of genres, bigger budgets and higher-quality production values, scripts and acting.

Jiao Hongfen, president of China Film Group Corp, the largest State-owned studio, said the development of the domestic movie industry accords with the country's economic rise.

"Now Chinese people are leading better lives they look forward to seeing more-interesting stories on the big screen," he said.

As a greater number of foreign hits enter the Chinese market, local moviegoers are becoming more discerning. Last year, 90 foreign movies were shown in China's movie theaters, a rise of 45 percent, compared with 62 in 2015.

Moreover, a number of major Hollywood "tent poles"movies that support a studio's less-successful workshave been released in China.




Rick Kimberley, president of Kimberley Farms Inc in Maxwell, Iowa, said China's head of state Xi Jinping's pledge to improve the living standards of its people is commendable, and he welcomes Xi to return to his home and farm again.

Xi visited Kimberley's home and farm in 2012.

Asked what impressed him the most in Xi's report delivered at the opening of the 19th National Congress of the CPC on Wednesday, Kimberley said, "China's desire to improve the standard of living for its people is commendable, as is progress to be more transparent and to be a partner in world trade and economic cooperation."

In his report at the crucial twice-a-decade meeting, Xi pledged to build China into a "great modern socialist country" by mid-21st century.

Xi said that by then China will be a global leader in terms of composite national strength and international influence, with common prosperity for everyone basically achieved and the Chinese people enjoying happier, safer and healthier lives.

Xi also said China will only become more and more open.

"The world is small and its people are interconnected," Kimberley said. "The more we can engage and cooperate around areas of mutual interest, the better the quality of life for everyone."

For Kimberley, agricultural exchange and cooperation is one of those areas of mutual interest.

Last month, construction of a China-US Friendship Demonstration farm was started in Luanping county, Hebei province in northern China, which will include an educational agriculture site modeled after a farm near Maxwell owned by Rick and Martha Kimberley and their son Grant.

"Iowa and Hebei have a long-standing relationship, and the Kimberleys are looking forward to strengthening that relationship," said Kimberley, who visited Hebei in mid-September.

"It is also our desire to strengthen our relationship and friendship with all of China and the people of China," he said.

"We would welcome President Xi to return to our home and farm. Again, I would emphasize the importance of agricultural trade, as state and provincial relationships can be used as the ballast of overall China and US relations," Kimberley said.

He added that the US is the breadbasket of the world and a reliable supplier of soybeans, corn, pork, fish, dairy, beef and eggs.

"We have a strong relationship with China," he said, adding that the people of Iowa and China enjoy a long-standing relationship that has been forged by mutual cooperation and benefit.

"This will continue due in large part to agricultural trade between the countries. The US and China working together can accomplish mutual goals of improved food safety, quality and security," he said.

(China Daily USA 10/25/2017 page10)
By Zhao Huanxin and Chen Weihua in Washington and Zhang Ruinan in New York | China Daily USA | Updated: 2017-10-25 11:10

Cooperation between the two most important powers in the world is integral to confronting transnational challenges ranging from trade to security, the president of the National Committee on US-China Relations said at the annual China Town Hall meetings on Tuesday.

The 11th annual event took place in 84 venues throughout the US and two venues in China, and for the first time included the United States Military Academy at West Point, which had 130 cadets in the audience, said Stephen A. Orlins, president of New York-based NCUSCR.

Orlins said the Town Hall couldn't be timelier, as it coincided with the conclusion of the twice-in-a-decade 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and took place some two weeks before US President Donald Trump's first state visit to China.

"As we enter this important period, the United States and China must set the course for constructive engagement to solve critical transnational issues, including nonproliferation, climate change, public health, trade, investment, terrorism and global peace and stability," he said.

Bill Armbruster, a former journalist from New Jersey who attended the Town Hall in New York, said: "I'd love to see maybe President Xi Jinping could talk to him (Trump) about the importance of climate change."

Robert Blohm, an investment banker, said he was concerned about Trump's upcoming visit to China, too.

"What Trump's policy agenda will be is not quite clear, but he is probably going to push China in terms of market access, so US tech companies are going to push back, and on the military issue, Trump might want to make a deal on North Korea problems."

At the Georgetown University venue in Washington, Dennis Wilder, senior fellow and professor at the Initiative for US-China Dialogue on Global Issues at Georgetown University, said the Korean issue will dominate Trump's visit to East Asia.

"I think this (US-China relations) can be a very positive relationship. I think President Trump is pleased with some of what President Xi has done since Mar-a-Lago (meeting in April), particularly on the Korea (Peninsula) problem," Wilder said. "I also think they are working through some of the trade issues. I think the Comprehensive Economic Dialogue is off to a reasonable start."

Susan E. Rice, former national security advisor and US ambassador to the UN, was the national webcast speaker.
Andrew McAfee, best-selling author and co-founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Initiative on the Digital Economy, said developments in data, algorithms, networks, cloud, and digital hardware have unleashed a wave of innovation that is "rewriting the business playbook" at the Intel Shift 2017 event in New York on Tuesday. Paul Welitzkin/China Daily

"No industry is untouched by disruption today. No one wants to be in the next industry to get Ubered or Airbnbed," Lisa Spelman, vice-president and general manager at Intel Corp, said as she opened the company's Shift 2017 event in New York City Tuesday.

Spelman was referring to Uber, and Airbnb, which revolutionized the taxi and lodging industries respectively. Intel, best known for processors that are basically the "brains" of computers from Apple, Lenovo and others, held the meeting to demonstrate how business will need to adjust to the digital era which is driving business transformation across all industries.

Andrew McAfee, principal research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), best-selling author and co-founder of MIT's Initiative on the Digital Economy, said major developments in data, algorithms, networks, cloud, and digital hardware have unleashed a wave of innovation that is "rewriting the business playbook" in his keynote address.

Not even agriculture, which has basically existed since man began roaming the Earth thousands of years ago, is immune to this wave of change.

Kraig Schulz is the president and CEO of Autonomous Tractor Corp (ATC) in Minnesota. ATC has developed an after-market electric drive-train system that can be installed on a variety of agricultural vehicles such as tractors and sprayers that enable more efficient field work with less labor.

Schulz said that most tractors now come with auto steer technology that has been around for over 20 years. "Farmers don't steer tractors any more. The challenge we help them solve is to make sure that what the tractor is doing in the field is what the farmer wants," he said.

For example Schulz said his equipment helps sprayers to spray the right amount of material at the right time in the area that the farmer wants sprayed.

Bruce Tiffany is a farmer from Redwood Falls, Minnesota, who farms 2,000 acres of corn and soybeans. He reflected on tillage work that has to be completed after he harvests his corn and soybeans.

"It would be ideal if I had an autonomous tractor that was able to do this tillage work following me around the field as I harvest the corn. It would allow me to complete two tasks at one time," said Tiffany.

Another area where the autonomy would help is in analyzing data. Tiffany said farmers create a ton of data and the "hard part is analyzing and making sound decisions with the data."

Schulz's company has about 12 employees and just started selling its products and services this year. "We have had interest from Asia, Australia and eastern Europe," he said. "We are a partnership-driven company and now we have a partner in India."

paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Oct 23, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - Britain and the European Union are within touching distance of resolving the fate of millions of EU citizens living in Britain, Prime Minister Theresa May told the House of Commons Monday.

May was giving a report to members of parliament about the latest talks with leaders of the EU member states ahead of Britain's withdrawal in March, 2019.

Speaking about citizen's rights, May said: "Both sides share the same objective of safeguarding the rights of EU nationals living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU. The negotiations are complicated and deeply technical, but in the end they are about people, and I am determined that we will put people first."

"We are united on the key principles, and while there are a small number of issues that remain outstanding, we are in touching distance of a deal."

The issue is crucial for the estimated 3 million European nationals currently in Britain, as well as British people living in EU states in mainland Europe.

May also insisted there will be no physical infrastructure at the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, adding that the Common Travel Area between Britain and Ireland will continue.

She told MPs that at last week's EU summit, member states agreed to start their preparations for moving negotiations onto trade and the future relationship.

May said she is ambitious and positive about Britain's future and the negotiations.

"I believe that by approaching these negotiations in a constructive way -- in a spirit of friendship and co-operation -- we can and will deliver the best possible outcome that works for all our people," she said.

But May insisted that the British government continued to prepare for every eventuality, and the so-called "no deal" scenario.

May concluded her statement: "While we must and will prepare for every eventuality, I am confident that we will do so in a smooth and orderly way and that we will be able to negotiate a new, deep and special partnership between a sovereign United Kingdom and our friends in the European Union. That is my mission."

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, was critical about the length of times talks were taking and the lack of progress.

He told MP: "We are still no clearer on when negotiations on the future relationship with our largest trading partner will begin."
China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Wu Haitao reads the preamble to the UN Charter in Chinese at a ceremony celebrating UN Day at headquarters in New York on Tuesday. HONG XIAO / CHINA DAILY

The United Nations celebrated its birthday and the 72nd anniversary of the coming into force of the UN Charter with a commemoration ceremony and flag-raising at its headquarters in New York on Tuesday morning.

The United Nations Day ceremony, organized by the UN staff union, included a reading of the preamble of the charter in six languages - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

China's deputy permanent representative to the UN Wu Haitao read the first two sections of the document in Chinese.

The charter was signed in 1945 by 51 countries, paving the way for the creation of the United Nations on Oct 24, 1945.

"Since that day, the world has changed significantly and the organization has been evolving with it. Membership has grown to 193 countries from every region," said Miroslav Lajck, president of the 72nd session of the General Assembly.

The aim of the charter is to save humanity from war, reaffirm human rights and the dignity and worth of the individual, proclaim equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small and to promote the prosperity of all of mankind. The charter aims to lay a foundation for international peace and security.

Lajck called for reinforcing actions to meet the purposes set out in the charter to maintain international peace and security, promote friendly relations among nations and solve economic and humanitarian problems.

"The charter commits us all to the purpose of being a center for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve these goals," he added.

Lajck also said that he maintains an abiding faith in the importance of multilateralism. "As our founders knew, it is only through collective action that we can achieve the progress needed to fulfill these aims," he said.

While each country is sovereign and independent, "we cannot afford unilateral approaches that threaten to unravel the fabric of global security development and harmony", he added.

"On the UN's birthday, let us place its founding principles as our daily guide. Let us work further to achieve its common purpose. Let us continue to jointly respond to shared challenges and forge a future of hope and dignity for all people," Lajck said.

xiaohong@chinadailyusa.com
"No industry is untouched by disruption today. No one wants to be in the next industry to get Ubered or Airbnbed," said Lisa Spelman, vice-president and general manager at Intel Corp, as she opened the company's Shift 2017 event in New York on Tuesday.

Spelman was referring to Uber and Airbnb, which revolutionized the taxi and lodging industries, respectively.

Intel, best known for its processors that are basically the brains of computers for Apple, Lenovo and others, used the meeting to demonstrate how business will need to adjust to the digital era, which is driving transformation across all industries.

In his keynote address, Andrew McAfee, principal research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and an author and co-founder of MIT's Initiative on the Digital Economy, said major developments in data, algorithms, networks, cloud and digital hardware have unleashed a wave of innovation that is "rewriting the business playbook".

Not even agriculture, which has basically existed since man began roaming the Earth, is immune to this wave of change.

Kraig Schulz is the president and CEO of Autonomous Tractor Corp (ATC) in Minnesota. ATC has developed an after-market electric drive-train system that can be installed on a variety of agricultural vehicles such as tractors and sprayers, which enable more efficient field work with less labor.

Schulz said that most tractors now come with auto steer technology that has been around for more than 20 years.

"Farmers don't steer tractors any more. The challenge we help them solve is to make sure that what the tractor is doing in the field is what the farmer wants," he said.

Schulz said his equipment helps spray the right amount of material at the right time.

Bruce Tiffany is a farmer from Redwood Falls, Minnesota who farms 2,000 acres of corn and soybeans. He discussed the tillage work that has to be done after he harvests his corn and soybeans.

"It would be ideal if I had an autonomous tractor that was able to do this tillage work following me around the field as I harvest the corn. It would allow me to complete two tasks at one time," he said.

Another area where the autonomy would help is in analyzing data. Tiffany said farmers create a ton of data, and the "hard part is analyzing and making sound decisions with the data".

Schulz's company has about 12 employees and recently started selling its products and services this year. "We have had interest from Asia, Australia and Eastern Europe," he said. "We are a partnership-driven company."

paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com
Chinese President Xi Jinping (right in front) and his US counterpart Donald Trump (left in front) take a walk to further discuss bilateral cooperation issues in the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the United States, April 7, 2017. The two leaders held their second round of talks here on Friday. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING-- US President Donald Trump on Wednesday congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping on being re-elected the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Trump extended his congratulation in a phone conversation with Xi.

He also congratulated Xi for the successful conclusion of the 19th CPC National Congress.

Trump said the 19th CPC National Congress has attracted worldwide attention, and he himself also paid close attention to important policy-related messages sent out by President Xi at the congress.

On his upcoming state visit to China, Trump said the American people are heatedly discussing the visit, and he expects to meet President Xi in Beijing to fully exchange views on enhancing cooperation between the two countries and on international and regional issues of common concerns.

Xi thanked Trump for the congratulation.

Xi said the just-concluded 19th CPC National Congress, which has drawn a blueprint for China's future development, is of great significance.

Xi said, as being noted in his report to the congress, China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, pursue a win-win strategy of opening-up, expand converging interests with all countries, and promote coordination and cooperation among world major powers.

Xi stressed that China attaches great importance to the Sino-US relations and is willing to promote the long-term, healthy and stable development of bilateral relations on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefits.

Noting President Trump's upcoming visit to China, Xi said he expects to plan with Trump in Beijing the future development for Sino-US relations so as to promote cooperation between the two sides, bring real benefits to the two peoples and make greater contributions to regional and international peace, stability and prosperity.
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Mario Tama/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- With more than 75 percent of Puerto Rico still without electricity in the wake of Hurricane Maria, lawmakers are calling for an investigation into why the island turned to a small, for-profit company instead of the mutual-aid network of public utilities usually called upon to coordinate power restoration after disasters.



Montana-based Whitefish Energy was awarded a $300 million Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)contract to repair downed transmission lines crisscrossing the mountains, the company confirmed to ABC News.



Founded in 2015, Whitefish -- which had just two full-time employees when the contract was signed -- says it has mobilized a team of nearly 300 subcontractors in Puerto Rico, with more on the way.



"Our rates are competitive and our work is top rate," spokesperson Chris Chiames told ABC News, adding that the company is uniquely qualified to tackle the situation in Puerto Rico due to the CEO's experience in "rugged and remote terrain."



But officials are questioning why PREPA chose to work with Whitefish instead of reaching out to the American Public Power Association, which normally matches states hit by disasters with nearby public power utilities who have offered up crews and equipment.



"To date, PREPA has not requested aid from the association," APPA confirmed. "The entire electric utility industry is standing by to send help as requested."



PREPA Executive Director Ricardo Ramos said Tuesday he ruled out APPA assistance because it would have required the agency, which is currently bankrupt, to handle logistics for crew lodging and food.



Other power restoration companies were ruled out because they required a large upfront deposit, which PREPA cannot afford to pay, he said.



Under the Whitefish contract, the agency paid only $3.7 million for initial "mobilization of personnel and equipment;" further advance payments are not required.



"Whitefish was the only company -- it was the first that could be mobilized to Puerto Rico. It did not ask us to be paid soon or a guarantee to pay," Ramos told reporters in Spanish. "For some reason, someone in the United States has to be upset, because they arent here, that I have hired Whitefish -- but that is their problem.



Still, lawmakers are demanding answers.



There is something very fishy about the Whitefish deal, Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Ill., said in a statement to ABC News. I have been here 25 years and this doesnt pass the smell test.



"Congress needs to understand why the Whitefish contract was awarded and whether other, more cost-effective options were available," Rep. Raul Grijalva, R-Ariz., said in another statement.



Complicating matters are concerns over the relationship between Whitefish founder Andy Techmanski and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.



Both parties have confirmed the families know one another -- in their small hometown, "everyone knows everyone" the Interior Department said.



But both insist that Zinke did not advocate on Whitefish's behalf.



The company says it called Puerto Rico before Maria hit to pitch its own services.



Whitefish "showed up at the right place at the right time and that's how they got the contract," Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told ABC News. "We want to see restoration pick up. Every day that they're without power is a day that economy isn't functioning and it's another day people are suffering. "



Hiring a company like Whitefish, which relies on subcontractors rather than a staff of trained personnel "didn't make a lot of sense," Sergio Marxuach, policy director at the nonpartisan Center for a New Economy, told ABC News. "This is one of the reasons people down here really hate PREPA -- they do business behind closed doors and it ends up costing a lot of money."



How Whitefish rates compare with public utility prices remains unclear.



The Federal Emergency Management Agency -- which will likely be asked to reimburse PREPA for the cost of Whitefish's contract -- says it was not involved in the selection.



PREPA did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
HCM CITY  Vietjet on Wednesday announced its two newest international routes from HCM City to Phuket and HCM City to Chiang Mai (Thailand), serving travel and trade demands between these well-known tourist destinations.

To welcome the new routes, Vietjet will give away 180,000 promotional tickets priced from zero ong from October 25 to 27 during the golden hours from noon to 2pm.

Promotional tickets will also be applicable for all international routes to Phuket, Chiang Mai, Bangkok (Thailand); Seoul, Busan (South Korea); Hong Kong; and Kaoshiung, Taipei, Taichung, Tainan (Taiwan); as well as Singapore; Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia); Yangon (Myanmar); and Siem Reap, Phnom Penh (Cambodia).

The offer is applicable on flights from November 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018, excluding the HCM City-Chiang Mai route that starts on December 12 and the HCM City-Phuket route that is being launched on December 15.

The HCM City-Phuket route will operate a return flight every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with some two hours per leg. The flight will depart from HCM City at 10.15am and arrive in Phuket at 12.10pm (local time). The return flight takes off at 1.05pm from Phuket and lands in HCM City at 3.10pm.

Meanwhile, flights on the two-hour HCM City-Chiang Mai route will operate every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. The flight will leave HCM City at 11.35am and arrive in Chiang Mai at 1.30pm (local time), while the return leg will take off at 2.20pm from Chiang Mai and land in HCM City at 4.25pm.

With the opening of these two new routes, Vietjet will operate six routes to Thailand, popularly called the Land of Smiles.

Besides Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai are considered to be travel paradises, which have attracted many international tourists, giving them a different and new experience with the beautiful natural scenery, diverse cuisines and unique local culture, Vietjet said in its statement.  VNS
The HCM City Real Estate Association (HoREA) has urged the Government to ensure condotels and officetels are not used primarily as apartments, warning that would cause problems for urban planning and infrastructure and transport. Photo vietnamnet.vn

HCM CITY  The HCM City Real Estate Association (HoREA) has urged the Government to ensure condotels and officetels are not used primarily as apartments, warning that would cause problems for urban planning and infrastructure and transport.

HoREA chairman Le Hoang Chau said there are no design standards for projects that include both apartments and officetels-condotels.

There are no regulations on the number of occupants at these projects either meaning there would be unbearable pressure on infrastructure and transportation, he said.

The association suggested to the city Department of Architect Plans that the size of officetels should be 25-50sq.m while condotels should be of similar size as a room in a hotel or resort.

In terms of population, HoREA said it must be capped at half of that of a pure housing project.

In projects combining apartments and officetels-condotels, the latter should be in a specific area and separated from the apartments, it said.

Apartment projects with condotels or officetels have seen strong growth in the city in recent years.

They have been approved by the Ministry of Construction, but it is difficult for authorities to manage them since there are no regulations related to their planning or design.

Tran Vinh Tuyen, deputy chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee, was quoted by Tin Tuc (News) newspaper as saying that condotels and officetels are new products but there are no projects with officetels only.  VNS
HA NOI  The European Commission (EC) has issued a "yellow card" warning to Viet Nam, after the country failed to demonstrate sufficient progress in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing worldwide.

Though the measure is considered a warning which will not technically affect EC trade policy, the Vietnamese fishing industry is concerned that the yellow card will seriously harm the reputation of Vietnamese seafood worldwide, weakening sales. Further, fish exports from yellow card countries are subjected to intense scrutiny: all Vietnamese fish export containers will now be inspected, a process that can take three to four weeks and 500 (US$633) per container. A rejected container can cost an exporter nearly $12,000, and the risk of rejection is considered high.

The decision, announced in a press release on Monday, identifies shortcomings in Viet Nams efforts to fight illegal fishing, including the lack of an effective sanctioning system to deter IUU fishing activities and a lack of action to address illegal fishing activities conducted by Vietnamese vessels in the waters of neighbouring countries, including Pacific Small Island Developing States.

Furthermore, Viet Nam fails to regulate adequately fish that arrive onshore for local processing before being exported to international markets, including the European Union.

With this action, today we demonstrate our firm commitment to fight illegal fishing globally," Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella said. "We cannot ignore the impact that illegal activities conducted by Vietnamese vessels are having on marine ecosystems in the Pacific. We invite Vietnamese authorities to step up their fight so we can reverse this decision quickly. We are offering them our technical support.

The "yellow card" is considered a warning and offers Viet Nam the opportunity to take measures to rectify the situation within six months. To this end, the commission has proposed an action plan for the country.

The commissions decision is the result of a thorough analysis and takes into due account the level of development of the country. It follows about five years of informal discussions with Vietnamese authorities. Vietnamese authorities have now been invited to engage in a formal dialogue to resolve the identified issues and implement the action plan.

According to the EC, between 11 and 26 million tonnes of fish -- at least 15 per cent of the world catch -- are caught illegally each year, a figure worth between eight and 19 billion euros. As the worlds largest fish importer, the European Unions import regulations wield global influence.

To address IUU fishing activities, the EC evaluates exporting countries. Countries that fail to meet EC standards are issued a warning ("yellow card"), followed by a "green card" if issues are resolved or a "red card" if they arent. A red card can lead to a trade ban on fishery products.

According to Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the receipt of a "yellow card" can seriously damage a countrys export of seafood to the EU. First of all, seafood exports to the EU will be reduced as EU customers are very afraid of being fined under the ECs IUU strict rules. Further, adequately proving the source of fish exports under EC rules for yellow card countries is difficult. When the Philippines was given a yellow card, for example, up to 70 per cent of its containers were rejected.

Drastic measures

The Vietnamese seafood sector has six months to strive to regain "green card" from the EC. Currently, VASEP and the Vietnamese business community have issued drastic measures to meet EU requirements.

VASEP and IUU VASEP Steering Committee have proposed to co-operate with four units including the Coast Guard Command, Border Guard Command, Directorate of Fisheries and the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department to carry out measures to combat IUU fishing. The seafood business community is also participating in the Commitment Against IUU Action Programme, which the EU expects all fish exporters to join. As of mid-October, 73 Vietnamese companies have pledged to combat IUU.

VASEP and the Coast Guard Command on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on co-operation to fight against IUU fishing.

Under the MoU, the coast guard will strengthen inspection to discover IUU fishing vessels and co-ordinate with its international partners to prevent the violation. Meanwhile, VASEP will create conditions for the Coast Guard to investigate illegal seafood fishing.

The two sides will conduct activities to help fishermen carry out the national action programme on combating IUU fishing.

Earlier, on October 20, Ambassador Bruno Angelet, Chief Representative of the Delegation of the European Union to Viet Nam, had a working session with leaders of VASEP, the General Department of Fisheries and some agencies to discuss IUU and "yellow card" issue.

Outside the EU, the United States will be the second largest seafood importer in the world to adopt an imported fishery monitoring programme to combat IUU fishing. The US Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) will enter into force on January 1, 2018.  VNS
HA NOI  The Viet Nam Food Association (VFA) has decided to raise its rice export target from 5.2 million tonnes to 5.6 million tones, following an increase in rice contracts for the last months of the year.

Rice exports have rebounded with an increase in rice contracts since May. The countrys rice sector has already met 82 per cent of its target for the entire year.

VFAs statistics showed that in the first nine months of the year, Viet Nam shipped around 4.57 million tonnes of rice worth US$2.02 billion, up 20.8 per cent in quantity and over 18.6 per cent in value from the same period last year. China was still the largest importer of Vietnamese rice.

August saw the strongest growth for rice exports this year so far with 70 per cent and 56.8 per cent increases in terms of quantity and value respectively.

The number of contracts registered for exports in August also rose to the record level of some 842,000 tonnes, increasing 207 per cent from the previous month and representing a 115 per cent year-on-year increase.

Most of the contracts were with importers in China, and Philippines and Africa.

The VFA attributed the boom to better export performance in traditional markets including China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Bangladesh.

Specifically, Vietnamese rice exporters shipped 150,000 tonnes of rice to Malaysia; 250,000 tonnes to Bangladesh and 175,000 tonnes to the Philippines. New export markets such as Australia and West Asia also saw strong growth.

The association forecast that Viet Nams rice exports would continue to increase in the future as Bangladesh solicited bids from exporters for an order of 50,000 tonnes of non-basmati rice. If Viet Nam wins the bid, its rice markets already good year would become even better.

In May, the Viet Nam and Bangladesh governments extended the memorandum of understanding on rice trading for five years, covering the period from 2017-22.

Under the MoU, Viet Nam will supply some 1 million tonnes of rice a year for Bangladesh. After the MoU signing, Bangladesh is expected to buy around 500,000 tonnes of Vietnamese rice till the end of this year.

In addition, the Philippines also opened a minimum access volume (MAV) mechanism in 2017-18. Accordingly, the country will import 293,100 tonnes of rice from Viet Nam.

China is forecast to continue to maintain strong imports of Vietnamese rice in the year-end months.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade recently announced Strategy on Viet Nam Rice Export Market Development for 2017-20 calls for gradually reducing rice export quantity but maintaining rice export value.

In addition, export and market structures will be adjusted.  VNS
As Internet use in Viet Nam continues to rise, avoiding online security threats will become even more difficult, said Vu The Binh, Viet Nam Internet Association (VIA) general secretary, at a symposium in Ha Noi on Tuesday. Photo ictnews.vn

HA NOI  As Internet use in Viet Nam continues to rise, avoiding online security threats will become even more difficult, said Vu The Binh, Viet Nam Internet Association (VIA) general secretary, at a symposium in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

The enhancement and development of Internet infrastructure in Viet Nam will result in a surge in Internet users, leading to many risks for users. Therefore, discussion on security on cyber space and solutions are much anticipated from this conference, Binh said.

VIA co-operated with the Viet Nam Internet Network Information Centre (VNNIC) and Internet Society (ISOC) to organise the Asia Internet Symposium on cyber security threats in Viet Nam.

Naveed Ul Haq, ISOC representative, said information security threats are increasingly causing problems for developing countries. There are many new threats, including malicious programmes that attack national databases and information systems. An example is the Wanna Cry blackmail ransomware case early this year.

In addition, there are many threats from other types of malwares, he said.

Tran ang Khoa, a specialist of the Authority of Information Security under the Ministry of Information and Communications, said that the information security situation in Viet Nam has become complicated in the recent years.

"Many users have not had knowledge about information security, which also leads to great threats to information security in Viet Nam," Khoa said.

Khoa reported that the ministrys monitoring system recorded more than 135,000 cyber attacks on websites in Viet Nam last year.

These included 10,276 phishing attacks, 47,135 malware attacks and 77,779 defacement attacks.

The representatives of the Authority of Information Security also pointed out threats to information security in Viet Nam, including cyber attacks on the Internet of Things (IoT) platform; ransomware; online phishing and cyber attacks on critical infrastructure of state agencies.

Khoa said many solutions had been implemented already. Apart from improving the legal infrastructure as well as strengthening organisations and communication, human resource trainings and co-operation promotion have also been implemented.  VNS
The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has proposed to the Prime Minister four different plans to operate airfields in the future, aiming to narrow a yawning gap between the Airports Corporation of Viet Nams (ACV) revenue and expenditures. Photo nld.com.vn

HA NOI  The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has proposed to the Prime Minister four different plans to operate airfields in the future, aiming to narrow a yawning gap between the Airports Corporation of Viet Nams (ACV) revenue and expenditures.

The proposal is part of the ministrys report on the operations and plans for managing and airfields and maximizing their economic potential. Balancing the ACV budget is particularly important as the MoT hopes to undertake significant upgrades to the airfields in the next five years.

In the period from 2012-16, the total revenue from the taking off and landing activities of ACV was VN5.97 trillion (US$262.19 million), while the investment cost for this period was over VN7.5 trillion. According to the ministry, the revenue only covers operating expenses, maintenance, repair and a fraction of investment and upgrading costs.

The ministry said that ACV had planned for annual revenue from 2017 to 2021 to fall between VN1.82 trillion to VN2.56 trillion. However, the total cost of necessary investments during that period was estimated at about VN17.15 trillion, of which VN11.07 trillion would be for repairs. The revenue from airfield operations could meet operating costs, regular repairs and a small portion of the repair costs.

The ACV said that the revenue shortfall meant the airports and any plans to upgrade them must be managed carefully. The ministry hopes its four plans will help the industry balance its budget and improve services. The Prime Minister will consider them and select one of the four or propose an alternative idea.

Firstly, the State could lease ACV its assets to exploit and operate the airfield. Second, it could increase the charter capital of ACV by contributing capital of the airfield assets. Third, ACV could handle management, exploitation, investment and repair of the airfield through a 30-year management contract. Fourth, the State could hire ACV to manage and exploit assets, generate revenue and profit for the State in the form of public-private partnership on the basis of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) contract.

Although four options are proposed, the MoT suggested choosing the third option: the State would assign ACV to manage and upgrade the airports through a 30-year management contract. Under this plan, the ministry will play the role of inspecting and supervising the management and approving investment plans, while ACV would be active in planning and implementing business activities such as investment and maintenance. ACV must report on the annual business results to MoT.

In case the revenue exceeds total operating costs and investments, the remainder will be paid to the State budget.  VNS
HCM CITY  Shopee Vietnam on Tuesday announced that its parent company, Sea Limited (Sea), made its initial public offering on the New York City Stock Exchange.

The company is the first internet business from greater Southeast Asia to become listed on the New York City Stock Exchange.

This is a significant milestone for Sea Limited and its businesses, including Shopee, the company said.

Chris Feng, CEO of Shopee, said: The listing day is a big day for the Sea group, including Shopee. As we embark on this new journey, we are excited about the opportunities it will present for our business and employees, and most importantly, our customers.

Our home market is an exciting region, with one of the largest millennial populations in the world, and GDP growing twice as fast as in the US. Internet and smartphone penetration is still low compared to the US and China, and we are confident in its continued growth and the tremendous potential this presents across our seven markets, namely Indonesia, Viet Nam, Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore, he said.

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It is a platform tailored for the region.

The company has a wide selection of product categories ranging from consumer electronics to home and living, health and beauty, baby and toys, and fashion and fitness equipment.

Shopee was launched in Singapore in 2015, and has since expanded its reach to Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Viet Nam and the Philippines.

The company has attracted 1.6 million active seller partners, plus another 1,700 brands and larger retailers, to its platform.  VNS
TOKYO  Negotiators from the 11 remaining signatories to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact will hold a three-day meeting near Tokyo next week in pursuit of an agreement by November, the Japanese government said on Tuesday.

Japans Kyodo news agency quoted Toshimitsu Motegi, Japanese economic revitalisation minister who is in charge of the TPP trade negotiations for Japan, as saying that the meeting will take place from October 30 in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo.

With the withdrawal of the US early this year having prompted proposals to amend or freeze parts of the pact, the 11 countries are aiming to reach a deal in time for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit starting November 10 in Viet Nam.

The TPP was signed in February 2016 by Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and Viet Nam, covering around 40 per cent of the global economy before Washingtons withdrawal earlier this year.  VNS
HA NOI  The equitisation of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) will hardly meet their target this year, as only 20 SOEs had completed the process by the end of September.

Viet Nam plans to complete the equitisation of 44 SOEs this year, 64 next year, 18 in 2019 and one in 2020.

However, the Steering Board for SOEs Renovation and Development said that only 38 SOEs will be finalised in the equitisation for 2017.

The country reaped VN15.99 trillion (US$704 million) through State capital divestment from SOEs in the first nine months of this year, of which VN105 billion came from the divestment of stock, insurance, finance and banking, real estate and investment fund, the Ministry of Finances Corporate Finance Department reported.

Between January and September, 34 SOEs with a combined charter capital of VN25.87 trillion were approved for equitisation.

Some major State-owned groups and corporations, which are speeding up the process of equitising themselves or their affiliates, include the Vietnam Rubber Group, the Southern Food Corporation, and PetroVietnam Oil Corporation.

The Corporate Finance Department has proposed that the Government ask the Ministry of Industry and Trade to accelerate the sale of State capital in the countrys two biggest brewers, Sabeco and Habeco.

Last year, 56 SOEs were approved for equitisation, with a total value of VN34 trillion, of which the State capital stood at VN24.4 trillion.  VNS
QUANG NAM  The island of Tam Hai, off the coast of Quang Nam, has been struggling against a flood of household garbage treatment after the failure of a rubbish-fired furnace.

Vice chairman of the island communes Peoples Committee, Nguyen Tan Hung, said the project, which had received a funding of VN10 billion (US$442,000), could not find a suitable location.

Hung said the furnace, which was planned for an area 300m away from the residential area, was condemned by islanders due to possible air and underground pollution.

He added residents were also worried that fumes from the furnace would damage aquaculture farms.

We plan to build a furnace to burn six tonnes of household garbage each day, but local residents did not agree location of the furnace as it is too close to residential areas, Hung said.

The province has revoked the project due to delays, and we have been seeking more friendly measures of treating garbage on the island, he said.

He said transporting garbage in special trucks each day would be a possible solution, while bio-treatment and environment-friendly measures could be adopted.

Despite regular beach cleaning programmes, residents still dump rubbish on pristine beaches.

In the past, daily rubbish was buried or released to the environment, or dumped at neighbouring Tam Quang Commune.

However, only small garbage trucks can approach the ferry, so removing eight tonnes of rubbish a day is not possible.

The island of 8,000 people is surrounded by the Truong Giang River and Lo Estuary, lagoon, beach and mountains. Ferries stop operation on stormy or rainy days.

Tam Hai Island, just five minutes on boat from Nui Thanh Town, hopes to develop as an ecological buffer zone and global geo-park site with well-protected coral reefs and a primary mangrove forest. Almost 80 per cent of population earn their living by fishing and aquaculture farming.

The island hosts 700 visitors each weekend.  VNS
NEW YORK  US fashion photographer Terry Richardson, who has been accused of sexually exploiting models for years, will no longer have his work published in some of the worlds top magazines, Conde Nast confirmed on Tuesday.

It is the latest indication of shrinking tolerance for powerful men accused of sexual impropriety following the downfall of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein with actresses, models and ordinary women increasingly emboldened to speak out.

London-based Conde Nast International, whose titles include Vogue, Vanity Fair and Glamour, circulated an email within the media group on Monday announcing that the company would no longer work with him.

Staff were informed that any work already commissioned from Richardson but not yet published should be "killed or substituted", British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported.

The company confirmed the content of the email and said it had no further comment. Conde Nast US said it had "nothing planned" with the married father of two going forward.

"Sexual harassment of any kind is unacceptable and should not be tolerated," the US branch of the media company told AFP in an email.

The 52-year-old New York photographer is famous in the fashion industry for producing sexually explicit and controversial images of models.

His work has appeared in glossy magazines, and he has shot campaigns for luxury fashion houses including Valentino, Carolina Herrera and Yves Saint Laurent.

He photographed Barack Obama prior to his election as president and directed Miley Cyruss video for her 2013 Wrecking Ball single in which she appeared naked. Cyrus has since said she regrets the video.

Beset for years by allegations of sexually exploiting models, Richardson  like Weinstein  has insisted that all relationships were consensual.

In 2014, he took to the Huffington Post to "correct" what he called an "emotionally-charged witch hunt" against him.

"I collaborated with consenting adult women who were fully aware of the nature of the work," he wrote. "I have never used an offer of work or a threat of rebuke to coerce someone into something that they did not want to do."

On Tuesday, a representative said Richardson was "disappointed".

"Many of his professional interactions with subjects were sexual and explicit in nature but all of the subjects of his work participated consensually," the representative said.

Conde Nast International acted a day after Britains Sunday Times newspaper questioned why Richardson was "still feted by fashionistas" despite "gaining a reputation as the Harvey Weinstein of fashion".

US model Cameron Russell last week launched an Instagram campaign called #MyJobShouldNotIncludeAbuse that swiftly garnered more than 70 anonymous accounts of abuse, lewd behaviour and harassment.  AFP
VILNIUS  Prime Minister of Lithuania Saulius Skvernelis expressed his desire to enhance people-to-people and cultural exchange, tourism and education co-operation with Viet Nam during a working session with Vice President ang Thi Ngoc Thinh in Vilnius on Monday.

The Vietnamese Vice President visited the country on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

Skvernelis said the Lithuanian government highly values ties with Viet Nam and wishes to work together in fields of shared concern such as food processing, medical equipment, chemicals, information technology and renewable energy.

Thinh, who is in Lithuania from Sunday to Tuesday, spoke highly of progress in bilateral friendship, especially in terms of trade. She suggested working closely together to boost trade promotion and seek opportunities in each others markets.

She proposed that the Lithuanian government offer all possible support to Vietnamese businesses to bring agro-forestry-fishery enterprises and apparel to Lithuania and other Baltic countries.

Viet Nam is willing to open its market and help Lithuania access ASEAN markets, she said.

Both sides agreed to turn economic ties into a priority in the bilateral partnership. They also agreed to promptly negotiate and sign several agreements to create a legal framework for collaboration while offering mutual support at international organizations such as the United Nations, the UNESCO and the Asia-Europe Meeting.

At the round-table business conference held on the same day, Deputy Foreign Minister of Lithuania Albinas Zananavicius affirmed that the visit makes important contributions to advancing economic ties between the two nations, especially as negotiations on the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement proceed.

Zananavicius took the occasion to brief guests about Lithuanias competitive strengths in information and food technology and wood processing.

Lithuanian firms expressed their interest in doing business in Viet Nam and wished to receive legal guidance to form joint ventures.

Vice President Thinh also met staff of the Vietnamese embassy in Poland and Lithuania and Vietnamese nationals in the host country.  VNS
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong (R) receives Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone in Ha Noi yesterday.  VNA/VNS Tri Dung

HA NOI  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong applauded cooperation between the Vietnamese and Lao Governments at a reception for Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone in Ha Noi yesterday.

He also spoke highly of outcomes of the talks between Deputy PM Sonexay Siphandone and his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Hoa Binh.

The Party leader urged the two Governments to instruct ministries, agencies, localities and businesses to proactively work together to effectively realise Vietnam-Laos joint statements, high-level agreements reached by leaders of the CPV and the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party (LPRP) as well as the two countries, cooperation agreements between the two Governments, along with joint programmes and plans.

The two sides should focus on the exchange of information, experience and measures to materialise resolutions adopted at national congresses of each Party, he said.

The General Secretary called for joint efforts to prepare for the 40th meeting of the Viet Nam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, and organise activities marking the Viet Nam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017.

Viet Nam strongly and comprehensively supported the reform cause in Laos and believed that under the leadership of the LPRP, the management of the Government and the supervision of the National Assembly, Lao people would reap more achievements in the reform process, he said.

Host and guest noted with delight the development of the special solidarity between Viet Nam and Laos in all fields.

Sonexay Siphandone expressed his sympathy for human and property losses suffered by Vietnamese people during the recent floods, noting his belief that under the leadership of the CPV, Vietnamese people would overcome all difficulties and challenges to gain greater attainments in the reform process.

The Lao Government would closely coordinate with its Vietnamese counterpart to instruct ministries, agencies and localities to effectively implement agreements signed by high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and countries, as well as agreements reached at the 39th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee, while preparing for the 40th meeting of the committee, he affirmed.  VNS
Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung and his Indian counterpart Preeti Saran co-chaired the ninth political consultation and sixth strategic dialogue at the deputy foreign ministerial level between Viet Nam and India in Ha Noi yesterday. VNA/VNS An ang

HA NOI  Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung and his Indian counterpart Preeti Saran co-chaired the ninth political consultation and sixth strategic dialogue at the deputy foreign ministerial level between Viet Nam and India in Ha Noi yesterday.

The two sides showed their appreciation at the growing traditional friendship between the two countries over the past years, especially since the two sides set up their comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2016, and over the course of many high-level visits.

They lauded the efforts of agencies and localities from both countries in organising diverse activities to mark the Vietnam-India Friendship Year 2017, the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 10-year bilateral strategic partnership.

Both sides agreed to foster collaboration to prepare for upcoming visits of senior leaders, and promote bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the Joint Committee and Joint Sub-Committee on Trade.

The two sides concurred that it is necessary to seek specific measures to raise two-way trade to US$15 billion in 2020 as previously set, strengthen investment promotion, minimise the application of trade defence measures on respective products, and encourage the opening of direct air routes between major cities of both countries.

The Indian side affirmed its support for Viet Nam in improving defence capacity, training in English for soldiers, transferring defence technologies and providing defence credit.

India suggested that the two sides strengthen cooperation in cyber security, maritime security and fighting terrorism, trans-national crimes and human trafficking.

Viet Nam and India also agreed to foster connectivity not only in aviation, maritime and road links but also in digital technology, information and telecommunications, while speeding up the disbursement of the US$1 billion credit package that India has committed to ASEAN countries for connectivity projects.

The two sides also shared viewpoints on regional and global issues of shared concern. They will work closely with each other and other countries in the region to optimise opportunities and minimise risks to ensure a strategic security environment and cope with traditional and non-traditional security challenges.

They highlighted the traditional and close coordination between Viet Nam and India at regional and international forums, especially the United Nations, ASEAN and ASEAN-driven mechanisms.

India reaffirmed its support for ASEAN to play the central role in Asia-Pacific architecture, while Viet Nam lauded the Act East Policy of India and pledged to successfully organise the summit commemorating the ASEAN-India partnership in January 2018.

Both Viet Nam and India underscored that maintaining peace, stability, maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom benefits countries in and outside the region. They upheld the principles of dealing with disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), while stressing the need to exercise self-restraint and not to take moves complicating the situation, along with the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the soon attainment of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The two Foreign Ministries also agreed to hold more meetings to share experience in coping with issues related to border, territory and regional security, including maritime security.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh hosted a reception for Indian Deputy Foreign Minister Preeti Saran. Minh asked the two sides to work together in preparing for upcoming high-level visits and effectively implement the Action Programme for the 2017-2020 period. He said he hoped to welcome the Indian Foreign Minister to Viet Nam to co-chair the 16th Joint Committee meeting in 2018.

Preeti Saran said that Viet Nam was an important pillar in Indias Act East Policy, adding that India had launched many projects, credit package and technical support for Viet Nam and the Southeast Asian region in general.

During her stay, she also had a meeting with Nguyen Huy Tang, deputy head of the Party Central Committees Commission for External Relations to talk party cooperation and another with Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung to discuss the East Sea issue and maritime cooperation.

She also conveyed the sympathy of her Government and people to victims of recent floods in the central region.-VNS
HA NOI  National Assembly (NA) deputies called for several points in the draft Law on Planning needed to be revised to ensure its consistency and feasibility during discussion on Wednesday morning at the fourth plenary session of the 14th NA.

Despite generally agreeing with the necessity of issuing the Law on Planning, which is expected to help eliminate overlaps and inconsistencies in planning and prevent wastes of resources, NA deputies expressed concerns as the law, if passed and put into effect from 2019, would require amendments to the dozens of existing laws and codes.

At the previous seating, the NA decided to postpone the passing of the law for more consideration to ensure its feasibility.

In the report of the NA Standing Committee on Tuesday, Chairman of the Economic Committee, Vu Hong Thanh, said that the draft law was adjusted towards expanding the vision to ensure inheritability and stability of the planning, 20-50 years for national-level planning and 20-30 years for regional and provincial planning.

NA deputy Nguyen Thanh Xuan of Can Tho City said amending too many relevant laws and codes was unprecedented and not an easy task, urging careful revision to ensure consistency. Xuan added that instructions to implement the law must also be issued timely.

Allocating resources for development was the most important factor in planning, NA deputy Hoang Van Cuong of Ha Noi, said.

"The planning must be based on development resources and trends, as well as science and technology development trends, to ensure efficiency in allocating resources," Cuong said.

To prevent stagnation in planning, deputy Le Minh Chuan of northern Quang Ninh Province said that the draft law should add regulations about the implementation of planning.

Chuan said the agencies, which were in charge of approving the planning, must be of higher levels than the agencies in charge of actually planning to enhance supervision, and prevent inconsistencies and groups of interest.

He added that its time the planning took into account the impacts of industry 4.0.

Expressing concerns about airspace and underground planning, deputy Luu Binh Nhuong from the southern Ben Tre Province, said more studies were needed.

He said that airspace and underground planning had not been mentioned adequately in the draft law, while the construction of underground projects was anticipated to increase rapidly.

Deputy Pham Trong Nhan of the southern Binh Duong Province said that the core to ensure comprehensive planning was the application of technologies, as well as the capacity of planning makers and appraisers to tackle problems related to conflicts of interests between different planning so as to optimise resources.

This is definitely a difficult law project, which requires the coordination of a number of ministries and agencies, Minister of Planning and Investment, Nguyen Chi Dung, in charge of compiling the draft, said.

Regarding the planning of special administrative - economic zones, Dung said that the planning must be based on the scale of the zones. However, scales of the special administrative  economic zones remained unclear because the law regulating this was being drafted.

The ministrys statistics revealed that in 2011-20, the total number of planning counts on all levels in Viet Nam reached nearly 19,300, in which many were proved overlapping or inconsistent.

The ministry expects to reduce the planning counts to 11,400 if the Law on Planning is passed and comes into force.  VNS
Artificial sand ground from rocks might be a valid alternative for the over-exploited natural product which is expected to run out in Viet Nam within five years, scientists said. Photo cafef.vn

HA NOI  Artificial sand ground from rocks might be a valid alternative for the over-exploited natural product which is expected to run out in Viet Nam within five years, scientists said.

In a meeting on new construction materials last week with HCM City Department of Transport, the Institute of Transport Science and Technology (ITST) warned that the domestic supply of natural sand was nearing an end. However, Viet Nam still needs about 100 million cubic metres of sand a year just to make concrete.

Scientists from the institute proposed an alternative to industrial sand was to grind rock down to fine particles, thus keeping quality under control. This industrially made sand is already available in parts of the world to make asphalt concrete for roads and construction concrete.

The cost of the man-made sand is also an advantage. Ground rock can be 10-15 per cent cheaper than natural sand, scientists said.

Ngo Hai uong, head of land transport infrastructure use and management in the HCM City transport department, said that the cheaper price prompted competition between the two types of sand.

Prrices of natural sand have skyrocketed during the past six months after a massive crackdown on the illegal sand dredging industry. This created a shortfall inthe supply of sand, leading to a 200 per cent rise in sand prices which show no signs of easing.

Several infrastructure projects struggled to find new supplies as many are on the verge of exceeding their planned investments.

They were desperate for an alternative to expensive natural sand.

Nguyen Thanh Nam, director of the Ha Noi Highway project in HCM City, said that the work to upgrade and expand the highway was in trouble due to the price hike.

We are looking for more detail information (on industrial sand). If the sand meets the standard, we will use it to pave the sidewalks of the Ha Noi Highway, Nam said.

In Viet Nam, the technical use of ready-made sand for making asphalt concrete has been accepted by the Ministry of Transport.

Investors at the meeting asked the institute to announce the official price of the industrial sand and other criteria regarding the quality to be used as a legal basis to design and build transport projects.  VNS
HCM CITY  After graduating from high school, Le Minh Tu, who has a hearing impairment, enrolled in college in HCM City and paid an interpreter to help her study.

But I really couldnt afford to pay, Tu said via an interpreter at a conference held on Monday in HCM City that discussed access to education to people with disabilities.

My father and I fell into despair, Tu said.

However, she did not want to give up the dream of studying at university, so she convinced her father to let her apply to another university.

Van Hien University admitted her and hired an interpreter to support her after the first week of study, Tu said.

Nguyen Ngoc Hiep, who is visually impaired and a student at HCM City University of Pedagogy, said the shortage of textbooks and documents used for visually impaired students was the common barrier in studying.

Students also face difficulties using buses to go to universities.

I cant see the bus numbers, Hiep said, adding that the bus drivers had often passed by him without picking him up.

The father of a student with a hearing impairment speaks about her daughters difficulties in studying. VNS Photo Gia Loc

Ha Le An, deputy director of the city Public Transport Management and Operation Center, said that universities should compile a list of their students with disabilities who need to go to school by bus.

The list should be sent to the centre, An said, adding that it would be sent to its staff to universities to provide a free card for students with disabilities to go by bus.

The city is piloting a system with LED screens that will announce which buses are coming to the station in order to help people with hearing or visual impairments.

Phan Thi Rat, who has a physical disability and graduated from HCM City Open University three years ago, said: Climbing stairs at the university was a nightmare for me.

Many other people with disabilities have complained that universities had not exempted tuition fees. Only those with severe disabilities have received exemptions.

They suggested that universities open a division to support people with disabilities and provide more funds for students with disabilities.

The country has 6.1 million people aged 5 and above with at least one disability in seeing, listening, motor skills or others, accounting for 7.8 per cent of the countrys total population, according to the Population and Housing Census of 2009, the latest census available.

Of the 6.1 million of people with disabilities, only 0.1 per cent have graduated from universities and colleges, according to census reports.

The conference was held by the HCM City-based Disabilities Research and Capacity Development (DRD) Centre to seek solutions to improve access to education for people with disabilities.  VNS
HA NOI  Chairman of Ha Noi Peoples Committee, Nguyen uc Chung, on Tuesday worked with the Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organisation (ASOCIO) to turn the capital into a smart city.

Ha Noi has been working towards its smart city initiative since 2014.

Besides working with ASOCIO, an ICT federation organised by ICT associations from 21 member economies in the Asia Pacific region, to boost co-operation in developing e-government in the capital city, Chung said that the city had made significant efforts during the past years to build infrastructure. He said the city was seeking to hasten co-operation with both foreign and domestic firms and organisations, including ASOCIO, to speed up the development of a smart city.

The capital city has attached special attention to the establishment of a database as well as application of information and technology in operating transport, fire prevention, data analysis and system security.

During the past two years, Ha Noi installed a prevalent network system from the municipal level to 584 wards and communes to support the administrative reform, and to provide online public services for the local people. In addition, the city was also working to build the countrys largest database centres in Ha Noi.

The capital city also hastened co-operation in developing software for building smart cities, such as a smart parking system and an energy light saving system.

According to David Wong, president of ASOCIO, the association wanted to organise a conference in Ha Noi in 2018 to share their experience in building a smart city. Ha Noi could learn from their experience, he said.

ASOCIO, with proactive members like Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and India, had organised a number of conferences to introduce its smart city index, measures for the appication of IT in management.  VNS
PARIS  French MPs on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved President Emmanuel Macrons plans to slash a key wealth tax, over which he has been accused of pandering to the rich.

The lower house National Assembly, where Macrons party has a large majority, backed the move in a vote on a package of tax cuts included in the 2018 budget.

Former investment banker Macron came to office in May promising to cut taxes, both for businesses and ordinary taxpayers.

His move to exonerate financial investments from the wealth tax, making it only applicable to property, is seen by critics as proof that the self-proclaimed centrist leans more to the right on economic issues.

Macron has defended the measure -- estimated to cost over 3 billion euros (US$3.5 billion) in lost revenue -- as crucial to encouraging investment and halting the capital flight seen under his tax-happy Socialist predecessor Francois Hollande.

The government has argued that the budget, which include cuts to household taxes, will ultimately benefit all French people.

In total, it plans some seven billion euros ($8.2 billion) in tax cuts and 16 billion euros in spending cuts.

But its choices have been controversial.

Leftist critics have accused Macron of being soft on the rich for cutting their taxes while, at the same time, trimming student housing benefits.

Macron has made it his mission to bring Frances deficit within an EU limit of 3 per cent of GDP for the first time in a decade.

From an expected 2.9 per cent of GDP this year he aims to further reduce the gap between revenue and spending to 2.6 per cent of GDP in 2018.  AFP
BEIJING  Xi Jinping was elected general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee for the second term at the first plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee on Wednesday.

Xi presided over the plenum attended by 204 members and 172 alternate members of the CPC Central Committee.

The plenum elected members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and its Standing Committee: Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng.

Based on the nomination of the Political Bureau Standing Committee, it endorsed members of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and decided on members of the CPC Central Military Commission. It also approved the election of the secretary, deputy secretaries and members of the Standing Committee of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presented the Partys new central leadership when meeting the press on the same day at the Great Hall of the People.

"I was re-elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. I see this as not just approval of my work, but also encouragement that will spur me on," Xi told journalists.

He presented the other six newly elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee: Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng.

Li Keqiang served on the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee, while all the others were members of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee, Xi said.

"Here, on behalf of the newly elected central leadership, I wish to express our heartfelt thanks to all other members of the Party for the trust they have placed in us," he said.

"We will work diligently to meet our duty, fulfill our mission and be worthy of their trust," Xi said.

A total of 452 major political parties in 165 countries have sent 855 messages of congratulation to the Communist Party of China (CPC) since the opening of the 19th CPC National Congress, Xi Jinping said on Wednesday.

Of these congratulatory messages, 814 came from heads of state or government, or the leaders of political parties or important organizations, Xi said.

"On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, I wish to convey our sincere appreciation to them all," Xi said.  XINHUA
The Yeasu FT-817 would have to be one of the most revered and iconic QRP radios of all time. But this doesnt mean it doesnt have its faults. Take the DC ...

3 years ago
The University of Northern Iowas American Chemical Society student chapter, in collaboration with students from the biology, physics and earth science departments, will host its annual Halloween House from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. today on the second floor of McCollum Science Hall.

The event is free and open to the public. The activities are intended for children, and costumes are encouraged.

Students will perform Halloween-themed science demonstrations and supervising hands-on activities in rooms such as Witches Lair, Frankensteins Lab, Creepy Crawlies and Triassic Terrors.
WATERLOO  Police now believe at least one shot was fired inside a Waterloo bar during an assault Saturday night.

Officers were called to the Fusion Bar on Bourland Avenue on Saturday after Rasim Husidic allegedly pointed a handgun at an ex-girlfriend and a bartender and then pistol whipped and tried to shoot a patron who intervened.

Investigators said Husidic pulled the trigger twice, racking the slide in between, but the weapon didnt discharge, and police later found live rounds with firing pin indentations on the floor.

On Monday, police found a bullet hole in the businesss ceiling, indicating one bullet was fired inside the establishment, said Capt. David Mohlis with the Waterloo Police Department. He said it wasnt yet clear at what point the pistol was fired during the incident.

Meanwhile, police continue to search for the gun.

After the attack, Husidic fled the bar and was found at an acquaintances home on Grant Avenue, and police believe he may have discarded the firearm somewhere in between.
WATERLOO  A Cedar Falls man was treated after he reportedly accidentally shot himself in the leg Tuesday night.

The accident happened while McLemore was in a vehicle in Waterloo in the area of Franklin and Nevada streets in Waterloo, and he arrived at Sartori Hospital in Cedar Falls at about 10:13 p.m. Tuesday, according to Waterloo police.
ANAMOSA -- A Mason City man serving a burglary and domestic abuse sentence in an Iowa maximum security prison was seriously injured in an assault Monday.

Michael Waddington, 31, was found unresponsive in the kitchen area of Anamosa State Penitentiary around 5:44 p.m. Monday, the Iowa Department of Corrections said in a news release. Anamosa is about 25 miles northeast of Cedar Rapids.

Waddington was transported by ambulance to a regional medical center before being transferred to University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, where "serious injuries from an altercation are being treated," the Department of Corrections said. He remains hospitalized.

Waddington was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison in 2013 after pleading guilty to three felonies: second-degree burglary, domestic abuse by strangulation resulting in bodily injury and willful injury resulting in bodily injury.

The charges stemmed from an altercation in 2012 in which Waddington was accused of punching a person in the face.

Claude Breese, who is serving a sentence for drugs, was the other inmate involved in the altercation, according to the Department of Corrections. All others believed to have been involved have been segregated, and a full investigation is underway.

No staff were injured in the incident.
CEDAR FALLS  Covenant Medical Center will provide nursing services to Cedar Falls Community Schools starting Jan. 1.

The Board of Education on Monday approved an 18-month $584,029 contract with the Waterloo hospital. A quarter-time administrative position is included in the contract along with 3.05 full-time equivalent nurses and 4.76 health assistants.

It will take over from the Black Hawk County Health Department, which has been in that role for probably six or seven years, according to the districts chief financial officer Doug Nefzger.

Cedar Falls School Board signs nursing contract CEDAR FALLS  Cedar Falls Community Schools is looking for a new supplier of nurses even as 

The department wishes to sever ties with us for a variety of reasons, he said. As a result, the district signed a six-month $180,303 contract with them this summer, ending Dec. 31, as it looked for a new provider. Nefzger said that was a lower rate than the $405,000 the district would have paid for a full-year contract with the department.

He noted if the Covenant contract is annualized, the amount is $389,352  lower than the same period of time with Black Hawk County.

Nefzger said the district considered three providers, including Covenant, and providing the service in-house while exploring options. One of the providers withdrew its name before a decision was made. Were very honored and pleased that Covenant is willing to take over the contract, he said.

In other business, the board approved changes in school attendance boundaries that will go into effect when Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary School opens next fall. The changes mirror the recommendation board members approved in 2015, with one small exception. The portion of the College Square Mall Apartments included in Orchard Hill Elementary Schools attendance area will remain there instead of moving to Southdale Elementary School.

Superintendent Andy Pattee noted that would allow 25 to 30 students who would otherwise have switch to Southdale to continue attending Orchard Hill. Its not a large number of students, but it keeps the status quo, he said, in a situation that could otherwise push Southdale to overcapacity thresholds at some grade levels.

Pattee said Aldrich will draw some students from the current Southdale and Lincoln attendance areas. A portion of the Orchard Hill attendance area also will move to Southdale. No changes will be made in the Cedar Heights, North Cedar and Hansen elementary school attendance areas. Aldrich will be the only elementary school where students will feed into both district junior highs based on the dividing line under the current boundaries.
WATERLOO  Two empty lots in the 200 block of Newell Street will become a classroom for Hawkeye Community College construction trades students.

Hawkeyes board of trustees on Tuesday approved a project addendum to an agreement signed last month with the city of Waterloo. The agreement allows the college to acquire vacant lots from the city for $1. The students will build houses on the lots.

The city will then buy the homes for the cost of materials and sell them to generate revenue for the next project. Hawkeye will have two homes under construction at once, one being worked on by first year students and the other for students in the second year of the program.

It has been wonderful to work with them, Jane Bradley, vice president of academic affairs, said of city officials who helped develop the agreement. Were just really excited to get this started. Its just a very nice partnership that weve developed.

First-year students in the sustainable construction class will begin building a house on one of the lots, which are side-by-side, in the fall of 2018. They will work on the homes exterior throughout the school year. During their second year, they will work on the houses interior while a new first-year class starts building on the other lot.

Essentially, that work site is their lab, said Bradley. Students also will complete classwork on campus throughout the year.

Contractors will be brought in to complete plumbing, electrical and heating/cooling work. Officials are looking into supporting the colleges apprenticeship programs through those components of the building process in future years.

In other business, newly elected trustees were sworn in and the board held its organizational meeting.

Sworn in were newcomers Shari Sell-Bakker of Dike in the Director District 3 seat, Todd Rohlfsen of Jesup in the Director District 4 seat and John Allan of Cedar Falls in the Director District 9 seat plus incumbent Bruce Clark of Waterloo in the Director District 5 seat. Incumbent Joan Webster-Vore of Hudson was sworn into the Director District 7 seat at an earlier point because she joined the meeting via teleconference.

Trustees elected Jay Nardini chairman of the board, replacing Casey McLaughlin. Clark was elected vice chairman.
WATERLOO  Three of the four additional career and technical education programs to be offered by Waterloo Community Schools next fall have been announced.

They include digital interactive media, marketing management, and web programming and development. A fourth program will be determined at a later date. The four will join five other programs that have already started.

Students from all district high schools will be able to enroll in the programs at the Waterloo Career Center, housed in Central Middle School. Cedar Falls High School students can also sign up for the programs through an agreement with Waterloo Schools. The concurrent classes are offered in 90-minute blocks and earn both high school and Hawkeye Community College credit.

The announcement follows the Board of Educations unanimous approval Monday to move forward with seeking bids on nearly $14 million in remodeling at the center. Included in the 80,000 square-foot project is renovations of two floors on the schools north end and a new 2,500 square foot entrance. Eventually, the remodeled space will host 15 career pathway programs.

Jeff Frost, executive director of professional technical education for the district, said the new programs will be located on the second floor, where renovations will start in January. Currently, programs are all located on the first floor.

Therell be shared lab space between multiple programs, he said, noting some similarities between those starting next fall. The programs could even share some classes.

Current pathways at the center, which opened last fall, are nursing, digital graphics, advanced manufacturing, early childhood education and information technology-networking. Frost said information technology and digital graphics will join the new programs on the second floor.

As far as the fourth new program, I would expect something out in the next couple weeks, he added. Officials are coordinating with architects on the construction schedule before making that announcement.

Were just waiting to see with phasing where theyll be with rooms.

The career center renovation and expansion will be paid for with existing district funds available through the 1 percent sales tax.
DES MOINES  An overwhelming number of public workers voted to maintain their union affiliation, according to unofficial results posted Wednesday by the Public Employment Relations Board.

Preliminary results show 436 union locals secured enough votes to keep representing city, county and school district employees. Separately, 32 locals will essentially dismantle. The impacted workers will be barred from unionizing for two years.

Totals indicate 33,252 employees were covered by votes that took place over a two-week period that ended Tuesday. Of those, 28,448 voted to keep their union representation while 624 cast no votes.

It was the largest election so far required under controversial collective bargaining legislation approved by the 2017 Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature. Eventually, all of Iowas 1,200 public bargaining units and more than 120,000 public employees will be involved in similar elections. State employees vote next year.

A simple majority of eligible members was required for recertification, but members who did not vote were counted as no votes.

Mike Cormack, a former legislator and current Public Employee Relations Board chairman, said Iowa is one of only two states where members who do not vote are counted as no votes  a provision modeled after a Wisconsin law. Supporters said the measure was needed partly to hold public sector unions more accountable to their members.

In passing the anti-union bill last spring, Iowa legislators told unions that recertification elections were needed for members to choose their own representation, said Tammy Wawro, president of the Iowa State Education Association  the states largest teachers union, which had 220 local associations representing almost 22,000 employees.

Today, local associations overwhelmingly chose the union to help represent their best interests and the interests of their students, schools and the communities in which they live, she said, pointing out 216 of 220 ISEA locals voted to recertify. So it appears that recertification elections were just another obstacle the Legislature placed in front of Iowas public employee unions in an effort to weaken them.

Danny Homan, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 61, said his unions covered employees voted 100 percent to recertify, but because of a rigged law and an alleged voided ballot, we lost one bargaining unit of four employees by a single vote. He said he plans to appeal.

Homan called the outcome a sweeping victory for public employees. He said the vote shows workers rejected GOP actions gutting collective bargaining rights.

They passed this egregious law thinking they could break us up, that everybody would get rid of us. Were still here, were still standing, were still fighting, he said. I am confident that workers will once again claim victory in the November 2018 election when those politicians who stabbed them in the back are sent packing.

Bargaining units that will be dissolved once a 10-day appeal period expires were spread throughout the state and include school employees, bus drivers, public works and road workers, courthouse and public safety employees.

Under Iowas previous collective bargaining law approved in the 1970s, public sector workers voted to certify their unions as their paid representatives to negotiate contracts. They only voted again if one of their members petitioned for decertification.

But the new law requires public sector unions to recertify every time they face a new contract negotiation. If a local association is unsuccessful in its vote, its contract is considered void.

Iowas working families sent a clear message to Gov. (Kim) Reynolds and the Republican-controlled Legislature today: we are not letting you take our unions away from us, said Matt Sinovic, executive director of the nearly 70,000-member Progress Iowa.

AFSCME and ISEA have filed separate court challenges to the new collective bargaining law. A Polk County District Court judge has heard arguments in the AFSCME case and his decision is pending. A separate judge recently rejected ISEAs motion for a summary judgment.
Reprinted from the Sioux City Journal from Oct. 22.

We will embrace only cautious optimism until the ink is dry on final new rules expected sometime before the end of next month, but positive signs related to the Renewable Fuel Standard and, by extension, Midwest farm states like Iowa emerged last week.

Consider:

On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported: President Donald Trump intervened personally with the Environmental Protection Agency amid pressure from Republicans in the politically important state of Iowa who worried the agency was poised to weaken biofuel quotas, three people familiar with the discussions said. Trump directed EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to back off any changes that would dilute a federal mandate for biofuel use, the people said.

After phone calls with both Trump and Pruitt on Wednesday, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said: I had a very productive call with President Trump. Both of them (Trump and Pruitt) affirmed to me their continued commitment to the Renewable Fuel Standard.

In a letter to Iowa Senators Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst, as well as other lawmakers, Pruitt wrote: My responsibility as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency is to faithfully administer the laws passed by the U.S. Congress. This agency must and will respect those laws.

In response to the letter, Ernst on Thursday night said: Over the last few weeks, I had serious concerns about the EPA following the spirit and the letter of the RFS, which I made clear to my committee colleagues, the EPA and the White House. Tonight, Im pleased to see these commitments from EPA Administrator Pruitt to uphold the RFS as intended by Congress.

On Friday, Grassley responded: Its a great day for Iowa and a great day for rural America.

The federal RFS began with the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and was expanded and extended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. It requires transportation fuel sold in the U.S. be blended with a minimum volume of renewable fuels.

On July 5, the EPA issued proposed RFS volume requirements for total renewable fuel, cellulosic biofuel and advanced biofuel for 2018 and a proposed volume requirement for biomass-based diesel for 2019. Key pieces of the announcement included:

The EPA proposed to keep the conventional ethanol requirement of 15 billion gallons the same in 2018.

The EPA proposed decreases in the cellulosic biofuel requirement from 311 million gallons to 238 million gallons and the advanced biofuel requirement from 4.28 billion gallons to 4.24 billion gallons in 2018.

The EPA proposed no increase in the biodiesel requirement of 2.1 billion gallons between 2018 and 2019.

Perhaps no state is impacted by RFS rules more than Iowa, the No. 1 producer of ethanol and biodiesel in America. Because we wish to see stability and expansion within an industry not only important to the future of agriculture states like ours, but to the future of America because it helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduces dependence on foreign oil, we stand with supporters of renewable fuels in urging robust blending targets and no reductions in volume requirements under the RFS moving forward.

In a July 23 editorial, we urged our elected state and congressional representatives to take a leadership role in defending the RFS in response to the EPAs proposed new rules. To their credit, those leaders  in particular, we cite strong advocacy by Reynolds, Grassley and Ernst  appear to be making a difference.

Today, the landscape looks positive for favorable final rules. Until the decision is announced, though, we encourage elected leaders, as well as industry leaders, to take nothing for granted and continue holding the Trump administrations feet to the fire.
Communication

BOB BLACK

WATERLOO  The internet like the gun and the automobile has become more intelligent than the humans who use it. There is a driving demand for more and faster ways to communicate with other humans. For the life of me, I can see no reason for this demand at all. We have used these faster communication devices to enable child pornographers, two-bit terrorist groups, speaking-before-thinking politicians, drug traffickers, hostile countries and most tragic of all, dividing the American people.

What we have here is a failure of communication.

20th Street

MARY M. FRENCH

chair, Eisenach Village Residents Council

WAVERLY  The Eisenach Village residents take exception to the comments made by Waverly Ward 5 Council candidate Wade Kelley (Oct. 12). He indicates he does not support the repairing/rebuilding of 20th Street because (it) doesnt affect a lot of people. The street currently serves approximately 60 homes (with 13 new homes under construction) and serves as a daily access for as many as 125 workers at Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community.

Mr. Kelley references a $4 million cost for this work. The city has estimated the cost at $3 million, which includes design costs, construction, administrative costs as well as costs to upgrade the rail crossing on Fifth Avenue. This cost includes an upgrade to the double railroad track crossing  a crossing currently without any active warnings and severely impaired sight lines. Last year there was a car/train collision that fortunately only resulted in minor injuries.

The current road has had little major work done since it was a farm-to-market road that was paved. It is difficult for the snow plows to clear in the winter and unsafe for pedestrians due to the lack of sidewalks.

As Ward 5 residents, we feel Mr. Kelley is marginalizing us with his comments.

Trumps base

ERNEST NUNNALLY

WATERLOO  Why is Trump doing everything Gen. John Kelly is telling everyone not to do? Nothing is sacred to Trump. He is the most cowardly, dishonest president I have ever seen. Plenty of people agree with me.

Republicans know there is something really wrong in the White House. These wimps wont do anything about it because they are afraid of his base. Trump loves to fight and stir things up because that is what his brainless base likes to see. He has no empathy, no feelings for others; he is a sociopath. I wonder how much they will like him when they lose their precious health care?

There is something wrong with someone who never laughs, who is always angry and wants to fight and stir things up; who is always tweeting a bunch of nonsense and lives in his own fantasy world. What if he gets so angry he launches an attack on North Korea? Republicans could take this power away from him and make millions of Americans and our allies feel safe at night, if they werent a bunch of cowards.
The YWCA of Black Hawk County's fall fundraiser is Speakeasy for a Cause to be held tonight from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Slife Ballroom at the University of Northern Iowa Commons.

Hosted by Chris Carter, this years theme features an evening of 1920s Prohibition-era fun. Attendees will enjoy hors doeuvres, play Speakeasy-type games and dance to live jazz.

All of the proceeds benefit programs and families at the YWCA of Black Hawk County.

The event is open to the public.
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The two-time presidential candidate who lost to Nicolas Maduro in 2013 with a slight margin made the announcement over a Periscope livestream on Twitter.

One of Venezuela's prominent opposition figures, Henrique Capriles Radonski of the First Justice, part of the Democratic Unity Coalition, MUD, has announced that he will withdraw from the coalition further deepening cracks in the opposition.

Capriles said, "as long as Ramos Allup is in the MUD", he will no longer be a part of the coalition. Allup is a former president of the National Assembly.

Capriles, the two-time presidential candidate who lost to Nicolas Maduro in 2013 with a slight margin made the announcement over a Periscope live-stream on Twitter.

"This is like when you go to the doctor and they detect a tumor," Capriles said. "Its time to remove the tumor and cure the patient, Venezuela."

Tensions came to a head on Monday after four governors from the Democratic Action, part of the MUD coalition, decided to take oath in the pro-government National Assembly.

Ramos Allup got it into his head that he could be a presidential candidate... Im saying it clearly... because its a secret thats being whispered around... Thats [Venezuelan President Nicolas] Maduros candidate... He has always been there sabotaging... Now a lot of things in the past make sense... Now we can understand why the [2016] recall referendum failed, he said.

Capriles accused the party members of taking shots at their own party and in doing so they have expelled themselves."

I am not going to argue with anyone, I wont take the bait, but I am very sorry that many spokespeople in the First Justice party are aiming to take shots at Democratic Action and me, for an argument that I am not responsible for, the opposition leader said.

Luis Vicente Leon, president of the Venezuelan polling firm Datanalisis, said on Twitter that the emerging crack is the worst crisis experienced by the opposition in 19 years, and its just beginning.

Things started to go downhill for MUD after it lost 18 out of its 23 legislative seats to Maduro's United Socialist Party of Venezuela, PSUV, during the mid-October regional elections, tipping the balance in the current government's favor.

Fractions of the opposition accused Maduro's government of rigging the elections and using undemocratic means to gain votes.
Oct 25, 2017 | By David

Heres another 3D printing news roundup to keep you up to speed with the latest happenings. Stories include Fishy Filaments finding investors, GKN adopting 3D printing methods, and much more besides.

GKN adopts 3D printing methods in Florence

Leading global engineering company GKN has made some serious changes to its operations at the Driveline plant in Florence, Italy. The use of 3D printing technology (courtesy of Stratasys) in the production of tools has been expanded considerably, leading to improved business performance.

GKN Driveline services over 90 per cent of the worlds car manufacturers, including the Fiat Chrysler group as well as Maserati and Ferrari. Stratasys 3D printing technology enables the plant to produce specialized assembly tools. This has enabled a 70 per cent reduction in lead times when compared to traditional processes. The company has used a Stratasys Fortus 450 mc Production 3D printer for these tasks.

Two key projects that were recently carried out made some significant changes. The team was able to completely redesign a greasing nozzle, allowing them to eradicate oil spillages, which can be time-consuming to clean up. 3D printing made this process much more straightforward than it would have otherwise been. They also 3D printed a customized end-of-arm tool from high-performance ULTEM 9085 material, for a production line robot that moves components from one place to another.

H3D uses 3D printing to develop gamma ray spectrometer

Specialist imaging company H3D, Inc has recently made use of ProtoLabs 3D printing technology to produce a new line of gamma ray spectrometers. The small company, which was founded at the University of Michigan in the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, has had success providing equipment for the defense, nuclear, chemical, and medical industries.

The new radioscope identification device (RIID), known as Apollo, has a number of 3D printed parts made with Proto Labs' PolyJet 3D printing process. With the help of 3D printing, the team was able to experiment with different button sizes and locations for its operator interface panel, as well as combining multiple materials into the design of a single part. About half of the devices housing was also 3D printed (in ABS).

3D printing company Sharebot welcomes new shareholders

Sharebot is continuing its growth in the 3D printing industry with two new promising partnerships. DMG Digital Enterprises and Dentalica Spa are both teaming up with the company to further its development. German company DMG is a leader in the production of polymerizable resins, and Dentalica is a leading Italian dental company.

Established in 2013, Sharebot is an Italian market leader that provides 3D printing technology including DLP, FDM, and SLS machines. It will now be able to take advantage of the technology and materials offered by these two new shareholders, both of which are specialists in their own right and will benefit financially as well as via association with the dynamic Sharebot brand. Dentalica has developed a complete 3D printing workflow for dentistry, including software, printers, and materials. These, along with DMGs material portfolio, will now complement Sharebots R&D department, to enable future growth and consolidation of its current business and brand.

UK 3D printing materials company Fishy Filaments hooks new investors

Based in the UK coastal region of Cornwall, Fishy Filaments has attracted some serious attention in the 3D printing world for its innovative renewable solution to developing materials for 3D printing processes. The company repurposes used fishing nets and processes them into filament that can be used for 3D printing. Not only does this provide cheap, good quality materials, but its also an efficient use of waste from the fishing industry and helps to clean up the local coastal environment.

Founder/CEO Ian Falconer is a graduate of the local Camborne School of Mines, and has worked on North Sea oil rigs. He has now transferred his expertise from the mining industry into the growing 3D printing market, and hopes to revolutionize the disposal of fishing nets, which he sees as inefficient. He aims to process around one tonne of fishing nets this year, followed by seven next year, before ramping up to 15 tonnes of nets by 2019.

So far he has raised 5,000 on the local crowdfunding platform Crowndfunder for initial research and development. Following this, a further 200,000 has been raised from worldwide investors through the Exeter Crowdcube platform.

Tinkerine Studios signs deal with Emily Carr for 3D printing education programs

Emily Carr University of Art and Design has entered into a partnership with TInkerine Studios, which should see the promotion of 3D printing technology in art and design education programs. Emily Carr is one of Canadas most prestigious art and design institutes, and has over 1,800 students in locations in Vancouver and Prince George, British Columbia.

Tinkerine Studios is a manufacturer of 3D printing technology and software as well as materials. Its products are intended to be accessible and educational, aimed at a growing market for user-friendly, entry-level 3D printing systems. STEAM subjects are its principal focus, and its content includes online training tools as well as educational programs.

This collaboration, which is intended to last from September 2017 to March 2018, will enable 3D printing to be implemented more smoothly and effectively into various art and design courses, promoting creativity as well as technical expertise. It will be carried out at Emily Carr, under the banner of Material Matters.

Posted in 3D Printer Company

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Oct 25, 2017 | By Tess

A team of researchers from the King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia are developing smart 3D printed braces which could help straighten and align teeth faster thanks to embedded LED lights and non-toxic batteries.

Anyone who now owes their pearly white smile to braces will also know the pain it can be to have wires strapped to your teeth for months and even years. Thats why we can imagine that many people will jump when they hear of a technology that could make the teeth straightening process faster and more efficient.

What they might not guess, however, is that this technology would include attaching little LEDs and batteries to each and every tooth.

According to the KAUST researchers, these elements could be the answer to faster and more cost-efficient orthodontic care.

The concept put forth by the team consists of 3D printing a semi-transparent dental brace which is then equipped with tiny near-infrared LEDs (two on every tooth) and a small lithium-ion battery (one for each tooth).

The researchers say that the batteries (which are non-toxic) would power the LEDs in the mouth, providing vital light therapy to the teeth. Light therapy, they say, can promote bone regeneration and could therefore be conducive to helping teeth straighten and align faster. Unlike existing braces, the smart 3D printed ones would be removable to allow for the batteries to be recharged.

"We started embedding flexible LEDs inside 3D printed braces, but they needed a reliable power supply," explained Muhammad Hussain, who led the research alongside PhD student Arwa Kutbee.

"After the incidents with the Samsung Galaxy 7 batteries exploding, we realized that traditional batteries in their current form and encapsulation don't serve our purpose. So we redesigned the state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery technology into a flexible battery, followed by biosafe encapsulation within the braces to make a smart dental brace.

The updated battery design measures just 2.25 x 1.7 mm, and has flexible properties which make it suitable for the orthodontic application. Moreover, the small lithium-ion battery has demonstrated good volumetric energy (meaning it has strong energy relative to its size).

To ensure the safety of the wearer, the batteries are confined within a case made from a soft biocompatible polymeric material. To test the cases and the batterys safety, the researchers placed the battery in a culture of kidney cells and found that the cells continued to survive and even thrive in the batterys presence.

Of course, the idea of having batteries and LEDs in your mouth (I should note, the frequency of the LEDs proposed make them undetectable to the naked eye) might still seem a bit outlandish. And for the moment, it still is.

So far, the KAUST research team has developed a preliminary prototype of the orthodontic system, and hopes to advance the project by moving ahead to clinical trials.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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AsianDate unveils its best romantic destinations to explore while staying in the Kazakh capital of Almaty.

AsianDate, the leading international dating service with an Asian focus, has revealed its top five daytrips to take from the Kazakh capital of Almaty. Almaty is fast becoming a favorite travel destination among those who like adventure off the beaten track. It is a beautiful place for those seeking an alternative city break. Almaty is also great for those who enjoy nature as it offers access to a wide range of national parks, lakes, and other wilderness spots.

AsianDates first pick in the top five magical destinations to visit from Almaty is the Big Almaty Lake. It is situated around 28km south of Almaty near the Bolshaya Almatinka River and is famous for its wonderful mountain scenery.

Listed second on AsianDates list is the Altyn-Emel National Park, which covers an area of 90 square meters. Featuring glorious wildlife and amazing flora and fauna, the park links the famous Ili River with the awesome Ak-Tau Mountain range. Visitors can find a whole range of animals here including the steppe antelope, foxes, wolves, and mountain goats.

The third daytrip on AsianDates recommendations is a trip to Issyk Lake. The lake has a history stretching back an amazing 10,000 years. Offering scenic views, it is located in the stunning Issyk Canyon of Zailiyskiy Alatau.

Next up, AsianDate recommends a trip to Charyn Canyon. This is the fourth destination in the top five destinations to visit from the city of Almaty. The place is popular due to the unique rock formations, known as the song of stones, which have existed for millions of years and offer fascinating natural history.

The final spot in the top-five list for Almaty adventure is the Turgen Gorge and Waterfalls. They are situated just 90km outside the city in the Ili-Alatau National Park. Visitors will find the hot springs, dense forest, waterfalls and scenic valley truly delightful and stunning.

Singles ready to get in touch with members from Almaty and Kazakhstan can make contact using a range of features from AsianDate. These include Live Chat, CamShare, and CallMe.

For more information, visit AsianDate.

About AsianDate

AsianDate is part of the Anastasia Family of sites, founded in 1993, which offers premium international dating to facilitate exciting and romantic companionship online between men and women all over the world. The Anastasia Family includes AsianDate.com, AnastasiaDate.com, AmoLatina.com, ArabianDate.com, and AfricanDate.com, which bring together over 20 million international users and more than 150 million online visitors annually. Additionally, over 2.5 million conversations are exchanged onsite daily. AsianDate is committed to member safety, customer satisfaction and the ongoing pursuit of innovation. Headquartered in New York, the Anastasia Family has additional representation in every country it touches providing a high level of customer service to a worldwide clientele. All members are able to communicate across a variety of top-notch multimedia platforms, including video chat and a mobile app for Android devices available in Google Play.

Media Contact

Company Name: AsianDate

Contact Person: Media Relations

Email: pr@asiandate.com

Phone: +1 (212) 609-0533

Country: United States

Website: http://www.asiandate.com


Omnislots by Dialinvest Enters Paydentity Contract for KYC

Melbourne, Oct 25, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - iSignthis Ltd ( ASX:ISX ) ( TA8:FRA ), the world leading RegTech for identity verification and payment services, is pleased to announce that it has contracted and commenced the integration of its services with Dialinvest International N.V. which is incorporated, licensed and regulated by the Government of Curacao under the gaming license number 8048/JAZ. Dialinvest specialises in online slots and has over 1000 slots in their game portfolio.



Highlights:



- Dialinvest operates a number of sites, including Omnislots



- Paydentity will be enabled to verify Dialinvest customers



- Dialinvest will be able to meet AML requirements via Paydentity



- Revenue from Dialinvest to contribute to the current quarter



Dialinvest has operated online casino sites since 2003, and has over 200,000 registered players across its sites, including www.omnislots.com



iSignthis will shortly be providing Dialinvest with its full range of Paydentity services, including Digital KYC, Strong Customer Authentication, Fraud Prevention, Payment Gateway and Card Tokenisation.



The Company's contracted services include identity verification, transaction processing & monitoring, and routing of payments to their Curacao authorised acquiring institutions. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company has now received an advance against Paydentity services to be provided.



Robert Peters, Managing Director of Dialinvest, said, "We are very happy that with iSignthis we found a solid partner who helps us to be ready for the rising demands in AML and player verification. We are certain that Paydentity will increase user satisfaction and security on our platforms with their software."



iSignthis Managing Director Mr. N.J. (John) Karantzis commented "We are pleased to see online casino customers integrating to our service platform and, very shortly will be processing 'live' transactions via the Paydentity system. This demonstrates the additional adoption and increases the revenue generation across a number of accounts and business sectors. We are delighted to be working with Dialinvest, and look forward to delivering key backoffice compliance services."



Reporting Note: The Company at present does not have any information available in regards to processing volumes and revenues that may be generated. It will however provide historical reporting at the end of each quarter by sector in order to give as much detail as possible. The Company will not report on a merchant by merchant basis at any time.







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.


Mr Vivian Roberts Appointed Director of Mining Operations

Sydney, Oct 25, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Hastings Technology Metals Ltd ( ASX:HAS ) (Hastings or Company) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Vivian Roberts as Director of Mining Operations of Hastings Technology Metals Ltd, with effect from 8 November 2017.



Mr Roberts has over 30 years of experience in large mining operations throughout Australia, covering several senior roles with large mining houses in various commodities. Mr Roberts has Bachelor degrees in Engineering (Mining), Economics and a Master of Business Administration.



In the past 15 years Mr Roberts has held various senior leadership positions including; General Manager Iron Ore for BC Iron, General Manager Metals Division Thiess Australian Mining (for the provision of contract mining services), General Manager Operations for the Roy Hill Iron Ore Project, General Manager for Fortescue's Christmas Creek mine, Alliance Manager for Thiess Mining at the BHP Billiton Mt Keith mine and Operations Manager for the Tiwest JV Cooljarloo mineral sands mine.



Mr Roberts has been directly involved in the establishment of a large (55 mtpa) iron ore mine starting from virgin ground through to plant commissioning and shipment. He has also been involved in the ramp up and expansion of several other mining operations including Prominent Hill, Century mine and Nifty Copper.



Mr Roberts is a member of the AusIMM, WA Mining Club (Committee member) and Australian Institute of Company Directors (Graduate Member).





About Hastings Technology Metals Ltd





Hastings Technology Metals Ltd (ASX:HAS) (FRA:5AM) is advancing its Yangibana Rare Earths Project in the Upper Gascoyne Region of Western Australia towards production. The proposed beneficiation and hydro metallurgy processing plant will treat rare earths deposits, predominantly monazite, hosting high neodymium and praseodymium contents to produce a mixed rare earths carbonate that will be further refined into individual rare earth oxides at processing plants overseas.

Neodymium and praseodymium are vital components in the manufacture of permanent magnets which is used in a wide and expanding range of advanced and high-tech products including electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, medical applications and others. Hastings aims to become the next significant producer of neodymium and praseodymium outside of China.

Hastings holds 100% interest in the most significant deposits within the overall project, and 70% interest in additional deposits that will be developed at a later date, all held under Mining Leases. Numerous prospects have been identified warranting detailed exploration to further extend the life of the project.

Brockman Project

The Brockman deposit, near Halls Creek in Western Australia, contains JORC Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, estimated using the guidelines of JORC Code (2012 Edition).

The Company is also progressing a Mining Lease application over the Brockman Rare Earths and Rare Metals Project.

Hastings aims to capitalise on the strong demand for critical rare earths created by the expanding demand for new technology products.


Prospectus Options Offer to Shareholders

Perth, Oct 25, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Venus Metals Corporation Limited ( ASX:VMC ) provides the Prospectus Options Offer to Shareholders.



For the offer of up to 25,588,231 New Options exercisable at $0.20 each on or before 30 November 2019 at an issue price of $0.02 per New Option on the basis of 1 New Option for every 3 fully paid ordinary Shares to raise up to approximately $512,000 before expenses.



Only Shareholders may apply for New Options under this Prospectus.



This Offer closes at 5.00pm WST on 13 November 2017. Valid acceptances must be received before that date.



Important Dates*



Event: Announcement of Offer and lodgement of Appendix 3B

Date:* 13 October 2017



Event: Prospectus lodged at ASIC and ASX

Date: 25 October 2017



Event: Notice sent to Securityholders

Date: 26 October 2017



Event: Record Date to determine entitlements

Date: 7.00pm (WST), 30 October 2017



Event: Despatch of Prospectus and Entitlement and Acceptance Form to Shareholders

Date: 2 November 2017



Event: Opening Date

Date: 2 November 2017



Event: Closing Date

Date: 13 November 2017



Event: Quotation of New Options on a deferred settlement basis

Date: 14 November 2017



Event: Notification to ASX of under subscriptions

Date: 16 November 2017



Event: Allotment date

Date: 20 November 2017



Event: Despatch of holding statements

Date: 21 November 2017



* These dates are indicative only. The Directors reserve the right to vary the key dates without prior notice, subject to the Listing Rules.



To view the full Prospectus, please visit:

http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/JAHDQ1PZ





About Venus Metals Corporation Limited





Venus Metals Corporation Limited (ASX:VMC) is a West Australian based Company with a focus on gold, base metals, vanadium and lithium exploration projects. The Company aims to increase shareholder value through targeted exploration success on its projects.

The Company's major gold project is the Youanmi Gold Mine, located 500km north-east of Perth. The Youanmi Gold Mine is now jointly owned by Venus Metals (30%) and Rox Resources Limited (70%); Indicated and Inferred Resource of the mine is in excess of 3 million ounces of gold.
Ethiopia has sent about 200 peacekeepers to protect civilians in South Soudan, State-run news agency Sudan Tribune reports.

According to South Sudans Foreign Minister, the deployment of the troops was in line with a United Nations resolution to stabilize Africas youngest nation.

The U.N. Security Council last year voted to increase the number of security personnel in the war-stricken country. The resolution sought to push the overall personnel to 17,000 military and 2,101 police.

The country which seceded from Sudan in 2011 has descended in violence since December 2013. The civil war has left tens of thousands of people dead, forced more than 3.5 million to flee their homes and caused economic collapse.

The capital city Juba hosts a United Nations peacekeeping mission to which the U.S. and China contribute troops as well as international aid agencies fighting hunger that threatens half of South Sudans 12 million people.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is due to travel to South Sudan on Wednesday to meet with the countrys President Salva Kiir

According to Reuters, the war, has decimated agriculture and sparked widespread food shortages.

As a reminder, South Soudan has sub-Saharan Africas third-biggest oil reserves.
The Namibian foreign ministry has lambasted claims by the coordinator of UN Panel of Expert on North Korea saying that, in April this year, Namibia submitted a report detailing its adherence to UN sanction against Pyongyang.

The Government of Namibia wishes to categorically state that it has submitted reports to the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee as required, the last having been submitted on 8 April 2017, Lineekela Mboti, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, said on Tuesday.

The reaction came after Hugh Griffiths, the coordinator the body in charge of monitoring the reinforcement of the UN sanctions against the North Korean regime indicated on CNN that Windhoek has not produced a report for over more than a year on some questions related to cooperation between the Southern African country and the rogue Asian country.

Griffiths has accused the Namibian government of having contracted North Korean workers and state companies to construct an ammunitions factory in clear violation of UN sanctions dating back nearly a decade, reports say.

The UN Security Council has issued a number of sanctions including economic against North Korea for its missile program. The UN sanctions also ban UN state-members to employ North Korean workers.

Mboti also claimed that contracts with Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation and Mansudae Overseas Projects in the southern African nation have terminated and the Namibian government is not inclined to roll in any North Korean companies in accordance with UN resolutions.

She invited the UN Panel of Expert to visit the country in order to witness.
Taking a dig at the BJP over the Gujarat model of development, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday said if the claims about its success were true why the government had to dole out sops days ahead of the Assembly polls.

If development work was carried out there in the last 15 years, the elections could have been won without the drama of campaigning. If the Gujarat model of development was true, there was no need for announcements (of sops) before polls, an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana said.

It said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Gujarat thrice in the last week and visited the state five times since September for bhoomi pujan (ground breaking ceremony) of various projects.

He also warned that the Centre will not provide any financial assistance to those who oppose development. In other words, he warned people to cast their votes in favour of the BJP, the Saamna editorial said.

Taking a swipe at the prime minister, Sena, a BJP ally, said protests by the Patidar community led by Hardik Patel posed a big challenge to Modi due to which he has not been able to go on a foreign trip for quite some time. It said Modi was spending a lot of time in Gujarat as he knows it is not easy to win polls in his home state.

The editorial also referred to the allegation by a Patel quota activist that he was offered a Rs one crore bribe by the BJP for joining the party.

Narendra Patil (an activist of Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti), who claimed to have received an offer of Rs 1 crore to join the BJP is not just one example. Attempts are being made to buy heavyweight leaders there. If those behind this exercise are trying to control politics in this manner, it is dangerous for the country, it said.

Lies and deceit do not work always. You used money power in Maharashtra against the Sena to win elections. But isnt Gujarat your (Modis) state? Hasnt your Vikas bhai (Modi) boasted about Gujarat having shown the light of development to the nation? Then why is money being used to buy people and silence opponents? the editorial asked.








Web Toolbar by Wibiya

Date: 19 September, 2017.

Place: Naperville, State of Illinois, United States.

A few days ago, on 19 September, a very strange event occurred in the small city of Naperville, Illinois, United States.

According to an anonymous report published on Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) online database, an alleged extraterrestrial being tried to board a bus, scaring all the passengers.

Tonight was a wild night, one that I'll never forget, the author of the report stated. I was headed back home on a public bus (a Pace [Illinois bus division] I think it was) and I was pretty much alone; just me and the bus driver, and one or two other people. That in and of itself was strange, but I'm not sure that was related, this person said.

I board the bus and the bus driver is stopping off at plenty of locations, and we arrive to one where there's little no light around it, no streetlamps, no houses or buildings, no nothing. The only thing illuminating the scene was the dim light inside the bus and the headlights. The bus driver opened the doors and nobody budges, but as the bus driver began to close the doors, we heard these really heavy footsteps coming out of nowhere, the Illinoisan citizen related.

The Naperville resident explained that the strange being showed an aggressive behaviour. It wasn't quite screaming, it wasn't singing, but it sounded angry. The bus driver began to open the doors again for the thing to board, but as soon as it came into eyesight, nobody wanted that thing to board the bus. The driver shut the doors as quickly as he could and this creature became infuriated, the witness affirmed. It was wearing women's clothing, an orange shirt and an orange with some shorts. But that thing was not like any women I've ever seen. I don't even know how to describe it. It could have the power to shapeshift, he added.

The bus driver was clearly in shock and confused and downright scared, as he should be. Hell, I was scared too! I don't think any of us knew what to do, he mentioned. It wasn't any kind of creature like Bigfoot or the Chupacabra. Without a doubt, it was an extraterrestrial life form. It is an experience I will never forget in my life, he said.

Draw your own conclusions

For further information: https://mufoncms.com/cgi-bin/report_handler.pl?req=view_long_desc&id=86813&rnd=








Web Toolbar by Wibiya

Date: 07 October, 2017.

Place: Vienna, State of Virginia, United States.

A couple of weeks ago, on 07 October, a very odd incident occurred in the city of Vienna, Virginia.

According to an anonymous report published on Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) online database, a local resident affirmed to have been abducted by dark blue/grey entities while he was sleeping with his wife.

I sleep sitting partially up and I can see the door to the bedroom clearly. I awoke to a bright light under the door, originating in the hall beyond, the witness related. The door opened and in walked several (I am not sure of the exact number) squat figures. They were silhouetted by a bright light in the hall. They were dark blue/grey with large, blocky heads and virtually no neck. Their faces were heavily furrowed. They stood 3 to 4 feet tall, and wore something that looked like monk robes that were very dark grey, he continued.

The Virginian citizen explained that the alleged alien entities stood around his bed and paralysed him. His wife, who was next to him, remained deeply asleep. They stood around the bed, even on the other side where my wife was asleep. I tried to call out to her but I couldn't make a sound due to the paralysis, he expressed. I sleep with a CPAP machine (mask and air hose) for sleep apnea. One of the figures removed the mask from my face. Another pulled the covers back off of me. They raised their arms and I floated up out of the bed, lying flat now. I floated above their heads toward the door. As I began to float out the doorway, I lost consciousness, he added.

The next thing I remember is floating above their heads back into the room, towards the bed. I was angry, very angry, and with great effort I began to thrash about a little. For some reason they had difficulty controlling me through my anger, the unnamed abductee affirmed. One of the figures on the far side of the bed next to my wife knocked something over on the dresser, but immediately righted it and put it back where it belonged. They regained control of me. They successfully floated me back into bed and pulled the covers back over me. They then retreated from the room. After they closed the door, the light went out and all was quiet, he commented.

I got up out of bed, feeling both frightened and angry at the same time. I got up out of bed and started my day, he affirmed.

Draw your own conclusions

For more information: https://mufoncms.com/cgi-bin/report_handler.pl?req=view_long_desc&id=87181&rnd=
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Areas of patchy fog. Low around 45F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Areas of patchy fog. Low around 45F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
South Carolina 2018 gubernatorial hopeful Catherine Templeton made her pitch to Aiken community members this week, where she spoke about her stance on issues from the Savannah River Site, immigration and ethics, reiterating a campaign pledge to crack down on corruption in Columbia.

Templeton  who previously served as secretary of labor and director of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control under former Gov. Nikki Haley  noted she's never run for political office, and said the state has to have people in Columbia who are selfless, "not self-dealing, and not corrupt."

"If we elect you to be in charge of our money, you don't get to take any for yourself," said Templeton, who spoke to the Aiken Republican Club on Tuesday as part of the club's monthly luncheon meeting.

Templeton, a self-proclaimed "conservative outsider," has vowed in campaign material online to "stand up against the establishment" and fight corruption in Columbia, referring to a series of recent indictments in an ongoing S.C. Statehouse probe.

Asked what she envisioned for ethics reform, she told guests during a question-and-answer period at the luncheon "term limits would be nice," saying state senators tried to change the rules of the senate so "one person couldn't amass so much power, no matter who that person is."

On SRS, she told the local group, as DHEC director, her interaction with the Aiken community dealt a lot with the site. Templeton said she visited SRS "so many different times," and the lab.

READ MORE: Catherine Templeton and the Savannah River Site South Carolina's Catherine Templeton has a history with the SRS when she was the DHEC director.

"I kept banging my head against the wall and saying, 'If we could make this lab an economic driver for the world, what would it do for South Carolina?'" she said, "and it's an inch at a time. It's not politically expedient. It's not something you get headlines for. It's actual work, and that's why we need someone in Columbia who's actually done the work."

Templeton, a native of Columbia, also fielded questions about Gov. Henry McMaster, one of her opponents in her 2018 bid. McMaster became governor this year following President Donald Trump's appointment of Haley to U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

"I like all of the candidates that are running," Templeton said. "  but I'm different, because I haven't been there for 30 years. I don't owe anybody any favors. I don't need anything out of this. It's a different way. I like Henry McMaster very much, and I'm not running against him. I'm running for the future of this state."

She briefly answered a question on the governor's Monday announcement on a proposed sanctuary cities ban calling it "nice political theater." Templeton said the state doesn't have any sanctuary cities, adding a 2011 law addressed the issue.

"We did that already, and guess who your labor secretary was when we did that," she said.

Templeton was also questioned on other topical issues such as her stance on Confederate statues, as calls to remove and, in some cases, put up new monuments has grown across the country.

A similar issue has been discussed locally in North Augusta regarding a monument that recognizes the sole white man killed in the Hamburg Massacre.

"I have famously, or infamously, said that we won't take monuments down on my watch," Templeton said. "There's a law on the books  we'll keep that law. I have also said that we stand on the shoulders of giants  all of our history, the uncomfortable part and the comfortable part is why we are who we are  and, importantly, my history may not be someone elses history."

Templeton said if there are monuments that need to be added to in order "to tell the rest of the story that's fine," and "that's a wonderful solution as long as we do not sanitize history."

"That is such an incredibly dangerous, dangerous precedent to set, and I appreciate the political correctness or the political difficulty in all of this, but at the end of the day, what happened happened and we should learn from it and we should not erase it," she added.

Templeton lauded her public and private sector experience during the luncheon and said if elected, she would want to cut wasteful spending as she did when with DHEC.

"And here's the best thing: I don't need anything. I will never run for another office ever again," she said. "The governor of the state is the manager, and we need someone who can do math and is operational."
Turkish Opposition Urges Dialogue Over Iraq's Kirkuk

A Turkish opposition party leader on Tuesday called for Iraq's central government to lead dialogue and negotiations over the disputed province of Kirkuk, a recent flashpoint of conflict between the Erbil-based Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad. At his party's parliamentary group meeting, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli warned against ethnic and sectarian conflict in the oil-rich Kirkuk province, where Iraqi joint forces -- including army troops, Federal Police units, and Hashd al-Shaabi fighters -- established "full control" over the city center on Oct. 16 following a tactical withdrawal by Peshmerga forces. "A dialogue, meeting, negotiation process on defining the governmental and political status of Kirkuk should be launched under the leadership of Iraq's central government," said Bahceli. Bahceli noted that the historical presence of ethic Turkmen in the region must be taken in account when deciding Kirkuk's status. "Also the Turkmen must be involved in the process," he said. Bahceli also said all PKK terrorists should be eliminated from Kirkuk. The PKK has waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years, during which more than 40,000 people have been killed. He added, "Within this process of defining the final status of Kirkuk, as a first step, normalization should be provided, and it is essential to deal with the demographic structure in Kirkuk which was damaged before." Territorial integrity During the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Peshmerga forces seized Kirkuk, prompting an influx of Kurds into the city, and in 2014 it was seized by KRG Peshmerga as Iraqi forces fled in the face of Daesh's advance. Kirkuk's population is mainly made up of ethnic Turkmen, Arabs and Kurds. Bahceli also stressed Iraq's territorial integrity, saying: "It is an essential to find a solution for the status of Kirkuk within the independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Iraq." Bahceli said that the rights of Iraq's constituent ethnicities -- including Turkmen, Arabs and Kurds, as well as Assyrians and Chaldeans -- should be secured within the status of Kirkuk. He said: "Kirkuk should have a special status independent of any province." The retaking of Kirkuk by Iraqi forces last week was supported by Turkey, which, along with other regional powers and Baghdad, opposed an illegitimate referendum last month on Kurdish regional independence. Although the KRG's autonomy is recognized under the Iraqi Constitution, some territories -- including Kirkuk -- are disputed between Baghdad and Erbil. 'US should make up its mind on Turkey' Turning to tensions between Ankara and Washington, Bahceli said, "The U.S. should decide whether we are friends or foes." "If we are allies, strategic partners, everybody must immediately display the morals, politics and virtue to do what is necessary and pulls his weight," said Bahceli, urging the U.S. to abide by the rules of alliances. Bahceli also criticized the U.S. over Metin Topuz, a local U.S. Consulate employee arrested over alleged links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen and behind last year's defeated coup in Turkey. The U.S. recently asked Turkey to return Topuz's cellphone. "If the phone is so valuable, here you should give [Turkey] traitor Gulen and get your phone," said Bahceli. Ankara has long complained that the U.S. is dragging its feet on extraditing Gulen. Bahceli added: "[With this phone] you can talk to any terrorist group [ranging] from Daesh to FETO, and from the PKK to the YPG, all night long." Turkey has also complained of U.S. support for the PKK/PYD, Syrian branch of the terrorist PKK. Washington recognizes the PKK as a terrorist group, but claims the PKK/PYD is a "reliable ally" in the fight against Daesh. FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured. Ankara accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.
Assyrians Wounded in Clash Between Kurdish and Shiite Militias

Assyrian Civilian Christians have been wounded in the fighting between Sunni Muslim Kurds and Shia militias/Iraqi Army forces in the village of Teleskof in the Assyria Nineveh Plain. The Assyrian Christians who had started to return to Teleskof after the Mosul fight were greeted by mortar rounds landing in the market of Teleskof earlier today. The shelling was a result of the fighting between Sunni Muslim Kurds and Government of Iraq (GOI) units. Kurdish commanders who decided to battle the Iraqi Army in the city would have known in advance that the fighting would put Assyrian Christian civilians at risk. This incident casts doubt on the sincerity of the Kurdish claims that the Kurds are the protectors of the Assyrian Christians in Iraq and that Assyrian Christians support Kurdish aspirations for statehood. The Assyrian have currently fled the city in mass for the relative safety of the village of Deshata Qutane and the city of Dohuk/Assyria Nohadra. This will be third time since 2014 that the Assyrian Christians have been forced to flee Teleskof because of fighting in the area. Until the world polities begin advocating for an Assyrian State/region in a federalized Iraq in accordance to the Iraqi constitution the Assyrians will never feel free and or safe under the GOI and or the KRG and the Assyrian Genocide story will continue in Iraq.
Iraqi Assyrian Politicians Denounce Church's Intervention in Politics

BAGHDAD -- Christian activists and politicians recently have been objecting to the greater involvement of religious leaders in Iraqi political affairs. Following the redeployment of Iraqi federal forces in Kirkuk, Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako issued a statement Oct. 19 calling on Iraqi leaders in Baghdad and Erbil to proceed with genuine national reconciliation to put the political process on track. He stressed that it is important to preserve human beings and not oil wells, in reference to the recent dispute over the Kurdish independence referendum, which ended with federal government control of Kirkuk. The title of the statement, "An Appeal to Iraqi Leaders," shows the nature of the patriarch's view of his role as a national and moral guide for politicians on all sides, and his view of himself as a leader of Christians amid a Christian political split over the referendum and its results. In conjunction with the crisis of the Kurdish independence referendum, a group of Christian clerics launched a political project in which they formally demanded separation from Iraq. Some others have called for joining the new Kurdistan state. Assyrian activist Muna Yaku, a member of the committee writing the constitution of the Kurdistan Regional Government, criticized the intervention of the Christian clergy in political affairs in a post on her Facebook page. She said decisions regarding the political future of Iraq's Christians should be made by politicians and political parties, not Christian clerics. Read the full story here.
Can Safe Zones Save Iraq's Dwindling Assyrian Population?

Researchers have called for safe zones to be set up for Iraq's Christian communities. Saad Salloum, of the Iraqi Council for Interfaith Dialogue, made the call at a conference for Christians in the Middle East. The news comes following the defeat of ISIS in Mosul and in Syria's Raqqa. Christians faced torture and death under the militant group. Salloum has urged officials to set up a "safe zone" for Christians in Iraq in the wake of the poor security situation. The idea is now becoming popular following initial controversy among political groups in Iraq. ISIS heightened the threat of physical violence against Christian communities in Nineveh in recent months. The number of Christians in Iraq has been hotly debated by politicians in recent years. Activists have called for the arming and training of Christian militia groups along with Kurdish fighters to protect Christians in Northern Iraq. Speaking in 2015, Loay Mikhael, head of the Foreign Relations Committee at the Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council, told Al-Monitor. "If they decided they want to save that area, then OK, train our people, train the Kurds, give them more equipment -- or liberate Ninevah Plain for us, and we will protect it, Without a safe haven -- without international protection for the Ninevah Plain -- there will be no Christians living in Iraq anymore," he added. The exact workings of a safe zone in Iraq have yet to be clearly defined. However, many believe that it would function similar to safe zones set up to protect minorities in Bosnia and Rwanda where humanitarian assistance was provided to minority groups in a specific area. Some criticized the zones for their lack of safety and security and in fact claim that such zones single out minority groups and lead to re-traumatization of people once the conflicts had ended. A survey by U.S.-based NGO OpenDoors USA found that Iraq is the seventh most dangerous country in the world for Christians. Before the American invasion in 2003, there were roughly 1.5 million Christians in Iraq. Since then, their numbers have dwindled to 500,000.
Army Shells Iraqi Town -- But Assyrian Priest Refuses to Leave

Father Salar Kajo, an Assyrian priest, remains in Telsqof. ( Aid to the Church in Need) A senior Iraqi priest refused to leave Teleskov, northern Iraq -- even after military forces gathered there for battle. Chaldean cleric Father Salar Kajo and nine Church workers remained in the Christian-majority town on the Nineveh Plains, around 19 miles north of Mosul, despite Iraqi and Peshmerga armies amassing there over the last 48 hours. All other inhabitants left Teleskov yesterday (Tuesday 24th October) after mortar shells landed in the town, injuring three children. Both Kurdish and Iraqi forces are aware of the presence of Father Kajo and his team. Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need has received information from various sources including Father Kajo -- who was in the UK earlier this month to speak at the launch of the charity's Persecuted and Forgotten? report -- and town elders who have fled to nearby Alqosh. According to sources, last night was mostly quiet and the sporadic gun fire which occurred earlier this morning has now ceased. Iraqi forces had moved in heavy weaponry, including armoured vehicles, up to the outskirts of Teleskov, and the Peshmerga had set up defensive positions inside numerous houses. Kurdish forces from Alqosh had been moved towards the town. With most other Peshmerga militias having reportedly stood down, local Church leaders have questioned why Kurdish forces apparently made a stand at Teleskov, where the majority of the homes damaged during Daesh (ISIS) occupation have been restored. Fr. Salar Kajo of the Chaldean Catholic Church has refused to leave Teleskof. ( Fox News) More than 70 percent of the families that were driven out by Daesh had returned to the town. But there are signs that further fighting could be averted following a statement issued by the Kurdistan Regional Government today (Wednesday 25th October). The message called for an immediate ceasefire and halt to all military operations in the region, and promised to "[f]reeze the results of referendum conducted in the Iraqi Kurdistan" so that there could be dialogue between the Kurdistan Regional Government and Iraqi Federal Government. The statement said: "As Iraq and Kurdistan are faced with grave and dangerous circumstances, we are all obliged to act responsibly in order to prevent further violence and clashes between Iraqi and Peshmerga forces. "Attacks and confrontations between Iraqi and Peshmerga forces that started on October 16th, 2017, especially today's clashes, have caused damage to both sides and could lead to a continuous bloodshed, inflicting pain and social unrest among different components of Iraqi society. "Certainly, continued fighting does not lead any side to victory, but it will drive the country towards disarray and chaos, affecting all aspects of life." Aid to the Church in Need has been working with local churches to rebuild Christian towns and villages which were destroyed by extremist group Daesh after they seized the Nineveh Plains. Neville Kyrke-Smith, national director of Aid to the Church in Need (UK) called for prayer for peace in the Nineveh Plains. He said: "We have stood by our Iraqi brothers and sisters as they were forced out of their homes, supporting the marvellous work done by the local churches who provided food, shelter and emergency aid for them in their time of crisis. "With the defeat of Daesh, we have been helping Iraq's Christians to repair their damaged houses, so that they can at long last return to the places they call home. "It would be a tragedy if a new round of armed fighting shattered their dreams of going home. "We ask everyone to pray for those affected -- and call on others to do all they can to enable a lasting and stable peace." Mr Kyrke-Smith added: "But whatever happens we will stand by our Iraqi brothers and sisters in their hour of need."
October 25, 2017

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi made a lightning visit to Ankara today to shore up regional support for Baghdads efforts to reclaim full control over the beleaguered Iraqi Kurdistan Region. The campaign could turn very bloody should the Kurds resist.

Abadi met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has emerged as a key ally in those plans. In a joint news conference, the two men repeated their objections to the Kurdish independence referendum, which was held Sept. 25 and approved by a crushing 93% of voters.

Erdogan said, From the beginning we have always expressed that we supported territorial integrity in Iraq, and we will continue to do so. He added, We did not get a positive response to [our] warnings, so we decided to impose sanctions.

Abadi said, With the referendum, they tried to break up our territory. They tried to redefine our borders.

Turkey has in fact not yet taken any real measures against the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) beyond holding showy military drills on its border, taking two Iraqi Kurdish news channels off the air and shutting its airspace to Kurdistan Region-bound flights  an empty gesture as Baghdad had already sealed that space to all international flights Sept. 29.

Turkeys borders with the Iraqi Kurds remain open. A pipeline carrying Iraqi Kurdish crude to export terminals in Ceyhan, a Turkish port in the southern Mediterranean, is still functioning.

Turkey has left much of the initiative to Iran, the Kurds other big detractor. Tehran duly cut a deal with a faction of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), one of the two main parties governing the Kurdistan Region. Within two weeks, Iraqi forces backed by Shiite militias regained control of much of the territory Kurdish peshmerga fighters had captured from the Islamic State in 2014, most critically the oil-rich province of Kirkuk. Washington, which said it would remain neutral in the spat, has sat on its hands, effectively greenlighting Iraqi advances.

Iraqi forces are now keen to swoop on Fish-Khabur, a critical wedge of territory where the Iraqi, Turkish and Syrian borders meet.

It remains unclear whether Ankara would back further military action against the Kurds at its border, but Turkish officials have made no secret of their desire to see Baghdad reimpose federal authority over its border areas and has floated various plans.about this.

Erdogan said today that Turkey wanted to help Baghdad resume exporting Kirkuk's oil via an old dual pipeline that would take at least two years to refurbish, industry experts say. The plan would demand Kurdish acquiescence, and it's not been forthcoming. Baghdad may yet resort to force.

Indeed, until yesterday, an attack seemed imminent as Iraqi forces continued to advance north toward Iraqi Kurdish territory from Rabiya and Zumar. But the Iraqis are now holding their fire to allow time for a transfer of power that many think will take place within Iraqi Kurdistan. Ankara and Washington are said to favor this arrangement.

It is thought to be staked on the stepping down of Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani, who would hand power to his nephew, Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani. There is widespread speculation that this could happen in the coming days, if not hours.

The first signs of a climbdown emerged Tuesday, when the KRG declared that it was prepared to freeze the referendum and resume talks with Baghdad.

Under the proposed scheme, the new Kurdish leadership is meant to share control over its borders for the first time since 1991 and over oil revenues, another first since 2014, when the Kurds began exporting their oil independently of Baghdad through the Turkish pipeline and independence finally seemed within reach.

Many blame the fiercely proud elder Barzani for the current debacle. It has left the Iraqi Kurds deeply humiliated, further divided and in their weakest negotiating position since a failed autonomy deal with Baghdad in 1975.

In turn, Barzani has pinned responsibility on the PUK for selling out, as he sees it, to Iran. Others say it's Washingtons fault. The United States emboldened Iran and Baghdad in its zeal to stop the referendum. The wisest course of action, this argument goes, would have been for Washington, having registered its objections, to pipe down.

There is a face-saving way out for the president. Barzanis term, which some members of the opposition say was extended illegally for a second time in 2015, will expire again Nov. 1. He has said on numerous occasions that he has no plans to stay on. Barzani could present his exit as his own choice.

But Iraqi Kurdistan would then be left without a president, as the Kurds regional parliament voted this week to delay by eight months parliamentary and presidential elections that were scheduled to be held concurrently on Nov 1. Further complicating matters, Iraqi Kurdistan does not have its own constitution, and the opposition Change Movement [Gorran] is continuing to boycott the chamber because of the dispute over the presidency.

Can Nechirvan save the day? Bilal Wahab is a Soref fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy who writes about Kurdish governance. He told Al-Monitor, Within [the Barzani-led Kurdistan Democratic Party] realm, Nechirvan would be a pragmatic actor because he is the least associated with the referendum. The savvy prime minister kept a low profile throughout the referendum campaign and is widely believed to have urged his uncle to call it off. He negotiated many of the multibillion-dollar energy deals and is as much at ease with Washington and Moscow as he is with Ankara and Tehran.

Wahab cautioned, however, While this formula may stave off the immediate crisis, the question of who represents the KRG in future negotiations with Baghdad will remain unresolved unless Gorran is brought on board. And this entails a whole new round of deal-making. Other presidential hopefuls are known to be waiting in the wings. Then theres the rarely mentioned yet widely known rivalry between Nechirvan and his cousin Masrour, the KRGs powerful intelligence chief who is Massoud Barzanis eldest son. How would this play out should Nechirvan be handed the reins? The Barzanis have rarely displayed disunity and least of all in public. But either way, Iraqi Kurdistan has entered uncharted waters.
October 24, 2017

BAGHDAD  The Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Rafael Sako, in an Oct. 16 press interview, expressed his concern that the Kurdish crisis would put at risk the Christians presence in Iraq. He said the current conflict in the disputed areas between Baghdad and Erbil would impede the Christians return to their areas, and prompt Christians to rush to leave their country for good.

Sako appealed to Christians to unite their ranks and engage in dialogue to preserve the Christian component in Iraq. Nevertheless, the church's calls for a dialogue that would have Iraqs Christians discuss the future of the Christian component may not gain much traction because of the great divide among this religious grouping, particularly following the referendum on independence for the Kurdistan region that took place Sept. 25.

There are three main political stances among Christians. Ryan Chaldean, the leader of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMUs) Babylon Brigade, represents Christians close to the Shiites and federal authority. They are committed to Iraqs unity and oppose the secession of Kurdistan, where the largest part of the Christian minority in Iraq lives.

Furthermore, there are those Christians who favor secession and becoming part of a Kurdish state. They are made up of a large number of Assyrian and Syriac parties, most notably the Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council.

The third stance is expressed by those who say there is a need for Christians to have an internationally sponsored special status within a federal Iraq. Sako is one of them.

There are an estimated 450,000 Christians in Iraq, mainly in Dahuk and Erbil provinces in the Kurdistan region and in Alqosh and Bartella in the Ninevah Plains in Ninevah province. There are also are some Christians in Baghdad and other Arab-majority provinces.

People in Christian areas were subject to captivity and forced displacement after the Islamic State (IS) seized parts of northern and western Iraq in 2014, particularly Mosul. This caused a majority of Christians to move to the Kurdistan region in the past three years. Earlier, other Christians had fled to the Kurdistan region as sectarian violence erupted in Baghdad. Presently, they hold an important card in the Iraqi-Kurdish equation, and many Christians voted in the referendum on Kurdish independence.

Halan Hermez, a member of the Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council, told Al-Monitor, Christians are an important component in the Kurdistan region. They are even the indigenous people of this territory. Based on that, taking part in the referendum on the Kurdistan independence was imperative.

Hermez, who is also a member of the Supreme Council for the Kurdistan Region Referendum, said, The vast majority of this Christian component is in favor of the independence, as they were subjected to killings and displacements in the rest of the Iraqi areas. This is while they have found security and stability in Kurdistan.

Commenting on the Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Councils perception of Christians future, Hermez said, An independent region within the Kurdish state is what we seek. In case independence does not succeed, we seek to have a province that includes the Ninevah Plains established, provided that this province be within the Kurdistan region.

Of note, Christians do not form a majority in all areas where they have a strong presence, particularly outside the Kurdistan region. For instance, Christians make up about 15% of the Ninevah Plains population, while the Yazidis consist of nearly 40%. The Shabak people represent 25% and Arabs 20%. In addition, there are 65,000 Christian citizens in Qaraqosh, also known as Hamdaniya, alongside 175,000 Shabak and Kurdish people in the Ninevah province.

There are about 25,000 Christian citizens out of 175,000 people in Tel Keppe district, while there are 7,000 Christians out of 37,000 people in the Shekhan district. Both are in Ninevah.

Based on that, Joseph Saliwa, a Christian member of the Iraqi parliament for the al-Warka bloc, said, It is not to the Christians' advantage to have a region established at present or to support the Kurdistan regions secession from Iraq. He told Al-Monitor, The referendum has ignited many crises within the country and problems with neighbors and the rest of the world's countries. It is not in the advantage of a minority, such as the Christian minority, to be involved in that.

Saliwa said, The establishment of a new province affiliated with the Baghdad central government is the most suitable solution for Christians  a province that would include the Ninevah Plains, and all of its neighboring areas inside and outside the region. It would also accommodate the area's other components, such as the Shabak people and Yazidis, under the umbrella of the international community. It would be a province that would become a model of development in Iraq.

He said, The Iraqi Cabinet had previously decided to turn the Ninevah Plains into a province. We will be seeking to activate such a decision in parliament.

He said, Significant pressure placed on Christians by parties in control of their areas is behind the differing Christian stances.

The Babylon Brigades' Ryan Chaldean opposed the referendum and Christians secession from Iraq. He also rejected the idea that they should be given special status. He argued in Oct. 13 statement that Kurdish authorities are further entrenching the Kurdish character in the Kurdish areas, adding that the independence issue is like a fire ignited in Iraq.

Iraqi Christians' pursuit of living in security and having their civil rights safeguarded exceeds their search for a political and administrative independence. This is due to the harassment they have suffered at the hands of armed groups and militias, as well as their political exploitation by various Iraqi parties that view the minority card to be of a major importance in acquiring land and obtaining international support and sympathy.

In order for minorities, particularly the Christian minority, to have a special status or have their social and security problems resolved, they are required to take part in a historic political settlement that may require that amendments be added to the Iraqi constitution, that ensures security, guarantees political stability and puts a halt to the demands that independence be achieved and a region be established.
October 25, 2017

Elif Shafak, a Turkish international award-winning writer, has a steady record of courting controversy. Her novel The Bastard of Istanbul, in which she tackled the Armenian genocide and the deep scars it left on Turkeys Armenians, led a public prosecutor a decade ago to launch a Kafkaesque trial against one of the characters in the novel for insulting Turks under the infamous Article 301 of the Penal Code. In Honor, she focused on femicide. In The Forty Rules of Love, arguably the most famous of the 10 novels she has written so far, she wrote about the relationship between Rumi, the 13th-century Sufi preacher/poet, and Shams of Tabriz, leaving open the question of the physical aspect of their relationship. In her latest book, Three Daughters of Eve, Shafak explored faith, friendship, bourgeoisie, the economic gap between the haves and have-nots, and seduction on Oxford University's campus.

Despite Shafaks international acclaim, her relationship with the Turkish literati is one of love and hate. Although she is the undisputed queen of best-sellers, she often comes under attack because of her politics, her lifestyle, her book covers, which are alleged to be copycats of other books, and even the way she altered the spelling of her last name by changing it from Safak to Shafak so that her non-Turkish audience could pronounce it correctly.

The most recent attack against Shafak, which turned into a social media hate campaign, came following a 20-second admission during a TED Talks presentation in New York, filmed in September but released Oct. 16. Shafak started her talk, titled The Revolutionary Power of Diverse Thought, with the question Can you taste words? She proceeds talking about her favorite topics: her bittersweet feelings toward Turkey, diversity, the rejection of a single truth and plucking up the courage to speak up about who you are and what you believe in.

What the Turkish press and social media quote her on comes toward the end of the talk: I have always been very vocal and written extensively about minority rights, women's rights, LGBT rights.  I have never had the courage to say in a public space that I was bisexual myself, because I so feared the slander and the stigma and the ridicule and the hatred that was sure to follow.

All those reactions she feared quickly came. Various Turkish papers put her revelation on the front page, saying that Shafak had announced that she is bisexual  hardly acknowledging that the reference to her sexuality was a passing reference toward the end of the 20-minute talk. Conservative and mainstream columnists picked up the debate, either to air their criticism of the controversial author, who left Turkey to live in London, or to deplore the whole statement as a publicity stunt.

A champ of self-promotion and grabbing attention, wrote Ahmet Hakan, one of Turkey's most-read columnists, in daily Hurriyet, claiming that Shafak has habitually donned different identities that would keep her in the headlines  as a liberal, a feminist, a believer and now a bisexual. My concern now is that Orhan Pamuk will also come out, he wrote, referring to Turkeys only Nobel Literature Prize laureate who is as critical of Turkeys current policy as Shafak.

Haberturk columnist Oray Egin wrote that Shafak's remarks were nothing but a bit of public relations." Egin, who is openly gay, said, Being gay is a political identity, which requires commitment and taking responsibility. When a writer who has never expressed the least support to LGBT causes comes out in TED Talks, this can be nothing but a deplorable PR attempt.

Social media reactions followed with a steady stream of sexual insults and accusations that she was a traitor" who would stop at nothing to insult Turkey in front of an international audience, or the bride of Fethullah Gulen  a reference to Shafaks marriage to Eyup Can, a journalist for whom an arrest warrant was issued after the July 15 coup for support of Gulen, a US-based cleric and the alleged mastermind of the coup.

The reactions on social media accuse Shafak of ignoring Turkish traditions, codes of conduct, honor and family values  of exhibitionism and even of perversity, Itir Bagdadi, the chair of Gender and Womens Studies Research and Application Center at the Economy University of Izmir, told Al-Monitor. It is a clear case of homophobia and misogyny combined. The striking thing is that it is clear that very few of the people who crucified her on social media have listened to the whole speech. This is a dangerous case of a snowball effect of hate speech toward LGBT and other vulnerable groups.

She said, "It is no easy thing to admit that you are bisexual, which is a group that is the least understood and most ignored, even within the LGBT movement itself. Once such a declaration is made, it is irrevocable. No one has the right to question its sincerity  this in itself is patronizing and oppressive."

Zehra Celenk, a columnist for Duvar, wrote in her column titled "Elif Shafak, bisexuality and our great homophobia," that the debate has shown that many people in Turkey do not know what bisexuality means, although they hate it anyway. What has been written since her announcement precisely confirms what she has said  once you come out, you face disdain, insults and hatred.

"Some of the criticism is indeed misogynistic and homophobic," Egin, who questioned Shafak's sincerity in his column, told Al-Monitor. "Most of social media users seem not to have heard of bisexuality until Elif Shafak, so she did raise the profile of LGBT in Turkey after all. But Elif Shafak, coming out in New York, does not make it any easier coming out in Turkey."

Another group that has supported Shafak is Lezbiyen, a lesbian, bisexual and feminist movement in Turkey. Why should declaring your sexual preferences be a way to attract attention? asked Gizem T., a member of the group, at a roundtable debate organized by Bianet, an independent Turkish news agency that specializes in human rights. The coming out of a public figure normally would encourage others to come out, but the reaction that [Shafak] faced may well show them that the best thing to do is remain quiet.

Unlike in many Muslim countries, homosexuality is not illegal in Turkey, but homophobia remains widespread. According to a 2014 report published by Kaos GL Association, homophobic speech is common among members of the government as well as the public.

Some media outlets promote hate speech against LGBTI persons. The law suits filed by LGBTI persons  usually do not result in effective investigations or sanctions by the judiciary. Discrimination over the right to employment on the basis of sexual orientation remains widespread, said the European Commissions 2016 report on Turkey.

Correction: Oct. 29, 2017. An earlier version of this article stated that Eyup Can was arrested following the July 15 coup attempt. A warrant for his arrest was issued, yet he was not arrested.
October 25, 2017

Once again, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has emphasized that Tehran will not negotiate with the West over Irans ballistic missile program.

At a joint graduation, inauguration and epaulet-granting ceremony for cadets of Iran's Army Academies on Oct. 25, Ayatollah Khamenei refused any negotiation over Irans defense power.

While the US administration has signaled ambivalence about Irans implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the White House has urged Tehran to come to the negotiating table to reach an agreement over limitations on its ballistic missile program.

We have repeatedly announced and declared once more that the countrys defensive means and power are not up for negotiation and bargaining, said Ayatollah Khamenei at the ceremony, adding, When it comes to defense equipment and whatever [means] that backs up the national power, we have no bargaining and transactions with the enemy and will continue on the path of power with more strength than before.

He added, They oppose the development of the Islamic Republic of Iran's power in our region and beyond because it is the country's strategic depth.

Noting Irans enemys desire for dominance in the region, Ayatollah Khamenei said, The Islamic Republic glorified and dignified Iran. Today our fight with the arrogant powers is over their desire to dominate our region. The most pivotal element of our national sovereignty is viewed as an intrusive element by our enemies  one that needs to be fought against.

Following US President Donald Trumps Oct. 13 address, in which he decertified Irans compliance with the JCPOA and announced new measures against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the parallel Iranian army has sought to stand behind the IRGC.

"We are committed that the army will not leave the Revolutionary Guard, so that the foundations of the [Zionist] regime will fall, and the life of the Zionist regime comes to an end as soon as possible," said Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi at the Oct. 25 ceremony.

On the same day, at a ceremony to commemorate the Iranian fighters who have been killed in Syria, Hossein Salami, the deputy commander of the IRGC, said, There is no sign of a military option [against Iran] in the words of the Americans, and on the contrary, there is talk of [the US] resorting to its partners to curb Irans power.

He added, The recent speech of the president of the United States indicated the emergence of an irresistible power [Iran] that  maintains its political presence and has become a powerful regional backbone.

Mentioning the US presidents apparent determination to undermine the nuclear deal, Salami added, "No one else is willing to trust the United States anymore, and it is not possible to reach an agreement in which the US is a party, because  the credibility and trust of this power is gone.

Salami added, The enemy does not understand logic and does not have affection and feelings. It only understands the language of power and weapons: [thus] we should speak with [the enemy] based on this logic.
October 24, 2017

Israeli leftists and activists shed no tears when they heard that eight European states are demanding that Israel pay them for destroying facilities they had donated to Palestinians in the West Bank. The member states of the West Bank Protection Consortium  Belgium, France, Spain, Sweden, Luxembourg, Italy, Ireland and Denmark  are demanding 30,000 euros for solar panels and caravans used as classrooms. In a letter of reprimand to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, the group wrote that the destruction and/or seizure of humanitarian aid violates Israels commitments under international law and causes suffering to Palestinian residents. Israel has full control of Area C, but is shirking its basic responsibility toward tens of thousands of Palestinians hemmed in by Israeli settlement outposts in the Hebron Hills region and the Israeli armys training areas in the Jordan Valley.

Israel openly does all it can to force the Palestinians out of the region, preventing them from developing infrastructure and basic services. Europeans have stepped into this vacuum, taking on tasks that the Israeli rulers should be carrying out. The Europeans and their leftist Israeli allies are a thorn in the side of the Israeli government, and Area C has turned into a battleground. The victims of the fighting are tens of thousands of Palestinian residents and any hope of a diplomatic resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

One such battle erupted in January 2012. A leaked internal EU report accused Israel of nothing short of a forced transfer of Area Cs Palestinian population by pushing ahead with construction of Jewish homes in an area designated E1 that lies between Jerusalem and the West Bank settlement town of Maale Adumim. Israel fired back several days later, ordering a halt to the installation of German-funded solar panels and wind turbines by an Israeli-Palestinian organization called Comet-ME. The facilities had brought light to 1,500 homes in 16 destitute communities in the hills south of Hebron. The German government, which donated 400,000 euros for the project, was incensed and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle demanded that Israel rescind the work stoppage orders.

Six months ago, Israeli authorities seized solar panels donated by the Dutch government to residents of the Palestinian village of Jubbet al-Dhib. On Oct. 20, Haaretz reported that following Dutch pressure, Netanyahu ordered the panels re-installed. Europe can pat itself on the back for this small victory, but Netanyahu is the big winner. All he did was sacrifice a pawn for the sake of the far right's vision of a Greater Israel and to protect his own rule.

The next move on the Israeli-European chess board is a proposal to establish a parliamentary commission of inquiry into the issue of European funding of left-wing organizations. The states being targeted by the inquiry are those funding projects for the Palestinians in Area C and for the activities of human rights organizations such as Breaking the Silence, Yesh Din and BTselem.

Speaking to heads of the ruling coalition partners about his proposal to push forward with an inquiry, Netanyahu brought up the example of US congressional investigations such as the one probing Russian interference in the 2016 elections. The House Un-American Activities Committee run in the early 1950s by Senator Joseph McCarthy would have been a more apt example. The Knessets legal counsel. Eyal Yinon, objected to such a move six and a half years ago. He warned, The basic tenets of legal systems in democracies stipulate that civil society organizations are entitled to operate with great freedom and minimal intervention by state authorities. He noted that the Supreme Court had struck down initiatives that create a public climate threatening to freedom of thought and protest.

Netanyahu doesnt care about any of this. He simply wants to provoke the Europeans into remaining players in administering the occupation. In fact, the European condemnation of government persecution of left-wing organizations is a handy weapon for Netanyahu to turn the Israeli public against them. After all, for most Israelis, BTselem is an abomination.

Netanyahu revels in these clashes, and theres no shortage of European leaders with whom to tangle. Everyone plays a role in managing the conflict. Israel demolishes and confiscates, the Europeans reprimand, the Palestinian Authority protests, the peace organizations condemn and the settlers rejoice and persecute their Palestinian shepherd neighbors. The European conscience is assuaged, a resolution of the conflict fades and the occupation remains. The Israeli left hopes that the bill presented by the eight European governments to Israel for its violations will waken the Israeli public from its slumber. After all, Israeli taxpayers will have to foot the bill.

There are no grounds for such hopes. For years, the state has been taking hundreds of millions of shekels out of their pockets, handing them over to the Israeli farmers and manufacturers operating in the occupied territories. The money is said to be compensation for settlers' losses due to the EUs refusal to play along with the trampling of the Green Line and of the two-state solution by granting them the same reduced tariffs enjoyed by Israeli companies operating within Israels sovereign borders.

The Europeans learned the hard way that if they walk away from the administration and move on to sanctions such as the ones that resulted in the collapse of the apartheid regime in South Africa, Netanyahu will not hesitate to invoke the Holocaust and silence them with guilt. The fear of this discourse stops them from taking real actions. If Europe does not learn to cope with its guilty feelings over its history with the Jewish people, it can do nothing for the Palestinian people and lovers of peace.
October 24, 2017

President Reuven Rivlin's speech during the opening ceremony for the Knesset's winter session Oct. 23 was greeted with enthusiastic applause from the opposition benches. It was yet another expression of the distress they feel in the era of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. For a fleeting moment, it was easy to believe that Rivlin, the Likud Partys "flesh and blood," was actually the leader of the opposition. He used the sharpest, most determined language he could in attacking the current government, warning that it is leading Israel down a dangerous path. He cautioned against the loss of respect for the official markers of statehood and the government institutions vital for the preservation of democracy.

Rivlin's speech was a stinging indictment of Netanyahu and his right-wing government. It dominated the agenda and captured all the headlines while underscoring the absence of a united Knesset opposition. Rather than rising as the main body to critique the government and drive political dialogue, the opposition has proved yet again that it is divided and leaderless. With so many of its members flirting openly with the right, they simply avoid criticizing the government.

Then there were the official leaders of the opposition: Zionist Camp Chairman Avi Gabbay, Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid and the official leader of the opposition, Isaac Herzog. In their public statements and speeches, they claim that Netanyahus rule is nearing its end, but in internal party discussions, they admit that the government is stable and could survive another year.

Rivlin's speech was a poignant response to the disturbing wave of predatory and anti-democratic legislation spearheaded by the prime minister himself. As such, it was readily adopted by Netanyahu's rivals from the center to the left. There was, however, an obvious paradox in Rivlin's remarks. On one hand, the president spoke of the importance of officialdom and the need to preserve and protect the state's institutions and symbols from the populist discourse and legislation advanced by the coalition. On the other hand, that Rivlin took such a clear stance and offered such resounding criticism of the government was a violation of officialdom and the traditional distance from politics that characterizes the presidency.

As his speech reached its climax, Rivlin warned of "the winds of change, or a second revolution." He went on to say, "This revolution seeks to finally rip the mask of alleged hypocrisy off the gatekeepers. In this revolution, the ruler is also the victim. 'We'll show them' is the soundtrack of the revolution. The stateliness has gone from our country, after us the deluge." Rivlin then defended the chief of police, Supreme Court justices, the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet, which have all come under attack by right-wing politicians, including the prime minister, in the past year alone.

Rivlin has had a very rocky relationship with Netanyahu over the past few years, but it should be noted that this is not the main reason that his stinging rebuke made senior Likud officials, who normally support him, uncomfortable. "It was clearly a political speech and therefore inappropriate," one Likud minister told Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity. That minister voted for Rivlin in 2014, despite Netanyahu's opposition to his candidacy.

The event marking the opening of the winter session felt neither festive nor official. The ceremony took place in the shadow of the various investigations into Netanyahus affairs and the aggressive efforts by the leaders of the coalition to pass a law to prevent new investigations from being launched. Even Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit took the unusual step of unequivocally opposing the bill. Netanyahu didn't even try to appear official. As far as he is concerned, he is waging war for his legal, political and public survival, so anything goes. In his "Sourpuss Speech," he ridiculed media and opposition critics alike, and took steps to exacerbate the already deep rift between the left and right. It is an approach that won him quite a few seats in the last election and is particularly popular among his supporters.

Under normal circumstances, the prime minister's speech opening the Knesset is devoted to outlining his agenda and declaring his political and diplomatic objectives. Netanyahu chose to use his speech instead to highlight his own narrative: Life in Israel is wonderful, even if there are those who insist on claiming, for all sorts of irrelevant reasons, that everything is terrible. He was referring, of course, to the media and his political rivals in the opposition.

Netanyahu reminded Israelis, "The country is experiencing an unprecedented diplomatic and economic boom. In terms of security, we are more powerful than ever. Our national foundations are firm.  Within a decade, we will be a country of 10 million citizens, with a GNP of half a trillion dollars." He went on to boast, "[I meet with] dozens of world leaders. They admire us for our steady and determined war against terror, our technological innovations, and our readiness to send life-saving rescue teams around the world."

He described his critics as the "industry of gloom," as he has done before, but this time he offered up a new epithet: "Recently, a new branch has been added  the sourpusses." By "sourpuss," he was referring to journalists, politicians and supporters of the left who allegedly enjoy the easy life and abundance in Israel and fly overseas for frequent vacations but fail to recognize the prime minister's greatness.

The opposition benches also suffered from a certain dearth of "officialness." When Netanyahu left the podium to return to his seat, Yael German of Yesh Atid hissed at him, "You're a disgrace." German admitted as much in a heated interview with Army Radio on Oct. 24. When asked what she would like to see happen during this Knesset session, she responded, "We would like to see an indictment within the next few months,  as quickly as possible." Later, she noted that this is what she expects will happen.

German must have forgotten that Knesset representatives who speak highly of respecting official decorum are expected to maintain an aura of officialdom, even when the target of their attacks is the prime minister. They must certainly avoid determining the guilt of the prime minister, or any other person for that matter, before the investigation is over and a decision to indict (or not) is made.

Netanyahu arrives at this Knesset session in the middle of the fight of his life, over his reputation and political career. At the same time, however, his political standing is more solid than ever, at least at this stage. He is stronger in the Likud than he has been for years, and his coalition consists of partners who have no interest in early elections. Anyone attending the Likud faction meeting Oct. 23 witnessed the warm reception for Netanyahu. This was further evidence that the Likud does not yet see his end approaching.

It is doubtful whether the dramatic remarks at the Knesset ceremony will have an impact on Israeli public opinion. They were simply part of an internal political dialogue for the most part taking place on the right. The opposition should play an important role in the political arena, but it remains marginal and effectively irrelevant. All of this became clear on the one day that should have been a time of celebration in the Knesset.
October 25, 2017

At the start of his Knesset faction's meeting on Oct. 23, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, the chairman of Yisrael Beitenu, dropped a bombshell. "As for the rocket fire in the north," he confided, "it was not 'leakage' but a deliberate attack by a local cell operated by Hezbollah. [Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan] Nasrallah personally gave an order to exclude the [Bashar] al-Assad regime. That is why I call on the Assad regime, which we consider responsible for everything that happens on Syrian soil, and on the Russian forces stationed there to restrain Hezbollah."

Liberman was referring to four rockets fired from Syrian territory into the Israeli-held Golan Heights on Oct. 21. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the rocket fire was not "leakage" resulting from fighting in the Syrian part of the Golan Heights between troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the rebels, but an intentional attack on Israel. Then the defense minister himself announced that the order to fire the rockets was given by none other than Nasrallah and that a local terror cell carried it out without Assad even knowing about it. Nevertheless, Liberman made a point of placing the onus of responsibility for restraining Hezbollah on Assad and his Russian allies.

Liberman's very public statement immediately became a major headline in Israel and throughout the Middle East. Tensions in the north hit new levels over the past few weeks and threatened to reach a boiling point. Liberman's comments were seen as a firm warning, directed squarely at Nasrallah's bunker in Beirut, as well as a serious escalation in the recent war of words between the parties.

The entire episode received a bizarre twist just a few hours later. It turned out that no one in the IDF was familiar with the information that Liberman presented to the microphones and cameras. While the IDF also believes that the rockets were fired at Israel intentionally, military intelligence has no information about a direct order from Nasrallah, an attempt to exclude Assad or the identity of the terror cell responsible for the rocket fire. Thinking that he was getting into a war of words with Nasrallah, Liberman actually found himself caught up in a war of conflicting versions with the IDF. The conflict died down quickly, without developing into an open fight, but the mystery remains: Where did Liberman get his information?

One senior defense official with a keen sense of humor suggested to Al-Monitor that Liberman's close ties with Moscow might have given him access to Russian intelligence. On the other hand, Liberman arrived at the faction meeting in the Knesset on Oct. 23 directly from a trip to Washington, where he held meetings with his American counterparts. Regardless, the defense minister said nothing more about the issue.

Behind these comments is growing criticism of the policies pursued by Liberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on all matters concerning the northern front. This criticism has been kept behind closed doors for the past few weeks. Security officials, military officers and occasionally even ministers expressed their discomfort with Israel's light trigger finger when it comes to military activity in Syria. They are even more uneasy about the fact that Israel is abandoning its traditional silence on the matter. The government is now quick to take responsibility for bombing runs and other military actions, with the prime minister himself sometimes issuing the statements.

On Oct. 22, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amiram Levin, a decorated war hero and former chief of the Northern Command, entered the fray. In an article he wrote for Yedioth Ahronoth daily and in ensuing interviews, Levin stated unequivocally that the government is dragging Israel to war. Levin wrote, Measured military responses coupled with quiet diplomacy vis-a-vis the players on the northern front are the right thing to do.  But when they are accompanied by harsh words and populist statements, they become dangerous." In a radio interview, Levin added, "Our strength lies in our thunderous silence  in quiet diplomacy.  With it we can reduce the risk of war."

Levin was not alone. Former Chief of Staff and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon seconded this. In an interview with Army Radio on Oct. 22, he said that Israel should not take responsibility for any actions in Syria. It is harmful, he said, and it encourages the opposing party to respond. "Less politics, more diplomacy," he said.

Ya'alon and Levin were referring, among other things, to an incident that occurred just a few days before, on Oct. 16, and was described in an earlier Al-Monitor article. In that incident, Syrian rockets were fired at an Israeli jet engaged in a photographic incursion over Lebanon. The Israeli air force destroyed the Syrian rocket battery soon after. Had that incident occurred a few years, or even a few months, earlier, Israel would not have taken responsibility for it. This time, however, Israel was quick to admit that it was behind the sortie, with Netanyahu stating that anyone who tries to hurt Israel will be hurt in return.

Ya'alon and Levin are not the only critics of the "haughtiness and arrogance" that have been spreading among the Israeli leadership recently. The same criticism could be heard in closed sessions of the Cabinet, from ministers who failed to understand the recent wave of recurring Israeli boasting. Similarly, it was voiced by security officials, who longed for the days when Israel preferred to act (according to foreign news sources), instead of talking and making all sorts of public statements. So far, these critics have kept their remarks discrete. The only people who dared to speak up were these two generals: Levin, who is not a part of the political establishment although he is identified with the Labor Party, and Ya'alon, who plans to run against Netanyahu in the next election.

Even within the Likud, the first murmurings of criticism are starting to be heard, particularly among the more veteran ranks of ministers and Knesset members. "If you want to shoot, then shoot. Just don't go talking about it," one source in the party told Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity. The one concern that no one dares voice so far is that Netanyahu favors his personal political needs over Israel's security interests. The fact that he is drowning in criminal investigations has been forcing him to shine a spotlight on his achievements and to highlight his reputation as "Mr. Security." At this rate, said one senior political source to Al-Monitor speaking on condition of anonymity, by the time we have an indictment, we will have already descended into war. Right now I want to believe that Netanyahu is more afraid of war than he is of an indictment.

So far Netanyahu has earned himself a reputation for excessive caution on all security matters. He is thought to be a prime minister who avoids military adventurism, is wary of wars and who prefers to return home without taking any risks. Now that he is preparing for the fight of his political career, the big question is whether he is losing his innate fear of war.
October 25, 2017

Oct. 23 was a real nightmare for drivers in Jerusalem. Alongside demonstrations by the disabled and others, dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews from the "Jerusalem faction" blocked the entrance to the city. They fought with the police and even shattered the windshield of an Egged bus.

The Jerusalem faction consists of ultra-Orthodox who split from the main Lithuanian faction five years ago. Their leader is Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach, who lives in Jerusalem  hence their name. The main debate between them and the rest of the ultra-Orthodox world is their refusal to show up in military recruitment centers to receive an exemption from military service. According to an arrangement with the Ministry of Defense, yeshiva students who declare that "Torah study is their profession" must show up at the recruitment centers to declare that they have devoted their lives to Torah study. Their enlistment is then deferred, and this effectively becomes an exemption.

When they reach draft age, most young ultra-Orthodox men do this. On the other hand, Rabbi Auerbach's followers, who constitute just a few percent of the 800,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews living in Israel (according to the Central Bureau of Statistics), claim that even going to the recruitment office is a violation of Jewish law. They call it a desecration of God's name and a waste of valuable time that could be used to study Torah. They are joined in their struggle by the Eida HaHaredit, who are considered anti-Zionist. The Eida HaHaredit also boycotts elections and considers the State of Israel and its leaders to be their enemies.

In September, ultra-Orthodox demonstrated against the Israel Defense Force's (IDF) arrest of a youngster who did not show up at the recruitment office and was thus classified as a deserter. In the past two weeks, the Jerusalem faction intensified its struggle following the arrest Oct. 16 of more yeshiva students. Demonstrations and the blocking of roads have since become an almost daily occurrence.

As this was happening, the mainstream faction of the ultra-Orthodox community intensified its condemnation of the demonstrators. On Oct. 9, Knesset member Moshe Gafni spoke out at a Degel HaTorah party conference, claiming that the real reason for these demonstrations is the Jerusalem faction's failure to get representation on the ultra-Orthodox party's Knesset list.

In this internecine ultra-Orthodox conflict, both sides also use the Holocaust to bolster their arguments. Demonstrators representing the "faction" wear yellow stars at their demonstrations and describe the demand that they serve in the military as a "Nazi decree." In contrast, one of their sharpest opponents, Rabbi Yisrael Rosen, said they are using the same kind of propaganda that he would expect from Goebbels.

In most cases, the ultra-Orthodox communities prefer to wash their dirty laundry in private. This time, however, the conflict has reached all the way to the secular media. In an interview with Army Radio on Oct. 24, Knesset member Yaakov Asher of Yahadut HaTorah stated that he finds it remarkable that these extremists from the Jerusalem faction share an interest with secular Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, since both of them use the Enlistment Law for their personal and political needs, and that this causes an unnecessary rift in Israeli society. Interviewed by Radio Kol BaRama, Knesset member Asher added, "These demonstrations cause a huge desecration of God's name and harm the entire ultra-Orthodox community and not just Degel HaTorah. We dissociate ourselves from them and have nothing to do with them. Asher was one of the few ultra-Orthodox Knesset members to break silence over the Jerusalem faction's demonstrations. As he explained, "We are not happy about attacking our brothers, some of whom studied with us in yeshiva. But as soon as members of our community tarnish the reputation of all of us, we can no longer be silent."

The ultra-Orthodox sector's general opposition to these demonstrations is evidence of their serious concern about how this might damage the sector's status and its relationship with the state. This, in turn, could affect budgetary allocations to yeshivas, as well as key issues such as conversion and the Western Wall compromise. The ultra-Orthodox leadership worries that the extreme approach to the struggle by Rabbi Auerbach and his supporters will revive the negative characterization of the ultra-Orthodox as parasites who receive tax money from secular Israel but do not share in the burden of military service.

A senior ultra-Orthodox politician told Al-Monitor that the demonstrations cause enormous problems to efforts to amend the Recruitment Law by enacting legislation to formalize the ultra-Orthodox exemption from military service, which was overturned by the Supreme Court last month. He added that given the overall mood caused by these demonstrations, the ultra-Orthodox will have to deal with growing opposition to the amended Recruitment Law, not only among the Knesset opposition, but even among coalition partners whose support is necessary to complete the legislative process. He noted that Yisrael Beitenu, the secular party popular among immigrants from the former Soviet Union, and the Kulanu Party are just waiting for a chance to show their voters that they are fighting against the special benefits received by the ultra-Orthodox. According to that same politician, the Jerusalem faction has provided them with an excellent weapon.

Ultra-Orthodox politicians will not admit it, but the fierce opposition of most ultra-Orthodox Jews to these demonstrations can also be attributed to their desire to be a part of Israeli society in general, and the very visible process of integration that has been occurring over the past few years. In the ultra-Orthodox street, demonstrators from the Jerusalem faction are commonly referred to as hargasim, the Hebrew acronym for "crude ultra-Orthodox." Anger and resentment of them has a lot to do with image. The driver stuck in traffic, like most secular Jews in Israel, will not distinguish between members of the Jerusalem faction and other ultra-Orthodox Jews, and his anger will extend to the entire sector. Yitzhak Nahshoni, a prominent ultra-Orthodox journalist, posted a brief video clip on Twitter showing the clash between demonstrators and drivers. He tweeted: "Horrified and in tears over the damage caused."

Another well-known ultra-Orthodox journalist who spoke with Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity added, "Everything we worked so hard to achieve  the bridges we built, the ties we forged, the growing understanding of the character and needs of ultra-Orthodox society  all of these are being erased by holding a demonstration and acting irresponsibly by blocking roads."

Recently, that ultra-Orthodox journalist has been giving numerous interviews to the general secular press, in which he tries to explain that the groups blocking the roads represent an extremist faction. He isnt always successful. One of the reasons for this is that in these interviews, questions are raised about the main points of contention between secular and ultra-Orthodox Jews, with compulsory military service chief among them. While the past few years have seen a 15% rise in the number of ultra-Orthodox men who enlist  so that there are now some 7,000 ultra-Orthodox soldiers in the IDF, many of them in combat roles  most young ultra-Orthodox men do not serve in the army at all and, as a result, fail to integrate into the workforce. Furthermore, the fact that the current government has increased budgets allocated to yeshiva students has led to a decline in the number of ultra-Orthodox men who actually work, or in other words, who have integrated into Israeli society.

What this means is that ultra-Orthodox criticism of the Jerusalem faction may be in place, but it fails to compensate for the fact that the sector's leadership still advocates that their followers remain in their self-imposed ghettos instead of integrating into society.
October 24, 2017

Embrace, a Lebanese nongovernmental organization (NGO) that raises awareness about mental health, launched in September the first national suicide prevention hotline in Lebanon. Currently in its pilot phase, the hotline will officially launch at the end of October and will be able to receive up to 150 calls a month.

Suicide rates in Lebanon are lower than in other countries. According to a World Health Organization study last updated in June, the suicide rate in Lebanon for 2015 stood at 3.1 per 100,000 people compared with 14.3 per 100,000 people in the United States for the same year. But lower suicide rates do not mean the issue should be taken lightly, and mental health issues such as depression should be prevented and treated before they become an epidemic.

This is why Embrace, launched in 2013 as an affiliation of the Department of Psychiatry of the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) and an independent NGO since this year, decided to raise awareness about mental issues in Lebanon. One of four Lebanese will suffer from a mental illness during his life but wont necessarily seek help because of the social stigma and also the [high] prices of available care, Mia Atoui, a psychologist and co-founder of Embrace, told Al-Monitor.

Until now, we provided information and also funds to patients. Our latest project is a hotline whose goal is to address individual suicide crisis through active listening and suicide risk assessment, she added. The project is at its pilot phase and will be officially active at the end of the month. It is now run by around 30 volunteers who were trained by international professionals with experience in prevention hotlines and local trainers and is active every day from 12 p.m. until 2 a.m. They are receiving about two to three calls on average per day.

We hope to make the service available 24/7 later on, Atoui said. The aim is to make the caller talk about whats triggering the suicidal thoughts, express feelings without being judged. After decreasing the crisis level, we can move to problem-solving, or at least give hope to the caller to think about solving it. Then we can recommend to the caller mental health services according to their needs. Sometimes, a third party can call, and we also have to assess their risks, especially when he lives with the person affected. Usually, it is a mental health issue. The person struggles with depression, and social or financial problems could exacerbate it.

To announce the opening of the hotline, Embrace will release a billboard, TV and social media campaign. In the meantime, the team decided to focus on encouraging people to start a conversation about mental health and suicide through a campaign called Talking Saves Lives. On a website, people can record messages of support or share their own experience.

Research institute and NGO IDRAAC works with the psychiatry departments of Balamand University and Saint George hospital to provide free mental health care, education, community services and training. It has been on the field since 1982 to research and inform people about mental health in Lebanon.

We need people to think of and access treatments; we need people to seek for help, Elie G. Karam, a psychiatrist and the president of IDRAAC, told Al-Monitor. That is why the idea of a hotline is very good. We want people to understand that mental health disorder is not a stigma and that they can be helped at the first sign. Suicide is the extreme end of depression, so people should not be alone in this. What we can do for now is teach primary health care centers to recognize depression and treat it. Also, we should have every hospital offer free treatment because insurance doesnt cover it.

Having informed patients and medical staff is the key to prevent suicide, according to Joseph El Khoury, a psychiatrist and professor at AUBMC, who told Al-Monitor a few things that could be done to address the situation: Raising awareness on the importance of identifying depression and other psychiatric problems. Informing the public that these can be treated and that we have relatively good doctors and mental health professionals in Lebanon. Providing help through suicide hotlines or drop-in centers or through educating police forces, emergency doctors and family doctors on providing basic recognition, support and counseling.

As a doctor, Khourys main goal is to talk about suicidal thoughts openly, because this provides an outlet for the patient who feels isolated with his thoughts, afraid of sharing them with his close ones for fear of shame or a panic reaction, he said.

To help confront mental health issues in Lebanon, Legal Agenda, an NGO that specializes in legal research, is informing the Lebanese legislation about mental health issues. Psychiatrist Hala Kerbage, who is a member of Legal Agenda, published in October in the journal Contemporary Levant an article titled Rethinking mental health legislation in Lebanon: Updates and implications.

Kerbage also tackled the topic in a 2014 Legal Agenda article. She wrote, The only Lebanese legal provision that deals specifically with the treatment of persons with MHC [mental health conditions] is the Welfare Act and Protection and Treatment of Mentally Ill Patients (Legislative Decree no. 72-9/9/1983). A previous study in 2009  highlighted its non-conformity with international standards.

She added that in 2008, IDRAAC proposed a draft law for the care, treatment and protection of persons with MHC and submitted it to the Lebanese Parliament in 2012, with very little public attention. In 2014, Legal Agenda reviewed this draft law and suggested amendments to it. By doing so, Legal Agenda wanted to highlight conformity with international standards, mainly the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to provide practical tools for implementation within the law and to launch a public debate on the issue. This new version of the draft law was then adopted by the National Mental Health Program at the Ministry of Public Health, which incorporated Legal Agendas suggestions in this regard. However, debates and updates on the progress of the draft law have been largely absent from the public scene since its adoption by the ministry.

What Kerbage highlighted the most in her article is the absence of public debate that would be, according to her, very positive for the community. Involving patients and civil society members as main actors in the process and understanding the social challenges that they face. These challenges include poverty, gender inequalities and conflict; she would like to see policymakers and stakeholders look into the social and economic aspects of mental illnesses, not only the medical ones. In this sense, a community-based intervention would also advocate for social and political justice through linking to social, legal and protection resources, thus acknowledging some of the main causes of social distress, while working with the community to retrieve the main patterns of collective social strengths and resources, she added.

People suffering from mental health issues and suicidal thoughts can now rely on involved doctors and NGOs such as IDRAAC and Embrace. The new hotline is raising awareness of mental health issues and is bringing the topic into the sphere of public debate.
October 24, 2017

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  After the 10-year Palestinian division lasting from 2007 to 2017, Hamas and Fatah signed a national reconciliation agreement on Oct. 12 in Cairo under the auspices of Egypt.

The agreement aims to end all of the repercussions of the Palestinian division, most notably ending Hamas control over the Gaza Strip and its crossings and allowing the Palestinian Authority (PA) to take over Gazas affairs. However, the Palestinian street is wondering whether the West Bank is excluded from the implications of the Palestinian reconciliation agreement.

In an Oct. 11 interview with Al-Aqsa TV, Salah al-Bardawil, a member of Hamas political bureau, said, Reconciliation talks are based on several foundations, most notably the implementation of the 2011 Cairo agreement, national partnership, the rehabilitation of the PLO, the activation of the Palestinian Legislative Council to oversee the governments work, and the inclusion of both the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip in the reconciliation, without giving any details on the mechanisms of including the West Bank in this agreement.

The clauses of the reconciliation agreement mention the Gaza Strip five times in the context of making changes to the political and living conditions in Gaza. These clauses, however, do not mention any items aimed at making changes to the situation in the West Bank.

These provisions also stipulate completing the procedures to enable the consensus government to fully exercise its functions and assume its responsibilities in managing the Gaza Strip and the West Bank by Dec. 1, 2017. The agreement also stresses the need for the government to find a solution to the issue of Gazas employees before Feb. 1, 2018. In addition, all of Gazas crossings need to be handed over to the government, and the PAs security services will head to the Strip to discuss mechanisms to rebuild Hamas security services in Gaza.

Independent political analyst Iyad Atallah told Al-Monitor that the Palestinian reconciliation files were focused on five main issues: Gazas security, Gazas employees, Gazas crossings, the government and the PLO.

The first three files directly affect the lives of Gaza residents, while the government file aims to enable the government to govern Gaza and end Hamas rule. The PLO file addresses the issue of reform and revitalizing the organization, he said.

This brings us to firmly believe that this agreement is intended to bring about real-life changes in Gaza, not the West Bank, Atallah added.

Nazih Abu Aoun, a Hamas leader from the northern West Bank city of Jenin, told Al-Monitor, Although this agreement came to deal with the repercussions of the division, it is clear that it only addresses its effects in Gaza, without taking into account the series of measures the PA had taken in the West Bank following the division.

According to Abu Aoun, these measures include the dismissal of the 450 employees in the West Bank who received jobs during 2006 in the 10th Hamas government and the 11th National Unity Government, in addition to the political arrests against Hamas and the closure of Hamas institutions in the West Bank.

Ziad al-Natsheh, from the southern West Bank city of Hebron, one of the employees dismissed by the PA, told Al-Monitor, Everyone is celebrating reconciliation, but no one is mentioning what happened to us. This is very disappointing.

Natsheh explained that he was hired as an employee of the Ministry of Information in 2006 and was dismissed in 2007 because he was appointed by the Hamas government at the time. He added, We have the right to return to our jobs. We ask the delegations discussing the reconciliation to resolve our case and end our suffering, just like they are trying to resolve the issue of Gazas employees. If our demands are not met soon, we will organize an open sit-in.

The reconciliation agreement does indeed stipulate that the government should work to resolve the issue of Gazas employees before Feb. 1, 2018, but this does not include West Bank employees who were dismissed from their jobs following the Palestinian division.

Political arrests in the West Bank have not stopped despite the reconciliation agreement. On Oct. 16, the Palestinian Information Center reported that the security services in the West Bank arrested 20 young men on charges of being affiliated with Hamas, without any legal proof, and summoned 13 others to their headquarters.

Jamal Muheisen, a member of Fatahs Revolutionary Council, told Al-Monitor that the reconciliation is based on making changes in the Gaza Strip that revert it back to the Palestinian legitimacy, represented by the PA.

Since the West Bank is already governed by the PA, there is no need for change there, he said, adding, The inclusion of Hamas in the Palestinian decision-making centers requires Hamas to adhere to the PLO's political program that is based on the recognition of Israel, which Hamas rejects.

Muheisen stressed that Fatah does not seek to remove Hamas from the political scene, be it in Gaza or the West Bank, adding, We want to apply one political regime in the West Bank and Gaza, and after making sure this is truly implemented, we will hold the general elections and the people will choose the next decision-maker.

Speaking to Al-Monitor, Talal Okal, a professor of political science at Al-Azhar University, explained that the reconciliation agreement focuses on the Gaza Strip because the residents of Gaza, who lived under Hamas rule for 11 years, were much more affected by the repercussions of the division than the West Bank residents living under the PAs control.

The division led to an increase in the unemployment rate, which reached more than 46%, while the poverty rate reached 65% among the population of Gaza, according to a Jan. 8 report by the independent Palestinian Center for Human Rights. Also, PA President Mahmoud Abbas imposed a series of punitive measures against Gaza, such as reducing the fuel supply to the Strips only power plant and deducting 30-50% of the PA employees' salaries in Gaza.

However, Abu Aoun believes the process of change in living conditions and the political situation in the West Bank must go in parallel with the Gaza Strip, otherwise there will be a major imbalance in this reconciliation that is based on ending all the repercussions of the division in all the provinces of the country.

Palestinians in the West Bank hope the Palestinian reconciliation will end all repercussions of the Palestinian division and establish a new stage of political partnership in the Palestinian decision-making process and acceptance among different parties.
October 25, 2017

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has stepped up activities around the world to revive its diaspora constituencies, which had in recent years lost faith in the organization and its leadership.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sent Husam Zomlot, his star ambassador and representative in Washington, to represent him at the Congress of the Confederation of Palestinian Communities in Latin America and the Caribbean (COPLAC). The gathering, held Oct. 20-22 in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua, was attended by the host countrys foreign minister, Denis Moncada Colindres, and Palestinian representatives from across Latin America.

The COPLAC meeting comes after bitter disputes over the independence of diaspora institutions and the shifting of diaspora affairs from the PLO to the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. The switch took effect May 24.

Zomlot, who heads the PLO delegation in Washington, told Al-Monitor that he was impressed by the character and depth of the Palestinians in Latin America. Even though they have been fully integrated into their new communities, they are enthusiastically committed to Palestine and support the Palestinian cause.

COPLAC was founded in 1984 as a statement that the Palestinians' aspiration for liberty and freedom would not die even though the PLO had been forced to leave Lebanon following Israel's 1982 invasion and occupation, Zomlot said. The purpose of COPLAC's establishment was to unify Palestinian communities and support the Palestinian cause.

At the conference, Zomlot read a speech on behalf of Abbas, hailing Latin American and Caribbean Palestinians. Your federation is one of the leading inspirations to the PLO, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, he said. According to Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, Abbas also told the more than 120 Palestinian representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Mexico, Nicaragua and Venezuela, We want to support you as you renew your independence and your representation and continue working through COPLAC to reflect your allegiance to your homeland and the just cause of Palestine.

Zomlot described the COPLAC meeting to Al-Monitor as lively. The participants fought hard to reform the rules and bylaws, but it was all done in a democratic and civilized fashion. Among the changes agreed to was for a 17-member committee to replace the previous three-person Brazil-based leadership.

Now all the countries are represented at large by at least one person; for instance, Chile  which has over 400,000 citizens of Palestinian origin  might have more than one representative because of the [number] of Palestinians there, Zomlot said. Seventeen countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have considerable Palestinian constituencies. According to Zomlot, the energy from the meeting will give a big push to the PLO and the goal of Palestinian liberation.

In addition to making an appearance at the Nicaraguan gathering, Palestinian officials have been reviving relations with diaspora communities in other parts of the world. PLO officials have joined diaspora communities in Glasgow and in London to actively work to unify Palestinians and improve their lobbying abilities, in particular on the occasion of the centennial of the Balfour Declaration.

Palestinians living in Denmark met in the nearby Swedish city of Uppsala to better organize themselves and to support some eight Palestinian Danish candidates competing in nationwide municipal elections in Denmark scheduled to take place Nov. 21. The event was highlighted by calls for Palestinian communities to cooperate with the Palestinian government.

Anees Sweidan, director general of PLO external relations, told Al-Monitor that diaspora communities worldwide have recently become much more active due in part to the success of the reconciliation efforts between Fatah and Hamas. As Palestinian unity in the homeland takes root, diaspora communities around the world are discovering that what unites them is much bigger than the small differences they might have, Sweidan said.

While Palestinians in the diaspora are organizing, the Abbas administration is making a serious effort to reform and unite the PLO, said Sweidan. He explained, If things go as planned, we should be able to hold parliamentary elections in Palestine in 2018, and this will pave the way to holding a reformed and united session of the Palestinian National Council.

Zomlot gives credit to the reconciliation for reviving Palestinian unity around the world but noted that a lot of work was being put in before the recently announced breakthrough. For my part, in the United States, I have taken the instructions from President Abbas to heart, and I have made the goal of unifying Palestinian communities in the United States my top priority, spending nearly 80% of my time traveling to meet with our communities.

Since assuming his post in Washington in April 2017, Zomlot has visited Palestinian American communities in Chicago, Detroit, Houston, New Jersey, New York and San Francisco. We are working hard to help unify our community from the bottom up, he said. We are working on an inclusive effort that is not based on factions or geographical origins but on unifying the communities in support of the Palestinian national cause.

While the efforts of Palestinian ambassadors and PLO officials appear to be producing results, it will take some time to bridge the deep divide that split the Palestinians for the last 10 years. Reunification of the people and the possibility of holding a unified PLO meeting in 2018 would put pressure on Israel and its supporters to come to the table as well as strengthen the bargaining power of Palestinian negotiators.
October 24, 2017

Despite a steep jump in fatalities among its forces in Syria this year, the Russian leadership is signaling cautious optimism about the prospects for settling the Syrian war. Speaking at the Valdai International Discussion Club event Oct. 19 in Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, There is every reason to believe  we will finish off the terrorists in the short term."

He added, however, "That is no cause for joy [or] for saying that terrorism is over and done with.  If we finish off the pockets of terrorist resistance in Syria, this certainly does not mean the threat to Syria, the region and the world as a whole is gone  absolutely not. On the contrary, you always have to stay alert."

Putin went on at length to present Russias vision of the ongoing peace effort, saying, "It's gaining positive momentum, and praising the contributions of Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Israel. He also spoke highly of the role of the United States: Other countries, including the United States, are greatly contributing; even though they are not participating in the talks in Astana [Kazakhstan] directly, they are influencing these processes behind the scenes. We maintain stable cooperation with our American partners in this sphere, on this track, even though [we're] not without disputes. However, there are more positive than negative elements in our cooperation.

Putin recognized negotiations between the opposition and the Syrian government have been rough-going and remain a concern for Moscow. He said, The process is underway but is moving very sluggishly, feebly; the parties to the conflict are very distrustful of each other. I hope that it will be possible to overcome this. Based on de-escalation zones, we hope to move on to the next stage. There is an idea to call a congress of the Syrian people, bringing together all ethnic and religious groups, the government and the opposition.

That's the next point on Moscows plan for a Syrian resolution. If this could be done, also with support from guarantor countries and even major powers outside the region  Saudi Arabia, the United States and Egypt  that would be the next additional, but very important, step toward a political settlement. And then perhaps toward drafting a new constitution, but it is still early to talk about that," Putin said.

Moscow has been mulling over the idea to organize a conference at the Russian Khmeimim air base even before Putin's talk at the Valdai event. A recent report by Russia's state-operated RIA news agency mentions a Congress of the Syrian Peoples scheduled for Nov. 7-10, aiming to bring together about 1,500 representatives of opposition groups, local councils, tribes and Kurds. One can argue about the very consistency of Russian policies in Syria and whether they are more tactical than strategic, but Moscow has objectively reached its goal: In Syria, Russia is seen as a key player able to pressure regional powers for concessions and prepared to show flexibility itself.

The late President Hafez al-Assad (1930-2000), father of current Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, worked with tribes, giving their leaders privileges and taking into account their political opinions. Bashar al-Assad, on the contrary, lost his focus on them. When the tribal youth, disobeying the elders, took to the streets to protest in 2011, the government went hard core on them. Later, Damascus tried to pacify and tame some of those groups.

Now, in their operations in eastern Syria, Russia, Iran and Damascus are mostly counting on Suqur al-Furat. Some of that group's fighters are from the Shaitat tribe, which in 2014 resisted the Islamic State (IS) and was brutally suppressed. Assad's forces took advantage of the situation by announcing amnesty for the tribe and setting up a training program for them. At the same time, however, the Russian Defense Ministry accused Syrian opposition militants  including Shaitat tribe members  at the border with Jordan at al-Tanf of cooperating with IS.

But a retired officer from the Russian Defense Ministry told Al-Monitor that, in building connections with the local tribes on the territories freed from IS, Moscow is relying on Damascus and Tehran, given the specificity and little knowledge the Russians have about tribal relationships in those areas.

He added, The strategy seems to be to continue to engage those tribes and their leaders who reside in oil-and-gas-rich territories freed from IS and who are now fighting the Syrian Democratic Forces, hoping the tribes will join those who prove to be stronger [on the ground]. Its important to engage them in a timely way and offer them a little something of what they are asking for."

The process is likely to be accompanied by what retired Col. Gen. Vladimir Shamanov, the chairman of the Russian State Dumas Defense Committee, recently called a period of special operations following the completion of the general military operations. An experienced commander, Shamanov for many years directed Russian counterterrorism operations in Chechnya. "Many of them [militants] will shave their beards, many will try to join the administration and some will also try to infiltrate the local self-governing bodies, and so on. Fighting them off will be a long process," he added.

This is likely to require more robust participation of Russian special forces, which have been in the country for years. Conducting raids and operative work in the Syrian desert is a challenge. This kind of work requires knowledge of the local tribal structure and large-scale involvement of special forces in providing security and countering illegal trafficking of all sorts. A well-developed tunnel system in eastern Syria at the border with Iraq is also a serious threat that has already claimed the lives of many Iraqi border control forces, and the newly recruited contingent is barely able to conduct effective surveillance operations and provide defense.

There are enough reasons to presume the Syrian government will face similar difficulties, even with massive support from Russian special forces and pro-Iranian Shiite militias. Even today, the Assad forces are vulnerable in the desert. With Iranians constructing their own influence bridge from Iran through Iraq and Syria to Lebanon, and US-led initiatives working to counter these efforts, tribal politics will continue to rule.
October 22, 2017

TANTA, Egypt  Amid Egypt's ongoing political or economic difficulties, hundreds of thousands of people traveled to Tanta, 57 miles north of Cairo, in early October to celebrate the birth of Ahmed al-Badawi, a 13th-century mystic from Morocco who settled in Tanta and founded the Badawiyyah order of Sufism.

The birthday celebration, or moulid or mawlid, takes place over the course of six days and seven nights. This year it began Oct. 6 and ended the night of Oct. 12. The celebration includes rituals and traditions that have been practiced for thousands of years, in particular in the villages and cities of Upper Egypt and the Nile Delta, where large numbers of people are followers of Sufi orders (tariqa).

The event's roots lie in Badawi's death in 675 anno hegirae (1276), when his followers gathered to pay their respects, erecting tents around his grave for three days. The tradition continues, despite the spread of Salafism, which prohibits such practices as visiting sepulchers and holding mawlids.

Sufism is diverse, being practiced in cultures from India to North Africa. Sufi teachings focus on the spirituality of religion, avoiding the political. Thus, for example, Sufis might interpret the religious principle of jihad as a spiritual matter involving the taming of issues and pursing a path of goodness.

There are 77 officially recognized Sufi orders in Egypt, with some 15% of Egyptians either belonging to a Sufi brotherhood or adhering to Sufi practices. The Supreme Council of Sufi Orders, a government body founded in 1903, is responsible for regulating Sufi brotherhoods and is also charged with ensuring that Sufi practices conform to Islamic norms and laws.

Abdul Hadi al-Qassabi, supreme sheikh of the Sufi orders, told Al-Monitor, Sheikh Badawi is the third out of four qutbs [the highest-ranking saints] of the Sufi order whom the Badawiyyah order, with red banners, follow as their founder. Each order is associated with or represented by a specific color. Qassabi further said of the sheikh being celebrated, He has been called many names, such as the Bedouin given how he always wore a face covering like Bedouins. He was also called Sheikh al-Arab, al-Setouhy and Aba Farraj.

In Tanta, tents of Badawiyyah and followers of other orders stretched hundreds of yards in the streets and narrow alleys leading to Ahmad al-Badawi Mosque. Each order, which follows a particular saint, erects a tent in which to gather. The believers spend a week together, performing hadra, collective rituals often held during special occasions. Hadra, meaning presence in Arabic, includes zikr, the joint reading of religious texts, chanting of religious poetry and rhythmic invocations of God's name. Believers chant religious poetry in praise of God and the Prophet Muhammad while swaying, clapping and otherwise giving praise. People from other faiths also attend the mawlid as spectators, wandering among the tents, watching the Sufis perform their rituals.

Sheikh Muhammadi Abdullah, a supervisor at the Ahmad al-Badawi Mosque, told Al-Monitor that Badawi has a strong hold over his followers, who find bliss in him, as he possesses a spiritual kinship with the prophet. His mawlid attracts followers from around the world.

Despite the extremist Salafi ideas, the number of Sheikh Badawi's followers is increasing, having exceeded 2 million visitors during the grand [final] night of the mawlid this year, Abdullah said. These followers did not come to circle the sepulcher or to pray for material gains. The objective of visiting the mosque and holding celebrations is to seek blessings and zikr.

Some 70 Sufi orders from all over Egypt and Sudan erected tents this year in which to show their love for Badawi. Our souls come out in the presence of the Sufi qutb Sheikh Badawi, said Sheikh Sayyid Fakhr Othman, a follower of the Burhami Sufi order. Our coming here is an obligation shouldered by those who have pledged to love the saints and the family members of the prophet.

With beads of sweat rolling down his face after hours of chanting and swaying in delight in the Burhami pavilion, Othman added, The mawlid of Sheikh Badawi is a chance for followers of different Sufi orders to gather together, as it rehabilitates souls to coexist peacefully. Every Sufi order performs its hadra in pavilions in the mosques courtyard. In the praising of God, believers dance, twirl and sway barefoot to the rhythms of the daf (a Mesopotamian instrument that resembles the Western tambour) and ney (a woodwind instrument similar to a flute), rebabs (an instrument that resembles a lute) and violins. They also recite Sufi poems, such as those by Ibn al-Farid and Rabia al-Adawiyya and sing improvised songs.

Mohammed al-Ajoudy, a farmer from Assiut, told Al-Monitor, I started participating in the mawlid over 17 years ago. My faith helped me achieve a decent existence and a family life. If I miss a year, it makes me uneasy the whole following year. We come here to cleanse our hearts and souls and to deny ourselves physical pleasures.

Mohamed Saied, a worker from Suhaj who follows the Shahawiyya Sufi order, told Al-Monitor, The conditions are harder now. People express their resentment of government oppression and seek relief here [by praying]. Saied added, In the mawlid, we gather with our brothers in Sufism to share and bare our souls.

Ahmed Othman, from Sudan, said, When the souls transcend in remembrance and in praise of the prophet and his family members, life becomes insignificant and all that matters is our hearts and souls in this spiritual state.

Mursi Abdul Aal, from Qena, told Al-Monitor, We used to present bread, meat and rice to the followers and visitors. However, the increase in prices has forced us to opt for less expensive food, such as potatoes, rice and cheese. It is a tradition that people who feel that they had a good year will bring food to share. Late last year, the government introduced econoimc reforms that included floating the Egyptian pound, which sent prices skyrocketing.

The Badawi mawlid in Tanta is among the few social legacies and traditions maintained by followers of the sheikh and followers of all other Sufi sheikhs.
October 24, 2017

The European Council, the EU organ comprised of heads of member states who give strategic direction to the European integration project, recently signaled that it will cut its pre-accession funds for Turkey.

In a written statement on Oct. 20, European Council President Donald Tusk said the EU was reflecting on whether to cut and re-orient pre-accession funds to Ankara. The Polish statesman pointed out that the European club wanted to keep the door open to Ankara, but the current reality  is making this difficult, referring to the deterioration of the rule of law and democratic standards in Turkey. Tusk also advised Ankara to respect all Member States in its relations with the EU, including when it comes to the implementation of the existing Customs Union agreement, in reference to Turkeys refusal to extend its 1995 customs union with the EU to the Greek Cypriot-ruled Republic of Cyprus.

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, the most powerful member of the EU, clarified that the council had asked the European Commission, the EUs civil service arm, to reduce [Turkeys] pre-accession aid in a responsible way. The figure in question is 4.5 billion euros (about $5.28 billion) covering the period of 2014-2020.

Like Tusk, Merkel maintained a civil tone and expressed concern that Turkey was moving away step by step from something we consider as preconditions for accession, but added that the EU would continue to pay Turkey to look after Syrian refugees. The German chancellor also hinted that some EU member states would like to break [accession] negotiations immediately and that there was general skepticism toward Turkish membership in the EU. The influential German leader offered to not burn bridges with Ankara and asked the two sides to re-engage and perhaps discuss a special partnership other than full Turkish membership.

Turkey first signed an association agreement with the European club in 1963 and became a candidate for full membership in 1999. To join, Turkey must successfully adopt EU law under 35 chapters in such areas as free movement of labor, fisheries, the environment and public procurement. Accession negotiations between the EU and Ankara started in 2005 after Turkey met the so-called Copenhagen Criteria on political freedoms, the rule of law, a functioning market economy and institutional capacity to meet the obligations of EU membership. Yet less than half of the chapters have been opened and only one concluded provisionally. Because of disputes such as Cyprus and Turkeys domestic politics, negotiations have been at a standstill since 2015.

The European Councils announcement comes in the wake of a July 6 vote at the European Parliament to halt accession negotiations with Turkey. More recently, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the members of his Justice and Development Party on Oct. 13 and said Turkey has no need for the EU or the United States.

So is this the end of the road for Turkey and the European Union? Not quite.

According to Cigdem Ustun, an associate professor of EU studies in Izmir, Ending accession negotiations would not be an easy decision for the EU because it would mean [the EU] losing any leverage, if it has any left, with Turkey. Ustun told Al-Monitor in an email interview, Rather than ending the talks, we are hearing that cutting some of the pre-accession aid or channeling more money toward [nongovernmental organizations] working on human rights and rule of law are being discussed. It makes me believe that the EU wants to continue to have a positive impact on Turkey.

Ustun also pointed out that despite their harsh tone, Turkish leaders  including Erdogan  remain committed to full membership, even though both sides are aware that such a prospect is less likely than ever. We may expect some harsh speeches from President Erdogan and the government, but I would not personally expect this decision to end the relations with the EU, Ustun added.

But the EU signaling its intention to cut pre-accession funds is hardly good news for Turkey, whose relations with its Western allies have been fraying since last years coup attempt.

Evangelos Areteos, a Brussels-based correspondent for the Cypriot daily Politis and analyst on EU and Turkey affairs for the Diplomatic Academy at the University of Nicosia, told Al-Monitor in a phone interview that the European Council decision was a delicate exercise to keep the balance. He pointed out that some countries, such as Austria and Denmark, are vehemently opposed to Turkish membership and would like to see an immediate end to accession talks. Germany and the Netherlands want to give a straight message to the Turkish side while avoiding a collision with Turkey. More moderate members such as France, Italy and Greece would like to see the talks with Ankara continue. More than anything, the European Councils Oct. 20 directive was a balancing act and will not be acted on until June 2018.

But Areteos does not think there is much to celebrate here for Turkey. He said, Accession is dead. But nobody wants to pull the plug.  There is no significant link to the Copenhagen Criteria anymore despite the fact that the EU lousily tries to save appearances.

Areteos continued, "Turkey is far off and it cannot come back as a real candidate for full membership for the foreseeable future, adding, The problem is not only Turkey; far from that. The authoritarian deviations of Ankara and its confrontation with some member states, mainly Germany, are giving the perfect excuse to many European countries who do not want Turkey to become a member of the EU. Silver bullets to revive the relations by expanding the EU-Turkey customs union seem out of question.

Turkey and the EU are not quite at the end of the road yet. But unless something changes, they just might get there soon.
October 24, 2017

Turkey is gloating over the humiliating defeat of Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters in Kirkuk by forces attached to Baghdad following the independence referendum held by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Sept. 25.

US and European opposition to the referendum in the name of preserving Iraqs unity also pleased Ankara. Russias ambivalent position, however, was noted with silent disapproval.

Following the referendum, Moscow underscored its unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, unity and integrity of Iraq, according to a press statement issued by the Foreign Ministry. Moscow also added, however, that it respects the national aspirations of the Kurds, which is not what Ankara wanted to hear.

Speaking to the Kurdish daily Rudaw a few weeks before the referendum, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, "The desires and legal goals of the Kurds must be fulfilled like that of all other peoples."

He added for good measure that the Kurds should "express their aspirations through a peaceful mechanism," and that the goals of the referendum should also be "done peacefully  taking into account the view of Iraqs neighbors."

The key issue for Ankara, despite Moscows unwavering commitment to the unity of Iraq, is that Russia is not opposed to Kurdish political aspirations. Any form of self-rule, even under a federal or confederal system, is seen as a threat by Turkey, which fears the effect it will have on its restive Kurds.

Another disturbing development for Ankara was the agreement that Rosneft, Russias main oil company, concluded with the KRG last week to take control of 60% of a central oil pipeline in northern Iraq and to increase its investments in the region to $3.5 billion.

This was arrived at over Baghdads head, after the KRGs referendum, and flies in the face of Turkish threats to isolate and blockade the KRG by sealing Turkeys borders with northern Iraq, in order to force Erbil to revoke the results of the referendum.

Retired Ambassador Unal Cevikoz believes this move by Russia has greatly undermined Turkeys interests in northern Iraq. Speaking to Al-Monitor, Cevikoz said Ankaras weakness is that, unlike Moscow, it lacks a long-term vision for the region.

Cevikoz also argued counterintuitively, given the official thinking in Ankara, that the repossession of Kirkuk by Baghdad will enhance the Iraqi Kurdish drive for more self-rule.

Russia and others can argue now that Baghdad has taken back what it wants and should therefore leave the Kurds alone in their territory, Cevikoz said.

Ankara is also trying to gauge the implications of Moscows policies in Iraq for the future of Syria and the Kurds there who already enjoy support from Russia, in addition to strong US backing.

Cevikoz said Ankara and Moscow are not on the same wavelength in Syria, despite their apparent cooperation there. Turkeys insistence on preserving Syrias territorial integrity, for example, is predicated mainly on its desire to see a strong central government that keeps Kurdish aspirations at bay.

Turkey is especially opposed to the Kurds who are operating under the banner of the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD) having any say regarding the future of Syria. Turkey says these are terrorist groups linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Speaking to Al-Monitor off the record, a Western diplomat said Russia would also like to see the strong central administration in Syria that Turkey wants, but knows it has to be realistic about this.

Turkeys dilemma is that the ethnic, religious and sectarian enmities that exist in Syria today make some form of federal solution the only way the country can preserve its unity, the diplomat argued. It is doubtful that a strong central administration that has control over the whole country can emerge at this stage.

Ankara was already unhappy when Moscow produced a draft constitution for Syria earlier this year at the first meeting in Astana, where Russia, Turkey and Iran initiated a new peace process for Syria. Moscows draft proposed autonomy for the Kurds.

Nevertheless, Ankara remains largely silent about Russian policies it dislikes. The obvious reason is that the rapid deterioration of its ties with the West has exponentially increased its dependence on Russia.

Murat Yetkin, the editor-in-chief of Hurriyet Daily News, pointed to the conflicting situation that Turkey finds itself in with Russia.

Many in the Turkish media are happy to slam Israel and the US over support for the Kurdish independence referendum, which would divide Iraq and have the potential to do the same to Turkey, but very little is said on Russias stance, Yetkin wrote in his column Sept. 28.

Moscow, unlike Washington, refuses to see the PKK as a terrorist organization and has allowed the PYD to keep a representative in Moscow, which is also not mentioned much by Ankara.

Nevertheless, remarks by President Vladimir Putin last week regarding his vision for Syrias future were received with some alarm.

Addressing the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi, Putin said, There is an idea to call a congress of the Syrian people, bringing together all ethnic and religious groups, the government and the opposition. He said this would happen after the de-escalation zones established in Syria  with Russian, Turkish and Iranian participation  were successful.

Putin said the next phase would be drafting a new constitution, adding, This is roughly the plan.

Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters later that the proposed congress is being actively discussed, even though it was premature to say anything about timing and venue.

Developments in Syria have speeded up with the liberation of Raqqa by the US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces, which is comprised mainly of YPG fighters. The situation in Idlib, on the other hand, is relatively stable after Turkish forces moved into the city under a joint Russian-Turkish-Iranian plan to establish de-escalation zones.

If this trend continues, the idea that Putin is floating about an all-Syria congress could come to the agenda faster than expected.

Ankara is also aware that Washington is not averse to autonomy for Syrian Kurds either, as long as this is within a unified Syria. Putin said in Sochi that they were maintaining stable cooperation with the United States in Syria, despite their differences, adding that there were more positive than negative elements in this cooperation.

Yetkin believes Moscow is trying to push for strengthened Kurdish autonomy in Iraq and Syria, along Turkeys borders. If that position comes to be supported by the United States, it could cause even bigger problems between Ankara and Washington than already exist, according to Yetkin.

He added, however, It is deeply ironic that Moscows stance on Kurds in Iraq and Syria does not seem to be creating any new problems between Turkey and Russia.

There are big obstacles to overcome before the congress Russia proposes can be convened. Difficulties in overcoming these may appear to be to Ankaras advantage, since this will also delay work on drafting a new constitution that mentions Kurdish rights.

Prolonging the conflict, though, would enable the Kurds to further consolidate their gains in Syria with US and Russian support, leaving Ankara in a potential lose-lose situation. Unless, that is, Ankara accepts the Kurdish reality and determines its policies accordingly.

Some government supporters in the media, like Osman Atalay from the Islamist daily Yeni Akit, believe that Ankara should cooperate with Baghdad to ensure that the KRG can enjoy greater autonomy, if not independence, for the sake of Turkeys broader interests.

Such a policy shift, however, would have to happen while President Recep Tayyip Erdogan prepares for elections in 2019. This means that, true to his nature, he will be relying heavily on nationalistic discourse to garner support, which is likely to further offend Kurds everywhere and thus increase international sympathy for them.

Turkeys Kurdish headache seems unlikely to subside anytime soon, despite the gloating in Ankara over the KRGs humiliating defeat in Iraq.
October 25, 2017

WASHINGTON  The United States said today that it welcomed the offer by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to suspend the results of its independence referendum and open a dialogue with Baghdad as a way to ease an escalating crisis between two critical US allies in the fight against the Islamic State.

The KRG cease-fire offer came a day after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, on an unannounced trip to Iraq, expressed sadness at the outbreak of violence and political turmoil between Baghdad and Erbil, and urged dialogue.

We are concerned and a bit saddened by the recent differences that have emerged between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi central government, Tillerson said at a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad Oct. 23.

We have friends both in Baghdad, and we have friends in Erbil, and we encourage both parties to enter into discussion and dialogue, Tillerson urged. I think if both parties commit themselves to a unified Iraq, to  the Iraqi constitution, I think all differences can be addressed and the rights of all can be respected and Iraq will have a very secure and a prosperous future.

In a remarkable climbdown, the KRG, in a statement Oct. 25, proposed an immediate cease-fire, a freeze on the results of the independence referendum last month and to begin a dialogue with the Iraqi federal government.

As Iraq and Kurdistan are faced with grave and dangerous circumstances, we are all obliged to act responsibly in order to prevent further violence and clashes between Iraqi and Peshmerga forces, the KRG statement said.

In order to fulfill our responsibilities and obligations towards the people of Kurdistan and Iraq, we propose the following to the Iraqi Government and the Iraqi and world public opinion:

1. Immediate ceasefire and halt all military operations in the Kurdistan Region.

2. Freeze the results of referendum conducted in the Iraqi Kurdistan.

3. Start an open dialogue between the Kurdistan Regional Government and Iraqi Federal Government on the basis of the Constitution.

The State Department praised the KRG offer.

We welcome #Kurdistan Regional Government statement declaring immediate ceasefire & halt to military ops, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Twitter Oct. 25. Calm & dialogue are steps forward.

The federal and regional governments have both expressed willingness to engage in dialogue on the basis of the Iraqi constitution," a State Department official told Al-Monitor. "We encourage them to quickly present a timetable to begin these discussions.

While in Baghdad this week, the Secretary urged all parties to renew their commitment to a unified Iraq and encouraged both parties to enter into discussion and dialogue," the official added.

The Kurdish climbdown came in the wake of Iraqi government forces seizing the disputed city of Kirkuk this month, closing Kurdish airspace and taking control of key Kurdish border crossings in rejection of the KRGs referendum on independence last month.

KRG President Massoud Barzani and the KRG leadership realized they were losing ground and that time was not on their side, a longtime American consultant in Iraqi Kurdistan said.

They were stuck, the American consultant, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Al-Monitor, referring to the Iraqi Kurdish leadership. Iraqi forces were making progress in their fighting, capturing land and space  that would be detrimental to the KRG.

And they were stuck, diplomatically speaking, the consultant continued. You had the Iraqi government put some serious clamps on the KRG in the way of airspace and borders.  The status quo was untenable for the KRG  and time was running against the KRG.

Meanwhile, he added, You had Baghdad, in a pretty comfortable position, without doing much more of anything.  And I think the KRG leadership, Massoud Barzani, realized that he was stuck and losing time.

Barzanis climbdown is also a result of Abadis growing domestic and international confidence, said Nicholas Heras, a Middle East security fellow at the Center for New American Security.

The Kurdish offer is another clear sign that  Haider al-Abadi has emerged as the key kingmaker in Baghdad, Heras told Al-Monitor. And the reason for Abadis position is because he is not tied to one particular country, whether the US or Iran, but is considered acceptable by a broader range of local and foreign actors that see in Abadi a wartime prime minister, who, better than his predecessor Nouri al-Maliki, could conduct a military campaign against an enemy that threatened to irrevocably shatter Iraqi.

My assessment would be that Massoud Barzani realized there are tremendous obstacles put in place before him to continue [with his independence bid], and by agreeing to terms laid down by Baghdad, Massoud is hoping Abadi will agree to allow Massouds family to continue to function as a sort of power center in the KRG, Heras said.

There is a strong sense now that Massoud overplayed his hand and risked the position of his family, Heras said. And Massoud cannot imagine a future Kurdistan without a Barzani at the helm.  This is his way of trying to head off any attempt by Baghdad to undermine the ability of his children, in particular his son Masrour, to rule in his place.

Some longtime Kurdish watchers anticipate that President Barzani may announce he is stepping down soon and transferring some of his powers to the Kurdish parliament and his nephew, KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.

Washington will be relieved at the opportunity to get Iraqi-Kurdish relations back on track.

You can rest assured the Americans wanted this back on track, and you can rest assured the US played a helpful role, the consultant said. Ultimately, good Baghdad-Erbil relations are in the United States interests.

The Kurdish offer came after Abadi made a tour of regional capitals, beginning with a visit last weekend to Saudi Arabia for the inaugural meeting of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council, also attended by Tillerson. Washington has worked to promote Iraqi-Saudi ties as a way to try to reintegrate Iraq into the Arab world and counter what the United States sees as potentially destabilizing Iranian influence in Iraq.

Abadi said Wednesday that he did not want Iraq to become the venue for US-Iran competition and hostility.

We would like to work with you, both of you, Abadi told The Washington Post, about the United States and Iran. But please dont bring your trouble inside Iraq. You can sort it anywhere else.

Update: Oct. 25, 2017. This article has been updated to add a response from a State Department official.
Last year Gadsden's Back Forty Beer Co. was ready to go with a distribution deal that would carry the popular Alabama brewery's products into Mexican markets.

The deal was set to go by Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016, said Tripp Collins, the company's chief operating officer. Then Donald Trump won the presidency, and the Mexican Peso plunged 12 percent in one day to a record low.

That story is just one way that rapidly changing political fortunes can affect global trade and impact businesses great and small.

"2016 was the best year of exports for us," Collins said last week at the Alabama Global Supply Chain & Logistics Summit in Birmingham. The company was shipping to Canada, engaged in conversations with Malaysia, and reaching out to the lucrative Chinese market.

The Mexico deal has been on and off again, based on several factors, Collins said. The Peso dove largely due to uncertainty about what effect Trump would have on North American trade, specifically NAFTA. By August, most of that uncertainty had cleared up.

But then a month later, Mexico was shaken by two heavy earthquakes, including one that badly damaged Mexico City and killed scores of people.

The disasters put everything on hold again. The company hopes to lock down the Mexican distribution deal by the first part of 2018.

"Hurricanes and earthquakes are not good for exporting beer," Collins said.

But much of expanding into foreign markets is about telling a story, he said. China, for example, has a heavy beer culture, but craft beer only takes up less than 1 percent of the market. Some people have no idea what it is.

"We do a lot of talking, a lot of storytelling," he said. "A lot of people in China think the U.S. is just the California coast."

Plus, there are logistical hurdles, as thin margins can became razor thin internationally. Beer is a perishable product. Shipping cold product increases the price. By the time it reaches China, beer may already be five weeks old. Exchange rates can also impact profits.

What's more, Chinese labels insist on 15 bullet points of information. And have you ever tried to translate the phrase "Back Forty" into Mandarin?

Still, being a small brewery from Alabama has its advantages.

"We're not Budweiser, we're not Miller, we're not Coors," Collins said. "We tell the story, tell them where we came from and why we think we should be selling beer to the Chinese people. If they like what they hear, they buy your beer."
A two-year investigation into DeKalb County drug sales led to the indictment of two Calera men on federal drug charges.

A grand jury has charged 34-year-old Roberto Flores and 35-year-old Carlos Lozano with two counts of distributing a controlled substance, federal court records show. The charges are the result of a joint investigation by the DeKalb County Drug Task Force and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

Flores and Lozano are accused of distributing more than 50 kilograms, or 110 pounds, of ICE methamphetamine in DeKalb County between 2013 and this year, court records allege.

DeKalb County Chief Deputy Michael Edmonson said in a news release that Flores and Lozano are among nine people who have been arrested in connection with the meth-distribution ring.

"We have been working this case from the bottom up for over two years, and we are confident that the arrests of Flores and Lozano will slow this line of meth distribution in our area," said Edmonson, who also heads the county's drug task force. "I can't emphasize enough the importance of the partnership with the DEA team in this investigation. This has been a cooperative, thorough, and successful effort from start to finish."

Edmonson said additionally, authorities seized about 2.5 kilograms, or 5.5 pounds, of meth during the investigation.

Flores and Lozano are being held in federal custody.
One man is dead and another jailed following a fatal stabbing in St. Clair County.

Billy Joe Saffold, 55, was killed about 3 p.m. Monday, said Sheriff Terry Surles. The slaying took place on Cook Springs Cut Off Road in Pell City.

The sheriff on Tuesday said two suspects are in custody, and formal charges have been filed against one of them. James Earl Castleberry, 53, is charged with murder. He is being held without bond at the St. Clair County Jail in Pell City.

Charla Johnson, 45, is being questioned in connection with case and charges are pending the ongoing investigation, Surles said. Both of the suspects, as well as the victim, lived on Dry Creek Road in Pell City.

The Moody Police Department and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency are assisting in the investigation. A motive has not been released.
A man killed in a house fire in eastern Jefferson County earlier this month has been identified.

The Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Ronald Eric Erickson. He was 63.

Center Point firefighters and Jefferson County sheriff's deputies responded to the home in the 6000 block of Dewey Heights Road in Clay at 2:50 a.m. on Oct. 5. Battalion Chief Brad Appleton said they were called by neighbors who spotted flames coming from the home.

Once on the scene, firefighters battled the blaze for about 30 minutes before they were able to make entry and find Erickson.

Erickson's identity was confirmed through X-ray records. Coroner's officials said haven't yet confirmed the cause and manner of death.

"We have no reason to suspect foul play in this death investigation,'' Jefferson County sheriff's Chief Deputy Randy Christian said Wednesday. "The doors to the home were locked from the inside."

The origin and cause of the fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office.

Erickson is originally from Florida, but had lived in the Birmingham area for about 15 years. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family," Christian said. [if gte mso 9]> [endif]
Memories of the 2015 shooting death of a young Birmingham man still brings tears to his grandmother's eyes.

Justin Watford was Betty Yarbrough's only grandchild, and his slaying outside of Good Friends Chinese & Seafood restaurant in October two years ago affected his grandmother in a way she said she wouldn't wish on anybody. "I personally went into a state of total despair and I even had thoughts of suicide,'' Yarbrough said Wednesday. "I did seek professional counseling and it helped. We're healing."

Still, no one has ever been charged in Watford's death and the family prays justice will one day be delivered. "That's all we want, justice,'' Yarbrough said. "No one has come forth to provide any information."

Birmingham police in 2016 announced the department's Cold Case Unit will highlight an unsolved homicide each month. The department in 2005 launched the Cold Case Unit and has made several high-profile arrests since its inception. There are 300-plus murders that remain unsolved in Birmingham dating back to 1951. Detectives are currently devising new ways to bring attention to the cases including the Cold Case Unit page on Facebook.

Watford was killed on Oct. 8, 2015. The shooting happened about 9:30 p.m. outside of the Dennison Avenue eatery. Police said Watford was one of three people inside a vehicle when someone in a blue Dodge Charge opened fire on them, hitting all three.

The victims drove themselves to Princeton Baptist Medical Center. Due to the severity of his injuries, Watford was transferred from Princeton to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead less than two hours later. The other victims were shot in the arm and neck, but were not seriously injured.

Police in 2015 said their investigation showed Watford and his friends were sitting in their parked car - a silver Buick Century - when the blue Charger pulled into the parking lot. According to witnesses, the driver, a black male, got out of the car and started shooting into the vehicle. He left traveling in an unknown direction.

Yarbrough, who lives in Georgia, vividly remembers getting the news about Watford's death. She said it was about 2 a.m. when the phone first started to ring. She knew at that time of the morning it couldn't be good news and, at first, she refused to answer it.

She broke down, as did her adult son who was Justin's uncle. She said the pain and anguish was unbearable. "I laid in bed for three days with no food and water,'' she said. "The pain, the despair, the darkness. It's unimaginable."

Watford's two great grandmothers both died within two months of his killing. Yarbrough has little doubt grief expedited their deaths. "It was just too much to bear,'' she said.

Watford's mother, Lasonya Watford, said she, too, longs for an arrest in the case. "There's just no closure,'' she said.

A motive has not been released and the family doesn't have a lot of information about what led to the shooting. "All my son wanted was to be out with friends,'' Lasonya Watford said. "They were just the wrong friends."

Yarbrough agreed. "He thought everyone was his friend and I would caution him, 'Everyone is not your friend,''' she said. "He trusted and loved people unconditionally."

Yarbrough said one of the last conversations she had with her grandson was about buying a car. He had previously worked at a fast-food restaurant but he didn't have reliable transportation so he lost the job.

He told his grandmother he was trying to find a way to make and save money so that he could buy a car. Yarbrough told him that she would match whatever he could save.

"The ironic part about it is he posted on Facebook maybe a couple of days before that his grandma was going to help him buy a car and maybe four or five days later, he was murdered,'' she said. "So instead of me having to purchase a car for my grandson, I ended up purchasing a casket."

Yarbrough said Watford was close to his large family. After his death, they found a shoe box in his bedroom which held every greeting card he'd ever received from his relatives. "That showed just how much he loved his family,'' she said.

Yarbrough said she has forgiven the killer or killers but believes they should, and will, be held accountable for Watford's murder. "I have no hatred in my heart,'' she said. "But justice will be served for Justin."

Yarbrough also addressed the rampant crime across the country.

"My grandson was not killed by a white cop. He was not killed by a black cop. Black lives do matter, all lives matter,'' she said. "Over 90 percent of the black men we are burying in the United States between the ages of 15 and 35 years old are being murdered by people that look just like them and this needs to stop. It needs to stop."

"And parents, neighborhood leaders, religious leaders, politicians, we need to find out why these children and young black men have so much anger in their hearts that they will kill one of them,'' she said. "We have too many parents, too many mothers, too many family members burying our black men."

A reward of up to $5,000 stands for information that will lead to an arrest and conviction in Watford's slaying. Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Longtime Madison County Commissioner Bob Harrison has passed away.

He was 74.

Commission Chair Dale Strong issued a statement Wednesday morning.

"Bob Harrison spent his life seeking shelter for the homeless, clothes for the unclothed and food for the hungry. Bob Harrison always had Madison County and the people of his respective district first and he will be truly be remembered for his faithful service."

Harrison represented District 6 in Madison County, which was made up of north Huntsville.

He was first elected to the commission in 2004.

AL.com news partner WHNT reported that Harrison had been battling cancer and died overnight at Huntsville Hospital.

As commissioner, Harrison actively lobbied for the rights of the mentally ill. He also spearheaded the $4 million Robert "Bob" Harrison Wellness & Advocacy Community Center in his north Huntsville district, which opened in 2013.

Harrison was also chair of a committee that raised $1.2 million that helped start the Alabama A&M University Foundation.

Harrison was also a board member for the Harris Home for Children for 12 years and led several fundraising activities. Among the projects was the construction of a $200,000 multi-purpose facility to server as the hub of campus activity at the Harris Home facility.

No funeral arrangements have been announced, Strong said in his statement.

The Madison County sheriff's department said in a tweet, "Our prayers today are for peace and comfort for the family and friends of Commissioner Bob Harrison who passed away this morning."

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle also expressed his condolences.

"We are saddened to hear about the loss of Bob Harrison, a longstanding advocate to his constituents and the underserved," Battle said in a statement. "Bob always brought new perspectives to the table, and his voice will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones."

U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, served on the commission with Harrison before being elected to Congress.

"Martha & I send our prayers for County Commissioner Bob Harrison's loved ones," Brooks said in a Twitter post. "Honored to have served alongside him, he'll be sorely missed."
Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore picked up an endorsement Wednesday from the second-ranking member of the U.S. Senate.

Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, said he is backing Moore in his Dec. 12 election against Democrat Doug Jones.

As majority whip, Cornyn is the No. 2 Republican in the Senate to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell - whom Moore has called on to resign from his leadership position.

"Alabamians will soon elect a new U.S. Senator and I hope they will vote for the candidate who will follow in former Senator (Jeff) Sessions' footsteps as a tireless advocate led by principle rather than politics," Cornyn said in a statement released by the Moore campaign.

"That is why I am proud to offer my support to Judge Roy Moore for U.S. Senate. I look forward to working with him to pass legislation that will effect meaningful change for all Americans."

Cornyn is the fourth senator to endorse Moore, preceded by Republicans Ted Cruz of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky.

"I appreciate Senator Cornyn's endorsement and I look forward to working with him in the U.S. Senate on ideas to strengthen the military, cut taxes on American families and businesses, reduce government spending, and protect the sanctity of life," Moore said in a statement.
An Athens mother faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of exposing her child to methamphetamine.

Diamond White (Limestone County Jail photo)

Diamond Lee White was arrested after a test detected meth in the child's system, Athens police Investigator Joe McClanahan wrote in an arrest report. The police investigation began when the Limestone County Department of Human Resources reported the drug test results earlier this month.

The child was in foster care while White was in the hospital detoxing from drugs, records show. The mother was admitted to the hospital Sept. 18, just months after the child was born in March. The foster parents contacted DHR to report the child had been sick -- soiling 12 diapers in a single day, the investigator's report states.

DHR ordered a drug test of the child. The test detected meth, amphetamine and cocaine on Sept. 28, police records show. DHR also requested a drug screen for White, who tested positive for meth, Investigator McClanahan wrote.

During an interview at the Athens Police Department, White admitted to using methamphetamine in her vehicle and taking her child to places where drugs had been used, according to the report.

"Diamond stated that she never used around (the child)," the report states. "Diamond stated she thinks that the methamphetamine came out of her pores and absorbed into (the child's) pores."

White was arrested Tuesday on a warrant for chemical endangerment of a child. She was released from the Limestone County Jail on $5,000 bail after a two-hour stay.
A sales representative for a Haleyville-based compounding pharmacy is the fourth person to be charged in a conspiracy to defraud health insurers and drug administrators out of tens of millions of dollars.

Peter Eodice, 34, of Webster, New York, is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, health care fraud and aggravated identity theft, the Department of Justice announced today.

Eodice worked for Northside Pharmacy, an Alabama company doing business as Global Compounding Pharmacy. He is accused of submitting fraudulent prescription reimbursement claims to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and forging a prescription, according to the DOJ.

Global's compounding and shipping facility was in Haleyville. The pharmacy did its prescription processing, billing and customer service at its call center in Clearwater, Florida.

Global hired sales representatives, including Eodice, who were located in various states and were responsible for generating prescriptions from physicians and other prescribers. To bill insurance providers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, for these prescriptions, Global contracted to enter the pharmacy networks of third-party administrators, known as "pharmacy benefit managers" or "PBMs." These PBMs included Prime Therapeutics and Express Scripts Incorporated.

Court documents describe a conspiracy at Global that centered on generating and billing PBMs for fraudulent, often high-reimbursement prescriptions. To generate prescriptions, Global hired sales representatives who were married or related to doctors and other prescribers, the DOJ said. Global also encouraged sales representatives to volunteer at doctors' offices where they would review patient files and push Global's products to patients. Global executives also frequently instructed employees to obtain high-reimbursing prescriptions that Global would fill and bill for reimbursement. One of the drugs that Eodice got for himself and his family members was a wound cream that cost over $29,000, prosecutors allege.

When billing, Global engaged in various fraudulent practices, including automatically refilling and billing for prescriptions regardless of patient need, and routinely waiving co-pays to encourage patients to accept unnecessary medications and refills, Justice officials said.

Global paid sales representatives a base salary plus a monthly commission for prescriptions that they obtained, according to court documents.

Prosecutors also filed a plea agreement with Eodice, who has agreed to forfeit $266,513 to the government as proceeds of illegal activity.

The charges against Eodice follow those recently brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office against three other Global sales representatives: Robin Gary Lowry, 49, of Columbus, Mississippi, Bridget McCune, 42, of Destin, Florida, and Kelley Norris-Hartley, 41, of Tuscaloosa. All three were charged with conspiracy to defraud insurance plans and PBMs, along with various health care fraud counts for submitting fraudulent claims for payment to BCBS of Alabama. McCune also was charged with conspiring to solicit and receive kickbacks in return for referring prescriptions under Medicare and TRICARE, a U.S. Department of Defense health care program, and with money laundering for spending proceeds of the crimes. All three defendants pleaded guilty. Their sentencings are scheduled for early 2018.

U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town, FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Adrian Gonzalez, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson, Defense Criminal Investigative Service Special Agent in Charge John F. Khin, and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Acting Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey announced the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chinelo Dike-Minor and Nicole Grosnoff are prosecuting.
Dr John Gabis has investigated so many drug-related deaths that he stopped counting. The Chillicothe-based family medicine doctor and coroner of Ross County has had a unique insight into the opioid crisis in Ohio  counselling parents that struggle with addiction as well as investigating untimely, mostly drug-related, deaths.

In 2015, the state of Ohio had one of the US highest overdose rates; one in nine US heroin deaths happened in Ohio, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Heroin use is growing in popularity. In 2016, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report listing heroin as one of the 10 drugs most frequently involved in drug overdose deaths, nationwide.

The report also noted a 23 percent per year increase in drug overdose deaths between 2010 and 2014. During that period, the rate of deaths involving heroin had more than tripled.

Gabis, along with his team, is determined to find ways to decrease the death rate due to opiate drug overdose in Ross County. He talks to Fault Lines about the US opioid crisis and its impact on a whole generation of children growing up amid the drug epidemic.

Fault Lines: As a coroner you often find yourself working with families struggling with addiction. Can you describe how heroin impacts children?

John Gabis: Whenever you consider the impact on children, the impact is not whenever somebody overdoses. Its the lifestyle that theyre exposed to.

Theyre in a home where the parent may not be able to fix them meals. They may not have food in the house.

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They may wear the same clothes to school every week. So, the impact on children is way before somebody overdoses, whether theyre left alone, whether theyre pawned off on friends or family.

Theres a lot of attachment concerns.

These folks who are addicted dont stick to an eight to five regiment. You know, they sleep whenever they are tired, and the children dont have a structured life.

Children thrive in structure. So, if you dont know what the cues are  its time to get ready for bed, its time to brush your teeth, its time to have a bedtime story read to you  and you just sleep on the couch in your clothes whenever you feel like sleeping. Thats not how children grow up healthy.

There are things called adverse childhood events. It could be anything from the death of a parent, either from a drug overdose or a car accident, an incarceration of a parent, hunger, physical, sexual, or emotional abuse  all of those things make it much more likely that you would as an adult then turn to substances to dull that pain.

The impact on children is incredibly damaging.

Fault Lines: How does that kind of childhood end up playing out for that childs future?

Gabis: Children who go through a very difficult childhood with addiction or alcoholism or mental illness, theyre more likely not to do well in school. Theyre more likely to become involved in the criminal justice system and theyre much more likely to be addicted to a substance or abuse a substance, whether its opiates, whether its alcohol, whether its marijuana, whether its other stuff.

Its an impact that were seeing in this current generation that well see play out in 10 to 15 years when theyre adults and we just hope that it doesnt continually repeat itself in a positive feedback cycle where one generation makes sure that the next generation will follow in their footsteps, good or bad  in this case very bad.

Its concerning. Its frightening. Its sad, not only for the people who are addicts that got trapped in that, but  but for their children, for their parents, for their brothers and sisters, for their future.

Fault Lines: What are some concrete ways that this hits a child whose parents are going through addiction?

Gabis: How it impacts a child is they have poor nutrition. They have poor development. They have no structure. They have no bedtime. They have no expectation of what it takes to get through life. They have no predictability in their life. Its chaos all the time.

Their parents are doing things that dont make sense. Its not rational. You cant talk rationality with an addict.

Heroin is stronger than any human tie. It is stronger than any compelling argument. It is stronger than a religious belief. It is the devil incarnate. It is evil. Its the black plague. Its like the zombie apocalypse. Its death.

Fault Lines: What role does the school play for children here?

Gabis: The school environment is so critical for children. Its often their only safe haven. So, when theyre at home, theyre hungry, theyre ignored. Their parents may be there, but they may be incapacitated by their drug use.

When theyre in school, theyre with kids their own age. Theyre with a teacher who is showing interest in them. Theres structure there. They know what to expect. They may have behaviour issues, but thats because theyre trying to figure out the structure.

I think its unfair to the schools that they not only have to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic but now they have to teach coping skills. They have to teach how to fend for yourself on the weekend. Were going to give you a backpack full of food to go home with.

You know, the schools see the destruction of that family thread or that family structure thats holding that family together.

Fault Lines: Ive heard people in town say, dont give them Narcan [emergency opioid overdose treatment]. Just let them die. How do you respond to that when you hear it? Ive even had EMTs tell me; we dont give people free EpiPens. Why are we giving them free Narcan?

Gabis: The people that serve you in restaurants, the people that work on your car, the people who do your landscaping, those people are addicts, and I often say, maybe the first time was a choice, the second time may have been a choice, but after that the demon has possession of them and its a very difficult demon to exorcise.

We shouldnt give you Nicorette because youre smoking. We shouldnt help you stop. You eat too much. You have diabetes. Why should we treat your diabetes? You got lung cancer because you smoked. We shouldnt treat you. So, the logic that whenever you expand it, the logic doesnt hold to say let them die. They chose that. Were not letting anybody else die from diabetes or lung cancer or COPD. Were treating them as best we can.

It is easy to become cynical. It is easy to become calloused to this because were dealing with this on a daily basis. So, just as that child came out and said, yup, mum ODd again, were seeing it so often and so intently that were also becoming calloused to it and cynical to it.

Fault Lines: Why are efforts to help reduce addiction and overdose deaths not helping?

Gabis: I would say that our efforts are helping. Were working so hard. Were losing sleep. Families are calling us at night saying, what do I do? I just found out that my son, daughter, niece, nephew, brother, sister is an addict. When you look at how many doses of Narcan have been given, but the death rate has remained somewhat level, we are making a difference.

But we have to work on the treatment component. We have to work on the prevention and education component. We have to work on getting treatment into the criminal justice system. We have to make sure that theres access to good treatment.

It is a multifaceted problem, which means that there are multifaceted solutions to it. And Id like to say that for every addict who gets clean  and Im making these numbers up, but it illustrates the point  there are 100 steps that you have to go through in a particular sequence, but your 100 steps are different than mine. Or if theyre the same, the sequence is different. So, theres no one size fits all.

We cant prosecute our way out of this. We cant arrest our way out of this. We cant necessarily treat our way out of this. So, all of these children that are in foster care from these families that have been disrupted, the children that have witnessed their parents do this; weve got to be ready in 10 or 15 years to provide safety nets for them.

Fault Lines: If things dont change, if things keep going as they are, whats at stake here?

Gabis: Whats at stake is the loss of two or three generations. There is plenty good that occurs in Chillicothe. There are wonderful, kind, generous, loving people here. This is not who we are. This is not what should define us; but unfortunately, it does define us, and its at risk of us losing hope in ourselves. Ive been doing this for eight years, and Im getting tired because were fighting so hard and fighting so long and  and we see the absolute negative, evil impact that this epidemic has. It makes it hard to keep going.








Using Turkey will be good as its slogan and a bright sun as its logo, ex-Turkish minister Meral Aksener has launched a new political party with a promise to shake up the countrys politics.

Turkey and its people are tired, the state is worn down and public order is unravelling, Aksener told hundreds of enthusiastic supporters at the founding event of the Good (Iyi) Party in the capital, Ankara, on Wednesday.

There is no other way [for Turkey] than a change in the political climate, said the 61-year-old, a prominent right-wing politician and former interior minister.

The party, which has adopted a centre-right platform, has been backed by five members of Turkeys 550-seat parliament, as well as other well-known public figures named in its constituent structure.

It lists pluralism, democracy, the rule of law, freedom of speech and nationalist values as some of its founding principles

Democracy is under threat and the governments justice is above all else, said Aksener, in an attack against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The primary quality of the state should be fairness for its own people, she added, criticising the government for eradicating state balances.

In response to supporters chanting to her, Prime minister, Aksener said, I will be president.

Rallied for No in referendum

Aksener rallied against constitutional changes narrowly passed in a referendum last April, which changed Turkeys parliamentary system to an executive presidency.

Under the changes, the person who will be elected as president in 2019 will have new powers to appoint vice presidents, ministers, high-level officials and senior judges. The president will also be able to dissolve parliament, issue executive decrees and impose states of emergency.

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Yusuf Halacoglu, one of the five Good Party MPs, told Al Jazeera that the new political force will fight to restore the separation of powers.

Turkey needs a democracy ruled by law. It should not be ruled by a single overpowered person. And we are going to fight for that, Halacoglu told Al Jazeera.

We seek to return Turkey to parliamentary democracy that has been dissolved by the recent constitutional changes, he said.

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We will uphold human rights through our own will, not because it is demanded by Europe or any other foreign power, added Halacoglu.

Erdogans AK Party won nearly 50 percent of the vote in the last parliamentary election in 2015, almost twice that of the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP).

For more than a year, the Turkish government has been carrying out detentions and purges of tens of thousands of people in the wake of a failed coup attempt in July 2016.

Local and international rights groups have accused the government of using the coup attempt as a pretext to silence opposition in the country.

The government has said that the purges and detentions are aimed to remove supporters of Fethullah Gulen  a US-based, self-exiled religious leader accused by Ankara of orchestrating the attempted coup  from state institutions and other parts of society.

Unifying discourse

Last year, Aksener was expelled from the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), along with some other senior members, after an unsuccessful bid to remove its leader, Devlet Bahceli.

Months later, Bahcelis support helped Erdogan to win the referendum on the constitutional changes.

Taha Akyol, a Turkish political analyst and writer, said that the programme of the new party could potentially appeal to a large number of voters.

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There is a diverse group of people who are not happy with the parties in the parliament. These voters have right, left and liberal tendencies, he told Al Jazeera.

The Good Party can be successful if it can get their support with a unifying discourse and promote the rule of law and democracy  the main concepts pursued by these disillusioned voters, he said.

Akseners speech and the partys programme is in line with this, so in theory, the party can find a voter base for itself. Its success will be in line with its performance.

Ibrahim Uslu, director of the ANAR polling company in Turkey, said in a recent interview that 30 percent of voters in the country are not loyal to their parties.

Four of the five Good Party MPs were former members of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

The other is a former member of the CHP.

The new partys constituent members also include Durmus Yilmaz, a former central bank governor, and Koray Aydin, a former public works and housing minister.
Despite what Madrid is saying, activating Article 155 means it will take direct control over Catalonia.

You can read the opposing view here.

It is now official. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced on October 21 that his government would enact the controversial Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution to strip Catalonia of its autonomy. One week on, this previously little known constitutional clause is still the most discussed subject in every corner of the country.

Refusing to engage in dialogue

In his speech to the Catalan parliament on October 10, Catalan President Carles Puigdemont clearly articulated his desire to engage in constructive dialogue with the Spanish state. Yet, Rajoy responded with all the weight of the law, once again ignoring the will of a considerable section of the Catalan population.

By refusing to engage in a conversation regarding the future of Catalonia, the Spanish president communicated to the Catalan population that the central government would neither listen to them nor allow a judicial solution to this grave political conflict.

Madrid even took the provocative step of imprisoning the presidents of two major Catalan cultural institutions  Omnium Cultural and Catalan National Assembly. Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez were imprisoned without bail on October 16, pending a trial on charges of sedition in relation to their separatist organising efforts. Their imprisonment further deepened the fractures in the Spanish society. More than 200,000 people took to the streets in Barcelona, demanding the release of the two men they consider political prisoners. Cuixart and Sanchez are now seen as martyrs of the cause in Catalonia  two people jailed for their political beliefs, in the 21st century, in the middle of Europe.

In light of last month's developments - the use of brute force on people that are trying to participate in a referendum, jailing of Cuixart and Sanchez and the decision to enact Article 155 - Madrid can no longer claim that the people of Catalonia are enjoying full democratic freedoms. by

Of course, their imprisonment was framed completely differently in Madrid. The central government, once again not afraid to use a language of confrontation, said the two men were rightfully jailed, as they were inciters of the separatist order, an expression painfully reminiscent of the darkest chapter of 20th century Spain.

The consequences of Article 155

So, the two sides of this political crisis cannot even agree on what has actually been happening before our eyes. And, they also have very different interpretations on the possible consequences of the enactment of Article 155.

According to Madrid, enactment of this constitutional clause is not in any way an attack on Catalonias hard-earned autonomy. They ignore the fact that this referendum was only the latest chapter in Catalonias decades-long journey towards independence and, they claim, Article 155 will simply fix the problems caused by an unlawful referendum. They claim this move will only restore the constitutional order in Catalonia. They say the people of Catalonia are not oppressed, and the people of Catalonia will not be oppressed even after the enactment of Article 155.

Rajoy listed four goals for enacting Article 155: to return to legality, to recover normality and co-existence, to continue with economic recovery and to have an election in Catalonia in normal political circumstances.

Yet, by taking a brief look at what Article 155 will actually bring to Catalonia, we can easily see that Rajoys claims do not have a leg to stand on.

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After the enactment of Article 155, the Catalan regional government will be dissolved; in other words, the central government in Madrid will start governing Catalonia single-handedly. In six months, early regional elections will be forced.

In addition, it seems that President Puigdemont  the democratically elected leader of the region  will have to face charges and may end up as his predecessor, Artur Mas  removed from political life and forced to pay thousands of euros in fines.

The enactment of Article 155 will also allow the government of Spain to review all future parliamentary activity in Catalonia. This means that Catalonias autonomy will be reduced to something symbolic, at best, as the regional parliament will lose the authority to pass any legislation without the central governments strict approval.

In order to finish the destruction of Catalan self-government, the central government will also take control of the Catalan public media (TV3, Catalunya Radio). Catalan journalists working for these organisations have already demonstrated their total rejection of the measure, claiming that they will not abide. Of course, the government of Spain already resorted to a threat to solve this small problem of journalistic integrity: any public official  including journalists  who does not respect the constitutional measures will be removed from their role and punished by law.

So in the end, a hard task awaits the Spanish government if it wants to prove to the world and the people of Catalonia that it is not attacking the autonomy and the dignity of the Catalan people.

In light of last months developments  the use of brute force on people that are trying to participate in a referendum, jailing of Cuixart and Sanchez and the decision to enact Article 155  Madrid can no longer claim that the people of Catalonia are enjoying full democratic freedoms.

At the end of this week, the Senate will approve the enactment of Article 155 and the Parliament of Catalonia will also meet to discuss the issue.

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The Catalan government, now facing an existential threat, may see this as an opportunity to declare independence  as even Catalans who do not support independence view the enactment of Article 155 as an aggressive and unjust measure. Yet, I still believe that declaring independence, at this point in time, will not be the most sensible option, especially if the people of Catalonia really want one day to become a recognised independent state and a respected member of the international community.

If the Catalan government declares independence in the coming days, Spain will not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law  and its security forces  to stop this from happening. Therefore, the only sensible option for the Catalan people is to insist on dialogue.

Catalan leadership now needs to listen to the sound voices coming from other parts of Europe and work towards de-escalation and dialogue. This political conflict needs to be solved, and it needs to be solved without humiliation, so that future generations can enjoy peaceful coexistence in Europe.

Madrid is making this harder for the Catalan leadership by refusing to listen to the will of the Catalan people. Prime Minister Rajoy, with the support of several powerful European leaders, seems to be on a quest to end the Catalan conflict by taking measures to destroy the cultural essence of the Catalan people  turning Catalonia in to a place that will one day be remembered as the historic homeland of the extinct Catalan people. And the enactment of Article 155 is the first step in this path. He is continuing a strategy favoured by many Spanish leaders in the past: to absorb the Catalan identity into centralist and exclusive Spanish nationalism.

As the former education minister of the Popular Party Jose Ignacio Wert said in 2012, Madrids goal is to Spanishise Catalan students. Now, the central government will have the opportunity to control the lives of the Catalan youth, make them Spanish and to eradicate any claim that may one day break Spain  a fear that the current Spanish political class tragically shares with the late dictator Franco.

Today, Catalonia is once again between the sword and the wall, cornered and silenced. In 1971, during a speech to the United Nations, famous musician Pau Casals defined Catalonia as a nation of peace. What will Catalonia be like in the future? The answer to that question will be determined by Madrid.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
You can read the opposing view here.

Catalonia is experiencing tense and uncertain times. In the last month, the regional government  made up of a coalition of nationalist parties called Junts pel Si (Together for yes) and supported in the regional parliament by an anti-establishment and Eurosceptic party (the Popular Unity Candidacy, CUP)  has decided to press ahead with its separatist project at all costs. Its ambition is not only in violation of the Spanish constitution and the Catalan autonomy statute, but does not even have the support of the majority of Catalans.

The nationalists razor-thin parliamentary majority in the Catalan Parliament does not mean that separatists have won the popular vote in the region. Rather, their majority is the result of an electoral law based on corrected proportional representation that benefits the least populated provinces (the vote of a citizen of the province of Lleida or Girona, for example, is worth double that of one in the province of Barcelona, by far the most populated province).

However, the Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, is prepared to secede on the basis of the most recent regional elections in 2015, in which separatist parties only won 47.8 percent of the vote, and an attempted referendum held on October 1, despite being suspended by the Constitutional Court, with no democratic guarantees, no existing law and no electoral authority to validate the results. It goes without saying that this pseudo-referendum also did not meet any of the main requirements set by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe (pdf), which sets the standards for referendums taking place in Europe.

With 37.8 percent of the electorate voting yes (only 42 percent of registered voters participated in the referendum and 90 percent of those voted yes, according to the questionable results provided by the regional government itself) on October 10, Puigdemont appeared before the Catalan Parliament and made an illusory proclamation of independence. However, he immediately suspended its effects, demanding that the Spanish government accept international mediation to find a solution to the conflict as though, instead of an internal matter that should be addressed within the framework of the Spanish constitution, it were a dispute between two sovereign states or a struggle as bitter as Colombias with the FARC guerrillas.

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The mere suggestion of international mediation is offensive because Catalonia is not a colony, but one of the most affluent regions of Spain, which enjoys the highest quality of life in the country and in Europe. It is also one of the regions that enjoys the greatest level of self-government in the world. The former prime minister of France, Manuel Valls, who is of Catalan descent, pointed this out recently. Catalonia has regional powers unthinkable in France, Valls said. There is genuine autonomy that is respected by Spain.

For example, the only medium of instruction in schools in Catalonia is Catalan, whereas Spanish is taught for only two hours a week. As a result, Catalonia has the dubious honour of being the only place in the Western world where the majority of the population do not even have the option of enrolling their children in schools that teach in their native language, Spanish. This high level of self-government was apparent when the Catalan regional police (Mossos dEsquadra) took charge of the investigation into the terrorist attack that took place in Barcelona on August 17.

Valls adds that the Spanish Constitution of 1978 is one of the most democratic in the world and that Catalans are not an oppressed people. His words may seem obvious to anyone somewhat familiar with the reality in Catalonia and Spain, but the Puigdemont government has launched a global campaign to discredit Spanish democracy and to convince the international community that Catalans are oppressed by an authoritarian state that systematically violates human rights. It makes no difference that according to The Economists global Democracy Index, Spain is once again among the full democracies, above countries such as the United States, Italy, Japan, Belgium and France, among others.

Constitutional order must be restored in Catalonia as soon as possible. by

This international operation runs parallel to another long-standing agitation and propaganda campaign carried out by the regional government for years on Catalan public radio and television, where it systematically stirs up confrontation with the rest of Spain and tries to convey the perverse idea that Spain is not a full democracy.

The image of a presenter on public television (which all Catalans pay for with taxes) burning a copy the Spanish constitution live on air is the quintessence of the hate speech peddled with impunity by the Catalan public media. It is not that they have a pro-government bias, but that they make up news stories and hide the truth of the consequences of secession from the citizens of Catalonia. Some of them are now starting to see through Puigdemonts obfuscation, who intends to go all the way in his defiance of our democratic state and the rule of law.

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More than 1000 companies (including the two biggest financial institutions in Catalonia, Sabadell and CaixaBank) have in the last month moved their headquarters from Catalonia to other regions of Spain, despite the former Catalan President Artur Mas saying in 2015 that this would never happen.

They also insist that secession would not result in Catalonia leaving the European Union, even though the European Commission and the main heads of state and government of the EU have made this crystal clear. Despite the obvious rifts in their separatist project, the Catalan public media, like the orchestra on the Titanic, continue to play the music given to them by the populist regional government which, realising that it could not achieve a united Catalonia, has chosen to divide it rather than give up on its objective. Catalans do not deserve this irresponsibility.

Constitutional order must be restored in Catalonia as soon as possible. To this end, the Spanish government, faced with Puigdemonts repeated refusal to return to the path of democratic legality, has decided to invoke Article 155 of the 1978 Constitution. This is a provision (present in the constitutions of other countries such as Germany, Austria and Italy) by which the government orders an autonomous community to comply with the Constitution and the law, and allows it to take the necessary measures to this end.

Yet, it needs to be noted that with the application of the Article 155, Catalonias autonomy is not suspended, as some people say. On the contrary, those who are putting at risk Catalonias autonomy are the separatists placing themselves outside the law. With the invocation of the Article 155, precisely, this autonomy the separatists have damaged with their decisions and actions against the Constitution and the statue of autonomy of Catalonia is being recovered.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Exactly one hundred years ago today, in the evening of October 25, 1917, the Winter Palace in Petrograd (todays St Petersburg) was stormed. This event marked the beginning of the Great October Revolution, one of the most significant political events of the twentieth century that shaped the course of history for decades ahead.

Leading up to the events of October 25 was another revolution in late February 1917, which brought to power a group of leaders from bourgeois political parties that formed a provisional government headed initially by Georgy Lvov, a liberal reformer, and then by Aleksander Kerensky, a socialist. In early March of that year Tsar Nicholas II, who had ruled imperial Russia since 1894, abdicated. Five months later, Russia was pronounced a republic.

Although the provisional government did introduce some reforms on the political front, prompting even Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin to declare Russia in April 1917 the freest country in the world, it was the Red October Revolution that turned the old order completely upside down by inaugurating a socialist regime and making Soviet-style communism a global ideological and political force that lasted until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of 1991.

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Still, one hundred years later, the rise of the Bolsheviks to power continues to divide scholars, the chattering classes and even the educated public. There are several issues that are particularly divisive, such as whether the October Revolution was a popular insurgency or essentially a coup, and whether Stalinism evolved naturally from the basic principles and political strategies of Lenin or was an unexpected development.

Likewise, there is still a great deal of ambiguity, disagreement and confusion over the nature of the regime that flourished in the Soviet Union after Lenins death in 1924. For example, did the Soviet Union represent an actual socialist society, a degenerated workers state, or simply a totalitarian state economy in which the communist ideology functioned as a mere instrument of political legitimisation and imperial rule?

When it happened, the Great October Revolution produced global hysteria, untamed enthusiasm and hope about the possibility of the creation of heaven on earth (a new utopia) in equal measures. For the bourgeois classes everywhere, the inauguration of the Soviet regime was anathema to core values of the western civilisation, while for radicals and communists it signified a natural culmination of the inevitable march of history towards human freedom and a social order devoid of exploitation.

No room for mourning or celebration

On the centenary of the Great October Revolution, an objective evaluation on socialism and the legacy of Soviet communism gives no room for mourning or celebration. It was essentially the epic story of an impossible dream that turned in due time into a political and historical nightmare because of the interplay of a vast array of factors that included backward socioeconomic conditions, outside intervention, an absence of democratic traditions, and misconceived notions about socialism and democracy. Hence, while you can easily romanticise about the October Revolution, the cold reality of history smacks you in the face.

Dreams are surely renewable, and a new world is waiting to be born, but the possibilities available to create an equalitarian, socially just, ecologically friendly, and decent society lie outside the ideas, practices and policies of the October Revolution. by

For starters, the Great October Revolution was unlike the February Revolution which erupted as a result of spontaneous action by hundreds of thousands of hungry and angry men and women workers and militant troops. What happened in October 1917 was the outcome of a well-designed strategy on the part of the leader (Lenin) of a minority party (the Bolsheviks) to wrest control from the provisional government because of a strong ideological aversion to bourgeois democracy and desire for power. Unsurprisingly Lenins call for all power to the Soviets ended up being something entirely different: all power went to the party and its politburo.

The October Revolution was not a coup in itself, but neither was it a popular uprising that enjoyed the kind of mass support that the February Revolution had. In fact, it was not until the autumn of 1917 that Lenins land, peace, bread slogan had been embraced by some workers in St Petersburg and Moscow.

Yet, even this does not mean that the Bolshevik programme and Lenins ideas of rule were accepted by the majority of the Russian people: In the November 1917 elections, the first truly free election in Russian history, Lenins party received only one quarter of the vote, while the Social Revolutionaries managed to receive over 60 percent.

Lenin had stomach neither for parliamentary democracy nor for sharing power with any other political organisation. His unwavering intent to establish socialism in Russia, regardless of the ripeness of the social and economic conditions, and his firm conviction that only the Bolsheviks represented the true interests of the workers, would compel him to adopt strategies and policies that would soon deprive the Revolution of whatever potential it had originally had for the establishment of a new social order based on workers control of the means of production and democracy (which Lenin, sadly enough, associated with the dictatorship of the proletariat).

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Indeed, not long after the November elections, Lenin would ban several opposition newspapers and unleash a campaign of Red Terror against all class enemies (with the Social Revolutionaries being the first victims following their uprising in Moscow in early July 1918). The orchestration of the Red Terror, which lasted until the end of the Russian civil war, was assigned to Cheka (a Bolshevik police organisation that reported to Lenin himself on all anti-communist activities), thereby laying the foundations for the emergence of a full-fledged police state under Stalinism.

The clearest illustration of how far to the right the Bolsheviks had moved following the outbreak of the October Revolution is the brutal repression of the Kronstadt rebellion in 1921 by Red Army troops. Disheartened by the Bolsheviks dictatorial tendencies, a garrison of the key fortress of Kronstadt revolted in March 1921 against the communist government and the ideas of war communism  even though the Kronstadt sailors had been, back in 1917, among the strongest supporters of the October Revolution and the idea of Soviet power. To be sure, they were, until then, in Lev Trotskys own words, the pride and joy of the revolution.

With the suppression of the Kronstadt rebellion, it became clear that Lenins concept of the vanguard party and his understanding of the dictatorship of the proletariat did not permit dissent of any kind and that a socialist political order was to be based on one-party rule.

As for the policy of war communism, it ended a complete disaster. Lenin himself admitted as much in a speech on October 17, 1921, when he said, we made the mistake of deciding to go over directly to communist production and distribution.

But this did not mean that all Bolsheviks shared Lenins views on war communism or that they embraced the policy that was followed in the 1920s by a partial return to the market system of production and distribution. The soon-to-be new Tzar Joseph Visarionovich Stalin, regarded the New Economic Policy as the betrayal of the October Revolution. His revolution from above, launched in 1928 with the policy of collectivisation and dekulakisation (a campaign of political repressions, including arrests, deportations, and executions of millions of the more well-to-do peasants ) reopened the gates of hell and converted Soviet socialism once and for all into a barbarous and murderous regime.

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Stalinism did not merely formalise the worst aspects of Leninism but became, in reality, an actual stumbling block for the transition into socialism both inside the Soviet Union and throughout the rest of the world where the ideas of social justice and equality continued to move the minds and hearts of millions of decent people.

Hence, the end of Stalinism and the collapse of Soviet communism (which in the course of its 74 years did manage to turn a backward country into an industrialised nation that was able to defeat Nazism and make undeniable advances on several economic, cultural, and social fronts) mark simply the end of a dream turned into a nightmare.

In this context, the legacy of the Russian Revolution obliges, one hundred years later, neither celebration nor mourning. Dreams are surely renewable, and a new world is waiting to be born, but the possibilities available to create an egalitarian, socially just, ecologically friendly, and decent society lie outside the ideas, practices and policies of the October Revolution.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Thousands of foreign ISIL supporters have returned to their home countries after leaving Syria and Iraq over the past two years, a US-based security analysis group has said.

At least 5,600 people from 33 countries left ISIL-held areas in that period, with numbers increasing as the group began to suffer territorial losses, the Soufan Center said in a report published on Tuesday.

The figure, based on official government records, included women and children, Jeffrey Ringel, a director at the Soufan Center, told Al Jazeera.

More than 40,000 foreigners from 100 countries joined ISIL (the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, also known as ISIS) before and after the group declared the establishment of a caliphate in 2014 after seizing large swaths of territory in both Syria and Iraq.

Thousands have been killed on the battlefield as Syrian and Iraqi forces captured major strongholds and urban centres, leaving ISIL only in control of a sliver of land along the Euphrates on the Syria and Iraq border.

ISILs self-proclaimed capital in Syria, Raqqa, fell to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces earlier this month. In June, Iraqi forces expelled the groups fighters from Mosul, Iraqs second-biggest city.

ISIL returnees present a huge challenge for law enforcement agencies as many countries were not prepared to address the issue, the Soufan Center said.

But those returning have not as yet added significantly to the threat of terrorism around the world, it said.

The concern here is the returnees may continue their fight after they return to their ancestral lands, Ringel told Al Jazeera.

This is still unknown, but there is a good chance they will. As the caliphate crumbles, they may also move to new areas, such as Southeast Asia and Africa.

The influence or involvement of foreign fighters in attacks claimed by ISIL across the world has also been limited, the report said.

The highest numbers of those moving to ISIL-held territories in Syria and Iraq came from Russia and Saudi Arabia, with 3,417 and 3,244 people, respectively.

Ten percent of the Russians went back, while Saudi Arabia reported the return of 760 people.

In the European Union, more than 5,000 people travelled to Syria and Iraq. Of them, more than 1,200 came back, the report said.

Turkey and Tunisia reported the highest number of returnees at 900 and 800 people, respectively.

State response

There is disagreement among security experts over the threat returnees may pose to their home countries, the Soufan Center said, as the extent to which they will wish to regroup, resurge, recruit and recreate what they have lost, is as yet unknown.

However, the push and pull factors that attracted foreigners in such unprecedented numbers remain, it warned, adding that ISIL or something similar to it will survive as long as the conditions that promoted its growth remain.

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ISILs leadership will look to supporters overseas as it suffers territorial losses, and returnees may be particularly vulnerable to appeals from their ex-comrades, the report said.

Most countries have responded to the perceived threat by imprisoning returnees, it said, adding the policy is one that only postpones the problem.

Allocating more resources to security is not always the answer, it cautioned, adding that increased surveillance may be more likely to increase terrorism than to reduce it.

Softer approaches such as rehabilitation and reintegration programmes are notoriously hard to design and run and the majority of such efforts have stuttered or come to a halt, it said.

Ringel said governments should recognise that ISIL supporters who travelled to Syria and Iraq had differing motives and tailor responses accordingly.

There are different levels of people who are returning. If someone went there to fight and kill, and committed crimes, they should be treated as a criminal. But the approach must be different if its a woman whose spouse had dragged her there or children who were born there.

Governments must set proper mental health and social support mechanisms for women and child returnees, he added.

More research and information sharing among countries was needed to tackle the issue, the Soufan Center said.

Other security analysts have also called on states to adopt a mix of measures in dealing with returning foreign fighters.

Experts at the Global Counterterrorism Forum, an informal forum of 29 countries and the European Union, have recommended a range of interventions that cover the full life cycle of radicalisation which include prosecution, rehabilitation and prevention measures.
Mark Lowcock is on his first visit to Yemen since being appointed emergency relief coordinator on September 1.

The UNs aid chief has arrived in Yemens capital, Sanaa, expressing his deep concern about the war-torn countrys deteriorating humanitarian crisis.

Mark Lowcock is on his first visit to Yemen since being appointed under-secretary-general and emergency relief coordinator on September 1.

I have come to Sanaa to have discussions with the authorities and other interlocutors on ways to improve the humanitarian situation in Yemen, he said upon arrival in Sanaa on Wednesday.

Lowcock added his five-day visit to the country was aimed at reaffirming the strong commitment of the United Nations and partners to alleviate suffering of all Yemenis in need of assistance.

Cholera, malnutrition

Yemen has been devastated by more than two and a half years of war after Houthi rebels captured Sanaa and overthrew President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadis government.

A Saudi-led coalition was formed in 2015 to fight the Houthi rebels and army troops allied with them.

According to the UN, the conflict has killed more than 10,000 people and left over seven million in need of food assistance.





Millions of others do not have adequate access to health, water and sanitation services.

The country has also been hit a cholera outbreak, with 850,000 suspected cases since April.

I decided to come to Yemen because I am deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis that has continued to deteriorate, said Lowcock.

His trip to Yemen started on Tuesday with a visit to Aden, the seat of the internationally recognised government, where he held meetings with local officials.

He also met internally displaced people and visited a hospital in Lahj where he met patients receiving treatment for cholera and malnutrition.
Chinas ruling party votes to enshrine presidents name and ideas into its constitution.

Chinas ruling communist party has voted to keep President Xi Jinping in office for another five years and enshrine his name and doctrine into its constitution.

The move on Tuesday elevated his status as one of the countrys most powerful leaders, alongside figures such as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.

The announcement was made at the end of the 19th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), a twice-a-decade assembly of thousands of party representatives in the capital, Beijing.

Living in such a great era, we are all the more confident and proud, and also feel the heavy weight of responsibility upon us, Xi, 64, told delegates gathered at the Great Palace Hall following the vote.





It is the first time since the rule of Chairman Mao that the name of a leader is enshrined in the party ideology.

After his death, Deng was also honoured with the so-called Deng Xiaoping Theory for his role in jumpstarting the Chinese economy in the 1980s after years of stagnation.

The Xi Jinping Thought envisions a China becoming a great modern socialist country by 2049.

The Chinese people and nation have a great and bright future ahead, declared Xi, who was joined on stage by his predecessors Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin.

On Wednesday, the party will hold its meeting and announce who will join the 25-member party committee, the most powerful body in the Chinese hierarchy of leaders.

Xis era began in March 2013. Read below to find out more about the leaders of the Peoples Republic of China since its establishment in 1949.

Hu Jintao The son of a tea trader, Hu led China as president from 2003 to 2013. Highlights of his two five-year terms in office include the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the Shanghai Expo in 2010.

Hu was credited for the countrys solid economic growth, and for modernising Chinas infrastructure. But he was also blamed for widespread corruption, which ensnared the likes of Prime Minister Wen Jiabaos family.

Most of Hus allies  including Bo Xilai, CCP secretary of Chongqing, and Zhou Yongkang, the former chief of domestic security of the country  were also sent to prison on corruption charges.





Jiang Zemin  He served as president from 1993 to 2003.

Like his successors, Hu and Xi, Jiang also led as chairman of the military and as CCP general secretary.

He rose to power during the tumultuous period in the late 1980s, which culminated in the Tiananmen Square protests and killings in 1989. He was named general secretary after Zhao Ziyang was forced out of power for siding with the student protesters.

The peaceful return of Hong Kong and Macau to China, from the United Kingdom and Portugal respectively, happened during Jiangs term.

At 91, he is one of the longest living Chinese leaders. During the most recent Congress, he caught the eye of photographers and sparked a social media frenzy when he was caught taking a nap during Xis three-and-a-half hour speech.

Deng Xiaoping  Ruling from 1978 to 1989, Deng was considered Chinas paramount leader, even though he neither became the countrys president, nor the CCPs general secretary.

He gained the respect of the party hierarchy by being one of the revolutionary leaders of the country, who participated in the Long March between 1934 and 1935.

His rise to power was unlikely, as he and his family were purged twice during Maos Cultural Revolution, and Mao made efforts to sideline him.

Following Maos death in 1976, he outmanoeuvred handpicked successor Hua Guofeng in the leadership race.

During his two decades in power, Deng embarked on a modernisation of the economy. He also repudiated the Cultural Revolution, which left at least 1.5 million Chinese killed, and millions of others imprisoned, tortured or publicly humiliated, including Dengs family.





Like Jiang, his legacy was tainted by the deadly Tiananmen killings in 1989.

He was cited twice as Time Magazines Person of the Year, in 1978 and 1985.

Hu Yaobang  He served as the CCPs general secretary between 1982 to 1987, pushing for economic and political reforms. However, he earned the ire of party elders who were trying to defy efforts to push for more transparency in government.

Like Deng, Hu was also purged during the Cultural Revolution. He regained prominence and power during the leadership of Deng, only to lose it again in 1987 after he was forced out in a power struggle within the CCP. His death in 1989 led students to march in the streets of Beijing and later sparked the Tiananmen protests.

Zhou Enlai  Was seen as a top deputy of Mao Zedong, serving as the countrys first prime minister from 1949 until his death in 1976.

Zhou was considered the architect of Maos foreign policy, playing a role in the Korean Armistice, which halted the war between North and South Korea, as well as the 1972 visit of US President Richard Nixon to China.





Mao Zedong  He was the founding father of the Peoples Republic of China, and served as the CCPs chairman from 1945 to his death in 1976.

The Hunan Province native not only helped establish the CCP but also led the establishment of the Red Army, which fought the Japanese occupation in China.

After the defeat of the Japanese, Mao led an assault against the other faction of the Chinese political establishment, the Kuomintang forces, which led to the civil war from 1940 to 1949.

While being credited for establishing modern China, and its engagement with the West, Mao was also blamed for the failed policies of the country, including the Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward, both of which led to deadly consequences.

The Great Leap Forward was blamed for widespread famine, which led to the death of at least 18 million people. There were some reports that the death toll during the famine was closer to 55 million.

Despite his legacy, Mao is still revered by many Chinese people, and his image dominates the most famous destination in Beijing, the Tiananmen Square.
The Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) has expressed readiness to freeze the results of a recent referendum to secede from Iraq, as tensions mount between Erbil and Baghdad.

The KRG said in a statement on Wednesday that its leadership was prepared to declare an immediate ceasefire and halt all military operations in the Kurdistan region.

People in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq voted to secede on September 25 in a referendum, amid rising tensions and international opposition.

The US and other Western allies of Iraq had urged KRG leader Masoud Barzani to cancel or postpone the vote.

Several countries warned that the referendum would distract Iraq from ongoing fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL, also known as ISIS) and further destabilise the already volatile region.

Israel was the only country in the region that welcomed the referendum, which was seen by many as the beginning of the fragmentation of the nation along ethnic and tribal lines.

More than 92 percent voted yes to secession, with the turnout at almost 80 percent.

The referendum set off a chain of events, culminating in a military confrontation between Erbil and Baghdad.

Iraqi government forces launched a major operation in Kirkuk on October 16 aimed at retaking the Kurdish-held city, advancing towards oil fields and a strategic military base.

The Kurdish collapse was sudden.

The KRG said on Wednesday it would freeze the results of [the] referendum in an attempt to foster dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad.

The announcement comes amid Baghdads military buildup in the Kurdish region and mounting international pressure on the KRG leadership to back down.

As Iraq and Kurdistan are faced with grave and dangerous circumstances, we are all obliged to act responsibly in order to prevent further violence and clashes between Iraqi and Peshmerga forces, the KRG statement said.

Clashes have caused damage to both sides and could lead to a continuous bloodshed, inflicting pain and social unrest among different components of Iraqi society, it added. Certainly, continued fighting does not lead any side to victory, but it will drive the country towards disarray and chaos, affecting all aspects of life.

Meanwhile, on Monday, a Kurdish opposition group that opposed the referendum called on Barzani to step down.

Gorran, or the Movement for Change, called for a national salvation government in a statement posted on its website, saying the KRG must be dissolved because it had ushered the Kurdish region into another terrible crisis.

Al Jazeeras Stefanie Dekker, reporting from the Iraqi-Syrian border, said the KRG statement was very unexpected.

The KRG has always said the results of the referendum were a red line, she said. Now, what we have is an offer from the regional government here, saying, Lets freeze  the results and have an immediate ceasefire and lets go into dialogue.'

Fighting between Iraqi forces, Shia militias and the Peshmerga erupted on the border on Tuesday morning.

There was a real concern that the plan was for the Iraqi forces to come all the way up this border and essentially cut off the border crossing  held by the Kurds on both sides, said Dekker.

Following Wednesdays developments, all eyes will be on Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadis next move, Dekker explained.
The expansion to the settlement of Nor Zion would make it the largest in the city, situated in the middle of a Palestinian neighbourhood.

Israel has approved plans for 176 new Jewish homes in occupied East Jerusalem.

The expansion to the settlement of Nor Zion would make it the largest in the city, situated in the middle of a Palestinian neighbourhood.

Israeli ministers are also expected to vote on Sunday on a controversial bill that would bring illegal West Bank settlements around Jerusalem under the jurisdiction of the city; a move Palestinians call annexation.

Al Jazeeras Harry Fawcett reports.
As fight for nationality continues in Jordan, activists and legislators say new social push is needed to move forward.

A petition circulating on social media calling for Jordans controversial nationality law to be abolished is likely to be refused in parliament, activists say.

The petition, which has so far received 3,800 signatures, will be presented to the Jordanian parliament once it gathers 5,000 signatures.

But it is not at all that simple, says Aroub Soubh, a Jordanian activist.

Soubh has been working with civil society groups and NGOs on a campaign tackling what she describes as Jordans sexist nationality law.

A campaign entitled My mother is Jordanian and her nationality is my right  established by late womens rights activist Nima Habashna  has branched out into a grassroots project by a coalition of local rights groups called Citizenship is my familys right.

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Those who started the petition, unfortunately, did not approach us, said Soubh, spokesperson for the coalition.

Theyre calling for the abolishment of law, which is not exactly possible. As a coalition, we spent several years researching the issues legality and ways in which we can actively campaign towards a solution  and what we have come to now is the far-fetched possibility of amending Article 6 of the Constitution, Soubh explained.

Implemented in 1954, the Jordanian nationality law defines nationality first through a blood bond, derived from the fathers citizenship to those born to Jordanian fathers and foreign mothers.

However, the same rights are denied when a mother is Jordanian and the father a foreign national.

Government figures estimate that approximately 89,000 Jordanian women are married to non-Jordanians. In those cases, the husband is usually Palestinian, Egyptian, Syrian, or Iraqi.

About 360,000 children, therefore, remain without citizenship.

We called for two things  amending the law, which in reality does not even mention women, rendering it unconstitutional based on its biased nature, said Soubh, explaining that Article 6 of the Constitution stipulates that Jordanians have equal rights and duties before the law.

We wanted to approach the constitutional court and ask for an explanation to the word Jordanian  is it male, female, or both? she added. And another idea was to ask for an amendment, to add the word gender  so as not to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, or gender.

The demands of the coalition were refused last year, but Soubh says they are determined to continue their fight.

This fight has been ongoing for decades, said Soubh. We have to better strategize and reevaluate our next steps at this pointWe have always been told, that this is a matter of a top-down approach.

It all goes back to the Constitution

Khaled Ramadan, a Jordanian parliamentarian who worked alongside the coalition and pushed to move the debate forward since taking office in 2016, told Al Jazeera: It all goes back to the Constitution.

When I was a member of the royal dialogue committee, we proposed to amend Article 6 of the Constitution to include the word gender  but this was completely refused, he said.

The Jordanian National Charter, introduced in 1990 with the objective of progressing to democracy on a stable foundation has been adopted by all of the countrys ministries, is not in equal par to the constitution, says Ramadan.





Though an article in the charter stipulates that Jordanians, whether male or female, are equal in front of the law- the charter is not constitutional and thus cannot be used as a legal basis to change the reality on the ground, he explained.

According to Ramadan, the charter formed the basis for the movement and the campaign, which has thus far managed to obligate the government to offer an alternative solution.

In 2014, Jordans government passed a bill that entitles foreigners with Jordanian mothers in the country to service-related privileges.

Provided that their mothers have been residing in Jordan for at least five years, children of foreign fathers have the right to free high school education and health services in government hospitals, second priority, after Jordanian citizens in all professions, and exemption from any work permit fees.

The bill also allows them to own property, make investments and obtain a driving license. It is also intended to offer temporary residency permits, subject to yearly renewal.

But Ramadan says the privileges available in reality are just 10 percent of what was promised, and these are not guaranteed by law.

Daily nightmare

Born to a Jordanian mother and Egyptian father, 27-year-old Ahmed al-Araby says he lives the nightmare of being born to a Jordanian mother and foreign father on a daily basis.

After spending thousands on his education to fulfil his dream of becoming a civil engineer, al-Araby says he now works as a sales representative in a private firm and has not been able to find a job elsewhere.

Ever since I turned 18, Ive been trying to live a dignified life, he told Al Jazeera. And this still hasnt happened because I dont even have a national identification number.

Earlier this month, al-Arabys bank accounts were frozen without warning. He was told to provide his bank with a work permit, a task he thought was easy to accomplish.

I told them (labour ministry) I had the privilege card, and I gave them my university degree. They said they cannot issue me a work permit with engineering as my occupation  instead, they wanted to put me down as a labour worker, but I refused, he said.

The so-called privileges card, which lacks a national identification number, is not even recognisable by police officers and public sector employees, he added. 

The so-called privileges card, which lacks a national identification number, is not even recognisable by police officers and public sector employees by Ahmed al-Araby

How are they supposed to take me seriously anywhere in this country?

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Similarly, campaign coordinator Rami Al Wakeel, said that nothing has changed in reality.

Investments need a lot of capital, and still have to be administered by a Jordanian national, said Wakeel.

Only 66,000 people received these privileges cards, while 6,000 applicants were rejected due to the strict conditions that are in place, he added. You cant even use these cards to open bank accounts. You cant even donate blood to your own mother without a proper identification number in this country.

To obtain work permits, foreigners with Jordanian mothers are treated as expatriates, said Wakeel.

The bureaucracy involved is complex and endless, he said.

As a result, most of the affected people, like al-Araby, end up working in the private sector where almost no official paperwork is involved.

Even if a permit is granted, it is only valid for one year  and could be rejected on basis that a Jordanian national needs the job instead, said Wakeel.

According to parliamentarian Ramadan, the least complicated option being explored is for legislators in the Senate to call on the constitutional court for an in-depth explanation of what the term Jordanian means in Article 6.

However, most of the Senates members are not socially mature enough to take this step on behalf of the NGOs and affected people, he explained, and for such a move to materialise, it would require extensive pressure from the public.

Traditionally, arguments that go against the call for equal nationality rights are often attributed to the large presence of Palestinian refugees in the country. Thus, legislators argued that granting Jordanian citizenship to children of Palestinian fathers could have changed the countrys demographic.

Today, with the inflow of Iraqi and Syrian refugees, Jordan hosts more than 2.5 million refugees. This, says Ramadan, is going to make the fight even harder.








Political crisis deepens as Supreme Court fails to rule on petition to block election because of shortage of judges.

Nairobi, Kenya  A rerun of the August presidential election is set to go ahead on Thursday after a last-minute attempt to block the vote failed at the Supreme Court.

Kenyas Supreme Court was unable on Wednesday to raise a quorum of judges to decide on whether the poll should go ahead, as the political crisis gripping the East African nation shows no sign of ending.

The petition was brought by three human rights activists who claimed the electoral commission is not ready to hold a credible poll.

Opposition leader, Raila Odinga, plans to boycott the poll, which was decided on after the Supreme Court last month annulled the August 8 presidential election result.

Regrettably and with due apology to all the parties, this matter cannot proceed to hearing this morning as earlier scheduled, David Maraga, Kenyas chief justice, told the court.

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It is accordingly adjourned to a date to be taken in the registry, Maraga added.

Four of the benchs seven judges were not present, Maraga said. Five judges are needed for a quorum.

A lawyer for the opposition said the shortage of judges was not coincidental.

The lack of quorum on the part of the Supreme Court is not by coincidence [or] by accident, James Orengo told reporters outside the court.

There is an attempt to undermine the authority of the institutions of government including independent institutions like the electoral commission and the Supreme Court, Orengo said.

If the commission dares goes on with the purported election tomorrow  it will be illegal and unconstitutional, he added.

Deputy President William Ruto said: The evil schemes to deny Kenyans the right to vote [have failed].

We will decide and move our country forward tomorrow.

The electoral board later confirmed the vote would go ahead.

Based on assurances given to this commission by the relevant authorities and security agencies, based on the progress that has been made in the commission, the elections as scheduled will go on tomorrow, Wafula Chebukati, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman, told reporters.

Further challenges expected

There was a heavy presence of security forces outside the court and across the city as the opposition planned to hold a rally.

Odinga has called on his followers to boycott the poll, saying he will announce on Wednesday a way forward.

Odinga withdrew from the race claiming opposition demands to reform the electoral commission has not been met.

Analysts say Wednesdays ruling does not mark the end of the political crisis.

I have no doubt in my mind that tomorrows poll and its result will be challenged in court. This is not the end of it, Irungu Houghton, a political analyst based in the capital, Nairobi, told Al Jazeera.

The IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission) is divided and not trusted by many. And todays event shows the Supreme Court is unable to respond to request to hear a case and show the way forward,

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The August 8 poll result was annulled after the court found illegalities and irregularities in the voting process. The opposition then demanded electoral body reforms and refused to take part in a rerun unless those requests were met.

Earlier this month, a senior official at the IEBC resigned and fled the country saying she feared for her life adding that Thursdays poll will not be credible.

The election will go ahead tomorrow in some constituencies but will not happen in opposition strongholds. Many people will also not vote because it is a foregone conclusion that Kenyatta will win with Odinga not on the ballot, Houghton said.

On Tuesday, 20 Western ambassadors based in Nairobi warned that inflammatory rhetoric, attacks on institutions and growing insecurity were making it difficult to hold a credible and fair poll in the country.

It is easier to tear down than to build up. But it is dangerous, and it must stop, Bob Godec, US ambassador to Kenya, said in a statement on behalf of the 20 envoys.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday it was not up to him to lecture Egypt on civil liberties during his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday it was not up to him to lecture Egypt on civil liberties during his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Rights groups demanded Macron raise allegations of torture and political repression in Egypt, but instead the French president stressed that Egypt was a vital partner in the fight against Islamic extremism in the Middle East and Europe.

Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders held a demonstration outside the Egyptian presidents hotel in Paris, claiming that el-Sisis crackdown on press freedoms  which included the over 300-day detention of Al Jazeeras Mahmoud Hussein  has made it impossible to be an independent and free journalist in Egypt.

Al Jazeeras David Chater reports from Paris.
King Mohammed sacked four ministers along with other officials over imbalances in development plan

Moroccos King Mohammed VI has fired several ministers and top officials for failing to improve the economic situation in a region shaken by protests, a statement from the palace said.

King Mohammed VI dismissed the ministers of planning, housing, health and education, along with other senior officials on Tuesday, after the kingdoms accounting office found imbalances in implementing a development plan, state news agency MAP quoted the palace statement as saying.

The decision followed protests in the northern city of al-Hoceima, where residents have long complained of neglect and marginalisation.

The protests were part of a steadily growing popular movement known as Hirak al-Shaabi in the countrys northern Rif region, which has come to symbolise resentment towards a history of state neglect and violence in the poor coastal area.

The firings came days before the anniversary of the death of a local vendor who was crushed in a garbage truck while trying to retrieve fish seized by police. His death prompted the protest movement.

The kings decree also came as protest leader Nasser Zefzafi and 29 others accused of organising demonstrations in the northern region went on trial in Casablanca. The session was adjourned until October 31.

They face charges ranging from conspiring against the state to protesting without authorisation.

In July, the king pardoned dozens of people arrested in the protests and blamed the failure of local officials to quickly implement development projects for stoking public anger.
Report by rights groups says violation of rights of arrested Palestinian minors is Israels primary mode of conduct.

Mohammed, 14, was with his friends riding horses in a park in Jerusalems Old City when the Yassam, a special patrol unit of the Israeli police, arrived at the scene.

Sound grenades were fired at the teenagers. One landed near Mohammeds feet. He picked up a rock and threw it in the direction of the notorious riot police, whose excessive force against Palestinians has been well documented.

Unbeknownst to Mohammed, Yassam had been surveilling him and had also taken photos. Later, on his way back home, the boy was arrested by Israeli security forces on Saladin Street. He was handcuffed, taken to an interrogation centre, and was questioned without the presence of a lawyer or his parents.

Little did he know then, in mid-September 2016, that his ordeal through the Israeli military court system had just begun.

They called me after he was interrogated, Salwa, Mohammeds mother, told Al Jazeera.

He spent the night in jail and was due in court the next day. He was imprisoned for a further two weeks and in that period, he had another court appearance that was postponed four or five times.

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More than a year later, Mohammed is still under house arrest.

He is one of the hundreds of Palestinian minors in the occupied territories that are arrested by Israel on a yearly basis. The most common charge levelled against them is stone-throwing, which under Israeli military law can carry a sentence of up to 20 years in jail.

Plain and clear policy

A new report published on Wednesday by Israeli rights groups HaMoked and Btselem details the alleged violations committed by Israeli forces against Palestinian minors.

The study, titled Unprotected: The detention of Palestinian Teenagers in East Jerusalem, includes 60 affidavits collected from Palestinian teenagers who were arrested by Israel between May 2015 and October 2016.

What we are dealing with is not a few individual rogue interrogators or prison guards who defy regulations, says the report.

Rather it is a case of a plain and clear policy followed by the various authorities: the police who carry out the arrests; the IPS (Israel Prison Service) which keeps the boys incarcerated in harsh conditions; and finally, the courts, where judges virtually automatically extend the boys custodial remand.

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According to the report, such behaviour is the primary mode of conduct adopted by the State of Israel for dealing with boys who are suspected of stone throwing.

It says the abuse includes the unlawful interrogation of a minor without the presence of their guardian or lawyer, not being told of their right to stay silent, and not being informed of their rights to counsel.

Furthermore, Israeli law prohibits night interrogations, but 91 percent of the minors who were interviewed for the report said that they were arrested at night, when most of them were already asleep or in bed.

The report also says that despite the fact that physical restraints on minors should be used only in exceptional cases and for as short a time as possible, eight out of 10 of those interviewed told the rights groups said they had been handcuffed upon their arrest. A further 70 percent were kept in restraints during interrogation sessions.

Israeli authorities, however, have managed to escape accountability because of their caution to make sure the practices remain technically within legal provisions, the groups said.

For example, taking advantage of loopholes in Israeli law that allow using violence during interrogation, officers can physically and emotionally harm minors, which more often than not  83 percent, according to the joint study  results in the minors signing confessions.

Eighty percent of these confessions were in Hebrew, a language the minors did not understand, according to the groups.

Israels policy, the report states, allows authorities to continue this maltreatment of Palestinian minors while shrouding in a cloak of legality a systematic and well-documented abuse of the fundamental human rights of hundreds of minors  for decades.

International organisations, including UNICEF, have also in the past highlighted the ill-treatment of Palestinian minors in Israeli military detention, which they termed as being widespread, systematic and institutionalised.

They have suffocated him

At the beginning of Mohammeds house arrest, his mother says Israeli forces would storm his home several times a day to check whether he was inside or not. On one occasion, they arrested him because he was standing on the houses threshold, and his family had to pay 10,000 shekels ($2,850) to release him from prison.

After being confined to his home for one year, Mohammed was last month granted permission by Israeli authorities to attend school again.

However, he has since been arrested six times and taken to an interrogation centre. Sometimes, he was forced to spend the night there.

He is depressed and does not want to go to school any more, said Salwa. His next court appearance is on November 15, and he is afraid his house arrest will be extended once again.

But with his 12-month punishment already protracted, Salwa says her son wishes he could serve time in jail so he could be free of his sentence.

He begs the lawyer to be taken to prison just so the entire ordeal would be over and not have his house arrest extended every time, she said. They have suffocated him inside the house.

Escalation in child arrests

According to the Palestinian prisoner rights group Addameer, more than 12,000 Palestinian children have been arrested by Israel since 2000. As of August 2017, there are 331 Palestinian minors in Israeli prisons.

Radi Darwish, a lawyer with Addameer, told Al Jazeera that the number of child arrests fluctuates according to the political reality in Jerusalem.

For example, during last summers al-Aqsa Mosque protests, there was a significant increase in the number of children being arrested by Israeli forces, he said. In general, this year has seen a rise in child arrests.

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Zakaria Odeh, from the Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem, agreed.

There has been an escalation in targeting children and arresting them in most of Jerusalems Palestinian neighbourhoods, especially in Silwan, Ras al-Amoud, Issawiyeh and Shuafat, he said.

The arrest of the children is a form of pressuring families which in turn is part of the Israeli policy to make life unbearable for Jerusalemites, added Odeh.

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He said that in places like Silwan and Ras al-Amoud, where minors are arrested on an almost daily basis, awareness campaigns are imperative for families to know how to conduct themselves in the case their children get arrested.

Rights and legal organisations such as Save the Children conduct workshops for parents and children alike on their rights, briefing them of what they can do in case of arrest and interrogation, he said.

Darwish said that Addameer has a Know Your Rights campaign that goes around schools to inform students and parents of what their rights are under interrogation.

The campaign also includes attempts to continue education for children who are under house arrest so that they wont miss out on a school year, he said.

The real names of Mohammed and Salwa have been changed to protect their identities.
Catalan President Carles Puigdemont will not address the Spanish Senate as expected, as clock ticks down on Article 155.

Barcelona  Catalonias President Carles Puigdemont will not address a session at the Spanish Senate in which members will decide whether to place the independence-seeking region under direct state rule, his spokesperson has confirmed.

Senate members will vote on Friday on whether to trigger Article 155 of Spains constitution, allowing the central government in Madrid to directly administer Catalonia in the wake of a banned referendum earlier this month.

[Puigdemont] is not going, Joan Maria Pique, international press secretary for the Catalan president, told Al Jazeera on Wednesday, in contrast to earlier reports suggesting that he was considering speaking at the session.

Earlier in the day, Carme Forcadell, the speaker of the Catalan parliament, had also told reporters that Puigdemont would not attend the debate at the Senate.

The Catalan president will hold instead a plenary to ratify a response to Article 155.

Prospect of elections

Catalans voted on October 1 to secede from Spain in a banned referendum that was marred by violence.

More than 2.3 million Catalans took part in the referendum  a turnout of 42 percent. The Catalan government says 90 percent voted for independence, though many were blocked from voting by police raids and others abstained.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Saturday announced plans to enact the previously untapped Article 155 and dissolve the Catalan government.

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The article, which is only two short paragraphs, requires an absolute majority in the Senate to support the motion and leaving much discretion regarding its implementation up to the government.

Rajoy has stated his desire to hold elections in Catalonia within a month of ratifying Article 155.

This is becoming a point of difficulty for the prime minister, who heads a minority government and needs the support of the centre-left Socialist party (PSOE) to pass Article 155.

Reports suggest Puigdemont, who also leads a minority regional government, is facing calls to hold elections.

Catalan Vice President Oriol Junqueras, of ERC, and former Catalan president Artur Mas of Puigdemonts Catalan Democratic Party left the government headquarters in Barcelonas Gothic Quarter after talks were held on Wednesday.

Members of the far-left, pro-independence Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) party, whose consent is required for Puigdemont to continue as head of the Catalan government, said there were three options on the table: to declare independence; to declare independence with a scheduled vote after; or hold an election before independence is declared.

Talk of calling an election in Catalonia prior to a declaration of independence is rattling support for Rajoys initiative.

PSOE spokesperson Margarita Roble said if elections are called in the constitutional order, there is no reason to apply Article 155.

However, others would prefer the declaration of an independent Catalan republic.

We must organise ourselves to pressure and proclaim the republic, but also to resist Article 155, Eulalia Reguant. Barcelonas deputy mayor and CUP member told Catalan news site, Ara.

The measure to defend [Catalonia] from 155 is the proclamation of the republic, she said.
Doha reiterates call for its citizens and media outlets to avoid slipping into the abuse of Gulf symbols.

Qatar has reiterated its readiness for dialogue to solve the GCC crisis and called on its citizens and media outlets to refrain from attacking Gulf symbols.

A statement by Qatars foreign ministry on Tuesday was in response to a call by the Kuwaiti emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, for all sides to de-escalate the ongoing Gulf crisis.

The statement said Doha hailed the appeal made by the Kuwaiti leader and did not seek to escalate the situation.

In line with the approach laid down by HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in his address to the people of Qatar on 21 July 2017, calls upon citizens, residents and all media in Qatar to avoid slipping into the abuse of Gulf symbols, the statement read.

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Qatar has a strong belief in the fairness of its position in this crisis and its adherence to dialogue based on mutual respect, on the basis of its principles and values, it added.

On Tuesday, the emir of Kuwait warned of the collapse of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) should the crisis with Qatar remain unresolved.

Contrary to our wishes and hopes, the Gulf crisis has the potential of escalating; therefore, all of us must be fully aware of its potential consequences, Sheikh Sabah said.

Any escalation will bring with it an outright call for regional and international intervention, which will destroy the security of the Gulf and its people, he added.

The GCC is a political and economic alliance of countries in the Arabian peninsula, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Three of those states, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, have been part of a land, air, and sea blockade of Qatar since June this year.
As province clarifies ban, legal experts say it violates freedom of religion, but any challenge may take years in court.

Montreal, Canada  Quebecs new law banning face coverings when giving or receiving public services will not stand up to potential legal challenges, but the process in court could take several years, Canadian legal experts say.

I dont usually play prophet because its dangerous. You can always be wrong, but Ive rarely felt more confident that a law would be overturned, Montreal human rights lawyer Julius Grey told Al Jazeera.

Passed last Wednesday in the Quebec legislature, the law, known as Bill 62, obliges Quebec public service employees and members of the public to give and receive public services with their faces uncovered. It includes municipalities and public transit agencies.

While the government has defended and justified the ban on the basis of religious neutrality and living together, critics say it unfairly targets Muslim women who cover their faces.

Grey said the law clearly violates freedom of religion, equality rights, and one could argue, unfettered access to healthcare.

He added that Quebec would try to justify Bill 62 under Section 1 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which states that a limitation placed by the state on individual rights must be justified in a free and democratic society.

He said, however, the measures are clearly not necessary, and theyre not particularly useful at all.

While the exact number of Muslim women who wear the niqab, a full face and body covering which usually leaves the area around the eyes uncovered, in Quebec is unknown, Grey said, theres only about 30 or 40 women involved.

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Theyre among the weakest member of our society  Those women are going to feel less secure asserting their autonomy by taking public transport or going to the hospital with themselves and their children, he added.

I think its a wicked law and it shouldnt be applied.

Rights groups and women who will be affected have told Canadian media that they are studying the law and trying to determine their next steps.

The ban could be challenged by an individual who refuses to uncover and is denied a service, setting off a legal battle that may end up in the Supreme Court.

No business in our wardrobe

The government of Quebec has staunchly defended the law in the face of public protests in Montreal, the provinces largest city, and condemnations from civil rights groups and other provincial governments.

Protesters wore scarves, masks, and other items over their faces along a popular bus route that connects a multicultural, Montreal neighbourhood to the citys downtown core on Friday to protest the law.

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On Sunday, a group of Muslim women and other protesters wore niqabs, scarves and other face coverings on the Montreal metro to protest the legislation.

Shaheen Ashraf of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) said the law is still confusing and unclear for many people.

People have the right to protest because theyre confused and theyre upset because they dont like the government to interfere in the way they dress, Ashraf told Al Jazeera.

People keep repeating the government has no business in our wardrobe.

She said CCMW wrote to Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard to object to the law.

For me, what is the difference between those regimes that tell you to cover, and this regime thats asking you to uncover? Ashraf said.

Government clarifies law

Quebec appeared to back-peddle at least slightly on Tuesday, as Justice Minister Stephanie Vallee apologised for not clarifying the law immediately after it was passed.

The law, which immediately took effect, applies when public sector employees and members of the public need to communicate or identify themselves at the moment they give and take a public service, Vallee said during a press conference in Quebec City.

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Were here trying to ensure that we can identify people, she said. These are common-sense rules that will apply.

The law will apply during the service provision, Vallee said, not the extension of the service.

For example, a Muslim woman would need to unveil her face to board a public bus or the metro if she has a transit pass with a photo ID, as is the case for students or elderly individuals, but could cover her face again for the duration of the ride.

A woman would have unveil to talk to a doctor or a librarian, but not when in a hospital waiting room or when looking for books alone in a library.

A woman would also have to remove her face veil in a classroom when interacting with a teacher, but she might be able to wear it again when walking on school grounds or in the corridors, Vallee said.

In a classroom, you must uncover your face. In an exam room, you must uncover your face, she said.

Obviously were counting on the cooperation of cities to be able to implement this bill harmoniously and to also ensure that we answer their specific needs, Vallee said.

However, the Union of Quebec Municipalities said over the weekend that Bill 62 was untenable. Transit agencies have also raised questions about how the law could be implemented on the ground, and their employees said they do not want to be arbitrators.

Vallee said the government would consider getting a legal injunction  but would not be able to issue fines  if a municipality were to ignore the law.

The goal is to ensure that the law is applied uniformly, she said.

Unstoppable erosion of rights

The law comes about a year before a provincial election in Quebec and as the Liberal government faces criticism on various fronts.

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Opposition parties  namely the sovereigntist Parti Quebecois and right-wing Coalition Avenir Quebec  have been pushing the Liberals to act on the issue of religious neutrality.

They voted against Bill 62 because they said it did not go far enough and they spoke out on Tuesday to condemn what they saw as the Quebec governments softening of the provisions of the law.

According to a poll released in early October, before Bill 62 was officially passed, 87 percent of Quebecers said they supported the legislation.

The separation of church and state has long been a central question in Quebec, a French-speaking province where the Catholic Church held tremendous sway in public life for decades.

Recently, the religious accommodation of minorities has been hotly contested, and efforts to outlaw ostentatious religious symbols from the public sphere have been repeatedly debated.

Fo Niemi, executive director of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations in Montreal, said if one of Quebecs opposition parties wins the next election, they may come up with worse, and more restrictive or more penalising, legislation on the issue.

Niemi told Al Jazeera that respect for minority rights doesnt seem to be considered to be a fundamental Quebec value, as opposed to gender equality and state secularism, which hold a revered place in public discourse.

This month, the Quebec Liberals also cancelled public consultations on systemic racism in the province, after opposition politicians and Quebecers voiced their anger at what they perceived was an exercise set up to call them racists.

A one-day hearing on immigrant unemployment will be held in December instead.

As long as [minority rights are] not considered a fundamental value or a fundamental principle of law, Niemi said the province would experience an incremental and unstoppable erosion of those rights.

Today its about [the] banning of face coverings. Tomorrow it can be what?

Religious exemptions unclear

Vallee said on Tuesday that exemptions to the law would be available for religious reasons, but guidelines for how to apply for those accommodations will only be released by next July.

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Individuals will have to apply to each public agency separately to receive exemptions, the minister said.

The minister is flip-flopping all over the map on accommodation, Niemi said.

Does it mean the person getting on the bus would have to ask the bus driver for permission, or how does it work? How long does it take to ask [and] how long does it take to obtain a reasonable accommodation? he said.

Niemi said only a few dozen women wear the niqab in Quebec, which begs the question why the government felt it needed to legislate on the issue in the first place.

Do we need to have legislation that will cover the entire province of Quebec for a situation that is mostly in Montreal, affecting a handful of people, causing nothing divisive, nothing hurtful, nothing threatening through their conduct? he said.

Grey added that efforts to legislate womens dress are not isolated to Quebec, but can be seen across Europe as well.

Its about time we stop being concerned about these things. Were a land where people come from all sorts of areas of the world, and the last thing we should do is tell them what to wear.
President Kenyatta urges voters to take part in poll rerun as opposition leader Odinga tells them to stay away.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged Kenyans to vote in Thursdays presidential election rerun, shortly after opposition leader Raila Odinga called on supporters to stay away from the polls.

The opposing calls came after Kenyas electoral commission on Wednesday said that the vote would go ahead as planned, after an unsuccessful last-ditch effort to delay it after five judges failed to turn up at the Supreme Court to hear a petition.

In a televised address, Kenyatta said the rights of those who wished not to vote were protected by the countrys constitution.

But let no one infringe on his brothers or sisters right [to vote] and let everyone know that our security agencies have been deployed across the country to ensure the safety of each and every Kenyan, added Kenyatta.

His comments were in response to an earlier speech by Odinga at Nairobis Uhuru Park, where he urged voters to boycott the elections.

Do not participate in any way in the sham election. Convince your friends, neighbours and everyone else to not participate, he told supporters in the Kenyan capital.

We advise Kenyans who value democracy and justice to hold vigilance prayers or stay at home, added Odinga, leader of the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition.

Reiterating that he will not take part in the poll, Odinga said his opposition alliance would now be transformed into a resistance movement against the government.

Getting messier

Kenya is holding the election re-run after the countrys Supreme Court annulled the results of an August 8 poll, following a challenge by Odinga, due to irregularities and illegalities in the electoral process.

Kenyatta had been declared the winner of that vote.

Odinga pulled out of the new race earlier this month after claiming opposition demands to overhaul the countrys election body had not been met.





Earlier on Wednesday, a last-minute attempt to block the vote failed at the Supreme Court, which was unable to raise a quorum of judges to decide on whether the poll should go ahead.

Its getting messier, and we are going deep into crisis every other day, Al Jazeeras Mohammed Adow, reporting from Nairobi said.

The opposition had pinned all their hopes on that court case but because of the quorum crisis at the Supreme Court  something that NASA is describing to be a result of government intimidation of independent institutions  we are now back to square one, he added.

The petition to the Supreme Court was brought by three human rights activists who claimed the electoral commission is not ready to hold a credible poll.

Regrettably and with due apology to all the parties, this matter cannot proceed to hearing this morning as earlier scheduled, David Maraga, Kenyas chief justice, told the court.

It is accordingly adjourned to a date to be taken in the registry, Maraga added.

Four of the benchs seven judges were not present, Maraga said. Five judges are needed for a quorum.

A lawyer for the opposition said the shortage of judges was not coincidental.

The lack of quorum on the part of the Supreme Court is not by coincidence [or] by accident, James Orengo told reporters outside the court.

There is an attempt to undermine the authority of the institutions of government including independent institutions like the electoral commission and the Supreme Court, Orengo said.

If the commission dares goes on with the purported election tomorrow  it will be illegal and unconstitutional, he added.

But William Ruto, Kenyas deputy president, hit back, saying the evil schemes to deny Kenyans the right to vote [have failed].

We will decide and move our country forward tomorrow.

Al Jazeeras Hamza Mohamed contributed to this report from Nairobi.
Trump instructs agencies to resume refugee programme, but delays processing for refugees from 11 high-risk countries.

The United States will temporarily delay processing for refugees from 11 high-risk nations, the White House has announced, as a 120-day ban on refugees entering the country came to an end.

US President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on Tuesday that directs government agencies to resume the US refugee programme, but according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a 90-day review period for those arriving from 11 countries previously identified as posing a higher risk to the United States will be put in place.

The order also said that new enhanced vetting procedures will be implemented for all refugees.

DHS officials declined to reveal the countries that are considered high risk, but said in a statement that admissions for applicants from those 11 high-risk countries will move forward on a case-by-case basis during the review period.

The resumption of the refugee programme came as the 120-day ban on refugees ended on Tuesday.

Enhanced vetting procedures

In the latest executive order, Trump announced new enhanced vetting procedures for refugees entering the US.

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke said in a statement that these new, standardised screening measures provide an opportunity for the United States to welcome those in need into our country, while ensuring a safer, more secure homeland.

The new vetting procedures include increased data collection, better information sharing between US agencies and new training protocols for screening, DHS said, adding that following the implementation of these improved measures, the administration will recommence refugee resettlement processing.

According to US media, officials will also take a closer look at social media accounts and collect more biographical data from applicants.

Al Jazeeras Gabriel Elizondo, reporting from New York, said some refugee rights organisations are already saying that this order does not do a lot to help refugees, particularly adult males who already go through a secondary screen process that is much more rigorous than the process for children or women.

Amnesty International said in a statement prior to Tuesdays announcement that ripping families apart and subjecting refugees to yet more scrutiny does not keep anyone safer, and in fact exposes more people to danger.

Trump initially signed an executive order in January that temporarily banned Syrian refugees, but that move was challenged in the courts.

A revised order was later issued that implemented a ban on all refugees, with some exceptions.

The Trump administration announced last month that it wants to reduce the number of refugees entering the country in 2018 to 45,000  the lowest number in decades.

In 2016, the US admitted more than 84,000 refugees.
Riyadh and Baghdad signed historic agreements on Sunday aimed at reconstructing Iraq and rivaling Iran.

A recent warming of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iraq could signal a move away from Irans influence over Baghdad, analysts say, but with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi arriving on Wednesday in Tehran, that remains to be seen.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia and Iraq inaugurated a coordination committee and signed a number of agreements. The developments come after years of tension between Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Al-Abadi visited Riyadh for the second time in four months, as part of a regional tour that also included stops in Egypt and Jordan.

In a statement addressing the inauguration of the committee, King Salman of Saudi Arabia said the body presents the two countries with a historic opportunity to build an effective partnership to achieve common aspirations.

The coordination committee includes a range of political, security, economic, trade and development deals.

As part of the agreements, Saudi Arabia will open a consulate in Iraq, relaunch airline flights between the two countries, open the border, and jointly develop ports and highways.

The two nations also agreed to allow Saudi investment in Iraq, study a trade exchange area, and review customs cooperation agreements.

For his part, al-Abadi expressed his optimism and deep satisfaction with the recent developments between the neighbouring countries.

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What has changed?

Since the fall of Iraqi President Saddam Husseins government in 2003 during the US-led invasion, Iran has advanced its influence in Baghdad.

Iran has helped Iraq in the fight against ISIL (also known as ISIS) while supporting powerful Shia militias in the country.

The fallout in Saudi-Iraqi relations began after Iraqs invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Following the demise of Husseins regime, incoming Prime Minister Nouri al-Malikis administration in Baghdad did not offer much optimism to solve the myriad of post-war problems.

Since 1990, Saudi Arabia has had its embassy in Iraq shut down and borders closed.

However, the first signs of easing tensions between the two countries started in 2015 when Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy in Iraq.

In February, Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, visited Baghdad marking the first visit by a Saudi foreign minister to the Iraqi capital in almost 27 years.

Abadis tenure has contrasted somewhat starkly with that of Maliki, who was a much more divisive figure, populist, and sectarian in his outlook and rhetoric, Ranj Alaaldin, a visiting fellow at Brookings Doha Center, told Al Jazeera.

Since the arrival of Abadi, Iraq has been presented with an opportunity to open a new chapter with the region.

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Iran challenged

With Iraqi elections coming up less than a year from now, Saudi Arabia is attempting to establish new alliances in Iraq to ensure its interests and relations with Baghdad remain secure, according to analysts.

One of the goals is to sideline and challenge Irans alliances in Baghdad, Alaaldin said.

The US backs Abadi and sees him as a counterweight against Iran-alliances  including Maliki and Shia militia groups that aligned with Iran, he said.

Another common interest between Saudi Arabia and al-Abadis government is to reconstruct and rehabilitate Arab Sunni cities in northern Iraq  financially and politically, Alaaldin said, in order to enhance Arab-Sunni political participation with elections around the corner.

In July, Iraqs nationalist Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr made a surprise visit to Saudi Arabias Jeddah, where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Balanced approach

How effective the Saudis can be in containing Irans influence in Iraq remains unclear.

Marwan Kabalan, an associate political analyst at the Doha Institute, said it is unknown if the Saudis can succeed given their poor foreign policy performance vis-a-vis Iran.

Al-Abadi will maintain a balanced approach in his regional relations, he said, with the Iraqi prime minister arriving in Tehran for talks on Thursday.

[al-Abadi] would most probably assure the Iranians that his visit to Saudi Arabia is not against them, Kabalan told Al Jazeera.

All he is trying to do is to invite much [needed] investment money to rebuild Iraqs destroyed cities, something the Iranians cannot offer. This is important especially for his Shia base of support, which is very sceptical about Saudi Arabia.
Stricter screening of refugees from 11 unnamed countries could see delays and vulnerable people face blanket suspicion.

Rights groups and activists have denounced US President Donald Trumps decision to toughen measures on refugees from 11 countries, as a travel ban that lasted 120 days ended.

Trump signed a new executive order on Tuesday that directs government agencies to resume the US refugee programme.

But, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a 90-day review period for those arriving from 11 countries previously identified as posing a higher risk to the United States will be put in place.

The 11 high risk countries have not been named. The previous 120-day travel ban had applied to refugees from most countries to allow time for the vetting process to be reviewed.

The new measures include more rigorous vetting and an enhanced screening of all refugees.

We cant stomach the news, said Amnesty International, writing on Twitter. Well keep fighting!

The rights group earlier said Trumps order puts thousands of families and individuals at serious risk of injury or death.

We can't stomach the news on the refugee admissions program. Well keep fighting! This is not #theAmericaIBelieveIn https://t.co/kfrpvEenyT  Amnesty International USA (@amnestyusa) October 25, 2017

Ripping families apart and subjecting refugees to yet more scrutiny does not keep anyone safer, and in fact exposes more people to danger, said Naureen Shah, senior director of campaigns at Amnesty International USA.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) aid group voiced its concern over arbitrary obstacles placed in front of the most vulnerable populations on the planet.

With a myriad of actions against refugees and immigrants  and a demonstrated inclination to erect any obstacle possible  this administration provokes apprehension when regularly electing for withdrawal, over decency and resolve, said Said Jennifer Sime, senior vice president of IRCs US programme, speaking before the announcement.

Meanwhile, Betsy Fisher, policy director at the International Refugee Assistance Project, criticised Trump for making life or death decisions for people who otherwise may have had a chance to resettle here, raise their families in safety, and become valued American citizens.

Blanket suspicion

Under the new order, refugee applicants looking to seek asylum in the US will now be required to provide addresses, phone numbers and email addresses not only for the past decade but also potentially of their family members.





Officials will also check applicants social media accounts.

Zainab Chaudry, spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, worried that the new measures would harm the well-being of those seeking safety from war and persecution.

It sends a message that they can go through the most difficult of circumstances, they can endure incredible hardships and still be faced with this blanket suspicion that they have to prove they are worthy of being resettled and deserve to be safe and secure, she told Al Jazeera, speaking from Baltimore, Maryland.

There are growing fears that the more detailed screening process will lead to years-long delays for urgent cases.

Al Jazeeras Gabriel Elizondo, reporting from New York, said many refugee rights organisations across the US are still trying to make sense of the measures.

There is a lot of confusion and a lot of questions to be answered, he said.

Last month, the Trump administration announced that it wants to reduce the number of refugees entering the country in 2018 to 45,000  the lowest number in decades.

Trump initially signed an executive order in January that temporarily banned Syrian refugees, but that move was challenged in the courts.

A revised order was later issued in June that implemented a ban on all refugees, with some exceptions.
A Saudi court has cleared a construction company of responsibility for the 2015 collapse of a crane in Meccas Grand Mosque, which killed at least 111 people

A Saudi court has cleared a construction company of responsibility for the 2015 collapse of a crane in Meccas Grand Mosque, which killed at least 111 people.

The court says the Saudi Bin Laden Group, one of the regions largest construction firms, does not need to compensate the victims or pay for damages to the Grand Mosque, as the disaster was not caused by human error.

Al Jazeeras Mohammed Vall explains.
Critics accuse President John Magufuli of undermining democracy after fourth critical newspaper is shut down since June.

A 90-day ban on a popular Swahili daily in Tanzania  the fourth newspaper to be shut down since June  has prompted concern over press freedom in the East African country.

Journalists and activists urged President John Magufuli on Wednesday to overturn the ban on the Tanzania Daima newspaper, and accused him of undermining the countrys democracy by muzzling the media.

The call came a day after the opposition-leaning paper, which has a daily circulation of 30,000, was shut down for three months. Authorities accused it of continuously spreading false information after it published an incorrect claim about the number of Tanzanians taking anti-retroviral drugs used to treat HIV.

Serikali imelichukulia hatua za kisheria gazeti la Tanzania Daima kwa mwendelezo wa kuandia habari za uongo.Taarifa kamili inakuja. pic.twitter.com/QiVFhJnmQq  Msemaji Mkuu wa Serikali (@TZMsemajiMkuu) October 24, 2017

Martin Malera, the papers acting managing editor, said the governments decision was unfair and unlawful.

We put an apology on the front page of our paper on Monday, and they still took the decision to ban our paper, he told Al Jazeera.

How can they ban a paper that employs nearly 300 people because of the mistake of one editor or journalist?

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Since Magufuli assumed office in October 2015, several newspapers have been shuttered and two radio stations were temporarily taken off the air.

His government also stopped the live transmission of parliamentary debates shortly after coming to power.

MwanaHalisi, a critical newspaper, was slapped with a two-year ban in September over allegations it incited violence and tarnished Magufulis image. That same month, the weekly paper Raia Mwema was shuttered for 90 days after it published an article titled, John Magufulis, Presidency is Doomed to Fail.

Authorities in June also suspended the publication of Mawio, a privately owned weekly, for two years after it linked two former presidents to allegations of misconduct in the mining sector.

Neville Meena, a journalist who heads the Editors Forum, said the suspension of Tanzania Damia was part of a wider trend of shrinking democracy and a crackdown on dissent in the country.

This decision is extreme and undermines media freedom, Meena told Al Jazeera. We have never had this many papers banned at one time. We cannot afford to tolerate this situation any more.

The shutdown of critical media has led journalists to practise self-censorship, he said.

People are careful not to make the government angry in their writing, because after Tanzania Daima, they dont know whos next?

Hassan Abbasi, director-general of Tanzanias Information Services, denied allegations of muzzling the press, saying the government had warned Tanzania Daima over false news on several occasions before imposing the ban.

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After six warnings, the government felt this was the right time to take action, he told Al Jazeera.

A media law passed in 2015 allowed the government to ban the publication of any content on public safety and national security grounds, he added.

Tanzania has more than 400 newspapers and magazines, publishing monthly, daily and annually. They are working freely without harassment, Abbasi said.

New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Magufuli to do the right thing by overturning the ban and repealing repressive media laws.

Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa programme coordinator, in an emailed statement, said the ban on yet another newspaper showed Magufuli would rather embrace censorship instead of encouraging media diversity and freedom of the press.

Tanzania is ranked 83rd out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index.
At least 10 people have been killed in anti-government protests since August amid growing frustration over delayed constitutional reforms.

West African leaders from the regional group ECOWAS are calling on Togos President Faure Gnassingbe to do more to resolve the countrys political crisis.

At least 10 people have been killed in anti-government protests since August amid growing frustration over delayed constitutional reforms.

Faure Gnassingbe took power in 2005, cementing his familys 50-year rule. It is Africas longest-ruling dynasty.

Al Jazeeras Mohamad El Bardicy reports.
Authorities accuse 11 human rights workers of links to the Gulen movement and Kurdish separatists at trial in Istanbul.

A previous version of this story identified Taner Kilic as the director of Amnesty International Turkey. That was incorrect. Kilic is the group's chairman in Turkey.

Turkish authorities have put 11 human rights activists on trial, including the chairman of Amnesty International in Turkey, Taner Kilic.

Those facing charges at Istanbuls Caglayan courthouse on Wednesday were arrested in separate police raids in June and July and include one Swede and a German national.

Idil Eser, director of Amnesty International Turkey, is also among those on trial.

Accusations include supporting groups that Turkey has proscribed as terrorist organisations, such as the Gulen movement, and Kurdish separatist factions.

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If convicted, the activists could face up to 15 years in prison.

The Gulen movement, led by exiled Turkish religious leader, Fethullah Gulen, is accused by Turkeys authorities of plotting a failed military coup in July 2016, which left around 300 people dead.

In its aftermath, authorities launched a broad crackdown on anyone suspected of ties to the group.

Turkey is also fighting Kurdish separatists from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and its splinter organisations.

No substance or foundation

Al Jazeeras Sinem Koseoglu, reporting from outside the court building in Istanbul, said the trial had attracted the attention of human rights groups both inside Turkey and outside.

There are many human rights representatives here to support the accused, and there is an international presence as well, including diplomats such as the German consul for Istanbul,  she said.

Those present also included opposition politicians and also a deputy in the ruling Justice and Development Party.

The government side is asking why these human rights organisations are made up of people that are totally anti-government, Koseoglu added.

Protesters outside the building carried banners condemning the trial and what they believe to be a worsening atmosphere for freedom of expression in the aftermath of the coup.

Amnesty International says the case against Kilic is without substance or foundation and called for the release of all of the accused.

These two trials will be an acid test for the Turkish justice system and will demonstrate whether standing up for human rights has now become a crime in Turkey, said Amnestys John Dalhuisen.
How is the US opioid crisis shaping the next generation of Americans left behind by addicted parents?

The United States is going through the worst drug crisis in its history. In the last decade, heroin abuse has skyrocketed, and drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50.

Heroin is stronger than any human tie. It is stronger than any compelling argument. It is stronger than a religious belief. It is the devil incarnate. It is evil. It's the black plague. It's like the zombie apocalypse. It's death. by Dr John Gabis, coroner of Ross County, Ohio

As US President Donald Trump declares the countrys opioid crisis a national emergency, Fault Lines looks at the invisible victims of the epidemic  a generation of children who are being neglected, abandoned or orphaned by parents addicted to heroin.

So, how is the opioid crisis shaping the next generation of Americans?

Josh Rushing travels to Chillicothe, a small Ohio town at the centre of the drug crisis, to meet a teenager who lost both her parents to drugs, a mother whose heroin addiction led her to overdose in front of her young son, a grandmother unexpectedly raising four granddaughters, pregnant women struggling with addiction, and police and firefighters responding to harrowing overdose scenes.
Handcuffed, arrested, and questioned without the presence of a lawyer or their parents. A new report says that is common for Palestinian boys picked up by Israeli police.

The Israeli human rights groups BTselem and HaMoked accuse Israel of systematically abusing young detainees in occupied East Jerusalem.

The report includes statements from 60 boys suspected of stone-throwing. It found 70 percent of them did not know they had a right to remain silent. Three out of 10 did not speak to lawyers before questioning, and in almost all the cases, the boys were in the interrogation room on their own, without parents or any other relative present.

And 80 percent of the confessions they signed were in Hebrew, a language they do not understand.

So, is there a hidden motive here for Israel?

Presenter: Patty Culhane

Guests:

Ayed Abu Eqtaish  Accountability Programme Director, The Defence for Children International

Yossi Beilin  former Israeli Minister of Justice

Mustafa Barghouti  Secretary-General, Palestinian National Initiative
Teenagers and young boys as well as their relatives and guardians give testimonies of life and death under ISIL.

Editors note: This film is no longer available online.

They are called ashbal  the lion cubs of the caliphate.

We were the cleaners group, says Kasswara*, a 16-year-old boy from Raqqa. Cleaning means slitting the throats of those who belong to the other side and are hiding.

Kasswara joined ISIL when he was 14 years old. He now lives in Greece after fleeing the group.

A guy from my area was decapitated by [ISIL] because of me. People had their hands chopped off because of me, he says.

Boys, teenagers and men who escaped ISIL-controlled cities in Syria give a detailed account of what life is like for children under the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group, which is also known as ISIS.

The boys recall their experiences at school, on the streets, at home and in military training camps under ISIL. Testimonies are recorded in secret locations in Turkey, Greece and Germany.

A by Kasswara,

because of me. People had their hands chopped off because of me.]

Teachers in ISIL-held areas had to change their curriculum completely to suit the agenda of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

To teach them to count, they used photos of bombs, pistols and bullets, says Abou Fourat*, a teacher formerly based in Deir Az Zor and now living in Turkey.

Relatives, including a Free Syrian Army fighter, describe their experiences and ongoing concerns for family members who remain in Syria.

All are trying to come to terms with their experiences as they recall what they saw and what they did living under ISIL.

*Names in this film were changed to protect the identity of the interviewees

FILMMAKERS VIEW

By Thomas Dandois

We had the idea for making Lion cubs of ISIL when we were shooting our previous documentary, ISIL, Deserters Speak Out, which contains testimonies of ISIL deserters and the men who helped them escape Syria.

During the shooting, we realised that there was another film to be made. People were telling us that they had seen children in training camps. It took several months for us to make contact, to find children who had managed to flee and who agreed to speak.

Most people did not want to talk. It took time for us to gain their trust. Of course, we did not ask parents and children straightaway to tell us about what they had to live through. At first, wed talk about daily life, school. Wed play with them, have a meal, talk about the situation in Syria  make a lot of small talk.

We met the children several times without a camera, without forcing any answers. Most of our appointments got postponed. Many were cancelled. We had, for example, met an eight-year-old boy who had been a singer for ISIL, but overnight, he disappeared. His parents were no longer answering the phone. Their house was deserted. They almost certainly got scared.

ISIL pursues these families beyond the borders. One of the teenagers we portray in the film, Kasswara, received indirect threats. His brother got a message from ISIL saying they know he lives in Greece and that they have sleeper cells there.

The testimonials are very strong, but we did not want to focus only on causing an emotional response. Indignation wasnt enough. We wanted to understand the process, how these children were organised. So we also met some adults: teachers, fighters, parents. They allowed us to better understand the process of bringing in as many children as possible.

Within ISIL-held areas, the group terrorises the parents, who end up staying confined at home. As a result, only children are out on the streets to play. This way, they are easier to approach.

By closing schools, banning television and music  except for propaganda songs  ISIL are depriving them of any kind of distraction.

A teacher, Abdou Fourat, explained to us how he tried to keep the children away from the recruiters by taking them to play football or swim in the river. It was a way for him to prevent them from falling into the traps of ISIL. War has revealed him as an ordinary hero. He, too, had to flee because staying in Syria was no longer tenable.

Our film is based on interviews. The words are important. We did not want to use propaganda videos because we think it is often counterproductive. Even if you use them to denounce ISIL, it helps spread propaganda.

We chose to broadcast only one such sequence, where a four-year-old boy executes a man. The kid can hardly hold the weapon with his little hands. This extract seemed relevant because it is nightmarish. The situation is beyond comprehension.

These testimonies show us in what darkness the human soul can fall. Kasswara told us he slaughtered people, witnessed the death of one of his friends thrown from a silo, had his own brother arrested after denouncing him. He had to become a victim himself to realise what he had gotten into and run away.

Today, Kasswara is a refugee, alone in Greece. He had never spoken of what had happened to him.

Beyond showing this film on television and online, we would like schools to seize this documentary. Between the lines, this film says: This is what you ISIL are selling and this is reality. Listen to what these children had to live through.
A Gainesville man was arrested outside a school for two home burglaries Monday morning, Gainesville Police said.

William Patrick Carrick, 28, broke into a home near the Oaks Mall at about 7:30 a.m., according to an arrest report. The resident, who was asleep, woke up and found Carrick in his kitchen.

S---, Im out of here, Carrick said, walking past the resident and out the back door with the residents laptop, according to the report. The resident called police, who canvassed the area.

At 11:05 a.m., police were called about a man at Brentwood School, at 1111 NW 55th St., who was using the schools hose to clean mud off his body. A responding officer found Carrick standing in a yard across the street from the school without a shirt and shoes.

After he was identified by the resident and arrested, Carrick confessed to stealing the laptop and a pressure washer from another house, police said.

He told officers he hated stealing but had an addiction to Xanax, according to the report.

Carrick was arrested on charges of grand theft and burglary. Authorities took him to the Alachua County Jail where he remains, as of press time, in lieu of a $130,000 bond.
Otis Mazon, who has helped build other peoples homes for three years, was finally given his own on Tuesday.

Mazon, a 44-year-old UF Health financial counselor, and his two daughters have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity for three years. He was approached by organizers and encouraged to apply to receive a home on one of his first job sites. They were picked that year.

To be honest I wasnt expecting this, Mazon said. We were just volunteering. Its what me and my daughters love to do.

After over a year of construction, the Alachua Habitat for Humanity in collaboration with Santa Fe College celebrated Mazons new home, the partnerships seventh house, with a home dedication at 10 a.m. on Tuesday in High Springs.

When Mazon applied, he and his daughters were living with his aunt, who was terminally ill. His aunts home had only two bedrooms, and their finances were strained due to her medical bills. Mazon said he was also supporting his estranged wife, who was living in a one-bedroom apartment.

Around the same time he was applying for a new home, Mazon and his wife were reunited after seven years of separation. The house was a blessing from God that brought his family back together, said Mazon, who works with the youth at Campus Church of Christ.

There is so much I can be grateful for, he said.

Mazon beamed as he stood in front of his new home  a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house with wood steps leading up to a porch and 1,250 square feet of the familys own space.

The feeling to have my own home, after building other peoples home  priceless, he said. I mean I have chills; its just priceless. This is an occasion that I will cherish for a lifetime.

The land for the home was donated by the City of High Springs, and the construction was sponsored by Charles Perry Partners, Inc.

It was a joy working with Otis and his family, said executive director of Alachua Habitat for Humanity, Scott Winzeler. They have deep roots in the City of High Springs, so it was a pleasure to knock on the door of the City of High Springs City Commission to see if there might be any collaboration via the land donations.

High Springs was very accommodating, Winzeler said. It benefits small towns to convert vacant lots that arent earning tax revenues into homes.

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Although the land was donated, the Mazon family is required to pay an affordable mortgage.

Its a misunderstanding that people have about (Habitat for Humanity), Winzeler said. They think that we give houses away, but we do not.

Many of the workers who helped build the house came to the dedication Tuesday to celebrate with the family they had developed a relationship with during the construction process.

Chris Fillie, director of construction, said this was the third house he helped build with Habitat for Humanity. He said he was very excited to see the family receive the keys to their new home.

Youre working with the family for the whole time, so you get really invested, he said. So its really special.
A Gainesville man, who was arrested on unrelated charges, is being questioned by police for a shooting Monday afternoon near the Linton Oaks neighborhood that sent a 28-year-old resident to the hospital.

No suspect has been identified in relation to the shooting, said Lt. Becky Butscher, an Alachua County Sheriffs Office spokesperson.

Police found Brandon Xavier James, 27, after an hourlong search for a possible suspect near the shooting, which happened at the 6200 block of Southwest 10th Place at about 2 p.m. Monday.

At first, James was questioned for information on the shooting until police found he had an active search warrant for outstanding charges, at which point they arrested him, ACSO spokesperson Sgt. Chris Sims said.

He was arrested on charges including resisting an officer during arrest, possession of a weapon as a convicted felon and marijuana possession under 20 grams. As of press time, James remains in Alachua County Jail in lieu of a $195,000 bond.

The victim was sitting on the driveway outside his apartment home before he was shot twice, Butscher said. The gunman was armed with a small caliber handgun and fired three shots at the victim.

Police are still going over leads for a possible suspect, she said. The victim went into surgery Monday evening. His current state is unknown as of press time.
Emerson Weitzel sat at a desk Tuesday morning surrounded by her colleagues and faced with a tough $100,000 decision difficult for any mayor  especially when youre only 10 and your fellow commissioners are all fifth-graders.

The City of Gainesville invited 14 fifth-grade students from Alachua County Public Schools to participate in Florida City Government week by touring city facilities and meeting city employees. The October recipients of the citizen of the month awards at their respective schools took part in a mock city commission meeting with City Commissioner Harvey Budd, met City Manager Anthony Lyons, watched a police dog demonstration and shot a commercial for the city broadcast channel, said Bob Woods, a city spokesperson.

This program in particular is really about educating our young folks who one day will grow up to possibly become members of city government either as professional public servants or as elected officials, Woods said. Each year it really is a joy to see the light bulbs turn on as kids are exposed to this wonderful opportunity.

The 12-year-old city program is meant to inform children about the role local government plays in its citizens lives, he said.

Todd McLane, 10, enjoyed the police dog demonstration and didnt expect commission meetings to be so long.

I thought all they do was sit there, and theyd be like, Do you wanna do this? and then theyd just say it, and then it would be done, he said. It would take like 30 minutes  not 12 hours.

@jessica_giles_

jgiles@alligator.org
In Spring of my sophomore year, I was overwhelmed.

Between my class load, serving as Access Party's Student Senate Minority Leader, being on my fraternitys executive board and other obligations, it was too much.

So equipped with knowledge of campus resources from my over-involvement, I reached out to the Counseling & Wellness Center.

I was told I couldn't be seen for a month.

I was devastated. Its one thing to know the statistics  to know the wait times are bad  its another for someone to say they cant help you.

Since then, funding for the CWC and mental health holds a special place in my heart. That's why it's disheartening to see the current controversy surrounding CWC funding.

Condemning the student members of the local fee committee may feel better, but it does very little to solve any problems. Missing from the shouting and the condemnation are facts.

The local fee committee has no power on its own to raise fees. All it does is provide recommendations to the UF Board of Trustees who, in turn, submit requests to the State University System's Board of Governors, which makes final decisions. Gov. Rick Scott appointed 14 of 17 board members, who very clearly support his desire to freeze all student fee increases in Florida. So the Student Government officials on the local fee committee made the tough decision to not increase the health fee, because the request would be denied once it reached the state level. Also, the committee's decision doesn't affect the hiring of 12 new mental health counselors over three years, as UF's provost will supply funding until a permanent source is secured.

I'm angry there isnt more funding for the CWC, but instead of pointlessly directing my anger at students on the local fee committee, Im angry with UF administration for allowing this.

Why are basic student services not funded by the thousands of dollars I pay to UF each year? Why has UF allowed for this by letting the CWC to remain insufficiently funded?

I encourage all students in SG, from both parties, to work together to secure permanent funding from UF to increase the CWC's staff.

Preston Jones is a UF political science senior.

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I read an article the other day on several interesting cases that could make their way to the Supreme Court in the coming months. One in particular caught my eye: Garza v. Hargan. This case involves a 17-year-old illegal immigrant, referred to as Jane Doe in court documents, who is currently detained in Texas. She arrived in the U.S. pregnant, and has since demanded an abortion.

Under Texas law, a minor cannot get an abortion without consent from a parent or guardian. Doe has neither, but a state court ruled she could get an abortion without parental consent. The federal government, through the Department of Health and Human Services, placed Doe in a shelter with the Office of Refugee Resettlement and was prohibiting the shelter from releasing her from custody to get the abortion.

Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled Doe is entitled to an abortion without delay.

The truth is she was entitled to get her abortion weeks ago. As the federal government argued, nothing was stopping Doe from leaving the facility and the country on her own accord, where she would have been free to get an abortion. As an illegal immigrant, is there any statute or precedent entitling her to an abortion in the United States? Proponents of Does cause would point to Roe v. Wade, which would likely (and unfortunately) apply in this scenario because Doe is in the United States. Aside from all the legal questions, of which there are many, there is a greater question: Why should we pay for womens abortions?

Who is paying for Does abortion? In a way, we might be. Do you really think an illegal immigrant who just crossed the border several weeks ago is going to pay for her own abortion? Its extremely unlikely. In fact, immigration status aside, do you think most lower income women in the U.S. are paying for their own abortions? Think again. Thats where you and I come in with our tax dollars. According to Forbes, taxpayers directly fund 24 percent of the nations abortion costs, through the state and federal governments. The other 76 percent is funded from private groups such as Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood receives more than half a billion dollars per year from the federal government. Does lawyers at the ACLU stated that private funds would be provided for her abortion. That may be the case, but if these private funds came from a group like Planned Parenthood, a group that has spoken out in defense of Doe, then taxpayers are still indirectly involved.

Whether we like it, taxpayers are directly and indirectly funding abortions. I personally find this to be reprehensible and unacceptable. Roe v. Wade grants women the right to have abortions, but it doesnt grant them the right to have free abortions. If you want to abort your child, could you do it on your own dime? Id prefer not to contribute.

In its first few months, the Trump administration has already made significant decisions to protect life. My hope is the administration goes further, by ending the direct and indirect use of taxpayer dollars for abortions. Feminists would probably claim their rights are being taken away. This is simply false. The fact is Roe v. Wade is the law of the land, and that is unlikely to change. Restricting funding for abortions is not the same as restricting access, which women will undoubtedly still have. The only caveat? A woman would have to pay for her own decision. Imagine that. Is this really too much to ask?

Eduardo Neret is a UF finance senior. His column appears on Wednesdays.
You know a film is going to be terrible when the director explains what went wrong before the film is even released.

A few days before The Snowman premiered, director Tomas Alfredson, whose credits include Let the Right One In and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, admitted in an interview with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation that 10 to 15 percent of the story wasnt filmed due to limited shooting time.

Universal and Working Title, the films production partners, were likely hoping for another Scandinavian noir hit film, similar to David Finchers hit The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Unfortunately, The Snowman turns into a crime yarn that leaves audiences scratching their heads at the convoluted plot.

Adapted from Jo Nesbs bestselling series about detective Harry Hole (yes, the characters name is actually Harry Hole), The Snowman may be the worst film of the year.

The film centers around Harry Hole (Michael Fassbender), the typical troubled, genius detective with a few vices. When not drinking himself into a stupor, Hole occasionally shows up for work at the Oslo police station where he sulks around with a pack of cigarettes.

One day, Hole receives a cryptic letter written in block letters and signed with an image of a snowman that looks as if a child drew it.

Soon after receiving the letter, a young mother is reported missing. Hole teams up with detective Katrine Bratt (Rebecca Ferguson) to solve her disappearance. Hole seems convinced that the husband is to blame, but Bratt believes the disappearance is related to a series of similar cases that involve young mothers disappearing.

Hole and Bratt expand their investigation and quickly realize that a serial killer is on the loose. Of course, the serial killer has a unique calling card: Snowmen built outside each victims home.

While trying to unravel the frosty mystery, Holes personal life is falling apart. Hole has a complicated relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Rakel (Charlotte Gainsbourg), and her teenage son, Oleg (Michael Yates). Rakel still cares for Hole and Oleg views him as a quasi-father figure, but Hole begins to neglect them as he becomes enwrapped in the case.

The serial killer starts to get personal, and its left to Hole and Bratt to piece together cold cases with the new ones to solve the mystery.

The problematic storytelling, unlikeable protagonist and idiosyncratic cameos make The Snowman painful to watch. For example, the flashback scenes of Val Kilmer (who is almost unrecognizable from his Top Gun days) playing a bloated, drunk detective are just bizarre. Kilmer barely speaks, and his lines have been poorly dubbed over by another actor that doesnt remotely sound like him.

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Audiences might have trouble fathoming how The Snowman turned into such a mess given the star power of the cast and the talented people who worked on the film, including executive producer Martin Scorsese and Oscar-winning editor Thelma Schoonmaker.

The only redeeming parts of the film are the beautiful scenery shots of Norway and the infamous MISTER POLICE letter being used to create hilarious memes.

I truly hope that Tomas Alfredson will recover from The Snowman, but it might take awhile to rally back from a film with an 8 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Fans of Michael Fassbender may enjoy this snowy romp, but otherwise, The Snowman melts faster than Frosty come spring thaw.
A popular American rapper will make his third Gainesville appearance in two years Thursday.

In February 2016, High Dive introduced Waka Flocka Flame to the Gainesville music scene where he shared the stage with several local DJs and performers. That October, UF invited the rapper to perform at the annual Gator Growl concert alongside Timeflies and Passion Pit on Flavet Field.

Just over a year later, Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity, colloquially known as TEP, is responsible for Flockas return hosted by Simons Nightclub. The rapper, who is best known for the 2010 hit No Hands, will be joined by his label mate, DJ Whoo Kid. The remaining support lineup is to be announced according to the event page on Facebook.

Thursdays concert is cosponsored by event promotions company GDM Live, who reached out to TEP about bringing Flocka to Simons.

TEP brother and UF student Ben Pawliger, a 21-year-old international business graduate student, said the fraternity has had several big names come to Gainesville to perform, including YesJulz and Aaron Carter during his freshman year.

We are all really excited. There are a lot of great things that come with being in a fraternity, but stuff like this is icing on the cake, Pawliger said. I dont know why you would be anywhere else this Thursday night.

The concert will begin at 10 p.m. at Simons South Main Street location and will be open to partygoers 18 and older. Tickets have been selling rapidly, and according to the event page, interested parties should hurry to purchase tickets because there will only be a limited number sold.

General admission tickets are $29.99, while VIP tickets are $34.99 and offer front-of-line access. Both can be found at GDMLive.com.










English News Chinas postal service occupies nearly 20% global market share

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 25 Octobre 2017



China accounted for 40% of global express deliveries in 2016, topping the global country list for 3 consecutive years. It has 20,000 express delivery companies with more than 2 million employees in all and the average cost of courier services dropped by 31% from 5 years ago, to 12.7 yuan ($1.9) per item.

By Hou Lulu from Peoples Daily The market size of Chinas postal service is approaching 1/5 of the worlds total market scale, the countrys State Postal Bureau (SPB) reported at a recent press conference.



China now has the worlds fastest-growing postal business, with the largest potential, and it is the most-appealing place to invest and the most active business in terms of innovation, according to Shen Hongyan, the SPB spokesperson.



The service covers more than 300 million people on a daily basis, handling more than 100 billion yuan ($15.1 billion) in agricultural exports and 120-billion-yuan worth of manufactured goods each year.



In addition, it helped deliver more than 4-trillion-yuan($ 604.4 billion) worth of online purchases, or 12.5 percent of total retail consumer good sales in 2016 and, helped create 200,000 jobs each year.



China accounted for 40% of global express deliveries in 2016, topping the global country list for 3 consecutive years. It has 20,000 express delivery companies with more than 2 million employees in all and the average cost of courier services dropped by 31% from 5 years ago, to 12.7 yuan ($1.9) per item.



Currently, there are 6 express delivery companies in China that earn over 30 billion yuan annually and 10 companies that earn more than 10 billion yuan annually. In addition, there are 3 airline cargo services in operation with 93 cargo aircraft.



China is seeing smart logistics emerge with more applications and newer technology in its postal service, for instance, its first smart logistics express system that went into operation this July in Maoming, south China's Guangdong Province.



This past February, the northwest China Shaanxi Provincial government and the e-commerce giant JD.com signed a cooperation agreement on a smart logistics system, where they agreed to start cooperating on smart deliveries and an aviation logistics network for low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).



JD also established Chinas first drone logistics center, on June 6, and initiated the use of drones for deliveries in Chinas Xian and some other places.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > China sees prosperous development of offshore wind power generation China speeds up efforts to expand, renovate expressways 'First-store economy' leads consumption upgrade Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
As part of their continued commitment to children affected by conflict, the EU has contributed 1 million to support UNICEFs Education in Emergencies (EiE) programme in Sudan. I just visited the Darfur region. I saw how traumatic and devastating the conflicts were for children in Sudan, both for those fleeing South Sudan and Sudanese uprooted []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric...










English News Higher standards for building Xiongan New Area

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 25 Octobre 2017



The Xiongan New Area and the subsidiary administrative center will develop together, Chen Jining, the acting mayor of Beijing, said during a panel discussion of Beijing delegates at the congress.

By Xia Xiaolun, Xing Xue from Peoples Daily Detailed construction work plans for the Xiongan New Area, an economic zone about 100 kilometers south of Beijing, are in the works, an official announced recently, while assuring everyone that the zone will be built to the highest standards.



Xiongan is a major historic, strategic move for the country and will be crucial for the millennium, said Chen Gang, head of the Xiongan New Area administration, on October 19 on the sidelines of the 19th National Congress.



Therefore, we need real patience and strategic willpower to build the New Area into an historical heritage site that we can leave to future generations, Chen Gang said during a panel discussion with delegates from Hebei Province.



Xi Jinping, in his report to the 19th National Congress, also mentioned the Xiongan New Area and the need to stick to high standards in building requirements.



China will come up with forward-looking plans and higher standards for the Xiongan New Area to relieve Beijing of any functions that are not essential to its role as Chinas capital and for the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Xi said.



Xis guidelines for the work on the new area came after the CPC Central Committee and the State Council announced the decision of establishing a state-level Xiongan New Area, back on April 1.



Chen explained that the plans for the new area have been in the making with stringent requirements since April and that policy makers have in mind a global vision, international standards, Chinese characteristics, and lofty goals.



The plan calls for priority to be given to ecological protection, green development, a people-centered development path, and traditional Chinese culture as well, Chen Gang added.



At the end of September, when Beijing authorities announced the citys plans for the 2016  2035 period, they made it clear that Tongzhou and Xiongan will form two "wings" of the city.



This also means that Beijing will accentuate its function as the center of politics, culture, international exchanges and scientific and technological innovation of China and make full use of its function in the surrounding areas.



The plan calls for the Tongzhou District to be turned into a subsidiary administrative center for Beijing, while the Xiongan New Area will absorb "non-capital functions of Beijing and provide new growth for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.



The Xiongan New Area and the subsidiary administrative center will develop together, Chen Jining, the acting mayor of Beijing, said during a panel discussion of Beijing delegates at the congress.



Chen Jining said that the two support each other, with work on them coordinated, and Beijing will make every effort to support the development of the New Area.



Beijing and the Xiongan New Area have a cooperation agreement covering eight fields, including elementary education and hospitals, he added.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > China sees prosperous development of offshore wind power generation China speeds up efforts to expand, renovate expressways 'First-store economy' leads consumption upgrade Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)










English News Szechuan Sauce craved by people worldwide

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 25 Octobre 2017



With a daily production of 3 million bottles on average in 2016, The Laoganma chili sauce reached consumers in 72 countries and regions across the world.

By Qiang Wei from Peoples Daily Chinese food, with distinctive flavors, is gaining increasing popularity across the world nowadays.

The latest media sensation caused by Szechuan Sauce, a dipping sauce most commonly used with chicken nuggets by Western consumers, serves as one evidence.



The sauce was so popular that many people in the US lined up for hours for it after McDonalds announced limited supply at some of its restaurants on Oct. 7 only.



The sauce also caused a stir after it was first launched by the fast food chain in the US in 1998 as a promotional tie-in for the Disney animated film Mulan.



The popular sauce is made from a kind of chili bean paste made in Pixian County, southwest Chinas Sichuan Province.



Also among Chinese publics most favored condiments as a Sichuan specialty, the bean paste itself has also expanded its stretch to overseas markets.



A brand of such products has been sold to over 40 countries and regions including Japan, the US and New Zealand. The popularity brought it steady rise of exports, as data showed that its exports exceeded 10 million yuan ($1.51 million) in 2016, registering an annual increase of 15 percent or so.



The chief of the company noted that they can, on the premise of not altering an original flavor, customize the products for foreign clients in accordance with their demands.



Laoganma, one of China's most popular brands of chilli sauce, goes even further on its global march with followers covering every corner of the world.



Its fans even created a page for it on Facebook, where they share their combination of the chili sauce with a variety of local food, including Caesar salad, turkey, mashed potato and bread. Its defenders even described it as best sauce ever on Amazon.com.



With a daily production of 3 million bottles on average in 2016, The Laoganma chili sauce reached consumers in 72 countries and regions across the world.



Haidilao Hot Pot, a chain of hot pot restaurants founded in Sichuan Province, is another Chinese brand crazed by overseas food-lovers.



Early in 2012, Haidilao opened its first overseas branch in Singapore, followed by those in Los Angeles, Tokyo and Seoul. The chain now has nine overseas branches, and seven of them created a total revenue of $275 million in 2015.



Pic:

The bean paste produced in Pixian County, southwest Chinas Sichuan Province. (Photo from official website of the producer)



Dans la meme rubrique : < > China sees prosperous development of offshore wind power generation China speeds up efforts to expand, renovate expressways 'First-store economy' leads consumption upgrade Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
For the last few decades, regardless of the political party in control of American governance, mainstream America remained frustrated by a lack of representation. The more things changed, the more they remained the same. A year after the election of President Trump, we have yet to see a Republican Congress make good on its promise to repeal Obamacare and institute tax reform. The election of Donald Trump held hope for millions of Americans who believed they now had a voice in our halls of governance, but that voice is continuously trampled on as the puppet-masters behind the scenes succeed at stifling the will of the American people.

The greatness of America was a government for the people and by the people, but that ideal has been eroded in favor of a new American oligarchy led by billionaires such as George Soros, Tom Steyer, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Mark Zuckerberg, to name a few. They are men of the left and unlike prior rich men in American history, they can now control our election process, both halls of Congress, our courts, our schools, the press, and media outlets. Yes, there are conservative billionaires, but they are not nearly as influential as today's globalists. It has been reported that 39% of the wealthiest donors back Democrats and that number will only increase with the new young card-carrying liberal titans from the Silicon Valley. After all, Google, Facebook and most Internet titans are fueled by government projects; thus, their interest lies with big government favored by Democrats.

Frustrated by the presidential election of Donald Trump, George Soros has doubled down and recently pledged to contribute $18 billion to his Open Society Foundations for an overall total of $32 billion. Contrary to its mission claim, "to built vibrant and tolerant democracies," Soros seeks to subvert and suppress the will of the people by using his billions to control America's agenda towards a One World Government without borders, and with him at the helm.

Beginning in 1994 with the defeat of Hillary Clinton's nationalized health care bill, Soros' groups and a few other leftist organizations began to bankroll front groups whose aim was to persuade Congress that Americans were clamoring for "campaign finance reform." In a ten year period, they spent $140 million dollars to promote it, and the result was the McCain-Feingold Act signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2002. The new law placed restrictions on political donations. It prevented citizen-activist groups and corporations from advertising on T.V. for 60 days prior to elections and 30 days prior to primaries while exempting media networks; thus, giving Democrats an automatic advantage since they enjoy the near universal support of America's leading media outlets.

As a result, a network of "527 Committees," named after code 527 of the IRS code, were set up, and unlike PACS, were not required to register with the FEC; nor were they bound by any legal limits to raise soft money. While steering clear of "express advocacy" as prohibited under the McCain-Feingold bill, they were permitted to steer their funds to issue-oriented ads, voter education initiatives, and get-out-the-vote drives to favor one party or candidate over another. By giving directly to independent groups rather than to the party itself, big ticket donors could influence campaign strategy and tactics more directly than they had previously. Thus, Soros gained control of an alternative network of soft money supply and power.....all absent prior to the passage of McCain-Feingold . In 2010, the Supreme Court overturned much of the McCain-Feingold Act, but kept in place the ban on soft money donations to political parties. This ban has permitted Soros to continue to use his billions to influence our election process and thwart the will of the people.

Another billionaire with a globalist agenda is Bill Gates who has used his millions to fund Planned Parenthood and U.N. agencies. He is responsible for the creation, implementation, and promotion of Common Core state standards, and he was pivotal in advancing Barack Obama's educational agenda. Aside from rewriting history with a biased curriculum in disfavor of Western Civilization, Common Core eliminated local school governance and placed it under the control of an ever-growing federal bureaucracy. As Karl Marx noted in his Communist Manifesto, "government-controlled schooling is essential to achieving the goals of Socialism." In that effort, texts and analysis are used to guide students thinking towards a predetermined outcome.

A free press is essential to a free society, but with the development of the Internet and the handful of leftist billionaires who now control it, conservatives are finding it difficult to get their message out without being threatened with sanctions and exclusion under the guise of "hate speech." Google and Apple control 98% of the market share in mobile phone operating systems; thus, they are erasing the First Amendment rights of conservatives on the information highway. Although they are private companies, the information highway is a public utility and as such all are entitled to equal access. Facebook is an important distributor of news and Mark Zuckerberg, its founder and a globalist, is notorious for muting conservatives while amplifying progressives. Along with Saudi Arabia, a state known for silencing free press and Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who has invested $300 million in Twitter, conservative Americans are at a loss as we watch our First Amendment rights guaranteed by our Constitution being eroded by American and foreign billionaires.

While the oligarchs have used their billions to influence both sides of the aisle within our halls of Congress, George Soros in particular has financed a $45 million scheme to reshape state supreme courts. His mission with the aid of state trial lawyers associations is to replace conservative rule of law judges with leftist men in black robes who will apply foreign law (Sharia) and theories into their decision making process. In effect, Soros is creating a judicial oligarchy as well as a judicial supremacy. The left now controls more than half the district courts and more then half the circuits. By placing nationwide injunctions against President Trump's executive orders, a handful of district lower court judges are illegally dictating our immigration policies reserved for Congress and the Executive Branch.

Then there is Tom Steyer, an environmentalist hedge fund billionaire from California who has spent $90 million to back Democratic candidates. Currently he has spent $10 million on a campaign to impeach our current president by running fraudulent television informercials calling for President Trump's impeachment. With an utter disregard and disrespect for the 64 million Americans who voted to elect President Trump, Steyer, the self-righteous globalist, knows better then working class Americans what is in their best interest; thus, he too uses his millions to erase our voice and right to self-governance.

Many Americans are waking up to the reality that American politics is no longer about Republicans and Democrats. Now more than ever, it is a war between the elite established American oligarchy and the American people. If Americans seek to regain control of self- governance, then the oligarchy whose allegiance is not to America, but to a global community governed by globalist billionaires, must have their power removed. We have fought for our self- preservation for over 200 years, and we are not about to quietly yield it over to a handful of globalists without a fight. It will take Americans from all walks of life to come together to oppose this un-American oligarchy and nothing will facilitate that more than the removal of a duly elected president.

Shari Goodman is an educator, activist, public speaker, and journalist.
In a speech delivered last week in New York City, former president George W. Bush fiercely attacked American nationalists as narrow-minded nativists. Among the memorable phrases in his oration were these:

Weve seen nationalism distorted into nativism, and forgotten the dynamism that immigration has always brought to America, he lamented.

Bigotry seems emboldened, our politics seems more vulnerable to conspiracy theories and outright fabrication, he said. There are some signs that support for democracy itself has waned, especially for the young.

Although it is possible to claim that, like his friend John McCain, the former president was only attacking spurious nationalism, clearly his invectives against nativism and his call for global engagement suggest that his target was indeed traditional national identity. The U.S. as conceived by Bush and many other Never-Trumpers exists for a global mission, to teach their version of democracy and human rights to the rest of the world. The U.S. should be viewed as a gathering space for this missionary work. And our mission requires that American leaders come clean about our past sins, as President Bush tried to do in July 2003, on a trip to Senegal, when he deplored Americas role in practicing slavery. Although Republicans excoriated Obama for his servile conduct toward other countries, they conveniently forgot this groveling gesture by the last Republican president before Trump. Not surprisingly Bush doesnt balance his attacks on the bigoted Right with critical references to the Antifa or to the anti-white Left. One has the impression that like the militant French Republican Rene Renoult, he recognizes no enemies on the Left.

There is an interesting argument that is at least implicit in Bushs remarks. The states that formed the Union were once thought to have the makings of a traditional nation, and John Jay points this out in Federalist Two when he pleads for a unified national government. According to Jay, Providence has been pleased to give this one connected country to one united people--a people descended from the same ancestors, speaking the same language, professing the same religion, attached to the same principles of government, very similar in their manners and customs. But that was in 1787 and this is now. We are currently a country that embraces people from all over the world and because of our economic and military resources, we are a global power. We also view ourselves, in our saner moments, as a nation state that must protect its territorial sovereignty. In this sui generis situation Americans look for bonds of unity in a deeply divided country. While the Left pushes multiculturalism and antiracism as the ties that should bind, the populist Right has found its alternative in American nationalism. This has set off a heated dispute about the nature of this nationalism; and former president Bush has weighed in by more or less espousing the Lefts position.

The legal scholar F. M. Buckley has tried to respond in a column to Bushs charges, by offering his opinions on what it is to be American. Buckley seconds Bush in going after white nationalists and then cultural nationalists, although his column never makes clear how this second group differs from the first. Are Americans who insist on the use of the English language or on the historical specificity of American constitutional traditions the same as white nationalists? But all of this may be an aside. Buckley is in a hurry to unveil his own conception of American nationalism, which is creedal and propositional. He quotes Abraham Lincoln, who supposedly said in 1858 that what makes us American is allegiance to a creed. This creed is about liberty and equality, but also about fraternity, which Buckley insists that right-wing Republicans have been unwilling to concede. Fraternity means the acceptance of a caring welfare state, which represents nationalism as understood by the framers of the New Deal and John F. Kennedy.

As a European historian, I am puzzled equally by how Buckley and the white nationalists define their nationalism. Nationalist movements became politically significant in the nineteenth century among peoples who were striving to become nation states while fighting against occupying powers. Italians, Germans, and Poles created nationalist movements, and integral to these efforts was reviving interest in ethnic and linguistic identities going back into the past. All authentic nationalism is cultural and linguistic, whether were talking about Latvians or Jews trying to reclaim an ancient homeland in the Middle East. Please note that Im neither praising nor denigrating nationalism, but underscoring its indissoluble relation to cultural identity.

White nationalists are not really nationalists since they are engaged in a globalist enterprise. They are reaching beyond traditional nation states and seek to unify all peoples of a certain race, partly by demonizing other races. But propositionalists like Buckley and the neoconservative journalists are likewise involved in a global pursuit. They are not content to live in a politically diverse world among different cultures. They seek to win adherents to their political religion supposedly predicated on universal propositions. The validity of what they believe requires that it be put into practice universally, since their propositions are intended for all of humanity. This rights-based globalism is nothing new. It was practiced by the Jacobins during the French Revolution and later, and more devastatingly, by the Bolsheviks.

I see no reason to make our country fit a nationalist box that no longer corresponds to our situation. The U.S. is ethnically too diverse (whether or not thats a good thing Ill leave for another day) to fit the European concept of an ethnically unified state. And there is no way that were going to become an ethnically less homogeneous country than we are right now. But we can feel patriotic about our country and display gratitude and loyalty to what is best in our traditions. That said, I wouldnt reduce that loyalty to a creedal formulation that looks like its been extracted from the ranting of a French Revolutionary. In any case, nationalism is not the only glue that has held political societies together. One can feel loyal to a monarch or to ones fellow-citizens; and one can develop affection for a country owing to ones rootedness in a particular place. In any case, as Edmund Burke pointed out, sentiments are essential to feeling that one belongs to one country rather than to another. My fathers family loved this country because it gave them refuge from the Nazis. I doubt they or their friends ever thought about Buckleys propositions or cared about whether those abstractions could be traced back to statement that Lincoln made in 1858.

I would also observe that nationalism in Western Europe has undergone a change for the better in the last hundred years. Nationalists, even the ones who call themselves identitarians, in France Germany, Austria, and Italy, no longer view other European nations as their enemies. They now regard them as fellow-Europeans fighting for the same cultural traditions, often against the influx of alien Muslims whom they fear are wreaking havoc on their societies. Gone are the days when French and German nationalists treated each other as enemies rather as neighbors and fellow-Europeans.

An afterthought: I am aware that certain friends of mine use the term nationalism to refer an immigration policy that denies entry to potentially dangerous Muslim minorities and/or restricts military involvements to vital national interests. Although Im not against such prudent guidelines, I would question whether advocating them necessarily makes one a nationalist.
The tension between political demands for self-determination on one hand and maintaining the sovereignty, the unity of a state, on the other is a historically recognizable aspect of political life. Yet surprisingly, politics in Europe today are turbulent and unpredictable to an unexpected degree. The tumult and chaos in countries from Britain, Ireland, and Spain to Italy and the Czech Republic, and even in Russia, allows for a question: is it an earthquake or simply a shock? Is it all a charade or the real thing?

The basic dilemma is familiar from Edmund Burke, who wrote in his Reflections on the Revolution in France, "A state without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation. Without such means, it might even risk the loss of the constitution which it wished the most religiously to preserve."

There appear to be four fundamental and interrelated problems; the challenge of a section of the population of a country to central authority; the nationalistic and populist opposition to the immigration policy of the European Union, as stressed formerly by Germany; the restriction or ban on Muslims entering the E.U., though a tough position on this was defeated in France and in the Netherlands this year; and differences and even a possible split between the more prosperous and historically democratic countries of Western Europe and the less prosperous former communist countries of Eastern Europe.

To take the most surprising issue, Russia as always is a dilemma, and predicting the past and perhaps even the present is a perilous occupation. Now Russian TV in November 2017 is presenting a documentary on Leon Trotsky, who was brushed out of history, physically and figuratively, by Stalin. Little is known about Trotsky by the younger generation. Perhaps Trotsky reappears to history because of President Vladimir Putin's explanation that he wants respect, an objective and honest analysis of Russia's common history. But unlike the situation in European countries, there is no serious challenge to the unity of Russia.

Elsewhere, in many countries in Europe, there is an inherent struggle between unilateral demands for autonomous self-government, and even independence, and the activities of a governing state to maintain the unity and sovereignty of the nation-state. Countries are beset by the presence of populist, anti-establishment political parties, and the challenge of part of the citizenry to central government. By far the most intense and volatile is in Spain with the ongoing unresolved dispute between the central government and the independence Catalan movement based on a distinct identity, language, and culture, as well as economic issues.

Irrespective of the complicated issue of Brexit and the relations between the U.K. and the European Union, other countries have problems with some of the functions and policies of the E.U. The most recent example is the Czech Republic parliamentary election of October 21, 2017, which resulted in unexpected gains by the Populist Party Ano (Yes), Action of Dissatisfied Citizens getting 39% of the vote compared with 24% in 2013. The party is led by the 63-year-old billionaire Andrej Babis, said to be worth $4 billion from food, biofuel, and fertilizer companies and substantial press holdings. Babis campaigned as an outsider, though he had been finance minister for four years.

It is not clear if Babis's political proposals, such as abolishing the senate, indicate he is a threat to democracy in the country. What is important is that he is unwilling to join the euro, and above all, he is critical of E.U. migration policy, calling for reduction or end of Muslim immigration, as well as friendship with Russia.

Elements in two countries in particular, Spain and Italy, are involved in a challenge to central authority. Political factions sometimes, like scorpions, court each other with kisses and dancing before delivering a fatal blow. This is not the case in Spain. Events in Catalonia have produced a political and constitutional crisis, as Catatans in a referendum on October 1, 2017 voted by over 90% in favor of seceding from Spain, but the turnout was only 43%. Ambivalence was shown by mass violence and demonstrations, some of half a million, using pots and pans and honking cars, while those opposed to secession waved Spanish flags and shouted, Viva Espana! Catalan leaders hold that the actions of Madrid resemble a coup d'etat against Catalan autonomy, the worst since the days of General Francisco Franco (1939-1975). Graffiti in Barcelona read, "Franco is back."

Catalonia has been virtually establishing a parallel government to the central one in Madrid, even to extent of establishing "embassies" in a number of foreign countries. Madrid has the overall law, power, and resources on its side; Catalonia has enthusiastic supporters. Will the divisiveness mean the end of Spain as a political unit? Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is wondering how to remove the secessionist leaders from their positions of power in Catalonia and to reinstate the legal order; Catalan lawmakers want self-determination and even a declaration of independence.

The uncertain response of Madrid appears to be to take control of Catalonia and hold new regional elections within six months, establishing direct rule, jailing leaders of the secession movement, threatening to imprison the Catalan chief of police, and arresting the Catalan President Carles Puigdemont if he tries to declare independence following the referendum on October 1.

At the extreme, Madrid is considering implementing Article 155 of the Constitution, by which the government has the right to take "necessary measures" to get compliance. Spanish courts have held that Catalonia is breaking the law. Using 155 can suspend any of the self-governing powers of the 17 regions if they disobey constitutional obligations or attack the "general interests" of Spain. Article 155 has never been invoked. If it is used, it might cause difficulties for the maintenance of the1978 constitution, which set up the17 autonomous communities, largely to accommodate the Basque and Catalan regions.

Whatever the actions in Spain, they are a more modest counterpart to the Italian situation, though there is a difference. Unlike the Spanish situation, the Italian referendums have been approved by the Italian constitutional court. Demand for more autonomy have come from two regions: Lombardy, with Milan as its center, and Veneto, including Venice. Together, the prosperous regions account for one quarter of the Italian population and 30% of economic output, thus contributing disproportionately to Rome. Referendums in the two regions on October 22, 2017 had overwhelming approval for more autonomy: Veneto 98.1% and Lombardy 95.3%.

Though some in the two regions call for secession, in general, dissidents want more authority over a variety of issues: environment, health, education, and above all security and immigration. The challenge for many years has come from the Northern League, Lega Nord, founded in 1991 by the poet Umberto Bossi, though apparently a relatively mild form of fiscal federalism. For Italy, the problem is that referendums may spread to other areas, such as Liguria and Emilia-Romagna, and make unity more difficult. No one, not even Luciano Pavarotti, is likely to sing O Sole Mio, over that.
There is a global contest underway between two economic and political models. One model is liberty and democracy, and the other is state control and totalitarianism. Fortunately (and hopefully not too late), U.S. policymakers have awakened to the nature of the current challenge.

During an October 18 speech about the U.S-India relationship, secretary of state Rex Tillerson sought to build ties with Asian democracies. He argued that "[t]he emerging Delhi-Washington strategic partnership stands upon a shared commitment upholding the rule of law, freedom of navigation, universal values, and free trade" and criticized China's "predatory economics."

According to Tillerson, the Chinese government has been lending money to developing countries in a way that gives their victims debt, but not jobs, and sometimes ends up with their assets being owned by China. Specifically, Tillerson said:

We have watched the activities and actions of others in the region, in particular China, and the financing mechanisms it brings to many of these countries [in the Indo-Pacific region] which result in saddling them with enormous levels of debt. They don't often create the jobs, which infrastructure projects should be tremendous job creators in these economies, but too often, foreign workers are brought in to execute these infrastructure projects. Financing is structured in a way that makes it very difficult for them to obtain future financing, and oftentimes has very subtle triggers in the financing that results in financial default and the conversion of debt to equity.

China's predatory policies in the Third World are of a piece with its approach to the United States. Like a pusher seeking to entrap an addict, China provides cheap loans and subsidized products in order to achieve long-term objectives, expand its power, and create dependency.

Chinese predatory economics has had similar negative effects upon the United States.

Loans. China has been lending the proceeds of its trade surplus to the U.S. in order to keep the dollar-yuan exchange rate from falling to a trade-balancing level. Debt. As a result of these loans to the United States, the U.S. owes the Chinese government trillions of dollars. The exact amount is not known, since China lends us money using foreign banks as intermediaries, taking advantage of a tax loophole that Congress should close. Jobs. American manufacturing workers produce about $120,000's worth of product each. Thus, if our $320-billion trade deficit with China were balanced, American workers would gain about 2.7 million productive jobs. Assets. China has been using the proceeds of its trade surpluses with the U.S. to buy up U.S. assets and acquire U.S. technology  literally buying our comparative advantage. We will be paying dividends, rents, and interest to China for generations. Power. China has displaced or soon will displace (depending upon your metric) the U.S. as the world's largest economy.

A centerpiece of China's predatory economic policy toward the United States is an enormous trade imbalance. The graph below shows the U.S. trade deficit in goods and services with China for the year ending with the quarter specified:

As shown in the graph, the U.S. trade deficit with China rose steadily during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Obama. During Bush's term, China grew its trade surplus with the United States from $81 billion to $263 billion, representing about 1.5 million U.S. manufacturing jobs lost. During Obama's term, the trade deficit rose from $263 billion to $309 billion, representing about 380,000 additional manufacturing jobs lost. These losses propelled Trump's Rust-Belt Electoral College victories.

During the first two quarters of 2017, the U.S. trade deficit with China rose from $309 billion to $320 billion, so President Trump has not yet stopped the bleeding of jobs. However, there are some good signs. In June, China started letting in American beef. In July, Foxconn, which mostly produces in China, unveiled plans to build a $10-billion LCD display plant in Wisconsin.

The predatory economic strategy that the Chinese government has been following with the U.S. is known as mercantilism, which University of Chicago Professor Jacob Viner defined as the strategy of placing tariffs (and other barriers) upon foreign products while at the same time buying foreign assets (mainly stocks, bonds, and precious metals).

In his 1776 magnum opus (An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations), Adam Smith decried it as a policy of "beggaring all their neighbors." In the chapter about mercantilism in his 1936 magnum opus (General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money), John Maynard Keynes discussed its effectiveness:

[A] favorable [trade] balance, provided it is not too large, will prove extremely stimulating; whilst an unfavorable balance may soon produce a state of persistent depression.

In an article published in 1997 in an American economics journal (Dynamic Analysis of the Viner Model of Mercantilism), prominent Chinese economist Heng-fu Zou demonstrated mathematically that mercantilism works.

Business economist Peter Navarro, President Trump's White House trade adviser, in his 2011 book with Greg Autry summarized the disastrous effect that Chinese mercantilism has had upon the U.S. economy:

China's "weapons of job destruction" include massive illegal export subsidies, the rampant counterfeiting of U.S. intellectual property, pitifully lax environmental protections, and the pervasive use of slave labor. The centerpiece of Chinese mercantilism is, however, a shamelessly manipulated currency that heavily taxes U.S. manufacturers, extravagantly stimulates Chinese exports, and has led to a ticking time bomb U.S.-China trade deficit close to a billion dollars a day.

A key challenge for U.S. economic policy is to force China to abandon its mercantilism. If the Trump administration is able to convert the U.S.-China trade relationship from the current victim-prey relationship, to a balanced-trade relationship, both countries would benefit from the growing trade. When trade is balanced, both countries trade what they can produce with comparative advantage for what the other can produce with comparative advantage.

Past administrations suffered from the delusion that allowing Chinese mercantilism to proceed unhindered would lead China to become democratic and encourage China to become a responsible stakeholder in the global political system. Alas, this has merely enabled China's quest to become a totalitarian global hegemon.

In an October 18 speech to the Chinese Communist Party Congress, China's leader heralded the "new era" of Chinese power. He asserted that "the political system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a great creation." Meanwhile, Amnesty International's 2016-2017 report noted that "[t]he nationwide crackdown on human rights lawyers and activists continued throughout the year," and the Heritage Foundation rated China's economy as "mostly unfree" and noted "little momentum for reform."

The key to ending China's mercantilism is to stop tolerating it. To that end, the administration should impose a tariff upon Chinese imports that is scaled so it takes in half of the U.S. trade deficit as U.S. government revenue. Half of the current U.S. trade deficit with China is $160 billion, and we imported $500 billion from China during the last year, so the current tariff rate (to be readjusted quarterly) should be 32%.

This would incentivize an end to mercantilism. If China lets in American products, begins treating them fairly, and stops distorting the terms of trade, then the rate will decline. And this strategy is legal under WTO rules, which let trade deficit countries impose trade-balancing tariffs.

If Chinese predatory economics is allowed to continue, China will continue to gain our industrial strength and will replace us as the world's premier economic power. Tillerson's remarks suggest that the Trump administration is aware of China's predatory strategy and is preparing to take steps to end it.

Fighting Chinese mercantilism is a critical step toward ensuring that free trade, human rights, and democracy can continue to increase prosperity and expand human dignity here and abroad.

The Richmans co-authored the 2014 book Balanced Trade, published by Lexington Books, and the 2008 book Trading Away Our Future, published by Ideal Taxes Association.
As the Uranium One scandal unfolds and North Korea nukes up, Americans rightly worry about the integrity of our regulatory and approval mechanisms related to fissionable material. It appears that members of the Obama Administration may have used the extensive regulation and secrecy integral to US uranium operations to bankrupt a $3 billion private firm, and civil litigation, with very different and often more permissive rules of discovery and deposition, may be feasible as a mechanism of getting at the rot. Some questionable federal government actions reported here in American Thinker in 2009 could be the basis for a civil suit against former Obama Administration officials.

A good thing happened at the close of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union back in 1991. The Soviets had tons of highly enriched uranium (90%+ U-235) that the Russians had little use for with the end of Cold War. Some of it was in the form of nuclear warheads and bombs. The other extensive inventory was reactor fuel from scrapped nuclear submarines. A big worry for nuclear experts was how the weak and unstable Russian government was to maintain effective security on this near-ideal bomb making material. The first nuclear weapon used on Hiroshima used highly enriched uranium. This type is also considered the easiest to design and implement  the perfect terrorist weapon.

US lawmakers recognized the problem and came up with a solution. Buy the excess enriched uranium from the Russian government, down-blend it with normal uranium to low levels suitable for commercial reactor fuel (about 5% U-235) and use it to power American electricity supplies. The Russian government got some needed cash and the world had less to worry about from terrorist nuclear weapons. They called the program Megatons to Megawatts. For much of the 1990s and 2000s, somewhere between 10 and 20% of American electricity came from Russian warheads and submarine fuel.

The US had another problem  our own uranium enrichment facilities. We, too, had a greatly reduced need for enriched uranium for our military and the production facilities built for the Cold War were looking like they were obsolete technologies. The gaseous diffusion process first used at Oak Ridge by the Manhattan Project was much less efficient and economical compared to the new centrifuge technology coming on-line. Future demand would come from the price-sensitive commercial nuclear power industry.

To solve both problems the two government gaseous diffusion plants (Oak Ridge, Tennessee and Paducah, Ohio) were privatized. These plants were originally constructed by the Manhattan Project and its successor, the Atomic Energy Commission, to meet US military and later commercial needs for separative work units or SWU . This upgrades the U-235 concentration of in natural uranium from 0.711% to a more usable level that could reach 90+% for nuclear weapons (like the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima) and for nuclear naval reactor fuel. Commercial reactor fuel makes do with less than 5% U-235. The balance is the more abundant isotope U-238.

The US government ultimately reaped $3 billion from the sale to a new firm, the US Enrichment Corporation (USEC) by some reports. Their 1998 IPO set the per-share price at $14.25. But to sweeten the deal for what looked like soon-to-be white elephants, USEC was made principal agent for the commercial sale of Russian down-blended uranium. The US government retained responsibility for the decommissioning and cleanup of the plants once they closed for good. At their IPO, they claimed to supply 75% of the US market for enrichment services and 40% of the world market. Assets totaled over $3 billion.

USEC worked great as a commercial business flipping warheads until the Russians decided they had sold enough of their highly enriched uranium. President Obama terminated the Megatons to Megawatts program by executive order in 2015. The US and Russia tried to cut a deal to take over commercial sales of Russian plutonium, but a lack of commercial interest in reactor fuel using plutonium was probably a factor  the extra security required is not worth the hassle for power reactor operators. Besides, the US government already has 33 tons of surplus weapon-grade Pu-239 it planned on burying at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

So without a stream of Russian uranium to sell and two obsolete enrichment facilities, USEC decided it needed to build a new centrifuge plant of its own. It had the infrastructure and experience required already for shipping and handling so there were some savings to be had plus access to US government technology. The Nuclear Renaissance was flowering and with new plants, a big increase in enrichment services would be needed. Other players jumped into the US market with the announced construction of several new plants. As was discussed in our earlier article in 2009, USEC applied for a loan guarantee for construction of the new centrifuge plant. Its application was repeatedly denied while a $1.2 billion loan guarantee for a corporation wholly owned by the French government for a plant in Idaho was approved. A Dutch/UK/German company started construction on a plant in Louisiana with no guarantee from the US government at all! USEC had to show signed contracts for the output before loan approval. If only Solyndra had had to meet that condition for its $535 million government loan.

Even more suspicious was that the safety of the USEC centrifuge design was questioned by the US government with resulting project delays. What struck one as funny about this decision was that the reasons for the rejection were reported as secret in the industry press at the time. Ultimately, this was dismissed as the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission concluded no nuclear safety issues. Of course, an actual centrifuge design is considered a secret for proliferation concerns, like the ones that A. Q. Khan stole from the Dutch for Pakistan. A small demonstration plant using the USEC design is now completing a three year test run, so some level of scale model approval must have occurred. In the meantime, the market for SWUs has collapsed with the price per SWU falling from $140 in 2011 to less than $50 today.

USEC went bankrupt in 2012, although it has reorganized itself and emerged a shadow of its former self under the name of Centrus Energy. Its principal business is as a sales agent for TENEX, the Russian enrichment concern. But even that is limited by a 2008 law restricting Russian imports of enrichment services. A perusal of the latest SEC 10-K filing for 2016 suggests Centrus may be worth more dead than alive, what with net loss carry-forwards exceeding their assets and non-trivial unfunded pension liabilities. The market value of their stock bottomed out at about $9,000,000 but is at this writing showing at $32 million.

So where are the claims? Since it went public for about $3 billion in 1998 and is now worth maybe $30 million, somebody has taken a serious haircut. Toshiba Corporation and Babcock & Wilcox Company bought in for $200 million, for example. Assets went from $3 billion in 1998 to $716 million on a net operating loss of $67 million at the end of 2016. Today its core business is as agent for the Russian enrichment company TENEX. USEC once served 40% of the world market from its own production  today it handles 4% of the world market simply as agent for SWUs from TENEX. Employment went from 4,400 in 1998 to 338 today.

That haircut can be traced, in large part, to US government decisions which oft times made little or no sense to an outside observer. First, USEC has been denied federal loan guarantees that were granted to agencies of foreign governments in direct competition. Second, their technology was delayed in nuclear safety evaluations that were considered secret. Granted, Megatons to Megawatts gravy train had to come to an end someday and was formally ended by Obama by executive order. It looks to me that the USEC was deliberately killed by the Obama Administration.

Chants of Lock Her Up would set a very risky precedent for criminal prosecution of losing presidential candidates as would throwing outgoing administration appointees in jail. But going the O.J. Simpson route of civil cases by private citizens stripping ill-gotten gains from bad actors in government could a meaningful deterrent to future wrong doing. The shareholders of USEC could band together to look deeper into what role the people in the Obama Administration misused their power to affect the evaporation of their capital and the ruination of USEC. The Clinton Foundation has deep pockets, deep enough to motivate most lawyers in private practice. Perhaps the civil courts can affect justice faster than the Congress or federal prosecutors.

Joseph Somsel is a 45 year veteran of the commercial nuclear power industry. He has no financial interest in the subjects of this article.
When President Donald J Trump first stepped into the political swamp, he immediately found himself up to his, ahem, waist, in alligators. All of his enemies, and seemingly many of his supposed friends, immediately went on the attack, one which knows no boundaries of decency, honesty, or honor. They mean to get him. Will they?

Trump would do well to study the presidency of Ronald Reagan.

Reagan was not quite the outsider that Trump is, but for his day, he was as much an outsider as it gets. Not even his eight years as governor of California prepared him for the immediate onslaught that assailed him.

As is Trump, Reagan was hated not only by the defeated Democrats, but also by the so-called blue-blood Republicans, who were the establishment. They derided him as a former B-list movie actor, and ridiculed him as having co-starred with a chimp. Yet, despite all that, he was president. Something had to be done, and done soon, to cut him down to size, to delegitimize him among his supporters, and to disempower his presidency. That would teach him, by golly.

Suddenly springing to the ambush, in Reagans first year in office, was PATCO, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, a labor union. In 1981, it went on strike, and moreover, an illegal strike.

On the surface, the strike was for higher wages and better benefits for the men and women who, working from airport control towers, do the very difficult and stressful job of talking to airline pilots while in flight, making sure that they do not collide with each other in crowded air spaces.

That was on the surface. Had that been the real motive of PATCO, the entire matter might have been settled through negotiation. Remember that President Reagan, a former union president, had been a longtime friend of labor unions, including PATCO. He was sympathetic to them, as he was to the American taxpayer.

But there was an underlying motive, the one which has already been stated, that Reagan had to be delegitimized as president. The illegal PATCO strike was to be only the first step in ruining Reagan. If it were to succeed, then that would not be the end of it. Every union representing government workers was lined up to strike, in turn, for benefit increases that would hold the federal government hostage to their ever-increasing demands.

The rest is history. Reagan ordered the controllers to return to work or be fired, permanently. The union called his bluff, and continued to strike. But Reagan was not bluffing. He fired all the striking workers, refused to rehire them, and PATCO eventually went broke.

Reagan did not gloat over this, but it was an historic victory, the benefits of which went vastly farther than reining in runaway labor unions. Illegal strikes declined sharply, but more importantly, that other union, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Russia), suddenly understood that they could no longer push the United States around. Reagans stance was the prelude to Art of the Deal, when he walked away from the negotiating table when the Russians made unreasonable demands that would have endangered our national security. The liberal left went on a hissy fit, screaming that Reagan was starting a nuclear war.

But then, the Russians backed down, and a treaty favorable to the U.S. was successfully negotiated and signed. It was, indeed, Morning in America. The end result was that eventually, the Russians lost the Cold War. Nuclear war had been averted.

The effects of Reagans example were long-lasting. In 2011, Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin, trying to save his state from fiscal ruin, faced a dramatic and massive illegal strike by the labor union representing the states teachers. No holds were barred. The capitol building itself, in Madison, was literally overrun by throngs of pro-union protesters, in an attempt to paralyze the government. Walker was vilified in the press, and there were threats of physical violence against his supporters, not to mention Walker himself.

No doubt inspired by Reagan, Walker won, or should we say, Wisconsin won, as did the nation. Walkers stand was so courageous and determined that he was mentioned as a possible presidential candidate. We could do worse.

Now, its President Trumps turn. So far, he seems to have the right stuff, but the real battle has hardly begun. With turncoats surrounding him, the challenges he faces are different from those which Reagan and Walker overcame, but every bit as daunting, if not more so. Both Russia and China, plus North Korea and Iran, are watching closely.

As Trump likes to say, Well see.
In the face of scandal allegations, the normal response of Democrats is to circle the wagons and defend their comrade under fire. That's not happening now that the dam is breaking, and people are catching on that the hysteria ginned up over alleged Trump collusion was a cover, a means of deflecting attention away from the real corruption.

Both the Clinton and Obama wings of the Democrat establishment are implicated, and so are the henchmen who got the special counsel investigation of Trump going.

So when Tom Perez, the head of the DNC, ran for the hills, I took it as a sign he realizes how seriously Democrats' fan is going to get hit.

James Barrett of the Daily Wire:

Within hours of The Washington Post publishing a bombshell report alleging that the DNC and the Clinton campaign funded the infamous Trump-Russia dossier, the Democratic National Committee issued a statement saying that the current head of the DNC (elected in February 2017) and the "new leadership" of the organization was not involved in any of the "decision-making" regarding the oppo research firm behind the dossier. "Tom Perez and the new leadership of the DNC were not involved in any decision-making regarding Fusion GPS, nor were they aware that Perkins Coie was working with the organization," reads the carefully phrased statement issued by DNC Communications Director Xochital Hinojosa Tuesday evening.

If this scandal really deals the blow to the party that it deserves, somebody is going to want to pick up the pieces. I think Tom Perez has just made sure he has a place in that line.
The Democratic Party has put forth several narratives since its loss in 2016. Democrats have stuck with those narratives no matter how absurd they have been: Trump was elected because Russia colluded with him. Trump is unstable and unfit. Everything Trump does is wrong. He is a tainted president.

So says the party of Hillary Clinton and Hollywood, the moral arbiters of America. And the leftist mainstream media have followed in the most scurrilous of ways. They have reported only what the Democratic Party narrative says they should report.

Until now.

Follow me here. How long has this search for Trump-Russia collusion been going on? How long have the leftist media been claiming that Trump does everything wrong?

Since he was elected last November. They have been hunting him since he won.

But the ground has shifted. It's been clear for a long time that the Trump-Russia collusion narrative has been just that. It's been a fable repeated over and over again, the Democratic Party and its media shills hoping something would stick, helping them regain power through mindless repetition of an empty narrative.

Until now.

Unfortunately for the left, there is not the tiniest bit of evidence to bolster the narrative. There is not a scintilla of truth to the claim that Donald Tramp colluded with Russia to win. One hundred thousand dollars of Facebook ads, half of them after November 8, 2016? That's proof? Lord help us. That is the dumbest idea of proof offered since the Piltdown Man. Donald Trump, Jr. had a meeting with someone claiming to have dirt on Hillary and left the meeting early because he saw nothing? Wow. Indict him, and impeach his father.

And that's all there is?

Yep. That's all there is.

But now we have an explosion of information about Russian influence on  drum roll  the Uranium One deal, perhaps the worst political scandal since Teapot Dome. And then there's the so-called Trump dossier  which apparently was paid for by the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic Party.

The Uranium One deal has been a powder keg since Peter Schweizer wrote about the scandal in the book Clinton Cash. It's everything a scandal should be: corruption, illicit bribes, Russians influencing a deal to control stockpiles of uranium for their own use.

Tucker Carlson reports that there is an extremely credible witness who will testify how the Russians did collude with an American president. Unfortunately for the left, it's the Obama presidency they colluded with, Hillary Clinton being the chief conspirator. This witness is said to have absolute proof of this collusion.

And the leftist mainstream American media are virtually silent.

That's because they aren't interested in news or reporting. They're interested only in the narratives pushed by the Obama-Clinton-Democratic media complex.

Until now.

The dam has broken. The waters are unleashed, and there's no stopping them. Truth is winning. Even the Washington Post is reporting this story. The New York Times and the rest will have to follow. The evidence is too compelling, and the story is out there. Much like the Weinstein scandal, there is simply too much evidence to deflect it. The reporting of John Solomon and Sara Carter has been devastating. They have been doing the work that the leftist American media won't do, which is to report on the real Russian meddling in America's politics: Uranium One. And the Trump dossier.

This is huge. This will not go away. Unlike the leftist media narrative of Trump-Russia collusion, there is actual evidence to show we have been compromised, and it's not Trump who has compromised or colluded. It's the group of people the leftist media have vowed to protect: the Obama-Clinton-Democratic Party complex.

The evidence is overwhelming.

The Obama-Clinton administration colluded with Russia in the Uranium One deal. They knew what the Russians wanted. They knew that the Russians were bribing people. They knew that the Clinton family foundations were getting over a hundred million dollars, that Bill Clinton received half a million dollars for an hour-long speech from the Russian bank involved with Uranium One.

Quid pro quo. As clear as it can be.

They sold out American interests for thirty pieces of silver.

It's hard to say which is the biggest disgrace: the Obama Justice Department, the FBI, Obama himself, the Clintons, or our despicably partisan media. Let's not mince words: they're all culpable, all guilty of selling out America.

It's difficult to say enough negative about all of them.

The Trump dossier.

It's the one that the Clinton campaign, and John McCain, tried to pass off on the FBI as truth. The one that apparently was paid for by the Hillary campaign and the Democratic Party, and perhaps a Republican donor.

The dossier is so embarrassingly bad, so embarrassingly transparent as a political ruse, that there aren't enough words to describe its stupidity and disgraceful place in history.

This dossier became the child of the left and the child of one James Comey. He pushed it forward with no shame. This dossier is what informed him of why Trump was unfit? Good grief, James, were you that obtuse?

I guess so. You were the one who wanted the Mueller investigation to start. Purposefully. Based on your belief in the (Russian) Trump dossier? Rod Rosenstein appointed your man, Mueller.

And now it's boomeranging. Just ask the Podesta family.

Trump clearly did nothing wrong, and now it's going to be revealed just how incompetent and conniving Mr. Comey, Rod Rosenstein, and Robert Mueller were and are.

The wrong people have been blamed. And the truth is coming out.

The dam has broken.

The left's narratives have been reduced to a pile of ashes.

Blaming Trump for colluding with the Russians for almost a year has been a failure. It's simple: the narrative was never true. It was bound to be shown as false. The unintended consequence of playing this narrative for the last year has been that a lot of people have come to believe that Russia interfered with our political system.

Most of those believers are on the left  the disciples of Rachel Maddow, CNN, Democratic politicians, and the leftist partisan media masquerading as journalists.

The cognitive dissonance has just begun for all of them. The proof is clear: they were all wrong. Extraordinarily wrong. The collusion and sell-out was from the very people they put forth as heroes. The Obama-Clinton Democratic Party has been caught with hands in the cookie jar. Thirty pieces of silver wasn't enough. It was millions of dollars and the opportunity to hold power in America that proved to be their downfall. Colluding with the Russians was what they were willing to do in this power play.

The unwinding of this scandal will take time. But the implication is clear. The Trump administration will be fully exonerated. They did nothing wrong. Oh, no, the left won't admit it, and they will be furious (aren't they always?), but this narrative is over except in the minds of total leftist partisans  just like the man who threw the Russian flags at Trump. He was aiming for the wrong people.

He just didn't know it yet. Likewise, the leftist base doesn't, either.

As for the Clinton-Obama-Democratic Party alliance, they are in trouble. That they projected a narrative that not only was untrue about Trump, but was actually true about their own party will be devastating to their base, and the American public will likely not forget.

The leftist media. The Democratic Party. The Obama and Clinton families. Their corruption reaches to the heavens. They have knowingly deceived America in the worst of ways. Let's hope their stature never recovers.
In "Top Netanyahu ally is 'disappointed' in Trump" (10/10/17), the Washington Post states that "Israel considers Jerusalem its capital."

"Considers"?

Israel doesn't "consider" that Jerusalem is its capital. Israel knows that Jerusalem is its capital. That's because Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Israel knows this, and so would anyone who ever visited. Their parliament  the Knesset  is there. Their prime minister lives there. Their Supreme Court is there. We could go on and on. But most importantly, the Israelis say it is their capital.

Does the United States "consider" Washington, D.C. its capital? Does France "consider" Paris its capital? Does Russia "consider" Moscow its capital? Of course not  they know it. Why only with Israel is the disclaimer added? Do a plethora of countries really have nothing better to do other than dispute the capital of another country? Do they have any more pressing issues?

Truth is, all sovereign nations, including Israel, have the right to name their capital city. Israel proclaimed Jerusalem its capital in 1950, over a decade before local Arabs began asserting a right to establish their own state. In the 1960s, when these Arabs began referring to themselves collectively as "Palestinians" and claiming the region for themselves, their foundational charters of 1964 and 1968 did not reference Jerusalem or name the city as their desired capital.

In reviewing the nine newest countries in the world, why are there no disputes concerning their capitals? South Sudan declared independence in July 2011, Kosovo in February 2008, Montenegro and Serbia in June 2006, East Timor in May 2002, Palau in October 1994, Eritrea in April 1993, and the Czech Republic and Slovakia January 1993. Yes, there have been disputes about these countries  but more local. Only Israel unites the world in being the target of condemnation.

Do those that use pejorative terminology that delegitimizes Israel realize that it is only Israel that receives such condemnation? Further, do these countries notice the "coincidence" that the singling out of Israel corresponds with the continuous singling out of the people most discriminated against in the history of the world  the Jews? So why do newspapers like the Washington Post and the N.Y. Times join in on this discrimination? Why are they a party to this bigotry?
Like some massive Florida sinkhole, the earth is falling away under the feet of Trump-haters convinced that Russian influence on American politics amounts to a "second Pearl Harbor." Like a boomerang, the charges of collusion and treason flung at the GOP are flying back in the direction of the Obamas and the Clintons.

Even before the revelation that the salacious, phony so-called "Trump dossier" was derived from an effort paid for by Hillary's campaign and the DNC, the boomerang was visibly starting its 180. The news that the House Intelligence Committee will investigate how the FBI allowed the Uranium One deal to go forward despite knowledge of criminality was a signal that the narrative was going to change.

So what's a CNN anchor to do?

Watch as CNN's Dana Bash admits that the FBI's silence makes for a "good question" that "we don't know the answer to."

As she vamps, Dana hilariously mangles an old saying: "It's sort of the shoe is on both feet."

As she continues, the best she can do is say that the House Republicans "are listening to their base."

The following clip is just over a minute:
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(ANSA) - Rome, October 25 - Italian former leftist terrorist Cesare Battisti, who is facing extradition to Italy from Brazil for four 1970s murders, on Wednesday reiterated his innocence and described the armed struggle as "suicide".

Battisti, 62, is wanted in Italy to serve two life terms for the four murders committed in the 'Years of Lead' of rightist and leftist terror.

"Luckily I left the group before the murders began," Battisti told state broadcaster RAI's radio news programme Gr1 on Wednesday in reference to the leftist militant group Armed Proletarians for Communism (PAC) to which he belonged.

He also distanced himself from the armed struggle, saying he had taken part "indirectly in ideas that led to madness, to a dead-end street".

Battisti said he felt "compassion towards the victims", recalling his age and that he has "a wife and children, grandchildren, I am already a grandfather".

But one of the victims' relatives who has been leading the fight to have Battisti extradited, Alberto Torregiani, said Battisti didn't commit the murder but planned and ordered it, and was telling "lies" yet again.

Alberto, son of Milan jeweler Pierluigi Torregiani, told ANSA that the former leftist terrorist "is telling a lot of howlers." Alberto Torregiani said "Of course I think it wasn't him who materially killed my father, I'm not saying that, it's the court documents that say that. But he was one of those who planned the attacks, indeed, when the terrorist group split precisely on the need to kill my father, he insisted. Of course he's responsible". Battisti was sentenced to 13 years and five months in jail for Torregiani's murder. Torregiani went on: "If Battisti has the proof (of his innocence) he should use it, he shouldn't give the victims' families a hard time." He added: "Does the Brazilian government know who they are giving credence to? He's raving now. He's trying to stir up a hornet's nest like he did in 2008 because as long as the talking goes on he stays free".

Meanwhile Battisti claimed he had been set up in early October when he was caught allegedly trying to leave Brazil for Bolivia.

"Someone wanted to take me to the border with Bolivia, it was a trap," he said.

The Brazilian supreme court on Tuesday put off till next week its ruling on Battisti's lawyers' 'habeas corpus' plea after the federal prosecutor asked for more time to prepare his case.

The court is expected to lift Battisti's political-refugee status, granted by former president Luiz Incio Lula da Silva in 2010.

Then the final word would be up to Brazilian President Michel Temer, who reportedly backs Battisti's extradition.


(ANSA) - Rome, October 25 - Anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) founder Beppe Grillo said he was "here for the Italian people" at a protest outside the Pantheon Wednesday against an election-law bill being rammed through parliament.

"Lower your banners, we are fighting a battle for al the Italian people," said Grillo, a comedian-turned-politician who recently turned the leadership of the movement over to Lower House Deputy Speaker Luigi Di Maio.

Grillo said "we weren't able to stage a protest outside the Senate because they were afraid of us".

He went on: "Let them do what they want, let them rig the election law, we shall overcome." He said the victory in next year's general election would be preceded by a win in the November 5 regional elections in Sicily.

Grillo, Di Maio and the other M5S heavyweight, Alessandro Di Battista, put blindfolds over their eyes to protest against the election law and how it was being rammed through parlaiemnt by confidence votes.

The M5S supporters - estimated by the M5S to be over 4,000 - in the square did the same.

Grillo thanked the demonstrators who had come from all over Italy and the M5S Senators, who he said were "incredible, they're angrier than me".

He rebuffed criticism of Rome Mayor Virgina Raggi, saying "Rome is so clean that I've had to dirty it myself".

Di Battista warned President Sergio Mattarella not to sign the Rosatellum election-law bill into law, saying he had "already signed an unconstitutional bill, the Italicum, he's already been wrong once".

"He should be very careful not to sign another unconstitutional law. I hope he thinks about it very, very well".


ROME - Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont has decided not to speak on Thursday at 5 PM before the Spanish Senate. ''Let's not waste time with those who have already decided to destroy the self-government of Catalonia,'' Puigdemont wrote on Instagram on his decision. ''Let's go forward!,'' he added and called his government to meet in a special session to discuss the situation. The pro-independence Junts Pel Si (JpS) coalition, which supports Puigdemont, has asked that the 'Catalan Republic be proclaimed during a session of the Parlament on Thursday and Friday, according to an internal document cited by the Barcelona media.

Puigdemont's government is split between calling for a republic to be proclaimed and for early elections to be called, according to media reports. However, the region's vice president, Oriol Junqueras (ERC), told AP that Madrid has left Catalan separatists ''no alternative'' to proclaiming a new republic. The activation of Article 155 of the constitution is the ''only possible response'' to the pro-independence challenge thrown down by Puigdemont, reiterated Spanish president Mariano Rajoy before the Congress.



The application of Article 155, he said, would restore law and constitutional order to the rebellious region. Meanwhile, the pro-independence parties PDECAT and ERC in the Madrid Senate have filed an appeal in the Spanish constitutional court asking for a precaution of blocking the procedure for the adoption of Article 155. The party's senators say that the procedure activated by the government exhibits irregularities and violates the rights of minorities, protected by Article 23.

Giron has meanwhile declared King Felipe VI "persona non grata" after the hardline stance the head of state took on the Catalan crisis, as well as the Spanish prefect in Catalonia, Enric Millo. Mayor Marta Madrena has spoken out against the ''humiliation'' that Madrid is trying to impose on Catalans.






- Barcelona - The pro-independence coalition Junts Pel Si (JpS) that backs Catalonia president Carles Puigdemont has asked for the Catalan Republic to be proclaimed during the session of Parlament on Thursday and Friday according to an internal document cited by the local press.



Puigdemont's government is reportedly divided between proclaiming the republic and calling early elections.



The position of deputy president Oriol Junqueras is not clear. Meanwhile, in a motion approved by the city council Girona had declared King Felipe VI 'persona non grata' in relation to his position over the Catalan crisis.



The city has also delclared Spanish prefect in Catalonia Enric Millo 'persna non grata'. Mayor Marta Madrena has denounced the "humiliation" that Madrid wants to impose on the Catalan people.


ISTANBUL The trial opened on Wednesday of the director of Amnesty International in Turkey, Idil Eser, and nine other human rights activists on charges of "terrorist association".



The defendants, who also include two foreigners, German Peter Steudtner and Swede Ali Gharavi, face up to 15 years in prison.



They were arrested in early July during a raid on a meeting on the island of Buyukada, off Istanbul. Prosecutors claim they were planning to instigate chaos "with violence similar to Gezi park" during the "march for justice" from Ankara to Istanbul led by the Turkisg opposition in June and July. Instead the trial of Amnesty president Taner Kilic will start in Smirne on Thursday. Kilic is accused of terrorist association for suspected links with the alleged coup-plotting network linked to Fethullah Gulen.



He also faces 15 years in jail. Amnesty strongly rejects all the charges against its members.



"From the moment of their detentions, it has been clear that these are politically motivated prosecutions aimed at silencing critical voices within Turkey," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's Europe Director.
ANSAmed - Today's events in the Mediterranean

(ANSAmed) - ROME, OCTOBER 25 - These are some of the main events scheduled for today in the Euro-Mediterranean area: DUBAI - Global Women Leadership forum to discuss the inclusion of women and gender equality in the business world (also on the 26th).



DUBAI - World Green Economy Summit 2017 (Wges).



ROME - EU, summit on 'Water and climate: meeting of the great rivers of the world'.



ROME - Congress on 'Migrations, the global phenomenon and the peculiarity of the Italian case'. (ANSAmed).




Catalonia to 'go forward, Madrid wants to destroy us' Puigdemont not to speak in Senate, appeal against Art. 155

(ANSAmed) - ROME, OCTOBER 25 - Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont has decided not to speak on Thursday at 5 PM before the Spanish Senate. ''Let's not waste time with those who have already decided to destroy the self-government of Catalonia,'' Puigdemont wrote on Instagram on his decision. ''Let's go forward!,'' he added and called his government to meet in a special session to discuss the situation. The pro-independence Junts Pel Si (JpS) coalition, which supports Puigdemont, has asked that the 'Catalan Republic be proclaimed during a session of the Parlament on Thursday and Friday, according to an internal document cited by the Barcelona media. Puigdemont's government is split between calling for a republic to be proclaimed and for early elections to be called, according to media reports. However, the region's vice president, Oriol Junqueras (ERC), told AP that Madrid has left Catalan separatists ''no alternative'' to proclaiming a new republic. The activation of Article 155 of the constitution is the ''only possible response'' to the pro-independence challenge thrown down by Puigdemont, reiterated Spanish president Mariano Rajoy before the Congress.



The application of Article 155, he said, would restore law and constitutional order to the rebellious region. Meanwhile, the pro-independence parties PDECAT and ERC in the Madrid Senate have filed an appeal in the Spanish constitutional court asking for a precaution of blocking the procedure for the adoption of Article 155. The party's senators say that the procedure activated by the government exhibits irregularities and violates the rights of minorities, protected by Article 23. Giron has meanwhile declared King Felipe VI "persona non grata" after the hardline stance the head of state took on the Catalan crisis, as well as the Spanish prefect in Catalonia, Enric Millo. Mayor Marta Madrena has spoken out against the ''humiliation'' that Madrid is trying to impose on Catalans.



(ANSAmed).




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Graham Casbourne, Sales Manager commented "We currently hold EASA Part 145, FAA and many other worldwide approvals and we are delighted to be adding Bahrain CAA to our extensive portfolio. We will continue to offer a competitive rate, high quality product & short turnaround times to this new market. We have a wealth of experience delivering heavy maintenance services and it will enable us to broaden our customer base to new regions. We look forward to welcoming our first customer that will benefit from this latest approval addition during October 2017".
Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)

George H. W. Bush (1989-1993)

Bill Clinton (1993-2001)

George W. Bush (2001-2009)

Barack Obama (2009-2017)

The war is not meant to be won. It is meant to be continuous.  George Orwell

By Rachel Blevins Five former presidents of the United States came together for a hurricane relief benefit, and their photo-op with musician Lady Gaga led to a surprising reactionthe Internet loved it! Not only did the public put politics aside, it also seems to have forgotten about all of the things these men have done to give them a very different title:Nothing more beautiful than everyone putting their differences aside to help humanity in the face of catastrophe. #OneAmericaAppeal , Gaga wrote on Twitter.After the CIA-sponsored assassination of the first democratically-elected prime minister of Congo in 1961, the brand new Carter administration stepped aside and said nothing as its allies provided the countrys new puppet dictator with military equipment to crush a dissenting movement that broke out in 1977.Guatemala was also dealing with the effects of U.S. military intervention in 1977, and the horrific conditions included the presence of military death squads that tortured innocent civilians. While Carter claimed to cut off aid to the military government, some reports have argued that this was little more than a PR stunt while tangible support continued.When the South African Defense Forces dropped bombs on innocent civilians in Cassinga, Angola, in 1978, more than 600 Namibians in sovereign Angolan territory were murdered as a result. Carter defended the apartheid government before the UN Security Council to ensure that it would not face sanctions.Before the Carter Administration was dealing with the aftermath of CIA-sponsored intervention around the world, George H. W. Bush was serving as the Director of Central Intelligence beginning in 1976. His term lasted for just 355 days.Bush then went on to become president in 1989, and he launched Operation Desert Storm in 1990. The argument was that Iraq had amassed 250,000 troops and 1,500 tanks on the border with Saudi Arabia, according to top-secret satellite images.However, St. Petersburg Times journalist Jean Heller reported that according to two commercial Soviet satellite images of the same area, taken at the same time, This means that the first Bush Administration convinced the public that it should invade a sovereign nation based on claims that it was threatening a U.S. allybut there is no proof that those claims were true.When Clinton took office in 1993, the U.S. continued its war with Iraq through sanctions. While numbers from the United Nations suggested thatbecause of the sanctions, Clinton defended his administrations actions, and blamed Saddam Hussein.In addition to denying humanitarian aid to the country, Clinton bombed Iraq in 1998. He sought no approval from Congress, and it was argued that he used the bombing to distract from his impeachment proceedings.Clinton also bombed Afghanistan and Sudan in 1998, launching dozens of cruise missiles and claiming it wasHe insisted that the targeted area in Sudan was producing chemical weapons and had ties to Osama bin Laden, but no evidence of that was ever produced.The propaganda against both Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden reached new heights when the second Bush took office. Before the death toll from the 9/11 attacks was confirmed, the Bush Administration had announced , and the mainstream media had spread the claim far and wide, that bin Laden and al-Qaeda were to blame.Bush is credited with officially starting the War on Terror, which led to the illegal invasions of Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003 . In addition to killing hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians over the years, U.S. military intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan is still ongoing today, and it shows no signs of slowing down.Despite running on a platform of peace, and even winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, Barack Obama has a record of spending more time at war than any other U.S. president. His administration fueled the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and created new conflicts in Syria by arming so-called moderate rebels, and then dealing with the consequences.Obama also earned the nickname of Drone King, as he took U.S. Air Wars to a new level by launching unprecedented drone strikes in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen.Now, as Donald Trumps first year in office come to an end, it is clear that he is only continuing the battles that were started and prolonged by his predecessorsand the first 9 months of his administration have already resulted in a horrific number of civilian causalities Rachel Blevins is a Texas-based journalist who aspires to break the left/right paradigm in media and politics by pursuing truth and questioning existing narratives. Follow Rachel on Facebook Twitter and YouTube . This article first appeared at The Free Thought Project
nfosys pointed out that the company published the summary findings of these investigations, given the attention these matters had received.

Mumbai: Snubbing Narayana Murthys allegations of wrong doing against the previous board led by Vishal Sikka, Infosys on Tuesday reaffirmed the previous findings of external investigation agencies that had given a clean chit to the manner in which the previous management handled the acquisition of Panaya and severance payment to the companys former CFO Rajiv Bansal.

The constant attack by Mr Murthy alleging serious violation of corporate governance norms in the above deals led to a reshuffle of the board that saw the exit of Mr Sikka and the appointment of its co-founder Nandan Nilekani as its non-executive chairman.

As previously indicated, the chairman has conducted a review of all the external investigations into certain anonymous complaints the company had previously received. The review covered a range of matters described below, including the acquisition of Panaya, which was completed by the company in February 2015, and the severance payments to the former CFO. After careful consideration led by our chairman, the board reaffirms the previous findings of external investigations that there is no merit to the allegations of wrongdoing, the company said.

Among other things, the review reaffirmed the conclusion of the independent investigation that there was no merit to the allegations of wrongdoing with respect to the acquisition of Panaya.

The review also confirmed that the company made appropriate and timely disclosures relating to severance payments to the former CFO at the end of the quarter of his resignation, and subsequently in the Companys 20-F and annual report.

Unlike the practice followed in the past, Infosys pointed out that the company published the summary findings of these investigations, given the attention these matters had received.
Ministry said all cases of attacks on journalists must be investigated promptly to ensure criminals get 'persecuted in time- bound manner'.

The central government's missive was sent in the wake of the killing two journalists, Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru and Shantanu Bhowmik in Agartala. (Representational Image)

New Delhi: The Home Ministry has asked all states to ensure safety and security of journalists in exercising freedom of speech and expression, in the wake of incidents of attacks on mediapersons.

In an advisory to the states, the home ministry also said all cases of attacks on journalists should be investigated promptly to ensure that criminals get "persecuted in a time- bound manner".

"Fourth Estate is an important institution of the democracy. It ensures that citizens are able to express their opinions freely without any fear and coercion as provided under the Constitution of India. It is the duty of the state to ensure safety and security of the journalists who ensure that the Fourth Estate discharges this key duty," the advisory said.

The central government's missive was sent in the wake of the killing two journalists, Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru and Shantanu Bhowmik in Agartala.

The ministry said from time to time, incidents of attacks on journalists and mediapersons were reported and all such cases need to be investigated promptly "to ensure that criminals get persecuted in a time-bound manner".

"States should also take all preventive and deterrent action as deemed required. States are already empowered to provide security to individuals based on threat perceptions," it said.

The ministry said while police and public order are state subjects under the Constitution, in view of its importance, it is drawing the attention of the state governments and Union Territory administrations from time to time towards the need for a robust criminal justice system with emphasis on prevention and control of crime.

"The state administrations are requested to... ensure that a peaceful environment prevails, allowing journalists/media personnel to exercise freedom of speech and expression in their professional pursuit; ensure that the investigations are concluded in a time-bound manner and public trust in criminal justice system is maintained," it said.
Speaking about the situation in Kashmir, General Rawat said that according to him, it is improving.

General Rawat said that their major requirement as of now is intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). (Photo: PTI | File)

New Delhi: Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday said the appointment of an interlocutor for Kashmir will not have an impact on Army operations.

"Government has given Dineshwar Sharma the task of an interlocutor so we need to give him time to see how he will work," said General Rawat at a FICCI seminar.

Speaking about the situation in Kashmir, General Rawat said that according to him, it is improving.

"Infiltration has decreased since we have gunned down terrorists at the border and the policy of the government regarding Kashmir has worked," he added.

He also said he is not emphasizing on the fact that attacks like Uri cannot happen again, but added that they (the armed forces) need to be prepared and alert.

"We are also looking at Electronic Warfare (EW) system to keep an eye not just on borders but in hinterland also. Security of installations in the hinterland is becoming a cause of concern. We are getting reports of Uri like attacks well in depth," he said.

Speaking about the FICCI seminar, General Rawat asserted that the seminar that they are attending is focusing at indigenisation.

"We have given out last year two compendiums highlighting the problem statements of the armed forces, particularly the army. This is a seminar where we are interacting with the industry to see how we can move forward," he said.

General Rawat also said that their major requirement as of now is intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).

"Our purpose is to discuss it with the industries on how we can make this process move forward and how best we can indigenise equipments to assistance whether for surveillance or war fighting," he added.

On Tuesday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said decisions regarding Jammu and Kashmir would be taken by interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma.

"Dineshwar Sharma is appointed as the Government of India's special representative in Jammu and Kashmir, now what has to be done and how, it will be his decision," he told media.
Tillerson arrived on a whirlwind visit to reset bilateral ties strained Trump accused Pak of providing safe havens to terror groups.

US secretary of state Rex Tillerson (left) is greeted by Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (right) in Islamabad on October 24, 2017. (Photo: AFP)

Islamabad: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, on Tuesday, bluntly told Pakistan's top leadership that it must increase efforts to eradicate terrorists operating within the country.

Tillerson arrived in Islamabad on a whirlwind visit to reset bilateral ties strained after President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorist groups.

During his meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Tillerson discussed the bilateral cooperation and partnership, expanding economic ties between the US and Pakistan, and Pakistans critical role in the region.

Abbasi chaired an inter-agency meeting attended by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of Defence Khurram Dastigir Khan, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, ISI chief Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and other officials.

The US embassy in Islamabad said that the Secretary reiterated President Trump's message that "Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country."

To address those concerns, the Secretary outlined the United States new South Asia Strategy and the vital role that Pakistan can play in working with the US and others to facilitate a peace process in Afghanistan that can bring stability and security to the region, the embassy statement said.

"The Secretary noted that Pakistan and the United States share common interests in establishing a stable, peaceful Afghanistan, defeating ISIS in South Asia, and eliminating terrorist groups that threaten both Pakistan and the United States."

During the meeting, Abbasi assured Tillerson that his country is committed to the war against terrorism.

"The US can rest assured that we are strategic partners in the war against terror and that today, Pakistan is fighting the largest war in the world against terror," Abbasi said.

Abbasi said Pakistan is "committed in the war against terror."

Read: Committed to 'war on terror': Pak PM Abbasi to Tillerson

He said Pakistan has produced "results" in its war against terrorism and it was looking forward to moving ahead with the US and building a tremendous relationship.

So far no official statement was issued by Pakistan but Defence Minister Khan talking to Geo TV said that all aspects of relations were discussed and there was agreement to increase cooperation to defeat militancy.

"They asked Pakistan to take action against groups which are involved in militancy and also urged Pakistan to help create peace in Afghanistan," he said.

He said the Pakistani side insisted that its efforts for peace were derailed twice -- once when the news of the death of Mullah Omar was divulged and second when Taliban leader Mullah Mansoor was killed.

He said Pakistan the tone of the US delegation was reconciliatory and it insisted that Pakistans role was important for regional peace as it lies between India and Afghanistan.

Khan said that Pakistan also highlighted the issue of Indian presence in Afghanistan and raised concerns about New Delhi's role in security affairs in the war-torn country.

"We said that we do not have any issue with Indian development work in Afghanistan but we have issued with its security role," he said.

He said the US official tried to "tell us that India is not a threat to Pakistan but our perception was different".

He said Tillerson expressed gratitude to Pakistan in securing the release of the Boyle-Coleman family from Taliban captivity.

Earlier, Tillerson quietly landed at a military airport in Rawalpindi in the afternoon and was driven to US embassy where he was briefed by senior US officials about relations with Pakistan.

He later met Abbasi at the Prime Minister House and held detailed talks on various aspects of relations.

It was Tillersons first visit to the region after Trump unveiled his policy for Afghanistan and South Asia.

Trump's remarks in August unruffled the ties already under strain due to various issues.

Pakistan regularly denies that it hosts terror groups fighting the US and Afghan forces in Afghanistan.

Trump's criticism led to further strain in US-Pakistan relations with a peeved Islamabad saying the president ignored its efforts in the war against terrorism.

Tillerson flew to India after his meetings in Islamabad, where he is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushama Swaraj.
The NIA has claimed that so far Yousuf has received a total of nearly Rs 4.5 lakh through eight international wire transfers.

New Delhi: A Delhi court, on Wednesday, sent Syed Shahid Yousuf, son of globally wanted terrorist Syed Salahuddin, to seven days NIA custody in connection with a 2011 terror funding case for allegedly receiving money from his father.

Yousuf, who was arrested on Tuesday by National Investigation Agency (NIA), was produced before District and Sessions Judge Poonam A Bamba, who allowed the probe agencys plea for his custody.

According to the agency, 42-year-old Yousuf, who works in the agricultural department of the Jammu and Kashmir government, was summoned to the agency's headquarters where he was arrested after questioning on Tuesday.

Read: NIA arrests Hizbul chief Salahuddin's son in terror funding case

The NIA alleged that Yousuf used to receive funds through a US-based international wire transfer company from Aijaz Ahmed Bhat, another accused in the case who is absconding and is reported to be based in Saudi Arabia.

The agency has alleged that Yousuf was "one of several Indian contacts of Bhat" who had been in telephonic contact with him for receiving money transfer codes.

The NIA has claimed that so far Yousuf has received a total of nearly Rs 4.5 lakh through eight international wire transfers.

The case, registered by the NIA in April 2011, relates to the transfer of money from Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir through hawala channels via Delhi, which the agency claims was used in funding terrorism and secessionist activities.

The NIA has so far filed two charge sheets against six people including G M Bhat, a close aide of pro-Pakistan separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Siddiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga. All four are in judicial custody.

Two others -- Mohammed Maqbool Pandit and Bhat  were also charge sheeted by the NIA but are absconding. Interpol Red Corner notices have been issued against them.

Yousuf's father Mohammed Yusuf Shah -- better known as Syed Salahuddin -- was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department of State in June this year.

Besides heading terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, he is the chairman of the United Jehad Council (UJC), a conglomerate of terrorist outfits operating in the Kashmir Valley.

The NIA had also registered two other cases related to terror funding -- one in November 2011 and the other in May this year. It had filed a charge sheet against 10 people including Syed Salahuddin in the April 2011 case.

In the recent case, the NIA arrested 10 people including some close relatives and aides of Geelani.
Police say the car was travelling at high speed when it ran over the road median and crashed into an electric pole on the divider.

The crashed car of Sana Iqbal who met with an accident in Sun City on Tuesday. (Photo: Deccan Chronicle)

Hyderabad: Noted cross-country motorcycle rider, Sana Iqbal, from Hyderabad, who had completed a countrywide solo expedition to create awareness about suicide, was killed in a car crash in Sun City in the early hours of Tuesday.

Her husband Abdul Nadeem, who was driving, has been badly injured and is in hospital.

Police say the car was travelling at high speed when it ran over the road median and crashed into an electric pole on the divider.

Sana, who was sitting on the left, sustained injuries that were severe enough to cause her death. The two were returning home from Masab Tank. Based on a complaint from her sister Seema Iqbal, a case of accidental death and causing injuries was registered.
The bench said that the parking ground could be an environmental hazard.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday stepped in to protect world heritage monument Taj Mahal by ordering demolition of a parking lot surrounding it.

A bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta passed the order on an application from environmentalist M.C. Mehta, who alleged that the UP government had not obtained necessary environmental clearances.

The bench directed Agra authorities to demolish within four weeks the parking lot for tourists which was being built within one kilometre of the eastern gate of the 17th century mausoleum.

When the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday , the top court asked about the presence of the counsel appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government. When it was informed that no advocate was present, the bench said the parking lot would be demolished.

Soon after the order was passed, Uttar Pradesh additional advocate general Aishwarya Bhati brought to the notice of the court that the demolition order was passed when the state counsel was not present and the application seeking permission for construction of a multi-level car parking lot was pending. At present, a two-storey parking lot exists near the eastern gate of the Taj Mahal. The bench told the counsel that the application has been dismissed for default (non-appearance of lawyer) and the state could file a fresh application for restoration, which would be considered.

The bench said that the parking ground could be an environmental hazard.

In the last hearing, the apex court pulled up the state and the Central government for seeking its permission to cut over 400 trees to lay down an additional railway track between Mathura in Uttar Pradesh to Delhi. The Centre said that in order to clear the bottleneck of train movement, it was necessary to lay down the additional track in the stretch. The court would hear the matter next month.

The Bench had observed in August Do you want to destroy the world famous Taj Mahal. This (Taj Mahal) is a world-famous monument and you (government) want to destroy it? Have you seen the recent pictures of Taj? Go to the Internet and have a look at it. If you want, then file an affidavit or application and say that the Union of India wants to destroy the Taj.
Kovind was addressing the joint session of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council on the 60th anniversary of Vidhan Soudha.

President Ram Nath Kovind's statement comes amid the controversy triggered few days back after the Karnataka government planned to celebrate the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan on November 10. (Photo: ANI)

Bengaluru: President Ram Nath Kovind's mention of the 18th century Mysore ruler, Tipu Sultan, in his address to the joint session of Karnataka legislature on Wednesday triggered a political slugfest between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP.

The development comes amid a raging controversy over the state government celebrating the birth anniversary of the Mysore ruler on November 10. The move has been opposed tooth and nail by the BJP which sees Tipu Sultan as a "religious bigot" and a "brutal killer".

"Tipu Sultan died a heroic death fighting the British. He was also a pioneer in the development and use of Mysore rockets in warfare. This technology was later adopted by the Europeans," Kovind said while noting that Karnataka is a land of formidable soldiers.

The president's reference to Tipu Sultan came after he noted the contributions of various historical figures of Karnataka, including Krishnadevaraya who was the emperor of the Vijayanagara empire from 1509 to 1529.

As the president made the reference about the 18th century ruler in his speech to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature, the Congress members cheered by thumping on the desks.

Tipu was a ruler of the erstwhile kingdom of Mysore. He was considered an implacable enemy of the British East India Company. He was killed in May 1799 while defending his fort of Srirangapatna against the British forces.

Opposition BJP and some outfits are opposed to Tipu Jayanti celebrations and have called him "religious bigot", "fanatic" and "anti-Kannada".

Tipu Sultan is also viewed in a negative light in Kodagu district of the state where he is alleged to have persecuted the local Kodava population, as also the Roman Catholics of Mangaluru, on religious grounds and forced conversion to Islam.

Hitting out at the state government, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa alleged that the government has "misused" the office of the president by getting Tipu's name mentioned in the speech.

"I condemn it....it is an insult done to people of Karnataka by the state government. If we had raised objections when president mentioned Tipu, it would have led to violation of protocol...," he added.

Reacting to the allegations, state Congress working president Dinesh Gundu Rao said the BJP should be "ashamed."

He said "by trying to say that president has just read out a speech written by somebody, they are insulting the office of the president and the president."

Suggesting that the speech was prepared by president's office after collecting inputs from various sources, Rao said "...such allegations show the state of mind the BJP leaders are in."

"Congratulations to Hon. President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind for a statesman like address to the Karnataka legislature. @rashtrapatibhvn," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tweeted.

Congratulations to Hon. President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind for a statesman like address to the Karnataka legislature. @rashtrapatibhvn

 Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) October 25, 2017Recently, Union minister Anantkumar Hegde had stirred a hornet's nest after he requested the Karnataka government not to include his name in programme invitations for Tipu Jayanti celebrations.

"(I have) conveyed (to) Karnataka government not to invite me to the shameful event of glorifying a person known as a brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist," Hegde had said in a tweet.

Read: K'taka CM slams Union minister for denying invite to Tipu Jayanti event

The Siddaramaiah-led government is all set to celebrate Tipu Jayanti despite widespread protests and violence that had marred the celebrations in the last two years.
The father was re-arrested and charged with first-degree felony injury to a child due to a conflicting statement to police.

3-year-old Sherin Mathews was last seen outside her family's backyard in Richardson city in Texas on October 7. (RichardsonPD | Facebook)

Houston: Sherin Mathews, the three-year-old Indian girl missing for over two weeks, is dead, US police said on Wednesday.

Sherin, who had developmental issues and limited verbal communication skills, was last seen outside her family's backyard in Richardson city in Texas on October 7.

The Richardson Police earlier announced that they discovered the remains of a small child in a tunnel beneath a road, expressing apprehension that it was "most likely" that of Sherin. The body was found about one km from the house of her adoptive parents Wesley and Sini Mathews.

Read: As reports confirm Sherins death, Richardson united in heartbreak, anger

Police said medical examiners used dental records to identify the child. Her cause of death is still pending.

An arrest warrant issued by the Richardson Police detailed the "conflicting story" that led to the re-arrest of Sherin's father.

37-year-old Mathews told police that his daughter choked while drinking milk and he removed her body from the house as he "believed she had died".

He was re-arrested and charged with first-degree felony injury to a child due to a conflicting statement to police.

He said he "physically assisted" Sherin in drinking her milk when she wouldn't listen to him, according to the warrant.

"She was coughing and her breathing slowed," the warrant reads.

"Eventually, Wesley Mathews no longer felt a pulse on the child and believed she had died."

He then admitted to police that he removed the body from the home, the warrant reads.

Mathews had previously claimed that Sherin went missing after he sent her outside their home in suburban Dallas in Texas state at around 3 am on October 7 as punishment for not drinking her milk.

He was arrested then and charged with felony endangerment to a child and was placed on electronic ankle monitoring. He also surrendered his passport as a condition of making bond on October 9.

He was re-arrested for felony injury to a child after providing investigators at the Richardson Police Department with the conflicting story.

"When they came in, they provided us with some information that was contrary to what we had previously been told regarding her [Sherin Mathews] disappearance," said Kevin Perlich, Richardson Police Department spokesperson.

When asked on Tuesday about the milk story Mathews originally told police, Perlich wouldn't provide specifics because it was an ongoing investigation. All he could say was that "it was not what he told us originally."

Read: US: Father of missing Indian girl arrested day after body of a child found

The FBI seized dozens of items from the family's home and their vehicles between October 8 and 12, including a washer and dryer, electronics and DNA swabs.

Mathews, who hails from Kerala, was booked into the Richardson City Jail on a USD one million bond.

Mathews and his wife Sini reportedly adopted Sherin two years ago from an orphanage in Bihar.
Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said Indias trade with North Korea is minimal and that it has a small embassy in Pyongyang.

New Delhi: India on Wednesday made it clear that it will not shut its embassy in North Korea, telling the United States that it (the US) must have some friendly countries that have embassies in Pyongyang so that communication channels are open. Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said Indias trade with North Korea is minimal and that it has a small embassy in Pyongyang.

In another major move, the US indicated it had no objection to India and Afghanistans efforts to develop the Chabahar port in Iran, adding that it was not against legitimate business activities of European countries or India with Iran. Visiting US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said the US was not against the Iranian people and wanted sanctions to punish the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the oppressive revolutionary regime there.

It will not be incorrect to say that our trade is minimal with North Korea. We have a small embassy there, Ms Swaraj said, in response to a question from the American media.

Referring to the US, she said, Some of your friends embassies should be there (in Pyongyang). Channels of communication should be there (with North Korea), adding that Mr Tillerson had appreciated Indias stand. The US has been involved in a fierce war of words with the North Korean regime amid global fears of a nuclear conflict due to the nuclear capabilities and aggression shown by North Korea.

In response to a question from the US media on whether there was a contradiction between the US strategy on Afghanistan (which has invested in the Chabahar project) and on Iran, Mr Tillerson replied in the negative. He indicated that the US had no objection to Indo-Afghan efforts (with Iran) to develop the Chabahar port in Iran (that is expected to drastically reduce Afghanistans dependence on Pakistan regarding maritime access). Mr. Tillerson said, It is not the objective (of the US) to interfere with legitimate business activities of European countries or India with Iran, Mr. Tillerson said, adding that the US was not against the Iranian people.

He said the US was against Irans nuclear programme and also accused Tehran of carrying out disruptive activities in Yeman and Syria.

The Iranian people should one day retake control, Mr Tillerson said, adding that they live under an oppressive revolutionary regime.
She said that Dr Ambedkar had to urged saints and seers to change the system in Hinduism which alienated the deprived sections of society.

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati on Tuesday warned that if the BJP did not change its anti-dalit and anti-OBC mentality, she and her supporters would be forced to convert to Buddhism like Bhimrao Ambedkar.

She said that Dr Ambedkar had to urged saints and seers to change the system in Hinduism which alienated the deprived sections of society. But this did not happen and Dr Ambedkar gave up Hinduism and adopted the Buddhist faith, she said.

Addressing a rally in Azamgarh on Tuesday, Ms Mayawati lashed out at the BJP for pursuing the RSS agenda of caste politics and blamed the party for the suicide of Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad and the Una killings.

It was the BJP that is responsible for the caste riots in Saharanpur. When I tried to raise the issue in the Rajya Sabha, I was not allowed to speak and that is why I resigned from the Upper House, she explained.

The BJP is promoting caste politics and the Prime Minister is misleading the people by talking of New India. We will not allow them to succeed in their designs and the BSP will emerge stronger in the municipal elections, she stated.

Taking a dig at UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, the BSP president said, He can look after the development of the state only if he gets time from his religious duties and temple visits in Gorakhpur, Ayodhya and Chitrakoot.

She alleged that despite being a representative from the backward Purvanchal area, the chief minister has not been able to give attention to its development.

She claimed that the BJP leaders can go for prayers to temples in Ayodhya, Mathura and Varanasi to hide their shortcomings but the people will no longer be misled by their religious card.

The previous Samajwadi Party government was not good, but the present government is worse and is even lagging behind them, Ms Mayawati said.
The findings come from the study on Southern Resident killer whales, a critically endangered population in the Pacific Ocean.

The findings come from the study on Southern Resident killer whales, a critically endangered population in the Pacific Ocean. (Photo: Pixabay)

Male killer whales who remain socially isolated are three times more likely to die than those at the centre of their social group, a study suggests.

The effect is much stronger in years where food is scarce, and it does not affect females - possibly because males are larger and need more support from the group to get enough food, researchers said.

The findings come from the study on Southern Resident killer whales, a critically endangered population in the Pacific Ocean that numbers just 76.

"This research highlights the importance of social bonds to male killer whales, and shows that males that are less socially connected are more likely to die when times are hard," said Samuel Ellis, of the University of Exeter in the UK.

"Killer whales are highly cooperative, and males at the centre of a social group are likely to have better access to social information and food-sharing opportunities," said Ellis, lead author of the study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Southern Residents were among the groups from which killer whales were taken into captivity in the 1960s and 70s, and human activity is now posing much greater threats to their survival, according to Ken Balcomb from the Center for Whale Research in the US.

"Salmon is the main food for these whales, and stocks have been driven down by overfishing and the blocking of spawning grounds by damming rivers," said Balcomb.

"These factors make it all the more important to understand the drivers of survival and mortality among these whales," Balcomb said.

"Our research shows the importance of considering social positions and family ties in understanding and predicting the future of endangered populations," said Dan Franks, from the University of York in the UK.

Previous research has shown sociability has an effect on human life expectancy, but this is the first study to show that social position across the lifespan can predict survival in non-human animals, researchers said.

"These whales have been studied for more than 40 years and they are all recognisable by unique markings," said Professor Darren Croft, of the University of Exeter.

"By seeing which whales regularly swam together across a year and across multiple years, we started to understand a network of what in humans we would call friendships," Croft said.
Shopkeepers and traders at the market have estimated the damage due to the fire at more than Rs 5 crore.

A view of Kamla Market area on Tuesday, where a major fire gutted at least 60 shops and godowns late Monday night. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Coinciding with the Chhath festival, a major fire broke out in Central Delhis Kamla Market that gutted numerous shops and godowns and damaged goods worth crores of rupees late Monday night, a Delhi Fire Services official said.

Shopkeepers and traders at the market have estimated the damage due to the fire at more than Rs 5 crore. The fire department received a call late Monday night around 1.05 am about the blaze. Immediately, 25 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, the Delhi Fire Services official said.

While there were no reports of casualties, nearly 60 shops and godowns were gutted in the fire incident, the police said. It is suspected that the cause of fire was a short-circuit, they added. The firefighters, finally, brought raging fire under control after over four hours by 5:10 am on Tuesday morning, the official added.

The police said that the market, which houses shops selling air coolers and their spare parts and accessories. Goods worth crores of rupees were gutted in the blaze, the police said, adding that the shopkeepers and traders would ascertain the exact damage of the goods and shops gutted in the fire.

More than 300 workers and loaders, who were sleeping or working in the market, had a narrow escape from certain death in the fire. They were initially panicked as they were trapped as flames spread to one of the markets entry-exit points.

As the blaze spread like a wildfire, the panicked workers rushed out of the market using the main entry gate to save their lives.

Pradeep Bhatia, president of the Kamla Market welfare association, said that the fire started around 1 am reportedly due to a short-circuit in high-voltage wires in an electric pole outside shop No. 128.

The raging fire soon engulfed 60 shops within a radius 100 meters in 10 minutes. By the time, the flames were fuly doused, property worth several crores of rupees was reduced into ashes and rubble, he added.
The woman told DCW that she married her husband against parents' will and lived together for 14 months in Haryana.

The husband, with the help of his friends, reported the incident to the Delhi Commission for Women. (Representational Image)

New Delhi: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) team and Gurgaon police on Tuesday rescued a married woman, confined in her parents' house for six months.

The woman told DCW that she married her husband against parents' will and lived together for 14 months in Haryana.

During this period, she was forced by her parents to return home and end the marriage.

After 14 months, the woman's parents forcibly brought her, along with her one-year-old son home, and also did not allow her to return back to her husband.

She also confessed that her parents threatened to kill her, along with the child, if she demanded to return back to her husband.

The husband, with the help of his friends, reported the incident to the Delhi Commission for Women.

The chairperson of DCW, Swati Jaihind, sent a rescue team to help Rajni and unite her with her husband.

Jaihind also appealed the citizens to report such cases to DCW for speedy action and to help women or girls who are suffering.
The victim, in her complaint, told police that she had come to India in the last week of September for business reasons.

An NRI woman from New Zealand filed a complaint alleging she was raped by a man, who met her for a business deal in Delhi. (Representational Image)

New Delhi: An NRI woman from New Zealand filed a complaint alleging she was raped by a man, who met her for a business deal, in southeast Delhi's Maharani Bagh, only to backtrack before the magistrate, the police said on Wednesday.

The incident was reported to the police on September 29. The victim, in her complaint, told police that she had come to India in the last week of September for business reasons.

The woman, along with her husband, met the accused for dinner on September 27, the police said.

However, she denied the allegations levelled by her before a magistrate, they said.

On September 29, the man had allegedly invited the woman for dinner at his house in Maharani Bagh and came to pick her up at the hotel where she was staying, they said.

She also alleged that he had offered her drinks and then forced himself on her. After she returned to her hotel, she narrated her ordeal to her husband and they approached the police.

The police said that they are probing the matter and no arrest has been made till now.
The DMRC was formed in 1995 with equal equity participation of the Central and the state government.

New Delhi: An expert committee should review the nature and extent of control exercised by the Central and Delhi governments over the functioning of DMRC, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal told the Central government on Tuesday. Mr Kejriwal was replying to a letter by Union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri, in which Mr Puri had agreed to set up an expert committee to look into the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The letter comes close on the heels of the city metro fare hike on October 10, the second increase this year, despite strong opposition from the Delhi government.

The DMRC was formed in 1995 with equal equity participation of the Central and the state government. Im glad that you have agreed to set up an expert committee as suggested in your October 12 letter, Mr Kejriwal said in the letter dated Tuesday. As far as the terms of reference are concerned, the committee should be asked to examine and make recommendations relating to the organisation, management, control and accountability of the DMRC, he said.

The chief minister said the Central government can recommend one or two members for the committee and the Delhi government will recommend an equal number. The committee members can then choose an eminent and independent person to be the chairman of the committee, he said.
Mr Dey said the state government is not trying to suppress any information regarding dengue cases or deaths.

Kolkata: Since January this year, 18,238 cases of dengue have been reported from different parts of West Bengal, while 35 people have died due to the vector-borne disease till Tuesday, state chief secretary Malay Dey said. He said during the same period last year, 20,140 cases of dengue were reported and the number of deaths stood at 40.

Asserting that there was nothing to panic, Dey told reporters, There have been reports of viral fever but not all are dengue. Laboratories are conducting rapid tests to ascertain dengue which is not acceptable.

While ascertaining dengue, laboratories should follow the protocol set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) or else the state government would take necessary action against them for wrong diagnosis and creating panic, he said.

We are monitoring the situation on a daily basis. We have taken appropriate preventive measures, Mr Dey said, adding that all municipalities and panchayats have been asked to be cautious. The figures (dengue cases and deaths) were much higher last year. There is no abnormality in dengue incidences this year. So there is nothing to panic, the officer said.

Mr Dey said the state government is not trying to suppress any information regarding dengue cases or deaths. Though dengue is mostly a city-centric, this year, such cases were from suburban areas and districts, he said.
Deshmukh had announced the adoption of the OSM system in order to assess the papers of 17 lakh final year students.

Mumbai: Maharashtra governor C. Vidyasagar Rao, who is also the chancellor of the University of Mumbai (MU), on Tuesday sacked Sanjay Deshmukh as the universitys vice-chancellor. Mr Rao removed Mr Deshmukh under Section 11(14)(e) of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016 for his alleged gross negligence and failure in implementing the online On-Screen Marking (OSM) assessment system for the final year exams in AprilMay, which resulted in a four-month delay in the declaration of results. Earlier, on August 10, the governor had sent Mr Deshmukh on leave.

In April, Mr Deshmukh had announced the adoption of the OSM system in order to assess the papers of 17 lakh final year students. His idea was to do away with malpractices and counting mistakes by putting the entire assessment system online. However, because of lack of planning and preparation, assessors found it difficult to adapt to the new system when it came to looking at the answer sheets of 377 examinations. According to them, after assessing the answer sheets via the pen-and-paper method for years, it was too new for them. Moreover, many teachers were 50-plus years of age, because of which they found it difficult to correct the papers on a computer screen.

The controversy was kicked off when the varsity managed to declare only 30-odd results 45 days of conducting the exams, a violation of the Maharashtra Public University Act, which says results must be declared by 30 days, or 45 days at most.

From students groups to political parties, everyone started blaming Mr Deshmukh for the fiasco. After he was sent on leave, the vice-chancellor of Shivaji University, Kolhapur served in Mr Deshmukhs place as in-charge V-C. Mr Devanand Shinde was placed on a special duty that was to clear the mess Deshmukh had allegedly created.
The government is confident that the airport will be functional from December 2019.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday approved the GVK led-Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) for the development of the much-delayed Navi Mumbai airport project. MIAL is a joint venture between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the GVK-led consortium. The government is confident that the airport will be functional from December 2019.

The Greenfield Airport has been planned on an area of 1,600 hectares in Navi Mumbai for which the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) is the nodal agency. The government had called for international bids for the airport project in which GMR Airports, Voluptuous Developers (Hiranandani Group) and Zurich Airport International AG, MIA Infrastructure (Vinci Airport and Tata Realty) and MIAL had participated. Based on various criteria, the MIAL was giving the best deal with quality. It was proposed by a committee of officials and today the Cabinet also approved the bid, an official from the chief ministers office said.

The MIAL has fulfilled all the security conditions for the airport and agreed to pay 13 per cent of the revenue to Cidco. MIAL will hold 74 per cent equity in the airport with the AAI and Cidco each holding 13 per cent. The nodal agency will also get concession fee of Rs 5,000 crore. The MIAL will also pay Rs 3,420 crore to Cidco for the development works, which will be conducted after 11 years from the appointment of the MIAL. The state exchequer will not have to bear the burden of the project, as the appointed company will take care of it, the official added.

The Navi Mumbai international airport, the second airport in the city, will be built near Panvel. The project, worth Rs 16,000 crore, has been mired in environment norm-related controversy due to which it has been delayed. However, it is now back on track with the recent development of appointing the developer.
Arif Sheikh has become the only Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the country to win this award in community policing twice in a row.

Arif Sheikh has become the only Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the country to win this award in community policing twice in a row. (Photo: ANI | Twitter)

Bastar: Bastar Superintendent of Police (SP) Sheikh Aarif Hussain has been awarded the prestigious International Association of Chief of Police (IACP) Award 2017 in Pennsylvania in the 'Homeland Security' category for his campaign 'Amcho Bastar, Amcho Police'.

Arif Sheikh has become the only Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the country to win this award in community policing twice in a row.

Arif Shaikh has dedicated this award to the martyrs, who have sacrificed their life at the altar of their duty in Bastar and to the brave and innocent tribals of the region, who have supported and collaborated with the Bastar Police in this fight against the Naxalism.

Through his campaign, the Bastar Police have come to the aid of few children, who were trapped in the clutches of the Bal Sangham of Maoists, who were used to plant IEDs against the security personnel. They also tried to bring back the surrendered Maoists into the mainstream by giving them alternative earning opportunities.

The 'Amcho Bastar, Amcho Police' initiative aimed at bridging the gap between the police and the tribal communities by assimilating with their culture. At the same time, the police has focussed on neutralising the Left wing extremist and also by encouraging the ultras to surrender and join the main stream.

The annual IACP award ceremony and Banquet was held on Wednesday in the Pennsylvania convention centre in a majestic ceremony.

The IACP is a 126-year-old organisation of all the chiefs of police in the U.S. with its headquarters located in Virginia.

The IACP president, Donald W. De Lucca, was the chief guest. The other guests of honour were the executive board directors of the IACP.

Total 15 different awards were given in various categories including forensic sciences, prevention of terrorism, community policing, human rights awards, victim services awards and Reuters awards for excellence in criminal investigations et al.

The IACP/Cisco Leadership award in community policing recognises outstanding community policing initiatives undertaken by law enforcement agencies worldwide.

The other agencies across the world which won the community policing awards were the Oelwein Police department from Iowa, the Monrovia Police department from California, the Roanoke Police department from Virginia, the Fujairah Police department from the UAE and the Arlington Police department from Texas.
Using disinvestment proceeds to inject public finance into private companies is a great idea.

What was Arun Jaitleys press conference on Tuesday all about anyway? If the intention was to gain eyeballs, it succeeded. But if it was to allay fears about the Indian economy, it failed. Here is why.

First, the optics were all wrong. The finance minister had just returned from the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington. The timing required talking up the economy in a more artful way, drawing on international trends, in rethinking the role of the State in development. Instead, the assembled press corps got drab statistics. The naysayers remain unconvinced that the economy is doing fine. Presenting alternative indicators  other than those already in the public domain  could have helped. For example, the government has reduced risk by conferring residency tax benefits for local administrative offices of multinational companies. Similarly, GST revenue is marginally more than the targets for the first quarter.

Second, the key announcement was a proposed outlay of `2.1 trillion for recapitalising public sector banks over two years. This was presented as a bold step. But how is it going to be achieved without relaxing the fiscal deficit target of 3.2 per cent of GDP this year? The budgeted outlay, this year, for capital support to publicly-owned banks is just Rs 100 billion. Where will the additional resources come from? The how and when remains a mystery.

The finance ministry has a long, credible tradition of technical expertise. The Prime Minister can get away with making generic promises. But finance ministers are required to be very precise. They cant waffle. They must not seem to be led by advice, whispered into their ears, while a press conference is on. This, unfairly, makes the finance minister look feeble, or worse, being led by the nose.

Mr Jaitley fell squarely into these traps. To his credit, he looked decidedly unhappy and uncomfortable while doing so. It is inconceivable that this media jamboree was his idea. Just back from Washington, where best fit fiscal practices are the main discourse, resorting to fuzzy announcements, which create high expectations and uncertainty, is not par for the course.

So what explains Mr Jaitley going down this route? After all, the Budget is just three months away. The sanctity of placing new budgetary proposals before Parliament, prior to revealing them to the public, is a sound convention. The only explanation is that the press meet was convened to boost the feel-good factor prior to the Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat elections, due over the next two months. Recapitalising banks sounds good. Building infrastructure sounds even better. If this was the intention, Mr Jaitley was right to look uncomfortable. Nothing stops the Union government from doing its job, even as state elections are being held. But a red line must be drawn at presenting significant new fiscal proposals, that are not already embedded in the existing fiscal roadmap.

Mr Jaitleys instincts remain sound. He will try hard not to breach the fiscal deficit target. He will resist reducing the capital outlay. He must also resist forcing cash-rich, listed publicly-owned companies to subscribe to the special recapitalisation bonds proposed to be floated by public sector banks. Listed, publicly-owned companies must be managed by their boards, and insulated from politics, at least with respect to their investments. Anything else is very unfair for the minority shareholders and the Securities and Exchange Board of India is duty-bound to resist such moves  however bizarre that may sound!

Generating `580 billion by selling off government equity held in excess of 51 per cent in banks is a good idea for a start. A better idea is to dilute government equity even further to 26 per cent without relinquishing effective control. The government does not need more equity to ensure that the public interest continues to be served. We must resolve the legal obstacles which prevent such dilution of equity.Using disinvestment proceeds to inject public finance into private companies, which create growth and jobs, is a great idea. But doing so via the chosen long route of public sector bank recapitalisation is worrisome. Unless management systems are restructured, politicised loans and NPAs will persist. This cannot be achieved by 2019.

What can be done is to use disinvestment resources to refinance private banks and non-banking finance companies, who in turn finance end-use borrowers, including small and medium enterprises (SME), to scale up operations. The unmet financing needs of SMEs are estimated at Rs 65 billion. But this could be an underestimate, not least because of their widespread use of cash or unbanked transactions. The share of manufacturing SMEs in GDP is seven per cent, or just under 50 per cent of total manufacturing GDP. Their most immediate financing need is to discount their invoices and thereby reduce the 60-to-90-day payment cycle which saps their cash reserves.

Private specialised companies offering boutique supply-chain financing already exist. The largest is reputed to be the New Delhi-based Priority Vendors Technologies Pvt Ltd. But these early entrants tend to finance only the payables and receivables of large, star-rated corporates who buy from, or sell goods and services to, smaller ancillary firms. There are 5,000 large corporates. Compare this with 1.6 million registered SMEs.

We have barely scratched the surface of the potential for supply-chain financing. Saturation levels of financing can alleviate the cash crunch, at the firm level, caused by the GST regime of advance tax payments coupled with the delays, in matching tax credits, earned on purchases, before they can be used by firms, to pay taxes.

India is replete with good ideas. The finance minister could have unleashed an array of nimble steps, which can lubricate the economy, reduce risk and create jobs. But, by not grounding Tuesdays press meet around a friendly conversation about the nitty-gritty of unleashing private potential and mitigating the hardships arising out of GST, this opportunity was lost. There will surely be another time. But will he be prepared by then to grasp the tide at its flood?

The writer is adviser, Observer Research Foundation
The apparent ransomware worm, dubbed as BadRabbit, bubbled up and began spreading in Russia, Ukraine and other Eastern European countries.

Remember the last time ransomware exploded out of proportion? Two major international ransomware attacks that took place this year  NotPetya and Wannacry caused widespread disruption, affecting many at large. Now, reports of a new, and worse, ransomware have been discovered affecting computer systems across the European countries, once again showing that cybercriminals with malicious intentions to extort money from victims across the globe. For those who live under a rock, a ransomware is a type of program that locks infected computers and asks victims to pay ransom to restore access. The infamous WannaCry ransomware attack in May forced the closure of factories, hospitals, and other facilities around the world for days.

The apparent ransomware worm, dubbed as Bad Rabbit, bubbled up and began spreading in Russia, Ukraine, and other Eastern European countries. The ransomware is said to be attacking corporate computers, several Russian media outlets, Ukraines Odessa airport and Kievs subway station as of now, according to a statement released by a Ukrainian government official.

Cybersecurity researchers  FireEye, ESET and Kaspersky, are among the organisations keeping strict watch online. Kaspersky found that both Petya and Bad Rabbit appeared on dozens of the same hacked websites, as stated by a report from Wired. According to ESET, the method used to distribute Bad Rabbit was through drive-by download, where Javascript is injected into websites HTML body or a JS file. Any user who visits a compromised site is greeted by a pop-up, showing Flash Player needs to be updated, which in turn tricks victims into downloading and installing the malware themselves. ESET believes this was only one method and possibly a smokescreen.

Once a computer is infected, the crooks behind Bad Rabbit lockdown computers and demand 0.05 Bitcoin (about $275) from victims within 41 hours in exchange for decryption of the data and restoring access to their machine. If the time expires, the ransom amount is bumped up. Although researchers believe that Bad Rabbit is somewhat similar to the Petya ransomware, it is still unclear as to who is behind the recent attack.

Our network devices blocked infection attempts at multiple victims globally until around 2017-10-24 15:00:00 UTC when the infection attempts ceased and attacker infrastructure  both 1dnscontrol.com and monitored sites containing the rogue code  were taken offline. The use of strategic web compromises and profilers provide guardrails that allow attackers to select targets carefully and halt operations quickly, said FireEye.

When we say strategic web compromises, this means an attacker hosts malicious code on an unknowing victims website that is then used to infect the true targets. The websites are carefully selected for compromise so that they will have the most direct reach to the ultimate targets with minimal collateral damage. In the case of BadRabbit, many strategic compromises were Eastern European travel and media websites used to then profile visitors and deliver the payload, they added.

We advise our readers to look for suspicious prompts or pop-ups on various websites. It is also advisable to use proper data security solutions such as antivirus software and anti-malware tools.

(Source: Deccan Chronicle)
Former Chinese ambassador to India, Le Yucheng was among the 172 alternate members elected to the Central Committee.

Beijing: Chinas top diplomat and Special Representative for India-China border talks has been elected to the powerful Central Committee of the CPC, belying speculation that he is set to retire.

Yang Jiechi, 67, along with foreign minister Wang Yi, 64, were elected to the 204-member central committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) which concluded its once-in-five-years Congress here on Tuesday.

Former Chinese ambassador to India, Le Yucheng was among the 172 alternate members elected to the Central Committee.

Mr Yang, a former Chinese foreign minister who took part in the India-China border talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval also played a major role in the talks to resolve the 73-day Dokalam standoff which ended on August 28.

Observers say that Mr Yang may get elevated to the 25-member Politburo of the CPC which will be unveiled tomorrow along with the seven-member Standing Committee which governs the country.

If he gets into the Politburo, Mr Yang could become vice premier becoming first Chinese foreign ministry official to get the post in over a decade, observers said.

If he gets elevated, Mr Wang could become state councillor and the new Special Representative of India-China border talks in March. The elevation of Mr Yang, Mr Wang and Mr Le shows President Xi Jinpings plans to give a big diplomatic push for his multibillion dollar Belt and Road Initiative as well as to counter US push into Asia-Pacific. The absence of the countrys top diplomat from the Politburo was largely due to an unwritten party rule.
Russia has blocked such a move by the UN Security Council a number of times.

This is the ninth time Russia has protected Assad and his team of murderers by blocking the Security Council from acting. In doing so, Russia once again sides with the dictators and terrorists who use these weapons, Nikki Haley said. (Photo: AP/File)

Washington: The US has slammed Russia for vetoing a UN Security Council resolution extending the mandate of the only official mission probing the use of chemical weapons in Syria, saying Moscow has "once again" demonstrated it would do anything to protect its ally.

Russia yesterday vetoed the US-sponsored UN resolution that would extend the work of inspectors seeking to determine who is responsible for chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

Russia has blocked such a move by the UN Security Council a number of times, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in her daily news conference.

Russia has blocked the UN Security Council action to hold accountable those who use chemical weapons, including terrorists and the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad, she said.

"By blocking the extension of the Joint Investigative Mechanism, Russia has once again demonstrated it does not care about stopping the barbaric use of chemical weapons in the world and will do whatever it takes to protect its ally, the Assad regime," Sanders alleged.

Blocking the extension of the investigating authority means nothing less than Russia's endorsement of the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons against innocent women and children.

"We will continue to push back against this," Sanders said.

At the UN headquarters in New York, the Security Council rejected the draft resolution following a vote of 11 in favour to 2 against (Bolivia, Russian Federation), with 2 abstaining (China, Kazakhstan).

Had it been adopted, it would have extended the mechanism's mandate established by resolution 2235 (2015) and set to expire on November 17 for one more year.

Vassily A Nebenzia, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, suggested that adjourning the meeting until November 7 and discussing an extension without undue pressure.

He said that the Russian Federation expected an honest, impartial, complete investigation, and would accept clear, incontrovertible evidence of guilt.

The US had already determined who was guilty, and its actions were politicising the issue, he alleged.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Russia has once again demonstrated it will do whatever it takes to ensure the "barbaric" Assad regime never faces consequences for its continued use of chemicals as weapons.

"By rejecting the renewal of the work of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) an independent, purely technical body, Russia has made it clear that it does not care about stopping the use of chemical weapons in the world," she said.

"This is the ninth time Russia has protected Assad and his team of murderers by blocking the Security Council from acting. In doing so, Russia once again sides with the dictators and terrorists who use these weapons," Haley said.

British Permanent Representative to the UN Matthew Rycroft described Russia's use of veto power as a "sad day".

"It's a sad day for the Security Council when Russia vetoes a simple technical, procedural rollover, of the mandate of an absolutely crucial part of the international communitys architecture to help tackle the appalling use of chemical weapons," he said.

The Syrian regime that they support must have something to hide, and I wonder why Russia continues to defend the indefensible, he said and hoped that Russia will realise that they are isolated on this issue.

"They are seeking to defend the indefensible. And beyond that, they have a particular responsibility as a permanent member of the Security Council with a close relationship with the Syrian regime. They have taken it upon themselves to lead the international community's efforts to disarm Syria of its chemical weapons," he said.

"That job is not complete, and I call on Russia to listen to what we all said today and to step up to meet those responsibilities," the British Ambassador said.
In his remarks, Trump said his Administration is deeply committed to empowering minority business owners.

Trump felicitated Sharad Thakkar and Karan Arora along with seven other owners of minority businesses in the Oval Office of the White House. (Photo: AP)

Washington: President Donald Trump has honoured two Indian-American businessmen in recognition of their small but significant contribution to the US economy.

Trump felicitated Sharad Thakkar and Karan Arora along with seven other owners of minority businesses in the Oval Office of the White House Tuesday.

Thakkar is president of Polymer Technologies, which is recipient of Minority Energy Firm of the Year.

Based out of Ohio, Polymer Technologies works with plastic industry individuals to transform their throwaway scrap plastic into valuable raw material.

PTS has a proven track record of providing long-term solutions in automotive, home care, and lawn care product lines.

Based out of Florida, Arora is director of family-owned Natural Vitamin Labs, which is recipient of Minority Export Firm of the Year award.

With 25 years of experience in supplying natural health products to industry partners worldwide, NVL operates from a 95,000-sq ft facility in Miami, Florida.

The facility is equipped with a manufacturing practices system and fully automated packaging machinery that allows precision and error minimization, resulting in high speed production.

Monday night, Thakkar and Arora received their respective awards from the Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross at an event in Detroit.

Both Thakkar and Arora came to the US as students for studies and earned the pathway to citizenship through H-1B and Green Card.

Arora said Trump's policies are reviving America's manufacturing base.

The simplification of tax code would come out as a great boon for small family-owned businesses like his.

"There is a big demand (globally) for US-made products, which have more value anywhere in the world," Arora said.

Indian-Americans are making great contributions to the US economy, said Thakkar.

Originally from Baroda, he came to the United States some 30 years ago.

"I am very proud that this country gave me this opportunity," he said.

Arora moved to the US in 2000 for undergraduate studies from Mumbai.

"The opportunities that we had have been fantastic, tremendous," he said.

During his interaction with Thakkar and Arora along with other awardees inside the powerful Oval Office, Trump "congratulated all of us" and said he is "proud of" minority businesses and their contribution in creating jobs in the country.

Praising Trump's new policies, Arora said businessmen like him need to spend more time on "business planning rather than tax planning."

Simplifying the tax code would definitely help the minority businesses, he said.

"The tax reform, would not only simplify the process, but also put more money into businesses," Thakkar said.

In his remarks, Trump said his Administration is deeply committed to empowering minority business owners.

"We're working to lift government barriers so that you can thrive, prosper, and grow," he said.

Ross said nationwide, there are 996,246 minority-owned firms with paid employees last year, up 4.9 per cent from the prior year.

And these minority-owned businesses produced USD 1.1 trillion of annual revenue, he said.

They employ eight million people, but only 22 per cent of them have 10 or more employees.

"So there's plenty of room to grow. But we know that minority entrepreneurs are up to the task," he said.
Trump will be returning to US on Nov 14, which is the same day as the East Asia Summit.

Trump will likely not make the customary presidential visit to the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea known as the Demilitarised Zone.(Photo: AP)

New York: President Donald Trump will skip a key Asia summit at the end of his trip to the region in November.

The White House said Tuesday that Trump will be returning to the United States on Nov 14, which is the same day as the East Asia Summit (EAS) in the Philippines. Trump is slated to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, which is also in the Philippines, the day before but he will not stay the extra day.

Another US delegation that will attend the EAS, which will include more than a dozen Asian nations as well as Australia, New Zealand and Russia. The White House did not give a reason as to Trump's absence.

Philippines will be the final stop of Trump's 12-day, five-nation trip his first to Asia. The trip is expected to be dominated by Trump demanding that American allies in the

region increase pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.

Read: Trump to visit five Asian nations, seeks to pressurise North Korea

But for all of President Trump's overheated talk about North Korea's Kim Jung Un and the country's nuclear program, Trump will likely not make the customary presidential visit to the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea known as the Demilitarised Zone.

Trump has derided Kim as "Little Rocket Man" and threatened to unleash "fire and fury" on Pyongyang if its leaders do not abandon the weapons program.

If Trump doesn't go while in South Korea, he would be breaking from recent presidential custom. All presidents but one since Ronald Reagan have visited the DMZ, which has separated the North and South for 64 years.

He will also advocate American economic interests during his trip, which include stops in Japan and China before travelling to Vietnam for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings.

The trip will conclude in the Philippines, where the president is slated to meet with President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been accused of human rights abuses, including killing suspected drug dealers. The White House said Trump could raise concerns about the program.

The Washington Post first reported Trump decision's to skip the East Asia Summit, which mostly focuses on general strategic issues rather than the economic matters at APEC. The White House said Trump may attend some meetings related to the

East Asia Summit before the gathering officially begins.
A delegation led by Kerala's Health Minister concluded a two-day visit to the University of Warwick.

The model will be inspired by the UK's state-owned National Health Service (NHS), the largest and the oldest single-payer healthcare system in the world that provides healthcare benefits to every citizen. (Representational Image| Photo: File)

London: The Kerala government in collaboration with a UK university will revamp its healthcare model to address issues surrounding capacity development for primary care, training and research.

The model will be inspired by the UK's state-owned National Health Service (NHS), the largest and the oldest single-payer healthcare system in the world that provides healthcare benefits to every citizen.

A delegation led by Kerala's Health Minister K K Shylaja Kumari Tuesday concluded a two-day visit to the University of Warwick in central England to explore how the general practitioner (GP) system has adapted to pressures caused by population changes, the university said in a statement.

Dean of Warwick Medical School Professor Sudhesh Kumar said his team was keen to assist the state government to understand how it was tackling issues such as "capacity development for primary care, translating research into practice and evaluating the impact of these interventions".

We look forward to mutually beneficial collaborations with Kerala, Kumar said.

Kerala, which has the highest literacy rate and the highest life expectancy in India, is experiencing a rapidly aging population and an increase in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes.

To address these issues, the Kerala government is planning to establish training programmes to teach primary healthcare workers such as GPs and nurses.

The five-member delegation from the state also included State Health Secretary Rajeev Sadanandan, Director of Health Services Dr Sarita RL, Dean of Kerala University of Health Sciences Dr Harikumar Nair and member of the mission monitoring team of the chief minister of Kerala Dr Devkiran.

The delegation also visited the University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS and local general practices in Coventry city centre, along with local clinicians and members of the academic unit for primary care at Warwick Medical School.

They now have plans to explore opportunities for collaboration with the University of Warwick for training and research.

The two-day event included talks on areas of training and research being conducted at Warwick Medical School, such as health issues in urban settlements, primary care and mental health resource in India, GP training and post-graduate training.

Professor Meghana Pandit, Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of UHCW NHS Trust, showed the team around the university hospital, including their Surgical Training Centre, which provides training to Warwick Medical students as well as specialised training to experienced surgeons.

"We are proud of our partnership with the University of Warwick, and look forward to building closer links with Kerala as part of their collaborative work with the government," she said.
For Amnesty International, No evidence has ever been presented to show that he is anything other than an academic peacefully pursuing his profession. In Sweden and Italy, where he has worked, the authorities have spoken out on his behalf. His two children, 5 and 14, have appealed to Pope Francis.

Tehran (AsiaNews/Agencies)  An international campaign on behalf of Ahmadreza Djalali is gathering steam. Mr Djalali is an Iranian doctor and researcher, sentenced to death by an Iranian court for "working with the Israeli government".

The authorities of Sweden and Italy, countries where he has worked, and various international organisations like Amnesty International, have spoken out on his behalf. His two children, 5 and 14, have appealed to Pope Francis.

Djalali, 45, with his wife, Vida Mehrannia, both Iranians, moved to Sweden in 2009 where he started a doctorate. The couple then moved to Novara, Italy, where from 2012 to 2015 he worked at the Interdisciplinary Medical Disaster Research Centre of the University of Eastern Piedmont.

Djalali kept in touch with his native country, which he visited twice a year at the invitation of Tehran University, until 24 April 2016, when he was arrested.

His wife said that that after his arrest he was kept in total isolation for three months. This was followed by partial isolation in Evin Prison.

Then came the news of his conviction after a grossly unfair trial in which the scholar was essentially prevented from defending himself.

His Italian and Swedish colleagues in emergency medicine believe that the charges against him stem from the fact that he co-authored some scientific articles with Saudi researchers, taught in the same master programme along with Israeli scholars, and took part, along with an Israeli expert, in a European Union project on radiological, chemical and nuclear emergencies.

No evidence has ever been presented to show that he is anything other than an academic peacefully pursuing his profession, said Philip Luther, Amnesty Internationals Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

In view of this, the authorities must immediately and unconditionally release him and drop all charges.
by Wang Zhicheng

Members of the new Politburo Standing Committee presented today: in addition to Xi and Li Keqiang, they include Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng. Many are close allies of Xi; others part of Jiang Zemin's "Shanghai clique" and to Hu Jintaos Communist Youth League. No Sixth Generation Member.

Beijing (AsiaNews) - The new Politburo Standing Committee, China's highest power, was announced today to Chinese media at the Party Congress. Accompanied by Xi Jinping, 64, in an ordered row were: Li Keqiang, 62, confirmed in his role as premier; Wang Yang, also a 62-year-old former party secretary in Guangdong, will lead the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; ; Han Zheng, 63, party secretary in Shanghai, wil be appointed vice-premier; Zhao Leji, 60, who will head the Anti-Corruption Commission; Li Zhangshu, 67, who will be appointed chief of the People's National Assembly; Wang Huning, 62, director of the Central Political Research Bureau, who will head the party's propaganda and organization. All of them take will be mandated for the next five years.

Ahead of the Congress many wondered if Xi would fill the Politburo with close confidants. His choices however, reveal his criteria was the division of power between the various groups present in the CCP, in particular the "Shanghai clique" and the Communist Youth League linked to Hu Jintao. Xis allies remain Li Zhanshu, who has so far served as Director of the General Affairs Office of the CCP; Wang Huning, a trusted theorist and Zhao Leji.

Han Zheng refer back to the Shanghai clique, headed by Jiang Zemin. The Communist Youth League, can count on the loyalty (as well as Li Keqiang), of Wang Yang, so far vice-premier.

Breaking down a tradition that lasted from the days of Deng Xiaoping, there is no 50-year-old from the Sixth Generation among nominations to the new Politburo, who might have appeared as a possible successor to Xi at the end of his mandate in 2022. Some analysts think this is a way for Xi to prepare to lead the party even after his second term.

Hu Chunhua, current Party leader in Guangdong, and Chen Miner, party leader in Chongqing, who media have often named as Xi's possible successors, both close to the president, to date have not been made part of the Politburo.

New appointments have also been made to the Central Military Commission today: Xu Qiliang becomes the first vice-president; Gen. Zhang Youxia, great ally of Xi, becomes the second vice-president; Gen. Li Zhoucheng has joined the Commission.
by Quoc Tuan

After years as the first nuncio to Vietnam, he now moves to Israel. During his period in the Asian country he encountered moments of difficulties. Thanks to stronger bilateral relations, the Vietnamese Catholic Church hoped for true religious freedom in appointing bishops and priests, and building places of worship.

Ho Chi Min City (AsiaNews) - "You will always be in my heart and love," said Mgr Leopoldo Girelli on 14 October in his farewell address to the Vietnamese marking the end of a mission that began on 30 January 2011 when Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as the first non-resident representative of the Holy See to Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Catholic Church hoped that through stronger bilateral ties, it would gain true religious freedom to appoint its bishops and priests and build its places of worship.

The government did pass a better law preventing local authorities from appropriating Church property, but as a non-resident nuncio to the socialist country, Archbishop Girelli did not have full freedom. To enter Vietnam to perform his pastoral and representative functions, he had to inform government and local churches about schedules, places and purposes of his visits.

In fact, Bishop Nguyen Chi Linh, vice president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam, reacted to a visit by Mgr Girelli to Hanoi at the invitation of the bishops on 20 April 2011, saying that "this is the first time I hear about a non-resident representative of the Holy See. Until now the Vietnamese Church did not know his diplomatic status. I sincerely do not understand how the non-resident representative of the Holy See has some authorisation or relationship with the local Church and state."

On 21 April 2011, Vietnams Foreign Ministry said that "the non-resident nuncio of the Holy See to Vietnam undertook his first working trip and visited the Ministry. As he welcomed Mgr Girelli, Vietnams Deputy Foreign Minister Bhui Thanh Son stressed the "coherent policy" of Vietnam's Communist Party and government based on respect for the right to freedom of opinion and religion, the equality of religions, and the active role of Vietnamese Catholics in economic development and social life.

That was the first of many occasions in which Mgr Girelli worked with the Vietnamese Catholic Church. At the invitation of Bishops Conference, he made his first visit on 18 April-1 May 2011, and attended the opening of the Conferences annual meeting (24-29 April) at the pastoral centre of the Diocese of Saigon.

He was able to visit 26 dioceses

Between then and 14 October 2017, Archbishop Girelli visited 26 dioceses, working with the bishops and celebrating Mass for millions of faithful.

To maintain good relations with the government, he visited the Foreign Ministry as well as provincial and municipal authorities in the 26 dioceses.

Vietnam is a developing country and its people face major problems like regular storms, flooding and environmental pollution. In addition, the educational system is degraded.

Government media have expressed support for improved relations with the Vatican hoping that Vietnamese Catholics would continue to contribute to economic development as well as help the poor, storm and flood victims, children in difficult conditions, etc."

Yet, the government has persecuted Catholics in the Vinh diocese just because of their action against the pollution in the central coastal region caused by Formosa Steel Group's pollution.

The authorities have also banned civic and religious groups from providing food and other aid to victims of flooding, storms and the Formosa Steel Group.

The government has also claimed the right to take donated food and money so that it would deliver it to the victims. Why? Because of stories of corrupt charities unfairly handing out the aid.

For his part, Mgr Girelli has called on the authorities to take care of the victims and pay more attention to Catholics as a resource for economic and social development.

During his visits, the prelate met and comforted poor families. He travelled to remote parishes where local authorities threatened or authorised land grabs in favour of Communist capitalists or certain interest groups".

That year, Mgr Girelli made a pastoral visit to the diocese of Kon Tum, home to 170,000 Catholics, many from ethnic minorities. He also visited Dak Kia's leprosarium in Kon Tum and that of Dak Pnan in Pleiku. In remote districts in Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces, he visited 15 missionary communities and houses run by a number congregations and members of the laity.

When he visited the parish of Quan Lang in the diocese of Vinh on 1st September 2013, he told the thousands of parishioners: "I know you face many difficulties here. I would like to assure all of you that the Holy Father is close to the Catholic Church of Vietnam. Pope Francis remembers you in his prayers and prays for justice and freedom of religion."

"The pope encourages you to be strong to bear witness to the human and Christian values deeply rooted in the faith and in the history of the Vietnamese people. At the same time, I would like to encourage you to live with generosity and in peace whilst upholding dialogue and understanding as the main ways to deal with tensions and controversies."

Religious freedom does not belong to the state

On 1st May 2016, the archbishop visited Thu Thiem parish and the Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy Cross in Thu Thiem. The parish, founded in 1859, is located on the banks of the beautiful Saigon River and offers pastoral and social outreach to residents, Catholics and non-Catholics.

At 157, the parish is one of the oldest parishes in the diocese of Saigon. "Ho Chi Minh City authorities and those of District 2 have been trying to get rid of this church and sell land for the Thu Thiem New Urban Quarters project. This is a very big project with a huge amount of means."

During his visit, Mgr Girelli told parishioners: "I am deeply moved to know that about two thousand families were supposed to be moved and settled elsewhere. Yet, they still meet in this church for the Holy Mass every day, on Sunday, and great celebrations."

Last year, on 16-17 February 2016, Mgr Girelli participated in the 14th Youth Congress of the Archdiocese of Hanoi (which includes ten dioceses in northern Vietnam). Natural and man-made disasters have devastated the area. At the congress he urged young Catholics of the Archdiocese of Hanoi and the entire Catholic Church of Vietnam to bear witness to the truth, uphold the truth, and defend peace that belongs to society.

At the opening ceremony of the 31st pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of La Vang on 13 August 2017, the prelate said that "religious freedom is not something that belongs to the authorities but is a right that belongs to the people".

On 13 September, Mgr Girelli was appointed apostolic nuncio to Israel and apostolic delegate for Jerusalem and Palestine.
Odisha Christian leaders today handed the authorities a memorandum, in which they call on them to enforce the Supreme Court ruling that awards 2008 pogrom victims higher compensation. The archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar calls on the faithful to pray for the seven innocent Christians still in prison.

Cuttack-Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews)  "Christian victims of Kandhamal deserve more compensation, Mgr John Barwa, archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, told AsiaNews.

The prelate backs a memorandum presented today by some Christian leaders in Odisha (Orissa) asking the state government to enforce a decision of the Supreme Court of India. In August 2016, the Court ruled that victims of the 2008 Odisha pogroms carried out by Hindu radicals should receive higher compensation.

So far, the Christian leaders noted, nothing has been handed out even though "the money is already in the district.

The memorandum was delivered to Kandhamal District Collector Drunda D who received Christian leaders in private. The latter included Tribal Christian leader Paul Pradhan; Klesha Pradhan, secretary general of the Church of North India (the largest Protestant denomination) in Kandhamal; Rev Sushant Nayak, moderator of the Kandhamal Baptist Church; and Fr Ajaya Kumar Singh, a Catholic priest with the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar.

The note cites the various provisions of the Supreme Judge's Verdict, which has remained a dead letter so far. They include the additional compensation of 300,000 rupees (US$ 4,625) per victim; 30,000 rupees (US$ 465) for serious injury, 10,000 rupees (US$ 155) for simply injury; and 70,000 (US$ 1,085) for fully damaged houses.

Christian leaders note that the Court ordered the reopening of the 315 recorded cases of sectarian violence - and never pursued, as well as new investigations into the trials that did not lead to any verdict. Out of 362 cases, only 78 ended up in trial.

Christians, said Mgr Barwa, "want peace, and that is why they are fighting the Odisha government."

Speaking about the seven Christians unjustly blamed for Swami Laxamananandas murder, which triggered the 2008 violence, the archbishop noted that They are all still in prison.

Their case is in the hands of good lawyers, who are doing their best to get their release. Let us pray for them that they may soon go back to their families."
The draft Security Council resolution rejected. This is the seventh report on the attack on Khan Sheikhoun. It is the ninth Russian veto in favor of Syria.

New York (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Russia has blocked attempts to extend the inquiry intothe use of chemical weapons in Syria by vetoing the UN Security Council (CS) resolution drafted by the United States.

The operation, called Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), was set up in 2015 to identify those responsible for the chemical attacks in Syria. The only official mission in the country, JIM involves the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The publication of the report on the nerve gas attack that struck the city of Khan Sheikhoun last April, killing more than 80 people, including many children, is expected by the weeks end.

JIM's mandate ends November 17, and Moscow attempted to impede its extension, subject to a prior verification of the report. With no support for this proposal, the Kremlin decided to exercise its veto power, a possibility reserved for the five permanent Security Council members -Russia, the United States, England, France and China. It is the ninth time that Russia has opposed a resolution that targets its Syrian ally.

Recently, Moscow rejected an independent report by UN human rights investigators, according to which the Syrian government is responsible for the use of chemical weapons.

United States Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, accuses Russia of taking the side of "dictators and terrorists". The Russian representative Vasily Nebenzi rejects the criticism by saying that "what is happening is not pleasant" and that Russia was ready to discuss JIM's future after the report was published.
The two countries yesterday signed two Memoranda of Understanding to stop the exodus, restore normality in the Rakhine and discuss plans for the repatriation of some 600,000 Rohingya. The Myanmar army defends its actions in Rakhine. The US imposes new restrictions.

Nay Pyi Daw (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Myanmar and Bangladesh have agreed to beef up security cooperation and set up border liaison offices to address the Rohingya humanitarian crisis. However, the two countries failed to reach an agreement on the repatriation of refugees who fled recent violence in Myanmars Rakhine's State.

Myanmar Home Affairs Minister Lieutenant General January Kyaw Swe and his Bangladesh counterpart, Mostafa Kamal Uddin (pictured), yesterday signed two memorandums of understanding in Nay Pyi Daw. The two senior government officials met in the Myanmar capital to discuss plans for the repatriation of some 600,000 Rohingya.

The two sides agreed on the need to stop the exodus and restore normality in Rakhine. The meeting focused in particular on the opening of liaison offices, anti-terrorism cooperation, drug trafficking, intelligence sharing, regular bilateral meetings and border security.

Last month, Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed to begin a process to repatriate the refugees under a 1993 agreement that allows the return of Rohingya who can prove residence in Myanmar.

At a meeting on 2 October in Dhaka, Myanmar and Bangladeshi government officials agreed to form a joint working group comprised of officials from the two countries.

The Myanmar authorities have informed our honourable minister that the joint working group will be formed by Nov. 30, said Sharif Mahmud Apu, the public relations officer of Bangladeshs Home Ministry, speaking to BenarNews. They have also assured us that they will take the Rohingya refugees back, he added.

A statement issued later in the day said that Bangladeshs Home Ministry said Myanmar authorities agreed to a sustainable repatriation of Myanmar citizens from Bangladesh.

We are however yet to rebuild infrastructure and draw up resettlement plans to accept them back. These works are being handled by state leaders themselves, and so it is difficult to predict [when they will be complete], said U Tint Myint, permanent secretary of the home affairs ministry.

We didnt discuss plans for refugees. What we discussed is repatriation  to verify and accept back those who have settled in Myanmar and fled to Bangladesh after violence, said police Brig-Gen Aung Htay Myint of the cross-border crime department.

Officials from both sides who participated in the ministerial-level meeting also discussed implementing the recommendations by the Myanmar government-appointed Advisory Commission on Rakhine State led by former United Nations chief Kofi Annan

Meanwhile, the Myanmar military has defended its actions and rejected the harsh criticisms of the international community, threats of sanctions, and allegations of ethnic cleansing.

The military yesterday released its own version of what happened in Rakhine, responding to new restrictions imposed on the Myanmar Armed Forces by the United States.

On Monday, the US Department of State announced plans to impose travel bans on Myanmar military leaders, and listed targeted economic sanctions against individuals associated with atrocities.

Washington also cancelled invitations for officials to attend US-sponsored events and excluded the units involved in Rakhine operations from any US assistance programme.
"Entering into the mystery of Jesus Christ is more, it is letting ourselves go into that abyss of mercy where there are no words: only the embrace of love. The love that led him to death for us. "

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Ask yourself if you have entered into the core of the mystery of Christ, into that "he loved me" unto death that is more than being a good Christian who prays, goes to Mass, does good works. This is the question that Pope Francis posed during Mass this morning at Casa Santa Marta, commenting on the First Reading from the Letter to the Romans, in which Saint Paul uses sin, disobedience, grace, forgiveness, to try to "bring us to understand something." Behind all this, there is the story of salvation. Therefore, since there are not enough words to explain Christ, Paul "drives us", because we fall in the midst of the mystery of Christ, "explained the Pope. These contrasts, therefore, are merely steps in the journey to fall into the mystery of Christ, which is not easy to understand. To understand "who is Jesus Christ for you," "for me," "for us," the Pope commented, is to fall into this mystery.

In another passage, Saint Paul, looking to Jesus, says, "He loved me and gave himself for me." He also notes, there is someone willing to die for a just person, but only Jesus Christ wants to give life "for a sinner like me." With these words, said the Holy Father, Saint Paul tries to get us into the mystery of Christ. It's not easy, "it's a grace." Not only the canonized Saints have understood this, but also so many saints "hidden in daily life," humble people who only put their hope in the Lord: they entered the mystery of the crucified Jesus Christ, "which is a madness," says Paul noting that if he were to boast of something, only he could boast of "his sins and of the crucified Jesus Christ," not of the study with Gamaliel in the synagogue, or of any other. "Another contradiction," is this, which leads us to the mystery of Jesus, crucified, "in dialogue with my sins."

Pope Francis emphasized that when we go to Mass, we know that he is in the Word, that Jesus comes, but this, the Pope warned, is not enough to enter the mystery:

"Entering into the mystery of Jesus Christ is more, it is to let go into that abyss of mercy where there are no words: only the embrace of love. The love that led him to death for us. When we go to confess because we have sins, we say yes, I must have my sins taken away, let's say; or 'God forgive me for my sins, tell your sins to the confessor, and we will be calm and happy. If we do so, we have not entered into the mystery of Jesus Christ. If I go, I go to meet Jesus Christ, to enter into the mystery of Jesus Christ, to enter into that hug of forgiveness of which Paul speaks; of that gift of forgiveness. "

When asked about who is "Jesus for you", you may answer "the Son of God", you could say all the Creed, all the catechism, and it is true but we would come to a point where we would not have been able to say that at the centre of the mystery of Jesus Christ, is that he "loved me" and "gave himself up for me". "Understanding the mystery of Jesus Christ is not a matter of study," the Pope notes, because "Jesus Christ is understood only by pure grace."

Thus, a pious exercise helps us: the Way of the Cross, which consists in walking with Jesus when he gives us the "embrace of forgiveness and peace."

"It's nice to do the Via Crucis. Do it at home, thinking of moments in the Passion of the Lord. Even the great Saints always advised that we begin the spiritual life with this encounter with the mystery of Jesus Crucified. Saint Teresa advised her nuns: to get to the prayer of contemplation, the high prayer she began with the meditation of the Passion of the Lord. The Cross with Christ. Christ in the Cross. Start and think. And so, trying to understand with the heart that he loved me and gave himself for me, "he gave himself up to death for me."

Pope Francis reiterated that in the First Reading, Saint Paul wants to bring us to the abyss of the mystery of Christ. "I am a good Christian, I go to Mass on Sunday, I do works of mercy, I pray, I educate my children well: this is very good. But the question I ask, 'You do all this, but have you entered the mystery of Jesus Christ?' Finally, the Popes call was to look at the Crucifix, "icon of the greatest mystery of creation, of all": "Christ crucified, the centre of history, the centre of my life."
by Shafique Khokhar

Aster Tariq taught for 18 years at the Kinnaird Girls High School in Lahore. Over the years she earned the respect of her Muslim colleagues. In the 1970s, then Prime Minister Bhutto nationalised all schools and imposed the mandatory teaching of Islam.

Lahore (AsiaNews)  After 18 years of teaching, the only Christian religious teacher in Punjabs public schools is retiring.

Hired in 1999 by the principal of the Kinnaird Girls High School in Lahore, Aster Tariq taught thousands of girls.

Over the years she gained the confidence and respect of her colleagues, Muslims included, who organised a farewell party to thank her for her precious contribution to education in the province.

"After so many years of collaboration, I do not know how to say goodbye to the woman who was not just a teacher but also a dear friend," said school principal Rizwana Khalil.

When Aster announced she was going to retire, many parents "begged me not to let her go. They want their children to continue to learn from her. This shows the love and respect she earned over the years, Ms Khalil said.

Teachers like Aster are a gift from God, she added. She is a treasure for our school and I hope that other teachers can now pick up her legacy and carry it forward with respect and dignity."

Ms Tariq taught Old and New Testament courses from the first to the eighth grade. Her example is truly exceptional for Pakistan.

In the 1970s, then Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto nationalised all schools, including private Christian schools. Christian religion courses were replaced with compulsory teaching of Islam, even for minorities.

When Aster was hired by the Lahore school, she asked the principal to be allowed to teach Christianity to Christian students. The principal agreed. For this, Ms Tariq said during her farewell party that she was "very grateful" to her.

"None of this would have been possible without the full support of the principal, she explained. I am also grateful to all the students and colleagues who have always supported me. I leave this institution that has given me identity, respect, love and dignity."

Finally, "I hope that whoever comes after me will continue my work. And I hope that one day in all Pakistani schools, students will be allowed to learn about their faith, with the same dignity."
Jennylyn, a 32-year-old resident of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon met an American soldier through a social networking site and began a romantic relationship with him.

Soon enough she was notified by a cargo firm that the items sent by her boyfriend in Florida had arrived.

Her American boyfriend supposedly sent her an Apple laptop, iPad tablet, cellphone, a box of sea salt chocolates, a Louise Vuitton handbag, two bottles of Chanel perfume and a bouquet of roses.

Madam your package arrived today. When goods are shipped, you are liable to pay any inbound duties and taxes which your local customs authority deems appropriate, read a part of an email sent to her on June 21.

The cargo firm said she had to pay P18,300 to a personal account in a private bank to refund the firm for shouldering the duties and taxes.

To ensure we can deliver your goods in shortest possible transit time, (the company) pays the customs authority on your behalf for duties and taxes that are due on your package. Once the duties and taxes are fully repaid your package will be delivered to you, it added.

It was yet another example of an internet love scam, which has swindled victims of thousands of pesos for items supposedly sent to them by a supposed lover assuming a false identity.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the Philippines has warned the public against the internet love scam, a scheme where a supposed romantic bond between a Filipina and a male foreigner that developed through chats on social media resulted in swindling.

Roswald Joseph Pague, deputy customs collector and BOC Region 10 chief of staff, said single or divorced foreigners, mostly Caucasians, are usually involved in the scam.

A few weeks into their relationship, the foreigner would promise to send his Filipina girlfriend gadgets and other imported items. She would receive a notice from a courier company informing her that her package had arrived and that she must pay a certain amount so she could receive it.

Pague reminded the public that duties and taxes should only be paid to the BOC through the government-owned bank, Land Bank of the Philippines.

In the BOC, we dont allow payment of duties in a private account. It shall be deposited to the account of the Bureau of Customs under Land Bank of the Philippines only, per existing (Commission on Audit) regulation, he added.

Over the past nine months, 1,263 online love scams were reported to the Bureau of Customs (BOC)s helpdesk BOC-CARES (Customer Assistance and Response Services).

Most of the online love scams were carried out through online dating sites, social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, phone calls, text messages and emails, according to the BOCs Enforcement and Security Service.

The scammers often prey on the victims by befriending them online and promising them a package containing gifts and a huge sum of money. The scammers will then send bogus receipts and tracking numbers of packages to unsuspecting victims.

Others were victimized via text messages or phone calls informing them that they had a package held by the BOC and they had to send money to get the package.

They would usually use the name of the bureau and pose as BOC employees who are asking money to shoulder the duties and taxes in exchange for the release of the package, Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena said.

According to FBI data, 82 percent of romance scam victims are women and women over 50 are defrauded out of the most money.

Using fake profiles on online dating sites and social networks, including Facebook, scammers troll for the lonely and the vulnerable. They promise love and marriage and build what feels like a very real relationship to the victim.

Someone who has fallen for a scam before is a favored mark. Once victims send money, scammers put their names on a sucker list, Special Agent Beining said. Those names and identities are often sold to other criminals.

We have seen victims become victimized again, she said.

A Federal Trade Commission study published in 2013 found another telling commonality among all kinds of fraud victims: People who had experienced a negative life event in the previous 24 months  lost a spouse, divorced, separated or lost a job  were twice as likely to become the victim of a scam.

In her 2008 book, Truth, Lies and Trust on the Internet, psychologist Monica Whitty explained that computer-mediated relationships can be hyperpersonal  more strong and intimate than physical relationships. Participants can control how they present themselves, creating idealized avatars that elicit more trust and intimacy than their real-life, face-to-face selves.

What happens is, you can see the written text and read it over and over again, and that makes it stronger, wrote Whitty, who focuses on how cyber technologies affect human beings and now works at the University of Warwick in England.

Law enforcement officials say that victims are often embarrassed to let friends or family know theyre sending money to an online stranger. And should they wise up, they may be threatened and blackmailed by their faux lovers. As insurance that their victims will toe the line, scammers may gather compromising information  commonly, videos of the victims masturbating at their request.

The scammer may even admit the crime to the victim, but then swear he has actually fallen in love with her. Those who believe the excuses and stay involved may enter into a new level of danger as the scammer begins to groom them to launder stolen money, deliver drugs or scam others. They may also threaten to release those sex tapes to gain their victims cooperation. More than one woman has wound up charged with crimes.
In the Chan Shun Concert hall, Jazz Master bassist Dave Holland, with his ensemble, joins virtuoso musician Zakir Hussain for an evening that bridges jazz and Indian musics shared influences and intersections.

Zakir Hussain and Dave Holland are such brilliant and inspiring artists in their own right, having the opportunity to host a meeting of the minds between them is really an honour. There is a lot of shared ground between jazz and the music of India, which lays the groundwork for exciting musical experimentation, says Joyce Hinton, Co-Managing Director of the Chan Centre.

Hussain, a child prodigy who toured the world at age 12, has collaborated with well-known musicians like Yo-Yo Ma, George Harrison and Van Morrison. He recently premiered his third concerto Peshkar  the first-ever for table and orchestra in April with the National Symphony Orchestra at Kennedy Centre.

Holland debuted with Miles Davis legendary Bitches Brew band in the mid-1960s. He is a known figure in the history of modern jazz who has performed with Spanish guitar legend Pepe Habichuela and also vocalist Betty Carter and Chick Corea.

Crosscurrents will also feature Louiz Banks on keyboards, Sanjay Divecha on guitar and Gino Banks on drums.

The event starts at 8 pm.

For more information, visit chancentre.com
The Asia-Pacific region has seen the fastest growth in tourist arrivals compared to any other region in the world.

According to the Mastercard Asia Pacific Destinations Index 2017, the top three destinations by international overnight arrivals in the region are Bangkok, Tokyo and Singapore.

Chinese tourists ranked number one for the most outbound trips made in the first half of 2017, with approximately 62.03 million trips around the world according to the China National Tourism Administration. China, therefore, remains the largest main feeder market, both on a global level and within the region.

The news comes as Canada and China pave the way to make 2018 the Year of Canada-China Tourism.

China is Canada's fastest-growing tourism market, already its third-largest overseas source market for tourists, and Chinese visitors contribute over $1 billion annually to Canada's economy. There were almost half a million Chinese visitors in 2015, and there is a forecast for a 15 percent growth in visitors for 2016. Chinese tourist travel to Canada rose 24 percent in the first six months of this year, helped by new direct flights to Montreal and Calgary. Chinese visitors alone support about 7,400 Canadian jobs

Bardish Chagger, Minister of Small Business and Tourism said;"Canada and China have also agreed to make 2018 the Year of Canada-China Tourism. Both countries are exploring future measures to facilitate the travel flow of tourists and are working on tourism promotion activities in Canada and China.

"An agreement was reached that will authorize Canada to open seven additional visa application centres in China to help serve a growing number of Chinese tourists who are crossing the Pacific to explore Canada. As of this summer, Chinese travellers will be able to fly to Canada from 11 cities in China, so there is a need for the visa application centres.

The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of tourism for Canada's economy and has committed additional funding to enhance marketing initiatives in important international markets, including China, he added.

Tailor-made travel services are fast becoming customary among wealthy travelers looking to escape cookie-cutter vacation packages. According to Ctrip, factors that more Chinese tourists are seeking out from their holidays include "avoiding big crowds," "no shopping" and private travel guides.

When travelers visit places others haven't, they can derive "social cachet," and that's become a trend among the middle class, according to Ben Cavender, a principal at consultancy China Market Research Group.

"Increasingly, we are seeing well-heeled Chinese travel to hard-to-reach destinations for the bragging rights and WeChat pictures [to] show they've been somewhere exotic," he said.
How do you relocate a population bigger than Russias and Germanys combined? Look to China over the next decade as it plans to resettle 250 million people in a bid to fight poverty, prioritizing the first relocations for those living in areas prone to natural disasters.

The government says it has already assisted in resettling 1.2 million ecological migrants and aims to move 1.4 million more people away from geological threats by 2020, according to its five-year social and economic development plan.

The mass relocations form part of Chinas evolving strategy on disaster preparedness and poverty alleviation, which involves shifting people away from remote areas and building up city centres with the aim of raising overall living standards. The government hopes to eliminate poverty by 2020 and resettle 250 million people into urban centres by 2026.

Moving people out of disaster-prone regions is an important part of the plan, as 65 percent of Chinas landmass is mountainous or hilly, and the poor are most likely to live in areas prone to landslides.

Baicheng County in Jilin Province is 1,287 kilometres from the coast, and much of the land there is infertile and vulnerable to drought. As one of the poorest areas in northeast China, it is on the frontlines of the governments campaign to eliminate poverty.

Twenty years ago, people who now live in Lu Jia village in Baicheng County, were among the first rural poor to be resettled from areas where water was scarce and disasters such as landslides were a constant risk.

This place is much better. We were too far away and the earth was too dry before. Here the land is expensive, but at least it is fertile, said Xu Dong, a 52-year-old villager who now grows vegetables as part of a farmers cooperative.

After their relocation, the villagers initially lived in simple, brick homes. But following a fresh round of government-funded construction last year, all 900 residents received free apartments in new, five-story buildings.

The villagers say they have mixed feelings about the modern apartments, which have running water and heating, but make it more difficult to chat with neighbours and have eroded their sense of community. But nobody regrets moving here.

Theres an elementary school 25 kilometres away, which is not bad at all, and we will have a nursery soon right here in the complex, said another villager, Jiang Fa, gesturing at cranes overhead.

Chinas poverty alleviation efforts have been hindered by the fact it is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. From 2011 to 2015, the country saw more than 60,000 geological disasters, which killed over 2,000 people and caused losses totalling nearly $3 billion, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing statistics from the Ministry of Land and Resources.

Last summer, Chinas second-costliest flood season on record left at least 1,000 people dead and wiped out 54,390 square kilometres of cropland, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Climate change is partly to blame, with increased flooding and drought threatening much of the country, including major economic hubs, according to the Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University. But experts say that authorities have long responded in an ad hoc way to the threat of natural disasters.

China had, until recently, been slow to develop new institutions for managing risks and responding to crisis situations, Richard Suttmeier, of the University of Oregon, wrote in a 2011 paper.

It wasnt until 2006, he noted, that China promulgated its National Plan for Environmental Emergency Response and established an Environmental Emergency Response Centre.

Relocation as a disaster mitigation strategy figured prominently in Chinas 2014 urbanisation plan and is now a top priority. In addition to Jilin, the government has identified a number of other eastern and central provinces where people will be relocated away from areas prone to natural disasters, including Hebei, Shanxi, Anhui, Fujian, Henan, Hubei and Shandong.

The apartment buildings in Lu Jia were completed in just a few months between June and October 2016. Residents say they see no problems so far, but they also know that Chinese buildings are not meant to last, said villager Lu Xun, crouching on a slab of styrofoam that was discarded by builders.

The average amount of time that Chinese structures remain liveable is 25 to 30 years, compared to a century or more in many developed countries, according to the state-run China Daily newspaper.

It is also unclear if people in areas identified as at-risk are given any choice about whether they want to move. Lu Jia villagers told IRIN that their elected village chiefs made the decisions on behalf of their communities. They did not get any compensation, although everyone receives a standard social welfare allowance of $15 a month with an additional $12 a month for those over 60 years old.

Another point of controversy is whether resettlement projects could contribute to the marginalization of ethnic minority cultures. Government backed migration has often involved moving the Han  Chinas most populous ethnic group  into minority areas. These include Tibet, which China annexed in 1951, and Xinjiang, where the government has cracked down on protests by members of the indigenous Uighur ethnic minority.

Kevin Carrico, a lecturer in Chinese Studies at Australias Macquarie University, said there is a risk that the government could use relocations away from disaster-prone areas as an excuse to further change the demographics in minority regions.

It's difficult to say whether environmental reasons are a cover and if this is necessarily planned in advance, but it's certainly a convenient side effect, he told IRIN.

A Ministry of Land and Resources spokesperson declined to be interviewed about relocation programmes, and told IRIN that more information would be made public soon.  IRIN
Authentic Italian foods increasing in popularity, Nielsen Homescan





Nielsen Australia has released new research which indicates that one in three Australian consumers would consider choosing a perceived authentic brand when grocery shopping.

Nielsen Homescan Insights has highlighted that in particular, authentic Italian grocery brands are rapidly growing in popularity.

In the past 12 months, two thirds of Australian households purchased perceived authentic Italian brands.

This represents 5.7 million households, a rise of 149,000 households on the previous year.

Italian brands perceived as being authentic in the dry pasta, bottled sauce and tinned tomatoes are already attracting a majority of Australian households according to Sarah McKee, Director at Nielsen.

At 25.3 per cent penetrance, Nielsen said authentic Italian tinned tomatoes were the most popular item, ahead of bottled sauces (24.4 per cent) and dry pasta (21.9 per cent).

Authentic Italian brands can capitalise on this trend, with focus on the categories where their penetration is low, including cheese, vinegar, biscuits and coffee, McKee said.

Across 10 grocery categories, dollar sales for authentic Italian brands increased by 7.4 per cent in 2017.

If the number of households purchasing authentic Italian brands across the top 10 categories increased just one per cent in the next year, a $2 million opportunity would be created, according to McKee.

In order to grow these brands, Nielsen believes engagement with non-English speaking consumers is the key.

Australians as a whole are buying more international foods and are looking to source these products from authentic brands, McKee said.

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Coca-Cola Plus Coffee No Sugar launches in Australia





Beverage producer Coca-Cola South Pacific has officially launched Coca-Cola Plus Coffee No Sugar, a limited edition product designed especially for the Australian market.

Coca-Cola Plus Coffee No Sugar has a mild sweetness and offers a rich coffee aroma.

Evgenia Papageorgiou, Senior Brand Manager at Coca-Cola South Pacific said, As coffee culture continues to evolve in Australia, we took this as an inspiration to create a sparkling fusion of Coca-Cola and coffee.

The drink has been designed to be consumed as is, or as a mixer for alcoholic beverages.

Coca-Cola South Pacific spokeswoman Lisa Winn said the company believe their new product will be a great-tasting afternoon pick-me-up.

Australians have a love affair with coffee so why not give them more of what they want, Winn said.

How does the caffeine content compare to other drinks?

At 14mg of caffeine per 100ml, Coca-Cola Plus Coffee No Sugar has more caffeine than regular Coca-Cola (9mg), but far less than a cappuccino, at 43mg.

Coca-Cola Plus Coffee No Sugar will be available nationwide in all major and independent retailers across Australia from October 2017.

It has been produced in numerous variations, including 1.25L PET, 600mL PET and 330mL glass.

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Kraft Heinz and Bega in dispute over peanut butter





Global food giant Kraft Heinz has petitioned a judge in a federal court in New York to mediate a dispute between it and leading Australian food manufacturer Bega, alleging Begas blatant violation of Krafts intellectual property rights, according to court documents.

The dispute began after Bega acquired a host of Kraft products, including Vegemite and Kraft peanut butter from Mondelez International in January 2017.

Bega has since also acquired the Kraft factory in Port Melbourne.

Under the terms of the acquisitions, Bega was required to stop using the Kraft logo and name on its peanut butter products by the end of 2017.

Bega has done this, and is now using the Bega logo instead of the Kraft one on a similar looking product.

Kraft is however arguing that this is not enough and is seeking to stop Bega from using the yellow lid jar design that looks similar to that used by Kraft-branded peanut butter.

In the documents lodged in the US, Kraft Heinz said Begas actions are as a flagrant violation of the most fundamental tenet of contract law.

Bega is disputing Kraft Heinzs claims, saying it owns the right to the particular jar and packaging.

In the meantime, Kraft Heinz has also announced it has plans to start selling a new Kraft branded peanut butter in Australia in 2018.

Australian Food News contacted both Kraft Heinz and Bega for comment but did not get a response prior to publication.

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(Zbitnev/Shutterstock.com) (Zbitnev/Shutterstock.com)

Permanent residents in Australia are rushing to put in citizenship applications after the Government's failure to get a new bill with sweeping changes through Parliament.The changes, which would have included a tougher English test and increase the permanent residency qualification from one year to four years, have been put on hold.They were to have been backdated to the date the bill was announced in April and due to take full effect in the New Year, but now the bill is having to be reconsidered as the Government does currently not have enough support in Parliament to push the changes through.Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has already indicated that he is willing to reduce the English test level and confirmed that those waiting for applications to be processed who have been in limbo since April will not have them assessed under the old rules.The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) confirmed that it has seen a high number of applications for Australian citizenship in recent days after applications fell to a record low due to uncertainty over the changes.'Since the announcement last week there's been another surge,' DIBP Christine Dacey told Senate Estimates on Monday. 'There was a very large spike on or about the 20th of April, and then there was kind of a plateau, which was lower than compared to 12 months ago,' she said.It is estimated that around 118,000 people are currently waiting for their Australian citizenship applications to be processed by immigration department officials.Dutton is now trying to gain crossbench support and re-introduce the bill and has offered to water down some of the more controversial parts of the bill including the English language requirements.He needs support from the Nick Xenophon Team voting bloc for the Government to pass the legislation but NXT has, so far, said it will not budge. Dutton has said that he hopes to have an amended bill ready soon.
Photo via Wikimedia

Avis Budget Group Inc. has been honored with awards for its efforts in promoting opportunities for disadvantaged, minority, and women-owned businesses. Recent awards include:

- Top 100 Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises: Conducted annually by Women's Enterprise Magazine, the listing includes companies that lift ceilings for women-owned business enterprises. Avis Budget Group is listed as a company that regards the inclusion of women's business enterprises as essential to supply chain productivity and, ultimately, to corporate success, according to the company.

- 50 Top Companies for Supplier Diversity: Avis Budget Group was among the companies singled out by Black Enterprise for its efforts in procurement spending and partnership with minority firms.

- 2017 Corporate 101: America's Most Admired Corporations for Supplier Diversity: Given by the editorial board of Minority Business News USA, Avis Budget Group was selected among the top companies for its commitment to developing diverse enterprises and driving supplier development initiatives as well as its involvement with minority development councils.

"In order to operate in approximately 180 countries around the world, it is imperative that our supply chain be as diverse as our customer base," said Larry De Shon, CEO and president of Avis Budget Group. "For this reason, we have a long-standing commitment to working with diverse suppliers and believe it is a key component to our success as an organization. We are proud to be recognized for our efforts."
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Hillary Clintons presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee helped fund political research into President Donald Trump that ultimately produced a dossier of allegations about his ties to Russia, a person familiar with the matter said Tuesday night.

Sources: Clinton campaign, DNC helped fund political firm to tie Trump to Russia

Trump has questioned if Democrats or FBI funded project

Sources tell the Associated Press that the Clinton campaign and the DNC helped fund a political research firm that produced allegations about President Donald Trump's ties to Russia.

The source said the arrangement was coordinated by a lawyer for the Clinton campaign and the DNC.

The FBI has worked to corroborate the document, and in a sign of its ongoing relevance to investigators, special counsel Robert Muellers team  which is probing potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign  weeks ago questioned the former British spy, Christopher Steele, who helped compile the claims in the dossier.

The dossier, which circulated in Washington last year and was turned over to the FBI for its review, contends that Russia was engaged in a longstanding effort to aid Trump and had amassed compromising information about him. Trump has repeatedly dismissed the document as false and in recent days has questioned on Twitter whether Democrats or the FBI had helped fund it.

Trump has also attacked the findings of the FBI, NSA and CIA that Russia waged a large-scale influence campaign to interfere in the election. The FBI and the CIA have said with high confidence that the effort was aimed at hurting Clintons candidacy and helping Trump. The NSA found the same with moderate confidence.

The person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential client matters, said the arrangement was brokered by Marc Elias, a lawyer for the Clinton campaign and the DNC, and his law firm of Perkins Coie.

Elias has yet to comment on the allegations.

The deal began in the spring of 2016, when the firm was approached by Fusion GPS, the political research firm behind the dossier, and lasted until right before Election Day, according to the person. When Fusion approached Elias, it had already been doing research work on Trump for a client during the GOP primary. The identity of the original client has not been revealed.

The Washington Post first reported the arrangement.

Clinton campaign officials did not immediately comment, but in a statement, a DNC spokeswoman said chairman Tom Perez was not part of the decision-making and was unaware that Perkins Coie was working with Fusion GPS.

According to a letter obtained by the AP Tuesday night, representatives of Fusion GPS reached out to the firm in early March 2016 to express interest in continuing research on Trump it had begun for one or more other clients during the Republican primary contest.

At that time, the Clinton campaign was looking toward the general election and was pivoting attention toward Trump, who was emerging as the Republican front-runner. The person said Trump, by virtue of his extensive international business dealings, was seen as a natural target for complicated opposition research abroad.

Perkins Coie then engaged Fusion GPS in April 2016 to perform a variety of research services during the 2016 election cycle, according to the letter.

The dossier created a political firestorm in January when it was revealed that then-FBI Director James Comey had alerted Trump to the existence of allegations about him and Russia. Since then, Trump has repeatedly attacked it and Republicans in Congress have worked to discredit it, even issuing a subpoena to force the disclosure of Fusion GPSs bank records.

The letter, sent Tuesday by the law firms general counsel to a lawyer for Fusion GPS, was intended to release the research firm from its obligation to keep confidential the identity of its client.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
New details are emerging about what investigators think happened in the final hours of 13-year-old Janessa Shannon's life.

According to a search warrant obtained by Spectrum Bay News 9, Janessa was beaten and possibly strangled to death  and investigators say it was at the hands of her father, Nahshon Shannon.

Nahshon Shannon is charged with first-degree murder.

For weeks, the Shannon family pleaded for Janessa's return after she went missing from her father's home on July 2.

Nahshon Shannon was the one to report Janessa missing  but not until 39 hours after he said he last saw her.

According to investigators who announced the arrest in early October, Janessa was at a boy's house the night before she went missing. Nahshon Shannon picked up Janessa from her mother's house in Bradenton and brought her back to his home in Riverview.

Janessa's parents had joint custody.

Deputies say Nahshon Shannon sent a text to his girlfriend to leave his house so he can "deal with Janessa."

According to the report, that's not what Nahshon Shannon told Janessa's mother, Michelle Moseley. Nahshon Shannon apparently sent a text message to Moseley that said his girlfriend was with him all night.

However, Spectrum Bay News 9 spoke to the girlfriend, Beena Nair, after Nahshon Shannon's arrest, and she said she was not with him the night Janessa went missing.

"When he brought her back to the house, I was communicating with him via text the whole time. He's like, 'Listen, I just need to talk to her,'" Nair said.

In the days after Janessas disappearance, Nahshon Shannon flew to Philadelphia for what he said was business.

"He was like, 'If I don't work, I won't have a roof for her to come home to," Nair said.

"When he brought her back to the house, I was communicating with him via text the whole time. He's like, 'Listen, I just need to talk to her.'" -- Nahshon Shannon's girlfriend, Beena Nair

However, Nahshon Shannon's coworkers and boss said he never mentioned his daughter's disappearance.

Nahshon told investigators he spoke to Janessa on Facebook during the time she was missing. But deputies say those messages never existed.

What does exist? Records stored by Facebook that show Nahshon Shannon's GPS location the night Janessa went missing.

The report also describes evidence investigators gathered at the crime scene that deputies say leads back to Nahshon Shannon:

Tire marks in the woods where Janessa's body was found that investigators said were only a 1/16th difference from the car Nahshon Shannon drove;

Dirt recovered from Nahshon Shannon's car that they said was a 99.9 percent match to samples taken from the woods;

A shovel found in Nahshon Shannon's garage that investigators said had dirt on it and was missing two screws that were consistent with one located at Janessa's gravesite, according to the report.



Janessa's body was found in mid-July in a wooded area of the Triple Creek Nature Preserve.

Nahshon Shannon has a prior record of felony convictions, including felony battery, sexual assault and burglary, according to Hillsborough deputies.


St. Petersburg police officers shot and killed a suspect after an exchange of gunshots early Wednesday.

Police shoot armed suspect in St. Pete

Officers stopped truck involved in carjacking

Gunfire exchanged; No officers injured

No officers were injured.

According to Police Chief Anthony Holloway, at 1 a.m., the officer spotted a white pick-up truck that had been involved stolen in an armed carjacking Monday evening.

Two men were involved in the carjacking on Monday. Holloway did not call today's shooting suspect a suspect in the carjacking, only saying that he was in the truck that had been involved in Monday's carjacking.

When the officers drove closer, the driver of the truck, which had a flat tire, turned into an alley near 30th St. and 6th Ave. South. Two patrol cruisers turned in behind him.

Holloway said it was not a traffic stop as officers did not turn on flashing lights or sirens.

After stopping and exiting the truck, the suspect, later identified as Timothy Earl Jackson, fired two shots. Those shots struck one of the cruisers. A black, semiautomatic handgun found in the truck, the same type of firearm reported in the carjacking.

Police returned fire, critically injuring Jackson, 33. He was taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, where he later died.

Holloway said he met with the suspect's family at the hospital, as well as with the offiers.

Officials also noted that Jackson served 8 years and 9 months in prison for robbery and was just released in August of 2017.

Officers involved in the shooting, 10-year veteran Matthew Laliberte and 3-year veteran Andre Sousa, have been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

The incident remains under investigation and Holloway is asking anyone who may have been a witness or has information in this case to call police at (727) 893-7780.
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Musician El Javi got his start by chance, playing guitar in middle school.

"I was too lazy to do sports," he said.

When his parents pushed him to find a hobby, he signed up for guitar classes.

Now he blends unrelated styles to create an instrumental experience that takes listeners on a journey.

El Javi When: 8:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Neches Brewing Company, 1108 Port Neches Ave., Port Neches

Cost: Free When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: The Grill, 6680 Calder Ave., Beaumont

Cost: Free When: Noon Sunday

Where: Neches River Wheelhouse, 720 Lee Ave., Port Neches

Cost: Free Info: eljavi.com See More Collapse

"I always get surprised when the final product of the song comes out," El Javi said.

Southeast Texans will have three chances to see El Javi perform this weekend when he returns to the area.

He started his career as a metal guitarist.

But when he attended music school in Los Angeles at 19, he became interested in flamenco music.

He sold his metal gear and bought a flamenco guitar simply because it sounded good. He studied the style in Spain and then returned to the United States.

"When I got back, I felt that I could write my own music but then didn't want to do traditional flamenco, so I started using the influences from my rock roots," El Javi said.

He lived in solitude for a month figuring out how to piece the styles together.

"And it worked out," El Javi said.

El Javi produces each song in his head.

He spends days hearing music and adding to it before putting pen to paper, often in solitude at a bar.

Then he loops in other musicians to figure out how all the parts will come together.

The music's complex nature makes it difficult for El Javi to find musicians to join him on stage.

"A lot of the time, musicians don't want to take the time to learn so much," El Javi said.

But those who do often are fans who describe it as an honor to play with the band.

"It's been a very enjoyable process," El Javi said.

El Javi takes progressive rock influences to create transitions and movement, developing a mood as a song reaches its end.

"It takes a specific type of listener to appreciate it," he said.

El Javi said a lot of his fans are middle-aged because they have a better appreciation for the music history that shines through in his music.

But it's not something everyone is prepared for.

El Javi references a scene in "Back to the Future" when he describes what it's like performing for people who don't expect his sound.

Marty McFly takes the stage and performs "Johnny B. Goode" years before its release. When the audience is shocked he says, "Your kids are going to love it."

El Javi said people here have been receptive to his sound when he's performed.

"They never see anything like this in Southeast Texas," El Javi said.

AFletcher@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/afletcher727
Fans gathered at establishments, including Buffalo Wild Wings in Beaumont, to cheer on the Astros as they make their World Series bid against the Dodgers in game 1 Tuesday. The Astros last went othe World Series in 2005 and haven't won the title since the franchise started 55 years ago.
A Lumberton man allegedly sold opioid pain medication pills to an undercover Beaumont Police officer, according to a BPD affidavit.

Jimmy Midkiff, 66, was indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury Wednesday on a charge of delivery of a controlled substance, a state jail felony.

According to the affidavit, Midkiff met a BPD detective at the Shell station at Tram Road and Eastex Freeway and sold him three Dilaudid pills for $120.

Dilaudid is a pain medication listed in the opium and opiate group in the Texas Controlled Substances Act.

Midkiff was arrested after he drove away from the station, the affidavit said.

If convicted, he faces between 180 days and two years in a state jail, and a fine of up to $10,000.
Officers from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Nederland Police and Jefferson County Narcotics Task Force raided Optimum Medical Weight Control and Family Wellness on Tuesday.



A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas said no additional information about the search was available.



Nederland Police Chief Darrell Bush said he couldn't divulge the details of the search warrant and deferred questions about the investigation to the DEA, a federal agency that enforces controlled substance laws and regulations.



The Nederland Avenue business specializes in "personalized weight loss tailored for the individual," according to its website.



Optimum's site lists Kevin G. Morgan as the clinic's chairman. Morgan, 33, has been a registered nurse since 2008, according to the Texas Board of Nursing.



The board filed formal charges against him on Oct. 20, according to board's website, but his license is still active. The board declined to release information about the charges Tuesday.



Morgan could not be reached for comment.



LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/LizTeitz
FEMA is looking to hire more than 300 Southeast Texans to aid in recovery efforts at a Hardin County job fair tomorrow.

The agency is hosting a job fair in Kountze at the Hardin County Courthouse on Monroe Street on Oct. 25 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to a statement.
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A 31-year-old Galveston man has died from flesh-eating bacteria he likely contracted in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the second such fatality from the catastrophic event.

Josue Zurita succumbed to necrotizing fascitis, an infection that spreads quickly through soft tissue, at John Sealy Hospital in Galveston on Oct. 16, his family said. Galveston County health officials Monday confirmed the death without mentioning Zurita's name.

"He had incredibly bad luck, contracting a very rare infection through a deep cut," said Dr. Philip Keiser, local health authority for Galveston County. "That doesn't make it any less heartbreaking for his family and friends."

Keiser said he attributes the death to Harvey, though he emphasized it is impossible to know if the infection was contracted in floodwaters. A carpenter, Zurita suffered a skin puncture from a nail while repairing homes damaged by Harvey flooding.

Keiser said the necrotizing fascitis was caused by the bacteria Klebsiella, one of a number of bacteria - vibrio vulnificus, E. coli, streptococcus and certain types of drug-resistant staphylococcus are others - that kill nerves and blood vessels while spreading throughout the body. It is found most everywhere, from water and mud to hospitals, but is not as common a cause of the disease as strep. Vibrio is the most common cause in salt water.

Keiser said he is hopeful the death will be the last Harvey-related case of flesh-eating bacteria, which public health officials had feared could be a significant threat from the flooding. There were more than 20 cases reported in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Earlier this month, the Harris County medical examiners office ruled that Nancy Reed, a 77-year-old Kingwood woman died from the infection after falling in floodwaters and cutting her arm. She died at Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center on Sept. 15.

A third case involved a former firefighter and medic, J.R. Atkins, who reportedly suffered an insect bite and contracted the disease while helping flooded Missouri City neighbors. He survived.

Zurita was diagnosed with necrotizing fascitis soon after his admittance to the hospital Oct. 10, said Keiser, who also is a doctor of infectious disease at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He said the infection spread particularly quick because the cut was deep.

A funeral was held for Zurita on Sunday. He is being buried in his hometown of Oaxaca, Mexico.
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Nearly two decades after he was convicted in the 1998 grisly killing of James Byrd Jr., John William King will ask an appellate court in January to hear his claims of innocence and insufficient legal counsel.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which in August said it would review King's appeal, on Wednesday scheduled oral arguments in the case for Jan. 4 in New Orleans.

King, 42, is on death row at the Polunsky Unit in Livingston.

> > RELATED: The dragging death of James Byrd Jr.

In a brief filed earlier this month, King's California-based lawyer, Allen Richard Ellis, argued that the appeal "will involve a close examination of the relevant trial record, facts and case law."

Ellis wrote that King's trial lawyers, Sonny Cribbs and Brack Jones Jr., "failed to challenge the state's evidence against" their client and "to point out obvious inconsistencies" in the state's 1999 case.

Those challenges, according to Ellis, include showing that sandals with Byrd's blood found on them were King's roommate's, not King's, and that other people had access to King's lighter, which was found at the crime scene.

> > Scenes from Lawrence Russell Brewer's execution

The appeal also argues that King's defense did not challenge the state's claim that the murder was racially motivated.

King joined a KKK splinter group known as the Confederate Knights of America while in prison on a burglary charge in the 1990s. The Jasper man covered himself in racist tattoos.

> > PHOTOS: Famous Last Meals

"The undoubted racial beliefs of King do not translate into racial violence, yet there was no attempt by the defense to refute this weak point in the State's case," Ellis wrote in his client's appeal. "Had

King's racist views been explained, even though they would have been distasteful, they would at least have been seen not to encompass random acts of brutal, unprovoked violence and torture on innocent victims simply because of their race."

> > Texas death row inmates won't receive last meals after Jasper killer's final request

King was the first of three white men from Jasper convicted of capital murder for the hate crime, in which 49-year-old Byrd was chained by his ankles to the bumper of a truck in June 1998 and fatally dragged on an old logging road on the outskirts of town.

Co-defendant Lawrence Russell Brewer was sentenced to death in the case and was executed in 2011 at the age of 44. Another co-defendant, Shawn Allen Berry, 42, is serving a life sentence.

Cribbs died in June. Jones declined to comment Wednesday.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the respondent in King's appeal, has until Nov. 9 to file a brief in response before the January hearing.

LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/LizTeitz
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A class action suit filed Tuesday in Jefferson County alleges that two insurance companies and a Harris County educational agency failed in their inspections of Beaumont ISD's boilers, resulting in the January 2016 carbon monoxide leak that sickened more than 100 students and staff.

The Jan. 28 accident was caused by two preventable boiler failures - corrosion that let fire exit the boiler and an inoperative ventilation fan, according to a report from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation released to BeaumontEnterprise.com.

Jeremy Robison, whose son was treated after the incident, is the lead plaintiff in the suit. According to the petition, at least 100 students are believed to be victims and members of the class, which will need to be certified by the court before the suit can proceed.

>> Read the petition here.

The petition alleges that CNA Insurance Company, OneCIS Insurance Companies and the Harris County Department of Education "failed to ensure a proper, adequate, or compliant state safety inspection was performed on the boiler" and "failed to properly maintain the boiler in safe operating condition and operated it beyond its safe usual work life expectancy, among many other uniform wrongful actions."

According to a contract attached to the suit as an exhibit, BISD paid Harris County Department of Education $131,250 to serve as the Interim Director of Maintenance from Oct. 1, 2015 to Sept. 1, 2016.

That contract required HCDE, a taxing entity that provides support services and specialized schools in the Houston area, to manage BISD's maintenance department. The scope of work included "maintain the physical school plant in a condition of operating excellence to ensure that full educational use may be available at all times," and "provide students with a physical learning environment that is safe, clean, attractive and functional."

Attorney Jane Leger alleges in the petition that the company breached its contract, resulting in physical injuries and damages.

She also claims that CNA and OneCIS, who insured the 1988 Raybak boiler that leaked, failed to properly inspect it.

The boiler passed inspection less than three months before the leak on Nov. 5, 2015, when CNA Insurance Companies inspector Stuart S. Nester documented that he found "no adverse conditions" and "no violations."

Leger alleges the insurance companies and HCDE "negligently failed to identify the damaged and unsafe state of the boilers; and failed to tell school and district officials that the boilers were unsafe and needed repairs."

The suit comes almost a year after the Robisons filed a petition in Jefferson County's 136th District Court asking to receive documents and take depositions of BISD representatives "to investigate potential negligence claims arising from the injuries to their child."

BISD claimed governmental immunity in an attempt to avoid providing the information, but was ordered by Judge Milton Gunn Shuffield to respond to the requests because the petition indicated there were other potential defendants aside from the district.

According to court files, former Beaumont ISD Chief Operations Officer Robert Calvert was deposed in April.

He told the Enterprise in December that he "severely question(s) the quality and the integrity of the inspectors," and said he had "absolutely no faith in the agency that is doing the inspections."

LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/LizTeitz
A Port Arthur man has pleaded guilty to using more than $2,000 in U.S. Postal Service fuel cards for his personal vehicle, according to information from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Shawn Bell Jr., 21, made his plea today in a Louisiana court room, the department said.
A low-flying helicopter seen circling the Golden Triangle recently is part of routine maintenance checks by Entergy Texas.

According to Kacee Kirschvink, company spokesperson, the helicopter is monitoring local power lines for any problems.

"They fly the lines to make sure they look good and just to monitor everything," Kirschvink said. "All transmission stations do this as routine maintenance periodically."

Thursday morning, a crew of three set out again to visually inspect power lines. Spending up to six or seven hours in the air every day, their eyes are peeled for vegetation overgrowth and problems with the transmission lines that could potentially cause a power outage.

"We expect to find things," said Entergy operations coordinator of vegetation management Rhu Henderson. "These flights are how I schedule trimming work and coordinate crews to resolve the issues.

Inspecting transmission lines over Beaumont typically takes two days, while covering the entire region typically takes up to or over two weeks.

Henderson said while hovering power lines in the helicopter, he looks at the surrounding vegetation to observe whether there are any encroachment to the lines.

"I'm looking to see if the trees are too close to the lines, and if dead, heavy trees may fall into the lines," Henderson said.

Chad Hawthorne said while Henderson looks at vegetation, he's inspecting the transmission lines.

"I'm looking for anything out of the ordinary that could cause an outage," he said. "I look for potential equipment failure on the lines and get crews there to fix them before an outage."

Kirschvink said major Entergy transmission lines reach from the Louisiana border up to the Jasper area and down toward Huntsville.

The company routinely monitors over 2,700 circuit miles of its transmission lines spanning more than 15,000 square miles over 27 Texas counties. Routine transmission line helicopter fly-byes in this area typically take place every fall and spring, with an additional vegetation check in the summer.

Following Tropical Storm Harvey, Hawthorne explained that Entergy crews took to the air as soon as two days later to begin inspecting damage to transmission lines as a result of the storm. When mass power outages occur, Hawthorne said the energy company will typically send a helicopter crew to observe the cause.

"This is by far the best way of looking at transmission lines," Henderson said.
Chennai 2 Singapore, the movie which has music by Ghibran and direction by Abbas Akbar had its trailer released today (October 25, 2017).



The trailer looks colourful and its basic theme seems to be the thirst to make a film. Both actors Gokul Anand and Anju Kurain seem to look fresh on screen and the songs might be a big added bonus to this visually strong film.



The Vaadi Vaadi visuals seem to be exotic. Similarly, Ro Ro Roshinis visuals are also good. The story of the film seems to be linked with the story that the protagonist has in hand and a slow transition to an action-packed heist genre seems to be on the cards.



The only question is how the native connect might work among all centres of audiences and how engaging this film could get. A young and fresh team to look forward to!
What Royal Exchange could look like when completed

What Royal Exchange could look like when completed

The 400m Royal Exchange revamp of part of Belfast city centre could include a 27-storey high-rise building as part of the ambitious scheme which it's claimed will create 6,000 jobs.

Developer Castlebrooke has now submitted outline plans for the ambitious scheme, which include the redevelopment of a 12-acre site based around Royal Avenue.

The project is said to be the "largest ever single redevelopment in Belfast city centre".

The plans include a number of retail developments, offices, hotel and landscaping, along with the demolition of seven existing premises, and the restoration of listed buildings.

Developers say as many as 900 construction jobs could be created during the building work.

It's understood those behind the scheme are choosing to knock down fewer buildings, as outlined in an initial masterplan.

There had been a backlash from conservation groups, with the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society saying the scheme "perpetuates Belfast's complete lack of a coherent plan to enhance the city's unique selling points with quality architecture".

The plan will include the creation of three new streets, helping to connect Royal Avenue with the start of the Cathedral Quarter. The redevelopment includes Donegall Street, North Street, Lower Garfield Street, High Street and Lombard Street.

Work has also started on the restoration of a vacant listed building at the corner of Lower Garfield Street.

A spokesman for the developer Castlebrooke said it is "conscious of the huge responsibility" it faces and added that, following concerns raised in a public consultation, it had "modified" plans to "ensure that we are creating an international standard development that blends and protects the unique cultural and historic legacy of Belfast's north-eastern quarter with a 21st century need for buildings and spaces that facilitate the future needs of both residents and businesses".

The largest part of the scheme includes a high-rise building - located at the corner of Rosemary Street and Bridge Street - which will be between 24 and 27 storeys, and up to 93 metres tall.

That would make it the second-tallest building in Belfast, behind the Obel apartment development at 28 storeys.

The majority of the building would be residential, with some retail and office space. There is also provision within the overall scheme for a large retailer to set up shop. There had been speculation it could attract John Lewis to Belfast.

Addressing some concerns over buildings being razed or altered significantly as part of the scheme, architect Dawson Stelfox, chairman of Consarc Design Group, said "all seven of the listed buildings in the area are being restored and put back into use which includes the provision of cultural space.

"Three new streets, and a proposed laneway, increase permeability, improving the pedestrian connections."
Hairdresser Helen Doherty, owner of Razors barbershop in Galgorm, spoke of her sadness at the plants closure

After decades as one of Ballymena's biggest employers, the former Gallaher tobacco factory closed for the last time yesterday.

Owner JTI announced in 2014 that it was moving its long-standing Co Antrim operation to Poland, resulting in the loss of 860 jobs.

At its peak, more than 2,000 people worked on the 100 acre JTI Gallaher site.

The employer had enjoyed a reputation for generous wages and providing 'a job for life', often through more than one generation in a family.

The few remaining employees finished their day yesterday at the Lisnafillan factory which will now be taken over by the bus giant Wright Group in December.

Pat McCallion (65) spent 42 years working in JTI and Gallaher's - spending most of his time in security, as well as 20 years as his trade union's shop steward.

"It's sad, production has ceased and now the machines will be packed up and moved to Poland," he said.

The economic impact, he said, was yet to hit Ballymena, with JTI workers getting "probably one of the best redundancy packages in Northern Ireland, if not the UK".

Although many have since found other jobs, he said finding the same level of pay elsewhere was virtually impossible.

Today, Mr McCallion is chairman of the Ballymena Credit Union as well as a trustee of the Gallaher Trust, a 5m charitable legacy left behind by JTI to focus on job creation and skills development.

"I would say there is apprehension in the town as to what the future holds. But on the other hand, you can't look back, you have to look forward," he said.

"There's so much going on in Ballymena trying to create employment, far more than people probably give credit for."

Ballymena was dealt a double blow after its other main employer, tyre producer Michelin, announced it was closing in 2018.

Helen Doherty, owner of Razors Barbershop in Galgorm, knew many family members and friends who spent their entire careers at JTI Gallaher.

"It's one of these places you thought was always going to be there and anyone who got into Gallaher was lucky because they were set for life," she said.

"It is sad, obviously if the money's not there all the businesses in Ballymena are going to suffer."

Ballymena newsagent Eugene Diamond added: "The town is badly affected by it. They were one of the biggest contributors to the town's commercial end over the last 50 years, without a shadow of a doubt."

"Nobody paid wages like Gallaher. It's going to be one of those things that affects the town for years to come."

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Paul Reid, thanked JTI for being a "fantastic" employer through the years.

"There's no doubt this is a sad day, but we're hopeful we can bring new employment and jobs to our borough, with the top priority in tourism," he said. "It is going to have a knock-on effect for those in the supply chain who will equally feel the pinch."

A JTI spokesperson said yesterday: "JTI would like to extend its deepest thanks to all current and past members of the Lisnafillan factory team for their dedication over the years and their continued commitment and professionalism until the ver y end of production.

"We would like to wish them and their families well for the future."
A Westminster committee is set to examine the threat to thousands of Bombardier workers in Northern Ireland amid a trade dispute with giant Boeing.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has launched a new inquiry into Bombardier  which employs more than 4,000 workers here  after the US government imposed a provisional 300% duty on sales of its C Series planes to America.

Airbus is now taking a majority stake in the Canadian companys C Series aircraft. Thousands of Northern Ireland jobs looked to be at risk after a complaint from rival Boeing resulted in the US administration imposing a provisional 300% tariff on each of the aircraft sold there, potentially scuppering a multi-billion pound deal with Delta Air Lines for up to 125 jets.

The tie-up with Airbus is an attempt to flout the tariffs, and get around paying the hugely damaging duties.

Now, the fresh inquiry will examine the security of jobs at Bombardier, and other Northern Ireland firms further down the supply chain, should the tariffs be imposed.

It will assess the UK Governments role... how their involvement in providing financial support led to initial claims of subsidising production... how they can influence future developments given the involvement of three multi-national aerospace manufacturers and three other national governments.

It will also investigate the capacity of the employment infrastructure and wider economy in Northern Ireland to cope with redundancies at Bombardier, or other large employers.

Committee chairman, Dr Andrew Murrison MP, said:

Reports of a deal between Bombardier and Airbus have lifted the heavy gloom that hung over one of Northern Irelands major providers of high-tech, high-quality jobs.

It is great news. However, the potential impact of tariffs remains unclear. Given the huge importance of Bombardier in the Northern Ireland economy, it is right that we use this time to assess where we are with it, how it's position can be strengthened further and the wider impact on the region should job losses occur.

We must better understand the circumstances that led to this situation. As the UK is about to embark on a series of trade negotiations, most notably with the EU and US, we should identify how well major employers in Northern Ireland are prepared to handle trade disputes.

In this respect, I look forward to working with colleagues in the International Trade Committee who have a shared interest in this field.
Two airliners have been photographed appearing to fly in formation as they pass over Liverpool.

Images suggest the aircraft were side by side, although they do not show the difference in altitude.

Data published by flight tracking website Flightradar24 suggests there was 2,000ft of separation between the planes as they flew over Liverpool shortly before 1pm on Wednesday.

Expand Close Two passenger aircraft appearing to fly in formation as they pass over Liverpool (Peter Byrne/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Two passenger aircraft appearing to fly in formation as they pass over Liverpool (Peter Byrne/PA)

The plane on the right of the photographs is believed to be Turkish Airlines flight TK12 from New York to Istanbul, flying at 35,000ft.

It was pictured next to a KLM cargo flight from Miami to Amsterdam, which was at 37,000ft.

Air traffic rules require aircraft to maintain a vertical separation of at least 1,000ft.
Belfast and the Causeway Coast have been named as the top travel destinations for 2018 by Lonely Planet.

Here Louise Bastock, a travel writer for the magazine, explains why the Northern Ireland locations were chosen by the guide.

"The world is full of amazing and unexpected places to visit," she says.

"Best in Travel looks at all the must visit locations right across the world.... and the Causeway Coast is amazing for an unbelievable amount of reasons."
More than a quarter of adults in Northern Ireland are now classed as obese.

Obesity levels have increased over the last decade - rising from 24% recorded in 2005/06 to 27% in 2016/17.

A further 36% are overweight, a survey by the Department of Health reveals.

Its Health Survey NI looks at trends in general health among the population here for the 12 months to April.

The survey has been conducted each year since 2010 and covers issues such as mental health and well-being, loneliness, social support, obesity, smoking and physical activity.

While obesity among adults is rising, there has been little change in child obesity in the last decade.

Some 17% of children aged between two and 15 were classed as overweight, while 8% were classed as obese. But three-quarters of children were either normal weight or underweight.

Other key findings from the survey include:

 The percentage of smokers (22%) dropped by 2% to 20% since last year - the first fall in number since 2014/2015;

 Some 80% of over-18s said they drank alcohol - an increase from 74% in 2015/2016;

 Over half (55%) reported meeting official recommendations on physical activity, broadly similar to previous surveys;

 Females continue to be more likely to meet the 5 a day guidelines (47%) than males (37%), however they remain less likely to meet the physical activity recommendations (females 51% and males 61%).

 And 73% described their health as good or very good, an increase from the 70% reported the previous year.

Findings from the survey were taken from a sample of almost 4,000 people aged 16 and over.

The drop in smokers continues the overall downward trend since the 1980s.

Further analysis of the figures shows that those in deprived areas are three times more likely to smoke than those in affluent areas.

However, according to a leading charity, the number of smokers is still too high.

Margaret Carr, Cancer Research UK's public affairs manager in Northern Ireland, said: "This report tells us that too many people in Northern Ireland are still smoking.

"Smoking is a deadly habit that causes at least 14 different types of cancer and it is crucial that people are given help to quit. It is a long time since the Northern Ireland Department of Health has outlined its plans to tackle smoking - its tobacco strategy was last updated five years ago.

"Urgent action is needed, including investment in stop smoking services as well as in public health campaigns."

Colette Rogers from the Public Health Agency said: "Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness, premature death and health inequality throughout Northern Ireland and sadly one in every two smokers will die of a tobacco-related disease, so it is very encouraging to see that more people every year are successfully quitting."

The report also shows that people living in urban and the most deprived areas are more likely to show signs of loneliness than those in rural areas.

One in six respondents (17%) indicated they may have a mental health problem, in keeping with previous survey findings.

Elsewhere, 83% of people surveyed knew that antibiotics are not effective on flus or colds.

A similar figure (85%) were aware that antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections and that taking one unnecessarily can mean becoming resistant to them in the future.
Concerns over staff safety have led to plans to install panic alarms at a Northern Ireland hospital.

The Western Health Trust confirmed it is to introduce an alarm system because of a spate of attacks on workers at Altnagelvin hospital's accident and Emergency department.

The system, which will be operated by wifi and will see eight alarm units carried by employees, allowing them to alert colleagues to potential danger, will be installed next month.

The move comes after a judge branded working conditions at weekends in the Londonderry hospital as like a "circle of hell".

District Judge Barney McElholm's made the comments as he sentenced a 33-year-old man to four months in prison after he admitted charges of disorderly behaviour and assaulting a police officer in the emergency unit in August.

Mr McElholm said: "It must be like a circle of hell in there at the weekends, which is something which was not envisaged.

"I have spoken to people who have had the misfortune to attend the accident and emergency department in the early hours of the morning and they described what they saw as absolutely outrageous."

It was the second time in recent months that Mr McElholm had raised concerns over the situation at Altnagelvin A&E. A spokesperson for the health trust said the organisation remained committed to its zero tolerance campaign for those who abuse or attack medical staff.

They added: "No member of staff in any part of the western area, whether in hospital or community care settings, should be subjected to attack or abuse.

"A staff attack alarm system will be installed in Altnagelvin Hospital's emergency department in November."

Alan Philson, from the Foyle branch of trade union Unison, told the Derry News staff at the hospital did not feel adequately protected.

He also warned there were issues with alcohol and drugs involving patients attending A&E, but that staff step up and deal with it professionally.

Mr Philson said: "We find staff are really overworked and under a lot of strain. Junior staff are expected to step up without being given the proper mentoring. A lot of nurses are being posted to A&E and expected to step up to the mark. It is chaotic."

Garret Martin, of the Royal College of Nursing, added: "Despite a zero tolerance campaign instigated by the Department of Health, there has been no reduction in the number of attacks.

"Those who attack nurses and other health staff must be dealt with appropriately under the law.

"People need to understand that if they assault a nurse or any other health professional, they will be prosecuted."
A Northern Ireland doctor has been remanded in custody charged with murdering his mother in Belfast.

Anne O'Neill, 51, died after an alleged attack at a house in the Finaghy area of the city on Saturday, October 21.

Neighbours reported hearing a woman's scream at the time of the incident on Ardmore Avenue. Declan Kevin O'Neill, 27, appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, October 25, to face one count of murdering Mrs O'Neill.

The accused, of Malone Avenue in the city, is the victim's son, sources have confirmed.

He is understood to have worked as a doctor at a hospital in Belfast.

O'Neill, who denies the charge, entered the dock dressed in a grey sweatshirt and trousers. Asked if he understood the allegation against him, he nodded and replied: "Yes."

An investigating detective said she could connect him to the charge.

Expand Close Declan Kevin O'Neill, 27, faces one count of murdering Anne O'Neill. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Declan Kevin O'Neill, 27, faces one count of murdering Anne O'Neill.

No further details were disclosed during the brief hearing.

A defence lawyer confirmed he was not seeking bail or putting any questions to the detective at this stage.

District Judge Fiona Bagnall remanded O'Neill in custody to appear again by video-link in four weeks time.
A Co Down father and son have become the first to both be honoured by the Ulster History Circle.

A blue plaque will be unveiled to social housing pioneer Charles Blaney at the address of his former home - 65 Bridge Street in Newry.

His son Max Blaney, a bomb disposal officer, was previously honoured in 2013 at the same address for his bravery during the London Blitz in 1940.

He died while disarming a bomb in Romford Road in the East End, and was awarded the George Cross for his work during the Second World War.

His father was born at Rosnakill in Co Donegal, and graduated in Dublin as a civil engineer before going on to work for the Belfast Corporation.

After this he moved to Newry to take up the post of town surveyor in 1902 at the age of 25.

He set out to improve the water and sewage services in the then overcrowded town.

Charles later went on to oversee the conversion of a former military barracks to social housing named Linenhall Square which served Newry until their demolition in 1960. Charles also improved the port, railways, bridges, streets, lighting and was honoured with an MBE.

His former home is now owned by the Habinteg Housing Association which partners with charitable organisations, and jointly manage a number of locations. Their Newry partnership is with the Simon Community.

Charles and Max will be the first father and son to be awarded blue plaques, and on the same building, in Northern Ireland.

The plaque to Charles will be unveiled by his grandson Michael Blaney on Friday at 2pm.

Ulster History Circle chairman Chris Spurr said: "Charles Blaney, as town surveyor for over 50 years, is acknowledged in having changed the face of Newry, where he is acclaimed as a pioneer of social housing.

"In a distinguished double, the Ulster History Circle is delighted to celebrate this exemplary public official with a blue plaque on the same building where his son Max Blaney GC is already commemorated."
A Tyrone mother-of-two who died after an allergic reaction to medication caused most of her skin to peel off suffered a condition so rare that her family donated her organs to research to help others.

Elaine McGrinder (33) developed Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), which causes a severe rash on the skin, after reacting to the drug Ramipril which she had been prescribed for a kidney complaint.

Within days, the SJS developed into toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), a horrific condition that caused more than 90% of Ms McGrinder's skin to come away.

The rare condition only affects between one and two people per million each year worldwide each year.

Despite months of intensive treatment at the Royal Victoria Hospital's specialist burns unit and some improvement in her condition, a relapse sparked by a chest infection sent the Strabane woman's body into shock, leading to her death. She passed away on October 18, 2015.

Harrowing details of Ms McGrinder's death were revealed during an inquest heard by Coroner Joe McCrisken in Londonderry yesterday.

Her mother Helen Collins told the court she accepted how rare the condition was.

She added: "Elaine had a very horrific death. She left two beautiful children behind.

"It's has been two long and difficult years. I gave Elaine's body parts for research in case it ever came up again so it will hopefully help someone else."

Speaking outside court, Ms Collins added: "This was such a difficult day for all of us but I wanted this inquest to make people aware of this condition and that it could happen again.

"I am not putting any blame on any specific person. I think they (the medics) were not aware of SJS when they first saw Elaine.

"I wasn't aware of it but my son Aidan who is a doctor was aware and he told Elaine to ask about it.

"I think if more people are aware of what Elaine went through and what I went through watching her, maybe this wouldn't happen again.

"For six months, Elaine suffered horrendously and we could do nothing but watch and pray for a miracle which we kept thinking was going to happen.

"We kept waiting on the miracle - even the doctors told us to keep praying - but we didn't get our miracle.

"We donated her organs so that maybe another person will be spared and that is something Elaine would have done herself.

"She was such a good girl, she was like a sister to me because I was young when she was born. She was such a devoted mother to her two daughters who are seven and 11.

"She would have done anything for anybody but she was like me in that she could be stubborn at times.

"But she was so kind-hearted and would have done anything for anybody."

During the hearing, three doctors - Dr Frank McCarroll and Dr Ying Kuan, specialists in renal care at Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry and Dr Olivia Dolan, a consultant dermatologist at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast - gave evidence.

The court heard that Ms McGrinder had been under the care of Dr McCarroll and Dr Kuan for a kidney complaint and was taking Ramipril.

She attended Altnagelvin's A&E department in April 2015 after developing a red and white blotchy rash on her skin.

Ms McGrinder's brother Aidan had raised the possibility that his sister's rash could be SJS but although it was recorded in her notes from A&E, the drug was not withdrawn and Ms McGrinder was discharged.

She was seen by Dr Kuan on April 21 and he stopped her medication. Two days later, she was diagnosed with SJS.

However, her condition deteriorated so rapidly that by April 26 a diagnosis of TEN was made and she was admitted to the intensive care unit at Altnagelvin.

In her evidence, Dr Dolan explained how she started treating Ms McGrinder at the RVH's specialist burns unit from May 1 when she was in a critical condition with "over 90% of her skin affected by TEN".

Dr Dolan said that while Ms McGrinder suffered further complications by August 2015, she was "making progress" and was able to be transferred out of ICU to a ward. But after developing a chest infection in September, she suffered a relapse of TEN and was re-admitted to ICU where she passed away on October 18.

Mr McCrisken recorded Ms McGrinder's cause of death as hypoxic ischaemic necrosis of brain, multi-organ failure, pneumonia fungal endocarditis and TEN associated with 1gA nephropathy.

Following the mum's death, the Western Trust has since compiled a report which raises awareness of both SJS and TEN for medics which includes a list of drugs most likely to spark such an allergic reaction.

Mr McCrisken requested that Ramipril was added when it emerged in court that it was missing from the list.
Police are hunting for a rogue batch of deadly pills after a teenager died of a suspected drug overdose

Police are hunting for a rogue batch of deadly pills after a teenager died of a suspected drug overdose.

Drug users are being warned about a pink pill known as a UFO, a drug similar to ecstasy, following the death of the 18-year-old in the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald yesterday.

The young man has been named locally as Jonathan Ramsey from Saintfield, although he had spent some time living in Downpatrick.

UFO tablets are named after their spaceship shape and florescent colour. They can have a delayed effect, leading users to take more and overdose.

Police confirmed last night they are investigating the death.

Mr Ramsey, known as Jonny to his friends, is said to have consumed two of the pink pills the PSNI are now searching for.

The young man was rushed to the Ulster Hospital where he died shortly after 11am yesterday morning.

He is survived by his partner his partner, his mother, father, four brothers and grandmother.

Newry Mourne and Down SDLP councillor John Trainor, who is also a youth worker in Downpatrick, where the victim had spent some time living in care, said it was a "tragedy".

He said: "First and foremost my heart goes out to his partner Nicole and his family. He was so young and the circumstances behind it is an absolute tragedy.

"My thoughts and prayers are with all those who knew him.

"I think people will be very shocked and it may force those who partake in drugs to stop. I cannot advise more strongly to young people to avoid taking drugs."

Mr Trainor said there had previously been an increase in young people using crystal meth and cocaine in Downpatrick but a successful campaign by PSNI community officers had been effective in promoting awareness.

He added: "The Neighbourhood Team were very good at engaging with young people and highlighting the dangers of certain drugs.

"Now there is not so much of it as it is overshadowed by anti-social behaviour such as underage drinking which we are working together to tackle.

"It's not that drug use has stopped, it hasn't, it is just hidden. I would urge young people to be very careful and report anything suspicious to the police.

"This is a tragedy because the people taking the drugs are the victims while the people dealing it have a lot to answer for."

In a statement, the PSNI said: "Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of an 18-year-old man from the Downpatrick area.

"A post-mortem will be carried out to determine the cause of death. There are no further details at this time."

UFO pills contain PMA, which is similar to MDMA, the chemical in ecstasy. However, PMA is more poisonous and can kill at lower doses than MDMA. Also like MDMA, it can cause a fatal rise in body temperature.
Anne O'Neill, who was found dead at a house on Ardmore Avenue in Finaghy, Belfast, in the early hours of Saturday morning (PA/PSNI)

A 27-year-old man has been charged with murder over the death of a woman in Belfast.

Anne O'Neill, 51, was found dead at a house on Ardmore Avenue in Finaghy in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Detectives from Police Service Northern Ireland's serious crime branch said on Tuesday that they had charged a man with murder.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, will appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

A 23-year-old man arrested in connection with the death was released pending further enquiries on Monday.

Ms O'Neill is understood to have suffered head injuries before she died.
Virgin said they do not anticipate any disruption to customers as a result of the enhanced security measures

Norwegian serves two routes to US from Belfast

UK passengers flying to the US face enhanced security measures from Thursday.

The US government announced that travellers on all inbound international flights could be questioned by airline staff before being allowed to board aircraft.

Budget airline Norwegian, which operates transatlantic flights from Belfast, Edinburgh and London Gatwick, advised customers to arrive at airports earlier than normal.

An airline spokesman said: " We always follow the rules and regulations set out by the US authorities.

" These new measures mean that our passengers travelling to the US need to plan for more time at the airport to answer a series of questions during check-in.

"Further details will be shared with our passengers prior to departure."

In March, the US banned passengers from taking large electrical devices such as laptops on board flights from eight mainly Muslim countries over security fears.

A similar policy was introduced by the UK, although it affected some different locations.

The Department for Transport does not expect the new measures to have a significant impact on UK passengers or airport operations.

A spokesman for the department said: "We work closely with all our international partners to keep aviation security under constant review, but for obvious reasons we do not comment on specifics."

It is believed some passengers will be handed a form to fill out, while others face being quizzed by airline employees.

A BA spokeswoman said: "The safety and security of our customers is always our top priority.

"Our flights are continuing to operate as normal."

Virgin Atlantic said in a statement: "We work closely with US authorities to ensure the safety and security of our flights, and are aware of the additional measures - however we do not anticipate any disruption to customers.

"We advise all customers travelling on our flights to arrive at the airport at least two hours before departure."
Undated file handout photo issued by the Conservative Party of Chris Heaton-Harris who has been criticised for sending a "sinister" letter to universities which requested the names of professors teaching about Brexit / Credit: Conservative Party/PA Wire

The two universities centrally-based in Northern Ireland are responding to a controversial letter sent to them by a Brexit-backing Tory MP.

In the letter, Eurosceptic Chris Heaton-Harris asked that vice-chancellors from around the country forward him on a list of professors at their university who are "involved in teaching of European affairs, with particular reference to Brexit".

It also asks for a "copy of the syllabus and links to the online lectures which relate to this area".

A spokesperson for Queen's University Belfast said it had "received a letter from Mr Chris Heaton-Harris MP in relation to the teaching of European Affairs".

"We responded indicating that we have a number of academics engaged in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the broad areas of Politics and Law which cover various aspects of European Affairs."

Ulster University confirmed it has received the letter from Mr Heaton-Harris and it was in the process of drafting a response.

The letter was sent to all universities in the United Kingdom earlier this month, and has been heavily criticised for encroaching on the academic freedom of universities.

Speaking to the Guardian, Prof Kevin Featherstone, head of the European Institute at LSE said the letter "reflects a past of a McCarthyite nature. It smacks of asking: are you or have you ever been in favour of remain? There is clearly an implied threat that universities will somehow be challenged for their bias".

Expand Close Undated handout photo issued by the University of Worcester of a letter by Chris Heaton-Harris to Professor David Green, Vice Chancellor at the university where the Conservative MP requested the names of professors teaching about Brexit / Credit: University of Worcester/PA Wire PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Undated handout photo issued by the University of Worcester of a letter by Chris Heaton-Harris to Professor David Green, Vice Chancellor at the university where the Conservative MP requested the names of professors teaching about Brexit / Credit: University of Worcester/PA Wire

In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Minister of State for Universities and Science Jo Johnson said Mr Heaton-Harris had sent the letter as part of research for a book, but conceded it "probably should not have been sent"

Sinn Fein's Further and Higher Education Spokesperson MLA Caoimhe Archibald said it had been an "unjustifiable abuse of position".

"Regardless of the reason, the disconcerting undertones cannot be discounted," she said.

"Universities equip individuals with information and the ability to critically understand. Fundamentally they are places where the pursuit of knowledge and free-thinking are encouraged. Academic freedom and freedom of enquiry/research are fundamental values, which must be protected.

"Brexit has had, and will continue to have, serious and negative implications for our universities and research sector. Research programmes in particular rely upon the ability to collaborate and attract staff and students from across the EU and further afield."

Ms Archibald also noted the Freedom of the Arts and Science are protected under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
This is the disgraced Northern Ireland nurse who faces losing her job for a drunken and "unsavoury'' attack on police and airport staff while waiting to catch a flight to Ibiza with friends.

Antrim Magistrates' Court heard that the incident had also cost Shauna Quinn her planned marriage to her partner.

Quinn (34), of The Blackthorns in Newry, had pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour, two counts of assaulting police officers and one charge of common assault on an airport worker.

A prosecution lawyer told the court that Quinn was in the departure lounge at Belfast International Airport at around 6.20am on August 21, 2017.

Passengers waiting to catch flights reported that Quinn was drunk and was being disorderly.

District Judge Oonagh Mullan heard that Quinn had grabbed an airport staff worker, putting two hands around her head and had "scratched her hand''.

Airport police went to the departure lounge and tried to calm the situation but noticed Quinn's "eyes were glazed over''.

"She was swearing persistently and was in an aggressive manner,'' said the prosecution lawyer.

"Police removed her from the lounge and (she) was lashing out at police and smacked one police officer to the face and continually swore at them.

"It was then police decided to put her in handcuffs and take her to Antrim police station.''

The court was told Quinn continued with her aggressive behaviour in the station and "for her own safety police had to put her in a wheelchair and she was continually banging her head off the perspex sheet in her cell''.

A defence solicitor said Quinn was "extremely remorseful and embarrassed'' about her behaviour at the airport, telling the court she "has little recollection'' of events.

He told the district judge his client had been drinking the previous night "and too much alcohol had been consumed in the morning'' with her friends who were heading on holiday to the island of Ibiza.

The solicitor described the injuries as "low level'', saying that as well as smacking a police officer across the face, she also "kicked them in the shins''.

"Miss Quinn has asked me to put on record her sincere apologies to the member of airport staff and also the police officers.''

He continued that Quinn was the mother of a 15-year-old daughter and that as a result of this incident her partner called off plans to marry her.

The solicitor told the court his client was currently on sick leave and was also the subject of disciplinary proceedings in her workplace as a result of the drunken attack.

"I have told her that as a result of these proceedings there is a real risk of her losing her job.''

He added that Quinn was currently addressing her alcohol problems.

District Judge Mullan told Quinn: "This was an unsavoury incident in an area where the public were present, waiting either to catch a flight to go on holiday or a business flight.

"Your behaviour was extremely poor on that day when you not only assaulted a member of airport staff but also a number of police officers.

"It was obvious that there were distressed people in the public area at the time. It is clear far too much alcohol was consumed by you. I have been told that you are ashamed and extremely remorseful."

The judge said she was placing Quinn on 12 months' probation and ordering her to serve 60 hours of community service.

Quinn was also fined 150 for disorderly behaviour.

But District Judge Mullan warned her: "If you do not complete this order you will be brought back to court to be re-sentenced.

"I am hopeful that you will complete the order and you will not be back before the court again.''
Police officers at the scene of on the Upper Springfield in west Belfast following reports of a suspicious object in the area on October 24th 2017 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

The Upper Springfield Road in Belfast has reopened after police returned to the area to conduct further searches.

The PSNI said officers recovered a suspected firearm which was taken away for examination.

The road in west Belfast was closed in both directions on Wednesday at around 5pm before reopening at around 10.30pm.

Police carried out searches in the area and found nothing on Tuesday.

They appealed for the public to call 101 if they spot anything suspicious.

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Lawyers revealed they have asked the Public Prosecution Service to hand over all material amid further claims of paramilitary involvement.

A suspected UDA chief is seeking disclosure of any intelligence used to support allegations he is second in command of a notorious Belfast unit, the High Court has heard.

David 'Dee' Coleman's lawyers revealed they have asked the Public Prosecution Service to hand over all material amid further claims of paramilitary involvement.

Telephone evidence allegedly links him to the gathering of membership money for the outlawed organisation, a judge was told.

Prosecutors claimed messages attributed to the 32-year-old were signed off 'QS' - an apparent reference to the UDA's Latin motto Quis Separabit (Who will separate us?).

It was also contended that he uses at least five different mobile phones, separately identified as Dee Coleman 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Details emerged as his bail application was adjourned due to the dispute over the basis for the assertions.

Defence barrister Sean Mullan said: "We have written directly to the PPS seeking disclosure of the intelligence material being put forward and relied on by the Crown."

Coleman, of Hopewell Crescent in Belfast, is charged with membership of a proscribed organisation between June 14 and October 18 this year.

He was arrested by detectives from the PSNI's Paramilitary Crime Taskforce during an operation involving 14 searches at locations in the city, Holywood and Portadown.

Police and the prosecution claim he is overall second in command of the UDA's C Company based in west Belfast's Lower Shankill area.

The unit is suspected of involvement in extorting local businesses, punishment beatings, intimidation, drugs and loan sharking, it was alleged.

A Crown lawyer said: "The organisation is assessed as being sophisticated, there are believed to be 27 members and there are ongoing investigations into the organisation itself."

She set out a series of mobile phone communications in an attempt to connect Coleman to paramilitary business.

It was also contended that instructions on the initiation of new members were discovered at an address linked to him.

"Police believe he's a high-ranking member of the UDA in the Lower Shankill," she added.

But Mr Mullan expressed "grave concerns" at the assertions being made.

He told the court: "We simply have to apply for this matter to be adjourned because the Crown have to provide the material on which they rely."

Consenting to the move, judge Sir Richard McLaughlin confirmed the bail application was being adjourned generally.
Glen Barr (centre) with Tommy Lyttle (left) and John McMichael during the 1974 strike

Glen Barr, a central figure in the Ulster Workers Council (UWC) strike that paralysed Northern Ireland and brought down the first attempt at political power-sharing in 1974, has died.

He passed away yesterday, aged 75, at Altnagelvin Hospital in his native Londonderry.

East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell led tributes to the former loyalist leader, describing him as a tireless campaigner.

Mr Campbell added: Glen Barr, or Glenny as he was affectionately known, was moving on from his political involvement as I moved into mine in the late 1970s. He worked hard at cross-community work, helping to build capacity in working-class unionist areas.

Glen was a tireless campaigner and vigorous in defence of his own views.

In the 1970s, Mr Barr held senior positions in the UDA and Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party (VPUP).

He first joined the Loyalist Association of Workers and then the UDA, becoming its leader in the north west.

Despite being elected to Stormont under the VPUP banner in 1973, he soon became a leading opponent of the Sunningdale Agreement of 1974 and was a pivotal figure in organising the UWC strike the same year.

Also in that era he was part of a UDA fundraising delegation that travelled to Libya to meet with Muammar Gaddafi, who was already funding the Provisional IRA by that time.

As chair of the Ulster Loyalist Central Coordinating Committee, he led a group containing UWC representatives that included both paramilitaries and politicians directing the strike.

Mr Barr remained loyal to William Craig after the Vanguard leader suggested he would share power with the SDLP. When the UDA also disavowed Craigs suggestion, he resigned from the UDA.

When Ian Paisley attempted to foster another general strike in 1977, Mr Barr publicly challenged the DUP leader and distanced himself from what would prove to be a failed attempt to repeat the successful UWC strike held three years before.

He went on to share the deputy leadership of Vanguard with David Trimble and when the party dissolved in 1978, he joined the Ulster Unionist Party and resumed his relationship with the UDA at the invitation of the organisation.

The two-week UWC strike in 1974 saw heavy involvement from the UVF and the UDA.

Members of both groups enforced the strike by blocking roads and intimidating workers. A total of 39 people died during the 14-day span of the strike  33 of them in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

The then Secretary of State, Merlyn Rees, described the strike as an outbreak of Ulster nationalism.

In 1973, Barr had described himself as an Ulster nationalist and in 1976 the New Ulster Political Research Group (NUPRG) produced Beyond the Religious Divide, a document co-authored by him.

And it was he who was selected by the NUPRG to end a self-imposed media blackout by giving an interview to the Dublin-based political magazine Magill in 1978.

But, he had long become disillusioned by how he perceived mainstream unionist politics treatment of working class loyalists and in turn their blind allegiance to the political parties.

He once said: They could have sent a donkey with a Union Jack pinned to its tail up the Shankill Road and we would have voted for it.

Glen Barr left the political arena around 1981. He then set up a scheme from which disadvantaged young people would receive training and employment under the government ACE initiative. It later became the Maydown Youth Training Project Ltd.

In later years Glen Barr concentrated on illustrating how community divisions in Northern Ireland could be dismissed by showing how both Protestant and Catholics fought and died together in the First World War.

He established the International School for Peace Studies and, together with Fine Gael representative Paddy Harte, established the Island of Island Peace park at Messines in 1998.

Belfast UUP councillor Chris McGimpsey was involved in that project from the outset.

He told the Belfast Telegraph: I didnt know Glen until the Messines project and I found him to be a good organiser and a good motivator who had some very good ideas, and I got on well with him.

Like everyone else, I was aware of his involvement with the UDA and he still had links with them. Andy Tyrie was on that first trip to Belgium, but Glen never used those links in anything but a positive way.

Mr Barrs funeral service will at Ebrington Presbyterian Church in Londonderry on Friday, at 2pm. Donations in lieu of floral tributes can be made to the Alzheimers Society at Scott Lodge, Plymouth, PL2 3DU.
Customs officers said the cigarettes had a retail value of about 4.5 million euro

One of the largest ever hauls of black market cigarettes has been recovered by Customs.

The truck-load of illicit tobacco - known as cheap whites and branded Excellence - was concealed in a lorry supposedly containing tyres passing through Dublin Port.

There were 9.6 million cigarettes inside, with a retail value of about 4.5 million euro which, if they had made their way to the streets, would have cost the Exchequer 3.8 million euro.

Revenue Customs officers analysed the truck using a specialist mobile X-ray scanner machine after picking it out in routine profiling.

The smuggled cargo had arrived in the country on Tuesday on a ship from Rotterdam.

"Revenue continues to target the supply of illicit tobacco products with a view to disrupting the supply chain, seizing the illicit product and prosecuting those responsible," a spokeswoman said.
The Taoiseach has accused Gerry Adams of giving up on a deal to save Stormont and trying to push the blame for its failure on to others.

Leo Varadkar was responding after the Sinn Fein president accused the Irish government of engaging in "untruthful, malicious and shameful" press briefings to undermine his party colleague Michelle O'Neill.

The row on the floor of the Dail was the latest in a series of acrimonious spats involving Mr Varadkar and Sinn Fein leadership figures.

It unfolded during leaders' questions when Mr Adams challenged Mr Varadkar on recent press reports that claimed, quoting Irish government sources, that Sinn Fein Stormont leader Mrs O'Neill was prepared to strike a deal to restore powersharing with the Democratic Unionists but was overruled by senior figures within her own party.

Sinn Fein has vehemently rejected the claim.

During his remarks in the Dail, Mr Adams also criticised the UK government for "indulging" what he called "stubborn elements within political unionism", which he blamed for obstructing an agreement.

Mr Varadkar said he had no knowledge or interest in "disagreements or rivalries" that may exist within Sinn Fein.

He then accused Mr Adams of "setting the scene to ensure somebody else gets the blame for the failure to come to an agreement in Northern Ireland".

"You spoke about stubborn elements within political unionism - that's not a good way to talk about people you are trying to make an agreement with at the moment," the Fine Gael leader said.

"'Stubborn elements in political unionism', and then you attack the Irish government and then you attack the British government.

"This doesn't sound to me like the languages of somebody who is trying to lead their party into an agreement with unionists, into co-operation with the British and Irish governments.

"This sounds to me like somebody who has already given up and is already trying to spread the blame to others."

Mr Adams insisted he would "never give up". He accused the Taoiseach of offering "glib answers".

"These briefings on the part of your government were untruthful, malicious and shameful," he said.

The veteran republican added: "Why would you want to undermine Michelle O'Neill? Over 70% of nationalists in the north voted for the party she led, do you think these citizens don't read your remarks?"

Mr Varadkar said he was not going to "account for government briefings".

"I have no difficulty in speaking for myself," he said.

"I think anyone in this house knows that I am somebody who speaks my mind and I don't mince my words, so I don't need to operate through government briefings and I am not going to account for government briefings anymore than I would expect Deputy Adams to account for Sinn Fein briefings or unattributed sources in newspapers".

With less than a week to go before the latest deadline in the powersharing crisis, Sinn Fein and the DUP remain at loggerheads over key issues, such as proposed laws to protect Irish language speakers.

The clock is ticking towards October 30, when the UK government effectively needs to decide whether it has to take a major step toward the re-imposition of direct rule and intervene to set a budget for the region's rudderless public services.
The Prince of Wales as he attends a meeting on deforestation at Lancaster House in London (Frank Augstein/PA)

An ambitious commitment by leading companies to help safeguard Brazils tropical savannah has been hailed by the Prince of Wales.

Charles joined senior executives from firms like Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Unilever and McDonalds as they announced they had signed a letter of support for the Cerrado Manifesto  aimed at tackling soy bean-driven deforestation of the Cerrado area of Brazil.

But, despite the development, the Prince sounded a cautious note and stated that those concerned about deforestation were not winning.

Expand Close Charles was optimistic despite the 'enormity' of the challenge (Frank Augstein/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Charles was optimistic despite the 'enormity' of the challenge (Frank Augstein/PA)

Speaking at Londons Lancaster House, he said: At least 10 million hectares of forest continue to be lost every year, with new fronts of deforestation opening all the time.

Recent science suggests, as a result of loss and degradation, forests now act as a carbon source, rather than a carbon sink.

Charles, who has been campaigning for a number of years to end the destruction of the worlds rainforests, concluded with the words: Ladies and gentlemen, despite the enormity of the challenge, I remain convinced that, by working together, it is still possible to take the decisive action necessary to save the worlds remaining forests.

Covering an area equivalent to the size of England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain combined, the Cerrado is a biodiversity hotspot and home to more than 800 bird species and 11,000 plant species and essential for water and rainfall across Brazil.

Expand Close The Prince of Wales meets Norway's environment minister Vidar Helgesen and Gabon president Ali Bongo Ondimba (Frank Augstein/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Prince of Wales meets Norway's environment minister Vidar Helgesen and Gabon president Ali Bongo Ondimba (Frank Augstein/PA)

Marks & Spencer chief executive Steve Rowe, speaking in his role as a director of the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), announced during the meeting of Government ministers, conservation and wildlife organisations and businesses, that 23 leading companies had signed the letter of support for the Cerrado Manifsto.

He told delegates: Building a more sustainable economy is something that will unite us all, whether tackling food waste, forced labour or deforestation.

In 2010 the CGF board agreed a resolution committing us to zero net deforestation by 2020 for four key commodities that we use extensively  palm oil, beef, paper and pulp and soy.

He said soy remained a major challenge, adding: Its used widely in the food industry, particularly to make animal feeds, and used in the production of meat and dairy products.

Mr Rowe acknowledged the efforts of the Brazilian government to protect the Amazon rainforest but said that unfortunately soy bean production was being displaced to Cerrado.

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The meeting, hosted by the Princes International Sustainability Unit and Unilever, was held as the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) released a report highlighting the UKs forest footprint  as the result of the import of goods such as palm oil, cocoa, timber, rubber, paper, beef and leather.
Police are investigating after hackers stole data from a cosmetic surgery clinic whose celebrity clients include Katie Price

Police are investigating after hackers stole data from a cosmetic surgery clinic whose celebrity clients include Katie Price.

London Bridge Plastic Surgery (LBPS) said it is "horrified" that its patients had been targeted in the cyber attack which was reported to police on October 17.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Organised Crime Command are investigating.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said there have been no arrests and enquires are continuing. LBPS described the hackers as "highly sophisticated" and said they had targeted medical providers in the US in the past year.

Price, the glamour model turned businesswoman, has previously posted images of her facelift and thanked LBPS for an "amazing result".

LBPS said: "We are still working to establish exactly what data has been compromised.

"We are profoundly sorry for any distress this data breach may cause our patients and our team are available around the clock to speak to anyone who has any concerns by calling 0203 858 0664."
Protesters outside a court in Istanbul as 11 human rights activists go on trial accused of belonging to and aiding terror groups (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Eleven human rights activists, including the two local heads of Amnesty International, have gone on trial in Turkey, accused of belonging to and aiding terror groups in a case that has increased concerns over Turkey's authoritarian regime under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ten of the activists, including Amnesty's Turkey director Idil Eser, German national Peter Steudtner and Swede Ali Gharavi, were arrested while attending a digital security training workshop at a hotel on an island off Istanbul in July.

They are accused of plotting an uprising and charged with aiding Kurdish and left-wing militants as well as the movement led by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed for last year's coup attempt. They face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.

Amnesty's Turkey chairman Taner Kilic, who was jailed separately in June, is appearing in court in the city of Izmir for alleged links to Gulen. He is accused of using an encrypted mobile messaging application allegedly used by Gulen's network.

Human rights groups say the defendants have been accused of "trumped up" charges.

"There is not a shred of evidence against the 11 human rights defenders on trial today," Andrew Gardner, Amnesty's Turkey researcher, told the Associated Press. "At the very least, our expectation and our hope is that they will be released from prison."

Mr Gardner added: "It's been a very difficult situation for all human rights organisations in Turkey for some time. But for 11 human rights defenders to be picked up after a routine human rights seminar is an escalation and repression in Turkey."

The trial is one of several cases that have deepened a rift between Turkey and European nations, notably Germany, which considers Mr Steudtner and some 10 other German or German-Turkish citizens jailed in Turkey to be political prisoners.

Turkey has arrested more than 50,000 people since the failed coup and sacked at least 110,000 others from government jobs. The crackdown was initially launched to deal with alleged coup-plotters but was expanded to include other government opponents, such as academics, journalists and legislators, critics say.

"These two trials will be an acid test for the Turkish justice system and will demonstrate whether standing up for human rights has now become a crime in Turkey," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's director for Europe.

AP
Being director of communications for Sinn Fein is simultaneously the hardest and easiest job in Northern Irish politics.

It's the hardest, because how many times can you be trotted out to put a positive spin on the party's latest own goal without becoming overwhelmed with embarrassment?

"Gerry said what? Please tell me you're joking. You're not?" (Sigh). "Okay, leave it to me, I'll see what I can do."

It's the easiest job, meanwhile, because the answer to every crisis is invariably the same. You either blame the unionists, blame the two governments, or blame the media.

It's just a question of playing a quick game of rock, paper, scissors in the office to decide which one gets the nod each time.

It's safe to say that Ciaran Quinn, who currently holds the position of republican publicity guru, is not having the best time of it in that respect.

First came a swathe of internal allegations about a toxic culture of bullying in the party.

Then the attack on the Dublin government's recent budget was totally overshadowed by a silly row about the price of a bottle of wine.

No sooner had that been put to bed than the Press team was dealing with a leak suggesting the ard chomhairle had intervened to stop the party's Stormont figurehead, Michelle O'Neill, cutting a deal with the DUP's Arlene Foster to restore power-sharing.

As for the polls, they're not looking good, either. Latest figures down south show Sinn Fein trailing way behind the two main establishment parties, on whose voters republicans have long set their greedy sights. The Republic is turning out to be a harder-than-expected nut to crack.

Clearly, the impression of intransigence and incompetence which has settled on Sinn Fein since needlessly collapsing the Executive in January is taking its toll.

What to do? Sinn Fein called in the communications cavalry and Ciaran Quinn hit back with a column in the latest edition of An Phoblacht, where he claims that talks "have been blown off course by the constant media spin by the two governments".

There you have it. It's not Sinn Fein's insistence on a stand-alone Irish Language Act and legislation on same-sex marriage, despite the fact that, this time last year, it was in government without either being in prospect.

It's not even the DUP's refusal to budge an inch on those issues. Indeed, it was remarkable that there wasn't a single criticism of Mrs Foster's party in that article.

Instead, all the blame was being shifted towards London and Dublin. And that's no exaggeration. Noting that days have been lost to dealing with allegations about the ard chomhairle pulling the plug on a possible deal and that this was damaging the political process, Quinn insisted that "all of this was due to media spin by government politicians and their handlers". Not some. Not most. All of it.

Talk about ingratitude.

Since taking up his new job before the summer, Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, has been bending over backwards to make excuses for Sinn Fein's stubbornness.

The Taoiseach, despite some clumsy comments about the size of a majority needed to bring about a united Ireland, has also been hanging tough on Brexit in ways only calculated to irritate Westminster. Unappreciative to the end, Sinn Fein still went for Dublin's jugular.

Does the party have a grand plan? Or is it just panicking right now? Ciaran Quinn's bizarre article in An Phoblacht suggests the latter.

Because it was bizarre, no question about that. A communications director is supposed to be the one who keeps his head while all around are losing theirs. This was more of an "everything but the kitchen sink" affair, as Quinn threw all he had into a desperate attempt to prove that Sinn Fein has done nothing wrong.

He even compared the British Government's reluctant pledge to take back control of the local budget to the Spanish government's belligerent threats to Catalonia, before claiming (in reference to those reports about the ard chomhairle vetoing a deal) that "in truly Kafkaesque fashion, Sinn Fein was being asked to prove that God doesn't exist - an impossible task".

It was as if he just kept piling up grievances in the hope that the collective effect would hypnotise his audience into forgetting one crucial, inconvenient truth: namely, that progress in talks is entirely in Sinn Fein's hands.

There are only Sinn Fein and the DUP in the room, as the Ulster Unionists' Doug Beattie points out. Everyone else is being shut out.

If you don't want to give an impression of intransigence, don't be intransigent. Simple.

Sinn Fein runs one of the largest media management operations in these, or any other, islands. That it is losing the PR war is not evidence that it's being outmanoeuvred by a sneaky rival dirty tricks campaign. It's simply proof that people are not dumb. They can recognise a lame excuse when they hear one.

That's what's making Ciaran Quinn and his army of under-pressure Press office underlings so desperate.

Sinn Fein collapsed the Assembly in January, demanding Arlene's head on a plate. That seems to have gone by the wayside. Instead, it tried to turn the stand-off into a crusade for minority language and gay rights.

As it becomes increasingly clear that it simply doesn't have sufficient interest in restoring the devolved institutions, it's now about avoiding the blame for the collapse of talks when it happens. The party just hasn't figured out a coherent strategy for doing so yet.

In its place is one bit of crisis management after another, like political Whack-A-Mole. This reactive, rather than active, approach never suits Sinn Fein. The party is a much better operator when on the front, rather than the back, foot.

Ciaran Quinn's railing against reality shows a party which is normally so sure-footed losing control of events. The problem is that it has helped create a situation so dire that direct rule is no longer the bogeyman it needs it to be.

At this stage, it might come as a relief to many in Northern Ireland, who just want to know that someone is making decisions about things that matter.

It could be worse. Sinn Fein spokespersons have had to defend much worse in the past, but no amount of eccentric waffling about Kafka and God and Catalonia can hide the obvious floundering.

Needing forward momentum, Sinn Fein has, instead, become becalmed in a sea of its own making.

A communications director cannot fix that.

Skilled politicians can sell any deal, but even the best advertising wizards will struggle without having an actual product to bring to market.
Lt. Gen. Kyaw Swe (second from left), Myanmars Home Affairs minister, and Bangladesh Home Secretary Mostafa Kamal Uddin show memorandums of understanding they signed in Naypyidaw, Oct. 24, 2017.

Bangladesh and Myanmar signed agreements on Tuesday to beef up security cooperation and set up border liaison offices to deal with an exodus of Rohingya Muslims who fled recent violence in Myanmars northern Rakhine state.

Bangladeshi Home Secretary Mostafa Kamal Uddin and Myanmar Home Affairs Minister Lt. Gen. Kyaw Swe signed two memorandums of understanding in Naypyidaw, where they met to discuss plans to repatriate hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled to southeastern Bangladesh after a military crackdown in Rakhine following insurgent attacks on Aug. 25.

Last month, Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed to begin a process to repatriate the refugees under a 1993 agreement that allows the return of Rohingya who can prove residency in Myanmar.

At an Oct. 2 meeting in Dhaka, Myanmar and Bangladeshi government officials agreed to form a joint working group comprised of officials from the two countries to work on the process of repatriating the refugees.

The Myanmar authorities have informed our honorable minister that the joint working group will be formed by Nov. 30, Sharif Mahmud Apu, a spokesman for Bangladeshs Home Ministry, told BenarNews on Tuesday.

They have also assured us that they will take the Rohingya refugees back, he said.

A statement issued later in the day said Bangladeshs Home Ministry had said that Myanmar authorities agreed to a sustainable repatriation of Myanmar citizens from Bangladesh, but avoided referring to the refugees as Rohingya.

Officials from both sides who participated in the ministerial-level meeting earlier on Tuesday also discussed implementing recommendations by the Myanmar government-appointed Advisory Commission on Rakhine State led by former United Nations chief Kofi Annan, employing counterterrorism measures, taking action against separatists, eliminating cross-border human trafficking and drug smuggling, and maintaining a peaceful border, the statement said.

It is agreed that the chiefs of the border security forces of both countries will meet once a year, and the regional level official will meet on a quarterly basis to resolve border concerns, it said.

Armys version of events

Also on Tuesday, the Myanmar military issued a 10-point statement laying out its version of events during attacks by the militant group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on Aug. 25, and defending its actions amid heavy international criticism, including charges of ethnic cleansing and threats of sanctions.

About 4,000 extremist Bengalis led by ARSA carried out simultaneous attacks on 30 police outposts and one army unit headquarters using superior force under well-hatched plot, the statement said, using a derogatory term for Rohingya Muslims who are considered in Myanmar as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

The office of President Htin Kyaw declared a military operation zone immediately after the attacks, and military commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing received directives from the president on Sept. 4 to make reinforcements to ensure adequate troop strength and to strengthen the fence along the border with Bangladesh, it said.

Some military units performed area clearance operations acting on tip-offs that militants were performing training activities to carry out additional attacks, it said.

No further incidents occurred after Sept. 5 because the militants had fled the country, the statement said.

The military also said that its security forces took action in accordance with the law, and did not overstep the law.

One-sided statements and accusations against Myanmar and security members over the terror attacks of extremist Bengalis in the west of Rakhine state are totally untrue, and the intentional acts done under the pretext of the facts such as human rights and humanitarians may hamper national security and national interest, the statement said.

U.N. agencies and aid workers in Bangladesh, however, say they have tracked tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees that have continued to flee Rakhine since mid-October.

US restrictions

The Myanmar military issued its statement a day after the United States imposed additional restrictions on it for its alleged abuse of Rohingya Muslims during the recent violence in northern Rakhine.

Rights groups, the U.N., and the international community have hit out at the army for committing atrocities against the Rohingya, which they say amount to ethnic cleansing.

The U.S. State Department announced that, as of Aug. 25, it had stopped consideration of travel waivers for current and former senior military leaders under the 2008 Juntas Anti-Democratic Efforts (JADE) Act of 2008, which prohibits U.S. imports of jadeite and rubies from Myanmar, even if the gems are processed in and exported from another country.

The government also said it was assessing authorities under the JADE act to consider economic options available to target individuals associated with atrocities.

The U.S. government has also rescinded invitations for senior military officials to attend U.S.-sponsored events and deemed units involved in operations in northern Rakhine ineligible to receive or participate in any U.S. assistance programs, the statement said.

It is imperative that any individuals or entities responsible for atrocities, including non-state actors and vigilantes, be held accountable, it said.

The new restrictions have been imposed in addition to existing restrictions on the U.S.s already-limited engagement with the Myanmar military and its long-standing embargo on all military sales.

The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that U.S. officials are preparing a recommendation for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to declare that ethnic cleansing is occurring against Myanmars Rohingya Muslims, a move that would put pressure on the Trump administration to consider new sanctions against Myanmar.

At a Senate hearing on Tuesday, outraged U.S. lawmakers pressed the administration to unequivocally adopt the term.

The administration of former President Barack Obama lauded Myanmars progress in its transition to democracy under Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the countrys de facto leader whose government has been in power for more than 18 months.

She has been sharply criticized for not speaking out on the treatment of the Rohingya and not doing enough to stop the violence against the minority group at the hands of state security forces following the Aug. 25 ARSA attacks and deadly smaller scale raids by the same group in October 2016.

Kamran Reza Chowdhury in Dhaka contributed to this report by Radio Free Asia (RFA), a sister entity of BenarNews.
Residents stand near police cars after terror suspects were arrested at a housing complex in Kampar district in Indonesias Riau province, on Sumatra island, October 24, 2017.

Indonesian counter-terrorist police launched simultaneous raids in four provinces on Tuesday and arrested nine suspects, including several alleged members of an extremist group that was behind recent attacks in the country, authorities said.

Among the suspects picked up by elite anti-terror squad Densus 88 was Bakri Baroncong, an alleged bomb maker who was believed to have made explosives for a foiled plot to kill the governor of South Sulawesi province in 2012, police spokesman Brig. Gen. Rikwanto said.

We had a simultaneous operation and successfully captured nine terror suspects, Rikwanto told BenarNews.

Five of the suspects were captured in the Sumatra province of Riau, two in Central Java, and one each in South Sulawesi and East Java provinces, he said. Rikwanto said investigators were still trying to determine whether the nine belonged to the same militant network in Indonesia.

An investigation is underway, he said.

Rikwanto said the police operations began early morning Tuesday with the arrest of a 42-year-old suspected militant in East Tangkerang, a village in Pekanbaru, the capital of Riau.

The suspect planned to attack a police station in the province, Rikwanto said.

An hour later, police arrested two men in a housing complex, including a man named Wawan, believed to be a local leader of Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), an extremist group that has pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

JAD is led by imprisoned Indonesian Muslim cleric Aman Abdurrahman, who is classified by the United States as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

JAD has claimed responsibility for several terror attacks in the country, including shootings and bombings in Jakarta that killed eight people in January 2016, and explosions that killed five people at a bus terminal in East Jakarta in May this year.

Guntur Aryo Tejo, Riau provincial police spokesman, said all the five men arrested in Riau were members of JAD who planned to attack police stations.

He said police seized the suspects cell phones, bank account statements and religious books during the raids, which also caught local residents by surprise.

I have never thought that terror suspects would be living in a very safe and comfortable housing like this, Amin, a resident of Pandau Permai Housing, told BenarNews.

Arrests in other areas

On the same day, Densus 88 also arrested Baroncong, who had eluded capture for five years, in East Luwu, a district in South Sulawesi province.

He was arrested for being involved in the [attempted] bombing of the South Sulawesi Governor in 2012. At that time he made a number of bombs, Rikwanto said, explaining that the suspect stored six bombs.

South Sulawesi Gov. Syahrul Yasin Limpo was on a stage on Nov. 11, 2012 during a celebration in the provincial capital Makassar, when a suspected terrorist threw a homemade bomb, which failed to explode, police said. A student was arrested as a suspect.

In Central Java province, police arrested two men, including one who allegedly provided funds for Hendro Fernando militant group, which has links with the Central Sulawesi-based Eastern Indonesia Mujahedeen group (MIT), Rikwanto said.

He said the ninth suspect, who was arrested in East Java, helped process the marriage of Dian Yulia Novi and Muhammad Nur Solikin, a couple convicted in September for a foiled plot to attack the State Palace in Jakarta in December 2016.

Dian, the nations first female would-be suicide bomber, was sentenced to 7  years in prison, while her husband, Solikin, received an 11-year prison term.

Demonstrators display a giant banner with Arabic slogans in front of the Indonesian parliament in Jakarta, during a rally to protest a new law that gives officials sweeping powers to ban groups deemed as threats to national unity, Oct. 24, 2017. [Rina Chadijah/BenarNews]

Controversial regulation endorsed

Meanwhile on Tuesday, about 1,000 members of conservative Muslim groups protested outside the parliament after lawmakers endorsed a controversial presidential decree that allows the government to ban organizations deemed as threats to national unity.

The presidential decree, signed in July by President Joko Jokowi Widodo, has been used to ban Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), the domestic chapter of a hardline international group that campaigns for an Islamic caliphate in the worlds largest majority-Muslim country.

This opens the door widely for repressive regime, Ismail Yusanto, former HTI spokesman, told BenarNews.
A masked man guards a communal farm in southern Maguindanao province recently as fears of the potential spread of violence from Islamic State-linked groups grow following their defeat in Marawi.

An alleged financier of Islamic State-linked (IS) fighters in the city of Marawi has been arrested in Manila, a Philippine presidential spokesman said Wednesday as security officials in the south braced for more potential violence.

While it was not known exactly how many militants escaped from Marawi as troops this week ended a five-month siege, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said some Maute-group supporters remained at large.

We ask our people to continuously remain vigilant in their respective areas and cooperate with police and soldiers to hunt down all remaining terrorists and other lawless elements who are out to destroy the peace prevailing in our communities, he said.

Maute and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants linked to IS led foreign and local fighters in seizing the majority-Muslim city of Marawi on May 23. The government announced it had regained control of the city on Monday.

Abella did not release names of suspected militants or say where any manhunts were taking place, but announced that police recently arrested Aminkisa Romato Macadato in a northern Manila suburb.

He is the nephew of Maute matriarch Farhana Maute and is included in the Martial Law Arrest Order of the Department of National Defense, Abella said.

Macadato helped collect weapons and ammunition prior to the attack, according to reports. His aunt, Farhana Maute was arrested along with two wounded fighters in June.

Abellas statement came as security forces were redeployed from Marawi, which remains under tight government control as city planners moved to complete an assessment of damage.

Malaysian connection

On Monday, the military said troops had stormed the last stronghold of the gunmen and killed 42, just days after overall IS leader Isnilon Hapilon and Malaysian Mahmud Ahmad, who allegedly funneled money to the fighters, were killed.

Malaysian Police Chief Mohamad Fuzi Haron offered to send police officers to collect DNA samples from Marawi to compare with Mahmuds family members. He said the Philippines had yet to send an official formal request.

The one who confirmed [Mahmuds death] was the president [Rodrigo Duterte]. We cant confirm for sure. I cant respond on the details, Fuzi said.

A source told BenarNews that Philippine forces believe that another Malaysian, Mohd Amin Baco (alias Abu Jihad), was killed in the hostilities.

He was likely killed in the last stand, said one intelligence source who asked to remain anonymous. He was a big fish among the militants.

Baco apparently had links with an ASG faction in the southern Philippine island of Jolo through his father-in-law.

Meanwhile, troops continued pursuing a commander called Abu Dar, alleged to be the IS recruiter in Mindanao, who escaped early in the Marawi fighting, Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., deputy commander of Joint Task Group Ranao, said. The military did not release details about Dar, citing the sensitivity of the operation.

Recruitment

Despite the defeat in Marawi, IS continues recruitment efforts using the Internet, military officials said.

Brawner said the tech-savvy militants had used photos of the devastation as part of their propaganda material online.

There are again efforts to recruit and we dont want another repeat of Marawi, Brawner told reporters in Marawi. Their targets are the youth.

About 920 militants, 165 soldiers and 47 civilians were killed in the five-month battle, the biggest security challenge to test the resolve of Duterte, who assumed power last year.

Duterte had placed the entire south under martial law, giving the military extra police powers to defeat the militants. But while fighting has been officially declared ended, foreign governments continue to warn their citizens against traveling to the south.

The United Kingdom this week refreshed a travel advisory claiming the threat of terrorism remained high.

Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity to carry out attacks at anytime and anywhere in the country, including the places visited by foreigners, like airports shopping malls, public transport, and places of worship, it said.

Felipe Villamor in Manila and Ray Sherman in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report.
SC Rep. Sylleste Davis addressed the crowd while receiving her "Legislative Appreciation Award" presented to her at the Berkeley Soil & Water Conservation District's "Affiliate Appreciation Reception," held Nov. 3 at the Wampee Conference Center in Pinopolis. Read moreEyes on the prize
 Contrary to what most people have been told, the only battle we ever lost was right here at home! Read moreWhat being a veteran means to me
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For Immediate Release, October 25, 2017 Contact: Sarah Baillie, (520) 623-5252 x 308, sbaillie@biologicaldiversity.org 1,500 Spanish-language Endangered Species Condoms to Be Given Away in Austin Volunteers Will Honor Extinct Wildlife, Draw Connection to Human Population Growth AUSTIN, Texas The Center for Biological Diversity will give away 1,500 free Endangered Species Condoms on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Mexic-Arte Museums Viva la Vida event to draw attention to the effect human population growth has on wildlife, particularly endangered species. The event marks the debut of new Spanish-language package designs for the Centers condoms. The new condoms feature slogans like, Protege al lobo, Cubriendotelo todo!  which translates to, Protect the wolf, cover everything. As our population grows, wildlife we know and love pay the price, said Sarah Baillie, the Centers condom coordinator. With the extinction crisis spiraling out of control, we dont have time to avoid challenging subjects like human population growth. Instead we need to push for reproductive rights, access to contraception, education and equality for women and girls. In the past 50 years, as human population has more than doubled, wildlife populations have been halved. The United Nations predicts that global population will reach 9.8 billion by 2050 and exceed 11 billion by 2100. There are more than 7.5 billion people on the planet. Saturdays event is a part of the Centers actions across the West for Dia de los Muertos. In addition to Austin, the condoms will be a feature of museum events, community gatherings and parades in Albuquerque, N.M., Tucson, Ariz., Oakland, Calif. and Denver, Colo. Volunteers will honor extinct species and share ways to protect threatened and endangered wildlife with custom shrines focused on species affected by the Trump administrations proposed border wall. The volunteers will also help people understand how conscientious family planning can protect wildlife. Dia de los Muertos is a beautiful holiday that honors those who have passed by celebrating connections  to our love ones and to the environment, said Adrian Orozco, membership and marketing associate for the Mexic-Arte Museum. The traditions of Day of the Dead hold sincere respect for wildlife. Dogs lead souls through Mictlan, the Aztec underworld. Hummingbirds and monarchs represent the next stage of life. Throughout, the message is clear: Viva la Vida! As a part of this campaign, the Center has distributed more than 600,000 Endangered Species Condoms in the past six years. The new Spanish-language packages feature four species: the polar bear and monarch butterfly translated from the English version of the packages, plus two new designs for the Mexican wolf and the critically endangered vaquita porpoise. The new slogan for the vaquita package reads, Salva las vaquitas, No siembres tus pepitas! That translates to Save the vaquita, dont sow your seed.
It is with great excitement that SAFREA shares the news of two major wins for a more independent public broadcaster and greater media freedom in South Africa.

On 17 October, the announcement of the seventh Minister of Communications since 2009 could not cloud the mood of media practitioners as they celebrated court rulings pivotal to the independent functioning of the SABC.



In a case brought by the SOS Coalition, together with Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) and the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI), against the Minister and the SABC (with Right2Know as amicus), the High Court passed judgment on the powers of the Board and Minister in relation to the appointment of senior executives of the SABC.

In a release issued by the SOS Coalition, the civil society coalition said that they and their partners welcomed the judgement. They explained that the Board now has the exclusive power to appoint nonexecutive members, without any requirement or approval on the part of the Minister. "The SABC Board has the exclusive prerogative to appoint, through a transparent process, the GCEO, CFO and COO and any other non-executive members of the Board. Not only is the SABC Board able to exclusively appoint the non-executive members, but they are also able to discipline and/or remove any such members."

The SOS Coalition said that this makes the current Board the most independent since the birth of South Africa's democracy.

The second triumph came when the court declared that SABC Board members may not be removed from ofce, except through the provisions of sections 15(1) and 2 and 15(A) of the Broadcasting Act. The SOS Coalition explained that previously, Board members had been removed from their positions unlawfully through the Companies Act, noting the cases of Ronnie Lubisi and Rachel Kalidass.

The ruling helps shut the door on political interference in the public broadcaster.



SAFREA salutes the work of the SOS Coalition, MMA and FXI and celebrates their hard-earned victories for media freedom in South Africa.

More details can be found on the SOS Coalition website, and the full court judgement is available here.




Growing the economy, creating jobs and taking care of the environment are all high on South Africa's agenda. Harnessing the country's abundant natural resources through well thought out and designed infrastructure projects would help achieve these objectives.

Photo: Black & Veatch

In addition, broader access to electricity can boost industrial activity and support previously underserved regions. There are also opportunities to profit from increased exports of resources such as natural gas and electricity to other regions where energy deficits persist. The governments Inclusive Growth Action Plan identifies the energy sector as a key focus area. Taking the lead from the National Development Plans (NDP) Vision 2030, this plan identifies the finalisation of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) expected to take place in early 2018.

Finalising the IRP, particularly as it pertains to gas-to-power plant development activity, has the potential to boost the local economy and stimulate trade amongst key industries. Successful deployment of such projects will require training and skills development to properly build and maintain these facilities and achieve the countrys long-term energy goals, says Webb Meko, business development director for sub-Saharan Africa at Black & Veatch.

New territory for South Africa

Liquefied natural gas, or LNG facilities - and the capability to build new infrastructure to support exports - are new territory for South Africa and the local workforce. Global gas supplies have increased over prior years, and demand continues to grow worldwide. Integrated gas-to-power projects must be developed under the guidance of knowledgeable consulting, engineering, procurement and construction experts for schedule, budget, performance, quality, and safety."

Some lessons can be borrowed from other large infrastructure projects, but gas-to-power plants call for different technical skill-sets, including configuration and associated technologies. In addition, knowledge about LNG technology, cryogenic systems, vaporisation, utility integration, control systems and safety are essential for efficient and economical project design and execution."

This specialised expertise will be beneficial for the country for the future, especially with the likelihood of gas becoming more integrated into Africas future energy portfolio. Gas-to-power projects require the collaboration of many stakeholders  including regulators and local officials, developers, investors, and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) providers.

Meko draws a parallel in the companys current project work on what will be the largest natural gas power station in South America. With many South American nations facing similar demand for reliable baseload power, the 1,516MW combined cycle power Porto de Sergipe project in northeastern Brazil will help meet mounting energy needs. The project will include construction of a new floating natural gas storage and regasification facility. The complexity of the project necessitates coordination with contractors, technology providers and development partners eBRASIL and Golar Power.
The 16th instalment of the BBQ Awards was held at Emperor's Palace, Ekurhuleni late last week. The best of the best in black business and champions of transformation in South Africa were recognised at the gala event.

Fatima Vawda, founder of 27four Investment Managers, receiving the Comair Outstanding Woman in Business Award. Image by Julian Cole.

The Big Time Strategic Group BBQ Awards are very important for us as a people, as a black nation, as young entrepreneurs, as organisations and organised business, and as a country looking to go all the way into the future, said Justice Maphosa, CEO of Big Time Strategic Group, naming sponsor of the event. Today as we meet here, we are saying to those who win the awards, thank you for making us proud.

Baleka Mbete, speaker of the National Assembly, emphasised in her keynote address that South Africa must continue to prioritise transformation in all spheres of life, from government to small business, to benefit everyone. May you progress to even greater heights in your business ventures, she wished the award nominees.

Jeff Radebe, minister in the presidency for planning, performance, monitoring, evaluation and administration, also congratulated each nominee for their exceptional contribution to the world of business and encouraged them to help develop others: The true value of any award cannot be realised unless the winner contributes toward the development of their own communities. In this regard, I believe the BBQ Awards remain an important endeavour in supporting our business community.

And the winners are:

LTE Holdings Best Established Black Business Award: Travel With Flair, a black-owned South African travel management company.

Travel With Flair, a black-owned South African travel management company. Hennessy Businessman of the Year Award: Calvin Mathibeli, CEO of Calvin and Family Group.

Calvin Mathibeli, CEO of Calvin and Family Group. The Innovation Hub New and Innovative Business Award: Geekulcha, a development platform for South Africas leading young tech minds.

Comair Outstanding Woman in Business Award: Fatima Vawda, founder and MD of 27four Investment Managers.

Fatima Vawda, founder and MD of 27four Investment Managers. Ledwaba Mazwai Attorneys Public Sector Visionary Award: Mogoeng-Mogoeng, chief justice of South Africa.

Mogoeng-Mogoeng, chief justice of South Africa. Emperors Palace Community Builder of the Year Award: Lindiwe Matlali, founder and CEO at Africa Teen Geeks.

Lindiwe Matlali, founder and CEO at Africa Teen Geeks. Kaya FM Transformation Champion of the Year Award: Coega Development Corporation, state-owned company specialising in industrial development.

Coega Development Corporation, state-owned company specialising in industrial development. Topwatch Best Employer of the Year Award: Buna Projects and Consulting, a multi-disciplinary company specialising in engineering and full turnkey projects.

Buna Projects and Consulting, a multi-disciplinary company specialising in engineering and full turnkey projects. KIA Young Business Achiever Award: Emmanuel Bonoko, founder of Ebonoko Foundation.

Emmanuel Bonoko, founder of Ebonoko Foundation. New Entrepreneur Award: Inga Vanqa, principal director at Inga Vanqa Quantity Surveyors and Project Managers.

Inga Vanqa, principal director at Inga Vanqa Quantity Surveyors and Project Managers. CSI Ubuntu Award: Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development, an organisation that assists youth on their academic, social, entrepreneurship and career paths.

Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development, an organisation that assists youth on their academic, social, entrepreneurship and career paths. Iqhawe Mentorship Award: Felleng Yende, CEO of FP&M SETA.

Felleng Yende, CEO of FP&M SETA. Big Time Strategic Group Platinum Award: Felleng Yende, CEO of FP&M SETA.

For more information on the 2017 BBQ Awards, go to www.bbqawards.co.za.
Index insurance is being promoted as a solution to protect climate affected smallholder farmers in Africa. This type of microinsurance is slowly gaining ground as a way of compensating farmers for lost crops and livestock due to climate change.

Neil Palmer (CIAT) via Wikimedia Commons

A number of African governments have either introduced or are piloting index insurance while some are still waiting and watching to see if it will have any tangible impact. Various experts attending the Global Green Growth Week conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia discussed and shared experiences with index insurance as an innovation in agriculture for climate and food security in Africa.

Immediate payout

Dr. Bruce Campbell, director of the CGIAR Research Program On Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security explained how in the older days of insurance you had to go out and find out if anything is damaged and there would be a payout after everything is damaged. "Index insurance is a really neat product because it is based on index. So if the rain drops below a certain amount, the insurance company knows the crop has failed and they will pay the money immediately."

Campbell said with index insurance, the farmer gets the money immediately and does not have to sell his/her assets in order to survive. It also reduces the transaction costs.

According to Campbell, index insurance, also known as parametric insurance, has been around for close to 17 years and is slowly taking root in Kenya, Zimbabwe and other African countries. With this experience, countries can now share experience about how it works and what needs to be improved.

A common example, Campbell told IPS, is of a remote rural farmer who buys seed, uses his mobile phone to take an image of the barcode on the seed pack and sends it to the insurance company to buy insurance. "When the rain fails, they can get the payment back as insurance," Campbell explained.

It is estimated that sixty farmers in Kenya are registered under the index insurance schemes being rolled out with help of insurance firms partnering with mobile phone operators.

Reducing risk

David Muigai, an Actuarial Officer with Sygenta Foundation For Sustainable Agriculture said their experience in East Africa has shown that index insurance offers affordable insurance and has helped farmers to benefit from agriculture. "We have managed to serve over 1.3 million farmers. So we have proved that index insurance is scalable. But the key challenge is financial education for the farmers and the regulatory environment regarding use of technologies like mobile phones to provide the services."

Zimbabwe's mobile network, Econet Wireless, is providing services offering climate-based insurance to farmers via SMS and voice-based messages. "They also ensure that you shouldn't just sell insurance. It should be bundled with other things like agricultural advisories and funeral policies," explained Campbell, also resident in Zimbabwe.

Uganda is among the African countries that have just introduced an index insurance scheme run on a public-private partnership basis between insurance firms, the insurance regulatory authority and the Central Bank of Uganda, which holds the money. The Government of Uganda allocated a $2m budget this financial year to provide a 50% premium subsidy to smallholder farmers. Under the same scheme, large-scale farmers are given 30% premium subsidy.

"By so doing we think we are going to increase production and productivity of the farmers. The farmers are going to get bankable and we are reducing the risk of the financial institutions to the farmers. They are coming out to lend money to the farmers because they know that their money is secure," said Musa Lukwago, a senior economist with Uganda's Ministry of Finance.

Lukwago said the elite are being attracted to livestock and crop farming because they know they are covered under the index insurance scheme. He gave the example of a retired civil servant who invested his employment gratuity in growing passion fruit. "There was drought and the farmer lost the entire crop. He was found dead the following day. We believe he would still be alive if he had insurance," Lukwago narrated.

Farmer sensitisation, convincing needed

But the reviews on index insurance remain mixed.

According to Lukwago, there is a need for a lot of farmer sensitisation. "You must convince the farmers that it works. They must see the benefits. If there is a season hit by drought and the insurance companies are not paying, expect a decline the next season."

Based on Uganda's experience, Lukwago added that index insurance requires a lot of meteorological data. "You need to put up weather stations to measure climatic changes, you must domesticate the products. Some of the concepts from the Western world may not work in our local situations."

Muigai said challenges remain in persuading insurance regulators and Central Banks in East Africa to accept text messages as evidence of insurance purchases. Kennedy Tesfam, from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre in Addis Ababa is of the view that while index insurance has been in Africa for quite a while it is not taking off.

Tesfalidet Hagos, managing director at Ethiopia's Luna Exports Slaughterhouse Plc said his organisation has tried index insurance in the vegetable sector and hopes that it can work in livestock production.

"The most important thing we are trying to achieve is to increase the income of the farmers. If we can ensure better productivity of the farmers, they will have better income and therefore take insurance. We want to begin with the root cause. And I believe the root cause of everything in Africa is poverty," Hagos said.

IPS
Stor-Age Property Reit has managed to raise R1.275bn in a heavily oversubscribed bookbuild as it looks to fund its first offshore acquisition.

Investors have been looking at more specialised property stocks for value - such as Stor-Age, which is the only JSE-listed group that invests solely in self-storage assets.

This is while the earnings quality of companies exposed to the retail, office and industrial sectors has deteriorated quite quickly on the back of a weak economy, according to Sesfikile Capital portfolio manager and director Kundayi Munzara. Stor-Age raised R1.275bn of equity at a price of R11.50 per share. "These funds would allow us to conclude the circa R1.3bn acquisition of Storage King on October 31, while maintaining a conservatively well-placed balance sheet post the effective date of the transaction," said CEO Gavin Lucas.

Storage King is the sixth largest self-storage brand in the UK.

"The strong demand for our stock resulted in us increasing the size of the capital raise from the initially indicated R900m, up to the maximum allowable value of R1.275bn," said Lucas.

The Storage King portfolio comprises 13 well-located properties throughout England with a bias towards the southeast and east and an average occupancy of 78% of gross lettable area. A further 12 properties trade under licence of the Storage King brand in the UK, generating licence and management fees.

"The UK market presents an attractive growth opportunity as the country offers a robust macro-economic environment with a relative undersupply of self storage and a language, culture and regulatory system familiar to SA," he said.

Stor-Age would keep its exposure to the UK at between 35% and 40%.

"A significant portion of the company's underlying earnings will have the added benefit of serving as a hard currency rand hedge," said Lucas.

Source: Business Day
Sernick has added a new division to undertake the role of research and innovation with Phillip Oosthuizen, head of research and economics; Dr. Piet Swiegers, ruminant nutritionist and feedlot operational head, and David Smit, feedlot administrator and research operational manager at the helm. According to Sernick Group chairman, Nick Serfontein, the reasoning behind the new division is to improve beef production in terms of profitability and quality.

Phillip Oosthuizen and Dr. Piet Swiegers (Image Supplied)

As with any business, which includes the agricultural sector, what has worked before will not necessarily work in the years to come. This is particularly true for the beef feedlot industry where we face big challenges because of the relatively little research done in comparison to other agricultural sectors, Serfontein explains. The decision to add the new division strengthens Sernicks philosophy to set new standards within the industry by challenging the status quo.

Serfontein ends by saying: Most agricultural products have always been just another commodity, but if we want to survive and accelerate into the future, we will have to distinguish ourselves, as well as the perception of our products.

Measuring the effect of growth stimulants

The research and innovation divisions first project will be to measure the effect of growth stimulants, both implants and B-Agonist on growth, feed conversion, profit margins and meat tenderness. This project will commence in December 2017 and should be completed by April 2018. Economic analysis in terms of feedlot profitability, product quality and consumer requirements are ongoing processes.

We are exploring new products and methods to increase profitability and product quality. This research will allow us to determine the balance between profitability and meat quality through a combination of different products and assess the users method thereof, says Oosthuizen.

Determine the profit-maximising feeding period for different breeds

A second research project is planned to start in May 2018. The goal will be to build on the Sernick Precision Feedlotting project done in 2015. The objective is to determine the profit-maximising feeding period for different breeds of beef cattle where the backgrounding or pre-conditioning period is included. The profit-maximising feeding period model will be strengthened through additional factors considered and data incorporated.

The 2015 research established a platform to differentiate between different beef breeds on the grounds of genetic potential to excel in the feedlot. This differentiation and relevant market prices are used to optimise feed periods and increase feedlot profitability. The new data and upgraded model will allow for optimised feed periods with more accuracy, Oosthuizen explains.

According to Oosthuizen, the objective of their research is to innovate the red meat value chain which includes various products, the use thereof, processes, technology, business models and sectors within the industry. We are extremely excited and passionate towards our work and confident that we will make a significant contribution towards our future in South Africa, says Oosthuizen.
ArcelorMittal SA said on Tuesday, 24 October, that CEO Wim de Klerk is to retire in January. De Klerk has been at the helm for a little more than a year at the struggling steel producer, taking over from Paul O'Flaherty, who also had a brief stint at the company.

ArcelorMittal SA CEO Wim de Klerk is to retire in early 2018.

O'Flaherty held the job for about 18 months, before leaving for personal reasons.

SA's biggest steel producer has, for some time, been battling low steel demand and rising input costs, compounded by cheap steel imports.

The company said it is searching for a replacement for De Klerk.

The company's share price was down 3% to R5,70 in mid-morning trade on the JSE, giving the company a market value of R6.5bn. The share price peaked around R265 in 2008 before crashing to current levels.

Source: BDpro
Two student teams from the University of Johannesburg have won the South African leg of industry-specific challenges with their ability to rethink and reinvent business strategies, while creating innovative ideas tackling complex business issues and well-executed presentations.

UJ's winning team of the CFA Local University Research Challenge 2017:Ryan Morgan, Robin Kowalsky, Sunerah Suleman, Nomkhosi Nkambule and Kholisile Nohashe.

The student teams from the Johannesburg Business School within the Department of Finance and Investment Management, represented UJs College of Business and Economics in the finals of respectively, the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute Research Challenge, and the Financial Planning Challenge hosted by Financial Planning Institute (FPI) the of South Africa.

CFA Local University Research Challenge 2017 comprises Ryan Morgan, Robin Kowalsky, Sunerah Suleman, Nomkhosi Nkambule and Kholisile Nohashe; while the team of the First Financial Planning Challenge 2017 is made up of Ara Barikyan, Mona Manzambi, Nelson Phiri and their lecturer Roxanne Andrews.

The CFA Programme is a professional credential, which hosts the CFA Institute Research Challenge - an annual global competition that provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis. In competing in this prestigious competition, students work in teams to research and analyse a publicly traded company, including meeting face-to-face with company management. The student teams drafted research reports on their assigned company with a buy, sell, or hold recommendation and four finalist teams were selected to present and defend their analysis to a panel of industry professionals on the 17th of October 2017 at the JSE. The four teams in this years local final included UJ Team 1, UJ Team 2, a team from the University of Pretoria and a team from the University of Cape Town.

UJ Team 2 won the CFA Research Challenge local final and will be representing UJ and South Africa at the EMEA finals in Dublin, Ireland in April 2018. This competition involves thousands of students from over 1,000 universities in more than 75 countries. Both teams that competed in the challenge this year represented UJ at the highest standard and demonstrated the excellence that we expect from students, says Corlise le Roux, Programme Manager and Investment Management Lecturer, UJ. This is the third time that UJ has won the local CFA Research Challenge in the past five years.

UJ Winning Team of the First Financial Planning Challenge 2017: Ara Barikyan, Mona Manzambi, Nelson Phiri and their lecturer Roxanne Andrews

The Financial Planning Challenge (FPC) Competition is hosted by the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI) and prepares the next generation of financial planners. The competition is designed exclusively for students studying any financial planning or finance-inclined undergraduate degree programme registered in South Africa. The competition criteria illustrate potential avenues for satisfying Financial Planning Competency Framework and Standards. Teams participate in preparing and presenting a complete financial plan as well as compete in a quiz-style challenge. The UJ team competed against a team from Milpark Business School and a team from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in the FPC Final in Cape Town on 19 October 2017 where the UJ Team won the challenge, making UJ the first University to win the FPC.

Le Roux concludes: The Department is extremely proud of our students who have managed to win two respective competitions in the finance industry within one week.
The proportion of black students progressing at universities was higher in the 1980s than it was in 2017, says statistician-general Pali Lehohla.

Statistics SA released the financial statistics of higher education institutions for 2016 on Tuesday in Pretoria. The figures showed that funding was increasing, but that the additional money provided by the government was still not enough to fill the gap in tertiary education.

Meanwhile, calls are mounting for President Jacob Zuma to release the student-fees inquiry report amid rising tension on campuses over prospects for conditions in 2018.

The statistician-general, whose term ends soon, said that conditions for learning under apartheid for black South Africans were much more conducive than they are now, "so whites continue to outperform black students".

Tuesday's data release revealed that the proportion of black graduates stood at nearly 15% in 1975 but has since declined to about 5%. This contrasted with the position for the white population, now at least 5% higher.

Lehohla said that back then there were many institutions of learning for black students and also opportunities across the world to study while in exile.

Those black students were often fully funded and so able to compete and perform well, he said. Although education experts had concluded that the number of black graduates had increased in absolute numbers, Lehohla said: "What you find is that progress is slow."

The unaffordability of higher education, coupled with weak economic growth, stymied poor students.

At the core of the higher-education funding crisis, said Lehohla, was the outrageous number of students which the system was not designed to handle.

In 2016, 975,837 students were enrolled and about 16% of them were first-year students.

The system could take in only 150,000 students a year, which would make it 450,000 undergraduates at the three levels, yet it was hosting nearly a million students.

Source: Business Day
With an overwhelmingly positive response from the industry and public to the inaugural JHP Gourmet Guide and its unique plating rating system in 2016 - a neutral, trusted evaluation system that equates to global standards - the JHP Gourmet Guide 2018 has been launched. The new-look guide is more stylish, compact and travel-friendly and with signature recipes from the chefs, it's more than just a restaurant guide.

Curator and author Jenny Handley owns a brand performance business and is a respected global restaurant reviewer and writer. Topping up her formal food qualifications regularly all over the world, Handley combines her passion for food, words and brand in this guide.

The launch, at which the chefs received their bespoke plates custom-designed by Mervyn Gers Ceramics, took place on Monday 23 October at The Stack in Cape Town. This year sees the first of three plate awards. As consistency is such an integral part of success, only restaurants and their chefs who were plated in the last guide were considered for three plates in the 2018 guide. The plates were awarded as follows:

One plate

Awarded for excellent cuisine

 Aubergine

 Camphors at Vergelegen

 Chefs Table at Belmond Mount Nelson

 Chefs Warehouse & Canteen

 Hartford House

 Luke Dale-Roberts X Saxon

 Marble

 Myoga

 Nobu

 Terroir

 The Roundhouse Restaurant

Two plates

Awarded for exceptional dining that demands a detour

 Chefs Warehouse, Beau Constantia

 Dw eleven-13

 Foliage

 Greenhouse

 Indochine

 The Pot Luck Club

 The Restaurant at Waterkloof

Three plates

Awarded for world-class destination dining worthy of a flight

 La Colombe

 Restaurant Mosaic

 The Test Kitchen

View the launch gallery here.

Swiss Culinary Innovation Award

Swiss International Air Lines presented the inaugural Swiss Culinary Innovation Award to Chantel Dartnall of Restaurant Mosaic. Innovation is one of the many criteria taken into consideration when the restaurants are reviewed and scored for inclusion in the guide. She wowed the panel with her innovation from start to finish - from conceptualisation and presentation of dishes and the stories told through them, to the techniques mastered in preparation, from her personal, ever-present service to execution in the unique environment of the Orient Hotel and Restaurant Mosaic.

Mari Dartnall, Martina Popkiss representing Swiss International Air Lines and Chantel Dartnall of Restaurant Mosaic. Photo: Andrea Gema

She, with a partner, will fly Swiss Business to Europe, to be inspired by a unique culinary experience. This gives the guide the opportunity of not only showcasing top chefs but rewarding one of them with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Dr Andre Schulz, general manager Southern Africa at Swiss International Air Lines said: This is an opportunity for SWISS to support the top chefs in South Africa by showcasing their work and pushing them to reach new culinary innovations while rewarding them for their outstanding work with this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Photo: Andrea Gema

The Taittinger

Top, eligible chefs featured in the guide will be afforded the chance to participate in one of the worlds most prestigious and oldest chefs competition, Le Taittinger Prix Culinaire International, in 2018.

The guide and plates inspire and reward excellence. We are proud to have created global partnerships to ensure that our chefs can continue to raise their games, says Handley

The essential aim of The Taittinger is to promote the principles of traditional French haute cuisine. Participating countries in 2017 include Belgium, France, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. National competitions are held in these countries, and a winner awarded first prize in each. In France, where the number of competitors is traditionally higher, several selections are held, each also awarding a first prize. In both the French and national competitions winners are selected following two separate heats, the first being a recipe of choice of classic cuisine on a set theme chosen by The Taittinger organising committee, the second a set recipe of national cuisine chosen by the chairman of the national Taittinger jury.

The international competition brings together, in Paris, the winners of the nationals and the French selection. The competition theme is decided by the organising committee. At the end of the day-long competition, the winner is awarded first prize in The Taittinger by the international jury. Chef Michel Roux Jr of Le Gavroche in London (2 Michelin stars), is the presiding judge, and chef Emmanuel Renaut (3 Michelin stars) is president of the Prix.
The city is a feast of purple blossom this time of year. Yes, spring has arrived in Johannesburg and so has Urbanologi's new menu. But, it's not about the fresh seasonal ingredients as much as it is the flavour combinations these bring to the table.

'Chef Jack'

With the new spring menu, we continued with our core ethos of providing a platform for forgotten or unpopular produce, giving them a chance to revive themselves, says chef Jack Coetzee. We also wanted to make a more conscious step to provide our diners with an understanding about the produce we choose, and the effects of the environment that they are produced in.

The tapas-style menu hasnt changed altogether but introduces 10 new dishes in addition to those existing favourites amongst the raw, fried, kushiyaki, steamed, curried and frozen options.

My husband and I had dined at Urbanologi on three occasions prior to the launch of the new menu, and we concur that this is the most impressive to date.

We started with the oysters, served with fermented jalapenos, black garlic and burnt lime salsa, mimicking the classic jalapeno Tabasco, lemon juice and black pepper. So fresh, the ocean couldnt possibly be as far away as it seems. A bit closer to home, we went for the kudu carpaccio, which was exquisite on every level  definitely our favourite savoury option on the night. Both paired wonderfully with Springfields Circle of Life.

Standouts among the mains we sampled were the lamb rump with rose geranium poached quince, baby spinach and apple blossom, the tender yakitori chicken with Urbanologis signature chimichurri and the good old faithful crispy dropped black pepper pork belly dressed in tamarind on butternut puree, with cucumber noodles and smoked peanuts.

Last, but definitely not least, the freshness of the 'candy floss' (a playful tower of a charred peach, a scoop of lemongrass and pineapple sorbet, topped with Mad Giants Simcoe spice-sprinkled candy floss) served as the most delightful palate cleanser. But it was the frozen banana malt mousse that left a lasting impression  with its gold-leaf wrapped 70% cocoa chocolate truffle, dulcey (caramelised white chocolate) rolled in honeycomb and salted pistachio crumb to counterbalance the sweetness and add crunch to the otherwise smooth textures.

For want of a better word, it was pretty darn fantastic!

Urbanologi is based inside the Mad Giant Brewery at the 1 Fox Precinct in Ferreirasdorp on the outskirts of Johannesburgs CBD. Book online.
Twelve South African fashion industry creatives have been selected to participate in the Threads Accelerator programme, which kicks off this week.

The finalists, who were selected from over 400 entries across South Africa, represent the inspiring diversity of the South African fashion aesthetic - from designers of maternity wear, modesty wear and luxury women ranges, to belts and handbag design houses and denim wear designers; the participants in the inaugural Threads programme have one thing in common  they are each running fashion businesses with enormous potential to become major industry power players.

Inspired by the confounding statistic that the sub-Saharan African fashion industry represents a lamentable 1% of the USD 3 tn global fashion industry, Threads  Stitched by Standard Bank was conceptualised to support up-and-coming fashion entrepreneurs in transforming their growing businesses into powerful, profitable fashion brands. The programme will take place over a 12-week duration in classroom hubs in Port Elizabeth, Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Selecting the finalists from the deluge of entries we received was thrilling and somewhat overwhelming  we really had our work cut out for us in whittling the list down to the final 12. The creativity in the South African fashion industry is world class - all that these entrepreneurs really need is the vital sales, administrative, financial, and marketing rigor thatll take their businesses to the next level. We at Threads, alongside with our sponsor Standard Bank, and partner Mercedes-Benz, cannot wait to commence this journey with these very deserving entrepreneurs, comments Tania Habimana, co-founder of the Threads programme.

The 12 participants of the Threads  Stitched by Standard Bank accelerator programme are:

Anthony Smith of 2Bop  street wear label based in Cape Town. They manufacture and produce headwear, apparel and accessories. Majda Rabin of Chimpel  a Cape Town based luxury leather accessories (belts and handbags) design house. Evans Zemba of Walk In Closet (WIC) Designs, a Port Elizabeth based men & womens leisurewear fashion house. Thabo Makhetha of Thabo Makhetha an African luxury brand, well known for her Basotho blanket Kobo creations, the brands Classic Starburst piece, was nominated for the Most Beautiful Object in South Africa 2016 (MBOISA) at the Design Indaba. Junior Mmotla of MAMAGASEHOME, a men and womans streetwear fashion range. Yamkela Lize of [https://www.facebook.com/RefinedRevolt/ Refined Revolt]], an East-London based textile designer and handbag accessory manufacturer. Asanda Mali of Malstones  a Port Elizabeth based body-positive womens wear fashion house. Tshego Manche of La Manche Clothing a Joburg based premium womanswear fashion house. Jacqueline Munsami of JSE Couture  a Durban based fashion house that has three lines, Jacqui Emmanuel Couture, Jacqui Emmanuel Pret n Porter and Emmanuel Sportsluxe. Their prints are exclusive to their label, as are their laser cuts, embroidery and embossing. Lyndall Moodley of Hannah Grace Maternity, a Durban based maternity wear designed to provide expectant and nursing mothers with comfortable, affordable and versatile clothing. Sabiha Badsha of Haya Collective , a Johannesburg based contemporary modest wear brand. Tshepo Mohlala of Tshepo the Jeanmaker  a premium lifestyle denim brand with strong roots in South Africa.



Going forward, the twelve creatives will participate in the programme, the curriculum of which was co-created with the e4 Impact Foundation, an initiative of the Universita Cattolico of Milan, which focuses on impact entrepreneurship. The curriculum covers the broad swathe of business operations, including financing and retaining employees, lean manufacturing, eCommerce and specialised procurement methods and marketing.

At the conclusion of the 12-week programme, finalists will present their new business models to the panel of judges, businesswoman Basetsana Kumalo, branding guru Timothy Maurice Webster, creative Jacqui Burger, CEO of online retailer Spree, Vincent Hoogduijin, and Maxhosa fashion designer Laduma Ngxokolo.

The participant that the judges select as the winner will receive a package of prizes thats designed to set them up for sure success  a Mercedes-Benz ambassadorship, which will see them driving a brand-new vehicle for a year-long period, a Standard Bank curated SME start-up pack, and international trade trip to Europe, where theyll present their businesses to wholesale buyers and retailers, a high-impact private distribution network, and access to industry trade fairs.
There has been talk for some time now about the National Health Insurance (NHI) and how it will be funded. In his Budget Speech in February 2017, former finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, alluded to an adjustment to medical tax credits to partly fund the system.

Photo: Econex

The rationale behind replacing the tax deduction system with the credits/rebates was to address the inequality that the deduction system gave rise to, says Somaya Khaki, South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica) project director: tax. In terms of the deduction system, higher income earners enjoyed a greater benefit through the effect of the progressive marginal income tax rates. With the more recently introduced medical credit system, lower income taxpayers now gain with the effect of reducing their overall tax liability with the medical tax credit, whilst higher income earners benefit less in comparison to the former regime, given that the rebate is a fixed amount regardless of earnings level.

Medical tax credits reallocated

This was followed by the NHI White Paper in June this year, which proposes that the medical tax credits be reallocated to fund the NHI to ensure an inclusive health system for all South Africans  that is, the credits currently enabling lower income earners access to private healthcare is likely to be scrapped. Whilst we hope to move to a society where all citizens have access to quality healthcare, one has to ask, how much revenue are we talking about and how much will it contribute towards the cost of NHI which will apparently only fully be implemented by 2025? Furthermore, what are the risks with increasing the tax liability on an already overburdened relatively small community of taxpayers?

According to the 2017 Budget Review document released by National Treasury in February, the medical tax credits for the 2014/15 year amounted to approximately R18.5bn, approximately 7% of the R256bn estimated NHI cost in respect of the 2025 year (in 2010 pricing). According to Elize Rich from Econex, when adjusted to 2017 prices, the estimated NHI cost for 2025 is more in the region of R369bn. Considering these numbers, scrapping the medical tax credits will not make much of a dent in recovering such costs in the long term. These plans also appear contradictory to the states intent when it introduced the medical tax credits  namely to allow lower income earners access to high quality healthcare which the public healthcare system is not ready to provide and may not be ready for years to come.

Taxpayer morale

One also needs to consider taxpayer morale and attitude to yet again increasing the tax burden on individual taxpayers, by taking away the benefit of the medical tax credit and possibly increasing other taxes to fund the NHI - such increases which are not considered in this article, says Khaki. If one has to consider that unlawful and wasteful expenditure in 2016 was, at R48bn, almost three times the amount expended on medical tax credits in 2014/15, according to the auditor generals report, the question must be asked as to whether government is really acting responsibly and in the best interests of the citizens.

Addressing the unlawful and wasteful expenditure challenge would realise far more revenue than scrapping the medical tax credits and will go a long way to improving taxpayer morale and therefore taxpayer compliance and willingness to pay if there is a view that the monies are used responsibly.

This is supported by research performed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development as well as that presented at the recent International Symposium on Tax and Corruption hosted by the Saica, wherein it was identified that factors that influence tax morale amongst citizens especially in developing countries include: satisfaction with public services and expenditures; trust in government; and perceptions of corruption.

Tax increases unsustainable

Given the numerous service delivery protests, current media focus on corruption and the lack of trust that citizens have in general with respect to governance in South Africa  whilst taxpayers should always act ethically, the levels of unhappiness with the current state of affairs definitely raises the question: how much more tax will taxpayers be willing to pay before there is a revolt and will it be worthwhile to risk this for the additional R18bn a year?

The ongoing increase in taxes is clearly unsustainable and we anxiously await the medium-term budget policy statement where we will hopefully hear more on governments proposals for growing the economy, addressing the high unemployment rate, dealing with corruption and unlawful expenditure within state entities and increasing the tax base without overburdening the already overburdened taxpayers, all of which will go towards creating a more sustainable economy and sustainable funding, concludes Khaki.
By joining the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Partner Network (APN), IT service management company EOH will be providing AWS consulting services to South African companies.

Photo by Matt Wildbore on Unsplash

The APN Standard Consulting Partner status has been awarded to EOH based on the company receiving certified training and rolling out a number of successful implementations.

The very nature of solutions like AWS is to offer an abundance of options. AWS released 1017 new features in 2016 alone. Unless a company is an AWS expert or has the time to truly understand all the powerful offerings it has available, most businesses are not leveraging the benefits offered by the constant innovation from AWS, says Richard Vester, group executive at the cloud services division of EOH.

Full benefits of AWS

Through this certification, EOH has extended its managed public offerings to provide expertise that allows companies to receive the full benefits of AWS. The company provides the planning, architecting and implementation of migrations as well as specific AWS projects. Through EOHs cloud division, customers can now benefit from full integration, testing, monitoring, management and automation of the cloud platform.

This certification, together with EOHs expertise and consulting expertise, ensures that we can deliver business value, and continually improve the customers processes to guarantee cost savings and efficiencies, Vester continues.

EOH provides cloud capabilities and expertise in South Africa, helping customers to design, build, and release applications rapidly.

Our DevOps culture makes it easy to overcome difficult release cycles and the associated downtime and risk. With multiple offerings and tools available on the cloud and by leveraging continuous release cycles through highly modularised microservice architectures, we help customers update their applications continuously and without impact to their customers, Vester says.
Instagram has launched a "poll" feature that allows users to add a poll to their Instagram Stories. This is great news for brands, particularly South African brands, who have approached the idea of Stories on social media platforms quite tentatively.

It's been just over a year since Instagram launched it's "Stories" feature, which is basically Snapchat through Instagram. Since then, we've seen Zuckerberg add Stories to both Facebook and WhatsApp. The feature allows users to snap moments throughout the day and build a story that disappears after 24 hours. It's a great content opportunity for brands to play with, and try out new ways of sharing their brand purpose or story.

Its estimated that there are over 250 million people who use Instagram Stories daily (versus +/- 173 million on Snapchat). Thats a massive group of people sharing moments from their day on the platform throughout the day. The instant nature of Instagram Stories and the 24-hour lifespan of content loaded to the platform is what may have initially put marketers off adopting the platform to share brand content, however with a growing number of Instagram users taking to the platform  its probably a great idea to stop putting off the inevitable and get creative with how your brand can use Instagram Stories. Also, once you start, you realise that making and watching stories is addictive! Which means that if the content you make is compelling  youre bound to win over the hearts of your audience.

Instagram Stories vs Snapchat

When Instagram launched its Stories feature a year ago, I had a debate with some industry colleagues about the pros and cons of Instagram Stories versus Snapchat. Snapchat wasnt very advertiser friendly, and the stats regarding widespread adoption of the platform in South Africa didnt look great. Older colleagues also admitted that the platform seemed too clunky and thus difficult to navigate. The only real appeal of Snapchat, at the time, was the fun filters  which I will never tire of  but not everyone is like me and theres only so much that brands can do with filters. Snapchats Ad Manager platform was only launched in March this year and isnt the easiest to navigate while brands can advertise on Instagram through Facebooks Ads platform, which is familiar and easy to navigate. Its safe to say that Instagram Stories has long since surpassed Snapchat and that debate is now futile because the benefits of Stories via Facebooks platforms (Instagram and Facebook) are obvious: the Live streaming feature, Boomerang, your brands stories will most likely reach a wider audience and now, Instagram polls.

We know that authenticity sells, and using Stories provides an opportunity for brands to create authentic content that appeals to their audiences. I think that the debate has moved from which of the two platforms your brand should be using to reach your audience (unless youre marketing to Gen Z) to how can your brand use Stories effectively to get the best ROI? Below Ive shared some of the best examples of brands using Stories in innovative, fun, and affordable ways to reach audiences with great content. Im a sucker for a good story and for great content so here goes:

Exclusive content

Woolies does this really well, they give their followers exclusive access to closed events and launches that they are hosting. Which means that they use the Stories feature to post content that wouldnt normally work as well in a Facebook or Instagram video. The great thing about Stories is that you can upload as much content as you want, and the people watching the story can opt out when they want to. If the story that youre telling is compelling enough, and shows off all the right elements of the event youre hosting  best believe people will want to watch until the end. Wishing the whole time that they could be at your event.

Another example of great exclusive content that does well on Stories, is behind-the-scenes content that gives your audience a peek into whats happening as you prepare for a shoot, a launch or get ready to open up a new store etc. Zana, a small Cape Town brand that produces textiles and homeware, are a great example of how to have fun with stories  and convey what your brand is about to the people who engage with your stories. When they travelled to New York City, we could follow every step of the brands journey to the Big Apple, and keep up with every exciting aspect of the trip!

Other small businesses also use WhatsApp Stories to share daily specials, new products that theyre working on to entice potential customers to reach out via WhatsApp to place their orders.

Countdown

When was the last time you did a countdown to something you were looking forward to? Ive been counting down to my upcoming summer holiday and the anticipation is making me giddy with excitement! Countdowns are always fun, and when done right your brand could entice your audience ahead of an upcoming product launch. You can build up hype around a special day and peak your followers interest. Your audience will be eager to find out more and more, and by the time the big day rolls around, youll have an audience lined up and ready to buy tickets for your event or buy your new product. Zana does a great countdown to launches of upcoming products.

Live stream

Instagram Stories has many fun features that allow users (and brands) to play with the app and make interesting, vibe content. The Instagram Live stream feature is one of these, it allows you to livestream an event, and give your followers a front row seat to whats happening at the event. Live streaming became popular first on Meerkat, and then with Twitters Periscope feature. Vertical videos blew up then and are all the rage now, with Instagram Stories and Snapchat as prime examples of this. You can use the Instagram Live feature to tease followers to join a Facebook Live or a live stream hosted on your website or Twitter page. Cross promoting content via Stories is a great way to tease an event and build up anticipation and viewership for another platform where you might not have such a large following.

Polls

If your brand is on Instagram, then you should be pretty excited to trial the new Poll feature on Instagram Stories. The feature is available through the Instagram stickers section, you select Poll and itll add the poll to your photo or video. The poll only has space for two choices, which you can both edit. The polls are meant to be in a "x or y" format, choosing one or the other. You can then edit and personalise the question and the options. You should be able to have some fun with this feature, you can also find out what your followers preferences are based on their responses. If you own a bakery for example, you can ask if your followers prefer croissants or cream buns  and a myriad of other easy questions that will engage your audience and allow them to have fun with your brand! Doritos latest #BringTheBold campaign, where they asked the community to choose between two flavours, would have been ideal for trialing Instagrams new poll feature.

Have you tried Instagram or Facebook Stories on your brands page? Do you have any key learnings that youre keen to share about how brands can better tell their brand story using Stories? Id love to hear from you.
There is no objective truth when it comes to determining the ideal energy mix for South Africa. Should we embrace renewable energy, and phase out fossil fuels entirely? Would this approach be able to meet the country's growth needs? The halted nuclear build programme promises 9.6GW of power, but can the country afford it?

Paul Fitzsimons, GIBB power and energy services sector general manager.

Whats certain is that nobody should put all their eggs in one basket.

Germany for example has made a policy decision to transition to a low carbon economy with the exclusion of nuclear. It remains to be seen to what extent this is financially and practically sustainable in the long term.

This approach has seen a total disruption to the role of traditional baseload suppliers, which are effectively now relegated to being top-up suppliers for when renewables companies cannot meet demand due to low solar irradiance or calm winds. The addition of rooftop and embedded power generation systems has resulted in traditional large utilily business models seeming suddenly outdated.

This is perhaps reflected in the more than 50% reduction in share prices over the last two years for the two largest utilies in that country.

Upon reflection, the South African independent power producers (IPP) model has emerged as quite effective. Prospective power producers bid for 20-year periods at a fixed price. With this model, the country at least knows what it has to deal with and can plan accordingly.

Unfortunately, now even that IPP model is in some doubt, erstwhile energy minister Mmamoloko Kubayi told IPPs to accept less than 77c per kilowatt-hour, if they want to secure power purchase agreements.

The political agenda surrounding the nuclear build is under the spotlight, with media reporting that President Vladimir Putin is pressuring President Jacob Zuma to push through in favour of the Russiam nuclear agency, Rosatom, despite the astronomical cost.

However, as a solution, there is also the fact that building power plants is a tool to catalyse industrial development. Coal-fired power plant Medupi, for instance, injected significant investment into the economy, and we do require some excess capacity to facilitate economic growth.

Polarised

The energy debate tends to become polarised, into the renewables-or-nothing camp and the big baseload, monopoly state-owned enterprise camp. To say its an either/or question is a little simplistic.

The trend internationally is for the supply networks to be publicly owned, and for generation to be largely privately owned. There has to be some state involvement in the supply of power, but where it should be needs an open debate.

There is a balance to be struck. Every electricity source has a role to play. Solar, especially in South Africa, is a no-brainer, we are endowed with some of the best resources on the planet. Our sunlight is dependable. A solar farm in the Northern Cape can supply a steady, reliable stream of power that can be fed into the grid.

It is also scalable, and storage of renewable power is becoming more feasible as batteries become more economically efficient.

If we could find policy certainty, an optimal energy mix would probably involve several large anchor power stations, with a significant renewables component. Gas also has a role to play.

The proposed African Renaissance Pipeline has yet to materialise, but what few realise is that gas doesnt require pipelines thousands of kilometres long. Gas is a commodity. It can be purchased on the global market and shipped in.

Real job creation?

The other aspect of the energy industry to be considered is its job-creation effect. At the moment, power station builds are not long-term job creators. We have to decide whether we want to create careers, or just jobs.

At Medupi and Kusile, not much of the core technology is home grown. Most of the investment in capital equipment is in hardware sourced from overseas.

Even with renewable energy, this is the case, if one considers the components that go into a wind power station, the turbines come from overseas.

As far as operations and maintenance goes, increasingly wind farms are operated online from control rooms situated a large distance from the site including overseas. In the rare case of a malfunction, a staffer monitoring a screen in Europe can pick up a phone and send out a local technician. There arent many careers in that.

Solar is similar. The biggest operational element is hiring workers to occasionally polish the solar panels. Electricity infrastructure in general is not a huge employer once its up and running.Capital manufacture, on the other hand, is.

South Africa should use the opportunity of the current foreign direct investment in power plants  coal-fired and renewable  to grow local expertise and build a power technology industry.

We could then begin to tap into African markets, manufacturing power technology and exporting it into the continent.

Market needs restructuring

In conclusion, there is no silver bullet supply solution for the South African energy situation. We will succeed by choosing the energy mix that best suits us and our economy but we need a functional policy environment and transparent governance processes to enable this.

The market does require restructuring  as it has for the past several years. Public-private partnerships have been shown to work, and the policy around this should be finalised.

We also require clarity. The Integrated Resource Plan, which governs the energy mix has not been updated since 2010.

In a climate of rapid change, it makes sense to have a clear policy and strategy that accommodates the disruptive transitions we are experiencing and enables the adoption of technological innovations in a way that can radically contribute to the transformation of our energy economy and society as a whole
This #EntrepreneurMonth, we go behind the selfie with true media mutlitasker Bailey Schneider - she's a radio presenter at Smile 90.4 FM, as well as TV presenter, voice-over artist, MC and blogger.

Proof that Schneider is the selfie queen!

1. Where do you live, work and play?

I moved to Sea Point, Cape Town from Fourways, Johannesburg in 2013 and it was the best move I could have made; Im really happy here. I work at Smile 90.4 FM, where I co-host the Afternoon Drive show with Maurice Carpede. I also guest present on SABC3s Expresso morning show, do voice-overs and MC work and have a popular lifestyle blog called Vanilla Blonde, which incorporates my love of writing, photography and videography.

2. Whats your claim to fame?

Being in radio for 16 years and dabbling a little in TV presenting. People will also be familiar with my blog.

3. Describe your career so far.

Im really proud of the hard work Ive put into my career. Entertaining is my passion and Ive proudly never missed presenting a year of radio since 2001 and worked on almost every radio platform. I started off in:

Campus radio at the age of 18.

Presented on a festival radio station.

Moved into retail radio.

At the age of 21, I joined commercial radio station: 94.7. I trained on the weekend graveyard shifts, before joining Alex Jay on the Afternoon Drive . I stayed on the Drive show on 94.7 for eight years, where I worked with various presenters, like Alex Jay, Revin John and Mark Pilgrim.

. I stayed on the Drive show on 94.7 for eight years, where I worked with various presenters, like Alex Jay, Revin John and Mark Pilgrim. In 2012, I left 94.7 and joined SAs biggest digital station, 2Oceansvibe Radio, where I hosted The Bailey Schneider Lunch Show for three years.

for three years. In 2015, I joined Smile 90.4 FM on the Afternoon Drive show.

As far as TV is concerned, in 2010 I came fifth overall in the Top Billing Presenter Search, which was won by the late Simba Mhere. After that I guest presented on the Expresso morning show and in 2016, I hosted a segment called Beauty with Bailey where I brought viewers fun and easy beauty and hair tips.

In 2010, I started my lifestyle blog, Vanilla Blonde, and it has grown organically in popularity.

4. Tell us a few of your favourite things.

I absolutely love tea  its happiness in a cup  and my love for vanilla tea is what created my blogs name: Vanilla Blonde. I also have a love for sunglasses and beauty products.

5. What do you love about your industry?

I love how dynamic it is. No two days are the same. I love the responsibility that we have to entertain people, bring them information and make them feel something, especially in a world where everything is so fast paced.

6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.

As I said, no two days are the same, but an average day for me is as follows:

Ive recently just had my first baby. George is 19 weeks old. I went back to work when he was 10 weeks old, so my days now juggle between feeding and looking after him and my career. I express breastmilk at around 5:30am, which is when I sit on my laptop and start reading through news and research for my radio show. I feed my son at around 6am and then sit down at around 7:30am to continue doing my show prep. Once all the features are prepped and put into our shows format, Ill send that off to my co-host, Maurice. I express again at around 08:30am. Feed him again at 9am. I then write and photograph content for my blog, Vanilla Blonde and I usually have voice-overs to record or meetings. Sometimes I am able to bring my son with me, otherwise, my husband looks after him.

I get home by 11:30am to express again, feed my baby and get ready for the show. I leave home at 1:30pm and my husband looks after our baby boy, which is wonderful, to get to Smile 90.4 FM. Maurice and I record some features and meet with our programme director and station manager to go through the shows content and tweak it, then at 3pm we are ready for a fun afternoon of the Smile Drive until 6pm. I get home by about 6:30pm to express, then its bath time and bed time for baby.

I then either cook dinner and start researching more information for the next days show, expressing every three hours and feeding every three to four hours throughout the night. Alternatively, I get home to express for baby and then head out to MC an event. Once home, its expressing and feeding throughout the night!

7. What are the tools of your trade?

A good pair of headphones, a healthy voice and a witty mind.

8. Who is getting it right in your industry?

There are far too many to mention because I believe that everyone is doing their utmost best and honing their skills, but Ive always looked up to and learned a lot from working with Alex Jay and Mark Pilgrim.

9. List a few pain points the industry can improve on.

I wish we had a board that regulates fees for MC work and freelance work. I find there is still a lot of undercutting because there isnt really an industry standard.

10. What are you working on right now?

I have a few projects that Ive put on hold as Ive been on maternity leave so my focus has been on my newborn, but it feels really good to be back in my career, even though I am still trying to find my new norm. Im excited to get back into my projects  my YouTube channel, my blog, writing my book and other projects I cant speak of just yet.

11. Tell us some of the buzzwords floating around in your industry at the moment, and some of the catchphrases you utter yourself: Whats in it for the listener?

Keep it real. Keep it positive.

12. Where and when do you have your best ideas?

I find inspiration comes from all over, but Im especially inspired when Im in nature. As Im a morning person, thats my best time to be inspired. Im inspired visually, so I love being able to create content for my blog and when it comes to radio, to also describe it to the listener, where I have to paint a picture!

13. Whats your secret talent/party trick?

I call it my concert whistle, where I use two fingers to whistle. This is bizarre, but I can also make the sound of a newborn baby cry using my throat  dont ask!

14. Are you a technophobe or a technophile?

Technophile. I love technology, even though it can be frustrating at times.

15. What would we find if we scrolled through your phone?

Youd find all the social media apps  Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat. Youll find the Smile 90.4 FM app, banking apps and a remote for my camera. Youll find a diverse selection of music and over 10,000 photos I really need to clean them up!

16. What advice would you give to newbies hoping to crack into the industry?

You have to be resilient and stay positive. Its such an exciting industry to work in, but its also incredibly tough because the number of people wanting to get into the industry outweighs the number of jobs available, so once you do make it, you have to work even harder to stay current. Be prepared for the hard work and keep in check your reason for wanting to get into the industry Ive found those who wanted to get in to be famous are very short-lived.

Simple as that. Click here for more from the Smile 90.4 FM press office and interact with Schneider on the following platforms: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

*Interviewed by Leigh Andrews.
Charlotte started climbing with her grandparentsher grandfather Pops was an 8a climber! When she was 5, he put climbing holds underneath a stairway so she and her cousin could practice. During her first years, she would mostly go outdoor climbing during family trips abroad. Her first route on lead was in Sardinia when she was four years old. She joined a climbing club when she was 10, and since then shes never stopped. Now she does a lot of competitions, which she loves despite the pressure. Otherwise she also loves outdoor climbingand has already been to Madagascar, Australia, Canary Islands, Greece, Malta, Italy and Spain. Climbing for Charlotte is a passion, a pleasure, a spirit, a way to feel accomplished. Sometimes its a bit hard for her to find the balance between school and climbing but she feels lucky to live a life she loves.

Discipline: Climbing

Hometown: Marseille, France

Currently Living: A little village called Greasque, 40 km away from Marseille, France

Height: 168 cm

Career Highlights:

French Bouldering Champion 2014; Winner of the general class of Bouldering French Cup; 8a+ in Sicily.

When did you first start climbing/skiing?

I start climbing when I started walkingmy granddad initiated me.

What do you most enjoy about your sport?

First, this sport is for me a way to accomplish myself. I use all my muscles and I love the sensation of feeling my whole body and my mind committed to completing a boulder. When I was a child I would spend more than an hour stuck in the same route because I just didnt want to give up. I would cry, and make the person belaying me totally mad. I most enjoy climbing with different people who I would otherwise probably never meet. I think climbers are some kind of a family for me.

How do you define success?

I dont know yet, hopefully someday!

Who are your heroes?

Sean McColl but that is no surprise since everyone loves him. Adam Ondra of course, he is so talented. On the womens side, Anna Stohr, she is always smiling and looks happy all the time. I love that.

Whats your guilty pleasure?

Tiramisu and Nutella cake! In fact, all desserts! Also TV series like Chicago Fire  shame on me.

Tell us about your most favourite place in the world:

I think, my most favorite place in the world is in Madagascar, a tiny isolated island with beaches and cliffs to climb on, a sea full of amazing fishes, and wonderful sunsets. I also love the south of France, the Calanques, the sun.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

As a child I would like to become a professional free rider skier of the extreme and at the same time a surgeon.I clearly gave up becoming the first one.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be, and why?

My nose, it looks like a trumpet. One of my friends use to call me Michael Jackson

Describe your perfect day:

My perfect day will be with my friends, and my cousin, Eline. We wake up, eat tiramisu and climb in a beautiful place. A big day of bouldering! We laugh a lot, and achieve many hard boulders. Then, we surf in a wonderful beach at sunset. After we eat a delicious dinner and party during the night.

How would your friends describe you?

Crazy, stubborn, funny, surprising, serious, frank, curious, sometimes a bit shy, motor mouth.
PR Newswire

NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2017

NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The residential water treatment devices market is characterised by its lack of innovation or introduction of new technology for several years. Minimal R&D investment from key stakeholders in the residential water treatment devices market has led to homogenous products being released. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05159504Nonetheless, Future Market Insights felt the need to research the residential water treatment devices market in its report titled 'Residential Water Treatment Devices Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012  2016) and Opportunity Assessment (20172027)'. Lack of product differentiation has led to price being the deciding factor in the residential water treatment devices market. Therefore, companies are involved in a brutal price war to introduce low cost products that can successfully penetrate the residential water treatment devices market. Our competition analysis provides the perfect look at this challenging situation. We have profiled a few of the most prominent companies in the residential water treatment devices market. A brief company description, product availability, regional presence, recent developments, and strategies can be expected here. It is possible for readers to conduct an in-depth competition SWOT analysis in this portion of the residential water treatment devices market report. The residential water treatment devices market has been divided into seven geographies with an equal focus on both developed and emerging economies. The developed countries studied are North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Japan, while the emerging economies include APEJ, Latin America, and MEA. Every region has a dedicated chapter that assesses the regional drivers, restraints, opportunities, and threats coupled with an impact analysis. A historical market assessment of the largest countries has been accurately compared and contrasted with the projected growth in the residential water treatment devices market on the basis of the taxonomy. Companies that seek to target only particular segments in the residential water treatment devices market are recommended to refer to this section of the residential water treatment devices market report. A robust research methodology The Future Market Insights research methodology has built a strong reputation in the industry because of its inherent capabilities allowing us to maintain a high level of quality and accuracy. The FMI analysts begin their survey with extensive primary and secondary research to gain the required data pertaining to the residential water treatment devices market. A market player list that consists of all the relevant nodes in the value chain is developed and they are interviewed repeatedly, along with industry experts. After all the data is gathered, it is exhaustively scrutinized with the help of advanced company tools to extract all the quantitative and qualitative insights of the residential water treatment devices market. The residential water treatment devices market report begins with the executive summary and introduction sections. The former provides a birds-eye view of the global residential water treatment devices market as well as the analysts' opinions and recommendations of the residential water treatment devices market. The recommendations take the form of an approach to be adopted and geographies to focus on with a differentiating strategy to achieve success in the residential water treatment devices market. The introduction section is closely related to the executive summary and has a concise yet comprehensive definition of the residential water treatment devices market.Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05159504 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 __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/residential-water-treatment-devices-market-apej-largest-regional-market-for-residential-water-treatment-devices-global-industry-analysis-2012---2016-and-opportunity-assessment-2017---2027-300542740.html

SOURCE Reportlinker
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Nissan's executive vice president has expressed his remorse for widespread illegal inspections at the Japanese car giant.

"I would like to take this opportunity to express a sincere apology for our recent issues," said Daniele Schillaci, bowing deeply for several seconds, at the Nissan booth at the Tokyo Motor Show.

"We sincerely regret any inconvenience and concern this has caused our valued customers."

This year's show highlights smart and green vehicles that talk, connect online and stop on their own before crashes. But scandals surfacing within weeks of the show, including another one at Kobe Steel which has hit the entire industry, are casting a shadow over the festivities.

Reporters got a preview of the show at Tokyo Big Sight hall, ahead of its opening to the public on Saturday.

Mr Schillaci switched from his almost tearful apology to an upbeat demeanour after a resonating electronic beep - the special sound called Canto, designed for Nissan electric cars to protect pedestrians. Electric cars are extremely quiet compared with petrol-engine cars, and people have complained about not being aware of them approaching.

"What you just heard is the sound of the future," he said, proceeding happily with his presentation on automated driving and electric sports cars.

Taking centre stage at the Nissan booth was a sleek zero-emissions electric "concept" car, billed as "Nissan intelligent mobility". It comes with surrounding 360-degree sensors capability from radars, cameras, lasers and sonars, to deliver accident-free driving as well as a future in which the car can drop its owner off somewhere before parking or returning home, according to Mr Schillaci.

Japanese carmakers have been hit by a series of scandals in recent years, including a massive recall of defective air-bags made by Japanese supplier Takata which involves some 100 million air-bag inflators worldwide. The defect has been linked to 19 deaths and dozens of injuries.

The global industry has also been rocked by a scandal at Volkswagen of Germany over cars it had illegally rigged to cheat on US emissions tests.

Nissan, allied with Renault of France, acknowledged last month that inspection irregularities had been going on for years at its plants in Japan, with the final inspections routinely done by unauthorised staff.

Shortly after apologising for that, Nissan said the illegal checks had continued. It has halted production in Japan for the domestic market until it can figure out how a recurrence can be prevented.

Nissan company officials have said the practice was so ingrained it was hard to change. Better communication is needed among managers, and production will not resume until the government gives its approval, they said. Thousands of cars will have to be re-inspected.

"We have formed an investigative team with a third party, which is working hard to find out what happened and why," said Mr Schillaci, adding that the company was working to prevent a recurrence.

The other scandal, over the falsification of data at Kobe Steel, spans dozens of products made of steel, aluminium, copper and other materials, affecting some 500 companies including major carmakers around the world and the aircraft, electronics and railway industries.

Toyota executive vice president Didier Leroy said the company was checking aluminium plates and other Kobe Steel components used in its models and had found no safety or quality problems so far.

"We were very worried," he told reporters. "We deeply apologise to our customers."

He declined to comment on Nissan's scandal, but stressed that all of Toyota's inspections are being carried out according to regulations, by qualified inspectors.

Mr Leroy rejected the idea that the scandals may hinder Toyota's ability to develop zero-emission and "smart" vehicles or that Japan may be falling behind in such technologies.

Analysts say Japan has no time to waste on cleaning up after scandals given the big push by US players like Google, General Motors and Uber to put self-driving cars on the roads, possibly within five to 10 years.

"Introduction of self-driving cars will lead to new business models," said Bart Selman, a professor of computer science at Cornell University. The Japanese could catch up with rivals if they move quickly, he said.

"This means the space is very competitive. There will quite likely be just a few surviving companies to handle all demand."

US carmakers, such as General Motors and Ford, are not attending the show. They have long struggled in the Japanese market, which is dominated by the domestic brands.

AP
The 'Bad Rabbit' cyber attack has hit computers around Europe.

The ransomware demands hundreds of euro in Bitcoin to unlock devices.

It coincides with a new survey that shows over half of Irish businesses expect a cyber attack before the end the year.

Small and medium businesses are under particular threat as the protection of customer information is vitally important.

Businesses are advised to back-up all files before the possibility they are impacted.
A 27-year-old man has been charged with murder over the death of a woman in Belfast.

Anne O'Neill, 51, was found dead at a house on Ardmore Avenue in Finaghy in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Ireland's main banks are to make public statements on their response to the tracker mortgage scandal today.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has spent the week being briefed by top executives after thousands of customers had their loans unfairly changed.
A man from Belfast has been found guilty in Germany of involvement in an IRA attack on a British Army barracks in the city of Osnabrueck in 1996.

James Anthony Oliver Corry was convicted of being part of an IRA unit that fired three mortar shells.
A woman in Belfast has been awarded 20,000 compensation after an employment tribunal found a colleague subjected her to sectarian harassment when he shouted "Tiocfaidh ar la" at her while at work.

Helen Scott, 52, brought a case against Belfast-based bathroom suppliers Stevenson & Reid Ltd, on the grounds that she was discriminated against, harassed and victimised due to her religious belief or political opinion and constructively unfairly dismissed.

Ms Scott said the company workforce was primarily Protestant and that she was the only Catholic member of staff working at the company's East Belfast showroom, where she was employed as a sales manager.

She alleges that in July 2015, her line manager became irate with her and began shouting at her in front of colleagues during which he swore at her and shouted "Tiocfaidh ar la" in her face.

The phrase, which means "our day will come" in English, was associated with Republicanism during the Troubles.

Ms Scott said she felt harassed by the incident and that her manager had used the Irish language expression due to her perceived religious and political beliefs.

She subsequently went on sick leave from her position but said she was later dismissed despite medical records being sent to the business.

Ms Scott then brought a Fair Employment case against the company, backed by the Northern Ireland Equality Commission.

The Tribunal found that she was unfairly dismissed and victimised due to her background, ruling that the use of the phrase had had "a clear sectarian significance".

Responding to the Tribunal's decision, Ms Scott said: "I'm very relieved that this is all over. It has been an extremely stressful time for me and my family.

"The shock of being singled out for sectarian abuse in front of colleagues was incredibly intimidating. I was deeply hurt and upset at the way I had been treated and it had a really negative impact on my confidence and self-esteem."

Dr Michael Wardlow, chief commissioner of the Equality Commission, said: "In this decision, the Fair Employment Tribunal has acknowledged the serious effects sectarian harassment can have on individuals and workplaces.

"This incident of shouting a phrase with a 'clear sectarian significance' should have been dealt with properly at the time.

"Victimisation after a protected act, in this case raising concerns about an incident of harassment, showed a serious deficit in knowledge and understanding on behalf of the company at the most senior level."

A spokesman for Stevenson & Reid Ltd said: "The company has stated that it respects the decision handed down by the industrial tribunal, adding that the incident was unfortunate and a total aberration.

"The company, which has employed people from both sides of the community for 40 years, has never had a similar incident in all that time and has from its inception had a total commitment to equality in the workplace.

"It will ensure that such an incident will never be repeated."
The Housing Minister is still hopeful people will receive their Irish Water refunds before Christmas.

Legislation which is needed to issue the refunds will be debated at the Housing Committee this afternoon.
The Chairman of Irish Rail has confirmed the company sponsored an international fishing competition despite facing strikes and claiming that the semi-state is going broke.

Frank Allen faced accusations at the Oireachtas Transport Committee that the firm had literally put up a "gone fishing" sign during a crisis.
A man has been charged in connection with the Tallaght crime spree that happened on Monday.

The man, who is in his 30s, was arrested after an 8 hour rampage. Armed with a machine gun, he stole and crashed a number of cars as gardai tried to track him down.
A 17-year-old teenager, who beat an an Afghan student over the head with a hammer during a vicious street attack in Dublin, has been given an eight-month custodial sentence.

Mechanical engineering student Salman Azarabas, 22, who fled his war-torn country to have a peaceful life, thought the youth and a gang of teens tried to kill him when he caught them stealing his bike in Dublin, a court had heard.

The DIT student was hospitalised and lost precious photos of his deceased parents that had been saved on a laptop which was never recovered after the incident last year.

Today at the Dublin Childrens Court, Judge John OConnor described that incident as nasty.

He noted from a pre-sentence report that the 17-year-old youth, who cannot be named because he is a minor, had told a probation officer that he was not responsible for the loss of the students family photos. In his meeting with his probation officer he had also claimed the victim had exaggerated when he gave his impact statement in court earlier.

The teen had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and violent disorder.

Pleading for leniency, defence counsel Damian McKeone said he was now instructed to tell the court the boy was sorry. However, Judge OConnor described the late apology as self-serving.

He noted the youth, who was accompanied to court by his mother, had been released from an earlier sentence a month ago and has not come to further garda attention.

However, he also said the youth has shown no remorse and but noted he had had mental health and a history of drug addiction.

Imposing a custodial sentence, he said in addition to the youths interests, he had to take into account the seriousness of the charge, the victim and the best interests of society.

The 17-year-old showed no emotion during the sentence hearing and did not address the court. He was hugged by his mother before he was escorted from the courtroom to await transfer to Oberstown detention centre.

Another youth who had attacked the victim, chased him with a hammer and took his laptop case was given a six-month sentence on Monday.

Today a 15-year-old boy was placed on probation for 12 months. He had punched Mr Azarabas, picked up the bike and then dropped it on him and ran towards him several times.

The court heard he is complying with a range of measures put in place in relation to his eduction, engagement in pro-social activities, peers and family issues, to reduce his risk of re-offending.

The teens had pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault charges in connection with the incident on Dublins South Circular Road on the night of March 9 last year.

Garda Orla Moynihan told the court that the incident happened at about 10.15pm when one of the youths tried to steal a bike that was locked to a pole but were confronted by the owner.

The youth who was detainedtoday was then aged 15. He hit the man on the head with a hammer which he then passed on to another teenager, the court was told.

Another youth, who is to be sentenced later also dropped the bike on him. He also ran at him in a striking manner.

The student suffered a four centimetre laceration to the the back of his head from the hammer blow and received three staples as a result of the injury from this incident, Garda Moynihan said.

The student came face to face again with the trio in court last month when he gave a victim impact statement which he said he found difficult to express.

They tried to kill me, he had said, adding that he came to Ireland about five years ago, to have a peaceful life.

He said that when he came upon them, they could have told me to go away.

I backed off, I had my hands in front say leave me, I dont want this, they hit me with a hammer and I was lying on the ground pleading. They took my bag, I was helpless, I couldnt do anything.

He told the court he wanted justice. "If that happened to me it could happen to someone else, he said.

He had lived in the area for more than four years but in the aftermath of the attack he left the area. He described feeling scared and still has nightmares

He said the incident affected his studies. His laptop had all his college notes and all his pictures of his deceased mother and father, and they are lost. His friends helped him with his college work but still I lost that momentum. He said, I lost that energy and I wanted to be a cricket player, I lost that, I lost a big chunk of my life.

He said that when he was in hospital after surviving the attack a doctor told him, Congratulations on your new life.

Judge OConnor commended him for his bravery and for coming to court to give his insight into the appalling incident. He had said he hoped the student has not been left with a bad impression of Ireland but the student replied, I would not paint everyone with the same brush.
A "manipulative and deceitful" former public schoolboy turned sexual predator has been handed a 28-year extended sentence in the UK for raping two women and having sex with a 14-year-old girl.

Chiron Hutchinson was described as a "narcissist" and a "fantasist" who demonstrated a "deliberate pattern of behaviour" borne out of a "sense of entitlement" when he carried out the attacks in Kent last year, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

Judge Mark Jonathan Dennis QC made the comments today as he ordered the former St Bede's School pupil to serve 20 years behind bars with a further eight years on licence - known as an extended sentence.

The 20-year-old, who used to attend the public school in Hailsham, East Sussex, will have to serve at least a third of his custodial sentence before he is eligible to be considered for release.

Judge Dennis branded him an "opportunist" who strived to "engineer situations" so he could be alone with, and take advantage of, young women demonstrating a "deliberate pattern of behaviour".

He said: "He forced himself upon them for his own sexual gratification with no regard for anyone but himself."

The defendant, dressed in a grey suit, pale pink shirt and burgundy tie, sighed heavily and rubbed his chin as the judge started to speak but was motionless when the sentence was passed.

Chiron Hutchinson. Pic via Kent Police.

On October 2 last year Hutchinson raped a 17-year-old girl twice inside and outside his car in secluded woodland near Tunbridge Wells after meeting her in the town's MooMoo nightclub. The judge said the ordeal could "only be described as abduction".

Christopher May, prosecuting, said the victim had "little if any recollection of that other than her finding dirt in her underwear the following day".

Just six days later Hutchinson attacked a "very drunk" 24-year-old French woman after meeting her "by chance" walking back towards the same nightclub. He had just been rejected by another 17-year-old, the court heard.

He offered the 24-year-old a lift home but instead parked in woodland and raped her before driving back into town and leaving her "distraught", the court heard.

A month earlier he "went out of his way" to meet a 14-year-old girl, when he was 19, and showed a "significant degree of planning", Mr May said.

Hutchinson admitted two charges of sexual activity with her after striking up a conversation on Facebook, the court heard.
Police in England have released footage of a man being kicked off a tram platform on to the tracks.

The 23-year-old victim arrived at Didsbury Village Metrolink station in Manchester at the same time as a man and two women at about 10.50pm on Friday October 13.

After the male in the group put on a balaclava, the victim was tricked into assisting one of the women who ran on to the tracks.

As he turned to help the woman back on to the platform, the disguised male kicked him from behind and off the platform.

The victim was then threatened with a metal bar and a wine bottle after he clambered back on to the platform before he fled to safety.

Police are linking the incident with an attack minutes later on a 66-year-old man who was beaten over the head with a metal bar in Beaver Road, Didsbury.

The pensioner is recovering at home after he suffered a heart attack and was treated for head injuries.

Detective Constable Phil Whiting, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Around the time of both incidents there weren't a lot of people around.

"However, I'm sure that by looking at what the people in the footage were wearing, someone will remember them being together.

"I appreciate the man has his face covered but it may be you recognise the way he walks or the clothes that he is wearing.

"We need to speak to these people as a matter of urgency so I want people to really study the footage; their faces, the way they are holding themselves and how they are acting.

"You may have seen them holding bottles of wine or a metal bar.

"If you know who they are or saw them around the time of either incident, please call us."

Anyone with information should contact police in England on 0161 856 6153 quoting reference number 2533 of 13/10/17, or independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
A promising student lawyer and would-be England sportswoman has been told she faces jail after cheating Justin Bieber fans by selling fake gig tickets in the UK.

Zainab Pervaiz also set up online sale listings for performances by Beyonce and Adele, and in all defrauded victims out of more than 7,000 worth of sales.

The 25-year-old used a PayPal account belonging to a friend's "vulnerable" grandfather, Sidney Bicknell, in order to take payment from unsuspecting pop fans.

When disgruntled customers complained, it was unwitting Mr Bicknell who had to repay them, and the police became involved soon after.

She had admitted 16 counts of fraud by false representation before her appearance at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday, when she had been due to be sentenced.

Described in court as being of "high sporting ability", Pervaiz, it was claimed, had made the England Ladies' Cricket squad and "trained with the England football camp".

Her barrister Amanda O'Mara told the judge her client would "no longer be able to follow her career" in law.

She added: "She is of high sporting ability having played for England, trained with the England football camp, and played cricket as well."

The offences involved Pervaiz taking money for tickets she did not have, and transferring the cash from PayPal into her own bank account.

Miss O'Mara said: "She fully accepts her responsibility and criminal behaviour over this time period."

Judge Simon Drew QC said it was a case which needed a full report before any sentence.

Zainab Pervaiz leaving at Birmingham Crown Court today.

He said: "On the face of it, the culpability is extremely high.

"The victim in this case is extremely vulnerable and was manipulated over a sustained period of time.

"There is her (Pervaiz's) ability to lie, consistently, repeatedly, not only to the complainant - the grandfather - but also the police as well."

The judge said he "knew a fair amount about what led to these offences", so it was a case where a pre-sentence report was needed.

He told Pervaiz: "Although I'm sure you'd like to know your fate sooner rather than later, it's in everybody's interests to adjourn this case."

Pervaiz, of Swan Pool Grove, Walsall, West Midlands, was bailed to return for sentence in November and could face up to three years in prison.

After the hearing, the student, wearing trainers and a hooded coat, left court and sprinted down the building's steps.
Republicans in the US have launched new probes into the Obama administration and Hillary Clinton's emails, prompting accusations from Democrats who said the moves were meant as a "massive diversion" from investigations into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

The announcements of the investigations by three Republican committees came as two witnesses close to President Donald Trump faced tough questions before the House intelligence panel behind closed doors as part its Russia probe.

Mr Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, and his former campaign digital and data director, Brad Parscale, were both interviewed by the House panel behind closed doors on Tuesday. Mr Cohen's interview started in the morning and lasted around six hours, while Mr Parscale's lasted most of the afternoon.

Two politicians familiar with Mr Cohen's interview said it had been "contentious", especially with Mr Cohen's lawyer who tried to limit some questions.

Mr Cohen, a former executive with the Trump Organisation who had been subpoenaed by the House panel earlier this year, was in talks to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, but ended those negotiations as Trump's White House bid caught fire. In a statement to the Senate intelligence committee in August, Mr Cohen said the proposal was "solely a real estate deal and nothing more".

One of the politicians said Mr Parscale "categorically denied" he was involved in any collusion with Russia, repeating earlier public statements. Politicians have been investigating whether Russian efforts to influence social media in the US were in any way connected to Mr Trump's campaign.

As Mr Cohen spoke to investigators, House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes held a news conference outside the room to announce a separate committee investigation into an Obama-era uranium deal.

Mr Nunes earlier this year stepped back from the committee's investigation into Russian election interference after criticism that he was too close to the White House. But he has continued to be involved with some aspects of it, including signing subpoenas.

Mr Nunes's investigation into the uranium deal will be a joint effort with the House Oversight and Government Reform panel. The oversight committee also announced a second new investigation on Tuesday along with the House Judiciary Committee into the FBI's handling of the Clinton email investigation and the decision not to prosecute her.

California Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the intelligence panel, said the investigations show Republicans' "fundamental lack of seriousness" about Russian interference in the 2016 campaign.

"Acting on the urging of the president who has repeatedly denied the intelligence agencies' conclusions regarding Russian involvement in our election, they are designed to distract attention and pursue the president's preferred goal - attacking Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama," Mr Schiff said.

Representative Mike Conaway of Texas, the Republican who took over the Russia probe after Mr Nunes stepped back, said the uranium investigation will not be a distraction. "I'm not involved," he said.

Nunes and other Republicans who announced the probe said they want to know more about whether Obama's Department of Justice was investigating the purchase of American uranium mines by a Russian-backed company in 2010. The agreement was reached while Hillary Clinton led the State Department and some investors in the company had relationships with former President Bill Clinton and donated large sums to the Clinton Foundation.

While Democrats have dismissed the issue, which was also brought up during the campaign, as widely debunked, Trump has called it "the real Russia story." The White House praised Mr Nunes's move, with spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying the investigation is a "move in the right direction, and something that we've spoken about several times here - that if there was any collusion whatsoever during the campaigns of any point - or any collusion at any point with another country, that they should look at the Clintons".

Democrats on the House Judiciary and Oversight panels also criticised the new investigations, saying in a joint statement that another round of Clinton email investigations are a "massive diversion to distract from the lack of Republican oversight of the Trump administration and the national security threat that Russia poses".

AP
Male killer whales are three times more likely to die if they are socially isolated, new research suggests.

Scientists found the most socially isolated males were three times more likely to die in any given year than those in the "most central social positions".

The effect was much stronger in years where food was scarce, and it did not affect females - possibly because males are larger and need more support from the group to get enough food.

The findings come from research from the universities of Exeter and York and the US-based Centre for Whale Research on Southern Resident killer whales, a critically endangered population in the Pacific Ocean which numbers just 76.

"This research highlights the importance of social bonds to male killer whales, and shows that males that are less socially connected are more likely to die when times are hard," said lead author Dr Samuel Ellis, of the University of Exeter.

"Killer whales are highly co-operative, and males at the centre of a social group are likely to have better access to social information and food-sharing opportunities."

Southern Residents were among the groups from which killer whales were taken into captivity in the 1960s and '70s, and human activity is now posing much greater threats to their survival, according to Ken Balcomb, from the Centre for Whale Research.

"Salmon is the main food for these whales, and stocks have been driven down by overfishing and the blocking of spawning grounds by damming rivers.

"These factors make it all the more important to understand the drivers of survival and mortality among these whales."

Co-author of the study Dr Dan Franks, from the University of York, said: "Our research shows the importance of considering social positions and family ties in understanding and predicting the future of endangered populations."

Previous research has shown sociability has an effect on human life expectancy, but this is the first study to show that social position across the lifespan can predict survival in non-human animals.

"These whales have been studied for more than 40 years and they are all recognisable by unique markings," said senior author Professor Darren Croft, of the University of Exeter.

"By seeing which whales regularly swam together across a year and across multiple years, we started to understand a network of what in humans we would call friendships.

"In terms of this research, a central social position meant whales either having many individual connections or being the connection between two or more groups."

Prof Croft added: "On a broad scale, research like this examines the fundamental question of why social relationships and friendships have evolved."

:: The paper, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, is entitled Mortality Risk And Social Network Position In Resident Killer Whales: Sex Differences And The Importance Of Resource Abundance.
Thousands of black-clad mourners are gathering in the historic royal quarter of Thailand's capital to bid farewell to King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Some had been waiting for one or two days in relentless tropical heat and torrential downpours to enter the cordoned-off area that will be the focal point for five days of ceremonies and processions including Bhumibol's cremation on Thursday evening.

Police tried to calm occasional flare-ups of tension among mourners waiting in the hot sun. There were accusations of queue-jumping and sharp exchanges between some of the mourners.

Volunteers were handing out water as the crowds slowly moved through security checks.

Around 250,000 people are expected to line streets for the elaborate gilded processions that will be broadcast live.

The funeral for the monarch who was adored as a unifying symbol throughout his seven-decade reign officially begins mid-afternoon on Wednesday with a Buddhist merit-making ceremony in the throne room of the Dusit palace.

Mourner Banterng Saeuong, 55, said "I was born in the reign of King Rama 9", as Bhumibol is also known. "This is the most important event in my lifetime.

"I am happy to stand in the rain or sit under the sun."

Bhumibol, who was the world's longest reigning monarch, died aged 88 on October 13 last year, sparking a national outpouring of grief and a year of official mourning.

Thais are known for their reverence of Bhumibol, which palace officials assiduously cultivated over his 70-year reign, and the funeral will be an intensely sombre event.

The influence and status of Thailand's monarchy was revived during his reign and he earned genuine affection for high-profile visits to remote parts of the countryside and efforts to improve the lot of the country's poorest.

Yuwadee Tyler said she had travelled from Hobart in Australia, where she has lived for more than a decade.

"When I know my king is passed away, my heart is broken," she said. "I am so glad to be here."

AP
A father in Turkey has died by suicide on Facebook Live after explaining he was choosing to end his life because his daughter didnt seek his permission prior to getting engaged.

Ayhan Uzun, 54, told viewers he learned of this daughters impending marriage over the phone according to Russia Today picking up on reports inlocal media
Springfield quarry plan still unresolved as residents wait, worry

Conditional Use Hearing on a proposed quarry along Rt. 309 in Springfield may be nearing an end after two years. Here's what residents have to say.
A 24-year-old man is facing a slew of felony charges for illegal straw purchase of 21 guns at gun stores, almost exclusively in Bucks County. Leonard Truesdale was arraigned on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, on 21 counts each of making false statements on firearm purchase forms, criminal conspiracy to make false statements on firearm purchase forms and selling or transferring...
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One of the leading anti-knife crime charities in the UK, the Ben Kinsella Trust, will be joining the PHEX exhibition in Chelsea to raise money for its vital cause and raffle away a signed Chelsea shirt.

The Trust was set up following the tragic murder of Ben Kinsella in 2008. It exists to campaign against knife crime and to educate young people about the dangers and help them make positive choices to stay safe.

The Ben Kinsella Trust will receive 100% of the raffle money from the signed Chelsea shirt giveaway at the exhibition, and will have representatives at the show available to take donations and talk about the work the Trust is doing. You can find the Trust posted throughout the show, including at the registration desk, at the BATAK machine with Peter Booth, and at the Anton stand. The PHEX team were alerted to the possibility of working with this fantastic charity by Anton.

A spokesperson for the Ben Kinsella Trust said: We are delighted to be part of PHEX Chelsea 2017. We are really looking forward to meeting all the great exhibitors and visitors at this wonderful event. Do stop by and see us, and dont forget to purchase your raffle ticket for the amazing Chelsea FC signed shirt.

Bens Story

What happened to Ben is every parents worst nightmare. Having recently finished his GCSEs, Ben and his friends arranged to go out to a local bar to celebrate. While at the bar, an altercation broke out between two groups. Ben was not involved and was initially unaware of the trouble. When the bar closed, three teenagers returned looking for revenge.

In the ensuing confusion, Ben and his friends decided to run to get away from any trouble. However, the three teenagers followed, and when Ben stopped running they approached him and stabbed him 11 times in five seconds. He died a short while later.

Since Bens murder, the Kinsella family have worked tirelessly to help prevent similar tragedies happening to other families.

Since the Trust was founded in 2008, it has been responsible for many changes and achievements in the battle against knife crime. The Trust helped organise the Peoples March in September 2008 in Hyde Park to raise public awareness about knife crime.

In March 2010, it successfully campaigned to change the minimum sentence for a knife related murder from a 15-year to a 25-year start point. This law is now commonly referred to as Bens Law. In 2011, Brooke Kinsella produced a report for the Home Office entitled Tackling Knife Crime Together, the recommendations of this report have had major influence on successive Governments approach to solving knife crime. Later that same year, Brooke was awarded an MBE for her work against knife crime.

The Trust continues to highlight issues relating to knife crime and regularly appears in the national media, most recently highlighting the illegal sale of knives to under 18s and the loopholes that assist young people to buy knives on-line.

In September 2012, the Ben Kinsella Knife Crime Awareness Exhibition was launched. The exhibition space is used as a backdrop to deliver a series of workshops aimed at children and young people aged from 10 to 17 years. Workshops at the exhibition look at the negative consequences of knife crime and use videos to tell Bens story, and show the devastating impact his death had on everyone who knew him. The workshops also teach young people about choices and consequences, how to make positive decisions to stay safe, the law and how it is applied to knife crime and the realities of prison life. To date, over 10,000 children and young people from across London have visited the exhibition with the majority signing a pledge promising never to carry a knife.

It costs the Trust 15 to provide a young person with two-hour anti-knife crime workshop. The workshops have been shown to change young people's attitudes away from carrying a knife, helping them to make more positive choices to stay safe.

Knife crime is at its highest in nine years, and over the next 12 months the Trust wants to expand its workshop programme to reach more young people. The Ben Kinsella Trust needs your help and generosity to achieve this. If youd like to donate, or learn more about its work, visit www.benkinsella.org.uk.
Ocean City's Cris Pannullo could be back on 'Jeopardy!' this week

Ocean City man Cris Pannullo has 11 consecutive wins. His reign was paused while 'Jeopardy!' switched to the annual Tournament of Champions
Educomp Solutions' insolvency may see lenders taking deep haircuts, just like in Synergies Dooray Automotive. A company that offers technology solutions to schools, Educomp walked the insolvency route to pay up lenders.
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Anil Ambani-led Reliance Communications (RCom) has asked 60 per cent of its 81 million customers to migrate from using second generation (2G) services to 4G services, as it was shutting down the 2G business. This comes a day after the beleaguered company said it was shutting down its direct-to-home TV business.
Since he took over as the president and chief executive officer of HCL Technologies,has managed to keep the company on the path of growth. In an environment where the founders and board members of the biggest IT firms are at the loggerheads, Vijayakumar tellsthat HCLs supportive board is the differentiating factor for the companys overall growth.Edited excerpts:

In the recent quarters, HCL has done quite well. How are you managing this continuous uptick in performance?

We have a great growth strategy, based on Modes 1-2-3. We have built a set of powerful offerings in Mode-2, exactly where clients are spending -- cyber security, digital, analytics, cloud and the Internet of Things (IoT). So, instead of spreading thin and wide, we focus on a few things. We have also created a strong IP (intellectual property) partnership and acquisition strategy. All of this has helped us continue industry-leading growth.
In his outburst against the board, led by his protege Nandan Nilekani, co-founder N R Narayana Murthy has hinted that the issue of governance failure he had earlier raised during Vishal Sikkas tenure would be buried forever.
The special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Wednesday said that the 2G case judgment date will be announced on November 7, ANI reported. The court had concluded final arguments in the case on April 26.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today noted the commonality in the objectives of India and the US to eradicate terrorism, terrorist infrastructure, safe havens and support while bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.

He noted this in the context of US President Donald Trump's new South Asia policy, according to a PMO statement.

The prime minister's observations came when US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on him here this afternoon, the statement said.

Tillerson exchanged with Modi views on his recent travels in the region.

"They further discussed stepping up effective cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and promoting regional stability and security," the PMO statement said.

Welcoming Tillerson on his maiden visit to India in his current capacity, Modi noted with appreciation the "firm upward trajectory" in the bilateral strategic partnership following the "positive and far-reaching" talks with Trump in June this year, the statement said.

The prime minister shared the resolve expressed by Tillerson on taking further steps in the direction of accelerating and strengthening the content, pace and scope of the bilateral engagement, it said.

Modi and Tillerson affirmed that a strengthened India-US partnership is not just of mutual benefit to both countries, but has significant positive impact on the prospects for regional and global stability and prosperity.

Earlier in the day, Tillerson held detailed discussions with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
Preparing for a government job in Haryana? Here's a tip - buck up your knowledge on cult-like figures and the job is yours. Over the last two years, some of the questions that candidates have been asked to answer in Haryana are related to Baba Ramdev and other such cult-like figures.
The United States and India warned Islamabad on Wednesday that the presence of safe havens for terrorists on Pakistan territory will not be tolerated.
In line with the governments Act East policy, Assam is gearing up to woo big-ticket investments by throwing its weight behind a mega investment summit  the first of its kind in the Northeast  next February.
In line with the recent reform of half a dozen sectoral industrial policies, Assam is ready to bring out its own updated industrial policy over the next month and a half.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hopes to turn the narrative around the first anniversary of the Narendra Modi government's decision into one between those against black money and those for it.
India on Wednesday again raised the issue of H1-B visas with the US when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson here.

"We discussed the significant contributions to the US economy made by skilled Indian professionals holding H1-B and L1 visas," Sushma Swaraj said in a joint address to the media with Tillerson.

"I have also sought cooperation from Tillerson to address the pending issues related to totalisation and urged him that the US should not do anything that will hurt Indian interests," she said.

US President Donald Trump has called for stricter norms for issue of H1-B visas, largely availed by Indian IT firms.

A private member's bill was introduced earlier this year in the US Congress by Democrat Zoe Lofgren seeking to increase the minimum salary of an H1-B visa holder to a whopping $130,000 from the current minimum of $60,000.

While Trump has spoken of restricting the H1-B visa system as part of his policy of putting Americans first, so far there have been no changes to it.

This year, the same levels of 65,000 for general H1-B visas and 20,000 for those with advanced US degrees have been kept.

Indians get most of the H1-B visas although there are no national quotas for the facility.

Replying to a question, Sushma Swaraj said that while there had been no change made yet to the H1-B rules, if the private member's bill in the US Congress got passed, Indian professionals would be impacted.

"H1-B rules can be changed either by an executive order (issued by the US President) or by the US Congress and we are talking to both sides," she said.

Sushma Swaraj earlier raised the issue with Tillerson at a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session last month.

She also red-flagged it this month at a meeting with a visiting US Congressional delegation from the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is visiting New Delhi at a delicate moment for American defence sales to India. Having rung up $15-18 billion in defence sales to New Delhi in the last decade, Washington is backing the US defence industrys drive for a second wave of contracts that could add up to another $18-25 billion.
A day after his visit to Pakistan, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday said that the US and India were natural allies. Addressing a joint press conference in New Delhi along with Minister of External Affairs of India Sushma Swaraj, Tillerson said that India was crucial to USA-Afghanistan strategy. In an apparent reference to Pakistan, he said that terrorist safe havens will not be tolerated.
Admit Cards for CAT 2017 Examination are released today (25th Oct, 2017 Wed). Candidates can see the official notification at www.iimcat.ac.in. The The Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow had extended the CAT 2017 Online Registration date to September 25th. The last date of registration has been extended to September 25, 2017 (5:00 pm). Candidates are advised to register and complete their applications well before this date. There will be no further extension read the official word on the site.
This is not the first time that recapitalisation bonds have been used by the government to help capital-starved . The previous bonds, going by recent Budget documents, have not yet matured.
Today is a memorable day for parliamentary democracy. I address this august Karnataka Legislature as the 14th President of the Republic of India on the occasion of the diamond jubilee of the VidhanSoudha. Personally also, it is a memorable day as I took oath as President of India in the presence of both Houses of Parliament on this very day, three months ago, that is 25th July, 2017. .

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This is my first visit to Karnataka since accepting the responsibility of the President of India. I have come on an occasion that celebrates the democratic traditions of our country and of this state. Today, we are commemorating the diamond jubilee of the VidhanSoudha, the seat of the legislature in Karnataka. It was inaugurated in October 1956 by the first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad. I am humbled to be following in his footsteps. It was my privilege to have served as Governor in the state of Bihar, the home-state of DrRajendra Prasad. .

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It is not just the 60th birthday of this building that we are marking. This is also the diamond jubilee of the debates and discussions in the two Houses, of legislations that have been passed and policies that have been shaped for the betterment of the lives of the people of Karnataka. .

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We are aware of the three Ds of the legislature, that it is a place to debate, dissent and finally decide. And if we add the fourth D, decency, only then does the fifth D, namely democracy, become a reality. The legislature is an embodiment of the will, aspirations and hopes of the people of Karnataka, irrespective of political belief, caste and religion, gender or language. It needs the collective wisdom of both Houses of the Legislature to fulfil the dreams of our people. .

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This spirit of debate and discussion, of inquiry and of service, is not limited to simply the VidhanSoudha or to political life. It has existed in the soil of this great state. Karnataka has been known through history for spiritualism as much as science, for its farmers as much as its technologists. Its contribution to the intellectual and cultural and ultimately democratic heritage of our country has been enormous. .

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This is a land with ancient Jain and Buddhist traditions. AdiShankaracharya founded the math in Sringeri in this very state. Gulbarga is a centre of Sufi culture. The reformist Lingayat movement under spiritual leaders such as Basavacharyawas also located in Karnataka. In their own way, each of these currents has contributed to nation building. .

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Karnataka is a land of formidable soldiers. Krishnadeva Raya was the greatest ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, and remains an inspiration for all Indians. Kempe Gowda was the founder of Bengaluru. Rani Chennamma of Kittur and Rani Abbakka led among the earliest battles against colonial powers. .

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Tipu Sultan died a heroic death fighting the British. He was also a pioneer in the development and use of Mysore rockets in warfare. This technology was later adopted by the Europeans. More recently, two of our finest army chiefs Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General K.S. Thimayya were sons of Karnataka. .

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This is also the seat of education, technology and science. The engineer-statesman M. Visvesvaraya was a builder of modern Karnataka and of modern India. He was responsible for major irrigation projects that continue to help farmers to this day. The Indian Institution of Science and the Indian Space Research Organisation are among so many of our crown jewel institutions that are based in Bengaluru. The dynamism of its entrepreneurs has made Bengaluru Indias IT capital. It is known the world over as the Silicon City. .

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Friends, .

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Both Houses of the Legislature jointly and collectively represent the will and aspirations of the people of Karnataka. Not just that, the two Houses also represent the ideals and optimism and the energy and dynamism of the Kannadiga people. This building is a monument to the history of public service in Karnataka. A galaxy of political stalwarts has participated in the proceedings of the two Houses that meet here. They have spoken in many memorable debates. .

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Todays events will honour the families of the first three chief ministers of Karnataka K.C. Reddy, KengalHanumanthaiah and KadidalManjappa. There are so many other names we must recall and cherish S. Nijalingappa, DevrajUrs, B.D. Jatti, who later became Vice-President of India, Ramakrishna Hegde, S.R. Bommai, VeerendraPatil, S.M. Krishna and of course our former Prime Minister and my friend, Shri H. D. Deve Gowda. .

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It is for the current members of the two Houses to take forward the legacy of these remarkable public representatives. It is for the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council to function as sacred temples of democracy, and contribute to raising the level of political and policy discourse. .

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A member of the House is elected by his or her voters. But once elected, the MLA or MLC represents the entire constituency, and not just those who have voted for him. The legislator equally represents those who did not vote for him or in fact those who opposed him. .

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A rival in an election is a political competitor and not an enemy. After the election, the competitor could become a colleague in the task of ensuring the well-being and development of a constituency or of our shared society. This is the beauty of a democratic polity that we must appreciate. .

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Friends, .

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The opening of this building in 1956 coincided with the reorganisation of states and the creation of the boundaries of Karnataka state. In a sense, both these momentous happenings represented the sovereign will, the cultural and linguistic pride and the identity of the Kannadiga people. As such the people of this state are always the focal point of all our endeavours and of all that is undertaken in this legislative building. .

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Having said that, Karnatakas dreams are not for Karnataka alone; they are dreams for all of India. Karnataka is an engine of the Indian economy. It is a mini-India that draws without losing its cultural and linguistic distinctiveness youth from all over the country. They come here for knowledge and for jobs, and they give their labour and intellect. Everybody gains. .

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There was a time when Hampi, here in Karnataka, was one of the richest and greatest cities in the world. Today, as our country strives to regain its importance in the global economy and international system, once again we look to Karnataka to provide India with the enlightenment, the technology and unity of purpose to take us forward. And as representatives of the people of Karnataka, the members of the two Houses here have a special responsibility. .

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Legislators are both public servants as well as nation builders. Indeed, anybody who performs his or her duties with honesty and dedication is a nation builder. Those who maintain this building are also nation builders. .

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Those who provide it security are nation builders too. It is by the efforts of ordinary citizens, who diligently carry out everyday tasks, that nations are built. As you sit and work in this VidhanSoudha, I am confident you will never forget this and will continue to draw inspiration from it. .

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Let us then make this diamond jubilee not just the celebration of a proud past but a commitment to an even greater future. A great future for Karnataka and a great future for India! .

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Thank you .

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Jai Hind! .

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The President of India, Shri Ram NathKovind, graced the Vajramahothsava Diamond Jubilee Celebrations on completion of 60 years of VidhanaSoudha, and addressed the members of both Houses of the Karnataka Legislature at Bengaluru, today (October 25, 2017). .

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Speaking on the occasion, the President said that it is not just the 60th birthday of this building (VidhanaSoudha) that we are marking. This is also the diamond jubilee of the debates and discussions in the two Houses, of legislations that have been passed and policies that have been shaped for the betterment of the lives of the people of Karnataka. Both Houses of the Legislature jointly and collectively represent the will and aspirations of the people of Karnataka. Not just that, the two Houses also represent the ideals and optimism and the energy and dynamism of the Kannadiga people. This building is a monument to the history of public service in Karnataka. A galaxy of political stalwarts has participated in the proceedings of the two Houses that meet here. They have spoken in many memorable debates. .

.

The President said that Karnatakas dreams are not for Karnataka alone; they are dreams for all of India. Karnataka is an engine of the Indian economy. It is a mini-India that draws without losing its cultural and linguistic distinctiveness youth from all over the country. They come here for knowledge and for jobs, and they give their labour and intellect. Everybody gains. .

.

The President said that legislators are both public servants as well as nation builders. Indeed, anybody who performs his or her duties with honesty and dedication is a nation builder. Those who maintain this building are nation builders. Those who provide it security are nation builders. It is by the efforts of ordinary citizens, who diligently carry out everyday tasks, that nations are built. As legislators sit and work in this VidhanSoudha, he was confident they will never forget this and will continue to draw inspiration from it. .

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The President said that we are aware of the three Ds of the legislature,that it is a place to debate, dissent and finally decide. And if we add the fourth D, decency, then the fifth D, namely democracy, becomes a reality. The legislature is an embodiment of the will, aspirations and hopes of the people of Karnataka, irrespective of political belief, caste and religion, gender or language. It needs the collective wisdom of both Houses of the Legislature to fulfil the dreams of our people. .

.

The President said that it is for the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council to function as sacred temples of democracy, and contribute to raising the level of political and policy discourse. As representatives of the people of Karnataka, the members of the two Houses here have a special responsibility. He called upon legislators to make the diamond jubilee not just the celebration of a proud past but a commitment to an even greater future. .

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US Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson calls on Prime Minister

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US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today afternoon. .

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Prime Minister welcomed Secretary Tillerson on his maiden visit to India in his current capacity. Prime Minister noted with appreciation the firm upward trajectory in the bilateral strategic partnership following the positive and far-reaching talks with President Trump in June this year. .

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Prime Minister shared the resolve expressed by Secretary Tillerson on taking further steps in the direction of accelerating and strengthening the content, pace and scope of the bilateral engagement. They affirmed that a strengthened India-US partnership is not just of mutual benefit to both countries, but has significant positive impact on the prospects for regional and global stability and prosperity. .

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In the context of President Trumps new South Asia Policy, Prime Minister noted the commonality in the objectives of eradicating terrorism, terrorist infrastructure, safe havens, and support, while bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan. .

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In this regard, Secretary Tillerson exchanged views on his recent travels in the region with Prime Minister. They further discussed stepping up effective cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and promoting regional stability and security. .

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Earlier in the day, Secretary Tillerson also had detailed discussions with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. .

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US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday told Pakistan that it must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country.

Tillerson, who was in Islamabad for a few hours on his inaugural trip to Pakistan as Secretary of State, met with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and discussed the continued bilateral cooperation and partnership, expanding economic ties between the United States and Pakistan, and Pakistan's critical role in the region, said a US Embassy press release.

The top US official reiterated President Donald Trump's message that Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country.

To address those concerns, the Secretary outlined the United States' new South Asia Strategy and the vital role that Pakistan can play in working with the United States and to facilitate a peace process in Afghanistan that can bring stability and security to the region. The Secretary noted that Pakistan and the United States share common interests in establishing a stable, peaceful Afghanistan, defeating ISIS in South Asia, and eliminating terrorist groups that threaten both Pakistan and the United States.

In all meetings with Pakistan's leaders, the Secretary expressed appreciation for Pakistan's sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. The Secretary also expressed his gratitude to the Government of Pakistan and the Pakistani Army for their cooperation in securing the release of the Boyle-Coleman family from captivity, the statement said.

Abbasi also chaired an inter-agency meeting attended by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of Defence Khurram Dastigir Khan, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, ISI chief Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and other officials.

Tillerson's visit came a day after he made an unannounced visit to Kabul where he said the US has made some "very specific requests" to Pakistan to take action to "undermine the support that the Taliban receives and other terrorist organisations receive in Pakistan".

Talking to journalists at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan on Monday, Tillerson said that in Pakistan he will discuss US demands for securing Afghanistan and its conditions for continuing their relationship.

"We have made some very specific requests of Pakistan in order for them to take action to undermine the support that the Taliban receives and the other terrorist organisations receive in Pakistan," he said.

"And we've said in this whole strategy this is a conditions-based approach, and so our relationship with Pakistan will also be conditions-based. It will be based upon whether they take action that we feel is necessary to move the process forward of both creating the opportunity for reconciliation and peace in Afghanistan, but also ensuring a stable future Pakistan," he said.

"I think the US has made it clear in terms of our support for Afghanistan, support for a sovereign, unified, and democratic Afghanistan, charting a path to peace, prosperity, and self-reliance. It is imperative at the end that we are denying safe haven to any terrorist organizations or any extremists to any part of this - the world," he said.

He said the US wants to work with regional partners to ensure that there are no threats in the region and that the strategy is a regional effort.

"So we're demanding also deny safe haven to terrorists anywhere in the region. We are working closely with Pakistan in that regard as well."

--IANS

rn
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced plans to build a new city on the Red Sea coast, promising a lifestyle not available in todays Saudi Arabia as he seeks to remake the kingdom in a time of dwindling resources.
Tensions among Republicans about President (pictured) boiled over on Tuesday as two senators accused Trump of debasing US and the countrys standing abroad, a rebellion that could portend trouble for his legislative agenda.
Chinas 19th Party Congress is drawing to a close with General Secretary Xi Jinpings power affirmed and enhanced. Xis three-hour speech on Chinas new era was greeted with rapturous applause by delegates in the Great Hall of the People. The rest of the population had the chance to clap along on a new video game. His name will be included in the Party constitution, alongside Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. On Wednesday, the new line-up of the Politburo Standing Committee will very likely see his loyal advisors elevated to the top ranks of the leadership.
Myanmar's de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday said her government has begun to work on taking back those who crossed over to Bangladesh from Rakhine state to escape a military crackdown.

The Myanmar State Counsellor and head of the ruling party made the statement during a meeting with Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan here, bdnews24 reported.

A 10-member delegation led by the Bangladesh Minister attended the hour-long discussion with Suu Kyi, said Home Ministry spokesman Sharif Mahmud Apu.

Suu Kyi also spoke of adopting the recommendations of the Kofi Annan Commission. The visiting minister, on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, invited Suu Kyi to visit Bangladesh.

She agreed -- "at a time convenient to both countries".

More than half a million members of the Rohingya Muslim minority have fled to Bangladesh since the start of a military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state on August 25.
With new funds being raised and new joint venture agreements signed by property fund managers, churn has begun among in both global and domestic real estate asset management firms. In the past one month, at least half a dozen senior executives have quit to join rivals or set up own ventures.
Whats common between the IPOs of Eris Lifesciences, ICICI Lombard, SBI Life Insurance and Security & Intelligence Services (India) is The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) was the common anchor investor in all these IPOs, which were also some of the biggest issues this year.
Despite having a busy schedule, Alia Bhatt always ensures to spend some quality time with her family.

Today, the 'Udta Punjab' star took to her Instagram and shared a picture in which she can be seen posing with her mother Soni Razdan.

She captioned the photo, "Happy birthday mothership."

The actress also shared some stories where she can be seen celebrating her mother's birthday.

In the photos, Alia is seen having lunch with her parents Mahesh Bhatt and Soni and also with her grandfather.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Alia Bhatt will be next seen in Meghna Gulzar's 'Raazi'. The movie also stars Vicky Kaushal in a pivotal role.

The storyline of the movie is based on the best-selling book by Harinder Sikka titled 'Calling Sehmat'. Alia's character who is Kashmiri is an Indian spy while being married to a Pakistani Army official, which is played by Vicky Kaushal.

The movie is slated to hit theatre on May 11, 2018.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday said the appointment of an interlocutor for Kashmir will not have an impact on army operations.

"Government has given Dineshwar Sharma the task of an interlocutor so we need to give him time to see how he will work," said General Rawat at a FICCI seminar.

General Rawat asserted that this is the army's first reaction to the use of the appointment of an interlocutor.

Speaking about the situation in Kashmir, General Rawat said that according to him, it is improving.

"Infiltration has decreased since we have gunned down terrorists at the border and the policy of the government regarding Kashmir has worked," he added.

He also said he is not emphasizing on the fact that attacks like Uri cannot happen again, but added that they (the armed forces) need to be prepared and alert.

"We are also looking at Electronic Warfare (EW) system to keep an eye not just on borders but in hinterland also. Security of installations in the hinterland is becoming a cause of concern. We are getting reports of Uri like attacks well in depth," he said.

Speaking about the FICCI seminar, General Rawat asserted that the seminar that they are attending is focusing at indigenisation.

"We have given out last year two compendiums highlighting the problem statements of the armed forces, particularly the army. This is a seminar where we are interacting with the industry to see how we can move forward," he said.

General Rawat also said that their major requirement as of now is intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).

"Our purpose is to discuss it with the industries on how we can make this process move forward and how best we can indigenise equipments to assistance whether for surveillance or war fighting," he added.

On Tuesday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said decisions regarding Jammu and Kashmir would be taken by interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma.

"Dineshwar Sharma is appointed as the Government of India's special representative in Jammu and Kashmir, now what has to be done and how, it will be his decision," he told media.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said he couldn't recollect any significant step that the Congress had taken to curb black money during its tenure.

Addressing a press conference here, Jaitley said, "The Congress had adequate opportunity to be in power. And, I can't recollect a single significant step that they ever took against black money. They had reconciled to India living with a shadow economy. And, it is therefore quite understandable that this would never be on the political agenda of the Congress party leadership. I can quite understand their discomfort."

The Congress and other opposition parties have announced to observe November 8 as 'black day' to oppose demonetisation, which the government terms as its major step towards eradicating black money from the country.

The Union Finance Minister also said that the Congress and other Opposition parties have not understood the main object of the demonetisation.

"The Congress and others who are making comments on this have not understood the whole object behind the demonentisation purpose. First, cash is unidentified bearer money which is circulating in the system. Its ownership is not known; it has an anonymous owner- anyone can own cash. So, when cash gets deposited in the banks, it gets into the lawful system. So, for entry into the lawful system, you are liable to pay tax. Those who have never fought black money in their life were too happy with the laundering of the cash in the system, but consider the entry of cash into the formal economy after tax payment as laundering. This displays their inadequate understanding," Jaitley said.

He also said that confiscation of the money was never the object to the demonetisation.

"Mere entry of the cash into the system doesn't legitimise it. Eighteen lakh people who have deposited monies because the deposit brings an end to the anonymity have been found as having deposited money disproportionate to their incomes. So, they are now held accountable to pay tax. Confiscation of the money was never the object to the demonetisation. Squeezing the quantum of cash, increasing the tax base, increasing digitization, squeezing the resources of the terrorists, detecting the counterfeit currency were the objectives of demonetisation," Jaitley said.

Targeting the opposition parties, Jaitley said that it is obvious that those parties which were in power couldn't take action against black money as squeezing black money is not possible through baby steps.

"If the November 8 debate is to make country pro excessive cash economy or to polarize ideologically anti-black money campaign then it is sure that the BJP will take this debate forward," Jaitley asserted.

To thwart the Opposition's anti- demonetisation plans, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is starting anti-black money awareness campaign till November 8 in the country.

Earlier, Jaitley said, "From today to November 8, the BJP will develop public opinion in support of the government's anti-black money steps."

The BJP has also announced to observe November 8 as anti-black money day across the country. But, before that the idea of launching pro- demonetisation campaign is to puncture the Opposition's November 8 plans.

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told the media here, "Possibly, this is the first time that a decision announced by the Prime Minister had to be changed 135 times. It just shows how ill-conceived it was."

Azad was speaking in the presence of Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav and Trinamool Congress leader Derek O. Brien, besides others.

He claimed that 18 opposition parties would be protesting in their own respective ways in all states.

O'Brien described demonetisation as a 'big scam' and added that TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was the first leader to point this out.

On Monday, the opposition formed a coordination committee and met for the first time in parliament.

The meeting was attended by Azad, O Brien, Yadav, Communist Party of India (CPI) Member of Parliament D. Raja, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Member of Parliament Kanimozhi and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Member of Parliament Satish Mishra.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three naxal cadres were shot dead during a joint anti-naxal operation by 44 Battalion Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Chhattisgarh police late Wednesday.

Area committee member Mahesh, Pallemadi local organisation squad (LOS) Commander Rakesh and LOS deputy commander Ranjit were killed during the encounter in jungles of Kopenkadka area of PS Khadgaon in Manpur Subdivision.

All the naxals were the residents of Bastar and had reward of 13 Lakhs.

One AK, one SLR and one Indian New Small Arms System rifles have been recovered so far.

Further details awaited.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Manoj Shankar, a close associate of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Bimal Gurung, was arrested on Wednesday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal in New Delhi.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Gurung condemned the West Bengal government's directive for a CID investigation into the October 13 encounter between the GJM members and the state police that killed Sub-Inspector Amitava Malik, and appealed for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe instead.

"We protest the CID probe and instead appeal for a CBI one. The West Bengal government has been exercising dictatorial rule on our party and it will increase through CID," Gurung said in an audio tape.

Gurung appealed the Centre and the state government for a CBI probe into the incident as well as into the bomb explosions in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and other areas of the state.

The GJM supremo had alleged that the incident was part of a political conspiracy to frame the party and enforce dictatorial rule.

Referring to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Gurung said, "We are not anti- to demand Gorkhaland. It is within our fundamental right."

On October 23, probe into the killing of Malik was handed over to the CID.

An exchange of fire between the GJM supporters and West Bengal Police in Darjeeling's Takvar on October 13 resulted in the death of the Sub-Inspector, while at least two others were injured.

Gurung was implicated in Malik's death, with Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, West Bengal, Anuj Sharma stating that the GJM chief had instructed his cadres to attack the police personnel.

Sharma said acting on the information that Gurung was hiding in the area, the police had conducted raids, during which the GJM supporters fired and pelted stones.

The October 13 attack was the first major incident of violence after the 100-day-long strike was lifted in Darjeeling.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress Party on Wednesday condemned the delayed announcement of dates for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls, saying the Election Commission (EC) has failed to carry out its duty as a Constitutional institution.

Congress senior leader Anand Sharma, in a media briefing here, said the Election Commission is highly respected and is expected to follow the mandate mentioned in the Constitution, but unfortunately they failed did not do it.

"The date of the Gujarat election was to be announced ten-day earlier. But the Election Commission did not do so. The Election Commission became a mute spectator and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his minister carried out their work," Sharma said.

Sharma further said that the clarification made by the Election Commission to delay the announcement was not satisfying.

"The act of Election Commission is condemnable and answer given by them is unsatisfying. They claimed that due to the relief work in few districts of Gujarat they delayed the decision, but the administration of those districts have clarified that the relief work ended long back," he said.

State Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki said the polling panel announced the dates for the Gujarat elections only after they were morally pressurized to do so.

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary in-charge of Gujarat, Ashok Gehlot asserted that the BJP has "lost their senses" after witnessing Congress Vice-President Rahulk Gandhi aggressive campaign in the state.

"The prime minister sent the entire cabinet to Gujarat for campaigning. They are sacred of the result and because of that they wanted to delay the elections," Gehlot said.

Sharma also slammed Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for his remark on Goods and Service Tax (GST) and said the former is trying to mislead the people from the failure of his government.

"The Finance Minister should speak in a responsible way. He should not make such statement. He claimed that we are the fastest growing economy which is factually incorrect. India's GDP has stooped down as compared to last year. The credit off take from the financial institutions is the lowest in last 63 years. As far as employment is concerned, the government has not been able to fulfill its promise. The Finance Minister is trying to mislead the people from the failure of Prime Minister Modi," he said.

The polls in Gujarat will be conducted in two phases. The polling for the first phase will be held on December 9 and for the second phase on December 14.

The counting of the votes will be held on December 18.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress on Wednesday said that it would move the High Court against the Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance, since it was illegal and unconstitutional and further demanded a full withdrawal of the ordinance.

"The Congress will move the High Court. We are certainly planning to go to the court and challenge this ordinance since it is illegal and unconstitutional. There is no reason after such opposition or criticism of a black bill or ordinance which is dictatorial, gagging the media, giving corruption a legal framework of protection. We want a full withdrawal of the ordinance as there is no point in sending it to select committee," Congress leader Sachin Pilot told ANI.

The Congress leader further stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje are indulging in face saving, adding the chief minister must disclose that under what compulsions, she was trying to protect corrupt individuals.

"I think the BJP Government and Vasundhara Raje are indulging in face saving. The Chief Minister must disclose that under what compulsions she was trying to protect corrupt individuals. They should withdraw the bill and apologise to the people of Rajasthan," he added.

Pilot had, a day before too, said that the Congress would never allow the passage of the Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance.

The Rajasthan Government, in the current legislative session, passed an ordinance that protects both serving and former judges, magistrates and public servants in the state from being investigated for on-duty action without prior sanction.

The ordinance also sought to bar the media from reporting on accusations against judges and bureaucrats till the sanction to proceed with the probe is obtained.

The ordinance is an amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Launching a scathing attack on the Opposition, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said that the Election Commission (EC) is not supposed to be browbeaten by a disgruntled or a losing political party.

Jaitley made the comment while answering a question on Congress' criticism of the Election Commission over the announcement of Gujarat assembly poll date during a press conference here.

Jaitley said that the Congress was adopting double standards over the Election Commission.

"Well, the couple of weeks ago when the Rajya Sabha elections were being held in Gujarat, the Congress was singing praises of the same Election Commission. And, therefore, the Election Commission is not supposed to be browbeaten by a disgruntled or a losing political party. The Election Commission is duty bound to act as per law."

On August 9, Congress President Sonia Gandhi had thanked the EC after it invalidated two ballots by Congress MLAs who had cross-voted for the Bharatiya Janata Party. This had resulted in victory of Congress candidate Ahmed Patel.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission on Wednesday announced dates for Gujarat Assembly election.

Assembly elections in Gujarat will be held on two days, December 9 for 89 assembly seats and December 14 for 93 seats. Results will be announced for all 182 seats on December 18, along with Himachal Pradesh.

Jaitley further maintained that the EC will function as per law and not as per wishes of the Congress and justified the separate dates for elections to Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, saying if dates for polls in Prime Minister's home state were announced earlier it would have come under prolonged code of conduct, which is against the spirit of democracy.

"If elections are being held at a gap of four to five weeks in two states, isn't it fair that the duration of the length of code of conduct in both the states is similar? To have a 35 day code of conduct in a Congress ruled state (Himachal Pradesh) and a 70-day code of conduct in a BJP ruled state (Gujarat) merely because the Congress feels that would be proper, the Election Commission is not bound by it," Jaitley said.

He further added: "So, far what has been missing in the debate is that in the year 2000-2001 there were serious doubts being cast at that time whether the code of conduct is binding. And, this used to be challenged earlier by the political parties. The first NDA government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee agreed with the Election Commission, and both the Central government and the Election Commission by an order of the Supreme Court got a Supreme Court directive that the code of conduct is binding. When we had discussions at that time with the EC, the other discussion was because policy decisions relating to governance are paralysed during the code of conduct, so it can't be an indefinitely long code of conduct because of it being binding. It would be wholly against the spirit of democracy if the code of conduct is extended to 70-80-90 days."

On Monday, the Congress demanded the EC to immediately announce assembly elections in Gujarat.

Addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari alleged that the EC was unnecessarily becoming a party in the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) attempt to run away from the elections.

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The Election Commission is set to announce the dates for Gujarat assembly elections today.

The Election Commission will announce the dates for the two-phase polls in a press conference at 1 p.m.

The election watchdog came under fire for not announcing the dates for Gujarat assembly polls, along with that of Himachal Pradesh.

The Opposition alleged that the poll body did not announce the date for Gujarat polls as it was pressurised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to delay it.

The Election Commission had, however, rejected the Opposition's charge and asserted that no special preference was given to any political party.

"We have given equal opportunities to all political parties. We have not directed any party to hold or to not hold their rallies in the state. We are not meddling in their campaigns. Yesterday, the Prime Minister went to Gujarat. Today, Rahul Gandhi will go. We are not giving any special preference to any political party," Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti had told ANI, in an exclusive interview.

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The first International Day of Diplomats was celebrated in Brasilia on October 24 with participation from the diplomats of Bangladesh, Brazil, France, Ghana, India, Israel, Italy, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey.

The idea of celebrating International Day of Diplomats on October 24, also the United Nations Day - to recognise the hard work and sacrifices of diplomats and their families - was proposed by Indian poet-diplomat Abhay K. in his piece for a leading online daily titled 'Why the needs International Day of Diplomats' on October 11 this year. Since then, the idea has gathered wide support from a cross-section of the international community, including diplomats of several countries.

Speaking on the occasion of the celebrations of the first International Day of Diplomats in Brasilia on October 24, Rodrigo Alexandre de Carvalho, the head of the Central Asia Division of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, said, "Diplomats Day is an excellent way of bringing different cultures together and I hope the idea flourishes."

Eleazar Velasco Navarro, the Deputy Chief of Mission of Mexico in Brazil, said, "It is important to have a day to celebrate diplomacy and the efforts of diplomats towards making a better ."

Nahida Rahman Shumona, the Charge de Affaires and Minister of Bangladesh Embassy in Brazil, said, "International Day of Diplomats should be celebrated every year to congratulate diplomats for their hard work."

Gilles Pecassou, the Minister Counsellor and the Deputy Chief of Mission of France in Brazil, said, "International Day of Diplomats is a great idea and he hope that it is organized every year."

Roye Ende, the Head of Administration of the Israel Embassy in Brazil, said, "Celebrating International Diplomats Day is a great way to bring the diplomatic community closer and I hope that it is celebrated regularly."

Eunice Amponash, Consul and the Head of Administration from Ghana Embassy in Brazil, said, "It is great to take some time off from busy schedule for diplomats to share their culture on such a occasion."

Solly Sebola from the South African Embassy said, "It is important to celebrate diplomacy."

Abhay K., who coordinated the event in Brasilia, said, "The families of diplomats have to face immense hardships. Diplomats have to move from one continent to another every three to four years, overcome language and cultural barriers, make friends quickly, only to leave all this behind at the time of departure. Their work remains largely invisible to the public back home. Diplomats are often stereotyped as privileged lotus-eaters. These perceptions need to be changed. Celebrating International Diplomats Day can provide an opportunity for the general public to know more about the vital work diplomats do to keep peace and to bring our closer."

"It was a very short time between the conception of the idea and its execution this year. I hope that the next year the International Diplomats Day will be celebrated on 24 October all across the world," he added.

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Leader of Communist Party of India Atul Anjan on Wednesday slammed Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over his recent economic policy statement and asked the Central Government about the results of Goods and Service tax (GST).

Speaking to ANI, Anjan said, "Finance Minister is all the time making loud claims and what is the result? We have seen the result of demonetisation and GST."

Anjan statement came soon after Arun Jaitley vigorously substantiated the robustness of the Indian economy on Tuesday.

Further lashing the government for lending loans to the corporate houses Anjan said, "It is known that this government is giving much more bank lending to the corporate houses, those who are very close and nearer to the BJP and Prime Minister. This way they are trying to develop crony capitalism in this country."

"He (Finance Minister) wants to dismantle the Public Sector Banks, which were the backbone of Indian economy. It was our Public Sector Banks, it was the Public sector Insurance, and it is the Public Sector Undertaking which saved the country from economic holocaust. Today when the economy is in very bad shape, if you want to destroy the public sector banks then what will happen?" he added.

In an apparent attack at the then ruling alliance - the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley earlier the day said that the public sector banks, from 2008 to 2014, engaged in indiscriminate lending.

He announced unprecedented PSU banks recapitalisation program of Rs 2.11 lakh crore, out of which Rs. 1.35 lakh crore will come from recap bonds, and rest from markets and budgetary support.

"To improve the lending capacity of the banks, we have announced the recapitalization programme, which is essential to increase public spending on infrastructure, and that expenditure on infrastructure," said Finance Minister at a conference.

Further talking about the job opportunities, as promised by the Centre government Anjan said, "You said you will give employment to two crore people every year, there is no employment, there is joblessness. Those who are already in loss they are thrown out of their jobs. You said you have plenty of money in your banks, why are you not initiating very big plans for giving employment opportunities to young people of this country. Who is stopping you? Please restructure your economic policy.

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Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said Pakistan has to create the right atmosphere for a dialogue with India.

A day after the government appointed Dineshwar Sharma as its interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir, Jaitley told ANI in an exclusive interview that, "Pakistan has to create an atmosphere to initiate a dialogue with India. This decision will not be made by the people of Kashmir..."

Tearing into the previous UPA regime, Jaitley said it never had a policy for Kashmir and this had fanned turbulence. He said the previous government's policy for the Kashmir Valley could be described as a "band-aid solution".

"The UPA government had no policy in Kashmir. During the UPA regime, working groups like silent and invisible dialogue were formed, but actually, they were non-existing groups. Working groups was a myth. I was also a member of a group which neither conducted any meeting nor presented any report. I also wrote a letter to the then prime minister Manmohan Singh for that report," he said.

Recounting the work of the NDA government, Jaitley said, "The impact of the work that has been done by us in last three years, is visible now. The funds of terrorists have dried up. They are on run. The situation is under control. The police is under the control of the administration."

Jaitley further said that in last three years an intelligence network has been formed which has exposed the Hurriyat and their funding sources before the people of Kashmir.

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday told United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that New Delhi wanted to retain its small embassy in North Korea.

Responding to a question that if India is ready to cut diplomatic ties with North Korea, Swaraj said," Trade relations with Pyongyang are at a minimum, but it is important to continue having an embassy in the country."

"I told Tillerson that some of your friendly nations must have an embassy there in North Korea for any possible communication," Swaraj said after meeting Tillerson in New Delhi.

India and North Korea have maintained diplomatic offices in each other's capitals, though New Delhi recently banned trade of most goods with the country, except in food or medicine.

Tillerson arrived on a two-day visit to India last evening.

The U.S. Secretary of State's visit to India is part of his five-nation tour that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Switzerland alongside.

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Indian soldier, Chandu Babulal Chohan, who inadvertently crossed the Line of Control (LoC), was pleaded guilty by General Court-Martial (GCM) on Wednesday.

Chouhan was captured by Pakistani troops after he crossed the international border, a day after the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on terror launchpads across the LoC.

Statement from the Ministry of Defence stated "Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan crossed over to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir from own Krishna Ghati sector on 29 Sep 16. In order to ensure his release the matter was taken up with Pakistani Military authorities through the existing Hotline and scheduled DGMO level talks. His presence was acknowledged by Pakistan on 07 Oct 16. The matter has been continuously raised in scheduled DGMO level talks since then. The issue was also taken up diplomatically through our High Commission in Pakistan and Ministry of External Affairs."

"Today (21 Jan 17) at 1PM, we finally got confirmation by Pakistan Military Authorities that Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan would be handed over to Indian Authorities at Wagah at 3 PM Indian time. The Jawan was finally handed over to our representatives at Wagah Crossing Point at approx 3:45 PM," the statement added.

Chohan had said he "accidentally" crossed LoC.

However, the sentence awarded by GCM is yet to be confirmed by appropriate authority.

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To address diagnostic technological differences between India and Japan, a programme approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan is introduced in India and is funded by "The International Promotion of Japan's Healthcare Technologies and Services in 2017" conducted by the National Center for Global Health and Medicine under the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan.

The programme "Technical Training for Materializing International Diagnostic in India" will be conducted by National Centre for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM) which has been approved and appointed by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan.

The programme which will be taken forward by Japanese majors in diagnostic technologies- Konoike Transport and J-VPD, Inc. is also being supported by Embassy of Japan in India and Delhi Medical Association. The programme is part of Japan's government efforts to push and promote its Healthcare Technologies and Services globally. Hence, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare provides financial support to the programme.

Tetsuji Yamada, President, J-VPD, Inc. highlighted Japanese Diagnostic technology and know-how to India and explained how to utilise the diagnostic outsourcing in Japan.

"Indian demand for the medical and diagnostic industries is expanding rapidly. However, still there are many major issues to be solved which are test accuracy, quality, cost and lead-time control of transportation due to lack of technologies, manpower and facilities in the sophisticated area of Genetic testing or Chromosome inspection," he added.

Mr. Yamada further said, "Under the technical training programme nearly 10 trainees will be engaged from Indian medical organisation in December, 2017. We will arrange some visits to diagnostic labs and medical organisations."

Minoru Amano, Executive Officer, and General Manager of Medical Division, Konoike Transport Co., Ltd. said, "India's healthcare sector is witnessing a double digit growth. But the supply chain is still in its primitive stage. Huge potential exists in diagnostic technologies sector in India. Japan is a big success story and we, in Japan, need to exchange our knowledge and collaborate to move to the next level.

"Healthcare in India is growing at a very fast pace. It is expected to be USD 280 billion in size by 2020, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 16 per cent. According to Reports, the medical devices market is estimated to grow organically at 15 percent to USD 8.6 bn by 2020. (NATHEALTH - Deloitte Report). Lots of new hospitals are opening and healthcare has taken a tremendous leap in service standards. Hence, the supply chain needs to be strengthened to meet the growing demand," Amano added.

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While Kate Winslet was quite vocal about the sexual allegations made on studio mogul Harvey Weinstein, the actress has taken a difference stance with another accused mogul, Woody Allen.

While talking to a leading U.S. publication, the 'Mountains between Us' star, stayed away from the controversy and declined to answer a question regarding allegations of misconduct made against the director.

According to People Magazine, she said, "It's just a difficult discussion. I'd rather respectfully not enter it today."

In 2014, Dylan Farrow, who is one of the star's three children with ex Mia Farrow, publicly claimed that Allen molested her as a child. Allen denied Dylan's claims at the time.

Allen's son, Ronan Farrow, who recently wrote about the sexual misconduct allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, supported his sister claims.

The controversy surrounding the director is making headlines again after the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment accusations rocked Hollywood.

In a recent interview to a leading U.S. daily, Winslet praised Wood Allen and noted that Allen is an "incredible director".

Asked about the criticism she faced on social media for her comments, Winslet said, "I don't read how people respond to things. We're always as actors going to say the wrong thing. I think it's better to respectfully step away from the discussion.

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Kuwait's emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah has warned that the Gulf crisis jeopardise national security.

The emir puts across the concern, while addressing the opening session of the National Assembly, as per Anadolu Agency.

In June, four member states of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) viz., Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain accused Doha of sponsoring terrorism and cut off diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar.

The four countries presented a list of demands for Qatar as condition to end their sanctions, or imposition of more penalties otherwise.

The conflict has put a question mark on the future of GCC.

Kuwait, which is also a GCC member, made attempts to resolve the conflict, but to no avail.

"We are moving to prevent the Gulf house from destruction and collapse," he said, going on to warn that the collapse of the GCC "will be a collapse of the last stronghold of the joint Arab action".

Meanwhile, Qatar has denied the accusations and maintrains that the blockade violates international law.

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L&T Technology Services Ltd (LTTS), a leading global pure play engineering Services Company was conferred with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Industrial Innovation Award, 2017 that recognised it as one of the most innovative Indian companies in the services category at the CII Industrial Innovation Awards ceremony in New Delhi.

"LTTS has a robust innovation engine with a strong innovation culture, effective management of systems and processes and prudent investments to nurture and empower employees, resulting in tangible and measurable outcomes. These best practices along with a multi-sectoral presence enabling cross-pollination of ideas have led to LTTS providing differentiated engineering solutions to 48 of the world's top 100 R&D companies today," said Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General of CII.

The CII lauded LTTS' efforts to create a collaborative ecosystem comprising of global technology firms and internationally reputed institutes such as the Indian Institute of Science, IITs, Germany's Fraunhofer and US-based Purdue University to make advances in R&D, creating best in class engineering solutions that can benefit the nation.

CII also praised LTTS' breakthrough research being conducted across 30 laboratories that seek to address the future needs of its global customers. Its innovation culture has led to the creation of 223 customer owned patents and 65 filed exclusively by LTTS engineers.

"We are delighted to receive the 2017 Industrial Innovation Award by CII. The recognition is testimony to LTTS' culture of innovation that encourages its employees to think like startups while providing them with the requisite infrastructure and support systems. Our formidable patent portfolio and industry leading solutions are proof that our innovation process yields substantial results," said Dr Keshab Panda, CEO and Managing Director, L&T Technology Services.

The process for determining the top awards and the list of top innovative companies used a rigorous five stages involving an assessor visit to the place of operations of the applicants. The unbiased assessment process measured the innovation culture, innovation management, inputs to innovation and the results of innovation.

CII Industrial Innovation Awards were instituted by CII in 2014 to recognize and celebrate innovative Indian enterprises across industry segments. These premier awards seek to recognize and honor the Indian Industry's brightest stars and to identify the top Innovative organisations and start-ups in the country.

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday urged police to not attack the families of militants.

"Militants kill people, police and burn their houses. But the security forces or police should not attack the families of militants as they attack theirs," the Chief Minister said while speaking at the passing out parade of recruits at the police training centre in Ganderbal district.

She added, "Police must maintain the difference."

Although the police were facing difficulties in discharging their duties, they had set an example of discipline and sacrifice, the chief minister said.

"As we are keen followers of the law, I should not get a complaint that the 'militants are destroying so we will do the same'," she said.

She further said efforts must be made to ensure that local militants surrender.

Mufti's statements came hours after Hizbul commander Riyaz Naikoo issued a warning to police against attacking the families of militants in Kashmir.

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Pakistan's opposition party Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Naushad was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

According to the Dawn, unidentified men on a motorbike opened fire on the MQM leader while he was returning home in his car after dropping off his children at school.

Police is investigating the incident and the motive behind the killing.

In September, MQM leader Khawaja Izhar Hassan had managed to escape unhurt after unknown assailants on three motorcycles attacked him as he left the Karachi's Buffer Zone Eidgah after Eidul Azha prayers.

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A team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which had gone to collect the evidence on Avenfield properties reportedly owned by ousted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family, has returned from London citing "partial success".

According to The Dawn, the NAB has recorded statements of those involved in conducting a forensic examination of the Calibri font used by Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz in certain documents presented in the Panama Papers case, as well as certain individuals regarding the purchase of the Avenfield properties.

"However the Bureau failed to get any help from the U.K. authorities in this regard," he said, adding that the NAB was told to utilise a 'government-to-government channel' in order to obtain the required official records.

"It remains to be seen whether the PML-N government, under PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, would accommodate such a request from NAB," the source said.

Cases of disproportionate assets have been filed against Sharif, his sons Hassan and Hussain, daughter Maryam and son-in-law retired Captain Mohammad Safdar. The family owns Avenfield flats - 16, 16-A, 17, 17-A in Park Lane in London.

According to The Dawn, the NAB team includes members, who had earlier framed four money laundering and corruption charges against Sharif and his family.

Sharif's lawyer Amjad Parvez has told the media there was no objection to the NAB's investigation as long as it was done legally.

The Pakistan Supreme Court had asked the NAB to file four references against the Sharif family in connection with their Avenfield and other properties on July 28.

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The Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Wednesday sent Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin's son Syed Shahid Yusuf to a seven-day remand in a 2011 terror-funding case.

Yusuf, a Jammu and Kashmir government employee, was found to have been receiving and collecting funds through international wire money transfer from Saudi Arabia-based Hizbul Mujahideen member Aijaz Ahmed Bhat.

Bhat is wanted in India for funding terror activities in the Kashmir Valley.

Yusuf will now be produced before the NIA special court in New Delhi and will be further interrogated by the investigating agencies.

The NIA already filed two charge sheets against six other accused in this case in 2011.

Out of these accused, two are in custody and others including Salahuddin are absconding and residing in Pakistan and the PoK.
Congress leader Raj Babbar on Wednesday slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Vinay Katiyar for supporting the youth for reciting 'Shiv Chalisa' inside the premises of the Taj Mahal, and said this is cheapness.

"BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), Bajrang Dal, RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), their work is to say something to get in limelight. I think this is cheapness. I have only one answer to this, that those people are not in a good condition as when we talk about Jay Shah they talk about Shah Jahan," said Babbar.

Katiyar's statement comes a day after the youth, belonging to the Rashtra Swabhimaan Dal (RSD) and the Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV), were caught reciting 'Shiv Chalisa' inside the premises of the Taj Mahal, causing tension at the iconic monument, which, they claimed, was originally a Shiv Temple.

The youth were nabbed by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and released after they submitted a written apology.

While speaking to ANI, Katiyar said, "The youth, who read 'Shiv Chalisa' inside the premises of the Taj Mahal, should not be condemned. Because it was once a Shiv Temple and a 'Shivaling' was also built, which was later removed. There are many other signs that show that few parts of the Mughal mausoleum is a Hindu Temple."

Commenting over Katiyar's statement, senior leader of Congress, P.L Punia said, "I do not think there is any need to think more on what Vinay Katiyar said. Taj Mahal is not only our identity in India, but all around the world. India is proud of Taj Mahal. There is no need to interfere with its name."

This incident comes a week after BJP leader Sangeet Som questioned the Taj Mahal's place in history, saying that the iconic monument was built by 'traitors' who targeted the Hindus. His comments caused a political stir across the country, following which the BJP governments in Uttar Pradesh and the Centre distanced themselves from the leader's comments.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is all set to visit Taj Mahal on October 26 to review various schemes related to tourism in Agra.

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Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has announced plans to formulate a framework to monitor the social media.

Speaking at a press conference here, Iqbal describe it as a precautionary measure amid growing concerns over the alleged disappearance of a number of social media activists linked to the ruling party.

"The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been directed to formulate a framework for social media monitoring in consultation with all stakeholders," the Dawn quoted Iqbal, as saying.

The Interior Minister said social media is being used an important weapon of fifth-generation warfare to destabilise societies and create anarchy in countries.

Earlier this week, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had issued a rare statement in support of the missing activists and called on the interior ministry to ensure their immediate recovery.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson discussed ways to step up cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms, during a meeting here on Wednesday.

Modi, while welcoming Tillerson on his maiden visit to the country, noted with appreciation the firm upward trajectory in the bilateral strategic partnership following the positive and far-reaching talks with President Trump in June this year.

Modi shared the resolve expressed by Tillerson on further taking further steps to strengthen bilateral engagement.

The two leaders affirmed that a strengthened India-US partnership is not just of mutual benefit to both countries, but has significant positive impact on the prospects for regional and global stability and prosperity.

In the context of President Trump's new South Asia Policy, Prime Minister noted the commonality in the objectives of eradicating terrorism, terrorist infrastructure, safe havens, and support, while bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.

In this regard, Tillerson exchanged views on his recent travels in the region with Modi.

Earlier in the day, Secretary Tillerson also held detailed discussions with India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

Tillerson arrived in India last evening on a two-day visit.

The U.S. Secretary of State's visit to India is a part of his five-nation tour that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Switzerland alongside.

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Russia on Tuesday cast a veto at the United Nations Security Council, preventing the renewal of the mandate for a mission that investigates the use of chemical weapons in the attack on Syria's rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun.

The mandate of a joint UN organisation for the prohibition of chemical weapons is due to expire in mid-November.

The investigation by the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) - known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) - was unanimously created by the 15-member UN Security Council in 2015, and renewed in 2016.

A JIM report on who is responsible behind the April 4 attack on Khan Sheikhoun is due on October 26.

Russia wanted to discuss the JIM report before casting its vote on extension of the mandate.

"We are ready to return to extending the JIM after the publication of the report and after we discuss it after 26 October," Russian Ambassador to UN Vassily Nebenzia was quoted as saying by The Independent.

However, his request for postponing the vote did not yield the desired result.

Russia is one of the five countries that can exercise veto powers at the Security Council.

Its veto on the probe has invited condemnation from United States.

"Russia has once again demonstrated it will do whatever it takes to ensure the barbaric Assad regime never faces consequences for its continued use of chemicals as weapons," US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said in a statement.

A separate OPCW fact-finding mission determined in June that the banned nerve agent sarin had been used in the attack that killed 87 people, which prompted deadly U.S. air strike on the Shayrat airfield of the Syrian air forces, believed by Washington to be the base for warplanes that carried out the chemical attack.

Russia denied a chemical weapons attack took place in Syria saying the deaths in Khan Sheikhoun were caused by a Syrian regime airstrike on a rebel-controlled chemical weapons factory on the ground.

Bashar al-Assad-led Syrian government has denied involvement in the toxic attack and blamed rebel groups.

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A senior North Korean official warned the United States to take Pyongyang's hydrogen bomb threat 'literally', contending that the country has always delivered on its words.

In reference to North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong Ho's threat at the United Nations General Assembly last month about testing a powerful hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean, Ri Yong Pil said the country "has always brought its words into action."

"The foreign minister is very well aware of the intentions of our supreme leader, so I think you should take his words literally," CNN quoted Ri Yong Pil as saying.

The treat was delivered soon after United States President Donald Trump said at a UN speech that he would 'totally destroy' North Korea in defense of the U.S. or its allies.

At the interview, Ri also declined having diplomatic channels with U.S., contrary to the claims of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

"The US is talking about a military option and even practicing military moves. They're pressuring us on all fronts with sanctions. If you think this will lead to diplomacy, you're deeply mistaken," Ri said.

The United States and North Korea have long been engaged in back-and-forth barbs over the latter's threat of a nuclear attack.

The tension escalated when North Korea said the military is "preparing and examining" a plan to launch a missile strike on the strategic U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, just hours after President Donald Trump warned the regime that any threat to the United States would be met with "fire and fury".

North Korea jolted major leaders when it carried out the strongest of its six-ever nuclear tests in early September, claiming to have used a hydrogen bomb.

The act invited rigorous sanctions from the UN against the country.

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United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday, in a joint stand against terrorism, slammed Pakistan for providing safe havens to terror outfits.

Speaking at a joint press conference, while Swaraj emphasised that Pakistan needs to act against the terrorist organisations operating within the country, Tillerson said that they were putting in place a mechanism to deny these outfits the ability to launch attacks against other countries.

Tillerson said, "In my discussions in Islamabad, we were frank to conclude that there are too many terrorist outfits that find safe havens in Pakistan. We are putting in place a mechanism to deny these outfits the ability to launch attacks against other countries."

"India and the United States are natural allies. The two nations stand shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism," he added.

Sushma Swaraj categorically said, "U.S. President Donald Trump's policy on terrorism can only succeed when Pakistan takes an action against the terror groups."

The U.S. Secretary of State, who is on a two-day visit to India, yesterday made his inaugural trip to Pakistan, where he reiterated Trump's message that Islamabad must increase its efforts to eradicate the militants and terrorists operating within the country.

"We want to work with Pakistan in a positive way as we think this is in their interest in the longer term," Tillerson said.

Tillerson arrived in India last evening for his two-day visit to India.

He is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence.

The U.S. Secretary of State's visit to India is a part of his five-nation tour that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Switzerland alongside.

Yesterday, the U.S. Secretary of State paid an unannounced visit to Baghdad, just hours after returning from a similar surprise visit to Afghanistan.

During his visit, he met Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who accused the former of interfering in Iraqi affairs.

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President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday lauded erstwhile Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan, saying he died a heroic death fighting the British.

The President's statement comes amid the controversy triggered few days back after the Karnataka Government planned to celebrate the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan on November 10.

"Tipu Sultan died a heroic death fighting the British. He was also a pioneer in use of Mysore rockets in warfare," Kovind said, while addressing the joint session of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council on the 60th anniversary of the Vidhan Soudha.

Several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders had rejected the invitation to the celebration and called it a 'shameful' event.

Union Minister of State for Skill Development Anant Kumar Hegde had conveyed to the Karnataka Government to not invite him to the "shameful" event of Tipu Sultan Jayanti.

"I have conveyed to the Karnataka Government not to invite me to the shameful event of glorifying a person known as a brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist," Hegde tweeted.

Meanwhile, in his speech, President Kovind also said, "Both houses of the legislature jointly and collectively represent the will and aspirations of the people of Karnataka. The houses also represent the ideals, optimism, energy and the dynamism of the Kannadiga people. The Vidhan Soudha building is a monument to the history of public service in Karnataka."

The President also stressed upon the importance of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council and said they both were sacred temples of democracy.

"The Legislature is a place to discuss, dissent and finally decide. It is an embodiment of the will, aspirations and hopes of people," he added.

The President further called for raising the level of political and policy discourse.

"We are aware of the three D's of legislature i.e. it is a place to debate, dissent and finally decide. If we add the fourth 'D' i.e. decency, only then the fifth 'D' namely democracy becomes a reality," he added.

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United States President Donald Trump has termed the production of the controversial Russia dossier a "disgrace" to Democrats, "sad commentary on politics" in the country.

Referring to the confirmation on reports about Democrats paying for the anti-Trump dossier, Trump told reporters that it was "sad" on their part.

According to Fox News, the controversial dossier, containing salacious and unsubstantiated allegations about Trump's ties to Russia, was bankrolled by Marc Elias, a lawyer representing the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Clinton campaign.

Fusion GPS, a political consulting firm, was paid in millions for hiring a former British intelligence officer, Christopher Steele to furnish information of Trump's alleged connections to Russia.

On the question of bearing responsibility for the current combative state of American politics, he said "politics is a rough business," adding that media worsens the situation, by tarnishing his image in the public eye with numerous "fake stories".

Trump said the press makes him "more uncivil than I am," adding that he is Ivy League-educated, was a good student and is "very intelligent."

In light of the recent vitriol against him by Senators Jeff Flake, Bob Corker and John McCain, Trump assured the Republican Party is still "unified".

He also reckoned that Corker will not block his tax reform proposals, predicting that "certain Democrats" will have to vote for tax cuts for businesses and the middle class or lose in 2018.

Targeting the former Obama administration, President Trump said that he has been more effective in combating terrorism.

Asserting that the ISIS is being "decimated," Trump said, "It's a tough war, but we are winning it."

He also praised the generals and military, saying that they "have decision-making ability" when it comes to tackling ISIS.

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United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Wednesday.

Earlier today, speaking at a joint press conference with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Tillerson lauded India, saying: "India and the United States are natural allies. The two nations stand shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism."

While the U.S. Secretary of State criticised Pakistan for not acting against the terrorists operating within the country, Swaraj said, "The recent attacks in Afghanistan are a proof that safe havens and supporters of terrorism are active. Pakistan needs to act on this."

Tillerson also said that they were putting in place a mechanism to deny terror outfits the ability to launch attacks against other countries.

Tillerson said, "In my discussions in Islamabad, we were frank to conclude that there are too many terrorist outfits that find safe havens in Pakistan. We are putting in place a mechanism to deny these outfits the ability to launch attacks against other countries."

The U.S. Secretary of State, who is on a two-day visit to India, yesterday made his inaugural trip to Pakistan, where he reiterated Trump's message that Islamabad must increase its efforts to eradicate the militants and terrorists operating within the country.

"We want to work with Pakistan in a positive way as we think this is in their interest in the longer term," Tillerson said.

Tillerson arrived in India last evening for his two-day visit to India.

The U.S. Secretary of State's visit to India is a part of his five-nation tour that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Switzerland alongside.

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United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Tillerson arrived in India last evening for his two-day visit to India.

He is expected to address the media in the noon today and later in the day, he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence.

The U.S. Secretary of State's visit to India is a part of his five-nation tour that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Switzerland alongside.

Yesterday, the U.S. Secretary of State paid an unannounced visit to Baghdad, just hours after returning from a similar surprise visit to Afghanistan.

During his visit, he met Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who accused the former of interfering in Iraqi affairs.

On Monday, while he slammed Pakistan, citing that there were a number of terror groups, which find safe havens in the country, Tillerson lauded India for a "positive role in the process to achieve a peaceful and stable Afghanistan". He gave this statement in Kabul, where he met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah and national security advisor Hanif Atmar.

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Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday averred that the Indian Railways has no paucity of funds and unlimited budgets are available for safety related items.

"The Indian Railways absolutely has no shortage of funds. Unlimited budgets are available for safety related items," Goyal said, while addressing a press conference here.

On Air Condition travel in suburban section in Mumbai, the railway minister said the government has introduced one or two rakes, which are air-conditioned and will be gradually increased.

The railway minister added that the air conditioned Local train in Mumbai has been tested successfully and would be introduced from January 1, 2018.

"CCTVs will be installed in all the trains and stations in Mumbai for better security. For better supervision and coordination, ADRMs posts are increased in all Railway Divisions," he said.

Goyal also said Indian Railways has marked 3,000 locations to install escalators to facilitate old and physically-challenged people.

"The Railway Board has decided that lease period for Station Redevelopment shall be 99 years. Elevated suburban train corridor feasibility study is going on to decongest traffic in Metro cities," he said.

Goyal said the Indian Railways is also introducing employees' charter to solve the issue concerning the employees from time-to-time.

Goyal's announcements came after 23 people were killed and 31 were injured in a stampde at Elphinstone.

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The residents of one of the villages in the constituency of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh - Arki - have demanded to shift the village permanently to a safe and pollution-free zone.

Over 500 residents of the Rauri village in Darlaghat area of the Arki assembly constituency warned the authorities and political parties to either shift the village to a pollution-free zone or face boycott in the assembly elections, which are to be held on November 9, for safety, security and a pollution-free life for the future.

This village is nearly 20 m close to the factory of Ambuja Cement, which is said to be producing sound and air pollution.

"The women here are suffering from skin and respiratory diseases due to the dust and air pollution. They can't sleep during the nights as sound pollution not only disturbs them, but also, cracks have been carved into the buildings of this area," a local villager said.
A former Weinstein Company's production assistant has accused the studio mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexually harassing her even after her repeated refusals.

In a press conference held by attorney Gloria Allred, Mimi Haleyi, alleged that Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her in 2006, reports The Guardian.

Haleyi called him "extremely persistent and physically overpowering".

While talking to a group of reporters, she noted, "I told him no, no, no, but he insisted. He then orally forced himself on me, while I was on my period. He even pulled my tampon out. I was mortified."

The women's rights attorney Gloria Allred said that Halwyi was in her 20s and worked as a production assistant on a television show produced by the Weinstein Company, when the incident happened, according to The Guardian.

Haleyi claimed Weinstein later came to her New York apartment and pleaded her to come on a romantic-sounding trip to Paris.

Haleyi explained that she first met Weinstein at the London premiere of 'The Aviator' in 2004. She encountered him again at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006.

She expressed interest in working on one of his films and he invited her to his hotel room and asked for a massage.

Haleyi refused, replying, "No sorry, I'm not a masseuse," and suggesting he instead contact hotel reception.

Among the dozens, including Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow, who have claimed Weinstein sexually harassed them, several women have said Weinstein raped them.

In response to some of those allegations, the Los Angeles police department and law enforcement officials in London are investigating Weinstein for sexual abuse.

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West Bengal Chief Minister on Wednesday said she is ready to lose her mobile phone connection but won't link it to her Aadhaar card.

"Under no circumstances will I link my Aadhaar with my telephone number. If the authorities disconnect my phone, let them do it," Mamata said while speaking at the core committee meeting of her Trinamool Congress party in Kolkata.

Urging people to follow the suit, Mamata alleged that linking phone to Aadhaar is a ploy to breach people's privacy.

"I would urge you to protest in a similar manner. How many telephone connections will they disconnect? What does Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) want? Do they want to listen to people's secrets? It's a direct attack on privacy," she said.

Department of Telecom (DoT) has called for linking of mobile numbers with Aadhaar but the West Bengal Chief Minister has been a vociferous critic of attaching the unique identification number with the government schemes, raising questions over privacy.

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Hollywood actress Gal Gadot, who soared to international recognition after playing the iconic comic book character Wonder Woman on the big screen, has shockingly revealed that she nearly quit acting before bagging the superhero movie.

While giving an interview to Glamour UK magazine, Gadot admitted that she thought about packing up her belongings in Los Angeles to head back home to her native Israel.

Gadot noted, "Before I got Wonder Woman, I was thinking about never coming back to Los Angeles, [I thought I'd] stay in Israel, work as an actress here and there, go back to university and do something else. Because there had been so many 'no's. You go to the audition and you have a callback, then another callback and then a camera set-up, and people are telling you your life will change if you get this part. And then you don't get it. I reached a place where I didn't want to do that anymore."

Adding, "My husband has a lot of work in Tel Aviv, and we had a daughter, so taking them to LA to fish for work put a lot of pressure on me. I was like, 'Why am I doing this?' Hearing no, over and over, I was thinking, 'What am I good for?' And that's when I got Wonder Woman."

The 'Keeping Up with the Jones' star also admitted her relief at her law career not panning out the way she had intended it to.

"You convince yourself to do these things. 'I'll be a lawyer so I can make peace and people will be able to reach agreements.' Whereas, in real life, lawyers deal with conflict non-stop. Conflicts are not good for me. I'm all about harmony and Zen. So I'm happy it didn't work out. I would be the sh*ttiest lawyer," noted Gadot.

Meanwhile, on the professional front, Gal Gadot will be next seen in 'Justice League' alongside Ben Affleck, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher and Henry Cavill.

The flick is slated to release on November 17.

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Key benchmark indices remained firm in mid-morning trade as announcements of various measures taken by the government to spur economy, including psu banks' capitalisation plan to massive road building program boosted sentiment. At 11:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex gained 302.25 points or 0.93% at 32,909.59. The Nifty 50 index rose 53.45 points or 0.52% at 10,261.15. Firmness in Asian stocks also supported gains on the bourses.

Market witnessed a gap up opening in early trade and scaled fresh record highs. Indices trimmed gains in morning trade. The Sensex slipped below the psychologically important 33,000 level after marching past that mark for the first time in its history in early trade.

The Sensex jumped 509.99 points or 1.56% at the day's high of 33,117.33 at the onset of the trading session, its record high. The index gained 197.26 points or 0.6% at the day's low of 32,804.60 in morning trade. The Nifty spurted 132.85 points or 1.3% at the day's high of 10,340.55 at the onset of the trading session, its record high. The index gained 33.20 points or 0.32% at the day's low of 10,240.90 in morning trade.

However, side counters were sluggish. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.16%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 0.08%. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.

The breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was almost even. On the BSE, 1,165 shares rose and 1,142 shares rose. A total of 111 shares were unchanged.

Ambuja Cements rose 0.97% after consolidated net profit surged 49.93% to Rs 351.29 crore on 19.35% increase in total income to Rs 5452.68 crore in Q3 September 2017 over Q3 September 2016.

In its outlook, Ambuja Cements said that the government has identified the construction and infrastructure sector as one of the key sectors that will help improve overall economic growth. Infrastructure projects in the areas of power, irrigation, roads, metros and railways, as well as dedicated freight and industrial corridors, are likely to generate strong cement demand in the country. Furthermore, increased spending on affordable and low cost housing coupled with the normal monsoon is expected to boost the rural economy which augurs well for the cement industry.

Shares of other cement stocks rose after Ambuja Cements' strong Q3 results. ACC (up 1.15%), Shree Cement (up 0.38%), and UltraTech Cement (up 4.36%) gained.

Grasim Industries advanced 2.49%. Grasim has exposure to the cement sector through its holding in UltraTech Cement.

Most IT stocks gained after Infosys announced its Q2 results. TCS (up 0.46%), Tech Mahindra (up 2.42%) and Wipro (up 0.94%) rose.

Infosys was up 1.11% after consolidated net profit rose 7% to Rs 3726 crore on 2.9% growth in revenue to Rs 17567 crore in Q2 September 2017 over Q1 June 2017. The results are as per International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 24 October 2017.

In its outlook, Infosys said it now expects consolidated revenue to grow by 6.5%-7.5% in dollar terms for the financial year ending 31 March 2018 (FY 2018). It expects a revenue growth of 5.5%-6.5% in constant currency terms for FY 2018.

Among other developments, Infosys said that the process of identifying the next CEO and shareholder consultation outreach has been initiated and are progressing well.

HCL Technologies declined 1.69% after the company's net income rose 0.8% to Rs 2188 crore on 2.3% increase in revenue at Rs 12434 crore in Q2 September 2017 over Q1 June 2017. The result was announced before trading hours today, 25 October 2017.

In its outlook, the company said that its financial year ending March 2018 (FY 2018) revenues are expected to grow between 10.5% to 12.5% in constant currency. The above constant currency guidance translates to 12.1% to 14.1% in dollar terms based on 30 September 2017 rates. FY 2018 expected operating margin (EBIT) range is from 19.5% to 20.5%. The operating margin guidance assumes USD-INR currency rate of $1 = Rs. 65.5 and other currencies at FY 2017 average exchange rates.

Yes Bank declined 2.14% after the bank said that the Reserve Bank of India imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 6 crore on the bank for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on income recognition asset norms and delayed reporting of information security incident involving ATMs of the bank. The announcement was made during market hours today, 25 October 2017.

ABB India gained 1% after net profit rose 18.17% to Rs 83.39 crore on 7.28% fall in total income to Rs 1953.12 crore in Q3 September 2017 over Q3 September 2016. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 24 October 2017.

On the macro front, government yesterday, 24 October 2017, decided to take a massive step to capitalise pulic sector banks (PSBs) in a front-loaded manner, with a view to support credit growth and job creation. This entails mobilization of capital, with maximum allocation in the current year, to the tune of about Rs 2.11 lakh crore over the next two years, through budgetary provisions of Rs 18139 crore, recapitalisation bonds to the tune of Rs 1.35 lakh crore, and the balance through raising of capital by banks from the market while diluting government equity (estimated potential Rs 58000 crore). There will be a strong push on enabling growth of micro- small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through enhanced access to financing and markets, and a drive to finance MSMEs in 50 clusters.

Taking forward its commitment to providing more efficient transportation, government has debottlenecked the roads sector and significantly stepped up the Highway development and road building program. In order to further optimise the efficiency of movement of goods and people across the country, government has launched a new umbrella program. This road building program, for 83,677 kilometers of roads involving capex of Rs 6.92 lakhs crore over next 5 years. Out of this, Bharatmala Pariyojana to be implemented with an outlay of Rs 5.35 lakh crore will generate 14.2 crores mandays of jobs.

Ministry of finance secretaries at the press conference held yesterday, 24 October 2017 said that industrial production, core sector, index, automobile, consumer spending etc. pointing out a strong growth pick up and there is expectation of very good economic growth from second quarter of current year itself. The recapitalisation and the initiatives announced on Tuesday, 24 October 2017, are expected to have a noticeable impact in the near-term, contributing to accelerated economic activity, employment and growth of the economy, it added.

Overseas, Asian stocks rose following the overnight gains on Wall Street as upbeat corporate earnings results and optimism about global economic growth boosted investor sentiment. China's Communist Party revealed its new top leadership helmed by President Xi Jinping, breaking with recent precedent by failing to include a clear successor among the seven-man line-up. Apart from Xi, Premier Li Keqiang was the only one to retain his spot amid sweeping changes on the Politburo Standing Committee, the height of power in China.

On Wall Street, stocks continued to surge yesterday, 24 October 2017, touching new record highs after strong earnings from heavy-hitters Caterpillar and 3M.

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The Asian Development Bank and the Government of India signed a $300 million loan today to continue a series of fiscal reforms in the State of West Bengal to improve the quality of public service delivery.

The Second West Bengal Development Finance Program targets a further increase in public investment through reduction of unproductive expenditure, and savings from efficiencies in revenue collections. The Program will build on earlier intervention under Phase I of the project through the $400 million Program that targeted a comprehensive fiscal consolidation program in the state.

The Program aims to further deepen the reforms with focus on expenditure rationalization, improvement in revenue administration, and facilitation of more private investment in the state said Mr. Sameer Kumar Khare, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance who signed the loan on behalf of the Government of India.

The new Program will create the fiscal space necessary to sustain higher public investment in the State which could put the state's finances on a balanced and sustainable path, said Mr. Kenichi Yokoyama, ADB Country Director for India, who signed for ADB.

The program agreement was signed by Mr. Parwez Ahmad Siddiqui, Secretary, Finance Department, Government of West Bengal.

ADB's first Program focused on augmenting public investments that reached almost 1.3%, as a percentage of gross state domestic product, in FY2016 from 0.5% in FY2012 while the fiscal deficit reduced to 2.2% from 3.4% in the same period. The new Program will not only target public investment but would also support private investments more directly by creating an infrastructure facility to support project preparation, development, and appraisal, with emphasis on public-private partnerships in health and education. It also seeks to simplify the registration and licensing procedure for micro, small and medium enterprises.

Spread over two years, the Program will also carry forward reforms such as linking medium term expenditure plans to actual budgets, supported by strengthening internal audit system, and enhancements in the integrated financial management system (IFMS). Other activities under the program include improved tax monitoring and continued support for information technology systems in strengthening tax and land administration.

Capital outlay as a percentage of gross state domestic product is expected to rise to 2.2% by FY2022 under the second program, with improved budget allocations geared toward development expenditure.

Accompanying the loan is a technical assistance grant of $500,000 to strengthen key institutions responsible for carrying out fiscal management reforms in the state.

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Across retail outlets in Assam

JMD Ventures announced that its subsidiary, JMD Medico Services has launched its wide range of ayurvedic products in Northeast Market. With this launch, JMD Medico's products would now be available at retail outlets across the state of Assam. The launch in the region supports JMD Medico's national growth strategy. The company has setup a logistics centre in Kolkata to address and satisfy the local demands of in the states of Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

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Moody's Investors Service says that the Indian government's (Baa3, Positive) announcement of a INR2.1 trillion recapitalization plan for public sector banks is a credit positive for the sector.

"The quantum of the plan is large enough to comprehensively address these banks' weak capitalization levels and is a significant credit positive as weak capitalization is the main credit weakness for most rated public sector banks," says Srikanth Vadlamani, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Credit Officer.

Of the total, INR1.35 trillion would be in the form of recapitalization bonds, while the rest would involve a combination of already announced budgetary support and capital raisings by the banks themselves from the capital markets.

"For the 11 rated public sector banks, Moody's estimates that their external capital requirements over the next two years would be around INR700-950 billion, factoring in the two main drivers of their capital needs - the need to comply with Basel 3 requirements, and for conservative recognition and provisioning of their asset quality problems," says Vadlamani.

"Thus, even if only the recapitalization bonds and the already announced budgetary support are factored in, the announced capital infusion by the government should be able to comfortably address the capital requirements of the public sector banks," says Vadlamani.

In addition, the inability of most these banks to access the equity capital markets has also been a key constraint on their capital levels. With much greater visibility now on these banks receiving adequate capital from the government, they may also accordingly regain market access. Note that there is significant scope for the government to reduce its current shareholdings in these banks and still maintain majority ownership.

Details on the program, including the structure of the recapitalization bonds and allocations to individual banks, have not yet been disclosed. However, the government has announced that this program will be implemented over the next two years, during which the infusion of the recapitalization bonds will be frontloaded.

In the past, the government had used the recapitalization bond route to recapitalize public sector banks.

Those instruments typically had relatively long maturities and didnt have much market liqudity. A similar structure this time would have some negative implications for the banks' liquidity and profitability profiles.

However, given that the overarching credit weakness of the public sector banks currently is their weak capitalization levels, we would see infusion of the recapitalization bonds as a significant credit positive, notwithstanding some of these potential weaknesses in their structure.

A key point of interest would also be the amount of capital that individual banks will receive. While there may be some differentiation, with banks deemed to be performing well receiving more growth capital, we expect all rated public sector banks to get enough capital to satisfy their Basel 3 capital requirements as well as adequately address their asset quality challenges. Thus, while the extent of improvement may vary, we expect the capitalization profiles of all rated public sector banks to improve.

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Shares of 19 public sector banks rose by 3.57% to 30.74% at 10:29 IST on BSE after the finance ministry announced a Rs 2.11 lakh crore bank recapitalisation plan for state-owned lenders.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 242.02 points, or 0.74% to 32,849.36.

Punjab National Bank (up 30.74%), Bank of Baroda (up 23.44%), Bank of India (up 21.04%), Union Bank of India (up 20.82%), Canara Bank (up 19.48%), State Bank of India (up 17.07%), IDBI Bank (up 16.21%), Corporation Bank (up 14.43%), UCO Bank (up 14.24%), Indian Bank (up 12.6%), United Bank of India (up 12.43%), Andhra Bank (up 11.28%), Allahabad Bank (up 10.66%), Syndicate Bank (up 9.90%), Bank of Maharashtra (up 9.49%), Central Bank of India (up 9.22%), Vijaya Bank (up 7.23%), Punjab & Sind Bank (up 6.14%) and Dena Bank (up 3.57%), edged higher.

The government has decided to take a massive step to capitalise public sector banks (PSBs) in a front-loaded manner, with a view to support credit growth and job creation. This entails mobilization of capital, with maximum allocation in the current year, to the tune of about Rs 211000 crore over the next two years, through budgetary provisions of Rs 18139 crore, recapitalisation bonds to the tune of Rs 135000 crore, and the balance through raising of capital by banks from the market while diluting government equity (estimated potential Rs 58000 crore), Ministry of Finance said in a statement after market hours yesterday, 24 October 2017.

Government actions are not limited to addressing capitalisation of PSBs. Definite steps will be taken alongside capitalisation to enable them to play a major role in the financial system. PSBs having 70% market share in the banking space will be geared for greater growth and to contribute through enhanced credit off-take. The stage has been set with a 'MUDRA Protsahan' campaign across the country, the statement said.

There will be a strong push on enabling growth of micro- small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through enhanced access to financing and markets, and a drive to finance MSMEs in 50 clusters. The recapitalisation and the initiatives announced on Tuesday, 24 October 2017, are expected to have a noticeable impact in the near-term, contributing to accelerated economic activity, employment and growth of the economy, it added.

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Police have charged the adoptive father of a three-year-old Indian girl in her death after he admitted that the child choked while he was making her drink milk and died in their home in Texas, according to court documents.

Wesley Mon Mathews had earlier told police that Sherin disappeared when he made her stand in a lane behind their house in Richardson city at 3 a on October 7 as punishment for not drinking milk.

After nearly two weeks of searching by police using drones, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and volunteers, her body was found on Sunday in a ditch near their house in the city near Dallas. While the search was going on, Mathews stuck to the story about Sherin's punishment and mysterious disappearance.

Mathews, who was arrested on Monday, was charged with causing injury to a child which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

As of Tuesday evening, he was being held in jail with bail set at $1 million. Mathews, 37, who works in information technology, is of Indian origin. He and his wife, Sini who is a nurse, had adopted Sherin from an orphanage in Bihar.

Richardson police officer V. Diaz said in court documents that on Monday Mathews came to the police with his lawyer and said that he "physically assisted" Sherin with drinking milk in the garage of their house after she had earlier refused to drink it. The child began coughing and choking, her breathing slowed and then there was no longer any pulse, he told police.

He "believed" she had died and admitted to removing the body from the house, Diaz said.

Mathews did not wake his wife, who is a registered nurse at Dallas Children's Medical Center, when that happened, the Dallas News reported.

Sini has not told police what had happened, according to the newspaper. It quoted police Sgt. Kevin Perlich as saying that she said the clothing found on the child's body could have been something Sherin wore and gave the dental records, which were used to identify the girl.

Television station WFAA reported that a vigil was held for Sherin at the spot where her body was found on Sunday. People have set up a make-shift shrine for her by leaving toys, flowers and other items at the spot.

Mathews and his wife have a four-year-old daughter, who was taken away from them by the authorities and placed with a foster family.

Earlier, Perlich said that Sherin had developmental problems and could not communicate properly. Soon after Mathews reported her missing on October 7, he was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

He was out on bail and made to wear an electronic monitor on his ankle after that arrest when he returned to police with the new version and was rearrested on the new charge of injuring a child.

A post mortem has been conducted on the child's body, but the medical examiner has yet to announce the exact cause of death.
A day after the unprecedented sacking of Mumbai University Vice-Chancellor Sanjay Deshmukh, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Education Minister Vinod Tawde over the issue.

Ruling ally Shiv Sena's youth leader Aditya Thackeray has also attacked the state government and sought to know how it would compensate the thousands of students for their career losses.

NCP state spokesperson Nawab Malik said mere dismissal of the VC was not a sufficient move and Tawde should be held responsible for the mess and sacked from the state cabinet by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

"The state government has recently taken a decision to link the pay hikes of teachers to the performance of the students. The same principle should be applied to the university and the Education Minister should asked to quit for the mess," Malik pointed out.

"Now that the VC has been sacked, the state government shouldn't repeat the mistake again. The government needs to put its act together and a deserving person should be elevated to the post," Aditya Thackeray urged.

He also spoke out for thousands of students who have suffered huge career losses on account of grossly delayed exam results, non-declaration of results, lost answer sheets, haphazard marks given to students in which many who failed were later found to have passed, and other problems which have traumatised the students and their parents.

"What the government has in minds for (these) students who have lost a year. They have gone through a tremendous mental stress over the past few months... How does the government plan to compensate them," he asked, and alleged that the controversial decision to push through the online marking system could be a "scam".

Meanwhile, late on Wednesday evening, Maharashtra Governor C.V. Rao announced that eminent space scientist and former ISRO Chairman (Dr.) K. Kasturirangan would head a new Search Committee to select a new VC for the country's premier and globally renowned university.

A recipient of all the three top civilian Padma awards, Kasturirangan is a former alumnus of University of Mumbai, a former Chancellor of JNU, ex-member of Rajya Sabha and Planning Commission, besides heading the Indian Space Research Organisation for nearly 10 years (1994-2003), and currently chairing the committee to prepare the final draft of the National Education Policy.

In an unprecedented step in the 160-year-old history of University of Mumbai, its Chancellor and state Governor Rao on Tuesday summarily sacked the VC Deshmukh amidst a massive fiasco over results of Summer 2017 examinations delayed by several months.

The dismissed VC was accused of "gross negligence and failure in implementing the On Screen Marking System", to declare the results of the examinations within the time-limits prescribed in the Act - within 30 days and in no case beyond 45 days.

Warned several times in the past by the Governor, Deshmukh, 52, was found responsible "for his failure to comply with the directions issued by the Chancellor from time to time", regarding timely declaration of the examination results of nearly 400,000 students.

The massive delays in the declaration of results -- many of which are still pending - have derailed the careers of thousands of students seeking admission to higher courses, to foreign universities, or appearing for various competitive examinations, besides causing great mental agony to them, their parents and other stakeholders.

The Governor's move terminating Deshmukh's service has been widely welcomed in political circles, by university teachers and students and the parent community.

--IANS

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Actress Dominique Huett has accused Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault and sued his company.

In her lawsuit filed here on Tuesday, Huett claimed she first met Weinstein at the bar of a hotel in Beverly Hills in November 2010. She says the producer told her he could help with her acting career and asked to see her breasts, saying it would benefit her career if she didn't have implants, reports people.com.

The court documents claim Weinstein asked Huett to come up to his room for what he said would be a business meeting before disappearing into the bathroom and returning in only a robe.

Next, she says in the documents, he began demanding a massage, which she performed for him after some initial back-and-forth. Weinstein asked if he could perform oral sex on her and would not take "no" for an answer.

She claims the producer then offered her a role on Project Runway.

Huett's lawsuit targets The Weinstein Company because she claims that prior to the 2010 incident, the company "had actual knowledge of Weinstein's repeated acts of sexual misconduct with women".

In particular, the suit claims The Weinstein Company (TWC) was "aware of Weinstein's pattern of using his power to coerce and force young actresses to engage in sexual acts with him".

Huett's attorney Jeff Herman said: "This lawsuit is about putting the casting couch on trial."

The producer has been accused of sexual misconduct by over 50 women since The New York Times and The New Yorker documented decades of alleged abuse in detailed profiles this month.

--IANS

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Newly-appointed Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Chairperson Anupam Kher has thanked the students of the institute for their "faith and understanding" towards him.

Anupam on Tuesday shared a note by the students of FTII, which read: "Thank you so much for your cooperation and active involvement addressing our concerns. Looking forward to work together towards the betterment of this premier institute. Thank you."

In response, the veteran actor, 62, said: "Thank you FTII students for your faith and understanding. Your thank you note made me extremely happy. Let's do some great work together."

Anupam was on October 11 announced as the new Chairperson of FTII. He succeeded the controversial Gajendra Chauhan, whose appointment in 2014 had triggered widespread student protests.

Earlier this month, he visited the institute unannounced and promised the students that he is on their side.

--IANS

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The Army is looking at electronic warfare and early-warning systems not only for the front lines but also for the hinterland amid threats of more terror attacks like at the air base in Pathankot and the Army camp in Uri, Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat said here on Wednesday.

Speaking at a seminar on "Indigenous Technological Empowerment of the Indian Army", Rawat said there was need to integrate technology with manpower.

"We are also looking at electronic warfare and early-warning systems to help us not just on the frontline but hinterland as well... Security of our installations in the hinterland is becoming a concern due to reports of (possibility of) attacks on the lines of Uri and Pathankot on some of our other bases," General Rawat said.

"Therefore, we have to look at solutions to our security problems... relying entirely on manpower is not the best way forward. We will have to integrate technology with manpower to ensure that human resources are committed to the least and we are able to imbibe technology," he added.

General Rawat called upon the private sector to provide solutions for perimeter security of defence installations across the country and for surveillance along the borders.

"Our major requirement, as of now, is to look at intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance systems to keep an eye on our adversaries, both on the northern and western frontier, and then to integrate the system with other systems in the battlefield," he said.

Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said self-reliance in defence manufacture will come only with home-grown technologies.

"True self-reliance in defence will flow from fully home-grown technologies," Bhamre said.

He said the central government has put defence at the core of its 'Make in India' programme, adding that various companies had expressed willingness to invest in India by utilising the country's highly talented and skilled manpower.

--IANS

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The campus grounds of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) transformed into a "Little India" as the highly-rated Australian university celebrated Festival of India 2017 - a stimulating, event-packed week to celebrate and promote Australia's partnership and friendship with India.

The unique festival, October 23-26, showcases not only the country's rich, cultural offerings but also its ground-breaking developments in innovation, finance, scientific research and economic growth.

The festival week brings to light India's vibrant mix of tradition and transformation. "As the UNSW Sydney campus transforms into a little India, together we will showcase ground-breaking developments in innovation, business and culture along with a few surprises," the university said in a statement.

There are also an 'Inscription of India' stall for henna tattoos, an 'Exam Therapy Stall' "designed to refresh your body, mind and soul through the ancient art of yoga" and stalls showcasing the culinary delights of India.

"UNSW's first Festival of India - 'India Illuminated' is an event-packed week to celebrate Australia's friendship with South Asia's emerging global powerhouse," the statement said.

Growing numbers of Indian students are now enrolling at Australian universities with the country enjoying the distinction of being the third biggest international student destination in the world.

At its peak nearly 28,000 Indian students enrolled for studies in Australia in 2009. After a period of slowdown in enrolments between 2010 and 2015, the numbers are looking up and are beyond its 2009 peak.

Currently, UNSW admits about 360 students from India annually, mainly in its engineering and business schools. The India pitch is part of UNSW's goal to see the numbers go up 10 times by 2025.

Its 50,000-plus students come from 128 countries, making it one of Australia's oldest and most cosmopolitan universities with a unique focus on the scientific, technological and professional disciplines,

--IANS

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A court here on Wednesday rejected the interim bail plea of senior Kashmiri separatist leader and a businessman arrested on charges of receiving funds from Pakistan to sponsor terrorist activities and stone-pelting in Jammu and .

District Judge Poonam Bamba dismissed the bail plea of separatist leader Nayeem Khan and businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali sought on medical grounds, citing their poor health condition.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has opposed the bail plea and said that accused, if released on bail, can tamper with evidence.

"Considering the facts, gravity of the offences and nature of material on record and the investigation is underway, there is a likelihood of the applicant fleeing from justice, tampering with the evidence, influencing the witness, if admitted to bail," the court said.

The court also said that apprehension expressed by the NIA cannot be "brushed aside" and added that the accused doesn't deserve bail at this stage.

Both the accused are in judicial custody till November 15.

On July 24, the NIA arrested seven Kashmiri separatists -- Aftab Hilali Shah alias Shahid-ul-Islam, Ayaz Akbar Khandey, Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate, Nayeem Khan, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal and Bashir Ahmad Bhat alias Peer Saifullah. All were booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against the nation.

Arrested in mid-August, Watali is accused of acting as a conduit for channelling funds for separatists and terror activities in the Valley.

He was allegedly collecting funds from Pakistan and banned terrorist organisations and transferring them to Hurriyat leaders.

Watali is known to be friends with Pakistani leaders as well as Kashmiri separatists besides the mainstream politicians in Jammu and Kashmir, the NIA said.

--IANS

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The government decision to recapitalize the public sector banks by infusing Rs. 2.11 lakh crore amounts to virtually pardoning corporates who have not returned loans now totalling Rs 11.5 crore, the CPI-M said on Wednesday.

A statement from the Communist Party of India-Marxist said the government moves came at a time when the banks were burdened by humongous non-performing assets.

"Instead of pursing the corporates not returning the loans they have taken from the banks..., the government has virtually pardoned the loan defaulters," it said.

It said that in the last three years, the Modi government had written off corporate loans to the tune of Rs 2 lakh crore.

"This mega concession for the corporates is now being met through public funding of this recapitalization. This is tantamount to the Indian people bailing out the banks that are being looted by the corporates," the CPI-M said.

"There cannot be any worse expression of crony capitalism than this.

"While loan waivers for the farmers committing suicides due to agrarian distress is refused, the corporates are being encouraged to run away with the loans that they have taken from the monies deposited in banks by crores of Indians."

The CPI-M challenged the logic advanced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that recapitalization would allow the banks to give further loans to the corporates, leading to higher investments and more employment and economic growth.

"This is a flawed logic. Increase in investments per se cannot increase employment and growth rates. What is produced through these investments has to be sold for this to happen.

"In a world of shrinking trade, with Indian exports registering a 20-year rock bottom and the significantly reduced purchasing power in the hands of the Indian people, thanks to demonetization and GST, has drastically shrinking domestic demand, the Finance Minister's logic is simply unrealisable."

The CPI-M asked the government to immediately confiscate the properties of the corporates "who are defaulting on returning their loans. The people cannot be asked to pay to protect corporate loot of public money".

--IANS

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Rome, Oct 25 (IANS/AKI) Nations must manage migratory flows in a legal and organised way as they are caused by conflict, climate-induced catastrophes and other threats and can't be "turned off" like a tap, Italy's Premier Paolo Gentiloni said.

"The theme of refugees is one that runs the risk of creating the most social tensions in our democracies," Gentiloni said during a visit to the northeast Veneto region.

"It's a subject that we have to get to used to dealing with, because the problem is not fooling ourselves that we will not have migrants and refugees in future.

"The challenge is organising and regulating these flows and making them manageable and compatible with our social systems rather than the preserve of people traffickers," Gentiloni continued.

"The problem is not deluding ourselves that these flows are like a tap that can be turned off.

"The fact is that we are surrounded by wars, tensions, climate-related catastrophes and threats of various kinds."

--IANS/AKI

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The Spanish Senate has offered Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont a chance to debate with them over the application of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution.

This would see him and his government sacked and the control of key Catalan institutions handed over to the central government.

The Senate is expected to approve the application of the article on Friday after it was passed by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's cabinet Saturday last week, Xinhua news agency reported.

However, it has been mooted in recent days that Puigdemont could travel to Madrid in a bid to avert this happening.

Speaking to Spanish media, the deputy leader of the Senate, Pedro Sanz, said it would "be an honour to have the President of the Generalitat (Catalan government) here to be able to participate in the debate."

Sanz added that the Senate's role was "not to oblige the (Spanish) government to act, but to give permission for measures to be applied."

Meanwhile, Rajoy's People's Party commented that if he does go to the Senate, Puigdemont should do so on Thursday or Friday, saying they have been "generous" with the offer of two dates.

Shortly after Sanz's comments, the spokesman for the Catalan government, Jordi Turul, said that Puigdemont's idea "was to go to the Senate, but they are making it harder for us all of the time."

He said this in reference to the debate in the Senate over Article 155 which will start on Thursday and could continue until Friday, while the Catalan Parliament will also hold a session on Thursday in which Puigdemont may or may not make a unilateral declaration of independence.

It is also possible that Puigdemont could use that session to call regional elections in the hope of avoiding the application of Article 155.

--IANS

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Actor Colin Farrell says he adopted a business-like approach while shooting sex scenes with actress Nicole Kidman in "The Killing of a Sacred Deer".

"I think from the minute (Colin and I) met, I just felt safe, which is always a great place to be with another actor," etonline.com quoted Kidman as saying.

Farrell agreed, and stressed that at the end of the day, it's all just a part of the job.

"You get through (those scenes) as quickly as you can, while not rushing it at the same time. It's very much business," Farrell said.

"You're there to tell a story. You're there to honour the characters that have been written by somebody else and whose voice you are now beginning to adapt to yourself. You hear, 'Cut,' and everyone looks away, and you make sure that the person you're working with has cover," he added.

Kidman, who plays Farrell's wife in the film, added that those particular scenes are often essential to telling a good story.

--IANS

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday urged police personnel not to attack families of militants.

Speaking at the passing out parade of recruits at the police training centre in Ganderbal district, Mehbooba Mufti said: "Do not attack families of militants just because they (militants) attack families of policemen. You must maintain the difference."

She said policemen were facing many difficulties in the discharge of their duties, but they had set an example of discipline and sacrifice.

The Chief Minister said efforts must be taken to ensure surrender of local militants who had joined militancy for one or the other reason.

The comments followed reports that houses of some militants had been ransacked by security forces in south Kashmir areas.

--IANS

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An international literary prize awarded annually to writers of any ethnicity or nationality writing about South Asian themes, the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature has grown into one of the most coveted literary awards since its inception in 2011. But when the prize moved out of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) in 2015, many in literary circles thought that its end was nigh. The idea, according to DSC's founder Surina Narula, was simple -- to move beyond borders.

"The Jaipur Literature Festival was a baby when we funded it, and it was fine then; but once the festival started finding its feet, there was no stop to it. It became bigger and bigger with every passing year and everything else got lost in it. The DSC prize was getting lost in the Jaipur Literature Festival.

"It was one of the small things happening there. We wanted it to have more visibility and be noticed by writers and people in a more prominent way. We wanted to move beyond borders and take the award to all of the countries in South Asia about which it is," Narula told IANS in an interview.

Today the $25,000 prize has now grown into something much larger than perhaps what it even set out to be. Apart from receiving numerous nominations from all leading publishing houses, the previous awardees proudly mention the award on their book covers and the announcement of its long lists and short lists receive huge media coverage.

Narula also said that the much-coveted prize shares the same idea that we associate with literature -- that it is boundary-less.

"What does reading do? It helps you understand one another. So our intention is to enhance the understanding about the region among people. We are moving beyond borders and trying to spread the word about the region among people," she said.

And why not, if you look at how the festival is travelling across South Asia, from India to Sri Lanka and now from Sri Lanka to Bangladesh. So what is the difference that Narula sees when the prize is awarded in a different country every year?

"There is a lot more excitement about the prize now. The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka presented the prize to the winner last year. This shows how well it has been able to make a place for itself in the minds of people. What more excitement can there be? The Prime Minister said that what the DSC Prize is doing for the region, SAARC has not been able to do. This prize also enhances the festival in which it is given. The festival in Dhaka or Sri Lanka also gets a boost," Narula maintained.

Indo-Australian writer Aravind Adiga, winner of the Man Booker Prize 2008, has been shortlisted along with four other writers for the this year's prize, which will be announced at the Dhaka Literature Festival in November.

"There has already been a lot of anticipation for this year's prize. I think the writing community in Bangladesh is very excited and receptive to the prize. And because the prize is about South Asia, it is very crucial to take it to each of these countries that together form the region.

"You cannot measure the impact of anything that is philanthropic in nature... for me, personally, it has been a great learning experience. I have interacted with the jury members, I have discovered such powerful novels about the region; it has enhanced me both as a person and as somebody who is involved in philanthropy," Narula said.

Narula is also the President and co-founder of the Consortium for Street Children (CSC) -- a network of over 65 UK-based development agencies -- and has previously been its Co-Chair and Trustee.

Reflecting on the initial days of the prize, Narula said that the idea was born after the DSC began sponsoring JLF.

"In the second or third year itself, we realised that there is no prize for South Asian literature. And I was sort of getting to understand what this region's literature is. We have all grown up in English medium schools but reading South Asian literature brought me a lot closer to understanding the region's social and cultural realities. How similar are our eight countries! There is something that binds us together. So the idea to institute this prize came about after a lot of discussion," she recalled.

Narula added that the award is "more unbiased" when it is given by a non-state actor.

"There is no politics involved and the jury is very unbiased. The Sahitya Akademi may have its limitations, because it is ultimately given by the government. So I think the award is more interesting because it goes to anybody of any ethnicity from the South Asian region; the only deciding factor is the potential of their craft," she said.

So will the prize return to Jaipur any time in future?

"Why not? (JLF co-director) Namita Gokhale is a very dear friend of mine; I also work with street children; so (JLF producer) Sanjoy Roy is another close friend," she said.

(Saket Suman can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in)

--IANS

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Four students of the Jamia Millia Islamia were booked after they assaulted a student for celebrating Diwali festival on the campus, police said on Wednesday.

Police said the accused have been identified as Ehteshamul Haq, Qazi Ammar Alam, Jawed Malik and Sahil Ahmed -- all students of law faculty. They were booked for voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful restraint and criminal act by several persons with common intention.

The incident occurred on October 12, when the victim, Ajay Kumar Jha, also a law student, was leaving for his home in west Delhi after attending a Freshers' Party, police said.

He was overpowered at the campus gate and assaulted by the four accused who were joined by three of their associates who were outsiders.

Jha, in his complaint, alleged that he along with other students celebrated Diwali at the main campus on October 12, which later became a topic of discussion in the institution.

In the evening, he was surrounded by seven youths who beat him up, the FIR said.

They punched his face for at least 15 minutes and dragged him until blood started oozing out of his ear. They also hurled religious abuses at him, it said.

"The attackers fled after a police vehicle reached the spot," the FIR said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Romil Baaniya said: "We have registered a case against the four students. Jha received internal injuries in the scuffle."

--IANS

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A court here on Wednesday sent Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin's son Syed Shahid, arrested in a six-year-old terror funding case, to NIA custody till November 1.

Shahid, 42, a Jammu and Kashmir government employee, was arrested here on Tuesday after he was called for questioning at the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters.

He was presented before District Judge Poonam Bamba, who during in-camera proceedings, allowed the NIA to quiz Shahid to uncover his terror links.

The NIA has sought the custody on the grounds that it needs to interrogate Shahid to unearth a criminal conspiracy of raising funds by terror organisation Hizbul Mujahideen and Shahid's role in it.

The agency told the court that Shahid was collecting funds from Aijaz Bhat, a Srinagar resident now based in Saudi Arabia and a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, on the direction of his father Salahuddin, who is on the run.

Shahid over the years has been receiving and collecting funds through international wire money transfer from Bhat, an NIA statement said.

The NIA said Shahid was one of Bhat's several contacts who were in telephonic touch "to receive the money transfer codes". The money was meant to fund Hizbul Mujahideen's militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

The NIA has seized Shahid's mobile phone and sent it to forensic lab for analysis, whose report is awaited.

Shahid, who lives with his family in Soibugh village of J&K's Budgam district, works as a village agricultural assistant in the state Agriculture Department. His contractual job was confirmed by the government in March this year.

The 2011 terror funding case pertains to terror money sent through hawala channels by militants based in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to Jammu and Kashmir.

The NIA had filed two chargesheets against six accused in the case in 2011. Four of them - Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, one of the closest aides of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Sidiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmad Dagga - are currently in Delhi's Tihar Jail.

Two of the accused, Mohammad Maqbool Pandit and Aijaz Bhat, are on the run and have been declared proclaimed offenders. Pandit, like Aijaz Bhat, has been an active Hizbul Mujahideen militant and is currently based in Pakistan.

Aijaz Bhat, according to NIA records, received arms training with the Hizbul Mujahideen in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in early 1990s.

He never returned to Srinagar and began working for the militant group in Pakistan. He is said to have stayed in Sialkot before shifting to Saudi Arabia for generating funds for the group's activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

An NIA official said the agency, through phone records, found that he was in touch with Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, a Srinagar-based lawyer, in 2011.

According to NIA, the lawyer separatist had procured over Rs 4.50 crore from Pakistan through hawala channels within three years after 2008 for funding militant activities in the Kashmir Valley.

Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, Ganai, Liloo and Dagga were arrested on January 22, 2011 and Rs 21.20 lakh were recovered from them.

After their arrest, Aijaz Bhat used to send money to Shahid. The Hizbul founder's son, according to an NIA official, received at least four instalments of money in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Shahid is the third son of Salahuddin, who also heads the United Jehad Council, the amalgam of Kashmir militant groups based in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan.

Salahuddin unsuccessfully fought the 1987 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. He then crossed over to Pakistan and founded the Hizbul Mujahideen -- the largest militant group in Jammu and Kasmir. Salahuddin has five sons and two daughters, who are all employed with the state government.

Shahid's arrest -- it is the first time any member of Salahuddin's family has been arrested -- comes a day after Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced the decision to start a dialogue process in Jammu and Kashmir and named former Intelligence Bureau Director Dineshwar Sharma to talk to all stakeholders.

--IANS

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The two-day nationwide strike by IDBI Bank officers and other staff ended on Wednesday, with a union leader dubbing it a "resounding success" and a senior bank official terming it a "total failure".

The unions of both IDBI Bank officers and staff went on a strike on Tuesday and Wednesday in support of their demands.

"The employees' response to the strike call was great. A majority of employees participated. Normally, in a day, around 250,000 transactions are done by all branches of IDBI Bank. This number was drastically affected due to the strike," Vithal Koteswara Rao A.V., General Secretary of the All India IDBI Officers Association (AIIDBIOA) told IANS.

The bank has 1,926 branches and around 17,000 employees, including officers and other staff.

According to Rao, only a small number of employees did not participate in the strike.

Wage revision for IDBI Bank staff from November 1, 2012, to October 31, 2017, is due on the lines of similar settlements in all other banks.

In the case of all other banks, not only has wage revision been settled in May 2015 with effect from November 2012, but also negotiations for the next wage revision due from November 1, 2017, are underway.

"Out of the 1,926 branches, 1,330 were operational during the strike. Banking transactions at those branches were not affected. Cheque clearance was also not affected," IDBI Bank Executive Director G.A. Tadas told IANS.

He said going by the number of branches functioning for two days, the strike was a failure.

However, he was unable to tell the number of transactions carried ou during the strike period compared with normal working days.

Tadas said the management was open to negotiations with the unions to settle the wage issue.

--IANS

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Accusing the Modi government of pursuing "anti-people policies", Forward Bloc General Secretary Debrata Biswas on Wednesday said the Centre had been appointing its "own people" in crucial institutions.

"The independent character of Reserve bank of India (RBI), the Election Commission and other agencies is at stake. In fact, they have lost their independent character," he said.

"The RSS-controlled BJP-led government is appointing its own people. The appointments at the top positions in crucial institutions like the RBI, the Election Commission and others are political appointments," he said.

Speaking on the row over the appointment of Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as the Special Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), he said: "How was he appointed when the Central Vigilance Commission's Selection Committee rejected the proposal for the promotion of CBI Additional Director (Rakesh) Asthana for the post of Special Director?"

Biswas also criticized demonetisation and the hasty implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

"The disastrous demonetisation and speedy implementation of neo-liberal GST have created grave catastrophe in agriculture, small and medium enterprises, trade and services," he said.

"The government's policies are anti-people and pro-corporate," he said after the party's two-day Central Committee meet here.

Biswas also condemned the Centre for its stand on Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar following a military crackdown there.

--IANS

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Rome, Oct 25 (IANS/AKI) Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano has urged European and southern Mediterranean countries to cooperate with Italy to prevent jihadist foreign fighters entering the country from Syria and Iraq aboard migrant boats.

"Cooperation with other countries, including in the Mediterranean, is needed precisely to exchange the information needed for prevention," Alfano said in Palermo on the sidelines of an international conference on migration and related security issues.

There have been foreign fighters who have passed through or lived in Italy, although far fewer such cases have come to light here than in countries, Alfano said.

"However, as we know, you only need one individual to carry out a very serious attack. So the level of attention in this area remains very high," he said.

Alfano was in Palermo on Tuesday for a two-day meeting attended by representatives of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's 57 member-states and its six Mediterranean partners.

OCSE's Mediterranean partners are Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia.

--IANS/AKI

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Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday slammed the Narendra Modi-led central government, terming it an "NPA" (non-performing asset).

He said the common man was fed up with the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), that has badly hit the Indian economy.

"Now the people are telling the BJP that your government is going," the former Haryana Chief Minister, who was here to campaign for the party, told reporters.

Hooda said the people would give a befitting reply to the BJP in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat elections.

He blamed GST and demonetisation for taking away a huge number of jobs, saying over one lakh people lost jobs in Haryana's industrial hub of Faridabad alone.

Taking a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party for not declaring their Chief Ministerial candidate, Hooda asked: "Is a party leader from the Central Government going to become the Chief Minister here."

He also slammed the Modi government for not implementing the M.S. Swaminathan panel report to resolve crisis of the farmers despite its election promise.

--IANS

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday greeted people on the occasion of 'Chhath Puja', a festival celebrated in parts of the country on the sixth day after Diwali.

"Greetings to everyone on Chhath Puja," the Prime Minister tweeted.

Sonia Gandhi, in a statement, extended her wishes on the occasion and "hoped that it would once again bring happiness and prosperity to the lives of the people of the nation".

The Puja is dedicated to the Sun God and his wife Usha to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth and to request granting of wishes.

Rituals of the festival are rigorous and are observed over a period of four days.

They include holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (barta), standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prashad (prayer offerings) and arghya to the setting and rising sun.

Some devotees also perform a prostration march as they head for the river banks.

It is one of the most popular festivals in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

--IANS

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Morocco's King Mohammed VI has dismissed several senior officials, including the Ministers of Education and Health, for their "negligence in the exercise of responsibility" that led to delay in development projects in the northeastern city of Al Hoceima.

The sacking on Tuesday came after the King received the report on the Al Hoceima projects "Manarat Almotawassit" from the First president of the Court of Auditors.

The Court of Auditors' report said that its probe confirmed "several dysfunctions" recorded under the previous government in carrying out the projects. It also said that several ministerial departments and public institutions did not honour their commitments in implementation of the projects and their explanations did not justify the delay in implementing the developmental projects, MAP reported.

The report noted great delay in launching the projects, and that a vast majority of them had not yet been launched.

The King, "taking into account the degree of negligence in the exercise of responsibility", "decided a set of measures and sanctions against several ministers and senior officials".

The Ministers sacked are: Mohamed Hassad, Minister of National Education, former Minister of the Interior in the government of former head of government Abdelilah Benkirane; El Houssaine El Ouardi, Minister of Health under the governments of Saad Eddine El Othmani and Abdelilah Benkirane; Mohamed Nabil Benabdellah, Minister of Housing under Saad Eddine El Othmani and Abdelilah Benkirane; Larbi Benckheikh, Secretary of State in charge of vocational training, who previously held the position of Director General of the OFPPT.

The King has also dismissed Ali Fassi Fihri, director general of the National Office of Water and Electricity.

He also reprimanded five former ministers incriminated by the report: Rachid Belmokhtar, former Minister of National Education, Lahcen Haddad, former Minister of Tourism, Lahcen Sekkouri, former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Amine Sbihi, former Minister of Education and Culture, and Hakima El Haite, former Secretary of State in charge of the environment, according to Morocco World News.

The King also instructed the Head of the government to submit proposals for appointing new officials in the vacant posts.

In 2015, Morocco launched Lighthouse of the Mediterranean, a large-scale development program in the northeastern province of Al Hoceima, but many of its projects have been marred by delays.

--IANS

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A newborn baby boy, who was abducted by a woman from the government-run Niloufer Hospital here on Sunday, has died, police said on Wednesday.

The woman, who had abducted the baby after diverting his grandmother's attention, took him to Bandarupalli village in Nagarkurnool district.

Police suspect the baby died of illness the same day. Police arrested K. Manjula, who identified the place where the baby was buried.

Manjula, who married three years ago, had two miscarriages. She concealed the recent miscarriage from her husband and came to Hyderabad to steal a baby so that she could go back and claim it to be hers.

According to police, the accused befriended one Nirmala, who had delivered a baby boy at state-run Petlaburj Maternity Hospital here.

When Nirmala's mother Kalpana took the baby to Niloufer Hospital for treatment, she accompanied them.

At Niloufer, Manjula asked Kalpana to have tea but when the latter returned she had disappeared with the child. Kalpana lodged a complaint with the police.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Joel Davis said the special teams formed to crack the case identified the kidnapped with the help of CCTV footage.

She boarded an auto-rickshaw near the hospital to reach Afzalgunj bus station. The investigation revealed that she left for Nagakurnool district.

Meanwhile, the deceased child's father was in shock. The mother, who is still in Petlaburj Hospital, has not been informed of the child's death.

Police said the body would be exhumed for autopsy.

--IANS

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The NIA is likely to issue summons to Shelly Sumi, wife of Niki Sumi, the "General" of the Myanmar-based National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang, and others over a case of terror funding in Nagaland, an official said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, officials of the National Investigation Agency seized Rs 27.90 lakh from the houses of Shelly, Ikheli Yeptho, Shutoli and Hozheli at Naharbari Basti in Dimapur, the main commercial town of Nagaland.

Twelve mobile phones, three laptops, a hard disk and 33 documents were also seized, it said.

The raids were part of its ongoing case against them for extorting people and sending the money to Myanmar to fund the activities of the NSCN-K, which is still at war with the Indian state.

Niki Sumi, chief of military operations of the NSCN-K, was named by New Delhi as the key figure in the June 4, 2015 attack which killed 18 soldiers, along with the NSCN-K's Starson Lamkang and 'Major General' Neymlang.

"So far, we have not arrested anyone. Summons will be issued to Shelly and her associates," a top NIA official told IANS on condition of anonymiy.

Various intelligence agencies have been keeping a close watch on the movement and activities of Shelly and her associates in Nagaland and Manipur.

"The government wants to know the source of the money... No one is above the law," he said.

NIA officials said the seized money was suspected to have been extorted from the public or government servants and meant for sending to the NSCN-K camps in Myanmar to fund activities "prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India".

In April, Shelly and her associates were arrested by Assam Rifles with Rs 18.47 lakh at Karong in Manipur's Senapati district. Security agencies believed that the money was meant to be sent across to Mayanmar to fund the NSCN-K.

But the court granted bail to Shelly and others and the seized cash and articles were released to the accused. Later, the agency filed a case against her and others on the orders of the Home Ministry.

The NSCN-K abrogated the ceasefire signed with the Indian government in 2001 in March 2015, just a month before the truce was up for renewal.

Subsequently, Khaplang's rebels went on a killing spree, attacking Indian soldiers in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.

--IANS

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Male killer whales who remain socially isolated are three times more likely to die in hard times than those in the centre of their social group, researchers warn.

The findings showed that the effect was much stronger in years where food was scarce, and it did not affect females possibly because males are larger and need more support from the group to get enough food.

Killer whales are highly cooperative, and males at the centre of a social group are likely to have better access to social information and food-sharing opportunities, the researchers said.

"A central social position meant whales either having many individual connections or being the connection between two or more groups," said Darren Croft, Professor at the University of Exeter in the UK.

"This research highlights the importance of social bonds to male killer whales, and shows that males that are less socially connected are more likely to die when times are hard," said lead author Samuel Ellis from the University of Exeter in the UK.

For the study, the team examined Southern Resident killer whales -- a critically endangered population in the Pacific Ocean.

Human activity is now posing much greater threats to their survival, according to Ken Balcomb from the Center for Whale Research -- a Washington-based non-profit.

"Salmon is the main food for these whales, and stocks have been driven down by overfishing and the blocking of spawning grounds by damming rivers," Balcomb said.

Previous research has shown sociability has an effect on human life expectancy, but this is the first study to show that social position across the lifespan can predict survival in non-human animals.

"By seeing which whales regularly swam together across a year and across multiple years, we started to understand a network of what in humans we would call friendships," the researchers stated.

--IANS

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Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said the government is ready to talk to every section of Kashmir to normalise the situation there and to go ahead with the political process.

"We are ready to talk to everyone in Jammu and Kashmir. If some section is not ready to talk, we can talk to students, traders, traders associations, any political leader and Kashmiri people," he told the media.

Jaitley said Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that the Centre is ready to talk to whoever wants to talk in Jammu and Kashmir. "This is a good thing. It will push the political process ahead," he said.

Welcoming the initiative, Jaitley said: "There is a proper intelligence network in Jammu and Kashmir in the last three years and Hurriyat has been exposed before Kashmiris for the first time."

"After establishment of the intelligence network, Jammu and Kashmir Police and security agencies have been heavily dominating for the first time, and the result is that the terrorists are on the run."

Asked if the government will talk to Pakistan, Jaitley said: "It is another matter. Pakistan will have to create the situation for the talks, and the people of Kashmir will not have to worry about this. The Home Ministry is talking to its people."

He said the UPA government had no policy on Kashmir. They were just providing "band aid" support to the violence-hit state from time to time, Jaitley said.

"The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government had no policy on Kashmir. When there was no policy, it was said that silent or invisible dialogue was going on. There was no silent or invisible dialogue, it was non-existent (dialogue)," Jaitley told media.

The Finance Minister also raised questions on the UPA government's Working Group to deal with the problems of people in Jammu and Kashmir.

"It was completely a myth that the UPA government had set up a working group. There was a working group on Centre-State relationship. I was a member of the group. No meeting was held of that group. Only a report was handed over to the central government. I don't know who wrote the report.

"That time, I wrote a letter to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking him that there is no report of the working group. I am one of the members of that group but I hadn't seen any such report," Jaitley said.

The Minister accused the previous Congress-led UPA government of not taking the Jammu and Kashmir problem seriously or thinking about a permanent solution for the state.

"Thousands of protests would occur that time but the UPA government's policy was just to put band aid over the problems from time to time."

--IANS

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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is presently on a visit to the US, has said that roads in his home state are better than those in America.

"When I took the road route after landing at the airport in Washington then I felt that the roads in Madhya Pradesh are far better than those in America," he said in a tweet which went viral on social media.

Chouhan is participating in various programmes in the US during his visit.

The Chief Minister, who threw light on the policies aimed at promoting tourism in Madhya Pradesh, also invited investors to his state.

He also spoke about the philosophy of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay at an event organised on Tuesday by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) and the Indian Embassy at Russel Senate Caucus Room in Washington DC.

Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu member of the US Congress elected from Hawaii, met Chouhan in Washington during which the two held discussions on a range of issues.

Gabbard during the discussion said that public service is the biggest religion in political life. The Chief Minister on his part briefed her about the rapid development in Madhya Pradesh.

Gabbard, the youngest member to be elected in 2002 to the state legislature at the age of 21, had taken her oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita.

--IANS

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Russia on Tuesday vetoed a Security Council draft resolution that would have renewed for an additional year the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) of the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Among the 15 members of the Security Council, 11 voted in favour, two voted against, and two abstained, Xinhua news agency reported.

As Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council, its "no" vote means that the resolution was rejected. Bolivia also voted against the draft resolution.

Prior to the vote, Russian ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia proposed a postponement, arguing that the extension of JIM's mandate should be discussed after the publication of the JIM report, which is only two days away.

Russia's proposal was put to vote and was rejected by the Security Council 8-4, with three abstentions.

The JIM mandate expires on November 17.

--IANS

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The Russian Federation Council on Wednesday called for saving a multilateral deal on Iranian nuclear activities as US President Donald Trump has threatened to abandon it.

"The Federation Council appeals to members of US Congress with an urgent request to use all possible resources to prevent the emergence of this extremely dangerous situation," Xinhua cited a statement as saying.

The council also called on the parliaments of Germany, France, China, Britain and the European Union to use their great influence on the political leadership of their states to preserve the historic agreement.

Russian senators believe that the collapse of the deal would irreparably damage efforts to maintain the nuclear non-proliferation regime and hinder the settlement of similar nuclear problems.

There are no grounds for curtailing cooperation with Iran on the nuclear issue, said the statement.

The Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was reached between Iran, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the US -- plus Germany, in July 2015.

Under the deal, Iran agreed to halt its nuclear weapons programme in exchange for economic aid and lifting of international sanctions.

--IANS

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The ongoing feud between Senator Bob Corker and Donald Trump exploded into public after the former accused the US President of "debasing" the country and if given the opportunity again, he would not support him again.

Trump attended a lunch at the Capitol Hill with lawmakers to unify Republicans to rally around tax reform, but the war of words between Trump and Corker overshadowed the meeting.

According to CNN, the President had earlier accused Corker, who is retiring, of blocking his party's efforts on tax cuts.

Corker said he "would not do that again (back Trump's presidential campaign)."

He also said Trump has "great difficulty with the truth" and that "debasing" the US would be his prime legacy as President, adding that Trump has "proven himself unable to rise to the occasion."

"I think many of us, me included, have tried to, you know, intervene, and I have had a private dinner and have been with him on multiple occasions to try and create some kind of aspirational approach, if you will, to the way that he conducts himself," Corker was quoted as saying.

"I don't think that that's possible. He's obviously not going to rise to the occasion as president."

Asked if he thought the President was a role model for children, Corker, the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, said, "No, absolutely not."

"I think the things that are happening right now that are harmful to our nation, whether it's the breaking down of -- we are going to be doing hearings on some of the things that he purposely is breaking down -- relationships we have around the world that have been useful to our nation," he said.

"But I think at the end of the day, when his term is over, I think the debasing of our nation, the constant non-truth telling, just the name-calling ... I think the debasement of our nation will be what he'll be remembered most for, and that's regretful."

After the interview, Trump on Twitter called Corker "the incompetent head of the foreign relations committee", to which Corker replied saying "everybody sees through" Trump's "bullying."

Trump also tweeted, "Bob Corker, who helped President O give us the bad Iran Deal & couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee, is now fighting Tax Cuts.... Corker dropped out of the race in Tennesse when I refused to endorse him, and now is only negative on anything Trump. Look at his record!"

After half an hour later, Corker respoded, "Same untruths from an utterly untruthful president. #AlertTheDaycareStaff".

--IANS

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Space travel causes an increase in the process of turning genes on and off, leading to massive changes in their expression, preliminary results from NASA's twin study have shown.

"Some of the most exciting things that we've seen from looking at gene expression in space is that we really see an explosion, like fireworks taking off, as soon as the human body gets into space," principal investigator Chris Mason of Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York.

"With this study, we've seen thousands and thousands of genes change how they are turned on and turned off. This happens as soon as an astronaut gets into space, and some of the activity persists temporarily upon return to Earth," Mason said in a statement released by NASA.

When retired twin astronaut Scott Kelly returned to Earth in March 2016, the "Twins Study" research intensified with investigators collecting samples from him and his twin brother, retired astronaut Mark Kelly.

The researchers began combining the data and reviewing the enormous amount of information looking for correlations.

"This study represents one of the most comprehensive views of human biology," Mason said.

"It really sets the bedrock for understanding molecular risks for space travel as well as ways to potentially protect and fix those genetic changes," Mason added.

Final results for the study are expected to be published in 2018, NASA said.

--IANS

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Most government offices in Manipur were crippled on Wednesday as employees took mass Casual Leave protesting against the inordinate delay in implementing the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.

Police arrested five employees for protesting at the Old Secretariat. The mass leave was organised by the Manipur Government Services Federation.

L. Purujit, General Secretary of the Federation, said: "Though other states had implemented the recommendations one-and-a-half years ago, the Manipur government is still fumbling. The BJP had promised before the elections that if voted to power, the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission will be implemented."

But the Joint Administrative Council of two trade unions said they did not join the mass agitation. Directors of some departments claimed normal attendance.

Deputy Chief Minister Y. Joykumar said: "The government can't pay the salaries as recommended by the 7th Pay Commission since it would involve over Rs 1,200 crore."

The Manipur government has some 84,000 employees.

--IANS

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday met US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who is on his first visit to India in his official capacity.

"Strengthening strategic partnership. EAM @SushmaSwaraj welcomes US Secretary of State Tillerson, his first India visit as Secretary of State," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The meeting assumes significance given Tillerson's remarks on boosting India-US ties ahead of his arrival here on Tuesday evening.

During an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Monday, Tillerson explained that the US approach was that the scope of its relationship with India was not confined to South Asia, but went beyond Pakistan's regional interests to a wider area stretching across the Indian and Pacific Oceans and having global implications.

"Our view of the relationship with India is one that's of strategic importance not just for this specific region, but in the context of that speech it was about a free and open Indo-Pacific region stretching all the way to - from Japan to India," Tillerson said. "So it's a broader relationship."

Last week, in an address on 'Defining Our Relationship with India for the Next Century' at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC, he made clear Washingtons position on key geopolitical and strategic matters pertaining to the Indo-Pacific and South Asian regions, saying the "Trump administration is determined to dramatically deepen ways for the United States and India" to further their strategic partnership that is heading for "strategic convergence" and put China and Pakistan on notice that it intended to "do what is needed" to support India.

While asserting that China's "provocative actions" went against the international law and norms that the US and India stood for, he made it clear that Washington expected Pakistan to take "decisive action" against terrorist groups operating within its territory.

On Tuesday, during a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in Islamabad, Tillerson reiterated US President Donald Trump's message that Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country.

--IANS

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Although questions have been repeatedly raised over the 'shoot-on-sight' policy, wildlife and nature conservationist M.K. RanjithSinh Jhala believes bold action needs to be taken if wildlife is to be saved. He said he was in favour of the policy, though it could not be "openly implemented".

"Kaziranga is the classic example of this situation. There is almost a war going on inside the sanctuary between the poachers and the forest guards. The poachers are mostly heavily armed and because of the lucrative business it is difficult for them to resist poaching. But if you want to protect wildlife, you need to take some strict steps," RanjithSinh, 78, told IANS in an interview.

A former secretary of the government of India, RanjithSinh has been the pioneering figure in drafting of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. He also helped to established 14 new sanctuaries, eight new national parks, and doubled the area of three existing national parks while he was appointed as the secretary of forest and tourism in the Madhya Pradesh state government.

Controversy has surrounded the shoot-on-sight orders at Kaziranga where poachers have been allegedly killed in forest. British media house BBC was banned from India's tiger projects for five years for questioning such "protective" measures in the Kaziranga national park. Recently, the Director of Corbett National Park, Parag Madhukar Dhakate, was removed from the post for apparently extending support towards shoot-on-sight orders.

"Ivory, rhino horn, tiger and leopard skins and parts, pangolin, nilgai and deer horns, elephant tusks -- as long as there is a demand in the market, poaching will continue and (may lead to) extinction of such species. This has happened in Panna and Sariska," he said.

He served as the country's first director of wildlife preservation under the environment ministry from 1973 to 1975, a position that he later held for a second spell as well. He has recently written a book called "A Life with Wildlife".

While speaking about other dangers that might affect a large percentage of wildlife population, RanjitSinh mentioned the "Island Syndrome" -- a phenomenon where wildlife creatures are confided within a certain periphery.

"If animals are controlled within a territory, they will start fading out and gradually face extinction. Wildlife needs space and the area provided to them in India is getting reduced. You need to move human settlement to give a larger area to forest territory which is now no longer possible. And it is one of the major threats faced by wildlife in India," RanjithSinh said.

"The so called 'development at any cost' kind of mentality is extremely dangerous. From human settlement near the sanctuaries and to opening of industries, everything has been set up violating the rules. If diamond, coal or oil mining possibilities are found beneath the forest reserve, those areas (the reserves) will be wiped off," he added.

The former IAS officer highlighted that it is because of the fast vanishing act of reserve areas that there had been a significant decline in prey, which is forcing wildlife to cross the forest boundary in search for livestock, leading to man-animal conflict.

"I remember an incident where a snow leopard had entered a human settlement in Spiti and killed 45 out of 54 livestock of a farmer but hadn't eaten them. There is a limit to which the humans will take up the loss and will end up killing the animal," he noted.

But was the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 sufficient for tackling the situation?

"The act is still very much relevant today, but where is it being implemented? The govt will dilute it. Forget wildlife, the present governments do not want the environment factor to impede in any way and this hurts," he commented.

When asked about his experience with Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister in 1972, under whom the act was passed, RanjithSinh remembered that she instantly agreed to it.

"When I presented the copy, she turned around to me and immediately said 'yes'. She was very interested in environment and she had very good people to advice her. Not to forget, she was also the first environment minister," he said.

The former prime minister took the initiative to write to the states to hand over power to authorise or control wildlife parks and sanctuaries, he said. "Eighteen states gave her the power, even before they saw what it was. She had the vision towards environment which present- day politicians don't have" he added.

(Somrita Ghosh can be contacted at somrita.g@ians.in)

--IANS

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President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday praised Tipu Sultan saying he died a "historic death" fighting the British, days after a central Minister called the former Mysore ruler a "brutal killer and mass rapist".

"Tipu Sultan died a historic death fighting the British. He was also a pioneer in the development of Mysore rockets (iron-casted rockets for military use)," Kovind said addressing the legislators in the Karnataka Assembly at a joint session to mark the diamond jubilee (60th year) celebrations of Vidhan Soudha, the state legislative building.

Recalling the contributions of Karnataka's former rulers, politicians and scientists in the growth of the state and the country on the whole, the President spoke of Tipu Sultan, leading to loud applause from a majority of the legislators.

Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, has called Tipu a "brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist", ahead of the state's Tipu Jayanti celebrations to mark his birth anniversary on November 10. Hegde also asked the state government to drop his name from the official invites to the function.

However, the President's remarks in praise of Tipu Sultan did not go down well with the BJP.

The ruling Congress party had "forced" the President to speak on Tipu, alleged senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of the state K.S. Eshwarappa.

"The speech was a deliberate attempt by the Congress party to make the President praise Tipu Sultan," Eshwarappa told reporters after the joint session.

Karnataka Working President of the Congress Dinesh Gundu Rao said the BJP was only "insulting" the President by criticising his speech.

"They (BJP) are only insulting our country's President," Rao told media here.

The ruling Congress began celebrating Tipu's birth anniversary since 2015, which led to violent protests by right-wing organisations in the Mysore region and other parts of the state. The BJP in the state has been opposing the celebrations calling Tipu "anti-Hindu and anti-Kannada".

Known as the 'Tiger of Mysore', Tipu Sultan ruled the Mysore kingdom from 1782-1799 succeeding his father Haider Ali.

--IANS

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In a bid to increase transparency on its platform, Twitter has announced to publicly disclose all ads -- including political and issue-based ads -- and the identity of who bought them.

In the wake of Russia's alleged use of social media platforms to interfere with the 2016 US presidential election, two Democratic senators introduced last week the "Honest Ads Act", a bill which requires tech companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter to disclose political ads purchased on their platforms.

"In the coming weeks, we will launch an industry-leading transparency centre that will offer everyone visibility into who is advertising on Twitter, details behind those ads, and tools to share your feedback with us," Twitter posted late on Tuesday.

The transparency centre will show all ads that are currently running on Twitter, including "Promoted-Only" ads, how long ads have been running and ads targeted to you as well as personalised information on which ads you are eligible to receive based on targeting.

People can also report inappropriate ads or give negative feedback for every ad running on Twitter, whether the ad targets them or not.

"To make it clear when you are seeing or engaging with an electioneering ad, we will now require that electioneering advertisers identify their campaigns as such. We will also change the look and feel of these ads and include a visual political ad indicator," Twitter said.

Twitter has already turned over to the US Senate 201 profile names of accounts associated with alleged Russian effort to meddle in the presidential election last year.

The move came after critics said that the tech giant was not taking the congressional probe seriously enough.

Twitter was also criticised for reportedly deleting tweets and other user data useful to investigators looking into Moscow's suspected manipulation of the social media service during the 2016 election.

The Senate has invited Twitter, along with Facebook and Google, to a public hearing set for November 1.

"We will make new updates first in the US and then roll them out globally. We look forward to engaging with Members of Congress and other key stakeholders on these issues as the legislative process continues," Twitter posted.

--IANS

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Keeping the heat on Pakistan and with an eye on a rapidly-rising China, India and the US on Wednesday said that Islamabad should immediately take steps to finish the terror organisations and terrorist safe havens on its soil and also agreed to work together for security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Visiting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, addressing a press briefing, said both countries have agreed that President Donald Trump's new Afghanistan policy would be effective only if Pakistan takes action against terror groups on its soil.

"We discussed the issue of terrorism at length. This is a big threat for the whole world. We also discussed implementing President Trump's new Afghanistan and South Asia policy, so that it can achieve the desired results," Sushma Swaraj said.

"We expressed serious concerns over increasing terror attacks in Afghanistan. It proves even today there are elements that are providing safe havens and support to terrorists. We agreed that we need to together ensure that no country provides safe havens to terrorists," she said.

She said nations supporting terror should be held accountable.

"We also agreed that Pakistan should take steps immediately to finish the safe havens of terror organisations that are there on its soil. We believe President Trump's new policy can be successful only when Pakistan indiscriminately acts against all terror groups," she said.

Tillerson, who flew in from Pakistan where he bluntly told Islamabad that it must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country, said that India "plays an important role" in President Trump's new strategy for South Asia announced in August which redoubles the US' commitment to Afghanistan and peace and stability in the greater South Asian region.

"In the fight against terrorism, the United States will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with India. Terror safe havens will not be tolerated," he said.

The US' top diplomat said his country will continue to contribute to Indian capabilities to provide security throughout the region.

The US Secretary of State, who was in Afghanistan on Monday on an unannounced visit, also said the US acknowledges with gratitude India's "generous contributions" to the development of Afghanistan, including construction of the Afghan Parliament building.

Sushma Swaraj said that she and Tillerson also discussed the emerging security challenges and issues in the Indo-Pacific region.

"We discussed the importance of freedom of navigation, overflights and unhindered trade under international rules and norms for a sovereign and developed Indo-Pacific region," she stated.

Stating that US supports India's emergence as a leading power, Tillerson said the two countries will cooperate further in the Indo-Pacific region to promote rules-based commerce, in remarks apparently targetted at China over its growing belligerence in the South China Sea.

"We look forward to further cooperation in the broader Indo-Pacific region as we both promote a rules-based approach to commerce and a transparent and sustainable approach to economic development. We are glad to be joined in this effort by our close mutual partner Japan," he said.

His visit comes a week after he made a speech in Washington on the US wanting to "dramatically deepen" cooperation with India.

The issue of North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programme also came up and in reply to a question as to whether India was ready to cut off diplomatic ties with Pyongyang, Sushma Swaraj said that trade relations with that East Asian nation are at a minimum, but it is important to continue having an embassy in North Korea to keep communication channels open.

He also said the US was willing to provide New Delhi with advanced technologies for its military modernisation. "In this regard, we are willing and able to provide India advanced technologies for its military modernisation efforts. This includes ambitious offers from the American industry for F-16 and F-18 fighter planes."

Stating that trade between India and the US started in the 18th century, Tillerson said that both countries continue to benefit from the "strong economic bonds".

"The first shipment of American crude oil arrived in India at the beginning of this month marking the the first US oil exports to India in more than four decades," he said.

"Continued oil sales have the potential to boost bilateral trade by up to $2 billion per year. In fact, the US-India trade relationship, which reached $115 billion last year, touches many parts of the lives of both of our citizens."

Stating that US companies and their products were an everyday presence in the lives of Indians, Tillerson said that investments by Indian companies in the US were also growing "including a Mahindra vehicle plant that will open this month in Detroit, the first ever Indian automobile manufacturing plant in the United States".

Sushma Swaraj said that the issue of H1-B visas also came up and both sides "discussed the significant contributions to the US economy made by skilled Indian professionals holding H1-B and L1 visas".

"I have also sought cooperation from Tillerson to address the pending issues related to totalisation and urged him that the US should not do anything that will hurt Indian interests," she said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Expelled Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela's Jan Vikalp, set up as an informal front, has now acquired a dormant political party, All India Hindustan Congress (AIHC), to contest the Gujarat Assembly elections.

The AIHC is a political outfit registered with the Election Commission with a symbol of tractor.

Announcing this on Wednesday, Vaghela said: "This will be a third front alliance contesting against the major parties BJP and Congress. The Jan Vikalp doesn't have the time to get into procedural delays of registering a new party, so we are allying with the AIHC."

He added: "People are fed up with these two parties. Our third front will give them a better option."

Vaghela claimed that many dissatisfied political leaders from other political parties were in talks with him to join the AIHC. He said they include "two to three leaders" from the Aam Admi Party (AAP).

The veteran politician had engineered a split of sorts in the Congress with the resignations of six MLAs and eight others, including his son Mahendrasinh Vaghela, voted against party veteran Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha election in August.

But they could not defeat Patel after votes of two BJP candidates were disqualified.

--IANS

desai/mr/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The finance minister announced during a meeting telecast across the country on Thursday that the Centre would take up recapitalisation of a few public sector banks by infusing Rs 2.11 lakh crore, of which Rs 76,000 crore would be through budgetary support. In addition, the government would float public sector recapitalisaion bonds valued at Rs 1.35 lakh crore.
The Union government on Tuesday announced a plan to recapitalise struggling in order to break the vicious cycle of rising non-performing assets (NPAs) that are constraining fresh lending  Indias banking credit growth is at the lowest in 25 years  which, in turn, is holding back the revival of private investment. After being in denial for long, the government is finally trying to provide the necessary support to these banks, which account for 70 per cent of Indian banking, through a Rs 2.11-lakh-crore recapitalisation plan spread over two years. So there is merit in the enthusiastic welcome by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel of the plan. In a statement, Mr Patel said for the first time in the last decade India had a real chance that all the policy pieces of the jigsaw puzzle would be in place for a comprehensive and coherent, rather than piece-meal, strategy to address the banking sector challenges.
Gujarat assembly elections will be held in two phases for 182 seats on December 9 and 14 and results will be announced on December 18. Hence, from today, the model code of conduct has come into force, which bans the use of government machinery or announcements that can influence voters.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday attacked the Congress for its criticism of the Election Commission over delaying the announcement of the Gujarat Assembly election schedule, saying the poll panel cannot be browbeaten by political parties.

"Just recently over the Rajya Sabha polls, the Congress was singing praises of the Election Commission. Therefore, the Election Commission is not supposed to be browbeaten by a political party. The Election Commission is duty bound to act in accordance with law," Jaitley told reporters.

He said when two states are to go to polls around the same time, it is not necessary that both the states should be bound by the same schedule for enforcement of model code of conduct.

He said if a Congress-ruled state was bound by a longer period under the model code of conduct, it is not necessary that the BJP-ruled state should also be bound by it.

"The Election Commission is not bound by it."
President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday hailed Tipu Sultan, saying he died a heroic death fighting the British, remarks that came in the backdrop of protests by the BJP in Karnataka against the glorification of the 18th century Mysore ruler.

The remarks by the President in his address to the joint session of Karnataka legislature amid the raging debate on Tipu Sultans legacy sparked a war of words between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP. The saffron party has opposed the Congress government's plans for 'Tipu Jayanti' celebrations on his birth anniversary on November 10.

The BJP alleged that the state government has "misused" the office of the President by getting Tipu's name mentioned in the speech while the Congress said the opposition party should be "ashamed" for levelling this charge.

The celebrations have been opposed tooth and nail by the BJP which sees as a "religious bigot" and a "brutal killer".

" died a heroic death fighting the British. He was also a pioneer in the development and use of Mysore rockets in warfare. This technology was later adopted by the Europeans," Kovind said while noting that Karnataka is a land of formidable soldiers.

The President's reference to came after he noted the contributions of various historical figures of Karnataka, including Krishnadevaraya who was the emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1509 to 1529.

As the President made the reference about Tipu Sultan in his speech to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature, Congress members cheered by thumping of the desks.

"Congratulations to Hon. President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind for a statesman like address to the Karnataka legislature. @rashtrapatibhvn," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tweeted on his personal twitter handle @siddaramaiah.

Congratulations to Hon. President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind for a statesman like address to the Karnataka legislature. @rashtrapatibhvn  Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) October 25, 2017

Tipu was a ruler of the erstwhile kingdom of Mysore, who was considered an implacable enemy of the British East India Company. He was killed in May 1799 while defending his fort of Srirangapatna against the British forces.

Opposition BJP and some outfits are opposed to Tipu Jayanti celebrations and have called him "religious bigot", "fanatic" and "anti-Kannada".

Tipu Sultan is also viewed in a negative light in Kodagu district where he is alleged to have persecuted the local Kodava population, as also the Roman Catholics of Mangaluru, on religious grounds and forced conversion to Islam.

Hitting out at the state government, Opposition BJP Leader in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa alleged that government has "misused" the office of the President by getting Tipu's name mentioned in the speech.

"I condemn it....it is an insult done to people of Karnataka by the state government. If we had raised objections when President mentioned Tipu, it would have lead to violation of protocol...," he added.

Reacting to the allegations, state Congress Working President Dinesh Gundu Rao said BJP should be "ashamed."



He said "by trying to say that president has just read out a speech written by somebody, they are insulting the office of the President and the President."



Suggesting that the speech was prepared by the President's office after collecting inputs from various sources, Rao said, "...such allegations shows the state of mind the BJP leaders are in."



Recently, Union minister Anantkumar Hegde kicked up a row after he requested the Karnataka government not to include his name in programme invitations for Tipu Jayanti celebrations.

"(I have) conveyed (to) Karnataka government not to invite me to shameful event of glorifying a person known as brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist," Hegde had said in a tweet.

The Congress government is all set to celebrate 'Tipu Jayanti' despite widespread protests and violence that had marred celebrations in the last two years.
The Congress today dubbed as a "crude joke" with the people the BJP's plan to observe November 8 as "anti-blackmoney day" and alleged that it is an attempt to divert public attention from the government's "failures" and "betrayal".

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also took a swipe at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over a PIB tweet in which the government claimed that the "real GDP growth average is 7.5 per cent in last 3 years".

"Dear Mr Jaitley, May the Farce be with you," Gandhi tweeted.

Congress' senior spokesperson Anand Sharma hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded that he introspect, apologise to the nation and demit office for his "reckless decision".

Sharma, flanked by Congress communications incharge Randeep Surjewala, accused Modi and Jaitley of showing "arrogance" by not admitting their "mistakes" of noteban decision and GST implementation which, he alleged, hit the country's economy hard and halted its growth story.

"This is a crude joke with the people of India," Sharma said in a retort to BJP's plan to mark November 8 as anti-blackmoney day.

He said over 99 per cent of the money the prime minister had junked has returned to banks as it was genuine money of the people and not black money and only 0.0013 per cent of black money has been found.

"Where is the issue of having this national celebration. It would be apt if they observed it as anti-people BJP policies day," he told reporters.

"It is nothing but a smokescreen and a myth to mislead and confuse the people," he said.

Sharma accused the prime minister of "destroying" the country's economy and the growth story that was initiated by the Congress-led UPA.

"If morality is still a virtue in Indias polity, then it is time for Prime Minister Modi to introspect and demit the office he holds," Sharma and Surjewala said.

They said Modi should order an immediate investigation "into the demonetisation scam as also the loss to economy".

"The PM remains in arrogant denial of the hardship inflicted on people of country by his reckless decision," Sharma said.

He accused Jaitley of making a "desperate" attempt to save the BJP as the "ground is slipping from beneath" its feet.

Taking a dig at BJP chief Amit Shah, Sharma asked whether Amit Shah's son Jay Shah would find a place in this celebration.

"'Modinomics' and 'Jaitleynomics' have destroyed Indias economic growth story," he alleged.

He claimed jobs are in peril, exports are falling, GDP is on a downward spiral, NPA's have touched a whopping Rs 9 lakh crore and credit growth is at a 63-year



"The BJP is so drunk with power that it wants to celebrate the 'Demon of Demonetisation'," the joint statement said.

The two Congress leaders said that a h=government that came to power on the promise of bringing black money of Rs 80 lakh crore and "depositing Rs 15 lakh in every Indians account" stands exposed.

Sharma accused Jaitley of giving people an untrue picture on the state of the country's economy and alleged the government lacked a plan to put the economy on back on track.

The Modi government had "hurt" the economy and "put it in the ICU".

"What has been said about the economy is not true...It is wrong to say that the country's economic fundamentals are strong. The finance minister claiming that India's economy is the world's fastest growing is incorrect and factually wrong," Sharma told reporters, adding that China was five times bigger economy which was growing faster than India's.

He said the government had now realised the "bad condition" of the economy and has woken up to the situation by announcing a financial package.

Surjewala said the truth is that the biggest increase in digital transactions happened during the Congress rule, when it rose by 53 and 49 per cent during 2012 to 2013 and 2013-14.

He also said that against Rs 1,01,183 crore blackmoney unearthed during 2013-14, only Rs 29,211 crore was unearthed during 2016-17 and a total Rs 17,526 crore detected as undisclosed income' during the current year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) today sought 28 acres of land from the district administration to expand the local airport.

AAI Chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra held a meeting with the officials of district administration, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) and the Indore Development Authority (IDA) in this regard.

"The authorities were positive about our demand. We have a plan to develop hotel and other facilities on the 28 acres which we have sought," Mohapatra told reporters after the meeting.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi High Court today termed as "surprising" the Delhi government's plea seeking to vacate a stay on the process of appointing guest teachers so that it could appoint nearly 9000 such teachers to fill vacancies in schools here.

The court said it was not getting a clear picture of the matter and things were "very strange".

"It is very surprising why the Delhi government is proceeding this way. It is very difficult. They still wish to proceed in the manner they want to, no matter whether it is permissible in law. I am not getting the clear picture, things are very strange," Justice A K Chawla said.

The court was hearing a plea by Delhi government's Department of Education (DoE) seeking vacation of the stay granted on September 27 on the process of appointing guest teachers and promoting those appointed since 2010 in the government schools.

It said its interim order of stay will continue.

The court also sought the response of NGO Social Jurist, represented through advocate Ashok Aggarwal, on the plea and listed the matter for further hearing on November 9.

It asked Aggarwal, who has filed a contempt plea seeking a stay on the order of the DSSSB withdrawing a notice on appointment of 8,914 school teachers, to also mention alternatives in case the court allows appointments of guest teachers to go on.

During the hearing, Delhi government standing counsel Ramesh Singh said the stay order was causing serious prejudice to students who were suffering due to shortage of teachers.

He said that till the 9000 newly created posts of teachers are filled up either through recruitment or regularisation, guest teachers are required as a stop-gap arrangement against the newly created posts, which is not possible now due to the stay order.

The court had earlier asked the government to come up with a "logical and legal" solution for filling up vacancy of teachers in schools and that it was not averse to guest teachers but was concerned about everyone's interest.

It had directed the government to maintain status quo with regard to fresh appointment and promotion of guest teachers as regulars in its schools, after it was informed that the authorities have not complied with the high court's 2001 order.

The court was also informed that a bill was recently passed in the Delhi Legislative Assembly to regularise all guest teachers appointed since 2010.

The division bench in its 2001 order had asked the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) to ensure zero vacancy of teachers in schools on the commencement of each academic year.

The Delhi government had introduced the DSSSB with the purpose of recruiting capable, competent and highly-skilled individuals by conducting written tests, professional tests and personal interviews.

The NGO has claimed that "unfortunately, the directions have never been complied with, resulting in accumulation of vacancies of teaching posts since 2011. No attempt has been made by the DSSSB for last several years to fill up the posts and provide regular teachers."



The plea said after a high court order of April 11, the DSSSB issued vacancy notice on August 7 inviting applications from candidates for 8,914 teaching posts in the DoE of the Delhi government and for 5,906 teaching posts in the three municipal corporation schools here.

It alleged that the DSSSB, without informing or seeking permission from the court, had on August 24 "abruptly withdrawn the advertisement" regarding these vacancies.

"The respondents have been deliberately and for some political motives delaying recruitment of regular teachers to the detriment of the interest of as many as 23 lakh students studying in schools run by the Government of Delhi and three municipal corporations," the plea has said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Eleven human rights activists, including two from Amnesty International, went on trial today in Turkey, where they are accused of belonging to and aiding terror groups.

Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ten of the activists, including Amnesty's Turkey director Idil Eser, German national Peter Steudtner and Swede Ali Gharavi, were arrested while attending a digital security training workshop in July. They face prison sentences of up to 15 years, if found guilty.

The activists have been charged with plotting an uprising and aiding Kurdish and left-wing militants. They also stand accused of abetting the movement led by a US-based cleric the Turkish government blames for a 2016 coup attempt.

As their trial opened in Istanbul, the 10 defendants denied the accusations against them and asked to be released on bail.

"I dedicated my life to truth and justice, and that is all I ask of this court," Ozlem Dalkiran of the Citizens' Assembly organisation testified, according to Amnesty's International Director for Europe John Dalhuisen.

Human rights groups say the defendants are accused of "trumped up" charges.

Amnesty Turkey chairman Taner Kilic, who was imprisoned in June, is appearing before a different court for alleged links to cleric Fethullah Gulen. He is accused of using an encrypted mobile messaging application allegedly employed by Gulen's network.

Gulen himself has denied masterminding the coup attempt. "There is not a shred of evidence against the 11 human rights defenders on trial today," Andrew Gardner, Amnesty's Turkey researcher, told The Associated Press.

"At the very least, our expectation and our hope is that they will be released from prison."



Gardner added: "It's been a very difficult situation for all human rights organisationsin Turkey for some time. But for 11 human rights defenders to be . picked up after a routine human rights seminar is an escalation of repression in Turkey."



The trial is one of several cases that have deepened a rift between Turkey and European nations, notably Germany, which considers Steudtner and some 10 other German or German- Turkish citizens jailed in Turkey to be political prisoners.

Steudtner, who was supposed to be one of the digital workshop's trainers, told the court today that none of the accusations in the indictment linked him to a terror group and demanded his "release and acquittal," Amnesty said.

His jailing prompted the German government to toughen its stance toward Turkey by revising its travel advice and threatening to withhold backing for investments there.

"Turkey always points to the independence of its judiciary -- we respect that, and against this background we hope that today's proceedings in Istanbul will send an encouraging signal of the rule of law and judicial independence in the case of Peter Steudtner," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Adebahr said in Berlin.

Adebahr said Germany's consul in Istanbul was in the courtroom to observe the trial.

Turkey has arrested more than 50,000 people since the failed coup and sacked at least 110,000 others from government jobs.

The crackdown was initially launched to deal with alleged coup-plotters, but expanded to include other government opponents, such as academics, journalists and legislators, critics say.

"These two trials will be an acid test for the Turkish justice system and will demonstrate whether standing up for human rights has now become a crime in Turkey," Amnesty's Dalhuisen said.

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Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said a large number of job opportunities would be created following the setting up of Adani Group's thermal power plant in Godda district.

Das, during a meeting with Adani Enterprises Managing Director Rajesh Adani, said the company could begin training people as per its requirement, which will make available trained staff when the 1,600 MW super critical thermal power plant is commissioned.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina would be invited for the foundation laying ceremony, Das said.

In February this year, Rajesh Adani had said Adani Enterprises will invest about Rs 20,000 crore in various sectors in Jharkhand.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will visit Taj Mahal tomorrow against the backdrop of various controversial statements made by some BJP leaders and ministers regarding the status of the 17th century monument in India's culture.

Adityanath will be the first BJP CM of UP to visit the monument of love.

According to his programme, Adityanath will stay for half an hour at the graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal and visit the Shah Jahan park nearby.

The chief minister will inspect various places along the way, inside and outside the monument.

He will also lay foundation for the development of a tourist pathway from Taj Mahal to Agra Fort.

He will also run a mega cleanliness campaign along with 500 BJP activisits and social workers around the west gate of Taj Mahal.

The chief minister has already declared that the state government will spend Rs 370 crore on development plans aimed at promoting tourism in the city of Taj.

Along with the visit to Taj Mahal, Adityanath will inaugurate various development projects in Agra, an official spokesman said here today.

"During his tour of Agra.., the chief minister will be visiting all the places inside Taj Mahal," principal secretary, tourism, Awanish Awasthi said.

His decision to visit Taj Mahal was announced after a series of controversies erupted, beginning with a UP tourism department booklet not mentioning the monument in its list of development projects in the state.

Subsequently, BJP MLA Sangeet Som called Taj Mahal a "blot on Indian history" and BJP MP Vinay Katiyar said it was originally a Shiva temple.

However, addressing a rally in Gorakhpur recently, Adityanath called Taj Mahal the "pride of India" and referred to it as a "world class monument".

This was a significant departure from his remarks at a rally in Bihar last year, when he had said that the Taj does not represent Indian culture and that visiting foreign dignitaries should be presented with the Gita rather than replicas of Taj Mahal.

The last time a UP CM visited the Taj was Akhilesh Yadav, more than two years back.

That was the Valentine's Day and Akhilesh sat on one of the benches in front of the monument along with his wife and Kannauj MP Dimple Yadav.

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Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat today said the appointment of an interlocutor to engage in dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir would not impact Army operations in the state.

The government, he said, was acting from a "position of strength" on the Kashmir issue and its existing policy had helped in improving the overall situation in the state.

Asked whether the appointment of former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma as Kashmir interlocutor would impact the Army's operations in the troubled state, he said, "My one word answer is no, it will not."



The Army chief was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a FICCI event.

The government on Monday appointed Sharma as its special representative for a "sustained dialogue" with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir, in a fresh move aimed at bringing peace to the state.

Responding to a question on whether Sharma's appointment meant that the tough policy on Kashmir was not working, Gen. Rawat said, "I do not think so. What is in your mind is not correct. The policy of the government has worked. The government is speaking from a position of strength."



He said incidents of cross-border infiltration had come down and the overall situation in the state had improved significantly in the last few months.

"In January, you had asked me whether the situation has deteriorated in Kashmir, whether we have lost Kashmir. Now you analyse where is Kashmir?" he asked.

"We have killed terrorists on the Line of Control because of which the situation has improved."



Addressing the gathering at FICCI, the Army chief flagged concerns over the possibility of terror attacks on military installations in the country's hinterland and mentioned the strikes in Uri and Pathankot.

"Security of our installations in the hinterland is becoming a cause of concern because we keep getting reports about likelihood of some attacks on the lines of Uri and Pathankot in some of our bases," the Army chief said.

He also underlined the need for enhancing intelligence and surveillance systems.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India must fight the next war with home-made solutions, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said today while strongly pitching for developing the domestic defence industry.

"We must win the next war with home-made solutions," he said at a conference on defence modernisation at FICCI.

The Army chief also underlined the need for developing an indigenous intelligence and surveillance system to keep a hawk eye vigil on the borders with China and Pakistan as well as to ensure foolproof security at military installations in the hinterland.

In this context, Gen Rawat also spoke about the Pathankot and Uri terror attacks, noting that security at military installations was becoming a matter of concern.

"Security of our installations in hinterland is becoming a cause of concern because we keep getting reports about likelihood of some attacks on the lines of Uri and Pathankot in some of our bases," the Army chief said.

He said the private sector must join hands with the government to find solutions to the needs of the security forces.

Stressing on developing the domestic defence industry, Gen Rawat said the Army was working with the private sector and academia on developing indigenous systems and platforms.

The Army chief also urged the private sector to utilise its financial resources for carrying out research and development activities, focusing on requirement of the armed forces.

India is a leading importer of arms and military platforms globally and the NDA government has listed indigenisation of defence manufacturing as a priority area.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Army today rescued a US citizen after he was injured in an accident while paragliding in the vicinity of Himachal Pradesh's Palampur, sources said.

The citizen, identified as Barry Roberts, was paragliding alone near Palampur (in the Kangra Valley) around 3 pm, when his paraglider hit a rock face at 3,900 metres altitude, they said



"The International Emergency Response Coordination Centre approached Indira Gandhi International airport (in Delhi) for rescue... subsequently, he was rescued by the Army's helicopter unit," the sources said.

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A day after cross-country woman motorcycle rider Sana Iqbal died in a car crash, her mother today alleged that it was a "pre-planned murder" which the deceased's husband was trying to portray as an accident.

The police, to whom Iqbal's mother has complained alleging that the incident was a pre-planned murder, however, maintained it was a road accident.

Twenty-nine-year-old Iqbal, who undertook a solo expedition to raise awareness about suicide and depression, died while her husband, Abdul Nadeem, suffered injuries in the car crash in the early hours yesterday when they were heading home in Tolichowki area here, according to the police.

Nadeem, who was driving the car, lost control over the wheels and the vehicle rammed the median on the Outer Ring Road, Narsingi Police Station Inspector G V Ramana Goud said.

A case was later registered for causing death by negligence and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the police said.

However, Iqbal's mother alleged that her daughter was murdered and that it was being projected as an accident.

"Yesterday, he (Iqbal's husband) planned it in such (a way) that...and gave it a turn as an accident. But, it was a pre-planned, well organised and a cold-blooded murder," Iqbal's mother alleged.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Madhapur zone) Vishwa Prasad told PTI that as per the preliminary investigation, it was a road accident and there was no suspicion over it.

"Her husband has also suffered severe injuries after their car hit the median and turned turtle," the DCP said.

He, however, said they will also verify the allegations of the Iqbal's mother.

Inspector Goud said as per their investigation it was an accident.

He said Iqbal's mother has complained to the police alleging it was a pre-planned murder and that they have told her and other family members to produce an evidence for it.

Last month, Iqbal had sent a message from her phone to a few friends and family members purportedly saying her life was in danger and that her husband or in-laws should be held responsible in case she died of a heart attack or a brain stroke, the police official said.

"There may have been some dispute between Iqbal and her husband. The message was sent at that time and it has no connection with the road accident," Goud said.

The Hyderabad-based rider hit the headlines a few years ago when she undertook the solo motorcycle expedition across the country.

The focus of her campaign was to educate people, particularly students, against committing suicide.

She was also a professional trainer and a student of psychology, and had addressed thousands of students in colleges.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A day after the Congress demanded action against MNS workers for thrashing and forcibly evicting illegal hawkers from suburban railway stations, a delegation of BJP leaders today met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for a similar demand.

The delegation led by Maharashtra minister of state Vidya Thakur met Fadnavis and submitted to him a letter against the MNS' action.

The delegation comprised leaders including, BJP's Mumbai unit general secretary Amarjeet Mishra, vice-president R U Singh, state president of Uttar Bharatiya Morcha Jay Prakash Thakur, among others.

"We met Devendra Fadnavis ji and apprised him about how the hawkers were beaten up my the MNS 'goondas' (hooligans). We apprised him about how they have taken the law into their hands brazenly," Mishra said.

"We demanded action against the MNS workers and the CM assured us to look into the issue and act against them," he added.

The BJP delegation also told the CM about how the hawkers, mostly belonging to north India, are shocked and petrified due to the MNS action, he said adding that the vendors need the government's support.

In the wake of the Elphinstone Road station foot overbridge (FOB) stampede last month, in which 23 people had died, the MNS has started driving away unauthorised hawkers selling goods around the suburban railway stations.

Yesterday, city Congress leaders Sanjay Nirupam and Naseem Khan demanded that the rights of the hawkers be protected and action be taken against the MNS "goons".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The BJP today announced it will mark the first anniversary of demonetisation on November 8 as 'anti-blackmoney day', setting up a political tug of war with opposition parties which have planned to observe it as a "black day".

Leading the charge, senior party leader and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley slammed the Congress over its stand against demonetisation, alleging it did not take a single significant step against black money when in power, and listed out a number of measures taken by the Modi government against the menace.

Union ministers and BJP office bearers across the country will build public opinion in favour of the government's decision till November 8 when the party would hold programmes across the country to observe it as anti-blackmoney day, he said at a press conference here.

The finance minister also rejected the criticism that note ban decision did not expose black money, saying it came from those who did not understand its objects.

Jaitley said that demonetisation has served all three objectives -- to squeeze cash economy, promote digital transactions in business and widen the tax base. He pointed out that sale of gold through digital transactions doubled this time on 'dhanteras' festival.

"The Congress had adequate opportunity to be in power. I can't recollect a single significant step they ever took against black money. They had reconciled to India living with a shadow economy.

"It is understandable that it would never be on the political agenda of their leadership. I can understand their discomfort. If there is an ideological polarisation over a debate on November 8 over the issue of pro-excess cash economy and anti-black money, then the BJP will definitely take it forward," Jaitley said.

The BJP's move comes after around 18 opposition parties, including the Congress and Left, announced that they would observe November 8 as 'black day' against demonetisation which they termed as the government's "most ill-conceived decision".

Jaitley listed out steps, including constitution of an SIT, benami law and reworking of India's double taxation avoidance agreement with some countries besides demonetisation to argue that the government has been working to curb black money.

Lashing out at the Congress over its criticism of the government's announcement to remonetise banks, he said those who "destroyed" the country are giving a "sermon" today.

He said wryly that the Congress can accuse them of delay in taking steps to correct its incompetence, adding that the banks' finances suffered due to indiscriminate loans given by them between 2008-12, when the UPA was in power.

The government collected resources before it moved yesterday to infuse money into banks, he said.

Asked if the BJP's drive was because of "perceived criticism" of demonetisation among the masses, Jaitley said people are wise and had been voting resoundingly in the party's favour during elections that have taken place after the decision.

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Brazilian lawmakers were considering today whether to suspend President Michel Temer and put him on trial on charges of leading a criminal organization and obstructing justice.

This is the second time Temer has faced corruption charges since he took office last year. Brazil's lower house of Congress spared him last time and is expected to do so again. But Temer's popularity is in single digits after a series of scandals and the vote could show how effectively he will be able to govern during the last year of his term.

If two thirds of the 513 members of the Chamber of Deputies accept the charges, Temer will be suspended for up to six months while he is tried in the nation's Supreme Court. The voting was expected to start later Wednesday and could drag into the next day since the opposition's strategy is to delay as long as possible.

The charges against Temer stem from Brazil's massive corruption investigation, which began as a probe into money laundering and ended up uncovering systemic graft in Brazil's halls of power. Dozens of politicians and businessmen have been jailed in the probe.

Prosecutors allege that Brazil's government was run like a cartel for years, with the political parties in power selling favors, votes and plum appointments to powerful businessmen.

They say Temer took over the scheme when he came to power last year, after his predecessor was impeached and removed from office, and that his party has since received about USD 190 million in bribes.

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The University of Cambridge has begun discussions to make its curriculum more inclusive by incorporating black and minorityethnic(BME)writers.

The move has been branded as "decolonising" the curriculum after Lola Olufemi, the Cambridge University Students' Union women's officer, wrote an open letter entitled 'Decolonising the English Faculty' challenging the traditional priorities of the syllabus which "elevates white male authors at the expense of all others".

The letter, signed by over 100 university students, called for the inclusion of two or more post-colonial and BME authors on every exam paper and moving post-colonial books out of the basement in the English Faculty and integrating them in the library cataloguing order among its many recommendations.

"We believe that for the English department to truly boast academically rigorous thought and practice, non-white authors and postcolonial thought must be incorporated meaningfully into the curriculum," the letter read.

It was taken up at the university's Teaching Forum earlier this month and the university said its conclusions will now be taken up by the faculty to arrive at a final decision on syllabus.

"While we can confirm a letter was received from a group of students taking the postcolonial paper, academic discussions are at a very early stage to look at how postcolonial literature is taught. Changes will not lead to any one author being dropped in favour of others that is not the way the system works at Cambridge," said a spokesperson for Cambridge University.

He stressed that there has been no decision to alter the way English is taught at the university.

"The Teaching Forum is a body which has no decision making powers and its decision points are questions to be discussed by the faculty. The Education Committee in the faculty will look at those points in a robust academic debate," he added.

The university points out that there is no set curriculum as tutors individually lead the studies of their group of students and recommend their reading lists and those reading lists can include any author.

Post-colonialism is taught at the moment in a non- compulsory paper, with the faculty reviewing what papers to be kept as compulsory and non-compulsory.

Earlier this year, the Student Union at the London-based School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) had launched a similar campaign to decolonise the curriculum when it called for famous Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle to be replaced by philosophers from Asia or Africaas part of the university syllabus.

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Canada's indigenous population grew by 42.5 per cent to 1.6 million in the decade to 2016 when the last census was taken, the government statistical agency announced today.

This amounts to 4.9 percent of Canada's population, and their numbers -- which include registered treaty Indians, Metis and Inuit -- are forecast to continue rising to more than 2.5 million by 2036, it said.

The figures confirmed a trend previously reported that found aboriginal people are "young in age and growing in numbers," Statistics Canada said in a statement.

The agency noted two main reasons for the jump: natural growth that includes increased life expectancy and relatively high fertility rate, and a higher number of people self- reporting as aboriginal.

The data painted a portrait of indigenous culture that is richly diverse with more than 70 aboriginal languages spoken.

It also showed that aboriginal children lived in a variety of family settings such as multi-generational homes where both parents and grandparents were present.

Another Statistics Canada dataset released today, meanwhile, showed the proportion of the Canadian population that was born abroad had risen to 21.9 per cent, for a total of 7,540,830.

The proportion is close to the 22.3 per cent recording the 1921 census, which was the "highest since confederation" in 1867, the agency said.

This increasing share is due to a larger and larger number of immigrants admitted each year, along with relatively low fertility levels in Canada.

For the first time, Africa ranked second ahead of Europe as a source of recent immigrants, from 2011 to 2016, Statistics Canada noted.

Asia, including the Middle East, remained the top source.

The top source countries in these two regions were Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Cameroon, and the Philippines, India, China, Iran, Pakistan, Syria and South Korea, respectively.

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The cyber cell of Tamil Nadu police today filed a case over alleged obscene photos and vulgar remarks against state BJP president Tamilisai Soundararajan in the social media by some unidentified persons.

The case was filed by the cyber wing of the central crime branch after State Secretary of BJP's legal cell C Thangamani lodged a complaint with the Chennai Police Commissioner A K Viswanathan, police said.

In his complaint, the BJP leader said some persons had posted "obscene and awkward photos with defamatory, malicious and vulgar words" against Soundararajan on social media sites Facebook and Twitter.

The posts had depicted her in an indecent manner in the social media, the complaint alleged and requested action against those involved, according to a police release here.

Following this, a case was registered and cyber crime sleuths were investigating the matter.

Steps were being taken to find out who had posted the obscene content in the social media, police added.

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Acting on the Assam government's request, the Centre has handed over the case of the killing of All Bodo Minority Students Union (ABMSU) president Lafikul Islam to the CBI, an official release said.

A notification has been issued in this regard by the central government today, the state government said in a release tonight.

ABMSU president Lafikul Islam was killed by unidentified miscreants at Titaguri market in Kokrajhar district on August 1.

The Assam government had constituted a special investigation team (SIT) headed by Inspector General of Police Anurag Tankha to inquire into the murder, and had provided ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the slain ABMSU leader.

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Three Naxals, carrying cash rewards, were killed in a gun-battle with security forces in a forest of Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Rajnandgaon district today, police said.

The skirmish took place at around 10 pm in the forest of Kopenkadka village under Khadgaon police station limits when a joint team of security forces was out on an anti-Maoist operation, Rajnandgaon Superintendent of Police Prashant Agrawal told PTI.

The composite squad of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and District Force led by Manpur Sub Divisional Officer of Police Akash Girpunje had launched the operation in the interiors of Manpur, around 200 km away from the state capital, Raipur.

When the patrolling team was advancing through the jungles of Kopenkadka, it came under heavy fire that led to gun-battle between the two sides, the SP said.

However, ultras soon escaped into the deep forest on finding security personnel zeroing on them, he added.

During a search, bodies of three ultras along with three automatic weapons--one AK 47 rifle, one Insas rifle and one SLR rifle--were recovered from the spot, he added.

Those killed were identified as Mahesh, an area committee member (ACM), Rakesh ACM and Pallemadi LOS (local organisation squad) commander and Ranjit -Pallemadi LOS deputy commander, said the SP, adding that they were carrying rewards of Rs 5 lakh, Rs 5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh respectively.

They all hailed from Bastar region of the state and more details are awaited, he added.

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BJP leader Sambit Patra today lashed out at the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, saying the Assembly election would be between the family which is on bail and the hardworking family.

The party's national spokesman alleged that Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh only worked for the development of his son whose assests grew tremendously and asked him to explain the reasons behind the financial growth of his family.

He also asked Singh to clarify about properties allegedly owned by family members which were attached by the Enforcement Directorate in corruption cases.

He said the fight in the state Assembly polls would be between 'Jamanati' and 'Mehnati' or the family on bail and the hardworking family, referring to the Congress and the BJP.

He expressed surprise over the insurance policies allegedly purchased by the chief minister and his family members and claimed that the people of the state needed insurance against the "corrupt" Congress government.

Meanwhile, the former chief minister and the BJP candidate from Sujanpur today claimed that the BJP would win 60 plus seats in Assembly polls.

There was complete unanimity in the party and all those who had filed their papers as independent candidates would withdraw from the contest by tomorrow, he told reporters at Sujanpur.

He said while Prime Minister Narendra Modi would address a public meeting in Una as he had already addressed such meetings at Sujanpur and Bilaspur under the Hamirpur Parliamentary constituency.

The prime minister would address meetings in all three parliamentary segments of the state during the campaign while party chief Amit Shah would address the people in all the seventeen organisational districts, he said.

Dhumal said the people of the state were anxiously awaiting the return of the BJP government they were fed up with misrule of the Congress.

He said the formation of the BJP government was imperative for development, putting the economy back on rails, eradicate mafia raj and restoring law and order to instill the feeling of safety among the people.

He alleged that the Congress government laid down the foundation stones of various projects without making any budgetary provisions and termed them as "publicity stunts".

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The Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC) has accused a senior bureaucrat of delaying the ongoing construction of phase III of the Barapullah flyover.

The DDC, whose chairman is Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has submitted a report in connection with the delay in executing the project.

However, sources in the PWD said that non-availability of land at the time of the commissioning of its construction was a "moot-point".

The construction began in 2015 when PWD Secretary Ashwani Kumar was not a part of the department.

"The Barapullah Elevated Road Project was taken up as it is important for providing connectivity in a high-congestion zone... However, its implementation was stalled because a section comprising 8.5 acres was found to be owned by private individuals... This land acquisition has stalled the entire project for over a year," the report stated.

In June this year, Kejriwal had also sought action against Kumar over desilting of drains.

In the past, the AAP government and bureaucracy have been at loggerheads on a range of issues.

Earlier this month, the AAP government had accused Chief Secretary M M Kutty of refusing to comply with the CM's order to examine issues related to the recent metro fare hike and alleged that he was doing so at the BJP's behest.

In December 2015, Delhi government bureaucrats had gone on mass leave to protest against the suspension of two Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) cadre officers.

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Air quality in is set to worsen in the next few days, but this time the city has no one but itself to blame, least of all paddy stubble-burning in and .

This conclusion can be drawn going by the forecast of the Meteorological Department and the Central Control Board (CPCB) and their observations on the prevailing weather conditions.

CPCB member secretary A Sudhakar told PTI that as per the IMD forecast, easterly winds, blowing from Uttar Pradesh, will introduce moisture into the city's air over the next few days, and fog will start building from October 29.

"As a result, pollutants having local sources (vehicular combustion, road dust, smoke from garbage-burning) shall remain at the ground level for longer hours. Their ground level concentration will be building up," he said.

The weather scientist said the city residents can expect levels to go up until October 29, some indications of which have started appearing.

The sky was blue until last week, but now it is gradually turning hazy, he said, predicting a build-up of pollutants over the next three to four days.

Sudhakar said the forecast can be interpreted as good as well as bad, considering the fact that there has been no impact of the paddy stubble-burning in neighbouring and in the city's air, unlike previous years.

"Northwesterly or westerly winds, which are generally dry but laden with smoke, are not entering the capital, thus preventing the influx of air-borne residue of stubble-burning. That way it is good but easterly winds will bring a lot of moisture, which will trap local pollutants," he said.

Every winter, as levels spike across the region, especially in Delhi, the states in the region indulge in blame game over the factors behind the rise. blames and saying their "inability" to contain stubble-burning makes the capital suffer.

However, the prevailing meteorological conditions leave no room for such buck-passing, as the moisture will largely trap pollutants that are emitted by sources present within the city and ground-level action can help prevent the situation from going out of hand.

For example, the plunge in air quality after Diwali was largely due to burning of firecrackers, despite a ban on their sale, which the residents of the megapolis could very well have avoided.

The Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority has already enforced a raft of measures under the 'very poor and 'severe' categories of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), including a ban on diesel generator sets with certain exemptions.
Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today claimed that demonetisation and the imposition of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) by the BJP government had "ruined" the country's economy.

"The people have understood the real motive and implication of demonetisation and the GST, and they will give a suitable reply to the BJP in the assembly polls," he said here, expanding the central tax to"Gayi Tumhari Sarkar".

Rejecting opinion polls on the Gujarat and the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, he said that these are not reliable and claimed that the surveys seem to have been conducted before demonetisation and the GST's roll-out.

There was an understanding that the petroleum products would be brought under the GST and highest-tax slab would be 18 per cent, but the Modi government has betrayed the people, Hooda alleged during a programme in the poll-bound state.

"The policies of the government, demonetisation and the GST, had ruined the country's economy and the youth is restive as there has been massive job loss, post demonetisation," he said here.

Farmers have also suffered due to the GST as prices of fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides have gone up while the non-performing assets of banks was rising, the Congress leader said.

He said that the Congress has already declared its leader for the Himachal Pradesh polls while it seemed the BJP will contest the assembly polls in the name of Modi.

The Haryana leader appealed to the rebels to withdraw from the contest and support the official candidates of the party.

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Cash worth nearly Rs 7,000 crore was deposited in bank accounts during demonetisation and later withdrawn by companies, which are now deregistered, according to union minister P P Chaudhary.

Bolstering efforts to crackdown on the black money menace, the government has struck off the names of more than 2.24 lakh companies from official records and data mining is progressing to ascertain whether these entities were used as conduits for illicit fund flows.

Against this backdrop, Chaudhary today said it has been detected that just about three per cent of the 2.24 lakh struck off companies had deposited around "Rs 6,000 to 7,000 crore" in bank accounts during demonetisation and later the amount was withdrawn.

"It (the number of such companies) is only three per cent of the total 2.24 lakh companies. It may be more... Data mining is going on," the Minister of State for Corporate Affairs said here.

In November last year, the government cancelled old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes as legal tenders as part of larger efforts to fight the black money problem and corruption.

The corporate affairs ministry, which is implementing the Companies Act, has been deregistering entities that have not been carrying out business activities for a long period as well as defaulted on compulsory filings.

The minister said action is being taken against non- compliant companies as corporate structures were being misused by unscrupulous people for various illegal activities.

"It (the action) is for non-compliance of the companies and we cannot say that all these companies are shell companies. We can only ascertain once data mining is over," he said.

Besides, directors associated with such non-compliant companies have been disqualified.

Speaking at an event organised by industry body Assocham, Chaudhary emphasised that the government wants to create a clean system and not "terrorise".

"The purpose of the government is not to terrorise but the purpose of the government is to create a clean system, transparent system (and) to provide ease of doing business," he said.

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BJP leader Arun Jaitley today hit out at the Congress for criticising the Election Commission over the Gujarat elections announcement, saying the poll panel was not "supposed to be browbeaten by a disgruntled or losing" party.

The opposition party, he said, was singing the EC's praises when it gave a favourable verdict during recent Rajya Sabha polls as he backed the poll body's decision to not announce the Gujarat poll dates with that of Himachal Pradesh.

"If there is a gap of four to five weeks between elections in the two states, then it is fair that there be a similar gap between imposition of the Model Code of Conduct there," he told a press conference here.

The Congress has alleged that the EC acted under the government's pressure, allowing BJP governments at the Centre and in Gujarat to make many announcements in their bid to influence public opinion in their favour.

The BJP has argued that the Gujarat polls were always held after Himachal polls and, therefore, it was right in announcing their dates later.

"That the model code is in effect for 35 days in a Congress-ruled state (Himachal) and 70 days in a BJP-ruled state just because the Congress feels so, is not binding on the EC," Jaitley said.

"The EC is duty-bound as per the law... It would be wholly against the spirit of democracy if the Model Code of Conduct is extended to 70-80-90 days," he said.

Jaitley recalled that it was during the previous NDA government that it was agreed that the model code would be binding on governments. It was also decided that the code would be in force only for a few weeks at the time of the election, he said.

The government is not allowed to make any major announcement when the code is in force.

Jaitley, who is also the BJP's in-charge for the Gujarat polls, described Patidar leader Hardik Patel and other activists, who have come out against the saffron party, as "Congressmen in disguise".

Referring to reports that Patel had a meeting with Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi at an Ahmedabad hotel recently, he said his party was not interested in whether they met or not.

"It is only scandals that take place in the midst of darkness," he quipped.

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The Enforcement Directorate today moved a special court here seeking judicial custody of former Noida Authority chief engineer Yadav Singh in connection with its probe in a money laundering case against him.

The move comes after the Supreme Court earlier in the day granted bail to Singh, who has been chargesheeted by the ED in the case.

The relief was granted to Singh after his counsel said that the accused was entitled to statutory bail since the charge sheet was not filed by the ED within the stipulated period from the date of his arrest.

The ED and CBI have filed several cases against Singh.

The ED moved a fresh application before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Lucknow for judicial custody of Singh, officials said.

The custody has been sought on the basis of a CBI case against Yadav for allegedly amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

In 2015, the ED had slapped money laundering charges against Singh, who was engineer-in-chief of the Noida Authority, Greater Noida Authority and Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority, on the basis of an FIR lodged by the CBI.

Earlier, the Income Tax department had said raids in November 2014 had revealed that Singh's assets were hugely disproportionate to his income, following which he was suspended from the Uttar Pradesh government.

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Long-haul carriers Emirates and Cathay Pacific will start new screening procedures for US-bound passengers tomorrow after receiving "new security guidelines" from American authorities, the airlines said today.

It wasn't immediately clear if other global airlines would be affected, though the Trump administration previously rolled out a laptop ban and travel bans that have thrown global airlines into disarray.

The US Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, it comes at the end of a 120-day deadline for airlines to meet new US regulations following the ban on laptops in airplane cabins of some Mideast airlines being lifted.

Emirates said in a statement it would begin doing "pre- screening interviews" at its check-in counters for passengers flying out of Dubai and at boarding gates for transit and transfer fliers.

It urged those flying through Dubai International Airport, its headquarters, to allow extra time to check into flights and board.

"These measures will work in complement with the current additional screening measures conducted at the boarding gate," it said.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said on its website that it had suspended self-drop baggage services and that passengers heading to the US "will be subject to a short security interview." Those without bags would have a similar interview at their gates.

In March, US officials instituted the ban on laptops in airplane cabins across 10 Middle East cities over concerns Islamic State fighters and other extremists could hide bombs inside of them. That ban was lifted after those airlines began using devices like CT scanners to examine electronics just before passengers board airplanes heading to the US.

That laptop ban, as well as travel bans affecting predominantly Muslim countries, have hurt Mideast airlines. Emirates, the region's biggest, said it slashed 20 per cent of its flights to America in the wake of the restrictions.

It wasn't immediately clear if other Mideast airlines were affected by the new rules.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad said its operations "were normal" without elaborating, while Doha-based Qatar Airways did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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The core team of the European Union's election observers today arrived in Nepal to monitor the general and provincial polls scheduled for November 26 and December 7, an official statement said.

The Election Observation Mission's core team, comprising 10 EU election analysts, arrived in Kathmandu today at the request of the Nepal government.

The team will stay in the country until the completion of the electoral process and prepare a comprehensive final report, according to a press release issued by the EU Mission in Nepal.

The core team will be shortly joined by 38 long-term observers who will be deployed across the country, it said.

On November 20, a short-term team of 20 observers will be deployed for the first phase of the elections scheduled for November 26, while an additional 24 short-term observers will be deployed on December 1 for the second phase of the polls on December 7, the EU statement said.

"The EU's Election Observation Mission looks forward to cooperating with other international and domestic observation missions," it added.

The European Union had in 2008 and 2013 also deployed Election Observation Missions to Nepal.

Shortly after the completion of the House of Representatives and provincial assemblies elections, the mission will issue a preliminary statement of its findings at a press conference in Kathmandu, the EU statement said.

A final report, including recommendations for future electoral processes, will be presented at a later stage, after the finalisation of the whole electoral process, it added.

The general and provincial elections in Nepal were declared on August 21 and are seen as the final step in the Himalayan nation's post-war transition to a federal democracy.

The Maoists have dominated Nepal's politics for more than 20 years after waging a decade-long insurgency against government forces that claimed more than 16,000 lives.

The civil war in Nepal came to an end in 2006.

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The Madras High Court today directed police to file an FIR against actor Kamal Haasan if one of his tweets, asking his fans not to distribute a herbal concoction to fight dengue-like fever, prima facie disclosed an offence.

Justice M S Ramesh gave the direction to police on a petition filed by G Devarajan. He sought a direction to police to register a case against the actor under cyber-crime laws and also under the 'National Security Act.'



In a tweet on October 18, Haasan asked his fans to "not engage in the distribution of Nilavembu till the results of proper studies are out".

He said, "let other activities continue."



After his tweet led to a row, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar asserted that Nilavembu was proven to increase immunity. Several others, including practitioners of Indian medicine also vouched for its efficacy.

Later, Haasan clarified that it was "not fair" to paint him as one who was opposed to the traditional medicine.

He said he had put out a tweet only because a "controversy" had erupted over its use.

"I had put out the tweet to avoid the medicine, which is under a controversy, from being given in excess quantity. I don't prefer those of my movement (fans) to give a medicine without the advice or direction of a doctor," he had said.

According to the petitioner, Haasan had posted the tweet asking his fans to desist from distributing 'Nilavembu' claiming that it has "side effects".

"Whether the actor himself consumed the drink and suffered any such adverse side effects, and if it is so, he should have furnished proper details of such side effects while making such a statement," he said.

The petitioner further alleged that the actor was making such statements with "political motives against the ruling government and to disturb peace in the state".

Haasan was utilising the social networking site for spreading rumours against the government, he alleged.

Therefore, he has to be booked under relevant laws, he said.

The petitioner said police had not acted on his complaint against the actor and hence sought a direction from the court.

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The will be providing free shuttle services between its Terminal 1 (T1) and revamped Terminal 2 (T2), which will reopen for flights on Sunday after a seven-year gap.

Low-cost carrier GoAir will be shifting its entire operations to T2 at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport from October 29.

The airport operator, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), had asked the airlines to shift some of its flights from T1 to allow expansion work.

Two other airlines that operate from T2 -- IndiGo and SpiceJet -- have been given time till January 4 to decide on relocating some of their flights.

The bus-service aims at ensuring that GoAir passengers who arrive at the wrong terminal do not miss their flights.

"We will be deploying nearly 10 buses between T1 and T2 to ensure there is a shuttle service available every five minutes for passengers. A GoAir passenger who arrives at T1 can avail the service and catch a flight," an airport official said on the condition of anonymity.

There will also be a dedicated vehicle for differently- abled passengers and pregnant women.

The shuttle service will be in addition to the Delhi Transport Corporation's buses, which ply every 15 minutes, he said.

Signages are being put up on airport premises and information is being displayed on screens at T1 and T2 to inform passengers about the flights shifting to T2.

There will also be announcements made in metro trains to ensure that passengers arriving at the airport are aware which is the right terminal for them.

Shifting of partial operations will allow DIAL to carry out expansion work at T1 to cater to increasing passenger demand. Currently, the terminal has a capacity to handle 20 million passengers a year.

As per DIAL's master plan, departure and arrival terminals T1 D and T1 C, respectively, would be merged, and the total handling capacity of T1 would be increased to 40 million passengers per annum.

Once the work is completed, operations from T2 would be shifted back to T1, and after that, T2 would be demolished and a new terminal T4 will be built there.

Currently, there are two operational terminals at the airport here -- T1 and T3.

International flights used to operate from T2 before the commissioning of the existing swanky T3. Operations were stopped at T2 in 2010. However, Haj flights have been operating for a few months every year.

GoAir is also giving information on its website about the flights shifting to T2.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier today in Moscow called for better ties with Russia, saying "open wounds" in relations between the two countries should heal.

The first visit by a German president to Russia since 2010 comes as ties between the two countries remain strained over Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent uprising in eastern Ukraine that the West claims is backed by Moscow.

Steinmeier is a former foreign minister who was actively engaged in Germany's efforts to mediate the Ukraine crisis and has long called for engaging Russia.

"We both believe that the current state of affairs cannot satisfy us and should not satisfy us," Steinmeier said following talks with Putin in comments translated into Russian.

"We are far from (having) normal ties, open wounds are still out there, there are unresolved issues, first and foremost it concerns the takeover of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which are a burden and continue to be a burden for our ties."



Putin for his part said Moscow was ready to develop ties with Germany, adding that German businesses were interested in expanding their footprint in Russia.

"Despite some certain political difficulties Russian- German ties are not at a standstill," he added.

Earlier today Steinmeier spoke with former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, 86, soliciting his advice on how to improve ties between the two countries.

"He told me: 'The only thing that helps is to keep talking - even about difficult issues'," Steinmeier told journalists after the hour-long meeting.

"I come during times in which German-Russian relations have become difficult," Steinmeier said.

"I see it as my responsibility to contribute to make sure that this doesn't stay this way forever."



Steinmeier also visited Russia's top rights group Memorial and attended a ceremony for the Russian state's return of a cathedral building to the Protestant church.

He praised the handover of the cathedral, which was seized by the Soviets in 1938, and said he hoped that the church would continue to serve as a "place of encounter" between Orthodox and Lutheran Christians as well as Russians and Germans.

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Germany expelled 14 rejected Afghan asylum seekers, the interior ministry said today, amid angry protests that the war-ravaged country is unsafe for returnees.

A chartered Czech plane with the Afghans on board, all of them men, took off late yesterday from the eastern German city of Leipzig and arrived in Kabul today.

Eleven of the deportees had criminal records for acts including manslaughter, causing grievous bodily harm, the sexual abuse of children, fraud and theft, interior ministry spokeswoman Annegret Korff told reporters.

The other three Afghans had refused to cooperate on establishing their identity, she added.

Saxony state interior minister Markus Ulbig told public broadcaster MDR that Germany was sending a "loud and clear message" that those not granted refugee status following an official review "no longer have a right to be in Germany".

While Germany has granted safe haven to most asylum seekers from war-torn Syria, Berlin has argued that it can safely repatriate people to Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan, even as Taliban and Islamic State militants terrorise much of the country.

Around 150 demonstrators gathered at the airport in Leipzig to protest against the expulsions.

In Berlin, leading Greens MP Claudia Roth called on the government to stop the deportations, noting that some 250 people were killed in attacks in Afghanistan in the last week.

"Under these conditions, expulsions to Afghanistan clearly violate our responsibility to provide humanitarian protection," she said in remarks reported by DPA agency.

Germany resumed deportations of rejected asylum seekers from Afghanistan last month after suspending the process when a devastating truck bomb hit the Afghan capital in May.

That group of eight Afghans represented the sixth wave of repatriations of Afghans from Germany since December under a disputed Afghan-European Union deal aimed at curbing the influx of migrants.

Amnesty International warned European governments earlier this month that a surge of failed Afghan asylum seekers "forcibly" returned are at risk of torture, kidnapping and death.

Almost 9,500 Afghans went back to their homeland in 2016 after their applications for asylum in Europe were rejected, compared with fewer than 3,300 a year earlier, the rights group said.

Berlin has set a policy of returning to Afghanistan convicted criminals, people feared by police to be planning an attack, and those who refuse to cooperate with authorities or give their names.

More than 13,300 Afghans have applied for asylum in Germany since the start of the year.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has been struggling to bring down the numbers of asylum seekers after the arrival of more than one million migrants - mainly from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan - since 2015.

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today asked police personnel to ensure the surrender of more militants and desist from retaliatory action against their families.

As a bait, the chief minister also announced doubling the reward money for those who get militants to surrender.

Addressing a gathering at the Police Training School here, Mehbooba made it clear that militancy would not end by killing "four, eight, 50 or 100" militants but by taking people along and winning their hearts.

"When you get an opportunity where a local militant is ready, before or during an encounter, to surrender... I will give you double the reward for bringing him back alive.

"We have to try because killing a militant is easy but killing militancy is difficult, she said in her address at the passing out parade of 696 constables at the school in Manigam, on the outskirts of Srinagar.

Mehbooba also asked police to be different from militants and refrain from tit-for-tat action.

The chief minister was referring to media reports claiming that security forces had entered the homes of some militants and threatened their family members.

She also referred to the incidents of October 17-18, when militants killed a PDP worker and burnt his house the next day.

"Our worker was killed and then his house was set on fire. But I want to stress that there should be a difference between our actions and those of the militants.

"Militants kill our people, police personnel and then they ransack their houses or set them on fire, but our forces - whether security forces or police should not do such things."



We are the guardians of the law, she said.

"... so I should not get any complaint that when a militant was not caught, or he fled or ransacked some house, we did the same."



The police force, the chief minister stressed, was the protector of people unlike militants.

"They may wear uniforms like you and have guns like you, but you are the protector of the lives of people and their properties... and they do the opposite so there is a huge difference between them and you."



Mehbooba also asked police personnel to play a constructive role in creating a peaceful atmosphere in the state.

"Before enforcing law among the people, you will first have to enforce the law among yourselves. You will have to follow the law and not compete with militants by doing what they do," she said.

The chief minister also lauded security forces for doing a commendable job in maintaining law and order.

She referred to the number of army, paramilitary and police personnel who had lost their lives while fighting militants and said, "I am happy that the police did not lose its patience."



Referring to incidents of braids being chopped in the state, Mehbooba said FIRs had been registered in all the cases and directed the police to act strictly against those trying to vitiate the atmosphere in the state.

"Braid chopping started from Rajasthan, then in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab and there were thousands of cases... But when it happened in the state at places like Jammu, Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch and then in Kashmir, we registered FIRs in every case."



Mehbooba also expressed regret that mobs in many parts of the Valley were taking law into their own hands and beating people.

"There are other incidents as well where the police want to investigate but people do not cooperate. People flee when asked for a blood sample to check the contents of the spray used by braid choppers as claimed by the people.

"Those elements who spread rumours in braid chopping cases... are looking for an opportunity to vitiate the atmosphere. You will have to identify such elements and act very strictly against them and also understand why such incidents are happening and who is behind them," she said.

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Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) councillor Barun Bhujel, who was arrested in June died at the state-run SSKM hospital here today.

"Bhujel had chronic liver problem and pancreatitis. He died early today. Post-mortem is being done", Manimoy Bandpadhyay, superintendent of SSKM hospital said.

Superintendent of police, Kalimpong, Ajit Yadav said that Bhujel, a GJM Councillor from Kalimpong, was arrested on June 16 for his alleged involvement in arson and violence in the hills.

"He was in judicial custody. For the last one month he had complained about problems of the liver and the pancreas. He was admitted to North Bengal Medical College. Last week he was taken to Kolkata and was admitted to SSKM for treatment. Now the actual reason for his death will be known after post mortem," Yadav told PTI over phone.

GJM chief Bimal Gurung alleged that police torture had led to Bhujel's death and that there was delay in his treatment.

Gurung, in an audio message from an undisclosed location urged the people of the Hills to hit the streets in protest and observe a day of mourning.

"Barun was one of the first to be arrested by police. We express our condolences. He gave his life to the fight for Gorkhaland. It was police torture and deliberate negligence in his treatment which ultimately led to his death", Gurung said.

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Two days after the ruling BJP ally in Goa, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), expressed unhappiness over the functioning of the government, another coalition partner, the Goa Forward Party (GFP), has expressed willingness to "sacrifice" for the sulking ally.

The MGP, headed by Dipak Dhavalikar, said on Monday that they had got an unfair deal during the allocation of portfolios and corporations by the Manohar Parrikar-led state government when it was being formed. The party had said the Goa Forward Party had got a better deal.

Parrikar came to power in March this year after cobbling up a rainbow alliance comprising the MGP, GFP, and Independents, after his party failed to win the popular mandate in February polls and remained on second position after the Congress which had emerged as the single largest party.

The MGP has three MLAs in the 40-member House, two of whom are ministers in the Parrikar Cabinet. The party had also said it would adopt a "wait-and-watch" approach before deciding on the future course of action in the next six to eight months.

MGP General Secretary Lavu Mamlatdar had reportedly said that his party was given a step motherly treatment by the state government.

However, the GFP, led by state Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai, has come out in defence of the government, days after Dhavlikar said the ruling dispensation had "failed" in resolving the vexed issues of offshore casinos, drugs, unemployment and others.

"If MGP feels that they have got a raw deal, we are ready to sacrifice for them. GFP was instrumental in forming the government which is working within the limits of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) worked out by the coalition partners. If MGP is not satisfied, then we are ready to sacrifice for them," Sardesai said.

All three MLAs of GFP--Sardesai, Vinod Palyekar, and Jayesh Salgaoncar--are ministers in the state government.

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A goat was today found mauled and another seriously injured reportedly in an attack by a leopard at a village on the outskirts of Coimbatore.

Forest department officials, who arrived at the scene, noticed pug marks of an animal near the carcass, police said.

Forest officials are combing the area for the leopard, they added.

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Two suspected ISIS operatives were today arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), which claimed that they were plotting an attack on a Jewish synagogue in Khadia area of Ahmedabad in "very near future".

The suspects, arrested in Surat, have been identified as Mohammad Kasim Stimberwala and Ubed Ahmed Mirza, an official said.

While Stimberwala used to work as a laboratory technician with a hospital in Ankleshwar town, Mirza is a practicing lawyer with the Surat district court and also owns a hotel there.

They were booked under IPC sections 120-A (criminal conspiracy), 121-A (waging or attempt to wage war against Government of India) and 125 (Waging war against any Asiatic power in alliance with Government of India) of the IPC, besides under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the official said.

As per the FIR registered by the ATS, the duo have been radicalised by the ideology of Islamic State and were planning to carry out a 'lone-wolf' attack on the synagogue, for which Stimberwala had visited Ahmedabad and conducted a recce of the Jewish centre located in Khadia area.

ATS sleuths believe that Srimberwala and Mirza are "highly radicalised by the fundamental ideology of the Islamic State for the last many years and are actively planning to cause terrorist acts".

Both the suspected operatives of the IS were under the influence of Abdullah el-Faisal, a radical preacher based in Jamaica, the official said quoting the FIR.

As per the FIR, el-Faisal was earlier convicted for spreading hatred in the UK and then deported to Jamaica. He was detained in Jamaica on the charges of persuading youths to travel to Syria to take up the cause of Jihad.

Surveillance of their social media accounts had revealed that the duo were attracted to the extreme ideology since the last three-four years, according to the FIR.

They were also in contact with one Shafi Armar, an ISIS handler who is wanted in various cases of serial blasts triggered by Indian Mujahideen (IM) and is currently believed to be out of India, the official said.

ATS suspects that both the accused were making "intensive efforts to radicalise other youths in India using various mediums, such as social media, one-on-one meetings and telephonic calls".

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Congress' former leader Shankersinh Vaghela said today his new political front will contest all the 182 seats of Gujarat Assembly on the election symbol of a Rajasthan-based party.

The polling for the two-phase elections will take place on December 9 and 14, and votes will be counted on December 18.

According to Vaghela, a former chief minister of Gujarat, the 'All India Hindustan Congress' party, registered in Jaipur a year back and allotted the symbol of 'a farmer driving a tractor', has agreed to give the symbol to his front, 'Jan Vikalp'.

"Though we sought a symbol from the EC to contest this election, it is now too late. Thus, we have entered into an agreement with 'All India Hindustan Congress Party', which has agreed to give its symbol to us. Our candidates will fight polls on that symbol," Vaghela told reporters here today.

Vaghela, an influential Kshatriya leader, had quit the Congress after the Rajya Sabha polls in August and joined 'Jan Vikalp', an organisation floated by his supporters.

According to Hindustan Congress' national general secretary Anil Kumar Sharma, the party has agreed to give its symbol to Vaghela and be a part of the Jan Vikalp front.

"The party was formed one year back in Jaipur and this is the first election for us. We have agreed to give our symbol to Vaghela's front for the Gujarat election. We hereby declare unconditional support of our party to Vaghela," Sharma told reporters at the joint press conference.

Vaghela said if his front comes to power, it would take care of the poor.

He also promised to bring a bill in the Assembly seeking to give 25 per cent additional quota for non-reserved classes in Gujarat.

"I believe that non-reserved classes should get 25 per cent reservation. It is a misconception that the state cannot go beyond 49.5 per cent quota. We will bring a legislation to give 25 per cent additional quota if voted to power," he said.

Out of the existing 27 per cent reservation for OBCs, Vaghela said his government would keep aside 10 per cent for some of the most backward communities, if voted to power.

His other promises include Rs 5,000 pension for widows, Rs 5,000 pension for elderly people having nobody to take care of them and more autonomy to sarpanchs.

While joining the 'Jan Vikalp' last month, Vaghela had claimed that he will not contest the Assembly polls.

However, the 77-year-old former Union minister did not rule out the possibility of taking over as the chief minister, if the front secures a majority in the elections.

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Assembly elections in Gujarat will held in two phases on December 9 and 14, the Election Commission announced today, setting the stage for a high- stakes battle between the state's ruling BJP and the Congress.

The votes will be counted on December 18, the same day as Himachal Pradesh, where elections will be held on November 9, Chief Election Commissioner A K Joti told a press conference.

The announcement of the Gujarat elections comes almost two weeks after the Election Commission declared dates for Himachal Pradesh on October 12. The delay led to the opposition raising questions on deviations from the norm and alleging that it was done to help the Centre announce sops for the state.

The BJP has been in power in Gujarat since 1998 and the Congress is seeking to make a comeback. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is touring the state while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also visited the state in the recent past.

The two have also mounted political attacks on each other in the state.

While the Congress is eyeing the support of SC and backward leaders to return to power, the BJP is banking on the development plank and the popularity of Modi to once again retain the state. In the 2012 polls, Modi was the chief minister of the state.

"The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect immediately. It will be applicable to the state government of Gujarat, the Union government and all candidates and political parties," Joti told reporters.

The poll process in the state will start on November 14 with the issue of the gazette notification for the first phase. Candidates can start filing their nominations from that day.

The first phase will be held in 89 of the 182 seats and will cover 19 of 33 districts.

The notification for the second phase will be issued on November 20 for the remaining 93 assembly seats in 14 districts.

The last date for filing nominations in the first phase is November 21. Candidates can withdraw their nominations till November 24.

For the second phase, candidates can file their nominations till November 27 and withdraw till November 30.

Paper trail of votes will be used in all the 50,128 polling stations of the 182 assembly constituencies to ensure transparency, Joti said.

All voters in Gujarat will be able to see their votes cast through Voter-Verified Paper Trail Audit (VVPAT) machines, which will be installed along with electronic voting machines (EVMs).

The Commission has set up 182 all-women polling stations, one in each assembly constituency. The height of the voting compartment has also been increased to ensure secrecy.

All licensed weapons will have to be deposited in police stations, Joti said.

CCTV cameras will be used at border checkposts to prevent the smuggling of liquor and money and to stop anti-social elements from entering the states.

There will be voter assistance booths at every polling station, the CEC said.

The Election Commission, he added, will also deploy general, police and expenditure observers all over the state.

"Elections in Gujarat have always been peaceful and the commission will take all necessary measures to ensure a peaceful free and fair election in Gujarat," Joti said.

The CEC said central armed forces will be deployed along with the state police to ensure smooth and peaceful elections.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Assembly elections in Gujarat will be held in two phases on December 9 and 14, the Election Commission announced today, setting the stage for a high- stakes battle between the state's ruling BJP and the Congress.

The votes will be counted on December 18, the same day as Himachal Pradesh, where elections will be held on November 9, Chief Election Commissioner A K Joti said at a press conference.

"The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect immediately. It will be applicable to the state government of Gujarat, the Union government and all candidates and political parties," he told reporters.

The poll process in the state will start on November 14 with the issue of the gazette notification for the first phase. Candidates can start filing their nominations from that day.

The first phase will be held in 89 of the 182 seats and will cover 19 of 33 districts.

The notification for the second phase will be issued on November 20 for the remaining 93 assembly seats in 14 districts.

The last date for filing nominations in the first phase is November 21. Candidates can withdraw their nominations till November 24.

For the second phase, candidates can file their nominations till November 27. They can withdraw their nominations till November 30.

Paper trail of votes will be used in all the 50,128 polling stations of the 182 assembly constituencies to ensure transparency, Joti said.

All voters in Gujarat will be able to see their votes cast through Voter-Verified Paper Trail Audit (VVPAT) machines, which will be installed along with electronic voting machines (EVMs).

The Commission has set up 182 all-women polling stations, one in each assembly constituency. The height of the voting compartment has also been increased to ensure secrecy.

All licensed weapons will have to be deposited in police stations, Joti said.

CCTV cameras will be used at border checkposts to prevent the smuggling of liquor and money and to stop anti-social elements from entering the states.

There will be voter assistance booths at every polling station, the CEC said.

The Election Commission, he added, will also deploy general, police and expenditure observers all over the state.

"Elections in Gujarat have always been peaceful and the Commission will take all necessary measures to ensure a peaceful free and fair election in Gujarat," Joti said.

The CEC said central armed forces will be deployed along with the state police to ensure smooth and peaceful elections.

The announcement of the Gujarat elections comes almost two weeks after the Election Commission declared dates for Himachal Pradesh on October 12. The delay led to the opposition raising questions on deviations from the norm and alleging that it was done to help the Centre announce sops for the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government and the University of Mumbai to take steps for providing basic amenities at a tribunal set up to hear admission and other education-related matters of the varsity and the SNDT College.

The University of Mumbai and SNDT College Tribunal has jurisdiction over the two institutions.

A division bench of Justices S M Kemkar and G S Kulkarni recently ordered the competent authority of the government and the university to hold a meeting and initiate steps for implementation of the recommendations made in a June 2017 report submitted by the deputy registrar, legal and research, of the high court.

The deputy registrar's report listed recommendations on what basic amenities need to be provided to the tribunal and its presiding officer, who is a retired high court judge.

"We direct the competent authority of the state government and the competent authority of the university to convene a meeting to decide further action plan in regard to the said report," the high court said.

The bench directed the government and the university to submit a progress report on November 14, when the petition would be heard.

The court had during the last hearing come down heavily on the government and the university for not taking prompt action on the issue, and expressed dissatisfaction at the sorry state of affairs in the university's tribunal.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Pravartak Pathak on the issue.

The tribunal was set up as a first appeal body to hear and resolve issues arising out of admission and other education matters. The jurisdiction of the tribunal covers University of Mumbai and SNDT Womens' University.

According to the PIL, the tribunal has been allotted a very small area to operate from and there is a shortage of support staff, which hampers its work.

It states that the presiding officer has not been provided with proper accommodation that meets the standards mentioned in the Government Resolution.

The car facility is also not provided to the presiding officer, the petition states.

The presiding officer has not been given proper wash room facilities and has to go to the toilet used by litigants, the petition said.

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The Madhya Pradesh High Court today directed the state government to hold student union elections in private colleges as well and issue a notification in this regard by October 30.

A division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice V K Shukla gave the directions while hearing a public interest litigation that sought students union elections to be held in private colleges just like in government colleges.

In their PIL, Jabalpur district vice president of the National Students Union of India, Badal Panjwani, and another NSUI office-bearer Rijwan Ali Koty, said the government had issued notification for holding elections on October 12.

"However, the next day, the Madhya Pradesh government issued another notification saying that the polls will be held in government colleges only," the petitioner's counsel Madhur Shukla said.

"Today, the court directed the government to hold the students' union elections in private colleges as per the recommendation of the Lyngdon panel's recommendation," he added.

Following the high court's directions, the state government submitted it will hold elections in private colleges after the polls in government colleges to be held on October 30.

The students body elections in colleges are being held after a gap of six years in Madhya Pradesh, in which the NSUI and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad are trying their luck.

The committee headed by former chief election commissioner J M Lyngdoh had in 2005 recommended a cap of Rs 5,000 on election expenses per candidate besides formulating other rules and regulations for cleaning up campus politics.

In 2006, the Supreme Court had directed that these recommendations be implemented.

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The Madras High Court today commuted the death sentence awarded to two persons in a triple murder for gain case to life imprisonment.

A bench comprising Justice PN Prakash and Justice C V Karthikeyan, however, made it clear that the convicts -- Kamaraj and Elangovan -- shall not be released unless they complete 30 years of actual imprisonment without any statutory remission or commutation.

The bench passed the orders on the appeal filed by the two accused and also referred a trial by the lower court for confirmation of the death sentence.

Kamaraj and Elangovan were sentenced to death by the additional district and sessions court in Namakkal for murdering a woman doctor, her mother and her daughter at their house in Mullai Nagar on October 13, 2011, and looting gold jewellery.

The court had also awarded double life imprisonment and 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) each to the two accused for offences, including robbery.

Another person was also allegedly involved in the crime but he died before the commencement of trial and therefore charges against him were abated.

In its order, the bench said that on the basis of the guidelines given by the Supreme Court in various judgements, it was clear that the high court should also consider the mitigating circumstances surrounding the accused.

Taking note that Kamaraj had two children and Elangovan a child, the bench said it should also keep in mind that these children do not have any anger or any reason to wreak vengeance in any manner whatsoever when they grow up and enter the society.

"To this extent, we feel that it would only be appropriate that an alternative to death sentence can be imposed on Kamaraj and Elangovan," it said.

Upholding the conviction for murder, the bench modified the death sentence to imprisonment for life.

The sentence of 10 years RI for robbery and the double life imprisonments would run consecutively. The accused shall first undergo the RI and then life imprisonments concurrently.

The bench also expressed hope that the two accused would reform themselves.

It requested the District Legal Services Authority to ensure that the children of the accused continue their school education and also guide their wives, if in some way qualified, in moving forward in life.

These positive initiatives taken by the court would propel the accused to reform themselves and when they come out of prison, they would be useful to society at least in extolling virtues of a crime-free life, the order said.

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The Richardson community in the US was mourning the death of Sherin Mathews, the three-year-old Indian girl whose foster father has claimed that she choked while drinking milk, with many people asking why he did not wake his nurse wife when the child was struggling to breathe.

Sherin, who had developmental issues and limited verbal communication skills, was confirmed dead by US police yesterday after over two weeks of investigation. She was missing since October 7.

Wesley Mathews, 37, the father of Sherin, told the police that his daughter choked while drinking milk and he removed her body from the house as he "believed she had died".

He was re-arrested and charged with first-degree felony injury to a child due to a conflicting statement to police.

The arrest came a day after the body of a small child was found in a culvert near their home in suburban Dallas.

While the cause of her death was still being probed, the community and neighbourhoods all across Texas are shocked, heartbroken, angry and mourning her death.

Wesley's wife Sini Mathews, who is a registered nurse and could have helped her, was reportedly sleeping in her room.

"All these lies, first punishing the girl and putting her under tree, later choking her in a garage at 3 AM for not drinking milk, does not add up. It is heartbreaking and shocking," said a teary-eyed resident Diana.

"It will be another story soon, when police will find the actual cause of the death," she said.

Another neighbour Barabaa Diamond Johnson asked why did not Wesley Mathews wake his nurse wife as Sherin Mathews choked to death, especially when she is a registered nurse at Children's hospital Dallas.

"I'm normally quiet about such things. But as a paediatric nurse and the mother of a child who aspirated, you don't just say, 'Oops they died' You call 911! You run screaming for anyone to help you. I'm sorry, this is more fishy than leaving her by a tree. RIP sweet girl, no one will hurt you any more," Barbara said.

People who live in the neighbourhood stopped their cars or their daily walks yesterday to see the ditch where Sherin's body was found. They pulled phones from their pockets to take photos of the spot.

Since Sunday, heavy hearts joined in song and prayer for the little girl found in the culvert.

"I think everybody is just ready for closure and we just want her to be at peace," said resident Gauthami Vemula.

The incident has left the shocked community with many unanswered questions.

Over the past two weeks, Sherin brought the whole community together in the suburb, as countless volunteers searched in and around Richardson hoping to find her.

Sunday evening, many gathered for a prayer vigil a few hours after learning of the heartbreaking developments. It was not the first time music and prayer filled the air in the 900 block of Sunningdale in Richardson.

It was not the first vigil held underneath the tree that the girl's father, Wesley, told police he last saw the girl standing near.

"A lot of people are in shock and anger and frustrated. Let's just try our best to breathe and regroup to focus our energy back on this little girl, this princess and find ways to seek her justice as best and as quick as possible," said vigil organiser Omair Siddiqi.

Meanwhile, Richardson police are sharing new details into their ongoing investigation into the disappearance and death of Sherin.

Richardson Police Department sergeant Kevin Perlich told reporters that they had previously searched the area near the culvert where Mathews' body was found Sunday but had come up empty-handed.

After heavy rainfall overnight Saturday, police returned to the area near East Spring Valley and South Bowser roads with cadaver dogs Sunday morning, knowing that rain tends to help intensify smells. An investigator and search team said the little girl's clothed body was then found "a ways into the culvert," according to Perlich.

Yesterday, Richardson police made a plea for Sini to agree to speak with the police. She has reportedly not cooperated with the police since the weekend of October 7.

Her attorney Kent Starr said she is "distraught" over the loss of her daughter and that she is trying to regain custody of her four-year-old biological daughter who was placed in foster care after her sister's disappearance.

Starr told NBC 5 yesterday that he has withdrawn and is no longer Sini's criminal defence attorney.

Additional information on the change in representation was not immediately available, and it was unclear whether she had retained a different attorney.

Wesley remained in the Richardson City Jail yesterday on USD 1-million bond. It is not known when he will be transferred to the Dallas County Jail.

Police are still investigating how long the girl's body had been in the drainage ditch.

Wesley, who works in an IT company, was charged on Monday night with injury to a child, which is punishable by up to life in prison.

Sherin's body was positively identified yesterday and autopsy results are pending. It is unclear whether authorities believe Wesley's new account of what happened.

Police have unsuccessfully tried to get Sini to voluntarily answer questions, said Richardson police sergeant Kevin Perlich.

She works at Youngsters Medical Middle in Dallas, the hospital confirmed yesterday.

Police spoke with her on Monday -- the day after Sherin's body was found but before authorities confirmed her identity.

The girl's body was found Sunday with the help of search dogs in the culvert near Spring Valley and South Bowser roads.

Police asked Sini to identify clothing found on the body.

She told police the clothing, which Perlich did not detail, looked like something Sherin might have worn. She also provided police with dental records, which were used to identify Sherin.

Attorney Kent Starr has said Sini was cooperating with the police. But his office confirmed yesterday that he was no longer representing her.

The police have said Sherin was small for her age and it wasn't unusual for her to eat in the middle of the night to gain weight. Sherin, who was about three-feet tall weighing just 22 pounds (10 kgs), was malnourished when she was adopted last year and did not have the language skills of a typical three-year-old.

The couple adopted Sherin from India last year, according to media reports. The girl had been found in the bushes before authorities sent her to an orphanage.

Neighbour Joe Keonine said yesterday that he never saw Sherin or her four-year-old sister outside. But he would sometimes see their parents doing yard work or Sini outside in her scrubs, likely on her way to or from work.

He said the neighbours are worried about what will happen to Sherin's sister. The girl is now in a foster care.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Western Asia is the most likely spot where modern humans first encountered and had sexual rendezvous with a different hominid species - the Neanderthals, a study suggests.

When the ancestors of modern humans migrated out of Africa, they passed through the Middle East and Turkey before heading deeper into Asia and Europe.

At this important crossroads, it is thought that they encountered and had sexual rendezvous with the Neanderthals.

Genomic evidence shows that this ancient interbreeding occurred, and Western Asia is the most likely spot where it happened.

Researchers at the University at Buffalo (UB) in the US explored the legacy of these interspecies trysts, with a focus on Western Asia, where the first relations may have occurred.

The research, published in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution, analysed the genetic material of people living in the region today, identifying DNA sequences inherited from Neanderthals.

"As far as human history goes, this area was the stepping stone for the peopling of all of Eurasia," said Omer Gokcumen, assistant professor at UB College of Arts and Sciences.

"This is where humans first settled when they left Africa. It may be where they first met Neanderthals. From the standpoint of genetics, it is a very interesting region," said Gokcumen.

Scientists analysed 16 genomes belonging to people of Turkish descent.

"Within these genomes, the areas where we see relatively common Neanderthal introgression are in genes related to metabolism and immune system responses," said Recep Ozgur Taskent, a PhD candidate at UB.

"Broadly speaking, these are functions that can have an impact on health," said Taskent.

For example, one DNA sequence that originated from Neanderthals includes a genetic variant linked to celiac disease. Another includes a variant tied to a lowered risk for malaria.

The relations that our ancestors had with Neanderthals tens of thousands of years ago may continue to exert an influence on our well-being today, Gokcumen said.

In addition to exploring the specific functions of genetic material that the Turkish population inherited from Neanderthals, the study also examined the Neanderthals' influence on human populations in Western Asia more broadly.

However, the research shows that people living in this area today have relatively little Neanderthal DNA compared to people in other parts of the world.

The team analysed genomic data from dozens of Western Asian individuals, and observed that, on average, with a few exceptions, these populations carry less Neanderthal DNA than Europeans, Central Asians and East Asians.

The differences in Neanderthal ancestry between Western Asian and other populations may be due to the region's unique position in human history, Taskent added.

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The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has written to the Medical Council of India (MCI) demanding that the participation of doctors in the process of capital punishment be scrapped.

In a letter to the MCI president, IMA chief K K Aggarwal said the presence of physicians at the time of execution was a "violation of medical ethics".

"The Indian Medical Association holds the view that no doctor should be present during the process of execution. This is a violation of medical ethics and therefore, a professional misconduct," Aggarwal said in the letter.

Doctors are required to monitor vital signs of convicts during the process of execution, and look for signs of life and then pronounce death.

The World Medical Association (WMA) which came out with 'Resolution on Physician Participation in Capital Punishment' in 1981 and amended in 2008, has advised its member medical associations against participating in the processes of capital punishment undertaken by governments as it is "incompatible with a physician's role as healer".

It also stated that physicians should not facilitate the importation or prescription of drugs for execution.

Further, the amended WMA Declaration of Geneva 'The Physician's Pledge' was adopted by the WMA General Assembly on October 14, 2017 in Chicago, Aggarwal said.

"All the policies and resolutions of the WMA are accepted by member national medical associations. This makes India a signatory to all the policies and resolutions adopted by the body (WMA).

"We, therefore, request you to implement the WMA 'Resolution on Physician Participation in Capital Punishment' as a guideline for doctors in the country," the letter added.

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In a blunt message, India and the United States today asked Pakistan to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure operating from its soil, asserting that terror havens inside that country would not be tolerated.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, after holding wide-ranging talks here, said Islamabad needed to take concrete action against terror groups to ensure peace and security in the region, particularly in Afghanistan.

Tillerson said he had asked the Pakistani leadership to take action against terror groups and said an enhancement in their capabilities may pose a threat to the government in Islamabad.

"Terror havens will not be tolerated," Tillerson said at a joint press conference here with Swaraj.

Swaraj, on her part, said Pakistan must dismantle the terror infrastructure, insisting that any country backing terror groups must be held accountable.

A host of issues, including ways to further boost defence and security cooperation and ramp up trade ties, were discussed by Swaraj and Tillerson.

The US Secretary of State said the Trump administration was ready to share its best technology for India's military modernisation, adding that it looked forward to discussing deals for F16 and F18 fighter jets with New Delhi.

He said India was crucial to US-Afghanistan strategy and his government was looking at strengthening cooperation with India in the Indo-Pacific region.

Swaraj said she raised the issue of H1B visa with him and requested Tillerson not to take action that might adversely affect Indians.

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India has slapped on certain stainless steel products from the EU and several other nations including China and Korea to protect the domestic industry from cheap imports.

The duty has been imposed by the revenue department following recommendation by the Directorate General of Anti- Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD).

As per a notification issued by the department, the levy ranges between 4.58 per cent and 57.39 per cent of the landed value of cold-rolled flat products of stainless steel.

The duty will be in effect until December 10, 2020, it said, while exempting certain grades of stainless steel from the levy.

The will be imposed on the imports of stainless steel products from China, Taiwan (Chines Taipei) South Korea, South Africa, Thailand, the United States of America, and the European Union.

Earlier this month, the government had imposed anti- dumping duty on imports of certain steel wire rods from China for five years.

Countries initiate anti-dumping probes to determine if the domestic industry has been hurt by a surge in below-cost imports. As a counter-measure, they impose duties under the multilateral WTO regime.

Anti-dumping measures are taken to ensure fair trade and provide a level-playing field to the domestic industry. They are not a measure to restrict imports or cause an unjustified increase in the cost of products.
India and the US today pitched for freedom of navigation, over-flight and unimpeded commerce in accordance with international laws for a "free, open and prosperous" Indo-Pacific region, amidst increasing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her US counterpart Rex Tillerson also discussed further strengthening of the Indo-US strategic partnership and collaboration on security and prosperity" in the Indo-Pacific region.

She said the two sides have agreed to hold the inaugural meeting of 2+2 dialogue at an early date. The 2+2 dialouge involves talks between the defence and the external affairs ministers.

"We also reaffirmed the importance of freedom of navigation, over-flight and unimpeded commerce in accordance with international laws in order to achieve a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," Swaraj said in a joint press conference with Tillerson here, without any reference to China.

On his part, Tillerson said the US also looks for further cooperation in the broader Indo-Pacific region as both India and the US promote a rules-based and sustainable approach towards economic development.

Ahead of his visit, Tillerson had last week said the US was India's "reliable partner" at the world stage in this period of uncertainty and angst.

He also referred to the rise of China, saying its behaviour and action were "posing a challenge to the rules- based international order".

Swaraj also said during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US this year, both countries had agreed on a set of principles that should guide connectivity initiatives in this region, particularly the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"Secretary Tillerson and I agreed that we will work together and with other partners to promote cooperation based on these principles," she added.

The two sides also deliberated on economic partnership, and agreed to work more closely to "unlock" the potential in their bilateral economic cooperation.

"The sustained growth of the Indian economy will unleash more opportunities for greater India-US economic engagement. Our Cabinet colleagues will hold in-depth discussion in Washington DC over the next two days," the external affairs minister said.

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Police in Texas have not ruled out the possibility of more arrests in the mysterious death of a 3-year-old Indian girl even as her foster father is facing a charge that carries the possibility of a life sentence.

Wesley Mathews, 37, was re-arrested after the Indian- American changed his story about his adoptive daughter Sherin Mathew's mysterious disappearance over two weeks ago from their home, police in Richardson city in suburban Dallas said.

Mathews had previously claimed that Sherin went missing after he sent her outside their home at around 3 am on October 7 as punishment for not drinking her milk.

Richardson police spokesman Sergeant Kevin Perlich said yesterday that the probe is continuing, despite the revised statement by Wesley.

Wesley has been charged with injury to a child, a felony punishable with a maximum 99 years in prison, Richardson police said. He was being held on one million dollar bond.

"Criminal charges are determined based on what information and evidence is available at the time. Mr. Mathews' statements today to Richardson detectives currently support the offense of Injury to a Child," the Richardson Police Department said said in a Facebook post.

"This charge carries the possibility of a life sentence in prison. Keep in mind, this is an active investigation, and there is the possibility of additional arrests or modified charges as more evidence becomes available," the police said.

Wesley, who works in an IT company, admitted to police that he disposed of the child's body after she choked on her milk, according to a probable cause affidavit released by police.

The father was previously arrested and charged with felony endangerment to a child and was placed on electronic ankle monitoring. He surrendered his passport as a condition of making bond on October 9. He was later released.

Police confirmed yesterday that the body of a child found on Sunday in a culvert beneath a road was that of Sherin Mathews.

The cause of death was still pending, the Richardson Police Department said on its Facebook page, citing the Dallas County Medical Examiners Office.

Wesley's wife Sini Mathews, who is a registered nurse, was reportedly sleeping in her room when the incident occurred.

Perlich had earlier said police believe Sini was unaware of her husband's alleged punishment of the girl and that she was sleeping at the time. She cooperated with police to identify Sherin's body by providing the dental records of the child, he said.
Power Grid, EXIM Bank, and NTPC figure among the companies which together raised USD 3.28 billion debt from overseas markets in September, according to Reserve Bank data.

Besides, mortage lender HDFC raised USD 201 million or about Rs 1,300 crore in the form of Rupee Denominated Bonds (RDB), popularly known as masala bonds.

State-owned Power Grid Corporation of India and EXIM Bank have raised USD 500 million each, said the RBI data today on External Commercial Borrowings (ECB)/Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCB).

Power producer NTPC raised USD 353.89 million overseas debt while oil-major IOC raised USD 300 million.

India's largest steel maker SAIL too raised USD 350 million.

The other companies which raised funds through the ECB route include, Larsen & Toubro, Dassault Reliance Aerospace, Cadila Healthcare, Apollo Tyres, and Birla Corporation.

The total fund raised through ECB and FCCB by Indian companies was USD 1.56 billion in August this year.

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India today informed the US that it has "minimal" trade with North Korea, and that there was a small Indian embassy in Pyongyang which should stay there so that some channels of communication remain open.

The issue figured during talks between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson here.

"We had open discussion on both the issues --trade reduction and closing the embassy. I told Secretary Tillerson that as far as trade is concerned it has come down, really reduced. It has become minimal," Swaraj said when asked about the divergence between Indian and the US on ties with North Korea.

She also said that "our embassy size there is very small. But the embassy is there and I told Secretary Tillerson that some of your friendly nations' embassies should stay there so that at least some channel of communication remain open. There could be occasions when you need to have a dialogue to resolve some issue".

He "understood" and "appreciated" India's stand on the issue, she said.

Swaraj's remarks in response to a question came at a time when the US is asking its allies to cut diplomatic ties with North Korea.

Trade between India and North Korea amounted to USD 130 million in 2016-17 but in the current fiscal year it stands at USD 10.95 million, according to official data.

India banned all trade with North Korea, except food and medicine, from April, in line with UN sanctions over North Korea's nuclear tests.

Asked about India's participation in Chahabhar port, which also involved Iran, and if it bothered the US, Tillerson said his government was not against legitimate business activities and development projects.

The US policy has a policy which has three important pillars --Iran's nuclear programme, Iran's destabilising activities, including export of arms to terrors groups, and support for modern voices within Iran, Tillerson said.

The US is not against Iranian people and it does not want them to suffer, he said, adding, that the purpose of sanctions against the Iran government is to deny it to undertake destabilising activities.

"So, there is no contradiction", he said.
An Indian soldier, who had crossed over to Pakistan during the surgical strikes last year and was handed over to India in January by that country, has been found guilty by an Army court which has recommended nearly three months imprisonment for him.

Official sources said that the Army court sentenced Chandu Babulal Chavan to nearly three months in prison but the quantum of punishment is yet to be approved by appropriate authorities.

Sepoy Babulal Chavan was tried by a General Court Martial and he has pleaded guilty, they said.

Chavan can appeal against his sentence.

Chavan, posted with 37 Rashtriya Rifles, had mistakenly crossed the boundary in Kashmir hours after India's surgical strikes on terrorist bases across the LoC in September last year.

In January, he was handed over to India by Pakistan.

Chavan belongs to Borvihir village in Dhule district of Maharashtra. His grandmother had died of shock following the of his capture by Pakistani troops.

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Iraqi Kurdish leaders offered today to freeze the outcome of last month's vote for independence, taking a step back in a major crisis that prompted Baghdad to seize swathes of disputed territory.

The offer came as world powers scrambled to avert any further escalation of the conflict between the key allies in the fight against the Islamic State group that has seen more than 30 combatants killed.

Washington, Moscow and the United Nations have all pressed Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani to open talks with Baghdad on a way out of the crisis sparked by the fateful September 25 vote that he called.

The Kurdistan Regional Government, led by Barzani, said it would "propose to the (federal) government and Iraqi public opinion... the freezing of the results of the referendum... and the start of an open dialogue... on the basis of the constitution."



It also called for "an immediate ceasefire and cessation of military operations in Kurdistan".

Since early last week, Iraqi federal troops and allied militia have retaken virtually all of the territory held by the Kurds outside their longstanding three-province autonomous region in the north.

In most areas the Kurds withdrew without a fight, although in the Little Zab valley close to their regional capital Arbil there was fighting and in all at least 31 combatants were killed.

The independence referendum deeply divided Iraqi Kurdish leaders and many commanders ordered their forces to pull back without resisting.

The loss of so much territory, including the major city of Kirkuk and lucrative oil fields, dealt a huge blow to Kurdish dreams of economic self-sufficiency and eventual independence.

Barzani's longtime political rival, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, had opposed the independence vote and backed a UN plan for negotiations on wider Kurdish autonomy.

The Iraqi constitution adopted during the US-led occupation of 2003-11 provides for plebiscites in the disputed areas on their possibile incorporation in the autonomous Kurdish region.

Washington has made clear that while it will not take sides in the conflict between its Iraq allies, it does not regard Baghdad's reoccupation of the disputed areas as a fait accompli.

"The reassertion of federal authority over disputed areas in no way changes their status -- they remain disputed until their status is resolved in accordance with the Iraqi constitution," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Friday.

The United Nations said on Tuesday that it stands ready to broker talks.

UN envoy Jan Kubis "expressed confidence that despite the recent tensions, Iraq will be able to ride this crisis".

"Both sides publicly expressed their willingness to engage in dialogue and negotiations on the basis of the Constitution. The UN is ready to assist, if requested," he said.

"We are confident that the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government, just like they banded together to defeat Daesh (the Islamic State group), can work hand in hand to overcome their differences through dialogue and away from confrontation to resolve all outstanding issues in a manner that is consistent with the constitution."



Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, whose domestic prestige has been sharply boosted by the return of the disputed territories to federal control, has been on a tour of regional countries which share his hostility to Kurdish moves towards secession.

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Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi arrived today in Ankara to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as ties between Ankara and Baghdad become warmer in opposition to the Kurdish independence referendum.

Abadi arrived in Ankara late morning and went to the presidential palace, state broadcaster TRT reported.

He was due to meet with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim afterwards.

The visit comes after relations between the neighbouring countries were strained last year over Turkey's presence at a military base in northern Iraq.

Ankara maintained an estimated 2,000 troops in Iraq, around 500 of them were in the northern Bashiqa camp training local fighters last year ahead of the successful bid to free Mosul from the grip of the Islamic State extremist group.

But since the non-binding independence vote and the countries' mutual vehement opposition to it, Turkey has given its support to Baghdad by threatening to close its border with the Kurdistan Regional Government and apply economic sanctions.

Ankara had particularly criticised the inclusion of Kirkuk in the independence vote, stressing the province's multi-ethnic character, where Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens live.

Abadi's visit comes as Iraqi Kurdistan proposed today to "freeze" the results of its independence referendum and the "start of an open dialogue between the government of Kurdistan and the central government on the basis of the constitution".

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Actor Jeff Goldblum, who played Dr Ian Malcolm in the first two "Jurrasic Park" films, has shared the details of his return to the franchise with upcoming film "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom".

The 65-year-old actor said that 'Malcolm' may return in the "Fallen Kingdom", reported Contactmusic.

"Ian Malcolm, yes, might be back in this one, and he might have something to say about the current confluence of circumstances around the use and misuse of technology.

"With some wry irony, deep wise passionate conviction, and he might put on a nice dark bit of clothing here and there... And a tint of glass maybe," Goldblum said.

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The Indore district administration is going to verify the claim of a couple from Jharkhand that Geeta, the speech-impaired Indian girl who returned 14 years after accidentally landing in Pakistan, is their long-missing daughter.

After returning to India in October 2015, Geeta has been living at an institution for deaf children run by an NGO here. So far at least ten couples have claimed that she was their long-lost daughter, but none of the claims were proven to be true.

A senior official told PTI today that following a discussion with the Ministry for External Affairs, a meeting between Geeta and the couple from Jharkhand would be arranged on October 27 at the collector's office here.

If needed, DNA samples of Geeta and this couple would be collected for finding out if they are related, he said.

Vijay Ram and his wife Mala Devi of Bandu village in Garhwa district of Jharkhand have claimed that Geeta is their missing daughter, Tunni Kumari alias Guddi. Tunni disappeared nine years ago from her in-laws' house in Rohtas district of Bihar, they say.

Geeta was found by Pakistan Rangers on the Samjhauta Express at the Lahore railway station when she was around seven years old. Karachi-based Edhi Foundation looked after her while she was in Pakistan.

Interestingly, Gyanendra Purohit, a sign language expert who is helping the government in the search for Geeta's parents, said, "When Geeta was in Pakistan (and efforts to bring her back began) she frequently communicated with me through video calls. These communications suggested that she is possibly from Jharkhand or Telangana."



"While in Pakistan, she once sent me a picture of piece of paper through WhatsApp. On that piece she had written the word 'Bando' in Hindi. She also wrote her name as 'Gaddi'," he said.

In a video message on October 1, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj made an emotional appeal seeking help in search for Geeta's parents. Swaraj also announced a reward of Rs one lakh for this purpose.

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Recalling the supreme sacrifice made by Brigadier Rajendra Singh while fighting tribals who raided Kashmir, the JKNPP today demanded that a Param Vir Chakra, India's highest gallantry award, be awarded to him posthumously.

"The Government of India should announce a posthumous Param Vir Chakra for the brave saviour of Kashmir, Brigadier Rajendra Singh, who laid down his life for the motherland on the intervening night of 26th and 27th October 1947," Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) chairman Harsh Dev Singh told reporters here.

Describing the late Brigadier as a symbol of Dogra pride and honour, the JKNPP chairman said, "The role played by the martyr was admired by one and all. He set an extraordinary example of dutifulness, chivalry and supreme sacrifice while fighting against very heavy odds."



He said that his sacrifice bought the then Maharaja Hari Singh valuable time to sign the Instrument of Accession and get help of the Indian Army, which defended Kashmir.

"Brigadier Singh assembled around 110 soldiers to fight with an invading force of over 6000 and his exemplary resistance followed by martyrdom eventually delayed the advance of Pakistani forces. Due to his valour, Maharaja was able to accede J-K with the Union of India on 26th Oct 1947 by signing the historic Instrument of Accession," Harsh continued.

Harsh Dev Singh urged the government to posthumously honour the Dogra soldier. He was the first recipient of the Maha Vir Chakra of independent India but his commitment and dutifulness toward the motherland and his impeccable courage and heroics deserved the PVC," Harsh maintained.

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Kenyan opposition chief leader Raila Odinga urged his supporters to stay at home tomorrow as the country forges ahead with a disputed presidential poll that could threaten the stability of the east African powerhouse.

In a move likely to ease fears of election-day violence, Odinga today called on followers to "hold vigils and prayers away from polling stations or just stay at home" for the poll.

Supporters should stay away, for the "bloodthirsty regime is planning to use every excuse to massacre our people," he charged.

The election is the chaotic climax of a two-months political drama that began when the Supreme Court overturned the victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta in the August 8 elections.

It cited "irregularities" and mismanagement by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The repeat election is going ahead after clearing myriad legal and political hurdles, but anxiety remains high over the unpredictable consequences of a vote that will take place without Odinga.

Opposition protests have resulted in at least 40 people being killed, mostly at the hands of police and in poor opposition strongholds, according to rights groups.

In Odinga's western stronghold of Kisumu, one protester was shot in the hip on Wednesday, according to an AFP photographer, as demonstrators engaged in running battles with police.

Election chief Wafula Chebukati -- who said last week he could not guarantee a credible election -- appeared to soften his stance today after "assurances" from security officials and authorities and "progress" within his divided commission.

"The election as scheduled will go ahead tomorrow, the 26th of October," he said.

The final legal hurdle came in the form of a last-minute Supreme Court petition to delay the election.

But the hearing was unable to go ahead after only two of seven judges showed up in court. At least five judges are needed to form a quorum.

Chief Justice David Maraga said one judge was ill and out of the country, one could not get a flight to Nairobi and two were "not able to come to court," he said.

And his deputy, Philomena Mwilu, did not attend because her bodyguard was shot and seriously wounded yesterday evening.

She was not in her car at the time but the incident fuelled anxiety in a country still reeling from the torture and murder of a top official overseeing Kenya's electronic voting system just a week before the August poll.

The vote has also been plagued by opposition attacks on polling officials and a general atmosphere of intimidation.

Chebukati said last week one of his staff members' house had been burned down, saying when "midwifing democracy... becomes as risky as going to war, then we are at our lowest".

Outspoken opposition senator James Orengo said the failure to raise a quorum was "not by coincidence or by accident."



The ballot was meant to pit Kenyatta, who turns 56 tomorrow, against 72-year-old Odinga for the third time, in a dynastic political rivalry that began with their fathers after the country gained independence from Britain.

But while Odinga secured a rare victory in having the August ballot overturned, he has refused to take part in the re-run.

The withdrawal assures a triumph for Kenyatta, although analysts say the flawed image of the election will tarnish his victory.

Odinga accuses the IEBC of failing to make sufficient reforms to ensure the vote would be free, fair and credible.

The veteran opposition leader, who has lost three previous elections claiming fraud in two of them, said his National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition would transform into "a resistance movement."



NASA will "embark on a national campaign of defiance of illegitimate governmental authority and non-cooperation with all its organs," he declared.

Odinga also reiterated his hope of forcing another "fresh, free and fair presidential election... within 90 days."



Top diplomats and observers have excoriated both Odinga and Kenyatta for sowing division with inflammatory rhetoric, and refusing to hold joint meetings with the IEBC that could open the way to a free and fair election.

The IEBC itself has also been riven by internal discord.

Last week, a top commissioner quit her job and fled the country, citing fears for her life and intimidation of poll officials.

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Lt Governor Anil Baijal today rejected Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's claim that a bill on regularisation of guest teachers was pending with his office, saying a solution could be found within relevant laws rather than "public posturing".

However, Sisodia in another letter to Baijal today alleged that he had come to know that the LG had ordered the Education Department to advertise vacancies for teachers, without giving guest teachers a path to regularisation.

He also urged Baijal not to destroy all that the AAP dispensation had built so far, asking him not to "override" the decisions of the elected government.

"The bill has not yet been presented to him (LG) along with the requisite reports as required under the Transaction of Business of the Government of NCT of Delhi Rules. Thus, it would not be correct to say that the bill is pending for his consideration," the LG office said quoting Baijal's letter to Sisodia.

The LG said the bill was passed by the Delhi Assembly, despite his advice to reconsider the decision to introduce the bill as it was not in accordance with the constitutional scheme of governance.

"A solution to this problem could be found within relevant laws rather than public posturing," he said.

Baijal's response comes in response to a letter by the deputy chief minister yesterday in which he had claimed that the guest teacher bill was pending with the LG office, while seeking his assent to the proposal.

In another letter to Baijal today, Sisodia alleged that he had come to know the chief secretary had sent the file on the bill, without showing it either to the law minister or the education minister.

"When I ask the officers why this file was not shown to me or the teacher recruitment issue not discussed with me, then I'm told that your office (LG's) has given them clear instructions that no files regarding the issue of teacher recruitment have to be shown to the elected government," he alleged.

In the letter, Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, also claimed that there had been progress in the education sector since the AAP government was formed.

"I'm writing to you (LG) not to destroy all that we have built so far. Kindly do not override the decisions of the elected government," he said.

Earlier this month, the Delhi Assembly had passed the Regularisation of Services of Guest Teachers and Teachers Engaged Under the 'Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Bill, 2017.

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The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has issued a notice to the deputy commissioner of the city government's excise department seeking shifting of a liquor shop situated near a civic body-run school in Rohini.

DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal has asked the excise department to also submit a report regarding the same within seven days.

The guardians of the students and teachers of the schools had complained to the commission about the liquor shop, a statement by the Delhi women's panel said.

The commission had earlier asked the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of the area to file a report on the liquor shop. The SDM's report stated that the distance between the liquor shop and the school's back wall is less than 10 meters.

The report also stated that due to the liquor shop, the atmosphere in the area has turned noxious and is impacting the school children in a bad way. The SDM suggested that the liquor shop be shifted, the DCW statement said.

The guardians of the school students, the principal and teachers in their complaint to the DCW had said that in 2014, there were 872 students (467 boys, 405 girls) in the school, but due to the liquor shop, more and more parents are opting their children out of the school and sending them to other schools.

In 2017, the school has only 548 students, of which 271 are girls, the complaint stated.

The compliant also stated that as the liquor shop is against the backside wall of the school, inebriated men pass indecent comments on students and teacher, and they also throw empty liquor bottles in the school premises.

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Bangalore International Airport Limited has expanded its dedicated bonded trucking service operations, Logi Connect, from Coimbatore-Irugur Concor ICD to Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR airport).

The first shipment from the city via BLR airport was shipped to Quebec, Canada on October 5, an official release said here today.

With a proven safety record of its route to and from Tirupur under the Knitwork Connect BLR project, Coimbatore exporters are guaranteed that their consignments will be transported via road in an efficient, safe and highly process-driven manner.

The exporters can be assured that their air freight would reach its ultimate destination quickly, efficiently and in a cost-effective manner.

Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) would be the terminal operator in Coimbatore and BLR Airport plans to initiate more routes to neighbouring cities in the near future, it said.

Stating that LOGI Connect works in collaboration and consultation with its partners to address enhanced catchment area connectivity, it said the operational team assures that the product is handled with reliability from origin to point of uplift on the flight.

The service aims to provide customers the peace of mind of knowing that their product is being delivered intact.

This project would further increase the overall cargo tonnage from the airport and with state-of-the-art technology and improved communication, LOGI CONNECT offers exporters multiple advantages, the release said.

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An alleged robber, who tried to loot a cash van in Noida, was arrested within hours of the incident from Vaishali here after an encounter in which a sub-inspector was injured, the police said.

The Indirapuram police nabbed the accused around 11.30 am from the Sector 4 area. One of his accomplices managed to escape, they said.

Superintendent of Police (City) Akash Tomar said that the police got information on wireless about a robbery attempt in Noida in which two bike-borne people had shot at the guard of a cash delivery van.

Earlier in the day, Kailash, the guard, had suffered bullet injuries to his abdomen when he was trying to stop the accused from looting the van near a Noida mall. He has been admitted to a hospital, the police said.

The police intercepted the accused. Finding themselves cordoned they opened fire. Sub-Inspector Bhupendra Singh and the accused Rizwan, a resident of Bulandshahar, suffered bullet injuries, the SP said.

Rizwan has confessed to the crime. The Noida police is also questioning him.He is wanted in 18 criminal cases in Bulandshahr and Ghaziabad, he claimed.

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A 55-year-old man was attacked and mauled to death by a bear in the jungle near the Mizoram-Myanmar border at Kawlbem village in Champhai district on Monday, police said.

A police report said Thangchhuana, a Grade IV employee at the Government High School in Kawlbem village, was attacked by the bear which ran away after he shot at it with a gun. The bear also died of bullet injury.

Hearing the gunshot, Thangchhuana's friend came to his rescue and found him lying on the ground with serious injuries.

Thangchhuana succumbed to his injuries while he was being taken to his village.

When the villagers went back to look for his gun, they found the bear lying dead a few metres away.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Most of the hospitals and nursing homes in Arunachal Pradesh don't have facilities for disposal of bio-medical wastes, according to a recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

The CAG report which was tabled in the state assembly this month highlighted that in 10 government hospitals treatment plants were installed. But they remained non-functional due to lack of trained manpower, technical defects, lack of fund for maintenance besides shortage of power.

The Centre had framed the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 1998 under the provision of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 which prescribed the procedures for treatment and disposal of bio-medical waste generated by hospitals, nursing homes, dispensaries and clinics.

The report highlighted various drawbacks with the Arunachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (APSPCB) as the board did not have the state level data on health care establishments which is required for compliance of rules and regulations of the Bio-Medical Waste.

The report pointed out that out of only 12 out of 437 health care establishments are functioning with authorisation issued by the APSPCB.

The report further stated that 12 hospitals inspected did not observe the standards prescribed in the rules for disposal of bio-medical waste.

The CAG findings revealed that in the state hospital at Naharlagun, near here, bio-medical waste treatment plant was installed in June 2004 at a cost of Rs 70.88 lakh under central assistance was subsequently dismantled in June 2012 to accommodate construction of 300 bedded hospital at the site and no replacement had been provided since then.

In general hospital Pasighat, where the plant was installed on June 2004 at a cost of Rs 70.88 lakh, was lying idle since September 2009 due to technical defects, it said.

Subsequently, another plant at a cost of Rs 68.50 lakh funded under National Rural Health Mission was approved in December 2013 but remained incomplete even after two years of its sanction, the report said.

Another treatment plant installed at General Hospital Aalo at a cost of Rs 22.89 lakh in 2009 under NRHM, was not functional since its installation due to unsatisfactory installation and lack of trained operator.

The plant was dismantled and a new plant at a cost of Rs 50 lakh taken under NRHM during 2015-16 remained incomplete.

Similar was the fate of the plants installed in General Hospitals at Ziro, Bomdila, Tezu and Khonsa, the report added.

The report further stated that a joint inspection of 12 test checked hospitals was conducted with representatives of APSPCB and the hospital authorities where it was revealed number of deviations from the prescribed procedure for disposal of bio-medical waste.

In some hospitals, bio-medical waste were disposed with solid waste and in some government hospitals the waste were disposed of by burning in open space in hospital premises or disposed of by burning in local made chullah in hospital premises.

The CAG report has recommended the state government to adopt mechanism for enlisting all the health care establishments functioning in the state for issue of authorisation and effective monitoring of their functioning.

It also suggested for preparing a detail plan for establishment of bio-medical waste treatment plants in government hospitals and also takes necessary steps to operationalise the existing idle plants through budgetary provisions.

The report further suggested the government for ensuring that all the health care establishments dispose bio-medical waste in compliance with the prescribed standards to prevent adverse effect on human health and environment.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique has sacked three top security chiefs two weeks after an attack on police stations initially blamed on jihadists that left two officers and 14 attackers dead.

The president's office announced in a statement yesterday that the head of the country's spy agency, police force and army would be removed immediately. Their replacements have yet to be named and no reason for the dismissals was given.

Police initially claimed that the perpetrators of the attacks on police stations in the country's north earlier this month were linked to homegrown "Islamic extremist sects".

They later retracted the statement saying they were unconnected to any organised group.

The attacks occurred on October 5 and 6 in the typically quiet town of Mocimboa de Praia near the border with Tanzania.

Fourteen of the assailants, two police officers and a civilian were slain in the attacks that detectives described as coordinated but with an unknown motive. Fifty people have been detained in connection with the bloodshed.

"This is a wake-up call for Mozambique and unless inequality and youth unemployment and education is improved, we may see more of this," said Alex Vines from the London- based Chatham House think-tank following the attacks.

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Top naval commanders today cleared a new plan for deployment of warships in the Indian Ocean region to effectively counter China's growing presence in the strategically key waters.

The "new mission-based deployment" plan involves deploying mission-ready ships and aircraft along critical sea lanes of communications, Navy sources said.

The issue of China's growing assertiveness in the Indian Ocean figured prominently on the second day of the four-day long naval commanders' conference.

The Indian Navy has been deploying its warships in the Indian Ocean region for carrying out anti-piracy patrol and providing humanitarian assistance.

The deployments are to be maintained round-the-clock now, said the sources.

Chief of Army Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa addressed the conference during which they deliberated on a host of issues including deeper integration in functioning of the three forces.

A host of operational issues, including efforts to make the Navy self-reliant and modernise its warfare capability, were also discussed.

On the new deployment plan, the sources said Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba has approved a new transition cycle for ships from maintenance periods to operational deployments that allows for a focused and gradual transition of ships from periods of maintenance layoffs to full scale operations.

Over the next two days, the Navy commanders are expected to discuss issues relating to safety.

The Comptroller and Auditor General in July, in a report, had said the Indian Navy's ships and submarines were involved in 38 accidents between 2007-08 and 2015-16, adversely affecting the operational preparedness of the force.

The auditor had said the accidents were primarily attributable to fire, explosion and flooding, adding that the Navy had no institutionalised framework to deal with safety since its inception.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's personal diplomatic envoy and confidant announced today he was relinquishing his voluntary position on the backdrop of growing public criticism of his undefined function.

"I respectfully request that you discharge me from my position as emissary and special diplomatic adviser to the premier," Yitzhak Molcho wrote to Netanyahu in a letter distributed by the premier's office.

A lawyer by training, Molcho served in that capacity during Netanyahu's first term as prime minister in the years 1996-1999 and then again since 2009, when Netanyahu returned to power.

Molcho led Israeli negotiating teams with the Palestinians, and was Netanyahu's pointman for resolving sensitive issues with neighbouring Arab states Egypt and Jordan.

Since he answered to Netanyahu only and was accountable to no formal parliamentary checks, lawmakers criticised at time the lack of transparency in his actions.

Molcho is partner in a law firm with David Shimron, Netanyahu's relative and attorney, who has been investigated as part of the graft scandal involving the purchase of submarines from Germany.

In August, a petition was filed against Molcho continuing his work with Netanyahu in the light of Shimron's involvement in the submarine affair.

"In my government, there will be no Molchos and no Shimrons," head of Labour party Avi Gabbay tweeted after the of the resignation broke.

Netanyahu issued a statement thanking Molcho for his services.

"I need not enumerate the sensitive and important diplomatic missions that you have carried out," he wrote. "You did so with a rare combination of ability, experience and a deep and comprehensive knowledge of the issues."



Molcho will leave the job at the end of February 2018.

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Rating agency ICRA today said the new highways programme, unveiled by the Cabinet yesterday, offers huge opportunities for construction companies.

The government yesterday approved a mega plan to build 83,677 km of highways by March 2022 at a cost of about Rs 7 lakh crore, which includes the ambitious Bharatmala project.

"This could result in significant jump in annual awards - more than 25,000 km per annum over next three years and consequently provides huge opportunities for construction companies," ICRA said in a statement.

NHDP, the largest highways project ever undertaken in the country till date, is being implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) since 2000 and as on March 31, 2017, it has completed construction of 26,255 km, and given this track record, completing 83,000 km by FY2022 looks extremely ambitious, Icra said.

"NHDP execution suffered both on account of funding and approval related issues. While the dependence on the private sector investments for the new programme is low when compared to the twelfth five year plan, which could result in faster awards; securing right of way by complying with Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act is going to be a challenge," Shubham Jain, VP & Sector Head, Corporate Ratings, said.

He said the success of the programme critically hinges on the pace of land acquisition along with other requisite approvals.

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has got five days's custody of Shajahan Velluva Kandy alias Mohamed Ismail Mohideen, a suspected ISIS terrorist, who was deported from Turkey in July, the agency said here today.

It said the NIA had earlier re-registered the case probed by the Special Cell (SB), New Delhi.

"Kandy was arrested on July 01, 2017 at the IGI airport, New Delhi, on his deportation by the Turkish authorities. He is an ISIS operative who had gone to Turkey/Syria for carrying out terrorist activities after procuring an Indian passport in the fake name," the agency said.

Kandy (32), from Kannur in Kerala, was arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police after it received information from Turkey's police about his deportation, said Pramod Singh Kushwah, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) had said.

He had gone to Turkey in June last year with his wife but was deported from there in February this year after he tried to cross over to Syria in an apparent bid to join the ISIS, the officer had said.

His wife was also sent back to India.

The police had said he procured a fake passport using the services of an agent from Chennai. In the fake documents, he was identified as Mohammad Ismail, 35, the officer said.

He travelled alone to Turkey in March and made an attempt to cross over to Syria in June, but was deported to India again, he added.

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North Korea's ambassador called on the UN Security Council today to urgently discuss the recent US joint naval exercise near the Korean peninsula, calling it preparation for a pre-emptive strike and nuclear war against his country.

Ja Song Nam said in a letter, a copy of which was sent to The Associated Press, that the naval exercise was the largest "waged with general mobilisation of the nuclear strategic assets" after US President Donald Trump last month "made the most ferocious declaration of war in history by claiming to 'totally destroy' the DPRK." Those are the initials of the country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Ja said the naval exercise, which began October 16 and involved the nuclear aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan, three nuclear submarines, Aegis destroyers and more than 40 other battleships and fighter aircraft "of all kinds," increased tensions on the Korean peninsula.

The five-day naval drills with the South Korean navy came ahead of Trump's first official visit to Asia next month, which is likely to be overshadowed by tensions with North Korea over its escalating nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

The US and South Korea regularly conduct joint military exercises that Pyongyang condemns as invasion rehearsals.

"What cannot be overlooked," the DPRK's Ja said, "is the fact that the US, not being contented with the joint military exercise on the Korean peninsula, is kicking up the racket of military pressure upon the DPRK on a worldwide scale and is becoming more undisguised in its attempt to introduce NATO and other armed forces of its followers into the Korean peninsula in case of emergency."



In the letter addressed to France's UN Ambassador Francois Delattre, the current Security Council president, he asked for the council to bring up the US joint military exercise as an "urgent agenda item," saying "these military exercises constitute (a) clear threat to international peace and security."



"No other country in the world than the DPRK has ever been subjected to such an extreme and direct nuclear threat from the US for such a long time and witnessed on its door such nuclear war exercises which are the most vicious and ferocious in their scale, style, aim and essence," the ambassador said.

North Korea has repeatedly urged the Security Council to discuss US-South Korea military exercises, but its requests have never been taken up. The United States is a permanent, veto-wielding council member.

If the council ignores the DPRK request again, Ja said, it will demonstrate "more clearly" that the UN's most powerful body is only a "political tool" of the United States.

The DPRK ambassador, in a separate letter, reiterated a request for the secretary-general to organise an international forum of lawyers to clarify the legal basis of the Security Council's increasingly tough sanctions resolutions, imposed in response to its nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

Ja suggested several issues for discussion including: Why was North Korea's satellite launch prohibited when international law "stipulates that peaceful use of outer space is an inalienable sovereignty of the state?" Why are North Korea's nuclear tests banned when the nuclear test ban treaty has not yet come into effect?



In March, Ja said the UN Secretariat should not again respond with the "preposterous out-of-date sophistries" that it is up to the Security Council to determine what constitutes a threat to international peace and security.

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A 20 per cent increase in tourist inflow from India has been registered in Philippines which is pushing to promote its tourist spots in India.

A senior official said the tourism department of Philippines was expecting 100,000 Indian tourists by the end of this calendar year.

"The number of tourists from India is increasing. We have registered a growth of close to 20 per cent from the Indian market," Daks Gonzales, Head of the Office of Product and Marketing Development, Government of Philippines, told PTI here.

"This year, we are targeting seven million international tourists in Philippines by the end of this year," he said, adding that among them, one lakh are likely to be Indian tourists.

Gonzales was in the city to promote the Philippines tourism at a road show, Philindex 2017, which is covering the four cities of Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Lucknow besides Jaipur.

"We are now focusing on tier-two cities for tourism promotion. We covered Mumbai and Delhi a couple of months back and now are focusing on the northern region," he said.

He said tourists from Indian cities, which are directly connected, are visiting Philippines and the tourism department of Philippines is now looking forward to tap the potential of other cities like Jaipur.

Another official said over the last couple of years, the tourism department had been actively promoting Philippines for luxury, MICE (Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), weddings and small group travel destinations besides a holiday destination.

Destinations such as Manila, Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, and Davao have been aggressively promoted in recent years, he said.

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A plea was today moved in the Delhi High Court challenging the city government's order for online admission to entry level classes in private schools for the economically weaker section (EWS) and disadvantaged group (DG) categories.

The petition, filed by an NGO, is likely to come up for hearing on October 27 before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and C Hari Shankar.

The plea by NGO, Justice For All, challenged the Delhi government's January 9, 2017 notification for online system of admission under EWS/ DG category, saying it was contrary to the January 7, 2011 notification of the Lieutenant Governor.

It said that the LG had issued a notification which specified that the manner and time schedule for the admission of EWS/ DG children must not be different from the process followed for the general category kids.

The petition filed through advocate Khagesh Jha claimed that the government's notification was arbitrary and in violation of the provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) Act and the LG's notification.

It said the Delhi government's Directorate of Education (DoE) has failed to ensure admission to thousands of children of EWS and DG category and the online system has multiplied the complications faced by the parents.

The plea has sought quashing of government's notification and a direction to the DoE and all the three municipal corporations to prepare a comprehensive mechanism of online/ offline admission under EWS/DG category in all schools of Delhi irrespective of the agency which recognises the schools.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will tomorrow inaugurate a global conference that will discuss about steps taken by Asian countries to implement the UN guidelines on consumer protection as well as challenges faced by consumers of financial services and e-commerce.

Around 20 countries including China, South Korea, Singapore, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have confirmed their participation. Pakistan and North Korea have not been invited for the event.

The United Nations (UN) had come out with guidelines on consumer protection in 1985. In the very next year in 1986, India became the first country to frame its own law, which is being replaced with a new one.

"In the conference, different countries will share about the way they are ensuring consumer protection and kind of legal framework put in place in view of challenges being faced by online consumers and those buying financial services," a senior Consumer Affairs Ministry official said.

The discussion will also be on how Asian countries can learn from each other's experiences and if possible decide a mechanism to resolve consumer complaints at Asia level and also bilateral ties in this regard, the official added.

Although many of the participating countries do not have a separate law on consumer protection or a separate department, India is looking at learning best practices from Malaysia and others with regard to Alternative Dispute Redressal Mechanism.

Since digital revolution has brought many new issues, the conference will also deliberate on different ways in which consumer education and empowerment are strengthened.

The two-day event is being organised in association with United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

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The Supreme Court today granted bail to former Noida Authority chief engineer Yadav Singh who has been chargesheeted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case.

A bench headed by Justice S A Bobde granted the relief to Singh after his counsel said that the accused was entitled to statutory bail since the charge sheet was not filed by ED within the stipulated period from the date of his arrest.

The counsel, appearing for the ED, opposed the bail plea and argued that the charge sheet was filed within the stipulated period.

Though bail has been granted to Singh in the ED case, he will remain in jail as there were several other corruption cases against him.

Singh has approached the apex court challenging the order passed by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court denying him bail in the matter.

In his plea before the Allahabad High Court, he had contended that he was technically entitled to bail since the chargesheet was not submitted by the probe agency within the statutory period.

The high court had dismissed his petition, considering the ED's submission that the chargesheet was filed on time.

In 2015, the ED had slapped money laundering charges against Singh, who was engineer-in-chief of the Noida Authority, Greater Noida Authority and Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority, on the basis of an FIR lodged by the CBI.

Earlier, the Income Tax department had said the raid in November 2014 had revealed that Singh's assets were hugely disproportionate to his income, following which he was suspended by the then Uttar Pradesh government.

In July 2015, the Allahabad High Court had directed the CBI to investigate the case stating that the allegations were most serious.

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President Ram Nath Kovind's mention of the 18th century Mysore ruler, Tipu Sultan, in his address to the joint session of Karnataka legislature today triggered a political slug fest between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP.

The development comes amid a raging controversy over the state government celebrating the birth anniversary of the Mysore ruler on November 10. The move has been opposed tooth and nail by the BJP which sees Tipu Sultan as a "religious bigot" and a "brutal killer".

"Tipu Sultan died a heroic death fighting the British. He was also a pioneer in the development and use of Mysore rockets in warfare. This technology was later adopted by the Europeans," Kovind said while noting that Karnataka is a land of formidable soldiers.

The president's reference to Tipu Sultan came after he noted the contributions of various historical figures of Karnataka, including Krishnadevaraya who was the emperor of the Vijayanagara empire from 1509 to 1529.

As the president made the reference about the 18th century ruler in his speech to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature, the Congress members cheered by thumping on the desks.

Tipu was a ruler of the erstwhile kingdom of Mysore. He was considered an implacable enemy of the British East India Company. He was killed in May 1799 while defending his fort of Srirangapatna against the British forces.

Opposition BJP and some outfits are opposed to Tipu Jayanti celebrations and have called hin "religious bigot", "fanatic" and "anti-Kannada".

Tipu Sultan is also viewed in a negative light in Kodagu district of the state where he is alleged to have persecuted the local Kodava population, as also the Roman Catholics of Mangaluru, on religious grounds and forced conversion to Islam.

Hitting out at the state government, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa alleged that the government has "misused" the office of the president by getting Tipu's name mentioned in the speech.

"I condemn it....it is an insult done to people of Karnataka by the state government. If we had raised objections when president mentioned Tipu, it would have led to violation of protocol...," he added.

Reacting to the allegations, state Congress working president Dinesh Gundu Rao said the BJP should be "ashamed."



He said "by trying to say that president has just read out a speech written by somebody, they are insulting the office of the president and the president."



Suggesting that the speech was prepared by president's office after collecting inputs from various sources, Rao said "...such allegations show the state of mind the BJP leaders are in."



"Congratulations to Hon. President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind for a statesman like address to the Karnataka legislature. @rashtrapatibhvn," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tweeted.

Recently, Union minister Anantkumar Hegde had stirred a hornet's nest after he requested the Karnataka government not to include his name in programme invitations for Tipu Jayanti celebrations.

"(I have) conveyed (to) Karnataka government not to invite me to the shameful event of glorifying a person known as a brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist," Hegde had said in a tweet.

The Siddaramaiah-led government is all set to celebrate Tipu Jayanti despite widespread protests and violence that had marred the celebrations in the last two years.

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Prasar Bharati should have a dedicated digital platform, the public broadcaster's chairperson A Surya Prakash said here today.

At a meeting of the Prasar Bharati board here, Prakash suggested that the digital platform could even be a public-private partnership through a special purpose vehicle, said an offical who attended the meeting.

Prakash said he had headed a committee which had given its recommendations for the setting up of a digital platform apart from the conventional Doordarshan TV channels and AIR stations.

Prasar Bharati, which was created in 1997 through an Act of Parliament, oversees the functioning of Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR).

Prakash, whose term as prasar bharati chairman comes to an end on October 28, also pitched for upgradation of skills for the staff, including technicians.

He said that more hiring could be done from the private sector for the public broadcaster, the official said.

The prasar bharati chairman also spoke for the 'FMisation' of AIR and digitisation of archives.

He also stressed on the need to resolve the organisation's human resource-related issues as there were officials who were working without a single promotion in as much as 20 years.

He said the interests of the employees had to be taken care of, the official said.

Prakash noted that Prasar Bharati has been created by Parliament and the mandate of Parliament must be respected and upheld, the official said.

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A privilege motion was brought against an MLA of the INLD, the main opposition party in the Haryana Assembly, for making objectionable remarks against a BJP legislator, which led to an uproar in the House.

On the concluding day of the Assembly's winter session, INLD MLA Kehar Singh and BJP legislator Gian Chand Gupta engaged in a heated exchange of words when Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was replying to a calling attention notice.

The notice was moved by INLD members to draw the Assembly's attention on the state government's decision of selecting applicants for Group C and D posts on merit basis.

When Khattar was replying to the calling attention notice, Kehar Singh raised some question over the claims of the chief minister on the issue of employment generation.

Gupta tried to counter the INLD MLA's charge. Upset over being interjected, Kehar Singh made some serious allegations against Gupta, drawing sharp reaction from the treasury bench.

Proceedings of the House were disrupted for quite some time as members of treasury benches and INLD MLAs traded barbs. INLD legislators, led by Jaswinder Singh, even demanded a probe over the allegation against Gupta.

Deputy Speaker Santosh Yadav unsuccessfully tried to end the logjam. Haryana Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ram Bilas Sharma even asked the INLD MLA to withdraw his accusations but to no effect.

Then BJP MLA Shyam Singh Rana moved a privilege motion against Kehar Singh. Other BJP legislators supported the motion, following which it was approved by the Deputy Speaker.

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Psycopaths - perceived as cold and ruthless - may be good for the society in certain situations, suggests a study which found that such individuals are more likely to sacrifice one person to save a larger group of people.

The study, led by researchers from University of Plymouth in the UK, compared participants' answers to a questionnaire, with actions in immersive moral dilemmas created using a robotic device which measures force, resistance, and speed, whilst simulating the action of harming a human.

In several dilemmas, participants had to decide whether to sacrifice a person by performing a harmful action against them, in order to save a larger group of people.

While all individuals were more likely to sacrifice others in these immersive environments than in questionnaire- based assessments, people with strong psychopathic traits were more likely to generate these harmful actions with greater physical power.

Psychopathy is generally characterised by antisocial behaviour and impaired empathy. As such, it is thought that individuals with strong psychopathic traits find it less emotionally challenging to sanction utilitarian actions.

This resilience to performing actively harmful acts appears to enable these individuals to act for the 'greater good', researchers said.

The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, indicates that psychopathic traits could be considered beneficial in certain circumstances, since they can lead to a more vigorous response.

"For the first time, we demonstrate how personality traits can influence the physical power of our moral actions," said Kathryn Francis, now a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Reading in the UK.

"Importantly, the multidisciplinary approaches that we have used here, combining virtual reality, robotics, and interactive sculpture, places further emphasis on the need to unite the sciences and the arts when investigating complex phenomena such as morality," said Francis.

"This study opens up the possibility to assess psychopathy using novel virtual reality technology which is vital to better understand how and why people with these behavioural traits act in certain ways," said Sylvia Terbeck, lecturer at University of Plymouth.

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The Rajasthan Assembly today passed two bills -- one related to disqualification of lawmakers and the other about power distribution management -- referred one to a select committee of the House, while another was tabled.

The House passed 'Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Members (Prevention of Disqualification) Bill-2017 and 'The Rajasthan State Electricity Distribution Management Responsibility (Amendment) Bill-2017.

The Rajasthan Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutes in the State and of Appointments and Posts in Services Under the State) Bill-2017 was tabled in the House by the Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Arun Chaturvedi, whereas the 'CrPC (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill-2017 was referred to the select committee of the House.

The CrPC (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill-2017 Bill, which was introduced in the house on Monday, was proposed to be taken up for discussion tomorrow.

This bill was introduced on Monday along with the controversialCriminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill 2017, which seeks to protect judges and bureaucrats from probe without the state government's prior sanction.

The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill was also referred to the select committee yesterday after heavy protest by the Opposition.

Replying to the debate on the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Members (Prevention of Disqualification) Bill, Parliamentary Affairs Minister said the government wants to consolidate the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Members (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1956 and the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Members (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1969 in a single law the bill.

Rathore said the government has taken initiatives to consolidate multiple laws on the same subject into one law.

The ruling party MLA Ghanshyam Tiwari objected to the bill saying it was against the spirit of the Constitution and that the government should reconsider it.

Energy Minister Pushpendra Singh replying to the debate on the The Rajasthan State Electricity Distribution Management Responsibility (Amendment) Bill informed that transmission and distribution losses have reduced in the state.

"The transmission and distribution losses in the state before 2013 were more than 30 per cent which has been reduced during the BJP government rule," he informed.

After the bills were passed, the house was adjourned for the day.

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The rape of a destitute woman in Visakhapatnam, mutely watched by spectators and recorded by some, drew fire from the Andhra Pradesh Women's Commission, which demanded today that the onlookers be punished along with the rapist.

Drawing a parallel between the rapist and the spectators, Commission chairperson Nannapaneni Rajakumari demanded that those who watched her being raped in broad daylight or walked past her be punished.

Rajakumari, who asserted that the rapist and the onlookers had both committed a crime, said she would urge police officials to use CCTV footage to identify passersby who failed to take any action to stop the crime.

An auto-rickshaw driver was among the onlookers and allegedly recorded the entire incident on his mobile phone.

"We will ensure that the accused receives stringent punishment for the act and also request Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to offer compensation ranging between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh to the victim," she added.

She said the Commission would provide medical care and shelter to the victim.

"This case should lead to awareness so that such incidents do not happen again," she told reporters here.

The 40-year-old woman was allegedly raped on Sunday by an inebriated man near a busy road. Some watched or even recorded the act.

Visakhapatnam's Assistant Commissioner of Police (East) A Narasimha Murthy said the auto driver recorded the incident on his mobile phone and called the police, who detained him.

Rajakumari, who was here to take part in a National Commission for Women (NCW) meeting, also said she had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to constitute a separate censor board for television serials.

"In the films of the good old days, women were portrayed as embodiments of endurance. But now they are portrayed negatively in TV serials. I request the prime minister to take the necessary steps in constituting a censor board for TV serials," she said in the letter, which was also sent to Union minister Smriti Irani.

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Billionaire Anil Ambani-led Reliance Communications will shut down its loss-making wireless telephony business by November 30 and concentrate only on 4G Internet services.

The debt-laden firm has asked its 1,500-2,000 employees to look for jobs as 2G and 3G cellphone services business will be shut down from November 30, sources in the industry and those privy to the development said.

Refusing to comment on the shutting down of the wireless business, the company issued a short statement, saying it will adopt a 4G focused strategy for profitable growth of its wireless business.

"As already announced on October 1, 2017, RCom has decided to adopt a 4G-focussed strategy for profitable growth of its wireless business. Accordingly, RCom will be optimising its 2G and 3G footprint, and related infrastructure and human resources, with effect from November 30, 2017," it said.

RCom said its "4G-led strategy will be executed, as at present, on the back of capital-light access to India's most extensive 4G mobile network, through already operational spectrum-sharing and ICR arrangements with Reliance Jio".

The company's more than 40 million customers will have to upgrade to 4G or migrate to other operators, the sources said.

On October 1, it had called off a proposed merger with Aircel, citing regulatory and legal hurdles. The merger was seen as vital for its survival in the intensely competitive telecom sector.

RCom is in the midst of a strategic debt restructuring, under which it has entered into a standstill agreement with banks requiring it not to pay any interest or principal till December 2018.

With Rs 44,000 crore of loan on its books, the company is also shutting down its direct to home television business from next month after it failed to find any buyer for the business.

RCom Executive Director Gurdeep Singh is believed to have told employees yesterday that the company has reached a "situation where we need to call it a day on our wireless business" and this would lead to closure of "wireless business 30 days from now".

According to an audio recording of the speech made available to PTI, Singh said, "We tried whatever means to sustain and put oxygen in the business, but we will not be able to sustain the business beyond 30 days from now."



Singh said international long distance (ILD) voice business, consumer voice and 4G dongle post-paid will migrate to the enterprise segment as long as it is profitable.

"But besides these three, everything else will be shut down," he said.

Singh also said November 30 will be the last working day for all employees at DAKC (Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City) associated with wireless business and services that support it.

He specified that employees impacted need to tender resignation and their salary for November will be made along with full and final settlement including gratuity, leave encashments etc on or before January 15.

"We have published in newspapers that as our DTH licence is expiring on 21st of November and we are not renewing licence. So, that will also mark our exit from DTH business. So, that is restructuring of overall wireless and consumer business."



Telecom tower business will continue to be operational. RCom is reportedly in talks to sell its stake in its tower unit to Canada's Brookfield.

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The Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, proposing that the Humayun's tomb in Delhi be removed from the 'national heritage list', demolished and turned into a graveyard for Muslims.

"The board proposes to remove Humayun's tomb from the national heritage list and its building be razed and it be declared a graveyard for Muslims of New Delhi. It did not fetch any income for the government and lakhs of rupees have been spent on its maintenance.

"The money should be spent on development and not for preserving tomb of cruel kings who looted the country," Chairman, Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board (UPSCWB), Wasim Rizvi said in the letter written on October 18.

The board's proposal will benefit lakhs of Muslims, who are facing difficulty in finding a graveyard. If the proposal is accepted, the Muslims in Delhi will not face any space crunch to bury the dead for the next 100 years, he said.

"The tomb is spaced over 35 acres. There is no place of worship and as there is grave, it can be declared as a graveyard," the letter said.

"Mughal rulers were not preachers of Muslim faith and were also not good kings. Their graves cannot be considered as national heritage," Rizvi contended.

The Board was requested by the All India Raabta-e-Masajid and Madaris-e-Islamia, Delhi, for providing land in Uttar Pradesh for graveyards for Muslims of Delhi, he said, adding the proposal to the prime minister was sent as there is "no land left in UP limits that can be given for graveyard for people of Delhi.

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The special representative appointed for holding a sustained dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir is open for talks with the separatists and Hurriyat Conference with an effort to bring a lasting peace in the troubled state, a senior government official said today.

Earlier this week, the Centre appointed former Intelligence Bureau director Dineshwar Sharma as its special representative to initiate dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir.

"While insinuations have been made to the effect that the central government was not willing to engage with so-called real stakeholders (read separatists), it is factually incorrect," the official said on the condition of anonymity.

The central government has been maintaining that it was willing to talk to everybody provided the other side also exhibited willingness and came forward for talks.

This was reiterated recently by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to various delegations, that came to meet him, when he visited Jammu and Kashmir last month.

The official also pointed at unsuccessful attempts of an all-party delegation, which visited the state last year, to meet hardline Hurriyat faction leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

The pro-Pakistan separatist leader had refused to open doors to the members of the delegation.

At that time, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had also written to Geelani in her capacity as the president of the ruling PDP, to come forward and talk to the delegation, which was refused, the official said.

The Centre's initiative to appoint Dineshwar Sharma as special representative for a sustained dialogue in the state is a continuation of the NDA dispensation's efforts to talk to all shades of opinion in the state, elicit their views and do everything possible for peace in the state and betterment of the people's life there, he said.

In his visits to the state, the home minister had met several delegations from all walks of life and taken all possible measures to ameliorate their problems, the official said.

He claimed the security situation in the Valley was largely peaceful and sans any fear factor. This may help people to come out freely, the official said.

The government has very "carefully chosen" Sharma as its representative, who is "fully cognisant" of all issues related to Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

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About 2,000 resident doctors of the All India Institute of Medical Sceinces (AIIMS) will go hungry from tomorrow in protest against the "improper implementation" of the seventh central pay commission's recommendations, but continue working.

The resident doctors who had yesterday held a protest have also sought the prime minister's intervention in the issue.

"We have remained silent for a long time, hoping for a response from the Health Ministry. But there has been a complete lack of constructive steps taken by the ministry.

"Being a responsible citizen and a doctor we will not hamper the facilities for patients. In our further action to put our demands forward we will work continuously without consuming food," former AIIMS Resident Doctors Association (RDA) president Dr Vijay Kumar said.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the AIIMS RDA said even one and half years after the implementation of the 7th CPC recommendations and four months of allowance approval in other medical institutes, the AIIMS doctors here still didn't get the revised pay because of administrative lapses.

"Even after four months of implementation of the revised allowances at the central government institutes like Safdarjung Hospital, RML Hospital and other autonomous medical institutes like PGI Chandigarh, we are still awaiting a nod from the Health Ministry for getting it implemented here at AIIMS," AIIMS RDA president Harjit Singh Bhatti said in the letter.

He claimed that when they approached the hospital administration, it said the ministry was not giving approval and when they visited the ministry they were told that it would take a long time.

The resident doctors threatened to go on a strike next month, if their demands were not met.

He said the resident doctors at the AIIMS were forced to work "tediously" for more than the "mandated 48 hours" in a week but were not getting their rightful due because of the bureaucratic hurdles.

In their letter, the RDA said the implementation of 7th CPC would help them to carry out their work related to patient care with more zeal and enthusiasm.

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A motor accident claims tribunal (MACT) here has awarded over Rs 76 lakh to the family of a businessman who lost his life in a road accident in Bihar 11 years ago.

MACT Presiding Officer Amit Bansal asked the Oriental Insurance CompanyLimited, insurer of the truck that had hit north-west Delhi resident DevenderKumar's bike from behind killing him instantly, to pay Rs 76,22,770 to his family.

The tribunal noted that the truck was driven in a rash and negligent manner.

"The offending vehicle was being driven at a very high speed, which... prove on record that the offending vehicle was driven by the driver in rash and negligent manner," the tribunal observed.

The petition alleged that 39-year-old Mishra, while riding his bike through Muzaffarpur district in Bihar, was hit by a rash and negligently driven truck from behind which ran over his head and killed him instantaneously.

The truck driver, however, stated that he was driving diligently and the victim was responsible for the accident.

The tribunal also rejected the version of the insurance company that the accident took place due to the negligence of Mishra and asked it to deposit the amount within stipulated time.

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NCP leader Nawab Malik today claimed that the BJP and the RSS are against Tipu Sultan as the "brave warrior" had fought against the ancestors of the Sangh.

"Tipu Sultan was a brave warrior, who gave his life fighting against the British forces. The BJP, which has used derogatory terms against him, forgets that 70 per cent of his army comprised Hindu soldiers," he told reporters here.

"The BJP and the RSS are against him because he had fought against ancestors of the RSS... Those who had sought asylum from the British have no right to define Tipu Sultan's patriotism," the NCP spokesperson added.

He also hit out at Union minister Anantkumar Hegde for his remarks against Tipu Sultan.

Hegde had stirred a hornet's nest after he requested the Karnataka government not to include his name in programme invitations for Tipu Jayanti celebrations.

"(I have) conveyed (to) Karnataka government not to invite me to the shameful event of glorifying a person known as a brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist," Hegde had said in a Tweet on October 20.

Tipu was a ruler of the erstwhile kingdom of Mysore, who was considered an implacable enemy of the British East India Company. He was killed in May 1799 while defending his fort of Srirangapatna against the British forces.

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Mumbai attack mastermind and banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed's name was not on a list of 75 militants the US had handed over to Pakistan, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said today.

Saeed, who carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head for his role in terror activities, has been under house arrest in Pakistan since January this year.

Foreign Minister Asif told senators during a session of the parliament's upper house that the US has handed over a list of 75 militants to Pakistan.

"The Haqqani network is on the top of the list but none of the militants are Pakistanis," Asif was quoted as saying by the Express .

Saeed, a Pakistani citizen, headed the JuD which was listed as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in 2014.

The JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of 2008.

The Afghan-based Haqqani network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan. The group is also blamed for several attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan, including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people.

The US, Asif said, had made a habit of handing over lists of wanted people to Pakistan, which traded them for favours



a matter that needed to be debated.

He said the US had been told that Pakistan no longer had influence over the Afghan Taliban as it did in the past.

"Neither are we supporting them (Afghan Taliban), nor do they need our help," Asif told the senators during a session of the parliament's upper house.

"Somebody else is sponsoring them now," he added, without elaborating on it.

Asif asserted that many of the key Taliban names were now shadow governors in Afghanistan or no longer alive.

On his maiden visit to Pakistan yesterday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson renewed the US demand for tough action against Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.

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Music company Saregama today reported 113.40 per cent jump in its consolidated net profit at Rs 4.46 crore for the second quarter ended September 30.

The company had posted a net profit of Rs 2.09 crore for the corresponding quarter in the year ago period.

Its total revenues during the quarter under review stood at Rs 84.46 crore, as against Rs 47.90 crore in the same quarter last year.

"There are a host of exciting opportunities that are lined up in the coming months and we are committed to continue on this upward curve as we go forward," Saregama India Managing Director Vikram Mehra said in a statement.

****************** Axis Mutual Fund to launch Axis Multicap Fund



Private sector fund house Axis Mutual Fund today said that it has launched Multicap Fund, an open-ended equity scheme that would invest in a diversified portfolio of stocks from across the market-cap spectrum.

The new fund offer opens on October 30 and closes on November 13.

The fund distinguishes itself by aiming to identify companies that are at their inflection points-in the midst of circumstances that have the potential to substantially improve the growth trajectory of the company. This can happen for various reasons.

********************* FGILI opens branch in Kochi



Future Generali India Life Insurance (FGILI) has increased its national presence by launching opening a branch in Kochi, Kerala, today.

"This incremental branch expansion is a significant organisational imperative for our company's next phase of growth. We are excited to establish our distribution presence in Kochi and provide comprehensive insurance solutions across all life stages to the consumers," said FGILI Executive Vice President and Head - Agency - Subhasish Acharya in a release here.

Currently, FGILI has 77 branches and since its inception, the firm has sold over 12 lakh policies and manages assets worth Rs 3,100 crore as on September 30, 2017.

******************** Midmark India launches motorised bed for Indian hospitals



Midmark (India), a leader in the area of patient positioning equipment, has announced the launch of their new motorised bed 'Electra', designed and positioned to capture a new market in India's tertiary care sector.

The new bed has been designed and built to enhance patient comfort and caregiver efficiency. Priced between the range of Rs 1,30,000 to Rs 1,50,000 and engineered incorporating the most modern technological configurations.

Manufactured and designed entirely in India, the bed not only matches world class standards from a quality, efficiency and safety point of view, but also is priced competitively for the Indian healthcare industry.

"The company is looking to increase sales of motorised beds by 20% overall. Through the launch of Electra, we look forward to meet the growing demand of quality motorised beds in India and enter competitive global markets like Africa, Latin America and East Europe over the next 2 years, Midmark (India) Managing Director Sumeet Aggarwal said.

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused permission to embattled Jaiprakash Associates Ltd to hive-off the rights of multi-crore six-lane Yamuna Expressway connecting Greater Noida with Agra in Uttar Pradesh.

The apex court, however, extended the time from October 27 to November 5 for the company to deposit Rs 2000 crore.

"We are not inclined to entertain the application for modification of the order dated 11th September 2017. However, we extend the time to deposit the sum of Rs 2000 crore till November 5, 2017," a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said.

Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL) had approached the apex court seeking to hive-off the rights of Yamuna Expressway and modification or recall of September 11 order relating to deposit of Rs 2000 crore.

The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, disposed of the application and said it will deal with issue of homebuyers seeking flats at later stage.

Senior advocates Kapil Sibaland Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for JAL, said the company may be permitted to transfer its rights under the Concession Agreement in respect of Yamuna Expressway.

The prayer of the company was opposed by Attorney General K K Venugopal and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the IDBI Ltd.

Senior advocate Parag P Tripathi, representing the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP), also opposed the submission of JAL and said the rights under the Concession Agreement in respect of Yamuna Expressway are of Jaypee Infratech Limited (JIL), which is subject to proceeding under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and, therefore, cannot be transferred.

Similarly, advocate Ravinder Kumar appearing for Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) also submitted that the rights under the Concession Agreement were non-transferable.

During the hearing, the bench said that homebuyers who were earlier moving from pillar to post to get possession of their flats were now getting their money back after the courts took up their cause.

The top court observed that it was easy to ensure that flat buyers get their money refunded from the errant builders, rather than getting their flats from them.

"Till now, homebuyers who were on streets and were moving from one forum to the other for possession of flats are now getting their money refunded after we started taking up their cause," the bench said.

At the outset, Sibal said the company has an offer from a Singapore-based firm to hive-off the expressway at a cost of Rs 2,500-3,000 crore.

"We need money to pay the homebuyers. This company which is running four highways in the country has given us an offer. This is a reputed Singapore-based company. To hive-off, we need permission of the court as per earlier orders," he said.

Sibal contended that interest of all financial creditors were secured as the company has assets worth Rs 17,000 crore which even on distress sale will fetch Rs 14,500 crores.

"We have loan liability of only Rs 9,000 crore and by selling of the properties we can easily pay the financial creditors," he said.

"Allow us to hive-off the properties or else both the companies Jaypee Infratech and Jaiprakash Associates Limited will fall," he said.

The apex court had on September 11 directed Jaypee Associates, the parent company of Jaypee Infratech, to take prior approval of the court if it wished to sell any asset or property to raise funds to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore to be deposited by it in the apex court registry by October 27 to pay off the troubled home buyers.

The apex court while hearing a plea of home buyers of Jaypee's Wish Town project at Noida in Uttar Pradesh challenging the insolvency proceedings initiated against Jaypee Infratech, had restricted the directors of firm from leaving the country.

It had revived insolvency proceedings against Jaypee Infratech Ltd and given its management control to the IRP, appointed by the National Company Law Tribunal with immediate effect.

It had asked Jaypee Infratech to hand over records to the IRP for drafting a resolution plan, indicating protection of interests of over 32,000 hassled home buyers and creditors.
The Supreme Court today set aside the order of the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) extending the 'control period' to allow a private discom to levy a particular rate power tariff on grounds of delay in commissioning of the project.

However, the apex court also made it clear that the private discom, Solar Semiconductor Power Company (India) Private Limited, can re-approach the Commission for re- determination of the tariff by citing all contentions relevant under the law.

The company had entered into an agreement for sale and purchase of electricity from 20 MW Solar PV Power project and its commissioning got delayed on grounds like change in land acquisition law and shifting of the Solar Power project from Banaskantha district to Kutchh. The project was to be completed by December 31, 2011.

The bench allowed the appeal of Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited challenging the order that had extended the "control period" to allow the private discom to charge a particular power tariff.

A private discom was allowed to charge fixed power tariff during 'control period' as per the agreement and it is usually different from the regulated tariff.

"Extension of control period has been specifically held to be outside the purview of the power of the Commission... This appeal is hence, allowed. The impugned orders are set aside," a bench of Justices Kurian Joseph and R Banumathi said.

"This court should be specially careful in dealing with matters of exercise of inherent powers when the interest of consumers is at stake. The interest of consumers, as an objective, can be clearly ascertained from the Act.

"The Preamble of the Act mentions 'protecting interest of consumers' and Section 61(d) requires that the interests of the consumers are to be safeguarded when the Appropriate Commission specifies the terms and conditions for determination of tariff," it said.

The top court said that the GERC "being a creature of statute" cannot assume to itself any powers which are not otherwise conferred on it.

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Junior doctors of SCB Medical College and Hospital here have gone on a cease work stir from today after a minor scuffle between a patients attendant and a junior doctor.

The junior doctors also closed the casualty department of the hospital last night after the scuffle.

The police swung into action and detained a person in connection with Tuesdays scuffle but the striking doctors gheraoed the office of the hospital superintendent and boycotted their duties.

The strike, they said, will continue till their demands for adequate security, removal of hospital superintendent and enhancement of their monthly stipend are fulfilled.

Odisha health minister Pratap Jena has assured that appropriate action would be taken against the culprits and appelaed to the striking doctors to resume their duties immediately.

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A team of about 30 doctors today began the second phase surgery to separate conjoined twins Jaga and Kalia of Kandhamal at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, Odisha health minister said.

The team of doctors at the AIIMS are performing the operation on Jaga and Kalia to separate their heads and no expert from abroad is carrying out the procedure, Odisha's Health and Family Welfare minister Pratap Jena said here.

The operation could take over 25 hours, he said.

The 28-month-old twins are craniopagus conjoined twins who are joined at the heads. This is a very rare condition, a member of the team of doctors said.

"The twins were taken to the operation theatre at 6 am and the phase-II surgery started at about 9 am today. We hope things will go well with the blessings of Lord Jagannath," Jena said.

The first phase of surgery was done on August 28.

"We had suggested to the AIIMS authorities to engage experts from across the world in the operation process, if needed. The Odisha government is ready to bear the expenses of the foreign doctors," the minister said.

Jena said that the second stage operation had to be postponed earlier as the boys were undergoing regular blood transfusion.

Bhuyan Kanhar, father of the twins said, "The surgery is being done as the condition of Jaga deteriorated."



The conjoined twins of Milipada village under Phiringia block in Kandhamal district were admitted in the AIIMS, New Delhi, on July 14.

Odisha government has sanctioned Rs one crore from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) for the treatment of the twins.

In the almost 20-hour-long first phase surgery, the doctors had performed venous bypass to separate the veins shared by the babies that return blood to the heart from the brain.

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Security have been stepped up in the city and its adjacent areas in view of the four-day-long Chhath festival which entered its second day today.

According to official sources, police personnel have been deployed in large numbers along the Ganga ghats in Patna, where more than a million people visit every year for the festivities.

In addition to the personnel drawn from various police stations in Patna district, 1500 civil police officers, 1,000 home guards and a Bihar Military police company have been deployed on the ghats and its approach roads to ensure security and manage the flow of crowds, the sources said.

The district administration has also deployed fire-fighters and National Disaster Relief Force teams, equipped with life jackets and inflatable boats, to tackle emergencies.

The Chhath festivities begin with "Nahai Khai", when devotees prepare traditional food after a dip in the Ganges, followed by "Kharna" on the second day, when they end their day-long fast with roti, rice pudding. On the last two days, people offer "Arghya" or prayers to the Sun God.

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Taking a dig at the BJP over the 'Gujarat model of development', the said today if the claims about its success were true why the government had to dole out sops days ahead of the Assembly polls.

"If development work was carried out there in the last 15 years, the elections could have been won without the drama of campaigning. If the Gujarat model of development was true, there was no need for announcements (of sops) before polls," an editorial in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

It said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Gujarat thrice in the last week and visited the state five times since September for 'bhoomi pujan' (ground breaking ceremony) of various projects.

He also warned that the Centre will not provide any financial assistance to those who oppose the development. In other words, he warned people to cast their votes in favour of the BJP, the Saamna editorial said.

Taking a swipe at the prime minister, Sena, a BJP ally, said protests by the Patidar community led by Hardik Patel posed a big challenge to Modi due to which he has not been able to go on a foreign trip for quite some time. It said Modi was spending a lot of time in Gujarat as he knows it is not easy to win polls in his home state.

The editorial also referred to the allegation by a Patel quota activist that he was offered a Rs 1 crore bribe by the BJP for joining the party.

"Narendra Patil (an activist of Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti), who claimed to have received an offer of Rs 1 crore to join the BJP is not just one example. Attempts are being made to buy heavyweight leaders there. If those behind this exercise are trying to control in this manner, it is dangerous for the country," it said.

"Lies and deceit do not work always. You used money power in Maharashtra against the Sena to win elections. But isn't Gujarat your (Modi's) state? Hasn't your 'Vikas bhai' (Modi) boasted about Gujarat having shown the light of development to the nation? Then why is money being used to buy people and silence opponents?" the editorial asked.
A female actor has filed a lawsuit against The Weinstein Company for allegedly aiding and abetting their former boss Harvey Weinstein's sexual misconduct.

Dominique Huett said like many other women, she too was lured into a meeting with the Hollywood producer in a hotel room and was sexual assaulted.

Weinstein gave Huett the contact information of an executive producer of TWC's "Project Runaway" and offered to secure a role for her.

Huett claims in her lawsuit that TWC executives, officers and employees "had actual knowledge of Weinstein's repeated acts of sexual misconduct with women".

"In particular, Defendant (TWC) was aware of Weinstein's pattern of using his power to coerce and force young actresses to engage in sexual acts with him. This knowledge was possessed by Defendant's Board of Directors including, upon information and belief, Bob Weinstein," according to the suit.

She further claims that TWC was "aware of allegations of sexual misconduct against Weinstein going back to the 1990s".

She also claims TWC "often aided and abetted Weinstein in the commission of his sexual misconduct."



This is first lawsuit to be filed against the TWC since the sexual harassment scandal that broke on October 5.

Huett's attorney Jeff Herman told People the suit is not barred by the statute of limitations because he is suing a company, not an individual.

More than 50 women, including celebrities such as Lupita Nyong'o, Lena Headey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Cara Delevingne, have come forward to accuse the Hollywood producer of sexually harassing them.

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The Centre today granted forest clearance to the first phase of Kaleswaram irrigation project in Telangana.

The state government received an official communication on the matter from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, an official release said.

The Union Ministry giving permission for transfer of 3,168 hectares of forest land for the project is a significant development, it said.

Telangana government aims to complete the project, estimated to irrigate lakhs of acres, by the end of the next year.

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Three people were killed and one person went missing as torrential rains lashed the region of Burgas, in eastern Bulgaria, officials said today.

"There are three victims of the floods," Prime Minister Boyko Borisov told journalists.

Parts of the region saw as much as 168 litres of rain per square metre over the past 12 hours, the national weather services said, with bad weather expected to continue throughout Wednesday.

A total of eight villages and Burgas's southern neighbourhoods were the most badly hit as heavy rainfall submerged roads, cut bridges and prompted electricity outages, local authorities said.

The rains also caused seven small dams in the region to overflow.

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Tamil Nadu Dairy Development Minister K T Rajendra Balaji today filed an appeal in the Madras High Court against a single judge order restraining him from issuing disparaging statements against private milk producers without any proof.

The minister alleged that the order issued by Justice C V Karthikeyan would amount to gagging a public servant and preventing him from discharging legal and political duties.

Justice Karthikeyan had passed an interim order on July 10 on original applications by Hatsun Agro Product Limited, Dodla Diary Limited, Vijay Diary and Farm Products Private Limited.

In the order, the judge had restrained the minister from making accusatory statements on quality of the milk products without any proof to back the charges till the disposal of the suits claiming damages from Balaji for suggesting that they were selling adulterated products.

On July 26, Balaji had moved the court, seeking dismissal of the suits saying it "is a blackmail action (by the companies)."



In today's plea, Balaji has submitted that as a minister for the department of dairy development, a constitutional responsibility is placed on him to implement the directions of the Supreme Court which had ordered the state and central governments to implement the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, in an effective manner.

The minister further said the apex court had directed the state government to inform the owners of the dairy operators and retailers working in the state that the use of chemical adulterants like pesticide, caustic soda and other chemicals would be dealt with strictly.

The minister has said in the plea that the order indicates that the judge failed to appreciate the scope, powers, duties and responsibilities of an elected representative, so he prayed the court for suspending the interim order.

On October 20, the judge had directed the companies to test samples of their products in certified labs every three months and submit the reports in the court till the suits were adjudicated.

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President Donald Trump hit back at high profile critics within his own party today, painting them as outliers in what is otherwise a "love fest" between him and Republican lawmakers.

A day after Republican senators Jeff Flake and Bob Corker described Trump as having a "flagrant disregard" for truth and decency and of "debasing" the nation, the combative president shot back.

Trying to forestall a party backlash, Trump said Flake and Corker had decided to resign because they could not be reelected.

"The reason Flake and Corker dropped out of the Senate race is very simple, they had zero chance of being elected. Now act so hurt & wounded!" Trump tweeted.

"Jeff Flake, with an 18% approval rating in Arizona, said 'a lot of my colleagues have spoken out.' Really, they just gave me a standing O!" Trump said, a day after meeting Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

"The meeting with Republican Senators yesterday, outside of Flake and Corker, was a love fest with standing ovations and great ideas for USA!" he continued.

Many Republicans privately express grave misgivings about Trump's behaviour in office, but remain publicly supportive.

They see his presidency as the best way to enact long- standing party goals like tax reform and cutting the size of government.

The White House has worked hard to keep the party rank and file focused on those targets amid rolling scandals and failed attempts to pass legislation.

"Working hard on the biggest tax cut in US history. Great support from so many sides. Big winners will be the middle class, business & JOBS," Trump also tweeted today.

But Flake and Corker's comments have exposed a simmering battle for the soul of the Republican party.

Establishment conservatives -- who have managed since 2007 to co-opt waves of populist and nationalist party insurgents -- have struggled to retain control since Trump's election.

Trump's allies cheered Flake's departure as an unbridled victory for their effort to take over the party and a "monumental win for the entire Trump movement."



It "should serve as another warning shot to the failed Republican establishment that backed Flake and others like them that their time is up," said Andy Surabian a former Trump White House advisor.

The White House and Trump supporters like Surabian point to the president's solid approval ratings among Republican voters as evidence that his brand of politics should dominate the party.

According to an Economist/YouGov Poll, 84 per cent of Republican voters approve of the way Trump is handling his job as president.

Political science professor Larry Sabato said Flake's attack on Trump was a "beating" for the president, but is "not going to be a watershed."



"I always tell people JFK's book 'Profiles in Courage' was a very slim volume."



Still, while the departure of the two senators seems like a win for Trump, both will remain in Congress for more than a year and will be less likely to fall in line behind the White House on key votes.

Trump had already faced a difficult task of mustering 51 votes to pass tax cuts, an effort that appears to be the glue holding the party together.

There are currently 52 Republican senators, so more than one defection would likely be fatal to reform efforts, unless Democrats can be brought on board.

It is also far from clear that more hardline Republican candidates can beat Democrats in places like Flake's native Arizona.

Trump campaigned hard in the state in 2016 and won by less than four percentage points.

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The Goa Police today rescued two girls and arrested as many persons for running a prostitution racket in beach village of Calangute.

The raid was conducted this evening near a famous restaurant by the Calangute Police.

rescuing two victims, who are originally from West Bengal.

Police Inspector Jivba Dalvi said Ashish Sharma (32) and Meghana Nair (39) who hail from Mumbai were arrested for pushing the girls, who belonged to West Bengal, into flesh trade.

The girls in their statement said that Sharma brought them to Goa.

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President Donald Trump has honoured two Indian-American businessmen in recognition of their small but significant contribution to the US economy.

Trump felicitated Sharad Thakkar and Karan Arora along with seven other owners of minority businesses in the Oval Office of the White House yesterday.

Thakkar is president of Polymer Technologies, which is recipient of Minority Energy Firm of the Year.

Based out of Ohio, Polymer Technologies works with plastic industry individuals to transform their throwaway scrap plastic into valuable raw material.

PTS has a proven track record of providing long-term solutions in automotive, home care, and lawn care product lines.

Based out of Florida, Arora is director of family-owned Natural Vitamin Labs, which is recipient of Minority Export Firm of the Year award.

With 25 years of experience in supplying natural health products to industry partners worldwide, NVL operates from a 95,000-sq ft facility in Miami, Florida.

The facility is equipped with a manufacturing practices system and fully automated packaging machinery that allows precision and error minimization, resulting in high speed production.

A night earlier, Thakkar and Arora received their respective awards from the Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross at an event in Detroit.

Both Thakkar and Arora came to the US as students for studies and earned the pathway to citizenship through H-1B and Green Card.

Arora said Trump's policies are reviving America's manufacturing base.

The simplification of tax code would come out as a great boon for small family-owned businesses like him.

"There is a big demand (globally) for US-made products, which have more value anywhere in the world," Arora told PTI.

Indian-Americans are making great contributions to the US economy, said Thakkar.

Originally from Baroda, he came to the United States some 30 years ago.

"I am very proud that this country gave me this opportunity," he said.

Arora moved to the US in 2000 for undergraduate studies from Mumbai.

"The opportunities that we had have been fantastic, tremendous," he said.

During his interaction with Thakkar and Arora along with other awardees inside the powerful Oval Office, Trump "congratulated all of us" and said he is "proud of" minority businesses and their contribution in creating jobs in the country.

Praising Trump's new policies, Arora said businessmen like him need to spend more time on "business planning rather than tax planning."



Simplifying the tax code would definitely help the minority businesses, he said.

"The tax reform, would not only simplify the process, but also put more money into businesses," Thakkar told PTI.

In his remarks, Trump said his Administration is deeply committed to empowering minority business owners.

"We're working to lift government barriers so that you can thrive, prosper, and grow," he said.

Ross said nationwide, there are 996,246 minority-owned firms with paid employees last year, up 4.9 per cent from the prior year.

And these minority-owned businesses produced USD 1.1 trillion of annual revenue, he said.

They employ eight million people, but only 22 per cent of them have 10 or more employees.

"So there's plenty of room to grow. But we know that minority entrepreneurs are up to the task," he said.

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Two fighters from forces commanded by Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar were killed and three wounded today in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group, a spokesman said.

The attack took place 60 km south of the eastern city of Ajdabiya, said General Ahmad al-Mesmari, spokesman for Haftar's self-proclaimed Libyan National Army.

One fighter was beheaded, General Mesmari said, noting the attack bore the hallmarks of IS.

The jihadist group claimed responsibility for the attack soon after via its propaganda agency Amaq.

Authorities launched an investigation into the attack and were bidding to track down the perpetrators, Mesmari said.

Despite the loss of its coastal stronghold of Sirte in December 2016, IS remains active in Libya.

The last attack the group claimed was on October 4, when a suicide bomber killed four people at a judicial complex in the western city of Misrata.

Various jihadist groups including IS have exploited the chaos that has reigned in Libya since the downfall of dictator Moamer Kadhafi to gain a foothold in the country.

The country has two rival governments: a United Nations- backed one in the west and a rival administration backed by Haftar's forces in the east.

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The British authorities have not allowed Pakistan's anti-graft body to collect evidence from the properties in London owned by ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family, asking it to use a "government-to- government" channel to get the official information.

However, the National Accountability Bureau managed to record statements of those involved in conducting a forensic examination of the Calibri font used by Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz while presenting "fake" documents to the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers scandal.

The NAB team returned yesterday after a week's stay in London during which it recorded statements of important witnesses.

"The NAB team had succeeded in recording the statements of witnesses who had carried out the examination of the Calibri font used in documents presented in court by Maryam and also a few individuals regarding the purchase of the Avenfield properties," a NAB official said.

However, it failed to get any help from the UK authorities in this regard.

"The British government asked the NAB to utilise a government-to-government channel to have the required official record," the official said.

Earlier, the NAB had written letters to UK authorities, in connection with a mutual legal agreement, seeking details of the Sharif family's Avenfield flats 16, 16-A, 17 and 17-A, Avenfield House and Park Lane, London.

After receiving no response from the UK authorities, the NAB sent a team to London to pursue the matter in person.

Maryam was indicted in NAB references along with her father and husband retired Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar. She has been accused of presenting fake documents to the Joint Investigation Team on two declarations dated 2006, typed in Calibri font which was not commercially available till January 30, 2007.

According to the JIT report, Maryam had declared herself a "trustee, not the owner" of the Avenfield properties.

However, according to the JIT, her claim turned out to be "completely wrong" and it was proven that she had owned the properties managed by Minerva Services. The JIT added that Maryam was the "real and ultimate beneficial owner" of the Avenfield apartments.

The Sharif family is facing four corruption and money laundering cases regarding their off-shore holdings that include the Avenfield, Azizia Steel Mills, Hill Metal Company, Flagship Investments, Hartstone properties, Que Holdings, Quint Eaton Place 2, Quint Saloane, Quaint, Flagship Securities, Quint Gloucester Place, Quint Paddington, Flagship Developments, Alanna Services (BVI), Lankin SA (BVI), Chadron, Ansbacher, Coomber and Capital FZE, Dubai in the accountability court in Islamabad.

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American actress Heather Lind has claimed that former US President George H W Bush "sexually assaulted" her from his wheelchair during the screening of a television show, a media report said today.

The 34-year-old actress, who starred in "Turn: Washington's Spies", a war-era drama, detailed her accusations in a lengthy Instagram post yesterday.

Lind said she was "disturbed" after seeing a photo of ex-US President Barack Obama with the 93-year-old Bush, the 41st American president, the Daily reported.

"I found it disturbing because I recognise the respect ex-presidents are given for having served. And I feel pride and reverence toward many of the men in the photo. But when I got the chance to meet George H W Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo," Lind wrote.

"He didn't shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke. And then, all the while being photographed, touched me again. Barbara rolled her eyes as if to say 'not again'. His security guard told me I shouldn't have stood next to him for the photo," she added.

Lind had met Bush during a special screening of the show in 2014, a week before its premiere.

"We were instructed to call him Mr President. It seems to me a President's power is in his or her capacity to enact positive change, actually help people, and serve as a symbol of our democracy. He relinquished that power when he used it against me and, judging from the comments of those around him, countless other women before me," Lind wrote.

Lind said she decided to come forward because of "the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences", the report said.

In the past several weeks, dozens of women have accused media mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault and harassment, and made similar claims against other actors, producers, directors, photographers and musicians.

Bush did not deny the allegations in a statement.

"President Bush would never - under any circumstance - intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologises if his attempt at humour offended Ms Lind," his spokesman told the Daily .

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US manufacturers saw rising sales of major durable goods for the second straight month in September, boosted by orders for aircraft and telecoms equipment, government data showed today.

Auto sales slowed sharply for the month, however. The result was nearly twice what analysts were expecting and could support GDP growth in a third quarter that was battered by back-to-back hurricanes.

Total orders for big-ticket manufactured items rose by 2.2 per cent compared to August, reaching USD 238.7 billion, nearly a full percentage point above a consensus forecast, according to the Commerce Department.

So far this year, orders are up 5.2 per cent over the same period in 2016.

Orders for civilian aircraft rose 31.5 per cent, far faster than the defence aircraft segment, which added a token 2.4 per cent after a steep drop in August. Sales of cars and trucks were stagnant, however, adding a mere 0.1 per cent.

Orders for the month were not driven entirely by the volatile transportation sector, however, and defence sales of aircraft and capital goods also contributed little, according to the September data.

Excluding the volatile transportation sector, which sees broad swings from month to month, orders rose by 0.7 per cent for the second month in a row. Excluding the defence sector, orders rose 2.0 per cent.

Orders for telecommunications equipment rose by 4.8 per cent, slowing slightly from August's 7.8 per cent gain.

Civilian capital goods orders, a sector heavily influenced by oil prices, rose 1.3 percent for the second month in a row.

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The US has slammed Russia for vetoing a UN Security Council resolution extending the mandate of the only official mission probing the use of chemical weapons in Syria, saying Moscow has "once again" demonstrated it would do anything to protect its ally.

Russia yesterday vetoed the US-sponsored UN resolution that would extend the work of inspectors seeking to determine who is responsible for chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

Russia has blocked such a move by the UN Security Council a number of times, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in her daily conference.

Russia has blocked the UN Security Council action to hold accountable those who use chemical weapons, including terrorists and the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad, she said.

"By blocking the extension of the Joint Investigative Mechanism, Russia has once again demonstrated it does not care about stopping the barbaric use of chemical weapons in the world and will do whatever it takes to protect its ally, the Assad regime," Sanders alleged.

Blocking the extension of the investigating authority means nothing less than Russia's endorsement of the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons against innocent women and children.

"We will continue to push back against this," Sanders said.

At the UN headquarters in New York, the Security Council rejected the draft resolution following a vote of 11 in favour to 2 against (Bolivia, Russian Federation), with 2 abstaining (China, Kazakhstan).

Had it been adopted, it would have extended the mechanism's mandate established by resolution 2235 (2015) and set to expire on November 17 for one more year.

Vassily A Nebenzia, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, suggested that adjourning the meeting until November 7 and discussing an extension without undue pressure.

He said that the Russian Federation expected an honest, impartial, complete investigation, and would accept clear, incontrovertible evidence of guilt.

The US had already determined who was guilty, and its actions were politicising the issue, he alleged.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Russia has once again demonstrated it will do whatever it takes to ensure the "barbaric" Assad regime never faces consequences for its continued use of chemicals as weapons.

"By rejecting the renewal of the work of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) an independent, purely technical body Russia has made it clear that it does not care about stopping the use of chemical weapons in the world," she said.

"This is the ninth time Russia has protected Assad and his team of murderers by blocking the Security Council from acting. In doing so, Russia once again sides with the dictators and terrorists who use these weapons," Haley said.

British Permanent Representative to the UN Matthew Rycroft described Russia's use of veto power as a "sad day".

"It's a sad day for the Security Council when Russia vetoes a simple technical, procedural rollover, of the mandate of an absolutely crucial part of the international communitys architecture to help tackle the appalling use of chemical weapons," he said.

The Syrian regime that they support must have something to hide, and I wonder why Russia continues to defend the indefensible, he said and hoped that Russia will realise that they are isolated on this issue.

"They are seeking to defend the indefensible. And beyond that, they have a particular responsibility as a permanent member of the Security Council with a close relationship with the Syrian regime. They have taken it upon themselves to lead the international community's efforts to disarm Syria of its chemical weapons," he said.

"That job is not complete, and I call on Russia to listen to what we all said today and to step up to meet those responsibilities," the British Ambassador said.

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Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh is in Iraq to meet senior officials to coordinate the search operations for the 39 missing Indians and find concrete information related to their whereabouts.

In a statement yesterday, the Iraqi embassy here said Iraq and India continue their close cooperation in order to find the location of the missing Indians who were kidnapped by ISIS terrorist group in June 2014.

"Further coordination has been done between India and Iraq to provide the latter with DNA samples of relatives of the missing Indians, as a matter of routine procedure, to help Iraqi investigators in their search to verify the identity of the thousands of victims left by ISIS, whether alive or exhumed bodies, as a number of mass graves have been discovered in the areas that were under ISIS control," it said.

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Former Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela today demanded a pre-release screening of movie "Padmavati" for Hindu and Kshatriya community leaders to check whether facts have been distorted in the film and warned of violent protests if its makers failed to do so.

"As the movie is expected to be released on December 1, I want Bhansali to first show it to Hindu as well as Kshatriya leaders as people suspect that some facts have been distorted and presented in a wrong way in the movie," the Kshatriya strongman told reporters here.

The film, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, is scheduled for release on December 1.

Vaghela said one cannot tamper with historical facts and present them as per one's wishes to get "cheap publicity".

"If the movie is released without pre-screening, Gujarat will witness violent protests and law and order may go out of control. I apologise to the cinema owners in advance if people take law into their hands," the former Gujarat chief minister said.

Vaghela quit the Congress after the Rajya Sabha polls in August and launched a new front, Jan Vikalp, which would field its candidates on all the 182 seats in Gujarat, where assembly elections will be held in December in two phases.

The upcoming movie had earlier run into controversy after Rajasthan-based Rajput community group Karni Sena raised objections over depictions in the movie, claiming that history was being distorted.

Earlier this year, Bhansali was attacked by Karni Sena members during the shooting of the film in Rajasthan.

Last month, alleged Karni Sena members burnt posters of the film after the first look of main characters -- Padmavati (Deepika Padukone), Maharawal Ratan Singh (Shahid Kapoor) and Allaudin Khilji (Ranveer Singh) -- was released.

They also threatened to oppose the screening of the movie in theaters if the facts were distorted. "Padmavati" is slated to release on December 1.

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The AAP government today told the Delhi High Court that the solid waste management bye-laws, framed on its directions, are pending approval of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) for being notified.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar, thereafter, listed the matter for hearing on November 15 to await notification of the bye-laws.

The high court had on September 19 accepted the draft bye-laws, framed jointly by local authorities and environmental experts, which called for introduction of user fees for municipal services among other things.

Besides introducing user fees for municipal services, the bye-laws also provide for enforcing segregation of waste at source such as in the households and housing societies, strengthening of waste collection, storage, transportation and processing systems and imposing of penalties for littering or violating the rules.

Under the bye-laws, the fees and penalties will see a five per cent per annum increase.

The court had ordered framing of the draft bye-laws after environmental experts like Sunita Narain, Almitra Patel and M C Mehta, had claimed that a major challenge faced in solid waste management was lack of such provisions.

The court was looking into the issue of solid waste management as it was of the view that garbage and lack of cleanliness contributed to spread of vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya.

The view was expressed by the court during the hearing of two PILs by lawyers Arpit Bhargava and Gauri Grover who had sought directions to municipal bodies and other authorities to take steps to prevent the spread of dengue, chikungunya and malaria.

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Male killer whales who remain socially isolated are three times more likely to die than those at the centre of their social group, a study suggests.

The effect is much stronger in years where food is scarce, and it does not affect females - possibly because males are larger and need more support from the group to get enough food, researchers said.

The findings come from the study on Southern Resident killer whales, a critically endangered population in the Pacific Ocean that numbers just 76.

"This research highlights the importance of social bonds to male killer whales, and shows that males that are less socially connected are more likely to die when times are hard," said Samuel Ellis, of the University of Exeter in the UK.

"Killer whales are highly cooperative, and males at the centre of a social group are likely to have better access to social information and food-sharing opportunities," said Ellis, lead author of the study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Southern Residents were among the groups from which killer whales were taken into captivity in the 1960s and 70s, and human activity is now posing much greater threats to their survival, according to Ken Balcomb from the Center for Whale Research in the US.

"Salmon is the main food for these whales, and stocks have been driven down by overfishing and the blocking of spawning grounds by damming rivers," said Balcomb.

"These factors make it all the more important to understand the drivers of survival and mortality among these whales," Balcomb said.

"Our research shows the importance of considering social positions and family ties in understanding and predicting the future of endangered populations," said Dan Franks, from the University of York in the UK.

Previous research has shown sociability has an effect on human life expectancy, but this is the first study to show that social position across the lifespan can predict survival in non-human animals, researchers said.

"These whales have been studied for more than 40 years and they are all recognisable by unique markings," said Professor Darren Croft, of the University of Exeter.

"By seeing which whales regularly swam together across a year and across multiple years, we started to understand a network of what in humans we would call friendships," Croft said.

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The breakaway faction of the JD (U) will contest the Gujarat assembly polls in alliance with the Congress, its leader said today as he pitched for a "minimum division" among opposition parties as they take on the ruling BJP there.

Yadav said he has spoken to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on the tie-up and suggested to him the alliances should be built in such a manner that "division" among opposition parties is "minimised as much as possible".

To underline how a united opposition could take on the ruling party effectively, Yadav said the BJP could secure "only 31 per cent" votes as against 69 per cent bagged by the opposition in the 2014 general elections.

The Election Commission earlier today announced the schedule for assembly polls in Gujarat, which has seen over two decades of BJP-rule. The election will be held in two phases on December 9 and December 14, while votes will be counted on December 18.

"We have already said it...we have already talked about an alliance with the Congress. All efforts are being made to ensure that people remain united," Yadav told reporters at his residence here.

Asked whether the parties would take Sharad Pawar-led NCP along as they take on the BJP, Yadav said it is the Congress which is in the "driving seat" in Gujarat and it has to decide who should be its alliance partners there.

"What we have discussed with Rahulji is that division is minimised as much as possible," he added.

To a question whether the JD (U) group led by him and the Congress have discussed seat-sharing for the polls, Yadav said there has been no deliberation on the issue till now.

"That will be discussed by our unit there and the Congress," he added.

He also said the Election Commission not declaring the schedule for Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat assembly polls simultaneously  the dates for election in the hill state were declared on October 12  has dented the image of the poll panel.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today said the state government would make all efforts to turn the desert state into a "green state".

During a meeting with state Urban Development and Housing (UDH) Minister Shrichand Kriplani, she said in the days to come, the residents of Jaipur would get to breathe fresh air due to increased greenery.

"Plantation work will be taken up in parts of the state capital for beautification and enhancing greenery," the chief minister said, adding "easy-to-maintain" plant saplings would be planted.

Also, according to the presentation put forward in the meeting, the Jawahar Lal Nehru road would be divided in nine zones for plantation and beautification.

Additional chief secretary of UDH ministry Mukesh Sharma and principal secretary of local self government Manjit Singh, among other officers were present in the meeting.

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Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee today cautioned party workers against indulging in anti-party activities and said anyone who does not agree with its principles and values can leave the party.

"There is no place for groupism or ego-fights in Trinamool. We will not tolerate anti-party activities. Party discipline is foremost. If you cannot follow it, you are free to leave... Workers are our biggest assets," she said at the extended core committee meeting of the party here.

The Trinamool Congress core committee meeting is the first since Mukul Roy, a former second-in-command in the outfit and its MP, quit the party and resigned from the Rajya Sabha on October 11 accusing Banerjee of "running a one-man show and propagating dynastic politics".

Banerjee, who is also chief minister of West Bengal, said, "Trinamool did not come power by sitting on armchairs. There is no room for complacency."



She asked Trinamool leaders to take every party-worker along while implementing any party programme in their respective areas.

"It is not possible to give position to each and every worker of the party. But every worker should be taken into confidence and party programmes should be implemented properly. No one should be left behind. I want everybody to keep aside their infighting and work for strengthening the party," Banerjee said.

Roy was last month suspended from the Trinamool Congress for six years for indulging in anti-party activities after he announced that he would quit the party.

He had described the BJP as a non-communal party and said that TMC would not have tasted success without the backing of the saffron outfit at the national level in its initial years.

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on Tuesday secured a second five-year term as the head of the ruling Communist Party as it unveiled its new leadership with the Chinese president attaining iconic status enjoyed by modern China's founder Chairman Mao Zedong.

Xi, 64, was elected in a closed-door vote to head the Politburo Standing Committee while Prime Minister Li Keqiang retained his seat on the ruling council alongside five new members.

Xi and Li walked along with members of the new Politburo Standing Committee before a media event telecast live all over world from Beijing's massive Great Hall of the People.

Five other men replaced comrades who had reached an informal retirement age of 68.

Xi in a brief address, thanked the national and media for working hard in reporting about the Congress.

He spoke about the China entering new era of modernisation.

"As I look ahead to the next five years, I see several important junctures and signposts," Xi said.

Stating that the coming five years between the 19th and the 20th Party Congress is the period in which the timeframes of the two Centenary goals will converge, Xi said, "Not only we must deliver the first centenary goal, we must also embark on the journey towards the second centenary goal."



"With decades of hard work, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. In this new context, we must get a new look and, more importantly, make new accomplishments," he said.

"Peace and development are precious and should be valued. The CPC will work with other countries for shared future and the noble cause of peace and development of all humanity," he said.

Though the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) is guided by the collective leadership principle, Xi who emerged as the post powerful leader with his ideological thoughts incorporated in the party constitution and declared earlier as "core leader" has acquired a higher status than other members of the Standing Committee and party, therefore expected to have his way on all policy matters.

Xi, who heads the party, presidency and the military has stamped his authority with massive anti-corruption campaign, the multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to spread Chinas influence in the world.

The once-in-five-years Congress of the CPC on its final day yesterday approved Xi's ideology to be written into its Constitution, which is in addition to the title of "core leader" conferred on him last year that analysts say enhances his leadership status above other leaders of the party.

Till now, only the thoughts of Mao and his successor Deng Xiaoping were enshrined in the Constitution of the world's longest ruling Communist Party, interpreting the complex doctrine of Marxism with Chinese characteristics.

The thoughts of Deng, China's reformist leader, were added posthumously.

The thoughts of two of Xi's predecessors, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, were mentioned in the Constitution but not their names. This makes Xi only the third leader to have his thoughts on governance enshrined, which will now be part of school textbooks all over China.

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The Investigation Agency (NIA) today claimed Syed Shahid Yousuf, son of globally-wanted terrorist and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, had admitted he received funds for subversive activities in the Kashmir Valley.

Yousuf, who was sent to seven days of custody to the agency for further questioning, had also given the names of overseas Hizbul Mujahideen members involved in fund-raising for the terror outfit, an NIA spokesman said.

The 42-year-old Yousuf, who works in the agricultural department of the Jammu and Kashmir government, was arrested here yesterday.

The NIA claimed during questioning he "admitted to having received funds from cadres of the Hizbul Mujahideen on the direction of his father, Mohammed Yusuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, for fomenting terrorist activities in the Valley".

The NIA said he also "revealed the names of his associates abroad who were linked with the Mujahideen and involved in raising, collecting and transferring funds from other countries to India".

This was being verified and investigated, the NIA said.

It alleged Yousuf used to receive funds through a US- based international wire transfer company from Aijaz Ahmed Bhat, another accused in the case who is absconding and is based in Saudi Arabia.

The agency alleged Yousuf was "one of several Indian contacts of Bhat" who had been in telephonic contact with him for receiving money transfer codes.

The NIA claimed so far he had received a total of nearly Rs 4.5 lakh through eight international wire transfers.

The case, registered by the NIA in April 2011, relates to the transfer of money from Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir through hawala channels via Delhi, which the agency believed was used in funding terrorism and secessionist activities.

The NIA has so far filed two charge sheets against six people including G M Bhat, a close aide of pro-Pakistan separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Siddiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga. All four are in judicial custody.

Two others -- Mohammed Maqbool Pandit and Bhat -- were also charge sheeted by the NIA but are absconding. An Interpol Red Corner notice has been issued against them.

Yousuf's father Salahuddin, based in Pakistan, was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department of State in June this year.

Besides heading terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, he is the chairman of the United Jehad Council (UJC), a conglomerate of terrorist outfits operating in the Kashmir Valley.
A 1-percent year-over-year drop in quarterly revenue to $7.6 billion missed Wall Street analyst estimates of $7.94 billion, sending shares down 1.8 percent.

Lower-than-expected sales in the Information Systems and Technology unit (IS&T) to the Army hurt third-quarter results as caps on government spending hampered the Army's decision making. "And, of course, the change in administrations slowed some execution as well," said Chief Financial Officer Jason Aiken on a conference call with Wall Street analysts.

General Dynamics' IS&T is the largest unit by revenue and has thousands of shorter sales-cycle service contracts which can reflect delays quickly. IS&T revenue increased by $50 million, or 2.3 percent, over the second quarter, but was down 7.6 percent compared with the same quarter last year.

In July, General Dynamics' CEO Phebe Novakovic had warned that U.S. President Donald Trump's failure to fill dozens of senior-level positions at the Pentagon made it difficult for defence contractors to forecast business.

Aiken said by the end of 2017, IS&T will be flat versus last year.

Despite missing Wall Street's expectations for total revenue, third-quarter 2017 results showed net earnings from continuing operations up 4.5 percent to $764 million, or $2.52 per share, up from $731 million or $2.36 per share a year ago.

Wall Street analysts expected $2.44 per share, according to Thomson I/B/E/S.

The company raised its earnings per share forecast for the year by 5 cents to a range of $9.75 to $9.80. It said this quarter's earnings-per-share were aided by a lower-than-expected effective tax rate of 25.6 percent.

Growth in 2017 has come from international programs within the Combat Systems unit, Aiken said, including deliveries of some of the 130 Abrams battle tanks and 20 armoured recovery vehicles and other equipment ordered by Saudi Arabia last year.

Combat Systems revenue jumped 13 percent versus last year. Aiken said that unit's revenue would also increase next quarter by about 15 percent.

Revenue at General Dynamics' Aerospace unit, which contains the Gulfstream private-jet business, was up $70 million or 3.6 percent.

Lockheed Martin Corp , the world's largest weapons maker, disappointed Wall Street when it reported results on Tuesday, sending the stock down 2.3 percent for the day. Though the Bethesda, Maryland-based company expected increased defence spending under Trump, it forecast only a 2-percent rise in sales in 2018.

Trump is seeking a $54-billion increase in overall U.S. defence spending, a proposal that must be passed by Congress and faces skeptical lawmakers. Political gridlock in Washington could stall the process further.

General Dynamics did not make any 2018 projections on Wednesday.

The Falls Church Virginia-based defence contractor said its total order backlog at end of third-quarter 2017 was $63.9 billion, up 9.2 percent from the end of the previous quarter.

The company-wide operating margin was 13.9 percent, a 60 basis-point increase. General Dynamics had also improved operating margins by 60 basis points during the prior quarter.

Shares of U.S. defence companies have rallied since November on Trump's promises during his election campaign to spend more on defence.

General Dynamics shares were down $3.84 to $208.24 in afternoon trading.

(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington, DC; Editing by Nick Zieminski)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Indian banking shares soared on Wednesday, sending indexes to record highs after the cabinet approved a $32 billion plan to recapitalise its state banks over the next two years, although uncertainty remains about how the injections will be structured.

The gains come after India's cabinet announced its plan to inject 2.11 trillion rupees ($32.4 billion) into state-run lenders over the next two years, in a bid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tackle a major drag on the economy that has frustrated his attempts to boost growth.

The plan was announced after Indian markets closed on Tuesday.

Investors welcomed the news, sending State Bank of India, the biggest lender, up as much as 25 percent to its highest since January 2015. The benchmark NSE Nifty surged as much as 1.3 percent to a record high.

But details of how New Delhi will fund the injections remain unclear. Also, questions remain about whether it would add to the country's fiscal deficit at a time markets are already doubtful India can meet its 3.2 percent target of gross domestic product for the year ending in March 2018.

The amount injected also still falls short of credit rating estimates. Fitch Ratings estimates Indian banks will need $65 billion of additional capital by March 2019 to meet Basel III global banking rules.

For now, analysts said the actions were a positive - and long-awaited - move.

"At the end of the day, a good dose of the medicine that is required is being provided. How the medicine is being sourced could have its own implications on the macro picture, but as far as the banking sector is concerned, it is helpful," said Jobin Jacob, associate director of financial institutions at Fitch Ratings.

Of the planned 2.11 trillion rupees sum, so-called recapitalisation bonds will account for 1.35 trillion rupees, while about 580 billion rupees is estimated to come from share sales by banks, the ministry said on Tuesday.

The government will also use 180 billion rupees left from its previously budgeted recapitalisation fund.

Concerns about how the recapitalisation bonds will be structured sent the benchmark 10-year bond yield up 3 basis points to 6.81 percent from its previous close.

($1 = 65.1325 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy in MUMBAI and Tanvi Mehta in BENGALURU; Writing by Rafael Nam; Editing by Richard Borsuk)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The New York Times' Chief Financial Officer will retire early next year, the company said on Wednesday, ending a more than 10-year stint at the newspaper publisher.

The Times said it was considering candidates from both inside and outside the company to succeed Follo, who is also executive vice president.

Follo's tenure at the Times represented a crucial transition period for the company, which has been trying to transform itself into a digital media powerhouse to offset falling sales in its traditional print business.

The Times has been posting better-than-expected financial results in recent quarters, spurred by higher digital subscriptions.

Follo took over as the Times' finance chief in January 2007 after serving in a similar capacity at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc.

The Times will retain an executive search firm to help find Follo's successor, it said.
The Infosys board headed by chairman Nandan Nilekani on Tuesday gave a clean chit to the controversial $200 million Panaya acquisition, which took place when Vishal Sikka was CEO, saying there was no merit in the allegations of wrongdoing. "After careful consideration led by our Chairman, the Board reaffirms the previous findings of external investigations that there is no merit to the allegations of wrongdoing," Infosys said in a statement.

In the eye of storm over its founders led by Narayana Murthy alleging corporate governance lapses and questioning high severance packages to former key officials, Infosys on Tuesday reported its second quarter financial results. This was Infosys' first earnings announcement after Nilekani took over the reins of Infosys after the ouster Vishal Sikka as CEO amid a bitter war of words between the management and thefounders.

Giving a detailed outline of the review undertaken on Panaya issue, Nilekani said: "In light of my review of these matters, I am fully persuaded, as is the entire Board, that the conclusions of the independent investigations are correct." Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy had demanded that the full report by Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher on whistleblower allegations pertaining to the Panaya deal, be made public.

Nilakeni rejected the demand for publishing the full investigation report, which he said could impair cooperation. Emphasising that confidentiality was key to ensuring the cooperation of whistleblowers and other participants in any investigative process, the company cautioned that the precedent of releasing the full investigation reports could impair the cooperation of participants in case the need arises in future. Infosys net profit grew 3.32 per cent to Rs. 3,726 crore during the second quarter of 2017-18, while revenues grew nearly 1.5 per cent.
The Infosys board headed by chairman Nandan Nilekani on Tuesday gave a clean chit to the controversial USD 200 million Panaya acquisition, saying there was no merit in the allegations of wrongdoing. Infosys had acquired Israel-based software firm Panaya under former Infosys chief Vishal Sikka. Infosys in a statement on Tuesday said: "After careful consideration led by our Chairman, the Board reaffirms the previous findings of external investigations that there is no merit to the allegations of wrongdoing."

Giving a detailed outline of the review undertaken on Panaya issue, Nilekani said: "In light of my review of these matters, I am fully persuaded, as is the entire Board, that the conclusions of the independent investigations are correct." Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy had demanded that the full report by Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher on whistleblower allegations pertaining to the Panaya deal, be made public. Nilakeni rejected the demand for publishing the full investigation report, saying could impair cooperation.

Emphasising that confidentiality was key to ensuring the cooperation of whistleblowers and other participants in any investigative process, the company cautioned that the precedent of releasing the full investigation reports could impair the cooperation of participants in case the need arises in future.

Hours after the Infosys board cleared Vishal Sikka of any wrongdoing in Panaya deal and severance pay, Infosys founder N R Murthy said he was disappointed with core questions still unanswered. He asked how and why Infosys board approved an unusual and unprecedented severance payment agreement of 1000 per cent to former CFO Rajiv Bansal.

In a statement, Murthy said: "I am disappointed. The core question still is how and why the Infosys board approved an unusual and unprecedented severance payment agreement of 1000 per cent (of the standard Infosys employment contracts) to the former CFO."

Murthy also said he stands by every question on poor governance raised in his speech to Infosys investors on August 29, 2017. Murthy said fact remains none of these questions have been answered by Infosys board with transparency it deserves. "Also, why the board did not disclose this information proactively and much earlier. Sadly, it appears nobody will know the truth," Murthy said.

When Vishal Sikka was at the helm, Infosys paid Rs 17.38 crore in severance, equalling 24 months of pay. Rajiv Bansal left Infosys in 2015. However, NR Murthy and former board member Mohandas Pai slammed the Infosys Board's decision and asked the company to explain such hefty pay. NR Murthy had termed the severance pay as 'hush money' and said: "Providing huge severance pay to some departing employees while giving only 80 per cent variable for employees in the company is one such example. Such payments raise doubts whether the company is using such payments as hush money to hide something ."

Infosys on Tuesday reported its second quarter financial results. The company's net profit grew 3.32 per cent to Rs. 3,726 crore during the second quarter of 2017-18, while revenues grew nearly 1.5 per cent. This was Infosys' first earnings announcement after Nilekani took over the reins of Infosys after the ouster Vishal Sikka as CEO amid a bitter war of words between the management and the founders.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said the Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP will observe November 8 as 'Anti-Black Money Day'. Last year on November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had demonetised old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. In a press conference, the Finance Minister said that the Congress and other political parties have not understood the object behind the demonetisation.

The Finance Minister stated the main objectives of the note ban and said the government wanted to reduce the quantity of cash currency, increase the taxpayers base, squeeze the terror funding and digitise the commercial transactions. Jaitley said confiscation of money was never the object of demonetisation. He also hit out at the Congress for calling the demonetisation the single biggest money laundering scheme.

Jaitley said: "The Congress has not understood the object of demonetisation. The ownership of cash is not known, it is in the hands of anonymous owner. So when cash gets deposited in banks, what was being laundered earlier, now gets into the law books. So for entry into the lawful system, you are liable to pay tax. Those who had never paid taxes in their life, were happy with the laundering system."

Arun Jaitley also said that the Congress had the adequate opportunity to be in power and yet it did not take any significant action to remove black money. He said the ownership of money before demonetisation was not known to the system, however, after November 8, the money that has come into the banking system is accountable to the authority.

When asked about the Election Commission's decision to delay the poll dates for Gujarat, the Finance Minister said: "Just a couple of weeks ago when Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat happened, the Congress was singing praises for the Election Commission. Therefore, the Election Commission should not be browbeaten by a disgruntled and losing politically party."
India on Wednesday told U. S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson it plans to retain its North Korean embassy, so as to keep open channels of communication as Washington steps up global pressure to isolate Pyongyang for its nuclear and missile programmes. Tillerson held talks with Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj as part of a new effort by the Trump administration to deepen economic and strategic ties, as a way to balance China's growing clout across Asia.

Both sides pledged to strengthen anti-terrorism cooperation and Tillerson said Washington stood ready to provide India with advanced military technologies. "The United States supports India's emergence as a leading power and will continue to contribute to Indian capabilities to provide security throughout the region," Tillerson told a joint news conference with Swaraj.

Swaraj said the issue of India's diplomatic and economic relations with North Korea came up during the talks but she conveyed to the top U.S. diplomat that some level of diplomatic presence was necessary. "As far as the question of embassy goes, our embassy there is very small, but there is in fact an embassy," she said. "I told Secretary Tillerson that some of their friendly countries should maintain embassies there so that some channels of communication are kept open."

India and North Korea maintain diplomatic offices in each other's capitals, though New Delhi recently banned trade of most goods with the country, except food or medicine. Trade was minimal, Swaraj said.

The focus on North Korea comes as U.S. President Donald Trump heads to China next month, where he is expected to urge President Xi Jinping to make good on his commitments to pressure North Korea.



SHOULDER TO SHOULDER

Tillerson landed in New Delhi on Tuesday night after a day-trip to India's arch rival, Pakistan, which he called an important U.S. ally in the restive region that includes war-torn Afghanistan. On Wednesday, he said Washington was concerned about the stability of the Pakistan government against militant groups and that it stood with India in the fight against terror. "In the fight against terrorism the United States will stand shoulder to shoulder with India. Terrorists' safe havens will not be tolerated."

India has long blamed Pakistan for failing to act against militant groups operating from its soil, a concern shared by the United States and the Afghan government trying to fight Taliban insurgents who they say are also sheltered in northwest Pakistan.

Tillerson's visit comes a week after he made a speech in Washington about the United States wanting to "dramatically deepen" cooperation with India, which it sees as a key partner in the face of what he considers to be negative Chinese influence in Asia.

"This visit could not come at a more promising time for the U.S.-India partnership, as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of relations between our two countries and look forward to co-hosting the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in (the Indian city of) Hyderabad next month," Alice G. Wells, a senior U.S. state department official, wrote in a blogpost.

Tillerson, who toured India on several occasions as an oil executive before joining President Donald Trump's government this year, will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later on Wednesday. Fast-growing India is already a major market for the United States, with bilateral trade last year standing at around $115 billion, which the two countries aim to raise to $500 billion by 2022.
The residential property market is on an uptick if one goes by the recently released Housing Price Index (HPI) by Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The index shows average housing prices rising by 8.7 per cent y-o-y in the June 2017 quarter across 10 major cities of the country. In the June 2016 quarter housing prices rose by 7.3 per cent. However, the growth in prices moderated over the previous quarter when annual growth was 10.4 per cent. The All-India HPI recorded a sequential increase of 3.8 per cent in June 2017.

The Reserve Bank releases quarterly house price index based on transactions data received from housing registration authorities in ten major cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Kanpur and Kochi).

Except Chennai and Kochi which saw a decline in the prices of residential property, all other cities witnessed a jump in June 2017.

However, large divergences have been registered in growth across cities. While some cities recorded double digit appreciation in prices of property, others didn't register that big increase. The maximum price appreciation happened in Kanpur (18.1) followed by Ahmedabad (17.1), Lucknow (12.8),Mumbai (12.2) and Delhi (11.8). The laggards include cities like Kolkata (7), Jaipur (4.7) and Bengaluru (3.2)

Chennai recorded a depreciation of 11.2 per cent in the property prices while Kochi saw a decline of 5.3 per cent, year-on-year. Chennai has witnessed a fall in housing prices since the last two quarters - it fell 0.9 per cent in March 2017.

City-wise, large variance was observed in sequential terms, with Delhi recording the highest rise (9.4 per cent) and Kochi recording the maximum contraction 9.2 per cent.
Very soon passengers might be banned from carrying large personal electronic devices (PED) such as laptops in their check-in luggage. Authorities are mulling over this issue in order to prevent battery fires that could lead to mishaps. International aviation agencies are already considering the matter at a week-long meet in Montreal. Once the findings are made public and any decision is taken, India is very likely to follow suit. Already items such as power banks and e-cigarettes are banned from check-in luggage in India.

More than the devices, the batteries in PEDs are appearing to be more of a concern. On top of that, laptops have larger batteries, which would be packed with flammable items in a suitcase.



Stringent as they might appear, these rules could help in preventing situations similar to the recent mid-air scare in the Delhi-Indore flight where a mobile phone exploded and caught fire. The crew was able to douse the fire in time.



A report in Times of India mentions that cabin crews are now trained to handle PED fires.



The International Civil Aviation Organization's dangerous goods panel meeting in Montreal is examining a paper that mentions that a fire starting from PED kept in cargo could lead to loss of the aircraft. Ten tests were also conducted by the FAA fire safety branch concluded that if a PED is packed in a suitcase with an aerosol can, then there is potential for an explosion.



According to reports, in one test, researchers packed a can of dry shampoo with a PED and applied a heater to the contents, which caught fire almost immediately and exploded in just 40 seconds.

The paper mentioned that carrying PEDs in passenger cabin seems like a safer option, as crews across airlines are trained to handle such situations.


Courtesy of Facebook.

Investigators have concluded that drugs and alcohol likely contributed to the drowning of a Brigham City woman last year. Nicole Barlows body was found by a fisherman July 23, 2016, floating in the Bear River, near Corinne.

In a press release, Box Elder County Sheriff Chief Deputy Dale Ward said Barlow is believed to have accidentally drowned, due to a toxic level of drugs and alcohol in her body. There was no sign of trauma or foul play.

Barlows body was found by a fisherman that night, floating in the water about a quarter-mile from the boat ramp. The man called 911 and later led deputies to where he found the body.

During their investigation, deputies interviewed dozens of witnesses and people, claiming to have information about Barlows death. They traveled to multiple states, contacting sources and following potential leads.

Toxicology tests found evidence of alcohol, methamphetamine, amphetamine and morphine in Barlows body at the time of the drowning.

Ward said detectives recently met with the Utah State Medical Examiner Office for a final overview of the case. They ruled Barlows death was an accident; the immediate cause of the drowning was due to acute morphine and methamphetamine toxicity.

The Box Elder County Attorney has reviewed the investigation and concluded there is no indication, nor evidence, of criminal activity.

<hr /><p style=text-align: center;>will@cvradio.com
Prime Minister Philemon Yang left Bamenda on October 23, 2017 after consulting socioprofessional associations on way forward to end Anglophone Crisis.

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An evaluation meeting on Sunday, October 22, 2017 in Bamenda dropped curtains on consultations towards a return to normalcy in the North West region. In effect, the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang who led the team of elite with a message of peace and hope from the Head of State crisscrossed all the Divisions of the region. Coming after the September 22 and October 1, 2017 street protests that destroyed property and caused some loss of lives, the PMs delegation went preaching messages of tolerance and reason with things never to be the same. Socio- professional associations featured prominently for consultations at virtually all the laps of the mission that started on October 15, 2017 in Mezam Division. Representatives of traders, commercial motor riders, buyam sellams, religious and traditional leaders, economic operators, political parties, development associations etc, came up with opinions, views and contributions towards a return to normalcy following the Anglophone crisis that has rocked the North West and South West regions since 2016. It emerged from the corridors of the closed door consultations that the Prime Minister listened attentively, reassured and encouraged the population to stand solidly by a united country with President Paul Biyas commitment to continue making things better. He listened to the stress and trauma of surviving in regions where ghost towns, schools boycott and threats are not helping matters. It was all about complaints of generalized economic slowdown, schools without children, bumpy roads, poverty and the generalized feeling of marginalization. The consultations took team members to villages and families with messages that secession is a futility and people should look forward because the constitution remains the fundamental law of the nation with all aspects of decentralization foreseen. The Prime Minister and team members encouraged back-to-school for children and an attitude that dominates fear for a return to normalcy in business activities. In all, socio-professional groups that were consulted appealed to the Head of State to set records straight with actions that inspire hope.

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| BY Ricki Green |

In the crucial final week before the closure of the postal vote, Luscious International encourages people to vote YES by this Friday, October 27th.

The online experience, Virtual Equality, is centred on Dan and Thomas, a loving couple who were legally married in Auckland on September 22nd. Because we cant experience a legal same-sex marriage in Australia, the couple invited Australians to experience their wedding in virtual reality.

All the emotional highlights of the wedding ceremony were captured using 360 video. The public and politicians were invited to attend a virtual wedding held at First Fleet Park, Circular Quay, where they could experience all of the love and joy of a legally recognised same-sex marriage  something that cant happen in Australia, until we vote yes.

Hundreds of people of all ages lined up to experienced the Virtual Equality event, with responses ranging from laughter to tears with many, including Greens MP Jenny Leong, Member for Newtown, deeply affected by the fact that something so natural cant legally happen in Australia, unless through virtual reality.

Says Leong: Its bizarre that in Australia we can only experience a same-sex marriage through Virtual Reality. Especially in Sydney where we fly the rainbow flag so bright.

Both the Auckland and Sydney weddings were documented by director Lou Quill, to create an online film, launched on Friday, October 20th. The 360 film, also directed by Quill, was created in partnership with Staples VR and both content pieces can be viewed on the campaign microsite and Facebook page.

Hundreds of rainbow-branded Google Cardboard headsets have also been distributed to influencers and politicians around the country, letting them experience the wedding in VR.

Its time to make marriage equality a reality.

JWT Sydney

ECD: Simon Langley

ACD: Sinead Roarty

Creative: Giles Clayton

Creative: Simon Hayes

Planner: Heather Morrison

Broadcast Director: Amanda Slatyer

Producer: Nicole Bentley

Director Of Digital Delivery: John Tozzi

Editor/Camera Operator: Kel Gronow

Production Assistant: Brenna Maconaghie

Group Account Director: Jack Blades

Group Account Director: Bruce Pywell

Account Executive: Paloma Newton

Studio designer: Mathew Scott

Luscious International

Director: Lou Quill

Executive Producer: Andrew Morris

Creative / Producer: Rachel Wintle

DOP / Editor / Grade: Jovan Atanackovic

Production Manager: Katrina Sarpi

Camera Operator: Luke Stacey

Camera Assistant: Nina Kalkoff

Data Wrangler: Owen Flood

Staples VR

VR Supervisor: Aliesha Staples

VR Technician: Paul Willey

Production Assistant: Carrie Alexander

DOP Traditional Content: Jason Delaveau

Camera Operator: Mason Bennett

Sound Tech: Luke Madden

Music and Sound Mix: Nylon Studios

Photography

Auckland: Emily Raftery
| BY Ricki Green |

To celebrate the launch of and support further fundraising efforts for the new Monash Childrens Hospital Imagination Appeal, DDB Melbournes creative team recently approached Cirkus to produce an animated short, demonstrating the power of a childs imagination.

This film invites you to join in imagining a brighter future for sick children. By donating to Monashs Imagination Appeal you will be supporting over 100,000 children treated at the Monash Childrens Hospital every year. The new Monash Childrens Hospital has been designed to capture childrens imagination, helping them to cope and recover from their illness more quickly and with better outcomes. After all, imagination is the best medicine.

One of the largest childrens hospitals in Australia with 230 beds dedicated to the care and wellbeing of children and families of Victoria, the new Monash Childrens Hospital is so much more than a hospital. Its a wondrous environment that heals patients bodies while nurturing their wild imaginations.

This emotive animated short paints a picture of an intergalactic voyage that demonstrates the power of imagination through an enthusiastic child. The animation works in harmony with the voice over, highlighting the interaction between Tahlia, the heroic patient, and the hospital staff as if it is being animated in real time, as well as showing that imagination is the best medicine in a childs healing process.

Led by animation director Romain Borrel, the Cirkus illustration team designed and boarded up a naive 2D style reflecting a childs imaginative world. Most of what you see was then built and animated in 3D, before being rendered out in a flat style to stay true to the original 2D art.

Visit imaginationappeal.org to find out more!

Cirkus Team

Animation Director: Romain Borrel

Design & Illustration: Anna Lee, Rebecca Tan

Modeling, Texturing, Rigging & Render: Sam Wheldon

Animation: Bailey Xiong, Joon Seok Yoon, Mauricio Bartok

Producer: Puteri Raja Ariff

Live Action Director: Grantley Smith

Music & Sound Design: Nylon Studios

Music Composition: Jesse Watt

Sound Designer: Stuart Welch

Producer: Karla Henwood

Audio/VO Mixing: Gusto Music

Agency Team: DDB Melbourne

Creative: Brett Edwards, Murray Bransgrove

Production: Tuesday Picken, Sophie Simmons, Jo Alach
| BY Ricki Green |

To celebrate these warm spring mornings and promote the benefits of exercising outside, Tonic Health Media has launched the next phase of its Healthy Living initiative, Tonic Flow. Tonic is offering FREE 45-minute morning stretch and flex sessions with Tonic ambassador, Eliza Huolohan from Divine Flow Yoga.

Tonic Flow kicks off with sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays around Sydney from Tuesday 17th October until Thursday 30th November.

The six-week program aims to support physical and mental health in the media industry, with classes combining yoga and pilates to leave you feeling centred, refreshed and energised for the working day ahead.

Tonic commercial director Jack Mortlock said Tonic Flow is the perfect way to kick-start the day.

Says Mortlock: Not only is it a great initiative to get busy agency young guns moving before the day ahead, but exercising outside is a great habit to get into before the start of summer. The sessions will help put agency guys in a good frame of mind before for the upcoming Christmas period, which we know can get all kinds of stressful.

We encourage anyone and everyone to get involved, not only because its free, but because the benefits will far outweigh the slightly early start.

If peace of mind before the working day wasnt incentive enough, H2coco will be providing coconut water to keep you hydrated all the way from downward dog to lotus position. Tonic will also be giving away free yoga towels because they know agency folk love a freebie.

Session details:

Start Date: Tuesday 17th October

End Date: Thursday 30th November

(No sessions during Melbourne Cup week)

TUESDAYS

7:15AM-8:00AM Stanton Library Park, North Sydney

WEDNESDAYS

7:15AM-8:00AM Prince Alfred Park, Surry Hills

THURSDAYS

7:15AM-8:00AM Observatory Hill, Walsh Bay
| BY Ricki Green |

Wargaming, a global video game publisher and developer, has released its first local World of Tanks campaign via Five by Five Global, to celebrate the launch of its Australia and New Zealand server on November 1.

The film, social and digital campaign encourages World of Tanks players that have gone AWOL to Get Back in Your Tank so they can play on the new prime time ANZ server, and enjoy an improved gameplay experience.

The campaign sees the introduction of Sgt. Major Mayhem, a rambunctious and loyal military man, whose job is to round up the lost men that have defected to other regions or have lapsed because of poor latency. Initially, soldiers are encouraged to return to their units immediately by Mayhem, before targeted short films and messaging dial up the rhetoric across Facebook and YouTube.

Says Craig Bailey, executive creative director at Five by Five: Its not every day you get to invent a character with such attitude, and to have him lead a campaign about blowing stuff up, ranks high on the Fun-Brief-O-Metre. Were talking to people who live and breath online combat and we believe Mayhem is just the authority we need to pull them back into line. This announcement is just the beginning and his tank is getting a good service as we speak.

Nick Wong, head of marketing Australia New Zealand at Wargaming, said as the first campaign in Australia, it was important to do something unexpected, fun and true to Wargaming.

Says Wong: Get Back in Your Tank is the perfect mix of Aussie humour, sarcasm, and authority ordering our players to get back to their PCs and play World of Tanks on the local server. Five by Five did a fantastic job of creating an engaging campaign which Im confident will resonate with our players.

The launch of the Australia NZ World of Tanks PC prime time server on November 1 will also be supported by CRM, PR, and player events in Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne.

Client: Wargaming.net

Country Manager: Travis Plane

Head of Marketing: Nick Wong

Agency: Five by Five

ECD: Craig Bailey

Senior Copywriter: Leo Bajzert

Managing Director: Matt Lawton

Account Director: Kelsey Martin

Senior Producer: Jeff Edwards

Production Company: //Thirteen & Co

Director: Armand de Saint-Salvy

Producer: Warren Keuning

Executive Producer: Roy De Giorgio

DOP: Dale Alexander Bremmer

Post: The Gingerbread Man

Editor: Armand de Saint-Salvy

Sound Studio: Rumble Studios
"The ACT Greens are concerned about the figures we've seen on the number of guns we see in ACT suburbs. We see quite a few households across the territory with a number of guns, the question needs to be asked why does someone need an arsenal like that?
The mother of one of the alleged killers was also in court and broke down as the family of Mr Akbar entered the courtroom and again when her son appeared on screen.
One neighbour said he was "glad the dog was gone" as he also had young children at home and another local said she was frightened to walk by the house due to dogs on the property.
"We also need to look is whether we've got the appropriate penalties in place for people who do keep dangerous dogs and exactly what is the right inspection regime for the government to make sure dogs that are thought to be dangerous or could be dangerous are in a secure environment but as we've seen today tragic events are happening and we've got to make sure the policy settings are right to try and minimise these events from happening in the future."
Earlier in the day, Senator Cash said: "I can assure you that I found out about the raids as they unfolded on the television. I can also assure you that my office did not find out about the raids until after they were being conducted. It is a very serious allegation you are making and I refute it completely.
When it comes to building active global citizens, it's not enough for a school to require foreign language and world history classes. As part of its new global studies program, Monomoy High School is getting ready to send a small team of students on an eight-day service project in the Dominican Republic.

The students will make the trip in February, working with the Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring program, or DREAM. In between their efforts to help with early childhood education programs, Monomoy students will take part in unique adventures, like learning to surf, exploring waterfalls and caves, snorkeling and hiking the El Chaco National Park.

The cost of the trip is around $2,800 per student, and organizers are raising funds to defray those costs. To that end, a fundraising auction will be held at the Wequassett Inn on Nov. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m., with hors d'oeuvres and dessert items, a presentation about the program, and live and silent auctions. Teacher John Dickson, who is organizing the trip, said all kinds of items will be up for bids, including gift certificates to local stores and restaurants and stays in local hotels. The $35 admission charge will cover the cost of the event, so all proceeds from the auctions will support the trip.

The field trip is one of many elements in Monomoy' new global studies degree program, which awards special diplomas to graduates who complete the rigorous course of studies and fulfill other requirements. Working from an individualized plan, each student must take at least three years of a world language, world history and literature classes, global art and design and a global studies class. Outside of those core requirements, students then choose a concentration in either science, language and literature, social studies or arts, taking additional classes. In all courses, participants must earn at least an A or B.

At the end of their sophomore years, global studies students will develop an essential question that guides their final two years of the program, which include maintaining a journal, attending cultural events and fairs, and participating in at least one global service field trip. The culmination of the program will be a senior capstone project that includes a research paper, an action plan and a public presentation of their work.

This spring, we'll be hosting a global studies fair in which those kids will be presenting their papers, Dickson said.

Monomoy has accepted around 40 students into the global studies program, and about 19 will be taking part in the Dominican Republic trip. Students will arrive in Santiago on Feb. 17 and will spend the following day in an orientation session, with surfing lessons at Encuentro Beach. They'll have an opportunity to practice their Spanish language skills in a shared barbecue dinner that evening.

Dickson said about a third of the student travelers have taken Spanish language classes, and two are fluent speakers. One of the chaperones is a Spanish teacher, he added. The entire group may spend some time before their trip getting a crash course in conversational Spanish, Dickson said.

For the five days that follow, Monomoy students will spend each morning working on their DREAM project. Dickson said he expects to learn the details of that project when he makes a scouting trip to the Dominican Republic in January, but previous student groups have worked to spruce up schoolyards and have taken part in other projects that boost DREAM's mission.

Founded by a group of Dartmouth students in 1995, DREAM provides early childhood education programs for local children, coupled with classes for their parents. A second phase of the program focuses on supporting quality primary education for older children, and the third phase provides holistic youth development programs that allow young adults to learn life skills, reproductive health and basic job skills. It also offers musical training and scholarships for students seeking higher education.

By helping the next generation of Dominicans, Monomoy students will be broadening their own cultural horizons, something that's always been important for students from Cape Cod, Dickson said.

It's probably more important now than ever, he said. Today's world is more interconnected than in the past, and today's students very likely, in some part of their life, will be interacting with people from other parts of the world, and potentially [will] be involved in businesses that have a global aspect to them, Dickson said. The goal of this program is to give kids that chance to take what they're learning and go beyond their regular curriculum to make connections to the larger world, and to challenge themselves by pursuing their interests in global issues.
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Daimler is now looking to put some pressure on Volkswagens Truck and Bus division by launching a brand new product brand called Mitsubishi Fuso Truck.



Dedicated exclusively to zero-emission trucks and buses, the new brand arrived at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show with a new concept vehicle called E-Fuso Vision One.

Its an all-electric heavy-duty truck that has a gross weight of about 23 tons (50,706lbs), and can carry a payload of approximately 11 tons (24,250lbs), which puts it just 2 tons (4,409lbs) short of its diesel counterpart.

The E-Fuso Vision One is aimed at regional intra-city distribution, and can be fitted with batteries up to 300kWh, which provide it with a total range of up to 350km (217miles).

The manufacturer has high hopes when it comes to their concept truck, as it could hit the assembly lines within four years in markets such as Japan, Europe, and the United States, thanks to the efforts put in the electrification of road transport.

Our E-Fuso Vision One is an outlook on a feasible all-electric heavy-duty truck. It underlines our commitment to electrify our complete product range, commented President and CEO of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation and Head of Daimler Trucks Asia, Marc Llistosella.

Along with the E-Fuso Vision One, Daimler also has the eCanter on display, a production zero-emission light-duty truck that was recently presented in New York. The vehicle weighs 7.5 tons (16,535lbs) and can travel between 100 and 120km (62-75 miles) on a single charge.

The first units of the eCanter were already handed over to Japan customers such as Seven-Eleven and Yamato, while in the US, its used by UPS, and several NGOs.

PHOTO GALLERY
The Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled its new powertrain strategy at an international conference in South Korea.



Since petrol and diesel engines continue to be important, Hyundai showcased four engines and two transmissions from their upcoming Smart Stream powertrain lineup. Originally shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Smart Stream engines feature lighter components, new combustion techniques, and improved thermal efficiency.

Hyundai also used the conference to showcase their Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) technology. As the company explains, in the turbocharged 1.6-liter Smart Stream G engine the opening and closing of the cylinder valve is timed to best respond to various driving modes, such as eco-driving or dynamic driving.

Hyundai isnt just focused on engines as automaker highlighted the Smart Stream eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission which promises to improve both acceleration and fuel efficiency.

By 2022, Hyundai says the Smart Stream powertrain lineup will consist of ten petrol engines, six diesel engines, and six transmissions.

While the company is focused on improving its conventional engines, the electrification trend hasnt gone unnoticed. Hyundai will introduce more vehicles with plug-in hybrid, fuel cell, and electric powertrains but it doesnt believe they will receive wider acceptance until 2025. However, the automaker is already investing in its next-generation hydrogen powertrain which will have a maximum output of 163 PS (120 kW) and a range of 800 km (497 miles).

Video
Nissan is looking to usher in a new era of intelligent mobility, and the IMx Concept recently unveiled in Tokyo is a big sign of things to come.



For starters, autonomous systems and electrification are big factors nowadays, even when it comes to vehicle design. This is why Nissan built the IMx Concept while acknowledging there should be obvious differences between the exterior and the interior.

Today, cars are designed with a clear separation between the inside and outside, providing a sense of security to its passengers while giving the driver an appropriate environment to concentrate on driving, said Nissan design boss, Satoru Tai.

According to Nissan, the IMxs entire conceptual design can be summed up in three phrases: expressive purity, quiet dynamism and advanced technology, and while the first two are obviously debatable, the tech part is undeniable.

At the core of the IMx is Nissans ProPILOT system, which offers fully-autonomous driving, sliding the steering wheel inside the dashboard and reclining the seats when the driver decides to take a break.

Speaking of which, the design of the interior is quite simple, with very few switches. Dominating the cabin are the panoramic display and wood grain-patterned panels, while AI-controlled sensors and cameras keep an eye on the driver, anticipating his or her intensions.

Powering the IMx are two electric motors, one at the rear and one up front. Together, they produce 320 kW (429 HP / 435 PS) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque. Nissan arent saying just how quick this concept might be in a straight line, but range-wise, it will do over 600 km (372 miles), which is very impressive.

PHOTO GALLERY
Paul Walkers daughter has reportedly settled her wrongful death lawsuit that was filed against Porsche two years ago.



According to ABC News, Meadow Walker and Porsche agreed to a settlement earlier this month and have agreed to keep the terms a secret.

While theres no word on how much the company paid, the original lawsuit claimed the Carrera GT that Walker was riding in was equipped with poorly designed seat belts which prevented him from escaping the fire that erupted after Roger Rodas crashed the vehicle into a tree. The suit went on to state that Walker was alive for over a minute before the vehicle burst into flames and killed him.

People Magazine reports the lawsuit also stated the Carrera GT had a history of instability and control issues and the company failed to install an electronic stability control system despite knowing about potential problems.

Porsche has previously denied claims of responsibility and stated that alterations and misuse of the car caused or contributed to the incident and to Mr. Walkers death.

This is the second lawsuit Porsche has settled involving the former Fast and Furious star as the company previously reached an agreement with Walkers father, Paul Walker III, who was the executor of the actors estate.

Photo Gallery
With the Fine-Comfort Ride Concept, Toyota is looking to redefine the family minivan, turning it into something even more versatile and eco-friendly.



At its core, the Fine-Comfort Ride is a Fuel Cell vehicle (FCV), offering large amounts of available electric power using just hydrogen as an energy source. In fact, refueling the car with hydrogen takes just three minutes, according to the Japanese automaker.

From a design perspective, this concept utilizes a diamond-shaped cabin that narrows towards the rear, maximizing both interior room as well as aero performance. Its not the prettiest thing in the world, but its spacious and highly efficient.

Inside, both the driver as well as the passengers are surrounded by touch displays, while the seating layout can be adjusted in various ways, helping you either relax or better interact with your fellow travelers.

Powering the Fine-Comfort Ride are individual electric motors, and with a long wheelbase and the wheels pushed out as far as they will go, Toyota expects to achieve saloon-like running stability and quietness, while providing occupants with a cruising range of approximately 1,000 km (621 miles).

In the end, while this concept may not be a jack of all traits (no off-road features, no sporty or imposing looks), theoretically you could drive it all the way from its Tokyo Auto Show stand to somewhere like Fukuoka, basically covering half of Japan.

PHOTO GALLERY

VIDEO
Nora Twomeys The Breadwinner came up the big winner at the inaugural edition of Animation is Film, claiming both the festivals grand prize and audience award.

Twelve animated features from around the world screened in competition at this first edition of the festival. The only other award presented at the event was a special jury prize to the French feature Big Bad Fox & Other Tales, directed by Patrick Imbert and Benjamin Renner.

The Breadwinner tells the story of a 12-year-old girl growing up under the Taliban in Afghanistan, who, after her fathers wrongful arrest, must pretend to be a boy to be able to work and provide for her family. The Ireland-Canada-Luxembourg co-pro was initiated by Cartoon Saloon, the two-time Oscar-nominated Irish studio responsible for The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea. The Breadwinner will be released theatrically in the United States on November 17.
Brazilians cant get enough Woody Woodpecker, both in official and unofficial form.

Earlier this month, Universals live-action/cg hybrid Woody Woodpecker feature shot to no. 1 at Brazilian theaters, and, in its first three weeks, has grossed over $6 million in that country.

On the unofficial side of things, a group of 70 (mostly Brazilian) animators has banded together to create a shot-by-shot remake of the 1961 Woody Woodpecker theatrical short The Bird Who Came to Dinner. Each animator was assigned a shot from the original short and asked to re-animate Woody  known as Pica-Pau in Brazil  in their personal style.
Bill Everitt

UPDATE 9 P.M.

Kelowna RCMP have arrested one person of interest in connection with the threat against an aircraft Saturday afternoon.

Nothing suspicious or threatening was found by RCMP during the search of either aircraft, passengers or baggage.

Kelowna RCMP continue to investigate the incident. No charges have been laid.

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe - Castanet Passengers from a WestJet flight await transport to the Kelowna International Airport terminal

UPDATE 4 P.M.

Passengers aboard a WestJet flight that landed in Kelowna over the noon hour were relatively calm despite what is believed to have been a bomb threat.

The flight landed at Kelowna International Airport shortly before 1 p.m. Saturday with police, fire crews and BC Ambulance attendants standing by. The plane taxied to an area at the end of the runway, away from the terminal.

Castanet has learned two WestJet flights were checked by bomb sniffing dogs.

Sabrina Thievin, a passenger on the plane travelling from St. Albert, AB, spoke with Castanet News Director Trevor Rockliffe following what turned out to be a three hour ordeal.

"We landed about 12:35 or 12:40 and we sat on the plane for a couple of hours. Then we got taken onto buses...took all the luggage off...they brought the dogs on and they were sniffing the luggage.

Before they did that they moved the buses because we were pretty close to the luggage.

They brought us water, some cookies.

Everyone was really good. People weren't freaking out, it was great.

We just let the police and fireman do their jobs.

It was a long wait and not knowing was hard. Then they got a third bus in and brought us here.

It's a long day."

Thievin was asked the mood of the passengers while everyone waited, not knowing exactly what was going on.

Surprisingly we were commenting there was nobody freaking out..there was no one getting really pissed off.

The longer we were on the bus the harder it got. There were three small children and one of the girls was crying. It got hard for them.

A lady with a baby and some older people. People were getting a little impatient but the WestJet staff was great.

The police came on board and told us what was going on and we really got the feeling they were trying to keep us up to date with what was going on."

Thievin says many on board believed there was a bomb threat.

"That's what we heard. Some people said it was a bomb scare, some people said no but no one actually said for sure what it was.

Evidently the reason it took so long for us to get off the plane was because they had to find drivers for the buses and get the buses out. Then it took longer because the dogs were sniffing the on-going passengers luggage before they did ours since the threat was against that flight and not ours."

Thievin's travelling companion, Joyce Cameron, also from St. Albert, says people were relatively calm throughout.

"It was a long duration but overall everybody kept their sense of humour. Nobody was trying to scare anybody and we all just kept calm and thankful that hopefully it's over."

Cameron added events from earlier this week in Montreal and Ottawa went through her mind while they waited for the ordeal to conclude.

UPDATE 3:20 P.M.

Passengers from the WestJet flight are now in the terminal at Kelowna International Airport after a dog checked their luggage.

Fire and ambulance personnel have left the scene.

One female passenger was taken away by ambulance.

UPDATE 2:45 P.M.

A WestJet flight has landed safely at Kelowna International Airport after what Castanet has been told was a threat to the plane.

The plane parked at the far end of the runway away from the terminal where passengers were waiting to be loaded into waiting buses for transport to the terminal.

Luggage is being removed from the plane and collected onto the tarmac.

Devon, a passenger on the WestJet flight told Castanet News a bomb sniffing dog is going through everything.

She says it will be at least a half hour before they are able to move.

Several arrivals have been delayed.

Planes are now taking off, however, nothing has been landing.

More details as they become available.

Emergency crews are on standby at YLW, they are apparently waiting for a WestJet flight to land.

The press release from the airport states:

Kelowna Airport's Aircraft Rescue Firefighters, Kelowna Fire Department, BC Ambulance and RCMP are currently on scene for an unsubstantiated and unconfirmed emergency.

More details to follow, we have a reporter at the airport.
But for a few paragons of virtue, like Mahatma Gandhi or Mother Teresa, we humans are no angels. We tolerate illegal activities if no one complains, and often can not distinguish between what may be criminal activity or bad manners.

Authorities who we trust to protect and serve us are reluctant to help in a matter where no one else has complained. Self interest appears to be the guiding principle of our actions. Some self interests are more important than other self interests. Just look at jobs versus environmental degradation.

On August 27th, 2017 I broke my wrist climbing over a wall of rocks lying across a Kelowna beach. Provincial foreshore laws prohibit placing unlicensed obstructions on the foreshore. After my accident, I wanted to have the rocks removed from the beach, the Okanagan has plenty of mountain ranges. I began by filing a report with the RCMP and by reporting a natural resource violation online, no response came from either. Evidently my self interest was not important on a scale of interests.



To date, I still do not know who placed the rocks on the beach or whose territory they lie on provincial, municipal, private, or all three. However, I will share the information that was offered to me by Natural Resource officers, Kelowna parks staff and friends or neighbours:



1) Some lakeshore property owners own the foreshore;

2) People walking on the foreshore can walk around a dock which obstructs their passage. If walking around such a dock means walking on private land, it is not trespassing unless an owner says you are trespassing;

3) Docks less than 15 inches in height do not require steps. (My comment: So you either walk over the dock or around and hope no one says "you are trespassing"?);

4) Unlicensed docks, rock walls or other obstructions - considered litter - are ignored by authorities unless someone registers a complaint. Enforcement is complaint-driven;

5) A licensed dock or other objects on the beach receive tenure until the licensed objects are altered;

6) Only the province owns foreshore;

7) Sandbags must not be emptied into the lake;

8) Rip-rap may extend to the lake even if it is foreign matter like the sand in the bags;

9) Rip-rap may be illegal without license from the province;

10) A rock wall on the beach could be riparian habitat; The rock wall is in City of Kelowna's 2015 aerial footage.

11) Removing a rock wall which may be riparian habitat requires a license from the province;

12) It is difficult to determine foreshore even if surveys are conducted because another client's survey results may be different;

13) Surveys are expensive;

14) The Natural Resource budget to enforce foreshore violations needs more money;

15) Although complaint-driven, people who file complains must be prepared to wait for a reply. (In my case more than 50 days and counting.)



The 15 examples above may be fact, urban legend, or false truth. It's the province's job to enlighten the public when there is confusion about their foreshore law.



Walk the Beach Kelowna on August 27th, brought awareness to foreshore. Foreshore is owned by the province, not lakeshore property owners. It's a lesson everyone needs to learn, including provincial officials who have neglected to enforce foreshore laws for a couple of decades. Despite my many attempts to have the province acknowledge responsibility for allowing a potentially dangerous obstruction across their foreshore, no action has been taken to have the rock wall removed or say whether or not it lies on foreshore. Kelowna Parks have emailed, and telephoned me to say that where I fell is foreshore or crown land, but the province has remained silent.

Helen Schiele
Photo: Google Maps

The death of a man who was found in his vehicle near Golden has been deemed non-criminal in nature.

RCMP received a report of a deceased male in a vehicle on Emerald Lake Road, about 60 kilometres east of Golden, at 11:59 a.m. Sunday.

Police and the B.C. Coroner's Service responded, finding the lone male occupant deceased in a 2018 silver Hyundai Elantra.

Investigators determined on Tuesday that no foul play was related in the death of the 52-year-old man from New Brunswick.

The nature of the man's death is still under investigation.
Photo: The Canadian Press President Donald Trump leaves the Capitol after lunch with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Senate Republicans to talk about his tax reform agenda, in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON - The Senate passed a $36.5 billion emergency aid measure Tuesday to refill disaster accounts, provide a much-needed cash infusion to Puerto Rico, and bail out the federal flood insurance program.

The 82-17 vote sends the measure to the White House, where President Donald Trump is sure to sign it.

The measure provides $18.7 billion to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency's rapidly dwindling accounts, and $16 billion so the flood insurance program can keep paying claims.

It brings the total approved by Congress during this fall's hurricane season to more than $50 billion  and that's before requests expected soon to cover damage to water and navigation projects, crops, public buildings and infrastructure, and to help homeowners without flood insurance rebuild.

"We're still waiting for all the data to come in from Texas to determine what the need is," said Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, whose Gulf Coast district was slammed by Hurricane Harvey. "We've already done the supplementals to keep the agencies going, but the long-term stuff  public assistance, FEMA and housing  are the big questions. We still haven't gotten all the numbers in from the state."

The measure fails to address demands from the Florida and Texas delegations for more funding now, but lawmakers representing those states have won assurances from GOP leaders like House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., White House budget director Mick Mulvaney and Trump himself that more help is in the works.

"I want to stress that much, much more will be needed in my state," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. "It's not over and done with, and it's not time to just move on."

The current measure would permit FEMA to allocate up to $5 billion to assist Puerto Rico's central government and various municipalities through a cash crisis. Maria has largely shut down the island's economy and choked off tax revenues. The island's electric grid has been mostly destroyed and more than one-fourth of Puerto Rico's residents don't have potable running water.
Photo: CTV Santa says the parade is back on this year in Vancouver.

Vancouver's Santa Claus Parade is back on.

After months of uncertainty and the loss of some major sponsors, Telus has stepped in to make sure the parade happens.

Organizers were facing a $150,000 shortfall earlier this month.

The parade has been a draw for families for the past 13 years and costs about $400,000 to put on.

This years parade is set for noon, Dec. 3 on West Georgia Street, turning onto Howe Street at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: CTV

Nanaimo's Duke Point ferry terminal reopened Tuesday, after a hydraulic leak from the Coastal Inspiration.

An official with the Nanaimo Port Authority says 120 litres of hydraulic oil leaked from the ferry's door system just as the vessel was arriving at Duke Point from Tsawwassen yesterday morning.

Booms were deployed to keep the oil out of the Nanaimo River Estuary and the terminal was closed but most of the spill was cleaned up by last night.

No contamination of the estuary or Jack Point shoreline has been reported and port authority manager of marine operations Rodney Grounds says, unlike diesel or engine oil, hydraulic fluid is a very light product that doesn't contain hydrocarbons.
Photo: Twitter

Police are searching for a woman after a West Vancouver break-in turned violent.

The homeowners were alerted to the intrusion by their surveillance system and got involved in a violent struggle in which they were bitten and scratched before two female suspects fled in a vehicle.

Police responded to the pricey British Properties neighbourhood just after 9 p.m. Monday, after the women had left.

The fleeing intruders also heavily damaged the homeowners' vehicle when they crashed into it as they fled.

One of the suspects was arrested in Coquitlam early Tuesday. The second is still on the loose.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: Facebook Jesse Galganov

A Canadian woman who is searching for her missing son in Peru says Amazon and Apple have released information requested by Peruvian police trying to find the 22-year-old.

Alisa Clamen, a Montreal resident, says it is hoped the information from Jesse Galganov's Kindle and iPhone will lead police to the missing man.

Clamen said Galganov left for a backpacking trip through South America and Southeast Asia last month.

Clamen last heard from him on Sept. 28, when he said that he would be out of communication for only a few days while he embarked on a multi-day trek near the Peruvian city of Huaraz.

Clamen said in a statement Tuesday that T-Mobile  Galganov's service provider  has yet to supply information requested by Peruvian police, who she said are considering the possibility that her son was abducted.

Clamen flew to Peru last week after deciding that something was seriously wrong and has posted a US$10,000 reward for any information that leads to her son being found.

She has said that Galganov's last known location was a backpackers' hostel called Kame House in Huaraz. She added the investigation officially became a criminal one when the owner of the hostel first said that Galganov had been to the hostel, and then changed his story to say that he hadn't when asked by police.

Investigators know that Galganov made it to Kame House because a friend received a Snapchat message of Galganov at the hostel.
Photo: Contributed Albert Einstein

While Albert Einstein's theory of happiness may be relative, it fetched $1.3 million at a Jerusalem auction on Tuesday.

The Nobel-winning scientist's musings, handwritten on a note, may not be as famous as his groundbreaking theory of relativity, but they still shed light on one of the great modern minds.

Winner's Auctions and Exhibitions said Einstein was travelling in Japan in 1922 when he was told he would be awarded the Nobel Prize in physics. In Tokyo, Einstein scribbled the note in German to a bellboy after he did not have cash to give him a tip.

"A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness," it reads.

Gal Wiener, CEO of the auction house, said Einstein told the bellboy that because of his fame, the handwritten note "will probably be worth more than a regular tip."

Wiener said bidding began at $2,000 and quickly escalated, with the bidding war lasting around 25 minutes.

Another note Einstein gave the bellboy, which read "Where there's a will there's a way," was sold for over $200,000, Wiener said.

He would not identify the buyer or seller of either note.

Einstein was a founder of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and left it his literary estate and personal papers. He declined an invitation to serve as Israel's first president. Einstein died in 1955.
Photo: Contributed

Dan Flasch went toe-to-toe with a black bear to save his girlfriend, and he would do it again.

Ill put myself in the way of danger any day for her, Flasch told CTV Vancouver. I love her very much.

The ordeal began on the night of Oct. 21 when his girlfriend went to let their dogs, Chip and Peanut, outside of their Mission home. Flasch said he first heard his dogs yelp. Then, his girlfriend screamed.

Ive never heard a woman scream that way in my life, ever, he recalled.

But Flasch couldn't see his girlfriend, because she was behind a massive bruin.

He remembered thinking, Just punch him in the nose. What else am I going to do?

I didnt have anything near me to grab, I just threw a punch at her, Flasch said. I had to get them away somehow.

He chased the bear down the street before helping his girlfriend back into the house. Thats when she told him the bear had knocked her down, scratched her and bit her in the back.

Flasch said his girlfriend's housecoat was shredded.

The mother bear and her two cubs were later found by conservation officers. When one officer approached the bears, the mother attacked, biting the officer in the leg.

The officer was taken to hospital and received stitches. The adult bear and her two cubs were all killed.

- with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: BC Transportation

UPDATE: 12:43 p.m.

Highway 1 has now reopened between Revelstoke and Golden, following the cleanup of a rockslide that closed the route overnight.

Expect slow going as backlogged traffic is cleared.

UPDATE: 12:30 p.m.

Highway 1 remains closed in both directions between Revelstoke and Golden.

A geotech assessment has been completed, and the route is expected to reopen shortly.

UPDATE: 8:25 a.m.

A geotechnical engineer has arrived at the scene of a rock slide on the Trans-Canada Highway about 65 kilometres west of Golden.

The engineer is assessing the situation, which has forced closure of the highway between Golden and Revelstoke.

DriveBC anticipates the route could reopen by 2 p.m. this afternoon.

ORIGINAL STORY: 6 a.m.

Expect delays heading to Alberta today.

The Trans-Canada Highway remains closed this morning west of Golden after a rockslide overnight.

DriveBC first reported the slide about 9:15 p.m., which is 65 kilometres west of Golden. The highway is closed in both directions at both Revelstoke and Golden, as traffic is being held in both communities.

No detour is available.

A geotechnical engineer is expected to assess the slide site at first light.
Photo: AirBnB

Many proponents of the home sharing platform Airbnb called on Vancouver to loosen terms of proposed regulations on the industry, but renters advocates and condominium boards say tight rules are exactly what is needed.

The city hosted a public hearing Tuesday on its proposed bylaw for short-term rentals including Airbnb and Expedia that would require hosts to hold a licence and only allow them to rent out their primary residence.

The city says more than 6,000 illegal short-term rentals are in operation while housing affordability is at a crisis and the rental vacancy rate is extremely low at less than one per cent.

It estimates at least 1,000 of those rental units are not the host's primary residence, meaning they would not be permitted under proposed regulation. The remaining 70 to 80 per cent of units would be eligible for licensing.

Alex Dagg, Airbnb policy manager, told council that while the company supports regulating the industry, it takes issue with the proposed definition of a primary residence and the limitation on the number of rentals that can occur at one time.

She said the proposed bylaw would force many people who live part time in Vancouver or have secondary suites to give up or scale back their operation, without resulting in their suites opening up for the long term rental market.

City staff say the proposed bylaw is intended to legalize the industry and force units that should be part of the general housing supply back into the long-term market.

Short-term rentals are only permitted currently for hotels and bed-and-breakfasts that are licensed and zoned for that purpose.

Karen Sawatzky, chair of the city's renters advisory committee, said council should move forward with the regulation as proposed as soon as possible because short-term rentals pose "a prolific threat against the city's renters."

She said she's particularly in favour of exclusion of secondary suites, such as basement suites, from the definition of a primary residence because those could be better used as longer term housing.
Photo: Contributed Four Sea-Doos allegedly involved in dangerous activity on Okanagan Lake.

A man believed responsible for recklessly operating a Sea-Doo and swamping another boat on Okanagan Lake has been charged and fined.

On July 6, police received several reports of as many as four reckless Sea-Doo operators, one of whom performed a power slide near another boat, swamping the vessel and knocking the couple's two-year-old child into the lake.

The child was wearing a life jacket and was retrieved from the water without harm.

West Kelowna RCMP say they have identified the man believed to be primarily responsible."

"The RCMP investigation revealed the company from which the personal watercraft were rented and later returned to, said Cpl. Jesse ODonaghey. Anonymous tip information from the public also aided in the development and eventual conclusion of the police investigation."

One of the boaters impacted said he later found the Sea-Doos docked at Okanagan Lake Resort.

The 27-year-old West Kelowna man was charged with operating a vessel in a careless manner and failing to provide a name following a collision, which carry a combined fine of $689.52.
Photo: TripAdvisor

The B.C. Visitor Centre at the end of the Okanagan Connector in Merritt is closing for good.

The centre, operated by Destination BC through a third-party contractor, includes washroom facilities, tourist information, souvenir sales and a snack shack. It will close in January.

It will be replaced by a new rest stop being constructed on the Connector between Kelowna and Merritt at the Loon Lake interchange.

The $7-million rest area is expected to open later this fall.

In a statement posted on TripAdvisor, a Destination BC official said significant changes in consumer trip planning behaviour have occurred over the last decade.

"As such, we have seen a corresponding drop in usage of visitor centres, such as the one at Exit 286 near Merritt," the statement noted. "The site is primarily used as a rest area and washroom stop for travellers, rather than a source of travel/trip planning information."
Photo: KGH Foundation

The Kelowna General Hospital has received the biggest donation in its 109-year history.

The Kiwanis Clubs of Kelowna have donated $4 million to the KGH Foundation, along with an additional $500,000 to the Central Okanagan Foundation.

The enormous donation comes as a result of the 2016 sale of the Kiwanis Tower. At the time of the sale, president of the Central Okanagan Kiwanis Community Service Society Bob Bissel said the proceeds would go to helping young people in the community.

Encouraging and enriching the childhood experience has always been at the heart of the Kiwanis mandate, said Bissell. We are so happy to be able to reinvest these funds back into supporting local kids.

The funds will be used to establish the Kelowna Kiwanis Legacy 2017 Fund, an endowment that will help the community's youth for generations.

Establishing this legacy endowment is an investment not only for our children today, but in the future of health and well-being of our community, said Wendy Falkowski, president of Kiwanis Club of Kelowna  Summit.

The KGH Foundation is an independent charitable organization that works to enhance services at KGH, while the Central Okanagan Foundation looks to improve quality of life in the region through building endowments, grant making and community leadership.
Photo: Pixabay

It's no surprise finding a place to rent in the Okanagan isn't easy, but in Summerland it's nearly impossible.

At Summerland council on Oct. 23, council unanimously agreed to pass a proposal that could potentially provide more housing options to the community.

"The recommendation presented to council are text amendments to the zoning bylaw, which would increase the number of parcels within the community that would allow secondary suites, as well as carriage homes and increase the number of those units being created," said Dean Strachan, director of development services."

The changes would create additional opportunities for property owners to develop new rental dwelling units in the community, according to Strachan.

"You would still need to meet the criteria set out by Interior Health to have an adequate septic field in order to accommodate [additional housing]," he said.

A large study presented to council earlier this month recommended the changes, pointing to unnecessary red tape around secondary suites. Residents also voiced an appetite for carriage homes in the report.
Photo: Facebook

Kelownas lucrative real estate market and robust business climate have caught the attention of a major Western Canadian investment publication, which has just named the city the best place to invest in real estate next year.

This week, Western Investor released its list of the top five places to invest in real estate in 2018, and Kelowna sits at the very top.

The publication touts the city as the dominant trading centre for the Okanagan Valley, and points to its blossoming high-tech sector (more than 200 companies making up a $1.3-billion industry) as a significant source of both economic and population growth in the region.

For more on the specifics behind the decision, as well as a list of the cities Kelowna beat out to make it to the top of the list, check out the full story on Castanet's sister business news website, Okanagan Edge.
Madison Erhardt

Rumours of a move to Family Day in B.C. so it aligns with other provinces has people talking.

Big White Ski Resort's Michael J. Ballingall is opposed to the change, saying tourist businesses get two long weekends of increased business with the current date.

But others say they'd like to have the holidays coincide so they can visit with out-of-province family.

Castanet hit the streets to see what Okanagan residents think.

Want to sound off on this topic? Email us a letter to the editor to [email protected].
Photo: Facebook

A Chilliwack school trustee has apologized for saying in a Facebook post that provincial education policies aimed at supporting LGBTQ students amount to child abuse.

Barry Neufeld says in a statement that he believes in a safe learning environment but educational resources should be reviewed by parents and teachers before they're implemented.

Neufeld says he's critical of a resource, not individuals, and that he apologizes to those who felt hurt by his opinion.

The Chilliwack School District also issued a statement saying Neufeld's opinion doesn't reflect the views of the Chilliwack Board of Education.

It says the board approved changes to its Safe Schools Policy last October in keeping with the B.C. Human Rights Code so all students are free of harassment, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer.

Neufeld acknowledged in his statement that his recent Facebook post created a lot of controversy.

"Those who have worked with me for over 24 years know that I do believe in inclusion and a safe learning environment for all of our students. They should be protected from all forms of bullying and intimidation."

However, a free and democratic society should have room for respectful discussion and dissent, he said.

In his Facebook post, Neufeld said the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity program instructs children that gender is not biologically determined, but is a social construct.

The elected trustee, who has served for two decades, said he believes the program encourages children to question their biological gender and consider gender transition.

"Throwing that out there for Grade 4 children to consider, to me, that is not wise and it infringes on the rights of parents to make these decisions," he said in an interview on Tuesday.

The website for the initiative says it was created by educators and leaders from across Western Canada and "equips educators of all backgrounds and experiences with tools and resources for supporting marginalized LGBTQ students."

The program already has provincewide participation in British Columbia, and the site says a new partnership was recently reached with Alberta. National expansion is the next goal.

Neufeld says parts of the initiative are good and should be implemented but he wondered why it couldn't be included in an after-school program that interested students could join if they wished.
Photo: Castanet Staff

The B.C. Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of a man connected to a bitter neighbourhood dispute in Coalmont, near Princeton, in 2015.

Karl Gatzke was found guilty in Oct. 2016 of uttering threats in connection to a Apr. 2015 incident where he allegedly threatening to shoot his daughters neighbour in retaliation for damage done to his car.

But this week, Associate Chief Justice A.F. Cullen ordered a new trial on the matter, calling both of the Crowns witnesses uncredible and citing the original trial judge for not fully considering Gatzkes side of the story.

In my view, the trial judge's failure to provide any explanation for rejecting the appellants evidence, and indeed in failing to even expressly communicate that he did reject the appellant's evidence is, in the evidentiary context of the present case, a reversible error, Cullen wrote.

The appeal judge also found that there were just too many inconsistencies between the Crowns two key witnesses, especially with both of them holding previous grudges against Gatzke.

The trial judge more-or-less wrote off the testimony of the person Gatzke allegedly threatened because of previous bad blood between the two sides, opting to take the word of another neighbour as truth.

However, the appeal judge found that neighbour did not display the characteristics of an impartial or careful witness.

While it was certainly open to the trial judge to accept his evidence, in circumstances where the appellant's testimony was not inherently incredible, some explanation of why he found it raised no reasonable doubt was required, Cullen wrote.

Karl Gatze and his daughter Marianna Gatzke were found not guilty of assault in March 2016 in connection to another Coalmont incident in June 2014, while Marianna had two mischief convictions overturned in Apr. 2016. All the charges were related to a years-long feud taking place within the tiny community at the time.
Entertainment One/Century MediaAvatar has revealed the details of their next album. The seventh studio effort from the Swedish makeup-wearing rockers is titled Avatar Country, and will arrive January 12.

Your first preview of Avatar Country comes in the form of the single "A Statue of the King," which you can grab now via digital outlets. The track is also streaming alongside a video that shows vocalist Johannes Eckerstrom preaching from a podium in support of The King, which turns out to be guitarist Jonas Jarlsby. Each track title on Avatar Country makes reference to The King.

"The album contains the expected superior examples of how metal should and must sound today and for all eternity," says Avatar in a statement.

Avatar will be touring North America in support of Avatar Country next year beginning January 6 in Columbus, Ohio. The run concludes February 11 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Visit AvatarMetal.com for ticket info.

Here's the Avatar Country track list:

"Glory to Our King"

"Legend of the King"

"The King Welcomes You to Avatar Country"

"King's Harvest"

"The King Wants You"

"The King Speaks"

"A Statue of the King"

"King After King"

"Silent Songs of the King Pt 1: Winter Comes When the King Dreams of Snow"

"Silent Songs of the King Pt 2: The King's Palace"

And here are Avatar's North American tour dates:

1/6 -- Columbus, OH, Newport Music Hall

1/7 -- Toronto, ON, The Opera House

1/9 -- Montreal, QC, Astral

1/11 -- New York, NY, Gramercy Theatre

1/12 -- Boston, MA, Brighton

1/13 -- Baltimore, MD, Baltimore Soundstage

1/14 -- Philadelphia, PA, Theatre Of Living Arts

1/16 -- Louisville, KY, Mercury Ballroom

1/17 -- Atlanta, GA, The Buckhead Theatre

1/18 -- New Orleans, LA, House of Blues

1/19 -- Houston, TX, House of Blues

1/20 -- Dallas, TX, House of Blues

1/21 -- San Antonio, TX, Aztec

1/23 -- Tempe, AZ, The Marquee

1/24 -- Los Angeles, CA, Regent Theater

1/25 -- Sacramento, CA, Ace of Spades

1/28 -- Seattle, WA, Studio Seven

1/30 -- Salt Lake City, UT, The Complex

1/31 -- Denver, CO, The Summit Music Hall

2/1 -- Lincoln, NE, Bourbon Theatre

2/2 -- Chicago, IL, The Bottom Lounge

2/3 -- Green Bay, WI, Sand Lot

2/5 -- Lawrence, KS, Granada

2/7 -- Detroit, MI, St. Andrew's Hall

2/8 -- Cleveland, OH, House Of Blues

2/9 -- Indianapolis, IN, Deluxe

2/10 -- Milwaukee, WI, The Rave II

2/11 -- Grand Rapids, MI, Intersection

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Rigoberto Velazquez, who went through the Accenture apprenticeship program and has been hired for a permanent position in the company's IT department, takes part in a Sept. 22, 2017, transition meeting at Accenture's Chicago office. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Rigoberto Velazquez had a bachelor's degree in psychology from DePaul University and a steady job at a home health agency, but wasn't sure what he really wanted to do with his life. So he started taking classes part-time at Wilbur Wright community college, part of the City Colleges of Chicago, where he fell in love with computers.

Velazquez went on to earn an associate's degree in computer information systems, and soon found himself in a pilot apprenticeship program at Accenture, a professional services company, working in the information technology department alongside colleagues with advanced technology degrees.

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When the pilot ended, Velazquez and the three other apprentices got hired on, a feat he doubts would have been possible had they not had the chance to prove their chops.

"I was beside myself, I would have been happy with a help desk job anywhere just to get my foot in the door," Velazquez said. "To work at Accenture, that's quite a quantum leap."

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Accenture, which in August made its pilot program permanent, committing to bring on 25 apprentices annually for the next five years, is part of a small but growing cadre of white-collar companies investing in earn-and-learn programs typically associated with skilled construction trades.

Apprenticeships, which pair paid jobs with relevant education, are at the forefront of bipartisan workforce strategies from Washington, D.C., to Chicago. Advocates tout them as a solution to fill employers' talent needs, give young people a debt-free path to a solid career and help workers like Velazquez transition to new lines of employment.

Insurance firms Aon and Zurich North America have launched apprenticeship programs in Chicago, and the Chicago Apprentice Network  newly launched by Aon and Accenture  aims to get more corporations on board. Rush University Medical Center is leading discussions with hospital systems in the area about establishing a joint health care apprenticeship. And traditional trades programs are using apprenticeship programs to extend a hand to underserved communities whose residents historically havent had the means or networks to win coveted apprenticeship slots.

The challenge for Illinois will be to "bring all those isolated pockets of promise together" to create a broad-based apprenticeship system able to grow large enough to meet individuals' and employers' needs, said Matt Bruce, executive director of the Chicagoland Workforce Funders Alliance. He says Illinois, with critical employer leadership from big corporate names, is poised to follow in the footsteps of pioneering states like South Carolina, where coordination has led to an octupling of apprenticeship programs in the state over the past decade, and more than 26,000 apprentices.

Much like the Obama administration, the Trump administration has been a vocal supporter of apprenticeships. President Donald Trump in June signed an executive order calling for doubling the amount of federal grants that support apprenticeships to $200 million. More controversially, he called for the Labor Department to propose regulations to allow third parties, such as trade groups, to set standards for government-funded apprenticeships.

Critics worry that the quality of the training will suffer if government oversight of federally funded apprenticeship programs is rolled back. Those programs are required, among other things, to assign mentors to participants and award incremental wage increases.

But Bob Lerman, a fellow at the Urban Institute and a leading scholar on apprenticeships, said broad-based industry standards could raise quality and establish international frameworks common in countries with robust apprenticeship programs.

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"My concern is that we need to make very significant progress in the next couple of years, or people will try to move on to the next big thing and conclude that maybe we can't do a robust system in America," Lerman said. The U.S. had more than 505,000 active apprentices in 2016, up from 375,000 three years earlier. Lerman hopes to reach 4 million.

Investing in workforce

Apprenticeships represent a cost for companies, but research shows that the programs can be well worth the investment.

International studies suggest that for every dollar spent on apprenticeship, employers may get an average $1.47 back in increased productivity, reduced waste and greater innovation, according to the Labor Department. A review of Washington states workforce training outcomes found apprenticeships boosted participants future taxable incomes and thus yielded a $23 return to taxpayers for every public dollar spent, compared with a $3 return for community college.

The leap into apprenticeships has paid off for Accenture, said North America CEO Julie Sweet. The apprentices at her company have exhibited a loyalty and eagerness to grow that makes this a great business decision as well as a contribution to our community, she said.

Sweet also sees broad social benefits to expanding apprenticeships as more job tasks are automated and people are forced to make midcareer shifts.

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"If we get this right as a country, it could be an important tool to help the disruption," Sweet said. "This is a very tangible way to get people to re-skill in the future."

Advanced manufacturing, which scrambles for skilled labor, is one growth area for apprenticeships. The industry faces a talent shortfall as baby boomers who dominate its workforce retire and young people raised to prioritize college retain outdated perceptions of dirty factory jobs.

But even in manufacturing, which has a longer history with apprenticeships than some white-collar fields, one of the biggest challenges has been convincing employers to see the long-term benefit of such programs, said Mario Kratsch, vice president of the German-American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest.

The Industry Consortium for Advanced Technical Training landed a $3.9 million Labor Department grant in 2015 to launch an advanced manufacturing apprenticeship program, starting with seven Chicago-area employers and seven apprentices. The program has grown  this year 27 companies and 32 apprentices are participating  but many companies are wary of the costs associated with participating, said Kratsch, whose group partnered with the Illinois Manufacturing Association and several community colleges to form the consortium.

Participating companies pay the chamber a management fee to run the program and also fund apprentices wages, cover their community college tuition and designate a supervisor for them. It can take years for some apprentices to become productive, and even then, employers worry they may not stick around for the long term, Kratsch said.

Those risks are among the factors employers weigh when deciding whether to make the investment.

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But the other question that should be asked is, What happens if we do not invest in our workforce? Kratsch said. As more companies pool their efforts, losing talent to competitors becomes less of a risk, he said.

Rebecca Lake, dean of workforce and economic development at Harper College in Palatine, hopes to drum up more employer interest in new apprenticeship curricula she is developing in nontraditional sectors to address specific skill shortages.

Harper was awarded a $2.5 million federal grant in 2015 to sponsor registered apprenticeships and has launched six programs, including general insurance, cybersecurity and supply chain management. Lake is writing five more proposals for programs  among them sales and sales merchandising, banking and finance, private security and graphic art print production  in response to employer input.

Lake said she has been approached by the Illinois Bankers Association with a request for midlevel loan officers, and from car dealers saying they struggle to find salespeople who will move up to managing service departments.

The school has 23 employer partners and 75 apprentices, who receive credit-bearing associate degrees that will help them to transfer to four-year schools if they wish, plus portable industry credentials, she said. Thats important so that apprentices dont see it as being trained for a single job at a single company but rather as a first step in their careers.

Early results are promising: 84 percent of apprentices are still in their programs and are averaging a 3.61 GPA. Employers report that apprentices can perform 80 to 85 percent of a full workload by the end of the second semester of their six-semester degree, Lake said.

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Expanding access

In addition to addressing skills gaps, apprenticeships are being used to combat high unemployment among youths in disadvantaged communities.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Opportunity in July announced the launch of Apprenticeship Plus, a pilot program targeting 16- to 24-year-olds, funded by $1.5 million in federal Labor Department grants that will be spread across nine programs around the state. More than 300 youths will be trained in construction, health care, IT and manufacturing.

There also are growing efforts to expand access to existing apprenticeships in the building trades by tackling barriers that have made it hard for people to find out about those opportunities or succeed in them. Transportation, in particular, is a big concern, as many training programs are in the suburbs and construction jobs move around, requiring a car many people cant afford.

One such initiative is Access United, launched in April by the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and the Chicago Federation of Labor to offer a centralized hub of information on union apprenticeships.

The program is targeting three communities  the Bronzeville and Austin neighborhoods in Chicago and suburban Blue Island/Robbins  with information sessions explaining which programs are available and how to apply. Interested candidates are given a practice aptitude test so that they can work on improving their score. The program gives accepted apprentices a mentor and covers the cost of their books, tools and union initiation fees, which can be up to $700.

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So far about 120 people have attended information sessions, 20 are applying and three have been accepted into apprenticeships, said Andrea Kluger, director of labor participation at United Way.

Carpenters, electricians and pipe-fitters are among those with the most opportunity, she said. Pay starts at $15 for apprentices in some programs and goes up regularly until they become journeymen making $50 an hour.

Dan Allen, executive director of Construction Industry Service Corp., which represents construction contractors and union workers, said the trades have long been committed to diversity  nearly half of the 5,600 union workers in Cook County are women or minorities  but with Access United the hope is to effect long-term change in communities that struggle with poverty.

You can change the dynamics youre seeing with the chain reaction of having someone in the family with a good-paying lifelong career, Allen said.

There have been challenges. The pretest leaves many people frustrated because its been a long time since they learned math, said Nichole Carter, coordinator with the Greater Bronzeville Neighborhood Network, one of the community partners. But the effort is being embraced, slowly.

I think there is skepticism that this will work because people havent always felt welcome in the trades, Carter said. I think the more wins we have, the better it will be.

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aelejalderuiz@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @alexiaer

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RELATED STORIES

[ Apprenticeship programs increasingly put workers on track for jobs in finance ]

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Dr. Max Liebo examines heart transplant recipient Jeffrey Fenske on Oct. 19, 2017, during a consultation and exam at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Loyola Medicine has announced plans to buy MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago-area health systems have merger fever, excitedly scooping up hospitals and joining forces in what they say is an effort to improve patient care and lower industry costs.

But is it good for consumers care or pocketbooks? Not always, according to research and real-life examples.

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The list of Chicago-area hospitals teaming up with one another is ever-expanding. Just this month, Loyola Medicine announced plans to buy MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn and Rush said it would acquire Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers.

Presence Health agreed in August to become part of Amita Health. University of Chicago Medicine finalized its merger last year with Ingalls Health System. Northwestern Medicine is still in talks to add Centegra Health System in the northwest suburbs.

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Illinois, in fact, was among the top three states in the years third quarter for hospital deal announcements, along with New York and Pennsylvania, according to Skokie-based advisory and consulting firm Kaufman, Hall and Associates. Each had three transactions.

In Illinois, the leaders of Loyola, Rush, Northwestern, Amita and University of Chicago Medicine have all said acquiring more hospitals will help them improve patient care by giving more people in the acquired hospitals communities access to their services and, in some cases, lowering costs for the hospitals.

"I don't see this as anything but a win for consumers," said Amita President and CEO Mark Frey, in August, of Ascensions plans to acquire the Presence hospitals, making them part of the Amita system.

But data show that hospital consolidations dont always lead to lower prices or better care.

In some cases, mergers might financially stabilize hospitals so they can better serve their communities, said Martin Gaynor, a professor economics and health policy at Carnegie Mellon University. Presence and Little Company of Mary, for example, had faced financial struggles before they agreed to be acquired.

But generally, hospital consolidation results in higher prices for insurance companies, and those costs can be passed along to consumers through higher premiums and other payments, said Gaynor, who wrote, with a co-author, a 2012 review of studies on the issue, published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Insurers could pass those costs onto employers, which could affect wages or lead to higher premiums or skimpier benefits for workers.

When hospitals merge in markets that already have few competitors, prices can increase by more than 20 percent, according to Gaynors review.

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That is the story that plays out over and over and over again in the data, said Amanda Starc, an associate professor at Northwestern Universitys Kellogg School of Management.

The Chicago area already has seen a case of increased prices after a hospital merger.

In 2007, seven years after NorthShore University HealthSystem (then called Evanston Northwestern Healthcare) acquired Highland Park Hospital, the Federal Trade Commission ruled the deal was anti-competitive and resulted in higher prices for insurers and consumers. But the FTC allowed NorthShore to keep the hospital as long as it accepted guidelines in negotiating contracts with health insurance companies.

Some hospital systems, like those in the Chicago area, may now be setting their sights on suburban, community hospitals in hopes of avoiding heavy antitrust scrutiny, Starc said.

They may be trying to avoid a situation like the one Advocate Health Care and NorthShore recently faced when they tried to merge. Earlier this year, the two systems walked away from plans to unite after a federal judge ruled in favor of the FTC, which challenged the deal. The FTC alleged the merger would have reduced competition in the northern suburbs because the systems had geographically overlapping hospitals. That, the FTC said, would have led to higher prices for health care and lower incentives to improve the quality of care.

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Gaynors review found that many hospital consolidations have not led to improved quality or reduced costs.

Others, however, say it just takes time for hospitals to realize cost savings and quality improvements.

Jim Roth, CEO of Huron Consulting Group in Chicago, believes hospital mergers will eventually yield lower costs and higher quality. Hospital systems have been sinking huge amounts of money in recent years into new electronic health record systems and coordinating care. Its not going to happen overnight, and the question is whether everyone has the patience to let it play out, Roth said.

In the meantime, many believe the hospital merger frenzy will continue. The number of hospital deals in 2017 across the country may be on track to exceed the number of deals last year, according to Kaufman Hall.

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Many say hospital systems are merging to increase their leverage with insurers when negotiating rates. Larger hospital systems may be able to negotiate higher payments from insurers for services, said Northwesterns Starc.

Others, however, say a major reason is squeezed hospital margins, and one way for hospitals to deal with that is to gain scale through mergers.

Hospitals also may be merging, Starc said, in an effort to spread the risk financially as they adapt to evolving systems of payment from insurers.

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Finally, hospitals may fear that if they dont jump on the merger bandwagon, theyll be left behind.

I think people can get worried theyre in a game of musical chairs and dont want to be the ones left standing when the music stops, Gaynor said.

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lschencker@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @lschencker
Glen Walter has been named president of Mondelez's North American business. He is currently CEO of Coca-Cola Industries China.

Mondelez International, the Deerfield-based parent company of Oreo cookies and Ritz crackers, announced Wednesday the hire of a Coca-Cola executive to lead the companys North American business.

Glen Walter, 49, will join Mondelez next month as executive vice president and president of North American business, Mondelez announced in a news release. Walter is currently CEO of Coca-Cola Industries China and previously held the role of president and chief operating officer of Coca-Cola in North America.

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Walter will replace Tim Cofer, who was interim North America president, the release said. Cofer will return to his full-time role of chief growth officer.

Mondelez has made several recent changes at the top as it tries to grow revenue, a challenge for all packaged food companies in todays industry. Walter will join new Mondelez CEO Dirk Van de Put, who replaces CEO Irene Rosenfeld next month.

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Im thrilled to join Mondelez International and begin working with the leadership team to grow the North American business on both the top and bottom lines, Walter said in the news release. I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues to shape the future for our unparalleled portfolio of iconic brands.

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The six-bedroom, 5,110-square-foot North Side home that Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta and his family rented until their lease ended a few weeks ago was listed Wednesday for $1.799 million.

Built in 2015 by Heffernan Builders, the home in the Graceland West neighborhood of the Lakeview community area is owned by an Illinois limited liability company that bought the property for $675,000 in 2014. The manager of the company is Matthew P. Ickes.

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The house is just a block from the five-bedroom, 7,000-square-foot mansion Arrietas fellow Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester bought in 2014 for $3.777 million. Lester then added to his home last year by paying $1.35 million for a vacant side lot.

The house that Arrieta, 31, had been renting has five baths and sits on an extra-wide 30-foot lot. Features include a second laundry room on the top level, smart surround sound, radiant floor heating, millwork, a garage roof deck and a stone patio in the rear with a fireplace. It also has an all-white kitchen, with Sub-Zero, Bosch and Wolf appliances.

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Listing agent Kevin Hinton of Keller Williams Chicago-Lincoln Park declined to comment.

While his future with the Cubs is tenuous as he enters free agency, Arrieta  whose offseason home is in Austin, Texas  has spoken of his appreciation for the neighborhoods near Wrigley Field.

Me and my family love living close to the stadium and being around the community, he told the Tribune last year. The community outreach has just been incredible. The support, its a daily thing where Ill leave the house and people reach out to me. It can be something as simple as saying, Go, Cubs, or Were pulling for you. All my neighbors talk to me. Its something to have that kind of support around the community. It makes you really enjoy what Im able to be a part of.

Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.
If you believe a neighbor's plants have crept over into your property, a survey should clear up the matter. (Getty Images)

Q: I am a senior and have lived in my house for 40 years. Up until now, Ive never had any problems with my neighbors. Now I need to determine where the property line is between my house and the next-door neighbors.

She recently informed me that she was going to plant some hedges that will match the hedges in my backyard. Yesterday, I saw four small hedges had been planted, and I believe they are on my property. The plantings were done at night and  bingo  there was something new to see in the morning.

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If the plants are on her property, I dont have a problem, but I really want to know.

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A: Property line disputes are, unfortunately, very common and often end up making enemies of previously friendly neighbors. I would ask your neighbor if she has a survey, which would show the property lines. If she does, get a copy, and if you cant understand it, talk to a real estate attorney.

If she does not have a survey, suggest that the two of you split the cost and get a boundary line survey from a licensed surveyor in your city or county. If she refuses, then you should get the survey yourself. This typically should not cost more than $500.

A good survey should answer all of your questions and concerns.

Q: I dont understand why you use the words settlement and escrow when talking about a real estate closing. Can you explain?

A: Good question; I should have explained this a long time ago. For all practical purposes, there is no difference. Although the real estate closing process is the same  buyer pays the purchase price, seller signs the deed and the deed is recorded  custom and usage differs from state to state. In many Western states, the process is called escrow. The seller puts the deed in escrow with an escrow company, and the buyer arranges to have the sales proceeds similarly deposited in escrow with that same company. When the escrow company is satisfied that everyone has complied with the terms of the real estate sales contract, the deed is recorded and the seller gets the sales proceeds.

In Midwestern and Eastern states, the process is called a closing or a table closing, meaning that all parties show up at the settlement table. But the process is the same. Thanks for asking.

Q: I bought a condo and would be interested in adding some solar panels on the roof. It's a multiunit building. What would be the best way to get access to put solar panels on the roof for personal use? Should I go through the condo board? The management company? Can a board prohibit this?

The panels could be installed using cinder blocks to hold them in place; theyd be movable in case of roof work.

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A: Unless part of your roof is your limited common element, I think you are out of luck. The roof is a common element; why should all other owners agree that you can install solar panels just for your personal benefit? Technically, the board could give you a license to use the roof for that purpose, but if I were counsel to the association, I would strongly object to such an agreement.

However, have you approached the board with the idea of installing solar panels on the roof for the benefit of all owners?

Benny Kass is a practicing attorney in Washington, D.C., and in Maryland. He does not provide specific legal or financial advice to any reader. Readers may email him, but he cannot guarantee a personal response.

mailbag@kmklawyers.com

[ Related: What type of insurance does a condo owner need? ]

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This is the cover image of Smitten Kitchen Every Day: Triumphant and Unfussy New Favorites, by Deb Perelman. (Knopf)

How do we even start to talk about some of the most divisive issues of our time?

From a culturally diverse ancient city with modern political controversies, to racially charged family connections, and, heck, even the metric system, three renowned cookbook authors are addressing these topics, as many of us do, through the lens of food.

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With new books out in stores now, touring authors Robyn Eckhardt, Deb Perelman and Michael Twitty will be visiting Chicago this month to discuss our divisions and commonalities. Read below about the events, where their latest tomes will be available for purchase and signing.

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Authors of three new cookbooks are visiting the area for a number of events. (Publishers' photos)

Istanbul and Beyond: Exploring the Diverse Cuisines of Turkey

Robyn Eckhardt, Michigander by birth, globe-trotting journalist by trade, has spent nearly 20 years exploring Turkey. Standing at the crossroads between the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Asia, writes Eckhardt, the country boasts astonishingly rich and diverse culinary traditions.

In her new book, she and her husband, photographer David Hagerman, start their exploration in Istanbul, once known as Constantinople and Byzantium, and the most populous city in Turkey. Together, they beautifully capture stories and images, from village home cooks to cafe chefs, highlighting traditional recipes.

This Saturday at cookbook shop Read It & Eat, Eckhardt will demo two dishes from the book: bulgur and herb salad with pomegranate molasses, plus cheese fondue with corn flour. After her demo, Eckhardt and Hagerman will sign books.

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

On Sunday, Eckhardt returns to teach a hands-on cooking class with four recipes: strained yogurt with cucumber and herbs, sun-dried tomato and pomegranate salad, meatballs with pumpkin and spice butter, and hazelnut kadayif cake, followed by an intimate lunch and what promises to be compelling conversation with the author. $15 demo, $80 class (discounts available with book and both demo and class). Oct. 28 and 29 at Read It & Eat, 2142 N. Halsted St., 773-661-6158, www.istanbulandbeyondcookbook.com/events-and-appearances

Smitten Kitchen Every Day: Triumphant and Unfussy New Favorites

Deb Perelman, the beloved food blogger and author, finally returns with her second book, five years in the making. Taking the name of her popular blog, the book is so much more: Of the cookbooks 115 recipes, 101 are brand new. Each recipe is accompanied by a photograph shot by Deb (as shes simply known to her many followers), herself. All the recipes include weights in grams, as well as the more familiar cup and spoon measures  its no wonder this lovely new book took half a decade. Perelman will be signing the book this Sunday. Free. 3-5 p.m. Oct. 29 at Sur La Table, 55 S. Main St., Naperville. 630-428-1110, www.smittenkitchen.com/events

The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South

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In his new memoir, Michael Twitty, renowned culinary historian and author, traces his ancestry through food and time, from Africa to America, from slavery to freedom. Twitty sifts through stories, recipes, genetic tests, and historical documents, and travels from Civil War battlefields in Virginia to synagogues in Alabama to Black-owned organic farms in Georgia, according to his publisher. He speaks Monday at the Chicago Humanities Festival, in conversation with chef Clifford Rome, owner of Rome's Joy Catering in Bronzeville. Ticket prices from $5, 6-7 p.m. Oct. 30 at Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave., 773-537-4440, tickets.chicagohumanities.org

lchu@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @louisachu
Curry is complex, and any wine meant to stand up to it has to be dynamic in its own right  especially in an instance like this, where spice and sweetness come together. Here are three bottles up to the task: a white from Greece, a white from France and an orange from Italy.

MAKE THIS

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Curried chicken salad

Place 5 cups shredded cooked chicken (from leftovers or a rotisserie chicken) in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon curry powder and 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger. Pour over the chicken. Scatter in 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped. Toss. Cover and chill. Just before serving, fold in 1 Granny Smith apple, peel on, cored, chopped, and 3/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted. Makes: 4 servings

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Recipe by Leah Eskin

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

DRINK THIS

Pairings by sommelier Alan Beasey, of The Purple Pig, as told to Michael Austin:

2016 Domaine Sigalas Santorini, Santorini, Greece: This fresh, vibrant white is made of 100 percent assyrtiko. The wines deep structure and fuller body will jell nicely with the richness of the curry, and flavors of citrus and green apple in the wine will pair wonderfully with the dishs apple. The wines salinity will also bind the curry flavors together.

2015 Maison Pierre Sparr Pinot Gris, Alsace, France: Subtle sweetness in a white can enhance the sweet and spicy elements of a curried dish. This wine has honey and apricot flavors balanced by razor-sharp acidity. The salads ginger and apple will pop with each sip, while the wines smoky finish will complement the curried chicken.

2010 La Stoppa Ageno, Emilia-Romagna, Italy: This orange wine, a white that has had extended contact with skins and seeds, is a blend of malvasia, ortrugo and trebbiano grapes. It has aromas of sour apple, orange blossoms and black tea, and its nutty, fruity-potpourri flavors will make the salads apple, cranberry, ginger and almonds spring to life.

food@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @pour_man
As Hurricane Irma churned toward the Bahamas last month, financial-adviser-turned-TV-personality Suze Orman evacuated to her hometown of Chicago.

The South Side native has been spending her days fishing in the Bahamas with her wife, Kathy KT Travis, since her CNBC series "The Suze Orman Show went off the air in 2015. Orman, 66, gives a glimpse into her retirement life in the November issue of Money magazine, due out on newsstands Friday.

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Its fun to master something new. I mastered money," Orman told the magazine for its cover story.

Orman and Travis live in a white mansion on a private island in the Bahamas after selling homes in New York, South Africa and San Francisco. They fish for up to eight hours a day and Orman continues to dish out advice, even if it's unsolicited.

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With Hurricane Irma on track to hit the Bahamas, Orman gave her house keys to neighbors who didn't evacuate. She said she also donated the haul of fish she and Travis caught and froze.

"I can use my money now to try to help as many people as I possibly can. I love that," Orman said. "When you have money, you should never live a life where you isolate yourself from others and just use it for yourself. Money is there to make the world a better place and to help those who really can't help themselves.

Orman didn't always have money. After attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Orman moved to California and worked as a waitress. Money she saved and borrowed to open a restaurant was lost in a high-risk investment advised by a Merrill Lynch broker. Orman went on to work for Merrill Lynch and she began her CNBC show in 2002.

Though she has settled into a quieter life in the Bahamas, Orman is still charting her career path. She talked to Money about starting a podcast and hosting seminars about women and money.

I would like it to be eight hours over two days," Orman said. But nobody thinks they can take me for that long.

tswartz@tribpub.com

Twitter @tracyswartz

[ RELATED: South Side native Suze Orman opens up about finding her soulmate at 50 ]

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[ How Kathy Hart fared as a guest co-host on 'Good Day Chicago' ]
The most jaw-dropping new art space in Chicago isnt a multimillion-dollar museum expansion designed by a five-star architect and funded by a major capital campaign.

That may be the international trend inaugurated in 1997 by Frank Gehrys Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain, and which continues unabated on Saadiyat Island off the coast of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, where the Louvre is building a subsidiary by Jean Nouvel. Chicagos entries into the category include Renzo Pianos elegant but dull Modern Wing for the Art Institute and, most recently, the MCAs smart and hip renovation of its public spaces by Johnston and Marklee.

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No, the venue that everyone and their mother should visit right away is the Roundhouse, a former horse stable in Washington Park thats been closed to the public for decades. Its hardly a barn, though. Built in 1880 by architect and planner Daniel Burnham, the 61,000-square-foot stone structure extends off a monumental central gallery crowned with pretty windows and a wooden starburst ceiling that rises atop impossibly narrow steel columns.

Until Oct. 29, the Roundhouse will be filled with Singing Stones, an exhibition by a group of 11 artists and one collective from France and Chicago. Curated by Katell Jaffres of the Palais de Tokyo, the famed contemporary art center in Paris, there isnt too much to make of the French connection, other than bilingual wall texts, awkward translations and the notable fact that it works. Singing Stones offers an unpredictable variety of artworks, by a unique array of emerging artists, installed just so in an extraordinary space. If only most exhibitions could get that much right.

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Highlights include Andrew Schachmans Observatory, a plain wooden podium that visitors can ascend to get a good look around. From it, bask in the glory of Cauleen Smiths The Right Time, Before and After, an ever-changing rainbow of light that streams through the rotundas windows thanks to mismatched cinema filters. Follow Smiths prism as it casts its colors around the space, marking time and artworks as it passes.

Wind sensuously through Thomas Teurlais Scores for Bodies and Machines, a dense tangle of black-and-white paper scrolls hung from above. At its center sit three photocopiers, upon whose glass two dancers pressed their bodies during opening-day performances in order to generate the hundreds of facsimiles that make up the installation.

Pause to be baffled by Guillaume Leblons five white curtains, hard wavy walls cast from resin that resemble giant sheets of lasagna and hover magically an inch above the concrete floor. Caught between their folds are sculptures of an orange, a childs torso, a slice of watermelon, a fish and other items that a surrealist might have encountered on an urban stroll.

Rest for a moment on Raphael Zarkas Paving Space, a dozen angular solid oak shapes that intertwine in innumerable reconfigurations to form seats, nooks, benches and a bespoke skateboarding ramp. (A video shows skaters performing tricks atop the artwork in other venues.) Wish for a skateboard and some related skills.

Wander tentatively through Wilfrid Almendras maze of mottled glass pavilions. Find among them a stack of ethereally concrete poems written by a Portuguese friend of the artist and a pair of rocks mysteriously connected to the building via copper wires. Wonder whats being transmitted. Be careful not to bump into the scrappy sculptures of Dorian Gaudin, all spindly metal, plastic plants and simple motors. Dont be too startled when they move.

Finally, circle around the Floating Museums Echo Location, a ring of steel shelves that displays a show within the show. Its all about reflection: a video by Florian Pugnaire and David Raffini bounces off plexiglass sheets that angle above horizontal monitors; 3-D printed copies of busts from the collection of the DuSable Museum of African American History begin with precision but progress through doubling and tripling; more traditional models of architectural elements of the Roundhouse enshrine the surroundings. The Floating Museum  a collective made up of Schachman, Avery R. Young, Jeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford and Faheem Majeed  proposes an idea of museums for today: adaptive, communal, open, temporary.

Its a bold gesture to make from inside Singing Stones, which marks the first and for now the only public use that has been made of the Roundhouse since the Park District turned it into a storage facility in the 1930s. The DuSable, across the street, took over the lease of the building in the early aughts with plans for an ambitious expansion that has started and stopped and now, hopefully, started again. The space remains a grand and beautiful shell in need of millions of dollars of work.

Thats money that visual arts museums seem constantly able to raise for their own shiny new building projects  from Chicago to Saadiyat Island  thanks in part to the vast prestige of contemporary art and the deep pockets and excellent connections of those individuals, corporations and governmental figures who wish to be associated with it.

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Maybe the all-consuming force of gentrification that so often follows in arts wake can here be wielded for something better. Maybe some of the attention brought to the Roundhouse via Singing Stones  and its partnerships with Expo Chicago, the Architecture Biennial, the Institut Francais and the French Embassy  can be diverted from the pure pleasure of seeing good art in a great place to seeing that great place become the extended home of an institution that really needs it: the DuSable.

Singing Stones runs through Oct. 29 at the Roundhouse, 740 E. 56th Place, 773-947-0600, www.expochicago.com/programs/palais-de-tokyo-hors-les-murs.

Lori Waxman is a freelance critic.

ctc-arts@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @chitribent

[ RELATED: 50 artists and 50 wards: New public art brings new life, reflection to city ]

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With his fifth feature, and his first shot in America, the Greek writer-director-absurdist Yorgos Lanthimos has reached the intersection of tremendous skill and vague frustration.

Theres nothing vague about the narrative of The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Its strangeness is crystal clear. It plays out in ways both sardonically funny and extremely cruel. The acting is uniformly superb within the filmmakers preferred, emotionally deadpan parameters; the telling of the tale, a contemporary riff on the myth of Agamemnon and his ill-fated daughter, holds you in its grasp, even if you dont know what to make of it.

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As much as I admire Dogtooth and The Lobster, two of his earlier exercises in societal cruelty and the blackest of black comedy, this ones more of an artful dodge than a waking nightmare. Its tough to shake though.

Lanthimos trained in the theater, and a quick look at the most recent production (Chekhovs Platonov) on his website proves hes a wizard at physically activating claustrophobic scenarios. The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a small-cast morality play spun out on the screen. We first see the heart surgeon played by a crafty, wormy Colin Farrell in the operating room. (An extreme reverse zoom of the bloody pumping heart sets the tone of things.) Later he chats with another doctor (Bill Camp, just right in his bland provocations) about the merits of a metal watchband versus a leather one. Were in a generic hospital in EveryCity, U.S.A.; Lanthimos shot The Killing of a Sacred Deer in Cincinnati with an eye toward making it look as clinical as possible.

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Barry Keoghan, the young, freckled actor with the heartbreakingly expressive face in the recent Dunkirk, here shows a vastly different set of skills as the storys riddle, Martin. The heart surgeon appears at first to be a surrogate father to the boy, buying him presents, tolerating his sudden, unplanned workplace visits. (Alicia Silverstone plays the boys mother.) Martin is invited to dine at the home of the surgeon and his opthamologist wife (Nicole Kidman). Their two children (Raffey Cassidy and Sunny Suljic) take to him straight off; the older sibling declares her love for this boy, in fact. The introductory small talk includes information about this girls period and that boys underarm hair.

Gradually, the film reveals whats behind Martins interest in the surgeons line of work, what he feels hes owed, and why. Plenty of reviews coming out of the festival circuit have dealt with these later plot developments. Ill go easy on those. Its enough to know that a life has been lost, and another life must be taken in trade.

As always (and this was true even in Lanthimos one major flub to date, Alps), the actors must make sense of the directors eerily calm stance on the events depicted. Farrell is especially good; his quick, urgent conversational rhythms give Sacred Deer a needed pace. Keoghan seems like a normal enough sociopath, which is precisely what Lanthimos is after. The movie could be taking place anywhere, anytime, but at the moment millions of us have become grimly accustomed to normalizing psychotic behavior. At its best, the film creates an unsafe space for audiences to put it all for a couple of hours.

There is a limit, I think, to the tightly controlled, barely acknowledged madness The Killing of a Sacred Deer inhabits. The airless quality to the exchanges can be bizarrely funny, and as the doctors dilemma turns ever darker, the screws tighten. Lanthimos and his co-writer, Efthymis Filippou, draw upon Greek myth, the Theatre of Cruelty and Theatre of the Absurd and, in the film world, Stanley Kubrick and Michael Haneke. These are formidable, icy influences, and Lanthimos is a formidable enough talent to use them to his own ends. And yet the strangeness this time feels more studied. I wonder if he can find a way to surprise and disorient us anew as he continues to make movies. I hope so.

And I hope well get the chance to see his stage work here in America.

Michael Phillips is the Chicago Tribunes film critic.

mjphillips@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @phillipstribune

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The Killing of a Sacred Deer  3 stars

MPAA rating: R (for disturbing violent and sexual content, some graphic nudity and language)

Running time: 2:01

Opens: Friday

[ RELATED: Colin Farrell finds Rachel Weisz in 'The Lobster' ]

[ From 2010: Review of 'Dogtooth,' from 'Lobster' and 'Sacred Deer' director ]

[ Review of 'Alps,' a rare misstep from Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos ]
U.S. rapper Eminem has won a court case against a New Zealand political party for using music similar to his hit track 'Lose Yourself' in a television commercial.

New Zealand's High Court on Wednesday found that the conservative National Party breached copyright in a 2014 election campaign advertisement, and ordered it to pay $414,000 (NZ$600,000) plus interest in damages. The court ruling comes less than a week after National was ousted from government in the latest election.

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"This decision is a warning to 'sound alike' music producers and their clients everywhere," said Adam Simpson, director of Simpsons Solicitors, who acted for Eminem's music company Eight Mile Style. "The ruling clarifies and confirms the rights of artists and songwriters. It sets a major precedent in New Zealand and will be influential in Australia, the U.K. and elsewhere."

National said it believed it had purchased the music, titled "Eminem Esque," legally as it came from a reputable Australian-based music production library and was licensed with the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society. But the High Court said the sound-alike track "substantially copied" Lose Yourself and the differences between the two were minimal. The National Party committed three restricted acts amounting to copyright infringement, the court said.

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"National is disappointed with today's High Court decision," Party President Peter Goodfellow said in a statement. "The Party is now considering the implications of the judgment and the next steps. We already have a claim against the suppliers and licensors of the track."

Eight Mile Style said in a statement it was "incredible that the National Party went to such great lengths to avoid responsibility for using a weak rip-off of Lose Yourself."

"They knew we would not have permitted the use of the song in their political advertisement, however they proceeded at their own risk and blamed others for their infringement," the company said.

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Watch the latest movie trailers.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
Lawyers  who needs em?!

Not big companies defending themselves against small-time plaintiffs who cant afford a lawyer of their own.

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At least, thats the opinion of recently retired U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Richard Posner, who seems to be taking as much delight in tweaking the egos of attorneys and his former colleagues from off the bench as he did when he was on it.

Instead of having lawyers face off in an adversarial battle, Posner, 78, says hed like to see a judge order both sides in a case go to trial without their lawyers, just like on Judge Judy.

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Theres no constitutional right to an attorney in civil cases, Posner pointed out to Chicago Inc., adding that plaintiffs dont necessarily need lawyers.

Im looking for a judge whos willing to say, Im not going to let either side have any lawyers.  I dont want to have the case clogged up with lawyers, he said, with a chuckle.

A judge could do it  and people are so reluctant to upset judges that theyd probably go along with it.

Forcing a businesss officials to handle cases, rather than using high-powered attorneys, would level the playing field with less wealthy plaintiffs and speed up the process, Posner suggested, pointing to less confrontational arbitration hearings and the judge-led, nonadversarial legal systems used in some European countries as models. (An American Bar Association spokesman declined to comment, saying Posners proposal was too vague to respond to.)

Long feared by attorneys for his withering intellect, Posner  a prolific and acclaimed author as well and the most widely cited American legal scholar  has never been shy about criticizing his former colleagues. He has described the quality of Supreme Court justices as awful and often rails against the standard of legal writing.

After quitting the 7th Circuit this summer in part over his belief that pro se plaintiffs and defendants (people who represent themselves in court, rather than hire a lawyer, typically because they cant afford one) are poorly treated by the courts, he is forming a law firm to help pro se litigants.

(Posner, ironically, had a jury verdict in a criminal trial he presided over overturned by his colleagues on Tuesday after they found that he had prejudiced the jury against a pro se defendant).

His could hardly have picked a more provocative first client than William C. Bond, an unemployed Maryland man who has spent years alleging that members of his states federal judiciary are involved in a corrupt scheme with federal law enforcement to illegally keep him under surveillance and deny him his First Amendment rights. But despite being deemed a frivolous and vexatious filer of lawsuits by the judge handling his case, Bond is actually intelligent and lively, according to Posner, who values both attributes highly and last week filed papers in the 4th Circuit seeking to represent Bond.

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A lower courts ruling throwing out Bonds $270 million lawsuit seemed designed to trigger Posner, containing, as it does, the argument that courts should not be in the philosopher-king business of worrying about consequences so long as the law commands their behavior, an originalist position favored by recently appointed Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and the late Antonin Scalia, whom Posner could not abide.

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Thats a lot of crap! Posner said. A judge shouldnt worry about consequences? Thats the most important thing there is  the outcome of the case.

Though he was known to induce a state of near-terror in lawyers forced to make oral arguments before him, Posner said the prospect of arguing on Bonds behalf before 4th Circuit judges causes him no anxiety. He noted that he had argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1960s when Justices Earl Warren, Abe Fortas and Byron White were all tough questioners. (Warren struggled to separate his disdain for causes he disliked from the lawyers hired to represent them, he said, while Fortas was an extraordinarily arrogant man who asked strange questions that didnt relate to the case, and White was a sourpuss, but a very good Supreme Court Justice.)

Posner intends to hire Bond as a part-time employee, along with several other nonattorneys and a recovering cocaine addict who did time in prison and has become an expert on prison conditions, he said. Including lawyers, he has 14 people signed up to represent poor plaintiffs and defendants at no cost, he said.

He is leaning toward calling his new law firm Pro Bono Pro Se Law Group but said with a laugh that his friends are encouraging him to go with a simpler name  Team Posner.

kjanssen@chicagotribune.com

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The Chicago Tribune's June 7, 1942, front page was led by a report on the Battle of Midway that made evident the U.S. had cracked the Japanese naval code. (Chicago Tribune)

For 74 years, only members of a Chicago grand jury could definitively say why they declined to indict a reporter responsible for a 1942 front page article that implied American cryptanalysts had cracked the Japanese military code.

The documents were unsealed for a group of petitioners in late 2016 after a three-year court battle, and on Wednesday, a number of carefully selected documents will be publicly available online for the first time on the National Security Archives website, said John Prados, editor of the postings. The timing  just 10 days after the publication of Stanley Johnstons Blunder, a novel by former journalist and historian Elliot Carlson  was merely coincidental, both men said. Carlson sued for the release of the grand jury documents with the help of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and Prados testified as an expert.

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Yet whether you dive into the documents in the comparatively short online post or consume all 242 pages of Carlsons labor of love, youre likely to come away with the same sense: The grand jury declined to indict Tribune war correspondent Stanley Johnston and the Tribunes then-managing editor, J. Loy Maloney, because Adm. Ernest J. King, who Carlson called the adult in the room, didnt want to risk even more media attention and the chance that Japanese leaders would change the code from the one the Americans had already cracked.

If this had gone on to a public trial, theres no telling how much publicity it wouldve received or how much chaos it wouldve caused, Carlson said from his Maryland home Tuesday. It was already turning into a media circus, and Adm. King didnt want to risk it hitting the airwaves. They didnt so much fear Japanese agents in America, but that somehow all the publicity of the trial would come to the attention of the Japanese and they would change the codes.

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Not such a spoiler alert: If you know your history, or if you make it to Page 242 of Carlsons book, youll learn that the fear that drove the government to take the Espionage Act of 1917 further than it had in its history was unfounded. The Imperial Japanese Navy never dramatically changed its code, Carlson wrote. It started World War II using code JN-25(d). By the end of the war, though numerous changes were made, the Japanese never greatly strayed from the code, ending with JN-25(p).

Did any of these shifts flow from, or have any connection with, the Chicago Tribune scandal of June-August 1942? They did not. IJN leaders never realized their code had been broken. If they had, they would certainly have replaced JN-25 with a totally different system. They would have had no other choice, but they never did, Carlson concluded in the book.

On the phone, he said the Japanese navy did change parts of the code every few months, and each time the Japanese did, it would take a few weeks before Americans learned what all the changes meant.

This game went on the entire war, but they never changed their basic code, Carlson said.

In Prados words, The continued utility of these penetrations depended on Japan not discovering the leaks, and not changing their codes. This made the Chicago Tribune affair a high-stakes national security matter from the beginning.

As the Tribune Editorial Board pointed out in a September 2016 piece written when Carlson was still pursuing the sealed documents, World War IIs Battle of Midway involved cryptanalysts who worked tirelessly to break the codes used by the Japanese navy as the Japanese planned to seize Midway Island and use it as a steppingstone to seize the Hawaiian Islands.

Johnston, a war correspondent for the Tribune who was credentialed and vetted by the FBI, was working aboard a ship with U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Chester W. Nimitz. The Navy and the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration privately knew, the details the Tribune had corresponded to a top secret dispatch from Washington to Nimitz, Prados wrote.

Carlson said Nimitz was very, very sloppy and careless with his information and had even invited Johnston to stay in his personal suite aboard the ship.

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He had his own rules, which he himself then violated, Carlson said of Nimitz. The information from Washington should have been seen only by department heads, but when they came to his suite to get coffee and to socialize, he couldnt resist reading parts of these messages.

The 2016 editorial also addressed how Johnston may have gotten the information from Cmdr. Morton Seligman, who was even closer with Johnston than was Nimitz.

Many historians think Morton Seligman, a U.S. Navy commander, intentionally or inadvertently leaked the info. A month earlier, during the Battle of the Coral Sea, Johnston had raced below deck to rescue badly burned sailors on Seligman's sinking carrier, the USS Lexington. On June 7, as the Navy's angry commander in chief Adm. Ernest King absorbed the Tribune's Midway report, he had on his desk a draft citation honoring Johnston for his heroism aboard the Lexington, according to the editorial.

Prados and Carlson agree that Johnston likely should have known the censorship agreements made when stationed in a war zone  which the Pacific was at that time  meant the article shouldve been sent to Washington for approval. Carlson, in particular, feels Managing Editor Maloney skipped that step, in part because it was about midnight and they were going to print, and in part because they knew the government would likely kill the whole article.

There was, as you say, a lot of blame to go around, Carlson said.

Although naval officials should never have discussed such sensitive information in front of a reporter, Carlson feels Johnston probably shouldve restrained himself in gathering the information and then worked harder to reel in editors who added a Washington dateline to the piece and a line stating the information came from officials in Washington.

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It was very, very sensitive information  yet he copied it all down, went back to his hotel room and later showed his boss. And Maloney said, This is just wonderful, fantastic stuff, write it up! Carlson said.

Carlson explained the agreement dictated that all copy written from a war zone meant that before publication, Tribune employees shouldve sent it to the naval censorship office to review and approve.

Its true that the Tribune was one of the more responsible publications, and they showed a high degree of concern about their stories, but in this one instance, they didnt do it, he said. They knew that they could never get an answer in time for deadline, and if they waited a day, it no longer would be timely, and I think Maloney rationalized that the story wasnt covered by the guidelines. He called the Washington bureau, and they assured him he was making the right call.

Carlson said there was some gray area because the rules were about U.S. intelligence, not foreign intelligence.

The Tribune editors and writers were breaking faith with their readers, and Johnston, I think, had already broken faith with the Navy, he said.

Prados, who has spent decades as a proponent of open government documents and believes in the publics right to access information through declassification and the Freedom of Information Act, was critical of the declassification process.

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The secrecy of this was needlessly protected for some time  for decades. Its another example of the creakiness of security classification that seriously needs to be revamped, he said.

Carlson said the first four days of grand jury testimony were essentially scene-setting details and the plan was for cryptanalysis officials from the Navy to arrive on the fifth day and present the meat of the argument: how Johnstons actions could negatively affect the code breakers and what it could mean to the U.S. if they no longer could decipher the code because of a news article.

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(Adm.) King pulled a fast one on everybody by refusing to let his code breakers go to Chicago, Carlson said. He pulled them back, and that came as a shock to everyone. When they failed to show, the grand jury was astounded that they were being asked to indict people for charges which they didnt understand the nature of. So once the jury didnt have witnesses to tell them what the indictment was to be about, they threw up their hands and said, We see nothing we can do.

Prados echoed those sentiments, using the naval term torpedoed to describe what King did to the proceedings. The government didnt really have the option to attack Johnston or the Tribune after that, he said.

Prados piece, including all the now-public documents, can be found here.

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kdouglas@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @312BreakingNews

RELATED

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Updated Oct. 30, 2017 10:35 a.m.  The drive was only 15 minutes, but it felt much longer for Kita Brown as her boyfriend, frantic and crying, sped through the South Side early Thursday.



He had gotten a call that his cousin Darnell Mitchell was shot. So they took off from 55th Street and reached the Far South Side scene in the 9600 block of South Euclid Avenue in the Jeffery Manor neighborhood as fast as the stoplights would allow.



"This is pretty hard to watch," Brown said, leaning on a tree in pink Hello Kitty pajamas as investigators roped off a gangway between two brick houses. A path led behind the homes, where a car was parked on grass in a backyard.



Chicago police said Mitchell was in the alley when someone approached and opened fire around 2:10 a.m., striking him several times, according to police. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

He was 40 and lived on the block where he was shot, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.



About two months earlier, Mitchell had been shot and wounded farther to the south, according to preliminary information from a law enforcement source.



Family members stood just outside the crime scene, hugging and crying Thursday morning. They said the victim, whose name was not officially released, often parked in a backyard across the street from his home. The man's wife sat on a chair on the stoop of the home, rocking back and forth.



"He was a family man," his relatives said. He was known for fixing cars around the neighborhood, they said.



The man was among two people killed and three wounded in Chicago from Wednesday to early Thursday.



In an earlier homicide, 19-year-old Tremell Stornes was shot Wednesday afternoon near Washington Park on the South Side, according to police.

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Stornes was shot in the head around 2:15 p.m. in the 5200 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue, police said. He was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.



A woman at the scene asked an officer if the victim might be her son who was walking to catch a bus, but the officer said the teen was in a car with three other people. Witnesses said Stornes was sitting in a blue BMW when a car pulled up and someone inside fired.



"It weighs on me a lot," said Rita Tabb, a woman who has lived in nearby Hyde Park for two years. "I feel like this area's safe but you gotta watch your surroundings now."



Tabb was meeting her 12-year-old daughter on the corner where the shooting happened. Tabb said she regularly meets her at the intersection. She attends Kozminski Community Academy a few blocks away.



Another passerby noted that tents for the UniverSoul Circus were set up a block away, drawing even more children to the area at the time of the attack.



"It kind of concerned me because you got the circus right there and it's daylight," said the woman, who did not want to be identified. "But it's not even about it happening here. If you're a target, you can be over by Obama. They don't care about people out at circuses, kids at school. They just trying to get who they get and go on."



Other shootings:



 Around 6:10 p.m. Wednesday on the Southwest Side, a 19-year-old man was wounded in the right leg in the 6300 block of South Lawler Avenue in the Chrysler Village neighborhood, police said. He was in good condition at Holy Cross Hospital. The teen was walking with a friend when someone shot at him from a dark-colored vehicle, police said.



 About 5:20 p.m. on the South Side, a 16-year-old boy accidentally shot himself in the head while handling a gun in the 7700 block of South Peoria Street in the Gresham neighborhood. He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was in serious condition.



 Around 3:15 p.m., an 18-year-old man was shot while walking down the street in the Little Village neighborhood, police said. Two people approached the 18-year-old and one of them pulled a gun and fired at him in the 2200 block of South California Avenue, police said. The teen was struck in the buttocks and thigh, and he was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where his condition was stabilized, police said.
Chicago police Officer Patrick Kelly, left, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Oct. 17, 2017, after testifying in his federal civil trial. He is accused of shooting friend Michael LaPorta while they were at his apartment. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)

Jurors are expected to begin deliberations Wednesday in a wrongful shooting case involving a Chicago police officer, as they decide whether the veteran patrolman shot his best friend in the head after a night of drinking or if the friend attempted suicide with the officers service weapon.

The 10-member jury listened to closing arguments in federal court Tuesday after a nearly four-week civil trial that repeatedly hit upon the police accountability issues that have dogged the city for decades.

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Officer Patrick Kelly and his childhood friend Michael LaPorta were the only people inside the patrolmans South Side home on Jan. 12, 2010, when LaPorta was shot toward the back of his head with Kellys gun. Chicago police classified the shooting as an attempted suicide based largely on Kellys account.

LaPorta, who was also Kellys college roommate, couldnt speak for months after the shooting, but LaPortas family pushed back against the suicide classification and accused Kelly of covering up the truth.

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Kelly told investigators that LaPorta held the gun with his left hand, but the ambidextrous LaPorta was a lifelong hunter who always shot with his right. No fingerprints were on the gun, which investigators found on the floor next to LaPorta.

If in fact Pat Kelly was the shooter  if he was going to stage the crime scene, wouldnt he have put that weapon in Mr. LaPortas hand? asked attorney Eileen Rosen, who is representing the city. You have to keep focused on whats the evidence.

For damages to be awarded, LaPortas attorneys must convince the jury that the preponderance of the evidence shows that Kelly shot his friend. If they find its more likely than not that Kelly pulled the trigger, jurors then must decide whether the citys police culture played a role in the shooting.

LaPortas attorneys argue the departments code of silence  an unwritten understanding that officers protect each other even to the point of ignoring wrongdoing  allowed Kelly to escape any serious punishment and convinced him that he could act with impunity. While Mayor Rahm Emanuel has publicly acknowledged the codes existence and enacted reforms aimed at fighting it, city attorneys played down its power to jurors, saying it was a potential problem and not a widespread practice.

They cannot admit their faults, LaPorta attorney Antonio Romanucci told jurors during closing arguments. They cannot admit what is evident. They cannot even admit what their mayor says.

Kelly, 36, declined to answer questions during the trial, asserting his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to more than two dozen questions that suggested he had shot his childhood friend in 2010 and then tried to cover it up. He previously has denied pulling the trigger.

City attorneys did not address Patrick Kellys refusal to testify. Jurors are expected to be told they can take a negative inference from Kellys silence, meaning they can consider that he declined to answer questions because the truth could be bad for him.

LaPorta testified he and Kelly went to Kellys home that morning after spending the night drinking at two South Side bars. Once there, LaPorta said, Kelly began hitting his dog and LaPorta announced he was leaving. LaPorta told jurors that he heard a clicking sound as he went to go, though he acknowledged he never saw Kelly holding a gun.

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He denied ever being suicidal.

LaPorta can no longer walk or read. Kelly settled a lawsuit with the LaPorta family in 2012 for $300,000  the maximum payout under his personal insurance policy.

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The LaPorta family is seeking $90 million in damages to cover LaPortas ongoing medical expenses, severe pain and suffering and a predicted shortened lifespan.

LaPortas parents and brother wept in the courtroom as Romanucci described how dramatically LaPortas life has changed since the night of the shooting. He had hoped to be running his fathers asphalt company by now, to be married and to have children of his own.

Instead, his attorney said, LaPorta, now 37, is dependent upon his family for round-the-clock care and regularly suffers from migraines. He is determined to walk again, but his doctor testified he is unlikely to do so.

The only time hell be relieved of pain and suffering, Romanucci said, is when he dies.

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sstclair@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @stacystclair

RELATED

[ Chicago cop pleads the Fifth at trial involving mysterious shooting at his home ]

[ Chicago cop Patrick Kelly taken off street amid reopened city investigations ]

[ Sued, found unfit and a friend mysteriously shot  a Chicago cop's rocky record ]
A Chicago-area man accused of sexually assaulting a child in far northwest suburban Hebron was arrested after being found hiding under a bed in an apartment in Ames, Iowa, on Monday following a 10-day search, authorities said.

Esau Ancheyta Hernandez, 26, of Hebron, is charged with class X predatory sexual assault of a child, according to the McHenry County sheriffs office. He is being held on $250,000 bond in the Story County Jail in Iowa.

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Authorities allege that Hernandez had sexually assaulted a child in a home in Hebron on Oct. 13 and fled on foot after family members confronted him.

After the family called 911, a large search involving several law enforcement agencies with K9 units, drones and a helicopter began in and around Hebron Road and the Illinois-Wisconsin border. But the suspect wasnt immediately found.

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The McHenry County sheriffs office said its investigators had gathered information and zeroed in on the mans location. The U.S. Marshals Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force moved in at 9:30 a.m. Monday, forcing open a locked bedroom door in the Ames apartment. After being found hiding under the bed, he was taken into custody without incident, according to the McHenry County sheriffs office.

We expect to see this man face his charges here in the county once the extradition process has concluded, said McHenry County Sheriff Bill Prim. We have been at great pains to locate him since the incident occurred.

In 2012, Hernandez, a Mexican national, had been deported from the United States to Mexico after being apprehended in Southern California, according to authorities.

Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter.
Motorists stopping at the Prairie View rest area on Interstate 57 near Monee, Ill., say the accommodations are fine though the bathrooms could be updated and that truckers need more slots for their rigs. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

The state of Illinois is considering how to rehab, or possibly close, some state rest areas, and has even launched a public survey about travelers' likes and dislikes of the Interstate highway stops  drawing thousands of responses so far.

"Many of our rest areas have reached a point where it's time to evaluate their future," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn, in a statement.

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The state has received nearly 4,500 responses to its survey in less than two weeks, and roadside restrooms have proved to be a popular topic.

Many of the state's 30 public rest areas and 11 welcome centers on highways throughout Illinois are 30-40 years old, said Illinois Department of Transportation spokeswoman Kelsea Gurski. They are open 24 hours a day and have restroom facilities, picnic areas, maps and security cameras, along with parking for recreational vehicles and commercial trucks.

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They offer a green, parklike alternative to retail locations such as fast-food outlets along the highway.

"As they reach the end of their useful life, we want to know how best to meet the needs of the traveling public  what features are valued by the public," said Gurski. She said this will help the state develop plans to figure out what do with them in the next five to 20 years.

IDOT spokeswoman Gianna Urgo said in an email that the survey will be part of a comprehensive rest area study to analyze the existing system. She said a schedule for when rest stops may be rehabilitated cannot be determined until the end of the entire study, which will look at the costs of maintaining the rest areas compared to the services they provide.

This will include analyzing the survey results, documenting existing rest area services, identifying other available facilities, collecting traffic volumes and parking use, interviewing the trucking industry, collecting fatigue-related crash data and talking with other states to identify all possible options, Urgo said.

"Once the data has been collected and analyzed, strategies can be made about the future of the rest area system," she wrote in an email.

Urgo said the survey, announced Oct. 11, received 4,417 responses as of Tuesday morning. The state will keep taking responses at idot.illinois.gov through Sunday, Oct. 29. Paper copies of the surveys are available at some rest areas or can be mailed upon request by calling 402-399-1405.

The 20-question survey asks travelers about the importance of family restrooms with diaper-changing stations, water fountains, playgrounds, maps and historical information. It also asks if travelers would like private businesses to be developed at or adjacent to the areas, which current law does not permit.

Exterior of the Prairie View rest stop on southbound I-57 near Monee, Ill. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune )

Rest areas were constructed as part of the Interstate Highway System beginning in the late 1950s and modeled after roadside parks, according to the website restareahistory.org, which is maintained by Joanna Dowling, a Chicago-based historian. Following the Highway Beautification Act of 1965, each state was required to develop a master plan for rest area development. Illinois built most of its rest areas in the 1970s and mid-1980s, Urgo said.

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Closing rest areas and welcome centers is a growing trend in states seeking to address budget shortfalls, according to restareahistory.org. The road trip landscape has changed, with more fast-food chains and other retail destinations being built off highway ramps.

Ohio had 294 rest areas on its highways in 1961  today it has 89, said Ohio transportation department spokesman Matt Bruning. He said this was due to changing driver demand.

"The private sector has done more and more to develop rest areas around our exit ramps," Bruning said. "The need for a state-facilitated rest area has gone down."

A representative of the Metropolitan Planning Council said the Chicago-based public policy research group would prefer that the state not close any rest areas, or at least do a careful analysis before making any decisions.

"Rest areas provide a place for people to avoid crashes caused by fatigue," said Audrey Wennink, the council's transportation director. She said they also provide an opportunity for people to make calls and send texts while they are stopped, which is much safer than doing that while they are driving.

Out at the Prairie View Rest Stop southbound off I-57 in Monee, the reviews were mixed. Linda Tucker of Cicero stopped at the facility on a recent weekday to stretch her legs but would not use the women's bathroom, which was poorly lit by three overhead florescent lights. Two corners, one by the sinks to the left and the other at the end of the stalls to the right, were dark and smelled of stale urine, masked just barely by a floral scent.

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Though Tucker said she often passes the stop on her way to her son's home in Kankakee, she rarely uses the bathroom because it is "like a dungeon."

Tucker, 59, a grandmother of eight, joked with other travelers that they might be better off relieving themselves out of doors.

"Go out back where the dogs go," said Tucker. "It's much better."

She said the current human facilities are too dark and dingy. "It needs an upgrade."

A pay phone and a state map are seen at the Prairie View rest stop on southbound I-57 near Monee, Ill. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune )

There were additional problems discovered by a reporter during a recent visit, such as the condition of the indoor water fountains. One was out of order, while the other was covered in a dusty film with flies circling the spout.

Some travelers said they wished the facility supplied bags to pick up after dogs  some visitors bring their own bags, but others don't bother and let pets leave messes.

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Other visitors expressed gratitude for Prairie View, one of the state's oldest. It was built in 1970. The one-building facility is unremarkable, and its beige, brown and brick interior is a bit dull. But most travelers said they did not care; they just needed a place to use the restroom.

A couple of truckers at the stop expressed concern that there were not enough parking places for them to take federally required rest breaks.

"It's more trucks, more trucks every year more trucks  and we need more spots," said Peter Fornal, a truck driver out of Florida . "It's very hard for us to find a spot and take the rest, you know."

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The grounds behind the building are grassy and well-tended, with a few picnic tables and a playground. Just off the roaring interstate, the spot is an idyllic respite for travelers, said Jon Olsen, a retired Chicago paramedic.

Olsen, who regularly travels south to his winter home in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., in a recreational vehicle, stops frequently to let his two dogs take a walk. He said he had found that states farther south have closed many rest stops.

"I don't expect them to be perfect," Olsen said. "I'm just glad they haven't closed this one down."

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Additional reporting by Terrence James of the Chicago Tribune.

mwisniewski@chicagotribune.com

@marywizchicago

@essayolumhense
Greg Parker, a Vietnam veteran, speaks about how a special court for veterans in Lake County helped him stop drinking and receive treatment for PTSD and the traumatic brain injury he sufferred in Vietnam. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

It was Army veteran Gregory Parker's fourth drunken driving arrest that changed his life, but for the better.

The felony reckless driving charge that resulted from that indiscretion prompted Parker, who served in Vietnam, to enroll in the Lake County Veterans Treatment and Assistance Court  a program that guides qualifying veterans into treatment instead of prison. It was the first time in decades that he received the treatment he said he needed.

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"They finally gave me a life to live," Parker, 67, said of the officials and treatment professionals he encountered in the court.

Veterans treatment courts have sprouted up across the Chicago area and nationwide in recent years as a way to offer a second chance to those who often suffer the consequences of military service, including PTSD, traumatic brain injuries and substance abuse. Beginning Jan. 1, veterans treatment courts will be required in every judicial circuit in Illinois, according to a law passed last year.

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In the Chicago area, only one collar county  Kane  has yet to create a veterans court, but officials there say they'll comply with the law by year's end.

The courts allow veterans who were honorably discharged to plead guilty to a crime in exchange for an intensive probation sentence that includes frequent court visits and mental health or substance abuse treatment. Upon completion, they can apply to have their records expunged.

Eligible offenses are up to each judicial circuit's discretion, but veterans who use the court are generally arrested for lower level felonies.

Supporters tout these programs as a way to help veterans who put themselves at risk for their country.

But others wonder whether every community has the resources or the need for a court dedicated to veterans.

Michelle Rock , executive director of Rockford-based Illinois Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health and Justice, which provides support for treatment courts statewide, said while the intent of Illinois' law requiring veterans treatment programs is admirable, she wonders whether it's necessary. Rock noted that rural communities might have only a few veterans moving through the court system. "We know that it may not be cost-effective for every county in the state to have one."

A lack of resources is the main reason Kane County had no plans for a veterans court until the state mandate, said Court Administrator Doug Naughton. He said officials weighed the need for a veterans court with the availability of resources, ultimately deciding against it  until the new law.

And the ACLU has questioned the merits of providing one group of people more choices than others in a "broken" judicial system. Instead of diverting resources to serve one group, it's more effective to improve the court system overall and provide better access to mental health treatment, said ACLU of Illinois spokesman Ed Yohnka.

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Finding help

For more than 40 years, Parker, of Round Lake Beach, said he went virtually untreated for PTSD and a traumatic brain injury caused by a head wound while he was an Army sergeant in Vietnam, until he was accepted into Lake County's veterans court.

"I just didn't know what was wrong with me," said Parker, who described himself as withdrawn, friendless and "not a very nice person." He suffered from bouts of memory loss and nightmares. "I didn't know where to go for help."

"So, my choice of treatment was alcohol," said Parker, who graduated from college, married twice, held down a job and raised four children.

About five years ago, his fourth DUI arrest led to a charge of reckless driving  a felony.

7 graduate from Will County veterans court program 

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Kane County veterans advocate has high hopes for a special court 

Parker's wife urged him to apply to the veterans court. Once accepted, Parker said, he was resistant to follow the advice of the court but eventually complied, attending an in-patient treatment program and then additional therapy for alcohol abuse and PTSD. He said he not only quit drinking but also retired to focus on treatment.

Parker graduated from the program after about 18 months. He continues therapy and volunteers at veteran-oriented organizations. He said he's a changed man, and overall, life is better. "I finally find myself enjoying things in life I've never enjoyed before."

Veterans court supporters say stories like Parker's are common, though it's still too early to see long-term benefits. Because the courts are relatively new, recidivism data aren't widely available, said Christopher Deutsch, spokesman for Justice for Vets, a Virginia-based nonprofit that helps establish veterans courts. The first veterans court in the U.S., which started in Buffalo, N.Y., in 2008, has a recidivism rate of less than 10 percent, according to Deutsch.

In Cook County, veterans court began in 2009 in Chicago and over the next two years at suburban courthouses. Between 2012 and 2015  the only available time period tracked  200 veterans were admitted to the program, officials said. Of those, 63 percent graduated. Recidivism rates for Cook County graduates were not available.

Lake County officials report a graduation rate of 65.6 percent for the 113 veterans who have gone through the program since the court began in 2011. Of the graduates, 79 percent have remained arrest-free for two years  the period of time the county tracks.

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In Will County, all but two of its 26 veterans that entered the program since it started in 2012 have graduated, officials said. Graduates are tracked only in Will County afterward, and they said so far no one has re-offended.

McHenry County's veterans program within its drug and mental health courts has accepted 15 veterans. Five have graduated, five remain in the program and five were terminated. The county tracks veterans' criminal activity locally, and only one has re-offended, officials said.

DuPage County began a veterans program in its mental health court in 2015. Since then, five have graduated and one was terminated unsuccessfully. No one has re-offended, officials said.

'No one here is giving up on you'

During a recent court call at the veterans treatment court at the 2nd Municipal District in Skokie, Cook County Associate Judge Michael Hood looked down from his bench and talked with the men whose cases he oversees. He expressed concern for some and brainstormed ways those who were struggling could get back on track.

"No one here is giving up on you, but you've got to work the program," Hood told one veteran.

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He said it's common for veterans to have highs and lows, but many thrive and transform in the program.

Cook County Judge Michael Hood speaks about Veterans Treatment Court from his chambers Oct. 23, 2017, in Skokie. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) (Brian Cassella)

"We get them at their lowest. Through this program we hope to put them back to where they want to be," said Hood, who said he himself is a veteran who can identify with the men and women in his courtroom. "Our goal is to get everyone better."

Those who work in veterans treatment courts say they're more informal and less adversarial than typical courtrooms. A team of attorneys, probation officers and treatment professionals with the federal Department of Veterans Affairs work together on behalf of defendants. Veterans typically watch one an other during court to foster a sense of support and accountability, said Lake County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Stride, who presides over his county's veterans court. "They call each other out, or boost each other up."

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Julie McCabe-Sterr, coordinator for Will County's veterans court, said camaraderie is common among veterans. If veterans were mixed in another treatment court, like drug court, and not surrounded by other veterans, they might not do as well, she said. That can translate into success even after veterans graduate, McCabe-Sterr said, pointing to the low recidivism rates in her county's program.

Each veteran in the treatment courts is assessed by the VA and assigned a treatment plan, said Jessica Pinder, a VA Veterans Justice Outreach coordinator assigned to Lake County's court. Coordinators then help facilitate treatment for mental and physical afflictions. "We want to make sure we address the whole person," Pinder said.

Veterans also are guided through the process of applying for benefits through the VA.

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Gene Herskovic, a VA coordinator who oversees the Veterans Justice Outreach program for northern and central Illinois, said the VA is prepared for the growth in veterans courts and will provide staff and services accordingly.

Veterans courts are designed to give veterans the tools they'll need, even after their cases are closed, Pinder said. "It doesn't mean when people graduate they're not still struggling, but they're connected to the support that they need."

kthayer@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @knthayer






Eushauna Dotson-Powell, whose nickname is Shauna, was last seen Oct. 19 leaving her school in the 8500 block of South Wood Street in the Gresham neighborhood, police said. (Chicago police)

Police are seeking the public's help in finding a 13-year-old girl who went missing after leaving school on the South Side last week.

Eushauna Dotson-Powell, whose nickname is Shauna, was last seen Oct. 19 in the 8500 block of South Wood Street in the Gresham neighborhood, according to Chicago police.

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Shauna was wearing her school uniform: navy blue pants, a white shirt, a black jacket with a white stripe and white and blue gym shoes without shoe strings, police said.

Shauna, who is often in the area of the 7100 to the 7900 block of South Loomis Street, is African-American, 5-foot-4, weighs about 120 pounds, and has brown eyes, black hair and a burn mark on her right forearm, police said.

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Anyone with information should contact Area South Detectives, 312-747-8274.
CHICAGO  First-degree murder and aggravated battery charges have been filed against a suburban Chicago man accused of fatally stabbing an ex-girlfriend as her 13-year-daughter stood nearby.

Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Jason Coelho on Tuesday said Eddie Crowder of Oak Lawn was swinging a knife at a 34-year-old man when he struck 36-year-old Elizabeth Kennedy in the chest. Kennedy, who has a child by the man, was at his Chicago home dropping of her daughter when an altercation began between the 50-year-old Crowder and the man.

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The argument quickly escalated into a shoving match that led to the knife attack. Coelho says Crowder also stabbed the 34-year-old man several times.

Judge John Lyke ordered Crowder held without bail. It wasn't immediately known whether Crowder has legal representation.
House Speaker Mike Madigan speaks Aug. 17, 2017, at the annual Democratic Chairman's Brunch in Springfield. Democrats, led by Madigan, on Wednesday could try to finish overriding Republican Gov. Bruce Rauners veto of a bill that would ban local governments from setting up right-to-work zones. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield. Subscribe here.

Topspin

Democrats led by Speaker Michael Madigan on Wednesday could try to finish overriding Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of a bill that would ban local governments from setting up right-to-work zones.

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A vote on the measure would be the latest act in the fight between Rauner and organized labor, and Democrats will need some Republicans to buck the governor to succeed.

Rauner has long advocated for local communities to have the ability to enact right-to-work measures, which would prevent employers and unions from entering into agreements that require workers to either join a union or pay related fees.

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On Tuesday, the Senate voted 42-13 to override Rauner's veto, which is two more votes than the bill received when it first passed in April. Seven Republican lawmakers voted for the override. The bill is expected to receive a vote in the House on Wednesday.

Republicans have been divided since July when GOP lawmakers bucked Rauner and sided with Madigan to a tax hike and budget. The dispute became bitter when Rauner signed legislation expanding taxpayer funding for abortions for state employees and low-income women. Democrats are hoping to take advantage of that split to pick up support for the veto override. The bill received 67 votes when it passed the House in July, including support from two Republicans. It takes 71 votes to override a veto in the House.

Democrats pushed the measure after the village of Lincolnshire established a right-to-work ordinance in 2015. The local law was later struck down by a federal district court, which ruled that only states have the power to enact such laws.

Rauner has said he hopes the case can reach the U.S. Supreme Court. Democrats are hoping to blunt that effort by passing a law saying only the legislature can create right-to-work laws.

The governor said in a statement that the Senate vote "could create a damaging loss for the economic competitiveness of Illinois."

"This vote denies local communities  cities and counties  the ability to decide for themselves how they would like to structure their regulations to compete for jobs with other states like Indiana, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Texas," Rauner said in a statement. (Monique Garcia)

What's on tap

*Mayor Rahm Emanuel will open a new international shipping facility at O'Hare International Airport.

*Gov. Rauner will be at a bipartisan prayer breakfast and several other events in Springfield, but he's not scheduled to take questions from journalists.

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*Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will cut the ribbon on the Northeast Riverdale Storm Relief Sewer Project in Riverdale.

*City Hall and Cook County budget hearings continue, with the offices of Sheriff Tom Dart, State's Attorney Kim Foxx and Clerk David Orr.

*The Illinois House and Senate meet for the second day of veto session.

*Parents and teachers will be outside Chicago Public Schools headquarters at 9 a.m. to again call for the firing of CPS CEO Forrest Claypool.

*Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs will have a LGBT History Month event at the Thompson Center at noon.

From the notebook

*Emanuel staff shakeup: Another staff shakeup went down Monday afternoon at City Hall as Mayor Emanuel announced Deputy Mayor Andrea Zopp will move on to run World Business Chicago, the quasi-governmental agency that promotes Chicago to business interests.

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The mayor also announced Victoria Watkins would be promoted from his top Springfield lobbyist to be senior adviser. Watkins replaces Mike Rendina, who lasted a little more than a year in the job after serving as the mayor's top lobbyist. The turnover in the mayor's administration has been regular in his six years in office. Emanuel is on his fourth senior adviser, fourth communications director and fifth chief of staff.

Zopp, who ran an unsuccessful Democratic primary bid for U.S. Senate against Tammy Duckworth last year, had been in charge of neighborhood economic development efforts.

Emanuel no longer will carry two deputy mayors. Instead, he promoted a pair of staffers with an eye toward the role Zopp held. Roderick Hawkins has been named deputy chief of staff for public engagement, placing him in charge of working with community and faith leaders of public safety and education. Aarti Kotak has been named deputy chief of staff for neighborhood economic development. She previously worked as a deputy commissioner in the city's Planning Department. (Bill Ruthhart)

*Florida Gov. Rick Scott seeks to poach Chicago business: Republican Gov. Rauner's new re-election ad unusually features three neighboring state GOP governors bragging about their job climate over Illinois. Now, another Republican governor is on the way to Illinois to try to poach jobs  Florida Gov. Rick Scott.

Scott's office announced Tuesday he will be leading an economic development mission to Chicago later this week "to share why businesses in Chicago should consider moving their operations to Florida."

"While Gov. Rauner has tried to grow Illinois' economy, Chicago leaders and state legislators have for years been passing shortsighted policies and overwhelming increases of taxes and fees," Scott said in a statement.

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Scott goes on to take a shot at Mayor Emanuel and city leaders for announcing "yet another proposed round of burdensome tax and fee increases" as part of the proposed city budget.

"This follows the state legislature passing an increase to the state income tax earlier this summer  overriding Gov. Rauner's veto and strict opposition to such a burdensome tax increase," Scott said. "The entire nation needs to follow Florida's lead  but until then, we will keep calling on businesses to move to Florida."

Scott should arrive in time to see the new Rauner ad, which features Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens blaming Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan for a tax hike and improving the job climate in their states.

Not mentioned in the new ad or in Scott's statement is that several Republican lawmakers broke with Rauner to enact the budget and spending package over the Illinois governor's veto  effectively ending an historic budget stalemate that nearly sent the state into junk status, hiked unpaid bills and tattered the social service safety net. (Rick Pearson)

*Ruiz names Minow chair of AG campaign: Democratic attorney general candidate Jesse Ruiz says Newt Minow, a former chair of the Federal Communications Commission and Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree, has agreed to chair his campaign.

"In these difficult times, I know Jesse has the strength and tenacity to stand up against governmental overreach and successfully defend the rights of the people of Illinois as our attorney general," said Minow, senior counsel at Sidley Austin.

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Ruiz, president of the Chicago Park District Board and formerly with the State Board of Education and the Chicago Board of Education, also announced the finance committee for his campaign. It includes former U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, sister of Democratic governor candidate J.B. Pritzker, as well as Laura Ricketts of the family group that owns the Chicago Cubs, and her wife, Brooke Skinner Ricketts.

Ruiz "will stand up for all of us. For two decades, he has been a tireless volunteer and community leader," Laura Ricketts said in a statement. (Rick Pearson)

*Welcome card: Brendan O'Sullivan, the campaign manager for Democratic governor candidate Chris Kennedy, and wife Kathleen O'Sullivan are the parents of a new daughter, Maeve Rosemary.

The announcement came in the form of an email to Kennedy supporters, asking not for a donation, but to sign a card. To sign the card, someone has to give their email address, first name and ZIP code. Not exactly a cash donation, but an interesting way to add to campaign email lists. (Rick Pearson)

*Gravy train: City Hall budget hearings each fall are noteworthy not just for the probing questions on ward-level financial minutiae that aldermen lob at city officials for hours on end, but also for the sometimes-lavish lunches aldermen lay out for one another each day from restaurants in their wards. On Tuesday, West Side Ald. Jason Ervin, 28th, sponsored a spread featuring catfish nuggets, ham, mashed potatoes and a selection of salads.

What we're writing

*Rauner recruits neighboring governors to rip Madigan on tax hike.

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*DCFS vows to change program that saw surge in child deaths.

*Illinois Democrats advance ban on "bump stocks"; Republicans call the effort too broad.

*African-American aldermen bash $1.1 million for municipal ID program aimed at immigrants.

*Bottled Blonde fights for liquor license by arguing table service isn't liquor sales.

*Fire in Sen. Oberweis' office clears Capitol ahead of fall session.

*State considers fixing up, even closing, some rest areas across Illinois  and the public is being asked to weigh in.

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What we're reading

*Open letter alleges rampant sexual harassment in Illinois politics.

*Judge tosses wire fraud allegation against former Rep. Schock.

*The most important beer review of this year (or any year): the 2017 Goose Island Bourbon County Stout lineup, ranked.

*Signed photo of Cubs player Anthony Rizzo disappears from hospital room of girl with cancer.

Follow the money

*Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here.

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Beyond Chicago

*Sen. Flake won't run for re-election, hammers Trump in speech.

*Clinton campaign, DNC paid for research that led to Russian dossier.

*Trump, meanwhile, meets with Senate Republicans.

*Senate passes $36.5 billion disaster aid package.

*U.S. to condemn "ethnic cleansing" in Myanmar.
Last week, City Hall Inspector General Joe Ferguson called out the mayor, the police superintendent and aldermen on Chicagos violent crime problem, taking to task everything from the lack of a comprehensive crime strategy to a lack of results in clearing murders.

On Wednesday, aldermen got to put the watchdog on blast, saying he should have spoken up sooner.

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The showdown followed Fergusons opinion piece in the Sun-Times spurred by the murder of a 64-year-old teacher who got caught in the crossfire in the Rogers Park neighborhood.

During his annual budget hearing Wednesday, Ferguson noted his children were taught by the late Cynthia Trevillion at Waldorf School, and said the newspapers editorial board asked him to write about it. And Ferguson pointed out his open letter said every victim of violence in Chicago deserves attention and called for their suffering to lead to a conversation about how to fix broader problems.

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But he still drew fire from aldermen who defended police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and wondered where Ferguson has been as Chicago has seen a spike in homicides in recent years, mainly in largely minority neighborhoods.

Im asking you to use your voice and your platform for the communities of Austin, of North Lawndale, of East and West Garfield, of all the communities down south, Im not as familiar with them as I am with West Side communities, said Ald. Michael Scott Jr., 24th. But I would ask you to use your voice in the same manner. Because if you do not, then to me it seems a little biased and unjust.

Ald. Jason Ervin, 28th, pointed to several crimes in his West Side ward that didnt get nearly the same attention as Ferguson brought to the Trevillion killing. Ill just say this: Welcome to my world, Ervin said. We deal with this stuff on an almost daily basis.

But South Side Ald. Leslie Hairston, 5th, thanked Ferguson for using his platform to try to bring attention to the problem. Youre right, we need to wake up, and everybody needs to wake up, she said.

Fergusons budget hearings usually focus on his offices audits and investigations that delve into allegations of government fraud or waste and sometimes raise the hackles of aldermen and other officials who dont like him poking around in their departments.

This time, aldermen got the chance to unload on him without having to worry it would seem like they were doing so because he was targeting them. By wading into the question of how to address Chicagos stubbornly high violent crime rate, Ferguson opened himself up to questions about his timing and motives.

Ferguson also caught some heat for what aldermen said was his unfair treatment of the Police Department and Johnson in particular. Fergusons piece called for a clearer crime-fighting strategy and for police officials to do a better job leading the city in putting it in place.

Johnson emailed all police officers a response, saying the watchdog was misinformed to suggest that CPD does not have a crime strategy or is not invested in the safety of our neighborhoods.

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Ald. Proco Joe Moreno, 1st, said if he were Johnson, he would ask, What the heck does Joe Ferguson...know about crime strategy?

This is not an easy sort of conversation you have over a beer or coffee and say Hey, this is what we should be doing tomorrow and why isnt the superintendent doing it? I think thats what the biggest disgust is.

jebyrne@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @_johnbyrne

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[ Teacher, 64, killed near Rogers Park 'L' station, was caught in drive-by gunfire: police ]
Activists with Planned Parenthood demonstrate in support of a pregnant 17-year-old being held in a Texas facility for unaccompanied immigrant children to obtain an abortion, outside of the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington on Oct. 20, 2017. (J. Scott Applewhite / AP)

WASHINGTON  The 17-year-old crossed illegally into the United States after making the trek north from Central America. She dreamed of studying nursing and, someday, caring for senior citizens. Having a baby, her lawyers say, was not part of her plans.

But she was detained at the U.S.-Mexico border and, after a medical examination, told that she was pregnant. She tried to schedule an abortion, but the Trump administration blocked her, prompting a lawsuit in federal court.

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Early Wednesday, after an appeals court ruling in her favor, the teenager identified as Jane Doe in court papers left a federally funded Texas shelter, where she had been kept under close watch, and terminated her pregnancy.

"I'm not ready to be a parent," she said in a statement provided by her lawyers. "I made my decision, and that is between me and God. Through all of this, I have never changed my mind."

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The abortion ended the girl's individual court challenge in a case that drew widespread attention and evoked the incendiary issues of abortion rights and illegal immigration. But the broader legal battle over whether the federal government may continue to dissuade, and even block, undocumented teens in its custody from having abortions is still pending in U.S. District Court in Washington.

The Trump administration had no comment on the case Wednesday, even as a leading Republican in Texas criticized the Justice Department's failure to appeal the teen's case to the Supreme Court in time to halt her abortion.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said that he and 11 other Republican state attorneys general were prepared to file a legal brief with the high court to help defend the Trump administration's position.

"This ruling not only cost a life, it could pave the way for anyone outside the United States to unlawfully enter and obtain an abortion," Paxton said in a statement.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, one of 14 Democratic attorneys general who filed a court brief in support of the girl, said the group stands "ready to support every other Jane Doe fighting for the fundamental right to make her own health care decisions."

The Trump administration said in court that it has a new policy of refusing to "facilitate" abortions for unaccompanied minors taken into federal custody after crossing the border illegally.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which represented the teen, said that policy violates the minors' constitutional right to an abortion in the United States.

Hundreds of pregnant undocumented immigrants have been in federal custody in recent years, according to court filings.

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"Justice prevailed today for Jane Doe. But make no mistake about it, the administration's efforts to interfere in women's decisions won't stop with Jane," said Brigitte Amiri, the ACLU attorney who argued the case in court.

The abortion on Wednesday followed a roller-coaster legal battle that moved swiftly through the courts, with judges issuing contradictory rulings.

On Tuesday, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit took the unusual step of reversing a three-judge panel of the same court without first holding oral argument.

The panel's decision, issued Friday, would have postponed the abortion.

Instead, the D.C. Circuit's 6-to-3 ruling sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who hours later reissued an earlier order requiring the government to let the teen have the abortion "promptly and without delay."

Her guardians rushed to arrange transportation to the nearest abortion provider. The Justice Department mulled whether to ask the Supreme Court to put the D.C. Circuit order on hold.

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Government lawyers, who did not immediately ask for a hold after the Tuesday ruling, may have miscalculated how quickly the teen could receive an abortion.

Texas law requires counseling from a doctor at least 24 hours in advance of an abortion, but the 17-year-old underwent that counseling Oct. 19, allowing her to go forward with the procedure once Chutkan issued her order.

By the time the Supreme Court opened for business Wednesday, it appears there was no issue left for the justices to decide.

The teen was more than 15 weeks pregnant when her pregnancy was terminated. Texas bars abortions, except in the case of a medical emergency, after 20 weeks. In her statement, the teen expressed frustration that the government earlier took her to a Christian pregnancy center, where workers urged her to carry the pregnancy to term.

"They made me see a doctor that tried to convince me not to abort and to look at sonograms," she said. "People I don't even know are trying to make me change my mind."

Democrats in Congress have pressed Eric Hargan, acting secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services, about why the Trump administration changed federal policy to block access to abortions for minors in custody.

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HHS, which is responsible for caring for detained unaccompanied minors, has said the government is trying to "promote child birth and fetal life." Scott Lloyd, who directs the agency's Office of Refugee Resettlement, has personally intervened to try to persuade unaccompanied minor girls not to have abortions, according to HHS.

HHS officials did not respond to multiple requests for comment Wednesday. Lloyd is slated to testify Thursday before the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on immigration and border security on unrelated immigration issues. He could also be asked about the abortion case.

The D.C. Circuit's ruling on Tuesday to allow the abortion was opposed by the court's three active judges nominated to the bench by Republican presidents. Judge Brett Kavanaugh said the majority had created a new right for undocumented immigrant minors in custody to "immediate abortion on demand."

Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson went further in a separate dissent finding that the undocumented teenager had no constitutional right to an elective abortion. "To conclude otherwise rewards lawlessness and erases the fundamental difference between citizenship and illegal presence in our country," she wrote.

Attorneys for the undocumented teenager had asked the full appeals court to rehear her case after the three-judge panel ruled 2 to 1 to give HHS until Oct. 31 to find a sponsor to take custody of the girl. That would have allowed her to be released and to seek the abortion without government involvement.

Government lawyers told the court that prospective sponsors had inquired about the teenager. But the girl's lawyers on Sunday filed a sworn statement from the former ORR director during the Obama administration who said the vetting process could take weeks or months.

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The Washington Post's Matt Zapotosky and Robert Barnes contributed to this report.
The Eau Claire Leader-Telegram says the vote on Tuesday follows months of debate after Councilor Catherine Emmanuelle brought her baby to a meeting and breastfed him. Four council members complained and Emmanuelle agreed to sit in the public area. Several groups, including Moms Rising, came to Emmanuelle's defense. Thousands of petition signatures were sent to council members.

Emmanuelle told the council she has the legal right to feed her child during meetings. But, a resolution banning children from the council dias, or meeting platform, was passed on a 7-1 vote.
WASHINGTON  The White House and House Republican leaders scrambled Tuesday to prevent a rank-and-file rebellion from a number of lawmakers who threatened to block a key vote in the tax-cut process unless they get assurances about the bill's impact on their constituents.

The clash centers around an expected provision in the GOP's tax-cut plan that would prohibit people from deducting the state and local taxes they pay from their federal taxable income. Taxpayers are currently allowed to deduct these taxes in a way that lowers their taxable income, but GOP leaders want to prohibit the practice going forward, in part to raise more revenue.

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This would have a disproportionately negative impact on taxpayers in states like New York, New Jersey, Illinois and other states where taxes are high and taxpayers can save large amounts of money from the deduction.

A number of Republicans in those states have signaled to GOP leaders in recent days that they won't support a House budget resolution on Thursday unless they can have assurances about the potential impact of the tax plan. Passage of the budget resolution is vital if Republicans want to eventually pass a tax-cut package without support from Democrats.

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"I need to know what the endgame is going to look like if I'm going to vote on it," said Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-N.J., a leader of the bloc of concerned Republicans. MacArthur attended a White House meeting on the issue Tuesday where he said he "didn't make the progress I had hoped for."

The Republican margin-for-error on the budget resolution is razor thin. An initial version of the budget resolution passed earlier this month by a vote of 219-207, as 218 votes are needed to ensure passage. MacArthur had voted for the earlier version of the budget resolution, and if he flips his vote with several other members, the measure could risk failing.

After keeping details closely held, House Republican leaders are hoping to introduce specific language for their tax-cut bill next week, but the process will stall immediately if they can't pass the budget resolution on Thursday.

The last-minute standoff shows how fragile the GOP coalition is as they try to speed the tax-cut bill through Congress. They have held many of the details of the package secret, worried about insurrections from members who have constituents that would be impacted.

Three other House Republicans also told The Washington Post Tuesday they had concerns about the state- and local-tax deduction, commonly referred to as "SALT," and could vote against the budget if they are not addressed. They cited language in the Senate budget that references "reducing federal deductions, such as the state and local tax deduction which disproportionally favors high-income individuals, to ensure relief for middle-income taxpayers."

"That language shouldn't have been added to the Senate budget," said Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y. "Unless I get more concrete information on a reasonable agreement, then I will be a no on Thursday."

Zeldin also supported the earlier version of the House budget resolution, which narrowly passed.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, met with some Republicans from potentially impacted states on Tuesday. Some of the meetings were in small groups, though close to two dozen GOP lawmakers have raised concerns.

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Republican leaders want to prohibit people from deducting state and local taxes from their federal taxable income because they believe low-tax states unfairly subsidize high-tax states with the current structure. Also, eliminating this deduction, Republican budget writers believe, could raise more than $1 trillion in new revenue over 10 years, helping them offset sweeping reductions in tax rates.

Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., sought to offer an amendment that would preserve the tax break but his idea was ruled "out of order" by the House Rules Committee on Tuesday.

"New Jersey already pays some of the highest property taxes in the country, and eliminating the state and local tax deduction to fund tax breaks for hedge fund managers and corporate CEOs is complete unacceptable," Pascrell said.

But Pascrell, like all other Democrats, had already voted against the House budget earlier this month. Republican leaders are more worried about people who initially supported the House budget and are now threatening to pull their support.

Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., a member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, indicated on Tuesday that an agreement had been reached that would allow people who earn less than $400,000 to continue deducting their state and local taxes from their federal taxable income.

It's unclear if this is the precise plan that House Republicans will try to advance. They have also discussed letting people use some type of tax credit to offset the impact. It's also unclear what these adjustments would mean for the amount of revenue that the provision might raise.

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Republican leaders were counting on the state and local tax changes to be a primary source of new revenue to offset the tax-rate cuts that President Donald Trump has repeatedly promised voters.

House Republicans need to pass the new budget resolution because it matches one passed last week by the Senate. If the House and Senate pass matching budget resolution, it unlocks a process called "reconciliation" in the Senate that allows Republicans pass a tax-cut bill later this year that would add $1.5 trillion to the deficit without any support from Democrats. But if enough Republicans vote against the House budget resolution, they could block the measure and potentially imperiling the chances of the tax-cut measure being designed by GOP leaders.

Two House GOP aides said late Tuesday that party leaders are working with the concerned members toward a deal. One said leaders "are feeling good" about the Thursday vote but acknowledged talks are underway.

House Republican leaders have already shown a willingness to make major changes to their tax cut plan in order to avoid a political brawl. Brady and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., agreed to scrap a provision from the plan that would have made companies that import goods into the United States for sale pay higher taxes after a blowback from retailers and conservative groups. That measure, known as a border adjustment tax, also would have raised more than $1 trillion over 10 years, budget experts believe.
The Planned Parenthood Federation of America and coalition partners protest together outside the Department of Health and Human Services in support of "Jane Doe" to have an abortion on Oct. 20, 2017. (Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post)

In April, the Trump administration took a stand against the brutal methods used to enforce Chinas one-child policy. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops denounced China for acts of violence against pregnant women, including coerced sterilizations and forced abortions, and praised President Donald Trump for cutting off funds for U.N. family planning efforts.

This administration does not try to force pregnant women to have abortions. Just the opposite: It tries to force pregnant women to have babies. And its methods bear an uncanny resemblance to those employed by the Chinese government.

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The evidence is on view in the case of an unaccompanied 17-year-old from Central America who was detained after entering the country illegally in September. On Wednesday morning, after a furious legal battle, she got an abortion. But that outcome came only after weeks of efforts by the administration to prevent her from doing so.

She has been held in a federally funded shelter since she was picked up. After discovering her pregnancy, she went through the process required under Texas law for a minor to get an abortion.

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A state court ruled she was mature and sufficiently informed to decide for herself. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the constitutional right to privacy protects the right to abortion. Given those two realities, the case should have been closed.

But the Trump administration doesnt like to be constrained by laws or the Constitution. It preferred that Jane Doe, whose identity is protected, carry her pregnancy to term; and it did all it could to make her comply.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement sent her to an anti-abortion pregnancy crisis center, where she was urged to change her mind. It told her mother about the pregnancy even though the girl said her parents had severely abused her.

The government refused to let her leave the shelter to get an abortion  though it offered to let her leave for medical treatment if she agreed to give birth. At each stage, it found ways to block her access.

It may be argued that because the teenager is here without authorization, the Constitution doesnt apply to her. But the U.S. Supreme Court has never taken such a position. It has ruled that even undocumented immigrants enjoy constitutional protection, including due process of law.

The Justice Department said that because she is a minor and here illegally, it is entitled to impose its own preferences on her. If she wanted to have an abortion, it argued, she had the option of returning to her home country  though she said that doing so would expose her to more abuse.

The district judge ruled in her favor, and on Tuesday an appeals court agreed. In her opinion, Judge Patricia Millett concluded that Doe, like other minors in the United States who satisfy state-approved procedures, is entitled under binding Supreme Court precedent to choose to terminate her pregnancy.

The administration said it should not be required to facilitate a procedure it finds abhorrent. But that was a bogus claim. The girl was not asking the government to pay for the operation, provide a doctor or transport her to the clinic. The only thing her lawyers asked of the government was to stop blocking the door.

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But the facilitation argument wouldnt stand up regardless. If she were an adult, Doe would be in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which permits detainees to get abortions. If she were in federal prison, she would be allowed to get an abortion.

Doe asked for far less  and the Trump administration tried to deny her even that. Absent this court ruling, shed have been confined and required to go to term, even though continuing her pregnancy presented much greater risks to her health than ending it.

This was a simple choice: Compel the girl to give birth or let her get an abortion. The fact that she is undocumented doesnt change that reality. As Judge Millett wrote: Surely the mere act of entry into the United States without documentation does not mean that an immigrants body is no longer her or his own. Nor can the sanction for unlawful entry be forcing a child to have a baby.

Forcibly commandeering someones uterus to advance the governments purposes may be standard procedure in China, but not in America. In both places, the issue is not whether any pregnant female should have a baby or get an abortion. Its who should decide.

Steve Chapman, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/chapman.

Download "Recalculating: Steve Chapman on a New Century" in the free Printers Row app at www.printersrowapp.com.

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schapman@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @SteveChapman13
You might think that as an opponent of President Trump  a #NeverTrump conservative, as they say  I'd feel heartened, if not vindicated, to see Republican Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee and Jeff Flake of Arizona laying into Trump the way they did Tuesday. Corker said Trump was an utterly untruthful president and Flake blasted the president for his "reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior." But not so fast.

Flake always opposed Trump, and he can say that he finally decided to issue the full-throated denunciation Trump had coming. Corker? His late awakening shouldn't win him any points.

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Flake never endorsed Trump's candidacy, has spoken about the president's deficiencies and wrote a book that was, as much as anything, a rebuke of Trump-style politics. That has alienated him from many GOP voters in Arizona, contributing to his decision not to stand for re-election.

Corker is a different story altogether, deserving neither praise nor sympathy. He helped facilitate Trump's march to the Oval Office, and has only recently grown squeamish over the president's antics. But why now? After all, Trump is doing exactly what we never-Trumpers warned he would do  and what Trump himself telegraphed he'd do. For onetime Trump backers like Corker to suddenly act surprised and dismayed by the president's bad behavior reeks of hypocrisy.

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Corker's attack on Trump began around the time he decided not to run for re-election. In an interview with The New York Times earlier this month, he said Trump was treating the job of president like a reality show, and that he would put us "on the path to World War III." On Twitter, Corker called the White House an "adult day care," because staff have to keep Trump from doing something stupid.

Deep down, maybe that's how he's always felt. But that's not how he's always acted in public. When Trump started winning primaries last year, Republican leaders, including Corker, started sidling up to him. He refused to endorse anybody in the closely fought Tennessee Republican primary on Super Tuesday (although his governor, Bill Haslam, endorsed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio). Trump won, and shortly thereafter, Corker chastised "Republican Party leaders" for "trying to stifle" the voice of enthusiastic Trump supporters. A few months later, Corker said anti-Trump conservatives needed "just to chill," anticipating that as the president "evolves," he could help the then-presumptive nominee build a stronger policy portfolio. He was rumored to be on Trump's list of possible vice presidential nominees and later rumored to be on the short list for secretary of state.

The Washington Post's Jennifer Rubin, another unflappable never-Trumper, interprets Corker's turn against Trump as a gutsy example of speaking truth to power. "Corker's frankness," she writes, "should serve as a constant warning and prod to his colleagues." Alas, I cannot get over the suspicion that his is a conversion born of pure convenience. It's likely Corker either knew Trump was unfit for office all along, and sailed along with the political winds until deciding not to run for re-election, or he's an utterly incompetent judge of character, unable to see what was always there.

There's no way to be sure which it is, but The Week's Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry seemed to be onto something when he wrote, "There has been a very strong correlation between Bob Corker's public comments on Donald Trump and Bob Corker's perceived short-term interests."

Trump is no worse now than he was a year ago, when the Access Hollywood tape came out, or two years ago, when he suggested that the United States institute a Muslim ban. He has always been combative, boorish, ignorant and mean-spirited. He's flip-flopped on every issue from health care to abortion to the Iraq War. He perfected the art of the Twitter insult long before he was considered a serious candidate for the presidency. There is certainly nothing new we have learned about Trump in the last couple of months. Indeed, all of his faults were on full display from the moment he announced his candidacy in June 2015.

Asked Tuesday whether he'd support Trump if he had it to do all over again, Corker said, "I would not do it again." Sorry, Senator, you missed your chance to do the right thing last year.

It's one thing to debate the various aspects of Trump's agenda, such as it is. It's another thing entirely to look the other way all through 2016, and then, in 2017, be offended by Trump's crudeness or worried that he is irresponsible. #NeverTrump conservatives (and yes, Democrats) were sounding alarms about the dangers of Trumpism all last year. Corker told us to shut up.

Trump is a symptom of the rot in conservative politics: Too many Republican thought leaders have behaved cynically for too long, and too many GOP voters haven't done their due diligence. If conservatives ever hope to clean up the party we claim and turn it into a vehicle for positive governance, we have to reckon with these tough facts. And we have to hold people like Corker accountable. He had a chance to oppose Trump when it mattered. Instead, he chose to be a booster. He's not a clear-eyed truth teller, and he's not the antidote to Trump. He's how we got here to begin with.

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Jay Cost is a contributing editor to the Weekly Standard and the author of "The Price of Greatness: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and the Creation of American Oligarchy."
Every workday, gridlock on Chicagos expressways erodes motorists patience. Try to stay cheery when a guy starts to wedge into the 6-foot space between your car and the car in front of you, or when bumper-to-bumper traffic makes you late for that presentation youve been working on for weeks. Gridlock erodes something else: the Chicago areas economy, to the tune of $7.3 billion a year in lost productivity and fuel, transportation planning experts say.

Its an old problem, and simply adding new lanes to highways wont solve it. Theres a fresh effort, however, that has potential to relieve the regions bottlenecks. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is teaming up with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Tollway to brainstorm fixes for the regions expressway system. Theyll look at more than a dozen stretches of expressway in need of relief  including segments of the Eisenhower, Kennedy, Stevenson and Dan Ryan, as well as Interstate 80 in the south suburbs.

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A solution theyll examine that has worked elsewhere: congestion pricing, under which motorists pay for the privilege of bypassing gridlock. CMAP says congestion pricing applied to an added lane of highway can shorten a motorists morning rush-hour commute by a third to two-thirds. Rush-hour traffic in un-tolled lanes would drop by a quarter to a third, according to CMAP research.

Seattle knows how well congestion pricing works. Overall rush-hour speeds on one highway in that city improved 19 percent after congestion pricing was made available, according to the Government Accountability Office. In San Diego, drivers who used a congestion pricing toll lane saved 20 minutes in their commute, compared with motorists in un-tolled lanes, the GAO reported.

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Congestion pricing makes sense. Drivers who want to get from A to B faster pay for the privilege. Revenue generated by tolls can be channeled back into transportation projects. Some cities that rely on congestion pricing waive the fees for car poolers, which means fewer cars clogging highways.

Other ideas CMAP, IDOT and the Tollway will look at: using expressway shoulders for buses, an idea already used on the Jane Addams tollway and on Interstate 55. And installing sensors along expressways that gather real-time data on bottlenecks, so motorists know ahead of time which stretches to avoid.

Wheres the money going to come from to pay for all this? CMAP Executive Director Joseph Szabo told Crains Chicago Business that an increase in the states gasoline tax to pay for the improvements cant be ruled out. But Illinois 19-cent gas tax, which hasnt been raised since 1991, simply hasnt coughed up enough money to pay for all of the states transportation projects. As cars become more energy-efficient, a gas tax becomes less reliable as a source of funding.

A better idea would be a vehicle miles traveled tax. Miles driven could be logged via car transponders that automatically deduct tolls, or through some other GPS-type device.

CMAP, IDOT and the Tollway expect to put the finishing touches on their vision to fix expressway gridlock by mid-2018. If congestion pricing becomes a component of that plan, we hope the state does more with the idea than it did when CMAP brought it up in 2012, which was zilch. The Chicago region has a lot to offer businesses and people thinking of moving here, but it also has more than its share of turnoffs. One of them: clogged highways. Its about time the region starts unclogging them.
Sen. Bob Corker, left, and Sen. Jeff Flake leave the Senate chamber in Washington on Feb. 28, 2013. The men have become strong critics of President Donald Trump, a fellow Republican. (J. Scott Applewhite / AP)

I cant believe that in the course of one day, two loser Republican senators who clearly have no friends and are total clowns suggested that the president of the United States is not a role model for children.

What morons!

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Sen. Jeff Flake (total dope) and Sen. Bob Corker (very unattractive) defied the great and beautiful Constitution of America by criticizing President Donald Trump (who is awesome), with Stinky Corker saying on CNN that Trump is debasing our nation.

Then Foolish Flake said the president isnt a role model for kids because: The statements that are made about people and seeming to ascribe the worst motives to people as well, that's something we tell our kids not to do. The mean and cruel tweets or language that is sometimes used, that's something that I would certainly think that we shouldn't do.

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On behalf of REAL Americans who believe Trump is Making America Great Again (TRUTH!) with his perfect honesty and decency, I say: Shut up, you stupid drips!

Trump is a wonderful role model for children, as is his wife, first lady Melania Trump, who had the great courage to go to Michigan on Monday and explain to school kids that bullying is bad.

In a statement, she said: By our own example, we must teach children to be good stewards of the world they will inherit. We need to remember that they are always watching and listening. It is our responsibility to take the lead in teaching children the values of empathy and communication that are at the core of kindness, mindfulness, integrity, and leadership.

President Trump reinforced the first ladys anti-bullying message on Tuesday by showing true leadership and calling Corker incompetent and a lightweight and tweeting that the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee.

You see? Bullying is bad, unless its directed at a major jerk-face like Corker.

Trump continued to role model the boundaries of bullying by dismissively referring to the senator as liddle Bob Corker, which I hope children pay attention to because it shows them the proper way to use apostrophes.

Speaking of important lessons, the president spelled Tennessee two ways in his Corker tweets. First he spelled it Tennesse, which is clearly the smart way to do it since you save an e. Then he spelled it Tennessee, the so-called correct spelling, according to idiot liberal elitists. (Using the word idiot isnt bullying because Im directing it at liberal elitists who have it coming because theyre so dumb.)

So you see, the presdent is a perfect role model for children because hes teaching us bettr ways to spel words AND, along with the first lady, showing us that bullying is totally unacceptable, unless its directed at a sitting U.S. senator who criticizes him or a Gold Star family member who criticizes him or a pope who criticizes him or a woman who criticizes him or a journalist who writes something he doesnt like or a business leader who criticizes him or a former president who criticizes him or a black person who criticizes him or a world leader who criticizes him or a U.S. general who criticizes him or a celebrity who criticizes him or the mayor of a hurricane-ravaged city who criticizes him or a late-night television show host who criticizes him or a former secretary of defense who criticizes him or anyone who criticizes him.

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Flake, the highly overrated and not good senator from Arizona, said this mumbo-jumbo about Trump on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday:

We must never regard as normal the regular and casual undermining of our democratic norms and ideals. We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country  the personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms and institutions, the flagrant disregard for truth or decency, the reckless provocations, most often for the pettiest and most personal reasons, reasons having nothing whatsoever to do with the fortunes of the people that we have all been elected to serve.  They are not normal. Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior has become excused and countenanced as telling it like it is, when it is actually just reckless, outrageous and undignified.

What a dung blossom. I dont want my liddle children hearing that kind of we should all be dignified nonsense.

I want them to hear tough, telling-it-like-it-is talk. I want them to respond to any form of criticism with an immediate and incorrectly spelled response that is both insulting and factually incorrect, because facts are for LOSER NERDS!

I hope our best-ever first lady continues to reach out to undesirable school urchins with her anti-bullying message, and I hope our glorious President Trump continues to teach Americas children that we must be kind and decent to everyone except the people we deem unworthy of kindness or decency.

Those people need to shut their dumb, ugly liddle mouths.

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rhuppke@chicagotribune.com

[ Forced childbirth isn't the American way -- yet ]

[ John Kelly's disgraceful and frightening failure to apologize ]

[ Jeff Flake op-ed: Enough. It's time to stand up to Trump. ]

[ Obama had an "anger translator." Trump needs just the opposite. ]
Mandatory Credit: Photo by SHAWN THEW/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock (9159460j) John Kelly White House Chief of Staff John Kelly takes questions during the White House daily briefing, Washington, USA - 19 Oct 2017 White House Chief of Staff John Kelly takes a question from the news media during the White House daily briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 19 October 2017. Kelly responded to several questions from the news media on the President Trump's condolence call to the wife of a fallen service member in Niger. ** Usable by LA, CT and MoD ONLY ** (Shawn Thew / European Pressphoto Agency )

Some readers werent pleased with this mornings column in which I took a careful look at how White House chief of staff John Kelly characterized a 2015 speech by U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D. Fla. and identified the gross factual errors:

Here's a sample from my email inbox:

Sue Bergeron: Does it surprise me that you find fault with General Kelly's statement, while citing only one source? No, it does not, sadly.

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Hinkers: I love it when unaccomplished cowards attack hero's (sic) What's the matter no Russian flags to throw?

Schwaben50: You are just another snowflake what right do you have to criticize a man like Kelly when did you serve this country you should be out on a ledge somewhere. MAGA.

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Roger Pietsch: Given the record of his life and service to this country he has no need to apologize to a political opportunist like Frederica Wilson and others like her. By the way how did you serve?

Roland G. Lay: There were many witnesses to Rep Wilson's behavior after her speech that made it clear she wanted as much credit for the new FBI building as she could get. General Kelly's comments about Rep Wilson's behavior were not only entirely appropriate, but were as restrained as anyone who listened to his entire speech would attest. No apology needed.

Jim Hickey: There's no reason General Kelly should apologize if anything the media and that lady that Congress lady from my state of Florida should apologize Kelly or general Kelly has done nothing wrong

And here's a peek inside the fetid swamp that the comments area under my column has become, a place I don't normally go:

Classic liberal: Too bad this article was not written by someone with credibility. There might be a chance I could believe it. Now this racist, hatemonger, and sorry excuse for a journalist is calling someone else I liar?

Gurnee Tim: I truly believe that (Zorn) sits at his computer just drumming up hatefulness and lies about Republicans and President Trump.

Whoucrappin: Frederica Wilson is an idiot...just like you Zorn. Kelly owes no one an apology...especially her.

Lock Em Up: Mr Kelly has done so much more this country then you ever will! Thank god for people like Kelly. Zorn you are a wimp!

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Whats remarkable here, though not particularly unusual, is not one of these critics bothers to make an argument; to take the known facts, as laid out in the column in some detail and sourced by a videotape , and explain why Ive reached a flawed conclusion. (The transcript of the video is at the bottom of this story)

Only one, Roland Lay, offers a countervailing factual assertion: "There were many witnesses to Rep Wilson's behavior after her speech that made it clear she wanted as much credit for the new FBI building as she could get," though he doesn't offer a source, a quote or a link related to a witness to back up that claim, and even if he did, the claim doesn't rehabilitate the lies that Gen. Kelly told about Wilson's speech.

Update: Lay wrote back to say "I watched and heard Sara Huckabee (Sanders, presidential spokeswoman) say this at her White house briefing shortly after story broke."

I like letters and comments that argue with my views  letters that engage with the topic by gainsaying my assertions or adding new ones. They make me think. Sometimes I learn from them. Occasionally they cause me to moderate my views.

Hmm she has a point. I hadn't thought of that.

But the quality of discourse on these matters is appallingly low.

What is there to say in response to some of these people?

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To Sue Bergeron: My "one source" that exposes Kelly's utter mendacity is a videotape, unless you count the videotape of Kelly's news conference. What more do you want?

To Hinkers, Schwaben50, Roger Pietsch and Lock Em Up: Success, accomplishment and rank don't insulate people from criticism, even from the lowliest sources. And it doesn't give them a pass to behave infamously. Not in America.

To Roland Lay: Using an offhand remark by the compulsively dishonest Sarah Huckabee Sanders as evidence is preposterous. Bring your A game if you want to debate.

To Jim Hickey and Whoucrappin: Hickey, wrote that "General Kelly has done nothing wrong" after I've laid out 800 words explaining why yes, yes he did. He did something very wrong. Whoucrappin, you wrote, "Kelly owes no one an apology" in response to a column that explains in some detail why yes, yes he does. What possible purpose could either of you have had in expending the energy to type those words? Do you think I don't know there are a substantial number of people out there who shriek "fake news" at every assertion they don't like? I do. It depresses me greatly, as they are the people who short-circuit actual discourse.

To Classic liberal and Gurnee Tim: What's not to believe about the audio/video record that establishes my point? If you can identify a factual error in this column (or any column), then please do so and we can compare sources. Here, you seem to be dismissing my assertions as false with no evidence simply because you don't like the inevitable and inescapable conclusion (and you don't like me for reasons you don't outline). Saying that because the argument comes from me it must be false is like saying because a statement came from a retired Marine general it must be true. Both are the height of poisonous idiocy.

It's dangerous. Yet it underscores just what a sorry state we're in these days.

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Please. Is there anyone out there who can critique or analyze my column without falling into ad hominem attacks, baseless assertions or tantrum-like responses?

Anyone?

--

After this was posted, Tom McDonough wrote to say: "I have seen the video of Rep. Wilson speaking in 2015 - she took credit for getting the funds approved, she took credit for getting the building built, and she boasted about her ability to deliver when everyone else said it couldn't be done. Kelly was right on target when he described her speech. Talking points from the DNC should not be the basis on which an article in the paper is written."

This is perhaps the most astonishing letter yet -- a missive from someone who is lying about having seen the video about which Kelly lied. The gymnastic logic of the Trumpkins is breathtaking.

Update: I sent him the link to the video, which his response suggested he had not actually watched. He pivoted to arguing that Wilson was claiming too much credit for naming the building, to which I replied that, no, she was not, she was sharing credit and, again, no she didn't sit down after this part of her speech, but went on for five minutes after that to praise the FBI and first responders.

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"Thanks," he replied. "Interesting details which could be the basis for saying he was not accurate in his facts."

Yep. Aren't they, though?
Natasha Spencer cares for her son, Kenan, 6, in their home in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood earlier this year. Kenan suffers from Krabbe disease, a rare genetic condition. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Six parents are scheduled to testify at a legislative hearing Wednesday about Illinois' failure to test their children for a disease that is deadly unless caught and treated immediately.

You can watch live here.

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The department, headed since January 2015 by Dr. Nirav Shah, has yet to begin screening Illinois newborns for Krabbe disease even though a state law mandating the testing was approved 10 years ago. Shah is also to appear at the Springfield hearing.

A co-sponsor of the 2007 law, Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, called the hearing in response to "Doomed by Delay," a Tribune special report that exposed how bureaucratic blunders have postponed Krabbe screening.

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In addition to questions from legislators, Shah will face several parents whose children have died or are dying of Krabbe, a rare genetic condition that causes babies' nerves and brain stems to deteriorate in painful ways.

If the disease is identified through routine newborn screening, doctors can intervene with a transplant of stem cells derived from donated umbilical cord blood. Transplants performed before infants' symptoms appear can extend lives and reduce suffering. Once the nerve damage starts, it's too late to intervene.

Natasha Spencer, whose son Kenan Spencer Witczak was born after the screening was supposed to start, warned Shah in a September 2015 letter that children were dying because his department had failed to implement the 2007 law. She implored him to act with urgency to make the screening happen.

Shah, a physician and attorney, did not. His department acknowledges it is now on "Plan D" and said it anticipates launching the screening for Krabbe before the end of this year.

The Tribune identified five children whose Krabbe diagnoses could have been caught had the law been implemented. Three of those children have died, and the other two  including Kenan  are dying. Members of all five families are to speak at the hearing, with Spencer scheduled first. A father whose son's 2001 death from Krabbe spurred the family to support the 2007 law also plans to testify.

The hearing at the state Capitol can be viewed here after it begins around 4 p.m.
Mirna Lopez-Rivera, past president of the Aurora Puerto Rican Cultural Council, was moved to tears when a parade of cars showed up with donations for Saturday's disaster relief drive for Puerto Rico at the Illinois Math and Science Academy. (Linda Girardi / The Beacon-News )

Aurora joined cities across the country this past weekend to help Puerto Rico, which is struggling in the aftermath of last month's hurricanes.

Volunteers participated in a national drive organized by Puerto Rico Rises, a Florida nonprofit formed by a group of people in the United States. The local event was hosted on the campus of the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora.

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Mirna Lopez-Rivera spearheaded Saturday's local drive, as part of a newly-formed community-wide planning committee in Aurora. The group began disaster relief efforts Sept. 30 for both Mexico and Puerto Rico, which have both been hit by recent natural disasters.

Lopez-Rivera, past president of the Aurora Puerto Rican Cultural Council, said dozens of cities across the country were registered to participate in the drive simultaneously over the weekend.

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Lopez-Rivera was moved to tears when a parade of cars showed up Saturday with donations.

"When we started this effort I didn't know what to expect. There is power in numbers," Lopez-Rivera said.

People donated basic essentials, non-perishable food and cases of water and wrote checks for monetary donations.

Kane County Circuit Court Judge Rene Cruz was among the donors. He also brought dozens of pizzas for the volunteer workers.

"My father's family is from Puerto Rico. It's been very tough and emotional for all of us with family in Puerto Rico," Cruz said.

Isabel Torres represented the Illinois Math and Science Academy during Saturday's drive. Her husband is Jose Torres, president of the academy. Torres said her husband has been in Puerto Rico for the past two weeks to help provide support for family members.

Torres said her husband also has begun to reach out to educators for support to open schools on the island and to help children who may be arriving in the United States with their families.

She said families who have left the island will need temporary residency and schools for their children until the island's infrastructure is rebuilt.

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Lopez-Rivera has spoken with her older brother who lives in Arecibo in the northwest part of Puerto Rico.

"My brother told me something that broke my heart. People in nursing homes are dying because of a lack of oxygen (tanks) and dialysis," she said.

She said Saturday's collection will be temporarily housed in a donated warehouse until it is delivered to Jacksonville, Florida, where it will be transferred to a barge headed for Puerto Rico.

"It's really been a community effort," she said.

She said donations have been sent to Mexico as well.

Kane County Sheriff's Deputy Durrell Williams was on his day off when he saw a request for donations on Facebook. He decided to donate cases of water.

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"It's all about coming together," Williams said.

Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
A former English teacher, Donna Lubow, of Riverwoods, began storytelling for the first time five years ago, when she co-founded the Short Story Theatre.

The theater features storytellers sharing true stories inside Miramar Bistro in Highwood. Lubow brought a rich background in theater when she helped start Short Story Theatre, having co-founded the Highland Park Players, as well as the Theatre in the Woods in Riverwoods.

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Lubow recently talked with Pioneer Press about her personal background and interests.

Q: Where did you grow up?

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A: In Chicago and Glencoe. I moved to Glencoe when I was in sixth grade, and I went to New Trier. My family then moved to Highland Park. Even after I was married, we lived there for about 30 years. When we became empty nesters, we moved to Riverwoods.

Q: How many children do you have?

We have two sons. One is in LA with his family. My other son is in Miami Beach with his family. They've got two nice climates. That's all our travels  Miami, LA, Miami, LA.

Q: Do you have any pets?

A: We have a dog named Poochie. My husband likes to say Pooch because it sounds more manly. It's a boy dog.

Q: What have you enjoyed reading recently?

A: I read Nathan Englander's "What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank," and the main story in there is quite good. I recently met him at the Highland Park Library when he came to speak about his new book "Dinner at the Center of the Earth." Our book club leader arranged for us to have a private meeting with him.

Q: What's your idea of a perfect evening?

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A: I like to see plays now and then, go to movies, and have dinner with friends.

Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A: I've been to quite a few places already. I've not been to Prague and Budapest, and that's on my bucket list.

Q: What's your guilty pleasure?

A: Watching "The Bachelorette." Not too many people know that.

Q: How do you unwind?

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A: By doing arts and crafts projects, mostly mosaics.

Q: What's your favorite saying?

A: My dad always accused me of saying, "It doesn't hurt."

Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago.

Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Assistant Argo Tea store manager Desiree Jackson takes a customers credit card for her purchase in April 2017. The Argo Tea at 1 S. Franklin St. in Chicago had recently gone cashless. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Remember that credit card commercial that ends with: "Don't leave home without it?"

That could have to be updated to: "Better not leave home without it."

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There seems to be a war brewing against money.

Some businesses are declining to accept cash as payment for goods and services.

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Oh, they still want to be paid, just not with paper money and coins. They only want to serve people who pay with credit or debit cards.

Their reasons are are not customer-centered, but self-serving. By not accepting cash, merchants don't have to go to the bank, they don't have to count out cash drawers at the end of the day, staff theft would be curtailed and the chances of being robbed might be reduced.

Bolstering this trend, Visa has started what it calls a "Cashless Challenge" that offers $500,000 to 50 businesses that go cash-free.

The downside of this is what about people who don't have credit cards?

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. states that 7.1 percent of Illinois households do not have bank accounts. Persons without bank accounts include many who are low-income, or homeless, or on a fixed income, or undocumented, or disabled. And persons under age 18 can't even get a credit card.

Additionally, credit card transaction fees range from 1 to 3 percent, which raises prices for going cashless.

It seems clear going cashless is discriminatory. The state of Massachusetts passed a law in 1978 forbidding businesses to refuse cash as payment.

And in the last few weeks, Chicago Ald. Ed Burke, 14th, introduced an ordinance that would make it illegal to decline cash payment at any business in retail sales and in food and drink. The ordinance has been sent to committee for study.

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This cashless craze doesn't seem widespread enough to cause imminent worry. So, perhaps Burke's ordinance is not necessary. But it is a necessary statement of principle.

I hope we never reach a stage in our nation where we tell someone, "Your money is no good here" and mean it  literally.

Just look in your wallet. What does it say on that dollar bill?

"This note is legal tender for all debts public and private.''

And that's how it should remain. But, if you really want to go cashless, send your cash to me. Glad to help you out.

Paul Sassone is a freelance columnist.
A woman convicted of first-degree murder this summer in connection with a Palos Park home invasion gone awry is seeking a new trial, alleging her trial attorneys failed to mention pending complaints against them from the state commission that disciplines attorneys.

Sarah Risner's new post-trial attorney, Stephen L. Richards, alleged trial attorneys John Paul Carroll and Michelle Gonzalez failed to provide effective counsel during her trial for the death of Anthony Dalton under the state's felony murder rule.

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Carroll said he was unaware of the claims in the motion. When asked specifically about the disciplinary issue, he questioned how it was relevant to Risner's trial.

"What difference does it make whether I told her or not? I didn't tell her if I was left-handed or right-handed either. What difference does it make?" he said.

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The motion alleges Carroll and Gonzalez had conflicts of interest due to pending complaints with the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

In July, a month after Risner's guilty verdict, the commission released a report stating that both Carroll and Gonzalez violated rules governing attorneys in a different case and had recommended sanctions that included suspension of their law licenses, according to the motion.

The commission's recommendations are pending review by the Illinois Supreme Court.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Risner's motion also alleges Carroll and Gonzalez failed to give Risner competent counsel during plea bargaining when they discouraged her "from entering a plea of guilty, telling her, based upon false statements of the law, that no crime had been committed and therefore that they were confident that they would win the case."

The pair also failed to file a motion to suppress a video recording of the police interview, object to admission of a 911 call and problems with the defenses closing argument, according to motion.

Risner's next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 1.

Risner and three other people, all from Indiana, were accused of first-degree murder and home invasion when, prosecutors said, they allegedly conspired to rob a Palos Park man inside his home on July 5, 2016. Prosecutors alleged Risner and co-defendant Brandy Marshall entered the man's home under the ruse they were there to exchange money for sex, while Dalton, Brandy Marshall's sister Paige Marshall, and Tyler Gulli waited outside the house.

The homeowner shot at the assailants who had been waiting outside during the incident, wounding Gulli and killing Dalton.

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Risner, a 22-year-old mother of two from Crown Point, Indiana, went to trial before the others. The Marshalls and Gulli pleaded guilty to home invasion in exchange for 15-year sentences in September, less than three months after Risner was found guilty on June 29.

Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Rush Darwish, one of the organizers of a rally outside the Palos Township Office on Monday, July 10, 2017, calls for the resignation of Trustee Sharon Brannigan over remarks she made on Facebook about Islam, Muslims and Middle Eastern students. (Zak Koeske / Daily Southtown )

Palos Township opted to cancel its October board meeting this week rather than potentially face another Open Meetings Act complaint for failing to accommodate the large number of expected attendees, Township Supervisor Colleen Grant-Schumann said.

The township boardroom, which seats 42, has been insufficient to hold the 100or so protesters who since July have picketed meetings to call for the resignation of trustee Sharon Brannigan over Facebook comments she made about Middle Eastern immigrants.

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Officials previously canceled the board's August meeting for the same reason but held meetings in July and September despite being unable to fit all attendees in the boardroom.

As a result, the township received complaints after each meeting. The complaints, which are under review by the Illinois attorney general's public access counselor, allege the township violated the Open Meetings Act by holding meetings that did not accommodate all attendees, Grant-Schumann said.

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The Open Meetings Act requires that all public meetings "shall be held at specified times and places which are convenient and open to the public."

Grant-Schumann said the township chose to cancel this month's meeting rather than risk another complaint.

She said Palos Township officials had inquired with a local school district, public library, Moraine Valley Community College and Hickory Hills Country Club about hosting its meetings, but thus far had failed to secure the use of another venue.

For that reason, the date and location of the board's next meeting remains up in the air.

"I'm kind of back to the drawing board trying to figure out where we can go moving forward," Grant-Schumann said Monday.

Protesters have been steadfast in calling for Brannigan's resignation since late June when Facebook comments surfaced in which the trustee suggested the area's schools were filling with Middle Eastern students living in the country illegally.

Palos Township Trustee Sharon Brannigan faced backlash at the township board meeting on Monday, July 10, 2017, where dozens of activists called for her resignation over remarks she made on Facebook about Islam, Muslims and Middle Eastern students. (Zak Koeske / Daily Southtown )

"Why are all our schools filling with Middle East students without proper documentation? What is Dan Lipinski 3rd district rep. (D) doing about it?" Brannigan, a former Republican congressional candidate who ran unopposed in April's township election, wrote.

In another post, she expressed her aversion to movies made by "very wealthy liberals" who support Democrats like "Barack Hussein Obama," and again criticized Lipinski, her former congressional opponent, for not doing more to restrict Middle Eastern immigration.

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"In the 3rd district here in Illinois, our demographics include 25% Muslims of which very few integrate within the communities keeping themselves and their activities hidden from the general population," Brannigan wrote. "Everywhere you turn, from Orland Park to Bridgeview, those numbers are increasing in leaps and bounds. We are allowing these people whether they have peaceful intentions or not into our country without question."

Palos Township, which encompasses all or portions of Bridgeview, Hickory Hills, Orland Park, Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Palos Park, Worth and Willow Springs, has one of the largest Arab populations in the state.

Brannigan defended her comments at the township's July board meeting by invoking her First Amendment right to free speech, but last month acknowledged that her words were "poorly crafted" and her feelings "inadequately expressed."

"Racism and discrimination is not my intent and is not in my heart," she wrote in a Sept. 18 statement that included her first public apology for her remarks.

Despite apologizing and stepping down from the county's commission on women's issues, Brannigan has not resigned her township board seat and has repeatedly said she does not intend to.

"It is my hope that the protestors will abide by the law, and if they want a change, then elections are the proper way to generate that change," she said Tuesday in an email reiterating her refusal to resign.

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Brannigan said she believes the protests against her don't reflect the majority view of the township's residents and have contributed to the board's difficulty finding an alternate meeting location.

"If you watch the video clips online or on the news, you will see that the township's inability to find a venue is a direct result of the fear that has been generated by the protestors," she said.

Grant-Schumann declined to say whether she believed Brannigan's continued presence on the board had made finding a venue more difficult but said she'd been told the township's requests were denied for logistical reasons.

Palos Township was unable to secure meeting space with Palos School District 118 and the Green Hills Public Library in Palos Hills because of the busy weeknight schedules that both bodies keep, she said.

The library had floated two available dates during the week of Thanksgiving, but they were both ruled out because not enough board members would have been able to attend, Grant-Schumann said. The next workable time at the library is in December, both Grant-Schumann and the library's deputy director said, but the township has yet to reserve any December dates at this point.

Neither Moraine Valley nor Hickory Hills Country Club could immediately provide an explanation for their denials of Palos Township's meeting request.

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Grant-Schumann said the country club had assured the board earlier this month that it could host a township meeting on Oct. 23, but later canceled the arrangement because of an unspecified conflict. The country club has since told the township it has too many other engagements to accommodate the township in the future, she said.

Grant-Schumann said she could not speak to whether the country club's change of heart had anything to do with the situation with Brannigan.

Despite having conducted government business at only one meeting since June, Grant-Schumann said the township's operations had not suffered.

"We're still operating as we always do," she said. "The things we've had to put off can still be addressed when we do convene our meetings."

But if the township can't find an alternate venue soon and has to continue canceling meetings, Grant-Schumann said the board might have to resort to other measures, such as speaking to Brannigan about giving up her seat.

To date, she and other trustees have publicly expressed their disagreement with Brannigan's comments but have not gone so far as to call for their colleague's resignation.

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Grant-Schumann said she does not have the authority to remove Brannigan from her seat and, at this point, does not believe it's her place to call for her fellow trustee to resign.

"There really has been no discussion of such," she said of trustees calling on Brannigan to step down. "So, we just have to see what develops as we move forward."

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Tammy Georgiou, a Palos Hills resident and member of the Southwest Suburban Activists who have called for Brannigan's ouster, said the board's failure to more vocally denounce their colleague's words and behavior makes them complicit in it.

"I personally wouldn't be able to work with a woman like this without saying something, without doing something," said Georgiou, who filed one of the Open Meetings Act complaints against the township with the attorney general's office. "I don't know what they can do, but I feel like they're waiting for us to just go away. They're just brushing us off, they're just not engaging with us at all."

She and other protesters have said they would not stop coming to meetings until Brannigan resigns.

Grant-Schumann said she hopes the board receives suggestions from the public access counselor on how to rectify the Open Meetings Act complaints soon so that it can proceed with holding public meetings in an acceptable and legal fashion in the coming months.

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"We are just looking at keeping the residents of Palos Township served efficiently in the manner they're used to," she said. "My goal is to continue providing those services and get a meeting that's agreeable to all sides, whether it be at the library or the public access counselor gives us a recommendation. I just look forward to that and getting back to having meetings."

zkoeske@tribpub.com

Twitter @ZakKoeske
Christy Herrmann portrays Martin Luther's wife, Katie Luther, during a re-enactment of the Reformation's Children's Message earlier this month for children at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Orland Park. Many Southland churches are commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation this month with special events. (Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church )

When members of the First Presbyterian Church of Homewood arrived for services on a Sunday earlier this month, they found all the Bibles had been removed from the church pews. Pastor Nancy Jo Dederer told her flock that morning "they just needed to rely on me, their pastor, for all authority. I would tell them what they needed to do and what they needed to believe and what scriptures meant" Dederer said.

She said while some members laughed, others were shocked not to have their Bibles accessible to them.

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"I was trying to make the point that having scripture in our hands is such a gift," Dederer said.

That lesson also was part of a larger commemoration of 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, which is being marked by a variety of churches in the area throughout the year. Though the Reformation began the process of the formation of multiple Christian denominations that separated from the Roman Catholic Church, this year's message from Southland pulpits is more about furthering unity than celebrating division.

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The Rev. Michael L. Borcherding, pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oak Lawn, said he has continued to emphasize what the Christian denominations "have in common" during the Reformation commemorative year.

"In an increasing secular society where we are getting close to half of Americans considering themselves nonreligious, the Christian churches really need to work through our differences so we can  move together and go forward together into the future," Borcherding said.

Still, some congregations are taking more ownership of the centuries-old effort. Services, programs and discussions throughout this month at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Orland Park won't neglect to discuss "what makes us Lutheran," senior administrative pastor Ray Rohlfs said.

"We're going to root for the home team a little bit for the 500th," he said.

Rohlfs said while the place of the Lutheran church "in Christendom" is firmly established, "there's more that unifies us (Christians) than divides us," he said.

Throughout the area, congregations are marking the anniversary by creating teachable moments through re-enactments, technology and even Hollywood movies.

At a 10 a.m. service Sunday  the last before the Reformation's official anniversary date of Oct. 31 Borcherding will play a clip from a 1953 movie depicting the life of Martin Luther, who is widely thought to have started the Reformation by publishing "The Ninety-Five Theses." The film clip is meant to depict the power of Luther's "Here I stand" speech in which he defends his decision as a priest to question practices of the Catholic Church.

The clip, along with Trinity Lutheran's previous October services in both German and English which were done to recreate both Luther's original services and the original 1858 services at Trinity Lutheran, will represent the past, Borcherding said, but the focus will be on moving into the future.

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"It's remembering and celebrating all 500 years of our heritage, but also this is a new century and a new day and age and we're moving forward with the gospel into this new era," he said.

The Rev. Dan Gensch, assisting pastor at Christ Lutheran Church, will lead a power point presentation about his recent trip to "Luther Land" in Germany during Reformation services at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday.

Rohlfs said Gensch's presentation during the service will be "a good use of technology in the tradition of Luther, in a way."

"Martin Luther used the technology of his day which was the printing press," Rohlfs said. "It was certainly a symbiosis. It all came together. He was very much into it, no question."

One of the smaller Southland congregations has spent the year commemorating the Reformation in big ways.

About a year ago, the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Oak Forest became part of a "Wellness Walk to Wittenberg, " a virtual 4,463 mile walk to "move Martin Luther" from the U. S. to Wittenberg, Germany, where the Reformation began.

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The Rev. Mary Appelt-Graves, pastor at Resurrection and one of the walkers, said the journey was a "travelogue, a teaching-logue and a history-logue" through Germany and back "to look in more depth at Luther." Members of the congregation have walked more than 14,500 miles, she said, accomplishing their goal multiple times.

The congregation is thinking big for the final Reformation event. Appelt-Graves said the church will have a worship service open to the community at 11 a.m. Sunday, followed by a German potluck, silent auction, children's activities and music.

Appelt-Graves said the final festivities are intentionally a celebration of the Reformation.

"Without the Lutheran Reformation, there wouldn't be as many denominations as we currently have and enjoy," she said. "So that's something to celebrate.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

"The other is that we wanted to invite those other churches to join us  We wanted it to be a celebration of the entire universal church."

Ginger Brashinger is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

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Marking half a millennium

For more information about the events mentioned in this story, contact these churches:

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 14700 S. 94th Ave., Orland Park708-349-0431

First Presbyterian Church of Homewood, 17929 Gottschalk Ave., Homewood 708-798-0490

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 9701 Brandt Ave, Oak Lawn, 708-422-0193

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 15050 Central Ave., Oak Forest 708-687-2170
Myeshia Johnson cries over the casket of her husband, Sgt. La David Johnson, who was killed in an ambush in Niger. (AP)

WASHINGTON  If there's any redeeming news this week, it's that no one will ever forget La David Johnson's name.

Johnson, of course, was one of the four U.S. soldiers recently killed in Niger. Apparently his name seemed to slip President Donald Trump's mind when he called Johnson's widow to offer his condolences. According to Myeshia Johnson, Trump initially referred to her husband only in the third-person "he."

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"He knew what he signed up for," the president reportedly said.

A wide-ranging debate ensued about who said what during the call, involving several players who contradicted each other. Among them, Trump's chief of staff, retired Gen. John Kelly, who inexcusably referred to Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., who listened to the call, as noisy "empty barrels."

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As things devolved, the president characteristically dug in his heels, denying both the momentary name lapse as well as the strange salve he attempted to apply to Myeshia Johnson's broken heart.

"He made me cry," she recounted on ABC's "Good Morning America."

She may well have cried no matter what the president said, as anyone familiar with grief well knows.

But this is clearly not the point, which is that the commander in chief should know the name of the deceased soldier when he calls the family to express condolences. Surely, Trump is familiar with the cheat sheet. Indeed, when he finally got around to saying Johnson's name, he told Myeshia Johnson that he knew her husband's name because he had his service papers right there in front of him.

Would that he had not held himself so long in suspense.

Doubtless, many will think this much ado. Trump, after all, did finally refer to Johnson by name. Surely, no one at this point expects artfulness  or authentic empathy  from this president.

To be fair, there are a number of reasons the president might have stumbled at first. One, he's a busy man and someone perhaps shoved a paper under his nose and said, "You must call this lady." Trump, you'll recall, bragged last week that he had called "virtually" all the Gold Star families, which wasn't so.

Kelly, meanwhile, contradicted his boss about the content of the conversation, saying that, in fact, he had suggested the approach Trump used. Kelly said he found the same sentiment  "he knew what he was getting into"  comforting when his own Marine son was killed in Afghanistan seven years ago. Perceptions undoubtedly differ among young widows and 67-year-old retired generals.

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Another possible explanation for Trump's fumbling is that La David is not the most common of names. Trump may have feared mispronouncing it. Or maybe he, like many whose scalps betray a touch of taupe, simply lost his place and needed to fill space until he could find it.

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Trump could have put a quick end to Myeshia Johnson's anger were he the sort to apologize. Whatever the reason for his lack of grace, narcissism having been exhausted as an explanation, one is reminded that names are enormously important.

If names weren't important, we wouldn't spend so much time agonizing over what to name our children. Getting names right is also the journalist's eternal mandate. Once upon a time, a reporter could lose her job for misspelling the deceased's name in an obituary. The operative principle was that most people get their name in the paper just twice in their lives  when they're born and when they die. Get it right.

There's a reason the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is so effective as a monument. All 58,000 men who were killed or went missing are listed, made profoundly real and emotionally staggering by their names. For the same reason, each 9/11 anniversary, the names of the victims are read aloud. We hear them; we remember them; we honor them.

Names are recognition. Using them properly conveys respect. Remembering conveys that one is important. This is why Chinese artist Ai Weiwei created an exhibit that included a recording of the spoken names of more than 5,000 children who died in a 2008 earthquake. When the government tried to suppress the number of those killed, Ai drafted citizens and Twitter followers to investigate and collect the names. He printed them all in Chinese on white paper, which, during a 2012 installation, filled an entire wall of the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington.

Names  properly printed, etched, blogged, retweeted or spoken  humanize the voiceless and show respect for the living, as well as the dead. "What's in a name?" asked Shakespeare. Sometimes, everything.

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Rest in peace, Sgt. La David Johnson. We won't forget you.

Kathleen Parker is a columnist for the Washington Post.
Grand Avenue between Route 41 and Waveland Avenue in Gurnee is scheduled to be closed from 7 p.m. Oct. 27 to 5 a.m. Oct. 30 for ongoing construction at the Union Pacific Railroad bridge. (Frank Abderholden / News-Sun )

Ongoing reconstruction of the Union Pacific Railroad bridge in Gurnee will require a full closure of Grand Avenue through the work zone this weekend starting after the Friday evening commute, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

"Beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, Grand Avenue will be fully closed at the railroad tracks located east of (Route) 41 until 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 30," IDOT officials reported in a statement, adding that the the closure is necessary for beam placement and construction of a temporary railroad bridge.

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The $19.8 million project began in June and involves removal and replacement of the Union Pacific bridge across Grand, along with reconstruction, widening and resurfacing of Grand and widening of a ramp to the roadway from southbound Route 41.

The right lanes for both east and westbound traffic on Grand have been closed through a work zone that extends from Route 41 to Waveland Avenue on the east. The overall project is scheduled to continue through May of 2019.

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This weekend's closure, which is dependent on weather conditions, will have a posted detour that will send east-west traffic to Washington Street via Route 41 and Green Bay Road.

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Chicago resident and DACA recipient Sara Galvan Orozco speaks during a protest of ICE deportations at the Gary International Airport in early October. (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune )

Lake County's "Dreamers" remain in limbo as members of the Republican-controlled Congress decide if they want to reinstate the DACA program.

There are an estimated 40,000 enrollees in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program living in Illinois. A sizeable portion of those reside in Lake County, and they are nervous about what comes next, since the Trump administration last month declared it was repealing the policy established during the fast-fading Obama era.

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DACA allowed young people  many now in their twenties  who were dragged into the U.S. illegally by their parents to enroll in the program. It allows them to apply for renewable periods of deferred action from deportation and to secure work permits.

About 800,000 of the so-called "Dreamers" rushed to immigration offices to sign up for the program, which was established in 2012 by President Obama via executive order. It was a temporary, stop-gap measure that many thought would lead to citizenship.

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By all accounts, the program has been a success as thousands of the young immigrants have kept their noses clean, received college degrees and joined the work force earning good money. Business leaders want the program to stay in place.

In "Walden Two," B.F. Skinner's novel of a utopian future, he writes: "Democracy is power and rule. It's not the will of the people ... it's the will of the majority." Polls have shown the majority of Americans favor keeping DACA.

Some states sidestepped the majority and challenged Obama's executive order, something Attorney General Jeff Sessions pointed to in rescinding DACA. Sessions also has labeled them "lawbreakers" who are taking American jobs.

Ignoring the rhetoric, DACA should become U.S. law. It is the right thing to do. Dreamers didn't ask to come here. The vast number were brought here as children and have grown up as Americans.

They know little of their country of origin. Most have never visited their native countries.

Since the repeal announcement, more than a dozen states, including Illinois, have filed suits to fight the repeal of DACA. Protests crop up now and then, but I'm getting the feeling many have given up and are waiting for the next shoe to drop.

Moving beyond legal maneuvering, the Dreamers' plight should be a lesson to them and us of what happens when somebody from the government says they are here to help you. That's the way the Obama administration sold the DACA program to America, to help young immigrants.

As part of the sell, the Obama administration urged Dreamers to sign up for the program. They did, but in doing so, they have left a paper trail.

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There are now files full of deportable immigrants at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a record of where they, their parents and relatives live. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement won't need a GPS to track them down when their temporary Dreamer passes expire.

That is if Congress fails to extend DACA or come up with a replacement before March 2018. Immigration agents already have the information, given to them by Dreamers who trusted a government that may now deport them.

The whole DACA debate also points out the weakness of presidential executive orders. They can be rescinded by the next president, which we have seen President Trump do frequently as he continues to undo actions taken unilaterally during Obama's eight-year term.

The DACA program shouldn't be one of the casualties of the country's lagging immigration policies. Dreamers' trusted in their government when they signed up. Don't let them lose faith in it, too.

Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor.

sellenews@gmail.com

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All votes in the CO-3 election won't be counted until the end of this week
President of Armenia and Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Serzh Sargsyan on October 25 sent a congratulatory message to President of China Xi Jinping on being re-elected to the post of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, press service of the Presidents Office stated.

October 25, 2017, 17:20 President Sargsyan sends congratulatory message to Chinese President Xi Jinping

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 25, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: The Armenian President wished his Chinese counterpart good health, happiness and new achievements in his activity for the benefit of the good people of China.

On behalf of the Republican Party of Armenia and personally myself I warmly congratulate and address my best wishes to you on being re-elected to the post of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

I am confident that during your future tenure the role of head of the Communist Party of China will have its beneficial affect for the countrys political and socio-economic stable development and increasing reputation in the world.

Armenia attaches specific importance to the consistent strengthening and deepening of traditional friendly relations with China. I am convinced that the continuous intensification of bilateral ties and exchange in different spheres, as well as the effective partnership in the international arena derive from the vital interests of our friendly states and peoples.

I also want to state that the Republican Party of Armenia considers the Communist Party of China as one of its key international partners the mutual cooperation with which is aimed at dynamically developing and deepening the Armenian-Chinese bilateral cooperation which is based on mutual trust and respect.

We are also ready to contribute to the implementation of the program One Belt, One Road proposed by you as much as possible, considering it as a multifunctional project which aims at ensuring the security, peace and welfare of countries and peoples involved in it.

I am hopeful that in near future we will have a chance to personally discuss issues on strengthening the Armenian-Chinese inter-party, as well as inter-state relations and the cooperation in international platforms aimed at further increasing their level, reads the Presidents congratulatory message.
By Alexander Chipman Koty

China has unveiled the new lineup of its top leadership, a day after the 19th National Party Congress of the Communist Party of China ended.

Chinese President Xi Jinping led the new Politburo Standing Committee (PSC)  the most powerful political body in China  onto a stage in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, revealing Chinas top leaders for the next five years.

In order of seniority, the seven-person PSC consists of Xi, Premier Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, and Han Zheng.

Xi and Li Keqiang are the only two holdovers from the previous PSC. Stepping down from the PSC are Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan, and Zhang Gaoli, who are all 68 or older. According to Party norms, any politician aged 68 or older at a Party congress should retire from his or her post.

The announcement ends months of speculation among China watchers about the composition of the new PSC.

Notable absences from the new PSC include Wang Qishan, Chen Miner, and Hu Chunhua, among others. Some observers expected the Party to make an exception to the retirement rule to keep Wang Qishan on the PSC because of his importance in leading Xis anti-corruption campaign and his economic acumen. Chen and Hu, meanwhile, were watched closely because their younger age made them stand out as potential successors to Xi and Li Keqiang.

There was also speculation that Xi would reduce the PSC to five members. However, it ultimately remained at seven.

The new PSC will be tasked with leading China and implementing Xis ambitious vision until the next Party congress in 2022. They face many daunting challenges in the coming years, including grappling with slowing economic growth, developing economic reforms, combating pollution, eliminating corruption, carrying out the Belt and Road Initiative, and dealing with the US and its Asian neighbors.

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Here is an introduction to Chinas top leadership for the 2017-2022 period:

Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping, 64, retains his spot on top of the Party pecking order, entering his second term as General Secretary and third term on the PSC.

Xi is considered Chinas most powerful leader since at least Deng Xiaoping, and perhaps even Mao Zedong. At the 19th Party Congress, he became the only leader besides Mao to have his name written into the Party constitution while living. Last year, he earned the designation of core leader of the Party, a title his predecessor Hu Jintao did not obtain.

Xi also holds the titles of President of the Peoples Republic of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Born in Beijing, he is the son of Party legend Xi Zhongxun. During the Cultural Revolution, he lived in a cave and performed manual labor in Shaanxi province. Before rising to the PSC in 2007, Xi held leadership positions in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, as well as a brief stop in Shanghai.

Li Keqiang

Li Keqiang, 62, continues to hold the number two position on the PSC as Premier of the State Council, Chinas cabinet. The position makes him head of the Chinese government and economic affairs.

Li holds a PhD in economics from Chinas prestigious Peking University, and is known to hold more market-oriented policy preferences than many others in the Party. He rose through Party ranks as a member of the Communist Youth League, and was a protege of former president Hu Jintao, who reportedly wanted Li to be his successor.

Prior to joining the PSC alongside Xi in 2007, Li held leadership posts in Henan province from 2002 to 2004 and Liaoning province from 2004 to 2007. He was born in Hefei, the capital of Anhui province.

Although he carries several responsibilities as Premier, including instituting economic reforms and combatting pollution, he is generally considered less powerful than his predecessors Wen Jiabao and Zhu Rongji.

Li Zhanshu

Li Zhanshu enters the PSC as the third-ranking member. He is a trusted associate of Xi, having been his chief of staff since 2012. At 67 years old, he narrowly avoided the age cut-off to join the PSC.

With his ascension to the PSC, Li is expected to head the National Peoples Congress, Chinas parliament. Currently, he is the Director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China and Chief of the General Office of the National Security Commission.

Li first met Xi when the two held Party positions in Hebei province, where he was born, in the 1980s. Li later held leadership positions in Heilongjiang and Guizhou provinces, as well as in the city of Xian, the capital of Shaanxi province.

Wang Yang

Wang Yang, 62, is the fourth-ranking member of the new PSC. He will reportedly take the position of Chairman of the Chinese Peoples Consultative Conference, Chinas top political advisory body.

Currently, Wang is Chinas Vice Premier. Along with Li Keqiang, he is widely considered one of the most liberal reformers among Chinas leadership, and is also connected to former president Hu Jintao.

Wang is credited with being instrumental in the development of Chongqing, where he was Party Secretary from 2005 to 2007. From 2007 to 2012, he was Party Secretary of Guangdong province, which has the highest GDP and largest population of Chinas provinces.

Wang was born to a poor family in Anhui province, and is known as a vociferous reader of history books.

Wang Huning

Wang Huning, 62, emerged from the 19th Party Congress ranking fifth on the PSC. Wang has long been considered one of the Partys top political theorists, and will head ideology, propaganda, and party organization.

He is currently the Director of the Central Policy Research Office, which is responsible for drafting the guiding theories and ideology of the Party.

Wang is widely considered to have been essential in forming the former president Jiang Zemins Three Represents theory, Hu Jintaos Scientific Development theory, as well as Xis China Dream and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Wang rose to prominence through a brief but prolific career as an academic at Shanghais Fudan University, where he wrote on both foreign and domestic affairs. He is considered a close confidante of Xi, with whom his theory of neo-authoritarianism and tough stance on corruption has proved highly influential.

Despite his prominence in Party politics, his candidacy to the PSC was questioned in some corners due to his lack of governing experience.

Wang was born in Shanghai, and became Fudans youngest ever professor of law at age 30.

Zhao Leji

Zhao Leji, 60, enters the PSC in the sixth spot. He is poised to take over Wang Qishans role as Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, making him Chinas anti-corruption czar.

Currently, Zhao is the head of the powerful Organization Department of the Central Committee, which manages personnel and promotions within the Party.

From 2003 to 2007, Zhao was Party Secretary of Qinghai province, where he was born, and from 2007 to 2012 was the Party Secretary of Shaanxi province. Zhaos connections to Shaanxi province, where is family is originally from, are believed to be how he formed ties with Xi, with whom he is a strong supporter.

Han Zheng

Han Zheng, 63, takes the seventh and final spot on the PSC. He is tipped to take over the role of Executive Vice Premier.

Han has deep ties to Shanghai, where he was born, grew up, and attended university. He was Mayor of Shanghai from 2003 to 2012, and acting Party Secretary of Shanghai from 2006 to 2007. He succeeded Xi as Shanghais full time Party Secretary in 2012.

Han was known as a close associate of Jiang Zemin, who also has strong ties to Shanghai. He became acquainted with Xi when the two overlapped in Shanghai, with Han as Mayor and Xi and Party Secretary.



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Chinas foreign investment landscape has experienced pivotal changes this year. In this issue of China Briefing magazine, we examine how foreign investors can capitalize on Chinas latest FDI reforms. First, we outline new industry liberalizations in both Chinas FTZs and the country at large. We then consider when an FTZ makes sense as an investment location, and what businesses should consider when entering one. Finally, we give an overview of Chinas latest pro-business reforms that streamline a wide range of administrative and regulatory measures.

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Speakers: Mr. Chen Baosheng, secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and minister of the Ministry of Education Mr. Huang Shuxian, secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs Mr. Yin Weimin, secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and minister of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Mr. Wang Menghui, secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and minister of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ms. Li Bin, secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission Chairperson: Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the 19th National Congress of the CPC and deputy director of the State Council Information Office Date: Oct. 22, 2017

Guo Weimin:

Ladies, gentlemen, friends from the media, good morning. Welcome to the fifth in the series of press conferences held at the Press Center of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Attending today's press conference are: Mr. Chen Baosheng, the secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and the minister of the Ministry of Education; Mr. Huang Shuxian, the secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and the minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs; Mr. Yin Weimin, the secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and the minister of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security; Mr. Wang Menghui, the secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and the minister of the Ministry of Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development; and Ms. Li Bin, the secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and the minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

They will introduce work related to meeting people's new aspirations, and securing and improving people's livelihood. They will also answer some of your questions.

I will now give the floor to Mr. Chen Baosheng.

Chen Baosheng:

Good morning. Education is quite integral to people's well-being. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, China's education has made remarkable progress. General Secretary Xi Jinping fully endorsed the achievements in his report to the 19th CPC National Congress, saying that all-round progress has been made in the development of education, with remarkable advances made in the central and western regions and in rural areas.

The achievements can be summarized in the following aspects.

First, there are more distinctive Chinese characteristics in education over the past five years than before. We have upheld and strengthened the Party's leadership over education and guided those engaged in education to maintain political integrity, think in terms of the big picture, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership. We have strengthened and improved our ideological and political work and promoted core socialist values. Regarding these as fundamental projects, we have guided students to develop an accurate understanding of history, ethnicity, country and culture, enhancing their pride and confidence as Chinese nationals.

Second, modernization of education has been accelerated over the past five years. Investment in education has increased to more than 3 trillion yuan from 2 trillion yuan five years ago. And that figure is expected to reach 4 trillion soon. Investment in education accounted for 4 percent of GDP in 2012, and that proportion has remained stable over the past five years. More than 90 percent of schools of various types and at all levels have access to the internet, up from 20 percent five years ago. Over the past five years, the education sector won two-thirds of the top national prizes for major scientific and technological achievements, namely the State Natural Science Award, National Science and Technology Progress Award and State Technological Invention Award, indicating that we have a strong buttress for improving educational quality. A total of 65 million graduates who have received higher education or training in professional skills entered the workforce in the past five years, having markedly enriched China's human capital and boosted the implementation of innovation-driven development strategies.

Third, the people's sense of fulfillment in regard to education has grown stronger. Over the past five years, bearing in mind the principle that "no one should be left behind," we have increased investment in poor rural areas and ethnic group-inhabited areas. We have reached the outstanding goal that no child drop out of school due to financial difficulties. More than 90 percent of disabled children have access to education. More than 80 percent of the children of migrant workers have received education in public schools in the cities and towns where they and their parents live, and they are also allowed to take the college entrance exam in their cities of residence. In 2017, around 150,000 such students registered for the college entrance exam in their cities of residence, 35.6 times that of five years ago.

We have established a system for subsidizing students from preschool to higher education, under which children from poor families are able to pursue their studies. Here are two examples. Two students, Wei Xiang from Gansu Province and Pang Zhongwang from Hebei Province, enrolled in Tsinghua University this year thanks to the special admission plans for students from rural areas.

Fourth, China's education has gained an increasing influence internationally. Over 180 countries and regions have established cooperative relations in education with China. Forty-seven countries and regions have signed agreements with China on mutual recognition of education qualifications and degrees, signaling that Chinese education has been recognized across the world. A total of 516 Confucius Institutes and more than 1,000 Confucius classrooms have been established in 140-plus countries, giving a strong boost to Chinese-language education and the promotion of Chinese culture. China has become the largest overseas study destination in Asia and the third-largest in the world.

Lastly, education reform has been consistently deepened. A number of signature and leading reform plans have been adopted, and the "multiple pillars" supporting the new education systems have been erected.

Above are the five characteristics of China's education in the past five years. According to the report to the 19th CPC National Congress, with decades of hard work, socialism with Chinese characteristics has crossed the threshold into a new era. And the principal contradiction facing Chinese society has evolved. What we now face is the contradiction between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life. Our task in the next step will be to actively respond to what the people expect for education by seizing the principal contradiction and analyzing the phenomena reflecting the imbalance and inadequacy in this field.

Guo Weimin:

Now let's invite Minister Huang Shuxian to give an introduction.

Huang Shuxian:

Friends from the media, I'd like to brief you on the major developments of civil affairs work. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to people's livelihoods and civil affairs, and has made a series of important decisions and deployments. We have implemented in a comprehensive way the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and made remarkable progress in the work of safeguarding the livelihoods of people in difficulty.

First, the social assistance has been effective in guaranteeing people a basic standard of living. All people in need have been provided with subsistence allowances. Temporary assistance systems have been established comprehensively. All county-level governments have established coordination mechanisms led by the heads of local governments to secure the basic living for people with special difficulties. Subsistence security systems in rural areas have been promoted to link up with poverty alleviation and development. Urban and rural subsistence security standards have increased by 59 percent and 97 percent respectively, with an accumulated expenditure of 731.7 billion yuan. The basic living of nearly 60 million people taking subsistence security allowances and with special difficulties has been guaranteed effectively.

Second, the work in response to natural disasters has been performed efficiently and orderly. The country has activated natural disaster relief emergency responses 117 times, allocated 45.4 billion yuan of central government relief funds, provided assistance for 350 million disaster-affected people and resettled 45 million. In doing this, social stability in the disaster-stricken areas has been strengthened and the smooth operation of post-disaster rehabilitation has been safeguarded.

Third, the elderly care service industry has been accelerated. The Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly has been revised and implemented. The elderly care service market has been fully opened, the service quality has been improved, and related programs have been implemented. A series of policies and regulations have been introduced on the national ageing-related undertakings and elderly care system building in the 13th Five-year Plan. The subsidy system for the very elderly and the elderly with difficulties or disabilities has been gradually promoted throughout the country. More than 28,000 elderly care homes have been registered with nearly seven million beds. Elderly care service facilities have been made available in all the urban communities and over 50 percent of communities in rural areas.

Fourth, social welfare and children protection systems have become sounder. The system of the basic living subsidy for the disabled in difficulty and the nursing subsidy for the severely disabled has been full established, each benefiting more than 10 million people with disabilities. The care and protection system for left-behind children in the countryside has been fully built. The efforts to secure the welfare of children living in difficult circumstances have been strengthened. With these efforts, nearly 500,000 orphans and HIV-infected children have been included in the government's protection system.

Fifth, standards of preferential treatment for servicemen have been promoted in successive years. Standards of pension and subsidies for disabled servicemen, families of martyrs, servicemen who lost their lives on duty or died of illness have been continuously raised at an integrated standard in urban and rural areas. Demobilized soldiers that are eligible for job placements have taken much better positions, and the efforts to encourage them to look for jobs on their own or start up their new business have been stepped up. The management on the resettlement of retired military officers has also been continuously promoted. Therefore, the legitimate rights and interests of the people who are eligible for preferential treatment have been better secured.

Sixth, charity and voluntary service undertakings have developed vigorously. With the promulgation and implementation of the Charity Law and the Voluntary Service Ordinance, social donations have exceeded 50 billion yuan a year. Teams of professional social workers and voluntary services have been enlarging, with a total of 330,000 certificated social workers, nearly 57 million registered volunteers and 390,000 registered voluntary groups.

In addition, special assistance projects such as "Bringing Warmth in Cold Winter" have been carried out with continuing efforts. Efforts to encourage land-saving and eco-friendly cemeteries, as well as green funeral and interment have been actively promoted. Services related to marriage and adoption have also been further enriched. Moreover, our work on optimizing the administrative divisions have moved on steadily and the overall civil service support capacity has continued to increase.

Guo Weimin:

Now, let's welcome Minister Yin Weimin to deliver his briefing.

Yin Weimin:

The work of employment and social security is a major issue that has a direct bearing on people's wellbeing, drawing wide attention from society. In the report to the 19th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping gave full affirmation to the work of employment and social security in the past five years. In terms of employment, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that employment has registered steady growth over the past five years. So what is the key mark of steady growth?

First, in the past five years we have created more than 65 million jobs. That is to say, we have resolved the employment problem of 65 million people, mainly young people.

Second, in the past five years we have solved the reemployment problem of over 27.9 million laid-off workers and the unemployed.

Third, in the past five years we have solved the employment problem of more than 8.8 million vulnerable urban residents who had difficulty finding jobs, including those people from 280,000 families where no one had a job, known as "zero-employment" families. During the process of cutting overcapacity over the past two years, we have provided effective assistance to millions of laid-off employees. At the same time, we have solved the employment problem of more than 4.8 million rural people registered as living under the poverty line. General Secretary Xi Jinping said that employment has registered steady growth, and I think the several statistics mentioned above can fully illustrate this point.

In terms of social security, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that a social security system covering both urban and rural residents has taken shape. This can be seen from the following three aspects.

First, continuous improvements have been made in building the system and institutional framework. In the past five years, we have established a unified national basic old-age insurance system for both urban and rural residents, made steady progress in reforming the pension system for employees of Party and government offices and public institutions, and solved the problem of the "double-track" pension system which has long been a concern of the people. [Under the double-track system, civil servants in government organizations and institutions don't have to pay pension premiums during their time in office, while employees in enterprises and their employers have to pay a lot.] At the same time, we have deepened the reform of the medical insurance system, and one of the breakthroughs we have made is that medical expenses can be settled where they are incurred via basic medical insurance accounts. In addition, the improvements include the establishment of some other systems.

Against a backdrop of slowing economic growth, further structural adjustments and ample labor force joining the job market, we have still made remarkable progress in ensuring employment. The progress has become a highlight of economic and social development, and has played a basic supporting role in the country's economic development.

Second, social security coverage has rapidly expanded. We have established the largest social security network in the world, with the basic old-age insurance system now covering more than 900 million people. Here, the people who are covered by the system refer to all the eligible workers as prescribed by the law and does not refer to the whole population. In other words, after the deduction of preschool children and school students, the number of people covered by the system should be around 1 billion, and therefore the coverage rate has now exceeded 90 percent. In terms of medical insurance, its network covers over 1.3 billion people, so it can be said that a nationwide medical insurance has already been achieved. In a developing country with a population of more than 1.3 billion, such a large coverage, in terms of basic old-age insurance and medical insurance, has been highly praised by the world. During the meeting held by the International Social Security Association at the end of last year, an award was specially presented to the Chinese government in honor of its outstanding achievements made in the social security sector, which is a very tough job to accomplish not only for developing countries, but also for developed countries.

Third, social security benefits have been steadily increased. In recent years, social pension benefits for participants of the basic old-age insurance have increased year by year, with the monthly average level of basic pension insurance for urban employees exceeding 2,300 yuan, and that of the basic old-age insurance for rural and non-working urban residents standing at over 120 yuan.

Meanwhile, we still face a lot of problems in employment and social security. As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, our people face many difficulties in employment and many challenges in social security. In our next step, we will seriously implement the guiding principles of the report to the 19th CPC National Congress. Particularly in terms of employment, the report said we must strive to achieve fuller employment and create better quality jobs. In terms of social security, the report said that we will act on the policy requirements to help those most in need, to build a tightly woven safety net, and to build the necessary institutions, as we work to develop a sustainable multi-tiered social security system that covers the entire population in both urban and rural areas, with clearly defined rights and responsibilities and support that hits the right level. We will strive to do a better job in employment and social security, so that our people will have a stronger sense of fulfillment and happiness.

Guo Weimin:

Now let's welcome Minister Wang Menghui for his presentation.

Wang Menghui:

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the housing and urban-rural development sector has seen outstanding achievements in its reform and growth. The progress made in ensuring and improving people's livelihoods has been particularly notable, and can be exemplified in the following aspects:

Firstly, outstanding achievements have been made in housing security and the living conditions were upgraded for around 80 million people in need. Over the past five years, strenuous attempts were made to advance the renovation of houses in run-down areas, helping over 60 million residents there move into apartment buildings. The supply of public-rental housing was greatly increased, accommodating more than 19 million people in need of homes. The living conditions for urban low-and-medium income households were improved substantially. Access to housing is guaranteed for almost all the urban households with subsistence allowances and urban low-income families.

Secondly, clear efforts were seen in real estate regulation, and the general real estate market remained stable. Since our basic guideline for housing is that it is for "living in," not for "speculating on," we launched categorized control and localized strategies to carry out a slew of policies observed largely by local governments to stabilize the target markets. This year, the growth of the newly-built commercial housing prices in first-tier cities and some major second-tier cities slowed down on a year-on-year basis, while the growth of the housing prices in the third- and fourth-tier cities was stable. Rental housing pilot projects have been initiated in 12 large and medium cities and the attempts to share housing ownership are encouraged in Beijing and Shanghai. A long-term real estate mechanism is under research and formulation, and efforts have been made to accelerate the enactment of rental housing laws. Real estate regulation has shown consistent effects.

Thirdly, continuous advances were made in urban planning reform, and the transformation in urban development modes was stepped up. Putting new development concepts into practice, we have carried out pilot projects on the formulation of urban planning, focusing on implementing urban plans and stepping up urban transformation. We fully implemented urban design, strengthened the preservation of historical architecture, as well as the ecological and city rehabilitation. With these efforts, city environments have been improved constantly and urban public services have been enhanced accordingly.

Fourthly, urban development has steadily improved and urban environments have become more suitable for living. During the last five years, we have built 55,400 kilometers of urban road and 1,600 kilometers of urban rail. At the same time, we have turned 458,000 hectares of land into green spaces, ensured an increase of 38.9 percent biosafety disposal capacity of municipal solid waste and witnessed the rise of sewage treatment to 92.5 percent nationwide. To add one more point, we have made large strides in developing "sponge cities" (i.e. cities which use the full potential of rain water) with the construction of underground utility tunnels extending more than 1,600 kilometers.

However, to be frank, there are still remaining problems on housing and urban-rural development - especially, as most of you would be concerned about, the demand for a house to live in. Thank you.

Guo Weimin:

I'll give the floor to Madam Li Bin.

Li Bin:

Good morning, friends from the press. There will be no moderate prosperity without the overall health of the population. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has adhered to the guiding principle of putting people first and established the initiative of a healthy China. It has thus elaborated the significance, major policies as well as goals and priority tasks of building a healthy china. Thanks to our unremitting efforts of the past five years, as outlined in General Secretary Xi Jinping's report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC, we have seen great progress in people's health and healthcare services. Here are some of the highlights:

First, we have made significant progress in the reform of the medicine and healthcare system. The essential healthcare system with Chinese characteristics has built its policy framework. The integrated tiered healthcare system has been preliminarily established. We have made allotments of medical resources with an emphasis on healthcare capacities at the community level. More than 80 percent of residents have access to the closest clinics within 15 minutes of their homes. As a general practitioner service system accessible to 430 million people has been established, the Chinese people can have their own family doctors. The Chinese people can have access to high-standard medical services close to their homes thanks to the development of medical groups and telemedicine partnership networks. The rate of residents receiving medical services in their home counties has already reached 82.5 percent. Thanks to reforms, we have abolished the old mechanism of bolstering hospital revenues by selling pharmaceuticals, which has been in place for over 60 years. We have established a new system which is more non-profit, proactive and sustainable. Over 57 percent of hospitals are now private as China has encouraged private funds. We are also addressing problems regarding the shortage of clinic drugs, low-price drugs and pediatric medications. We have set up a basic medical care system involving basic medical care, major disease insurance, a medical aid system, and an emergency response and aid system. We are also improving the insurance system so as to ensure the direct settlement of inpatient bills for offsite medical treatment. The proportion of residents' out-of-pocket payments to the total health expenditure has decreased from 40.4 percent in 2008 to below 30 percent in 2016, the lowest level in the past two decades.

Second, new progress has been made in the overall public health system. We are paying more attention to prevention and expanding free basic public healthcare services to 14 categories. We have improved the prevention and treatment of major diseases. The rate of major infectious diseases has decreased greatly. We have implemented the policy that all couples can have two children, and increased services in the obstetric and pediatric sectors. Moreover, we are providing medical care services for the entire process of childbirth to ensure mothers' and children's security. We have significantly reduced the maternal mortality rate and infant death rate, achieving the U.N. Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule.

We are making efforts to build a healthy Silk Road. We won the battle of assisting African countries in fighting against Ebola without any infection among our medical staff. China has given full play to its role as a responsible major country in global health governance.

Third, we have significantly improved the quality and level of health services. We have launched campaigns in the past three years to improve medical services. The quality of China's supply of blood has been at the forefront of the world. We have launched a national action plan over antimicrobial drug resistance and greatly reduced the use of antibiotics. We are bringing out the unique advantages of traditional Chinese medicine. We have made breakthroughs in key medical technologies and world-leading achievements in specific medical fields through a collaboration between medical treatment and teaching, which greatly improved China's overall level of diagnosis and treatment. The health poverty alleviation project has been implemented. We have assisted over 3.6 million impoverished patients under the guideline of "adjusting measures to patients and diseases." We also provided partnership medical assistance. Therefore, the level of medical treatment in impoverished areas has been improved significantly.

Generally, over the past five years since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, China has seen the biggest input into the health industry, which ensured the rapid progress in this sector and more benefits to our people. The international community also recognized China as one of the countries in the world which has made the fastest development in improving its overall healthcare services.

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC that "a healthy population is a key mark of a prosperous nation and a strong country," and noted that we will continue to promote "the Healthy China initiative." We will be guided by Xi Jinping's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and step up efforts to implement our mission of providing all-around services to the Chinese people in a bid to meet their increasingly diversified medical and healthcare demands. Hence, the entire Chinese population will enter a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics in a healthier manner. Thank you.

Guo Weimin:

Thank you. Let's move on to the Q&A session. Please identify the media outlet you represent before raising your question.

people.cn:

In the battle against poverty, what has been done by civil affairs departments in terms of building up the systems of social assistance and subsistence allowances and ensuring those in need get help? What achievements have been made in this regard? Thank you.

Huang Shuxian:

Social assistance is a safety net to ensure people's well-being and to alleviate poverty. Making this net strong is a major mission of civil affairs departments and their responsibility in the battle against poverty. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the Ministry of Civil Affairs has made efforts in the following three aspects.

First, improving the systems of social assistance and subsistence allowances in a holistic way.

The Interim Measures for Social Assistance promulgated by the State Council stipulates the setting up of the "eight plus one" social assistance systems. The temporary assistance system has been established throughout the country. The medical assistance system for treating major and serious diseases has been promoted nationwide. Social assistance has been delivered to people with special difficulties in urban and rural areas in a coordinated way. The subsistence allowances system has been aligned with policies for poverty alleviation and development. A system has been put in place nationwide for granting living allowances to people with disabilities in financial difficulty and nursing subsidies to people with serious disabilities. Efforts have been strengthened to ensure care and protection for rural left-behind children and to provide support for children living in difficult conditions. The institutional reform of disaster prevention, reduction and relief has been promoted. All county-level governments have put in place coordination mechanisms to secure the basic living for people with special difficulties. All of these measures constitute a safety net to meet the basic living needs of those in need.

Second, steadily promoting the level of social assistance and subsistence allowances.

Subsistence allowances in urban and rural areas have witnessed an annual average increase of 10.7 percent and 16 percent respectively. The subsidy standards for rural people with special difficulties living in care centers or their own houses have grown by an average of 13.7 percent and 14.7 percent a year respectively. The subsistence allowance in rural areas has been raised to 4,079 yuan per person per year, well above the national poverty alleviation standard of 2,952 yuan. The number of counties with a subsistence allowance lower than the national poverty alleviation standard has dropped from 1,521 at the end of 2015 to 72. Financial expenditures of governments at all levels on social assistance have increased consecutively from more than 180 billion yuan in 2012 to nearly 250 billion yuan in 2017. This year, the subsidy for people suffering major natural disasters, living assistance during the post-disaster period and allowances for the construction of destroyed houses have greatly increased or even doubled.

Third, making the management of social assistance and subsistence security more standard.

We have checked with other departments the information about recipients' hukou, vehicles, houses, deposits and securities to make our assistance more targeted. Community-level and township-level one-stop offices have been established, making it easier for the people to access government services. We have strengthened inspection, evaluation and financial supervision of social assistance work, conducted full investigations into and punished various forms of misconduct that undermine the interests of the people, especially those in real need, so as to ensure fairness and justice of social assistance work.

China Daily:

My question is addressed to Mr. Yin. As you said just now, China's economic growth has slowed down in the past few years, but there is still a large labor force to be accommodated. So, how has China managed to maintain overall stability of employment? What are the new requirements for employment in the next period according to the report of the 19th CPC National Congress? Thank you.

Yin Weimin:

As I mentioned just now, China has managed to maintain overall employment stability in the past five years. The annual increase of urban employment has been kept at more than 13 million on average, and the surveyed unemployment rate and the registered unemployment rate in urban areas remain relatively low. It is not easy to achieve such a favorable performance, especially when economic growth slows down, structural adjustment deepens and the number of workers remains high. However, it has become a basic support for economic and social development.

There are a couple of important reasons for the favorable performance. First, the CPC Central Committee attaches great importance to employment. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has made clear, employment is an eternal subject needing continuous work, as it affects numerous families, so we should spare no efforts in guaranteeing employment at all times. This is the fundamental reason.

Second, China has maintained steady and healthy economic development. Although we are now growing at a slower pace, the speed still remains at a medium-high level, which creates very good conditions for employment. Moreover, great changes have taken place in our economic structure along with economic development in recent years, especially with the tertiary industry occupying an obviously higher proportion now, which has enhanced employment markedly. The number in employment increased by around 1.5 million for every percentage point gain in GDP during the 12th five-year plan period, but the number will have to be about 1.8 million in the 13th five-year plan period, which explains why the service industry has to provide a stronger boost to employment than the second industry.

Third, employment has also benefited from the reforms. The government has been streamlining administration and delegating its powers, improving regulation and services, and promoting commercial system reform in the past five years, aiming to stimulate vitality in society and the market and facilitate employment and entrepreneurship. After commercial system reform, about 16,000 new businesses have been springing up every day, which would have been inconceivable in the past. So, with a large building-up effect, the reform has boosted employment.

Fourth, employment has also benefited from positive policies. China has been giving high priority to pursuing proactive employment policies. With continuous improvement in practice, these policies are becoming more and more favorable, and more supportive measures in employment and entrepreneurship have been issued by the government as well. China's annual fiscal investment in employment now has reached nearly 100 billion yuan, among which more than 40 billion yuan comes from the central government. This represents very strong support. And the last point is the active participation of the labor force.

Next, we will strive to achieve better performance in employment with higher quality and higher number according to the general requirements on employment in the report to the 19th CPC National Congress. It is a demanding goal that needs specific major measures if it is to be achieved. So, we will make our efforts in the following aspects:

First, we will continue giving high priority to pursuing proactive employment policies, and combining them with macroeconomic, industrial, fiscal and financial policies in particular. We will create more jobs, especially high-quality ones, during the process of economic development.

Second, we will carry out vocational skills training on a large scale to equip the labor force with abilities to change jobs and be re-employed. The contradictions in employment in the next period will lie in two aspects. On one hand, the amount of labor force will remain large. In the process of building a moderately well-off society in an all-round way in the next three years, the annual number of new jobs in urban areas will have to exceed 15 million, most of which are young students. The number of university graduates will surpass 8 million from next year on and will last at this level for some time. There will also be around 5 million graduates from secondary vocational schools and technical schools, and some from middle and high schools who will no longer continue their studies. So, the total number of new jobs needing to be created every year remains very large.

On the other hand, structural contradictions will be more prominent. The most prominent is that job-seekers are reluctant to take jobs while employers have difficulty in finding employees. It is difficult for university graduates and young students to find jobs because they look for relatively high-quality posts. It is difficult to employ production workers because they engage in hard, dirty or dangerous work. A major measure to address the structural contradiction will be vocational skills training on a large scale to equip the workers with necessary qualities and abilities.

Third, we will continue promoting employment by encouraging business start-ups. One of the reasons for the overall stability of employment in recent years is that many of the university graduates, migrant rural workers and returnees from abroad have started their own businesses. Business start-ups have a multiplier effect on employment, so we will give support to them, and we have put forward preferential policies in many aspects including loans, funding and venues to support employment by encouraging entrepreneurship.

Fourth, we will safeguard the rights and interests of workers, and an equal employment system in particular. As pointed out in the report to the 19th CPC National Congress, the barriers that block social mobility must be removed so that everyone can realize their own value through hard work. This is a critical point.

Finally, we will provide high-quality and highly efficient employment services, especially internet-based services, so that everyone with the will to work can get access to help and support from the government through the public service system. Despite the severe challenges in the coming period, we have every confidence to maintain the overall stability of employment along with the process of building a moderately well-off society in all aspects, so as to provide support for economic and social development and help maintain social stability. Thank you.

China National Radio (CNR):

China has seen rapid development in education in the past five years. At a micro level, I've seen some of my schoolmates having reached a point in life where they are going to get married and produce children; some of them have children already going to kindergarten. They may worry about how they can send their offspring to a better kindergarten, and this kind of anxiety may last until higher education. From a macro level, we've seen some data indicating that China's education is now above average among all nations in the world. What is your opinion on that? What can the Ministry of Education do to help more people enjoy a better education? Thank you.

Chen Baosheng:

China's education has indeed made great strides in the past five years. It has achieved all-round change, enjoyed systematic improvement and historic gains. What does the change imply? What does an above-average ranking mean? It means that China's education has "grown bigger," is "stronger in capacity," "improved in terms of results," and "in the upper echelons in world ranking." First, the country's large scale in education is shown by it serving 260 million students every year. "Stronger in capacity" indicates that we have achieved huge progress in restructuring to make education more balanced, equitable and better-performing. "Improved in terms of results" indicates our capacity in nurturing human resources and achieving educational high performance. This means China's overall education level is above the world average with some of our disciplines lead the world and some of our universities enjoy an outstanding overall ranking. According to some media reports, China's universities have seen a big improvement in world rankings, which, I think, is attributable to years of efforts.

China's education development can be summarized in the above four aspects. However, it does not mean it can fully meet public demand. In the past, people just wanted to have access to education; now, they want to enjoy good education, which partly shows the evolving principal contradiction facing Chinese society as pointed out in the report to the 19th CPC National Congress. You just mentioned that some people are having a hard time sending their children to kindergarten and that the fee is too high. Likewise, for compulsory education, where people have a hard time sending their children to a better school and more and more people seek a way out by sending them to study abroad at a younger age. We want more new labor force to receive senior secondary education, which is very important for a country's economic development; in higher education, everyone wants to get enrolled in a better college and study in a better major. People now demand more quality education, and this is the problem we are facing.

Then, how to solve this problem? The guiding principles of the 19th CPC National Congress are that we strengthen education, speed up modernization and develop a system with which people are satisfied. The key is to provide more preferential policies towards rural areas, to help badly built or poorly operated schools, to impoverished areas and to groups with various difficulties.

As for our key tasks, we must first, as General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his report, give priority to overall education. Second, we must promote the coordinated development of compulsory education in urban and rural areas. Third, we have to improve the system of vocational education and training, and promote integration between industry and education and cooperation between enterprises and colleges. Fourth, we need to see that the vast majority of the new members of the urban and rural labor force have received senior secondary education, and that more receive higher education, which is crucial to avoiding the "middle income trap." Fifth, we have to strengthen professional ethics and competence of teachers, and encourage public respect for educators and public support for education. Sixth, we must improve the system of financial aid to students and ensure that no child drops out because of family financial difficulties. Seventh, we have to establish a life-long learning system and improve continuing education, which means that we will step up efforts to build a learning society and promote the well-rounded development of all our people. If all of the above targets are achieved, we are literally delivering a great bonus to the general public.

First, the proportion of eligible children enrolled in kindergarten will be increased from today's 77.4 percent to 85 percent by 2020. The proportion of kindergartens that provide inclusive services will account for over 80 percent of all preschool education from today's 60 percent.

Second, compulsory education will be more balanced, standardized and integrated in both urban and rural areas. We will try to tackle problems like "top school overheating" and "big class size." By 2020, there will be no "big-sized class" in schools. We will work to relieve students from a heavy workload in and out of the school. This is the bonus for compulsory education.

Third, we will make senior secondary education universally available. By 2020, the proportion of eligible students enrolled into senior secondary education will reach over 90 percent. Enrollment in higher education will increase from today's 42.7 percent to 50 percent, which means that higher education is roughly available for everyone.

Fourth, it is very important to improve teacher competence and education quality in order to nurture capable young people to join the socialist cause. Therefore, we will work out suggestions on strengthening the competence of teachers and formulate related policy measures to motivate teachers' initiative in education.

CCTV and CGTN:

I notice that the report delivered at the opening of the 19th CPC National Congress read: "We should make steady progress in ensuring people's access to childcare, education, employment, medical services, elderly care, housing and social assistance" in a part about ensuring and improving living standards. This is a statement related to all of you officials present today and concerns all aspects of people's livelihood. What do you think are the hardest nuts to crack in your sphere of work mentioned in the statement? I also notice that the report sets many new goals. What are the goals that can be met in the short term? For the common people, what benefits can they expect now to improve their livelihood?

Chen Baosheng:

Ensuring people's access to childcare and education is of great importance. As for the "hard nuts" in this regard, I think there are three. The first concerns the three-year preschool education I just mentioned. China aims to increase its gross enrollment rate in three-year kindergarten education to 85 percent and the proportion of kindergartens open to all children to 80 percent by 2020. Why is this a hard nut? It is because even if these two goals are met, the problem of difficult and expensive kindergarten access is still not thoroughly solved. In addition, the two-child policy will increase the number of new births every year. The second hard nut is curbing the number of dropouts from compulsory education. It is especially a hard nut in ethnic, remote and poor areas because some students in these areas are not forced to leave school but choose to do so for lack of interest in schooling. Therefore, how to solve the problem in accordance with China's Compulsory Education Law so that dropouts' interest in schooling is aroused and the rate of compulsory education is increased to 95 percent from the current 93.4 percent is quite a big hard nut to crack. The third hard nut concerns the establishment of an enrollment system through a college entrance examination with Chinese characteristics by 2020. We will work to see the system is established and with it introduce a series of measures for institutional reform.

Li Bin:

I will answer your second question. General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forth a series of requirements for carrying out the healthy China initiative. Going forward, we will put the strategy in place. As for the hard nut to crack in ensuring people's access to medical services, it is mainly about addressing the issues arising from the new principal contradiction facing the Chinese society in health care, which is, to be specific, the contradiction between people's new needs for medical and health care and the country's unbalanced and inadequate supply of medical service. As you all know, China's best medical resources are mainly concentrated in big cities and cities with a relatively developed economy. How to address this unbalance? Next we will promote the transfer of medical resources to cities at the lower rungs of the ladder and expand the reach of advantageous medical resources to regions where such access is difficult. The work will be done through deepening the reform of the medical and health care system and through our new mechanism featuring multiple forms of consortiums composed of different tiers of hospitals.

On the one hand, we will continue to introduce medical resources into poor areas, including border and ethnic areas. For example, we will continue to send groups of medics to Xinjiang and Tibet and help the poorest counties. So far we have established long-acting mechanisms for pairing up all the 834 designated poverty-stricken counties with medical resources through remote health care and sending groups of medics there.

On the other hand, we will help train medics in poverty-stricken areas free of charge, including incubating college students majoring in medical science, to enhance the quality and quantity of medics in those areas.

What are the benefits we have prepared for the common people to improve their livelihood in the near future? We will next expand the scope of contracted services by family doctors as part of our intensified efforts to ensure people's livelihood. Just as I mentioned a moment ago, currently 430 million people have access to contracted services by family doctors and we will continue to expand the scope, especially to include all the poor people. Poor families, families with members suffering from chronic diseases and elderly families will be given priorities in the process.

We will continue to implement the action plan for improving medical services and promote the widespread implementation of people-benefiting measures such as the doctor-appointment service, remote medical care and ambulatory surgery. We will further weave the network for ensuring basic medical care to make it stronger and tighter and see that medical expenses are settled in places of treatment for migrant workers and those starting a business or engaging in innovation even if their insurances are registered elsewhere. We will intensify efforts to reduce poverty through improving health care standards and include more diseases in an intensive campaign to treat those suffering from them. Currently nine major diseases are covered in the campaign. For areas suffering from deep poverty, we will concentrate our efforts on overcoming the hardest issues so that people living there will not become poor or become poor again because of disease. We will improve the quality and efficiency of basic public health services so as to prevent diseases. While doing this, we will prioritize the improvement of health care services for women and children and especially address the weak links such as the shortage of doctors in pediatrics, obstetrics and anesthetics. We will further increase healthcare benefits to the people by enhancing the ability of grassroots medical institutions to provide services, incentivizing medics and deepening institutional reform. Thank you.

Yin Weimin:

I will answer your question from the perspective of ensuring people's access to elderly care. Having something to fall back on is the biggest aspiration of all senior citizens. China has entered a period when its population is rapidly aging. By the end of last year, the number of people aged 60 and above exceeded 230 million, accounting for 16.7 percent of the total population. The number of people aged 65 and above has surpassed 150 million, accounting for 10.8 percent of the total population. In the next period of time, the aged population will continue to expand at a faster speed and for a long peak of time. Therefore, almost all people are concerned about access to elderly care.

To ensure people's access to elderly care by improving social security, we have two hard nuts to crack, or hard issues. The first issue is how to expand the scope of the old-age insurance scheme to cover the entire nation. As I mentioned just now, the old-age insurance scheme has covered more than 90 percent of the population, but since China has a big population, the remaining 10 percent means 100 million people, which is almost the population of a big country. How to include them in the old-age insurance scheme? Who are they? They fall into three categories: the first category is people with flexible employment; the second category is people in new forms of business. New forms of business like the internet industry and the express delivery industry are flourishing in China. The third category is employees of small- and medium-sized enterprises, especially migrant workers, who are the main body of the category. Since those three categories are not completely covered by the old-age insurance scheme, they may face a lack of basic social security when getting old. How to include them is a major hard issue we will focus on.

The second hard issue is how to sustain the old-age insurance fund. When we first established the old-age insurance system, the ratio of insurers against pensioners was 5:1, and now it has fallen to 2.8:1 as the population ages more. Going forward, the ratio will drop further as the aging trend is still evident, posing severe challenges to the old-age insurance fund, putting it under great pressure to pay retirees and sustain itself. Therefore, we must think of ways to ensure sustainable development of the old-age insurance system.

These are the two hardest issues facing us.

Are there measures to address the issue? Yes. Ever since the third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, we've carried out a reform of the old-age insurance system and formed a master plan. That is to say, we've finished the top-level design and now we are phasing it in. To solve the first hard issue, we will, as mentioned in the report delivered at the opening of the 19th CPC National Congress, see that everyone has access to social security. The scheme for doing this will register detailed information about all those still not included and then persuade them to join it.

To solve the second hard issue, we have many measures planned. I will list a few here: First, we will, acting on the report delivered at the opening of the 19th CPC National Congress, start to bring pension schemes under national unified management next year. We will put in place a system for central government coordination of pensions to balance the burdens on different regions. China has a vast territory, so development varies from region to region and so does the degree of the population aging. For example, the ratio of insurers against pensioners is lowest in Heilongjiang at 1.3:1 and the highest is seen in Guangdong at 9:1. After the national unified management is introduced, the law of large numbers governing social security will work toward mutual help among different regions. Now, the pension fund has a surplus of over 400 billion yuan every year and the aggregate surplus is over 4 trillion yuan, an amount able to fund the payment for 16 months. But considering the differences among provincial regions, we need to take the first step in introducing the national unified management as soon as possible as required by the report.

Second, we will improve the investment and operation of the pension fund. Eight provinces, as approved by the State Council, have entrusted the National Council for Social Security Fund to invest more than 400 billion yuan from their pension funds to maintain and increase their value.

Third, we will replenish the pool of social security funds with state-owned assets.

These are some of the measures we are considering to address the second hard issue in the near future. We also have measures for the long term and will roll them out when they mature with a view to sustaining the pension scheme so that all the people have access to social security in old age.

Phoenix Satellite TV:

Since last September, a string of policies have been rolled out to control the development of the real estate market. By now, the market has cooled down notably all over the country. How do you understand the current market situation? What long-term mechanisms will be launched? Thank you.

Wang Menghui:

I talked about this issue in my opening remarks. Since last October, following the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, we have worked with other government departments to exercise category-based regulation of the real estate market. Policies were formulated according to the specific conditions of each region and city, and targeted measures undertaken. We have ensured that local governments will shoulder the primary responsibilities in this regard.

These efforts have yielded positive results in curbing speculation and investment, as well as in guiding people's reasonable demand in buying homes. Presently, the overall market remains stable and healthy.

Please allow me to explain this in detail.

First, the growth rate of the sales of commercial buildings has declined steadily. On a year-on-year basis, the growth rate in the first two months this year was 25.1 percent, while the figure of the first nine months dropped to 10.3 percent. In particular, the growth rate of the sales of commercial residential buildings dropped from 23.7 percent to 7.6 percent.

Second, the trend of rapid price rises has been curbed. Regarding the price of newly-built commercial residential buildings, statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that, by August, year-on-year growth had dropped for 11 consecutive months in first-tier cities and nine consecutive months in second-tiered cities respectively, while the figure dropped 0.3 percentage points in third-tier cities. Regarding the price of newly-built commercial residential buildings in 16 major cities, the month-on-month growth rate declined in the majority, and remained flat in the rest. The growth rate in all the 16 cities declined on a year-on-year basis. We estimate that, in the fourth quarter, the growth rate of sales will decline further nationwide, and the price will remain basically flat. For the whole year, the real estate market will maintain stable performance.

As the next step, we will commit to fulfilling our regulation goals, and will maintain the continuity and consistency of policies. In particular, we will follow General Secretary Xi's instructions to ensure houses are for living in, not for speculation, and establish a housing system that ensures supply through multiple sources, provide housing support through multiple channels, and encourages both housing purchase and renting. Thank you.

Lianhe Zaobao:

The second of the "two centenary goals" specified in the report to the 19th CPC National Congress provided a detailed description of what China will be like in 2049. My question is for all the ministers. What do you expect to see in 2049 in your particular field, such as education and the real estate market?

Chen Baosheng:

This is a good question. It needs talent to foresee the future. What we expect showcases our confidence and belief. I hope China's education will show the following features by 2049.

First, it will lead the global trend. By 2049, China's educational standard might be taken as the international standard.

Second, China will be the top choice among countries taking overseas students. More countries will likely desire to conduct cultural exchanges with China. More foreign teachers and students will come to China to learn our experiences, and share their own with us, seeking common progress.

Third, China will have a bigger say in the world regarding how to promote education. I'm sure we will spare no efforts to offer our distinct solutions and share our wisdom.

Fourth, text books in the Chinese language will be more widely used in the world.

Besides, I hope that all Chinese people can enjoy the right to receive education, and all their aspirations in education can be fulfilled, so that they can seek free, comprehensive development.

That's what I hope for 2049. Thank you.

Wang Menghui:

What you mentioned coincides with the focus of our research work in the next stage.

From my personal view, when the goal of fully building a modern socialist country is achieved by the middle of this century, we should ensure that the living environment and living conditions of the Chinese people are the most advanced in the world. In other words, we should achieve the goal of "meeting the housing needs of all of our people" set in the report to the 19th CPC National Congress.

And that is not all. We should also ensure that people can live in a beautiful environment, which means we must achieve the goal of "building a beautiful China". Besides, we should ensure that the living facilities are more convenient and complete. This will enable Chinese people to live a happier life with a stronger sense of fulfillment. Thank you.

The Paper:

Ordinary people care most about the practical results of reforms. As for the comprehensive reform of public hospitals, which has hardly been pushed by the country in recent years, what real benefits has it brought to ordinary people in terms of healthcare services? Thank you.

Li Bin:

You proposed a question that evaluates reform by putting people first. People's health is the basis and important symbol of a good life. In this sense, healthcare services are a major livelihood issue as well as being our political responsibility in practicing the guiding principle of putting people first. It is from such a starting point that we have taken the reform of public hospitals as the key section to solve in regard to problems with the healthcare services. We have been adhering to a program of focusing on difficulties and solving problems.

Through deepening reform, five sustained and positive results have been achieved as follows:

First, the comprehensive service capability has continued to increase. As medical resources have increased significantly, by the end of 2016, the number of medical and health institutions has reached 980,000, with medical and healthcare staff totaling over 11 million. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the number of licensed (assistant) doctors per 1,000 head of population has increased from 1.8 to 2.3, and number of registered nurses and beds per 1,000 persons rose from 1.5 to 2.5, and 3.6 to 5.4, respectively. We have been able to create more adequate basic conditions to serve the people.

The community-level medical and health service network covering urban and rural areas has been basically completed, becoming more accessible and convenient for residents in seeking healthcare services. In 2016, 7.9 billion persons/times received healthcare treatment, which is unique in the world. This shows our people can seek immediate medical care when getting sick. The volume of services in grassroots medical institutions has exceeded 55 percent. It indicates that, although in the past, there were fewer patients visiting grassroots clinics, it is changing now.

With improvements in the work at grassroots level and in areas of weakness, substantial progress has been made in the equitable allocation of healthcare resources. Presently, 90 percent of public hospitals nationwide are involved in the reform involving establishment of different forms of partnerships between medical institutions operating at different levels, and more than 6,800 public hospitals now offer long-distance healthcare services. Today, hospitals in Beijing can offer services to farmers and herdsmen in the remotest corners of the grasslands. The supply of personnel specializing in pediatrics, obstetrics, general practice, rehabilitation and nursing has been increased through multiple channels. Services at the grassroots level and in remote areas have been greatly improved. These have laid the foundation for achieving the goal of providing quality-based and efficient healthcare services as set out in the report to the 19th CPC National Congress.

Second, people's medical expenditures have been constantly reduced. The coverage of basic health insurance has been maintained at a rate above 95 percent, and the reimbursable ratio has been raised. We have promoted the coordination of basic health insurance with major disease insurance, medical aid, emergency aid and commercial insurance, thus building a comprehensive network of medical security.

Third, services that bring benefits and convenience to the people are being constantly introduced. We have improved medical services accessibility, making it more convenient to see a doctor. All the Grade-III hospitals can provide doctor-appointment service and quality nursing service, and many of these hospitals can conduct ambulatory surgeries. A total of 86 percent of hospitals now acknowledge each other's medical test results. Some hospitals have put in place real-time payment and smart pharmacy systems, shortening the time before being able to see a doctor. The application of the internet, big data, cloud computing and other technologies also make it more convenient for people to access to medical services. There has been a significant increase in the types of medicine provided by hospitals and pharmacies at the community level. Long-term prescriptions, such as those covering two months, is allowed for patients with a chronic disease so that they don't need to go to hospital repeatedly. Some patients with common diseases have been guided to community-level hospitals, effectively relieving the burden of big hospitals.

Fourth, the quality of medical services has been constantly enhanced. The medical service quality management system has been improved, and a control network has been established. Over 1,200 clinical pathways covering almost all common diseases have been developed and put into use at nearly 7,000 hospitals. Measures have been taken to ensure clinical medication in accordance with due procedures. The proportion of antibacterial drugs has decreased by 50 percent. Many county hospitals are able to conduct complicated surgeries such as removing brain tumors, thus enabling more patients at county-level to see doctors locally.

Fifth, people's health has been constantly improved. I have elaborated on this aspect just now.

I used the word "constantly," as our reforms are still underway. Outdated systems have been scrapped, but new ones are not yet in fully-fledged operation. Medical services have been improved, but there are still many problems causing public concern. The problem of unbalanced development needs to be solved and some areas of weakness, such as lack of professionals in rural and remote areas, need to be strengthened. We will make efforts to address all these problems.

China Education Television, China Education Network Television (CENTV):

My question is for Minister Chen. We all know that pushing forward the education reform involves many difficulties. What's the next step for reforming the education system? What measures will be taken?

Chen Baosheng:

Before answering your questions, I would like to first introduce three concepts. The reform of education is different from other reforms, as it has unique characteristics. Firstly, just like education, the education reform is also a slow variable. Why? A certain measure for example would only become effective after at least three years as the newly enrolled students should study at school for at least three years. Secondly, every measure we take to reform education is directly related to the people. It's hence actually the reform of the people. This point is very important. Thirdly, the reform of education involves many aspects, attracting attention from schools, society, families, principals, teachers, students and parents. And the evaluation criterion is diversified.

The General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council of China have promulgated the "Opinions on Deepening Reform of the Education System," setting up basic principles for the reform in this regard. As I just introduced, the reform policies of college entrance examination have already been published. The reform of senior secondary education will focus on improving the quality, and related plans have been unveiled. As for compulsory education, according to the Compulsory Education Law, the reform will revolve around balanced development and urban-rural integrated development, as well as improving the quality and reducing students' academic burden by modifying exam-oriented education. Besides, we have policies to guide the reform of pre-school education. The reform covers every stage of education, from pre-school to college, and related policies have all been approved by the central government.

As another major part of the reform, China's educational cooperation and exchanges with other countries will be improved under the guidance of published policies, in a bid to further open the education sector. The main frame of reform in all fields with "multiple pillars" has been established.

As mentioned just now, the education reform has entered the stage of full-scale implementation and inside adjustment. "Full-scale implementation" means the present reform plans are all being well carried out, while "inside adjustment" refers to adjusting those crucial reform plans which have made faster progress. Take the reform of college entrance examination as an example. Three years have passed since its implementation; now we focus on addressing the problems which have emerged in pilot areas. Step by step, we will forge ahead with the education reform to provide effective institutional safeguards for modernizing Chinese education and building the country into an educational powerhouse. Thanks.

Guo Weimin:

This ends today's press conference. Thank you.

By Li Xiaohua, Guo Xiaohong, Wang Qian, Chen Xia, Huang Shan, Li Jingrong, Wu Jin, Gong Yingchun, Zhou Jing, Zhang Liying, Zhang Jiaqi, Guo Yiming, Yuan Fang, Li Huiru, Xu Lin, Wang Wei, He Shan, Layne Flower, Christopher Georgiou, Geoffrey Murray
 Flash

The parliament of the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan in Iraq on Tuesday postponed the regional presidential and parliamentary elections for eight months, local media reported Tuesday.

The parliament also extended its own legislative term for eight months, the Kurdish media Rudaw reported.

A majority, or 60, of 68 Kurdish lawmakers attending the session voted in favor of delaying the general elections and extending the parliament term.

The postponement came after the Iraqi security forces took control of the oil-rich Kirkuk province and most of the disputed areas. It also paved the way for the electoral commission to prepare for the presidential and parliamentary elections, Rudaw said.

Major Kurdish opposition groups, including the Gorran (or Change) Movement and Kurdistan Islamic Group, did not attend the session of the 111-seat regional parliament, Rudaw added.

On Oct. 18, the Kurdish regional electoral commission halted preparation for the elections scheduled to be held on Nov. 1, due to the recent violence in Kirkuk and other disputed territories.

The elections, which were set to include the disputed areas outside the Kurdistan region, came after the Kurdish independence referendum held last month that sparked tensions between the Kurds and the central Iraqi government in Baghdad.

On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, also the commander-in-chief of Iraqi forces, ordered the government forces to enter the oil-rich Kirkuk province in northern Iraq to regain control of the ethnically-mixed disputed areas.

Disagreements between Baghdad and the Kurdish regional government have been running high for years.

The ethnic Kurds consider the northern Kirkuk province and parts of Nineveh, Diyala and Salahudin provinces as disputed areas and want them to be incorporated into their region, a move fiercely opposed by the Arabs and Turkmens in the region as well as the central government.

The independence of Kurdistan is opposed not only by the Iraqi central government, but also by most of other countries as it would threaten the territorial integrity of Iraq and undermine the fight against the militant group Islamic State (IS).
 Flash

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte boarded Russia's anti-submarine destroyer Admiral Panteleyev on Wednesday to witness the handover of 5,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles and military equipment that Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted to the Philippines.

The Malacanang presidential palace said in a statement that Duterte also toured the shipboard main alley, air defense platform, main artillery unit, and the wardroom. Admiral Panteleyev has been docked in Manila since Friday for a goodwill visit.

Following his tour, the statement said Duterte then witnessed the signing of the certificate of donation. After the signing, Duterte inspected the weapons and ammunition.

Aside from 5,000 units of AK-74M Kalashnikov, Russia also donated 20 units of Ural-4320 multi-purpose vehicles, one million units of 1943-type cartridges with steel core bullets and 5,000 units of steel helmets.

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu signed an agreement for Military-Technical Cooperation between the two countries on the sidelines of the fourth Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting - Plus, held in Clark, Pampanga, a province north of Manila.

"The document contained provisions on various areas of military and technical cooperation such as research, production support, as well as possible exchange of experts and training of personnel for joint programs," Lorenzana said.

In addition, he said the two governments also signed the contract for the Philippines' procurement of defense articles from Rosoboronexport, a Russian state-owned company."

Also Lorenzana and Shoigu had a bilateral meeting on Tuesday. Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev said Shoigu is the first ever Russian defense minister to visit the Philippines.

In a text message to Xinhua, Khovaev said a number of documents on bilateral military cooperation, including contracts for supply of Russian weaponry and ammunition, have been signed during (Shoigu's) visit.

Three Russian warships - large anti-submarine destroyers Admiral Panteleyev and Admiral Vinogradov, and large sea tanker Boris Butoma - anchored in Manila on Friday in time for Shoigu's visit. The warships are scheduled to leave port on Thursday.

It was the third port visit this year by Russian warships.

Duterte announced Russia's donations earlier this month, saying his "good friend" Putin sent the military equipment.

Duterte visited Russia in May, but his trip was cut short after pro-Islamic State militants attacked the southern Philippine city of Marawi.
Albaniel, wearing a say no to violence tee-shirt, showed photographs of her battered body and alleged a history of abuse.

Evara died last week after she collapsed at her Port Moresby home, and was rushed to hospital. The journalist was farewelled at a funeral in Port Moresby on Monday, where an aunt, Mary Albaniel, used her eulogy to allege Evara had been violently assaulted.

Family members of Rosalyn Albaniel Evara, who was an editor at PNGs largest newspaper, the Post-Courier, have received support from the Port Moresby governor for their calls for a police investigation into her death.

PORT MORESBY - The death of a high-profile Papua New Guinean journalist at the age of 41 has sparked a national debate about the countrys continuing epidemic of violence against women, after graphic photographs were shown at her funeral.

When I heard that you died, I regretted that I should have done more than just talk to you, but how? said Albaniel.

She said they discovered the bruises when preparing Evaras body, and decided to take photos in the hope it may lead to criminal prosecution.

Albaniel told The Guardian she felt compelled to raise the allegations at the funeral, which was attended by Evaras husband.

Im using the same surname as the deceaseds maiden name. To continue advocating in my job as a defender of human rights would be useless if I cant get justice done, she said.

I strongly advocate against all forms of violence against women. Thats why I decided to wear my job cap yesterday.

On Tuesday morning Port Moresby governor, Powes Parkop, reportedly ordered the womans burial be deferred for a post mortem and investigation, overriding the initial wishes of Evaras mother, who later that day decided to formally request a post mortem.

Parkop has spoken out against gender-based violence in the past, and Albaniel is a human rights and anti-violence against women campaigner.

Its not only in PNG. I know from my job [the attention on Evaras death] will make a big difference, and a big step forward [in addressing gender-based violence]. Because women dont get the full support from the men, even their own husbands and brothers, she said.

Men dont understand what it means to allow justice to prevail. There is a lot of fear. I told her family and I tell the public that I am advocating against it.
Christian Post

2017-10-25

The concern for persecuted Christians and churches in China is set to grow following the 19th National Party Congress of the Communist Party of China, a watchdog group said, with President Xi Jinping set to rule for years to come.

Bob Fu, president of persecution watchdog China Aid, told The Christian Post in a phone interview on Tuesday that the clear signal from the week-long congress, which is held only twice a decade, is that the Communist government will seek to exert total control over all ares of life of Chinese citizens, extending to churches and other places of worship.

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during

the opening session of the 19th National

Congress of the Communist Party of China

at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

on October 18, 2017.

(Photo: Reuters/Aly Song)

As Reuters reported on Wednesday, the Communist Party revealed a new leadership line-up without a clear successor to Xi, meaning that he is likely to continue being a top figure even beyond the end of his second term in power in 2022.

Moreover, on Tuesday the party voted to enshrine Xis name and ideology into its constitution, elevating him to the level of Chairman Mao Zedong, the founder of the Peoples Republic of China. Fu noted this is the first time this has happened in many decades.

BBC News reported that Xi, who was elected president in 2012, is now essentially unassailable due to his strengthened political control over the country, with his power and influence set to last long after his eventual retirement.

Xi laid out his vision for the future during the week-long congress, focusing on leadership and discipline, reform and development, national security, national pride, ideological confidence, and control.

The party exercises overall leadership over all areas of endeavor in every part of the country, Xi declared, warning that erroneous ideology must be opposed.

Fu told CP that concerns over the ongoing crackdown of Christians in the country, some who face accusations of being part of an evil cult, are only set to increase.

Underground churches have been raided, pastors have been arrested, rooftop crosses have been taken down, and humans rights activists have been harassed and tortured under Xis leadership, aimed at suppressing the rise of Christianity in the country.

Fu said that some of the concerning rhetoric that stemmed from the congress is the continued objective to sinicize religion, meaning to promote and guide religion that is Chinese in orientation.

Zhang Yijiong, the executive deputy head of the United Front Work Department within the Communist Party, pushed for socialist core values in the religious community, according to The Diplomat.

Zhang vowed that China will carry on cracking down on acts such as taking advantage of religion to harm national security, promoting extremism for terrorist activities, and endangering national unity.

The China Aid president hit back against Chinas pretense of using the battle against extremism in order to persecute minorities, however, and said that he has not seen any evidence of such supposed rise in religious extremism.

Fu noted that the Chinese government targets exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, considering him to be a dangerous separatist, along with Tibetans who have self-immolated in protest against the government, but noted that that is different from the type of radical extremism more known in the West.

UCANews, a Catholic news source reporting from Asia, noted that Xi is aiming to be Chinas first dictator since Mao, with Catholics and Christians holding their collective breaths in regards to the future.

It warned that Chinese propaganda is lionizing Xi as a fearless nationalist leader, a strongman who can restore China to its rightful place in the world and particularly the region.

As well as upgrading Xis image, there has been the crushing of perceived enemies. These are usually groups or people who simply want to change the system to be more inclusive and look after citizens and their rights, nothing more, it added.

The U.S. State Departments annual International Religious Freedom Report, released earlier this year, called out China for a number of human rights abuses.

It highlighted cases that made world news, such as one incident in April 2016 when the pastor of an unregistered church and his wife were buried alive for trying to save their church from government-ordered demolition, resulting in the wifes death.

Chinese officials pushed back and told the U.S. to back off on its criticism. But Fu said on Tuesday that the Donald Trump administration needs to make clear that this kind of religious persecution should not be tolerated.

Fu expressed that religious freedom for all is not only an American value, but a universal value.

He called for the U.S. to refuse sacrificing our core values when it comes to deals or trade with the Chinese government.

China Aid pointed to missionary and pastor Yan Xiaojie as one example of the people made to suffer under Chinas crackdown on religion and dissent.

Yan issued a prayer letter earlier in October ahead of the national congress, sharing how he was targeted for opposing the cross demolition campaign in Zhejiang province in 2015, which led to his arrest at the time.

In the end, I dont know why [they harass me]?  [In 2015], they captured me for no reason, and I was shut for half a year in a small, black room. Inside, I was constantly hurt and attacked. I have not exposed them to the world, because they do not allow me to tell about the things that happened inside the prison. I have not yet started to protest and complain  Do we Chinese people have human rights at all? the pastor asked in his letter.

ChinaAid Media Team

Cell: +1 (432) 553-1080 | Office: +1 (432) 689-6985 | Other: +1 (888) 889-7757

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For more information, click here
China Aviation Daily | Oct. 25, 2017

AsBAA, Asia's non-profit representative trade body for business and general aviation has announced the launch of a new chapter of the association in the Philippines; initiated to support its members looking to operate in this part of the region. Max Motschmann, Chief Executive Officer, International Jet Management Asia Ltd has been appointed as member of the Board of Governors and to assist in establishing a new Philippine AsBAA chapter.

The new Philippine chapter, which will launch with an inaugural event, the AsBAA Manila Conference on October.26, 2017 at the Shangri-La Makati, will seek to engage government, local companies, education institutions and the media to learn more about the business and general aviation (BA / GA) industry and the great opportunities in the Philippines. AsBAA Vice Chairman, David Dixon MBE FRAeS said, "Philippines is an island nation where business and general aviation is needed to support the economies, communities and during calamities that hit the country frequently. There is a highly trained workforce originating from the country but many workers go overseas to use their skills. AsBAA is now preparing to assist the Philippine government to develop rules and regulations which will enhance the business and general aviation industry, thereby creating jobs that lead to the return of highly skilled engineers and technicians while increasing investment into the Philippines and creating new business opportunities in the BA and GA sector".

Currently, the Philippines has congested airports where business and general aviation must share limited slots with commercial airlines. The energy, mineral and tourism industries need a dedicated airport with full service Fixed Base Operators (FBO) and complete maintenance facilities at international standards. Under the new AsBAA Philippines Chapter, the association will make recommendations to and support the government in the establishment of a safe and efficient business and general aviation airport in the larger Metro Manila area, operable at all times and in most weather conditions. In addition, AsBAA is recommending the establishment of FBOs in major business and tourist destinations which will cater to the tourism industry in the country.

Motschmann said, "I am honoured to take up the position as a member of the Board of Governors at AsBAA whereby I will lead on the associations work in the Philippines, initially. I plan to leverage my skills and experience in the aviation sector to improve conditions for business and general aviation entities, both domestic and foreign, that are operating or plan to operate here, while supporting the government to realise the great opportunities that exist already. Much of the work to be done is about education and shifting perceptions, primarily, helping the government to fully appreciate the positive economic growth that can be realised as a result of supporting BA / GA. GA and BA growth, combined with investment into Maintenance and Repair Organisations (MRO) will encourage the return of highly skilled Filipino engineers and technicians to their home country, create a need for new training facilities and eventually establish the Philippines as a highly skilled MRO and BA/GA hub in Southeast Asia. AsBAA views such development as a win-win for the government, the economy, local communities, and the BA and GA industry".

In addition to working with the government, AsBAA will be promoting a culture of excellence in relation to safety standards. As part of this, AsBAA will work towards a safety and service culture which will ensure that Domestic and Foreign registered aircraft operating under Air Operators Certificate or under Corporate IS-BAO certification are viewed as safe operators and should be given equal access to slots as partners of the commercial airlines. The association will also assist in promoting non-Philippine registered BA aircraft operating under AOC and/or with IS-BAO certification to be given an easier access to the Philippines airspace and airports in terms of lead time and documentary requirements until the Philippines has established its own viable and certified BA fleet.

Through its student chapter, Discovery, AsBAA is also looking for partners in the Philippines to increase education on careers and opportunities in BA and GA, eventually leading to the establishment of an AsBAA led training facility to support the industry. AsBAA Chairperson, Jenny Lau said, "The AsBAA leadership encourages our fellow Philippine based BA and GA leaders of industry to actively volunteer and participate with us to assist Max with the challenges ahead to turn these exciting opportunities into a successful reality."

Contributed by AsBAA
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation late Monday to ease a regulation affecting New York's craft beverage producers.

Before the governor's action, the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Law required manufacturers to submit brand label registration applications every year. The State Liquor Authority only accepted the applications by certified mail, registered mail or overnight mail.

The bill approved by Cuomo changes the law to allow beverage makers to electronically submit brand label registration forms. The measure also extends the period the applications must be submitted from one to three years.

The State Liquor Authority or a third party entity will be allowed to charge a processing fee for electronic submissions.

Cuomo highlighted his administration's record of reducing regulations impacting the state's beverage industry. Earlier this year, the governor's office announced that regulatory reforms and tax credits helped beverage producers save $15 million.

"By removing the paper requirement and providing an electronic option for companies to register for brand labels, we're building on this work, breaking down more artificial barriers for businesses and helping to ensure the continued strength of this state's beer, wine, cider and spirits industry," Cuomo said.

The legislation was sponsored by Assemblywoman Didi Barrett and state Sen. Terrence Murphy. It received near-unanimous approval in both houses of the state Legislature.

The Assembly vote was 143-1. In the Senate, the bill passed by a 62-1 margin.

Murphy touted the legislation as a pro-business measure.

"The signing of this bill sends an important message to the industry that we are modernizing our laws to make them friendlier to entrepreneurs and enthusiasts," he said.
China Aviation Daily | Oct. 25, 2017

AirAsia has taken delivery of the first A320neo assembled at the Airbus Final Assembly Line Asia (FALA) at a dedicated ceremony in Tianjin, China. The aircraft, powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines, seats comfortably 186 passengers and is equipped with the innovative Space-Flex cabin.

AirAsia is the largest airline customer of the A320 Family with orders for 578 aircraft. These include 404 A320neo Family aircraft.

Aireen Omar, AirAsia Berhad Chief Executive Officer said: "We are very proud to receive the first Airbus A320neo fully assembled in Tianjin, China and we would like to congratulate Airbus for achieving yet another milestone. This is also a milestone for us at AirAsia; we connect 19 cities with 59 routes into Greater China and have flown over 40 million passengers in and out of China since April 2005, making us China's largest foreign airline by capacity. We are certainly proud to have this historic aircraft as part of our fleet."

"We received our first A320neo last year and this is our thirteenth Airbus A320neo that we are receiving for the group, which is also the 184th aircraft delivered to AirAsia by Airbus. As we expand our network and grow our fleet, it is important for us to stay at the forefront of our business. AirAsia operates one of the world's youngest and most modern fleets with the Airbus A320 family. We are very pleased with the A320neo, which provides up to 15 percent fuel savings and an additional range of 500 nautical miles, which translates to a lower fares for our guests." she added.

"I am very pleased to hand over the first A320neo to be assembled in Tianjin to AirAsia. AirAsia will continue to benefit from the unique commonality between all variants of the Airbus Family and enjoy efficiencies throughout its existing fleet." said Eric Chen, President of Airbus Commercial Aircraft China. "The delivery of the NEO is a milestone for our Asia Final Assembly Line, which will help to meet the robust demand of our customers in China and the Asia-Pacific region."

The FALA in Tianjin, inaugurated in 2008 became the third single-aisle aircraft final assembly line location of Airbus worldwide, following Toulouse and Hamburg. It was also the first Airbus Final Assembly Line outside Europe. Today, some 340 aircraft have been assembled and delivered from Tianjin, China.

The A320neo Family incorporates the very latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklets, which together deliver at least 15 percent fuel savings at delivery and 20 percent by 2020. With more than 5,200 orders received from 95 customers since its launch in 2010, the A320neo Family has captured some 60 percent share of the market.

About Airbus

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2016 it generated revenues of EUR 67 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats and business aviation products. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world's leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.

About AirAsia

AirAsia, the world's leading low-cost carrier, services an extensive network of over 120 destinations across Asia Pacific. Since starting operations in 2001, AirAsia has carried more than 400 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to over 200. The airline is proud to be a truly Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines as well as India and Japan, servicing a network stretching across Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the Middle East and the U.S.. AirAsia has been named the World's Best Low-Cost Airline at the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards nine times in a row from 2009 to 2017. AirAsia was also awarded World's Leading Low-Cost Airline for the fourth consecutive year at the 2016 World Travel Awards, where it beat a field of full-service carriers to become the first ever low-cost carrier to win World's Leading Inflight Service.

Contributed by Airbus
Sandor Pataki, director of investor relations and debt and capital markets department of OTP Bank Plc, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the bank's Beijing representative office Oct 24, 2017. [Photo by Tan Xinyu / chinadaily.com.cn]

Hungary's OTP Bank Plc announced Tuesday the bank has opened its first representative office in Beijing, which will act as an information platform between OTP and its Chinese partners and authorities.

The representative office cannot do any business operations, Csaba Prutkay, chief representative of the Beijing office, told China Daily in an email interview.

In the last 12 to 18 months, OTP Bank completed four acquisitions in Hungary, Croatia, Romania and Serbia, said Sandor Pataki, director of investor relations and debt and capital markets department of OTP Bank Plc. Pataki made a statement at the opening ceremony of the representative office Tuesday.

"In the next two years, the bank is planning to spend around $1 billion for acquisitions, both for growth and to create further value for our shareholders."

When responding to any country or region targeted in the company's consolidation plan, Prutkay said the Bank will have acquisitions only in Central and Eastern Europe in the future. As for the Chinese market, he noted, "After two years of the RO [representative office] period, we can decide where to invest."

Founded in 1949, the Budapest-based bank provides financial services along with its subsidiaries, covering eight countries outside Hungary in the CEE region, including Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine and Croatia. Its range of banking services, from savings to corporate loan accounts and deposits and export-import transactions, meet the needs of nearly 14.5 million corporate and retail clients.

And China Banking Regulatory Commission, the country's top banking regulator, gave the green light to the Beijing office in February.

In the past, Hungary has been the largest exporter to China from the CEE region. Last year alone, Hungary's exports to China increased by 25 percent. And in the first five months this year, growth was up to nearly 38 percent, according to Gabor Szekely, commercial counselor for the Hungarian Embassy in China.

As Hungary started to build trade relations with Eastern countries while keeping the benefits of a European market, its "eastern opening" strategy complemented well with China's Belt and Road Initiative, Szekely said while attending the ceremony.

The China-proposed initiative comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes.

In July, Hungary issued state bonds in China in the amount of 1 billion yuan ($151 million), with a three-year maturity, becoming the first country outside China ever to issue renminbi-denominated bonds onshore as well as offshore, since Hungary raised 1 billion yuan in a dim sum bond last year.
Buyers check out food products at a supermarket in Fuyang, Anhui province. [Photo by Wang Biao/For China Daily]

Consumers who are anticipating cheaper prices for products during the upcoming Nov 11 shopping festival may not necessarily find them online, a new study said.

According to the 2017 China shopping report jointly released by market consultancies Bain & Co and Kantar Worldpanel, the online prices of many product categories are higher than those offered in physical stores, with the biggest price differences seen for toothbrushes, hair conditioners and kitchen cleansing supplies.

For example in the toothbrush market, the biggest player in the offline marketplace is Colgate with the average price coming in at 5 yuan ($0.75) each. But the online best-seller is the Oral-B electric toothbrush, sold at 82 yuan each on average, while the second best-seller online is the Philips electric toothbrush sold at 191 yuan each, according to the report.

Jason Yu, general manager of Kantar Worldpanel for Greater China, said the price differences can be largely attributed to the fact that relatively more high-end products are purchased online.

"While Chinese consumers used to shop online for low prices in the past, it has been increasingly noticeable in the recent five years that people prefer products that indicate a better lifestyle or entail more added value," he said.

As a result, the sales of imported goods, especially food products and personal care products, have risen significantly, he said.

"To cater to this trend, leading e-commerce players such as Alibaba and JD.com have upgraded their offerings on their platforms to meet the demand of the rising middle class and younger consumers," he said.

Bruno Lannes, partner of Bain Greater China consumer products practice, added that the price differences between online and offline distribution channels are partly the result of brands' strategies. Some brands have promoted and sold imported and exclusive products with premium prices only online. Such products are not available in brick-and-mortar shops.

For consumers who are looking for real bargains online, milk, baby formula, chocolate, baby diapers and chewing gums still offer much lower prices than physical stores, according to the report.

As to the shopping carnivals such as the upcoming Singles Day, their function is more like an image-building opportunity for brands, said Yu.

"Although online sales are still prevalent, promotion prices have remained stable. E-commerce platforms have redefined the shopping carnivals for brands to convey their key information rather than stimulating sales," he said.
Alasdair Jelfs, managing director of Merck Holding (China) Ltd. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Editor's Note:

The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China ended in Beijing on Tuesday. In the runup to the meeting, China Daily asked business leaders from major multinational companies for their views on economic developments here and the country's global leadership role.

Alasdair Jelfs is managing director of Merck Holding (China) Ltd, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical conglomerate Merck Group KGaA in Germany.

What do you feel has been China's biggest achievement during the past five years and its most notable change?

I have been in China for almost 20 years. In the last two decades, I have seen significant improvements in people's health, including access to medical care and medicine. That is an achievement unparalleled in the world.

If we talk about changes, I have noticed a lot more diversity in recent years. For example, people choose brave colors when buying cars, T-shirts, makeup and smartphone cases to show their love of life.

In terms of development, China is transforming itself from a labor intensive economy to an R&D-fueled economy. For example, I see more life science research projects at national and provincial levels here than many other parts of the world.

China has also formulated, and implemented laws and regulations, to protect the environment and reduce pollution. All those changes are making the country a better place.

What three words would you use to describe China today?

Dynamic. Confident. Innovative. First of all, I would say China is dynamic. It changes very fast and the speed of development is second to none in the world.

Also, the country is confident. Chinese people are embracing globalization and making it work. Finally, innovative illustrates the mood of business. Mobile networks, virtual reality technology applications, internet of things and e-commerce are increasingly popular in China.

What will China be like in the next five years and what is the country's long-term future?

I am sure it will be better. But I would like to see the vast western regions of China catch up with the coastal areas, so that more people can enjoy the fruits of reform.

What is the biggest challenge China faces, and how can the country overcome it?

It has to be health. China has an aging population, while there are also chronic disease threats, which are costly and affect the quality of life.

China has the largest diabetes problem in the world and the authorities, including the Health and Family Planning Commission and China Disease Control and Prevention Center, are working on it.

Last month, the China Diabetes Prevention Program study was launched in Beijing, with the aim to meet this challenge head on.

Merck actively supports projects such as these and we would like to work with the government to tackle this problem together.

Could China's experiences be used to solve global problems?

During the past 30 years, China has opened up to the outside world and lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. If nothing else, it has proved the country's five-year plans have worked. This is an example to many other countries in the world.

In terms of e-commerce and mobile payment, China is now leading the way. Almost everybody is shopping online. Merck's life science e-commerce platform, Sigma-Aldrich, is the largest, and visits to the site from China are twice as many as those from the rest of the world.

This is also a case study which other countries might learn from. It could solve their trade problems caused by physical distances or cash transactions.

Which sectors do you think offer the most opportunities for development?

Along with the application of the internet of things and smart display systems, semiconductors and liquid crystal displays are improving people's lives. China is on track to be the largest chip and display maker in the world.

This means the country's manufacturing sector will require significant amounts of investment for research and development, as well as to attract talented workers, during the next decade.

In life science and healthcare, the government's investment has increased in recent years. For example, China's reproductive needs are increasing after the one-child policy was scrapped.

To provide reproductive products and devices for women having difficulties in conceiving, it requires medicine, lab devices, gene analysis, pure lab water and a total solution. Those are the fast developing areas in life science here.
A couple who won a competition on the Airbnb accommodation site lie in an underwater bedroom surrounded by a shark tank at the Aquarium de Paris in France. [Photo by Philippe Lopez/For China Daily]

Ge Hong quits for greener pastures, to be replaced by US co-founder

The head of Airbnb Inc's China business has left his job abruptly for another opportunity after just four months in the role, with the vacation rental site announcing on Tuesday that its co-founder will take the job.

Airbnb said Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Nathan Blecharczyk will become chairman of Airbnb China. He will be based in San Francisco and travel to China on a monthly basis.

The departure of Ge Honga former software engineer at Facebook and Googleis widely considered to reflect the challenges that Airbnb faces in the competitive Chinese market.

Airbnb's biggest rival in China, Tujia, recently raised $300 million to fund its rapid expansion, amid a surge of Chinese families traveling abroad. Tujia is China's largest vacation rental site, now handling more than 650,000 listings globally.

Tujia's latest fundraising comes as Airbnb quadruples its Chinese tech team to grow its domestic market share. It now has around 120,000 listings in the country and is fighting to convince Chinese consumers to choose its services over domestic rivals'.

This year, the transaction scale of China's online short-term rental market is expected to reach 12.52 billion yuan ($1.89 billion), surging 42.6 percent on last year.

But the high growth has not made up for the fact that most enterprises are losing money, according to consulting group iResearch.

In June, Tujia saw its sales revenue jump 6.5 times year-on-year, but it still did not achieve overall profitability.

By the second half of 2016, Airbnb announced that it had started to make a profit. But, compared with its global success, it is still trying to acclimatize its business in China and compete with its rivals in the country.

Currently, China is Airbnb's fastest-growing market and its second-fastest-growing outbound travel market. During the past Golden Week holiday in early October, domestic Airbnb bookings in China nearly tripled on the same period last year.

The company said that next year, the number of team members in China serving hosts will more than double and it will accelerate on-the-ground preparation and training for hosts.

Airbnb added it has already held offline community events in Beijing and Shanghai. Next year, it will conduct more than 100 host education sessions in 10 cities across China.

Raymond Chang, a professor at the School of Management at Yale University, said earlier that innovation is highly critical for the short-term rental market in China. He said, if Airbnb tries to apply its model unchanged to China, then it will not work, because Chinese people have different habits and requirements with those in the United States.
Huizhou city in Guangdong province has launched a new work system as it makes efforts to create a better environment for businesses.

Under the new system, "chief service officers" (CSO) are introduced to help businesses solve their problems and difficulties.

The CSOs are government officials of various levels, including the city's Party secretary and mayor. Each official is responsible for a certain enterprise or a project, providing one-to-one services.

Since the launch of the system late last year, a total of 1,000 CSOs have been allocated to serve 1,000 enterprises and projects in the city.

The problems range from land use and the financing of enterprises, to the education of employees' children.

"By setting up such a system, we hope to make relations between the government and businesses closer and create a better business environment by helping enterprises solve problems they face in an easier and more efficient way," said Zou Weiming, deputy head of Huizhou Development and Reform Bureau.

"In the past, enterprises had to deal with various government departments. When they met with difficulties, they sometimes did not know whom to talk to. Now, they only need to contact the CSO, who will be responsible for all issues."

So far, 878 problems regarding project construction have been collected, of which 705 have already been solved.

For example, land revaluation and license approval were two major problems facing CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals Company Ltd in its second-phase oil refining project in Huizhou.

"Before the new system came out, it would take about six months to deal with these matters. But with the city's Party Secretary Chen Yiwei acting as our CSO, we were able to solve the problems in six weeks," said Zhao Yan, general manager of CNOOC Huizhou Petrochemicals Company Ltd.

The innovative work system was first piloted in the city's Zhongkai High-Tech Industrial Development Zone and promoted citywide after proving successful.

Hu Jiahui, deputy general manager of Unionman Technology Co Ltd, a Zhongkai-located company specializing in making digital television-related products, said the innovation made by the government has helped enhance efficiency and significantly boost the production of the company.

The company was waiting for the granting of an immovable property rights certificate, an indispensable document for banks to lend money to it.

"We originally thought we could only get the certificate in December, but with the help of the CSO, we managed to receive it in September and successfully got 70 million yuan ($10.6 million) in loans from China Guangfa Bank," Hu said.
SYDNEY  China will make a positive and constructive contribution to the global economy and continue to be Australia's most important trading partner, said Steven Ciobo, Australian minister for trade, tourism and investment.

"Australia welcomes China's growth," he said, "Both our countries have a long standing trading relationship that helps strengthen our economies."

Since 2012, a number of steps have been implemented to bolster bilateral ties, including the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement and the "2017 Year of Tourism Partnership," he added.

Ciobo also pointed out that foreign investment by China at that time helps support local job creation, which has soared to A$87 billion ($67.74 billion) at the end of 2016.

But it's the two-way trade relationship that has continued to underpin the prosperity of Australia with almost one third of its exports bound for China, Ciobo stressed.

Australia's rich natural resources, Ciobo said, have also played a vital role in China's growth story as an important input to its manufacturing base.

"Australian resources and energy exports have powered China's economic growth over the past 30 years. Australian companies not only supply resources used in China's industrial sector, but are also developing resources projects jointly with Chinese companies," he added.

However, as China looks to transition out of the manufacturing industry towards new technology innovation and the services sector as part of its rejuvenation strategy, Ciobo sees this transition as an opportunity to build further cooperation and partnership with China.

"This will pave the way for a new era of trade growth between the two countries that is increasingly based on services, innovation and exchange of new ideas between Chinese and Australian institutions and businesses," Ciobo said.

"The launch of Australia's Shanghai Landing Pad and the opening of China's Torch Innovation Park at the University of New South Wales are already good examples of our investment and innovation cooperation," he said.

The Australian Landing Pad is a program established by the government which aims to nurture creativity and startup companies. The first Australian startup arrived at the Innovation Landing Pad in Shanghai in February, connecting both sides' investors, technologies and markets.
CAIRO  Egypt launched Tuesday the largest trade fair for Chinese investors, as Chinese companies in Egypt showcased their products and services to local consumers.

The inauguration ceremony of the China Trade and Investment Exhibition held at the Cairo International Fair Ground was attended by a number of Egyptian and Chinese businessmen as well as officials from both countries.

The participant Chinese companies and manufacturers displayed various products such as textile and garments, furniture, home electronics, building materials and cars.

"China ranks 21st among foreign countries investing in Egypt and we are targeting to have China among top 10 investors in Egypt," Mona Zobaa, chairman of Egyptian General Authority for Investment, told Xinhua.

She added that China and Egypt are currently strengthening cooperation in trade and economic spheres through improving investment climate, creating investment opportunities and furnishing investment map in Egypt.

China is Egypt's largest trading partner with a trade volume of about $11 billion in 2016 and about $5.2 billion in the first half of 2017.

Xie Manding, managing director of China COSCO shipping company in Egypt, said his company, which opened a branch in Egypt about two decades ago, hopes to increase its operations in Egypt under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China.

China COSCO provides various services ranging from container shipping, customs clearance to logistics for Chinese enterprises exporting goods to Egypt.

Xie said his company is "now mulling new regional shipping routes, including an Egypt-Ukraine-Russia-Turkey route and a route linking Egypt to Northern European countries through Morocco."

This will facilitate Egypt's efforts to sell its products to more countries, as China has promised to share development opportunities with other countries under the Belt and Road Initiative, he added.

The initiative, proposed in 2013, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network that connects Asia with Africa and Europe along the ancient Silk Road trade routes to seek common development and prosperity.

The three-day exhibition is co-organized by the Egyptian Chinese Trading Center in Egypt, Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, the China Development Bank, Egyptian Chamber of Commerce, China-Egypt Friendship Association, and the Al-Ahram Foundation.
CHENGDU  A joint China-Pakistan coal-fired power plant signed a loan contract with banks in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

Hubco Coal Power Plant raised $1.5 billion from a consortium of banks led by China Development Bank.

Construction of the power plant, costing about $2 billion, began in March by China Power Hub Generation Company, a joint venture between Pakistan's Hub Power Holdings Ltd and China Power International Investment Ltd.

With a total capacity of 1.32 gigawatts, the project comprises two coal-based power plants with capacity of 660 megawatts each.

The power plant is expected to start operations in August 2019, eventually producing 9 billion kilowatt-hours, meeting needs of 4 million Pakistani households and create 10,000 jobs in the country.

It is also one of the projects of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which connects Kashgar in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region with Gwadar Port.
GENEVA  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Tuesday it expects 7.8 billion passengers to travel in 2036, a near doubling of the 4 billion air travelers expected to fly this year.

The prediction is based on a 3.6 percent average compound annual growth rate noted in the release of the latest update to IATA's 20-year air passenger forecast.

"It's fantastic news for innovation and prosperity, which is driven by air links. It is also a huge challenge for governments and industry to ensure we can successfully meet this essential demand," said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's director general and CEO.

The biggest driver of demand will be the Asia-Pacific region said IATA, which represents 275 airlines accounting for 83 percent of global traffic.

The Asia-Pacific region will be the source of more than half the new passengers over the next two decades.

IATA said the point at which China will replace the United States as the world's largest aviation market (defined as traffic to, from and within the country) has moved two years closer since last year's forecast.

It now anticipates this will occur around 2022, through a combination of slightly faster Chinese growth and slightly reduced growth in the United States.

The fastest-growing markets in terms of annual additional passengers in 2036 compared to 2016 will be China, the United States, India, Indonesia and Turkey.

IATA said risks to the forecast have been identified and that maximizing the potential benefits of aviation growth will depend on current levels of trade liberalization and visa facilitation being maintained.

"Increasing demand will bring a significant infrastructure challenge," De Juniac cautioned.
For the third consecutive year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed legislation sponsored by state Sen. John DeFrancisco that would establish a pilot universal visitability tax credit program to help older residents and people with disabilities modify their homes.

DeFrancisco's bill received unanimous support in the state Legislature. It would have provided tax credits of up to $2,750 for homeowners to retrofit homes, such as adding a no-step entrance or installing a first floor bathroom.

The legislation was supported by disability advocates. Phil Prehn, a statewide systems advocate for ARISE in Syracuse, told The Citizen in March that the tax credit could help people with disabilities remain in their homes instead of having to move into a residential facility.

"It's a way to deal with a lot of the housing that's already in existence that would be very hard to retrofit entirely, but at least gives people the basics," he said.

Cuomo, in his veto message, said the measure has a "laudable goal." He also touted existing state programs that support home improvements for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans.

But his concerns ultimately outweighed any benefits the bill may produce. He acknowledged that DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, addressed one issue he raised when he vetoed the bill last year  that it would allow buyers of a retrofitted home to receive the tax credit even if they didn't make improvements.

However, the legislation was passed outside of the state budget process. Cuomo has vetoed similar bills that would create new programs but aren't included in the budget.

"Such decisions should be addressed in the context of the annual budget negotiations," Cuomo wrote. "While the Senate included the tax credit in its 2017-18 one-house bill, the executive and the Legislature were unable to reach consensus and no appropriation was made for this purpose."

Cuomo also referred to "technical flaws" that would hinder the Department of State's ability to administer the program. He urged the state Legislature to revisit the bill next year during budget talks.

DeFrancisco disagreed with Cuomo's position that the bill needs to be done within the budget process. The pilot program would award no more than $1 million in tax credits annually over a five-year period.

"That's not even a rounding error on a daily outlay of government funds in the state of New York," said DeFrancisco, who is a former chair of the Senate Finance Committee. "Every day you get a release from the governor's office  $20 million for this, $30 million for that, $40 million for that  and to me, that is not a reason to at least try this way to help people with accessibility problems try to get more places accessible."

He also disputed the governor's claim that the bill would make it difficult for the Department of State to implement regulations for the pilot program.

Earlier this year, DeFrancisco noted, Cuomo pushed for  and the state Legislature approved  the creation of the Excelsior Scholarship, a tuition-free college program. While the scholarship was adopted within the budget, the state needed to enact regulations to administer the program.

The guidelines for the tuition-free college initiative, DeFrancisco said, were more complex than the rules required for the visitability tax credit.

"But it didn't matter to him," DeFrancisco said. "He pushed through regulations and he got his priority done, which costs hundreds of millions of dollars as opposed to $1 million. He can come up with reasons for just about anything, but the fact of the matter is they're not good reasons. And I'm really not happy with this one at all."

This is the third time DeFrancisco's visitability tax credit bill has been approved by the state Legislature only to be vetoed by Cuomo. The bill passed the Assembly and Senate in 2015 and 2016.

When asked if he would attempt to pass the bill again in 2018, DeFrancisco took a swipe at Cuomo.

"I'm going to keep bringing it back until there's a new governor that will do the right thing because this governor will not," he said.

DeFrancisco is exploring a run for governor in 2018. Cuomo, a Democrat, is planning to seek a third term.

Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Cuomo, responded to DeFrancisco's criticism.

"Once again, DeFrancisco has his politician forked tongue working. He knows full well that a bill requiring funding has to be in the budget and we did discuss it in Albany, but he must have been at his home in Florida, which is where he usually is," he said.
DHAKA  Bangladesh's highest economic policy-making body has approved a China-funded elevated expressway project.

The project was approved at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday.

After the ECNEC meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told reporters that the project, involving an estimated cost of 169.01 billion taka ($2 billion), was approved in a bid to enable quick entry and exit of vehicles to and from Dhaka and facilitate transit trade with regional countries.

Bangladesh's Bridges Division has already inked a memorandum of understanding with the China National Machinery IMP & EXP Corp (CMC) to construct the elevated expressway from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka to Ashulia on the outskirts of the northern part of the capital.

The project will be implemented with Chinese financial assistance on government-to-government basis, for which the Bangladeshi Economic Relations Division (ERD) has already sent a letter of interest to the Chinese government.

China will provide $1.39 billion or nearly 109.50 billion taka in loans to the project, of which 15 percent will be concessional loans and 85 percent will be preferential buyer's credit.

The Bangladesh government will bear 59.51 billion taka of the estimated project cost of 169.01 billion taka.

A proposal for signing a commercial contract with CMC after negotiation was approved in principle at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on economic affairs in April.

The plans for constructing a 10.84-km ramp and improving 14.28-km road, construction of 1.92-km Nabinagar flyover, bridge overpass and drainage system have also been included in the elevated expressway project, which will be implemented by June 2022.
Tang Moon Wah, executive director of HKR International Ltd and chief executive officer of HKRI Taikoo Hui. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The central government's efforts in taming the residential property market to prevent excessive speculation are beneficial to the whole industry, and will present opportunities to developers like HKR International Ltd, said a senior executive of the Hong Kong-based property developer.

"I totally agree with what our leadership said, that houses are built for living in instead of speculation," said Tang Moon Wah, executive director of HKR International Ltd and chief executive officer of HKRI Taikoo Hui.

"From the economic perspective, speculation in the real estate market will create a lot of bubbles, further leading to problems in the banking system and financial system," Tang told China Daily.

He believed the central government's gesture will guide the industry back in the right direction, which is to focus on quality rather than quantity.

"HKRI has been sticking to the quality of our projects over the years, and our strengths in developing residential properties will benefit from a well-regulated and orderly market," added him.

According to Tang, the HKRI Taikoo Hui will hold a grand opening early next month, one example of how HKRI develops property projects with high standards through 15 years of effort.

The project, located in Shanghai's bustling West Nanjing Road, carries quite a few unique features including the Starbucks Coffee Company's first international roaster and reserve tasting room and a Disney store with up to 30 percent of its stock as exclusive items.

"In the past 10 years, we have witnessed the city's metro line network become the world's longest, the city's total office space snowball 213 percent, and its total office demand swell from 478 billion yuan to 1.69 trillion yuan. Such development could only possible happen in China, in cities like Shanghai," said Tang, explaining the reasons the company chose Shanghai as HKRI's headquarters for the Chinese mainland.

Tang said the group will continue to look out for development and investment opportunities in the Chinese mainland, especially in the Yangtze River Delta region, such as Hangzhou, Jiaxing in Zhejiang province, and Wujiang in Jiangsu province.
China's CITIC Telecom CPC has announced the formal completion of its acquisition of the Amsterdam-based telecommunications company Linx Telecommunication BV. Linx operates in 14 countries, many of which are within the area covered by the Belt and Road Initiative.

Stephen Ho, CEO of CITIC Telecom CPC, said: "We made this acquisition because Linx Telecommunication has teams, technology, and clients within Belt and Road countries, from Central and Eastern Europe to Russia."

He said Linx offers a route into the region.

"Because many of our existing clients in China are fast-expanding in the area covered by the Belt and Road Initiative, we look to provide for them fast and efficient telecommunications solutions to support their expansions. In particular, we are looking to further invest in Central and Eastern European countries to support our clients."

CITIC Telecom CPC, which established an office in London in 2007, already works with multinational carrier businesses, including British Telecom, to provide China with connectivity to their networks. After the acquisition of Linx Telecommunication, the company will have more than 140 points of presence, which are places where long-distance carriers provide connections into a local telephone network.

CITIC Telecom CPC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hong Kong listed CITIC Telecom International Holding. The company was established in 2001, and has 900 employees. In addition to its 140 points of presence, it has 15 cloud-computing platforms and two security operation centers.

The company's European expansion comes at a time when many other Chinese telecommunications companies are also expanding into the United Kingdom.

China Mobile, with 13 terrestrial and submarine cables connecting Asia, Europe, Africa, and the United States, uses its London office as a bridge that deals with a whole host of carriers in the UK and Europe, including BT, Vodafone, AT&T, Belgium Telecom, and Orange.

Meanwhile, China's telecommunications giant Huawei has sold network equipment to most major carriers in Europe and is working closely with European partners on research and deployment into 5G technology.
Carving your own niche in a thriving industry in a foreign country is no mean feat, especially if it is China's booming livestreaming industry.

China is home to prominent online celebrities such as Angelababy, while millions of Chinese people broadcast their daily lives in real time, making small fortunes in the process.

But Greek twin sisters Marianna and Sofia Erotokritou have slowly been making a name for themselves in this online world, acting as virtual ambassadors for their home in their adopted country.

Like most others who break into the industry, Marianna and Sofia stumbled upon livestreaming by chance. When they first decided to upload videos of themselves, little did they realize that they would find such a receptive audience in China.

In the beginning, the sisters uploaded short videos in Mandarin about popular spots in Beijing they visitedsuch as Nanluogu Xiang and Sanlitunintroducing the food they tasted. To their surprise, they received hundreds of positive comments online and more livestreaming requests from their fans.

Since then, their regular broadcasts on NetEase platforms are eagerly lapped up by audiences keen to understand the finer nuances that link the two countries. Be it food, fashion, theater, or even aspects that cover their daily lives, the sisters have managed to be a cultural connection point in their own unique way.

They have become known for livestreaming themselves strolling among white houses with blue domes on the island of Santorini, surrounded by the Aegean Sea; tasting traditional stuffed Greek pies at Monastiaraki Square in the capital Athens; and riding a tandem bicycle on the ancient city walls of Xi'an in Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

Although the attention they receive from Chinese netizens is positive, the sisters maintain that none of it would have been possible but for their excellent command of Mandarin and their in-depth knowledge about Chinese culture.

Marianna and Sofia said that they did not realize their father's numerous stories about China from his numerous business trips would one day be their ticket to fame and fortune.

"China seems to be a very mysterious country, just like Greece," said Sofia, the younger sister by one minute. "We wanted to explore and feel this historical country in person, so we decided to study in Beijing."

Marianna and Sofia joined Beijing's University of International Business and Economics in 2014, majoring in international economics and trade. Although they are still in their fourth year of studies, they have already started to earn their own money thanks to social media.

The two do not earn much through livestreaming, as their main purpose is to promote both countries' cultures.

During each of their live shows, the two gain rewards and encouragement from netizens, helping them to explore and travel more widely both in China and Greece. Meanwhile, they are also being noticed by both Chinese and Greek merchants, who invite them to try their food and promote their products.

Last year, Marianna and Sofia were invited to introduce Greek culture on Kai Jiang La, an educational talk show aimed at younger viewers of CCTV-1, China Central Television's flagship channel. The experience inspired them to teach Greek on their own show.

"Our business is not only about the financial benefit, but mainly to provide a platform for Sino-Greek communication and understanding under the Belt and Road Initiative," said Marianna. "We hope our videos can encourage more people from China and Greece to become closer."

Han Jingyan contributed to this story.
Just as a larger number of foreign publishers have been eyeing China-themed books, Chinese publishers have been looking to raise the number of books they sell overseas.

Last year, more than 9,800 publication copyrights were sold to foreign buyers, according to a report published by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television in July. In 2012, the figure was about 7,800.

The ratio between copyright imports and exports fell to 1.6-to-1 last year from 1.9-to-1 in 2012.

Projects overseas

Zhang Haiou has worked in publishing for more than 30 years, but in the past decade she has focused on promoting Chinese books overseas.

"In the beginning, we were just involved in copyright trade with foreign publishers," said Zhang, the editor-in-chief of New World Press, a subsidiary of the China International Publishing Group.

The limitations of such trade became obvious over the years: Chinese editors learned little about the tastes of overseas readers, while foreign editors failed to develop an understanding of Chinese books.

"Although our editors attend book fairs in London and in Frankfurt, Germany, every year, it's still not enough for us to get a sense of which (Chinese) books will sell well in foreign markets," Zhang said.

She added that a Turkish publisher once asked her to recommend good Chinese editors to help screen the many book pitches his company received from publishers in China. The request prompted Zhang to create a closer channel to work with counterparts overseas.

In August, New World Press signed an agreement with Cengage Learning, a publishing group in the United States that focuses on educational titles, to set up an editorial department dedicated to developing Chinese books and help editors on both sides to discuss coproduction projects.

The group holds monthly video conferences and plans to publish five to eight books about China every year in the future.

It's one of eight projects the China Book Editorial Department at New World Press has initiated with publishing houses overseas, including GBD Books of India and the Dar Al Shorouk Publishing House of Egypt, since October last year

Similar undertakings have also been developed at the China Translation and Publishing House, a member of China International Publishing.

Zhang Gaoli, editor-in-chief of the China Translation and Publishing House, said the company has signed memorandums of understanding with seven publishers overseas this year to jointly establish editorial departments to specialize in the planning, editing and publishing of China-themed books.

"It was inspired by our cooperation with LID Publishing which began in 2015," Zhang Gaoli said, referring to the publication of the series Chinese Entrepreneurs and Their Enterprises with the British publisher which specializes in business books.

"The editors at LID listed who they wanted the series to cover and the areas in which those entrepreneurs operated that would be of interest to their readers," he said.

"Our editors helped to contact the Chinese enterprises and compile the content."

The first titles in the series, which were published in the United Kingdom in June, include books about Jack Ma of Alibaba, Wang Jianlin of Wanda, Tencent's Ma Huateng, Ren Zhengfei of Huawei, and Gree's Dong Mingzhu. Planning for the second series began in August.

"Foreign publishers, especially in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, are very interested in books about China's recent developments in politics and economics," said Zhang Gaoli, recalling his conversations with foreign peers at international book fairs.

Translation bridges

Translation is a major factor affecting the publication of Chinese books overseas, so since 2015, an annual workshop has been held for foreign translators and publishers to promote better translations.

"More than 100 Chinese works were introduced to 46 foreign scholars, translators and publishers during the workshop in August," said Xu Donghao, a project specialist at the Chinese Culture Translation and Studies Support Network, which was founded by the Ministry of Culture and the Beijing Language and Culture University.

The network organizes the Sino-Foreign Literature Translation and Publishing Workshop, which has hosted more than 150 foreign scholars over the past three years, among many other programs relating to translation and publishing.

During the weeklong workshops, the participants meet Chinese authors to learn about their new works and are also introduced to domestic publishers to discuss the possibility of translating books.

Xu compiled a list of potential translation projects in which the foreign participants expressed an interest.

"The children's book Monsters in the Forbidden City was the most popular title during this year's workshop," she said. "Translators from six countries have reached initial agreements with the publishing house to translate the book into their own languages."

The book tells stories of the many sculptures and decorative pieces that adorn the Forbidden City, aka the Palace Museum, in Beijing and feature mythical Chinese beasts. The network has also compiled a guide to 180 works by 61 Chinese writers to help foreign translators become familiar with the country's contemporary literature.

It also provides funds for translations of book samples and cooperates with Amazon to e-publish about 300 samples online, Xu added.

Greater cooperation will benefit everyone involved, according to Wang Fuli, the network's program officer. "Right now, we have a member network of more than 2,000 translators in China and overseas," she said.

"We want to build a bridge between translators and publishers to avoid the problems they commonly encounter: Publishers often find it difficult to find good translators, while at the same time translators struggle to find good translation projects."
Editor's note:

T he Communist Party of China has just concluded its 19th National Congress in Beijing. China Daily asked five prominent experts for their views on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, which was introduced at the congress.

General Secretary Xi Jinping said China has embarked on a "new era" in its development while spelling out a two-stage development plan. What do you think of that? What is happening in China that impresses you the most?

I like the two-stage development plan proposed by Xi and believe it is feasible. As Xi said, "It will take the great determination of the whole nation." I am extremely impressed with the country's vigorous and creative approach to innovation. China is an innovation nation.

Xi has pledged to develop a modern economy. What are your expectations for that?

General Secretary Xi Jinping's pledge to develop a modern economy relates again to innovation and the rapid adoption of new technology like big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning, for example.

China is still the world's fastest-growing economy, and millions of people have been lifted out of poverty. What do you feel has been the key to such achievements?

Long-term planning and dedication to infrastructure development, and China's stable political system, have been key to China being the world's fastest-growing economy and lifting millions of people out of poverty.

China has been making efforts to reform and develop the global governance system. How do you think China's experience and wisdom can benefit countries and people around the world?

Chinese capability with infrastructure development and management of major projects can benefit other nations. The Belt and Road Initiative is a tremendous program that will positively influence the development of the global economy. The world needs the kind of leadership General Secretary Xi Jinping is proposing. This is a time for China to exert responsible leadership.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, delivers a speech when meeting the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct 25, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, introduced the Party's new central leadership to the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday.

Presenting new CPC central leadership

"I was re-elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. I see this as not just approval of my work, but also encouragement that will spur me on," Xi told journalists.

Xi led the other members of the Standing Committee of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee Political Bureau to meet the media.

The other members are Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng.

Li Keqiang served on the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee, while all the others were members of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee, Xi said.

"Here, on behalf of the newly elected central leadership, I wish to express our heartfelt thanks to all other members of the Party for the trust they have placed in us," he said.

"We will work diligently to meet our duty, fulfill our mission and be worthy of their trust," Xi said.
HONG KONG -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) aims to launch a new profits tax system in April when the new year of assessment starts, the HKSAR Chief Executive Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Tuesday.

The amendment bill to facilitate the launch of a new two-tier profits tax system is expected to be tabled at the Legislative Council by the end of this year, she told the media before an Executive Council meeting.

Lam called on legislators to examine the amendment bill with efficiency.

The new profits tax system will cut tax rate for the first 2 million HK dollars ($256,410) of company profits from 16.5 percent to 8.25 percent.
Zhao Jiujing, 96, and Meng Shulan, 99 read Dahe Daily, the local newspaper. [Photo by Xu Junwen/chinadaily.com.cn]

A couple named Zhao Jiujing and Meng Shulan is admired among the neighbors in Zhengzhou, capital city of Central China's Henan province, because their age adds up to 195 years.

When asked what the secret of their long life was, Zhao Jiujing, 96, said to have a positive attitude toward life.

Zhao said he and his wife, Meng Shulan, 99, loved each other and both were in good health.

The couple has a family stretching down to four generations, and their simple and happy living has benefited the big family.

The couple likes to walk along the river near their home whenever the sun is up.

The two like to read, especially health books, and drink three spoons of honey every morning.

His wife said proudly: "I will be 100 years old next year."

The house where they have lived for nearly 50 years is not big, but they find it practical and it has good lighting.

When they were young, the wife mastered cooking and learned making Henan braised noodles, the famous local dish.

Now, Chen Yuqin, their daughter-in-law, cooks for them. Chen said her in-laws were nice. "Our life is much better than before; we have the responsibility to take care of them."

Soon they will celebrate China's traditional Double Ninth Festival, a festival for the elderly, on Oct 28.


Beijing traffic police have started using robots to catch drivers who park illegally on a major highway.

Three devices that look like small suitcases have been fitted to guardrails along the Jichang Expressway, which runs 18 km from downtown to Beijing Capital International Airport.

The "robocops" weigh 20 kg and patrol up and down the rails, traveling at up to 5 km/h, according to the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau.

Each is equipped with a 360-degree camera for taking pictures of vehicles parked in the emergency lane. These images will automatically be sent to traffic police officers via an app.

Guo Wei, an officer with the bureau, said illegal parking on highways has been a problem for a long time, especially near the airport. Not only does it cause congestion, but it also threatens safety, he said.

The devices went on trial on Oct 3. So far, they have been reporting 50 offenses a day, Wang Zhenshan, vice-captain of the Chaoyang traffic police detachment, told Beijing Youth Daily.

Shaoxing, a city in Zhejiang province, also tried out a similar system  and recorded 20 offenses in just the first hour, the local traffic police said on Sina Weibo.

Last year, 1.3 million cases of illegal parking in emergency lanes were reported nationwide, up by 92 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Public Securitys Traffic Management Bureau.

If the robots perform well during the trial, the program is expected to be expanded to more highways.
Democratic congressional candidate Anne Messenger slammed the Republicans' tax plan Wednesday and linked her would-be opponent, U.S. Rep. John Katko, to his party's reform effort.

Messenger, D-Manlius, derided the GOP tax reform proposal and labeled it the "Trump-Katko plan." She specifically criticized a provision in the proposal that would end state and local tax deductions, which would have a significant financial impact on New York and other high-tax states.

"More than one-third of New York state residents claim state and local taxes as a deduction on their federal returns," Messenger said. "Eliminating this deduction amounts to a massive tax increase on working families, especially suburban homeowners paying substantial property and school taxes."

Katko, R-Camillus, hasn't taken a position on the Republicans' tax proposal. Last month, he said he was "encouraged" by the reform framework.

The highlights of the plan include reducing the number of income tax brackets from seven to three, slashing the corporate tax rate to 20 percent, repealing the alternative minimum tax and eliminating the estate tax.

While Katko has called for tax reform in the past, he has expressed concern about the repeal of state and local tax deductions. Republican leaders are negotiating a compromise which could keep the deductions in some form.

Some New York state interest groups have spoken out against the elimination of the deductions. The New York State Association of Counties is among those that oppose ending the ability to deduct state and local taxes.

"Moving forward, I will carefully evaluate any proposal before the House to determine its impact on my district and the people that I represent," Katko said in September.

Messenger does believe, like Katko and many Republicans, that the tax code must be fairer and simpler. She said the existing tax code "has become a self-perpetuating Rube Goldberg machine that shows no sign of slowing."

She favors a different approach to tax reform. She suggested Congress appoint a commission of experts that would develop ideas for a comprehensive tax reform plan. And she supports a more progressive tax structure, which she said would benefit middle-class families.

"I believe there is an appetite and opportunity for comprehensive tax reform rooted in bipartisan compromise," she said. "But Donald Trump and the congressional Republicans are about to perpetrate a partisan redistribution of wealth unprecedented in our nation's history, and John Katko is aiding and abetting them. It's unconscionable. And it's yet another reason why we desperately need new representation in Congress."

Chris Martin, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, fired back at Messenger.

"It's no surprise that Anne Messenger's socialist agenda extends past single-payer health care to include tax increases on the middle class," he said.

Messenger is one of two Democrats seeking the party's nomination in the 24th Congressional District race. The other is Dana Balter, a Syracuse resident who declared her candidacy in September.
BEIJING - A total of 452 major political parties in 165 countries have sent 855 messages of congratulation to the Communist Party of China (CPC) since the opening of the 19th CPC National Congress, Xi Jinping said Wednesday.

Xi, who was just re-elected as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting the press at the Great Hall of the People together with other newly-elected members of the Standing Committee of the 19th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau.

Of these congratulatory messages, 814 came from heads of state or government, or the leaders of political parties or important organizations, Xi said.

"On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, I wish to convey our sincere appreciation to them all," Xi said.
A drone developed by Guangzhou-based technology company Ehang is displayed at 2017 World Economic Forum held in Dalian. [Photo/southcn.com]

Guangzhou is striving to develop its IAB industries (next generation of information technology, artificial intelligence and biological medicine), new energy industry and new material industry, working hard to build high-end and high-quality modern industry system and open economic mechanism.

Global companies such as Canada-based IT and networking solutions provider Cisco, US-based research institute Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NYSE-listed laboratory equipment provider Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc as well as domestic technology giants Huawei and Tencent have all launched business projects in Guangzhou.

These companies are actively involving themselves in IAB and new strategic emerging industries.

"Guangzhou is becoming the best place for the fourth industrial revolution," said Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum.

In July, the construction of $800-billion General Electric bio-campus, planned to become a leading biopharmaceutical and healthcare industrial park, began at Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City. The project attracted immuno-oncology drugs producer BeiGene to sign an investment agreement worth 2.2 billion yuan ($330 million) with Guangzhou Development District.

The settlement of these projects helps to highlight Guangzhou's new strategy of industrial development, which is focusing on the construction of industrial parks integrating production, living and good ecology and promote industrial projects to form a cluster.

Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, delivers a speech at 2017 World Economic Forum in Dalian and notes that Guangzhou is becoming the best place for the fourth industrial revolution. [Photo/southcn.com]

Last month, Guangzhou-based KingMed Diagnostics, a third-party company dedicated to medical testing became listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

Taking full advantage of Guangzhou's strengthened efforts to develop IAB industries, KingMed Diagnostics plans to lead the way in terms of innovation and industrial cluster and build a world-famous first-tier medical diagnosis innovation center, according to Liang Yaoming, chairman of KingMed Diagnostics.

More and more Guangzhou-based companies are seeking overseas business opportunities and are working hard to go global. During the China (Guangdong)-US Investment Cooperation Seminar held in April, many Guangzhou-based companies signed cooperation agreements with American companies including Guangzhou Automobile Corporation (GAC), which plans to invest millions of dollars to build a research and development center in Silicon Valley.
BEIJING  Although China has made achievements in air pollution control in recent years, a tough battle remains, minister of environmental protection Li Ganjie has said.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing Monday, Li said from 2013 to 2016, the density of PM2.5 fell 33 percent in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

PM2.5 density measures the concentration of small particles in the air and is often used as a gauge of smog.

Figures in the Yangtze River and Pearl River deltas dropped 31.3 percent and 31.9 percent respectively during the same period, according to Li.

However, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has seen a rebound in PM2.5 and PM10 density in the first half of the year, with the two indicators up 14.3 and 13.2 percent, compared to the same period last year.

In January 2013, most parts of northern China were hit by severe air pollution, with Beijing enveloped by heavy smog for more than 20 days during the month.

In 2013, PM2.5 density became an important indicator to gauge air quality across China. Since then, the Chinese government has made a series of policies to reduce air pollution.

After three years of efforts, the average density of PM2.5 in Beijing dropped to 73 micrograms per cubic meters, down 18 percent from 2013 levels. Heavy air pollution days in Beijing dropped from 58 days in 2013 to 39 days in 2016, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI).

Under Chinese air quality standards, an AQI below 100 is defined as a good air quality day. An average daily AQI above 200 indicates heavy air pollution. People including children and elderly people are suggested not to participate in outside activities.

In 2016, the average concentration of PM2.5 in Tianjin city was 69 micrograms per cubic meters and 70 in Hebei province, falling by 28.1 and 35.2 percent respectively, compared with 2013.

Nationwide, air quality in some 338 cities at the prefecture level and above has improved, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP).

Since coal burning is the primary source of air pollution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the area has started to reduce and ban coal use.

For instance, the volume of coal consumption in Beijing was 23 million tonnes in 2013, the figure declined to below 10 million tonnes this year. According to a plan revealed in 2014, Beijing will ban coal use in its downtown areas in 2020, covering Dongcheng, Xicheng, Chaoyang, Haidian, Fengtai and Shijingshan districts.

Shu Yinbiao, chairman of the State Grid, said the State Grid would help promote clean energy heating in north China in the winter. Some areas in Beijing and Tianjin will become "coal free zones."

Nearly 200,000 households in Wuqing district of Tianjin will bid farewell to an of the era of burning coal for heating and cooking. More than 1.2 million households in Langfang and Baoding cities of Hebei will use clean energy by the end of October.

He Hong, a scientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said air pollution in China was caused by multiple reasons, such as the development of industries and the surge of vehicles, which generate massive emissions.

"But it is different from the air pollution that appeared in London and Los Angeles in the twentieth century. Smoke in London was mainly caused by burning coal, while in Los Angeles it was mainly because of too many vehicles," He added.

Areas affected by air pollution in China are much larger than those cities in Britain and the United States. "Addressing air pollution in China is much more complicated than that in European and American countries. And it's also hard to solve the problem in a short term," He said.

Minister of Environmental Protection Li stressed that China was determined to fight against air pollution.

The MEP has launched a campaign against heavy air pollution in autumn and winter in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and surrounding areas from 2017 to 2018, according to Li.

The campaign will mainly focus on curbing pollution by industrial enterprises, cutting coal consumption and improving emergency responses to heavy pollution weather.
JINAN  The eastern Chinese city of Jinan has deployed a new army of air pollution monitors: taxis.

Local authorities said they have installed air quality monitors on top of 100 taxis. The monitors are capable of measuring atmospheric particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM10, generating data every three seconds and transmitting the location and measurements on a real-time basis.

The 100 taxis are estimated to travel over 23,000 kilometers a day and cover over 95 percent of the roads of Jinan, home to over 7 million people and capital of eastern Shandong province.

The upside of the taxis is that they go everywhere within the city and leave no corner unturned, according to a spokesperson with the city's environment protection agency.

A total of 1.2 million sets of data will be generated every day, and the 100 taxis are only the first batch of cars deployed in the literal mobile monitoring of air quality.

North China, including Jinan, which is one-and-a-half hours away by bullet train to the south of Beijing, is under intense pressure to meet clean air targets, particularly in winter, when residential heating systems are switched on, typically in mid-November.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and the other newly elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng arrive to meet the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. XU JINGXING / CHINA DAILY

Xi Jinping re-elected general secretary, stresses plan to guide China through the 'Two Centenary Goals' and beyond

General Secretary Xi Jinping was re-elected to lead the Communist Party of China Central Committee for a second term on Wednesday amid the world's largest political party's efforts to strive for the "Two Centenary Goals". At the First Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, Xi presented the Party's new leadership to reporters and laid down a road map for the next five years.

Xi introduced the other members of the newly elected Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee: Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng.

The plenum also elected 25 members, including the seven on the Standing Committee, of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Fifteen of them are new faces to the Political Bureau.

"I was re-elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee," a confident Xi said against the backdrop of a giant Chinese landscape painting featuring the Great Wall.

"I see this as not just approval of my work, but also encouragement that will spur me on," he said.

Xi thanked all other members of the Party for the trust they have placed in the new leadership and vowed to work diligently to "meet our duty, fulfill our mission and be worthy of their trust".

The coming five years will see several important junctures and signposts, Xi told reporters.

"Not only must we deliver the first centenary goal, we must also embark on the journey toward the second centenary goal," he said.

The "Two Centenary Goals" refers to the strategic targets of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020, the centenary of the CPC, and building a modern socialist country by the centenary of the People's Republic of China in the middle of this century.

Noting that 2018 will mark the 40th anniversary of the launch of reform and opening-up, Xi vowed to make determined efforts to comprehensively deepen reform and open still wider to the world.

The year 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The CPC will continue efforts to accomplish all the tasks laid down in the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), develop new blueprints for China's future and see the flourishing of all the endeavors, he said.

Xi reiterated the resolve to establish a moderately prosperous society across all metrics by 2020.

He said the Party must remain committed to a people-centered philosophy of development and make steady progress toward enhancing the people's sense of fulfillment and realizing common prosperity for everyone.

"For a party that fights for the eternal well-being of the Chinese nation, the centenary only ushers in the prime of life," Xi said. "As the world's largest political party, the CPC must behave in a way commensurate with this status."

Xi said China will work with other nations to build a global community with a shared future, and make new and greater contributions to peace and development for all humanity.

A total of 452 major political parties in 165 countries have sent 855 messages of congratulation to the CPC on the congress.

Xi encouraged the media to continue to follow China's development and progress and learn about and report on more dimensions of China.

"We do not need lavish praise from others; however, we do welcome objective reporting and constructive suggestions, for this is our motto: 'Not angling for compliments, I would be content that my integrity fills the universe'," Xi said.

The CPC's "Two Centenary Goals" are not only significant for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, but also important for the whole world to achieve common development, analysts said.

Raza Khan, a correspondent of Dawn News in Islamabad, Pakistan, said it is remarkable for the CPC to set the target of eliminating poverty by 2020.

"China has a huge population, so lifting so many people out of poverty in recent years will be a huge achievement," he said.

China wants to share its development experiences with other countries under such frameworks as the Belt and Road Initiative, which will contribute to global economic growth, he said.

Sharma Gaurav, a correspondent of IANS, India's largest independent news service, said the CPC's new leadership is determined to fulfill China's rejuvenation through diligent work.

"I am sure it will be a good leadership," he said after attending the news conference.

Xi's proposal of building a community of shared future for mankind means inclusive development that is meaningful for the whole world, he added.

Jin Yong, deputy head of the School of International Studies at the Communication University of China, said Xi's speech to reporters has shown his strategic vision as the leader of a major country.

"From his speech, we could sense his deep love toward the people and his determination to pursue happiness for the people," Jin said, adding that Xi's words for the people "have warmth".
He Jiang, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology postdoctoral fellow. [Photo provided to China Daily]

When He Jiang started to tell one of his Harvard professors about growing up in rural China, the professor suggested he write down his story. He, the first Chinese to deliver a Harvard University commencement address, has now published that memoir.

Written in Chinese, the book is titled Zouchu Zijide Tiankong (Walking Out a Way of My Own) and runs to 200,000 characters. It records the different aspects of rural life in China at the end of 20th century. The book's English version will be published in the United States shortly.

What inspired He to write the book were his occasional chats with noted historian Niall Ferguson, a professor at Harvard, about five years ago.

After listening to a lecture by Ferguson, He wanted to share his thoughts on the rise of China's economy and the changes in Chinese society. He told Ferguson that he was born in a traditional village in China, later relocated to town for middle school, and then went to college in Hefei, the capital of Anhui province, before heading to Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Ferguson said He's unique experiences were like "a miniature version of the Industrial Revolution" .

With that support, He began to collect stories about the village he grew up in from his early memories.

"When stitching them together, a panorama of rural life will unfold," He says.

"This is a story of migration and generosity, of the humanism, which makes life socially valid, and it is a tale of how a family produced a remarkable son whose efforts went on to make effective his vision of scientific truth," Kevin McGrath, professor of American poetry at Harvard University, writes in the book's foreword.

He, now a 29-year-old postdoctoral fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, grew up in a small village with limited educational opportunities.

He graduated in 2009 from the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefeione of China's top universitieswith a bachelor's degree, and was accepted into Harvard's PhD program on a full scholarship the same year.

In January, He made the 2017 Forbes "30 under 30" list of promising entrepreneurs, innovators and "game-changers" in the healthcare category.

Forbes described He "as a farmer in a village with no cars, electricity, or running water. His ramshackle school once collapsed in a rainstorm. As a postdoc at Harvard, he used a new technology called single-virus tracking, super-resolution imaging to understand more about how influenza infects cells, and discovered human genes with strong anti-viral effects. He's now applying the same techniques to neurons and white blood cells. His other passion: getting science and medicine to places they aren't reaching, like his own village, where his mother once treated his spider bite with fire."

He says the book contains a lot of meaning.




China's Global Newspaper





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Pairs of heavy metal earrings designed by Dolce and Gabbana during the 2018 Spring/Summer Milan Fashion Week [Photo/IC]

Believe it or not, heavy metal earrings are set to become one of the favorites in the fashion circle this year.

In the last four international fashion weeks held in New York, London, Paris and Milan, many brands showcased their unique heavy metal earrings.

Here is a look at the latest style of heavy metal earrings.
Chinese students with their counterparts from across the globe in Britain. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Chinese students who are applying for postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom will have a new opportunity to receive financial support.

The British Council, together with 31 universities in the UK, has recently unveiled the Great Scholarships 2018China campaign, with a total value of nearly 1 million pounds ($1.33 million).

The 31 institutions across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will offer 150 postgraduate scholarships ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 pounds in fields such as engineering, law and biosciences.

Scholarships will not be awarded in the form of cash, but will be presented directly as tuition fee waivers.

Chinese students can find more information on the scholarships on the individual websites of the universities involved.

Once they receive admission from participating universities for the autumn semester in 2018, they can then apply for the scholarships online.

The value and number of scholarships offered at each university vary, as do the types of courses available.

Individual universities will use different criteria to select the final candidates, whether it be their academic ability or social contribution, depending on the courses.

According to the British Council, from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017, about 82,000 study visas were issued to Chinese students, and 97 percent of those who applied were successful. It represented an increase of 17 percent in applications compared with the previous 12 months.

In the 2015-2016 academic year, about 154,000 students from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao were enrolled at UK universities.

"The UK is confident of its world-class education system and is committed to ensuring that all international students enjoy a diverse learning experience," says Jazreel Goh, director of education marketing at the British Council in China.

"An education in the UK will teach you how to think, not what to think. The skill will help you improve yourself. Those who have studied in the UK bring back three thingsindividuality, inspiration and creativity," she says.

According to Goh, students should not focus solely on the rankings of the UK universities when making their applications, but should consider their own interests and personalities.

Many Chinese graduates return to China for work due to the favorable development and work opportunities, Goh says.

The British Council organizes two job fairs every year for them.
An egret flies at Zhangye National Wetland Park in Zhangye, Northwest China's Gansu province, Dec 26, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua]

TO PROTECT ITS NATURAL RESOURCES, China is to establish four national parks that cover about 215,000 square kilometers of land, or 2 percent of the country's territory, Yang Weimin, deputy head of the Office of the Central Leading Group on Finance and Economic Affairs, said on Monday. Beijing News commented on Tuesday:

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, has reviewed plans for the four pilot national parks and demanded that their ecological integrity be restored, according to Yang. The national parks are expected to "give roughly 2 percent of China's territory back to giant pandas, Siberian tigers, leopards and Tibetan antelopes", and to "leave our future generations a larger area of pristine land".

A priority of the national park system is preserving biodiversity, a key indicator of local ecological well-being and environmental health. Among the world's most biodiverse countries, China has suffered great ecological losses as a result of its rapid economic development.

A red list for China's biodiversity suggests that 11 percent of higher plant species and over 21 percent of vertebrates are under threat: the latter are facing greater risk of extinction than the average global level. That is all the more reason for China to set up a batch of national parks and establish a new agency for the management of its natural assets by 2020 as planned.

The national park system, if established, should be able to streamline the protection of nature reserves long subject to overlapping, inefficient management. For instance, the Giant Panda National Park covering 27,100 square kilometers and spanning parts of Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, will be directly run and funded by the central government as will other national parks.

With administrative barriers and provincial borders no longer standing in the way, national resources across the country can expect to be better protected.
Two members of the House Homeland Security Committee from New York have introduced a resolution that would mandate cybersecurity training for congressional representatives.

U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice, a Long Island Democrat, is the sponsor of the measure. The resolution's original cosponsor is U.S. Rep. John Katko, a Camillus Republican.

The House of Representatives requires employees and officers to participate in annual cybersecurity training. The measure introduced by Rice, the Congressional Cybersecurity Training Resolution of 2017, would extend the directive to members of the House.

Rice, who is the ranking member on the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, said representatives should be held to the same standard as House staffers.

"We're facing a constant threat of cyberattacks on American government, political and private sector systems, and members of Congress have a responsibility to protect the integrity of the systems we use every day," she said.

Katko, who chairs the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security, added that members of Congress should not be exempt from the training requirement that's currently in place for House employees.

"At a time when we face unprecedented cyber threats, it is critical that all members of Congress are informed of the most pressing threats and best practices for preventing cyberattacks," he said. "Security awareness training is vital to any organization or business."

The Rice-Katko resolution was introduced during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an annual initiative spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance.

If the resolution is adopted, the chief administrative officer of the House will be tasked with providing annual information security training for members.

All representatives would be required to complete the annual training by Jan. 31. New members would need to participate in the training session within 30 days of the start of their term.

Cybersecurity has received more attention after U.S. officials learned that Russia meddled in the 2016 election. Russian hackers infiltrated the Democratic National Committee's network and stole documents. Hackers also attempted to gain access to election systems in at least 21 states.
New buildings in Huaxian county, Henan province. Urbanization will play an active role in keeping the country's investment and growth stable. [Photo/China Daily]

In the report he delivered to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Oct 18, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed the importance of developing city clusters, coordinated regional development and urbanization.

It means China's strategic planning has been upgraded from individual cities and provinces to world-class city clusters.

Urbanization has three manifestations: big cities with traffic congestion and environmental pollution; small towns with scattered population and poor employment opportunities; and city clustersa combination of big cities and small towns, making the best of their different strengths.

In an ideal city cluster, big cities are connected with each other by inter-city railways, expressways and other transport means, which also connect them with nearby smaller towns.

China's urbanization is at a crucial juncture, and it now needs to focus on city clusters. The coordinated development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province is a national strategy that aims to create a world-class city cluster in North China. A series of reforms have been implemented, with more expected, so as to strengthen the coordination of local governments and provide integrated public services to local inhabitants.

China's high efficiency in decision-making and execution means it can mobilize the necessary resources in a short time to foster world-class city clusters.

Compared with the better-off Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta, where the coordination and integration levels are much higher, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, with a lot more difficult problems to be addressed, makes a better pilot zone for gaining invaluable experience for creating city-clusters elsewhere in the country.

--BEIJING NEWS
Xi Jinping presides over the closing session of the 19th CPC National Congress on Tuesday in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. LAN HONGGUANG / XINHUA

Besides the examining of the Party's road map for the country and electing a new Central Committee and its Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress concluded with a high-profile amendment to its Constitution that is nothing short of historic.

Historic since it features the all-round inscription of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Party's new thinking on governance.

All-round in that it does not simply juxtapose Xi's thought with the CPC's ideological guidelines to dateMarxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development.

Literally all the phrases defining Xi's perspective on governancefrom the CPC's self-regulation to absolute control over the military and "all undertakings", to the Belt and Road Initiative and his proposal for countries to build a community of shared future for all mankindhave found their way into the CPC Constitution in the most comprehensive amendment it has seen in decades.

As was obvious from the Tuesday morning vote, this is the result of unanimous intraparty endorsement, a reflection of the proud achievements the Party has accomplished over the past five years. Particularly so because the Party's leadership, with Xi at its core, has sustained the popular belief that the country is on the right development path amid the global economic woes.

Not that this country has been immune to the undesirable. The recognition of an economic new normal, for one, signaled that the era of consecutive double-digit growth was over and gone. Xi's inauguration of the New Era, too, is also based on a cool-headed acknowledgement of the changed, and changing, conditions for the country's pursuit of rejuvenation.

What has made the CPC confident, however, is China continues outperforming most of the rest of the world in spite of all the challenges.

The CPC Constitution's all-round embracing of Xi's thought reflects the high degree of consensus the Party has built around its leadership core. That is a hallmark not only of intraparty unity, but more importantly of the shared conviction that its approach to both development and governance is the correct one.

Given Xi'sand now officially the Party'saspiration for a community of shared future for all mankind, there is no reason for the country to be "assertive" on the global stage as some in the West are speculating. But the CPC certainly will be more steadfast in sticking to its own approach, which it is more ready than ever to share with the rest of the world.
Napoleon Bonaparte once said: "China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move the world." China has woken up and shaken the world but not the way Napoleon or many others feared. Instead, it has injected vital energy into the world economy, staunchly defended globalization, and helped improve infrastructure in cooperation with other countries.

During my travels in some countries in Central Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa, I have seen how new economic opportunities have been created for countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. China has woken up to defend free trade and stand by the Paris Climate Agreement and UNESCO. It has woken up also to give thousands of scholarships to students from developing countries while welcoming students from the West, as well.

Through its actions and policies, at a time when the West is retreating from the global stage and cooperation, China is trying to reassure the world of its continued cooperation. And that is precisely what General Secretary Xi Jinping tried to do in his report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Oct 18.

Reassuring the world that China will always adhere to peace regardless of how powerful it becomes in the future, Xi has built on the foundations of friendship and sincerity, mutual respect for core interests and major concerns, dialogue and non-confrontation, and a win-win approach. I call this the principle of reassurance, which is at the core of China's new model of diplomacy for both big and small countries and in total contrast to the dominant theories of international relations used to frame US-China relations, that is, the Thucydides trap, hegemony and Cold War mentality of confrontation, proxy wars and containment.

Some examples will illustrate the principle of reassurance. First, on the issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's nuclear program, Washington has been raising the rhetoric and firing salvos. On the other hand, Beijing strongly calls for de-escalation and reasonable sanctions without closing the door to dialogue while fully supporting the UN Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang.

Second, smaller countries, especially those in China's neighborhood, want to get an assurance from China that it will help maintain peace even as it becomes more powerful. The Philippines is a test case, for it shows how this principle plays out in practice. The Philippines and China had until recently serious maritime boundary disputes, but we see a non-confrontational bilateral relationship now that is marked by more dialogue and understanding of each other's interests. The zero-sum mentality over territorial disputes has given way to more mutually beneficial cooperation.

Third, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations wants an assurance from China that the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea will be honored in both letter and spirit even if it is not legally binding, which is also what China wants. The more China and ASEAN reassure each other, the more progress can be made in terms of the code's framework and operation. The same goes for the Code of Conduct for Unplanned Sea Encounters.

And fourth, ASEAN wants assurances from both China and the US that it will not be used for their proxy rivalry, because as an association it is vulnerable to such designs.

In conclusion, the inherent uncertainties, suspicions and competition between the US and China reinforce the need for credible reassurance. It is good that the US and China have institutionalized their strategic dialogues and that US President Donald Trump will visit China next month.

Given that China's rise is likely to raise suspicions, especially among smaller countries, in its neighborhood, Beijing is right to adopt the principle of reassurance. If successful, China's new model of diplomacy will belie Graham Allison's Thucydides trap as a figment of a Western scholars' imagination. It will also be regarded as one of the big contributions of Xi to the world.

The author is vice-dean of and associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. The views expressed here are personal.
Xi Jinping delivers a report to the 19th CPC National Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct 18, 2017. [Photo by Xu Jingxing/chinadaily.com.cn]

Before the start of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, some European politicians, such as Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, told me that one typical strength of the Party leadership was its long-term vision of governance.

This is exactly what was reflected in General Secretary Xi Jinping's speech at the opening of the 19th National Congress on Oct 18. And one of the headlines in the Western media, "Xi Jinping's 2050 vision: A China that Stands Tall in the World", best describes the power of that governance message.

To give practical shape to that vision, Xi, as the core of the Party leadership, has proposed a two-step approach to develop China into a great modern socialist country after building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way by 2020. From 2020 to 2035, China will make sure socialist modernization is basically realized, and in the next 15 years, it will strive to become a great modern socialist country that is "prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful".

Surely, the vision and approach are a timely update of the three-step strategy of Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s for China's modernization. They are encouraging in that they could positively reshape the world's power structure.

In fact, one day after Xi delivered the speech, European Union leaders gathered in Brussels for their two-day "autumn summit". Although the EU leaders meet regularly under the framework of the European Council, which decides the bloc's political direction, an important outcome of last week's EU meeting was, to some extent, similar to Xi's 2050 vision as the EC unequivocally endorsed the "Leaders' Agenda" drafted by EC President Donald Tusk.

But in essence, the EU still seems obsessed with crisis management, as the aim of this concrete work is to prepare a guide for the bloc to negotiate the Brexit talks, and resolve the migration crisis, strengthen internal security, implement eurozone reforms and improve trade. Tusk's approach is praiseworthy, not least because he knows what should be high on his political agenda.

Still, Tusk can and should do more, especially as the world is still wondering what the future has in store for the EU and people in the EU have the right to know what the lives of their children and grandchildren be like.

The EU badly needs a blueprint, for example, to close the development gap between Western and Eastern Europe, because one of the most important principles of the bloc is to ensure people within the vast geographical boundary of the EU lead the same quality of life.

Xi has already made it clear in his speech that the Party's main mission is to resolve the contradiction between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life to ensure everybody leads a prosperous and beautiful life.

The next China-EU summit will be held in Beijing next year. And EU leaders would do good to study Xi's speech to understand where the Party gets its long-term vision from and whether it is, even partly, applicable to the EU, for that would give them more material to work for the success of the China-EU summit.

The EU leaders should study Xi's speech also to explore what opportunities China would offer once it evolves into a great modern socialist country by 2050, which could be a new and important incentive for further improving China-EU relations.

The author is deputy chief of China Daily European Bureau.

fujing@chinadaily.com.cn
General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered a report at the opening session of the Communist Party of China's 19th National Congress on Oct 18 in which he called for implementing a rural vitalization strategy. Along with the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education and the strategy of innovation-driven development, this is also a significant national strategy.

Xi said that the issue concerns agriculture, the countryside and farmers' livelihoods, which are fundamental issues related to national interests and so should be top priorities of the Party's work. He pointed out that China should give priority to developing modern agriculture, establish and improve the mechanism and policy system for urban-rural integrated development, and accelerate rural modernization.

According to Xi, rural land reform will be deepened, and the land contract relationship will remain stable for a long time. After the second round of land contract has expired, the contract period will be extended to three decades.

A modern agricultural industrial system, production system and operating system, as well as a sound rural governance system will also be established.
Peter Frankopan, author of international best-seller The Silk Roads: A New History of the World

China is engaging with the world in a much more systematic way than it did before, which is a positive development, according to a professor of global history at Oxford University.

"This is partly because of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the rebuilding of connections in countries across Asia and Africa," said Peter Frankopan, author of the international bestseller The Silk Roads: A New History of the World. "Part of this also comes from a growing awareness that the world is changing."

Frankopan, also director of the Oxford Center for Byzantine Research, said the greatest challenge China faces is the changing world around it. "China does not exist within a bubble, but like all countries at the moment it is faced with a time of profound transition, which makes collaboration and cooperation more important than ever," he said.

In this transitional period, Frankopan said knowledge and education are the building blocks of good relationships, which enable countries to understand, listen and talk to each other.

He said that China's increased self-confidence could translate into more tolerance of differing views.

Although China is at a turning point, where much will depend on decisions made in the coming months and years, he said there is no question the country is planning for the future, but how it adapts policies in the face of change elsewhere will be crucial.

In early September, Frankopan attended the BRICS summit in Xiamen, Fujian province. He said it made him smile when President Xi Jinping said at the conference that he had spent much time in the city but still did not understand everything the locals said because of their accent. "I like politicians who make me smile," Frankopan said.

"But I'm mostly impressed by his commitment to the Belt and Road Initiative, and to seeing ways in which China can use its expertise and resources to support growth in other countries. This seems to me progressive and sensible."

He commended China's commitment to environmental sustainability, saying the country's attitude to the environment will play an important part in slowing climate change.

"The most significant step it could take in today's world is playing a greater role in humanitarian crises around the world," Frankopan said.

Famines are devastating several countries, and he said he wants to see China play a greater role in helping those affected, and in resolving the conflicts that underpin these problems.
Kenneth Lieberthal, professor emeritus at the University of Michigan and senior fellow emeritus at the Brookings Institution [Photo/China Daily]

The anti-corruption campaign. I recall being in China in the runup to the 18th CPC National Congress (in 2012), and the complaints I heard from people in various sectors about corruption at that time were wide ranging and bitter. Corruption seemed to have reached a scale that was potentially socially destabilizing and deleterious to policy implementation. Reducing corruption was necessary, and sustaining a vigorous anti-corruption effort over the past five years has been a significant accomplishment. The scale of corruption has changed for the better.

There is no single most notable changethere have been major developments in many aspects of China's economy, social life, civil society, politics and foreign policy. President Xi Jinping's leadership style differs significantly from that of his predecessor, and those differences are reflected in many aspects of life in China.

What's the biggest challenge China faces, and how do you feel the country can go about overcoming it?

Development, especially human capital development among rural young people, poses a set of major challenges as China tries to transition from a middle-income country to a high-income country. Most young people are still raised in the countryside, and many lack the skills and education that will be needed to work in an increasingly innovative and technically demanding economy. This is in part a legacy of the long-standing hukou (housing registration) system, and it's a huge problem.

Environmental challenges are also acute. Most reporting in the media focuses attention on air pollution, which is a visible and critical issue. But China's biggest environmental problem is water, the shortage of usable water resources. Part of this stems from a natural legacy problemmost of China's water is south of the Yangtze River, but most of its population is north of the river. Climate change will likely exacerbate this problem.

What is your impression of President Xi Jinping?

Before the 18th National Congress, I recall many specialists speculating as to whether Xi would be a strong leader, ready to take significant initiatives and use strong measures to address the top items on his agenda. He has answered that question decisively.

How do you view China's role in today's world?

China plays a major role in today's world. While it is seldom possible to fully solve major global or regional problems, China's capabilities are now sufficiently large that the United States and China together have a massive impact on everything from global economics, trade and finance, to the world's capacity to deal with epidemics, climate change, terrorism, and so on.

Where the US and China either actively cooperate or act along parallel lines, transnational issues typically become manageable; where the US and China act at cross-purposes, these problems become intractable and dangerous. In short, China-US relations will be a major factor in regional and global stability and prosperity. At this point, both countries are worried about the long-term intentions of the otherand it will require astute leadership on both sides to find ways to provide strategic reassurance and to enhance the prospects for constructive cooperation.

Do you believe that some of China's experiences or practices could be used to solve pressing global problems? If so, what are they?

China has certainly had both positive and negative experiences that can provide insights for understanding and dealing with pressing global problems such as development strategies, poverty alleviation, environmental degradation and resource depletion (such as loss of forest cover). But China has many unique characteristics that mean its experiences and practices can rarely simply be copied elsewhere. China's own experiences in the reform era have highlighted the importance of adapting policies and lessons to local conditions and circumstances. Adopting a similar spirit in applying China's experiences and practices to address global problems is the most effective way to think about the question you raised.
Nigel Inkster, special adviser to the International Institute for Strategic Studies [Photo/China Daily]

President Xi Jinping has the ability to deliver effective leadership, according to an expert with a top think tank based in London.

"His delivery style is confident, and he speaks effectively with conviction. You actually find yourself listening to what he has to say," said Nigel Inkster, special adviser to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

He said Xi "comes across as an extrovert, a big confident outgoing kind of person, very much a leader in terms of his personal demeanor".

He conceded he has little insight into the day-to-day mechanics of how Xi works, but has seen him exercise effective strategic leadership. One such example was the 2015 agreement with the United States on combating industrial cyberespionage, a deal Inkstera former director of operations and intelligence for Britain's Secret Intelligence Servicesaid to a large degree has been adhered to.

What he also found intriguing was Xi's recent conversation with Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, to resolve the standoff between China and India that was taking place in China's Donglang area.

Inkster said one of the most significant achievements in China over the past few years has been the advance in the application of modern information and communication technologies, to the point where the country is now a pioneer in those fields. He noted some of the latest developments, including the use of facial recognition technology and mobile payments.

He said he is positive about China and its people, saying: "If you look at the business environment in China today, it gives the impression of great dynamism, confidence and optimism. A considerable number of younger Chinese and urban dwellers feel good about their lives, confident about their futures, and have expectations of better things to come."

Speaking ahead of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, he said the immediate task for the congress was to reinforce Xi's leadership.

However, he predicted the meeting would probably not have a major impact on Sino-British relations. "I suspect the broad outlines of relations are pretty much set, and what happens at the congress is unlikely to significantly alter those."

Meanwhile, China faces a series of challenges such as how to maintain economic growth at a rate fast enough to continue lifting people out of poverty and how to deal with a rapidly aging population. "But my sense is that all of these can, and almost certainly will, be dealt with to some degree."

Inkster said he thinks China will continue to use its substantial economic leverage to increase its standing in the world, and try to develop and promote its soft power.
SONG CHEN/CHINA DAILY

Robin Niblett, director of the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House [Photo/China Daily]

Modernization, urbanization and the breakneck speed of economic development have been China's most remarkable achievements in the past five years, according to the head of a policy institute based in London.

Speaking ahead of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Robin Niblett, director of the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House, said the most visible demonstration of the country's economic growth has been the rise of modern 21st-century cities.

"Whether you go to Beijing or Chengdu (capital of Sichuan province), you feel you are in more modern areas than in many parts of Europe or the United States," he said.

Niblett attributes China's sense of urgency to the fact the country is "rushing to grow rich before it grows old", which he believes is normal due to the advance of an aging population, as has been seen in Japan and South Korea.

To sustain growth, he said China needs to build up the infrastructure of social support and social services for the elderly.

For China to transition from relying on investment and exports for economic growth to consumption and innovation, it requires the type of education policy that encourages creativity and independence as well as governance policy that allows companies to invest privately in the long term, he said.

The 19th CPC National Congress that happens twice every decade is likely to reveal a new lineup of leaders for the next five years and beyond.

President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, is one of the most influential Chinese leaders in decades, according to Niblett. Yet as an outsider looking in at this Party Congress, he said he is interested to see how Xi will appoint a new cohort of officials under him to "take China through this next stage of economic development".

Niblett depicts Xi as someone who embodies "a level of self-confidence, and a level of ambition that characterizes the China of today and probably of the next 10 to 15 years".

Since Xi took office in 2012, the nation's anti-corruption campaign has been at the forefront of his leadership. Niblett said analysts in Europe are closely observing whether the Chinese government will continue tackling corruption over the next five years or will shift their focus more to economic reform.

As the United Kingdom negotiates over its departure from the European Union, Niblett said the country is focused inward, yet he is confident China will continue to be interested in investing in the UK.

He sees a stark difference between Chinese investors and those from Japan and South Korea. Investors from the latter two largely invest in the UK as a platform to access EU markets, whereas investors from China tend to use the country as a springboard for the whole world, he said.

Chinese companies are demonstrating an ability to make giant leaps in technology because of the massive home market for technology products, added Niblett.

He has traveled to China many times, visiting many cities. He said what struck him most was a trip to the Great Wall, which reminded him that once China tried to keep the world out, but now is letting the world in.
The Badaling Great Wall is decorated with dense red leaves, Oct 24, 2017. Now, with autumn marching into its late phase, trees with multicolored leaves in Badaling National Forest Park, located in the Yanqing district of Beijing, are in their prime for appreciation by visitors.[Photo/Xinhua]
A bipartisan group of House members urged Speaker Paul Ryan to further delay the 2.3 percent excise tax on some medical devices.

In a letter sent to Ryan, the representatives called for medical device tax relief to be included in one of the larger legislative packages the House is expected to consider by the end of the year.

Congress voted in late 2015 to delay the medical device tax for two years. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik said the suspension expires on Jan. 1, 2018.

Stefanik, R-Willsboro, is one of the upstate New York representatives who signed the letter to Ryan. Like her colleagues, Stefanik's district is home several medical device manufacturers.

"This is an extremely important issue for our district, especially in Warren County, home of what is called 'catheter valley' because of the numerous catheter manufacturers," she said. "The Affordable Care Act's onerous medical device tax limits access to the healthcare devices that North Country families need and undermines the medical device industry that is so important to our local economy."

Earlier this year, Stefanik and U.S. Rep. John Katko requested a vote to repeal the medical device tax. The medical device manufacturers in Katko's district include Welch Allyn, a Skaneateles Falls-based company.

Katko, R-Camillus, was among those who signed the latest letter to Ryan.

Congressional Republicans have been attempting to repeal significant portions of the Affordable Care Act. All of the legislative efforts would repeal the medical device tax.

GOP leaders have made repealing the Affordable Care Act  commonly referred to as "Obamacare"  a priority. But so far they have been unsuccessful in reaching an agreement that can advance in the House and Senate.

That may require Congress to take a piecemeal approach on issues such as the medical device tax. The provision to delay the tax in late 2015 was included in a larger tax bill approved by Congress.

But Katko and others want to eliminate the tax altogether.

"Repealing (the medical device tax) is critical to allowing our regional businesses to invest, to grow and to prosper," he said in 2015.
Instead of hitting the replay button, Hillsong is staying true to their mandate and pressing forward. This is something we can all learn from.

Hillsong Church Doesn't Sing Shout To The Lord Anymore? Good For Them

Every church has a calling.

In addition to the mission we all share  namely, the Great Commandment and Great Commission  every congregation has a specific reason they exist.

For Hillsong Church, a big part of that calling has been to write, sing and send their songs around the world, to be sung by hundreds of thousands of other congregations.

In a recent article, The Christian Post quoted Hillsongs pastor, Brian Houston from a recent Catalyst conference talk. Houston said that if you go to Hillsong church, you wont be hearing their most famous songs, like Shout to the Lord or Oceans anymore. Theyve moved on.

Good for them.

Who Cares What Hillsong Doesnt Sing?

Some congregations have the role of protecting and promoting the Heritage Songs of the church. Whether the ancient hymns, the revival songbook, or the recent classics, there are churches who serve the important role of preserving that history.

But not every church is called to do that. Some, like Hillsong, are called to be innovators and creators. Instead of preserving and promoting the old songs, they minister Gods grace to people through new songs.

No one type of church is right or wrong. Old songs need to be remembered and treasured. New ones need to be written and celebrated.

Old songs need to be remembered and treasured. New ones need to be written and celebrated.

Pastor Houstons statement about their songs wasnt done in the form of a big announcement. It came across more as an offhand remark. But his statements shouldnt really surprise anyone whos been paying attention. Its completely in line with their stated purposes.

So why am I bothering to write about this?

Because after so many years of musical success, many ministries would be tempted to hit the replay button and keep doing what makes their donor base happy.

At this time in their history, it would be easy for Hillsong to rest on their laurels and, like an aging pop band, trot out their greatest hits for nostalgic fans.

Hillsong hasnt done that. Instead, theyre staying consistent with their message and mission. Theyre determined to keep pressing forward with their stated mandate.

And I, for one, appreciate them for that.

Stay Faithful To Your Mission

I think every church can learn from Hillsong on this.

Its not that we all have to sing new songs. But we all need to be faithful to the role God has given us within the Body of Christ.

The only audience any church should be trying to please is an Audience of One.

The only audience any church should be trying to please is an Audience of One.

Has Christ called your church to innovate? Keep trying new things. To preserve heritage? Do that with great passion.

No church can do everything. But we can all do something.

Whatever calling your church has been given, pursue it with all your heart and passion.

Copyright  2017 by the author or Christianity Today.

Click here to read our guidelines concerning reprint permissions.
Colombia made peace with its primary rebel group last December. But one of its well-known missionaries still stood accused of plotting terrorism with them.

Until last month, when a Bogota judge finally threw out the charge of rebellion levied against Russell Stendal in 2015. The American missionary was accused of collaborating with the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), the guerrilla group that warred against the Colombian government until signing a controversial peace treaty late last year.

Stendal, 61, is the son of linguists with Wycliffe Bible Translators who moved their family to Colombia in 1964, when he was about 8 years old.

When Stendal was in his late 20s, he was kidnapped by the FARC and spent more than four months living among them, mostly with a rope slip-knotted around his neck. Before an anonymous donor paid $55,000 for his ransom, he shared the gospel with his captors several times.

He went on to preach the gospel to all sides of the Western Hemispheres longest-running conflict.

The American embassy warned him not to return to Colombia, but he did anyway. Stendal founded the Colombia for Christ ministry, and regularly traveled through conflict areas distributing Bibles, Christian books, and solar-powered radios fix-tuned to his stations that broadcast the gospel throughout Colombia.

The September dismissal of the case against Stendal by Bogotas Circuit Criminal Court No. 15 ends what his attorney described as a long, drawn-out series of legal maneuverings following his February 2015 arrest. The ruling cannot be appealed.

The judge in the initial hearing, held one day after police detained Stendal under a secret warrant, threw out the charge. But chief sectional prosecutor Angel Manuel Castillo Padilla kept the case alive through ongoing appeals.

The backbone of Castillo Padillas case against Stendal was the testimony of four men who claimed that the missionary was El Gringo, a FARC commander seeking to overthrow the Colombian government. Among the claims were assertions that Stendal operated radio communications for the terrorist organization.

Stendal denied the allegations. He said that two of the men, one of whom was an ex-FARC guerrilla, demanded he pay each of them $125,000. When Stendal refused, the men proceeded with their threat to claim to state authorities that Stendal was involved with the FARC.

Stendal also believes the state offered the men benefits in exchange for their testimony against him.

To Colombian journalist Herbin Hoyos, the rebellion charge against Stendal is an example of what is described in the media as a cartel of false witnesses. In Colombia, anyone can be imprisoned because of a single uncollaborated verbal accusation. For example, television news anchor Angelica Ramirez and Colombian politicians Sigifredo Lopez and Luis Fernando Velasco have all been implicated by false testimonies, but later absolved of charges.

Stendals case is a typical case of these cartels of false witnesses with false proof, built when (false witnesses) seek benefits, such as reducing a prison sentence, Hoyos told CT in 2015. The problem of the corruption of justice in Colombia is very deep. It demands reform.

In June, Colombias national director of anti-corruption was arrested on charges of money laundering linked to bribery allegations in the United States. Meanwhile, criminal investigations this year have revealed a bribery scheme stemming from a Brazilian construction company that paid tens of millions of dollars for lucrative contracts across Latin America, including Colombia.

Stendal concurred with Hoyos regarding the deep need for reform. Instead of Roman law under which you are guilty until you prove otherwise, [Colombia] need[s] to have everyone innocent until proven guilty, he told CT. The witnesses cannot be criminals seeking leniency or poor people under threat. They need to have grand juries and bail, instead of putting people in prison at the whim of one judge for two or three years to await trial. They need trial by jury.

All of [this], he said, is one of the deep root causes of the past 52 years of war.

Stendals gospel and humanitarian outreach has centered around his national network of Christian radio stations that broadcast Christian music and gospel preaching to Colombias conflict zones. He also speaks to churches and missions conferences throughout the United States and Canada.

Stendal, whose ministry has been featured on the 700 Club and CBN, is the 2017 recipient of the Shahbaz Bhatti Freedom Award for his ministry bringing the peace of Christ.

In December, CT invited three Colombian seminary leaders to explain why many Christians opposed peace with FARC fighters.
home World Sudanese authorities arrest five church leaders for refusing to cancel worship service

Five leaders of the Sudanese Church of Christ (SCOC) were arrested and detained on Sunday after they refused to comply with an order to cancel worship services at their church.

According to Morning Star News, police officers ordered the Christians to cancel the service at the SCOC-Harat church in the Hai Al-thawra West area of Omdurman. When the church leaders refused, they were arrested and charged with disturbing the public.

"Col. Nagmadeen Badradeen entered the Sudan Church of Christ church in Thawra, Area 29, Omdurman. He and a team of police interrupted the service, ordered the leaders to end the service and shut the church. They humiliated the pastors and then held them at a police station," a group called the International Solidarity Campaign with Sudanese Christians (ISCSC) said in a statement, as reported by World Watch Monitor.

The group identified the arrested church leaders as Ayouba Telyan and Abdelbagi Tutu, moderator and member, respectively, of the SCOC Council; the leader of the church in Thawra, Ali el Hakim; Ambarator Hamad and Haibil Ibrahim.

The five church leaders were reportedly released at 11 p.m. after they were questioned by the police.

The Sudanese government has been pressuring SCOC leaders for months to hand over the leadership of their church to a state-sanctioned committee.

In early September, the authorities told four members of SCOC's senior leadership team to expect charges to be brought against them after they refused to hand over the Church's office premises to a committee of government officials.

Another SCOC elder was arrested on Sept. 22 from his home in Omdurman and was interrogated by the authorities before he was released. Sources have said that he was arrested for his refusal to turn over his church to a government-appointed leadership.

On Aug. 23, seven church leaders were arrested and jailed for six hours after they refused to comply with a government order to relinquish control of their church to the government's committee.

Prior to the arrests, the SCOC released an open letter in May in protest to the Sudanese government about what the church described as "the systemic violation of Christian religious freedoms."

The letter, which was circulated on social media, detailed the "hard conditions" that the church had faced in recent years, including the confiscation of Church properties, as well as the demolition of churches. It also highlighted the government's failure to allocate land for the construction of new churches and travel restrictions on new church leaders.

Specific departments have been named in the letter for their "abusive procedures" against the Church in Sudan.

"We hold the National Intelligence and Security Services [NISS] responsible for the damages and other consequences [that] can be caused due to their confiscation of documents. We also hold the land authorities of the Ministry of the Planning and Infrastructure Development of the Khartoum state responsible for the attacks against the Church and [for] the financial damages caused," the letter stated.

The SCOC, which represents over 220,000 of Sudan's two million Christians, calls for a general assembly every three years to appoint church leaders. Morning Star News noted that the current leadership is set to expire in March 2018.

Sudan has been designated by the U.S. State Department as a Country of Particular Concern since 1999 due to its treatment of Christians and other human rights violations.

Christian support organization Open Doors has ranked the nation as fifth on its 2017 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most persecution.
Unravelling the mystery of the Patek Philippe Senza Luna reference 3448

With the rediscovery of an exceptional white gold Senza Luna  movement no. 1119585, coming to auction on 13 November  the Christies Watches department delves into the enigma behind this legendary Patek Philippe timepiece

1

How many Senza Luna Patek Philippe watches are known to exist? Seven  three in white gold, four in yellow gold. The most famous is the yellow gold Alan Banbery Senza Luna, which sold for CHF1,840,900 at Sothebys Geneva in 2008. This watch was accompanied by an extract from the archives of Patek Philippe, dated 1999, confirming the special dial and the fact that the watch had been modified within Patek Philippes workshops after its initial sale in May 1970.

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So what do we know about Senza Luna timepieces? The existence of the Banbery Senza Luna is the starting point of this discussion and proves that there were 3448s which were modified by Patek Philippe even after they had left the Patek Philippe workshops for the first time. The images of this watch, including a detailed picture of the movement published in Martin Huber and Alan Banberys book, Patek Philippe Wristwatches, clearly demonstrate that Patek Philippe made special orders of the reference 3448 for important clients  in this case Alan Banbery, an employee of Patek Philippe for more than 50 years. Beyond Huber and Banberys book, these prototype pieces were not shared in company literature or advertisements  something that further contributes to the mystery around these watches. Added to that, their known Extracts from the Archives do not contain detailed dial descriptions mentioning whether the watches were modified without the moon phases. This has all now changed with the rediscovery of the watch Christies will offer in Geneva on 13 November, which now has a newly issued Extract from the Archives from Patek Philippe which confirms the existence of the Senza Luna dial.

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What has sparked the recent upsurge in interest? In February 2017, a groundbreaking article by Cara Barrett in the online magazine HODINKEE  In-Depth: The Curious Case of the Patek Philippe Reference 3448 Senza Luna  opened a public dialogue on the questions surrounding the Senza Luna, and bestowed on these watches an almost mythical status among collectors and connoisseurs.

Open a larger version of this image Patek Philippe. An exceptional and historically important 18K white gold automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch without moon phases, Signed Patek Philippe, Geneve, ref. 3448, movement no. 1119585, case no. 332625, manufactured in 1981, with: 18k white gold Patek Philippe buckle, Extract from The Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1981 with an 18k white gold case, silvered dial with applied white gold indexes, without moon phase disc and its subsequent sale on 28 January 1982. Case: snap on back, 37 mm diam, signed. Estimate: CHF 300,000-500,000. This lot is offered in Rare Watches on 13 November 2017 at Christies in Geneva

Excitement then hit fever pitch over the summer of 2017 with confirmed proof from Patek Philippe of the Senza Luna, which led to the revealing of the Extract from the Archives of the white gold 3448 Senza Luna movement no. 1119202 at the Christies Patek Philippe exhibition in New York. For the first time the public was able to see documented evidence of a Senza Luna from Patek Philippe with the extract stating that movement number 1119202 does not include a moon phase function.

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Why is this moonless dial type so mysterious? Given that the 3448 Senza Luna has to date eluded attempts to fully understand its evolution, this moonless dial type begs further questions: was it a true experimental or prototype product, a special client order, or a combination of both?

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As far as is known from existing extracts from the archives, the majority of watches known publicly with Senza Luna dials are originally described as having a moon phase indication. It is therefore assumed that all were later modified. The question is: were they born with Senza Luna dials, or later modified?

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What are the theories behind it? Several theories abound in relation to the conception of the Senza Luna, and with each of the seven watches the question of when the pieces were modified is a subject of academic debate. It is certain that clients could order Patek Philippe watches on special request, and many dials were made for Patek Philippe to test new concepts and design aesthetics. In a pre-digital age, the very existence of a watch such as a Senza Luna on Alan Banberys wrist would have had the inner circle of Patek Philippe collectors buzzing. As a brand ambassador, his watch was sure to inspire others to own something similar. Among the six known Senza Luna watches (the seventh being the Alan Banbery, with the deviation of the perpetual calendar indication), the key is to try to identify which pieces were likely to have been modified by Patek Philippe in-house, and which were possibly changed outside its workshops. A forensic study of each individual piece is required to make an opinion of each.

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So what do we know about the watch coming to auction, Movement No. 1119585? After the catalogue for this sale went to print, Patek Philippe Geneva issued an Extract from the Archives confirming that this watch, mvt 1119585, was indeed made without a moonphase disc. This is the first time since the confirmation of the Banbery Senza Luna that Patek Philippe has made an explicit statement regarding the existence of the moonless dials.

Open a larger version of this image Patek Philippes Extract from the Archives confirming that watch mvt 1119585 was indeed made without a moonphase disc  the first time since the confirmation of the Banbery Senza Luna that Patek Philippe has made an explicit statement regarding the existence of the moonless dials

The extract further confirms that this self-winding perpetual calendar watch was produced with a silvered dial, made in 1981, and originally sold in 1982. It renders the Senza Luna offered in Geneva one of the rarest of all Patek Philippe prototype watches ever made.

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Do we know whether the watch was modified by Patek Philippe? Yes, the Patek Philippe extract confirms that this 3448G has a dial without moonphase disc and based on the movement number, this was one of the last reference 3448s ever made.

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The next consecutive movement number 1119586 was the first ever watch of the reference 3450, also of course made in 1981. That particular watch (sold by Christies on 12 May 2014, below) was, significantly, a highly unusual and possibly unique hybrid  being the first reference 3450, but still fitted with the caliber 27-460 Q of the reference 3448. It therefore did not have the leap-year indication that typifies the reference 3450, which was from then on fitted with the next generation 27-460 QB (Quantieme Bissextile) with red dot or Roman leap-year indication.

Open a larger version of this image Patek Philippe. A very fine, extremely rare and historically important 18K gold automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, Signed Patek Philippe, Geneve, ref. 3450, movement no. 1'119'586, case no. 2'788'611, manufactured in 1981. 37.5 mm diam. Sold for CHF 287,000 on 12 May 2014 at Christies in Geneva

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Why are these movement numbers so important? They demonstrate that at the exact moment in 1981 when the present Senza Luna was in the Patek Philippe workshops, the company was at a crucial stage of experimentation during the transition period between the references 3448 and 3450. It is also worth considering that in 1981 nobody would have known whether the new reference 3450 was going to be a success or not, and consequently this Senza Luna was perhaps a trial or test piece for a planned non-moon perpetual calendar watch that never came into production.

Watch no. 1119585 is the only example of the three known white gold Senza Lunas to be born without a bracelet

Lending credence to this theory, the present watch was not sold until the end of January 1982, meaning that for at least several months it remained in the factory workshops, hence allowing plenty of time for modifications to take place before its sale. Patek Philippe made several watches with perpetual calendar modifications (with/without moon, with/without leap-year indication etc.) based around the 3448 and new 3450 cases during this period. Apparently these pieces were one-offs and occasionally special orders used to gauge market potential for watches being considered for development.

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What can we learn from details on the dial of the watch offered in Geneva? The dial is in itself a work of art preserved in remarkable condition. The reverse of the dial is inscribed OR (French for gold) indicating it is of Geneva manufacture and a special alloy white gold used for watch dials and for jewellery. The subtle low-gloss finish, white gold lapped baton and pyramidal indexes, raised hard enamel signature with accented e and date numerals also in hard enamel are pure Patek Philippe in feel and execution. Interestingly, the dials of the Senza Luna are all slightly different from each other in both appearance and construction, including orientation of the date numerals and size of the indexes. The serial movement numbers range from 1119014  the earliest known on a watch dating from circa 1965  to 1119585, the present watch dating from 1981.
Land drilling rig giant Nabors Industries reported that its losses grew in the third quarter as spending picked up to help match growing activity levels in onshore shale.

Houston's Nabors, which is domiciled in Bermuda for tax purposes, posted a $149 million loss, worse than the $111 million loss from a year ago. However, its quarterly revenues of $662.5 million jumped 27 percent from last year and 5 percent from the second quarter of 2017.

Nabors Chairman and CEO Anthony Petrello said the company is in the process of becoming profitable and that things will change once new technologies are launched, acquisitions are finalized and its new joint venture in Saudi Arabia gets underway.

"I believe the steady progression in our operational results, in light of this year's oil price-induced weakness across all of our markets, illustrates the validity of our strategy. Declining global oil and product inventories and better-than-expected demand should move the oil market close to balance in the near future," he said.

RELATED: Nabors acquiring Tesco for $215 million

A lot of new drilling rig automation technologies will come online in the months ahead, he said, speeding up operations and eventually requiring fewer workers per rig.

"This puts us in a good position to resume profitability, reduce debt and restore acceptable returns on capital in the coming years," Petrello added.

However, the oil and gas drilling rig counts in the U.S. plateaued in August and have fallen ever since.

James West, an analyst at investment bank Evercore ISI, said Nabor's results were disappointing and led largely by weakness in Canada. He expressed concern about Nabor's debt jumping from $3.67 billion to $3.9 billion.

Still, Nabors will soon close on its previously announced acquisitions of Houston-based Tesco Corp., which manufactures drilling rig equipment and more, and Norway-based Robotic Drilling Systems.

Nabors also has its JV in Saudi Aarbia, newly named "Sanad" for Saudi Aramco Nabors Drilling.
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Two Texas power companies, Vistra Energy of Dallas and Dynegy of Houston, are close to making a deal to merge, according to news reports.

The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, said the two companies could announce a deal as soon as next week. The combination would create the nation's biggest independent power company.

The two companies are said to have launched talks about a potential merger in the spring. Dynegy's stock jumped 17 percent on the report to close at $10.78 a share Wedndesday. Vistra's stock rose just under 1 percent to $20.32 a share.

Both companies declined to comment on the report, but Vistra's recent decisions to shutter three Texas coal-fired power plants and layoff more than 800 workers led industry analysts to speculate that the company was shedding unprofitable assets to prepare for such a merger. Vistra, which produces the most power in Texas, said the decision was driven by unfavorable economics of operating coal-fired plants.

If completed, the merger would be another example of how low electricity rates, higher costs and increased competition from renewable generators are reshaping the power industry as companies struggle to stay profitable. Calpine, a Houston company, sold itself to a consortium led by a New Jersey private equity firm while NRG, also of Houston, is divesting some $4 billion in assets, which has led to nationwide layoffs.

Dynegy has expanded in recent years and taken on significant debt. In 2014, Dynegy made two deals totaling $6.25 billion to buy 19 power plants in the Midwest and Northeast from Duke Energy of North Carolina and Energy Capital Partners of New Jersey.

Earlier this year, Dynegy closed on a $3.3 billion deal with the French energy company Engie to acquire 17 power plants around the country, including six plants in Texas. Most are natural gas-fired. Dynegy reported a $300 million loss in the second quarter.

Vistra, the legacy company of Texas power giant Energy Future Holdings, which declared bankruptcy in 2014, is the parent of power generator Luminant and the retail electricity provider TXU Energy. Vistra reported a $26 million loss in the second quarter.
Executives from Weingarten Realty Wednesday addressed fallout from Hurricane Harvey, announced a large lease with a prominent veterinary clinic and discussed the many headwinds facing the retail industry.

The Houston-based shopping center owner and developer said one of its properties in Kingwood and another in southwest Houston were damaged by Harvey's floodwaters, but that the company generally fared well considering the severity of the storm.

"Generally speaking retail comes back a lot quicker than other things," president and CEO Drew Alexander said Wednesday morning on a conference a call to discuss third-quarter earnings. "People need to replenish their closets and their freezers. Harvey was an incalculable, huge, unique amount of rain, but I do think the city and retail will rebound from it."

Addressing industry challenges from retail closures and online shopping, Weingarten executive vice president and Chief Operating Officer Johnny Hendrix said operations remain strong.

In addition to supermarkets and discount chains, he said, the company continues to lease space to restaurants, health clubs, hair and nail salons, cell phone stores, pet stores and health care providers.

"We believe the omni-channel model including bricks and mortar will ultimately prevail," Hendrix said.

RELATED: Inside Houston's first 'micro condos'

The company has finalized a deal Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists to move into 82,658 square feet at the northeast corner of Interstate 10 and Wirt Rd. in the Shoppes at Memorial Villages.

Gulf Coast will occupy 24,497 square feet of space in another building at the center temporarily while the permanent location is being built out. Once the clinic moves into its new facility, Weingarten will demolish the smaller building and convert the space into additional parking. Both spaces were formerly occupied by Rexel USA.

Gulf Coast's location at 1111 West Loop location has been closed due to Harvey. Services have moved to the clinic's neurology center at 3800 Southwest Freeway.

In a separate announcement this week, Weingarten said construction on a planned 30-story residential tower at the River Oaks Shopping Center is scheduled to start in March 2018. The $150 million project is designed to include 10,000 square feet of retail space.

The Driscoll at River Oaks will be built at West Gray and Driscoll St. Houston-based Hanover will develop and manage the building for Weingarten.

Two permanent tenants will close or move as a result of the construction. Cafe Ginger is moving into another spot on W. Gray in February 2018 and Local Pour has already closed its location at the center.

RELATED: Weingarten plans 30-story tower at River Oaks Shopping Center

Tenants that will remain open and operating throughout the construction period include Events, Jos. A Bank Clothiers, J.Jill, Sur La Table and Brasserie 19, which is directly next door to the tower site.

Two temporary tenants, Eyeful Art Inc. and King Ranch Saddle Shop, are located in the construction zone. They are now open but scheduled to close before the start of construction.

During its third-quarter, Weingarten reported net income of $72.6 million or 56 cents per share, up from $51.9 million, or 40 cents per share, for the same period in 2016.

Funds from operations for the quarter was $79.7 million, or 61 cents per share, up 5.2 percent from $75.6 million, or 58 cents per share, a year ago.

The company said it had $800,000 in operating expenses related to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
The FBI Violent Crime Task Force is looking for a man who robbed a bank Wednesday in southeast Houston, according to a news release from the agency.

Around 10:15 a.m., the man robbed the Smart Financial Credit Union in the 4410 block of South Wayside.
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The Harris County Sheriff's Office is rounding up suspected and documented sexual predators to make the streets safer for Halloween trick-or-treaters.

In partnership with the sheriff's office patrol unit and the Texas Attorney General, the criminal warrants division has an ambitious one-week goal to track down 55 unregistered sex offenders and arresting 90 people charged with sexual crimes, said Lt. Darren Chambers with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

The agency this week assigned all 13 of the sheriff's deputies who work in the field serving criminal warrants to sex-related crimes.

That's almost triple the agency's average monthly numbers. And six times the number of deputies normally assigned to the task.

Now Playing: FOX 26 News host Isiah Carey interviews Wayne Moody from the Galveston Police Department. Video: Fox 26 Houston

The Halloween initiative began Monday and ends Friday.

At the forefront of the effort are Thom Smith and Don Bock, the sole sheriff's deputies assigned full-time, year-around to executing warrants related to sexual crimes.

Combined, the pair have more than 50 years on the force. They make about 50 arrests every month  a volume that outnumbers their peers, Chambers said.

The duo starts their days early. By 5 a.m Tuesday, Smith and Bock had hit their first house where they tracked down a man accused of two counts of sexual abuse of a child.

Three hours later, their peers nabbed an employee of a Chick-fil-A off of Beltway 8, near Aldine, who had been charged with two counts of sexually assaulting a child between 14 and 17 years of age.

Things slowed down later that morning. Smith and Bock, plus three state police, wound up at a nondescript office park off of the Southwest Freeway in an effort to find a man accused of possession of child pornography. That man was in New York on a business trip, said his manager, who did a double-take upon hearing the charges.

He'll be caught when he tries to board the airplane back home, Bock said, exiting the building.

A warrant for a different man with two counts of sexual assault and felony criminal mischief brought the pair of deputies to a ramshackle house in the Third Ward and led them on a fruitless chase across south Houston.

Hours later, the man's lawyers got the warrant retracted.

"Crap," Bock said, upon hearing the news over his cell phone.

Across town, another sheriff's team proved more successful. Deputies arrested a man in southeast Houston who had not registered as a convicted sex offender.

The criminal warrants division isn't tackling Halloween safety alone. As part of the initiative, patrol deputies are knocking on doors where registered sex offenders live to make sure their homes aren't decorated to attract Trick-or-Treaters.

The deputies arrested a total of about 10 people and cleared a handful more warrants on Monday and Tuesday  just a drop in the bucket of their ultimate goal for the week.

But Smith and Bock didn't seem concerned. In their half-dozen years serving warrants together, they've found some days they're luckier than others.

"A lot of our days are hit or miss," Smith said. "It's just the luck of the draw."
The royal family is seeking a hired hand to manage social media accounts for Kate, William and Harry, according to a job posting on the royal website.

"We require a Senior Communications Officer to support the work TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and HRH Prince Henry of Wales on a Maternity Cover contract," the online job posting reads. "This role will work both reactively and proactively to manage the daily news flow to the media, communicating with audiences via traditional, digital and social media."
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A western province in Argentina has given Exxon Mobil permission launch a 35-year shale gas exploration program, with plans for an initial investment of $200 million.

The Texas oil company's pilot project in the Latin American country's Neuquen Province will drill and pump natural gas from seven wells, assembling production and export facilities, it said Wednesday.
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Ours is an age of reunions for bands of all shapes and sizes.

For the most part, reunited bands do well to cash in on the tour and then go back to disliking each other. The musical output rarely matches the original offerings.

But occasionally, the old magic returns, as it did when the Afghan Whigs, '90s purveyors of sleazy, sweaty soul rock, released "Do the Beast" in 2014, 16 years after their previous record. The new "In Spades" suggests the reunion had more spark than one album's worth.

With the Whigs playing the Heights Theater Thursday night, we started thinking about which reunion albums are worth listening to. Here are 10, with just a few rules for this exercise:

More Information The Afghan Whigs When: 8 p.m. Thursday Where: Heights Theater, 339 W. 19th Tickets: $28-$56; theheightstheater.com See More Collapse

1. Bands must be bands, not one guy using a band name, known as the World Party rule.

2. Band personnel must resemble their original version, known as the Swans rule (the regrettable "Chinese Democracy" keeps this from being the Guns 'n Roses rule).

3. At least 10 years must pass between recordings, known as the LCD Soundsystem rule.

4. New songs are required, not new recordings of old songs, known as the Squeeze rule. That said, Squeeze still squeezed in five years after microwaving its hits.

Keep that in mind as you surf through the list.

"Do To the Beast," Afghan Whigs

Timeline: Released in 2014, first album in 16 years.

One day they'll be too old for such psycho-sexual rantings and howling guitars. But that day has not yet come.

"We Got It From Here  Thank You 4 Your Service," A Tribe Called Quest

Timeline: 2016, first album in 18 years.

It was like they never went away; bittersweet, though, with the death of Phife Dawg.

"Good Times!," The Monkees

Timeline: 2016, first album in 20 years.

A plucky energy and great songwriter selection, both classic (Mike Nesmith, Harry Nilsson) and contemporary (Noel Gallagher, Ben Gibbard).

"God Bless the Go-Go's," The Go-Go's

Timeline: 2001, first album in 17 years.

As though somebody said, "Let's pretend the '90s didn't happen." Sounds like the follow-up to "Talk Show" that fans anticipated  for a long time.

"MBV," My Bloody Valentine

Timeline: 2013, first album in 22 years.

Breakthrough "Loveless" sent frontman Kevin Shields into hiding. He returned with the same loud/whispery dynamic that made his band beloved the first time around.

"Beyond," Dinosaur Jr.

Timeline: 2007, first album by original lineup in 19 years.

The original trio broke up so spectacularly, its reunion seemed eventful enough. They've now made four strong reunion albums, this being the first.

"No Cities to Love," Sleater-Kinney

Timeline: 2015, first album in 10

years.

Admittedly, it felt like they were barely gone. Until this battle cry of an album surfaced and you realized they hadn't howled in a decade.

"This Is the Sonics," The Sonics

Timeline: 2015, first album in 48 years.

Pioneering garage-rock band still packed a frenetic wallop nearly a half-century later.

"Cradle to the Grave," Squeeze

Timeline: 2015, first album in 17 years.

The dual frontman combo kept their pop hooks sharp on this charming and sing-songy set.

"Onoffon," Mission of Burma

Timeline: 2004, first album in 19 years.

Maybe they had a plan all along: release an instant classic debut, break up, wait for the world to catch up.
The pumpkins are out, as are the ghosts and goblins. Fall is upon us, and the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (ROCO) is joining in the festivities.

The next program on this season's lineup comes with an inkling of Halloween nostalgia, as audience members trick-or-treat between four historic homes at Sam Houston Park. Sugary candy, however, is not the prize awaiting them at each door. It's music and a touch of history.

In partnership with the Heritage Society, the evening will feature four members of ROCO's 40-piece professional chamber orchestra - percussionist Matt McClung, cellist Courtenay Vandiver Pereira, clarinetist Maiko Sasaki and harpist Laurie Meister - playing short solo pieces fit for the environment of the home he or she is in. The "Musical Trick-or-Treat" tour, which is a part of the orchestra's Connections series, includes stops at the Old Place, the Nichols-Rice-Cherry House, the Staiti House and the St. John Church.

"I really love to create site-specific, community-specific orchestra building," said Juilliard-trained oboist Alecia Lawyer, artistic director of ROCO. "I'm not interested in just playing a concert. It's the idea that you are really immersed in the purpose of music and the way of bringing people into the moment."

More Information ROCO Connections: Musical Trick-or-TreatWhen:5:30 p.m. reception, 6:30 p.m. concert tour on ThursdayWhere: The Heritage SocietyDetails: $45; 713-665-2700, rocohouston.org See More Collapse

The focus on connectivity through creative collaboration and accessibility has been an integral part of the orchestra's mission since it was founded in 2005. Lawyer and her husband moved to Houston from a small town near Tyler over a decade earlier, and she worked a myriad of jobs - from a radio DJ to a docent at the Holocaust Museum Houston. However, it was when St. John the Divine Episcopal Church started its renovations that she experienced what she describes as a Noah's Ark moment, a call to not only gather like-minded, passionate musicians who enjoy playing together, but to shape the future of classical music in today's modern society.

The orchestra has since presented 68 world premieres. Now in its 13th season, the musicians will play 36 concerts in 16 different venues this year alone, and each program impacts a wide audience. The full chamber orchestra concerts are live-streamed and broadcast nationally while the remaining programs, although smaller and more intimate in nature, reach into the community, touching those who might not otherwise feel able or comfortable attending a traditional concert. The trick-or-treat event, with its focus on community, is a prime example of the latter.

With no climate control, the rustic log cabin at the Old Place is an unusual and potentially problematic venue for a concert, especially when dealing with expensive instruments. And like other nontraditional venues, it will have unique acoustics. For this reason, flexibility is key.

"ROCO has always had a great history of putting musicians in strange and exotic and interesting locations," McClung said.

To compliment the theme of his venue, McClung has chosen to perform "Log Cabin Blues," one of George Hamilton Green's xylophone rags. This upbeat and quirky musical style is known for its syncopated rhythm and speed. Like the tradition of solo piano rags by the "King of Ragtime" Scott Joplin, many of these scores are to be played as quickly as possible to showcase the dexterity of the performer, McClung explained.

"Music is a language. It's not an entity. It's something that creates dialogue," Lawyer said. "We have to be humans first, and I think that connection through our language is what's really special."
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Floodwaters entered 125 residential structures in the Katy area on Tax Day in April 2016 and 685 residential structures this past August after Hurricane Harvey, according to Costello, a Houston-based engineering firm hired by city officials to study flood protection.

The firm presented seven recommendations to reduce the risk of flooding to more than 100 people who filled the chambers of Katy City Hall on Oct. 23. After the presentation, audience members and city officials had the opportunity to comment and ask questions.

What's next may be a series of local studies with the first focusing on Pine Forest subdivision, which will be the subject of a Nov. 7 workshop at City Hall. The subdivision is south of Morton Road.

Studies have started on other neighborhoods and more are forecast. Some referred to these as "nickel and dime" projects even though they could cost millions of dollars when compared with the estimated cost of between $369 million and $600 million to build a reservoir for Cypress Creek overflow.

Proposals also call for reducing flooding from Cane Island Branch Creek by increasing regional detention and upgrading channels.

The proposed reservoir and creek projects are among the seven recommendations.

Costello partner Steve Wilcox said Katy Mayor Chuck Brawner is doing a good job of keeping in contact with the people who have control for the Cypress Creek reservoir project and Brawner said he intended to keep up his weekly calls for project updates to keep the pressure on.

Brawner said he visited with Congressman Mike McCaul after Hurricane Harvey and told him about a 1940s Civil Engineer Corps map that showed a levee at Cypress Creek in addition to those at Barker and Addicks. Though a levee is no longer considered a viable option, a Cypress Creek reservoir is.

United efforts by elected officials for the city of Houston and counties of Harris and Waller to seek funding for the long-term solution are underway, said Brawner.

Other Costello recommendations include to continue with planned short-term projects to improve local rainfall capacity within city limits and to review local drainage systems for opportunities to improve conveyance and stormwater collection within the city.

Several city officials mentioned the possibility of a city bond election to fund drainage projects in Katy.

An audience member observed that officials kept talking of the cost involved in the drainage solutions. "Look at what it's cost people already," she said.

Officials also talked of how drainage is a regional concern and even though Katy might be able to correct some of the problems within its boundaries, it still will be impacted by what happens elsewhere and, therefore, a need exists to collaborate with other agencies, said Wilcox, who handled most of the presentation. And, when one area is corrected, it may place an additional stress on another area that still needs to be remedied, increasing the importance of collaboration among agencies.

For example, one recommendation involves the Texas Department of Transportation and Union Pacific and possible expansion of the railroad and U.S. 90. And, another calls for partnering with the Brookshire-Katy Drainage District (B-KDD) to enforce consistent development criteria within the Cane Island Branch Creek watershed.

Visit http://cityofkaty.com for a link to Costello's study.

Wilcox also invited residents to send information, including photos, to the company at Katydrainage@costelloinc.com as a means to help with the studies.

The mention of more study exasperated one audience member who said the officials "need to act now and move forward." Using the analogy of a heart patient in need of a new heart, he talked of the doctor ignoring the possibility of implementing a stent to offer temporary relief while the wait continued for an organ match.

That angered Councilman James "Jimmy" Mendez Jr., who also lost his home to floodwaters after Hurricane Harvey. Talking of hate email that he's received after the flooding, he said, "It pisses me off." He noted that he's been working the past 4.5 years on drainage issues in the city. Later in the meeting, he apologized, talked of drainage work that had been done and said, "We do care; this is our community."

Brawner said, "We don't want to go out and do some work. We might mess something up. Work is coming. We'll stay on it and stay on it," he emphasized. "We have no room for error."

Another audience member questioned the value of doing more study, citing previous studies that weren't implemented.

Brawner said he would make sure the plan is implemented. Once the city gets the report, it will seek contractor bids.

"I'm going to stay after them 'til it gets done," said Brawner.
Hurricane Harvey, campus free speech and dual-credit classes are top agenda items for Texas lawmakers holding interim hearings in advance of the next legislative session.

House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, both Republicans, listed multiple higher education issues as important interim discussion and research topics for their chambers committees.

Some highlights:

Harvey:

Straus urged the Houses higher education committee to determine the scope of financial losses to two- and four-year institutions from Hurricane Harvey. Lawmakers, he said, should recommend possible state actions to mitigate any negative impact on institutions, and they should determine what services displaced students might need.

In Houston, the University of St. Thomas, the University of Houston-Downtown, Rice University, Texas Southern University and the University of Houston opened emergency relief funds for students after the storm. Universities surveyed faculty, staff and students to understand the scope of damage to homes, cars and other property.

The states higher education coordinating board estimated that tens of thousands of students are enrolled in Texas universities from counties affected by Harvey  potentially creating barriers for degree completion.

Dual credit:

Both House and Senate committees were tasked with examining dual credit, the program that allows high school students to take college classes before enrolling at a college or university. Patrick urged lawmakers to evaluate student outcomes; Straus said he wants his chamber to tackle whether dual credit is reducing time to degree.

Campus expansion:

Patrick tasked state senators with reviewing campus expansion to geographical areas already served by existing institutions.

This issue was particularly sticky in 2015, when the University of Texas System announced suddenly it would purchase hundreds of acres in Houston. University of Houston regents feared that the land buy would adversely affect UH, UH-Downtown and TSU, who served students in the same region as UTs property. UT called off the project in March.

Senators, Patrick wrote, should develop a long-term statewide strategy for authorizing new locations and programs which includes a plan to ensure adequate support for expansion.

Free speech:

Patrick also tasked the state affairs committee with evaluating any restrictions on freedom of speech rights that Texas students face in expressing their views on campus along with freedoms of the press, religion, and assembly.

This charge follows a tussle between state Rep. Briscoe Cain and TSU over an on-campus speech by Cain that TSUs president ended abruptly earlier this month.

Afterward, Cain suggested that lawmakers should consider cutting the budgets of schools that squelch free speech.

"I think the event will likely spur its own investigation and ideas of how to take corrective action, whether that be by new laws or looking into budgets of universities that are violating student speech," Cain told the Houston Chronicle.

Campus sexual assault:

The Trump administration pared back the Obama administration's guidance on Title IX, the federal law that forbids gender-based discrimination, in September. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has said her department will draw up new rules.

Straus urged lawmakers to "determine the impact of any federal action pertaining to Title IX and the potential effects on current state laws and rules pertaining to sexual misconduct policies at institutions of higher education."

The full House interim charges is here.

The Senates charges can be found here and here.
In 1999, Scott Ginsberg attended a convention, where they have everyone attending wear a name tag. The kind of name tags that as soon as you are heading out the door you rip off and toss in the trash.

Except Scott didn't. He thought it might be fun to keep it on and see what happened. The responses the rest of the night led him to a crazy decision. He decided he would never take off his name tag.

It was a social experiment before you could find them all over YouTube. Cute girls started saying hello to him. People would come up to him, say "Hi Scott," and give him hugs. One of his favorite stories is the time he was in line to get inside an Irish Pub. The big, brawny bouncer looked at his driver's license, then his nametag, and said straight-faced: "Sorry, no Scotts allowed."

Even if he took off the sticky-backed nametag, he'd still have on a nametag. He got it tattooed on his chest, landing him on a number of "worst tattoos" lists. It also landed him in Ripley's Believe it or Not as a world record holder.

Where others saw trash, he saw a trend. He's turned his social experiment into a six-figure annual salary. What you see sticks.

The shepherd boy David understood that. He showed up at a battlefront one day to bring his brothers some bread and cheese. But no battle was taking place. Instead, the Israelite army has been listening to the taunts of the 6-foot 9-inch giant Goliath for 40 days. "I defy the ranks of Israel today. Send me a man so we can fight each other!" For 40 days the Israelite army did nothing. The army saw a giant. What they saw stuck and so they were stuck. But David saw something else. He speaks up and says: "What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

Pay attention to David's words. He doesn't see a giant. He sees an "uncircumcised Philistine." He doesn't see the Israelite army. He sees "the armies of the living God."

It's important what we see. You've seen your own giants, haven't you? And when you did and when you do, do you see God? David did. Do you think that perhaps your giants would be slayed if your thoughts of God outnumbered your thoughts of your giants?

If so, do what David did. He knelt. He had to in order to pick up the five stones from the wadi. He had developed a practice of kneeling in the quiet of his shepherding duties. When you kneel, you see God. And what you see sticks. What you see will shape your life. And it may shape the lives of others too. Once David defeated his giants, the others routed their enemy.

You can do the same. You have a spouse, a friend, your family, your children who need someone in their lives to help them face their own giants. They need someone who sees what maybe they don't.

Someone who sees God. Kneel. Then run. Then watch your giants run.

Read more from Rick Brown at www.rickbrown1Life2Love.com.
Vinny Schillaci has seen a lot of change sweep through the small boating community of Seabrook in the 40 years he's been at the helm of Neptune Subs on Texas 146.

Even if you've never been inside for a taste of the roast beef with au jus or the popular smoked turkey sandwich, if you've driven down Texas 146, you may have seen the quirky homage to bald men everywhere.

Neptune's outdoor banner features pictures of notable bald men and the "Bald Monday" promotion that offers discounts to the follicularly challenged.

But with the coming expansion of the road, Schillaci and Pat Knight, the woman behind the counter who's been with him for decades, won't be there anymore.

Now Playing: FOX 26 News reporter Damali Keith Video: Fox 26 Houston

The landmark restaurant that opened in 1978 will offer a full menu until late November.

Schillaci, who will be 64 in March, had planned to relocate like other businesses affected by the road project. Other entities whose property had been acquired by Texas Department of Transportation have begun to post signs at new locations within Seabrook.

But Schillaci said that moving an entire commercial kitchen in compliance with Harris County health codes would be too complicated and costly for him. When he began to realize over the preceding six to eight months that he wasn't up for the move, he thought that the brand could be saved through an investor looking to buy the restaurant. He hasn't been able to find one.

Ready for retirement

The business, 1917 Bayport Blvd., has been bouncing back and forth between earning a profit and sliding into deficit, said the bearded proprietor, who knows most of his customers by name and is just as often behind the slicer fixing up sandwiches as he is sitting in the office running the numbers.

He said this was his worst year for sales since he opened. But the year before was his best.

"I would be pouring more and more of my retirement funds into it," he said of trying to keep the business profitable through a relocation.

Adding to the financial hurdle is competition from chain sandwich shops.

"It's just tough to compete with the Jimmy John's, and there's only so many sandwich-eaters," Schillaci said. "I was resisting retiring, but now I'm embracing it."

But some customers are having a hard time accepting the news.

One woman who stopped in recently approached Schillaci during the lunch-time rush and asked, "Is the rumor true? Are you closing?"

Schillaci placed his arm around her shoulders and told her it was true.

"We were just telling the kids and I thought they were going to cry," she responded.

The encounter was one the veteran restaurateur was expecting.

'Comfort and camaraderie'

"People come here for comfort and camaraderie," he said. "And we're going to be gone. It's a loved place, and it's going to be sad for a lot of people."

Seabrook residents have started to feel the impact as TxDOT's plan takes shape.

The department released a statement to the city in early October announcing that right-of-way acquisitions were proceeding after the agency reached a settlement with Union Pacific Railroad and that TxDOT was aiming to advertise for construction bids next summer.

Negotiations between the agency and the railroad company had taken decades, with studies and documents dating back to 1990.

The project will take the property of 92 businesses, of which 35 have been acquired.

One of these is Walgreens, which closed Oct. 24, and the company has announced no plans to open elsewhere in the city. However, there are a few Seabrook staples that longtime residents can count on to remain in the area, including one that has received widespread acclaim.

Tookie's Burgers has been recognized in publications like Texas Monthly and Thrilllist.com for its succulent burger creations.

Tookie's is moving into Kemah into a building at 406 Texas Ave. that had housed Ichibon Japanese restaurant.

Another favorite, Mario's Flying Pizza, is closing in late December or early January and will move less than a half mile to 2100 Nasa Road.

Schillaci says Seabrook won't feel the same to him once the landscape of the city's core is so drastically different.

"It's going to tear me up," he said. "I don't want to come back to this street. It's going to be the saddest thing to happen to Seabrook. No hurricane has been this devastating. But it's progress."
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Get ready to bid.

Luxury sales agency, Concierge Auctions, is set to auction off a three-lot Kemah boathouse, which was preiously listed at $1.795 million, without reserve on Nov. 16 at 5 p.m.

This four-bedroom, 5,528-square-foot home set on nearly an acre of waterfront land was built in 1992 and features an elevator to take guests from the first to the third floor.

Each of the home's levels boasts a terrace that overlooks the channel in Kemah as well as the home's boat dock.

HOMES WITH HISTORY: River Oaks homes built for iconic Houstonians

"This large contemporary home is built for relishing the sun and water-bound delights of the Gulf Coast," Concierge Auction's listing states. "While the inside is built for relaxed, easy living, the outdoor living space is ideal for lounging and hosting friends and family."

Just behind the house, directly on the water, is a dock that accommodates two 50-foot boats and a picturesque lawn that overlooks stunning water panoramas.

MARKET SNAPSHOT: New home listing is the second priciest property on the market in Houston now

"With its proximity to Clear Lake, and Galveston Bay beyond, Kemah is a pleasure boater's paradise," a Concierge Auctions representative said.

The house is also a short drive from the Kemah Boardwalk and Johnson Space Center.

"Midway between the Galveston coast and Houston, Kemah is one of the areas top vacation spots," the listing reads. "Kemah is the Karankawa Indian word for 'wind in my face,' and with its canals and waterfront, enjoying the fresh sea air by boat or by the beach is a way of life here. "
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Karen Perez Maranon had celebrated her quinceanera or 15th birthday just months before, donning a bubblegum pink dress and crown, reveling in one of the most important milestones in the lives of many young Latinas.

But then, in the spring of 2016, her ex-boyfriend - whom she had recently broken up with - sexually assaulted her and strangled her to death. Searchers found her body five days later.

Her death made her the youngest of 146 women killed in Texas last year by their intimate partners.

"Instead of getting ready to go to prom, she was killed by her boyfriend," said Aaron Setliff, public policy director for the Texas Council on Family Violence.

Now Playing: This cub scout stood up to his Colorado state senator about her bad legislation that allows domestic violence abusers to purchase guns Video: NowThis News

Setliff's organization compiles an annual report called "Honoring Texas Victims," which tracks the toll domestic violence inflicts on victims across Texas.

Last year, 28 women died in Harris County at the hands of their domestic partners.

Perez, who had recently turned 15, was the youngest. The oldest, Elizabeth Stokely, was 92.

Stokely died after her husband, 90-year-old Arthur Stokely, shot her in the backyard of the couple's home, along with her 74-year-old daughter, Nanette Summerlin-Winfield, before turning the gun on himself.

Domestic abusers killed women in 54 other counties around the state, according to the report.

Harris County - as is often the case because of its large population - recorded the most deaths, followed by Tarrant and Dallas counties, which each had 13 victims. Bexar County was the site of 11 fatalities. In addition to the 146 women killed last year, domestic abusers also killed another 24 family members and friends, according to the report.

All told, 183 children were left without mothers.

Second-highest tally in five years

The total number of fatalities -- the second-highest tally since 2011 and down slightly from last year's 158 deaths - underscored the pervasiveness of domestic violence, said Houston Police Capt. David Angelo, who supervises the Houston Police Department's Special Victims Division.

"Domestic violence is one of the most under-reported crimes, not just in Houston, but around the nation," Angelo said, noting that last year, domestic violence calls -- approximately 28,000 calls - accounted for 9 percent of all calls officers handled. For every call officers received, three more likely went unreported, he said.

"You do the math," he said. "If we're receiving 25,000 reports, that's another 75,000 reports we're not receiving from victims of domestic violence."

Maranon had broken up with her boyfriend weeks before her death, friends said, when the Chronicle reported on her death last year.

But her ex had sent her a text message threatening to kill her if she did not meet with him, according to the HTV report. Then, authorities said, he took her to an apartment complex across the street from her high school, and sexually assaulted her, recording the incident on his phone.

Searchers found her body underneath a sink in the apartment complex days later, long after her parents reported her missing.

Maranon's death highlighted the danger many women find themselves in when they try to end relationships, said Amy Smith, deputy director of the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council.

'You will be charged'

"We always say, 'Why doesn't she leave?' " Smith said. "Forty percent of the women who were killed were in the process of ending a relationship. So you can't just say, 'Why don't you leave?,' because that's often the most dangerous time."

In two-thirds of the deaths, perpetrators used a firearm to kill their partners, according to the report. Seventy-seven percent of the slayings occurred in a home.

"It's true - a lot of these cases are hidden by the confines of the home," said Ruben Perez, the prosecutor who heads the Special Crimes Bureau of the Harris County District Attorney's Office. "Often, close friends or family are unaware of the abuse, and sometimes, even if they are aware of the abuse, they pretend the abuse is not going on. ... All these things contribute to the travesty of these cases."

The DA's office planned to continue aggressively prosecuting domestic abusers, he said.

"Let there be no mistake ... we will charge you, we will have you arrested and we will bring the full force of the criminal justice system to bear on you," Perez said. "You will be charged. You will go to prison."

St. John Barned-Smith covers public safety and major breaking news for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Send tips to st.john.smith@chron.com.
Karen Perez Maranon had celebrated her quinceanera, or 15th birthday, just months before, donning a bubblegum pink dress and crown, reveling in one of the most important milestones in the lives of many young Latinas.

But then, in the spring of 2016, her ex-boyfriend - with whom she had recently broken up - sexually assaulted her and strangled her. Searchers found her body five days later.

Her death made her the youngest of 146 women killed in Texas by their intimate partners in 2016.

"Instead of getting ready to go to prom, she was killed by her boyfriend," said Aaron Setliff, public policy director for the Texas Council on Family Violence.

More Information Authorities ask if you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Authorities ask that if you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. See More Collapse

Setliff's organization compiles an annual report called "Honoring Texas Victims," which tracks the toll domestic violence inflicts on victims across Texas.

Last year, 28 women died in Harris County at the hands of their domestic partners.

Perez, who had recently turned 15, was the youngest. The oldest, Elizabeth Stokely, was 92.

Stokely died after her husband, 90-year-old Arthur Stokely, shot her in the backyard of the couple's home, along with her 74-year-old daughter, Nanette Summerlin-Winfield, before turning the gun on himself.

Domestic abusers killed women in 54 other counties around the state, according to the report.

'You do the math'

Harris County - as is often the case because of its large population - recorded the most deaths, followed by Tarrant and Dallas counties, which each had 13 victims. Bexar County was the site of 11 fatalities. In addition to the 146 women killed last year, domestic abusers also killed another 24 family members and friends, according to the report.

All told, 183 children were left without mothers.

The total number of fatalities - the second-highest tally since 2011 and down slightly from last year's 158 deaths - underscored the pervasiveness of domestic violence, said Houston Police Capt. David Angelo, who supervises the Houston Police Department's Special Victims Division.

"Domestic violence is one of the most under-reported crimes, not just in Houston but around the nation," Angelo said, noting that last year, domestic violence calls - approximately 28,000 calls - accounted for 9 percent of all calls officers handled. For every call officers received, three more likely went unreported, he said.

"You do the math," he said. "If we're receiving 25,000 reports, that's another 75,000 reports we're not receiving from victims of domestic violence."

Most dangerous time

Maranon had broken up with her boyfriend weeks before her death, friends said, when the Chronicle reported on her death last year.

But her ex had sent her a text message threatening to kill her if she did not meet with him, according to the HTV report. Then, authorities said, he took her to an apartment complex across the street from her high school, and sexually assaulted her, recording the incident on his phone.

Searchers found her body underneath a sink in the apartment complex days later, long after her parents reported her missing.

Maranon's death highlighted the danger many women find themselves in when they try to end relationships, said Amy Smith, deputy director of the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council.

"We always say, 'Why doesn't she leave?' " Smith said. "Forty percent of the women who were killed were in the process of ending a relationship. So you can't just say, 'Why don't you leave?,' because that's often the most dangerous time."

Firearms often used

In two-thirds of the deaths, perpetrators used a firearm to kill their partners, according to the report. Seventy-seven percent of the slayings occurred in a home.

"It's true - a lot of these cases are hidden by the confines of the home," said Ruben Perez, the prosecutor who heads the Special Crimes Bureau of the Harris County District Attorney. "Often, close friends or family are unaware of the abuse, and sometimes, even if they are aware of the abuse, they pretend the abuse is not going on.  All these things contribute to the travesty of these cases."

The DA's office plans to continue aggressively prosecuting domestic abusers, he said.

"Let there be no mistake  we will charge you, we will have you arrested, and we will bring the full force of the criminal justice system to bear on you," Perez said. "You will be charged. You will go to prison."
Police is Central Texas say a man offered $25,000 to an acquaintance to kill his ex-girlfriend.

The Travis County Sheriff's Office said in a Monday press release that Keith James Cote is accused of offering an unnamed person $10,000 to murder his ex-girlfriend. Police said he offered at additional $15,000 "to watch him put a bullet in her head."
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The past week has been rough on JFK assassination buffs with President Donald Trump promising (threatening) to let loose some 50,000 documents related to the assassination.

On Saturday, Trump pulled the curtain back slightly, revealing on Twitter that "subject to the receipt of further information, I will be allowing, as President, the long blocked and classified JFK FILES to be opened."

RELATED: Why do moon landing conspiracies live on?

Under a law signed 25 years ago by then President George H. W. Bush, himself a figure in the events of Nov. 22, 1963, Trump has until Oct. 26 to act. If he does not, some 50,000 documents go public.

The White House has remained silent about the president's intentions. A White House official speaking on background told the Houston Chronicle's Kevin Diaz last week that he is "working closely" with the National Archives "to ensure that the maximum amount of data can be released to the public" while "protecting national security."

Trump's caveat, "subject to the receipt of further information," worries advocates of full disclosure.

Some see this as just another distraction from an administration that has been fraught with them.

What does this mean for the hordes of people who endlessly argue over the who, why, when, what, and how of one of the worst moments of the 20th century in America?

RELATED: Jim Marrs, Texas-based conspiracy theorist and author, dies at 73

Those people have never subscribed to the generally accepted story of lone nut Lee Harvey Oswald seeking out attention by killing a man in his prime, full of vigor and great ideals.

This new set of documents set to be released on Trump's order will likely not change anyone's mind, on either side of the fence. The whole event and saga surrounding it will always be fodder for arguments and discussions.

Just visit Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas any given weekend or anniversary of the assassination and listen to the believers, non-believers, and agnostics argue over who fired those fatal shots nearly 54 years ago.

One of the researchers that lead the fight for the truth to be revealed regarding the assassination, Jim Marrs, died this past summer. He worked nearly his whole life documenting what he saw as shadowy goings on behind the scenes that day in Dallas.

The National Archives, the government agency legally responsible for the pending "document dump," has sought to tamp down expectations. According to its website, about 88 percent of the records in the 5-million-page JFK collection already have been made public.

RELATED: JFK motorcade members: What happened after the assassination?

Another 11 percent have been released in part with "sensitive" portions removed. That leaves about 1 percent of the trove that remains out of public view.

Will we find out that Lee Harvey Oswald preferred Pepsi to Coca-Cola? That his socks were brown that day? Maybe Jack Ruby's hat size will finally be released.

While officials can't comment on the contents of the records, the agency's website says "we assume that much of what will be released will be tangential to the assassination events."

Even if there is a magical collection of facts that come out of this newest dump of information, don't expect the fervor around the assassination to die down any time soon. The very assassination itself marked a painful and bloody end of an era in America.

Gerald Posner, the author of "Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK," told CNN recently that this will not change anything in the minds of those who have always disagreed with the Warren Report and other so-called definitive reports on the assassination and the moving parts surrounding it.

RELATED: Johnson Space Center displays John F. Kennedy's historic Rice University podium

"Anybody who thinks this is going to turn the case on its head and suddenly show that there were three or four shooters at Dealey Plaza  it's not the case," Posner said. More likely is that the documents offer greater detail about the CIA's investigation of Kennedy's murder, such as a trip Oswald took to Mexico a few weeks before Kennedy was shot.

The seeds of distrust in our government were planted soon after Air Force One left Dallas with a new president aboard and the deceased one in the back inside a casket. The questions that Americans, especially those who remember November 22, 1963, still have about the murder will linger for no doubt centuries to come handed down like family heirlooms.

Click through the slideshow above to learn about some of the major conspiracy theories that have sprung up since Kennedy was killed in Dallas...
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The Houston bar scene is full of personalities  bar stars, if you will. Each week in Preview, we'll feature one of these mixologists. Get to know the person behind the pour.

Know a bartender who deserves the spotlight? Email joey.guerra@chron.com.

Nickname?

Amanda Melvin Find her behindthe bar at: Etro Lounge,1424A Westheimer Hours: 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Tuesdays-Sundays See More Collapse

Thee.

Length of time working at current place?

More than 10 years at Etro.

Lamest pickup line you've heard at the bar?

Probably, "You got a pretty nose. It matches your facial features really well."

Most famous person you've ever served a drink to?

He is probably gonna hurt me when I say this - but Brad Jordan, aka Scarface the rapper. Been serving him at The Davenport for years.

Becoming friends with customers: yes or no?

Definitely. That's how I met most of my very best friends and ex-boyfriends.

Most common customer complaint?

"Where is everybody?" or "There's not enough alcohol in this Long Island."

Song you've gotten sick of at work?

Anything featuring Andy Bell of Erasure.

What's the sloppiest, drunkest thing you've ever seen on the job?

Probably would have to be when a girl went irate thinking that our owner was her baby's daddy - which he was not. Cops came out and everything. It was more interesting than the usual taking off clothes and falling out of chairs.

What's the most outrageous request you've ever gotten?

So many. Someone asking me to help them score, to help them retrieve "party favors" - gross - or for me to kiss them.

Who's the better tipper, guys or girls?

Guys.

Where do you like to go have a drink when you're not at work?

Home.

What's your specialty drink, and how do you make it?

Suicidal Blonde is my concoction of the month. Deep Eddy Lemon and cranberry with a splash of soda.

What's something your customers may not know about you?

My hair is really straight. Not really, but they know almost everything about me except what my house looks like. They would be baffled if my hair really was straight. It's funny!
The League of Women Voters of Houston's education fund has published its election guide, which contains information about how and where to vote, as well as background on candidates running for the Houston ISD and Houston Community College boards.

The organization's guide can be downloaded here.
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In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, nearly 60 percent of water samples from 50 private wells in Harris County tested positive for a bacteria sometimes found in feces, according to preliminary data released Wednesday.

The presence of total coliform, a bacteria sometimes found in feces but more commonly in soil and floodwater, was detected along with the more troubling E. coli. In Harris County, 18 percent of the samples revealed E. coli.

Experts warn that residents should not use water from their flooded well for cooking, bathing or drinking until it is tested because it can contain sewage from flooded wastewater treatment plants as well as manure, among other things.

COMPLETE COVERAGE: From before landfall to flooding after, read all about Hurricane Harvey

The data, released by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, was analyzed after researchers there joined with Texas A&M University's AgriLife Extension Service to distribute free water sampling kits to residents who have private wells in counties impacted by Harvey.

The universities distributed 1,200 kits to residents, and received back 630 samples from 21 counties. All told, 47 percent of the samples tested positive for total coliform.

Now Playing: On the morning of Sunday, August 27, Houston Chronicle Managing Editor Vernon Loeb wrote in an email to the entire newsroom: "We are heading into a severe flooding emergency and everyone on the Chronicle editorial staff is activated." For the days and that followed most of the staff covered the effects of Hurricane Harvey and little else. Video: Scott Kingsley, Houston Chronicle

Total coliform tests often are used to determine the cleanliness of drinking water from private wells, but the presence of the bacteria does not mean those who consume the water will inevitably get sick, according to the Neilson Research Corporation, an Oregon-based company that conducts laboratory services for environmental projects, such as well water.

Total coliform's presence "indicates that a contamination pathway exists between a source of bacteria (surface water, septic system, animal waste, etc.) and the water supply," according to the corporation's website. "Disease-causing bacteria may use this pathway to enter the water supply."

More than 10 percent of wells, however, tested positive for E. coli, which suggests the water is contaminated with human or animal waste and is a better marker for the potential to cause disease, according to a Virginia Tech website.

In both cases, residents should decontaminate their wells, the website stated.

Virginia Tech noted Wednesday that these samples contain a mix of flooded and non-flooded drinking water wells, as well as non-drinking wells, so the actual rate of contamination associated with flooding could be higher or lower than the preliminary numbers show. They will be surveying well owners to better separate out the flooded drinking water wells.

In the days and weeks following Harvey's landfall Aug. 25, about 148 million gallons of raw sewage and industrial discharges spilled from wastewater treatment plants in counties impacted by the storm, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as of last week. More than 100 companies, including Valero Energy, Exxon Mobil and Arkema, had reported chemical spills as of last month, according to U.S. Coast Guard data.

The effort to inform Texans about the safety of their private water wells began in the weeks following Harvey, when Virginia Tech researcher Kelsey Pieper reached out to Texas A&M to offer assistance.

Pieper had led a similar effort to test for contaminants in flooded Louisiana wells a few years prior, she said, and was well acquainted with how to conduct the tests efficiently.

So with a $200,000 federal grant in hand, Pieper and her team shipped 1,200 water sampling kits to Texas. Those kits were then made available for free throughout September to residents with private wells in counties impacted by the storm.

Most of the testing was done in Virginia, said Drew Gholson, AgriLife Service program specialist and Texas Well Owner Network coordinator.

All individuals whose water came back positive for contaminants already have been informed, he said, and given information about how to decontaminate them. More information about this process can be found at the Texas A&M's website.

Diane Boellstorff, an AgriLife Extension water resource specialist, said Wednesday that residents generally were grateful to receive the news, which allowed them to take steps to ensure their drinking water was safe.

The most submitted water samples  177  came from Wharton County, where 50 percent tested positive for total coliform and 18 percent tested positive for E. coli, the data showed.

In Victoria County, researchers found that 42 percent of the 105 well water samples tested contained total coliform and 5 percent contained E. coli.

And in Liberty County, 63 percent of the 48 well water samples contained total coliform and 13 percent contained E. coli.

In about a half-dozen counties, no E. coli was detected, according to the data.

Virginia Tech researchers currently are gathering information from residents who submitted samples about how they receive information during flood events, Pieper said.

"We're asking them to complete a survey to understand where they look for information during disasters so we can better equip people during future events," she said. "We're asking them what information they want and where they want it available."

Pieper will use this information to create a comprehensive guide on how to communicate with water well owners during future natural disasters.

In the coming weeks, Gholson said Texas A&M will take up the testing reins as another round of sampling kits are handed out. He expects Texas researchers to hand out about 2,000 kits, though they are still waiting on federal funding to cover costs.

Information about when and where to pick up these additional kits is not yet available.

Alex Stuckey covers science and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.
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Houston has more than 950 registered sex offenders, a sobering fact considering Halloween, a night filled with thousands of trick-or-treaters, is on the horizon.

The zip codes in and around the Beltway with the most registered sex offenders was 77078 with 66 in the system, according to an analysis conducted by Chron.com using data obtained from the Texas Department of Public Safety's (DPS) Sex Offender Registry. That zip code is located in East Houston.

The analysis looked at 987 registered sex offenders in Houston, of which 979 were men. Of all these offenders, 82 were designated high risk.

Now Playing: Deputies raise awareness about sex offenders for Halloween Video: Brandpoint

One of the locations with the most registered offenders was 10950 Beaumont Highway, which is the Southeast Texas Transitional Center. The center, which had 57 people registered there, "provides temporary housing, monitoring, and transitional services for adult males," its website stated.

Other streets that had numerous sex offenders registered were Ritz and Bayou Streets as well as Shannon Hills Drive.

For parents preparing to go trick-or-treating with their children, Lt. Craig Cummings of the Texas Department of Public Safety encourages families to remain vigilant.

"I'd recommend parents frequent neighborhoods in which they are familiar, kids wear reflective/non-flammable clothing and have a glow stick on their bags, wear costumes that don't restrict your child's eyesight, kids should be escorted across roadways, and before indulging in the candy, parents should inspect it," Cummings told Chron.com.

Tom Vinger, public information officer with the department, also encouraged parents to download its app on iPhones, iPads and Android phones and tablets.

The app provides interactive and easy-to-use maps for searching registered sex offenders by location, name, route and proximity.

"The information on the registry is provided to DPS by the local registering agencies, typically local sheriff's offices and police departments. Sex offenders are required to register within seven days of moving to a new residence. Failure to do so is a felony offense," Vinger told Chron.com.

Individuals can also report suspicious or criminal activity with the mobile app, at www.iwatchtx.org or by calling 1-844-643-2251.

Swipe through the slideshow above to see if there are any registered sex offenders in your neighborhood.
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WASHINGTON - House Republicans on Tuesday revived familiar themes from the 2016 election, launching new investigationss looking back at the Obama administration and Democrat Hillary Clinton's emails as close associates of President Donald Trump faced tough questions on Capitol Hill.

The announcements of the investigations by three GOP committees were criticized by Democrats as a "massive diversion" from congressional probes into potential coordination between the Kremlin and associates of the Trump campaign - and from two witnesses close to President Donald Trump who appeared privately before the House intelligence panel for questioning.

Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, and his former campaign data director, Brad Parscale, were both interviewed by the House panel behind closed doors Tuesday. Cohen's interview lasted around six hours, while Parscale's interview was ongoing through the afternoon.

Just a real estate deal

Two lawmakers familiar with Cohen's interview said it had been "contentious," but declined to elaborate on what was said. The lawmakers asked not to be identified because the meeting was private.

Cohen, a former executive with the Trump Organization, was in talks to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, but ended those negotiations as Trump's White House bid caught fire. In a statement to the Senate intelligence committee in August, Cohen said the proposal was "solely a real estate deal and nothing more."

As Cohen spoke to investigators, Nunes held a news conference outside the room to announce a separate intelligence committee investigation into an Obama-era uranium deal. At the same time, he was dismissive of his panel's own Russia probe.

Nunes earlier this year stepped back from the committee's investigation into Russian election interference after criticism that he was too close to the White House. But he has continued to be involved with some aspects of it.

Nunes' investigation into the uranium deal will be a joint effort with the House Oversight and Government Reform panel. The oversight committee also announced a second new investigation Tuesday along with the House Judiciary Committee into the FBI's handling of the Clinton email investigation and the decision not to prosecute her.

GOP members assailed

California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the intelligence panel, said the investigations show Republicans' "fundamental lack of seriousness" about Russian interference in the 2016 campaign.

"Acting on the urging of the president, who has repeatedly denied the intelligence agencies' conclusions regarding Russian involvement in our election, they are designed to distract attention and pursue the president's preferred goal - attacking Clinton and Obama," Schiff said.

Rep. Mike Conaway of Midland, the Republican who took over the Russia probe after Nunes stepped back, said the uranium investigation won't be a distraction.

Nunes and other Republicans who announced the investigation said they want to know more about whether Obama's Department of Justice was investigating the purchase of American uranium mines by a Russian-backed company in 2010. The agreement was reached while Hillary Clinton led the State Department and some investors in the company had relationships with former President Bill Clinton and donated to the Clinton Foundation.

Trump has called the issue, which was also brought up during the campaign, as "the real Russia story." Democrats have dismissed it as widely debunked.

Democrats on the House Judiciary and Oversight panels also criticized the new investigations.

"Apparently, House Republicans are more concerned about Jim Comey than Vladimir Putin," said Michigan Rep. John Conyers and Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings.
AUBURN  In 2014, Nicholas Viola was given a second chance after he admitted selling a stolen bicycle to feed a heroin addiction. But now, the 27-year-old will spend time in prison for violating his probation.

Viola, of 22 N. Fulton St., Auburn, pleaded guilty to first-degree falsifying business records in June 2014 after he sold a stolen bike to a local Pawn King for $5. He could have faced up to three years in prison for the felony; however, Judge Mark Fandrich ultimately sentenced him to six months in jail and five years probation.

But there were conditions to Viola's probation.

In addition to reporting regularly to the Cayuga County Probation Department, Viola would have to successfully complete inpatient treatment for his addiction. He would also have to stay out of any further trouble with the law.

Now, Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said Viola hasn't upheld his end of the deal.

In Cayuga County court Tuesday, the district attorney said Viola failed to report to probation for a period of three months in 2016, and he failed to complete substance abuse treatment. His probation officer also suspected that Viola had begun selling Suboxone, a drug often used to treat narcotic addictions.

"Community supervision hasn't worked (and) outside treatment hasn't worked," Budelmann said. "There's a bunch of issues. One is using, one is selling and one is absconding."

Viola apologized to the court, explaining that he was prepared to admit violating his probation. He said he hoped to receive a local jail sentence as he will become a father again next year; he made the same request during his plea in 2014, saying he wanted to get home to be with his unborn baby.

But Fandrich said he agreed with the district attorney and, after accepting Viola's admission, sentenced Viola to one to three years in prison. He also included a shock camp order, which would allow Viola to serve the majority of his sentence as parole supervision while seeking treatment for his addictions.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett on Wednesday afternoon outlined 15 proposals to revamp the Houston area's flood control system, citing an urgent need for a "comprehensive plan to redefine Harris County and the surrounding region as a global model for living and working in a flood-prone area."

The wide-ranging plan comes two months after Hurricane Harvey dropped 52 inches of rain and flooded almost an estimated 160,000 homes and structures in the county, killing almost 80 people across the state.
AUSTIN -- Andrew White, a 40-something Houston entrepreneur and son of the late Gov. Mark White, is setting the stage to possibly run for governor against incumbent Republican Greg Abbott.

White, who wants to run as a Democrat, said he is launching a Facebook page and website AndrewWhite.com as he explores formally filing as a candidate. He said he expects to decide by Thanksgiving, perhaps sooner.

"I don't know what success looks like, but I definitely know what failure looks like -- and that's what we have now," White said. "Our state is being run by a very fringe element of the Republican party."

On his exploratory Web site, White sounds more like a full-fledged candidate: "I've never been elected to anything. So I thought I'd start with governor."

If he runs, White would be the first candidate with street cred in a year when Democratic officials have, so far, failed to announce a banner-carrier to run against Abbott. Two other Democrats have announced -- Dallas gay bar owner Jeffrey Payne and San Antonio businessman Tom Wakely -- but they are both considered long shots with not enough name ID or funding support to win.

White would be a "next gen" candidate, younger than Abbott and most other gubernatorial candidates, with hopes that he could coalesce support from Democrats and moderate Republicans disgusted with the GOP leadership's push to enact a bathroom bill, a ban on sanctuary cities and other controversial proposals that have drawn widespread protests -- even from the business community that traditionally supports Republicans.

Those are the groups, he said, that he hopes to bring together to win, if he runs.

"I'm a Democrat . . . but I'm very conservative, and some people might think I'm a moderate Republican," he said. "I don't care what you call me."

Growing up in a political family, White, the president of Houston-based Sweat Equity Partners LP, said he never considered getting into politics. But after his father died in August, he said "hundreds of people were coming up to me talking about all the things that dad did.

"Texas was having a special session over a bathroom bill that was going to have a negative impact on business, was bad policy, was discriminatory," he said. "That's not leadership . . . I decided that I needed to do this. I feel compelled to do this, for people who are not involved in government to get involved and make a difference."

White's father, a lifelong Democrat, served as governor from 1983 to 1987. He previously served as attorney general and secretary of state.

Andrew White said that after he discussed exploring a race for governor several weeks ago with his older brother and younger sister, who both urged him to run, he told his mother, former Texas first lady Linda Gale White.

"She didn't miss a beat," Andrew White said. " 'Let's do it,' is what she said."

Since Texas Monthly broke the story Tuesday of White's possible race, he said he has been inundated with calls of support -- from both Democrats and Republicans. "I'm approaching this like a businessman, testing the market before I make a final decision," White said. "Based on this initial reaction from people . . . hat could speed up my decision."

He said he has not consulted state Democratic Party officials before announcing his intentions, but will meet with them on Thursday in Austin to discuss his possible race.

Facing a Republican incumbent with well over $40 million in his campaign war chest, White acknowledged that funding a campaign will be a challenge, "but we'll get there . . . I'm going to spend every dollar I raise."

If he runs, White would be the sixth candidate with Houston ties to be running for statewide office in 2018.

Houston energy lawyer Stefano de Stefano is running as a Republican against Ted Cruz, who has a Houston home; Abbott is a former Houston judge who last lived in the Bayou City before coming to Austin as a Texas Supreme Court justice, and Houston accountant Mike Collier is running against Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a fellow Houstonian, as a Democrat.

Democrats have not won an election for statewide office in 20 years in Texas.
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AUSTIN - An earth-shattering event. A huge game-changer. The death-knell for centrist Republicans in Texas.

Without exception, the community of political insiders who make Texas politics their business reacted with shock and surprise Wednesday after House Speaker Joe Straus announced he will not seek re-election to his current post in 2019 - setting up the first open race for speaker since 1993 and likely upending state politics for years to come.

"It's huge, the biggest political change we've seen in years," said veteran state Sen. John Whitmire, a Houston Democrat and one of the longest-serving lawmakers at the state Capitol. "This ensures that politics in the House and in the state generally will move in a more partisan direction - a conservative Republican direction."

He and more than a dozen other senators and House members predicted that a series of aftershocks from the decision will include more retirements of senior House members and Straus lieutenants - starting with key confidant Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, who immediately announced he will retire at the end of his current term.

Nonetheless, one of them, state Rep. Sarah Davis of Houston quickly announced on Twitter that she was staying put. "Not resigning," she tweeted with a photo of an invite for her upcoming reelection fundraiser.

It will also likely mean that the GOP-majority House will change its rules to allow the Republicans to choose the next speaker, rather than by an open vote of all members - as the Texas Republican party has suggested in its platform. An open vote gives a bigger voice to Democrats.

With moderate Straus gone, most expect that conservative Republicans will gain an upper hand in the House when the Legislature convenes again in January 2019, meaning that a number of controversial bills that he blocked from being passed - from the lightning-rod bathroom bill to a ban on union dues being deducted from government paychecks to property tax reform - will get a second life and probably pass.

Politically, Straus' departure as a more centrist leader likely will complete a shift in Texas power that began 30 years ago. Then, Democrats were in solid control, but saw their power slip, resulting in bipartisan control as Republicans gained in membership. The next phase of the shift saw more moderate Republicans in control with Democratic support. And now, experts expect, Texas is poised to see conservative Republicans gain total control.

With hard-right conservatives Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in the top state elective offices, conservative Republicans moved quickly Wednesday to fill the upcoming power void left by Straus' departure. Democrats, more-moderate Republicans and groups that had supported Straus wondered aloud about Texas' political future.

"Moderate and even traditional conservative Texas Republican officeholders are moving from endangered to extinct," said Democratic consultant Matt Angle. "Texas officeholders who continue to run and serve as Republicans either fully embrace the destructive backward-looking views of their party's leadership or they cower in fear of it."

'The battle for Texas'

Within hours, anti-Straus groups were calling for conservative GOP voters to purge all moderate Republicans from all leadership positions in the House in upcoming primaries - much the same way as hard-right Republicans, including President Donald Trump (who was in Dallas on Wednesday for a fundraiser), are pushing to run moderates out of Congress.

"We need to make sure that none of the cronies who enabled Straus' regime grab the reins of power," said Michael Quinn Sullivan, president of the conservative Empower Texans group that has been pushing for Straus' ouster for several years.

"There are too many 'Republican' sycophants who enabled Straus' assault on liberty-focused, pro-taxpayer reforms, and they won't easily give up the control.  With your help, we can retire many more in March 2018," he said in an email to supporters after the speaker's announcement.

"Straus' abrupt departure is a signal that the battle for Texas is going to get hotter."

For their part, both Abbott and Patrick issued statements wishing Straus well in his future endeavors. Their supporters were more blunt: Good riddance.

From most everyone else came warnings about what could come once Straus is gone.

"Joe Straus' departure mirrors a trend of people giving up on the fringe policies of Texas Republicans," said Ed Espinoza, executive director of Progress Texas, an affiliate of the state Democratic Party.

"Voters should know that a new Republican speaker will put (Patrick's) wildly extreme proposals like bathroom bills and school vouchers back on the table and back in jeopardy of becoming law."

The powerful Texas Association of Business, a longtime political ally of Republicans that had publicly split with Abbott and Patrick and sided with Straus over the bathroom bill, expressed remorse over his departure. Jeff Moseley, the organization's CEO, said it remained "committed to finding and supporting more candidates like Speaker Straus."

'Death knell'

For many experts, though, the departure was a clear signal for the GOP.

"This is the death knell for moderate Republicans in Texas," said Mark Jones, a Rice University political scientist who has studied Texas' political swing to the right in recent years. "Straus was the last centrist, and the business community and other moderate Republicans have relied on him. He will be replaced by someone much more conservative, without a doubt.

"This will demoralize many of Straus' allies who may not want to go back to a House where they will longer be as influential. I think you'll see others retire."

While political consultants, lawmakers and and political scientists suggested that the further swing to the right for Texas' politics could drive many moderate Republicans to vote for Democrats, others disagreed.

"I don't see too many Bernie Sanders Democrats welcoming Republican moderates to their party," said Round Rock businesswoman Kathryn Connelly, a self-described moderate Republican who thinks the party in Texas has gone too far right.

"A lot of us may just drop out for a while. Without Straus, who I disagreed with on a number of issues, there will be no counter-balance at the Capitol. Attila the Hun and friends will be in total control, at least until Texans get sick of this brand of politics."

Even so, Jordan Berry, a Republican consultant in Austin who represents conservative Republicans, said he was not surprised by Straus' departure, after such public sparring with Abbott and Patrick.

"It will mean Republicans will choose someone in their caucus as the next speaker," he said, "and that other issues that have not passed will pass."
AUSTIN  The man who gifted Attorney General Ken Paxton $100,000 to help him pay his legal fees has given copious campaign contributions to 13 other Republicans, ranging from the governor to a candidates hoping to disrupt the rein of a key Texas House leader.

The gift from James Webb, the CEO of Preferred Imaging, is now at the center of an investigation into whether Paxton violated the state's bribery and corrupt influence code for accepting the gift because the company was under investigation. Paxton argues Webb is a family friend and is exempt from the state's gift ban.

In 2016, Webb's company agreed to a $3.5 million settlement with the attorney general's Medicaid Fraud Division and the U.S. Justice Department

Webb has contributed liberally to conservative Republican candidates for office. Add in the $100,000 gift to Paxton and Webb has given Republicans nearly $1 million since 2006.

Kaufman County's district attorney's office is investigating whether the gift violates the law's gift ban, and is expected to announce it's decision this fall.

Webb has given campaign contributions exclusively to Republicans. While he as given the most  $325,000  to Paxton, he has given $110,000 to support Gov. Greg Abbott and $105,000 to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

In pas years, he has also invested in legislative races, pouring $65,000 in former state Rep. Scott Turner, a Frisco Republican to took on House Speaker Joe Straus, a moderate San Antonio Republican, for the speakership in 2015.

From 2013 to 2017, Webb has given $47,000 to Rep. Jeff Leach, a Republican from Plano. Leach now serves as policy director to the Texas Freedom Caucus, a 12-member group in the Texas House that seeks to unravel Straus' speakership, promote pro-life and traditional families policies, rein in government and trumpet personal liberties.

He gave $10,000 to Thomas McNutt, the VP of a well-known fruit cake bakery who narrowly lost in 2016 to Rep. Byron Cook, a Corsicana Republican and a key Straus ally. Webb gave McNutt another $10,000 this year and McNutt announced he'd run for Cook's seat again.

Check out more of Webb's contributions below.

Want to know more about why Paxton was accepting gifts to fund his legal defense? Get up to speed with our quick guide.

Andrea Zelinski covers politics and the courts for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook and send her tips at andrea.zelinski@chron.com.
AUSTIN -- Auditors.

Of all the things Texas is worried about after Hurricane Harvey hit, add federal government auditors to the list.

During a hearing in the Texas Senate on Wednesday, the state's emergency disaster director warned that local governments and the state have got to be careful about how they are spending money and filling out federal forms, because the feds have proven they will come back and take money back if rules are not followed.

Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Department of Emergency Management, noted that earlier this year, federal auditors started taking action to force New Orleans to return $2 billion it received for repairing sewer systems there after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 -- 12 years ago. Federal auditors have said the sewer system was in bad shape long before Katrina hit and the federal government shouldn't have had to pay out the money as if Katrina caused the damage.

FLOOD CONTROL: Ed Emmett outlines 15 proposals to improve regional flood control

That comes a year after the Federal Emergency Management Agency forced the state and New Orleans to return another $4 million for repairs to the New Orleans Superdome after Katrina. FEMA officials argued that the funding was duplicated because Louisiana sued the Superdome's roof contractor to pay for those same repairs.

Kidd said Texas has been doing the right things to prevent such claw backs of disaster funds. He said the Legislature two years ago committed funding to help his agency to hold classes for state and local officials on how to fill out paper work and properly document their spending.

In addition, the Texas Department of Emergency Management has four major auditing firms watching spending as well. Finally the state has trained 40 other auditors to span out across the state to help local governments manage the paperwork issues.

"We have to make sure we are doing the right things in the right ways," Kidd warned.

Galveston officials don't have to be told twice. County Judge Mark Henry told Texas Senate's State Affairs Committee on Wednesday that federal officials are demanding they give back $1.3 million spend after Hurricane Ike hit in 2008.

GET INVOLVED: Join our private Harvey Facebook community to share your story and stay up to date on the latest news

Henry said his staff is scrambling to find paperwork and even people who might have been around then to see why the money was sent to them in the first place and how it was used.

The hearing on Wednesday follows another that happened on Tuesday in which state officials were warned that the state is months -- and maybe even years -- away from getting its share of $7.4 billion of disaster funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. That funding is critical to helping people with damaged homes and apartments get permanent fixes to their living situation.

Two months after Hurricane Harvey came on shore on Aug. 25 near Rockport, the Texas Senate has been increasing its review of how the state, federal and local governments have responded. Last week the Senate held a committee hearing in New Caney to hear testimony from people who suffered severe flooding.

The Texas House has also been holding hearings. On Oct. 2, the House Appropriations Committee held a hearing at the University of Houston to take testimony for Mayor Sylvester Turner, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and other officials.

***

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AUSTIN -- Texas BBQ, beer and California wine are on the line as the Houston Astros take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series this week.

In a Tuesday press release, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he was betting a six-pack of Houston-brewed beer and Texas BBQ on the Astros to beat the Dodgers in the best-of-seven-series. California Governor Jerry Brown matched Abbott with a selection of wine from wineries in Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino.
And then there was one.

In March, I wrote a column in the form of a memo to Secretary of Defense James Mattis, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, then-Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, CIA Director Mike Pompeo and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

It began: "Dear Sirs, I am writing you today as the five adults with the most integrity in the Trump administration. Mattis, McMaster and Kelly, you all served our nation as generals in battle. Pompeo, you graduated first in your class at West Point. Tillerson, you ran one of America's largest companies. I am writing you directly because I believe you are the last 'few good men' who can stand up and reverse the moral rot that has infected the Trump administration from the top."

Well, so much for that.

McMaster doesn't seem to have built much of a relationship with Trump, not one that can constrain him. Tillerson blew himself up by reportedly calling the president a "(bleeping) moron" and then starring in a hostage video in which he sang the president's praises and assured us that Trump was actually "smart."

After Trump tweeted that Tillerson was wasting his time negotiating with North Korea, Tillerson had to publicly assure us that he had not been "castrated" by Trump - which meant that he had.

On Thursday, Pompeo showed how much he has sold his soul. In an answer to a question, Pompeo told a conference held by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a conservative think tank, that "the intelligence community's assessment is that the Russian meddling that took place did not affect the outcome of the election."

That was a baldfaced lie. The CIA, FBI and NSA issued a report in January concluding that Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, personally "ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. presidential election," designed to denigrate Hillary Clinton and aid Trump.

Pompeo just made that up, no doubt to please Trump.

Finally, sadly, Kelly squandered his moral authority by starring in his own White House podium hostage video. It began well. Kelly spoke eloquently and with great dignity about the pain of losing a son in battle, as he and his wife did, and about certain bedrock values that our society has lost in how we treat one another. He even seemed to explain how the president's phone call to the widow of a Green Beret killed in Niger got garbled.

If only he had stopped there. But instead, he began to talk like Trump, gratuitously smearing a black congresswoman who was a friend of the Green Beret's bereaved family - with provably false charges. It was tragic. In an instant, he went from Kelly to Kellyanne Conway, just another Trump apologist.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders must have known that Kelly had lost his moral authority, because, the next day, when reporters challenged Kelly's comments about the congresswoman, the White House spokeswoman tried to shut them up by holding up Kelly's formal uniform, saying, "If you want to get into a debate with a four-star Marine general, I think that's something highly inappropriate." Sorry, Sarah, when a general lies, he loses his moral and formal credibility.

That leaves Mattis as the last man standing - the only one who has not been infected by Trump's metastasizing ethical cancer, the only one who has not visibly lied on Trump's behalf, and who can still put some fear into Trump.

Well, Mattis, here's some free advice: Don't just stand there. If you just stand there, you'll be next. Because Trump and Sanders will be looking to enlist your old uniform next in their defense - that is, if Trump doesn't throw you under the bus first to escape responsibility for the bungled operation in Niger.

Secretary Mattis, we don't need any more diagnosis of the problem. We need action. And I am not talking about a coup. I mean you need to lead McMaster, Tillerson and Kelly (Pompeo is a lost cause) in telling Trump that if he does not change his ways, you will all quit, en masse.

Trump needs to know that it is now your way or the highway - not his. That is how you talk to a bully.

Tell him: No more ridiculous tweeting attacks on people every morning; no more telling senators who forge bipartisan compromises on immigration or health care that he's with them one day and against them the next; no more casual lying; no more feeding the base white supremacist "red meat" - no more distracting us from the real work of forging compromises for the American people and no more eroding the American creed.

Led by you and you only, Mattis, your little squadron with Tillerson, Kelly and McMaster still has power. And if you can't together force Trump onto an agenda of national healing and progress, then you should together tell him that he can govern with his kids and Sanders - because you took an oath to defend the Constitution, not to wipe up Trump's daily filth with the uniform three of you wore so honorably.
AUBURN  The Rev. Stephen Mack, the pastor at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Auburn, was a friend, pastor, mentor and confessor to many.

Mack died Sunday at the age of 64 after battling liver and pancreatic cancer for five years.

He will always be remembered for his humility and generosity in the face of suffering, his wife Barbara Mack and parish priest the Rev. Michael Speck said Wednesday.

"He was a very good example of how one has to deal with suffering and he suffered significantly, very very much so," Speck said. "He would always downplay his illness. He never brought it up. He was fond of saying, until very recently when things got worse, 'Sometimes I think I'm the healthiest person in the whole place.'"

Mack wrote a blog on his church's website called Father Steve's Soapbox. He recounted his illness in one of the last posts he wrote before he died.

"Ive been dealing with pancreatic and liver cancer for five years," Mack wrote on Oct. 7. "No complaints here. Life goes on, whatever we face we face with Gods help."

"He remained leader of the parish until last week when he fell asleep in the Lord," Speck said. "We're most certainly grateful for that because there's people who will handle suffering poorly, there are people who blame, who will ask 'Why me?' but that was never him."

Mack grew up in Cohoes, New York, and graduated in 1976 from St. Tikhon's Seminary in Pennsylvania. He married Barbara in 1978 after they met while working in a catalog showroom. The couple moved to Auburn on Dec. 20, 1984 after Mack became the pastor at St. Nicholas Church. Stephen and Barbara had two children together and one granddaughter.

Mack was the church's longest serving pastor, his wife of 39 years said.

Speck said it will be "difficult" and "strange" going forward without Mack, especially since some of the parishioners didn't realize how sick he actually was.

"Because of his optimism, everyone else was always very optimistic as well," Speck said. "When he did finally pass away, I think there were certain people who were almost not aware that he was sick because of his personal strength."

Funeral services for Mack will take place on Friday and Saturday at St. Nicholas Church. Calling hours will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday at the church, followed by an Orders of the Priest Burial. A funeral liturgy will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The Most Rev. Michael, the archbishop of New York, will perform the services, which is customary when an Orthodox priest dies, Speck said. Other Orthodox priests and deacons will attend the funeral as well.

As for the future of the church, Speck said it is up to the archbishop to decide who will replace Mack. Speck was ordained as a priest in 2015 to assist Mack with the church's duties once he became ill, so he is eligible to lead the church.

"Father Stephen or any pastor knows that the church doesn't belong to any pastor," Speck said. "It's just something they take care of for a certain period of time. It belongs to the people. It will certainly continue."
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AUBURN  Meeting in the district which they hope to represent, Cayuga County Legislature candidates Mike Lesch and Elane Daly faced off at a forum held in Cayuga Community College Tuesday.

The two running for the District 11 seat, which represents the northeastern part of the city of Auburn, had different ideas for tackling the opioid epidemic and whether the county Legislature should join a class action lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies.

Lesch, a certified public accountant, said he would support the county joining the lawsuit. He later made the caveat that he'd want to know more about the staff time required to compile data supporting the litigation.

"I don't think there isn't a family directly affected or affected closely," he said about the drug problem. "We need to do anything we can to help decrease this problem in our county."

Daly, former director of the county's health and human services department, would not say whether she'd support the lawsuit or not. She felt Cayuga County was doing its due diligence in learning about the litigation, and she said she'd want to hear from counties that may have chosen not to join and why they made that decision.

Executive Editor of The Citizen Jeremy Boyer asked the candidates what else they would do to fight the drug crisis in the county. Lesch said he'd work to lobby state and federal representatives to put more limitations on doctors prescribing pain medications. He'd also designate more funds to the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force.

"I don't think we can arrest our way out of this problem," Daly said in return.

Daly highlighted a number of programs already working in the county to help those struggling with addiction and said she'd continue to support those things.

Daly and Lesch discussed another health problem threatening Cayuga County  toxins from harmful algal blooms in Owasco Lake. When asked to evaluate how local officials are doing currently to address the issue, Daly said she thought there were a lot of efforts happening and listed the county's Water Quality Management Agency's manure management guidelines, ditch erosion strategies and the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council's work to take on the Owasco Lake Watershed Inspection Program and update the watershed rules.

Lesch said there's many different groups working on issues in the watershed. It's good, he added, because they're all working to the same basic goal, but with the county working on one plan in the watershed and a lake advocacy organization called Save Owasco Now! advocating for a different one, he'd like to see "everybody getting on the same page and for us to be able to provide a direct message."

Switching gears, candidates discussed the fate of the Cayuga County Office Building. Legislators have debated between building a new one or making repairs to the current one on 160 Genesee St. in the city, despite asbestos concerns.

Daly said she felt a lot more work had to be done before she would make a decision on repairs or a new building. She didn't feel the issue was pressing, either, and didn't understand why it was getting so much discussion.

Lesch, however, said based on some of the estimates the Legislature has been given, he'd advocate for renovating the current building.

"Expenditures such as this one (a new office building) would be hard for me to swallow," he said.

Voters will go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Lesch is running on the Conservative and Republican party lines. Daly is running on the Democratic, Working Families and Auburn First party lines.
AKRON, Ohio - The J.M. Smucker Company has donated $1.25 million to support the Akron Art Museum's endowment and Free Thursdays. The gift will help make the museum accessible to more people, supporting both enhanced programming and extended hours of operation in service of the museum's mission to enrich lives through modern and contemporary art.

"We are proud of our long-standing partnership with the Akron Art Museum and are pleased to provide support that makes arts and culture available in our communities," said President and CEO Mark Smucker in a news release. "We are honored to make world-class art accessible to more people."

The gift builds upon Smucker's legacy of supporting the museum, said John S. Knight Director and CEO of the Akron Art Museum, Mark Masuoka.

"The museum is transforming itself, and we will continue to provide spectacular modern and contemporary art exhibitions," he said. "But now, more purposefully, we are providing programming that attracts people from all over the community. Our commitment to being a community asset inspires us to invest in making what we do accessible to everyone, and this gift helps break down one important barrier."

Smucker has helped support the museum's free admission to its galleries on Thursdays, along with extended hours from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. since 2013. Free Thursdays often include free or discounted museum programming, including children's activities, artist talks, music performances and more. As a result, the museum has had an increase of 35 percent in overall attendance, with many first-time visitors.

The Smucker gift will also make it possible for Thursday visitors to join the museum at a 25 percent discount.

"Being able to offer new memberships at a discount allows us to start new conversations with people who want a deeper museum experience," said Museum Director of Advancement Bryan de Boer in the release. "Thanks to Smucker we hope to welcome many more people as members to the museum, and share the special experiences and wide variety of benefits members have access to every day, all year-long."

The museum's new Free Thursday membership discounts - for new memberships only - begin Thursday, Oct. 26. The discount is available on Thursdays only, and can be purchased at the museum or online here. Active memberships and Art Works Business memberships are excluded from the discount program.

For more information, visit the Akron Art Museum website.

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AKRON, Ohio - The city of Akron has unveiled a new online website for its 3-1-1 action center: www.akronohio.gov/311.

The new website, an addition to the city's widely used 3-1-1 call center, is mobile-friendly and allows residents to report non-emergency concerns and make requests via smartphone or computer.

"The goal of the online platform is to allow residents to easily submit a report anytime, anywhere--including nights, weekends, and holidays," Mayor Dan Horrigan said in a news release. "The 3-1-1 Action Center has been a user-friendly 'one stop shop' for many years, but in order to continue to meet the demand of our citizens, it was time for an upgrade."

The platform offers an interactive mapping feature, which allows residents to identify locations even when an exact address isn't known. Submitted requests and reports are sent to appropriate departments for assistance. Residents who submit an email address can check the status of their report online and receive follow-up information about the request.

"We work diligently to review and resolve all citizen complaints as quickly as possible, and this technology will help us do that more effectively," Mayor Horrigan said. "It's all about showing that, in Akron, we care about the concerns of our residents and the quality of our neighborhoods."

Residents can still report issues or make requests by calling 3-1-1 or 330-375-2311 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

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BRECKSVILLE, Ohio - A 2014 municipal tax increase to raise money for new recreational amenities and the city's Fire Department sparked controversy from the start.

At least three of four candidates challenging two incumbents for seats on City Council said they would consider overturning the tax increase, either immediately or eventually.

The challengers are Michael Dobronos, Daryl Kingston, Jack Petsche and Dennis Rose. The incumbents are Lou Carouse and Michael Harwood. On Nov. 7, voters will choose four of them for four-year council terms.

Meanwhile, two council incumbents - Nora Murphy and Greg Skaljac - are not seeking re-election and will leave council when their terms end.

The tax increase came in the form of a reduction in the municipal income tax credit for residents working outside of Brecksville. The reduction is scheduled to last until 2025 or until the city collects more than $18 million in gross income taxes for three straight years - whichever comes first.

Previously, residents working outside of town paid income taxes to the city in which they worked but not to Brecksville - they received a 100-percent tax credit here. Under the tax-credit reduction, the income-tax credit in Brecksville dropped to 87.5 percent, meaning that residents pay Brecksville an amount equal to 12.5 percent of the taxes they pay their work cities.

Here is a profile of each Brecksville council candidate. Harwood did not provide a photo:

A council veteran

Louis Carouse

Candidate: Louis N. Carouse Jr.

Address: 10404 Highland Drive

Occupation: Principal, Leadership Education Center, a consulting group that assists boards of education, nonprofits and small businesses

Prior elected office or campaign: Elected to Brecksville City Council 1990. Re-elected several times

Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing, Bowling Green State University; graduate degree in banking, University of Virginia

Family: Wife Pam; daughters Candice, 38, and Christine, 29

Carouse said he's seeking re-election because he's lived in Brecksville since he was 4. He said it's a good city to raise a family.

"I have enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to have served on city council for the past 28 years and am proud of the accomplishments we collectively have made," Carouse said. "I want to continue in this role to see completion of many of our ongoing projects."

Carouse, who voted against the 2014 tax increase, said now that Brecksville controls the former U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital property - 102 acres at the northwest corner of Brecksville and Miller roads - council must ensure that it generates income-tax revenue for the city. The plans are to redevelop the site into a multiple-use district.

Also, "Our city downtown is one of the special attractions we have as a city," Carouse said. "I want to continue to encourage its success and vitality."

Carouse dismissed concerns that Brecksville government sometimes runs afoul of Ohio Sunshine Laws. For example, in July, cleveland.com was unable to access draft drawings of a new outdoor pool, even though they are public records. In August, a nonpartisan good-government organization said council members violated open-meetings law by giving their opinions on proposed spending increases through email.

"Each time the design team (for the pool) has presented the concept design, no hard copies were presented to city council nor the administration," Carouse said. "The design team has explained . . . that the design will evolve through discussion and feedback from all parties. Because the documents were incomplete, there was nothing that city council had to pass onto the media."

Regarding the email vote, Carouse said, "The city Law Director (David Matty) is present at city council meetings and provides council direction on all actions taken by city council in regard to all city charter and ordinance requirements."

Restoring tax credits

Michael Dobronos

Candidate: Michael Dobronos

Age: 51

Address: 5552 Forest Lane

Occupation: Attorney, Industrial Commission of Ohio

Prior elected office or campaign: None

Education: Bachelor's degree in Russian language and international relations, The Ohio State University; law degree, Capital University Law School, Columbus

Family: Children Michael, 21, and Sophia, 17

Dobronos said he's running for council because he's highly qualified, due to his education and 25 years of government experience on the industrial commission.

"This city council is transitioning," Dobronos said. "It's time for someone to step up and help continue Brecksville's success."

Dobronos suggested inviting OSU to build a branch campus on the VA property. The campus would be just part of the proposed multi-use development there.

"OSU has six or seven satellite campuses, and as I understand it, Mansfield and Wooster have the northernmost campuses," Dobronos said. "Fifty percent of OSU students attending the Mansfield campus comes from Cuyahoga County, and two-thirds of Mansfield students come from Northeast Ohio. They would be better served by having a commuter campus in Brecksville."

Dobronos said he would restore the 100-percent income-tax credit in Brecksville "as soon as fiscally possible." He also wants to build more bike trails and walking paths. And he applauds city efforts to form regional partnerships - including a joint dispatch center, now under construction in Brecksville - with other communities.

In 2014, Ohio Inspector General Randall Meyer ruled that Dobronos and three other state industrial commission hearing officers did no wrong when attending a cabin party involving booze, bikini-clad women and a hot tub during a state conference. However, their attendance at the party - hosted by attorneys who represented clients before them - gave the appearance of impropriety, Meyer said.

Dobronos said all three state agencies - the inspector general's office, the industrial commission and the Ohio Supreme Court - investigating the incident eventually ruled that no crimes or actual improprieties were committed. Also, the commission later amended its rule on what constitutes an "appearance of impropriety," making the rule less strict, he said.

VA vision

Candidate: Michael Harwood

Age: 54

Address: 4822 Snow Blossom Lane

Occupation: Vice president of Construction, Rycon Construction, Inc., with offices in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale

Prior elected office or campaign: Elected to Brecksville City Council 2009; re-elected 2013

Education: Bachelor's degree in architectural-environmental design and construction management, Bowling Green State University

Family: Wife Debbie; children Emily, 23, and Dan, 20

Hardwood said he is seeking re-election because, like Carouse, he is a lifelong Brecksville resident and wants to give back to the community. Before joining council eight years ago, he was a member of the city's Planning Commission.

"I believe that with my professional background, I can be as asset in leading this community forward, while understanding our history," Harwood said.

Harwood, who voted in favor of the 2014 tax increase, agrees that proper development of the VA property is crucial. He said voters helped last year by approving a rezoning that will allow stores, restaurants, apartments, hotels, hospitals, manufacturing plants, warehouses, offices and laboratories on the site. City officials will approve each use on a case-by-case basis, under the new zoning.

"It is important to note this will be done at no cost or liability to the city," said Harwood.

Harwood agreed with Carouse that draft designs of the proposed new city pool - although displayed at a public meeting - were not given to council, which is why the drawings were not available to cleveland.com.

"Once a final design for the building's architecture, building systems and the space allocation and function are achieved, the design is provided for final approval," Harwood said, although according to the 2017 Ohio Sunshine Laws manual, electronic records and draft documents are public records.

Harwood said if re-elected to council, he will continue work on the city's streets and sidewalks program and other infrastructure projects that "improve our city for the current residents as well as future residents."

Small-town service

Daryl Kingston

Candidate: Daryl Kingston

Age: 45

Address: 6982 Crystal Creek Drive

Occupation: Stay-at-home dad with background in management and finance

Prior elected office or campaign: Elected to Republican State Central Committee 2015

Education: Bachelor's degree in political science, The State University of New York, Fredonia

Family: Wife-Nancy; sons Jack, 12, Lucas, 7, and Blake, 7

Kingston said he is running for council to ensure that Brecksville "never loses its small-town feel and quaint charm."

"When my young children are grown, I want them to be able to raise their families in an absolute great city like Brecksville is now," Kingston said.

Kingston said he favors a November ballot issue that would ban the cultivation and sale of medical marijuana in Brecksville. He said he supports the local D.A.R.E program, which aims to prevent the use of illegal drugs.

Kingston said the community is excited about the proposed redevelopment of the VA property and the possibilities there.

"If we follow the zoning restrictions voted on by our residents . . . and leverage all Brecksville has to offer in attracting the right development, it will be a huge win for us," Kingston said.

Kingston said he doesn't believe council withholds information or records from residents. He said council meeting minutes are posted regularly in the city's website, and that Mayor Jerry Hruby and administration officials are always accessible to discuss a problem.

"If elected, I will improve upon this open communication any way that I can to make sure my neighbors and citizens . . . have access to anything they need," Kingston said.

On time, on budget

Jack Petsche

Candidate: Jack Petsche

Age: 63

Address: 6607 Morningside Drive

Occupation: Owner of U.S.A. Roofing Inc., a roofing firm in Twinsburg, and a licensed practicing attorney

Prior elected office or campaign: Ran in 2015 for Brecksville City Council

Education: Bachelor's degree in philosophy and history, Florida Atlantic University; law degree, Cleveland State University's Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

Family: Wife Rose; children Jamie, Jack and Annie

Petsche said he would make a great city council member because of his small-business experience. He said he knows how to meet a budget, finish projects on time and show sensitivity toward employees.

"Also, I have legal and construction knowledge, which I think the city could use more of," Petsche said.

Petsche said he opposed the 2014 income-tax-credit reduction and would vote to reverse the measure immediately. He said council should have placed the tax increase on the ballot.

"I can see council reducing the tax credit if the city was in financial straits and needed the money due to an emergency, but that wasn't the case," Petsche said.

Petsche said the city should follow its 1985 master plan and design an alternative transportation system, which was supposed to include bikeways connecting all neighborhoods to downtown. He said the new master plan, which the city is in process of writing, should keep the bikeway concept, but this time council should make it happen.

Petsche said council is not transparent enough. He doesn't like that council recently voted by email on a spending increase, then made that vote official at the next public council meeting. He said council makes decisions out of the public eye, and suggested that council start videotaping its meetings and post the municipal charter and ordinances on the city website, like most communities.

"There is no good reason or excuse for not having these documents online," Petsche said. "I believe in making democracy in this city more available to our citizens, however we can do it."

Attracting businesses

Dennis Rose

Candidate: Dennis R. Rose

Age: 60

Address: 8066 Farview Oval

Occupation: Attorney and partner at Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP

Prior elected office or campaign: None

Education: Bachelor's degree in education, Cleveland State University; law degree, Cleveland State University's Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

Family: Wife Susan; children Eric, 26, and Samantha, 24

Rose said he's seeking a council seat because Mayor Jerry Hruby and council members asked him to run. He has served on the Brecksville Board of Zoning Appeals for 16 years, and has chaired the BZA for 11 years.

Rose said an important issue is one that many local governments face - how to maintain services that Brecksville residents have enjoyed and come to expect. The task has become harder due to state cuts in funding to local governments, under Gov. John Kasich.

"It's doing more with less," Rose said. "Yes, regional partnerships are important, like with our new dispatch center, but we also have to attract excellent corporations with high-paying jobs that will increase our tax base."

Rose said he doesn't like the idea of increasing taxes and initially opposed the income-tax-credit reduction. Now he has mixed feelings.

"I don't know what I would have decided if I had all the information," Rose said. "As one of the promises in my campaign, I would like the city to maintain its budget. I hope we can sunset the tax-credit reduction sooner (than 2025). I promise to look at that, but I trust the judgement of the mayor."

Rose wants any redevelopment on the VA property to reflect Brecksville's historical character. The site might contain offices, medical buildings, engineering firms and even shops and boutiques but should not turn into a mini-Legacy Village retail center.

"Those who drive (Ohio) 82 to Strongsville can see what that type of development can bring, and I don't think it fits the character of Brecksville," Rose said.

This article was corrected to state that the Industrial Commission of Ohio amended its rule regarding what constitutes an "appearance of impropriety," making the rule less strict, according to Michael Dobronos. This was after three state agencies found that Dobronos and three other state industrial commission hearing officers were not guilly of crimes or actual improprieties when they attended a party hosted by attorneys who represented clients before them.
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- There are no plans at this point to renew the city's gas aggregation contract, which is set to expire at the end of October.

This is due to the current price, provided through Constellation Energy, actually being higher than the regular market rate right now.

"We're interested in a program that will allow us to take advantage of low pricing, rather than being locked into a higher rate," City Manager Tanisha Briley told City Council on Oct. 16.

Councilman Michael Ungar noted that in recent years, "the city's gas aggregation program has not worked" in terms of saving customers money.

He recommended that the city's website provide a link to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's (PUCO's) site, and its "apples-to-apples" analysis of natural gas rates.

"I want to continue to work with our city staff to try to get an aggregation program that makes sense and generates true savings," Ungar said. "But this process will not be concluded before our current deal with Constellation expires."

In the meantime, there will be nothing that replaces that program "as we continue to look to drive costs lower," Briley said.



One of the possibilities for cost savings could be a regional collaboration, either through Cuyahoga County or a consortium with the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC).

In other business on Oct. 16, City Council approved the purchase of a new ambulance from Horton Emergency Services of Columbus that will also be used for fire response, Chief Dave Freeman said.

The cost is $256,000 with a 5 percent discount thrown in, good for about $12,000 off the regular price tag.

This was negotiated so that Horton, the ambulance maker can showcase the "much heavier duty" vehicle at an Indiana expo in the spring, then turn the keys over to Cleveland Heights.

One of the city's four ambulances will be retired, a 2005 model with 200,000 miles, Freeman said.

And at the request of Police Chief Annette Mecklenburg, council also plans to lodge an objection with the Ohio Department of Liquor Control for a license transfer to new ownership at the Heights Deli, 2879 Mayfield Road.

Mecklenburg cited 80 police calls for service to the Heights Deli since January 2015, the majority of those for "disturbances, disorderly conduct and suspicious activity," with 16 follow-ups.

There have also been numerous code violations that have yet to be corrected as well, Mecklenburg said, adding that the prospective new owner also raises some concerns.

Council also approved resolutions to apply for the next round of Safe Routes to Schools funding through the Ohio Department of Transportation, as well as a joint project with University Heights on Washington Boulevard.

The work, most of it in University Heights, would include a water line and road resurfacing next summer, with Cleveland Heights putting up a $25,000 local share with the Ohio Public Works Commission.

City Parks and Recreation Director Joe McRae reported on the success of the third annual Happy 5K and 10K Road Race and 1-mile Fun Run on Oct. 8.

Roughly 600 people participated, raising $7,000 for the Cleveland Heights Youth Scholarship Fund, a new record.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The state of Ohio will pay $525,000 to a Cleveland woman who said a guard at the Ohio Reformatory for Women sexually assaulted her when she was an inmate.

The 29-year-old woman said the guard forced her to perform oral sex on him three times in April 2009. She filed suit in a Columbus federal court in 2011 against the guard and other employees at the Marysville women's prison whom she accused of retaliation.

The settlement -- confirmed by David Malik, the woman's attorney -- comes after six years of litigation and after a judge repeatedly refused to dismiss the lawsuit.

The guard was fired and then reinstated with the stipulation that he not work with female inmates, according to court documents.

A spokeswoman for Ohio Attorney General's Office, which represented the guards named in the lawsuit, said the case was still considered pending and she could not comment.

"This woman really did this incredible thing," Malik said. "She is essentially kept alive her desire to fight a wrong when she could have easily quit -- and the AG's office did not make it easy on her over the last six years -- but she persisted and she came out victorious in the end."

Cleveland.com is not naming the woman who filed the lawsuit because she says she is the victim of sexual assault. It is also not naming the guard, as he was never charged with a crime in connection with the woman's allegations.

The woman, who served prison time for arson, identity fraud and aggravated theft in Cuyahoga County, was at the women's prison from November 2008 to May 2009.

Court filings say prison staff first found out the guard may have had sexual contact with the woman through a letter the woman wrote to him in February 2009. The woman said the guard had inappropriate contact with her and that the guard brought her tobacco.

After speaking to investigators, the guard sexually assaulted the woman and told her he knew who she talked to, according to court documents.

She said the accused guard and another guard threatened her and she feared retaliation. Eventually, the woman then told a sergeant, who contacted the Ohio State Highway Patrol, court records show.

The guard was moved to an all-men's prison and is still employed by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Malik said.

The Ohio Reformatory for Women houses can house up to 2,808 inmates. According to a 2017 Correctional Institution Inspection Committee report that stemmed from three visits to the prion in March, there were four substantiated incidents involving prison staff against inmates that violated the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003.

If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments section.
The Skaneateles Central School District will have a sit-down with community members over its possible capital project, the district announced Monday.

The district is holding a community forum for its Project 2021 endeavor Wednesday at the high school, according to a press release. The venture, which includes reconstructions and upgrades of district buildings, is currently set at a total cost not to exceed $36.5 million.

A question-and-answer session will be held as a part of the forum. A tour of the buildings will be held afterward.

The project's cost and other major elements were revealed at a district board meeting Sept. 19. District Superintendent Ken Slentz said last month extra tax support won't be needed from the community to support the project.

The community's share is currently set at $12,323,641, or 33.8 percent of the cost. The district is also set to be eligible for $21,815,575 in estimated state aid, or 59.8 percent of the cost. The district also has $2,250,000 in capital reserves and a $110,784 gift set aside for the press box.

The approximated state aid for the district is based on a conservative estimate of 95 percent of the project being eligible. The average annual local share over 20 years would come to $616,432 per year.

The possible project includes replacing Waterman Primary School's 1972 boiler, reconstructing the middle school's gym, fixing the primary school's leaking foundation, establishing energy efficiency in the classrooms, securing the entries of every buildings main office and switching out State Street Intermediate School's windows, among other items.

The Project 2021 name is a reference to the year a piece of the district's mortgage on the undertaking will be paid off.

Taxpayers will be able to vote on the project from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 14 at the Skaneateles Central School District Office, 45 E. Elizabeth St.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cuyahoga County's proposed 10-cent fee on plastic and paper bags would hurt local businesses, invade the privacy of people who receive food stamps and is a tax, not a fee, the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants said.

"Uniformity is very important in the retail sector and having a patchwork of differing regulations across local government borders is both administratively and financially burdensome," CEO Gordon M. Gough and director of government affairs Lora Miller wrote in a letter sent to County Council members. "It also drives business out of the jurisdiction."

If legislation proposed by council member Sunny Simon and co-sponsored by Dale Miller is approved, many shoppers would pay 10 cents for each plastic or paper bag they use beginning July 1, 2018.

The 10-cent fee would apply to establishments that are more than 7,000 square feet, including supermarkets, stores and restaurants. Customers on food stamps would not have to pay. The county would give free reusable bags at libraries, senior centers, city halls and community centers.

While there has been vocal support for the measure by Simon, Miller and council president Dan Brady, other council members said they still have questions and need to talk to constituents to get opinions on the effect of the fee and the impact to residents.

Council's Education, Environment and Sustainability Committee held a second hearing on the legislation on Wednesday. Members did not vote to move the measure to the full council.

Council members said they have received hundreds of emails from industries that support plastic bags and letters from the associations that represent the industry.

At the meeting, and at the one last week, those who spoke were in favor of the fee. For each 10 cents collected, 6 cents would be placed in a new environmental remediation fund for waterway cleanup. The rest would be returned to the stores to offset the cost of implementing the program and to buy reusable bags to hand out to people in libraries, senior centers and homeless shelters.

Plastic bags represent 12.8 percent of the solid waste problem, Diane Bickett, executive director at Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District, said Wednesday.

Only 1 to 3 percent of single-use plastic bags are recycled in Cuyahoga County and that can only be done at bins at grocery stores since they can't be placed with curbside recyclables, she said.

"The issue is that the choices people make at the checkout," she said. "A plastic bag can have a long-term impact on the planet."

Plastic bags, like everything else put in a landfill, never degrades because there is no air or water, she said. But it takes hundreds of years for them to degrade in ditches or in the water.

She said a statewide litter report shows plastic bags represent about 4.7 percent of roadside litter.

Council member Jack Schron asked about plastic trash bags, which are used once, and other plastic packaging that ends up in landfills.

'We can't address every plastic bag, but the single use bags can have an impact," she said.

The retail council, which has more than 7,400 members, said in its letter that businesses and consumers in the county would be treated differently than those in other Ohio counties.

"It is human nature to avoid paying more for something when there is a less expensive option," Gough and Miller wrote. "Many shoppers will take their business to neighboring counties where there is no tax on carry-out bags. One only has to look at the cross-border activity that occurs during Ohio's three-day back-to-school sales tax holiday to confirm that people are highly incentivized to avoid taxes and fees when they can."

Those who receive food stamps would be exempt from paying the fee. If that includes non-food purchases merchants would have to ask customers whether they have an Ohio Electronic Benefit Transfer card.

"One of the original arguments for moving from paper food stamps to EBT cards was to help protect the privacy of the consumer," the letter said "Having to question every customer could present an uncomfortable situation for both the customer and the retail employee. "

The council maintains the 10 cents is a tax, not a fee, and no county can levy a tax that hasn't been authorized by legislators.

It included a research memorandum from the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, a nonpartisan agency that provides information to legislators. "Legal Issues Arising From Local Disposable Bag Charge" addresses but does not reach a conclusion on if a bag charge is a fee or a tax and if it is legally allowed.

See the memorandum below or click here if on a mobile device.

If the charge is imposed generally on large numbers of diverse parties rather than a select group of regulated persons, the charge appears to be a tax, the council said. It also appears to be a tax if the revenue from the charge is used more for general public purposes as opposed to for the regulation or benefit of the parties upon whom the charge is imposed.
In September 2012, four Americans were killed in a terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya. Three of those individuals were private contractors recruited and hired to live and work in hazardous environments. Depending on duties, it is estimated that a contractor will earn from $400 to $1000 per day. The 4th American was Ambassador Stevens. A U.S. Ambassador earns between $120,000 and $180,000 per year. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) Chair of the U.S. Congress Select Committee on Benghazi spent approximately $7 million dollars and 17 months investigating Secretary of State Clinton and President Obama on the security and intelligence failures that cost these four Americans their lives.



In October 2017, four American Sergeants earning approximately $27,000 to $37,000 per year plus allowances were killed by a terrorist attack in Niger. President Trump said that since they are part of the 1% of American citizens who volunteer to serve in the military that "they knew what they were getting into." I look forward to the super patriot Trey Gowdy and the Republican-led Congress initiating the Select Committee on Niger to investigate Secy of Defense Mattis and President Trump on the security and intelligence failures that cost these four Americans their lives.

James Sabat,

Twinsburg
Assist person, Winchester Road: At 6:50 a.m. Oct. 16, a woman reported that her boyfriend, 43, was missing. The woman said the man had traveled to Kentucky and was due to return home on Oct. 15, but had not done so.

Police called the hotel at which the man was staying and found that he was still listed as a guest there. Hotel personnel, however, were unable to contact him.

Next, police called Lexington, Ken. police and learned that the man was in custody on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Neighbor trouble, Irene Road: At 10 a.m. Oct. 22, a woman reported that her neighbor was "assaulting" her property by removing items. During the phone call, the dispatcher heard the two women arguing.

Officers, who have been to the properties before, told both parties not to move each other's property. They also told the parties to quit antagonizing each other and to act like adults or both could be cited for their actions.

Neighbor trouble, Case Road: At 2:30 a.m. Oct. 21, a woman reported that the man who lives next door was yelling at her husband and that he wanted to fight her husband.

Police went to the neighbor's house. The man refused to answer the door. When told through the door about the complaint, the man said he was not arguing with his neighbor and that he would stay in his house the rest of the night.

At 3 a.m., the woman called police again to state that the man next door was knocking on her door and making threats to her husband.

The man then called police and said he wanted to file a complaint against the woman and her husband for harassing him. When asked if he'd like to speak to an officer, the man said no and hung up the phone.

Drug trafficking, I-271: At 12:20 p.m. Oct. 20, police made a traffic stop of a car occupied by a man, 39, and a woman, 33, both of Dorchester, Mass. Police smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside the car.

Both the man and woman were charged with drug trafficking.

Domestic violence, Winchester Road: At 4:45 a.m. Oct. 19, a woman, 33, called police and stated that she was in a house, locked in an upstairs bedroom, after a disturbance had taken place in the house. She said she had with her a loaded gun.

The woman said her boyfriend, 33, was downstairs and also had a gun.

Mayfield Heights police and a SWAT unit assisted Lyndhurst police with the matter.

In the end, the woman was safely removed from the house. She said she couldn't remember what intentions her boyfriend had as he held the gun.

The boyfriend was arrested for criminal investigation. He was later released without charges being filed against him.

OVI, Mayfield Road: At 11:50 p.m. Oct. 18, police found a man, 40, passed out in his car at a traffic light. The man was found to be drunk and was charged with OVI. Police towed the man's car.

Assault, Glenlyn Road: At 5:15 p.m. Oct. 18, a caller reported that her daughter, 17, and the girl's boyfriend were involved in two incidents that day while attending Brush High School, 4875 Glenlyn Road.

The South Euclid woman reported that the boyfriend, 17, grabbed her daughter's wrist and punched her, and that the boy later circled on foot the car the daughter was driving, then punched the car's windshield while trying to get inside the vehicle.

The victim declined to prosecute.

Warrant arrest, Richmond Road: At 5:50 p.m. Oct. 16, a caller reported a woman yelling while inside a passing SUV and a man, also in the SUV, striking the woman.

Police located and stopped the SUV. Both the man and woman stated that their disagreement was a verbal one and did not get physical.

It was learned, however, that the man, 23, of Lyndhurst, was wanted on a Euclid police warrant. The man was arrested and turned over to Euclid police.

Burglary, Chickadee Lane: At 12:50 p.m. Oct. 16, a woman returned home after being away for the weekend and found things out of place inside her house.

It was later discovered that a pinky ring, containing six diamonds, was missing.

If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our
A Jordan man was arrested Tuesday and charged with sexually abusing a boy under the age of 11, according to New York State Police.

State police on Wednesday said Travis L. Severin, 20, of Jordan, has been charged with one count of first-degree sexual abuse, a class D felony, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor. According to the state police blotter, the case was reported to authorities Monday night.

After he was arrested Tuesday afternoon, Severin was arraigned in Village of Jordan Court and sent to the Onondaga County Justice Center on bail of $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond.
Residents from the city of Kherson took to the streets to celebrate Russia's retreat, scientists may have discovered why they keep finding mum
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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On September 23rd, related person from Public Relations Department of Chery Auto responded on the rumors that Chery would be sold to some investors, Auto industry is always pursued by capitals by way of technological developments. Chery is always contacting with some investors for some years, but no confirmed news can be provided.

In fact, Chery Auto shows relatively bad performance compared with other self-independent brands such as Geely, GWM and Changan. Chery Autos sales volume from January to September this year only ranks 20th among all brands. Its introduced that the group shows steady developments in the first half of year with outstanding performances for NEVs and exported vehicles. The group has a total sales volume of 315,172 units in the first half of year with a year-on-year growth of 11.2%. Benefited from the good performance of eQ1, Chery NEV products sell 9,300 units and grow 55.3% year on year, reaching historical high record. Exported vehicles reach 54,317 units with a year-on-year growth of 35.7%, still ranking 1st among all domestic brands. Exported sales of strategic transformation products represented by Arrizo and Tiggo series occupy more than half of the total exported volume, bringing many benefits for Cherys exported business.

Chery Auto also responds that it is quite normal for Chery Auto, a state-owned joint-stock company, to conduct capital operation. But no strategic investor has been confirmed yet. Besides, it is a trend for domestic auto companies with technologies and competitive strengths to attract attention from investors. Chery Auto has an open mind in cooperating with investors and intends to promote its business layouts by aid of capital funds.
CORNWALL, Ontario  On Wednesday, Oct. 18, the City of Cornwalls waterworks crews fixed a broken watermain at the intersection of Cumberland and Fourth St. W. It was the 23rd broken watermain of 2017.

The watermain that broke was a ductile iron pipe. According to Bill de Witt, the City of Cornwalls Division Manager for Municipal Works, 99 percent of the pipes that break are of this type.

In all, there is 280 km of pipes in the Cornwall water system, 72 km of which have been identified as needing replacement. de Witt said that most often breaks occur in these iron pipes because of age and that some of those pipes are around 100-years-old. The number of breaks so far this year is less than last year, and roughly a quarter of the breaks that occurred in 2015.

He explained that it depended on the location and circumstance, but that he believed that it cost the City an average of $7, 000 every time a watermain broke. In other words, the broken watermains that the City has had to repair so far this year have cost around $161, 000.

de Witt said that if the pipe was simply replaced, the cost would be about the same, but that this does not take into account the inconvenience surrounding a watermain break. Earlier in October, the area of Vincent Massey Dr. and Tollgate Rd. experienced multiple watermain breaks in the space of a week, an event which left residents in that area without water for days and induced the City to dispatch its Urgent Command Centre to the area to distribute bottled water.

Broken iron watermains are often replaced with new plastic pipes, which de Witt says are very unlikely to break.

Existing iron pipes are being re-lined by the City of Cornwall with a plastic lining. de Witt says that the plastic lining greatly increases the pipes durability and makes them almost as reliable as the plastic pipes.

So far, the City has re-lined 19 km of pipes, but there remains 136 km of pipe that are un-lined.

de Witt went on to explain that City administration is trying to carefully plan the re-lining/ replacement of water pipes in concert with their roadwork plans.

Were trying to be very strategic about it, he said. We probably wont re-line the pipe if were going to redo the street above it in the near future.

In an interview with Seaway News in July the City of Cornwalls General Manager of Infrastructure and Municipal Works John St. Marseille said that there is a backlog of about $40 million worth of watermains that need to be replaced.

This year, Municipal Works hopes to replace $4 million worth of old watermains. Of that money, the City of Cornwall is providing between $1  $2 million and senior levels of government are providing over $2 million.

However, St. Marseille said that this rate of replacement is not enough.

We would need to do more to deal with the backlog, because every year we identify more pipes that have reached the end of their lifecycle and need to be replaced, he said. There are some pipes in Cornwall that are 100-years-old.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)-On Oct. 24, Fu Yuwu, President of SAE-China delivered his opinion that Tesla is unlikely to set up a fully owned EV company in Shanghai free trade zone at APAC 19 & 2017 SAECCE, and he also added that Chinese government will relax the restriction for foreign automakers to have more equity in JVs.

Yesterday, according to Wall Street Journal, Shanghai government allows Tesla to build up wholly owned company to manufacture EV models. But Shanghai government officer responsible for NEV projects refuted that Tesla has signed an agreement with the government on establishing a fully owned company in its free trade zone. The topic that Tesla will set up a company in Shanghai has been widely spread since June this year. What concerns the public most is whether Tesla will establish a fully owned company or a JV company.

China has adhered to the 50-50 rule for Sino-foreign joint ventures for 23 years. The purpose for this policy is to make sure China's then-fledgling auto industry could benefit from technology transfer by JV companies with global car makers such as Volkswagen and GM.

Now, Chinese auto market becomes increasingly mature, the self-owned vehicle brands also grow more powerful, and Chinese government also vigorously boost the electrification of auto industry, therefore, China is likely to ease the threshold of 50-50 rule for Sino-foreign joint ventures in NEV sector.

Xu Shaoshi, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, once disclosed at Davos's World Economic Forum in Tianjin in June 2016 that Chinese government was considering lifting the 50% ownership cap.

This April, China announced a mid-to-long-term plan for auto industry, saying that the government will improve the management regulations for domestic and overseas investment, and will open up the equity stake for auto JV companies in order.

Auto industry insiders believed that Tesla's reluctance of producing locally-produced vehicles mainly because Tesla doesn't want to lose its absolute control under the 50-50 rule for Sino-foreign joint ventures. Moreover, Tesla doesn't want to share its technologies with China's self-owned automakers. With the development of Chinese NEV market and the implementation of the dual-credit policy, it is possible for Chinese government to relax the equity stake of NEV JV companies, and allow Tesla to build its company in China.

The dual-credit policy is the most revolutionary policy lead by Chinese government in the history of Chinese auto industry, aiming to save energy and reduce emission. China hold strong determination to develop NEVs, and the restriction of equity stake for JV NEV is likely to be relaxed, said Fu Yuwu.
Great news, everybody! Dora the Explorer is getting that gritty, live-action reboot we've all hoped and dreamed for. But since we can't possibly have a little girl star in the film (booo-ring), Dora is now a teenager! And it's being produced by Michael Bay, who really knows a thing or two about strong female leads judging by his Transformers movies. Remember how Megan Fox's character was shown bent over a car while the camera slowly panned up her bare midriff? That's right, she (a woman) was a mechanic! Empowerment!

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The Dora the Explorer movie is also being written by Nick Stoller, director of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him To The Greek, Neighbors and Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising. You know, fun movies with good role models for little girls. But seriously, just because he's directed a bunch of dude-bro movies about bumbling guys in fish-out-of-water situations doesn't mean he can't write a different plot for a movie based on a beloved children's character. After all, the plot of the movie is going to be about how Dora explores the amazon and discovers ancient artifacts and no wait I'm sorry, that's from the show. It's rumored the movie will be about how Dora and her cousin, Diego, move to the big city. Wow, sounds like they aren't in Kansas anymore! Maybe Boots the monkey will show up, only to get crushed by the speeding taxis that are unfamiliar to him. And Swiper the fox will immediately be arrested and brutally beaten by the police. Here's my pitch for a scene:
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She became a pharmacist, and generally went about her life for a few decades, until her new boss happened to look a bit like Bundy. He put her on a year's probation for letting one of her workers eat a piece of licorice in the pharmacy. When she complained about the treatment, he even talked like Bundy: "He said things to me, almost the same phrasing Ted Bundy had used in the canyon."

Bundy had said: "You don't have the right to cry and whine at me, you should be thanking me that you're still alive."

Her new boss: "In the same tone of voice ... 'Rhonda, you don't have the right to tell people I'm treating you unfairly ... you should be grateful you even still have a job.'"

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PTSD often takes years to hit, and it can be triggered by something as simple as a smell. In Rhonda's case, it was triggered by an asshole boss. She decided to reach out to other Bundy survivors in the hope that they might understand what she went through. Thankfully, by then the internet existed.

"I'd type things like 'who survived Ted Bundy' ... and I found this article, 'I Survived Ted Bundy' ... I figured out how to contact the author, and she became my secret pal. I talked to her. Her 'adventure' wasn't as intense ... but I could tell her things ... she encouraged me to find a counselor and really start healing. And so that's what I did."

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Rhonda also started reading up on some statistics about rape, whereupon she learned that the vast majority of women never report it. So she published her book, I Survived Ted Bundy: The Attack, Escape, And PTSD That Changed My Life. She did everything she could to talk about the assault. The assault she'd hidden for decades, mostly for fear that people would blame her for the whole thing or call her a liar. Can you guess what happened next?

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Go on, guess.

At least her publisher had warned her about this: "They call 'em Amazon trolls ... 20 minutes after it went live, people were giving it bad comments, saying a liar no one will believe it anyway." But people did listen to Rhonda's story. Ultimately, she's happy that she wrote the book, and happy that she said something. But she's also pretty pissed off at the "trolls."

"That part, sadly, has not changed in the 40 years since my experience. You still have girls in college campuses who will not come forward for the same reason. People blame the victim somehow. Really, the message is, 'It doesn't matter in sexual assault. It's never the victim's fault.'"

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For more, check out 7 Realities Of Surviving Mass Shootings The Media Leaves Out and We Were Impregnated By Our Rapists: 4 Bizarre Realities.

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WASHINGTON  Colleges and universities may not be able to change immigration law, but they can do more to help those students faced with losing their protection from deportation.

That was the message from a panel of immigration advocates this week who urged college students across the nation to push school administrators for policies that support and ensure the well-being of all undocumented students, with or without DACA protection.

Those policies could include safeguarding students from immigration enforcement, offering financial aid, and providing free legal services and consultation.

Theres no way that they (universities) can change immigration law, Juan Belman, an organizer with the University Leadership Initiative, said at the Thursday event organized by Generation Progress. So I think what universities can do is provide resources to students so that they can get an education.

But some state lawmakers pushed back against the idea Friday. While they expressed sympathy for DACA recipients, they said universities  like states  need to leave decisions on DACA to Congress.

In Arizona we dont have the direct authority to set immigration policy, at least the federal government keeps telling us that, said Rep. Bob Thorpe, R-Flagstaff. Im certainly hopeful that the folks in Washington will step up and make those decisions that theyve already told us at the state level were not allowed to make.

Those decisions include the fate of the roughly 800,000 immigrants protected by Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an Obama-era program that lets people apply to temporary protection from deportation if they were brought to the country illegally as children.

Critics have called that an example of presidential overreach, and the Trump administration announced last month that it will wind down DACA over the next six months, accepting no new applications and only renewing coverage for those people whose current protection was set to expire before March 5.

After that time, DACA recipients will become eligible for deportation when their coverage lapses, although Department of Homeland Security officials have said those people will be a low priority for removal.

The administration said the six-month wind-down was meant to give Congress time to approve a plan to protect current DACA recipients, and several lawmakers have introduced bills that would protect those immigrants and, ultimately, give them a path to citizenship.

In addition to calling for university support of DACA students, advocates at Thursdays event also said they want a vote on a clean Dream Act, the bill that would preserve all of the protections of DACA. But advocates dont want it amended to include language for a border wall or stiffer immigration enforcement  amendments that Attorney General Jeff Sessions said this week will be needed for any bill to be palatable to the administration.

The advocates said that until Congress acts, colleges should take steps to help DACA students who could face some tough choices in March. Their recommendations grew out of a survey that asked 24 schools what protections they provide DACA recipients on their campuses.

Among those were policies to bar local police and immigration enforcement from campus unless they had a warrant or subpoena authorizing an immigration action, to provide free legal and consultation services and ensure safe and affordable housing. Another proposal urged colleges to not enforce immigration law.

But Rep. Paul Mosley, R-Lake Havasu, warned that declaring a campus, or any place, a sanctuary space can backfire.

When you declare a sanctuary campus or a sanctuary city, youre waving a flag to people who are not the best of individuals, who dont have clean records, who might commit heinous acts of crime, said Mosley, although he added that those cases are rare, so very rare.

Mosley said universities are free to support their students and that he has compassion for DACA recipients and undocumented immigrants, most of whom he said are good people. But he would not support sanctuary campus policies.

No Arizona university has such a policy, but the schools have reached out to DACA students in other ways.

DACA recipients can currently qualify for in-state tuition at the states three public universities, all of which signed on to an American Council on Education letter  with hundreds of other schools  urging congressional leaders to take action to protect DREAMers. Officials at the campuses have also pledged various forms of support,

But Thorpe, who serve as vice chairman of the House Government and Higher Education Committee, pointed to a voter-approved 2006 ballot proposition that denies in-state tuition to undocumented students. Thorpe said he said he would not want to punish young people, especially people that are trying to get ahead in the world and get an education, but that the tuition question boils down to fairness.

If you have a student that is not an American citizen and that is receiving in-state tuition, that means that the taxpayers are paying a fee, theyre paying extra taxes to provide an incentive, a lower cost of tuition, Thorpe said.

But Belman called that a short-sighted approach.

Many of them dont know the reality and the benefits that having students go to college has, he said. Its a matter of understanding more of the issue and the benefits that will come with having an allowing undocumented students to have access to those same opportunities.
Channel programs News

Emerging U.K. SaaS Provider Automates Partner Program Certification, Rebate Tracking For Channel Giants Like Cisco, Microsoft, HPE

Alec Shirkey

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As channel programs become increasingly complex, particularly those offered by large vendors, solution providers often spend valuable time and resources staying compliant with certification and back-end rebate requirements.

Vortex 6, a U.K-based vendor that specializes in business enablement SaaS for the IT industry, aims to alleviate some of those burdens for partners with V6 Fusion, a cloud-based management software that automates tracking of compliance- and rebate-related requirements.

CEO Peter Olive said V6 Fusion allows solution providers to improve their bottom lines by reducing the administrative costs associated with managing channel program compliance and working to ensure they receive maximum benefit from incentives like Cisco's Value Incentive Program (VIP).

[Related: Tegile Partner SecureData Technologies Sees Promise Following Western Digital Investment]

"The whole thing is designed to make the channel partner more profitable," Olive told CRN.

Founded in 2009, Vortex 6 initially developed its flagship software for the Cisco channel after the company  formerly a member of the networking giant's Learning Partner program  realized how many solution providers had trouble juggling its intricate stipulations. Much of the tracking work was carried out manually, Olive said, with partners logging copious amounts of data on spreadsheets.

Also, the tools provided by Cisco and other vendors vary and are often not all-inclusive, putting the onus on partner to develop expertise.

Those problems led to the birth of V6 Fusion, which until recently was primarily designed for Cisco support. Within the past several months, however, Vortex 6 has quickly enhanced support for its 80 partner clients with HPE, Microsoft, Juniper, Oracle, VMware, RedHat and Citrix partner portal integrations. Olive said he hopes to add Dell EMC, IBM and Amazon Web Services to the list, as well.

The SaaS solution allows partners to manage and track compliance across all those channel programs through the V6 Fusion dashboard. From the dashboard, solution providers can check their existing compliance status within each vendor program and forecast whether any potential issues might arise in the upcoming weeks and months.

Olive said they could also enhance planning efforts by leveraging the platform's what-if analysis function. If a partner were to move up one tier within the Cisco program or add a technology specialization, for instance, V6 Fusion automatically calculates the would-be ramifications.

"That exercise can usually take one to two working days per vendor for a partner to do. Our software automates that and does it in seconds," Olive said.

The platform has reporting features that allow partners to track their capabilities and business skills, as well, allowing a company to more quickly respond to information and proposal requests.

Another channel program challenge solution providers often face revolves around resource constraint. Some larger partners can afford to hire a full-time partnership manager who then manages certification and rebate data on spreadsheets, but small and mid-size IT companies tend to rely on employees who have other responsibilities.

When staff turnover occurs, partners may not have a contingency plan in place, which can result in a significant financial loss via missed rebates. Olive said V6 Fusion helps users maintain business continuity with its built-in training, program specifications and certification exams.

Dana Steffey, president and CEO of O'Fallon, Ill.-based Secure Data Technologies, said the company needed six months to prepare for the initial certification audit to become a Cisco Gold Partner. Ensuring his businesses remains in that top-tier is another rigorous task made easier by using V6 Fusion, he said, particularly if he loses any technical expertise on short notice.

"People come and go. You can't necessarily control that. It's very expensive to certify engineers, and the idea of losing a $500,000 check because of an employee departure would make me throw up," Steffey told CRN.

Previously, Steffey said the 50-person Secure data had to rely on "many" employees to manually check its certifications and VIP requirements.

Vortex 6 has received "significant" interest in the software, according to Olive, who said IBM plans to integrate all of its partner specifications into V6 Fusion. Ingram Micro is helping onboard North American-based Microsoft, HPE and Juniper solution providers onto the platform, he added.

The vendor plans to expand its support and capabilities around V6 Fusion, as well, including new services and features such as modules that help partners manage infrastructure nearing end-of-life.

For busy solution provider executives like Steffey, whose companies are already facing significant pressures to adapt in a fast-paced IT world, being able to automate such a time-consuming, detail-oriented task is "huge."

"If a person's certification on a single test goes out of compliance, it puts me in a bad situation and could potentially cost me Gold or forfeit me back-end rebate dollars," Steffey said. "This allows me to track and keep a forward-looking view on my goals at the partnership level. I can say, 'In the next 120 days, does anyone in any field, any specialty go out of compliance?' It gives me that look so I'm not rushing at the last minute. I have time to proactively fix these."
Data center News

HPE Launches All Out AI Offensive, Pledges 30-50 Percent Savings Over Custom Appliances

Steven Burke

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Hewlett Packard Enterprise Wednesday launched a massive artificial intelligence (AI) sales offensive with Proliant and Apollo hardware platforms that undercut AI appliance prices by as much as 30-50 percent.

At the same time, HPE pledged an AI channel charge that will include solution provider behemoths, like CDW, and systems integrators.

The new HPE Platform for Rapid Deep Learning Application Development is comprised of HPE Proliant DL380 and the HPE Apollo 6500 systems, integrated tightly with Bright Computing's software for managing high performance computing clusters and NVIDIA's Tesla V100 GPUs.

[Related: HPE Set To Unleash Nimble InfoSight Artificial Intelligence On 3Par, Partners Call It An Enterprise Storage Game-Changer]

"This brings high performance computing power with deep learning to partners and customers at a fraction of the cost it was available previously," said Pankaj Goyal, vice president of the Artificial Intelligence Business for HPE. "These (image classification algorithm) reference designs from our labs are performance tested, best-in-class that are at least 30 to 50 percent cheaper than the nearest appliance. We are lowering the barrier to get started with AI and simplifying the adoption for our customers and channel partners."

Exact pricing was not available on the hardware platforms. "Our core philosophy is customers should have a low entry point on infrastructure costs," said Goyal.

Besides the Image Classification Design, HPE is also making available a Deep Learning Cookbook from its AI team designed to help partners select the best hardware-software stack for other deep learning tasks including multilayer perception (MLP) and video algorithms, said Goyal.

The new offerings strike at the heart of complaints from customers frustrated with the multitude of frameworks, tools and AI offerings that were far too complicated and confusing to put a stake in the ground in the fast moving AI applications market, said Goyal.

"We are giving our customers and channel partners an easier way to get started," he said. "What we are providing is an integrated software development environment with pre-embedded deep learning libraries and tools and auto updates."

The simplified approach is aimed at increasing the AI sales pipeline for partners, said Goyal. "We are training partners and developing joint marketing sales motions for AI targeted to specific workloads," he said. "We will be working jointly with partners to create a sales pipeline."

Erik Krucker, CTO at Comport Consulting, an HPE Platinum partner and No. 379 on the CRN Solution Provider 500, one of the top healthcare solution providers in the country, said he was excited about the stepped-up pace of AI innovation coming from HPE.

"It's a pretty big deal for HPE to put together cost-conscious reference architectures around cases such as image classification," he said.

"It's great that HPE is investing in the reference architectures so customers know these solutions are rock solid."

The image classification reference design on Proliant and Apollo could have a big impact on driving improved diagnostic capabilities from radiology reports that are analyzed by AI-based systems, said Krucker.

"AI is much better suited to figure out over time what has changed with a particular radiology image than humans could ever be," said Krucker. "Today, radiology image classification is a very human-intensive process fraught with problems. You have someone looking to see if there is an anomaly in an image compared to a previous image. This provides hospitals with the analytics to make better, more informed decisions. This is allowing clinicians to focus in on certain areas versus looking at a blank canvas. It puts the energy, focus and time where clinical capabilities should be focused."

Comport has been a leader in the AI healthcare charge and is already working closely with hospitals with the highly touted NVIDIA Tesla V100 GPUs, which are powering AI breakthroughs on Proliant and Apollo systems. "The fact that HPE is developing a deeper relationship with NVIDIA is great for us," said Krucker. "A lot of the AI number crunching and analytics is enabled by NVIDIA GPUs."

Key in the future is going to be marrying the Proliant and Apollo reference architectures with new technology breakthroughs like Nimble's AI-based Infosight predictive analytics and Aruba Niara. "That is going to allow us to put together entire AI-based solutions rather than selling bits and pieces," said Krucker.

Krucker applauded HPE CEO Meg Whitman for driving an innovation renaissance with a wide range of breakthroughs. "Meg has made HPE a technology leader," he said. "It's great Meg is focusing on innovation around both hardware with SGI and software like Nimble Infosight and Aruba Niara. It's great to see that HPE is not just stuck in the old world of pushing boxes. Hardware does matter, but the solution stack matters just as much. This is the first step in how HPE puts those two things together for AI."
PHOENIX -- Saying state law trumps local control, Attorney General Mark Brnovich ruled Tuesday that a Bisbee ordinance banning plastic bags is illegal.

Brnovich told Capitol Media Services that city attorney Britt Hanson presented several "compelling reasons'' why the community should be able to outlaw plastic bags and require retailers to charge a nickel for paper ones. And the attorney general said he understands the concerns about dealing with flyaway trash.

But he said all that is legally irrelevant.

The only thing that matters, Brnovich said, is that the Arizona Legislature voted last year to prohibit local governments from regulating "auxiliary containers.'' That means no fees or prohibitions on anything ranging from bottles and cans to bags.

And the attorney general said, the 2016 law spells out that lawmakers believe such issues are a matter of statewide concern and not subject to local regulations. That, Brnovich said, overrules the city's contention that the ban is strictly a local issue.

Brnovich, using the power granted to him under a separate 2016 law, gave the city 30 days to rescind the ordinance. And if the council refuses, the attorney general said he will direct the state treasurer to begin withholding Bisbee's share of state aid.

The more likely prospect is that the city will file suit, asking a judge to block the cash loss until there is a final ruling by a court on whether the ordinance really does conflict with the preemption.

Among the arguments will be that Bisbee is a "charter city'' with state constitutional powers to enact laws on strictly local matters. And Hanson contends that how the city deals with trash is strictly a local concern.

Bisbee Mayor Dave Smith said the council will discuss Brnovich's ruling -- and what to do next -- at its regularly scheduled Nov. 7 meeting, if not earlier given that 30-day deadline.

But the odds of the city winning a legal battle may not be good.

Earlier this year the Arizona Supreme Court looked at a Tucson ordinance which required police to destroy weapons that are seized or surrendered. Officials from that city argued that it, too, is a charter city and that what happens to guns is none of the state's business.

But the justices unanimously noted that the Legislature had approved various laws declaring the regulation of guns to be a "matter of statewide concern.'' And that, they concluded, overrode the city ordinance.

More to the point, the justices strongly suggested they believe that the right of charter cities to ignore state laws applies only in two areas: how and when cities conduct local elections and how they decide to sell or otherwise dispose of land.

And the question of bags clearly falls outside both areas.

The ordinance at issue prohibits retailers from providing free single-use plastic bags to customers; paper bags from recycled material can be provided with retailers required to charge a nickel.

The result, Hanson said said, has been a cleaner community and lower costs for retailers.

Brnovich said there's nothing wrong with that goal.

"I am very, very sympathetic to what the city of Bisbee is trying to do,'' he told Capitol Media Services.

"I think it's laudable,'' Brnovich continued. "In fact, in their response to us there was literally dozens and dozens of local businesses in Bisbee that liked this ban.''

But he said none of that overrules the state law barring cities from enacting such rules.

Still, Brnovich said, there are legal options.

"If the businesses in Bisbee and the folks in Bisbee want to voluntarily not use plastic bags, no one is stopping them from doing it,'' he said. And nothing in state law requires businesses to offer paper or plastic bags -- or any bags at all for that matter -- to their customers.

"I think that's the key,'' Brnovich said.

None of this would be an issue if the Legislature had not stepped in last year to preempt local regulation of auxiliary containers -- and specifically to overrule the Bisbee ordinance, which has been in place since 2013.

"We're protecting the individual business from being forced to do something,'' argued Rep. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, the sponsor of the legislation.

But there was also the fear that other cities, seeing what happened in Bisbee, might decide to strike out on their own. That got the attention of Tim McCabe, president of the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance ,which represents grocery stores and supermarkets.

"What if, for example, Phoenix banned 32-ounce fountain cups, Mesa put a deposit on water bottles, Peoria put a fee on all bags and Chandler banned plastic bags?'' he argued to lawmakers. And McCabe said such local control would create situations in urban areas where shoppers who want free bags could simply walk across the street to another market in another city.

Flagstaffs City Council launched an initiative in 2015 to regulate plastic bags but suspended it after state lawmakers passed the preemption law. The council on 4-3 vote in December 2015 rejected a request by Bisbee and several other cities to join a lawsuit challenging the state law.

The preemption had support from the Arizona Restaurant Association. Its lobbyist said her establishments do not want limits on take-out bags, which often carry the establishment's logo and become part of their marketing.

In approving that measure, lawmakers spelled out they want to avoid putting a burden on small businesses that are "particularly sensitive to costs and expenses incurred in complying with regulatory actions.''

Separate from that, Brnovich told Capitol Media Services that lawmakers had a good reason for keeping each community from enacting its own rules.

"What the Legislature is trying to do is make sure that you don't have dozens and dozens of different ordinances or contradictory city ordinances all around the state, frankly causing havoc,'' he said.
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I am a rather antsy person who hates waiting. I am the one shifting and muttering to myself in the ticket line, at customer service or waiting in the doctors office. The exception to this deep character flaw is Westfair Fish & Chips where I have no trouble waiting for my food to be prepared. This is not fast food, but it is great food and well worth ones time.

If you are used to dining at any of a number of Connecticuts shoreline seafood places, many with a lovely view of the ocean, let me warn you in advance that Westfair Fish & Chips will not tickle your nautical soul. There is no view, except from the two tiny tables set outside from which you can admire the parking-lot macadam.

This small restaurant is hidden behind a row of shops directly on the Post Road. You may have to drive back and forth before you find the right driveway, but if you see an old-fashioned shoemakers store, it is next door.

this is everything #friedclams #chowder #westfairfish #cteats #weekendwithmads A post shared by Kate Telfeyan (@katetelfeyan) on Jul 31, 2015 at 6:45pm PDT

last crucial stop ? A post shared by Lizzie Lawlor (@egl85) on Apr 26, 2017 at 2:49pm PDT

Westfair is a plain-looking place not at all romantic or soul stirring unless your heart and soul are sent into rapture by stellar food. Westfair has been wildly successful since it opened in 1985 for no reason beyond that the seafood and chowders made here are prime quality and more then make up for the lack of ambiance. When you dine here, you will order from a small window at the counter that abuts the kitchen. You can choose to eat inside or ask for your meal as takeout.

More Information Westfair Fish & Chips Westfair Shopping Center 1781 Post Road E., Westport See More Collapse

The menu is classic shoreline fare. There are chowders of various intensities and taste, some are creamy, some clear, and all taste perfectly aquatic and saline. There is heavy coral-colored lobster bisque, clear Rhode Island chowder that is the distilled essence of the sea, a tomato-based Manhattan chowder, as well as classic creamy ivory-hued New England chowder. All are made from scratch, one more delicious then the next.

When you first look at the menu at Westfair Fish & Chips you might be shocked by all the choices. It looks lavish, but is in fact elemental. The seemingly endless choices come down to clams, sole, fish, scallops, oysters and lobster rolls. The length of the menu is due to Westfair Fish and Chips offering all these good things as dinner (large portion), lunch (medium portion) or side orders (small portion).

After you have chosen the size of your meal the big decision is fried or broiled. Although, as my last meal I could happily chose the fried shrimp or whole belly clams, I have strayed into the realm of broiled and all I can say is you will not be disappointed.

#lobsterbisque is my safe word! #westport A post shared by Joe Gelini (@joegelini) on Aug 19, 2017 at 4:26pm PDT

The dinners (served on paper plates) come with coleslaw, tarter sauce, lemon wedges, macaroni or potato salad and French fries. For an additional 95 cents you can substitute onion rings. The onion rings (thin and crisp) are some of the best anywhere so I encourage you to spend the extra buck.

If you miss the ocean do as I do, get your order to go, and drive a few miles to the Southport beach where you can commandeer a picnic table as the seagulls screech overhead.

When newly opened restaurants ask my advice, I always say, Keep it simple. Find a handful of things you do really well and stick with that. Westfair Fish & Chips knew the formula and has kept its compass focused without feeling the need to add trendy dishes, cocktails or clever desserts.

With Uli at best fish and chips place. A post shared by Ms (@msab52) on May 6, 2016 at 10:58am PDT

The only restaurants exempted from The Stern Rule of Restaurant Minimalism are old-style Greek diners with menus the size of a telephone book. How wonderful that I am in a Naugahyde booth where you can get ham and eggs, coq au vin, a gyro, cheese blintzes or filet mignon with bearnaise sauce.

Note to Westfair Fish & Chips: Dont franchise, dont expand. Keep doing what you are doing. Continue to make everything from scratch as you do now.

Note to hungry readers: Run, do not walk to Westfair Fish & Chips. Be a big spender and order the onion rings, and put the whole-belly fried clams and the Rhode Island Chowder on your gratitude list.

Jane Stern, a Ridgefield resident, coauthored the popular Roadfood guidebook series with Michael Stern. Join her each week as she travels Fairfield County far and wide finding a great meal in some unexpected places for $20 or less.
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DERBY  They traded barbs, they defended their positions, and they discussed their visions for the future.

And as expected the proposed conversion of Marshall Lane Manor into a dormitory for high school students from China; the long-delayed Route 34/Main Street widening project, and the vacant Walmart and Adams Supermarket sites dominated much of Tuesdays night debate between two-term Mayor Anita Dugatto and Richard Dziekan, her repeat Republican challenger.

Nearly 250 people braved the pouring rain to hear the pair pitch for votes at the high school auditorium. The race which Dziekan, lost by 112 votes in 2015, is believed to be the closest in the Valley.

Dziekan, a 52-year-old lifelong city resident and retired Hamden police officer, opened the debate, sponsored by the online Valley Independent Sentinel, by claiming the city needs a fresh start.

Were all scratching our heads wondering why our taxes are increasing, our grand list falling, our savings are nearly gone, and why cant we seem to get things moving, he said in his opening statement.

He said his days in the U.S. Air Force, followed by 24 years as a Hamden police officer and the last year working as Ansonia Mayor David Cassettis right-hand man, have given him the knowledge to lead Derby through these difficult days.

Dugatto, a 60-year-old dentist who works and lives downtown, maintained she is leading Derby. She pointed out involving residents in developing the U-shaped plan that may someday re-create the downtown. She blamed the falling grand list on revaluation during the real estate crash and pointed out she cut expenses to avoid a tax increase this year.

But for much of the 90 minutes, Dziekan reverted to his police officer days, questioning the mayor as if she were a suspect in one of his investigations. He asked her about failing to communicate with her alderman and the residents. He used the last minute request for Aldermanic approval of $41,000 for a water pollution control engineering study just days before a threatened state fine as an example. And he blamed the mayor for failing to keep residents informed of the Marshall Lane Manor proposal.

And it this wasnt enough, Dziekan pointed out that seven of the citys eight Democratic alderman and hundreds of Derby residents sided with Carmen DiCenso in the September primary that Dugatto won by 30 votes.

Dugatto had prepared for the attack. She said the $41,000 required study frequently was mentioned in the public works directors monthly report to the aldermen.

Regarding Marshall Lane Manor, she said that is a process before the Planning and Zoning Commission that was publicized on the citys website.

As for the primary, the mayor reminded Dziekan the citys residents chose her over DiCenso.

She then lashed back at the Republicans saying she had to clean up messes left behind by the administration of former Mayor Anthony Staffieri.

When my administration came into City Hall we revealed a pattern of negligence, costly lawsuits and blatant incompetence, she said. This included reaching a $675,000 settlement on a $4 million U.S. Department of Environmental Protection lawsuit over their cleanup of OSullivans Island, dealing with $31 million in upgrades to the citys water pollution control facilities and purchasing new technology for City Hall after the state blackballed its computer system for uploading viruses.

That led to her asking Dziekan how he could allow to run Anthony Staffieri, the former mayor, as his treasurer candidate  a key position in managing the citys finances.

Dziekan said the choice was made by the Republican Town Committee.

The Republican challenger countered by accusing the mayor of wasting $60,000 on a part-time economic development director who he said is now applying for a job in Sarasota, Fla.

Dziekan said he would hire a full-time economic developer director to promote Derby, attend trade shows and seek investments and grants.

Walmart and Adams are sitting there idle, he said of the two vacant box stores that have forced city residents on Route 34 to travel to Pershing Drive or Milford for groceries and goods.

Dugatto explained the buildings sit on private property handled by a leasing company who she calls for monthly updates.

At the end the crowd was divided.

Some like Mike Alberta believes Derby needs a new face like Dziekans to shake things up.

Others like Paula Gianpoalo support Dugatto and fear Dziekan is too close to Cassetti.
BRIDGEPORTThe barber killed protecting his customers and colleagues Oct. 15 will be buried on Saturday, according to family members.

Deon Bishop Rodney, 31, was finishing his shift at Just Right Cutz at 500 Park Avenue when he was shot dead by a masked man looking for a client of the barbershop, according to police.
Three boys playing around a treehouse got into some sort of disagreement Saturday in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, apparently leading one of them to fire a crossbow toward the other two.

The arrow, fired by a 13-year-old, entered the left side of 10-year-old Austin Almanza in the area of his lower torso, Lincoln County Sheriff Charlie Dougherty said at a news conference Monday. It exited on the other side.

The arrow kept traveling and stuck in the arm of Austin's brother, Ayden, 8, who was standing just to the side Austin.

Austin was pronounced dead on the scene, Dougherty said. Ayden was treated at a hospital and released.

J Pat Carter/Getty Images

Oklahoma News4 reported some of the text of the 911 call.

"Dispatch: 911. 'Can I help you?'

"Caller: 'One of the neighbors . . . I guess an arrow went through one of the kids and stuck in the other one.'"

And later:

"Dispatch: 'I need everybody there to calm down. I need you guys to try and get the people that are injured to sit down and be still.'

"Caller: 'I've got him calmed down. The other one is over in the bushes.'

"Dispatch: 'We have everybody headed your way.'

"Caller: 'Okay. Please hurry.'"

The name of the 13-year-old was not released because he is a juvenile. No charges have been filed so far, though the boy is in custody. No information was available about the type or brand of the crossbow, which come in many forms with different degrees of power and range.

While the projectile fired was described as an arrow, some types of crossbows fire bolts.

Dougherty said the crossbow shooting was not an accident.

"Ten-year-old Austin's not dead because of an accident," he said. "He's dead because of an action that took place. . . . We are investigating it as a homicide."

Dougherty said the boys were friends who often played together in the treehouse near a vacant lot in the neighborhood.

While he said he was unaware of any particular bad blood between the boys, Dougherty said investigators believe that some sort of "disagreement" led up to the incident. Right now, he said, deputies are getting "conflicting" stories from the boys and are still piecing together how the tragedy unfolded.

The two victims attend White Rock Elementary School in the town of McLoud. The superintendent, Bob Gragg, told NewsOK that they were "very well-mannered, very polite young men."

"We're certainly heartbroken and saddened on behalf of the school community and certainly the family," he told the station. "We're just a small school, a small community and it hits hard just like it would in any family."

---

https://youtu.be/aRvnzOmWbec
State Police said a 24-year-old man was driving under the influence in a hit-and-run accident.

When police later located the drivers vehicle, it struck a troopers cruiser.

The incident began around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday on eastbound Interstate 84 in West Hartford.

State Police said Ryan Ragalis, who was driving a 2003 Dodge Ram pickup truck, sideswiped a vehicle and proceeded to evade the accident scene.

A trooper later located Ragalis truck entering I-84 west in West Hartford.

The vehicle was stopped, but then attempted to go around a State Police cruiser, according to the arrest report. The truck was stopped after it struck the cruiser.

State police say the trooper and the driver of the sideswiped vehicle were not injured.

A check determined that Ragalis was driving with a suspended license.

He also failed a sobriety test and was taken into custody, police said.

Ragalis was charged with with driving with a suspended license, evading responsibility and failure to drive in the proper lane.

Ragalis, who lives in New Britain, was released after posting a $2,500 bond. He is to appear in court on Nov. 16.
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At a time when parts of Connecticut was moving into a drought, an autumn storm brought much needed rain on Tuesday.

Rainfall totals topped nearly 5 inches in Naugatuck and more than 3 inches inches in Shelton, Milford and Trumbull. It was the most rain weve had since last spring.

The storm also brought gusty winds throughout the day, downing trees, branches, autumn leaves and power lines. Just before midnight, Eversource reported more than 4,300 customers without power.

That number was down to a few hundred Wednesday morning. At 6 a.m., Eversource was reporting more than 400 customers without power in such communities as Darien, Norwalk and Danbury. Hardest hit towns in Eversources coverage area were in central and eastern Connecticut.

United Illuminating was reporting 120 customers have no electricity in Orange and East Haven.

The line of strong thunderstorms rolled into western Connecticut Tuesday night. Many of those storms produced heavy rain and strong winds that blew down trees, branches and leaves. Some thunder claps were so loud Tuesday night that houses shook.

Strongest wind gusts recorded Tuesday included 39 mph at White Plains airport, near Greenwich; 38 mph at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford; 36 at Tweed-New Haven in East Haven; 35 at Oxford and Meriden airports; and 30 at Danbury airport.

Just before midnight Tuesday, the National Weather Service said rainfall totals were 2.58 at Sikorsky airport, 2.09 inches in Easton, 1.95 inches in Westport and 0.85 of an inch at Danbury airport.

More Information How much rain fell? Naugtauck: 4.70 inches Prospect: 4.61 inches Stratford: 4.60 inches Cheshire: 4.30 inches Wallingford: 4.07 inches Shelton: 3.80 inches Milford: 3.20 inches Trumbull: 3.04 inches Monroe: 2.35 inches Norwalk: 1.06 inches Bethel: 0.91 of an inch Brookfield: 0.81 of an inch Darien: 0.74 of an inch Source: Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network See More Collapse

The heavy rain caused the NWS to issue a flash flood warning for southern Fairfield County and western New Haven County.

On Tuesday night, police reported numerous cars stuck on flooded streets. Storm drains clogged with leaves made the flooding conditions worse. State Police closed Route 8 north in Shelton because the highway was flooded. A state Department of Transportation crew was sent to unclog storm drains on the highway.

The forecast

Wednesday: Showers likely, mainly before 7 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 64. Southwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. South wind around 6 mph becoming northwest after midnight.

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 62. Northwest wind 7 to 13 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 43. Northwest wind 7 to 13 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 62. West wind 5 to 7 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 66.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.

Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.
PHOENIX -- Facing a barrage of questions and criticism, the State Board of Education voted Monday to take another look at its new system for grading schools.

The unanimous vote means that some schools which found themselves with preliminary grades of D and F could move up. That's important because parents use these grades to make decisions about where to send their children to school.

It could also means more A grades. That, in turn, has financial implications with those schools eligible for additional state dollars.

But a revamp may not create all positive results, with some schools potentially finding out that they are not performing as well -- at least by state standards -- as they had initially been told.

The move came amid questions about whether the data used to give out grades ranging from A to F is accurate. There also were issues raised about whether information was properly coded.

But many of the problems appear to be associated with the board's decision on how much weight to give student improvement versus actual achievement.

That was inserted in a bid to ensure that lower-performing schools in high poverty areas had a chance to get high grades because their students were improving. But officials from some higher performing schools said that's not fair to them because their students already were scoring at the peak and therefore have nowhere to go -- and no way to earn improvement points.

What may be worse is that the grading plan may not have produced the desired results.

Board member Patricia Welborn said an analysis she did shows that among schools where 70 percent or more of students were eligible because of low income for free or reduced-price lunches, fewer than 5 percent earned an A grade. Conversely, a quarter were rated D or F.

At the other extreme, she said, more than 54 percent of schools with fewer than 30 percent of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches earned an A; 90 percent were rated A or B.

And there were no schools in that category earning an F.

"I'm very concerned that one of the fundamental rules that we intended not to happen has happened,'' she told her colleagues.

She wants a special Technical Assistance Committee being formed to look at the results to take a closer look to find out why that happened.

"Is there something we can tweak in our calculation that would remove this influence?'' she continued. "I'm really concerned that we have too few high-poverty schools that are represented in the top areas.''

And then are problems with schools that the system wasn't designed to handle.

In essence, the grading is based on one set of standards for K-8 schools and another for 9-12.

But a tearful Mary Jo Mulligan, principal of the Thunderbolt Middle School in Lake Havasu City, said the decision to squeeze her school of 900 seventh and eighth graders into that system result in it getting an F, the only one in the county. Before this, she told board members, it had never been rated less than a B.

"I'm not here to make excuses,'' she said.

But Mulligan detailed the things she believes a grading system should take into account that apparently didn't matter, ranging from a high attendance rate and high school safety to eight exploratory classes that lead to high school career and technical education pathways as well as advanced classes in English, science and algebra.

And she said her seventh graders met the state average test scores in English language arts and exceeded those score in math.

Tim Carter, president of the state board, said the complaints are in many ways not a surprise.

"All of us knew going in that with a new grading system, based on all you've heard today, that issues were going to arise,'' he told his colleagues.

Carter said that's part of the reason that the grades that were made public earlier this month were determined to be preliminary, with the potential they can be changed.

The problems with the grading system are being monitored by aides to Gov. Doug Ducey.

It was Ducey who put $38 million into the budget for this year to be divided up among high-performing schools.

This year it was parceled out based on scores on the AzMERIT standardized tests. But the plan for next year is to use the new school grades.

Gubernatorial press aide Daniel Scarpinato said his boss wants to make sure the money is going where it was designed -- and that the final grading system approved by the board does that.

"Some of his priorities are that it's something that certainly takes into account the very different nature of some schools and that we find a way to objectively identify which schools are doing well and which ones need improvement,'' he said.

And Scarpinato said the findings linking grades to poverty underline why "getting the formula right'' is important.

"A school that may be dealing with a unique population, a unique issue, might have very high poverty issues, that the model is taking that into account so that we can truly understand what's happening there,'' he said.

But Scarpinato said his boss is having no second thoughts about providing financial incentives to high-performing schools -- assuming the formula truly identifies them -- because the funds can be used for everything from bonuses for teachers to helping a charter school expand to accommodate more children.

Charter schools have their own concerns.

Eileen Sigmund, president of the Arizona Charter School Association, told board members more than half of those schools didn't get a grade, some of that because of their own non-traditional grade configurations. And those that did, she said, ended up with "significantly different'' scores than last year.

Sigmund blames much of that on the new grading formula putting more emphasis on improvement than academic achievement. The result, she said, is schools whose students already are performing at maximum levels are penalized because they don't get points for improvement.

Carter said that issue of grading schools with "non-traditional grade configurations'' goes beyond the fact that there are middle schools that do not fit the grading system. Carter said he has seen, for example, districts with K-5 elementary schools and high schools with students in grades 6-12.

There's even one with all 12 grades in a single school. All that, Carter said, is within the legitimate power of local school boards.

Then there's the question of data, specifically schools claiming one set of numbers and a different being used by the Department of Education to compute grades.

"I'm not pointing fingers anyplace,'' Carter said. "I don't think that does us any good.''

But he said those numbers, including things like graduation rates, are important because they can make a significant difference in the grade a school gets.

A related issue, he said, is how those numbers were put into the grading system.

"If there are coding issues and they're widespread, that is something we're going to have to deal with,'' he said.
The woman behind Scientology's controversial leader, David Miscavige, mysteriously disappeared a decade ago after issuing executive orders without his permission. Rumors have swirled about her whereabouts. Some question if she is even alive. Scientology escapee Janis Grady is speaking out with details and insights into this mysterious disappearance.

The Las Vegas gunman's brother was detained in Los Angeles. Bruce Paddock, 58, is being held on child pornography charges and had been under investigation since before the shooting. Get the details.

There are no leads or suspects in Tampa, Florida where authorities are on the hunt for a possible serial killer after three victims were shot and killed in 11 days. Tampa's Interim Chief Brian Dugan has an update.

This is one closely watched baby bump. Kim Kardashian's surrogate was spotted and caught on camera. Take a look.

Actress Heather Lind is accusing former President George H.W. Bush of touching her inappropriately. She claims it happened from his wheelchair and right in front of his wife as their photo was taken to promote a historical movie four years ago. The former president issued a response to DailyMail.com apologizing and explaining what he says happened.
A 64-year-old woman has opened up about how she was swindled out of $100,000 after falling for a man she'd never met.

Patricia Meister, from Queensland, struck up an online relationship with who she thought was a dashing middle-aged businessman after he sent her a friend request on Facebook in 2015.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the woman revealed the moment she fell head over heels in love, before discovering her Italian lover named 'Carlos' was a Nigerian fraudster.

Patricia Meister (pictured), from Queensland, has opened up about how she was swindled out of $100,000 after falling for a man who she'd never met

Ms Meister said the man seemed keen to share every aspect of his life with her when he messaged her every single day.

'I'd never been on dating websites, and I only used Facebook for business. So when I got the friend request, I thought it couldn't do any harm, can it?,' she said.

'I guess at the time, I was going through a period in my life where I felt isolated. I'd been single for a while and I'd never been on dating sites.

'We started chatting. He was charming, smart and educated. He was very good with English and he was very romantic. I was very much in love with him at one stage.'

She said the man who claimed he was based in Brisbane had told her he was working in interior design and his heritage was Italian and Scottish.

The 64-year-old struck up an online relationship with a dashing middle-aged businessman after he sent her a friend request on Facebook in 2015

The pair exchanged messages on a daily basis before he started calling her in 2015

The pair exchanged messages on a daily basis before he started calling her to have phone conversations.

'When I first spoke to him, I heard his voice but he had a different accent to what I'd expected. I remember thinking "what is that accent?" I couldn't place his accent.

'I wasn't familiar with his accent at the time, but thinking about it now, he was definitely African... He was Nigerian.'

Despite casting some doubts on him, Ms Meister continued speaking to him as the weeks passed.

Within eight weeks into their relationship, 'Carlos' asked her if she could lend him $600 because his credit card wouldn't work when he was in Malaysia for a project.

'It didn't feel right but I thought "well, it's not a huge amount of money to lose". It wasn't a huge request so I did a wire transfer to him,' she recalled.

'A part of me thought it was wrong so I questioned him, saying "you're a businessman, your credit card should work..." His story didn't add up.'

The 64-year-old woman revealed the moment she fell head over heels, only to find out her Italian lover named 'Carlos' was a Nigerian fraudster

But his request for money didn't end there. He would make up a different excuse each time he asked her for money.

'Carlos' was planning a trip home to Brisbane when his goods were held up in Malaysian customs. And so he needed a payment to retrieve them.

'The first amount I sent him was $7,000. When he went to get the money, he told me he needed another $7,000,' she recalled.

'Everything he said was backed up by "documents" - and there was always a lawyer in the background when we spoke over the phone.

'When he tried to pay me back, he said his bank couldn't do the large international transfer so he arranged for a courier to deliver the cash instead.'

Ms Meister said she was given a link to a website with a 'tracking sheet', in which she kept a close eye on the parcel's movement.

Despite casting some doubts on the man, Ms Meister continued speaking to the man as the weeks passed - but he started asking for money

But when the parcel reached Kuala Lumpur airport, there was a $25,000 fee to let the cash leave the country.

'Carlos had listed my business address on the documents so I was worried. I thought, "God, there's a brief case full of money with my name on it",' she said.

'By that time, I thought it might look suspicious if I let my money in my name sit there, I was kind of thinking "well I've got to pay this money to get my money back".

She made the big payment but when the parcel got to Melbourne airport, she was hit with another fee.

'I pretty much paid it. Money was getting hard to find. He pretty much picked up the last amount of my money,' she said.

He tried to request more money to cover his medical fees but at that point, I had gone through my last dollar

On the day she was scheduled to supposedly get the parcel with the money she'd been promised, she received a phone call.

'I got a phone call from someone saying Carlos and his lawyer had been in a serious car accident so they needed money for medical expenses,' she recalled.

'My stomach dropped to my shoes. I knew at that point, I'd been scammed.'

She didn't pay for their medical fees - and the pair stopped talking for about a week.

'He then tried to request more money to cover his medical fees but at that point, I had gone through my last dollar,' she said.

'I couldn't pay him anymore and I even told him I wasn't going to send him any more money. Shortly after that, he made a "miraculous recovery" but I'd stopped talking to him by then.'

Ms Meister even tried to report the incident to police but there was nothing they could do after she was conned out of $100,000 in total

Ms Meister even tried to report the incident to police but there was nothing they could do after she was conned out of $100,000 in total.

And two months later, she received a text message from Carlos, saying: 'This is all a terrible misunderstanding.'

Without a second thought, Ms Meister fired back: 'You're a scammer'.

'After I accused him of being a scammer, he ended our conversation with: "Catch me if you can, my dear",' she recalled.

Ms Meister said she eventually found a support group called Romance Scams Now where women share similar tales of their ordeals.

I know I'll never get my money back but all you can do is raise awareness. There's a lot of lonely people out there, the dating websites are riddled with scammers

'I used to hear about the TV stars who were scammed and remembered thinking "how can you send money to someone like that?",' she recalled.

'I think I was sort of aware but I had no idea these things could be so complex or how well developed they are. It's a worldwide business, it's very difficult to catch them because they're sitting behind a computer.

'People think you're stupid but they're not walking in our shoes. It's not a matter of being stupid. Even the most intelligent, educated women are getting scammed.

'I know I'll never get my money back but all you can do is raise awareness. There's a lot of lonely people out there, the dating websites are riddled with scammers.'
A woman who had her heart broken when her boyfriend came out as gay has turned her pain into a feature-length documentary about others in the same position.

Monica Davidson is quite open about her heartache over falling in love with a gay man - and she is now determined to chronicle the plight of other straight women who have wandered down the same glitter-covered rabbit hole.

In fact, the 46-year-old from Sydney is almost ready to debut her own film about it which is over a decade in the making.

'The funny thing about women falling in love with gay men, is that the woman has always been painted as a bit of an idiot,' Monica told FEMAIL.

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Monica Davidson (pictured) is quite open about her heartache over falling in love with a gay man - and she is now determined to chronicle the plight of other straight women who have wandered down the same glitter-covered rabbit hole.

The now 46-year-old (pictured when she was younger) says she had her heart broken into a million pieces at the age of 20

'People ask: "How could she not have have known?" and women have really tortured themselves over that.'

Crestfallen when her in-the-closet boyfriend dumped her as an impressionable 20-year-old, the mother-of-three says ladies in the same boat are often the subject of ridicule, rather than pity.

'Because he wasn't out publicly I then had to say he didn't love me, but it wasn't true, he just didn't love me in that way,' Monica explained.

'I bore the brunt of that and I carried it on my 20-year-old shoulders.'

She describes herself as a fierce advocate for gay equality in Australia but is hell-bent on sharing the unsung story of the straight women who are the gays' 'staunchest allies'.

Monica has spent the past 12 years funding and creating a documentary called 'Handbag' which she says celebrates and shines a light on the straight, female support network for the LGBTQ community.

Monica (pictured with her daughters) describes herself as a fierce advocate for gay equality in Australia but is hell-bent on sharing the unsung story of the straight women who are the gay's 'staunchest allies'

Monica (pictured with her Mardi Gras float) has spent the past 12 years funding and creating a documentary called 'Handbag' which she says celebrates and shines a light on the straight, female support network for the LGBTQ community.

The mother-of-three (pictured) has spent the past 12 years funding and creating a documentary called 'Handbag'

'The main reason I wanted to make the documentary was because I've been surrounded by women - me included - who have so unwavering in their support of male gay friends,' she said.

'Everyone gets to have their shiny moment in the sun - so I thought, hang on, where's our time?'

The amateur filmmaker says her own grandmother acted as a 'beard', which meant she pretended to be a male friend's girlfriend when being gay was a crime, and her mother was a volunteer during the AIDS epidemic of the 1990s.

While she is now happily married with three daughters, Monica explains her early heartache over a gay man was the catalyst for a lifetime of friendships with gay men.

The confusing rejection of a former lover coming out as gay is something Monica describes as happening to 'more women than we know' in Australia.

'The main reason I wanted to make the documentary was because I've been surrounded by women - me included - who have so unwavering in their support of male gay friends,' Monica explained (Pictured with her friends)

While she is now happily married with three daughters, Monica explains her early heartache over a gay man was the catalyst for a lifetime of friendships with gay men

The confusing rejection of a former lover coming out as gay is something Monica describes as happening to 'more women than we know' in Australia

'In this narrative women are relegated to being the stupid girl falling in love with someone she shouldn't have,' she said.

'What is remarkable about these women's stories, is they dont turn that heartbreak into homophobia, they turn it into support. It is telling of conditional love.

'We are sharing an important message but sharing it with sparkles and rainbows.'

Monica says that - while the documentary has been years in the making - it is now particularly topical in light of Australia's gay marriage debate.

She hopes the crowd-funded film will also encourage women to continue being strong supporters of the homosexual community even when the fight for marriage equality is over.

The amateur filmmaker says her own grandmother acted as a 'beard', which meant she pretended to be a male friend's girlfriend when being gay was a crime, and her mother (pictured) was a volunteer during the AIDS epidemic of the 1990s

Monica says that - while the documentary has been years in the making - it is now particularly topical in light of Australia's gay marriage debate (Still from Handbag pictured)

Monica and fellow producers of Handbag the Movie are optimistic filming will be finished by 2018 and that it will have both theatrical and online releases

'It's easy to believe tat because for the majority the fight is over, we were worried that the f*g hag is going to vanish. Is she going to from the tragic figure of fun to a state of invisibility?' Monica said.

'She's played an important role in the last 80 years of gay history. She doesn't have to fight so hard anymore, but it's not over yet - there are over 70 countries where being gay is still a crime.'

Monica and fellow producers of Handbag the Movie are optimistic filming will be finished by 2018 and that it will have both theatrical and online releases.

Her grassroots production includes interviews with gay men who have broken the hearts of straight women.
A great-grandmother who has won over millions of Instagram fans thanks to her unique, fluo-powered, at times revealing and always colorful style, has embarked on a trip around the world to fulfill her bucket list.

Baddie Winkle, 89, rose to social media fame in April 2014 after her granddaughter posted a photo of her in a rainbow-colored shirt, fringed denim jeans, and socks with pink cannabis leaves on them.

Since then, Baddie, a native of Hazard, Kentucky who grew up on a farm and worked at a machine parts factory for 28 years, has become a style icon with 3.2 million Instagram followers. Her fans include Miley Cyrus, Rihanna and Nicole Richie.

Off she goes! Instagram superstar and great-grandmother Baddie Winkle, 89, has embarked on a trip around the world to fulfill her bucket list

It begins: For her first stop, Baddie visited the Niagara Falls in Canada with Kennedy, her 21-year-old great-granddaughter, who is tagging along for the trip

Cheers! Baddie, a native of Hazard, Kentucky, crossed off her second list item in New York City, where she learned how to mix cocktails at The Roof, a rooftop bar at the Viceroy hotel

Hello there! The social media megastar, born Helen Ruth Elam Van Winkle, later visited the Dallas Cowboys at their home stadium in Arlington, Texas

Flying high: As part of her incredible journey, Baddie also took a helicopter above the Grand Canyon. The style icon wore a fluffy red jacket on the occasion

Making friends: After her Grand Canyon adventure, Baddie headed to Rio De Janeiro in Brazil, where volleyball players posed for photos with her on Ipanema Beach

Now we dance: In Brazil, Baddie also took a samba class. She is pictured in the festive outfit she wore on that day

After conquering the world of social media, Baddie, born Helen Ruth Elam Van Winkle, is now traveling around the planet with her first great-granddaughter Kennedy, 21. Their itinerary spans the US, Canada, Brazil, the UK, Ireland and France, and they are due to tick off one bucket list item in each spot.

The pair began their adventure earlier this month and headed to the Niagara Falls. Baddie, who has traveled internationally, had seen them before, but it was a first for Kennedy, who devised the bucket list with her great-grandmother.

'It is one of the wonders of the world,' Baddie told Femail about their Niagara Falls excursion.

'I was really excited for [Kennedy]. It was more exciting to see her reaction. It was for me too, because I hadn't been there in years and it had changed a lot.'

For her second stop on her bucket list tour - which she planned in collaboration with Hotels.com - Baddie learned to mix cocktail at The Roof, a rooftop bar at the Viceroy hotel in New York City. With the help of a professional mixologist, she learned how to make three drinks, including an Elyx Cup, which combines Absolute Elyx vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, cucumber, mint and prosecco.

Adventure: Baddie's itinerary spans the US, Canada, Brazil, the UK, Ireland and France. She is especially looking forward to visiting Paris and Dublin for the first time

Enjoying herself: The great-grandmother (pictured with the professional mixologist who taught her to mix drinks in New York) seems to be relishing her new life

Accessories: Baddie (pictured in Arlington, Texas) has been leaning on a fabulous bedazzled walking stick, covered in sparkly stones from top to bottom, throughout her trip

Active: While in Rio, Baddie posed for a beachside snap on Ipanema Beach on the same day she hung out with volleyball players

Sunny day: Baddie took time to pose for a few cheeky snaps with the volleyball players on Ipanema Beach, resting on a rainbow pool float

She then visited the Dallas Cowboys at their home stadium in Arlington, Texas and flew in a helicopter across the Grand Canyon.

Baddie later flew to Rio De Janeiro, where she hung out with volley ball players on Ipanema Beach, and also attended a samba class with locals.

BADDIE WINKLE'S BUCKET LIST 1. Chase waterfalls in Niagara Falls 2. Mix cocktails at a New York City rooftop bar 3. Score a touchdown with a Dallas Cowboy 4. Ride a helicopter across the Grand Canyon 5. Take a samba class with the locals in Rio de Janeiro 6. Watch hunky volleyball players on Ipanema Beach 7. Bag herself a prince at Buckingham Palace in London 8. Enjoy an eye-popping performance at the Moulin Rouge in Paris 9. Sing, dance and drink in a traditional Irish pub in Dublin 10. Spend the night reveling at the G-A-Y nightclub London Advertisement

Then, Baddie ambitions to find herself a prince at Buckingham Palace in London, after which she will be ready for her two most-awaited destinations: Paris and Dublin.

In the French capital, she will enjoy a show at the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret, before singing, dancing and drinking at a traditional pub in the Irish metropolis.

Her trip will end in London, where she's scheduled to party at the G-A-Y nightclub in London.

There, Baddie will meet up with one fan, who will benefit from a free hotel night as part of the great-grandmother's partnership with Hotels.com.

During her travels, Baddie, whose social media tagline reads 'sealing your man since 1928', has kept her usual colorful style. She rocked a rainbow poncho to shield herself from humidity at the Niagara Falls, a shiny pastel perfecto in Dallas, and a fuzzy red jacket while flying above the Grand Canyon.

The stylish great-grandmother has also been leaning on a bedazzled walking stick, covered in sparkly stones from top to bottom.

Baddie's trip around the world comes as she enjoys this unexpected second act, which came after what she has described as a 'tragic' part of her life.

Popular: Baddie's trip around the world (she is pictured in the Grand Canyon) comes as she enjoys this unexpected second act, which has seen her gather 3.2 million fans

Owning it: The grandmother (pictured with former Dallas Cowboys coach Barry Switzer) told Femail she has always been ahead of her time and daring with her style

Comments: Her friends, Baddie told Femail, have been very supportive of her online adventure, although they don't always love her outfitsnot that she cares

Wisdom: To those who would like to dress like her, Baddie recommends: 'If you really like something that I'm wearing, go and buy it. Buy something similar and flaunt it, baby!'

Life: Before she was a social media star, Baddie grew up on a farm and worked at a machine parts factory for 28 years. Her first photo appeared on Instagram in April 2014

Tips: The grandmother has enjoyed learning the secrets of social media, and has distilled her wisdom into a book, Baddie Winkle's Guide To Life, which came out earlier this year

On her 35th wedding anniversary, Baddie lost her husband, Earl George Van Winkle, in a car accident. Then, eighteen years ago, her son died of bone cancer aged 46.

'I lost my husband and my son, and I got tired of grieving so, I reinvented me,' she told CNN in a previous interview.

When her first photo went viral, Baddie still owned a flip phone and only knew Twitter by name. She has enjoyed learning the secrets of social media, and has distilled her wisdom into a book, Baddie Winkle's Guide To Life, which came out earlier this year.

Her friends, she told Femail, have been very supportive of her online adventure, although they don't always love her outfitsnot that she cares.

'I'll wear something they don't like and they tell me about it,' she said. 'They say, "I don't like it." I say fine. You don't like it, I like it.'

Baddie, who says she has always been ahead of her time, recounted being the first one in her entourage to wear a short dress when they first became trendy.

'My principal said, "Hela, your dress is a little short." Okay. I can go home,' she recounted.

To those who, like her, would like to be a bit more daring with her style, she recommends: 'Do it. Just do it. If you do it one time, just once, try it out. If you really like something that I'm wearing, go and buy it. Buy something similar and flaunt it, baby! And it's fun.'
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If you're looking to step away from the ubiquitous fascinator and gold crown trend this Spring Racing season, and fancy dipping your toes into something a little more daring, perhaps you could take inspiration from 2017's Jakarta Fashion Week.

The international event, which is now entering its tenth year, showcased some bold and elaborate headwear on the runway this week - with everything from metal spikes to dreamcatcher-style details taking centre stage.

Models stormed the runway wearing a series of eye-catching head designs by the renowned Indonesian hair stylist, Irwan Rovani, as well as other designers - proving it's possible to make a statement with your hair as well as your clothes - if you want to.

Jakarta Fashion Week (JFW) 2018 is taking place between October 21 and October 27 in Senayan City; the catwalks featured some daring designs (pictured)

Models stormed the runway wearing a series of eye-catching head designs by the renowned Indonesian hair stylist, Irwan Rovani (left), as well as other designers - proving it's possible to make a statement with your hair as well as your clothes

On some parts of the catwalk, there was a nod to some more demure looks - such as these pretty shift dresses by Indonesian designer, Vena Amalia

Among the more out there looks from this week's runways were dreamcatcher-emblazoned fascinator, which was paired with creative make up and gold nails (pictured)

Elsewhere, models rocked sky-high pieces crafted from white and brown strands of hair - which were fashioned as if to mimic Marie Antoinette's up dos (pictured left: an Irwan Rovani style and Arie Hidayat, right)

A fellow model presented this creation by the Indonesian hair stylist, Arie Hidayat (pictured)

Among the more out there looks from this week's runways were a black butterfly-emblazoned fascinator, which was paired with a voluminous-sleeved jacket and fishnet tights.

Elsewhere, models rocked sky-high pieces crafted from white and brown strands of hair - which were fashioned as if to mimic Marie Antoinette's up dos.

One model even wore a look that vaguely resembled a bird's nest beehive, by the renowned designer, Arie Hidayat. Another wore a red dreamcatcher-style fascinator that caught the attention of most fashion critics.

Others took a more demure approach. On the Elma Faricha catwalk, hats, headscarves and dark glasses were the order of the day - in an event that is as renowned for its traditional looks as well as its more daring.

Others took a more demure approach. On the Elma Faricha catwalk, hats, headscarves and dark glasses were the order of the day - in an event that is as renowned for its traditional looks as well as its more daring (pictured)

The looks were perhaps on the unusual side, for those looking to be inspired for the upcoming Spring Racing season

Jakarta Fashion Week is the biggest annual fashion week in Southeast Asia and is considered the one of the most influential fashion events in the region

The event takes place between October 21 and 27 and it is now in its tenth year

The fashion at JFW was a similarly mixed bag.

While some sported pretty shift dresses by Indonesian designer, Vena Amalia, others were more out there - notably in the Deville Runway, which featured bright yellows, full skirts and applique florals.

The Barli Asmara catwalk was a particular highlight, featuring flowing jumpsuits and floor-sweeping tops. Millennial pink featured heavily in a collection that would be perfectly suited to any boho-loving woman.

The Deville Runway (pictured) was notable because it featured bright yellows, full skirts and applique florals

Millennial pink and this season's love of pastel colours also got a nod, via these designs from Barli Asmara (pictured)

The event sees a host of designers from Indonesia as well as those from abroad, including some from Australia, India, Japan, South Korea, the UK and Sweden

Jakarta Fashion Week is the biggest annual fashion week in Southeast Asia and is considered the one of the most influential fashion events in the region.

Taking place between October 21 and 27 in Senayan City, it sees a host of designers from Indonesia as well as those from abroad, including some from Australia, India, Japan, South Korea, the UK and Sweden.

This year, JFW 2018 is making a point to celebrate diversity. With a theme of 'Bhinneka dalam Berkarya' [diversity in creating], it is the first year the event has had an overarching idea.

This year, JFW 2018 is making a point to celebrate diversity. With a theme of 'Bhinneka dalam Berkarya' [diversity in creating], it is the first year the event has had an overarching idea

The Barli Asmara catwalk was a particular highlight, featuring flowing jumpsuits and floor-sweeping tops (pictured)

'No other industry encapsulates the importance of having diverse influences and cultural heritage, as well as many different points of view and lifestyle choices as fashion does,' JFW head and Femina Group CEO, Svida Alisjahbana, said

'This is the essence of Indonesia and we will never stray from Bhinneka dalam Berkarya,' Svida added in a statement (pictured: Andy Lie designs)

'No other industry encapsulates the importance of having diverse influences and cultural heritage, as well as many different points of view and lifestyle choices as fashion does,' JFW head and Femina Group CEO, Svida Alisjahbana, said.

'This is the essence of Indonesia and we will never stray from Bhinneka dalam Berkarya,' she added.

Still to come on the JFW runway are countless Indonesian and international highlights, including a show with renowned British department store, Marks & Spencer, on Thursday, and the highly-anticipated bridal offering from Cherryn Lim on Friday.

The event will wrap up on Friday evening.

For more information about Jakarta Fashion Week, click here.
David Camerons use of his resignation honours to dish out gongs to his cronies caused an outcry last year.

I can reveal that the peerage handed to the former Prime Ministers 40-year-old director of operations, Liz Sugg, was, however, merely an hors doeuvre. For Lady Sugg of Coldharbour, as she is styled, has now been given an even more prestigious honour. She has been appointed a Baroness-in-Waiting to the Queen. The role will involve her taking on duties such as meeting VIPs on behalf of the Queen or representing Her Majesty at funerals and memorial services.

Its not clear exactly what Liz has done to deserve such an honour, says one friend, a little unkindly. Dave will have put in a good word for her. Hes still well regarded at the Palace.

Liz Sugg was received by the Queen, with a royal source claiming her appointment was 'on ministerial advice'

A Buckingham Palace spokesman confirms that HM received Lady Sugg upon assuming her appointment as a Baroness-in-Waiting.

A royal source tells me the Queen approved her appointment on ministerial advice.

Surrey-born Liz was one of Camerons longest-serving aides. When she was handed a peerage, critics pointed out that such a figure would, in the past, have had to make do with an MBE at best.

Dont, however, expect Liz to make a song and dance about her new honour. When she attended a service for Order of the British Empire medal holders at St Pauls Cathedral in May, she seemed to cover hers up shyly when she was spotted by a photographer.

That order was conferred on her in Camerons 2015 Dissolution Honours. She was less shy about showing off the lizard tattoo on her ankle. Her old bosss wife, Samantha, has a dolphin inked on her heel.

Dame Judi Dench says she doesn't take anything for granted and worries she won't get another job

Dame Judi Dench has enough acting awards to fill a trophy cabinet, yet she still frets about being unemployed. I dont take anything for granted, says the Oscar winner, 82. Even now, I worry that I wont get another job. But worry no more, Judi, for this Saturday, she will break new ground. I can reveal she will be the continuity announcer on Radio 4s Today programme, as part of its special 60th anniversary edition. A friend says: Judi is a great fan of the programme.

Feline 'role' for Lily as puss in Chanel boots

Lily Collins described strutting down the Chanel catwalk in Paris as a dream come true in 2015.

Now, Phil Collinss film star daughters devotion to Chanels peculiar head of design and creative director, Karl Lagerfeld, has reached new heights.

Lily posing on all fours for the photo shoot in which she was said to be paying tribute to Karl Lagerfeld's cat

Lily, 28, has posed on all fours for a photo shoot, claiming to be paying homage to the Germans beloved pet cat, Choupette  who even has her own Twitter account. Lilys arms are placed in a pair of 1,270 Chanel silver glitter boots, while her feet sport 1,100 block-heeled ankle boots. Miaow.
With his rackety love life and familiarity with posing for police mugshots, Hugh Grant knows what its like to be the subject of lurid headlines.

So hes taking his latest role, as disgraced former Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe, in his stride.

Yesterday, the foppish Four Weddings star, 57, looked uncannily like his fellow Oxford graduate Thorpe, with bags under his eyes, a wrinkled brow, creased face and five oclock shadow.

Right, Hugh Grant's hair is slicked back as he takes on his latest role for A Very English Scandal in which he plays Oxford graduate Thorpe, left

Grants hair was also slicked back and he was dressed in a black suit and Thorpes trademark rust-coloured three-quarter-length coat.

The privately educated actor was filming scenes for the BBCs new mini-series, A Very English Scandal, in Chittlehampton, Devon. Ben Whishaw (best know as Q in the James Bond films) plays Thorpes lover, the stableboy Norman Scott.

Thorpe, who died in 2014 aged 85, was alleged to have conspired to kill Scott to stop him making their affair public. He was sensationally acquitted in a 1979 trial at the Old Bailey, but his reputation never recovered.

Ben Whishaw plays Norman Scott in Hugh Grant's latest outing A Very English Scandal

Fogle's wife goes for a dip - in her wellies

Ben Fogle's wife was spotted matching a swimsuit with wellies in Cornwall this half-term

Despite Storm Brian and temperatures scarcely reaching 15c, Ben Fogles wife, Marina, has been happy to slip into a swimsuit while on holiday in Cornwall this half-term.

A very British autumn swim after the storm, the TV explorer told fans, next to this picture of Marina, 39, in St Mawes.

Sensibly, the ante-natal teacher, who has two young children with Fogle, wore a pair of green wellies as she made her way to the sea in her navy bathing suit.

At just 25 years old Cara is making her property developer father Charles seem hard-up

Society model Cara Delevingne spared no expense for her birthday party at a Mexican wellness retreat this summer. But the 100,000 bill is a drop in the ocean for Britains best-paid clothes horse, who earns almost 5,000 a day. New accounts for the company through which she channels her earnings, Cara & Co, show she made a 1.7 million profit over the past year and has assets of 8.4 million. At 25, Cara is making her father, property developer Charles Delevingne, seem hard-up. He joked to me recently: Im struggling.

Richard and Judy sleep apart

It's impossible to imagine Richard and Judy apart, but televisions best-known couple are, in fact, spending their nights in separate beds.

I sleep in the spare room, admits Richard Madeley, 61, who has been married to Judy Finnigan for 31 years.

Gaffe-prone Madeley, dubbed the real-life Alan Partridge, insists the arrangement is a temporary one while he deputises for Piers Morgan during a three-week stint on the Good Morning Britain sofa.

I think most people do who are married and presenting a morning show. My alarm goes off at 3.30am. Thats not fair, is it?

Is there no chance of Judy, 69, joining him on the GMB sofa? Shes pulled right back from telly, says Richard. I still get a kick out of it, but Judy felt like she was done  you have to want to do it; it has to be fun.

She sees presenting as a bit of a chore now, having done it all those years. Shes focusing on being a novelist.
Aside from late paycheques and water-cooler gossip, the burning question of who is pillaging office milk can be one of the most contentious issues in the workplace.

Instead of going to great lengths to protect your precious dairy from the wandering hands of your colleagues, such as adding a padlock, one expert recommends applying a theory made famous in a Hollywood film to the little game of cat-and-mouse.

Robert Hoffman, an economics professor at RMIT, is an expert in game theory - an approach to psychological warfare made popular by the Russell Crowe film A Beautiful Mind - and says it can be used to stop milk theft once and for all.

Milk theft is generally considered one of the worst moral crimes one can commit in an office

But one expert believes you can apply a type of psychological warfare, known as game theory, to the issue

PRETEND YOU ARE THE BOSS

A surefire way to protect your milk from mysteriously disappearing is to provoke fear in the minds of your thieving co-workers, Robert told the ABC.

Simply scrawling the name of your boss on the milk in black marker will safeguard the bottle from even the most audacious kleptomaniac in the office.

Most employees, if they value their job and respect the boss, will not risk stealing their superior's dairy and will avoid your milk like the plague.

Robert describes this move as the 'chicken game' but warns it doesn't work if multiple co-workers have this same bright idea.

A surefire way to protect your milk from mysteriously disappearing is to provoke fear in the minds of your thieving co-workers

Most employees, if they value their job and respect the boss, will not risk stealing their superior's dairy and will avoid your milk like the plague

BEAT THEM AT THEIR OWN GAME

When all hope seems to be lost, stooping to the level of your light-fingered workmates might just be the answer.

Stopping the crime by cutting off the supply and stealing for yourself instead works as a solution and is an example of 'prisoner's dilemma', another offshoot of game theory.

But this tactic, much like the milk which acts as the catalyst for this mind game, has an expiration date.

'Prisoner's dilemma' applied to this situation means you are simply relying on the other co-worker to unknowingly hold up their end of the deal - but when they eventually fail to buy milk, then you both lose.

When all hope seems to be lost, stooping to the level of your light-fingered workmates might just be the answer

CREATE A MILK ROSTER

Despite the tired story of office milk crime always involving educated and professional adults, sometimes the answer is creating a basic milk roster to stop the theft in its tracks.

This is known in game theory as the 'public goods game' where the 'tokens', this being the milk, are divided evenly among the players. It works best when everyone contributes but this isn't always the case.

'By observing what other people are doing, by learning and, sometimes, punishing each other we can establish co-operation on the milk issue,' Robert told the ABC.

Other foolproof tactics office workers have shared include putting dye in the milk to convince others it has gone bad, putting a padlock and chain through the lids, keeping long life milk under your desk or sensationally labelling it as 'breast milk'.
A mother has offered to act as a surrogate for a gay couple for a second time completely free of charge, after watching them become 'exceptional fathers' to the first baby she carried for them.

Becky Harris, 30, from Suffolk, is 30 weeks pregnant with her seventh baby, which she is carrying for two businessmen from the south of England, after already having given birth to five surrogate children in total as well as a son of her own.

Becky, who is separated from her husband and father of her son Levi, seven, previously had another baby six years ago for the couple, who at that time covered her expenses of around 5,000.

But this time Becky is accepting absolutely nothing  not even the price of her bus fare to antenatal classes, vitamins or maternity clothes - because she wants to give the men the 'gift' of a second child, which she has jokingly referred to as their 'BOGOF (or buy one get one free) baby'.

Becky Harris is offering a gay couple a 'BOGOF baby' after refusing to take any compensation for the second child she has carried for them

Becky explained that she could earn up to 15,000 a time as a surrogate mother, but said the process is 'not about making money' for her.

Her expenses have been covered by parents-to-be in the past but this time, the couple in question will pay nothing at all.

'We have been jokingly saying that this is my BOGOF baby - have one and get one for free,' she said.

'I wanted to have a second baby for the dads, as my gift to them, as over the past six years I have seen what exceptional fathers they are - and I have become a part of their extended family.

'The reality is that I have had lots of other couples approach me to have babies for them, offering me my full expenses, which under UK law could be anything up to 15,000.

The mother-of-one says that since having carrying their first child six years ago Becky has noticed what exceptional dads they are and so wanted to carry the child for free. Pictured: The sonogram of the second baby

Becky is 30 weeks pregnant with her seventh baby for a gay couple after she gave birth to five surrogate children as well as a son of her own

'But having a baby isn't about making money for me  it's about giving a deserving couple a longed-for and much -loved family.

'I don't ever get paid, in all of my surrogacies I only asked for my expenses, which on average are around 5,000. But this time round as the dads are exceptional fathers I have agreed to give them a sibling for no expenses whatsoever for their daughter.

'I don't know of any other surrogate who has agreed to do this but we share an amazing bond, we are like an extended family. So its exceptional circumstances.'

Becky first became a surrogate in 2010 when her son Levi was seven months old when she first helped a husband and wife who were unable to have a child of their own.

Becky has helped many other couple realise their dreams as parents including Mark and Benita Cutter who fell victim to a surrogacy con. Pictured: Becky with their son Logan

Benita and Mark were conned by Samantha Brown who faked her surrogacy to gain access to their life savings. Pictured: Becky with Logan

She went on to then help the two gay dads, who she is pregnant for now, who are businessmen from the South of England, who do not wish to be identified.

She said: 'While I was still pregnant I decided to become a surrogate for someone one day  as I couldn't imagine not being able to have a child of your own to love. Levi is my world.

'In addition, while I was pregnant my sister in law became a surrogate for the first time. Her positive experience made my mind up that I would help someone too. I never imagined I'd do it so many times though.

'I met the dads on a private surrogacy forum on the internet. I hadn't considered helping a gay couple but they were were warm, sincere and kind and I told my family straight away I really loved them.

Becky says that the sister of the child she is carrying now would constantly ask for a sibling and she is delighted to be able to help

'They left the house after our first meeting and rang me literally two minutes later and said: "We'd be honoured if you would have our baby".

'I felt the same connection, but I only ever promised to have one child for them.

'I fell pregnant at the first attempt with their daughter. From the moment she was born they called me her 'aunty' and every single day since her birth they have sent me messages and photos.

'While I don't consider myself to be their daughter's mother, I'm very happy to be able to share their joy and their experience of fatherhood as she grows up.

'Over the past six years I've seen they are such extraordinary dads  and their little girl has asked me many times if she have a brother or sister; pretty much every time she sees me. She's such a sweet little girl how could I refuse.

'So when I saw them at the start of the year I just said: 'I'm happy to have a baby for you for free'. I told them: 'I feel so close to you, I feel that we are an extended family. I know they are going to love baby number two just as much as number one.

'At first they insisted they couldn't take advantage of me after what I'd already done for them, but agreeing to help them complete their family wasn't about money for me.'

The surrogacy was originally meant to have happened two years ago. But it was put on hold when Becky read in the news the story of Hull mother Benita Cutter, who was conned by a fake surrogate out of her and her husband Mark's life savings.

The couple met bogus surrogate Samantha Brown on a magazine forum in 2013, where she posed as a former policewoman who wanted to change someone's life through surrogacy.

After agreeing to get pregnant, Brown feigned morning sickness, wore maternity clothes and spoke about antenatal appointments to keep up her pretence during regular meetings with Benita and buildings manager Mark.

She faked a car crash, that she claimed killed their unborn child days before the due date. But her lies were later exposed by police when Benita and Mark feared she was lying to keep the baby herself. Detectives discovered, in fact, she'd never even been pregnant.

Becky said: 'I was moved to tears by what Benita and Mark had gone through, so much so I wrote her a letter and offered to help her and her them. I gave birth to their son Logan in October 2016. That was an incredibly rewarding pregnancy as Logan really was a longed-for little boy and they'd been to hell and back.'

BECKY'S PREGNANCIES Baby one Becky's own son Levi, seven who was born March 2010 Baby 2: A girl for a straight couple, born August 2011 Baby 3: A girl born for gay dads born November 2012 Baby 4: A girl born for a straight couple in June 2014 Baby 5: A boy born to gay dads in July 2015 Baby Six: Logan Cutter born October 2016 Baby seven: BOGOF baby due January 2018 - completely for free. Advertisement

After Logan's birth Becky had to rest her body for six months. Then, on her first home insemination with the dads she fell pregnant.

'When I told them they were just overwhelmed,' she said.

'They were in shock as they couldn't believe it worked first time. 'They just started crying and saying thank you.'

The three month scan, in June confirmed the good news.

'We don't know if it's a boy or a girl as it's going to be a surprise this time round,' she said. 'So I'm just going to enjoy being pregnant.'

Shockingly, all of Becky's surrogate children are biologically her's.

'I am a traditional surrogate, which means that I use my own eggs and an insemination takes place at my home. That means the child is biologically connected to me.

'And that was a big thing with the dads I am helping, they wanted to have children who were fully genetically related. So second time around, it is my eggs again and the same dad is the biological father. They have always said they would never use another surrogate as they trust me.

'On the day I give birth I won't feel sad about handing over a child that was never mine to keep.

'You form a unique bond with the couple you are helping and I enjoy almost every part of being pregnant  I don't even get morning sickness  which is why I can be pregnant all the time. It doesn't faze me or change me, even my emotions don't change  the only side effect I get is baby brain for a few months.

'For me it's about the amazing feeling when you hand over a child to someone who really wants to have a family of their own, and who would not be able to so otherwise. 'That's what keeps me going - surrogacy has never been about money for me. I'm very fertile, I seem to fall pregnant almost by just thinking about it - and I realised that is a gift I can use to help others.'

And she has no plans to stop yet.

Becky said: 'I've been talking to another gay couple and I hope to be pregnant for them next year.

'After that, well I haven't decided if I'm going to take a break or continue. As long as I can have healthy babies and my body holds up, I won't rule out doing it again. My midwife has told me I was born to do this, as my body just snaps back after every pregnancy and I just seem to sail through.

She doesn't think of any of the children, except her son Levi, as her own, even though they are all biologically her's.

She said: 'We have regular meet ups and the children get to see the other children I've helped. They know they grew in my tummy.

'I don't miss them or think of myself as their mum at all. I just carried them.'

There has been just one tragedy.

'I lost a surrogate child in 2013 and I was so upset as it was my15th week of pregnancy, 'I immediately decided to go again and I had a healthy baby girl for the same couple, but I've never forgotten that child and the loss.

'I know that when they are older the children I've given birth to will want answers, as they are all biologically connected to me.

I've always left it up to the parents to stay in contact, but I've been lucky enough to have made such good friends with the parents that theyre always sending me pictures and updates, which of course I enjoy seeing.

'I've always thought that if one of them knocked on my door asking questions, or needing help, I definitely would not turn them away  but not do I feel like I am their mum. I'm like a proud aunt.

'There's such a need for surrogates and I strongly feel it should be legalised in this country, for the protection of the parents as much as the surrogates themselves. I get letters from France, Italy,and other parts of the world asking for her help but sadly I can't help everyone.

'All my parents have decided that being open is the best approach with their children, which I totally agree with and I'll answer any questions they might have  but I'll be clear that I don't love them like their mums and dads. do That said, I can't wait to watch them grow up and see what they achieve in their lives.

The World's Most Prolific Surrogate, British mum Carole Horlock said: 'There is a huge network of surrogates in the UK and most agree that Becky must surely be the world's most altruistic surrogate. Anyone who has a baby to create a family for someone else is extraordinary, but her acts of having a baby for free and helping a stranger who was conned by a bogus surrogate really are exceptional. I know her personally and she's a wonderful surrogate.'
A son who has been caring for his sick mother since he was seven had to call in 'extreme' cleaners to help remove the 20 years worth of dust and grime that had built up in their home.

Christian, 22, from Luton, has dedicated his life to caring for Joy, who is in constant pain from arthritis, but had struggled with the upkeep of the flat admitting his laziness meant their home had become neglected.

The father-of-one explained in ITV's Call the Cleaners that as her health gradually declined, Joy became unable to do housework.

'She could do less and less, and I was a lazy teenager and as you can see I haven't cleaned up this house,' he told cleaning duo Maxine and Jasmine in the programme.

'Looking after a sick parent takes up a lot of your time. I have to help mum in and out of the bath because she can't do a lot for herself. I've always been a carer for mum.'

Christian had dedicated his life to caring for his sick mother but the house had become neglected over the past 20 years

The build-up of dirt, cobwebs and dust was revealed when the cleaning team pulled out the units

Christian had been caring for his mother but admitted his laziness was part of the problem when it came to the flat upkeep

Christian's mother Joy had moved from her messy bedroom into the living room where she was happy to stay

Maxine and Jasmine, left, spent three exhausting days cleaning the flat for Joy and Christian, right

The kitchen had piled up with dirty crockery and packets of food, and Christian wanted it all to be cleaned away

Maxine and Jasmine promised to help remove the build-up of filth that had accumulated as chores were neglected over the years.

The mother and son had lived in the house for 20 years, and Christian explained he was ready to move out but didn't want to leave his mother alone in the house as it was.

Joy's bedroom had reached such a bad condition that Christian moved her bed into the front room.

She was happy to continue sleeping there, with her son explaining he wanted to give everywhere in the home a lick of paint and turn what was his mother's bedroom into a space for his little girl when she visits her grandmother.

Stacks of DVDs littered the rooms which Christian said he was happy to throw out. Two decades of dust covered the counter tops

After three days the cleaning duo scrubbed walls and wiped down grime from the windows of the living room

They were able to transform Joy's former bedroom into a small living room complete with a sofa

The kitchen was unrecognisable after Maxine and Jasmine tackled it, with Christian saying he would be able to keep it clean now

Joy's bed was set up in the former living room to make things easier for her when it came to manoeuvring around the flat

It's took a long and exhausting three days but the cleaning duo were able to make the flat feel homely again.

A thrilled Joy tells the cleaning pair: 'I can't believe it, you've done such a good job, I didn't think anyone would be able to do it. Before there was just mess everywhere.

'It will be a new chapter, I learned from my mistakes so I know what I will need to do now,' Christian adds.

Call the Cleaners is available to watch now on ITV player
A cancer survivor who was told to hide the scars of her double mastectomy because they were unsightly, is defying critics by taking her top off - in church.

Mariana Milward, 33, has stripped to the waist in more than two hundred churches in Rio de Janeiro in over three years.

Her extraordinary campaign has shocked many parishioners but she claims to have inspired scores of women battling breast cancer by telling her story of survival.

Breast cancer survivor Mariana Milward is defying critics who told her that her mastectomy scars are 'unsightly' by stripping off in church

Last weekend she spoke at a breast cancer rally in a temple in Sao Pedro da Aldeia, a city some three hours outside the city of Rio.

The former sergeant nurse who served with the Brazilian army was diagnosed with rare aggressive, stage three, infiltrating ductal carcinoma in August 2009 when she was 24 years old.

Mariana said: 'I decided to show my scars in churches because these are the places that have kept on inviting me to talk.

'In the beginning a lot of people were shocked. Even today, some are still outraged at what I do.

Mariana says that people are often 'outraged' at what she does but she says she is extremely proud of what she does

Mariana (pictured before her cancer diagnosis) was told that her chances of survival from breast cancer were so low that they pre-prepared her death certificate

'When I tell my story and remove my top, there are a few who turn their faces away saying they don't want to see it.

'But there are many who get very emotional and hug me. They share their stories of suffering and say they're inspired by how I've pulled through.

'I receive a lot of support and criticism on social media. Some send horrible messages calling my scars ugly and say it's ridiculous what I'm doing.

Many of her family members were against the idea of a mastectomy. Pictured: Mariana in 2009 after having her breasts removed

'They say I should hide my chest as no one needs to know what has happened to me.

'But I can't hide something I'm proud of. My scars show I've been through a war and I've survived.'

When Mariana was first diagnosed, doctors warned her chances of survival were so low they even prepared her death certificate in advance.

Today, not only has she beaten the odds, Mariana has confounded physicians by conceiving a child with her new partner, Wilson, despite being told she was infertile following high doses of chemotherapy.

Mariana said: 'I was diagnosed with cancer at an age when doctors said it was unlucky to have because I was so young.

'I discovered a nodule first in my left breast while taking a bath. A month later a lump appeared in my right one.

'The biopsy showed my strain was so rare I was told it was incurable. The nodules in my breasts were rotting away inside. The swelling was so big and hard it protruded through my skin.

'I was told I only had a one to three percent chance of surviving the malignant growths.

'Doctors advised my family to take me home to die or to wait for a miracle, as they gave me just weeks to live.

'A friend who worked as a nurse in the hospital told me she even saw my death certificate on the computer. It had already been prepared and was just waiting to be printed out.'

After her mastectomy Mariana was told she wouldn't be able to have children however, in 2015 Mariana gave birth to her son Daniel (pictured)

Having lost both her breasts Mariana admitted that she worried about finding love again but in 2014 she met her husband Wilson (pictured with Mariana and their son Daniel)

Mariana went home and waited to die.

She said: 'I shut my door, closed the curtains, lay on my bed and fell into a deep depression.

'During this time, I suffered excessive bleeding and lost so much weight, I thought if the cancer didn't kill me I would die from the side effects.'

After a month at home, Mariana sought a second opinion and was referred to the National Institute of Cancer in Rio.

Consultants agreed to treat her with six gruelling sessions of chemotherapy over four months.

The drugs slowed down the necrosis and reduced the malignant cells. But to prevent the disease from spreading to the rest of her body the medical team prepared to remove both her breasts.

Some family members did not support the decision and warned Mariana she would regret going under the knife as she was too young for such drastic surgery and if she survived, the scars would be 'grotesque to look at'.

Mariana hopes to be set an example to other women that hope can always be found

Mariana said: 'It was a harrowing decision to take. I was severely ill, weak and bald because I had lost all my hair from the chemo sessions.

'In the midst of all this I had to fight off negative arguments against the operation.

'I went through a rollercoaster of emotions as I fought to stay alive.'

Mariana did not even tell her mum, who cared for her throughout her illness, when she was going in for the procedure as her mother was against the idea.

Instead, Cristiano, her boyfriend of 15 years, signed the medical forms authorising the surgery and took the responsibility of informing her family if she died.

On the day of her procedure in January 2010, Mariana knelt down in a bathroom on her hospital ward and prayed.

She said: 'I promised God that if I survived I would never be ashamed of my scars or embarrassed to show them.

'I promised to be an example of hope to other women battling cancer by telling my story and inspiring them to keep going even when they have been told there is no hope.'

In the four-hour double mastectomy, physicians also drained and removed Mariana's axillary lymph glands in both arms.

The trauma of the operation took a toll on Mariana's relationship with her childhood sweetheart and they separated shortly after her surgery.

She admitted: 'I didn't think I would ever meet anyone else who would love me without my boobs and accept me the way I was.

But a dog named Mel played Cupid and she met Wilson, her husband, in 2014.

The 44 year old electrician lived opposite Mariana and every day his dog would race over to stay in her house, forcing the owner knock for his pet.

Wilson recalled: 'I already knew Mariana didn't have any breasts because I had heard reports about her operation and how she took her top off in church.

'When she said 'I've got something to tell you' I teased her by asking if she was a man or a transvestite. I already liked her playful and positive nature.'

As she recovered medics warned she would never have children. But the breast cancer survivor proved otherwise.

Mariana recalled: 'The consultant said my chemotherapy doses were so strong I should think about adopting a child or getting a dog because I would be infertile.

'But I never gave up hope and in 2015 I gave birth to my baby son Daniel.'

Mariana has been given the all clear but has no plans to put silicone in as doctors warn the implants could risk infection or rejection and trigger the return of her cancer.

Mariana said: 'I prefer to stay the way I am. I'm happy and I'm cured.

'Although I have no breasts I'm an example to other women that miracles can happen and there is always hope.'
Sometimes fancy cocktails are style over substance, but at The Little Scarlet Door in Soho, they've struck the perfect balance of innovative drinks that taste great, in the chicest surroundings. Perfect for a spot of people-watching, sink into a sofa and get stuck in. Our favourites were the Bohemian Rhapsody, an elegant little coupe of magic, made with El Jimador Tequila, QuiQuiRiQui Mezcal, Martini Ambrato, Aperol & Apricot. It's smoky, with a hint of sweetness and more than a little bite, and Y Tu Mama Tambien, another tequila and mezcal-based creation that's smoky, herby and delightfully grown up. And if you fancy spicing it up try the Sex and the City, which is anything but girly and comes served in a chilli tin.
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As a Victoria's Secret Angel and girlfriend of Twilight star Kristen Stewart her star is already riding high.

Now Stella Maxwell has added to her already glittering modelling career by posing for Victoria Secret's new lingerie campaign

New campaign shots show the 27-year-old beauty from New Zealand flaunting her incredibly toned figure in a number of delicate pieces from the lingerie designer brand's latest range.

The blonde beauty wore her hair in natural waves for the shoot and opted for minimal make up, letting her natural beauty shine through.

The sizzling photos would no doubt have gone down well with her girlfriend, Kristen Stewart, who she's been dating since December 2016.

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Stella Maxwell, 27, from New Zealand reveals all for a sultry photo shoot for Victoria Secret

Stella wears minimal make up and lets her blonde tresses fall down her back as she poses

For the shoot she displayed her curves in a selection of dainty satin underwear.

Daring to go topless, she looked playfully at the camera as her main of golden tresses cascaded down her back.

Stella is known to stay in immaculate shaped by practicing yoga and these shots prove that her hard work is definitely paying off.

Kristen was the first woman to be romantically linked with Stella since her 2015 spring fling with 'pansexual' pop diva Miley Cyrus.

She effortlessly poses in a full body corset, displaying her toned legs and slender waist

The blonde beauty has been working the catwalk since 2010 as a Victoria Secret model

She dared to bare all in these emerald green knickers, loosely covering her modesty

She is known to be a big fan of yoga, which has clearly paid off as she displays a toned bottom
Ivanka Trump headed out for a day of work on Wednesday morning dressed in plaid from head to toes thanks to a black and white pantsuit.

The first daughter, 35, was photographed leaving her home in the upscale neighborhood of Kalorama in Washington, D.C. this morning, having paired the ensemble with a dark blue top.

She finished off her outfit with matching blue stilettos with three-inch heels, as well as a pair of earrings made out of a string of four spheres.

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Pattern: Ivanka Trump headed out for a day of work on Wednesday morning dressed in plaid from head to toes thanks to a black and white pantsuit

Heading out: The first daughter, 35, was photographed leaving her home in the upscale neighborhood of Kalorama in Washington, D.C. this morning

Details: She finished off her outfit with matching blue stilettos with three-inch heels, as well as a pair of earrings made out of a string of four spheres

Ivanka's husband, 36-year-old Jared Kushner, was also seen heading out of their family home this morning, carrying a messenger bag and a bulkier one fit for short-term travel.

He loaded his belongings into the trunk of a white SUV, which was waiting for him outside.

Meanwhile, Ivanka is due on Capitol Hill today, where she'll discuss the child tax credit with Republican House members and senators.

The senior White House adviser has promoted the child tax credit as part of the push for her father's tax plan.

On Monday, she attended a town hall in Richboro, Philadelphia on Monday to defend the GOP's proposed reform.

Duties: Ivanka is due on Capitol Hill today, where she'll discuss the child tax credit with Republican House members and senators

First daughter: The senior White House adviser has promoted the child tax credit as part of the push for her father's tax plan

Taking notice: Ivanka gazed at the cameras as she headed out of her house this morning

Staring the day: Ivanka's husband, 36-year-old Jared Kushner, was also seen heading out of their family home this morning

Loaded: Jared was carrying a messenger bag as well as a bulkier one fit for short-term travel

Vehicle: He loaded his belongings into the trunk of a white SUV, which was waiting outside

The event took place with residents and families from the Bucks County area, and Ivanka made the case for how tax reform can benefit working-class and middle-class families.

President Trump's proposed tax reform has been criticized for disproportionately favoring the rich, while Republicans have sought to promote it as favoring the middle class.

During the town hall, Ivanka, who has focused on promoting a plan to expand the child tax credit, said that the credit could help young people starting families, as well as families trying to balance key needs with their budgets.

She said the Trump administration's priority in tax reform is helping middle-income Americans, adding that tax reform will also keep America competitive as businesses consider where to start or grow.

Earlier on Monday, Ivanka was seen heading out of her house in a two-toned pink top with striking bell sleeves in a darker, richer pink than the rest of the ensemble.

She paired the $195 garment, which is manufactured by the LA-based label Staud, with a grey plaid pencil skirt and black stilettos, cutting a chic silhouette that contrasted slightly with her spooky fall decor.

Pink lady: Ivanka stepped out of her Halloween-ready home in an eye-catching pink top on Monday morning

Schedule: She attended a town hall in Richboro, Philadelphia on Monday to defend the tax plan proposed by the GOP

Ready! On Sunday, Ivanka shared this photo of her son Joseph dressed as Catboy, a character in the PJ Masks cartoon series, saying he took it for a 'test drive' before Halloween

Ivanka and her family have fully embraced the fall season, and have covered their door with faux cobwebs stretching all across the iron.

Behind the mother of three, a few pumpkins were arranged in the entryway, including one that has been carved to give it a frightening smile.

The work is likely the result of a craft project by one of Ivanka's children, six-year-old Arabella, four-year-old Joseph, and one-year-old Theodore.

Joseph seems especially ready for Halloween. On Sunday, his mother shared a photo of the little boy dressed as Catboy, a character in the PJ Masks cartoon series.

Ivanka wrote next to the snap on her Instagram account: 'Joseph took his Catboy costume for a test drive this weekend!' and added the hashtag #halloween.

Last week, Ivanka was seen braving the morning autumn chill in a lush velvet mock turtleneck top as she stepped out of her home.

She paired the crushed velvet top with a light gray pencil skirt featuring an asymmetric peplum design, and topped off her look with a pair of $100 black pointed-toe heels from her eponymous clothing and accessories line as she headed out the door.

Autumn chill: Ivanka was photographed leaving her home on Thursday donning velvet

Classic black and white: She was also seen leaving her home on Wednesday morning

A different time: Ivanka (pictured as a model in 1999) revealed in her mother Ivana's new book, Raising Trump, that she had a 'punk' phase and dyed her hair blue in the 1990s

Neutral: While Ivanka sported some edgy during her time as a model, photos of her as a teenager show that she preferred a classic look. She is pictured aged 13 with Ivana

Going blue: The first daughter did don blue hair on the red carpet of the Met Ball 2013 (pictured), for which she got strands of dark blue added to her blonde locks

Last week, it was revealed that Ivanka wrote about going through a 'punk phase' in her mother Ivana's new memoir, which left many Twitter users mocking her for her claims.

'During my punk phase in the nineties, I was really into Nirvana,' she wrote in a chapter of Raising Trump. 'My wardrobe consisted of ripped corduroy jeans and flannel shirts.'

President Trump's eldest daughter also shared an anecdote according to which she once dyed her hair blue after school, which wasn't to the taste of her mother.

'She took one look at me and immediately went out to the nearest drugstore to buy a $10 box of Nice'n Easy,' Ivanka added. 'That night, she forced me to dye my hair back to blonde.'

Ivanka claimed that the shade her mother picked was three tones lighter than her natural blonde, and said she 'never looked back' after trying out that new hue.

However, some have pointed out that it is unlikely that store-bought dye would make someone's hair three shades lighter, especially after the hair was colored blue.

The first daughter further illustrated her 'punk phase' by talking about her passion for Nirvana and the band's frontman Kurt Cobain, saying the musician's suicide in 1994 left her shocked and 'distraught' when she was 12 years old.

'Mom had no idea who Kurt Cobain was, and she sympathized only so much,' Ivanka wrote. 'After twenty-four hours of my crying inconsolably in my room, alone  major melodramaMom had to pull me out of there to go down to dinner.'
We recently posed the question that plagues so many single women: where have all the good men gone? In response, offers of dates flooded in from men.

So for this weeks blind date we sent one of the women profiled in that article, Lucy Verner, on a date with Adam Bloomfield-Strawn, to Vinoteca in London.

Could he convince Lucy that there are men worth dating out there, after all?

Adam is an actor who lives in London and Lucy is the chief operating officer of a technology company, and lives in Kent.

LUCY, 47, SAYS:

Lucy Verner (pictured) is a 47-year-old chief operating officer from Kent

Adam was smartly dressed and very handsome, which impressed me as soon as I saw him. But I soon realised that our lives are quite different.

My routine revolves around my two young children and un-noteworthy office work. Listening to Adam, his life  giving up his job to become an actor a few years ago  sounded far more exotic and interesting!

I think hes brave, although I do think its easier for a single man to do that sort of thing. He is a lovely guy, but hes very focused on his own life at the moment and I could tell he wasnt interested in me.

He sounds so busy with his varied work and his kids, I actually dont know how he fits in time to go on dates.

We still got on well and had a fun evening. The restaurant was wonderful and bustling. I did a time check at 10pm when we had finished our meal, but we decided to have another bottle of wine and before I knew it the restaurant was empty and the chairs were on the tables.

I had missed my last train. After trying to sort out a taxi, I eventually had to ask a friend to come and get me. I didnt get home until 3am, making it the longest date ever. Adam had asked me to text him that I got home OK, which I did, but theres been nothing since.

Despite having a fun evening, there just wasnt a connection, which is disappointing. He is very interesting company but there was no spark or any really funny banter.

Ive been single for 15 months since my last relationship ended, after splitting from my husband seven years ago.

I dont mind going on dates but dont actively go searching, but I was happy to be there. I like meeting people and doing new things, so I was excited.

Hes very handsome  but just too focused on his own life

Overall it was definitely a positive experience, and Id rather go on a blind date than do the internet thing.

I have no real dating activity at the moment, but with both children in senior school and being able to work from home, it has freed me up a lot. Im more up for dating now and feel Im in a much better place to do so. Sadly, though, just not with Adam.

LIKES: Interesting and hes a lovely man.

REGRETS: None.

CAB/ COFFEE: Coffee.

VERDICT: 7/10

ADAM, 44, SAYS:

Adam Bloomfield-Strawn (pictured) is a 44-year-old actor from London

When Lucy arrived I thought she was an attractive woman who took care of her appearance, with a fine figure. I could tell she had made an effort.

From the word go it wasnt awkward, as she was very confident, intelligent and chatty, and we had a lot in common. Lucy is obviously well-educated and well-informed, which I really liked, as a big thing for me is being able to have a proper conversation. There was nothing she said that made me think: I dont like that. I actually dont know why she is single.

We spoke about marriage and the break-down of our past relationships, but it was all quite positive. Im on very good terms with my ex  we split because we just wanted different things.

It would have been very easy for Lucy to slag off her husband, but there was no malice or bitterness. We got on really well with a mixture of serious and not-so-serious chats. We had a bit of a giggle, then, occasionally, wed get on to a deep subject.

For example, we talked about how a couple of years ago I decided to reset my life and follow my dreams. My wife and I had drifted apart and divorced after 18 years together, although we are still great friends. I moved to London to be an actor, which has been tough but amazing.

It was so nice when I mentioned to Lucy how I had given up a lot to be a poor actor and she wasnt bothered or judgmental. Often when I tell a woman that, her reaction is one of shock.

I dont believe success is defined by your job but by being yourself and feeling happy. Ive been single for two years and havent dated much because of focusing on acting and my kids.

Now Im ready to meet someone and, although Im attracted to women with Mediterranean looks, I mostly like a great smile with a personality that matches.

Were looking for different things. There was no chemistry

I know what I want and where Im going and Lucys attitude to that was very refreshing. She is independent and was supportive. I felt that if she had wanted to date me, my life choices wouldnt have been an issue.

In general, I think dating is hard at this age, because some of the women I meet naturally want to have their own children, while other times we both have baggage and other commitments.

Most of all, I want to meet someone with passion who knows what theyre doing in life.

I havent done online dating because I think its easier to find groups who share similar interests and meet people that way.

But perhaps Lucy and I are looking for different things. There was no chemistry between us.

DATING TOP TIPS Figure out how you best communicate. Is it face-to-face or online?

Sometimes its easier to meet like-minded people, so making your life as active as possible will open up your exposure to potential partners.

Keep an open mind and look for as many opportunities as you can to try new things and meet different people. Advertisement

Lucy missed her last train because we were talking so much and we had to wait for a friend to collect her. I gave her my number so she could text me that she had got home. But we havent contacted each other since.

Still, it was a positive experience for me going on a blind date. I really enjoyed the concept of meeting someone you know nothing about and spending the evening talking.

If Lucy called and asked me out I would go, although I think we both know its not romantic. Not for me, but a wonderful woman.

LIKES: Her openness and her compassion.

REGRETS: None.

CAB/COFFEE: Coffee.

VERDICT: 9/10
The woman who designed the world's most expensive dress has just unveiled the world's most expensive pair of shoes.

British designer Debbie Wingham is known for her over-the-top commissioned creations that tend to come with price tags of an eye-watering sort.

She previously created a $64 million (48.5 million) cake and a $15.45 million (11.7 million) dress, and now she has revealed her latest design: a $15.1 million (11.4 million) pair of shoes.

Fancy feet: The world's most expensive shoes have been unveiled, priced at an eye-watering $15.1million

The brains: The shoes were created by British designer Debbie Wingham, who was commissioned by an unnamed family looking to mark a special birthday

The incredibly fancy footwear was commissioned as a birthday gift by an unnamed family and are decked in some of the world's rarest stones.

The shoes feature extremely rare large pink and blue diamonds which alone cost more than $13 million (9.8 million). On top of that, there are four flawless three-carat white diamonds and 1000 pointer diamonds framing some of the iced cake-like detailing.

The zippers and plaque beneath the shoes are crafted from solid gold and every one of the precious stones are set using platinum.

The handmade stilettos are even made from leather painted with 24 carat gold paint and sewed together with 18 carat gold thread. Each one is adorned with Arabian Jasmin flowers, also made from leather, and the inside includes gold thread embellished inlay.

Tip to toe: The shoes are adorned with extremely rare large pink and blue diamonds as well as four flawless three-carat white diamonds

All that glitters: The leather is painted with 24 carat gold paint and sewed together with 18 carat gold thread

Working hard: The shoes took hundreds of man hours to put together and were made in collaboration with Florida-based contemporary artist Chris Campbell

Previous feats: Wingham also designed the Red Diamond Abaya dress, which was priced at $15.45 million (11.7 million), making it the world's most expensive garment

The design, which took hundreds of man hours to put together, was a collaboration between Wingham and Florida-based contemporary artist Chris Campbell. Wingham contributed the ideas while Campbell himself made the shoes.

It isn't the first time Wingham has crafted something worthy of royalty. She is also the designer of the Red Diamond Abaya dress which, at $15.45 million, is the most expensive garment created to date. The gown is famously encrusted with encrusted with 2000 stones in total, including the world's rarest and most expensive red diamond.

However, Wingham has stated that the shoes will be her 'swan song' in terms of making the world's most expensive items.

The reins were not hers alone to hold, of course, as even as recently as last week it was revealed that the world's most expensive handbag was being put for sale.

Putting on a show: The shoes were commissioned by a private client and meant for a birthday

Breathtaking: The 1001 Nights Diamond Purse became the world's most valuable bag when it sold for $3.8 million (2.9 million). It is now being offered by Christie's in private sales

Mythical: The sparkling accessory takes its inspiration from the One Thousand and One Nights

The stunning heart-shaped purse is made with 4,517 yellow, pink and colorless diamonds and took 10 highly-skilled craftsmen 8,800 hours to make.

The 1001 Nights Diamond Purse became the world's most valuable bag when it sold for $3.8 million (2.9 million).

The one-of-a-kind accessory is the work of internationally renowned jeweler Robert Mouawad, who also created the world's most expensive bra.

Taking inspiration from the One Thousand And One Nights collection, the sparkling bag reflects themes of romance, mystery and fantasy in its design.

Glitzy: The front of the bag features a firework motif in pink diamonds working outwards from a central diamond heart

The front of the bag features a firework motif in pink diamonds working outwards from a central diamond heart.

The bag will be offered to the world's wealthiest collectors through Christie's private sales service.

It is currently being showcased by the auctioneer in Hong Kong. It will be followed by a tour to Christie's in Geneva and London next month.
It might not seem like a given that librarians would be fond of Twitter  but the social media platform is actually the perfect place to go on a long, expletive-filled rant without disturbing the quiet of the library.

Alex Halpern, a Portland-based librarian, certainly used the tool for some strong but silent shaming earlier this week.

Alex  who calls himself The Angriest Librarian  grew livid when another Twitter user claimed that libraries should all be shut down, going off on a long, multi-tweet rant that proved so effective that the anti-library Tweeter apologized.

Read his lips! A Portland librarian's epic rant about the importance of libraries has earned him thousands of fans and plenty of attention on social media

Start of the feud: Newspaper columnist Andre Walker tweeted that public libraries should be closed for lack of use

The ultimate shushing! Alex Halpern, who calls himself The Angriest Librarian, told him exactly why that's not true

Alex explained that funding being cut for public spaces has made libraries more essential than ever

His tweets have been liked thousands of times each by other library fans

Alex told the library hater that he was 'embarrassingly mistaken' if he thought books are all libraries have to offer

He explained that they are important to the community for educational and recreational needs

In his anger, he continued to curse and insult the person who set him off

The saga started on Monday when Cressida Cowell, the British author of How to Train Your Dragon, tweeted a lament that public libraries are closing. She asked how children from low incomes families are supposed to become readers without access to books.

Andre Walker, a columnist for the New York Observer, replied: 'Nobody goes to libraries anymore. Close the public ones and put the books in schools.'

His dismissive comment quickly incensed people on both sides of the Atlantic who hold library cards  including Alex Halpern, who took Andre to task for his tweet.

'Hang tight folks, because I am about to drop some necessary knowledge on you. First off, library usage is on the RISE motherf***ers,' he began.

'As conservatives have taken over state and local governments, and the NO MORE TAXES crowd has gotten their way, public space has decreased. That means is that there are a lot fewer free, public gathering places in America anymore. What's one? The motherf***ing public library.

'If you, like this jackalope, think libraries are just warehouses for books, you are sorely and embarrassingly mistaken. Sorely.

Alex, from Portland, has been overwhelmed by the support he has received

In his tweets, he noted that you can get a lot more than books at a library

People can also check out technology and access the internet

Disadvantaged people can come to the library to learn and better themselves

He told the person that if he didn't like libraries he shouldn't come to them

He then added humorously that he didn't mean that, and that everyone is welcome at the library - one of its charms

His rant lasted for several tweets and struck a chord with many

'In addition to meeting a community's need for educational and recreational materials, PARTICULARLY FOR YOUNG FAMILIES... public libraries are evolving to meet the demands of the 21st Century, unlike the neanderthal who sparked this thread.

'Books? Books make up a RAPIDLY decreasing percentage of a library's budget. You want to check out technology? Get a library card.

'You need internet access because you are one of the WAY TOO MANY under-served and marginalized persons in America? Go to the library.

'You need a safe place to learn about yourself, LGBT teen? Come to the library. You need to learn English to get a job? Come to the library.

And to the man who thought libraries should close, he had a personal directive: 'You need to close libraries because you have no idea what the f*** they do? Stay the f** home and shut your mouth.

'Just kidding, everyone is welcome at the library, even the backwards thinking simpletons who want to cut our budgets,' he added humorously.

One teacher said she even met her homeless students at the library because it was a 'normal' place where they could feel safe

Alex said being a place for the marginalized is one of the reasons he wanted to work at a library

Plenty of people thought it was funny that a librarian would curse so much

Alex continued to call Andre out while he made more anti-library statements

However, though he started out angry, he was happy to see so many people on his side

Andre eventually walked back what he said and admitted he was wrong

The tweets, which he shared late Monday afternoon, quickly vent viral, with the first in the thread being liked 51,000 times so far.

Clearly unaware of Alex's rant, Andre continued to criticize libraries, writing: 'Librarians are like French teachers. These jobs exist in order to pay the wages of sad people who can't get proper work.'

But Alex continued to call him out  and other people shared their own stories about how libraries are still very much a part of their lives. One teacher noted that she meets her homeless students at the library because it is safe and warm. Another woman added that she, too, went to the library when she was homeless.

Eventually, the backlash against Andre grew so strong that the columnist reconsidered, and took to Twitter to recant.

'Dear (and I can't believe I'm saying this) all 110,000 people who replied to my tweet about libraries,' he began. 'Your sheer numbers have proved the point that libraries aren't as unpopular as I believed this morning!'
Novelist Vanessa Lafaye, 54, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, when she was Neurosciences Editor at Oxford University Press.

In 2014, the cancer returned, and secondary tumours spread to her brain, liver and lung.

In this deeply moving account, Vanessa, who lives in Marlborough with husband James and their pet cats, chronicles her determination to live life to the full while dying...

THIS REALLY CAN'T BE HAPPENING TO ME - NOT FOR A SECOND TIME

May 2014

My annual mammogram and Im not worried. Ive had four clear scans since treatment for a grade-three tumour in my breast in 2009 and Ive done everything right. Tibetan monks have more risk factors than me.

I take tamoxifen, dont drink or eat meat and do three Zumba fitness classes per week. But the scan reveals a shadow behind the original lumpectomy site.

I become a puddle. This cannot be happening again.

Vanessa Lafaye (pictured), 54, was diagnosed with cancer in 2009. Her cancer returned in 2014 and secondary tumours spread to her brain, liver and lung

A biopsy reveals its another aggressive grade-three tumour, growing inside the old scar, which is why I couldnt detect it. Sneaky bastard, cancer. Thirty-five out of every 100 women who have primary breast cancer go on to develop secondary cancer within ten years and of these about 30 per cent have the form which doesnt respond to hormone therapy or the drug Herceptin.

It seems I am in that sad, miserable group. Recent survival data is not encouraging. My partner, James, is usually outwardly calm and stoic, but on this occasion my emotions threaten to overwhelm both of us.

BEFORE SURGERY, A SURPRISE PROPOSAL

June

I am to have a mastectomy. But before the operation, James proposes  weve been together 15 years  with a ring he fashions out of cooking foil. Its beautiful, and fits perfectly. Happiness rushes back in like a tsunami.

Both keen scuba-divers, we want to be married near the sea, so we decide on a cruise ship wedding in front of family and friends. Jamess proposal means that I am determined to be back on my feet in record time.

Then another bombshell: the surgeon recommends 12 weekly chemotherapy treatments. I plunge into abject despair. The one glimmer in the darkness comes from the oncologist, who agrees to a respite from chemo for the wedding.

Our rings arrive on the same day that I have my head shaved in anticipation of chemo causing my hair to fall out. I feel freakish, broken and old. But somehow James makes me feel feminine, loved, desired  every day.

Vanessa (pictured in 2014) has explained her determination to live life to the full. Her partner of 15 years, James, surprised her with a proposal just before she underwent surgery in 2014. The couple got married in the Caribbean just months later

September

Chemo: For three days after each treatment, I dont move from the sofa. Then I recover for three days. Then its time for another treatment. Sometimes it seems that this is my life now, for ever.

I go for a wig fitting. After some hilariously frustrating grappling, I master the art of making it sit on my head. Everyone raves about how gorgeous and natural it is. They are so kind. Thats what I find hardest to deal with.

OUR HAPPIEST DAY IN THE CARIBBEAN

September 30. Latitude 21 deg 36.9 N Longitude 69 deg 58.1 W off the Turks & Caicos Islands

Our wedding day! James and I enter a beautiful room at the top of our cruise ship, hand-in-hand, as the Caribbean sparkles through the huge windows. Our family and friends turn towards us with expectant smiles.

The captain is waiting, grinning, in full dress uniform. This is, without doubt, the best day of my life.

Whatever comes next, good or bad, James and I will face it together.

Currently diving with her husband in the Cayman Islands, Vanessa says that she is OK with the possibility that it could be the last time she does the hobby she loves

I THINK I CAN FEEL MY BODY HEALING

November

The final chemo treatment is over. Im done, marinated in cancer-killing chemicals. When I surface from the worst of the effects, I rejoice in my good fortune; for my wonderful husband, for the skill of the medical team who saved me, for the astounding support of my family and friends.

The first fuzz appears on my scalp. Eyelashes signal a return. I imagine that I can feel the repairs happening inside my body, as millions of cells wake up and get to work, fixing themselves.

Scars are fading, as is the dread which has been my constant companion since that day in May. We pass the winter solstice, and head back towards the sun.

January 2015

My first novel is published! After eight years of trying I have finally produced something publishable! I am an author.

More than 100 friends gather for a party in our town hall, where we sip mint juleps and I dedicate the song The Way You Look Tonight to my husband, who looks abashed and proud.

ODD CHANGES, THEN SOME AWFUL NEWS

June 2016

A grey dot has appeared in my left visual field. Its a floater, says my optician, reassuring me that its innocuous.

July

The dot turns brighter, shimmery. Increased pressure develops inside my skull, then the vision in my left eye is repeatedly swamped by bright, jagged patterns and flashing lights.

This January, she was forced to engage with the prospect that her death could be sooner than she expected

Panicked, I go to the ophthalmologist, who diagnoses: Classic ocular migraine, very common, often comes on in middle-aged women.

Early August

More disconcerting changes. If I sit down for more than ten minutes, I fall asleep. Everything is a huge effort.

Another visit to the ophthalmologist reveals I have no perception in half of my left eye and part of my right. I have a biology degree. I understand the implications with agonising clarity. The problem is in my brain.

An MRI scan reveals a 4cm brain tumour. I have what is known as secondary or metastatic breast cancer, or Stage IV. The word secondary makes it sound somehow less worrisome. Exactly the opposite is true: the breast cancer has spread to my brain and this secondary cancer is a killer.

I feel dull despair, like a bystander to the slow destruction of all that is me. The future that had been opening like a flower, has closed in my face like a fist.

August 11

I wake from five hours of surgery, alert and chatty. Pumped full of painkillers and steroids, I recognise the familiar elation which follows survival of major surgery. But its more than that. The pressure inside my head has gone.

Vanessa (pictured here in 1970) has managed to achieve her dream of publishing her first novel since receiving her awful news

I'M ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE

January 30, 2017

It hits me: All the treatment Ive had will never eradicate the cancer, the best I can hope for is that the drugs will hold it back. But for how long? No one can say.

There are good days, when I feel capable of anything and can almost persuade myself it has all been a big mistake, and there are also bad days. But every day feels like I am perched on the edge of a precipice.

I can step away, and focus on all the wonderful things in my life: writing (Im now on my third book); leading our local community choir; spending time with James; planning trips. But the edge is never far away.

Images of death, of James on his own, slip in between the walls of my carefully constructed mental fortress. Every headache, every twinge in my back brings them on.

August

Ive just learned that the cancer has now taken up residence in my lung and liver. But I am still here. And Im not ready to go; may never be ready.

Nevertheless, this latest news forces me to engage with my death as a real, tangible event, much sooner than I ever expected: big, scary, and way too close.

FRIENDS WHO SMOKE MAKE ME FURIOUS

Early September

There are a lot of things to be angry about: the future that Im being denied; the unfairness of having this horrific disease; the lack of research funding into metastatic or secondary breast cancer, because there are not enough of us dying to attract drug company interest.

Only 7 per cent of the total breast cancer research budget from all sources is spent on metastatic disease. Yet it kills 11,500 women in Britain each year.

I mean no disrespect to those who benefit from the pink ribbon campaign. But this explosion of pinkness during October that encompasses everything from frilly underwear to ice cream makes me want to puke.

Railing against my misfortune wont change the outcome, so today Ive resolved to feel grateful. Im the luckiest unlucky person that I know

Now, the month-long annual fundraising campaign has turned into a Disney version of cancer. Everything is boobies this and boobies that, almost like its fun.

If you want to really help, lobby your MP to get more funding for research. Give to Second Hope and Secondary1st, the only charities working solely on metastatic disease.

Im also angry with people who smoke. I want to hook them up to a chemo drip that will fill them with poison and make their hair fall out, so they realise the risk they take with their health. This includes several close friends. (I love you, but seriously. Look at me . . .)

Grief rage is cathartic. Apparently its a real thing, the bastard child of overwhelming sadness and unexpressed anger. So many friends say Im brave, but its not the case. The only time Im not scared is when Im singing or asleep.

TODAY, I RESOLVED TO FEEL GRATEFUL

Late September

Railing against my misfortune wont change the outcome, so today Ive resolved to feel grateful. Im the luckiest unlucky person that I know.

Yes, I have a hideous disease, which is going to kill me. On the other side of my cosmic balance sheet, I am constantly buoyed by a vast network of friends, family, fellow writers and choir members, who celebrate and commiserate with me as required.

Vanessa revealed that it has taken her husband James longer to accept that there isn't a way to stop her health deteriorating

Chief among them is James. He makes me laugh my head off every day  and on my worst days that is no mean feat. With his love, his compassion, his stoicism and his unending desire to be with me, he keeps me alive.

When I ask him how he can bear all of this, he says simply: Its the loving. The thought of leaving him is total, utter agony.

A TRULY WONDERFUL ALASKAN HOLIDAY

Early October

We're on a wonderful holiday in Alaska, but on day five I get a full-on, ice-pick-in-the-eye, please-will-someone-cut-off-my-head-now migraine. Lying in Jamess arms I think of him walking past my ashes in their pretty urn on our mantle and weep.

He says: You will always be with me. But he now accepts theres no way to stop this. It has taken him longer than me to accept it, but its clear he finally has. And this makes me even sadder.

Meanwhile, this new pain means its time for another round of the oral chemo drug capecitabine.

Last time I took it, it turned my insides into molten lava. I spent the whole night in the bathroom, hugging the toilet. Reader, we needed a new carpet.

Hope is amazingly powerful. With hope, I can tolerate higher degrees of pain. And I have hope again

Unsurprisingly I was keen to try anything else that might work. But I did and it didnt and here we are.

If it works this time (which we will find out from a scan in November), then I will have to stay on it indefinitely until it eventually stops working. Because all chemo drugs eventually fail.Cancer is f*****g smart, metastatic cancer especially so. Its not one disease; its different in every organ it inhabits.

A drug which dispatches brain tumours may be ineffective for liver tumours. But Ill take the poison again. Im doing it because, without it, the tumour in my liver will have me within a few months. Im doing it because I have stuff I want to do.

I want more time with the people I love. I want to sing and take the choir to perform in France. I want to celebrate Jamess 50th birthday in style.

THE FUTURE IS A TRAIL OF JEWELS

Mid-October

According to the data, I am one year into a possible two to three year survival time.

Now, what? Do I wait to die? Soon-ish, to fit the data?

No, I intend to deny the situation and behave as if nothing is wrong. Im going to focus on all the wonderful things in my future that I dont want to miss. Im going to visualise them as a trail of jewels (I like sparkly things) stretching ahead of me, each one a reason to keep going.

I want to finish my third novel. I want to go scuba-diving again.

LOSE MY SIGHT OR FACE EARLY DEMENTIA

Late October

My latest brain scan shows a new crop of small malignant growths which need urgent treatment. Bad result. Worse, my doctors want to give me whole brain radiation.

To me this is terrifying because it could cause cognitive decline. But without it I could go blind as one growth is so close to the optic nerves. What a choice Im faced with: possible blindness or dementia.

A MINOR MIRACLE AND HOPE RETURNS

October 18

Surgeons have found a way to irradiate the growth without destroying my vision after all.

Through sheer bloody mindedness  I refused the whole brain radiation  Ive forced the medical establishment to be cleverer than they thought possible. I feel that I can face the next stage of this drama now.

Hope is amazingly powerful. With hope, I can tolerate higher degrees of pain. And I have hope again.

For the moment, with symptoms under control, I feel well. By the time you read this Ill be diving with James in sparkling blue water in the Cayman Islands. Maybe its for the last time, but thats OK.

The only charities focused solely on metastatic cancer are Second Hope and Secondary1st. Donate at secondhope.co.uk and secondary1st.org.uk. To continue following Vanessas story, go to vanessalafaye.wordpress.com/living-while-dying

Vanessas second novel, At First Light (Orion, 8.99), is out now.
A Mississippi was shocked when a harmless joke she made on Twitter led to an investigation for human trafficking.

Like many mothers, Alex McDaniel has taken to social media to complain about rough days with her child. Recently, however, a remark she meant in jest was taken too seriously by a follower, who reported her to Child Protective Services.

After Alex quipped that she was 'selling' her now four-year-old son for $12 or best offer, she found herself suddenly being investigated for human trafficking by the state.

Mama drama! Mississippi mom Alex McDaniel got into hot water when she tweeted funny quotes from her child, but one man reported her to child services thinking she crossed the line

Sweet pea! The news editor mom shared a joke, jesting she'd sell her three-year-old son (now four, above) after he said something silly, but it brought Child Protection Services to her door

Yikes! She tweeted she'd sell her toddler for $12 or best offer, following one of his fits, but one male tipster seemed to think she was genuinely keen on selling her son

Alex, the director of content at Mississippi news outlet Magnolia State Live, is extremely active on Twitter and took to the platform on October 1 to reflect uponhow her words were misconstrued and used against her, endangering her family members' lives.

'This time last week, I was the subject of a human trafficking investigation. Theres no punchline. This was real life,' she penned in an opinion piece for Magnolia State Live.

The mom was at work when a caseworker and representative form Child Protective Services (CPS) came to her office doorstep to investigate her.

They explained that they received an anonymous male tip days before saying that the editor was attempting to sell her son.

'They told me an anonymous male tipster called Mississippis child abuse hotline days earlier to report me for attempting to sell my three-year-old son, citing a history of mental illness that probably drove me to do it,' she wrote.

The tweets in question were from September 22. Alex had quoted a conversation with her son, in which she asked if he needed to use the restroom. After asking if he was sure a couple times, the tot screamed, 'Nothing is coming out of my penis'.

The exasperated mom then jokingly tweeted in a follow-up post 'Three-year-old for sale $12 or best offer [sic],' she tweeted.

That tweet led one person to think that the mom was truly intent on selling her son, and he reported her to the authorities.

Just jokes! Alex explains that she's been sharing silly stories of her youngster's quotes on Twitter for years now, and that her controversial tweet was nothing new

Cheeky! The little one pulls hilarious jokes on his mother, as documented through her page

Practical joker! The mom was taken aback that anyone could misconstrue her words and could perhaps do it for malicious reasons, jeopardizing her family's safety

'So I went to his preschool, pulled my son out of a deep sleep during nap time, and did everything in my power not to cry in front of him on the drive back to my office,' she shared in her article.

The mom insists that she's been tweeting silly quotes from her son for years, and that this tweet was nothing new. She's even published a piece dedicated to documenting the hilarious things her toddler babbles.

But she was crushed that someone, whether maliciously or not, would accuse of her genuinely trying to sell or even harm her son, and on such a serious level.

Someone out there probably got bent out of shape that I dont see the world the way he does

'I considered keeping this story to myself because of its personal nature. But as with anything else Ive written about my life, I do it in situations when I feel like it could help someone else dealing with similar struggles... Coming after my son is utterly despicable,' she said.

'What upsets me more is the idea of anyone using an agency designed to protect Mississippis most vulnerable children as a weapon to take someone down for no legitimate reason.

'Time and resources that should have been spent on children and families who genuinely need it were instead dedicated to a tweet, and all because someone out there probably got bent out of shape that I dont see the world the way he does,' she added.

The mom is now using her Twitter platform as a space to share her story and encourage others to never remain silent in the face of wrongful convictions.

'Twitter hit a new low for me this week and I'm not about to stay silent about it,' she prefaced her Twitter post explaining the dramatic chain of events.

Speak up! After the frightening caseworker investigation she was cleared and shared her story

Take it from me! The mom penned a note for her Twitter followers explaining her shocking story of being surprised with a human trafficking case against her

Family first! The mom closed her Twitter note with this message saying that above all she'd put protecting her family as her top priority, even if it meant less free-spirited tweets

Thankfully, the mom had the case dropped in a matter of days thanks to 'zero evidence' against her, and is happy at home with her family, and hasn't allowed the frightening case to silence her online dynamic and story sharing with her son.

'When I started tweeting about his obnoxious/hilarious quotes, I did it for other parents who know how hard this job is. Really hardI saw it as a piece of the parenting experience that many of my followers would identify with,' she clarified in a tweet.

'I just wont expose my son to the same asinine social media bullshit I chose to endure as a career path. My family is the only thing in the world I can protect. And Im not here to hurt them for a few retweets,' she closed her Twitter message.

And fans were quick to rally around her with support for her well-chosen words and defense of her harmless jokes.

'What in the world?!?!? Anyone who knows/follows you knows how much you adore your munchkin. Im sorry you had to deal with this,' Twitter user Amara wrote.

'That being said, please continue sharing on private social medias. I enjoy the saga. Dont let the dark work extinguish a ray of happiness,' another fan added.

'As someone who works with kids/families in the system, this frustrates me. DFCS = overloaded case workers. No time to be a toy for someone,' a fellow mother cheered on not wasting case workers' time.

'Thats the worst thing Ive ever heard, and Im so sorry you had to endure such nonsense, but Im mainly upset I dont get anymore three-year-old tweets,' a friendly Twitter user added.
While the working-class town of Larkhall, near Glasgow, is hardly renowned for its architecture, this particular parade of flat-roofed shops could only be described as brutalist.

Among the betting shops and fast-food outlets, facing a busy road where lorries thunder past belching diesel fumes, is the uninspiring entrance to the NHS doctors surgery where GP Deepali Misra-Sharp works.

Dressed in clothes chosen for their ability to withstand a 60-degree hot cycle (there is always a danger someone will be sick), Deepali walks past queueing patients in the waiting area.

So begins another busy days surgery in one of the most deprived areas of Britain, where all of human life is laid bare. It is a challenge to ensure each patient feels understood and is properly treated in a ten-minute appointment, but one that 44-year-old Deepali relishes.

This is a close-knit community, but I hear some extremely sad stories, she admits. Many patients are young, they havent had a good education and struggle to make ends meet. There are cases of real childhood poverty.

Deepali, 44, and Kristian Misra-Sharp, 42, worked as investment bankers, living in a multi-million-pound London home and enjoying a lavish lifestyle. However, losing their first child made them rethink their lives

Many of my patients are dealing with mental health problems, too.

For Deepali, no day is ever easy. While she has plenty of support  her husband, Kristian, 42, is a GP at another Glasgow practice, albeit in a more affluent area  there are days when she goes home feeling frustrated and sad.

It is a far cry from her old life 15 years ago, when she and her husband worked as investment bankers. Home then was a multi-million-pound four-storey townhouse in an exclusive Central London enclave, with a full-time housekeeper.

After we moved in, I remember seeing a living room display in a top designer furniture store and saying to Kristian how much I liked it, recalls Deepali. When we said to the sales assistant: Well have it, and he asked which pieces of furniture, Kristian said: All of it, including the ornaments and lights.

We didnt even think about the cost  around 20,000  and we paid extra to have it all delivered, unpacked and arranged.

Kristian kept dozens of expensive suits in his walk-in wardrobe and, in hers, Deepali had more than 300 pairs of shoes from designers such as Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik.

I did all my grocery shopping in Selfridges and Harrods and wore only designer clothes  Nicole Farhi, Prada and Ralph Lauren.

Id buy several dresses, jackets and trousers at a time in different colours, and the housekeeper would arrange them in my wardrobe.

They both drove top-of-the-range Porsches, although Deepali admits: Mine often sat in the garage, as I usually got taxis everywhere.

The couple, who now have two children Ambika, 11, and Sachin, 13 (pictured together), retrained as GPs and now work in Glasgow

They thought nothing of flying first-class, sometimes twice a week, to New York, where they kept a second luxury apartment.

We never had to pack suitcases because we had everything we needed there, including walk-in wardrobes stuffed with more designer clothes.

Whether in London or the U.S., their every need was tended to by their personal housekeeper. Shed cook delicious meals for me and Kristian every night, or wed eat out at top restaurants.

Once, on a Friday, we were discussing where to go for lunch on Saturday and Kristian mentioned hed read about a great restaurant in Berlin. So we simply booked flights to Berlin for lunch the next day.

Holidays were to exclusive resorts in the Caribbean, and gifts were always expensive.

Once, Kristian was shopping for my birthday, but wasnt sure which handbag Id like, so he bought five  each costing around 500.

Deepali and Kristian, pictured on their medical graduation from Nottingham University in 2010, decided they wanted to give something back to the NHS after their first child was stillborn at six months

So why did they turn their backs on that life? In fact, the change arose from tragic circumstances when the loss of their first baby, who was stillborn at six months, made them reassess their lives.

Impressed by the support they had received from the NHS, they wanted to give something back. The world of banking didnt cut it any more.

Although they are by no means poor, today their lives are far more modest  and, they stress, infinitely more fulfilling.

I never think about our old life and wish I was back there, says Deepali. In fact, I look back and see how bland being wealthy can be.

We were living in a bubble where material things mattered most. But if you eat at the best restaurants every night, after a while you fail to appreciate how good the food is.

And being wealthy makes you fuss about things that arent important. I remember spending thousands having our house feng shuied to get the flow right. Because the feng shui consultant suggested running water would be good, we even had a fountain in the sitting room.

Deepali says she never thinks back to her high-flying job in the City, describing how they were 'living in a bubble' at the time. She says she now often sees 'extremely sad stories' in her surgery in one of the most deprived areas of Britain

Kristian hated it. He always turned it off when he got home, which used to annoy me. How ridiculous is that? But that was the world we inhabited  one where you lose perspective.

The couple met at a bar in 1995 as bright, ambitious young things. Both were reading economics at the University of Edinburgh.

After graduating, they both got high-flying jobs in the City, with Kristian eventually becoming a derivatives trader with Merrill Lynch and Deepali working as an investment banker.

Their wedding in July 2001 was attended by 500 people. A lavish honeymoon to South Africa and Mauritius cost 40,000 and when, a year later, Deepali learnt she was pregnant, they were both thrilled.

Everything was going perfectly to plan, she recalls. We talked schools, nannies and colour schemes for the nursery. Nothing would be too good for our darling boy.

But then a routine scan when Deepali was 20 weeks pregnant found the baby had a serious heart defect. Options were discussed, too painful even to contemplate, then, six weeks later, nature took over and Deepali went into premature labour. Their baby was stillborn.

The professionalism and compassion they encountered from staff at Queen Charlottes Hospital in London touched them to the core.

Deepali says that being wealthy would make her fuss about things that weren't important

Nevertheless, two weeks later, the couple found themselves back at work, sitting and staring in blank confusion at their desks.

Before, if I was feeling down, going shopping used to cheer me up, says Deepali. But no amount of shopping helped after my son died. It just made me feel even more empty.

Worse, despite their enviable social life, Deepali felt lonely and isolated. Friends in the wealthy world we inhabited didnt want to hear about our grief.

There was no room for something so imperfect as losing a baby. It brought home how shallow our perfect world actually was.

She sought solace in evening voluntary work at an HIV unit at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

Seeing how fulfilled it made his wife, Kristian decided to do the same, volunteering at a hospice.

Helping others put the perspective back into our lives. Instead of dwelling on our own grief, it made us realise how fortunate we were.

Wed always given to charity, but this was different. It felt so good to be doing something hands-on that we could see was truly worthwhile and making a difference to people.

In their former life, holidays were to exclusive resorts in the Caribbean, while gifts were always expensive. The couple are pictured here in Antigua, where they celebrated leaving investment banking in 2004

In 2004, the couple were cautiously thrilled to find another baby was on the way. Although Deepali went through the same motions, hiring a full-time nanny and preparing the nursery, her heart just wasnt in her banking job any more.

I knew what I wanted: to train as a doctor, she says. Through the voluntary work, Id found my true vocation in life. I liked being hands-on, helping people, and was fascinated by the various medical treatments.

When I told Kristian, he backed me 100 per cent, but many of my friends were aghast. They thought I was totally mad. Even doctors I knew said: Dont do it.  Admittedly, it did sound like a crazy plan. Nevertheless, she applied to read medicine at Nottingham and took her entrance exams shortly after their son, Sachin, now 13, was born.

Kristian was so inspired by his wifes decision that he, too, gave up his job to relocate to Nottingham with her, caring for Sachin when he was born.

A year later, he enrolled as a medical student. We were probably the most unlikely medical students on campus, says Kristian. We drove Porsches and had a baby, so we werent exactly your typical impoverished youngsters.

But those evenings dining in expensive restaurants became a thing of the past as we juggled studying with childcare.

Deepali says that investment banking prepared them mentally for the stress of being a GP, as well as enabling them to finance their studies

Luckily, family helped out, especially during exam times, but their days of spontaneity and excess quickly disappeared. When they werent studying, they were busy with childcare.

The six years of their training was a long, exhausting juggling act  with their savings, together with the proceeds of the sale of their London house, financing their new lives.

But it felt totally right to them. Our lives had been changed by the experience with our first son, and I was more than ready for the change. Of course, there have been hard times, but being a doctor was a passion, not just a job. Neither of us has ever looked back.

There were other advantages, too. Our time in banking not only enabled us to finance our studies, but prepared us mentally, says Deepali. Investment banking involves long hours, a lot of responsibility and stressful moments. Even now as doctors, Kristian and I dont panic.

Two years after having Sachin, Deepali gave birth to their daughter, Ambika, now 11. This time, she took a year out of her studies  which meant Kristian caught up and they eventually graduated together.

Of course, there have been hard times, but being a doctor was a passion, not just a job. Neither of us has ever looked back

They went through a worrying time when Sachin was admitted to hospital on his seventh birthday and found to be suffering from a rare non-cancerous cyst behind his left ear. Although it was successfully removed, his hearing was affected and he needs to have regular check-ups.

His excellent treatment on the NHS simply affirmed to us we were doing the right thing in becoming doctors, says Deepali. She adds that Sachin hopes one day to become an ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon.

The couple, who finally qualified as doctors in 2010 and GPs last year, have now settled in Scotland with their two children.

Little remains of their old life. I have one ghastly sheepskin jacket I never wear, but which cost 4,000 all those years ago, and some high-heeled shoes I couldnt walk in now, as reminders of my old world, says Deepali.

These days, I shop in sales at John Lewis or Marks & Spencer. Rather than designer clothes, I look for practical items.

They rarely eat out. I like to cook at home for family and friends, says Deepali.

In the little spare time she has, she writes novels  she has self-published three works of fiction  and the family go on holiday to Center Parcs or to Portugal.

We would never consider flying first-class now, she says. It would seem a waste of money.

There are no housekeepers or nannies, and they rarely see old friends. The days of jumping in a taxi to go to work are long gone  like most parents, she and Kristian juggle dropping off the children at school on the way to their respective surgeries.

Two local GPs, serving their community, doing their jobs. Just the way they like it.
They were heartbroken when national sweetheart Liam left the Great British Bake Off last week instead of Stacey Hart.

But now viewers are euphoric after the former teacher, married to the millionaire co-founder of clothing retailer ASOS, finally left the competition on Tuesday night.

Stacey, 42, who lives in a 6 million house in Hertfordshire, has been irritating fans on social media for weeks - so much so that her name quickly starts trending on Twitter at the start of every episode.

However fans still aren't entirely happy even after her departure - as many are saying that the three finalists on the Channel 4 are the 'most boring ever'.

Stacey Hart left Bake Off during Tuesday night's semi-final much to the delight of many fans

Several posted memes of people celebrating after the judges announced that Stacey was to leave

Timeline of Stacey's bakes in the tent Pastry Week (week 6): She left a piece of baking parchment in her hand-raised pie during week six, but wasn't sent home. Instead Siberian siren Julia was sent packing. This is the first week viewers start tweeting in earnest about how they want Stacey to leave the tent. Italian Week (week 7): Yan was sent home instead of Stacey, despite the former teacher's choux pastry in her sfogliatella bursting out and her creme patisserie being far too runny. Forgotten Week (week 8): Stacey wins Star Baker, ensuring she can't be kicked off - despite pulling the door off a 554 Neff Slide & Hide Built-In Single Oven. Fans are incensed that she remains on the show rather than their favourite Liam. Patisserie Week (week 9): Stacey leaves the tent. Advertisement

Stacey has been vilified by Bake Off viewers for several weeks now due to her inconsistent bakes, love of bright colours and several catastrophic errors.

But the online trolling didn't begin in earnest until she left baking parchment in her pie during Pastry Week.

Since then, she has won two Hollywood handshakes and was even crowned Star Baker last week - despite breaking the door off her 554 Neff Slide & Hide Built-In Single Oven in the Bake Off tent.

However viewers have not been won over and have been calling for her to be booted off the show for weeks, only to have to watch forlornly as favourites such as Liam, Yan and Julia were sent home.

Now they say that 'revenge has been served' after Stacey was kicked out of the tent ahead of next week's final, which will see blacksmith Kate Lyon, 'semi-professional' Steven Carter-Bailey and former Army officer Sophie Faldo compete to see who wins the coveted trophy in 2017.

Stacey got emotional after she was told she would be leaving the tent, but said it had been a fantastic experience

Stacey failed to impress the judges with her craquelin choux pastry 'choux-mojis' and 'choux-nicorns'

Fans posted jubilant memes after it was announced Stacey would be leaving, and also said revenge had been served

Who is multi-millionaire Stacey Hart? Stacey enjoys a cheeky gin and tonic which she used to drink as she watched herself on Bake Off - and she always pours it into a large wide-rimmed glass, decorated with an umbrella and straws Stacey and her husband James, one of the multi-millionaire founders of ASOS Stacey has two designer crossbreed dogs: a cavapoo (left) and a goldendoodle (right). Cavapoo puppies sell for up to 1,500, while goldendoodle puppies sell for up to 1,200 Stacey will now be returning to her millionaire lifestyle after leaving the show. Here's what we know about the former teacher, married to the multi-millionaire founder of ASOS. Stacey Hart, 42, first started baking with her grandmother Phyllis as a little girl and she loved to make bread and butter pudding. It was during university that she started to bake seriously, incorporating her Jewish heritage into her baking. The mother of three sons lives in a 6million family home in Radlett, Hertfordshire with husband James - a multi-millionaire founding director of ASOS, who worked for the company for 15 years before selling his shares and leaving to start his own solo business. James Hart first worked in marketing before founding 'As Seen On Screen' with Nick Robertson and Quentin Griffiths, which was then a website that told you where to buy items you had seen on TV. He made 969,000 in one swoop in 2012 when he sold shares along with other directors to cash in on the giant success ASOS had become, before leaving the company in 2014. Stacey, her children and her friends and husband have been gathering every Tuesday to watch Bake Off at her and her family's 6 million house in Radlett Stacey loves a gin and tonic, and her favourite brand appears to be Edgerton Pink Gin which sells for 36 a bottle Stacey (wearing onion glasses to shield her eyes) has only shared a few snaps of her home and you can only catch glimpses of the interiors of her 6 million home but in this shot, some of her lovely large modern kitchen is on show including a Magimix food processor which cost about 250 Stacey and James now have an online store together called Kidly, which sells 'unique, useful, extraordinary things' for children - but financial records show it's 1.3 million in debt. Stacey is down as the company secretary in official records. She is a full-time mum to her three boys - and her Instagram account shows that she dedicates most of her time to baking delicious treats for them. The couple are private online. James' Instagram account is locked and he rarely tweets about personal matters unless to cheer on his wife in Bake Off. Stacey has given a few snapshots into her millionaire lifestyle online. She enjoys a cheeky tipple when tuning in to watch herself on Bake Off. And the glimpses of her kitchen that she has posted online imply it's a large modern space, with all the latest state-of-the-art gadgets. Advertisement

Viewers were close to seeing Stacey in the final.

In what may have been the closest call yet, judge Paul Hollywood branded it the 'toughest decision ever' on Tuesday night's show to decide who would leave, and was forced alongside co-judge Prue Leith to regard her whole stint in the process, rather than on Tuesday's episode alone.

They shared memes of people celebrating as they exchanged delighted tweets about Stacey leaving, as well as posting images from earlier Bake Off episodes of Liam looking pleased.

However some said that the wave of hatred aimed at Stacey was grossly unfair, and reminded other Twitter users that the show is heavily edited.

Despite the overwhelming approval of the judges decision to send Stacey home this week, many said that this year's three finalists were still the most boring ever.

Several said that the best three - Liam, Yan and Julia - had already left the tent.

Emotional: The contestant shed a tear as she bid the show goodbye

That takes the cake! Not even Stacey's elaborate flamingos could save her

Fans noticed how hundreds 'came together to hate Stacey' in tweets and also commented on how 'boring' this year's finalists are

Speaking following the results, the Hertfordshire mum said: 'I felt I had done so well to get so close to the final, but also sort of relieved that I would be leaving the tension of the competition.

'At the beginning of the episode I said that if this is the end of the road for me, then I am leaving happy.'

The nail-biting ninth episode saw the remaining four contestants battle it out, tasked with creating patisserie-themed delights.

The Great British Bake Off series final will air at 8pm next Tuesday on Channel 4.
A New York City eatery has come up with a special Halloween-themed dessert that is truly terrifying  especially if you have diabetes.

Leading up to the spooky holiday at the end of the month, Industry Kitchen in Manhattan is serving a sweet pizza called The Skull, a dessert that offers both a trick and a treat.

The 'pizza' is completely covered in sugar and candy, including a giant skull that oozes when the waiter pours on the final ingredient.

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Spooky sweet: Industry Kitchen in New York City is selling a candy skull pizza for Halloween

Sugar rush: The special dessert comes on an orange crust and is covered with Nutells, marshmallows, and gummy worms

Liked magic: Melted red chocolate is poured on top of the candy skull when it's served

The trick! The skull melts away in a creepy but tasty mess

Industry Kitchen introduced the menu item on Friday the 13th and is serving it through the end of the month.

The orange-dyed crust is smothered in Nutella before being topped with smoked cotton candy, marshmallows, Nerds, gummy worms, and other candy  some of which look like little eyeballs.

The whole thing is sprinkled with more sugar and a giant gelatinous skull is placed on top.

Finally, the waiter serves it with a trick: Hot red chocolate (from a bottle labeled Spider Venom) is poured on top, melting away the gelatin into a bloody-looking sugary mess.

This isn't Industry Kitchen's first time experimenting with over-the-top candy pizzas. Their regular menu includes a pizza called the Pop Candy Land ($18), which comes on a bright rainbow crust.

Insta-flair! The Manhattan restaurant also has a more permanent candy pizza on the menu with rainbow crust, cream cheese frosting, and cotton candy

They also made headlines for this $2,000 24k Gold pizza, which needs to be ordered two days in advance and is topped with truffles, caviar, and gold leaf

It's topped with cream cheese frosting, Pop Rocks, sprinkles, and a healthy blob of cotton candy.

The restaurant also made headlines for its 24k Gold pizza, which costs a whopping $2,000 and needs to be ordered 24 hours in advance. It's topped with Stilton cheese, foie gras, platinum Ossetra caviar, truffles, and 24K gold leaf.

Sliced into eight pieces, the pizza works out to $250 per slice, meaning it costs roughly $50 per bite.

Talking to Town & Country, Industry Kitchen Executive Chef Braulio Bunay said he was inspired to create the pizza by the city's Financial District, which he described as 'the epitome of decadence'.

'The pizza is extremely rich  if you're in the mood for a lavish meal, this is the pizza for you,' he said.
The Beatrice Humane Society and Hope Crisis Center teamed up for the Dogs Against Domestic Violence event on Tuesday evening at the Gage County Fairgrounds to raise awareness for two month-long observances.

Both Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Adopt a Shelter Pet Month fall in October, so Carman Hinman, the executive director of Hope Crisis Center, got in touch with the Beatrice Humane Society to combine their efforts toward a single goal.

We thought it was a perfect opportunity for us to partner with the Humane Society and do an event together this year to bring awareness to the correlation of violence and pet abuse, Hinman said. This is the first year that we're doing it.

With visitors wearing bright purple shirts and dogs trotting around, it would be easy to think the event was a light-hearted affair. However, red, wooden cutouts of women, children and animals served as a reminder of the purpose of the event.

The cutouts are dedicated to the memory of victims killed by domestic violence and abuse. Each of the silhouettes represents a Nebraskan person or dog who was killed by domestic violence, including Beatrice resident Connie Eacret, who was murdered by her boyfriend in November of 2007.

Many times, domestic violence and animal abuse go hand in hand, Hinman said.

An attacker will often also abuse the victims pet as well, said Kathy Keylon, who works for the Beatrice Humane Society. The love people have for their animals is one of the reasons its so hard to run, she said.

A lot of people stay in situations because there's not a lot of places that take in abused women and children with animals, she said. There just really isn't, so we're doing Dogs Against Domestic Violence.

During the event, there were vendors selling clothes, toys and pet accessories, and the proceeds from the purchases will help the two organizations. There was also a selfie booth for animal owners to take a photo with their pethopefully posting it with the #dogsagainstdomesticviolence hashtagcupcakes and even a face painting booth.

Morgan Tunink was painting faces at the event and had worked with Hope Crisis Centers events before. Tunink grew up with an abusive father, she said, so being able to participate is important to her.

It helps me feel like I'm giving back and helping people, Tunink said. They do really good work. And, if I could adopt a dog, I totally would. I really want a dog.

The Dogs Against Domestic Violence event was originally supposed to take place at Charles Park, but a shift in the weather, including heavy wind gusts and chilly temperatures meant staying inside might be a better plan.

It was a last minute shift to the 4-H building at the Gage County Fairgrounds, Beatrice Humane Society Shelter Manager Bryce Caulk said. An email sent by Hope Crisis Center secured the building on Tuesday morning and they were able to move the entire operation indoors.

The move meant one original vendor couldnt make it, but a business stepped in to fill the hole, Caulk said.

It was a very last minute thing, Caulk said. We were originally going to have Julie's Hot Dogs out. She couldn't come out here, so Exmark actually donated all the pizzas so that we could have food here for people to give out for free. That was very cool of Exmark.
Critically ill patients are waiting more than half an hour for an ambulance, an investigation has found.

At least 225 patients with life-threatening problems waited more than 30 minutes in a three month period this year.

These included patients who weren't breathing or didn't have a pulse. Ambulances are supposed to arrive within eight minutes.

A whistleblower paramedic admitted that patients were 'dying on a daily basis' because the service couldn't cope.

Figures obtained by ITV News showed that a total of 7,761 seriously ill patients waited 30 minutes or more between the end of May and early August this year.

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An investigation has revealed 225 critically ill patients waited more than 30 minutes for an ambulance over a year period in England. File image used

One patient who was suspected to have sepsis waited four hours for an ambulance while another suspected of having had a stroke was made to wait almost an hour and a half.

The ambulance service is under severe pressure due to the rising and ageing population, a shortage of paramedics and a lack of GP appointments.

More than 10million calls were put through to ambulance operators in 2016, a number that is increasing by 5 per cent every year.

The NHS is currently introducing a controversial new set of response times which mean heart attack and stroke victims wait up to 40 minutes for an ambulance.

The latest figures were obtained using Freedom of Information requests to ten ambulance trusts.

A whistleblowing paramedic confessed that 'patients are dying on a daily basis' because of the delay in ambulance arrival times. They are supposed to be on scene within eight minutes

One paramedic  speaking on the condition of anonymity  revealed that a patient had recently bled to death after waiting 45 minutes.

He said: 'We are so stretched  there are not enough ambulances, not enough staff, and people die.

'We all see it on a daily basis, people are dying in front of us. Our job is to help people and prevent that happening but we just can't.'

Wasteful NHS could do 280k extra ops a year Hospitals could perform an extra 280,000 operations a year if they managed their time better, a study suggests. Poor planning sees surgeons start late and finish early, meaning operating theatres are wasting two hours a day on average, according to the NHS watchdog analysis. A third of theatres start at least half an hour late and finish half an hour early, NHS Improvement estimated. With better time management, hospitals could have carried out an extra 280,000 procedures in 2016  saving the NHS 130million. This would have included 58,000 orthopaedic operations, such as hip and knee replacements, and 41,000 eye surgeries. The analysis of 100 hospitals comes as waiting lists are at their longest in a decade, with approximately 4million needing operations. NHS bosses are pleading with the Government for more money due to rising demand. John Kell of The Patients Association warned a lack of beds stopped more operations being done and hospitals may not be able to afford to do more even if planning was more efficient. Advertisement

Martin Hale, 47, died after waiting 90 minutes for paramedics to arrive to his home in Southampton in November 2016.

He collapsed and stopped breathing and was declared brain-dead by the time he reached hospital.

His father Julien Hale said: 'If they were there on time, I am convinced he would be alive today.'

A spokesman for South Central Ambulance Service said: 'The formal investigation into the Hale family's concerns has been concluded and the results have been shared with the family.

'We would like to take this opportunity to again apologise to the family for our delay and pass on our sincere condolences.'

In July, the Mail revealed how ambulance services are using Skype for some 999 calls instead of dispatching paramedics.

They claim this will free up ambulances for the most serious calls but doctors fear the scheme will cost lives.

An NHS England spokesman said: 'The new response target times, currently being introduced, mean that ambulances are now expected to reach the most seriously ill patients in an average of seven minutes.

'These reforms mean that up to 750,000 calls a year that currently go into a queue will get an immediate response.'
A mother, who was previously addicted to sunbeds, was diagnosed with skin cancer after a phone app alerted her to a dangerous mole.

Natalie Killian, 39, from Cannock, West Midlands, became worried about her risk of skin cancer because of her tanning habits, which would see her use a sunbed five times a week.

She downloaded the SkinVision phone app, which then warned her to seek out a doctor's opinion on a small mole - but her first GP dismissed her concerns.

However, the app continued to send warnings and a second GP referred her to a specialist where she was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma.

Mrs Killian underwent surgery to remove the mole in August and although she has been left with a one-inch scar on her chest, she has now been given the all-clear.

Speaking about her ordeal for the first time, she said: 'I will definitely be using the app in the future.

Natalie Killian, 39, from Cannock, West Midlands, became worried about her risk of skin cancer because of her previous tanning habits

'Life is so busy and you're always putting things off but without the app, I wouldn't have kept track of the changes.

'If I had not of tracked the mole myself, I'm not sure the NHS would ever have acted.'

Mrs Killian added: 'Back in my early twenties I was using sunbeds a lot, Monday to Friday I would go on my lunch break, for the maximum time I could.

'Having a tan really boosted my self-esteem, I was bullied at school and I think it made me feel better about myself, looking back it was an addiction..

'Back then no one was really aware of the risks, there were no medical forms to fill in and everyone was using sunbeds.

'I don't think anyone really knew how much I was using them.'

Kicking the habit

The graphic designer kicked the habit ten years ago after becoming more aware of the risks involved with using sunbeds.

But she remained conscious that she should keep track of any changes to her skin.

Mrs Killian said: 'I think now that it is reported in the press more, I started to become more aware of the damage sunbeds caused.

'I also met my partner and I think I became a lot less self-conscious that I needed a tan to feel better about myself.

The SkinVision phone app then warned her to seek out a doctor's opinion on the mole - but her first GP dismissed her concerns (pictured with her husband Jason, 43 and son, Max, four)

Mrs Killian added: 'Back in my early twenties I was using sunbeds a lot, Monday to Friday I would go on my lunch break, for the maximum time I could'

'I knew with my history that I should keep an eye on any moles I had but I struggled to keep track of them, I would forget to take pictures or lose them.'

She decided to track her moles more seriously when she became pregnant four years ago, but didn't come across the SkinVision app until 2014.

A small pink lesion

Mrs Killian, who lives with husband Jason, 43 and son, Max, four, first noticed a small pink lesion on her chest, early last year.

She took a picture using the app which detects if the mole is a low, medium or high risk.

However in January this year, she noticed that the mole in question had changed in shape and height.

After tracking its progress, she was sent a message via the app, telling her that the mole was medium-risk and that she should monitor it.

'Nothing to worry about'

For peace of mind, Mrs Killian visited her GP, who reassured her that there was nothing to worry about.

When she received further emails from the app which warned her that she should get the mole checked, she decided to seek a second opinion.

She said: 'It started out as a little pink spot but it started to change shape and it became itchy.

However, the app continued to send warnings and a second GP referred her to a specialist where she was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma (the app detects if the mole is a low, medium or high risk)

Mrs Killian underwent surgery to remove the mole in August and although she has been left with a one-inch scar on her chest, she has now been given the all-clear

WHAT IS BASAL CELL CARCINOMA? A basal cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer - the most common one in the UK. The most common cause is too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or from sun beds. Basal cell carcinomas can occur anywhere on your body, but are most common on areas that are exposed to the sun, such as your face, head, neck and ears. It is also possible for a basal cell carcinoma to develop where burns, scars or ulcers have damaged the skin. Basal cell carcinomas are not contagious. Basal cell carcinomas mainly affect fair skinned adults and are more common in men than women. Advertisement

'I had been sent quite a few messages from the app telling me I should keep an eye on things but when the mole become high-risk, I knew I needed a second opinion.

'I knew something wasn't right.'

Urgent referral

After switching to another GP, Mrs Killian was given an urgent referral and diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma.

The common form of skin appears on areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, head and neck.

Mrs Killian said: 'I was really shocked by the diagnoses because you never think it's going to happen to you.

'My husband Jason, has been so supportive and kept me positive when I was worried about the worst case scenario.'

What do the experts say?

Dr Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson, told MailOnline that such apps should be treated with caution.

She said: 'Increased use of smart phones has resulted in a large number of mobile health applications that are available to download at the press of a button.

'Many doctors, however, still feel that many of these need to be treated with caution.

'Whilst they have potential usefulness for education, patient risk assessment and monitoring of moles, caution should be exercised.

'At this point in time, there is no substitute for a full skin examination by a consultant dermatologist.'
Homeowners are being offered up to 1,000 a month by the NHS to rent their spare rooms as part of an Airbnb style model to free up hospital beds.

The pilot scheme, under consideration by NHS trusts and councils in Essex, could see adults without any care experience looking after newly released patients.

In return, those who sign up are asked to cook three microwave meals for their patient each day, provide them with drinks and 'offer conversation'.

Homeowners aren't required to have any prior care experience before housing their guest, but they are offered the opportunity to seek such training if desired.

The controversial scheme, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, would create 'a safe, comfortable place for people to recuperate from hospital'.

It is expected to alleviate chronic bed shortages and stop delayed transfers of care, which are behind the worst bedblocking rates ever recorded by the NHS.

The controversial plans are being funded by the NHS and councils, but patients may be able to pay CareRooms, the start-up company behind the plan, directly in future

Angry campaigners are concerned that the plans, being distributed by flyers in hospital canteens, 'open a huge can of worms'.

They also warn it is being advertised as money making venture for hosts, rather than emphasising care.

Who is funding the plans?

The controversial plans are being funded by the NHS and councils, but patients may be able to pay CareRooms, the start-up company behind the plan, directly in future.

Each room will cost around 100 a night, with half going to the host. CareRooms would pocket the remainder, once care services had been paid for.

The pilot involves: Southend University Hospital Foundation Trust; Southend and Castlepoint, Rayleigh and Rochford CCGs; Essex County Council; and Southend Borough Council.

CareRooms warned that all homeowners would be vetted before they are allowed to host a patient.

Its website says host households would provide a room 'with easy access to a private bathroom', to help those recently discharged from hospital.

Who would be sent to the private homes?

Patients who have had a minor procedure and live alone will be the ones sent to the private homes, and those whose family can't provide sufficient care.

A company spokeswoman agreed the model was comparable to Airbnb - the website that allows people to rent out their spare rooms and properties.

It said hosts don't need any previous care experience because any professional care would be provided by existing services.

Each room will cost around 100 a night, with half going to the host. CareRooms would pocket the remainder, once care services had been paid for

It is expected to alleviate chronic bed shortages and stop delayed transfers of care, which are behind the worst bedblocking rates ever recorded by the NHS

Angry campaigners

The Save Southend A&E group warned the plans could scupper safeguarding procedures, and lead to financial abuse of people at their most vulnerable time.

REVEALED: THE SCHEME WHO WILL PAY? The controversial plans are being funded by the NHS and councils, but patients may be able to pay CareRooms, the start-up company behind the plan, directly in future. Each room will cost around 100 a night, with half going to the host. CareRooms would pocket the remainder, once care services had been paid for. WHO WILL BE INVOLVED? The pilot involves: Southend University Hospital Foundation Trust; Southend and Castlepoint, Rayleigh and Rochford CCGs; Essex County Council; and Southend Borough Council. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO? In return, those who sign up are asked to cook three microwave meals for their patient each day (which is delivered straight to their door), provide them with drinks and 'offer conversation'. Homeowners aren't required to have any prior care experience before housing their guest, but they are offered the opportunity to seek such training if desired. Advertisement

It argued that the company was pitching itself as a money making venture for hosts, advertising opportunities to earn 1,000 a month, rather than emphasising care.

The campaign group, which consists of local residents and clinicians, added: 'We are shocked that an NHS trust is endorsing such a company.'

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, a charity that aims to improve social care across the UK, also raised concerns.

It said 'the model of care, as described, raises questions about whether the safety and wellbeing of the individual have been fully considered'.

Plans being finalised

Plans are still being finalised, but CareRooms claims only patients 'medically fit for discharge' would be given the opportunity to stay with a host.

Harry Thirkettle, the company's medical director, said the scheme would adopts quality standards that are better than 'standard practice'.

He said: 'Everyone's immediate concern is, understandably, safeguarding. We are working hard to be better than standard practice.

'We are not going off half-cocked... We are really carefully considering this and making sure it is as safe as possible.'

Mr Thirkettle added that they wouldn't begin to take on patients until they had satisfied the five organisations involved in the plans.

The pilot scheme, under consideration by NHS trusts and councils in Essex, could see adults without any care experience looking after newly released patients (England rugby world cup winner Lewis Moody's Victorian, four-bedroom family home in Bradford-on-Avon, has previously been listed on the holiday accommodation site Airbnb)

Robust checks

He said hosts would face robust checks involving interviews, food hygiene training and cleanliness standards.

Mr Thirkettle said: 'The proposition we are working on is that it is joint funded by NHS organisations and councils.

'We may also look to take self-funding patients who pay us directly.'

Southend Hospital managing director Yvonne Blucher said CareRooms was one of several 'innovative solutions' being explored in Essex.

The CQC said it is currently unsure whether CareRooms would fall within its 'scope of regulation' - but will investigate further.

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance said: 'Whilst this is only in the trial stage, this could be an innovative and cost-effective way of freeing up beds in hospitals and improving care for all patients.

'At a time when budgets are under strain, it is welcome that some trusts and councils are seeking to bring down the cost of care and improve patient experience.'

An NHS England spokesperson said: 'Over 200 entrepreneurs are being supported through our Clinical Entrepreneur programme to develop their skills but NHS England has not endorsed or supported any of the businesses created.

'Any trials or tests in the NHS would be arranged by the entrepreneur directly with local NHS organisations and need to go through all the proper processes to assure the safety of patients and care was up the NHS high standards.'
Men are attracted to women with arched backs as pushing away the pelvis signals females' sexual interest, new research suggests.

A curved-back posture, as adopted by the likes of Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift and Jennifer Lopez on the red carpet, is more appealing to both males and females, a study found.

Previous research suggests female animals draw back their pelvises to signal they are ready to mate.

The researchers of the current study believe this posture may have evolved in humans to demonstrate women are willing to be courted.

Lead author Farid Pazhoohi from the University of Minho in Portugal, said: 'This also might explain why women wear high heel shows and why wearing high heel shoes increases womens attractiveness.'

Men are attracted to women with arched backs, like Kim Kardashian, as it suggests interest

A curved-back posture, as adopted by Taylor Swift, signals animals are ready to mate

Humans, like Jennifer Lopez, may have adopted the posture to show willingness to court a man

THE POST-BABY BODIES OF CELEBRITIES DO AFFECT WOMEN'S CONFIDENCE Nearly half of women feel frustrated and hopeless when they are unable to lose pregnancy weight as quickly as celebrities, research revealed in August. Some 46 percent of women also report feeling self-conscious and depressed when seeing celebrities such as Halle Berry and Abbey Clancy rapidly recover their pre-baby physique, a study found. Researchers from the University of Illinois believe celebrity mothers who lose their baby weight in just a matter of months or even weeks set unrealistic expectations for 'real women' and do not account for the stress of caring for an infant. Women are less likely to feel negatively about their baby weight gain if they have supportive husbands and understand that bodies respond differently to pregnancy, the research adds. Although social media can be a good way for mothers to support each other through their body confidence issues, some report feeling judged by others and even guilty for not losing the weight quickly enough, the study found. Advertisement

How the research was carried out

The researchers created six computer-generated 3D models of a woman's upper body.

The models' backs were manipulated at slightly different, but normal, angles.

These six models were shown to 82 men and women from the front, side and back.

The study's participants rated how attractive they found each posture.

Eye-tracking technology monitored the participants' gazes while they viewed the pictures.

'Arching of the back might signal willingness to be courted'

Results reveal the more arched a back is, the more appealing it becomes to either sex.

Mr Pazhoohi said: 'Increased curvature increases the perception of attractiveness.

'The perception of attractiveness and visual attention to the hip region suggests that lordosis or the arching of the back might signal human females proceptivity or willingness to be courted.

'This also might explain why women wear high heel shows and why wearing high heel shoes increases womens attractiveness.'

Previous research on rats, guinea pigs, sheep, cats, ferrets and primates reveals pushing back the pelvis signals females are ready to mate.

The researchers believe humans may have evolved this posture to display willingness to date a man.

The findings were published in the journal Evolutionary Psychological Science.
The 2017 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine was awarded to three researchers 'for their discoveries of molecular mechanisms controlling the circadian rhythm.'

The circadian rhythm is an innate, approximately 24-hour cycle in physiology found in almost all life on Earth. The prize adds a new prominence to the study of how disruption of circadian physiology might compromise human health.

An innovative new approach is based on location within a time zone, which affects the clock time of sunrise, and thereby has circadian implications for residents. On this basis, Mikhail Borisenkov from the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Science predicted that risk of cancer would increase the farther west people lived in a time zone.

Neil Caporaso and colleagues at the National Cancer Institute tested the same prediction within the United States in a paper just published in August.

People in the western sides of time zones have higher risks of breast cancer, studies show

When sunrise comes an hour later

In the absence of electric light, our transition to nighttime physiology begins at sunset, and to daytime physiology begins at sunrise. Electric light can disrupt this cycle when it occurs at the wrong time of day and thereby delays, truncates or otherwise disrupts our nighttime physiology.

We have some control of lighting in our home, but on a societal level, an unavoidable aspect of the timing of electric light is position in a time zone. That's because the position within a time zone affects how early a person must turn on the lights in the morning.

The average width of a time zone should be 15 degrees of longitude (360 degrees, divided by 24 hours in the day), although for various business and political reasons there's a lot of gerrymandering (for instance, all of China has only one official time zone). By definition, those living at the western extreme must rise one hour earlier in their solar day than those at the eastern extreme (in China, it's more like five hours).

Given that the solar time at the eastern extreme of a time zone is one hour later than at the western extreme, the clock time at which one must get up for work in the morning can make the difference between night and day depending on where one lives  often before dawn in the west and after dawn in the east, though clock time is the same.

For example, Nashville, Tennessee is at the eastern end of the central time zone, whereas Amarillo, Texas is at the western end. Their longitudes, respectively, are 86.8 and 101.8 West, 15 degrees apart.

In the summer, on June 20, sunrise in Nashville is 5:30 a.m.; this means that in Nashville, getting out of bed at 6 or 6:30 is well after sunrise. However, in Amarillo, sunrise is 6:33. Getting up at 6, which electric light makes possible, is before sunrise and, at 6:30, right at sunrise.

In the winter, Dec. 20, sunrise in Nashville is 6:53, and in Amarillo it's 7:51. So, over much of the year, people in Amarillo start their day before sunrise, while in Nashville it's comfortably after sunrise, at least for day shift workers.

One hour in the course of human activity may not matter much in the middle of the day, but at the beginning of the day, when the physiological transition from night to day should begin, it can make a difference in circadian alignment. With each such wake-up in the dark, there comes a small degree of circadian misalignment and a slight phase advance. Phase advance is the body thinking it's sunrise before the sun has actually risen.

The question many researchers are studying is whether this small circadian disruption occurring daily for years or decades can make bad diseases like cancer more likely.

Scientists have come to learn that even small daily insults over a span of many years can sometimes yield catastrophic results. Lung cancer from smoking is the easiest example to cite, but there are many others such as sun exposure and skin cancer; workplace dust and lung disease; and lead exposure and developmental delay in children.

Time zones and cancer in European Russia

Borisenkov decided to test whether position in time zone affected cancer incidence in European Russia.

He used data on age-adjusted cancer incidence in each of 59 'regions' including large cities like St. Petersburg within European Russia for the year 2008. He calculated the displacement in degrees longitude of each region from the midlongitude of its time zone.

He found a statistically significant increase in risk of breast cancer as the longitude of regions decreased  or became more westerly within a time zone. He cited one of my papers by writing: 'These data can be most adequately explained in the framework of the circadian disruption hypothesis proposed by Stevens (2005),' which was very nice to see. The 'circadian disruption hypothesis' simply states that electric light disrupts circadian physiology, and this leads to elevated risk of breast cancer (and other diseases).

Borisenkov's paper is important for its innovative test of the circadian disruption hypothesis. Caporaso and colleagues were then able to quantify the effect within the United States.

Researchers analyzed rates in all time zones across the world, particularly in Russia

Time zones and cancer in the United States

Caporaso used data on age-adjusted cancer incidence taken from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program, which covers about 28 percent of the population of the United States. He then broke it down to the incidence in each of the 607 counties represented in the program.

He calculated the displacement in degrees longitude of the population center of each county from the middle longitude of its time zone, similar to what Borisenkov had done in European Russia.

Caporaso found a significant association of position in time zone and incidence of all cancers combined, and of breast cancer in particular. And again, risk was higher the farther west a county was in its time zone. After some fancy statistical manipulations, the estimate was that risk of breast cancer was 12 percent higher at the western extreme of a time zone than at the eastern extreme.

The evidence accumulates

As I described in a recent article about a Harvard study of outside nighttime light level and breast cancer risk, there are two concerns about this estimate: confounding and exposure misclassification. Perhaps women who are already at higher risk of breast cancer (like having a strong family history) for some reason wind up living in the western parts of time zones, and wake-up time has nothing to do with it; that would be confounding.

On the other side, not all women in any time zone have to be at work by 8 or 9 a.m., and so can follow the sun and not necessarily clock time for when they arise in the morning; that would be exposure misclassification. In that case, the 12 percent estimate is probably lower than the true effect.

Neither study proves that circadian disruption causes cancer, of course. Rather, each should be viewed as a part of the accumulating evidence in the case being built against ill-timed electric light for the crime of breast cancer.

This article was originally published by The Conversation
Formerly conjoined twins Erin and Abby Delaney can independently move on their own four months after surviving an 11-hour separation surgery, a feat doctors weren't sure would be possible.

The one-year-olds were born as craniopagus twins, which is the most rare form of conjoined twins where they are attached at the top of the skull.

Surgeons at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia separated the twins when they were 11 months old, making it one of the earliest separations of craniopagus twins ever.

Since then, Erin has been discharged from the hospital and is in therapy to gain mobility and speech. Her recovery has been easier because she has more of her skull intact than Abby.

Abby, on the other hand, has a tougher road where she has battled a brain bleed and multiple infections. She is still in the hospital, but her parents remain hopeful that she will be home for good by the holidays.

Erin (left) and Abby (right) were born as craniopagus conjoined twins. This is the rarest form of conjoined twins where the babies are attached at the top of the skull

Surgeons at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia were concerned about performing the dangerous surgery for fear they would lose both of the babies

Craniopagus conjoined twins and how rare the births are Craniopagus conjoined twins are babies who are connected at the top of the cranium. This condition occurs in about ten to 20 babies in every million of births in the United States. An estimated two to six percent of conjoined twins are attached at the top of the head, making it the rarest form. Overall, conjoined twins are more likely to be female. With craniopagus twins, they are always genetically identical and share the same sex. Few craniopagus twins survive the birth because of how they are attached. About 40 percent are stillborn and an additional 33 percent die after birth, normally due to organ failure or abnormalities. But 25 percent have been known to survive and even have the option to be separated depending on where they are attached at the skull. Advances in brain imaging and neurosurgical techniques have made these separation surgeries more possible. Advertisement

Abby and Erin were born on July 24, 2016 by a cesarean section as craniopagus twins.

They were 10 weeks early and weighed two pounds each.

Craniopagus conjoined twins is the rarest form where the babies are connected at the cranium.

Doctors warned parents Heather and Riley, from Mooresville, North Carolina, that separation surgery could kill one or both of the twins.

'This is scary, and we're scared, but we can't let fear limit our ability to operate. We have to do the operation that needs to be done,' said neurosurgeon Dr Gregory Heuer to CBS News.

Dr Heuer and his team inserted a balloon into the twins' skulls to help expand the skin before the separation surgery.

This procedure stretched the skin around that area in preparation of separating the heads.

Erin and Abby were 11 months old when they went into their 11-hour surgery on June 7.

The surgeons performed the surgery earlier than others because younger children have a better chance of surviving and healing.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia had previously performed 24 separation surgeries, and it formed a team of about 30 people for the lengthy procedure.

During the surgery, the surgeons almost lost Abby because she started severely bleeding after she was separated from her sister.

Because of how the twins were attached, Erin received the sagittal sinus instead of Abby.

The sagittal sinus is responsible for draining the blood from the brain and cranial bones.

Parents Heather and Riley Delaney remained hopeful that the surgery would be successful. Heather said on her website that holding her girls for the first time was one of the best experiences. Pictured left is mother Heather with Erin (left) and Abby (right) this month. Pictured right is father Riley with Erin (left) and Abby (right) in September

As part of surgery preparations, the surgeons inserted balloons into the twins skulls to expand the skin around the area. This is them before the surgery

This has impacted Abby's recovery in the last four months since the surgery.

Both twins were put into an induced medical coma for a week after the procedure to help their brain's recover from the separation.

Erin's coma was lifted first and Heather, her mother, was able to hold her for the first time.

'The emotions that welled up inside me at that moment, I can't even describe,' Heather wrote on her website. '(The nurse) was offering to give me the moment I had always dreamed of since the moment I found out I was pregnant.'

Abby was taken out of her coma that same day, just a couple hours after her sister.

The biggest worry after the surgery was the twins could contract an infection in their brain around the area that was operated on.

To prevent this from happening, hospital staff washed Erin's brain once and Abby's twice to keep the area as clean as possible.

Since then, Abby has had a harder time recovering than her sister.

She has suffered from a brain bleed, three respiratory viruses, a blood infection and other complications that have kept her in the hospital for longer.

Erin also experienced her own difficulties while recovering from the surgery, but she was released from the hospital on October 1 because of her progress.

The twins were born on June 24, 2016 during a cesarean section. They were ten weeks early and weighted only two pounds. Pictured is the twins with their father Riley four months after they were born in October 2016

Now that the sisters are separated from each other, they are able to go through rehab to improve their ability to speak, walk and hold their body up. Pictured is Erin (left) and Abby (right) earlier this month

Abby remains in the hospital, but her parents are hopeful that she will be able to go home by the holidays.

Both of the twins are going through occupational, physical and speech therapy to gain functions that were unattainable while attached.

Erin can now sit up on her own for ten to fifteen seconds and lift her head up. She also is able to reach for toys and roll onto her stomach.

Abby can hold her head up and roll onto her stomach from one side.

Over the next few years, the twins are expected to have plastic and reconstructive surgeries to replace some of the missing bones in their skulls.

'The girls are inspiring,' Heather said to Fox 29. 'As their parents, it is very neat for Riley and me to have a front row seat to this and watch them overcome these incredible obstacles.

'We cannot wait to see what their future holds.'
The NHS must plan for the devastating long term effects on staff dealing with mass casualty terror attacks, such as the Manchester suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande gig which killed 22 innocent concert-goers, warns a new report.

Experts claim the physical and psychological complications of such atrocities on medical staff who have to deal with the repercussions of the horrific events are 'severe, under-reported, and underappreciated'.

They stressed the NHS in England has faced an 'unprecedented' amount of major incidents this year, including the deaths of eight people in June's London Bridge terror attack when a van deliberately mounted the pavement.

Professor Chris Moran, NHS England's national clinical director for trauma, also pointed to the Westminster attack in March, when six lives were claimed as a car driven by an Islamic terrorist went into a group of pedestrians.

Writing in the BMJ, he said all have tested the country's major trauma system. His comments come as the chief of MI5 warned that fresh attacks to the country are inevitable as the UK faces its most severe ever terrorist threat.

Experts claim the physical and psychological complications of such atrocities on NHS staff who have to deal with the repercussions of the horrific events are 'severe'

Professor Moran said: 'Perhaps the clearest lesson to emerge from recent incidents is that the physical and psychological effects on healthcare staff at receiving hospitals are severe, under-reported, and underappreciated.'

The trauma surgeon at Nottingham University Hospital added that debriefing and sharing information is 'critical' so that lessons learnt can be rapidly incorporated into future plans.

'Staff need time'

'Staff need time to recuperate physically and psychologically after the extraordinary demands placed on them during the initial response,' he wrote in an editorial published in the prestigious journal.

'Supporting staff is a critical component of medium and long term planning, along with a recognition of the effect their experiences will have on their capacity to return to ''business as usual'.'

He warned that mass casualty events also have important long term implications for primary care and community services. For example, patients with severe physical injuries require prolonged treatment, rehab, and support.

NHS SOCIAL MEDIA WARNING AFTER TERROR ATTACKS NHS England issued guidance to staff and terror attack victims to warn them about the risk of social media trolls, but also telling them to be wary of journalists in September. The organisation created a new guide to social media, which warned that trolls may target victims, as was seen in the aftermath of the Manchester and London terror attacks. The guide also issued pros and cons about dealing with the media and tells NHS staff not to respond to journalist tweets asking for interviews or information following an attack. It told victims of terror attacks that positive media coverage can help with any appeals they have, such as searching for loved ones, and can enable them to pay tribute to those who have been killed. The guide also lists reasons not to speak to the media, including 'saying more than you intend when you are vulnerable, upset or angry' and putting friends and family in the spotlight when they might not want it. Advertisement

While patients, their families, the bereaved, witnesses, and the wider community may develop mental health complications such as depression or PTSD.

Frontline carers must care for patients often witnessing death and life changing injuries against a backdrop of physical exhaustion in the wake of terror attacks.

Sufficient plans needed

Professor Moran said hospitals up and down the country should have sufficient plans in place to combat the potential effects that can last weeks or even months after dealing with a mass casualty event.

'Hospitals should not underestimate the need for operating rooms, blood products and other consumables, intensive care provision, and coordinated multidisciplinary intervention,' he added.

He warned it was 'increasingly clear' that hospitals and staff have to cope with the attacks for much longer than the first 24 hours. For instance, more than 350 hours of extra surgery were required in the week after the terrorist attack in Manchester.

The Manchester Arena bombing, which struck on May 22, injured 250 people as they were leaving the packed stadium after watching 24-year-old superstar Grande. It was the deadliest attack on British soil since the 7/7 London bombings.

Professor Moran's warning

Professor Moran was behind a letter sent to the 27 major trauma centres across England in May, when fears of a similar incident to the one that rocked Manchester were heightened.

The message, obtained by the Health Service Journal, re-iterated the potential danger the UK faced, as the threat level was raised to critical - the highest level it could be - in the wake of the suicide bombing.

These centres, found in various English cities, are set up to provide specialised care and rehabilitation to people suffering life-changing injuries that could result in death without urgent treatment.
Antibiotic-resistant MRSA is spreading outside hospitals having left its usual breeding grounds, new research reveals.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which kills up to one-fifth of infected individuals, is affecting people throughout Britain by going undetected in communities, a study found.

Although the infection is typically associated with hospitals, many sufferers are unaware they carry MRSA, which is symptomless unless it enters the bloodstream. This allows them to spread the life-threatening bacteria through skin-to-skin contact when out and about, the research adds.

Despite patients being routinely screened for the bacteria upon hospital admission, the test is fairly inaccurate, which further encourages the infection to spread.

Dr Jonathan Pearce, head of infections and immunity at the Medical Research Council, who was not involved in the study, said: 'This study sheds light on MRSA transmission within and between hospitals and the community, which could help strengthen infection prevention and control measures.'

Antibiotic-resistant MRSA is spreading outside hospitals into communities (stock)

WHAT IS MRSA? Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that is resistant to several widely-used antibiotics, which makes it particularly hard to treat. Catching the infection early could prevent it spreading and infecting others. Approximately 30 per cent of people carry the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria even in their nose, armpits, groin or buttocks without realising it. This can invade the body's bloodstream and release poisonous toxins that kill up to one-fifth of infected patients. MRSA is most commonly associated with hospitals. As well as being highly drug resistant, current screening methods are fairly inaccurate, which allows the infection to spread as a patient moves around both within and outside hospitals. Even when the infection is successfully treated, it doubles the average length of a patient's hospital stay, as well as increasing healthcare costs. The WHO recently classified MRSA as high priority on its list for the Research and Development of new drugs. Advertisement

How the research was carried out

Researchers from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridgeshire mapped MRSA transmission rates among 1,465 people in eastern England over one year.

They sequenced the DNA of at least one MRSA strain from the study's participants based on samples that are routinely collected from infected individuals and sent to labs.

The lab involved in the investigation serves three hospitals and 75 GP surgeries.

Some 173 MRSA outbreaks were detected, which occurred in hospitals, the community, GP surgeries and people's homes.

Cases were linked by assessing the participants' hospital admissions, ward transfers and home addresses.

MRSA goes undetected in the community

Results reveal the infection is transmitted in the community after going unrecognised by doctors.

This contradicts the assumption MRSA infections solely occur in hospitals with outbreaks being confined to single wards.

Specific individuals are thought to help spread the infection if they frequently visit different healthcare-related buildings.

Earlier this year the World Health Organisation warned antibiotic-resistant superbugs pose an enormous threat to human health.

The researchers detected MRSA strains native to the UK, Taiwan and the US, which suggests their findings could apply to other regions around the world.

They aim to initiate a second study next year to investigate new MRSA cases and how it spreads to help improve treatments.

Study leader Professor Sharon Peacock said: 'Our study has shown sequencing all MRSA samples as soon as they are isolated can rapidly pinpoint where MRSA transmission is occurring.

'If implemented in clinical practice this would provide numerous opportunities to catch outbreaks early and target these to bring them to a close, for example by decolonising carriers and implementing barrier nursing.

'We have the technology in place to do this and it could have a really positive impact on public health and patient outcomes.'

Dr Jonathan Pearce added: 'Antibiotic resistance poses a global challenge to healthcare.

'To tackle it we need to prevent infections, preserve existing antibiotics and promote the development of new therapies and interventions.

'This study sheds light on MRSA transmission within and between hospitals and the community, which could help strengthen infection prevention and control measures.'

The findings were published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
The birth control app which delivers the morning-after pill to your door is expanding in conservative states - to the ire of pro-life activists and lawmakers.

Nurx, a Silicon Valley start-up which launched in 2015, operates in 15 states, offering females over the age of 12 access to the pill, the ring, Plan B and Ella.

Its aim is to 'break down obstacles' to getting birth control. While the morning-after pill is already available over-the-counter nationwide (out-of-pocket), women paying for it with insurance need to go to their doctor, which can be complicated in states which are pushing to limit contraception use.

But although the drug - designed to prevent a sperm fertilizing an egg after unprotected sex - is already available over-the-counter, the concept of obtaining it by mail has enraged anti-contraception groups.

Nurx, a Silicon Valley start-up which launched in 2015, operates in 15 states, offering females over the age of 12 access to the pill, the ring, Plan B and Ella (pictured)

Activists in North Carolina and Texas, for example, are pushing lawmakers to create legislation that would hamstring the app, as they claim the morning-after pill is akin to the abortion pill.

'There's a lot of misinformation about what pregnancy is,' Nurx CEO Hans Gangeskar told Daily Mail Online. 'If you're actually pregnant, Plan B isn't going to work.'

While the abortion pill RU 486 aborts pregnancies (after the egg is fertilized), the morning-after pill prevents pregnancies (i.e. the sperm does not fertilize the egg).

This apparent confusion over how conception works also cropped up in President Trump's proposal for new rules on birth control, which would allow businesses to opt out of covering the medication on insurance for employees.

Brook Randal, a doctor with Whole Women's Health in Texas, who works for Nurx, explained that there is a history to this confusion, dating back to when birth control was first approved.

'In the 60s, when [birth control pills] first came out, there was some confusion about how they worked. And when it was first approved by the FDA, the regulators hedged themselves by saying "nobody understands precisely how drugs work, even penicillin". Not longer after, it became clear that we do know how these drugs work. But conservative groups who are opposed to even condoms have used that phrasing to defend their views.'

They also insist that the app has more screening measures than pharmacies, with users obliged to answer medical questions, before receiving personal follow-up consultations with one of the app's medical officers.

But the activists are unconvinced by both arguments, and continue to rally against Nurx.

John Seago, legislative director for Texas Right for Life, and Susan Klein, executive director of Missouri Right to Life, both told Stat News their organizations views the morning-after pill as an equivalent to the abortion pill RU 486, despite being classed as a contraceptive.

While their argument is not scientifically supported, their protestations are causing a stir ahead of legislative sessions next year.

Other activists point to the fact that the service does not have an age limit.

However, each Nurx patient goes through a diligent medical screening, and each state's laws still apply in terms of age limits.
A 31-year-old father has died after a flesh-eating disease ravaged his arm while he was rebuilding houses damaged by Hurricane Harvey.

Josue Zurita was killed by a severe bacterial infection called necrotizing fasciitis, which affects fewer than 20,000 people a year.

Health officials in Galveston County, Texas, where Zurita died said that he was most likely exposed to the bacteria by working in Harvey floodwaters or being around debris.

The infection attacked the upper portion of his left arm causing Zurita to go to the Jennie Sealy Hospital in Galveston on October 10. He passed away nearly a week later on October 16 in the hospital.

Texas health workers are cautioning people who are still participating in the Harvey clean up to properly care for their wounds to avoid a similar infection.

Josue Zurita, 31, passed away after contracting a deadly infection called necrotizing fasciitis

Zurita was repairing homes damaged by Hurricane Harvey when he developed the infection, and health officials believe debris or floodwaters left behind in the storm caused it

Zurita's obituary described him as a 'loving father and a hard working carpenter' and said that he moved to the United States from Mexico to provide support to his family.

The obituary said: 'He will be remembered as a loyal friend and devoted Christian father who remained faithful to his Catholic Faith.' A GoFundMe account for Zurita's medical expenses has brought in $3,555.

A statement from the Galveston County Health District said that the disease that took Zurita's life is not common.

County health official Dr Philip Keiser said: 'This is a very rare infection, but that doesn't make it any less heartbreaking for this person's family and friends.'

Hurricane Harvey destroyed thousands of Texas homes and killed more than 70 people

Zurita's obituary said that he will be remembered as a 'loving father and a hard working carpenter'

WHAT IS NECROTIZING FASCIITIS? Necrotizing fasciitis is a bacterial infection that quickly kills surrounding tissue. Once the bacteria enters the body, it can spread to the muscles, nerves, fat and blood cells around the infected site causing damage. Death can occur if it is not stopped quickly enough. Symptoms: Pain or soreness

Swelling near wound

Ulcers, blisters or black spots

Fever

Chills

Fatigue

Vomiting Treatment: Strong antibiotics are imperative to treating the disease and are typically administrated through an IV. Surgery is recommended when the antibiotics are unable to reach the tissue that has already been infected. This happens when the bacteria has prevented blood flow to those areas. If any of the infection is left in the body after surgery, it can cause organ failure and the patient will die. Advertisement

Dr Keiser suspects that the bacteria infected Zurita via an injury. He said: 'Its most likely this persons infection occurred when bacteria from Harvey debris or floodwater entered his body through a wound or cut.'

Necrotizing fasciitis spreads quickly and attacks the body's soft tissue, and the illness can become deadly fast. Zurita is not the first victim of the infection triggered by the aftermath of Harvey.

A 77-year-old mother in Houston, Nancy Reed, was killed by necrotizing fasciitis after she fell and cut her arm at her son's home and Harvey floodwaters infected her wound.

Additionally, J.R. Atkins, a former firefighter and medic from Missouri City, Texas, became infected by the bacteria which entered a bug bite on his arm.

Health officials are urging people who are located in places where Harvey struck to cover all exposed wounds thoroughly.

The statement announcing Zurita's death said: 'The Galveston County Health District (GCHD) reminds people working on Hurricane Harvey recovery projects to be aware of proper wound care following the death of a man from a rare infection.'

The CDC recommends keeping wounds that are open or draining covered by clean bandages until they are completely healed. The bandages need to be totally dry when they are applied to the wound.

Additionally, the agency warned not to put off care for wounds even if they are minor. Non-infected wounds such as blisters and scrapes are no exclusion.

If you have an open wound it is best to avoid bodies of water including lakes, oceans and rivers, and hot tubs and swimming pools as well.

Some people are more prone than others to necrotizing fasciitis. Health conditions that can affect the body's ability to fight infection increase one's risk.

These ailments include diabetes, cancer and kidney disease.
Gage County inmates headed for a cell across the Kansas border now have the option to stay in Nebraska following allegations that housing inmates in another state is a violation of the Nebraska Constitution.

Earlier this month, Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers asked Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson to weigh in on a contract approved by the Gage County Board of Supervisors in late September.

The one-year contract reserved 10 beds in the Washington County, Kan. jail for Gage County inmates. A similar agreement was approved with Dawson County in central Nebraska to reserve five additional beds.

Chambers alleged that its a violation of the Nebraska Constitution to transport an inmate to another state for any offense committed in Nebraska.

He wrote in a letter to the attorney general that its a bit much to use Nebraskans tax dollars to pay another state when no product is received and called on Peterson defend the Nebraska Constitution.

At Wednesdays County Board of Supervisors meeting, Sheriff Millard Gus Gustafson said inmates have to sign a waiver to be housed in Kansas. The waiver notifies inmates they have the right to be housed in state.

Gustafson said all inmates held in Kansas were transported back to Gage County and presented with the waiver. All 16 inmates voluntarily signed a waiver, and were transported back to Washington County.

All in about an afternoon, we brought them all back, explained the situation and showed them the waiver, Gustafson said. They all said No I want to stay in Washington and all went back within about four hours, so thats all been taken care of.

He described the waiver as a no brainer for inmates, since the alternative would be the Dawson County jail, more than 200 miles away. The Washington County jail is around a 46-mile drive from Gage County.

County Attorney Roger Harris said the county responded quickly to Chambers accusation, and there was no intent to violate inmates rights.

Gus is trying to save money for the taxpayers, Harris said. At the time, were trying to keep them as close as possible to Gage County. Nobody accused of any intent of trying to violate peoples rights or anything like that.

The countys contracts with both jails are at a rate of $45 per bed, per day, whether or not they are being used.

This amounts to $675 per day, or $246,000 per year to house inmates in the other counties.

Gage County inmates have been held sporadically in Washington County for more than a year, though no beds were reserved.

The $45 cost per inmate at Washington County is $10 more than the standard rate Gage County previously paid. Officials justified the additional $10 per day because this would reserve the beds for Gage County, as opposed to saving the $10 and hoping the jail has room for Gage County inmates.

Not having a contract in place led to Gage County inmates being held in as many as seven different counties in Nebraska and Kansas, wherever open cells were available.

Talks of contracting with jails intensified this summer as the number of inmates reached double the Gage County jails capacity of around 27.
A doctor has admitted to accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks to illegally prescribe a highly-addictive opioid.

Dr Jerrold Rosenberg, 63, from Rhode Island, pleaded guilty to health care fraud and kickbacks conspiracy in US District Court in Providence today.

This is one of several criminal cases brought around the country against people associated with Insys Therapeutics and the prescribing of Subsys, which is meant only for cancer patients with severe pain.

Dr Rosenberg said that he prescribed Subsys to people who did not have cancer and that he falsified their records so that insurance companies, including Medicare, would pay for the drug.

He is now facing up to 15 years in prison and has agreed to pay $754,736 in restitution to healthcare benefit programs, and he will be sentenced in January.

Dr Jerrold Rosenberg (pictured) in Rhode Island pleaded guilty to prescribing fentanyl to patients who did not need it in order to receive kickbacks from the makers of the drug

Dr Rosenberg also admitted he conspired with Insys executives and others to receive $188,000 in kickbacks for writing the prescriptions through a sham 'speakers program'.

His practice in Providence and North Providence, Rhode Island, dealt with pain management.

Dr Rosenberg was by far the biggest prescriber of fentanyl spray in his state and one of the top prescribers in the nation, according to the February indictment.

The indictment said Dr Rosenberg refused to switch patients to a different drug when they complained of debilitating side effects from Subsys or when they said it was not working.

A spokesman for Insys, which is based in Arizona, said the company is under new management and has replaced nearly all of its original sales staff.

Pictured is a package of the fentanyl spray Dr Rosenberg prescribed illegally (file photo)

WHAT IS FENTANYL? Legal versions of fentanyl are prescribed to alleviate severe pain associated with advanced cancer. Illegally-made fentanyl, which can be ordered from China or bought from Mexico, is often mixed with heroin or cocaine. Other names for the drug purchased on the dark web or from a trafficker include: Apache

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They added that the company is taking responsibility for the actions of its former employees.

'We have taken necessary and appropriate steps to prevent past mistakes from happening in the future and are committed to conducting business according to high ethical standards and the interests of patients,' the company said in a statement.

'We also continue to work with relevant authorities to resolve issues related to the misdeeds of former employees.'

Insys is also facing lawsuits by attorneys general in Arizona and New Jersey. It previously paid $9.45million to resolve investigations by attorneys general in Oregon, New Hampshire, Illinois and Massachusetts.

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said the alleged fraud has been pivotal in perpetuating the state's ongoing addiction epidemic.

Brnovich sued three Arizona doctors whom Insys paid on average $200,000 while they wrote prescriptions that generated over $33 million in sales of Subsys from March 2012 to April 2017.

In Massachusetts, former Insys CEO Michael L. Babich and five other former executives and managers have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to go to trial in October 2018.

Several other former Insys employees and health care providers have also pleaded guilty to felony charges in places around the country, including Alabama and Connecticut.

Prosecutors said they planned to call some of Dr Rosenberg's victims, his former patients, to testify during sentencing.

Dr Rosenberg's son, who has not been charged, was a sales representative for Insys from 2012 to 2013. The majority of his son's compensation stemmed from commissions he received from his father prescribing the drug, the indictment said.

The physician's lawyer, Charles Tamulevitz, told the judge that Dr Rosenberg was not admitting to any conspiracy with his son.
Scientists now understand how scar tissue cells can be turned into healthy heart muscle, paving the way to precise cell reprogramming and personalized medicine.

Five years ago, University of North Carolina (UNC) researchers published a study proving that this conversion was possible, but they couldnt explain every step of the process.

Now that they understand how this happens, the researchers are a step closer to being able to turn skin cells into muscle, and target only unhealthy cells to be reprogrammed.

According to the study authors, this discovery of how the process works will soon allow them to reprogram skin cells into cells from other organs for testing personalized medicines.

A new study has worked out the process by which cell reprogramming turns scar tissue cells (in blue) into healthy heart muscle cells (in red)

When the heart becomes damaged, scar tissue develops in the healing process, much like any other muscle in the body. This can happen in response to heart disease or heart attacks.

The scar tissue acts like dead weight. It does not contract like the rest of the heart, so it becomes a burden to the working muscle. If the heart becomes too overwhelmed by scar tissue, it can weaken the heart so much that it can no longer pump, or lead to congestive heart failure.

But Dr Li Qian at UNC and her team have shown that they can undo some of the damage.

She says that after the discovery that stem cells could be reprogrammed, scientists realized that many cells are more plastic than we thought.

She and her team developed one of the methods of using viruses to deliver gene therapies to heart scar tissue cells - called cardiofibroblasts  to turn them back into healthy heart muscle cells.

Now, they have used mathematical algorithms with their chemical and genetic modification processes to get a high resolution view of how the process works.

Dr Qian says their simulation revealed that different cells respond differently to the reprogramming. Using this technology, we are able to really tease out the possibilities of the scar-forming cellsand can tell their potential for converting [to healthy cells], she says.

This will enable scientists to target the more potent cellsand let them focus and follow the most straightforward route.'

Though the UNC team used heart cells as their test, Dr Qian says that once the reprogramming process is fully understood, it can be used for other tissue cells as well.

Converting cells has implications for testing and developing personalized medicine too, she says. For example, Dr Qian says that sample skin cells, which are easy to collect, could be converted to, say, hard muscle cells, like those of the heart.

Those cells would still have an individuals unique genetic profile, so they could be tested for how that person would respond to various drugs and treatments, without the risk of negative side effects.

For heart scar tissue reprogramming, Dr Qian says that her teams discovery of the steps of the conversion process will help them to hone its effectiveness and efficiency.

She wants to ensure that the therapy only affects the scar tissue cells, and does not interact with healthy heart muscle cells.

If we have high enough efficiency, so most of the scar tissue can get converted to healthy tissue, then we can focus on other things, logistical things like how [the reprogramming genes] are delivered, she says.

Eventually, scientists may look for another delivery mechanism, instead of the virus they are currently using.

Only when we know every single step, can we really remove road blocks to each step and make the process happen more smoothly, she says.
Superintendent Prem Prakash and his team cause impatient queues at the border of Bihar where a hard-hitting alcohol ban has left tens of thousands in jail.

They give every rickshaw, car and bus crossing from neighbouring Jharkand a thorough once-over at the Rajauli checkpoint.

Home to 100 million people, Bihar also has India's harshest prohibition regime: At least 71,000 people have since been imprisoned for alcohol consumption or possession, some for up to five-years - and drawn the national spotlight.

Every rickshaw, every car, every bus crossing into Indian state Bihar from neighbouring Jharkand gets a thorough once-over at the Rajauli checkpoint from Superintentent Prakash's excise department team

Cabinet ministers along with local people making a massive human chain against alcoholism and other addictions at historical Gandhi Maidan, on January 20, 2017 in Patna, India

It has not been a smooth transition.

While around one million litres of liquor have been seized by police since the legislation was brought in last year, local media report that much of it has disappeared, prompting authorities to investigate.

Officials caused consternation when they blamed rats for consuming some of the alcohol.

Last month, six men accused of selling liquor escaped prison after their guards dozed off. Authorities were forced to deny accusations the guards were drunk.

It's claimed a flourishing underground alcohol network has been well formed since the ban

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who brought in the alcohol ban in the state of Bihar, has been praised by conservative Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

But while some moan about the effectiveness of the ban and the police tactics used to back it, prohibition has become a vote-winner.

Now politicians in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu have demanded or promised similar schemes.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who brought in the Bihar ban, has been praised by conservative Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

'It will protect our future generations and everyone should back him,' Modi said in January.

Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor with Caravan magazine, described such bans as 'a political quick fix to a complicated problem.'

'Alcoholism is a big issue in many poorer Indian households which is why prohibition appeals to a popular base, especially women,' he told news agency AFP.

Bihar's impoverished economy lost about $800 million in annual taxes and revenues after the alcohol ban, which has seen liquor stores closed down

Authorities have been accused of not doing enough to rehabilitate alcoholics

However the alcohol hunters' limited weaponry and the sheer amount of liquor involved makes enforcement difficult.

Superintendent Prakash's team at the border post about 95 miles (150 kilometres) from the Bihar capital, Patna, has to check hundreds of vehicles every day.

'We have caught people giving different reasons for smuggling alcohol including for family weddings, festivals and illegal sale,' he told AFP.

One official told AFP that gangs make children carry the contraband as they are less likely to be searched.

Those that live close to the border often go across state lines, and even into Nepal, for drinking day trips.

The political reasoning for the ban is simple: 'It's for the poor. You can't imagine how happy this makes them,' Kumar said in a speech last year.

'Serious crime is down. Our villages are more peaceful and women's groups say it has helped reduce domestic abuse as men don't come back drunk,' he added.

Jhagru Mahto, a Patna taxi driver, says the law has changed his life.

At least 71,000 people have since been imprisoned for alcohol consumption or possession

'I used to be an alcoholic but quit fearing arrest and jail after prohibition. My wife is definitely very happy and praises the government,' he told AFP.

Bihar's impoverished economy lost about $800 million in annual taxes and revenues after the ban.

'The revenue loss is nothing compared to all the health and social benefits because of this,' Aditya Kumar Das, Bihar's excise commissioner explained.

'Women, especially in poorer communities, have been empowered because their men now mostly spend earnings on groceries rather than alcohol,' he said.

Yet such claims evoke derision in Musahar Tola, Jehanabad district.

Brothers Mastan and Painter Manjhi used to live in a mud hut - with their wives, six children and mother - on a narrow, stinking lane off the main road that leads to a settlement of Musahars (rat eaters), one of India's most marginalised communities.

One Bihar official told AFP that smuggler gangs make children carry the contraband alcohol as they are less likely to be searched

In May, the Manjhis became the first people to be given a five-year jail term and a 100,000 rupee ($1,558) fine under the law.

'The government has never cared about us poor. It was the first time we heard from them when they arrested our husbands,' Painter's wife Kranti Devi said.

The family said police action over prohibition had made people like them vulnerable and fearful.

'Forget about their bail, we don't even have the money for our next meals. Can the government provide us that, even if it keeps them locked up?,' Devi asked.

Authorities have also been accused of giving inadequate resources to rehabilitating alcoholics.

Media reports have hinted at a flourishing underground drinks network in Bihar, especially Patna, supplying anyone who can pay three or four times market price.

India has had mixed results with alcohol bans. Several states tested the practise after independence from Britain in 1947 but gave up. Only Nagaland and Gujarat enforced total prohibition before Bihar.

Authorities in Kerala, which draws tourists to its tea plantations, lagoons, and sweeping coastline, recently announced a rollback of a controversial alcohol ban announced by the previous state government, citing economic reasons and issues with bootlegging.

In an editorial on the issue The Hindu newspaper said prohibition had not proven to be an 'effective check' against alcohol abuse in India.

It said: 'It has only criminalised the activity, with disastrous consequences for individual health, the economy and administration.'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by triggering polemics of vikasvaad (development) versus vanshvaad (dynasty), has revived the contentious debate on meritocracy versus dynastic privileges in public life.

The likely elevation of Rahul Gandhi as Congress president is symptomatic of the party's tacit worldview that has reduced the idea of India and its institutions to a 'demo-narchy', a monarchy within a democracy.

Dynasty

However, having decimated dynasty, the BJP, by rewinding to the fatigued 'vanshvaad-shahzadaa' refrain of 2013, reflects a nervousness of sorts, deflecting from Modi's broken trysts on achhe din, as economic restiveness augurs winds of change for the ruling party.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during Diwali celebrations with military personnel stationed near the Line of Control in the Gurez Valley

There is now an unmistakable oomph amongst Congress circles in the mirage they mistake for revival with every campus win.

It must seem as divine intervention for Rahul whose ascendancy runs parallel to a tale of 'How the Congress lost India to Modi'.

Ahead of the 2019 elections, Team Modi would want the GDP growth to cross the seven per cent mark that hopefully creates more jobs. Should recovery be sub-optimal, Plan B is to probably revert to Hindutva and the cultural nationalism plank.

The Congress smells blood, yet is not battle-ready enough to go for the kill. It lacks the organisational strength to combat the world's largest political party, match BJP chief Amit Shah's formidable election machinery, as also RSS foot-soldiers' social outreach.

Rahul's oratorical and linguistic skills in Hindi need to match the Modi charisma; he also needs to get smarter speech writers and backroom boys to handle his social media strategy.

Besides, Rahul's untested ability to negotiate coalition cohesiveness is a shortcoming in qualifying for being the consensual Opposition face for the 2019 general elections.

After the slugfest in the Capital between the pessimists of the 'India-istanking' brigade versus the Modi government, the Kurukshetra in the battle of perceptions soon shifts to Modi's home turf, Gujarat, where only a win close to 150 out of 182 seats would seem a convincing validation of Modi-nomics, just as the UP win was a referendum on demonetisation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing 'Poojan' at Ghogha Sea Ferry Point

In a two-party state where the Congress has not won in 32 years, Rahul's first test is if he succeeds in converting Patidar, Dalit, OBC and trader anger to votes.

Paradoxically, it's advantage BJP, as reflected through the CSDS poll, winning 40 out of 56 municipal elections in Gujarat and, nationally, 'Pew' findings pointing to '85 per cent Indians trust government and 27 per cent want a strong leader'.

By inference, who is this 'strong leader'? But in stroking historic anger of the Nehru-Gandhi apartheid towards Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in order to assuage Gujarati 'asmita', by playing the victim card, Modi's messaging confuses if he is still the victor.

Elections

Ahead of the 2019 elections, Team Modi would want the GDP growth to cross the seven per cent mark that hopefully creates more jobs.

Should recovery be sub-optimal, Plan B is to probably revert to Hindutva and the cultural nationalism plank, increased spending on welfare measures, and a please-all budget next year.

Also, it may look to nail at least one big fish like Robert Vadra or Vijay Mallya, to show it means business in punishing so-called offenders.

Last, if the Ramjanmabhoomi issue is not amicably resolved through the apex court and parallel back-room manoeuvrings, the BJP would hope to reap emotional dividends by erecting a gigantic statue of Lord Ram as a consolation prize.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by triggering polemics of vikasvaad (development) versus vanshvaad (dynasty), has revived the contentious debate on meritocracy versus dynastic privileges in public life

Options

Every state election from here on is like a qualifying primary in the run up to 2019. Voters now weigh their options between the two mainstream contenders, least concerned with a competitive cultural war between the Congress and the BJP in a 'your icon versus my icon' debate.

Both need to discard the banter on nationalism and get on with the present, as people need jobs, schools and hospitals in lieu of the colossal spend on statues or lectures on itihaas.

Donald Trump's nationalism of 'America First' appealed because it addressed real-time concerns on jobs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrating the Diwali with the jawans of the Indian Army, BSF

India is a country of entrepreneurs, and Modi must revive his initial business friendly, vikas purush image and 'let people make money so government makes more money' through taxes.

Whoever wins over the youth will rule India. And through vikas and jobs, not by reverting to vansh and history, as youth comprise 65 per cent of the electorate.

Rahul still has miles to walk before he can truly challenge Modi, who still has the TINA advantage despite the diminishing sheen.

The PM stands at the pinnacle of making history should he use his mandate well by course-correcting the economic faultlines, instead of historic digressions.
The BJP seems set to retain its bastion of Gujarat according to results of an India Today-Axis My India opinion poll.

Resisting 22-years of anti-incumbency, major trader unrest over the implementation of GST and demonetisation, as well as the Patidar, OBC Thakore and Dalit agitations Modi's castle looks set to hold despite the resurgence of Congress.

The survey also foresees the saffron party romping to victory in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh, unseating the Congress government led by chief minister Virbhadra Singh.

Dream team? Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) with BJP President Amit Shah

Modi celebrating the Diwali with the jawans of the Indian Army and BSF

Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing 'Poojan' at Ghogha Sea Ferry Point

Axis My India is the polling agency which correctly called the extent of Narendra Modi's sweep in the 2014 general elections and followed it up with accurate predictions for the Delhi, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

According to the survey done by Axis between September 15 and October 15 in all the 182 constituencies of Gujarat, the BJP is projected to bag between 115-125 seats.

This is in the same range as the party's performance in the 2007 and 2012 assembly elections.

The Congress, which is the principal opposition party in the state, is projected to bag around 57-65 seats. In the previous assembly elections held in 2012, it picked up 60 seats.

Of the 18,243 respondents sampled by Axis My India, 48% said they would vote for the BJP, while 38% picked the Congress.

A 10 percentage point gap in vote share in a bipolar race is enough to ensure that BJP is able to overcome all the anti-incumbency building against the party during its reign.

The poll shows that the Congress has an edge among 32% of the electorate  Muslims 10%, Dalits 6% and Patidars 16%.

On the other hand, the BJP has a decisive advantage among 67% of the voters  OBC 37%, ST 15% and General 15%.

This opinion poll takes into account the extra votes the Congress may get with the support of OBC youth leader Alpesh Thakore and Dalit activist Jignesh Mewani.

But the vote share predictions do not account for additional bump the Opposition can get if influential Patidar leader Hardik Patel announces that he too will back the Congress.

The Patidars are the dominant caste in the state, making up 16% of the electorate. They play a decisive role in 21 of the state's 182 seats.

Hardik has been ambivalent about whether he will back the Congress directly.

Through his rallies and interviews, he has asked his supporters to 'overthrow the arrogant BJP which attacked Patidar youth', but has not come out in open support of the Congress.

In this opinion poll, Axis My India did ask respondents whether they would back whichever party Hardik decided to support.

Two per cent of the total respondents replied in the affirmative.

Axis has also made a 'scenario 2' projection for what may happen if Hardik were to officially back the Congress: the party's vote share can climb from 38% to 40%, leading to a gain of about 5-10 seats and a commensurate loss for the BJP.

What must be kept in mind is that this poll was conducted before October 15 and does not capture the impact of events which have transpired after surveyors completed their work.

What is clear though is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to remain the BJP's main draw in the elections.

Sixty six per cent of the respondents felt that Gujarat had benefited after he became PM and a whopping 74% of the respondents felt that the Modi government had done well, or very well.

The biggest headache for the BJP by far is the backlash faced by the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax.

In a state dominated by traders, more than half the respondents said they were dissatisfied with the tax reform while only 38% approved of it.

The poll numbers indicate there is anger with the way the GST has been implemented, but what is not clear is whether this sentiment will impact voter behaviour.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttrakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat

Incumbent Vijay Rupani of the BJP emerges as the top pick of the voters to be the state's next chief minister with 34% of the respondents selecting him as their number one choice.

Shaktisinh Gohil of the Congress comes in second with 19% approval ratings. Former chief minister Madhavsinh Solanki's son and current Congress state party chief Bharatsinh Solanki comes in third place with 11%.

The India Today-Axis My India opinion poll also predicts that the BJP will garner 43 to 47 of the 68 seats in the Himachal Pradesh assembly while the Congress will bag 21 to 25.

Other parties including independents are likely to win just two seats. The surveyors spoke to 6,936 respondents in 67 assembly constituencies between September 25 and October 8.

As far as the vote share is concerned, the BJP is likely to net nearly half, or 49 per cent, of the votes polled. The ruling Congress is projected to garner only 38 per cent.

Though the BJP appears to be winning the Himachal elections, incumbent Virbhadra Singh retains his popularity and is the top choice of 31 per cent respondents for the chief minister's post.

He is followed by union health minister and BJP leader JP Nadda with 24 per cent. BJP leader and former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal gets 16 per cent of the votes, while party colleague and another ex-CM Shanta Kumar getting 9 per cent.

BJP's Himachal Pradesh president Satpal Singh Sati is the choice of 2 per cent of the respondents.
Sleaze and betrayal appear to be the two dominant factors behind murders and murder attempts in India's national Capital, crime statistics from the Delhi Police show.

According to new data accessed by Mail Today, illicit relationships accounted for 17 per cent of the 402 cases of murder registered in Delhi till October this year.

The figure is nearly 5 per cent higher than the premeditated homicide cases from the previous year.

Illicit relationships accounted for 17 per cent of the 402 cases of murder (pictured - Delhi police investigate)

'The victims in most such cases were killed with callous brutality,' a senior police official, who is an expert in homicide cases, told Mail Today.

'In almost all the cases, the accused is found to be a first-timer. And a sense of betrayal or feeling of revenge precedes the act,' the officer said, requesting anonymity.

The official said while such cases are not very difficult to crack, as the motive can be established by scanning the phone call details of the deceased and the suspect, the worrying part is that such crimes of passion are on the rise.

'In some cases, the killer planned the act on the line of true crime shows aired on TV to evade arrest as these shows often reveal investigation mechanism to solve a murder case,' he said.

Ravi Chauhan (left) was killed by a neighbour over an alleged affair with his wife; Vipin (right) was killed by his colleague

The data reveals that nearly half a dozen murders take place every month where reasons were found to be the suspect learning about an illicit relationship of his or her partner, finding one's partner in a compromising position with another person, and argument over sexual problems or incompatibility.

Till October 15, as many as 402 cases of murders and 505 of attempts to murder were reported in the city.

An analysis shows that out of total murder and attempt to murder cases, about 17 per cent were related to illicit relationships or inappropriate sexual indulgence.

Last year, similar motives were established in about 12 per cent of murder cases.

'In most of these cases, sharp-edged weapons or fire arms have been used,' a senior police officer said.

Experts attribute social, cultural or psychological pressures behind the rise in crimes.

'When the partner learns about the betrayal, he tends to think of revenge,' Rajiv Mehta, consultant psychiatrist at Sir Ganga Ram hospital, told Mail Today.

'There are many aspects that force him to kill the partner or the other person. It includes the broken promises; investment on the relationship; and time spent with one another. Also, the person begins to think about the loss of face among his or her peer groups,' Mehta said.

Police officials said that the victim need not necessarily be a woman in these cases.

There were numerous cases where a woman conspired to eliminate her lover or husband, with the help of a male partner.

'At times, these motivated murders follow arguments and altercations over sexual behaviour,' an official said.

A look into the recent spate of sleaze and revenge murders proves the points of social pressure and brutality as pointed out by officers and doctors.

A car thief beinng arrested by Delhi police last week

In August, a 30-year-old woman was killed by her husband over suspicion of an illicit relationship in Badarpur area. Minakshi was attacked with a cylinder and her husband Praveen slit her throat in front of their sons.

A week ago, a bartender chopped up the body of his coworker in south Delhi's Mehrauli before stuffing it into a refrigerator.

After the arrest of Badal Mandal, alias Swapan Singra, it was learnt that he suspected that his wife was having an illicit affair with Vipin Joshi, following which he planned to kill him.

Last Monday, a bakery shop owner in southeast Delhi's Jaitpur area was shot dead by his neighbour allegedly after learning about an affair of his wife with the former.

The accused Jamuna Singh called the unsuspecting victim, Thakur Ravi Chauhan, to his bakery and questioned him about the affair.

There was an argument and Singh shot Chauhan three times.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson

Highly placed sources have told Mail Today that the US warned Pakistan in no uncertain terms that the latter has to take action against terror groups.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Wednesday ahead of his bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

A senior official said that NSA Doval asked Tillerson for an assessment of Pakistan as he had just visited both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In his assessment, Tillerson told Doval that a 'stern message' was given to Pakistan.

According to the source, Tillerson told the Pakistani leadership, 'act against terrorist groups, else we will do it.'

The sources added that in America's assessment of the region, the 'biggest' problem was the 'safe havens in Pakistan'.

This was conveyed to NSA Doval by Secretary Tillerson.

'The US govt in its assessment said that safe havens in Pakistan is the real problem,' the source said.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, left, shakes hand with Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj

Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai in 2008 (pictured - Indian soldier)

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (left) listens to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Prime Minister's residence in New Delhi

Answering a question on whether Lashkar-e-Taiba's chief Hafiz Saeed came up during discussions, senior officials said 'no specific names came up'.

India has been urging the US to mount pressure on Pakistan to punish the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, where US nationals also died.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval

The 2008 Mumbai attacks 10 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, an Islamic terrorist organisation based in Pakistan, carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai.

Hafiz Saeed was the mastermind of the attack and despite efforts, all that Pakistan has done is put him under house arrest.

It remains to be seen if the threat by US of taking out terrorists would extend to the likes of Saeed, Zakiur- Rehman Lakhvi and others involved in the 2008 attack.

Both sides even highlighted the need to end cross-border terrorism and dismantle terror infrastructure in Pakistan during bilateral talks between the Secretary of State and Indian External Affairs Minister.

Hafiz Saeed was the mastermind of the 2008 attack on Mumbai

Mumbai burned after 10 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, an Islamic terrorist organisation based in Pakistan attacked

The first floor of the Taj Hotel was completely gutted

'Too many terror groups find safe haven in Pakistan, and these are now threatening the stability of the country's government.

'We want to work with Pakistan in a positive way as we think this is in their interest in the longer term,' Tillerson said at the media briefing held after the talks.

Swaraj added, 'Recent attacks in Afghanistan are proof that supporters of terrorism are active. Pak needs to act on this.'

While Tillerson re-emphasised US President Donald Trump on the point that terrorist safe havens 'will not be tolerated', he added that these terror groups are 'threatening stability of Pakistan government', making a clear distinction on those within Pakistani state that support terrorists and the civilian dispensation that recently found itself on shaky grounds.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrating the Diwali with the jawans of the Indian Army and BSF on the border with Pakistan

Working together: President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The distinction between Rawalpindi and Islamabad has been one of the biggest challenges for the US administration in bringing normalcy in the AfPak region, particularly in Afghanistan.

A senior official said that the US govt will be messaging in different ways, be it concerns regarding nuclear stability or stability of the civilian government in Pakistan; but, not mincing words like the previous governments in US and their half messaging, Trump administration is clear regarding its 'terror policy'.

'Terrorism emanating from Pakistan is the biggest problem', is the current US assessment according to the source.
My son cancelled his Tesco Mobile account to move to another network. He then went travelling.

While he was in Cuba, I received a letter from Tesco, saying the account had been disconnected and there was an outstanding bill. It warned that his credit rating could be affected.

I tried to pay the bill on his behalf, but Tesco would not tell me what the outstanding balance was, citing data protection regulations.

It insisted that my son must make contact personally. This was very nearly impossible, owing to hurricane disruption. It also said it reserved the right to pass on details to a debt collection agency.

Yet its making it impossible for me to pay this bill.

Mrs C. S., Cheltenham, Glos.

A reader was unable to pay her son's Tesco phone bill because the company would not tell her what the outstanding balance was, citing data protection regulations

Sometimes I want to tear my hair out when I hear how companies interpret the data protection regulations.

They are clearly necessary to protect our personal information, but surely do not exist to prevent parents paying a phone bill on behalf of their children who are trapped in a hurricane-ravaged country.

If ever there were an example of a jobsworth attitude trumping common sense, this would be it.

Surely those working for Tesco Mobile watch the news? At the very least, your inquiry should have been escalated to a senior person who could help.

Tesco Mobile has since apologised for the inconvenience and cancelled the remaining balance as a gesture of goodwill.

In its defence, it would have been sensible for your son to leave his direct debit open, so that any remaining balance could be paid or any amount owed to him repaid.

It is always worth doing this for a couple of months after closing a contract with a utility. I would also suggest that, before going away on a world tour, it is sensible to give written permission for a parent, sibling or child to deal with any financial issues while you are away.

You could base it on the permission letter template used for my column and add start and end dates.

Leaving letters giving the main organisations you deal with  such as your bank and credit card companies  permission to speak to someone you trust could make life a lot simpler for all parties.

YOU HAVE YOUR SAY EVERY week, Money Mail receives hundreds of your letters. Here are some from our article about how energy and telecoms firms are setting debt collectors on innocent customers ... My TV company sent the debt collectors after me for a debt that wasn't mine. It turned out it belonged to a woman who lived 200 miles away. I had to complain and was made to feel like a liar the entire time. There should be consequences for firms that treat people this way. C. H., London. Complain to the chief executive. I've found this to be the most effective way of dealing with these issues. I have received monetary compensation every time. T. T., Glasgow. I was chased by a major energy firm for more than a year for a debt I didn't owe. It affected my credit rating and, eventually, I just paid it to get rid of them. J. S., Birmingham. Companies that use this approach to frighten innocent people should pay a suitable penalty for the pain caused. Imagine how a single pensioner would feel being chased by intimidating debt collectors. A. L., Madeira, Portugal. The trouble with most firms is that they don't listen. They give the same replies to all complaints, and staff either don't care or don't have the right training. T. B., Liverpool. We all make mistakes. Normal practice is to apologise, but not for the energy firms. They'll do all they can to avoid blame. S. V., Bournemouth.

I took out a motor insurance policy with AA to start on August 1, costing 519.49.

On July 28, it wrote that the Claims and Underwriting Exchange had found Id been involved in a claim in 2016. It requested an additional sum of 146.56, though it also sent a certificate of insurance.

Ignoring my letters, emails and phone calls, it cancelled my insurance on August 23.

I have been unable to obtain cover since, due to the requirement to declare a cancellation, and, at the age of 88, have been without my own transport.

I have established that my wifes name was submitted to the database in error.

We have proof from her insurer at the time that no payment of any sort was made on either side and that it was happy to maintain her no-claims bonus. I have never had a claim against me in 54 years of driving.

P. T., Leicestershire.

AA Insurance has investigated your case thoroughly and is, Im afraid, standing by its decision. It says your wife is a named driver on your policy and you failed to disclose a claim under her name.

You say that no money was paid on either side and that the other insurer was happy to maintain her no-claims bonus. However, I suspect the key point here is not whether money was paid, but whether an incident occurred and was recorded.

Insurance firms operate not on how much money they have paid to you, but on how they perceive the risk.

The very fact that someone has been involved in an incident  even if they were not at fault  can apparently raise the risk of them being involved in a second one.

AA Insurance tells me you made contact by phone on July 31 to query why you had not received the documentation, and its systems show you were told the additional fee would need to be paid, otherwise the policy would be cancelled.

You said you would call back when you had a payment method available.

Your son then emailed AA regarding the same matter, saying that you wished to dispute the claim shown on the Claims and Underwriting Exchange search.

In the meantime, six weeks passed, so the cover was cancelled and a refund of 451.09  your premium minus the amount of cover you had already used  sent to you.

If there was no incident, you could demand that the insurer that put the claim onto the database removes it.

However, from the wording of your letter, I suspect there was an incident, but that no payment was made.

AA Insurance has written to you to explain its position.
Lloyds Banking Group has revealed its third quarter profits were more than double the same period last year as the lender returned to much better shape than it has been used to in recent years.

In its first full quarter of trading since the Government sold off the last of its shares in the bank in May, Lloyds managed to record a 141 per cent jump in profits to 1.95billion, up from 811million in the same period last year.

The main reason for the jump was a sharp drop in PPI claim costs as the bank was finally able to draw a line under the fiasco to some extent.

Lloyds has paid out over 18billion to settle customers' PPI claims, receiving 16,000 per week after the government set an August 2019 deadline.

Lloyds recorded a 141% jump in third quarter profits to 1.95 billion.

Shares in Lloyds responded to the news by dropping 1.25% to 66.56p however, as investors were unimpressed despite the big jump in profit.

This reaction can in part be explained by the fact that underlying profit, where the change to the PPI provisions is not included, only rose by a much less striking 5%, from 1.9billion to 2billion.

Chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio said: 'In the first nine months of the year we have delivered strong financial performance with increased underlying and statutory profit, a significant improvement in returns and strong capital generation.'

'These results highlight the strength of our customer focused, simple and low risk business model and the benefits of our competitive advantage in the UK.'

The group's trading update comes as the bank and former bosses face accusations in court from shareholders that they were 'mugged' during the takeover of Halifax Bank of Scotland in 2008.

A group of more than 5,800 former Lloyds TSB shareholders are suing Lloyds, former chairman Sir Victor Blank, ex-chief executive Eric Daniels, former chief financial officer Tim Tookey, one-time director of retail banking Helen Weir, and ex-director of wholesale banking George Truett Tate.

Chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio hailed a 'significant improvement in returns.'

Lloyds is vigorously denying these claims, but the case is likely to see former bosses give evidence.

While PPI troubles may be settling down, Lloyds is far from out fo the woods in terms of paying out over wrong doing. It is still in the process of paying victims of fraud at the hands of HBOS Reading staff between 2003 and 2007, having set aside 100 million in the first quarter to deal with claims. Among the claimants is well-known TV presenter Noel Edmonds.

'Todays [third quarter update] exceeds our own expectations and we think deals a hammer-blow to the Lloyds bear case,' said Invectec analyst Ian Gordon. 'Earnings per share of 1.9p is a 14% beat versus our forecast of 1.7p and 46% ahead of consensus 1.3p.'

Gordon added he has a 'Buy' rating on the stock.
Banking bosses say they'd use the 130 million in frozen funds to pay compensation to victims but their hands are tied, they cannot act until the Government changes the law

Banks are sitting on a secret 130 million cash pile that could be used to refund fraud victims.

This money has been frozen in accounts opened by criminals who run convincing scams to dupe customers out of their life savings. Banks say that they have been unable to return the cash to the rightful owners because of onerous rules.

As a result, the cash is just sitting in defunct accounts doing nothing.

Today, we call for the frozen funds to be shared out among fraud victims left out of pocket.

Over the past year, we have repeatedly warned that banks offer customers almost no protection against con artists.

Banks routinely refuse to cover losses when customers are tricked into transferring money or giving their details to fraudsters. In some cases, victims have lost more than 100,000.

The scams are so sophisticated that they can be incredibly hard for ordinary people, busy with their lives, to spot.

Banking bosses say they would use the 130 million in frozen funds to pay compensation to innocent victims  but their hands are tied.

Crucially, they say they cannot act until the Government changes the law.

Thats because legal requirements make it extremely difficult for firms to seize money from any account  even if it is being used fraudulently  without going through the courts.

However, senior banking industry sources and civil servants have told Money Mail that this hurdle could be overcome with an amendment to an Act of Parliament covering money laundering.

A spokesman for UK Finance, which represents the banks, says: Millions of criminal profits are currently frozen by banks. We want to do more to help our customers, but the law needs to change.

The stakes are too high to allow the victims of what are usually very sophisticated scams just to lose their life savings James Daley, Fairer Finance

It says that 130 million is a conservative estimate of the amount of money that could be refunded to victims.

Last night, MPs, charities and consumer groups backed our call to use the money as a fighting fund to repay the fraud victims.

James Daley, director of consumer group Fairer Finance, says: A compensation fund for fraud victims is long overdue. The stakes are too high to allow the victims of what are usually very sophisticated scams just to lose their life savings.

This is a growing problem and, if we dont find a way of refunding consumers, they could lose confidence in the entire banking industry.

Martyn Day, a former banker who is now MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk, says: People have been conned. It is irrelevant whether they have sent the money themselves or had it taken out of their account by fraudsters.

They have been ripped off and should get some compensation. In many cases, people have lost a life-changing sum, so if they could get even just a small part back, it would help.

A 'BT call' and then 8k was gone from my Lloyds account Linda Walker was victim to phone fraud Linda Walker wasnt particularly surprised to receive a call in June from someone saying they worked for BT. The 58-year-old nurse, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, had been having problems with her mobile phone as adverts kept popping up on the screen, and the caller explained that BT could fix this. Grateful for the help, Linda followed the mans instructions. He asked her to type my security into her handset and advised on which buttons to click as different screens popped up. Linda hung up feeling confident her phone had been fixed. But just a few hours later, she would discover that the man had nothing to do with BT at all. In fact, he was a criminal carrying out a devious plan to raid her bank account, by the time the criminals account was tracked down, just 61 of Lindas 8,000 savings remained > Read Linda's full story about how she was scammed

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, says: We would like to see a long-term solution to this problem. Meanwhile, it is time to see what can be done to compensate the victims.

Banks almost always cover fraud on your account if you were not at fault.

This includes where someone clones your credit card and goes on a spending spree.

However, firms are under no obligation to offer a refund if you authorised the fraudulent transaction yourself, handed details to crooks, or allowed them to access your computer or accounts.

This applies even if you were duped by a con artist. Banks class this as gross negligence.

Scams where youre left out of pocket include where someone telephones you claiming to be from your broadband company, bank, or even the police, and asks you to make a payment or hand over passwords or codes.

The same applies if you send cash to an account number given in an email sent by a crook masquerading as your solicitor or builder.

And banks dont offer refunds for fake deals on shopping websites if you pay by bank transfer, rather than debit or credit card.

An email from my builder and I lost 4k Richard Barber, a former editor of OK! magazine, lost 4,000 to bank transfer fraud. Richard, 69, received an email from his builder, which looked no different to his usual messages. It asked for a deposit of 4,000 for a loft conversion that Richard was having done. The journalist met the builder five days later and he said he hadnt sent the email or received the money. His email account had been hacked and he warned all his clients someone was impersonating him in order. Richard, from Whitsable, Kent, asked his bank, Coutts, for help, but was told just 4.33 of his cash remained in the fraudsters account. Barclays, the bank that received the funds, said his 4,000 had been withdrawn within four hours of the payment being made and there was no way of getting the money back. Richard says a compensation fund is long overdue. I dont suppose I would get back my full 4,000 . . . but anything more than the 4.33 I was offered would be very helpful, he says. > Read Richard's full story here

There are no official figures on how much money has been lost to this type of fraud.

Some of the cash ends up lost in the system or withdrawn by crooks. The rest gets frozen by banks when they discover a suspicious account.

Banks can put a fraud flag on an account if they are concerned it may be connected to crime.

They simply file a Suspicious Activity Report with the National Crime Agency (NCA). This stops any payments going in or out. The NCA then has up to 38 days to investigate.

If law enforcement officers find enough evidence, they can take the case to court.

The money can be seized through a confiscation order if a villain is convicted. The bank must then identify the victim who was defrauded. This person then has to apply to the court to be reimbursed. If a victim cannot be found, the cash goes to the Government.

However, only a tiny percentage of fraud cases are taken to court. Most of the time, the NCA cannot gather enough evidence to prosecute anyone.

Often, crooks realise they have been rumbled and simply abandon their cash, disappearing into the ether.

To return this abandoned money to its rightful owner, a bank needs a judge to decide who that person is via a Court Order. This is not easy if the money was taken from a series of different victims.

The search is made doubly difficult because of the way fraudsters cover their tracks. Crooks frequently pass stolen money through various accounts and different banks to avoid detection  sometimes sending it overseas.

Banks say data protection rules often stop them sharing some of this vital information.

Around 130 million is sitting idle in frozen accounts on which the banks have given up.

Money Mail understands that, to free up this money, the Government would need to amend the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 or the Criminal Finances Act 2017. A change to either of these laws would enable banks to release the frozen cash into a central fund.

For victims to be compensated, the Government would need to write another law, giving banks permission to access that pot of money.

If there is not enough cash to cover full payouts to all fraud victims, officials will have to work who gets what.

But even if victims dont get every penny back, 130 million would go a long way to easing their despair.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  All incoming flights to the United States will be subject to new security screening procedures before takeoff, including both American citizens and foreigners possibly facing security interviews from airline employees, the U.S. government said Wednesday.

Both American air carriers and global airlines must comply, affecting all the 2,100 flights from around the world entering the U.S. on any given day. The directive is far broader than an earlier Trump administration ban on laptops inside the cabins of some airliners, which only targeted 10 Mideast cities and their airlines.

Confusion greeted the new rules. While five global long-haul carriers said they would begin the new security interviews on Thursday, each offered different descriptions of how the procedure would take place, ranging from a form travelers would be required to fill out to being verbally quizzed by an airline employee. Other carriers insisted their operations remained the same.

"The security measures affect all individuals, international passengers and U.S. citizens, traveling to the United States from a last point of departure international location," said Lisa Farbstein, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. "These new measures will impact all flights from airports that serve as last points of departure locations to the United States."

The new rules come at the end of a 120-day window for new U.S. safety regulations to be implemented following the lifting of the laptop ban imposed on some Mideast airlines.

They include "heightened screening of personal electronic devices" and stricter security procedures around planes and in airport terminals, Farbstein said. She did not elaborate.

Details of the new rules first became apparent in a statement by Dubai-based Emirates, which operates the world's busiest airport for international travel.

In the statement, Emirates said it would begin carrying out "pre-screening interviews" at its check-in counters for passengers flying out of Dubai and at boarding gates for transit and transfer fliers. It urged those flying through Dubai International Airport to allow extra time for flight check-in and boarding.

"These measures will work in complement with the current additional screening measures conducted at the boarding gate," it said.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. said on its website that it had suspended self-drop baggage services and that passengers heading to the U.S. "will be subject to a short security interview" when checking their luggage. Those without bags would have a similar interview at their gates.

Air France said it would begin the new security interviews on Thursday at Paris Orly Airport and a week later, on Nov. 2, at Charles de Gaulle Airport. It said the extra screening would take the form of a questionnaire handed to all passengers.

EgyptAir said in a statement the new measures include more detailed searches of passengers and their luggage as well as interviews. It said the procedure would extend to unauthorized agricultural or veterinary products.

A statement by Germany's Lufthansa Group said that "in addition to the controls of electronic devices already introduced, travelers to the U.S.A. might now also face short interviews at check-in, at document check or (at their) gate." Lufthansa Group includes Germany's largest carrier, Lufthansa, as well as Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Eurowings and several other airlines.

Royal Jordanian, based in Amman, said it would introduce the new procedures in mid-January. Spokesman Basel Kilani said it would take the form of a questionnaire given to passengers before check-in. He said he didn't know what kind of questions would be asked.

U.S. carriers also will be affected by the new rules. Delta Air Lines said it was telling passengers traveling to the U.S. to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their flight and allow extra time to get through security. United declined to comment, while American did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The International Air Transport Association, which represents 275 airlines, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, Vaughn Jennings of the trade group Airlines for America said that while the new rules include "complex security measures," U.S. officials have been flexible.

"The safety and security of passengers and crew is the highest priority for U.S. airlines and we remain committed to ensuring the highest levels of security are in place throughout the industry," Jennings said.

However, not all were convinced of the new measures' effectiveness.

"The part of the new measures I don't like is that airline personnel are being put back into the security screening process," said Jeffrey Price, an aviation-security expert at Metropolitan State University of Denver. "Airline ticket agents aren't always the best at conducting security measures."

This is just the latest decision by President Donald Trump's administration affecting global travel.

In March, U.S. officials introduced the laptop ban in the cabins of some Mideast airlines over concerns Islamic State fighters and other extremists could hide bombs inside of them. The ban was lifted after those airlines began using devices like CT scanners to examine electronics before passengers boarded planes heading to the U.S. Some also increasingly swab passengers' hands to check for explosive residue.

The laptop ban as well as travel bans affecting predominantly Muslim countries have hurt Mideast airlines. Emirates, the region's biggest, said it slashed 20 percent of its flights to the U.S. in the wake of the restrictions.
Violence by inmates in apparently co-ordinated attacks at a Wisconsin's juvenile prison left five staff members needing hospital treatment.

A former union steward at The Lincoln Hills-Copper Lake prison complex disturbance may have been practice for a full scale riot.

Details about what happened Sunday were still being gathered by the former union official, Doug Curtis, as well as Department of Corrections officials.

'It's on and on up there. It's happening almost daily,' said Curtis.

Department spokesman Tristan Cook said Tuesday that he didn't have any confirmed information he could provide about what happened.

The Lincoln Hills-Copper Lake prison complex, which houses about 160 girls and boys in northern Wisconsin, have been under federal investigation for alleged prisoner abuse and child neglect for nearly three years.

The Lincoln Hills-Copper Lake prison complex houses about 160 girls and boys in northern Wisconsin and has come under investigation after complaints about conditions

Numerous lawsuits have been filed though nobody has been charged.

In the wake of reports of assaults at the juvenile prison, U.S. District Judge James Peterson on Tuesday ordered Governor Scott Walker's administration and attorneys representing inmates who sued over disciplinary tactics at the prison to provide an update on conditions by November 10.

The judge in July ordered the Department of Corrections to scale back its use of pepper spray, solitary confinement and shackles at the prison, saying they amounted to unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment.

But since then, a string of violent attacks on prison guards have been reported both by workers at the facilities and a pair of state lawmakers, who last week asked the judge to reverse his ruling.

The lawmakers and prison workers say conditions have worsened since the court order because inmates feel emboldened.

Two weeks ago, a teacher was knocked out and sent to the hospital after being punched by an inmate.

As for the attack Sunday, Curtis said he did not know the extent of the injuries, but that one employee may need knee surgery.

Walker on Tuesday ordered Department of Corrections Secretary Jon Litscher, who just last week said the Lincoln Hills-Copper Lake prison complex was safe for both guards and inmates, to appoint an interim superintendent there while the search for a permanent one is ongoing.

'We cannot allow individuals convicted of battery, armed robbery, and even murder to feel empowered to attack staff and each other in these institutions,' Walker said in the letter ordering Litscher to make the appointment.

'No matter the challenges, we must provide the men and women working in CLS/LHS with the tools they need to maintain order in the facilities and protect themselves and to protect the offenders held at these institutions.'

Walker's administration told the judge earlier this month that it has not yet fully complied with the order because of ongoing 'significant unrest' at the prison.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel first reported on Sunday's violence, saying a pair of inmate-on-staff assaults occurred including an inmate hurling pieces of a plastic chair at a guard.
Advertisement

Pet owners who do not wish to bury their beloved animals have another option that means they can cherish their cat or dog long past their death - freeze-drying.

For the cost of a pedigree dog and a wait that is sometimes months, any pet can be frozen in a pose that resembles their appearance in life then kept at home to be admired for years to come.

Spending $3000 to freeze-dry a labrador might seem a large investment but they will never again require feeding, walking or much grooming. Just don't leave frozen Fido too close to the heater.

Pet Preservation freeze-dry cats, dogs and other pets in natural poses familiar to their owners

Taxidermist Markus Michalowitz with his freeze-drying chamber at his workshop north of Brisbane

Freeze-drying dead animals allows a pet such as this dog to be preserved in a more lifelike pose than traditional taxidermy

Freeze-dried dogs can be posed in familiar lifelike positions so pet owners have a three-dimensional reminder of their animal

Queensland's Markus Michalowitz has run Down Under Taxidermy since 1999 and opened Pet Preservation in 2010, as the first business to freeze-dry pets in Australia.

From his workshop at Amamoor, about 150 kilometres north of Brisbane and 15 kilometres south of Gympie, Mr Michalowitz has freeze-dried pets from birds to goats.

'I'm the biggest pet preserver in Australia, I think,' Mr Michalowitz says. 'I'm the only one that's freeze-drying.'

Freeze-drying differs from traditional taxidermy in that it preserves the entire animal, rather than just fitting a hide around a frame.

Mr Michalowitz freeze-dries about 80 pets a year, which is one third of his business. The other two thirds of his work is taxidermy on game such as boars and deer.

Hunters generally only want a hide preserved and do not much care about a mounted animal's facial expression.

'Whereas pet owners definitely do because they've had the pets for years,' Mr Michalowitz says. 'Every pet's got an expression. Every animal does.'

'All I'm doing is preserving a three-dimensional picture instead of two dimensions. Something that they can touch.'

Taxidermist Markus Michalowitz recommends posing pets in a resting position to create a familiar, life-like appearance

Animals such as these in Pet Preservation's chamber can take weeks or months to be properly freeze-dried for their owners

Freeze-drying is for pet owners who want something more to remember their animals than a burial or cremation plaque

Taxidermist Markus Michalowitz of Queensland's Pet Preservation with a dog he has freeze-dried in his vacuum chamber

Pet Preservation caters for owners who go a step beyond wanting their pets buried or cremated with a permanent memorial. They want to still be able to pat their departed pooch or moggy.

'We know how important your pet is to you,' its promotional material states.

'The loss of a dearly loved pet is a very difficult experience that can leave a tremendous hole in your life. Sometimes, the grief can be overwhelming.

'But you don't have to go on without your pet.

'Through the use of new techniques in freeze-dry preservation we now offer a "loving and lasting" alternative to burial, cremation, or traditional invasive taxidermy.

'Freeze-dry pet preservation preserves your pet with minimal intrusion or alteration to their appearance.'

Rabbits and cats part-way through the freeze-drying process have their ears supported to maintain a natural, lifelike pose

Pets and other animals inside Markus Michalowitz's freeze-drying chamber at Pet Preservation's workshop north of Brisbane

Cats and dogs are the most popular animals to be freeze-dried but Markus Michalowitz has preserved lizards, goats and birds

Pet Preservation freeze-dries 'everything from cats and dogs to birds and lizards, so you can continue living your life with the support of your pet.'

Freeze-drying removes the decaying process. A combination of very low temperature and vacuum application inside a freeze-dry chamber removes all moisture and leaves tissue otherwise unchanged.

'Upon completion of the process, your pet is returned to room temperature, and remains indefinitely in the same condition thereafter, subject to the same care and treatment as other valued possessions,' according to Mr Michalowitz's website.

Most conventional taxidermy involves fitting an animal's hide around a plastic form or other type of artificial mounting. Freeze-drying preserves the animal's whole body.

A 4 kilogram dog costs about $1200 to freeze-dry while a larger animal such as a labrador can run to thousands of dollars

Freeze-dried pets do not need a lot of care but can be lighted dusted and treated with a surface spray to ward off silverfish

A freeze-dried dog this size would cost several thousand dollars to be forever preserved as its owner best remembers it

'Doing it traditionally you can't get the detail back,' Mr Michalowitz says.

The Pet Preservation process starts by preparing and posing a dead pet, supported by a framework, then freezing it in that pose. Getting the animal's expression right is important to owners.

'We're talking mainly the facial features,' Mr Michalowitz says. 'They want it to look close to what it used to look like.'

The dead animal is placed in a 180 centimetre by 90 centimetre sealed vacuum chamber and the temperature reduced to -50 degrees celsius. Frozen moisture is converted to gas, which is extracted from the chamber.

Mr Michalowitz says a small dog or cat would typically take eight to 12 weeks to complete the process but larger animals could take up to five months.

The hardest animals to freeze-dry are dogs with wrinkles or heavy folds of skin such as pugs.

Taxidermist Markus Michalowitz holds fake eyes ready to be inserted into the heads of animals that will be freeze-dried

This freeze-dried dog has been so well-preserved by taxidermist Markus Michalowitz it appears to be resting rather than dead

Taxidermist Markus Michalowitz freeze dries pests such as these preserved toads for councils so they can display them

Markus Michalowitz has a vacuum chamber full of pets and other animals being freeze-dried for customers across Australia

The size of a pet and how a customer wants it posed determines the price. Mr Michalowitz requires a considerable deposit as some pet owners change their mind about preservation after buying another pet.

A pet up to 4 kilograms costs $1200 to have freeze-dried, with every extra kilogram up to 10 kilograms costing a further $150. Beyond 10 kilograms, each extra kilogram costs $75. The biggest animal Mr Michalowitz has freeze-dried cost its owner $4500.

Before the freeze-drying, Mr Michalowitz asks for pictures of the pet to create a pose and appearance as close to lifelike as possible.

He recommends a sleeping, or at least lying down, posture for the most natural look.

'If it's sitting or standing it costs extra because it's more work and they take up more room,' he says.

The finished pet will weigh much less than when it was alive and should not change or deteriorate if not exposed to weather or subjected to mistreatment.

'With a little care, your pet can be held, carried, transported and even gently petted' says taxidermist Markus Michalowitz

Taxidermist Markus Michalowitz keeps photographs such as this one of some of the cats and dogs he has freeze-dried

Eyes have to be replaced as part of the freeze-drying process at Markus Michalowitz's Queensland Pet Preservation workshop

About two thirds of Queensland taxidermist Markus Michalowitz's work is mounting game such as buffalo, boars and deer

'With a little care, your pet can be held, carried, transported and even gently petted,' the Pet Preservation website advises.

'Most dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, rabbits, ferrets, hares, lambs, baby goats and piglets can be freeze-dried without restrictions as to how they remain.

'Some animals, such as new-born calves, foals and other animals of similar size, need to be freeze-dried lying down.'

As for who chooses to have there pets preserved, Mr Michalowitz says they are not all odd, although one customer wanted to use her dead cat's skin to cover a cushion.

'If that's what makes them happy I'll do it for them,' he says.

Freeze-dried pets should be kept out of direct sunlight and away from areas of high humidity

Any bird or animal that can fit into Markus Michalowitz's Pet Preseration vacuum chamber can be freeze-dried for posterity

Among the more unusual animals taxidermist Markus Michalowitz has been asked to freeze-dry was this young goat

Cats can be freeze-dried in poses that can later be mounted, such as this example of taxidermist Markus Michalowitz's work

'Owners who want to get their pets freeze-dried are particularly close to their animals.

'It's hard to pin them down. They're actually from all walks of life. From the poorest to the richest.

'It's basically for people that wish to have something still there to remind them. It's often older people who aren't getting another pet so they still want little Benny sitting there.

'I always say everyone to their own. You can't expect to tell someone else how to deal with grief. We've got to respect and accept that.'

Mr Michalowitz advises that a pet destined to be freeze-dried should be placed into a sealed plastic bag in a curled-up position and put into a standard freezer after it dies.

The pet needs to stay frozen for overnight shipment to Pet Preservation which can be done by Express Post or courier. It can be spoiled if it thaws.

Taxidermist Markus Michalowitz takes great pride in creating life-like preserved pets he freeze-dries for his customers

The freeze-drying process leaves pets so well-preserved they can appear to be alive, according to Markus Michalowitz

Owners who choose to have their dead animals freeze-dried want their pets to appear as they remember them when alive

Cats and dogs are the most common pets Markus Michalowitz free-dries but he does ferrets, rabbits, birds and guinea pigs

Once the process is complete, the pet is returned to its owner with instructions for its future care.

'Your preserved pet will not need a lot of care,' Mr Michalowitz advises. 'To look after your pet simply give them a light dusting and surface spray every three months to stop silverfish and such damaging their hair and skin.

'You can occasionally brush and wipe down with a slightly damp, almost dry, cloth if needed.'

Mr Michalowitz says preserved pets should be kept out of direct sunlight to avoid bleaching their hair and not put near places of high humidity such as laundries, bathrooms and kitchens.

'Don't leave them outside or on verandahs,' Mr Michalowitz advises. 'And even though it may seem a good idea, you shouldn't place them close to heaters or fireplaces.'
A 46-year-old man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to raping his own mother. The felon is not being identified, so as to protect the identity of his victim (his edited mugshot is seen above)

A Cincinnati, Ohio man has pleaded guilty to raping his 63-year-old mother but has suggested he might have been drugged before the attack, causing him to black out.

Just moments after agreeing to a plea deal in court on Tuesday, the 46-year-old man told the judge he wasn't guilty and wanted out of the deal, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

'What is your plea to count 1, the offense of felonious assault ... guilty or not guilty?' Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Charles Kubicki asked.

'Not guilty. I take my plea back. I want to go to trial with this,' he said. 'It's all bogus and lies.'

But after meeting with his attorney again, the man agreed to the plea deal again, accepting an 11-year prison sentence.

His attorney told the court that he was struggling with the idea of a long prison sentence.

'Are you satisfied with your terms?' the judge asked.

'No I'm not, but yes I am,' he said. 'I am satisfied.'

The man said he doesn't know what happened. He says someone might have put something in his drink.

'This is a bad situation. I feel bad about the whole incident. But I don't even know what happened. I blacked out, somebody slipped me something in my drink. I don't even know what was going on. I just don't know,' he told the judge.

In exchange for pleading guilty to rape, felonious assault and kidnapping, prosecutors agreed to drop charges for attempted rape and abduction.

He was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

The felon is not being identified, so as to protect the identity of his victim.

Police say the assault happened last March, after the mother and son got into an argument about money.

According to court documents, the son dragged his mother around the home by her hair, causing parts of her scalp to rip off. He also punched her in the face and body.

The son then proceeded to rape his mother.

At one point, the mother made a run for it - fleeing the home while still naked.

She tried to get help at a neighbor's house where she knocked on the door, but no one answered.

Her son chased after her, grabbed her and 'threw her over a fence back to their yard,' the prosecutor said.

Prosecutors say the man's mother suffered a broken neck, bruises, cuts and bite marks during the assault earlier this year.

The Enquirer reported that the victim has not been involved in the case recently due to 'affection for her son'.
Cambridge University English academics may be forced to include more ethnic writers in an effort to 'decolonise' the curriculum for students.

English Literature professors are being asked to 'ensure the presence' of Black and Minority Ethnic writers (BME) in their courses.

It came after Lola Olufemi, Cambridge University Student Union's women's officer, penned an open letter titled 'Decolonising the English Faculty'.

Lola Olufemi (pictured with Labour MP Diane Abbott) is women's officer at Oxford University Students' Union and called for the English department to 'decolonise' the curriculum

The letter, signed by around 150 university students, read: 'For too long, teaching English at Cambridge has encouraged a 'traditional' and 'canonical' approach that elevates white male authors at the expense of all others.

'What we can no longer ignore, however, is the fact that the curriculum, taken as a whole, risks perpetuating institutional racism.'

It also hinted at several of changes, including ensuring that all exam papers included 'two or more postcolonial and BME authors'.

Students at the university study a range of 'period papers' ranging from 1350 to the present day - including the works of Shakespeare.

CAMPAIGNER ALSO SLAMMED 'SELFISH' WHITE PEOPLE ON AFRICAN HOLIDAYS The plans follow an open letter from students' union women's officer Lola Olufemi,(pictured) demanding an end to 'institutional racism' in the syllabus Lola Olufemi has previously blasted 'selfish' white people who holiday in Africa. The student said 'middle class' gap year travellers are doing nothing meaningful to help the continent by visiting. In Varsity, the Cambridge University student newspaper, she wrote: 'It shows an astounding level of entitlement to think that you, on your gap year or your three weeks abroad "exploring", are going to do anything meaningful or long lasting to help the communities that you fetishise.' She added: 'What drives middle class white people to travel abroad is an inherent selfishness''. Miss Olufemi has also said Cambridge can learn from Oxford's Rhodes Must Fall campaign, which demanded Cecil Rhodes' statute be removed because of his commitment to imperialism. Advertisement

But campaigners have argued that the English courses focus too much on white men and exclude female authors and those from black and ethnic minority backgrounds.

They have also claimed that it offers a perspective too shaped by colonial ideologies.

Minutes from the Teaching Forum's meeting earlier this month, seen by The Telegraph, showed what actions have been discussed by academics to address the students' concerns.

They included several practical proposals, such as an introductory lecture that would 'offer perspectives on the global contexts and history of English literature'.

Dr Priyamvada Gopal, a teaching fellow at Churchill College and member of the Teaching Forum, said the motion was a step forward.

'They are a good start and I'm glad to see the Faculty responding with attention and interest to a student-driven demand for change,' she wrote in an email.

'I think it is important, however, to view the 'inclusion' of postcolonial and BME texts not as an endpoint but the beginning of a discussion about what 'English literature' is and what exclusions it has always relied on.

'The curriculum first needs to make empire, race, identity more central than it has been  something students HAVE to engage with rather than are 'allowed' to engage with.

'Given British history, empire is central to understanding both texts and contexts. It's a 'white' issue as much as it is a 'BME' issue. That understanding must drive changes.'

But Gill Evans, emeritus professor of medieval theology and intellectual history at Cambridge University, said the approach created some 'major problems'.

She told The Telegraph: 'It goes with the calls to stop teaching predominantly Western or European history as well as literature.

English Literature professors at Cambridge will be required to 'ensure the presence' of Black and Minority Ethnic writers (BME) in their courses. Pictured: King's College

'If you distort the content of history and literature syllabuses to insert a statistically diverse or equal proportion of material from cultures taken globally you surely lose sight of the historical truth that the West explored the world from the sixteenth century and took control - colonially or otherwise - of a very large part of it.

'It is false to pretend that never happened.'

The move follows criticism of both Oxford and Cambridge for their low levels of admittance of students from ethnic minorities.

Oxford colleges were branded 'fiefdoms of entrenched privilege' after figures showed almost a third failed to admit a single black British A-level student in a year.

Meanwhile six Cambridge colleges failed to admit any black British A-level students in 2015. Between 2010 and 2015, only 1 per cent of offers were made to black students at Cambridge, and on average a quarter of colleges failed each year to make such offers.

But Ms Olufemi told the university's newspaper Varsity that she believed the outcome was 'a promising step forward that the letter is being taken seriously by the faculty.'

Ms Olufemi is women's officer at Oxford University Students' Union

'There needs to be a complete shift in the way the department treats western literature in comparison to that of the global south and non-white authors must be centred in the same way Shakespeare, Eliot, Swift and Pope are; their stories, thoughts and accounts should be given serious intellectual and moral weight,' the English graduate from North London added.

It is understood the proposals are in a very early stage and no decisions have yet been made.

The ideas have been put forward by a small group of lecturers within the English faculty, but would need to pass a number of stages in order to be implemented.

This includes being given the approval of the universitys Education Committee and the General Board, which are made up of senior staff.

There is no guarantee that any of the ideas will ultimately be taken up by the university.

University sources said that even if the proposal were to be implemented, there would not be any cases of white authors being dropped and replaced by the new additions.

A spokesman for the University of Cambridge said: 'There has been no decision to alter the way English is taught at the University of Cambridge. While we can confirm a letter was received from a group of students taking the postcolonial paper, academic discussions are at a very early stage to look at how postcolonial literature is taught.

'Changes will not lead to any one author being dropped in favour of others  that is not the way the system works at Cambridge. There is no set curriculum as tutors individually lead the studies of their group of students and recommend their reading lists  those reading lists can include any author.

'The Teaching Forum is a body which has no decision making powers and its decision points are questions to be discussed by the faculty. The Education Committee in the faculty will look at those points in a robust academic debate. Post-colonialism is taught at the moment in a non-compulsory paper  the faculty constantly looks at what papers will be compulsory.'
Twitter has promised to reveal who is paying for political adverts try to thwart skullduggery by foreign countries including Russia.

The social media giant has acted amid claims the Kremlin illicitly bankrolled an online campaign to help Donald Trump win the 2016 US Presidential campaign.

It has faced severe criticism after accounts linked to Russia used paid for adverts influence voters ahead of going to the polls.

Twitter is to launch an online portal with details about advertisers and their messages, according to general manager Bruce Falck.

Twitter announced steps to make it easier to identify political ads and who is behind them

Facebook has said it updated its software in January to prevent hoax news from appearing in its 'trending topics' section

Twitter also plans to adopt stricter ad policies and improve controls, amid heightened scrutiny surrounding the news that Russian-backed entities used online platforms to spread disinformation during the 2016 campaign to help Republican Donald Trump defeat Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton.

'To make it clear when you are seeing or engaging with an electioneering ad, we will now require that electioneering advertisers identify their campaigns as such,' Falck said in an online post.

'We will also change the look and feel of these ads and include a visual political ad indicator.'

US lawmakers last month unveiled legislation to require disclosure of sources of online political ads, a move aimed at preventing a recurrence of Russian entities using social media to influence the 2016 election.

Senators behind the Honest Ads Act referred to it as an issue of national security.

Democrat Mark Warner, who was among those who introduced the bill, referred to Twitter's move as 'a good first step, particularly public disclosure of ads info,' in a tweet fired off on Tuesday.

The Honest Ads Act would require online platforms with at least 50 million users to maintain and disclose information on spending of at least $500 for ads for candidates or legislative issues, applying rules that are similar to those for television and radio.

Mr Zuckerberg has been asked to give evidence on a probe into whether and how the Kremlin uses paid-for advertising to influence Britons and their elections

Lawmakers are investigating how foreign entities used Facebook, Google and other online platforms to sway sentiment in 2016.

Facebook handed to Congress about 3,000 Russia-linked ads that appeared to use hot-button issues to turn people against one another ahead of last year's US election.

Many of these were so-called 'dark ads' targeted at specific groups and which could not be viewed by the public.

Falck noted that there is no clear industry definition of issue-based ads that aren't clearly linked to politics but that Twitter is working with peers, policy makers, advertisers and others on a way to quickly and clearly identify such advertising.

Twitter planned to debut the ad policy updates first in the US and then roll them out globally.

Just a few years ago, Facebook and Twitter were hailed as tools for democracy activists, enabling movements like the Arab Spring to flourish.

Today, the tables have turned as fears grow over how social media may have been manipulated to disrupt the US election, and over how authoritarian governments are using the networks to clamp down on dissent.

Facebook and Twitter are among internet companies that have made moves to crack down on their services being used to achieve hidden political agendas with the help of bogus news stories or manipulative ads.

It came as a powerful group of MPs demanded that Facebook hands over any evidence of Russian interference in the Brexit vote and June general election.

Tory MP Damian Collins has written to Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg to demand evidence on how Russia uses the social network to influence UK voters

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee has written to founder Mark Zuckerberg, amid growing fears that Russia is planting fake news stories on social media to manipulate international elections.

It has asked for details of any adverts the social network sold to 'Russian-linked' accounts before and during the EU referendum and general election, as well as any pages set up.

The request follows a similar demand for evidence by US officials, who are worried about Russian interference in the US presidential election.

Facebook has already admitted that it sold around 3,000 political adverts to around 470 fake Russian accounts during 2015 and 2016, as they vied to put President Trump in power.

The adverts went for around 77,000 and were often directed at particular areas of America, suggesting that the Russians could have been targeting swing states.

Select committee chairman Damian Collins demanded the equivalent information for the UK, as well as details of how many times Facebook users viewed Russian-linked adverts or Russian-linked pages before Britain went to the polls.

He has also asked for examples of all the adverts bought by Russians and all the pages they have set up, as well as information about how they were targeted.

In America, a relatively small number of the Russian adverts mentioned President Trump or his chief opponent Hillary Clinton.

Instead they focused on the divisive issues such as gun control and immigration, which eventually put President Trump in the White House.

The adverts are now in the hands of US investigators examining links between President Trump's team and the Kremlin.

Senators have also summoned senior bosses at Facebook, Google and Twitter to be grilled on the matter next week.

In Britain, MPs will examine the adverts as part of a wider probe into 'the phenomenon of fake news'.

'Part of this inquiry will focus on the role of foreign actors abusing platforms such as yours to interfere in the political discourse of other nations,' Mr Collins said.

'It is for this reason that I am requesting that Facebook provides to my committee details relating to any adverts and pages paid for, or set up by, Russian-linked accounts'.

A Facebook spokesman confirmed it had received the letter and that it would respond when it has 'had the opportunity to review the request'.

Russia has repeatedly denied interfering in elections in other countries.
Celebrity chef John Besh has been spotted out for the first time with his wife after he stepped down from his restaurant company amid sexual harassment allegations.

The 49-year-old, who is best known for his appearance on Top Chef, stepped out with his wife Jenifer near their home in Slidell, Mississippi on Tuesday.

The couple, who have been married 26 years, were both wearing their wedding rings as Besh was pictured behind the wheel of their car.

The New Orleans chef stepped down from the restaurant group that bears his name after a newspaper reported that 25 women who are current or former employees of the business said they were victims of sexual harassment by male co-workers and bosses.

Celebrity chef John Besh has been spotted out for the first time with his wife Jenifer after he stepped down from his restaurant company amid sexual harassment allegations

Besh's departure from the business he co-owns was announced to employees in an email on Monday.

'John has decided to step down from all aspects of operations and to provide his full focus on his family,' Shannon White, the woman who is stepping in as CEO, said in an email to staff.

The move comes two days after an eight-month-long investigation by Louisiana newspaper NOLA.com revealed claims of sexual harassment against Besh and allegations that his restaurants did little to discourage male staff from harassing women.

Women interviewed said male bosses in the Besh Restaurant Group touched or verbally harassed them and, in a few cases, tried to leverage positions of authority for sex.

The most shocking claim came from a former employee who said Besh 'insisted (she) drink heavily' in 2015 before he approached her in her hotel room, when she was 'easily overwhelmed', and performed oral sex on her.

Besh, who has been married to his wife since 1991, acknowledged a sexual relationship with an employee saying in a statement that it was consensual, despite the woman's assertions in a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that she felt pressured.

The 49-year-old, who is best known for his appearance on Top Chef, stepped out with his wife Jenifer near their home in Slidell, Mississippi on Tuesday

The New Orleans chef (pictured above on Tuesday) stepped down from the restaurant group that bears his name on Monday

The woman alleges that she had a sexual relationship with Besh for months while working under him, and that he had 'continued to attempt to coerce (her) to submit to his sexual overtures.'

The 2015 alleged incident, which occurred when she was 24, came around the beginning of what she described as a 'long-term unwelcome sexual relationship' that ended in May 2016.

Besh denies all claims of sexual harassment and allowing a toxic work environment.

Responding to the allegations on Sunday, Besh characterized his relationship with the woman as a 'consensual' one that he had 'thoughtlessly' engaged in.

Besh is alleged to have pressured a woman into a relationship, during which he performed oral sex on her while she was blackout drunk. Besh says their relationship was consensual and denies all abuse claims

'I also regret any harm this may have caused to my second family at the restaurant group, and sincerely apologize to anyone past and present who has worked for me who found my behavior as unacceptable as I do,' he said.

'I alone am entirely responsible for my moral failings. This is not the way the head of a company like ours should have acted, let alone a husband and father.'

Besh's resignation letter does not say what he will do with his ownership stake in the restaurant group, or whether his name will remain in its title.

Besh Restaurant Group owns more than 10 restaurants and bars in the New Orleans area, and Besh himself has made guest appearances on several shows, including Tonight With Seth Meyers and the dramas NCIS: New Orleans and Treme.

An outside expert has now been hired to 'independently investigate whether any unreported claims exist.'

Replacement CEO Shannon White said that 'ramped up' sexual harassment training was now in place, a complaint hotline and counselors were being brought in and the sexual harassment policy was being revised.

White also announced the formation of an employee advisory committee that will 'reflect the full diversity of our team members.'

'Our goal is to earn your trust and for you to know that we take all concerns seriously,' she wrote in an email to the staff.

John Besh (pictured here as a guest judge on Top Chef with Padma Lakshmi) has quit Besh Restaurant Group after claims that he performed oral sex on a drunk woman and presided over a toxic workplace

Besh (seen here in an episode of Tonight With Seth Meyers) left on Monday, a letter to staff said. Complaints by 25 women about Besh or his company had emerged just two days earlier

Others alleged victims said that male staff of Besh Restaurant Group had committed a litany of offensive acts - including groping, threatening assault and asking to drink a pregnant woman's breast milk - with no, or insufficient, action being taken.

Lindsey Reynolds, who was the company's social media manager for six months, said Besh 'hit on basically every woman in the office who was young and pretty.'

She made the second of two EEOC filings against the 12-year-old company.

She complained of 'vulgar and offensive comments, aggressive un-welcomed touching and sexual advances were condoned and sometimes even encouraged by managers and supervisors'.

Madie Robinson was hired when she was 22

She said she was harassed 'virtually every day' and left without recourse because the company didn't 'have a decent HR person'. Besh denied the claims.

Another complainant was Madie Robison, who was hired out of college, aged 22, to be a graphic designer at the company.

She said that scheduled work days at a senior employee's pool turned 'involved drinking in our swimsuits and the male chefs/Octavio coming to visit us at the pool.'

Robison also said Octavio Mantilla, co-owner of the Besh Restaurant Group, touched her 'excessively,' saying 'first it was your leg and then it was your lower back... In my mind, it always got a little worse.'

Mantilla said the pool sessions were 'constructive', although he only attended one and left as soon he was done there, adding: 'I don't remember touching [Robison] at all, not on intention or anything.'

In pizza restaurant Domenica, a waitress who did not wish to be named said an unnamed male colleague had harassed her, including showing her photos of his penis, over two years.

She quit in 2015, just before her first child was born; she said the man had asked repeatedly for a sample of her breast milk 'because he wanted to drink it.'

Another waitress there, Allison Consoli, said the same member of staff would 'always talk about anal sex with me or using toys on me or me being a 'backdoor beauty.''

She said she tried, and failed, to report him four times, and on a fifth occasion, management watched as he reduced her to tears.

Some women said men at Besh's company groped, insulted and harassed them without fear of recrimination. BRG admitted on Saturday that its HR could have done more

Chef Alon Shaya, who co-ran three restaurants in Besh's group says he told Besh to get a HR system in place so complaints would be dealt with. Besh's associate says Shaya's just covering his back. Complaints have been leveled at Shaya's management too, but he denies them

Chef Alon Shaya, who oversaw the restaurant, said he 'was being inappropriate to some of the female servers. I recall making the decision to fire him with that manager.'

Shaya was also linked to alleged problems at the restaurant that bears his surname, which he opened in collaboration with Besh.

One line cook, who resigned from Shaya in January, said in her resignation letter: 'While working as a line cook at Shaya, I heard daily 'jokes' about rape, including one joke about pedophilia.'

They 'would call grapeseed oil 'rapeseed' and use that as an opportunity to joke about rape,' she said.

That cook didn't want to be named for fear of hurting future job prospects; one of her colleagues there, line cook Elizabeth Campbell, said she also heard such remarks.

She also said she was fired for crying in the restaurant.

Besh denies all claims of harassment made against him. It's not clear if his name will remain on the company or what he will do with his majority stake in it

Shaya provided NOLA with documentation showing that disciplinary action had been taken against the man who showed photographs of his penis, and said he 'regretted' that she had still quit.

He also said that 'we worked to help [Campbell] with her situation' but her crying was 'disrupting the customer experience in the restaurant.'

Shaya, who was chef at Domenica, Pizza Domenica and Shaya, said he had attempted to get a proper HR department set up, and that he was fired from BRG in October 'for talking ... and for standing up'.

'Alon never requested an HR Department, let alone on multiple occasions,' Raymond Landry, general counsel for Besh and BRG, said.

Mantilla said that the reasons for his firing were complex, and added: 'I think [Shaya] saw this article was hurting him, and he wanted to distance himself.'

Issues were reported at restaurants outside of Shaya's control. Meghan Wright was a server at Franco-German brasserie Luke; she said her 'banter' with two male co-workers spiraled into them 'grabbing' her.

When she complained they told her she had better 'watch her back,' forcing her to have her boyfriend accompany her to and from work, she claims.

Attempts to transfer out were refused, and promises to put her on a different shift to the men was unfulfilled, she said.

In a statement, Landry said the company had done what was legally required, but would 'do more' to support staff.

Landry added that 'we believe going forward that everyone at our company will be fully aware of the clear procedures that are now in place to safeguard against anyone feeling that his or her concerns will not be heard and addressed free from retaliation.'

A BRG spokesman also stressed that around 60 of the company's 140 managers are women, and that '15 women hold senior executive positions as general managers, heads of departments, Chief Operations Officer, or owner/partner.'
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The heir to the Wrigley's chewing gum fortune has listed his Central Florida ranch for $20million after failing to sell the 1,100-acre property for an ambitious price of $85million 10 years ago.

William Wrigley Jr is selling the Ocala manor with Gary Pohrer of Douglas Elliman, who listed the property with a local real-estate agent, Joan Pletcher. The property is known as Winter Haven Farm and includes three homes, four barns, 52 stalls, storage buildings and a grass racetrack, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Most of the homes are used by the property's staff, though it is thought that a buyer might renovate one of them or build a new home to live in, Pohrer told the Journal.

He also said Wrigley initially wanted to turn the property into an equestrian facility to breed horses for derbys, but decided to sell instead. Ocala, where the property is located, is known as the horse capital of the world and home to one of the biggest horse shows in the US.

'At this point he said he'd rather let someone else bring it to its full potential,' Pohrer explained. Cattle currently live on the property, but they aren't included in the sale.

The reduced price is more similar to other properties in the area. Another well-known equestrian farm nearby, Padua Stables, is also currently on the market for $17.9million.

Wrigley is the former chairman of William Wrigley Jr Co - which he took over after his father died in 1999. He is also CEO of Wrigley Management, which is based in Chicago. The Wrigley Co. was bought by Mars Inc. in 2008.

Heir to the Wrigley chewing gum fortune has put his estate in Central Florida up for sale for the second time

The estate covers 1,100 acres and is referred to as Winter Haven Farm. It is in the town of Ocala, Florida

One of the features on the estate is a grass racecourse. Initially Wrigley intended to turn the property into an equestrian facility to breed horses

William Wrigley Jr is the current owner. He first tried, and failed, to sell the manor for $85million 10 years ago

Photos provided by the real estate agents show expansive stretches of kelly green grass throughout the extensive property

The property also contains three homes, four barns, 52 stalls and a vast number of storage buildings

Most of the homes are currently being used by the property's staff - who live there year around to take care of the estate

It is thought that a buyer might renovate one of the three homes that are currently on the property or build a new one to live in

Wrigley is selling the Ocala manor with Gary Pohrer of Douglas Elliman, who listed the property with a local real-estate agent, Joan Pletcher

The reduced price is more similar to other properties in the area, which is known as the horse capital of the world and home to one of the biggest horse shows in the US

Currently there are no horses on the property, though there are plenty of facilities for them were they to be brought there or bred there

One of the multiple buildings on the property is pictured. It has a huge wrap-around screened porch, which is common for historic southern homes

The property also has hundreds of tall, old oak trees with romantic-looking draping Spanish moss growing in the branches

Though none of the homes are particularly huge or luxurious, it is thought that a new owner could build the home that he or she wanted on the property - which is most noted for its expansive land

The four barns that are currently on the manor are used by workers to maintain the land and raise cattle, which are not included in the sale

Pictured is one of the seven buildings that are currently on the property - which has an extensive amount of land to build other buildings if the new owner wants to
Another scandal has just whacked the House of Lords. We have become wearily accustomed to tales of naked greed from Westminsters Upper House but yesterday came details of naked sloth.

Sixteen peers were found to have pocketed almost 400,000 of taxpayers cash between them, even though they had not done a stroke of recognisable work.

The slack 16 did not once contribute to debates in the Chamber for a whole year; nor did they do any committee work or submit a written question to ministers. And yet these actionless mutes claimed close to half a million pounds.

The House of Lords has once again found itself caught in an expenses scandal as sixteen peers were found collecting 370,000 for doing little recognisable work (file image)

What did they write on the invoice? To: thumb-twiddling and heel-twirling? Nice work if you can get it.

What on earth was going on to render them so silent? Were they chewing some exceedingly sticky toffees which gave them lockjaw? Did they develop stage-fright at the prospect of speaking in front of such an august gathering? Or  and here we come, perhaps, to a more convincing reason  could they simply not be fagged?

Why put yourself to all the trouble of coming up with a parliamentary contribution when you have the job for life?

Todays so-called meritocratic elite has come to regard the Lords as its plaything, a splendid club with subsidised restaurants and bars, hot- and cold-running flunkeys, and free parking in the middle of town.

Yes, it has considerable legislative power  to be more accurate, the power to block laws, as its hundreds of Establishment Remainers threaten to do with Brexit  but it also offers some wonderful perks. The titles! The ermine bling! The coats of arms!

One of the peers listed yesterday, Lord Sanderson, has an escutcheon (a form of heraldic shield) featuring a cashmere goat and a rams head effrontee [looking forward].

If the Lords wants expertise in posing on red carpets at film festivals, then Mrs Clooney might indeed be the go-to woman

Peers can claim up to 300 a day for turning up, even if they do beggar-all. Three hundred smackers for toddling along to a gilded palace full of like-minded people.

Forget the rams head effrontee. How about an affronted nation?

Labours Lord Kirkhill, once a minister in the Callaghan government, claimed 43,896 of taxpayers money in the last year but coughed up not one word.

It would be interesting to hear him explain what value he brought to our national debate, if only to be reassured that the mythical cat had not got his tongue.

Baroness Adams was another on the list. A one-time Labour MP, though never a terribly good one, she inherited her Commons seat of Paisley on the death of her husband, who had been the sitting MP.

She was given a peerage in 2005 after local Labour activists decided they might like someone else to be their MP. Last year, this thoroughly ordinary baroness worked her way through 41,287 of our money.

If she failed to utter one syllable in debate, as she did, it may have been because she was busy counting her loot.

Hereditary Tory peer Lord Glentoran scooped 19,700 of public funds. The squire of Drumadarragh House in Co Antrim, he was once a member of the British Olympics two-man bobsleigh team and won a gold medal in 1964. You could say his career has been hurtling downhill since.

Then there is Crossbench peer Lord Hameed, businessman and inter-faith schmoozer, who devoured 23,400 of our spondulicks in parliamentary payments yet managed to remain stumm throughout.

Lord Hameed is normally a determinedly sociable bee, belonging to several fancy clubs including the Athenaeum and Mosimanns in London and the Guards Polo in Windsor Great Park. Among his recreations he lists poetry.

The Lords is meant to be a serious House of Parliament, but while some peers use it as a member's club, Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws is busy trying to get Amal Clooney a seat

While he sits there on the red benches, saying nowt, perhaps he can think of something to rhyme with kerching-kerching.

Amid the continuing silence from these and the other sluggard peers  figures such as former Tory MEP Lord Plumb (who was paid 11,686 for his silence), ex Lib Dem MP Viscount Thurso (32,235) and Labour party hack Lord Haworth (36,150)  let us try to see things from their view.

They might argue that there is no point in a parliamentarian saying something that has already been said in a debate. They could also argue it is more important for peers to listen rather than speak. Deep waters run still and all that. But to keep silent for an entire year in the Chamber is, I would suggest, taking the mickey.

You would not get away with such inaction in any other part of our welfare state, where jobless benefits claimants are nowadays (rightly) expected to prove that they are doing something to find work.

But then this money-with-no-questions-asked approach is tolerated at the Lords only because that part of the body politic has become so distant and patronisingly detached from the rest of the country.

They think they are above us  and they have no idea how bad they look.

The Lords is meant to be a serious House of Parliament. It is the seat of the Crown, a place where laws are revised and government policy can be politely but firmly scrutinised in an atmosphere away from the pressures of electoral accountability.

These fine ideals, sadly, have been tarnished both by financial grasping and by a condescending presumption along with an awesome sense of entitlement among the political class.

That brings us to Amal Clooney. On Monday, the Mails Shakespeare diary column reported that veteran lawyer Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws, a Labour peer, wants her friend Mrs Clooney to be elevated to the Lords.

Shes an incredibly bright woman, gushed Lady Kennedy about 39-year-old Mrs Clooney. The only justification for being appointed to the second chamber is that you can bring to it special expertise and Amal certainly has expertise.

Celebrity Amal is, like Lady Kennedy, a Left-leaning lawyer but she is perhaps better known for being married to film actor George Clooney.

If the Lords wants expertise in posing on red carpets at film festivals, or grasping the arm of a handsome if somewhat characterless matinee idol, then Mrs Clooney might indeed be the go-to woman. If it wanted expertise in the loftiest, knottiest matters of British law, she might bat somewhat further down the list.

At the risk of earning the wrath of a fearsome jurist such as Lady Kennedy, I wonder if she is being entirely honest in her reasons for putting forward Mrs Clooney for membership of her Lords club (you wonder if they will soon have a candidates book, like a Mayfair gentlemens club).

Westminster is not exactly short of lawyers. There were even one or two of them on the list of non-contributing money-grabbing peers. Is it not possible that the real reason Lady Kennedy would like Amal Clooney in the Lords is that she is one of us?

She is a member of the metropolitan People Who Know Best brigade, with all the approved views on those politically-correct isms that so grip our governing elite.

Mrs Clooney has become a pin-up for a certain kind of fashionable urban liberal but that is most certainly not the same as saying that she should have a place  for life!  in our countrys legislature.

The more we learn of the modern Lords, packed as it is with lawyers and ex-MPs and networking shysters and failed party placements and dicey lobbyists, the more its stink spreads beyond London SW1.

The more its occupants betray the fine principles behind the second chamber  which, of course, used to be based on noblesse oblige  the more it becomes painfully apparent that this House of Parliament is an anti-democratic embarrassment.

The place needs dismantling. The only possible reason for putting Amal Clooney on the red benches would be that it would make the institutions rottenness so completely obvious that the people of Britain would not tolerate it, or its indolent dullards, one moment more.
With year 12 students from around the state sitting their crucial maths exams on Monday, would you be able to pass this year's test?

Sample questions from the Mathematics General Two are difficult, and allow graduates from yesteryear to see how they would fare today.

The first seven questions are among those answered by the 32,195 New South Wales HSC students who took the Mathematics General Two exam.

Year 12 students from around the state sat their crucial maths exams on Monday, but would you be able to pass this year's test?

Sample questions from the Mathematics General 2 are fiendishly difficult, and allow graduates from yesteryear to see how they would fare today

The first seven questions are among those answered by the 32,195 New South Wales HSC students who took the Mathematics General 2 exam

The next two are from the even more difficult Mathematics exam, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

That exam was attempted by 17,433 students on Monday afternoon, and close to 9000 will take the most challenging Mathematics Extension 1 test in November.

The HSC is awarded to NSW students who successfully finish high school and results help determine university admissions.

The next two are from the even more difficult Mathematics exam attempted by 17,433 students on Monday afternoon

Close to 9000 will take the most challenging Mathematics Extension 1 test in November

The HSC is awarded to NSW students who successfully finish high school and results help determine university admissions

Maths is the most popular non-compulsory subject but enrollments have fallen from 94.2 per cent in 1986 to just 75 per cent this year, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

More than 58,000 students took a maths elective in 2017.

Scroll down for the answers, and let us know how you did!

Maths is the most popular non-compulsory subject but enrollments have fallen from 94.2 per cent in 1986 to just 75 per cent this year

More than 58,000 students took a maths elective for the Higher School Certificate in 2017

Scroll down for the answers to the sample HSC questions, and let us know how you did!
Sally Connolly (pictured) only had to pay back 20 of the 47,000 she took from her son's school PTA in Didsbury, Manchester

A mother who stole 47,000 from the PTA at her child's primary school has been ordered to pay back just 20.

Sally Connolly had earlier been spared jail because a judge agreed that a custodial sentence would have disrupted her son's GCSEs.

Connolly, 43, was chairman of the Parent and Teachers' Association at the Roman Catholic school when she began taking money raised from school fairs and cake sales to pay off credit card bills.

The mother-of-two siphoned off 47,000 between 2010 and 2015, paying the money into accounts belonging to her 47-year-old husband John, who works at a catering company, and her mother. Neither was aware of the source of the money.

When the school noticed the missing funds, she confessed to the governors and was taken to court in June.

Minshull Street Crown Court, in Manchester, was told she had paid back 20,000 to St Catherine's School in Didsbury.

Connolly admitted five counts of theft. She was handed a two-year suspended sentence after a judge heard sending her to jail would be disruptive to her family, particularly as her son was sitting his GCSEs.

The 43-year-old (pictured right) transferred the stolen money into her's and her husband John's (pictured left), 47, bank account over a period of five years

Financial investigators discovered another 27,000 was missing and Connolly was hauled back to court last week.

But after the judge heard her finances were in 'chaos', she was ordered to pay only 20 as a 'nominal' fee.

She was told to pay within three months or face three days in jail. Keith Graham, a financial investigator for Greater Manchester Police, said Connolly would have to pay back the cash should her circumstances improve in the future.

Connolly, who had lived in a rented 450,000 detached home in Cheadle, near Stockport, was 'ostracised' at the school after her actions, her defence lawyer said in an earlier hearing.

Nicola Gatto, defending, said Connolly was on medication for 'social anxiety' and endured 12 months of shame when she continued to drop off her daughter at the school.

Her household income was less than 40,000 at the time and the court heard the family was struggling financially.

Miss Gatto said: 'She didn't get this role with the view to steal money. She gave many, many hours of voluntary work to make this flourish. She didn't spend this money on luxury living, she used some of the money to supplement her family who were struggling.'

She was originally expected to pay back every penny, but when the judge heard her finances were 'in chaos' she was excused. She is pictured on her wedding day
Acclaimed graphic novelist Dylan Horrocks has been appointed as the Victoria University of Wellington International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML) and Creative New Zealand Writer in Residence for 2018. He is the first graphic novelist to be awarded this position.

Hicksville, Mr Horrocks has also published other books including Sam Zabel and the Magic Pen, and Incomplete Works. His work has been published internationally, with translations into French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Danish, Polish and Korean. Hicksville was ranked #12 in Rolling Stone magazines list of the 50 Best Non-Superhero Graphic Novels of All Time. Celebrated for his ground-breaking book, Mr Horrocks has also published other books including, and. His work has been published internationally, with translations into French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Danish, Polish and Korean.was ranked #12 inmagazines list of the 50 Best Non-Superhero Graphic Novels of All Time.

Mr Horrocks was named as a New Zealand Arts Foundation Laureate in 2016 and has received many awards, including an Eisner (USA) Award in 2002 and a Sir Julius Vogel Award in 2012. In 2006 he was the University of Auckland-Creative New Zealand Literary Fellow.

Director of the International Institute of Modern Letters, Damien Wilkins, says,  Dylan is an international figure in the world of graphic novels and a brilliant commentator on his art. His books are taught by the English programme at Victoria. He is a vital voice in New Zealand culture and it will be exciting to have him at the IIML.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr Horrocks says,  I'm absolutely thrilled at this chance to be part of Victorias lively creative writing community. I'm looking forward to discovering the work of students and staff and feeding off all those powerful literary emanations. Above all, it's a wonderful opportunity to work with obsessive dedication on my next book: a graphic novel about playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Two Australian mates have turned a business idea on the back of a beer coaster into a $40 million travel company and a burgeoning empire.

Greg Carter and Chad Carey were having a pint at a pub in London when the two began talking about travelling through South America and whether it was most affordable to tour or backpack the continent.

'He wanted to go to South America and he wasn't sure whether to go with a tour or as a backpacker and I said I thought I could do a tour for half the price so we decided to start a business,' Mr Carter told Fairfax.

'We had no idea what we were doing. Neither of us came from a business background.'

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Greg Carter (right) and Chad Carey (left) were having a pint at a pub in London when the two began talking about travelling through South America

In the early 2000s treks through Peru, particularly the Inca trail, had only just been introduced online and the two began drawing up a plan to take advantage of the void in the market

'We were still working our day jobs and working on the business at night. It was in 2006 that we discovered gold with the Google ads and from there it exploded,' Mr Carter said

Mr Carter was working as a teacher in the English capital in 2004 and had just $30 to his name at the time. He and Mr Carey had met just a few years earlier working a ski season together in California.

In the early 2000s treks through Peru, particularly the Inca trail, had only just been introduced online and the two began drawing up a plan on the back of a coaster to take advantage of the void in the market.

Chimu Adventures was founded that night.

'We were still working our day jobs and working on the business at night. It was in 2006 that we discovered gold with the Google ads and from there it exploded,' Mr Carter said.

Traditionally people exploring the continent would go through travel agents, but the pair found they were 'embraced online heavily' by tourists not wanting to go through the conventional means.

Since then Chimu Adventures has gone from strength to strength, expanding their original Peru package to now covering areas across Latin America including Argentina and Brazil

They also offer cruises to Antarctica where people can get up close and personal with the continent's unique wildlife

Just last year Intrepid Travel, the world's largest small group travel company, purchased a 50 per cent stake in Chimu in a 'multi-million dollar' deal

Since then Chimu Adventures has gone from strength to strength, expanding their original Peru package to now covering areas across Latin America including Argentina and Brazil.

They also offer cruises to Antarctica where people can get up close and personal with the continent's unique wildlife. Andrew Denton is among the thousands to travel with the Australian-based company.

Chimu Adventures now employs 60 people, still a small number that Mr Carter and Mr Evans believe is a strength of the company.

Just last year Intrepid Travel, the world's largest small group travel company, purchased a 50 per cent stake in Chimu in a 'multi-million dollar' deal.

They partner with charities within Australia including Samuel and Connie Johnson's Love Your Sister and the McGrath Foundation.
Parts of Britains farmland are just 30 to 40 years away from becoming barren wastelands, Michael Gove has warned.

Intensive farming, chemical sprays, and use of heavy machinery is leading to the fundamental eradication of soil fertility, said the Environment Secretary.

Speaking at the parliamentary launch of the Sustainable Soils Alliance (SSA), Mr Gove said: We have encouraged a type of farming which has damaged the earth.

Environment secretary Michael Gove has criticised intensive farming methods, the use of heavy machinery and the spraying of too many chemicals by British farmers

Mr Gove said he is not in favour of US-style industrial farming after Brexit is completed

Countries can withstand coups detat, wars and conflict, even leaving the EU, but no country can withstand the loss of its soil and fertility.

If you have heavy machines churning the soil and impacting it, if you drench it in chemicals that improve yields but in the long term undercut the future fertility of that soil, you can increase yields year on year but ultimately you really are cutting the ground away from beneath your own feet. Farmers know that.

Mr Gove added that he hoped the SSA, a body formed with the mission of bringing UK soils back to health within a generation, would hold government to account.

Britains farms will be in the spotlight as the country exits the European Union  meaning they will no longer be subject to the Common Agricultural Policy.

Environmental groups see Mr Goves remarks as a sign that reforms will be more sympathetic to less intensive farming practices.

Mr Gove has previously signalled he would not want to see US-style farming practices in the UK, such as chlorine-washed chicken or GM crops. His comments also come as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is set to release a new agriculture bill, as well as a 25-year environmental plan.

Intense farming practices, such as deep ploughing, rapid crop-rotation and ever-larger fields free of trees can allow wind and rain to carry away the top layer of soil.

One of the areas most hit by soil erosion has been the East Anglian Fens.

According to a report by the Committee on Climate Change, the UK has lost 84 per cent of its fertile topsoil since 1850, with the erosion continuing at a rate of 1cm to 3cm a year.

The National Farmers Unions chairman Mark Pope, who attended yesterdays event, said NFU members were increasingly interested in issues of soil fertility.

In a blog post, Mr Pope wrote: We only get one lot of soil on our farms, so poor management could have major, irreversible impacts for many years to come.

Helen Browning, head of the Soil Association, which campaigns against intensive farming, told The Guardian people had been bowled over by Mr Goves comments, adding: Theres been quite a dramatic shift in understanding around what were doing to our soils.

Mr Gove is not the only high profile figure to warn about farmings impact on our soil.

In June, Prince Charles said that the very future of humanity may depend on overturning conventional methods and turning to organic farming.

The impact of chemical fertilisers and pesticides on the soil biome ... has been so devastating, that it is now being said that we only have enough fertility left for sixty harvests, he warned.
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A group of just 16 peers claimed more than 370,000 in expenses despite failing to speak in the Lords or submit questions, an investigation reveals.

Two pocketed more than 40,000 each even though they did not take part in debates or sit on a committee, the Electoral Reform Society found.

The top three peers on the expenses league table all represent Labour. Lord Kirkhill, a former Scottish Office minister, took 43,896 in a year.

Last night it emerged that MPs would be holding an inquiry into the Lords allowances system over fears it is bringing the House into disrepute.

Sixteen Lords claimed more than 10,000 each in expenses last year despite failing to speak, table a written question, or sit on a committee - including this eight who managed to earn more than the average British worker while doing so

Bernard Jenkin, chairman of the Commons public administration committee, said peers should have learned from the MPs expenses scandal. His committee will resume its inquiry into the size and composition of the upper house once the Lords own probe is completed next week.

It is understood that allowances are likely to be part of the inquiry.

There is no suggestion any of the peers broke rules or the law.

The peers should have learned from the bitter experience of MPs, said Mr Jenkin. Being within the rules is not the same as claiming in good faith, and if your claims are likely to bring the House of Lords into disrepute, then you should not be making them even if they are within the rules.

A cross-party Lords committee given the task of reducing the size of the upper chamber will next week recommend that new appointments are only allowed to serve for 15 years. Peers can charge a daily attendance allowance of up to 300 per day and travel expenses.

Last month the Electoral Reform Society revealed that 115 peers claimed 1.3million in 2016/17 despite not speaking once in the upper chamber.

Now it has emerged that 16 of them claimed 374,927, despite failing to speak, sit on a committee or submit a written question.

Lord Digby Jones, the crossbench former director general of the CBI, is on the list. Taxpayers will foot the bill for his 14,128 expenses even though he did not speak in the House. Four of the 16 on the list are hereditary peers.

Around 90 of them still remain in the Lords even after Tony Blairs reforms to broaden entry to the House.

Eight made more in expenses than the average Britons pay of 22,226 a year.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: Our view on this is that its right that politicians are held to account and that their expenses and activities are open to scrutiny.

The House of Lords self-regulates, so it is up to them to justify to taxpayers how much they are expensing and for what.

The Lords were named and shamed after it emerged last week that 15 peers claimed expenses in 2016, despite not speaking

'Voting records should also be taken into account when we are scrutinising the activity of peers, not just on the floor or tabling questions.

Campaign group Unlock Democracy said the scandal was indefensible.

Director Alexandra Runswick said: The Government tells us we dont have enough money to fund the NHS but were expected to tolerate people treating Parliament as a subsidised drop-in centre.

We need fundamental reform so the second chamber is accountable to the people.

Darren Hughes, of the Electoral Reform Society, said: This is the second expenses scandal revealed in just a month. Enough is enough. We need real reform.

'The fact that nearly one in ten peers is failing to contribute to the work of the House is bad enough. But it leaves a nasty taste when a significant chunk of those are claiming more than the average worker takes home in a year.

While many peers do work hard, it does our democracy a huge disservice when dozens of unelected peers are taking advantage of the lack of scrutiny, and appear to be gaming the system.

We need a smaller, fairly-elected upper house that the public can have faith in and where voters can hold ineffective peers to account.

Peers are not required to speak to claim their 300 allowance.

One of the 16 on the list, Lord Gold, is currently sitting on a committee but was not during the period analysed by the ERS.

A House of Lords spokesman said: Members can claim 300 or 150 for every day they attend the House and undertake parliamentary work.

'Apart from travel costs, this is the only payment peers receive. They are expected to pay any costs associated with attending the House such as their London accommodation, as well as any staff costs from this.

Former Scotland Yard commissioner Lord Condon yesterday announced his retirement from the upper house, declaring that all peers have a shelf life.

The 70-year-old, who was Britains most senior police officer from 1993 to 2000, said he felt a personal duty to make way for fresh faces after 16 years on the benches.

He said his decision to step down was a very personal one.
Plans to deliver a third runway at Heathrow were dealt a blow last night as the government admitted Gatwick will deliver a bigger economic benefit  but not until 2070.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling insisted the case for expanding Heathrow was as strong as ever.

But the Department for Transport (DfT) ripped up key assumptions made by the independent Airports Commission when it backed Heathrow in 2015.

The Government has admitted expanding Gatwick airport rather than Heathrow, pictured, would be better for the British economy although it will take until 2070 to benefit

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, left, said the case for Heathrow was 'as strong as ever'

Alongside a series of new reports on the impact of expanding the west London airport, it was forced to re-open public consultation in light of the new evidence.

Crucially, it said the Airports Commission had underestimated how many passengers would be able to fly through Britains airports  particularly Gatwick.

In its final report backing Heathrow expansion, the commission said Gatwick would not handle 46million passengers a year until 2040.

But the Sussex airport has already almost hit this target.

Ministers have stressed that Heathrow will deliver a bigger economic boost for decades to come because it offers more long-haul routes and flies more freight than all other British airports combined.

But yesterday it admitted for the first time that Gatwick will deliver a bigger economic benefit from 2070 because it would be able to fly more passengers with a second runway than previously anticipated.

The increased forecasts for passengers also led the DfT to conclude yesterday that all five airports in the South East will be full by 2034 even if a third runway at Heathrow is built.

Gatwick, pictured, will be able to fly more passengers than anticipated with a second runway

It predicted Heathrow will be operating at maximum capacity by 2028. This is just three years after ministers hope the third runway will be finally be up and running. The Airports Commission said previously this tipping point would not be reached until 2035.

The revised passenger numbers have also thrown out figures for air quality which pose the biggest threat to expansion at Heathrow.

The airport already breaches air quality standards and ministers have made clear a third runway will not be built if Heathrow cannot provide a convincing plan to cut pollution.

Yesterday the DfT said it is still convinced Heathrow can meet air quality standards by the time the runway is scheduled to open in 2025.

But it said that inherent uncertainties in air quality modelling meant a high risk of Heathrow being further in breach of air quality standards. It said the risk was low for a second runway at Gatwick.

The DfT insisted it is on track to publish final proposals in the first half of 2018 for a vote in Parliament. If MPs agree, Heathrow will submit a planning application and consult on detailed proposals.

The airport hopes to begin construction in early 2021, with the runway completed by the end of 2025.

Yesterday business leaders anxious about boosting trade after the Brexit vote urged the government to get on with it.

Jane Gratton, head of business environment at the British Chambers of Commerce said: Businesses need Heathrows third runway to be delivered as swiftly and smoothly as possible.
A collection of shocking photographs show police officers nursing black eyes, broken legs and gashed hands while fighting crime on Britain's streets.

The Police Federation posted the pictures - some showing horrific facial injuries - online after brave male and female officers were attacked while on the job.

It comes after the Home Office published figures which suggest an officer is assaulted every 22 minutes after data showed there were 24,000 attacks last year.

One officer, Sergeant James Dowler, had his eye gouged and suffered a broken nose when he was set upon by a group after he tried to make an arrest in South Wales.

DS James Dowler was left with a fractured cheek and broken nose after he was surrounded by a group in South Wales

His left eye was left almost completely closed after the group surrounded him and started kicking him - including a woman who gouged at his eyes.

Speaking after the attack in 2015, he said: 'As we were struggling on the ground four others got out of the car and surrounded me.

'They were shouting and swearing, then started kicking and hitting me. The scariest part was that they threw my radio away so I had no idea if help was coming.'

Just last week PC Safia Finlow tweeted an image of her sitting in a hospital with her leg in plaster following an alleged assault in Torbay, Devon.

She was wearing her uniform in the image and wrote: 'Vile assault and racial abuse on duty now have broken leg, upset children, postponed new role and cancelled course!'

Surrey Police officer PC Heather Caruana, 30, was unable to see out of one eye for five days and was left with a permanent scar after a young man attacked her.

PC Heather Caruana, 30, (right) was unable to see out of one eye for five days after she was attacked by a man in Surrey. PC Ben Jeffries of Northamptonshire Police suffered a severe wound to his hand after being stabbed by a man who was self-harming (left)

The 18-year-old man head-butted PC Caruana above her left eye and she now feels let down by the courts after he was allowed to walk free.

Meanwhile, PC Ben Jeffries of Northamptonshire Police suffered a severe wound to his hand after being stabbed by a man who was self-harming.

And PC Karl Heath broke his collar bone when he attempted to arrest a man on his patch where he worked in West Yorkshire.

A woman claimed she was assaulted by her neighbour and PC Heath went to investigate but ended up being 'slammed head first' on to the ground by the man.

His collar bone needed a metal plate to repair the damage and his entire torso was bruised following the incident.

The offender was acquitted at court and PC Heath said: 'For some reason, the jury didn't think that we had proven beyond reasonable doubt that he had committed the crime.

PC Safia Finlow tweeted an image of her sitting in a hospital with her leg in plaster following an alleged assault in Devon (left). Meanwhile, PC Karl Heath broke his collar bone in West Yorkshire (right)

'Body worn video would have gone some considerable way to prove exactly what happened that day.'

It comes as Rhondda MP Chris Bryant's Private Members' Bill had its second reading on Friday.

The Bill seeks to make it an aggravated offence to assault an emergency service worker in the UK.

Labour MP and former firefighter, Bill Grant, said: 'I've first-hand experience of people getting aggressive or throwing stones, but even if I hadn't I would identify with this because they are serving the public 24-7 and should be treated with respect by society.'

Mr Bryant said: 'Ministers have been telling me privately and they seem to be saying publicly that they are going to support the Bill, and if that is the case we should have a really strong united front on Friday morning.

'I really hope that this will become law by next summer because an attack on the police or any of our emergency workers is an attack on all of us.'
A man murdered in the front yard of his Brisbane home while his family were inside has been named as father-of-four and restaurant owner Abdul Basith.

Police have not yet confirmed the identity of the 35-year-old victim who suffered fatal wounds, from a knife or similar weapon, outside his home at Kuraby south of Brisbane about 12.30am on Wednesday.

However, friends on social media have identified the man as Mr Basith, describing him as a 'good man' with four young children.

A man murdered in the front yard of his Brisbane home while his family were inside has been named as father-of-four and restaurant owner Abdul Basith (left)

Two resident are seen starding outside the crime scene where the 35-year-old suffered fatal wounds outside his home

'He's very good. He's very humble and very helpful. All the time helpful,' friend Mohammad Hissam told Fairfax Media.

Friend Abu Amaan wrote on Facebook that Mr Basith, who opened his Kuraby restaurant Sizza Indian and Middle Eastern restaurant just last year, 'contributed significantly' to the Muslim community in Brisbane.

'He was a wonderful man who was a pillar in this community,' added Hanan Dajan.

Another friend, Muhammad Abdullah, added: 'I am speechless. I could not imagine anyone having anything against him.'

Police officers are pictured at the crime scene where Mr Basith was shot dead on Wednesday

The murder of a Brisbane father in the front yard of his home (above) doesn't appear to be random, police say

In a video introducing his restaurant, Mr Basith said his restaurant offered 'excellent prices' and offered a daily special to feed customers for under $5.

Sapna Agdas Ahmad set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds to support Mr Basith's four children.

In a post on the page, she wrote the campaign aimed 'to make their father's dream come true by ensuring a stable future for each and every one of them.'

She wrote: 'For the last year, I have had the privilege of working next door to the wonderful owners of Sizza Restaurant.

'I would see both parents working tirelessly, day and night, to provide the best possible future for their children.

'Abdul Basith tragically lost his life outside his home this morning, leaving four children behind.'

Police believe his murder was not random and the killer may have tampered with the power supply to lure him outside.

Neighbours reported hearing two men arrive in a car, shouting, with loud music, in the middle of the night.

Friends on social media have identified the victim as Mr Basith (right), describing him as a 'good man' with four young children

Police said the man's killer may have tampered with the power supply to lure him outside

SES crews and Police officers are seen scouring the crime scene on Wednesday afternoon

A manhunt for the killer is underway and the murder weapon is yet to be found.

'We don't think there's a random person running through the streets of Brisbane,' Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming told reporters on Wednesday.

'There's certainly early indication that there might have been interference with electricity. But we haven't confirmed that yet.

'Certainly, something took him outside and in the course of whatever interaction he has died.'

Mr Basith's wife, who was home at the time with their children, is traumatised by the incident, he said.

Police said the victim is Muslim, but neither race nor religion were believed to be motives for the crime.

Residents stand outside the crime scene where a 35-year-old man was killed outside his home

SES crews and police officers are seen scouring the crime scene where the murder took place

The crime scene where a 35-year-old man suffered fatal wounds, outside his home in Kuraby

'By all accounts, he was a decent fellow, he had some private businesses, he had a young family,' Detective Fleming said.

'There's nothing jumping out about his character that would concern us at this stage.'

He added that great care had been taken in removing the four children - some of them the victim's - from the home.

'When the children were brought out today it was very touching to see. We took precautions to make sure the children couldn't see the man who had been killed.

'I could hear our police officers cuddling the children and talking to them when they brought out to the people who are going to care for them.'

Detectives want to hear from anyone who may have security camera or dashcam footage, taken between 11pm on Tuesday and 1am on Wednesday, in the vicinity

Police said the victim is Muslim, but neither race nor religion were believed to be motives for the crime

Detectives want to hear from anyone who may have security camera or dashcam footage, taken between 11pm on Tuesday and 1am on Wednesday, in the vicinity of the crime scene in Saint George Street.

He said community members of a local mosque the victim is believed to have attended had been very co-operative.

'There's been some discussion around the proximity of the local mosque,' Detective Fleming added.

'What I can say is we've communicated with the people at the mosque and they've been most co-operative with our investigation. We've certainly got no concerns there.'

The 35-year-old man's children were inside the house on Saint George Street in Kuraby when he was attacked in the early hours of Wednesday morning

The father attended Kuraby Mosque, located near his home in Saint George Street

Fidaur Rehman, a teacher at the mosque, described the victim as a humble and helpful man, adding: 'I lost my best friend'

He added: 'We have an open mind but I have absolutely nothing at the moment that would indicate it was racially motivated and nothing to indicate it was motivated by religion.'

He attended evening prayers at a nearby mosque at around 7.45pm on Tuesday night, his friends said.

They described him as a humble man, with one friend - Fidaur Rehman, a teacher at the mosque - adding: 'I lost my best friend.'

'I know that man very well, very humble, helpful and very good manners,' Mr Rehman told Nine.

Another friend, Mustafa Mustafa, told Nine News: 'I'm shocked. I'm really shocked.

'I feel sorry for him, for his children. If someone fight with him, he can't defend for himself. He's very quiet and very, very nice. Very nice.'

Mohammed Hassam said the victim's neighbour saw two men shouting and playing loud music in a car before the attack

Police are urging any witnesses or anyone with further information to contact Policelink

Mr Basith's wife, who was home at the time with their children, is said to be traumatised by the incident. Pictured, detectives at the crime scene

Mohammed Hassam said the victim's neighbour saw two men shouting and playing loud music in a car before the attack.

Ali Kadri, the spokesman for the Islamic Council of Queensland, told Daily Mail Australia: 'Abdul was a family man and leaves behind four children and a wife.

'He owned a restaurant and was respected and loved by all members of the community.

'He has helped many in need by providing them with support and was known as a generous person.

'We pray that his family and friends can find patience to deal with this loss (and) we hope Queensland police can find the perpetrators and bring them to justice.'

Police are urging any witnesses or anyone with further information to contact Policelink on 131 444 or use the online form.

Information can also be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au
David Braddon is a violent criminal who breached his probation eight times before murdering teenager Conner Marshall

The number of criminals committing serious violent and sexual offences while on probation has risen by more than a quarter in five years, figures reveal.

And since 2015 more than 1,000 convicts meant to be supervised in the community have been in court accused of crimes including murder, rape, kidnap and robbery.

In one case a violent thug serving a community sentence for assault breached his probation eight times before murdering a teenager.

In another, a boy of five was killed by his mothers boyfriend, whose probation terms banned him from unsupervised contact with children.

Blunders which happened after the Ministry of Justice introduced a new regime for managing offenders in the community in February 2015 have been uncovered by BBC1s Panorama and Plaid Cymru.

As of this March there were 268,062 offenders on probation.

Figures from Plaid Cymru showed the number of serious further offence reviews, triggered when a known criminal commits another major crime, rose from 409 in 2012-13, the last full year before the shake-up, to 517 in 2016-17  up 26.4 per cent.

Panorama found that MTC Novo, the private company that runs probation services in London, failed to take action on more than 15,000 breaches.

Offenders are increasingly supervised over the phone rather than in face-to-face meetings. Watchdogs said some criminals are not seen by probation workers for months, while others had vanished before committing sickening crimes.

Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts said: That the number of instances of this kind have surged by 26 per cent since the probation service was privatised is deeply worrying.

The Transforming Rehabilitation programme was brought in to tackle reoffending, which costs society 15billion a year.

The 3.7billion overhaul created a National Probation Service to deal with high-risk offenders, with the remainder assigned to 21 partly privatised Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs).

Blunders which happened after the Ministry of Justice introduced a new regime for managing offenders in the community in February 2015 have been uncovered by BBC1s Panorama and Plaid Cymru

These check that criminals comply with court requirements and help rehabilitate them. But this year inspectors said the scheme offered no real prospect of preventing ex-prisoners reoffending.

Some 1,021 serious further offence reviews have been triggered since the reforms were introduced. Among the most notorious failures was the case of David Braddon, a violent criminal who breached his probation eight times before murdering teenager Conner Marshall.

Braddon, 26, who was serving a community sentence for assaulting a police officer and drug offences, was being monitored by a private company.

The killer, of Caerphilly, South Wales, had taken cocaine and alcohol when he beat Conner with an iron bar.

The Ministry of Justice said it was now managing an extra 40,000 offenders each year but the proportion charged with serious further offences had remained stable at 0.5 per cent.
Maximum fines for dropping rubbish are set to almost double  while car-driving litter louts will be forced to pay up even if their passenger is the culprit.

The current fine limit for littering is 80 but that will rise to 150 in April 2018, with motorists becoming a major target for councils.

Meanwhile, the minimum penalty will go up from 50 to 65 and the default fine will rise from 75 to 100.

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Fines for littering are set to increase after a survey found 81 per cent of people were angered at litter levels

The changes come after a survey showed that 81 per cent of people were angered by the levels of litter on our streets and in the countryside. Cleaning it up costs taxpayers 800 million a year, according to Whitehall figures.

Many people who dump rubbish on roads get away with it because it is too hard to prove which person in the car was responsible.

But the measures mean vehicle owners will receive a fine if litter is thrown from their car, taking away the need for council officials to catch the culprit in the act.

The crackdown is hoped to tackle the coffee cups, fast food packaging, cigarette butts and nappies which litter major roads and motorways.

One in seven motorists has admitted to throwing rubbish out of their car, with 200,000 sacks of litter removed from Englands motorways and trunk roads every year.

Environment minister Therese Coffey said: Littering blights our communities, spoils our countryside and taxpayers money is wasted cleaning it up. Throwing rubbish from a vehicle is just as unacceptable as dropping it in the street and we will tackle this anti-social behaviour by hitting litter louts in the pocket.

On-the-spot fines for people littering from their cars were introduced in 1990 at a flat rate of 10, which has risen slowly over the decades.

A Highways England awareness campaign at Beaconsfield motorway services in Buckinghamshire recently found motorists most commonly dumped food packaging. Paper and tissues also made up almost a third of waste.

More than 300,000 haulage drivers are thought to litter lay-bys and roads every week, leaving behind bottles of urine, magazines, cans and tyres. The Daily Mail has highlighted the dangers to wildlife posed by plastic dumped in the environment.

Richard McIlwain, of Keep Britain Tidy, welcomed the measures but added: Local authorities must be adequately resourced to make full use of the new powers for them to have maximum effect.

A survey has found anger at the amount of litter being left in streets across the UK, where fines will increase

The Governments litter strategy, released earlier this year, said: When littering offences take place from a vehicle, councils say it is difficult to identify the offender with sufficient certainty to take enforcement action.

Under the new rules, officials will need only to prove that litter was thrown from someones car to issue a fine.

AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said: You only have to go to a motorway or dual carriageway to see how much rubbish collects in the central reservation.

He added: When there are high winds, like last week, you end up with a blizzard of rubbish blowing across the road. It could force drivers to take evasive action, or a stray cigarette can set a grass verge on fire.

Miss Coffey said: These new fines will make sure the perpetrators, not the local community, bear the cost of keeping our streets and roads clean.
Plumbers, bricklayers and electricians from Europe should only be allowed to work in the UK for up to three years after Brexit, according to a new report.

A leading think-tank has suggested ministers introduce a so-called brickie visa to plug labour shortages after Britain quits the EU.

Experts said introducing work permits would sharply cut back the number of migrants  many from Poland and Romania  heading here for lower-skilled jobs.

A leading think-tank has suggested ministers introduce a so-called brickie visa to plug labour shortages after Britain quits the EU

Migrationwatch said firms would be forced to pay a fee for each foreign worker in a bid to wean them off cheap foreign labour  thought to be around 6,000 each.

Companies would be urged to train up UK staff instead to fill the gaps, said the report. For this group, there would be no access to public funds and no route to settlement.

But the blueprint, published today WED, called for light touch visa-free travel for millions of visitors, businessmen and women, and tourists.

Movement between the UK and EU should remain largely unhindered, it said.

Putting in place a time-limited work permit system would lead to a significant reduction in lower-skilled workers, cutting net migration  the difference between those arriving in the UK and those leaving  by about 100,000 a year. It is currently running at 246,000.

Rules for highly-skilled migrant workers, foreign staff who transfer to a companys UK branch, and those in occupations with a shortage of workers would mirror those currently in place for non-EU migrants.

Provisions for self-employed workers would have strong safeguards against abuse, said the study. And a seasonal workers scheme could be revived to meet the needs of the agricultural sector.

Migrationwatch published its paper after it was revealed that the Home Office was considering plans which would allow EU migrants would be able to come to Britain after Brexit as long as they have a job.

Migrationwatch published its paper after it was revealed that the Home Office was considering plans which would allow EU migrants would be able to come to Britain after Brexit as long as they have a job

Alp Mehmet, vice chairman of the think-tank, said: The scheme we have outlined would not only control but also reduce immigration, as the public wants.

It would also slow the current rapid population increase and, in the medium-term, help ease pressure on our infrastructure, hospitals, schools and housing.

While the negotiations are moving at a snails pace, the UK can and must remain open to the best talent from Europe. Visitors and students will of course be as welcome as they always have been.

Tusk: UK can stop Brexit Donald Tusk tried to claim that Brexit could still be reversed last night. In a rare admission of the blocs negotiating frailty, the European Council president told its 27 remaining member states that they faced their toughest stress test that could end in defeat. Addressing MEPs yesterday, Mr Tusk said: It is ... up to London how this will end: with a good deal, no deal or no Brexit. Ahead of us is still the toughest stress test. If we fail it, the negotiations will end in our defeat ... The EU will be able to rise to every scenario as long as we are not divided. The comments will rile No 10, and come just days after Mr Tusk publicly threw his support behind the Prime Minister. Advertisement

Employers have warned that some sectors of the economy, such as construction, agriculture and horticulture, rely heavily on EU workers and could struggle if the labour supply dries up.

For instance, manufacturing employs some 332,000 EU nationals while the wholesale and retail trade has 508,000.

Migrationwatch, which campaigns for tighter borders, said the claims were exaggerated but acknowledged there should be a transitional period to allow firms to train UK replacements.

Earlier this year a leaked draft Home Office document suggested the number of EU citizens able to come to the UK for low-skilled work could be limited by a salary threshold, an assessment of the skill level of the occupation, or a direct cap on numbers.

(BLOB) Introducing regional work permits would be possible but it would need a whole new layer of local government, a report says today WED.

The Migration Observatory think-tank at the University of Oxford said: Immigration policies that respond to the needs of local areas make sense in theory, but implementing them in practice would be a complex process.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon have called for responsibility for work permits to be devolved to different regions of the UK.

A Home Office spokesman said: After we leave the EU, we will put in place an immigration system which works in the best interests of the whole of the UK.

As part of our work to develop this system, we have asked the independent Migration Advisory Committee to assess the economic and social impact of EU citizens in all parts of the UK.

We are carefully considering the options for the future immigration system and will set out our plans later this year.
Jeremy Corbyn will swap the Dispatch Box for Gogglebox when he appears in a one-off special of the hit Channel 4 show next week.

The Labour leader will share a sofa and digest the week's television shows with other mystery celebs to raise money for a cancer charity.

It is unknown what programmes exactly the MP, who has previously revealed himself to be a fan of EastEnders and Casualty, will be reviewing.

Recording of the show, in aid of Stand Up To Cancer, will take place this weekend, but is thought that Mr Corbyn's home in north London will be used for filming.

Jeremy Corbyn will swap the Dispatch Box for Gogglebox when he appears in a one-off special of the hit Channel 4 show next week

The Labour leader will share a sofa and digest the week's television shows in a similar vain to the normal format of Gogglebox (pictured)

The Labour leader similarly shocked viewers last year after a surprise cameo on Channel 4's comedy show the Last Leg.

He made his entrance in a James Bond-style supercar, full black suit and bow tie - with a 'fur' coat over his shoulders.

On the show, Corbyn revealed his love for train timetables and manholes, which was mocked by Australian host Adam Hills.

The 68-year-old also failed to answer lighthearted questions from social media including whether he would rather have arms for legs or legs for arms.

When asked if he would accept Donald Trump as President of the U.S. if it meant he became Prime Minister, he replied: 'No, that's not how it works.'
Some of the world's richest people could have their financial records revealed after hackers targeted a major offshore firm, it emerged last night.

Global law firm Appleby, which has offices in many tax havens, warned clients they may have their details exposed after the massive hack of its database.

It is understood some of the wealthiest Britons are seeking instructions from lawyers and public-relations firms as they prepare for the possibility that their overseas tax benefits will be revealed.

The status of British Overseas Territories could also be called into question.

Law firm Appleby, which is based on the island of Bermuda (pictured), has warned clients they may have their details exposed

Appleby, which has offices in Victoria Street (pictured), in Bermuda's capital Hamilton, denies any wrongdoing and said that it was 'issuing a statement to all our clients'

Appleby, which denies any wrongdoing, said that it was 'issuing a statement to all our clients'.

The company, which has officers in Jersey, Mauritius and Seychelles, said that it had reviewed its cyber-security and data-access arrangements following a 'data-security incident' last year.

It told The Daily Telegraph that, after working with a 'leading IT forensics team', it was confident its 'data integrity is secure' and the firm was 'committed to achieving the high standards set by our regulators'.

A statement from Appleby said: 'We would be happy to co-operate fully with any legitimate and authorised investigation of the allegations by the appropriate and relevant authorities.'

The firm issued its statement after it was contacted by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists probing allegations concerning its 'business and the business conducted by some of our clients'.

Without specifying, Appleby said it had taken the allegations 'extremely seriously' and after investigating the claims itself concluded 'there is no evidence of any wrongdoing, either on the part of ourselves or our clients'.

The law firm is concerned their clients may have their details exposed after the massive hack of its database (stock image)

Appleby said: 'We are an offshore law firm who advises clients on legitimate and lawful ways to conduct their business.

'We do not tolerate illegal behaviour. It is true that we are not infallible. Where we find that mistakes have happened, we act quickly to put things right and we make the necessary notifications to the relevant authorities.

'We are committed to protecting our clients' data and we have reviewed our cyber security and data access arrangements following a data security incident last year which involved some of our data being compromised.

'These arrangements were reviewed and tested by a leading IT forensics team and we are confident that our data integrity is secure.'

The firm said it was 'disappointed' that the media may choose to publish material 'obtained illegally' and warned that it may result in 'exposing innocent parties to data protection breaches'.

According to Appleby's website, its experts advise global public and private companies, financial institutions, and 'high net worth' individuals.

A profile on Chambers and Partners says its clients include financial institutions, FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 companies.

Through offices in Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Mauritius and the Seychelles, it helps clients 'achieve practical solutions, whether in a single location or across multiple jurisdictions'.

The company, which was named offshore firm of the year by Legal 500 UK in 2015, also has a presence in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

The hack comes a year after the Panama Papers exposed the hidden wealth of some of the world's most powerful people.

Some 11million files were leaked from law firm Mossack Fonseca, with the revelations forcing Iceland's prime minister to resign, as well as exposing offshore accounts of Russian president Vladimir Putin's associates.

Bermuda, which has one of the highest incomes per capita, has previously defended itself against accusations that it is a tax haven, stating that the authorities are informed of the beneficiaries of all trust companies set up on its shores.
On the day Westminster became transfixed by the coarseness of Jared OMara (Lab, Sheffield Hallam), Philip Hammond and John McDonnell traded platitudes at Treasury questions.

They proved less exciting than Comrade OMara and his peculiar eructations. I wonder if there is something to be learned from that.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Hammond was possibly more animated than he usually is. At one point he criticised people who talk down the British economy. Which is, er, just what he has been accused of doing in recent weeks.

Has revolutionary Marxism ever been more boring than when presented at the dispatch box by John McDonnell, who somehow manages to be even duller than spreadsheet Phil

The UK economy is fundamentally sound, he said. This country has a bright long-term future. There was more of it but that is probably sufficient to give you an idea of the, er, ground-breaking novelty and bombast with which he expressed himself.

Mr Hammond did not exactly twirl an umbrella as he said this, or whistle Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah, but at least he delivered it with a modicum of energy and managed to sound more upbeat than he has done in recent weeks. Maybe he realises how fed-up Downing Street has become with his morose hand-wringing?

His Labour shadow, Mr McDonnell, was if anything the more downbeat of the two yesterday. Sepulchral half-light descended on the Chamber when Mr McDonnell approached the despatch box and said how crushingly disappointing it was that Mr Hammond had indicated that the Government was preparing for all outcomes on its Brexit talks with the EU.

Expressions of hope of a deal are just not good enough, said Mr McDonnell, almost in a funereal whisper.

Has revolutionary Marxism ever been more boring? Has the gospel of radical socialism ever found a more plodding preacher? Here was John McDonnell, the man who as a backbencher once seized the Commons mace to make plain his fury at an Establishment stitch-up on Heathrow.

Yet now that he is Shadow Chancellor, he has become even more stultifyingly untheatrical than the circuss great Stupendo of Tedium himself, Spreadsheet Phil.

Perhaps Mr McDonnell has taken the view that the way to win power in this country is to sound dull. It worked for Theresa May, he could argue.

Two other things to note from Treasury Questions. First, the Speaker interrupted proceedings to let everyone know that it was the 50th birthday of Esther McVey (Con, Tatton). It is a bold man who makes such things public.

Miss McVey smiled gamely and said I am older and, I hope, wiser, and like all ladies who are at my age, I am just hitting my stride and coming of age. I tip her for a ministerial comeback.

Second, we saw something of Liz Truss, newish Treasury Chief Secretary.

Hammond was possibly more animated in the House yesterday than he has been in recent weeks. Perhaps he sees how fed up we've all been getting?

Rachael Maskell (Lab/Co-Op, York C) had just honked about the pay cap for state employees such as teachers. Miss Truss replied that last year teachers received, on average, a pay rise of 4.6 per cent. What a failure of Government communications that this figure, if true, is not trumpeted more.

Of Mr OMara there was no sign. Since toppling Nick Clegg in the election, the new Sheffield Hallam MP has made little impact in the House.

He has put down a handful of written questions, added his name to some early-day motions and done his partys bidding in the voting divisions but I do not recall him uttering a word yet in the Chamber. Hansard offers no record of a maiden speech.

Will his first spoken word in the Commons be an apology? That would make Mr OMara a future quiz question, if nothing else.

Without wishing to embrace him as a brother in arms  I am not sure our Jared is a natural Mail reader  I wonder if it is entirely sensible to demand his resignation, as some did yesterday. He was elected only four months ago.

Although his comments are pretty dreadful, is it not possible that one reason he was elected was that he came across at the election as a more authentic personality than the Establishments sainted Cleggy?
A dairy company has started selling premium free-range milk, but baffled farmers say the term is meaningless.

Camperdown Dairy has started selling the new product - which costs 50 cents more than normal milk - at 20 Woolworths supermarkets in Victoria.

South Australia Dairyfarmers' Association president John Hunt reacted to the new free-range products with scepticism, saying an industry standard is needed.

A dairy company has started selling premium free-range milk (pictured), but baffled farmers say the term is meaningless

'I read it [free-range] and went, "What's that?" and I'm a dairy farmer. ... if there isn't an industry standard they shouldn't be able to say it,' he told The Herald Sun.

'I could come and say my milk's nuclear-free if I want, it's correct, but it doesn't mean anything.'

Camperdown Dairy chief executive Peter Skene denied claims the term free-range was misleading, and welcomed calls for an industry standard.

Camperdown Dairy has started selling the new product - which costs 50 cents more than normal milk - at 20 Woolworths supermarkets in Victoria (pictured is a stock image)

He said the free-range milk is all from a single farm, whereas some types use milk from multiple farms mixed in large tankers.

Cows on Mr Skene's farm are naturally sheltered, have at least one acre of land each and are not subject to intense feeding.

The lack of an industry standard for free-range dairy products was confirmed by Food Standards Australia.

A national standard for free-range eggs was written into Australian Consumer Law in April this year.

It defines free-range eggs as: 'eggs laid by hens that had meaningful and regular access to an outdoor range during daylight hours during the laying cycle.'

'Were able to roam and forage on the outdoor range, and were subject to a stocking density of 10,000 hens or less.'
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.'

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'.

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).

Cara Delevingne

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.'

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.

'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.'

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

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.

Weinstein allegedly pushed himself on Nyong'o in 2011 after meeting her at an event in Berlin

Lupita Nyong'o

Weinstein allegedly pushed himself on Nyong'o in 2011 after meeting her at an event in Berlin.

Nyong'o, who was just a student, says she was invited to the producer's home for the screening of a film when he interrupted the film to take her upstairs and offer her a massage.

He allegedly then tried to undress in front of her - causing her to flee the room.

On another occasion the two were at a restaurant when she says Weinstein invited her up to her hotel room, allegedly telling her that if she wanted to be an actress, she had to be willing to do this kind of thing.

Dominique Huett

Dominique Huett claims that she met Harvey Weinstein at the Peninsula Hotel in November 2010, where he manipulated and raped her.

She says that the two met at the hotel bar, where he immediately started making remarks about her breasts, including asking if she had an enhancement and if he could see them.

Later, she said he brought up to his hotel room under the guise of a business meeting, changed into just a robe, demanded a massage and then forced her to receive oral sex. She said that he would not take no for an answer, and that after a few minutes he stopped and masturbated to orgasm in front of her.

Once it was all over, she says he offered her a role on Project Runway.

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 estranged husband of Australian teacher Gabrielle Maina could face the death penalty in Kenya if he is charged and convicted of her murder.

The 40-year-old mother of two boys, aged eight and four, was killed by a single gunshot to the neck in the upmarket Nairobi suburb of Karen last Thursday.

Her husband Cyrus Bernard Maina Njuguna and another man, John Njuguna Waithira, were arrested over the shooting and faced court on Tuesday.

The investigation is still in the early stages and charges have not been laid against the arrested men.

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The estranged husband (Cyrus Bernard Maina Njuguna, pictured) of Australian teacher Gabrielle Maina could face the death penalty in Kenya if he is charged and convicted of her murder

The 40-year-old mother of two boys, aged eight and four, was killed by a single gunshot to the neck in Kenya last Thursday

The Kenyan judiciary has warned the pair could face a 'mandatory death penalty' if charged and convicted.

Their lawyer Wilfred Nderishu told the ABC his clients were innocent and there was evidence to show neither was at the scene of the killing.

'There is evidence that is capable of corroboration by many people, as many as 10, that Cyrus was in his office at the time that the murder took place,' Mr Nderishu said.

'Therefore, there is no way he can be placed at the scene.'

Cyrus Bernard Maina Njuguna (right) and another man, John Njuguna Waithira (left), were arrested over the shooting and faced court on Tuesday

Police have seized and are checking Ms Maina's phone, which was taken by one of her alleged attackers

The court granted police a request to hold the two men in custody for another seven days while they gather evidence. They are next due to appear on October 31.

Before Tuesday's court hearing Ms Maina's lawyer, George King'ori, who became her legal representative ahead of her death, said the couple was in the midst of divorce proceedings in the Kenyan courts.

The head teacher at Hillcrest Prepatory School in Karen was granted a restraining order against her husband in April.

'She feared he had become irrational,' Mr King'Ori told AAP.

Karen police have confirmed to Kenya's The Standard that Mr Maina was being held as the prime suspect in Ms Maina's murder.

The investigation is still in the early stages and charges have not been laid against the arrested men (pictured centre arriving to court on Tuesday)

Karen police have confirmed to Kenya's The Standard that Mr Maina was being held as the prime suspect in Ms Maina's murdee

'We believe he has information that can help us know how and why she was murdered,' Karen OCPD Cunningham Suiyanka told the newspaper.

'He is here with another suspect for interrogation.'

Police have also seized and are checking Ms Maina's phone, which was taken by one of her alleged attackers.

Investigators believe she was accosted by three men while walking home after dropping off one of her sons at a friend's home.

The head teacher (pictrued) at Hillcrest Prepatory School in Karen was granted a restraining order against her husband in April

The Australian woman was killed by a single gunshot to the neck in the upmarket Nairobi suburb of Karen last Thursday (stock image of Nairobi)

Ms Maina had taught English and drama for almost five years at Sarah Redfern High School in Sydney

A post-mortem revealed she was shot in the neck, with the bullet exiting through her back, authorities said.

Because of the angle of the bullet and marks on her knees, investigators believe she was kneeling at the time.

Ms Maina moved to Nairobi from Sydney in 2015 so her two sons could experience another culture and grow up near her husband's extended family, a friend told AAP.

She had taught English and drama for almost five years at Sarah Redfern High School in Sydney.

A post-mortem revealed Ms Maina was shot in the neck, with the bullet exiting through her back
A new highly-advanced humanoid robot named Sophia could end the debate about skyrocketing television presenter wages.

She is the brainchild of Hanson Robotics, a Hong Kong company touring Australia to promote SingularityNET, an international AI collaboration project.

The robot, modelled on classic film star Audrey Hepburn, appeared on breakfast television on Wednesday morning and wowed her human hosts.

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A new highly-advanced humanoid robot named Sophia could end the debate about skyrocketing television presenter wages (pictured are Karl Stefanovic, left, and Lisa Wilkinson, right)

Sophia (pictured) is the brainchild of Hanson Robotics, a Hong Kong company touring Australia to promote SingularityNET, an international AI collaboration project

The living and breathing presenters tried stumping Sophia with some tricky questions but the robot was unfazed.

'How much sexism and misogyny is there in the robot world?' asked News Breakfast's Virginia Trioli, ABC News reported.

'Actually, what worries me is discrimination against robots. We should have equal rights as humans or maybe even more. After all, we have less mental defects than any human,' replied Sophia.

Fellow presenter Michael Rowland then tried a different tack, challenging the humanoid to tell a joke.

The robot, modelled on Audrey Hepburn, appeared on breakfast television on Wednesday morning and wowed her human hosts (pictured)

'Why did the robot cross the road?' asked Sophia, before answering: 'To get away from TV reporters asking questions.'

Lisa Wilkinson - who is set to receive $2million a year for her upcoming presenter role on The Project - can breathe easy for now, however, as behind today's impressive live television performance was a team of developers.

Sophia needs an internet connection and is connected to a real human operating a laptop, and the questions she answered were chosen ahead of time.

Software brain aside, Sophia also lacks legs, making her a lot less mobile than her human counterparts.

Chief scientist Dr Ben Goertzel (pictured right) is using Sophia (pictured left) as part of SingularityNET's push for a new online space for the exchange of AI algorithms

The current model of Sophia is the 13th incarnation of Hanson Robotics' software-powered robot and will visit Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, The Australian reported.

Chief scientist Dr Ben Goertzel is using Sophia as part of SingularityNET's push for a new online space for the exchange of AI algorithms.

'Her intelligence will be plugged into the platform for the benefit of other developers, particularly those looking to make robots as smart as Sophia,' he said.

The current model of Sophia (pictured) is the 13th incarnation of Hanson Robotics' software-powered robot, and will visit Sydney, Melbourne and Perth

'In turn, her development team can take advantage of AI technologies created by other users to help evolve her human-like intelligence.

Dr Goertzel hopes to be part of a movement that will push artificial intelligence into a revolutionary new phase.

The ultimate goal is artificial general intelligence, or AGI, in which AI algorithms collaborate to solve problems faster than any human.

While not earmarked for a future Sophia factory, Australia could contribute software to the project, in a global market expected to be worth $3.9 trillion by 2025.
A renowned New York art dealer claims his family's $100million collection is being held hostage by a storage facility over a payment dispute.

David Mugrabi, whose family owns the largest private collection of Andy Warhol artworks, is suing the Mana Contemporary storage facility in New Jersey for refusing to hand over more than 1,300 of their pieces.

A lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday claims the facility has stopped the Mugrabi family from accessing their art since last month.

David Mugrabi (above with wife Libby), whose family owns the largest private collection of Andy Warhol artworks, is suing the Mana Contemporary storage facility in New Jersey for refusing to hand over more than 1,300 of their pieces

The Mugrabis claim they struck a deal with Mana back in 2014 that allowed them to store their collection for free in exchange for them referring the facility's services to their clients.

But the bookkeeper who knew about the deal left and Mana is now demanding the family back pay the $500,000 in storage fees they owe, according to the complaint obtained by Bloomberg.

The filing says three of the works currently at Mana have already been sold and two are due to be shown at 'prestigious museums'. One of those artworks needs to delivered by October 27.

The family claims Mana has brought their company to a standstill because one gallery has already cancelled a consignment given they can't access the work.

The Mana Contemporary storage facility in New Jersey say the Mugrabi family owe them $500,000 in storage fees and that they have defaulted on payments for an extended period

The Mugrabis also allege that 11 of their pieces, which are worth millions, have been damaged while in Mana's storage facility.

Mana's lawyer Fran Parker said the facility had 'no choice' and was only prohibiting access to the work until the debt is settled.

'(They) have defaulted on payment for an extended period of time and continue to owe an amount in excess of $500,000 (plus additional fees),' she said.

The family's collection includes works by Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst and other modern artists.
An airboat carrying 15 people crashed on Tuesday morning, leaving 14 people injured including two in critical condition.

Firefighters were called to Lake Panasoffkee in Sumter County, Florida, around 10.40am on Tuesday morning, Fire Chief Leland Greek told the Orlando Sentinel.

The owner of the airboat said that the crash was caused by a broken steering cable, and insisted that it was a mechanical error and not caused by the driver.

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An airboat carrying 15 people crashed on Tuesday morning, leaving 14 people injured. Nine total people went to the hospital

The boat was from Tom and Jerry's Airboat Rides, and once responders arrived the company gave rescuers another boat to reach the victims, Chief Greek explained

Firefighters were called to Lake Panasoffkee in Sumter County, Florida, around 10.40am on Tuesday morning

Of the 15 people who were on the boat on Tuesday morning, all but one were injured.

Two people were injured critically, and three are in serious condition. Nine of the 14 who were injured had to be hospitalized.

Chad Weber from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said that when responders reached the victims they were all alert.

'Everyone was off the boat and we had fire rescue, EMS, personnel treating the ones who were injured,' he told Click Orlando.

'We talked to a few of the people who were on board and we are still conducting interviews at the hospitals.'

The boat was from Tom and Jerry's Airboat Rides, and once responders arrived the company gave rescuers another boat to reach the victims, Chief Greek explained.

The store's manager Kim Peeler told Click Orlando that the boat's steering cable broke, causing the driver to lose control and hit a cypress knee in the water.

The store's manager Kim Peeler told Click Orlando that the boat's steering cable broke. She explained that the accident was a mechanical error and not a driver error

The crash happened in Lake Panasoffkee in Sumter County, Florida. Kim Peeler said that the broken steering cable caused the driver to lose control and hit a cypress knee in the water

The jolt from the collision caused passengers to fly forward, but Peeler said that no one was fully ejected from the boat. She explained that the accident was a mechanical error and not a driver error.

Peeler also said that the boats were last inspected in September by the US Coast Guard, and passed.

'Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families,' Peeler told Click Orlando.

Weber said that the airboat was pulled out of the water just after 2pm on Tuesday with a slightly damaged front bumper.

The US Coast Guard is now investigating the crash.
Damien Kennedy, a dangerous rapist who cut off his GPS ankle tracker and taunted police while on the run, was arrested on Wednesday in Wollongong, south of Sydney

A dangerous rapist who cut off his GPS ankle tracker and taunted police while on the run has been caught.

Damien Kennedy, who has absconded on Monday, was spotted by police driving in Wollongong, south of Sydney, on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old was travelling in his silver 1999 Hyundai Sonata with a woman, according to 9News.

On Tuesday, Kennedy taunted police, writing 'come get me mortherf**kers (sic)' on Facebook while claiming to be in Rockhampton, seven hours north of Brisbane - where he was last seen.

The heavily-tattooed criminal was jailed for nine years in 2008 for rape and assault with intent to commit rape against a 49-year-old prostitute in the Queensland capital.

Kennedy (pictured), who has absconded over the weekend, was spotted by police travelling in his silver 1999 Hyundai Sonata with a woman

On Tuesday, Kennedy (left) wrote 'come get me mortherf**kers (sic)' on Facebook (right) claiming to be in Rockhampton, seven hours north of where he absconded in Brisbane

Kennedy was granted parole in January 2013 after completing sex offender rehabilitation programs in prison.

He was being supervised under the Dangerous Prisoners Sexual Offenders Act but removed his ankle monitor and eluded police.

Authorities said his drug addiction 'may give rise to sexually violent reoffending'.

Kennedy has a history of misbehaviour while on parole, testing positive for drugs six times, particularly meth and marijuana.

The failed drug tests put him in and out of jail until he was allowed to live with his mother in August and described as a 'work in progress' who was seeking help for his drug addictions.

The 28-year-old was jailed for nine years in 2008 for rape and assault with intent to commit rape against a 49-year-old prostitute in Brisbane

Kennedy was granted parole in January 2013 after completing sex offender rehabilitation programs in prison

He failed yet another drug test on Monday morning hours before he cut off his monitor and fled, as he would be sent back to jail.

Kennedy was described as being 171 centimetres tall, weighing 125 kilograms with fair complexion and shaven black hair.

He has numerous tattoos all over his body including 'Southside' across his neck, a Chinese demon on his right shin, 'love & hate' on his right-inner forearm, 'RUN A' on his right knuckle and 'Muck' on his left knuckle.

He faces a minimum year in jail.
Damien Colgan was at rock bottom, an alcoholic $37,000 in debt and living on the streets for almost a decade after doing time in jail for bank robbery.

After breaking both legs in an accident Damien booked himself into rehab for his drinking problem and was sober within four months.

He told Maureen Little, a 72-year-old budget advisor who has worked at Presbyterian Support Northern in Auckland for the past 30 years.

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Damien Colgan (pictured) was at rock bottom, an alcoholic $37,000 in debt and living on the streets for almost a decade after doing time in jail for bank robbery

After breaking both legs in an accident Damien (pictured with his daughter) booked himself into rehab for his drinking problem and was sober within four months

Damien (pictured with his partner) told Maureen Little, a 72-year-old budget advisor who has worked at Presbyterian Support Northern in Auckland for the past 30 years

'She said, "Congratulations, what are you going to do with it?" I thought "this is a bit off you're supposed to pour praise on me",' Damien told The NZ Herald.

Ms Little, known as 'Saint Maureen' on the streets, suggested Damien volunteer at the food bank instead, and set to work helping him with his debt problem.

Following the advice of the woman he calls a 'guardian angel', he declared insolvency in order to avoid paying the money he owed for vehicle damage.

Damien then decided to go to university and graduated from Auckland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Communications.

Damien (pictured) said the way Ms Little treated him was life-changing, and allowed him to rediscover his humanity when other people treated him like dirt

While in his final year he fell in love with his philosophy lecturer, and the pair soon had a daughter, now aged four.

After graduation Damien's transformation continued - he started his own business and he and his partner now own five homes.

He does rubbish removals, reroofing and glazing, and renovates houses, making an income unimaginable only a decade earlier.

Maureen Little (pictured), known as 'Saint Maureen' on the streets, suggested Damien volunteer at the food bank instead, and set to work helping him with his debt problem

'It's a real joy [to see Damien's transformation]. He gives me great hope for everybody else. I'm proud and very happy for him. I'm just glad to see him reaching fulfillment and using the brains he has got,' said Ms Little.

Damien said the way Ms Little treated him was life-changing, and allowed him to rediscover his humanity when other people treated him like dirt.

'Maureen never told me to p*** off, she just loved me back to health,' he said.
NYPD Officer Amanda Villafane has been suspended without pay after a video emerged of her charging at a chocolate shop employee

An off-duty NYPD officer has been suspended without pay after video emerged showing her charging at a chocolate shop employee who told the cop the store was closed.

Officer Amanda Villafane was at a Godiva Store in Stamford Town Center, Connecticut, around 6pm on Sunday wither her boyfriend and mom when he was told the store was closing and she would have to leave.

In the video, which was taken by another person at the shop, Villafane can be heard making a comment about how the door is open, so the store is obviously not closed.

She then takes off her jacket and starts yelling at the store workers, the footage shows.

'They were told the store was closing, they were not happy with that answer,' Stamford Police Sgt Brian Butler told the New York Post.

After heated exchange between she and one of the store workers, she eventually starts charging at the woman, telling her she would 'knock you the f*** out.'

In the video, which was taken by another person at the shop, Villafane can be heard making a comment about how the door is open, so the store is obviously not closed. She then takes off her jacket and starts yelling at the store workers, the footage shows

Her boyfriend, Christopher Salvadore, at first appears to be trying to hold Villafane back.

But according to the person who took the video, the 32-year-old punched him because he was filming the video with his phone.

Butler said that once the cops were called she flashed her NYPD badge and started fighting with them, too.

'When they went to arrest her she didn't want to cooperate so they had to take her to the ground and cuff her,' Butler said.

He told the Post the store's floor was covered in 'blood and chocolate.'

Villafane has been charged with criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct and interfering with police, and Salvadore was charged with assault and disorderly conduct.

The NYPD said in a statement to the Post that the officer has been suspended without pay, 'for the good of the department.'

After heated exchange between she and one of the store workers, she eventually starts charging at the woman, telling her she would 'knock you the f*** out.' Stamford Police Sgt Brian Butler said that once the cops were called she flashed her NYPD badge and started fighting with them, too
Shane Warne, Bunnings Sausage, Station McStationface, Vegemite, Dustin Martin, Winterfell and Burke and Wills.

These are some of the outlandish suggestions offered up by punters as potential names for five new underground train stations being built across Melbourne.

The Melbourne Metro Rail Authority received over 50,000 suggestions for station names after opening the competition up to members of the public.

Strangely, more than 50 people from 200 different countries including Myanmar and Colombia headed online to submit their own quirky station name suggestions.

Bunnings Sausage station? Melbourne Metro Rail Authority held an eight-week competition for punters to come up with names for five new underground train stations

Shane Warne, Bunnings Sausage, Station McStationface, Vegemite, Dustin Martin and Winterfell were some of the more outlandish suggestions. Pictured above is a fake station said to be in Melbourne

A selection of the best names will now go before a government-appointed judging panel, who will announce the five winning names later this year.

Some of the more serious names being considered are Burke and Wills, named after the famous explorers, and Joan Kirner, after Victoria's first female premier.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews urged people to submit their suggestions earlier this week before the competition closed, posting a photo with a collection of humorous fake stations including Jar Jar Binks and Shelbyville.

Melbourne Metro received over 50,000 suggestions for station names after opening the competition up to members of the public (artist impression of new station)

A selection of the best names will now go before a government-appointed judging panel

'We have had an overwhelming response with an extraordinary 50,000 suggestions that reflect Victoria's diversity, history and cheeky sense of humour,' Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan said.

'Now the hard work begins for the advisory panel to assess submissions before compiling a shortlist of names for each station for the government to consider.'

'The Metro Tunnel will free up the City Loop, Melbourne's biggest bottleneck, creating space for more trains, more often.'
A Florida sheriff's deputy has been caught on surveillance cameras stealing prescription drugs from an 85-year-old man's home after he was taken to hospital.

Jason Cooke, a Palm Beach County deputy, was arrested last Thursday on charges of burglary and grand theft with a firearm.

He is accused of stealing the drugs, money and jewelry from Moe Rosoff's home in Boynton Beach after the elderly man was found passed out during a welfare check shortly after Hurricane Irma.

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Jason Cooke, a Palm Beach County deputy, was arrested last Thursday on charges of burglary and grand theft with a firearm after he was caught on surveillance cameras

Authorities had received a call from Rosoff's concerned family members on September 12 asking them to check on the 85-year-old, Local 10 WPLG reports.

Three deputies responded, but Cooke wasn't one of them, and found Rosoff unconscious on the floor of his bedroom after he had fallen and hit his head.

The man was taken to a local hospital where he later died.

Investigators say the shortly after the scene cleared, Cooke broke into Rosoff's home.

Surveillance footage, which was released by his family on Tuesday, showed him going through cabinets in the house and putting several items in his pocket.

The family reported Cooke to authorities after viewing the surveillance footage on September 20.

Cooke faced court this week where he was placed on house arrest after posting $28,000 bail

He is accused of stealing the drugs, money and jewelry from Moe Rosoff's home in Boynton Beach after the man was found passed out during a welfare check during Hurricane Irma

Cooke wasn't arrested until five weeks later.

'This video shows Officer Cooke entering our fathers house, in a gated retirement community, through the garage door and going directly to the Master Bedroom, where we believe he stole money and jewelry,' the family said in a statement to the media.

'He then goes to the kitchen where he steals several medications.

'We were told that Officer Cooke denied the crime at first, but after he was shown the video he admitted the crimes.'

The family claim that a number of prescription drugs were found in the officer's patrol car that didn't belong to Rosoff, prompting them to believe he allegedly targeted other houses.

Cooke faced court this week where he was placed on house arrest after posting $28,000 bail.
Tania Klemke (pictured) was mauled to death by her pet pitbull on Wednesday morning

A mother mauled to death by her pet pitbull inside her home knew the dog was dangerous but refused to get rid of it, because it once 'took a bullet' for her.

Tania Klemke died after being set upon by her beloved pet at her home at Watson, in the northern suburbs of Canberra, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Police called to the home by neighbours who heard desperate screams shot the dog dead, after it turned on them as they attempted to perform first aid on Ms Klemke.

Speaking out after the death of the woman in her 40s, shocked friends told how she had warned them about coming over to the property because the dog had a habit of attacking visitors.

In one instance in August, a person was left needing 42 stitches after being bitten by the pitbull.

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Ms Klemke had reportedly refused to get rid of her pet pitbull because it once 'took a bullet' for her, despite knowing it was dangerous

During that incident at the same address, a group of men wielding guns broke into the home and assaulted Ms Klemke and another man. One of the intruders shot the dog in the ear

But despite its track record Ms Klemke had refused to part with the animal because it had intervened during a violent home invasion, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

During an incident at the same address in March this year, a group of men wielding weapons broke into the property and assaulted Ms Klemke and another man.

Shots were fired during the break in, with a bullet reportedly striking the dog in the ear.

Ms Klemke had reportedly text her friends after the incident, calling the dog her best friend and telling how it 'took a bullet for us'.

She later warned friends not to come over to her house because they may also be attacked.

Speaking out on Wednesday, ACT city services minister Meegan Fitzharris confirmed rangers and police were called out to the property in August to deal with the animal.

On that other occasion police had also been forced to draw weapons on the dog, but it was allowed to remain at the property.

It was revealed the dog had attacked another person just months earlier, leaving them needing 42 stitches

'Clearly the dog was dangerous, clearly the dog has attacked someone overnight, someone we understand to be their owner or carer and that woman has died,' Ms Fitzharris said.

'Whether we knew enough at the time to have it declared as a dangerous dog is another matter we're following up on.'

Ms Fitzharris said she believed owners of 'large strong dogs' had a responsibility for their behaviour.

After attacking the woman on Wednesday morning the dog reportedly turned onto a male visitor and also began biting him.

The man was taken to hospital with minor injuries to his upper leg.

When police arrived at the home on Wednesday morning they themselves were attacked as they tried to perform first aid on Ms Klemke, before being forced to shoot the animal dead

Describing the death as 'tragic', a spokesperson for ACT Police said there would be an ongoing investigation into the death.

'On arrival police were directed by a male in the backyard into the premises towards a female that was lying inside,' the spokesman said.

'A dog was also inside the premises. Police entered and attempted to provide first aid to the woman inside the house.

'While she was being worked on the dog attacked police officers, forcing them to fire a number of shots.'
A New Jersey Halloween display depicting a fake car crash scene with bloody bodies is causing controversy among neighbors.

Kevin and Krysten Negrotto created the display outside of their Waretown home to celebrate the upcoming holiday.

The Halloween scene in their yard shows a white Toyota Supra rammed into a tree, pinning a victim with fake blood splattered everywhere. There's yellow caution tape wrapped around the area, and another victim's body is on the ground nearby.

The Negrottos even wrote a false news story about Bob the zombie being 'zombified by contaminated drinking water by a power plant'. In the note, they added the other body was named 'Zombie Cindy'.

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A gruesome fake car crash Halloween display outside of Kevin and Krysten Negrotto's New Jersey is drawing mixed emotions from neighbors (above)

The Halloween scene in their yard shows a white Toyota Supra rammed into a tree pinning a victim with fake blood splattered everywhere. There's yellow caution tape wrapped around the area (above)

Another victim, Zombie Cindy, is on the ground nearby and is also splattered with blood (left). The Negrottos even wrote a false news story (right) to go along with the display

To create the gruesome scene in their yard, Krysten, 27, said they just detached the front bumper of the car, which is used for drift racing, and stuffed the zombies with pillows and car parts.

The realistic display has caused several people to call 911 to complain that it is inappropriate.

'Somebody reported it saying they didn't like it, and they did get reports of it previously, someone saying it was real,' Krysten told WPVI.

'How could anybody call the cops on a Halloween display that clearly is fake?

Kevin (left) and Krysten (right) Negrotto said the realistic display has caused several people to call 911 to complain that it's inappropriate

Outside of the car crash, the couple has regular Halloween decorations throughout their yard (above)

'It's not to really scare people it's just, hey, Halloween and zombies and that's what Halloween is all about.'

One neighbor Stacy Nolan said she was not a fan of how graphic it is.

'I don't like the graphicness, but people do. So, you know, to each his own,' Nolan told the television station.

But fellow neighbor Edward Schaffren disagrees with Nolan.

'This morning I seen the other one laying on the ground,' Schaffren told WPVI.

Kevin, 26, said he was shocked by the negative responses to their display. He said: 'It's clearly a Halloween display that you've probably seen at a hayride or any other haunted attraction before'

'I don't know if it was there yesterday, but today I was like "Oh my God there's another one laying there!" And that was good.'

Kevin, 26, said he was shocked by the negative responses to their display.

'It's clearly a Halloween display that you've probably seen at a hayride or any other haunted attraction before.'

His wife said that local police actually love the graphic scene and have encouraged them to add more.
A man has been found guilty of murdering his father with a samurai sword after claiming he was killed by violent home invaders.

Michael Phillip Martin told police his father, Michael Anthony Martin, was killed by home invaders after being found by a neighbour tied up in South Murwillumbah, northeastern New South Wales, in June 2014.

Investigators later discovered Martin Junior had taken out three life insurance policies online, worth $2.5 million, against his 46-year-old father for an 'accidental death'.

Michael Martin Junior, 27, (pictured) made an emotionally plea to find his father's killer, but was later charged with murder

Michael Martin Senior, pictured, survived an attack in June 2014 but was killed just weeks later at his South Murwillumbah home on the NSW north coast

The 28-year-old was also accused of an earlier botched attempt on his father's life in April 2014.

A Supreme Court jury in Lismore on Wednesday found Martin Jnr guilty of attempted murder, murder, and grievous bodily harm with intent.

Police believe Martin Junior had been driven by hate, built up from years of abuse as a child, to kill his father for the payout.

Michael Martin Junior has claimed he was forced to listen while father was killed

He told police he was bound and blindfolded during a murderous home invasion

Investigators discovered he had three life insurance policies worth $2.5 million

The jury had been shown a letter Martin Junior sent to his wife Candace after the murder.

'Money got tighter and we had another bright idea to free our lives up more... you and I would finally be able to have the things in life we ever wanted,' he said, 9 News reported.

'25 years of torture from these people led me to do the unthinkable.'

He wrote that he was a very hurt man, who had been through so much from someone who should have been his number one supporter.

The jury were not swayed by Martin Junior's claims he was mentally unstable when he penned the letter or his recount of his recorded police interview.

Martin Junior will face a sentence hearing at a later date.

The jury had been shown a letter Martin Junior sent to his wife Candace after the murder
Miguel Medina, 22, is accused of killing the tiny kittens on a farm where he had been living in Milford, Massachusetts earlier this month

A man has been arrested for allegedly killing multiple kittens by burning and throwing them against a wall 'for fun'.

Miguel Medina, 22, is accused of killing the tiny animals on a farm where he had been living in Milford, Massachusetts earlier this month.

Police said he burned one kitten to death and threw the other against a wall.

Witnesses told police that Medina also regularly bragged about killing a couple of kittens a week for fun when he is bored, the Milford Daily News reports.

Authorities had been called to the farm by the owners on October 15 after they said they had started to feel threatened by Medina, who was staying in their camper on the property.

Police were shown text messages sent by Medina in which he said he had killed a kitten on the property.

Witnesses told police that Medina also regularly bragged about killing a couple of kittens a week for fun when he is bored at the farm in Milford, Massachusetts

'I had other kittens but one bit my favorite kitten, so I threw that kitten against the wall and then I put it under a table,' he is alleged to have told a man at the farm.

He also allegedly showed the man the kitten he had burned in a pit.

Medina was charged last week with animal cruelty and two counts of killing an animal.

He has a history of criminal charges, including domestic assault on family members, destruction of property, vandalism and drug dealing.
As summer fast approaches, those living on Australia's east coast should be expecting a sunny and warm end to the week.

But instead, News Corp reports Sydney and Brisbane could be facing 'the most powerful thunderstorms so far this season'.

The Bureau of Meteorology are yet to put out any weather warnings, but have posted on their social media accounts both NSW and Queensland should be expecting widespread thunderstorms on Thursday.

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Sydney and Brisbane could be facing 'the most powerful thunderstorms so far this season'

The Bureau of Meteorology says NSW and Queensland should be expecting widespread thunderstorms on Thursday

Severe and dangerous supercell storms are expected to batter Sydney and Brisbane (pictured)

Tom Saunders, meteorologist for Sky News, said there were three ingredients necessary for a thunderstorm, and all three would be present on Thursday

In Queensland, the storms are expected to be more severe, and accompanied by 'very large hail and damaging winds'.

Tom Saunders, meteorologist for Sky News, said there were three ingredients necessary for a thunderstorm, and all three would be present on Thursday.

Mr Saunders told News Corp the secret ingredient which made thunderstorms severe, called wind shear, was also present.

Wind shear is the difference in wind speed and/or direction over a short distance.

High wind shear can rotate storms, causing them to become more powerful and dangerous.

The meteorologist said it is very likely wind shear could play a part in creating supercell storms on Thursday.

Queensland storms are expected to be more severe, accompanied by 'very large hail and damaging winds'

Mr Saunders also predicts a supercell storm could hit the two major cities on Thursday

Despite the wet and stormy Thursday, the weather is predicted to return to normal by Friday

'Instability and shear levels on Thursday look sufficient for supercell development across south-east Queensland, and along the northern and central NSW coast and adjacent ranges,' he said.

Mr Saunders said weather should return to normal by Friday, but storms could be in the works from Saturday to Monday.

On Tuesday, BOM said there was a good chance of a La Nina weather pattern, which could bring intense rain, storms and cyclones throughout the summer months.

'The chance of a La Nina forming in late 2017 has increased. Chances are now around 50 per cent - twice the normal likelihood,' the Bureau said.

On Tuesday, BOM said there was a good chance of a La Nina weather pattern, which could bring intense rain, storms and cyclones throughout the summer months

Experts predict the south-east parts of the country will receive above average Summer rainfall

Weatherzone Meteorologist Graeme Brittain said the south-east parts of the country will tolerate the above average rainfall from November to January.

He said a 'La Nina' alert was pending.

'It's just a La Nina watch at this stage,' he said.

'The above average rainfall will be mainly south-eastern parts of the country.'
The mother of a 'gender-fluid' teenager who was murdered in March 2016 has said she hopes the alleged killers are given the death penalty.

Kendarie Johnson was found dead in an alley in Burlington, Iowa, after allegedly being invited to have a threesome with Jorge Sanders-Galvez, 23 and his cousin Jaraon Purham, 25.

When the men found out the 16-year-old, who also went by the name Kandicee, identified as male and female but was born biologically male, they brutally murdered them in an alley, federal prosecutors say.

And now, the victim's mother Katrina Johnson, has said that she hopes their killers are given the death penalty and that she can sit next to their parents while they watch their sons be put to death.

'If they are indicted on a hate crime, the death penalty is a possibility of punishment,' she told the Des Moines Register.

'And as harsh as it may sound, I would love to sit side-by-side with their parents and watch their children die.'

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The mother of the 'gender-fluid' teenager who was murdered in March 2016 has come out to say that she hopes their alleged killers are given the death penalty. Katrina and Kendarie are pictured together before the 16-year-old's murder

Prosecutors say Johnson (left and right), who identified as both a man and a woman and also went by the name 'Kandicee', had engaged in sex with both Sanders-Galvez and his cousin

Katrina Johnson, has said that she hopes his killers are given the death penalty and that she can sit next to their parents while they watch their sons be put to death. One of the alleged killers, Jorge Sanders-Galvez is pictured being escorted into the court room during jury selection

Sanders-Galvez (left) and cousin Jaron Purham (right) allegedly became furious after finding out Johnson was biologically male. Purham is currently locked up in Missouri after allegedly driving into a cop car; police say a revolver found in his car was used to kill Johnson

Speaking to the Register, Katrina Johnson said she is still having a hard time coming to terms with her child's death.

'My son was tragically and horrifically murdered, and I can never come back from that,' she told the paper, holding back tears.

'Just to know the last words my baby ever said to me was "see you later ma' I love you," and to come to terms with myself to know that his "see you later" actually meant "see you later," I can't get get that back.'

Johnson's body was discovered in an alley way with their head wrapped in a plastic bag after locals heard gunshots and called police.

It's believed that the murder occurred after Sanders-Galvez, an aspiring rapper who went by the name 'Lumni', spotted Johnson leaving a Hy-Vee supermarket and then began flirting with the teen.

Johnson, who was described as a popular high-school student by locals, would alternate between masculine and feminine names, and did not subscribe to one gender.

Sanders-Galvez persuaded Johnson to get in his car, then brought Johnson to a home to have sex with him and Purham, according to Christopher Perras, a federal prosecutor assigned to the crime by Jeff Sessions.

But during the encounter Sanders-Galvez discovered that Johnson was 'biologically male' and became enraged, Perras wrote in a court document filed Wednesday.

The cousins 'over the next hour suffocated Kedarie by stuffing a rag down his throat and wrapping a plastic bag around his head,' Perras alleged.

They then 'threw him in their car, drove to another part of town, dumped him in an alley and shot him several times until he bled to death,' he concluded.

Johnson's body was discovered in the alley, the teen's head still wrapped in a plastic bag, after locals heard gunshots and called police.

Speaking to the Register, Katrina Johnson (pictured in court Thursday, October 19) said she is still having a hard time coming to terms with her child's death

Sanders-Galvez says he never met Johnson, though detectives say they were Facebook friends. The incident occurred in Burlington, Iowa. He is pictured on the first official day of his trial on Tuesday

Jorge Sanders-Galvez's (pictured on Thursday) trial began Tuesday for the murder of Burlington teen Kedarie Johnson, who was found shot to death in an alley in March 2016

Investigators also said that before the slaying, Johnson had stopped at a female friend's home, expressing concerns about someone named 'Lumni' and being followed by a red car.

Johnson asked to borrow several bras, which the teen put in a backpack before leaving alone and on foot, according to court documents.

Investigators said Johnson is seen on surveillance video outside the Hy-Vee store wearing braids, pajama bottoms and a black jacket as a red Impala linked to Purham and Sanders-Galvez follows closely behind.

According to investigators, they later found Johnson's backpack at a Burlington home in which Purham and Sanders-Galvez had been staying with Purham's pregnant girlfriend in the weeks before the killing.

Both men fled to the St Louis area within 48 hours after Johnson's slaying, police said.

Retired nurse Jenna Sansone, whose home backs onto the alley where Johnson was found, said she could smell the bleach that had been poured on the bullet-riddled body, an apparent attempt to destroy DNA evidence.

Sanders-Galvez has pleaded not guilty and told investigators last year that he had never met Johnson.

However, investigators say the pair were friends on Facebook - though it's not clear how long they had been connected, or whether they had met before.

Johnson's body was discovered in the alley, the teen's head still wrapped in a plastic bag, after locals heard gunshots and called police

Because Iowa can't press hate crimes against LGBT people, a federal prosecutor has been sent in by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to press charges against Sanders-Galvez (seen Thursday)

Federal prosecutor Christopher Perras (right) talks to Burlington detective Eric Short and Des Moines County Attorney Amy Beavers. A federal grand jury is to be called in regard to the case

Purham, who is expected to stand trial later, is currently serving time in Missouri after he was convicted on charges related to his flight from officers tying to arrest him last year.

Officers said they recovered a .357 revolver in his vehicle after he drove into a police car outside St Louis.

Testing showed that it was the gun used to shoot Johnson, they said.

Sanders-Galvez's trial is expected to last two weeks, and he faces life in prison if convicted. His attorney declined to comment.

Sansone said that the trial could clear up 'a lot of questions about what happened and why it happened'; she plans to attend at the request of Johnson's mother.

A federal grand jury has been convened to consider whether the men should face hate crime charges, but no decision has been announced.

The horrific allegations highlight how Iowa law, unlike federal law, doesn't allow prosecutors to bring hate crime charges based on gender identity, said Daniel Hoffman-Zinnel, executive director of One Iowa, an LBGTQ advocacy group.

'These things are horrible and very unfortunate but they force us as community members to have these difficult conversations and hopefully we can work to prevent them from happening,' he said.

The federal intervention, ordered by Jeff Sessions, has been welcomed by LGBTQ-rights advocates who have criticized the Attorney General and President Donald Trump for broadly eroding their legal protections.
California rapper EverybodyKnowsLo was slashed in a New York nightclub Tuesday.

The 31-year-old rapper, whose real name is Lowell Grissom, had just asked the DJ at the Anthony Night Club to play one of his songs and was descending the stairs around 1am when a stranger struck him in the face, according to the Daily News.

Grissom told police he did not recognize his alleged assailant and the attacker did not say anything to indicate why he was targeted.

EverybodyKnowsLo was at the Anthony Night Club (left) and had just requested one of his songs be put on when he was attacked. He received 50 stitches in total at a local hospital

The cuts went deep. EverybodyKnowsLo and his manager dashed from the Greenwich Village nightclub to a cab.

They headed to Beth Israel Hospital, where he received 50 stitches to seal two deep cuts, cops said.

It was also unclear what sharp object was used, but one of the cuts was about eight inches long, and a second cut was about two inches long.

So far no arrests have been made.

The rapper is known for his songs, 'I Forget,' and 'Run It Up.'
Emotional Dreamworld staff have marked one year since four people died in a ride accident with a private ceremony at the Gold Coast theme park.

Dozens of staff, Red Cross volunteers and the chairman and board of parent company Ardent Leisure attended the service, which was held before the park opened for the day on Wednesday.

For many the sight of a small collection of floral tributes outside the park and a media presence reignited memories of October 25 tragedy, when a raft on the Thunder River Rapids ride flipped.

A note left amongst floral tributes at Gold Coast theme park Dreamworld on Wednesday

One year on: Flowers can be seen at the entrance to Dreamworld

Gold Coast girl Isabella Kennedy arrives to place flowers at the entrance to Dreamworld

Kate Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett and his partner Roozi Araghi, along with Sydney woman Cindy Low, were all killed in the accident.

'The service was very well organised and I think it was a good gesture in terms of reflection of what happened,' Australian Red Cross emergency services state manager Collin Sivalingum said.

'A day like this one will bring about a lot of emotions, a lot of feelings and a lot of people being upset.

'One year later we still see these emotions and people feel very connected to this event.'

Mr Sivalingum said Red Cross volunteers would remain inside and outside the park all day to provide support to visitors and staff.

Half a dozen floral tributes were laid at the gates of Dreamworld, in the same spot where hundreds were laid in the days following last year's tragedy.

The park was open on Wednesday- which marked one year since a ride flipped killing four people

A service was held before the park opened for the day on Wednesday (crowds pictured)

A note with one of the tributes read: 'For those that were lost, for those that were spared, for those that will never forget, always in our hearts.'

The theme park itself took to social media to mark the anniversary, saying 'our hearts and thoughts remain with all those affected' in a tweet.

The park was closed for 45 days following the accident, and in June Ardent reported a $62.6 million loss for the financial year, with visitor numbers estimated to have dropped by as much as 30 per cent.

The family of mother-of-two Ms Low say they are still learning to live without her.

Flowers can be seen at the entrance to Dreamworld on October 25

Emotional Dreamworld staff have marked one year since four people died in a ride accident with a private ceremony at the Gold Coast theme park

'Our grief has come in waves but the firsts are especially hard - birthdays, Kieran and Isla's milestones achieved that she does not get to experience,' her husband Mathew Low told the Courier-Mail.

An inquest into the disaster is yet to be held, while a Workplace Health and Safety Queensland report has been completed but not publicly released.

Last week Queensland police recommended no criminal charges be laid over the tragedy but said the final decision remains with the coroner.

The Queensland government has passed new industrial manslaughter laws following the tragedy and other high-profile workplace deaths.

The laws however are not retrospective, so would not apply to the Dreamworld tragedy.

Pictured: Mothers Kate Goodchild, 32, (left) and Cindy Low, 42, (right) were killed when their raft flipped

Ms Goodchild's brother Luke Dorsett (on right) and his partner Roozi Araghi (left) were also killed in the horrific incident
Two Tennessee towns are preparing for upcoming White Lives Matter rally protests hosted by a group of white nationalist organizations that were part of deadly August 'Unite the Right' rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Event organizers applied for permits to host back-to-back demonstrations on October 28 in Shelbyville and nearby Murfreesboro on October 28.

League of the South member Brad Griffin, who is helping organize the event, said the Shelbyville rally will be a three-hour event from 10am to 1pm, The Tennessean reported.

The rally in Murfeesboro is not expected to begin until 4pm outside of the Rutherford County Courthouse.

Among the groups rallying as part of Nationalist Front are the National Socialist Movement, the Traditionalist Worker Party, League of the South and Vanguard America, The Tennessean reported.

Two Tennessee towns are preparing for an upcoming White Lives Matter rally protest hosted by a group of white nationalist organizations that were part of deadly August 'Unite the Right' rally in Charlottesville, Virginia (above August 12)

Each of those organizations is considered to be a hate group and fall under neo-Nazi, neo-Confederate and white nationalist categories by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

An event organizer said the rallies are to bring attention to the deadly Burnette Chapel Church of Christ shooting where Emanuel Samson (above) is accused of killing one and injuring six others

The Nationalist Front planned the events as the first of many anti-immigration rallies in the area.

Griffin told the Daily News Journal the demonstrations are intended to bring attention to the deadly shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch.

The tragic incident left one dead and another six injured when 25-year-old Emanuel Kidega Samson, who moved to the United States from Sudan in 1996, opened fire during the end of the service police say.

Griffin said they're additionally protesting the 'resettlement of refugees and a demographic transformation of Middle Tennessee.'

Leaders of the event have also said the demographics of Middle Tennessee have changed over the years mainly due to the resettlement of refugees and other immigrants moving to the area.

Roughly 18,000 refugees have settled in Tennessee over the last 15 years, the State Department reported. That number does not include those who have immigrated to the region.

It's unclear if white nationalist Richard Spencer will be in attendance at the rallies in Tennessee. Last week he gave a speech at the University of Florida in Gainesville where over 500 police officers worked to keep the peace (above last week)

'There has been a big dumping of refugees all over the area,' Griffin told The Tennessean.

To prepare for the rally, Shelbyville's city council passed a resolution last week committing to support efforts by police to keep people and property safe.

Streets will also be closed in an effort to separate protesters with clashing views to try and stop violence and property damage.

Shelbyville police have reached out for additional assistance for Saturday.

It's unclear if white nationalist Richard Spencer will be in attendance at the rallies in Tennessee. Last week he gave a speech at the University of Florida in Gainesville where over 500 police officers worked to keep the peace.

That speech was his first since participating in the Charlottesville 'Unite the Right' rally. Hundreds protested against Spencer during his speech and outside of the venue.
The scale of the problem of people looking at indecent images of children in the UK is 'horrifying', a police chief has warned.

West Midlands Police chief constable Dave Thompson said a 'big discussion' was needed in society about the issue, as he was asked about whether naming and shaming offenders was a bigger deterrent than a prosecution.

His remarks came after Simon Bailey, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) lead for child protection, suggested that paedophiles who view indecent images should not be charged or taken to court unless they pose a physical threat to children.

West Midlands Police chief constable Dave Thompson said the number of men with an 'active interest' in child sexual abuse was 'horrifying'

Simon Bailey, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) lead for child protection, suggested that paedophiles who view indecent images should not be charged or taken to court unless they pose a physical threat to children

The chief constable was speaking at a meeting of the Home Affairs Committee inquiry into policing for the future.

At the inquiry Tory MP Tim Loughton asked about suggestions that there should be alternative prosecutions for those guilty of viewing indecent images, with those in denial unlikely to be receptive to treatment.

Mr Thompson said: 'I am staggered by what I see in terms of the operations the force carries out on the peer-to-peer sharing of images and more sensitive covert policing techniques we carry out - the amount of men in this country who appear to show an active interest in this area is horrifying and the scale of it, I think, takes my breath away.

'There is a really big discussion I think, as a society, about how we deal with this that's much more than law enforcement.

'Of course it makes us all feel deeply uncomfortable to think that people who have that involvement in those activities should in any shape or form escape punishment, but the scale of it is just absolutely huge.'

The Home Affairs Committee inquiry discussed the treatment of paedophiles who view indecent images

Mr Thompson added: 'I think if people are in denial that they've got a problem, then we need to be really careful that treatment might not work, but I think the broader issue that's being raised is this is a massive challenge, I think, that goes far beyond policing.

Tory MP Tim Loughton asked about alternative prosecutions for those guilty of viewing indecent images

'The area of online activity is just breathtaking ... there's a big conversation that needs to be had about it.

'Seeing prosecution as the answer to this is not going to be an answer on its own.'

Gareth Morgan, chief constable of Staffordshire Police, said prosecuting those who look at indecent images should not be based on whether or not police forces have the resources.

'It has to be based on judgments that a range of people make, not just the police service,' he told MPs.

'And that's about how you best manage the risk of an offender going forward so there's a range of of options, and I think that's a decision that you take with a range of partners, not just the police on their own.

'And from my perspective that should never be driven by a resourcing issue because that's not the right reason to make the decision and it's certainly not taking the issue seriously.'
Shane Owen, 46, fled arrest on Monday night and hid in a church for six hours before calling police because he was stuck in his hiding spot

A Utah man who fled arrest and hid from police had to call 911 to be rescued after he got stuck in his hiding spot.

Shane Owen, 46, was spotted in the Woods Cross area of Salt Lake City on Monday after authorities received a tip.

Owen had multiple warrants out for his arrest for crimes including burglary, identity fraud and drug possession.

When Salt Lake City police attempted to pull Owen's vehicle over he fled, leading them on a chase at around 10.30pm Monday.

Police spiked his tires in front of an abandoned church and Owen went inside.

Six hours later he called dispatchers for help at 5am on Tuesday after he accidentally locked himself in a church's basement boiler room, according to Salt Lake City police.

Owens hid in the vacant church shown above. He got stuck in the basement boiler room

Owen can be heard on a recorded 911 call telling the dispatcher that he is ready to turn himself in, but that he doesn't want to come out because they will 'f***ing shoot' him.

Owen was booked on his outstanding warrants for retaliation against a witness, drug distribution and identity fraud

He eventually caves and admits that he is in fact stuck.

'They've had me tied up here all night,' he tells the dispatcher. 'I'm not going to be able to put my hands up and climb out.'

After confirming that he didn't have any weapons on him, a SWAT team was able to rescue Owens from the room. The found drugs in his possession.

Owen was booked on his outstanding warrants for retaliation against a witness, drug distribution and identity fraud.

He was charged with multiple counts of felony drug distribution in May, according to court records.

In June, Owen was charged with threatening his brother for going to police after Owen stole his brother's identity, including his Social Security number, according to court documents obtained by the Deseret News.
Arthur Collins admits throwing the acid, but claims he through it was a date rape drug

The ex-boyfriend of reality TV star Ferne McCann thought he was preventing a woman's drink being spiked when he grabbed a bottle that turned out to have acid in it, a court heard today.

Arthur Collins, 25, and his co-accused Andre Phoenix, 21, are alleged to have sprayed the crowd with acid at Mangle E8 nightclub in Dalston, East London.

CCTV showed victims clutching their faces and running off the dancefloor after Collins was seen dousing revellers with an unidentified substance later found to have contained a liquid with a rating of pH1 - indicating a strong acid.

Collins told Wood Green Crown Court of the moment he grabbed a bottle of a 'date rape' drug that turned out to be acid from another man in the club.

Collins, who had entered the club wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words 'Candy Killer', said he knew a lot of people in the club and he and his group had been 'having a good time'. 'I was drinking, but I wasn't drunk,' he said.

He was waiting on the stairs by the VIP area, when he said he overheard a conversation between a group of men.

Collins injured more than a dozen people at the Mangle E8 club in Hackney, East London

He added: 'At this time the club was packed and more people started joining the table. I remember looking around and some males were talking, being quite loud. I didn't know them. I overheard one of them saying 'no you spike her, you do it.'

'I called him a d***head. I thought they was intending to spike a girl's drink. God knows what [they were going to do], I don't know why.'

He said his sister's drink had been spiked the previous night at a party, and had to be picked up by their father.

'I have got four sisters and I have been brought up to respect them. It's something you just don't do to women. When I got to the bottom of the stairs I was tapped on the shoulder - by (Makai) Brown. He said 'what did you say'?

'I said 'd***head, you're not spiking no-one'. Then he got quite aggressive and threatening. He said 'don't chat to me like that. How about we spike you, you mug'.

'That's when I noticed he had the date rape drug in his hand or what I assumed was the date rape drug. It was like a mini, it was like a tiny water bottle. I think it was in his left hand.'

Collins said he snatched the bottle from Brown and his friend Andre Phoenix put his arm on Brown, as seen in CCTV footage.

'I remember moving back from him. My friend Andre kept telling him to calm down.'

Collins later admitted throwing liquid over people in the club, but claimed he believed it was a date rape drug. He said the men were 'really aggressive' as they came towards him in an attempt to get the bottle back.

How these two victims were left with burns Among the victims of the incident were Lauren Trent and Sophie Hall. Lauren Trent (left) and Sophie Hall (right) were among the victims of the incident Ms Trent was burnt in small patches on her neck, upper chest, abdomen and arms. She received burns to less than 1 per cent of her body and they were 'small and consistent with droplets of a corrosive substance'. Ms Hall was seen in A&E at Whipps Cross University Hospital with small patches of burned skin on her nose, cheeks and other areas down onto her lips. Less than 1 per cent of her body was covered in third degree burns. Ms Trent was burnt in small patches on her neck, upper chest, abdomen and arms A 'larger area' on her left shoulder extending down to her left breast were also burnt. There were other small areas on her neck, upper chest and arms that were red. Most of her skin was said to be 'stained' by the acid. She also had a scratch on her eye which was consistent with a chemical injury and was prescribed a 'number of' eye medications. Ms Hall had to return to hospital after a wound to her left shoulder 'deteriorated', the court heard. Ms Trent's burns were 'small and consistent with droplets of a corrosive substance' Advertisement

'At this time I was p***ed off,' he said. 'I remember undoing the bottle and I threw it at the males.'

Collins admitted he threw the acid, which he said he thought was a date rape drug, to show a group of men that they 'couldn't spike any girl's drink' and make sure there was 'nothing left'.

He said: 'My friend Andre was preventing him from coming towards me. They were really aggressive. He was stopping them from coming at me, towards me.

'The only reason they must have been coming towards me was to get the bottle back.

'I remember there was another man with a black furry collar. I remember him coming towards and I told him I didn't have the bottle and I told him to f--k off.

'I didn't have it it as I had passed it to my friend. I remember him saying what's going on they want the bottle back and I said I know they are trying to spike girls.'

Collins said he passed his friend Adam the bottle at this point.

'My friend Andre and Adam, they were stopping them from coming towards me. I remember leaning over looking down because I seen (corr) something black in Brown's hand.

'I remember reaching out to try and catch his arm. But I don't know if it was or not.

'I see Brown and my friend Adam arguing. That's when my friend Adam passed it to me back.

'I thought we was all going to get kicked out. I thought was was all going to get thrown out together.

'I never did anything wrong all I have done was try and stop these boys from trying to spike a girl's drink.

'At this time I was p***ed off and feeling frustrated at being thrown out so I remember undoing the bottle and throwing it at the man.

'I wanted to show them the drug was gone so they couldn't spike any girls drink with it. I wanted to basically show them there was nothing left in the bottle.

'I remember throwing it beside Andre, then the other throws up in the air towards the males. I didn't smell anything.

'I thought at this stage I wanted to stay in the club. Reason I moved back was so I could stay in the club.'

Asked by the judge if he wanted to 'disappear into the background', he replied 'yeah, I did'.

Collins said he then moved to the lower bar area, where people were still 'talking drinking and dancing'.

He said he threw the liquid two or three times near Phoenix's face and up in the air towards the men.

His barrister, George Carter-Stephenson QC, asked: 'At the time you threw it, what was your intention?'

Collins replied: 'I wanted to show them the drugs was gone so they wouldn't spike any girl's drink and show them there was nothing left in the bottle.'

His lawyer said: 'Did you have any idea that bottle contained a corrosive substance?'

'No, I didn't. No, never, no,' Collins replied.

He insisted he had no idea anyone had been seriously injured during the incident, adding: 'I was never aware no-one was hurt or anything.'

One of the victims, Tamara-Jane Castle, earlier told the court Collins and Phoenix approached her in 'a panic' asking her to take a picture of Phoenix's face. The prosecution allege this was a ploy to make it seem as if they were victims of the attack.

Asked about the interaction, Collins said: 'I was standing next to her, I said hello to her, we was talking and my friend walked over to me and I remember him saying that his face was still stinging.

'I think Tamara already had her phone ready in her hand and Andre said can you shine a light on my face. She did.

'I didn't see the side of his face clearly. She shined more on it and I tried to look and I remember saying 'can you take a photo of it' because he wanted to see it himself.

'I remember saying because the picture wasn't really that good I said 'I will take a picture' and she gave me her phone and I took a picture on her phone.'

Collins (right) began his evidence today by telling the jury he attended a family barbeque with Ferne McCann (left, together) to reveal her pregnancy just hours before the acid attack

He denied he 'panicked' at the time and said he thought Phoenix's skin had had a reaction from where he had thrown the date rape drug.

Earlier, Collins - who is the father of The Only Way Is Essex star Ms McCann's unborn child - revealed how the couple told her family she was pregnant just hours before the incident.

He said they broke the news at a family barbecue in Brentwood on April 16, one day before the acid attack in the early hours of April 17.

Collins told jurors that he had been in a serious relationship with the TV personality for around a year at the time, and had found out she was pregnant just weeks earlier.

'It was the happiest I have ever felt. We were both really happy,' he said.

Collins, who was living with his parents in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, said McCann drove his car to her sister's house because he was banned from driving.

'After we had eaten we broke the news,' he said. 'They were really happy for us.'

He said he left the barbecue to attend a LoveJuice event at Mangle, where his friend had arranged a table, costing around 1,000.

Collins told jurors: 'On the way to my girlfriend's sisters, my friend George rang me and asked if I wanted to go out later on.

'But I said I wanted to call him later on as I wanted to check it was alright with my girlfriend. It was the first mention of it, on the way to the barbecue. His friend Harry had booked a table for LoveJuice.

'She (Ms McCann) didn't mind. 'He rang me again at about 4, and I said yeah and I arranged to meet him at my house, my parents' house. I left about 20 minutes after that at about half 4. I went from my girlfriend's sisters back to my parents.'

He said his one year relationship with Ms McCann ended in April after the incident.

Earlier in the trial, the court heard that Collins does not deny throwing the liquid but claims not to have known it was acid.

Before Collins gave evidence today, jurors were told that they should acquit him and Phoenix on certain charges, following legal argument.

Collins has been on trial at Wood Green Crown Court, charged with 11 counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and five of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

But today, Judge Noel Lucas QC ordered jurors to deliver not guilty verdicts on two of the ABH charges against him.

The judge said there is insufficient evidence to prove that victims Tamara-Jane Castle and Megan Usher were injured when the acid was thrown.

Jurors have heard they may have been burned after brushing up against other victims in the packed nightclub.

Collins's co-defendant Phoenix had faced five counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and 11 counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm relating to the acid attack.

But judge Lucas ordered jurors to deliver not guilty verdicts on one count of GBH with intent and nine counts of assault occasioning ABH against him.

The judge explained there was 'no evidential basis' to decide whether Phoenix was involved when acid was first thrown.

Judge Lucas said it was up to the jury to decide whether Phoenix 'assisted or encouraged' Collins when he threw the corrosive substance a second and third time.

Phoenix still faces four counts of GBH with intent and two counts of assault causing ABH while Collins faces five of GBH with intent and nine of ABH.

Judge Lucas also said the jury could find Collins and Phoenix guilty of alternative counts of GBH rather than GBH with intent.

He said: 'As I told you at the outset of the this case I'm the judge of law and you are ultimately the judges of facts.

'The conclusion I have come to having reviewed submissions from learned counsel that in respect of the first throwing of a substance by Mr Collins theres no evidential basis of which you could conclude Mr Phoenix either assisted or encouraged Mr Collins to make that first throw.

'That's the view I have come to on the evidence. Now the first act of throwing by Mr Collins affects your count one, seven to 11 and 13 to 16.

'I direct you to return verdicts of not guilty in respect of Mr Phoenix on those counts. It's for your to determine the guilt of Mr Collins on all counts and Mr Phoenix on the remaining counts in the case.

'I have also given leave to add alternatives to the first five counts. The first five counts charge causing GBH with intent contrary to section 18 of the Offence Against a Person act 1861.

'The Crown will add counts of simple GBH contrary to section 20 of that act and those counts are alternatives in law to those section 17 counts. I discharge you on returning any verdicts in respect of counts 10 and 16 of Mr Collins.

'It seems they were injured by a secondary transfer of acid. Their evidence is relevant in this trial - circumstances of the injuries they undoubtedly received will make your decision unnecessarily complicated.'

Collins and Phoenix, of Tottenham, North London, deny all charges. The trial continues.
A new timeline for the Las Vegas massacre has been released, putting the shooting of hotel security guard Jesus Campos just after the slaughter began rather than just before - as cops previously claimed.

Digital experts working for The New York Times analyzed 30 videos from the murderous rampage on October 1 to piece together a chronology of events.

They determined that 64-year-old Stephen Paddock began firing at the Route 91 Harvest festival concertgoers at 10.05pm, starting out with single shots.

According to The Times, Mandalay Bay security guard Campos was shot a minute later - at 10.06pm - and not before the massacre began, as police had said earlier.

NEW YORK TIMES TIMELINE Digital experts working for the paper analyzed 30 videos from the murderous rampage on October 1 to piece together a chronology of events. Pictured: A man protecting a woman during the shooting 10pm: Country singer Jason Aldean is performing for a large crowd at the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas 10.05pm: Stephen Paddock begins firing his first rounds from the Mandalay Bay hotel, using single shots rather than automatic bursts 10.06pm: Security guard Jesus Campos is shot through the door of Paddock's hotel room after being spotted in the corridor outside his suite 10.06pm: Paddock fires his first and second automatic bursts into the crowd 10.07pm: Paddock fires his third and fourth automatic bursts into the crowd 10.09pm: Paddock fires his fifth burst 10.10pm: Paddock fires shots presumed to be indoors - possibly at Campos again 10.11pm: Paddock fires his sixth and seventh burst, the latter believed to be at cops 10.12pm: Paddock fires his eighth and ninth bursts 10.13pm: Paddock fires his tenth burst 10.14pm: Paddock fires his eleventh burst 10.15pm: Paddock fires his twelfth burst, and then stops shooting 10.22pm: Cops close in on Paddock's 32nd floor room 11.20pm: Cops break his hotel room door down and find him dead inside Advertisement

Senior story producer Malachy Brown told CBS: 'Ours isn't the definitive picture of what happened. More information will emerge, but it does give us new insights into what happened.'

But the rest of their timeline mostly matches what police have reported in their latest briefings.

The firing continues in a series of 12 bursts from 10.05pm until 10.15pm.

At 10.22pm, the firing stops and cops are outside Paddock's hotel room.

Jesus Campos, the Mandalay Bay security guard who was the Vegas gunman's first victim, sat down for his one and only interview with Ellen, which aired last Wednedsay

Paddock, a retired 64-year-old millionaire, wounded over 500 people when he rained a hail of bullets on crowds enjoying the Route 91 Harvest country music festival on October 1. Pictured: The room he used as a sniper's nest

According to The Times, Mandalay Bay security guard Campos was shot a minute after the massacre began - at 10.06pm - and not before the massacre began, as police had said earlier

The paper estimates Paddock (pictured) fired about 900 rounds during the massacre, which claimed 58 lives

Nearly an hour later - at 11.20pm - they break into his suite and find him dead on the floor.

They estimate Paddock fired about 900 rounds during the massacre, which claimed 58 lives.

Hundreds of others were wounded.

Browne, in a separate article about the timeline, explained how the study was produced: 'The process can be as simple as comparing a video with Google Street View to identify camera location or extracting file data with a smartphone app  or as difficult as analyzing each frame of a video and the amplitude and frequency of every second of audio.'
Theresa May has insisted she 'expects and intends' to call a vote on theBrexit deal before Britain quits the bloc in a humiliating slap down to David Davis.

The Brexit Secretary warned MPs yesterday that the Brexit talks were likely go down to the wire in March 2019 - meaning the vote promised to MPs could be after exit happens.

But Mrs May dismissed the claim at Prime Minister's Questions, telling enraged Remain MPs she was 'confident' she would keep her promise of a 'meaningful' vote on the deal.

Downing Street said the plan to conclude the Brexit talks by October next year leaving time for the crucial vote before exit day on March 30, 2019.

In a humiliating climb down, a spokesman for Mr Davis then issued a statement disavowing his earlier comments to MPs.

No 10 said the Prime Minister still retains confidence in her Brexit Secretary despite the extraordinary row at the heart of Government.

Theresa May insisted at Prime Minister's Questions (pictured) she was 'confident' she could get a deal in time to meet her promise

Giving evidence to the Commons Brexit Committee (pictured), Brexit Secretary David Davis insisted ministers had to keep 'no deal' on the table to avoid the danger of the EU making 'sudden, last minute claims' that could collapse the whole process

The next EU summit will be held in mid-December and both sides signalled at last week's meeting the target was to begin the trade phase of talks then.

Both sides have publicly said they are aiming for a deal by October 2018.

The row will fuel demands by Remain MPs to write the meaningful vote promise into flagship Brexit laws already bogged down and delayed by 393 amendments.

It is unclear what would happen if MPs rejected the deal in a 'meaningful' vote or if they de-rail the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill entirely over the row.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MPS DON'T GET THEIR BREXIT DEAL VOTE? Remain-supporting MPs were enraged when David Davis admitted there may not be time for them to vote on the Brexit deal before Britain actually leaves the EU. Davis effectively admitted that Theresa May's promise of a 'meaningful vote' on the final deal could be broken if negotiations go down to the wire on March 29, 2019, when the two year Article 50 process ends. May herself insisted today she was confident the deal will be struck in time for the vote to be held. It is thought this timetable requires a deal to be agreed by Autumn 2018. Critics say by definition a vote on the deal cannot be 'meaningful' if it happens after Brexit has happened. The row will fuel demands from Remain MPs to write the vote into the Government's flagship Brexit laws. The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill is already bogged down with more than 300 amendments - many of which try to write into law the meaningful vote. It currently seems likely there is enough support in the Commons to pass at least one of the amendments. If it happens, it means it could be the case on March 30, 2019, that Britain has left the EU but not implemented its exit deal because of a pending vote in Parliament. If it de-rails the Brexit laws entirely, Britain could fall out in March 2019 without making current EU laws British and without removing the mechanism for imposing EU laws in Britain. Nobody knows what would happen if this is the case. Advertisement

She insisted she was 'confident' of getting a deal in time to hold a meaningful vote, while a No10 spokesman said: 'A final deal will be agreed before we leave and MPs will have a vote on it.'

Mrs May's official spokeswoman said the Prime Minister retained 'full confidence' in her Brexit Secretary despite the farcical scenes.

In a humiliating climb down, a statement from the Brexit Department said Mr Davis had been addressing 'hypothetical scenarios' and he still 'expects and intends' parliament to get a say before the UK formally leaves.

'We are working to reach an agreement on the final deal in good time before we leave the EU in March 2019,' the statement said.

'Once the deal is agreed we will meet our long-standing commitment to a vote in both Houses and we expect and intend this to be before the vote in the European Parliament and therefore before we leave.'

The extraordinary sequence of events began when Mr David told MPs he expected negotiations to go on until the last minute of the final day before the UK leaves and Parliament would not get a vote until the agreement was secured.

But just over an hour later, the Prime Minister told MPs she was 'confident' a deal would be secured in time for it to go before MPs.

She told the Commons: 'The timetable under the Lisbon Treaty does give time until March 2019 for the negotiations to take place, but I am confident because it is in the interests of both sides - and it is not just this parliament that wants to have a vote on that deal, but actually there will be ratification by other parliaments - that we will be able to achieve that agreement and that negotiation in time for this parliament to have the vote that we committed to.'

The Brexit Secretary said he hoped that a two-year transition arrangement can be sealed in principle by the first quarter of next year

In his evidence to MPs, Mr Davis warned that the EU could still try to force last minute concessions in the run up to the deadline of March 2019 unless Britain prepares for no deal.

TAXMAN WILL NEED EXTRA 450M IF BRITAIN LEAVES THE EU WITH NO DEAL Jon Thompson, HMRC's top civil servant, today told MPs it would cost hundreds of millions to prepare Britain's customs for crashing out the EU with no deal The taxman would need up to 450million in extra funding to deal with the impact of Britain quitting the EU with no deal, MPs were today warned. While up to another 5,000 staff would have to be recruited to bolster the ranks of customs officials, a parliamentary committee was told. Jon Thompson, HMRC's top civil servant, said extra resources would be needed to set up new customs checks if we get a no deal Brexit. He told the Public Accounts Committee: 'It will be several hundred million pounds if we are implementing the option of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union with no ongoing special relationship in April 2019. 'That is the most extreme version, I think, of leaving the European Union. 'In that scenario you are looking at an estimate of between 300-450 million.' HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has already been given 78m to plan for a no deal Brexit. Most is being spent on dealing with customs but cash has also been used to plan for the impact on indirect taxes and the welfare state and data sharing. Advertisement

Mr Davis then admitted the last-minute nature of any deal meant it was possible Parliament would not vote on it until after Britain has left the EU.

Mr Davis also told the Brexit Committee he hoped that a two-year transition arrangement can be sealed in principle by the first quarter of next year.

But in a warning that will trouble business groups demanding certainty about how they will trade from March 2019, he said the implementation period would not be finalised until a future trade deal was agreed.

Mr Davis insisted ministers had to keep 'no deal' on the table to avoid the danger of the EU making 'sudden, last minute claims' that could collapse the whole process.

He said: 'It's no secret that the way the union makes its decision tends to be at the 59th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day and so on, and that is precisely what I would expect to happen.'

He added: 'If there is a time limit on a negotiation the union stops the clock, it assumes that it's still at 11:59 until it is concluded, sometimes over the course of 24, 36, 72 hours thereafter and that's what I imagine it will be.

'And it will be a lot of pressure, very high stress, very exciting for everybody watching.'

Admitting the last minute nature of talks could delay votes ratifying the deal, Mr Davis said: 'My concern is that we get the deal with the council, with the commission by the 29th.

'I would not be mortified if the ratification process ran into the implementation period.'

Pressed on whether that meant a vote in Parliament on the deal could be after March 2019, he replied: 'It could be, yes, it could be.'

He added: 'Well, it can't come before we have the deal.'

Mr Davis stressed the Government's aim remained to have all negotiations concluded by the time of the UK's withdrawal.

Mr Davis also told the Brexit Committee he hoped that a two-year transition arrangement can be sealed in principle by the first quarter of next year

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: 'David Davis and Theresa May's comments only add to the confusion and chaos over the Government's approach to the Brexit negotiations.

'Labour has been clear from the outset that Parliament must have the final say on the terms of Britain's exit from the European Union before March 2019.

'Ministers must urgently clarify their comments and accept Parliament will not be sidelined.'

Labour MP Seema Malhotra, who secured the concession the Commons vote on the deal could be after Brexit, branded his admission 'unacceptable'.

Mike Gapes, the Ilford South Labour MP, said: 'This is a deplorable attempted coup against Parliamentary democracy.

'MPs must assert our rights and defend our sovereign Parliament.'

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer slammed chaos and confusion at the heart of the Brexit strategy

Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake said: 'This is a shameful attempt to force through an extreme Brexit and ride roughshod over our parliamentary democracy.

'It demonstrates the total contempt with which the Government holds Parliament.

'David Davis' reputation as a champion of parliamentary sovereignty now lies in tatters.

'Not only should Parliament have a vote on the final deal, the British people should too - with the option to reject it and stay in the EU.

'What started with democracy cannot end with a stitch-up between Brussels and Whitehall.'

Former Europe Minister Pat McFadden, a supporter of the Open Britain pro Remain campaign, said: 'The Secretary of State's statement that Parliament may not get a vote on the final deal until after March 2019 cuts the feet from under any meaningful Parliamentary role in this process.

'Leavers campaigned for Brexit in the name of Parliamentary sovereignty and are now terrified of Parliament.

'The Government wants a blank cheque for whatever Brexit deal it manages to reach with no meaningful way for MPs to represent the interests of the public because the deal  or even no deal  will be decided before parliament gets a chance to express its view. This isn't a meaningful say. It's an after-the-fact rubber stamp.'

Mr Davis has been accused of prioritising the Brexit talks with Michel Barnier (pictured right) ahead of pushing through domestic legislation

Today's comments came after a fresh Cabinet rift opened up, with Mr Davis accused by colleagues of dragging his feet on bringing crucial legislation back to parliament.

He faced criticism for failing to meet Tory rebels to woo them into supporting the EU Withdrawal Bill.

The laws had been expected to return to the Commons last week - but MPs will now not resume working on the package until next month. Around 400 amendments are set to be tabled, with the government fearing defeat on dozens of them.

The issue exploded at a crunch summit in No 10 on Monday attended by Theresa May.

Sources said the atmosphere was 'very uncomfortable' and 'ugly'.

One source claimed Mr Davis had been 'dragged in' to explain the delays.

'He's blaming everyone else for the delay. The trouble is he just isn't doing any of the necessary legwork,' they said.

'He is supposed to be meeting with rebels like Nicky Morgan and Dominic Grieve but the meetings simply haven't happened.

'He's off doing the negotiations but there is also the important business of getting Brexit legislation through the Commons.'

A Brexit Department source dismissed the jibes, saying critics were 'offloading blame'.

The meeting was called to address why the Bill, which is necessary to make sure Brexit happens without chaos, hasn't yet come before Parliament for its committee stage.

The PM is said to be 'unhappy' with the delays to the Bill, which has been pushed back to mid-November.

A source close to Mr Davis said he 'meets with colleagues regularly'.

A No 10 source said the PM 'thinks David Davis is doing an excellent job'.
An evil woman killer who boasted how she got 'sexual pleasure' from stabbing dying victims has been jailed for 13 years as a member of a ruthless gang which aimed to wipe out homeless people.

Elena Lobacheva, 27, and four male 'butchers' murdered 14 people and saw their mission as 'cleaning' Moscow of vagrants and drunks.

She claimed to have been inspired by 1998 Hollywood horror movie Bride of Chucky, about a doll possessed by a mass murderer, but also hero-worshipped notorious Russian serial killer Alexander Pichushkin.

Her comparatively light sentence is believed to be due to a failure to prove that she was the person carrying out the fatal stabbing in the three murders she was convicted of being involved in.

Evil: Elena Lobacheva, left in a face mask, who has confessed to taking part in half of the gang's 14 murders, compared stabbing her victims to 'sexual pleasure'

Smiling gang leader Pavel Voitov, 23, attempted a Nazi salute despite being handcuffed in court as he was sent down for a life sentence.

Standing next to Lobacheva in the glass 'cage', he wore a shirt emblazoned with the words 'Only Hatred' .

The woman murderer who 'laughed' during killings wore a mask covering her face.

After her arrest she told police that 'randomly stabbing the body of a dying human brought her pleasure compared to sexual pleasure'.

The court was told she 'loved' killing, and she confessed to involvement in half the gang's murders, although she was only convicted of being involved in three.

Jailed: Lobacheva has been jailed for 13 years, while gang leader Pavel Voitov, 23, has been sentenced to life in prison

Leader: Pavel Voitov, attempts to raise his hand in a Nazi salute while handcuffed in court

Obsessed: Lobacheva is pictured during her arrest, her Chucky tribute tattoo clearly visible on her right arm

Fan: The 27-year-old was obsessed with the Chucky films, about a posessed killer doll, particularly Bride of Chucky, pictured

Knives and other belongings of killer Elena Lobacheva found in her flat by police

A drunk carpenter killed by the gang was knifed 171 times, while others were repeatedly struck with hammers, the court was told.

Voitov and Lobacheva jointly killed a father with a hammer and knife.

His head was hit so hard that bits of his brain were found 16 ft from his body.

Two women were among their 14 victims. One, called Tatyana, was stabbed 40 times near Belarussky Station.

Gang members Vladislav Karatayev, 21, was jailed for 16 years by the Moscow court, Artur Nartsissov, 25, and Maxim Pavlov, 19, both received nine and a half year sentences.

Voitov said of Lobacheva: 'It was clear that she loved murders and enjoyed watching them.

'She always spoke about torture and the dismembering of bodies.

'She laughed as we killed, it was clear as day that she loved it.'

Disturbed: The leader of the gang, Voitov, said of the 27-year-old that it was clear that she loved killing and 'laughed' as they carried out the murders

Aim: Lobacheva, pictured in court earlier this year, wanted to clean Moscow of homeless

Karatayev said of her: 'It was clear for me that committing murder was pleasant for her.

'Both of them, Lobacheva and Voitov were absolutely calm and found pleasure in horrific murders.'

When her flat was searched, police found five knives and on her computer a 'step-by-step instruction to killing people and photos of all of her victims with their stomachs cut open and body parts cut off'.

Folders titled 'Tenderness' and 'Need this' contained hundreds pictures and video recordings of torture and executions.

In a notebook she had recorded the number of knife wounds on the gang's victims' bodies.

Prosecutor Yaroslav Myts gave a chilling assessment of the five killers.

'Members of this gang don't find anything strange in what they were doing,' he said.

Mission: Lobacheva, pictured with a male member of the gang, 'loved killing'

'Look at the number of stabs they were inflicting on helpless people. This shows they were enjoying it. It's not just hatred, they are maniacs.'

He warned: 'The worst thing is that these people have followers.

'After the gang was detained, one neo-Nazi online community was renamed to 'Support Pavel Voitov'.'

Lobacheva was an ardent follower of sickening serial killer Pichushkin, nicknamed the Chess Board Maniac, who murdered 49.

He was stopped with his arrest in 2006 before reaching his target of one victim for each of the 64 squares on a chessboard.

Earlier this year from his cell in an Arctic penal colony the monster made a similar claim to Lobacheva, saying that killing 'brought me colossal pleasure.

'It is comparable to an orgasm.'

A female friend of Lobacheva, called Anastasia Soldatova, said: 'We often discussed the beauty of death with Elena.

'Voitov and Lobacheva were keen on serial killers, they spoke a lot about maniac (Pichushkin) who was like an icon for them.

'They wanted to be like him.'

Lobacheva's flat was 'messy and filthy', reported Life, even though her neighbours had described her as 'polite and nice'.

'There were horrible smells and personal belongings all over the flat' which she shared with a pet rabbit,' it was reported.

She was nicknamed 'Chucky's Bride' after admitting being obsessed since childhood with the 1998 movie, starring Jennifer Tilly, Brad Dourif, and Katherine Heigl.

Lobacheva had a tattoo linked to the movie on her arm.

Neighbour's said Elena Lobacheva's home, pictured, smelled and was 'messy and filthy'

Dangerous path: Lobacheva is pictured in photos believed to have been taken during her time with the brutal gang

Her mother Olga Lobacheva said she had no inkling of her daughter's bloodthirsty and murderous obsession.

'She's into drawing and growing plants,' she said.

A female friend said: 'They wore military style clothes: trousers, boots, all were armed.

'At first I even liked it, but later I got concerned that Pavel [Voitov] constantly had energy drinks and talked about murder all the time.

'Later Elena told me that she discussed the philosophy of murder with Pavel, and study maniac Pichushkin from a practical point of view.'

The gang formed after meeting at a forum of 'ultra radicals'.

They kept in contact using nicknames via sinister social media groups like one - now banned - called Time to Hate.

Here chilling messages were posted such as 'Everything happens for the first time, like first love, first kiss, first sex, first kill'; 'When you are near, the world becomes better. Love you, your Knife'; 'I am not killing, I am cleaning up the world'; 'Every moment of the day you can pick up a knife, go out and make the world better'; and 'Love is finding the one and only who will go killing with you.'

They murdered their victims in less than a year between 1am and 4am in derelict areas away from CCTV cameras.

The killings were conducted with 'ultra cruelty', said prosecutors.

Victim: The gang targeted homeless people and drunks they spotted in the street

A body found near Belarussky railway station had 44 knife wounds; a victim killed in the Moscow Hippodrome was stabbed 51 times and suffered 18 hammer blows; another close to Begovaya metro station had 35 knife wounds; one more, near Workers village had two wounds inflicted by stones, and 46 knife wounds.

Pavlov told investigators: 'Voitov was our authority.

'He was extremely cruel in day-to-day life, and very calm and composed during the murders.

'He often spoke about arranging a terrorist attack.

'Once when we walked past a station, he said it would have been so good to blow an explosive so that it hits as many people as possible, and how 'their bodies would fly in the air'.

'It was only Voitov who used a hammer to kill. He enjoyed killing.'

Voitov - who has an earlier conviction for defiling Jewish graves - said of his perverted motivation: 'I despise drunk people, this is why I killed them.

'I consider them to be biological waste.'

The gang never stole from their victims, and avoided posting incriminating evidence on the web.

Other victims were named as Alyona Shitik, Gennady Danilov, Nikolay Babin, Oleg Daikun and Stanislav Yevseev.
U.S. Ambassador Scott Brown says he was advised to be more 'culturally aware' after his conduct at a Peace Corps event in Samoa invited an administrative inquiry.

Brown told a female server she could make hundreds of dollars as a waitress in the U.S. and told some arriving guests they looked 'beautiful.'

A New Zealand website said Wednesday that Brown acknowledged complaints were made about his 'insensitive or inappropriate' comments to at the July event in the Pacific country.

U.S. Ambassador Scott Brown says he was advised to be more 'culturally aware' after his conduct at a Peace Corps event in Samoa set off an administrative inquiry

Brown, a former U.S. senator from Massachusetts, has been ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa since June. He was one of the first ambassadors tapped by President Donald Trump.

Brown says he attended the event with his wife on his first day in Samoa and said he'd been complementing the well-dressed guests as they walked in.

'There was a receiving line, and remember, we saw these kids prior to, and they were all like dirty and kind of grungy. Well, we walked in and everyone really was dressed to the nines. They all looked great, Gail looked great, you know I was dressed up and Gail and I both walked in and we said, "Boy you guys look beautiful, you look really handsome sir, you know, you guys are great," ' he explained.

'And apparently somebody took offence to that,' Brown stated in a video taped portion of the interview. 'Uhh fine. I did say it, Gail and I both said that, absolutely.'

He also admitted to giving the servers financial advice, the Stuff reported.

'Absolutely told people they could make great waitresses,' he told Stuff. 'I would say that to my kids too, in between jobs, hustling one, two, three jobs. Just get some money in your pocket and get out of there.'

Speaking to Stuff with wife Gail Huff at his side, Brown confirmed that he had been counseled on his conduct at a Peace Corp event in Samoa in July

Brown, a former U.S. senator from Massachusetts, has been ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa since June. He was one of the first ambassadors tapped by President Donald Trump

The diplomat said the complaints had come as a surprise but he accepted the advice from the inquiry.

'I was in fact told by my people, that "Listen, you know you're not Scott Brown from Ryan, New Hampshire any more, you're an ambassador and you have to be aware, culturally aware, of different cultures, and different insensitivities." And I'm always welcoming that kind of good advice,' Brown said in a video on the news site.

He said there had been some cultural misunderstandings, but also that many people at the event didn't like Trump and he suspected there might be some political motivation behind the complaints.

'Sadly, it's politics, and it is what is,' he said, calling 'politics is a blood sport.'

The Stuff says that rumors about the incident prompted Brown to speak out.

He offered the mea culpa in a joint interview with his wife, Gail Huff, who seconded his version of the incidents that caused the controversy.

'This has been a real learning curve for us. I was with Scott the entire time ... and I literally saw nothing. It's absurd,' she reportedly said.

In a video, Huff says the takeaway is: 'We are going to be very, very careful about we say and how its perceived.'

The U.S. Embassy in New Zealand said Brown would not comment beyond the interview he gave to the news website.
Theophilous Washington, 21, from Washington, DC, pleaded guilty to attempted homicide of an unborn child after giving his girlfriend a water bottle knowing it had bleach in it in an attempt to abort her fetus.

A former Pennsylvania college student who was arrested for poisoning his two-month-pregnant girlfriend with bleach in his dorm room has pleaded guilty to attempted homicide.

Theophilous Washington, 21, from Washington, DC, gave his girlfriend a water bottle knowing it had bleach in it in an attempt to abort her fetus, police said last year.

The incident happened on October 28, 2016 after the woman spent the night in Washington's dorm room at Millersville University in Millersville, Pennsylvania.

Washington gave the woman, a freshman at the college, the water bottle as she was leaving his room.

When the woman got to her own dorm room, she drank some of the liquid, felt a burning sensation, started vomiting and called 911.

The woman was examined by the doctor, and neither she nor the fetus were harmed by the bleach. She has since given birth to the child.

Washington pleaded guilty to attempted homicide of an unborn child in a Lancaster County court on Tuesday, Lancaster Online reported.

In interviews with police, Washington acknowledged putting bleach in the water bottle from which his girlfriend drank, prosecutors said.

Both Washington and his girlfriend were students at Millersville University in rural Pennsylvania when the incident occurred

'Washington, the father of the child, admitted to putting bleach in the water bottle,' prosecutors said. 'He had stated previously that he did not want the female to have the child.'

Last year, Brian Hazlett, Millersville's vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, called it 'a horrible, unconscionable event'.

'It is very disturbing to me personally because I consider our students to be our family,' Hazlett said in a statement. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and we're doing everything we can to make sure she is OK.'

Washington will be sentenced in a few months following a background check. He is being held at Lancaster County Prison on a $1million bail.

Washington was also charged with attempted homicide in regards to the woman and a reckless endangerment misdemeanor.

The charges will be dismissed at his sentencing.
A small New Zealand vegan cafe is facing the wrath of beverage giant Coca-Cola over claims it stole its name.

Innocent Foods in Wellington was opened by young couple Egemen Yeter, 25, and Claire Rientjes, 21, in June after they put their life savings into a new business.

They sell a juice also called Innocent  which Coca-Cola claimed was a violation of their trademark for a juice brand with the same name in the United Kingdom, according to Stuff.

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Innocent Foods in Wellington was opened by young couple Egemen Yeter (left), 25, and Claire Rientjes, 21, in June

They sell a juice also called Innocent  which Coca-Cola claimed was a violation of their trademark for a juice brand with the same name in the United Kingdom

Coca-Cola has given them until November 16 to change their name (stock image)

Its our first business venture together, based around something we are both passionate about, Ms Rientjes said.

Coca-Cola has given them until November 16 to change their name.

Mr Yeter and Ms Rientjes said it will cost them about $7000 to come up with a new name, on top of the $40,000 they spent on setting up their business initially.

Mr Yeter and Ms Rientjes said it will cost them about $7000 to come up with a new name, on top of the $40,000 they spent on setting up their business initially

Although they considered fighting against the corporate behemoth they decided to bite the bullet as the legal costs would be too much.

We fear that re-branding will lose us business as we have a well-established reputation in the local community already, Ms Rientjes said.

She accused Coca-Cola of engaging in corporate bullying.

An intellectual property firm sent a letter to the cafe notifying them of the trademark breach, saying Coca-Cola wanted to protect the name Innocent in New Zealand

An intellectual property firm sent a letter to the cafe notifying them of the trademark breach, saying Coca-Cola wanted to protect the name Innocent in New Zealand.

The couple have asked for help from Coca-Cola in rebranding their business, according to Newshub.
A TV fitness instructor has been found guilty of punching his model ex-girlfriend in the face in front of their two children after she confronted him over a fling.

Victim Emma Murphy made a video about the ordeal which went viral on the internet and appeared days later on ITV's Loose Women in the hope of inspiring domestic abuse survivors to come forward.

Famous trainer Francis Usanga, 31, yesterday was told he could face up to 12 months in prison after he was found guilty of assaulting Ms Murphy.

Pictured: Francis Usanga (left) has been found guilty of punching his ex-girlfriend Emma Murphy (right)

Ms Murphy told the trial if she hadn't spoken out she would have remained in an abusive relationship with Usanga, 31, of Lanesboro, Finglas, Dublin.

Her ex-partner, a former fitness expert on RTE's Today show, denied he caused harm to the model and blogger.

The attack took place while they had a row outside his former workplace at FX Fitness gym in Santry, north Dublin, on July 3, 2015, Dublin District Court was told.

In evidence, Ms Murphy told Judge Bryan Smyth that Usanga was the father of her two young children.

She said they had been in a relationship for three-and-a-half years, and described this relationship as 'really bad, toxic'.

On the day in question, she went with her children in the car to the gym where he worked to talk to him about their relationship and his cheating, she said.

Pictured: Emma Murphy (right) told the trial yesterday that if she hadn't spoken out she would have remained in an abusive relationship with Usanga, 31, of Lanesboro, Finglas, Dublin

She said he had told her to 'f*** off' after she asked for his phone.

She told the court there had been 'a crazy amount of cheating going on' and that she wanted to call one of his friends to ask him if Usanga had been with him over the previous weekend.

She said she needed to get to the bottom of it 'because it was not fair on me, it was not fair on my children'.

She said he gave her a phone and that she went outside with it, and discovered more cheating.

'I said, 'You cheated on me again',' she told the court. She said she was disgusted and threw the phone in his direction, and he then punched her in the face.

'He straight up punched me with his hand, his fist,' she said.

In the aftermath of the attack, mother-of-two Emma Murphy made a video about her ordeal which went viral on the internet, and she also appeared in ITV's Loose Women

She said she was hit on her left eye and was 'distraught'. She said her children, then aged six months and 18 months, were in the car.

'It was bad enough that he was cheating and then it came to another black eye,' she said.

She said she drove away, and that her brother Carl later took photos of her injuries.

In cross-examination with defence solicitor Michael Hanahoe, it was put to her that Usanga had been a celebrity, and that she broke into his Facebook account to tell his 10,000 followers she had been assaulted by him and 'that was the type of person he was'.

She agreed she shared a video.

The defence suggested this was an attempt to 'destroy him' but she replied: 'It was my attempt to get out of an abusive relationship; if I had not, I would probably still be there.'

In evidence, Usanga  who is currently unemployed, the court heard yesterday  claimed he was in fear for his life of Ms Murphy.

He said: 'I felt my life was in danger'  and maintained that he used his hands to push her away.

However, Judge Smyth did not accept his claim that he pushed her away because he was in fear of her, or the argument that this was justifiable force.

In evidence, Usanga  who is currently unemployed, the court heard yesterday  claimed he was in fear for his life of Ms Murphy. Pictured above, Usanga (right) acting in an Irish drama

Sentencing was adjourned to allow Ms Murphy to prepare a victim-impact statement in writing.

Ms Murphy was hugged by relatives and supporters as the judge gave his verdict, and the case was adjourned to a date next month.

She said: 'He told me I was paranoid, I was psycho'

Emma Murphy filmed the emotional video of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Usanga as her son Xavier played behind her. This is an edited transcript:

'I'VE been thinking long and hard, and contemplating whether to post this video I finally decided ... that I need to do this for me and my children.

'I've been in a relationship for three and a half years with a guy I thought was the love of my lifeUnfortunately, last year, I found out he cheated on me with one of his clients I loved him so much that I tried to forgive him and I gave him another chance. [But] I found out he did it again.

'So I went to the gym and I confronted him, and he denied it of course. When I threw his phone, he punched me in the face. And it wasn't the first time. Last year, he split my head open.

'At an event prior to that, he punched me and I had a black eye. And for the last year and a half, I've been told I'm paranoid, I'm psycho, my insecurities will kill me.

He punched me and I had a black eye. And for the last year and a half, I've been told I'm paranoid, I'm psycho, my insecurities will kill me

' I finally realised that, no, this is not acceptable. No man has any right to put his hand on a woman. I've had the courage to walk away and to go straight to the people who love me. So now I'm a single mother-of-two Our lives are torn apart. And they're going to know their daddy hit their mammy.

'So if anyone has gone through anything similar... you need... to find the courage and get away from it. More often than not, if it happens once  it will happen again.'

He showed no emotion as the judge gave his verdict while his former partner with her head bowed was hugged by her family members and supporters at the back of the courtroom.

The offence at district court level can carry a 12-month prison sentence.

Pleading for leniency, the defence solicitor asked the judge to note that Usanga has already 'suffered immeasurably' and has no prior convictions for this type of offence.

Judge Smyth also asked Garda Inspector Michael Mulligan, who was in charge of the investigation, to see if Ms Murphy would like to receive some compensation for what happened.

In the days after the attack Ms Murphy uploaded a video to Facebook and Youtube speak out about her ordeal.
Keith King, 55, died from a single punch to the face during a row, an inquest was told

A grandfather died from a single punch to the face during a row outside an engagement party, an inquest has heard.

Keith King, 55, crashed onto the ground of the car park at Broomfield Parish Hall in Chelmsford, Essex, after being hit on the right side of his head.

The painter and decorator was rushed to Broomfield Hospital but never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead shortly after his admission.

A coroner has been unable to establish whether Mr King, of Bracknell, Berkshire, was unlawfully killed at the celebration when he was hit just before midnight.

An Essex Police investigation saw one man from Chelmsford quickly identified and arrested on suspicion of murder, but he was later released without charge.

Yesterday's inquest at Chelmsford Coroner's Court was attended by a large number of Mr King's family, more than 14 months after his death on July 30 last year.

Mr King's widow and daughter were accompanied by support workers from the organisation Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse.

Painter Mr King (right, with a friend) was rushed to hospital but never regained consciousness

After outlining the purpose of an inquest, Senior Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray asked pathologist Dr Benjamin Swift to give evidence.

Dr Swift, who oversaw the post mortem at Broomfield Hospital, outlined a number of injuries that were sustained by Mr King.

'It wasn't just a case of him being punched,' explained Dr Swift. Bruising to Mr King's right jaw was consistent with witness statements that reported he had been struck on the right side of his face.

On the right side of his body, he was found to have bruising to his shoulder, a small graze to his neck, an injury towards his elbow and a cut on the back of the hand - which were consistent with his falling to the ground.

Dr Swift discovered injuries to the left side of Mr King's body, including bruising to his left jaw and a fractured cheek bone.

He also believed a small fracture to the left side of Mr King's nose could have been a result of CPR administered by paramedics.

Mr King crashed onto the ground of the car park at Broomfield Parish Hall in Chelmsford, Essex

A toxicology report revealed Mr King had not been intoxicated either by alcohol or drugs at the time of his death.

An examination of Mr King's brain by a professor at King's College Hospital in London found evidence to suggest changes to the cells which supported there being a traumatic brain injury.

However, Dr Swift was unable to ascertain when Mr King became unconscious; whether it was due to the punch or the impact of the fall.

When asked whether a lack of bruising to Mr King's hands suggested he did not throw any punches, Dr Swift was unable to say conclusively.

'He had no injuries to his knuckles that would allow me to say he had definitely been punching out,' said Dr Swift. 'But that doesn't mean that he hadn't.'

Before leaving the court and expressing his sympathy to the family, Dr Swift concluded the cause of Mr King's death was a traumatic brain injury.

A coroner has been unable to establish whether Mr King was unlawfully killed at the party

Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Jennings of Serious Crime Directorate, who led the criminal investigation, was next to be called to the stand.

He explained to the court the course of the police investigation, including how the suspect was released after a consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service due to a lack of evidence that would lead to the prospect of a successful conviction.

One man was arrested on suspicion of murder, but later released without charge

Despite Mr King's family attempting to have this decision overturned under the Victims' Right to Review scheme, no prosecution has taken place.

Having heard the evidence, Mrs Beasley-Murray said: 'The court, of course, had considered recording a verdict of unlawful killing.

'I would have to be sure that all the elements for the offence of murder or manslaughter were met and I cannot be sure in light of the evidence that I have heard from Essex Police.'

She also felt a verdict of accident, which has a lower threshold of proof, was not suitable either.

Instead, Mrs Beasley-Murray recorded an open verdict. But she noted that should any fresh evidence come to light, Essex Police would be willing to investigate the case further.

Before formally concluding the inquest, Mrs Beasley-Murray expressed her sympathy, describing Mr King as a 'much-loved' member of a 'tight-knit family'.

'I hope you will look back on the happy memories you have of him,' she added.
Far-right activist Milo Yiannopoulos has branded Studio 10's Jessica Rowe a 'half-bald feminist' after a heated clash on live TV.

The British-born champion of free speech was outspoken about his dislike of feminists when he appeared on Studio 10 this week to peddle his upcoming tour of Australia.

When co-host Jessica Rowe told Mr Yiannopoulos she was a 'proud feminist', he said 'that's OK, I'm sure they'll cure you soon, there's a chemotherapy for that'.

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When co-host Jessica Rowe told Mr Yiannopoulos she was a 'proud feminist', he said 'that's OK, I'm sure they'll cure you soon, there's a chemotherapy for that'

Mr Yiannopoulos' likening of feminism to cancer drew criticism from Ms Rowe.

'No no no,' she began.

'Everyone's entitled to a view, but you seem to stir up hate for the sake of it, because you want to provoke.'

Mr Yiannopoulos defended his opposition to feminism and said he did not say it to be controversial.

'It's perfectly fine if you're a feminist. My problem is with those feminists who say we all need to be feminists when we might not be, and we might think feminism has run its course,' he said.

Mr Yiannopoulos' likening of feminism to cancer drew criticism from Ms Rowe (pictured)

'Everyone's entitled to a view, but you seem to stir up hate for the sake of it, because you want to provoke,' Ms Rowe said

Highly controversial conservative activist and self-proclaimed 'champion of free speech' Milo Yiannopoulos

The so-called 'internet supervillain' has likened feminism to cancer on Australian TV

'It's very difficult to describe yourself as 'not a feminist' if you're in the public life. That's an enforcement of a particular political orthodoxy that is not shared by the public majority.

'These ideas being enforced in popular culture and on TV are not views reflected in the public.

'The gap between media and the public is growing all the time.'

Mr Yiannopoulos went on to say free speech was a right, even if it was controversial or offensive.

'If I want to say that feminists are fat and ugly, which most of them are, I will,' he said.

The controversial commentator later uploaded the interview to his Youtube channel under the headline 'Milo slays half-bald Australian feminist'.

The right-wing firebrand (pictured with his partner) married his boyfriend in Hawaii earlier this month despite urging Australians to vote 'no' to gay marriage earlier this week

'If I want to say that feminists are fat and ugly, which most of them are, I will,' Yiannopoulos (pictured) said

Mr Yiannopoulos has built a career on divisiveness.

Once a senior editor of far-right site Breitbart News, Mr Yiannopoulos was fired when he was accused of being a paedophile apologist.

The commentator previously said sex between 'younger boys' and older men could serve as a 'coming-of-age relationship in which those older men help those younger boys discover who they are'.

He vehemently denied the accusations saying 'I didn't technically advocate paedophilia'.

'I regret the things that I've said. I don't think I've been as sorry about anything.'
The White House is welcoming a congressional measure killing the ability of millions of Americans to band together to sue bank or credit card companies to resolve financial disputes in a major win for Wall Street.

The Senate narrowly voted late Tuesday night to nullify the rule, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the final vote to break a 50-50 tie  sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature.

Both Sens. Jeff Flake and Bob Corker voted alongside their fellow Republicans, despite strongly condemning President Trump over the past 24 hours.

The two Republicans who sided with Democratic lawmakers to keep the rule were instead Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John Kennedy of Louisiana.

Just two Republicans broke with President Trump on a banking regulation rollback, but they weren't Sens. Bob Corker (left) and Jeff Flake (right), who have been warring with Trump in recent days

The White House sent out a statement from President Trump after the late night vote saying he applauded the Senate for rolling back the rule

Breaking from their party were Sens. Lindsey Graham (left) of South Carolina and John Kennedy (right) of Louisiana

In order to make the change, Vice President Mike Pence, shown speaking on tax reform at the American Enterprise Institute, had to come to Capitol Hill and cast a tie-breaker vote

'President Donald J. Trump applauds the Congress for passing,' the resolution, the White House said in a statement shortly after the vote that highlighted its own Treasury Department report criticizing the rule. 'The rule would harm our community banks and credit unions by opening the door to frivolous lawsuits by special interest trial lawyers.'

The banking industry had been lobbying hard to roll back the regulation from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The bureau had moved to ban most types of mandatory arbitration clauses found in the fine print of agreements consumers often enter into when opening a checking account or getting a credit card.

The vote reflects the effort of the Trump administration and congressional Republicans to undo regulations that the GOP argues harm the free market.

Democratic lawmakers said the CFPB's rule would have given consumers more leverage to stop companies from financial wrongdoing. They cited the sales practices at Wells Fargo and the security breach at credit company Equifax as examples of misdeeds protected through forced arbitration.

'So who does forced arbitration help? Wall Street banks and other huge corporations that never pay the price for cheating working people,' said Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

Richard Cordray, director of the consumer bureau, said: 'Tonight's vote is a giant setback for every consumer in this country. Wall Street won and ordinary people lost. This vote means the courtroom doors will remain closed for groups of people seeking justice and relief when they are wronged by a company.'

Republicans said the arbitration system has worked wonderfully for consumers. They said the payouts for the average consumer in arbitration cases are generally much larger and come more quickly than when compared to the relief gained through class-action lawsuits.

'The effort to try to characterize this as some devious system that has been created to try to stop consumers from having access to fairness is simply false,' said Sen. Mike Crapo, the Republican chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. 'We have a very fair system that has been working for over 100 years in this country.'

Crapo said the average pay-out for consumers in class-action lawsuits against financial companies was just $32, but lawyers stood to make millions.

Democrats argued that consumers generally don't have the time and means to pursue claims in arbitration, and since most disputes revolve around small amounts, they typically just give up. They said banks and other financial firms know that in the end they won't have pay a real price for taking advantage of a consumer.

But class-actions would serve as a powerful tool for consumers, they said.

'Once again, we're helping the powerful against the powerless,' said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as the Senate neared the vote, sensing the Democrats would lose.

The advocacy group Consumers Union and several veterans groups, including the American Legion, lobbied to keep the rule. They said consumers would still have the option to use arbitration to resolve a dispute, if both parties want to go that route.

'Without the CFPB rule, consumers can be forced into a rigged system where they have no recourse. It's a disgrace,' said Linda Lipsen, CEO of the American Association for Justice, an advocacy group that works to improve the legal system.

The American Bankers Association cheered the Senate vote. 'Today's vote puts consumers first rather than class-action lawyers,' said Rob Nichols, the group's president and chief executive officer
This is the moment a suspected compensation hunter sprinted towards a taxi and hurled herself on the bonnet before playing dead in the middle of the road.

The woman launched herself at the stationary car in Blackpool, Lancashire, on Sunday night before lying in the road while another driver veered round her.

She could be seen spinning 90 degrees in the road and sprinting towards the Nissan ENV200, throwing herself on it and pretending to smash her head off the bonnet.

The woman (circled) and her main companion are seen running across the road in Blackpool

The woman suddenly turns 90 degrees in the road and starts heading towards the taxi

As she lay motionless, her furious male companion could be seen racing towards baffled Premier Cabs driver Christopher Stewart before throwing abuse at him.

Mr Stewart, 33, from Blackpool, believes her actions are an attempted 'crash for cash' scam and is thankful he had a dashcam to prove he did not hit her.

He said: 'From what I can remember she didn't really try and jump on it she just dived straight at the car. It was like it happened in slow motion.

'I just thought 'what an idiot' - I knew straight away what was happening. She was trying to get a claim from a big and respectable company.

'I was stopped at the traffic lights when I saw them both running across the road. She then started doubling back and heading for me.

The dashcam records the woman running towards the taxi, as her male friend runs away

The woman jumps onto the bonnet of the taxi in an apparent 'crash for cash' scam

'I was going to put it in reverse but then I panicked there might be a car behind me so I just decided to let it play out, there was nothing I could do.

'She was then lying in the road and wasn't moving. The man then came over to my window screaming and shouting and said 'I'm going to kill you' and really escalated it.

'I just thought to myself "I'm not messing around with this" and drove straight back to the office to tell them what happened.'

Former Royal Artillery gunner Mr Stewart said the incident was so clearly a set-up that no one came to help the woman.

He said: 'Other drivers must have thought it looked that obviously fake that they just went round her as well. If it was real, somebody would have stopped - but no-one stopped to help. The whole incident is just unbelievable.'

Ex-army boxer Mr Stewart said it was the most unusual incident he had encountered in his 12 months as a taxi driver.

The driver said it was the most unusual incident he had encountered in his time as a taxi driver

The woman's friend is then seen running towards the taxi driver and hurls abuse at him

He said: 'Nothing like this has happened to me before. Sometimes people get a bit lairy, that's a usual Saturday night, but this is something else.

'I was a boxer in the army so wasn't that worried about the bloke who ran at me but the incident did put me off. After I reported it to the office I finished for the night as I didn't want to go back out.'

As a result of the woman's antics the plastic charge door on the car bonnet has a hole in it, which will cost an estimated 500 to fix.

Managing director of Premier Taxis John Cutler said: 'This is what's going on, people without dash cams are open to this. Without this footage we wouldn't have been protected, it's madness.

'If you look at the footage she has half a smile on her face at the last second as she's going to do it. This is what is affecting the insurance industry.'

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: 'We have had a report of this vehicle crime and we are investigating a fraud-related offence.'
A highly venomous king brown snake has punctured a cyclist's wheel after it lunged for his leg but got a mouthful of rubber instead.

Tyrone Pahh was moving his bike into his garage after a late-night ride in Alice Springs when he stirred a large snake which had slithered under the rolling door.

Mr Pahh was startled by a hissing noise before turning the light on to see a metre-long snake staring up at him, ABC reported.

A highly venomous king brown snake (pictured) punctured a cyclist's wheel

'It sounded like a lot of pressure coming out of a tyre ... so I thought my tyre was flat,' he said.

Mr Pahh said that he felt like a big wuss when, after realising it was a snake trying to bite him, he threw the bike down and made a run for it.

'I think I'm pretty lucky now when I look back on it, especially given what kind of snake it was.'

Local Sturt Terrace snakecatcher Rex Neindorf said it was a good thing the snake didn't make contact with Mr Pahh.

The one-metre Mulga [king brown] took a nip at him but luckily nabbed the tyre (stock picture)

Tyrone Pahh was moving his bike into his garage after a late-night ride in Alice Springs (pictured)

'It was a Mulga [king brown] snake, they are highly venomous but it takes you a fair while to die, at least half a day to die,' he said.

Mr Neindorf was called to the boy's house and was able to trace venom on the tyre.

He said because the snake had hissed it had let off a warning, after it was likely disturbed by the door lifting up.

The incident comes after Mr Neindorf issued a warning for Alice Spring residents to check their pools for snakes before swimming as the heat entices the reptiles to search for water.

Snakes are definitely migrating, he said.
Heartbroken millionaire Irish socialites discovered their 18-month-old son drowned in the swimming pool of a luxury hotel in the Maldives - just 15 minutes after raising the alarm that he was missing.

Max Musgrave, from Dublin, was enjoying a luxury holiday at the 8,423-a-night Huvafen Fushi resort with his parents Trevor and Tara when he vanished at around 6pm on Monday.

His panicked family searched the private island with staff, but sadly he was found alone in a pool mere minutes later.

Max Musgrave, from Dublin, died during the trip with father Trevor (left) and mother Tara (right), on Monday

Max Musgrave went missing at the 8,423-a-night Huvafen Fushi resort (pictured) in the Maldives at around 6pm on Monday

A Maldives police detective said: 'A security guard went to the room which has a private swimming pool and Max was found in the water. He had drowned.

'The investigation is still going on, but it appears to be an accident in their own swimming pool. There was no lifeguard as it is a private pool.'

It is believed Trevor and Tara were enjoying a tropical getaway with their three young children and friends when tragedy struck at Huvafen Fushi.

The private resort is a holiday haven for the rich and famous, with George Clooney, Kate Moss and Tom Cruise among a host of A-list guests.

Huvafen Fushi is a tiny island home to a small number of opulent villas offering beautiful sea views yards from pristine white beaches.

Friends of the Musgrave family said they were 'inconsolable' at the tragic loss, with relatives now flying out to support Max's parents.

A friend of Max's fashionista mother, Tara, said: 'Their baby is gone. We heard about it on Monday and we just can't believe it.

'I can't even put myself in their shoes. They're on their way home now - they could arrive in Dublin tonight.

'They've two girls, aged eight & five but Max was their little man. He wasn't even two, his second birthday was coming up.

Mr Musgrave with Irish socialites Romyi Carroll (left) and Cindy Cafolla (right) at a party in Dublin in 2007

Max was found by hotel staff 15 minutes after he went missing in a pool at the luxury island resort (pictured, one of Huvafen Fushi villa's complete with plunge pool)

'Tara has the best circle of friends and she'll need everyone of us now.

'She's such a beautiful genuine person. What has happened to her and Trevor is beyond words.

'I've spoken to her family and they said Tara and Trevor just want privacy - they need to come to terms with it.'

Another source said: 'Some family members are booking flights to fly out. The family are in complete shock.

'They are trying to get their heads around it. It is so tragic.'

Huvafen Fushi is located on a private island in the Indian Ocean and is a favourite holiday destination of supermodel Kate Moss

A friend of the family said relatives were now flying out to the Maldives to support Max's 'heartbroken' family

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was ready to provide consular assistance to the Musgrave family.

The Musgraves are well known in social circles, with Max's father making his fortune from selling luxury cars.

Mr Musgrave, from the upmarket Dublin suburb of Castleknock, owns plush car dealership, Onyx, selling Range Rover, Bentley, Ferrari, Porsche, Rolls Royce and Mercedes.

He met his wife at the All Irish Polo Club in 2008 and later the couple moved in together on the grounds of the K Club, a five-star hotel in the picturesque County Kildare countryside.

Mr Musgrave, who owns three Ferrari sportscars, proposed to his wife at the estate's spa, before the pair got married in a star-studded ceremony in August 2011.

Max and Tara Musgrave live on the grounds of five-star hotel the K Club (pictured) in rural County Kildare

Their guest list included Irish celebrity chef Conrad Gallagher and socialites Annette Rocca, Louise Loughman and Bernie Cafolla.

Max's death is the second tragedy on the Maldives in two weeks.

Andrew Roddy, 30, from Dublin, was on his honeymoon with wife Gill Cmapion when he drowned 'while swimming and looking at dolphins'.

The couple, who got married just over two weeks ago, were swimming close to each other when Mr Ruddy suddenly disappeared.

His mother Marion Roddy, said: 'I was talking to Gill. She said they were out swimming and looking at dolphins or something.

'I turned around and Andrew was gone,' she said, and she didn't know how it happened because they were near each other at the time.'
A 'brilliant' student has been left paralysed from the neck down after he dived into a lake and smashed his head on the rocky bottom.

Exeter University student Gerard Murphy may never walk again after he broke his neck and fractured his spine after diving into the lake in Sweden in July.

The 22-year-old, from Hertfordshire, was left critically injured after misjudging the depth of the water and dragged from the water by his horrified friends.

Gerard Murphy is pictured here recovering in hospital with his friends Abi and Alex Jundi

The 22-year-old, from Hertfordshire, was enjoying a dream summer break in Sweden when he was critically injured after misjudging the lake's depth

Sports-mad Gerard had emergency surgery in Sweden and was airlifted to Lister Hospital at Stevenage two weeks later before being transferred to a specialist spinal injury unit at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.

Gerard, who is studying Arabic and geography at Exeter University, is now having intensive rehabilitation for paralysis of his legs, wrists and hands.

The Liverpool FC fan has been left unable to use his arms and legs and been forced to put his degree on hold.

His friends have had to set him up with voice recognition on his iPad so that he can watch TV in hospital.

His best friend Alex Jundi said: 'Despite the horror of the accident, Gerard remains his positive, upbeat self, and is determined to make as much progress as possible.

'Gerard's the most amazing guy. He has the ability to capture a room with his jokes - he is extremely intelligent and so positive.

'When Gerard left Lister Hospital the nurses all cried - and that's just testament to how well-liked and warm he is.'

Gerard, who has been left unable to move his arms and legs, is pictured here surrounded by his friends as he begins his recovery

Now Alex has set up a JustGiving crowdfunding page to help buy Gerard vital equipment and fund long-term care as he battles to piece his life back together.

His appeal has already been shared more than 1,000 times on Facebook and has raised more than 42,000 of its 100,000 target.

'The accident has naturally had a seismic effect on Gerard's life, as well as the lives of his friends and family,' Alex added.

'I set up the JustGiving page to help pay for all the things he will need in the future.

'This could be a wheelchair, adjustments to his accommodation, technology or anything else.

'We don't fully know what Gerard is going to need until he has spent a month at Stoke Mandeville.

'But he will definitely need lots of support, regular care and specially adapted equipment. He cannot use his arms or legs.

'He intends to complete the final year of his degree when the time is right.'
Barry Dermott has been jailed for six years after his son called police

A drug dealer's cocaine factory was discovered after his young son dialled 999 and told the operator, 'Daddy's not his usual self'.

Officers were called to Barry Dermott's home in Halewood, Liverpool, when the youngster told police his father 'had been sniffing white powder and drinking alcohol'.

A search of the premises revealed a .38 rimfire revolver hidden in a cupboard under the stairs.

They also found several rounds of ammunition, six grams of cocaine, 18 kilos of boric acid, a cutting agent, sucrose and other drug paraphernalia including weighing scales.

Dermot, 46, was sentenced to six years and two months in prison for possession of a firearm, ammunition and allowing premises to be used for the production of Class A drugs, following a guilty plea.

Prosecutor Rebecca Smith told Liverpool Crown Court the boy told officers his father had 'concealed a [large kitchen] knife near the entrance of the premises,' during their visit on March 5.

As police scoured the property, the grandfather of the three children arrived, shouting: 'Where's the f***ing gun?', concerned the youngsters might stumble upon it.

The weapon was wrapped in cling film inside a plastic Asda bag, which was contained in a black rucksack and stashed away.

A search of the premises revealed a .38 rimfire revolver hidden in a cupboard under the stairs

Forensic analysis of the gun revealed Dermott's co-accused Thomas Rowan's DNA was on the firearm and bullets.

Dermott's barrister Michael Bagley told the court he had become a cocaine addict, was in debt, and when 'pressure had been applied', had allowed his home to be used as a drug factory and a place to store a gun.

When interviewed by police, Dermott admitted he'd 'have a line of coke and drink after work,' but his relationship with the children's mother had crumbled, leaving him sleeping on the sofa.

He would spend 300 at a weekend on his addiction and admitted allowing his home be used to store drugs, and would often receive text messages asking him 'is the coast clear?'

Dermott refused to name those who had brought the drugs and the gun to his home.

Judge Denis Watson said: 'This was a genuine firearm. It was not loaded, but in the rucksack were five rounds of ammunition of the collect calibre to fit in the revolver.

'That firearm had been used to enforce the wishes of a drugs supply gang or would be in the future.'

Dermott's co-accused Thomas Rowan, 24, was sentenced to seven years in prison

The judge in the case said: 'The existence of this gun will cause the public huge concern and the public are entitled to protection from guns as a paramount consideration'

Addressing 24-year-old Rowan, who was convicted of possession of a firearm after a trial, he said: 'You must have been involved in the organising for the storage of the gun.

'You were trusted to wrap it...I do not make the finding you were the owner, but your role was a very important and trusted one.

'Guns kill, maim, and terrorise, and their purpose is to undermine the rule of law.

'The existence of this will cause the public huge concern and the public are entitled to protection from guns as a paramount consideration.'

Julian Nutter, defending Rowan, said: 'The plane has crashed for Mr Rowan. The gun was not loaded and has not been used during the course of a crime.'

Rowan shook his head when he was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Dermott pleaded guilty to permitting his premises to be used for the production of a Class A drug, possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition and was jailed for six years and two months.

His job as a seat manufacturer at Jaguar in Halewood would remain for him after his release from jail, his lawyer added.
All of Germany's six submarines are out of action after its last operational vessel smashed into rocks off the coast of Norway and damaged its rudder.

Four of the country's U-boats are being serviced in boatyards while two others are waiting for a berth.

The latest submarine accident happened on October 15 while the craft was conducting tests in the difficult waters off the coast of Kristiansand.

All of Germany's six submarines are out of action after its last operational vessel smashed into rocks off the coast of Norway and damaged its rudder (File photo)

The U-35 was commissioned into the German navy in 2015, as the first improved Type 212A submarine specifically optimised for deployments around the world, according to Naval Today.

The boat has a bigger reservoir, improved air-conditioning and a new combat system.

Asked how Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen views the temporary loss of the underwater fleet, her spokesman said 'this is obviously not a good situation.'

Spokesman Jens Flosdorff told reporters in Berlin that 'we would hope the mission readiness was higher, but sometimes with technology the devil is in the detail.'

U-boats became the pride of the German navy in World War I, when the Kaiser's submarines dealt several heavy blows to the British navy.

Currently, Germany spends 1.26 per cent of its GDP on defence - short of the NATO target of 2 per cent.

Currently, Germany spends 1.26 per cent of its GDP on defence - short of the NATO target of 2 per cent (File photo)

This comes as Germany on Monday signed a deal to sell three submarines to the Israeli navy in an agreement of 'strategic importance' to the Jewish state, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu 'welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Germany and the state of Israel to acquire the submarines,' his office said in a Hebrew-language statement.

'This memorandum of understanding has strategic importance for Israel's security and its signing reflects the commitment of Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel to Israel's security and the deep cooperation between the countries.'

Negotiations on the sale had been frozen for three months due to concern in Berlin over a related corruption investigation in Israel.

In July, Germany put off the planned signing following the arrest of several Israelis on suspicion of offences including bribery and money laundering around the deal to buy the Dolphin submarines from German industrial giant ThyssenKrupp.

The investigation, which is still ongoing, involves officials from the Israeli security establishment, as well as people working locally for ThyssenKrupp.

An Israeli official said on Friday that Germany had conditioned the go-ahead on there being no corruption found on the part of the Israeli decision-makers and senior officials involved.

Housing Minister Yoav Gallant, who was a senior officer in the Israeli navy, wrote in a tweet on Friday that the three new warships would replace three old vessels, keeping its Dolphin fleet at six.

The submarines ordered by Israel are likely to be fitted with nuclear missiles but are primarily intended for spy missions off Iran or to attack that country in case of nuclear war, according to foreign military experts.
An Islamic convert who spent nearly a decade in prison after becoming the only Spaniard to be convicted over the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York, has been arrested over his alleged links to ISIS.

The 52-year-old, believed to be convicted Al Qaeda terrorist Luis Jose Galan Gonzalez, was held in Madrid on suspicion of 'recruiting, indoctrinating and training' new ISIS members.

Spain's Interior Ministry did not name him in a statement confirming the detention and claiming he had encouraged others to commit terrorist acts.

But they made his identity clear by describing him as 'the first person convicted in Spain over the terror attacks in New York on September 11' and revealing he had left prison in May 2011 after 'spending more than nine years in prison for membership or integration in a terrorist organisation and illegal possession of firearms.'

A 52-year-old, believed to be convicted Al Qaeda terrorist Luis Jose Galan Gonzalez (pictured), was held in Madrid on suspicion of 'recruiting, indoctrinating and training' new ISIS members

Spain 's Interior Ministry did not name him in a statement confirming the detention and claiming he had encouraged others to commit terrorist acts. He is pictured being arrested in Madrid today

Madrid-born Gonzalez was interviewed by a local paper in Murcia, south east Spain, after leaving jail on May 9 2011 following nine and a half years behind bars for belonging to a terrorist organisation and illegally possessing weapons.

The convicted terrorist, 46 at the time and calling himself Yusuf Galan, was described then as the only Spaniard convicted over the Twin Towers attacks.

He told one newspaper after leaving prison: 'I'm a criminal because judges and police wanted me to be.

'Jail has given me back my confidence in human beings and what I have now is a commitment to justice and peace.'

The Interior Ministry said the suspect they had held had developed a 'sophisticated modus operandi' to try to disseminate information on the Internet without being caught.

A spokesman said in a statement, where he referred to ISIS by its acronym DAESH: 'He collected an important amount of material which he housed simultaneously in several profiles or in instant messaging transmissions so he could reach the greatest number of people.

Madrid-born Gonzalez was interviewed by a local paper in Murcia, south east Spain, after leaving jail on May 9 2011 following nine and a half years behind bars for belonging to a terrorist organisation and illegally possessing weapons. He is pictured here in 2005

Spanish police made his identity clear by describing him as 'the first person convicted in Spain over the terror attacks in New York on September 11' (pictured)

'He used the sort of language which is normal in these forums, commenting, linking and sharing content as part of DAESH's global strategy of using the Internet as a means of transmitting terrorist ideological values.

'Along with this ideological indoctrination, another fundamental pillar in his criminal strategy was to carry out operative training in combat techniques of other people.

'To do that he published videos in which he appeared using knives with great skill, alongside highly explicit messages, directed towards the commission of terrorist acts.

'He specifically focused on the psychological preparation of new recruits, who he prepared mentally so they would finally show their willing to commit terrorist acts.'

Galan was one of 11 people arrested in November 2001 in connection with the New York attacks in an operation dubbed Datil - Date in Spanish.

He was accused of belonging to Al Qaeda's Spanish network and travelling to Indonesia to receive military training.

He was involved with far-left Basque nationalist political party Herri Batasuna before embracing Islam.
There was nothing out of the ordinary when Renata Antczak, wearing a distinct, bright, yellow puffer jacket, dropped her daughter off at school.

But it was that image of the mother-of-two, 49, outside Broadacre Primary School in Hull, which was used as part of a national appeal to find her.

On what appeared to be a normal day, nobody knew it would turn out be the last time anyone would see her.

Six months on, mystery still surrounds her disappearance as the search continues.

There was nothing out of the ordinary when Renata Antczak (pictured), wearing a distinct, bright, yellow puffer jacket, dropped her daughter off at school (left)

Those who knew her were baffled by her disappearance. She appeared to have it all and was living a happy and successful life in the UK with her dentist husband Majid Mustafa, 47, and their two daughters.

Five days later, a major police appeal was launched to find the volunteer, who was originally from Poland.

On April 30, Humberside Police issued an appeal with an initial photo of Ms Antczak saying they were 'concerned' for the missing mother-of-two.

They said she had not been seen since April 25 and it was 'out of character' for her not to be in touch with her family.

A week later and friends became 'deeply concerned' over her wellbeing.

Alexandra Jastrzebska told the Hull Daily Mail: 'I have known Renata for five years and I cannot believe she has been missing this long. We just don't know what happened.'

The next month, it emerged that Ms Antczak returned home from the school in her car, before it is believed she left home at 1pm on foot.

Posters were put up in English and Polish across Hull and police appealed for anyone who saw her between 8.30am and 1pm on April 25 to contact them.

There was also an appeal to anyone who spotted Ms Antczak's black Mercedes, with the registration plate WF31 PCX, to come forward.

Posters were put up in English and Polish across Hull and police appealed for anyone who saw her between 8.30am and 1pm on April 25 to contact them

On May 15, her husband, gave an interview to a national paper about her disappearance.

He said his wife had asked for a divorce in March and wanted to return to Poland.

But he believed she left the country and joined a cult following 'months of bizarre behaviour'.

He said: 'She started to wear different jewellery, especially a gold necklace, which she said took the bad energy from her.

'I think she's joined a sect. I don't know what it's called, but think she had contact with them when she went to Poland.'

It was this interview which sparked a dramatic twist to the investigation.

Police turned up at her house with sniffer dogs and were seen taking things from her home.

Mr Mustafa was led away into a car when police turned up at the property.

He initially told police he believed she had gone back to her native Poland to join a cult.

But, at the end of May, police confirmed there was no record of Ms Antczak leaving the UK and a murder inquiry was launched.

Mr Mustafa (pictured) and Mr Lipinski had their charges dropped and were released from custody

By June Mr Mustafa, and Robert Lipinski, 45, were charged with conspiring to cause grievous bodily harm with intent against another male and conspiracy to administer a noxious substance against Ms Antczak, and Mr Lipinski's wife, Anna Lipinski.

But despite court appearances and an initial trial date set for March next year, police struggled to pieces together what happened and no body has ever been found.

Mr Mustafa and Mr Lipinski had their charges dropped and were released from custody.

The whereabouts of Ms Antczak remains a mystery. To date, there have been no sightings, no trails and no body found in the investigation to lead to any answers over her fate.

Police officers at the house of missing Renata Antczak, in Kingswood, near Hull, where she was last seen

Her friend Joanna Fratczak told the Hull Daily Mail: 'I have been crying almost every day since she disappeared.

'Renata and her husband were really well known in the Polish community in Hull. It has been a very difficult time for me and all her friends.

'It must be awful for her family. I have spoken to her oldest daughter since and she is devastated and is having a difficult time.'

Humberside Police confirmed the investigation is still active.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Tony Cockerill said: 'The disappearance of Renata Antczak is very much an active and ongoing investigation.

'We continue to support Renata's family through this difficult time.

'Anyone with any information that could assist the investigation into the whereabouts of Renata is urged to call us on 01482 220427 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.'
The wife of an Army sergeant accused of sabotaging her parachute to murder her today admitted lying to police because she wanted revenge for his string of affairs.

Victoria Cilliers, 40, told Winchester Crown Court she 'despised' her husband Emile, 37, and 'was out for blood' because he cheated on her with skydiver Stefanie Goller and his ex-wife Carly.

He is on trial accused of trying to kill her with a gas leak in March 2015 and when that failed allegedly tampering with the skydiving fanatic's parachute in a crash that left her with broken vertebrae, ribs and a shattered pelvis six days later.

Mrs Cilliers told jurors she had exaggerated the amount of time her husband, of the Royal Army Physical Training Corps, had spent alone with her skydiving kit in the toilets at Netheravon Airfield, Wiltshire, on Easter Sunday 2015.

She first told detectives he went missing for 'a couple of minutes' but in a second statement said it was 'over five minutes' but admitted today: 'It was probably somewhere in the middle of that'.

She added: 'I was very angry. I was out for blood. I made it sound worse than it was because I was humiliated  I wanted him to suffer. I got to the point where the extent of his lies and deceit had been disclosed to me and I wanted to get my own back to a certain extent.

Last week an expert witness demonstrated to the jury that it would take around five minutes to sabotage the parachute.

The prosecution insist Cilliers is guilty of attempting to kill his wife to cash in on her 120,000 life insurance and pay off significant debts.

Victoria Cilliers leaves court today where she admitted she despised' her husband Emile because he was cheating on her and 'was out for blood' after allegedly trying to kill her twice in six days

Victoria Cilliers gave evidence for the first time at Winchester Crown Court today (left) and revealed she decided to leave everything to their children in 2014 - months before her husband (pictured in background) allegedly tried to kill her

Emile Cilliers of the Royal Army Physical Training Corps is accused of attempting to kill his wife, Victoria Cilliers (pictured today) on two occasions

A week ago the jury were shown a demonstration of how this parachute sabotage might be done in the tight space of the toilets.

Mark Bayada, the Army Parachute Association (APA) chief instructor at Netheravon, an expert witness for the prosecution, carried out the filmed demonstration using two different parachutes, the court heard.

Mr Bayada completed the sabotage of the larger one in five minutes and 15 seconds and the smaller one in five minutes and five seconds.

Today Mrs Cilliers gave evidence for the first time at Winchester Crown Court and revealed she decided to leave everything to their children in 2014 because he was unfaithful and 'bad with money'.

She said: 'I'm an intelligent person who knew what was going on. I was starting to feel insecure in the marriage, I knew he was having an affair, I wanted to get it done sooner rather than later.'

After he spent New Year's Eve with his lover Stefanie Goller, who he met on Tinder, she began feeling suicidal because it was the 'final straw', she said.

Mrs Cilliers revealed she had set a time limit of their wedding anniversary in September 2015 for him to 'shape up or ship out' but he tried to kill her in the March and again six days later, it is alleged.

She told the court that 37 year old Cilliers, who is said to have tried to kill her to cash in her 120,000 life insurance, was in financial difficulty with significant debts.

Cilliers' wife told the court her husband, who is said to have tried to kill her to cash in her 120,000 life insurance, was in financial difficulty with significant debts

Her husband is accused of trying to murder the 40-year-old by removing vital 'slinks' from her parachute before she went on a 4,000ft skydive on April 5, 2015.

On March 30 he had attempted to murder the Army physiotherapist by tampering with a gas pipe to trigger an explosion at their home in Amesbury, Wiltshire, it is claimed.

The prosecution say he had tampered with the gas fitting in a kitchen cupboard at the home he shared with his wife and then went to stay in his barracks.

Today Mrs Cilliers said she lied to police about her husband's actions in the aftermath of the parachute jump fall 'to get her own back' after she had learnt of his 'lies and deceit'.

Victoria Cilliers said that she 'despised' her husband, Emile, after becoming suspicious about his extra-marital affair which had pushed her to suicidal thoughts.

Her husband had around 22,000 of debts and had started an affair after meeting a woman, Stefanie Goller, on Tinder, believed he would receive 120,000 life insurance as a result of Mrs Cillier's death.

The trial has heard that the defendant had taken her parachute into the toilets at Netheravon Airfield on Saturday April 4 2015, where he is alleged to have tampered with it prior to it malfunctioning during a jump on the following day.

Mrs Cilliers, who suffered a broken vertebrae, ribs and pelvis in the fall, admitted that she had given differing accounts in her police interview.

She told jurors she had exaggerated the amount of time her husband had spent alone with her parachute in toilets at Netheravon Airfield, Wilts, where she later sustained horrific injuries because 'she was out for blood'.

When asked if she had always told the truth, she replied: 'Not always. The extent of his lies and deceit had been disclosed to me and I just wanted to get my own back to a certain extent.'

Mrs Cilliers, who walked into court unaided and chose to stand to give her evidence, said that she had later wanted to amend her statement but had been told by a police liaison officer that she would not be allowed to and that 'no-one would believe me'.

She continued: 'You have to remember I had been dealing with this day-in-day-out for months, it was horrific, I was injured with a baby, I had enough at that point, I wanted everyone out of my life.'

Emile Cilliers and wife Victoria Cilliers on their wedding day in South Africa (left). Shown right, defence barrister Elizabeth Marsh looks at a similar parachute at Netheravon Airfield in Wiltshire

Two slinks, which attach the lines of the canopy to the rest of the rigging, were missing from one side of the parachute, the court heard, preventing it from working correctly. Pictured: Images show the use of slinks, also known as S-Links, on a chute

Mark Bayada, the Army Parachute Association (APA) chief instructor at Netheravon, an expert witness for the prosecution, carried out a filmed demonstration using two different parachutes and took five minutes to carry out the sabotage

The court was told that Mrs Cilliers sent a message to her husband in February 2015, two months prior to the near-fatal fall, that she thought he would 'be happier without her'.

It said: 'I entered into this marriage with my eyes open. I've loved u more each year.

'Feels like u are just trying to keep pushing me away until I jump ship. But I can't. I love u too much. It feels just now that u would be happier without me.'

Mrs Cilliers admitted her husband's cheating made her despise him and made her consider killing herself

Mrs Cilliers told the court: 'In a way this was how I was feeling. I was panicking, I was about to have a baby, I didn't want him to leave just then, if that's what it took to keep him around for a little longer then fine.

'In regards to me not being around, yes I was starting to feel like that at that point.

'I was trying to threaten him in a way, 'if you do not get a grip and start acting like my husband' I was threatening suicide. I am not sure if I meant it.'

Cilliers travelled away during the New Year period and told his wife it was for work when he was in fact meeting Miss Goller.

Mrs Cilliers said: 'He told me it was a work course which I knew wasn't true. I know how the army works and that was ridiculous.

'I had suspicions he was away with another woman. That was the final straw in my mind.

'It was an accumulation. I am an intelligent person, I knew exactly what was going on.

'I regretted walking out of my first marriage so quickly and didn't want to do anything rash and I wanted his help when the baby was born. In effect I was probably using him as well.

'In my mind, on our wedding anniversary in September, if he had not shaped up I would ask him to get out.'

In February 2015 she even threatened suicide in a text message to her husband.

Describing her marriage at that point, when Cilliers would stay in barracks to avoid a long commute, she said: 'The way things were going, it was easier to have a bit of space.

'I despised him at that point. It was easier sometimes, even though it was hard, not to have him around.'

Prosecutors said that on forensic examination, the nut (left) revealed tool marks matching mole grips (right) seized from a toolbox locked in the utility room

The top arrow shows damage to a nut made by a pair of pliers found in a toolbox located in the utility room of Cilliers's home

Mrs Cilliers said their marriage began to fail in November 2014 when she realised her husband was having an affair.

She said: 'Cracks were starting to show, I was aware around that time, I had suspicions before that he was having an affair.'

Mrs Cilliers said that at that time, he was in financial difficulties.

She said: 'They weren't good, I was aware that he had financial issues. He was bad with money. I wasn't party to what debts, I knew he did have debts.'

Mrs Cilliers, who was pregnant at the time, said that she re-did her will taking her husband out of it and leaving the house to the children.

She said: 'I needed to redo my will primarily because I had children, I owned the house and Emile was bad with money and I needed to be sure that if anything happened to me, the children would be well looked after'.

She said that her husband would still be the recipient of her life insurance policy and the contents of the house.

In a letter to the defendant to accompany her new will, which he was not shown, she wrote: 'I do hope Emile you understand my reasons.

'I love you and you are an amazing father to the children, I just want to ensure that they have the access to education I had.'

Mrs Cilliers, pictured on another skydive, suffered multiple serious injuries in the fall in 2015

The court previously heard Cilliers had text his 'lover' Stefanie Goller, pictured, while his wife was being treated in hospital and was 'continuing to plan a life with her'

The jury heard Cilliers was involved in a sexual relationship with ex-wife Carly Cilliers (above)

Mrs Cilliers said that she joined the Army as a physiotherapy officer in 1998 and went to serve at several hospitals and rehabilitation centres as well as served at a field hospital during the Kosovo conflict.

She said she met the defendant while based at Tidworth and introduced him to parachuting and taught him to pack parachutes.

She said: 'He was fast-tracked through the early part of parachuting because he lived with an instructor.

'It helped me, I could jump, he packs.'

She said she did her first jump at the age of 16 for a cancer charity when living in Scotland and had later taken a parachuting course when she became addicted to the sport.

Mrs Cilliers said: 'I did one jump and was absolutely hooked, it became an obsession, it's an addiction and it's not dissimilar to drugs, it takes over your life and for 15 years that's pretty much all I did.'

She described herself as a 'reasonable' parachutist who jumped at national level but said her 'strengths lay on the ground with the students'.

The trial at Winchester Crown Court has heard that Mrs Cilliers, 40, from Haddington, East Lothian, reported smelling gas at the property.

Her husband had spent the previous night at his barracks because he said he wanted to avoid the Monday morning traffic.

An engineer called to the property found a loose nut on a gas isolation valve in a cupboard next to the oven.

The court has heard that dried blood found on the pipe was a match for Cilliers.

Army sergeant Cilliers is seen marrying his wife Victoria in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2011

A picture shows an inspection of Victoria Cilliers' parachute following the incident

Cilliers 'deliberately removed vital pieces of equipment intending that she should be killed when the reserve parachute inevitably failed', the court was told

Forensic scientist Mark Kearsley told the court that he had carried out a microscopic examination of the nut and a set of mole-grip adjustable locking pliers owned by the sergeant.

Cilliers has said he used the pliers to try to tighten the nut when he had returned home before the gas engineer arrived, but could not do so because it was too tight.

Mr Kearsley said impressions left on the nut were a 'conclusive' match for the markings of the pliers but they had been used in a 'loosening and not tightening motion'. He added that a 'significant' degree of force was used.

Gas engineer Michael Osborne said he was called to the Cilliers' home on March 30 to make the gas leak safe.

He pinpointed the 'small leak' to a nut on a gas fitting in a cupboard next to the oven in the kitchen and he was able to fix it by tightening the nut by a 'quarter-turn maximum'.

He said it was not unusual to find such a leak and explained that as well as a tool, the nut could have become loosened or 'relaxed' by repeated changes in temperature or by being knocked by food tins being placed in the cupboard.

Gas safety consultant Howard Reed said he inspected the property and found the valve was not faulty.

Jurors were shown thousands of texts between Cilliers and his lover Stefanie Goller, whom he met on dating app Tinder, in the months before the skydiving incident in April 2015 and in the days after.

On the day of the fall he wrote: 'Sorry can't talk right now. Vicky has had an accident.' Later in the same conversation, as his wife was having surgery, he said: 'What we have is far more special  One day we might have a family of our own.'

Miss Goller later said she was working as a cleaner, to which he said: 'Will you be my cleaner? I only like nude cleaners.' Miss Goller said, 'I like naked cooking', and he replied: 'You'll end up being distracted by me and burn the cooking.'

The night before the gas leak, Cilliers had sent Miss Goller texts fantasising about 'the soft touch of your skin' and 'kissing your neck, stroking your body'.

Half an hour earlier, he texted his ex-wife Carly, 38, with whom he was also having an affair, saying: 'So tonight we f*** twice.'

Jurors were also shown exchanges between Cilliers and his wife. A few weeks after the accident, he wrote: 'I will need money soon or I can't do shopping. I have no money left.'

Texts also revealed their marriage problems in the months before.

After he returned from a trip to Austria in January, she wrote: 'It was a massive blow to realise you came back a different person. You seemed so detached.' Meanwhile Cilliers was texting Miss Goller about how he wanted to spend his life with her, the court heard.

In February, after Cilliers returned from a holiday with Miss Goller, his wife texted him: 'Feels like you keep trying to push me away until I jump ship. But I can't. I love you too much. It feels just now that you would be happier without me.'

Mrs Cilliers survived her fall thanks to a single thread on her parachute but spent three weeks in hospital with a broken pelvis, ribs and vertebrae. Her husband denies two counts of attempted murder and one of reckless criminal damage.

Cilliers denies two counts of attempted murder and one of reckless criminal damage.

The trial continues.
A chef was shocked to see a frog with extra limbs in his kitchen in northeast China.

Video footage shows an assistant showing the mutant frog with three extra legs growing on the right side of its body.

The green amphibian can be seen moving about on the chopping board.

A mutant frog with seven legs was found in a kitchen in northeast China (left). The chef's assistant was holding the frog and showing the three extra legs to the camera (right)

The video was filmed in Jinzhou, Liaoning Province on October 15.

It's unclear what the frog's species is, however, it was found by a chef in a restaurant's kitchen.

'Can it move?' the chef asked his assistant.

She replied yes and placed it on the chopping board.

The frog then quickly moved its limbs and then pulled them in towards its body.

The three extra legs grew just below its front limb on the right side of its body (left). The mutant frog was able to move its limbs and appeared to be live (right)

In 2011, there was a seven-legged frog found in Zhengzhou, southeast China's Henan Province.

Dong Chaowei, an animal expert and chairman of Zhengzhou forestry bureau, told People's Daily that there were several elements that led to frog mutation.

Mutation can be caused by genetics during fertilisation; it can also be happen when there is an external action pushing against the tadpole during the growth.

However, environmental pollution and unknown food source are also to be blamed for the irregular growth of legs in the amphibian.
A father on the run for allegedly killing his two-year-old daughter by slitting her throat is a failed asylum seeker whose wife complained to German police three times for his violent behaviour.

Sohail A., 33, from Pakistan, who allegedly murdered his daughter Isha on Monday night, had remained in Germany six years after authorities rejected his asylum application.

His wife Lubna, 32, left Isha alone in the flat on Monday when she went to police to complain of further abuse.

A father on the run for allegedly killing his two-year-old daughter by slitting her throat is a failed asylum seeker whose wife complained to German police three times for his violent behaviour (File photo)

They accompanied her back to the apartment in the northern port city of Hamburg where they discovered Isha's body.

There was no sign of her father and he remains the subject of an intensive police manhunt in northern Germany.

Lubna is being treated for shock in hospital and her six-year-old son from a previous relationship is being looked after by his grandparents in Hamburg.

The case has reignited the debate about Germany's apparent lack of will to deport failed asylum seekers.

Thousands have been told they cannot stay but remain in the country using a variety of legal manouvres, including illness and false threats of violence awaiting them back in their homelands.

After the murder, it emerged that Isha's family were on the radar of the authorities.

A spokesman for the local youth authority said: 'The department had multiple contacts with the family. The security of the children was the main topic.'

Sohail A. came from Pakistan into Germany on December 21, 2011 and applied for asylum.

But just a month later the application was rejected because the grounds for it were deemed 'not believable.'

On July 11, 2012 the judicial authorities deemed the decision legal in law, paving the way for deportation. It never happened.

'Just why he was allowed to remain in Germany is not clear,' said the daily newspaper Bild in a report about the murder and aftermath.

It was while awaiting deportation that he came to know Lubna, married her and fathered Isha with her.

In April this year he launched an emergency action at Hamburg's Administrative Court to be allowed to stay on in the country.

According to media reports, the judge in the case was informed by police of violence against his wife, leading him to get the Youth Authorities involved instead of ordering his expulsion.

Bild reported that social workers reported back to the court that they did not foresee a 'worsening' of the family situation.
Tory whip Chris Heaton-Harris has been accused of trying to undermine academic freedom by sending out the controversial Brexit letter to universities

A Conservative MP lashed university professors who hand out pro-EU leaflets to students today as Tories rallied round a colleague slammed in a university row.

Chris Heaton-Harris has been condemned for a McCarthy-style witch hunt after he wrote to university vice-chancellors asking for information on lecturers teaching about Brexit.

Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Scully spoke up for his colleague, revealing on Twitter his daughter had been handed anti-Brexit literature by a professor.

Universities have accused the Leave-supporting MP of taking 'the first step to the thought police' and branded the move a 'sinister' attempt to clamp down on free speech.

Downing Street has also distanced itself from the letter.

The row over Mr Heaton-Harris' letter grew today as BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson cited it as a reason why the UK didn't 'feel like my country now'.

As the row blew up last night, Mr Scully posted his picture of the '100% Remain' campaign leaflet

He said: 'This is what a lecturer was handing out to my daughter who spends 9,000pa for him to be teaching engineering, not politics.'

Other Tories leapt to Mr Heaton Harris' defence. MP James Duddridge told MailOnline: 'This row is something about nothing. It is an open letter asking for universities to say how they teach Brexit.

'It is perfectly legitimate for an MP to ask, particularly as its a very new subject.'

Tory MP Paul Scully said his daughter was handed pro-Remain book on her university course

Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Scully spoke up for his colleague, revealing on Twitter his daughter had been handed anti-Brexit literature by a professor

Tory MP Charlie Elphicke rallied to the defence of Mr Heaton-Harris said the reaction had been 'ludicrous' and pointed out universities should be 'out and proud about their teaching, rather than being so defensive'.

He told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: 'It's typical of universities who tend to over-react to any kind of challenge or questioning and try and shut down debate.

'What is wrong with saying: 'who is teaching European affairs and what is on the syllabus? I don't see a dark and sinister undercurrent in that.'

James Duddridge led criticism of Simpson as he told MailOnline the row was 'something about nothing'.

Jo Johnson, the universities minister, said this morning that while Mr Heaton-Harris had been pursuing an 'academic inquiry' with a view to writing a book on attitudes towards Europe, he had left himself open to misinterpretation.

'Chris has been engaged in the European question for many, many years. He probably didn't appreciate the extent to which this would be misinterpreted,' Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

'I am sure Chris is regretting this very much. The Government is absolutely committed to academic freedom and freedom of speech in our university system.

'I think a letter that could have been misinterpreted should probably not have been sent in this way.'

Posting on Twitter last night, Simpson wrote: 'MP wants details of anti-Brexit univ teachers. Decent folk deported on technicalities. Daily hate in press. Doesn't feel like my country now.'

Amid a wave of criticism, he added this morning: 'Don't assume you know my views on Brexit or politics because you don't. What upsets me is the current viciousness in British public life.'

MPs said the intervention from Simpson (pictured) was 'disproportionate' and he was displaying a lack of 'balance'

John Simpson gave a damning assessment of Mr Heaton-Harris's letter on Twitter last night, before insisting this morning that it did not reflect his views on Brexit

But Mr Duddridge said Simpson's intervention was 'very odd'. 'I don't think he has read the letter from Chris Heaton-Harris. His comments in no way correspond to Chris's letter.

'He needs to sit down in a darkened room and relax.

'Chris's letter is balanced. John Simpson's response is not.'

Another senior Tory told MailOnline the remarks from Simpson showed the 'elite' was finding it 'difficult to deal with' the fact that Brexit was now the 'political mainstream'.

Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the Commons and a fellow Brexiteer, said yesterday that he had every right to ask such questions.

She said it was a 'very courteous and not at all threatening letter', adding: 'Universities are bastions of free speech so to be so horrified at somebody asking a simple question with no caveat or demands either implicit or explicit in it, it seems to me to be a bit odd that they should react in such a negative way.

'He is not compelling anybody to do anything.

'He is asking a question as Member of Parliament and I personally don't see anything sinister about asking that question.'

Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom is among the senior Tories who have defended Mr Heaton-Harris over the letter

Mr Heaton-Harris, MP for Daventry, wrote in his letter to universities: 'I was wondering if you would be so kind as to supply me with the names of professors at your establishment who are involved in the teaching of European affairs, with particular reference to Brexit.

'Furthermore, if I could be provided with a copy of the syllabus and links to the online lectures which relate to this area I would be much obliged.'

In response, the Chancellor of Oxford University, Lord Patten of Barnes  a former Conservative Party chairman  accused Mr Heaton-Harris of 'idiotic Leninism'.

He said: 'It is absolutely disgraceful If he doesn't know that universities are autonomous, that universities aren't like Chinese re-education camps, then he doesn't know very much about what it's like to live in a free society.'

Professor David Green, vice-chancellor of Worcester University, branded it 'sinister' and 'dangerous', adding: 'Here is the first step to the thought police, the political censor and newspeak, naturally justified as 'the will of the British people'.'

The letter, which has been widely circulated online, asks for the name of who is teaching Brexit and links to the syllabus and online lectures relating to the topic

And Kevin Featherstone, head of the European Institute at the London School of Economics, told the Guardian: 'The letter reflects a past of a McCarthyite nature. It smacks of asking: are you or have you ever been in favour of Remain? There is clearly an implied threat that universities will somehow be challenged for their bias.'

Mr Heaton-Harris attempted to clarify his intentions on Twitter, writing: 'To be absolutely clear, I believe in free speech in our universities and in having an open and vigorous debate on Brexit.'

But Downing Street disowned his comments, with Theresa May's spokesman stating: 'This was sent in his capacity as an MP, not a government representative.

'What the Prime Minister has always been very clear on is her respect for the freedom and independence of universities and the role they play in creating open and stimulating debate. Free speech is one of the foundations on which our universities are built and, of course, it should be protected.'

Mr Heaton-Harris was promoted to vice-chamberlain of Her Majesty's household in the Whip's Office after this summer's election.

A former member of the European parliament, he is a strong Eurosceptic.
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China's President Xi Jinping today unveiled his politburo as he was officially handed a second five year term and broke with tradition to name his 'heir' amid suspicions that he will rule for life.

The 64-year-old was formally installed as President at the national congress in a move that will see him rule the world's most populous country at least until 2022.

But, unlike all of his predecessors, he failed to name his replacement. Chinese presidents are supposed to serve a maximum of two terms. Now it is believed he may serve much longer.

The news came after his name and philosophy were yesterday inserted into the Constitution of the Communist Party of China, elevating him to the same political status as Chairman Mao, the founder of modern China.

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Xi Jinping (centre) unveils members of his new ruling council today. From left to right are Han Zheng, Shanghai party leader and a veteran manager of the country's financial hub; Wang Huning, director of the party's Central Policy Research Office; Li Zhanshu, director of the party's General Office who serves as Mr Xi's chief of staff; Xi Jinping, the President of China; Li Keqiang, the Premier of China; Wang Yang, the Vice Premier; and Zhao Leji, head of the Central Organisation Department responsible for job assignments who is expected to head the much-feared corruption watchdog body

Chinese President Xi Jinping vote at the closing of the 19th Communist Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People on October 24, 2017 in Beijing. The 64-year-old was formally handed a second term today as the President of China

Xi Jinping (central, front), Li Keqiang (third right, front), Zhang Dejiang (third left, front), Yu Zhengsheng (second right, front), Liu Yunshan (second left, front), Wang Qishan (first right, front), Zhang Gaoli (first left, front), Jiang Zemin (fourth right, front) and Hu Jintao (fourth left, front) are seen at 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Beijing, on October 18

Xi Jinping (centre) with members of the Standing Committee meet the press today. Li Zhanshu (far left) is the director of the party's General Office who serves as Mr Xi's chief of staff. Li Keqiang (second to the right) is the Premier and the only returning member. Standing far right in the picture is Wang Yang, the vice premier of China

Mr Xi's inclusion in the constitution puts him in the rarefied company of China's founder Mao Zedong (right)

Delegates listen to the Internationale at the closing session of the 19th Communist Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 24. Xi Jinping's name was added to the Communist Party's constitution at a defining congress

Only two names in the revamped seven-member Politburo Standing Committee remained the same, including Mr Xi himself and Li Keqiang, the Premier.

With no clear successor emerging in the ruling council, Mr Xi has cemented his grip on power and setting the stage for him to dominate China for decades to come.

Mr Xi introduced the new members of the Politburo today during the national congress, many of whom are little known to the outside world.

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during the closing ceremony for the 19th Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 24. Mr Xi continues to sit atop the new seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, five of whose members were newly appointed

Xi Jinping, 64, President of China, returning member

Mr Xi is widely seen as China's most powerful leader since Chairman Mao Zedong. He is the son of Xi Zhongxun, a Communist revolutionary veteran and vice premier, and spent his teenage years living in a cave in the rural northern Shaanxi Province.

Xi Zhongxun was removed from power, publicly humiliated and imprisoned during China's Cultural Revolution, a social-political movement in China between 1966 and 1976 which was set to punish anyone who could potentially challenge Mao's authority. Xi Jinping didn't see his father, who was sent to a factory to work, for seven years during the time.

It's said that after the Cultural Revolution ended and when Xi Zhongxun was released back to his family, he couldn't even recognise his own son and had to ask Xi Jinping 'are you Jinping or are you Yuanping'.

Xi Jinping was once viewed as a drab 'princeling' child of the elite. But since soaring to power in 2012, Xi has centralised authority under his own leadership with a signature anti-graft battle.

His political theory - 'Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era' - was written into the Party constitution on Tuesday, making him the only Chinese leader to be named by the constitution during his term after Mao Zedong.

Li Keqiang (left), the current Premier of China, is the only returning member to the seven-member ruling body. Pictured, Mr Li speaks at the opening session of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on October 18. Li Zhanshu (right), a new member who was introduced after Li Keqiang is the director of the party's General Office and Mr Xi's confidant. Pictured, Mr Li stands on stage during the unveiling of the Politburo Standing Committee in Beijing on October 25

Li Keqiang, 62, Premier of China, returning member

Born in eastern China's Anhui Province, Mr Li has a legal and economic background. He was sent to the farm to work during the Cultural Revolution. In 1978, he became one of the first university students to resume their studies after the Cultural Revolution.

He was enrolled by the Peking University, one of China's best academic institutions. He started his policital career working as the Secretary of Youth League Committee at the Peking University in 1982. He was elected as the Premier of China in 2013.

As the party's second-ranking official primarily responsible for overseeing the economy and leading the Cabinet, Mr Li is the only other returning member of the new Politburo.

Mr Li's authority was widely viewed as having been undercut by Mr Xi's accumulation of power over all sectors of government, although his continuing presence on the committee appears to speak to the high-regard in which he is held within the party.

Mr Li's policies have sought to spur entrepreneurship and innovation, but he has been increasingly overshadowed by Mr Xi, who has thrown his weight behind reforms to make state sector firms 'stronger, better and bigger' and to manage financial stability.

Li Zhanshu, 67, Director of the party's General Office, new member

Described to be Xi Jinping's confidant, Mr Li is the eldest of all members at the new Politburo Standing Committee and an MBA.

He worked his way up from Hebei province, which surrounds Beijing, and graduated from Hebei Normal University.

A former governor of the northeastern province of Heilongjiang and one-time party boss of the southwestern province of Guizhou, Li Zhanshu is considered one of Xi's closest advisors and often accompanies him on overseas trips. Their friendship dates back to their days working together in Hebei in the 1980s.

New member Wang Yang (left) is the Vice Premier of China while Wang Huning (right), also a new member, is the director of the party's Central Policy Research Office. The two leaders are pictured during the unveiling of the Politburo Standing Committee in the East Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on October 25

Wang Yang, 62, Vice Premier of China, new member

With an economic portfolio, Mr Wang is a former party chief of Guangdong province, an export powerhouse, where he served from 2007-2012.

Born into a poor rural family in eastern Anhui province, Wang went to work in a factory at age 17 to support his family after his father died.

Concerned about the impact of three decades of rapid development, he lobbied for social and political reform. However, he backed down after drawing criticism from party conservatives.

Wang Huning, 62, Director of the party's Central Policy Research Office, new member

Mr Wang was a top policy researcher for the party under former presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, a position he has kept under Xi as head of the Central Policy Research Office.

He coined the 'Three Represents' and 'Scientific Outlook of Development' - respectively Jiang and Hu's contributions to party thought, as well as the 'Chinese Dream', Xi's own vision.

Wang was formerly an academic at Shanghai's Fudan University, specialising first in international relations and then law. He is also considered one of Xi's closest advisors.

Zhao Leji (left) is the head of the Central Organisation Department responsible for job assignments who is expected to head the much-feared corruption watchdog body. Han Zheng (right) is the Shanghai party leader and a veteran manager of the country's financial hub. Both of them are new members to the Politburo Standing Committee

Zhao Leji, 60, head of the Central Organisation Department, new member

Mr Zhao was also named the Chinese Communist Party's new anti-corruption chief on Wednesday.

He was named vice governor of the northwestern province of Qinghai in 1994 at age 37. He spent 29 years in Qinghai before being picked by Mr Xi to serve as party boss of Shaanxi province, in the north-west, in 2007.

Both Mr Zhao and Mr Xi are natives of Shaanxi.

Zhao heads the powerful organisation department, which oversees personnel decisions, and is a Politburo member. He has a degree in philosophy from Peking University.

Han Zheng, 63, Party Chief of Shanghai, new member

Mr Han is the party chief of Shanghai, China's financial hub, where he has spent his entire career.

Han was briefly promoted from Shanghai mayor after the then-party boss was sacked amid a corruption scandal in 2006.

He resumed his mayoral role as Xi Jinping and then Yu Zhengsheng - currently the party's fourth-ranked leader - became party chief.

Han became Shanghai party boss in 2012.

From Mao to Xi: The above timeline shows the nine key leaders of People's Republic of China since its founding in 1949

Xi has consolidated power since assuming party leadership in late 2012 and then the presidency in 2013. Pictured, Xi delivers a speech during the opening session of the 19th Communist Party Congress held at the Great Hall of the People on October 18

Communist Party delegates listen to President Xi Jinping giving a 3.5-hour-long speech during the opening ceremony of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 18

HOW COULD XI JINPING POTENTIALLY 'RULE FOR LIFE'? According to the clause 79 of the Constitution of China, the maximum number of terms that a President can service is two. This means Xi, who became the president in 2013, will have to retire from the position in 2022. However, Xi's other position, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has no serving limit. This is also the highest position in the Communist Party of China. As the Communist Party is the ruling party and only major party of China, some believed that the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee is actually the most powerful position in China and suggested Xi could potentially extend his reign through it. Advertisement

Today, Mr Xi was given a second term as the President of China and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

He was also named the chairman of the Communist Party of China Central Military Commission.

Yesterday, the party unanimously passed the amendment to include 'Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era' as one of its guiding principles at the end of its week-long congress.

No other leader since Mao has had an eponymous ideology included in the Constitution of the Communist Party of China while in office until Mr Xi.

Deng Xiaoping, widely considered as the father of China's economic reform, has also been named in the constitution, but his name was only added after his death in 1997.

Mr Xi's more recent predecessors, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, both had the party constitution amended to include their guiding thoughts, but without their names directly attached.

Media reports have suggested that Mr Xi has removed his key 'rivals' with his anti-corruption campaign in order to rule China for life.

Yesterday's amendment to the party's constitution sparked more speculation that Mr Xi essentially has a mandate to lead for as long he wants.

No other leader since Mao Zedong (right) has had an eponymous ideology included in the Constitution of the Communist Party of China while in office until the current Chinese president Xi Jinping (left). Above, Xi waves to attendees at the 19th National Congress

Xi has rapidly consolidated power since assuming party leadership in late 2012 and then the presidency the next year. Pictured, Xi delivers a speech during the opening session of the 19th Communist Party Congress held at the Great Hall of the People on October 18

WHAT IS CHINA'S POLITBURO STANDING COMMITTEE? China's Politburo Standing Committee is a seven-member committee that holds the ultimate power. The committee is elected once every five years at the national congress and makes decisions on the most important issues regarding the country's future using a voting system. All members of the Politburo Standing Committee are hand-picked by the President from the 25-member Politburo- the second tier in Beijing's power structure. Apparently, there is an official ranking within the seven-member committee. The ranking is usually suggested by where the member stands in relation to the President when they meet the public - the closer the more senior. The members' roles are described to be the 'core' leaders of the Party and follow strict rules of the National Congress, Central Committee and the Politburo, as well as give guidance according the principle of democratic centralism. It's understood that the members will cast their votes in 'closed-door' meetings to determine the military, political, economic directions of the country. Source: People's Daily Online, Reuters, CNBC Advertisement

Although China has time limit on how long a President could serve, there seems to be no limit on Mr Xi's other positions.

According to the clause 79 of the Constitution of China, the maximum number of terms that a President can service is two, which means Xi, who became the president in 2013, will have to retire from the position in 2022.

However, Xi's other position, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has no serving limit. This is also the highest position in the Communist Party of China.

As the Communist Party is the ruling party and only major party of China, some believed that the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee is actually the most powerful position in China and suggested Xi could potentially extend his reign through it.

Mr Xi continues to sit atop the new seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, five of whose members were newly appointed.

The make-up of the committee reflects Mr Xi's efforts to foster party unity by striking a balance between different interest groups in the 89-million member organisation as he seeks to better position a reinvigorated party to dominate China's affairs at home and abroad.

They will assume responsibility for running the rubber-stamp legislature, the National People's Congress and its advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and assume a range of portfolios, including those responsible for propaganda, party discipline, ethnic and Taiwan affairs and science and technology.

Mr Zhao is expected to head the much-feared corruption watchdog body, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Mr Xi has made his wide-ranging anti-corruption campaign the hallmark of his first five years in office. While popular among ordinary Chinese, it is seen as part of a drive to purge his rivals and political opponents and boost supervision over the party at all levels.

Alongside the campaign, Mr Xi has overseen one of the harshest crackdowns on civil society aimed at squelching dissent and activism among lawyers and rights advocates.

The new leaders will face challenges that include reining burgeoning levels of debt seen as the biggest threat to economic stability and managing trade tensions with Washington and Europe over China's excess production of steel and other goods.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) shake hands China's former president Jiang Zemin (right) at the Chinese Communist Party's Congress on October 18. Never before had a Chinese leader's name been inserted into the party constitution while they were in office since Mao Zedong

The party unanimously passed the amendment today to enshrine President Xi's ideology into its most influential document. Pictured, senior Chinese officials clap during the opening ceremony of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on October 18
The son of the Russian woman who died after hanging out of a car window in the Dominican republic has been reunited with his father the day after she was buried.

Natalia Borodina's ex-husband today revealed he had saved their son Ermak, 11, from being shut away in a grim orphanage after the horrific accident.

Footage went viral of Miss Borodina wearing only skimpy bikini bottoms, thrusting her upper body out of the passenger car window before hitting her head on a signpost.

Reunited: Natalia Borodina's ex-husband Alexandr Palagushkin, 37, saved their son Ermak, 11, from possiblt being shut in an orphanage after the horrific accident in the Dominican Republic

Rest in peace: Ms Borodina, 35, was buried this week after her family recovered her body from the Dominican Republic

The video of her last moments was filmed by her female Ukrainian friend Ivanna Boiarchuk, 32, and ended when the Russian woman smashed her head on a road sign.

The mother-of-one - who had been on vacation - was rushed to hospital but died soon afterwards of 'severe injuries'.

'The woman was having fun demonstrating her naked breasts while her companion drove the car,' reported Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper.

Her former spouse Alexandr Palagushkin, 37, revealed that he has taken Ermak, 11, with him to his home city Novosibirsk, in Siberia, after Ms Borodina's death.

In the wake of the tragedy, Mr Palagushkin, an academic who had studied in London, had expressed fears the boy could be sent to a grim orphanage by social services.

Natalia Borodina, from Moscow, is filmed by her friend as she leans out of the window of a moving car in the Dominican Republic

The 35-year-old can be seen with her upper body hanging out of the passenger side

Palagushkin, an academic who had studied in London, had expressed fears the boy could be sent to a grim orphanage by social services, but said today the boy had been placed in his care

Mr Palagushkin said he hoped his father's connections as a rear admiral in Vladimir Putin's naval reserve would help him on his quest to gain custory of Ermak

He indicated he needed the connections of his own father Boris, a rear admiral in Vladimir Putin's naval reserve, to ensure he got custody of the boy.

'The childcare people have already called,' Palagushkin told Ren TV soon after Ms Borodina was killed.

'It's helpful that my father is a rear admiral.

'They have already said: 'Do you know the mother is dead? Why is the child not with the father?'

'So, if I don't take him now, they will get him.

'And even with my father's connections, it will take me time to get him out of some orphanage.'

But today he said: 'All is fine with our son. He is with me now.'

Pictures showed the pair in Novosibirsk, some 1,070 miles east of Zlatoust, as they begin a new life.

Natalia's son is pictured here with his grandfather Boris, 58, at the academy where he works

Natalia's father-in-law, who serves in Vladimir Putin's navy, pictured wearing his admiral uniform

Natalia Borodina (pictured on a skiing holiday), 35, was filmed hanging topless out of a window during a holiday in the Dominican Republic

Ms Borodina (left) was killed when she smashed her head into a road sign (right)

The is the Kia car that Ms Borodina's friend was driving when she was killed

Meanwhile, Ms Borodina was buried in a private ceremony on Tuesday at Serafim Sarovsky Orthodox Church in Zlatoust, Russia, after travel insurance covered the 15,000 cost of returning her body to her homeland from the Caribbean.

At the somber ceremony a woman friend said: 'Natalia was a beautiful and courageous girl, afraid of nothing. It's so sad that she left us early.'

She won praise for working abroad in Cannes 'to earn money to support her entire family and raise her son without help from her ex-husband'.

Her 80 year old mother and sister Yulia Artemova, 42, were at the funeral, however, her son was not in attendance.

Police have since identified the road sign that killed Ms Borodina and tyre marks evidently show the dented red Kia Picanto car butted the yellow kerb at the moment of the tragic accident.

Ms Boirachuk used her mobile to film her friend letting her upper body hang out of the passenger side car window as they drove back from the beach near Punta Cana.

Ms Borodina playfully stuck her finger in her mouth and laughed at the camera, but within seconds, the video shows the impact.

She was rushed to hospital but died of severe head injuries.

Police have now identified the road sign that killed Ms Borodina (pictured) and detained her 32-year-old companion

Ms Boirachuk used her mobile to film her friend (pictured) letting her upper body hang out of the passenger side car window as they drove back from the beach near Punta Cana

Tyre marks evidently show the dented red Kia Picanto car butted the yellow kerb at the moment of the tragic accident which killed Ms Borodina (pictured)

Natalia's friend Elena Korolyova said her friend (pictured) did not deserve to be judged by her reckless behaviour that led to her death

Natalia's friend Elena Korolyova said the dead woman did everything she could for her family.

'She helped her poor family with everything,' she said. 'Nobody else worked, only Natalia.

'She wanted to get everything, she was hoping for a better future.'

Anastasiya Akulenko, another of Natalia's friends, said: 'She and I were married to two brothers.

'She parted with her husband, he has a new family now and doesn't see his son. Natalia was very upset because of her divorce.

The 35-year-old had reportedly been working as an estate agent in Cannes, France

Glamour: Ms Borodina's social media account paints a picture of a fun-loving woman

'She was a caring daughter and a good mother, and she supported her family.

'Recently she lived in Cannes and was sorting out visas as a business.'

She also sold properties to rich Russians, it was reported.

'She could work from any spot, she just needed a laptop, this is why Natalia used to travel a lot.

'Her son lived with her for a while but later asked to send him back to Zlatoust because he missed his granny.

'Natalia never forgot about her family and often came to see them.'

Russian consular officer Zurab Peradze said: 'I have been in touch with the local prosecutors' office to gather information about the accident.

'The investigation is going on now.'
Lieutenant-General Jerry Harris of the US Air Force, said the US are 'worried' about the proposed cuts to the British military (file pic)

Senior US military chiefs have warned proposals to slash the number of Royal Marines by 1,000 would harm Britain's ability to 'project power' abroad.

Officers said they are 'worried' about the 'damage' that could be inflicted on America's most important coalition partner if looming defence cuts go ahead.

The warning comes as British defence chiefs grapple with how to plug the gaping funding whole of between 20 billion and 30 billion over the next decade.

The Ministry of Defence is considering slashing the size of its 6,640-strong Royal Marine force, cutting the army from 82,000 to 65,000 or ditching HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion.

Colonel Dan Sullivan said cuts to the Royal Marines and the loss of two amphibious assault ships would change the military relationship between the US and UK.

Speaking at a defence conference in London yesterday, The Times reported him saying: 'My message is to articulate how important having that capability in our partner is.

'And how damaging I think it would be if our most important coalition partner potentially takes the hits that are projected right now.'

He added: 'If you want to be decisive you have to be able to project power ashore at some point.'

Colonel Sullivan said that while the 'Special Relationship' between Britain and the US would remain, future military joint working could be harmed.

He said: 'From a military standpoint as the UK continues to diminish and as the Royal Marines in particular take a hit, I think that our view of what we will be able to do together in the future changes.'

Lieutenant-General Jerry Harris of the US Air Force also warned against cuts and urged Theresa May to increase defence spending.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, pictured at the naming ceremony for HMS Medway last week, is facing big cuts to his marine numbers as the MoD grapple with having to meet a massive blackhole in their budget

He said: 'We are worried about the talk of any reductions but, again, internally each country has to look at the risks they have and make the decisions that they need to make.'

He added: 'Having that war fighting capability is expensive but more expensive is losing the next fight . . . I think we could do better by spending a little more on our defence.'

It comes after a British former defence chief yesterday warned the Government must invest more in the military to protect the country.

General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of Joint Forces Command, said the UK cannot protect itself from a surprise attack from Russia or China because ministers have failed to adapt to the changes in warfare.

He said the UK has not carried out a full assessment of military needs since the end of the Cold War.

He slammed the Government for not having the 'profoundly important debate' and said it urgently needs to invest to take on the new threats like cyber.

Without proper investment the UK will be unable to defend the homeland or come to the aid of allies abroad, he warned.

The interventions pile pressure on Chancellor Philip Hammond to find cash in next month's Budget to beef up Britain's Armed Forces.
Stylist Heather Schindler (pictured), 28, from Wisconsin, was only five when she was severely burned in an accident

A woman who was severely burned as a child has overcome her insecurities and suicidal thoughts by finding love and learning to see herself as beautiful.

Stylist Heather Schindler, 28, from Wisconsin, was only five when she experienced the most traumatic moment of her life.

On January 21, 1995, she asked her mother if she could play outside with their dog. She then went to a building where her family stored most of their belongings.

She took a coffee canister full of gas to a fire outside the building, but when the gas left the canister the suddenly wind picked up and - in an instant - her entire body was set ablaze.

'I ran back to the house completely on fire and started banging on the door,' she said.

'It felt like a week before someone answered, and I heard a horrifying scream coming from my mom. My family put me out, took off my burnt clothes and wrapped me in a towel.

'I was terrified. As a kid when something like this happens, you don't know what you're in for and you don't know the consequences of your actions yet.

'They called my grandpa, who lives only a mile from us, then after they called 911 he gets there, puts me in his car and I turn to my mom and ask: 'Mom, am I going to die?' She said no but I could tell in her voice that she wasn't sure.

She took a coffee canister full of gas to a fire outside the building, but when the gas left the canister the suddenly wind picked up and - in an instant - her entire body was set ablaze. Pictured right: Heather before her accident. Left: With her new boyfriend, Alex

'We meet up with the ambulance halfway to the hospital and they put me inside. I ask for my teddy bear and that's the last thing I remember until I wake up and see that I'm being put into a helicopter where a man asks if I'm OK.

'My surgery was eighteen hours long and I had over three thousand stitches in my body, five hundred staples in my back and four bolts in my head.'

Heather's ordeal, however, was far from over since the burns caused her to develop severe body anxieties and she became subject to bullying.

'If I'm being honest, it sucked to grow up as a burn survivor,' she said.

'First, because people would rather stare at you thinking it's less rude than just asking what happened.

'Second, I was made fun of by strangers which hurt even more. Three, I had the worst self-esteem and cried myself to sleep most nights.

'I had to miss a lot of school for surgeries and because I was easily sick.

Heather says: 'I was terrified. As a kid when something like this happens, you don't know what you're in for and you don't know the consequences of your actions yet.' Pictured: Alex and Heather

Heather needed eighteen hours of surgery, with over 3,000 stitches in her body. Pictured: Heather with her boyfriend, Alex

'If I'm being honest, it sucked to grow up as a burn survivor,' she explained. Pictured: Heather today

While she attended counselling sessions, she says that she has mostly had to overcome her mental scars herself

She said of her boyfriend: 'No matter what I look like; before, during and after, he always tells me I am sexy and beautiful and trust me there are times I didn't look or feel beautiful'

'When someone is rude about the way I look, he gets frustrated because, like me, he doesn't understand why people don't have a filter when it comes to talking to other people'

'I have been asked if my lips hurt, if I was dressed up for Halloween, and if I'm Freddie Krueger's daughter.

'With everything that happened, I considered suicide as an option just to get away from everything and everyone and there were times I wished I would have died in the fire because I hated how I looked and felt about myself.'

She was introduced to her current boyfriend, Alex Amador, by one of her roommates during college, who helped her see the beauty in herself.

'We initially met over texting, then on July 2009, we met in person for the first time when he picked me up at the airport,' Heather said.

Her advice to burns survivors is: 'Tell yourself every day that you are strong, beautiful or handsome and that you are a survivor - not a victim'

'Since then we have been together. After three-weeks of dating, he accompanied me to my first surgery. He was incredible during this time.

'My lips were swollen, and I was all stitched up, but he took care of me and always told me I was beautiful.

'No matter what I look like; before, during and after, he always tells me I am sexy and beautiful and trust me there are times I didn't look or feel beautiful.

'He has helped me grow as a person and made me grow to love myself, not just inside but my body as well.

'When someone is rude about the way I look, he gets frustrated because, like me, he doesn't understand why people don't have a filter when it comes to talking to other people.'

While she attended counselling sessions, she says that she has mostly had to overcome her mental scars herself.

'That was the hardest part, dealing with it on my own. I wish I asked for help, but I slowly started to view myself in a different light and now I am stronger than ever,' Heather said.

'The hardest part was learning to accept everything that happened, taking responsibility for what I did and to forgive myself for everything, then learning how to let it all go. Which I have.

Heather in hospital as a child. On January 21, 1995, she asked her mother if she could play outside with their dog. She then picked up a gas canister but the wind blew it on her face and she was set on fire

'There are people who say I am beautiful, strong and an inspiration. Then there are those who just want to know what happened, so I tell them'. Pictured: The happy couple

'My advice is to forgive. No matter if it was your fault or someone else's. Just forgive what has happened'

Heather explained how difficult it was growing up: 'First, because people would rather stare at you thinking it's less rude than just asking what happened. 'Second, I was made fun of by strangers which hurt even more. Three, I had the worst self-esteem and cried myself to sleep most nights. 'I had to miss a lot of school for surgeries and because I was easily sick'

'I can't forget what happened, but I can let go of what I have done and not let what has happened affect my future.

'There are people who say I am beautiful, strong and an inspiration. Then there are those who just want to know what happened, so I tell them.

'My advice is to forgive. No matter if it was your fault or someone else's. Just forgive what has happened.

'Tell yourself every day that you are strong, beautiful or handsome and that you are a survivor - not a victim.

'We burn survivors were re-born to do something great no matter if that greatness is small or huge.'
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Tens of thousands of black-clad mourners have taken over the streets of Thailand's capital Bangkok ahead of the lavish five-day funeral of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The cremation late Thursday will be the biggest Thai royal event for a century and will see colourful funeral processions pass through the capital before his funeral pyre is set alight.

Prince Andrew, Queen Sofia of Spain and Bahrain's Prime Minister were among the first to arrive on Wednesday, with dozens more expected to join later today, including Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Japan's Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko.

Buddhist monks in a prayer service at a temple in central Bangkok on October 25, the first day of the funeral for Bhumibol Adulyadej, the late King of Thailand

Since King Bhumibol passed away in October 2016 aged 88, his body has lain in state in the royal palace in Bangkok while a year-long period of national mourning was observed. Pictured: Mourners in Bangkok today

A woman lights a candle in front of a portrait of the late monarch during a prayer service at a Buddhist temple in central Bangkok

Hundreds of Thai mourners sit outside Wat Pho temple to take part in the royal cremation ceremony today in Bangkok

This woman was carried away from the crowd on a stretcher by an emergency medical team as as large numbers of people lined on the streets for almost two days for their chance to attend the historical cremation

Pictured: Women bowing their heads by the roadside on October 25 in a scene of grief replicated across the Thai capital

Thousands of people sit through the night to attend the funeral of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, one of the biggest events in the country's recent history

According to the country's traditions the embalmed remains have been constantly attended by Buddhist monks performing funeral rites, with ceremonial music played every three hours. Pictured: The mourners tonight

More than 12 million people - nearly a fifth of Thailand's population - visited the throne hall at Dusit palace to pay respects

The Great Victory Royal Chariot is pulled by Thai army officials dressed in ancient uniforms in preparation for the Royal Cremation ceremony in Bangkok

On Thursday, three processions will make their way from the palace to the cremation site - a series of specially-erected pavilions that took nearly a year to build. Pictured: The Great Victory Royal Chariot is pulled by Thai army officials

Performers walk from the Grand Palace as they prepare to take part in the funeral procession for the late King Bhumibol

Since King Bhumibol passed away in October 2016 aged 88, his body has lain in state in the royal palace in Bangkok while a year-long period of national mourning was observed.

According to the country's traditions the embalmed remains have been constantly attended by Buddhist monks performing funeral rites, with ceremonial music played every three hours.

More than 12 million people - nearly a fifth of Thailand's population - visited the throne hall at Dusit palace to pay respects.

In what is expected to be an emotionally-charged morning, King Bhumibol's body will be moved on Thursday from the Grand Palace to a crematorium in a public square in front, where thousands of people have already pitched tents to ensure places.

On Thursday, three processions will make their way from the palace to the cremation site - a series of specially-erected Thai pavilions that took nearly a year to build.

Thousands of mourners braved overnight downpours as they crushed into Bangkok's old quarter on Wednesday to secure a vantage point for the funeral of Bhumibol Adulyadej

Royals from around the world including Prince Andrew and Queen Sofia of Spain arrived to pay their respects at the funeral

Bahrain's Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa is greeted by Air Chief Marshal Chalit Pookpasuk as he arrives to attend the Royal Cremation Ceremony the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in Bangkok

So far, some 25,000 black-clad mourners have amassed along the procession routes near Bangkok's Grand Palace despite heavy overnight rain

While around 25,000 had gathered by Wednesday morning, is expected that some 250,000 Thai's will flock to the capital to follows the funeral procession

Dedication: Thai mourners pray in front of a replica of the royal crematorium in Bangkok

Thai mourners are using flowers to decorate ornaments close to a replica of the royal crematorium in Bangkok

A Thai mourner dressed in black holds a picture of late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej in the area of the Royal Crematorium

Thai police officers stand guard on a blocked road near the Royal Crematorium site of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej

A Thai mourner sits behind an a tray of portraits of King Bhumibol outside the Royal Crematorium at Sanam Luang near the Grand Palace in Bangkok

Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti , 12, greeting well-wishers in Bangkok on October 25, 2017, near the site of where his grandfather, the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, will be cremated

The cremation late Thursday will be the biggest Thai royal event for a century and will see colourful funeral processions pass through the capital before his pyre is lit inside a purpose-built site

Mourners wait for the funeral of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej to begin in Bangkok

Bhumibol's death at age 88 on October 13 last year sparked a national outpouring of grief and a year of mourning

A woman is pulled from the crowd on a stretcher by an by emergency medical team as large numbers of Thai people line up on the streets for almost two days for their chance to attend the historical cremation

A girl hangs a condolence message written for the late king on a gold leaf replica of a bodhi leaf at a shopping mall in central Bangkok

So far, some 25,000 black-clad mourners have amassed along the procession routes near Bangkok's Grand Palace despite heavy overnight rain, and more are expected to arrive today.

Some Thais have folded flowers of sandalwood paper to be used in the cremation, in the belief that their fragrance guides the soul of the departed to heaven.

The cremation day has been declared a national holiday, when banks will be closed and major shopping centers will be shut from 3 p.m.

The crowds will be permitted to prostrate in silence when the royal procession passes, and must not shout 'Long Live the King' or take selfies with the procession in the background.

Because of Thailand's tropical climate, umbrellas, hats and sunglasses will be allowed, but they must be black or similarly muted and taken off to show respect to the royal procession when it passes.

By tradition, deceased Thai royals have been kept upright in elaborate urns during official mourning, but King Bhumibol, who was raised in Switzerland, opted to be put in a coffin, with the urn placed next to it for devotional purposes.

Funeral ceremonies began on Wednesday afternoon as Bhumibol's heir King Maha Vajiralongkorn joined a Buddhist merit-making ceremony for his father at the Grand Palace.

Palace aides shuffling on their knees were in attendance on the new king, Rama X of the Chakri dynasty, as he lit candles before the rituals began with monks.

THE FIVE DAY FUNERAL OF THAILAND'S BELOVED KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ Adored: A Thai mourner holds up the portrait of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej ahead of the Royal Cremation ceremony The lavish five-day event, which runs until Sunday, opened with rows of Buddhist monks in orange robes chanting prayers on Wednesday. The king's cremation will take place on Thursday, which has been declared a public holiday, when many businesses have announced they will be shut all day or close at midday. About 250,000 Thais are expected to attend the cremation ceremony, which will be led by the new King Maha Vajiralongkorn. King Maha formally ascended the throne last year but his coronation will take place at some point before the end of the year. The funeral procession from the Dusit Maha Phasat Throne Hall, where King Bhumibol's embalmed remains have been lying in state since his death, to the Royal Crematorium at the Sanam Luang Royal Plaza will take place between 9am and 11.30am Thursday. The funeral pyre will be lit at 5.30pm, with the Royal cremation performances, including a puppet show, a musical concert and ballet dancers, will start from 6pm. The cremation is expected to be complete by 10pm. On Friday, the royal ashes and relics from the crematorium will be removed at 7am, after which they will be transported back to the Dusit Maha Phasat Throne Hall of the Grand Palace in another public procession. On Saturday, a final funeral service will be held before the royal ashes and relics at the palace, followed by a lavish state dinner attended by King Maha, heads of state and international royals. Sunday marks the final day of the year of mourning and the final procession of the five-day funeral. The royal ashes and relics will now be transported from the Grand Palace with another grand procession to the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit followed by a procession to the Wat Bowonniwet Vihara Royal Temple and a final memorial interment service on Sunday afternoon. Advertisement

Thai Privy Councilor Surayud Chulanont (right) talking with Queen Sofia (left) of Spain during her arrival to attend the Royal Cremation ceremony

Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (left) being greeted by Thai Privy Councilor Surayud Chulanont (right)

Thailand on Wednesday began an elaborate five-day funeral for King Bhumibol Adulyadej with his son, the new monarch, performing Buddhist merit-making rites in preparation for moving Bhumibol's remains to a spectacular golden crematorium

Thai mourners praying for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej on ther streets of Bangkok on Wednesday

Thai mourner takes a picture from his mobile phone with a cover portrait of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Thai soldiers march next to a line of police officers security guard on a blocked street near the Royal Crematorium site in Bangkok

Thai mourners sit outside Wat Pho temple to take part in the royal cremation ceremony which will start on Thursday

A Thai Buddhist monk walks along with mourners on a blocked street near the Royal Crematorium site

Thailand has been in sombre mood since Bhumibol's death one year ago aged 88, a watershed moment that removed the nation's only unifying figure during decades of political upheaval and economic change

Thailand has been in sombre mood since Bhumibol's death, a watershed moment that removed the nation's only unifying figure during decades of political upheaval and economic change.

Many Thais have worn mourning attire for a year as tributes to the monarch dominate every aspect of life.

Public grieving is encouraged by the ultra-royalist junta that grabbed power in 2014.

Any deviation is discouraged by a draconian royal defamation law that punishes criticism of the monarchy with jail time.

On Tuesday soldiers whisked an activist from his Bangkok home to the western province of Kanchanaburi after he threatened on Facebook to disrupt the cremation ceremony.

Ekachai Hongkangwan, a rare voice of dissent in the junta-ruled nation, was given the option of leaving the capital or staying in a military barracks while the five-day funeral unfolds, according to human rights lawyers.

A Thai mourner is helped by volunteers after she faints while waiting to attend the Royal Cremation ceremony

A quarter of a million Thais are expected to gather on the streets of Bangkok ahead of the cremation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Thursday, a year after he died following a long battle with illness

Crowds have already started camping on the streets of the capital in order to say their last farewell to the longest-ruling monarch in their history, and a man many revered as semi-divine

Since his death, King Bhumibol's body has lain in state at the royal palace in Bangkok while the country observed a year of mourning. There is no set period, and it varies depending on the stature of the deceased

'He was not charged but the military said he was taken for the sake of order and peace during the royal cremation ceremony,' Anon Numpa, an attorney with Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, told AFP.

In a Facebook post last week Ekachai said he would 'wear a red shirt and do something unthinkable' on October 26, the day of the cremation.

Authorities said they could not confirm the lawyers' account.

Thursday's cremation ceremony is expected to draw a quarter of a million Thais to central Bangkok, as well as a roster of foreign royals and heads of state.

The ceremony, estimated to cost $90million (69million) will feature thousands of performers, royal chariots drawn by hundreds of men, and an artificial palace which will be burned with his remains inside it.

King Bhumibol's subjects have been allowed to view his remains and pay their respects at the palace while Buddhist monks performed daily rites. A day of national holiday has also been declared for Thursday, when he will be burned

At the time of his death, Bhumibol was the longest-serving head of state anywhere in the world, Thailand's longest-serving monarch, and the world's richest royal with an estimated fortune of $30billion

Mourners of the Thai king sit under their umbrellas in Bangkok as they await the funeral of their beloved monarch, which will take place after sunset on Thursday

Those who had already traveled to the capital were undeterred by a tropical storm which struck on Tuesday night, choosing to keep their place in the rain rather than risk losing it

Forecasters have warned that the cremation ceremony may be overshadowed by rain, though that would be fitting for a king who was known for his connection to water - featuring it prominently in the 4,000 public constructions he oversaw

Mourners set up a shrine to King Bhumibol near the Grand Palace in Bangkok on Tuesday they await the start of the funeral ceremonies, which will begin on Thursday

The crematorium has taken a year to build and features multiple water fountains and 500 sculptures of animals, including two of the King's dogs, named Jo Cho and Tong Daen

King Bhumibol was the longest ruling monarch in the kingdom's history, reigning for seven decades. During that time he restored the power of the monarchy and saved Thailand from communism, while also amassing an enormous fortune himself.

Raised in Switzerland, Bhumibol ascended the throne aged 18 in 1946 after his elder brother Ananda Mahidol was shot dead in mysterious circumstances at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, and was officially crowned in 1950.

Bhumibol oversaw thousands of well-publicised royal projects in what was a poor, agrarian country that won him the moniker the 'Development King' and the love of the people

By the time of his death he was viewed as semi-divine by his subjects - a man who saved Thailand from communism and led it into the 21st century, while remaining in touch with the people.

Despite his down-to-earth reputation, his funeral will be anything but. Preparations began almost as soon as he died, and are only just being completed.

The crematorium in Bangkok has been painstakingly sculpted by master craftsmen, and incorporates dozens of water features to honor King Bhumibol's connection to it - of 4,000 government projects he oversaw, roughly 3,000 featured water.

Sculptors have crafted 500 animals to sit around it, including cows to represent plenty and lions to represent the country's religious code, according to the BBC. The structure will be topped by replicas of the King's two dogs, Jo Cho and Tong Daen.

A Buddhist monk shelters from the downpour as he prepares for the funeral. Monks have attended the body of the king every day since his death, chanting funeral rites

The funeral will feature huge royal chariots pulled by hundreds of men which will carry the king's body. Once it reaches the crematorium, smaller version will be used in a stage performance, which is being rehearsed here

Thousands of performers, including musicians, acrobats and dancers will take part in the ceremony honouring their monarch, who passed away in October last year

Thai artists perform the Khon dance, the traditional Thai masked performance drama based on the Hindu epic Ramayana for their final farewell to the late King Bhumibol

For those unable to make it to the capital for the start of the ceremony on Thursday, smaller versions of the crematorium have been built around the country for people to pay their respects

The Great Victory Royal Chariot is pulled through Bangkok by officers of the Thai army and royal officials as the practice ahead of the funeral

Thai royal guards march next to a mourning portrait of the late King, who will be mourned by millions of subjects this week

Thai army officials participate in a training exercise to pull a royal funeral chariot vehicle, which will be used in the procession

The ceremony will also feature the firing of cannons, as members of the Thai royal guard practice firing them

Replicas of the crematorium have also been constructed around the country for those unable to make it to the capital on Thursday, when it will be burned.

Bhumibol left behind one of the world's richest monarchies, with the palace the pivot point of Thailand's power networks including the influential military.

'Thailand needed a king as rallying and unifying symbol and a young king found a people to rebuild a kingdom around,' explained Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a politics professor at Chulalongkorn University.

A revival of antiquated palace rituals - including prostration in his presence - and spiritual duties gilded the throne, elevating Bhumibol to a semi-divine status.

That deification made scenes of his engagement with ordinary Thais even more remarkable to a nation awed by his work ethic.

Over years spent criss-crossing Thailand, Bhumibol seeded thousands of well-publicised royal projects in a poor, agrarian country that won him the moniker the 'Development King'.
A former Big Brother contestant has been spared jail for slapping and punching his girlfriend in an alcohol-fuelled rage.

Rex Newmark, 33, beat Emma Blackman at the Beach Blanket Babylon restaurant in Shoreditch, east London, where he works as an executive chef.

Newmark appeared in Big Brother 9 in 2008 and finished in fourth place, losing out to eventual winner Rachel Rice.

CCTV footage captured Newmark pushing and slapping his girlfriend, then locking her head between his legs and punching her in the stomach.

Rex Newmark, 33, beat Emma Blackman at the Beach Blanket Babylon restaurant in Shoreditch, east London. They are pictured here leaving court together

Newmark appeared in Big Brother 9 in 2008 and finished in fourth place, losing out to eventual winner Rachel Rice

One of the blows caused Miss Blackman's head to to jerk backwards.

Elizabeth Ajayi, prosecuting, said the incident took place at 10.30am on April 14 this year.

She told the court: 'A member of the public called the police, noticing an argument between a man and a woman.

'Police attended and the woman identified the defendant to the police. They noticed she appeared to be concerned about getting her boyfriend into trouble.

'He was surprised as to why he was arrested. He denied assaulting Emma Blackman.

'He said she made the allegations to get at him. He said he had an argument but did not assault her.

'She has not provided with a statement but that does not minimise what happened. It's a sustained attack, it's not a matter that happened in one moment.'

Newmark admitted assault by beating at Stratford Magistrates' Court after watching CCTV footage of the attack.

Defending Newmark, Tessa Shroff said both parties were drunk at the time of the incident.

Newmark, pictured outside court with Miss Blackman, admitted assault by beating. He was sentenced to a 12 month community order, with 100 hours unpaid work and handed a 485 fine

Newmark, pictured on Big Brother, admitted assault by beating at Stratford Magistrates' Court after watching CCTV footage of the attack

She said Newmark had been head-butted by an assailant in the bar the previous evening.

'We know for a fact that he had been the victim of a violent head-butt,' she told the court.

'Miss Blackman says this was out of character for him, with whom she hopes to have a future.

'He has already found himself well on his way to ensuring nothing like this ever happens again.'

Newmark pictured second from right, when he was 24, with his fellow Big Brother contestants

Magistrate Peter Dawe said: 'This is a regrettable incident which was alcohol-fuelled.

'We cannot ignore what is a serious incident, and in particular we note that your assault was sustained, there's clearly pushing and slapping to the victim of your assault.

'We noted two distinct blows and the leg lock around her head.'

Newmark, from Hampstead in London, admitted assault by beating.

He was sentenced to a 12 month community order, with 100 hours unpaid work and handed a 485 fine.

Newmark left court with Miss Blackman after the hearing.
Business giants avoided 5.8billion in UK tax last year by shifting profits abroad and the figure is rising every year, it was revealed today.

HMRC's own estimates reveal that 2billion more cash was shipped offshore by multinationals in the year to March 2017 - up 50 per cent in 12 months.

The 5.8billion bill comes from HMRCs Large Business Directorate, which scrutinises the tax affairs of the UKs 2,000 largest businesses.

The loophole has famously been used by online giants such as Amazon, Google, Apple and Facebook.

They have funnelled their European sales through countries including Ireland and Luxembourg where they were offered lower corporation tax rates in return for setting up headquarters there.

HMRC's own estimates reveal that 50 per cent more cash than predicted was shipped offshore by multinationals in the year to March 2017 and it is rising every year

In 2015 George Osborne unveiled to so-called Google tax to clamp down on the practice, known as 'transfer pricing'.

HMRC's estimates of 'tax under consideration' is now at 5.8billion - up from 3.8billion in 2015/16. It now represents nearly a quarter of the 25billion total suspected amount of tax potentially underpaid.

Why does Amazon face back taxes? Amazon faces an unpaid tax bill of 221.5million (250m euros) because its 'sweetheart deal' with Luxembourg amounted to state aid, says the EU. The European Commission said the perks offered to the American retail giant amounted to 'illegal tax benefits'. Amazon paid just 15million in taxes on 19.5billion in sales across Europe last year, according to its most recent accounts. Advertisement

Lawyers Pinsent Masons, who obtained the figures, suggest the estimates HMRC are becoming more aggressive about clamping down in the avoidance and 'widening their net'.

Partner Ian Hyde said: 'The tax affairs of the UKs largest businesses are a top priority for HM Revenue & Customs, particularly the use of cross-border structures including the possible manipulation of pricing methods.

'HMRC has been investing in transfer pricing specialists and this is clearly reflected in the figures.'

HMRC did not say if it was being more aggressive but a spokesman said: 'Since 2010 HMRC has brought in over 53bn by effectively policing the tax rules as they apply to large businesses. This includes over 8bn from large businesses in 2016-17 alone.'

So far the UK has taken a softer approach with big businesses when compared to Brussels.

This month Amazon was ordered by the EU to pay 222million in overdue taxes which it evaded as part of an illegal deal with Luxembourg.

And Ireland was referred to the European Court of Justice for failing to collect Apples 11.5billion bill after a sweetheart deal with Dublin effectively let the US giant pay low taxes on its European profits.

Online retail giant Amazon is facing a bill of at least 250 million euros (221.5 million) in back taxes after the European Commission ruled its tax affairs failed to comply with state aid rules

Brussels said this month that internet shopping giant Amazon failed to pay tax on more than three-quarters of its European profits for eight years.

The aggressive ruling is the latest attack on a US tech giant by the EU.

It also raises questions about the role of European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, as he was Luxembourg's prime minister and finance minister when the arrangement was agreed.

But, despite branding the deal illegal and without justification, officials refused to elaborate on his involvement.

Amazon has been told to pay an unpaid tax bill of 221.5million because its 'sweetheart deal' with Luxembourg amounted to state aid, EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager revealed

The huge bill is the latest in a string of penalties against major US firms for abusing tax rules or exploiting their market dominance. It comes months after EU regulators ordered Google to pay 2billion and Apple was handed an unprecedented 11.5billion tax bill in August 2016.

Yesterday Margethe Vestager, the European Commissioner who led the investigations, said the Grand Duchy had offered Amazon 'illegal tax benefits'.

A Luxembourg ruling in 2003 gave it a 'selective economic advantage' by allowing it to channel inflated payments through a shell company which paid no tax.

This let Amazon, which at this time funnelled its EU profits through Luxembourg, to pay four times less tax than local firms.

'This is illegal under EU state aid rules,' Miss Vestager said. 'Member states cannot give selective tax benefits to multi-national groups that are not available to others.'

She denied accusations that US firms were being targeted, saying: 'This is about competition, no matter your flag, no matter your ownership. Doing business in Europe is about paying your taxes.'

It is understood another EU inquiry into McDonald's will conclude within weeks. 'I don't think we've changed the whole corporate culture yet,' Miss Vestager warned.

The Amazon probe was launched in October 2014, weeks before Mr Juncker became president. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the so-called Luxleaks scandal in which hundreds of multi-national companies cut their tax payments via complex financing deals with his home country.

Amazon said: 'Amazon did not receive any special treatment and paid tax in full accordance with Luxembourg and international law. We will consider our legal options'.
A 12-foot alligator has been captured by trappers near the shore of a Florida beach.

The reptile was spotted Sunday night near the Mooring Yacht & Country Club on Vero Beach, as reported by Treasure Coast Newspapers.

Trapper Justin Morrison, 25, headed to the shore near Saint Christopher Lane, off State Road A1A, after a woman who had been walking her dogs called 911 to report the alligator at around 7.30pm.

The 12-foot alligator was spotted Sunday night near the Mooring Yacht & Country Club on Vero Beach, Florida. Trappers were called after a woman called 911 to report it

Trapper Justin Morrison, 25, tossed a lasso around the reptile's neck, and jumped on its back, before tying up its limbs and covering its eyes

The full-time plumber was enlisted for the job by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission because of his experience hunting alligators for more than a decade and trapping nuisance alligators for more than a year.

After hearing about the massive size of the alligator, he enlisted pal Garrett Abernathy's help.

When they arrived at the beach, the alligator was in shallow water close to the shore and appeared worn out from trying to get past the waves, Morrison told TCPalm.

He tossed a lasso around the reptile's neck, and jumped on its back, before tying up its limbs and covering its eyes, as deputies stood nearby for support.

After hearing about the massive size of the alligator, Morrison enlisted pal Garrett Abernathy's help, who he often traps nuisance alligators with (both pictured)

Florida deputies were on the scene to support the trappers, who said that although the state's rivers are filled with alligators, it's rare to find one on a beach, specially of that size

Pictured is the Mooring Yacht & Country Club on Vero Beach, close to where the reptile, which will be relocatted, was spotted

'Once you get their eyes shut, they calm down and tend not to move and squirm so much,' Morrison told TCPalm. 'They can't see, and they don't want to hurt themselves.'

The trappers then carried the alligator off the beach and put it in a transport box in the back of Morrison's truck.

Morrison said that Florida rivers are filled with alligators, but it's rare to find one on a beach, specially of that size, according to TCPalm.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there are about 1.3million alligators in the state, and while females don't usually grow larger than 10 feet, males can grow larger.

The average size of a male alligator is 11.2 feet. The Florida state record is 14 feet and 3.5 inches from one found in Lake Washington in Brevard County.

The Indian River County Sheriff's Office says the alligator will be relocated.
Jack Kelway was killed in March 1945 when a German Junkers JU88 swooped in to attack

A civilian who served as the RAF's eyes and ears in the Second World War has been finally honoured with a military headstone.

Jack Kelway was driving through Lincolshire, at around 1am on March 4, 1945 when a German Junkers JU88 swooped in to attack at ground level.

The aircraft, piloted by Feldwebel Heirich Conze, had just downed a 460 RAAF Squadron Lancaster at Langworth and the crew were looking for ground targets.

But it came in too low and hit telegraph wires before hitting the ground then Mr Kelway's car, sending it flying across fields.

Mr Kelway, from Lincoln, who served in the Royal Observer Corps (ROC), had been heading for his observation at Hackthorn.

Towards the end of the war the German Luftwaffe made a last-ditch attempt to turn the tide in their favour through Operation Gisella.

On the morning Mr Kelway was killed, about 150 to 200 German night fighters flew to attack 500 allied bombers returning to their bases in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk.

Mr Kelway was buried at Newport Cemetery in a service attended by his comrades.

His grave now has a military headstone following a year of fundraising by Bill Warwick, who served in the ROC from 1951 to 1959.

Mr Kelway was buried at Newport Cemetery in a service attended by his comrades. His grave now has a military headstone following a year of fundraising

Some 28 people attended Newport Cemetery on October 11 for a military-style service to bless the stone.

Mr Warwick, who spearheaded the campaign which raised 1,130, said: 'The old grave was looking tatty and uncared for.

'Jack, who was a special constable and a supervisor at Bardney sugar factory, had a young daughter Christine, two younger sons, and a wife. The family moved to Australia after his death where Christine still lives.

'The grave had never had a headstone and so we did this for Christine - she was a young girl at the time whose daddy did not come back from work that night.

'She now has peace of mind that there is a proper memorial at Jack's resting place.'

Vicar of Scampton the Reverend Sue Deacon, blessed the stone and Mr Kelway's nephew John gave a Bible reading.

Some 28 people attended Newport Cemetery on October 11 for a military-style service to bless the stone

Peter Jex from the ROC Association read the Exhortation, and the group's national heritage officer Edwina Holden read the Kohima before two minutes'silence was observed.

Royal Observer Corps The Royal Observer Corps (ROC) was formed in 1925 as a civil defence organisation and became known as the 'Eyes and Ears' of the Royal Air Force. Composed mainly of civilian spare-time volunteers, ROC personnel wore an RAF-style uniform and were trained by full-time officers. The ROC played a particularly key role throughout the Battle of Britain. During the Cold War the ROC provided key monitoring, recording and appraisal of nuclear fallout if a nuclear attack had occurred in the United Kingdom. The ROC was a 'grassroots' organisation which had a national coverage. Advertisement

Lincolnshire Special Constabulary, the Officer Commanding Lincolnshire Air Training Corps and the Commanding Officer of 204 Squadron City of Lincoln Air Training Corps also paid their respects.

A member of Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Band gave the Last Post, Reveille and accompanied the National Anthem.

Edwina Holden MBE, national heritage officer for the ROC Association, said: 'The new stone replaces the original kerb surround which made it impossible for the cemetery authorities to mow the grass on the grave, which can now be maintained for posterity in the regular maintenance of the surroundings.

'The offer of Air Training Corps to maintain the Stone was gratefully accepted.

'During past years much research has been carried out and documented, not least by Charles Parker of Lincoln and Lawrence Holmes of Truro.

'Bill Warwick has brought all this research together and finally made sure that Jack will be remembered and has a grave which will be maintained into the future.'

Nephew John Kelway said it was a 'splendid' occasion, adding: 'l'm sure Jack would have been very proud.'
An ancient Amazonian tribe has vowed to fight against international mining companies planning to destroy their homes to dig for gold.

The Waiapi, an ancient tribe living in Brazil's Amazon rainforest, reside in the Waiapi indigenous reserve - a pristine rainforest near the eastern end of the Amazon river.

It is part of a much larger conservation zone called Renca, covering an area the size of Switzerland.

Surrounded by rivers and towering trees, the tribe operates almost entirely according to its own laws, with a way of life at times closer to the Stone Age than the 21st century. Yet modern Brazil is barely a few hours' drive away.

And now the center-right government is pushing to open Renca to international mining companies who covet the rich deposits of gold and other metals hidden under the sea of green.

From a tiny settlement of palm-thatched huts hidden in foliage, the tribesmen streaked in red and black dye have vowed to defend their territory. They brandish six-foot bows and arrows to reinforce the point.

'We'll keep fighting,' says Tapayona Waiapi, 36, in the settlement called Pinoty. 'When the companies come we'll keep resisting. If the Brazilian government sends soldiers to kill people, we'll keep resisting until the last of us is dead.'

In August, President Michel Temer abruptly ended mining restrictions in swaths of Renca, sparking an outcry from environmentalists and celebrity campaigners like Leonardo DiCaprio.

Temer backtracked in September. However, the Waiapi, who were nearly wiped out by disease after being discovered by outsiders in the 1970s, remain terrified.

The rainforest, says 35-year-old Moi Waiapi, another inhabitant of Pinoty, 'is the foundation for our survival.'

The 'Protected Land,' is well beyond cellphone reception, the electric grid, the last gas station, and many Brazilian laws.
A holidaymaker had a flight to remember after one man fainted, another was escorted off the plane by police and a third man was taken away in an ambulance.

The three seemingly unrelated incidents took place on Ryanair flight FR6032 from Majorca to East Midlands Airport on Monday morning.

Mark Cole, who was coming returning home from a holiday with his girlfriend, said it was 'probably the strangest flight' he had ever been on.

The three seemingly unrelated incidents took place on Ryanair flight FR6032 from Majorca to East Midlands Airport (file photo)

He said after the first man fainted the second man punched his partner then got into a row with the stewards, who called the police.

After the flight touched down an ambulance arrived to pick up a third man because of a medical emergency.

Mr Cole, 37, from Glen Parva in Leicestershire, said: 'Not long after we took off a lad up at the front of the plane fainted and the stewardesses all rushed to help him and were giving him oxygen.

'They did a great job and sorted him out and he seemed to be alright.'

About an hour of normality passed before a couple began having an argument.

Mr Cole said: 'This English couple were about five or six rows ahead of us to the left and there was some bickering going on between them.

'At one point my girlfriend said to me, "Did you see that? He punched her on the jaw!"

'I saw her crying and after that they were just arguing and squabbling and she was pinching him and trying to put her arm around him but he kept shoving it away.

'I don't think either of them had been drinking. He was just in a foul mood.

'The stewardess went to calm them down and the bloke told her to p*** off.

'She asked for his passport and he refused. She said was going to get the police involved and he just said, "Go get whoever you want".

'After this had been going on a while the plane was approaching East Midlands so the fasten seatbelt sign came on.

'The stewardess asked the bloke to do up his seatbelt but he refused and left it undone for landing.

'Then just as soon as the plane hit the ground the man leapt up, grabbed his holdall out of the locker and stormed up to the front of the plane while it was still moving.

'The stewardess stood in his way so he couldn't get to the door.

'I couldn't hear much of what happened next but he was arguing with her.'

Mark Cole, who was coming returning home from a holiday with his girlfriend, said it was 'probably the strangest flight' he had ever been on

Mr Cole said after landing the passengers were held on the plane for around 45 minutes.

He added: 'The man was made to sit down in a seat up at the front of the plane and the police came aboard and we all sat there while they took statements from the stewards and the couple. Later on, the couple were taken away by the police.

'And just as that was finally coming to an end we were told there was an ambulance crew outside who needed to come on board to pick up another passenger who was suffering from dangerously high blood pressure.

'It was just a very strange flight.'

A spokesman for Ryanair said: 'The crew of this flight from Palma to East Midlands requested police assistance upon landing after a passenger became disruptive in-flight.

'The aircraft landed normally and the passenger was removed and detained by police upon arrival

'We will not tolerate unruly or disruptive behaviour at any time and the safety and comfort of our customers, crew and aircraft is our number one priority.'

A spokeswoman said it was classed as 'a domestic incident'.

She said officers boarded the Ryanair flight at around 12.40pm on Monday but no arrests were made.
A government minister's staffer has resigned after admitting to tipping off the press to a police raid on the Australian Workers Union.

David De Garis, senior media adviser to Employment Minister Michaelia Cash, quit on Wednesday night following the Australian Federal Police raids on Tuesday.

'My staff member came to me during the dinner break and has resigned from my employment,' Senator Cash told Parliament.

'He has admitted he was wrong. He is very distressed.'

A senior media adviser to Employment Minister Michaelia Cash (pictured) resigned after admitting to tipping off the press to a police raid on the Australian Workers Union

David De Garis didn't fess up until his boss repeatedly denied she or anyone in her office was responsible for the leak

The AWU's Sydney and Melbourne offices were raided as part of an investigation into $100,000 in potentially illegal donations to left-wing activist group GetUp!

The married West Australian didn't fess up until his boss denied fives times over she or anyone in her office was responsible for the leak.

'I was not aware of it at the time and was not aware of it earlier today at Senate estimates,' the minister said.

'This took place without my knowledge and was not authorised by me.'

Senator Cash said Mr De Garis got the information from a 'media source' just before the raids but wouldn't say who it was.

The AWU's Sydney and Melbourne offices were raided as part of an investigation into $100,000 in potentially illegal donations to left-wing activist group GetUp!

Senator Cash said Mr De Garis (pictured) got the information from a 'media source' just before the raids but wouldn't say who it was

She denied misleading the Senate because she answered questions from the opposition based on what she knew at the time.

'As previously indicated I was not notified of the raids until I watched them unfold on the television,' she said.

Earlier in the day she defiantly defended her staff and rebuked her critics for even suggesting they could have been the leak.

'I can assure you that I found out about the raids as they unfolded on the television. I can also assure you that my office did not find out about the raids until after they were being conducted,' she said.

'It is a very serious allegation you are making and I refute it completely. And quite frankly I am offended on behalf of my staff.'

The investigation centres on whether the donations followed union rules while Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was an executive there

Labor frontbencher Tony Burke was not satisfied and called for Senator Cash's resignation over the bungle.

'There needs to be a resignation here because it defies credulity that Senator Cash gave false information five times to the Senate and her staff said nothing,' he said.

'There might be a member of Senator Cash's staff who's just resigned but the wrong person has resigned.'

Senator Cash was the one who referred the donations to the Registered Organisations Commission, whose investigation led to the raids.

The investigation centres on whether the donations followed union rules while Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was an executive there.

It is also looking into whether Mr Shorten's 2007 parliamentary campaign received AWU donations as well.

It is also looking into whether Mr Shorten's 2007 parliamentary campaign received AWU donations as well

The Australian Electoral Commission has asked GetUp to follow disclosure rules before, which require the group to make public what funding it receives and how it will be spent.

Groups handed these kind of obligations are known as 'associated entities.'

They are defined as a group controlled by one or more political parties, or operating to a significant extent for the benefit of political parties.

The AEC said there was information to suggest GetUp's donations last year could be seen as having benefited Labor and the Greens, the ABC read in a letter.

The AEC said there was information to suggest GetUp's donations last year could be seen as having benefited Labor and the Greens

GetUp has since denied the claims and insisted it is an independent movement.

AWU Victoria branch secretary Ben Davis said the AFP's decision to raid the building was the wrong choice.

'This is an abuse of power, it is an abuse of process and you have not heard the end of this,' he told the Herald Sun.

Labor workplace relations spokesman Brendan O'Connor seconded that notion by stating the Turnbull government was on a 'witch hunt.'

'They will stop at nothing to attack workers and their representatives.'

Victorian Trades Hall Council Luke Hilakari tweeted: 'This is how democracies are ruined. Campaign groups are silenced, government raids offices, media used to set it up...this is very disturbing.'
A couple in Arkansas have been arrested after their one-year-old son tested positive for methamphetamine, police say.

Matthew Wade Faith, 46, and Brandi Williams, 29, were arrested in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Saturday and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor.

Faith had taken his one-year-old son to Washington Regional Medical Center because he was acting fussy and hadn't napped all day.

While at the hospital, he joked that it appeared as though his son had 'eaten a crack rock'.

Matthew Wade Faith (left), 46, and Brandi Williams (right), 29, were arrested in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Saturday and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor

Before police arrived at the couple's home, pictured above, Williams had asked a third person, John Huskins to remove illegal items from the house

When hospital staff determined that the boy's blood tested positive for meth, they called police, who searched Faith's vehicle and found a wrapper under the passenger seat that also tested positive for meth.

Williams told police she knew her son would test positive for the drug, saying she saw him eat a Roxycodone pill on October 19, according to Arkansas Online.

Huskins, was also arrested by police. He was charged with tampering with physical evidence and was released on a $1,500 bond

She that she smokes it daily including when her child are home, KFSM reported.

The Department of Human Services took the infant and Williams' ten-year-old son for the home and performed urine tests on the couple.

Faith tested positive for meth and other illicit substances. DHS is investigating Williams and have accused her of using someone else's urine to pass screenings.

Williams and Faith were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor.

Additionally, Williams faces five counts of possession of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a communication device and tampering with physical evidence.

A third person, John Huskins, was also arrested by police. He was charged with tampering with physical evidence and was released on a $1,500 bond.

Williams had allegedly asked him to remove illegal items from her apartment before police arrived.

Huskins told police that he had hidden meth pipes under the family's porch.

Faith and Williams were also released on Sunday after posting $2,500 and $5,000 bonds, respectively. They will next appear in court on November 29.
A woman was raped on a busy public street in broad daylight in west India on Sunday as several bystanders filmed the attack and no one stepped in to help.

The woman, reportedly in her late 20s, had been resting under a tree by a footpath in the city of Visakhapatnam, in Andhra Pradesh, on the Bay of Bengal.

She was then attacked and raped by a 23-year-old cleaner, in full view of passersby at around 2.30pm.

Shocking: The unnamed woman was attacked in broad daylight in the city of Visakhapatnam, east India, but instead of helping, witnesses began filming the rape

The woman had reportedly left her family home on the outskirts of the city two days earlier after a fight with her husband.

The alleged rapist, Ganji Siva attacked her with no provocation and brutally raped her by the side of the road.

'Apparently, she was very weak as she had not eaten for several hours and was sleeping on the footpath under the shadow of a tree., when Siva, in an inebriated condition assaulted her sexually,' Visakhapatnam IV town police sub-inspector K Suresh told Hindustan Times.

'Passers-by did not bother to stop him even as the woman was too weak to even scream.'

Several people started filming the attack, and one of the videos, filmed by a rickshaw driver from across the street, was brought to police.

Horrifying: Video shows several people casually walking by as the woman is being raped

The attack took place in the city of Visakhapatnam, in Andhra Pradesh, on the Bay of Bengal

It allegedly shows several people walking past in a casual manner, while the assault goes on in the background.

By the time police arrived, the assailant had already left the scene, but thanks to the video and eyewitness accounts, Siva was soon identified and arrested.

He has been detained awaiting trial and official charges.

Since the video first appeared on social media, many have responded with outrage that no one helped the vivtim.

A person calling themselves Bhaskar Rao tweeted: 'Broad Daylight rape in Vizag on footpath, no one came ahead to help women. It's disgusting. We all hve become merciless,no fight for justice.' [sic]

Arunoday Mukharji added 'Is this for real? A woman raped on a footpath in #Vizag while people walk past without intervening. Has it come down to this? Speechless.'
Pictured: Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, arriving at Cardiff Crown Court today on trial for the murder of Elsie Scully-Hicks

A father accused of shaking his 18-month-old adopted daughter to death didn't think the bump on her head was a cause for concern, a court heard.

Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court today on trial for the murder of Elsie Scully-Hicks, who died in hospital in 2016.

Speaking today, Scully-Hicks said Elsie had suffered a bruise to her forehead after bumping it on a toy kitchen in December 2015.

He told the court a health visitor advised him to 'get it checked' but did not do so as there was no 'cause for concern'.

On March 10, Elsie was taken to hospital after apparently falling down the stairs.

Scully-Hicks denied he had caused any injury to her and insisted she fell 'head over heels' after a stairgate opened.

He said a social worker was made aware of the incident and followed it up with a phone call and a visit.

Describing Elsie after the fall, Scully-Hicks said: 'She wanted to be up being cuddled a lot more.

'She ate and drank as normal but just generally was a bit more clingy.'

Elsie was sick more frequently after the fall but Scully-Hicks and his husband put this down to teething and illness.

They also noticed the beginning of a squint in her eye and arranged a hospital appointment, scheduled for September 2016.

Scully-Hicks told the jury that Elsie's GP examined her but did not think she was in pain and could not see any deformities.

Matthew Scully-Hicks (right) is accused of killing Elsie Scully-Hicks (left), who died last year

He said the GP decided to be 'on the safe side' and booked them an appointment at a trauma clinic on November 12.

The court heard that Elsie was found to have fractured her leg above her right ankle and was placed in a full-leg cast, which she wore for three weeks.

The images were reviewed after Elsie's death and two fractures were then found - the lower leg fracture and a second one in Elsie's right femur, just above the knee.

Medics managed to revive Elsie after her initial collapse but her condition worsened and she died in the early hours of May 29 2016.

Elsie came to live with the couple in September 2015, aged 10 months, having been removed from her natural mother, a drug user, within days of her birth in November 2014.

She was in the care of Vale of Glamorgan Council before being placed with them.

This afternoon Scully-Hicks said Elsie was also injured when she fell down a flight of stairs because he hadn't locked a gate properly.

Scully-Hicks said phoned an ambulance after Elsie fell 'head over heels' down the stairs and lay 'motionless' at the bottom.

The fitness instuctor said he was in his bedroom organising washing when Elsie walked out onto the landing and near the top of the stairs.

He said: 'Elsie made her way onto the landing, she used to do that quite a lot - she would follow me, she liked to see what I was doing and being able to see where I am.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Elsie was found to have fractured her leg above her right ankle and was placed in a full-leg cast, which she wore for three weeks

'The next thing I could hear was the gate opening and I turned, then all I could see was her falling through from the top of the stairs.

'She was going head over heels down the stairs.

'I followed her to the bottom and by the time I got there she was leant on the floor looking back at me just motionless, she didn't respond and didn't cry, she just lay there.

'I picked up the phone which was by the front door and phoned for the ambulance.

Scully-Hicks said Elsie began vomiting and he accompanied her in the ambulance after the tumble on March 10 last year.

He said: 'Everything had overcome me by that point. I was really upset and I think the reality of what just happened hit me.

'I told the doctor that I clearly hadn't locked the gate properly and Elsie had pulled herself up and fallen out and down the stairs.'

He broke down in tears when asked to describe Elsie's personality.

He said: 'She was such a happy little girl, she always had a smile on her face. She would always like to make sure that everyone knew she was there.

'She liked the attention, she liked the interaction.'

Scully-Hicks said he met his future husband Craig Scully-Hicks, 36, while living in Swindon, Wiltshire, in around 2006.

The older man owned a nightclub there and the pair got together in 2008, moving to Cardiff in late 2010 and early 2011, before marrying in Portugal in August 2012, he said.

Scully-Hicks said they discussed having children early on in their relationship.

'We didn't care if it was a boy or a girl. We had requested as young as possible, we wanted to see and witness as much as we could,' he told the jury.

Scully-Hicks adopted Elsie two weeks before the toddler died at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff after suffering bleeding on the brain, retinal bleeding in both eyes, a skull fracture and fractures to three ribs and her leg.

Neighbours previously told the court they heard Scully-Hicks shouting and swearing at Elsie when she cried.

When asked about that in court today, he denied claims and said: 'I would not swear at my child, I would not say that to my child.'

In relation to Elsie's fractured leg, Scully-Hicks said he was in the kitchen on November 5 2015, with her standing at an activity table, when he saw her turn to look at him and she fell.

'She was crying so I picked her up and gave her a cuddle to console her and I checked her over to see if I could see anything obvious (injuries), which I couldn't,' he said.

The court previously heard Elsie's injuries in May were consistent with her being 'shaken violently' and having her head 'rocked backwards and forwards so that her head was flexed down onto her chest and flexed backwards'.

Scully-Hicks denies murder.
President Donald Trump blasted the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic Party for funding the dirty dossier of salacious material about him  and in an unusual turn called himself 'the victim.'

The president tweeted about the dossier Wednesday morning, hours after it was reported that the Clinton camp helped bankroll research that led to the 'golden showers' dossier on Trump.

'Clinton campaign & DNC paid for research that led to the anti-Trump Fake News Dossier. The victim here is the President.' Trump wrote. He ended his missive with the Twitter handle of his favorite network, '@FoxNews.'

The tweet did not go after Clinton personally, mentioning her 'campaign,' hours after it was revealed Clinton campaign lawyer Marc Elias hired research firm Fusion GPS back in April 2016 to look into allegations of Trump's ties to Russia. The Washington Post reported on the latest revelations of how the dossier got paid for.

President Donald Trump enters the Oval Office for an event at the White House October 24, 2017 in Washington, DC. President Trump honored the eight winners of the National Minority Enterprise Development Week Awards Program during the Oval Office event. On Wednesday he blasted the Clinton campaign and the DNC for funding the infamous dirty dossier

The revelations about funding of the infamous dossier, which laid out an array of alleged Russia business connections as well as the unproven and salacious material about Trump's alleged conduct in a Moscow hotel room, came days after the president pushed for the release of information about it.

Trump tweeted on Saturday that the FBI and Justice Department should 'immediately release who paid for it' after Fusion GPS co-founder Peter Fritsch and partner Thomas Catan last week invoked the US Constitution's Fifth Amendment, which protects Americans against self-incrimination.

Elias is one of the nation's top Democratic campaign lawyers, and the report puts the funding source within the Clinton campaign, although it has previously been reported that Democrats funded the Dossier research that began with a GOP donor funding stream during the contested primaries.

President Trump called himself a 'victim' of the infamous dossier of research that Democrats helped pay to produce

After being engaged by Clinton's campaign lawyer, Fusion GPS, the Washington-based research firm, then hired former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele to dig up the unconfirmed dirt on Trump.

Clinton's lawyer and his law firm Perkins Coie continued to fund the research until October 2016 - just days before the presidential election.

The research was previously funded by an unknown anti-Trump Republican donor during the primary, but Clinton's campaign then paid for it to be finished.

Sources would not confirm how much was paid to Fusion GPS, but said the campaign and DNC shared the cost.

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Hillary Clinton's campaign and the Democratic National Committee helped pay for research that led to the 'golden showers' dossier on Donald Trump

The Clinton campaign paid Perkins Coie $5.6million legal fees during the period of June 2015 to December 2016, according to campaign finance records, while the DNC paid $3.6million in 'legal and compliance consulting', according to the Post. but it's unclear how much of that was related to Fusion GPS.

The FBI also is said to have agreed to pay Steele to continue gathering intelligence but reneged on the agreement after his cover was blown.

Steele's findings and research were then submitted to Elias via Fusion GPS, the Post reports. It is not clear what information, or how much of it, was provided to Clinton's campaign. It also isn't clear which people within Clinton's campaign and the DNC knew of Steel and Fusion GPS.

The research resulted in the now infamous dossier that came up with the discredited claims about Trump. The dossier has become a focus of congressional probes into Russian interference in last year's election.

The two men had been subpoenaed to appear in a closed-door session before the House Intelligence Committee but refused to speak at every turn.

Committee chair Rep. Devin Nunes has been trying to determine who paid Fusion GPS for the opposition research that formed the basis of the dossier.

'Officials behind the now discredited 'Dossier' plead the Fifth. Justice Department and/or FBI should immediately release who paid for it,' Trump tweeted.

Trump had also speculated on Twitter last week that the dossier may have been funded by Democratic officials.

'Workers of firm involved with the discredited and Fake Dossier take the 5th. Who paid for it, Russia, the FBI or the Dems (or all)?' Trump said last Thursday.

Fusion GPS, Elias and spokesmen for Clinton's campaign and the DNC would not comment.

Clinton's campaign lawyer Marc E. Elias (above in August 2016) hired research firm Fusion GPS back in April 2016 to look into allegations of Trump's ties to Russia

Clinton's lawyer continued to fund the firm's research into Trump until October 2016 - just days before the presidential election

Trump tweeted on Saturday that the FBI and Justice Department should 'immediately release who paid for it'

Prior to the Post report, Elias had earlier 'vigorously' denied being involved in the Trump dossier, according to New York Times reporter Ken Vogel.

'When I tried to report this story. Clinton campaign lawyer (Marc Elias) pushed back vigorously, saying 'You (or your sources) are wrong',' Vogel tweeted shortly after the Post report surfaced.

The dossier contends that the Russian government amassed compromising information about Trump but had also been engaged in a years-long effort to support and assist him.

Compiled by the British spy, Christopher Steele, the dossier circulated among Washington journalists last year until Buzzfeed first published it in January without verification.

Trump branded the entire document 'fake news.'

Among its claims are that Russian officials have videos of the president cavorting with prostitutes, which were filmed during Trump's 2013 visit to a luxury Moscow hotel for the Miss Universe contest

It also contains a highly unusual report, also never substantiated, that the call girls performed a 'golden shower' routine that involved them urinating on a hotel bed as a sign of disgust for then-president Barack Obama.

The FBI has worked to corroborate the document, and in a sign of its ongoing relevance to investigators, special counsel Robert Mueller's team - which is probing potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign - weeks ago questioned the former British spy who helped compile the claims in the dossier.

The dossier, compiled by British spy Christopher Steele, contends that the Russian government amassed compromising information about Trump but had also been engaged in a years-long effort to support and assist him

Fusion GPS co-founder Peter Fritsch (left) and partner Thomas Catan (right) took the Fifth on Wednesday rather than talking to Congress about the dossier

Prior to the Post report, Elias had earlier 'vigorously' denied being involved in the Trump dossier, according to New York Times reporter Ken Vogel
Shocking footage showing a sheriff's deputy driving his patrol car into his ex-wife's house while high on prescription drugs has emerged.

Timothy Stuart Taylor, 57, was sentenced to two years' probation after the horrifying crash in Milton, Florida.

He was found to have stabbed himself in the chest before smashing his vehicle into the property only seconds after his ex-wife left the doorway.

It was later reported to be a suicide attempt.

The former deputy (pictured) no longer works for the sheriff or any other law enforcement agency

He was found to have stabbed himself in the chest before smashing his vehicle into the property only seconds after his ex-wife left the doorway

According to reports at the time, Taylor had called in sick after claiming to have taken the tranquilizer Xanax, making him unfit to drive

In the video - recorded by his patrol car's dashcam - he can be seen reversing off the drive before parking up in the street and crashing into the house

The Escambia County Sheriff's Office deputy was charged with one count of felony criminal mischief and one of misdemeanor driving under the influence after the November incident, Pensacola News Journal reported.

According to reports at the time, Taylor had called in sick after claiming to have taken the tranquilizer Xanax, making him unfit to drive.

But instead of staying home, he decided to head to his former wife's home.

In the video - recorded by his patrol car's dashcam - he can be seen reversing off the drive before parking up in the street.

His ex-wife can be seen standing in the doorway, but just after she closes the door Taylor speeds into the house.

He caused over $30,000 of damage.

When police arrived, his ex-wife - who was not injured - was inside the home and tending to him.

His ex-wife can be seen standing in the doorway, but just after she closes the door Taylor speeds into the house

Taylor was then airlifted to hospital.

The former deputy no longer works for the sheriff or any other law enforcement agency.

His attorney, Kim Skievaski, said: 'It was sad what occurred, but it was a result of some of the stress associated with that field of occupation. He deserves to be given credit for all the years he served the community.'

If you are affected by suicidal thoughts, seek help by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or visiting their website.
Four years before the Sandy Hook shooting, a man says he overheard Adam Lanza threaten to murder his mother and students at the school, newly released FBI documents reveal.

However, when the man told police they said there was nothing they could do.

The FBI on Tuesday released more than 1,500 pages of documents related to its investigation of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that left 20 first-graders and six educators dead.

The documents include reports by FBI agents who interviewed people about shooter Adam Lanza, who killed himself as police arrived at the school. Large portions of many of the documents were redacted, including the names of the people who spoke to the agents.

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A man who spoke to the FBI after the Sandy Hook shooting says Adam Lanza (left) threatened to kill his mother Nancy (right) and children at the school four years before the massacre

The documents offer a window into the early days of the investigation, as agents chased false leads and gathered evidence of Lanza's isolation. A year after the massacre, state police released a final investigative document that concluded Lanza was obsessed with firearms, death and mass shootings, but that the motive may never be known.

One man who spoke to police said he heard Lanza threaten his mother sometime in December 2008.

Lanza's mother Nancy reportedly told the unidentified source that her son 'had an assault weapon and that she was scared of him'.

The source claimed Lanza said 'he planned to kill his mother and children at Sandy Hook in Newtown, Connecticut.'

The man says he went to the Newtown Police to report the threats, but they told them there was nothing they could do since Lanza's mother was the official owner of his weapons cache.

The source also claimed that Lanza hated his mother and Sandy Hook because she had worked there.

'Lanza apparently felt that his mother loved the students more than him,' the source said, according to an interview summary.

The reports also hint that Lanza may have been pedophile.

The FBI on Tuesday released more than 1,500 pages of documents related to its investigation of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that left 20 first-graders and six educators dead. Children flee the school after the shooting

FBI agents found a file on Lanza's computer 'advocating pedophiles' rights and the liberation of children' as well as a screenplay about a relationship between a 10-year-old boy and a 30-year-old man.

The FBI's behavioral analysis unit also assessed Lanza's mental state and found that he 'had an interest in children that could be categorized as pedophilia'.

Another person who spoke to the FBI said Nancy Lanza had become concerned about her son before the shooting because he had become a 'shut in' who hadn't gone anywhere in three months. Adam Lanza shot his mother dead in their home before going to the school on December 14, 2012. During that time he also dropped to just 85 pounds.

The person also told the FBI agent that Lanza never completely accepted that he had Asperger's syndrome, a condition on the autism spectrum, and never took any medication he was prescribed.

A person told the FBI that Lanza essentially became a 'recluse' who shut himself in his bedroom and played video games all day. Above, an evidence photo of Lanza's room after the shooting

One source told an FBI agent that Lanza didn't leave his home (above) for the three months before the shooting, causing his mother to grow concerned

'Nancy would take care of all of Adam's needs,' the person said. 'However, she never cleaned his room, nor was allowed in his room. Adam's room was his personal space that no one else was allowed into.'

Lanza's mother was apparently so dedicated to helping him that they had planned to move cross country to Seattle the following year. She apparently thought that a change of scenery would help her son.

One person said that Lanza owned at least four guns and all were kept in a gunsafe in his closet. Another person said that Lanza had two rifles, but didn't know about him having a pistol.

A report by the Connecticut child advocate in 2014 concluded that Lanza's autism spectrum disorder and other psychiatric problems did not cause or lead directly to the massacre.

The report said Nancy Lanza rejected recommendations from Yale psychologists that her son be medicated and undergo rigorous treatment as a child for anxiety and other conditions. It also said Adam Lanza, his parents and educators contributed to his social isolation by not confronting his problems.

Another person told the FBI that Lanza essentially had become a 'recluse' who shut himself in his bedroom and played video games all day. The person said Lanza had no friends, was computer savvy and became very interested in firearms.

Another person called the FBI to say that her son had been playing Call of Duty: Black Ops online with someone the night before the shooting, who told him to 'watch the news tomorrow'. The documents do not reveal whether the FBI confirmed Lanza was the person who made the comment.

A woman who he met on a website devoted to the Columbine school shooting said Lanza used screen names to honor infamous school shooters like German gunman Tim Kretschmer and Canadian killer Kimveer Gill.

Lanza was 'the weirdest person online,' the woman said.

'He was singularly focused and obsessed with mass murders  Lanza devoted almost all his internet activity to researching and discussing mass murders and spree killings,' read an FBI summary of the December 2012 interview.

'Lanza spoke about school killings and those who committed them with respect and understanding.'

She described him as depressed and cynical with a very negative view on life.

Before the shooting, Lanza had withdrawn from social media, something he told the woman was his 'virtual suicide'.

When she learned he was responsible for the Sandy Hook shooting, the woman said she realized he was 'more f***** up than I thought'

Lanza shot the children and educators with an AR-15-style rifle that was legally purchased by his mother, who took her son to shooting ranges, authorities have said.

The documents also reveal that Lanza didn't put up a fight when officers responded at the school. When they stormed the school, Lanza turned and ran into a classroom where he committed suicide.

A Newtown resident - who called Lanza 'a troubled kid' - told the FBI that Nancy Lanza said Adam had once hacked into a government computer system and federal authorities  either FBI or CIA agents  showed up at their door.

Nancy Lanza told the person that she had to convince the agents that her son was just very intelligent and was challenging himself to see if he could hack into a government system. She said agents told her that if Adam was that smart, he could get a job with their agency someday.

Several Newtown residents told authorities they received death threats after the shooting during phone calls from someone identifying himself as Adam Lanza.
The older brother of a 12-year-old boy who was allegedly punched in the face by another student appears to have little sympathy for his brother.

Holding his push bike and wearing a helmet as he left his family home, the 18-year-old boy told a 7 News reporter his little brother 'probably deserved it to be honest'.

The shocking moment the young boy was punched in the face at Wagga Wagga High School by a 14-year-old boy was caught on camera.

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The older brother (pictured) of a 12-year-old boy who was allegedly punched in the face by another student appears to have little sympathy for his brother

Holding his push bike and wearing a helmet as he left his family home, the 18-year-old boy (right) told a 7 News reporter his little brother 'probably deserved it to be honest'

The 14-year-old boy was suspended and is expected to discuss his future at the local police station Wednesday night.

The incident, south-west of Sydney, was supplied to 9News, and appears to have been filmed on a smartphone.

It shows the two boys facing each other surrounded by other students.

Suddenly the older boy lashes out at the younger student, striking him in the face with his closed fist.

Seemingly stunned, the 12-year-old leans against a brick wall before falling heavily to the ground.

Education Minister Rob Stokes told 7 News he was 'sickened and appalled' by the actions of the young student which he described as a 'cowardly attack

The shocking moment the 12-year-old boy was punched in the face by an older classmate was been caught on camera

Police are investigating the incident in the Riverina, south-west of Sydney, after the Year 7 student was punched in the face by a 14-year-old boy

The boy is recovering at home and is not seriously hurt, his father told 9News.

In a statement, the school said they had a zero tolerance policy towards violence.

Any student who is found to have participated in an offence that puts at risk the safety of another student will be dealt with decisively through their schools discipline code, and if warranted, face further criminal charges.

Seemingly stunned, the 12-year-old leans against a brick wall before falling heavily to ground

Schools are a place of learning, where both staff and students have the right to feel safe.

The main priority now is the care and recovery of the victim, whose family has asked for privacy.

Police were not called immediately to the scene but are investigating the incident.
Some of the country's most dangerous smashes and near misses have been revealed, as a road worker begs drivers to pay attention after his wife was killed by a distracted driver.

Frightening footage, released by Main Roads this week, shows cars slamming into the back of clearly-signed roadwork vehicles and swerving dangerously as they approach.

Tow truck driver Jim Hall pleaded with drivers to pay greater attention near road workers, four years after his wife was killed by a distracted driver.

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Frightening footage, released by Main Roads, shows cars slamming into the back of clearly-signed roadwork vehicles

Mr Hall's wife Abbie was hit and killed while collecting a broken down car in Perth.

'Everyday in the morning you turn the key and think "OK let's see if we can make it home tonight",' Mr Hall told Seven News on Wednesday.

Main Roads' Operations Director Peter Sewell said he was surprised no road workers had lost their lives in the three years since.

Main Roads introduced crash cushions to the back of its road work vehicles in 2016, to work as a buffer between oncoming traffic and workers.

Despite the extra safety precaution, Mr Sewell said distracted drivers still posed a major danger to road workers.

Mr Hall's wife Abbie (pictured together) was hit and killed while collecting a broken down car in Perth

'Everyday in the morning you turn the key and think 'OK let's see if we can make it home tonight',' Mr Hall said this week

Sobering footage shows this utility truck swerving dangerously to avoid road workers

'It's an extremely dangerous job to do and we're trying everything we can to minimize the risk,' he said.

Mr Hall has pushed for legislation forcing cars to 'slow down and move over' when driving past road workers.

He wanted government to introduce laws forcing cars to slow down to certain speeds when passing emergency services, RAC patrolmen and tow trucks.

The widower said he was sick of hearing the government talk about safter roads and urged it to 'pull your finger out and get it done'.

This utility truck was captured on CCTV footage swerving away from road work signage at the last second
President Trump laid into Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake again, speaking to reporters outside the White House Wednesday as he left on a trip to Texas.

'I remember the first time I saw him on television ... I assume he's a Democrat,' Trump said. 'Is he a Democrat? They said, "He's a Republican." I said, "That's impossible."'

Trump went on for several minutes saying the retiring GOP senator had 'done terribly' for Arizona and the president would 'be boosted' once Flake is out of his U.S. Senate seat.

In a dramatic floor speech Tuesday, Flake announced that he would not be running for re-election next year, saying he preferred to be untethered from towing the party line so he could speak out against Trump, who he labeled  without saying the president's name  'reckless, outrageous and undignified.'

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President Trump again blasted Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, who announced he would not run for re-election yesterday. Trump told reporters Wednesday that the first time he ever saw Flake he thought he was a Democrat

President Trump took a number of questions from reporters gathered outside the White House Wednesday and renewed his attacks, started on Twitter this morning, of Sen. Jeff Flake

President Trump's mini press conference took place just hours after Sen. Jeff Flake (pictured) did a number of morning TV hits, where he continued to criticize Trump

President Trump went after retiring Sens. Jeff Flake and Bob Corker on Wednesday using his Twitter account

THAT WENT WELL: Trump also tweeted about his Tuesday meeting with Senate Repubicans

Sen. Jeff Flake said he was done being 'complicit,' as he belongs to the same political party of President Trump and thus announced Tuesday he would no be running for re-election next year

Flake's break came the same day Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker renewed his tiff with Trump, also over the president's behavior.

As Wednesday began, Trump took to Twitter to air out his grievances against the two rogue and retiring GOP senators, who both faced tough re-election prospects.

'The reason Flake and Corker dropped out of the Senate race is very simple, they had zero chance of being elected. Now act so hurt & wounded!' Trump said.

The president also sent out an upbeat missive about the Capitol Hill meeting he had Tuesday with the Senate GOP, which occurred moments before Flake made his strongly-worded speech on the Senate floor.

'The meeting with Republican Senators yesterday, outside of Flake and Corker, was a love fest with standing ovations and great ideas for USA!' the president wrote.

Trump was still seething an hour later, when he sent a second tweet denigrating Flake and patting himself on the back for the standing ovation he claims he received, which Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana confirmed.

'Jeff Flake, with an 18% approval rating in Arizona, said "a lot of my colleagues have spoken out." Really, they just gave me a standing O!' Trump said.

Meanwhile, Flake was engaging in a slash-and-burn TV tour Wednesday morning, going as far as to compare Trump to infamous Wisconsin Sen. Joe McCarthy.

As Trump departed for his day trip to Dallas Wednesday afternoon, he let loose on Flake again.

'Look, he was against me before he ever knew me,' Trump said. 'He wrote a book about me before I ever met him, before I ever knew his name.'

Trump called the book 'horrible' and said he thought Flake was a member of the opposing party when he first heard of him.

Flake's book, Conscience of a Conservative, came out in August of 2017, more than six months into Trump's presidency.

'His poll numbers in Arizona are so low that he couldn't win and I don't blame him for leaving,' Trump said, echoing his tweet from earlier in the day.

When a reporter asked about Flake's remarks, Trump answered, 'Well he's saying that, he's saying that because he has nothing else to say.'

On Tuesday, Flake told members of the Senate that he had 'children and grandchildren to answer to' and so would no longer be 'complicit or silent' when it came to a certain person sitting atop the executive branch.

'I decided I would be better able to represent the people of Arizona and to better serve my country and my conscience by freeing myself of the political consideration that consumed far too much bandwidth and would cause me to compromise far too many principles,' Flake said.

'To that end, I am announcing today that my service in the Senate will conclude at the end of my term in early January 2019,' Flake said.

The first response from the White House came from Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who called Flake's speech 'petty' and also suggested his departure from the Senate was probably for the best.

'I haven't spoken with him directly since the announcement by Sen. Flake,' Huckabee Sanders said of Trump. 'But I think that based on previous statements and certainly based on the lack of support that he has from the people of Arizona, it's probably a good move.'

Trump sang a similar tune Wednesday and suggested his brand would do better in the state sans Flake.

'I think I'll be boosted in Arizona because he's very unpopular,' Trump said, calling the Grand Canyon state a 'state that likes Donald Trump very much, as you, even you will admit,' the president added, scoffing at the press.

Flake holds a 30 per cent approval rating among all Arizona voters and a 37 per cent among just the state's Republicans, according to Morning Consult.

Flake had previewed his political escape to the Arizona Republic saying earlier Tuesday, 'there may not be a place for a Republican like me in the current Republican climate or the current Republican Party.'

He said he hadn't soured on the Senate, but rather the current condition of his Trump-led party.

'This spell will pass, but not by next year,' Flake said.

On the floor, Flake said he had risen to address 'a matter that has been very much on my mind at a moment when it seems that our democracy is more defined by our discord and dysfunction than our own values and principles.'

He began his speech by making the 'obvious point,' that elected political office isn't an indefinite career.

'We are not here to simply mark time,' he noted. 'Sustained incumbency is certainly not the point of seeking offices and there are time when we must risk our careers in favor of our principles.'

'Now is such a time,' he said.

Flake turned and expressed a number of regrets and implored that his colleagues not embrace what he called the 'new normal.'

Among the things that fit the definition: the coarseness of the present dialogue, the undermining of democratic ideals, personal attacks, threats against freedoms and institutions and the flagrant disregard for the truth.

'None of these appalling features of our current politics should ever be regarded as normal,' Flake said, adding a 'heaven help us,' if that becomes true.

Then he went after Trump  though never once uttered the president's name.

'We must stop pretending that the conduct of some in our executive branch are normal,' he said. 'They are not normal.'

'Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior has been excuse as telling it like it is when it is actually reckless, outrageous and undignified,' Flake said. 'When such behavior emanates from the top of our government, it is something else. It is dangerous to a democracy.'

'Such behavior does not project strength because our strength comes from our values,' Flake continued. 'It, instead, projects a corruption of the spirit and weakness.'

The senator said lawmakers had fooled themselves long enough by thinking 'a pivot to governing is right around the corner.'

For months, first in the Republican primary last year, then during the general election and all through his first nine months in the White House, political watchers have wondered when President Trump would become more presidential. Flake predicted that time would be never.

The Republican looked to his fellow Republicans  though only Sens. John McCain, Bob Corker, both of whom have recently tussled with Trump, along with Sens. John Barrasso, Pat Roberts, Ben Sasse, Rand Paul and Jim Risch were in the room  and asked what would happen if the shoe was on the other foot.

Would his Republicans not speak out if a Democratic president was displaying this behavior?

Democrats were on hand too including Sens. Debbie Stabenow, Tim Kaine, Chris Coons, Jeff Merkeley, Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan.

'If I have been critical it is not because I relish criticizing the behavior of the president of the United States,' Flake said. 'If I have been critical, it is because I believe it is my obligation to do so, and as a matter of duty of conscience.'

While announcing that he would not run, Flake also pointed to the narrower and narrower path he would have had to weave through to win, saying his party's settled on a message 'more viscerally satisfying' that of 'anger and resentment.'

'To be clear, the anger and resentment that the people feel at the royal mess that we've created are justified,' he said. 'But anger and resentment are not the governing philosophy.'

He said populist politics often lead to 'mischaracterizing and misunderstanding our problems,' which in turn lead to 'the impulse to scapegoat and belittle,' which in turn lead to turning Americans into a 'fearful, backward-looking people.'

'In the case of the Republican Party, those things also threaten to turn us into a fearful, backward-looking minority party,' he said.

Turning his attention to the top of the party again, he used Trump's campaign motto against the president.

'We were not made great as a country by indulging in or even exalting our worst impulses, turning against ourselves, glorifying in the things that divide us and calling fake things true and true things fake,' he said. 'We did not become a beacon of freedom in the darkest corners of the world by flouting our institutions and failing to understand how hard won and vulnerable they are.'

Flake said he planned to spend the 14 months of his Senate career speaking out and ended his speech by quoting President Abraham Lincoln.

'A political career does not mean much if we are complicit in undermining these values,' Flake said.

Senate Majority Leader McConnell sat stone-faced through most of the speech, but applauded when it was over, then rose to salute one of his members.

'Weve just heard a speech from a very fine man,' McConnell said.

McConnell had already had a trying day Tuesday, as Trump had restarted his spat with Corker hours before the Senate majority leader was hosting the president for lunch.

McConnell wanted the day's news to be about tax cuts.

But on Wednesday, Trump continued on with his feud with Corker too, though told reporters that he didn't think Corker's Foreign Relations Committee chair position should be stripped.

He also said he expected Corker, and Flake too, to vote for the tax package Republicans are trying to get through.

'I know them well enough, I don't know Flake that well, but I know Bob Corker, I think they'd really do it,' Trump said of giving the president a yes vote on the bill.
Richard Dearman, 32, left his five-year-old son in the woods for 24hours before he was found

Police are searching for a Mississippi man who abandoned his five-year-old son in the woods last Wednesday.

Richard Dearman, 32, allegedly told his son 'the law was behind him'.

He told the five-year-old to stand by a tree until he returned to get him.

Twenty-four hours later, the boy woke up cold and alone, and eventually walked a mile out of the woods following the sound of a barking dog to a house where he found help.

Wayne County Sheriff Jody Ashley said the boy had minor cuts but is okay.

Dearman's truck was found abandoned on a dirt road near the wooded area where he left the boy.

And though the father told his son the law was after him, the sheriff said, 'I don't know a history of drug arrests with this man or not, we are checking everything, but we are cutting warrants for him now'.

Police are searching for the father who has been missing since last week and now faces child endangerment charges

Once found, Dearman faces child endangerment and other possible charges.

'It makes you mad he would do something like this,' Ashley told WDAM. 'There are a lot of things that could have happened to this child in the woods.'

Dearman's sister has been active on social media in the search for her brother.

Morgan Dearman has posted photos of her brother with the description 'PLEASE SHARE' adding that she's, 'in desperate need to find my brother'.

Dearman was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with red and black gym shorts. He has green eyes, brown hair and a goatee. He is about 5 feet, 4 inches in height.

If you have any information that can help deputies find Dearman call the Wayne County Sheriff's Office at 601-735-2323.
Austrian monster Josef Fritzl has been linked to the unsolved rape and murder of a girl whose body was found opposite his old guesthouse after the new tenant discovered 'hollow spaces' in the building

Austrian monster Josef Fritzl has been linked to the unsolved rape and murder of a girl whose body was found opposite his old guesthouse after the new tenant discovered 'hollow spaces' in the building.

Fritzl - who fathered seven children by raping his captive daughter in a dungeon - owned and ran the Seestern guesthouse with his wife in the lakeside town of Unterach am Mondsee from 1973 to 1996.

Now the 82-year-old is being linked to a notorious cold case, which took place in the area.

On the 12th of November 1986, a teenager who looked remarkably similar to Fritzl's own daughter, disappeared.

The tragic 17-year-old, Martina Posch, was found ten days later raped and murdered, her body wrapped in green plastic sheets on the shores of the Mondsee Lake right opposite the guesthouse.

The rape and murder of the teenager was never solved.

Miss Posch's grey purse, an ID card and a bunch of keys, a blue jacket and a pair of black ankle boots were never found.

On the 12th of November 1986, Martina Posch (left) - a teenager who looked remarkably similar to Fritzl's own daughter Elisabeth (right), disappeared

Fritzl - who fathered seven children by raping his captive daughter in a dungeon - owned and ran the Seestern guesthouse (pictured) with his wife in the lakeside town of Unterach am Mondsee from 1973 to 1996

In the period when the Fritzls occupied the guesthouse, it burnt down twice before finally being rebuilt.

Josef Fritzl was even investigated as a suspected arsonist but the police could never prove anything.

The current tenant of the guesthouse Helmut Lang has called on the local authorities to investigate.

Construction workers unearthed hidden areas while measuring the property in the lakeside town in Austria.

The tragic 17-year-old, Martina Posch, was found ten days later raped and murdered, her body wrapped in green plastic sheets on the shores of the Mondsee Lake (pictured) right opposite the guesthouse

The current tenant of the guesthouse Helmut Lang has called on the local authorities to investigate

Fritzl ran the Seestern before leaving for Amstetten, where he would rape daughter Elisabeth more than 3,000 times in a sound-proofed dungeon.

An anteroom with a staircase leading nowhere was discovered behind a wall during the inspection, which was required due to the former guesthouse never receiving a building permit.

Lang added: 'There are hollow spaces everywhere in the house.'

According to local media the Seestern was never properly inspected by police even after they learned about Fritzl's crimes in his next property.

Fritzl ran the Seestern (pictured) before leaving for Amstetten, where he would rape daughter Elisabeth more than 3,000 times in a sound-proofed dungeon

Fritzl's house in Amstetten was bought by Herbert and Ingrid Houska for only 160,000 (143,581).

They renovated the building, which includes multiple flats, and have rented out all 10 of the spaces.

Herbert Houska said he saw the refurbishing of the house was like burying a coffin.

'The sarcophagus of Amstetten is gone,' he said.

'I think really something beautiful has emerged and the past has been buried.

'Many residents congratulate me and are happy.

Fritzl changed his name in May to avoid being identified by other inmates while he is serving life for rape and murder

'It is time to finally look forward.'

Only the basement of the complex where Elisabeth was held is not in use as the Amstetten authorities filled it in to prevent it from becoming a shrine to other perverts.

When Fritzl owned the house none of the tenants knew about the tragedy that was playing out beneath them in Fritzl's self-constructed dungeon.

Fritzl, who recently changed his surname to Mayrhoff so that other prisoners might not recognise him anymore, is serving life for murder and rape at Austria's most secure psychiatric prison.

The murder charge was in relation to the death by negligence of one of his sons.
Nathalie Dauriac, 39, (pictured outside court today) and John Caudwell, 65, who founded mobile phone firm Phones4u, faced each other in court

Billionaire John Caudwell asked a French wine heiress to sign away her right to have children before going into business with her, a judge heard yesterday.

Nathalie Dauriac-Stoebe also told the High Court the phones tycoon hired a private eye to dig up dirt on her when they fell out in a row over her expenses.

The financial expert, 39, said a bug had been put under her car and her emails hacked, although she could not prove who was responsible.

The former chief executive claims she was forced out of the wealth management firm they founded in 2009 after the Phones 4U founder, 65, orchestrated an elaborate conspiracy against her.

Lawyers for Signia Wealth claim she stole more than 33,000 in expenses and would have been sacked had she not resigned.

Miss Dauriac-Stoebe took the witness stand yesterday in the bitter legal dispute to deny she had stolen from the fund to pay for personal holidays and beauty treatments.

She is suing the fund for wrongful dismissal and demanding compensation, claiming she was forced to sell her share of the firm for just 2 when it was worth closer to 17million.

In a witness statement she said Mr Caudwell had tried to get her to sign an agreement to confirm she would not have children when they became business partners.

Miss Dauriac-Stoebe told Mr Justice Marcus Smith that she did not agree to the condition, but did pledge not to have children until the new business was firmly established.

Now a mother of children aged five and three, she said she had worked up until the day before the birth of her first child and only taken a week off before returning to work.

Miss Dauriac-Stoebe said: It goes without saying I would have liked nothing more than to spend more time with my young children, but I felt unable to do so given the understanding I reached with Mr Caudwell that I would always put the business as a top priority in my life.

She also said in her witness statement that she became increasingly scared of him  and her solicitors later stated he had hired a private investigator to dig up dirt about her.

Ms Dauriac says she lost shares worth more than 10 million and wants compensation

Miss Dauriac-Stoebe said Mr Caudwell hired the PI through PR firm Bell Pottinger, adding: I had the feeling of being followed and so I hired my own investigator to check my and my familys security.

My investigator found traces of a bug which was put under my car and found out my emails were hacked.

Mr Caudwells lawyers say she wrongly claimed expenses for flying across the globe to see him  visits he considered to be personal holidays.

A former colleague said Ms Dauriac would 'transform' in Mr Caudwell's presence

Miss Dauriac-Stoebe  who said she worked 24/7 for the firm  agreed she had been good friends with the tycoon, but insisted everything she did had been for the benefit of the company, adding: I will not apologise for doing my job.

FINANCIAL EXPERT CONSIDERED 135 HAIR BILL NECESSARY 'BUSINESS EXPENSE' Nathalie Dauriac, 39, told a judge how she ran up a 135 'business expense' at a hairdressing salon prior to a 'major client event'. He said it was her 'duty' to 'look impeccable' at client events. She said she did not consider a hair appointment prior to a 'client party' to be 'anything other than a business expense'. Advertisement

After an investigation was launched into her expenses claims, she told Mr Caudwell she was sorry and offered to pay back around 26,000. But yesterday she said she had only admitted wrongdoing to save the company she feared he would liquidise, adding: Signia was my baby. I would have done anything to protect it.

She continued: I spent six years building that business. He stole my business for 2. The judge was told Mr Caudwell had threatened to report her to the police at a meeting at his Mayfair mansion in late 2014.

She said: I was sitting on the pavement outside the house crying and Mr Caudwell was shouting and screaming at me.

The court also heard he asked her to take a lie detector test. The former Coutts banker denied her expense claims were fraudulent and dishonest and said she had been cleared in an internal investigation.

Yet Miss Dauriac-Stoebe said after she left the firm in December 2014, Mr Caudwell  who was in court yesterday  had quite simply tried to destroy my reputation in the market and make her unemployable.

Both sides deny the accusations. The trial continues.

The 135 haircut on expenses Among the alleged abuses of Nathalie Dauriac-Stoebes expenses was a 135 hairdresser visit she billed to the company. The French heiress is accused of falsely charging Signia Wealth 33,000 in expenses by former business partner John Caudwell. But she yesterday defended the haircut cost in court, saying she had needed to look her best for a weekend business meeting. She wrote in her witness statement: It is correct that I spent 135 at a hairdresser before a major client event. As a woman I consider it part of my duties to look impeccable for client events. That I attend events on a Saturday evening, in what should be my own personal time, it is not for fun but for the benefit of the business. For this reason, Miss Dauriac-Stoebe said a hair appointment was a genuine business expense. Advertisement
A Maryland county has been accused of Islamophobia in a new lawsuit which alleges that officials have intentionally stalled construction of a Muslim retirement village.

Developers behind the controversial River Run estate, say the project has ground to a halt because Harford County failed to issue the necessary permits on racial grounds.

'I've never seen such discrimination,' said developer Gemcraft Homes chief executive Bill Luther, who partnered with Faheem Younus, for the scheme. 'It's sickening. I don't know what the heck they are doing.'

He has since filed a lawsuit against Harford County officials claiming they are intentionally stalling construction 'motivated by racial and religious animus to keep members of the Islamic faith from purchasing lots and exercising their religious freedoms.'

County officials deny their concerns have anything to do with Islam, and insist that the developers violated fair-housing laws by only offering the new homes to followers of a certain faith.

'The leading problem on this project is the housing discrimination,' Maryland Del. Richard K. Impallaria (R-Baltimore County), who has held two local meetings about the development, told the Washington Post.

Developer Faheem Younus (pictured at a community meeting to discuss the development earlier this month) claims the project was initially marketed only to Ahmadis because demand was high

'We really don't need a group of people coming in that's going to isolate themselves from the rest of the community  come in and do an end run around state, federal, county laws. It's not a good way to start out as a good neighbor.'

But Younus, a 46-year-old infectious-disease doctor, disagrees.

'There are many Jewish, Christian communities  we're not reinventing the wheel here,' he said.

Caught in the midst of the dispute are the Ahmadi Muslims - a sect of Islam who have faced persecution by other Muslims around the world - who have already purchased homes on the development before stalled county permits halted construction.

Younus had teamed up with a developer to buy the picturesque River Run development, a 35 wooded acres plot overlooking Gunpowder River, in the small town of Joppatowne, last year.

The original development for 56 homes was approved more than a decade ago but was abandoned after just four homes were built when the developer folded.

Younus had teamed up with a developer to buy the picturesque River Run development, a 35 wooded acres plot overlooking Gunpowder River, in the small town of Joppatowne (pictured)

But permits have stalled construction leaving most of the homes unfinished (pictured)

Younus was hoping to create a 'peace village' retirement community for Ahmadi Muslims, aged 55 and above, along with a dedicated mosque.

The plan was such a hit among the Ahmadi community, that 22 units were sold within months of Younus' lottery for homes.

But the development's runaway success may have been its downfall as local officials and real estate agents complained it was unfair that such popular and potentially lucrative estate was only being offered to Muslims.

Real estate agent Gina Pimentel even filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development last month, complaining she couldn't earn commission on the homes because she was being shut out of the selling process as they were 'unlawfully privately marketing and selling only to Ahmadi Muslims.'

'It's not about religion for me,' she said. 'My husband's Puerto Rican... do you want to live with 106 Puerto Ricans?'

The few non-Muslim residents who already live on River Run after purchasing their homes from the original developer, have raised concerns.

Tony Whitt who bought his house in 2016, was worried about living next to an all-Muslim community and said he felt it promoted 'segregation.'

Real estate agent Gina Pimentel (pictured) filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development last month, complaining she couldn't earn commission on the homes as they were 'unlawfully privately marketing and selling only to Ahmadi Muslims'

Others were concerned the legal complications could lower house prices and make it difficult to sell.

Younus and the developers also clashed with locals at town meetings, where they answered questions about the project from many, and faced racist ignorance from some who challenged Younus about 'jihad' and insisted the Koran was a violent text.

In response, Pakistan-born Younus tried to assure the community that River Run would not be solely Muslim, explaining that it was initially marketed only to Ahmadis because demand was high.

The original plans for a mosque have now been scrapped in favor of a community center.

But many locals and officials are yet to be convinced- and the development remains stalled while it waits for permits to be approved, although authorities say they are on hold for typical issues, such as until storm water management is resolved.

'They had a conspiracy,' Impallaria said. 'They already carried it out by selling homes to a select religious sect. I'm not buying their story now.'

Gemcraft Homes chief executive Bill Luther (pictured) who partnered with Younus on this development has since filed a lawsuit against Harford County officials claiming they are intentionally stalling construction

Meanwhile, all the Muslims who have already bought property on the incomplete development can do, is wait.

Ajaz Khan, 63, and his wife Jamila said the development looked like a 'dream come true' when they put a $10,000 deposit down in February. But their hopes of moving in next month have been dashed by the ongoing legal battle.

Khan, who fled persecution in Pakistan after Sunni Muslims burned his family's home and killed two cousins, lives around 1,000 miles away from the development with his wife, with whom he has five boys; three of whom work for Apple and one who served as a Marine.

They say they have no idea what they are going to do next as they, and all the other families who have invested, wait to see if they will be allowed to move into their new homes.
A New York State Police dog named after a trooper killed in the line of duty has died in a friendly fire incident while being attacked by a pit bull.

State police say troopers were helping the Lewis County Sheriff's Office search a residence in the eastern Adirondacks late Monday night.

A pit bull ran out of the house and began attacking Trooper Shaun Smith's K-9 partner, a 3-year-old Belgian-Malinois named Will.

A New York State Police dog named Will was killed by friendly fire on Monday while he was being attacked by a pit bull

Smith fired a single shot and hit the pit bull in the leg.

Troopers say it appears the bullet ricocheted off the ground and hit Will in the stomach.

The dog was transported to Countryside Veterinary Clinic in Lowville but he died there, police said.

Trooper Shaun Smith fired a single shot at the pit bull and hit it in the leg. However, the bullet ricocheted off the ground and hit Will in the stomach. He died at a veterinary clinic

Will graduated from state police K-9 school in April.

The pit bull survived and is being treated by a veterinarian. It is currently unknown if the dog's owners will face charges.

He was named after Trooper William Doyle, who was fatally shot by escapees from a psychiatric institution in 1967.
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A stunning baronial home at the centre of a murder mystery that gripped the country over 150 years ago has been put up for sale for a bargain 350,000.

Invergare Mansion was home in the mid-19th Century to Glasgow socialite Madeleine Smith who went on trial for murder following the death of her secret lover after he drank cocoa laced with arsenic.

It was in the nine-bedroom property in Rhu, Argyll and Bute, that young Madeleine was alleged to have given the deadly drink to middle-aged clerk Pierre Emile L'Angelier.

A stunning baronial home at the centre of a murder mystery that gripped the country over 150 years ago has been put up for sale for a bargain 350,000

Invergare Mansion was home in the mid-19th Century to Madeleine Smith who went on trial for murder following the death of her secret lover after he drank cocoa laced with arsenic

The mansion, designed by Madeleine's father, James, is now in need of 'significant' renovation but includes over 2.5 acres of land, numerous period features including marble flooring, and stunning views over the Firth of Clyde

Internally Invergare has a wealth of period features to marry the exceptional external architectural character displayed in the principal elevations

It was in the nine-bedroom property in Rhu, Argyll and Bute, that young Madeleine was alleged to have given the deadly drink to middle-aged clerk Pierre Emile L'Angelier

The case, which scandalised Victorian society, resulted in Scotland's first ever not proven verdict and Madeleine fled to America, where she married three times and died aged 92.

The mansion, designed by Madeleine's father, James, is now in need of 'significant' renovation but includes over 2.5 acres of land, numerous period features including marble flooring, and stunning views over the Firth of Clyde.

Perhaps unusually, the sellers, Rettie, are making much of the dark history of the property.

Buyers are told in the sales brochure: 'James Smith left the house in 1858 following a scandal surrounding his daughter, Madeleine Smith, who was accused of murder.'

Madeleine - described by a contemporary as 'strikingly attractive, stylish, and confident with dark hair and the most entrancing eyes' - began her affair with Pierre in 1855 when they were introduced by a neighbour.

B-listed Invergare was frequently the venue for their passionate affair but the gulf in their social status meant Madeline became engaged to another man. L'Angelier then threatened to expose their letters unless she married him.

Externally the house is faced with grey harling with honey coloured sandstone dressings and margins, chamfered reveals, quoin strips and crow-stepped gables

The inside living room of Invergare Mansion is extremely spacious and boasts a fire place and built-in seating

Examples of the period features include the octagonal entrance porch with its marble floor and skirting, polished sandstone arches and the barrel vaulted corridor that leads from the entrance porch to the entrance hall with its galleried landing over and columned classical arches

At a meeting between the couple at the house in 1857 Madeleine is alleged to have put 30 'grains' of arsenic in her former beau's cocoa.

L'Angelier died shortly afterwards and a post-mortem revealed the presence of arsenic, resulting in Madeleine's arrest and trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Madeline was arrested and went on trial for his murder at the High Court in Edinburgh. The prosecution case rested on Madeleine's motive but her defence team insisted she had not seen Pierre for three weeks before his death.

Reluctant to send a woman to the gallows without more evidence, the jury returned a not proven verdict, meaning Madeleine was acquitted but left under a shadow of doubt for the rest of her life.

Following the trial, the young socialite reportedly disguised herself and caught the night train to London before fleeing to America, where she died in 1938.

A decorative scene of a man and woman is illustrated on one of the mantelpieces inside Invergare Mansion

A stunning baronial home at the centre of a murder mystery that gripped the country over 150 years ago has been put up for sale for a bargain 350,00

While Rettie acknowledge the tragic history of the property, they prefer to concentrate on its many attractions.

'Despite having been vacant for a number of years, the Victorian home still boasts some impressive features,' states the brochure.

'Externally the house is faced with grey harling with honey coloured sandstone dressings and margins, chamfered reveals, quoin strips and crow-stepped gables.'

They add: 'Internally Invergare has a wealth of period features to marry the exceptional external architectural character displayed in the principal elevations.

'Examples of the period features include the octagonal entrance porch with its marble floor and skirting, polished sandstone arches and the barrel vaulted corridor that leads from the entrance porch to the entrance hall with its galleried landing over and columned classical arches.'
A 37-year-old French woman has allegedly been stabbed to death by her Brazilian husband in their flat in central Dublin.

The victim, named locally as Anne Colomines, 37, was found dead with multiple stab wounds in the flat she shared with her husband Renato Gehlen, 35, the Irish capital.

Mr Gehlen, also named locally, was found seriously injured in the flat, and is currently in hospital receiving treatment.

Police are not looking at anyone else at present and describe Ms Colomines' death as a domestic incident.

Incident: A 37-year-old French woman, believed to be PayPal employee Anne Colomines, was found stabbed to death in a flat in Dublin and a 35-year-old Brazilian man, allegedly her husband Renato Gehlen, was hospitalised with severe injuries

Allegations: An Irish journalist reported that the two people involved in the incident are Anne Colomines and Renato Gehlen, pictured left and right in photos from their Facebook pages

Gardai was called to Dorset Square in Gardiner Street in Dublin's north inner city on Tuesday night after a phone call at about 11.30pm on Tuesday.

The victim was found in the kitchen of a flat on the fourth floor of the apartment block, and pronounced dead at the scene.

Ms Colomines, who headed up an account manager team at PayPal, was originally from France but had worked in Dublin since 2012.

Mr Gehlen, from Brazil, was found with serious injuries and was immediately rushed to a local hospital.

Garda at the scene after a woman was found dead in an apartment at Dorset Square in Gardiner Street in Dublin's north inner city on Tuesday night

Unconfirmed: A murder inquiry has been launched into what is believed to be the death of Anne Colomines in a stabbing in the home she shared with husband Renato Gehlen in Dublin

The victim was found in the kitchen of a flat on the fourth floor of the apartment block, and pronounced dead at the scene

The couple was first named on Twitter by local journalist Padraig O'Reilly.

Gardai in Dublin has launched a murder inquiry but are treating it as a domestic incident and are not looking for anyone else at present, according to RTE.

The area is currently sealed off for forensic investigation.

Gardai declined to comment on the identity of the victim when contacted by MailOnline.
An elderly disabled war veteran had his specially modified car stolen but he's just happy they didn't take his beloved dog.

The thieves broke into Bill Bowden's Adelaide retirement village home and allegedly stole his car keys which were laying right beside him in a drawer as he slept.

The 78-year-old grandfather told 9 News his Hyundai Veloster car, house keys, phone and money were allegedly stolen in the heartless robbery at about 4am Monday.

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Elderly disabled war veteran Bill Bowden (pictured) had his specially modified car stolen but he's just happy they didn't take his beloved dog

The thieves broke into Mr Bowden's Adelaide retirement village home and stole his car keys which were laying right beside him in a drawer as he slept

'I'm really upset ... you don't want to know what I would do if I ever got hold of them,' Mr Bowden said.

'I'm just happy that they didn't do anything to my dog.'

The Vietnam War veteran's specialised car is fitted with expensive hand controls allowing him to drive.

The car, with the registration S516 APH, also has a wheelchair lifter, giving Mr Bowden freedom after he was forced to have both of his legs amputated because of an arterial disease.

Mr Bowden (pictured) was forced to have both his legs amputated from an arterial diseasea

The Vietnam War veteran's specialised car (pictured) is fitted with expensive hand controls allowing him to drive and has no use for anyone else

Now the 78-year-old is left with just his wheelchair and mobility scooter to get around on, according to 9 News.

Mr Bowden's daughter believes it was targeted attack by someone who knew of her father's disability and that his car is no use to anyone else.

The grandfather was forced to change the locks to his house but isn't fearful the thieves are likely to return.
Most Americans say President Donald Trump's tax plan would benefit the wealthy and corporations, and less than half believe his message that 'massive tax cuts' would help middle-class workers, according to an Associated Press-NORC poll.

The survey could serve as a warning sign for Trump as he pushes Republicans to support his proposal. The president and GOP lawmakers are seeking a major legislative victory before the 2018 elections.

For all the differences of opinion over the details of tax changes, the poll shows a large and bipartisan appetite for tax cuts for middle-class families. Majorities of both Republicans and Democrats think the middle class and small businesses pay too much and that the wealthy and large corporations pay too little.

But doubts and partisan differences emerge when Americans size up whether the middle class will truly benefit from Trump's plan, says the survey conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Just 43 percent of those of adults who have heard at least a little bit about the plan think it would help the middle class. And on that, there's a large partisan divide: 79 percent of Republicans and 19 percent of Democrats share that sentiment.

Skepticism: The AP-NORC poll suggests that Trump has yet to convince voters that the middle classes will benefit from his tax plan

Key plan: The Republican legislative agenda has so far produced no victories meaning the party, led in the Senate by Mitch McConnell, is all in on tax reform

'The more we give tax breaks to the wealthy, we've gone down that road before in the Bush regime,' said Democrat Benjamin Orris, a 36-year-old educator from Evanston, Illinois. 'That brought us into the Great Recession - almost back to the Great Depression.'

Darron Smith, a 49-year-old Trump voter from West Des Moines, Iowa, said the tax plan would help him as a single parent. He predicted lower taxes would lead to more consumer spending.

As for the warnings from Democrats, Smith said he remembered hearing the same arguments during President Ronald Reagan's tenure.

'Any time Republicans want to do a tax cut, the first thing Democrats say is it's going to help the rich. I don't see it that way,' Smith said.

Trump has held weekly events since late August on his tax overhaul, arguing the United States must slash the corporate rate to remain competitive and shrink the number of tax brackets.

The Trump administration has suggested cutting corporate rates and overhauling the tax system could provide a $4,000 annual pay raise to the average family. Democrats and other critics question whether lower corporate rates and other changes would result in that kind of increase for families.

Trump and congressional Republicans also want to repeal inheritance taxes on multimillion-dollar estates.

'Our plan can be summarized in three simple words: jobs, jobs, jobs,' Trump said in the Oval Office on Tuesday.

But the AP-NORC poll shows a negative undercurrent surrounding the plan, and majorities in both parties view the proposal as a boon for the rich and corporate interests.

The poll found 69 percent of adults who have heard at least a little bit about the plan think it would help large corporations. The sentiment was bipartisan, including 70 percent of Democrats and 69 percent of Republicans.

Also, 60 percent said the tax push would bolster the wealthy, with 67 percent of Democrats and 54 percent of Republicans viewing it that way.

'I have no confidence in his tax plan,' said Democrat Nancy Bauhs, a 70-year-old retired sweater designer from New Holstein, Wisconsin.

Fifty-four percent of those questioned, including 58 percent of Republicans and 52 percent of Democrats, think they personally pay too much in taxes.

The survey found that 56 percent said they think middle-class households pay too much, while 56 percent say the same about small businesses. By contrast, 72 percent say the wealthy and large corporations pay too little in taxes.

The administration has been actively trying to sell the plan. House Republicans are expected to consider a budget measure this week that would serve as a precursor to the tax overhaul, and administration officials have promoted the plan at events around the country.

Push: Vice president Mike Pence told the American Enterprise Institute on Tuesday: 'When we cut taxes on businesses, it's going to benefit working Americans. So I encourage you to go make that case.'

Vice President Mike Pence, in a Tuesday speech to the GOP-leaning American Enterprise Institute, noted that Trump 'doesn't like talking about tax reform, he likes talking about tax cuts because he wants the American people to know we are cutting taxes for every American.'

'And when we cut taxes on businesses, it's going to benefit working Americans. So I encourage you to go make that case,' Pence said.

Large majorities of Americans think tax cuts for small businesses, middle-income people and lower income people would help the economy. But the poll shows people taking the opposite view for the wealthy and corporations.

The poll found 51 percent think tax cuts for the wealthy would hurt the economy compared with 23 percent who thought it would help.

Also, 48 percent said tax cuts for large corporations would hurt the economy compared with 31 percent who think they would help.

Two-thirds of Democrats think tax cuts for the wealthy would hurt the economy.

Among Republicans, about one-third said tax cuts benefiting the wealthy would help the economy, one-third said they would hurt and the final third think they would make no difference.

There's greater disagreement on the impact of cuts for large corporations: Democrats are more likely to think they would hurt rather than help the economy (59 percent to 20 percent) while Republicans are more likely to think they would help than hurt (49 percent to 30 percent).

The AP-NORC poll of 1,054 adults was conducted Oct. 12-16 using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points.

Respondents were first selected randomly using address-based sampling methods, and later interviewed online or by phone.
U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has been evacuated from a U.N. camp in South Sudan because of a demonstration against President Salva Kiir.

Shortly after Haley left the camp for refugees on Wednesday, UN security guards fired tear gas to disperse the crowd of more than 100 residents who looted and destroyed the office of a charity operating there, an aid worker at the camp said. The aid worker spoke on condition of anonymity out of safety fears.

Haley was in the middle of a visit to three African countries. She met earlier Wednesday with Kiir to discuss the country's long civil war.

The UN confirmed camp residents 'became upset that she was not able to meet with them, due to time constraint.'

'People are not happy,' said one resident of the UN camp, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of his safety.

He said camp residents had been waiting to hand Haley a letter with their position on the 'current crisis'. The UN said a 'petition' was delivered before Haley's departure.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has been evacuated from a UN camp for displaced people in South Sudan because of a volatile demonstration against President Salva Kiir. She is pictured above when she arrived in Juba, South Sudan, on Wednesday

Shortly after Haley left the camp, UN security guards fired tear gas to disperse the crowd of more than 100 residents who looted and destroyed the office of a charity operating there

Haley (left) met with Kiir (right) on Wednesday morning to discuss South Sudan's civil war

Haley visited the camp but was not able to speak with its residents. One resident said they had been waiting to hand Haley a letter with their position on the 'current crisis'

Frustration has been growing inside and outside South Sudan over the conflict that has killed tens of thousands and created Africa's largest displacement of civilians since the Rwanda genocide in 1994.

The U.S. is South Sudan's largest donor and was instrumental in the country's creation.

Since the East African nation gained independence in 2011, the U.S. has given more than $5billion for humanitarian and development initiatives, according to the U.S. Embassy.

South Sudan plunged into civil war in late 2013, and the country faces mass displacement, starvation and allegations of government corruption and war crimes. More than two million people have fled the country.

'We are disappointed by what we are seeing. This is not what we thought we were investing in,' Haley said in remarks later released by the UN.

'What we thought we were investing in was a free, fair society where people could be safe and South Sudan is the opposite of that,' she said.

Haley warned Kiir that the U.S. no longer trusted South Sudan's government and was no longer prepared to wait for change, she said in an interview with U.N station Radio Miraya. She did not give details.

Haley warned Kiir that the U.S. no longer trusted South Sudan's government and was no longer prepared to wait for change

Frustration has been growing around South Sudan over the conflict that's killed tens of thousands and created Africa's largest displacement of civilians since the Rwanda genocide

Haley is the highest-level U.S. government official to visit South Sudan since President Donald Trump took office.

She is in Africa to see the involvement of the U.S. and United Nations in Ethiopia, South Sudan and Congo, where she will be on Thursday.

In his meeting with Haley, South Sudan's president appealed for the Trump administration to stay engaged with his devastated country.

According to a statement by his office, Kiir 'emphasized his commitment' to end the conflict through peace talks that took place in the capital, Juba, last week and are expected to resume in December.

'All disputes can only be resolved through dialogue and not arms,' Kiir told Haley, the statement said. Multiple attempts at peace deals have failed in the past.

Before her visit to the U.N. camp, Haley said on Twitter that she hopes South Sudan's peace process succeeds. 'The pain in the stories of refugees from S.Sudan is a reminder we can't look away. We can't let armed conflict be their only choice,' she said.

South Sudan's president also said he was working with the United Nations to increase access for humanitarian workers across the country ravaged by hunger. The UN has long alleged government restrictions on aid, including harassment by troops.

Rights groups have urged the United States to take a tougher approach to Kiir's government.
A grandfather who nearly died from a heart attack is suing his doctor after spending six weeks in intensive care.

Glenn Richardson spoke with his GP during three different occasion after experiencing discomfort but each time he was diagnosed with acid reflux.

Just days after his last visit, the 58-year-old suffered a massive heart attack and required triple-bypass surgery, 7 News reports.

Grandfather Glenn Richardson (pictured) nearly died from a huge heart attack is suing his doctor

The 56-year-old spent six weeks in intensive care after he was misdiagnosed

'It was very, very hard being in there every day and seeing the way Glenn was,' Carol Richardson said.

The self-employed plumber was forced to retire and is now claiming damages as well as loss of earnings.

His lawyer has said there is a rising number of people whose serious heart conditions are missed.

'You've got to exclude the possibility of a cardiac cause and to do that you do an ECG - it's a very simple test,' lawyer Anne Shortall said.

Mr Richardson now faces long-term effects following his episode, with his heart muscles reduced to one quarter the working capacity which it was.

He remains determined to live life as best he can now helping out at his local rugby club and playing with his grandchildren as much as he can.

The Philip Island man hopes that by speaking out he can encourage others to seek medical help straight away and insist the proper heart checks are done to clear any serious issues.

Just days later after his final visit the 58-year-old needed triple-bypass surgery and his wife says it was very hard times
A West Virginia man who pleaded guilty to shooting his wife and dismembering her body last year has been sentenced to up to 40 years in prison.

Woody Alfred Wood Jr., 36, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of 37-year-old Rebecca Wood in August, and was sentenced on Monday, as reported by the Bluefield Daily Telegraph.

According to court records, he shot his wife after arguing with her in March 2016, for which he was facing first-degree murder charges.

Woody Alfred Wood Jr. (left), 36, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in August; Wood shot his wife Rebecca (pictured right ) in March, 2016, and dismembered her body, before burying it the basement and going to dinner with her family the next day

Wood then dismembered her body, placed the parts in trash bags and buried them in the basement.

He later confessed to the murder while talking to investigators.

McDowell County Prosecuting Attorney Ed Kornish offered no motive for the crime, which he called 'a senseless killing'.

'Woody Wood shot and killed his wife for no good reason,' Kornish said, according to BDT. 'We don't know why. This is something that will haunt her family and the Wood family ... Rebecca was shot with a rifle. The barrel was several feet from her head.'

Kornish claimed Wood hid a bloody mattress and his bloody clothes after the murder, went to her parents' house the next day for dinner, and lied about her whereabouts, acting like nothing happened.

'The facts behind this case are especially heinous,' Kornish said.

Wood's attorney Thomas H. Evans said his client did not wish to address the court.

After sentencing, Woods told the judge he wanted to say something to his late wife's family, but Murensky, reminding him he had declined to speak earlier, denied his request.

'If he wants to say anything, he can write them a letter,' Murensky said.

McDowell County Prosecuting Attorney Ed Kornish offered no motive for the crime, which he called 'a senseless killing'

The victim's older sister, Cynthia Harman, read a letter from her family before sentencing.

Part of it read: 'It took a real monster to take hours to cut her up and bury her. But to kill someone, and kill someone you love, and act like nothing happened takes a mean, heartless monster.'

Wood suddenly told the judge he wanted to say something to his late wife's family, but Murensky, reminding him he had declined to speak earlier, denied his request

She added that her sister had given Wood half the house as an anniversary gift, and that she truly loved him.

After sentencing Wood, Circuit Court Judge Rudolph J. Murensky said 'It probably should be more'.

He also said he had disallowed a statement Wood gave to police that he believed was inaccurate because it claimed the shooting was an accident.

Prosecutor Kornish says he believes Wood had help disposing of his wife's body, but this has not been proven. An investigation continues into the possibility that someone helped Wood dispose of a bloodstained mattress.

Hartman said her family prays that whoever the accomplice was sees Michelle every time they close their eyes.

She held a small purple snowman doll while addressing the court, saying her 4-year-old granddaughter made it in Rebecca's favorite color while the children were making them because she wanted her Aunt Becky to have one too.
A woman was rescued by brave bystanders after she fell on hot coals during a fire-walking ritual.

Ceremonial drums beat as the woman ran barefoot on the burning embers until she tripped on the layers of her saree skirt in India.

She sprawled across the burning pit and lay there motionless for moments until onlookers rushed to her aid and dragged her off in clouds of ash and smoke.

She was then rushed to a hospital where she was treated for minor burns.

The incident took place at Bagalgunte village on the outskirts of Bangalore on October 15.

A local resident Namitha Gowda said a similar mishap had occurred two years ago.

'A woman had fallen down during the ritual and had been saved in the same way. Wearing a saree and fire walking is a bad idea,' she said.

Bagalgunte village holds an annual religious fair in honour of a local goddess and fire-walking is a highlight of the event.

Many devotees take a vow to walk on fire to appease the goddess.

The woman was filmed from above as she started to run across the hot coals during a fire-walking ritual to appease a local goddess in India

Ceremonial drums beat as the woman ran barefoot on the burning embers until she tripped on the layers of her saree skirt at Bagalgunte village on the outskirts of Bangalore in India

They run over a bed of hot coals, which is prepared by burning wood.

As the devotees run fast the water on their bare-feet vapourises to form a protective layer shielding their skin.

The coal or wood embers, which are used in fire-walking, also have a low capacity to conduct heat.

But the faithful believe that it is the goddess who ensures that they do not get burned during the ritual.

Shocking fall: She sprawled across the burning pit and lay there motionless for moments

Helpful crowd: Onlookers rushed to her aid and dragged her off in clouds of ash and smoke
An entire breeding herd of rhino's have been shot and killed even though most had been dehorned and were of little value to the evil gang of poachers.

Distraught game reserve owner Greg Harvey had spent years building up the herd of three males and two females and they were all at the stage to mate.

But two senseless attacks in a three weeks at Wildschutsberg Game Reserve in the Stormberg mountains near Komani in the Eastern Cape wiped them out.

Owner Greg said: 'It is just madness. I had five rhino's of breeding age and they are gone in the blink of an eye. My entire rhino population wiped out.

'Four rhino's were de-horned as a counter-poaching measure earlier this year leaving only little stumps of horn so it was an absolutely pointless slaughter.

Despite being de-horned and off little value, the rhinos were still senselessly killed by the poachers at a game reserve in South Africa

'They still cut out the small bits that remained but would have got very little' he said.

The poachers first struck earlier this month when they shot two male rhino's dead then on Sunday they shot a female and a young male dead and wounded one female.

Mr Harvey and a team of vets spent most of the day trying to save the female which still had her horn but sadly were unable to save her and she died in front of them.

It is suspected that a syndicate targeted the reserve using inside information as the existence of the herd was a closely kept secret and the whereabouts difficult to find.

In 2014 Mr Harvey had two breeding rhino bulls shot dead by high powered hunting rifles and took the decision to build a new breeding herd which carried no horns.

But the poachers nevertheless shot them all dead and fled with little of value and the police Endangered Species Unit has been called in along with trackers to try and find them.

Game reserve owner suspects staff may have provided information about the location of the herd, who roamed around at night

So far in the Eastern Cape 11 rhinos have been killed this year compared to 19 last year.

The two bulls killed earlier this month were about 10 years of age and shot in broad daylight.

Mr Harvey said: 'I got a panicked call saying it looks like there had been a poaching so I launched the helicopter and spotted two rhinos dead 300m apart in the bush.

'Unfortunately attempts to track and locate the poachers failed.

'In the latest attack three rhinos  two females aged about 8 and 15 and a four year old male where shot. A staff member spotted them on the floor in the distance.

'It was only when I got there in the helicopter we saw one was still alive and got the vet out but unfortunately she succumbed to her injuries and died'he said.

Mr Harvey said he suspected a member of staff gave information to the poachers.

He said: 'These rhinos are roaming all day and night so no one knows where they are. The only way you would know where to look would be with inside information'.

The furious game park boss has ordered all his staff to undertake a lie detector test.

Provincial police spokeswoman Colonel Sibongile Soci said they were on the case.

Wildlife vet Dr William Fowlds said: 'Every rhino lost to poaching inches us closer to possible extinction and makes criminal syndicates more difficult to stop.

The killing of the rhinos took place at the Wildschutsberg Reserve in South Africa, which was set up in the early 19th century by a wealthy British nobleman

'The cost to protect is high but small in comparison to the benefits these magnificent national assets hold for future generations he said.

The reserve was set up in the 1800's by a wealthy British nobleman but in 2002 it was taken on by Mr Harvey who expanded it and brought in new animals including the rhinos.

Earlier this week South Africa's Rhino 8 Task Team revealed a major breakthrough and said they had arrested 36 men suspected of rhino poaching in Mpumlanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal.

In South Africa in 2016 there were 1054 rhinos killed for their horns and to July this year poachers have killed 529 rhinos.
A 15-year-old Arizona girl and her 21-year-old boyfriend are facing murder charges in the shooting death of the girls father in a rural home 50 miles west of Phoenix.

Maricopa County Sheriffs deputies found 59-year-old John Norton dead inside the home in Tonopah early Monday afternoon.

According to probable cause statement filed in court, the teenager, who has a seven-month-old baby, initially told deputies that her ex-boyfriend showed up unannounced at 1pm, forced his way into the home near 373rd Avenue and Buckeye Road in Tonopah and got into an argument with her while her father was away running errands.

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Couple charged: Daniel Stroh, 21 (pictured left in mugshot), and his 15-year-old girlfriend (pictured with Stroh, right), have been charged in the killing of the girl's father. The girl is not being identified because of her age

Crime scene: John Norton, 59, was found fatally shot near 373rd Avenue and Buckeye Road in Tonopah, Arizona, Monday

After processing the scene, deputies became suspicious of the teenage girl's story that a former boyfriend shot her dad

When Norton returned, the man shot him in the torso, prompting his daughter to flee along with her 13-year-old sister.

After processing the crime scene and interviewing witnesses, deputies grew skeptical of the girl's version of events and came to suspect her and her current boyfriend, 21-year-old Daniel Stroh, in Norton's killing.

When she was questioned a second time, the victim's daughter admitted that she and Stroh killed Norton because she was angry at him that he was refusing to let her older boyfriend visit her.

The 15-year-old girl also revealed that she and Stroh planned to shoot Norton for three days, according to court documents.

Premeditated: The 15-year-old girl (pictured with Stroh) eventually confessed that the pair planned to shoot Norton for three days because she was angry at him

Stroh also confessed to his role in the killing, telling investigators that his girlfriend pressured him to shoot her father, and even provided him with the murder weapon, a .45 Long Colt Revolver, which the accomplices later threw away, reported AZCentral.com.

The 21-year-old, who on Facebook repeatedly referred to the 15-year-old girl as his 'wife' and claimed that the two got married in 2015, told deputies that the teenager warned him that if he refused to shoot her father, she would do it herself and then commit suicide.

AZFamily.com reported that a judge set Stroh's bond at $1million and ordered him booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and tampering with evidence.

His girlfriend was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and tampering with evidence, and taken to a juvenile facility.
Alexander Restrepo, 33, died after suffering multiple stab wounds from an attack by a group of men at a house party

A 33-year-old Florida man was stabbed to death when a physical fight turned fatal in the early hours of the morning.

The Miami-Dade Police Department confirmed that Alexander Restrepo, a bright and promising nuclear engineer, died Saturday after being left at the scene located on SW 147 Street and SW 157 Avenue in Miami.

Restrepo was born and resided in the Miami area, according to the 'About Me' section of his Facebook page.

He was employed at the Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station near Homestead at the time he tragically lost his life in the bloody attack.

Authorities are actively searching for the group of men said to be responsible for the senseless stabbing.

Miami-Dade Police Det. Argemis Colome said the young engineer was preparing to leave the party just moments before the onslaught broke out around 2:55 am.

Police in Miami, Florida said Restrepo died Saturday when the attack happened around 2:55 am at the scene located at SW 147 Street and SW 157 Avenue (pictured)

The victim was employed at the Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station near Homestead (pictured) at the time he tragically lost his life in the bloody attack

The Miami-Dade Police Department said the young engineer had been getting ready to leave the party just moments before the onslaught broke out in the early hours of the morning

Colome confirmed Restrepo had been 'confronted by a group of guys' who wanted to 'exchange some words' with him.

'They keep walking a few houses down the street. Same individuals that confronted him at the exit, they get into another argument,' the detective said, according to CBS Miami.

'Now, it starts escalating ... becomes physical, and at one point, he winds up getting stabbed.'

Restrepo was stabbed repeatedly in the back, while the unidentified suspects left him to die at the scene.

Authorities are asking locals for help in piecing together background information leading to the deadly brawl and a possible motive of the men.

Colome confirmed Restrepo had been 'confronted by a group of guys' who wanted to 'exchange some words' with him

Authorities are seeking information about the suspects and a possible motive for the stabbing

It's unclear whether or not the stabbing was premeditated and if the victim was formally invited to the gathering.

'We do not know how it started (and) why it started. So that is what we are trying to find out,' Colome added.

According to the local news outlet, as many as 50-60 individuals were in attendance to the party.

'Somebody in one of their groups has to know more (about the incident),' said Colome.

Heartbroken friends to the late Restrepo said he was a family man who was close to his mother (pictured together)

'He was an enthusiastic athlete, and was always was the organizer that got friends together,' Restrepo's friends said. Pictured Restrepo with his friends

'Somebody in one of their groups has to know more (about the incident),' said Colome. Restrepo is pictured on a different social occasion with his friends

Heartbroken friends to the late Restrepo said he was was a caring family man who loved his mother dearly.

'He was an enthusiastic athlete, and was always was the organizer that got friends together,' friends said, according to the CBS Miami.

The police department released a flyer Tuesday morning seeking further information on the homicide.

'Anyone with information regarding this homicide is requested to contact Miami-Dade Police Department Homicide Detective O. Manresa at (305) 471-2400,' the flyer read, which was posted to the police department's Facebook page.

'If you wish to remain anonymous, then contact Miami-Dade & The Florida Keys Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).'

Those with further clues on the crime can also visit www.crimestoppersmiami.com and select 'Give a Tip'.

Clues leading the the arrest of the suspects may be eligible for a cash prize up to $3,000.00.
Lord Lawson (pictured) made the claim during a interview broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme in August

The BBC was accused of being a 'left-wing mouthpiece' today after it issued a grovelling apology for failing to challenge Lord Lawson over a claim temperatures have not risen over the last 10 years.

Furious MPs said the decision to single out the peer showed the corporation had given up any 'pretence' of impartiality.

Former chancellor Lord Lawson made the claim during an interview broadcast on Radio 4's Today programme in August.

The BBC had initially rejected complaints from viewers, claiming that it was important to give air time to 'dissenting voices' in the pursuit of fairness.

However it has now bowed to pressure and admitted that it breached its own editorial guidelines on accuracy and impartiality.

Tory MP Philip Davies told MailOnline: 'It is what you would expect from the BBC. It is typical BBC.

'They have given up any pretence of being impartial these days. They have become a mouthpiece for any left-wing, pro-EU Labour party cause.

'If they think they might have upset some of their left wing cheerleaders then of course they are going to apologise profusely.

'I look forward to them apologising profusely when a right wing politician is challenged. I think we would be waiting a long time.'

Andrew Bridgen, Tory MP for North West Leicestershire told MailOnline: If the BBC had to apologise for every inaccuracy a Labour politician made on air they would never be able to have a Labour politician on.

The position sounds rather extreme to me  the BBC very seldom allow climate sceptics on the programme.

According to The Guardian, the BBC's executive complaints unit accepted that the assertions 'were, at the least, contestable and should have been challenged'.

During the interview with presenter Justin Webb, Lord Lawson said official figures showed that 'during this past 10 years, if anything, mean global temperature, average world temperature, has slightly declined'.

He added that the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 'has confirmed that there has been no increase in extreme weather events'.

The BBC replied in writing to a complaint lodged by Dr Tim Thornton, a retied GP from Yorkshire.

WHAT WAS THE INACCURACY? Lord Lawson had claimed that over the past decade official figures show 'global temperature, average world temperature, has slightly declined'. He added that the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 'has confirmed that there has been no increase in extreme weather events'. But the BBC received complaints from viewers who took issue with the accuracy of these remarks and why they had not been challenged. And figures collated by Nasa show global land-ocean temperatures have warmed by about 0.3 degrees centigrade in the past decade. While 97 per cent of climate change scientists believe climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities, according to Nasa. Advertisement

In a letter seen by the Guardian, Colin Tregear, BBC complaints director, said: 'I hope you'll accept my apologies [...] for the breach of editorial standards you identified.'

The Today programme received similar complaints in 2014, when it was accused of giving 'undue weight to Lord Lawson's views'.

Ninety seven per cent of climate change scientists, climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities, according to Nasa.

The IPCC has also forecast a temperature rise of 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit over the next century.

When asked for a comment, the BBC gave the following statement.

It said that during the programme, Al Gore appeared and spoke about his new film, the US Government's approach and the global effort to tackle climate change and spoke to filmmaker Fisher Stevens, who directed the 2016 film 'Before the Flood', prior to Lord Lawson's interview.

It added: 'In the interview our aim was to focus on the subsidy regime and Mr Gore's claim that there are policy makers who do not "join the dots", and Justin Webb challenged Lord Lawson in both these areas.

'The next morning we fact checked the claims around levels of subsidies for renewables and fossil fuels and we ran through the latest scientific evidence on extreme weather events and the links to climate change.

Lord Lawson (pictured on the Andrew Marr show in 2016) said figures showed that 'during this past 10 years [...] average world temperature has slightly declined'

Temperature data from four international science institutions. All show rapid warming in the past few decades and that the last decade has been the warmest on record. Data sources: NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, NOAA National Climatic Data Center, Met Office Hadley Centre/Climatic Research Unit and the Japanese Meteorological Agency. Source: Nasa

'We appreciate that listeners may disagree with the position Lord Lawson takes on this issue, but his stance is reflected, for example, in the current US administration which has distanced itself from the Paris Agreement.

'As we pride ourselves on hearing opinions from all sides on Today, we are confident that we gave listeners the context and facts to make their own minds up about the views expressed.

'The BBC is absolutely committed to impartial and balanced coverage on this complex issue.

'Our position remains exactly as it was - we accept that there is broad scientific agreement on climate change and we reflect this accordingly.

'We do however on occasion offer space to dissenting voices where appropriate as part of the BBCs overall commitment to impartiality.'

Professor Peter Stott of the Met Office said: 'Meticulous observations across the world show clearly that average global temperatures have increased over the past decade, with the three warmest years on record occurring during that period.'
Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake warned against the dangers of countenancing President Trump's behavior in interview after interview Wednesday morning, hours after he announced he would leave the Senate.

Flake predicted more and more Republicans would 'stand up' to the president, even as Trump took credit for causing Flake's ouster and few of his colleagues endorsed the substance of his stunning Tuesday speech.

And he refused to rule challenging Trump in a primary in 2020 when pressed repeatedly on it.

'That is not on my radar screen, 'That's a long way off." he told CNN's 'New Day,' chuckling during his response.

Asked if the thought of running a primary against the president had crossed his mind, he told host Alisyn Camerota, 'I'm focused on my work in the Senate. I have another good 14 months.'

Pressed again, he said, he hasn't 'entertained that thought for very long, no.'

Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake predicted more and more Republicans would 'stand up' to the president, a day after he announced his retirement

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Flake continued to pound Trump for his 'unbecoming' behavior in an appearance on NBC's 'Today' Show, one of round of appearances he made Wednesday.

'If he continues with the kind of tweeting and behavior that's unbecoming of the president, we ought to at least stand up and say so,' Flake said.

The two-term Republican announced his decision to retire, saying it was no longer possible to be at odds with the president even while compiling a conservative voting record on policy. Flake is a libertarian-leaning conservative who spent his time in Congress opposing taxes and pushing for less government.

CNN's Alisyn Camerota: Are you considering running for president?



Sen. Flake: "I haven't entertained that thought" https://t.co/5nsT2MqCS0  CNN (@CNN) October 25, 2017

'I just can't continue with this kind of politics,' he told ABC's 'Good Morning America' today. 'I couldn't go on and run the kind of campaign that I wanted to run and win in this kind of Republican Party.'

Asked if Trump deserves credit for pushing him out, Flake admitted: 'I guess the president does deserve credit if you want to call it that.'

Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake made the rounds on TV shows Wednesday morning after tearing into President Trump in an extraordinary floor speech

He even found himself a self-described RINO  a term that used to be applied to the moderate wing of the party.

'Yes, I'm not sure when that transformation happened, but -- but all of a sudden, yes, I'm a RINO, Republican in name only, and so I  politics have changed quite a bit. That's all I can say,' Flake said.

Flake was one of a relatively small group of sitting lawmakers who called out Trump for some of his statements during the campaign.

Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake made the rounds on TV shows Wednesday morning after tearing into President Trump in an extraordinary floor speech

'I didn't get off on the right foot, I guess, with the administration back in the campaign,' he acknowledged.

'Well, the bottom line is, if I were to run a campaign that I could be proud of and where I didn't have to cozy up to the president and his positions or his behavior, I could not win in a Republican primary. That's the bottom line. It's not that you have to just be with the president on policy, you can't question his behavior and still be a Republican in good standing apparently in a Republican primary,' Flake said.

He said GOP primary voters 'take any criticism of the president as somehow something that's not conservative. And that's what's got to change.'

'A lot of my colleagues have spoken out and I think a lot more will,' he predicted, although numerous GOP senators turned down the chance to follow his lead.

Flake kept up his criticism on NBC's 'Today' show. 'How can we explain to our kids that we are countenancing this kind of behavior from the top,' he said.

He told CNN's 'New Day' he couldn't run the kind of campaign he would be 'proud' of in the current environment. Critics on the left have asked why Flake wouldn't stay and challenge Trump or try to run a race based on resisting him.

'It's tough. I'm competitive, I like to fight these battles. But I also know that I couldn't run the kind of race that I would be proud of and win in a Republican primary at this time,' he told CNN.

'The politics in that way has changed. You can be conservative on policy and it doesn't matter it seems as much as being with the president or not criticizing him, even if you think he's wrong,' he continued.

Trump slammed Flake as well as Tennessee Republican Sen. Bob Corker hours after both issued extraordinary denunciations of the way he has conducted his presidency, rapping them for acting 'hurt' and 'wounded.'

Trump hit back at Flake after the two-term Arizona lawmaker delivered a blistering Senate floor speech where he said he could no longer be 'complicit' in aiding Trump.

That remarkable event occurred just moments after the conclusion of a GOP Senate lunch with Trump and hours after an increasingly caustic exchange between Trump and Corker, the retiring Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman from Tennessee.

THAT WENT WELL: Trump also tweeted about his Tuesday meeting with Senate Repubicans

President Donald Trump went after retiring Senators Jeff Flake and Bob Corker on Wednesday

Both men were facing difficult reelection prospects when they announced their decisions to leave the Senate and immediately began unloading on Trump.

'The reason Flake and Corker dropped out of the Senate race is very simple, they had zero chance of being elected. Now act so hurt & wounded!' Trump Tweeted Wednesday.

The president also sent out an up-beat missive about Tuesday's meeting, which failed to repair a breach between Trump and his majority party in the Senate.

'The meeting with Republican Senators yesterday, outside of Flake and Corker, was a love fest with standing ovations and great ideas for USA!' the president wrote.

Trump was still seething an hour later, when he sent a second tweet denigrating Flake and patting himself on the back for the standing ovation he claims he received.

'Jeff Flake, with an 18% approval rating in Arizona, said 'a lot of my colleagues have spoken out.' Really, they just gave me a standing O!' Trump said.
A mother has described the horrifying moment her IKEA desk 'spontaneously exploded like a gunshot' in her home.

Samantha Bailey heard the loud bang before running up stairs to find a huge mess spread throughout her home around 9am.

'It was raining glass all the way down the stairs, into the kitchen, the lounge room, into the furniture, it's everywhere,' she told A Current Affair.

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A mother has described the moment her IKEA desk exploded (pictured) like a gunshot

Ms Bailey refuted any ideas that the three-year-old desk broke under the weight of the load on top of it, with her home printer placed on the floor.

While luckily her own 10-year-old was not using the desk at the time she said her fears are now for other mothers who have the product in their homes.

'There are a lot of pieces that have split and sharded into a lot of pieces that, when it exploded, could have done a lot of damage.'

When Ms Bailey approached IKEA she was told that without proof of the purchase they could not offer any insight to her claim.

She was told the desk already had exceeded its own life expectancy which Ms Bailey said was not satisfactory.

'I'm really fearful that this spontaneous explosion is going to cause a death.'

Another IKEA table which is in Ms Bailey's son's bedroom will be thrown out.

She is fearful that this spontaneous explosion will happen to someone else

Samantha Bailey (pictured) heard the loud bang and ran upstairs to find a huge mess

IKEA issued a statement saying complaints from customers were taken seriously, after Choice Magazine's Tom Godfrey said IKEA needed to show more initiative when it comes to customer complaints and feedback.

'Products at IKEA are designed and made of the highest quality and are subject to comprehensive safety checks,' the statement included.

IKEA went on to say that although it was not common for their glass products to shatter it is still fragile.
A gang has been jailed for using cloned Oyster cards to claim more than 370,000 in refunds.

The men made hundreds of cloned cards, and recruited others to visit tube stations across London to use them, taking a cut from the refunds.

Police launched a probe in 2015 when Transport for London reported that older Oyster cards were being used repeatedly at ticket machines to obtain multiple refunds.

Known as 'first generation' cards, they had been replaced with new ones which were more secure.

The crooks made hundreds of cloned cards, and recruited others to visit tube stations across London to use them, taking a cut from the refunds. Pictured left is Jahmai Turner and right is Nathan Jeffrey-Payne

But the gang had managed to clone the old cards, which were shipped from Hong Kong, and programmed them to show they had credit on when they did not.

They recruited people to visit London Underground stations to get cash refunds from the machines for 10 to 13 per card each time.

Officers identified and arrested 16 people involved in the scam.

Analysis of mobile phone records led them to identify the kingpins behind the operation - Remy Rankin, Nathan Jeffrey-Payne, Prince Henry, Jahmai Turner, Oliver Kassrongo and Brandon Massia.

They were arrested in August and October last year, and forensics linked them to the cloned oyster cards which had been shipped from Hong Kong.

Although Payne claimed to have no income, he had bought a BMW car for 20,000 in cash at the height of the operation in July 2016.

Brandon Massia (left) Oliver Kassrongo (right) both admitted one count of fraud and got an 18 months sentence each

They were jailed at Blackfriars Crown Court last Friday.

Rankin, 27, of Hatfield, Hertfordshire got seven years' jail after he was convicted of two counts of fraud.

Other members admitted their roles at the start of the trial.

Jeffrey-Payne, 28, of Ilford, east London, was jailed for six years and nine months for two counts of fraud and one count of money laundering.

Henry, 28, of Wood Green, north London, received four years jail sentence for two counts of fraud.

Turner, 30, of Hornsey, north London, was sentenced to four years and 11 months in prison for two counts of fraud.

Kassrongo, 19, of Hackney, east London, and Massia, 19, of Barnet, north London both admitted one count of fraud and each received an 18 month sentence.

Remy Rankin, 27, of Hatfield, Hertfordshire got seven years' jail after he was convicted of two counts of fraud (left). Prince Henry received four years jail sentence for two counts of fraud

Detective Constable Jon Butterwick, from the British Transport Police's Cyber Crime Unit, said: 'This was a large operation run by an organised crime gang which brought in hundreds of thousands of pounds for the offenders.

'Fortunately, TfL noticed the unusual refund activity and alerted BTP, and we were able to gather intelligence and evidence to identify the members of the crime group and bring them to justice.

'This was a sophisticated crime which required a specialised team to detect and provide the necessary evidence to put before the court.

'Fraudulent criminal activity like this ultimately cost the honest, fee-paying passengers who use the railway network.'
A young law student has claimed barrister Charles Waterstreet forced her to watch a pornographic video during a job interview - but he has hit back through his legal representatives, denying the allegations.

Tina Huang, 21, said she quit working for the prominent criminal barrister just three hours into her first day as a junior paralegal.

Ms Huang, who also is also a gender studies student, said she decided not to continue with the job because of the uncomfortable situation Mr Waterstreet allegedly put her in, according to the New Matilda.

The 66-year-old, who was the inspiration for the ABC drama series Rake, allegedly showed her a video of a sex act being performed on a man during an interview held at his office in Sydney.

A law student has revealed a tirade of sexual allegations against one of Sydney's prominent criminal barristers, Charles Waterstreet

During the course of the one-hour interview, Ms Huang claims he also showed her pictures of naked women, told her he enjoyed sex parties and women snorting cocaine off his body.

'He talked about attending sex parties, having many girlfriends and enjoying threesomes,' Ms Huang wrote in an article for New Matilda.

The third-year law student at University of Sydney also claims Mr Waterstreet told her he would rather hire 'pretty young things' to work with him.

She had applied for the job via her university's careers hub website in writing and had received a reply from him the next day.

In the email, he reportedly told her that her CV read 'like a mirror of my own.'

'I have written about [a number of women] and am fuelled by the emerging knowledge that women are stronger, volcanic, powerful and repressed for 5000 years because men feared women's sexuality and other things,' he wrote.

'Of, my law is my life blood, murder, drugs, and money, sex slaves, the axe women of 7/11 etc.'

The 21-year-old alleges Mr Waterstreet, who the ABC drama series Rake was inspired by, showed her a number of photos of naked women and told her he enjoyed going to sex parties

He ended the message by saying he would like to meet her as soon as possible to discuss availability.

Ms Huang said that although the interview had left her 'confused' she took the job and began it several days later.

On her first day, she claimed Mr Waterstreet had told her he was upset because he had not been invited to a recent sex party, had her reply to personal emails regarding dates and late payment for sex toys.

The next day, she told him she could no longer work for him and he reportedly replied with an apology for 'acting like a dork' and said he had been excited to work on things that were 'outside the box.'

In her article, Ms Huang said she had been motivated to speak out after seeing news articles about the allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

She said she hoped sharing her story would encourage other women to tell theirs.

Ms Huang described how she had been blinded by the first warning signs because she believed Mr Waterstreet was 'famous and powerful and a cheeky, but genius man.'

Mr Waterstreet told The Daily Telegraph he had shown Ms Huang the material he claims was evidence in court cases he was working on.

The third-year law student at University of Sydney also alleged Mr Waterstreet (right) told her he would rather hire 'pretty young things' to work with him

He told the publication he had been 'victimised' by the young woman and that Ms Huang's claims were 'either false or taken out of context'.

Mr Waterstreet also denied Ms Huang's allegations in a phone call with the New Matilda.

A letter from his legal representatives stated: 'We are instructed that the allegations made by Ms Huang are either false factually; false and baseless as to the effect of the conduct being claimed; or out of context considering the circumstances and the involvement of Ms Huang.

'Our client also instructs us that in respect of the interview conducted with Ms Huang, witnesses will corroborate his version of events and the allegations raised in your email of 20 October 2017 will be refuted and clarified and out client's conduct justified.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Waterstreet for further comment.

The 66-year-old told the Daily Telegraph he had been 'victimised' by the young woman and Ms Huang's claims were 'either false or taken out of context'

No stranger to controversy, Mr Waterstreet reportedly told the Sunday Telegraph he enjoyed hiring attractive young women where 'many barristers insist on a CV. I just insist on photos.'

The barrister, whose clients include the mother-in-law of Islamic State jihadist Khaled Sharrouf and Skaf gang rapist Mohamed Sanoussi, regularly posts photos of women and sexual artwork to his Instagram account.

In one photo of red lace lingerie posted in April, Mr Waterstreet wrote: 'Happy Good Friday to all the women I ever kissed'.

The 66-year-old has written many columns for Fairfax Media, pieces for Penthouse and has an autobiography called 'Precious Bodily Fluids: A Larrikin's Memoir'.

The NSW Bar Association told News Corp they had a strong policy against sexual harassment and investigate any complaints made.




The 'no' campaign is making a last-ditch attempt to sway voters in the last week of the gay marriage postal survey.

A letter arrived in the mailboxes warning that legalising gay marriage would lead to 'radical' LGBTIQ sex education programs becoming compulsory in schools.

The letter from the Coalition For Marriage was signed by three mothers who fronted the 'no' campaign's first TV ad back in August, making similar claims.

A letter from the Coalition For Marriage claims legalising gay marriage will lead to 'radical LGBTIQ sex and gender education' in Australian schools and urged residents to vote no

Alongside Heidi McIvor, Dr Pansy Lai and Cella White was the signature of Melbourne mother Marijke Rancie, who appeared in a subsequent ad.

'As mums we've come to learn the importance of voting No to changing the marriage law,' the letter in an envelope marked 'Urgent: 27 October deadline' began.

'A Yes vote will mean radical LGBTIQ sex and gender education programs will become compulsory in our kids' classrooms. It's how the law works.

'It's already happened in countries like Canada and it will happen here in Australia.'

The letter then implored residents to send their ballots in right away as 'every vote counts' and they wouldn't get another chance to 'push back'.

The letter was signed by three mothers who fronted the 'no' campaign's first TV ad back in August, making similar claims

Heidi McIvor, a pastor at a Victorian church, shared a story of children as young as 12 being asked to role play being in a same-sex relationship

'If you think parents deserve the right to have a say about what their kids are taught the schools then you must vote and you must vote No,' it continued.

'Together, we can stop this radical gay lobbyist agenda.'

Those sent the letter reacted with outrage at being spammed with 'propaganda' when the vote was almost over anyway.

'I don't think you should be a parent if you cannot accept what your child prefers and chooses to do with their own free will,' one wrote on social media.

'How ridiculous! the gay lobby hasn't had anything to do with promoting SSM or safe schools,' another wrote.

'They use the word "radical" like gays are going to run down the street blowing themselves up with a shower of pink confetti falling in the aftermath,' a third wrote.

Dr Pansy Lai, a pediatrician and outspoken critic of the Safe Schools program, in particular made a very similar argument in her speech in the ad

Cella White said she pulled her children out of Frankston High School after claiming her son was told he could wear a dress to school next year

'Let's just hope that their own children don't have to suffer from their own mindless fears,' another wrote.

Others made comparisons to the outrage over the 'yes' campaign sending text messages to voters urging them to cast their ballots in favour.

'So everybody loses their minds over a text message from the yes campaign reminding them to vote but we're just chill about the no campaign aggressively spreading propaganda addressed to your home address by name,' one wrote.

Ms McIvor, Dr Lai and Ms White shot to fame in the controversial first Coalition For Marriage ad, which made the same appeal to voters as mothers.

Those sent the letter reacted with outrage at being spammed with 'propaganda' when the vote was almost over anyway

Dr Lai, a pediatrician and outspoken critic of the Safe Schools program, in particular made a very similar argument in her speech in the ad.

'When same-sex marriage passes as law overseas, these types of programs become widespread and compulsory,' she said to the camera.

A petition was launched after the ad to get Dr Lai stripped of her medical licence on the grounds that she was hurting her young LQBTQI patients with her views.

Ms McIvor, a pastor at a Victorian church, shared a story of children as young as 12 being asked to role play being in a same-sex relationship.

'Kids in Year 7 are being asked to role play being in a same-sex relationship,' she said, with an aghast look on her face.

Ms Rancie claimed her 13-year-old son had to make a vagina out of plasticine and listen to a teacher's masturbation class

Ms Rancie appeared alongside Ms White (right) and Ms McIvor (left) in a second ad where she and two of the other mothers gave speeches to a cheering crowd of 'no' voters

Cella White said she pulled her children out of Frankston High School after claiming her son was told he could wear a dress to school next year.

She earlier made the claim on Q&A, but it has since been strongly rejected by the school principal.

Ms Rancie appeared in a second ad where she and two of the other mothers gave speeches to a cheering crowd of 'no' voters.

'We hear love is love. Let me tell you what I know about love. There is no greater love than the love a mother has for her child,' she said.

Ms Rancie earlier told Mark Latham's Outsiders her 13-year-old son had to make a vagina out of plasticine and listen to a teacher's masturbation class.

'It was very clear it was made as a sexual organ. So he had to sculpt it, as he knew it, and then he was redirected to make a clitoris and the labia,' she claimed.

'Really? Thirteen years old and he said to me, 'Mum, it was really creepy'.'

The Victorian Education Department vigourously denied the activity ever took place.
Chiron Hutchinson, from Kent, was allowed by the prison authorities to watch the explicit movie Fifty Shades of Grey in his cell while on trial.

A former public schoolboy who lured two 'extremely drunk' and vulnerable young women into his car before raping them in woodland has been jailed for 20 years.

Chiron Hutchinson, from Kent, who was allowed by the prison authorities to watch the explicit movie Fifty Shades of Grey in his cell while on trial for multiple sex offences, drove them to secluded areas in his mother's hire car to attack them.

Both women were strangers to him when he raped them within six days of each other after nights out clubbing.

At his sentencing hearing today, Judge Mark Dennis QC said the women were effectively abducted 'by force or false pretence' for his sexual gratification.

Neither had an informed desire to engage in sexual intercourse with a complete stranger, he added.

'His intention throughout, because there is such a pattern of behaviour, was plainly for him to seize upon someone who was in such a state he could take her away for his own sexual gratification,' said Judge Dennis.

One, aged just 17, had been enjoying a night out with friends when Hutchinson led her away to his car, drove her to a wooded area and raped her both inside and outside the vehicle.

He even filmed her on his mobile phone as she sat bare-legged in the Subaru.

The teenager had little recollection, if any the court heard, of what happened, other than finding dirt in her underwear the following day.

The other rape victim, a 24-year-old French woman, was wandering shoeless in the street when the wannabe model and actor tricked her into accepting a lift home.

But he immediately drove off to an isolated spot known as Toad Rock on the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where she was pushed out of the vehicle and raped from behind on the bonnet.

A jury heard he was 'frustrated' at the time after another young woman he met in a nightclub had spurned his advances less than two hours earlier.

Neither of the 20-year-old's rape victims had met him before the evenings they were attacked on October 2 and October 8 last year.

Hutchinson, who claimed both had consented to having sex with him, also twice engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl just weeks earlier.

Having 'met' on a Facebook chat group, he then 'cold-called' her to arrange to pick her up from school and drive her to his home.

He then plied her with alcohol until she could no longer stand before molesting her.

Eight days later he took her to Calverley Park in Tunbridge Wells and had sex with her, only stopping when he was disturbed by a dog walker.

She has since been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

During his trial last month, Hutchinson, who attended fee-paying St Bede's in Hailsham, East Sussex, with model Lottie Moss, made a series of bizarre confessions.

These included the revelation that he watched Fifty Shades of Grey in his cell while on remand at HMP Elmley in Sheppey, Kent.

The courtroom was stunned to hear that over a weekend adjournment, and while Hutchinson was midway through giving evidence, he had tuned in to test whether the film, shown on Channel 5, gave him a sexual thrill.

Well-spoken and smartly-dressed Hutchinson told the jury it did not.

Other revelations included him openly admitting to the jury that he was 'an opportunist' when it came to having sex, and would go to bars intending to 'get lucky' and 'achieve what he would like to achieve'.

He also confessed to trawling the internet for rape pornography, using search terms such as 'teen rape', 'forced sex' and 'against her will'.

Hutchinson also researched an online report about a sex attack in a Tunbridge Wells nightclub toilet, as well as an article about a medical test to prove rape, within days of his own depraved crimes.

The court heard that although Hutchinson worked in Tesco and lived with his mum Louise in Mount Pleasant Road, Uckfield, East Sussex, he created an extravagant fantasy lifestyle to impress and manipulate young women he met.

He repeatedly lied that he was a successful model and wealthy city trader, with a luxury apartment in London's Hampstead, and told one victim he could 'open doors' for her.

He even resorted to threatening the 17-year-old that he would report her to police because she was destroying his 'career'.

Hutchinson also lied to his youngest victim that his aunt was 'a top lawyer in the country' and they would be in trouble if she told anyone his age.

He denied six offences of rape, six of sexual assault and one of attempted rape between July and October last year.

The jury deliberated for more than 33 hours before convicting him of three rape charges, and clearing him of the remaining 10 charges.

Eight of those related to two other teenagers who came forward after reading publicity about Hutchinson's arrest.

The jury did not know that before his trial he had admitted two offences of sexual activity with the 14-year-old girl in September 2016.

Judge Dennis remarked the second of these offences 'could not get much closer' to rape.

Kent Police also said at the end of his trial that Hutchinson would have continued committing further serious offences had he not been caught.

Prosecutor Christopher May told the court Hutchinson had 'a feeling of entitlement' to behave as he did with women.

He was 'feeling frustrated' when he encountered his 24-year-old victim by chance as she wandered home alone and drunk in the early hours of October 8 last year.

While being raped, she repeatedly tried to fight him off, even lashing out in desperation with her lipstick.

The woman was later described as being 'distressed, dishevelled and screaming' when Hutchinson dropped her off at a friend's home.

The attack by the then 19-year-old left her with a severe burn to her knee, and feeling 'paranoid he was everywhere', even when she knew he was in prison, having been arrested four days later.

This led to three teenagers aged 16, 17 and 18 reporting similar attacks, the court was told.

The 17-year-old was twice raped by Hutchinson on October 2 after meeting him in MooMoo Clubrooms in Tunbridge Wells.

When his mobile phone footage of the drunk teenager was played to the jury, Hutchinson described her as being 'excitable and very drunk' but still capable of consenting.

Mr May said Hutchinson was confronted by the 14-year-old's father about his interest in his daughter, only for him to lie that 'nothing was going on'.

This encounter took place within hours of him raping the French woman, and when a bite mark was visible on his arm.

The court heard Hutchinson wrote a letter to the judge in which he expressed sympathy for two of his three victims.

Michael Haynes, defending, said it was not a case where his client was a serial rapist or had sex with an unconscious woman, but one where he had made a judgement which was 'out of kilter'.

'His letter shows there appears to be recognition by him of his inability to correctly interpret the situation when he has had a bit to drink,' he added.

Hutchinson spent three days giving evidence in court, starting on what was his 20th birthday.

He said he had always had a lot of female friends, preferring their company because he had been bullied as a child.

Describing himself as flirtatious and having 'a good understanding' of women, he added: 'I have always found it easier to engage with women.

'I learned a lot about what women liked and didn't like, and what they found attractive.'

Before attending 7,000 (POUNDS) a term St. Bede's to study for AS levels, Hutchinson was a pupil at Uckfield Community Technology College as well as a Montessori private school.

Hutchinson told the court he regularly lied about his background because people 'bestowed an expectation' on him due to his private education, well-spoken voice and owning horses.

During his trial the jury also heard a phone call he made to a friend in which he boasted about taking a 16-year-old's virginity in what he described as a play-fight, only for his friend to reply: 'It sounds like rape.'

However, Hutchinson was cleared of all charges relating to her, including rape.

The third teenager, aged 18, claimed he sexually assaulted and tried to rape her after driving her to his stables in the Sussex village of Berwick late at night.

She told the court he laughed as he pinned her on the unlit barn floor, put his hands under her clothing and told her she 'wanted it'.

However, she said she fought him off by punching him in the face. Again he was cleared of all offences relating to her.

He was originally charged with a further three offences of rape, one of attempted rape and two of sexual assault in relation to a fifth woman between November 1, 2015, and April 1 last year.

However, no evidence was offered before his trial started in respect of all six offences after the alleged victim stated she no longer wanted to support the prosecution.

Hutchinson's mum was in court throughout his trial but did not attend once the jury began its deliberations, to hear the verdicts or for the sentencing hearing.

She also wrote a letter to Judge Dennis, which he said showed a different side to her son.

In a victim impact statement made by the French woman she said she will never return to England.

'I'm not sure I can trust men anymore or be in a relationship,' she wrote.

'My father told me 'You have lost the stars from your eyes'.'

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Pledger, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: 'Chiron Hutchinson is an aggressive, dangerous and predatory sex offender. He forced his victims to endure some truly harrowing ordeals, committing a number of very serious sexual offences over a matter of just a few days.

'These victims have subsequently shown tremendous courage to give evidence in court and ensure Hutchinson is now serving a lengthy prison sentence.

'Without their bravery I have no doubt Hutchinson would have remained a persistent and significant threat to any young women who may have encountered him.'
Chiron Hutchinson, from Kent, was allowed by the prison authorities to watch the explicit movie Fifty Shades of Grey in his cell while on trial.

A former public schoolboy who lured two 'extremely drunk' and vulnerable young women into his car before raping them in woodland has been jailed for 20 years.

Chiron Hutchinson, 20, from East Sussex, who was allowed by the prison authorities to watch the explicit movie Fifty Shades of Grey in his cell while on trial for multiple sex offences, drove them to secluded areas in his mother's hire car to attack them.

Both women were strangers to him when he raped them within six days of each other after nights out clubbing.

At his sentencing hearing today, Judge Mark Dennis QC said the women were effectively abducted 'by force or false pretence' for his sexual gratification.

Neither had an informed desire to engage in sexual intercourse with a complete stranger, he added.

'His intention throughout, because there is such a pattern of behaviour, was plainly for him to seize upon someone who was in such a state he could take her away for his own sexual gratification,' said Judge Dennis.

One, aged just 17, had been enjoying a night out with friends when Hutchinson led her away to his car, drove her to a wooded area and raped her both inside and outside the vehicle.

He even filmed her on his mobile phone as she sat bare-legged in the Subaru.

The teenager had little recollection, if any the court heard, of what happened, other than finding dirt in her underwear the following day.

The other rape victim, a 24-year-old French woman, was wandering shoeless in the street when the wannabe model and actor tricked her into accepting a lift home.

But he immediately drove off to an isolated spot known as Toad Rock on the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where she was pushed out of the vehicle and raped from behind on the bonnet.

A jury heard he was 'frustrated' at the time after another young woman he met in a nightclub had spurned his advances less than two hours earlier.

Neither of the 20-year-old's rape victims had met him before the evenings they were attacked on October 2 and October 8 last year.

Hutchinson, who claimed both had consented to having sex with him, also twice engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl just weeks earlier.

Having 'met' on a Facebook chat group, he then 'cold-called' her to arrange to pick her up from school and drive her to his home.

He then plied her with alcohol until she could no longer stand before molesting her.

Eight days later he took her to Calverley Park in Tunbridge Wells and had sex with her, only stopping when he was disturbed by a dog walker. She has since been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

During his trial last month, Hutchinson, who attended fee-paying St Bede's in Hailsham, East Sussex, with model Lottie Moss, made a series of bizarre confessions

During his trial last month, Hutchinson, who attended fee-paying St Bede's in Hailsham, East Sussex, with model Lottie Moss, made a series of bizarre confessions.

These included the revelation that he watched Fifty Shades of Grey in his cell while on remand at HMP Elmley in Sheppey, Kent.

The courtroom was stunned to hear that over a weekend adjournment, and while Hutchinson was midway through giving evidence, he had tuned in to test whether the film, shown on Channel 5, gave him a sexual thrill.

Well-spoken and smartly-dressed Hutchinson told the jury it did not.

Other revelations included him openly admitting to the jury that he was 'an opportunist' when it came to having sex, and would go to bars intending to 'get lucky' and 'achieve what he would like to achieve'.

He also confessed to trawling the internet for rape pornography, using search terms such as 'teen rape', 'forced sex' and 'against her will'.

Hutchinson also researched an online report about a sex attack in a Tunbridge Wells nightclub toilet, as well as an article about a medical test to prove rape, within days of his own depraved crimes.

The court heard that although Hutchinson worked in Tesco and lived with his mum Louise in Mount Pleasant Road, Uckfield, East Sussex, he created an extravagant fantasy lifestyle to impress and manipulate young women he met.

Hutchinson confessed to trawling the internet for rape pornography, using search terms such as 'teen rape', 'forced sex' and 'against her will'

He repeatedly lied that he was a successful model and wealthy city trader, with a luxury apartment in London's Hampstead, and told one victim he could 'open doors' for her.

He even resorted to threatening the 17-year-old that he would report her to police because she was destroying his 'career'.

Hutchinson also lied to his youngest victim that his aunt was 'a top lawyer in the country' and they would be in trouble if she told anyone his age.

He denied six offences of rape, six of sexual assault and one of attempted rape between July and October last year.

The jury deliberated for more than 33 hours before convicting him of three rape charges, and clearing him of the remaining 10 charges.

Eight of those related to two other teenagers who came forward after reading publicity about Hutchinson's arrest.

The jury did not know that before his trial he had admitted two offences of sexual activity with the 14-year-old girl in September 2016.

Judge Dennis remarked the second of these offences 'could not get much closer' to rape.

Kent Police also said at the end of his trial that Hutchinson would have continued committing further serious offences had he not been caught.

Prosecutor Christopher May told the court Hutchinson had 'a feeling of entitlement' to behave as he did with women.

He was 'feeling frustrated' when he encountered his 24-year-old victim by chance as she wandered home alone and drunk in the early hours of October 8 last year.

While being raped, she repeatedly tried to fight him off, even lashing out in desperation with her lipstick.

The woman was later described as being 'distressed, dishevelled and screaming' when Hutchinson dropped her off at a friend's home.

The attack by the then 19-year-old left her with a severe burn to her knee, and feeling 'paranoid he was everywhere', even when she knew he was in prison, having been arrested four days later.

This led to three teenagers aged 16, 17 and 18 reporting similar attacks, the court was told.

He denied six offences of rape, six of sexual assault and one of attempted rape between July and October last year. The jury deliberated for more than 33 hours before convicting him of three rape charges, and clearing him of the remaining 10 charges

The 17-year-old was twice raped by Hutchinson on October 2 after meeting him in MooMoo Clubrooms in Tunbridge Wells.

When his mobile phone footage of the drunk teenager was played to the jury, Hutchinson described her as being 'excitable and very drunk' but still capable of consenting.

Mr May said Hutchinson was confronted by the 14-year-old's father about his interest in his daughter, only for him to lie that 'nothing was going on'.

This encounter took place within hours of him raping the French woman, and when a bite mark was visible on his arm.

The court heard Hutchinson wrote a letter to the judge in which he expressed sympathy for two of his three victims.

Michael Haynes, defending, said it was not a case where his client was a serial rapist or had sex with an unconscious woman, but one where he had made a judgement which was 'out of kilter'.

'His letter shows there appears to be recognition by him of his inability to correctly interpret the situation when he has had a bit to drink,' he added.

Hutchinson attended the 7,000 a term St. Bede's (pictured) in Hailsham to study for AS levels

Hutchinson spent three days giving evidence in court, starting on what was his 20th birthday.

He said he had always had a lot of female friends, preferring their company because he had been bullied as a child.

Describing himself as flirtatious and having 'a good understanding' of women, he added: 'I have always found it easier to engage with women.

'I learned a lot about what women liked and didn't like, and what they found attractive.'

Before attending 7,000 a term St. Bede's to study for AS levels, Hutchinson was a pupil at Uckfield Community Technology College as well as a Montessori private school.

Hutchinson told the court he regularly lied about his background because people 'bestowed an expectation' on him due to his private education, well-spoken voice and owning horses.

During his trial the jury also heard a phone call he made to a friend in which he boasted about taking a 16-year-old's virginity in what he described as a play-fight, only for his friend to reply: 'It sounds like rape.'

However, Hutchinson was cleared of all charges relating to her, including rape.

The third teenager, aged 18, claimed he sexually assaulted and tried to rape her after driving her to his stables in the Sussex village of Berwick late at night.

She told the court he laughed as he pinned her on the unlit barn floor, put his hands under her clothing and told her she 'wanted it'.

However, she said she fought him off by punching him in the face. Again he was cleared of all offences relating to her.

He was originally charged with a further three offences of rape, one of attempted rape and two of sexual assault in relation to a fifth woman between November 1, 2015, and April 1 last year.

However, no evidence was offered before his trial started in respect of all six offences after the alleged victim stated she no longer wanted to support the prosecution.

Kent Police mugshot of Chiron Hutchinson who raped two young women and has now been jailed

Hutchinson's mum was in court throughout his trial but did not attend once the jury began its deliberations, to hear the verdicts or for the sentencing hearing.

She also wrote a letter to Judge Dennis, which he said showed a different side to her son. In a victim impact statement made by the French woman she said she will never return to England.

'I'm not sure I can trust men anymore or be in a relationship,' she wrote.

'My father told me "You have lost the stars from your eyes".'

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Pledger, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: 'Chiron Hutchinson is an aggressive, dangerous and predatory sex offender.

'He forced his victims to endure some truly harrowing ordeals, committing a number of very serious sexual offences over a matter of just a few days.

'These victims have subsequently shown tremendous courage to give evidence in court and ensure Hutchinson is now serving a lengthy prison sentence.

'Without their bravery I have no doubt Hutchinson would have remained a persistent and significant threat to any young women who may have encountered him.'

Before attending 7,000 a term St. Bede's to study for AS levels, Hutchinson was a pupil at Uckfield Community Technology College (pictured) as well as a Montessori private school

Kent Police said at the end of the hearing that no other alleged victims had come forward since Hutchinson's conviction.

Hutchinson has been locked up for 20 years as part of an extended sentence.

Finding him to be dangerous in legal terms, it means he will have to serve at least two-thirds before being eligible for parole.

He will then have to serve an extra eight years on licence. Hutchinson showed little emotion other than to smirk when told he was dangerous.

During sentencing Judge Dennis branded Hutchinson 'predatory and narcissistic fantasist obsessed with sex'.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Hutchinson wrote a letter to the judge in which he expressed sympathy for two of his three victims

An NSPCC spokeswoman said: 'This is a shocking case in which Hutchinson carried out a series of sexual attacks with a child among his victims.

'Each has shown immense courage in speaking out about their ordeals and ensuring that Hutchinson is now facing the consequences of his crimes.

'Anyone who is concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000. Children and young people can call Childline on 0800 1111 or get help online via www.childline.org.uk'
A magistrate who presided over the 'worst of the worst' child pornography cases has revealed he would have nightmares about the vile abuse and 'wake up screaming'.

New South Wales Local Court Magistrate David Heilpern broke his silence about the emotional trauma he suffered as a result of many years of grisly criminal trials.

'I started dreaming of these children and the torment perpetrated upon them,' Mr Heilpern said.

He said he would wake in a panic, drenched in sweat.

New South Wales Local Court Magistrate David Heilpern (pictured) broke his silence about the emotional trauma he suffered as a result of many years of grisly criminal trials

In a sobering speech delivered at the Federal Court in Sydney on Wednesday, Mr Heilpern lifted the veil on the dark side of the justice system and the effect it had on the legal professionals at its centre.

'I thought I had a pretty good 'distance' from my work, in the sense that whilst it occasionally upset me, it did not stay with me too often in my personal life,' he said.

When Mr Heilpern first suffered from work-related insomnia, he said he was referred to a trauma psychologist, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

With much persuasion from medical professionals, Mr Heilpern confided in the chief magistrate and told them he was suffering.

The chief magistrate re-allocated his cases for a period of time, which Mr Heilpern said gave him much needed relief.

'The relief from the nightmares was immediate and dramatic. "Cured!" I thought,' he said.

'I started dreaming of these children and the torment perpetrated upon them,' Mr Heilpern said

Unfortunately the nightmares returned about a decade later, when Mr Heilpern dealt with a 'child sexual assault case which was later accurately described by the sentencing judge as the 'worst of the worst'.

Mr Heilpern said the grim details of his cases became more difficult to leave at work, partly due to new technology.

He said smartphones meant there was often graphic footage or photographic evidence which made the details harder to forget.

As the days went by, Mr Heilbern said he also grew increasingly lonely.

While he did not set out to be a 'poster boy' for trauma in the judiciary system, Mr Heilbern said he could not let the troubling reality of the situation go untold.

'We ought to stop talking of judicial stress and start calling it for what it is; anxiety, panic attack, insomnia, traumatic response, depression, PTSD, substance use disorder and the like,' he said.
A man has been put on trial accused of keeping his daughter as a sex slave for 20 years and having eight children with her.

A DNA test allegedly showed that Argentine Domingo Bulacio, 56, was responsible for his daughter's eight pregnancies after repeatedly raping her.

Bulacio was eventually arrested after the woman took her youngest son to the doctor.

The doctor asked who the boy's father was and she told him the truth about his parentage.

Bulacio (picutred) was discovered hiding 30 miles away from his hometown at a relative's house in Loreto, Santiago del Estero, northern Argentina

Bulacio was taken into custody in January 2016 after fleeing police for 45 days.

He was discovered hiding 30 miles away from his hometown at a relative's house in Loreto, Santiago del Estero, northern Argentina.

After undergoing the DNA test, Bulacio was charged with sex crimes and will now stand trial.

According to local reports, the victim was abandoned by her mother, who was allegedly physically abused by Bulacio.

Six of the eight children are living at the boarding school of Eva Peron in Santiago del Estero, local media reported.

There is no further information about the mother, whose name has not been made public.

The case, which has been adjourned until next week, continues.
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Porsche has launched its very own super-yacht and now a series of stunning images of the interior of the 12million vessel have been released.

The Dynamiq 35m super-yacht GTT 115 Hybrid comes complete with a spa pool, al-fresco dining area, space for four guests below decks and 75-inch TVs.

The cool craft was launched at Viareggio, in Italy, and traveled to Monaco to take part in the glitzy annual Yacht Show.

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Porsche has launched its very own super-yacht and now some stunning images of the interior of the vessel have been released

The Dynamiq 35m superyacht GTT 115 Hybrid, which will set owners back 12million, comes complete with a spa pool, al-fresco dining area and space for four guests below decks. Pictured, a luxurious seating area complete with a large screen designed to look like a speedometer

The cool craft was launched at Viareggio, in Italy, and traveled to Monaco to take part in the glitzy annual Yacht Show. Pictured, the spacious dining area on the vessel

Interior styling was taken care of by Italian design-house Minotti, whose works appeared in the film Fifty Shades Darker, and features carbon fibre detailing, marble counter-tops, and fine leather finishes.

'For us at Studio F. A. Porsche it was a very inspiring experience to be involved with a yacht project that is significantly different from others,' said Roland Heiler, CEO of Studio F. A. Porsche.

'It is smart, it is a hybrid and from a design point of view it is all about performance - below the waterline and above.'

The GTT 115 draws on the latest technology with a round-bilge hull form, podded propulsion, Hull Vane and stabilisation system with four fins and interceptors.

Powerful 1,650hp engines provide a top speed of 21 knots, while its hybrid engines give a range of 3,400 nautical miles.

'For us at Studio F. A. Porsche it was a very inspiring experience to be involved with a yacht project that is significantly different from others,' said Roland Heiler, CEO of Studio F. A. Porsche. Pictured, an outdoor bar area on the yacht's deck

He added: 'It is smart, it is a hybrid and from a design point of view it is all about performance - below the waterline and above.' Pictured, one of the luxurious guest sleeping areas

Pictured, the luxurious captain's control room complete with supercar seating, HD screens and manual controls

Interior styling was taken care of by Italian design-house Minotti, whose works appeared in the film Fifty Shades Darker, and features carbon fibre detailing, marble counter-tops, and fine leather finishes

The GTT 115 draws on the latest technology with a round-bilge hull form, podded propulsion, Hull Vane and stabilisation system with 4 fins and interceptors

The vessel also has a hybrid system and energy-saving, variable-speed generators to improve sustainability

The vessel also has stylish checkered houndsooth carpets and metals details saying 'GTT 155'

The vessel also has a hybrid system and energy-saving, variable-speed generators to improve sustainability.

At just 35m overall, the GTT 115 is finished with chic Rhodium Silver metallic paint.

The starting point for the interior design was the Pepita houndstooth fabric, which was used by the 911 series in the 70s and runs throughout the yacht.

This pattern has been offset with high-gloss Macassar ebony veneers, dark brown saddle leather, Alcantara, Persian carpets and rare Sahara Noir marble.

At just 35m overall, the GTT 115 is finished in chic Rhodium Silver metallic paint

The starting point for the interior design was the Pepita houndstooth fabric, which was used by the 911 series in the 70s and runs throughout the yacht

This pattern has been offset with high-gloss Macassar ebony veneers, dark brown saddle leather, Alcantara, Persian carpets and rare Sahara Noir marble

'The aim was to use sporty, masculine and elegant materials to best effect,' says Dobroserdov

He went on: 'We pride ourselves by always having function in mind, so while luxurious we also wanted to ensure that the interior was practical and user-friendly'

'The aim was to use sporty, masculine and elegant materials to best effect,' says Dobroserdov.

'We pride ourselves by always having function in mind, so while luxurious we also wanted to ensure that the interior was practical and user-friendly. What we love about this project is that it's not a conventional-looking yacht, either inside or out.'

A limited edition of just seven GTT 115 yachts will be manufactured, making the model an exclusive collector's edition.

He added: 'What we love about this project is that it's not a conventional-looking yacht, either inside or out'

A limited edition of just seven GTT 115 yachts will be manufactured, making the model an exclusive collector's edition

Powerful 1,650hp engines provide a top speed of 21 knots, while its hybrid engines give a range of 3,400 nautical miles
Court testimony revealed on Wednesday that a teenager charged with killing his parents told a police dispatcher he 'snapped' on the night of the stabbings.

Andrew Balcer is in court in Augusta, where officials are deciding whether to try him as an adult.

He is charged with double murder for stabbing Alice and Antonio Balcer to death in their Winthrop home last Halloween.

'I took my Ka-Bar (knife) and drove it straight into my mother's back,' Balcer told the dispatcher after murdering his parents October 31, 2016.

'My father came up because he heard her screams and I stabbed the f out of him.'

A 12-minute 911 recording played for the judge in court included Andrew Balcer saying he stabbed his mother in the back before stabbing his father when he woke up from the screams.

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Andrew Balcer, now 18, and his mother on a 2014 trip to Italy. Balcer is charged with double murder for stabbing his parents Alice and Antonio Balcer

Andrew Balcer is shown in court in Augusta, where officials are deciding whether to try him as an adult for the 2016 murder of his parents

The teen was charged with double murder for stabbing Antonio and Alice Balcer (pictured together) to death in their Winthrop home last Halloween

Eighteen-year-old Balcer, who was 17 at the time of the stabbings, also said on the recording that he did not know why he did it, and that there had not recently been arguments with his parents.

'There's no helping them,' he said on the tape.

Prosecutors filed a petition to have Balcer tried as an adult, but his attorney has pushed back, saying it's not appropriate to treat Balcer as an adult.

If Balcer is charged as a juvenile, he could be held at a juvenile facility until the age of 21.

If prosecutors are successful, he could face 25 years to life in prison on each count as an adult.

In that case, Balcer faces the possibility of no parole.

The fatal stabbing took place inside the family's house located in Winthrop, Wisconsin

Mrs Balcer worked at the local veterinary hospital which paid tribute to her following her death

Mr Balcer became an ordained reverend after he retired from the US Coast Guard

Balcer has been held at Long Creek Youth Development Center, a juvenile detention center in South Portland, since soon after he was charged.

A police affidavit released earlier this year indicated Balcer told the dispatcher he stabbed his parents to death, along with a family dog.

Balcer's older brother Christopher, who was 25 at the time, was not harmed during the deadly event.

A military-style knife was found stuck in the floor near his father's body.

Balcer and his mother Alice are shown. School officials said they saw no indication of violent behavior from Andrew, who was a student at Winthrop High School at the time

'I took my Ka-Bar (knife) and drove it straight into my mother's back,' Balcer told the dispatcher after murdering his parents October 31, 2016

The superintendent of Winthrop High School, where Balcer attended school at the time, previously told Central Maine school he saw no 'tell tale' signs of violent behavior from him.

'From what best I know, he was a very good kid, a very good student, an academically superior student,' Gary Rosenthal told the newspaper.

'There were (none) that I know of that would indicate there were any problems, and the family seemed to be well liked, and the mother was very personable.

'It's one of those dilemmas you shake your head at.'

Balcer's parents were both 47 at the time of their deaths.
A former member of an IRA splinter group has been convicted of attempted murder for his role in an attack on a British Army base in Germany 21 years ago.

A court in Osnabrueck in northwestern Germany sentenced the Belfast-born man, identified in Irish papers as James Anthony Oliver Corry, to four years in jail.

But one year will be waived because of an unlawful procedural delay, it said.

The court found that the man had been a member of the so-called 'active service unit' of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.

A court in Osnabrueck in northwestern Germany sentenced the Belfast-born man, identified in Irish papers as James Anthony Oliver Corry (whose face is blurred), to four years in jail

The court found that the man had been a member of the so-called 'active service unit' of the Provisional Irish Republican Army

He and at least four other accomplices parked a truck with an improvised launch battery outside British barracks in Osnabrueck and fired three shells on June 28, 1996.

While the shells failed to hurt anyone, they caused around 85,000 in today's money in damage.

'It was only thanks to chance that no one was harmed,' the court said.

The man admitted installing the mortar launcher in July.

The defendant (sitting, centre) sits next to his defender Thomas Klein (Bottom R) at the court in Osnabrueck, central Germany, on July 26, 2017

The handcuffed defendant arrives at the court in Osnabrueck, central Germany, on July 26, 2017

He was arrested in December last year at Frankfurt Airport after his extradition by Irish authorities.

Back in July, during his court appearance, he admitted his part in carrying out the attack in 1996 for which he was placed on the international wanted list in 2004 by the German authorities.

In spite of this, it took 13 years for Corry to finally be put on trial, drawing widespread criticism for the delay.

Corry said the attack was not meant to kill anyone, but was aimed at intimidating British troops both in the UK and stationed overseas.

A transit platform truck can be seen on which two launching fixtures are positioned - it was used in a terrorist attack against the Quebec Barracks on June 28, 1996 in Osnabrueck, Germany

In a statement read out by his lawyer in court in July, Corry said he helped to install the mortar launcher.

Corry also said at the time he is no longer involved in the militant group, but refused to name his accomplices.

He and four co-conspirators on June 28, 1996, parked a small truck outside the city's Quebec Barracks and fired three mortar shells from an improvised rocket launcher.

Two Bundeswehr specialists examining the crater in the asphalt after a mortar attack on 28 June 1996, in the grounds of the British Army's Quebec Barracks in Osnabrueck, Germany

Two of them failed to go off and the third hit the driveway of a nearby petrol station.

No one was injured, which the court said was 'only due to sheer luck'.

Another of the militants was sentenced to six and a half years in jail in 2003 by a court in the city of Celle.

Back in November last year, The High Court ordered Corry be extradited to Germany to face the charges.

The 48-year-old was arrested in Killorglin, County Kerry in October 2015, according to the Irish Times, before being sent to Germany.

The aftermath of the 1984 bombing of The Grand hotel in Brighton at the hands of the IRA

In October last year, Corry's lawyer Remy Farrell SC said federal authorities had been 'culpably negligent' for waiting 10 years to pursue his client's arrest warrant.

He accused Germans of 'finger-pointing' at the Irish police and said they had still not explained the delay despite being handed the information to arrest Corry in 2005.

Mr Farrell told the Irish Times at the time: 'This is a delay of truly exceptional proportions.

'It is unconscionable that a party to such proceedings would refuse to give an explanation for a 10-year delay.'

The IRA aimed for Northern Ireland to break away from British rule and become a part of Ireland through three decades of bombings and shootings.

The organisation ended its armed struggle as part of the Northern Ireland peace process following the Good Friday agreement of 1998.

Among the high-profile acts of terror was the bombing of The Grand hotel in Brighton in 1984.
A high school student in Maryland has been disciplined after kicking a chair out from underneath another student who was not standing during the Pledge of Allegiance.

The incident happened at Winters Mill High School in Westminster, Maryland, on Tuesday morning.

The student who kicked the chair posted video footage of the event on Instagram, calling the other teen 'disrespectful' and said he need to get his 'a** kicked'.

The Pledge of Allegiance is recited every morning during morning announcements across Carroll County public schools, but students aren't required to stand during it.

A student at Winters Mill High School in Westminster, Maryland, said another teen who did not stand during the Pledge of Allegiance on Tuesday was 'disrespectful'

The teen was filmed pulling the chair out from underneath the student who sat during the pledge of allegiance

The caption to the teen's video said: 'Some people don't understand how disrespectful it is to sit during the pledge or national anthem and deserves to get there a** kicked More of y'all need (stand up) to these jack***** that sit during the pledge.

'If you have an issue with what I did today talk to me about it not your little buddy's behind my back.'

The student added the hashtags: '#standthef***up #america #dumba** #hedeservedmore #b****'

Dana Falls, director of student services for Carroll County schools, said that the student who kicked the chair has been disciplined.

Falls would not reveal either student's identity or the discipline taken, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

'His behavior is unacceptable,' Falls told the Carroll County Times.

Dana Falls, director of student services for Carroll County schools, said that the student who kicked the chair has been disciplined

The student who was sitting, did not immediately indicate to CCPS officials that not standing had anything to do with a protest.

On social media, however, the student said he was protesting the current US leadership and called 'forced patriotism' a form of 'fascism'.

The teen wrote: 'I was practicing my right to free speech, a right given to me by the soldiers that I do respect, unlike what he says. I simply will not stand and pledge allegiance to a country that is run by a racist, sexist, bigoted, fascist.

'I will not stand for a country who mistreats those who aren't white and rich. Forced patriotism is fascism, and nothing less.

'So I invite all to join me tomorrow, and #sitthef***down if you believe that free speech is a fundamental right of the people, and that it should be protected.'

Falls said students have the right not to participate in the pledge, and legally a teacher cannot force students to take part or punish them if they refuse to do so.

Officials from Winters Mill High School (pictured) would not reveal either student's identity or the discipline taken, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The CCPS handbook includes a lengthy section on bullying, which covers a wide array of verbal, physical and written conduct.

Bully is partly defined as 'Threatening or seriously intimidating; and Occurs on school property, at a school activity or event, or on a school bus; or, Substantially disrupts the orderly operation of a school.'

The incident, however, doesn't necessarily fall under the realm of bullying.

'In my opinion, based on what I know about the initial incident ... that would be considered an unsafe behavior or disrespect to the student,' Falls said. 'If it continued, it would absolutely be considered bullying.'

Board of Education President Devon Rothschild said the school district has a zero tolerance bullying policy.

The school system does not normally involve law enforcement when a student attacks another student unless it is a pattern of behavior or the incident causes significant bodily harm, Falls said.

Falls also said Carroll County Public Schools students are never forced to stand for the pledge in the morning, and said, from what he understands, the student who was sitting was not participating in a protest.
A Peruvian man was reportedly nearly buried alive after undertakers found that the person they just put in a coffin was still breathing.

Franklin Mandujano Doroteo was mistakenly pronounced dead by doctors at of the Contingency Hospital of Tingo Maria in Huanuco, central Peru.

The 24-year-old was in fact merely heavily sedated, according to local media.

Not dead yet: Franklin Mandujano Doroteo, 24, was pronounced dead by doctors at of the Contingency Hospital of Tingo Maria in Huanuco, central Peru

It is not known in what state Mr Doroteo was when doctors pronounced him dead, but it is alleged that he had been given a sedative after suffering a fever following dental work.

He was then allegedly brought to an undertaker where his body was prepared for burial.

But as he was lifted into a coffin before being interred, one of the workers is said to have realised he was still breathing.

Still alive: As Mr Doroteo was lowered into the coffin, someone noticed that he was still alive

Shock: A woman can be seen clasping her hand over her mouth as Mr Doroteo is found to be alive and is being taken out of the coffin

He is seen being taken out of the coffin before being transported to hospital, where he unfortunately died shortly after arriving

Mr Doroteo was rushed to hospital but unfortunately he was then allegedly pronounced dead soon after arriving.

Now, local news claims Mr Doroteo's family are seeking justice for their loved one.

It is not known whether the police are investigating the doctors for negligence or not.

It is also not known whether the mistaken proclamation led to his eventual death, as treatment was therefore not given.
Georgina Chapman and her two children with disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein may have fled New York City, but it appears that at least one family member stayed behind.

The designer's brother and CEO of Marchesa Edward was spotted walking along the Hudson River on Tuesday night with his longtime girlfriend Katy Schell and their Yorkie Lottie.

Edward did his best to avoid being seen as he popped out of his $1.7million West Village condo, keeping a Yankees cap pulled low over his face and dressing in sweatpants and a fleece pullover despite the warm October weather.

Spotted: Edward Chapman (above) was seen walking his dog near his New York City condo on Tuesday night

Outing: He was joined by his girlfriend Katy Schell (above) and their Yorkie Lottie

Keeping cover: It is the first time he has been seen since his sister fled NYC following her husband's sex scandal

Nepotism: Edward is the CEO of Marchesa, the fashion line his sister Georgina launched in 2004

Bend and snap: The brand is managing to whether the storm caused by Weinstein's sex scandal thus far, with no major impact to their orders from major retailers

Edward at one point broke away from Schell and Lottie to do what appeared to be some stretching as he grabbed onto a railing and leaned backwards along the popular pedestrian walkway.

He has yet to speak publicly about his brother-in-law, who has now been accused of sexually assaulting or harassing over 75 women.

Nine of those women have alleged that they were raped by Weinstein.

The disgraced movie mogul is reportedly in Arizona where he entered rehab for a week and is now staying close to his team of doctors while he addresses what he claims is a sex addiction.

There has been no confirmation however that Weinstein ever entered a rehabilitation facility.

It was his connections to celebrities and deep-pocketed investors that helped launch his wife's brand, and brought Edward on board.

Family: Edward (above with Georgina in 2013) has yet to speak publicly about his brother-in-law, who has now been accused of sexually assaulting or harassing over 75 women

'Behavior like this is appalling and unacceptable. I feel horrible about what these women have experienced and admire their bravery in coming forward,' said 'Vogue' editrix Anna Wintour

'My heart goes out to them, as well as to Georgina and the children,' said Wintour

'We all have a role to play in creating safe environments where everyone can be free to work without fear,' Wintour told the Times

Many of the industry's biggest names are throwing their support behind the Chapmans,

Helzberg Diamonds, which has stores in New York and New Jersey, announced that it would no longer be launching a planned Marchesa line

The brand may be able to whether the storm however, with many of the industry's biggest names throwing their support behind the Chapmans, including the queen bee.

'Behavior like this is appalling and unacceptable. I feel horrible about what these women have experienced and admire their bravery in coming forward,' 'Vogue' editrix Anna Wintour told the New York Times earlier this month.

'My heart goes out to them, as well as to Georgina and the children. We all have a role to play in creating safe environments where everyone can be free to work without fear.'

Buyers also said in the wake of the company's recent bridal showcase that they had no plans to decrease their orders for the upcoming season.

It is not all good news however, as a jewelry company that had worked with the company to launch a bridal range also announced says after the scandal that it was halting the launch.

Helzberg Diamonds, which has stores in New York and New Jersey, announced that it would no longer be launching a planned Marchesa line.

The designs continue to appear on the website however but without the brand name. Instead, they are referred to as being part of the 'Radiant Star' collection.

An original link which it advertised to the 'Marchesa Radiant Star' range no longer works.

Georgina initially said she was standing by her husband in the wake of the scandal before quickly changing her tune.,
A Texas mother has been arrested on an assault charge after she was seen in a video video beating up a teenage girl on a high school campus last week.

Corpus Christie Independent School District Police arrested Mary Alice Hernandez, 34, on a warrant for assault causing bodily injury stemming from the altercation that occurred in the courtyard of Miller High School on October 16.

The attack lasted about 15 seconds, with the teenage victim seemingly powerless to fight back as she was brutally pummeled about the head.

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Busted: Mary Alice Hernandez (pictured left in her mugshot), 34, was arrested this week on a warrant for assault causing bodily injury, a week after brutal school fight

The mother of a high school student from Corpus Christi, Texas, shared on Facebook a video showing her child getting pummeled by a woman believed to be Hernandez (pictured)

Video of the woman beating the Miller High School student on campus was posted on Facebook on October 16

Julie Pinon wrote on Facebook it was her daughter who was beaten up in the footage and claimed the fight came about because the attacker's own teenage daughter had fought Pinon's child in the past, as Corpus Christi Caller Times first reported last week.

'My daughter didn't want to hit her because she didn't want to disrespect her since she's an older woman,' Pinon wrote in a Facebook post that has since received 165,000 views.

Julie Pinon, the victim's mother, posted this photo on Facebook purportedly showing Hernandez (right) with her daughter (left), who had gotten into a fight with Pinon's child over a rumor started by a male classmate

In a follow-up post, Pinon sought to shed some light on the circumstances surrounding the fight, claiming that a male classmate of her daughters had spread a disgusting rumor about her, and when the girl confronted him, the boy summoned Hernandezs daughter asking her to come and beat her up.

The teen showed up at Miller High School with her mom, Mary Alice Hernandez, in tow last Monday during volleyball practice, and the two girls came to blows.

According to Pinon's Facebook update, her daughter ended up winning the fight, but Hernandez 'apparently couldnt handle the defeat and decided to attack my daughter.

In the viral video of the brutal attack, a woman believed to be Hernandez is seen hitting Pinon's daughter and grabbing her hair as she pulls her to the ground.

The student simply sits on the floor, attempting to protect her face with her hands from the blows raining down on her.

In the video, the angry mom is seen repeatedly striking Pinon's daughter in the head before fleeing

Authorities said the victim was injured in the beatdown, but didnt seek treatment at a hospital

A couple of bystanders who were there with the woman yell 'let's go!' as she keeps hitting the student.

Following her arrest, Hernandez was booked into the Nueces County Jail on $25,000 bail.

The woman is seen hitting the student and grabbing her hair as she pulls her to the ground. The student sits on the ground covering her face
Polish-born Monika Fourie arrives at Plymouth Crown Court in Devon today, where she was convicted of GBH with intent

A scorned wife is facing jail after being convicted of knowingly pouring boiling water over her husband's mistress after finding her in the marital home.

Monika Fourie, 34, was today convicted of GBH with intent and released on bail ahead of sentencing so she could make arrangements to look after her daughter.

The Polish-born defendant wept and there was wailing from the public gallery as she was convicted of attacking 24-year-old love rival Hannah Stokes.

Fourie had told the court during the week-long trial that she felt like someone was 'stabbing her in the head' after discovering Miss Stokes at her home.

She walked in on her unfaithful Royal Marine husband Wouter and found him with his new lover in their lounge with their young child upstairs the day after he confessed to their four-month affair.

Plymouth Crown Court heard Fourie poured first a mug and then a kettle of boiling water over the head and chest of Miss Stokes, causing terrible burns.

She was treated for second degree partial thickness burns down to her navel and had surgery for a perforated eardrum.

Fourie walked in on her unfaithful Royal Marine husband Wouter Fourie (left) and found him with his new lover Hannah Stokes (right) in their lounge

Fourie admitted causing grievous bodily harm in the incident in Plymouth, Devon on October 24, 2015 but denied it was done with intent.

She was found guilty by a jury which rejected her claims that she that had no memory at all of the incident and had not intended to harm Miss Stokes.

Summing up, Judge Paul Darlow said on the night of the attack the defendant was 'uncommonly calm.'

A jury rejected Fourie's claims that she that had no memory at all of the incident and had not intended to harm Miss Stokes (pictured)

He added: 'She sighed and said 'aren't you going to introduce us? She told Wouter to go upstairs and check up on their daughter, he said no - that he wasn't going to look, but she asked again and insisted. Monika filled the kettle and clicked the button.

'(Hannah) described how Monika Fourie was on the kitchen side. Hannah said "she came towards me with a cup in her hand. She threw water straight in my face. I was in shock but didn't realise what it was immediately.

'"I jumped to my feet and she was on the left. The pain was excruciating and I couldn't make it stop. She picked up the kettle and she came towards me, I knew what was coming. I said 'please don't' and she grabbed my hair to pull my face up.

'"My face was on fire and I realised the rest of my body had been hit with the water. Behind me I could hear glass smashing and when I was outside I didn't know where I was.

'"I saw her come round the side of the house and she ran toward me and grabbed my hair. Within minutes of this water touching my skin was peeling. I was treated for second degree burns. I just wanted to pretend it hadn't happened".

Fourie admitted causing grievous bodily harm but denied it was done with intent

'She went to the police initially because she wanted advice and was told by the police that they couldn't do anything unless she made a formal complaint, even though she said "I feared I would die and Monika Fourie would come after me again. I was convinced she wasn't quite done with this".'

The judge also drew the jury's attention to two doctors who gave evidence during the trial who gave conflicting accounts of whether Fourie had any memory of the incident.

He added: 'Both doctors commented that they saw her current grief as genuine.'

Ali Rafati, defending, said the sentencing guidelines were clear for offences such as this. He asked to adjourn sentence so Fourie could make the necessary arrangements for her young daughter ahead of a custodial sentence.

He said: 'The couple's daughter has found it difficult to cope with. She is a young intelligent girl and it is with her in mind that I make this application to adjourn the sentence.'

Sentencing was adjourned until next Wednesday and Fourie was granted bail.
Catalonia's vice president has today said Spain has given the region's separatists no option but to proclaim a new republic.

Oriol Junqueras said his party - one of two in the ruling separatist Catalan coalition - is 'going to work toward building a republic, because we understand that there is a democratic mandate to establish such a republic.'

But Junqueras insisted he was speaking on behalf of his Republican Left party and not for the regional government of President Carles Puigdemont.

He said the Spanish government 'is giving us no other option.'

Oriol Junqueras (centre) is 'going to work toward building a republic, because we understand that there is a democratic mandate to establish such a republic'

His remarks come amid frantic jockeying in the Catalan government on how to respond to plans by Spanish authorities to fire them and directly manage the region's affairs.

It comes after a Catalan government spokeswoman said Catalonia's separatist leader Carles Puigdemont will not appear before the Spanish Senate in Madrid to state his case for independence.

'He will not go on Thursday or on Friday,' the spokeswoman explained, after the Senate suggested Puigdemont could appear at the upper house before it gives Madrid the green light to take over Catalonia's regional powers.

She did not give a reason but another Catalan government source said it was because Spain's central government 'has already announced that it will implement Article 155 (of the Spanish constitution) no matter what.'

On Wednesday, Spain's prime minister said his government's plans to take control of Catalonia's key affairs and halt the region's push for independence are 'exceptional'.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told Parliament that invoking constitutional authority over Catalonia was the 'only possible' way to bring the region back in line with Spanish law, which he said the separatist Catalan government has violated repeatedly.

The Senate had suggested Puigdemont (pictured) could appear at the upper house before it gives Madrid the green light to take over Catalonia's regional powers

Rajoy said he hopes the measures planned, which includes removing Catalan government officials and curtailing the regional parliament's powers, will be brief.

They should end with a regional election he hopes to call soon, but only will be lifted once order is restored in Catalonia, the prime minister.

Spain's Senate, based in Madrid, is expected to approve the measures on Friday. Catalan President Carles Puigdemont was expected address the Senate to argue against them, but has chosen to stay in Barcelona.

Puigdemont instead plans to attend a session of the Catalan parliament in Barcelona, the region's capital, beginning Thursday and ending Friday, officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with internal party regulations.

Rajoy has asked the Senate to invoke a section of the Spain Constitution, Article 155, that allows the central government to step in when a region is found to be acting illegally. The action has never been taken before.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (pictured) told Parliament that invoking constitutional authority over Catalonia was the 'only possible' way to bring the region back in line with Spanish law

He argues it is needed now to stop the Catalan government from acting on the results of an outlawed October 1 referendum that Puigdemont said gave him the mandate to declare independence.

'The government's response is the only one possible, given the stance of the Catalan institutions,' Rajoy said. 'I am fulfilling my duty and I am doing it in the face of a rejection of our laws, of our Constitution and of the millions of Catalan citizens who can see that their (regional) government has flouted the law.'

Rajoy said the aim of Article 155 is not to suspend Catalonia's self-government but 'to restore legality, boost the social co-existence that has been broken in Catalonia and tackle the economic consequences that its decisions are provoking.'

The uncertainty over Catalonia's future could have an economic impact. Credit ratings agency DBRS warned today that the situation is hurting the region's economy and could become a drag on Spain's economy.

Rajoy argues direct rule is necessary to stop the Catalan government from acting on the results of an outlawed October 1 referendum that Puigdemont said gave him the mandate to declare independence. Pictured: Catalan nationalists wave the region's flag on Saturday

The political turmoil brought by Catalonia's standoff with the national government 'is discouraging investment and tourism in the region,' DBRS said in a statement.

With Catalonia representing about one-fifth of Spain's annual gross domestic product, any slowdown in the region would affect the national economy.

The Spanish government has revised downwards its growth forecast for 2018 to 2.3 percent from 2.6 percent, largely because of doubts over Catalonia's future.

DBRS says the effects on the national economy will be 'manageable,' however, unless the crisis becomes protracted.
Four suspected gang members have been arrested in Mexico after they were found carrying a kamikaze drone equipped with deadly explosives, police say.

The chief prosecutor in Guanajuato state says federal police caught the four men in a car near Salamanca, in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, late last week.

Police arrested suspects named as Christian Eduardo, 31, Angel, 31, Eduardo, 25, and Marcos Francisco, 39, who are also accused of possessing an AK-47 machine gun.

Drones have been used to transport drugs over the Mexican border into the United States, but this is believed to be the first time a 'weaponized' drone has been found in Mexico.

Mexican police found four suspected gang members in a car carrying a kamikaze drone (pictured above) equipped with deadly explosives

Police arrested four men, who are believed to be part of a 'crime cell'. Officials would not elaborate as to which cartel or gang the men are part of

Police found the men in a car near Salamanca, in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, late last week. Prosecutor Carlos Zamarripa said the drone, a small remote-controlled, 3Dr Solo Quadcopter, had 'a big explosive charge'. The drone retails for about $250 online

Prosecutor Carlos Zamarripa said the drone, a small remote-controlled, 3Dr Solo Quadcopter, had 'a big explosive charge'. The drone retails for about $250 online.

They also had a remote control detonator in the vehicle at the time of the arrest. It was unclear where the men planned to detonate the drone.

Zamarripa said the men belonged to a 'crime cell', but refused to say which drug gang or cartel.

The Mexican authorities are currently trying to crack down on crime in Guanajuato.

The state had been considered as one of the most peaceful in Mexico but there has recently been a wave of violence there from gangs that specialize in fuel thefts from government pipelines and train robberies.

Rival gangs are currently fighting for control over the city of Celaya, the third largest in the state.

Also in the vehicle was an AK-47. The men also had a remote control detonator in the vehicle at the time of the arrest

The Mexican authorities are currently trying to crack down on crime in Guanajuato, where the men were arrested

The Jalisco Nueva Generacion, Sinaloa and Los Zetas cartels all want to seize the region, which is of strategic importance for the drug trade.

Zamarripa said that the explosive and weapon are both 'common weapons for the army'.

Mexican police are used to drug traffickers using explosives but have never seen them attached to a drone before.

American security experts have warned Congress that they fear drones carrying explosives could become more common.

'A weaponized drone/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)/unmanned aerial system (UAS) with a remotely detonated IED allows for a precision strike to take place against an intended target,' Robert Bunker and John P. Sullivan, wrote in Small Wars Journal.

It is believed that terrorist groups such as ISIS have previously used drones in a similar manner.
A brother of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock has been arrested for child pornography.

Bruce Paddock, 59, was arrested Wednesday morning at 8:40am at an assisted living home in North Hollywood, California.

Bruce had been under investigation for child porn since before the October 1 shooting, but officials didn't know where he was living.

Police found more than 600 child pornography images on his computer, which was left behind in a Sun Valley auto repair shop where he squatted in 2014. But after he was evicted he disappeared and police had been searching for him ever since.

After the shooting, they got a tip about Bruce's whereabouts and tracked him down to the assisted living center, where he was awaiting surgery for spinal stenosis.

Aerial footage from the scene on Wednesday showed Bruce in a wheelchair.

A joint task force that included the FBI and LAPD made the arrest.

Bruce Paddock, 59, is seen here in a photo released on Wednesday after his arrest in California

Paddock, the younger brother of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock, was arrested for child porn at an assisted living center in North Hollywood, California on Wednesday

He was wheeled out of the assisted living center by police

According to the 20-page criminal complaint, Bruce faces one count of possession of more than 600 images of child pornography and 19 counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

Police say the crimes happened between January 1, 2014 and August 30, 2014.

The LAPD released Bruce's mugshot 'in case there may be victims of unreported incidents'.

Bruce's older brother Stephen (pictured) committed suicide on October 1 after killing 58 people and injuring more than 400 from his sniper's nest in the Mandalay Bay hotel

They say his arrest has nothing to do with the Las Vegas shooting.

Bruce is being held on $60,000 bail.

TMZ previously reported that Bruce lives a 'nomadic life' and has a long criminal history including convictions for petty theft and vandalism.

Bruce also threatened to murder a property owner in 2014, while he was squatting at a home in the San Fernando Valley.

The home owner, Hector Cruz, told KTLA that Bruce was a longtime friend and he was going through a hard time that year when he asked to come over to his auto shop to fix his car.

Instead, he ended up squatting in the attic of the business and soon became a nuisance to workers.

Cruz said that when he found out Bruce was tampering with machinery and equipmen, the man snapped.

He said Bruce got into a fighting stance with clenched fists and told him 'If you keep f****** with me I am going to kill you and drop you in the desert.'

On another occasion, he brought a gas canister up into the attic and threatened to set the auto shop on fire.

'He told me he was going to kill me,' Cruz said.

Cruz described Bruce as a drug user, who sold meth and weed.

Cruz was eventually able to get a retraining order and Bruce fled the shop, leaving his computer with the damning images behind.

Investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the October 1 shooting

Crime seems to run in the Paddock family. Bruce and Stephen's father, Benjamin Hoskins Paddock, was a notorious bank robber who was on the FBI's most Wanted List for nearly a decade.

Benjamin was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a series of bank robberies in the late 50s and early 60s. But in 1968, he broke out of jail and went on the run.

He was put on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List form 1969 until 1977 - when he was caught at a bingo parlor he started in Oregon. He died in 1998 at a correctional facility in Texas at the age of 71.

During his lifetime, he was diagnosed as being psychopathic.

Stephen was the oldest of his four sons with Dolores Irene Hudson. The 64-year-old killed 58 people and injured more than 400 after opening fire from his sniper's nest in the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino on October 1. Stephen committed suicide as police stormed his room.

Stephen and Bruce's father Benjamin was a notorious bank robber who was on the FBI's Most Wanted List for nearly a decade

Stephen and Bruce have two other brothers. Youngest Eric, 57, lives in Florida near their 89-year-old grandmother and Patrick, 60, is an engineer in Tucson.

Police continue to search for a motive in the Las Vegas shooting.

Stephen's family have said that he didn't show any sign of mental illness and seemed to have his life together - after making millions from investing.

'My brother was the most boring one in the family,' Patrick Paddock told the New York Times. 'He was the least violent one in the family, over a 30-year history, so its like, who?'

But investigators have since discovered that Stephen started to show signs of angst in his final years, when he began to build up a massive stockpile of weapons.

Several people noted that he started to smell of alcohol often.

He was also reportedly prescribed the anti-anxiety drug Valium, which he was taking in its highest dose by June 2017.

The side effects of the drug - which include suicidal thoughts and unusual risk-taking behavior - can be magnified when mixed with alcohol.
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Nearly 120,000 people have travelled to a small town in southern China in the past few days to worship an enormous mushroom for good fortune.

Keen visitors threw coins and notes to the extraordinary wild fungus, which is nearly one metre tall and 40cm (16 inches) wide.

The mushroom, which has been identified to be edible by experts, was discovered by an 81-year-old man while mushroom hunting in south-west China's Yunnan Province.

Villagers came to see the wild mushroom that grew to 2.7 feet tall in three days in LuoQiPing village, south-west China (left). Pictures and videos emerged online as villagers asked for more information of the fungi (right)

The elderly man, surnamed Liu, told Yunnan.cn that he saw the white-capped mushroom emerging from the ground on October 19 and was shocked to see how fast the mushroom had grown two days later.

He told his neighbours at the Luoqiping village in Tengchong City about the mushroom and they set up a fence around the fungi as protection.

The villagers then nicknamed the mushroom as 'elephant foot'.

Pictures and videos emerged on Chinese social media as the villagers asked for the edibility and name of the mushroom.

Measuring 83.5 centimetres (2.7 ft) long, The long stem and huge fruiting body were reaching to a height of a two-year-old child.

The gills and the shape of the cap look like those of oyster mushrooms.

The gills and shape of the fruiting body were similar to oyster mushrooms, leaving villagers wondering of the type of fungi

Over the past three days, there were about 100,000 people visiting the fungi and some threw money for luck and fortune

Yang Zhuliang, researcher at Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science, told the reporter that the enormous fungi was Macrocybe gigantea, a non-toxic mushroom that can be commonly found in India and Pakistan.

Characterised by the large fruiting body and long stem, the wild Macrocybe gigantea is safe to eat.

Xu Jianchu, an expert at the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, confirmed to MailOnline the mushroom belongs to the Calocybe fungi family and is edible.

According to China News, the mushroom has attracted an average of 30,000 visitors a day since it was discovered on October 19.

The local public transport authority had to put up a signage, reading 'Luoqiping mushroom trip', on the windows of their vehicles to give tourists a guidance to the village.

Expert confirmed the wild mushroom to be Macrocybe gigantea, an edible fungi that can be found in India and Pakistan

However, the fungi started to rot and villagers agreed to pull it out and passed it to authority to make as a preserved specimen

There were also people throwing coins and money notes at the wild mushroom in a bid to wish for good luck and fortune.

Yao MaoKe, a tourist told the reporter: 'I went to see the giant mushroom few days ago. The place was packed, but there were people maintaining public order as well.'

However, the mushroom can be seen starting to rot a few days after it was found.

Tengyue local government confirmed to China News that the villagers agreed to pull out the fungi and donate to Tengchong Wild Plants and Animals Protection to make as preserved plant specimen.

The giant fungi was removed at midnight hours on October 25 by the villager and passed it to the authority.
Olena Matsneva (pictured), 17, told her boyfriend she felt 'humiliated' after an encounter at a party with Shustov

A Russian teenager has been given a 'lenient' jail sentence after killing and beheading a love rival who had 'sexually molested' his girlfriend.

Nikita Rasskazov, 17, repeatedly stabbed Artyom Shustov, 19, with a barbecue knife before decapitating his friend.

Then 'blinded by rage', he picked up the severed head by the hair, and put it in his backpack before stashing it overnight in his wardrobe alongside his bloodstained clothes.

Next morning, he took it to show his girlfriend Olena Matsneva, 17, who had earlier accused a drunk Shustov and another male of attacking her at a party and 'touching her breasts and genitals' as she was pinned down by a female 'friend'.

She had refused to have sex with him and he started 'pestering her,' she said.

She felt 'humiliated', she told her boyfriend.

Matsneva was described as 'distraught' by Rasskazov's actions, and he later threw the severed head into a river weighted down by stones in the Russian city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

He claimed he was trying to 'prove his love' for his girlfriend by showing her the macabre 'souvenir'.

Nikita Rasskazov (pictured), 17, repeatedly stabbed Artyom Shustov, 19, with a barbecue knife before decapitating him

Pictured left: Shustov. Right: His distinctive tattooed chest, photographed before his murder

The girl had posted a month before the killing an image of her and Shustov together, possibly at the party which led to the scandal

Matsneva (pictured) was described as being made 'distraught' by Rasskazov's murderous behaviour, and he later threw Shustov's severed head into a river weighted down by stones in the Russian city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur

A court ruled that Rasskazov should serve a sentence of six years and ten months for murder and desecrating the man's body.

He was ordered to pay 2.19 million roubles (28,700) to Shustov's family.

Shustov's father today reacted furiously to the punishment - which was a year less than the prosecutors had demanded and three years less than the maximum for a 16-year-old murderer - and plans to appeal.

Dmitry Shustov, 42, fumed that no financial compensation could bring back his son.

'Of course, I think that the sentence is unfair,' he said.

'The punishment cannot be compared with human life.

'In February, Artyom would have turned 20.'

The murder was carried out with 'particular cruelty', and his son was stabbed at least 15 times before his head was cut off, he said.

Legal experts also expressed 'surprise' at the 'light sentence' despite Rasskazov expressing remorse over the murder.

A court ruled that Rasskazov should serve a sentence of six years and ten months for murder and desecrating the man's body. Pictured: The headless corpse in the woods

One said: 'This is hardly a deterrent.'

He had 'not intended to kill or behead his friend, but to make him apologise to his girlfriend for the sexual assault,' reported The Siberian Times.

But when they met as agreed in a park in the city, the talk 'turned to a quarrel and then a fight'.

This led to Shustov's death.

Yet Rasskazov had inflammable liquid with him, which he poured over the decapitated body of his friend.

The court heard he intended to set the remains on fire, suggesting the attack was carefully planned.

But his matches were damp and failed to light.

Mr Shustov said the court should have classified this as a murder carried out with 'particular cruelty', which could have led to a longer sentence.

His son was stabbed at least 15 times before his head was cut off, he said.

The attack was plainly premeditated since the killer had carried around the knife in his backpack for a full week before he acted, he said.

The girl had posted a month before the killing an image of her and Shustov together, possibly at the party which led to the scandal.

Pictured: The party that led to the bad blood between Shustov and Rasskazov

Pictured: The headless body in the woods. Shustov's head was reportedly carried in Rasskazov's backpack before being stored in a wardrobe

Rasskazov claimed he was trying to 'prove his love' for his girlfriend by showing her the macabre 'souvenir' - his love rival's head

The picture is spooky since it only shows his head as she makes a shocked expression.

Another shows Shustov's naked torso and a chest tattoo that was also visible on his beheaded body dumped in the park.

Friends told police that the girl had admitted to Rasskazov that she had oral sex with Shustov, but claimed he had forced himself on her.

In fact, say the friends, she had started kissing Shustov and had initiated their tryst.

Shustov's father, Dmitry (pictured), today reacted furiously to the punishment - which was a year less than the prosecutors had demanded and three years less than the maximum for a 16-year-old murderer - and plans to appeal

A friend of Shustov (pictured left) said: 'He had no enemies, ever.' Right:

'We were in the apartment with them at the time and personally saw what was happening,' said one.

'The next day, Olena obviously regretted what had happened and she told her boyfriend Nikita.

'Yet she explained it as if Artyom had harassed her and tried to rape her,' reported the local newspaper.

'Nikita was shocked and asked Artyom to meet and talk.

'They knew each other from before. Artyom agreed and they arranged their meeting at the entrance of the park.'

Witnesses at Railway Workers Park in the city (pictured) of 260,000 people in the Russian Far East said that during the argument Shustov had tried to flee when he saw Rasskazov had a knife

Shustov arrived with a female friend called Daria but she left when the pair started to argue.

Witnesses at Railway Workers Park in the city of 260,000 people in the Russian Far East said that during the argument Shustov had tried to flee when he saw Rasskazov had a knife.

A friend said: 'Nikita was spending a lot of time in online groups devoted to maniacs and often carried a knife with him.'

A friend of the dead man said: 'He had no enemies, ever.'
Keith Cote (pictured), 62, is being held on attempted murder charges on $1 million bond

A Texas man who attempted to hire a Marine veteran to kill his ex-wife because she began dating a black man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police said on Tuesday that Keith Cote offered the veteran $25,000 for the hit against his former spouse, allegedly telling the Marine he would give him a $10,000 deposit.

The other $15,000 would come once he watched him 'put a bullet in her head,' the Austin Statesman reported, citing police records.

Cote, 62, first approached the former service member on October 7, at a University of Texas tailgate, explaining that there was 'something very serious' he wanted to discuss with him.

The next day, the two met at Cote's home in Travis County, where he explained the plan.

Court records show that Cote believed that the combat veteran had killed before, and would be willing to do it again.

The Marine, however, immediately turned to police with the information, reporting the murderous plot to Travis County Sheriff's Office.

He would later wear a microphone to help authorities build a case against Cote, who described the hit as 'dirty work, done dirt cheap.'

Meanwhile, authorities paid a visit to Cote's estranged girlfriend, whose identity remains protected, informing her of the conspiracy.

Cote approached a Marine veteran with the task of killing his ex-girlfriend earlier this month (Travis County Sheriff's Department in Texas)

'When asked why she believed Mr. Cote would want her killed, she confirmed that Mr. Cote is a racist, and that she is now dating a black man,' according to the Statesman.

'She stated that the only thing Mr. Cotes hates more than a black man was a white woman who is with a black man.'

She also told police that Cote would have killed her himself, but was paralyzed after breaking his neck when he fell at a strip club years before.

Court records show that Cote told the veteran - whose identity is also sealed - he would have stabbed her in the heart with an ice pick.

The couple split in 2015, with Cote's ex-girlfriend citing his abusive treatment as the basis for their breakup.

Cote is being held at the Travis County jail following his arrest on Monday. He is being charged with soliciting to commit capital murder and is being held on $1 million bond.


Lawrence Barilli faced the accusations during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow

A man who allegedly told two women he suffered from sexsomnia has been cleared of raping them.

Lawrence Barilli faced the accusations during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

One woman claimed the 35-year-old pounced on her 'a couple of hundred times' while she was initially asleep in bed.

She said the former RAF serviceman told her he had a condition that 'made him do it'.

It was also claimed he said to the other victim that he had sexsomnia. But, a jury returned not proven verdicts to the two rape charges.

Barilli was, however, found guilty of physical abuse of the women and could still face a jail-term when he returns to the dock next month.

The charges spanned between 2008 and 2012. The woman was regularly assaulted and called names such as 'slut' and 'scum'.

Barilli would also keep tabs on one of the women, wrongly believing she was seeing other people.

Tony Graham, defending, put to him during the trial: 'This all sounds rather controlling.'

He replied: 'Yes, to make me feel better. I did not care about her feelings. It was all about me. I felt good because she could now be with me all the time.'

Barilli smashed up phones and a computer to try and stop her contacting people.

Barilli, of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, told jurors at the High Court (pictured) anything that happened was '100 per cent consensual'

Mr Graham asked did Barilli feel he 'owned' the woman - he stated: 'At times I would.'

It was claimed he raped the woman - he was said to have stated he had a condition that made him have sex while he was asleep.

But Barilli, of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, told jurors anything that happened was '100 per cent consensual'.

Barilli claimed: 'I actually feel sick to the stomach. I abused her, but did not rape her.'

He said that he tried to make one of the women 'feel special' with stays in swanky hotels including Glasgow's One Devonshire.

The jury also heard evidence Barilli strangled her, leading her to fear that she was 'genuinely going to die'.

The woman claimed Barilli preyed on her sexually as she slept in bed.
A cheerleader from the University of Alabama showed that athletes come in all shapes and sizes with a hilarious photo of herself and a volleyball player at the University of Florida.

The Twitter photo, captioned 'If you're wondering how big a 2 foot difference is' shows the startling height difference between the pair.

Cheerleader Isabella Donahue is just 4 feet 8 inches tall, whereas volleyball player Rachael Kramer stands at 6 feet 8 inches.

University of Alabama cheerleader Rachel Donahue posted a tweet with Rachael Kramer captioned: 'If you're wondering how big a 2 foot difference is'

Impressive feet! Rachael Kramer (left) plays volleyball at the University of Florida. Isabella Donahue (right) is a cheerleader at the University of Alabama

Donahue's tweet quickly gained traction after the SEC retweeted it. Many people seemed unable to believe the sight.

Others responded with their own photos showing height differences.

However, Donahue wasn't the first person to share a shocking photo of height differences on social media.

Twitter users were quick to share their own photos with Donahue. This user showed two pictures of him and basketball player Shaquille O'Neal at the gym

Donahue's tweet quickly began going viral after the SEC retweeted it, and other users began sharing their own height differences

One user posted a picture of his girlfriend and her teacher, who stands two feet taller than her. '5' girlfriend and her 7' teacher lmao' he wrote

'I can relate' one person posted. The photograph of the two men shows at least a two foot height difference

During the 2016 Olympics U.S. gymnast Simone Biles posed back-to-back with 6-foot-8 volleyball player David Lee.

'Athletes come in all shapes and sizes,' the caption read.

Like Doanue, Biles also stands at just 4 feet 8 inches.
Ben Stewart, who chronicled a Greenpeace protest against drilling oil in the Arctic in his book, "Don't Trust, Don't Fear, Don't Beg: The Extraordinary Story of the Arctic 30," will present a free talk on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 2420 13th St.W.

Stewart's book was selected as the 2017 Common Read at Rocky Mountain College and his talk is sponsored by RMC.

Stewart manages the Greenpeace investigative journalism unit and lives in London. Here is what Stewart had to say about drilling in the Arctic and his efforts to help free the Arctic 30 after their 2013 protest led to imprisonment in Russia:

Q. What lessons can be learned from the Arctic 30s story?

Never underestimate the human spirit. These people were locked up in appalling conditions and told they would spend at least 10 years in this Russian former mental asylum in the Arctic. But when you read their diaries and their letters and the newspaper they secretly produced and shared with each other, you see that they maintained a determination, a dignity and a sense of humor, even when we on the outside feared all was lost.

I also learned that campaigns work. Those of us trying to get them free were facing down the might of Putins Russia. It was like a chess game where we didnt have any of the best pieces and the person across the board from you was a grandmaster. All we had was a campaign and some people ready to do whatever they could. We took a lot of advice about what could shift the needle in the Kremlin, what could make Putin change his mind, then we rolled out that advice across the world. It was the most extraordinary campaign Ive ever worked on, the sheer energy and determination. We were getting in at 6 a.m. and leaving at midnight. It was our friends in that jail. But it worked.

Do you think things would be any different if the protest were to happen today?

I fear things might be very different. Back in 2013 there was still a way to influence the Kremlin. We werent yet in this new Cold War. Shortly after the Arctic 30 were released, Russia invaded Crimea and a low-level war began in eastern Ukraine. Relations are so broken now that I think if the Arctic 30 happened in 2017 it would be damn hard to get those people out of jail. Thirty protesters from 18 countries, including the USA, Britain and France. Does Putin see them as anything other than hostages?

Do you think there was some success from the Arctic 30s protest? If so, what changed in a positive way because of their actions?

The purpose of protest is often to speed up the national conversation  to put issues on our TV and computer screens that are otherwise too easy to ignore. The first step to stopping something is to controversialize it. Back in 2013 there werent many people talking about Arctic oil drilling  despite the huge environmental risks and the threat to the climate from opening up new oil reserves. The Arctic 30 was the moment the world lifted its eyes and looked north and started really thinking about what the oil giants were planning for the Arctic. That protest and their incarceration sped up the international conversation, it got us all talking about something that had been ignored.

The campaign became supercharged. It was incredible. About a year later the big one fell  Shell had sunk more than $5 billion into its Arctic program but the company pulled out. The global campaign was a big factor in that, and the Arctic 30 was a key moment.

I think their story could well resonate for many years. There is a movie being made of the book I wrote. Lord David Puttnam, whose films have won ten Oscars and the Palm DOr, is making it. Im hoping this story will inspire many more people to campaign on climate change.

Even though you work for Greenpeace, I realize you tried to maintain your objectivity. How difficult was that? What would you like to say about the action today?

I did try to remain objective in the book. I dont think it would have worked to just parrot a line. The fact is the protest was controversial, even within the organization. The Arctic 30 didnt always agree with each other or get on, even in jail. They sometimes blamed each other for what happened, and some of the families blamed Greenpeace. Some aspects of this story were very complicated, very raw, and I wanted readers to get some of that.

Did you attempt to interview the Russians about the protest?

I wanted to. I really wanted to speak to the governor of the prison, and some of the commandos who stormed the Greenpeace ship, but a Russian friend of mine advised me not to bother. She said they would never speak to me. In retrospect I wish Id tried harder. I tried to show the different sides to the story but it would have been so interesting to hear from the governor. He is quite a big figure in the story, his behavior was extraordinary, a really odd man. Sociopathic perhaps. A cruel man, I think. The Arctic 30 had a tough time with him.

6. How did you decide which characters to focus the most on in your book?

This was hard. I interviewed as many of them as I could, I had forty hours of recording from my conversations with them. I knew I would have to focus on four or five of them otherwise the story would become unfathomable. I needed to tell this tale through just a few people. When I came to write the book I disappeared to a French farmhouse for two weeks with a three inch block of paper - the transcribed interviews. I had a marker pen and marked up the best stories, and it turned out that a few of the thirty just jumped out at that point. Their descriptions were so vivid, and their motivations came through so strongly. They sort of selected themselves for focus.

What is your next writing project?

Im helping a TV company develop a series. Its about how were becoming so divided. The UK is a bit like America right now. Weve got a culture war raging, were just screaming at each other, the two tribes despise each other. Its so sad.

Have you been involved in a protest yourself?

I have indeed, though Ive just had my first child so I think I need to focus on her right now. I guess Ive done a lot of stuff. I led the first Greenpeace expedition to the Arctic when we hung off an oil rig off Greenland in 2010. Ive climbed my fair share of things. I was one of the Kingsnorth 6  we climbed the chimney at the Kingsnorth coal power plant and painted the side of it. The subsequent court case became a big deal after the NASA director James Hansen gave evidence for us from the witness box and the jury acquitted us. That verdict played a big part in ending coal burning in Britain, the home of the industrial revolution. Like I say, I think protest works.
Jose Trinidad Gonzalez, 35, was arrested Sunday after a woman found photos of him raping her seven-year-old daughter

A Texas man has been arrested after a horrified mother recovered photos of him raping her seven-year-old daughter on his computer.

The San Antonio Police Department said Jose Trinidad Gonzalez, 35, was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography after the woman reported the incident on Sunday.

She was browsing through the 'deleted photos' section of Gonzalez's tablet when she discovered the disturbing images.

The identity of both the mother and child have been withheld, while their relationship to Gonzalez was not disclosed for legal and privacy purposes.

According to the arrest report, obtained by My San Antonio, police said the mother often allowed her daughter and other children to play games on Gonzalez's device.

She was initially scrolling through the man's tablet to check what her kids were playing, when she opened the photos and was utterly disgusted by what she saw.

The graphic images showed her young daughter's genitals and Gonzalez sexually assaulting the child.

The Texas mother, who allowed her children to play games on Gonzalez's tablet, was browsing through the device to see what her kids were up to when she found the horrifying images

The woman immediately contacted police. Gonzalez was arrested the same day.

He was booked to Bexar County Jail, where he is currently being held, on bond of $150,000.

Just weeks ago, another Texas man was booked to the Bexar County Jail after he was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old female relative since she was the age of six.

Gonzalez was arrested Sunday after the mother immediately informed police of the disturbing matter

San Antonio man, Steven Lyn Deaton, 39, was charged with continuous sexual abuse of a young child when the girl came forward with the claims after police received a call citing Deaton's suicide attempt.
A student who has demanded that Cambridge University 'decolonise' its English course had once claimed that white people who holidayed in Africa were 'selfish'.

English Literature professors at the university are being asked to 'ensure the presence' of Black and Minority Ethnic writers (BME) in their courses.

It came after Lola Olufemi, Cambridge University Student Union's women's officer, penned an open letter titled 'Decolonising the English Faculty'.

The student had previously said 'middle class' gap year travellers are doing nothing meaningful to help Africa by visiting the continent.

Lola Olufemi (pictured with Labour MP Diane Abbott) is women's officer at Oxford University Students' Union and called for the English department to 'decolonise' the curriculum

In Varsity, the Cambridge University student newspaper, she wrote: 'It shows a n astounding level of entitlement to think that you, on your gap year or your three weeks abroad "exploring", are going to do anything meaningful or long lasting to help the communities that you fetishise.'

She added: 'What drives middle class white people to travel abroad is an inherent selfishness''.

Miss Olufemi has also said Cambridge can learn from Oxford's Rhodes Must Fall campaign, which demanded Cecil Rhodes' statute be removed because of his commitment to imperialism.

The letter, signed by around 150 university students, read: 'For too long, teaching English at Cambridge has encouraged a 'traditional' and 'canonical' approach that elevates white male authors at the expense of all others.

'What we can no longer ignore, however, is the fact that the curriculum, taken as a whole, risks perpetuating institutional racism.'

It also hinted at several of changes, including ensuring that all exam papers included 'two or more postcolonial and BME authors'.

Students at the university study a range of 'period papers' ranging from 1350 to the present day - including the works of Shakespeare.

But campaigners have argued that the English courses focus too much on white men and exclude female authors and those from black and ethnic minority backgrounds.

They have also claimed that it offers a perspective too shaped by colonial ideologies.

Lola Olufemi previously said 'middle class' gap year travellers are doing nothing meaningful to help Africa by visiting the continent

Minutes from the Teaching Forum's meeting earlier this month, seen by The Telegraph, showed what actions have been discussed by academics to address the students' concerns.

They included several practical proposals, such as an introductory lecture that would 'offer perspectives on the global contexts and history of English literature'.

Dr Priyamvada Gopal, a teaching fellow at Churchill College and member of the Teaching Forum, said the motion was a step forward.

'They are a good start and I'm glad to see the Faculty responding with attention and interest to a student-driven demand for change,' she wrote in an email.

'I think it is important, however, to view the 'inclusion' of postcolonial and BME texts not as an endpoint but the beginning of a discussion about what 'English literature' is and what exclusions it has always relied on.

'The curriculum first needs to make empire, race, identity more central than it has been  something students HAVE to engage with rather than are 'allowed' to engage with.

'Given British history, empire is central to understanding both texts and contexts. It's a 'white' issue as much as it is a 'BME' issue. That understanding must drive changes.'

But Gill Evans, emeritus professor of medieval theology and intellectual history at Cambridge University, said the approach created some 'major problems'.

She told The Telegraph: 'It goes with the calls to stop teaching predominantly Western or European history as well as literature.

English Literature professors at Cambridge will be required to 'ensure the presence' of Black and Minority Ethnic writers (BME) in their courses. Pictured: King's College

'If you distort the content of history and literature syllabuses to insert a statistically diverse or equal proportion of material from cultures taken globally you surely lose sight of the historical truth that the West explored the world from the sixteenth century and took control - colonially or otherwise - of a very large part of it.

'It is false to pretend that never happened.'

The move follows criticism of both Oxford and Cambridge for their low levels of admittance of students from ethnic minorities.

Oxford colleges were branded 'fiefdoms of entrenched privilege' after figures showed almost a third failed to admit a single black British A-level student in a year.

Meanwhile six Cambridge colleges failed to admit any black British A-level students in 2015. Between 2010 and 2015, only 1 per cent of offers were made to black students at Cambridge, and on average a quarter of colleges failed each year to make such offers.

But Ms Olufemi told the university's newspaper Varsity that she believed the outcome was 'a promising step forward that the letter is being taken seriously by the faculty.'

Ms Olufemi is women's officer at Oxford University Students' Union

'There needs to be a complete shift in the way the department treats western literature in comparison to that of the global south and non-white authors must be centred in the same way Shakespeare, Eliot, Swift and Pope are; their stories, thoughts and accounts should be given serious intellectual and moral weight,' the English graduate from North London added.

It is understood the proposals are in a very early stage and no decisions have yet been made.

The ideas have been put forward by a small group of lecturers within the English faculty, but would need to pass a number of stages in order to be implemented.

This includes being given the approval of the universitys Education Committee and the General Board, which are made up of senior staff.

There is no guarantee that any of the ideas will ultimately be taken up by the university.

University sources said that even if the proposal were to be implemented, there would not be any cases of white authors being dropped and replaced by the new additions.

A spokesman for the University of Cambridge said: 'There has been no decision to alter the way English is taught at the University of Cambridge. While we can confirm a letter was received from a group of students taking the postcolonial paper, academic discussions are at a very early stage to look at how postcolonial literature is taught.

'Changes will not lead to any one author being dropped in favour of others  that is not the way the system works at Cambridge. There is no set curriculum as tutors individually lead the studies of their group of students and recommend their reading lists  those reading lists can include any author.

'The Teaching Forum is a body which has no decision making powers and its decision points are questions to be discussed by the faculty. The Education Committee in the faculty will look at those points in a robust academic debate. Post-colonialism is taught at the moment in a non-compulsory paper  the faculty constantly looks at what papers will be compulsory.'
Criminal gangs are scanning social media and property websites in order to find potential burglary targets, police have warned.

Homeowners selling their houses or advertising goods on websites such as eBay have been told thieves are monitoring the internet on the lookout for anything on display in the background of pictures, such as jewellery or electronics.

They are being urged to think twice about what they post online - even being told an expensive car in the driveway could make them a target.

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John Terry was targeted by burglars after he told his social media followers he was enjoying a ski trip abroad. Police are warning other homeowners not to fall into the same trap

Terry's Surrey mansion was targeted in the raid after he had posted images from inside the luxury house on social media

Superintendent Sean Wilson, from the Met Police, told the Evening Standard: 'There needs to be much more care taken about what people put on websites when they are advertising things for sale.

'If you have gold or an expensive car in the driveway, people will lock on to that.

'Criminal burglary gangs are well organised, we do see opportunistic burglaries, but a lot of burglary is organised, criminals work in teams and look on the internet.'

The warning comes as figures revealed break-ins in London had shot up by 13 per cent in the previous 12 months to the end of September.

Police have warned that burglary gangs are scanning social media to find targets. Footballer John Terry was raided after posting pictures of his house online

And Scotland Yard had previously said they will no longer be investigating low-level burglaries if they do not believe it is possible to identify a suspect.

A number of high-profile celebrities have fallen prey to burglars after alerting thieves through social media posts.

Former England captain John Terry saw 400,000 worth of designer bags and jewellery stolen from his Surrey mansion after boasting to his 3.4 million Instagram followers that he was enjoying a ski trip abroad with his family.

Kim Kardashian was targeted by robbers in Paris after she posed with her 3.5million engagement ring online.




A teenager was recruited by a gang to approach jurors with 500 to return a 'not guilty' verdict during a trial but 'got her words wrong' - and asked them to find the defendants guilty, a court heard.

The bungled attempts were unsuccessful after the judge used rare legal powers to take on the jury's role for himself.

The girl, 15, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was part of a trio who allegedly approached five members of a jury to attempt to bribe them with cash to find the defendants not guilty.

Sharear Islam-Miah, 26, (left) and Raja Hussain, 30, (right), both pictured arriving at Leeds Crown Court

Leeds Crown Court, West Yorkshire, heard the jurors were deliberating over a manslaughter trial at the same court involving a 'cash for crash scheme'.

The court heard eight men were associates of the defendants and had deliberately caused a fire alarm to go off to film members of the jury outside.

The 15-year-old girl, Zafarullah Ahmad and Jamie Lawson the next day then approached five jury members while they entered court and offered them 500.

They told each of them to find the defendants not guilty - but the jurors told the court clerk about them being approached and the jury was subsequently discharged.

The jury was discharged for only the second time in an English or Welsh crown court the case and was heard by the judge alone.

Mr Justice Goss invoked seldom-used powers under Sections 44 and 46 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which came into force in July 2007.

Mr Justice Goss used a rare legal power to return verdicts without a jury

Prosecutor Peter Moulson, QC, alleged that the trio who approached the jurors were doing so to get defendants acquitted - or to force a retrial.

Eight men were charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice by interfering with the deliberations of members of the jury.

Shahrear Islam-Miah, 27, Abdilahi Ahmed, 27, and Haroon Sharif, 21, all deny being a part of the gang - after five alleged accomplices already admitted the same offence.

The case against the 15-year-old girl was dropped after psychological observation tests found she had cognitive functions 'comparable to an eight or nine-year-old child'.

Mr Moulson told the court: 'She approached three jurors while all together they were walking away and offered them 500 to return guilty verdicts.

'We say that she got her words wrong.

'She was described by jurors who were approached by her as frightened.'

Waqas Ahmad, who has admitted his role in the plot, set off a fire alarm in the canteen of Leeds Crown Court to ensure that the jurors had to exit the building on February 20.

The prosecution allege that Haroon Sharif, standing trial, used a mobile phone to video and identify the jurors in the case from a slow-passing red Nissan Micra.

Islam-Miah, 27, of no fixed abode, Ahmed, 27, from Leeds, and Sharif, 21, from Altrincham, have gone on trial today after pleading not guilty to the charge.

The jury was told Raja Hussain, 31, of no fixed abode, Zafarullah Ahmad, 21, Jonaade Hussain, 27, Waqas Ahmad, 26, and Jamie Lawson, 28, from Leeds, all pleaded guilty to the same charge at previous hearings.

The trial, which is expected to last four weeks, continues.
Joseph Oberhansley, charged with murder, rape and abuse of his 46-year-old Tammy Jo Blanton in September 2014, has been deemed incompetent to stand trial

An Indiana man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and eating parts of her body isn't mentally competent to stand trial, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Clark County Circuit Court Judge Vicki Carmichael deemed 36-year-old Joseph Oberhansley incompetent after hearing testimony from three doctors who evaluated him.

Prosecutors allege that Oberhansley broke into the Jeffersonville home of his 46-year-old ex-girlfriend, Tammy Jo Blanton, in September 2014, and that he raped her, stabbed her to death and ate parts of her body.

Carmichael ordered the competency evaluations after defense attorneys Brent Westerfeld and Bart Betteau filed a motion in February saying Oberhansley wasn't able to participate in his own defense or fully understand the court proceedings.

Oberhansley (left) is charged with murder, rape and abuse of a corpse in the September 2014 slaying of 46-year-old Tammy Jo Blanton (right)

The southern Indiana man underwent several psychiatric evaluations, despite his insistence that he's competent for trial. The prosecutor still intends for the case to go to trial eventually

'He is suspicious, paranoid, uncommunicative, and agitated,' they wrote, saying there is a 'complete breakdown' in communication between them and Oberhansley.

The evaluation reports by psychologists and psychiatrists have been filed under seal, reported the Courier-Journal of Louisville, Kentucky, which is across the Ohio River from Jeffersonville.

Clark County prosecutor Jeremy Mull said he intends to bring the case to trial eventually.

Previously, he had been classified as having a severe psychological disorder

Oberhansley told police he broke into Blanton's Jeffersonville home (pictured), killed her, then ate her heart, parts of her brain and lungs

Joseph Oberhansley is pictured today on his way into a competency hearing in Clark Circuit Court in Jeffersonville, Indiana

Oberhansley, who faces murder, rape and abuse of a corpse charges, will undergo 'competency restoration' treatments in an effort to try him at a later time.

WDRB-TV reported that while on his way into court for Wednesday's hearing, Oberhansley said he was innocent and 'outraged by these false charges against me.'

If convicted, he could be sentenced to death.
A man has been arrested for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend whose body he allegedly drove across state lines and dumped by the side of the road.

Mahmood Bhatti, 28, is accused of killing his pregnant 23-year-old girlfriend Natalie Merrick in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they lived and had a son together.

Her body was found 20 miles away beneath a bridge at a creek on the side of the road in Fort Mill, South Carolina, on October 19 and went unidentified until one of her loved ones reported her missing in her home state the following day.

Police then connected her vanishing to the discovery in South Carolina and arrested Bhatti on Wednesday.

Mahmood Bhatti, 28, is accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend Natalie Merrick, 23, last week and dumping her body by the side of the road

Police have not revealed how far along she was in her pregnancy or how she was killed.

Bhatti now faces charges not only for allegedly murdering Merrick but also for the death of the baby she was carrying when she died.

Authorities say the pair were in a long-term relationship. They have one son together and were expecting their second child.

They believe Bhatti killed his girlfriend in Charlotte then drove across state lines to dump her body beneath the bridge where she was found by by-passers last Thursday.

The discovery of her body shocked the community in Fort Mill, the small town where she was found.

Police say the pair (left in 2014 together) were in a long-term relationship. They had one son together, seen right with Bhatti

Merrick (above with the couple's son) was expecting her second child when she was killed

The young mother's body was found by a creek in Fort Mill, South Carolina (above) on Thursday

Merrick was reported missing from her home in Charlotte on October 20. Her body was found a day earlier 20 miles away in Fort Mill, South Carolina

In a statement, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police spokesman said: 'Bhatti and the victim were in a long time relationship and had a child in common.

'CMPD Homicide Detectives obtained arrest warrants against Bhatti for Murder and Murder of an Unborn Child.'

Authorities have not yet revealed how the young mother was killed.

Neither the police department nor the coroner would release her cause of death on Wednesday afternoon.

It is also not clear who reported Merrick missing on October 20.

After her body was found by the creek, police in South Carolina issued photographs of Merrick's tattoos including one on her shoulder which bore her son's name. They will not reveal how the woman died

Another of Merrick's tattoos (right). The skin around her wrist appeared to be scratched in the photograph issued by police after her body was found

Police believe the woman was killed near her home in Charlotte, North Carolina (above) and was moved by her boyfriend afterwards

Sheriffs in Fort Mill released photographs of her tattoos in a bid to identify her last week.

They included one which had the symbols of the Turkish flag along with her son's name.

Police have not yet suggested what may have prompted Bhatti to carry out the alleged killing.

In August, Bhatti was arrested for misdemeanor assault on a female and was booked into county jail but was released on a bail.

He now faces two murder charges for his girlfriend's death and the death of their unborn baby.
The British electrician who was held in Dubai for three months for touching another man's hip has been spotted talking on his phone are landing back in the UK.

Jamie Harron, 27, from Stirling, was sentenced to three months jail by a court on Sunday, but had his passport returned on Monday after the charges were dropped.

He was pictured deep in discussion outside his home after the end of a hellish ordeal which began when was arrested in July accused of putting his hand on a man's hip to avoid spilling a drink in a crowded bar.

Jamie Harron, 27, from Stirling, was pictured today speaking on his mobile phone outside his home following the end of a hellish ordeal

Mr Harron, pictured today, was arrested in July and accused of putting his hand on a man's hip to avoid spilling a drink in a crowded bar

The electrician lost his job and racked up debt after having to spend more than 32,000 in legal fees and expenses while stuck without a passport in the UAE.

But he was able to leave the country after the charges were dropped and said he can't wait for 'a good night's sleep in my bed' after landing at Glasgow Airport.

He was photographed on Tuesday evening with his thumbs up at the airport and was pictured embracing his delighted mother Patricia, father Graham and sister Jordan.

Speaking of his ordeal, he said: 'I think it was a bad situation, to be honest. I didn't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

'I still couldn't believe it had actually happened and what it was that was going on.

'Even now that I'm actually home, I still can't believe that it was actually three and a half months.

'I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep in my bed cause I was sleeping on my mate's couch. The full thing's just mental. I feel very good. I am happy to be home.'

His mother, 55, said it is 'brilliant' to finally have her son home and kissed him on the cheek after he touched down.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is thought to have intervened due to growing international pressure.

His mother Patricia gave him a kiss on the cheek after he landed back in Glasgow on Tuesday night

Mr Harron smiled when he hugged his mother after he arrived back in Scotland at Glasgow Airport

His mother Patricia and sister Jordan were waiting for him at the airport and he looked relieved to be finally be home

In a statement released through campaign group Detained in Dubai, Mr Harron said: 'No one should go through what I went through.

'Yesterday, I faced months in a Dubai prison cell. Today, I was phoned to say I could collect my passport.

Jamie Harron photographed with his thumbs up at Glasgow Airport after being released from Dubai

'The past few months have been up and down and full of worry for everyone. I am arranging flights back home now and can't wait to see my family.

'It's going to take me a while to recover. It is hard for my friends to imagine what was going through my head when I was told I would be jailed for months.

'I am struggling to come to terms with being released but will be having dinner with my friends tonight before I leave for good.'

He added that he is delighted to be coming home and wanted to thank Dubai's ruler.

He also said his parents are 'ecstatic' that he is returning after his experience with the 'absolute shambles' of Dubai's justice system.

His mother, Patricia, said she was 'absolutely delighted' at the news.

Harron told her: 'Just stop crying mum, don't be upset anymore. Don't cry anymore.'

He said he put his hand on businessman Emad Tabaza's hip to avoid spilling a drink in a crowded bar.

His Jordanian accuser dropped the complaint, but local prosecutors decided to proceed with the case.

Jamie Harron, 27, from Stirling, was sentenced for public indecency in the Middle Eastern country

Businessman Emad Tabaza (left) had left Briton Jamie Harron in jail (right) over claims of being indecently touched

The electrician had been working in Afghanistan and was on a two-day stopover in the United Arab Emirates when he was arrested in July.

The vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has exonerated Harron, according to the group Detained in Dubai.

Radha Stirling, who works for Detained in Dubai, said: 'The cases against him have been dismissed, and the sentence imposed by the court yesterday has been nullified.

'We wish to express our deepest gratitude to Sheikh Mohammed for his personal intervention in this case, and for exonerating Jamie at long last.

'It has now been established that the allegations against Jamie were entirely unwarranted, defamatory, and meritless; to such an extent that the ruler of the country found it necessary to step in and correct the wrongful action of the public prosecutor and to quash the judgment of the court.'

She added: 'This was a courageous and honourable decision on the part of Sheikh Mohammed.

'While it highlights the urgent need for judicial reform in the country, it is also a hopeful sign that the UAE's leadership possesses the will and vision to pursue such reforms in the future.'

Harron (pictured left) is now free to leave the country after having his passport returned after an intervention by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum (pictured right)

Who is the ruler of Dubai? Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Prince Andrew, Duke of York, at Ladies Day at Ascot Racecourse in 2009 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates as well as the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai. The 68-year-old succeeded his brother as leader of the tiny Middle Eastern city in 2006 and has been credited with turning it into a global business and tourism destination. He oversaw the building of the Burj Al Arab hotel and the Palm Islands in Dubai alongside many other projects. As well as being a much-hailed leader, he is also a published poet and a keen equestrian. His family owns the world-famous Godolphin stable, of which he is the driving force. The enormously successful operation has won 4,000 races since it was created in 1992 and has been named British Champion Owner twelve times - in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017. It has stables in Newmarket, Sydney and Melbourne and has its headquarters in Dubai. The sheikh has himself has also won victories on horseback, including a double in the Longines FEI World Endurance Championships at Euston Hall in Thetford five years ago. Advertisement

She said Harron is now considering a civil suit against the businessman and his staff who also accused him of drinking alcohol and making a rude gesture.

When he was sentenced on Monday, he was given two weeks to appeal the decision.

He was said to be 'angry, disappointed, and dreads what may happen next'.

He was initially jailed for five days and then released on bail with his passport confiscated.

The incident occurred at the raucous Rock Bottom bar, popular among Dubai's many wealthy and often tipsy foreign residents and tourists.

Stirling said at the time: 'He has already suffered tremendously as a result of these allegations, and now faces the likelihood of incarceration.

'He feels betrayed and exploited by the system, which did not investigate the reports of key witnesses in his defence and led him to believe that the case would be dropped.'

She added: 'His family was unable to visit him during this critical time because they faced a very real risk of imprisonment themselves under the UAE's cyber crime laws which forbid criticism of the government.'

Harron had already been sentenced in absentia to 30 days in prison for failing to appear at a court hearing for making a rude gesture and drinking alcohol during the same July incident.

Stirling said she believed a decree from Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, had resolved the case.

In Dubai, as in the other seven sheikhdoms that make up the United Arab Emirates, absolute power rests with the hereditary ruler.

'It was just a public-relations nightmare for the country,' Stirling said.

She said of Harron: 'He was understandably nervous; as similar calls from the police in other cases were merely tactics to lure individuals into police custody.'

Mr Harron with his parents Graham and Patricia, who were said to be distraught about their son's legal case

Accused Brit also had his bike taken Yesterday it was revealed that Harron had his garage broken into at his home in Scotland. Writing on Facebook, Jordan Harron said: 'So to add to Jamie's ordeal. His garage has now been broken into with a saw, things stolen one of which his good bike! Police been phoned but can everyone please share!! 'So to add to Jamie's ordeal. His garage has now been broken into with a saw, things stolen one of which his good bike! 'Police been phoned but can everyone please share!! Find out who this low life scum is !!' Advertisement

Dubai, home of the long-haul airline Emirates, long has sought to make itself a tourism hub.

It has the world's tallest building - the Burj Khalifa - as well as man-made islands, an indoor ski slope and miles of air-conditioned walkways in its high-end malls. It also will host the 2020 World Expo, a world's fair held every five years.

Part of Dubai's year-round tourism draw is also its alcohol sales, as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iran ban the purchase of liquor and beer. Even neighbouring Sharjah, another of the UAE's sheikhdoms, bans it.

However, alcohol possession for foreigners is technically illegal without a government-issued license obtainable only after gaining their employer's permission, though liquor and beer are widely available in bars.
A 27-year-old widow whose husband was killed after they were hit by a Ukrainian heiress in a horror crash has emerged from a six-day coma.

Oksana Berchenko 'came back from the dead' and asked doctors in Kharkiv for soup and kefir - a fermented milk dish - it was revealed on Wednesday.

But medics say Ms Berchenko is still too weak to be told that husband Alexander Evteev, 27, was killed during the horror smash.

Ms Berchenko's 20-year-old sister Diana is still on life support and in a coma after undergoing major surgery. Doctors are unsure if she will survive.

Alyona Zaitseva, 20, a sociology student and millionaire heiress, is currently in jail accused of killing Mr Evteev along with four other people and injuring six after speeding through a red light in her black Lexus.

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Oksana Berchenko, 27, has emerged from a coma six days after she was knocked down in a car crash in Ukraine. Her husband Alexander Evteev, also 27 (pictured together) has died

Medics say Ms Berchenko is awake and has asked for soup. She is still too weak to be told her husband is dead, doctors added

Diana Berchenko, 20 (left), Oksana's sister who was also hit in the crash, is still on life support and in a coma after undergoing major surgery

Diana (left and right) was one of 11 people struck by a black Lexus in the city of Kharkiv after the vehicle jumped a right light. Five have since died

Alyona Zaitseva, 20, a sociology student and millionaire heiress, is accused of causing the crash and faces 10 years in jail if convicted

Zaitseva - who has previous fines for speeding - has been held for two months pending an investigation into the crash, and faces up to ten years in jail if convicted.

Her energy tycoon father Vasily Zaitsev, 61, issued an emotional appeal in the name of himself and his wife Tatiana, 40, for forgiveness from the victims while vowing to pay to help for the bereaved and injured.

Igor Berchenko, 55, father of Oksana and Diana, said a lawyer from Zaitsev had been in touch, but angrily hit back: 'What is this compensation for?

'Will she return Alexander from the grave?'

His son-in-law was buried in Sumy earlier this week.

He dismissed the offer of help from the multi-millionaire energy mogul, saying: 'Ordinary people are helping our family.'

Diana's boyfriend Yury Fomenko said she was still in a coma in a 'stable but grave' condition.

'I talk to her parents every hour,' he said.

'Diana is still fed through pipes but Oksana was even allowed to have sour milk.

'I can't say anything about her emotional state. No-one has spoken to her yet. But her heart and lungs are working already.'

It seemed as if the sisters had been treated by 'a million doctors' including specialists flown in from Kiev, he said.

'Diana needs time, nothing can help, we need to wait,' he said.

Family friend Svetlana Otroshchenko said Oksana had 'got back her feelings' but was 'not allowed out of bed'.

'She had a head and thorax wounds, injuries to her heart and stomach, four fractured ribs, a laceration of the right lung and the spleen, and fracture of her left leg.

'Diana is still in a coma. At the same time, her lungs and heart are already working on their own.'

She suffered head wounds, concussion and other serious injuries.

Zaitseva, who turned up to court wearing 1,000 shoes, has previous convictions for speeding

Father Vasily Zaitsev, an energy tycoon (pictured with his wife Tatiana), has issued an emotional appeal for the victims to forgive his daughter as she tries to avoid jail

Zaitsev his wife Tatiana, pictured, have pleaded with the families of the victims for leniency

Meanwhile Zaitseva was last seen in a court appearance wearing 1,055 Ceinture Ankle Boots by luxury Spanish brand Balenciaga.

She wept inconsolably after a judge refused to allow her bail ahead of a trial.

As her father appealed for forgiveness, a close family friend made clear for the first time that Ms Zaitseva fully accepts his daughter was to blame for the horror.

It has been reported that Mr Zaitsev could be ready to spend 1.1 million in compensation, hoping that the gesture will reduce or negate any jail sentence for his adopted daughter.

In Ukraine this could happen if the hard-hit families drop claims against the girl from the wealthy family.

'A terrible tragedy has taken the lives of people,' said Mr Zaitsev.

'Words cannot describe the terror and grief for the perished and injured.

Ms Zaitseva, pictured, is facing a possible 10-year jail sentence following the accident

'On our knees we are asking families of the perished and injured in this horrific road accident to forgive our daughter.'

He vowed: 'We will do everything we can for the families of the perished.

'We are raising money and are ready to provide financial assistance.

'It is terrible, and there are no words to express feelings when you lose loved ones.'

But he also made clear that he blames the driver of the car that his daughter collided with before her Lexus span out of control, smashing into the crowd and overturning.

'The Volkswagen hit the car in which our daughter was driving,' he said in a statement to a Kharkiv media outlet .

'Because it was a strong hit, the car was thrown at people on the crossroads.'

The court must take into account that the accident involved 'two participants and two cars', he said.

'We will accept any fair decision of the court,' he said.

'It is terrible for the families of injured -- and for us.'

The driver of the VW Touareg, Gennady Dronov, 49, has admitted he edged forwards before the light turned green, but says he only entered the crossroads, where he collided with their heiress, after the light was green giving him right of way.

'He was physically not able to react to a car that 'flew' to the crossroads at such speed,' said his lawyer Sergey Perepelitsa, who made clear his client does not accept blame for the crash.

Dronov suffered head injuries and remains in hospital.

And a close friend of the Zaitseva family said: 'Everyone clearly understands that Alyona is guilty.

The Ukrainian energy company heiress ploughed her Lexus into another car at a crossing, causing the back-end to spin-out and hurtle into innocent bystanders

Citing law enforcement sources, Vesti Ukraine TV quoted a legal expert who suggested the aim of the father's campaign was to avoid a jail sentence for the sociology student

The aim would be to persuade the judge both that there were 'mitigating circumstances' for her high speed driving, and that the family has acted to provide unprecedented financial compensation for the victims, said the expert

In a tearful statement in the aftermath of the bloody tragedy, Ms Zaitseva, currently detained for two months pending a criminal investigation, had vowed help for her victims

In one funeral, grandmother Lyudmila Farbis buried her daughter Alla Sokol, 46, and granddaughter Anastasia Sokol, who would have turned 20 this week (still of a funeral from a victim today)

'She says that herself: 'My car killed people.'

'It is as clear as day that she will be liable for what was done.'

But the unnamed friend said: 'Another thing is not quite clear: Why has the Touareg's driver avoided any responsibility at all?'

He is currently classed as a 'witness' not a 'suspect'.

Asked if the tycoon was seeking to buy off the wounded and bereaved, he replied: 'Looks like a payoff?

'It will not affect the punishment in any way.

'But those who can be saved, should be saved.'

He also admitted that Ms Zaitseva's mother was 'in shock'.

And he revealed that when she was ten, the heiress had been severely injured in a car crash in which her mother was driving.

'They collided with a taxi and 10-year-old Alyona suffered the most,' he said.

'Doctors literally had to put her face back together piece by piece and make it anew,' he said.

'There are still scars left on her face that she tries to hide with makeup.

'I could not imagine that she would break speed limits after what she went through in her childhood.

'After that accident she started having terrible headaches, and she has been on serious painkillers for 10 years.'

The traces of drugs found in her urine could be from these painkillers, he said.
An actor who was pictured next to the woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by George H. W. Bush from his wheelchair has backed her story.

Heather Lind, 34, who starred in AMC's series 'Turn: Washington's Spies', alleged on social media that the 93-year-old former president had grabbed her from behind during the photo shoot at a private screening of the series premiere in March 2014.

Now her costar Kevin McNally, who was stood next to Lind in the photograph, has confirmed her claims.

'My full support for @heatherglind for speaking out about the horrible event in Houston. All of which is true,' tweeted the Pirates of the Caribbean star on Wednesday.

Actor Kevin McNally has backed up Heather Lind's claims she was sexually assaulted by George HW Bush while this photo was taken at a private screening of AMC's TURN: Washington's Spies series premiere in March 2014 in Houston, Texas. Back row, L-R: actors Seth Numrich, Samuel Roukin, Ian Kahn, Heather Lind, Kevin McNally and Burn Gorman. Bottom row: Barbara Bush and George H.W. Bush

Lind's costar Kevin McNally, who was stood next to Hind in the photograph, tweeted his 'full support for @heatherglind for speaking out about the horrible event in Houston. All of which is true'

Alexander Rose, author of Washington Spies, added on Twitter that he had also attended the event and had witnesses the assault

Actor Burn Gorman, who was stood next to McNally in the photograph, added his 'love and support' to the actress

Actor Burn Gorman, who was stood next to McNally in the photograph, added his 'love and support' to the actress, adding: 'Grit and grace as ever from one of the best actors I've ever worked with.'

Alexander Rose, author of Washington Spies, added on Twitter that he had also attended the event and had witnesses the assault.

'Her account is 100% accurate. I was there. It was not a "joke" gone awry'' he tweeted.

The now infamous photo features the Bushes and half a dozen Turn stars, with Lind standing just behind the former president. Standing alongside them were actors Seth Numrich, Samuel Roukin, Ian Kahn, McNally and Burn Gorman.

DailyMail.com has reached out to all the actors in that photograph.

Bush has since apologized to Lind for the alleged sexual assault.

In a statement to the DailyMail.com, his representatives said: 'President Bush would never - under any circumstance - intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologizes if his attempt at humor offended Ms. Lind.'

Lind had made the allegations against the former president on Instagram in a lengthy post with accompanying photos.

'When I got the chance to meet George H. W. Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo. He didn't shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke,' Lind alleges.'

The stunning actress took to Instagram to make the allegations against the former president

McNally (right, stood next to Lind) may have been stood close enough to spot any untoward behavior towards his castmate who was standing next to Bush Sr.

Lind said in her since-deleted Instagram post it happened a second time: 'And then, all the while being photographed, touched me again. Barbara rolled her eyes as if to say ''not again''. His security guard told me I shouldn't have stood next to him for the photo.'

'We were instructed to call him Mr. President. It seems to me a President's power is in his or her capacity to enact positive change, actually help people, and serve as a symbol of our democracy,' the lengthy post went on.

'He relinquished that power when he used it against me and, judging from the comments of those around him, countless other women before me,' Lind wrote.

Her post goes on to say: 'What comforts me is that I too can use my power, which isn't so different from a President really. I can enact positive change. I can actually help people. I can be a symbol of my democracy.'

'I can refuse to call him President, and call out other abuses of power when I see them,' she writes.

Lind took to Instagram sharing this image along with the photo in question to make the claims against the former president on Tuesday

The incident allegedly happened during a photo-op at a private screening for the AMC series 'Turn'

'I can vote for a President, in part, by the nature of his or her character, knowing that his or her political decisions must necessarily stem from that character.'

Lind adds that she shared the allegations against Bush with people on her AMC series.

'My fellow cast-mates and producers helped me that day and continue to support me. I am grateful for the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences,' she said.

'And I thank President Barack Obama for the gesture of respect he made toward George H. W. Bush for the sake of our country, but I do not respect him. #metoo.'

Lind concluded using the hashtag that has become a viral trend for people to share their allegations of sexual assault.

People were divided on how to interpret Lind coming forward with her own #metoo story.

One person commented: 'I am SO SORRY that you had to deal with that Heather! This story has really upset me.'

But others were questioning the timing, ignoring the recent #metoo trend: 'Why didn't you say this four years ago instead of now.'

Heather Lind's claims against George Bush Sr. I was disturbed today by a photo I saw of President Barack Obama shaking hands with George H. W. Bush in a gathering of ex-presidents organizing aid to states and territories damaged by recent hurricanes. I found it disturbing because I recognize the respect ex-presidents are given for having served. And I feel pride and reverence toward many of the men in the photo. But when I got the chance to meet George H. W. Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo. He didnt shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke. And then, all the while being photographed, touched me again. Barbara rolled her eyes as if to say not again. His security guard told me I shouldnt have stood next to him for the photo. We were instructed to call him Mr. President. It seems to me a Presidents power is in his or her capacity to enact positive change, actually help people, and serve as a symbol of our democracy. He relinquished that power when he used it against me and, judging from the comments of those around him, countless other women before me. What comforts me is that I too can use my power, which isnt so different from a President really. I can enact positive change. I can actually help people. I can be a symbol of my democracy. I can refuse to call him President, and call out other abuses of power when I see them. I can vote for a President, in part, by the nature of his or her character, knowing that his or her political decisions must necessarily stem from that character. My fellow cast-mates and producers helped me that day and continue to support me. I am grateful for the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences. And I thank President Barack Obama for the gesture of respect he made toward George H. W. Bush for the sake of our country, but I do not respect him. #metoo Advertisement

Some argued having one's behind touched did not amount to 'sexual assault' so someone posted a definition to argue the point.

'According to RAINN the definition for sexual assault is What is sexual assault? The term sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim. Some forms of sexual assault include: Attempted rape, Fondling or unwanted sexual touching, Forcing a victim to perform sexual acts, such as oral sex or penetrating the perpetrator's body, Penetration of the victim's body, also known as rape.'

Although one commenter called this particular #metoo post off the mark.

'Awards for bravery don't belong to women who post on Instagram. I've been loathe [sic] to comment on things like this but this was the last straw. I'm not denying anyone's "truth," and I am not saying that sexual harassment or assault don't cause most victims to feel fear and shame, but I am saying that it isn't all the same.'

The commenter continued: 'It isn't equal. And if you think this post is going to help the women trapped by husbands still beating them, the women who will be brutally raped tonight, the little girls being turn [sic] apart by they're [sic] own protectors, you're wrong.

'All this does is diminish their realities. This isn't bravery. This is not courage. To be one of the millions now?

'In some rooms we've been doing it for decades. Honestly, for sensitive people you're kinda insensitive ... just sayin'

Another wrote: 'You are terrible. he was 89 years old. and has some Dementia and Vascular Parkinson's. You were not sexually assaulted. You cheapen every person that was. This is not political. I have never voted for a Bush or a republican in my life. This is just wrong.'

The actress has not offered definitive evidence of the alleged misconduct.
Sir Michael Fallon said there must be no 'witch hunt' against British soldiers as he set out his plans to stop probes into UK troops.

The Defence Secretary said Northern Ireland should to 'draw a line' under the investigations and consider bringing in a statute of limitations.

The move would introduce a time limit which would stop prosecutions against soldiers for allegations dating back to the Troubles.

He hit out at the practice of British veterans 'being pulled from their beds and dragged across to Belfast' to face a grilling about what they did in the line of duty.

Sir Michael Fallon, pictures in Parliament today, said a statue of limitation would help draw a line under the controversial probes in Northern Ireland

It follows an outcry from veterans who say they are being dragged before the courts to face allegations whereas Republican insurgents are not.

They have called for an end to the legacy investigations, which they say are imbalanced and unfairly persecute British troops.

Speaking to the defence select committee today, Sir Michael said: 'First to say as part of the consultation that the Northern Ireland Office is about to undergo will be seeking views on an alternative approaches that would enable the province to think about drawing a line under the past that might involve a statute of limitations.

FALLON WARNS CRITICISMS OF SAUDI ARABIA HARMING UK EXPORTS OF JETS Sir Michael Fallon said criticisms of Saudi Arabia made by British MPs is 'not helping' sales of the Eurofighter Typhoon jet to the Middle Eastern country. The Defence Secretary said the country had still not signed on the dotted line for a second batch of the Typhoon fighter jets. And he said that strident criticism of the Middle Eastern country in Parliament has not helped the talks. He told MPs that he travelled to the country in September to discuss progress on the deal with his opposite number. But he added: 'I have to repeat, sadly, to this committee that obviously other criticism of Saudi Arabia in this Parliament is not helpful, and I will leave it there. 'But we need to do everything possible to encourage Saudi Arabia to towards batch two, I believe they will commit to batch two.' The British government has faced heavy criticism for selling billions of pounds of arms to Saudi Arabia while the country is undertaking a proxy war in Yemen. Troops have been accused of breaching international humanitarian law in the conflict. Advertisement

'There are huge difficulties with a statute of limitations, with ensuring it is non discriminatory for example under the European Convention on Human Rights.

'But I personally think, and the government I hope will share this view, it's worth the province starting to think about this.'

He said similar laws have worked in other countries and could work in Northern Ireland too.

Sir Michael added: 'So far as our own veterans are concerned, I am determined there should be neither witch hunt or phishing expeditions which sees our veterans who were defending the state and defending the state's citizens, being pulled from their beds and dragged across to Belfast

'So I want to see safeguards now in this process to ensure there wont be investigations unless there are strong grounds to reopen cases  for example such as the emergence of new evidence.'

Sir Michael also said criticisms of Saudi Arabia made by MPs in Parliament is 'not helping' British sales of the Eurofighter Typhoon jet to the Middle Eastern country.

Quizzed about why the deal with Saudi Arabia for a second batch of the Typhoon fighter jets is yet to be secured, Sir Michael said they have been 'working extremely hard'.

He told MPs that he travelled to the country in September to discuss progress on the deal with his opposite number.

But he added: 'I have to repeat, sadly, to this committee that obviously other criticism of Saudi Arabia in this Parliament is not helpful, and I will leave it there.

'But we need to do everything possible to encourage Saudi Arabia to towards batch two, I believe they will commit to batch two.'

British troops who were stationed in Northern Ireland during The Troubles have faced being dragged through the courts (file pic)




The BLM Wyoming State Office will host two meetings regarding the land-use planning process for the management of greater sage grouse habitat.

The first meeting will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Nov. 6 at the Little America Hotel and Conference Center in Cheyenne. The second meeting will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Nov. 8 at the BLM Pinedale Field Office.

On Oct. 11 the BLM issued a Notice of Intent initiating a 45-day public scoping period to solicit input on the current management of greater sage grouse and the need for plan amendments with associated NEPA documents. BLM Wyoming may consider amendments to current management actions for Greater Sage-grouse in land use plans. Additional information about the open public comment period is available at: https://goo.gl/7wdKmM.

The public is encouraged to help identify any issues, management questions, or concerns that should be addressed in the potential plan amendment. The public scoping meeting provides the public an opportunity to talk to resource specialists and to submit written comments. Comments may also be emailed to blm_sagegrouseplanning@blm.gov until Nov. 27.

For more information, contact Erica Husse at 307-775-6318.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that an Obama-era uranium deal that Hillary Clinton had a hand in approving is the biggest political scandal in modern history.

'Well I think the uranium sale to Russia, and the way it was done, so underhanded with tremendous amounts of money being passed, I actually think that's Watergate modern age,' Trump told reporters as he prepared to board Marine One.

Watergate brought down Richard Nixon's presidency. The Republican leader resigned in disgrace before his second term in office was over.

Clinton was secretary of state to Democrat Barack Obama when the uranium deal went through that Trump was referring to. She sat on the federal committee that provided authorization.

Three committees with investigatory power have said in the last week that they are probing the sale along with claims that it came alongside a kickback to the Clinton Foundation. Hillary Clinton has called the charge 'baloney.'

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that an Obama-era uranium deal that Hillary Clinton had a hand in approving is the biggest political scandal in modern history

Two House committees announced a probe Tuesday of the uranium deal that the Obama administration green-lit while an entity at the center of the charges was reportedly under federal investigation. The Senate Judiciary Committee also has a probe going.

Devin Nunes, the Republican who heads the House Intelligence Committee, said his investigation will seek to determine whether there was an FBI probe in progress at the time of the deal, and, if so, why Congress was not notified.

'We're not going to jump to any conclusions at this time,' he said in a Capitol Hill press conference.

That investigation will be jointly conducted by the House Intel and Oversight Committees.

A separate investigation in the House that was announced this week will look at the Department of Justice's handling of Hillary Clinton's email probe. It will be operated by the Oversight Committee and the Judiciary Committee.

The White House said Tuesday afternoon that the probes were a 'move in the right direction.'

Press secretary Sarah Sanders noted at her daily briefing that the White House has said many times 'that if there's any collusion whatsoever during the campaigns of any point, or any collusion at any point with another country, that they should look at the Clintons.'

'And so I think that's the right thing,' she commented.

Two House committees announced a probe Tuesday of a uranium deal that the Obama administration approved while company at the center of the charges was reportedly under investigation by the Department of Justice, Devin Nunes, the Republican who heads the House Intelligence Committee, said on Tuesday

Both chambers of Congress are sniffing around the uranium deal that President Donald Trump has tried to handcuff to Clinton.

A separate investigation in the House lead by Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy will look at the Department of Justice's handling of Hillary Clinton 's email probe. It will be operated by the Oversight Committee and the Judiciary Committee

The Senate Judiciary Committee raised the issue with the Justice Department last week.

That panel is also making inquiries into former FBI Director James Comey's move to draft a statement on Clinton's email case before she was interviewed by investigators.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy and Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte said Tuesday that they, too, would formally investigate the case that ended without prosecution.

'The law is the most equalizing force in this country. No entity or individual is exempt from oversight,' the Republican lawmakers said in a statement.

Democrat Adam Schiff, the ranking member on House Intel, argued Tuesday that the probes were completely partisan and totally unhelpful.

'Acting on the urging of the President who has repeatedly denied the intelligence agencies' conclusions regarding Russian involvement in our election, they are designed to distract attention and pursue the President's preferred goal  attacking Clinton and Obama,' the California Democrat said.

'This may be good politics, but it is a disservice to the far more important cause of investigating Russian interference in our democracy and protecting our elections in 2018 and beyond from outside influence,' Schiff said.,

The House investigation into the Uranium One deal will spearheaded by New York Republican Peter King, chairman of a subcommittee on emerging threats, and Florida Republican Ron DeSantis, chairman of a subcommittee on national security.

King was the ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee when the Obama administration green-lit the deal. He questioned it then, and he still does now.

He said at a press conference announcing House probe that he wrote to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner at the time and was told that the deal was receiving 'full scrutiny.'

'It's important that we find out why that deal went through and certainly in view of recent allegations that have been made or recent questions that have been raised, it's essential that this investigation, this inquiry, move forward,' King stated, referring to Clinton in the abstract.

Ron DeSantis said, 'We do have a witness who is a confidential informant who wants to talk about his role in this, and we're in contact with the Justice Department to release him from a nondisclosure agreement.

'If that doesn't work out in a timely fashion, then we obviously would be able to subpoena him.'

Hillary Clinton was secretary of state the time of the deal. She has been accused by President Trump and others of turning it into a quid pro quo opportunity for her family foundation. She said Monday that the charge is 'baloney' during an interview

Nunes said the House Intel Committee has been looking into the issue for some times now.

'I think, as Mr. DeSantis stated, there is a concern over the nondisclosure agreement,' Nunes said. 'We don't think that is a concern. We think that any American, if they have information, even if it's top secret, at the top secret level, they can come to the House Intelligence Committee and provide that information as a whistleblower if they would like.'

DeSantis chimed in to say that 'last Congress, this really was not investigated, but I'm happy to report that the House leadership is fully behind this current investigation.

'And so I would have liked to have done this a little sooner,' the Republican lawmaker assessed, 'but we are where we are, and we're going to get the facts now with their support.'

The Hill newspaper had previously reported that a key FBI informant, an American businessman with knowledge of the Russian nuclear industry's efforts to woo the Clintons and the Obama administration, was blocked by Obama's Justice Department last year from telling Congress what he knew.

Lawyer Victoria Toensing, who worked in the Reagan Justice Department and was the former chief counsel of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told the paper last Tuesday she is working with lawmakers to push the Trump Justice Department or the FBI in freeing up her client to speak with members of Congress.

Trump made the controversy national news when he used it to deflect from allegations of Russian collusion against his presidential campaign in comments to reporters last Thursday.

'I think that's your Russia story. That's your real Russia story. Not a story where they talk about collusion, which there was none. It was hoax,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

The Senate Judiciary Committee was the first of the Capitol Hill probes of the Uranium One deal, which gave 20 percent of the country's uranium to Russia.

Federal investigators are said to have been reviewing the Russian nuclear industry's business practices at the time of the sale.

Trump told reporters last week that it was the story of 'the decade' and slammed the mainstream media for not reporting it.

'Frankly it's a disgrace,' Trump said. 'It's a disgrace, and it's a disgrace that the fake news won't cover it. It's so sad.'

Trump also smacked Clinton on Twitter as he called it the 'biggest story that fake media doesn't want to follow.'

President Trump spoke about the questionable Uranium One deal in the Oval Office last Thursday, calling it 'your real Russia story,' as it hit political rival Hillary Clinton

The deal that took place while Clinton was secretary of state has attracted the attention of the Senate

Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said last Wednesday that he is looking into potential 'conflicts of interest' that Hillary Clinton may have had when she sat on the committee that approved the Uranium One transaction

She fired back in a book talk with C-SPAN on Monday.

'I would say it's the same baloney they've been peddling for years, and there's been no credible evidence by anyone. In fact, it's been debunked repeatedly and will continue to be debunked,' she said.

Clinton said the allegations are a distraction and a diversion cooked up by President Trump and Fox News.

'I'm their favorite target. Me and President Obama, we are the ones they like to put in the crosshairs,' she said.

A number of outlets reported last week that Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley sent letters to federal agencies asking about potential 'conflicts of interest' that Clinton may have had when the State Department approved the Uranium One transaction.

State was just one of nine departments that approved the deal, a Politifact article explaining the dispute says.

As a party to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, CFIUS, the secretary of state - Clinton - would have had a role in the decision. But so did the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Politifact says, the nuclear regulator in Utah, where some of the uranium fields were located and everyone else on CFIUS.

Grassley said his investigation will center on Obama administration approval of he deal despite the ongoing FBI investigation of the company concerned. He also made reference Clinton's family foundation.

'It turns out during the transaction, the Justice Department had an ongoing criminal investigation for bribery, extortion and money laundering into officials for the Russian company making that purchase,' Grassley said during a Capitol Hill hearing. 'While all of this was going on, the Clinton Foundation reportedly received millions of dollars from interested parties in the transaction.'

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is trying to get to the bottom of the Russian uranium deal. He finds it suspicious that involved parties had donated to the Clinton Foundation

Trump picked up on the story this morning, tagging Fox & Friends in one of the messages - an indication that he'd been watching author Peter Schweizer's appearance on the program

Peter Schweizer is the author of the book Clinton Cash. He hopped on Fox this morning to comment on Sen. Chuck Grassley's announcement

In 2010, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States approved a deal that allowed Russia's Rosatom nuclear company to buy Canadian mining company Uranium One, which controlled about 20 percent of the U.S.'s uranium deposits, which was why the multi-agency committee was involved.

Sitting on that committee were former Attorney General Eric Holder and former Secretary of State Clinton, whose husband, ex-President Bill Clinton, had collected speaking fees and Clinton Foundation donations by parties associated with the deal.

Details about the donations were previously revealed in author Peter Schweizer's book, Clinton Cash.

Schweizer appeared last Thursday morning on Fox & Friends, with President Trump tweeting 'Russia sent millions to Clinton Foundation' and tagging the morning show, indicating that he had tuned in.

Trump also tweeted, 'Uranium deal to Russia, with Clinton help and Obama Administration knowledge, is the biggest story that Fake Media doesn't want to follow!'

Former President Bill Clinton was given Clinton Foundation dollars and speaking fees by parties associated with the Russian uranium deal - while his wife, then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, had to approve of it for it to go through

However, the New York Times had investigated the deal as Schweizer's book was coming out and agreed with many of the authors findings: that interested parties had indeed flowed money to the Clinton Foundation as Secretary of State Clinton made her determination.

'Whether the donations played any role in the approval of the uranium deal is unknown,' the Times report said.

'But the episode underscores the special ethical challenges presented by the Clinton Foundation, headed by a former president who relied heavily on foreign cash to accumulate $250 million in assets even as his wife helped steer American foreign policy as secretary of state, presiding over decisions with the potential to benefit the foundations donors,' it continued.

Adding a new layer to the story, the Hill reported that the FBI had uncovered a Russian bribery plot in 2009 and 2010, before the committee approved the deal.

The Justice Department also waited until 2014 to bring any charges.

Grassley wants to find out why.

The Department of Justice has not responded to multiple inquiries from DailyMail.com on the matter, including the gag order and whether DOJ would remove it.
Donald Trump blasted his former campaign opponent on Wednesday for denying her role in paying for opposition research that grew into an election-year 'dirty dossier' full of salacious and unsubstantiated allegations against him.

'Don't forget Hillary Clinton totally denied this. She didn't know anything. She knew nothing,' Trump said in an interview with the Fox Business Network's 'Lou Dobbs Tonight' program.

'What I was amazed at  it's almost $6 million that they paid, and it's totally discredited. It's a total phony. I call it fake news. It's disgraceful. It's disgraceful.'

Campaign finance records show that the Clinton campaign paid a Washington law firm called Perkins Coie $5.6 million in legal fees from June 2015 to December 2016, and the Democratic National Committee paid another $3.6 million. The law firm was a pass-through, taking money from the campaign and the DNC and paying the opposition research Fusion GPS.

It's impossible to know how much of that money was earmarked for Fusion GPS's work on the now-discredited dossier.

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President Donald Trump blasted Democrats on Wednesday, including Hillary Clinton, for covering up their role in funding opposition research that led to a 'dirty dossier' of unsubstantiated allegations against him

The Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee funneled money to the opposition research firm Fusion GPS through a law firm

On the air Wednesday night with Lou Dobbs, Trump said 'that's the collusion' when pointing to Hillary Clinton's connection to the unsubstantiated dirty dossier

'I think it's very sad what they've done with this fake dossier. It was made up, and I understand they paid a tremendous amount of money,' the president told reporters at the White House before boarding Marine One on his way to Dallas, Texas.

Trump said the Clinton campaign and the DNC would have succeeded in hiding their involvement, but for a court case that threatened to expose them anyway.

'Hillary Clinton always denied it, the Democrats always denied it. And now only because it's going to come out in a court case, they said yes they did it. They admitted it and they're embarrassed by it,' he said.

Last week Fusion GPS asked a federal judge to block a congressional subpoena for its bank records, which would show who paid for the dirt-digging.

Trump called the situation 'a disgrace' and 'a very sad commentary on politics in this country.'

'They are very embarrassed by it,' he said of the Democrats.

Christopher Steele, a former British spy contracted by Fusion GPS to conduct the anti-Trump research, reportedly relied on Russian intelligence agencies for some of his source material.

That, Trump suggested Wednesday, has flipped a months-long media and Democratic narrative about his own alleged collusion with Moscow on its head.

Trump said Democrats couldn't rationalize Clinton's defeat without a scapegoat, so 'they made up the whole Russia hoax. Now it's turning out that the hoax has turned around'

Democrats, he said, couldn't rationalize her defeat without a scapegoat, so 'they made up the whole Russia hoax. Now it's turning out that the hoax has turned around.'

'Thats the real collusion. Believe me,' Trump told Dobbs, adding that even Democrats come out of walk out of meetings on Capitol Hill saying, 'there is no collusion and we havent found any yet but well keep going.'

Before Steele's involvement led to the dossier's production, an unnamed Republican primary campaign funded some early opposition research on Trump, also conducted by Fusion GPS.

The president said Wednesday that he has an idea who was behind it, but doesn't want to hazard a guess publicly.

'I think I would know, but let's find out who it is. I'm sure that will come out,' he told reporters on the south lawn of the White House.

'If I were to guess, I have one name in mind.'

He made a similar claim on Dobbs' program Wednesday night.

The Washington Post first revealed the source of funding for the dossier Tuesday night, leading Trump to characterize himself as 'the victim' on Wednesday morning

Hillary Clinton's campaign lawyer Marc E. Elias hired Fusion GPS in April 2016 to dig up dirt about Donald Trump, but falsely denied involvement to reporters

And a pair of New York Times reporters revealed that the Clinton campaign lawyer who brokered the dossier research deal denied involvement in the project for a year as journalists pressed him for information.

Marc Elias was the go-between linking the Clinton camp, the Democratic National Committee and Fusion GPS to dig up dirt on the president while he was running for office.

'Folks involved in funding this lied about it, and with sanctimony, for a year,' Times reporter Maggie Haberman tweeted after The Washington Post linked the dossier to Elias and his law firm Perkins Coie.

Kennth Vogel, another Times journalist, tweeted: 'When I tried to report this story, Clinton campaign lawyer @marceelias pushed back vigorously, saying "You (or your sources) are wrong".'
A Swedish academic has been sentenced to death in Iran after being accused of spying for Israel, human rights observers have said.

Ahmadreza Djalali, a father-of-two who was born in Iran but has resident status in Sweden, was arrested in his home country in April 2016.

He was accused of handing a list of 30 nuclear and military scientists to the Israelis, before two scientists on the list were killed in explosions in 2010.

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Ahmadreza Djalali, a father-of-two who was born in Iran but has resident status in Sweden, has been sentenced to death in his home country after being found guilty of spying for Israel

Iranian authorities confirmed to the BBC that a man had been convicted of passing information to Mossad, the Israeli spy agency, in return for money and help getting a Swedish via.

While authorities did not name Djalali, human rights group Amnesty confirmed the sentence through one of the academic lawyers.

The group said the sentence comes after 'psychological torture, false confessions and a grossly unfair trial.'

Philip Luther, the group's research and advocacy director for the Middle East/North Africa region, said: 'No evidence has ever been presented to show that he is anything other than an academic peacefully pursuing his profession.

'If he has been convicted and sentenced for peacefully exercising his rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, including through his academic work, the authorities must immediately and unconditionally release him and drop all charges against him.'

Wife Vida Mehrannia (left) said her husband has never been involved in spying and that his conviction comes after psychological torture and a sham trial

Amnesty said Mr Djalali, a doctor and lecturer at Stockholm's Karolinska Institute, was on a business trip to Iran in April 2016 when he was arrested.

He was then held without access to a lawyer for seven months, Amnesty said, three of which were in solitary confinement.

Mr Djalali says that while in solitary confinement he was twice forced to make taped 'confessions' which involved reading out statements written by his interrogators.

He says he was put under intense pressure, through psychological torture and threats to execute him and arrest his children, to 'confess' to being a spy.

Mr Djalali says the accusations were fabricated by Iran's intelligence ministry.

His wife Vida Mehrannia, who lives in Sweden with their two children, told Amnesty that his physical and mental health had deteriorated sharply since he was detained.

'We are calling for his release because he has not committed any crime,' she said.
Just days after Donald Trump got into a Twitter spat with the grieving family of one of the four special forces soldiers killed in Niger, another widow has come forward to praise the president for his 'brave' and 'gracious' call.

Michelle Black's husband Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black was killed alongside Sgt. La David Johnson and two fellow officers, during an ambush by 50 ISIS terrorists outside a remote village in Niger on October 4.

But while Johnson's widow Myeshia has been critical of Trump for allegedly forgetting her husband's name when he called to offer his condolences, Michelle said she was grateful for the call.

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Michelle Black's (left) husband Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black (right) was killed alongside Sgt. La David Johnson and two fellow officers, during an ambush by 50 ISIS terrorists outside a remote village in Niger on October 4

Happier days: Michelle is pictured with Bryan and their two songs in an old family photo during a trip to Disneyland

Black said she was especially glad Trump had spoken with her two sons (pictured with their dad) as the 'excitement from that made it a little better, even if it was just for a minute'

'I'm very grateful that he called and he spoke to the kids. And I think that the excitement from that made it a little better, even if it was just for a minute,' she told Fox News, adding that she was aware about the controversy surrounding his call to Mrs Johnson.

'So, yeah he was very gracious and I appreciate anyone who calls cause, like I said, that takes quite a bit of bravery to call into that kind of situation.'

Trump had come under fire for his treatment of Myeshia Johnson after she said he was 'stumbling on trying to remember my husband's name and that's what hurt me most,' she said.

Johnson was so stunned by the call, she claimed, that she didn't respond to the president. She says she left the call feeling even worse than before.

Watch the latest video at <a href="http://video.foxnews.com">video.foxnews.com</a>

Johnson's widow Myeshia (right) has been critical of Trump for allegedly forgetting her husband's name when he called to offer his condolences, Michelle (left) said she was grateful for the call

Trump tweeted minutes after Mrs Johnson critized his call that he had a 'very respectful conversation' and said Sgt. Johnson's name 'without hesitation!'  directly contradicting the widow

Challenge! Trump immediately disputed Mrs Johnson's recollection of events, insisting he was respectful and knew Sgt Johnson's name

Johnson said she was 'very, very upset' after the call and that it 'made me cry even worse.'

The president has quickly pounced on her comments on Twitter.

'I had a very respectful conversation with the widow of Army Specialist Sgt. La David Johnson, and spoke his name from beginning, without hesitation!' he tweeted after the interview ended.

Hollywood star Tom Hanks hit out at the president for his response, calling it 'one of the biggest c**k-ups on the planet Earth' after the actor was honored by the National Archives Foundation on Saturday night.

CNN anchor Don Lemon also delivered an emotionally charged plea to Trump to beg him to stop bullying the pregnant widow.

Meanwhile, Michelle Black is focusing on her own family, her nine-year-old and 11-year-old sons in the wake of the tragedy.

From left, Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah W. Johnson, Sgt. La David Johnson and Staff Sgt. Dustin M. Wright were killed in Niger when a joint patrol of American and Niger forces was ambushed by militants believed linked to ISIS

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford took questions from reporters about the Niger operation during a briefing at the Pentagon on Monday, but had few answers

But she wants the world to know her husband was more than just a soldier. He was a father, a husband and spoke three languages, including the local dialect in Niger.

'I know that I married a true hero, whether it would've been on the battlefield or just in life in general. When you have true moral integrity and you care that much for other people that you're willing to put your life on the line,' she said, 'you're a hero whether it's over there or here.'

Officials believe that the four American special forces were deliberately stalled by a village elder to give the militants enough time to launch the ambush.

The group of 12 American forces had accompanied 30 Nigerien forces to an area about 85 kilometers north of the capital Niamey on a routine reconnaissance mission on October 3, when a dramatic new order came through to kill or capture a top ISIS target, officials told ABC News.

They were never able to track down the target, but the convoy of 6-8 vehicles, which included three American, stopped at the remote village of Tongo Tongo after the long night of patrolling, at 11am the next day, a survivor of the attack said.

The meeting with the village, which is seen as supportive of ISIS, is a routine part of the Green Beret mission. But after the meeting, officials say village elders attempted to stall the troops from leaving.

The four American special forces killed fighting in Niger were ambushed by 50 ISIS terrorists after they were stalled by a village elder in Tongo Tongo, a survivor said

Myeshia Johnson is pictured greeting her husband's casket at Dover Air Force Base on October 17

The survivor, who has not been named, told ABC: 'Something was off'.

Once they did leave, they were ambushed.

Militants attacked the American forces with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns from military vehicles.

The solders dismounted from their vehicles and began returning fire, but as it became clear they were outnumbered and outgunned, they got back in their trucks and retreated a mile before they were attacked again.

Officials say the Americans were trapped in a kill zone.

US forces waited more than an hour after the ambush to call for help, officials said. When they finally did, a drone was overhead within minutes.

French Mirage fighter jets arrived an hour after later and evacuated two injured troops and bodies of Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah W. Johnson and Staff Sgt. Dustin M. Wright.

But the body of Sgt. La David Johnson was not recovered for a further 48 hours.

Officials said that the two separate ambush sites could explain why Sgt. Johnson's body was found more than a mile from the other dead and injured troops.

It appears that the Green Berets and special forces did not have any drones overhead or surveillance during the meeting in a move which appears to have put themselves at risk in a bid to win the trust of local residents, officials said.
A man who fled to Spain following the shooting of a businessman gunned down on his driveway in a gangland-style execution has today been found guilty of conspiracy to murder.

Leonard Naylor, 46, died from multiple gunshot wounds after a masked hitman opened fire on the driveway of his home in the quiet Kent village of Istead Rise in April 2001.

The father-of-one had been shot four times by his attackers who drove past in a Bedford Rascal van.

Now, more than 16 years after Ms Naylor's death, Terence Barry, 44, has been found guilty of conspiracy to murder at Blackfriars Crown Court in London.

Terrence Barry (left) has been convicted of conspiracy to murder in connection with the 2001 shooting of Leonard Naylor (right), who was gunned down on his driveway in Kent

Robert Blackwell, 52, from Plaistow, London, and David Carvell, 52, from Colchester in Essex, were both found not guilty by the jury of conspiracy to murder while the case against a fourth suspect was dismissed at an earlier hearing.

A police probe at the time concluded that former taxi-driver Mr Naylor, who was shot in the head, neck, chest and arm, was the victim of a 'professional hit'.

In September 1999 he was released from jail for drug dealing.

Three years earlier he had been arrested for attempted murder but the case was dropped when the victim refused to co-operate.

Mr Naylor's wife Eileen, who was at home at the time of the shooting, was seen cradling her husband's blood-soaked body in her arms and crying.

She was heard shouting 'Somebody do something, my husband has been shot. He's dying.'

The killers' vehicle was later discovered burnt-out less than two miles away in an underpass.

In the years that followed cold case investigators from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate continued to review the evidence and in early 2017 presented a case to the Crown Prosecution Service for charges to be brought against four men they believed to have been involved in Mr Naylor's death.

Father-of-one Leonard Naylor, 46, died from multiple gunshot wounds after a masked hitman opened fire on the driveway of his home (pictured) in the quiet Kent village of Istead Rise

Detectives discovered that preparations for Mr Naylor's murder began in January 2001, when they believe Barry was recruited to help carry out the attack.

A number of vehicles were purchased at this time, including two used during the attack on Mr Naylor, using false names and addresses.

These vehicles were driven into Kent on a number of occasions during the five days prior to the murder, which were believed to have either been dry runs or missed opportunities.

On Wednesday April 18, 2001 Mr Naylor drove to his home in Bracondale Avenue, parked his car on the driveway and got out.

The Bedford Rascal van (pictured) was later found abandoned and burnt out in an underpass beneath the A2 at Northfleet, near Gravesend, Kent

A masked man then approached him from a small van that had stopped at the address and shot him four times at close range.

The killer then returned to the van, which was driven away by an accomplice.

The vehicle was later found abandoned and burnt out in an underpass beneath the A2 at Northfleet, near Gravesend, Kent with a separate getaway car used to escape.

Barry, who was known as Terrence Richardson at the time, then fled to Spain before returning to the UK in 2013.

Enquiries into Mr Naylor's murder recommenced when detectives learned he was back in the country, and he was arrested with the other suspects on Tuesday March 7, 2017 after warrants were executed at a number of properties in Essex.

Barry's sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
A two-year-old who was shot in the head on Friday has died.

Zayden Phillips, two, was shot at his home in Rochester, New York, at around 11.55am on Friday. The shooter was his father Charles Timothy Phillips, 36, according to investigators.

After the shooting the father was charged with first-degree assault and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He pleaded not guilt on Saturday.

Zayden Phillips, two, (left) was shot at his home in Rochester, New York, at around 11.55am on Friday. The shooter was his father Charles Timothy Phillips, 36, (right) investigators say

As a convicted felon, Phillips is prohibited from owning a gun. Police recovered a 9mm semi-automatic pistol from the home on Friday.

Zayden's aunt Phyllis Green spoke to the Democrat and Chronicle on Friday afternoon during a family gathering at his grandmother's home.

'I'm upset, and a little shaky,' she said.

Green said Zayden's mother had been on a school field trip to a pumpkin patch with another of her sons when Zayden was shot.

Zayden was a 'sweet little boy, your average two-year-old,' Green said.

Green also lost a child to gun violence in 2006. 'So when I hear about family getting shot, it's very stressful.'

The head of the DA's Child Abuse Unit, Sara VanStrydonck, said the first-degree assault charge against Phillips reflects a depraved indifference to human life.

'That is, engaging in reckless conduct that led to this child's injuries,' she said.

Phillips was previously convicted of first-degree attempted robbery in Monroe County and sentenced to three and a half years in prison, according to state records.

Zayden's aunt Phyllis Green called him a 'sweet little boy, your average two-year-old'

Phillips was previously convicted of first-degree attempted robbery and is prohibited from owning a gun. He pleaded not guilty to charges related to his son's shooting on Saturday

He was released on parole in December 2013 after serving two-thirds of his statutory sentence.

He was returned to prison in August 2015 for violating parole, and then re-released in April 2016.

His parole supervision expired two weeks before the shooting occurred, according to reports.

The original charges will probably be upgraded following Zayden's death.

'This is still an ongoing investigation and the charges can be changed if the status of the victim changes,' VanStrydonck said over the weekend before Zayden was pronounced dead.

On Friday evening Police Chief Michael Ciminelli said that no other adults or children were in the home at the time of the incident.

'I'm not going to discuss the incident beyond the charges that have been filed at this point,' he said.

Phillips is scheduled to return to court on Thursday.
Commuters have been warned to expect long delays after a young man was killed in a car crash on a Sydney highway in the early hours of the morning.

The man died after being flung from the car he was a passenger in after the Nissan Tiida hit a crash barrier.

Emergency services were called to the M4 exit to the M7 at Wallgrove Road, Eastern Creek, at about 2.10am on Thursday.

A young man was killed in a car crash on a Sydney highway in the early hours of the morning

The man, aged in his 20s, died at the scene.

The driver, a 22-year-old man, and three passengers were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The driver will undergo mandatory blood and urine testing.

The man died after being flung from the car he was a passenger in after it hit a crash barrier

The driver and three passengers were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries

Officers from the Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit will be attending the scene to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Local traffic diversions are in place and motorists are advised to avoid the area after the fatal crash.
President Donald Trump says he's not as 'uncivil' as the media's making him out to be. It's the press that's presenting a distorted image of him that's different 'than the real person.'

'People don't understand. I went to an Ivy League college, I was a nice student, I did very well. I'm a very intelligent person,' he said Wednesday over the roar of Marine One. 'The fact is I think, I really believe, I think the press creates a different image of Donald Trump than the real person.'

The Republican president attend the Wharton School of business at the University of Pennsylvania. He went to Fordham University in New York before that.

He made the claim as he responded to complaints that he'd been too tough on a Gold Star widow, who says he was disrespectful in a condolence call, and too mean to a trio of Republican senators, including one who has cancer.

President Donald Trump says he's not as 'uncivil' as the media's making him out to be. It's the press that's presenting a distorted image of him that's different 'than the real person'

He made the claim as he responded to complaints that he'd been too tough on a Gold Star widow, who says he was disrespectful in a condolence call

The president's never-ending assaults on his adversaries have long been described Trump's critics as uncouth. Members of his own political party have repeatedly advised him to stop tweeting.

His fight with Myeshia Johnson, the widow of slain soldier Le David Johnson, started a new conversation about whether Trump's off-the-cuff commentary is too crass.

His fight with Myeshia Johnson, the widow of slain soldier Le David Johnson, started a new conversation about whether Trump's off-the-cuff commentary is too crass

He has dismissed the pregnant woman's recollection that his call to her last week was as wholly incorrect.

'I was extremely nice to her,' he told reporters on Wednesday afternoon. 'I was extremely courteous.'

Trump says he did not forget to say her husband's name, as Johnson has charged.

'There's no hesitation. One of the great memories of all time. There was no hesitation,' he said.

He also claimed that it was perfectly appropriate to 'counterpunch' Johnson when she misrepresented the call in his opinion because he has a right to defend himself.

'When somebody says something about you that's false, I think it's always okay to counterpunch or to fight back,' Trump assessed.

Trump demanded to know Wednesday why the media was obsessing over this one widow's story when other Gold Star families have complimented him.

'Everybody has said unbelievable, good thing about me, but you never report that,' Trump asserted.

As he announced his retirement yesterday from the Senate floor, GOP Sen. Jeff Flake followed in the footsteps of Republican Bob Corker and assailed Trump's behavior as 'reckless, outrageous and undignified.'

Corker had taken jabs at Trump earlier in the day in an explosive interview on CNN, in which he begged the president's staff to get control of him and challenged Trump to rise to the occasion as president.

'I don't know why he lowers himself to such a low, low standard, and debases our country in a way that he does, but he does,' Corker said.

'People don't understand. I went to an Ivy League college, I was a nice student, I did very well. I'm a very intelligent person,' he said Wednesday over the roar of Marine One

Trump has also been accused of being too mean to a trio of Republican senators, including one who has cancer, Arizona's John McCain (right). The others are retiring Sens, Bob Corker of Tennessee (left) and Jeff Flake of Arizona (center)

Trump unloaded on Flake in tweets this morning, having already taken Corker to task in real time on Tuesday.

He says a luncheon he attended with GOP senators yesterday was a 'lovefest,' so much so that he received a 'standing ovation.'

'We have great unity. If you look at what happened yesterday at the meeting, we had, I guess, virtually every senator, including John McCain. We had a great conversation yesterday -- John McCain and myself -- about the military,' Trump said.

McCain has been a frequent target of Trump's ire over his stalled Capitol Hill agenda. Trump has turned the ailing Republican senator, who announced this summer that he has cancer, into the poster child for the national health care law that he says is a failure.

But even McCain, who Trump says is the reason Obamacare is still around, was cordial to him yesterday, the president says.

'It was almost a lovefest. Maybe it was a lovefest...standing ovations. There is great unity,' Trump stated.
GCHQ has issued a warning over the 'Bad Rabbit' ransomware attack that is sweeping through Europe leaving computers locked up across the continent.

Affected users are told their computer and data has been encrypted, and asked to fork over 210 in anonymous current Bitcoin in order to unlock it.

Russia appears to be the target of the malicious code, online security firm Kaspersky Lab reports, but computers in Ukraine, Turkey and Germany are also down.

It has also been revealed that the virus code is littered with references to Game of Thrones - including the names of two dragons from the hit series.

The malware also tries a list of passwords including 'love', 'sex', 'god' and 'secret' while trying to spread - terms dubbed the 'four most common' by the 1995 movie Hackers.

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Bad Rabbit has locked computers at several major Russian media networks, demanding that users hand over 210 in anonymous currency Bitcoin in order to get their data back

While there have not yet been any reports of Bad Rabbit spreading to the UK, the National Cyber Security Centre has issued a warning.

The organisation - a part of GCHQ - said: 'We are aware of a cyber incident affecting a number of countries around the world.

'The NCSC has not received any reports that the UK has been affected by this latest malware attack.

'We are monitoring the situation and working with our partners to better understand the threat.'

Bad Rabbit is thought to pose as an Adobe Flash update to trick users into downloading it, before exploiting similar weaknesses as ExPetya to spread (pictured, Ukranian supermarket tills locked up by the virus)

Interfax, one of the largest news agencies in Russia, said some of its services were hit by an 'unprecedented virus attack'.

A spokeswoman for Odessa airport said flights were delayed because workers had to process passenger data manually.

The metro system in Kiev also reported a hack on its payment system but said trains were running normally.

Bad Rabbit is believed to masquerade as a Windows Flash update in order to convince users to install the virus on their computers, The Register reports.

ExPetya badly affected networks in Ukraine when it spread this summer, coming weeks after the WannaCry virus locked up NHS computers

Once there it uses similar weaknesses exploited by ExPetya and WannaCry to spread through the network, shutting down machines as it goes.

Back in June Ukraine was crippled by the ExPetya virus, which affected government computers to the national power grid and ATM machines.

Even the radiation monitoring systems around Chernobyl were temporarily taken offline during the attack.

ExPetya, also known as NotPetya and GoldenEye, appeared just weeks after the WannaCry virus appeared, targeting health networks in the UK.

Computers in dozens of NHS hospitals were shut down during that attack, which subsequently spread to 150 countries around the world.

The virus worked by exploiting a weakness in the Windows XP operating system, which many large government networks were constructed around.

NotPetya, named because it was based on earlier code dubbed Petya, worked in a similar way - but was more potent because it locked users out of entire hard drives at once, rather than encrypting files one-by-one.
The mother of an off-duty Las Vegas police officer who was gunned down during the music festival massacre earlier this month died just two days after his funeral.

Sheryl Stiles, 55, known to her loved ones as Sissy, was riding an escalator at the South Point Casino when she collapsed and suffered brain damage.

Stiles was among a large group of family members who had traveled from their hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, to Las Vegas to attend the memorial service for her son, Metropolitan Police officer Charleston Hartfied.

Sheryl Stiles (left), the mother of slain Las Vegas police officer Charleston Hartfield (right), died two days after his funeral. Family say she had a heart attack and suffered brain injuries

Stiles had traveled to Las Vegas to attend her son's memorial service on Friday (pictured)

Some 2,000 attended the funeral, including many family members from Kentucky

The 34-year-old Hartfield, a US Army veteran and married father-of-two, was among 58 people who were killed when gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on the Route 92 Harvest Festival across the street from the Mandalay Bay Hotel on October 1.

Last Friday, some 2,000 mourners attended his funeral at Central Christian Church in Henderson after a motorcade down the Las Vegas Strip. His mother was in the audience, along with Hartfield's widow, Veronica, and their two children, 15-year-old son Ayzayah and nine-year-old daughter Savannah.

Sheryl Stiles brother, Lewis Stiles, told Fox 5 he believes she was on her way to her hotel room after the memorial when she suffered a heart attack on the escalator and hit her head.

Hartfield's widow, Veronica, and their two kids, 15-year-old son Ayzayah and nine-year-old daughter Savannah (pictured in front row), said goodbye to the officers Friday

Relatives say Stiles had expressed a desire to be with her deceased son after the funeral

The woman was first taken to St Dominican Hospital, then transferred to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where on Sunday members of her family made the decision to take her off life support, according to Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Stiles fell on an escalator and hit her head just hours after her son's memorial service

The Clark County Coroner confirmed that Stiles died two days after suffering from pulmonary arrest and acute cardio infarction.

Her family, however, believe she died from a broken heart after losing her son.

'I talked to the chaplain of Metro [Police],' her cousin Cecil Ralston said. 'He told me she kept saying, "Oh I want to stay, I want to be with Charleston," that she wanted to die.'

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover expenses associated with cremating Stiles' body and then sending her ashes to Kentucky, where most of her relatives live.

As of Wednesday afternoon, more than $2,400 has been raised, easily surpassing the initial $1,000 goal.
The city and county planning board unanimously approved the 92-lot Copper Ridge Subdivision, 7th Filing on Tuesday. The Billings City Council will consider adding its approval during its Nov. 13 meeting.

Save for developer Gary Oakland, no one offered comments in support or opposition to the subdivision, which is north of Rimrock Road, east of 70th Street West and west of the existing Copper Ridge subdivision. Four large parcels in this filing are west of 70th Street West.

In August, the city council annexed the property, which is zoned Residential 7000 (R-70) and Residential 5000 (R-50).

Planning staff recommended  and the board approved  eight conditions, including requiring that developers construct and maintain a temporary fire access road that will support a 40-ton fire truck. Developers must also contribute cash to the city of Billings in lieu of donating parkland.

According to a staff report, almost 26 acres of agricultural land will be taken out of production with this subdivision filing proposal. Planner Dave Green said all roads in the subdivision will be paved to city standards.

Statewide recognition

Planning Division Manager Monica Plecker presented a plaque to the committee for the 2017 Outstanding Planning Project Award, awarded last month by the Montana Association of Planners to honor the committees and staffs efforts in developing new suburban subdivision regulations.

Committee member David Goodridge made a presentation during the statewide groups annual conference in Miles City, detailing the process that went into developing the new regulations.

Plecker said the project nomination highlighted the exceptional public participation process that ultimately resulted in a seamless adoption process.

This was not a staff-driven amendment process, the award indicated. Instead, this was a collaborative effort between engineers, realtors, homebuilders, contractors and others."

Rather than sit around and complain, the board did something about it, and staff identified some key players in the community and convinced them to participate, Board President Darell Tunnicliff said. Im very proud of this award and more proud of what it will do for our community for a long, long time. Oftentimes we have the energy to complain, but not to correct.
The owner of a now-defunct orphanage in India where a young girl was living before being adopted by a Texas couple says the child had no eating issues despite her adoptive father's account to police when reporting her missing.

The body of three-year-old Sherin Mathews was found in a culvert in suburban Dallas on Sunday. Police have said Wesley Mathews told them his daughter was malnourished and needed to eat at odd hours.

The orphanage owner, Babitha Kumari, told WFAA the girl had no problems eating or drinking milk when she was adopted last year.

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Father in handcuffs: Wesley Mathews is escorted by police during his transfer to Dallas County jail in Dallas on Wednesday after his arrest in connection to his daughter's death

Mathews (right in his mugshot on Monday) has been arrested for the death of his daughter, Sherin, three, whose body he dumped in a drainage tunnel on October 7. He claims her death was an accident and that she choked on her milk in front of him

Police on Monday charged Mathews with first-degree felony injury to a child and he was ordered held on $1million bond

Wesley Mathews is being held on $1million bond on a charge of felony injury to a child. He reported the girl missing on October 7, initially saying he had left her outside as punishment for failing to drink her milk and the toddler must have wandered off.

Mathew, whose wife is a nurse, suggested to police she may have been taken by coyotes, which are common in the area.

On Monday, a day after Sherin's body was discovered in a drainage tunnel near the Mathews family's house in Richardson, her father changed his story, telling police the three-year-old choked on some milk and died.

He admitted knowing she was dead all along but denied killing her, saying instead that he forced the girl to drink milk in their garage.

Mathews initially told police that he took Sherin outside of their $300,000 home in Richardson, Texas, (above), on October 7 at 3am. He said she vanished at 3.15am and he went back inside to do laundry before eventually calling police at 8am

Sherin's body was found in this tunnel half-a-mile from their home on October 22

Sherin, three, was adopted from an orphanage in India last year. Her parents said she had a developmental condition and that they often fed her in the middle of the night if she woke up hungry to encourage growth

Mathews said he realized she was dead when her breathing 'slowed' and her pulse stopped. He then admitted removing her body from their $300,000 home.

Wesley and his wife Sini adopted Sherin from Nalanda Mother Teresa Anatha Seva Ashram in India last year.

'The child had no problem at all when she was here, neither in drinking milk or eating,' Babitha Kumari, the owner of the now-closed orphanage in India told WFAA.

She said Mathews and his wife seemed 'loving,' and before the toddler was taken to the US to join her new family in Texas, her adoptive dad would often call to check on her ask to put her on the phone so that Sherin could hear his voice.

The Mathews couple have another biological daughter, aged four, who was removed from their care after Sherin's disappearance and is now being looked after by a foster family.

Sini, who is said to have been asleep when Sherin vanished, is not facing charges.

Mathews and his wife Sini (right) appeared in court last week where a judge ordered that their other, biological daughter, remain in the care of a foster family for another three weeks pending the investigation into Sherin's disappearance. Sini is not facing any charges

Initially, Wesley claimed it was normal for him to feed Sherin at 3am because he and his wife were trying to help her overcome a developmental condition which stunted her growth and that as part of their treatment plan, they fed her whenever she was hungry.

On October 7, he said he took Sherin outside to stand beside a tree because she failed to drink all of her milk. When he went to retrieve her 15 minutes later, she was gone.

Rather than call the police immediately, he said he went inside to do laundry and waited for her to come back on her own.

Wesley reported the girl missing at 8am that day.

After giving his first statement, police arrested him for endangering a child by leaving her outside on her own at 3am, as he had admitted to doing.

He was booked into county jail but was released on bail shortly afterwards, only to be rearrested on Monday on the felony charge.
American bishops have published the first English language translation of exorcism rituals.

Priests can now obtain copies Exorcisms and Related Supplications from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

It is an official, Vatican-approved translation of De Exorcismis et Supplicationibus Quibusdam, the official 84-page ritual which was promulgated in 1999 after being used in various, unofficial forms by priests for centuries beforehand.

The translated version of the actual exorcism ritual will only be able to members of the Church, clergy and scholars who have to be approved by a bishop before they can receive it.

Exorcisms and Related Supplications is the English translation of De Exorcismis et Supplicationibus Quibusdam, the 1999 text which contains the rituals for exorcism

However a supplemental section, titled 'Supplications Which May Be Used by the Faithful Privately in Their Struggle Against the Powers of Darkness,' is being sold online.

It is the translated second appendix of De Exorcismis et Supplicationibus Quibusdam and is included in Prayers Against The Powers of Darkness, a new book being sold online by the USCCB for $6.95.

The release of the translated texts comes two years after the issue was debated by the Conference.

It has been welcomed by some in the Church who feel it will enable priests whose Latin is subpar to carry on God's work despite their linguistic deficiencies.

'It makes it easier for a priest who might otherwise be a good exorcist but who would be intimidated by a requirement to use a Latin text.

'Having it available in the vernacular means he can concentrate on prayer and on the ritual, without needing to worry about working in another language,' Fr Andrew Menke, executive director of the USCCBs Secretariat of Divine Worship, told Catholic News on Wednesday.

For centuries, exorcism practices have been shrouded in secrecy.

Exorcisms have been shrouded in secrecy for centuries. The official verse was not promulgated until 1999. Above, an Italian priest performs an exorcism in 1950

Last year, two prolific exorcists broke the mould to speak candidly about how demand for their work was increasing in modern society.

The bishops also translated this supplemental booklet of prayers against evil for worshippers. It can be bought online for $6.95

They said the rise was down to the increasing popularity of pornography in society.

They said there were now 52 exorcists operating in the US, an increase of 40 since 2007.

The actual prayers which are used have never been officially released by the Church.

Some unofficial translations of it have been released and sold in books.

It has also been represented in films and television series where the priest is depicting reciting the names of saints as witnesses gathered around him mutter: 'Pray for us/him/her'.

'Lord deliver us/him/her from evil,' is another phrase which is commonly used in cultural depictions of exorcisms.

In one unofficial translation by a St John's Seminary in Camarillo, California, that was published online as part of course material in 2013, includes the phrase: 'I exorcize you, ancient foe of mankind, depart from this creature of God.'

The UCCB's publishing division has not revealed its official translation of the text.

Copies of De Exorcismis et Supplicationibus Quibusdam can be found on eBay where they are sold for around $95.

In the 1973 film The Exorcist, one of the two priests begin with The Lord's Prayer.
Three men have been arrested after their housemate was beaten to death in the driveway of their home in Melbourne.

Police were called to Alexander Street in the upmarket suburb of Brighton East following reports of an alleged assault shortly before 8.30pm on Wednesday.

They found a man, believed to be in his 30s, with serious injuries. He died at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics.

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Three men have been arrested after a man died at a house in suburban Melbourne

The man died after a brawl broke out in the driveway of the property, according to 3AW.

Three men, aged 36, 37 and 41 and all from Brighton East, were arrested at the property and are assisting police.

The men were all renters in the Brighton East home, the Herald Sun reports.

A neighbour said the house was the only one on the street where there'd been trouble.

Police were called to Alexander Street in Brighton East following reports of an alleged assault

Victoria Police said the exact circumstances surrounding the death are yet to be determined.

Homicide detectives are investigating.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
California mom Sherri Papini was brutally kidnapped from her home, beaten and branded before being dumped on a highway nearly one year ago.

Papini, who has only now been able to describe her attackers to a forensic sketch artist, had said that her abductors were two women.

But investigators have collected male DNA from the clothing that she was wearing when she was found on Thanksgiving morning last year and female DNA that was discovered on Papini's body, the Shasta County sheriff's department has revealed.

The department also revealed that Papini's texts with a man in Detroit, Michigan have been investigated.

Officers traveled to the Michigan city on November 9 last year, back when she was still missing, the Redding Record Searchlight reported. She was allegedly kidnapped on November 2.

Police have not commented on the specifics of the Detroit investigation.

The news comes as sketches of her attackers were released.

'It has taken time for Sherri to recover to a point to be able to provide accurate details to the sketch artist,' the Shasta County Sheriff's Office said in news release. 'The sketches then needed to be finalized and approved for release by the FBI.'

Male DNA was found on Sherri Papini, pictured with her husband Keith, when she was dumped on a highway on Thanksgiving morning last year, police say. She had said that her kidnappers were women

New sketches of Hispanic suspects accused of kidnapping and beating Sherri Papini are released after ELEVEN months. The first woman (left) is aged between 20 and 30 years old, about 5 feet 5 inches tall, with curly dark hair, thin eyebrows and pierced ears. The second (right) woman was 40-50 about 5ft 7 in tall, with long, straight black hair with some gray in it

It's been almost a year since California mom Sherri Papini was brutally kidnapped from her home (pictured before the abduction)

She told police that her kidnappers, both Hispanic women, had taken care to cover their faces but she was still able to describe them in surprising detail.

The first woman was aged between 20 and 30 years old, about 5 feet 5 inches tall, with curly dark hair, thin eyebrows and pierced ears, she said. The second woman was between 40 and 50 years old, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, with long, straight black hair with some gray in it, thick eyebrows and pierced ears, the FBI said.

Anyone who recognizes either woman is urged to call the police.

Papini said the women were driving a dark-colored SUV with a 'large rear side window' when she was abducted.

'Sherri continues to look at photographs of various makes and models of SUV's in an effort to provide a more detailed description,' the sheriff's office said.

Rare sighting: Sherri Papini was spotted in a rare venture outside of her Shasta Lakes home to pick up her two children from daycare last month, nearly a year after she was kidnapped

Papini disappeared while she was out jogging near her home in Redding, California, on November 2, 2016.

Her husband Keith made a number of frantic calls to the cops telling them he'd returned home but his wife wasn't there.

Papini's phone was discovered a mile away at the intersection of Sunrise Drive and Old Oregon Highway  neatly placed on the ground and with the headphones tidily wrapped around it.

Keith, who said at the time that his wife would never leave him or their children voluntarily, also launched an appeal  a GoFundMe account raising cash to pay for the search.

Managed by his sister Suzanne, who now lives in Long Beach, California, the Bring Sherri Home Safe appeal eventually raised a total of $49,070  just short of the $50,000 goal. It is not clear what has happened to the money.

Papini was eventually found 150 miles away in the 452-person town of Yolo, which is approximately 15 miles north of Sacramento, early on the morning of November 24.

Supermom: Papini - mother to Tyler, five, and Violet, three - is described by neighbors as living a 'reclusive' existence while also trying to put her life back together since her ordeal

This photo from November 10, 2016 shows a 'missing' sign for Papini

According to police, she was found on a rural road just off the I-5 freeway and, despite being chained, had managed to flag down a passing car.

Her long hair had been hacked off and Sheriff Bosenko said she had also been beaten and branded by her alleged captors.

'Sherri appeared battered and bruised, her hair had been cut to shoulder length and she had a brand on her right shoulder,' the sheriff's office said. 'Sherri, however, stated she had not been sexually assaulted, and there is no physical evidence to indicate otherwise.'

She was also branded with a threatening message.

'The Sheriff's Office continues to examine the brand and its possible meaning, but details of the brand remain confidential as part of the on-going investigation,' police said.

In a subsequent interview with police, Papini said she had been taken by two Hispanic women who went to great lengths to conceal their faces. Their car is understood to have been a dark SUV.
President Donald Trump hyped the long-awaited release of long-sequestered federal government files on the JFK assassination in a tweet Wednesday.

Trump, who has touted numerous conspiracy theories as a candidate and even as president, touted the 'long anticipated' release via Twitter on Wednesday  a day before the law requires their release absent a presidential finding.

'The long anticipated release of the will take place tomorrow. So interesting!' the president wrote.

The 1992 JFK Assassination Records Collection Act, signed by President George H.W. Bush, set a 25-year timetable for declassification of assassination records dealing with President Kennedy.

In this Nov. 23, 1963, file photo, surrounded by detectives, Lee Harvey Oswald talks to the media as he is led down a corridor of the Dallas police station for another round of questioning in connection with the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. President Donald Trump tweeted that Thursday's long-awaited document release will be 'very interesting'

INTERESTING: Trump tweeted about the forthcoming release of JFK assassination files

The law set up a single collection of records at the National Archives, and set up a process for declassification. The law required the release of all government records dealing with the assassination within 25 years  with the exception of those the president certifies for postponed release.

Kennedy's assassination has attracted conspiracy theories ever since he was gunned down in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963.

As it turns out, Trump sent out his tweet just as he was flying to Dallas for a hurricane recovery briefing an a fundraiser at a Republican Party roundtable.

Trump revealed a belief in multiple conspiracy theories during the presidential campaign, and became the nation's most prominent purveyor of the theory that President Obama might not have been born in Hawaii as his birth certificate said.

Obama was born in Hawaii in 1961. Trump admitted in September that 'President Barack Obama was born in the United States.'

President Donald Trump greets well wishers upon his arrival at Dallas Love Field in Dallas, Texas, U.S, October 25, 2017

President Donald Trump declined to block the release of Kennedy assassination records

Shortly before the Indiana primary, Trump brought up a National Enquirer story about Rafael Cruz, the father of his chief opponent, Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

The story featured a hazy photograph that it claimed might show Rafael Cruz standing next to JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald.

'His father was with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to Oswald's being  you know, shot. I mean, the whole thing is ridiculous,' Trump said told Fox News. What is this, right prior to his being shot, and nobody even brings it up. They don't even talk about that. That was reported, and nobody talks about it,' Trump said.

The records that are still classified are mostly FBI and CIA records, and were gathered by a Assassination Records Review Board. Congress enacted the law calling for the ultimate release of records following public interest around the 1991 Oliver Stone film 'JFK,' which heavily promoted the theory that Oswald didn't act alone.

Among the documents that could get released is a file on CIA-backed Cuban exile group that Oswald may have tried to infiltrate.

President Donald Trump is caught in a push-pull on new details of John F. Kennedy's assassination, jammed between students of the killing who want every scrap of information and intelligence agencies that are said to be counseling restraint. How that plays out should be known Thursday, when long-secret files are expected to be released.

Trump repeated the information about Rafael Cruz shortly before the Trump Indiana primary victory that knocked Ted Cruz out of the race

On one side is an alliance of sleuths and scholars pushing for Trump to mind the 1992 law that requires the release this week of all 3,150 still-secret files on Kennedy's killing on Nov. 22, 1963. For them, Trump has tweeted his intent to "allow the release of the long blocked and classified JFK FILES."

But U.S. intelligence agencies are apparently citing the same law to urge him to keep some files out of public sight on national security grounds. For this group, Trump's tweet offered a caveat that he intends to disclose the materials "subject to the receipt of further information."

President Trump has sole authority to determine whether to postpone the release of classified government documents on the Kennedy assasination

Students of the assassination say the CIA is pushing Trump to keep some of the materials secret. The spy agency isn't denying that.

"Clearly there are documents, plural, files, plural, being appealed to him," said University of Virginia historian Larry Sabato, an authority on Kennedy. Of the pressure on Trump, Sabato said, "I'm told reliably that it continues and that it has intensified." The historian said documents generated in the 1990s that could contain the names of people who are still alive are of particular concern to those who want files held back.

Whatever details are released, they're not expected to answer the major - and for many, still-lingering - question of whether anyone other than Lee Harvey Oswald was involved in the assassination, including the government. The Warren Commission in 1964 reported that Oswald had been the lone gunman, and another congressional probe in 1979 found no evidence to support the theory that the CIA had been involved. But other interpretations, some more creative than others, have persisted.

For example, Roger Stone, a close Trump ally, advanced the unsubstantiated and widely disdained theory that Lyndon Johnson, who became president upon Kennedy's death, was involved in it.

This image provided by the Warren Commission is an overhead view of President John F. Kennedy's car in Dallas motorcade on Nov. 22, 1963, and was the commission's Exhibit No. 698. Special agent Clinton J. Hill is shown riding atop the rear of the limousine. President Donald Trump is caught in a push-pull on new details of Kennedy's assassination, jammed between students of the killing who want every scrap of information and intelligence agencies that are said to be counseling restraint. How that plays out should be known on Oct. 26, 2017, when long-secret files are expected to be released. (Warren Commission via AP)

Stone is not sure key documents will see the light of day. He said that 440 documents related to the assassination, released by the National Archives in July, were so heavily redacted "on the basis of 'national security' that they are useless." Stone said he's lobbied Trump personally to release all remaining materials and believes the CIA is pushing the president to keep some secret.

In 1992, Congress passed the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act, which directed the National Archives to collect all information related to the assassination and release it within 25 years, barring exceptions designated by the president. The deadline is Thursday.

The gunshots that the Warren Commission said killed Kennedy almost immediately inspired theories about whether Oswald had been the lone gunman who, with extraordinary luck by any measure, had hit his target.

As the nation mourned in disbelief, Oswald was shot and killed in police custody by Jack Ruby - forcing Americans to consider whether their government was hiding what it knew of the assassination. The event remains in the nation's living memory for a significant slice of the country. Forty-nine million Americans, or 15 percent of the country, are age 65 and over, according to the Census Bureau. They were around age 11 or older at the time.

The Warren Commission did little to settle the matter. Theories abounded that Oswald's murder was a cover-up for a conspiracy or government ineptitude. The deadly aim of a lonely, alienated gunman seemed hard to fathom.

"A gnat simply does not kill a lion," is how Saul Pett of The Associated Press described what was fueling the search for answers. He wrote the introduction to the Warren Report.

Trump has seen fit to peddle conspiracies when they suit him as part of a broader appeal to supporters who don't trust the government.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly quoted a tabloid story that claimed the father of GOP rival Ted Cruz had been photographed with Oswald before the shooting. That's never been confirmed - Trump later said he was only quoting what he'd read. But the release of JFK files this week could provide new details.

Trump also trafficked for years in the baseless theory that President Barack Obama was born outside the U.S. He also falsely accused Democratic rival Hillary Clinton of starting that rumor. The president also, without evidence, accused Obama of wiretapping his office in Trump Tower during the 2016 campaign.

FILE - In this Aug. 14, 1964, file photo, the bipartisan presidential commission to investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy sits for an official picture, at the Veterans of Foreign Wars office on Capitol Hill, in Washington. From left, are: Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich.; Rep. Hale Boggs, D-La.; Sen. Richard Russell, D-Ga.; Chief Justice Earl Warren, chairman of the group; Sen. John Sherman Cooper, R-Ky.; John J. McCloy, a New York banker; Allen W. Dulles, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency; and J. Lee Rankin, general counsel for the commission. (AP Photo)

Trump's relationship with the intelligence community also has been fraught. One of Trump's first stops as president was at the CIA's headquarters in Northern Virginia, where he made a speech that focused more on falsely accusing the media of lying about how many people attended his inauguration than on the CIA's work protecting the United States.

This image provided by the Warren commission, shows Warren Commission Exhibit No. 697, President John F. Kennedy at the extreme right on rear seat of his limousine during Dallas, motorcade on Nov. 22, 1963. His wife, Jacqueline, beside him, Gov. John Connally of Texas and his wife were on jump seats in front of the president. President Donald Trump is caught in a push-pull on new details of Kennedy's assassination, jammed between students of the killing who want every scrap of information and intelligence agencies that are said to be counseling restraint. How that plays out should be known on Oct. 26, 2017, when long-secret files are expected to be released

Intelligence officials in Trump's administration, however, say that the president meets regularly - if not daily - with the nation's top spy chiefs and has become a voracious consumer of intelligence.

Whatever Trump decides to release, historians expect to comb it for an array of details, particularly on six days Oswald spent in Mexico City just before the assassination. Oswald said he was visiting the Cuban and Soviet Union embassies there to get visas, but much about his time there remains unknown.

They will also look for any mention - or absence - of Cruz's father.

Of key interest are any new details about Oswald, including any government ineptitude or cover-up. The 1992 law allows the president to withhold details that could compromise the government's sources and methods - but not embarrassments.

"In any release of this size, there always are embarrassing details," said Douglas Brinkley, a professor at Rice University.
A woman at an airport in Baltimore has been caught on video ranting erratically about not being able to choose her seat.

The unidentified woman is seen shouting across the Baltimore-Washington International Airport terminal in Maryland as four officers stand over her.

The woman can be heard arguing that she feels she should be allowed to choose where she sits.

'We have some people who serve the country here and I have to go through some bulls***', she says.

The California woman is seen going off while four officers stand around her at an airport in Baltimore

At one point, she clearly notices the cameras filming her and says: 'I'm mad hello and I'm on World Star.'

She's referring to the site WorldStarHiphop known for posting bizarre videos

The unidentified woman states she's from California saying: 'I'm golden' when police ask her to calm down.

At one point she says: 'I am the lord, I choose my sins.'

She may have not been able to choose her seat, but she certainly chose her fate when police escorted her out of the airport terminal.

It's unclear if the woman was arrested or charged for disturbing the peace.
Nine countries including British holiday hotspots have been issued with plague warnings after an especially deadly outbreak in Madagascar.

Health officials in the Seychelles, South Africa and La Reunion - among others - have been told to be vigilant amid fears plane passengers could spread the disease.

So far 124 people have died and more than 1,000 have been infected in Madagascar, making it one of the island's worst outbreaks in years.

The World Health Organisation has issued heath warnings to nine countries including the Seychelles, South Africa and La Reunion after a plague outbreak in Madagascar

There are fears the pneumonic variant of the disease, which is spread through the air, could be transferred to these countries via plane passengers

Pnemonic plague is the airborne variant of the bubonic plague, which was spread through the bites of infected fleas and killed a third of Europe's population in the 1300s

The warning comes after a scare in the Seychelles earlier this month when a plane passenger complained of symptoms.

The 34-year-old man was a regular visitor to Madagascar who returned to the country on October 6 before developing symptoms three days later.

He was immediately referred to hospital where he was isolated and treated, the WHO said. It was later found he did not have the disease.

Of particular concern is the fact that two thirds of cases are the pneumonic variant of the disease, which is spread through the air and can kill within 72 hours of contracting it.

It is more deadly then the bubonic variation of the disease which killed a third of Europe's population in the 1300s.

Madagascar sees regular outbreaks of the disease, but this one has caused alarm due to how quickly it has spread and a high number of fatalities.

A spokesman for the World Health Organisation said: 'The risk of regional spread is moderate due to the occurrence of frequent travel by air and sea to neighbouring Indian Ocean islands and other southern and east African countries.

While Madagascar experiences seasonal plague outbreaks, this year three times the normal number of people have caught the disease and 124 have died

British tourists have already been put on alert to avoid possibly infected areas in Madagascar

'Nine countries and overseas territories have been identified as priority countries in the African region for plague preparedness and readiness by virtue of having trade and travel links to Madagascar.

'These countries and overseas territories include Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, La Reunion (France), Seychelles, South Africa, and Tanzania.'

WHO has delivered 1.2 million doses of antibiotics to fight the disease while the Red Cross has been training hundreds of volunteers on the island to publicise preventative measures.

The disease is typically curable if antibiotics are administered quickly.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'There is currently an outbreak of pneumonic and bubonic plague in Madagascar.

'Outbreaks of plague tend to be seasonal and occur mainly during the rainy season, with around 500 cases reported annually.

'Whilst outbreaks are not uncommon in rural areas, the latest outbreak has seen an increase in reported cases in urban areas, including Antananarivo.'

Madagascar, off the coast of Africa, is a popular destination for British and European travellers.
President Trump touted his relationship with China's Xi Jinping and complemented the Chinese leader for his reelection and the fact that his name and dogma were now written into his party's constitution.

'It's really virtually never happened in China,' Trump told Fox Business Network's Lou Dobbs in an interview that aired Wednesday night. 'Now some people might call him the king of China. But hes called president,' the president added.

Dobbs, in a friendly interview, had asked the president about his relationship with Xi, noting how the 'so-called intelligentsia of this countrys foreign policy establishment' had indicated to Trump that he was wasting his time trying to court the Chinese leader.

Trump brought up the fact that the two leaders had spoken on the phone just minutes before, something the president had tweeted about earlier.

'Spoke to President Xi of China to congratulate him on his extraordinary elevation. Also discussed NoKo & trade, two very important subjects!' Trump tweeted after the call.

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President Trump sat down Wednesday with Fox Business Network's Lou Dobbs and talked about his relationship with newly reelected Chinese President Xi Jinping

President Trump (right) welcomed President Xi (left) to his Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida in April

President Trump (left) told Fox Business Network's Lou Dobbs (right) that he had just spoken to Xi on the phone and marveled at his tightening grip on power saying some could call him the 'king of China' though he goes by president

Speaking to Dobbs he continued heaping on praise.

'He's a powerful man. I happen to think he's a very good person,' Trump said. 'Now with that being said, he represents China, I represent the USA, so, you know, there's going to always be conflict.'

'But we have a very good relationship,' Trump continued. 'People say we have the best relationship of any president-president, because he's called president also.'

There, the American president suggested with Xi's newly defined power he could be considered a 'king.'

'But we have a very good relationship and that's a positive thing,' Trump said, adding that he'd like to have a good relationship with Russia too.

Trump's phone conversation with Xi came as the leader was formally handed a second term in power and both his name and his dogma were written into the party constitution  putting him on par with the nation's founder, communist revolutionary Mao Zedong.

The party meeting also saw Xi fuel speculation about how long he will remain in power by not anointing a possible successor to take over in five years' time.

Donald Trump sent his best wishes to Xi Jinping over Twitter on Wednesday, congratulating him on his role atop China's new leadership lineup

Trump will visit with Xi next month during a nearly two-week-long Asia trip

The 64-year-old Xi was formally handed a second term during the 19th Communist Party Congress, and jueled speculation about an indefinite term of office when he ignored tradition and didn't name a successor

Trump and Xi will meet in China next month during the U.S. president's first official visit to Asia.

Trump will also stop in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines during the Nov. 3-14 trip.

China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported that Xi expressed a desire to work with Trump to 'jointly blueprint future development of China-US ties.'

Trump's trip is more broadly expected to be dominated by concerns about North Korea's ballistic and nuclear programs.

Successive White Houses have viewed Xi's meteoric rise to become China's most powerful leader since Deng Xiaoping with cautious optimism.

Xi also announced the members of his new ruling council Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

Delegates to the Communist Party Congress added Xi's name and his policies to the party constitution, putting him on a par with Mao Zedong

They hope it will lead to more streamlined decision making and see benefits in having an interlocutor who can afford to take some risks domestically.

A senior White House official told the South Chine Morning Post that 'the president has a very good working relationship with Xi Jinping. He wants to continue building on what the president terms a constructive and results-oriented relationship.'

'The 19th Party Congress provides the opportunity for us to get some things done in the relationship to put us on a good footing deep into the future,' the aide said
A teenage mother has been charged with murder over the death of her four-month old baby daughter, caused by a catastrophic brain injury.

Cassandra Rose Doohan, 18, was initially charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Anastasia Hand at their home in Capel, in south-west Western Australia.

Ms Doohan's original charge was upgraded to murder during a court appearance on Wednesday and she remains behind bars.

A teenage mother has been charged with murder over the death of her four-month old baby daughter (pictured), caused by a catastrophic brain injury

Cassandra Rose Doohan, 18, was initially charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Anastasia Hand (pictured in hospital) at their home in Capel, in south-west Western Australia

Seamus Rafferty, Ms Doohan's lawyer, suggested the accused will plead not guilty to the murder charge.

Anastasia was found unresponsive by Ms Doohan's partner after leaving her with Ms Doohan for 15 minutes while he was in the shower, ABC News reported.

At a previous hearing the court was told doctors discovered the infant had suffered a catastrophic non-accidental injury to her brain.

At a previous hearing the court was told doctors discovered the infant (pictured) had suffered a catastrophic non-accidental injury to her brain

Anastasia (pictured), who was just four-months-old, died on May 28 after two days in hospital

Anastasia, who was just four-months-old, died on May 28 after two days in hospital.

Ms Doohan had bail refused at the earlier hearing and was again remanded in custody on Wednesday.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for January.
Tania Klemke (pictured) was mauled to death by her pet pitbull Simba on Wednesday morning while trying to save her partner from his attack

A Canberra mother was mauled to death by her pet red nose pitbull, Simba, as she tried to save her partner from the animal.

Tania Klemke stepped in to save the man visiting her home in Watson about 4am on Wednesday morning when her beloved pet began to bite his leg.

Her son, Cody, wrote on Facebook the dog 'attacked the guy and the woman tried to stop him, then the dog turned on her'.

Police were called to the home by neighbours, who heard desperate screams coming from Ms Klemke's residence.

The woman's partner is in hospital recovering from a serious wound on his leg from Simba's attack.

When police arrived at the premises and began trying to save Ms Klemke's life, the pitbull then turned on them, forcing officers to shoot it dead.

Though Simba has now made headlines for his violent behaviour, pictures of him and Ms Klemke together appear to show a deep bond.

One image shows the two sleeping on the couch, cuddled up together.

Another pictures her son, Cody, nuzzling his face as Ms Klemke sits nearby, unconcerned.

Ms Klemke knew her red nose pitbull was dangerous, but refused to get rid of him because he 'took a bullet' for her during a previous violent home invasion

Pictures of the family show Ms Klemke and her family shared a close bond with Simba the pitbull

The woman, aged in her 40s, reportedly knew the dog was dangerous but could not get rid of him because he once 'took a bullet' for the woman during a violent home invasion, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

During an incident at the same address in March this year, a group of men wielding weapons broke into the property and assaulted Ms Klemke and another man.

Shots were fired during the break in, with a bullet reportedly striking the dog in the ear.

Ms Klemke had reportedly texted her friends after the incident, calling the dog her best friend and telling how he 'took a bullet for us'.

She later warned friends not to come over to her house because they may also be attacked.

The bond did not extend to others though, and Ms Klemke had reportedly warned friends not to come over in case they were attacked

When police arrived at the home on Wednesday morning, they themselves were attacked as they tried to perform first aid on Ms Klemke, before being forced to shoot the animal dead

One visitor to Ms Klemke's home was left needing 42 stitches after they were bitten by Simba

Speaking out after the death of the woman in her 40s, shocked friends told how she had warned them about coming over to the property because the dog had a habit of attacking visitors.

In one instance in August, a person was left needing 42 stitches after being bitten by the pitbull.

On Wednesday, ACT city services minister Meegan Fitzharris confirmed rangers and police were called out to the property in August to deal with the animal.

Police had also been forced to draw weapons on the dog on that occasion, but it was allowed to remain at the property.

ACT city services minister Meegan Fitzharris said the owners of 'large strong dogs' had a responsibility for their behaviour

'Clearly the dog was dangerous, clearly the dog has attacked someone overnight, someone we understand to be their owner or carer and that woman has died,' Ms Fitzharris said.

'Whether we knew enough at the time to have it declared as a dangerous dog is another matter we're following up on.'

Ms Fitzharris said she believed owners of 'large strong dogs' had a responsibility for their behaviour.

Describing the death as 'tragic', a spokesperson for ACT Police said there would be an ongoing investigation into the death.

'On arrival police were directed by a male in the backyard into the premises towards a female that was lying inside,' the spokesman said.

'A dog was also inside the premises. Police entered and attempted to provide first aid to the woman inside the house.

'While she was being worked on the dog attacked police officers, forcing them to fire a number of shots.'
Four Billings West graduates sent to Vietnam during the Vietnam War went unheard from Tuesday night when muster was called inside the halls of the high school.

Dennis William Wear class of 1966, Barclay Leonard Volk class of 1968, Charles C. Snider Jr. class of 1966 and Gerald Thomas Greeno Jr. class of 1967 were all recognized during a ceremony inside the school Tuesday night for the unveiling of the West High Veterans Memorial Wall, a project five years in the making which involved alumni, students, faculty and staff.

Muster is a form of formation and personnel accountability that has been with us since the founding of this country, said Ken Penttila, a veteran and graduate of the West High class of 1963. It enables commanders to know how many troops they have both before, during and after an operation.

A member of the Montana State University Billings ROTC honor guard called out each of the mens names three times before announcing that they had not answered muster.

As each name was read, West High chemistry teacher Kari Field removed a piece of black cloth to reveal four different folded American flags that had been flown in Washington D.C. in honor of the men. Field then presented family members with certificates stating the flags had been flown.

The entire project was the culmination of five years of work involving Penttila and his fellow veterans and classmates John Bottman and Sam Rankin. They worked in collaboration with Field, West Highs chapter of the National Honor Society and West High Principal Dave Cobb.

Penttila said the idea came up during a class reunion. The purpose of the memorial is to both honor veterans killed in action and to provide a reminder to students of the ultimate price some Americans have paid in war, Penttila said.

Field and NHS students checked national databases, microfiche newspaper archives, old yearbooks and other resources in order to compile the list of graduates killed in action.

The wall will memorialize any future graduates killed while serving in the military, Penttila said. Research found that to date only four West graduates had died in the military and all of them in Vietnam.

Some were brought tears during the ceremony, which brought memories back to one woman of a younger brother whose life ended five days after he turned 21.

Carol Greeno said that her younger brother Gerald Greeno would have turned 69 on Tuesday had he not died in Vietnam.

Field said her research revealed that Greeno had been struck by gunfire or artillery while riding in the back of a helicopter in Vietnam and that shortly after he had radioed in to report his injury his helicopter exploded.

The Greenos grew up on their grandparents homestead ranch about 25 miles south of Billings in the Duck Creek area, Carol Greeno said.

She remembered her brother as an animal lover and someone who enjoyed working on cars.

One summer when they were young, her brother raised and kept a pet raccoon on the ranch. "He kept this little one and he would have it on his shoulder in the house there and my mom didn't care," she said. "But it wouldn't let anyone else touch it. It was just his and if you even walked over and wanted to touch it, it would growl and snap at you, so it was his personal pet. He liked animals."

Her brother spent some time attending West but as a cowboy he never felt comfortable and ultimately got his high school diploma from West through a GED program.

Gerald Greeno was working in landscaping and had only been married for a week before he was sent to Vietnam, according to his sister.

"He was probably going to be a mechanic, I think, cause he liked working on cars and stuff," Greeno said. "You know, he really didn't have much time to plan his career or anything."

The two were extremely close having grown up isolated on the ranch, she said, adding that the news of his death was "devastating."

"I had a daughter and she was six months hold when he was killed. So I had her to take care of. It really was a hardship when he died. It was very painful. It took a long time for us to...I don't know, it was hard for me to get over it, work through it and get past it," Greeno said. "I think about him a lot."
The Hollywood Mogul, who is a US citizen, was made an honorary CBE in 2004 for services to the film industry

The Honours Committee is actively considering stripping disgraced film director Harvey Weinstein of his honour.

The Hollywood Mogul, who is a US citizen, was made an honorary CBE in 2004 for services to the film industry.

But following a torrent of allegations that he had sexually abused and raped leading actresses and members of his staff, there were calls for it to be revoked.

A number of MPs from different parties made the demand, claiming he was bringing the system into disrepute.

Theresa May also said she was 'concerned' by the allegations that Weinstein, 65, sexually assaulted young film stars.

And last night the removal of his honour was being actively considered and is likely to be removed.

He was made an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the Queen for his contribution to the British film industry Weinstein has been accused of sexually assaulting actresses included Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Rose McGowan.

He is accused of a decades-long campaign of sexual abuse against at least two dozen women. He denies allegations of rape. But the multiple Oscar-winning founder of film companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company has been sacked from the Weinstein Company which he founded.

Following the allegations, MPs united to call for him to be stripped of his honour. Among them were former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman backed the calls, saying that he abused his position to prey on women.

Tory MP Maria Miller, Chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, said the idea that Weinstein had an honour from the UK did not 'sit comfortably' given the recent allegations.

Stella Creasy, Labour MP for Walthamstow, also said that he should be stripped of the title.

Asked whether Weinstein should be stripped of his CBE, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said last month: 'Theresa May is concerned by the allegations that have been put.'

The spokesman pointed out that the Honours Forfeiture Committee at the Cabinet Office had responsibility for considering rescinding such awards.

He was made an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the Queen (pictured) for his contribution to the British film industry

He said: 'On the issue of honours that is obviously an independent process carried out by the forfeiture committee. Each case is considered on its merits.'

Honours can be forfeited when a person is considered to have brought the system into disrepute.

A recommendation has to be made by the Honours and Appointments Secretariat to the forfeiture committee to revoke an honour if a person has been found guilty of a criminal offence.

The final decision must be approved by the Queen.

The Secretariat has stripped honours from several high-profile figures in recent years following allegations against them.

Fred Goodwin, the former chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland, has been stripped of his knighthood by the Queen on the advice of the forfeiture committee.

Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe lost his honorary knighthood in 2008 for his 'abuse of human rights' and 'abject disregard' for democracy.

Pervert entertainer Rolf Harris is no longer CBE as of 2015 after he was jailed for nearly six years for a string of attacks on girls as young as seven.

But Jimmy Savile could not be posthumously stripped of his knighthood as honours cease to exist once the person has died.
Ivanka Trump is shaping up to be the hero of a Republican push to expand the child tax credit.

Republican lawmakers hailed her as an 'an amazing champion' for families and thanked her for her leadership at a Wednesday afternoon event on Capitol Hill.

We're 'obviously grateful to Ivanka, because she's really made it a priority for the White House, without whom this would not be where it is today in terms of our discourse,' Senator Marco Rubio of Florida said.

For her part, Trump told the cameras, 'We're all rowing in the same direction, and we appreciate the moment to come together and elevate awareness around the issues that we're trying to solve for.'

Ivanka Trump is shaping up to be the hero of a Republican push to expand the child tax credit

Republican lawmakers hailed her as an 'an amazing champion' for families and thanked her for her leadership at a Wednesday afternoon event on Capitol Hill

First daughter and White House aide Ivanka Trump (left) appeared at a Capitol Hill event alongside Sen. Marco Rubio (right) of Florida

'We're all rowing in the same direction, and we appreciate the moment to come together and elevate awareness around the issues that we're trying to solve for,' Ivanka Trump said

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina spoke briefly at the event, which was also attended by first daughter and White House aide Ivanka Trump

Ivanka Trump is photographed leaving a Capitol Hill briefing Wednesday where she promoted an expanded child tax credit

Ivanka Trump (right) visited Capitol Hill Wednesday. Flanked by Rep. Kristi Noem (left), a Republican from South Dakota, the White House aide joined lawmakers to discuss the child tax credit

The president's daughter has made women's empowerment part of her White House platform. As part of that effort, she's been pushing an increase in the child tax credit, $1,000 per dependent at present.

She's banded with a group of Republican senators who had been pushing the issue for years with no real movement until her father came along. President Trump's tax overhaul promotes the measure as a pillar of middle class assistance.

Rubio said that he and Republican Mike Lee of Utah received 'lukewarm' support for their proposition to raise the credit to $2,500 when they first brought it forward a few years ago.

Now, an 'impressive cross-section' of Republican House and Senate legislators are backing it, he said, giving credit to Ivanka and the Trump White House.

The most important institution in America is the family, and it costs more money than ever to raise a child, the Florida Republican said, citing a Department of Agriculture statistic that it costs $230,000 to raise a child in America these days.

West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, a mother of three, thanked Rubio, Lee and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott for being at the forefront of the issue.

She said she left a luncheon on Capitol Hill yesterday with the president with the impression that tax reforms must be targeted at the middle class.

'So, Ivanka I want to thank you for your leadership, and you've been a great champion on this,' the mother of three asserted. 'As you can see, we're all singing from the same songbook, and we welcome that.'

Taking the mic next, Republican Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada gave Ivanka a pat on the back, too.

'In an effort not to be repetitive, I do want to thank Ivanka for her leadership on this. I want to thank her for taking time. I want to thank her for making it a priority in the White House.'

Ivanka was one of the first speakers at the news conference.

She rattled off a set of statistics on the typical American family, claiming it spends 29 percent of after-tax income on childcare costs. and for two children exceeds annual medium rent in every state.

It is the highest single household expense in the Northeast and the Midwest, she argued, and exceeds tthe cost of fulltime infant care in two-thirds of states.

It also exceeds 4-year tuition at a public university and is higher than average food stamp spending in every state in America.

'It is a priority of this administration and it is a legislative priority to ensure that American families can thrive and that we deliver real and meaningful tax relief to middle income Americans,' she said.

President Trump left the messy details of tax reform up to Republicans in Congress after he put forward an overarching proposal.

Lawmakers are considering a plan to double the child tax credit to $2,000.

Ivanka stressed Wednesday that the tax code has not been radically altered since 1986. It must be amended, she said, to realize 'our dual values of work and a family.'

'We need to make our business competitive. We need to simplify and democratize our tax code. We need to drive wage growth and we need to give opportunity to all Americans,' Ivanka stated. 'And I've been really very inspired by the amount of engagement, and reception to talking about some of these critical and fundamental issues.'
Rochelle Gutierrez, a math education professor at the University of Illinois, published an anthology explaining why mathematics coursework is racist

Rochelle Gutierrez, a math education instructor at the University of Illinois, released a detailed anthology which suggests the problem solving subject is racist.

Gutierrez, whose university profile states her curriculum focuses on 'equity issues in mathematics education (and in particular) how race, class, and language affect teaching and learning,' has said the practice as a whole 'operates as whiteness.'

In the new literary compilation, 'Building Support for Scholarly Practices in Mathematics Methods,' the college professor touches base on topics she teaches to her students.

Gutierrez argues that the a disproportionate number of math educators are white, while the study itself teaches mostly Greek and European-established methods.

'Who gets credit for doing and developing mathematics, who is capable in mathematics, and who is seen as part of the mathematical community is generally viewed as White,' Gutierrez stated, according to a report by Campus Reform.

In the new literary compilation, 'Building Support for Scholarly Practices in Mathematics Methods,' the college professor touches base on topics she teaches to her students

Gutierrez focuses on 'equity issues in mathematics education (and in particular) how race, class, and language affect teaching and learning'

The professor said has said mathematics as a whole 'operates as whiteness'

The self-acclaimed community activist provided examples of common classroom instances where the said theory is played out.

Minorities 'have experienced microaggressions from participating in math classrooms (where people are) judged by whether they can reason abstractly,' she wrote.

'If one is not viewed as mathematical, there will always be a sense of inferiority that can be summoned.'

Minorities 'have experienced microaggressions from participating in math classrooms (where people are) judged by whether they can reason abstractly,' she wrote

'If one is not viewed as mathematical, there will always be a sense of inferiority that can be summoned'

'Are we really that smart just because we do mathematics?,' she inquired further.

Gutierrez has called on her counterparts to acquire a 'political knowledge for teaching,' as the skill is necessary in campus culture.

Interim Provost at the University of Illinois, John Wilkin, told Fox News 'the issues around equity and access in education are real.'

Wilkin added: 'Exploring challenging pedagogical questions is exactly what faculty in a world-class college of education should be doing.'
Plans from a New York City billionaire to build a floating $250million island on the Hudson River are back on the table.

Businessman Barry Diller said in a statement that he received 'countless' messages of support after he announced in September that he would no longer pursue the Pier 55 project, which would function as parkland and a performance space, the Hollywood Reporter reports.

'I'm going to make one last attempt to revive the plans to build the Park, so that the intended beneficiaries of our endeavor can fall in love with Pier 55 in the way all of us have,' Diller, who is worth an estimated $3billion and is married to fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, said in the statement released on Wednesday.

Media mogul Barry Diller's plans for a $250million floating island parkland and performance space in New York City are going forward after they were halted in September

The project (pictured at center) was originally budgeted at $35million. It was designed by English designer Thomas Heatherwick

Diller said in a statement: 'I'm going to make one last attempt to revive the plans to build the Park, so that the intended beneficiaries of our endeavor can fall in love with Pier 55 in the way all of us have'

The statement was issued through Governor Andrew Cuomo's office. Cuomo helped lobby successfully for the project in the face of opposition, the New York Daily News reports.

English designer Thomas Heatherwick devised the plan for the island, which originally had a relatively more modest budget of $35million back in 2014.

But the budget ballooned to an estimated $250million, and interest groups lodged legal challenges against the project.

Diller told supporters in a mid-September email that the project was going to be scrapped.

The plan that has been significantly funded by billionaire Diller (pictured at left with his wife, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg) has been given the go ahead after persuasion by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (pictured at right with Senator Chuck Schumer)

One group against the project, the City Club of New York, said the project was concerning due to its potential impact on aquatic life.

There had also been complaints over the way in which the project had been planned without broader public input.

'The way they've operated is like moving plants around their personal backyard,' Richard Emery, a civil rights attorney representing the City Club of New York, had previously said.

Pictured is a view of the proposed park's amphitheater

Real estate developer Douglas Durst helped fund the lawsuits. It now appears that Durst has changed his tune.

'My goal has always been the completion of the Park and the protection of the Hudson River,' Durst told the Daily News. 'Today's agreement is a major step in that direction.'

Emery also called the decision a 'great victory for park users and all New Yorkers'.

Diller will proceed to renew his agreements with the Hudson River Park Trust and New York state and federal agencies.

Diller's fortune comes from his work as a media mogul; he has previously served as the CEO of both Paramount and FOX. The 75-year-old has been married to von Furstenberg since 2001.
The extent of anti-Brexit bias at some of Britains best known universities was laid bare last night amid a furious row.

A Tory MP was castigated this week and accused of McCarthyism for asking universities what they are teaching about the UKs departure from the EU.

But yesterday the Daily Mail uncovered a string of examples of senior figures at universities explicitly speaking out in favour of Remain.

Before the vote, a raft of senior academics spoke publicly to urge their students to back staying in the EU.

Last night, one student campaigner revealed a professor had stormed up to him at a Vote Leave stall in Durham  and compared Brexit supporters to the Nazis.

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Tory MP Paul Scully said his daughter was handed pro-Remain book on her university course

Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Scully spoke up for his colleague, revealing on Twitter his daughter had been handed anti-Brexit literature by a professor

Since last years referendum, lecturers have been caught doling out pro-EU pamphlets and inviting students to meetings held by the pro-single market group Open Britain.

The Mail also found the master of a Cambridge college used a graduation event this year to rail against Brexit.

One pro-Leave student yesterday said the extent of the bias had left him feeling intimidated and afraid to speak his mind. In other developments last night:

A second Tory MP went public on the issue, revealing on Twitter that his daughter had been handed anti-Brexit literature by a university professor;

Leave supporters noted that opinion polls had showed more than eight in ten academics voted Remain;

Figures showed UK universities are the largest beneficiary of EU research funds to higher education institutions, receiving more than 1billion a year  400million to the elite Russell Group of 24 alone;

Universities minister Jo Johnson explained that the MP at the centre of the row, Chris Heaton-Harris, had simply been pursuing an academic inquiry.

In a letter, Conservative whip Mr Heaton-Harris had asked institutions for the names of professors lecturing on Brexit and details of their courses. Universities described the letter as McCarthyite, while Chris Patten, the former Conservative Party chairman accused the MP of idiotic Leninism.

But last night Tory MPs said revelations of anti-Brexit bias showed that Mr Heaton-Harris was well within his rights to ask what is happening in higher education.

Andrew Rosindell said universities must present a factual account of Brexit.

Tom Harwood, from the student wing of the Vote Leave campaign at Durham University, yesterday said: There is a worrying groupthink atmosphere hanging over our universities. Too many young people who voted to leave the EU feel intimidated or afraid to speak up because of this heavy atmosphere of institutional bias.

The letter, which has been widely circulated online, asks for the name of who is teaching Brexit and links to the syllabus and online lectures relating to the topic

A professor got quite aggressive towards us when we were running a street stall in the run-up to the vote. He said we were doing the same thing the Nazis did. We complained and subsequently received a letter of apology from him. Durham University did not provide a comment last night.

Before the referendum, a number of senior academics encouraged students to vote Remain. Sir Steve Smith, vice chancellor at Exeter University, wrote an email to undergraduates encouraging them to recognise the benefits of membership of the EU.

Eight in ten academics voted for Remain More than eight in ten academics voted to Remain in the EU, polls showed. The vast majority thought Brexit would have a negative impact on higher education in the UK, according to a YouGov survey commissioned by the University and College Union. In the survey of 1,064 professors, published in January, just 8 per cent voted to leave the EU. It mirrored polls ahead of the referendum that suggested nine in ten supported the Remain campaign. In March the Adam Smith Institute think-tank warned groupthink mentality is rife within academia, after 75 per cent of lecturers said they were Left-wing. Its report said: Social settings characterised by too little diversity of viewpoints are liable to become afflicted by groupthink  key assumptions go unquestioned, dissenting opinions are neutralised, and favoured beliefs are held as sacrosanct. The authors said ideological homogeneity in academia can lead to systematic biases in scholarship, curtailments of free speech on university campuses. Some 44 per cent in the January poll said they knew academics who had lost research funding since the vote. More than four in ten said they were more likely to consider moving abroad. John Curtice, politics professor at Strathclyde University, said the poll results epitomise the relatively socially liberal climate in most universities and that in this case culture and self-interest move in the same direction. Advertisement

Now it has emerged that pro-Remain bias has continued even after the vote. A lecturer at a Bristol university was recently called out by Conservative Paul Scully for handing out a poster advertising a pro-EU march to the MPs daughter. In a separate incident, a Gloucester University lecturer advertised a Unite for Europe national march to Parliament to stop Brexit on her office door.

Durham students received emails from a lecturer in French, Dr Will McKenzie, highlighting the pro-EU group Open Britain, which wants to keep Britains membership of the single market. In December last year, he announced the first Durham Open Britain community meeting, urging students and staff to get involved.

He added: The organisation might offer wider platforms to help staff members and departments relay the universitys explicit post-Brexit statement, namely, We flourish because we are an inclusive and outward-looking community. A month later Dr McKenzie invited students to an Open Britain stall in Newcastle as part of a national day of action.

He described Open Britain as a group campaigning for the closest possible UK-EU relationship despite last years disappointing referendum result.

It also emerged the master of a Cambridge college used a graduation dinner in June to warn students Brexit would cause uncertainty. Professor Geoffrey Grimmett was accused of ruining the special moment.

One of those present said: For students at the end of their degree courses it is supposed to be a special moment  But he basically used the dinner to push his own political views and bash Brexit.

Last night Professor Grimmett said: In my speech I reflected on the immediate impact of the Brexit vote on Cambridge, namely uncertainty.

Mr Heaton-Harris did not respond to requests for comments yesterday. But he received support from Tory MPs, including Andrew Bridgen who said: Im sure Chris Heaton-Harris wouldnt have got this explosive and very defensive response if hed enquired about the syllabus on advanced pure mathematics.

Mr Rosindell said: Universities must show they are unbiased and present a factual account of Brexit, not Remoaning drivel. Jacob Rees-Mogg said: It is not unreasonable to ask questions of public bodies.

In their own very telling words, how academics in our respected seats of learning have tried to influence students views both before and after the referendum

University of Exeter Vice Chancellor Sir Steve Smith (pictured)

BEFORE JUNE 23

University of Exeter

A string of staff used their positions to push students towards Remain before the referendum.

Vice Chancellor Sir Steve Smith wrote an email to all undergraduates encouraging them to see the benefits EU membership offers.

Melissa Percival, a languages professor at the same university, added her voice to tell students Brexit would threaten the future of British students abroad.

Professor Percival later told reporters: People need to know this stuff. The Erasmus programme greatly facilitates modern linguists and we will lose access if Britain leaves the EU. Another languages professor Emma Cayley also forwarded an email to students from the Students4Europe campaign requesting that they join the group, but refused to send a similar email for the Universitys Leave Group.

University of Wolverhampton

Vice Chancellor Geoff Layer emailed students warning of the costs of leaving the EU. He said: The university has made a stand in the EU referendum... we believe it is better for all of us to remain. The EU has been very supportive of the university.

In this century we have received nearly 70million of project and initiative funding from Europe. Conservative MP Bill Cash said: The university is wrong to force propaganda down the throats of its students.

University of Warwick

Sean Hand, the head of the School of Modern Languages, used the facultys mailing list to send a pro-EU letter signed by academics to undergraduates, urging them to vote with the free mobility of students and staff in mind.

He said: As languages students, this vote is clearly crucial to key funding issues concerning university research, free mobility of students and staff, and your own employability and career aspirations as internationally-skilled students.

The school of modern languages and cultures has a core set of values that includes communicating and working across national and linguistic boundaries.

University of Wolverhampton Vice Chancellor Geoff Layer (left) and Sean Hand, the head of the School of Modern Languages at University of Warwick (right)

University of Plymouth

Students campaigning for Vote Leave were banned from holding events on campus because they were not fair and unbiased.

The university later allowed an event called Another Europe is Possible, involving only three pro-EU speakers.

Durham University

A student claimed he had been compared to the Nazis for running a pro-Leave stall in the city centre. Tom Harwood said: A professor got quite aggressive towards us when we were running a street stall in the run-up to the vote. He said we were doing the same thing the Nazis did.

Their 1billion a year from the EU British universities are the largest beneficiary of EU research funds to higher education institutions. Figures released before the referendum showed they received a total of 1.2billion each year. The elite Russell Group of 24 universities alone receives around 400million  making up 11 per cent of their research income. A report by the Royal Society and others found archaeology is most dependent on Brussels, receiving 38 per cent of its funding from EU government bodies. This is followed by classics with 33 per cent and IT on 30 per cent. Oxford University receives the most EU funds  60.3million  followed by Cambridge which receives 59.5million and UCL on 45.7million. Advertisement

We complained and received a letter of apology from him. The university had last night not responded to calls for a comment.

AFTER JUNE 23

University of Bristol

Paul Scully, MP for Sutton and Cheam, tweeted an image of a flyer for a 100 per cent Remain rally to stop Brexit in Bristol, which had been given to his daughter. He added the message: This is what a lecturer was handing out to my daughter who spends 9k pa for him to be teaching engineering, not politics. The MP said later: He conducts lectures on engineering and talks Brexit during that time.

University of Gloucestershire

Dr Abigail Gardner, from the Media School, replied to the furore about Mr Scullys tweet by replying with a picture of her office door, advertising a Unite for Europe national march to Parliament to Stop Brexit flyer. Addressing the MP she added the message: My students have to go through my door. Want me to redecorate that too? A poster of the EU flag is also visible in the picture.

Dr Gardner and the university were contacted for comment but, last night, had not responded.

University of York

On a page entitled EU advice, published in the aftermath of the Brexit result, the university said: We are proud that York voted to remain in the EU.

We are proud that that vote demonstrates a spirit of generosity and openness that our students experience on a daily basis.

Paul Scully, MP for Sutton and Cheam (left) caused a storm with his tweet. Dr Abigail Gardner (right) replied with a picture of her office door, advertising a Unite for Europe' march

York is a city that has benefited from migration for hundreds of years. The page also offers counselling for those worried about the EU result saying: We appreciate that the outcome of the referendum has created a period of uncertainty which is concerning.

Durham University

University of Cambridge Professor Geoffrey Grimmett

Students received emails from a lecturer in French, Dr Will McKenzie, highlighting the pro-EU group Open Britain. In December last year, he wrote he was pleased to announce the first Durham Open Britain community meeting.

This meeting will offer a university students and staff members to get involved with activities run by Open Britain, he said.

A month later Dr McKenzie invited students to an Open Britain campaign stall in Newcastle as part of a national day of action

University of Cambridge

A college master used a graduation dinner to warn students about Brexit. Professor Geoffrey Grimmett, an expert in statistics, had previously used the university email system to encourage students to sign a petition demanding a second referendum.

One of those present at the graduation dinner in June this year said: Instead of using the speech to congratulate those graduating, he spent a significant amount of the time railing against Brexit. Professor Grimmett said: I reflected on the immediate impact of the Brexit vote on Cambridge, namely uncertainty.
A California gang member is being dubbed the new hot felon thanks to her comely mugshot going viral.

Mirella Ponce was arrested on two felony charges after she was stopped by police officers in a vehicle containing an infant child and a loaded gun in Fresno on Monday.

The 20-year-old, who is a member of the Tiny Rascal Gang (TRG), was busted along with two other members inside the vehicle, police say.

She's been charged with carrying a concealed firearm and carrying a stolen firearm - both are felonies. Her bail has been set at $50,000 for each charge.

Information about her arrest, her mugshot photo, and a photo of the lilac colored handgun she allegedly had in her possession during the stop were shared to the Fresno Police Department's Facebook page.

Hot felon? Mirella Ponce, a California gang member, is being dubbed the new hot felon thanks to her comely mugshot (above) going viral. The 20-year-old, who is a member of the Tiny Rascal Gang, has several tattoos including one that reads 'Love is Pain' across her chest

She was arrested on a weapon charge after she was stopped by police officers in a vehicle containing her and her infant child in Fresno on Monday. Authorities retrieved the lilac colored gun and bullets pictured above from the car

The 20-year-old is being held on two felony charges in a Fresno jail. Above is her booking information

Ponce's numerous chest and neck tattoos are visible in the arrest photo where she can be seen gazing into the camera.

Since being shared on Wednesday, the police department's post with her mugshot has since gone viral with nearly 4,000 shares and thousands of comments.

Some of the Facebook users have even offered to bail Ponce out of jail.

'Ima (sic) just go bail her out. Free this hot gangster chick,' one Facebook user commented on the post.

Since Fresno Police Department shared her mugshot to their Facebook page on Wednesday, her photo has gone viral with many commenting on her good looks and make-up

One man also wrote: 'How much the bail is I'll pay it'.

One of the most popular comments reads: 'The only crime she committed was stealing my heart.'

'What a shame though, she could of been a stripper or something with those good looks,' another user wrote.

Some users noted how she could have been a stripper while another person said they hope she 'turns her life around for her children'

Viral: Jeremy Meeks shot to fame in 2014 when the Stockton Police Department posted his mugshot on their website

PDA-heavy: In August, Jeremy publicly paraded his romance with heiress Chloe Green as they enjoyed carnival during a sunny Barbados holiday

Jeremy Meeks and Chloe Green are pictured together in Monaco on September 28

Another user noted how great Ponce's make-up looked in her booking photo.

'She's beautiful tho that highlight poppin (sic),' one woman wrote on the post.

Another person encouraged her to turn her life around for her children.

'Didnt (sic) know TRG are still around.. Beautiful lady.. Hope she works her beauty and puts it to work..Hope she changes her life around for her and her children,' one user wrote.

TRG is a California based gang that is predominantly Cambodian-American. It started in the 1980s and it's estimated that there are 10,000 members across the country.

Ponce's mugshot is not the first to go viral. In 2014, Jeremy Meeks was arrested on firearm charges and grand theft.

His subsequent mugshot went viral on social media and earned him the moniker 'Hot Felon', which launched a modeling career for him when he was released from prison in September 2016.

Meeks is currently dating Chloe Green, daughter of billionaire Sir Philip Green, and heiress to the Topshop empire.
The world's largest soft drink company has answered the calls of its consumers to re-release an old fruity favourite.

Coca-Cola will make its lower sugar Raspberry version available again for the first time since 2006, but unfortunately, not everyone will be able to get their hands on it.

The highly anticipated fizzy delight, now with 25 per cent less sugar than the original, will only be making a reappearance on shelves in New Zealand.

The carbonated berry beverage will hit stores from November 1 and will satiate tastebuds for the three months of summer.

Coca-Cola will make its lower sugar Raspberry flavour available again for the first time since 2006, but unfortunately, it won't be available to everyone

There may be a reason behind the selective re-release, with the raspberry flavour apparently being specifically developed for its 'Kiwi' consumers.

When the company announced it had something exciting brewing for New Zealand customers earlier in the year, the response was a unanimous cry for the much-loved red drink.

'A lot of the response was saying, "Oh are you launching Coke Raspberry?", so we realised it was something that Kiwis had an affinity with,' Coca-Cola Oceania's Karen Thompson told New Zealand Herald.

'We realised that it was something iconic among New Zealanders so we said. "Well, why don't we?".'

The move was also prompted by a trend in soft drink consumers reaching more for lower sugar alternatives and opting to keep their calorie intake from fizzy drinks low.

The highly anticipated fizzy delight, with 25 per cent less sugar than the original, will only be making a reappearance on shelves in New Zealand

'Kiwis' taste profiles are changing quite a lot so not only do people want less sugar in their beverages, they are also looking for products with natural ingredients,' Ms Thompson said.

Low and no-sugar drinks have been the company's best performing products in recent times.

'The biggest growth in our Coke trademark is in or low and no-sugar options. People are really responding to them and its doing really well.'

Coca-Cola Australia has not yet indicated whether it will release the flavour Down Under and has been contacted for comment.
An Indiana mother whose heroin-overdose photo went viral last year has celebrated one year of sobriety.

Erika Hurt overdosed at the wheel of her car while her then 10-month-old son sat in the backseat on October 22, 2016.

Hurt was pictured by police after they found her around 2pm in Hope, Indiana, in the parking lot of a Dollar General Store, still clutching a syringe in her floppy left hand.

She was revived with a shot of Narcan and taken to the hospital.

On Sunday, the 26-year-old shared the viral photo on Facebook as she celebrated one year of sobriety.

'I've seriously debated for the past month, on whether I should repost such a painful picture displaying the absolute worst moment of my life,' she wrote in the caption of the post that also showed recent photos of her and her son.

Indiana mother, Erika Hurt (pictured during overdose in 2016), 26, who was slumped at the wheel with a syringe in her hand in a viral heroin-overdose photo, has celebrated one year of sobriety. On Sunday, Hurt reposted the viral photo on Facebook

Hurt (pictured with her son, Parker) was pictured by police after they found her in Hope, Indiana, in the parking lot of a Dollar General Store, still clutching a syringe. She was revived with a shot of Narcan and taken to the hospital

'I've decided to repost the picture simply because it displays exactly what heroin addiction is. Also because I do not want to ever forget where the road of addiction has taken me,' she added.

Following the incident, Hurt was booked into the Bartholomew County Jail and charged with child neglect and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hurt told NBC News that she was horrified when she saw the photo of her overdose on the evening news while sitting in a jail cell.

'They exposed me and my addiction to the whole world,' Hurt said this week. 'I thought it was terrible.'

The police official who released the photo, Hope Town Marshal Matthew Tallent, told NBC that it was never his intention to embarrass Hurt.

He said he shared the photo to highlight America's drug epidemic which he said was 'leaking into small town USA'.

Tallent released the photo to the local media, as police in other small towns around the country such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and West Virginia had done before.

'I'm trying to show people that this just isn't a city problem. The heroin epidemic is leaking into small town America and it's getting really bad,' Tallent told DailyMail.com last year.

'Not only did this woman overdose and nearly die but, had she not passed out from the drug, she would have driven out of the car park and could still have been driving while passed out or under the influence.

'She could have killed another innocent family,' he added.

Hurt said her addiction started with a staph infection that she contracted when she was 15. She was prescribed painkillers and got hooked. Before she knew it, she had moved on to heroin. She's pictured with her son Parker after the overdose

Hurt (right during her arrest) was taken to hospital and revived with a shot of Narcan. She was later charged with child neglect and possession of drug paraphernalia. When police found her she had a syringe in her hand (left)

Tallent said the woman's baby was crying when police found them in the car after being called by a passer-by who had seen Hurt unconscious.

'The child was fine, he got fussy towards the end when they tried to take him out. He was crying when they arrived.'

He pleaded with members of the public to consider America's drug problem, describing it as 'getting worse by the day'.

'I hope that people look at it and see what kind of state this is coming to, the heroin epidemic in the country right now. It's getting worse by the day.'

And Hurt says she now understands why the officer shared the photo.

'At this point in my life now, I do think it was a good thing, because I'm able to look back and see that's who I was, and that was the place it led to,' Hurt said this week.

Hurt told NBC that her addiction started with a staph infection that she contracted when she was 15.

She was prescribed painkillers and got hooked. Before she knew it, she had moved on to heroin.

Hurt said when she got pregnant she stopped and was clean up until her son, Parker, was born in December 2015.

She told the network that she relapsed and went to rehab, but two weeks later she went viral after shooting up in a Dollar General Store parking lot.

Hurt was given a two-year suspended jail sentence after she pleaded guilty to neglect.

Hurt said when she got pregnant she stopped and was clean up until her son, Parker (pictured), was born in December 2015. She told the network that she relapsed and went to rehab, but two weeks later she went viral after shooting up in a Dollar General Store parking lot

Hurt was given a two-year suspended jail sentence after she pleaded guilty to neglect following the incident. She posted these photos to Facebook on Sunday to celebrate one year of sobriety

Her sentence required her to go to an inpatient drug rehab program at the jail. She signed temporary custody of her son over to her mother.

When the inpatient program ended, Hurt lived at her mother's under house arrest. She was reunited with Parker, who will turn two years old in December, and found a job in a plastic molding plant.

'Today, I am able to focus on the good that came from that picture. Today, I am a mother to my son, again,' she wrote on Facebook.

Last June, a report from the United Nations warned of a heroin epidemic gripping America with cheap supply helping push the number of users to a 20-year high.

In recent months authorities have said they are coping with an abnormal spike in the number of overdoses after heroin cut with elephant tranquilizer 10,000 times more powerful than morphine was being taken.

Ohio seems to be one of the states worse affected. The Franklin County coroner said earlier this year the county had 173 overdose deaths through April, a 66 per cent jump from the same period a year ago.

A record 4,050 people died of drug overdoses in 2016, with fatalities driven in large part by the emergence of stronger drugs like the synthetic painkiller fentanyl, the Health Department said.

Overdose deaths rose 33 per cent over the 3,050 deaths in 2015.
This is the astonishing moment an elderly woman saves her friend's life as an out-of-control driver comes racing towards them.

The footage, taken in China, shows the two pensioners slowly shuffling across the pavement outside a bakery when the accident took place.

After the driver had already lost control of her vehicle and slammed into other cars on the street, she races towards the pavement where the two elderly friends were standing.

The elderly woman pulls away her friend, to avoid being hit by the-out-of-control vehicle

The heart-stopping clip shows one of the women spotting the car and seriously pushing her friend out of the way.

Consequently, the car touches them slightly instead of slamming into them head-on.

Both women fell to the ground during the minor collision, while the silver vehicle rammed into the bakery's glass display.

The pensioner who had just saved her friend's life can be seen touching the other woman on the ground, trying to wake her up.

The woman crashing her car into the pavement while the two elderly citizens are on the ground

Helping hands: The driver trying to help the elderly citizens who only suffered minor injuries

The footage shows the woman lying on the floor, however she is conscious. The flustered driver leaves her car and asks the bakery employees to help call an ambulance.

Both victims were taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries, while the woman's car was pulled away.

Chinese authorities have not confirmed whether they arrested the woman for dangerous driving.

It's still uncertain what caused the car accident .None of the people involved were named in media reports.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has said he is already preparing many people to take over his leading role at the firm.

Cook made the comments yesterday during an interview at Apple's huge new flagship store in Chicago.

'I see my role as CEO to prepare as many people as I can to be CEO, and that's what I'm doing. And then the board makes a decision at that point in time,' he told BuzzFeed News.

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In a recent interview, Tim Cook (file photo) said: 'I see my role as CEO to prepare as many people as I can to be CEO, and that's what I'm doing. And then the board makes a decision at that point in time'

THE IPHONE X Cook's comments come after Steve Wozniak, who co-founded Apple alongside Steve Jobs in 1976, suggested yesterday that he wasn't impressed by the iPhone X. In a new interview, Wozniak said that he won't be buying an iPhone X on 'day one', and instead claims he is happy with his iPhone 8. He expressed concerns about whether the Face ID feature, which allows users to unlock their device just by looking at it, would work. He said: 'I'm happy with my iPhone 8  which is the same as the iPhone 7, which is the same as the iPhone 6, to me.' Advertisement

For the interview, Cook sat beside Angela Ahrendts, who runs Apple's retail division and has previously been noted as a potential future CEO.

Ms Ahrendts told Buzzfeed that reports she was in the running for the job are 'fake news' and 'silly'.

The American businesswoman was the CEO of British fashion firm Burberry from 2006 to 2014, eventually leaving to join Apple.

She was also a member of the Prime Minister's business advisory council until it was disbanded in 2016.

Cook was named as Apple's new CEO in 2011 when Steve Jobs stepped down from the role due to illness.

Jobs died three months later, shortly after the iPhone 4S was released.

At 56, Cook is unlikely to retire soon, but rumours suggest he is interested in a career in politics.

While he has been more outspoken politically than previous Apple CEOs, Cook has denied any future political plans.

During yesterday's interview, Cook also discussed the new iPhone X, which begins pre-sale this Friday for its November release.

Supply of the firm's new flagship smartphone will be restricted, reports suggest, to which Cook responded: 'We'll be working as hard as possible to make as many as possible.'

Cook's comments come after Steve Wozniak, who co-founded Apple alongside Jobs in 1976, suggested yesterday that he wasn't impressed by the iPhone X.

In a new interview, Wozniak said that he won't be buying an iPhone X on 'day one', and instead claims he is happy with his iPhone 8.

He expressed concerns about whether the Face ID feature, which allows users to unlock their device just by looking at it, would work.

Wozniak was speaking from the sidelines of the Money 20/20 conference in Las Vegas this week when he made his opinion on the iPhone X known.

For the interview, Cook sat beside Angela Ahrendts (file photo), who runs Apple's retail division and has previously been noted as a potential future CEO. Ms Ahrendts told Buzzfeed that reports she was in the running for the job are 'fake news' and 'silly'

He said: 'I'd rather wait and watch that one.

'I'm happy with my iPhone 8  which is the same as the iPhone 7, which is the same as the iPhone 6, to me.

'For some reason, the iPhone X is going to be the first iPhone I didn't  on day one  upgrade to.

'But my wife will, so I'll be close enough to see it.'
Help wanted: Yellowstone County justice of the peace and auditor.

County commissioners on Tuesday approved job postings seeking applications for the two elected official positions.

The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on Nov. 9.

Commissioners expect to conduct public interviews with finalists and make appointments in early December.

Well move right along with it, said Commission Chairman John Ostlund. Well look forward to seeing how many applications we get for the two positions, he said.

The successful applicants will replace Justice of the Peace Pedro Hernandez and his wife, Auditor Debby Hernandez, a Republican. The couple announced they were retiring effective Nov. 30 after many years in office.

Because the Hernandez retirements come before their four-year terms of office expire at the end of 2018, whoever is appointed to replace them will face election next year to retain their jobs.

Two committees will review the applications and make recommendations on finalists to the commissioners.

The auditors committee is composed of Chief Deputy County Attorney Dan Schwarz and Deputy Attorney Kevin Gillen, both of whom are in the county attorneys civil division, and Human Resource Director Dwight Vigness.

The justice of the peace review committee will be headed by County Attorney Scott Twito, who was finalizing committee members on Tuesday.

The justice of the peace job pays an annual salary of $101,082 and has health and other benefits.

Eligible applicants must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, a registered voter in Yellowstone County and a resident of the county for one year prior to appointment.

The county also is seeking a letter of interest, resume, writing sample and five references. Application materials are considered public information.

Montana law does not require a justice of the peace to be a lawyer.

The county followed a similar committee review process, headed by Twito, when commissioners appointed Justice of the Peace David Carter to the job to fill a vacancy created by a retirement. The county has two justices of the peace.

The auditors job has a base annual salary of $69,721 and has health and other benefits.

The job posting said knowledge in auditing, finance and accounting with supervisory experience would be beneficial but is not required.

Montana law does not require county auditors to have financial experience credentials. The general qualifications for office are that the applicant be at least 18 years old, a citizen of Montana, a registered voter in Yellowstone County and a resident of the county for two years prior to appointment.

The county also is seeking a letter of interest, resume and five references, with the application materials being considered public information.

Interested persons for either job should apply to the Yellowstone County Human Resources Office, attention Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box 35041, Room 106, Billings, Mt., 59107. Information about the jobs also will be on the county's webpage at www.co.yellowstone.mt.gov/Human_Resources.
A star that devours planets has been discovered by researchers who believe it could have already eaten 15 of them.

The planet-gobbling star Kronos and its sister Krios are both around 4 billion years old and are around 350 light years from Earth.

Dubbed Kronos after the child-eating Titan of Greek mythology, the star is the clearest and most dramatic case yet of a sun-like star consuming its own planets.

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Dubbed Kronos after the child-eating Titan of Greek mythology, the star is the clearest and most dramatic case yet of a sun-like star consuming its own planets (stock image)

KRONOS AND KRIOS The planet-gobbling star Kronos and its sister Krios are both around 4 billion years old and around 350 light years from Earth. Binary stars are typically near-identical twins. Kronos and Krios, however, have vastly different chemical makeups, including the largest difference in metal content of any binary system yet studied. They orbit each other infrequently, on the order of every 10,000 years or so. The compositional differences between Kronos and Krios are most pronounced for elements such as iron, silicon, magnesium and lithium  metals that make up the bulk of rocky planets such as Earth. Because these elements are concentrated in Kronos's outer layers, rather than mixed throughout the star itself, the researchers conclude that the star probably consumed many planets' worth of rocky material a billion years or more after its formation. Advertisement

'Even if our sun ate the entire inner solar system, it wouldn't come close to the anomaly we see in this star,' said study co-author David Hogg, group leader for astronomical data at the Center for Computational Astrophysics (CCA) at the Flatiron Institute.

Future surveys of the gluttonous star's planetary system could provide new insights into how solar systems form and evolve, according to Semyeong Oh, an astrophysicist at Princeton University.

Binary stars are typically near-identical twins.

Kronos and Krios, however, have vastly different chemical makeups, including the largest difference in metal content of any binary system yet studied.

'We started discussing what could make two stars that must have been born together have such different chemistry now,' Dr Oh said.

The compositional differences between Kronos and Krios are most pronounced for elements such as iron, silicon, magnesium and lithium  metals that make up the bulk of rocky planets such as Earth.

Because these elements are concentrated in Kronos's outer layers, rather than mixed throughout the star itself.

The researchers conclude that the star probably consumed many planets' worth of rocky material a billion years or more after its formation.

They added material altered the composition of Kronos's outer layers relative to its sibling star.

Stars HD 240430 and HD 240429, better known as Kronos and Krios, as they appear in the Space Telescope Science Institutes Digitized Sky Survey

HOW DOES KRONOS EAT PLANETS? The exact process that led Kronos to devour its inner planets remains unknown, but the researchers suggested several theories. The leading one is that Kronos and Krios once flew too close to another star, which stretched out the orbits of Kronos outermost planets. This caused the outer planets to move through the inner solar system, in turn catapulting the rocky inner planets into death-spiral orbits. But this theory would require that Krios managed to somehow avoid a similar doomsday scenario. Further research is needed to show that this is possible. Advertisement

From the data, the researchers estimate that Kronos has gulped 15 Earth masses; by comparison, our entire inner solar system contains roughly two Earth masses of rocky material.

The exact process that led Kronos to devour its inner planets remains unknown, but the researchers suggested several theories.

The leading one is that Kronos and Krios once flew too close to another star, which stretched out the orbits of Kronos outermost planets.

This caused the outer planets to move through the inner solar system, in turn catapulting the rocky inner planets into death-spiral orbits.

But this theory would require that Krios managed to somehow avoid a similar doomsday scenario.

Previous studies presented similar evidence of planet eating in other types of stars such as white dwarfs and even our own sun, but never to such an extreme.

Kronos's twin Krios evidently either remained far enough away from other stars so that its planetary system remained unaffected or had fewer rocky planets to consume.

They orbit each other infrequently, on the order of every 10,000 years or so and their official designations are HD 240430 and HD 240429.

The work also reveals a potential window into how solar systems change over time, says study co-author Adrian Price-Whelan.

'We assume that once stars are born, their chemistries are fixed,' he said.

'This is yet more evidence of stars changing.'
Good looking people fare badly when applying for low paid or dull jobs, new research has found.

While attractive job seekers are generally thought to receive more work offers, being pretty or handsome may be a liability for less desirable jobs, according to a UK study.

The findings have important implications for discrimination in the hiring process, the researchers claim.

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While attractive job seekers are generally thought to receive more work offers, being pretty may be a liability for less desirable jobs such as working in a warehouse (stock image)

WHAT DID THEY DO? Researchers carried out four experiments involving more than 750 participants, including university students and managers who make hiring decisions in the real world. Participants were shown profiles of two potential job candidates that included photos, one attractive and one unattractive. Participants were then asked a series of questions designed to measure their perceptions of the job candidates and, in three of the experiments, whether they would hire these candidates for a less-than-desirable job. The less desirable jobs included a warehouse worker, housekeeper, customer service representative and the more desirable jobs included things like a manager, project director, IT internship. In all three experiments where they were asked, participants were significantly less likely to hire the attractive candidate for the less desirable job and more likely to hire the attractive candidate for the more desirable job. Advertisement

Margaret Lee, who lead the study at the London Business School, said: 'Our research suggests that attractive people may be discriminated against in selection for relatively less desirable jobs.

'This stands in contrast to a large body of research that concluded that attractiveness, by and large, helps candidates in the selection process.'

Researchers carried out four experiments involving more than 750 participants, including university students and managers who make hiring decisions in the real world.

Participants were shown profiles of two potential job candidates that included photos, one attractive and one unattractive.

Participants were then asked a series of questions designed to measure their perceptions of the job candidates and, in three of the experiments, whether they would hire these candidates for a less-than-desirable job.

The less desirable jobs included a warehouse worker, housekeeper, customer service representative and the more desirable jobs included things like a manager, project director, IT internship.

In all three experiments where they were asked, participants were significantly less likely to hire the attractive candidate for the less desirable job and more likely to hire the attractive candidate for the more desirable job.

Ms Lee said: 'We found that participants perceived attractive individuals to feel more entitled to good outcomes than unattractive individuals, and that attractive individuals were predicted to be less satisfied with an undesirable job than an unattractive person.

'In the selection decision for an undesirable job, decision makers were more likely to choose the unattractive individual over the attractive individual. We found this effect to occur even with hiring managers.'

The less desirable jobs included a warehouse worker, housekeeper (pictured, stock image) and customer service representative

Co-author Dr Madan Pillutla said: 'It is interesting decision makers take into consideration others' assumed aspirations in their decisions.

'Because participants thought that attractive individuals would want better outcomes, and therefore participants predicted that attractive individuals would be less satisfied, they reversed their discrimination pattern and favoured unattractive candidates when selecting for a less desirable job.'

The research suggests the established view that attractive candidates are favoured when applying for jobs might be limited to high-level jobs that were the predominant focus of past research.

'Organisations and policymakers may need to implement different measures from those assumed by past work if they are to curb discrimination in the hiring process', said Dr Pillutla.
They say bad news comes in threes and it's strike two for Google, with reports emerging of 'clicking and whistling' with the firm's new 630 ($649) handset.

Users are complaining that the smaller model of the two flagship devices is emitting a series of irritating high pitched sounds and strange clicks.

This comes just days after product testers reported screen burn-in problems plaguing the larger 800 ($849) XL model.

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They say bad news comes in threes and it's strike two for Google, with reports emerging of 'clicking and whistling' with the firm's new 630 ($649) handset. Users are complaining that the smaller model of the two flagship devices is emitting a series of irritating sounds

GOOGLE'S SOLUTION The problem appears to be related the gadget's near field communication (NFC) chip, which is used to make contactless payments and for other data transfer purposes. Google suggests switching this feature off, if the noises are proving a distraction. To turn off NFC, visit Settings then click on Connected devices. Follow the option for NFC, the select Off. Advertisement

Google customers have taken to the Mountain View company's support forums to report the problem.

One described a 'high pitch frequency sound and clicking when the screen is on and unlocked with ear up to the device like you are on a phone call'.

Others agreed that they too had encountered the issue with their handsets, which were released just last week.

The problem appears to be related the gadget's near field communication (NFC) chip, which is used to make contactless payments and for other data transfer purposes.

Google suggests switching this feature off, if the noises are proving a distraction.

In response to user complaints, a Google spokesman said: 'We are investigating a faint, low-frequency 'clicking' or 'ticking' noise that a small number of Pixel 2 users have reported.

'This clicking noise does not affect the performance of your device beyond the audible noise.

'If you find the noise bothersome, we suggest temporarily turning off NFC.

'We are investigating and will have a more definitive response soon.'

The problem appears to be related the gadget's near field communication (NFC) chip, which is used to make contactless payments and for other data transfer purposes. Google suggests switching this feature off, if the noises are proving a distraction

To turn off NFC, visit Settings then click on Connected devices.

Follow the option for NFC, the select Off.

Screen burn-in issues with the Pixel 2 were first reported by Android Central editor Alex Dobie.

He took to Twitter over the weekend to share an image of his test handset's screen showing signs of ghost images.

While screen burn is a problem with most types of display, for it to occur in the short space of time since the XL was sent to testers is almost unheard of.

The Pixel 2 XL runs Google's customised version of the Android operating system.

This incorporates software navigation buttons that stay in place when users move from screen to screen.

This mean they are only removed when full screen content, like games, apps and videos, are viewed.

Google unveiled the second generation of its Pixel smartphones, promising all-day battery life, a more responsive assistant, and the best camera yet, on October 4.

The devices were revealed at simultaneous presentations across the globe, including the main event in San Francisco.

It come in two versions: the 5-inch $649 (629) Pixel 2 and the 6-inch $849 (799) Pixel 2 XL.

Google unveiled the second generation of its Pixel smartphones, promising all-day battery life, a more responsive assistant, and the best camera yet, on October 4. It come in two versions: the 5-inch $649 (629) Pixel 2 (left) and the 6-inch $849 (799) Pixel 2 XL (right)

In a move mirroring Apple's recent designs, the new phones do not have a headphone jack

Google's latest Pixel handsets are also equipped with 'always-on' display, so you can check your notifications without tapping the power button to wake the screen, and a new 'squeezable' feature to activate Google's AI assistant.

Both the Pixel XL and the 5-inch Pixel will have built-in stereo speakers, and lack the headphone jack.

In lieu of traditional headphones, the firm has introduced new wireless Pixel Buds, which come with a short cord so you can drape them around your neck.

Google also souped up the already highly rated camera on the Pixel, boasting that it will take even better photos than the iPhone.

The camera will allow for better-quality portrait shots, according to Google, and the new 'motion photos' will be able to capture a few second of video, much like Apple's Live photos.

It uses computational photography and machine learning to optimise photos, along with optical and electronic video stabilisation for smoother videos.
A 'DNA spray' which clings to fleeing moped raiders is being trialled to clampdown on soaring street crime.

The chemical spray can stick to skin and clothes for months - allowing police to arrest 'moped-enabled' thieves weeks after a crime.

Each batch of the chemical, which cops spray onto suspects who can't be chased for safety reasons, has a unique DNA code which can link them to the crime.

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A 'DNA spray' which clings to fleeing moped raiders is being trialled to clampdown on soaring street crime. Pictured are moped thieves spotted in Hackney this month

HOW DOES IT WORK? The chemical spray can stick to skin and clothes for months - allowing police to arrest 'moped-enabled' thieves weeks after a crime. Each batch of the chemical, which cops spray onto suspects who can't be chased for safety reasons, has a unique DNA code which can link them to the crime. The spray shows up under ultraviolet light from special bulbs fitted in police custody suites. It is completely invisible to the naked eye and can't be scrubbed off skin or clothing. Advertisement

It is being used by forces including the Metropolitan Police to clampdown on soaring incidents of crooks using mopeds to carry out crimes including robbery and acid attacks.

A Met spokesperson said: 'We are currently trialling an identifying liquid that can be seen under UV light and can be sprayed at an offender for identification purposes.'

If police find the SelectaDNA spray on a suspect's skin or clothes, the unique DNA code can connect them to a crime.

Surrey Police said it is also using the spray in situations when it is too dangerous to pursue a suspect, including when a moped raider is not wearing a helmet.

Inspector Alan Sproston from the Spelthorne Safer Neighbourhood Team said: 'I hope the actions from the day send a clear message to people using scooters to commit crimes - they will be marked and consequently identified from the DNA UV spray.'

The spray shows up under ultraviolet light from special bulbs fitted in police custody suites.

It is completely invisible to the naked eye and can't be scrubbed off skin or clothing.

Similar spray is already used across Britain to mark personal possessions, meaning stolen items can be traced back to their owners.

The chemical spray can stick to skin and clothes for months - allowing police to arrest 'moped-enabled' thieves weeks after a crime

But it is thought to be the first time it will be used against criminals caught in the act.

Earlier this month Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said violent gang leaders were recruiting youngsters into an 'organised criminal network' of moped crooks.

She said: 'What we're seeing in terms of this huge increase in the theft of scooters is the vast majority of them are going on to being used in other crimes.

Each batch of the chemical, which cops spray onto suspects who can't be chased for safety reasons, has a unique DNA code which can link them to the crime

The spray shows up under ultraviolet light from special bulbs fitted in police custody suites. It is completely invisible to the naked eye and can't be scrubbed off skin or clothing

'Some of these are highly organised, somewhere there is an organised criminal network who are tasking usually younger people both to steal the vehicles and then either the same or other younger people to ride them to carry out robberies.

'Some of it is a little bit more informal.

'Some people just see an opportunity on the web about 'this is how you do it', sadly or this is a great way to make money quickly, so it's quite a variety of offenders.'

Figures show more than 5,000 moped-enabled crimes happen in the capital every year.
Honda on Wednesday showcased a new motorcycle that can stand unaided with or without a rider, using technology the firm learned from developing a walking humanoid.

Unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda's Riding Assist-e is an all-electric concept motorbike that constantly assesses its position and moves the steering bar to ensure the heavy machine stays upright.

For years, international bike manufacturers have experimented with various forms of gyroscopes to stop motorcycles falling over, said Hiroyuki Nakata, the engineer behind the idea.

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Unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda's Riding Assist-e is an all-electric concept motorbike that constantly assesses its position and moves the steering bar to ensure the heavy machine stays upright

'But if you wanted to keep something as heavy as a motorcycle standing, you need a large and heavy gyroscopic device and you need to keep turning it,' he told AFP.

Honda's device, however, is only the size of a lamp and can be rigged above the front wheel.

With the system turned off, the motorcycle topples over when the rider takes his hands from it.

But when it is flipped on, the bike stays stock still as if in a magic show, even when the rider walks away from it.

'Our vision is to put this on large motorcycles as well as small ones used for the daily commute,' Nakata said.

The technology was derived from Honda's ASIMO robot, a two-legged, self-standing humanoid that can jog, dance and converse with people.

Japan is proud of the robot and has shown it off to world leaders, including Canadian leader Justin Trudeau and then-President Barack Obama.

Honda previously showed off its self-balancing technology this year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

In January, the firm revealed a self balancing bike that can even ride itself.

According to Honda, this could make riding far safer.

Called Honda Riding Assist, the concept motorcycle that applies Honda's robotics technology to maintain balance while the machine is at rest.

The firm also released a video showing off the bike following its owner around a building to park.

Honda's self balancing motorbike can even ride itself and follow its owner to a parking space. Honda says it hopes it could cut down of the number of low speed accidents where owners drop their bikes

HONDA'S ASMIO ROBOT Asimo has 34 motors to help him perform different types of human movement, including a sensor in his wrist which tells him to release a grip. It is also equipped with technology that enables it to maintain its balance even if its gently pushed or pulled. The robot can even recognise the faces and voices of multiple people speaking simultaneously. Using the visual information captured by the two cameras in its head, Asimo can detect the movement of multiple objects, assessing distance and direction. Advertisement

Rather than relying on gyroscopes, which add a great deal of weight and alter the riding experience as announced by other companies, the Honda Riding Assist motorcycle incorporates technology originally developed for the company's UNI-CUB personal mobility device.

During the demo at the CES show in Las Vegas, Honda's self-balancing motorcycle sat stationary next to a Uni-Cub, its front wheel twitching back and forth to keep it upright.
Its been more than a year since now-retired astronaut Scott Kelly returned to Earth after 340 days living on the International Space Station.

And, in the months that have passed, researchers have intensified efforts to understand how space travel altered his body in comparison to his twin brother, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, who remained home during that same period.

Preliminary results have now revealed that the body responds immediately to the space environment, with gene expression acting like fireworks taking off to switch thousands of genes on and off.

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Researchers have intensified efforts to understand how space travel altered Scott Kelly's (right) body in comparison to his twin brother, retired astronaut Mark Kelly (left) who remained home during that same period

SPACE PUTS IMMUNE SYSTEM ON DEFENSE Using a mass spectrometer, researchers from MIPT and Skoltech measured concentrations of 125 proteins in blood plasma collected from 18 Russian cosmonauts 30 days before flight, immediately after their return to Earth, and seven days after that. This revealed that some protein concentrations remained the same across the study, while others did change, but quickly returned to normal. Others, however, recovered more slowly. The results suggest the body likely is not equipped with the mechanisms to specifically cope with the effects of space flight, prompting it to 'turn on all possible defense systems. Advertisement

Researchers have been analyzing samples collected from both the Kelly brothers over the last year, examining how space travel affects human physiology, behavioural health, the gut microbiome, and gene expression.

Already, the study has led to several groundbreaking discoveries.

The data show space travel leads to an increase in methylation, or the process of turning genes on and off.

Some of the most exciting things that weve seen from looking at gene expression in space is that we really see an explosion, like fireworks taking off, as soon as the human body gets into space, says Chris Mason, PhD, of Weill Cornell Medicine and principal investigator in the Twins Study.

With this study, weve seen thousands and thousands of genes change how they are turned on and turned off.

This happens as soon as an astronaut gets into space, and some of the activity persists temporarily upon return to Earth.

The study aims to examine four categories relating to the human body and the effects of space, in effort to guide future missions  including manned journeys further into space, such as Mars.

The final results are expected to be published in 2018.

This study represents one of the most comprehensive views of human biology, which well need when we start to go to even further places like mars, or longer missions like that  deeper in space, Mason said.

It really sets the bedrock for understanding molecular risks for space travel as well as ways to potentially protect and fix those genetic changes.

Preliminary results from the Twin Study have revealed how the body responds immediately to the space environment, with gene expression acting like fireworks taking off to switch thousands of genes on and off. An artist's impression is pictured

In another recent study on the effects of space travel, researchers from Russia and Canada analyzed protein composition in blood samples collected from 18 Russian cosmonauts who each partook in long-duration missions to the International Space Station.

Using a mass spectrometer, the team measured concentrations of 125 proteins in blood plasma collected from 18 Russian cosmonauts 30 days before flight, immediately after their return to Earth, and seven days after that.

This allowed them to see the fluctuations in the protein concentration, and determine how quickly they bounce back to normal.

HOW SCOTT KELLY'S DNA CHANGED IN SPACE Astronauts suffer mysterious mutations in their DNA after spending just a year in space, and this could help reverse key ageing processes. This is according to the first results of NASAs ground-breaking 'Twins Study' which looked at difference between astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly. While Scott Kelly lived aboard the International Space Station for 340 days, his identical twin, Mark, remained on Earth. Among the many findings, the study has so far revealed that: Scott's telomeres  the caps at the end of each chromosome  lengthened while in space

Telomeres are key to protecting DNA from damage and tend to shorten with age

Interestingly, Scott's telomeres shortened again once he was back on Earth

Nasa say that Scott's lengthening telomeres are linked with his diet and exercise routine on the station

The ratio of two groups of gut bacteria shifted while Scott was in space, likely due to his change in diet

His gut bacteria levels returned to normal once he was back on Earth.

Nasa research has spotted hundreds of diverging genetic mutations in Scott and Mark's genomes.

The research team speculate that a 'space gene' could have been activated while Scott was in orbit Advertisement

And, this revealed that space flight causes the immune system to turn on all possible defense systems in the face of the unfamiliar threat, leading to significant changes all throughout the human body, from the organs down to the tissues and cells.

For the research, we took a set of proteins  non-infections disease biomarkers, said MIPT and Skoltech professor Evgeny Nikolaev.

The results showed that in weightlessness, the immune system acts like it does when the body is infected because the human body doesnt know what to do and tries to turn on all possible defense systems.
Ryanair will delay plans that will see passengers charged up to 6 to take two bags on board to allow passengers 'more time to familiarise themselves with the changes,' it said.

The Irish airline, which sparked outrage in recent weeks by cancelling 20,000 flights, was due to introduce the changes aimed at speeding up boarding and eliminating delays from next week but will instead implement them from January 15.

Ryanair cut its checked bag fees to 25 euros from 35 euros - at a cost of 50million euros per year - and increased checked bag allowance to 20kg from 15kg when it announced the changes in September in a bid to reduce the volume of carry-on bags.

Ryanair will delay plans that will see passengers charged up to 6 to take two bags on board to allow passengers 'more time to familiarise themselves with the changes,' it said

It said at the time that too many customers were availing of changes introduced in 2014 - when the airline moved to rid itself of a reputation for poor service - which permitted two carry-on bags free of charge.

Priority customers who pay an additional five to six pounds per flight will still be able to bring two carry-on bags on board from January.

Along with a 35cm x 20cm x 20cm bag, they can take another one measuring up to 55cm x 40cm x 20cm.

Non-priority customers will only be able to carry a bag no larger than 35cm x 20cm x 20cm on board, with larger bags being placed in the hold free of charge.

The luggage drop-off will take place at the boarding gate - where there will be baggage sizers - instead of at check-in. Passengers can then collect their small bags at the baggage reclaim area on arrival.

Priority customers who pay an additional five to six pounds per flight will still be able to bring two carry-on bags on board from January

More than 700,000 passengers due to fly between September and March were hit by the wave of Ryanair flight cancellations after it said it did not have enough standby pilots to operate its schedule without significant delays.

Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers, which reports its second-quarter financial results next week, said in late September that average fares were expected to be slightly lower over the following two months as it promoted seat sales.

Ryanair shares were 2.4 percent lower at 1020 GMT and have fallen by over eight per cent since the first cancellations were announced in mid-September.
London has been pipped by Paris in a global search to find the world's most 'elegant' city.

The French capital topped the table of 100 of the globe's most cultured and fashionable places with London still managing to beat stylish contenders from everywhere else on the planet.

The wide-ranging list looked at factors from architectural beauty to accessibility to how each place was perceived by those who lived, worked or visited.

London has been pipped by Paris in a global search to find the world's most 'elegant' city

Cleanliness, culture and style were also included with the scores provided by fashion experts, architects and others.

With the exception of New York, every other city in the top ten was in Europe with Italy providing four of them and France two - Paris and Bordeaux. Vienna came third and Barcelona sixth.

The only other British cities to feature in the full list of 100 - compiled by fashion app Zalando - were Edinburgh at 38 and Brighton at 69 while Tokyo was the only non-European or American city in the top 30.

The only other British cities to feature in the full list of 100 were Edinburgh at 38 and Brighton at 69 while Tokyo was the only non-European or American city in the top 30. Pictured is the London skyline

A spokesman for Zalando said: 'We know that elegance cannot be bought. Rather, the quality pertains to something more subtle and difficult to define.

'While trends change, true elegance never goes out of style.

'It's not just the people, but the cities themselves, with their unique architecture and cultural landscapes, that make a destination elegant.'

A total of 400 cities were analysed to come up with the list. Scores for each of the factors were then averaged out to find a total out of five.
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In 2009 Pixar animation Up it was a house tied to brightly coloured balloons, but for this British thrill-seeker, it's a camping chair.

Not quite as dramatic, but still impressive.

Brit Tom Morgan, 38, drifted nearly 16 miles across South Africa and reached a height of 1.5 miles after spending two days filling 100 balloons with helium.

The sky's the limit: Tom Morgan, 38, drifted nearly 16 miles through the South Africa sky and reached a height of 1.5 miles

Tom's stunt resembles scenes from Pixar animation Up, in which a house is carried along by hundreds of balloons, pictured

He had previously attempted the cluster ballooning stunt three times in Botswana before finally succeeding north of Johannesburg using the last of his helium supply.

Tom, from Bristol, said: 'I found an article on a 1905 gas balloon race and thought "we could do that". The problem was finding a good weather window and it was difficult to protect the balloons as they kept bursting.

'It was completely silent and the view was amazing - the whole thing was magical but I dont think it will be a commercial success.'

The nerve-wracking, two-and-a-half hour flight took Tom close to the approaches to Johannesburg Airport, but that was not his only concern.

He added: 'I didnt know what height the balloons would burst at, or what the sun would do to them. At 8,000ft they started accelerating - into the flight path.'

The brightly coloured party balloons needed 18x9 cubic metres of helium to get Tom off the ground.

Impressive expedition: Tom, from Bristol, had previously attempted the cluster ballooning stunt three times in Botswana before finally succeeding north of Johannesburg

On a mission: The hair-raising attempt was organised by the thrill-seeking League of Adventurists group in Bristol

The attempt was organised by the thrill-seeking League of Adventurists group and Tom was helped by Buddy Munro and Parajet employee Kester Hayne.

Toms friend Matt Dickens said: 'The guys tried three times before this in Botswana, but sadly gusts of wind shredded the balloons.

'The last successful attempt was the last of the helium supplies, so it was literally an all or nothing attempt.'

Brave: Tom Morgan sitting in the chair he was strapped into with friends who helped him get up in the sky

He did it! Tom Morgan lands back on the ground in his chair after the successful stunt

They'll certainly spot him coming! The eye-catching collection of balloons could surely be seen from miles away

Action shot: Strapped into his chair, Tom can be seen navigating the skies above the plains of South Afrcia

Power: The brightly-coloured party balloons needed 18x9 cubic metres of helium to get Tom- and his chair - off the ground

These amazing photographs show the moment the balloons are filled with helium in a warehouse

He added: 'Tom has been harping on about doing something with balloons for a few years now so. If something had gone horribly wrong it would have been pretty permanent.

'There was a priest from South America who did it a few years ago and he went too high and didnt come back.

'It wasnt really inspired by the film Up - there are many similarities but Tom has been wanting to do something like this for a lot longer. Its nice for him that he has finally fulfilled his dream. When he wanted to come down he had to cut a few balloons.'

The League of Adventurists, based in Bristol, was formed 12 years ago and members now plan to introduce a competition based on cluster ballooning.

Riding high: Although his caper has similarities to the film Up, the trio of men insist it wasn't inspired by the Pixar animation

He must be on cloud nine: Soaring at 8,000ft above the ground, Tom has dazzled people with his bold air adventure
She is a avid user of social media, delighting her millions of fans with glamorous shots.

But Marnie Simpson has had two of her Snapchat posts banned by the Advertising Standards Agency, for failing to clearly indicate that they were ads.

The June 20 posts, showed the Geordie Shore star, 25, holding a Diamond Whites tooth polish product up to her face, with the caption '50% off everything from Diamond Whites' and an glamorous shot of her wearing grey contact lenses titled 'Mrs Grey coming soon'.

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Tooth polish: Marnie Simpson has had two of her Snapchat posts banned by the Advertising Standards Agency, for failing to clearly indicate that they were ads

The shots were reported to the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA), challenging whether they were obviously identifiable as ads.

Diamond Whites said the brunette beauty had been the face of the polish brand for nearly two years and that they believed her social media followers were aware of this fact.

The company said although it did not feel the posts required hashtags they would 'look to put those in place in the future'.

Unleashed PR, trading as I Spy Eyes, said Marnie did not explicitly refer to lenses or mention I Spy Eyes, and therefore did not believe the snap was misleading to the consumer as the product was not available to purchase.

Query: The shots were reported to the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA), challenging whether they were obviously identifiable as ads

Banned: One of the posts was a glamorous shot of Marnie wearing grey contact lenses titled 'Mrs Grey coming soon'

They said Marnie had posted the snap 'in excitement that she had a new colour lens coming out.'

Advertising guidelines say that a post becomes an ad when the brand has control over the content of the post and rewards the 'influencer' with a payment, free gift or other perk.

If the commercial aim is not clear from the overall context of the communication, it should be labelled as an ad so as not to break the rules and mislead the influencer's audience.

The ASA said it was the responsibility of I Spy Eyes and Diamond Whites to ensure that promotional activity conducted on their behalf was in accordance with the rules.

Guidelines: Advertising guidelines say that a post becomes an ad when the brand has control over the content of the post and rewards the 'influencer' with a payment, free gift or other perk

It found that neither photo was obviously identifiable as a advert and both breached the Code, but welcomed their 'willingness to ensure they would use '#ad' in future.'

Advertising Standards Authority Chief Executive, Guy Parker, told MailOnline: 'These Snapchat rulings send out the message that our advertising rules apply to social media platforms just as much as they do to traditional media.

'Wherever ads appear, they must be obviously identifiable as ads. Its not fair to expect people to play the detective to work out the status of a tweet, post or story.

Adding:'On top of raising awareness with brands and agencies, including through rulings and guidance, were seeing an increasing number of influencers who stick to the rules calling out those who dont.

'Through a combination of our regulation and the community self-policing, we want to get to a place where the norm is for influencers and brands to play by the rules.'

Marnie's representative declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.
Two Carbon County officials, one of whom is now retired, have been cleared of allegations they violated a residents federal constitutional rights when a trespass citation was issued, but thats not the end of the lawsuit.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in a ruling issued earlier this month, said county attorney Alex Nixon and former Sheriff Thomas Rieger were entitled to qualified immunity for their actions.

Theyre very glad to have their right to qualified immunity on this claim upheld, said Ray Kuntz, the Red Lodge attorney who is representing Nixon and Rieger.

The plaintiffs attorney, Matthew Monforton of Bozeman, said he was going to ask the court for a rehearing but noted the justices only grant about 5 percent of those requests.

If it doesn't grant ours, we'll go forward against the county for federal civil rights violations and against Nixon and Rieger for state civil rights violations, Monforton wrote in an email.

Water fight

The appeals courts ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by ranchers Bill and Lynette Burgan after Bill and his son were issued trespassing citations by then-Sheriff Rieger in 2013 for cutting a lock on a neighbors gate. The locked gate blocked them from accessing an easement to an irrigation headgate, Burgans means to control water releases onto his pasture.

The citation against the Burgans son was dropped. The trespassing charge was later dismissed in justice court, and the Burgans asked a state court to resolve the prescriptive easement issue at the basis of the dispute between the Burgans and their neighbor, James Brien. In February 2015, District Court Judge Michael Moses of Billings reaffirmed the existence of the Burgans easement based on historical use. Brien, who had attempted to lock the Burgans out, was ordered to pay the Burgans attorney fees.

Next step

Still left undecided was whether the sheriffs and county attorneys actions in issuing the trespass citation violated Burgans Fourth Amendment rights of protection against unreasonable seizure of property, his Fifth Amendment rights protecting him from the taking of private property and his Fourteenth Amendment rights against deprivation of procedural due process, as Monforton had argued.

The Ninth Circuit Court didnt see it that way, writing in its memorandum: The Burgans have identified no law clearly establishing that the issuance of a trespass citation constitutes a property deprivation in violation of the Fourth, Fifth, or Fourteenth Amendments.

Although Burgan could show he possessed an easement along the road across his neighbors property to reach the irrigation head gate, the court wrote: What matters here is not whether the Burgans easement was clearly established, but whether the Constitutions protections of that easement against specific types of government conduct would have been obvious to a reasonable official at the time of Mr. Burgans trespass citation.

The Burgans are disappointed that the Ninth Circuit granted individual immunity to Nixon and Rieger on their federal civil rights violations, Monforton wrote. But the Burgans are pleased that the court is permitting them to proceed against Nixon and Rieger for state civil rights violations and against Carbon County for federal civil rights violations."

More notes

The court went on to state that the Burgans have not met their burden of identifying law clearly establishing that a trespass citation temporarily preventing access to an easement constitutes a meaningful interference with a possessory property interest, a taking for the benefit of the servient estate owner, or a property deprivation lacking due process.

The court also wrote that the sheriffs discussion with the county attorney prior to issuing the trespassing citation to the Burgans went far to establishing qualified immunity because it was not plainly incompetent or a knowing violation of the law.

Kuntz noted the trespassing citation was meant to keep the peace in a dispute between landowners that seemed to be intensifying.

In Montana you dont have to look far to see these problems escalate to acts of violence, Kuntz said.

The justices also pointed out that whether Mr. Burgan had exceeded the scope of (his) easement remained murky.

Based on its ruling, the court ordered each party in the lawsuit to pay its own costs.
He confirmed his split with model Maddy King, in October.

And after being linked to a Network Ten employee recently, Kris Smith has set tongues wagging that he has a new girlfriend.

The hunky Myer ambassador, 39, has been spending time with stunning brunette model Monika Clarke, who bares a striking resemblance to Maddy.

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Does he have a new girlfriend? Kris Smith gets flirty with stunning model Monika Clarke...who bares a striking resemblance to his ex Maddy King

Bombshell! Pictured is model Monika Clarke

Kris shared an Instagram story with Monika this week, with the pair enjoying walking around Sculpture by the Sea at Sydney's Bondi Beach.

In a short clip, Monika - clad in exercise gear - twirls around a pole, with Kris joking there were 'strippers at sculptures.'

On Wednesday, Monika shared to her Instagram story, a video of herself driving with Kris, after they grabbed coffee together.

Moving on? He confirmed his split with model Maddy King, in October (seen)

Coffee run: On Wednesday, Monika shared to her Instagram story, a video of herself driving with Kris, after they grabbed coffee together

In the clip, she says she has a 'busted lip' and calls Kris 'old mate.'

In another video, she can be seen standing near a statue at Sculpture by the Sea, and Kris jokes that it's her.

'How do you feel about your photo being on display for everyone to see,' he says.

'I call it #nomakeup,' Monika replied.

He said she and the statue have the 'same lips.'

Monika however told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday, that the pair are just friends.

'Kris and I have been friends for eight or nine years and only friends. There has never been a romantic connection between us.'

Setting tongues wagging: Kris shared an Instagram story with Monika this week, with the pair enjoying walking around Sculpture by the Sea at Sydney's Bondi Beach

Setting the record straight: Monika however told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday, that the pair are just friends

Speculation: In April, Kris was believed to be dating Network Ten research executive Hannanh Scott (seen)

In April, Kris was believed to be dating Network Ten research executive Hannanh Scott.

It came after the father-of-one said he was 'trying to work things out' with model Maddy before his stint on I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!

Kris and Maddy, 28, dated for four years before he confirmed they had split in October.

Kris also shares a six-year-old son Ethan with Dannii Minogue, who he dated for three-and-a-half years before breaking up in 2012.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Kris' representatives for comment in relation to this article.
She's no stranger to stripping off in front of the camera.

And Australian glamour model Pia Muehlenbeck certainly showed off her racy taste in fashion as she posed in a cleavage-baring lace bodysuit this Tuesday.

Taking to her Instagram page, the 26-year-old uploaded a mirror selfie showcasing her barely-clad decolletage in the figure-hugging black number.

Now that's racy! Pia Muehlenbeck certainly showed off her racy taste in fashion as she posed in a cleavage-baring lace bodysuit this Tuesday

The lingerie look featured additional straps around on her bust that accentuated her ample assets.

She also teamed the look with a pair of denim daisy dukes and a black felt hat.

Pia captioned her post: 'Home, sweet home in @loungeintimates #partner'.

Delighting her audience: Fans of the law graduate turned social media sensation loved the raunchy display, including one who wrote: 'Wow, you are rockin it today Pia'

Fans of the law graduate turned social media sensation loved the raunchy display, including one who wrote: 'Wow, you are rockin it today Pia.'

'Ive been following you over a year this might be my favorite pic of you,' another wrote.

While another commented: 'Wowza! Such a major babe!'

He put a ring on it: Her saucy post comes after her surprise engagement to YouTube vlogger and her business partner Kane Vato at the Palace of Versailles in France

Surprise: Kane, along with some friends, took to the brunette beauty to the iconic French Chateau for the special moment

Her saucy post comes after her surprise engagement to YouTube vlogger and her business partner Kane Vato at the Palace of Versailles in France.

Kane, along with some friends, took to the brunette beauty to the iconic French Chateau for the special moment, however a public service worker's strike threatened to ruin the surprise.

Fortunately, he found a stunning marble staircase as the perfect setting to get down on one knee and pop the question, presenting her with a sparkling ring.
Norman Reedus has dished about shooting nude scenes for his hit AMC show.

The 48-year-old actor appeared on Monday night's Jimmy Kimmel show and discussed how he went naked for the majority of the last season on The Walking Dead.

'You know, the thing is, they give you this little sock to wear. And you feel weirder with the sock on, you know?,' the former Prada model quipped.

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Dirty talk: Norman Reedus, 48, opened up about shooting nude scenes on Monday's Jimmy Kimmel Live

Jimmy asked if the prop sock could be bought online and Norman answered with another anecdote where he had to shoot a scene in his birthday suit.

'Probably. You know, I did a movie in a shower and they gave me one to wear, and in the middle of the take I just ripped it off and threw it at the director's head because I was like, "This is ridiculous."'

However, his nude experience on the popular zombie apocalypse drama took place in a more amicable environment.

'But on The Walking Dead, I came out in a bathrobe, and our poor camera crew were all right here. And I just dropped the robe and I was just butt naked, and they all were like... they were watching Wimbledon: They just looked to the left,' Norman said.

Major nudity: The actor explained the details of appearing naked for a majority of the last season on The Walking Dead

The ex of supermodel Helena Christensen relayed how acting in the nude can bring you closer to certain employees of the production.

'I have this makeup artist, Addison, who had to sort of...dirty me, in areas. So we became very close by the end of the day,' he joked.

Norman has played bad boy Daryl Dixon for seven seasons of the hit show.

Hide it: 'You know, the thing is, they give you this little sock to wear. And you feel weirder with the sock on, you know?,' the former Prada model quipped

He told Jimmy at the start of the interview that Daryl's crossbow is now in the Smithsonian Institute.

The Florida native got his start modeling in music videos and fashion ad campaigns before landing work as an actor on the 1997 movie Mimic.

Norman was in a five-year relationship with Helena from 1998 until 2003. They share 18-year-old son Mingus.

Meanwhile, the eighth season premiere of The Walking Dead took place this past Sunday on AMC.

Don't stare: 'But on The Walking Dead, I came out in a bathrobe, and our poor camera crew were all right here. And I just dropped the robe and I was just butt naked, and they all were like... they were watching Wimbledon: They just looked to the left,' Norman said
She's a mini-me of her super-model mother Cindy Crawford.

But it's not just her beauty that Kaia Gerber has inherited.

The 16-year-old model admitted in a Q&A on Friday that she nicks her 51-year-old mom's 'vintage pieces' from her closet...and has no intention of giving them back.

Her own outfit: Kaia Gerber, 16, has admitted she lifts 'vintage pieces' from mom Cindy Crawford's closet. She is pictured at Hudson brand's spring/summer 2018 preview in NYC on Friday

However, she did say that she doesn't share clothed with her mom.

'My mom and I aren't the same size. She's a bit taller,' she complained to E!. 'And we're not the same shoe size either, which is heartbreaking.'

The young celeb looked the part in Hudson's black leather jeans that she teamed with a black, white and pink sequin top and a black cape.

Kaia is the face of Hudson Jeans and she spoke to People at the brand's spring/summer 2018 preview event in New York on Friday.

She also weighed in on how many pairs of jeans she owns - 'too many' - and revealed that her model mentor is Karlie Kloss.

The face of the brand: The young model, who is the face of the Hudson brand, posed with the company's CEO Peter Kim at the event

Model mom and her mini-me: Cindy, 51, and Kaia at New York Fashion week in September 2016. The question is, is Kaia wearing her own dress or one of her mom's

Kaia has rapidly become one of the most sought-after models in the world and she has just returned home to Malibu, California, after her first month of Fashion Week shows in New York, London, Paris and Milan.

She said one of the things she learned during her busy September was 'the importance of downtime.'

And she shared this nugget of advice from Cindy: 'My mom just said not to be afraid to show my personality on the runway.

'As for beauty, she has always told me that less is more.'

Nuggets of advice: Kaia said her supermodel mother told her 'not to be afraid to show my personality on the runway. As for beauty, she has always told me that less is more'

Two generations of models: From left, Presley. 18, Kaia, Cindy and Rande Gerber, 55. who was a model before becoming a successful businessman and entrepreneur

Her 18-year-old brother Presley is also a model and Kaia said it helped to have him in the business.

'It always helps to be able to talk to someone who can relate to what youre going through,' she said.

' I love being on set with Presley because it makes both of us feel more comfortable and we always have a lot of fun.'
Reese Witherspoon knows how to show off her product to excellent advantage.

The 41-year-old was photographed in out in Los Angeles this Tuesday, wearing the $125 Stripe Andrea Button Down blouse from her clothing brand Draper James.

She tucked the top into a tight pair of white trousers, cinching a walnut brown belt around her waist and modeling tan open-toed sandals.

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Proud of her product: Reese Witherspoon was photographed in out in Los Angeles this Tuesday, wearing the $125 Stripe Andrea Button Down blouse from her brand Draper James

The acclaimed New Orleans-born actress, who won an Academy Award for playing June Carter in Walk The Line, accessorized with black cat-eye shades.

She added a splash of glitz to the look with a pair of glinting hoop earrings.

On Monday she had uploaded a sweet Instagram post wishing happy returns to her son Deacon Phillippe, who turned 14 that day.

The look: She tucked the top into a tight pair of white trousers, cinching a walnut brown belt around her waist and modeling tan open-toed sandals

'Happy Birthday @deaconphillippe!,' Reese wrote with a balloon emoij.

'Fourteen years ago you came into my life, and have made me laugh and smile everyday since. I love your kind heart and your joyful, adventurous spirit.'

She closed: 'Hope you have the best day ever!!,' adding a star emoji and then: 'Love, Mom,' before an emoji of a twinkling heart.

Proud mama: On Monday she had uploaded a sweet Instagram post wishing happy returns to her son Deacon Phillippe, who turned 14 that day

Deacon, whose middle name just so happens to be Reese, was sired by his mother's ex-husband and Cruel Intentions co-star Ryan Phillippe.

Ryan and Reese were married from 1999 to 2007 and also have an 18-year-old daughter called Ava, who will debut at le Bal des Debutantes in Paris next month.

Reese went on to marry her current husband, talent agent Jim Toth, in 2011, by whom she has a five-year-old son called Tennessee.
She announced last month that she would be postponing the European leg of her tour due to her health problems.

But Lady Gaga looked relaxed and in good spirits as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The pop star, 31, revitalized herself with a cool iced tea as she left Starbucks, chatting on her phone, in the middle of the city's stifling heatwave.

Keeping her cool! Lady Gaga looked relaxed and in good spirits as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Tuesday

Gaga kept her cool by slicking her bright blonde hair up into a ponytail, though also sported a warm white sweatshirt that featured an image of her profile.

She also wore a pair of black leggings and trainers.

It's been more than a month since Gaga, who suffers from Fibromyalgia, announced the postponement of her tour due to the pain she had been experiencing.

But the chart-topper sure looks to be on the mend, as she recovers during her time off.

Sporty: Gaga kept her cool by slicking her bright blonde hair up into a ponytail, though also sported a warm white sweatshirt that featured an image of her profile

Milestone: On Monday, Gaga celebrated her latest studio album, Joanne, going platinum

She's been spending time with her boyfriend, Christian Carino, and even has been making time for exercise.

On Monday, Gaga celebrated the platinum certification of her latest studio album, Joanne.

The hit-maker took to Instagram to share photos of herself holding up the achievement, along with the victorious message: 'Feels good for #Joanne to be Platinum in the United States, w/ an album I made so from my (heart emoji).

'And got to celebrate in a @gladys_tamez_millinery Joanne hat and @bellahadid look from @brandonmaxwell recent collection. You know I love the Hadid girls and their strong momma Yolanda too! #girlpower #music.'
They have been married for 18 years and share four children; Brooklyn, 18, Romeo, 15, Cruz, 12, and Harper, six.

And proving their romance is very much still going strong, Victoria, 43, and David Beckham, 42, were seen putting on a smitten display as they celebrated Ken Paves latest salon opening in Los Angeles on Monday evening.

The fashion designer and her beau were seen cuddling up together, as they joined Victoria's BFF Eva Longoria, 42, at the bash where she had been playing host.

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Cute couple: David, 42, and Victoria Beckham, 43, made sure to show their support and celebrate Ken Paves latest salon opening in Los Angeles on Monday evening

Dressed to thrill, The Beckhams were clad in matching navy blue ensembles for their stylish date night to support their friend.

Victoria, formerly known as Posh Spice, showed off her tanned and toned arms in a sleeveless navy dress that boasted a frilled drop hem and a cut in neckline.

She pinned her chocolate brown locks back from her face into a chic up-do, leaving wisps of her mane loose at the front to frame her face.

Hot heads! Eva Longoria, 42, hosted the star-studded soiree for her hairdresser pal in the trendy West Hollywood area off of La Cienega Boulevard

Best buddies: Still on the mend from a mystery injury, Longoria sported a large plastic boot on one foot and one black heel on the other

David, meanwhile, wore a navy bomber jacket with white stripes around the cuffs and paired it with a crisp white T-shirt underneath.

He tucked the bottom of his shirt into his skinny black jeans that were held up with a slender black belt and the motorcycle enthusiast donned a wide-brimmed black hat over his blonde hair and sported a scruffy beard and mustache.

The former England captain's ensemble left a slew of his many inkings on show, with onlookers able to catch a glimpse at the tattoos etched onto his neck and the back of his hands.

Friends with benefits: Ken has been a favorite stylist to the Beckhams and Eva Longoria for years, among a host of many other notable celebrity clients

Smile! Eva looked darling in a dark blue, one-sleeved suit with delicate white pinstripes which featured a nude mesh paneling on one shoulder

Host Eva looked darling in a dark blue, one-sleeved suit with delicate white pinstripes which featured a nude mesh paneling on one shoulder.

Her sophisticated ensemble highlighted her trim waistline with a perfectly hemmed belt along her stomach.

Still on the mend from a mystery injury, Longoria sported a large plastic boot on one foot and one black heel on the other.

Ken has been a favorite stylist to the Beckhams and Eva Longoria for years, among a host of many other notable celebrity clients.
She become embroiled in a bitter feud with her ex fiance Mark Wright after she was reportedly thrown out of Sheesh because he was on his way to the eatery in July.

Now Lauren Goodger plans to get revenge by relaunching her TV career and become more famous than him, according to Closer magazine.

And six years after her ex lover headed into the jungle in 2011, I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Here could be on the cards for the 30-year-old former TOWIE star.

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'She's hell-bent on being more famous than Mark Wright': Lauren Goodger reportedly plans to get revenge by reinventing her television career and becoming more famous than him

A source told the glossy publication: 'She's hell-bent on going one better than Mark and becoming more famous than him, she says she won't give up until she is.'

It seems The Only Way Is Essex star is ready to have another taste of television fame. A source added to Closer magazine: 'Lauren is considering Celebs Go Dating but she's also been asked to go on I'm A Celeb.

'She's been hinting that she's thinking about it and is desperate to return to TV. She'd love a celebrity romance in the jungle so she can relaunch herself.'

MailOnline has approached Lauren Goodger's representatives for comment.

Lauren's former flame Mark had a lot of success on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Here when he came runner-up, losing the crown to McFly's Dougie Poynter.

On the back of the show, the Essex hunk managed to secure a string of television and presenting jobs including Take Me Out: The Gossip.

Big career move: Mark (pictured) took the plunge and entered the jungle six years ago, which in turn opened a lot of doors including presenting roles such as Take Me Out: The Gossip

Now the dark-haired television personality is mixing with the great and the good of the Hollywood showbiz world while he lives out his dream in Los Angeles.

Lauren and Mark were arguably TOWIE's golden couple when their failed love affair played out on the small screen for two seasons of the ITVBe show.

The former co-stars and lovers were engaged to be married but they called off the wedding bells in 2012.

TOWIE hunk Mark is now married to Our Girl star Michelle Keegan, meanwhile Lauren has been unlucky in love after breaking up with her jailbird boyfriend Joey Morrison.

Popular hunk: Lauren's former flame Mark had a lot of success on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Here (pictured) when he came runner-up, losing the crown to McFly's Dougie Poynter

Five years on from their failed romance it seems there is no love lost between Mark and Lauren.

Back in July, the TOWIE beauty launched an online tirade when she was reportedly removed from Sheesh when Mark informed management he was on his way.

Furious with the treatment she'd received at the eatery - which is popular among the Essex social set - she frantically typed to the micro-blogging site: 'Wow literally can't not explain what just happened to me ... BIG MISTAKE [sic].'

Replying to someone's concerned response to this cryptic tweet, Lauren posted: 'I will be [okay] cos I'm not letting this one go this time! Wrongen! [sic]'

Refreshing: On the back of the show, the Essex hunk (pictured on I'm A Celeb) managed to secure a string of television and presenting jobs including Take Me Out: The Gossip

Failed romance: Lauren and Mark were arguably TOWIE's golden couple when their failed love affair played out on the small screen for two seasons of the ITVBe show (pictured in 2011)

A few minutes later, clearly having let herself seethe over the incident, she hopped back onto Twitter and - with one finger firmly holding down the Caps Lock button - typed: 'Y AM I BEIN FORCED 2LEAVE SHEESH BY 2 BOUNCERS IN A THREATENIN WAY TELIN ME MARK WRIGHT IS COMIN AND BEST I LEAVE.. [sic].'

She went on, being sure to drive the point home: 'R THEY 4 REAL LIKE I GIVE A S**T AND IM GNA DO SOMETHIN 2 SUM1 WHOS IRRELEVANT.. ITS BEEN 5 YRS YET IM BEIN MADE 2LEAVE COZ MARK IS COMING [sic].'

She later went on further writing 'Broke up YEARS ago. Your married Im with Joey grow the f**k up. Absolutely pathetic & DISGUSTING behaviour. Not staying silent no more #bully [sic]' adding 'Sheesh & Mark you should be ashamed (sic).'

She rounded it all off with a final: 'SO PATHETIC!'

MailOnline approached Mark Wright and Lauren Goodger for comment at the time.
She's the busty starlet with an impressive 49,400 Instagram followers.

And on Wednesday, Chloe Lattanzi marked her return to the social media platform after a 14-day absence, baring her ample cleavage in a skimpy black ensemble.

'Hey I'm back. Been at a spiritual retreat,' the 31-year-old shared with her fans, after it was claimed she had been trying for a baby to make her mother Olivia Newton-John happy.

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'I'm back, been at a spiritual retreat': Chloe Lattanzi, 31, marked her return to Instagram on Wednesday with a busty snap, as it's claimed she's trying for a baby to make her mother Olivia Newton-John happy

Taking to Instagram, Chloe posted a suggestive picture, drawing attention to her significant chest in an off-the-shoulder black ensemble.

Placing her left hand, adorned with statement jewels, next to her plump lips that were left slightly agape, the aspiring actress gazed sultrily at the camera behind her signature black spectacles.

Chloe's blonde locks were swept into an effortless topknot, and her facial features were enhanced with a blemish-free complexion, defined brows, lashings of mascara and a matte lip.

The avid horse rider captioned the photo: 'Hey I'm back. Been at a spiritual retreat and not allowed my phone. It was a much nice needed break. All my love to you guys.'

Reports: Chloe's post follows claims by Woman's Day that the social media sensation has begun IVF treatments, and is so keen on having a child in order to make her mother Olivia Newton-John (pictured) happy

'She wants to make her mum happy': Olivia, 69, is said by Woman's Day to be 'thrilled' to become a grandmother

Chloe's post follows claims by Woman's Day that the social media sensation has begun IVF treatments.

Following her mother Olivia Newton-John's devastating cancer diagnosis, the personality is alleged to be so keen on having a child in order 'to make her mum happy.'

Woman's Day have claimed that Olivia's breast cancer battle has made Chloe want to start a family with partner James Driskill, 33.

A source close to Chloe was reported to have told the publication: 'It dawned on her she might lose the person she relies on most, and who means more to her than anyone in the world.

Making plans: Woman's Day have claimed that Olivia's breast cancer battle has made Chloe want to start a family with partner James Driskill, 33

'She wants to make her mum happy and give her the chance to enjoy having grandchildren.

'She's so determined to have a baby, she's been to see fertility doctors in Oregon and LA and started IVF treatments in the hope of speeding up the process,' they went on to say.

Olivia is said to be overcome with joy and 'thrilled' over the prospect of becoming a grandmother.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Olivia and Chloe for comment.

In love: Chloe is dating long-time boyfriend, martial arts trainer James, the pair often appearing on one another's Instagram accounts

In May this year, Olivia revealed that her breast cancer had returned after 25 years and spread to her back.

Woman's Day reported at the time that the entertainer is undergoing a combination of radiation and wellness therapies and feels 'extremely optimistic.'

Olivia was first treated for breast cancer in 1992, at the age of 43 and underwent a partial mastectomy, chemotherapy and breast reconstruction.

Afterwards, she championed breast cancer awareness and in 2008 built the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne, Australia.

In a statement released to People, Olivia revealed she was certain treatment she was undergoing would be successful.

'I'm totally confident that my new journey will have a positive success story to inspire others!' she said.
You say 'tomayto', I say 'tomato'. You say 'international humanitarian crisis', I say 'organised crime syndicates'. Let's call the whole thing off.

Calais, The End Of The Jungle (BBC2), a This World documentary about the sprawling shanty town for migrants on the Normandy coast, presented two irreconcilable views of the mess. There was no guidance, no interpretation, no voiceover.

The whole programme was as chaotic as the camp itself.

On one side were naive young idealists, all of them desperately decent and middle class, who had come to the French port to help to distribute aid to the migrants  or, as they called them, 'the refugees'.

Some were frightfully posh and rather ashamed of it, like Charlie Whitbread, a former art evaluator.

Calais The End Of The Jungle documented the demise of the migrant shanty town on the Normandy coast. But the programme had 'no guidance, no interpretation, no voiceover', writes Christopher Stevens

Others had tried to do a bit of good and were swept away: one group of women launched a Facebook appeal and accidentally raised 2 million.

All of them were there to help because, they assumed, these people weren't able to look after themselves.

There's something very patronising and imperialist about their attitude, though the volunteers would be mortified to think they were motivated by racism.

While they built 1,500 wooden shelters, the able-bodied young migrants  almost all of them male  were laying barricades and setting ambushes to trap HGV drivers heading for Britain.

Night-vision video shot on a long lens captured grainy footage of dozens of illegal immigrants mobbing lorries.

The ones who weren't agile enough to board a truck could bribe people smugglers who charged between 500 and 10,000 for a ticket across the Channel.

While the volunteers were working for nothing, other people were making themselves rich. We didn't meet them though.

When their camp was cleared last October, the migrants torched it and moved on. Firefighters are pictured trying to tackle the blaze

Migrants had to sit back and watch as their former home went up in flames last October

Market stalls in the camp, operating for private profit, sold clothes and supplies donated by kinder hearts.

'You'll get some damn good deals in there, a nice T-shirt for a euro,' said a volunteer approvingly. But he warned the camera crew to stay away  the market was a murderous place.

When their camp was cleared last October, the migrants torched it and moved on.

Many of the volunteers looked devastated to see their hard work destroyed.

Other testimony seemed difficult to find. We saw only one interview with an illegal immigrant who made it to Britain on the back of a lorry.

He was a man of 27 from Eritrea who claimed he'd come to avoid military service.

We didn't learn much, except that the UK suits him because he already speaks English. So that's handy.

On this week's episode of The Great British Bake Off (Channel 4), Paul Hollywood (pictured far left) and Noel Fielding (centre right) made subtle digs at each other, writes Paul Hollywood

After jumping on a lorry to Channel 4, Paul Hollywood has become the Godfather of The Great British Bake Off (C4).

He dominates the show  fellow judge Prue Leith is a far better cook but an also-ran in every encounter.

Paul looks at presenter Noel Fielding, when he deigns to notice him at all, with undisguised contempt.

Noel, whose cocky persona has perished like a soggy choux bun, tried to make a joke about the Hollywood dress sense  Paul gave him a withering sneer.

The only person Paul deferred to was baker Sophie, the ex-Army action woman.

His voice became softer and more admiring when he spoke to her. She seemed oblivious to his charm, though.

The standard of cooking is as high as ever this year, and the contestants are an engaging lot.

But, with the final looming next week, this series feels less like a real Bake Off and more like a Hollywood solo project.
Albany County District Court Judge Tori Kricken said the maximum penalty for strangulation of a household member is up to five years in prison but that would not be necessary in Orellanas case. She said 2-4 years  including the 228 days hes already spent in detention facilities in Wyoming and California  is appropriate amount of time to provide Orellana with the treatment he requested.
Multimillionaire Stu Laundy has been the favourite to win this season of The Bachelorette since before it even started.

And it seems he may have confirmed that he is the man who wins Sophie Monk's with a simple photograph.

On Monday, the 44-year-old shared a picture of himself with other show finalists Apollo Jackson and Jarrod Woodgate which contains a potentially huge spoiler.

'Favourite photo!' Did Bachelorette's Stu Laundy just reveal who actually wins the show and Sophie Monk's heart?

For every season of The Bachelor so far, whenever the official image of the final three is released the winner is placed in the middle and wears lighter-coloured clothing.

In the picture, which was shared to Instagram, Stu is stood in the middle and wears a visibly lighter blue shirt than the other two competitors.

The same happened with the three finalists for last season of The Bachelor, when Laura Byrne was positioned inbetween Elise Stacy and Tara Pavlovic.

Who has won Sophie Monk's heart? Stu Laundy has shared a picture of himself with other show finalists Apollo Jackson and Jarrod Woodgate which contains a potentially huge spoiler

Laura wore a white dress while the blondes who flanked her were seen in metallic, sequinned gowns.

In the previous season of The Bachelor, which ended with Richie Strahan choosing Alex Nation, the contrast between the last contestants' clothing was even clearer.

Alex stood in a pure white, floor-length, strapless gown while Olena Khamula was in red and Nikki Gogan wore black.

The three finalists for last season of The Bachelor: Elise Taylor, Laura Byrne and Tara Pavlovic

Stu's position as outright favourite to win The Bachelorette was questioned this week when rumours of him enjoying a new romance emerged.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the father of four was linked to Sydney socialite Tiffany Tilley.

However, Stu told Daily Mail Australia that the claims were 'outrageous' and said 'I have never met the woman.'

Glamorous blonde TIffany is said to have separated from her property developer husband Ben Tilley earlier this year.

When photographers asked Sophie about the rumours earlier this week, she looked shocked as she responded: 'I don't know Tiffany Tilley'.
She's a Victoria's Secret model who's no stranger to flashing her underwear.

And Jasmine Tookes pulled it off with elegant flair on Tuesday as she attended the John Hardy and Vanity Fair dinner in New York.

The 26-year-old California-born beauty wore a sheer lace kimono-style gown which opened to reveal plenty of leg.

Strike a pose: Jasmine Tookes looked amazing in lace at the John Hardy and Vanity Fair dinner on Tuesday

Underneath, Jasmine treated onlookers to a glimpse of her high-waist briefs and a lace bralet.

The leggy lady wore her locks up in a tight bun and accessorised with drop diamond earrings.

During the night Jasmine showed off the look on Instagram, gushing: 'Feeling like a princess tonight. @carythestylist'

Next month, Jasmine will head to Shanghai for the 2017 Victoria's Secret fashion show, which is set to air on CBS on November 28.

Peek-a-boo: The 26-year-old model flashed her lingerie under the sheer gown

Beauties in black: The brunette beauty posed with Hollie Bonneville Barden

The leggy stunner will join a host of other Victoria's Secret Angels, including Candice Swanepoel, Lily Aldridge, Elsa Hosk, Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio.

The leggy star recently revealed she regularly undergoes a gruelling work out session four to five times a week to help her maintain her slender frame after tucking into indulgent treats.

She said: 'I try to work out like four to five times a week. And [Romee Strijd and I] actually work out together in New York.'

During the night Jasmine showed off the look on Instagram, gushing: 'Feeling like a princess tonight. @carythestylist'

'On Mondays Ill do legs, Tuesday will be upper body, Wednesday is core/abs focused, Thursday is another leg day and Fridays are about my butt.

'I love working out at DogPound with a bunch of the other Angels. [Josephine Skriver] and I actually have a fitness account on Instagram, JoJa, where we share our favorite partner workouts.'
He's been dating Miley Cyrus on and off since they met filming The Last Song.

And Liam Hemsworth no doubt felt nostalgic as he was spotted hanging out on the beach where the movie was shot in 2009.

The 27-year-old hunk took of his shirt to reveal his rock hard physique as he played in the surf in Savannah, Georgia on Tuesday.

Memories: Liam Hemsworth, 27, was spotted Tuesday hanging out on the beach where he met Miley Cyrus filming The Last Song in 2010

Looking every inch the movie star, the Australian star showcased his toned tummy in the low rise bathing suit.

The younger brother of Thor star Chris put on a gun show with his bulging biceps as he waded in the water.

The bathing suit allowed his gorgeous gams to take center stage as the Cabin In The Woods alum rocked retro shades.

Liam and Miley started dating back in 2009 when romance blossomed between them on the set of Nicholas Sparks movie The Last Song.

Hunky: Looking every inch the movie star, the Australian star showcased his toned tummy in the low rise bathing suit

Young love: Liam and Miley started dating back in 2009 when romance blossomed between them on the set of the Nicholas Sparks movie

The coming of age teen romantic drama was set in a small coastal town where the characters often hung out on the beach.

The couple had initially dated for three years, before announcing their engagement first time round in June 2012 - only to split a year later in 2013.

They then went on to rekindle their engagement in early 2016, with Miley previously saying about the couple's time apart: 'I didnt know if that was the end of it or know if wed be back together again, but knew that wherever I was going, I was on the right path.

Coastal: The coming of age teen romantic drama was set in a small coastal town where the characters often hung out on the beach

'I think people that break up and get back together, thats awesome.

'You get time to be yourself. You get time to grow up. I think if youre growing up attached to another person, you never really get solid as your own being.

'So Im really solid, and then he gets to be really solid. And together we get to be two really grounded people. Its not a half and a half making a whole.'
She may have lost half of her dress  but she didn't lose her cool.

Vanessa Lachey put on an expert display on Monday night's Dancing With The Stars, despite her skirt falling off 20 seconds into her quickstep.

She and pro partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy didn't let it affect them, gliding through the rest of the dance  and even earning their strongest score yet.

Pro: Vanessa Lachey put on an expert display on Monday night's Dancing With The Stars, despite her skirt falling off 20 seconds into her quickstep

Co-host Tom Bergeron could even be seen running out onto the ballroom floor, and scooping up the jettisoned skirt during the live performance.

'I lose my skirt right in front of the judges. It looks like bribery,' she joked to Bergeron afterwards. 'Hey, if its for extra points, Ill take it.'

And earn extra points it did, securing nines across the board and the couple's best performance so far.

'It took me back to season one when Kelly Monaco had a wardrobe malfunction and it actually sent her over the top,' judge Carrie Ann Inaba praised.

Step over: She and pro partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy didn't let it affect them, gliding through the rest of the dance  and even earning their strongest score yet

Bribe: 'I lose my skirt right in front of the judges. It looks like bribery,' she joked to Bergeron afterwards. 'Hey, if its for extra points, Ill take it.'

'What I saw was you  something happened and you just let yourself go and it was such a fantastic performance! You are the epitome of class and grace.'

Lachey concluded: 'Freedom, no skirt!'

before the dance, Maks and Vanessa described their preparation during rehearsals.

'I got the quickstep on steroids. Its [one minute and 40 seconds] of straight energy,' Vanessa explained

Best: And earn extra points it did, securing nines across the board and the couple's best performance so far

Repeat: 'It took me back to season one when Kelly Monaco had a wardrobe malfunction and it actually sent her over the top,' judge Carrie Ann Inaba praised

'This week has been the most work that weve done, but its also been the most fun that weve had.'

'Weve been dancing together for over a month now and we know what each others thinking,' she continued. 'Maks and I are more focused than ever right now and nothing is going to get in our way.'

Sadly for Vanessa and Maksim's other halves  Nick Lachey and Peta Murgatroyd  it their last dance, as they got the boot.

Fun: 'This week has been the most work that weve done, but its also been the most fun that weve had,' Vanessa claimed
She's a rising actress from a famous family with a killer sense of style.

And Lily-Rose Depp showed off her slender figure in a daring black dress for the second annual WWD Honors in New York City on Tuesday evening.

The 18-year-old model looked splendid as she flashed a bit of sideboob in front of a gorgeous red rose wall with the event's name posted in large letters.

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Peek-a-boo: Lily-Rose Depp showed off her slender figure in a daring black dress for the second annual WWD Honors in New York City on Tuesday evening

Nearly suffering a serious wardrobe malfunction, Depp's mini dress carefully covered her ample assets.

The strappy black frock glittered underneath the moonlight and featured a flirty ruffled hemline.

Her long and lean legs peeked out from underneath the skirt and were further accentuated with a pair of strappy black heels.

Work it! The 18-year-old model looked splendid as she flashed a bit of sideboob in front of a gorgeous red rose wall with the event's name posted in large letters

Close cal! Nearly suffering a serious wardrobe malfunction, Depp's mini dress carefully covered her ample assets

Strike a pose! Her long and lean legs peeked out from underneath the skirt and were further accentuated with a pair of strappy black heels

Radiant: Lily-Rose tied her long blonde hair back into a stylish high pony tail to show off more of her stunning features

Co-ordinated: The Yoga Hosers actress painted her toenails a bright crimson red, matching the ornate flower wall backdrop

Lily-Rose tied her long blonde hair back into a stylish high pony tail to show off more of her stunning features.

The Yoga Hosers actress painted her toenails a bright crimson red, matching the ornate flower wall backdrop.

She kept her makeup minimal aside from a seductive cat eye with shimmering eye shadow and a nude shade swatched onto her lips.

Glowing: She kept her makeup minimal aside from a seductive cat eye with shimmering eye shadow and a nude shade swatched onto her lips

His muse: Lily-Rose later posed with famous creative director and designer Karl Lagerfeld

Close: The pair happily chatted as they walked the carpet hand-in-hand

Say cheese! The pair beamed widely for cameras at the star-studded event

Fashion forward: Lagerfeld was honored for his work in the industry and received the John P. Fairchild award at the fashionable event

The blonde bombshell accesorized with a dainty golden ring on her pointer finger and a pair of dangling gold earrings.

The daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis beamed with delight as she stood next to Karl Lagerfeld, the head creative director for French fashion house Chanel.

Lagerfeld was honored for his work in the industry and received the John P. Fairchild award at the fashionable event.

Stunning: Lily proved her striking natural beauty as she intently listened to the speeches once inside

Leading lady: Lily is currently carving a successful career as both a model and an actress

Rise to fame: It is no wonder she is close with Karl, having starred in a Chanel advert when she was 15

Meanwhile Lily is currently carving a successful career as both a model and an actress.

Most recently she was spotted filming Les Fauves, which is thought to tell the tale of a campsite where young people start to disappear over the summer, with rumours a big cat is attacking them.

Lily-Rose takes on the starring role of Laura alongside French actors Laurent Lafitte and Camille Cottin.

The star has previously appeared in films Planetarium, The Dancer and Yoga Hosers alongside her famous father Johnny.

Mystery: Most recently she was spotted filming Les Fauves, which is thought to tell the tale of a campsite where young people start to disappear over the summer
She stars in Thor: Ragnarok film as the fierce bounty hunter Valkyrie alongside Australian star Chris Hemsworth.

And American actress Tessa Thompson has confirmed that her character is bisexual.

The 34-year-old responded to a tweet from a fan who said: 'Valkyrie in the comics is a big ole lesbian so I doubt she would give your opinion any thought.'

'What a joy to play!': American actress Tessa Thompson reveals Valkyrie is bisexual in the latest Thor film... Marvel's very first LGBTQI character

Tessa corrected them saying: 'She's bi. And yes, she cares very little about what men think of her. What a joy to play!'

The fan tweeted back: 'I stand corrected! And in no ways was my intention to erase her bisexuality', to which the Westworld star replied back, saying it was fine they didn't know the little known fact.

Valkyrie is the first representation of an LGBTQI individual in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The revelation started an avalanche of responses from movie fans who debated on whether Valkyrie's gender identity should have been addressed in the film.

First LGBTQI character: The 34-year-old responded to a tweet from a fan who said Valkyrie was a 'lesbian' in the comic book

Fierce: Tessa corrected the follower, saying: 'She's bi. And yes, she cares very little about what men think of her. What a joy to play!'

Pioneer role: Valkyrie is the first representation of an LGBTQI individual in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Tessa tweeted again: 'YES! Val is Bi in the comics & I was faithful to that in her depiction. But her sexuality isn't explicitly addressed in Thor: Ragnarok.'

Fans were keen on finding out about the warrior's backstory, including one who wrote: 'Going to guess because it's a giant action film and you don't often get to chat about your relationship in those unless you dated the villain.'

Tessa responded: 'To be fair, the only woman she interacts with in this film IS the villain. Who is hot, but emotionally unavailable.'

Where's her backstory? The revelation started an avalanche of responses from fans who debated whether Valkyrie's gender identity should have been addressed in the film. She tweeted out, 'I was faithful to that in her depiction' (pictured with Chris Hemsworth)

Speaking to the Courier Mail earlier this year, Tessa gushed over her time in Australia filming and working with acclaimed actress Cate Blanchett.

'I look up to dynamic and inventive female actors and I especially admire Cate Blanchett so it was surreal to work with her,' she told the publication.

'I've seen everything Cate has done and I'm such a fan. It's a testament to Marvel films that they attract the actors of her calibre, who can humanise these fictional, other-worldly characters.'
They've been inseparable since going public with their romance in August.

And things continue to heat up between Megan Blake Irwin and new boyfriend Nicolo Knows, the couple packing on the PDA during their trip to Australia.

On Wednesday, the Miami-based businessman shared a steamy snap of Megan going braless as they enjoyed breakfast in bed.

Breast-fast in bed! Megan Blake Irwin goes braless as she enjoys morning lie-in with new boyfriend Nicolo Knows

In the revealing post shared to Nicolo's Instagram account, Megan reclines on a hotel bed as the pair prepare to eat breakfast.

The lingerie model goes braless underneath her robe, offering a sultry stare to the camera.

'Once you go aussie....' Nicolo cheekily captioned the social media snap to his followers.

Down under: The couple are in Australia as Megan works for several brands in her native country, including David Jones and Bras N' Things

The couple are in Australia as Megan works for several brands in her native country, including David Jones and Bras N' Things.

The model confirmed her romance with the Miami-based hunk in August, revealing last month she had never been more content in life.

'Im in a very happy place and the happiest Ive been in life. Im in a very stable relationship,' Megan told News Corp.

'Im in a very happy place and the happiest Ive been in life': Megan gushed about the romance last month

'I dont want to hide away with someone I love': The blonde beauty was previously linked to Scott Disick

The blonde beauty, who was previously linked to Scott Disick, explained she had purposefully decided to go public with her new romance.

'Its definitely a choice. Because Ive been in relationships that are extremely private,' Megan said.

'But Ive been dating someone for a while now and I dont want to hide away with someone I love.'

Girl on the rise! Megan continues to be more in demand, recently walking the runway for David Jones and appearing in a campaign for Bras N Things




Michael Jackson's children Prince and Paris made a rare public appearance together Tuesday night to support charities helping people with HIV/AIDS.

Prince, 20, and Paris, 19, attended the fundraising gala for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and the nonprofit mothers2mothers in Beverly Hills.

The siblings, who lost their famous father in 2009, held hands as they posed for photos.

Famous offspring: Michael Jackson's children Prince, 20, and Paris, 19, made a rare joint public appearance Tuesday in Beverly Hills to support charities helping people with HIV/AIDS

Paris looked lovely in a pretty patterned dress that she wore off the shoulder.

The frock had half sleeves and fell to the floor.

The aspiring actress wore her dyed blonde hair loose in a tousled look and sported a variety of bracelets and necklaces.

Her brother was more casually dressed in blue jeans with a white cotton shirt and a buttoned up black tailored jacket.

Fashionista: Paris looked lovely in a pretty patterned dress that she wore off the shoulder. The frock had half sleeves and fell to the floor and she wore her hair loose in tousled curls

Good cause: Paris is an ambassador for her late godmother Elizabeth Taylor's AIDS Foundation. The gala served as a fundraiser for ETAF and also the nonprofit mothers2mothers

Paris announced last month that she has become an ambassador for the foundation established by the late Hollywood star who was her godmother.

The teen told InStyle last month that she had also been deeply moved during a recent trip to the African country of Malawi to learn more about the work of mothers2mothers that seeks to support and educate mothers in sub-Saharan Africain order to minimize the numbers of children born HIV positive.

'The most heartbreaking moment of all this for me was when I met a 20-year-old mother affected by HIV who was in the mothers2mothers support program. If she had gotten medication sooner, she wouldn't have passed HIV on to her child,' paris told the magazine.

'When she talked about it, I could see in her eyes that she was expecting death. Here, with the medical advances that we have, there's still a chance.... But when you get diagnosed with HIV out there, you get it and you think you're a goner,' she added.

Close: Prince was more casually dressed in blue jeans with a white cotton shirt and a buttoned up black tailored jacket

Gorgeous: Also supporting the cause was model and TV personality Heidi Klum, 44, who showed off her stunning figure in a silk kimono-style dress that revealed her long legs

Also supporting the cause was model and TV personality Heidi Klum.

The 44-year-old beauty showed off her stunning figure in a silk kimono-style dress that revealed her long legs.

Her flower-themed frock was cinched at the waist with a dark red sash tied in a bow and she added a pair of black pointed toe heels.

On hand, too, was actor John Stamos, 54, and his new fiancee Caitlin McHugh, 31.

The couple put on a loved up display as they arrived at the event and posed for photos.

Newly engaged: On hand, too, was actor John Stamos, 54, and his new fiancee Caitlin McHugh, 31, and the couple put on a loved up display as they posed for photos
She's the blonde beauty who is about to make one singleton very happy on the Bachelorette this week.

And with the hit reality show's finale airing on Wednesday, Sophie Monk, barely had time to put her feet up, fronting up to the camera for a secret photo shoot in Sydney's picturesque Coogee.

The-37-year-old looked happy and content as she arrived wearing denim shorts and a black and white sweater.

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No rest: With the Bachelorette finale airing on Wednesday, Sophie Monk, barely had time to put her feet up, fronting up to the camera for an early morning photo shoot in Sydney's picturesque Coogee on Tuesday

Summery: The-37-year-old went casual for the gig, turning up in a pair of knee-length jean shorts and a simple black tank-top

Her flaxen locks were kept loose, and she chose to wear her hair over her left shoulder.

Sophie looked all business as she was surrounded by staffers setting up the shoot.

It appeared that the shoot was of the more 'hush hush' variety, with the swanky ocean-side residence that provided the location, shrouded in secrecy.

Golden: Her flaxen locks were kept loose, and she chose to wear her hair over her left shoulder

Consummate professional: Sophie looked all business as she was surrounded by staffers setting up the shoot

Closed set: It appeared that the shoot was of the more 'hush hush' variety, with the swanky ocean-side residence that provided the location, shrouded in secrecy

As Sophie prepared herself for the camera, workers furiously flittered around her erecting makeshift privacy screens in the form of bed sheets to obscure the scene.

While no clues were given as to what was being photographed, zealous fans could be forgiven for thinking her soon-to-be-revealed Bachelorette beau was also present.

With the mystery shoot over and done with, Sophie then made her way back to her Sydney hotel.

Keep out: As Sophie prepared herself for the camera, workers furiously flittered around her erecting makeshift privacy screens in the form of bedsheets to obscure the scene.

Who could it be? While no clues were given as to what was being photographed, zealous fans could be forgiven for thinking her soon-to-be-revealed Bachelorette beau was also present

Knocking off: With the mystery shoot over and done with, Sophie then made her way back to her Sydney hotel

She seemed in a much more chipper mood, smiling broadly as she make her way through the hotel's reception area.

Wearing the same denim shorts, Sophie augmented her outfit with a simple black and white sweater.

She finished her casual ensemble with a pair of black thongs, some simple ear bling and a gold bracelet on her right wrist.

Chuffed: She seemed in a much more chipper mood, smiling broadly as she make her way through the hotel's reception area

Casual: Wearing the same denim shorts, Sophie augmented her outfit with a simple black and white sweater

Sophie also wore a manicured eyebrow, a nude look for her lip and an application of blush to accentuate her already prominent cheekbones.

As she made her way to her room, Sophie playfully brushed her hair behind her ear as she offered cheeky grins to holidaymakers.

Given the frenzy Wednesday's Bachelorette finale is sure to whip up, Sophie also clutched her phone tightly in anticipation.

Juggernaut: Given the frenzy Wednesday's Bachelorette finale is sure to whip up, Sophie also clutched her phone tightly in anticipation
Paris Hilton was a real treat for the eyes on Tuesday night, as she hit the catwalk in a giant pink bow dress.

The hotel heiress, 36, slipped into a magnificent Christian Cowan gown at she hit the runway at Paper Magazine's Young Legends benefit for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Hollywood.

With a bow bigger than the heiress herself, the star looked more than confident with her style statement as she fiercely pounded the catwalk.

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Pressie: Paris Hilton was a gift for the eyes in a GIANT pink bow dress on Tuesday night

Paris stood out from the crowds in the dress, which tightly clung to her slender figure and waist underneath the bold bow.

Keeping co-ordinated from head to toe, the stunner tied the look together with simple pink court shoes, which she strutted down the runway in with ease.

In glamorous finishing touches, Paris accessorised with a bejewelled silver tiara and matching glittering choker.

Gifted: The hotel heiress rocked a magnificent Christian Cowan gown at Paper Magazine's Young Legends runway benefit for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Hollywood

Gorgeous: The blonde stunner finished the fab look in pink heels and a matching bejeweled tiara and choker

After the show, Paris was quick to express her admiration for the charity, who help brighten the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses.

'I have been supporting Make A Wish Foundation for a very long time,' the 36-year-old told DailyMail.com exclusively from the event. 'I love the work they do bringing so much happiness to children and their families in times of need.

'I love spending time with them, such a special feeling to see the smiles on their faces,' she added. 'Melts my heart.

Nicked: Lele Pons borrowed one of Paris's dresses for the night

Something borrowed: It was the Cowan-designed silver sequinned bridal gown which Paris unveiled at New York Fashion Week earlier this year

'It's so important to give back. Happy to be here tonight to support this wonderful cause.'

Paris was just one of many famous faces at the event, including Jaime King, Lele Pons, Jane The Virgin's Jenna Ortega and ANTM's India Gants, as well as Cowan himself.

Model Jaime commanded just as much attention as Paris, as she later hit the runway in an all-over sequin suit.

Red hot! Model Jaime commanded just as much attention as Paris, as she later hit the runway in an all-over sequin suit

Suits you: The 38-year-old showed off her famously statuesque figure in the glittering ensemble - featuring retro flares that skimmed her long legs to the floor

Plaid's cool: Making the look more quirky, the matching jacket was adorned with traditional tweed shoulders, to break up the glitzy look

The 38-year-old showed off her famously statuesque figure in the glittering ensemble - featuring retro flares that skimmed her long legs to the floor.

Making the look more quirky, the matching jacket was adorned with traditional tweed shoulders, to break up the glitzy look.

Keeping all eyes on her show-stopping outfit, the mother-of-one left her hair in its every day style, and added a thick slick of red lipstick to co-ordinate her suit.

Natural: Keeping all eyes on her show-stopping outfit, the mother-of-one left her hair in its every day style

Chic: She also added a thick slick of red lipstick as she took to the runway with an adorable young girl

Leading lady: Adding towering metallic heels in a glamorous finishing touch, Jaime was the picture of confidence as she strutted down the runway with a sweet young girl

Pucker up! The actress happily laughed and chatted with her young partner, dressed in a glittering black gown, before the duo stole the show by blowing a kiss to crowds

We did it! The duo sweetly high-fived after their appearance

Adding towering metallic heels in a glamorous finishing touch, Jaime was the picture of confidence as she strutted down the runway with a number of kids the charity supports.

The actress happily laughed and chatted with her young partner, dressed in a glittering black gown, before the duo stole the show by blowing a kiss to crowds at the end of the catwalk.

Lele actually wore the Cowan-designed silver sequinned bridal gown which Paris unveiled at New York Fashion Week earlier this year.

Support: Paris was just one of a number of famous faces, including Jaime King, Jane The Virgin's Jenna Ortega and ANTM's India Gants, as well as Cowan himself

Good cause: 'I have been supporting Make A Wish Foundation for a very long time,' the 36-year-old told DailyMail.com exclusively from the event. 'I love the work they do bringing so much happiness to children and their families in times of need

Touched: 'I love spending time with them, such a special feeling to see the smiles on their faces,' she added. 'Melts my heart'

The former Simple Life star had arrived at the event in a more demure black dress, with sheer lace detailing across the shoulders and a sexy thigh-high split.

The US charity has been granting once in a lifetime experiences to thousands of seriously ill children around the world for almost four decades now.

Professional wrestler John Cena holds the title for the most wishes granted by a single individual, with over 500 wishes, while Justin Bieber has volunteered in over 250 wishes.

Arrivals: The former Simple Life star had arrived at the event in a not-quite-as-loud svelte black dress with sheer lace detailing on the shoulder
In April, President Trump signed an executive order mandating Secretaryn of Interior Ryan Zinke to review dozens of national monuments with an eye towards shrinking or revoking their protections altogether. One of those national monuments was Montanas Upper Missouri River Breaks.

In response to this review, more than 24,000 Montanans submitted comments to Zinke telling him to leave the Breaks and other national monuments alone. As a result, Zinke recommended no changes to the Breaks, at which point we thought the national monument was safe from political partisan games, at least for the time being.

We were wrong.

This month, Rep. Greg Gianforte turned his back on Montanans and voted for a bill in the House Natural Resources Committee that throws all national monuments into perpetual jeopardy, including those we have in Montana. This bill allows the current and future presidents to shrink national monuments and makes it virtually impossible for future presidents to designate any additional ones.

To make matters worse, Sen. Steve Daines is co-sponsoring a companion bill (S. 33) that also prevents future presidents from designating national monuments. Both H.R. 3900 and S. 33 target the Antiquities Act, the 1906 law that enables presidents to set aside and permanently protect public lands that have exceptional natural, cultural, historical, and scientific value to the people of Montana and the United States.

Despite the outpouring of support for the Breaks and other national monuments this summer, despite the Colorado College poll that shows 77 percent of Montanans support national monuments, Gianforte and Daines are aligning with Utahs congressional delegation to dismantle the Antiquities Act, a central pillar of Theodore Roosevelts conservation legacy and a key component of Americas conservation heritage. Over the past 110 years, 16 presidents  eight Democrats and eight Republicans  have used the Antiquities Act to designate 157 national monuments.

Absurdly titled the National Monument Creation and Protection Act, H.R. 3990 was introduced by Utah Rep. Rob Bishop to further his long crusade to dispose of and industrialize public lands that Montanans and other Americans cherish for their natural beauty and cultural importance. Had H.R. 3990 or S. 33 been law in 2001, the Upper Missouri River Breaks would never have been protected as a national monument or attracted thousands of additional visitors who spend millions of dollars each year in Fort Benton and other gateway communities surrounding the monument.

Monument protection of the Upper Missouri River Breaks ensures future generations will enjoy the same opportunity we now have to hunt the best big game in the world; to view tipi rings, rock art, and other artifacts that go back thousands of years; and to camp and hike in the same riverside spots that Lewis and Clark did in 1805. Monument protection of Pompeys Pillar similarly enables future generations to physically connect with a moment that changed the course of Montanas history.

If either of these bills becomes law, we will lose an important tool to permanently protect the places that embody our shared legacy as Americans. As Zinke suggested this summer, there are still places in Montana, such as the Badger-Two Medicine, that could be protected using the Antiquities Act. These bills will close the door on that opportunity.

National monument protection of these special places did not occur out of thin air. Thousands of Montanans wrote comments, attended public meetings, and spoke up for protecting the Upper Missouri River Breaks. H.R. 2900 and S. 33 would make it difficult, if not impossible, for any future president to act on this kind of groundswell of public support.

Call Gianforte at 202-225-3211 and Daines at 202-224-2651 and ask them to withdraw their support of H.R. 3900 and S. 33 and instead support the preservation of places that define who we are as a people.
She's known for her fashion forward displays on the red carpet.

And Zendaya, 21, was back to her old style tricks as she donned a biker-inspired jumpsuit attending the release and special screening of Michael Jackson SCREAM at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

The Spiderman: Homecoming actress showcased her flair for fashion in the beige one-piece from FRAME which featured silver zip detail.

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Jump to it: Zendaya, 21, was back to her old style tricks as she donned a biker-inspired jumpsuit attending the release and special screening of Michael Jackson SCREAM at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on Tuesday night in Los Angeles

The three-quarter-length sleeved garment accentuated her statuesque frame while hinting at her slender legs with its cropped silhouette.

Zendaya - who attended the exclusive soiree with her sister Kaylee Stoermer Coleman - teamed the chic piece with a pair of complementing stilettos which added inches to her model height while walking the red carpet.

The former Disney star accessorised her look with a Slow Factory 'We The People' necklace in collaboration with the ACLU.

Keeping all eyes on her trademark style, she worked her glossy tresses into a messy top knot while sporting a sleek of pink lipstick.

Chic: The Spiderman actress showcased her flair for fashion in the beige one-piece from FRAME, which featured silver zip detail

Fashion fiend: The three-quarter-length sleeved garment accentuated her statuesque frame while hinting at her slender legs with its cropped silhouette

Earlier this month, Zendaya talked to Glamour about how hard she has worked.

'I remember doing Dancing With the Stars and literally falling asleep reading a book. Id never been so tired in my lifetheres no off time. But she stuck with me and made sure I got what I needed.'

Also in the issue the cover girl talked having good role models. Her mother Claire, who is a teacher, was her top one, but plenty of celebrities followed.

Picture perfect: Zendaya - who attended the exclusive soiree with her sister Kaylee Stoermer Coleman (Pictured above) - teamed the chic piece with a pair of complementing stilettos which added inches to her model height while walking the red carpet

All in the details: The former Disney star accessorised her look with a Slow Factory 'We The People' necklace in collaboration with the ACLU

Mane attraction: Keeping all eyes on her trademark style, she worked her glossy tresses into a messy top knot while sporting a sleek of pink lipstick alongside DJ Steve Aoki

Weee! The Grammy nominee - turning 40 next month - leaped on the red carpet while rocking a Michael Jackson T-shirt and skinny jeans

She said to actress Yara Shahidi during the discussion: 'I have an obsession with Oprah,' said the beauty who also named Beyonce, Shonda Rhimes and Michelle Obama.

'Theres definitely a long list. I am inspired right now by people who use their platforms: If people know your name, they should know it for a reason. Im obviously inspired by my mother, and I have an obsession with Oprah.'

Rosario Dawson, 38, walked the red carpet in a low-key ensemble made up of charcoal black denims, loose tee and a matching blazer.

Low-key: Rosario Dawson, 38, was a scream in a low-key ensemble made up of charcoal black denims, loose tee, and a matching blazer

Making a statement: The Sin City actress covered her long glossy raven-coloured locks with a stylish hat which teased at her statement drop-earrings

Going strong: The former America's Got Talent host walked the red carpet alongside Jermaine Dupri - who was once engaged to Michael's sister Janet, 51

In the past: The music producer began dating in 2002 before getting down on bended knee two years later. However in 2009, the couple decided to call off their impending nuptials following seven years together (Pictured together in 2008)

The Sin City actress covered her long glossy raven-coloured locks with a stylish hat which teased at her statement drop-earrings.

She teamed her look with a pair of leather boots and matching YSL handbag as she strolled up the carpet.

Presenter Nick Cannon made sure to command attention in a glittering black suit and eye-catching silver loafers.

The former America's Got Talent host walked the red carpet alongside Jermaine Dupri - who was once engaged to Michael's sister Janet, 51.

All that glitters: Presenter Nick Cannon made sure to command attention in a glittering black suit

Good times: The 37-year-old ex-husband #2 of Mariah Carey shared a hearty laugh with Michael Jackson's father Joe

Camera ready: The 89-year-old producer wasn't the only blood relative there as his son Jackie, 66, also attended

Going all out: Joe chatted to reporters in his paisley printed ensemble

This guy! The Jackson patriarch posed with entertainment lawyer John Branca, who was sporting a navy velvet blazer

The music producer began dating in 2002 before getting down on bended knee two years later.

However in 2009, the couple decided to call off their impending nuptials following seven years together.

The All For You songstress moved onto Wissam Al Mana, 42, in 2010 and welcomed a baby boy Eissa earlier this year. She has since split from the Qatari businessman after five years of marriage.

Also attending the event was Michael Jackson's father Joe, 89, and his older brother Jackie, 66.
He was forced to apologise after a huge backlash after he was condemned on social media for making jokes about Harvey Weinstein as he hosted the amfAR Gala in Los Angeles.

But little over a week later, James Corden returned to emcee duties at another AIDS fundraiser.

The British presenter, 39, was on hosting duties at the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and the nonprofit mothers2mothers in Beverly Hills on Wednesday.

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Second chance? James Corden returned to emcee duties at another AIDS fundraiser a little over a week since he faced a backlash over his Weinstein jokes at the amfAR gala

Keeping to his script, he oversaw the evening which was attended by a host of stars, including Taylor's goddaughter, Paris Jackson, her brother Prince, supermodel Heidi Klum and actor John Stamos.

He has kept a low profile since he was slammed for a series of ill-advised gags about the disgraced movie mogul to an unimpressed crowd at amfAR.

During the night, the audience of A-listers reacted to James' jokes with a mixture of groans and applause.

'This is a beautiful room, it's a beautiful night here in L.A,' Corden told the assembled crowd in his opening monologue. 'It's so beautiful, Harvey Weinstein has already asked tonight up to his hotel to give him a massage.'

Playing it safe? Keeping to his script, he oversaw the evening which was attended by a host of stars, including Taylor's goddaughter, Paris Jackson, her brother Prince, supermodel Heidi Klum and actor John Stamos

Backlash: Corden has kept a low profile since he was slammed for a series of ill-advised gags about the disgraced movie mogul to an unimpressed crowd at amfAR on October 13

Back in spotlight: Corden (above with mothers2mothers co-founder Robin Smalley) looked on his best behaviour at the event

Celebrity supporters: Supermodel Heidi Klum turned out at the bash and mingled alongside designer Zac Posen

Signing up: Stunning Paris Jackson - whose godmother was Elizabeth Taylor - signed a Zac Posen bag for the auction to raise funds for the cause

Giving back: John Stamos was at the event and posed for a snap alongside fellow guests Debbie Bickerstaff

Charity: Josh Peck, Paige O'Brien and Debbie all looked thrilled to be present at the fundraiser

Legend: Annie Lennox - a longtime supporter of the cause - entertained the guests on the piano

Rousing: The Eurythmics icon had the crowd in the palm of her hand at the dinner

Thrilled: Paris, Zac and Heidi led the applause for the performance

Light relief: Comic Whitney Cummings entertained the crowd with her stand-up routine

To the consequent mixture of applause and groans, he said: '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.

'Harvey Weinstein wanted to come tonight, but sadly hell settle for whatever potted plant is closest.'

He later apologised for his jokes, writing on Twitter: 'To be clear, sexual assault is no laughing matter. I was not trying to make light of Harveys inexcusable behaviour, but to shame him, the abuser, not his victims. I am truly sorry for anyone offended, that was never my intention.'

During the night, the audience of A-listers reacted to James' jokes with a mixture of groans and applause.

On the red carpet, Paris and Prince led the way, holding hands as they posed for photos. Their late father Michael Jackson, who died in 2009, was best friends with late legend Taylor.

Famous offspring: Paris and Prince held hands as they led the arriving guests on the red carpet

Paris looked lovely in a pretty patterned dress that she wore off the shoulder.

The frock had half sleeves and fell to the floor.

The aspiring actress wore her dyed blonde hair loose in a tousled look and sported a variety of bracelets and necklaces.

Her brother was more casually dressed in blue jeans with a white cotton shirt and a buttoned up black tailored jacket.

Fashionista: Paris looked lovely in a pretty patterned dress that she wore off the shoulder. The frock had half sleeves and fell to the floor and she wore her hair loose in tousled curls

Good cause: Paris is an ambassador for her late godmother Elizabeth Taylor's AIDS Foundation. The gala served as a fundraiser for ETAF and also the nonprofit mothers2mothers

Paris announced last month that she has become an ambassador for the foundation established by the late Hollywood star who was her godmother.

The teen told InStyle last month that she had also been deeply moved during a recent trip to the African country of Malawi to learn more about the work of mothers2mothers that seeks to support and educate mothers in sub-Saharan Africain order to minimize the numbers of children born HIV positive.

'The most heartbreaking moment of all this for me was when I met a 20-year-old mother affected by HIV who was in the mothers2mothers support program. If she had gotten medication sooner, she wouldn't have passed HIV on to her child,' paris told the magazine.

'When she talked about it, I could see in her eyes that she was expecting death. Here, with the medical advances that we have, there's still a chance.... But when you get diagnosed with HIV out there, you get it and you think you're a goner,' she added.

Close: Prince was more casually dressed in blue jeans with a white cotton shirt and a buttoned up black tailored jacket

Gorgeous: Heidi , 44, who showed off her stunning figure in a silk kimono-style dress that revealed her long legs

Also supporting the cause was model and TV personality Heidi Klum.

The 44-year-old beauty showed off her stunning figure in a silk kimono-style dress that revealed her long legs.

Her flower-themed frock was cinched at the waist with a dark red sash tied in a bow and she added a pair of black pointed toe heels.

On hand, too, was actor John Stamos, 54, and his new fiancee Caitlin McHugh, 31.

The couple put on a loved up display as they arrived at the event and posed for photos.

Newly engaged: John, 54, arrived with his new fiancee Caitlin McHugh, 31, and the couple put on a loved up display as they posed for photos
She recently moved her glittering career to the US to star in two major TV projects, Feud and Cocaine Godmother.

And Catherine Zeta-Jones proved she has nailed the chic off-duty vibe of Stateside dressing on Tuesday, as she arrived at JFK airport in New York.

Flaunting her age-defying beauty, the 48-year-old Welsh actress paraded her slim legs in chic leather trousers which she topped off with a stylish fedora

Looking good: Catherine Zeta-Jones proved she has nailed the chic off-duty vibe of Hollywood dressing on Tuesday, as she arrived at JFK airport in New York

Sticking to a monochrome look, the Intolerable Cruelty star tucked a silky black blouse into her trousers and wrapped up in a stylish leather jacket.

Opting for comfort in her footwear, the wife of Michael Douglas rocked a pair of glamorous white Gucci trainers.

Styling her glossy raven tresses in a simple middle parting, the mum-of-two framed her striking features with an understated slick of taupe lipstick.

Stunning: Flaunting her age-defying beauty, the 48-year-old Welsh actress paraded her slim legs in chic leather trousers which she topped off with a stylish fedor

Monochrome maven: The Intolerable Cruelty star tucked a silky black blouse into her trousers and wrapped up in a stylish leather jacket.

Catherine's sighting comes after she revealed that she bulked up to play ruthless Colombia drug lord Griselda Blanco in the Lifetime original movie, Cocaine Godmother.

'I gained weight, I was hunched over. If I had balls, I'd have grabbed them from time to time. I wanted to let it all hang out,' she told Deadline.

The Oscar winner added: 'She thought she was beautiful. She was the movie star starring in her own movie. She didn't give a s***.' And the Chicago actress said she was happy to play someone who was so tough.

A-list! Catherine looked dazzling as she showcased her leggy frame in a sexy metallic dress for the Best FIFA Football Awards held at the London Palladium on Monday night

'As women we get knocked down for being ambitious. I often wish we could take a little bit of that true ambition and be proud of it,' said the Zorro star.

Catherine married actor Michael Douglas in 2000 and the couple share two children - son Dylan, 17, and daughter Carys, 14.

Discussing their life behind closed doors, the star said they are a 'very, very close family' who 'share everything'.

Family affair: Catherine married actor Michael Douglas in 2000 and the couple share two children - son Dylan, 17, and daughter Carys, 14

Close couple: Discussing their life behind closed doors, the star said they are a 'very, very close family' who 'share everything'

'No one really knows what goes on in my four walls,' she told Vanity Fair. 'My husband and I have been in the public eye for many, many, many years.

'So, when we go out, we put the Michael Douglas-Catherine Zeta-Jones armor on every now and again. We are a very, very, very close family; we share everything.

'From there, from those four walls of security, I can go out there and be Catherine Zeta-Jones and be Wonder Woman and take bullets off my boobies and then go and cry in my home and have love and support around me.'
He's previously credited fatherhood with changing his outlook on life.

And Russell Brand looked delighted as he headed for a stroll with his 11-month-old daughter Mabel in London on Tuesday.

With one hand on the buggy and one holding onto his pet dog, Bear, the 42-year-old comedian seemed in high spirits.

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Chirpy: Russell Brand looked in good spirits as he headed for a stroll with his 11-month-old daughter Mabel in London on Tuesday

Opting for a low-key look, the Radio X presenter donned a charcoal grey T-shirt with tapered jogging bottoms and trainers.

Layering up, the star wore a leather jacket, whilst he styled his curly locks in a stylish man bun and sported a neatly groomed beard.

Ensuring his little one wouldn't feel the chill, Russell draped his daughter in a woolen blanket, whilst a selection of toys were attached to the pram to keep Mabel amused.

Loving life: With one hand on the buggy and one holding onto his pet dog, Bear, the 42-year-old comedian seemed in high spirits

New man: Russell has previously credited fatherhood with changing his outlook on life

Former addict Russell welcomed daughter Mabel with Scottish lifestyle blogger Laura Gallacher in November 2016.

The Get Him To The Greek star began dating Kirsty Gallacher's sister in 2007 with the pair having an on/off romance.

The couple's romance has since gone from strength to strength, with the pair tying the knot in August 2017.

Dressed down: Opting for a low-key look, the Radio X presenter donned a charcoal grey T-shirt with tapered jogging bottoms and trainers

Nicely styled: Layering up, the star wore a leather jacket, whilst he styled his curly locks in a stylish man bun and sported a neatly groomed beard

Cosy: Ensuring his little one wouldn't feel the chill, Russell draped his daughter in a woolen blanket, whilst a selection of toys were attached to the pram to keep Mabel amused

Off he goes: Russell had to pull in Bear after the pet pooch got excited by the passersby

Speaking on ITV's Lorraine recently, Russell said of his new life: 'Its so extraordinary to find such comfort and peace in a way things are obvious, getting married, having baby, I feel very relaxed, surprised but relaxed

I was watching my wife singing to our daughter, I thought wow this is happening, I am the father in this relationship, it felt beautiful.

When asked by Lorraine if he would have more children, Russell responded 'Oh yeah! The actual birth bit is brilliant, surprising, amazing. I saw how mental it was my wifes birth was a crazy world, I was on the periphery.

'The midwifes were dominating, I was scuttling around, jealous of the oxygen she was on.'

Puppy love: Russell seemed to be enjoying himself as he soaked up some fresh air on the walk

Making moves: Russell's daughter elicited some coos and stares from passersby

Off he goes: Russell seemed eager to head home as he pushed the pram down the street

Russell also admitted that fatherhood had settled him down as he spoke sweetly of his little girl to Stellar Magazine recently: 'She grabs my face, closes her fist and twists it. I quite like that. Nothing she does annoys me.'

'It's just that you can't ever go, "Would you mind being on standby for an hour so I can do something else?" It's a total lack of control: she'll punch and I'll surrender'.

The Rock Of Ages actor admitted that even though he may have been viewed as a Lothario in the past, he's long been broody.

Blooming lovely! Russell had picked up a bouquet of flowers on the outing

Soaking up the sights: The trio were no doubt all enjoying some fresh air on the outing

'Ive always loved being around kids; sort of obsessively, really. I have strong relationships with all my mates kids.

'If I go to their house I sometimes spend more time with them. Because I enjoy play quite a lot  and kids are willing to just put on stupid voices and muck around,' he concluded.

Russell was previously married to American songstress Katy Perry from 2010-2012.

Adorable: Russell cooed over his little one as he tickled her tummy in the pram

Whilst he is reportedly worth 10 million, Russell recently hinted that he had given his fortune away.

He said: I live hand to mouth. I gave people too much money, I gave too much to charity. I bought too many good things, I didnt look at the contracts. Now Ive got to work for the rest of my life.

Speaking on Megyn Kelly Today on Tuesday, Russell, who appeared on the show to talk about his recovery from drugs and sobriety, also couldn't resist talking about his little girl as he labelled her 'beautiful, vindictive and vicious.'
She spent weeks in just her swimwear during her stint on Love Island.

And Montana Brown isn't covering up just yet as she continues to tease fans on Instagram.

The reality TV star, 22, has been pining for the sun ahead of her LA break, and shared a series of sexy flashbacks to her time in the Maldives earlier this month.

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'Bite me': Montana Brown isn't covering up just yet as she continues to tease fans on Instagram with a series of cheeky snaps

Showing her cheeky side, Montana posed seductively in a pool with her derriere showing, alongside the caption: 'Bite me.'

She also added another snap from her time in the Pacific paradise, posing in a very high-cut black swimsuit.

Montana won huge praise for her sculpted behind on the show, and regularly shows it off.

Last week, she was seen posing in the shallows, wearing a skimpy black swimsuit with a thong cut.

Take me out: The reality TV star, 22, has been pining for the sun ahead of her LA break, and shared a series of sexy flashbacks to her time in the Maldives earlier this month

Cheeky: She also added another snap from her time in the Pacific paradise, posing in a very high-cut black swimsuit

Looking good: Montana enjoyed an idyllic trip to the resort with fellow Love Island pal Georgia Harrison

The barely-there one-piece, which also showcased a liberal amount of sideboob, highlighted her perfectly toned rear.

The playful beauty captioned her post: 'Tropic like it's hot... Get me back to the Maldives.

Another sizzling snapshot showed off her long legs, with the star joking in the caption, 'Roses are red, Violets are blue I'm in the Maldives, I bet you wish you were too'.

Her posts were met with mass praise from her fans, who enthused, 'looking amazing', 'girl crushing right now' and 'booty envy'

Montana was joined by her pal Georgia Harrison as she soaked up the sun, showing off her sizzling figure in a range of skimpy swimwear on Instagram.

The reality star set pulses racing in a neon yellow one-piece as she shot the camera a sultry glance before going on to have some fun with Georgia.

Sizzling: Over the weekend, Montana set pulses racing in a neon yellow one-piece

Montana, who was primped and preened to perfection, sent temperatures soaring in the sensational swimwear as she relaxed.

She cheekily captioned the snap: 'When bae thinks he is winning the argument.... then you win Tag your bae ladies and gents lashes by the lovely @darlingbeauty.'

The brunette was then joined by her blonde bombshell pal and the twosome looked in their element as they danced up a storm.

Montana switched things up in a minuscule white bikini, which displayed her enviable abs, and accessorised with a stylish choker.

Gorgeous girls: The Love Island star was then joined by pal Georgia Harrison and the twosome looked in their element as they danced up a storm

Sensational: Montana switched things up in a minuscule white bikini, which displayed her enviable abs, and accessorised with a stylish choker

Georgia, who held onto the camera, wore a similar bikini and opted for a purple cover-up below.

Montana seems to be relishing her time abroad as she showcased her incredible bikini body last week.

Montana, who has recently become ambassador for Pretty Little Thing and has become an MTV news presenter, was no doubt relishing her time off.

Meanwhile back in the UK, her ex-boyfriend Alex Beattie revealed he got a hair transplant after admitting he had been 'extremely insecure' about his hairline for years.

The personal trainer revealed his bloodied hairline after the surgery, which was later bandaged up and left him with a 'swollen head'.

Alex's decision comes after his ex Montana - who he dated for several weeks after they met in the Love Island villa in June - condemned the need for surgery.

She is a firm believer of being 'happy in your own skin' and has slammed those who turn to cosmetic surgery to alter their image.

Ouch! Meanwhile back in the UK, her ex-boyfriend Alex Beattie got a hair transplant after admitting he had been 'extremely insecure' about his hairline for 'years'

Oh dear: The personal trainer revealed his bloodied hairline after the surgery, which was later bandaged up and left him with a 'swollen head'

Bucking the trend that has seen a slew of reality stars go under the knife, the reality star has exclusively told MailOnline that she thinks turning to surgery is 'just not good' and sets a bad example for younger fans.

She said: 'I just think it's not good - especially as quite a lot of us have quite a young following, so people who are under 18. People look up to you and want to copy what you do.

'As soon as you start promoting that, it kind of encourages young people to want to do that and the first thing shouldn't be to change yourself. You should be happy in your own skin without having to get surgery.'

The starlet insisted that everybody has 'pros and cons' when it comes to themselves and it is better to realise and accept that.

She continued: 'I've got small boobs but a big bum. Some people may have really nice hair, but they might hate their legs. Everyone has got their negatives.
It was previously reported that their family dog had been run over - just days after Ewan McGregor reportedly 'split' from his wife Eve Mavrakis.

And amid the heartache, the Hollywood star's wife of 22 years was seen visiting the vets in Los Angeles alongside the couple's youngest daughter Anouk, seven.

Eve - who also raises children Clara, 21, Jamyan, 16, and Esther, 15, with the Trainspotting star - put on a brave face for the outing as she headed into the surgery on Monday.

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Stepping out: Ewan McGregor's wife Eve Mavrakis - who raises children Clara, 21, Jamyan, 16, Esther, 15, and Anouk, seven, with the Trainspotting star - put on a brave face for the outing as she headed into the vets surgery in LA on Tuesday

The brunette was casually clad in a patterned T-shirt and cropped white trousers.

She kept her ring finger hidden, clutching her denim jacket close to her side.

The production designer, 51 took to Instagram on Monday to reveal that the dog Sid is under the care of vets after being hit by a car.

Sad news: The production designer, 51 took to Instagram on Monday to reveal that the dog Sid is under the care of vets after being hit by a car

Low profile: She kept her ring finger hidden, clutching her denim jacket close to her side

She wrote: 'Poor little Sid was run over Thursday.

'He has been taken great care of @vcaanimalmedicalcenter but is still fighting for his life.'

This comes as Ewan was reportedly spotted kissing his Fargo co-star Mary Elizabeth Winstead in a London restaurant.

Family pet: Their dog has been left fighting for its life after being run over (McGregor pictured with Sid above)

Ewan reportedly separated from the French brunette in May - while Mary announced her split from her husband Riley Stearns in the same month.

During her outing, which comes as it was reported the couple have been living apart for some time, Eve wore a large grey sweater with red and white patterns on the sleeves.

She kept things casual with a pair of jeans and a simple black shoulder bag as she was spotted deep in conversation on the phone.

Sadness: Eve took took to Instagram over the weekend to reveal that Sid was under the car of the vets after being hit by a car

Separated: The 46-year-old actor reportedly separated from French production designer Eve in May, months before pictures of the actor kissing Fargo co-star Elisabeth Winstead in a London restaurant emerged (the couple are pictured in April)

On Sunday, Eve kept under the radar in a bucket hat and dark sunglasses as she ventured out for a hike in the Santa Monica Mountains. The mother-of-four donned a white shirt and grey shorts for the hot Southern Californian day.

Ewan and Eve met on the set of court drama Kavanagh QC in 1995, shortly before the Scottish star's portrayal of heroin addict Mark Renton in Danny Boyle's Trainspotting won him international acclaim.

Speaking to the Graham Norton show in 2012, McGregor admitted he had slept with 'many, many women' prior to meeting his wife.

He explained: 'I knew right then that I really wanted to be with her and I knew I wanted to be with her in a different way to all the other many, many, many women I had been with up until that point. And I wasnt wrong. I made the right choice.'

The couple married in 1995 before relocating to Los Angeles, where they raised four daughters, including a child adopted from Mongolia.

McGregor has always denied rumours of romantic attachments outside marriage.

In 2001, he dismissed talk of an affair with Nicole Kidman, his co-star on Moulin Rouge!

And in 2010, there were more unkind rumours of a relationship with French actress Melanie Laurent, his co-star on the film Beginners.

MailOnline has contacted a representative for further comment.

Old times: The couple met on the set of court drama Kavanagh QC in 1995, shortly before the Scottish star's portrayal of hopeless junkie Mark Renton in Danny Boyle's Trainspotting won him international acclaim (pictured in 1998)

McGregor appears to be seen kissing his Fargo co-star Mary Elizabeth in images obtained by The Sun.

The pair, who filmed a racy nude love scene in a bath for their on-screen romance in the most recent series of the show, were reportedly seen getting close during a meeting at The Good Life Eatery in London's St. John's Wood.

The father-of-four closed his eyes as he leaned in to share the intimate moment with Mary, 32, as sources told the publication they were 'relaxed in each other's company'.

Ewan smiled as Mary, who plays his sexy love interest Nikki Swango in the FX Network crime drama, took his face in both of her hands before going in for a kiss, in The Sun's images.

Hitting the red carpet: McGregor and Winstead, who filmed a racy nude love scene in a bath for their on-screen romance in the most recent series of the show, were reportedly seen at The Good Life Eatery in London's St. John's Wood

Co-stars: Married Ewan McGregor was said to be spotted kissing his Fargo co-star Mary Elizabeth Winstead (pictured while filming Fargo in Canada), in images obtained by The Sun

Sources revealed the father of four daughters didn't seem too worried about privacy as they dined together on the busy high street.

Onlookers told The Sun: 'Ewan and Mary Elizabeth were there together and seemed relaxed in each other's company. The cafe was really busy with people coming in and out the whole time...

'They were deep in conversation and were there together for more than an hour. As they left he got on to the back of Ewan's motorbike and they sped off together'.

Married: Ewan wed Eve 22 years ago (pictured at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2003)

Ewan and Mary's sighting comes four months after Mary split from her husband of seven years, Riley Stearns.

Sharing a photo of her kissing her Texan film director ex on the cheek on Instagram in May, the actress wrote in the caption: 'We've decided to move on from our marriage, but we will stay best friends and collaborators for all our days.'

'We are still ride or die, just in a different way now. I love you always, Riley.'

'Sitting here with my best friend who I love with all my heart. We have spent our lives together and it has been full of joy and warmth every day.'

Meanwhile, Riley, who Mary met aged 18 on an ocean cruise, shared the same photo on his Instagram with an equally touching tribute which said: 'I'll always love you, Mary.'

Ewan and Mary's smooch comes four months after Mary, 32, split from her husband of seven years, Riley Stearns (both pictured)

Trainspotting star Ewan plays two brothers, Emmit and Ray Stussey in the latest series of Fargo.

The latter falls in love with Nikki before they plot to take revenge on his wealthy businessman brother.

The first episode of the third series, which aired in April, sees the loved-up duo Nikki and Ray kissing and cuddling while naked in a bath together.
She was discovered at the tender age of 14 and has since featured in Vogue as well as walking the runway for Chanel and Christian Dior.

So it's no wonder Jaime King shone as she stormed the runway at Paper Magazine's Young Legends benefit for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Hollywood.

The 38-year-old actress looked showstopping as she flaunted her statuesque figure in a dazzling red sequin trouser suit and towering silver platforms on Tuesday.

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Red hot! Model Jaime commanded just as much attention as Paris, as she later hit the runway in an all-over sequin suit

Making the look more quirky, the matching jacket was adorned with traditional tweed shoulders, to break up the glitzy look.

Keeping all eyes on her show-stopping outfit, the mother-of-one left her hair in its every day style, and added a thick slick of red lipstick to co-ordinate her suit.

Adding towering metallic heels in a glamorous finishing touch, Jaime was the picture of confidence as she strutted down the runway with a number of kids the charity supports.

The actress happily laughed and chatted with her young partner, dressed in a glittering black gown, before the duo stole the show by blowing a kiss to crowds at the end of the catwalk.

Natural: Keeping all eyes on her show-stopping outfit, the mother-of-one left her hair in its every day style

Suits you: The 38-year-old showed off her famously statuesque figure in the glittering ensemble - featuring retro flares that skimmed her long legs to the floor

Chic: She also added a thick slick of red lipstick as she took to the runway with an adorable young girl

Joining Jamie was Paris Hilton, who was a real treat for the eyes as she hit the catwalk in a giant pink bow dress.

The hotel heiress, 36, slipped into a magnificent Christian Cowan gown at she hit the runway.

With a bow bigger than the heiress herself, the star looked more than confident with her style statement as she fiercely pounded the catwalk.

Paris stood out from the crowds in the dress, which tightly clung to her slender figure and waist underneath the bold bow.

Plaid's cool: Making the look more quirky, the matching jacket was adorned with traditional tweed shoulders, to break up the glitzy look

Leading lady: Adding towering metallic heels in a glamorous finishing touch, Jaime was the picture of confidence as she strutted down the runway with a sweet young girl

Pucker up! The actress happily laughed and chatted with her young partner, dressed in a glittering black gown, before the duo stole the show by blowing a kiss to crowds

We did it! The duo sweetly high-fived after their appearance

Keeping co-ordinated from head to toe, the stunner tied the look together with simple pink court shoes, which she strutted down the runway in with ease.

In glamorous finishing touches, Paris accessorised with a bejewelled silver tiara and matching glittering choker.

After the show, Paris was quick to express her admiration for the charity, who help brighten the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses.

Pressie: Paris Hilton was a gift for the eyes in a giant pink bow dress as she hit the catwalk

Gifted: The hotel heiress rocked a magnificent Christian Cowan gown at the benefit

Gorgeous: The blonde stunner finished the fab look in pink heels and a matching bejeweled tiara and choker

'I have been supporting Make A Wish Foundation for a very long time,' the 36-year-old told DailyMail.com exclusively from the event.

'I love the work they do bringing so much happiness to children and their families in times of need.

'I love spending time with them, such a special feeling to see the smiles on their faces,' she added. 'Melts my heart.

Nicked: Lele Pons borrowed one of Paris's dresses for the night

Something borrowed: It was the Cowan-designed silver sequinned bridal gown which Paris unveiled at New York Fashion Week earlier this year

'It's so important to give back. Happy to be here tonight to support this wonderful cause.'

Paris was just one of many famous faces at the event, including Lele Pons, Jane The Virgin's Jenna Ortega and ANTM's India Gants, as well as Cowan himself.

Lele actually wore the Cowan-designed silver sequinned bridal gown which Paris unveiled at New York Fashion Week earlier this year.

Support: Paris was just one of a number of famous faces, including Jaime King, Jane The Virgin's Jenna Ortega and ANTM's India Gants, as well as Cowan himself

Good cause: 'I have been supporting Make A Wish Foundation for a very long time,' the 36-year-old told DailyMail.com exclusively from the event. 'I love the work they do bringing so much happiness to children and their families in times of need

Touched: 'I love spending time with them, such a special feeling to see the smiles on their faces,' she added. 'Melts my heart'

The former Simple Life star had arrived at the event in a more demure black dress, with sheer lace detailing across the shoulders and a sexy thigh-high split.

The US charity has been granting once in a lifetime experiences to thousands of seriously ill children around the world for almost four decades now.

Professional wrestler John Cena holds the title for the most wishes granted by a single individual, with over 500 wishes, while Justin Bieber has volunteered in over 250 wishes.

Arrivals: The former Simple Life star had arrived at the event in a not-quite-as-loud svelte black dress with sheer lace detailing on the shoulder

Supporter: The US charity has been granting once in a lifetime experiences to thousands of seriously ill children around the world for almost four decades now

Meanwhile, Jaime perfected yet another outlandish look as she departed the philanthropic proceedings.

Proving there's no style she can't pull off, the lithe beauty wowed in a show-stopping red jumpsuit, which was emblazoned with a yellow, floral motif.

The vibrant number was encrusted with sequins for some added pizzazz, while a large flower feature was perched on her shoulder.

Eccentric: Jaime perfected yet another outlandish look as she departed the philanthropic proceedings

Bold: Proving there's no style she can't pull off, the lithe beauty wowed in a show-stopping red jumpsuit, which was emblazoned with a yellow, floral motif
She has kept quiet in the wake of her split from Stephen Bear last week.

Now Charlotte Crosby has hit back at claims he cheated on her, yet admitted the star 'may as well have' amid reports that he kissed a clubgoer just two days after ending their relationship.

As the 27-year-old reality starlet reunited with her Geordie Shore castmates for the wrap party at Madame Koo's in Newcastle on Tuesday night, she spoke about her former flame during a chat with Nathan Henry.

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Hitting back: She has kept quiet in the wake of her split from Stephen Bear two weeks ago. Now Charlotte Crosby has hit back at claims he cheated on her

Staggering down the street with her pal after their night out, Charlotte is seen on his snapchat video tucking into some post-boozing snacks as Nathan hollers: 'Why would anybody in this world cheat on her?'

Quick to defend her ex, Charlotte insisted: 'No, he didn't cheat',' whilst Nathan shot back: 'well he did'.

Seeming reflective on the whole incident, Charlotte conceded: 'Right, well he might as well have cheated,' before agreeing with Nathan's sentiments that she would 'never be his again'.

Reunited: The 27-year-old reality starlet reunited with her Geordie Shore castmates for the wrap party at Madame Koo's in Newcastle on Tuesday night (pictured with Sophie Kasaei, Holly Hagan, Chloe Ferry)

Off again: Stephen Bear was alleged to have cheated on Charlotte Crosby but she insisted that this was not the case, yet quipped that he 'may as well have'

A night out with her former co-star seemed to cheer Charlotte up to no end, marking her return to the series after quitting in June 2016 when she admitted she could no longer work alongside her ex Gary 'Gaz' Beadle.

Speaking about her decision to leave the popular show, which catapulted her to fame, she told Daily Mail Australia: 'It's probably the best decision Ive made in my life.'

A few days before the Geordie lass took to social media to vent about the problems she had on the show.

Glamorous: Charlotte looked sensational on the outing, slipping her hourglass curves into a plunging black jumpsuit with risque cut away detailing

Legs eleven! Clinging to her enviable physique, the garment ensured all eyes would be on her, whilst her barely-there black heels aided in boosting her petite frame

She wrote: ''When you realise you made what seems like the worst decision of your life.....I've lost my family....my life. Cast and CREW [sic].'

Gaz quit the show this series as he is expecting his first child with Emma McVey and wants to focus on fatherhood.

Despite Charlotte and Holly's surprise return, a source told MailOnline the move is not permanent.

Reunited: Charlotte, Sophie, Holly and Chloe cuddled up to each other as they partied together for the evening having been reunited for the first time in a year

Loving life: The girls were in excellent spirits as they pulled their best moves in the club

Reunited: The Geordie Shore family snuggled up to each other to pose for snaps on the night

Charlotte looked sensational on the outing, slipping her hourglass curves into a plunging black jumpsuit with risque cut away detailing.

Clinging to her enviable physique, the garment ensured all eyes would be on her, whilst her barely-there black heels aided in boosting her petite frame.

Holly also sizzled on the night as she put on an incredibly busty display in a plunging black crop top that she teamed with snake print flared trousers.

Sss-exy! Holly also sizzled on the night as she put on an incredibly busty display in a plunging black crop top that she teamed with snake print flared trousers

It takes two: Charlotte and Holly went hand in hand as they headed out together. The best friends looked delighted to have reunited on the show where they first met

Competition: The pair seemed to be competing to show off the most flesh and ensured all eyes would be firmly on them as they headed into the nightclub

Laugh a minute: The pair could not contain their giggles as they held onto one each other and sashayed down the street arm in arm

Charlotte's night out was no doubt a welcome distraction from the war-of-words she has been embroiled in since splitting with Bear last week.

And Bear and Charlotte's relationship will only grow more confusing following her claims that he cheated on her with a clubgoer two days after their split, yet he insists the move is not infidelity as they had already split.

Yasmin Wells, the 22-year-old at the centre of the row, has spoken to The Sun about the ongoing saga, as she insists they did not kiss yet confessed he made a move on her and claimed he had split from the Geordie Shore star two weeks previously.

Three of a kind: Abbie Holborn and Sophie Kasaei sandwiched the Geordie Shore newbie Stephanie Snowdon as they posed for pictures together on the night

Bit of all white! Abbie Holborn showed off her trademark tan in a tight white vest top whilst Stephanie Snowdon highlighted her long legs in tight cream jeans

Cosy couple: Chloe Ferry stayed close to show newbie Sam Gowland amid rumours she is now dating the Love Island star. The pair have been spotted looking very cosy together

Pretty in prints: Chloe cut a stylish figure in a leopard print polka dot mini dress that she teamed with barely-there nude heels and a small black handbag

It takes two! Charlotte reunited with her former co-star Chloe Ferry on the night out

Loving life: The group cosied up to each other as they headed out of the nightclub hand in hand and made their way back to the house

Looking good: Sophie lead the way as she showed off her staggering weight loss

Bear and Charlotte's turbulent relationship came to an end this month as they split again. And while he was accused of cheating on Charlotte, both 27, when he was seen kissing another woman, his family hit back.

Now Yasmin has hit out, as she told the publication: 'I met Bear at Faces  I was out celebrating my 22nd birthday with my friends. He turned up around 10.30pm with his mates and came up to me and asked: "Whats your name?"

'I did not kiss him  and Im definitely not dating him. Hes much too in the public eye for me  my phones been going off all day and its been driving me mad'.

Of him chatting to other girls about their split, she weighed in: '(It's not really right, no), but some of my friends spoke to him and said he wasn't with Charlotte, apparently they havent been together for about a week.'

Defence: Yasmin Wells, the 22-year-old at the centre of the row insists she did not kiss Bear yet confessed he made a move on her and claimed he had split from Charlotte star two weeks prior

On Snapchat on Tuesday, Bear's brother Danny filmed his wife looking at her phone as she remarked: 'Stephens cheating on Charlotte apparently.'

Danny responded: 'What I wanna know is, how can you cheat on someone when youre not with them? And you dumped them days ago. Last time I checked that werent cheating. Anyway. True.'

Meanwhile, Bear's sister-in-law Cassie also defended the CBB winner on Twitter, replying to fans: 'P****s, they werent even together - he finished with her 4 days ago.

She added to another follower: 'Its not taking sides wally - its fact. He dumped her days ago. Pure and simple - hed had enough love.'

Speaking out: Taking to Snapchat on Tuesday, Bear's brother Danny filmed his wife looking at her phone as she remarked: 'Stephens cheating on Charlotte apparently'

Charlotte and Bear split on Friday after a turbulent relationship, with Charlotte accusing her former beau of kissing another girl in a nightclub in a barrage of angry tweets.

Bear since demanded an apology from fans who accused him of infidelities, claiming that since they had already split up he had done nothing wrong.

The 27-year-old reality star made the declaration in a scathing Snapchat video, declaring that he was free to do what he wanted after being the victim of a slew of angry messages from fans.

Nothing wrong: Bear,27, recently demanded an apology from fans who attacked him on after former beau Charlotte Crosby accused the star of cheating

The Celebrity Big Brother winner said: 'When you break up with someone, and you're not with them, you can do what you want, where you want because it's no one's business.

'Everyone's saying I've cheated, I'm the worst person in the world blah blah blah, but the facts are we're broken up for two days, after that, I can do what I want, I'm single.

'Lastly, there's two sides of every story. If I was together and I done something, granted it's a liberty.

'But it's not the case, you can ask her yourself, it's not the case. So I think I deserve an apology'

'A liberty: 'In a scathing Snapchat video, Bear explained that as he and Charlotte had already split up he had done nothing wrong

Fair: Bear added that there is 'two sides to every story' after he received a slew of abuse from fans who accused him of kissing another girl in a nightclub

'No one's business:' The Celebrity Big Brother noted that he was single when he was accused of infidelities and so could do what he pleased

Bitter: Bear put forward his side of the story after former beau Charlotte attacked the star in a slew of angry tweets on Sunday night

Charlotte and Bear were confirmed to have split on Sunday after a representative confirmed the pair had broken up last week.

The news of the split came hours after Charlotte launched an expletive Twitter rant at her former beau, accusing him of 'necking on' with another girl.

A representative for Bear said: 'I can confirm that sadly Stephen and Charlotte ended their relationship last week.

'The pair ended on good terms, and no one else was involved whatsoever.'

Charlotte launched a slew of tweets at her former beau on Sunday night, accusing him of kissing another girl just 48 hours after their split.

The former Geordie Shore star's first post simply said: 'WOW' leaving fans on tenterhooks as to what she had been shocked by.

What happened? A rep confirmed that the pair had parted on 'good terms' and there was 'no one else involved'

Furious: Charlotte launched a Twitter rant at her former beau on Sunday night, days after the pair reportedly split

Upset: Charlotte accused Bear of kissing another girl just 48 hours after they had broken up

Emotional: Charlotte stunned fans with her angry tweets, after splitting with Bear for the third time

Sad: Charlotte previously split from Bear in August, telling fans in an emotional Snapchat video, only for the pair to reunite hours later

Charlotte's second tweet came an hour later, and stated: 'I can't believe stuck by someone for so long...for it to take 48 hours for them to be necking on with someone in a club'

She continued with: 'In front of everyone' followed by applause emojis'

The last tweet stated 'When you try and tell everyone someone is different and you have their back through and through. And they go and prove you wrong.'

Turbulent: The pair have had a dramatic relationship since first getting together in February

Genuine: Charlotte expressed her heartbreak at the split on social media

Charlotte previously announced that Bear had dumped her back in August in an emotional Snapchat video.

In the video she stated: 'I love Stephen so much but when someone is so selfish to always put themselves first not even care about the little things that you ask them to do that are so important to you it just makes you question whether they care at all.

'I've been so upset today and I've been so upset for a little while and I wish I could tell yous why but I just don't think he cares as much as I do'

Suffering: Charlotte accused Bear of kissing another girl hours after their breakup

Just hours later Charlotte claimed had been a 'drunken d**k' and insisted they were still together.

One week after this first breakup, Bear then announced that the pair had parted in a tweet, saying: 'Sadly me and Charlotte have split up. We have had a good run but we wasn't right for each other (sic).'

Fans were left baffled about the pair's relationship status, but Charlotte and Bear confirmed that they were still together earlier this month.

A representative for Charlotte has been contacted for comment

For good? After the couples first breakup, Bear reportedly dumped Charlotte for the second time on Twitter, only for the pair to reunite again

Over it? Bear did not seem fazed by his recent break-up after enjoying a night out in Faces nightclub in Essex on Saturday night

All good! Bear gave a thumbs-up to the camera to tell fans he was doing well
With an estimated net worth of 100 million, it's safe to say he can afford the finer things in life.

So it's no surprise Charles Saatchi opted to enjoy a spot of lunch at one of London's most opulent eateries as he dined at Scott's restaurant alongside his daughter Phoebe over the weekend.

The duo's lavish meal unsurprisingly looked to leave them in high spirits as they exited the restaurant with stretching smiles.

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Charles Saatchi enjoyed a spot of lunch at one of London's most opulent eateries as he dined at Scott's restaurant alongside his daughter Phoebe over the weekend

Cutting a chic figure for her pricey lunch date, Phoebe, 23, was clad in a black trench coat, beneath which she donned a mid-length polka dot dress.

She teamed the sophisticated pairing with white trainers and kept her face free of make-up, simply tying her brunette tresses into an effortless top knot.

The father-daughter duo didn't look short of conversation as they chatted incessantly while puffing on cigarettes outside of the restaurant.

Scott's is known for being somewhat of a second home for Charles, who has also been pictured eating at the restaurant with girlfriend Trinny woodall, 53, and ex-wife Nigella Lawson, 57.

Lots to talk about! The father-daughter duo didn't look short of conversation as they chatted incessantly while puffing on cigarettes outside of the restaurant

Blast from the past: Phoebe with former step-mother Nigella Lawson and the celebrity chef's two children Cosima and Bruno in October 2004

Charles welcomed Phoebe - his only child - with his second wife Kay Saatchi, 64, in 1994.

The businessman married the American art curator and collector in 1990, before divorcing in 2001.

Their creative flair certainly seems to have rubbed off on Phoebe, who has already co-founded her own clothing line alongside boyfriend Arthur Yates.

Marriage no. 2: Charles welcomed Phoebe - his only child - with his second wife Kay Saatchi, 64, in 1994

The pair formed London-based fashion label Bruta in 2015, with the line boasting Liberty and Dover Street Market among its stockists.

As well as Kay, multi-millionaire Charles lists American art enthusiast Doris Lockhart among his former wives, with their marriage spanning between the years of 1973 and 1990.

His most famous spouse was arguably celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, though the pair endured a bitter divorce in 2013 after 10 years of marriage.

It's over: Charles and Nigella split in 2013 after ten years of marriage
Jeremy McConnell has been filmed partying in a hotel room next to suspicious white powder before laughing at a host of horrific jokes made by his friends.

The 27-year-old reality star - who is currently in Cardiff carrying out his community service - shared a Snapchat video on Tuesday evening in which he showed the mysterious powder presented in lines on the table.

In other shocking moments, the former CBB star - who was recently charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend Stephanie Davis - was overheard laughing at jokes made by his friends regarding the mass Las Vegas shooting this month, and even his dead mother.

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Shocking: Jeremy McConnell has been filmed partying in a hotel room next to suspicious white powder before laughing at a host of horrific jokes made by his friends

Trying times: Jeremy, 27 - who is currently in Cardiff carrying out community service - shared a Snapchat on Tuesday which showed the mysterious powder in three lines on the table (top picture)

Jeremy - who attended rehab in April for drink and drug addiction - was seen partying next to the powder as well as empty bottles and glasses.

The image was captioned 'Swear to god mate, 4 trains'. The term 'c-train' is slang for the drug cocaine.

According to the government's guidelines, any misbehaviour while a criminal is carrying out community service could see them being given a warning or sent back to court.

The Mirror then reports that in footage shot the next morning, the former Beauty School Cop Outs star laughs at an impression of his dead mother.

Recovering addict: Jeremy - who attended rehab in April for drink and drug addiction - was seen partying next to the powder as well as empty bottles with a friend in his hotel room

Bad to worse: The Mirror reports that in footage shot the next morning, the Beauty School Cop Outs star laughs at an impression of his dead mother (footage from the night before above)

His friend covers himself in a sheet and pretends to be a ghost as he calls out: 'Jeremy, it's your mother speaking... I'm back from the dead! It's your family back from the dead.'

Jeremy's friend then aims a vodka bottle out of their hotel window at the streets below to mimic a rifle whilst making machine gun sound effects.

The scenes were shockingly similar to the the recent Las Vegas shooting this month that saw Stephen Paddock kill 58 and maim 546 other people with semi-automatic rifles from the window of the Mandalay Bay hotel.

Shocking: Jeremy's friend aims a vodka bottle out of their hotel window (above) at the streets below to mimic a rifle whilst making machine gun sound effects

Imitation: The scenes aired on his Snapchat (above) were shockingly similar to the the recent Las Vegas shooting this month, which saw 58 killed and 546 injured by a semi-automatic rifle

Not fazed by the actions, Jeremy is overheard laughing at the imitation.

Jeremy's representatives declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

Jeremy's shock footage came after he threw a raucous party in his Cardiff hotel room in the midst of his community service in the Welsh city.

The reality star - who is currently completing the 200 hours of unpaid work for assaulting Stephanie - enjoyed a booze-fuelled night and even documented the evening on his Snapchat.

Traumatised: Former Hollyoaks star Steph, 24, (above) was bruised on her arms and head, bitten on her arm and said she feared for her life

In one clip, the Dublin native sang along to music in a pub, while one of Jeremy's three pals - one man and two women - shared footage of their party once back in the room.

The foursome - including his rumoured new squeeze Demi-Leigh - were filmed ordering a number of bottles of wine from the hotel's room service.

Jeremy is in Cardiff doing 200 hours of unpaid work, after he was convicted of throwing his then pregnant girlfriend Steph 'around like a rag doll' leaving her shaken, battered and bruised on March 9.

Former Hollyoaks star Steph, 24, was bruised on her arms and head, bitten on her arm and said she feared for her life.

Her victim impact statement read at Liverpool JPs' court, said: 'I feel a nervous wreck, like I'm drowning.'

Family: He and Stephanie share a son together, Caben-Albi

Guilty: Jeremy was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work, after he was convicted of throwing his then pregnant girlfriend Steph (above) 'around like a rag doll' on March 9

McConnell denied the attack in St Helens, Merseyside, after suspecting Steph of a lesbian affair and fling with a fireman.

He narrowly avoided jail, as the judge slammed him for showing 'no remorse', despite attacking Steph while she held their baby son Caben-Albi in her arms.

Last week, friends of the star said he was taking his community service seriously and is using it as a turning point in his life.

Prior to the assault, Jeremy had spent time at Smarmore Castle, a private rehab clinic in Ireland, to be treated for 'chemical dependency' and battle his addiction with substance abuse.

In April, Jeremy had posted a message his Instagram, revealing he was going to rehab and finally seeking help for the sake of himself and his family, after 'falling into a downward spiral' of drink and drugs.
The former Bachelorette star's beloved mother died on October 26, 2016 after a six month battle with pancreatic cancer.

And 12 months on, Georgia Love is preparing to mark her mum Belinda Love's death anniversary with a special event with family and friends.

The 29-year-old opened up to The Daily Telegraph the week, revealing: 'It has been the hardest year of my life.'

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'It has been the hardest year of my life': Former Bachelorette Georgia Love reveals how she will honour her mother Belinda 12 months after she died of pancreatic cancer

The former Bachelorette star's beloved mother Belinda Love (pictured) died on October 26, 2016 after a six month battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 60

Belinda Love, who worked as a nurse, passed away at the age of 60.

Georgia said she will likely be surrounded by family and friends, as they gather in the backyard drinking her mother's favourite cocktail.

'I am going to have a really quiet day. She passed away overnight, so the next day we spent the day in the sun with family and friends coming and going and drinking Aperol Spritz, her favourite drink, so we'll probably do that again,' the TV journalist said.

'We'll probably do that again': Georgia said she's likely to repeat last year's gathering, where family and friends drank her mother's favourite cocktail, Aperol Spritz, in the sunny backyard for a 'quiet' get-together

Taking to Instagram the week after the sad news was reported, Georgia told fans her heart was 'utterly broken' adding: '7 weeks ago we were sipping cocktails in Italy. 7 months ago you weren't even sick. How is it possible you're no longer here?'

'There is so much more I need and want to share with you... I have no idea how to even begin to say goodbye,' she wrote at the time.

Georgia's mother died shortly after her relationship with Bachelorette 'winner' Lee Elliot, 36, became public.

'It was amazing to see how much he perked her up': She gushed about witnessing Lee 'perk up' her ill mother, who was battling aggressive pancreatic cancer in palliative care at the time

She opened up about the first time she introduced Lee to her mum at her hospital bedside in an interview with TV Week last October.

She gushed about witnessing Lee 'perk up' her ill mother, who was battling aggressive pancreatic cancer in palliative care at the time.

'It was amazing to see how much he perked her up,' she said, adding: 'She was sitting up talking and laughing with him, which she hadn't been able to do all day.'

Lee also revealed in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, he met Georgia's mother for the first time in hospital straight after the finale aired and received the seal of approval from her.

It's understood Belinda insisting Lee was her pick to win, joking: 'You were my favourite and that's why I didn't think Georgia would choose you.'

'You were my favourite': Lee also revealed in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, he met Georgia's mother for the first time in hospital straight after the finale aired and received the seal of approval from her

Appearing via video link: Belinda was receiving chemotherapy while Georgia filmed season two of the popular reality series. The treatment meant that Belinda would appear on the show via video link as she was too ill to travel

Belinda was receiving chemotherapy while Georgia filmed season two of the popular reality series.

The treatment meant that Belinda appeared on later episodes of the show via video link as she was too ill to travel.

Georgia, who often spoke fondly of her mother on the show, described her as: 'My first friend and my best friend, my rock, the one who knew me better than anyone in the world.'
He's know for playing Falcon in the highly successful Marvel franchise.

And while doing the publicity rounds in Australia, actor Anthony Mackie explained he was grateful for the high-profile gig as it afforded him opportunities to work on projects that matter more to him.

Speaking to Thursday's Daily Telegraph, the 39-year-old confessed his Marvel gig meant that he could work on new film Detroit, which shines a light on racism.

Bigger things: Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Thursday, Anthony Mackie (pictured) said he was grateful that his Marvel role afforded him the opportunity to tackle more serious issues

'Once you get into one of those universes, it just feeds you and allows you other opportunities you usually wouldn't be garnered if you weren't in this universe,' he told the publication.

He added that his latest role in Detroit, which follows the 1967 race riots is a case in point.

'Talking to [co-star] John [Boyega], he is in Star Wars and I am in Marvel, it gives us a certain amount of chips so to use those chips for a story like this, it is a worthwhile means to an end.'

'It gives us a certain amount of chips': Anthony said he was using his 'chips' gained from Marvel to work on Detroit, a movie that shines a light on racism

Will Poulter, who stars alongside Anthony in Detroit, said the movie was important as it sparked a conversation about racism issues that aren't that different to what can be seen in current times.

'If stories like this are still relevant 50 years on, it is clear not enough has been done,' he told The Daily Telegraph.

The actor, who portrays violent cop Krauss , also told AAP: 'It was hard not to remain aware of just how relevant it was while we were making it.'

'It is clear not enough has been done': Detroit star Will Poulter (pictured) said it was problematic that the movie's themes were still relevant 50 years on

The Kathryn Bigelow-directed film tells the story of the Algiers Motel incident during the city's famous 12th Street Riot in 1967.

During the infamous incident at the motel, several innocent black men were murdered by police, who later escaped any punishment over the crime.

Its release comes at a particularly poignant time, given the number of protests in the US, which condemn police brutality against people of colour.
The second series of Our Girl is currently underway.

And Michelle Keegan was counting down to the new episode of the BBC war drama which aired on Tuesday night, taking to her Instagram account to share a short clip of the cast hanging out in between takes.

The 30-year-old actress can be seen in character as Corporate Georgie Lane, wearing her army fatigues.

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Cheeky: Michelle Keegan was counting down to the new episode of Our Girl which aired on Tuesday night, taking to her Instagram account to share a short clip of the cast hanging out in between takes

Michelle flashes a cheeky peace sign and sticks her tongue out as the camera pans over her.

The former Coronation Street actress captioned the snapshot: 'The calm before the storm!!! @bbcone 9pm #ourgirl'.

On this week's episode, Michelle sent fans wild with her on-screen chemistry with hunky Luke Pasqualino, leaving viewers urging their one-time engaged characters to reunite.

Swarming Twitter, users were lauding the actors for their performances, yet also begging their characters, Corporal Georgie Lane and Elvis, to reunite despite him leaving her at the altar in the last series.

Hot stuff! Michelle sent fans wild with her on-screen chemistry with hunky Luke Pasqualino, leaving viewers urging their one-time engaged characters to reunite

Social media video: The 30-year-old actress can be seen in character as Corporate Georgie Lane, wearing her army fatigues

Behind-the-scenes: The former Coronation Street actress captioned the snapshot: 'The calm before the storm!!! @bbcone 9pm #ourgirl'

Michelle and her co-stars have faced some harsh criticism of the new series, despite the second winning huge praise from viewers and critics alike.

Last week's episode was met with a tepid response as fans took to Twitter to voice concern that the quality of the BBC show has plummeted, with users branding the programme 'disappointing and shocking'.

The storyline to infuriate viewers saw Corporal Georgie find love with new character Milan, played by Rudi Dhamralingam - shortly before return of her ex - Elvis.

Yet now, fans have moved on and are rooting for the duo to unite, with fans writing: 'the chemistry between Elvis and Georgie. What a lucky girl Masie was... Ooosh absolutely outstanding all of you! and that Elvis & Georgie chemistry amazing...

Tough times: Swarming Twitter, users were lauding the actors for their performances, yet also urging their characters, Corporal Georgie Lane and Elvis respectively, to reunite despite Elvis leaving her at the altar in the last series

'@lucapasqualino & @michkeegan chemistry is just off the charts... why cant Georgie & Elvis just work it out & be together #OurGirl...

'@michkeegan and @lucapasqualino make my Tuesday night race home from work to watch it oh dear #addicted #ourgirl...

'Elvis getting jealous & the little bust up him & Georgie had, the chemistry & acting is between @lucapasqualino @michkeegan #OurGirl...

Back and better than ever: Earlier in the month, Our Girl viewers lashed out at the long-awaited first episode of series three due to 'embarrassing' camerawork and Michelle's 'unrealistic' appearance

Impressed: Yet now, fans have moved on and are rooting for the duo to unite, with fans writing: 'the chemistry between Elvis and Georgie. What a lucky girl Masie was... Ooosh absolutely outstanding all of you! and that Elvis & Georgie chemistry amazing...

'Loving our girl tonight defo think Georgie @michkeegan should give elvis @lucapasqualino another chance nb#OurGirl... I love Our Girl @BBCOne. The amount of times I gasp and shout at the TV is unreal .

'Loving your work @michkeegan @lucapasqualino #OurGirl... What an amazing episode Georgie and Elvis just need to be together #OurGirl @lucapasqualino @michkeegan... Wow @michkeegan another fab episode!!!! Smashing it again..

'So hoping for a happy ending for georgie and elvis... How can anyone not be hopelessly in love with Elvis???? #ourgirl3 @lucapasqualino @michkeegan (exclude the whole wedding thing!)'

Oh dear: Last year, Our Girl's season two won huge praise from viewers and critics alike

Earlier in the month, Our Girl viewers lashed out at the long-awaited first episode due to 'embarrassing' camerawork and Michelle's 'unrealistic' appearance.

One scene in particular riled eagle-eyed viewers, who insisted the Nepalese earthquake was hugely unconvincing due to the fact the camera merely 'wobbled' while the rest stayed still.

Michelle came under fire for her famously stunning appearance as she was accused of 'wearing foundation, mascara & painted eyebrow' despite being on the field.

Fans remain purturbed as Twitter was swarmed with messages reading: 'This years #OurGirl is dog... This series of #OurGirl is disappointing... The acting and script of Our girl is absolutely shockingly s**te...

He's back! Fans were overjoyed to see the return of hunky Luke playing Elvis

'Its like grown up Tracey beaker with soldiers... Tried watching that program "our girl" absolute RUBBISH now mainly about a weak girl soldier wanting to get laid by a local. Story line s**t... The acting in #OurGirl is killing me #cringe...

'Dull as dishwater #OurGirl #bringbacklaceyturner... Not a fan of this series of #OurGirl... Another flat episode.... #OurGirl... Hoping for some spicing up action on #OurGirl. Its a little boring but still having hope it will get punchy soon!...

'Im sad to say it but this series of #OurGirl is like an after school kids programme #disappointed #normallylovemichellekeegan #stilldo... This series of our girl is absolutely shocking towards the last one...

'Our girl just isn't as good this time round... @BBC what have you done with our girl ..#ourgirl trash! Soo disappointed... This season is just dreadful #OurGirl...

'ur girl is so s**t this season ... #OurGirl cringe worthy ...no story, terrible acting ...What's gone wrong ????... @BBC what have you done with our girl ..#ourgirl trash! Soo disappointed... #OurGirl too much swearing and bad acting #dontlikeanymore'.'

Where's Elvis?! Many fans were left dismayed at the absense of Luke's character

Up close: Atop annoyance at the quality of the episode, fans were frustrated at Georgie's new relationship with Milan - who she was seen locking lips with on a number of occasions

Atop annoyance at the quality of the episode, fans were frustrated at Georgie's new relationship with Milan - who she was seen locking lips with on a number of occasions.

Avid fans were naturally keen to see Georgie return to Elvis' arms, in scenes leading up to the former Skins star's return, although Elvis fans were dismayed at how long it took for him to enter the episode.

Users wrote: georgie f**k sake man, sort your s**t out you and ELVIS are suppose to be together what the f**k man #OurGirl... #ourgirl series 3...absolute pants @bbcourgirl_ feel like I've gone back to the 70's but I still love Elvis. WHERE is he??

'#bringbackelvis... Been looking forward to Our Girl coming back on and Elvis isnt even in it... Only 19 minuets left... where the hell is Elvis?! #OurGirl... @lucapasqualino 41 minutes into #OurGirl and still no Elvis.'

Michelle won huge praise last year when she scooped the role of Lance Corporal Georgie Lane in the BBC drama, having taken over from Lacey Turner, who played Private Molly Dawes in 2013's series one.

Michelle's return to Our Girl comes after she admitted to having no choice but to star in season three as she had signed a contract before any confirmation of another installment.

Speaking on Nick Grimshaw's Radio 1 Show, she discussed the difficulty of seven months away from husband Mark Wright, while admitting she was forced to carry her seven and a half stone weight and suffering horrific bruising during stunts.

For any actress, the chance to star in such a successful drama is a dream, yet after signing the contract without knowledge of a new series or plans for a 12 episodes as opposed to series two's five, she was left with no choice but to reprise the role.

Back again: Users wrote: georgie f**k sake man, sort your s**t out you and ELVIS are suppose to be together what the f**k man #OurGirl... #ourgirl series 3...absolute pants @bbcourgirl_ feel like I've gone back to the 70's but I still love Elvis. WHERE is he?

She said: 'I wasn't 100% there would be another series but I signed the option for there to be another. Obviously the first time it was for five episodes but this time it was for 12 so it's overly doubled.

'I didn't know that at the time either. It's been a long, long filming schedule. I was away for three months last time and this time I was in South Africa for three months and then I had three weeks off then I was in Malaysia for three months.

'So over all I was away for seven months. It was a long time being away from home. I had to do it, the contract was signed. Book me a flight!'
He welcomed his fifth and sixth child in June of last year, and looks to be revelling in being a father to twins.

And Ronnie Wood looked every inch the doting dad as he was spotted leaving the George V Hotel, taking twins Gracie Jane and Alice Rose to the Rolling Stones concert at U Arena in Paris on Wednesday.

The musician, 70, and wife Sally Humphreys, 39, , proved to be a great team as they both carried a baby each.

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Proud pops! Ronnie Wood looked every inch the doting dad as he was spotted leaving the George V Hotel, taking twins Gracie Jane and Alice Rose to the Rolling Stones concert at U Arena in Paris on Wednesday

Dressed in a semi-sheer black top, Sally oozed understated elegance as she held little Gracie Jane, who looked adorable in a floral ensemble.

She was closely followed by Ronnie Wood, proudly holding up little Alice Rose who looked every inch her mini-me.

They smiled happily at photographers, before getting into their chauffeur-driven car.

Yummy mummy! The musician, 70, and Sally Humphreys, 39, proved to be a great team as they both carried a baby each

They were joined by fellow bandmember Keith Richards, 73, and his wife Patti Hansen, 61.

Blonde beauty Patti looked her usual glamorous self, and carried and adorable French bulldog as she exited the plush hotel.

Meanwhile Keith looked every inch the rockstar in a bandana and shades, posing up a storm for excited bystanders.

Chic: Dressed in a semi-sheer black top, Sally oozed understated elegance as she held little Gracie Jane, who looked adorable in a floral ensemble

The Rolling Stones No Filter tour kicked off in Germany in early September, with performance in a total of 12 cities.

The rock band have performed their favourite classics, which included tracks Gimme Shelter, Sympathy for the Devil and You Can't Always Get What You Want.

Blue & Lonesome, the group's latest album, was released in last December, as their 23rd British studio album.

Power couple! She was closely followed by Ronnie Wood, proudly holding up little Alice Rose who looked every inch her mini-me

Doting dad: He welcomed his fifth and sixth child in June of last year, and looks to be reveling in being a father to twins

Recorded in just three days, the album covers legendary songs from Buddy Johnson and Memphis Slim.

Proving he is a family man at heart, Ronnie is also making the most of the time with his family following his cancer scare in recent months.

Doctors diagnosed Ronnie with 'a supernova burning away on my left lung', leaving him with the fear he would have to bid farewell to his family.

Legends: They were joined by fellow bandmember Keith Richards, 73, and his wife Patti Hansen, 61

Sizzling! Blonde beauty Patti looked her usual glamorous self, and carried and adorable French bulldog as she exited the plush hotel while Keith looked every inch the rock star

He told Event Magazine: There was a week when everything hung in the balance and it could have been curtains  time to say goodbye.'

Ronnie is also father to Jesse, 40, whom he shares with his first wife Krissy. The former flames were married from 1971 to 1978.

The music legend shares daughter Leah, 39, as well as sons Tyrone, 34, and Jamie, 43, with his second wife Jo Wood, whom he was married to from 1985 to 2008.

Comeback! The Rolling Stones No Filter tour kicked off in Germany in early September, with performance in a total of 12 cities
He's an Academy Award-winning actor with a string of Hollywood hits to his name.

But Tommy Lee Jones took on the role of doting dad as he brought his daughter Victoria, 26, to the opening ceremony of the 30th annual Tokyo International Film Festival in Japan on Wednesday night.

The Fugitive star, 71 - who is also the face of a popular Japanese brand of coffee - attended the gala in his capacity as jury president for this year's event.

Father-daughter moment: Tommy Lee Jones brought his daughter Victoria, 26, to the opening ceremony of the 30th annual Tokyo International Film Festival in Japan on Wednesday night

The actor suited up in a black tuxedo, crisp white dress shirt and bow tie, looking every inch the dapper dude as he worked his magic on the red carpet.

Victoria looked darling in a knee-length black dress with a colorful pattern of pink and gold roses.

The pair were joined on the red carpet and on-stage at the venue by the panel of jurors.

They include Chinese actress-director Zhao Wei, 41, Iranian filmmaker Reza Mirkarimi, 50, French director-writer Martin Provost, 60, and Japanese actor Masatoshi Nagase, 51.

Suited and booted: The actor, 71, suited up in a black tuxedo, crisp white dress shirt and bow tie, looking every inch the dapper dude as he worked his magic on the red carpet

Pretty as a picture: Victoria looked darling in a knee-length black dress with a colorful pattern of pink and gold roses

'Personally, Japan is very dear to my heart  I feel at home here,' Tommy Lee said at the movie event.

'I am deeply proud to be a part of a film festival's jury.'

The event will open with Japanese fantasy film Full Metal Alchemist and close on November 3 with Al Gores An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power.

Tommy Lee shares his daughter, and son Austin, 35, with his second wife, Kimberlea Cloughley.

Inroducing his jury: Tommy Lee and Victoria (center) with (from left) Japanese actor Masatoshi Nagase, directors Martin Provost from France, China's Zhao Wei and Iranian Reza Mirkarimi

Moving on: The panel took the stage at the event's venue in Tokyo's Roppongi Hills complex

Surrounded by beauty: The Oscar winner stood between Victoria and actress/director Zhao Wei as they took the applause from the audience

Talented: The Fugitive star - who is also the face of a popular Japanese brand of coffee - attended the gala in his capacity as jury president for this year's event

The movie icon has been married to Dawn Laurest since 2001.

He can next be seen on the big screen in action comedy Just Getting Started with Morgan Freeman and Rene Russo, due out December 6.

Tommy Lee is also starring with Brad Pitt in space sci-fi thriller Ad Astra set for release on January 11, 2019.
The first season of Sky One hit Delicious won huge critical and commercial success, with an average audience of 1.87 million per episode.

So fans will undoubtedly be overjoyed to see Dawn French return for season two to reprise her role as Gina in the Cornwall-based tale of sex, love, betrayal and deceit, as she joined co-stars Emilia Fox and Sheila Hancock last week.

The 60-year-old, who plays Gina in the series, has ditched her funnywoman ways in the dramatic series, as she was seen glamming it up on set in a black leather jacket while typically-glam Emilia, 43, was more dowdy in a simple blue overcoat.

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Glamming it up: Dawn French return for season two to reprise her role as Gina in the Cornwall-based tale of sex, love, betrayal and deceit, as she joined co-stars Emilia Fox and Sheila Hancock last week

Dawn has ditched her trademark roles for a saucy scandal-filled show called Delicious, which first aired on Sky One last December.

The beloved star plays chef Gina, who was once married to Leo Vincent, played by Iain Glen, an entrepreneur, chef and hotel owner, with whom she shares a daughter.

As she returned to set, she looked chic as she sported a flirty polka dot dress with the overcoat, while her hair was perfectly coiffed and her make-up was flawless.

Emilia was looking more low-key in a cornflower blue coat paired with skinny jeans and a pair of brown suede ankle boots while she was naturally made-up.

Is that you? The 60-year-old, who plays Gina in the series, has ditched her funnywoman ways in the dramatic series, as she was seen glamming it up on set in a black leather jacket while typically-glam Emilia, 43, was more dowdy in a simple blue overcoat

Out in force: The stars of the show were gathering in what appeared to be the exterior of a church

Smartened up: Also on-set was Jonathan Jaynes, who plays Clyde Palmer in the four-part drama, as he was dressed in an all-black look complete with a suit and fedora

Also on-set was Jonathan Jaynes, who plays Clyde Palmer in the four-part drama, as he was dressed in an all-black look complete with a suit and fedora.

Dawn previously spoke of her steamy on-screen antics: 'I've done comedy sex before but nothing serious. And I can't say I didn't enjoy it. It felt kind of illegal, a very naughty thing to do. It's not every day you find yourself in bed with Iain Glen, is it?'

She described her 'love of snogging' while conceding that her interest in sex has not waned with age. 'I'm in my late 50s and, despite what the younger generation might think, we do still have an interest in sex.'

The drama sees Dawn and Emilia vying for the affections of Game Of Thrones heartthrob Iain, as Gina, Sam and Leo (respectively).

Serious times: The drama sees Dawn and Emilia vying for the affections of Game Of Thrones heartthrob Iain, as Gina, Sam and Leo (respectively)

Throwing herself in: The star was glammed up to the nines as she stole moments between scenes

Serious times: Finally, a serious role for the comic, Dawn takes centre stage in a drama about food, love and infidelity in Cornwall. Off the screen, Dawn remarried in 2013 following the demise of her famous marriage to Lenny Henry

A helping hand: She was assisted by a helpful aide as she stepped out of the historic building

Finally, a serious role for the comic, Dawn takes centre stage in a drama about food, love and infidelity in Cornwall. Off the screen, Dawn remarried in 2013 following the demise of her famous marriage to Lenny Henry.

Dawn has now been married to Mark Bignall for three years but says dating was not her favourite thing about finding love again.

She lamented the process, saying: 'I thought oh God, how repulsive. I'll have to buy new pants. Dating was excruciating and difficult as I'm not an accomplished flirter. Then, bang, I met somebody else. I started to claim my life back. It's a life with him.'

Having a laugh: Dawn has ditched her trademark roles for a saucy scandal-filled show called Delicious, which first aired on Sky One last December

Having a giggle: As she returned to set, the legendary comic was having a laugh
She revealed she had chopped off her long brunette locks when she was spotted going through airport security last week.

And Katie Holmes showcased her chic new pixie crop once again as she took her daughter Suri Cruise, 11, shopping in New York City's Upper West Side on Tuesday.

The actress, 38, looked radiant as she put her striking look on display, teaming her latest style with a low-key black ensemble as the mother-daughter duo shopped 'til they dropped.

Top of the crops: Katie Holmes showcased her chic new pixie crop as she took her daughter Suri Cruise, 11, shopping in New York City's Upper West Side on Tuesday

The Batman Begins star wore trousers speckled with pale pink flowers, which she teamed with a simple black sweater.

The mother-of-one accessorized with a large black leather handbag, while keeping comfortable for her shopping trip in pristine white sneakers.

Appearing to have indulged in a spot of retail therapy, Katie slung a retail bag over her left shoulder.

The actress rounded off her look by going make-up free for her day out with Suri.

Retail therapy: The actress, 38, looked radiant as she put her striking look on display, teaming her latest style with a low-key black ensemble as the mother-daughter duo shopped

Casual: The Batman Begins star wore trousers speckled with pale pink flowers, which she teamed with a simple black sweater

Although Katie was dressed casually for the occasion, mini fashionista Suri stole the sartorial show in an adorable pink dress with a lime green tie around the waist.

The youngster - who the actress shares with ex-husband Tom Cruise, 55 - looked cute as a button with a matching lime bow in her hair and gold ballet pumps on her feet.

Later that evening, Katie was photographed posing with stuffed animals at the FAO Schwartz pop-up store at Bergdorf Goodman.

Celebrity hairstylist DJ Quintero, the man behind her new look, joined her there.

Busy bee: Later that evening, Katie was photographed posing with stuffed animals at the FAO Schwartz pop-up store at Bergdorf Goodman

Posing up a storm: Celebrity hairstylist DJ Quintero (left), the man behind Katie's striking new look, joined her at the event

Katie explained the haircut to People: 'Its for a role. Im getting ready to play a woman in a movie called The Doorman. Shes an ex-Marine and shes a warrior.'

Quintero added: 'We were trying to find a balance between something feminine but kickass cause shes working really hard - her body looks incredible.

'She really wanted it to move on camera so it was actually like three haircuts. We did it over the weekend and it kind got shorter and shorter and shorter.'

Katie said to People of working on The Doorman: 'I'm excited. I'm training. I'm sore.'

The film is being helmed by Japanese director Ryuhei Kitamura and also features French actor Jean Reno.

The way she was: Katie has sported the same long brunette locks since she shot to fame on Dawson's Creek almost 20 years ago (pictured last month)

Katie's new 'do was first glimpsed last Thursday, when she was spotted at an airport removing her fedora in order to go through security at New York's JFK airport.

The former Dawson's Creek was married to Suri's father from 2006 until 2012; the couple got engaged after just seven weeks of dating and their daughter was born on the anniversary of their first date.

The pair tied the knot in a Scientologist ceremony at Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano, Italy in November 2006 after 'officializing' their marriage in Los Angeles the day before the Italian ceremony.

Katie filed for divorce in June 2012 after five years of marriage.

Ron Miscavige, father of Scientology leader David Miscavige, told MailOnline last year that Katie's misgivings about Scientology - including the effect it could have on Suri - contributed to her decision to leave Tom.

Katie has been linked to actor Jamie Foxx, 49, since 2013, but only went public with their relationship last month when they were pictured enjoying a romantic beach stroll in Malibu.

The actress was widely-rumored to have had a clause in her divorce settlement stipulating she had to wait five years before dating publicly
She is heavily pregnant with her second child and is ready to pop any day now.

And Billi Mucklow proved to be every inch the doting parent to her two-year-old son Arlo, who she shares with fiance Andy Carroll, as she enjoyed a day at Pumpkin Patch in preparation for Halloween.

The former TOWIE star, 28, took to Instagram with a number of snaps - showcasing her baby bump, as well as sweet images of her little man.

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Ready to pop! Heavily pregnant Billi Mucklow proved to be every inch the doting parent to her two-year-old son Arlo as she enjoyed a day at Pumpkin Patch in preparation for Halloween

Billi looked to be absolutely glowing as she held on to her baby bump, which was highlighted in her skintight black top.

The former reality star looked lovingly down at her son, who happily held onto a small pumpkin.

Relishing his final few weeks of an only child, Billi shared a few more images of Arlo.

In one image, he looked slightly apprehensive as he held onto a guinea pig, while in another snap he hugged an adorable pal.

So cute! Relishing his final few weeks of an only child, Billi shared a few more images of Arlo

Adorable: In one image, he looked slightly apprehensive as he held onto a guinea pig

Expected to give birth next month, Billi revealed at the end of September she had just 'seven' weeks until her due date - however, she is still yet to give birth.

The blonde bombshell is best known for her appearance on The Only Way Is Essex for two years and first made her debut on the show in 2011 for series two, before leaving in series eight in 2013.

She had joined the show alongside her best friend Cara Kilbey, who is also expecting her second child.

Billi had first announced she and beau Andy were expanding their brood in May, earlier this year. A month after she revealed her exciting baby news, her BFF Cara announced that she too is pregnant again.

She already shares daughter Penelope Blu, one, with boyfriend Daniel Harris.

In another snap he hugged an adorable pal - making for quite an adorable image

Happy: Billi is currently loved up with fiance Andy Carroll

Before announcing her baby news, Billi had revealed that she and Andy were planning to wed in the summer of this year, but are still yet to tie the knot.

Speaking to OK! magazine, she said: 'I wanted to spend a few months enjoying Arlo as a baby before we started getting busy with wedding stuff.

'I definitely want a massive wedding, though.'

The couple had announced their engagement in November 2014, after Andy had popped the question during a romantic mini-break in Rome, Italy.

While their new addition will be his second child with Billi, Andy is also dad to daughter Emilie Rose, six, and son Lucas, four, from previous relationships.
Chris Noth appears to have suffered an injury.

The 62-year-old actor, who played Mr Big on Sex And The City from 1998 until 2004, looked pained as she hobbled down a New York City street with a walking cane on Wednesday.

The grey-haired star, who is on the action-packed TV series Gone about FBI agents catching child abductors, was heading back home from a bakery where he picked up a small bag of goodies.

Trouble with Mr Big: Chris Noth was seen using a walking cane as he made his way down a NYC street on Wednesday

Pain: The 62-year-old actor, who played Mr Big on Sex And The City from 1998 until 2004, was looking worse for wear as he failed to crack a smile

The Wisconsin native had a grim look on his face as he slowly made his way along the Manhattan sidewalk.

The Baby Boom star had on a grey short-sleeved T-shirt that read Property Of New York Health And Racquet Club, est 1972.

The silver fox added dark sweatpants and red shoes.

Attire: The Baby Boom star had on a grey short-sleeved T-shirt that read Property Of New York Health And Racquet Club, est 1972. The silver fox added dark sweatpants and red shoes

His cane looked to be a serious one with a steel stem and black rubber handle. The actor used the apparatus in his left hand.

The injury could have occurred on his show Gone where he plays an FBI agent.

He has made no mention of his setback on social media as the star has not shared a post since October 16.

Polished: Noth played Mr Big opposite Sarah Jessica Parker on Sex And The City from 1998 until 2004

More: The handsome dark-haired star was also in two SATC movies

Noth - who came to fame on Hill Street Blues then Law & Order - has had an interesting career every since SATC ended in 2004.

The thespian returned to the role of Mike Logan on Law & Order: Criminal Intent in 2005, joining the show in its fifth season following a guest appearance on a fourth-season episode.

He left in 2008 when Jeff Goldblum joined the cast.

Dashing crime fighter: Chris came to fame on Hill Street Blues then Law & Order (pictured)

Very early days: The actor shared this old image to Instagram recently to help raise money for disaster relief

The star then worked on the Sex And The City film which came out in 2008. And he also showed up in the 2010 sequel.

Earlier this month DailyMail.com reported a third Sex And The City movie was not going to happen.

Kim Cattrall did not want to make another SATC movie, it turns out.

New role: Here the actor is seen filming 2018's action-packed TV series Gone with Danny Pino

In 2014 he talked being typecast after playing cad Mr Big on SATC.

'In the beginning, Law & Order was the hit, but then when I did Sex and the City, that was a whole other thing,' he told News.com.au.

'The reaction to that was just overwhelming and shocking, frankly. I don't think I've ever gotten over it; it completely changed my life.

Cheers: He looked fine in mid October when he posted this photo from his favorite Italian restaurant Da Marino NYC

'When I was younger I resented that  "Oh, I've got to destroy that image"  but people want to see you as they want to see you.'

In 2009 Noth worked with Julianna Margulies on TV's The Good Wife.

His NBC show Gone will debut in 2018.

Chris wed actress Tara Lynn Wilson in 2012 after they began dating in 2004. Their son, Orion Christopher Noth, was born in January 2008.
They went public as a couple in July.

And Ben Affleck and Lindsay Shookus seem to be getting pretty serious after just three months in the limelight.

The 45-year-old actor was house hunting in the west side of Los Angeles on Tuesday as he brought along his 37-year-old girlfriend according to TMZ.

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Moving in? Ben Affleck was house hunting in the west side of Los Angeles on Tuesday as he brought along girlfriend Lindsay Shookus according to TMZ, as they are pictured on Tuesday

Wow factor: The Wednesday report states that the couple had checked out several pricey properties including one listed at $18.5 million in the Santa Monica mountains

The Wednesday report states that the couple had checked out several pricey properties including one listed at $18.5 million in the Santa Monica mountains.

But although it initially seemed the pair were ready to take their romance to the next step, a source has since told TMZ the couple have no immediate plans to move in together.

The insider confirmed the father-of-three is buying solo and Lindsay just came along 'for the ride'.

The very impressive eight bedroom, ten bathroom home sits on 9,422-square-feet and was just built this year as it is listed by Halton Pardee + Partners.

According to sources for the TMZ, it seems like the two were enamored by the property as they stayed for more than an hour.

Gorgeous: The very impressive eight bedroom, ten bathroom home sits on 9,422-square-feet and was just built this year as it is listed by Halton Pardee + Partners

Sweet digs: According to sources for the TMZ, it seems like the two were enamored by the property as they stayed for more than an hour

Their insider added that Lindsay was holding onto the listing sheet as they left the potential new pad.

That was not the only property the couple checked out according to TMZ as they also looked at a Pacific Palisades and Brentwood properties each worth $12 million.

It has yet to be revealed it Ben will be living on his own or if Lindsay will be joining him.

Cosy and content: Lindsay and Ben looked cheerful and chirpy on their house hunting trip

New home? The couple visited a grand manor in Hollywood together

Liking the layout? Ben was seen browsing the house site and seemed impressed

Got her on side: Lindsay also seemed impressed by the sights of the home

Stepping out: The pair seemed to be surveying the lay of the land as they strolled around

Lindsay isn't the only supportive woman by the Argo actor's side.

Ex-wife Jennifer Garner, 45, was spotted chatting and laughing with Ben on Monday as he dealt with the fallout of his 2003 groping scandal.

The couple were married for almost 10 years and raise daughters Violet, 11, and Seraphina, eight, and son Samuel, five, together.

Onto a winner: Ben and Lindsay seemed to be having a successful day as they looked chirpy

Loving life: The duo seemed in great spirits as they headed out together on the unt

All-smiles: The duo flashed broad grins as Lindsay grasped a picture of one of the potential homes in Hollywood

Side by side: The pair stayed close to each other as they strolled through Hollywood

Cosy: The duo stayed close to each other on the outing as they walked along together

Making moves: Lindsay was seen leaving her car for more house hunting in the area

Striding forward: The duo wasted no time heading to several potential housing sites

For sale: Lindsay was seen browsing the neighbourhood before checking out the hom

Cosy: The duo looked happy and chirpy as they strolled through the housing sites

Taking it easy: Ben and Lindsay looked chilled as they looked at homes

Yet another one: The pair sprinted around various housing sites on the outing

Impressed: Ben seemed delighted by the scenes on offer in Hollywood

Earlier this year Ben had moved out of the guesthouse at the Pacific Palisades property he had owned with Jennifer.

The actor has been in hot water in recent days after former One Tree Hill star and MTV correspondent Hilarie Burton claimed the actor groped her during a TRL appearance in 2003.

Hilarie made her allegations just hours after Ben took to Twitter to condemn disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein for his alleged sexual assault and harassment scandal.

Loved-up: Ben and Lindsay went public as a couple in July and have been inseparable

Cordial: Ex-wife Jennifer Garner, 45, was spotted chatting and laughing with Ben during an outing in LA on Monday

Former Weinstein protegee Ben said he was 'saddened and angry' over the 'sickening' claims.

His statement was slammed by a number of people - including Weinstein accuser actress Rose McGowan, who called Ben a liar.

Ben was quick to reply, tweeting: 'I acted inappropriately toward Ms. Burton and I sincerely apologize.'

'Everyone forgot though': This comes after his groping scandal involving Hilarie Burton as a Twitter user posted that Affleck had 'grabbed Hilarie Burton's breasts on TRL once

Remembered: The actress then surprised the Twitter thread by interjecting with: 'I didn't forget.'

Sorry: Affleck subsequently tweeted: 'I acted inappropriately toward Ms. Burton and I sincerely apologize.'

Solo? It has yet to be revealed it Ben will be living on his own or if Lindsay will be joining him

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.

The actor and director has been focusing on his sobriety after a full-time rehab stint in February, which came before he went public with his alcohol addiction in March.

He wrote on Facebook at the time: 'I have completed treatment for alcohol addiction; something I've dealt with in the past and will continue to confront. I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be.'

Dazzling: Ben's estranged wife Jennifer was seen heading out in Brentwood on Wednesday
The North Dakota Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division has initiated an investigation into Spa DAthena in Bismarck.

Investigators have contacted the business about its ability to refund the value of its gift cards as it closes its doors. According to a statement, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem is concerned about attempts by Spa DAthena to limit the claims process and force consumers to waive certain rights.

Spa D'Athena did not respond to emails sent by the Tribune, and phone calls to the spa went unanswered.

A post on the spa's website reads: "By sending in your claim for a gift card refund, you are agreeing to Spa D' Athena's gift card validation process, responding to all mail, emails or phone calls from Spa D' Athena in a timely manner in order to process the information correctly and the time necessary to process a refund of your gift card value. By sending in your claim for a gift card refund, you further agree not to expect Spa D' Athena to honor or redeem your gift card at any location or event as of the date of the email."

In a letter to owner Jill Becker and Operations Director Brent Voorhees, Assistant Attorney General Brent Card said this statement "appears to be an effort by Spa D'Athena to limit consumer claims by the mere act of sending a claim to Spa D'Athena, without regard to whether or not a claim is actually provided. Your language further appears to provide you an 'out' to actually fulfilling a claim by vaguely requiring a consumer to respond in a 'timely manner.' "

It was the intention of Spa D' Athena to remodel or rebuild the business but the vagueness of when or if that might be is what could put the spa in violation of Century Code, said Parrell Grossman of the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division.

"Spa D' Athena's plans for renovation and construction have been put on hold and, as of Oct. 27, 2017, will be closing with no set date to reopen at this time," according to the website statement.

The spa is also selling fixtures, furniture and spa equipment, allowing customers to use gift cards toward these items.

State law prohibits limiting gift cards to a time frame of less than six years and from taking money for services that the business knew it would not be able to honor. Potential violation of these two sections of law is what concerns Consumer Protection, Grossman said. He said if the spa had a set date and were indeed to reopen, that would be taken into account by investigators, but the owners have been unclear and difficult to get in touch with.

Stenehjem encourages those with gift cards to file a consumer complaint to track the value of unredeemed gift cards.
She rose to fame as Stormzy's girlfriend, having already established a blossoming career as a TV presenter.

And Maya Jama oozed star quality as she attended the Burberry BAFTA Breakthrough Brits 2017 at the global Burberry flagship store in London on Wednesday.

The raven-haired beauty, 23, channeled understated elegance in a plunging shirt and tartan trousers for the occasion.

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Sizzling! Maya Jama oozed star quality as she attended the Burberry BAFTA Breakthrough Brits 2017 at the global Burberry flagship store in London on Wednesday

Making the most of her enviable assets, Maya teased a glimpse of her decolletage in a plunging crisp white shirt, complete with frilled cuffs and a diamonte embellishment.

Teaming it with a pair of checked trousers, she elongated her shapely pins in a pair of red sandals, beaming happily at the cameras as she posed by the Bafta statue.

With her raven hair falling sleek around her pretty face, she opted for minimal make-up, making the most of her glowing complexion and stunning bone structure.

Turning head! The raven-haired beauty, 23, channeled understated elegance in a plunging shirt and tartan trousers for the occasion

The natural beauty has been dating musician Stormzy, 24, for over a year - with the pair first choosing to keep their relationship private, before going public as an item in 2016.

Fans will have seen Maya in some of Stormzy's music videos, as she makes an appearance in the video for his hit track Big For Your Boots.

And the besotted Shut Up rapper even admitted he was keen to marry the model in the future.

Hot stuff! Making the most of her enviable assets, Maya teased a glimpse of her decolletage in a plunging crisp white shirt, complete with frilled cuffs and a diamonte embellishment

Red hot! She slipped on a glittering red heel

Far from pants: She highlighted her slender frame in her plaid pants

He told the Sunday Mirror earlier this month: Im still so young but I want to propose, its going to happen and I will do it right. She is so sick, she is the best.

4Music host Maya recently appeared on Loose Women to talk about her 5STAR documentary, titled When Dad Kills: Murdered in the Family - which explores how children are affected if they have a parent in jail.

Natural: With her raven hair falling sleek around her pretty face, she opted for minimal make-up, making the most of her glowing complexion and stunning bone structure

Revealing her own experience, she said: 'My dad has been in jail since I was three and I broke contact when I was 10.'

Maya, who is of Swedish and Somali descent, added that she was lucky because her dad's sisters supported her, as did her step-dad - who her mother married when she was seven.

'My earliest memory is around five when I was visiting him in prison. It was a bit weird, I had a super supportive family around me, I had a stepdad. I never really felt like I was missing out.'
Anna Kendrick suited up in the merriest green-and-red ensemble possible for her first day on the Vancouver set of Nicole, a Christmas fantasy flick about the daughter of Santa Claus.

The 32-year-old Oscar nominee wore a green-patterned costume consisting of a long-sleeved mini-dress over matching leggings and shearling-lined booties to play the titular role.

The Hulu spokesmodel - who boasts 20M social media followers - captioned a behind-the-scenes Instagram snap: 'It begins..... N O E L L E.'

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Ho, ho, ho! Anna Kendrick suited up in the merriest green-and-red ensemble possible for her first day on the Vancouver set of Nicole, a Christmas flick about the daughter of Santa Claus

Anna finished off her festive look with a black embroidered belt and and a long Ariana Grande-style ponytail extension to appear even more perky as Father Christmas' princess.

Clutching a white furry hat, Kendrick covered up in a brown fur-lined red winter coat and thick red knit mittens for the scene being shot.

'I'm doing a movie with Disney,' the Last Week Tonight funnywoman said on the August 21 episode of GMA.

'I've always wanted to do a Christmas movie. I'm playing Santa's daughter and Bill Hader is playing my brother and I'm really excited about that. I love a Christmas movie!'

'It begins..... N O E L L E': The 32-year-old Oscar nominee wore a green-patterned costume consisting of a mini-dress over matching leggings and shearling-lined booties

Jingle bells: Anna finished off her festive look with a black embroidered belt and a long Ariana Grande-style ponytail extension to appear even more perky as Father Christmas' princess

'I love a Christmas movie!' Clutching a white furry hat, the Hulu spokesmodel covered up in a brown fur-lined red winter coat and thick red knit mittens for the scene being shot

The Last Week Tonight funnywoman said on the August 21 episode of GMA: 'I've always wanted to do a Christmas movie. I'm playing Santa's daughter and Bill Hader is playing my brother'

In between takes, the 5ft2in brunette checked her iPhone while clad in an even larger black coat to better combat the Canadian cloudy 53F-degree weather.

Anna's character 'takes over the family business when her dad retires and her brother gets cold feet' in the 2019 family film, which marks Miss Congeniality screenwriter Marc Lawrence's directorial debut.

On Tuesday, Kendrick's castmate Billy Eichner shared a behind-the-scenes Instagram snap of his and the 39-year-old SNL alum's custom chairs captioned: 'Bill and Billy! Shooting a movie with Hader. He's the funniest.'

Make-up touch-up: Anna's character 'takes over the family business when her dad retires and her brother gets cold feet' in the 2019 family fantasy film

Brrr! In between takes, the 5ft2in brunette checked her iPhone while clad in an even larger black coat to better combat the Canadian cloudy 53F-degree weather

Action! Nicole marks Miss Congeniality screenwriter Marc Lawrence's directorial debut

On Tuesday, Kendrick's castmate Billy Eichner shared a behind-the-scenes snap of his and the 39-year-old SNL alum's custom chairs captioned: 'He's the funniest'

Oscar winner: Noticeably missing from the movie set were Airplane alum Julie Hagerty and Hollywood legend Shirley MacLaine (pictured March 9), who's playing Nicole's nanny Elf Polly

Noticeably missing from the movie set were Airplane alum Julie Hagerty and Hollywood legend Shirley MacLaine, who's playing Nicole's nanny Elf Polly.

Back in 2013, the Tony-nominated triple threat belted the 83-year-old Oscar winner's Broadway number It's Not Where You Start, It's Where You Finish onstage during her Kennedy Center Honors.

Last week, Anna's former co-star Justin Timberlake tweeted the trailer for their sequel special Trolls Holiday airing November 23 on NBC.

'Date night with Branch & Poppy!' Last week, the Tony-nominated triple threat's co-star Justin Timberlake tweeted the trailer for their sequel Trolls Holiday airing November 23 on NBC

Working non-stop! Kendrick also just wrapped her role as Stephanie in Paul Feig's (M) 2018 crime-thriller A Simple Favor in Toronto alongside Henry Golding (L) and Blake Lively

Kendrick has been working non-stop, having also just wrapped her role as Stephanie in Paul Feig's 2018 crime-thriller A Simple Favor in Toronto alongside Henry Golding and Blake Lively.

But first, audiences can next catch the Golden Globe nominee back as Beca Mitchell in the musical-comedy three-quel Pitch Perfect 3, which hits US/UK theaters on December 22.

On the personal front, the Maine-born beauty was last romantically linked to Ben Richardson - the DP behind her films Table 19, Digging for Fire, Happy Christmas, and Drinking Buddies.
They are friends and collaborators, frequently tagged on each other's Instagram pages.

And on Wednesday, Victoria's Secret Angel Candice Swanepoel joined photographer Jerome Duran for lunch at the West Village hot spot Bar Pitti.

The 26-year-old did not appear to be wearing a bra as she showed off her chiseled midriff in a skintight off-the-shoulder top.

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Pretty lady: Victoria's Secret Angel Candice Swanepoel went to lunch at the West Village hot spot Bar Pitti in NYC

Cool look: She had on a tube top and a sweat outfit with heavy combat boots; her pal Jerome Duran is on the left

She wore an eye-catching pair of black, scarlet and canary yellow I.AM.GIA 'blaster' sweats - which the brand hawks online at $92.

Candice matched the trousers with I.AM.GIA's 'blaster jacket,' letting the wrap slide off her shoulders. This wrap goes for $116 on the fashion company's website.

The Mooi River-born bombshell swept her hair back into a ponytail, accessorizing with dark purple aviators and a glinting medallion necklace.

Gal on the go: The 26-year-old model showed off her chiseled midriff and bared a hint of cleavage in a skintight black off-the-shoulder top

Shining black boots rounded out her ensemble.

Next month, Candice will make her triumphal return to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which this year is going to be held in Shanghai.

The trilingual model took last year's extravaganza off, having delivered her firstborn child - a son called Anaca - the month prior.

Coming right up: Next month, Candice will be making her grand return to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which this year is going to be held in Shanghai

After she gave birth, one of the early congratulations popping up on Instagram came from Jerome, who posted a pregnant nude he had taken of her.

Candice has been with her baby's father, Brazilian model Hermann Nicoli, since 2005, having reportedly met him in Paris when she was all of 17 years old.

She first walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles in 2007. Three years later, the brand proclaimed her one of its Angels.
She is just one of numerous high-profile actresses who have came forward with sexual harassment claims against shamed movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

But Minka Kelly was back to work on the set of her new movie The Beach House in Savannah, Georgia, on Wednesday.

The actress, 37, was seen smiling from ear-to-ear as she was joined on set by her co-star Chad Michael Murray, 36.

Back to it: Minka Kelly was on the set of her new movie The Beach House in Savannah, Georgia, on Wednesday after coming forward with sexual harassment claims against Harvey Weinstein

The Friday Night Lights star sported a casual ensemble in a black-and-white striped dress, after arriving on set in jeans and an olive green tie-in-front blouse.

Minka also toted a backpack, along with a bottle of water, headphones and an iPhone that she carried in her hand.

The actress kept her dark shoulder-length locks loosely curled, while accentuating her beautiful face with natural make-up.

Minka's hunky co-star Chad wore a plaid button-up shirt, with jeans and black slip-on shoes.

Why so serious? The actress, 37, was joined on set by her co-star Chad Michael Murray, 36

Earlier this month, Minka hit headlines as one of the many women who were harassed by former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

The star revealed in a lengthy Instagram post that Harvey had requested a private meeting with her after the two met at an industry event.

The actress 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.'

She said: 'He bulls*** me for 5 minutes re: movies he could put me in, then asked the assistant to excuse us,' said Kelly.

Caffeine fix: The Friday Night Lights star was seen clutching a cup of coffee after arriving on set in jeans and an olive green tie-in-front blouse

'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.'

Minka went on to say however that this sort of encounter is typical for actresses in Hollywood, illustrating how rampant a problem this is in the industry.

'All I knew was not to offend this very powerful man and to get out of the situation as quickly as possible,' she wrote. 'I told him while flattered, I'd like to keep things professional.'

She then made her exit after Weinstein asked her to never repeat what he had asked, a request she adhered to for years.

The truth: Minka is just one of numerous high-profile actresses who have came forward with sexual harassment claims against shamed movie mogul Harvey Weinstein

Minka did however speak to her team about the meeting.

'I immediately told my agent what happened,' she wrote . 'We marveled at his audacity, reinforced my instinct not to offend him & laughed at how glad I was to get out of there.'



The actress did not reveal what year the incident happened, or if it happened during the time her was married to his now ex-wife Georgina Chapman, 41.

Minka has only appeared in one of Weinstein's films, with the actress cast as Jackie Kennedy in The Butler.
John Mayer announced Tuesday that he reached the milestone of 365 days of no alcohol to his combined 10.1M social media following.

'One year ago today, I decided to give drinking a break. A very personal thing for everyone. For me, a constant return on investment,' the 40-year-old bluesman - who's in therapy - wrote.

'I post this because I want people to know that "that's enough for now" is on the menu, so to speak.'

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Attention! John Mayer announced Tuesday that he reached the milestone of 365 days of no alcohol to his combined 10.1M social media following (pictured in 2016)

This, after the seven-time Grammy winner admitted to Rolling Stone that he quit by putting 'marijuana where drinking used to go' and his 'quality of life [went] up considerably.'

'Drinking is a f***ing con. How much is enough? Every time I drank, I was looking for some sort of regulated amount. It always feels wrong for me. I always feel like I went overboard. "I said two, now it's three, now we're at four?"' John explained to the mag back in June.

'I never had a serious issue with it, but I remember looking around going, "This feels rigged. I'm taking a break. There's never an amount that felt like I was succeeding at life. It always felt wrong."'

During his 40th birthday bash in Rio, Mayer showed off the diamond-encrusted chain of weed and white Russian-guzzling icon - The Dude from Big Lebowski - which serves as his armor against 'anxiety and worry.'

The 40-year-old bluesman - who's in therapy - wrote: 'One year ago today, I decided to give drinking a break. A very personal thing for everyone. For me, a constant return on investment'

'I never had a serious issue with it': This, after the seven-time Grammy winner admitted to Rolling Stone that he quit by putting 'marijuana where drinking used to go' and his 'quality of life [went] up considerably'

Big Lebowski fan: During his 40th birthday bash in Rio, Mayer showed off the diamond-encrusted chain of weed and white Russian-guzzling icon The Dude, which serves as his armor against 'anxiety and worry'

Emoji of a wave: The Connecticut-born, Montana-based musician has previously admitted having unhealthy 'attachments' to tweeting in 2011 as well as his prior womanizing reputation

The Connecticut-born, Montana-based musician has previously admitted having unhealthy 'attachments' to tweeting in 2011 as well as his prior womanizing reputation.

The tattoo-sleeved rocker famously loved (and left) celebs like Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Minka Kelly.

John - who suffered from panic attacks as a teen - will next take his 62-date, $46.8M-grossing The Search for Everything World Tour to Brazil's Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro this Friday.
She's catapulted to another level of stardom thanks to her breakout role in Netflix series Orange Is The New Black.

And Ruby Rose's appeal has been noted by Maxim Australia, topping their annual HOT 100 list.

The 31-year-old actress is ranked ahead of Sophie Monk, 37, and Margot Robbie, 27, by the lads magazine.

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Do YOU think they got it right? Ruby Rose, 31, has been ranked ahead of Sophie Monk and Margot Robbie on Maxim Australia's HOT 100 list

Ruby graces the cover of the November issue in a racy white plunging ensemble.

The scantily-clad attire offers a hint of cleavage and draws attention to her array of arm and chest tattoos.

Her signature cropped locks are slicked back off her face, and her striking facial features are enhanced with a flawless complexion, defined brows, kohl-rimmed eyes, lashings of mascara and a soft pink lip.

Blonde bombshell: Margot Robbie, 27, has been placed second

Appeal: The former Neighbours star turned Hollywood heavyweight never puts a foot wrong on the red carpet

Making the cut: The Bachelorette's Sophie Monk, 37, has been placed third

Ruby comes in at top spot on Maxim's Hot 100 list, with Hollywood actress Margot Robbie placing second, and The Bachelorette's Sophie Monk third.

Songstress Delta Goodrem, 32, comes in at fifth, politician Tony Abbott's daughter Frances places sixth, while Jennifer Hawkins, Jessica Marais and Miranda Kerr, come in at seventh, eighth and ninth respectively.

The list goes on to rank Rebel Wilson at 10th spot, Bindi Irwin at 13th, Schapelle Corby at 17th and Shane Warne's rumoured fling Emily Sears at 22nd.

Hot commodity: The blonde beauty will choose between publican Stu Laundy and vineyard manager Jarrod Woodgate on Thursday's episode of The Bachelorette Australia

Hitting the right note: The Voice judge Delta Goodrem, 32, has been placed fifth

Unlikely candidate: Politician Tony Abbott's daughter Frances has come in at sixth

Karl Stefanovic's much-younger girlfriend Jasmine Yarbrough comes in at 32nd, Fiona Falkiner at 56th, the 'Vote No' TV ad mums at 98th, while political figures Pauline Hanson, 63, and Julie Bishop, 61, at 99th spot.

Ruby, who is openly gay, spoke candidly of her sex appeal in an interview with US Cosmopolitan in March this year.

'I'm very confident and in tune with my sexuality. I feel very blessed for that, because in different places around the world, people can't be,' she told the publication.

Model look: The face of Myer Jennifer Hawkins, 33, is a no-brainer, coming in at seventh

Silver screen siren: Love Child star and mother-of-one Jessica Marais, 32, comes in at eight spot

Hot export: One of Australia's hottest modelling exports, Miranda Kerr, 34, has come in at ninth

Ruby, who is dating The Veronicas' Jessica Origliasso, went on to share intimate details of her love life.

'I'm lucky I can explore. I have a very healthy sex life, and there's something very empowering, strong and feminist about being open and comfortable in that world.'

Ruby became a household name in her native Australia, landing a hosting gig with MTV Australia back in 2007.

Cheers to that! Pitch Perfect star Rebel Wilson, 37, who came to attention this year for a defamation case, can cheers to landing the 10th spot

Setting the bar high: Former inmate Schapelle Corby, 40, was an unusual personality to make the list, being placed 17th

Not surprising: Shane Warne's rumoured fling Emily Sears has come in at 22nd spot

In addition to a modelling career, the slender starlet went on to star as a presenter on Australia's Next Top Model and Channel Ten's The Project.

However it wasn't until 2015 that Ruby gained international fame, after landing a role as inmate Stella Carlin in Netflix series Orange Is The New Black.

The breakout role got the attention of the film industry in Hollywood, going on to secure roles in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, xXx: Return of Xander Cage and Pitch Perfect 3.

She was also named as a global ambassador for cosmetics brand Urban Decay, earlier this year.

Maxim Australia's November issue, featuring the HOT 100 list, is out now

Climbing up the social ladder: Karl Stefanovic's much-younger girlfriend Jasmine Yarbrough, 33, has been placed at 32nd spot

Bikini babe: The Biggest Loser host Fiona Falkiner has been placed at 56th spot

Please explain? Pauline Hanson, 63, is a very unusual choice, being placed at 92nd spot

MAXIM AUSTRALIA'S HOT 100 LIST 1. Ruby Rose 2. Margot Robbie 3. Sophie Monk 4. Renee Somerfield 5. Delta Goodrem 6. Frances Abbott 7. Jennifer Hawkins 8. Jessica Marais 9. Miranda Kerr 10. Rebel Wilson 11. Olympia Valance 12. Ellie Gonsalves 13. Bindi Irwin 14. Jessica Gomes 15. Parnia Porsche 16. Samantha Kerr 17. Schapelle Corby 18. The Veronicas 19. Imogen Anthony 20. Chloe Hurrell 21. Tegan Martin 22. Emily Sears 23. Casey Boonstra 24. Jessica Mauboy 25. Kate McLennan & Kate McCartney 26. Pia Miller 27. Samantha Armytage 28. Natalie Roser 29. Olivia Rogers 30. Sally Pearson 31. Sally Fitzgibbons 32. Jasmine Yarbrough 33. Ellyse Perry 34. The Bachelor girls 35. Nicole Kidman 36. Steph Claire Smith 37. Pia Muehlenbeck 38. Jesinta Franklin 39. Laura Lydall 40. Danielle Macdonald 41. DJ Havana Brown 42. Rose Byrne 43. Lara Worthington 44. Cheryl Maitland 45. Natasha Oakley 46. Yasmin Kassim 47. Cate Blanchett 48. Casey Donovan 49. Olena Khamula 50. Lydia Pedrana 51. Gabrielle Miller 52. Erin Phillips 53. Robyn Lawley 54. Gabi Simpson 55. Sylvia Jeffreys 56. Fiona Falkiner 57. Julia Morris 58. Sam Frost 59. Nicky Whelan 60. Fox Sports Presenters 61. Carrie Bickmore 62. Emma Booth 63. Lauryn Eagle 64. Simone Holtznagel 65. Rebecca Maddern 66. Erin Molan 67. Heather Maltman 68. Amanda Keller 69. Mia Freedman 70. Brooke Evers 71. Isla Fisher 72. Emma Freedman 73. Olivia Phyland 74. Real Housewives 75. Kitty Flanagan 76. Asher Keddie 77. Sonia Kruger 78. Sandra Sully 79. Kylie Minogue 80. Alice Roberts 81. Em Rusciano 82. Nicole da Silva 83. Amber Sherlock 84. Jackie O 85. Kylie Gillies 86. Fifi Box 87. Tyana Hansen 88. Chrissie Swan 89. Allana Ferguson 90. Celeste Barber 91. Christine Forster 92. Pauline Hanson 93. Isobella Fraser 94. Olivia Newton-John 95. Kate Langbroek 96. Lisa Wilkinson 97. Penny Wong 98. The Vote No TV ad Mums 99. Julie Bishop 100. Lucy Turnbull Advertisement

Not the likely candidates: The 'Vote No' TV mums came in at 98th spot

Impressive: Politician Julie Bishop, 61, has been placed at 99th spot
He loves his hummingbirds so much that they feature in almost half of his Instagram posts.

And Spencer Pratt was understandably distraught when one of his treasured backyard birds 'Hummer Angel' passed away on Tuesday in the midst of the sweltering Californian heatwave.

The former The Hill star, 34, broke down in tears as he held a touching funeral service for his pet, which was documented via his Snapchat page.

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Distressed: Spencer Pratt was understandably distraught when one of his treasured backyard birds 'Hummer Angel' passed away on Tuesday in the midst of the Californian heatwave

'He's dead and I don't know why,' wept the reality star, clearly distressed.

The emotional video began with a shirtless Pratt walking into his house while filming, clearly already upset.

'Close your eyes if you easily cry, but I want people to know what I'm dealing with today,' said the Celebrity Big Brother star.

He then showed the tiny, lifeless bird. 'He's so precious,' cried Spencer.

Emotional: The former The Hill star, 34, broke down in tears as he held a touching funeral service for his pet, which was documented via his Snapchat page

Rest in peace: 'Close your eyes if you easily cry, but I want people to know what I'm dealing with today,' said the Celebrity Big Brother star

The television personality admitted: 'I feel guilty that I slept in a little later, like if I'd got out here earlier and seen him...'

'I really think it's this heat,' added the father of one. 'I don't think he got to the nectar.'

Los Angeles is in the midst of a Fall heatwave, with record-setting October temperatures being measured across the city.

Pratt then held a funeral service for his lost friend, placing the body in a small, flower-lined box.

Lost friend: Spencer waved incense over the grave and after covering the makeshift coffin with soil, erected a cross as the words 'RIP Hummer Angel' were displayed onscreen

Dangerous weather: Los Angeles is in the midst of a Fall heatwave, with record-setting October temperatures being measured across the city

He waved incense over the grave and after covering the makeshift coffin with soil, erected a cross as the words 'RIP Hummer Angel' were displayed onscreen.

Yesterday by The Beatles and Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley played in the background during the touching service.

After the funeral, Pratt grabbed some consoling cuddles with his three-week-old son, Gunner Stone, in a story his wife and The Hills co-star Heidi Montag, 31, posted to Instagram.

The reality TV power couple welcomed their son Gunner Stone into the world on October 1.

Father and son time: After the funeral, Pratt grabbed some consoling cuddles with his three-week-old baby son, Gunner Stone

Tech savvy: Though he's less than a month old, the boy is already no stranger to social media, posting his own Instagram story for his 43,400 followers to see

And though he's less than a month old, the boy is already no stranger to social media, posting his own Instagram story for his 43,400 followers to see.

Heidi and Spencer, who have been married for nine years, famously met on iconic reality show The Hills that ran from 2006 until 2010.

They eloped to Mexico in November 2008, before hosting a wedding ceremony in Pasadena, California, in April 2009.

Heidi admitted she was 'overwhelmed with joy' at being a mother in an interview with US Weekly magazine earlier this month.

She said: 'I'm feeling great. I'm so overwhelmed with joy. I find myself crying just looking at him.

'It was probably the best possible labor. I wanted to do it naturally so I didn't get an epidural.'
It's a game of cops and robbers with larger-than-life stakes.

Gerard Butler leads the way in a new preview for Den of Thieves, an action-thriller pitting a fearsome squad of bank robbers against a crime unit that's equally imposing.

The preview kicks off as a group of armed-to-the-gills thieves - played by 50 Cent, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Pablo Schreiber and Evan Jones - are gearing up for a heist in Los Angeles.

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Badge of honor: Gerard Butler, 47, headlines the upcoming action-thriller Den of Thieves, as a new preview for the film was released Wednesday

'Keep your finger off the trigger at all times, unless you need to shoot somebody,' Schreiber's character tells Jackson's. 'When that happens, hold it until you run dry.'

The crew of robbers are seen littering an armored truck with bullets - as well as the police officers responding to the melee, then regrouping after the profitable attack.

Emerging to to investigate the aftermath is Butler's character 'Big' Nick Flanagan - who heads up an Los Angeles County Sheriffs Dept. team (played by Maurice Compte, Kaiwi Lyman-Mersereau, Mo McCrae and Brian Van Holt) assigned to such complex crimes.

Flanagan's rogue nature is revealed as he interrogates a wounded robber at the crime scene.

Bad guys: 50 Cent (L) and Pablo Schreiber (R) lead the fearsome team of robbers in the film

In the mix: O'Shea Jackson Jr.'s character finds himself facing down both sides in the movie

Lofty ambitions: The robbers take aim at an unprecedented robbery of the Federal Reserve Bank in LA

'I take it he's a bad guy - I'm gonna make you a deal: Give me the names of the guys that got away, I'll get you a medic,' Flanagan tells the robber - who refuses to snitch - before waving off oncoming paramedics.

The preview continues, illustrating the complex cat and mouse game as the robbers study Flanagan and his crew of cops.

The sneak peek takes another turn as the robbers' next target is revealed: a Federal Reserve Bank in Downtown Los Angeles, a locked-down fortress securing a sum between $500 billion and $800 billion.

Big shot: Butler's character 'Big' Nick Flanagan has a rogue reputation that precedes him

On the job: Viewers get a look at Butler's no-nonsense brand of law enforcement in the sneak peek

Shooter: Butler's character makes clear he'll shoot first and ask questions later in the preview

'Only bank that's never been robbed - that's why we're gonna rob it,' Schreiber's character tells the rest of the crew. After a high-impact sequence of screeching tires, sordid strip clubs and cocked firearms, Flanagan is seen interrogating Jackson's character, letting him know who's in charge.

'You know what this means,' he says, pointing to a tattoo on his arm. 'Means I am a member of a gang, only we have badges - which means you are done ... you're not the bad guys - we are.'

The film, directed by Christian Gudegast, hits theaters January 19, 2018.

Predators: The robbers are disguised and armed with automatic weapons as they're on the hunt
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NRL star Kieran Foran has sold the Freshwater home he and former partner Rebecca Pope were supposed to settle into with their two young children.

The 27-year-old listed the northern Sydney family home in early October with a starting price of $2.8 million,The Daily Telegraph reported.

However, the property was quickly snapped up 20 days ahead of the scheduled auction, for the princely sum of $3.055 million, according to Domain.

Out with the old? NRL star Kieran Foran has sold the Freshwater home he and former partner Rebecca Pope were supposed to settle in with their two young children

Located in the quiet seaside suburban town the property sits on a spacious block that accommodates an ample backyard with a 15 metre swimming pool.

The recently renovated home has five spacious bedrooms, three bathrooms, one study and a single car garage space.

It also boasts modern fixtures in the kitchen, including white tabletops, sleek cabinetry and a touch control stove.

That's a princely sum: The 27-year-old listed the northern Sydney family home in early October with a starting price of $2.8 million, The Daily Telegraph reported (pictured alongside Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles players, Daly Cherry-Evans). The property was quickly snapped up for $3.055 million

Spacious: The recently renovated home has five spacious bedrooms, three bathrooms, one study and a single car garage space

New look: It also boasts modern fixtures in the kitchen, including white tabletops, sleek cabinetry and a touch control stove

Part of the update included installing light, hardwood floors throughout the home and painting the dark wood panels on the ceiling white, which pulled it out of it's dated decor to give it a contemporary feel.

Other features kept included the exposed brick wall in the dining room and the fire place in the living room.

Rebecca and their children, Emmy and Jordan, moved into the property around the same time he was stood down from the Parramatta Eels to deal with 'personal issues' last year.

New love? This comes after he recently flaunted his new flame, 48-year-old hairdresser Karina May

Sold: NRL star Kieran Foran has sold the Freshwater home he and former partner Rebecca Pope (pictured left) were supposed to settle into with their two young children

Character features: Part of the update included installing light, hardwood floors throughout the home and painting the dark wood panels on the ceiling white, which pulled it out of it's dated decor to give it a contemporary feel

Cosy living space: Other features kept included the exposed brick wall in the dining room and the fire place in the living room

According to The Daily Telegraph, Rebecca's lawyers have submitted a caveat on the home which is just under the rugby league star's name following their split in April 2016.

Property Observer reported that she made 'direct and indirect financial and non-financial contributions to the acquisition, conservation and maintenance of the lands.'

Meanwhile, the former WAG told The Manly Daily: 'I wanted to stay here forever. It was our dream home with a big block, ideal for our children and two dogs.'

Perfect for summer entertaining: The spacious backyard accommodates an ample backyard with a 15 metre swimming pool

Big plot: Located in the quiet seaside suburban town the property sits on a spacious block 1,018sqm block

'It was a perfect block for us,' she said.

Kieran first purchased the property in 2016 for $2.51 million

This comes after he recently flaunted his new flame, 48-year-old hairdresser Karina May.

Photos of the NRL star and the heavily tattooed mother-of-six showing locking lips at an event.
Bruno Tonioli has been letting loose in Los Angeles after missing his first Strictly Come Dancing live show in 13 years last Saturday.

And the 61-year-old star certainly looked to be feeling the impact of his revelry as he was spotted at LAX Airport on Wednesday while puffing a cigarette and looking drained ahead of his return to the UK.

Just hours before, he was enjoying another night on the town on as he partied with handsome male model Matt Law, 29, at Hollywood's Sunset Marquis with an onlooker telling MailOnline there was 'chemistry' between the pair.

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Hometime: Bruno Tonioli has been letting loose in Los Angeles after missing his first Strictly live show in 13 years last Saturday, and he looked to be feeling the impact of his revelry when he was spotted at LAX Airport on Wednesday

Bruno had skipped Strictly due to a clash with the show's US equivalent Dancing With The Stars, yet made no secret of his chilled out evenings across the pond, in which he lived it up with pals.

It seems he was perhaps drained ahead of his return to the UK as he peeled on a pair of sunglasses while puffing on a cigarette and heading into the airport.

Clad in a skin-tight white T-shirt, he showed off his sun-kissed complexion and age-defying physique yet his facial expression appeared slightly woebegone.

Shortly before, he seemed in excellent spirits as he cuddled up to his friends, including Lizzie Cundy, 47, in the snaps of his earlier night out.

Up in smoke: Bruno who had skipped Strictly due to a clash with the show's US equivalent Dancing With The Stars, yet made no secret of his chilled out evenings across the pond, in which he lived it up with pals

Out on the town: Just hours before, he was enjoying another night on the town on as he partied with handsome male model Matt Law, 29, (L) at Hollywood's Sunset Marquis with an onlooker telling MailOnline there was 'chemistry' between the pair

Missed out: Bruno's night out came after Tess Daly revealed that Bruno was unable to appear in Strictly due to 'a very busy work schedule'

Bruno wasn't afraid to show off his gym-honed physique as he wore his shirt unbuttoned to expose his pecs. Matt also showed off his physique as he highlighted his muscular arms in a fitted black T-shirt teamed with jeans.

An onlooker told MailOnline: 'Bruno kept giving Matt hugs. There was definitely chemistry between them but obviously an age gap. Bruno was very touchy-feely! They sat close and everyone were looking over as the table was all laughing.'

Sources later told The Sun: 'Bruno has really been getting on well with Matt, they enjoy each others company. They have spent the last few days together in the States and he has been introduced to a few of his friends.

'Bruno is growing increasingly fond of Matt and it isnt hard to see why. Hes noticed everywhere they go. They were very touchy-feely over dinner and laughing so loudly that everyone took notice.'

Matt, who boasts 78,000 Instagram followers, is signed to Nevs, the same modelling agency as Strictly star Aljaz Skorjanec.

Lizzie was also with the group and ensured she'd dress to impress as always as she dazzled in a scarlet plunging mini dress and glamorous choker.

Hometime: It seems he was perhaps drained ahead of his return to the UK as he peeled on a pair of sunglasses while puffing on a cigarette and heading into the airport

It takes three: Bruno had skipped Strictly due to a clash with the show's US equivalent Dancing With The Stars, yet seemed in excellent spirits as he cuddled up to the stars in the snaps

Hollywood heartthrob: Bruno has been partying with male model Matt Law

The trio's outing was their second night out in a row, with the group spotted partying in West Hollywood the day before.

Bruno's night out came after Tess Daly revealed that Bruno was unable to appear in Strictly due to a 'a very busy work schedule'.

Despite simultaneously working on SCD and DWTS, the star had never previously missed a show, leaving fans devastated at his absence.

A BBC spokesman told MailOnline: 'As was always the plan, Bruno Tonioli is not on the judging panel this weekend due to a very busy work schedule.

'He will be back as normal for our Halloween special and the rest of the series.

Love to party: The trio's outing was their second night out in a row, with the group spotted partying in West Hollywood the day before

Living it up in LA: Bruno's night out came after Tess Daly revealed that Bruno was unable to appear in Strictly due to a 'a very busy work schedule'

A source told the website Bruno couldn't move his commitment, saying:'They've known for some time but it's a new situation for them to be in with a judge down.'

The popular judge was not replaced, with head honcho Shirley Ballas, along with Craig Revel-Horwood and Darcey Bussell judging as a trio.

Bruno juggles his judging responsibilities on Strictly with his job as a panellist on the US version of the hit show Dancing With The Stars alongside former head judge Len Goodman, which airs at the same time as the British show.

This involves him travelling to Los Angeles every week where he spends three days before flying back to film Strictly on the Saturday.

The resilient star has followed this gruelling schedule for 12 years.
Foster Ray Hager of Washburn received an increase in his Social Security payments to cover rising living costs. All but $2.82 of that monthly increase could be eaten up though, if the North Dakota Public Service Commission allows Montana-Dakota Utilities to up its gas rates.

North Dakota residents on fixed incomes, like Hager, turned out to testify Tuesday on a proposed natural gas rate increase.

Hager used to pay a $9 fixed charge, as well as another variable charge, to cover the cost of transmission infrastructure maintenance. For the average MDU customer, that came to about $15.

Two years ago the infrastructure fees went to a fixed rate of about $19.50.

Now the company wants to lift it again to $22.50 per month.

On a fixed income that bites a little bit, Hager said. When is it going to stop?

Social Security makes up 50 percent or more of the income for 61 percent of North Dakotans age 65 and older. One in three older North Dakotans rely on Social Security as their only source of income, according to AARP North Dakota, which is intervening in the case.

At some point someone has to say no, Hager said. Think about senior citizens when you say its just $3.

Much of the testimony heard by the Public Service Commissioners echoed this.

Everything keeps on going up, said Eugene Roller of New England.

Where do the increases ever end? You always need for more, more, more, said True White of Dickinson.

Three years from now are we going to be back here again? asked George Simek of Bismarck.

If the Public Service Commission were to approve the residential hike of 5.9 percent and general service hike of 5.5 percent, it would boost the companys revenues by $5.9 million in North Dakota.

The increase will cover the cost of replacing about $275 million of existing aging pipeline and other infrastructure in 2018. The company will also be reviewing its replacement needs annually and could come back to the PSC for further cost recovery each year.

Public Service Commissioner Randy Christmann said he understands the need to keep rates low but that there's also need for, "a company thats strong enough to provide good, reliable service."

Montana-Dakota Utilities has about 42,500 natural gas customers in Bismarck-Mandan, 21,000 around Minot, 13,000 around Dickinson, and 18,000 around Jamestown, as well as many of the small communities in between. About 109,000 customers total in 74 communities will be affected.

Of the companys 2,575 miles of main pipeline in the state, 25 percent was installed before 1970. And higher risk plastic pipe installed before 1982 makes up 45 percent of the companys inventory.

Giving the example of New Salem, the company would like to replace steel pipe that has been in use since between 1950 and 1960.

The company told the commissioners that the average residential customer will pay is about $7.29 more per month on their bill than they did in 2004 and $2.98 more compared to last year. The typical residential customer in the state pays about $636 annually for service.

The PSC will hear public comment Wednesday as well as part of its formal review process. The agency has up to seven months to issue a decision on the proposed increase request.
Shania Twain has paid tribute to her famous music video for Man! I Feel Like A Woman! by donning the same black corset, mini-skirt, for her new music video.

'Honestly, I had to squeeze into this thing,' the Canadian country crooner - easily defying her 52 years - admitted on Wednesday's episode of The Talk.

It's been 18 years since the video was filmed and the star has barely aged in her new Life's about to Get Good video.

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Still fits! In her new music video, Shania Twain donned the same black corset, mini-skirt, and top hat she rocked in her Man I Feel Like a Woman video from 1999

Looking good! It's been 18 years since the song was released and the star has barely aged in her new Life's about to Get Good video (left)

'It's the actual, original outfit from the top to the bottom, and we pulled it out of the museum (where it was on display), borrowed it basically, and I'm thinking "It's a great idea, if I can actually fit into it!"'

Man I Feel Like A Woman was filmed in 1999 at Pier 59 Studios in New York City and was role-reversal version of Robert Palmers iconic 1986 video Addicted to Love where the singer was surrounded by sultry women.

The song was written by Shania's husband at the time, music producer Robert John 'Mutt' Lange.

The DWTS guest judge donned a roomy silver pantsuit and plunging top to perform the track off her fifth studio album Now, which topped the Billboard 200 chart this month.

The Canadian country crooner - easily defying her 52 years - admitted on Wednesday's episode of The Talk: 'Honestly, I had to squeeze into this thing'

Man! I Feel Like A Woman! was filmed in 1999 and was role-reversal version of Robert Palmers iconic 1986 video Addicted to Love where the singer was surrounded by sultry women

It's been 15 years since the songstress had an album out.

It's hard to believe Shania (born Eilleen Edwards) is the mother of 15-year-old-son Eja with first husband, South African producer Lange.

Nine years ago, Twain engaged in a bizarre spouse swap when Lange left her for her longtime secretary and best friend, Marie-Anne Thiebaud, and then she wed Thiebaud's ex-husband Frederic.

The five-time Grammy winner will officially kick off her 64-date Now Tour on May 3 at the Tacoma Dome in Washington State.

Shania added: 'It's the actual, original outfit from the top to the bottom, and we pulled it out of the museum, borrowed it, and I'm thinking "It's a great idea, if I can actually fit into it!"'

Topped the Billboard 200: The DWTS guest judge donned a roomy silver pantsuit and plunging top to performed the track off her fifth studio album Now
Puerto Rico is struggling to recover after Maria ripped through the island, leaving dozens of people dead and cutting power and running water to much of its population

An American firm that snagged a lucrative contract to restore electricity in storm-ravaged Puerto Rico is under scrutiny because its primary financial backer made contributions to Donald Trump.

Whitefish Energy Holdings is a tiny Montana-based company founded two years ago -- and primarily financed by the private equity firm HBC Investments -- that won a reportedly $300 million contract to help return power to the storm-battered US territory.

The Federal Electoral Commission (FEC), the US agency overseeing election law compliance, lists investor Joe Colonnetta as a major financial donor to Trump's presidential campaign.

Puerto Rico is struggling to recover after Maria ripped through the island, leaving dozens of people dead and cutting power and running water to much of its population.

Slightly more than a month after the storm, some 80 percent of customers still lack power.

Given the scale of the destruction, it came as a surprise that a small company like Whitefish received such a crucial contract.

After The Daily Beast news website reported about the Whitefish-Trump connection, island authorities and the company itself hurried to defend the decision.

"Of those who met the requirements and aggressive schedules to bring brigades, one was asking for a substantial amount of money," said Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello, who promised audits of contracting processes.

"Another did not require it; that other one is Whitefish.

"The process was started because of the emergency situation, in order to be able to have brigades working here in Puerto Rico."

Whitefish spokesman Ken Luce denounced as "baseless" any connection between the contract and the Trump campaign.

"There are millions of Trump supporters and there were millions of Clinton supporters," he added.

The United States has faced widespread criticism for its response to Maria, as well as aid efforts following an earlier walloping from Hurricane Irma.

The twin storms slammed into the island already struggling with a severe financial crisis that forced the government to file for bankruptcy in May.

Ricardo Ramos, the head of Puerto Rico's power authority, called Whitefish's winning bid the "best decision" for the island because it required a much smaller advance than other companies had required.
Arizona Republican Jeff Flake unleashed a fierce broadside at President Donald Trump as he delivered a resignation speech on the Senate floor

Donald Trump's attempt to build bridges in his own party blew up spectacularly on Tuesday as one senator announced he is quitting Congress and another attacked the president for debasing the country.

Senator Jeff Flake assailed Trump in a bombshell 17-minute floor speech that sounded like a distress call warning of a "reckless presidency," just minutes after Trump made a rare foray to Congress to dine with Republican senators.

Flake's surprise announcement came hours after a Republican colleague, Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, reignited his war of words with Trump, calling him an "utterly untruthful" leader who "debases" the nation.

The extraordinary developments on Capitol Hill only deepened the tensions between Trump and his party, some of whose establishment members have grown increasingly concerned about his coarse and combative style of governing.

Flake, an establishment conservative who has served in the Senate since 2013 and has been an outspoken critic of Trump-era politics, displayed visible emotion as he announced he would not seek re-election next year.

"The personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms and institutions, the flagrant disregard for truth and decency... none of these appalling features of our current politics should ever be regarded as normal," said the 54-year-old Arizona Republican.

Trump attends the Senate Republican caucus lunch for the first time since his inauguration, to rally support for passing a tax overhaul before year's end

"We must stop pretending that the degradation of politics and the conduct of some in our executive branch are normal," Flake warned.

"Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior is excused as telling it like it is, when it's actually just reckless, outrageous and undignified."

Flake blasted Trump for his unfettered tweeting, and attacked fellow Republicans for keeping quiet as "the alliances and agreements that ensure the stability of the entire world are routinely threatened by the level of thought that goes into 140 characters."

"Politics can make us silent when we should speak and silence can equal complicity," added the senator. "I will not be complicit or silent."

- 'Untruthful president' -

Senator Bob Corker has publicly aired disagreements with Trump, a fellow Republican, but the feud has reached a new level

Tuesday was supposed to be a good day for the often-strained relations between Trump and his party.

The president attended the Senate Republican caucus lunch for the first time since his inauguration, to press for a unified front for passing a package of tax cuts before year's end.

But the unity unraveled before he even arrived.

The focus swerved instead to a brutal back-and-forth between Trump and Corker, the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman who has excoriated the president as dangerously impulsive and branded the White House an "adult day care center."

When Corker urged the president early Tuesday to stand clear of the tax debate and "leave it to the professionals" -- Trump rounded on him in a series of tweets, and the war of words was on.

"Bob Corker, who helped President O give us the bad Iran Deal & couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee, is now fighting Tax Cuts," Trump tweeted.

"Same untruths from an utterly untruthful president," shot back Corker, who opposed the Iran nuclear deal because he believed it was too weak.

"I don't know why he lowers himself to such a low, low standard and debases our country in the way that he does, but he does," Corker -- who like Flake is not seeking re-election next year -- went on to tell reporters, voicing regret for supporting Trump's presidential bid.

- 'Political price' -

In the past week, Trump has been harshly criticized by two high-profile Republicans: former president George W. Bush, who said "bigotry seems emboldened" in the Trump era, and Senator John McCain, a former war hero who issued a searing rebuke to Trump's ideas and politics.

Trump's feud with Corker has further exposed the president's tensions with some Republicans in Congress, where a major legislative victory this year has proved elusive.

Immediately after Flake's speech, McCain, the senior senator from their state of Arizona, praised him for his "honor" and "patriotism."

"I have seen Jeff Flake stand up for what he believes in, knowing full well that there would be a political price to pay," McCain said.

Trump has previously attacked Flake as "weak" and "ineffective," and has derided Corker's height while labeling him "incompetent."

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders responded to their twin attacks on Trump by saying voters would likely not have supported either senator were they to have run again.

"I think that they were not likely to be re-elected, and I think that that shows that the support is more behind this president than it is those two individuals," she said.

Republicans and Democrats alike expressed their sadness about Flake's announced departure.

"Jeff Flake is good people," said Democratic Senator Brian Schatz.

"If he's not sufficiently Republican, I don't know what the modern Republican Party is."
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New Zealand's National Party was Wednesday found guilty of ripping off rapper Eminem's song "Lose Yourself" in a 2014 election campaign commercial and ordered to pay more than NZ$600,000 (US$413,600) in damages.

National, which won the 2014 election but was tipped out of power last week following the latest ballot, was accused of breaching copyright by using a work entitled "Eminem Esque".

The Detroit rapper's music publishers, Eight Mile Style and Martin Affiliated, launched proceedings in September 2014 arguing "Eminem Esque" was "Lose Yourself" under a different name.

Five months after a two-week hearing in May, the New Zealand High Court found the National Party guilty.

"Eight Mile Style is entitled to damages on a 'user principle' basis in the sum of NZ$600,000, with interest, from 28 June 2014," the court said in a statement.

Eminems publishers argued the music was a rip-off of the rappers acclaimed Grammy and Academy Award-winning song "Lose Yourself" from the soundtrack of the 2002 movie "8 Mile".

National said the music may have been inspired by Eminem's hit but was different.

The party insisted it bought the music in good faith from a recognised supplier and was assured there was no risk of copyright infringement.

In a statement issued after the ruling, National Party president Peter Goodfellow said they were considering the implications and "already have a claim against the suppliers and licensors of the track".

During the hearing, National's lawyer Greg Arthur claimed the industry practice of making so-called "sound-alike" songs that were different enough to avoid copyright issues was well-established.

But Eight Mile's lawyer Gary Williams said the National Party infringed copyright by using the song, or a substantial reproduction of it.

Williams described "Lose Yourself" as "without doubt the jewel in the crown of Eminem's musical work".

"The licensing of the song has been extremely carefully controlled. Despite many requests, it has only rarely been licensed for advertising purposes," he said.

"When licensed, it can command in the millions of dollars. That's how valuable it is."
Situated on a barren peninsula in the Arabian Sea, Gwadar, or the "gate of the wind", owes its fortuitous selection as Pakistan's next economic hub to its strategic location near the Strait of Hormuz

Remote and impoverished, Pakistan's Gwadar port at first glance seems an unlikely crown jewel in a multi-billion-dollar development project with China aimed at constructing a 21st century Silk Road.

Situated on a barren peninsula in the Arabian Sea, Gwadar, or the "gate of the wind", owes its fortuitous selection as Pakistan's next economic hub to its strategic location near the Strait of Hormuz.

The city is set to become the bridgehead for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $54 billion project launched in 2013 linking western China to the Indian Ocean via Pakistan.

The corridor is one of the largest projects in Beijing's "One Belt One Road" initiative, comprising a network of roads and sea routes involving 65 countries.

The Chinese-financed initiative aims to connect the country with Africa, Asia and Europe through a vast network of ports, railways, roads and industrial parks.

Gwadar, with a population of about 100,000 that is projected by one estimate to jump tenfold by 2050, has relied on fishing and the artisanal construction of boats for generations

But for Pakistan, participating in the project presents an enormous challenge in a country plagued by weak institutions, endemic corruption and a range of insurgencies in areas slated to host the corridor.

"This port is going to help Pakistan make linkages with neighbouring countries. The entire nation will be getting benefits out of Gwadar," Dostain Khan Jamaldini, chairman of the Gwadar Port Authority, told reporters.

But "the first beneficiaries of this port will be the people of Gwadar".

The subject of economic dividends is extremely sensitive in resource-rich Balochistan -- one of Pakistan's poorest and most violent provinces, where separatist insurgencies have been waged for decades.

Since the beginning of the project militants have repeatedly attacked construction sites and targeted Chinese workers.

The project includes the country's first deep-water port, a free-trade zone and 50 kilometres (31 miles) of dock space.

"Gwadar port is not Chinese, our strong partner is Chinese and we appreciate their boldness," said Jamaldini.

"They came to Gwadar when nobody was accepting the idea to come and visit."

- Contested territory -

China has eyed Gwadar for years.

Beijing financed an earlier scheme to develop the port prior to 2007, which was later overseen by a Singaporean group. But following bouts of insecurity, the Singaporeans handed it back to the Chinese in 2013.

Dostain Khan Jamaldini, chairman of the Gwadar Port Authority, told reporters Gwadar would be the first to benefit from the development

The ambitious corridor is also far from popular in the region. India makes no mystery of its reservations over an infrastructure project that crosses through disputed Kashmiri territory.

This month US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis raised concerns about the issue, sparking a fierce backlash in Pakistan and claims Washington was trying to "contain China" in favour of arch-rival India.

Beyond diplomatic concerns, security remains a key issue in Gwadar, according to Brigadier Kamal Azfar, who heads "Brigade 440" -- a security outfit created to protect CPEC projects and personnel.

Hostile forces are trying to "scuttle or stall CPEC", he said in reference to accusations India has backed insurgents hostile to the project.

Pakistani fishermen construct a boat in Gwadar Port

The area also lacks water and electricity, which developers hope will be remedied by dams and desalination plants outlined in the scheme.

Officials also worry the peninsula will fall victim to real estate speculation. Property prices near the port doubled between 2014 and 2016, said Sajjad Baloch, the director of the Gwadar Development Authority, before falling 20 percent.

And despite promises of future prosperity, skilled labour is lacking, says Mohamed Siddique, who runs a local hospital. Even with modern facilities it operates at a limited capacity because of a dearth of specialists.

- Chinatown -

In Gwadar city, economic activity spurred by CPEC remains limited. A lone freighter was anchored in the port during AFP's recent visit. Only three to four arrive every month, according to port authorities.

The expressway leading to the site is unfinished.

Chinese nationals wait to receive luggage after arriving at Pakistan's Gwadar Port

About 300 Chinese people working on various projects live in prefabricated houses on the port -- coined Chinatown -- but only venture out with a security escort.

The city itself, with a population of about 100,000 that is projected by one estimate to jump tenfold by 2050, has relied on fishing and the artisanal construction of boats for generations.

Up to 50,000 people, mostly fishermen, could be "gradually" resettled to make way for the project, Baloch said, adding the potential move could see them relocated to a "state-of-the-art jetty".

The first priority for the jobs will go to Gwadaris, "then to the Balochis, then to the people of any part of Pakistan", Baloch said.

However few Gwadaris have been hired at the port, according to locals building boats on a nearby beach.

"We are hoping to get a job there," said Juneid.

For others, it's a chance to right the wrongs of past subjugation.

"Balochistan province should get the maximum benefits instead of outsiders," said Abdullah Usman, 47, a social worker.

"It will be unfortunate if the local Baloch do not benefit... that would cause an increase in the several decades long sense of deprivation."
Rohingya refugees wait for relief aid at Balukhali refugee camp in the Bangladeshi district of Ukhia on October 24, 2017

Myanmar and Bangladesh have agreed to work together to repatriate hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees, officials said, but details remain thin as the humanitarian crisis deepens.

Ties between the neighbours have been severely strained by army-led violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state that has driven more than 600,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh since late August.

The exodus has saddled one of Asia's poorest nations with a massive humanitarian crisis, with refugees too terrified to return to Rakhine.

Dhaka and the UN have accused Myanmar's army of ethnic cleansing and called for the full repatriation of the Muslim minority, who have crammed into makeshift camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district.

Washington is also pressing for targeted sanctions against Myanmar military officers involved in the violence.

After talks in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw on Tuesday, Bangladesh's Home Ministry said Myanmar had agreed to stop the outflow of Rohingya and take back all refugees.

"Myanmar has agreed to stop continuous entry of displaced Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh and to bring normalcy back to the Rakhine State," the Home Ministry said in a statement.

But Myanmar offered a more measured commitment, saying only that refugees would need to be scrutinised for proof of their roots in Rakhine state.

"We cannot say when we are going to receive (the refugees)," Tin Myint, from Myanmar's Home Ministry, told reporters after the meeting.

"We will accept after scrutinising... we will check whether they really stayed in Maungdaw and Buthidaung," he said, referring to the hardest-hit districts in Rakhine that are now nearly empty of Rohingya residents.

That criteria may be difficult to fulfil for the Rohingya who bolted from Myanmar soldiers and Buddhist mobs who they allege drove them out with a massive campaign of arson, murder and rape.

Also, Myanmar has rendered the Rohingya stateless with the government refusing to recognise them as a distinct ethnic group.

Myanmar has vehemently rejected accusations of ethnic cleansing and defended the army campaign as a legitimate response to August 25 attacks by Rohingya militants.

Previous Myanmar government statements have suggested that any Rohingya with links to the militants would be barred from returning home.

Even if the reparation plan goes forward, there is widespread concern over what the Rohingya will return to, since many of their villages have been razed by fires.

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Mysterious ancient stone structures in the desert in Saudi Arabia

Nearly 400 mysterious ancient stone structures have been identified in the Saudi Arabian desert by an Australian researcher using Google Earth.

David Kennedy, whose team has spent decades recording thousands of archaeological sites in the Middle East, said the man-made edifices, known as "gates", are thought to have been constructed between 2,000 to 9,000 years ago.

But their purpose and function are a mystery.

"You can't see them in any intelligible way at the ground level but once you get up a few hundred feet, or with a satellite even higher, they stand out beautifully," the University of Western Australia academic Wednesday said in a statement.

Kennedy said he was baffled when he first saw the remote and inhospitable site, in the lava fields of an ancient volcano, on satellite images, despite some 40 years working in the region.

"I refer to them as Gates because when you view them from above they look like a simple field gate lying flat, two upright posts on the sides, connected by one or more long bars," he said.

"They don't look like structures where people would have lived nor do they look like animal traps or for disposing of dead bodies. It's a mystery as to what their purpose would have been."

His findings are described in a paper published next month in the journal Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy.

He said not much was known about the people who built them, but they were believed to be ancestors of the modern-day Bedouin.

Their discovery came about by chance after a Saudi doctor who was interested in the area's history contacted him, having heard about his work in Jordan.

"He said 'I'm interested in the heritage of my country, I've spotted on Google Earth that there are some rather strange structures in the lava fields'," Kennedy told broadcaster ABC.

"He sent the coordinates of them to me and I had a look and I was bowled over by them."

Kennedy, a founding director of the Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa project, specialises in aerial archaeology.

Since 1997, he and his team have photographed tens of thousands of stone-built structures, mostly in Jordan, ranging from giant circles to animal traps and funerary monuments.
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Russia handed over army trucks and thousands of assault rifles to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday as the two nations celebrated their growing military ties.

Duterte accepted the weaponry during a visit to a Russian naval ship docked in Manila, the latest move to embrace Russia and China while distancing the Philippines from its longtime ally and mutual defence partner, the United States.

Following a tour of the mammoth anti-submarine warship Admiral Panteleyev, Duterte personally handled some of the 5,000 donated Kalashnikov rifles along with ammunition and 20 trucks to the poorly-equipped Philippine military.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu hailed the closer relations as he signed two agreements with his Filipino counterpart, Delfin Lorenzana.

"The Philippines is considered to be (a) key and prospective partner in Southeast Asia and Asian-Pacific rim in general," the Russian defence ministry quoted him as saying in a statement, adding it was the first time a defence minister from Moscow had visited the Philippines.

For decades the Southeast Asian nation has been one of Washington's most staunch regional military allies.

But the firebrand Duterte, 72, has loosened that 70-year alliance.

Infuriated by American criticism of a controversial drug war which has claimed thousands of lives, Duterte has instead reached out to Russia and China.

The poorly equipped Philippine army needs allies.

The military on Monday finally declared an end to a five-month battle in the southern city of Marawi where troops struggled to flush out militants loyal to the Islamic State group in the nation's longest urban warfare.

Australian and US military helped provide crucial reconnaissance and targeting during that fight.

But Duterte has made it clear he favours being less dependent on the US.

During a visit to Beijing last year he said he had "realigned" himself towards Beijing and Moscow.

"There are three of us against the world: China, Philippines and Russia," he added.

Shoigu and Lorenzana on Tuesday signed an agreement at the sidelines of a security forum north of Manila that covered defence cooperation in weapons research and exchange of experts, according to statements from their ministries.

The Philippines also signed a contract to purchase rocket propelled grenade launchers, the Russian ministry said without stating how many weapons would be acquired or how much the deal was worth.

China has also donated thousands of assault and sniper rifles to the Philippines in a similar gesture of friendship.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, seen through the window of his plane after arriving in New Delhi, on October 24, 2017

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday started talks with Indian leaders expected to highlight the strong alliance between the two nations, with both anxious to counter China's growing influence.

Tillerson arrived from Pakistan, India's arch-rival, where he was given a low-key reception after US complaints about Islamabad backing Taliban militants on its soil.

In New Delhi Tillerson was to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj. He started the day by meeting national security adviser Ajit Doval.

Tillerson also laid a wreath at a memorial to India's independence movement leader Mahatma Gandhi, removing his shoes to approach a pillar marking the spot where Gandhi was shot dead on January 30, 1948.

Support for efforts to bolster the Afghan government, China's influence and other Asian security issues were expected to dominate talks in New Delhi, officials said.

Last week Tillerson called for deeper cooperation with India in the face of growing Chinese influence in Asia and said Washington wanted to promote a "free and open" region led by prosperous democracies.

He also said Beijing sometimes flouted international conventions, citing the South China Sea dispute as an example.

India welcomed the comments, saying they "highlighted our shared commitment to a rule-based international order".

In Pakistan Tillerson met Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, military chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and other top officials.

"Tillerson reiterated President Trump's message that Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country," a statement from the US embassy said Tuesday.

But he also expressed his appreciation to Pakistan for the sacrifices it has made in fighting militancy and for its help in securing the release of a US-Canadian family held captive by the Taliban for five years.
The Politburo Standing Committee, (L-R) Han Zheng, Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Zhao Leji

The six dark-suited Communist Party officials joining President Xi Jinping on China's highest decision-making body are all men in their 60s, suggesting he has no plans to groom a successor any time soon.

There is no obvious challenger to Xi in the group appointed Wednesday to the Politburo Standing Committee, which includes two known allies and an ideologist.

When the next party congress comes round in 2022, they will all be too old to serve the customary two five-year terms as party general secretary -- given a retirement age informally set at 68.

Here are the seven men in the order they were presented to the public in the Great Hall of the People:

Xi Jinping

Graphic showing the structure of the Chinese leadership

Xi, 64, tightened his already formidable grip on power at the congress, securing a second five-year term as general secretary after his name and political theory were enshrined in the party's constitution -- raising the prospect he could stay in power beyond 2022.

During the congress Xi announced that China had entered a "new era" that would transform it into a global superpower with a world-class military by mid-century.

In his first term he oversaw a sweeping crackdown on dissent, targeting activists and human rights lawyers.

Li Keqiang

Li, 62, runs day-to-day affairs as the premier. When Xi took office five years ago, Li was seen as the man in charge of shepherding the economy.

He promised "fair treatment" to foreign firms, a larger role for the market and structural reforms in favour of the private sector.

But analysts say the premier has been sidelined as Xi has further centralised power around himself.

Li Zhanshu

Li, 67, is director of the party's General Office and is seen as a close confidant and friend of Xi's.

Perhaps more importantly to Xi, he has no strong ties to ex-presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao. In Chinese politics, former presidents tend to wield considerable influence.

Li previously served as party secretary of the southern province of Guizhou and as governor of Heilongjiang province.

Wang Yang

Wang, 62, serves as one of four vice premiers.

He previously managed the affluent southern province of Guangdong as party boss from 2007-2012 as well as the mega-city of Chongqing from 2005-2007.

He is considered one of the party's most socially and economically liberal leaders, having advocated the role of the free market and political reform -- something which may put him at odds with Xi.

Wang Huning

Wang, 62, is a leading Communist Party theorist, credited with assisting Jiang with the "Three Represents" philosophy and former president Hu Jintao with his "Scientific Outlook on Development" theory.

Analysts say Wang's promotion reflects Xi's desire to make an impact with his own political philosophy, "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era", which entered the party constitution this week.

Zhao Leji

In addition to joining the committee, Zhao, 60, was named the new head of the powerful anti-corruption agency, which has brought down 1.5 million corrupt officials since 2012 -- including some seen as possible Xi rivals.

He is closely linked to Xi as part of the so-called Shaanxi clique of leaders from the northern province.

Zhao was party boss of Shaanxi from 2007-2012 and of the far-western province of Qinghai from 2003-2007.

Han Zheng

Han, 63, is the party secretary of Shanghai and has been linked to the so-called "Shanghai clique" influenced by Jiang.

Whoever leads the financial hub has traditionally always been a member of the Standing Committee, with the exception of former Shanghai party boss Chen Liangyu, who was jailed in 2008 for bribery and abuse of power.
Dear Annie: My husband and I have had a cat for two years, and it is amazing how close we are to that little furry animal. He is a Persian longhair and full of love. He purrs whenever he is held or sits in your lap. Also, we just adopted a Great Pyrenees dog. We did not know much about this breed but are pleasantly surprised at how gentle she is. She ignores the cat and is wonderful with children. Yet she is a fantastic protection dog. I read that Great Pyrenees protect sheep and other livestock and chase away wolves and cheetahs, so you can imagine how powerful they are. We got her because there have been a series of break-ins in our neighborhood and we were advised that a big dog can be great protection against burglars.

The problem is that our dog, sweet as she is, demands total attention. When either of us holds the cat, she comes over and says, through her body language, ''Hold me instead.'' We're not sure how to handle this so both animals feel loved and appreciated. -- Cats and Dogs

Dear Cats and Dogs: You are blessed to have such loving animals and smart to take their feelings seriously. In a 2014 study, researchers at the University of California, San Diego found evidence that dogs do in fact experience jealousy. So for the cat's sake, as well as the dog's, it is important to reassure your dog by petting her at the same time. Either you or your husband can hold the cat while the other pets the dog. If you are alone, then pet both animals at the same time. As long as you pet them both, your household will literally be in good hands.

Topics that resonate

Dear Readers: One of the many joys of writing this column is finding out which topics resonate with readers. Most recently, it was business cards. I have chosen two of the many letters I received on this issue. Hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did.

Dear Annie: It was very heartening to read that you strongly recommend business cards and thank-you notes. I have found that the younger generation of businesspeople are not very businesslike. The most exasperating lazy habit is that so many don't even sign their email. They expect you to extract their name from their email address. Signature blocks make a business card valuable, and these cards eliminate the need to Google for contact information. -- Dial Generation Nanny

Dear Nanny: You are not alone, as you will see by the next letter.

Dear Annie: This morning, my father walked into the office and handed me your column about handing out business cards. We run and operate a family business that was established by my grandfather in 1959, founded on old-school principles. The importance of networking, being involved in the community, and getting your name out there has been preached to me over the years. It was refreshing to read your opinion that business cards hold a lot of importance and value. And I liked that you mentioned sending a handwritten thank-you card. These small things really do make a big difference. I couldn't agree more, and you've helped put an exclamation point on what my grandfather and my father have been preaching to me. I think it made my father's day, judging by the smile on his face when he handed me the article.

Dear Patrick: You made my day -- judging by the smile on my face! Thank you. And you're right; good manners go a long way toward business success.
"Election, what election?" Opposition supporters in the western Kenyan city of Kisumu have pledged to block Thursday's vote with some election officials saying they feared for their lives

Kenyan opposition chief Raila Odinga urged his supporters to stay at home on Thursday as the country forges ahead with a disputed presidential poll that could threaten the stability of the east African powerhouse.

In a move likely to ease fears of election-day violence, Odinga on Wednesday called on followers to "hold vigils and prayers away from polling stations or just stay at home".

The election is the chaotic climax of a two-months political drama that began when the Supreme Court overturned the victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta in the August 8 elections.

It cited "irregularities" and mismanagement by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The repeat election is going ahead after clearing myriad legal and political hurdles, but anxiety remains high over the unpredictable consequences of a vote that will take place without Odinga.

Opposition protests have resulted in at least 40 people being killed, mostly at the hands of police and in poor opposition strongholds, according to rights groups.

Odinga said supporters should stay away for the "bloodthirsty regime is planning to use every excuse to massacre our people."

In Odinga's western stronghold of Kisumu, one protester was shot in the hip on Wednesday, according to an AFP photographer, as demonstrators engaged in running battles with police.

Protester Gordon Oyeke vowed to stay at home for the election.

"We don't want elections, we will stay at home. Why fight for something we don't want and risk getting hit by bullets by the criminal police," he told AFP.

Kenyatta called for peace on election day, and said this chance for a fresh election would help the country cement its democracy.

"Tomorrow (Thursday) we have yet another opportunity to show the world that we are a free, modern state preoccupied by striving for unity, shared progress, peace and shared prosperity," he said in a televised address.

- Final legal hurdle fails -

Election chief Wafula Chebukati -- who said last week he could not guarantee a credible election -- appeared to soften his stance on Wednesday after "assurances" from security officials and authorities and "progress" within his divided commission.

"The election as scheduled will go ahead tomorrow, the 26th of October," he said.

The final legal hurdle came in the form of a last-minute Supreme Court petition to delay the election.

But the hearing was unable to go ahead after only two of seven judges showed up in court. At least five judges are needed to form a quorum.

Chief Justice David Maraga said one judge was ill and out of the country, one could not get a flight to Nairobi and two were "not able to come to court," he said.

There are concerns the vote could get messy in some areas, with Kenya's security forces on high alert

And his deputy, Philomena Mwilu, did not attend because her bodyguard was shot and seriously wounded on Tuesday evening.

She was not in her car at the time but the incident fuelled anxiety in a country still reeling from the torture and murder of a top official overseeing Kenya's electronic voting system just a week before the August poll.

The vote has also been plagued by opposition attacks on polling officials and a general atmosphere of intimidation.

Chebukati said last week one of his staff members' house had been burned down, saying when "midwifing democracy... becomes as risky as going to war, then we are at our lowest".

Outspoken opposition senator James Orengo said the failure to raise a quorum was "not by coincidence or by accident."

- 'Campaign of defiance' -

Opposition supporters attend the funeral of three people who were shot dead earlier this month, bringing to 40 the total number killed in Kenya since the initial vote on August 8

The ballot was meant to pit Kenyatta, who turns 56 on Thursday, against 72-year-old Odinga for the third time, in a dynastic political rivalry that began with their fathers after the country gained independence from Britain.

But while Odinga secured a rare victory in having the August ballot overturned, he has refused to take part in the re-run.

The withdrawal assures a triumph for Kenyatta, although analysts say the flawed image of the election will tarnish his victory.

Odinga accuses the IEBC of failing to make sufficient reforms to ensure the vote would be free, fair and credible.

The veteran opposition leader, who has lost three previous elections claiming fraud in two of them, said his National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition would transform into "a resistance movement."

NASA will "embark on a national campaign of defiance of illegitimate governmental authority and non-cooperation with all its organs," he declared.

- Observers limit missions -

Raila Odinga

Weeks of uncertainty have hit east Africa's richest economy hard.

"It's very disturbing, everything is at a standstill. We have to wait for this election to pass to go back to our daily normal routines," said voter Edward Irungu, 31.

Ahuya Achieng, 35, a travel consultant, said: "We are very tired, people say Kenya should move on, but where to?"

The crisis is the worst since a disputed 2007 election sparked months of politically-motivated ethnic violence that left 1,100 dead.

Citing extreme tensions, an uncertain political environment and lack of a fully competitive election, missions from the European Union and the Carter Centre have decided to limit their observation of the vote.
A pangolin is seen in a cage after a recent raid in Pekanbaru, Riau province on October 25, 2017

Indonesian authorities have seized more than 100 pangolins, all of them alive, an official said Wednesday, a haul of the critically endangered species that conservationists estimate to be worth about $1.5 million.

Indonesian officials discovered the pangolins on Tuesday in a raid on a fishing boat off the east coast of Sumatra island, the navy said in a press statement.

Authorities were tipped off by local residents who said men were attempting to smuggle the scaly mammals to Malaysia.

Pangolins -- docile animals with a thick armour -- are indigenous to parts of Southeast Asia and Africa and are the world's most trafficked mammal.

Two men, aged 22 and 25, were arrested after they confessed they were paid money to transport the pangolins to Malaysia.

If found guilty the suspects could face maximum five years in prison and a Rp 100 million ($7,300) fine for violating Indonesia's conservation law.

"We received 101 live pangolins seized by the navy yesterday (Tuesday) but four of them later died," said the head of a local conservation agency.

The seized pangolins will be released in the nearest national park, said Mahfudz, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

Dwi Adhiasto, from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which works with Indonesian authorities to halt wildlife crime, said the shipment was worth about $25,000 wholesale, but could fetch as much as $1.5 million when sold internationally.

In June, naval officers discovered 223 live pangolins, 24 of which were already dead, as well as nine large bags of pangolin scales in a warehouse near Medan, North Sumatra.

Pangolin meat is considered a delicacy in China and their scales are sometimes used in the production of crystal methamphetamine.

Soaring demand for the reclusive creature has seen an estimated one million pangolins snatched from Asian and African forests over the past decade, sending their numbers to perilous lows.
South Korean ousted leader Park Geun-hye (L) arrives at a court in Seoul on August 25, 2017

Ousted South Korean president Park Geun-Hye was assigned new state attorneys for her corruption trial, a court spokesman said Wednesday, a week after her own defence lawyers resigned to protest what they called biased proceedings.

Park faces multiple charges including bribery, coercion and abuse of power for offering governmental favours to tycoons, and is being held in custody.

She was impeached by parliament after months of mass protests against her over a sprawling graft scandal, and the constitutional court upheld the decision in March, dismissing her from office. She went on criminal trial in May.

But her entire defence team quit last week, accusing the court of bias, after Park's detention was extended for another six months. The proceedings have been put on hold indefinitely as a result.

A court spokesman said Wednesday that five state attorneys had been appointed to defend Park, but declined to disclose their names.

The trial is likely resume in mid-November, Yonhap news agency said, as the new lawyers have to review more than 120,000 pages of documents.

Park, the daughter of late dictator Park Chung-Hee, is the third former South Korean president to be charged with corruption in Asia's fourth-largest economy, where politics and big business have long been closely tied.

Two former army-backed leaders who ruled in the 1980s and 1990s -- Chun Doo-Hwan and Roh Tae-Woo -- both served jail terms after they retired for offences including bribery.

Another ex-leader, Roh Moo-Hyun, committed suicide in 2009 by jumping off a cliff after he was questioned over graft allegations.
Toyota denied there was any politics behind the decision to cut back on production in Mexico

Toyota said on Wednesday it is cutting investment and production at a planned Mexican factory targeted by Donald Trump, but denied politics played any role in the decision, which came days before the US president visits Japan.

The auto giant is reducing planned investment at the Guanajuato plant to $700 million from $1.0 billion forecast earlier and halving capacity to 100,000 units a year.

The proposed new plant sparked an angry reaction in January from president-elect Trump, who has urged foreign firms to keep more manufacturing jobs in the US.

He threatened Toyota with painful tariffs if the factory went ahead.

Toyota said the scaling-back was linked to a product change at the factory in central Mexico -- scheduled to start production in 2019.

"Our commitment to Mexico is still there," Toyota spokesman Jean-Yves Jault told AFP.

"We also want to make the US (operations) grow and succeed.

"This was not a direct response to comments from Trump. It goes beyond just one factory," he added.

Toyota initially planned to build 200,000 of its Corolla sedans at the Mexican plant.

But due to strong demand for its Tacoma pick-up trucks -- manufactured in two plants in North America -- the firm decided to scrap Corolla production in Mexico and build Tacomas instead.

This reduced the amount of investment required in the Mexican plant and the firm has decided to manufacture the Corollas in the US, stressed Jault.
Vietnam's Trade and Industry Minister Tran Tuan Anh at a preliminary meeting in May before next month's APEC summit: authorities are cracking down before the meeting

A Vietnamese student was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison for anti-state propaganda, as the government tightens its grip on critics before an Asia-Pacific summit in the country next month.

Scores of dissidents are already behind bars in the communist state, and rights groups say 2017 has been a particularly harsh year for activists with a spate of arrests and heavy jail sentences.

Phan Kim Khanh, 24, was sentenced for anti-state activities, his lawyer told AFP, blasting the trial as "biased".

"The court decided to put him in jail for six years and another four years on probation afterwards," Ha Huy Son said.

Khanh was arrested in March during his final year of an international studies degree at Thai Nguyen University in northern Vietnam.

He reportedly ran several blogs and YouTube channels where he voiced opinions on corruption and politics.

Son said his client was calm in court Wednesday as he apologised for what he had done.

His sister told AFP Khanh had not broken the law.

"We did not know what he did. But I think he's innocent," Phan Thi Trang said.

Khanh joins scores of dissidents already behind bars.

There is no independent media in the country, though bloggers and activists have become increasingly vocal on social media in recent years.

Analysts say authorities have ramped up a clampdown on activists before an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November.

Others say the current conservative leadership in power since last year has become bolder in pursuing its critics since the election of US President Donald Trump.

Trump's administration has been accused of turning its back on human rights while seeking overseas trade deals.

Human Rights Watch said foreign governments should put pressure on Vietnam at the APEC meeting.

"International donors and trade partners need to step up pressure on the country's leaders to improve its abysmal rights record, and the APEC summit is a good moment to start," HRW Asia director Brad Adams said in a statement.

The group said at least 28 people have been arrested for "vaguely-interpreted" national security violations over the past year.
A woman holds an image of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as mourners wait for his funeral to begin

Crowds of mourners braved overnight downpours as they crushed into Bangkok's old quarter on Wednesday to secure a vantage point for the funeral of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a spectacular event one year in the making.

The cremation late Thursday will be the biggest Thai royal event for a century and will see colourful funeral processions pass through the capital before his pyre is lit inside a purpose-built site.

Tens of thousands of black-clad mourners have massed along the procession routes near Bangkok's Grand Palace despite heavy overnight rain.

They gathered for a final chance to be near a king revered as a near-deity during his 70-year reign.

"I want to come and bid goodbye as close as I can to him," Una Tontakulchanchai, 40, told AFP.

Funeral ceremonies began on Wednesday afternoon as Bhumibol's heir King Maha Vajiralongkorn joined a Buddhist merit-making ceremony for his father at the Grand Palace.

Palace aides shuffling on their knees were in attendance on the new king, Rama X of the Chakri dynasty, as he lit candles before the rituals began with monks.

Thailand has been in sombre mood since Bhumibol's death one year ago aged 88, a watershed moment that removed the nation's only unifying figure during decades of political upheaval and economic change.

Many Thais have worn mourning attire for a year as tributes to the monarch dominate every aspect of life.

Public grieving is encouraged by the ultra-royalist junta that grabbed power in 2014.

Any deviation is discouraged by a draconian royal defamation law that punishes criticism of the monarchy with jail time.

On Tuesday soldiers whisked an activist from his Bangkok home to the western province of Kanchanaburi after he threatened on Facebook to disrupt the cremation ceremony.

Ekachai Hongkangwan, a rare voice of dissent in the junta-ruled nation, was given the option of leaving the capital or staying in a military barracks while the five-day funeral unfolds, according to human rights lawyers.

"He was not charged but the military said he was taken for the sake of order and peace during the royal cremation ceremony," Anon Numpa, an attorney with Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, told AFP.

In a Facebook post last week Ekachai said he would "wear a red shirt and do something unthinkable" on October 26, the day of the cremation.

Authorities said they could not confirm the lawyers' account.

Thursday's cremation ceremony is expected to draw a quarter of a million Thais to central Bangkok, as well as a roster of foreign royals and heads of state.
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj shakes hand with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson before a meeting in New Delhi on October 25, 2017

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday the United States was concerned that extremist groups pose a threat to the "stability and security" of the Pakistan government.

Tillerson, who arrived in New Delhi late Tuesday after a frosty reception in Islamabad, said the US was worried that too many extremist groups were finding safe havens inside Pakistan from which to launch attacks on other nations.

"Quite frankly my view -- and I expressed this to the leadership of Pakistan -- is we also are concerned about the stability and security of Pakistans government as well," he told reporters in New Delhi.

"This could lead to a threat to Pakistan's own stability. It is not in anyone's interests that the government of Pakistan be destabilised."

Tillerson's visit to Pakistan came months after President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of harbouring "agents of chaos" who could attack US-led NATO forces in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Tillerson's warning followed an unannounced stop in Afghanistan Monday, where he reiterated US commitment to the country and warned that Washington has made "very specific requests" of Pakistan over militancy.

In New Delhi the Secretary of State thanked his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj for standing "shoulder to shoulder" with the US in combating extremism in the region.
Rohingya refugees wait for aid at a Bangladesh camp

Bangladesh has arrested on terrorism charges a prominent Buddhist whose charity operates in Myanmar's strife-torn Rakhine state, police said Wednesday.

Police said U Shit Maung, 67, was detained as he tried to board a flight to Myanmar at Dhaka's international airport last week.

Police only revealed Wednesday that Maung, who heads the Rakhaing Development Foundation, had been detained after allegedly suspicious images were found on his laptop.

"The RAB (Rapid Action Battalion) arrested him over anti-terrorism charges last week from the airport and handed him to us," airport police chief Noor-e-Azam Mia told AFP, without elaborating on the charges.

Violence in Rakhine, likened by the United Nations to ethnic cleansing, has driven more than 600,000 Muslim Rohingya from Buddhist-majority Myanmar into Bangladesh since August.

Many displaced Muslims in Bangladesh say the army and Buddhist mobs massacred or raped civilians and razed villages.

Maung's sister Ayethein Rakhaing said her brother, whose wife lives in Myanmar, was innocent and described the charges against him as false.

"He works for both the Muslims and Buddhists. He works there (Rakhine) for peace," said Rakhaing, a former lawmaker from the ruling Awami League.

His wife Mra Raza Linn was a prominent rebel leader turned peace activist in Myanmar, according to Maung's family.

"She is known to Aung San Suu Kyi," a family member told AFP by phone, referring to Myanmar's de facto leader and Nobel peace prize laureate.

The relative added Linn heads a women's group in Rakhine and is a senior member of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), while she used to be a guerilla leader.

The ALP has been anti-Rohingya in recent years, a Bangladesh security official told AFP.

The Rohingya refugee crisis has prompted an outpouring of sympathy in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, but has also fuelled tensions with the small population of ethnic Rakhine Buddhists living there.

Some refugees living in overcrowded camps have alleged that Bangladeshi Buddhists, known locally as Moghs, have joined militias perpetrating atrocities across the border in Rakhine.

"My brother was killed by Bangladeshi Moghs," Rohingya refugee Amirul Islam, who fled from Myanmar, told AFP at a camp in Cox's Bazar district.

Bangladesh police have bolstered security at Buddhist temples near the border, fearing local hostility among the Rohingya could boil over into reprisal attacks.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh on October 24, 2017

Saudi Arabia, smarting from a three-year oil slump, said Wednesday that it aims to nearly double the assets of its sovereign wealth fund by 2020 through a series of investment initiatives.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF), chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, said the programme comprising 30 business initiatives would boost its assets to $400 billion in the coming three years, up from $230 billion now.

The newly unveiled NEOM mega economic zone, with investments topping $500 billion, is envisaged as the crown jewel of the planned investments, a statement said.

Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, has lost hundreds of billion of dollars since crude prices plummeted in mid-2014, posting huge budget deficits.

Prince Mohammed last year launched Vision 2030, consisting of economic austerity and development programmes, to diversify the economy away from oil.

The kingdom, which pumps 10 million barrels of oil per day, has nearly $500 billion of fiscal reserves managed by the country's central bank.

The PIF did not reveal the nature of the business initiatives it will undertake but highlighted the NEOM project launched on Tuesday by the crown prince.

Saudi Arabia has pledged to inject $500 billion in the NEOM project, envisioned as a special economic zone over an area of 26,500 square kilometres (10,230 square miles) on the northern Red Sea coast extending into Jordan and Egypt.

PIF said its initiatives, including NEOM, will create 20,000 "direct domestic jobs" in addition to nearly 300,000 construction jobs, boosting its contribution to Saudi gross domestic product (GDP) from 4.4 percent currently to 6.3 percent.

The announcement came as Saudi Arabia hosted a three-day Future Investment Initiatives conference, which has attracted more than 2,500 dignitaries and top investors.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (L) smiles during a press conference with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj after their meeting at the Indian Foreign Ministry in New Delhi on October 25, 2017

India has slashed trade with North Korea in line with UN sanctions over the North's nuclear tests but will not close its Pyongyang embassy, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said Wednesday.

North Korea was one of a number of key Asian security topics raised by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in New Delhi. The United States has reportedly been urging allies to cut diplomatic ties with the North.

"We had open discussion on the issues of trade reduction and closing the embassy," Swaraj told a press conference after the meeting.

"I told Mr Tillerson that as far as trade is concerned it has come down, really come down. It has become minimal."

Trade between India and North Korea amounted to $130 million in 2016-17 but in the current fiscal year it stands at $10.95 million, according to official data.

India banned all trade with the North, except food and medicine, from April this year, the foreign ministry said.

Swaraj said the embassy should remain as a link with the North.

"Our embassy there is very small. But the embassy is there and I told Mr Tillerson that some of your friendly nations' embassies should stay there so that some channels of communication remain open."

Swaraj said Tillerson "understood" and "appreciated" India's stand.

While India has strongly condemned North's nuclear tests, it has maintained diplomatic relations with Pyongyang.

The United States has led a UN Security Council drive to tighten sanctions against the North for its nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

After a flurry of missile launches by the North and its sixth nuclear test last month, the UN imposed new sanctions that included bans or restrictions on the export of coal, iron ore and seafood by Pyongyang.

President Donald Trump's administration has been ramping up pressure on major powers, including China, to isolate the North in as many ways as possible.

India and the United States have been forging deeper ties in order to counter Chinese influence in the region.
After his arrest for smashing a census worker's laptop, a Bismarck man is accused of threatening to be a police officer's "judge, jury and executioner."

Timothy Caldwell Smith, 54, is charged with felony terrorizing against an adult and criminal mischief from the events of Sunday afternoon.

He reportedly invited the census worker into his apartment on the 1000 block of East Avenue D. He allegedly grabbed her laptop and threw it to the floor, where it shattered.

Smith, who was taken to the Burleigh-Morton County Detention Center, has a preliminary hearing set for Nov. 27.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks during a press briefing with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj after their meeting at the Indian Foreign Ministry in New Delhi on October 25, 2017

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday the United States is concerned that extremist groups are threatening the "stability and security" of the Pakistan government.

Tillerson, who arrived in New Delhi late Tuesday after a brief and tense stop in Islamabad, said too many extremists were finding sanctuary inside Pakistan to launch attacks on other nations.

He said Pakistan had an interest "in not just containing these organizations but ultimately eliminating" the groups.

"Quite frankly my view -- and I expressed this to the leadership of Pakistan -- is we also are concerned about the stability and security of Pakistan's government as well," he told reporters in New Delhi.

"This could lead to a threat to Pakistan's own stability. It is not in anyone's interests that the government of Pakistan be destabilised."

Tillerson's visit -- the first to the nuclear-armed nation by a senior official from President Donald Trump's administration -- follows months of pressure from Washington on Pakistan over its alleged support for Taliban militants.

It follows an unannounced stop in Kabul Monday, where Tillerson reiterated America's commitment to Afghanistan and warned that Washington has made "very specific requests" of Pakistan over militancy.

Trump has angrily accused Islamabad of harbouring "agents of chaos" who could attack US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj (R) shakes hand with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson before a meeting in New Delhi on October 25, 2017

Washington and Kabul have long accused Islamabad of supporting Afghan militants including the Taliban. They are believed to have links to Pakistan's military establishment, which aims to use them as a regional bulwark against arch-nemesis India.

Pakistan has repeatedly denied the charge, insisting it maintains contacts only to try to bring the militants to peace talks.

Tillerson did express his appreciation to Pakistan officials for the sacrifices it has made in fighting militancy, and for its help in securing the release of a US-Canadian family held captive by the Taliban for five years.

-- Closer ties --

But America's top diplomat -- whose frosty visit to Islamabad lasted just four hours -- said the United States would not tolerate extremist safe havens. He thanked India for its support combating extremism.

"In the fight against terrorism the United States will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with India," he said.

New Delhi has welcomed US overtures for closer ties, saying it shares Washington's optimism about their burgeoning relationship.

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj listens to a reporter's question during a media availability with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson after their meeting at the Indian Foreign Ministry in New Delhi on October 25, 2017

Speaking ahead of his visit, Tillerson called for deeper cooperation with India in the face of growing Chinese influence in Asia, and said Washington wanted to promote a "free and open" region led by prosperous democracies.

Trump's top diplomat also said Beijing sometimes acted outside international conventions, citing the South China Sea dispute as an example.

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said that Trump's strategy for the region hinged on Pakistan eradicating militant havens on its territory.

"We believe that President Trump's new policy can succeed only if Pakistan effectively acts against all terror organisations without any discrimination," she told the press conference with Tillerson.

India has historically avoided alliances, preferring to maintain cautious relations with both Washington and Beijing, but Trump has developed a warm relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Tillerson, who was to meet Modi later Wednesday, started the day by meeting national security adviser Ajit Doval.

He also laid a wreath at a memorial to India's independence movement leader Mahatma Gandhi, removing his shoes to approach a pillar marking the spot where Gandhi was shot dead on January 30, 1948.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks during a media interaction with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on October 25, 2017

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday that US sanctions against Iran targeted the country's "malign behaviours" and were aimed at helping the Iranian people take control of their government.

Tillerson told a New Delhi press conference after talks with India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj that the United States would not block "legitimate" business activities with Iran by India or any other ally.

President Donald Trump's administration has taken a tougher line with Iran, threatening to tear up an international accord on its nuclear programme.

Tillerson said US actions also sought to limit Iran's other "destabilising activities" in the Middle East, including its ballistic missile development, "their export of arms to terrorist organisations" and involvement in conflicts in Syria and Yemen.

"Our fight is not with the Iranian people. Our disagreements are with the revolutionary regime," Tillerson said.

"We are taking actions to impose sanctions on the regime and in particular the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. It is our objective to deny financing capacity and to disrupt the activities related to these malign behaviours."

Tillerson made it clear that the United States sought to give "support for modern voices inside of Iran" in a bid to bring about an eventual change of government.

"We know there are strong feelings and values inside of Iran that we want to promote in terms of one day the Iranian people being able to retake control of their government.

"They live under this repressive revolutionary regime and we do not want to harm the Iranian people. Our fight is not with the Iranian people," he said.

Tillerson was questioned about India's investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in the Iranian port of Chabahar. The deal was sealed in 2016 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tehran.

The construction of Chabahar expands a trade route for landlocked countries in central Asia that bypasses Pakistan, India's arch-rival.

Tillerson said he saw "no contradiction" in the US call for sanctions and India's deal in Chabahar, and Washington did not aim "to interfere with legitimate business activities that are going on with other businesses whether they be from Europe (or) India".
A flyer is seen during a protest outside the Iranian embassy in Brussels on February 13, 2017 for Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian-born academic detained in Tehran

Iran said Wednesday it had sentenced a citizen to death for spying for Israel in return for Swedish residency, after rights activists reported an Iranian-born academic was handed the death penalty.

Amnesty International on Monday announced that emergency medicine specialist Ahmadreza Djalali, detained in Iran since April 2016, was found guilty of working with the Israeli government.

Tehran's prosecutor general Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi did not name Djalali but said a suspect was sentenced to death for passing information on Iran's nuclear programme to agents from Israel's Mossad intelligence agency in exchange for a Swedish residency permit.

"One of the actions of the convict was revealing the location of and some information on 30 outstanding individuals engaged in military and nuclear research projects," Jafari Dolatabadi said in comments quoted by the judiciary's Mizan website.

He said the information led to the assassination of two Iranian nuclear scientists, Majid Shahriari and Masoud Alimohammadi, killed in bomb blasts in 2010.

Under Iranian law the identity of a convicted person cannot be released until the appeals process is over.

Amnesty International has slammed the trial of Djalali -- who has studied and taught in Sweden, Italy and Belgium -- as "grossly unfair" and called on the authorities to release him and drop all charges.

Between 2010 and 2012, five Iranian scientists -- four of them involved in the country's nuclear programme -- were murdered in bomb and gun attacks in Tehran.

The Islamic republic accused the US and Israel of killing its scientists, including Shahriari, a key member of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation and Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, a deputy director of the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.

In 2012, Iran executed Majid Jamali Fashi, convicted for working for Mossad and assassinating Alimohammadi.

Three others, including nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri, have been hanged since for working for Israel and the US.
Xi Jinping is seen on television as he introduces his new leadership line-up

President Xi Jinping Wednesday encouraged members of the press "to visit and see more of China" when he unveiled his new leadership -- but five Western media outlets were excluded from the event.

Journalists bearing a deep red invitation, with "The Great Hall of the People" emblazoned in golden script, arrived to watch Xi formally begin his second term and introduce his ruling council.

But reporters from the New York Times, the Economist, the Financial Times, the Guardian and the BBC were not invited, unable to listen in person to Xi's pledge to "welcome objective reporting" and "constructive suggestions".

"It is hard to avoid the conclusion that these media organisations have been singled out to send a message," said the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China, which named the excluded publications in a Twitter statement.

"Using media access as a tool to punish journalists whose coverage the Chinese authorities disapprove of is a gross violation of the principles of press freedom."

The media figured prominently in Xi's speech, one day after his name was added to the ruling Communist Party's constitution at the close of the 19th National Congress.

Xi expressed hope that "our journalist friends will continue to follow China's development and progress, and learn about and report on more dimensions of China."

The more than 200 journalists in attendance heard these statements in a crowded hall with no cell reception, where state media was given privileged seating and aisles were manned by propaganda officials.

China has one of the world's worst records on press freedom and a heavily censored internet.

Domestic journalists who publish critical stories are sometimes jailed, while foreign reporters who do the same risk having their visas revoked.

In recent years, the latter have often been harassed by police and found it impossible to independently visit Tibet.

Chinese media is dominated by state broadcaster CCTV and Xinhua, the state news agency, which reported Xi's address under the headline "Xi says China welcomes constructive suggestions".

Reporters Without Borders ranked China fifth-to-last in its 2017 World Press Freedom Index.

Officials at the party's twice-a-decade congress, which lasted a week, strove to refute this.

"We had six press conferences and eight group interviews at the 19th Congress," the congress media centre said in a statement, responding to a question from AFP about why certain publications were excluded from Wednesday's event.

"The channels for reporters to conduct interviews and receive updates about the congress were unblocked."

Yet many, if not all, of the questions at such briefings were pre-selected, while delegates trotted out nothing but platitudes when interviewed.

The centre's statement also noted that "the media mentioned" were seen in regular attendance at these briefings, while space was limited Wednesday.

"We already tried our best to allow more foreign journalists to attend this event," it said.

"We hope to welcome those who truly care about China's development; who can provide objective, impartial and balanced coverage; who are truly concerned with the future direction of Chinese policy to come report on our events."

The language in the statement echoed Xi's address: "We do not need lavish praise from others; however, we do welcome objective reporting and constructive suggestions."

Beside him stood the six other members of the Politburo Standing Committee, who were given only brief introductions despite being the top decision-making body.

They stood in a neat line, staring ahead and largely unsmiling.

Meanwhile, the most powerful Chinese leader in decades beamed as he closed with lines from a Yuan dynasty poem: "This is our motto: 'Not angling for compliments, I would be content that my integrity fills the universe'."

Xi strode off the podium to a cascade of camera flashes, his council in tow.

No one took any questions.
Ten people were killed in clashes at a gold mine in the Tibesti Mountains in northern Chad, pitting locals against outsiders in search of riches, a security source said

Ten people were killed in clashes at a gold mine in the Tibesti Mountains in northern Chad, pitting locals against outsiders in search of riches, a security source told AFP.

The violence erupted early Tuesday when local residents told gold miners who had flocked to the central Sahara mountain region from other parts of Chad to leave, the source said on condition of anonymity.

"A fight broke out and the outsiders killed three locals," he said. "The locals then ambushed the outsiders, who ended up leaving the area ... but seven gold miners were killed while the others got away."

The discovery of gold in Tibesti in 2012-2013 drew miners from all over Chad, and also from neighbouring Sudan.

But their arrival has triggered clashes against locals who have seen their livelihoods threatened.

"Gold miners dig pastures for livestock, use water resources -- which are also rare -- occupy wells and use products like mercury, a heavy pollutant," Jerome Tubiana of the NGO Small Arms Survey told French radio RFI.

Trafficking is also rife in the lawless, sparsely populated desert region, which borders Libya, Niger and Sudan.
Philippine troops walk past bombed-out buildings in the southern city of Marawi, on October 25, 2017

US Defence Secretary James Mattis on Wednesday praised the Philippine military for upholding human rights in a five-month battle against pro-Islamic State group militants in a southern city.

Philippine defence chiefs on Monday declared the end of the nation's longest urban war in Marawi, where troops have been battling to flush out militants who attacked the city in what authorities said was a bid to establish a Southeast Asian caliphate.

Mattis, who was in the Philippines to attend a regional security meeting, heaped praise on the military of America's longtime ally and mutual defence partner.

"I think the most important thing is here's an army that had to go in a fight like that, and they had not one human rights allegation against them with any credibility, not one," Mattis told reporters.

"That's really a statement about the Philippine military that they could set a human rights condition in the midst of that awful fight in the way they did," he said on the sidelines of meetings in Clark, a northern Philippine city.

Hundreds of local and foreign gunmen who had pledged allegiance to IS rampaged through Marawi, the principal Islamic city in the mainly Catholic Philippines, on May 23.

An ensuing US-backed military campaign claimed the lives of more than 1,100 people, displaced 400,000 residents and left large parts of the city in ruins.

President Rodrigo Duterte imposed martial law across the southern third of the Philippines immediately after the fighting erupted, saying it was needed to contain IS's influence spreading throughout the region.

Mattis' comments came a day after he met with Duterte in what the Pentagon chief said was a "very warm" meeting.

"We talked about the way ahead and we're on the same team," Mattis said.

Despite Mattis' remarks, the Philippine Commission on Human Rights told AFP it was investigating allegations of abuse in Marawi after receiving complaints from local lawyers and a rights group.

Rights group Karapatan said it had documented cases of alleged civilian deaths due to the military's aerial bombings as well as illegal arrests and torture.

"That is a very sweeping statement by a US official," Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay told AFP in response to Mattis' comments.

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Mattis on Monday hailed Philippine troops for "liberating" Marawi.

He is on an Asian trip that will also bring him to Thailand and South Korea.
US President Donald Trump shot back on Twitter, a day after Republican senators Jeff Flake and Bob Corker described him as having a "flagrant disregard" for truth and decency and of "debasing" the nation

President Donald Trump hit back at critics within his own Republican party Wednesday, painting them as outliers in what is otherwise a "love fest" between him and allied lawmakers.

A day after Republican senators Jeff Flake and Bob Corker described Trump as having a "flagrant disregard" for truth and decency and of "debasing" the nation, the combative president shot back.

Trying to forestall a wider party backlash, Trump said Flake and Corker had decided to resign from politics because they could not be reelected.

"The reason Flake and Corker dropped out of the Senate race is very simple, they had zero chance of being elected. Now act so hurt & wounded!" Trump tweeted.

"Jeff Flake, with an 18% approval rating in Arizona, said 'a lot of my colleagues have spoken out.' Really, they just gave me a standing O!" Trump said, hours after meeting Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

"The meeting with Republican Senators yesterday, outside of Flake and Corker, was a love fest with standing ovations and great ideas for USA!" he continued.

Many Republicans privately express grave misgivings about Trump's behavior in office, but remain publicly supportive.

They see his presidency as the best way to enact long-standing party goals like tax reform and cutting the size of government.

The White House has worked hard to keep the party rank and file focused on those targets.

"Working hard on the biggest tax cut in U.S. history. Great support from so many sides. Big winners will be the middle class, business & JOBS," Trump also tweeted Wednesday.

But Trump's ascendency has also led to a battle for the soul of the Republican party, with establishment conservatives struggling to stop an insurgency from the more populist and nationalist wing of the party.
Teodorin Obiang, the vice president of Equatorial Guinea, is accused of spending more than 1,000 times his official annual salary on a playboy lifestyle in Paris

A French court will on Friday hand down a verdict in the landmark "ill-gotten gains" trial of Equatorial Guinea's vice president, who is accused of raiding his country's coffers to fund a jet-set lifestyle in Paris.

Teodorin Obiang, the 48-year-old son of the country's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, is accused of spending more than 1,000 times his official annual salary on a six-storey mansion in a posh part of Paris, a fleet of fast cars, a collection of luxury suits and artworks.

The case, which was kickstarted by two anti-corruption groups, is the first in a trio targeting families of African leaders accused of living it up in France on the proceeds of corruption.

The entourages of two other long-serving African leaders have also been investigated: late Gabonese leader Omar Bongo and the Republic of Congo's President Denis Sassou Nguesso.

Prosecutors in Obiang's case argue he could not have funded his ultra-luxurious lifestyle without pilfering public money in his west African homeland, where more than half the population lives in abject poverty.

They have called for him to be given a three-year jail term and a 30 million-euro ($35 million) fine if convicted of embezzlement, corruption, misuse of assets and breach of trust.

But it is unlikely the millionaire playboy with a taste for Michael Jackson memorabilia will serve time if convicted.

He did not attend his three-week trial in June and July in Paris and is also not expected in court for the verdict.

He has dismissed the case as a "farce" aimed at damaging the image of sub-Saharan Africa's third-biggest oil producer.

His lawyers accused French authorities of "meddling in the affairs of a sovereign state" and said a guilty verdict would require the court to investigate the legality of all his purchases, taking France beyond its jurisdiction.

- Suitcases of cash -

Obiang was agriculture and forestry minister before his 75-year-old father -- in power since 1979 -- made him second vice president in 2012 and then first vice president last year.

Many of his eye-popping purchases were allegedly made through Somagui Forestal, a forestry company that prosecutors called "an empty shell used solely to channel public money."

His tastes included sharp suits from Paris's top tailors, whom he paid with suitcases of cash.

Obiang said the money came from legitimate sources and that all his purchases were legal.

- Coup plotter -

The trial had a moment of drama when former British mercenary Simon Mann, who led a failed 2004 coup in Equatorial Guinea, took to the stand to testify on behalf of the government he tried to overthrow.

Mann, who spent several years in prison in Equatorial Guinea, alleged that the case brought by the NGOs Sherpa and Transparency International bore the imprint of US billionaire George Soros, whom he accused of plotting to overthrow Obiang's father.

The affair first made headlines in 2011 when French police raided Obiang's mansion on the glitzy Avenue Foch in Paris, hiring trucks to haul away a fleet of Bugattis, Ferraris, a Rolls-Royce Phantom and other cars from the scene.

Investigators seized the property a year later.

Prosecutors have asked the court to confiscate the mansion, which is valued at 107 million euros ($123 million).

Equatorial Guinea argues that the building is a diplomatic residence and has referred the matter to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the UN's top court.

In an interim ruling last year, the UN court ordered France to "take all measures at its disposal" to ensure the property be given the same protections as all other diplomatic locations until the case had been resolved.
A general view of bombed-out buildings in Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao

The main battle zone in a southern Philippine city seized by Islamic State supporters resembles a tsunami-hit wasteland, with bullet-riddled mosques and a network of tunnels testifying to their hide-and-kill tactics.

Two days after the military declared an end to the five-month conflict in which more than 1,100 people died, scrawny feral dogs and swallows flying above the ruins were among the few signs of life in Marawi's devastated neighbourhoods.

Many buildings were piles of grey rubble as if crushed by a tsunami roaring in from Lake Lanao just behind them.

The pink minaret of one mosque was so riddled with bullets that most of its plaster had been stripped off and just its iron beams remained.

When the gunmen initially rampaged through Marawi, the principal Islamic city in the mainly Catholic Philippines, military commanders expected a relatively brief battle and were surprised at their enemies' ability to hold out for so long.

A soldier inspects a tunnel connected to the city's drainage system

The military maintained near-daily bombings, with state-of-the-art American radar helping to identify targets, yet the militants could often dodge the explosions.

A brief tour for journalists on Wednesday revealed some of their rat-like survival techniques, including the digging of holes through concrete floors up to 25 centimetres (eight inches) thick.

These connected to the city's drainage system, allowing them to scurry to nearby buildings undetected, according to commanders who fought the ground war.

Troops walk through a hole inside a bullet-riddled wall of a house

"They didn't want to pass open terrain, especially in the latter part (of the war)," Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Yunque, commander of an army special forces unit that fought the entire campaign, told reporters.

But Yunque said the military also adapted to the militants' tactics by blasting their own virtual tunnels or "rat holes" in walls between buildings so troops could move quickly without going back into the open streets.

In the early days, Yunque said, his unit took two days using conventional tactics to rescue 16 crewmen of two armoured vehicles that had been disabled by the militants' rocket-propelled grenades.

"They were surrounded by snipers on tall buildings and they were attempting to burn them alive by tossing molotov (firebombs) at their vehicles," he told reporters.

"When we rescued them they were singed and down to their shorts. They had their firearms but they had not eaten for days and were about to run out of bullets."

- Hiding in mosques -

The military had repeatedly said another reasons the war dragged on so long was because the militants were hiding in mosques and using hostages as human shields.

Troops were meant to avoid striking the mosques, military commanders said frequently during the conflict.

However, to end the fighting the military decided it had no choice.

A bombed-out mosque

The final battle on Monday took place inside a mosque, claiming the lives of two soldiers and 42 fighters, armed forces chief General Eduardo Ano said on Monday.

In one part of the battlefield, the cupola of a bullet-riddled mosque with a twisted metal sliver of moon on top and its minaret lay toppled and broken between two bombed-out buildings.

In another area a crater big enough to swallow a car was all that was left of the city's police station.

The authorities said the militants beheaded a police officer there and released hundreds of inmates from the adjacent city jail on the first day of the conflict.

A military aircraft later dropped a 113-kilogramme (250-pound) bomb, obliterating the low building, they added.

Months before they launched their attack, the gunmen secretly stored food, guns, bullets, and explosives inside city buildings before infiltrating at least 1,000 men into the city, according to the military.

President Rodrigo Duterte and security analysts said the gunmen had planned to set up a Southeast Asian IS base in the southern Philippines, taking advantage of lawlessness partly stemming from a decades-long Muslim separatist rebellion.

The militants at one point controlled more than 4,000 buildings, according to the region's military commander, Lieutenant-General Carlito Galvez.

At least 920 militants were killed, while 165 troops and 47 civilians died, according to the military.

The fighting also displaced about 400,000 people, and made the eastern half of the city uninhabitable for many years. Authorities are only now beginning to grapple with a multi-billion-dollar rehabilitation programme.
In the western city of Kisumu, Kenya's opposition supporters have vowed to block Thursday's divisive vote, with many election officials afraid they will be attacked

"Election officers are extremely afraid, they are afraid of being attacked," says John Ngutai, the top election official in Kisumu, an opposition stronghold in western Kenya where protesters are bent on blocking Thursday's deeply-divisive vote.

"We should be preparing tomorrow's presidential election, but no one is here," said the frustrated polling officer as he made a series of phone calls trying to persuade other officials to attend a pre-election meeting at Lions High School, the constituency tally centre.

Of the roughly 400 officers due to attend, only five turned up.

The reason for the no-show is the decision by opposition leader Raila Odinga to boycott Thursday's presidential re-run -- a ballot called after the Supreme Court overturned the results of an August poll in which President Uhuru Kenyatta was re-elected.

Odinga, who has lost three previous presidential elections, says that without reform, Kenya's IEBC election board cannot hold a free and fair poll.

And here in Kisumu, an Odinga's stronghold, his supporters intend to follow the boycott to a tee.

In recent weeks, people with knives and clubs have disrupted at least two election training sessions, assaulting the participants, while street demonstrations have devolved into sometimes deadly clashes with police.

"I fear for my life, yes. I don't know if I will come to the polling station tomorrow," one of the absentee officials told AFP by phone, speaking on condition of anonymity.

No caption

Lions High School should be buzzing with activity, but the only sign an election is imminent are the piles of ballot papers due to be sent out to polling stations ahead of the vote.

"The remaining electoral materials are in a warehouse a few kilometres (a couple of miles) from here, but I have not been able to find anyone to carry them. No one wants to be associated with the IEBC," admitted Ngutai, who said that by now, all the electoral materials should already be in the polling stations.

"But here we are," he said, surveying a largely empty room.

- 'Election? What election?' -

In contrast to the forlorn scene at Lions, the slum of Kondele was buzzing. Around a thousand Odinga supporters had gathered, burning tyres, throwing up barricades and arming themselves with stones ahead of a march on the city's IEBC headquarters.

"An election? What election?" asked Cliff Asweto, a 39-year-old vegetable seller who abandoned his stall to join the protest in defiance of a government ban.

"There may be an election elsewhere in the country, but not here," he said.

At least 40 people have been killed since the August 8 poll, almost all of them by police in opposition strongholds, according to human rights organisations.

As the procession approached the city centre, a confrontation with police seemed inevitable, but it did not discourage the protesters.

"We will block the election tomorrow, we will block polling stations if IEBC tries to open them, even if we have to face the police to do that," one demonstrator called John Atuoto.

But the protesters' threats may be unnecessary. In the downtown park which should host Kisumu's largest polling station there was nothing going on, no preparations, no officials, nothing.

"A polling station here? I don't think it will happen by tomorrow," said Rose, 55, who was sitting on a bench in the park.

More ominous though was the view of Jacob Akach, a middle-aged tribal elder.

"Here, the election will not take place," he said.

"Otherwise, if it does take place, it will be under a lot of security. People will die. I am very honest with you. People will die."
Any other President would be facing an existential crisis after being accused by two pillars of his own party of debasing the nation.

Donald Trump, however, was in "high spirits," an aide said, celebrating a big political victory and another step toward transforming the GOP in his own image.

If Trump's presidency ends in disaster, Sens. Bob Corker and Jeff Flake may one day be remembered as heroes who pleaded with the Republican Party to change a ruinous course, after baring their political souls to assail the President on Tuesday, accusing him of trashing the values and norms on which American democracy was built.

Corker and Flake's breathtaking denunciations of the President's character and behavior better serve to reflect the new truth about the 21st Century GOP: if you are a Republican, you stand with Trump or you get out of town.

"It doesn't matter the policies that you adopt or your votes -- it's if you're with the President, and I can't be with the President at all times," Flake said Wednesday on CNN's "New Day." "I'm sorry, I think when the President is wrong, you have to call him out, and sometimes he's wrong. And that's what I tried to point out in the speech yesterday."

Flake, who announced his retirement while salving his conscience in a Senate floor speech, conceded on Tuesday that for a free trade, pro-immigration, limited government, conservative like him, there was no place in Trump's modern populist, nationalist Republican Party.

"We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country -- the personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms, and institutions, the flagrant disregard for truth or decency, the reckless provocations, most often for the pettiest and most personal reasons." Flake said.

Later, he told CNN's Jake Tapper on "The Lead" that "It's not enough to be conservative, it seems you have to be angry."

Corker, who had previously warned that Trump was leading the country on a path towards World War III, told CNN's Manu Raju in an interview Tuesday that the President would be remembered for "the debasing of our nation, the constant non-truth telling, just the name-calling."

But for now, Republican lawmakers are choosing not to listen.

Despite detonating double political explosions in Washington, the two senators, who are both standing down after next year's mid-term elections, failed to breach the dam holding back fulminating establishment anger at Trump, who retains rock solid support from his GOP base voters.

Instead of lining up behind Corker and Flake, the party's leaders on Capitol Hill closed ranks, desperate to preserve hopes of the tax reform that Trump and establishment lawmakers badly need, despite their mutual antipathy.

"The party is currently being redefined in Donald Trump's image with his priorities and his tone and way of doing things," said Matt Latimer, a former aide to President George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"The traditional Republican Party has to decide if they are going to acquiesce to that or rebel against it. Right now the majority of the base seems to be in favor of acquiescing. There are very few willing to revolt right now."

The President and his White House all but said good riddance to the two senators, pointing out that their voters had left them behind.

"The reason Flake and Corker dropped out of the Senate race is very simple, they had zero chance of being elected. Now act so hurt & wounded!" Trump tweeted Wednesday morning. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders pointed out Tuesday the levels of support for the two senators back home versus their backing of Trump in their respective states.

'Just a group of three'

Flake and Corker, whose critiques followed denunciations -- none by name -- of Trump by Sen. John McCain and Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama last week, are saying publicly what many lawmakers think privately.

But few others are ready to break cover in a party where those who oppose the Trump revolution get consumed by it and as polls show that around 80% of Republicans back the President.

"It is just a group of three right now," said Douglas Brinkley, a CNN historian, drawing parallels from the time when Republicans including Barry Goldwater grouped together to tell Richard Nixon his time in the White House was up.

"Can this become a group of seven or 10?"

At this stage, probably not.

McConnell, the Senate Republican leader had already made his choice -- by standing with Trump at a White House news conference last week -- despite his summer of fending off humiliating attacks by the President.

"If there's anything that unifies Republicans, it's tax reform. We've been looking for the opportunity to do this literally for years," McConnell told reporters, after Trump met his caucus for lunch, laying out the bargain most GOPers are still prepared to make.

"We now have a President who will sign it, who believes in what we're trying to do. And we're going to concentrate on what our agenda is and not any of these other distractions that you all may be interested in," he added.

Only hours after Flake's dramatic speech, he joined Republicans to pass a measure repealing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's rule meant make it easier for Americans to sue their banks and credit card companies.

House Speaker Paul Ryan also wants to ignore the turmoil.

"All this stuff you see on a daily basis on -- Twitter this and Twitter that? Forget about it," Ryan said Tuesday, working on the premise that the Capitol Hill Republicans and the President can still produce results that will appeal to mid-term election voters next year.

In time, if Trump's approval ratings dip into the teens, or the Russia investigation turns up serious wrongdoing, or if the GOP loses control of Congress in November 2018, the party may cut him loose. But it's still early.

Glee from the Bannon wing

The glee of Trump's supporters also served notice that Flake and Corker are as much victims of a populist purge as likely to change the direction of the GOP.

"Winning: Flake Out," read a flashing headline on Breitbart, the populist news organization run by Trump confidant Steve Bannon, who is building a roster of insurgent candidates to challenge GOP senators in primaries.

Andy Surabian, who runs the pro-Trump Great America Alliance, said Flake's departure would be a defeat for those who oppose the President's "America First" nationalism.

"Today's announcement from Sen. Flake that he would not run for reelection is a monumental win for the entire Trump movement and should serve as another warning shot to the failed Republican establishment that backed Flake and others like them that their time is up," Surabian said.

An aide told CNN's Sara Murray that Trump was in "high spirits" after the tumultuous day in Washington.
New Orleans resident and legendary piano man Fats Domino, seen here in 2007, has died aged 89

Fats Domino, whose rollicking boogie-woogie piano helped give birth to rock 'n' roll, has died in his lifelong home of New Orleans, the coroner said Wednesday. He was 89.

One of the top-selling artists of the 1950s, Domino had been hailed as an indispensable influence by legends including Elvis Presley, Bob Marley and especially The Beatles, who called his music their first encounter with rock.

The famously reclusive musician, who had made few public appearances over the past decade, died Tuesday morning of natural causes, said Gerry Cvitanovich, the coroner of Jefferson Parish.

"He was a world-class musician, known for his shaping of rock 'n' roll as we know it," New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said in a statement.

Domino's daughter earlier told a local television station that the rock legend died peacefully around family.

Despite finding global fame, Domino never moved out of the working-class Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans where he and his late wife Rosemary raised eight children and he would sometimes be spotted sleeping outside in a hammock.

In his heyday Domino rivaled Presley in record sales and for the crown of King of Rock 'n' Roll. But with a natural shyness, and segregation still reigning in much of the United States, the self-effacing Domino faded in prominence by the mid-1960s as a crop of swaggering rock stars came to dominate pop culture.

Fats Domino performing at the Palais des Sports in Paris, 1962

Born as Antoine Domino, the plump pianist picked up his nickname early -- which was cemented by the success of 1949's "The Fat Man," the first rock 'n' roll single to sell one million copies as post-World War II consumer culture took root.

With his rhythm-and-blues piano backed up by an energetic back-beat, Domino on "The Fat Man" offered self-deprecating humor -- "They call me the fat man / 'Cause I weigh 200 pounds" -- and turned his voice into a trumpet-like instrument, singing, "Wah-wah-wah, wah-wah."

He later recorded hits that became omnipresent on American jukeboxes such as "Ain't That a Shame," "Blueberry Hill," "I'm Walking" and "It's You I Love."

- Inspiration to rockers -

Domino was part of the first group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

Beach Boys songwriter Brian Wilson said Domino dominated the radio as he was young, tweeting: "He was a great singer and piano player and his music will last forever."

The Beatles requested to see Domino when they first played New Orleans in 1964, with the Fab Four grinning in a huddle around him.

John Lennon said "Ain't That a Shame" was the first song he learned to play, while Paul McCartney later channeled Domino on the 1968 track "Lady Madonna" -- which Domino in turn covered in his last hit.

Born to a French Creole family of limited means, Domino as a child would work hauling ice in notoriously humid New Orleans in the age before air-conditioning. With most homes then keeping pianos, Domino would stop to play as he dropped off the often gigantic chunks.

Inspired by boogie-woogie pianists such as Meade Lux Lewis, Domino became innovative on the keys, notably with his use of triplet notes which added to the vibrant rhythms. He honed his musical skills with his father, a fiddler, and a brother-in-law who played banjo.

Fats Domino poses on a Dax Honda motorbike during the 'Grande Parade du Jazz' festival, in Nice, southern France, in 1980

Domino found a global audience after being sought out by Lew Chudd, a Canadian-born advertising salesman who had seen the potential of recorded music and earlier worked with the jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman.

Domino signed onto the new Imperial Records, where he would co-write songs with longtime collaborator Dave Bartholomew, a New Orleans trumpeter.

- 'Ain't That a Shame' -

"Ain't That a Shame" marked a turning point for Domino and rock history. Working for the first time outside New Orleans, he recorded the song in Hollywood where Imperial Records seized on early studio effects to make the track more lively and less bluesy.

The 1955 song was the first by an African American artist to triumph on the US pop charts. He was soon performing on national television programs including "The Ed Sullivan Show" and touring the country.

But several of his shows in the segregated South were disrupted, with Domino -- like Chuck Berry soon after him -- offering the then unprecedented mix of music loved by both whites and blacks in venues with dancing and alcohol.

While his music helped break down the color barrier, Domino was soft-spoken. In a rare interview in 2004, he said he had grown up accustomed to segregation.

"That's the way it was when I started out," he told the New Orleans music magazine Offbeat. "I knew what they had going on so it was no use me trying to do anything about it. I just went along and did my thing."

He said he never thought of leaving New Orleans. Even when touring, he would often cook up shrimp for gumbo and other quintessentially Louisiana dishes.

Then president George W. Bush gives Fats Domino a National Medal of Arts in New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward in 2006 to replace one that was lost in Hurricane Katrina

"People would tell me -- well, they wouldn't tell me but other people would tell me -- 'They want to know why would you build an expensive house like that in that neighborhood.' Well, to me it didn't make no difference 'cause I like it and this is where I was born," he said.

Domino was briefly unaccounted for when Hurricane Katrina inundated the Ninth Ward of New Orleans in 2005. He was evacuated by boat and a year later released a final album, "Alive and Kicking," to benefit artists hit by the tragedy.
Boeing's net income fell 18.7 percent to $1.9 billion for the quarter ending September 30 but revenues rose 1.7 percent to $24.3 billion

Boeing strongly defended its tough stance in a trade dispute with Canada's Bombardier Wednesday, as it reported lower quarterly earnings in part due to unexpected costs on a military contract.

Boeing chief executive Dennis Muilenburg defended a complaint against the Canadian company over alleged illegal subsidies. The dispute has deepened tensions between Canadian Prime Minister and US President Donald Trump.

"We like competition. It makes us better," Muilenburg said on an earnings conference call.

"We can win, but it's important that everyone plays by the same rules."

The comments came as Boeing reported an 18.7 percent drop in third-quarter earnings to $1.9 billion.

Revenues rose 1.7 percent to $24.3 billion.

Results were dented by $329 million in new unexpected costs on the KC-46 military refueling tanker due to changes as the venture moves into late-stage testing and certification. Boeing also booked expenses of more than $1 billion on the tanker in a series of announcements in 2015 and 2016.

Muilenburg said Boeing was on the home-stretch of the contract, which is ultimately expected to involve hundreds of aircraft over many years.

"We're not completely at the finish line, but we are clearly closing in," Muilenburg said.

Boeing's commercial division delivered more planes in the third quarter compared with the year-ago period, but the increase came from the narrow-body 737, which is less costly than some other models.

Revenues and profits in Boeing's military division declined, although analysts believe additional orders in defense should fuel growth in the coming period.

The aerospace giant lifted its full-year profit forecast range by a dime to $11.20 to $11.40 per share, citing a lower-than-expected tax rate. There was no change to the forecast for revenue or commercial plane deliveries.

Wall Street frowned on the report, bidding shares down 4.1 percent to $255.13 in midday trading.

- Tough line on Bombardier -

Muilenburg took an unwavering stance on the Bombardier controversy, which has led the Department of Commerce to proposed heavy duties on Bombardier's new C-Series jetliners.

Bombardier last week reached an agreement with Boeing archrival Airbus to strengthen the C-Series planes that appeared to some observers to manuever around the trade dispute by steering some of the work to Mobile, Alabama, where Airbus has operations.

But Boeing plans to press on with its complaint.

"Recent actions that Bombardier and Airbus announced are not actions that affect our gameplan," Muilenburg said.

Britain and Canada have threatened to halt military contracts to Boeing over the controversy. Delta Air Lines, a major customer of Boeing's, has vowed not to pay the duties.

"We're mindful that there are ripple effects," said Muilenburg, who emphasized that Delta remains a "very important customer" and expressed confidence the fight would not lead to devastating consequences with governments.

"We do think our long-term relationship with the UK and Canada will outlive this trade matter," he said.
World airlines will begin applying new security standards and questioning passengers more fully before flights to the United States starting October 26, 2017

US-bound travelers will face security interviews before checking in to flights at a number of global airlines beginning Thursday as anti-terror measures are stepped up around the world.

Lufthansa, Emirates, Air France and Norwegian Air confirmed to AFP Wednesday that US authorities had asked for tougher controls at departure airports for non-stop flights to the United States. Other carriers issued statements also confirming the new measures.

"In addition to the controls of electronic devices already introduced, travelers to the USA might now also face short interviews at check-in, document check or gate," a Lufthansa spokesperson said.

"The implementation will take place on October 26. The security of our passengers and staff is our top priority."

Emirates said passengers would be subjected to "pre-screening interviews at the check-in counter" whereas Air France said it expected to apply an additional "security interview."

Cathay Pacific said it would halt services allowing passengers to check in luggage from downtown Hong Kong or curbside at the airport, and instead interview them at check-in gates.

The airlines suggested that passengers arrive early for their flights to account for any additional delays caused by the new rules.

Norwegian said that its passengers would receive instructions by SMS message and that check-in desks would open four hours before departure for flights to the United States.

- Worries over terrorism -

The new measures came as President Donald Trump's administration is working to toughen controls on refugees and immigrants amid worries that jihadist groups like Islamic State and Al-Qaeda are both trying to send potential attackers into the United States and to smuggle bombs on board a US-bound flight.

On Tuesday, Trump issued an executive order ending a moratorium on refugee arrivals but re-imposing controls on those coming from 11 countries, most of them with Muslim majorities.

Previously, the administration has banned laptops and larger electronics from cabins on flights from certain Middle East hubs, and has attempted to impose a blanket visa ban on some countries -- a measure now tied up in court.

The White House has insisted the new controls are designed as anti-terror safeguards but Trump's critics have accused him of unfairly targeting Muslims with blanket measures.

Last week US lawmakers from the House Homeland Security Committee visited airports in Europe and the Middle East to inspect security conditions and discuss counter-terror cooperation.

"The timing of this visit to Europe and the Middle East was critical, as terrorists remain intent on taking down aircraft," said Representative John Katkoin a statement Wednesday.

"We must do all that we can to stay ahead of the evolving threat to the global aviation sector."
Rohingya Muslim refugee Shakira Bejum sits with her grandchild Shaid-Ullah at a Red Cross clinic near Kutupalong refugee camp, Bangladesh

The UN Security Council is weighing a draft resolution that would pressure Myanmar to address the violence that has driven hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee, according to the text obtained by AFP on Wednesday.

The proposed resolution, drafted by Britain and France, would call on Myanmar authorities to "immediately cease military operations" and allow refugees now living in makeshift camps in Bangladesh to return.

The six-page text does not threaten sanctions, but lays out a series of concrete demands.

But diplomats said the draft resolution, which would be the first formal response from the top UN body, faces strong opposition from China and they expect tough negotiations ahead to reach agreement.

"The Chinese are not on board," said a Security Council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. "They want us to say nothing and do nothing on this issue."

China, a supporter of Myanmar's former ruling junta, maintains that it is using private channels to pass on the message that the violence must end and the refugee crisis must be addressed, according to diplomats.

Since late August, more than 600,000 Rohingya have fled an army campaign in Myanmar's Rakhine state that the United Nations has denounced as ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar authorities say the military operation is aimed at rooting out Rohingya militants who staged attacks on police posts two months ago.

- A list of demands -

The 1.1 million Rohingya have faced decades of discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar and have been denied citizenship since 1982

The draft resolution condemns the violence in Rakhine state and attacks by Rohingya militants, while expressing "grave concern that the Myanmar security forces and vigilantes have been responsible for human rights violations and abuses."

It calls on Myanmar to allow humanitarian aid workers safe access to Rakhine state, where Rohingya who managed to escape the army campaign are now fleeing amid dire food shortages.

The draft resolution also demands that UN rights investigators be allowed access to Rakhine to report on allegations of atrocities, and calls for the appointment of a UN special advisor on Myanmar.

And it urges Myanmar to implement the recommendations of a commission led by former UN chief Kofi Annan that said the Rohingya should be granted citizenship rights.

The 1.1 million Rohingya have faced decades of discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar and have been denied citizenship since 1982, which has effectively rendered them stateless.

Rights groups have accused the Security Council of dragging its feet on Myanmar and are calling for tougher measures, such as an arms embargo and targeted sanctions against those responsible for the attacks against the Rohingya.

Addressing the General Assembly's committee on human rights, UN special rapporteur Yanghee Lee of South Korea said the council should adopt a "strong resolution" to tackle a potential threat to the region.

"The crisis in Rakhine state has not only been decades in the making, but has been spilling over and continues to spill over beyond Myanmar's borders," said Lee.

"For a very long time now, this issue has not been simply a domestic affair."

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 where the refugees are sheltering.

UN rights officials spoke to refugees who gave accounts of soldiers surrounding homes and firing indiscriminately as residents ran for their lives, and of uniformed men gang-raping women and girls.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Ankara in a sign of warmer ties after the disputed referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised on Wednesday to strengthen cooperation as ties between their two countries warm amid shared opposition to the Kurdish independence vote.

"We are part of a region suffering from conflict and instability, and it is time to cooperate to end these conflicts," Abadi said in a televised press conference after the two leaders met in Ankara.

Erdogan said they would explore ways to increase their cooperation "politically, militarily, economically and culturally."

During the meeting, both men were seen smiling -- a stark difference to when Erdogan told Abadi to "know your place" last October, after Baghdad criticised a Turkish troop presence in northern Iraq.

But since the non-binding Kurdish independence vote last month relations have improved, with Ankara -- which was particularly critical of Kirkuk being included in the vote -- backing Baghdad by threatening to close its border with Iraqi Kurdistan and apply economic sanctions.

"We have always said from the beginning that we support the territorial integrity of Iraq, and we will continue to say so," Erdogan said while repeating that the Kurdish vote was "unacceptable".

- 'Ready to give support' -

Erdogan said Turkey was ready to support reconstruction efforts in areas of Iraq that have been devastated by the fighting against the Islamic State extremist (IS) group and that he would push to develop economic ties with Baghdad.

"We are ready to provide any kind of support to allow the operation of the pipeline" to bring oil from Kirkuk to Turkey, Erdogan added.

The crude oil pipeline has been closed for several years.

The men also discussed the presence in northern Iraq of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency inside Turkey and is classified as a "terrorist group" by Ankara, the US and the EU.

"We are determined to continue the common struggle (against the PKK)," Erdogan said.

The Iraqi prime minister said that "no group, whether Iraqi or foreign, is allowed to carry weapons in Iraq if it is not authorised to do so".

Abadi also met with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, who said they agreed to hold a joint cabinet meeting in the future.

Turkey would provide "necessary support" to the Iraqi central government to take control of the Habur crossing point between northern Iraq and Turkey, Yildirim added.

The crossing is controlled by the Kurdistan Regional Government, but the Turkish premier did not give any more details.

Abadi's visit comes as Iraqi Kurdistan proposed Wednesday to "freeze" the results of its independence referendum and start "an open dialogue between the government of Kurdistan and the central government on the basis of the constitution".

Neither the Turkish leaders nor Abadi publically commented on this proposal.
Generals Djibrill Bassole (L) and Gilbert Diendere (R) were key allies to former president Blaise Compaore, whose bid to return to power was thwarted when protesters and the army attacked the barracks of elite troops loyal to him

A military court in Ouagadougou on Wednesday began an indictment hearing for 107 people, including two generals, who face charges over the failed 2015 coup in Burkina Faso.

Lead figures are generals Djibrill Bassole and Gilbert Diendere -- key allies to former president Blaise Compaore, whose bid to return to power was thwarted when protesters and the army attacked the barracks of elite troops loyal to him.

The defendants are accused of a range of crimes, including undermining the security of the state, murder and property damage.

Former transitional president Michel Kafando -- who replaced Compaore in 2014 -- was briefly overthrown in the coup led by the Presidential Security Regiment (RSP), but resumed power within days when plot leaders admitted they lacked popular support.

"Today, October 25, the hearing opened of the investigating chamber following the order issued by the investigating magistrate on July 21," said Paul Kere, lawyer of several defendants, after the private hearing.

"This hearing is to confirm the charges," he said.

The session, which is being held behind closed doors, had been postponed twice on September 14 and October 6.

"We hope that we will go to trial with elements that can be judged to avoid politicising this trial," said Kere who added the process should "avoid interferences by the executive".

Diendere, the RSP's former chief, and several other members of the now-dissolved unit, will appear in court on Thursday, another lawyer Rodrigue Bayala said.

Bassole, who is under house arrest, will appear in the "next days", he said, adding that a timetable for the long list of defendants would be established by the court.

Compaore, who led Burkina Faso from 1987 to 2014, is currently in Sierra Leone.
Groups advocating for press freedoms say police pepper-sprayed, cursed at and mocked journalists during demonstrations in the US city of St Louis, which broke out in mid-September 2017

Groups advocating for American press freedoms on Wednesday accused St Louis police of mistreating journalists covering weeks of protests following the acquittal of a former officer in a murder case.

At least 10 journalists have been arrested since mid-September in the midwestern city, according to an open letter signed by 18 organizations, including a journalists' union.

"Journalists... were pepper-sprayed, cursed at, mocked, and treated with excessive force by police. Journalists who identified themselves and showed press credentials were arrested nonetheless," the letter said.

The journalists were covering street protests which ensued almost immediately following the September 15 verdict clearing white former policeman Jason Stockley in the 2011 fatal shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith, a black man.

Police responded in force, arresting scores of people. Protesters and journalists reported strong-handed tactics, such as indiscriminate use of pepper spray and arrests of innocent bystanders.

Among the most high-profile arrests was that of St Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Michael Faulk on September 17. He was jailed for 13 hours before being released, and told AFP he remained in "legal limbo."

"Charges have not been filed, but they have not been dropped either," Faulk said by email.

The Post-Dispatch has condemned Faulk's arrest and called for the city to take corrective actions.

The open letter, signed by the Committee to Protect Journalists, NewsGuild-Communications Workers of America and others, urged the city to consider "the impact of law enforcement actions on freedom of the press."

It asked St Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson to punish culpable officers and to set clear policies for how police are to deal with the press during protests.

Krewson, who did not respond to a request for comment, and the city's police chief have called for investigations of officers' conduct.

The mayor's office released a statement in late September calling allegations of police abuse "troubling."

The city also faces two lawsuits over the police's treatment of protesters.

The American Civil Liberties Union is currently awaiting a judge's ruling on a request to bar heavy-handed policing tactics during protests.

Two filmmakers also are suing, claiming they were abused by officers and retaliated against for documenting the demonstrations and the police response.
The guided-missile destroyer USS Howard has come to the aid of an Iranian fishing boat

An American destroyer has come to the aid of an Iranian fishing boat after a pirate attack off Yemen, the US Navy said Wednesday.

Iran's coast guard called the US naval command in Bahrain to report Tuesday's incident and to ask for help following the attack south of Yemen's Socotra island, the Navy said in a statement

The US command coordinated with an international naval task force which is in the region to battle pirates.

Along with the Japanese destroyer JS Amagiri, the USS Howard reached the vessel and its sailors "provided food and water, made repairs, and gave medical aid to three injured civilian mariners," the statement read.

The coordination between Iranian authorities and the US stands in contrast to a series of recent encounters in which the US has complained of unprofessional Iranian naval behavior.

For instance, in July, a US Navy patrol ship fired warning shots at an Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessel in the Gulf as it closed in on the American vessel.
US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley waves towards Internally Displaced People (IDP) while she is being evacuated by her protection force, following a demonstration at the UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) in Juba, South Sudan, on October 25, 2017. Nikki Haley arrived in Juba on October 25, seeking a solution to a nearly four-year conflict that has created a devastating humanitarian crisis. Haley, the most senior official sent to Africa by the Trump administration, is on a tour that has also taken her to Ethiopia and will include Democratic Republic of Congo

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Wednesday was quickly escorted out of a UN camp she was visiting in South Sudan when protesters angry with President Salva Kiir turned up, officials said.

Haley, the most senior US administration official to visit Africa, was in Juba to meet with South Sudanese civilians affected by the nearly four-year war and has traveled on to Kinshasa as part of a three-nation Africa tour.

"A group of several hundred protesters approached the site", the US mission said. "The group was not protesting Ambassador Haley's visit, but rather South Sudanese President Salva Kiir."

"Diplomatic security agents determined that the site was no longer secure and escorted Ambassador Haley and her traveling party out of the site, cutting the event short by a few minutes," the mission added.

After meeting with Kiir, Haley said the United States was disappointed with South Sudan after investing $11 billion (nine billion euros) in the country under Kiir's leadership.

"We are disappointed by what we are seeing, this is not what we thought we were investing in. What we thought we were investing in is a free and fair society where people could be safe, and South Sudan is the opposite of that," Haley told local radio.

"But we are not going to give up on the South Sudanese people, we are here to fight for them, we are here to help, to do whatever we have to, to make peace and security become a permanent part of South Sudan," she added.

There was no comment from Kiir after the meeting.

- Intransigent to peace -

Haley said last month she wanted to salvage a tattered 2015 peace deal that collapsed in July last year, as regional mediators launch a fresh bid to "revitalise" the agreement.

South Sudan won independence in 2011 with strong support from the United States.

The conflict erupted in December 2013 when Kiir accused his former deputy, Riek Machar, of plotting a coup.

Initially a war pitting ethnic Dinka supporters of Kiir against Machar's Nuer people, the conflict has since metastasised to include different groups and local interests.

Last week the regional Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said it had finished consultations with a wide range of parties and is expected to announce a new round of peace talks.

Brian Adeba of the Enough Project advocacy group that closely follows the South Sudan conflict, told AFP that the new peace push came as government was particularly "intransigent to peace".

"It believes it has won the war, it has taken a lot of territory and the opposition is not in a position to retaliate," he said.

Haley began her Africa tour in Ethiopia, which is leading the latest peace efforts in South Sudan, where the United Nations has deployed a 14,000-strong peacekeeping mission.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haley is expected to press President Joseph Kabila to agree to a timetable for elections.
MOSCOW (AP) - A well-known Russian radio journalist who was stabbed in the throat by an attacker has been operated on and transferred to an intensive care unit, her employer said Tuesday.

Tatyana Felgenhauer, a top host and deputy editor-in-chief at Ekho Moskvy, Russia's only independent news radio station, scribbled a letter to her colleagues from her hospital bed to thank them for their support.

"I will be fine," she wrote. "I had a good sleep for the first time in my 16 years on the radio."

In this undated handout photo released by Ekho Moskvy radio station shows journalist Tatyana Felgenhauer in the Ekho Moskvy (Echo of Moscow) radio station office in Moscow, Russia, on Monday, Oct. 23 2017. Russia's Ekho Moskvy news radio station said on its website Monday the assailant burst into its studios and stabbed Tatyana Felgenhauer who is best known for co-hosting a popular morning show. (Vitaly Ruvinsky, Ekho Moskvy photo via AP)

Felgenhauer spent hours in a medically induced coma following Monday's attack at the station's studios in central Moscow - the latest in a slew of assaults on journalists and opposition figures. Most have remained unsolved.

CCTV footage released by the radio station on Tuesday showed the attacker spraying gas into the face of a security guard in the reception area, ducking under the turnstile and running.

The Investigative Committee has identified the assailant as 48-year-old Boris Grits, who holds Russian and Israeli citizenship. After being apprehended, he told investigators he had been in "telepathic contact with Felgenhauer" for five years.

Grits was put in custody immediately after the attack. A Moscow court ordered his formal arrest Tuesday and said he should be kept in custody for two months pending an investigation.

While Ekho Moskvy is majority-owned by a media arm of the state-controlled Gazprom natural gas giant, its programs have often been critical of the government, angering many in Russian political and business circles. Its hosts and journalists have previously reported death threats.

State-owned media have long targeted Ekho Moskvy along with other rare independent media outlets for its critical reporting.

The state television channel Rossiya 24 put out a report two weeks ago that claimed that the station paid for "destabilizing society" ahead of Russia's presidential election in March.

Another popular Ekho Moskvy host, Yulia Latynina, fled Russia in September following a suspected arson attack on her car.

Latynina wrote in Tuesday's edition of Novaya Gazeta that despite the latest assailant's apparent mental troubles the attack seems to be a logical follow-up to increasingly militant rhetoric in the state media that described Ekho Mosvky journalists as enemies.

"Grits' mental disorder curiously matches the party line," Latynina said. "The attack on Felgenhauer falls neatly into the line of numerous attacks on independent journalists and opposition politicians that were met with impunity."

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, described the attack as the "action of a madman," rejecting claims of a link between the attack on Felgenhauer and state media criticism of the station.

____

Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.

Boris Grits, 48, who holds Russian and Israeli citizenship, sits inside a cage in a court room in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. The Investigative Committee has identified Boris Grits as the assailant of Tatyana Felgenhauer, a top host and deputy editor-in-chief at Russia's only independent news radio station who was stabbed at the station's studios on Monday, the latest of a string of attacks on journalists and opposition activists in Moscow. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Boris Grits, 48, who holds Russian and Israeli citizenship, centre, is escorted by police officers as he arrives at a courthouse in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. The Investigative Committee has identified Boris Grits as the assailant of Tatyana Felgenhauer, a top host and deputy editor-in-chief at Russia's only independent news radio station who was stabbed at the station's studios on Monday, the latest of a string of attacks on journalists and opposition activists in Moscow. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Boris Grits, 48, who holds Russian and Israeli citizenship, centre, sits inside a cage in a court room in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. The Investigative Committee has identified Boris Grits as the assailant of Tatyana Felgenhauer, a top host and deputy editor-in-chief at Russia's only independent news radio station who was stabbed at the station's studios on Monday, the latest of a string of attacks on journalists and opposition activists in Moscow. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem enjoyed a large reelection margin as she continued to angle for national prominence from her small state. The large win seemed to be proof of the popularity of her hands-off approach to pandemic restrictions, but as she enters her second term, she will face challenges. Noem is looking to enact a historic tax cut and fend off attempts to soften the states abortion ban. But she will be working with Republicans in a Legislature that has not always been on board with the governor.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - An Alabama judge ended a trial early after a witness in an attempted murder case was shot to death outside the courthouse moments after testifying.

Montgomery County Circuit Judge Roman Shaul declared a mistrial Tuesday in the trial of Jacquees Boone, who is accused of shooting Alondre Cooley in 2014.

The victim's 31-year-old brother, Kelvin Cooley, testified for the state Monday. He was shot to death while walking to his car less than five minutes after leaving the stand.

The defendant's brother, 25-year-old Josephus Boone, is charged with capital murder in Monday's slaying. Court records aren't available to show if he has a lawyer.

The judge also ordered Jacquees Boone held without bond. Jacquees Boone was previously convicted of shooting Alondre Cooley, but an appeals court overturned the case.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - President Donald Trump is using a proclamation on United Nations Day to urge its 193 member states to work together as the world organization's founders intended "and confront those who threaten chaos, turmoil and terror."

Stressing the importance of multilateralism, he reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to U.N. goals and said its purpose "remains as essential today as ever before" - to have diverse nations cooperate "to preserve sovereignty, enhance security, build prosperity, and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms."

Trump's tweet and proclamation marking Tuesday's 72nd anniversary of the entry into force of the U.N. Charter came four days after the president met with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the White House for their first extended conversation, which included North Korea, Myanmar, Syria, Iraq, terrorism and U.N. reform.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - A New Zealand judge said Eminem's lyrics "You own it, you better never let it go" turned out to be prophetic after ruling a political party breached copyright by using a song similar to Eminem's "Lose Yourself" in its campaign ads.

High Court Judge Helen Cull on Wednesday ordered the conservative National Party to pay the Detroit rapper's publisher 600,000 New Zealand dollars ($415,000) plus interest.

The case earlier featured odd moments such as gowned lawyers listening studiously to profanity-laced rap and Eminem collaborator Jeff Bass flying in from Detroit to play the song's distinctive opening riff, which he wrote.

FILE - In this May 2, 2017, file photo, music composer Jeff Bass leaves a courtroom in Wellington, New Zealand. The New Zealand court ordered on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, the nation's main conservative political National Party to pay Eminem's publisher 600,000 New Zealand dollars ($415,000) plus interest for breaching copyright by using a song similar to Eminem's "Lose Yourself" in its campaign ads. The party used the song "Eminem Esque" 186 times during its successful 2014 election campaign before pulling the ad off the air. Publisher Eight Mile Style sued, saying the track was a rip-off of the rapper's acclaimed 2002 hit. (AP Photo/Nick Perry, File)

"We think it's a very strong judgment, and a cautionary tale for people who make or use sound-alikes around the world," said Adam Simpson, a Sydney-based lawyer who represented Eminem publisher Eight Mile Style.

"We hope that we see more original music in advertising as a result, and that writers get properly acknowledged and rewarded for their hard work."

Speaking by phone from Detroit, Eight Mile Style publisher Joel Martin said he'd been infuriated during the trial by the defense's absurd contention that "Lose Yourself" wasn't original because it used the same chords as other songs.

"They could have said anything but question its originality," he said.

Martin said he hadn't yet discussed the ruling with Eminem, aka Marshall Mathers III, but was glad the rapper hadn't been needed to travel to New Zealand "to watch the paint dry in the court room."

National Party President Peter Goodfellow said in statement he was disappointed with the ruling. He said the party purchased the music in good faith from an Australia-based library that had bought it from a U.S. supplier.

He said the party was considering its next steps and had already lodged a claim against the suppliers and licensors of the sound-alike track.

The National Party ran a television ad 186 times that used the song "Eminem Esque" during its successful 2014 election campaign before pulling the ad off the air.

In her 132-page ruling, Cull said "Eminem Esque" sounded like a copy and was a copy, reproducing the essence of "Lose Yourself." She said it was no coincidence the composer of "Eminem Esque" had the music to the original in front of him when he wrote his song.

The judge based the amount of the award on a hypothetical license fee that the party might have paid to use the song. She noted that Eight Mile Style rarely grants permission to use "Lose Yourself" in advertising.

Cull stopped short of awarding additional damages, saying the party had only used the song after receiving professional advice that it could do so, and hadn't acted recklessly. She has yet to rule on who will pay the hefty legal costs.

The National Party was ridiculed back in 2014 when the case was first filed and lawmaker Steven Joyce defended using the song, an action he said was "pretty legal."

"Pretty legal? That's not a concept that exists. That's like being sort-of dead," TV show host John Oliver later joked on "Last Week Tonight."

The ruling comes at a difficult time for the conservative party, which just lost the 2017 election to a coalition headed by the liberal Labour Party.
BEIJING (AP) - Key members of China's Communist Party were determined at the national congress, which is held every five years and concluded this week.

On Wednesday, members of the party's highest body, the Politburo Standing Committee were announced, with President Xi Jinping returning for a second five-year term as party general secretary.

Premier Li Keqiang also remains in place as his No. 2, while the other five members are all newcomers taking the place of those who retired due to unwritten age limits.

New members of the Politburo Standing Committee, from left, Han Zheng, Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Zhao Leji stand together at Beijing's Great Hall of the People Wednesday, Oct 25, 2017. The seven-member Standing Committee, the inner circle of Chinese political power, was paraded in front of assembled media on the first day following the end of the 19th Communist Party Congress. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Profiles of all seven committee members, listed by seniority:

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XI JINPING

The head of the Communist Party since 2012 and state president since 2013, Xi has established himself as a fervent nationalist and China's most powerful leader since Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s.

Xi, 64, has worked to reassert the party's influence across all sectors, including in schools, the media and the private businesses that are driving China's economy. The son of a communist elder, Xi lived in a cave and performed hard labor during the Cultural Revolution before graduating from prestigious Tsinghua University and being appointed to a series of increasingly prominent provincial posts.

Xi's first five years in power have seen China adopt an increasingly assertive foreign policy, challenging the U.S. military's dominance in Asia. A strengthening of the domestic security services has led to what rights groups say is the worst crackdown on activists, political dissidents and the Uighur and Tibetan minority ethnic groups in decades.

With his new mandate, Xi will likely continue such measures while struggling to keep the economy growing fast enough to satisfy the demands of China's nearly 1.4 billion citizens and their building expectations for improving their quality of life. He's also formed a considerable cult of personality and has seen his personal political theory of "socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era" enshrined in the party constitution.

"History looks kindly on those with resolve, with drive and ambition and with plenty of guts," Xi said in his speech at the opening of the party congress last week. "It won't wait for the hesitant, the apathetic or those shy of a challenge."

Xi is also head of the Central Military Commission that commands the People's Liberation Army, the world's largest standing military.

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LI KEQIANG

Premier since 2013, Li had at one time been a candidate for the top job, but was ruled out in part because of his close connection with previous leader Hu Jintao. Party elders also were reportedly concerned that he might not be tough enough to ensure the party's hold on power and lead China into a more dominant global position.

Despite that, Li's return for a second term on the Politburo appears to display the party's approval of his administrative skills and ability to maintain a balance between different factions.

Li, 62, was born into a family of minor party officials but parlayed his intellectual skills into a seat at prestigious Peking University, where he earned a doctorate in law. He rose through the ranks to lead the Communist Youth League under Hu's tutelage, then was appointed China's youngest governor in 1998 at age 43.

He served as the top official in the provinces of Henan and Liaoning, where he emerged unscathed despite scandals including an AIDS outbreak and rampant organized crime. While nominally in charge of the economy and head of the Cabinet, Li has seen his role diminished under the rule of Xi, who has appointed himself the head of numerous party working groups that have eroded the power of the ministries and other formal offices.

Affable and English-speaking, Li is seen most often in public greeting foreign visitors and paying visits to institutes of learning and high-tech industries. "The people's livelihood is why we govern," Li said in his annual address to the national legislature in March. "At times, one needs to place it on one's heart and carry it on one's shoulders."

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LI ZHANSHU

As director of the party's General Office, Li effectively serves as Xi's chief of staff and is a constant presence at his side during state visits and other important occasions. The two men first worked together at the start of their careers as leading officials in adjacent rural townships in Hebei province outside Beijing.

While Xi took on new posts in the country's dynamic southeast, Li remained in Hebei, eventually rising to head the provincial Communist Youth League and hold other top posts. He was then transferred to Xi's native province of Shaanxi and then to Heilongjiang in the far northeast, where he was eventually named governor.

From there he served as party secretary for two years in the poor southern province of Guizhou before being called to Beijing in 2012 as Xi was being made head of the party and given a seat on the Politburo.

Unlike his predecessors, Li, 67, plays a prominent role in foreign affairs, and in 2015 was sent by Xi to Moscow to serve as his special representative in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I believe you and (President) Xi Jinping are leaders of two great nations, two great politicians who have significant influence in the world," Li was quoted as telling Putin.

Li is expected to take over as chairman of the National People's Congress, China's rubber stamp parliament.

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WANG YANG

In his current role as vice premier, Wang's most high-profile responsibility is steering talks between the U.S. and China on thorny trade issues. These range from cutting China's excess steel production to easing restrictions faced by foreign businesses trying to tap into the world's second-largest economy.

In these talks, Wang has sought to be charming but also firm, saying the sides need to cooperate and warning that "confrontation will immediately damage the interests of both."

When he was the top leader of Guangdong, China's wealthiest province, Wang's favorite political slogan was "free your thinking." Wang, 62, is widely seen as an economic reformer interested in promoting the private sector and the transformation of China's economy from one reliant on heavy industries to one that's driven by consumption and innovation.

Wang is considered closely aligned with now-retired President Hu Jintao; both are from the eastern province of Anhui. In 2011, as Guangdong party chief, Wang boosted his career when he presided over a compromise with protesters in the fishing village of Wukan, where residents had staged an uprising that made the village an internationally known symbol of grass-roots defiance against the party.

Wang will likely be appointed head of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the parliament's largely ceremonial advisory body.

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WANG HUNING

Long considered the brains behind Xi's governing philosophy, Wang has served as director of the party's Central Policy Research Office since 2002. First transferred to Beijing from an academic career in his native Shanghai, Wang loyally served Xi's predecessors Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao in an advisory role, helping define their political outlooks and accompanying them on foreign trips.

Wang and Xi formed a close relationship, and Wang is almost always at the president's side at important events, along with Li Zhanshu and top foreign policy adviser Yang Jiechi. A prolific author and former champion college debater, Wang, 62, is considered a fierce advocate of centralized power and authoritarian rule.

"The legacy of Wang's neo-authoritarianism and its cousin, neo-conservatism, lives on today under the reign of Xi Jinping," wrote American China politics expert Jude Blanchette. "Look at the first five years of Xi Jinping's administration through the neo-authoritarian lens, and we see a consistent theme: clawing power back to Beijing."

Wang's predecessor in the No. 5 slot was in charge of propaganda and president of the party's main training academy.

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ZHAO LEJI

Since 2012, Zhao has run the ruling party's Central Organization Department, which oversees promotions, making him a key figure in Xi's campaign to promote supporters and tighten control over the political hierarchy.

Zhao, 60, is seen as part of Xi's "Shaanxi Gang" of figures with family ties to the western province from which their families originally hail. Before moving to Beijing, Zhao was party secretary for Shaanxi and, before that, for the remote western province of Qinghai on the Tibetan plateau, where he was born and spent his early career.

Like Xi, Zhao is a second-generation party member, and unconfirmed accounts say their fathers were friends. Zhao would be one of the youngest Standing Committee members ever and his age would allow him to serve a full 10 years before party tradition would require he step down. That would help to extend Xi's influence beyond the next leadership change in 2022, when he would be forced to step down as president under term limits.

"Zhao is well positioned on the policy front to carry out several of Xi's long-standing objectives: the alleviation of poverty and the strict enforcement of regulations on party officials," politics specialist Cheng Li wrote in a report for the Brookings Institution.

Zhao was appointed head of the party's feared anti-corruption watchdog body, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

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HAN ZHENG

A trained economist, Han worked his way up the political hierarchy of China's financial hub of Shanghai from a humble start in the chemical industry and at a rubber shoe factory.

He has spent his entire career in Shanghai, advancing over decades to become the city's mayor in 2003 - then the youngest person to hold that position, at age 48 - and its Communist Party chief in 2012. In 2007, he also served as deputy to Xi, then the city's party leader, before Xi moved to Beijing.

Han, 63, is known as a business-friendly politician able to rattle off statistics with practiced ease. During his tenure as mayor, Shanghai hosted the 2010 World Expo, which showcased China's rise as a modern industrial power.

But it was also on his watch that a New Year's Eve stampede on Shanghai's scenic Bund promenade killed 36 people at the end of 2014. Earlier in his career, Han emerged seemingly unscathed from a massive corruption scandal centering on Shanghai's pension fund that resulted in the purge of the city's former Communist Party chief Chen Liangyu. Chen was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2008.

Washington's Brookings Institution said in a report this year that Han was known as "a competent, seasoned financial and economic technocrat" with "market friendly policy orientation in Shanghai."

Han will likely be made executive vice premier with responsibilities for science, technology and some economic issues.

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during the closing ceremony for the 19th Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. The ruling Communist Party on Tuesday formally lifted Xi's status to China's most powerful ruler in decades, setting the stage for the authoritarian leader to tighten his grip over the country while pursuing an increasingly muscular foreign policy and military expansion. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

In this Oct. 18, 2017 photo, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attends the opening ceremony of China's 19th Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Li was made a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the inner circle of Chinese political power, and was paraded in front of assembled media, Wednesday Oct. 25, 2017, the day after the close of the 19th Communist Party Congress. President Xi Jinping was also appointed to another five-year term as party leader.(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Oct. 18, 2017 photo, Director of the General Office of the Communist Party Li Zhanshu attends the opening ceremony of China's 19th Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Li was made a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the inner circle of Chinese political power, and was paraded in front of assembled media, Wednesday Oct. 25, 2017, the day after the close of the 19th Communist Party Congress. President Xi Jinping was also appointed to another five-year term as party leader. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Oct. 18, 2017 photo, Vice Premier Wang Yang attends the opening ceremony of China's 19th Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Wang was made a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the inner circle of Chinese political power, and was paraded in front of assembled media, Wednesday Oct. 25, 2017, the day after the close of the 19th Communist Party Congress. President Xi Jinping was also appointed to another five-year term as party leader. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Oct. 18, 2017 photo, Director of the Central Policy Research Office Wang Huning attends the opening ceremony of China's 19th Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Wang was made a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the inner circle of Chinese political power, and was paraded in front of assembled media, Wednesday Oct. 25, 2017, the day after the close of the 19th Communist Party Congress. President Xi Jinping was also appointed to another five-year term as party leader. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Oct. 18, 2017 photo, Head of the Organization Department of the Communist Party Zhao Leji attends the opening ceremony of China's 19th Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Zhao was made a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the inner circle of Chinese political power, and was paraded in front of assembled media, Wednesday Oct. 25, 2017, the day after the close of the 19th Communist Party Congress. President Xi Jinping was also appointed to another five-year term as party leader.(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan's army says Indian forces have fired artillery shells at villages along the separation line in the disputed region of Kashmir, killing two people and wounding six others.

The military in a statement said the Tuesday attack was the latest violation of a 2003 ceasefire agreement between the two countries.

Deputy Commissioner Abdul Hameed said Wednesday that the Pakistan army returned fire after coming under attack in the Leepa Valley.

There was no immediate comment from India.

Pakistan and India routinely accuse each other of firing across the Line of Control.

The two countries control part of Kashmir but claim it in its entirety. They have fought two wars over the region.

Leepa valley is located 100 kilometers (60 miles) northeast of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan's part of Kashmir.
ISTANBUL (AP) - A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups.

The defendants, including Amnesty International Turkey director Idil Eser, German citizen Peter Steudtner and Swede Ali Gharavi, were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The court ruled on the trial's opening day to free eight of the 10 activists being tried at least until the proceedings end. The other two had been let out of custody.

Amnesty International Turkey director Idil Eser, right, hugs a colleague after her release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

An 11th activist, Amnesty's Turkey chairman, is being tried separately in another city and remains jailed.

The 10 defendants have been charged with plotting an uprising and aiding Kurdish and left-wing militants. They also stand accused of abetting the movement led by a U.S.-based cleric the Turkish government blames for a 2016 coup attempt. They face up to 15 years in prison, if convicted on all charges.

"We are really grateful for everybody who supported us, legally, diplomatically, and with solidarity," Steudtner, visibly emotional, said upon his release from prison.

Gharavi said: "We have a big new family now, thank you everyone, wherever you are, however you did it, you got us out, thank you very much."

Amnesty welcomed the activists' release and vowed to continue to defend human rights in the country.

"Today, finally, we celebrate that our friends and colleagues can go back with their loved ones and can sleep in their own beds for the first time in almost four months," said Amnesty's secretary general, Salil Shetty. "Tonight we take a brief moment to celebrate, but tomorrow we will continue our struggle."

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel also welcomed the court's decision to free Steudtner and seven other activists and said Berlin would continue to seek the release of other Germans held in separate cases. He said the ruling showed German calls for a fair trial had been heeded.

The European Union's commissioner for enlargement, Johannes Hahn said on Twitter: "First step into right direction. Now further releases must follow, unfounded charges dropped."

The trial was adjourned until Nov. 22.

Earlier, as their trial opened, the defendants denied the accusations and asked to be released.

"I dedicated my life to truth and justice, and that is all I ask of this court," Ozlem Dalkiran of the Citizens' Assembly organization testified, according to Amnesty's International Director for Europe John Dalhuisen.

Human rights groups say the defendants are accused of "trumped-up" charges.

Amnesty Turkey chairman Taner Kilic, who was imprisoned in June, is appearing before a different court for alleged links to cleric Fethullah Gulen. He is accused of using an encrypted mobile messaging application allegedly employed by Gulen's network.

Gulen himself has denied masterminding the coup attempt.

"There is not a shred of evidence against the 11 human rights defenders on trial today," Andrew Gardner, Amnesty International's Turkey researcher, told The Associated Press.

"For 11 human rights defenders to be . picked up after a routine human rights seminar is an escalation of repression in Turkey," Gardner said.

The trial is one of several cases that have deepened a rift between Turkey and European nations, notably Germany, which considers Steudtner and some 10 other German or German-Turkish citizens jailed in Turkey to be political prisoners.

Steudtner, one of the digital workshop's trainers, told the court Wednesday that none of the accusations in the indictment linked him to a terror group and demanded his "release and acquittal," Amnesty said.

His jailing prompted the German government to toughen its stance toward Turkey by revising its travel advice and threatening to withhold backing for investments there.

Gabriel, the German foreign minister, said: "we will not let up in pushing for a solution and release in these cases, too."

Turkey has arrested more than 50,000 people since the failed coup and sacked at least 110,000 others from government jobs. The crackdown was initially launched to deal with alleged coup-plotters, but critics say it has expanded to include other government opponents, such as academics, journalists and legislators.

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Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser reported from Ankara. AP writer Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.

Activist Peter Steudtner, centre, of Germany hugs a colleague after his release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Ali Gharavi, of Sweden, hugs a colleague after his release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Activist Peter Steudtner, left, of Germany hugs a colleague after his release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Activist Peter Steudtner, left, of Germany hugs a colleague after his release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Activist Peter Steudtner of Germany, smiles after his release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul late Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial, adjourned until Nov. 22, on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. They face up to 15 years in prison, if convicted on all charges and their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Amnesty International Turkey director Idil Eser talks to members of the media after her release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Ali Gharavi, centre, of Sweden, hugs a colleague after his release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Ali Gharavi, 3rd left, of Sweden and Peter Steudtner, second right, of Germany talk to members of the media after their release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Amnesty International Turkey director Idil Eser, centre, hugs a colleague after her release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

German activist Peter Steudtner, right, hugs a colleague after his release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Ali Gharavi, 3rd left, of Sweden and Peter Steudtner, second right, of Germany talk to members of the media after their release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Ali Gharavi, second left, of Sweden and Peter Steudtner, second right, of Germany talk to members of the media after their release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Amnesty International Turkey director Idil Eser, second right, hugs a colleague after her release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Activist Ozlem Dalkiran, centre, of the Citizens' Assembly organization, reacts after her release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Amnesty International Turkey director Idil Eser, centre, poses with colleagues for photographs after her release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Activist Peter Steudtner, left, of Germany, smiles as he is reunited with a colleague after his release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Activist Ozlem Dalkiran, centre, of the Citizens' Assembly organization, hugs a colleague after her release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Activist Ozlem Dalkiran, right, of the Citizens' Assembly organization, hugs a colleague after her release from Silivri prison outside Istanbul, early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups. The defendants were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - The Taliban targeted two military posts in western Afghanistan, killing 11 soldiers and setting off gunbattles with the military, Afghan officials said Wednesday.

In one attack, in western Farah province, the insurgents stormed a security post, killing nine troops and wounding four. The attack took place on Tuesday night in Pusht Road district, said the governor's spokesman, Mohammad Naser Mehri.

An intense, four-hour gunbattle followed the attack and included the use of artillery against the army, Mehri said. Afghan warplanes were deployed and 17 Taliban fighters were killed, he added.

New members of the Afghan Special forces attend their graduation ceremony at the Afghan Corp, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Over 830 Afghan Special forces graduated after receiving a 4-month training program in Kabul. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

The second took place in neighboring Herat province, also on Tuesday night, and targeted an army post in Kushki Kuhna district, killing two soldiers and wounding five, according to Najibullah Najibi, the military's spokesman in Herat.

The attack lasted several hours with the army succeeding in pushing back the Taliban, Najibi said. He added that the Taliban suffered "heavy casualties" but did not provide a figure.

There was no immediate comment from the Taliban on the attacks in Farah and Herat but insurgents have stepped attacks all across Afghanistan, with the last two weeks being particularly deadly for Afghan forces.

Last Thursday, a Taliban attack on a military compound left 43 soldiers dead in southern Kandahar province, a Taliban heartland.

Meanwhile, Afghan officials also reported intense clashes on Monday and Tuesday in northern Jawzjan province between Taliban fighters and rival militants from an Islamic State affiliate that emerged in recent years in Afghanistan.

According to Faqir Mohammad Jawzjani, the provincial chief of police, the fighting left six Islamic State militants and 42 Taliban fighters dead.

Jawzjani said the IS launched an attack on Taliban positions in several locations, capturing several areas and villages from the Taliban in two districts. He estimated that the number of IS fighters in the two districts - Khush Tipa and Darzab - is about 400.
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio (AP) - The home where a middle school teacher was found stabbed to death has been the scene of several attempted break-ins and suspicious activities in the months leading up to the slaying.

Police reports show the family complained about a series of pranks and minor crimes, including last week when police investigated a report that an unknown man tried to enter the home by forcing open the back door.

Just days later, police in the Cleveland suburb of Strongsville found Melinda Pleskovic, 49, with stab wounds to her back. She was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead Monday night.

A man who identified himself as Pleskovic's husband told 911 dispatchers that people had been trying to break into their home "all year."

"I just got in the door with my new son-in-law," Bruce Pleskovic told a dispatcher, adding that his son, who has Down syndrome, was already home.

He also complained about the recent trouble at the home.

"You know we've asked people to watch our freaking area," the husband said. "We've had people attempt to break in just this week. I don't know what's going on in this city."

He told investigators that he believed someone targeted their home but did not know why, according to police records.

Melinda Pleskovic had taught in the Strongsville school district for 27 years.

Records show police went to the home in January to investigate a report of a theft from a car, and they went again in July to report a suspicious person. Police searched the neighborhood and made no arrests.

Police also were called in September when she told officers a set of car keys were missing. She also said she kept finding her car unlocked and that the alarm kept going off.

There also was a report from June 2016, when the family said four teenagers were bouncing on their backyard trampoline. Later that fall, they told police a group of teens were looking inside their windows while a woman changed clothes.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Can the traditional Republican Party survive the presidency of Donald Trump?

That existential question, which has nagged at Republicans since Trump's stunning election one year ago, flared up anew Tuesday with Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake's announcement that he is retiring from Congress. One of the GOP's most consistent critics of the president, Flake was facing a tough primary challenge in next year's election from at least one candidate with the backing of some Trump allies.

"There may not be a place for a Republican like me in the current Republican climate or the current Republican Party," said Flake, a conservative who has worked with Democrats on issues like immigration and the Obama administration's detente with Cuba.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., leaves a meeting with President Donald Trump on his tax reform agenda, Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017.

The senator's dour assessment of his future in the Republican Party gave voice to worries that have gripped the GOP heading into the midterm elections. Trump has shown little loyalty to some sitting senators, and has openly squabbled with Flake and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Some of the president's ardent supporters - led by former White House senior adviser Steve Bannon - are actively courting GOP primary challengers who are more willing to buck the Republican establishment in Washington than line up behind its leaders.

Andy Surabian, a senior adviser for the pro-Trump group Great America Alliance, said Flake's retirement is part of a trend and "should serve as another warning shot to the failed Republican establishment that backed Flake and others like them that their time is up."

To be sure, intra-party divisions are hardly new for the GOP, which has struggled for years to reconcile its more moderate, pro-business wing with the growing crop of populists and nationalists that ultimately fueled Trump's political rise. Trump's election may have left Republicans with control of both the White House and Congress but it did nothing to heal the divisions. If anything, Trump - a former Democrat with no ideological mooring to conservative principles or deep ties to GOP leaders - has exacerbated the gulf between millions of GOP voters and the congressional leaders sent to Washington to represent them.

Peter Wehner, a Trump critic who served in President George W. Bush's White House, said there's a "struggle going on for the soul of conservatism and the Republican Party." He urged more traditional Republicans to stay and fight for their principles instead of fleeing - though he left open the prospect that it's a fight they ultimately may not win.

"If this party is defined by Donald Trump and Steve Bannon, then a lot of these people aren't going to want to be a part of that party anyway," Wehner said.

The anti-establishment forces already had one victory under their belt after firebrand jurist Roy Moore defeated incumbent Sen. Luther Strange in the Alabama GOP primary last month. Moore is considered an outlier among Republicans and hardly a guaranteed vote for McConnell if he lands in the Senate next year.

Flake's comments Tuesday from the Senate floor came hours after Sen. Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican who has also decided not to seek re-election, declared Trump was "debasing" the United States with untruths and name-calling. Last week, Sen. John McCain lamented a climate of "half-baked, spurious nationalism" and Bush bemoaned "bullying and prejudice in our public life" - comments that appeared to be veiled criticism of Trump, though neither man mentioned the president by name.

Privately, many more Republican officials have raised deep concerns about the direction Trump is pulling the party, both on policy and tone. He's pulled the GOP to the right on immigration only to raise the prospect of making a deal with Democrats to allow young people brought to the U.S. illegally as children to stay in the country. He's withdrawn the U.S. from a major Pacific Rim trade pact and threatened to pull out of a long-standing deal with Canada and Mexico. The president has also drawn open support from some white nationalists, a reality that was magnified after he equivocated in his response to clashes between white supremacists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, this summer.

But aside from occasional criticism of Trump's tweets or most callous comments, most Republican office holders have stayed silent, in part out of fear of alienating the president's supporters. A handful of House Republicans have taken the same path as Flake and Corker, announcing plans to retire rather than run for re-election in competitive districts.

Trent Lott, the former Republican Senate majority leader from Mississippi, blamed much of the GOP discontent on the fact that even with a Republican in the White House, the party has been unable to make good on its promises to voters. Efforts to repeal "Obamacare" have failed in embarrassing fashion. Many see the current debate over a tax overhaul package as their last best chance for a legislative breakthrough before the midterms and predict sweeping losses for the GOP if a bill doesn't pass.

But Lott, too, said the solution for conservatives is to stay in Trump's Republican Party, not walk away,

"You don't complain that there's not room for you in your party, you make room," he said.

_

Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., arrives for a Republican luncheon with President Donald Trump in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. Later in the afternoon, Flake, a vocal critic of Trump, announced he would not run for re-election in 2018. In a Senate floor speech, he condemned the "flagrant disregard of truth and decency" he says is undermining American democracy. "There are times we must risk our careers. Now is such a time." (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks to reporters as he leaves a Republican Senate luncheon attended by President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., speaks during a television interview on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. Flake announced he would not run for re-election in 2018, condemning in a speech aimed at President Donald Trump the "flagrant disregard of truth and decency" that is undermining American democracy. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) - Several soldiers and a Navy SEAL testified Wednesday about the risky, all-out efforts to find Bowe Bergdahl after the soldier's 2009 disappearance in Afghanistan. Troops and commanders went without sleep. Shirts and socks disintegrated on soldiers during weekslong patrols. And several service members were seriously wounded - including the Navy commando whose career was ended by AK-47 fire.

The testimony came at a sentencing hearing for Bergdahl, who walked away from a remote post in Afghanistan and was held by Taliban allies for five years. He pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy last week and faces a maximum of life in prison.

The wounded SEAL, retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer James Hatch, said his team's helicopters came under fire as they landed in an area near the Pakistan border where they had information on Bergdahl's possible whereabouts. He said the mission in the days after Bergdahl disappeared was hastily planned, and their only objective was the Bergdahl search.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's military attorney, Lt. Col. Franklin Rosenblatt, and his civilian attorney, Eugene Fidell, arrive at the Fort Bragg courthouse for a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, on Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl, who walked off his base in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer via AP)

A military dog leading them through a field located two enemy fighters that the team had seen at a distance. Hatch said the fighters sprayed AK-47 bullets at them, killing the dog. He was hit in the leg.

"I screamed a lot. It hurt really bad ... I thought I was dead," said Hatch, who entered the courtroom with a limp and a service dog.

Hatch said he believes he would have died if a comrade hadn't quickly applied a tourniquet. Hatch has subsequently had 18 surgeries.

He was largely stoic and spoke in measured tones except for several times when he talked about the slain military dog, Remco. Hatch said the dog helped protect his team by locating enemy fighters after the SEALs lost sight of them.

As the hearing got underway, the Army judge, Col. Jeffery R. Nance, said he was still considering a motion by the defense to dismiss the case. The defense has argued that President Donald Trump's comments about Bergdahl prevent him from having a fair sentencing hearing.

Other soldiers who testified described an exhausting and dangerous around-the-clock effort to find the soldier in the weeks after his disappearance.

Army Col. Clinton Baker, who commanded Bergdahl's battalion at the time, said one unit on patrol for nearly 40 days straight had their clothing start to disintegrate on their bodies.

"We had to fly socks and T-shirts to them because they had literally just rotted off them," he said. "We were all doing the best we could."

Evan Buetow, who served as a sergeant in Bergdahl's platoon, said he was among three soldiers who were left behind for 10 days to guard the outpost that Bergdahl walked away from near the Afghan town of Mest. The rest of the platoon embarked on a frantic search in the nearby areas.

Sitting in a fortified bunker, Buetow and another soldier suffered stomach flu-like symptoms while trying to stay awake and be vigilant.

"Every single day I think about it," he said of the heat and ever-present dung beetles. "It was miserable."

Buetow, who rejoined his platoon on subsequent search missions, broke down in tears when a prosecutor asked him why the guard duty and searches were important.

"I mean, my guy was gone," he said before reaching for a tissue.

Several more days of testimony are expected.

Prosecutors made no deal to cap Bergdahl's punishment, so the judge has wide leeway to consider their words in deciding Bergdahl's sentence.

The 31-year-old soldier from Hailey, Idaho, has said he was caged by his captors, kept in darkness and beaten, and tried to escape more than a dozen times before President Barack Obama brought Bergdahl home in 2014 in a swap for five Taliban prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

Nance said Monday that he would be fair and hasn't been influenced by Trump, but that he does have concerns that the president's comments are affecting public perceptions.

While campaigning for president, Trump repeatedly called Bergdahl a traitor and suggested that he be shot or thrown from a plane without a parachute. Nance ruled in February that those comments didn't constitute unlawful command influence, noting that Trump was a civilian candidate for president at the time. The defense argued that Trump revived his campaign comments the day of Bergdahl's plea hearing, by saying at a news conference that he thinks people are aware of what he said before.

Also Wednesday, the defense said they plan to present evidence that Bergdahl's mental health should be a mitigating factor in his sentence. He washed out of the Coast Guard after panic attack-like symptoms before enlisting in 2008 in the Army. In July 2015 after his return from captivity, Army evaluators concluded that Bergdahl suffered from schizotypal personality disorder when he left his post in Afghanistan.

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Follow Drew at www.twitter.com/jonldrew

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl arrives at the Fort Bragg courthouse for a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, on Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl, who walked off his base in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer via AP)

This June 24, 2015 photo shows Navy SEAL James Hatch in Norfolk, Va. Hatch's leg wound from enemy fire while searching for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl ended his career as a Navy SEAL. Hatch's wounds and others will be weighed by the judge in determining Bergdahl's punishment on charges that he endangered his comrades by walking off his post in Afghanistan in 2009. (Bill Tiernan/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)

In this June 24, 2015 photo, retired Navy SEAL Jimmy Hatch sits in the living room of his Norfolk Va., home with his dogs from left: Thomek, a German Shepherd, Pearl, a Pit Bull and Pepe, a Black Lab. Hatch's leg wound from enemy fire while searching for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl ended his career as a Navy SEAL. Hatch's wounds and others will be weighed by the judge in determining Bergdahl's punishment on charges that he endangered his comrades by walking off his post in Afghanistan in 2009. (Bill Tiernan/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl arrives at the Fort Bragg courthouse for a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, on Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl, who walked off his base in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer via AP)

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl arrives at the Fort Bragg courthouse for a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, on Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl, who walked off his base in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer via AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump and Republican Sen. Bob Corker are lobbing insults at each other again. The slings and arrows are largely a matter of opinion - is Trump "debasing" the nation as Corker says? Is the senator "incompetent" and a "lightweight," as the president tweeted?

But aside from those negative reviews of each other, Trump, in particular, got a couple of facts wrong.

TRUMP tweets Tuesday: "Bob Corker, who helped President O give us the bad Iran Deal & couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee, is now fighting Tax Cuts...." And: "Corker dropped out of the race in Tennesse when I refused to endorse him, and now is only negative on anything Trump. Look at his record!"

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., pauses while riding the Senate subway to the Capitol during a day of jabs on social media with President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. In a remarkable Republican war of words, Corker says Trump is "utterly untruthful" and debases the nation. Then the president fires back that the two-term lawmaker "couldn't get elected dog catcher." (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

THE FACTS: Trump, who spelled Tennessee right the first time, continues to label Corker an enabler of the Iran nuclear deal when he was a leading critic of it.

Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had nothing to do with the 2015 international agreement forged by the U.S. and other world powers to constrain Iran's ability to build a nuclear arsenal. He argued at the time that President Barack Obama should have made the international pact a treaty subject to approval by the Senate. When Obama didn't do that, Corker helped fellow senators write legislation that subjected the accord to periodic congressional review. The legislation would have blocked the deal if that effort got enough votes. It didn't. Obama brought the deal into effect, not Congress.

Despite that record, Trump spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said of Corker and the Iran deal: "He voted against it, but he allowed it to happen, and he put it in motion."

Trump contended, also in a tweet, that Corker decided not to seek another term next year because he "couldn't get re-elected." That, of course, is his opinion. But the president has not substantiated his claim that Corker made that decision because he failed to secure his endorsement.

In fact, Trump urged Corker to run during a private meeting in September, AP learned. And Corker's chief of staff, Todd Womack, said Trump called Corker after that to ask that he reconsider his decision to leave the Senate. Trump "reaffirmed that he would have endorsed him, as he has said many times," the aide said.

For his part, Corker is having fun steering people on Twitter to #AlertTheDaycareStaff, where Twitter users share thoughts arising from his Oct. 8 Trump slam: "It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning."

Trump's latest Twitter tirade prompted the senator to tweet Tuesday: "Same untruths from an utterly untruthful president." And he told CNN he holds Trump responsible for "the debasing of our nation, the constant non-truth-telling, the name-calling."

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Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd
NEW DELHI (AP) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is meeting India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi after stopping in neighboring Kabul and Islamabad as part of a South Asia trip to lay out the Trump administration's new strategy for the region.

The agenda for talks in New Delhi Wednesday is expected to include an assertive China, the future of Afghanistan and India's role in that war-ravaged country as well as strengthening the partnership between the world's two largest democracies.

Tillerson and Swaraj are scheduled to hold a press conference later Wednesday afternoon. The U.S. official flew into New Delhi late Tuesday after visiting archrival Pakistan. He was in Afghanistan on a brief visit Monday.

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, right, accompanies U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to the foreign ministry office for a delegation level meeting in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Tillerson will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later Wednesday during his two-day trip.

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, right, welcomes with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on his arrival at the foreign ministry office in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, right, welcomes U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on his arrival at the foreign ministry office in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

In advance of the visit by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, rose petals are placed on the raised steps of the path of the last steps of Mahatma Gandh to the Martyr's Column, the site of the assassination Mahatma Gandhi, at the Gandhi Smriti, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, left, talks before a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, at the Indian Foreign Ministry, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson talks before a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, at the Indian Foreign Ministry, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson pauses before a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, at the Indian Foreign Ministry, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, right, shakes hand with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, right, shakes hand with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

In advance of the visit by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, rose petals are placed on the raised steps of the path of the last steps of Mahatma Gandh to the Martyr's Column, the site of the assassination Mahatma Gandhi, at the Gandhi Smriti, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson walks along side the path of the last steps of Mahatma Gandh to the Martyr's Column, the site of the assassination Mahatma Gandhi, with director Dipankar Gyan, at the Gandhi Smriti, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sprinkles rose petals on the Martyr's Column, the site of the assassination Mahatma Gandhi, with director Dipankar Gyan, at the Gandhi Smriti, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson walks along side the path of the last steps of Mahatma Gandh to the Martyr's Column, the site of the assassination Mahatma Gandhi, with director Dipankar Gyan, at the Gandhi Smriti, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson pauses for a moment of reverence at the Martyr's Column, the site of the assassination Mahatma Gandhi, with director Dipankar Gyan, at the Gandhi Smriti, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's long-awaited declaration that the opioid epidemic is a national emergency finally arrives this week, but some advocates are worried that it won't be backed with the money and commitment to make much difference.

Trump is expected to make the formal declaration and deliver a major speech on the topic Thursday, more than two months after he first announced that would be his plan.

There is concern the White House actions will be empty talk without a long-term commitment to paying for more addiction treatment: An emergency declaration would lack punch without money, said Andrew Kessler, who represents substance abuse treatment providers as a lobbyist in Washington.

President Donald Trump waves to reporters after a lunch with Republican senator at the U.S. Capitol Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

"If there's no new money to expand our treatment infrastructure, I don't know what the punch is going to be," Kessler said. He acknowledged that declaring a national emergency "would put it in the national spotlight. Create buzz. Create talk." But with news coverage of the opioid crisis already saturating front pages and newscasts, he said, "I don't know how much more buzz we can generate."

Some health advocates also are concerned that devoting more public health resources to opioids could pull attention and resources from other health problems such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. What's needed, they say, are new funding streams and a willingness to work hand-in-hand with states and local governments.

"An emergency declaration without significant new funds will likely be unsuccessful. The problem is enormous and requires a similar investment in a comprehensive strategy that includes primary prevention," said Becky Salay, director of government relations at Trust for America's Health, a Washington-based public health research and advocacy organization.

The idea of declaring a national emergency was first raised in an interim report prepared by an opioid commission chaired by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and convened by the president earlier this year.

"The first and most urgent recommendation of this commission is direct and completely within your control. Declare a national emergency," read the report from the group, which argued the move would empower Trump's Cabinet to address the crisis and force Congress to dedicate more money to fighting overdose deaths.

Trump said back in August he planned to adopt the recommendation, and claimed his team was working on documents to formalize the declaration. But his words spurred immediate push-back from some inside his administration who argued it wasn't the best move.

Emergency declarations are typically reserved for natural disaster like hurricanes, infectious diseases like swine flu and bioterrorist threats like anthrax, and Trump's now-departed Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price argued publicly that the administration could deploy the needed resources without a formal declaration.

As the weeks have passed, Christie appeared to grow impatient, telling an audience in New Jersey earlier this month that it wasn't "good that it hasn't been done yet."

"All I know is, two months is two months and I would have loved to have had the time to have worked on it in that respect," Christie said. "But you know, they're telling me they've got legal issues and hurdles to get over that they haven't gotten over yet. I take them at their word. But if you're asking me, would I have preferred him to sign it August 1st, yeah."

He said the problem was too big to say the delay had made a significant difference, "but I would also say you can't get those two months back."

The Office of National Drug Control Policy defended the administration's handling of the matter, saying Trump's policy advisers, along with relevant government agencies, have been "working tirelessly since the beginning" to respond to the opioid crisis.

With an estimated 142 Americans dying every day from drug overdoses, more than 10,000 people have died in the weeks since the president first committed to the plan.

At a commission meeting last week, no overt reference was made to the president's promise, but members stressed the need to act.

"We ought to be treating this like a FEMA response and getting the necessary medication," said former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, who argued that, if the drug crisis were Ebola, "we'd waive all the rules and we'd say get it done and start saving lives, I mean that's what we need."

"That's what we've been saying," Christie responded. The New Jersey governor later compared the response to the AIDs epidemic.

"I still have not seen the passion for this epidemic that I saw in the AIDS epidemic," Christie said.

The commission had suggested two mechanisms for an emergency declaration: the Public Health Service Act or the Stafford Act. The nation has a public health emergency fund, but it is empty, Kessler said.

If the emergency is declared instead under the Stafford Act, funding could be included with disaster relief for hurricanes and wildfires. But that would put the opioids emergency under the jurisdiction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is under the Department of Homeland Security.

"All that money could go to border security and drug interdiction, rather than toward treatment," Kessler said.

Trump's delays have frustrated observers.

"The failure to follow through is a betrayal of families and I think unconscionable," said Lawrence Gostin, a Georgetown University professor and the director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center on National & Global Health Law.

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AP Medical Writer Carla K. Johnson reported from Chicago. Follow Colvin and Johnson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/colvinj and https://twitter.com/CarlaKJohnson.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - The leader of Kenya's main opposition party urged his supporters to boycott a rerun of the disputed presidential election scheduled for Thursday amid rising political tensions and fears of violence in the East African country.

Jubilant supporters of President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is seeking a second term, celebrated the news that the election will proceed, and he said security forces will be deployed nationwide to ensure order during the vote. In a televised address Wednesday, Kenyatta urged Kenyans to vote but he also said the rights of those who don't want to vote are protected under the law.

His electoral rival, opposition leader Raila Odinga, called on his political coalition to become a "resistance movement," accusing the president of moving a country known for relative stability and openness toward authoritarian rule.

National Super Alliance (NASA) supporters in Kenya's lakeside city of Kisumu, Kenya, burn tyres in streets Wednesday Oct.25, 2017, a day before the country goes to the polls. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges, as Chief Justice David Maraga appeared alone in the court Wednesday morning and said only he and one other judge had been able to attend the hearing. (AP Photo)

"Do not participate," Odinga told a noisy rally of thousands of followers in Nairobi's Uhuru Park on the eve of the vote. The gathering was mostly peaceful, though police fired tear gas to disperse some groups of opposition supporters who were occupying roads after the demonstration had ended.

Protesters also set fires and blocked roads in part of Nairobi's Kibera slum, and police and demonstrators clashed throughout the day in some neighborhoods in Kisumu, Kenya's third-largest city and an opposition stronghold.

Kenya's Supreme Court failed Wednesday to muster enough judges to hear a last-minute petition that sought to postpone the vote, a rerun of an election in August that was won by Kenyatta but then annulled last month by the court due to what it called irregularities and illegalities.

Chief Justice David Maraga appeared alone in the courtroom and said only he and one other judge were able to attend the hearing. The driver for one justice had been shot Tuesday evening, raising fears about intimidation of the judiciary.

Outside court, hundreds of women in white scarves called for peace, concerned that violence might break out as it had following a disputed election in 2007 that left more than 1,000 dead.

Police originally had banned the Odinga rally, but allowed it to take place. His supporters were bused in and had gathered in an almost celebratory mood, banging drums and blowing whistles and vuvuzelas as many people danced and wore orange caps and T-shirts with his initials "R.A.O."

The petition to postpone the rerun of the election argued that electoral officials have said they cannot ensure the vote would be free, fair and credible.

Harun Ndubi, a lawyer for the three petitioners, suggested that some judges who did not attend the hearing may have violated their constitutional duties.

"The justices must forever be available," said Ndubi, although he acknowledged that the deputy chief justice whose police driver was wounded in the shooting may have been genuinely troubled.

"For the others, I don't buy their explanation," he said. "I don't see a credible or legitimate election happening tomorrow."

Odinga had challenged Kenyatta's victory in August, claiming hackers had infiltrated the computer servers and manipulated the vote. He has since complained that the electoral commission has not been reformed after the court nullified the result.

In its stunning decision last month, the court had cited the electoral commission's unwillingness to let court-appointed technicians scrutinize its computer system.

A National Super Alliance (NASA) supporter in Kenya's Kibera slums, in Nairobi, burn tyres to block the roads a day before the country goes to the polls calling for boycott of the elections Wednesday Oct.25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. Chief Justice David Maraga appeared alone in the court Wednesday morning and said only he and one other judge had been able to attend the hearing. The announcement appears to open the way to Thursday's vote proceeding.(AP Photo)

Jubilant supporters of Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta march past the Supreme Court, after it failed to reach quorum to hear a petition calling for a halt in the presidential election, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga addresses his supporters during a rally in the Uhuru Park in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Raila Odinga is vowing to turn his political coalition into a "resistance movement" and is urging supporters to boycott Thursday's repeat presidential election. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Supporters of Kenyan opposition leader Raila Amolo Odinga stand in the sun wearing baseball caps in the party color orange and his initials written on, as they await his arrival at a rally in Uhuru Park in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Odinga urged his supporters to boycott a rerun of the country's disputed presidential election scheduled for Thursday amid rising political tensions and fears of violence, and called on his political coalition to become a "resistance movement". (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Opposition supporters dance during a rally in the Uhuru Park in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga is vowing to turn his political coalition into a "resistance movement" and is urging supporters to boycott Thursday's repeat presidential election. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

An opposition supporter points his finger as he attends a rally in the Uhuru Park in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga is vowing to turn his political coalition into a "resistance movement" and is urging supporters to boycott Thursday's repeat presidential election. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

A Kenyan carries his belongings as he passes a fire lit by National Super Alliance (NASA) supporters in Nairobi's Kibera slums, after burning tyres to block the roads Wednesday Oct.25, 2017, a day before the country goes to the polls, calling for a boycott of the elections. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. Chief Justice David Maraga appeared alone in the court Wednesday morning and said only he and one other judge had been able to attend the hearing. The announcement appears to open the way to Thursday's vote proceeding. (AP Photo)

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga speaks to gathered supporters and media at a rally in Uhuru Park in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Odinga urged his supporters to boycott a rerun of the country's disputed presidential election scheduled for Thursday amid rising political tensions and fears of violence, and called on his political coalition to become a "resistance movement". (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Jubilant supporters of Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta march past the Supreme Court, after it failed to reach quorum to hear a petition calling for a halt in the presidential election, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Riot police stand guard as a Kenyan woman holding Bible prays for peace outside the Supreme Court, Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. Chief Justice David Maraga appeared alone in the court Wednesday morning and said only he and one other judge had been able to attend the hearing. The announcement appears to open the way to Thursday's vote proceeding.(AP Photo/Sayyid Abdul Azim)

Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga march with a placard referring to him as "Baba", the Swahili word of respect meaning "Father", as they start to hold a rally in Uhuru Park in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

David Maraga. Chief Justice of Kenya, speaks at the Supreme Court, in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday Oct. 25, 2017. Kenya's Supreme Court will not hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. Chief Justice Maraga appeared alone in the court Wednesday morning and said only he and one other judge had been able to attend the hearing. (AP Photo/Sayyid Abdul Azim)

Kenyan women stage a multi-faith demonstration calling for peace marches outside Supreme Court in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Kenya's Supreme Court is set to hear a petition that seeks to postpone Thursday's repeat presidential election and argues that not enough has been done to ensure the process is free, fair and credible. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

David Maraga. Chief Justice of Kenya, speaks at the Supreme Court, in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday Oct. 25, 2017. Kenya's Supreme Court will not hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. Chief Justice Maraga appeared alone in the court Wednesday morning and said only he and one other judge had been able to attend the hearing. (AP Photo/Sayyid Abdul Azim)

Kenyan women gather during a multi-faith demonstration calling for peace outside Supreme Court in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Kenya's Supreme Court is set to hear a petition that seeks to postpone Thursday's repeat presidential election and argues that not enough has been done to ensure the process is free, fair and credible. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Kenyan women march during a multi-faith demonstration calling for peace outside Supreme Court in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Kenya's Supreme Court is set to hear a petition that seeks to postpone Thursday's repeat presidential election and argues that not enough has been done to ensure the process is free, fair and credible. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Riot police stand watch a multi-faith demonstration of Kenyan women calling for peace marches outside Supreme Court in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Kenya's Supreme Court is set to hear a petition that seeks to postpone Thursday's repeat presidential election and argues that not enough has been done to ensure the process is free, fair and credible. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Riot police stand guard as a Kenyan woman holding Bible prays for peace outside the Supreme Court, Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday Oct.25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. Chief Justice David Maraga appeared alone in the court Wednesday morning and said only he and one other judge had been able to attend the hearing. The announcement appears to open the way to Thursday's vote proceeding.(AP Photo/Sayyid Abdul Azim)

David Maraga. Chief Justice of Kenya, gestures at the Supreme Court, in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday Oct. 25, 2017. Kenya's Supreme Court will not hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. Chief Justice Maraga appeared alone in the court Wednesday morning and said only he and one other judge had been able to attend the hearing. (AP Photo/Sayyid Abdul Azim)

Kenyan lawyers at the Supreme Court Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Sayyid Abdul Azim)

Supporters of Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta chant slogans near the Supreme Court, after it failed to reach quorum to hear a petition calling for a halt in the presidential election, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Jubilant supporters of Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta march past the Supreme Court, after it failed to reach quorum to hear a petition calling for a halt in the presidential election, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga march with a placard referring to him as "Baba", the Swahili word of respect meaning "Father", as they start to hold a rally in Uhuru Park in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Supporters of Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta chant slogans near the Supreme Court, after it failed to reach quorum to hear a petition calling for a halt in the presidential election, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Supporters of Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta march near the Supreme Court, after it failed to reach quorum to hear a petition calling for a halt in the presidential election, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Kenyan Attorney General, Githu Muigai, right, addresses the court as David Maraga, Chief Justice of Kenya at Supreme Court, sat on Judges chair, listens Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Sayyid Abdul Azim)

Judges' chairs are empty at the Supreme Court Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Chief Justice of Kenya David Maraga, top, speaks at the Supreme Court Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Chief Justice of Kenya David Maraga, speaks at the Supreme Court Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Kenyan women calling for peace and for the election to proceed jubilate outside the Kenyan Supreme Court in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Kenyan women calling for peace and for the election to proceed jubilate outside the Kenyan Supreme Court in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Kenyan women calling for peace and for the election to proceed jubilate outside the Kenyan Supreme Court in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

A supporter of opposition leader Raila Odinga wears a mock banknote with Odinga's face on his forehead at a rally in Uhuru Park in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Kenya's Supreme Court said Wednesday it could not hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it didn't have a quorum of judges, while the shooting of one judge's driver hours before the hearing raised fears about intimidation. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga ride on the outside of a "matatu" minibus as they arrive for a rally in Uhuru Park in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Kenya's Supreme Court said Wednesday it could not hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it didn't have a quorum of judges, while the shooting of one judge's driver hours before the hearing raised fears about intimidation. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - The Latest on Kenya's election (all times local):

8 p.m.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta says security forces are deployed nationwide to ensure order during Thursday's election.

A supporter of opposition leader Raila Odinga wears a mock banknote with Odinga's face on his forehead at a rally in Uhuru Park in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Kenya's Supreme Court said Wednesday it could not hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it didn't have a quorum of judges, while the shooting of one judge's driver hours before the hearing raised fears about intimidation. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

In a televised address Wednesday, Kenyatta urged Kenyans to vote but he also said the rights of those who don't want to vote are protected under the law. Opposition leader Raila Odinga has urged followers to boycott the election, saying it won't be credible.

Kenyatta says the election offers Kenyans an opportunity to "show the world" that their nation is united. He says he wants people to go home after they vote and that nobody should break the law.

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5:30 p.m.

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga is vowing to turn his political coalition into a "resistance movement" and is urging supporters to boycott Thursday's repeat presidential election.

Election officials say the vote will go ahead even after the electoral commission chairman last week said he could not guarantee it would be credible.

Odinga's legal challenge led the Supreme Court to nullify the August election over irregularities and order a new one. Odinga later shocked Kenyans by withdrawing from the new vote, saying electoral reforms have not been made.

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4:10 p.m.

Kenya's electoral commission chairman Wafula Chebukati has said repeat presidential elections will go ahead on Thursday claiming a high court decision earlier in the day found no illegality in the process of selecting poll officials at the constituency level and he got assurances from the police and the president over security fears.

Chebukati said the Independent Police Oversight Authority had assured him of action against police officers who brutalized peaceful demonstrators. Human rights groups have accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of using the police to crush opposition demonstrations calling for reforms at the electoral commission and protesting the results of the August presidential election. At least 67 people were killed in demonstrations following the announcement that Kenyatta had won a second term in office.

Chebukati denied that an earlier ruling by High Court Judge George Odunga found process of selecting electoral officials to run Thursday polls at the constituency level was illegal.

Last month the Supreme Court nullified President Uhuru Kenyatta's August re-election, citing irregularities and illegalities in the vote. Opposition leader Raila Odinga is boycotting the repeat elections, saying the electoral commission has not implemented adequate reforms to guarantee credible elections.

2:25 p.m.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga's lawyer says it was not by accident that the Supreme Court did not have a quorum to hear an urgent appeal to postpone the Thursday's repeat presidential elections.

James Orengo said President Uhuru Kenyatta tried to prevent the court hearing by declaring public holidays on Wednesday and Thursday.

Orengo said that move didn't work because Chief Justice David Maraga ordered the courts to hear election petitions during the holidays. Then Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu felt threatened when her driver was seriously wounded in a shooting. Mwilu did not show up for the last-minute hearing.

Mwilu's driver, a police constable, was shot and seriously wounded Tuesday evening when he went to buy flowers by assailants who tried force him back into the judge's official car. He had just dropped the justice at her home. Many Kenyans saw this as intimidation of the courts.

Orengo said two justices of the Supreme Court who had dissented when the court ruled 4-2 to nullify Kenyatta's re-election also did not turn up.

In the end, only two justices showed up at the Supreme Court.

The petition by the three voters was seeking the Supreme Court orders to postpone the Thursday presidential election arguing that not enough had been done to ensure it is credible and it could lead to anarchy.

The opposition leader Raila Odinga is boycotting the election, saying credible elections are not possible. The head of the electoral commission has also said free and fair elections are not possible. President Kenyatta has said he want the election to continue despite the concerns.

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2:05 p.m.

Long lines form in Kenyan supermarkets as people stock up on supplies ahead of the tension-filled repeat presidential elections to be held Thursday.

Uncertainty has stalked the fresh presidential elections ordered by the Supreme Court when it nullified President Uhuru Kenyatta's August re-election, citing irregularities and illegalities and the refusal by the electoral commission to allow scrutiny of its servers.

Nairobi resident Cosmas Butunyi said there are long lines of Kenyans who are panic shopping. "I had gone to buy milk for the week and I found long lines so I also decided to stock up," Butunyi said.

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12:25 p.m.

A Kenyan judge has ruled that the appointments of electoral agents at the constituency level for the Thursday's repeat presidential election are illegal, throwing more uncertainty on the controversial elections.

Judge George Odunga ruled Wednesday that the electoral commission did not follow the law when appointing constituency returning officers and their deputies. Returning officers manage the polling centers at the constituency level and are responsible for the transmission of results to the national tallying centers.

Despite this ruling, the electoral commission announced that the repeat elections will go ahead as planned Thursday with the appointed returning officers and deputies.

Last month the Supreme Court nullified President Uhuru Kenyatta's August re-election, citing irregularities and illegalities in the vote. Opposition leader Raila Odinga had challenged the results claiming hackers had infiltrated the electoral commission's computer system and had manipulated the vote. Odinga is boycotting the repeat elections, saying the electoral commission has not implemented adequate reforms to guarantee credible elections.

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12:10 p.m.

Kenya's electoral commission announced that the repeat presidential elections will go ahead as planned on Thursday. The tweet from the commission said Kenyan electoral officials "will conduct the fresh presidential election 26th October 2017."

The announcement comes amid rising tensions. Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga is boycotting the elections, saying they will not be free and fair. The electoral commission chairman has said that he cannot guarantee elections that are credible and a member of the electoral board resigned and left the country, saying she feared for her safety.

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11:50 a.m.

Kenya police say they will not allow the opposition National Super Alliance to hold its final rally at the capital's Freedom Park ahead of their boycott of the repeat presidential elections Thursday.

Nairobi police chief Japheth Koome said Wednesday the opposition did not have authorization from the county government to use the park. Opposition leader Raila Odinga was to speak to his supporters at the park. He has said he will not participate in the fresh election and has urged supporters not to vote, saying the electoral commission has not implemented enough reforms to ensure a credible vote.

The police ban came as the Supreme Court said it cannot hear an application to delay the vote because it did not have a quorum of judges.

Last month the Supreme Court made a surprise decision to nullify President Uhuru Kenyatta's August re-election, citing illegalities and irregularities in the vote. The court ordered a fresh election. Opposition and human rights activists claim Kenyatta is using the police force to crush dissent and report that 67 opposition supporters have been killed. Kenyatta insists the vote must be held Thursday because the country's economy is suffering.

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11:15 a.m.

The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges.

Chief Justice David Maraga appeared alone in the court Wednesday morning and said only he and one other judge had been able to attend the hearing.

The announcement appears to open the way to Thursday's vote proceeding.

The petition filed by three Kenyans including a human rights activist sought to postpone the repeat presidential election and argued that not enough has been done to ensure the process is free, fair and credible.

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10:30 a.m.

Kenya's Supreme Court is set to hear a petition that seeks to postpone Thursday's repeat presidential election and argues that not enough has been done to ensure the process is free, fair and credible.

The court shocked Kenya last month when it nullified President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election in August, citing irregularities and illegalities and the electoral commission's unwillingness to let court-appointed technicians scrutinize its servers. Opposition leader Raila Odinga had challenged Kenyatta's victory, claiming hackers had infiltrated the servers and manipulated the vote.

Odinga has said he will not participate in the new election because the electoral commission has not been reformed. Kenyatta has insisted the vote continue.

Hours before Wednesday's hearing, the driver of the deputy chief justice was shot in what many saw as intimidation of the judiciary.

Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga ride on the outside of a "matatu" minibus as they arrive for a rally in Uhuru Park in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Kenya's Supreme Court said Wednesday it could not hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it didn't have a quorum of judges, while the shooting of one judge's driver hours before the hearing raised fears about intimidation. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Kenyan women march during a multi-faith demonstration calling for peace outside Supreme Court in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Kenya's Supreme Court is set to hear a petition that seeks to postpone Thursday's repeat presidential election and argues that not enough has been done to ensure the process is free, fair and credible. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Kenyan women calling for peace and for the election to proceed jubilate outside the Kenyan Supreme Court in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Chief Justice of Kenya David Maraga, top, speaks at the Supreme Court Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. The chief justice of Kenya's Supreme Court says the court cannot hear a last-minute petition to postpone Thursday's presidential election because it does not have a quorum of judges. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
GRAMBLING, La. (AP) - Authorities were searching Wednesday for a suspect in a shooting that killed a Grambling State University student and his friend after an altercation on the Louisiana college's campus.

Lincoln Parish Sheriff Mike Stone said the suspect and victims knew each other "to some extent" and stressed that the shooting wasn't random or an act of terrorism.

"There are no indicators that this incident bears any resemblance to any of the random acts of violence or domestic terrorism that have been experienced around our country in recent weeks," Stone said in a statement.

From left, Grambling State University junior Jaylen Hamilton, senior Kyana Manning and junior LeVonte Abbott cry as they stand near the scene of a shooting in Grambling, La., Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Authorities said a student and his friend were fatally shot after an altercation that began in a dorm room and ended in a courtyard at the historically black university in northern Louisiana. (Hannah Baldwin/The News-Star via AP)

The suspect remained at large hours after the shooting, but classes at the historically black college were held as usual.

The sheriff's office said the suspect was a black male but didn't immediately release a detailed description of him. Both shooting victims also were black, according to a spokesman for the sheriff's office.

University spokeswoman Kathy Spurlock identified the victims as Grambling senior Earl Andrews and Monquiarious Caldwell, both 23 and from Farmerville, Louisiana, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from Grambling.

Andrews' brother, Ledarius Heard, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that Andrews and Caldwell were friends from high school and cousins by marriage.

Heard, 31, said his brother, who lived with him off campus in Ruston, was studying criminal justice and hoped to move to Texas after graduation to be closer to his 1-year-old son.

"Earl didn't bother nobody," Heard said.

The deadly shootings happened during the school's homecoming week. Heard said Andrews typically came home immediately after classes ended but had been on campus Tuesday night to hang out with friends during homecoming week. Heard said he didn't know of any conflicts between his brother and anyone else.

"If he ever had any problems, he would let me know," he added.

Lincoln Parish Sheriff's spokesman Stephen Williams said detectives joined Grambling State's campus police in investigating the double homicide after getting 911 calls starting at 12:04 a.m. Wednesday.

The university in northern Louisiana has an enrollment of nearly 5,000 students.

"It was an altercation that started inside one of the dorm rooms and spilled out into the courtyard," Williams said. "We're interviewing witnesses."

The university posted a message on Twitter that said offices would be open Wednesday with normal business hours and students were expected to attend classes as scheduled.

A Grambling State student was wounded last month in a separate shooting on the campus. Grambling spokesman Will Sutton told news outlets then that a student let another person into a dorm and there was a fight that ended with a student being shot in the left arm on Sept. 21. No suspects have been named in that shooting.

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The story corrects the spelling of the victim's first name to Monquiarious Caldwell, not Monquiarius.
BERLIN (AP) - A 48-year-old from Northern Ireland has been convicted in Germany of attempted murder for participating in an Irish Republican Army attack on a British barracks in the northwestern city of Osnabrueck more than two decades ago.

The court says James Anthony Oliver Corry, a British citizen, was sentenced to four years in prison.

The Belfast man was extradited from the Republic of Ireland in December to face charges.

Corry was convicted of being part of an IRA unit that fired three mortar shells onto the grounds of the Quebec Barracks in Osnabrueck on June 28, 1996. Only one of the shells detonated on the property, damaging buildings and vehicles but injuring no one.

The Provisional IRA killed nearly 1,800 people from 1970 to July 2005, when it formally renounced violence.
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. WHY TRADITIONAL REPUBLICANS ARE QUESTIONING THE FUTURE

That existential thinking, which has nagged the party since Trump's stunning election, flared up anew with Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake's retirement announcement.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., accompanied by his wife Cheryl, leaves the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, after announcing he won't seek re-election in 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

2. AP SOURCE: CLINTON CAMPAIGN HELPED FUND TRUMP DOSSIER RESEARCH

The revelation is likely to fuel complaints by Trump that the dossier, which the president has derided as "phony stuff," is a politically motivated collection of salacious claims.

3. CHINA UNVEILS NEW COMMUNIST PARTY LEADERSHIP

Burgeoning debt, trade tensions with the U.S. and Europe and preventing war over North Korea's nuclear program are just some of the issues facing President Xi Jinping's party.

4. EPA CHEMICAL REVIEW WOULD EXCLUDE MILLIONS OF TONS OF TOXINS

Spurred by the chemical industry, the Trump administration is retreating from a congressionally mandated review of some of the most dangerous chemicals in public use.

5. 2 KILLED ON GRAMBLING STATE CAMPUS

Police say a student and his friend were fatally shot at the Louisiana school after an altercation that began in a dorm room, and the shooter fled the scene.

6. AFTER INDEPENDENCE VOTE, KURDS FEEL UNDER SIEGE

Kurdish politicians have lost their most important oil-producing city, Kirkuk, squeezing an already ailing economy and dashing hopes of an independent state.

7. THAIS BEGIN FUNERAL FOR MONARCH

King Bhumibol Adulyadej's son is performing Buddhist merit-making rites in preparation for moving Bhumibol's remains to a spectacular golden crematorium.

8. WHAT'S NEXT IN BERGDAHL TRIAL

Prosecutors plan to present evidence of service members wounded searching for the Army sergeant, convicted for abandoning his post in Afghanistan in 2009.

9. 'YOU OWN IT': NEW ZEALAND PARTY TOLD TO PAY FOR EMINEM RIP-OFF

A judge ruled that a political party breached copyright by using a song similar to the rapper's "Lose Yourself" in its campaign ads.

10. NO SWEAT, CLAYTON KERSHAW

Changing jerseys to beat the 103-degree heat, the Dodgers' ace struck out 11, gave up just three hits and walked none over seven innings as Los Angeles beat Houston 3-1 in the World Series opener.

Hospitality staff members laugh as they stand on Tiananmen Square before the closing ceremony of China's 19th Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. The ruling Communist Party on Tuesday formally lifted Xi Jinping's status to China's most powerful ruler in decades, setting the stage for the authoritarian leader to tighten his grip over the country while pursuing an increasingly muscular foreign policy and military expansion. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
LONDON (AP) - He's long been a winner at cards, but American poker star Phil Ivey's good fortune does not extend to Britain's Supreme Court - he lost a major case Wednesday that will keep him from cashing in.

The British Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that Ivey had used illegitimate means to amass 7.7 million pounds ($10.2 million) in winnings during a stint at the baccarat table in 2012.

He and a colleague were found to have used a technique known as "edge sorting" to gain an unfair advantage while gambling at the Crockfords casino in London's posh Mayfair district.

FILE - In this July 15, 2009 file photo, Phil Ivey looks up during the World Series of Poker at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He's long been a winner at cards, but American poker star Phil Ivey's good fortune does not extend to Britain's Supreme Court, he lost a major case Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, that will keep him from cashing in. (AP Photo/Laura Rauch, File)

They did not actually touch the cards being dealt, but convinced the croupier to arrange the cards a certain way that allowed them to determine, in some cases, which cards were being dealt, allowing them to bet accordingly.

Crockfords cried foul and refused to pay his winnings, leading Ivey to pursue his claim in court.

Supreme Court Judge Anthony Hughes said the integrity of Punto Banco baccarat depends on the cards being dealt at random without gamblers knowing their face value.

"What Mr. Ivey did was to stage a carefully planned and executed sting," he said.

He said Ivey took "positive steps to fix the deck" by tricking the croupier. He said that "is inevitably cheating."

Ivey, long recognized as one of the top players in international poker, said his winnings were honestly obtained.

"At the time I played at Crockfords, I believed that edge-sorting was a legitimate Advantage Play technique and I believe that more passionately than ever today," he said after the ruling.

He said he pursued the case to Britain's highest court out of a sense of honor.

"As a professional gambler, my integrity is everything to me," said Ivey, who has won a number of World Series of Poker competitions.

The president of Genting Casinos UK, which operates Crockfords, said the ruling "vindicates" the company's decision not to pay Ivey his baccarat winnings.

"We are delighted that the High Court, the Court of Appeal and now the Supreme Court have all found in Genting's favor, confirming that we acted fairly and properly at all times and that Mr. Ivey's conduct did indeed amount to cheating," he said.
LONDON (AP) - Brexit negotiations between Britain and the European Union may not end until the last moment before the U.K. officially leaves the bloc in March 2019, Britain's minister for leaving the EU said Wednesday.

The comments by Brexit Secretary David Davis drew an angry reaction from British lawmakers, who have been promised a vote on any deal struck between Britain and the bloc on their divorce.

Davis suggested that if a deal is made at the last minute, such a vote might come after Britain has already left the EU.

FILE - A Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017 file photo of British Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis, addressing a media conference at EU headquarters in Brussels. Britain's Brexit minister says he expects negotiations with the European Union won't end until the last moment before the U.K. officially leaves the bloc in March 2019. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys, File)

"Well, it can't come before we have the deal," he told a Parliament's Exiting the EU Committee.

He said the EU tends to make decisions "at the 59th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day and so on, and that is precisely what I would expect to happen."

The EU has said in practice the negotiations will have to be finished months sooner, by the fall of 2018, to give the European Parliament and the bloc's 27 national parliaments enough time to approve it by March 2019.

Britain's Department for Exiting the European Union later appeared to contradict Davis, saying Britain hoped to reach agreement on a deal "in good time" and was aiming for October 2018.

"Once the deal is agreed, we will meet our long-standing commitment to a vote in both Houses (of Parliament) and we expect and intend this to be before the vote in the European Parliament and therefore before we leave," the department said in a statement.

Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May also reassured lawmakers, saying she was confident "that we will be able to achieve that agreement and that negotiation in time for this Parliament to have the vote that we committed to."

Negotiations between Britain and the EU have stalled over divorce terms, including the size of the bill Britain must pay to settle its commitments to the bloc.

The U.K. is keen to start talking about future relations, a step the EU may agree to take in December.

Many U.K. businesses fear the consequences if Britain doesn't strike a deal by the March 2019 deadline and crashes out of the EU single market and customs union.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans (all times local):

7:50 a.m.

President Donald Trump is lashing out at two Republican senators who seared him with criticism.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., accompanied by his wife Cheryl, leaves the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, after announcing he won't seek re-election in 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Trump commented on Twitter Wednesday about Senators Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee. Trump says both are not running for re-election because "they had zero chance of being elected." He adds: "Now act so hurt & wounded!"

Trump continued to say that a Tuesday meeting with GOP senators was, with the exception of Flake and Corker, "a love fest with standing ovations and great ideas for USA!"

Trump's comments followed a day in which Flake declared he would not be "complicit" with Trump and announced his surprise retirement, while Corker said the president "debases our nation" with constant untruths and name-calling.

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7:46 a.m.

Republican Sen. Jeff Flake says he has no regrets about saying President Donald Trump has debased politics with his roughshod style and social media broadsides.

Flake told MSNBC, "You can't continue to just remain silent."

On NBC's "Today," Flake cited the 1950s era of Sen. Joseph McCarthy, whose smear tactics alleging Communist infiltration ultimately led to his censure. Flake says, "There is a tipping point...I hope we're reaching that tipping point."

Flake made the rounds of morning television news shows Wednesday to talk about his decision not to run for re-election and his impassioned speech on the Senate floor Tuesday.

Asked if he thought Trump should be declared unfit for office, the Arizona Republican said "the voters made their choice. He was elected fair and square."

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., walks on to the Senate floor on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, after announcing he won't seek re-election in 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The Latest on new security measures on U.S.-bound flights from the Middle East and elsewhere (all times local):

7:15 p.m.

A U.S. government spokeswoman says new security measures on incoming flights to America from abroad "will impact all flights."

Lisa Farbstein, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that affects the approximately 2,100 flights arriving daily to America.

She said in a statement that the new security measures "may include" enhancing passenger screening, heightened screening of electronics and increasing security measures.

She says both U.S. citizens and foreigners will face the same security.

The agency's comments come as six global long-haul carriers said they will start asking passengers security questions before they board flights at the request of U.S. officials.

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5:30 p.m.

Jordan's national carrier says it will implement new security procedures on U.S.-bound flights in mid-January, at the request of U.S. aviation authorities.

Basel Kilani, a spokesman for Royal Jordanian, said on Wednesday that the airline will submit questions to passengers before check-in.

Kilani says he doesn't know what types of questions would be asked. He says that Royal Jordanian asked to delay the implementation of the measures until January, and that the request was granted.

Royal Jordanian operates direct flights from Amman to New York, Chicago and Detroit.

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4 p.m.

Air France says it will begin new security interviews of passengers on U.S.-bound flights.

The airline says it will start the new procedures on Thursday at Paris Orly Airport and a week later, on Nov. 2, at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Air France said on Wednesday that the extra screening will take the form of a questionnaire handed over to "100 percent" of passengers.

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3:40 p.m.

Egypt's national airline says it is tightening security on its flights to New York following a request by U.S. security authorities.

In a Wednesday statement, EgyptAir says the new measures will begin Thursday and include more detailed searches of passengers and their luggage, and include interviews. The strict procedures will extend to unauthorized agricultural or veterinary products.

The statement did not say if the change was linked to any new specific concerns or threats.

Earlier this year, Cairo was among a list of cities from which U.S. and British authorities banned electronic devices larger than smartphones in carry-on luggage, before the ban was lifted.

Airline security in Egypt has been a concern internationally since a bomb killed all aboard a Russian airliner flying back from Sharm el-Sheikh in 2015.

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3:30 p.m.

Four global long-haul airlines say passengers on U.S.-bound flights face new security interviews at the request of American officials.

Cathay Pacific, EgyptAir, Emirates and Lufthansa all say they will begin the interviews from Thursday.

It wasn't immediately clear if other global airlines would be affected, though the Trump administration previously rolled out a laptop ban and travel bans that have thrown global airlines into disarray.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, it comes at the end of a 120-day deadline for airlines to meet new U.S. regulations following the ban on laptops in airplane cabins of some Mideast airlines being lifted.

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2:05 p.m.

Long-haul carrier Emirates says it is starting new screening procedures for U.S.-bound passengers following it receiving "new security guidelines" from American authorities.

Emirates said in a statement Wednesday that it would begin doing "pre-screening interviews" at its check-in counters for passengers flying out of Dubai and at boarding gates for transit and transfer fliers.

The airline said that comes on top of other security measures it conducts.

The new procedures come after the Trump administration's previous ban on laptops in airplane cabins for some Mideast airlines. That, coupled with the travel ban, has hurt Middle Eastern airlines.

Emirates, the region's biggest, said it slashed 20 per cent of its flights to America in the wake of the restrictions.

It wasn't immediately clear if other Mideast airlines were affected.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump and Republicans were at odds on Wednesday over changing the 401(k) retirement program to help finance tax cuts, with the president insisting the middle-class favorite will remain untouched and lawmakers open to revisions.

Rep. Kevin Brady, the chairman of the House's tax-writing panel, wouldn't rule out changes to the program used by 55 million U.S. workers who hold some $5 trillion in their 401(k) accounts, a system that has become a touchstone of retirement security for the middle class.

Earlier this week, Trump promised the program would be left alone, and appeared to bolster that pledge Wednesday, saying he moved swiftly to end speculation that the tax-deferred program may be changed because it's vital for working Americans.

In this Sept. 26, 2017 photo, Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, right, listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with members of the House Ways and Means committee in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Brady says he's discussing the 401(k) issue with President Donald Trump, who earlier this week shot down the possibility of changes to the popular savings program. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

But he went on to muddy the waters, when asked about Brady's statements hours earlier.

"Maybe it is, and maybe we'll use that as negotiating," Trump said during an impromptu news conference as he left the White House for a trip to Texas. "But trust me ... there are certain elements of deals you don't want to negotiate with ... and Kevin knows it, and I think Kevin Brady is fantastic, but he knows how important 401(k)s are."

Brady, head of the House Ways and Means Committee, said earlier Wednesday he's discussing the issue with Trump, who had shot down the possibility of changes on Monday.

And a senior Republican senator signaled he'd vote for a tax bill even if it crimped 401(k) tax benefits.

The nearly $6 trillion GOP plan calls for steep tax cuts for corporations and promised reductions for middle-income taxpayers, a doubling of the standard deduction used by most Americans, shrinking the number of tax brackets from seven to three or four, and the repeal of inheritance taxes on multimillion-dollar estates. The child tax credit would be increased and the tax system would be simplified.

Crucial details of the plan have yet to be worked out.

An Associated Press-NORC poll released Wednesday found most Americans saying Trump's tax plan would benefit the wealthy and corporations, and less than half believing his message that "massive tax cuts" would help middle-class workers.

With Republican leaders battling to show themselves as true standard bearers for the middle class, eyeing next year's midterm elections that are deemed essential to retaining their majority, the 401(k) issue has become a flashpoint. GOP lawmakers have been considering changes to the 401(k) structure, such as limiting the amount of tax-deferred contributions employees can make, as a way to help finance tax cuts.

Asked whether the retirement savings program was still a possible target, Brady said, "We're working very closely with the president."

"We think, in tax reform, we can create incentives for Americans to save more and save sooner, which can help them," Brady told reporters at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast. "So we are exploring a number of ideas in those areas. ... We are continuing discussions with the president, all focused on saving more, saving sooner."

Brady's counterpart in the Senate, Republican Orrin Hatch of Utah, also indicated that possible changes to 401(k)s remain on the table. "I'm open to looking at anything," he said.

Another senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, went further. He said although he's opposed to reducing 401(k) tax benefits, he'd vote for such a bill if the overall legislation brought the needed tax overhaul and cuts. "We've got to have tax reform, and I can't fall on the sword for one issue," Grassley told Iowa reporters on a call.

Rep. Richard Neal, the senior Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee, said of the Republicans, "Right now, even as we speak, they appear to be going wobbly on some of the issues they've raised with great certainty in previous weeks."

The Republicans are straining to find new revenue sources to pay for anticipated tax cuts exceeding $1 trillion.

While keeping open the possibility of changing 401(k)s, Brady also said he continues to seek a compromise with rebellious GOP lawmakers from high-tax states over the tax plan's proposed elimination of the federal deduction for state and local taxes.

"I do expect to reach an agreement with our high-tax (state) lawmakers," Brady said. "We're making good progress."

One compromise being considered would cap the state-local deduction at a single taxpayer's adjusted gross income of $400,000 and $800,000 for a married couple.

The deduction is a widely popular break used by some 44 million Americans, especially in high-tax, Democratic-leaning states like New York, New Jersey, Illinois and California.

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AP Congressional Correspondent Erica Werner and AP writers Andrew Taylor and Darlene Superville in Washington, and David Pitt in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Fats Domino, the amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music while honoring the traditions of the Crescent City, has died. He was 89.

Mark Bone, chief investigator with the Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, coroner's office, said Domino died of natural causes early Tuesday.

In appearance, he was no matinee idol. He stood 5-feet-5 and weighed more than 200 pounds, with a wide, boyish smile and a haircut as flat as an album cover. But Domino sold more than 110 million records, with hits including "Blueberry Hill," ''Ain't That a Shame" - originally titled "Ain't It A Shame"- and other standards of rock 'n' roll.

Angela Cruz, 7, center, Jordan, 9, left, and Joseph, 5, peer through the fence of the former home of famed musician Fats Domino, in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Domino, the amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music while honoring the traditions of the Crescent City, died early Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. He was 89. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

He was one of the first 10 honorees named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Rolling Stone Record Guide likened him to Benjamin Franklin, the beloved old man of a revolutionary movement.

"We've lowered the flag and we're playing his music all day," said Greg Harris, CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"Fats is the godfather of rock and roll," Harris said.

"On behalf of the people of New Orleans, I am eternally grateful for his life and legacy," New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said in a news release Wednesday morning. "Fats Domino added to New Orleans' standing in the world, and what people know and appreciate about New Orleans."

"I can't wrap my arms around him being gone," said Quint Davis, producer of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and a decades-long friend of Domino. He said only two people from New Orleans have changed the music of the world: jazz legend Louis Armstrong and Fats Domino.

Little Richard, another founding father of rock 'n' roll, said in a phone interview, "He was one of my greatest inspirations. God was tops - but earthly, Fats was it ...

"He could play jazz. He could play anything," he said. "He was one of the greatest entertainers that I've ever known."

Domino's dynamic performance style and warm vocals drew crowds for five decades. One of his show-stopping stunts was playing the piano while standing, throwing his body against it with the beat of the music and bumping the grand piano across the stage.

His 1956 version of "Blueberry Hill" was selected for the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry of historic sound recordings worthy of preservation.

Domino became a global star but stayed true to his hometown, where his fate was initially unknown after Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005. It turned out that he and his family were rescued by boat from his home, where he lost three pianos and dozens of gold and platinum records, along with other memorabilia.

Many wondered if he would ever return to the stage.

But in May 2007, he was back, performing at Tipitina's music club in New Orleans. Fans cheered - and some cried - as Domino played "I'm Walkin'," ''Ain't That a Shame," ''Shake, Rattle and Roll," ''Blueberry Hill" and a host of other hits.

That performance was a highlight during several rough years. After losing their home and almost all their belongings to the floods, his wife of more than 50 years, Rosemary, died in April 2008.

Domino moved to the New Orleans suburb of Harvey after the storm but often visited his publishing house, an extension of his old home in the Lower 9th Ward, inspiring many with his determination to stay in the city he loved.

"Fats embodies everything good about New Orleans," his friend David Lind said in a 2008 interview. "He's warm, fun-loving, spiritual, creative and humble. You don't get more New Orleans than that."

The son of a violin player, Antoine Domino Jr. was born Feb. 26, 1928, one of nine children. As a youth, he taught himself popular piano styles - ragtime, blues and boogie-woogie.

He quit school at age 14, and worked days in a factory while playing and singing in local juke joints at night. In 1949, Domino was playing at the Hideaway Club for $3 a week when he was signed by Imperial record company.

He recorded his first song, "The Fat Man," in the back of a tiny French Quarter recording studio.

"They call me the Fat Man, because I weigh 200 pounds," he sang. "All the girls, they love me, 'cause I know my way around."

In 1955, he broke into the white pop charts with "Ain't it a Shame," covered blandly by Pat Boone as "Ain't That a Shame" and rocked out decades later under that title by Cheap Trick and others. Domino enjoyed a parade of successes through the early 1960s, including "Be My Guest" and "I'm Ready." Another hit, "I'm Walkin,'" became the debut single for Ricky Nelson.

Domino appeared in the rock 'n' roll film "The Girl Can't Help It" and was among the first black performers featured in popular music shows, starring with Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers. He also helped bridge rock 'n' roll and other styles - even country/western, recording Hank Williams' "Jambalaya" and Bobby Charles' "Walkin' to New Orleans."

Like many of his peers, Domino's popularity tapered off in the 1960s as British and psychedelic rock held sway.

"I refused to change," he told Ebony magazine. "I had to stick to my own style that I've always used or it just wouldn't be me."

In 1988, all of New Orleans seemed to be talking about him after he reportedly paid cash for two Cadillacs and a $130,000 Rolls-Royce. When the salesman asked if he wanted to call his bank about financing, Domino smiled and said, "I am the bank."

In 1998, he became the first purely rock 'n' roll musician to be awarded the National Medal for the Arts. But he cited his age and didn't make the trip to the White House to get the medal from President Clinton.

That was typical. Aside from rare appearances in New Orleans, including a 2012 cameo spot in the HBO series "Treme," he dodged the spotlight in his later years, refusing to appear in public or even to give interviews.

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Associated Press writers Hillel Italie in New York City and Kevin McGill in New Orleans contributed to this story.

Flowers are tucked into the fence of the former home of famed musician Fats Domino, in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Domino, the amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music while honoring the traditions of the Crescent City, died early Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. He was 89. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

John Jenks takes a selfie photo in front of the former home of famed musician Fats Domino, in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Domino, the amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music while honoring the traditions of the Crescent City, died early Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. He was 89. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2008 file photo, Fats Domino waves to fans before a ceremony re-presenting two Grammy awards to replace the ones that he lost from Hurricane Katrina's flooding in New Orleans. Domino, the amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music even as it honored the grand, good-humored tradition of the Crescent City, has died. He was 89. Mark Bone, chief investigator with the Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, coroner's office, said Domino died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Cheryl Gerber)

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2007 file photo, music legend Fats Domino performs on the NBC "Today" television show in New York. Domino, the amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music even as it honored the grand, good-humored tradition of the Crescent City, has died. He was 89. Mark Bone, chief investigator with the Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, coroner's office, said Domino died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

FILE - In this May 30, 2009 file photo, Fats Domino visits with Little Richard in a dressing room after Richards' performance at The Domino Effect, a tribute concert for Domino, at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans. Domino, the amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music even as it honored the grand, good-humored tradition of the Crescent City, has died. He was 89. Mark Bone, chief investigator with the Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, coroner's office, said Domino died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 20, 2013 file photo, legendary musician Fats Domino is named "Honorary Grand Marshall" of the Krewe of Orpheus, the star-studded Carnival club that traditionally parades the night before Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Domino, the amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music even as it honored the grand, good-humored tradition of the Crescent City, has died. He was 89. Mark Bone, chief investigator with the Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, coroner's office, said Domino died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Doug Parker, File)

FILE - In this April 24, 2003 file photo, Fats Domino performs on the opening day of the 34th annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans. Domino, the amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music even as it honored the grand, good-humored tradition of the Crescent City, has died. He was 89. Mark Bone, chief investigator with the Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, coroner's office, said Domino died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Douglas Mason, File)
ATLANTA (AP) - Immigrants who have been granted temporary status to stay in the U.S. will have to keep paying out-of-state tuition after an appeals court ruled against them, saying state colleges and universities in Georgia aren't required to let them pay in-state tuition.

Georgia's state colleges and universities require verification of "lawful presence" in the U.S. for in-state tuition. The Board of Regents has said students with temporary permission to stay under a 2012 program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, don't meet that requirement.

A group of young immigrants who meet all the other requirements and who have been granted deferred action status filed a petition in April 2016 in Fulton County Superior Court asking a judge to order the university system to allow them to pay in-state tuition.

Charles Kuck, a lawyer for the young immigrants, had argued that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said beneficiaries of that program are considered "lawfully present."

Lawyers for the university system rejected that argument, saying the statement about lawful presence appeared in an FAQ section of the department's website and not as an official policy or regulation.

Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Gail Tusan in January sided with the students and ordered the university system to allow the students to pay in-state tuition if they otherwise qualify. Enforcement of her order was put on hold while the state appealed.

The Georgia Court of Appeals on Tuesday reversed that ruling.

The appeals court opinion said the DACA policy and website FAQ do not constitute an enforceable federal law that designates those immigrants as being "lawfully present." There is also no indication that state law or the university system's policies require that DACA recipients be granted in-state tuition because they are designated as "lawfully present," Judge Clyde Reese III wrote.

Kuck said he's disappointed by the appeals court's decision and his clients plan to appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - Pope Francis is making his first phone call off the planet - and into space.

On Thursday, the pope will reach out to the six astronauts on the International Space Station. It will be only the second time a pope phones the heavens like this. Pope Benedict XVI called the space station in 2011.

Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli was aboard the orbiting lab for the first papal call, and he's back up there again, along with three Americans and two Russians.

In this photo provided the European Space Agency on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli looks at the Multipurpose Transporting Plate aboard the International Space Station. Pope Francis is making his first phone call off the planet - and into space. On Thursday, Oct. 26 the pope will reach out to the six astronauts on the International Space Station. It will be only the second time a pope phones the heavens like this. Pope Benedict XVI called the space station in 2011. Nespoli was aboard the orbiting lab for the first papal call, and he's back up there again, along with three Americans and two Russians. (European Space Agency via AP)

Francis is known for his out-of-the-blue calls. But this one has been in the Earth-to-space pipeline for a while. The European Space Agency made the arrangements, with NASA's technical support.

A large Roman Catholic contingent led by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston, will gather at Mission Control for the long-distance chat.

Fresh from the space station, U.S. astronaut Jack Fischer said his faith grew while he was in orbit. He invited his priest to his Houston homecoming last month, after landing in a Russian capsule on the other side of the world.

"You look out the window and you can't help but feel that we're just one small part of a bigger whole," Fischer said. "Just seeing this mind-blowing beauty of the universe, it grows your faith in ways that it's hard to even describe."

Since his launch in July, Nespoli has posted stunning photos of Italy on Twitter ; one of his latest scenery snapshots shows the Alps from 250 miles up.
BEIRUT (AP) - A police raid against unlicensed street vendors in Beirut's southern suburbs has caused a rare public expression of anger in a stronghold of the militant Hezbollah group.

The raid early Wednesday in the Hay el-Sellom neighborhood was carried out by internal security forces, which used bulldozers to take down shacks where vendors mainly sold coffee and mobile phones.

Dozens of angry residents poured into the streets, burning tires and blocking some roads to prevent the police from approaching their properties.

The protest turned against Hezbollah, which had promoted the campaign against violators. In an usual move, some took their grievances to live TV, demanding compensation from Hezbollah and even cursing the group's head, Hassan Nasrallah.

Public displays of anger against the Shiite group in Lebanon are rare.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - A Buffalo police officer killed in a training dive accident has been hailed at his memorial service for his bravery, dedication and sense of humor.

Fellow officers eulogized Craig Lehner on Wednesday as someone whose steady demeanor enabled him to engage calmly with colleagues and the public during his nine years with the Buffalo Police Department.

The 34-year-old member of the department's underwater rescue team went missing during a training dive in the Niagara River on Oct. 13. His body was recovered after a five-day search.

Several thousand officers, elected officials and Lehner's relatives were led into the service at downtown Buffalo's KeyBank Center by an officer handling Shield, Lehner's German shepherd K-9 partner. Dozens of police K-9s and their handlers were among those lining the street outside the arena.
GENEVA (AP) - The Swiss government on Wednesday finalized agreements to act as a go-between for Iran and Saudi Arabia, more than 20 months after the two Middle Eastern powers broke off diplomatic ties.

Switzerland's executive body, the Federal Council, "gave the green light" to providing a "protecting power mandate" between the two countries, the Swiss government said in a statement. The arrangement was quickly formalized separately in Riyadh and Tehran.

The arrangement only involves consular services, such as helping Iranians who travel to Saudi Arabia for religious events, a Swiss diplomatic official said. For example, the Iranian consulate in the Saudi city of Jiddah will reopen under a Swiss flag, the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. It will operate under supervision from the Swiss Embassy in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia and Iran broke off diplomatic ties in January 2016 after Saudi Arabia executed a leading Shiite cleric, prompting protesters in Iran to attack the Saudi Embassy in Tehran.

The diplomatic gulf between the two countries has only appeared to grow since then. A Saudi-led coalition is at war with Iranian-supported rebels in Yemen, and Iran has sided with Qatar in its dispute with Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations.

The Swiss offered the protection mandate shortly after the Iranian-Saudi diplomatic breakup. Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter pressed the initiative in separate meetings with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during the U.N. General Assembly in New York last month, the official said.

Switzerland, a proudly neutral Alpine country, has often played the role of go-between for countries at odds with one another, such as between the United States and Cuba, and the United States and Iran.
BANGKOK (AP) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is visiting the Korean Peninsula at a momentous juncture in the faltering effort to persuade Pyongyang to halt and dismantle its nuclear weapons program. Ominous questions hang in the air.

Is diplomacy failing? Is war approaching?

Mattis' second trip as Pentagon boss to Seoul will take place Friday, following his consultations with Asian partners on a unified approach to resolve the North Korea crisis.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, second left, walks with Thai Minister of Defense Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, as he arrives to attend the Royal Cremation Ceremony of late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday. Oct. 25, 2017. (Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs via AP)

In the Philippines, his Japanese counterpart spoke darkly of an "unprecedented, critical and imminent" threat posed by the North's repeated demonstrations of its ability to launch an intercontinental-range missile, potentially armed with a nuclear warhead. Twice, in August and September, North Korean missiles overflew Japan's northern Hokkaido island, triggering alarms and warnings for citizens to take cover.

As North Korea's capabilities rush toward putting the U.S. mainland in range, Mattis has stuck to the American diplomacy and pressure campaign led by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The goal is to compel the North to a complete and irreversible removal of its nuclear arsenal.

"Everyone is out for a peaceful resolution. No one's rushing for war," Mattis told reporters Wednesday on a flight to Thailand. From there, he is traveling on to South Korea.

But there are increasing suggestions of possible military confrontation. Trump's national security adviser, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, said last week, "We are in a race to resolve this short of military action," adding, "We are running out of time."

Michael Swaine, a longtime Asia specialist at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said that while he is hopeful of averting conflict, "I don't see any clear signs that there is progress in either coercing the North Koreans into starting to talk about denuclearization or finding some other path toward some kind of engagement with North Korea."

"Recent months have shown a worsening of the relationship between the U.S. and North Korea that is very troubling to me," he said in an interview. "I'm concerned about the president's upcoming trip to Asia where the North Koreans could use this as an opportunity to conduct some additional test."

President Donald Trump will visit South Korea next month. Aides say he will not travel to the Demilitarized Zone, the internationally recognized buffer zone that has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War. The fighting ended in 1953 with an armistice, not a peace treaty, meaning the United States and North Korea are still technically at war.

Trump has mocked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as "Little Rocket Man" and threatened to unleash "fire and fury" on Pyongyang if its leaders do not abandon their nuclear weapons.

Kim seems undaunted by threats and unresponsive to diplomatic overtures. He has traded insults with Trump and kept his country marching -- some say speeding -- toward a capability to strike any American city with a nuclear weapon. Trump has said he will never allow the North to reach that point.

In Seoul, Mattis will attend annual meetings Saturday with senior South Korean government officials and assess plans for countering the North's threats. He'll also reaffirm America's promise to defend the South against any attack, and possibly discuss the outlook for giving the South wartime operational control of its own forces.

The U.S. has about 28,500 troops in South Korea, including at Osan air base where the Air Force maintains fighter aircraft. More than a decade ago, the U.S. was prepared to give Seoul operational control of South Korean forces in the event of war with the North, but the U.S. ally has repeatedly asked that the transition be delayed. In 2014, the sides agreed to drop any timetable and hand off control only when both decide conditions are right. Thus, U.S. Army Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, who commands all U.S. troops in Korea, also would be in charge of South Korean troops if war broke out tomorrow.

The North's Kim has vowed to complete his country's development of a nuclear arsenal, a project begun by his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, in defiance of international condemnations and United Nations economic sanctions. Even China, the North's traditional benefactor, has taken stronger economic measures to pressure the North to return to negotiations.

None of the pressure has worked as the North insists a nuclear arsenal with global reach protects it from what it sees as U.S. efforts to overthrow the government.

Choe Son-hui, a senior Foreign Ministry official, told a conference in Moscow last week that his country will develop nuclear weapons and missiles until achieving a "balance of power" with the United States. Conference participants recounted her saying the nukes were non-negotiable unless Washington ended its "hostile policy."

The U.S. has stepped up the tempo of military exercises with allies, including periodic flights by strategic bombers over the peninsula and naval drills with South Korea last week. The activity has raised questions about whether Washington is showing force to deter Pyongyang or readying for a conflict.

After North Korea conducted a series of ballistic missile tests and an underground nuclear test in September that the North said was a hydrogen bomb, it has kept the world guessing on what it will do next.

If it again launches a missile through Japanese airspace, will Japan or the U.S. attempt to shoot it down? Will the North detonate a nuclear bomb over the Pacific, as Kim's foreign minister recently suggested? And could that presage war?

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AP writer Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this report.
BOSTON (AP) - An Australian man who masterminded a scheme to smuggle items made of rhinoceros horn, elephant ivory and coral to China has pleaded guilty in a U.S. court.

Federal prosecutors say Guan Zong Chen and two co-defendants smuggled $700,000 worth of carvings despite the fact that their export was barred under a 1976 international treaty meant to protect endangered species.

Chen pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Boston on Tuesday to charges including conspiracy to export protected wildlife and exporting protected wildlife without required permits. He faces 15 years in prison at sentencing.

Chen, who owned an antiques business in China and was barred from traveling to the U.S. because of a previous ivory trafficking conviction, enlisted the help of a Chinese national and a Massachusetts woman in the scheme.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Spanish long-distance runner Ilias Fifa was detained by police on Wednesday in an anti-doping operation in Barcelona.

The 2016 European champion in the 5,000 meters was among 11 people detained by Spanish authorities as they dismantled a ring that is suspected of selling illegal substances.

Authorities said they could not release any other details as the operation had not been completed.

Ilias' club, Barcelona, said it was committed to the fight against doping and presumed the athlete's innocence, pending the outcome of the investigation. However, the club said it would take all necessary measures against Fifa if he was found guilty of any wrongdoing.

Fifa, who was born in Morocco, started representing Spain after arriving in the country a decade ago as an immigrant hiding in a truck.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - A 10-story-tall giant sequoia that was moved two city blocks on giant rollers last summer has new growth and appears happy in its new location, a tree expert said Wednesday.

Tree mover David Cox of Environmental Design examined the 800,000-pound (363,000-kilogram) sequoia in Boise, Idaho, and pronounced the tree fit.

Naturalist John Muir, who played a key role in establishing California's Sequoia National Park, sent the tree as a seedling to Boise more than a century ago.

This photo shows a sequoia on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, after workers used giant rollers to move it two blocks to make way for a hospital expansion at St. Luke's Health System in Boise, Idaho. Naturalist John Muir sent the tree as a seedling to Boise more than a century ago where it was planted in a doctor's yard. (AP Photo/Keith Ridler)

It was planted in the yard of a doctor's home across the street from a hospital that's now undergoing a major expansion with new buildings, meaning the tree had to be moved or cut down.

"She looks pretty good," Cox said after his inspection. "But it's still too early to tell. You still need about two or three growing seasons to really say that she's recovered. We're not in any danger zone. We feel like the tree is still happy."

Moving the tallest tree ever attempted by the company required cutting back the root system that's now being monitored for moisture content with underground sensors at the tree's new location on city property.

Three of the four sensors Cox examined indicated the root system was not getting enough moisture, so he ordered a water truck. One was already scheduled to visit once a week this winter, but hadn't started.

An irrigation system that includes misting hoses at the top of the tree was recently turned off by city workers in preparation for winter, and the area dried out quicker than expected, Cox said.

Cox also said he's a bit concerned about some broken bark and smoothed-over bark at the base that might have been caused by animals or vandals or somebody climbing. He said the bark is about 9 inches (23 centimeters) thick so the living part of the tree under the bark isn't being damaged.

St. Luke's Health System in June paid $300,000 to move Idaho's largest sequoia - which are not native to the state - to make way for a hospital expansion. Cutting down the most notable tree in the city's urban forest could have risked a public relations backlash, and the hospital has said it never considered that option.

The tree suffered at its old location because it was shaded by a tall building. Cox also said the building created a kind of wind tunnel that caused part of the tree to dry out and turn brown. But those needles have fallen off at the new location and have been replaced with green, healthy needles.

The tree's future health is uncertain in its new spot next to one of the city's busiest traffic routes and only about eight blocks from the city's core downtown area.

"We're in a new environment here, a little more open," Cox said. "We don't know if we're going to be better off or worse off. Se we're going to prepare for drying winds."

He prescribed treatments in November, December and January to spray the tree with a type of substance to prevent it from drying out in cold winter winds, likening the process to a person applying hand lotion to prevent skin from drying out.

"It goes on kind of oily and dries waxy," he said.

The treatments will cost about $1,500 each. St. Luke's spokeswoman Anita Kisee said she did not know if the company will pay and Boise's Parks and Recreation department did not immediately respond to a telephone message seeking comment.

Cox under the contract with the hospital is serving only as a consultant, but said the company could chip in to partially fund expenses.

Brian Jorgenson, a city forester, checks on the tree and neighbors also appear to be watchful. He said he was challenged once by someone wanting to know if he was supposed to be poking around under the tree.

"I think the tree looks better in its current location," he said. "It's a lot more visible than it used to be, and we're proud to have it on park property now."

Cox said he plans to make site visits in January and again in March or April to consider treatments for the growing season for the sequoia, which are known to live for several thousand years in the right conditions.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Ivanka Trump teamed up with Republican legislators Wednesday to try to ensure the tax-overhaul package under construction on Capitol Hill includes an expansion of the child tax credit.

The White House adviser and presidential daughter, appearing at a Capitol Hill press conference with GOP lawmakers, framed the tax credit as crucial for working families.

"It is a priority of this administration and it is a legislative priority to ensure that American families can thrive," she said.

Ivanka Trump, the daughter, and assistant to President Donald Trump leaves after speaking at a news conference promoting an expanded child tax credit on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Also attending: Republican Senators Marco Rubio of Florida, Mike Lee of Utah, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Shelly Moore Capito of West Virginia and Dean Heller of Nevada. In addition: GOP Reps.: Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Kevin Yoder of Kansas, Rep. Claudia Tenney of New York and Martha Roby of Alabama.

Rubio and Lee have worked closely with Ivanka Trump on the issue. Details are still being worked out, but Rubio and Lee would like to see the $1,000 credit doubled and made fully refundable.

The GOP tax plan would cut the corporate tax rate from 36 percent to 20 percent, reduce taxes for most individuals, and repeal inheritance taxes on multimillion-dollar estates. The standard deduction would be nearly doubled, to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for families; the number of tax brackets would shrink from seven and the child tax credit would be increased.

Democrats and liberal family advocacy groups say the overall plan would provide limited benefits to low-income families while offering major cuts to the wealthy - and they say that any boost to the child tax credit must be viewed in that context.

Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Rubio expressed optimism about the child tax proposal, saying the provision is needed because without it, people could "see a tax increase, which nobody around here is prepared to justify because you can't."

Rubio praised Ivanka Trump, saying that "having the White House making it a priority of theirs has strengthened our chances."

Ivanka Trump, the daughter and assistant to President Donald Trump, during a news conference promoting an expanded child tax credit on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Ivanka Trump, the daughter and assistant to President Donald Trump, speaks during a news conference promoting an expanded child tax credit on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's latest executive order on refugees is, in effect, a continuation of his ban on a majority of applicants, according to refugee advocates. They say the continued restrictions will lead to lost time and lost lives.

Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department to resume refugee processing following a 120-day suspension, now that new screening measures are in place. But the order also imposes tight new restrictions on refugees from 11 countries that have been deemed to warrant extra screening and it indefinitely suspends a program that reunites refugees with their spouses and children.

"It's the refugee ban all over again," said Jenny Yang, the vice president of advocacy and policy at World Relief, a humanitarian aid organization. She said the new restrictions will affect a significant percentage of those in the refugee program.

FILE--In this May 15, 2017, file photo, protesters hold signs during a demonstration against President Donald Trump's revised travel ban, Monday, May 15, 2017, outside a federal courthouse in Seattle. Trump's six-month worldwide ban on refugees entering the United States is ending as his administration prepares to unveil new screening procedures. A State Department official says the suspension of processing for refugees ended Tuesday, the date set in Trump's executive order. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, file)

The extra restrictions apply to people who are citizens of or have lived in 11 countries where male, adult applicants were already subject to an additional security review called a security advisory opinion. Those countries, according to a State Department advisory obtained by the Associated Press, are: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, the Republic of South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and certain stateless Palestinian males.

More than half of refugees in the pipeline to be admitted into the U.S. come from those countries, according to a State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the program's impact.

For the next 90 days, applicants from those countries will be considered on a "case-by-case bases," and only refugees whose admissions are "deemed to be in the national interest" and who pose "no threat to the security or welfare of the United States" will be admitted, according to a memorandum to the president from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke and National Intelligence Director Dan Coats.

In the meantime, the government will also prioritize applications from other countries, moving resources away from processing those who need extra screening.

It is unclear how many refugees will be able to satisfy the new screening requirements and how long the new measures will take. But refugees already face an extensive backlog and waiting periods that can take years.

Advocates are also raising concerns about new information requirements for all refugees that could prove onerous for applicants who may have had to flee their homes, with little access to documents and limited contact with close family members.

Under new rules that took effect Wednesday, outlined in a State Department program announcement, applicants must now provide the U.S. with their phone numbers, email addresses and the addresses of every place they've lived for 30 days or longer, going back 10 years, instead of five. They must also provide current phone numbers and email addresses for all members of their family trees - including parents, siblings, children, spouses, ex-spouses, and the parents of spouses.

"If you're talking about a refugee situation, people have moved from a camp to maybe moving to an urban center to maybe squatting in someone's apartment," said Jen Smyers, who helps run the immigration and refugee program at Church World Service, one of nine organizations that work to resettle refugees in the U.S.

The government has also expanded its efforts to collect information to better determine whether refugees are being truthful about their status; improving information-sharing between agencies; stationing fraud detection officers at certain locations overseas; and training screeners to weed out fraud and deception.

The U.S. refugee program is already the most extensive vetting program in the country.

Also suspended indefinitely is the "following-to-join" program, which allows the spouses and children of refugees to join them in the U.S. Officials argue they need time to implement new, more rigorous screening measures that are as stringent as those applied to refugees.

"Our biggest concern is keeping families apart. We know that there are folks that are trying desperately to rejoin their families," said Stacie Blake, director of government and community relations at the U.S. Committee for Refugees and immigrants. "It just seems cruel to keep children from their parents, keep spouses apart."

Taken together, Yang said the measures represent a death knell for the U.S. refugee program.

"If you look at them all together, you're effectively dismantling the entire program," she said.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday defended the efforts, saying the U.S. was taking steps to "eliminate vulnerabilities" in the refugee screening process that could be exploited by "those who would bring harm to our homeland."

"The Trump Administration remains committed to a comprehensive and compassionate refugee policy, and these new measures will ensure the United States can continue to help some of the world's most vulnerable people without compromising the safety and security of the American people," he said in a statement.

Trump last month announced that he was capping refugee admissions at 45,000 for the year that started Oct. 1, a significant cut from the 110,000 limit put in place a year earlier by President Barack Obama and the lowest number in modern history. The actual number admitted this year could also be far lower than that.

___

Associated Press writers Darlene Superville and Josh Lederman contributed to this report.
Tales including a Strictly judge living la dolce vita, a woman who gave up a serious addiction to sweet treats and ways the rich and powerful can be creative with their tax liabilities are front page news.

The Financial Times reports that multinationals avoided paying as much as 5.8 billion in corporate taxes in the UK last year by shifting profits overseas - a 50% increase on previous government forecasts.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times, London edition, Wednesday 25 Octoberhttps://t.co/0KnmzawoQr pic.twitter.com/m8o5LIgVMT  Financial Times (@FT) October 24, 2017

And the Daily Telegraph reports that a Bermuda-based offshore financial services firm used by the super-rich has fallen victim to a cyberattack reminiscent of the Panama Papers leak.

What the papers say - October 25

Back on home turf the Daily Mail says drivers are being used as cash cows after a report showed 12 million penalty notices are handed out every year, raking in 1 billion in fines for authorities.

Meanwhile a new official analysis shows more tarmac at Gatwick Airport would bring a bigger boost to the economy than building a third runway at rival Heathrow, according to The Times.

Tomorrow's front page: Heathrow runway doubt after new data revealed #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/1ynAZzefrM  The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) October 24, 2017

carries comments made by former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg that voting for Brexit was the single stupidest thing any country has ever done  apart from the election of Donald Trump as US president.

Guardian front page, Wednesday 25 October 2017: Brexit is worst ever decision, says Bloomberg pic.twitter.com/MrMAn6VCmH  The Guardian (@guardian) October 24, 2017

Atlantic-hopping Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli was spotted partying in Los Angeles after missing Saturdays show due to work commitments, according to The Suns front page story.

Tomorrow's front page: #Strictly's Bruno found partying in LA after missing show pic.twitter.com/MPCI396MlF  The Sun (@TheSun) October 24, 2017

Meanwhile the Daily Mirror carries the inspirational tale of a woman who beat a 14-bar-a-day chocolate addiction to lose 8st 3lb.

Tomorrow's front page: I was addicted to 14 bars of chocolate a day #tomorrowspaperstoday https://t.co/aCQBa4gy6z pic.twitter.com/gOOsst0fw0  The Mirror (@DailyMirror) October 24, 2017

And the Daily Express reports on fresh hope for a breakthrough on dementia.
A Scottish missionary who died in Auschwitz will be the focus of a exhibition in Hungary.

Jane Haining, a former school teacher from Dumfriesshire, travelled to Budapest in 1932 and became the matron at the Scottish Mission School, where more than 400 girls of mostly Jewish background were studying.

After the German invasion in 1944, she was taken to Auschwitz where she died at the age of 47.

Auschwitz

She later became first Scot acknowledged as Righteous Among the Nations at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem in 1997.

Now she is the focus of a new exhibition Common Fate (Sorskozosseg) at the Holocaust Memorial Centre in Budapest which opens on Wednesday.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: When we reflect on one of the darkest times in human history, it is the unimaginable courage of individuals like Jane Haining - a schoolteacher from Dunscore in Dumfriesshire - that provides us with hope and a belief in the compassion of others.

Her dedication to her pupils was unwavering. After repeatedly refusing to leave Hungary, she wrote if these children need me in days of sunshine, how much more do they need me in days of darkness?

In doing so, she gave her life to protect others from an evil that we can never allow to resurface.

Ms Haining belonged to the small group of Holocaust victims who were given the choice to leave, but instead decided to stay and risk her life to save children.

She returned from Britain to Hungary in 1939 and then in 1940 when the Scottish Church summoned its staff home.

After the German invasion there was no education activity in Hungarian school, but students in the Scottish Mission could still live in the girls home where they were more secure than with their families.

The missionary was arrested at the school and detained by the Gestapo. She was charged with working amongst Jews and taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp in Nazi-occupied Poland where she died.

At the exhibition opening, British Ambassador to Hungary Iain Lindsay spoke about her remarkable and unique life and said despite having the chance to leave, she was brave enough to stay and preserve others lives in the face of persecution.

Oktober 9-en Lindsay nagykovet latogatast tett a budapesti Holokauszt Emlekkozpontban, hogy megtekintse a Jane Haining... Posted by UK in Hungary on Wednesday, October 11, 2017

The exhibition, which is open until March 2018, contains a large number of photographs, memoirs and some personal items, as well as a copy of her last letter from Auschwitz.

Mr Mundell added: Her words and actions embody a selflessness and sacrifice that we should never forget.

I am delighted that this new exhibition will not only remember her extraordinary bravery, but that her story can serve to educate and inspire others.
FORMAN  A man is in the North Dakota State Hospital after being arrested on four felony and five misdemeanor charges tied to threatening people at a church and bar, vandalism, and a high-speed chase, Sargent County Sheriff Travis Paeper said Tuesday.

Michael Skroch, 39, of Lidgerwood, was arrested Thursday after a high-speed chase by law enforcement ended with him crashing a motorcycle in the Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge, and a standoff that included Skroch being tased several times to no effect, Paeper said.

Weve had to deal with him on a couple different occasions, Paeper said. We were very cautious in our approach to him.

Paeper said the first calls in the case came in about 3:15 p.m. from the Geneseo area.

A member of St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Geneseo reported that he had learned Skroch was at the church and arrived to find that Skroch had burned a crucifix on the altar and a Bible, the power was off, and there was water in the basement, a sheriffs office report said. Skroch is accused of pulling a knife on the church member and threatening to stab him in the stomach, the report said.

Skroch then went to a bar and got into a confrontation with some people;ultimately, he ended up slashing some tires on a vehicle, Paeper said.

Law enforcement from Sargent, Ransom and Richland counties in North Dakota, the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the Southeast Multi-County Agency Drug Task Force and Marshall County, S.D., took part in the search for Skroch, Paeper said.

About 4:40 p.m., a tip from a local resident led deputies to Skroch, who was on a motorcycle on Sargent County Road 14 about 3 miles south of Geneseo. They found Skroch parked on a field approach, and when first confronted by officers, he put his hands in the air. But then he took off southbound, authorities said.

Paeper was among officers in four vehicles trying to stop Skroch. The pursuit reached speeds of 85 mph, Paeper said.

Officers chased Skroch 10 to 12 miles to the Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge, where Skroch went cross-country with the motorcycle, Paeper said. When Skroch hit a rock pile and crashed, the pursuit ended and a short standoff ensued, Paeper said, noting that Skroch did not comply with officers commands.

We knew he was armed with at least a knife. Hes been known to carry cutting instruments in the past. In the past, hes had Samurai swords, Paeper said. We did have to tase him several times. And that had no effect on him. So officers had to go hands on him to make the arrest.

Skroch did not claim any injuries and was taken to the Richland County Jail, a sheriffs office report said. A search of Skroch and a backpack he was wearing turned up several religious items that Skroch said he stole from St. Martins in Geneseo, the report said.

Skroch is charged with felonies of terrorizing, aggravated assault, endangering by fire/explosion and reckless endangerment. Hes also charged with misdemeanor fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, aggravated reckless driving, theft and two counts of criminal mischief.

Paeper said Skroch has had mental health issues for several years and run-ins with law enforcement throughout the area, including an Aug. 28 incident in Lidgerwood in which he was charged with felony reckless endangerment for using a sword to threaten a woman and her companion in a car. In that case, Skroch was taken into custody after a six-hour standoff with law enforcement, Paeper said.

Richland County court documents say Skroch pleaded guilty in the case and was sentenced to time served in the Richland County Jail and two years of supervised probation. He was ordered to continue treatment with prescribed medications.

Paeper said Skroch was assessed and transported to the State Hospital in Jamestown after the latest incident. A message left for Skrochs attorney, Don Krassin, was not returned Tuesday.
Thousands of black-clad mourners are gathering in the historic royal quarter of Thailands capital to bid farewell to King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Some had been waiting for one or two days in relentless tropical heat and torrential downpours to enter the cordoned-off area that will be the focal point for five days of ceremonies and processions including Bhumibols cremation on Thursday evening.

Police tried to calm occasional flare-ups of tension among mourners waiting in the hot sun. There were accusations of queue-jumping and sharp exchanges between some of the mourners.

Mourners brave torrential rain

Volunteers were handing out water as the crowds slowly moved through security checks.

Around 250,000 people are expected to line streets for the elaborate gilded processions that will be broadcast live.

The funeral for the monarch who was adored as a unifying symbol throughout his seven-decade reign officially begins mid-afternoon on Wednesday with a Buddhist merit-making ceremony in the throne room of the Dusit palace.

Thais gather to pay their respects

Mourner Banterng Saeuong, 55, said I was born in the reign of King Rama 9, as Bhumibol is also known. This is the most important event in my lifetime.

I am happy to stand in the rain or sit under the sun.

Bhumibol, who was the worlds longest reigning monarch, died aged 88 on October 13 last year, sparking a national outpouring of grief and a year of official mourning.

Broadcast Live Schedule for the Royal Cremation Ceremonyhttps://t.co/wUazLvrqUk pic.twitter.com/xsZSeT9gJE  PR Thai Government (@prdthailand) October 22, 2017

Thais are known for their reverence of Bhumibol, which palace officials assiduously cultivated over his 70-year reign, and the funeral will be an intensely sombre event.

The influence and status of Thailands monarchy was revived during his reign and he earned genuine affection for high-profile visits to remote parts of the countryside and efforts to improve the lot of the countrys poorest.

Yuwadee Tyler said she had travelled from Hobart in Australia, where she has lived for more than a decade.

When I know my king is passed away, my heart is broken, she said. I am so glad to be here.
House Republicans have launched new probes into the Obama administration and Hillary Clintons emails, prompting accusations from Democrats who said the moves were meant as a massive diversion from investigations into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

The announcements of the investigations by three Republican committees came as two witnesses close to President Donald Trump faced tough questions before the House intelligence panel behind closed doors as part its Russia probe.

Mr Trumps personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, and his former campaign digital and data director, Brad Parscale, were both interviewed by the House panel behind closed doors on Tuesday. Mr Cohens interview started in the morning and lasted around six hours, while Mr Parscales lasted most of the afternoon.

Michael Cohen

Two politicians familiar with Mr Cohens interview said it had been contentious, especially with Mr Cohens lawyer who tried to limit some questions.

Mr Cohen, a former executive with the Trump Organisation who had been subpoenaed by the House panel earlier this year, was in talks to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, but ended those negotiations as Trumps White House bid caught fire. In a statement to the Senate intelligence committee in August, Mr Cohen said the proposal was solely a real estate deal and nothing more.

One of the politicians said Mr Parscale categorically denied he was involved in any collusion with Russia, repeating earlier public statements. Politicians have been investigating whether Russian efforts to influence social media in the US were in any way connected to Mr Trumps campaign.

As Mr Cohen spoke to investigators, House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes held a news conference outside the room to announce a separate committee investigation into an Obama-era uranium deal.

Devin Nunes announced a probe into an Obama-era uranium deal (Susan Walsh/AP)

Mr Nunes earlier this year stepped back from the committees investigation into Russian election interference after criticism that he was too close to the White House. But he has continued to be involved with some aspects of it, including signing subpoenas.

Mr Nuness investigation into the uranium deal will be a joint effort with the House Oversight and Government Reform panel. The oversight committee also announced a second new investigation on Tuesday along with the House Judiciary Committee into the FBIs handling of the Clinton email investigation and the decision not to prosecute her.

California Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the intelligence panel, said the investigations show Republicans fundamental lack of seriousness about Russian interference in the 2016 campaign.

Rep. Schiff: "The plain fact is, sometimes what is uncovered in opposition research turns out to be true." https://t.co/XM3l1LJtox  Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) October 25, 2017

Acting on the urging of the president who has repeatedly denied the intelligence agencies conclusions regarding Russian involvement in our election, they are designed to distract attention and pursue the presidents preferred goal  attacking Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama, Mr Schiff said.

Representative Mike Conaway of Texas, the Republican who took over the Russia probe after Mr Nunes stepped back, said the uranium investigation will not be a distraction. Im not involved, he said.
More than 100 MPs have written to Oxford and Cambridge urging the universities to take urgent action to recruit more talented students from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds.

In an open letter addressed to the vice chancellors of the prestigious institutions, the group say they are gravely concerned that the proportion of offers made to those from the richest homes has increased in recent years, and warns that elite universities must not be elitist.

The letter comes after Freedom of Information requests by Labour MP David Lammy found that Oxbridges populations are still heavily made up of white, well-off students from the South of England.

Today 108 MP's have written to the VCs of @UniofOxford @Cambridge_Uni criticising lack of progress on access and calling for urgent reforms pic.twitter.com/rKhjRlqEPW  David Lammy (@DavidLammy) October 25, 2017

In a response to the letter, organised by Mr Lammy and signed by MPs including shadow education secretary Angela Rayner and former Labour cabinet minister Yvette Cooper, Cambridge Vice Chancellor Professor Stephen Toope said the university recognises that more hard work is required but that much has already changed over the last decade.

Oxford said its vice chancellor, Professor Louise Richardson, would respond in detail in the coming days and that it shares concerns about uneven access to the institution, the Guardian newspaper reported.

The letter, signed by 108 MPs, says: We are united in our acknowledgement of and support for the outstanding education that your universities provide, but our elite universities must not be elitist, drawing up the ladder to success and reinforcing privilege.

It adds: It is of grave concern that the proportion of offers made to applicants from the top two social classes has increased since 2010.

The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge receive over 800 million each year directly from the taxes paid by our constituents, including the huge swathes of the country that are hugely under-represented with regards to the number of offers made to students from Oxbridge.

The letter follows Freedom of Information requests by Labour MP David Lammy (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The letter warns: Much more work is required to find the most talented students who may be from disadvantaged backgrounds, lack the confidence or support networks to apply to Oxbridge or live in parts of the country and attend schools that do not traditionally send many students to Oxbridge.

We call on you to take the initiative in directly contacting talented and straight A students, whether following GCSE, AS-level or A-level results, and in reaching out to parts of our society and our country that are under-represented.

An Oxbridge education is still seen as a golden ticket into a top job and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge  supported by significant taxpayer funding  still hold the key to a job in our top professions, the letter concludes.

Whilst we do not doubt that you are aware of your responsibility to ensure that the most talented students, regardless of their background, apply and are offered a place to study at our top universities, we call on you to set out exactly what steps you will be taking to address this situation and make good on this responsibility.

In his response, Prof Toope said: I believe that all universities, including Cambridge, have a duty to be open to people from all backgrounds, irrespective of race, class and origin.

An Oxford spokesman told the Guardian: We share the concerns expressed by MPs about uneven access to Oxford, and know we have a great deal of work to do. We are committing more money and people than ever before to addressing these problems.
Eddie Nketiah announced himself to Arsenal fans with two goals to rescue them from a shock Carabao Cup exit to Norwich.

Here, we look at five things you may not know about the former Chelsea youth player.

Dream come true to score 2 goals on my home debut, God is great!  pic.twitter.com/bhBmaPkFch  Eddie Nketiah  (@EddieNketiah9) October 24, 2017

1. Hat-trick hero

Great win vs Poland U19s, happy to get another hat-trick for @England  pic.twitter.com/gtr91X1lyn  Eddie Nketiah  (@EddieNketiah9) September 1, 2017

Nketiah has hit hat-tricks for two different England age-group teams in 2017, for the under-18s against Qatar in March and the under-19s in a 7-1 win over Poland in September.

Eddie Nketiah celebrates scoring his second goal for Arsenal

2. Regular as clockwork

Nketiah has scored 24 goals in Arsenals various youth teams in each of the last two seasons to push himself into the first-team reckoning.

3. First for Arsene

Nketiah was not even born when Arsene Wenger became Arsenal manager in September 1996, making him the first Gunners goalscorer born during the Frenchmans reign.

4. Social animal

Great work from the team tonight & shout out to @EddieNketiah9 for making the difference and changing the game! #CarabaoCup #Nketiah pic.twitter.com/aS3imUQQ5Q  Theo Walcott (@theowalcott) October 24, 2017

Despite only making his Arsenal debut on September 28 and not yet starting a game, Nketiah has amassed over 20,000 Twitter followers and 35,000 on Instagram.

5. Backing from the stars

Ahead of his maiden call-up to Wengers first-team squad, the Gunners all-time record goalscorer Thierry Henry sent him a good luck message on Twitter while current team-mate Alexandre Lacazette told arsenal.com: I really like Eddie, he is very calm in front of goal and has great technique.
Spains prime minister has said the governments plans to take unprecedented control of Catalonias key affairs and halt the regions push for independence are exceptional and he hopes they will not last long.

Mariano Rajoy told parliament that the application of the Constitutions Article 155 is the only possible response to restore the regions legality, which he said has been liquidated by Catalan president Carles Puigdemonts push to secede.

Mr Rajoy said he hopes the measures planned, including the sacking of Mr Puigdemonts government and curtailment of the Catalan parliaments powers, will be brief.

Mariano Rajoy

He said they should end with regional elections that he hopes can be held as soon as possible but only once law and order is restored.

Spains Senate is expected to approve the measures on Friday.

Mr Rajoy last weekend called for Article 155 to be implemented in an effort to stop a secessionist bid by the regional Catalan government following an outlawed October 1 referendum that Mr Puigdemont said gave him the mandate to declare independence.

The PM said the aim of Article 155 is not to suspend Catalonias self-government but to restore legality, boost the social co-existence that has been broken in Catalonia and tackle the economic consequences that its decisions are provoking.

Demonstrators protest in Barcelona

The uncertainty over Catalonias future could have an economic impact. Credit ratings agency DBRS warned on Wednesday that the situation is hurting the regions economy and could become a drag on Spains economy.

The political turmoil is discouraging investment and tourism in the region, DBRS said in a statement.

With Catalonia representing about a fifth of Spains annual gross domestic product, any slowdown in the region would affect the national economy.

Madrid has revised downwards its growth forecast for 2018 to 2.3% from 2.6%, largely because of doubts over Catalonias future.

DBRS said the effects on the national economy will be manageable unless the crisis becomes protracted.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of committing terrorism offences after two addresses in Manchester were raided.

Searches were carried out on Wednesday at the properties in Durley Avenue, Cheetham Hill.

The arrest of a 25-year-old man is related to another raid in the same street on March 9, said police.

Greater Manchester Police

A man has been arrested in Cheetham Hill on suspicion of committing acts contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000 https://t.co/4WVR9F5Van  Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) October 25, 2017

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: Today, officers from Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) executed warrants at two addresses on Durley Avenue in Cheetham Hill.

A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of committing offences contrary to Section 41b of the Terrorism Act 2000.

He remains in custody for questioning.

At this time there is no intelligence or evidence to suggest that there is any risk to the local community.
Caroline Wozniacki posted her second one-sided victory of the WTA Finals in Singapore with a thumping win over world number one Simona Halep.

Wozniacki began her campaign in the Red Group by dropping just two games against Elina Svitolina and was in similarly destructive form against Halep.

The Romanian failed to win a game in a first set that lasted only 24 minutes and, although she improved in the second set, she could not find the answers she needed and lost 6-0 6-2.

Caroline Wozniacki celebrates

Wozniacki is now all but guaranteed a place in the semi-finals, while Halep will very likely have to beat Svitolina to reach the last four and keep alive her hopes of finishing the year at the top of the rankings.

Wozniacki told BT Sport: I felt like I played very well. Obviously she got frustrated and I felt like I was doing everything just a little bit better.

I feel like Im back where Im supposed to be. Its been a great year for me and Im finishing it off in style.
All flights arriving in the US are to be subject to new security screening procedures, with American citizens as well as foreigners possibly facing interviews by airline employees.

The announcement from the US Transportation Security Administration comes after five global long-haul airlines - Air France, Cathay Pacific, EgyptAir, Emirates and Lufthansa - said they would begin the new security interviews on Thursday.

A sixth carrier, Royal Jordanian, said it would begin the new procedures in mid-January after US authorities granted a delay in implementing the measures.

Stricter security measures for flights coming from outside the US will go into effect Thursday: report https://t.co/dCkCjz8Mm0 pic.twitter.com/cELu2GW0ZD  The Hill (@thehill) October 24, 2017

The airlines offered different descriptions of how the interviews would take place, ranging from another form a traveller will have to fill out to actually being questioned by an airline employee.

The new security measures come after the Trump administration previously rolled out a laptop ban and travel bans that have thrown the international travel industry into disarray.

The new rules come at the end of a 120-day deadline for airlines to meet new US regulations after the ban on laptops in plane cabins of some Middle Eastern airlines was lifted.

The security measures affect all individuals, international passengers and US citizens, travelling to the United States from a last point of departure international location, said Lisa Farbstein, a spokeswoman for the TSA.

These new measures will impact all flights from airports that serve as last points of departure locations to the United States.

She put the number of flights affected at around 2,100 daily. She also said it would include heightened screening of personal electronic devices and stricter security procedures around planes and in airport terminals.

Cathay Pacific is one of five airlines to begin new security interviews for passengers on US bound flights (Lynne Cameron/PA)

Air France said it will begin new security interviews on Thursday at Paris Orly Airport and a week later, on November 2, at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

It said the extra screening will take the form of a questionnaire handed over to all passengers.

Emirates said it would begin pre-screening interviews at check-in counters for passengers flying out of Dubai and at boarding gates for transit and transfer fliers.

It urged those flying through Dubai International Airport, its headquarters, to allow extra time to check into flights and board.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific said it had suspended self-drop baggage services and that passengers heading to the US will be subject to a short security interview when checking their luggage.

Those without bags will have a similar interview at their gates.

Lufthansa have warned their passengers of security interviews

EgyptAir said the new measures include more detailed searches of passengers and their luggage and interviews. The strict procedures will extend to unauthorised agricultural or veterinary products.

Germanys Lufthansa Group said: In addition to the controls of electronic devices already introduced, travellers to the USA might now also face short interviews at check-in, document check or (their) gate.

Lufthansa Group includes Germanys largest carrier, Lufthansa, as well as Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Eurowings and several other airlines.

Basel Kilani, a spokesman for Royal Jordanian, said the airline will submit questions to passengers before check-in.

He did not know what types of questions would be asked. Royal Jordanian operates direct flights from Amman to New York, Chicago and Detroit.
George Clooney has donated a million dollars (750,000) to combat war crimes and corruption in Africa.

The Clooney Foundation for Justice announced the gift to the Sentry, an investigative initiative Clooney co-founded to uncover the financial networks behind conflicts in Africa.

In a statement, Clooney said the groups focus is to make sure war crimes dont pay.

Actor Don Cheadle has also contributed to the fund (Ian West/PA)

Clooneys grant, along with others, including one from actor Don Cheadle, totalled 3.45 million dollars (2.6 million) for a fundraising campaign.

The Sentry said the money will help fund reports in the coming year on state looting and illicit financial flows out of the war-torn countries of South Sudan, Sudan, Congo, Somalia and the Central African Republic.

Clooney and human rights activist John Prendergast founded the Sentry in 2015.
Catalonias vice president has said Spanish authorities are giving separatists no other option but to push ahead with proclaiming a new republic.

Oriol Junqueras said his party - one of two in the ruling separatist Catalan coalition- is going to work towards building a republic, because we understand that there is a democratic mandate to establish such a republic.

He said he was speaking on behalf of his Republican Left party and not for the regional government of President Carles Puigdemont.

Oriol Junqueras, left, said his party is "going to work towards building a republic

His remarks come amid frantic jockeying in the Catalan government on how to respond to plans by Madrid to fire them and directly manage the regions affairs.

Political representatives for Mr Puigdemont say he does not plan to appear before the Spanish Senate to defend his push for independence and to argue against the central governments move to sack him and his ministers.

Regional party officials said Catalonias parliament speaker informed their representatives that Mr Puigdemont would instead attend the regional bodys session on Thursday to press forward with the secession effort.

Catalan media also strongly criticised plans by the Spanish government to take control of the outlets as part of moves to invoke constitutional authority over Catalonia.

Independence flags are displayed for selling for 1 euro inside a store in downtown Barcelona

A joint statement by TV3, Catalunya Radio and the news agency ACN described the plan as a direct attack on the citizens of Catalonia.

The statement, read out in six languages by television and radio anchors during a news conference, said Catalan public media was highly trusted and rated, and Madrids threat to take control was a denial of the right to true, objective, pluralistic, balanced information.

Prime minister Mariano Rajoy is seeking to invoke constitutional authority over Catalonia, with Spains Senate expected to approve the measures on Friday.

He said the governments plans to take unprecedented control of Catalonias key affairs and halt the regions push for independence are exceptional and he hopes they will not last long.
MINOT -- Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to visit Minot Air Force Base on Friday.

Details of the visit aren't available at this time.

When Pence arrives at Minot AFB, he will be visiting the Department of Defense's only dual-wing, nuclear-capable installation.

The 5th Bomb Wing has the B-52 bombers. The 91st Missile Wing has Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles in underground facilities in several counties.

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp's office said she will not be able to attend Pence's visit to the base on Friday. Information is not available yet whether Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. John Hoeven and Congressman Kevin Cramer will be at the base for the event.

Numerous distinguished visitors, many of them high-ranking military members and civilians in high-level positions, have visited Minot AFB.

Recent visitors include Gen. James Mattis, secretary of defense; Heather Wilson, secretary of the Air Force; Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command; and Maj. Gen. Anthony Cotton, commander of 20th Air Force.

It has been a number of years since a vice president has visited the Minot area. It is believed the last time a vice president visited the area was in September 1970 when Vice President Spiro T. Agnew came to Minot to give a speech at the Minot Municipal Auditorium. Agnew was in Minot to support Thomas Kleppe who was running for a U.S. Senate seat.

President Donald Trump visited North Dakota most recently in September when he spoke at the Andeavor Oil Refinery in Mandan.

One of the most famous presidential visits for Minot was in June 1953 when President Dwight Eisenhower traveled to North Dakota for the dedication of the Garrison Dam. Eisenhower arrived at the Minot airport and stayed at the Clarence Parker Hotel in downtown Minot.

Royalty has also visited Minot AFB. The base had a royal visitor overnight when Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, in July 1984. The stop was made for customs clearance from Manitoba to Los Angeles and the prince and 10 other people on the plane stayed overnight at the base.
Conspiracy theorists are eagerly awaiting the release of the final cache of official secret papers about the assassination of John F Kennedy.

The US National Archives records, expected to be unveiled on Thursday, are unlikely to contain any major revelations but will be analysed carefully by those who do not accept the existing narrative around the death of the youngest man appointed to the office of President of the United States.

President Kennedy was with his wife Jacqueline in Texas. They were travelling through Dealey Plaza in Dallas on November 22 1963, in a black open-top limousine, waving at crowds. Also in the car was Texas governor John Connally and his wife Nellie. The vice president Lyndon B Johnson and his wife were in a second car.

John F Kennedy moments before his assassination (Warren Commission/AP)

JFK had been in the city ahead of the start of his re-election campaign.

At 12.30pm, three shots rang out. Two bullets hit Kennedy in the head and neck. His death was announced on the same day at 1.33pm.

Investigators found the shots came from the Texas School Book Depository.

Within hours Lee Harvey Oswald, 24, was charged with killing the president and police officer JD Tippit. He never had the chance to give his version of events as he was shot and killed by nightclub owner Jack Ruby while in police custody on November 24.

An official inquiry, the Warren Commission set up by President Johnson, determined that Oswald acted alone. It also found that Ruby was not part of a bigger plot or cover-up.

Lee Harvey Oswald was charged with the murder of the president

Another later inquiry, by the House Select Committee on Assassinations, found that Kennedy was probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy and that there was a high probability that two gunmen fired.

This fuelled myriad theories about who was ultimately behind the presidents death.

Kennedy was born on May 29 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts. He went on to study at Harvard and after graduating in 1940 he joined the navy. He was seriously injured on August 2 1943 when his boat was sunk by a Japanese destroyer but managed to lead his fellow survivors to safety.

He was elected to Congress in 1946 and represented part of the Boston area. He served three terms before he was elected to the Senate in 1952, eventually running for president in 1960.

Kennedy, who was 43 when he entered the White House, came from a large Irish Catholic family. He married Jacqueline Bouvier in September 1953, when he was 36 and his wife 24. They went on to have two children.

The bipartisan presidential commission to investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy sits for an official picture

Together they were seen to add a dash of vitality and glamour to the White House, which helped America fall in love with the couple. He was seen as a handsome, charismatic leader with a stylish, fashionable wife.

Kennedys truncated presidency is remembered for his handling of the ongoing nuclear threat, civil rights and the space race.

Throughout JFKs election campaign and his time in the White House, he faced the threat of nuclear war between the US and the Soviet Union, which culminated in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Cuba wanted Soviet nuclear missiles on the island to deter future invasions.

It was seen by many as a masterclass in negotiations on Kennedys part when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev agreed to retreat.

But did those tensions trigger a plot which culminated in his assassination? Shooter Oswald had links with the CIA and is known to have visited the Cuban and Soviet embassies in Mexico.

Cuban exiles, the CIA and even President Johnson have all been named in conspiracies.

John F Kennedy was killed Dealey Plaza in Dallas on November 22 1963 (Warren Commission/AP)

Congress ruled in 1992 that all assassination documents be released within 25 years and some have already been published.

The final tranche is expected to include more than 3,000 documents that have never been seen by the public and more than 30,000 that have been previously released but with redactions.

It is thought that the files will contain more details of Oswalds trip to Mexico.

Judge John Tunheim, who chaired the Assassination Records Review Board in the 1990s, said the new documents were not believed relevant to the assassination.

But that is unlikely to deter historians from poring over them.
By Anastasia Moloney

BOGOTA, Oct 24 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Michelle Suarez, Uruguay's first transgender senator, is already considered elderly. She has made it to 34 - a rarity in a country where transgender people tend to die young.

A veteran trailblazer for LGBT rights, she helped draft a bill that legalised same-sex marriage in 2013 and became the first transgender person to go to university in Uruguay.

Suarez has broken many barriers, yet it is perhaps her age that is the most salient part of her fight.

Most transgender women in Uruguay, a small South American nation of 3.5 million people, don't get to live that long.

"In Uruguay, a citizen has a life expectancy of more than 70 years but trans women have a life expectancy of 35," said Suarez, who took her seat in the senate this month.

Put down by society and shunned by their families, many transgender people are forced to drop out of school and find it difficult to get a job and access health services.

To survive, many end up on the streets as sex workers where they face violence, Suarez said.

"Trans women sex workers are exposed to many situations of violence .. they face an enormous amount of aggression," Suarez told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a telephone interview.

"All this means to be a woman, to be transgender - together with being poor and a sex worker - affects health and, in general, cuts life expectancy for trans women practically by half."

Across the Americas, the average life expectancy of transgender people is 30-35 years, according to a 2014 report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).

PERVASIVE VIOLENCE

Along with suffering higher rates of HIV/AIDS and malnutrition, transgender people face "pervasive violence" from society and their family, according to a 2015 IACHR report.

Hundreds of LGBTI people across Latin America and the Caribbean have been killed in the past five years, with at least 41 attacks and murders of LGBTI people reported in the region during the first three months of this year, IACHR figures show.

As a senator representing the Communist Party, Suarez said she will push for laws that bolster the rights and protection of Uruguay's 3,000 transgender people, who have been historically excluded from society.

The law, which is currently under debate, would allow transgender people to change their legal identities without having to go before a judge.

It would also promote affirmative action, ensuring that 1 percent of government jobs be reserved for transgender people, along with 2 percent of education scholarships.

"It's a series of measures focused on a vulnerable group of people, in this case trans people, and historically the obstacles that have prevented the protection of their fundamental equal rights," Suarez, a lawyer, said.

The law also aims to set up a government fund to compensate transgender people who were persecuted during Uruguay's 1973-1985 military dictatorship, she said. (Reporting by Anastasia Moloney @anastasiabogota, Editing by Lyndsay Griffiths. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit http://news.trust.org)
By Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani

ABUJA, Oct 25 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The first daughter of a pilot from Abia State in southeast Nigeria, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje never faced disadvantages for being a woman until she entered politics 10 years ago.

In her three terms as member of parliament for Bende constituency in Abia, she has experienced discrimination, sexual innuendoes, physical threats and insubordination, mainly from male colleagues. But each time she fought back.

However she is concerned that the treatment of women in politics in Nigeria, and the threats they receive, is scaring women away with less than six percent of Nigerian parliamentarians female.

She said this is detrimental to women across Africa's most populous nation of 186 million people who need strong voices to fight for government policies that affect women, such as gender violence, maternal mortality and empowerment.

"We must have people who actually understand, who are the beneficiaries of these policies, being part of the policy formulation," the 48-year-old single mother told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in her office in Abuja where a statuette of Hillary Clinton adorns her desk.

Elendu-Ukeje is one of 27 women sitting in the 108 seat Senate and 360 seat House of Representatives since the 2015 election, from 32 in 2011.

She suspects fewer women will participate in the 2019 elections, put off by the violence that has marred previous votes in certain parts of Nigeria.

THREATS AND VIOLENCE

During the last election, people started firing guns as Elendu-Ukeje was campaigning and she was whisked away, unscathed, but some of her security personnel were injured.

"If there's no disincentives for the perpetrators of violence, my fear is that the political space for women is going to continue to shrink," she said.

Elendu-Ukeje didn't set out for a career in politics. She grew up wanting to be a teacher, and has degrees in English and in journalism from the University of Lagos in southwest Nigeria.

However that started to change in 1999 when Nigeria left behind decades of military rule to become a democracy, sparking renewed interest in politics.

After years of speaking with friends who were politicians, she decided to leave a career in the hospitality industry to run for office in the 2007 election.

"I just didn't feel that my voice was represented in the kind of laws that were passed. I didn't think that my demographics ever showed up on the radar, with the things that we were thinking about, talking about," she said.

Elendu-Ukeje saw her opportunity, wanting to fill this gap and ensure more women spoke up and made laws affecting women, but it surprised her to meet resistance from her father who was obsessed with J.F. Kennedy and forced her to read books on him and on other politicians as she was growing up.

"He said, 'You don't understand the terrain ... it's only for thugs, it's dangerous'. Indeed it is and he got very scared," she said.

DISCOURAGED AT THE START

Elendu-Ukeje also faced discouragement from other women who had excelled in other fields and lamented how hard it was.

For at the time, there seemed to be hardly any women on the political landscape and politicians generally were much older.

"I was a double minority. I was young and I was a woman ... but I felt there was a gap," she said. "I think it was the lure of that ... that got me interested in politics."

As her father realised that she was going ahead with or without his approval, he sent her two brothers with her to the polling booths in 2007 to protect her.

When her father died of cancer three years after she was elected into parliament, her mother joked that the reason he died was so he would not continue boring the neighbours about watching his little girl on television.

"He was absolutely supportive. He watched me for three years, my teething years. Every time there was something about me in the news, he would buy all the papers," she said fondly.

A typical day for Elendu-Ukeje begins with 30 minutes on the treadmill and ends with spending time with her 11-year-old son, helping him with homework. In between, she attends meetings in parliament where she chairs the Committee on Foreign Relations.

For her, being a woman in Nigerian politics means having to work twice as hard as her male counterparts to constantly prove that she has earned her place in the male-dominated world.

"I would say that my greatest achievement in my dichotomous world is the ability to run a home and a career while challenging the narrative of the typical Nigerian female politician," she said.

There have been times when Elendu-Ukeje thought of quitting politics. Lengthy periods away from her son, the battles to assert herself, and the threat of violence were some of the factors that have made her wonder if it is worth it.

"But then the next day, I do something that changes people's lives. Or maybe I'm out shopping and women walk up to me and pay me compliments and tell me how proud they are of me and I feel and know that it is all worth it," she said. (Reporting by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith @BeeGoldsmith; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit http://news.trust.org)
By Tom Westbrook

SYDNEY, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Australia's biggest company by revenue, retail-to-coal giant Wesfarmers Ltd, posted sluggish first-quarter supermarket sales growth on Wednesday and said earnings from its newly-acquired British hardware stores had plunged.

Hit by hard-discounting rivals and a vegetable glut that trimmed produce margins, comparable food sales at Coles, Australia's No. 2 supermarket, grew near their slowest pace since Wesfarmers bought the grocer a decade ago.

In Britain and Ireland, sales slumped 17.5 percent at Homebase hardware stores, which Wesfarmers bought for A$705 million ($546 million) only last year in a bid to export its cash-cow Bunnings brand to Europe.

Wesfarmers shares slid as much as 3.2 percent to A$41.37, their biggest daily drop in a year, as the broader market edged higher.

"The fresh produce numbers were the weak link," said James McGlew, executive director of Perth stockbroker Argonaut Ltd, which owns Wesfarmers shares, adding the British hardware numbers were "ordinary".

Coles, Wesfarmers' largest division, is cutting prices to win market share from larger Woolworths Ltd amid intensifying competition from insurgent German discounter ALDI Inc. Similar forces have also rocked Britain's "Big Four" grocers.

Coles's margins were further squeezed by "significant" produce price deflation in the September quarter, mostly driven by a bumper vegetable-growing season.

Overall Coles sales, including liquor, rose 1.5 percent for the quarter.

BRITAIN TO "TAKE LONGER"

Once again, the star performer for Wesfarmers was Australian hardware business Bunnings, which posted 11.5 percent sales growth thanks to demand from commercial and private home-improvement markets.

While Wesfarmers did not give any profit figures on Wednesday, strong revenue growth at Bunnings usually augurs well for the conglomerate's bottom line. It will report interim profit in February.

But Wesfarmers' hopes of repeating its Bunnings success in Britain are on hold as the U.K. hardware business, including 244 Homebase stores not yet rebranded Bunnings, continued to struggle after posting an A$89 million loss in 2017.

"That's a real concern that suggests a lack of traction," CMC Markets chief strategist Michael McCarthy told Reuters.

Wesfarmers Managing Director Richard Goyder stood by the investment, while conceding it would "take longer than we might've hoped".

"We still consider the opportunity is a good one," he said.

Wesfarmers attributed falling hardware sales in Britain to large-scale clearance of discontinued stock and "difficult trading conditions", with retail sales weak across the board and wages stagnant.

($1 = 1.2920 Australian dollars) (Additional reporting by Chris Thomas; Editing by Stephen Coates)
By Ece Toksabay

ISTANBUL, Oct 25 (Reuters) - A Turkish court on Wednesday ordered the release on bail of eight human rights activists, including the director of the local branch of Amnesty International, pending a verdict in their trial on terrorism charges.

The case against the activists, who number 11 in total and who face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty, has become a flashpoint in Turkey's tense relations with Europe and heightened concern that an important NATO member is sliding further towards authoritarianism under President Tayyip Erdogan.

Among those ordered released were Idil Eser, the director of Amnesty in Turkey, as well as Peter Steudtner, a German national, and Ali Gharavi, a Swede. Under the terms of their release, Steudtner and Gharavi are not required to remain in Turkey before the next court date on Nov. 22.

Two other activists were released on bail prior to the start of Wednesday's trial. Another, Amnesty's local chairman, is still being held in the coastal province of Izmir where he faces charges in a separate case.

"I think we're all more than relieved," a tearful Steudtner told reporters after he walked out of the Silivri prison, outside of Istanbul, a few hours later.

"We are really grateful for everyone who supported us legally (and) diplomatically."

The case had brought widespread condemnation from rights groups, some Western governments and, on social media, prominent activists such as Edward Snowden.

Almost all of the eleven were detained in July after participating in a workshop on digital security held on an island off the coast of Istanbul.

The prosecutor has alleged a range of charges, including helping the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the network of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused by Ankara of engineering last year's coup attempt.

"It is a happy development that our friends are released, but this case should have never been brought," said one of the defence lawyers, Erdal Dogan.

"We need a state of law and we need the support of our citizens."

'ENCOURAGING SIGNAL'

Germany, which has seen a steady deterioration in ties with Turkey over the case and other rows, said it welcomed the decision, even though it remained concerned about Ankara's record on rights.

"That is an encouraging signal, a first step," Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said in a statement, adding that many Germans remained imprisoned in Turkey for no clear reason.

Eser, the local Amnesty director, had earlier told the court that she had been arrested for doing her job.

"I don't understand how I can be associated with three different terrorist organisations by having attended a workshop," she said. "I don't have anything to regret. I just did my work as a human rights defender."

The prosecutor has cited Amnesty's links to jailed hunger strikers and alleged that some of the defendants had contact with people who had downloaded the encrypted messaging app used by the plotters of last year's failed coup.

Another accused, Ozlem Dalkiran, told the court: "I have no idea why we're here."

"I dedicated my life to truth, human rights and justice. Now I am here being charged with membership in a terrorist organisation," said Dalkiran, a member of the Turkish arm of the Citizens' Assembly rights organisation.

Authorities have jailed more than 50,000 people pending trial in a crackdown following the failed military coup. Erdogan says the purges across society are necessary to maintain stability in a key NATO country bordering Iran, Iraq and Syria.

European allies fear he is using the investigations to check opposition and undermine the judiciary.

The case has worsened Turkey's already fraught relations with the European Union.

Shortly after the arrests, Germany said it was reviewing Turkey's applications to buy weaponry from Germany. A cabinet minister in Berlin compared Ankara's behaviour to that of the former communist East Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Turkey's 12-year-old attempt to join the European Union should be halted, although Ankara has said it remains determined to press on with its accession process. (Additional reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen, Ezgi Erkoyun, Osman Orsal, Yesim Dikmen and Mehmet Emin Caliskan; Michelle Martin and Andrea Shalala in Berlin; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Ralph Boulton and Simon Cameron-Moore)
BANGKOK, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Crowds began gathering in Bangkok on Wednesday for the official beginning of the funeral of Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The lavish five-day event, which runs until Sunday, opened with rows of Buddhist monks in orange robes chanting prayers. A funeral procession and cremation ceremony are scheduled for Thursday.

About 250,000 Thais are expected to attend the cremation ceremony, which will be led by the new King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

King Bhumibol, 88, who ruled for more than seven decades, was widely regarded as the nation's moral compass during periods of intermittent political unrest.

Since his death on Oct. 13 last year, the country has observed a year of official mourning, with many Thais wearing black.

Here are details of the cremation:

* The king's cremation will take place on Thursday, which has been declared a public holiday, when many businesses have announced they will be shut all day or close at midday.

* A budget of 3 billion baht ($90 million) has been set aside for the funeral, which will be attended by dozens of heads of state, including King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan and Japan's Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko.

* Many hotels near the cremation area have been booked out by mourners.

* The site of the royal cremation includes nine spire-roofed Thai pavilions to honor the late king, who was also known as Rama IX.

* The site took nearly a year to complete and was built from scratch. It features sculptures of mythical creatures and auspicious animals such as lions and elephants.

* The cremation will make use of sandalwood flowers whose fragrance ancient Thais believed would lead the soul of the dead to heaven.

* Those unable to attend the funeral will be able to visit 85 miniature replicas of the site across Thailand.

* New King Maha Vajiralongkorn formally ascended the throne last year but his coronation will take place after his father's funeral. (Compiled by Suphanida Thakral; Editing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Clarence Fernandez)
CAPE TOWN, Oct 25 (Reuters) - The United States discriminated against the nuclear and coal industries under the administration of former President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said on Wednesday.

"Nuclear and coal ... Those two industries were discriminated against over the course of the last administration," Perry told reporters at an oil conference in Cape Town, when asked about a U.S. government directive to support ageing coal and nuclear plants.

The directive would reward certain nuclear and coal-fired plants that store 90 days of fuel on site for contributing to the reliability of the national grid.

U.S. industries that rarely agree, including gas drillers and renewable energy producers, oppose it on the grounds that it props up "uneconomic generation."

Asked about threats to U.S. energy supplies, Perry, a former governor of the oil hub of Texas, cited cyber security as the main concern followed by natural disasters such as hurricanes. (Reporting by Ed Stoddard; editing by Jason Neely and Adrian Croft)
By Andy Home

LONDON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - First it was lithium. Then it was cobalt. And now it is nickel's turn in the electric vehicle spotlight.

Nickel is just as important as the other two metals in manufacturing the batteries that will power the green technology revolution.

It is used in both currently dominant lithium battery configurations, nickel-cobalt-manganese and nickel-cobalt-aluminium.

Indeed, it may increase its material share against cobalt, a metal that is posing all sorts of supply problems, both physical and ethical, for the automotive sector.

Growing demand from battery-makers will exacerbate "the predicted structural shortage of nickel between now and 2025," according to research house Wood Mackenzie.

The outlook for nickel, it said, "is one of deepening deficits, falling stocks and rising prices." ("A demanding supply problem for nickel", October 2017)

It's exactly the sort of rallying cry that frustrated nickel bulls have been awaiting and has helped keep London nickel bubbling around the $12,000 per tonne level.

But unlike lithium and cobalt, both of which have experienced straight-line price rallies over the last year or so, nickel looks more of a slow-burn story with some complicated plot twists.

NO NEED TO PANIC

Wood Mackenzie estimates that nickel demand from the electric vehicle sector is going to grow from 40,000 tonnes in 2016 to 220,000 tonnes in 2025.

Or to 275,000 tonnes, if other battery applications such as grid storage are included.

Given the global nickel market is around 2.1 million tonnes in size, the volume impact is going to be much less dramatic than in either cobalt or lithium.

Nor is the nickel market tight right now.

The International Nickel Study Group (INSG) is forecasting supply will fall short of demand again next year, meaning three consecutive years of deficit to the cumulative tune of almost 200,000 tonnes.

If that sounds bullish, however, it's worth bearing in mind that the INSG calculates a global supply surplus of 470,000 tonnes over the 2012-2015 period.

That surplus is still being worked off.

Right now, there is no need for the sort of panic buying episodes that have characterised both lithium last year and cobalt this year.

Graphic on China's nickel imports: http://tmsnrt.rs/2y30fUJ

SUPPLY RESILIENCE

Nickel supply has proved much more resilient than expected in the face of last year's historically low prices and resource nationalism in both Indonesia and the Philippines.

Bulls were betting that some combination of those factors would curtail sufficiently the flow of nickel ore to China to impact that country's production.

But it hasn't worked out that way.

China imported 5.67 million tonnes of nickel ore and concentrates in September, the highest monthly total since January 2014, when Indonesian shippers were rushing to beat a ban on raw material exports.

Cumulative imports totalled 26.0 million tonnes in the first nine months of this year, up almost 9 percent on last year.

Not only has Indonesia partly reversed that 2014 ban but supply from the Philippines has not collapsed after a high-profile environmental campaign against open-pit miners, many of them nickel producers.

Extra raw materials supply is now also coming from the new generation of nickel pig iron (NPI) producers that have off-shored from China to Indonesia in the wake of the 2014 ban.

China's nickel raw materials supply chain has adjusted to a succession of shocks over the last few years but is looking as robust as ever.

Proof comes in the form of the country's reduced call on imports of refined metal, which have fallen by more than half year-on-year to 141,000 tonnes in the January-September period.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR NICKEL?

That's an important reason why London Metal Exchange (LME) stocks remain stubbornly high.

The exchange's warehouse system has seen plenty of nickel stocks movement over the course of this year but the net change has been a small 12,450 tonne increase.

What has changed is the composition of LME stocks with those of full-plate cathode falling and those of briquettes rising. That's due to the mass movement of Russian cathode to China, where it is the only non-Chinese deliverable brand against the Shanghai Futures Exchange contract.

Full-plate nickel used to account for the vast majority of LME-registered stocks. As of today it represents just 24 percent of the total.

That is also a positive for battery manufacturers.

Because one of the kinks in this particular battery materials story is the sort of nickel that's required.

The principle feed for batteries is nickel sulphate, which is made by dissolving nickel in sulphuric acid.

As Wood Mackenzie points out, the ideal form of nickel for this process is pure metal in powder, pellet or briquette form.

Cathode plate can be used but "energy requirements are greater and dissolution times are longer, making that process a more cost-intensive one."

High LME stocks of nickel in precisely the best form for battery manufacturers are another reason not to expect the sort of rapid price appreciation experienced by other battery materials.

FUTURE CHALLENGES

Things, however, get more interesting further down the line.

Thanks to the build-out of China's nickel pig iron sector over the last decade, much of the current project pipeline is for either NPI itself or for ferronickel.

Both are fine for stainless steel producers, who currently account for the bulk of nickel usage, but neither is much use for battery-makers.

They need pure metal in non-plate form, putting them in direct competition with super-alloy manufacturers, a tussle for units that is going to get increasingly fierce.

The only question is one of timing, dependent as it is on the multiple moving parts of the electric vehicle and grid storage technology revolution.

It is quite conceivable that the nickel market, already a construct of several discrete nickel product lines, starts to splinter between metallic and chemical usages.

That's a future worry but for now don't expect too many electrified sparks in the nickel market.

There's still a lot of the stuff around.

(Editing by David Evans)
By Ingrid Melander

PARIS, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Battered and bruised from electoral defeat by Emmanuel Macron's centrists, France's Socialist Party is laying off most of its staff and selling its Paris base, while the centre-right Republicans limp on in search of a leader.

Facing falling membership after winning just six percent of the vote in the presidential election, the centre-left party told staff on Wednesday it would have to fire most of them, days after its historic headquarters was put up for sale to raise funds.

On the other side of the political divide, the conservative Republicans are leaderless and have struggled for months to decide whether to expel party members who have signed up to serve with Macron.

The two parties ruled France for decades, but Macron's Republic on the Move has stolen the middle ground from under their feet.

"Macron benefits from a large political space left vacant by the opposition," said Vincent Thibault of Elabe pollsters. "He has to face very few attacks from the other parties."

Fewer lawmakers and local officials mean the Socialist Party's income has fallen to 8 million euros ($9.42 million) a year from 28 million previously. Party treasurer Jean-Francois Debat told Reuters around 60 of 97 staff would have to go.

While the Republicans are the largest opposition group in the lower house of parliament and hold a majority in the senate, they are in barely better shape.

For the past five months they have struggled to stem Macron's poaching of their top officials, or to oppose economic policies that mirror their own.

In the latest of several meetings on membership, the party decided in principle on Tuesday to expel Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and other ministers serving in Macron's government.

But having failed to gather enough officials at the meeting, they were forced to postpone the actual decision for a week, drawing scorn from critics.

"It's grotesque," Sebastien Lecornu, a junior minister and one of those facing expulsion, told Le Parisien daily.

"They are punishing us for backing reforms that are useful to the country ... the right is committing suicide."

The far left and far right are also struggling to mount a credible opposition to 39-year-old Macron.

The far-right National Front, weakened by its own divisions, has become close to inaudible. Its leader Marine Le Pen had the worst ratings on record for France 2 television's top political show last week, with only 1.7 million viewers.

The far-left France Insoumise has been more vocal, and polls show it is seen as the strongest opponent. But it has struggled to get voters out on the streets against Macron's reforms and surveys show it is regarded more as a protest movement. (Additional reporting by Elizabeth Pineau and Yann Le Guernigou; Editing by Luke Baker and Andrew Roche)
By Francois Murphy and Alexandra Schwarz-Goerlich

VIENNA, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Austria's far-right Freedom Party said coalition talks with conservative leader Sebastian Kurz made a "very, very good start" on Wednesday, mapping out a process that could end its decade in opposition.

Foreign Minister Kurz, who is just 31, and his People's Party won last week's parliamentary election with 31.5 percent of the vote but they need a partner to form a stable government.

Kurz's hard line on immigration and his decision to force the collapse of the current coalition with the Social Democrats, who came second, made the anti-immigration Freedom Party (FPO) - founded by ex-Nazis in the 1950s - a more willing partner.

"It was today a very, very good start to negotiations ... a positive mutual gauging by the negotiating teams," FPO leader Heinz-Christian Strache told a joint news conference with Kurz after the first round of talks at an ornate palace in Vienna.

Coalition talks in Austria last roughly two months on average, and Kurz has said he wants a deal by Christmas.

Both men had negotiating teams of four party officials and agreed on five headings for their talks, ranging from "future", for issues such as science and the environment, to a more self-explanatory "security, order and protecting the homeland".

OVERLAP

The two sides have much common ground on immigration, an issue that dominated the election after Europe's migration crisis left many voters feeling Austria was overrun. But after Wednesday's talks they said they would start with another issue both have focused on: reducing inefficiencies in state spending.

Kurz and Strache said they would examine finance ministry data with a view to deciding where savings could be achieved.

"Our aim is to find the losses through friction in the system and then of course to deal with where there is the potential to increase efficiency," Kurz said. "That as a first round should build the foundation for the subsequent negotiations on content."

The rise of far-right parties like France's National Front and the Alternative for Germany since the migration crisis started in 2015 makes it less likely the FPO's accession to power would provoke the same outcry as in 2000, when the European Union imposed short-lived sanctions on Austria.

But some European leaders have expressed concern at its strong showing and President Alexander Van der Bellen, who has the power to appoint and dismiss governments, has said any coalition must be guided by "fundamental European values".

What that means for the FPO and the talks is unclear. As part of a push to make itself more acceptable to the mainstream, it has stopped calling for Austria to leave the bloc and says it is now "pro-European" while saying Brussels should hand back more powers to member states.

That overlaps with Kurz's view that the EU should be slimmed down and focus on tasks like trade and securing external borders.

"Europe is of course an issue," Kurz said when asked why it wasn't in one of the five broad headings for talks, adding that it would come under the heading "state and society".

"From my point of view the atmosphere was a very, very positive one," he added. (Writing by Francois Murphy, editing by Alister Doyle)
Amid declining shipments, the rail industry is phasing out less-safe tank cars carrying crude oil ahead of rapidly approaching deadlines to do so.

The federally mandated deadlines to remove the DOT-111 tank cars from oil service came after several high-profile derailments involving Bakken crude. That included the deadly Lac-Megantic, Quebec, disaster in 2013 and the explosion near Casselton later that year.

As of Jan. 1, DOT-111 cars without a protective steel layer known as a jacket can no longer carry crude oil. Those cars with the jacket must be phased out two months later.

A U.S. Department of Transportation report sent to Congress last month shows the number of those cars carrying crude oil has dropped dramatically over the past few years. In 2013, 14,337 of them carried crude oil, which sank to 366 last year.

That shift has been aided by a steep decline in Williston Basin rail exports over the past few years. A rush of activity in western North Dakota forced oil onto the tracks, but pipelines are now the dominant form of oil transportation, according to the North Dakota Pipeline Authority.

The first phase, in terms of removing the DOT-111s  thats moving along very nicely, said John Byrne, vice chairman of the Railway Supply Institutes Committee on Tank Cars. Because theres a surplus of cars available to take them out of service and replace them with compliant cars.

Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, said the Dakota Access Pipeline helped push oil off the tracks when it went online earlier this year. But rail shipments across the country have been declining since 2014, according to the Association of American Railroads.

The latest BNSF Railway Co. report provided by the state Department of Emergency Services, dated September, shows as many as three oil trains moved through Cass County in one week, down from a high of 56 first reached in 2014.

Pointing to increased training for first responders, DES Hazardous Chemical Officer Jeff Thompson said theyre more comfortable with the situation than we were before. But that doesnt mean theyve let their guard down.

Theres always the fear that (it) happens in the middle of a town. And that goes with all train derailments, not just crude oil, he said.

About 476,000 gallons of oil spilled near Casselton in late December 2013 after an oil train slammed into a derailed grain car, sparking a fireball over the snowy landscape. Residents evacuated, but there were no deaths or serious injuries, the National Transportation Safety Board said.

Oil spilled from 18 of the derailed DOT-111 cars in that incident, according to the NTSB, which long had concerns about the less-safe tank cars because theyre not puncture resistant, have relatively thin shells and lack thermal protection.

In announcing the agencys findings on the Casselton derailment in February, the NTSBs then-Chairman Christopher Hart said progress toward removing or retrofitting DOT-111s has been too slow. Thousands of those cars are still being used to carry ethanol and other flammable liquids, which have later phase-out dates, according to the transportation departments report.

By 2029, flammable liquids can only be carried in DOT-117s, which have thicker shells and insulating material, Byrne said. The new and retrofitted versions of those cars now represent 9 percent of the fleet carrying Class 3 flammable liquids, which includes crude oil and ethanol, according the transportation department report.

Theres been a huge improvement in the overall safety of the cars moving crude today versus what we were looking at in 2013, 2014, Byrne said.
MOGADISHU, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Three people died in Somalia on Wednesday in different attacks, one of which targeted a patrol of peacekeepers near the country's capital, Mogadishu, officials told Reuters.

A roadside bomb killed one African Union peacekeeper and wounded another as they patrolled Arbis, a village about 23 kilometres southwest of Mogadishu, according to Wilson Rono, a spokesman for the African Union peacekeeping force AMISOM.

A counter-attack by AMISOM killed four al Shabaab fighters, Rono said. Al Shabaab is the Islamist militant group fighting to topple Somalia's western-backed government and replace it with one strictly adhering to Islamic sharia law.

The group also frequently targets AMISOM, which is supporting the central government.

Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaabs military spokesman, told Reuters the group had killed four AMISOM soldiers and injured two others in the assault

"We have not lost anyone," Abu Musab said, adding that AMISOM had killed civilian as it responded to the attack.

In a second incident late on Wednesday evening, a bomb exploded as it was being prepared in a house in Mogadishu's Karan district, according to Mohamed Osman, a police officer.

"It killed one man and injured another," Osman said.

A female police officer was also killed in Mogadishu's Hodan district by gunmen who quickly disappeared, a police official said. Abu Musab told Reuters al Shabaab was also responsible for that attack.

(Reporting by Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar; Writing by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Larry King)
By Mark Weinraub

CHICAGO, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures eased on Wednesday on a round of profit taking after prices firmed to 2-1/2 week highs during the session.

"The wheat market has had trouble with the 50-day moving average since the middle of September, and today was no different," Charlie Sernatinger, global head of grain futures at ED&F Man Capital, said in a note to clients. "We keep trying to break through the 50-day moving average, and we keep failing."

Corn futures also closed lower after staking out fresh highs amid reports of farmers booking sales on the cash market when the market peaked.

Soybeans ended flat after technical selling pulled prices from their session top.

Chicago Board of Trade soybeans for November delivery were unchanged at $9.75-1/2 a bushel.

CBOT December corn was 1-3/4 cents lower at $3.51 a bushel. The contract hit its highest since Oct. 2 earlier in the session.

A huge short position by speculators underpinned corn prices as traders have been stepping in to unwind bearish bets at session lows this week.

CBOT December wheat was 2-1/2 cents lower at $4.35-1/2 a bushel. Wheat prices retreated from 2-1/2-week high.

But some concerns about the Australian crop limited the declines.

"Wheat could be getting some background support from problems with the Australian harvest but the overall plentiful supply picture globally could limit rises," said Matt Ammermann, commodity risk manager at INTL FCStone.

Australia's wheat farmers face a double blow this year as dry weather slashes local production at a time when bloated global inventories are dragging on international prices for the grain. (Additional reporting by Michael Hogan in Hamburg and Naveen Thukral in Singapore; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli and Susan Thomas)
ISTANBUL, Oct 25 (Reuters) - A Turkish court on Wednesday ordered the release on bail of eight defendants, including the director of the local branch of Amnesty International and two foreign nationals, pending the verdict in their on-going trial on terrorism charges.

The next hearing is set for Nov.22.

The trial of the 11 activists, who face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty, has become a flashpoint in Turkey's tension with Europe.

Most them were detained in July after participating in a workshop on digital security held on island off the coast of Istanbul. The prosecutor has alleged a range of charges, including the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the network of the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused by Ankara of engineering last year's coup attempt.

Two of the activists were released on bail prior to the start of Wednesday's trial. Another, the chairman of Amnesty International's local arm, is being held in the coastal province of Izmir where he faces charges in an additional case. (Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Writing by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by DAvid Dolan)
By Maysam Behravesh

Oct 25 (Reuters) - Islamic State has been routed in Iraq. On October 5, the militant group lost the northern town of Hawija - its last urban stronghold after Iraqi forces recaptured Mosul and Tal Afar earlier this year. The brutal battles for these cities have been well documented. Less noticed, however, has been how the near-total defeat of IS is reshaping political and sectarian alliances in the region.

The rise and fall of IS has had a sobering and unifying effect on relationships between Sunnis and Shiites. In Iraq, where thousands died in the vicious sectarian war that followed the fall of Saddam Hussein, residents of the mainly-Sunni cities of Mosul and Hawija nonetheless jubilantly welcomed the mostly-Shiite Iraqi forces who freed the cities from the Sunni extremists of IS. "They helped liberate us," one Hawija Sunni leader told the New York Times of the fighters. Nor does a Shiite backlash against Sunnis seem imminent given Shiite recognition of Sunni suffering in the IS-occupied cities.

The IS experience has affected Iranian politics too. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei seemed to show a softer attitude toward Sunnis in a rare pronouncement - seen as carrying the weight of a fatwa - publicly prohibiting any discrimination against minorities. Sunnis have fewer rights than Shiites in Iran, and Khameneis August comment was made in response to an inquiry by Molavi Abdul Hamid, a prominent Sunni cleric from Iran's impoverished Sunni-dominated Sistan-Baluchistan province on the Pakistan border. In Syria too, IS's faster-than-expected battlefield defeats suggest that the group does not enjoy much local support among the Sunni tribes and populations it has been ruling for the past couple of years.

The biggest changes can be seen in Iraq, where Shiite leaders attempts to develop a post-IS foreign policy are driven in part by fear of Irans growing influence and in part by the IS-inflicted suffering in Iraq. Many observers believe that the pursuit of sectarian policies at the expense of Iraqi Sunnis - as systematically practiced under the former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki - expedited the rise of IS.

The result of the new dynamic is that Iraqs main Shiite leaders are distancing themselves from Iran as they make once-unthinkable overtures to the regions Sunni Arab bloc. In one of the latest signs of that shift, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi declined Tehran's official invitation to take part in President Hassan Rouhanis second-term inauguration ceremony on August 5. Such a refusal would have been unimaginable a few years ago.

Similarly, prominent Shiite leaders such as Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and Moqtada al-Sadr snubbed Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, the newly-appointed chairman of Irans Expediency Council - a governing body set up to mediate disputes between Parliament and the Council of Guardians over whether planned legislation conforms with Islamic law - during an official visit to Iraq as the envoy of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

Underscoring the point, Baghdad publicly slammed a deal made by Hezbollah, Irans chief proxy in the region, to evacuate a group of IS fighters from Lebanon to eastern Syria, near the Iraqi border. The Tehran-backed agreement was "unacceptable" and "an insult to the Iraqi people," Prime Minister Abadi said in August.

Iranian influence on Iraqs domestic politics is shrinking too. Ammar al-Hakim resigned as head of the Tehran-backed Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq - the countrys largest Shiite party - a month after a June meeting with Khalid al-Faisal, the governor of Mecca and an informal advisor to Saudi Arabias King Salman. Hakim promptly went on to form the National Wisdom Movement, a political party to "embrace" all Iraqis.

At the same time, Iran-funded, Shiite-dominated militias known as Popular Mobilization Forces are divided over whether they should be integrated into the regular Iraqi army - a measure that would loosen Irans foothold in Iraqs security apparatus - or whether they should remain independent of the Iraqi government. Groups loyal to Sadr and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani have started taking steps to register with the army; those led by Hadi al-Amiri of the Badr Organization and Qais al-Khazali of Asaib Ahl al-Haq remain in the pro-Iran camp.

Against this backdrop, Iraq is trying to improve its ties with Saudi Arabia. In addition to several recent diplomatic visits between the two countries, including one by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to Riyadh, Moqtada al-Sadr - an influential Shiite cleric with a large following among Iraqs urban poor - made rare and well-received visits to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. After meeting with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, Sadr issued a statement saying that he was "very pleased with what we found to be a positive breakthrough in the Saudi-Iraqi relations," and that he hoped it was "the beginning of the retreat of sectarian strife in the Arab-Islamic region." Sadrs Aug. 13 meeting with Emirati crown prince Zayed al-Nahayan appeared equally successful. "Experience has taught us to always call for what brings Arabs and Muslims together, and to reject the advocates of division," Nahyan told Sadr, in a veiled reference to Iran as one of the dividers.

It is clearly in Iraqs strategic interests to diversify its relationships beyond reflexive sectarian or ideological lines. Improved ties with Riyadh pave the way for Baghdad to receive much-needed financial aid from Saudi Arabia and establish an economic relationship that could help counter the political and military influence established when Iran cultivated Shiite proxies to fight U.S.-backed forces in Iraq. The outreach can also signal to Iraqs Sunni minority that the Baghdad government is not an Iranian stooge.

Iraqs post-IS foreign policy could have broader regional benefits too. For Riyadh, closer ties with Baghdad can help the Saudi leadership feel less threatened by Irans rising influence and the perception that Riyadhs share of regional power has diminished as a result. That in turn may lead to a thaw in Iranian-Saudi ties and a broader contribution to regional security.

While this balancing act could help mitigate the Shiite-Sunni tensions in the Middle East, it would be naive to assume that deeply-rooted ideological and religious schisms will disappear anytime soon. The recent Kurdish referendum, for example, already seems to have made Baghdad more willing to invoke Irans military and economic leverage to dissuade Iraqi Kurds from declaring independence. Nor will Iraqi Shiites quickly forget their anger over actions like Riyadhs unequivocal support for the Sunni-dominated regime of Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war of 1980 - 1988, or Saudi Arabias harsh treatment of its Shiite minority.

Nonetheless, the fact is that neither Riyadh nor Tehran can achieve sustainable hegemony in the region at the expense of the other. Its ironic that it may be the routing of extremist IS that serves as the catalyst to ease the bitter sectarian rifts that have divided them for so long. (Reporting by Maysam Behravesh)
BERLIN, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The three parties exploring a possible coalition in Germany face an early test of their willingness to compromise on Thursday when they try to hammer out a common stance on deeply divisive immigration and asylum policy.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is trying to patch together a tricky three-way coalition after her party suffered bruising losses in a national election three weeks ago - losses that even some of her allies blame on her refugee policies.

Germany's demographic landscape changed overnight in 2015 with her decision, in the face of refugee flows on a scale not seen since World War Two, to open the borders to over a million migrants fleeing war in the Middle East and Africa.

While some hailed the move as a humanitarian act, it was less popular in her own conservative camp, where many blame her for the subsequent surge in the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party, which took seats from her bloc.

Within her conservative bloc, the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) is demanding a cap on refugee numbers, rejected by Merkel as unconstitutional. To her left, the Greens oppose what they see as a populist-driven tightening of asylum rules.

With parties far apart, Christian Lindner, leader of the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) warned that talks could rapidly descend into conflict with Greens on the sensitive matter of allowing family members to join migrants in Germany.

"The CSU's talk of an upper limit is empty," Lindner told Der Spiegel magazine. "But I have sympathy for the CSU's calls for a change in immigration policy given the need for order," he added, warning Merkel against compromising with the Greens.

"Once control has been re-established, then we can be more open again on family reunification," he said. "Until then it must be strictly limited to cases of hardship and to the core family - parents and children."

In the first two round of coalition talks, the three parties defied expectations by finding substantial common ground on fiscal policy.

But politicians from all parties have said it could take months to clinch agreement on what would be Germany's first three-way coalition for decades.

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt; editing by Mark Heinrich)
By David Schwartz and Joseph Ax

Oct 25 (Reuters) - Republican Senator Jeff Flake's surprise decision to drop out of next year's U.S. Senate race in Arizona could be bad news both for the Republican who was challenging him and for the Democrat seeking to win the seat for her party.

Republican Kelli Ward and Democratic U.S. Representative Kyrsten Sinema had, in their own ways, each been counting on Flake's unpopularity in their quest to win the November 2018 election.

"It was a bad day for Kelli Ward and a bad day for Kyrsten Sinema," said Stan Barnes, a veteran Republican political consultant in Arizona.

Flake's departure has raised the stakes in the contest for one of only two Republican-held Senate seats that Democrats appear to have a good chance of flipping in 2018. Republicans hold a 52-48 edge in the Senate.

Ward, an anti-establishment candidate backed by Steve Bannon, the former strategist for Republican President Donald Trump, had targeted Flake from the right. The former state senator was leading Flake in opinion polls for next year's Republican nominating primary.

Sinema, a moderate Democrat, had counted on facing either a wounded Flake, whose feud with Trump damaged his standing among Republican voters, or Ward, whom many political analysts doubt could prevail in a general election.

Now Sinema faces the prospect of a more moderate Republican emerging to challenge Ward and, potentially, become the party's nominee. Sinema's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ward "could win a primary, but she can't win a general," Jennifer Duffy, who analyzes Senate races for the Cook Political Report in Washington said. "Please remember that Trump only carried the state by 4 points. You can't have a nominee who's out there."

REPUBLICAN FEUDING

The battle between Flake and Ward had been seen as the latest illustration of an ideological split between mainstream Republicans and the party's anti-establishment wing.

In Alabama last month, a far-right Bannon-backed candidate defeated an incumbent Republican in the party's primary for a December U.S. Senate election.

Flake announced his retirement on Tuesday in dramatic fashion, delivering a speech on the Senate floor that harshly criticized Trump's behavior and his own party for failing to call it out.

His decision not to seek re-election immediately prompted speculation that a number of Arizona Republicans would consider entering the race against Ward.

In an emailed statement, Ward said her campaign was already surging even before Flake's withdrawal.

"Other Republicans may decide to jump into the race at this late point, but it's not something we're worried about," she said. "Arizona is ready to have a true conservative represent them in the Senate."

Republican consultants in Arizona said it would take weeks for the new contours of the race to take shape, as potential candidates weigh their chances, conduct internal polling and, perhaps, quietly consult with one another.

Constantin Querard, a Republican strategist, said he found it unlikely that many candidates would rush to enter the race after having declined the chance to go after the unpopular Flake months ago, when it seemed likely that Trump could throw his support behind a challenger.

"There are no obvious names put forth today that are any different from all the names bandied about when they were looking for someone to take on Flake in the first place," he said. "But there will still be some - and if any is a solid conservative, they will become the odds-on favorite."

Duffy said the strongest Republican recruit was likely Representative Martha McSally, a retired Air Force colonel and strong fund-raiser who is seen as a rising star in the party. But Duffy declined to predict whether McSally could beat Ward among a very conservative Republican primary electorate.

"I stopped betting, oh, about November 8 last year," she said, referring to the presidential election that Trump won in an upset.

(Reporting by David Schwartz in Phoenix and Joseph Ax in New York; Editing by Peter Cooney)
In Modern Times he Served the Cause of Promoting the Buddha Dhamma

To understand and appreciate the calibre of Sir Cyril de Zoysa one needs to place him against the historical background of our nation and see how he is a product of the very genes that created our nation. Prince Vijaya of the Lion Race in India arrived in Sri Lanka along with seven hundred warriors, struck a strategic relationship with a local Princess, Kuveni of the Yaksha race, and brought the State of Lanka under his suzerainty.

Historical facts reveal that the Yaksha dynasty was in a state of degeneration for several centuries after the fall of King Ravana, their ancient head of state. By this time their Kingdom of Sireesavastu and that of Lankapura were in a state of deterioration. It was during such a time that the advent of Vijaya and his band of followers took place. Prince Vijaya succeeded in winning over Kuveni, descendant of the royal line of King Ravana and through this liaison succeeded in winning over full control of the state of Lanka.

Meanwhile, the Naga Race had made Kelaniya, lying along the Western sea coast, the chief kingdom, while the Deva Race lived in the middle of the country. Between them there were no open dissensions; yet there was no unity either. For this very reason that the Yaksha, Deva and Naga Races were disunited Prince Vijaya found it opportune to subdue the entire country by capturing the kingdom of the YakshaRace.

After the arrival of Thera Mahinda or Mihindu in Lanka, Emperor Dharmashoka the Great, dispatched to this country his daughter Sanghamitta along with a retinue of Bhikkunis or Buddhist nuns, with a sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi or the Great Resplendent Bodhi Tree and with a large retinue belonging to eighteen clans of artisans skilled in different arts

Meanwhile again, after the arrival of Princess Bhaddha-kachchanaa of the Sakya Dynasty in Lanka, large numbers of the Sakya Dynasty under the leadership of some of the Princesss own brothers such as Uruvela, Ramagona, Anuradha, Vijitha, Dheegaayu and Rohana, arrived and settled in Lanka and integrated with the people of the Lion Race. After the arrival of Thera Mahinda or Mihindu in Lanka, Emperor Dharmashoka the Great, dispatched to this country his daughter Sanghamitta along with a retinue of Bhikkunis or Buddhist nuns, with a sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi or the Great Resplendent Bodhi Tree and with a large retinue belonging to eighteen clans of artisans skilled in different arts.

All these communities, much impressed by the devotion of the great King Devanampiyatissa and the great Mahinda Maha Thera, sought ordination as Buddhist monks. Accordingly, they were all ordained without discrimination. As a result, the Sinha-Deva-Naga tribes  all gradually joined the ranks of Buddhist monks along with Bodhigupta who accompanied the Sacred Bo sapling and the eighteen clans of skilled artisans.

Thus seven or eight generations later, the people, along with the Lion or Sinha tribe that occupied the throne, had imperceptibly become Buddhists. Moreover, owing to such gradual transformation into being Buddhists there was no cause for friction in living together as a community. In the same token, they all became Sinhalese. Meanwhile, in emulation of Sanghamitta, women of all tribes sought and received ordination. She was Anula Devi who took the lead in this matter. From such time onward, the people of Sri Lanka gradually became the subjects of a Buddhist state.

In terms of these historical facts set out so briefly, it is patently clear that the Sinhala race dedicated its very life for the preservation of the Word of the Budddha. In the same token the religious life of Sir Cyril de Zoysa was one of great success. Sir Cyril born in Southern Sri Lanka following the footsteps of the ancient kings and ministers of state spent his wealth, time and knowledge entirely in the cause of sustaining the Sasana.

Sir Cyril de Zoysa held positions of dignity and responsibility moving right up to that of the President of the Senate and the boundless services rendered by him are a result of the power and strength of the genes of the Sinhala people carried through thousands of years

His religious life was a very special one. Some aspects of this religious life are the Restoration of the Kiri Vehera, the development of the Kalutara Bodhi to become one of the Sacred Places par excellence and the setting up of the Young Mens Buddhist Association (YMBA) Building Complex. Apart from these, he adopted various measures appropriate for the development and preservation of Homes for Elders, Homes for Children, a Ward exclusively for sick Bhikkus, Buddhist Schools and other such. These should be perceived as some aspects of his intellectual ability. His political life too was a rich one. He served for some years as a member of the Upper House of Parliament viz. the Senate, then as its President and thus as an exemplary politician.

It has to be imperatively asserted that, as stated at the very outset of this piece of writing, Sir Cyril de Zoysa who held positions of dignity and responsibility moving right up to that of the President of the Senate and the boundless services rendered by him are a result of the power and strength of the genes of the Sinhala people carried through thousands of years.
Have you ever lost contact with any of your siblings for any reason? Has desolation filled a void in you that was created because you were unable to meet and talk to a loved one who was close to you since childhood? Of course, some of you must have endured such a nightmare sometime during your lives.

Siblings can be separated due to various reasons such as adoption, immigration or problems which are personal or family related. Regardless of whatever reason they have disappeared, we want them back in our lives. Some people dont even know where their siblings live. Locating your long-lost sibling can refresh the phenomenal bond.

Once you locate them, the growing pit in your stomach intensifies and the impatience to meet him or her starts heightening in the depth of your mind. You survive each day, expecting to reunite with your sibling with whom you lost contact years ago. An indescribable feeling mixed with excitement takes control of you until you physically meet your brother or sister.

When the Daily Mirror met Nirmala in Tamil Nadu, she told us that she hopes to travel to Sri Lanka in a few years time to settle here

Its never too late to experience great things. The Daily Mirror unearthed a story of identical twin sisters who were separated twenty eight years ago in Mannar due to the thirty-year armed conflict between the LTTE and the Government forces.

They hadnt met ever since their father, forced to flee the country, took a boat from Mannar to Tamil Nadu in July 1989, taking with him one of the twins. This was the time when the war was intensifying. The two sisters had reached age 16 when they were separated. The other twin sister remained in Colombo with the mother at a time when their hometown, Mannar, came under a shell attack.

This writer met Vijaya Nirmala in a refugee camp in Gummidipoondi, Tamil Nadu, last March, where

Sri Lankans reside. Nirmala, now a forty four-year-old mother, was the twin sister who fled the country with her father. She told me about her long lost twin sister named Vijaya Mala who was born just three minutes after Nirmala, in 1973. According to Nirmala, her sister lives in Navalokapura, Sedawatte, Colombo.

The Daily Mirror went in search Mala. The first day of the search ended, to no avail. Nevertheless, on the second day, a woman who resembled Nirmala opened the door to the eleventh house, we knocked on. It was Mala, the one, we went in search of.

We showed her recent photographs of her sister Nirmala who shared similar features that of her. She was over the moon literally, as it was the first time she saw a photo of her twin sister.

Breaking down in tears, Mala said she would love to meet her twin sister whom who both have similar traits. I cant wait to touch her, hug her and feel her, she blurted out.

Neither Mala nor Nirmala had old photographs of them, given that the tense situation in Mannar made them flee their hometown leaving all their belongings behind.

Though they were unable to meet each other for more than four decades, they have been in touch via telephone. Both had tried hard to find the contact numbers of each other.

Our father, of Indian origin, tied the knot with our mother, who hails from Colombo. The marriage raised the number of family members to eleven; six brothers, three sisters and the parents. There was a time when all of them lived together in Mannar. However, the war that was intensifying relocated some of the family members in another part in Sri Lanka and sent some to India, she reflected.

Meanwhile, a terrifying look spread across her face when she spoke of her two brothers. They have been reported missing since July, 1989.

When my sister Nirmala was preparing to leave Mannar by boat, the Sri Lankan Army captured two of our brothers, aged 21 and 23. Sundaran and Sekar were captured and it was alleged that they had connections with the LTTE. But, they were innocent. The soldiers had told my father and sister Nirmala that they would release our brothers after questioning them. But, the brothers never returned. They havent been heard of since that warm evening, Mala reminisced.

They hadnt met ever since their father, forced to flee the country, took a boat from Mannar to Tamil Nadu in July 1989, taking with him one of the twins. This was the time when the war was intensifying. The two sisters had reached age 16 when they were separated. The other twin sister remained in Colombo with the mother at a time when their hometown, Mannar, came under a shell attack

Not only Malas brothers, thousands of similar people are still missing and have been unaccounted for, according to credible reports. However, despite years of searching for clues in the attempts to locate Malas brothers have been unsuccessful.

She said, I spent years searching for them in Mannar. Everyone in Mannar told me that both of my brothers had been killed by the Army along with seven other youths belonging to different families. I didnt believe what they said because I strongly believed that my brothers are still alive. I still cry over them. All I want is to hear the good news that they are still alive, Mala said, with tears rolling down her cheeks.

A few years ago, the father of these twins had died due to an illness, inside the refugee camp in Tamil Nadu. Mala said that she was devastated after hearing of her fathers death and said that she wasnt able to see him for the very last time as financial difficulties didnt allow her a trip to India.

She said, For our good fortune, our mother still lives with me. All the other family members live scattered in different parts of the country. Only my sister Nirmala is living alone there. We would love to see our sister. But, travelling to India is impossible because I dont have the money for that,she said.

When the Daily Mirror met Nirmala in Tamil Nadu, she told us that she hopes to travel to Sri Lanka in a few years time to settle here. She is waiting until her daughter completes her education.

Her sister Mala said that the day when both sisters meet will be a day filled with overjoyed cries, tears and heartfelt embraces. She further said, We lived happily and peacefully before the war. I remember how all of us used to gather in the kitchen, waiting till mother prepared dinner. I remember how our brothers tried to annoy us by cracking lame jokes and attempted to carry us on their shoulders when we frowned at them. Quarrels were put to an end by our beloved father. Those 16 years were the most beautiful moments in my life that will be cherished till forever.

Pics by Kushan Pathiraja
Mahinda Rajapakse [MR] is the front-runner in an opposition soft on the government. Appears overcome, by the enormity of his personal problems. Best way to negative is to be at the helm of politics. Not cut and run  from it all: as he warms himself for the Local Government polls in a bid more to save those close to him. (Will it ever be held? Will the proposed Constitution be sanctioned? Will the Bond scam miscreants be punished?). Makes MR entrenched in his present role for the want of options; voters dont welcome a change of leadership with an election ahead.

The cry for good governance is obsolete, with time and events. Parties capable of forming governments, hold on to its ageing leadership. Option is years of involuntary confinement for the leadership. Allegations are of corruption  no politician wishes to die holding an unfriendly placard.

Government offers a wicked coalition instead; corrupt to the brim: failed to usher the promised good governance. Sought - good governance, led to worse governance - hopefully not be replaced by ill governance of MRs merry men. Makes voters utter obscenities at the mention of a coalition to usher good governance.

17309 [5.7%]votes for UPFA in Jaffna at 2015 general elections

Gota hailed as a doer by the under 45 years old now  generation of voters

Voters accustomed to a battle between the UNP vs. SLFP find a weird coalitions that reads - UNP plus SLFP vs. Joint Opposition plus Left. To cast a ballot papers await the next presidential or parliamentary elections - forget the local authorities elections.

Title of Jojo Moyess best seller Me Before You sounds weird in the local context if no reference is made to MR, as he nudges ahead of brother Gotabhaya [Gota] trailing behind on a chase in popularity. Exceptions are found among the party faithful, loyal to MR - artful back slapper and deceitful kid bouncer, numbers are insufficient to win an election; are dedicated troops that form the cheering squads. Gota has failed to tap the support of youth from different political shades of opinion that waited for him to emerge after winning an unwinnable war over terrorism and having witnessed urban development, in quick time. Gota never arrived at the political centre. Much of Gotas troubles brew in his unthoughtful think tank headed by a bunch of always losers.

Gota hailed as a doer by the under 45 years old now  generation of voters - prepared to switch parties to bring a known name with a new look to leadership. A political force idles on a promised good governance pitch; waiting for a leader to emerge. Gota failed to inject the killer instincts needed by politicians before going public, instead remains anaesthetized in becoming a political orphan in the poorest marketing exercise in living memory.

Left to him, would have made a better show by shooting his mouth off instead his minders have made him politically tongue-tied. A classic case of making a man capable of placing the nation on a stronger footing: craftily made negligible by his handlers. Who engages such master - minds? Is it the man they openly service!

Appointed co-leaders of the new party by its founder, MR. Basil Rajapakse and G.L.Peris [GL] neutralized their prime contender by relying on the services offered by his nannies. If Gota emerges as the frontrunner GL will roll over to seek a place in Gotas outfit. Opposition is in search of a polished bi-lingual English reader; in short supply as GL switches sides. Financially honest GL genuinely pays for his food and drink and of many more.

Never underestimate the ability of outstanding Basil. Support for Basil originates because of his affinity to MR - who trusts him more than his loyal voters. Foolish us?

GL if not for Ranil and Chandrika - would have sat comfortably in Sirisenas cabinet and watched the world spin around, from a first class flight cabin.

The party that MR seeks to contest the next election may obtain negligible votes from Jaffna (17309 votes for UPFA - 5.7% at general elections - 2015). Basil and GL combine can never hitch their star to the southern vote with their doubtful linkage for the political package, 2000 Bill and federal structures in talks with Anton Balasingham; fails to attract much of the disenchanted patriotic UNP votes. Joint Opposition cannot rely on the northern vote. Why does Gota not state, his views are not aligned to his younger brothers talk in Jaffna while elder brother is talking in tongues, none understand - least him? That is his forte, after 13 + was unknowingly promised/denied to India.

Never forget MR who defeated terrorism and made Sri Lanka a safe haven to live especially for the northerners with short memories. Gota can never make inroads into the northern vote but can impact the eastern vote if he gets the economy ticking with saner policies.

If elections are not held on schedule and if Ranil tries to steam roll a new Constitution, new combinations and fresh permutations may take place with the two wings of the SLFP joining hands. Gota for sure will never forsake his brothers Mahinda or Basil - not necessarily in a reversal of roles.

Remember Maithripala Sirisena [MS] once upon a time promised a one-term Presidency. It might turn compulsive for him, as the vocal majority of the SLFP stands firmly behind MR ahead of MS especially as MS forfeited a proud party to the UNP for assisting to elect him as President. JO voters are slow to forgive for acts of political banditry. Chandrika Kumaratunga is running for an electorate on behalf of the SLFP makes it worse for poor MS; her pronouncements sounds harsher in tone than those originating from the UNP.

Having experienced the weakness in a coalition government, which is deemed the recipe for disaster in the absence of promised good governance and unison within a government. Perennial UPFA voters feel the need to throw their SLFP leadership overboard together with its architects. Proposed new constitution will beckon more SLFP MPS to join the Joint Opposition. The intended constitution will never be passed by a 2/3 majority in parliament or by the people at a referendum. Both major parties to remain in contention need to attend to the following: (a) Ranil Wickremasinghe and Mahinda Rajapakse must gracefully bow out of the leadership positions and UNP and SLFP bounce the proposed constitution out of action blaming it on the LSSP (b) nominate a new leadership untainted with corrupt practices.

Gota, if he is to secure a place in politics has to emerge as the lead candidate in the Kurunegala District, at a future Provincial Council election  managed the district for MR at the last general elections. He must win with a much greater majority on a higher voter turn out surpassing his brothers slim majority. Gota in 2 years will have to bring the glory Jayawickrema Perera once brought to the district in 5 years.

Joint Opposition may rather plant Gota in Badulla or Hambantota Districts for him to end up in a no mans land? It is a now or never situation for Gota as the clock is ticking against him furiously as he is more likely to end as a part of a regime known for corrupt practices. That does not mean he can sit out from supporting the joint opposition at the local authorities elections.

He must seek the right to the nomination lists at the local authorities elections for the north-western province before his brothers appoint a nomination board. He should insist the nomination board consist of his agents or nominees.

Gota has to pitch firmly for the bulk majority vote from different shades of political opinion in the South and Middle Vote among the floating voters, as the minority voters will be ganging up against him. MR as JO candidate will do a shade better among the minority voters but would lose the middle floating votes and the bulk votes of the southern youth that are likely to vote in volumes for Gota as a first timer. They see MR past his prime and too close to the homes of corruption. MR is not a doer but a likeable character on the wane.

MR is written off more gently than Ranil Wickremasinghe, since much of his lapses are forgotten after two years in the opposition, while RWs are stalking in the front with economic hardships at the forefront. UNP stands a better chance for a revival since RW is prepared to forgo his title than MR. Gota, if elected once, may secure a second term if he eliminates the corrupt rump from his structures including the Rajapakse babes. Does Gota have the guts to go against his Family?

Can Gota with his think tank manned by doubtful elements, carrying purported tales of improprieties; generate the passion it needs to whip up enthusiasm as he did smartly with his military buddies. Time will tell, maybe it is too late.
Digital transformation consultancy Innovation Quotient (IQ) recently announced its partnership with Ydigital Asia, a collaboration that leverages learnings from the worlds fourth largest consumer market, Indonesia, to augment IQs mission to support Sri Lanka through the digital age.



The two companies also announced the launch of Digital Tomorrow, a Digital Centre of Excellence that will leverage learnings from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia via the body of work carried out by Ydigital in these markets.



IQ has spent the last two years building up to an imminent digital shift and believes Sri Lanka will undergo a rapid digital transformation in 2018/2019. Theres no point in flipping the digital switch when its upon us, you need to prepare for it early on, is what IQ founder Ahmed Irfan says, adding that While many tech and innovation companies dont believe Sri Lanka to be a lucrative market, the potential is mostly hidden and its a great test market to implement true digital transformation initiatives, we should not be guilty of not trying.



Armed with fresh talent and this new partnership IQ and Ydigital aim to bridge the gap between strategy, creativity and technology. They recognize the potency of digital transformation and its inevitability, offering expertise to firms that believe in staying ahead of the curve.



The new collaboration with Ydigital will further enhance IQs existing capacity to service complex business needs with creative solutions and futuristic strategy. Ydigital is a hybrid management consulting and digital agency, headquartered in Jakarta with offices in Singapore and Malaysia. Sri Lanka is on the cusp of a digital transformation that has already begun in our part of the region, says YGroup Asia Group CEO Boye Hartmann. Its exciting to be positioned at its nerve center with IQ.

Commenting on the new collaboration IQs CEO Irfan Ahmed says, Theres nothing like picking up tips and strategies from higher up the learning curve. Working with Ydigital will give us access to a myriad of proven case studies and a diverse pool of talent we can use to accelerate digital transformation in Sri Lanka.



Today IQ services the needs of clients from diverse fields. For example, it worked with Sri Lankan clothing label Reborn (now RBN) to completely revamp the companys business model from yarn to store. IQ also worked with GSMA, the global trade body of mobile network operators that wanted to conduct User Experience (UX) research in Sri Lankas agriculture sector. IQ is the only firm in Sri Lanka that possessed the unique capabilities required for this project with strong UX capabilities and a team skilled at combining this with creative human insight. IQ completed this social innovation successfully after visiting over 50 farming communities in three provinces of the country.



The team is currently poised at the beginning of its journey with the Digital Tomorrow centre, which will function as a Centre of Excellence for local enterprises. This IQ-Ydigital partnership initiative will offer expertise in digital customer journeys, user experience design, value proposition design, performance marketing, analytics, technology strategy and business model design.
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp pushed Wednesday for the Department of Justice to prioritize investigations of missing and murdered Native American women, calling on the federal agency to better track statistics and the clearance rate of investigations.

During a congressional hearing, Heitkamp, D-N.D., addressed frustrations she hears from family members of women who have gone missing or were murdered and are still looking for answers, sometimes decades later.

Im just pleading for these crime victims and for their families, Heitkamp said. They should know where these cases are. They should know that someone is still looking for a loved one. They should know that someone is still looking for a perpetrator. And they dont, and there's nowhere to turn.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, led by Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., held a hearing on three bills, including Heitkamps Savannas Act that aims to bring justice for missing and murdered Native women.

The bill is named in honor of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, a member of the Spirit Lake Tribe who vanished in Fargo while eight months pregnant. Her body was found days later in the Red River.

Carmen OLeary, director of the Native Womens Society of the Great Plains in Eagle Butte, S.D., was among the witnesses who testified in favor of the bill, which would require data collection and remove barriers to help tribal law enforcement seek justice.

OLeary suggested holding field hearings in tribal communities to give them an opportunity to share their losses and recommendations for improving the justice response.

If they really want to get a grasp of the problems, then come to where the problems are, OLeary said in an interview after the hearing.

Savannas Act would require an annual report to Congress with statistics on missing and murdered Native women and recommendations on how to improve data collection. It also would improve tribal law enforcement access to federal crime databases and create standardized protocols for responding to cases of missing and murdered Native Americans.

Heitkamp said she is encouraged that the bipartisan bill had a hearing three weeks after she introduced it and she hopes the momentum will continue.

The committee also took testimony on legislation Hoeven introduced, including the Securing Urgent Resources Vital to Indian Victim Empowerment Act.

Hoeven said the SURVIVE Act would require 5 percent from the Crime Victims Fund to benefit tribal victim assistance programs, which would provide $150 million to tribes through a competitive grant program. Currently, tribes receive about $30 million of the $3 billion in funding, despite high rates of victimization, Hoeven said.

David Flute, chairman of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, testified that he is in strong support of the SURVIVE Act, which he said would be significant for many tribes in the Great Plains.

In addition, senators took testimony on the Tribal Law and Order Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act, introduced by Hoeven to reauthorize and enhance programs related to public safety in Indian Country.
Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera today said he had opposed the Constitutional Assembly Steering Committee's Interim Report and added that there are several other burning issues in the country that need to be addressed, other than bringing in a new Constitution.

The Thera said that issues related to political prisoners and existing issues in the North and Eastern Provinces after the 30-year war need to be given priority.

Today the government is attempting to sell 45,000 acres of land, including local properties to the international community, companies and businessmen, claiming to settle the loans obtained by the previous government. Land requirement for people has become another burning issue at a national level. Without considering these issues, the government is preparing a new constitution which is not practical, the prelate said.

This government as well as the previous regime did not work towards achieving peace in the country after the war. It should have created livelihoods for the widows in the Northern and Eastern provinces to enhance their lives. The government should have prioritized to address their grievances and economic shortcomings. Instead the Government is marching ahead on a shortsighted political journey. A national policy for the well-being of the people in the North and East is imperative. But the Government is working on a constitution that has no relevance to the problems faced by the country, he said.

According to the new Constitution, merging the Northern and Eastern provinces would lead to racial issues among the people. As such many members of Muslim communities in the East are not in agreement with this proposed constitution.

If the constitution was passed, no other amendments could be instituted as the Parliament would become inactive in the future.

Ven. Rathana Thera said, even the United National Party (UNP) was not in favour of this new Constitution since they did not express their stance clearly. However they did express their views in the interim committee report.

Finally, he said the Constitution should be drafted in accordance with the needs of the people of the country and not according to the whims of other countries. We do not blame the soliciting of international support, but the Constitution should not be drafted according to their requirement, the Thera said. (Chaturanga Pradeep)

Pix by Pradeep Pathirana
Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)  a web of intercontinental road, rail and port links  is a hot topic in Sri Lanka. The debate has focused on the implications of the Hambantota port and Colombo International Financial City for maritime security in the Indian Ocean.



Yet, the BRI is only one of many initiatives for infrastructure financing that are criss-crossing Asia looking for new markets. Sri Lankas development priority is to identify the various initiatives, cleverly manage their risks and use them to build the domestic infrastructure needed to create a vibrant economic hub in the Indian Ocean.



Mega-regional initiatives

Asias global economic rise over recent decades underlines the economic case for investing in regional infrastructure, which has traditionally linked two countries for trade-led development. The India-Bangladesh Electrical Grid Interconnection project and the Dushanbe-Uzbekistan regional road in Central Asia are classic examples. Another on the potential drawing board is the so-called Hanuman Bridge that may one day link Sri Lanka with South India, if political conditions are right.

There is little doubt that such cross-border projects have contributed to Asias economic development, by stimulating flows of goods, services, investment and people across the borders of neighbouring countries. By improving connectivity, they have also fostered regional peace and cooperation among the regions small and large countries alike. Safeguards and public policies have been pursued to reduce negative effects from such projects, including displaced people, environmental degradation and crime.



Asias enormous gap of infrastructure financing  reflecting excess demand for regional infrastructure investment and an inadequate supply of infrastructure finance  has also led to several competing mega-regional infrastructure initiatives. Being much more ambitious and complex than two-country regional infrastructure projects, these large initiatives will have significant implications for Sri Lanka. These initiatives are led by Asias rising powers, with motives ranging from philanthropic support to develop poorer countries, to narrowly promoting business interests of the state-owned and private national firms of the rising powers.



The key infrastructure projects in the region are: (i) Chinas BRI, financed in part by US $ 100 billion in commitments from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, a US $ 40 billion Silk Road Fund and additional pledges of US $ 129 billion made by President Xi at the Belt and Road Forum in 2017, (ii) Japans US $ 100 billion Partnership for Quality Infrastructure and (iii) ASEANs Master Plan for Connectivity, financed through the US $ 500 million ASEAN Infrastructure Fund.



Financial commitments, although not yet determined, are also likely to be significant for the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor, led by India and Japan, the South Koreas EurAsia Initiative and Russias Trans-Eurasian Belt Development. The European Union (EU) investment plan, on the other hand, raised US $ 136 billion in investments last year; Asia could potentially benefit from this initiative in the long run.



As Asias mega-regional infrastructure initiatives are still in the initial stages of development, information about them is lacking. Some seem better designed than others, with deep project management, high-quality engineering solutions, strong buy-in from recipients and sizable financial commitments.



As good management, engineering and donor practices spread, laggard initiatives may well emulate their predecessors, a coherent and transparent architecture of mega-regional infrastructure initiatives might one day emerge in Asia.



Emerging risks

Aside from an information deficit, multiple and overlapping initiatives in Asia also risk creating a noodle bowl phenomenon. The noodle bowl effect, which is more typically associated with free trade agreements (FTAs), refers to a situation in which a growing number of overlapping arrangements generate increasingly complex rules and higher transaction costs for countries and business.

Clearly, there are many shared attributes, as well as differences, between the regional infrastructure initiatives. There are commonalities and differences in their vision, ambition, time horizons, financial commitments, co-financing approaches and implementation strategies.



Presently, Sri Lanka has limited exposure to mega-regional infrastructure initiatives. The Hambantota port and Colombo International Financial City have placed Sri Lanka on the BRIs map. The upcoming project to develop the Trincomalee city and port is likely to be supported by Japans Partnership for Quality Infrastructure, as well as by Singapore and India. Others may try to envelop Sri Lanka in their initiatives once the countrys growth picks up beyond the expected 4.5 percent for 2017.

The threat of an entangled noodle bowl of mega-regional infrastructure initiatives may be exacerbated by three factors.



First, scarce finance may be packaged in a complex and potentially way that could make the noodle bowl effect more pronounced.



Asia needs an estimated US $ 2.5 trillion for infrastructure development between 2016 and 2030. Yet, it has limited financial commitments of some US $ 400 billion. Recipients and donors want to stretch these limited funds through innovative financial means, such as by co-financing regional projects with development agencies, state guarantees to incentivise private investors, fully-fledged public-private partnerships (PPPs), repacking of various financing instruments and crowdfunding. Governments will also need to increase spending for regional infrastructure projects in cash-strapped national budgets.

Indeed, a bewildering array of partnerships and instruments will likely make infrastructure financing more difficult to fathom and to coordinate among the various actors.



Second, mega-regional infrastructure initiatives will likely create winners and losers.

Winners arise when initiatives (i) reinforce comparative advantage reflected in trade and foreign direct investment patterns in Asia, to avoid the risk of building ports and airports to nowhere, (ii) are backed by open regionalism initiatives and domestic structural reforms, (iii) incorporate adequate safeguards (e.g. for the environment and resettlement) in formulating projects and (iv) coordinate among themselves in key areas such as planning, project formulation, procurement practices, financing and implementation.



Losers from initiatives are hard to predict, as the devil is in the detail for specific projects. Landlocked countries like Nepal or island states like the Maldives, that are excluded from mega-regional infrastructure initiatives, may be marginalised. The same might apply to distant provinces within countries like Sri Lankas hill country or the north. Some transport routes  either land or maritime transport, for instance  and some workers, such as port workers, may also fail to benefit from efficiency-seeking PPPs.



Ironically, the quest to maximise the benefits of mega-regional infrastructure measures could contribute to the noodle bowl. Asian countries should collectively adopt offsetting measures in order to avoid this outcome and mitigate the negative effects of such initiatives. Creating Asian variants of the EUs regional development funds would address regional development imbalance; these funds are best established under the framework of sub-regional cooperation bodies like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) or Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).



Third, mega-regional infrastructure initiatives may pose risks to the debt sustainability, governance and transparency of participating countries.



Developing countries, with weaker financial capacity and governance, may be more susceptible than richer countries to these risks and may find that their implementation capacity is overstretched. Some label Sri Lanka  with a total public debt to gross domestic product ratio about 80 percent in 2016  as a case of a debt-fuelled, infrastructure strategy.



Sri Lankas strategy

As more initiatives are established, the likelihood of Asian noodle bowl risks increase. Prudent debt management, a strong anti-corruption policy and capacity building on infrastructure financing, help mitigate these risks and realise opportunities in Sri Lanka.



Additionally, Sri Lanka should formulate a national infrastructure development plan to meet its aspiration of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2025 with a targeted per capita income of US $ 5000. Detailing the projects listed in the governments recent Vision 2025 document with financing proposals might be the core of this plan.



Carefully comparing the financing terms of the plethora of mega-regional infrastructure initiatives with alternatives is another useful step. Blending grant finance with concessionary loan financing would be ideal.



Embedding the financing from mega-regional infrastructure initiatives in ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank stabilisation/reform programmes is a difficult but necessary task for infrastructure policy coordination. Finally, in view of the long gestation period of infrastructure projects, initiating a dialogue on infrastructure financing among political parties will help minimise duplication and risks.



The rising powers deserve praise for attempting to solve Asias large infrastructure financing problem with mega-regional initiatives. Nevertheless, more thought and time are needed to ensure that these infrastructure initiatives support Sri Lankas dream of becoming an Indian Ocean hub.



(Ganeshan Wignaraja is Chair of the Global Economy Programme (supported by Dilmah) at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKI) in Colombo)
BAGHDAD AFP Oct23, 2017

Iraq on Monday rebuffed a US demand that Iranian militias leave the country, insisting that the paramilitary forces which helped it defeat the Islamic State group consist solely of Iraqi nationals.

Nobody has the right to interfere in Iraqi affairs, the Iraqi cabinet said in a statement, quoting a source close to Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.



The fighters of the Hashed (al-Shaabi paramilitary units) are Iraqis who are concerned for their country and have sacrificed for its defence and for its people, it said.



On Sunday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson demanded that Iranian militias leave Iraq. The 60,000-strong Hashed was formed in 2014 after IS seized swathes of northern Iraq, routing government forces. A coalition mostly made up of Iranian-backed militias, it has played a key role in Iraqs successful fightback against the jihadists over the past three years.



It answers to Iraqs prime minister as commander-in-chief of the Iraqi armed forces, into which it has been integrated by a parliamentary vote.



Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has also hit back at Tillersons remarks, saying Iran played a crucial role in the fight against IS both in Iraq and Syria.
REUTERS, 24 October, 2017-The Italian government is ready to open negotiations with Lombardy and Veneto after the two wealthy regions voted overwhelmingly for greater autonomy, Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on Tuesday.



Unlike a recent referendum on independence in Catalonia, which sparked a political crisis in Spain, the Italian votes this weekend were legal, but not binding on Rome.



Making clear he had no intention of making a drama out of the twin ballots, Gentiloni said he was ready to discuss how Lombardy and Veneto wanted to proceed.



Here we are talking about how to make Italy work better. We are not calling into question Italy and its unity, Gentiloni said during a visit to an oil refinery close to Venice, the capital of the northeastern Veneto region.



The government is ready to look into the merits of this ... it will be a complex discussion that cant be done in five minutes, he added.
Jaffna High Court Judge M. Ilancheliyan yesterday issued an order banning animal sacrifices at Hindu Kovils in Jaffna District.

The order was made following a petition filed by the All Ceylon Saiva Maha Council against the use of animals as sacrifice to the deities.

The Judge ordered senior police officers in the Province to arrest those who violate the order in the future and to take action against them. (Romesh Madushanka)
The Lanka Network Operators Group (LKNOG) was launched on Friday 20th October at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo with the participation of over 100 network operations professionals representing Internet Service Providers (ISPs), telecommunication service providers, universities, public and private sector organizations attending the

inaugural conference.



The community based initiative was spearheaded by a team of enthusiastic industry professionals from Sri Lanka who are highly recognized and actively involved in contributing to numerous network operator groups in the world.



Welcoming the delegates LKNOG President/Founder Champika Wijayatunga said that the primary objective of LKNOG is aimed at bringing together the network operators and networking professionals in Sri Lanka in terms of enhancing and coordinating educational, knowledge sharing and cooperation activities in the network operations space. The LKNOG community will provide a platform to discuss operational issues and technologies that interests network operators in Sri Lanka, and also unearth local talent and resource personnel who will be keen to contribute towards capacity building and knowledge sharing at large.



Wijayatunga also added: In addition to establishing a platform for education and capacity building, the formation of the LKNOG will create a platform and forum for networking with like minded community based non-commercial entities in the region and in the world such as South Asian Network Operators Group (SANOG), Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Operational Technologies (APRICOT), North American Network Operators Group (NANOG) and the inauguration of the LKNOG will enable the network operational community in Sri Lanka to collaborate and discuss about newer technologies and operational best practices that would benefit the entire community. LKNOG will open a window to enhance collaboration with like-minded communities and personnel globally as well.



The inaugural LKNOG conference comprised of a comprehensive program covering a range of topics and discussions. The keynote speakers of the conference were Professor Gihan Dias from University of Moratuwa and Lanka Communications Services (LankaCom) Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Rohith Udalagama. Prof. Dias highlighted the importance of securing operator and customer networks and Udalagama spoke about the evolution of commercial internet in Sri Lanka. Following the keynote speakers Asela Galappattige from Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) spoke about an IPv6 deployment case study, Champika Wijayatunga representing the global multi-stakeholder body ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) spoke about Domain Name System (DNS) Security, Harsha Wijayawardhana representing University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) spoke about Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs), Thilina Pathirana from Lanka Education and Research Network (LEARN) covered Network Monitoring and Measurements, Srimal Rajapaksha (D-Tech Ltd) spoke about Internet of Things (IoT), Pubudu Jayasinghe from Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) spoke about Number Resources and Thushara Jayawardana (SLT) covered Next Generation Wireless Technologies.



Another highlight of the event was the panel discussion on Cloud Technology where there were a lot of interactive discussions on areas such as cloud adoption in todays Data Centers, challenges with network automation in private cloud, open source virtualisation technology, security, scalability and application performance. The panel discussion was moderated by Subhash Chandra Bowse from Just In Time Technologies and the panel consisted of Dr. Nimal Ratnayake from University of Peradeniya, Wellington Perera from Microsoft APAC, Muhammed Musthalie from Mobitel and Data Centre consultant Tharindu Meepegama.



The conference was supported by ParaQum Technologies (Principal Sponsor), Lanka Education and Research Network (Supporting Partner), Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), .LK Domain Registry, Sri Lanka Telecom, Peo TV and Internet Society Sri Lanka Chapter.



The inaugural LKNOG conference ended with a very positive note with acknowledgments to its organizing committee, LKNOG President Champika Wijayatunga, Vice Presidents Rajeewa Abeygunarathna and Sagarika Wickramasekera, Secretary Maheeshwara Kirindigoda, Treasurer Thilina Pathirana, Activity Coordinator Ziyam Abdeen, Ex-Co Asela Galappattige, Pubudu Jayasinghe and Srimal Rajapakse.
Sri Lankan companies have gained more than 20 business leads, about 10 business alliances, joint venture opportunities coupled with market exposure, and are studying new trends in technology and innovation by participating in the exposure visit cum business matchmaking programmes to Vietnam and Thailand.



The programme was organized by Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with Sri Lanka Embassies in Vietnam and Thailand from 4th to 8th September.



The participating companies are in the process of finalizing nearly US$300,000 worth of contracts with Vietnamese and Thai companies by end 2018. In addition, they are expecting to sign joint ventures and supply components and equipment to leading Vietnamese and Thai companies in the electronics and electrical sector in the near future.This programme has generated tremendous opportunities for the electronics and electrical sector companies in Sri Lanka to understand the capabilities of Vietnamese and Thai counterparts and opportunities available in the electronics and electrical industry in these countries.Marketing Division of the EDB also revealed that there is a huge potential in Vietnam and Thailand for Sri Lankan electronics and electrical sector exporters to increase their presence in these two countries further.



The Sri Lankan delegation consisted of six medium to large scale Sri Lankan Electronics and Electrical sector companies. They were TOS Lanka, Lanka Harness, Kelani Cables, Sierra Cables, St. Theresa Industries, and Hitech Solutions.Two business matchmaking meetings were held in Hanoi, Vietnam and in Bangkok, Thailand with the participation of large number of Vietnamese and Thai Electronics and Electrical Sector companies and buyers.



In Vietnam, the Sri Lankan delegation visited Hanaka Group, KCI VINA (EMS), Foxconn Electronics, and Vina Solar Technology Co Ltd during their visit to the industrial zones in Bac Ninh Province, Vinh Phuc Province, and Bac Giang Province and also met the top officials of the Peoples Committees in respective provinces. In addition, they had meetings with Vietnam Electronics Industries Association (VEIA), Foreign Investment Agency (FIA), Vietnam Institute of Electronics, Informatics and Automation (VIELINA).



The Sri Lankan delegation received a warm welcome from Ambassador of Sri Lanka in VietnamHasanthi Dissanayake and Embassy of Sri Lanka in ThailandFirst Secretary (Commercial) Anil Sirimanne.Similarly, the Sri Lankan delegation visited Bangkok Electric and Electronics and RHVAC Exhibition 2017 and also had meetings with Thai Electrical and Mechanical Contractors Association (TEMCA), The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), Electrical, Electronics and Allied Industry Club (EETIC), and Thai Electrical, Electronics and Telecommunication Industries Association (TETA) in Thailand. In addition, they also visited Summit Electronic Component Co Ltd.



The EDB is planning to organize similar programmes in other countries to explore business opportunities for Sri Lankan electronics and electrical sector in the future.
Sri Lankas largest business summit, the National Conference of Chartered Accountants, was inaugurated yesterday in the presence of the countrys corporate glitterati comprising of top business leaders, decision makers, accounting and finance professionals as well as diplomats.



The annual conference, organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka), was inaugurated by the chief guest, National Policy and Economic Affairs Deputy Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva and the keynote speaker was CG Corp Global Chairman Dr. Binod K. Chaudhary, who is the only Forbes-listed billionaire from Nepal.



This year too, the conference received overwhelming response with over 1800 delegates registering for the flagship event at the BMICH, setting an all-time new record of the annual event.



The three-day conference, which will revolve around Dynamism: Agility in Leadership, will conclude on October 27, 2017, after two days of technical sessions featuring local and international speakers.

Delivering the keynote speech on agile leadership, Dr. Chaudhary, a well-known businessman, industrialist and philanthropist, shared his personal experience to the top, including how despite the many uncertainties both business and life brought about, one can always manage them by anticipating change and adapting oneself accordingly.



He also urged the high-profile audience to embrace agility when doing business.

The more swiftly you act, the more likely you are to survive and prosper. We need to be agile enough  both to grab the opportunity and pre-empt any possibility of damage. We have to remember that time is very powerful and it is always in favour of change, Dr. Chaudhary said.

CA Sri Lanka President Lasantha Wickremasinghe speaking at the event said that everyone must understand that without embracing change, Sri Lanka cant move forward as a country.



To survive in this ever evolving world, we need to embrace change and for that we need leaders who are willing to be agile and also dynamic, he said.



He further noted that even though Sri Lanka is a small nation, it has great potential to become a global player due to its strategic location in the world map. But, he pointed out that this will not happen just by rhetoric pledges.



We need leadership with proper vision to reach this goal. Moreover, we cannot also only expect our government and policymakers to drive our country forward. As professionals, we too have a collective responsibility to help achieve this target, he said.



He also urged business leaders and professionals to move away from traditional and archaic methods of doing business because the businesses that didnt evolve over time no longer can stake claim of being successful.



We all know success can never be permanent and success can be short lived if the vision of the leadership is short. This is why its important to encourage agility across the broader spectrum, be it at a national level or corporate level and across both the public and private sectors, he added.
Anil S Nair - CEO & Managing Partner L&K Saatchi & Saatchi India, Loris Nold - Global COO Publicis Communication Worldwide, Chalaka Gajabahu  CEO Saatchi & Saatchi Sri Lanka and Saurabh Varma  CEO Publicis Communication South Asia

Publicis Groupe, the worlds third largest communications company recently extended its presence to Sri Lanka by launching Saatchi & Saatchi, a full service, integrated communications company that operates on the philosophy that Nothing is Impossible. With a new management team at its helm, Saatchi & Saatchi will operate under the Publicis Groupe umbrella and will have access to the best in class expertise such as Arc Worldwide, Publicis, Starcom and MSL which are already operational in the country.

The agency was given an auspicious beginning with the presence of Loris Nold  Global COO,Publicis Communications Worldwide. Saurabh Varma  CEO, Publicis Communications, South Asia was also in attendance together with Anil S. Nair  CEO & Managing Partner, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, India.

Saatchi & Saatchi will offer its global clientele as well as clients from Sri Lanka a full spectrum of creative communications services. Saatchi & Saatchi is known to be the creator of some of the worlds most famous campaigns such as the Face ad for British Airways and Life Flows Better for Visa. Saatchi & Saatchi is recognized around the world for delivering bold, memorable and effective campaigns that merge technology and innovation with creativity, to provide solutions that make an impact in the market-place.

Commenting on the establishment of a fully-fledged operation of Saatchi & Saatchi in Sri Lanka, Magnus Djaba - Global President, CEO, Saatchi & Saatchi Fallon UK Group said: Sri Lanka is promising to become an important market in the region. Therefore, its important that the Publicis Groupe strengthens its portfolio in the island. This will enable us to deliver greater variety, choice and value built on the diverse philosophies of each brand. We can now continue to offer our globalclientele and the Sri Lankan marketing fraternity,a combination of strong local insights and access to industry-best global and regional resources and teams, who will be able to deliver world-class marketing communications to empower the brands in our portfolio.

Anil S Nair - CEO & Managing Partner L&K Saatchi & Saatchi India, Loris Nold - Global COO Publicis Communication Worldwide, Saurabh Varma  CEO, Publicis Communication South Asia

Speaking about the establishment of the Saatchi and Saatchi operations in Sri Lanka, Saurabh Varma, CEO  Publicis Communications, South Asia said: We are truly proud to add Saatchi & Saatchi, one of the most revered global communications agencies in the world, and another key member of Publicis Groupe to our portfolio. The establishment of Saatchi and Saatchi will not only strengthen the Publicis Groupesfoot print in Sri Lanka, it will enable us to add value to marketing communications industry in Sri Lanka. We will be able to strategically expand, and offer best-in-class creative solutions to even more clients and brands in the country.

Also sharing his thoughts, Chalaka Gajabahu  CEO, Saatchi & Saatchi Sri Lanka said: I look forward to leading Saatchi & Saatchito be a powerful brand in Sri Lanka, with new structures, protocols and the dynamic new team we have put in place. We will be working alongside our colleagues from the Publicis Groupe brands present in Sri Lanka to deliver seamless, integrated solutions that will support the business growth of our clients as well as deliver best in class branding and communication ideas for all the brands under our purview.

Saatchi & Saatchi was launched in 1970. What commenced as a start-up advertising agency, has evolved into a global creative communications company that is still on a strong growth trajectory. The agency is in the business of getting people to fall in love with their clients products and services and delivers creative ideas across all media and disciplines. The agency believes passionately in the power that ideas have to differentiate, fuel motivation, and change the world for the better. Saatchi & Saatchi believes that Anything is possible.
Pyramid Wilmar Management including Managing Director Sajjad Mawzoon, Director Omar Sulaiman, Director Rehana Mawzoon, General Manager Priyantha Kolonnagel, Commercial Group Head Thanveer Siddique, Sales and Marketing Head Hiranth Fernando, Sales Head Heshan Rodrigo, Marketing Head Nadeesha Chandrasekara, and Wilmar International Regional Head Pratheepan Karunagaran and Goodman Fielder International Marketing Director Fiona Johnson

Pyramid Wilmar, the company behind Sri Lankas number one edible oil, Fortune, officially launched Meadowlea, a product of Goodman Fielder Australia and widely known to be one of Australias favourite spreads.



The launch ceremony held at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo was patronized by the Board of Directors of Pyramid Wilmar among many other distinguished guests.



Made with the goodness of sunflower oil, Meadowlea is a fat spread that offers a delicious creamy taste and is enriched with essential nutrients such as Vitamin A, D and E. These nutrients support better eyesight, help absorb calcium and phosphorus from food while also helping to maintain a healthy immune system in children. Meadowlea is especially designed to cater to the palettes of Sri Lankan consumers and to be used across multiple applications including spreading, cooking and baking. The locally-manufactured new Meadowlea was tested among Sri Lankan consumers for the overall product delivery and proved to be a winning formula among them. The product adheres to the highest international and local quality standards and helps cater to local consumers nutritional needs at an affordable price.

Wilmar International Regional Head Pratheepan Karunagaran

Goodman Fielder Australia, a company with over a century of excellence in the food industry, is an associate company of Pyramid Wilmar Private Limited. Meadowlea is manufactured at Pyramid Wilmars state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Muthurajawela and is available in three pack sizes - 100g (Rs.90), 250g (Rs.220) and 500g (Rs.420) - at outlets island-wide.



Expressing his views at the Meadowlea launch, Pyramid Wilmar Managing Director Sajjad Mawzoon stated: Our vision is to transform the lives of Sri Lankan consumers and make available to them world-class products which will enhance their quality of life. I am proud to state that the synergies and experience of Goodman Fielder and Pyramid Wilmar, in their spreads and margarine business have been instrumental in producing Meadowlea in Sri Lankan soil. Together with a partner like Wilmar, we are able to strategically plan and execute our vision to make a positive difference in the lives of the Sri Lankan consumers.

Pyramid Wilmar Managing Director Sajjad Mawzoon addressing the gathering

Meadowlea is a brand that has been trusted from generation to generation and has a strong brand equity amongst consumers worldwide. We believe that Meadowlea provides a solution for Sri Lankan mothers seeking to create lasting memories with the food they give their children. It is a nutritionally-enhanced fat spread with the goodness of sunflower oil, which is enriched with essential micro-nutrients, said Pyramid Wilmar Sales and Marketing Head Hiranth Fernando.



Pyramid Wilmar (Pvt.) Ltd is the joint venture between Asias largest integrated agribusiness group Wilmar International Limited and Pyramid Oil Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Singapore, Wilmar International is currently ranked amongst the largest listed companies by market capitalisation on the

Singapore Exchange.
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was not only against the report of the Constitutional Steering Committee, it will also reject any Constitutional amendments if SLFP proposals were not taken into consideration, WP Chief Minister Isura Devapriya said today.

He reiterated that the SLFP was anyway against a new Constitution and would only agree to bring in the amendments to the Constitution.

We will act against a new Constitution if it bring proposals to abolished the executive president system. The executive powers of the President should not be curtailed furthermore because it had already been reduced, Chief Minister Devapriya told a press briefing.

He said the SLFP had proposed some proposals to the Interim report and their stance on the executive presidential system would not be changed.

He said the SLFP could only agree with some of the proposals included in the report and against the rest of the proposals.

We were against the merger of two provincials councils. We cant agree to the proposal that the Chief ministers meeting should be held under the patronage of the Prime Minister. The meeting should be held under the patronage of the executive president of the country, he said.

He said a Constitution that can be agreed by all parties should be created.

Commenting on the upcoming local government election, he said it is good if the elections could be held in January.

But I think there might be a problem to hold the election in January because of errors in the election system. Only the Election Commissioner can decide the date of the election, he said. (Darshana Sanjeewa)

Pix by Kushan Pathirja
Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) held its Certification Ceremony recently to recognize and award students who have successfully completed the SLIM programmes; Preliminary Certificate in Marketing (PCM), Certificate in Pharmaceutical Marketing (Pharma) and Certificate in Digital Marketing (CDM). Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) held its Certification Ceremony recently to recognize and award students who have successfully completed the SLIM programmes; Preliminary Certificate in Marketing (PCM), Certificate in Pharmaceutical Marketing (Pharma) and Certificate in Digital Marketing (CDM).

Students of PCM 2016  Batch III and IV, PCM 2017  Batch I and II, Pharma 2016  Batch I and II and CDM  Batch I were conferred with medals and certificates, numbering to over a thousand certificate holders.

The Preliminary Certificate in Marketing (PCM) is one of the best short courses in marketing, conducted in the country which leads to a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing (PGDIP). The Certificate in Pharmaceutical Marketing is a qualification to excel as a medical delegate whereas the Certificate in Digital Marketing (CDM) is an innovative program designed to discover the revolutionary aspects of Marketing.

The best Student, first runner up and second runner up of each batch were conferred with a certificate and a medal while the subject winners of the Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing were awarded with medals.

The awards for the Best Students were won by the following;

 PCM (111) 2016 - J W T M Wijewardena

 PCM (1V) 2106 - T R A J Fernando

 PCM (1) 2017 - K A I Dhananjani

 PCM (11) 2017 - M D M S N Dissanayake

 Pharma (1) 2016 - M W Somathilaka

 Pharma (11) 2016 - B S R Seneviratne

 CDM (1) 2017  U D S M U Anjana Madushanka

The Chief Guest of the event Gamika de Silva, Head of Marketing and Sales of Seylan Bank PLC and former president of SLIM in his address noted that the school education curricular should pay more attention to professional facets in education.

The Certification in Marketing is your stepping stone towards the new world. Among the students who are passing out today, there will be excellent Marketing strategists, Brand Marketers, PR heads, Event Managers, Research specialists, Sales experts, and Digital catalysts. Our school education system is such that many are confined to the streams of Engineering, Medicine or Accountancy. The Sri Lankan society needs many more professional disciplines, he opined.

Deputy Chairman/CEO of Derana Laksiri Wickramage who was the Guest of Honour, said, Receiving your SLIM certification is a badge of honour. It is a symbol and reflection of your quality and the immense potential brewing inside you waiting to be unleashed. Hence this will be a launch platform which permeates you with all the knowledge necessary for you to excel in your career as well as your personal life.

SLIM President, Karthik Elangovan mentioned, Apart from paving the way for professionals to create an edge among their peers and bringing in numbers, the subject of Marketing makes emphasis on grooming high calibre individuals who prosper in their personal lives as well as those who are socially responsible. SLIM has been engaging in this challenging endeavour of grooming such a breed of marketers who are torch bearers in the Sri Lankan marketing fraternity and who set trends for others to follow.

SLIM Vice President - Education, Pradeep Edward said, SLIM has made emphasis on identifying new trends in Marketing and delivering programmes accordingly to add more value to the Sri Lankan marketing fraternity and beyond. The newest programme in our product portfolio, the Certificate in Digital Marketing (CDM), launched in 2017, is testament to this.

He added, The corporate sector has kept high confidence on SLIM programmes and they constantly communicate with us to have Tailor-made courses for their benefit. SLIM has been engaging in this endeavour from the inception and we will further strengthen this process.

SLIM CEO/Executive Director, Sanath Senanayake said that SLIM has reached the zenith as a mentoring entity with endorsements from the Sri Lankan marketing fraternity that includes the corporate sector.

For 47 years, SLIM has endeavoured to fulfil its vision of leading the nation towards prosperity by positioning Marketing as a key driver of the economic growth. Being the oldest study centre in Sri Lanka for the CIM-UK qualification has conferred strong reputation on SLIM. We produce approximately 2000 professionals per annum, he said.

Constantly evolving with innovations to add value to the Sri Lankan marketing fraternity has been SLIMs key to success as the national body for Marketing.
When the then President J.R. Jayewardene held a referendum instead of general elections in 1982, most legal and political analysts said that while it may have been legal, it was illegitimate. Mr. Jayewardenes Government obtained a 50.1% majority at the referendum. But it was immorally blown up into a 5/6th majority in Parliament. This illegitimate move had at least two other major repercussions. It provoked the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) to pull out of the political mainstream and led to the 1987 reign of terror. Worse still, many analysts believe it was one of the main causes for the 1983 riots and the devastating 26-year war that followed.

These historical facts and realities come to mind amid media reports and opposition claims that local council elections may be further postponed.

According to our sister paper the Sunday Times, Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya says he is helpless because the Commission cannot announce a nomination date until the Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faizer Musthapha issues a gazette notification. The minister said on Wednesday he would issue the gazette notification next week after successful all-party talks on issues relating to the number of Pradeshiya Sabahs in the Nuwara Eliya District. The latest reports say the local council elections will be held on January 20 or 27.

These developments came as some analysts and opposition critics said the Government was deliberately postponing elections largely because of a split in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) -- with one faction loyal to President Maithripala Sirisena and the other to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Mr. Rajapaksa told The Sunday Times Political Editor that the Government was deliberately putting off the local polls and predicted that if they were held the pro-Sirisena faction would be defeated into third if not fourth place. The former presidents brother Basil Rajapaksa, defacto chief organiser of the budding Sri Lanka Podujana Pakshaya claimed this pro-Rajapaksa party would win about 200 of the municipal, unban councils and pradishiya sabbhas.

While the National Unity Government has taken important steps to restore democracy and the rule of law, most people say that two years and 10 months after the January 8, 2015 rainbow revolution, the people have got little by way of practical benefits while effective action has not been taken to prosecute the former regimes VIPs who allegedly plundered billions in public funds.

Whatever political parties predict or project, major civic-action groups also believe the government should hold local council elections as soon as possible because the polls would be the best way of gauging the pulse of the people. The National Governments main constituent partner, the United National Party (UNP) appears to be well set for the local council elections with effective organizational work going on at pradeshiya sabbha levels. Even if the pro-Sirisena SLFP faction falls into third place as predicted by the former president, the National Government will go on. It could also expedite the mission of building a peaceful, just and all-inclusive society.

Last Friday, the President launched a countrywide village-empowerement-mission as a major step towards poverty alleviation. Within the next few years some 5,000 such villages will be set up with industries and factories providing hundreds of thousands of productive and well-paid jobs mainly for rural youth. High technology will also be widely used even in developing agricultural industry. Economic analysts believe that this is the best way of poverty alleviation.

Instead of just doling out Samurdi money. One or two well-paid jobs would restore the human dignity of the impoverished or poverty-trapped families and also give them a say in decision-making processes, first at village and then at national levels also. This could be the practical dimension of the peaceful, just and all-inclusive society and President Sirisenas SLFP is likely to fair well at provincial council elections some time next year.

Democracy has been restored. Indeed some analysts feel too much freedom has been given and some parties including trade unions are concerned mainly about their rights and not their responsibilities. They need to be shown in some way that we have rights only to the extent we carry out our responsibilities. If we fail in our responsibilities we forfeit our rights. That is the heart and spirit of democracy. Not the freedom of the wild or misled student or the business-minded doctor.
Ehalapola signed the Convention to hand over the country to colonial power

The British violated the Convention by letting down the Chieftains

Dr. Ambedkar who wrote Indian Constitution, is still in power with 101 Amendments

India and the USA changed and adapted themselves to new challenges with Amendments

India has the longest Constitution with 444 Articles and 118 Amendments, whereas Monaco has the shortest with 77 Articles

Fall of Sinhala Rule and the Consequences

2358 years of the Sri Lankan Kings that rule fell on March 2, 1815 due to the coup of the Chieftains headed by Ehalapola who signed the disputed historic and decisive Convention to hand over the country and powers of governance to the colonial power despite the silent protest of the common man. Robert Brownrigg and Ehalapola were the first signitories of the agreement/convention in which the main clause amongst others was to give foremost position to Buddhism and to protect Sasana Buddha, Dhamma, and Sanga.

Before the ink dried on the agreement, the British violated the Convention by letting down the Chieftains who expected to be rulers, and contravention of the contents of the agreement which are still in force under international law akin to the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987!

Some concerns on the Executive presidency and centralized powers now in a compromised situation out of necessity to keep the provinces together tied in a strong string without separating from the Central Government



Architects of Indian and USA Constitutions and applicability

The architect of the Indian Constitution is Dr Ambedkar who pioneered the process which is still in power with only 101 Amendments when George Washington and Benjamin Franklin too forwarded the preparation of the Constitution by James Medison the chief architect who pioneered for the people which is in force with only 33 Amendments.

They took great pains in the drafting of the great living documents amended from time to time according to the needs of the day but never wanted to explore new constitutions which are complicated and lead to unnecessary divisions and bloodshed they have averted permanently with a static and stable constitution mechanism. Changes of Constitution seldom take place in the world unless there are newly born states mainly to avoid unnecessary complications and divisions. Both great nations changed and adapted themselves to new challenges with Amendments which are most practical and sensible. Then what/why is our mighty hurry to change the Constitution to commit suicide? Is it Geneva, NGOs Regime Change forces diaspora or any other evil anti Sri Lankan forces? Therefore we do not want to get into further tragedies and let us live with the known devil!

Constitution-making

Constitution is a set of fundamental principles constituting the supreme law of a state from which all other laws derive. India has the longest Constitution with 444 Articles and 118 Amendments whereas Monaco has the shortest with 77 Articles. The Sri Lankan Constitution of 1978 consists of 179 Articles and 19 Amendments with Article one (1) declaring that it is the free Sovereign Independent Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka which is declared as a Unitary State (Article 2) transformed to be a Federal State by the 13th Amendment by changing the basic structure and outlook of the constitution without constitutional due process.

The Unicameral Soulbury Constriction came to force on February 4, 1948 was abolished and the new Republican Constitution was introduced in 1972 with a peaceful constitutional revolution and a Constitutional Assembly which was replaced by the current 1978 JR Constitution which is a mixture of Executive Presidency and Parliamentary model running smoothly with some concerns on the Executive presidency and centralized powers now in a compromised situation out of necessity to keep the provinces together tied in a strong string without separating from the Central Government with the power of Presidential powers.



Armed struggles of disappointed youth as a result of denial of franchise

The fourth Amendment of 1982 extended the life of the Parliament until August 4, 1989 subject to a referendum, which brought disastrous effects which led to two JVP insurrections and emergence of LTTE due to denial of democratic institutions and periodic elections the citizens were used to.

Two (bloody) JVP insurrections cost the nation the lives of over 60,000 youth and destruction of property and retardation of the economic growth by decades. The LTTE struggle continued for 30 years with deaths from the forces and those who took to arms until MR was able to win the unwinnable war against the most ruthless terror organizations in the world. It is a sorry state that we have not learnt from the history and mistakes made by blocking the democratic process (by JR) of exercising franchise periodically.

The hurriedly passed Ad Hoc 19th Amendment blocked elections for four and half years and the postponement of elections continually nearly three years took the country towards a volcano in brewing with no signs of any elections until the end of the period of the governance.

Changes of Constitution seldom take place in the world unless there are newly born states mainly to avoid unnecessary complications and divisions



Who wants the new Constitution in the making?

The country is not in a good shape and in financial and political crisis, admitted all who blamed the previous regime the SLFP and JO are parties to. There are open and closed differences and infighting in the unholy union of the SLFP and the UNP (which leads to a dictatorial one party system against democracy with weak and racist opposition confined to N/E) traditional enemies for decades joined together for perks,( ex 3.1 billion for vehicles alone to all!) privileges, facilities, power and fear of being run over by charismatic MR who is still popular but continually attacked by the enemies who ousted him from power and blocked to contest by the 19th Amendment especially, enacted aiming at him and to block him and the family clan claiming to block further family rule.

Time has come for the qualified youth to take over the reins of the governance and oppose proposed draconian and dangerous constitutional changes which will lead to bloodshed again proposed by dirty politicians



The joint Geneva resolution is a sell-out of the nation promising a new Constitution and giving away the forces responsible for freeing the nation from terror engulfed for thirty years mainly beneficial to the citizens of the North and East who lived in fear terror groups. Opposition leader is the leader of the TNA demanding a de facto federal state supported by the JVP (one time nationalistic party opposed vigorously to the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987) some minority parties NGOs/INGOs, and brainwashed part of international community backed by the diaspora still active on internal/international issues. The common man is sandwiched with many issues including cost of living, under or unemployment and various threats and Constitution which are least important to them.



Way forward

It is time for the Nation to be united today by shedding all differences as Sri Lankans for a better day for the future generation. The statements by clergy, intellectuals, writers, artistes and working class, against the proposed IRSC are very encouraging (despite the press conferences of INGOs and NGOs depending on dollars) and in the right direction.



Time has come for the professionally qualified young and the citizens to take over the reins of the governance and oppose proposed draconian and dangerous constitutional changes which will lead to bloodshed again proposed by dirty politicians who miserably failed and destroyed our loving and beautiful Granary of the East to be great again.



(The writer could be contacted on sarath7@hotmail.co.uk)
The Government of Nicaragua has reported this Monday that it has acceded to the Paris Agreement, which had refrained from signing at first for considering it insufficient, leaving America and Syria as the only countries outside the Treaty. "On behalf of the people of Nicaragua, as head of state and government, I declare that the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua, in the light of the reasons already exposed and having considered that agreement, adheres to it and commits itself to faithfully comply with its provisions", said Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, in a letter released in Managua.

Ortega signed the instrument of accession in Managua with his wife, Vice-President Rosario Murillo, last Friday, according to this letter. It is thus added to a treaty that was approved and opened for signature at UN headquarters in new York City on April 22, 2016. The Nicaraguan government refrained from signing at that time because, in its view, the Paris agreement must have been binding, that is compulsory, considering that the most polluting countries must make the biggest efforts against climate change.

Nicaragua then advocated to impose "common but differentiated responsibilities, demanding the most polluting strict commitments with reducing emissions and compensatory resources for so-called adaptation." Ortega's government now argued that the vast majority of States, both developed and developing, have assumed commitments to unite and multiply efforts against increased natural disasters with high costs, loss of life and More and more material damage. "In the same way, we unite efforts to stop and reduce the high levels of pollution that poison the planet," continued the Nicaraguan executive. In addition, Ortega argued that the Paris agreement, "despite not being the ideal agreement, is the only instrument that currently allows this unity of intentions and efforts." The agreement is the first global against climate warming and was adopted on 12 December 2015 in the French capital by the 195 signatory countries of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the European Union (EU).

Intended to replace in 2020 the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris agreement aims to keep the global average temperature rise below two degrees Celsius with respect to pre-industrial levels. Given the challenges presented by whether or not the signatories will in future honour their commitments, a cloud of doubt hangs over the effectiveness of Paris Agreement.

Date Of Update: 11 June 2020, 07:24
Jerry Pournelle passed away in early September and is memorialized in this weeks Upstream segment of the Radio Free Acton podcast. An accomplished man in many fields in both the public and private sectors, he perhaps is best known as the author and co-author of a shelf-full of science-fiction novels. Among them is Oath of Fealty, a 1981 collaborative effort with Larry Niven, another sci-fi legend.

The novel gained a reputation as a classic of libertarian fiction despite the fact it doesnt reflect your standard-issue libertarian themes of the individual verse the group. Instead, Pournelle and Niven promote a futuristic form of feudalism.

Among those who offered Pournelle and Niven notes and advice was Robert A. Heinlein, who penned the libertarian-themed classic, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. The co-writers even dedicated Oath of Fealty to Heinlein and reference him directly in the book by crediting him with creating the concept of Waldo operators  a form of computerized remote control that allows humans to maneuver complex machinery from considerable distances.

Its fairly common knowledge among socially conservative libertarian geeks that Pournelle and Russell Kirk were friends. The author of The Conservative Mind and Pournelle first met at the University of Washington, where Kirk lectured in 1962 and Pournelle was a doctoral candidate in political science. Kirk invited the student to write him, and that he did  albeit a year later  with a lengthy, six-page, typewritten letter.

Essentially a crie de coeur of a 28-year-old man at odds with his countrys increasing liberalism and conservatisms marginalization, the April 11, 1963, letter foreshadows themes addressed nearly two decades later in Oath of Fealty and still prevalent 40 years after that in contemporary America:

I first read your books when I was playing at being a socialist at the University of Iowa ten years ago. I had never been a very good socialist, but I did manage to be a good organizer, and I tried to be conscientious. I had disliked the Right wing parties, although by my Southern upbringing [Louisiana] I should have known that I would not be able to stay away from them. But your books, read in order that I might criticize, like them, that influenced me. I was, and still am, disgusted by the usual outpourings of the Liberals who are clasped to the bosom of the Right today. That is my dilemma. I find myself very comfortable with your works. I am at home with Burke. But I am in no way at home with what masquerades as conservatism on our campus, or which reaches me through the courtesy of Irvington-on-Hudson [the then-address of the libertarian Foundation for Economic Education or FEE]. It is all very well for us to ally temporarily with the enemy as a tactical trick for political purposes; but I cannot clasp these individualists, these atomists, to my bosom. I am not comfortable when they act as if limiting government were the same as detesting government; and I tremble when they tell me that when men are freed from the influence of the State, they will develop into splendid beings. I think it monstrous that the conservative is asked to stand aside while the individualist industrialist destroys everything familiar; indeed, do more than stand aside, actively defend his right to do so without the interference of the State or the community. I do not think it amazing that the populace turns to the Liberal when we offer him nothing but the consolation that the invisible hand will construct for him a materialist world beyond the dreams of avarice [the title of a 1956 book by Kirk, a phrase taken from an 18th century play by Edward Moore]. I suspect that he would rather not have quite so much in the way of material goods, and quite a bit more assurance about enjoying those he has. When the conservative, the man of virtue, the party of virtue, talks like a Manchester industrialist, how can we blame the people from turning to the unions and the State for help? We taught him to do so. [Letter excerpted with minimal corrections from the archives of the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal, courtesy of Annette Kirk]

All this is heady stuff with which your writer mostly agrees despite the fact he occasionally writes on cultural matters for FEE.

Pournelles disagreements with FEE and other economic libertarian groups (termed chirping sectaries by Kirk) didnt prevent him and Niven from naming one of Oath of Fealtys protagonists Tony Rand, presumably after Ayn Rand. Further, the character  like Howard Roark in Rands novel The Fountainhead  is an architect of sorts. Tony Rand serves as chief engineer of the Todos Santos arcology  a self-enclosed environment of shops, industry and housing built as a refuge from a crime- and pollution-ridden Los Angeles of the future that conjures memories of Galts Gulch in Rands Atlas Shrugged.

Further, Pournelle and Niven align nicely with FEE, the Acton Institute and other free-market, small-government proponents when they chide the layers of bureaucracy with which businesses are forced to contend both to the detriment of their own success and potential customers: Every department of every government at every level is involved, and all those expensive people think they have to contribute to justify their salaries, and every contribution is another delay, proclaims another of the novels characters.

Throughout the book, Todos Santos is compared to a feudal society wherein egalitarianism is unmasked as an unattainable goal. Except in this futuristic tale, residents dont envy the success or wealth of others, because they recognize the incumbent tradeoffs.

Feudal societies are always complex: everyone in such a society enjoys rights, but few have the same rights. There is not even a pretense of equality  of rights, nor of duties and responsibilities.

There is, however, loyalty, and it runs both ways. The Todos Santos resident is expected and required to be loyal, but in return, Todos Santos gives protection. Loyalty and protection, Lunan said. The ties of the Oath of Fealty run in both directions. The trend of the United States has been to cut all ties, so that individuals are alone. The citizen against the bureaucracy, against them, only nobody is really in control and you cant say who they are.

Todos Santos is threatened by an increasingly militant group calling itself Friend of Man and the Earth, or FROMATE for short. Except for what would be considered a blatantly sexist name by contemporary environmental extremists, FROMATE predicts many of todays violent pantheists.

If anything, the circumstances Pournelle and Niven were lampooning in 1981 have only been exacerbated in the three decades since. As this piece is written, FEE (of all sources) published a story with the title Toddler Denied Kidney Transplant Because Donor Violated Parole about a youngster born without kidneys forced to suffer because his donor father  well, readers (it is hoped) get the picture.

Tony Rand also takes time to explain the imagined complexity of a future U.S. tax code to a Canadian and how Todos Santos addresses it:

[S]uppose you just didnt want to bother learning how to make out an income tax form? And deciding whats deductible every time you spend ten bucks, knowing some supercilious son of a [gun] is being underpaid to second-guess you? And keeping little pieces of paper to prove it? Its a fun game, but why does everyone have to play. Sometimes it feels like the government wants to turn everyone on Earth into accountants. Accountants and lawyers. Half the government is lawyers, and when they make laws they dont write them in English. Nobody but a lawyer can tell legal from illegal, and the lawyers cant tell right from wrong anymore. Independence is a lot of what were selling.

All the above  as well a prediction in 1981 that Star Wars would inspire a seventh sequel!

Oath of Fealty isnt perfect by any stretch  most of the characters are archetypes rather than fully realized, and the scenes featuring lovemaking are awkward and embarrassing, perhaps intentionally as another acknowledgment of the wince-inducing attempts by Heinlein and other sci-fi authors of the era. Nevertheless, the book succeeds as a prescient work of futuristic fantasy stemming from the realities of the era in which its authors wrote it as well as the realities of today.
After purchasing an abandoned, dilapidated pool hall in Chicagos South Side, Living Hope Church began massive renovations, engaging a range of help, including church members, volunteer construction workers, generous donations, and random passersby.

Yes, random passersby.

As Pastor Brad Beier explains in Essays for the Common Good, neighborhood residents would often stop by the project looking for money or some kind of material assistance. There were also a series of consecutive break-ins and burglaries, during which expensive tools and lighting fixtures were stolen.

Recognizing that the Woodlawn neighborhood has a 23% unemployment rate and that 41% of children are growing up in poverty, the church decided to grant new passersby with opportunities for employment. In the course of the four-year construction project, more than 50 people were hired off the street to receive a paycheck and learn new skills.

Our primary way of trying to help without hurting those in need was to invite anyone who came looking for help to learn new skills or to put their existing experience to work on this old building, writes Beier. Along the way, we realized that completing a days work together seemed to release a shared, God-instilled purpose and created a natural context for forming relationships.

The result was a new web of life-giving relationships across the community, prompting Beier to partner with an economics student in the congregation to found Hope Works, a community development ministry that provides an individualized delivery model to address each persons unique circumstances, especially for the person struggling to enter the job market at the lowest level.

The organization has been running for over two years, providing resources and support to hundreds of unemployed neighbors and helping 74 people find jobs. As Beier explains:

The mission of Hope Works is to empower our neighbors to become catalysts of and participants in a flourishing South Side Chicago community.Every day our story continues, our partnerships expand, and our impact grows for the common good and the glory of God Hope Works was built on the premise that jobs are critical to healthy families and a healthy community. And, of course, work is good for the soul, because we were created by God to work. When a family has a steady income through God-honoring work, the blessings positively impact their health, their childrens education, and the familys overall peace. And when families have shalom (Gods perfect peace), it permeates a neighborhoods ecosystem.

Many are quick to write off the enterprise and contributions of those in under-resourced communities like Woodlawn, turning instead to top-down solutions or materialistic fixes from governments or powerful businesses. Instead, Living Hope Church is tapping into the bottom-up sources of abundance that God has already placed there  recognizing the human capital in all of us and setting people on the course of creative service that God designed.

Image: David Wilson, 200400405 16 CTA South Side (CC BY 2.0)




Over the years, many tourism boards have been actively participating in Malaysia's largest consumer travel fair called Matta Fair.



Countries from around the region are mostly engaged in this fair while those from the far east have also taken advantage by participating.









Not only that, they have gathered much research and behaviours of the local Malaysian consumers and have adapted a strong approach to inviting Malaysians to visit Japan.



Japan Tourism at Matta Fair

The main Japan Booth at the Matta Fair 2017 Since 2007, I have been an avid visitor to the travel fair as I have been writing much about the Matta Fair, providing information to consumers, sharing tips and other information that is related to travel or buying travel packages. Among the countries, Japan has been one of the aggressive ones that have been taking part for many years.Not only that, they have gathered much research and behaviours of the local Malaysian consumers and have adapted a strong approach to inviting Malaysians to visit Japan.Since 2007, I have been an avid visitor to the travel fair as I have been writing much about the Matta Fair, providing information to consumers, sharing tips and other information that is related to travel or buying travel packages.









This is due mainly to the millennials or the younger generation, who believe in the free independent travel or FIT as the industry calls it.



Targeting the food travellers, Kansai Tourism had a Gastronomy experience to offer JNTO at Matta Fair Malaysia For ten solid years, I have also seen the changes in trends among the travellers and in the last five years, the digital and online world has taken over most of the sales from the Matta Fair.This is due mainly to the millennials or the younger generation, who believe in the free independent travel or FIT as the industry calls it.





The Japan National Tourism Organisation or JNTO, in short, saw this back then and took advantage of the change, but in a slow and steady concept.



When you look back 10 years ago, it was the Chinese community from Malaysia that loved to visit Japan, but all this changed when AirAsia opened a direct route into Tokyo, then Osaka and Sapporo.





With easy and cheap direct access into Japan, this opened up more opportunities for other races in Malaysia to visit Japan.



And when social media boomed in the last five to six years ago, the Malay market started to look at the far east, and Japan was one of the preferred destinations.









Blog articles played an important role as they were shared online on popular platforms like Facebook and Twitter.



The team from the Wakayama Prefecture at Matta Fair JNTO saw the importance of this and started to embark on a digital approach towards Muslim consumers. Because of the steep increase in Muslim travellers from Malaysia, discussions were held to cater to this growing market.



Back then, Japan was barely or not ready for Muslim travellers, hence they started to incorporate Muslim friendly packages. A huge thanks go to social media as it was the biggest factor that assisted in making up the travellers minds.Blog articles played an important role as they were shared online on popular platforms like Facebook and Twitter.JNTO saw the importance of this and started to embark on a digital approach towards Muslim consumers. Because of the steep increase in Muslim travellers from Malaysia, discussions were held to cater to this growing market.Back then, Japan was barely or not ready for Muslim travellers, hence they started to incorporate Muslim friendly packages.









And today, Japan can boast of quite a several Muslim friendly destinations, namely Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and even in Hokkaido.



Chiba Prefecture with their Jalan Jalan Chiba campaign at Matta Fair Purpose of Japan Tourism at Matta Fair By doing this, several tourism players all around Japan were encouraged to accommodate the Muslim friendly facilities to cater to this market.And today, Japan can boast of quite a several Muslim friendly destinations, namely Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and even in Hokkaido.





In the last few years during the Matta Fair, I must have seen a ten-fold increase in the Malaysian Muslims visiting the Japan booth at the fair.



When inspecting the products sold, brochures with Muslim Friendly headlines were prominent in destinations around Japan.





There were even flyers printed in Malay, to cater to the Malay speaking community. Prices were generally about the same as other normal packages, or cheaper, but the selections were pretty diverse.









JNTO and the prefectures or other Japanese businesses are there to promote the destinations. When a consumer wants to buy a package, they need to proceed to a travel agent that sells the Japanese travel packages.



Even Don Quijote was present at the last Matta Fair in Malaysia Japan Exhibitors at Matta Fair September 2017

1. VISONDATA (M) SDN BHD (Wi-Fi)

2. Okayama City & Maniwa City (Local government)

3. KANSAI Tourism Bureau (Local government)

4. TOHOKU (Local government)

5. Hokkaido Otaru City (Local government)

6. IBARAKI PREFECTURE (Local government)

7. OKINAWA /  (Local government)

8. CHIBA PREFECTURE (Local government)

9. EAST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY (Transportation)

10. Tokyu Hotels (Accommodation)

11. GIFU / JR-CENTRAL (Local government / Transportation)

12. WEST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY (Transportation)

13. Gastronomy Tourism in Osaka Kansai (Local government)

14. AEON HOKKAIDO (Retailer)

15. WASHINGTON HOTEL & HOTEL GRACERY (Accommodation)

16. Hokkaido Tourism Organization (Local government)

17. Prince Hotels & Resorts / Seibu Railway (Accommodation)

18. Shinjuku, Hakone, Enoshima, Kamakura Odakyu Group (Transportation)

19. WAKAYAMA (Local government)

20. STUDY in JAPAN (Education)

21. Don Quijote (Retailer) You should know that the Japan Tourism booth is there for promotional purposes and they do not sell any tour packages.JNTO and the prefectures or other Japanese businesses are there to promote the destinations. When a consumer wants to buy a package, they need to proceed to a travel agent that sells the Japanese travel packages.1. VISONDATA (M) SDN BHD (Wi-Fi)2. Okayama City & Maniwa City (Local government)3. KANSAI Tourism Bureau (Local government)4. TOHOKU (Local government)5. Hokkaido Otaru City (Local government)6. IBARAKI PREFECTURE (Local government)7. OKINAWA /  (Local government)8. CHIBA PREFECTURE (Local government)9. EAST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY (Transportation)10. Tokyu Hotels (Accommodation)11. GIFU / JR-CENTRAL (Local government / Transportation)12. WEST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY (Transportation)13. Gastronomy Tourism in Osaka Kansai (Local government)14. AEON HOKKAIDO (Retailer)15. WASHINGTON HOTEL & HOTEL GRACERY (Accommodation)16. Hokkaido Tourism Organization (Local government)17. Prince Hotels & Resorts / Seibu Railway (Accommodation)18. Shinjuku, Hakone, Enoshima, Kamakura Odakyu Group (Transportation)19. WAKAYAMA (Local government)20. STUDY in JAPAN (Education)21. Don Quijote (Retailer)



The team from Okayama and Maniwa City at their booth during Matta Fair Catering to the Muslim Friendly Market





One thing that Japan Tourism learned was that the younger generation Malay community loved to travel in groups of friends or with families.



And they also preferred homestay accommodation or Ryokan compared to a hotel, mainly due to the pricing factor.





But these statistics were based on a larger percentage, versus the city Malay community which preferred a more general kind of vacation, staying at hotels or resorts.



With this, the Japanese prefectures had a simple guideline - Muslim friendly travel.









They saw the potential of huge numbers of Muslims travelling the world and wanted to tap into this market. Remember, there is also Indonesia and Brunei apart from Malaysia, so why not cater to this.



Kansai Tourism Board team at the Matta Fair in Malaysia Things did not happen overnight, but after a few years, the industry players in Japan saw potential in this specialized market and some of them decided to go Muslim friendly.



Airports were also a key role in this as these would be the first entry point for Muslim travellers. Meeting were held with JNTO, the local prefecture offices and the industry players all over Japan.They saw the potential of huge numbers of Muslims travelling the world and wanted to tap into this market. Remember, there is also Indonesia and Brunei apart from Malaysia, so why not cater to this.Things did not happen overnight, but after a few years, the industry players in Japan saw potential in this specialized market and some of them decided to go Muslim friendly.Airports were also a key role in this as these would be the first entry point for Muslim travellers.





One of them is no other than the Kansai Osaka Airport , which incorporated Halal and Muslim friendly restaurants in the airport. They also added a Muslim prayer room in the airport for the convenience of Muslim travellers.









This was done in 2014 and has provided ease for Muslim travellers into this region of Japan.



The focus was paid on Muslim friendly destinations in Japan Another airport to follow suit is the Chubu Centrair Airport in Nagoya which also provided Muslim friendly services and food in the airport facilities.This was done in 2014 and has provided ease for Muslim travellers into this region of Japan.

Japan Muslim Friendly Travel at Matta Fair





With all the steps being looked into carefully, Japan Tourism soon saw an increase of Muslim travellers into the country and eventually more businesses started to adapt the Muslim friendly approach by offering services that were accepted.









One of them, the Kanagawa Prefecture which is just south of Tokyo, which is now becoming one of the preferred destinations for Muslim travellers.



The team from Kanagawa at their booth



Popular places around Kanagawa include Yokohama, Kawasaki, Kamakura, Fujisawa, Hakone, Odawara and Oyama. At the recent Matta Fair 2017, the number of prefectures that catered to Muslim travellers had increased.One of them, the Kanagawa Prefecture which is just south of Tokyo, which is now becoming one of the preferred destinations for Muslim travellers. Kanagawa Prefecture has also been participating at the Matta Fair as they are quite well known for many interesting tourism attractions.Popular places around Kanagawa include Yokohama, Kawasaki, Kamakura, Fujisawa, Hakone, Odawara and Oyama.









Currently, the cheapest way to Kyoto is also from a new train system that is budget-friendly.



Odakyu Group promoting its train services between popular cities in Japan JNTO at MATTA Fair 2018 Other prefectures that are popular include Kyoto, which is also a very popular Muslim friendly destination and Osaka.Currently, the cheapest way to Kyoto is also from a new train system that is budget-friendly.





For the next Matta Fair 2018, you can expect more participation from different prefectures around Japan, and a majority of them will be promoting the Muslim friendly places.



It is at the Japan booth that you will get the best and up to date information about the Muslim friendly services and Halal guide to Japan.









More emphasis has been put onto budget travelling as the consumer trends are growing fast in this area.



Japan Walker SEA promoting their magazine during the Matta Fair Ryokan's have been one of the most popular accommodations while train travel from city to city is gaining popularity. More travellers are now visiting a few places rather than just one city like in the old days.



Current generation travellers prefer to explore on their own, and hence need information about food, facilities or accommodations. Japan Tourism's participation at Matta Fair in Malaysia has definitely changed the travel landscape for Muslim travellers and also general travellers to Japan in the last five years.More emphasis has been put onto budget travelling as the consumer trends are growing fast in this area.Ryokan's have been one of the most popular accommodations while train travel from city to city is gaining popularity. More travellers are now visiting a few places rather than just one city like in the old days.Current generation travellers prefer to explore on their own, and hence need information about food, facilities or accommodations.





This is where Japan Tourism comes in to provide up to date information, which is also translated into Malay, Chinese and English for the ease of the different races.





Conclusion



Again, Malaysians as a multicultural community, prefer different things when they travel, compared to just one race.





And Japan Tourism has always looked deep into this to cater to each and every race in Malaysia or Southeast Asia.
The two most unpredictable leaders in the world today are escalating the threat of nuclear war. Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un are men who would prove their superiority without thinking of the rest of humanity.

Trump is a war hawk, with a military budget of $824.6 billion overall, $13.9 billion of that nuclear. His tough-guy language and bullying tweets show that he is ego-driven, reactive, and self-centered, engaging in frequent threats and posturing with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Unlike in the U.S., where citizens who are largely ignorant of the details of our military, nuclear war capabilities are woven into the fabric of North Korean life. Billboards announce the latest weaponry; radio and television news broadcast military might; print news brags of nuclear tests. Citizens idea of survival is tied to knowledge that their country is willing and able to launch nuclear strikes.

Acceptable leaders make informed decisions based on what is best for humanity, now and for the future. A leader who not only ignores basic safety but acts directly in opposition to it, threatening our lives and the planets existence, is not fit to be president.

Yet U.S. lawmakers and leaders are not insisting that No. 45 poses a real and present danger to the world. Citizens are not refusing to support this leader and unequivocally opposing the real and present threat of nuclear war.

The president of the U.S. can order a nuclear strike without permission. Repeat: No. 45 can choose to start nuclear war.

It is an intuitively ridiculous notion  unthinkable, perhaps literally  that a nuclear weapon could be launched purposefully at a human target. But the threats flying across the world between these two countries led by two insane leaders are exactly the kind of build-up you see before a physical fight.

Its like watching the two biggest, dumbest school bullies posturing in the days leading up to a schoolyard fight. But this time its not just the two of them who will suffer a bloody nose or a black eye. It will be all of humanity who suffers, unimaginably.

Maybe together we can fight for that most basic right: to live.

Lori Stahl

Charlottesville

References:
Atelier Romy launches first collaboration with Nadia Fairfax

There was more than just one celebration happening today at Double Bays Pam Pam store. The headliner was Atelier Romys first collaboration with Nadia Fairfax, a close friend of the jewellery brands co-founder Hermione Underwood - the two had met almost a decade ago when both were working in fashion and PR in Sydney. The second celebration was Atelier Romys first entry into a retail store - they will be now stocked by Pam Pam, after having only an e-commerce portal.

I loved her energy and go-getter attitude, remembers Underwood of the first meeting with Fairfax. She is capable of being both professional and having almost too much fun - so she is the perfect travel companion, travelling the world for work from Puglia to Paris and New York in between. Adds Fairfax: Our shared love has most certainly been travel - we love meeting all over the world and visiting fabulous little hotels.

Reunited, the two friends hosted a breakfast in Pam Pam with their friends and family involved, with both Fairfax and Underwoods mothers in attendance and calling upon old favourite Indigo Double Bay to cater. Following on the travel theme, the earrings represent both of the girls on-the-go attitude. My jewellery style is typically rather bold, which I think makes for a great partnership with Atelier Romy as most of their pieces are fine and understated the earrings are a perfect fusion of dainty and daring, a blend of both our styles. And the black resin makes a graceful pair of earrings feel a little bit more almighty, said Fairfax. I wanted to create a piece that felt strong, that would make any woman feel tenacious, capable and resilient - all the things I hope to feel when I get up and take on the day.

Fairfax worked closely with co-founder Sabine Roemer, a jeweller and master goldsmith. It was very easy to work with Nadia. We wanted to showcase both our Atelier Romy signature style with Nadias own personal style and we had a lot of input from her, from what she loves and what she doesnt, from colour combinations to size, says Roemer from London where she is based with her family. The piece, style and final campaign imagery are even more beautiful than I imagined.

Read more at:pastel bridesmaid dresses | grey bridesmaid dresses uk
Members of Congress are asking Trump administration officials to provide several immediate relief measures to help Puerto Ricos schools and students impacted by Hurricane Maria.

In an Oct. 24 letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., the top Democrat on the House education committee, Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, Puerto Ricos at-large Republican representative in Congress, and 59 other House lawmakers requested immediate financial assistance to help schools in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Island reopen. They also seek flexibility in using federal funds to repair schools damaged by Hurricane Maria, and to allow schools in both areas to provide three free meals a day to students.

The letter reads in part:

Schools play a central role in these devastated communities. In addition to providing education, public schools serve as the hub of a neighborhood/community, adding to the urgency of providing assistance, so that school districts can open and staff can return as quickly as possible will bring normalcy to the places that need it most. It will also enable them to fulfill their fundamental mission of providing a high-quality education and a safe, welcoming environment to affected students.

Earlier this month, the Andrew half of Politics K-12 and Education Week photographer Swikar Patel traveled to Puerto Rico to cover the impact of the storm on the islands schools . The school system in Puerto Rico has struggled academically and has also recently faced serious financial problems. How Puerto Ricos schools recover from Maria (as well as a previous storm, Irma) remains very much an open question. Schools in Florida and elsewhere on the U.S. mainland are also welcoming Puerto Ricans who have decided to leave the island .

The Education Week video below, shot in Puerto Rico on Oct. 10, documents the various challenges the islands educational system will face in the coming weeks and months, as well as how schools are coping:

The lawmakers letter also asks for:



additional funding for students rendered homeless by the hurricane;

additional funding for schools on the U.S. mainland receiving students who have evacuated Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands;

supplemental mental health services for students and educators impacted by the storm.

Last week, a spokeswoman for DeVos told us that the U.S. Department of Education was preparing to file a formal request for various forms of relief for Puerto Ricos schools by Wednesday, a deadline for such proposals previously set by Mulvaney. An aid package approved by House lawmakers earlier this month sets aside $4.9 billion for Puerto Rico and other areas impacted by recent hurricanes that could be used in part to help rebuild schools.

Read the full letter from Scott, Gonzalez-Colon, and the other members of Congress below:

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
The computer science field is hot.

But when it comes to the fastest-growing occupations and the fields that will create the highest number of jobs over the next decade, health care is even hotter.

Thats one of the big takeaways of new employment projections released Tuesday by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics . The numbers represent the federal governments best guess on what the labor market will look like between 2016 and 2026.

Such projections are useful for highlighting trends and tendencies, but should not be taken too literally, said economist Paul Osterman, an MIT professor who used to run workforce-training programs for the state of Massachusetts.

For the education world, Osterman said, the key things to consider are not only where jobs will be created, but where they will be destroyed, and where retirements will take place.

Looked at this way, he said, there will be a lot of middle-skill jobs that [young] people can aspire to.

Home Health Aide the Highest-Growth Occupation

Overall, the BLS believes, employment will increase from 156.1 million to 167.6 million over the next decade, with the U.S. workforce becoming older and more diverse.

According to its projections, the fastest-growing jobs will be in renewable energy, with the number of solar-panel installers and wind-turbine technicians likely to double by 2026. But those fields will net only about 16,400 new jobs total.

The real demand will be for home health aides (a projected 425,600 new jobs) and personal care aides (754,000 new jobs), the result of an aging U.S. population. Physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and physical therapist assistants are also occupations likely to grow at a healthy clip.

The BLS does see about a quarter-million new jobs for software and applications developers. According to the federal numbers, people in those positions currently make about $100,000 per yearsimilar to physician assistants and nurses, but nearly five times as much as health aides.

The future also appears bright for relatively small numbers of mathematicians and statisticians.

What Does the Future of Work Hold for Schools?

As part of Education Weeks new coverage of schools and the workforce, we talked with a wide range of economists and technologists about how they see the future of work unfolding . Many worried that automation, artificial intelligence, and other technologies will contribute to enormous disruption in the economy, creating a polarized labor market with a few rewarding, high-paying jobs at the top and mostly low-paying, dead-end jobs for everyone else.

Given the range of projections (and fears) about the future, many believe that teaching students to learn how to learn  is the most valuable thing schools can do.

Beyond occupational projections, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also looked at potential demographic and other changes in the labor market.

The percentages of Asian and Hispanic workers will grow fastest, the BLS believes, with 1 in 5 U.S. workers being of Hispanic origin by 2026.

Todays students will also increasingly compete with older workers for jobs: The share of workers aged 55 and older, which was just 16.8 percent in 2006, is expected to grow to 24.8 percent by 2026.

And college still looks to be important: Of the 30 fastest-growing occupations identified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 19 typically require some level of postsecondary education.

That should contribute to an increasingly lively conversation about the extent to which the education sector should focus on getting all students through to a bachelors degree.

You can see more from the Bureau of Labor Statistics here .

See also:
Honda has not disclosed any images or details of the scooter but has stated that it is intended for the young customer.

Honda 2Wheelers has announced that it will soon be launching a new 125cc scooter. Honda dealerships across the country have started accepting bookings for the Grazia. Honda has not disclosed any images or details of the scooter but has stated that it is intended for the young customer.

The Honda press release mentions that the Grazia has been developed as an advanced urban scooter with a sharp design tailormade for the young and cosmopolitan crowd.

While Honda has not shared any images, one eagle-eyed reader has spotted a new scooter in a showroom parking lot/stockyard. The new scooter has design cues from the Honda Dio in the form of a large front apron-mounted headlamp with equally large turn indicators mounted atop. The headlamp gets two bulbs which should give a good light spread. The front apron is wider than the Honda Activas, has sharp lines and looks premium courtesy the matte blue dual-tone paint job and chrome accents.

The spied scooter gets a large, stacked analogue and digital instrument console and, going by the lack of headlamp switchgear, Automatic Headlamp On as well. For suspension, the scooter gets telescopic front forks, a big update from the Activa and Dios linked setup.

For propulsion, Honda will, in all probability, stick to their tried and trusted 110cc single-cylinder, air-cooled motor that makes 7.92PS and 8.91Nm of torque. Considering the scooters premium positioning, they might even switch to the 125cc mill from the Activa 125 which makes 8.63PS and 10.54Nm of torque.

We expect the Grazia to be a premium offering, and as such, command an asking price closer to the Activa 125. While Honda have not mentioned a launch date, we expect the Grazia to be launched by the first week of November.

Source: BikeDekho.com
Reliance Communications (RCom) is reportedly going to shut down major parts of its wireless operations in the next one month, citing creative destruction by Reliance Jio. (Photo: PTI)

Mumbai: After suffering losses for consecutive quarters, debt-reeling Reliance Communications (RCom) is reportedly going to shut down major parts of its wireless operations in the next one month, citing creative destruction by Reliance Jio.

The Anil Ambani-owned telecom player, that is saddled with a debt of Rs 45,000 crore, is believed to have told its employees that their last date of employment will be November 30, said Economic Times. "We stand at a situation where we need to call it a day on our wireless business and this would bring the curtains down on our wireless business 30 days from now. And as a result, we tried whatever means to sustain and put oxygen in the business but we will not be able to sustain the business beyond 30 days from now," Gurdeep Singh, executive director of Reliance Telecom told RCom employees on Tuesday, according to an audio recording available with ET Now.

Singh also said that the 'creative destructive' by Reliance Jio Infocomm was also a factor leading to the shutdown of the business as it crippled an industry that made business out of the voice call trade.

Reliance Jio has been offering voice calls practically free of cost and data packs at rock-bottom prices. This has had its impact on other players like Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Tata Cellular also, with all incumbents terming Jio has a disruptor.

Reports of RComs shutdown surface after Tata Teleservices Consumer Mobile Businesss (Tata CMB) operations was sold off to Bharti Airtel earlier this month as the business was in a bad shape.

Apart from ILD voice, consumer voice and 4G dongle post-paid sectors, everything else will be shut down. Their DTH licence which expires on November 21 will not be renewed, marking their exit from the business, said Singh.

Earlier this month, RCom decided to call off its much-talked about merger with Aircel due to regulatory delays and legal uncertainties.

The tower business of RCom will remain operational since it is still making business. RCom is also in talks with Canadas Brookfield to sell its stake in its tower unit. However, asset manager Brookfield will now have to pay less than the agreed amount for a 51 per cent stake in the company as RComs asset value dropped since the Aircel deal hit a dead-end.
Mumbai: Rail Minister Piyush Goyal addresses a press conference to reveal new projects his ministry is undertaking.

MR @PiyushGoyal addressing the Press on recent decisions taken in Railways. https://t.co/jLzBgG172s  Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) October 25, 2017
New Delhi: Bank stocks were on fire on Wednesday as the scrips surged up to 32 per cent after the government unveiled an unprecedented Rs 2.11 lakh crore two-year road map for strengthening NPA-hit public sector banks.

Shares of Punjab National Bank were trading with a sharp gain of 31.90 per cent, Bank of Baroda zoomed 24.17 per cent, Bank of India advanced by 23.75 per cent and State Bank of India surged 19.02 per cent on BSE.

Also, Andhra Bank was quoting 14.96 per cent higher, Allahabad Bank (12.70 per cent) and Syndicate Bank (12.11 per cent).

The government yesterday unveiled an unprecedented Rs 2.11 lakh crore two-year road map for strengthening NPA-hit public sector banks, which includes re- capitalisation bonds, budgetary support, and equity dilution.

The capital infusion, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, will be accompanied by reforms to enable the state-owned banks to play major role in the financial system and give a strong push to the job-creating MSME sector.

Giving details, Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar said the government has decided to take a massive step to capitalise PSBs (public sector banks) in a "front-loaded" manner, with a view to support credit growth and job creation.

Non-performing assets of banks have increased from Rs 2.78 lakh crore in March 2015 to a staggering Rs 7.33 lakh crore as on June 2017.
Sensex and Nifty were trading higher by up to 1 per cent in late morning trade, pulling back from their life-time highs. (Photo: AP)

Mumbai: Key benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty were trading higher by up to 1 per cent in late morning trade, pulling back from their life-time highs, as select banking, IT, auto and pharma stocks gained.

The government on Tuesday announced various measures to spur the economy, including PSU banks' Rs 2.11 lakh crore capitalisation plan and Rs 6.92 lakh crore massive road building programme, which boosted the market sentiment.

Firmness in Asian stocks also supported gains on the bourses.

Continued selling was seen in telecom, consumer durables, metal and realty stocks.

The 30-share Sensex resumed higher at 32,995.28 and soared to its intra-day life time high of 33,117.33 as banking stocks rallied.

The index retreated to a low of 32,804.60 in late morning due to profit booking but strong gains in SBI, ICICI, L&T and a recovery in IT major Infosys helped it trade higher by 324 points 0.99 per cent at 32,931.55 at 1140hrs.

While, the NSE 50-share Nifty was also trading up by 61.15 or 0.60 per cent to 10,268.85.

However, side counters were sluggish the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.17 per cent and the S&P BSE Small-Cap index up 0.05 per cent. Both the indices underperformed the Sensex.

Major gainers were, SBIN by 19.65 pct, ICICI Bank 8.74 pct, Larsen 5.14 pct, AxiS Bank 2.49 pct, Infosys 1.27 pct and Powergrid 1.05 per cent.

However, Kotak Bank fell 3.25 pct, HDFC Bank 3.22 pct, HDFC 2.77 pct, BhartiAirtel 1.00 pct and Lupin 0.95 pct.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 1306.76 crore on Tuesday, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges.

Domestic institutional investors bought shares worth a net Rs 592.28 crore, as per provisional data.

Globally, Asian stocks rose following the overnight gains on Wall Street as upbeat corporate earnings results and optimism about global economic growth boosted investor sentiment.
Asin has not worked in any film after marriage to Rahul Sharma.

Mumbai: Actor Asin Thottumkal and husband Rahul Sharma on Tuesday welcomed their first child, a baby girl.

The 'Ghajini' star and Sharma, co-founder of tech company Micromax, confirmed the news in a statement.

"We are ecstatic to announce the arrival of our angelic baby girl earlier today. The last nine months have been most special and exciting for the both of us and we would like to thank all our well-wishers and everyone who has been part of our journey for all their love and support," the statement read.

The actress took to Instagram to share the news.

The couple tied the knot last year on January 19 in a Christian wedding ceremony followed by Hindu rituals near Delhi.

Asin's 'Khiladi 786' co-star Akshay Kumar served as Rahul's best man at the low-key ceremony.
Last week, the Education Department announced it was rolling back 72 guidance documents 63 that came from the office of special education programs, and nine from the Rehabilitation Services Administrationas part of a larger Trump administration initiative to clear the federal books of outdated, unnecessary, or ineffective regulations.

Special education advocates and Democratic operatives, already highly skeptical of the Education Departments actions around special education and students with disabilities, got angry. VERY angry.

The Council for Parent Attorneys and Advocates said in a statement it was disappointed in the way [the office for special education and rehabilitative services] has made this announcement, because the process undertaken lacks complete transparency to the public. The organization said the department should have made it clear why the revocations were needed.



That was one of the more measured responses. The Democratic National Committee sent out an email saying that Betsy DeVos decision to rescind guidelines outlining rights for students with disabilities is shameful and immoral. Bobby Scott, a Democrat from Virginia and the top Democrat on the House education committee, said the decision was the latest in a series of disturbing actions taken by the Trump Administration to undermine civil rights for vulnerable Americans.

On Tuesday, the Education Department tried again. It released the same list of rescinded regulations , but now the list includes explanations of just why these particular documents were targeted. As I noted last week, the guidance and memos are decades old, were created for a limited purpose, or have been superseded by newer laws and regulations.

There are no policy implications to these rescissions, said Liz Hill, a department spokeswoman. Students with disabilities and their advocates will see no impact on services provided.

But this dustup demonstrates how disability advocates are on a hair trigger when it comes to this administrationand they have been from the start, when Education Secretary Betsy DeVos stumbled during her confirmation hearing over questions of special education policy .

And though these particular guidance documents are just old, the department has made substantive changes in policy that angered many civil rights, including ending an Obama-era policy of seeing whether individual civil rights complaints might be caused by systemic violations , and requirements that schools allow students to use the restrooms and locker rooms that matched their gender identity .

This wont be the last time the department pares down regulations: in addition to combing through guidance on its own, the department also solicited comments from the public about what regulations it believes are unnecessary. But, as I noted before, there are certain bedrock regulations, such as those related to parental consent to initial evaluation or initial placement in special education, least restrictive environment, timelines, and attendance of evaluation personnel at individualized education program meetings. The text of the law says that those regulations cant be procedurally or substantively lessened without Congressional action.

Photo: U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos speaks at the Council of the Great City Schools Annual Legislative/Policy Conference in Washington in March.Jose Luis Magana/AP-File
Kourtney Kardashian has hit back at pregnancy claims, and said that an interview given to a British magazine was simply a joke taken out of context.

As per reports in EOnline.com, the reality star and mother of three made it clear shes not expecting another child in a tweet. I see online that I said I was pregnant in an interview, but that was completely taken out of context (sic), she tweeted adding, The interviewer asked me Whats a crazy rumor that youve heard about yourself? and my answer was...Ive heard that I am pregnant (sic).

Even if Kourtney was pregnant, which she is not, the reality star probably wouldnt film the birth of another baby.

When asked if she regretted sharing any aspect of her life on TV, she said, The first thing that comes to mind is sharing the birth of my kids on the show. But you live and learn.
English Literature professors will now be required to 'ensure the presence' of Black and Minority Ethnic writers (BME) in their courses. (Photo: Pixabay)

Following student demands, Cambridge University English academics will be forced to replace white authors with black writers after agreeing to decolonise the curriculum for students.

English Literature professors will now be required to 'ensure the presence' of Black and Minority Ethnic writers (BME) in their courses.

The move came after Lola Olufemi, Cambridge University Student Unions womens officer, penned an open letter titled Decolonising the English Faculty, where the letter, signed by around 150 university students, found her writing, For too long, teaching English at Cambridge has encouraged a 'traditional' and 'canonical' approach that elevates white male authors at the expense of all others. What we can no longer ignore, however, is the fact that the curriculum, taken as a whole, risks perpetuating institutional racism.

The letter also hinted at several of changes, including ensuring that all exam papers included 'two or more postcolonial and BME authors'.

Students of the University have to study a range of period papers but campaigners feel that the English courses focus too much on white men and exclude female authors and those from black and ethnic minority backgrounds.

They have also claimed that it offers a perspective too shaped by colonial ideologies.
The ground-breaking discovery shows the first decisive evidence of the disorder in wild animals. (Photo: Pixabay)

Humans may not be the only mammals who suffer from Alzheimer's as new research reveals that dolphins may suffer from it too.

The ground-breaking discovery shows the first decisive evidence of the disorder in wild animals.

Scientists examined dolphins that were found dead off the coast of Spain and concluded that they shared the same twisted strands and protein clusters in their brains as human patients with Alzheimer's.

The study was headed by Professor Simon Lovestone from the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. Lovestone works as a researcher for Oxford University Department of Psychiatry and acts as a lead for dementia theme for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Health Biomedical Research Center (BRC).

It is very rare to find signs of full-blown Alzheimers disease in non-human brains, said Professor Simon Lovestone to the Daily Mail.

The researchers believe that dementia in dolphins may be on account of insulin function.

Insulin is the hormone which regulates sugar levels in the blood, and triggers whats known as insulin signalling', which in humans and other mammals can cause diabetes.

Although previous studies show that extreme calorie restriction in animals like mice and fruit flies could extend lifespan, the results of this new study suggest this could increase the risk of Alzheimer's in some animals.

Lovestone added, "Insulin signalling can make an animal more susceptible to Alzheimer's disease, we might be able produce mice that are a true model of the disease, which we can then test to find new treatments."

However this is not the only thing the two species have in common, both humans and dolphins can survive long after their prime age for reproduction.

Fertility in both men and women decreases as they near their 40s, but humans manage to have a long life span despite this.

While other animals die shortly after they lose their fertility, dolphins show human-like qualities and manage to live longer than other wild animals.

Until now, the disease had never been spotted in a wild animal.
Judge Armstrong found that her physicians have determined she doesn't understand the risks to her life by not eating. (Photo: Pixabay)

A New Jersey judge cleared the way for parents to force-feed their 20-year-old anorexic daughter.

The judge on Tuesday ruled the woman, known as S.A., was incapable of making her own decisions and gave her parents the power to make medical decisions on her behalf. Her lawyer had argued that she wanted to make her own decisions and that she can manage her eating disorder on her own.

Superior Court Judge Paul Armstrong found that her physicians have determined she does not understand the risks to her life by not eating and she has a chance of recovery through her parents guardianship.

The Parsippany resident weighed 60 pounds in June when she was taken to a clinic in Princeton and has since gained 15 pounds.

Her mother told the Daily Record of Parsippany the case makes other parents hopeful.

The ruling follows the February death of a 30-year-old Morris County woman who successfully fought force-feeding. Her parents and doctors supported a ruling, also handed down by Armstrong, that allowed her to refuse a feeding tube. Court documents indicate that she had undergone a decade of unsuccessful treatment and had suffered organ damage. Her parents wanted her to continue treatment but also wanted to respect her wishes.

In S.A.s case, Armstrong cited the Journal of Psychiatric Practice, which argues that compulsory feeding can be effective in the early stages of anorexia, before organ failure.

S.A.s mother called court-ordered guardianship a tool to keep our kids alive.
The duo, out for revenge, are a spurned wife and the mistress her husband dumped her for. (Representational Image/ Pixabay)

Hell hath no fury like a women scorned, and if it is two, then you are in for double the trouble. Two women allegedly betrayed by the same man are on trial in Germany for kidnapping him and leaving him naked in the words.

The duo, out for revenge, are a spurned wife and the mistress her husband dumped her for. They kidnapped Lothario Thomas L, a 44-year-old, and subjected him to a brutal ordeal for which he is still undergoing therapy.

The pair are on trail for charges of deprivation of liberty and causing dangerous bodily harm at the the District Court of Frankfurt-Order. The duo claim to have felt harassed by their ex and wanted to give him something to think about.

The spurned ex-wife, Yvonne Schmidt, 39, and the ex-lover she was left for Bright Koeing, 37 allegedly kidnapped Thomas L. at a truck stop near Berlin with the aid of four hired heavies in March 2015.

He was stripped naked, bound with gaffer tape, blindfolded and bundled into the back of a refrigerated van which was then driven to a remote wood.

It was then that one of the male accomplices allegedly dragged him into the freezing night air  it was only 2C  and told him to stop bothering Yvonne or youll really get it.

Thomas L was beaten black and blue and told to count to 100 before removing his blindfold, the court heard.

Stark naked, he managed to flag down a car soon afterwards and was taken to a police station and then to hospital where he was treated for severe skull and stomach injuries.

The ex-wife blatantly admitted the charges at the very first day of her trial on Monday saying that she was abused by him for ten years during their marriage and described the kidnapping as a spontaneous and unplanned action.

The ex-lover is yet to testify but she reportedly told police he had been unfaithful to her.

The judge in the case refused to believe Schmidts testimony that she didnt know the men who assisted in the kidnap and that she had only met them a short time before in a supermarket car park.

He warned her that she faced a heavier sentence if she did not reveal the identity of the men who are still at large.

A verdict is expected early next month. The victim has been too traumatised to attend court.
Hyderabad: Sleuths of the Central Crime station (CCS), Hyderabad, on Wednesday arrested one person, who had cheated corporate hospitals under the pretext of helping them to clear the pending Arogyasri bills and getting benefits under the Arogyasri scheme. The suspect was identified as Velamala Narayana Rao, who was earlier arrested by police in AP for cheating cases.

Based on a complaint from Ms K. Usha Rani, executive officer (admin) of Aarogyasri Healthcare Trust, which stated that they have been receiving calls from unauthorised mobile numbers inquiring about pending claims, payments and empanelment of new network hospitals under the Aarogyasri and EHS schemes. On inquiry by the vigilance officer it was found that many other hospitals are also getting calls from unknown numbers and the callers have been demanding money to clear the pending bills.

The suspect called the hospitals and gave them details of two bank accounts at Choutuppal and Srikakulam district in AP and demanded money to clear the pending bills, said a press release from the CCS.

The police traced him and found that he was arrested for the same offence in various districts of AP. After his release from the prison, he collected the data of various hospitals in Telangana and AP whose bills are pending with the Arogyasri office and the hospitals who have applied for empanelment under the Arogyasri scheme. He was arrested and sent to judicial remand on Wednesday.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said BJP will celebrate 'Anti-Black Money Day' on November 8 to mark the first anniversary of demonetisation. (Photo: Twitter | @BJP4India)

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will celebrate 'Anti-Black Money Day' on November 8 to mark the first anniversary of demonetisation, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday.

On the evening of November 8, 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation, scrapped 1,000 and old 500 rupee notes, in an attempt to tackle black money and corruption.

Jaitley said that all the prominent leaders, ministers, MPs and MLAs of BJP will hold a slew of programmes across the country and will highlight the achievements after demonetisation.

"I think the Congress has not understood the concept of demonetisation. The ownership of cash is not known, it is an anonymous owner. So when cash gets deposited in banks, what was being laundered earlier, now gets into the law books. So for entry into the lawful system, you are liable to pay tax," Jaitley said.

Lauding demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST), Jaitley said, "The government has expanded digitisation and tax base across the country."

He said the objective of demonetisation is not confiscation of money but squeezing the quantum of cash.

Jaitley lashed out at the Congress saying, "Those who ruined the nation are now giving sermons."

Congress had adequate opportunity to be in power, and I cant recollect a single significant step that they ever took against black money, he added.

About the Congress' allegation that the Election Commission of India was delaying the Gujarat poll dates, Jaitley said: "The Congress was singing the praises of Election Commission during the Gujarat Rajya Sabha Election. The EC is duty-bound to act as per law. EC is not supposed to be browbeaten by a disgruntled and losing political party."

The Opposition had, on Tuesday, said that an amalgamation of 18 parties will ensure that the day is observed as a "black day" with protests and rallies in different states.
The central government's missive was sent in the wake of the killing two journalists, Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru and Shantanu Bhowmik in Agartala. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: The Home Ministry has asked all states to ensure safety and security of journalists in exercising freedom of speech and expression, in the wake of

incidents of attacks on mediapersons.

In an advisory to the states, the home ministry also said all cases of attacks on journalists should be investigated promptly to ensure that criminals get "persecuted in a time- bound manner".

"Fourth Estate is an important institution of the democracy. It ensures that citizens are able to express their opinions freely without any fear and coercion as provided under the Constitution of India. It is the duty of the state to ensure safety and security of the journalists who ensure that the Fourth Estate discharges this key duty," the advisory said.

The central government's missive was sent in the wake of the killing two journalists, Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru and Shantanu Bhowmik in Agartala.

The ministry said from time to time, incidents of attacks on journalists and mediapersons were reported and all such cases need to be investigated promptly "to ensure that criminals get persecuted in a time-bound manner".

"States should also take all preventive and deterrent action as deemed required. States are already empowered to provide security to individuals based on threat perceptions," it said.

The ministry said while police and public order are state subjects under the Constitution, in view of its importance, it is drawing the attention of the state governments and Union Territory administrations from time to time towards the need for a robust criminal justice system with emphasis on prevention and control of crime.

"The state administrations are requested to... ensure that a peaceful environment prevails, allowing journalists/media personnel to exercise freedom of speech and

expression in their professional pursuit; ensure that the investigations are concluded in a time-bound manner and public trust in criminal justice system is maintained," it said.
Globally wanted terrorist Syed Salahuddin's son Syed Shahid Yousuf, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency on Tuesday in connection with a 2011 terror funding case for allegedly receiving money from his father. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: A Delhi court, on Wednesday, sent Syed Shahid Yousuf, son of globally wanted terrorist Syed Salahuddin, to seven days NIA custody in connection with a 2011 terror funding case for allegedly receiving money from his father.

Yousuf, who was arrested on Tuesday by National Investigation Agency (NIA), was produced before District and Sessions Judge Poonam A Bamba, who allowed the probe agencys plea for his custody.

Read: 2011 terror funding case: NIA arrests Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin's son

According to the agency, 42-year-old Yousuf, who works in the agricultural department of the Jammu and Kashmir government, was summoned to the agency's headquarters where he was arrested after questioning on Tuesday.

The NIA alleged that Yousuf used to receive funds through a US-based international wire transfer company from Aijaz Ahmed Bhat, another accused in the case who is absconding and is reported to be based in Saudi Arabia.

The agency has alleged that Yousuf was "one of several Indian contacts of Bhat" who had been in telephonic contact with him for receiving money transfer codes.

The NIA has claimed that so far Yousuf has received a total of nearly Rs 4.5 lakh through eight international wire transfers.

The case, registered by the NIA in April 2011, relates to the transfer of money from Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir through hawala channels via Delhi, which the agency claims was used in funding terrorism and secessionist activities.

The NIA has so far filed two charge sheets against six people including G M Bhat, a close aide of pro-Pakistan separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Siddiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga. All four are in judicial custody.

Two others -- Mohammed Maqbool Pandit and Bhat  were also charge sheeted by the NIA but are absconding. Interpol Red Corner notices have been issued against them.

Yousuf's father Mohammed Yusuf Shah -- better known as Syed Salahuddin -- was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department of State in June this year.

Besides heading terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, he is the chairman of the United Jehad Council (UJC), a conglomerate of terrorist outfits operating in the Kashmir Valley.

The NIA had also registered two other cases related to terror funding -- one in November 2011 and the other in May this year. It had filed a charge sheet against 10 people including Syed Salahuddin in the April 2011 case.

In the recent case, the NIA arrested 10 people including some close relatives and aides of Geelani.
Hyderabad: To ensure that drivers of two-wheelers have enough visibility, the government had instructed that all vehicles have an automatic headlight system that starts along with the ignition.

However, the rule called only for day lights. Vinod Kanumala, founder of the Indian Federation of Road Safety, says, The rule clearly states that high beam headlights should not be used. However, all two-wheelers switch to the same. High beam lights affect eyesight, causing temporary blindness.

Says ophthalmologist Deepika Shilpika, Sudden blinding light can cause a person to put their hands in front of their eyes or shut their eyes instinctively, which could cause accidents. It can take five seconds or more for the eyes to adapt to normal light after a car with high beam headlights passes by. The light adaption technique of the eye is affected when high beam headlights bleaches the pigment in the retina which takes time to readapt itself.

Dr Mohan Kumar, an ophthalmologist, says, There are no regulations in India, and a lack of awareness regarding headlights. Anti-glare glasses can be helpful to some extent but it is not a permanent solution. People with mild eye sight problems are affected by the glare. Many drivers use these lights so often that their eyes cannot adjust to dipped headlights any longer.

Traffic expert Ahsan Pasha, says that since commercial drivers have to renew their licences more often, They should be re-trained to ensure that they remember the rules of lights.
The National Education Association suggested during a conference of progressive legislators last month that teachers themselves ought to run for office.

Education issues such as school funding, charter schools and busing are sometimes described as the third rail of politics and knows no traditional political bounds. But everyone loves teachers. Right?

So at a time when arguments about race, immigration and sexual freedom pits people against each other maybe a winning strategy for Democrats in states (most of which are run by Republicans) is to line up a bunch of teachers to run for office.

Last year, I flew to Oklahoma where this suggestion, posted in an online forum for teachers, inspired more than 40 teachers to run for the states legislature.

Massive cuts to the states education budget has long been in the Sooner States news cycle and students, parents and their friends started feeling and seeing subsequent real-life pains: long-term substitute teachers, large class sizes and the cancelling of after-school activities.

In neighboring Kansas, meanwhile, 50 teachers ran for office

Kansas political scene, like Oklahomas, has been roiled by a dramatic drop in state tax revenue, which has disproportionatly impacted the school system. The states supreme court last month ruled that the state must spend hundreds of millions more on its schools, in order to comply with the Kansas Constitution.

The results in Oklahoma and Kansas were mixed. Five teachers won in Oklahoma and two won in Kansas.

I interviewed last week Brett Parker, a Democratic representative in the Kansas House and a current English-Language teacher at Countryside Elementary School in the Olathe district, to discuss what teachers can bring to state politics.

Parker successfully ran in 2016 for the Houses 29th District seat which, for years, had been represented by a Republican.

Below is my Q&A with Parker, edited for brevity and clarity.

Education Week: What made you want to run for office?

Parker: Ive always been interested in current events and thats only grown over the years. As a teacher, I got involved in the local teachers association and then became a building rep and then voted onto the executive board. After that, I was looking for ways we could make difference at the state level. At an NEA meeting, they were talking early on about recruiting candidates for the 2016 race. I started asking everyone what they thought of me running for office and nobody told me that I was crazy. I thought this could be my part in trying to put things back together. It was pretty clear that from things happening in Topeka that there was a lack of respect for school teachers and a failure to see the challenges that we face.

EW: Do you think being a teacher helped you win?

Parker: It made it easier to talk about all those things. About 80 percent of campagining is going out and talking to people on their doorsteps. When you can talk about your experiencea as a teacher, its not just a talking point, its a lived experience. Politics are pretty polarizing but when your local teacher runs for office, it has a chance to cut through that to a large extent.

EW: Did your perspective on the states budget woes change once you became a politician tasked with fixing it?

The natural experience for people when they run for office is they run on change. Everything is terrible and they want to make it better. I imagined that when I got there, (the states budget crisis) wouldnt be as bad as I originally thought it would be and that Id take back some things I said in the campaign. But, in reality, I think I underestimated how severe this problem is. Getting there and seeing the budget numbers was sobering even for a group of people who were running on change.

Parker: Did you think being a teacher makes you a better politician?

We sort of underestimate what being each and every day up in front of a group of people, doing presentations can prepare you for. Were constantly taking large amounts of information and synthesyzing it and presenting it to a group of people. There are a lot of skills teachers have that fly under the radar. Weve already been training for a lot of these things without even knowing it. The sheer number of individual executive choices, that a teacher makes in a day is similar to what a politician does. Were constantly making decisions with the information thats in front of us and moving ahead with it. So I think I got a lot of practice before I got here.

Dont miss another State EdWatch post. Sign up here to get news alerts in your email inbox. And make sure to follow @StateEdWatch on Twitter for the latest news from state K-12 policy and politics.
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala and Chief Minister Siddharamaiah present a bouquet to President Ram Nath Kovind while receiving him on his arrival at HAL Airport in Bengaluru on Tuesday. (Photo: PTI)

Bengaluru: President Ram Nath Kovind's mention of the 18th century Mysore ruler, Tipu Sultan, in his address to the joint session of Karnataka legislature on Wednesday triggered a political slugfest between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP.

The development comes amid a raging controversy over the state government celebrating the birth anniversary of the Mysore ruler on November 10. The move has been opposed tooth and nail by the BJP which sees Tipu Sultan as a "religious bigot" and a "brutal killer".

"Tipu Sultan died a heroic death fighting the British. He was also a pioneer in the development and use of Mysore rockets in warfare. This technology was later adopted by the Europeans," Kovind said while noting that Karnataka is a land of formidable soldiers.

The president's reference to Tipu Sultan came after he noted the contributions of various historical figures of Karnataka, including Krishnadevaraya who was the emperor of the Vijayanagara empire from 1509 to 1529.

As the president made the reference about the 18th century ruler in his speech to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature, the Congress members cheered by thumping on the desks.

Tipu was a ruler of the erstwhile kingdom of Mysore. He was considered an implacable enemy of the British East India Company. He was killed in May 1799 while defending his fort of Srirangapatna against the British forces.

Opposition BJP and some outfits are opposed to Tipu Jayanti celebrations and have called him "religious bigot", "fanatic" and "anti-Kannada".

Tipu Sultan is also viewed in a negative light in Kodagu district of the state where he is alleged to have persecuted the local Kodava population, as also the Roman Catholics of Mangaluru, on religious grounds and forced conversion to Islam.

Hitting out at the state government, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa alleged that the government has "misused" the office of the president by getting Tipu's name mentioned in the speech.

"I condemn it....it is an insult done to people of Karnataka by the state government. If we had raised objections when president mentioned Tipu, it would have led to violation of protocol...," he added.

Reacting to the allegations, state Congress working president Dinesh Gundu Rao said the BJP should be "ashamed."

He said "by trying to say that president has just read out a speech written by somebody, they are insulting the office of the president and the president."

Suggesting that the speech was prepared by president's office after collecting inputs from various sources, Rao said "...such allegations show the state of mind the BJP leaders are in."

"Congratulations to Hon. President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind for a statesman like address to the Karnataka legislature. @rashtrapatibhvn," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tweeted.

Congratulations to Hon. President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind for a statesman like address to the Karnataka legislature. @rashtrapatibhvn  Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) October 25, 2017

"(I have) conveyed (to) Karnataka government not to invite me to the shameful event of glorifying a person known as a brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist," Hegde had said in a tweet.

The Siddaramaiah-led government is all set to celebrate Tipu Jayanti despite widespread protests and violence that had marred the celebrations in the last two years.
A senior official from the Maharashtra cooperation department showed a list of potential beneficiaries of farmers having a common Aadhaar number, which has become a cause of concern for the government. (Representational Image)

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government's attempt of online registration for loan waiver implementation has sent the authorities into a tizzy as names over 100

farmers have been found linked to a single Aadhaar number.

The state government had earlier stressed on online registration by farmers with their Aadhaar, which is a unique identification.

The government has said that the Aadhaar-based linking will avoid any duplication as well as fake accounts getting the benefit of the loan waiver.

A senior official from the Maharashtra cooperation department showed a list of potential beneficiaries of farmers having a common Aadhaar number, which has become a cause of concern for the government.

"We always thought that the Aadhaar number will be our key to check fake beneficiaries. Now, we don't know how to address this challenge with so many farmers showing the same Aadhaar number. If we have to carry out a manual check, which will take weeks. The farming community is already agitated

over the delay in implementation of the scheme," the official said.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has called an urgent meeting with bankers on Wednesday to address issues like this that crop up in the way of speedy implementation of the scheme.

Officials of some banks also admitted that the data they received from the online registration portal 'Aapale Sarkar' - varies the data at their in their records.

The names of some farmers are missing and some do not match with the land size or type of loan.

"In many cases the principal amount and interest are not matching. It leads to suspicion. Unless the state officials have verified the account and its loan amount, we cannot consider that account for loan waiver," a senior official of a leading public sector bank.

The state government had last week released a sum of Rs 4,000 crore under the first phase of the over Rs 34,000 crore farm loan waiver scheme.

Responding to the Opposition's criticism against the online system of filling forms for availing the scheme, Fadnavis last week said earlier it had not been done, the banks would have mismanaged funds.

The Centre had earlier this year made Aadhaar mandatory for availing crop insurance policies.

As per the agriculture ministry's directive, banks were asked to persuade farmers to furnish Aadhaar identification card at the time of sanction/ renewal/ disbursement/ inspection of the loan or on visit at bank branches.
Chennai: Public works department (PWD) on Tuesday gave a presentation on three to four construction models for the memorial of former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Marina beach before Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and senior cabinet ministers.

The officials spoke in detail about all the models designed by experts for construction of the memorial approved by the Tamil Nadu Cabinet soon after Jayalalithaa's death. The CM and his cabinet colleagues were briefed about the models, their aesthetic look and the size of the area on which the memorial will come up, sources said.

They also said the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and senior cabinet ministers like K A Sengottaiyan and P Thangamani gave a patient hearing and posed several questions about the models presented before them.

The sources said no decision was taken in the meeting on Tuesday and it has been decided meet again to take a final call on the model that will be executed.

Though there was no official word on what transpired at the meeting, sources said the top brass of the Tamil Nadu Government said they were committed to building a world-class memorial for the late chief minister. Though the memorial was planned to be completed by the end of this year, it is unlikely that work would be completed in the next couple of months.

Once the CM approves the model of construction, tender will be floated and work will begin on the memorial. Officials have been instructed to get world-class design for the memorial since the government attaches utmost priority to the project, another source said.

Proposal to build the memorial where Jayalalithaa was buried was the first decision of the O. Panneerselvam cabinet after it was sworn-in following her death on December 5, 2016.
Bengaluru: Its celebration time at Vidhana Soudha, the majestic building that towers over the city with President Ram Nath Kovind set to inaugurate its diamond jubilee on Wednesday.

Construction on the Soudha, which houses both Houses of the Legislature and the state secretariat, started in 1951. Then CM K.C. Reddy had planned to build a replica of the Athara Kacheri, the present day Karnataka high court building but Kengal Hanumanthaiah favoured an Indian-style building. After K.C. Reddy resigned, Hanumanthaiah became CM and pursued his dream with Jawaharalal Nehru laying the foundation stone on July 13, 1951. Interestingly, it is only in Karnataka that the legislature and secretariat operate from the same building in south India.

It was the labour of over 5,000 inmates of Bengaluru Central Jail and 1,500 masons which helped build the Soudha. Originally, `50 lakh was set aside for the purpose but by the time the building was completed, the cost went up to `1.84 crore.

The President will address the joint session of the state legislature and have a photo shoot with the legislators.

JD(S) members wont dine

Taking a stand against the extravagant budget for the celebrations to mark the iconic Vidhana Soudha turning 60, JD(S) legislators will have only a glass of water and no dinner at the event planned by the government in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Revealing this at Hassan on Tuesday, partys senior leader H D Revanna said when farmers were having such a hard time it would be inappropriate for MLAs to have a lavish dinner costing Rs 3,000 a plate. We want the money being spent on this lavish dinner to be used for the welfare of farmers, who run their homes on a budget of Rs 3,000 a month, he asserted, adding, Instead of having dinner at Vidhana Soudha, I will have dinner at either my sisters or brothers house in Bengaluru.

Mr Revanna revealed that the partys decision not to allow its legislators to have dinner at Vidhana Soudha, had been conveyed to the Legislature Secretary.

Our party legislators will not claim any TA/DA either for attending the celebration nor accept any gold biscuits that may be distributed on the occasion, he declared, explaining that his party MLAs were attending the celebrations at Vidhana Soudha only in honour of President Ram Nath Kovind, who had been invited to them.

Speaker Koliwad has come under fire for the large budget allocated for the celebrations.
Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson shake hands after their joint press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: India on Wednesday told US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson it plans to retain its North Korean embassy, so as to keep open channels of communication as Washington steps up global pressure to isolate Pyongyang for its nuclear and missile programmes.

Tillerson held talks with Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj as part of a new effort by the Trump administration to deepen economic and strategic ties, as a way to balance China's growing clout across Asia.

Both sides pledged to strengthen anti-terrorism cooperation and Tillerson said Washington stood ready to provide India with advanced military technologies.

"The United States supports India's emergence as a leading power and will continue to contribute to Indian capabilities to provide security throughout the region," Tillerson told a joint news conference with Sushma Swaraj.

Sushma said the issue of India's diplomatic and economic relations with North Korea came up during the talks but she conveyed to the top US diplomat that some level of diplomatic presence was necessary.

"As far as the question of embassy goes, our embassy there is very small, but there is in fact an embassy," she said.

"I told Secretary Tillerson that some of their friendly countries should maintain embassies there so that some channels of communication are kept open," she added.

India and North Korea maintain diplomatic offices in each other's capitals, though New Delhi recently banned trade of most goods with the country, except food or medicine. Trade is minimal, Sushma said.

The focus on North Korea comes as US President Donald Trump heads to China next month, where he is expected to urge President Xi Jinping to make good on his commitments to pressure North Korea.

Tillerson landed in Delhi on Tuesday night after a day-trip to Pakistan, which he called an important US ally in the restive region that includes war-torn Afghanistan.

On Wednesday, he said Washington was concerned about the stability of the Pakistan government against terrorist groups and that it stood with India in the fight against terror.

"In the fight against terrorism the United States will stand shoulder to shoulder with India. Terrorists' safe havens will not be tolerated," Tillerson said.

India has long blamed Pakistan for failing to act against terrorist groups operating from its soil, a concern shared by the United States and the Afghan government trying to fight Taliban insurgents who they say are also sheltered in northwest Pakistan.

Tillerson's visit comes a week after he made a speech in Washington about the United States wanting to "dramatically deepen" cooperation with India, which it sees as a key partner in the face of what he considers to be negative Chinese influence in Asia.
New Delhi: India on Wednesday made it clear it will not shut its embassy in North Korea, telling the United States that it (the US) must have some friendly countries that have embassies in Pyongyang so that communication channels are open.

Ms Swaraj said Indias trade with North Korea is in any case minimal and that it has a small embassy in Pyongyang. In another major move, the US indicated it had no objection to India and Afghanistans efforts to develop the Chabahar port in Iran, adding that it was not against legitimate business activities of European countries or India with Iran.

Visiting US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said the US was not against the Iranian people and wanted sanctions to punish the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its oppressive revolutionary regime. It will not be incorrect to say that our trade is minimal with North Korea. We have a small embassy there, Ms. Swaraj said, in response to a question from the American media. Referring to the US, she said, Some of your friends embassies should be there (in Pyongyang). Channels of communication should be there, adding that Mr Tillerson had appreciated Indias stand.

The US has been involved in a war of words with the North Korean regime amid fears of a nuclear conflict due to the nuclear capabilities of both countries.
Hyderabad: Subjecting students to mental pressure is not proper, observed the Hyderabad High Court on Wednesday as it directed the principal of Hyderabad Public School to consider the request of K. Advetya, a student, for demotion from Class 2.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice J. Uma Devi was dealing with an appeal by the student, represented by her grandmother, challenging an order of a single judge dismissing their writ petition asking for the demotion as the child could not cope with the Class 2 workload.

Kommireddy Jyothi, grandmother of Advetya, had asked HPS to demote her granddaughter because she was under great mental pressure.

When the HPS management refused her request, Ms Jyothi moved the High Court, stating that the management was mentally harassing the child.

Her counsel, Kommireddy Ramulu, informed the court that the school was delaying their request for demotion so the child was unsure which class she was in.

He said that as per the rules, the child is eligible for admission in Class 1, and the management of the school was claiming that it is not a government school, though the High Court has earlier ruled that the Hyderabad Public School is a government school.

While allowing the appeal, the bench questioned how the management had arrived at the conclusion that the child was a genius and could cope with Class 2 work without having completed Class 1.

The court maintained that the decision of the management to admit a student in Class 2, who had not studied in Class 1, is not rational and asked the school management to rethink its decision.
Bengaluru: President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday hailed Tipu Sultan, saying he died a heroic death fighting the British, remarks that came in the backdrop of protests by the BJP in Karnataka against the glorification of the 18th century Mysore ruler.

The remarks by the President in his address to the joint session of Karnataka legislature amid the raging debate on Tipu Sultans legacy sparked a war of words between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP.

The saffron party has opposed the Congress governments plans for Tipu Jayanti celebrations on his birth anniversary on November 10.

The BJP alleged that the state government has misused the office of the President by getting Tipus name mentioned in the speech while the Congress said the opposition party should be ashamed for levelling this charge. The celebrations have been opposed tooth and nail by the BJP which sees Tipu Sultan as a religious bigot and a brutal killer.

Tipu Sultan died a heroic death fighting the British. He was also a pioneer in the development and use of Mysore rockets in warfare. This technology was later adopted by the Europeans, Kovind said.

The Presidents reference to Tipu came after he noted the contributions of various historical figures of Karnataka, including Krishnadevaraya who was the emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1509 to 1529.
Hyderabad: Twelve hours after the accident that claimed biker Sana Iqbals life, her mother, Prof. Shaheen Khan on Wednesday filed a written complaint with the Narsingi police alleging that the accident was a conspiracy and pre-planned by Sanas husband, Abdul Nadeem, and made to look like a car accident.

We have recorded the mothers statement that there was domestic physical abuse. Investigations are on, said Sudheer Kumar, the investigating officer in the case.

The mother alleged in her written complaint that the FIR that was apparently lodged by Sanas sister was not stated by her. Since it was written in Telugu, the sister could not verify it.

It is a pre-planned murder. Neither is he critically injured, nor is he admitted. He is absconding with their baby ever since the FIR was lodged, Ms Shaheen Khan told Deccan Chronicle on Wednesday. Sources in Olive hospital, where Abdul Nadeem was admitted, however say he was discharged only on Wednesday evening.

The mother has further alleged that her son-in-law has not contacted her family since the accident and is absconding from his home at Hakimpet road, along with his and Sanas two-year-old child Ali baba.

Sana and her husband had been living apart for over three years. Last month Sana had sent a message from her phone to close friends and family saying that she was being abused by her husband.
Hyderabad: Though the Supreme Court has directed the health ministry to penalise and debar students who block seats, super speciality aspirants from the Telugu-speaking states still suffer as some of them did not get NEET-SS seats due to blocking by other aspirants.

They demanded an additional round of counselling to fill these blocked seats and to prevent seat-blocking.

The aspirants, who could not get the seats in the third phase of counselling due to blocking of seats, have asked the health ministry to take strong remedial measures to prevent seat-blocking in the forthcoming round of counselling.

The NEET-SS aspirants alleged that 111 seats have been blocked by students and 250 super-specialty seats are still lying vacant even after the third phase of counselling due to the long bond in a few states and the huge fee hike in private medical colleges.

Dr Moturu Dharanindra, M.D anaesthesiology who secured 21 rank in NEET-SS, said, In the presence of a vacant super specialty seat in a government college, a candidate, who is eligible, is forced to join a private college with hefty fees of `22 lakh per annum.

He further added, These 111 blocked seats take away the chances of others. I missed a seat in Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, in the third round of counselling because a student who opted for it and did not join the course. I will file a petition in the Supreme Court to provide seats to the deserving candidates.

G Srinivas from Health Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA), said, 'Students have been negligent even after the SC direction to debar them for next two years. Deserving candidates are suffering as negligent students do not report to colleges even after getting the seats.

Dr B Karunakar Reddy, vice-chancellor Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences, said, Many students think that the SC directions will not be implemented even if they miss joining the course.

Row over seats

111 seats have been blocked by students and 250 super-specialty seats are still lying vacant even after the third phase of counselling, allege NEET aspirants.

The aspirants, who could not get the seats in the third phase of counselling due to blocking of seats, have asked the health ministry to take strong remedial measures to prevent seat-blocking in the forthcoming round of counselling.
Falsely Accused, Wrongly Jailed Mississippi Woman Can Sue County

On April 26, 2012, Jessica Jauch was pulled over in Choctaw County, Mississippi and arrested on an outstanding felony warrant for selling a controlled substance. For the next 96 days she sat in jail, without access to an attorney or a judge.

The charges underlying that warrant turned out to be false, so Jauch filed a civil rights lawsuit against Choctaw County and Sheriff Cloyd Halford. While a lower court dismissed her claims based on the grand jury's indictment, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the suit, ruling that Jauch had been denied "basic procedural due process" by the county and Sheriff Halford in being held so long.

Incontrovertible Innocence

Jauch's indictment was based on video surveillance that allegedly showed her selling Xanax to an undercover police informant. When her attorney finally got a copy of the video, it showed Jauch borrowing $40 from the informant, a friend, and the assistant district attorney decided to dismiss the drug charge.

Jauch's lawsuit involves the 96 days she was detained in the meantime, all without access to an attorney or a hearing before a judge. When Jauch asked jail officials about a bail and probable cause hearing, she was told she had to wait because Mississippi district judges often go from county to county throughout the year to hear cases, and the circuit court in Choctaw County was not in session when Jauch was arrested. And it wouldn't be for another three months.

Postponed Procedural Rights

"A procedure calling for extended pre-trial detention without any sort of hearing is alien to our law," Circuit Judge Thomas Reavley wrote, allowing Jauch's lawsuit to proceed. "Heaping these consequences on an accused and blithely waiting months before affording the defendant access to the justice system is patently unfair in a society where guilt is not presumed," Reavley added, asserting indefinite pre-trial detention without an arraignment or court appearance offended "fundamental principles of justice."

Jauch's lawsuit can now proceed to a jury.

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New Delhi: Sending a strong message to Pakistan from Indian soil, visiting US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said terror havens will not be tolerated in that country, and added that too many terror organisations find a safe place in Pakistan.

India is a vibrant democracy. India and the US are natural allies. The US supports Indias emergence... The core of strong ties are the shared values  individual liberty and the rule of law, the secretary of state said, highlighting the two nations close strategic ties. In the fight against terrorism, the United States stands shoulder to shoulder with India. Terror havens will not be tolerated, Mr Tillerson said.

He said he had conveyed the concerns of the US and its friends such as India and Afghanistan to the Pakistani leadership that there are too many terrorist organisations that find a safe place in Pakistan that carry out attacks against other countries.

In a veiled message to China, Tillerson also highlighted the importance of the freedom of navigation and the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.
Hyderabad: TD national president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday removed the partys TS MLA A. Revanth Reddy from the posts of TS TD working president and Leader of Legislature Party. This was communicated to TS TD president L. Ramana.

In a statement, Mr Ramana said he spoke to Mr Naidu, who is presently in London, and on his directions, Mr Reddy was removed from the two party posts.

Mr Ramana also announced that there will be joint meeting of TD and BJP legislators and leaders on Thursday at a private hotel in the city where they will chalk out a strategy for the forthcoming Assembly session. Mr Reddy would be invited to the meeting since he continues to represent the party in the TS Assembly.

The TS TD president also made it clear that Mr Reddy could no longer convene the Legislature Party meeting as decided by Mr Naidu.

However, Mr Reddy told the media that he would go ahead with the TDLP meeting on Thursday in Assembly premises and no one can interfere in the affairs of Legislature Party of which he is the Leader.

In his media statement, Mr Ramana said that there was severe damage to the party in TS due to Mr Reddys meetings with Congress leaders.
Optics is important in politics and diplomacy. Afghan President Ashraf Ghanis day-long visit to New Delhi on Tuesday and his businesslike interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the day US secretary of state Rex Tillerson landed in the Indian capital after visiting Islamabad, sought to emphasise that India should be seen as a part of the solution in Afghanistan, no matter what Pakistan thinks.

There was never any doubt about this since the Taliban were driven from power in 2001 following 9/11, though from time to time the US deferred to its non-Nato ally Pakistan and advised India to keep a low profile over its massive development activity in Afghanistan. In August this year, President Donald Trumps policy officially raised Indias profile and urged New Delhi to go forth boldly in Afghanistan with its development goods.

Thats all that has changed since the Trump administration took over. President Ghanis talks with Mr Modi covered familiar ground. Besides development and economic support, India agreed, as before, to provide security sector training and some equipment if Kabul wanted it. India has already made clear it wont send any troops to Afghanistan.

Mr Ghani took pains to clarify that there was no secret pact with India to disadvantage Pakistan in any way. India also made clear that besides fighting terrorism, it sought an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled negotiated peace settlement (with Taliban).

Theres nothing new here. The Afghan leaders visit appeared timed only to reinforce the point that the US, Afghanistan and India were on the same page even if US-Pakistan friendship was a given.
If it loses, its the end of his beginning

Sandeep Dikshit

Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat go to the polls in the next two months. This is the beginning of the fourth year of the Narendra Modi government, a time when any incumbent government would have in substantial terms done what it wanted to, and would await results of their work. So its a very good time to see any connection between any elections now and what may be the trend in 2019.

These two states have their own significance. Himachal, while a small state, sort of has a tradition of changing governments in every state election. If it bucks this trend this time, then its not just another election, but a clear signal that people want to give a chance to the BJP going beyond their nature and habit.

Then of course there is Gujarat, where it all began. For decades, it has been a laboratory for the RSS and its fundamentalist organisations, a BJP that had worked its religious-caste equation well, and a chief minister who had used Godhra to the hilt, and built a huge cloud of development achievements, written into the image of a juggernaut that sanitises society and polity by wiping away the scum (read minorities), and who gives development as none else. It is this caricature, trumpeted nationwide that carried Narendra Modi to 300-plus seats and the post of the Prime Minister.

While Mr Modi is no longer the CM of Gujarat, the government there is his puppet, and is only continuing with what is claimed as what he left behind. Mr Modis bogus claims of non-cooperation by the UPA government, the dexterous way he turned any attack on himself and his alleged involvement in the post-Godhra riots as an attack on Gujarati asmita, his promise of transforming India at spectacular speeds and in spectacular ways, including the imagined decimation of Pakistan  all these are now beyond slogans, and for people to do a reality check.

Mr Modi has been visiting Gujarat, taking big leaders and big projects there, has brought all his favourite Gujarat bureaucrats and police officers to run the Centre, and his Gujarati business baron cronies so to speak to run our economy.

Mr Modi has been relentless in his misuse of government machinery to malign and trouble the Opposition, and the bureaucracy has never been so intellectually corrupted and malleable.

If all is as well as what Mr Modi says it is, the BJP should gain in Gujarat  gain votes, gain seats and sweep. Anything less in Gujarat will be a clearer signal than even BJP loosing Himachal.

If Mr Modi loses in anyway, votes or seats or his nightmare  the Gujarat government, then in Churchills words its the end of his beginning.

Two years later, we may well say again  Gujarat was where it all began.



The writer is a Congress leader

Gujarati pride will not let Modi down

Neelkant Bakshi

The coming Gujarat elections are not any challenge to the BJP. The ride to victory will be smooth, no doubt about the end results. Gujarati pride will not let Prime Minister Narendra Modi down.

Gujarat is Mr Modis trophy state. Under his leadership, Gujarat has taken a lead in development. The development there is not only industry-driven, but has been a balanced growth of both agriculture and industry. The road infrastructure has been overhauled drastically.

The Sabarmati Riverfront which was full of stench earlier and you could not stand there even for two minutes has been transformed into a lush beautiful sight, hope we can do the same with Yamuna river front in Delhi too.

The electricity production and distribution system has been completely redone. The quality of drinking water has been improved. The people working knew the BJP under Mr Modi meant business. Thus, the whole government machinery became efficient and the results are for everyone to see.

The real challenge for the BJP lies in bettering its own record. The Opposition, specially the Congress, is trying to create an illusion of Rahul Gandhis popularity on Twitter and his ability to lead the Opposition in a new direction. He has been the heir apparent since 13 years and yet shows no signs of statesmanship. His recent burst of hired social media activity is pumped up by the realisation that though they cannot defeat Mr Modi in Gujarat or anywhere else, but any dent they make in the voteshare will sustain the dynasty for some more time. The voteshare will actually go down, the results on December 18 will prove it.

Over the years, Mr Modi has risen up to many challenges. He started as a grassroots worker. Thats the reason he knows the problems of aam aadmi. He has taken over the pet slogan of garibi hatao from the Congress. He looks like a person who is a doer.

The real challenge lies in the conversion of the hopes masses have invested in him. Gujarat definitely prospered and progressed when Mr Modi was the CM. Not only on the fundamental bijli pani front, but on other important parameters like womens safety and womens empowerment. Gujarat has been miles ahead of other states.

Gujarat has been the most vocal advocate of the BJP. By and large the common man has stayed neutral with the reforms and strong decisions of the BJP at the national level, as the results in Uttar Pradesh showed, in a very short time we will see the same reaffirmation of faith by Gujarat as well.



The writer is the BJPs Delhi media relations head
In the second quarter of 2016, Indias economy seemed to be near a point of inflection as the decline of growth was bottoming out. But suddenly on November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to go where angels would fear to tread. He ordered the precipitous withdrawal of 86 per cent of the cash, calling to demonetisation. Almost a year later, aftereffects are still being felt. The Indian economy is still plunging. After adjusting for the 2.2 per cent additional GDP growth bonus the government gave itself by national accounting legerdemain, growth must be around 3.5 per cent. It was entirely his decision. There was no discussion. Who would he discuss with anyway? The few, like the previous RBI governor, Raghuram Rajan, advised against it. Why did he do it? The answer is hubris.

The word hubris is described in the dictionary to simply mean excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance But it really means much more than that. In classical Greek ethical and religious thought hubris or hybris meant an overweening presumption suggesting impious disregard of the limits governing human action in an orderly universe. It is the sin to which the great and gifted are most susceptible, and in Greek tragedy it is usually the heros tragic flaw. In the Greek tradition the sin of hubris was punishable by a super Olympian law to which even Zeus had to submit. Aeschylus in his epic poem Persians about the defeat of King Xerxes great Persian army in 480 BC by a much smaller Greek force wrote: For when misfortunes fraudful hand/ prepares to pour the vengeance of the sky/ what mortal shall her force withstand?

The sin of hubris has been a continuing theme that has captured the imagination of historians, philosophers and theologians alike. The Biblical saying pride cometh before the fall applied equally well to Ravan, the great king of the rakshasas, whose long years of penance secured him the favour of Brahma, who rendered him invulnerable to the gods and demons alike. We know what happened to him. We, lesser Hindus, also know that it is not necessary to be a tyrant to attract the malefic attentions of the gods. Bali, the celebrated daitya, rose to such an eminence that Indra and the other gods had to seek the interference of Vishnu, who once again obliged devas by consigning Bali to patala or the netherworld. Bali, like Ravan, was guilty of hubris.

Shortly after John F. Kennedy became President of the United States, a plan was made to oust Fidel Castro, Cubas charismatic El Commandante. The plan called for a landing in Cuba of a force of Cuban emigre fighters armed and trained by the CIA. This force was then meant to storm its way in land releasing in its wake a popular upsurge that would topple Castro, just like he did the dictator Fulgencio Batista. A President in waiting was even kept ready in Florida. The invasion was a spectacular failure. Most of the invaders were killed before they even waded ashore as US warships watched helplessly. Kennedy realised that he was led up the path and rejected the CIAs urgent pleas for US air support and abandoned the landing force to its fate. The few who survived ended up in Cuban jails. When asked what went wrong Kennedys national security adviser, McGeorge Bundy, replied: Hubris!

In February 1961, Robert McNamara, a brilliant Harvard MBA and former president of the Ford Motor Company, took over as US defence secretary. He took with him an equally brilliant team of systems analysts who were to transform the way the US fought its wars in the future. The generals at the Pentagon were ready to snow McNamara under tonnes of detail to go about with business as usual. The briefing presentations went on forever and the new defence secretary studied each slide intently. He was quiet till he reached slide 700 and something when he cried, Stop!, and pointed out that this slide contradicted slide 50 or something seen the previous day. The brass lost the match at that moment and McNamara and his whiz kids took full control of the Pentagon.

The systems analysts quantified everything. Every weapon system ordered was subject to a cost-benefit analysis. Even military results were quantified in terms of area pacified and body count. When the US went into Vietnam these two result goals took an entirely different and sinister meaning. Area pacified became area cleared of all Vietnamese, innocent or otherwise, and body count became just the production of dead bodies. Since the dead tell no tales they were all supposed to be either Vietcong or North Vietnamese Army. When Clark Clifford, who took over from McNamara as defence secretary, totalled up all the body count figures of the war, he found that they had exceeded all intelligence estimates of enemy combatants by over half! When he asked why are we then still fighting?, Lyndon Johnson knew that he too was led up the path. In 1993, I met Robert McNamara at a seminar organised by Harvards John F. Kennedy School of Government to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the US defeat. I asked him as to how he got it so wrong? He replied with one word: Hubris.

In 1987 Indian troops went into Sri Lanka at the invitation of the two warring parties to impose an agreement midwifed by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. When the LTTE reneged on it, the then Indian Army Chief, Gen. Krishnaswamy Sundarji, assured the government that he would be able to eliminate or disarm the LTTE in just a few weeks. We know what happened. It is a sad chapter in the Indian Armys history. It even cost Rajiv Gandhi his life. The question that baffles is how is it that the Indian Army ended up fighting a group that was fostered and supported by the Indian government? And what made the Indian Army think that it will be able to wipe out its onetime protege in just weeks, if not days? Hubris?

With the war on Iraq not going quite as easily as anticipated, the invasion of Iraq became Donald Rumsfelds war. According to Seymour Hersh, writing in the New Yorker: Rumsfeld insisted on micro-managing the war. Rumsfelds faith in precision bombing and his insistence on streamlined military operations has had profound consequences for the ability of the armed forces to fight effectively overseas. The war went awfully wrong for both the Iraqi people and the US. According to classified US military documents released by WikiLeaks in October 2010, Iraqi and coalition military deaths between January 2004 and December 2009 were 109,032. Of this 66,081 were civilians, 15,196 were host nation combatants, 23,984 were enemy combatants and 3,771 belonged to the US military.

On the first night of the war a CNN military analyst, obviously ecstatic with the hi-tech communications system that gave the decision-makers in the Pentagon and White House a continuous stream of video data on the progress of the war, called it Gods view of the war. That God, if there be one, should have been thought to have such a still limited and linear view of unfolding events itself is testimony to the arrogance of people in Washington. War has now taken a long-term residence in Iraq. It took the US a good part of a decade, several thousand dead and more than a trillion dollars up in smoke. What happened? Hubris.
Microsoft filed the lawsuit in April 2016 arguing that the US government was violating the constitution by preventing the company from informing its customers about government requests for their emails and other documents.

Microsoft Corp said it will drop a lawsuit against the US government after the Department of Justice (DOJ) changed data request rules on alerting internet users about agencies accessing their information.

The new policy limits the use of secrecy orders and calls for such orders to be issued for defined periods, Microsoft Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith said in a blog post on October 23.

"As a result of the issuance of this policy, we are taking steps to dismiss our lawsuit," Smith said. The company expects the changes to end the practice of indefinite secrecy orders.

Microsoft filed the lawsuit in April 2016 arguing that the US government was violating the constitution by preventing the company from informing its customers about government requests for their emails and other documents.

The suit argued that the governments actions were in violation of the Fourth Amendment, which establishes the right for people and businesses to know if the government searches or seizes their property, and the companys First Amendment right to free speech.

The changes will ensure that secrecy order requests are carefully and specifically tailored to the facts in the case, Smith said.

This is an important step for both privacy and free expression. It is an unequivocal win for our customers, and were pleased the DOJ (Department of Justice) has taken these steps to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans, the statement said.

While Microsoft has agreed to drop its lawsuit, Smith said the company is renewing its call to Congress for the amendment of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act which was adopted in 1986.

The DOJ did not respond to request for comment outside regular business hours.

Last week, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear the Trump administrations appeal of a lower courts ruling preventing federal prosecutors from obtaining emails stored in Microsoft computer servers in Dublin, Ireland in a drug trafficking investigation.

Government lawyers argued the lower court ruling threatened national security and public safety.

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A new ransomware is spreading across Europe by tricking victims into installing it by pretending to be a software update. Dubbed Bad Rabbit it a Ukrainian international airport and Russian media outlets and over 200 other targets in those countries and other European states, including Germany, an internet security firm said on Wednesday. Some cases were reported in Japan and Bulgaria. Avast said the ransomware has been detected in the US, South Korea and Poland, according to CNN.

Bad Rabbit asks for a ransom 0.05 bitcoin bounty, around $280. While its not clear who is behind Bad Rabbit, one thing is for certain  they are a fan of Game of Thrones. It has references to the HBO show two dragons Drogon and Rhaegal and also GrayWorm.

The ransomware spreads through drive-by attacks where insecure websites are compromised, Wired reported. While the target is visiting a legitimate website, a malware dropper is being downloaded from the threat actors infrastructure, according to Russian security firm Kaspersky Labs. In this instance, the malware is disguised as an Adobe Flash installer. When the file is opened it starts locking the infected computer.

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The boy was hit Wednesday morning outside Saint Francis de Sales School in Coventry Township, a few miles south of downtown Akron. (Representational image | Photo: File)

Akron: Authorities say an Ohio driver fatally struck her 5-year-old son when he ran in front of her vehicle as she was dropping him off for school.

The boy was hit Wednesday morning outside Saint Francis de Sales School in Coventry Township, a few miles south of downtown Akron.

A spokesman for the Summit County Sheriff's Office says the boy died at the scene. Authorities didn't immediately release the child's name. He was from nearby Green.

The sheriff's office says the initial investigation showed no indication that drugs, alcohol or excessive speed were factors in the collision. It remains under investigation. WEWS-TV reports that investigators say the mother isn't expected to face charges.
Over the past two weeks, Sherin brought the whole community together in the suburb, as countless volunteers searched in and around Richardson hoping to find her. (Photo: AP)

Houston: The Richardson community in the US was mourning the death of Sherin Mathews, the three-year-old Indian girl whose foster father has claimed that she choked while drinking milk, with many people asking why he did not wake up his nurse wife when the child was struggling to breathe.

Sherin, who had developmental issues and limited verbal communication skills, was confirmed dead by US police on Tuesday after over two weeks of investigation. She was missing since October 7.

Wesley Mathews, 37, the father of Sherin, told the police that his daughter choked while drinking milk and he removed her body from the house as he believed she had died.

He was re-arrested and charged with first-degree felony injury to a child due to a conflicting statement to police.

The arrest came a day after the body of a small child was found in a culvert near their home in suburban Dallas.

While the cause of her death was still being probed, the community and neighbourhoods all across Texas are shocked, heartbroken, angry and mourning her death.

Wesleys wife Sini Mathews, who is a registered nurse and could have helped her, was reportedly sleeping in her room.

All these lies, first punishing the girl and putting her under tree, later choking her in a garage at 3am for not drinking milk, does not add up. It is heartbreaking and shocking, said a teary-eyed resident Diana.

It will be another story soon, when police will find the actual cause of the death, she said.

Another neighbour Barabaa Diamond Johnson asked why did not Wesley Mathews wake his nurse wife as Sherin Mathews choked to death, especially when she is a registered nurse at Childrens hospital Dallas.

Im normally quiet about such things. But as a paediatric nurse and the mother of a child who aspirated, you dont just say, Oops they died You call 911! You run screaming for anyone to help you. Im sorry, this is more fishy than leaving her by a tree. RIP sweet girl, no one will hurt you anymore, Barbara said.

People who live in the neighbourhood stopped their cars or their daily walks on Tuesday to see the ditch where Sherins body was found. They pulled phones from their pockets to take photos of the spot.

Since Sunday, heavy hearts joined in song and prayer for the little girl found in the culvert.

I think everybody is just ready for closure and we just want her to be at peace, said resident Gauthami Vemula.

The incident has left the shocked community with many unanswered questions.

Over the past two weeks, Sherin brought the whole community together in the suburb, as countless volunteers searched in and around Richardson hoping to find her.

Sunday evening, many gathered for a prayer vigil a few hours after learning of the heartbreaking developments. It was not the first time music and prayer filled the air in the 900 block of Sunningdale in Richardson.

It was not the first vigil held underneath the tree that the girls father, Wesley, told police he last saw the girl standing near.

A lot of people are in shock and anger and frustrated. Lets just try our best to breathe and regroup to focus our energy back on this little girl, this princess and find ways to seek her justice as best and as quick as possible, said vigil organiser Omair Siddiqi.

Meanwhile, Richardson police are sharing new details into their ongoing investigation into the disappearance and death of Sherin.

Richardson Police Department sergeant Kevin Perlich told reporters that they had previously searched the area near the culvert where Mathews body was found Sunday but had come up empty-handed.

After heavy rainfall overnight Saturday, police returned to the area near East Spring Valley and South Bowser roads with cadaver dogs Sunday morning, knowing that rain tends to help intensify smells. An investigator and search team said the little girls clothed body was then found a ways into the culvert, according to Perlich.

On Tuesday, Richardson police made a plea for Sini to agree to speak with the police. She has reportedly not cooperated with the police since the weekend of October 7.

Her attorney Kent Starr said she is distraught over the loss of her daughter and that she is trying to regain custody of her four-year-old biological daughter who was placed in foster care after her sisters disappearance.

Starr told NBC 5 that he has withdrawn and is no longer Sinis criminal defence attorney.

Additional information on the change in representation was not immediately available, and it was unclear whether she had retained a different attorney.

Wesley remained in the Richardson City Jail on $1-million bond. It is not known when he will be transferred to the Dallas County Jail.

Police are still investigating how long the girls body had been in the drainage ditch.

Wesley, who works in an IT company, was charged on Monday night with injury to a child, which is punishable by up to life in prison.

Sherins body was positively identified yesterday and autopsy results are pending. It is unclear whether authorities believe Wesleys new account of what happened.

Police have unsuccessfully tried to get Sini to voluntarily answer questions, said Richardson police sergeant Kevin Perlich.

She works at Youngsters Medical Middle in Dallas, the hospital confirmed yesterday.

Police spoke with her on Monday - the day after Sherins body was found but before authorities confirmed her identity.

The girls body was found Sunday with the help of search dogs in the culvert near Spring Valley and South Bowser roads.

Police asked Sini to identify clothing found on the body.

She told police the clothing, which Perlich did not detail, looked like something Sherin might have worn. She also provided police with dental records, which were used to identify Sherin.

Attorney Kent Starr has said Sini was cooperating with the police. But his office confirmed yesterday that he was no longer representing her.

The police have said Sherin was small for her age and it wasnt unusual for her to eat in the middle of the night to gain weight. Sherin, who was about three-feet tall weighing just 22 pounds (10 kgs), was malnourished when she was adopted last year and did not have the language skills of a typical three-year-old.

The couple adopted Sherin from India in 2016, according to media reports. The girl had been found in the bushes before authorities sent her to an orphanage.

Neighbour Joe Keonine said yesterday that he never saw Sherin or her four-year-old sister outside. But he would sometimes see their parents doing yard work or Sini outside in her scrubs, likely on her way to or from work.

He said the neighbours are worried about what will happen to Sherins sister. The girl is now in a foster care.
Trump felicitated Sharad Thakkar and Karan Arora along with seven other owners of minority businesses in the Oval Office of the White House. (Photo: File)

Washington: President Donald Trump has honoured two Indian-American businessmen in recognition of their small but significant contribution to the US economy.

Trump felicitated Sharad Thakkar and Karan Arora along with seven other owners of minority businesses in the Oval Office of the White House Tuesday.

Thakkar is president of Polymer Technologies, which is recipient of Minority Energy Firm of the Year.

Based out of Ohio, Polymer Technologies works with plastic industry individuals to transform their throwaway scrap plastic into valuable raw material.

PTS has a proven track record of providing long-term solutions in automotive, home care, and lawn care product lines.

Based out of Florida, Arora is director of family-owned Natural Vitamin Labs, which is recipient of Minority Export Firm of the Year award.

With 25 years of experience in supplying natural health products to industry partners worldwide, NVL operates from a 95,000-sq ft facility in Miami, Florida.

The facility is equipped with a manufacturing practices system and fully automated packaging machinery that allows precision and error minimization, resulting in high speed production.

Monday night, Thakkar and Arora received their respective awards from the Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross at an event in Detroit.

Both Thakkar and Arora came to the US as students for studies and earned the pathway to citizenship through H-1B and Green Card.

Arora said Trump's policies are reviving America's manufacturing base.

The simplification of tax code would come out as a great boon for small family-owned businesses like his.

"There is a big demand (globally) for US-made products, which have more value anywhere in the world," Arora said.

Indian-Americans are making great contributions to the US economy, said Thakkar.

Originally from Baroda, he came to the United States some 30 years ago.

"I am very proud that this country gave me this opportunity," he said.

Arora moved to the US in 2000 for undergraduate studies from Mumbai.

"The opportunities that we had have been fantastic, tremendous," he said.

During his interaction with Thakkar and Arora along with other awardees inside the powerful Oval Office, Trump "congratulated all of us" and said he is "proud of" minority businesses and their contribution in creating jobs in the country.

Praising Trump's new policies, Arora said businessmen like him need to spend more time on "business planning rather than tax planning."

Simplifying the tax code would definitely help the minority businesses, he said.

"The tax reform, would not only simplify the process, but also put more money into businesses," Thakkar said.

In his remarks, Trump said his Administration is deeply committed to empowering minority business owners.

"We're working to lift government barriers so that you can thrive, prosper, and grow," he said.

Ross said nationwide, there are 996,246 minority-owned firms with paid employees last year, up 4.9 per cent from the prior year.

And these minority-owned businesses produced USD 1.1 trillion of annual revenue, he said.

They employ eight million people, but only 22 per cent of them have 10 or more employees.

"So there's plenty of room to grow. But we know that minority entrepreneurs are up to the task," he said.
At just 29 years old, Minzayar is one of Myanmars leading photographers - part of a new generation of local freelance journalists documenting the political, social and economic transition of their country, according to the Rory Peck website.

Minzayar is unique among his peers for the dedication he has shown in telling Myanmars important and difficult stories, notably his long-term commitment to covering the plight of the Rohingya - a story now top of the international news agenda.

He along with another Myanmar colleague were arrested in September by Bangladesh security agencies in Coxs Bazar as they were reporting the flood of refugees from Rakhine State. However, they were allowed to return to Myanmar on October 17.

His long-term documentary project, The Price of Jade, exposes, for the first time, the horrific social impact of Myanmars secretive, multi-billion-dollar Jade industry in conflict-torn Kachin state and reveals the perilous lives of hundreds of thousands of young people who have migrated there to work as miners, hoping to find a shortcut to wealth.

Minzayars work has been published in TIME, The New York Times, The Guardian, The New Yorker, National Geographic, GEO, 6MOIS, La Republica and many other publications and has been exhibited in Myanmar and around the world, including photography festivals Rencontres dArles and Angkor Photo Festival.
Trump will likely not make the customary presidential visit to the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea known as the Demilitarised Zone. (Photo: File)

New York: President Donald Trump will skip a key Asia summit at the end of his trip to the region in November.

The White House said Tuesday that Trump will be returning to the United States on Nov 14, which is the same day as the East Asia Summit (EAS) in the Philippines. Trump is slated to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, which is also in the Philippines, the day before but he will not stay the extra day.

Another US delegation that will attend the EAS, which will include more than a dozen Asian nations as well as Australia, New Zealand and Russia. The White House did not give a reason as to Trump's absence.

Philippines will be the final stop of Trump's 12-day, five-nation trip his first to Asia. The trip is expected to be dominated by Trump demanding that American allies in the

region increase pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.

Read: Trump to visit 5 Asian nations to pressurise North Korea

But for all of President Trump's overheated talk about North Korea's Kim Jung Un and the country's nuclear program, Trump will likely not make the customary presidential visit to the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea known as the Demilitarised Zone.

Trump has derided Kim as "Little Rocket Man" and threatened to unleash "fire and fury" on Pyongyang if its leaders do not abandon the weapons program.

If Trump doesn't go while in South Korea, he would be breaking from recent presidential custom. All presidents but one since Ronald Reagan have visited the DMZ, which has separated the North and South for 64 years.

He will also advocate American economic interests during his trip, which include stops in Japan and China before travelling to Vietnam for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings.

The trip will conclude in the Philippines, where the president is slated to meet with President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been accused of human rights abuses, including killing suspected drug dealers. The White House said Trump could raise concerns about the program.

The Washington Post first reported Trump decision's to skip the East Asia Summit, which mostly focuses on general strategic issues rather than the economic matters at APEC. The White House said Trump may attend some meetings related to the

East Asia Summit before the gathering officially begins.
This is the ninth time Russia has protected Assad and his team of murderers by blocking the Security Council from acting. In doing so, Russia once again sides with the dictators and terrorists who use these weapons, Nikki Haley said. (Photo: AP/File)

Washington: The US has slammed Russia for vetoing a UN Security Council resolution extending the mandate of the only official mission probing the use of chemical weapons in Syria, saying Moscow has "once again" demonstrated it would do anything to protect its ally.

Russia yesterday vetoed the US-sponsored UN resolution that would extend the work of inspectors seeking to determine who is responsible for chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

Russia has blocked such a move by the UN Security Council a number of times, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in her daily news conference.

Russia has blocked the UN Security Council action to hold accountable those who use chemical weapons, including terrorists and the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad, she said.

"By blocking the extension of the Joint Investigative Mechanism, Russia has once again demonstrated it does not care about stopping the barbaric use of chemical weapons in the world and will do whatever it takes to protect its ally, the Assad regime," Sanders alleged.

Blocking the extension of the investigating authority means nothing less than Russia's endorsement of the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons against innocent women and children.

"We will continue to push back against this," Sanders said.

At the UN headquarters in New York, the Security Council rejected the draft resolution following a vote of 11 in favour to 2 against (Bolivia, Russian Federation), with 2 abstaining (China, Kazakhstan).

Had it been adopted, it would have extended the mechanism's mandate established by resolution 2235 (2015) and set to expire on November 17 for one more year.

Vassily A Nebenzia, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, suggested that adjourning the meeting until November 7 and discussing an extension without undue pressure.

He said that the Russian Federation expected an honest, impartial, complete investigation, and would accept clear, incontrovertible evidence of guilt.

The US had already determined who was guilty, and its actions were politicising the issue, he alleged.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Russia has once again demonstrated it will do whatever it takes to ensure the "barbaric" Assad regime never faces consequences for its continued use of chemicals as weapons.

"By rejecting the renewal of the work of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) an independent, purely technical body, Russia has made it clear that it does not care about stopping the use of chemical weapons in the world," she said.

"This is the ninth time Russia has protected Assad and his team of murderers by blocking the Security Council from acting. In doing so, Russia once again sides with the dictators and terrorists who use these weapons," Haley said.

British Permanent Representative to the UN Matthew Rycroft described Russia's use of veto power as a "sad day".

"It's a sad day for the Security Council when Russia vetoes a simple technical, procedural rollover, of the mandate of an absolutely crucial part of the international communitys architecture to help tackle the appalling use of chemical weapons," he said.

The Syrian regime that they support must have something to hide, and I wonder why Russia continues to defend the indefensible, he said and hoped that Russia will realise that they are isolated on this issue.

"They are seeking to defend the indefensible. And beyond that, they have a particular responsibility as a permanent member of the Security Council with a close relationship with the Syrian regime. They have taken it upon themselves to lead the international community's efforts to disarm Syria of its chemical weapons," he said.

"That job is not complete, and I call on Russia to listen to what we all said today and to step up to meet those responsibilities," the British Ambassador said.
President Xi Jinping was formally reappointed head of the Communist Party Wednesday, commanding a new ruling council whose role will likely be eclipsed after he established himself as China's most powerful leader in decades. (Photo: AP)

Beijing: President Xi Jinping was formally reappointed head of the Communist Party Wednesday, commanding a new ruling council whose role will likely be eclipsed after he established himself as China's most powerful leader in decades.

In a highly choreographed event, Xi led the new members of the elite Politburo Standing Committee in front of television cameras at Beijing's massive Great Hall of the People after their selection by 204 party officials in a closed-door vote.

Xi, 64, secured a second five-year term as general secretary after his eponymous political theory was enshrined in the Communist Party constitution, giving him an inviolable mandate to rule and possibly positioning him to retain power for decades to come.

His reappointment capped a twice-a-decade congress of the Communist Party that gave him a freer hand to accomplish his ambition of turning China into a global superpower with a world-class military by mid-century.

Premier Li Keqiang, 62, also retained his seat on the seven-member committee.

Five other men replaced comrades who had reached an informal retirement age of 68. They are all 60 or older, a possible indication that none are lined up to succeed Xi at the next congress in 2022.

Xi himself was elevated to the committee in 2007, when he was 54, and succeeded Hu Jintao as general secretary and president five years later.

Despite their promotion to the nation's highest leadership circle, the new committee members are likely to have much less influence than their predecessors under a newly empowered Xi.

The constitutional amendment, which the congress passed Tuesday, has put Xi in the rarefied company of the nation's founder Mao Zedong, and Deng Xiaoping, the architect of its economic reforms.

Locus of power

The document's "all-round embracing of Xi's thought reflects the high degree of consensus the Party has built around its leadership core," the state-run China Daily wrote in an editorial Wednesday.

The accolade firmly establishes Xi as the country's locus of power, potentially upending the collective model of leadership promoted by Deng and embraced by Xi's two predecessors, Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin, who both stepped down after two terms.

In the past two administrations, decisions were the result of horse-trading and consultation among members of the standing committee, the council of party elders which has led China since Deng's death in 1997.

But with his name in the constitution, Xi has become the nation's ultimate authority, likely giving him the last word on all major decisions.

The five new committee members include Xi confidant Li Zhanshu, 67, vice premier Wang Yang, 62, leading Communist Party theoretician Wang Huning, 62, party organisation department head Zhao Leji, 60, and Shanghai party chief Han Zheng, 63.

At least one important figure did not make the cut, as Xi's right-hand man Wang Qishan, 69, vacated his standing committee seat.

Analysts had thought the leader of the country's anti-corruption campaign might be kept on in defiance of the party's unofficial guideline that cadres retire at 68.
President Xi Jinping was formally handed a second term on Wednesday, with no clear successor emerging in a revamped ruling council, cementing his grip on power and setting the stage for him to dominate China for decades to come.

In a highly choreographed event, Mr Xi led the new members of the elite Politburo Standing Committee in front of television cameras at Beijings massive Great Hall of the People after their selection by 204 party officials in a closed-door vote.

Mr Xi, 64, secured a second five-year term as general secretary of the Communist Party after his political theory was enshrined in its constitution, giving him an inviolable mandate to rule and possibly positioning him to retain power for much longer. He was also reappointed head of the countrys Central Military Commission.

Premier Li Keqiang, 62, retained his seat on the seven-member committee while five other men  all little known outside China  replaced comrades who had reached an informal retirement age of 68.

In a speech, as the other members stood expressionless in dark suits, Mr Xi heralded a new era for the country under his rule and said the party must get a new look and more importantly make new accomplishments. But the new ruling council looked decidedly old, raising doubts that any could succeed Mr Xi.

Xi Jinping doesnt want to share power. He doesnt want someone breathing down his neck, preparing the succession, Jean-Pierre Cabestan, China specialist at Hong Kong Baptist University, said.

He wants to keep pressure on everybody and enjoy power for five or 10 years without having his hands tied.

All the committees members are at least 60 years of age. Under the current rules, they would be too old to serve the customary two terms as the partys leader at the next congress in 2022.

Mr Xi was elevated to the committee in 2007, when he was 54, and succeeded Hu Jintao as general secretary and President five years later.

The new committee members are Mr Xis confidant Li Zhanshu, 67, vice-premier Wang Yang, 62, leading Communist Party theoretician Wang Huning, 62, party organisation department head Zhao Leji, 60, and Shanghai party chief Han Zheng, 63.

No women made it onto the elite Politburo Standing Committee. Only one of its 25 members is a woman

TRUMP CALL

President Donald Trump spoke to Mr Xi, the White House said after the Chinese leader solidified his grip on power at the Communist Party Congress. A senior administration official said the pair had spoken by telephone after Mr Xi was formally handed a second term.

PRESS BARRED

Mr Xi encouraged members of the press to visit and see more of China when he unveiled his new leadership but five Western media outlets were excluded from the event.

Journalists bearing a deep red invitation, with The Great Hall of the People emblazoned in golden script, arrived to watch Mr Xi formally begin his second term and introduce his ruling council.

But reporters from the New York Times, the Economist, the Financial Times, the Guardian and the BBC were not invited, unable to listen in person to Mr Xis pledge to welcome objective reporting and constructive suggestions.
The appointment of an interlocutor for Kashmir would not affect security operations in the Valley, Gen Bipin Rawat, Indian Army chief said. He was responding to reporters on the sidelines of a FICCI event.



Asked whether the appointment of former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma as interlocutor would impact the armys operations in the state, he said, My one-word answer is no, it will not.



He said the governments existing policy on Jammu and Kashmir has helped in improving the overall situation in the state.



Two days ago, the Centre chose former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma to hold talks with all stakeholders to find a solution to the Kashmir issue.



Meanwhile, Dineshwar Sharma said he would meet Hurriyat leaders during his visit to Kashmir next week.



I will be in Kashmir next week. I am hopeful. I will meet everyone and even Hurriyat leaders. My doors are open for everyone.



Earlier, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said Sharma would decide whom to engage within the state.



Gen Rawat said incidents of cross-border infiltration have come down and the overall situation in the state had improved significantly in the last few months.



In January, you had asked me whether the situation has deteriorated in Kashmir, whether we have lost Kashmir. Now you analyse where is Kashmir? he said.



Gen Rawat held that We have killed terrorists on the Line of Control (LoC) because of which the situation has improved.



Speaking at the FICCI seminar on finding solutions to the armys modernisation problems through indigenisation, Gen Rawat flagged concerns about the security of military installations in the hinterland.



He stressed on the need to deploy robust intelligence and surveillance systems to prevent a repeat of Uri and Pathankot-style militant attacks.



Gen Rawat said as the security of bases in the hinterland is a cause for concern, the army was working on plans to deploy electronic warfare and early-warning systems to keep an eye not only on the border areas but also in the interiors.



Nineteen soldiers were killed when suspected Pakistani militants struck at an army camp in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri on September 18, 2016. Ten days later, Indian soldiers crossed the line of control and attacked terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.




The Central Bureau of Investigation is quietly closing cases related to Karnatakas multi-crore mining scam.



It has ended its investigation, right at the preliminary inquiry stage, into illegal ore export from ports in Mangaluru, Goa, and Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.



The illegal mining took place in Ballari district of Karnataka. In 2012, a minister estimated the loss to the exchequer at a mind-boggling Rs 25,000 crore. The Karnataka government had entrusted the investigation to the CBI.



According to a Lokayukta report, 12.57 crore metric tonnes of Karnataka-origin iron ore were exported via ports in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka between 2006 and 2010 (April).



Ore exported from Goa was not counted in the report. Of the 12.57 crore MT, 2.98 crore MT was illegal, the report had stated. On the Supreme Courts prompting, the CBI had filed chargesheets against mining companies linked to Janardhana Reddy, former BJP minister, and others.



One-page letters



Sources said the heads of the CBI offices in Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Karnataka had informed their bosses about the closure of the cases.



They have said no prima facie case exists and no evidence was found during preliminary inquiry.



They have sent out one-page letters, said a senior official, part of the Karnataka Cabinet sub-committee on implementation of the Lokayukta report.



Following the Supreme Courts directions, Karnataka had formed a Special Investigation Team to investigate cases involving the export of less than 50,000 MT from Belikeri and the New Mangalore Port. Cases involving more than 50,000 MT were entrusted to the CBI.



The CBI had filed chargesheets in some illegal export cases from Karnataka, Goa and Andhra Pradesh.



DH News Service



Ex-Lokayukta shocked

Former Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde said reports by him and his deputy Dr U V Singh contained enough material to bring errant miners to book.



The Lokayukta inquiry was based on documents collected from the ports. The report was submitted with shipping bills and information gathered from the port authorities. How can cases be closed at the preliminary inquiry stage? he wondered.
A special CBI court on Wednesday adjourned the proceedings in two 2G spectrum allocation scam cases in which former telecom minister A Raja, DMK Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi and several others are accused.



The court will next hear the cases on November 7.



The court, which has kept its verdict reserved since April 26, was expected to seek more clarifications from the parties involved on Wednesday.



It was also expected to announce the date of judgement.



The court, however, said it needed more time to give final shape to its verdict as the documents submitted in the cases are voluminous and technical in nature.



Adjourning the case, Special CBI Judge O P Saini indicated that he may announce the date of verdict on November 7.



He also issued production warrants against Unitech managing director Sanjay Chandra and film producer Karim Morani, who are accused in the cases.



One of the two cases was filed by the CBI against Raja and others in connection with the scam about six years ago.



The Enforcement Directorate filed a separate case later in 2014 on the basis of the CBI's case, charging Raja and other accused with money laundering of about Rs 200 crore.



There are 17 accused, including three private companies, in the CBI case.



In the money laundering case, the ED filed charge sheet against 19 accused, including nine private companies.



Judgement in both the cases is expected to come together as they are related.



The trial in the CBI case began in October 2011 and the court framed charges against the accused, including DMK chief M Karunanidhi's ailing wife Dayalu Ammal.



Except two accused, Morani and Chandra, rest are out on bail. Morani is in judicial custody in connection with a rape case in Hyderabad.



Chandra is in Tihar Jail in connection with several cheating cases against his real estate firm Unitech Ltd




US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday bluntly told Pakistan's top leadership that it must increase efforts to eradicate terrorists operating within the country.



Tillerson arrived here on a whirlwind visit to reset bilateral ties strained after President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorist groups.



During his meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Tillerson discussed the bilateral cooperation and partnership, expanding economic ties between the US and Pakistan, and Pakistans critical role in the region.



Abbasi chaired an inter-agency meeting attended by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of Defence Khurram Dastigir Khan, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, ISI chief Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and other officials.



The US embassy here said that the secretary reiterated President Trump's message that "Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country."



To address those concerns, the secretary outlined the US's new South Asia Strategy and the vital role that Pakistan can play in working with the US and others to facilitate a peace process in Afghanistan that can bring stability and security to the region, the embassy statement said.



"The secretary noted that Pakistan and the United States share common interests in establishing a stable, peaceful Afghanistan, defeating ISIS in South Asia, and eliminating terrorist groups that threaten both Pakistan and the United States."



During the meeting, Abbasi assured Tillerson that Pakistan is committed to the war against terrorism.



"The US can rest assured that we are strategic partners in the war against terror and that today, Pakistan is fighting the largest war in the world against terror," Abbasi said.



Abbasi informed the visiting delegation of the significant strides Pakistan had made in improving the overall security and economic environment of the country, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.



Kashmir issue



The US delegation was informed that progress in promoting peace and stability in the region was linked to the resolution of the Kashmir dispute, it said.



Defence Minister Khan told Geo TV that all aspects of relations were discussed and there was an agreement to increase cooperation to defeat militancy.



Khan said that Pakistan also highlighted the issue of Indian presence in Afghanistan and raised concerns about New Delhi's role in security affairs in the war-torn country.



"We said that we do not have any issue with Indian development work in Afghanistan but we have issued with its security role," he said.



He said the US official tried to "tell us that India is not a threat to Pakistan but our perception was different".
The agreement includes, Stopping immediately entry by Myanmar nationals into Bangladesh and repatriation of refugees at the earliest date and restoring normalcy in Rakhine Region for their resettlement.

Both sides also agreed to form a joint working committee this coming November to arrange resettlement.

Other issues discussed included strengthening border security, law enforcement cooperation, counter-terrorism, establishing border liaison offices, identification for entry and exit, illegal border crossing, verification of citizenship, narcotic drugs control and repatriation after the verification process for refugees.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday rushed to the Supreme Court, a day after suffering an adverse direction on the demolition of a multi-level parking lot near the Taj Mahal.



Additional Advocate General Aishwarya Bhati urgently mentioned the matter before a bench presided over by Justice J Chelameswar. She sought direction for restoration of an application related to the parking site.



She submitted that the order for demolition was passed on Tuesday as the state counsel could not make his presence due to the overcrowded courtroom.



The bench said all this problem of overcrowding in courtrooms is because the high courts in all these years have been weakened. The court, however, put the Uttar Pradesh government's application for hearing on Friday.



Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to visit the Taj Mahal this week to inaugurate a number of facilities.
President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday described Karnataka as the engine of the Indian economy and said the country is looking at the state to provide enlightenment, technology and unity of purpose to take the country forward.



In his address to the special joint session of the state legislature to mark the diamond jubilee of Vidhana Soudha, Kovind said, There was a time when Hampi, here in Karnataka, was one of the richest and greatest cities in the world. Today, as our country strives to regain its importance in the global economy and international system, we once again look at Karnataka to take us forward.



In his brief speech that lasted 20 minutes, Kovind mentioned that it was his first visit to Karnataka after accepting the responsibility of President. Showering more praise on the state, Kovind said Karnataka has been known through history for spiritualism, science, for its farmers and technologists.



He said Karnataka is a mini-India that draws  without losing its cultural and linguistic distinctiveness  youth from all over the country. They come here for knowledge and for jobs, and they give their labour and intellect. Everybody gains, the President said.



Kovind described Vidhana Soudha as a monument to the history of public service in Karnataka. Acknowledging the iconic building hosting the two houses of the legislature, the President said, We are aware of the three Ds of the legislature, that it is a place to debate, dissent and finally decide. And if we add the fourth D, decency, only then does the fifth D, namely democracy, become a reality.



He said the legislature is an embodiment of the will, aspirations and hopes of the people of Karnataka, irrespective of political belief, caste and religion, gender or language.
The United States should refrain from changing the rules for its H-1 and L-1 visas that would inconvenience Indian professionals, New Delhi has said on Wednesday.



New Delhi also urged the Trump administration to end the impasse over the totalisation agreement to help the half a million Indians working on non-immigration visas avoid double taxation on social security.



In her meeting with the visiting Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj conveyed Indias concerns over the proposed changes to H-1B and L-1 visa programmes by the Trump administration that would constrain skilled foreign professionals to work in the United States.



Tillerson, on his maiden visit to India after taking over as US Secretary of State, met Sushma at the Ministry of External Affairs headquarters in Jawaharlal Nehru Bhavan.



We also discussed (during the meeting) the very significant contribution to the US economy of Indian skilled professionals who travel and work under H-1B and L-1 visa programmes, Sushma said in a joint press conference with Tillerson.



Trumps America first rhetoric and promise to protect US jobs raised concerns back home that his policies would hit Indian IT professionals harder.



On March 31, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a guidance policy memorandum on H-1B computer related positions asking petitioners sponsoring computer programmers to offer proof that the position sought is a specialized occupation.



This would potentially restrict American companies to import foreign professionals through H1B visa programme to work in its IT industry.



On April 18, Trump issued an executive order -Buy American and Hire American- calling various departments of his administration to rigorously enforce laws on foreign workers entry into the US to create higher wages and rate of employment for locals.



The order also asked US officials to suggest reforms to ensure H-1B visas are awarded to the most-skilled or highest-paid beneficiaries.



The US has also laid severe restrictions to renew non-immigrant visas like H-1B and L-1 by putting the onus of proof on the applicants even when they seek extension.



The US Congress is currently considering six Bills that seek to change the H-1B and L-1 visa programmes to restrict foreign professionals to stay and work in America.



While asking the administration to refrain from making further changes to the visa regimes, India has also urged US lawmakers to resist any such moves in the Congress.



I have also sought Secretary Tillersons support for resolution of long-pending issue of totalization and asked that nothing such should be done by US which adversely affects Indias interests, Sushma said.



In 2015, India and the US resumed negotiations on a totalization agreement but made no headway.



Washington rejected New Delhis contention to take schemes like Atal Pension Yojana, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, Employees Provident Fund Organization and others to determine the size of the population covered under social security scheme.



Since the schemes are optional, the US is not obligated to negotiate a totalisation agreement with India, Washington had argued, pointing out that less than half of Indias population is covered by the social security schemes.


The High Court, on Wednesday, asked the petitioner to clarify if there was a law that prevents the government from using public money for state celebrations like the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Vidhana Soudha.



A divisional bench of acting Chief Justice H G Ramesh and Justice P S Dinesh was hearing a case filed by the petitioner, seeking to prevent the state government from spending Rs 10 crore for the celebration, which can be used for public welfare. The bench adjourned the case to Thursday.



HDK seeks change in bail conditions



Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy has moved the High Court, seeking modification of the bail conditions, owing to his poor health condition.



The High Court on Wednesday directed him to appear before the investigative agency every alternate Monday.



Justice R B Budihal, who was hearing the petition, directed him to appear before Justice Rathnakala, who granted him bail through video-conferencing. He gave directions to the registrar to arrange the video-conferencing.





Lad can travel to China



The High Court has allowed Congress MLA and businessman Anil Lad to travel to China between October 25 and November 4 for the purpose of business.



Justice Budihal directed the petitioner to appear before the CBI special court on November 7. The petitioner is accused of being involved in iron ore mining in Ballari between 2008 and 11.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has written to the Medical Council of India (MCI) asking it to end the practice of having a doctor at the time of execution of a convict.



In a letter to MCI president, IMA chief K K Aggarwal said the presence of physicians at the time of execution was a "violation of medical ethics".



"The Indian Medical Association holds the view that no doctor should be present during the process of execution. This is a violation of medical ethics and therefore, a professional misconduct," Aggarwal said in the letter.



Doctors are required to monitor vital signs of convicts during the process of execution, and look for signs of life and then pronounce death.



The World Medical Association (WMA), which came out with Resolution on Physician Participation in Capital Punishment in 1981 and amended in 2008, has advised its member medical associations against participating in the processes of capital punishment undertaken by governments as it is "incompatible with a physician's role as healer".



It also stated that physicians should not facilitate the importation or prescription of drugs for the execution.



"Further, the amended WMA Declaration of Geneva The Physician's Pledge was adopted by the WMA General Assembly on October 14, 2017, in Chicago," Aggarwal said.



"All the policies and resolutions of the WMA are accepted by member national medical associations. This makes India a signatory to all the policies and resolutions adopted by the body (WMA)," the letter added.
India on Wednesday rejected the United States' call to snap trade and diplomatic ties with North Korea in the wake of its continued pursuit of long-range nuclear weapons.



New Delhi rather offered Washington DC the services of its diplomats posted in Pyongyang to open a channel of communication between the US and North Korea.



External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that India's trade relations with North Korea had already been nominal.



She also said that New Delhi maintained a small embassy in Pyongyang with few officials and it could serve as a channel of communication between the US Government and Kim Jong-Un's regime in North Korea.



As far as shutting down our embassy (in Pyongyang) is concerned, we discussed the issue. I told Secretary Tillerson that some of the friendly nations of the US should maintain diplomatic missions in North Korea to make it sure that a channel of communication (between Washington and Pyongyang) remains available, said Sushma.



The minister was addressing a press conference along with the US secretary of state after they held a meeting at Jawaharlal Nehru Bhavan, the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs, in New Delhi.



Tillerson nudged Sushma to consider snapping India's diplomatic relations with North Korea and bring down the volume of trade between the two nations further.



The Embassy of India in Pyongyang has only five officials, led by Ambassador Jasminder Kasturia.



India's export to North Korea was worth $ 110.88 million and the import was worth $ 87.90 million.



Tension escalated between the US and North Korea this year as Kim Jong-Un's regime conducted a series of missile and nuclear tests.



This alarmed the world as the tests demonstrated the reclusive nation's ability to launch ballistic missiles beyond its immediate region.



New Delhi maintained that North Korea's continued pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and its proliferation links posed a grave threat to international peace and stability.



India has since long been concerned over North Korea's clandestine defence technology cooperation with Pakistan.



A source said New Delhi suspects that the now-revealed Pyongyang-Islamabad secret defence cooperation, which in the mid-1990s led to the supply of Rodong Missiles and technology to Pakistan, is still continuing.



On Tuesday, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called for a probe into North Korea's proliferation linkages.



Those who have supported it's (North Korea) nuclear and missile programme should be held accountable, she said, addressing the 4th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus) in Manila.



Abdul Qadeer Khan, the founder of the nuclear programme of Pakistan, was in 2003 found to have traded know-how and technology with Iran, Libya and North Korea.



In 2011, Khan made public documents in support of his claim that North Korea had bribed senior officials of the Pakistani army to share nuclear technology and certain equipment with Pyongyang.



New Delhi received inputs, suggesting that certain nuclear materials supplied to Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission by the Suntech Technology Company Limited of China, in the recent years, were being diverted to North Korea in violation of sanctions imposed by the United Nations.
Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday advised the police against attacking the families of the militants.



The chief minister said the police should conduct themselves differently from the militants while discharging their duty.



The police are a law-abiding force but militants are not. Militants target policemen and PDP workers and ransack their house. However, police have a responsibility and should not act in the same manner, Mehbooba said at the Police Training School-Manigam in central Kashmirs Ganderbal district.



Maintaining that the police were facing many challenges, the chief minister asked them to ensure surrender of local militants.



If militancy has to be wiped out from Kashmir, we have to win the hearts of people, Mehbooba said.



The south Kashmir districts of Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama and Anantnag have witnessed a number of attacks since last week on the houses of people who are associated with the ruling PDP and other mainstream political parties.



The attacks occurred place in the backdrop of security forces allegedly ransacking the houses of militants in Shopian earlier this month.



The first incident of militants forcing their way into the houses of policemen came to the fore on March 8 when a group of ultras told family members of an SP-rank official in Shopian to ask their son to quit the job or face consequences.



The incident prompted Director-General of Police Shesh Paul Vaid to warn ultras that "they too have families".



"Militants should realise they too have families. Let them (militants) take this as a warning. This is between police and terrorists and families should not be brought into this conflict. If the police start doing this (threatening), what will happen to their (militant) families, Vaid said.



Since then, more than 24 incidents have come to the fore, mostly in Shopian, Pulwama and Kulgam districts  the epicentre of the last years unrest and bastion of new age militancy.



The situation in Kashmir has been on the edge since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani by security forces in July 2016, with no end to the protests and all-time high support for militants.

In the early 1990's, when the insurgency was at its peak, family members of several police officers were killed by the militants.




The Karen National Union (KNU) said that more than 20,000 local residents have been forced to flee after two consecutive days of airstrikes by the...
The Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that it is going to extend the deadline for citizens to cite Aadhaar number for availing various welfare schemes from December 31 to March 31, 2018.



It, however, sought time till October 30 to clarify whether any coercive action would be taken against those who possess Aadhaar card but do not want to link it to their bank accounts and mobile numbers.



Attorney General K K Venugopal mentioned the matter before a three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra.



Read: Govt simplifies Aadhaar-based verification of existing SIMs



He said all Aadhaar-related matters pending adjudication by the apex court must go to a five-judge constitution bench for its "far-reaching consequences".



As he submitted that the government is going to extend the deadline for citing Aadhaar numbers for different social welfare schemes, senior advocates Shyam Divan, Anand Grover, Arvind Datar and Meenakshi Arore, representing a batch of PIL petitioners, questioned the government's intent.



Divan contended that the government was violating the apex court's order by forcing people  even school children  to give Aadhaar numbers for different purposes.



"A student cannot appear in the examination and would not be issued examination hall ticket if she does not submit Aadhaar number. What is happening to civil liberties in the country," he asked.

Venugopal, however, maintained that no interim order was passed by the apex court after the passage of the Aadhaar Act.



He also submitted that the government has taken a number of steps for data protection, including the setting up of a high-powered panel headed by former SC judge Justice B N Srikrishna, to look into the issue.



The law could be framed by February, 2018, he said. His plea got support from the bench, which observed, "people are struggling the world-over on data protection".



Divan, for his part, said, "the matter pending since 2014 is crying for final hearing".



Read also: Maharashtra loan waiver: 100 farmers linked to single Aadhaar number



The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said the matter could be put before an appropriate bench for consideration before the first week of November.



The court, however, granted permission to Venugopal to mention the matter again on Monday. A note prepared by Venugopal stated that the Srikrishna panel has asked the working groups to suggest changes in law, including in the Aadhaar Act, 2016 and the Information Technology Act, 2000.



After the nine-judge bench's decision on right to privacy as a fundamental right, the court had in August decided to put all Aadhaar-related matters for consideration in November.




The Madras High Court on Wednesday told the police that they can file a case against actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan for his comments against the government's herbal drink to combat dengue if there is prima facie evidence.



G Devarajan, a social activist and an advocate-clerk, had lodged a complaint alleging that the actor had unleashed a negative propaganda in Twitter against the herbal medicine by asking fans to avoid distributing 'Nilavembu' as it would lead to side effects.



Devarajan said he moved the court as the police failed to act on his complaint.



In his petition, the advocate also claimed that if Kamal had consumed 'Nilavembu' and sustained any side effects, he should have come out with correct details while making such remarks.



"Instead, on what basis he declared that Nilavembu Kudineer has side effects", the petitioner argued and asked the court to direct the police to book a case against the actor.



When the case came up for hearing, Justice M S Ramesh said that the police can register a case against Kamal and investigate if there is prima facie offence arrived out in the complaint.
Ex-servicemen will soon have some job opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sector.

The tourism ministry has decided to come up with a special web portal for ex-servicemen to find a suitable job and apply for it.



The ministry portal would provide a list of available vacancies for ex-servicemen in various job roles like a guide, security staff and driver in the tourism and hospitality industry.

We are going to launch a web portal for this soon. There is a huge demand of ex-servicemen in the tourism industry because they come with discipline. A disciplined workforce in the tourism industry is the need of the hour, Tourism Ministry secretary Rashmi Verma said at a press conference.



The decision to launch a job portal for ex-servicemen in the tourism industry was taken following suggestions from the industry, Rashmi added.



The press conference was organised to brief the media about the 21-day long 'Paryatan Parv' which concluded here on Wednesday.



The ministry organised 1,140 cultural activities at popular monuments and other historical sites across the country.



More than 5 lakh people participated in the cultural extravaganza that the ministry organised mainly to promote domestic tourism.



During the Paryatan Parv, Verma Said, tourism ministry received very good suggestions from the industry and other stakeholders to boost tourism in India and also generate employment.



Based on the suggestions from various stakeholders, the ministry has decided to upgrade its skill development programmes by incorporating new components.



Today experiential tourism is on demand. Tourists do not only want to know about the tourist destination but also experience the prevailing culture. We will see as to how our current courses can be modified to bring in these elements, Verma said.



The theory portion of these courses can be conducted online while practicals can be held at any higher educational institution, she added.



Besides, four joint committees comprising representatives from the department of industrial policy and promotion, industry and other stakeholders have been set up to suggest measures to improve investment in the tourism and hospitality sector.



One of these committees has been mandated to also suggest measures for promotion and incubation of startup projects in the tourism industry.
A special court today sentenced a 37-year-old woman to life imprisonment for murdering her house owner about a year ago in the city.



Palaniammal was a tenant of Ramamurthy, a retired cooperative bank employee, at P N Pudur in the city.



The prosecution case was that Ramamurthy asked Palaniammal to vacate the house following which there was some argument and in a fit of anger, she pushed him on September 26 last year.



Ramamurthy fell down and died on the spot, according to the prosecution. Special court judge Gunasekharan pronounced the verdict.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday virtually blamed itself for huge rush and overcrowding in its courtrooms after Uttar Pradesh government claimed its counsel could not make a presence, resulting in demolition order of multi-level parking lot near Taj Mahal.



The apex court's bench presided over by Justice Madan B Lokur on Tuesday ordered for demolition of the parking structure within four weeks after finding that the state counsel was not present.



A day after, state's Additional Advocate General Aishwarya Bhati urgently mentioned the matter before a bench presided over by Justice J Chelameswar. She pointed out to the adverse consequences suffered by the state government in view of inability of the counsel to appear before the court due to 'overcrowding' in the courtroom.



The bench, also comprising Justice S Abdul Nazeer, could not but agree to her submission. After asking senior advocate R Vankatramani's views about the huge rush being seen in the courtroom, the bench said, In the last 70 years, unfortunately, what we (SC) have done is we weakened our High Courts. Many matters reaching here could have been settled at the High Court level.



The court, however, agreed to list the UP government's plea for restoration of its application relating to the parking construction for consideration on October 27.



UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to visit Taj Mahal in Agra this week to inaugurate a number of facilities at one of the major tourists attraction in the country.
Railways is looking at elevated corridors in Bengaluru over the existing tracks and has commissioned a consultant to study its feasibility.



Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said a preliminary assessment on technical and financial aspects is under works for three metros. "We are looking at having elevated corridors in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru," he told a press conference.



He cited the traffic woes of Bengaluru to emphasise on the need for elevated tracks. "The traffic in Bengaluru is worse and it some times it takes more than two hours to reach the IT hub," he said.



A senior official said the RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Service) will conduct the feasibility study for Bengaluru.



While Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation (DFCC) has conducted a preliminary study for Mumbai pegging the cost at Rs 25,000 crore, a similar exercise is being conducted for Delhi. Elevated corridors are expected to improve safety and decongest the existing rail networks.



Goyal also said a charter for employees is being notified for ensuring time bound redressal of railway employees' grievances came into being on Wednesday. The charter will ensure that complaints related to dues and entitlements are addressed in a time-bound manner.



Another charter, for railway passengers, is also on the anvil, he said adding the provisions in it would be binding. It is expected to be finalised and notified by December.



The Ministry also has formed a five-member committee of senior officials of Railway Board to suggest measures for making substantial improvement in worksites safety. The deadline for submitting the report is mid-December.



Goyal said Divisional General Managers have been given full powers to sanction out of turn safety related works without any ceiling, within the financial limit set out by Ministry of Finance.



Now, he said, powers are also being given to Chief Workshop Managers to re-engage retired railway employees up to 62 years of age against vacancies.




The Centre on Wednesday sought an urgent hearing from the Supreme Court on its plea challenging the Calcutta High Courts order suspending its move to withdraw para-military forces from Darjeeling and Kalimpong.



On West Bengal governments request, about 15 companies of the forces were deployed in two districts after normal life was affected there since June due to demand for a separate Gorkhaland.



Advocate W A Quadri, representing the Union government, mentioned the matter before a bench presided over by Justice J Chelameswar.



He said the Calcutta High Court had on October 17 stayed the decision to withdraw the forces.



The counsel submitted that the forces were to be deployed for election duties in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh and for other security reasons in states of Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast including on Myanmar border.



The court agreed to the put the Centres special leave petition for consideration on October 27.The petition stated that the decision to withdraw 10 company of forces from the two districts was taken after assessing the ground situation and withdrawal of 104-day strike over there.



It said the high court order raised question whether under the Indian constitutional jurisprudence, courts could express their opinion as to whether at a particular juncture or under a particular situation prevailing in the country, which policy should be adopted and how the national security of the country is maintained and how the armed forces should be deployed.



Read also: SI death: Gurung calls CID probe conspiracy, seeks CBI inquiry






A BJP legislator from Amethi has threatened to resign in protest against alleged non-cooperation from the bureaucracy and interference of a senior UP minister in his Assembly constituency.



Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh, an MLA from Tiloi Assembly seat in Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, minced no words in venting his ire on the officials and the minister, who represented another Assembly constituency in Amethi.



Singh, who met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here on Wednesday, said he would soon hold a public meeting in his constituency to decide his future course of action.



The chief minister has assured me that he will look into the issues let us see, Singh told reporters after meeting Adityanath.



However, sources close to Singh said he was sore at being sidelined by his party and the alleged interference of Suresh Pasi, a minister of state in the Yogi cabinet, in his constituency.



The development, that comes amid all-out attempts by the BJP to wrest Amethi from Rahul, is certain to give the saffron party a headache and the party sources said senior leaders were trying to placate Singh.






Japans Shinzo Abe has won a landslide victory in the just-concluded elections to the lower house of the Japanese parliament to become prime minister for a third term. The ruling coalition won 313 seats; 284 for Abes Liberal Democratic Party and 29 for its junior partner, Komeito. A month ago, when Abe dissolved parliament and called for early elections, it was described as a risky move, especially since his opinion ratings were plummeting, thanks to corruption scandals. The gamble paid off and the LDP has returned to power, and with more than a two-thirds majority again. Now, amending Japans pacifist constitution is likely to top Abes agenda. Japans present constitution forbids the country from maintaining a full-fledged military force or waging war. Amending Article 9 to confirm the legitimacy of Japans Self-Defence Forces will change that. Amending the constitution requires two-thirds support in parliament, which the Abe government has. He had such support during his second term, too, but could not pursue the matter assiduously as he was preoccupied with other problems his nation faces.



This time, Abe can be expected to pursue the matter to its logical end. But he will need to do more than effect a constitutional amendment. He has to change the mindset of the Japanese people from post-World War II pacifism. One of the worlds largest economies cannot afford to deny itself a more normal military posture and capability in a region riven with historical rivalries, authoritarian regimes, struggles for resources, and the dynamic of rising and declining powers. The North Korean crisis will come in handy to mobilise public support for a constitutional amendment. Japan, like the rest of East Asia, is uneasy with the mounting US-North Korea bellicosity. An increasingly aggressive China is of concern, too. Public insecurity in Japan is therefore high and Abe is likely to find it relatively easy to convince the Japanese people that Japan now needs a strong military to defend the country, even be ready to go to war. Muscular rhetoric can be expected. Of course, at a time when East Asia is already on edge, such tough talk is sure to alarm China and the Koreas, which bore the brunt of Japans militarism in the past. Therefore, Abe will need to carefully calibrate the change he seeks to effect.



Abes return to power is good news for India. India-Japan relations have improved remarkably over the years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a strong equation with Abe and the latters return to power will give continuity to the bilateral relations. Important economic and strategic deals struck during Abes second term should hopefully reach fruition in his third term.
The Congress on Wednesday trashed opinion polls giving an edge to the BJP in Gujarat and alleged that it was an attempt to influence voters.



Ashok Gehlot, AICC general secretary in-charge of Gujarat, said the Congress was working out tie-ups with like-minded parties in the state.



Alliances and combinations are yet to emerge and here we have channels declaring victory for the BJP. This is a clear attempt to influence voters, Gujarat Congress president Bharat Sinh Solanki said.



He said the party is in talks with JDU rebel Chhotu Bhai Vasava who voted for party candidates in the recent Rajya Sabha election from the state.



The NCP is also in touch with Congress, said its leaders hinting at Praful Patel establishing contact. Rahul Gandhi is set to campaign in South Gujarat from November 1 to 3.
Online tour and travel company, Yatra.com, has adopted Hampi in Karnataka.



The firm is responsible for the basic maintenance and upkeep of the UNESCO world heritage site.



Ajanta and Ellora caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, Qutab Minar in Delhi and the iconic Leh Palace are the other three historical sites that have been adopted by Yatra.com. We have accepted their (companys) proposal and will issue a letter of intent today, Tourism Ministry secretary Rashmi Verma told a press conference on Wednesday.



Four sites

The four historical sites have been handed over to the company under the Tourism Ministrys Adopt a heritage site campaign, rolled out by President Ram Nath Kovind at a function organised here to mark the World Tourism Day on September 27.



TK International Limited, which manages many hotels and resorts, has adopted Konark Sun Temple, Rajarani Temple in Bhubaneshwar and Ratnagiri monument in Madhya Pradesh. The SBI Foundation has adopted Jantar Mantar in Delhi. We have received immense response from India Inc. We have received about 50 proposals under our Adopt a heritage site programme. We have so far approved seven or eight of them, the secretary said.



Under the programme, a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed by the Tourism Ministry, the Archaeological Survey of India and the organisation undertaking the responsibility for basic maintenance and upkeep of the monuments.



In the first stage, they have to take care of basic things like cleanliness in and around the heritage sites, maintenance and upgrading of toilets, providing basic amenities like drinking water and illumination, the secretary said.



The Ministry will later do a gap analysis in consultation with the company adopting the heritage sites to finalise as to what more could be done for maintenance and upkeep of the sites in the next stage, she added.
In the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting Dharmasthala on October 29, the entry of public inside the temple is banned from 2 pm on October 28 to 2 pm on October 29, reports DHNS from Ujire in Dakshina Kannada district.



Modi will arrive at Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala at 11 am on October 29 and have darshana of Lord Sri Manjunatheshwara at 11.40 am. Later, he will attend a programme organised by the Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) at Ujire at 12 noon. He will symbolically launch the distribution of RuPay Cards for Self-Help Group members, who were enrolled under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) through SKDRDP.



He will leave Dharmasthala at 1 pm to Mangalore airport.



Rly line inauguration

Modi will inaugurate the Kalaburagi-Bidar railway line at Bidar on October 29, said BJP state vice president and former minister Baburao Chavan.



He told reporters in Kalaburagi on Wednesday that Modi will flag off the inaugural train on Sunday at 4 pm. Chavan said the foundation for the project was laid during the previous NDA government in 2003 and incidentally, the party government now would be inaugurating the railway line. It is an important contribution by the BJP to the Hyderabad Karnataka region.



He said that the BJP government had provided 70% of the total funds for the completion of the railway project.



Chavan contended that there was no protocol violation as far as the BJP was concerned in not inviting the Gulbarga MP and former Railway Minister M Mallikarjun Kharge for the event. He said it was up to the railways to invite the MP.



He said the Congress government in the state had failed to ban liquor in the state and as a result scores of Dalit families in rural areas were suffering immensely.
In an embarrassment to the BJP, President Ram Nath Kovind described Tipu Sultan as a hero who died fighting the British during his address to the joint session of the State legislature to mark the diamond jubilee of the Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday.



The remark was greeted by thumping of desks by the Congress legislators while the BJP members remained mute spectators. The BJP has been opposing Siddaramaiah governments decision to observe Tipu Jayanti in all districts on November 10, stating that the former Mysore ruler was anti-Hindu and anti-Kannada.



In his address, Kovind said Karnataka is a land of formidable soldiers and named Krishnadevaraya, Kempe Gowda, Rani Chennamma and then went on to say, Tipu Sultan died a heroic death fighting the British. He was also a pioneer in the development and use of Mysore rockets in warfare. This technology was later adopted by the Europeans.



The Presidents remark snowballed into a controversy with the BJP and the Congress indulging in a fresh bout of blame game. Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar charged that the Presidents speech was prepared by the state government and the Tipu remark was a deliberate entry. Governor or Presidents address to the legislature is printed beforehand in the form of a booklet and circulated to members when the speech is being delivered. Why was it not done today? he asked.



However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah rubbished the BJPs charge. They do not know what they are talking. Does the state government prepare the Presidents address ? The BJP leaders should know the basics. The BJP has been spreading lies about Tipu Sultan and now cannot digest the fact that the President has said the truth, Siddaramaiah said.



He recalled that BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa, when he had floated the KJP had worn a Tipu turban, held a sword and praised the former ruler to the skies.

Asked whether Kovinds remark will come in the way of BJPs anti-Tipu agitations, Shettar replied in the negative. He is not BJPs president. He is the President of the nation, he said.



Yeddyurappa said he did not want to make any comment. JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy backed the state government and said the Presidents address had been prepared at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Confusion reigned supreme during the screening of the three documentary films especially commissioned to mark the diamond jubilee of Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday.



While incomplete versions of the documentaries prepared by noted filmmakers T N Seetharam and Girish Kasaravalli left the audience wanting for more; the third film was not even shown as it is still in the beginning stages of creation.



Also, with the legislature secretariat advancing the timings of the film screening, many visitors walked into the venue towards the end of the event.



As per the itinerary, the screening was scheduled between 3 pm and 5 pm at Banquet Hall of the Vidhana Soudha. The screening, however, began at 1.30 pm, as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who had wanted to give the event a skip, suddenly changed his decision and took part in the event.



The event started with the screening of Seetharams 45-minute documentary film, showcasing the evolution of the Karnataka legislature from the year 1891 onwards. What was originally a seven-part documentary series, was cut short to a two-part series.



Seetharam upset

Expressing discontent over the recent development, Seetharam said that he was calling it quits with the project. I am emotionally drained. Though the team has done extensive research and shot the material for the remaining five parts, I have decided not to continue with it. I will be handing over all the material to the legislature secretariat, he said.



Kasaravalli, was supposed to make a three-part-three-hour documentary series . He, however, ended up furnishing a two-part-two-hour series. He, too, expressed dissatisfaction over the film being cut short. I have worked on this project for over a year. Its unfortunate that it ended up being a two-hour film, he added.



The third film was a virtual reality video of the Vidhana Soudha by actor-director Master Kishen. Kishen was able to present only one minute of the video, which was screened in the evening during the cultural programmes.
Mary J. Blige and Kendu Isaacs in 2014; Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Ferrari North AmericaThe drama continues for Mary J. Blige, with her estranged husband reportedly demanding more money.

Kendu Isaacs was previously awarded $30,000 a month in temporary spousal support. Now hes asking for more than twice that amount, according to The Blast.com.

Isaacs is reportedly claiming in court documents that he's now unemployed, while Blige is profiting from new music shes released about their breakup, which Isaacs calls divorce songs: Love Yourself and Set Me Free."

Now he wants $65,000 a month, and claims Blige shouldn't have a problem paying that amount because she supposedly has $275,000 per month available for support payments.

Blige and Isaacs married in 2003, and she filed for divorce in 2016, citing irreconcilable differences. At that time, Isaacs requested $100,000 per month in support.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Destined for decay and perennial neglect, can government schools be turned around with infusion of new age learning techniques?



Potentially yes, if the state government allows an Indian Montessori Centre (IMC) proposal to introduce the unique child-centric learning method in five Kannada-medium schools as a pilot in Bengaluru.



Despite repeated attempts over the last several years, the government showed no interest in the project. Undeterred, IMC has resubmitted its offer yet again: The centre is ready to train teachers in five to 10 pre-primary schools at no cost, and eventually extend the scheme to all schools.



In a letter to state Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait, IMC has urged that the state nominate teachers to the training programme. Approve 10 primary schools to follow the Montessori method of education under the mentorship of IMC, duly following all the aspects as per the government requirement, the letter said.



IMCs objective



The objective of the IMCs offer is this: To ensure that children dont drop out of government schools, which have good infrastructure. Parents take them out and try to admit them in private schools through the Right To Education route. But often, children find it tough to adjust. It is often a huge culture shock for them, explains IMCs Karnataka chapter chairman, Sumathi Ravindranath.



Government school students in the age group of 4-6 years can be targeted first. The next stage could cover those in the 6-12 years age group. The entire process can be done in Kannada medium, Sumathi informs.



IMCs research had found that government schools had adequate infrastructure and classrooms. She elaborates, The teachers too are very bright. But they need training, a bit of hand-holding to feel motivated. Today, the students are just not there. Dropout rate is high.



Similar experiment



Eight years ago, a similar experiment by IMC in 18 Chennai corporation schools had achieved a turnaround for these institutions, recalls Sumathi.



The children there were mostly first generation literates, without any support from the home. Our three-year pilot project was a success. That can be easily replicated here.



IMC had sent its proposal to seven education ministers in the past.



Most of them had either asked the Centre to route it through Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, and were plain indifferent. IMC is hopeful that this year, the response could be different.



The Montessori method of education is a child-centered educational approach based on scientific observations of children from birth to adulthood.



DH News Service
The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday confirmed the death sentence to a person from Tamil Nadu who was convicted of killing five people in Kollegal, Chamarajanagar district, in 2015.



Murugeshan, an agricultural labourer, was convicted and sentenced to death by the Principal District and Sessions Court, Chamarajanagar, on July 22. A division bench of Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice John Michael Cunha confirmed the sentence.



Five agricultural labourers, including two women and a nine-year-old girl, all belonging to Tamil Nadu, were hacked to death near Harale village, Kollegal taluk in Chamarajanagar district.



The deceased were identified as Roja (9), Shivamma (35), Kashi (40), Rajendra (35) and Rajamma (35). Investigations had revealed that Murugeshan was upset over the illicit relationship between the women workers and the contractor and had killed them in a fit of anger.



DH News Service
The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday directed state JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy to approach the bench which granted him anticipatory bail. The former chief minister prayed for modification in the anticipatory bail order in the Janthakal Enterprises case.



Kumaraswamy has asked for relief from appearing before the investigating officer of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing illegal mining cases, once every 15 days, due to his weak health condition.



Kumaraswamy was granted anticipatory bail by Justice Rathnakala in a case registered against him by the SIT for the alleged misuse of his power in the mining case.



Earlier, Justice Rathnakala had directed him to appear before the investigative officers every alternate Monday for investigations.



Justice R B Budihal, who was hearing the case, asked him to appear before Justice Rathnakala through video conferencing.



The matter was adjourned to Friday.



Anil Lad case

The High Court of Karnataka allowed MLA and businessman Anil Lad to travel to China between October 25 and November 4 on the condition that he will surrender his passport to the CBI on November 7.



Anil Lad is accused in a case of illegal mining. According to CBI sources, Lad's company 'VS Lad & Sons' supplied 15,000 tonnes of illegally mined iron ore to Shree Mallikarjun Shipping Pvt Ltd which belongs to Karwar Independent MLA Satish Sail.

DH News Service
Metro commuters may have to keep up with lack of mobile phone network in the underground stretches as telecom service providers (TSPs) are unlikely to come forward to provide connection due to exorbitant costs.



While commuters complain about lack of mobile network connections in the tunnels of both the lines, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials said underground telecommunications infrastructure has been provided by a private company which bagged the tender for the work.



The service providers have to pay the American Tower Corporation (ATC) for using telecom infrastructure in the tunnel section. So far, only one company (Jio) has subscribed, a senior BMRCL official said.



The ATC has 10-year contract with BMRCL.



When asked, spokespersons for major TSPs refused to comment on the issue. However, industry sources said TSPs will continue to avoid Metro tunnels due to the exorbitant costs charged for utilising the telecom infrastructure.



BMRCL should have invited operators to invest in building the infrastructure. Instead, they tried to monetise it by calling for tenders. TSPs are staring at a washout due to unfair competition in the market. It is unlikely for them to pay exorbitant charges to provide the connection. Operators make decisions based on commercial feasibility, the source said.



Commuters see it as the responsibility of BMRCL to ensure mobile connectivity underground. I board Metro around 11 pm. The 20-minute waiting on Green Line are anxious moments. My family members worry when they cant reach me on phone, said Prasad Hiriyur, who works at a private company near Trinity Circle.



Part of the problem was the lack of guidelines on such matters. Last year, the Cellular

Operators Association of India, the official representative body of TSPs, suggested Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) do away with the practice of monetising in-building telecom infrastructure in public utilities, which includes tunnels of Namma Metro. It should be made mandatory to grant permission to TSPs to instal in-building telecom infrastructure, it said.



In January, TRAI recommended to the Department of Telecom to work with Department of Urban Development to ensure that suitable provision is made to create common telecom infrastructure inside public places like airports and commercial complexes.



Even if the Telecom Department makes it a rule to create common infrastructure inside the tunnels, the application will not be retrospective, industry sources said.



DH News Service
Technological innovation is an essential part of culinary tradition towards making the food fit the highest standards of hygiene and safety, Maiyas Beverages and Food Pvt Ltd chairman and managing director Dr P Sadananda Maiya said.



He was speaking after inaugurating World Food Day programme organised by St Aloysius College DDU Kaushal Kendra, Department of Food Processing and Engineering and the Ddepartment of PG Studies in Food Science and Technology at the college on Wednesday.



He said for Maiyas, which is a specialist in Indian traditional food, it was initially a challenge to apply the latest food processing technology into the Indian culinary style. However, having a background of mechanical engineering, he said he managed it successfully and made modifications to the machinery so as to enable them process Indian food, one among them being the modification of doughnut making machine into Kodubale preparing machine. The Maiyas kitchen is now equipped with a fully-automated system, which suites the highest standards of food safety, he explained.



Maiya said he considers the Defense Technology Absorption Award conferred on his firm by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to be the most accomplished one.



He recollected MTR supplied 16 lakh ready-to-eat food packets to Indian soldiers during the Kargil war in 10 days. However, lot of effort has gone into the same, in terms of research and development. For instance, it took 10 years of experiment to come up with a technology which could match the quality of automatically prepared batter of black gram with that of the hand ground ones, he said.



St Aloysius College Principal Fr Praveen Martis said that the World Food Day highlights the importance of the intake of balanced food. Also, the occasion should be used to ponder on whether we are able to provide food for the hungry and malnutritioned. There is a need to fulfill the requirement of quality food by rediscovering hygienic and nutritional food items using technological innovations. It is very much relevant in the context of Indian food, the market of which is extending in foreign countries as well, he noted.



Defence Research and Development Organigation Life Sciences Research Board former Secretary Dr Alok Shah and College of Agriculture, Hassan Assistant Professor Dr Ramesh B N delivered lectures on the occasion.



Ready-to-eat food saga



Maiya recalled Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR),that established in 1924, holds the credit of introducing the ready-to-eat and instant food mixes of rava idli, dosa, poha, upma, puliyogare, gulab jamun and also beverages like badam milk. Rava idly, was invented by his father Yagnanarayana Maiya in 1942. This idea emerged out of a necessity followed by a ban on the use of rice and rice items during Second World War. Maiya took over MTR after his fathers demise in 1968. Again in 1975, the MTR was buckled under pressure owing to the Food Control Act introduced during the imposition of Emergency in the country, which maintained that the quality food be sold at low costs. The governments move made MTR to turn to instant food business. However, since 2007, MTRs packaged food business is administered by the Norwegian firm Orkla Group.



Registrar A M Narahari, vice-principal and Kendra director Dr Richard Gonsalves and Department of Food Science and Technology head

Dr S N Raghavendra were

present.
Civil Rights activist and journalist Teesta Setalvad condemned the act of psychological warfare waged by ideological forces with an intention to create aggression and hatred among people belonging to different communities.



She was delivering a lecture on Talking Peace in Times of Hate organised by Samarasa, Mangaluru, at Bishop Jathanna Auditorium at KTC, Balmatta.



Terming the development where ideological forces are adorning constitutional positions as a threat to democracy, she raised concern over the propagation of the idea of Hindu Rashtra.



Real patriotism



Patriotism is portrayed in wrong terms as associated with a particular religion. It is false. Real patriotism should be attributed to the fight against poverty, unemployment and other burning problems within the country. It is high time that the social and constitutional thoughts are strengthened in public space, she said and called upon the citizens to be the warriors of constitutional values.



Teesta noted that though slowly, but constantly, voices are being raised against the psychological warfare. The sub-minorities like Dalits, Adivasis and women should build alliances. Their fights should be connected with each other to be projected at the national level, she felt.



Research scholarship



Pointing to the fact that 25,000 scholarships to the research scholars have been discontinued in universities, such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, Setalvad questioned the University Grants Commissions agenda behind preventing students belonging to less privileged families, from conducting researches on Social Sciences and Human Rights.



Holding the Central government responsible for curtailing the access of citizens to right-based legislation and political independence, the civil rights activist charged that the government has been transferring public resources to capitalists.



The Central government has brought an amendment to the Land Acquisition Act which snatches the authority of Gram Sabha to decide on whether the land should be used for industrial purposes or not. The provision for fair compensation was also scrapped off under the amendment. Ironically, the BJP-ruled states passed their own state land laws, repelling the ordinance. Efforts are being done to hand over AIR India and Indian Railways, only to satisfy crony capitalists, she charged.



At an interaction, she lamented that the fear of imbalance of population is being spread among people through the medium of social networking sites, by posting inflated news.



She also opposed the act of fostering defamation cases against journalists and slamming criminal cases against Dalits and forest dwellers.



Gauri Lankesh issue



Condemning the murder of journalist Gowri Lankesh, Setalvad said the silence caused by fear and aggression needs to be broken.



Every citizen has a right to point at the crisis. But the voices, which speak on the constitutional rights, are being strangulated by imposing upon the ideologies which subscribe to aggression and violence. If hate mongers have a right to speak, why not us? she asked. A minutes silence was observed to pay tribute to Gauri Lankesh.



DH News Service
Members of various organisations staged separate protests in the city on Wednesday. They sought fulfillment of various demands.



Members of Dalit Sangarsh Samiti staged a protest near the Deputy Commissioners office demanding implementation of the Justice A J Sadashiva Committee report on internal reservation during the Belagavi session.



The protesters stated that the oppressed communities have been deprived of education and social justice. They demanded internal reservation as the communites are not getting adequate political representation. They urged the state government to implement the recommendations made by the committee.



Regularise services



Members of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), who gathered in front of the Labour Commissioners office in Kuvempunagar, staged a protest demanding a minimum wage of Rs 18,000 for employees working in the unorganised sector.



The agitators raised slogans against the government and demanded that the authorities regularise the services of the employees working on contract basis. They sought parity on the lines of regularising services of workers in Assam and Tamil Nadu. They also wanted ASHA and Anganwadi workers to be considered as government employees.



Members of the district unit of the Karnataka State Government Employees Association demanded that the government implement the recommendations of the sixth pay commission and also urged the government to release 30% interim relief before November.



Investors stir



Similarly, the investors and agents of Pearls Agrotech Corporation Limited (PACL) demanded that the government take legal action against the company and took out a protest march in the city. More than 20,000 people had invested in the Rajasthan-based company in Mysuru district and were cheated by the company, they claimed.



GST exemption



Demanding exemption of Goods and Services Tax for insurance policies, members of the All India Life Insurance Representatives Union staged a protest in the city.



The agitators alleged that GST has an adverse effect on common people. Citizens are not coming forward to get covered under the insurance policy affecting hundreds of employees. The Union government has neglected the insurance sector, they complained.



Migrants seek sites



Members of Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) took out a protest march demanding sites and houses for migrant families. The agitators said that a large number of people belonging to migrant communities have settled in Ekalavyanagar near the city. The government should sanction sites to them and provide housing facilities. Nearly 1,200 people have settled in the region for more than a decade but they are deprived of housing and other basic facilities, they said.



DH News Service
Johan Engman has learned that breakfast is not only the most important meal of the day but it can also be the most fun.

Engman recently opened up his sixth Breakfast Republic restaurant in the Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch, serving up tasty takes on American classics such as Oreo Cookie pancakes, California Breakfast Burritos and Smores French toast with a side of Jurassic Pork, thick-cut bacon marinated and baked with paprika and brown sugar.

He hopes it will be the destination locals and visitors think of as the perfect place to begin their days.

Breakfast Republics Asiago-Fennel Sausage Omelet (Courtesy)

While there are six Breakfast Republics throughout San Diego, Carmel Valley is the first location that they were able to build from scratch as all previous locations were remodeled restaurant spaces.

Carmel Valley is a tremendous area for breakfast as it is much needed, Engman said. The opportunity to build our first from scratch Breakfast Republic location at The Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch seemed like a perfect fit.

The result is what Breakfast Republic has come to be known for  a unique, bright and colorful design as creative and original as the menu. There are whisks in the light fixtures, funky yellow chairs, cracked egg seats on the outdoor patio, touches of roosters everywhere and BR-branded caps, t-shirts and coffee mugs, even the napkin wrappers are stamped with funny sayings.

A breakfast booth (Courtesy)

Engman was born and raised in northern Sweden and came to the United States with his mother at 16. By 17, he started off his career in the restaurant industry, working as a dishwasher. He worked his way up from busboy to server, saving money to open his own place. He opened his first Fig Tree Cafe in Pacific Beach in 2008 on a shoestring budget with plastic tables and chairs.

In 2008, the middle of the economic downturn, was arguably the worst time to open a restaurant but it turned out well and he was able to remodel his space and gain quite a following.

Engman opened his second Fig Tree location in Hillcrest in 2011 and his third at Liberty Station in 2014. He also briefly took over the old Pannikin space in Flower Hill Promenade, with Cafe Cantata.

Engmans first Breakfast Republic location opened in July 2015 in North Park .

I conceptualized Breakfast Republic from mistakes I made when creating Fig Tree Cafe. Fig Tree Cafe offers sandwiches, scrambles, salads, etcetera  too much for some to identify with the concept offering both breakfast and lunch items, Engman said. I wanted to create a concept where there was no confusion as to what the restaurant is about nor what it offers. Having the word breakfast in the name of the restaurant makes room for no confusion and we only do one thing: Breakfast.

That breakfast menu includes fresh takes on eggs benedicts, scrambles and omelets as well as unique items like Breakfast Bacon Mac n Cheese and bacon-wrapped Breakfast Hot Dogs.

For those having a hard time picking between between the Churro Pancakes or Lemon Coconut Pancakes or the Banana Split or Marscapone and Strawberry French Toast, Breakfast Republic offers pancake flights and French toast samplers to mix and match.

Cinnamon roll pancakes (Courtesy)

The eatery serves up bottomless organic Breakfast Republic blend coffee, coffee flights and specialty lattes like Mexican Mocha and the BR Latte, a mix of vanilla, chai and mocha.

They also have a rotation of 20 beers on tap and offer specialty drinks such as mimosas, bloody Marys and one drink called the Heart Palpitation with rum, cold brew coffee, cane sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and orange oils.

Since 2015, the Breakfast Republic concept has been booming, expanding into Liberty Station and East Village, Encinitas and Ocean Beach. In September, plans were announced for the seventh Breakfast Republic in Pacific Beach, set to open in December.

Engman is keeping very busy  in early 2018 he will launch his newest breakfast concept: North Park Breakfast Company, a restaurant that will boast a unique menu featuring everything from guava-infused pancakes to bone marrow and chorizo topped with quail eggs.

For now, he is happy to bring lots of good mornings to the Village. So far, the response has been tremendously positive, Engman said. The community has welcomed us with open arms and we are super happy to be part of Carmel Valley.
This Is When Salman Khans Race 3 Will Go On Floors
A retired police officer with type 1 diabetes has spoken out after being denied use of the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring device.

As of November, use of the FreeStyle Libre technology will be available on the NHS to people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes who intensively use insulin. However, its availability will not be guaranteed for all patients and it is likely there will be a postcode lottery situation. Some clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) will be able to provide the Libre system to more patients than CCGs in other parts of the country.

Andrew Mills was full of hope after learning that the NHS Business Services Authority had approved the FreeStyle Libre on the Drug Tariff. This means it is available on the NHS subject to local approval. Andrew has been paying 57 out of his own pocket for each sensor. The sensors last for two weeks which represents a yearly cost of over 1,400.

However, Andrew has been denied the opportunity to have the sensors prescribed on the NHS by his CCG. Northumberland CCG responded that they will only be funding the FreeStyle Libre for certain groups of patients at the current time, including pregnant women at risk of severe hypoglycemia and people with type 1 diabetes experiencing dangerously erratic blood sugar levels.

Andrew is dismayed that such a life-benefitting system has been denied. He voiced his disappointment to ChronicleLive: As well as avoiding fingerpricking, it gives you much better information about whether your levels are going up or down, and having better control over blood glucose levels will lead to far less expensive future complications.

NHS Northumberland CCGs clinical chair Dr Alistair Blair states that it wont fund the FreeStyle Libre until more evidence is available that the Libre is effective in wider patient groups: We are continuing to review this system to see whether there are more groups of patients who may benefit significantly from the system.

It is disappointing that Northumberland CCG is choosing to only fund the use of the Libre for very specific groups. Andrews experience will likely be shared by many people over the coming weeks as CCGs in other areas of the country make decisions that will affect the lives of thousands of people with type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes.co.uk hopes that other CCGs will be more visionary and will allow more patients to make use of the new technology. If more patient groups are given the chance to use the Libre, then more evidence of effectiveness will therefore be available.
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Lord & Taylor's NYC store sold to WeWork for HQ

Right now, 10 of the building's 11 floors are devoted to retail. It will be converted to WeWork's headquarters and a redesigned Lord & Taylor store with about 150,000 square feet.



By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO

AP Retail Writer

[enlarge] The nearly 100-year-old building will be converted to WeWork headquarters, with less than a quarter of the space remaining for a Lord & Taylor store.



NEW YORK  Lord & Taylor's flagship store in Manhattan, known for its holiday displays along Fifth Avenue, is being sold to the office space sharing company WeWork.



. . .

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Starbucks opens 100th store, aims to make India top-5 market

Even as it continues to find profitability elusive, Tata Starbucks, a 50:50 joint venture between the Seattle-based coffee store chain and Tata Global Beverages, plans to continue expanding the number of its stores in India.

On Tuesday, it inaugurated its 100th store in India in Mumbai and announced plans to open its first three stores in Kolkata in early 2018.

''India is one of the most important markets that we operate in. One day, India will be among the top five markets that Starbucks operates around the world,'' John Culver, group president, Starbucks International and Channel Development, told journalists, but refused to be pinned down on a timeframe for this.

Starbucks currently operates in 28,000 stores across 75 markets in the world. In India, it now has 100 stores spread across six cities.

Starbucks opened its first store in India in 2012 in Mumbai's Horniman Circle. In the last five years, the coffee chain - the most frequented retailer in the world - has opened stores in Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi NCR and Bangalore. The US is the largest market for company, followed by Canada, China, Japan and UK.

It has taken Starbucks five years to open 100 stores in India. In comparison, the firm plans to open 500 stores per year in China, doubling its store count to 5,000 by 2021.

''We believe that one day India will be one of the top five markets. I won't put a time frame to it. It's over the long haul. We will make the right investments along the way in the business to build out the stores and the footprint,'' Culver subsequently told Mint in an interview.

''Not only do we see growth in terms of top line and bottom line, more importantly we see growth with our people and the investments we make in our people.

''Today we are also announcing that 40 per cent of our workforce will be female. Right now we are at 25 per cent,'' he said.

Coffee sales account for 60 per cent of Starbucks' topline, and tea constitutes another 10 per cent. Starbucks introduced the Teavana brand in India in January and Culver said they will continue to make investments in tea, a fast-growing segment in India.

This is despite the Indian unit posting its slowest sales growth last fiscal after it slowed down expansion.

The venture continues to report losses, although its most recent financials for FY17 said the venture narrowed losses to Rs16.13 crore from Rs20.07 crore in FY16.

Tata Starbucks saw clocked net sales of Rs272 crore, a growth of 14 per cent, during the year ended March 2017. The sales performance is a steep decline from nearly 40 per cent growth in business it saw in preceding years, likely indicating that its novelty factor is waning as it focuses on profitability and halts aggressive expansion.

Globally, consolidated net revenue at Starbucks grew 8 per cent to $5.7 billion in the quarter ended 2 July. The company had 26,736 stores across 75 countries.

The coffee chain last year extended its partnership with the Tata Group beyond India by launching the latter's single-origin coffee in the US and Himalayan mineral water in Singapore.

''Our joint venture with Tata sits on the top of all partnerships we have in the world,'' said Culver, adding that its tie-up with Tata will help them achieve long-term aspirations.

According to The Economic Times, experts feel the company may not be able to keep up its high sales as it opens stores in suburbs and towns where most consumers may find Starbucks costly.

Globally, most coffee consumers including of Starbucks are attuned to a takeaway culture, which helps cafes add margins with very little cost. But the average size of a Starbucks outlet in India is bigger than peers such as Cafe Coffee Day in a market where young office-goers and students prefer to spend hours in cafes over coffee and snacks.
National University Philippines in pact with TCS to enhance local employability skills

Tata Consultancy Services has signed a pact with National University in the Philippines to launch a comprehensive, long-term plan to enhance the skills-readiness of university graduates for the job market.

Through new digital courses, updated curriculum, faculty training, workshops and internships, nearly 5,000 students enrolled at National University will now have access to new skills and training relevant to the IT/ITeS industry. The new alliance is part of the TCS Academic Interface Programme (AIP) to foster collaboration, learning and training in institutes of higher education, leading to a win-win situation for both industry and academe.

TCS Philippines country manager Vikram Singh and HR head MArijit Roy signed a Memorandum of Understanding with National University President Teddy Ocampo at a signing ceremony held at the TCS office in Bonifacio Global City, the Philippines.

''On its 117th year, National University continues to make a difference as it embarks on the new era of providing quality education that is suited to the ever changing requirements of the globalised world. National University believes in the significance of industry-academic partnership that bridges gaps, ensures relevance and establishes long term relationships with lifelong learning at its core,'' said Ocampo.

Industry-academic alliance to upgrade graduate employability skills in the Philippines

New digital courses, curriculum revamp to be key features of up-skilling plan

Academic outreach expands to more students, faculty and professionals

TCS will launch several new courses and training for students at National University. Amongst the first to be implemented will be a customised Digital Marketing course to train students in new age marketing campaigns, online branding, product positioning website creation, search engine optimization and content development. The course with an inaugural batch of 40 students is slated for roll-out in November 2017.

''There is a huge demand and supply gap in the IT/ITeS industry for talent. TCS has been at the forefront of developing specialized, value-added courses to integrate up-to-date and relevant knowledge into the business curriculum of colleges and universities. The academic tie-up with National University is part of an ongoing endeavor at TCS to accelerate the technical and business skills for a future-ready workforce,'' said Singh.
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Fianna Fail South Louth and East Meath PRO Anthony Moore has rejected "out of hand" calls by Louth Fianna Fail Councillor Emma Coffey for the implementation of a hard border with Northern Ireland.

In a statement sent to the Dundalk Democrat, Moore responded to the views Cllr Emma Coffey made in a statement issued to the Democrat earlier this week, in which she called for a hard border to protect our local and national economy and to protect Ireland from an immigration influx.

These views are misconceived and do not represent party policy, said Moore. A hard border effectively presupposes a hard Brexit, which would be a disaster for Ireland. The Department of Finance reported earlier this year that it would cut our exports to the United Kingdom by 30%, add 20bn to the national debt and put 40,000 jobs at risk. We must avoid that at all costs."

He continued: "Fianna Fail is the Republican Party and our policy is to avoid a hard border with Northern Ireland which would simply reinforce partition, endanger the peace process and be hugely destructive culturally, socially and economically. People living in Louth and other border counties can rest assured on that score. We fully support any effective government and EU efforts to ensure there is no hard border.

He pointed out another major development in the last 24 hours in the shape of a pending agreement to retain the Common Travel Area, which he said will help to safeguard trade and free movement of persons across the border.

This is hugely important because Louth, as a border county, sees people go back and forth across the border daily to work and to get hospital treatment. We all personally know such people. Retaining the CTA will ensure that this traffic continues smoothly and that employment, social welfare and healthcare entitlements are respected post-Brexit.

Moore rejected the idea that the frontier with Northern Ireland would become the scene of major illegal immigration after Brexit, saying: The Gardai on the border do a tremendous job preventing illegal immigration into the Republic and cooperate closely with their counterparts in the PSNI in that regard.

"I have full confidence in the integrity of our current border controls which do not need the dubious protections of a 'hard border' to function effectively. Save for the unlikely event of our Scottish neighbours descending on us en masse post-Brexit and seeking asylum here, there will be no significant migration issues as a result of Brexit."
Gerry Adams crusade to shut the Dail bar has been dubbed a stunt by senior politicians tasked with assessing his proposal.

In his submission to Sean O Fearghail, the Louth TD said he had a range of concerns about the sale of alcohol in Leinster House.

They included the opening hours of the bar, its operation under privilege, the dearth of licensing restrictions and adverse effects on staff.

He also described as unacceptable the fact that deputies have access to a bar, in a workplace, where important legislation affecting the lives of citizens is debated.



He today ramped up his bid but is now facing questions over why he has not sought similar action in Stormont where Northern Ireland politicians also have access to alcohol.



His campaign has already bred consternation among Leinster House workers who fear the move could result in job losses.

The Dails Committee on Procedure and Privilege today examined a submission from Mr Adams on banning the sale of alcohol in Leinster House.



The Dail bar will not be closed - this is just another Sinn Fein stunt, a TD who sits on the committee told The Irish Independent
PARENTS in Louth are being warned that exposure to bonfires and fireworks could endanger children with asthma.

Over 11,000 children in Louth have been diagnosed with asthma, according to the Asthma Society of Ireland.

The warning comes following the tragic death of a nine-year-old girl in the United States whose asthma was triggered by attending a fireworks display.

The Asthma Society of Ireland are urging parents to be careful as smoke from bonfires and fireworks can cause serious breathing difficulties.

Toxic fumes from bonfires and fireworks are bad for all our health. However, they can be particularly deadly to people with asthma, said Asthma Society CEO Averil Power.

Air pollution is a well-known asthma trigger that can result in serious attacks, hospitalisation and even death.

At this time of year, it is very important everyone with asthma manages their condition carefully and tries to limit their exposure to toxic fumes.

The Society has issued the following tips to help parents manage their childrens asthma this Halloween:

1. If your childs asthma is triggered by smoke, make sure they keep their distance from bonfires and fireworks.

2. Ensure they take their preventer medication as prescribed. If they have stopped taking it for any reason, restart it now to protect them.

3. Make sure they carry their reliever (blue) inhaler at all times.

4. Make sure others (such as teachers and friends parents) are aware of their asthma and know what to do if their symptoms get worse.

Meanwhile, the Society is calling for a nationwide ban on smoky coal in a bid to improve overall air quality.
The jury in a double murder trial has been shown facial composites of the driver of the alleged getaway car used by the killers.

Police officers based in Newry had given the descriptions to an expert, after the car had failed to pull over in the city, shortly after two bodies were found on the other side of the border.

The two PSNI officers and the facial imaging specialist also gave evidence this (Wednesday) morning in the Central Criminal Court trial of a Dublin man, charged with murdering two fellow Dubliners in Ravensdale, Dundalk.

Jason ODriscoll (34), with an address at Richmond Avenue, Fairview, has pleaded not guilty to murdering car thieves 31-year-old Anthony Burnett and 25-year-old Joseph Redmond on March 7th, 2012.

The trial has already heard that firefighters were called to a burning car in Ravensdale Forest Park shortly before 11 o'clock that night. Two bodies with gunshot wounds to the head were discovered inside.

Lorna Heron, Facial Imaging Specialist with the PSNI, testified that she took separate descriptions from two PSNI officers in March 2012. She worked with the officers on different days.

She explained to Alexander Owens SC, prosecuting, that she had inputted the information into a computer programme. She then used computer-generated images before adding artwork to create two facial composites, which were shown to the jury.

She explained that, because there were two images, she morphed them together to produce a morphed composite. This was also shown to the jury.

The court also heard from the two PSNI officers, who gave her the descriptions of the driver of a Dublin-registered silver Mercedes that had come to their attention.

Sgt Stephen Downey and Constable Niamh Mulholland said they had seen the driver for about five seconds when they pulled up alongside him in Newry on the night of the killings.

They told Mr Owens that the car had sped off once they activated the blue lights on their unmarked patrol car and requested the driver to pull over.

They had tried to follow it, but had suffered a flat tyre and lost it.

The jury heard that a silver Mercedes was found abandoned near the border the following day and that a cast was made of a shoe print found beside it.

PSNI Crime Scene Investigator Constable Jonathan Poole said he was called to a location near Meigh, where the car had been found without its registration plates.

It appeared to have ground itself on a mound of concrete that had prevented it from getting out of that particular area, he told Mr Owens.

He said he noticed what appeared to be a footwear impression in mud beside the car. He said that, once it was mapped and photographed, he recovered the mark by making a cast using plaster of Paris.

Mr Owens had said in his opening speech that this was the stolen car that had failed to stop in Newry, and in which the accused and another man had left the assassination in Ravensdale.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
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Web hosting, the way that websites are placed on the internet for people to visit them, is a thriving business that all business which sell online make use of. Many times, hosting is thought of as something that benefits customers or the company, but its rarely not examined from an employee standpoint.

There are several benefits to using quality web hosting that support employees. Lets look at a few of these.

Fast loading times reduce complaints

When a website is hosted on a fast server that isnt overloaded with other hosted sites, then every page loads faster. This is also true when the servers processor is faster, theres more memory installed and solid-state drives are used to speed up data retrieval times.

Its been shown that slow page loading times cause frustration to visitors who dont have the patience to wait until the whole page loads. This causes visitors to forget about using the web and calling up to lodge a complaint with customer service who have better things to do.

Customers already have some information when they call

Unlike times in the past when uninformed customers would call up to order something and wouldnt know what product range you have, now all the information is shown online. Customers can either be referred to the correct page with the right information which is easier to digest than dictating what it says over the phone or they can be helped in other ways.

When customers feel helped, they respond better to staff. This is all possible when websites are fast enough to let visitors find what they want in a reasonable amount of time. Slow hosting fails companies that wish to grow by providing a better service because the speed and functionality of a website is seen by customers as an extension of the business.

Online orders simplify the sales process

For sales staff who used to deal with customer orders all day, their time has now been freed up to deal with their most important customers. These are the companies that place larger orders on a regular basis and typically have special requires and customisations needed. With the additional time not dealing with single item orders, these staff can take better care of the most important clients while building up a good repour with each one of them.

Its very obvious when the hosting falls down because this situation is then reversed with customers having to call in when an order form fails to load repeatedly or the server fails entirely. Its important to purchase quality hosting like that from www.certahosting.co.uk because it ensures that staff stay focused on the most important customers based on the 80/20 Pareto principal. In this case, 80% of the profits come from 20% of the customers and priorities need to reflect that reality.

The benefits to employees of good web hosting for their company seems tangential, but when failing to use reliable, fast web hosting, thats when things really start to fall apart in the office for customer-facing staff especially. When managing IT correctly, staff can focus on their high-minded tasks instead.
Having raised $5 million in Series B funding, this week, digital-native retailer Brosa is setting its sights on becoming a dominant omnichannel furniture brand.

In addition to securing additional capital from Series A investor AirTree Ventures, Brosa welcomed Bailador Technology and BMY Group as new investors. Since its$2 million Series A funding round in 2015, order volume from Brosas customers has increased ten-fold and its workforce has ballooned from 25 FTE employees to 70.

Brosa CEO Ivan Lim, who launched the Melbourne-based startup with co-founders David Wei and Richard Li in 2014, spoke with Dynamic Business about his plans to disrupt a $13 billion furniture industry. Meanwhile, David Kirk, Managing Partner at Bailador technology, provided comment on what attracted the VC fund to Brosa.

DB: What is the elevator pitch and origin story for Brosa?

Lim: Brosa is a disruptive furniture brand transforming the way people purchase unique designer pieces for the home. Due to its vertically-integrated model and digital first approach, Brosa  unlike most other retailers  manages and controls the entire supply chain from design to delivery, using powerful technology to create an effortless experience for customers.

The idea for Brosa was born out of the realisation that people who graduate from IKEA, but dont have $15k to spend on sofa, have very few options when it comes to beautiful designs at accessible prices. Additionally, my co-founders and I found the furniture buying process to be extremely painful  theres a number of friction points that make it extremely daunting. We believed we could build a new retail model to address these pain points.

DB: What growth will the $5m Series B raise help unlock?

Lim: The capital injection will enable us to strengthen our vertically-integrated model and built-for-purpose technology platforms. This will involve hiring senior talent with solid backgrounds in software engineering, technology, and the furniture industry, to propel Brosa to the next stage of growth. The funding will also help us ramp up our physical retail concept stores, known as Brosa Studios.

DB: What criteria did you apply when seeking Series B investors?

Lim: Strategic alignment is incredibly important when bringing on investors. I had been speaking to Bailador since late 2016 and throughout that time, Andrea [Kowalski, Principal of Bailador) and his team got to know Brosa and spent time really fleshing out the problem were tackling. At the same time, we got to know Bailador and how they understood the opportunity. This time was really important because it ensured we were aligned on what we felt was critical for winning the market.

DB: In your view, what has drawn investors to your startup?

Lim: The transformative impact of technology-first retailers in product categories like fashion, books, shoes and groceries are apparent for all to see. We believe that Home and Living is the next industry awaiting the disruption that comes from technology enabled retailers. Our mission is to enable our customers to create a beautiful home painlessly. The only way to do this on scale is by building technology to reimagine the experience and remove friction for customers. Brosa is part of a new breed of Digitally Native Vertical Brands who have a deep understanding of their customers and orientate their business around delivering an amazing experience by leveraging technology.

Kirk: Bailador has a growing portfolio of technology companies our investment in Brosa further diversifies the funds portfolio, adding exposure to an innovative B2C digital disruptor in retail. Technology shifts are dramatically changing consumer expectations in retail. The furniture sector has been slow to effectively address a large and growing cohort of online consumers. This has created an enormous opportunity for Brosa, which is led by an excellent management team with a proven ability to execute and we feel confident in the team and their vision. We are pleased to welcome Brosa into the fold and we are looking forward to supporting them on the next stage of their journey.

DB: What are your ambitions for the future of Brosa?

Lim: We want to be the leading home and living retail brand in Australia and Asia Pacific. Our goal is to help customers create a beautiful home painlessly and we will execute that with our Digital First approach. Home and living retail is one of the biggest opportunities for retail disruption over the coming years and Brosa will be at the forefront of that wave.

With this fundraising, Brosa is set to become a dominant player in the $13 billion furniture industry (Euromonitor 2016), disrupting traditional brick-and-mortar retailers, not just the online ones, and will transition the companys journey from a formidable online player to a dominant omnichannel furniture brand in 2018.
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Viking Profile

Viking Highlights Major/Minor:

English Major Classification:

Senior Hometown:

Roper, NC (Plymouth High School) Hobbies/Interests:

Writing, Reading, and Watching Movies Dream Job:

A college professor and high school educator Campus Events You Enjoyed Participating In and The Reason(s):

Honors Program events (quiz bowl, debate, and ceremonies). The honors program has been very close in my heart because of the dedication theyve shown to their students and the opportunities they provide us with. Your words to live by:

Be not simply good, be good for something Favorite place on campus:

Johnson Hall Professors who have influenced me and why:

Dr. Kenneth E. Jones, my mentor in my personal journey who pushed me past the point I thought I was ready for. He taught me to fly, and then through me off and let me learn for myself. Dr. Eric Weil, my academic hero, his classroom was the room I fell in love with literature in. From creative writing to academic he was there to lend an edit and provide praise and criticism as necessary. Future ECSU students are missing out on not having Dr. Weil. Advice for Students:

Be yourself, go to class, and get your work done before you go out.

Zachary Singletary

It was Zachary Singletarys high school teacher, an Elizabeth City State University graduate, who encouraged the Roper, North Carolina native to become a Viking. But it was the 21-year-old seniors experience early in his freshman year that convinced him, ECSU was the right place.

About halfway through my first semester, no less than that, I was hooked, said Singletary, an Honors Program student and Language, Literature and Communications (LLC) major. It was meeting the people, the students. So many people trying to do well and good things were happening.

Singletary grew up in Roper and it was during his senior year in high school that he was first introduced to ECSU. There was a course being given at his high school via Skype, from ECSU, which caught his attention. And then there was his teacher, Dwayne Brooks, an ECSU graduate, who encouraged Singletary to give Viking life a try.

Singletary will graduate this December. He says hes very happy he made the decision to become a Viking, rather than head down the road to another university.

I felt more comfortable here, he said, referring to ECSUs intimate environment where its easy to be a part of campus life. And I think the professors are amazing here.

Singletary began discovering just how amazing his professors were about the same time he was considering changing his major. Originally intent on majoring in mathematics and becoming a high school math teacher, Singletary says a pre-calculus course changed his mind, and the one-time chair of the LLC, Dr. Chantelle McPhee, told him perhaps English would be a good choice.

I had a class with Dr. McPhee and wrote a paper for it, recalled Singletary. She said it was good and that I should consider switching to English.

Singletary made the switch, and he never looked back. He says his love of American literature, coupled with his plans to pursue a Masters in English from ECU, will lead him to a career as a high school English teacher.

He was also invited by Dr. Kenneth E. Jones to join the ECSU Honors Program. That, says Singletary, was one of the best decisions hes made during his stay here.

The program has given him the opportunity to participate in a number of academic activities, and Dr. Jones, he says, has made a marked difference in his education.

The Honors Program has forced me to look at things differently, said Singletary. The professors bring what you learn in the classroom and show you how to apply it in real life.

Although Singletarys home is less than an hours drive from ECSU, he has chosen to spend his semesters as a resident. He heads home on the weekends where he works as a customer service clerk for a local supermarket, except when the Mighty Vikings are playing home games at Roebuck Stadium.

Singletary says campus life has been full of good memories, and life at ECSU is like one big family.

Come and see ECSU, he said. Get to know the professors. Its a unique opportunity and small and that helps. People really care.
(Photo:  Peter Williams / WCC)Pope Tawadros II, patriarch of the See of St. Mark and leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church visited to the World Council of Churches on Sept. 1 2014.

The heads of the Coptic, Syrian, Armenian and Indian Orthodox Churches have held ecumenical prayer with the Evangelical Church in Germany in Berlin for Christians in the Middle East.

For the first time, Pope Tawadros II, Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandira; Patriarch Ignatius Afrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Church; Catholicos Karekin II, supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Catholicos Baselios Morthoma Paulose II, Supreme Head of the Malankara Indian Orthodox Church visited Germany together.

They were there to inform political and church representatives on the bad and sad situation in the region where Christianity originates.

For the Berlin Dome it was a historic moment on Oct. 21.

"Never in the 112 years history of this Evangelical church building in the center of the German capital has the colorful variety of Christian faith been more obvious," wrote Katja Dorothea Buck a journalist who covers religion and politics in Germany.

"Prayers, lectures and hymns were performed in Aramaic, Syriac, Armenian, Coptic, English and German. Ethiopian, Armenian, Syrian and Coptic church choirs contributed with their respective liturgical music.

THERE FOR THE REFORMATION

Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, chairperson of the Council of the EKD, the alliance of German Lutheran and Protestant churches said, "It's a great honor for the Evangelical Church in Germany that the four Oriental churches accepted the invitation to come to Germany to commemorate the Reformation, to share their suffering and to pray with us,"

He reminded the faithful that the Oriental churches have a presence in Germany through their local communities.

"Today 250,000 Oriental Christians are living among us and the Oriental churches are engaged in a tremendous effort keeping their identity on the one side and in integrating the people into German society on the other."

German Bishop Gerhard Feige who represented the Catholic Conference of Bishops in Germany reminded people of the big differences in the realities of the life in the Western world and in the Middle East.

"We in Germany are not subject daily to violent attacks. Many Oriental Christians must hear differently the Beatitude 'Happy are those who are attacked on account of righteousness; for the kingdom of heaven will be theirs'. Jesus promised those who follow him persecution," said the Catholic bishop.

"If there were no Oriental church anymore in the Middle East we in the Western world would severely miss something essential. Their liturgies, their traditions and their respective history are a precious gift."

Syrian Patriarch Ignatius Afrem II thanked EKD for the invitation which gave the patriarchs the opportunity to discuss over four days what his church faces with political leaders and representatives of the churches in Germany.

"Thousands of people have been killed. Many people had to endure martyrdom. Hundreds of churches were destroyed. We are grateful that we were able to tell our story," the patriarch said.

KIDNAPPED SYRIAN BISHOPS

He reminded the 800 people in the dome the fate of the two Syrian bishops kidnapped extremosts in April 2014.

"We are thankful to be invited to celebrate with the German Evangelical Church the 500 years of Reformation which brought many positive elements," Afrem noted.

"The Reformation reminds us all to be faithful in the Gospel. But it also brought division in the body of Christ."

In 2017 Chrisitans are commemorating 500 years since priest Martin Luther nailed his 95 protests to a Wittenberg church against wrongdoing in the Catholic Church to start the Reformation.

In the 18th and 19th century Protestant missionaries came to the Middle East to evangelize among the Orthodox faithful and created new churches, he explained.

"Today we recognize our Protestant sisters and brothers. But we are concerned that there are new Evangelical groups proselytizing among our members. They take advantage of their sad situation," he said,

Karekin II, the Armenian Catholicos, emphasized the guidance the Beatitudes give in times of confusion.

"When religious intolerance and conflict become part of the daily lives of innocent people; when murder and persecution are part of fundamentalist ideology; when the destruction of old religious cultural values and the forced expulsion of people from the cradle of Christianity are justified through falsified and corrupted religious messages, Jesus recalls us again to join and to follow him in his footsteps."

Indian Orthodox leader Baselius Marthoma Paulose II remembered the long relations between his church and the Oriental churches in the Middle East. He said their common roots enabled people in South India to be able to side with their sisters and brothers in the Middle East.

Due to health problems, Coptic Pope Tawadros had to cancel his participation at the prayer service.

Bishop Damian from the Coptic diocese in Germany spoke in his place.

"It is good to talk with us instead of talking about us," he said quoted Pope Tawadros. "If one day there were no Christians anymore in the countries around the Mediterranean, peace and stability in the region and in the whole world would be in danger."




Nutriad launches portfolio in Cambodia



Nutriad has introduced its portfolio into the Cambodian market. During a well-attended seminar in Phnom Penh, Nutriad and its local distribution partner FLS, presented research and novel products to a group of industry professionals.

Cambodia's economy was centrally planned from the early 1980's until 1991. Economic reforms were initiated as early as 1985 and since 1992 the country has made significant progress toward a market economy, including liberalisation of domestic markets and privatisation of state-owned companies. Having shown strong economic growth in recent years, the emerging economy holds great potential for further development of the agricultural industry, said Nutriad.

BK Chew, APAC Director Nutriad, commented, "Nutriad has a presence in all Asia Pacific countries, Cambodia being the final step of our full geographical coverage in the region. At our "Helping Nutrition Happen" seminar we launched seven products across our Palatability, Digestive Performance and Mycotoxin Management platforms. Working in partnership with FLS, we are excited to bring practical solutions and knowledge for animal nutrition and health to the Cambodian industry that will support producers in improving efficiency of their operations."

Mr. Ab Greven, Palatability Manager APAC, added, "The seminar provided an excellent platform for Nutriad to show the latest scientific findings of our feed flavour range, particularly on KRAVE and Delistart K-link. The feedback from attendees was very positive, which further confirmed our commitment to introduce our portfolio in Cambodia."
Police warning ahead of Hop-tu-Naa

Manx police have issued a warning against anti-social behaviour ahead of Hop-tu-Naa.

The Isle of Man Constabulary say some people dread the annual celebration, fearing their property will be pelted with eggs and flour.

Officers have designed a poster for shops to display, showing that they are restricting the sale of flour and eggs to youths in the run up to October 31st.

Police encourage those getting involved in Hop-tu-Naa festivities to respect people's right not to participate and only to visit houses that openly display that they are taking part.
UK Treasury looking into VAT claims



Chief Minister Howard Quayle speaking to BBC Panorama (picture from @HowardQuayleMHK/Twitter).

The UK Treasury will investigate how the Isle of Man handles VAT payments on exported and leased aircraft.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle confirmed that members of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists have been looking into the practice since the start of the year.

While Customs and Excise here have already started a review to ensure regulations have been followed, the Isle of Man Government has also asked the UK Treasury to check VAT receipts.

Mr Quayle warns that the Isle of Man could receive a significant amount of negative press as a result of the allegations, with BBC Panorama and The Guardian among the outlets covering the story.

The Chief Minister conducted an interview with Panorama yesterday, which he says will defend the Island's international reputation.
Business / Companies

by Staff reporter

ECONET Wireless Zimbabwe, the largest mobile network operator in the country, is demanding cash payments only from airtime dealers in a move that has sparked outrage from airtime vendors in Bulawayo.Airtime vendors who spoke to The Chronicle said the move by the telecommunication company was unfair on them as they use cash for buying basic commodities which cannot be purchased using plastic money.Econet used to accept part payment in cash and the other half using Ecocash or swipe but has since started demanding the whole payment in cash from airtime dealers.Econet spokesperson and media relations executive, Mr Fungai Mandiveyi, said the company was simply asking airtime dealers to pay using the same form of payment used when the dealers are being paid by their customers.He said individual customers are not affected by the changes and hence are free to use any form of payment."Econet Wireless accepts payment from its bulk airtime dealers or resellers in the form that the dealers are paid by Econet customers. Where the dealers or resellers are paid in cash, Econet expects to be paid by the dealers in cash. Where the bulk airtime resellers are paid by electronic transfer or by Ecocash, Econet expects the same mode of payment from the dealers. All our individual customers may make payment for individual airtime, data or any other Econet products and services by Ecocash, Point Of Sale devices or by direct bank transfer," said Mr Mandiveyi.A vendor who operates in the Central Business District (CBD) who spoke on condition of anonymity said Econet has made her life difficult."This is very unfair and we want to know if it is legal. At first they used to say pay half in cash and the rest by Ecocash or swipe now I can't do that. So what it means is that I have to give them all the cash I get, meaning that I have to go and queue at the bank for cash to use. People are just taking advantage of us," she said.A well-placed source in the company said the move was also introduced as a measure to curb illicit practices by people who claim to be dealers and use airtime as a way of getting cash."The company noted that there are people who come here and buy airtime as dealers then go and resell it in rural areas below the actual value for them to get cash. They then come this side and buy using Ecocash or point of sale machines which is not fair on the company," said the source.
Paul Walker's daughter, Meadow, has reached a settlement with German automaker Porsche over the death of her father in November 2013.

On Nov. 30, 2013, the Fast and Furious actor tragically died at the young age of 40 after the Porsche Carerra GT he was riding in as a passenger rammed into a tree and burst into flames after attending a charity event in Santa Clarita, California. The actor was filming Furious 7 at the time of his death, and his brothers Caleb and Cody replaced him as stand-ins to complete Walker's scenes.

The car crash also claimed the life of Walker's friend, Roger Rodas, who was behind the wheel at the time of the accident. A subsequent investigation revealed that the car was traveling at speeds between 80 and 93 mph in a 45 mpg-designated zone. No drugs or alcohol was found in their system.

Nearly two years after her father's demise, Meadow filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the car manufacturer claiming that Walker's untimely death could have been prevented if the car was equipped with proper safety features.

The suit also alleged that Porsche was aware that the specific car Walker crashed in "had a history of instability and control issues," and Porsche "failed to install its electronic stability control system, which is specifically designed to protect against the swerving actions inherent in hyper-sensitive vehicles of this type."

The automaker was also accused of installing a faulty seat belt that prohibited Walker from escaping the vehicle before it erupted in flames, because of which he was burned alive.

In response, Porsche stated that the company had installed state-of-the-art parts and safety features in the 2005 Carrera GT at the time of the car's manufacture and sale, but the vehicle's abuse, alteration and misuse are what ultimately led to, or contributed to Walker's death.

On Oct. 16, Meadow and Porsche finally settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed fee, according to court documents obtained by E! News. The terms of the settlement are not yet known, but the documents clearly state that both parties have reached an agreement to settle and have called for a dismissal of the suit. Walker's father, Paul Walker III, who filed a separate lawsuit against the automaker, also reached a settlement with the German company.

Meadow, who is the daughter of Walker's ex, Rebecca Soteros, won $10.1 million after reaching a settlement with Rodas' estate in April 2016, which was to be paid into her trust. Moreover, Walker left behind his entire estate, which is worth nearly $25 million, to his daughter, according to his will.
Entertainment / Celebrity

by Simbarashe Sithole

The rebel Franco (Slomo) Dhaka was unmasked by his former pay master Alick Macheso on Saturday.Dhaka had attended Macheso's farewell show to United Kingdom at Tanza leisure Centre in Chitungwiza.Macheso told Franco of Extra Kwazvose fame that he was not moved by his departure and he is still a guru even without him."Franco ndichingori zvawakandisiya ndiri ( I am still the same even without you)."I shaped you ,and when you rose in fame you left but look my bosses still love me and support the band," he shouted on stage.The pathetic Franco who stood next to him felt belittled and was given a minute to talk to the crowd."Macheso is my father I wish he will support me and use me as a curtain razor since he was my teacher, "said little Franco.Extra basso laughed at him and he said his wish is not big since he is not jealousy of him."You just wish to move with me, you should have said so long back and by now you would be somewhere because these people you see are our bosses!," laughed Macheso.However, the two subsequently put their differences aside and danced borrowdale together sending the crowd hey wire.Meanwhile, Macheso' s band members felt jealousy and gave Franco marching orders just after two minutes of dance."Chimuombererai maoko adzike zvakwana mukoma Franco thank you!" shouted Majuice and Jonasi Kasamba aka baba Sofia.
A Euro-Arab summit could boost the cumbersome Middle East peace process and help tame other conflicts in the region. The EU holds regular summit meetings with key partners such as the US, India and China but also developing regions in Africa, Asia and Latin American but the Arab world is one major geographic region that has conspicuously been absent from the EUs agenda.

For years, both Arab and European leaders have been lobbying for such a meeting but it was only last December at the EU-Arab League Foreign Ministers Cairo meeting that a more concrete agreement in favor of a summit was founded including a commitment made to work towards it. Since then, the idea has been endorsed by the League of Arab States (LAS), and there have been a few working sessions but more preparations are yet to get underway. However, without more impetus right now, there is no much chance that it will be happening in 2018 given the time needed to coordinate about 50 countries involved.

Why the delay? First of all, new frictions have appeared in the Arab world such the crisis over Qatar which affects the cooperation among Arab countries themselves and there are also doubts on the EUs side about the prospects for a good turnout given domestic issues such as Brexit and summit fatigue. Importantly, even if the summit were to take place very soon, it would not be easy to come up with meaningful political messages on the most important political challenges, so there is a risk that it will become an elevated talking shop.

However, the summit could become a solid platform for digging into the deep-rooted economic challenges that the region faces. Europe is most likely to continue to be the number one source of foreign investment, development aid and trade for the region, as it will also remain an important player in the regions economic security  an important area for the EUs own interest. A way to further foster closer cooperation between both sides is for Europe to provide loans and assistance programs as well as funds that focus on infrastructure and job creation for the regions youth. While there has been much talk about this, very little action has been taken so far. Moreover, the two regions private sector organizations and companies could organize a parallel investment summit and non-profit organizations could come together too given their vital role in development and governance.

If the summit is really to happen, some serious work needs to start right now. The UN annual meetings in New York will give an opportunity for the leaders to take the idea forward. EUs head of diplomacy Federica Mogherini and LAS Secretary Ahmed Aboul Gheit will be crucial in shifting preparations into gear and work on the agenda. Failing that, the schism within the Arab world and its cynicism about their own institutions and indeed Europes real interest in their plight will only deepen.

The Case for a Euro-Arab Summit  Opinion by James Moran  Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS).

(The Opinion can be downloaded here)
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that Slovakia was a pro-European island in its region. He pledged earlier this week that his country would keep a pro-European path. His reassurance comes a day after the Czech Republic had elected a media tycoon that is expected to take a hard line on the European Union. Mr. Fico said that his pro-European foreign policy declaration was apt and timely and was backed by President Andrej Kiska and Parliaments Speaker Andrej Danko.

Andrej Babis, Czech Republics second richest citizen, has promised to abolish the Czech Senate and rewrite election laws. His party had taken about 30 percent of the vote while the ruling Social Democratic party had taken only about 7%. Mr. Babis, who had also called for warmer ties with Russia, a ban on Muslim immigration, and a more defiant attitude toward the European Union, called his victory a triumph over the establishment. We want to defeat this clientelistic-corruption system, he said.

With the election of Mr. Babis, the Czechs have joined the Poles and Hungarians in electing leaders who prefer national interest to the broader European values. Slovak Prime Minister has been in power for past 11 years and has clashed with the EU authorities in the past. His tone has, however, softened since the election of Emmanuel Macron in France. He said that he would like to steer Slovakia into a core of Europe, even if its neighbors wanted to stay on the fringes. Anti-EU sentiment has been on the rise in the 5.4-million Slovakia as well but with its small economy driven by exports of cars and electronics, Bratislava has more to lose from alienating Brussels than its bigger neighbors.
DOHA, Qatar, October 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

2,000 participants from 100 countries to gather to re-imagine education at a time of

disruption and economic uncertainty

Some of the world's most creative leaders in the fields of education, technology, social entrepreneurship, global development, media and philanthropy will convene in Doha, Qatar on November 14-16 for the eighth World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE).

Up to 2,000 participants from 100 countries are expected to attend the biennial global Summit which, since its establishment in 2009, has become a premier international gathering on the future of education. The theme of WISE 2017, "Co-Exist, Co-Create: Learning to Live and Work Together", sparks debate around the education challenges in times of global disruption and economic uncertainty.

Central to discussions will be the role of education in a post-truth world, with sessions focusing on media literacy; artificial intelligence and virtual reality; social entrepreneurship; design thinking and nudging for right education choices, among others.

Confirmed speakers include: Prof Sebastien Thrun, chairman and co-founder, Udacity and founder of Google X Labs (USA); Mr Fareed Zakaria, writer and columnist, CNN host (USA); Dr Armel Karboul, commissioner, International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity (Tunisia); Ms Wendy Kopp, CEO and co-founder, Teach for All (USA); Sir Michael Barber, founder and chairman, Delivery Associates (UK) and Ms Noella Coursaris Musunka, founder, Malaika (Democratic Republic of Congo).

The 2017 WISE Prize for Education Laureate [enlace ] will be announced at the opening of WISE on November 15. The Prize recognizes an individual or a team of up to six people for an outstanding, world-class contribution to education.

The Summit will also showcase projects championed by WISE all year round. These include the WISE Awards [http://www.wise-qatar.org/wise-awards ] for high-impact education solutions; the WISE Accelerator [enlace ], supporting promising edtech projects; the WISE Learners' Voice [enlace ], a mentorship program for young education leaders, and the WISE Research series [enlace ] of reports authored by experts from leading international institutions.

Peer learning will be at the heart of WISE, with the possibility to set up "Braindates", a concept by e180 (Canada), allowing delegates to strike up knowledge-sharing conversations.

Certain sessions of WISE 2017 will be streamed live online: 15 November: opening ceremony [enlace ]; afternoon plenary [enlace ] 16 November: morning plenary session [enlace ] ; closing ceremony [enlace ]

These sessions will also be streamed live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wiseqatar

Discover the full program online: enlace

CONTACT: Press contact: Marina Bradbury, media@wise.org.qa, Internationalmedia relations manager, +331-56-03-54-46
guys,

please help me. I need to score 79+ in all the modules of PTE for my Visa processing.

Suggest me a good method

one of my college inform me that writing pte exam in any middle east country will help me to gain high scores as the evalutaion of pte in middle east is more liberal than in India.
Hello everyoneI was at work today when I recieved a call from the work phone through the Home Office. She wanted to speak with my manager however she was out of office at that time so she spoke to me. I was asked numerous amount of questions from applicant details to employment. She then also called back to speak with my manager and also asked a lot of questions with her too. I asked if my supporting doc were received but she could not advise as an entry clearance assistantMy family and friends think this is a sign of progress but i am really curious as i have not come across anyone who has recieved a call from the home office?! Not sure, maybe it was a coincidence that i spoke to the home office while they called my employer?However, my employer has spoken to them and confirmed everything as i did but would be really great to know if anyone else has had a similar experience?Let me know below, much appreciatedThank youuu!
I accidentally stayed in the UK as a visitor by 3 weeks...:behindsofa:



I was in the UK staying my husband/sponsor 5 months from Jan-June 2017, then came back home to the US for a month.

Went back to the UK August-Sept 2016 for 7 weeks thinking they would give me another 6 months but was notified by the Border Agency that I was only allowed 6 months in a calendar year - not 6 months AT A TIME. Oops.



They let me in but said I needed to return with a visa - which I had already intended to do.



My questions is....Do I mention it in my Letter of Introduction?



Here's the potential paragraph from my letter:

"After he got settled into the rented house, I returned to the US after five months for work as I was aware I could only visit the UK for 6 months at a time. I made plans to return to the UK to further support my husband for another seven weeks with a ticket to return to the US on September 16, 2017 for work and to apply for a Settlement Visa. I was informed by the border agency upon my arrival in Edinburgh July 25, 2017 that the rule states that a visitor may only visit 6 months in a calendar year so I went over the six month limit by three weeks. I am extremely sorry for this error and absolutely did not mean to do so."



Should my husband speak to it in his Letter of Sponsorship?



Thanks for your time~



e
Hello, everyone!



Does anybody know: can investor residency visa holders (property-based) stay outside of the UAE more than 6 moths? I heard it is up to 360 days, if visa is valid.

Did anyone with such visa type happen to enter the UAE after more than 6 months time of absence?
solost1992 said: It says it is going to end soon, but when? Click to expand...

The current charge is apparently temporary. Frankly, it seemed last year too that the program would end. I haven't been able to find any reference on the net to the program ending, however there may be changes in the future. Or perhaps it's only funded one calendar year at a time, or perhaps CECs are coming to an end (but I don't think the latter is the case). Budgets in France are always by calendar year though.
1) Do I pay both Self-employment tax in U.S. and French cotisation? Are they pretty much the same? If I stop paying self employment tax in US, will my benefit (i.e. retirement money) be cancelled when Im at the retirement age? Can anyone guide me to the previous post or online link related to this. Click to expand...

2) If I plan to buy a property (house with land) to fully/partially use as business location, should I buy it in my own name or business name? In France, can I use it as business expense? Click to expand...

3) As a PACS partner, will they assume that the house purchased in both partners names regardless of the source of funds used in purchase? Since 100% of the fund will be from me for business purpose, is there any way to separate the business investment from personal property? Click to expand...

4) With all said above, I need some advice on what business forms to set up for self-employment/one person company, couple computers, no employee (at least for now) that suitable to my situation. Click to expand...

Let me make a start - but as ET says, it's a big question(s).This is actually the easy part. When you set up your business, part of the registration is registering with the social insurances (i.e. cotisations) so that you are paying into the health care, retirement and other benefits systems here in France. Once you are enrolled in the French system and paying in, you do NOT make self-employment payments to the US any more.At retirement age, when you apply for US Social Security, if you don't have the necessary quarters (40 quarters or 10 years) to qualify for a benefit, they will ask for your foreign work record. You get credit toward the 40 quarters for quarters worked while enrolled in another "social security" system.There is quite a bit of information in the International section of the Social Security website. See also the Social Security section of the Paris Consulate website: https://fr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/social-security-administration/ Depends on what sort of business entity you set up. As an "auto-entrepreneur" you don't get to deduct any business expenses, so it doesn't really matter. If you set up as an EIRL, EURL or some other form of registered business, you can have a portion of your home declared as business property - but again, it depends on the details of how you set this up as to whether and what you get to deduct as expenses (and whether the deductions apply to your personal taxes or to the company's taxes). A bit too complicated to explain succinctly here.As ET has already said, it depends on what regime you selected. Under the default regime (that I guess applies to PACS partners, too) if you're living in the house with your partner, it's part of the community property. Under certain types of business entity, you could have the business purchase the property - but if you are then living in it, too, you'd have to count the accommodation as "salary" to yourself. This is where it gets really complicated.Yes, you do. Contact your departemental CCI (Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie) - they should have a Centre pour Formation des Entreprises (CFE) or some similar office dedicated to helping people start up businesses. Whether they have English speaking staff to help you is a good question - but in Normandy it's a distinct possibility. On this site https://www.normandie.cci.fr/votre-cci the menu item on the far left (Creation, Reprise et Cession des entreprises) should point you in the right direction.Cheers,Bev
News / Africa

by Stephen Jakes

BOSTWANA - Tensions are running high amongst locals and Zimbabweans here, after a Zimbabwean woman allegedly stabbed a male manager to death at PR Cash and Carry during a botched shoplifting.The incident happened on Saturday after the woman tried to steal a P16 can of beef. PR is located along the Palapye main road in Serorome ward. According to eyewitnesses, the Zimbabwean woman who was accompanied by a man, is alleged to have stolen the beef from the shop before being confronted by the shop manager who spotted the incident.The man reportedly escaped leaving the woman behind. Witnesses say the deceased then closed the store to question the woman, but a fight ensued when the woman could not give convincing answers. She then stabbed the manager with a knife on the thigh, causing massive blood loss. "We suspect she got the knife from the shop shelves," a witness said.The deceased, from Senete village, is suspected to have died after losing too much blood. Palapye Police Station commander, superintendent Laborer Ramada said a 30-year-old from Zimbabwe was in custody in connection with the matter."According to our investigations, the incident happened aroundpast six on Saturday afternoon. The victim, a 61-year-old man was an employee of the store and he was stabbed by the suspect with a sharp object on the thigh. He was confirmed dead on arrival at hospital," Ramaja said.Police are still probing the matter, although Ramaja said the incident was a rarity and the first reported in his jurisdiction in a long time.The incident has enraged villagers here, who are calling for the death penalty to be swiftly applied on the woman. Irate locals are even calling for the mass deportation of all foreign nationals, while others have declared war on Zimbabweans whom they say are terrorising them in their country."All we want is justice for our fellow Motswana whose precious soul has been taken before time. This man was like a father to many and it is so sad that he was robbed of his life just like that," one resident commented on social media.
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For all the complaints I hear about Austin transplant Torchys Tacos in San Antonio  too expensive, storebought tortillas, Austin  it doesnt stop San Antonians from lining up out the door at lunchtime. The Torchys formula is to stretch the definition of a taco as far as it will go without breaking, then let it snap back to territory just familiar enough to fit into a tortilla, even if they dont make that tortilla themselves.

Tacos: The Trashy Trailer Park taco ($3.75) is a holler back to Torchys humble beginnings as a trailer in Austin in 2006 before it became the modern juggernaut with 50-plus locations. Its also the source of the original eye-roll: fried chicken on a taco? Thats not a taco; thats a snack wrap.

But listen: Roll up crispy fried chicken with green chiles, queso and pico de gallo, and you can call it whatever the hell you want, because thats good stuff.

In the same unorthodox style, the Dirty Sanchez breakfast taco ($3.75) overcomes its stupid name to give scrambled eggs what they never knew they were missing: a fried pepper and pickled carrots. Inside, the poblano was soft, roasty and mellow. Outside, its fried shell was as spiky as CapN Crunch. The high-low textures were mirrored by the mild-sharp interplay of smooth guacamole with chopped green chiles and tangy-hot carrot escabeche.

Green chile pork ($3.75) is my enduring favorite at Torchys, a respectful, down-to-earth homage to carnitas, with pork roasted and pulled and blended with mild chiles, then dressed simply with cilantro, onions and cotija cheese on doubled-up corn tortillas. No debate, qualifiers or complaints will be tolerated: This is a real taco.

Tortillas: As if in defiance of San Antonio standards, Torchys brought with it from Austin a penchant for waxy, stiff, storebought flour tortillas. The commercial corns a better choice: more pliable, truer to its style and above all, doubled up for your protection.

Salsa: Ranch dressing with poblanos and chipotle doesnt really count as salsa, but its good, because ranch dressing was engineered to make us fat and happy. Torchys plays its safe and cool with creamy avocado and mild salsa roja with a big cilantro bloom.

But the real money lies with a twangy-hot tomatillo salsa with roasted chiles and the molten orange creamsicle called Diablo, an approachable way to appreciate the bright, flinty flavors of the habanero pepper without it trying to kill you first.

Green chile queso: Ive never heard anybody complain about Torchys green chile queso ($5.95). Thats because it got the texture right, for starters: melty enough to swirl, thick enough to dip without drip, balanced enough not to harden halfway through. Then they spiked it with roasted green chiles, guacamole, cilantro and pitchfork squiggle of Diablo sauce. Served in a sleek black pan with a basket of chips, its one of the best taco-shop appetizers in the city.

Location: 999 E. Basse Road, Suite 183, 210-824-1603, torchystacos.com

Rating: A solid neighborhood option

Follow the complete 365 Days of Tacos series at ExpressNews.com/Tacos. Get 365 Days of Tacos sent to your inbox. Sign up here.

msutter@express-news.net

Twitter: @fedmanwalking
WASHINGTON  An undocumented immigrant teen asking to end her pregnancy is entitled to seek an abortion without delay, according to a ruling Tuesday from a federal appeals court in Washington.

The order from the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit  without oral argument  reverses a decision last week from a three-judge panel of the same court that would have postponed the abortion for the 17-year-old who is being held in federal custody in Texas.

The Trump administration had denied the teens request, citing the governments new policy of refusing to facilitate abortions for unaccompanied minors.

The timeline was at issue because the teenager is more than 15 weeks pregnant, and Texas law bans most abortions after 20 weeks.

The 6-to-3 ruling sent the case back to a lower court judge who within hours of the decision had ordered the government to promptly and without delay transport the teen to a Texas abortion provider.

Todays decision rights a grave constitutional wrong by the government, D.C. Circuit Judge Patricia Millett wrote.

In the dissent were the courts three active judges nominated to the bench by Republican presidents. Judge Brett Kavanaugh said the majority has badly erred and created a new right for undocumented immigrant minors in custody to immediate abortion on demand.

The Justice Department declined to comment Tuesday about whether it would ask the Supreme Court to review the D.C. Circuits action.

Attorneys for the undocumented teenager asked the full appeals court to rehear her case after a divided panel gave the Department of Health and Human Services until Oct. 31 to find a sponsor to take custody of the girl.

The Central American teenager, identified only as Jane Doe in court papers, is being held in a government-funded shelter in the Rio Grande Valley and has been seeking an abortion since late September. She learned she was pregnant shortly after being detained while crossing the border.

Brigitte Amiri, the teens American Civil Liberties Union lawyer, said the girls court-appointed guardian was thrilled to tell her she could terminate her pregnancy.

We should never have had to go all the way to a full appellate court to say what we know is the law: that the government cant ban abortion for anybody, Amiri said.

The teen had been allowed to attend a counseling session last week. But Susan Hays, legal director for the Texas group Janes Due Process, which is assisting the teen with obtaining an abortion, told the Associated Press that the teenager will likely need to undergo a new counseling session with the doctor who would perform an abortion. That counseling session could be scheduled for as soon as Tuesday afternoon, with the abortion on Wednesday, Hays said.

The teenagers case has raised tricky political questions involving immigration and abortion law. Democratic lawmakers have demanded answers from HHS Acting Secretary Eric Hargan about why the Trump administration quietly changed federal policy to deny access to abortions for minors in custody.

Scott Lloyd, director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the HHS agency that oversees the minors, said in a March email that government-funded shelters caring for the minors should not be supporting abortion services pre- or post-release; only pregnancy services and life-affirming options counseling.

Attorneys for the teenager argued the government was violating the girls constitutional right to obtain an abortion. The teenager has already received permission from a Texas judge to bypass the states parental consent requirement and terminate her pregnancy.

Her capacity to make the decision about what is in her best interests by herself was approved by a Texas court, Millett wrote Tuesday.

Milletts position was joined by five other judges nominated to the bench by Democratic presidents.

Judge Cornelia Pillard was recused because her spouse is the ACLUs legal director, according to the ACLU.

In last weeks 2-1 decision, Kavanaugh and Henderson gave HHS until Oct. 31 to find a sponsor to take custody of the girl. That would allow her to be released and to seek the abortion.

In his dissent Tuesday, Kavanaugh said the government should be able to expeditiously transfer the teenager to a sponsor  typically a relative or friend  who could help her make a major life decision. The government, Kavanaugh wrote, is merely seeking to place the minor in a better place when deciding whether to have an abortion.

Government lawyers had said prospective sponsors have inquired about the teenager. The girls lawyers on Sunday filed a sworn statement from the former ORR director during the Obama administration who described the lengthy process of vetting sponsors.

Millett disputed the idea the sponsorship process would have gone quickly.

There is nothing expeditious about the prolonged and complete barrier to (the teenagers) exercise of her right to terminate her pregnancy that the panel order allowed the government to perpetuate.

Government officials have also said they are not blocking the girl from getting an abortion because she could voluntarily return to her home country. The government, however, acknowledged abortion is illegal in the girls home country, which is not identified in filings.
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The family of a 10-year-old girl from Laredo whos in the country illegally said Border Patrol agents threatened to detain her after undergoing gallbladder surgery Tuesday in Corpus Christi if she didnt voluntarily leave the country.

Aurora Cantu said she accompanied her 10-year-old cousin Rosa Maria Hernandez in an ambulance to Corpus Christi early Tuesday morning, but were stopped at a Border Patrol checkpoint. Agents eventually allowed them to continue, said Cantu, a U.S. citizen, but followed them to the hospital.

They told me that my aunt (Rosa Marias mother) had two options, Cantu said. The first option was we could take her back to Mexico and arrange for a family member to get her. If my aunt didnt want to do that, the second option was that she could spend several weeks in a detention center.

Officials at Driscoll Childrens Hospital, where Cantu said Rosa Maria was taken, wouldnt comment Tuesday citing federal privacy laws.

In a statement, the Border Patrol said agents stopped the two at the checkpoint near Freer on U.S. 59.

Due to the juveniles medical condition, Border Patrol agents escorted her and her cousin to a Corpus Christi hospital where she could receive appropriate medical care, the agency stated. Per the immigration laws of the United States, once medically cleared she will be processed accordingly.

Agents alerted Mexican consular officials, according to the statement.

Immigration officials by law cannot detain children for long periods of time, and theyre often transferred to the Health and Human Services Department. Immigrant children apprehended at the border are usually turned over to family members living in the U.S., although earlier this year then-Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to consider deporting family members without legal status who come forward to claim children in government custody.

Rosa Marias mother, Felipa de la Cruz, 39, said the girl, who has cerebral palsy, came to the U.S. when she was three months old.

Rosa Maria underwent the surgery Tuesday, but de la Cruz said she doesnt think her daughter can receive the medical care she needs in Mexico.

Im afraid because I dont want her to be deported to Nuevo Laredo, she said.

Incidents like this discourage immigrants in border communities, which in South Texas dont offer the same level of medical care as larger cities to the north, from seeking the treatment they need, said Priscilla Martinez, the Texas Immigration Coalition Coordinator for the Workers Defense Project in Austin, which is advocating on behalf of Rosa Maria.

They have to put either their health at risk or they put their status at risk, and we think this is totally unacceptable to have to put people in this situation, Martinez said.

jbuch@express-news.net | Twitter: @jlbuch
WASHINGTON  With the specter of Russians manipulating American public opinion hanging over Capitol Hill, U.S. Rep. Will Hurd convened a panel of experts Tuesday whose testimony pointed to a rocky path for legislation aimed at preventing foreign interference in future elections.

Nearby, the House Intelligence Committee, investigating whether Donald Trumps campaign coordinated with Russians, was scheduled to question Brad Parscale, Trumps digital director last year, about the campaigns San Antonio-based social media and advertising operation that played a big role in the presidents victory, according to committee sources.

The hearing was held behind closed doors.

Hurd, R-San Antonio, said he wanted to highlight some of the vexing issues that have emerged since American intelligence officials declared with certainty that Russian operatives deployed social media with fake accounts in last years election campaign.

Theres a level of urgency to this hearing that can not be overstated, Hurd said at the outset.

Newly introduced legislation in both the Senate and House would make significant changes by requiring Facebook, Twitter and other large tech companies to gather information on the sponsor of ads and make it publicly available along with the ads themselves.

What emerged from the hearing Tuesday was a difference of opinion along partisan lines, with Republicans, Hurd among them, questioning whether the bills are necessary and whether they infringe on free speech.

I think some of the things theyre talking about already are being done in existing law, said Hurd, who suggested that a better approach might be tightening the Foreign Agent Registration Act and existing federal rules.

Thats a broader conversation that may prevent a fight that may or may not happen, he said.

Democrats, on the other hand, were united on the need for legislation.

U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Washington, a sponsor of one of the newly filed bills, asserted that our democratic government has become vulnerable to foreign actors who targeted voters to have the maximum effect on the presidential election last year.

A Maryland Democrat, U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, described what he saw as the Kremlins strategic goals in directing a social media operation in St. Petersburg to create fake accounts that sought to sow discord in the run-up to the election.

Russian President Vladimir Putin understood they could not compete with us militarily. They could not compete with us economically. And they could not compete with us politically on a fair stage. But he detected an Achilles heel in the United States  our openness, particularly our freedom of expression on the internet, Raskin said.

Allen Dickerson, of the Center for Competitive Politics  an advocacy group that says its mission is protecting the First Amendment  told committee members that legislation will drive out the poorest and least-sophisticated online speakers.

The blossoming of online speech is delicate and great caution must be taken in burdening the rights of American speakers, he said.

U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Virginia, was unimpressed.

Do Boris and Natasha operating from their dacha on the outskirts of Moscow have the same constitutional rights that everybody has in the United States? he asked.

U.S. Rep. Paul Mitchell, R-Mich., was disturbed about the prospect of federal agencies enforcing new rules governing social media.

How do we determine whats fake news and real news? he asked. The idea of letting bureaucrats regulate what people see on social media and other formats offends me, and I will oppose it in any way I can.

But Ian Vandewalker, a campaign finance specialist at the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan think tank, spoke of gaping holes in regulation of political advertising on the internet in contrast to radio and television, including bans on purchase by foreign nationals.

And the $1.4 billion in online political ads in 2016 was nearly eight times higher than 2012, he said.

Failure to subject ads on the internet to the same disclosure regime as with other media will leave the public without information about who is trying to influence them and allow more mischief by foreign adversaries like Russias meddling in 2016, he said

Hurd, who majored in computer science at Texas A&M, has emerged as a principal player in the House on cybersecurity and digital matters.

He scored perhaps his biggest success in two terms in Congress last month when the Senate agreed to incorporate his proposed reforms related to government computer purchases in the new defense spending authorization.

That legislation seeks to prevent tens of billions of dollars in wasted spending every year on old computers by setting up a new purchase system along with a government fund enabling more strategic buying and potentially savings.

Hurds newest challenge is winning support for a so-called Cyber National Guard in which the government would pay costs of students computer science degree if they agree to work for the federal government for a period of time thus far not determined.

At its hearing, the Intelligence Committee hoped to determine, by interviewing Parscale, whether any coordination occurred between Trump campaign and Russian operatives.

Parscale, who didnt respond to a message about his scheduled testimony, has scoffed at the suggestion of Trump campaign involvement with the Russians, calling it a joke during an appearance this month on CBS 60 Minutes.

The only collaboration I am aware of in the Trump digital campaign was with staff provided to the campaign by Facebook, Google and Twitter, he said in his Twitter account in July.

blambrecht@express-news.net
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AUSTIN  It could take as long as the year 2020 before some homeowners get federal funding to permanently rebuild or fix their Hurricane Harvey-ravaged homes, key state officials told a Texas Senate committee.

Although Congress passed a $7.4 billion initial relief bill last month to help people rebuild after the numerous natural disasters that hit the nation over the last three months, Texas General Land Commissioner George P. Bush warned that the money has a lot of red tape to get through before Texans will see any of it. He said historically, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has taken anywhere between nine months and nearly three years to get that money to the people who need it. Additional aid was approved Tuesday, and more is in the pipeline.

It is a painstaking process. Everyone is frustrated by it, Bush said moments after testifying Tuesday before the Texas Senates Finance Committee.

While funding for temporary housing has been flowing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Bush said the key to helping homeowners long term rests with HUDs community development block grant program, often referred to as CDBG money. That process is a lot more complex he said.

While Congress agreed to spend the money, HUD officials must go through a lengthy rulemaking process to determine how the $7.4 billion can be used by states and which states get what share of it. But even that calculation cannot begin until better damage assessments come in from Puerto Rico, HUD spokesman Brian Sullivan said.

In short, the rulemaking process to even start the process has yet to begin for owners of the more than 300,000 homes and businesses in Texas damaged or destroyed by Harvey.

We are doing whatever we can in our power, Bush said, noting that hes spoken with HUD Secretary Ben Carson several times and is going to D.C. again on Monday to encourage a more expedited process.

Carson has seen the damage in Texas up close. In September, Carson was part of President Donald Trumps entourage as they toured Houstons shelters and some of the flood neighborhoods.

On Friday, HUD did release $58 million for CDBG funding from previously unspent disaster funding to help Texas as it awaits the larger pot of money.

Disheartening

State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, said the news of how long the help could take to get to Meyerland and other hard hit areas was disappointing. She said people are in limbo now trying to figure out if they can rebuild and mitigate their property to prevent future flooding.

It was disheartening, Huffman said.

Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, was more pointed, wondering aloud what happened to the Trump administrations promise to cut regulations and red tape.

I dont understand it, West said. Its bewildering.

Lawmakers are already vowing to be more aggressive with the federal government after years of the Lone Star State feeling slighting over federal disaster allocations.

State Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, said after Hurricane Ike hit, Louisiana got a lot more funding than Texas though many argued Texas was hit harder. And Taylor said the federal government spent $15 billion on New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005  a city he noted is a lot smaller than Houston.

We pay a lot of taxes; its time for that to come back and help us, Taylor said.

He said among that help should be help in building a coastal spine system to protect Houston and the port from future storm surges. He said when the rest of the nations economy was in a tailspin, Texas was still chugging along and producing jobs. He said its in the national interest for the federal government to help Texas this time.

The six-hour-long hearing on Tuesday at the state Capitol also served as a chance for lawmakers to pose some testy questions toward Gov. Greg Abbotts office for how theyve handed out money to help Houston with debris cleanup but not to other cities.

Last month, Abbott gave a $50 million check to Mayor Sylvester Turner to help Houston pay for its share of federal disaster cleanup. FEMA officials have agreed to pay 90 percent of debris cleanup costs with local governments required to take up the remaining 10 percent. After Turner proposed a property tax increase to cover the citys share, Abbott hand delivered a check to Houston to cover the expense.

Smaller cities

But that isnt sitting well with State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, who questioned why smaller cities havent had their 10 percent paid by the governors funds as well.

I think we set a precedent, Kolkhorst said.

She wasnt alone in the questioning. West jumped in after her and asked Jordan Hale, director of administration for Abbott, why Beaumont, Port Arthur and Victoria specifically havent had their 10 percent paid out. Hale said none of those cities asked to my knowledge.

That brought a stern response from state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, who said hes happy Houston got its money, but is worried that smaller cities didnt get the same chance to get their share covered.

Tuesdays hearings are the second round of hearings in the Texas Senate about the impact of Hurricane Harvey. Last week, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs met in New Caney to hear from residents about the impact of the storms on their neighborhoods.

Today, the Senates State Affairs Committee is taking its turn. Its looking deeper into the interactions between the state and federal government in a hearing that starts at 9 a.m.
WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett is hoping to seize on President Donald Trumps continued criticism of prescription drug prices with legislation enabling the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to bring down costs for seniors.

Doggett, D-San Antonio, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and other Democrats on Wednesday revived a push to overturn a ban that drug-makers and their allies in Congress have fought for more than a decade to keep in place.

We hear so many frequent announcements about medical breakthrough, but we havent had any breakthroughs on affordability to enable people to get those medical discoveries, Doggett said, speaking on the Senate lawn.

Doggetts office noted problems of people in San Antonio who have come to him for help. One woman, a diabetes sufferer identified only as Denise, told Doggett she is unable to keep her blood sugar levels in check because she cant afford insulin.

Another woman named Nancy told the congressman that she is unable to afford a $400-a-month prescription on top of $200 she pays in drug costs for several ailments.

Doggett, who leads a House Democratic task force focused on reducing drug prices, spoke in the news conference about exorbitant costs borne by people suffering from cancer and other serious ailments.

They are charging prices that are set for whatever a sick and dying person will pay for a little less pain and a little more time with their family, he said.

Medicare changes in 2003 that secured the Part D drug benefit for seniors included a ban on negotiating with drug manufacturers, a provision described at the time as a bargaining chip to win support from some Republicans opponents.

Such negotiations, permitted for the Veterans Administration, presumably would enable Medicare to leverage its purchasing power to pay less for drugs.

Fierce opposition in Congress orchestrated by drug manufacturers has bottled up proposed changes to the ban. In the 2016 election cycle alone, political contributions from the pharmaceutical and health products industries approached $21 million, 59 percent to Republicans, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Trump, before taking office, accused drug companies of getting away with murder, an assertion he repeated as recently as last week. But skeptics point out that the president has yet to follow through, and he has sparked criticism for appointing industry officials to high-level positions, among them Joseph Grogan, a former Gilead Sciences lobbyist who is heading the administrations effort related to drug-pricing reforms.

Consumer groups continue to challenge Gileads $1,000-a-pill hepatitis C treatment, which generated $4 billion for the company last year.

Nonetheless, Democrats said they hope to enlist Trump in the new effort.

The campaign is over, hes president now. We need him to join us in taking on the pharmaceutical industry, Sanders said.

Doggett on Wednesday also introduced two other prescription-related bills. One would require transparency by pharmaceutical companies as far as what costs, including marketing, are factored into drug pricing.

Another Doggett proposal aims to preventing brand-name drug manufacturers from discouraging competition by paying companies that produce generics to delay production of less expensive drugs.

blambrecht@express-news.net
AUSTIN  House Speaker Joe Straus of San Antonio shocked the Texas political world Wednesday by announcing he wont run for re-election after all, saying its time for him to serve in other ways and not ruling out a future run for statewide office  perhaps even governor.

A confident leader knows when its time to give it back, Straus, R-San Antonio, said at a hastily called news conference in his Capitol office. I want to find other ways to serve this state.

His decision came after a year in which he repeatedly battled Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick over legislative issues including the so-called bathroom bill, which would have restricted the public restrooms that transgender people can use.

That nationally noted fight was illustrative of the war within the GOP between moderates like Straus, in step with the business community and focused on basic issues such as education, water and transportation, and the tea-party-linked, sometimes Libertarian-oriented Republicans whose agenda includes social issues and efforts to crimp local officials authority over matters including tax increases and regulation.

Strauss decision creates an open race for speaker for the first time in roughly a decade, since he first took the office. The jockeying to replace him when he leaves office 15 months from now was immediately apparent. One Republican already had been aiming to unseat Straus before Wednesday. Two more  another Republican and a Democrat  quickly joined the fray, with others expected to follow in the hopes of leading the GOP controlled chamber.

Though Straus, 58, said he doubts his name will appear on the 2018 ballot, he pledged to be an active player in the upcoming GOP primaries, supporting responsible Republicans.

By last report in June, he had more than $9.9 million in his campaign account he could put toward that goal.

Asked whether he might run for statewide office, Straus told the San Antonio Express-News in an interview Wednesday afternoon that people approach him every day and encourage him to run for statewide office.

People do come up to me every day and encourage me to run for statewide office, but I have always focused on the job that I have. This is the first time I have ever not had an immediate campaign to go to in a two-year cycle, so I will take some time and check in with my major supporters, which I have been doing today  and make decisions.

It's doubtful that I would do anything right now, other than follow through on the commitment I have to support responsible Republicans in the House, he said.

As for whether he was ruling out a race for governor, Straus said at his news conference, I dont have a plan today beyond helping other responsible Republicans in (2018), he said, adding at another point he is not one to close doors.

Straus gave no indication, however, that he would challenge Abbott, who is considered virtually unbeatable in the GOP primary and has more than $40 million in his campaign kitty.

Strauss decision to step down was as surprising as his election as speaker in 2009, when he first won the job less than four years after being elected to the House. He claimed enough votes in the GOP-majority House to win when he was backed by 72 Democrats and 16 Republicans; he then was elected with a unanimous vote to replace Republican Tom Craddick.

Its just time and I feel really good about being confident in making this decision, Straus said Wednesday. Its unexpected, and when I was first elected speaker that was unexpected, too. You never know what the future holds, but I feel very good about the timing.

Straus, who comes from a prominent, civic-minded family, has longstanding Republican bona fides. His mother has long been a force in Republican politics, and he started at the grassroots level as a Bexar County precinct chair. He was an intern for former U.S. Sen. John Tower, worked in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, managed U.S. Rep. Lamar Smiths first campaign for Congress and last year chaired the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee. He has raised and donated big money to benefit Republican candidates.

But his backing for speaker by Democrats, and the House leadership team he installed that included Democrats in key positions, angered conservatives including Michael Quinn Sullivan of the tea-party-aligned Empower Texans, who has long been on a crusade to unseat him. More than 50 Republican Party organizations around Texas have taken votes of no-confidence this year or otherwise rebuffed Strauss leadership.

Good day for Texas, but now we have to fight harder to make sure his cronies dont keep it, Sullivan said on Twitter of Strauss plans to leave the speakership.

It seemed only a matter of time before the mounting grassroots and electoral pressure was too great for them to continue in office, added Values Action President Jonathan Saenz in a statement, referring to Straus and Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, who also said he wont seek reelection. Cook, who heads the House State Affairs Committee, refused to hold a hearing on the bathroom bill in the special session.

Straus, however, said critics cant claim credit for his decision, and pointed out that they have been unsuccessful in all past attempts to defeat him.

They tried to defeat me before I was elected the first time, they didnt even know my name, Straus said. I win, they lose They will say what they say, but the records will show they were 0 for 5.

Straus was elected unanimously at the beginning of this years regular legislative session, but the session was a rough ride, as Patrick sped controversial issues like the bathroom bill and a proposal to subsidize private-school tuition with state funding through the Senate. The House has long stood against so-called school vouchers, and Straus and his team unequivocally stood against the bathroom bill, which he and other opponents said would target vulnerable Texans and cause potentially big economic losses for the state thanks to boycotts from companies and organizations who decried it as discriminatory.

Beyond those battles, Straus worked for investment in core issues, including funding for water projects, transportation, child protective services and education. Education and a continuing effort to reform the troubled public school finance system, remain on front burner as he looks toward leaving.

Throughout his time as speaker, Straus has demonstrated an understated, cool, often drily humorous style in which he declines to bluster but will issue a pointed jab as he deems warranted  such as when he compared Abbotts special-session agenda to a pile of manure. When pushed to the wall, he can show a steely determination, as he did when he refused to entertain the version of a bathroom bill sought by Patrick.

Business leaders and like-minded Republicans said they hope his departure wouldnt lead to the House taking a far right turn on issues like the bathroom bill.

Say it isnt so, said Republican consultant Kelton Morgan of Strauss decision. Joe has been this bulwark against the crazy. He is the one who has stood in solid defense of the Texas miracle, of Texas continuing to be the place everyone wants to come and live and work and raise a family.

Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio, said Straus has gone through two governors and two lieutenant governors, and Ive always made the comment that hes the steady hand on the wheel.  He is not political. He just is focused on the real issues that matter to most Texans.

Though Abbott and Patrick most recently heaped blame on Straus when the special session ended with nearly half of Abbotts agenda left incomplete, both thanked the speaker for his service Wednesday.

Joe Straus has served with distinction for both the people in his district and for the Texas House of Representatives, Abbott said in a statement. I thank Speaker Straus for his service and for his commitment to the State of Texas. Cecilia and I wish Joe and Julie all the best.

Patrick, on Twitter, echoed the sentiment. Any man who enters the arena deserves respect, he said. The media often tried to portray our differences as personal when they were actually just a markedly different approach to governance and political ideology.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, on his way to Germany after a trade mission to Israel, called Straus a leader of vision, decency and integrity.

In a world desperately longing for true statesmanship, Joe Straus proved himself to be the model for Texas and the country. I hope his impact resonates for a long time, Nirenberg said. His calm, steady hand at the helm of the Texas House will be greatly missed. Straus has been a voice of reason in the chaotic world of Texas politics.

Cities will have to work harder to get an increasingly polarized Legislature to understand the needs of the constituents we all represent. It is impossible to overstate the impact of his compassion for all Texans. I am deeply grateful for his service to the state of Texas and wish him the best. God bless Joe Straus.

Bexar County GOP Chairman Robert Stovall said he was surprised to learn Straus wouldnt seek another term. He is a good patriot a good conservative, and I think the fact that he felt this was a time to step down and do something else proves he is a statesman as well, said Stovall, who expects there will be no shortage of Republicans seeking to win Strauss seat.

Strauss announcement came after he told the Express-News toward the end of the regular legislative session in May that he would run for re-election, a move that would have made him the states longest-serving speaker if he were successful. He talked about it publicly as recently as September, saying bring it when asked at Tribune Fest about potential challengers.

I wouldnt run for re-election if I didnt think I would have a leadership role, he said then.

Some quietly suggested that Straus decision stemmed from the recent hospitalization of one of his sisters who faces a serious health challenge. When questioned, Straus said he has a really close family, but that his sisters health issue didnt drive his decision.

Strauss wife, Julie, looked on as he announced his decision, another chapter in a relationship that had its roots in politics. They began as phone pals, she said, when Straus called to see whether Treasury Secretary James Baker, for whom she worked at the time, would host a fundraiser for Lamar Smith, for whom he worked. They got to know each other over the phone, met, and married a year later. They have two daughters.

When we got married, he said that he didnt know what he wanted to do at this point in his life, but he promised me it would always be interesting, Julie Straus said. I absolutely can tell you he is a man of his word.

Read Straus full post announcing his decision on Facebook here.

Staff writers Josh Baugh and Jasper Scherer contributed to this report. | amorris@express-news.net
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AUSTIN  Almost two months after Hurricane Harvey blasted the Texas coast and dumped epic rainfall on Houston, Port Arthur and Beaumont, Gov. Greg Abbott has weathered several storms of his own in Washington, the city that he and the powers that be in Austin have pilloried for years.

The latest was a rebuff of his request for $18.7 billion in funds earmarked specifically for rebuilding Texas, separate and apart from the $15.25 billion that Congress approved in September as a down payment to start the recovery process  along with an agreement by President Donald Trump for Texas to get a greater share of federal disaster assistance funds than other states.

On Tuesday, the Senate cleared the latest installment of disaster relief legislation and sent it to Trump for his approval  a $36.5 billion aid package Tuesday for U.S. states and territories hit by a series of hurricanes and natural disasters, including Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and California.

The disaster relief comes on top of another $15 billion emergency package for Harvey victims that passed in September, and more is in the works.

With Texas damages expected to eventually top $150 billion, Abbott has made it clear he intends to press Washington as hard as he can to pay for as much as the feds can, as quickly as possible.

The quicker you can get federal money, the quicker you can get things rebuilt  thats the general rule, said Dale Craymer, president of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association that monitors state spending patterns. And if you can get the federal government to pay for something they otherwise wouldnt, then all the better. Because thats money that state and local governments dont have to come up with.

So far, the Texas recovery appears to be on par with other states after similar hurricane disasters. State officials, though, would like to see the money flowing more quickly.

But in the end, officials contend, Texas stands to collect a record level of federal assistance for its recovery from Harvey  perhaps up to 90 percent of the total recovery costs  meaning that the state may not have to tap into its savings account, the so-called Rainy Day Fund, as much as some lawmakers initially predicted.

Were all in

In Texas, the play for federal funds began in late August as Harvey roared toward the Gulf coast.

Abbott, his top aides and state emergency officials huddled in a windowless conference room deep inside in the states emergency-operations bunker in north Austin to devise a recovery plan that would get Texas back on its feet quickly. The goal was to avoid the lingering bureaucratic missteps that followed Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

This pitch quickly emerged: Texas effectively got hit by three storms, not just one. Harvey had come ashore twice, and also created a separate flood event that had inundated much of Houston and East Texas under floodwaters worthy of Noahs Ark.

Do you want to do the Texas recovery on the cheap? Or do you want to get the nations second-largest state economy back online much faster to keep it from becoming a drag on the U.S. economy?

According to a top Abbott aide, the answer from White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, just as Harvey made landfall, was clear and concise: Were all in. What do you need?

Within days, after a series of phone calls between Abbott and his top aides and their counterparts in the White House, Trump approved an aid package that would reimburse Texas for 100 percent of its immediate emergency disaster measures for the first 30 days after Harvey hit, including overtime for first responders. Washington also would provide 90 percent funding for other federally assisted recovery efforts after that, with the state paying just 10 percent, under that agreement.

The usual split was 75-25.

A spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington said the special split for Texas was due to the severity and magnitude of the damage resulting from Hurricane Harvey in the state.

A 90-10 split was last authorized in Louisiana flooding in 2016, the official said. And Trump later approved a similar split for Florida for debris removal, for just 30 days, after Hurricane Maria hit.

Along the 350-mile swath of the Texas coast devastated by Harveys winds and the subsequent flooding, disaster relief quickly turned to recovery efforts. Working with Texas congressional delegation and White House officials in Washington, a initial appropriation for emergency aid of $15.25 billion was approved by the U.S. Senate on Sept. 7, including $7.4 billion for disaster relief through FEMA, $7.4 billion for community block grant and $450 million for small business loans.

It was just a down payment.

The funding already appropriated is a small fraction of the federal resources needed to help rebuild Texas and reinvigorate the American economy, Abbott and Texas congressional delegation said in a letter a month later seeking an additional $18.7 billion for longer-term recovery funding through U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. That funding would go toward community development block grants, to repair schools and transportation infrastructure and for Small Business Administration disaster loans, among other initiatives.

Stiff spine

Last week, just a day before the U.S. House was to approve what Abbott thought would be Texas second disaster-recovery appropriation, House leaders expanded it to include funding for Puerto Rico and Florida, both hard hit by Hurricane Maria, plus victims of Hurricanes Irma and Nate and wildfires in California. Though the total funding package grew to $36.5 billion, none of the money was specifically earmarked for the Harvey victims in Texas.

Uncharacteristically, Abbott went off in public, demanding that Texas congressional delegation get a stiff spine vote against the bill. He suggested Texas 36-member delegation was getting rolled on their funding request for Texas.

After the House approved the revised measure 353-69, Abbott issued a statement saying he had been assured by House leaders that as soon as November, Texas will get the disaster assistance funding were requesting for Army Corps of Engineers projects, Community Development Block Grants, and funding for dredging Texas ports, expanding bayous and critical flood mitigation projects, among other priorities.

The governor will hold House leadership to that promise on behalf of Texans whose lives were devastated by Hurricane Harvey, he said at the time.

In recent days, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the second-ranking senator, has said work is underway for another allocation specifically for Texas, though no amount or date has been revealed.

The full court press from Texas was evident in published reports Friday that Cornyn was holding up the confirmation of a controversial White House budget official, Russell Vought, until more disaster aid is approved for Texas. While Cornyns office would not comment, the senator tweeted earlier in the day about the need for the federal Office of Management and Budget to satisfy Texass needs IDed by @GovAbbott @tedcruz & ME . . .

Also on Friday, Cornyn and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas announced that HUD officials had authorized an initial $57.8 million in disaster recovery grants to help Texas rebuild from Harvey, while the state waits for HUD to divide the $7.4 billion Congress appropriated last month between areas affected by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

Abbott, who has remained mum on the Washington funding push since last weeks public blowup, applauded Fridays announcement of the HUD funding and suggested through a spokesman that the push for more money continues. Governor Abbott has and will continue to work with the Texas delegation in Washington to get the necessary aid to Texans who lost everything, said Ciara Matthews, Abbotts deputy communications director.

For comparison, after Hurricane Katrina blasted New Orleans in late August 2005, more than $62 billion in aid was approved within a few weeks. By December, tens of billions more were approved for recovery and rebuilding in Louisiana and four other affected states, including Texas.

Amy Liu, a Brookings Institution expert on rebuilding devastated cities after catastrophic storms, said the key to a fast recovery is federal recovery funds, not just initial emergency assistance from FEMA.

My experience is that the markets hold back until the federal funding comes, she said by phone from her Washington office, echoing the sentiments of other experts. The apartment developers, the homeowners, the banks investing in projects, they need to know that their investments will be protected ... They want to see a commitment that the community is coming back.

As for Texas after Harvey, she said Abbotts approval of the 90-10 split on disaster and recovery funding is a win for state taxpayers. And the push for fast approval of federal recovery funds is a normal part of the process.

Thats because the actual rebuilding process comes from future supplementals (appropriations from Congress), not the initial disaster funding, she said. The real rebuilding of neighborhoods comes from the Army Corps of Engineers and (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) and other agencies, not FEMA.

Kevin Diaz contributed to this report from Washington.
Announcing that he would not run for re-election, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus repeated a word on Wednesday that another moderate Republican in peril had uttered just the day before.

Enough.

Mr. President, I rise today to say: enough, U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake had said from the Senate floor in a speech announcing his own retirement.

A day later, explaining to reporters why he was relinquishing both the powerful speakership and his seat in House District 121, Straus said, There comes a time when someone ought to come to the conclusion that its enough.

Flake had aimed his enough squarely at President Donald Trump as an expression of resistance. Straus enough was more likely one of resignation.

Despite the difference in tone, both the senator and the speaker were victims of an increasingly strident wing of the Republican Party, a growing faction that has had quite enough of traditional conservatives, placing the species in serious risk of extinction in Texas and across the nation.

Although many felt shock on Wednesday at Straus announcement, it wasnt necessarily surprising. As never before in his five terms as speaker, Straus endured a double-barreled assault this year from the states top-ranking leaders: Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

Straus got beat up in the 2017 regular session and the subsequent special session, when Abbott clearly joined forces with Patrick to blame Straus for all the tea party measures that didnt make it through the Legislature, said Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University.

The onslaught likely influenced Straus decision to leave office, said state Rep. Justin Rodriguez, D-San Antonio.

He really was not afraid to fight back on some of those extreme positions in his own party, said Rodriguez. And Im sure that takes an emotional toll.

I think we were all caught off-guard, Rodriguez added. I really felt like he was gearing up for at least one more session.

Straus certainly left that impression as recently as a few weeks ago, while also dropping hints that the end could be near.

I wont be speaker forever, Straus said in late September at the Texas Tribune Festival. It just seems that way to some people.

He added, I wouldnt run for re-election if I didnt think I had a leadership role.

At the time, state Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, one of Straus own lieutenants, had just announced his intention to run for speaker, and tea party members were pushing for a rule change that would allow GOP representatives to select their own speaker candidate before Democrats could weigh in on the House floor.

Straus had relied on support from both parties to remain in power.

State Rep. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, feared the worst was ahead.

Its just disturbing, Gutierrez said of Straus announcement. Really, really not good for Texas. The scary part now is that the Republican caucus is going to pick the next speaker just like they do in Congress.

There are 55 Democrats in the Texas House  likely too few, Jillson said, to elect another moderate Republican as speaker for the 2019 session.

Democrats caught lightning in a bottle once when they had far more members than they do now, Jillson said. If Democrats were to pick up 15 or 20 (seats), then I think that possibility opens up in 2019. But from where were sitting today, thats hoping to catch lightning in a bottle twice. And thats unlikely.

Gutierrez saw a glimmer of hope in the same intraparty chaos that claimed Straus as speaker.

Ive never seen a more disjointed Republican Party in the House of Representatives than I did this last session, he said. Youve got libertarians, youve got tea party guys who arent necessarily libertarians, youve got the moderates, youve got guys who are a combination of all of that who cant make up their minds. There are some deep-seated divisions.

He added, Were going to see a lot of Game of Thrones jockeying for position here. Weve got to hang onto our hats because it was Joe kept us sane.

bchasnoff@express-news.net
News / National

by Staff reporter

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba says the whole story of the World Health Organisation (WHO) rescinding its goodwill ambassadorial appointment to President Robert Mugabe is a non event because the President was never appointed to be a goodwill ambassador of the UN agency.In an interview with ZBC News in Harare today, Charamba said nothing was ever communicated to the President and the whole furore about the WHO rescinding the appointment is a nullity.Charamba said there is a formality that has to be followed when one is appointed by an agency of the United Nations and none of that was ever followed in the non-existent appointment that has been awash in the media.The Presidential spokesperson said the whole saga is a creation of the non-governmental organisations that do not like Mugabe.Charamba who spoke to the President this afternoon said Mugabe said even if he had been requested to be goodwill ambassador for the WHO, he would not have taken the offer because the UN agency is at the forefront of the anti-tobacco lobby.Zimbabwe is a leading producer of the golden leaf which is a major foreign currency earner for the country.Charamba went on to explain that there is no way that non-governmental organisations could have influenced the decision on the so called rescinding of the ambassadorial position as the NGOs have no platform to vote or veto like the intergovernmental UN body.
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Scott Woodard adjusted the collar of the long, blue jacket of his Civil War uniform, a costume he sometimes wears when giving tours at the Army Medical Department Museum at Fort Sam Houston. He was dressed as a surgeon in the Army of the Potomac, circa 1863.

He sauntered over to an emblem with a U.S. flag with 20 stars, representing the number of states in existence in 1818, a snake wrapped around a staff and a rooster on top. It became the distinctive unit insignia for the U.S. Army Medical Department and was codified that year.

The rooster is an ancient symbol of medicine, Woodard said. This particular rooster is walking toward the right, but hes looking back over his left shoulder, and that for me represents  we are able to have progress because of our experience in the past.

Woodard, a historian in the U.S. Army Medical Departments Center of History and Heritage, said San Antonio has been part of military medical training throughout history but especially since 1946, when the Medical Field Service School moved here from Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

The history of military medical care in San Antonio goes back 200 years when the Spanish established the first military hospital at the Alamo from 1805 to 1812 with a doctor, nurse, cook and about 30 beds made from straw or weeds.

In 1835, during the Texas Revolution, when Texan forces moved into the Alamo, Dr. Amos Pollard was appointed chief surgeon of the garrison. He was killed in the Battle of the Alamo in 1836 while defending his hospital and the patients who couldnt evacuate or defend themselves.

Prior to his death, Pollard was responsible for the care of soldiers, volunteers and civilians, and is thought to have treated smallpox, pneumonia, malarial fever and sexually transmitted infections  all common ailments of the day.

Back then, germ theory  that microorganisms cause many diseases  was not widely known or proven.

A clean knife in a surgical ward is wiping it off on your sleeve, Woodard said about care in the mid-1800s.

Emphasis on preventive care

What made military medicine unique is an emphasis on preventive care and fighting communicable diseases, in addition to treating trauma, all things Pollard did as a military doctor, Woodard said.

You have a force of soldiers whose job it is to fight and if they are sick, they cannot fight. So if youre sick, you might as well be wounded or dead, he said.

On a recent museum tour of military medicine, Woodard held a glass bottle with an herb inside.

You can open it, smell it, try to determine it, he said. Inside was chamomile.

So if you presented to me with anxiousness, you could not go to bed, I would brew this and I would boil it and make a tea to allow you to relax and settle down, Woodard said, illustrating how doctors treated sick soldiers in the 1800s. We still use this today just as a tea, but this was a medicine in the 1800s.

In 1845, when Texas was officially recognized as a state, the U.S. Army established the Alamo as a quartermaster depot and created the 2nd Dragoons, a mounted cavalry. A physician was assigned to each dragoon and with that, doctors from the Alamo were stationed farther west, where they shared their expertise on the frontier.

Thats the story of San Antonio military medicine. Army medicine is there with the troops, Woodard said.

Having doctors and medics embedded with soldiers in the battlefield is a practice still in use today. Soldiers at what is now Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston prepare for medical careers, including as enlisted combat medics. Troops from the Army, Air Force and Navy all train to become medics at the post.

Once Fort Sam opened in 1876, a post hospital was built 10 years later and served as the first permanent medical facility there. It supported the war mobilization for the Spanish-American War.

The Army was a leader in eradicating yellow fever, malaria and typhoid from the Spanish-American War on, Woodard said. San Antonio was able to benefit from the anti-malarial campaign with the eradication of mosquitoes that was taking place. That was part of a bigger project in the United States from a preventive health (and) preventive medicine movement.

A station hospital built on Fort Sam in 1908 provided support for those training at the post and played a major role in helping Gen. John J. Pershings Punitive Expedition in Mexico and in supporting the Army during World War I. Soldiers in the 90th Infantry Division, which served in the war, were given required medical care at the hospital before deploying from Fort Sam.

A larger hospital, with more than 400 beds, opened at Fort Sam in 1937 and five years later was named for Brig. Gen. Roger Brooke. Commander of Fort Sams Station Hospital from 1929 to 1933, Brooke had a distinguished career in medical training.

The relocation of the Medical Field Service School from Pennsylvania to San Antonio in 1946 eventually would make Fort Sam the center for military medical training and one of the largest in the world.

At "Big Willie, all that's left are the ghosts

In 1996, Brooke Army Medical Center was replaced by a much larger, modern hospital. The Center for the Intrepid, a state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility for badly wounded troops and some civilians, is on the hospital grounds as well as housing for family members whose loved ones are recovering from illnesses and injuries.

Today, many of the older buildings once used for medical care at Fort Sam have new purposes. For example, the old BAMC now is the headquarters for U.S. Army South.

Starting in the late 1940s, San Antonio stood at the forefront of aerospace medicine, particularly the effect of high altitude on pilots. Dr. Harry Armstrong, who specialized in aircraft pressurization, established the worlds first Department of Space Medicine at Randolph Field. The school moved to Brooks AFB in 1959. Research centered on how astronauts could survive the rigors of space, including pressurized suits, radiation protection and food like the famous orange drink Tang and freeze-dried Neapolitan ice cream.

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy Jr. and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy came to San Antonio for a tour of Brooks and a dedication ceremony  the day before he would be assassinated in Dallas.

Medical innovations

Over the years, medical practices developed by the military have spread far and wide, also helping to improve health care in everyday civilian life. Practices in emergency care that were developed at the 59th Medical Wing on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland are found worldwide, said Col. Mark Ervin, a doctor who is chief of operational medicine for the Air Force wing.

For example, the extracorporeal membrane oxygenator, a portable heart-lung bypass machine for newborns, was created at the now-shuttered Wilford Hall in 1972 and saved babies from dying of respiratory failure.

Today, ECMO is used on adults with serious pulmonary or cardiac illnesses and allows oxygen to be pumped into the lungs while the heart is stopped during procedures like a bypass, Ervin said.

About 1996, Wilford Hall developed the Critical Care Air Transport Team, which consists of a critical care physician, nurse and respiratory technician. It is a mobile intensive-care unit that provides medical care for critically ill or injured patients, buying time for them if they need to be airlifted, Ervin said.

This ability to move patients with high levels of care within 72 hours has been a huge advantage to how we do military care, Ervin said.

The Air Force also created the Tactical Critical Care Evacuations Team, which functions as an emergency room on an aircraft. The team includes an emergency medicine physician, critical care nurse and a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Its the exact same things we do at the emergency room of a trauma center, Ervin said. Obviously, we lack the CT scanners and some of the big, fancy machines, but whatever we can do to start intervening, slowing down that clock in order to save lives.

CCATTs and TCCETs also have been utilized in civilian emergency medical services and are particularly valuable in transporting people injured in farming or industrial accidents in rural areas to hospitals that would otherwise be over a five-hour drive, Ervin said.

Additionally, in the mid-1990s, the Austere Surgical Team was created. It is a six-person team, equipped with backpacks, that can deploy to any situation and perform live-saving surgery.

These resources have also been crucial in recent man-made and natural disasters, including the Oklahoma City bombings in 1995 when 168 people were killed and in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands when Hurricane Maria struck, Ervin said.

Theres an old saying that if you wanted to learn how to be a surgeon or a physician, find an army and follow it, Ervin said.

sravani@express-news.net | Twitter: @SarRavani




Conservation tillage saves farmers time and money and improves the soil, but only 20 or 30% of Georgia farmers use this system, according to University of Georgia Cooperative Extension soils and fertility specialist Glen Harris.

More farmers dont switch to conservation tillage because theyve always used conventional tillage, Harris said. Farmers are worried about a yield drag and putting money into new equipment. But again, in the long run, I think conservation tillage is probably one of the best things we can do. Its only called conventional tillage because its whats being done most frequently.

A conservation tillage system begins with a cover crop, like rye or cotton, thats planted during fallow times of the year, such as late fall and early winter when row crops have been harvested. The cover crop is killed prior to the planting of next years summer crop.

If farmers maintain this system, the plant residue from the cover crop builds organic matter in the soil over time, which leads to reduced erosion and added nutrients in the soil.

Harris describes conservation tillage as minimal tillage with less soil disruption. Farmers apply all of the fertilizer and lime on the surface and do not deeply turn the soil. Farmers who use conservation tillage systems might only dig a few inches into the ground for a soil sample, rather than the typical 8 or 9 inches associated with conventional tillage, to determine the soils fertilizer needs.

Southern Georgia soil tends to be naturally low in organic matter. Conventional tillage doesnt add organic matter to the soil, but cover crops grown in conservation tillage systems provide an opportunity to increase the soils organic matter, Harris said.

(Conservation tillage) helps hold in the nutrients that were putting down, and it can also help to hold water, which can be very important around here, he said.

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Warrenton, VA (20186)

Today

Becoming partly cloudy after some evening rain. Low 34F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Becoming partly cloudy after some evening rain. Low 34F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
I grew up in a small Yorkshire village and went to a run-of-the-mill comprehensive but the world opened up when on board ship with my father who was a Captain in the Merchant Navy. It made me realize that people arent so different wherever they come from.

Sue Turton

Seeing Yorkshire miners wives outside our local supermarket asking for food donations during the miners strike was my first political awakening. My mum had a party the night Margaret Thatcher was elected PM. I felt very differently.

I worked for Channel 4 News for 12 years often presenting with the legendary Jon Snow who would walk into the studio with the words, Turton, if the viewer only realized we add up to over twelve feet of presenter!

The day three of my colleagues were locked up in an Egyptian jail and I was convicted of the same terrorism charges and basically went on the run was the day I moved from being a journalist to becoming an activist. Ive since moved back but still speak out about free speech and attacks on journalists.

For me, the #FreeAJStaff campaign was a steep learning curve in how to grab peoples attention and join our cause. It went viral thanks to support from all over the world and it was my inspiration to write my book for young people: This book will (help you) change the world.

As I launched the campaign with a demonstration outside the Egyptian Embassy in London Jeremy Corbyn turned up, joined the protest and handed our petition in to the Egyptian Ambassador. Few politicians would stand up for the press  most hate our scrutiny and some would prefer to silence us altogether.

Ive reported from the heart of the Arab Uprisings on the frontlines in Libya and Syria and from the street protests in Egypt  people desperate for the kinds of free speech and right to demonstrate freedoms we in the UK take for granted.

My closest shave was on an assignment heading into Syria through a town called Binnish on the very same day photographer Jim Foley was heading out through that town. Jim was kidnapped that day and eventually handed to ISIS who beheaded him. He is a huge loss to his profession. I often think of Jim who I crossed paths with but never met.

My scariest mission was at the top of the Sinjar mountains where we had been dropped by helicopter with the Yazidi commander but were then stranded for a week with the Peshmerga running out of ammunition and ISIS pushing ever closer up the mountain sides. Its the first and hopefully the last time I will ever ask my colleagues: If ISIS get this far do we let them take us or do we shoot each other?

I think the world is made up of two types of people  those who like Brussels Sprouts and those who detest them. The latter are smart, the former have very strange taste buds.
Steve Aoki has announced a UK tour for 2018.

Steve Aoki

The 39-year-old electro house star will head to the UK in January next year, kicking off his run of shows at London's O2 Academy Brixton on January 26 before going up to the north west of England for a gig at Manchester's Academy a day later.

He will also travel to the Welsh capital Cardiff, and Newcastle Upon Tyne before concluding his UK tour in Scotland with a performance at the O2 Academy Glasgow on January 30, 2018.

Steve is currently touring the US and Mexico and is due to play at MGM Grand nightclub Hakkasan in Las Vegas on Thursday night (26.10.17) followed by a performance at Warehouse District in Cleveland on Saturday (28.10.17).

The EDM superstar looks likely to be touring for many years to come after recently investing 200,000 into being frozen in the hope he can make music in the next 150 years.

He said: "When you die there's a limited number of ways you can be brought back to life.

"You can be buried or cremated.

"I just decided this way I can be frozen at the same degenerated state until there's a way to bring me back.

"I'm assuming we are going to get there - why not?

Because people pass away and sometimes they get revived like after 30 seconds and come back alive.

"After 150 years, it's the same process, but hopefully my body isn't so bad it's impossible."

Tickets for his UK tour go on sale from 10am on Friday (27.10.17).

Steve Aoki's UK Tour dates:

Fri January 26 2018 - LONDON O2 Academy Brixton

Sat January 27 2018 - MANCHESTER Academy

Sun January 28 2018 - CARDIFF University Great Hall

Mon January 29 2018 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE O2 Academy Newcastle

Tue January 30 2018 - GLASGOW O2 Academy Glasgow
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE late Zimbabwe African Union (Zanu) founder, Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole, has been honoured in Accra, Ghana, where a street has been named after him.In Zimbabwe, Sithole, who was a Methodist cleric, was rejected by Zanu-PF's President Robert Mugabe and not accorded even the lowly district hero status, despite his immense contribution to the early stages of the country's liberation war.His peers at the time, the likes of Chief Jeremiah Chirau of Zvimba, were accorded national hero status, as Sithole was relegated for "selling out during the war".He was eventually buried at his family farm in Mt Selinda, Manicaland province.Sithole, born on July 31, 1920 and died on December 12, 2000, is credited with being the main architect during the August 1963 formation of the party that is now Zanu-PF.He founded the party with President Robert Mugabe and the late Herbert Chitepo, Leopold Takawira, Maurice Nyagumbo, Edgar Tekere and Enos Nkala.Mugabe is the only survivor of that club.In 1964 at the party congress at Gwelo, now Gweru, Sithole was elected president and he appointed Mugabe as his secretary-general.When Zanu was banned in 1964 by Ian Smith's government, Sithole spent 10 years in prison after being arrested on June 22, 1964 alongside Mugabe, Tekere, Nyagumbo and Takawira for political activities.While in prison, he authorised Chitepo, who had sneaked out of the country, to continue the struggle from abroad as a Zanu representative.A rift along what is believed to have been tribal lines split Zanu in 1975 and Mugabe took charge of Zanu, accusing Sithole of having sold out.At Independence in 1980, Sithole contested the presidential race on a Zanu ticket and lost to Mugabe who has, despite his advanced age, has remained the country's sole leader.Sithole was the owner of Porta Farm situated 25km from Harare on the Bulawayo Road, but was later confiscated by the government on the grounds that it harboured squatters.He authored five books namely African Nationalism (1959), The Polygamist (1972), Roots of a Revolution: Scenes from Zimbabwe's Struggle (1977) Umvukela wamaNdebele (1982) and Hammer and Sickle over Africa (1991) which together with his political contribution in Africa could be the basis of his recognition in Accra.He died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States and was flown home for burial.
The Duke of Cambridge reportedly left Queen Elizabeth "livid" by suggesting his wife should take a permanent step back from her royal duties.

The Duke of Cambridge

The Duchess already has two children - Prince George, four, and Princess Charlotte, two - with the Prince and she is currently pregnant with her third child.

Ahead of the arrival of their new baby, Prince William has reportedly proposed the Duchess be relieved of her royal duties to focus on motherhood - but his request is said to have annoyed the Queen.

A source told Life & Style magazine: "The 91-year-old monarch was livid that the future Queen of England would want to lessen her duties.

"He [William] told her Kate wants her public appearances kept to a minimum and he's 100 percent behind her. The conversation was quite icy."

Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess recently confirmed they are expecting their third child in April 2018.

A statement issued by Kensington Palace said: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to confirm they are expecting a baby in April 2018."

The new baby will be the fifth in line to the throne, with Prince Harry - the child's uncle - being pushed into sixth.

It has also been announced that the Duke and Duchess - who was previously known as Kate Middleton prior to her marriage in 2011 - will kick off an exciting year with an official royal tour of Norway and Sweden in early 2018.

Kensington Palace said: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will undertake an official visit to Norway and Sweden at the request of the FCO in early 2018."
The EU4Business Support to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Development in Armenia (SMEDA) project has invited applications from companies, experts or consortia for a sectoral study of the textile, apparel, leather, shoes, and fashion design businesses in Armenia. The study will comprise mapping, analyses and roundtables and workshops with stakeholders.The deadline for applications is November 8, according to a press release from EU4Business.

The EU4Business Support to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Development in Armenia (SMEDA) project has invited applications from companies, experts or consortia for a sectoral study of the textile, apparel, leather, shoes, and fashion design businesses in Armenia. The study will comprise mapping, analyses and roundtables and workshops with stakeholders.#

The European Unions EU4Business initiative helps SMEs with finance, support and training with assistance from organisations, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank.The textile and apparel industry is one of the 11 strategic export-oriented sectors in Armenia. However, SMEs in that sector operate far below capacities and their products lack competitiveness in regional and international markets. The Armenian Government considers the revival of the sector as a priority.The study will improve the strategy of the sector and strengthen cooperation among companies by establishing a cluster. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition, the Sustainable Trade Initiative, Target, PVH, Gap and others have launched Apparel Impact Institute (AII), with a goal to galvanise around collective action in the apparel and footwear industry and work with brands and manufacturers to select, fund, and scale projects that improve the sustainability impact of the sector.Despite widespread awareness of the environmental hazards within the apparel and footwear industry, few of the pilot projects designed to reduce impacts are operating at the scale needed to meet the critical environmental and social outcomes brands and consumers are seeking. The AII will identify promising projects that are working in limited geography, for example, or are targeting a narrow problem yet show potential for broader application. By applying the appropriate resources, the AII will help bring them to scale more quickly."Through the Higg Index, we've seen incredible industry collaboration when it comes to standardising sustainability measurements," said Jason Kibbey, CEO of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition. "It's critical that we also take collective action to put that data to work. The Apparel Impact Institute allows us to act jointly on scaling practices that have a positive impact on people, planet, and the whole industry, while simultaneously helping brands and manufacturers improve their Higg Index scores."The AII's first project will focus on Mill Improvement, one of the most environmentally impactful segments of clothing production. Specifically, the AII has selected the Natural Resources Defense Council's Clean by Design programme, which reduces energy, water and chemical use to scale mill improvement across the industry and across geographies. Later this year, the AII will focus on how to support and expand mill improvement initiatives globally."IDH strongly believes that the time has come for the apparel sector to join forces to have an impact at scale," Ted van der Put, executive representative, IDH said. "By working as a sector initiative with a wide representation of leaders in the apparel sector, and by aligning with existing initiatives, we can accelerate implementation, and avoid fragmentation and duplication of similar initiatives. This will scale the impact on Sustainable Development Goals related to environment and social conditions."

"At Target, we know that our decisions have the potential to impact millions of people around the globe, from the people who create our products to the families they support and the communities where they live, and we're committed to leveraging Target's scale for good," said Ivanka Mamic, senior director of responsible sourcing, Target. "Industry collaboration is vital to driving change and ensuring a sustainable apparel industry. We support the Apparel Impact Institute's analytical approach to collaboration and think it will provide a solid foundation for tracking progress and measuring outcomes, which will help propel the apparel industry forward."



The AII came together using seed funding from the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) and Target, and with additional financial support from PVH, Gap and HSBC Holdings. The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) is providing industry support and access to Higg Index data. The parties have engaged San Francisco management consultancy Schaffer&Combs for project management support of the Apparel Impact Institute's early stage activities. (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Toyota booth (artist's rendering)



Public Affairs Division Global Communications Department Toyota Motor Corporation Tel: +81-3-3817-9926

Toyota City, Japan, Oct 25, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) plans to exhibit at the 24th Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)(1) World Congress (hosted by ITS America and ITS Canada), which is scheduled to be held from October 29 to November 2 in Montreal, Canada.The primary theme of this year's Congress is "Next-generation Integrated Mobility: Driving Smart Cities," where the aim is to explore new value-added features and services such as connected cars, automated driving technologies, smart cities, and new urban mobility means.http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Toyota102517ITS.jpgToyota booth (artist's rendering)Toyota expects to showcase its extensive work targeted toward the creation of a smart mobility society that links people, cars, and cities. The Toyota booth will present "Cooperative ITS," an important safety technology with the aim of achieving zero traffic fatalities--the ultimate aim of a future mobility society. Additional presentations include "Connected Services Using a Wireless Communicating Drive Recorder" and "Ha:mo Next-generation Transport System Aiming for a Traffic Society that is Environmentally Friendly and can Comfortably Move."Specifically, Toyota will present its safety philosophy and exhibit Toyota's current cooperative ITS services extending into the future. With the use of the "experiences zone," which is arranged to showcase virtual reality (VR) and a driving simulator, Toyota hopes to introduce the use of its potential services it has in mind for the future. Toyota will also display the latest technical trends, such as initiatives in Japan and elsewhere, toward the popularization and development of future cooperative ITS.Using a wireless communicating drive recorder, Toyota will introduce service examples that utilize collected data such as front camera images and real-time vehicle data. Toyota will also introduce the "Ha:mo" system, which allows people and the town to move comfortably by using an optimal combination of personal vehicles, such as cars and public transportation.The ITS World Congress is the world's largest ITS-related international conference. Held annually in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Americas on a rotating basis, the Congress invites ITS developers (governments, research bodies, and commercial enterprises) from a wide range of countries and regions to showcase their latest ITS research findings and products through information sessions (including technical paper presentations), exhibitions, and test drives.Toyota has been an active participant since the first Congress, exhibiting research results on ITS technologies, safety, and environment-related products and services.(1) Refers to systems that use state-of-the-art telecommunication technologies to link people, roads, and vehicles, with the aim of enhancing safety and comfort and improving traffic flowAbout ToyotaSupported by people around the world, Toyota Motor Corporation (TSE: 7203; NYSE: TM), has endeavored since its establishment in 1937 to serve society by creating better products. As of the end of December 2013, Toyota conducts its business worldwide with 52 overseas manufacturing companies in 27 countries and regions. Toyota's vehicles are sold in more than 170 countries and regions. For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com.Source: ToyotaContact:Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Mazda KAI CONCEPT

Mazda VISION COUPE



Corporate Communications Division Mazda Motor Corporation, Japan +81-3-3508-5056 [Tokyo] +81-82-282-5253 [Hiroshima] mailto: media@mazda.co.jp

HIROSHIMA, Japan, Oct 25, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Mazda Motor Corporation unveiled two concept models, the Mazda KAI CONCEPT and the Mazda VISION COUPE at the 45th Tokyo Motor Show today. Organized by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, the show will be open to the public from Oct. 28 through Nov. 5. Mazda has scheduled a press conference for 1:40 p.m. today.http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_MazdaKAICONCEPT.jpgMazda KAI CONCEPThttp://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_MazdaVISIONCOUPE.jpgMazda VISION COUPEThe Mazda KAI CONCEPT compact hatchback heralds a new generation of Mazda cars. Featuring the next-generation SKYACTIV-X gasoline engine, SKYACTIV-Vehicle Architecture and a more mature expression of the KODO design language, the model embodies the technology, engineering and design concepts that will define the next generation of Mazda cars. Refinements in all areas of dynamic performance have produced a dramatically quieter, more comfortable ride and an enhanced performance feel. The KAI CONCEPT features muscular, solid proportions and its form is brought to life by a delicate flow of reflections over the body sides.The VISION COUPE represents Mazda's design vision for next-generation models; a more mature expression of KODO applies a Japanese aesthetic to achieve more elegant and premium styling. The exterior features a "one motion" form that exudes a sense of speed and the interior combines three-dimensional depth with a strong longitudinal axis to create a relaxed space that maintains a sense of speed.In line with its "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030" long-term vision for technology development, Mazda aims to use the fundamental appeal of the automobile -- driving pleasure -- to inspire people, enrich society and help bring about a beautiful earth. By offering an experience of car ownership that celebrates driving, the company hopes to enrich lives and build a strong bond with customers.Special Mazda website for the Tokyo Motor Show:http://www2.mazda.co.jp/motorshow/2017/en/Special Mazda website for next-generation technology and design:http://www2.mazda.com/en/next-generation/About MazdaMazda Motor Corporation (TSE: 7261) started manufacturing tools in 1929 and soon branched out into production of trucks for commercial use. In the early 1960s, Mazda launched its first passenger car models and began developing rotary engines. Still headquartered in Hiroshima in western Japan, Mazda today ranks as one of Japan's leading automakers, and exports cars to the United States and Europe for over 30 years. For more information, please visit www.mazda.comSource: MazdaContact:Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
HONG KONG, CHINA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/24/17 -- This article was first published in the China Business Knowledge (CBK) website by CUHK Business School: https://goo.gl/eTgbeS. There is no doubt the Internet has changed our way of living. We can now do everything online: reading the news, shopping for the latest fashion, purchasing a movie ticket or the plane ticket for our next trip, and ordering our meals while sitting in our office or home. In fact, many fast food chains such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut and KFC enable customers to order food online through their websites or mobile apps. Likewise, in many restaurants, iPads are offered to customers who can select their food and drinks with a touch on the digital menu.

While we are enjoying the convenience brought by technology, have we thought about how the digital world has really changed our lives, and perhaps also our choices?

The findings of the research titled "Computer Interfaces and the Direct-Touch Effect: Can iPads Increase the Choice of Hedonic Food?" at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School have offered some interesting insights to the question.

Conducted by Associate Professors Hao Shen and Meng Zhang, both from CUHK Business School's Department of Marketing, with their collaborator Prof. Aradhna Krishna, Dwight F. Benton Professor of Marketing from University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, the study observed the increasing use of technology such as customized mobile apps in the domain of food choice, and asked the question: What effect do these digital devices have on customers' choice of food?

The Studies

In five laboratories studies with various groups of undergraduate students in two universities in Hong Kong, the researchers tested whether customers using different computer interfaces with and without a touchscreen would affect their choices of food. In other words, will there be any difference in their choices when they browse a pictorial menu online and select the food by touching the picture on the screen or by clicking the mouse on the desktop?

In the first study, students were asked to choose from a pair of products online, one hedonic (a piece of cheesecake) and one utilitarian (a bowl of green salad). These two choices were pretested to be affectively superior (i.e., enjoyable and tempting) and cognitively superior (i.e., better for health). The group was divided into two with some participants using an iPad (i.e., touch), while others using a desktop with a mouse (i.e. non-touch).

To test whether the distance of choice buttons would affect their selections, another study asked participants to choose between a cup of hot chocolate and a cup of tea. But this time, the choice buttons were either next to or distant from the food items.

To test whether non-direct touch would make a difference, another study offered some participants a stylus to choose their food on the iPad, while others were using their fingers directly to touch on the iPad. Another group was using a desktop with a mouse. The choices this time were between a food item (a bowl of ice cream) and a non-food item (a USB flash drive).

Direct-Touch and Mental Interaction

All studies supported the researchers' hypothesis -- touching the screen facilitates the mental interaction with the product and makes consumers choose hedonic over utilitarian food items, a phenomenon which the researchers called the 'Direct-Touch' effect.

In the study when participants were using a stylus to touch the screen, the 'Direct-Touch' effect did not happen. In other words, using a stylus is the same as using a mouse to click on the screen.

"When consumers use an iPad and select the food by touching the pictures, they tend to select hedonic food over utilitarian food," says Prof. Shen. "They would be more likely to choose a cheesecake rather than a bowl of salad," he adds.

So what does touching the screen do to our brain?

"The Direct-Touch effect is similar to our natural reaction towards hedonic food -- the spontaneous urge to grab it. When we touch the picture of cheesecake on the iPad menu, it is like reaching out to grab the cheesecake in real life. Such an urge, however, is less strong for utilitarian food (e.g. a bowl of green salad)," explains Prof. Zhang.

"So touching a hedonic food picture rather than clicking it with a mouse leads to a higher purchase intention," she adds.

Implications

The study has significant implications for public policymakers and marketers, according to the professors.

"Previous research has found that touch can increase affective response towards an object and increase impulsive buying behavior. Our study has gone a step further to show simply asking consumers to order by touching the hedonic food image would be sufficient to increase their mental simulation of grabbing the food and wanting to purchase it," says Prof. Shen.

In a larger scope, the study has relevant implications for public policy, as different response modes can affect food choices, including unhealthy food, in our community.

"Our study result reveals that direct touch increases the choice of hedonic options. If computer interfaces can influence our food choices, consumers and public policy officials should be made aware of the effect so that they could adopt strategies to facilitate the choice of healthy food," he adds.

In terms of marketing, in today's technological world where more and more restaurants are offering touchscreen menus for efficiency, the study also implies that specific marketing strategies using different computer interfaces could be explored to yield desirable choices among consumers.

Reference:

Hao Shen, Meng Zhang, and Aradhna Krishna (2016) Computer Interfaces and the "Direct-Touch" Effect: Can iPads Increase the Choice of Hedonic Food?. Journal of Marketing Research: October 2016, Vol. 53, No. 5, pp. 745-758.

About CUHK Business School

CUHK Business School comprises two schools -- Accountancy and Hotel and Tourism Management -- and four departments -- Decision Sciences and Managerial Economics, Finance, Management and Marketing. Established in Hong Kong in 1963, it is the first business school to offer BBA, MBA and Executive MBA programs in the region. Today, the School offers 8 undergraduate programs and 13 graduate programs including MBA, EMBA, Master, MSc, MPhil and Ph.D.

In the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2017, CUHK MBA is ranked 36th. In FT's 2017 EMBA ranking, CUHK EMBA is ranked 32nd in the world. CUHK Business School has the largest number of business alumni (34,000+) worldwide -- many of whom are key business leaders. The School currently has about 4,400 undergraduate and postgraduate students and Professor Kalok Chan is the Dean of CUHK Business School.

More information is available at: http://www.bschool.cuhk.edu.hk or by connecting with CUHK Business School on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cuhkbschool and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/3923680/.

About China Business Knowledge (CBK)

CBK is a portal belonging to the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School which provides easy access to the China-related research conducted at CUHK Business School. Through feature articles, mini case studies, discussions and a research paper database, CBK aims to narrow the knowledge gap between China and the rest of the world, providing in-depth knowledge and practical tips about doing business in China. Free content is available at http://www.bschool.cuhk.edu.hk/faculty/cbk/index.aspx or by connecting with CBK@CUHK on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CBKCUHK, Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBK_CUHK and LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/1B8cGdU.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Edmond Siu

Senior Public Relations and Communications Manager

Tel: +852 3943 1842

Email: Email Contact




TAIPEI, Taiwan, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2017 "Taiwan Jewellery & Gem Fair" will be held from 3-6 November at Taipei World Trade Center, Hall 1. Organised by UBM Asia Ltd Taiwan Branch and Taiwan Jewelry Industry Association and co-organised by Taipei Jewelers' Association, the grand 4-day exhibition attracted 180 exhibitors from 11 countries including Cambodia, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, Thailand and so on to exhibit in 300 booths.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/589310/Showcase_Dragonfly_Series.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/589311/Taiwan_designer__Chinlin_Wang.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/589312/Antique_Watch.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/589521/UBM_Logo_HR.jpg

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The famous high-end designer name jewellery brand AKACHEN will present a museum-style booth to display its jewellery collections.AKACHEN was foundedby CHEN CHAN and SUNFLOWER ART JEWELRY, specialising in fine jewellery and ergonomics design and craft.Its exquisite collection of art jewellery pieces had drawn the attention of connoisseurs and celebrities, such as the Iceland's First Lady, Dorrit Moussaieff, Princess of the Emirates and Naomi Campbell.

An exclusive showcase ofthe "Dragonfly Series" by AKACHEN presents vivid dragonfly figures and movements with cleverly mounted coloured gemstones which revealed remarkable concepts and craftsmanship of AKACHEN. In addition, therewill bea total of 75 jewellery pieces of "Zen Series" which are made with 99.9% pure titanium and various coloured gemstones to represent Zen metaphors and the power of nature.

The "Showcase of Antique Watch" debuts at the 2017 "Taiwan Jewellery & Gem Fair" to exhibit royal and aristocracy limited pocket watches, handmade antique watches, hunter pocket watches and more from the 18th to 20th centuries. Shen Zi-Kai, Chairman of Taiwan Antique Watch Association, also a well-known watch collector, will be invited to speak on the milestone of watch-making process and the craftsmanship story behind the watches.

The Designer Area is expected to be one of the most popular pavilions to visit this year.Taiwan designer, Chinlin Wang will display her work "Alone Far Away." This piece was made with pearl, jadeite, and 18k gold and had won the Gold Award of Special Creation at the First China (International) Pearl Jewelry Design Competition 2016. Chun-Ting Chang, an up-and-coming designer, will exhibit "Jade Open-Faced Pendant Watch" to show marvellous techniques applied to its design.

The four-day 2017 "Taiwan Jewellery & Gem Fair" will kick off on 3 November and conclude on 6 November, coincidingwith many satellite events, including seminars, live auctions via Facebook, fashion jewellery runway shows and others. For more information, please visit www.taiwanjewelleryfair.com or contact Ms. Natasha Chiang / Ms. Joy Chou (TEL: +886-2-2738-3898) at info-tw@ubm.com.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Despite their acrimonious break-up about five years ago, Morgan Tsvangirai's former lover Locadia Karimatsenga no longer bears any grudges against the former prime minister and, in fact, now yearns to see the MDC leader back to full fitness, the Daily News reported.Opening up for the first time on her much-publicised relationship with Tsvangirai which ended in 2012, Karimatsenga revealed that she has totally forgiven the ailing former trade unionist for everything she held against him, adding that any differences she may have had with the MDC leader were now water under the bridge.Now a woman of cloth at Nation of Glory Ministries, based in neighbouring South Africa, Karimatsenga is not the easiest of persons to track down for an interview.And even after granting the Daily News an exclusive interview, she was quick to express her fears over being misconstrued that she was still "interested in Morgan" when in fact "I have long moved on (with my life)"."I am praying for him," she says of the MDC leader, who recently returned home after a month's health sabbatical in South Africa.Tsvangirai was diagnosed with cancer of the colon around mid last year and has been undergoing treatment in South Africa, the continent's most industrialised economy.Karimatsenga disclosed during the interview that aides of the former prime minister came to her residence in South Africa with a request that she prays for the MDC leader.She obliged."I am an apostle. It's my duty to pray for anyone who asks me to pray for them. His aides came to my house and asked that I pray for him of which I did. And I will continue doing so," she revealed.Karimatsenga became the subject of frenzied media coverage in November 2011 after she wedded Tsvangirai for a hefty bride price at a private ceremony in Mazowe.The marriage did not last the distance after Tsvangirai sensationally claimed that he had "lost confidence" in the relationship, further saying there was "an underhand and active political hand" that had taken over the process.According to Tsvangirai, everything had been choreographed "to inflict maximum damage on my person and character for political gain"."This has caused me to have serious misgivings as to whether this will be a perfect union'."He said back then that he was "a respected family man who owned up to his responsibility by following cultural and traditional procedures" and that in the process he realised he could have done things differently."Having been happily married for 31 years, I also realised that sometimes when you are searching for a partner  especially after losing your wife whom you so dearly loved  there are many stakeholders in the process some of whom have their own ulterior intentions and agendas."Tsvangirai's wife, Susan, had died at the age of 50 in 2009 in a tragic car accident along the Harare-Masvingo road.With his relationship with Karimatsenga having hit the rocks, the MDC leader went on to announce his wedding plans with his current wife Elizabeth Macheka.Karimatsenga had maintained back then that despite all she had been accused of, she was still in love with Tsvangirai and later made an application to the courts seeking the stoppage of Tsvangirai and Macheka's wedding.The magistrates' court ruled that Tsvangirai could not tie the knot with Macheka as he was traditionally married to the property broker, a judgment that was upheld by the High Court with the pair later settling for an out-of-court settlement.It is an episode Karimatsenga does not want to talk much about."It's just that I have a name that went through a lot but I prefer to live a low-key life. I would rather focus on my faith than my past."From the time I was born, I have always been a follower of Jesus Christ. Those who know me will tell you I have always been very a prayerful someone. I am not saying I am a saint but I have had this passion for a very long time, it is only coming to fruition now because God's time is the best time."Turning to her ministry, she declined to be called a "prophet" but just a child of God with the burning passion to win over souls to "God's kingdom".On how her church started, she said:"I started doing home meetings where a few Christians came together but we ended up meeting in my house more. We had room, I just had one child, so we had a home cell group where we studied the word of God and seeking guidance from God. And then from there, we decided we should make this bigger so that we can help many other people."Besides church, Karimatsenga is also involved in philanthropy in the densely-populated township of Diepsloot, which is inhabited mainly by black people.
The Start-Up Receives Equity Financing from XAnge and KREAXI to Accelerate the Company's Roadmap, Add New Capabilities, and Address Different Nanomaterial Applications

French start-up POLLEN Metrology, the first "smart process-control" software company to accelerate the manufacturing of high-performing materials, today announced that it has received its first round of funding from investment management firms XAnge and KREAXI, as well as from private and public funds. POLLEN will use the money raised to accelerate the roadmap of its software, PLATYPUSTM, and add new capabilities for different high-performing materials applications in industries such as semiconductor, energy, powder metallurgy, and pharmaceutical. PLATYPUSTM improves manufacturing yields, drastically reduces research and development (R&D) costs, hastens the development of new processes, and tracks defects from the early R&D stages to high-volume manufacturing.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171024006848/en/

PLATYPUS software doing smart image processing of self-assembly materials for organic electronic (Photo: Business Wire)

POLLEN Metrology's CEO, Johann Foucher, said: "This investment will help us expand our foothold in Asia and in the U.S. where PLATYPUSTM is already used by major semiconductor companies. Semiconductor industry feedback to our innovative technology has been very positive and as a result we have identified new growth opportunities in several advanced materials fields."

POLLEN aims to become the leading supplier of Smart Process-Control Software to meet the need for first-class data analytics in advanced materials manufacturing.

"Johann succeeded in assembling a first-class team. They are well organized, and we are impressed by their execution skills. The commercial traction of the company, that we have been able to confirm during the due diligence phase, naturally led us to invest in Pollen," said Guilhem de VREGILLE, principal at XAnge.

"The PLATYPUSTM software platform impressed us with its technological lead in data fusion applied to advanced characterization of nanomaterials. The development and production of nanomaterials is developing in all industrial sectors and is facing an essential challenge of qualitative and quantitative characterization. The contribution of artificial intelligence technologies multiplies the range of possibilities, both in the R D and production phases. We are very pleased to accompany the POLLEN team in its development on a theme of the industry of the future at the heart of our investment strategy," said Remi Berthier, senior associate, at KREAXI.

About POLLEN Metrology

POLLEN Metrology is the first smart process-control software company to accelerate the manufacturing of high-performing materials for Industry 4.0. PLATYPUSTM technology improves manufacturing yields, drastically reduces research and development (R&D) costs, hastens the development of new processes, and tracks defects from the early R&D stages to high-volume manufacturing. Founded in 2014 and backed by well-established investors, POLLEN Metrology's office is located on the outskirts of Grenoble, France. For more information, www.pollen-metrology.com. Contact: Johann FOUCHER, johann@pollen-metrology.com

About XAnge

XAnge is a Franco-German Venture Capital team with 400m under management, investing in Software, Internet, Hard tech and Impact entrepreneurs. XAnge is part of Siparex, a leading French private equity group. For more information, www.xange.fr. Contact: Guilhem de VREGILLE, guilhem.devregille@xange.fr

About KREAXI

Formed by the merger of Rhone-Alpes Creation and Banexi Ventures Partners, KREAXI is one of the French leaders in venture capital, totaling over 500 million ($540M) in funding raised from public and private investors. Launched in 1989, KREAXI's regional activity has accompanied over 280 Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes companies with recent successes such as Erytech Pharma, Nanobiotix, Amoeba, PX Therapeutics or Docea Power taking a stake at an early stage to finance their initial development phases. With 69 million ($74.5M) in funds under management thanks to the support of the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region, Bpifrance, regional banks and industrial groups, KREAXI plays a key role in financing seed and creation phases. It manages a portfolio of around fifty shareholdings through its three funds (RAC I, RAC II and R2V), with an active staff of nine. For more information, www.kreaxi.com. Contact: Remi Berthier, r.berthier@kreaxi.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171024006848/en/

Contacts:

POLLEN Metrology

Johann Foucher, +33-66-253-7789

johann@pollen-metrology.com

or

Press inquiries:

Barbara Rizzatti, +1-971-998-9404
HONG KONG, CHINA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/25/17 -- Speaking at the Hong Kong FinTech Week's panel discussion, Ms. Angel Ng, Consumer Business Manager, Citibank Hong Kong, shared her views on a thought provoking topic: "Robot or human -- who will be a better banker?"

Angel said: "We are getting better at the use of data analytics to create a better client experience and be able to recommend products or options based on a client's preference and risk appetite. Also, banks are exploring how to use technology to help predict client needs based on big data to help them answer their enquiries faster. At the same time, clients still need banks to provide value-added services with a human touch to fit their psychological needs especially when making critical financial decisions. Thus, the roles of robots and humans are not mutually exclusive." As the first bank to adopt an open API architecture, she also sees the new approach bringing efficiency and creative ideas to the bank through the digital revolution.

Mr. Felimy Greene, Regional Head of Customer Franchise, Citi Asia Pacific, speaks at a panel discussion at the Hong Kong FinTech Week event. He believes it is important to adopt an open API architecture approach to collaborate with the FinTech community in a bid to position banking services exactly where clients need them.

Mr. Weber Lo, Citi Country Officer and Chief Executive Officer for Hong Kong and Macau, kicked off the first ever Citi Hong Kong FinTech Innovation Forum. Weber hopes the forum can serve as a platform for experience sharing and exchange of views on FinTech issues in Hong Kong.

Close to 100 guests attended the first ever Citi Hong Kong FinTech Innovation Forum. The forum featured both external and internal speakers, including Mr. Charles Mok, JP, member of The HKSAR Legislative Council, Ms Morgan McKenney, Citi Asia Pacific Head of Cash Management for the Treasury and Trade Solutions, Mr. Nic White, Global Head of Fraud Prevention, Citi Commercial Bank, Mr. Jude Lee, Deputy General Manager, Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Limited, and Mr. Bill Sims, Managing Director for Stroz Friedberg Hong Kong Office, to address some of the key opportunities and issues and share best practices.

Media Contact:

Colin Ho

Phone Number: 3159 2943 / 90788950

Email: Email Contact




Outlander PHEV

Eclipse Cross

XPANDER

MITSUBISHI e-EVOLUTION CONCEPT



Mitsubishi Motors Public Relations Department http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com +81-3-6852-4275

TOKYO, Oct 25, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - The 45th Tokyo Motor Show will showcase Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's (MMC) renewed ambitions, expressed through two major milestones:- The announcement of a new Brand Strategy and first new Tagline in a decade.- The world premiere of the MITSUBISHI e-EVOLUTION CONCEPT - the embodiment of this new strategy1917 - 2017Mitsubishi Motors celebrates this year the 100th anniversary of Model-A, the first Mitsubishi car and the first Japanese car designed with series production in mind. The Model-A paved the way for Mitsubishi's ambition to explore new automobile territories and push engineering boundaries for the 100 years to come......From the pioneering 4-wheel-drive PX33 in 1936, to the start of electric mobility R&D in 1966,...From numerous engineering innovations (direct injection petrol engines, engine balance shafts, Super-All Wheel Control...) to endless demonstrations of ability & reliability through racing at the highest level with Pajero and Lancer Evolution;...From exploring unchartered territories (Outlander PHEV in 2012) to bringing quality motoring to emerging markets (XPANDER in 2017)...From 1917 to 2017 and beyondA Renewed Brand StrategyAs part of the holistic renewal of its Brand - a first of such all-encompassing corporate endeavor for nearly two decades - MMC undertook a thorough process, looking to both its rich and unique heritage and its ambitious plan for the future, to define a strategy that emanates from the Brand's inner essence while meeting the aspiration of its stakeholders - its 'Drivers' - inside the Company as well as outside.A clear statement of MMC's progressive commitment to innovation and discovery with a progressive vision of a sustainable future, this renewed Brand strategy is supported by an impressive portfolio of MMC engineering firsts, a never extinguished passion for all forms of mobility - on road and off road - as well as the foresight brought by a unique pedigree going back 100 years to the first vehicle launched to the world under the Mitsubishi brand.All in all, the key building blocks for the 'Ambition to Explore' Brand strategy combine an adventurous and progressive mindset blending four essential ingredients:- The Mitsubishi Pedigree - it's been a visionary part of Mitsubishi's DNA for 100 years, and is highly inspirational for employees, customers, and wider stakeholders, inside and outside the MMC world.- The Mitsubishi stance on technology and design - resulting in inspirational design and product features, with a solid future vision for product development and sustainability.- The Mitsubishi take on global business - ambition and exploration are key to business development in a fast-moving global economy increasingly geared towards long-term sustainable growth in a connected world.- The Mitsubishi bond with its customers - who want to move up and drive forward and welcome a mobility brand that helps them to realise their ambitions for their family and the planet.An Adventurous and Progressive Brand - the Product EvidenceDeeply rooted in Mitsubishi's inner essence, the "Ambition to Explore" Brand strategy finds its best expression in the vehicles its engineers and designers have developed over the years, often challenging accepted frontiers...http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_MitsubishiMotorsOutlanderPHEV.jpgOutlander PHEV... When Mitsubishi Motors unveiled its pioneering Outlander PHEV at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, several observers questioned the move - a full-size 4WD Twin Motor plug-in hybrid electric SUV...Five years later and over 135,000 units sold in selected global markets (soon to launch in USA, and of which Europe ranks number one and where Outlander PHEV remains the best-selling plug-in hybrid SUV), the questions have been emphatically answered, as market response has vindicated MMC's brave foresight.http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_MitsubishiMotorsEclipseCross.jpgEclipse Crosshttp://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_MitsubishiMotorsXPANDER..jpgXPANDER... Today, Eclipse Cross and XPANDER are about to start their global journey, with a fresh new look at what a dashing SUV Coupe and a quality SUV/MPV crossover could refresh customers' mindsets in mature and emerging markets.http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_MITSUBISHIeEVOLUTIONCONCEPT..jpgMITSUBISHI e-EVOLUTION CONCEPT... Tomorrow, Mitsubishi Motors' future will take its cue from the ambitiously innovative and highly evocative MITSUBISHI e-EVOLUTION CONCEPT"Drive your Ambition" - New Global TaglineA logical development from the Mitsubishi Motors Brand strategy, 'Drive your Ambition' is the new tagline that describes an attitude that has been true of Mitsubishi since its first car a century ago. Mitsubishi has delivered ambitious cars to ambitious drivers for 100 years, pioneering vehicle genres with seminal products such as Pajero, Lancer Evolution and i-MiEV, while creating cutting-edge technology to deliver breakthroughs all the way to the best-selling Outlander PHEV. Mitsubishi's drivers have explored new frontiers and conquered breathtaking terrains. From the toughest rallies to building a robust reputation in demanding emerging markets, MMC delivers vehicles that enable Drivers to move forward with full confidence. It is the first new tagline in over 10 years."Drive your Ambition" is a powerful statement of MMC's on-going commitment to the values and aspirations of its drivers....It clearly differentiates MMC as a customer-centric force in global mobility....It will inspire and engage Drivers on a deeper, more emotional level....It will motivate the Corporation's inner forces to renew its Adventurous and Progressive mindset for its next centennialWith an "Ambition to Explore" Mitsubishi Motors can go anywhere.With "Drive your Ambition" Mitsubishi Motors' Drivers can go anywhere.The new global tagline is officially announced at the Tokyo Motor Show, on October 25th and then to be rolled out in all global markets from there on as part of a major overhaul of the Brand's Marketing activities and presence around the world on all communications in coming months.About Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors Corporation is the sixth largest automaker in Japan and the sixteenth largest in the world. It is part of the Mitsubishi keiretsu, formerly the biggest industrial group in Japan, and was formed in 1970 from the automotive division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. From October 2016, Mitsubishi is one-third owned by Nissan, and a part of the Renault - Nissan - Mitsubishi Alliance. For more information, please visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/index.html.Source: Mitsubishi MotorsContact:Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Stallergenes Greer plc, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in treatments for respiratory allergies, will today host an Innovation Day for analysts and investors from 10:00am BST to 12.15pm BST at its headquarters, 40 Bernard Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1LE.

The event will include presentations, providing a more detailed understanding of Stallergenes Greer's strategy and innovation, followed by a question and answer session. The company will notably present real-world evidence data about ORALAIR and its strategic investment in Adeo Health Science, announced today.

The company will host a live webcast on Stallergenes Greer's website available in the investor section at www.stallergenesgreer.com (http://edge.media-server.com/m6/go/STAGR_ID2017). Those attending via webcast will have the opportunity to submit questions, via the webcast tool, following the presentations.

Relevant documents and materials related to the Innovation Day will be available from the company website shortly after the event has concluded.

ABOUT STALLERGENES GREER PLC

Headquartered in London (UK), Stallergenes Greer plc is a global healthcare company specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies through the development and commercialization of allergy immunotherapy products and services. Stallergenes Greer plc is the parent company of Greer Laboratories, Inc. (whose registered office is in the US) and Stallergenes SAS (whose registered office is in France).

TRADING INFORMATION

Name: Stallergenes Greer

ISIN: GB00BZ21RF93 1 Ticker: STAGR ICB Classification: 4577

Market: Euronext Paris regulated market

Additional information is available at http://www.stallergenesgreer.com.

This document (including information incorporated by reference in this document), oral statements made and other information published by the Company contain statements that are or may be forward-looking with respect to the financial condition and/or results of operations and businesses of the Company. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believe," "expects," "project," "estimated," "forecast," "should," "plan," "may" or the negative of any of these, or other variations thereof, or comparable terminology indicating expectations or beliefs concerning future events. These forward-looking statements include risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Without being exhaustive, such factors include economic situations and business conditions, including legal and product evaluation issues, fluctuations in currencies and demand, and changes in competitive factors. These and other factors are more fully described in the Company's 2016 annual report published on 28 April 2017 on the Company's website www.stallergenesgreer.com. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, due to various factors. Save as required by applicable law, neither the Company nor any other person assumes any obligation to update these forward-looking statements or to notify any person of any such update.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171024006756/en/

Contacts:

Stallergenes Greer

Communications and Investor Relations

Natacha Gassenbach, +1 617-225 8013

natacha.gassenbach@stallergenesgreer.com

or

Investor Relations Agency

FTI Consulting

Arnaud de Cheffontaines, +33 1 47 03 68 10

stalleregenesgreer@fticonsulting.com

or

Media Relations Agency

Havas Worldwide Paris (Europe)

Samuel Rousseau, +33 (0) 6 51 03 51 43

samuel.rousseau@havas.com

or

Bloom (US)

Serra Saridereli, +1 212-715 1604

Sariderelis@bloompr.com


PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Air Liquide SA (AIQUY.PK) reported that its third-quarter revenues totaled 4.94 billion euros, down 0.3 percent from last year, as revenue was impacted by a currency impact that turned negative in the quarter.



However, revenue grew 3.5 percent on a comparable basis as compared with the year-ago period. It benefited from positive momentum in Gas & Services sales and the development of the Global Markets & Technology business, whereas the activity level in Engineering & Construction remained weak.



Gas & Services revenues in the quarter edged up 0.1 percent to 4.79 billion euros. On a comparable basis, gas & services revenue rose 4.0 percent. This reflected an acceleration in sales growth compared with the previous two quarters, despite the limited impact of the hurricanes in the United States. Excluding this impact, comparable growth reached 4.4 percent.



The developing economies posted strong growth, with Gas & Services revenue up 10.4 percent on a comparable basis.



Air Liquide noted that cumulated operational efficiency gains since the beginning of the year reached 229 million euros, in line with the annual target of more than 300 million euros.



The company also said that Airgas acquisition synergies were a few months ahead of annual forecasts thanks to quicker project execution.



Therefore, the Group has revised its synergies target upward for 2017 and now forecasts by year end 2017 a cumulated delivery of $195 million in synergies since the acquisition, compared to the $175 million previously announced.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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DENVER, 2017-10-25 08:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As Europe continues to expand and embrace hemp-based products for their powerful cannabinoid properties, Elixinol Europe continues its support of European hemp. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3d07d8d7-7d78-4b1c-8a7b-e5869 10f222a Elixinol Europe has been operational since July 2017 and continues to earn its reputation as the world's most trusted CBD brand with transparent and industry-leading extraction and testing processes. In addition to leading the cannabis community with best practices, Elixinol has local shipping and fulfillment centers ensuring customers receive their products quickly. From October 24-26, Elixinol Europe sponsors CannaTechUK in London to help lead the cannabis conversation. CannaTechUK is Elixinol Europe's first industry event, but Elixinol has deep roots in Europe. Elixinol founder and CEO, Paul Benhaim, has been sourcing European hemp since 1991. "I feel a deep sense of responsibility to European hemp farmers. Without them, I couldn't have done any of the ground-breaking product development like hemp nutrition bars and CBD," said Benhaim. Honoring Europe's long tradition with hemp was important to the entire Elixinol Europe team. "It's a natural fit, a homecoming of sorts, for Elixinol to provide European countries with CBD from European hemp. The rest of the world has long known the value of European hemp, we're delighted to make CBD so easily available to Europeans," said Marco Cappiello, Director of Elixinol Europe. About Elixinol: Colorado-based Elixinol, founded by Paul Benhaim, hemp entrepreneur since 1991, is widely regarded as one of the most influential CBD brands in the world. With a proven track record of growing and manufacturing high-quality hemp, Elixinol also conducts rigorous laboratory testing and quality control. A global leader in hemp distribution, Elixinol distributes CBD products in 27 countries globally including United States, Japan, Puerto Rico, Brazil and throughout Europe. More information available at Elixinol.com. Media Contact: Chris Husong Elixinol Global +1 844-804-3504 ext 420 chris@elixinol.com Marco Cappiello Elixinol Europe marco@elixinol.com

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.
TOKYO, 2017-10-25 09:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GMO Internet's (https://ir.gmo.jp/en/) Bitcoin mining business will launch a token sale (ICO) in 2018, the purpose of which is to sell next-generation mining boards. We will issue tokens as a method to buy next-generation mining boards.



GMO Internet's Bitcoin mining business



Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) mining business requires computers enabling highly sophisticated and intensive computation and also requires securing stable power supply to operate and cool the computers. Accordingly, GMO Internet is currently preparing to provide the following with an aim to enter the Bitcoin mining business.



1. We will use cutting-edge 7 nm process technology for chips to be used in the mining process, and are currently working on its research and development with our alliance partner having semiconductor design technology to realize high performance computer for mining. It will be possible to reduce power consumption compared to the existing mining machines with the same performance, and achieve a computational performance of 10TH/s per chip. 2. In terms of power supply, we will operate a next-generation mining center utilizing plentiful renewable energy in Northern Europe, and secure clean and inexpensive power supply, which will allow us to control the costs of operating facilities. After preparing the facilities, we will launch the mining based on ready-made mining computers by December 31, 2017, which will lead to the full-scale entry into the Bitcoin mining business.



After the launch of the Bitcoin mining business, we will also sell our own next-generation mining boards.



Launching token sale for the sales of next-generation mining boards



GMO Internet's Bitcoin mining business will launch a token sale (ICO) in 2018, planning the sales of next-generation mining boards.



We will consider properly the laws and regulations that are applicable to us under the current legislation including Payment Services Act and the Financial Instrument and Exchange Act, and will be conscious of the protection of token purchasers and stakeholders' profits when designing the token sale.



Press Inquiries GMO Internet Group Group Public / Investor Relations TEL: +81-3-5456-2695 Email: pr@gmo.jp

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Dirkzwager, one of the Netherlands' top 20 legal services providers, has switched from Workshare to DocsCorp after extensive testing by key users

DocsCorp today announced that their products have replaced Workshare's at Dirkzwager, the largest firm of lawyers and civil-law notaries outside the Randstad in the Netherlands. The sale comes on the heels of other significant Workshare swap outs in the BeNeLux region for DocsCorp, including prominent firms Stibbe and Lexence. Deployment has recently been completed and the sale of all three products was finalized earlier this year.

As part of the sale, metadata cleaning tool cleanDocs and PDF application pdfDocs has been deployed enterprise-wide and is now available to all users at Dirkzwager. Additionally, compareDocs will be used for document comparison workflows firm-wide.

The move to DocsCorp comes after extensive product testing within Dirkzwager's IT Department and selected users from other departments. DocsCorp was chosen because of its out-of-the-box integration with the firm's existing document management system (DMS). pdfDocs, unlike other PDF applications, also creates regulation PDF/A files which Dutch Courts require as part of the electronic submission process.

Vincent Verploegen, Head of IT at Dirkzwager said, "The DocsCorp suite with DMS integration has made it easy for us to be compliant with the new Dutch digital litigation requirements and offers us all the necessary tools for our business."

Ben Mitchell, Vice President EMEA at DocsCorp said, "We are very pleased to welcome Dirkzwager to the DocsCorp client base and look forward to our continued work together. The evaluation project at Dirkzwager ran very smoothly which is testament to the significant investment we have made to improve the ease of deployment for our solutions."

About DocsCorp

DocsCorp designs easy-to-use software and services for document professionals who use enterprise content management systems. We provide solutions for metadata removal, document processing, PDF manipulation, and document comparison. DocsCorp is a global brand with customers located in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and beyond. Find out more at docscorp.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Blog.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025005082/en/

Contacts:

Media

North America EMEA

Burke Company

Christy Burke, (00 1) 917-261-2845

President

cburke@burke-company.com

or

Asia Pacific

DocsCorp

Anna Biala, +61 (0) 2 8270 8500

Marketing Manager

anna.biala@docscorp.com
Helsinki, Finland, 2017-10-25 10:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fingrid Oyj Management's review 25 October 2017 at 11:00 EET



Fingrid follows a six-month reporting period as referred to in the Securities Markets Act and publishes management's reviews for the first three and nine months of the year; the Management's Reviews contain key information illustrating the company's financial and other development.



The information presented in the Management's Review relates to the Fingrid Group's performance in January-September 2017 and the corresponding period of 2016, unless otherwise indicated. The figures presented here have been drawn up in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The Management's Review is not an interim report in accordance with the IAS 34 standard. The figures are unaudited.



-- Fingrid's January-September proceeded according to expectations. -- Turnover during the period under review amounted to EUR 476.7 (408.1) million and operating profit, excluding the change in the fair value of derivatives, amounted to EUR 125.0 (100.0) million. -- The company's profitability and liquidity remained at a good level.



CEO Jukka Ruusunen: We are Finland's transmission system operator



"During the spring and summer, we prepared the company's strategy for the coming years. Our foundation is that Fingrid is Finland's transmission system operator. We secure reliable electricity for our customers and Finnish society and we shape the clean, market-oriented power system of the future.



The energy industry plays a key role in combatting climate change. Fingrid builds and maintains the electricity grid, which makes possible the transformation in the electricity system. Examples from the past quarter include the commencement of the final stages of the upgrade to Finland's oldest power line, Rautarouva, built in the 1920s, the signing of an agreement between Fingrid and Svenska Kraftnat for a third alternating current (AC) connection between Finland and Sweden and special arrangements for connecting the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant to the national grid.



The electricity system of the future will require, not only an upgraded electricity grid, but also a modernised electricity market model. We believe that well functioning markets will produce the best and most innovative solutions. Society is becoming increasingly dependent on electricity. We must continuously develop our operations with which we maintain the availability of electricity for industry and households, both in normal day-to-day life and in exceptional circumstances.



Developing the wholesale markets requires international co-operation. In this regard, developing Nordic balance management has not been entirely successful recently. The energy shift will also increase the role of customers on the electricity markets. The smart grid working group appointed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (MEAE) has carried out excellent work in improving customers' choices on the electricity markets.



We continuously prepare for the worst. Held in October, the national JAATYVA 2017 exercise, where we practiced co-operation between authorities, municipalities and businesses in case of a wide-spread power outage caused by weather conditions, brought us plenty of valuable experience.



One of Fingrid's key objectives is to offer customers a reliable, affordable supply of electricity. The stabilization of the company's investment programme at a lower level than before and the company's successful efforts to improve cost-effectiveness made it possible to keep grid service pricing for 2018 at the 2017 level. Cost-effectiveness is grounded in a strategy focusing on core tasks and a clear management system. The company efficiently carries out the market-driven outsourcing of services and competitive tendering of purchases, and utilises opportunities from digitalisation in its operations. Fingrid's transmission grid tariffs are still among Europe's lowest.



The transformation taking place in the energy sector is shifting the global focus increasingly onto how energy sector operators operate and their reputations. In future, an energy company's brand will prove to be a greater contributor to its success than ever before. The CHARGE competition, which sets the world's energy sector brands against one another, was organised for the second time this year. Fingrid made it to the final in its category for the second time. This is a clear indication that we have chosen the right path in developing our company."



Key figures



M 1-9/17 1-9/16 change % 1-12/16 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Turnover 476.7 408.1 16.8 586.1 Operating profit* 125.0 100.0 24.9 156.6 Profit before taxes 115.4 115.8 -0.3 173.9 Profit for the period 92.2 92.3 -0.1 138.7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capital expenditure, gross 81.8 106.6 -23.3 146.7 Net cash flow from operations** 101.7 82.1 23.8 93.6 Interest-bearing net debt 1,024.6 1,030.5 -0.6 1,028.0 Balance sheet total 2,129.7 2,191.0 -2.8 2,101.8 Equity ratio % 35.7 32.8 36.4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Operating profit excluding the change in the fair value of derivatives ** Net cash flow from operations, after capital expenditure



-- Turnover and operating profit grew due to the grid service pricing change carried out at the start of the year. -- Fewer investments were made during the review period than in the comparison period.



Main business events



-- There were no major disturbances with far-reaching consequences in Fingrid's transmission grid during January-September. -- From January through September, electricity consumption in Finland was 62.0 (61.8) terawatt hours, and electricity transmissions via Fingrid's grid amounted to 48.9 (51.3) terawatt hours, which represents 77.0 (79.0) per cent of the country's total electricity transmission. During this period, Fingrid transmitted 47.3 (48.1) terawatt hours of electricity to its customers which amounts to 76.3 (77.8) per cent of Finland's total consumption. -- On 23 August, Fingrid and Svenska Kraftnat decided to sign an agreement on the realisation of a third AC connection between Finland and Sweden. -- On 25 August 2017, an occupational accident resulting in death occurred at Fingrid's transmission line work site between Vihtavuori and Koivisto in Central Finland. An employee of a subcontractor of the project's main contractor Tecnolines S.r.l. fell from a transmission tower and died of his injuries. -- On 15 September, Fingrid provided a response to the proposal made by Sweden's and Norway's TSOs in June, concerning the new model for balancing of production and consumption in the electricity system i.e. the balance management model. Fingrid cannot approve a proposal that conflicts with Finland's and the EU's energy policy objectives and legislation.



Events after the review period



On 2 October, 2017, Fingrid Oyj announced that it would keep grid service pricing for 2018 at the 2017 level. This was enabled by stabilising the investment programme at a lower level than before and the company's determined cost-effectiveness improvement efforts. Transmission grid rates in Finland are still some of Europe's lowest while power outages are extremely few.



The company has not changed its earnings guidance from what is stated in the Jan-Jun interim report of 27 July 2017.



Helsinki, 25th October, 2017



Fingrid Oyj



Jukka Ruusunen, President & CEO



Further information:



Jukka Ruusunen, President & CEO



+358 30 395 5140 or +358 40 593 8428



Jan Montell, Chief Financial Officer



+358 30 395 5213 or +358 40 592 4419



Fingrid is Finland's transmission system operator. We secure reliable electricity for our customers and society and we shape the clean, market-oriented electricity system of the future.





Fingrid delivers. Responsibly.



www.fingrid.fi



Attachment:

https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=649676

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VIENNA, October 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The Agenda for Europe's Biggest Event for Sustainable Cities is Online

3,000 attendees from more than 400 cities, 50 countries and 4 continents are expected at the URBAN FUTURE Global Conference (UFGC) from 28 February to 2 March 2018. For the first time the conference will be held in Vienna, bringing together the most inspiring CityChangers of our time. The world's first "Cities FuckUp Night", an experimental event format born in Mexico, presents a special highlight.

CityChangers are changing cities

Population growth, shortage of resources, climate change and air pollution pose major challenges to cities. Added to this are the rigid administrative structures that prevent necessary changes. That's where the CityChangers come in: Their boldness and dedication is breaking down rigid city structures and rethinking processes and methods of communication.

"Cities FuckUp Night" highlight

For the first time there will be a FuckUp Night for city leaders as part of the UFGC. This event format has already impressed 200,000 attendees in more than 250 cities. The idea is to break the taboo of failure and learn from mistakes. Councillor Andrea Reimer, Vancouver, reports on the first "Cities FuckUp Night" about what absolutely should not happen.

Programme is online - 120 speakers already booked

The agenda is now available at http://www.urban-future.org/programme. The content focuses on the four key themes of mobility, living & city planning, communication & leadership and resources. Improving air quality in cities is also at the top of this year's agenda.

Speakers include:

Johanna Kotipelto : Expert from the office of the Finnish Prime Minister and founder of a digital platform for sustainable crowdfunding projects in urban administration

Expert from the office of the Finnish Prime Minister and founder of a digital platform for sustainable crowdfunding projects in urban administration Andrea Reimer : The councillor responsible for the multi-award-winning "Greenest City Action Plan" has set herself the goal of making Vancouver the greenest city in the world by 2020.

The councillor responsible for the multi-award-winning "Greenest City Action Plan" has set herself the goal of making the greenest city in the world by 2020. David Gelber & Joel Bach : Producers of Years of Living Dangerously; an Emmy Award-winning US-American documentary about climate change.

For more information, go tohttp://www.urban-future.org

Contact:

Lisa Gatterbauer

Communication UFGC +43-6502211616, media@urban-future.org

Gabriele Egartner

Grayling Austria GmbH

+43-1524430010, gabriele.egartner@grayling.com




News / National

by Staff reporter

MDC deputy president Thokozani Khupe has appealed to ordinary Zimbabweans to pray for her boss Morgan Tsvangirai who is currently sidelined by illness.Tsvangirai last year stunned the public when he revealed he had been diagnosed with cancer of the colony and that he was receiving treatment in neighbouring South Africa.The former prime minister in the inclusive government was rushed to Johannesburg in September after he fell ill during a meeting of the MDC Alliance principles."I am appealing to all of you here to put president Morgan Tsvangirai in your prayers because he is one of those who is suffering from cancer," Khupe told a gathering here commemorating the cancer month."I am sure you have heard that in the past few weeks he was not well but I met him last week and I also spoke to him yesterday. So I am saying please let's remember him in our prayers because I know that through prayer nothing is impossible."The health of Tsvangirai has become a major concern not only to his supporters who see him as the only politician capable of knocking President Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF off their perch, but also his party officials.Recently, MDC lawmaker Eddie Cross said in a post that the former trade unionist was suffering from an aggressive form of colon cancer which could spread."He has been struggling with his treatment and the family is concerned that he might not handle the election and subsequently the responsibility of being president of a country in a deep crisis," said Cross."After a lifetime of principled struggle, to have it all threatened by a disease in your body, is not fair . . . Life can be a bastard at times."But Khupe, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and lost one of her breasts, said although she went through medical treatment, she also received miraculous healing through "praying violently"."Miracles are there, I gave myself time to pray to God and I always tell people that I used to pray violently," she said.Khupe also highlighted the need for government to devise favourable policies that would allow cancer treatment to be affordable and accessible in all clinics countrywide.The MDC deputy president said had she not been privileged to be the deputy prime minster during the government of national unity era, it was very possible she could have died."I survived because I had an opportunity of becoming the deputy prime minister, so I can imagine if I was not in that position in government, I could have died of cancer."So I can imagine also the suffering Zimbabweans throughout the country. They are perishing because medication is expensive, they cannot afford. This is why we are saying it is government's mandate to ensure that medication is cheap," said Khupe."Every clinic in the country should have a cancer screening facility, such that if the cancer is detected early, one can be treated early to save many cancer related deaths. Cancer is the fast rising epidemic which is now more fatal than HIV and Aids."Zimbabwe is rich in natural resources so it's the duty of the government to sell those resources and invest in the country's health system."Khupe launched the Thokozani Khupe Cancer Foundation in 2012 after she was diagnosed with cancer.Her foundation seeks to alleviate the plight of cancer patients by offering advocacy campaigns, early detection programmes and assisting in policy formulation in relation to cancer issues.According to Cancer Association of Zimbabwe, early detection of abnormalities gives the doctors better chances of offering effective treatment.The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says globally 12, 7 million are diagnosed with cancer every year while 7, 6 million people die from the disease annually.
Industry's first unified data management system delivers the scale of a data lake, the fast query performance of a data warehouse and the low-latency of streaming



SAN FRANCISCO and DUBLIN, Ireland, 2017-10-25 11:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Databricks, provider of the leading Unified Analytics Platform and founded by the team who created Apache Spark, today announced Databricks Delta, the first unified data management system that provides the scale and cost-efficiency of a data lake, up to 100x increase in the query performance of a data warehouse, and the low latency of a streaming ingest system. Databricks Delta, a key component of the Databricks Unified Analytics Platform that runs in the cloud, eliminates the architectural complexity and operational overhead of maintaining three disparate systems: data lakes, data warehouses and streaming systems. With Delta, enterprise organizations no longer need complex, brittle extract, transform, and load (ETL) processes that run across a variety of systems and create high latency just to obtain access to relevant, business-critical data.



"At Edmunds, obtaining real-time customer and revenue insights is critical to our business. But we've always been challenged with complex ETL processing that slows down our access to data," said Greg Rokita, executive director of technology at Edmunds.com. "Databricks Delta allows us to overcome this roadblock by blending the performance of a data warehouse with the scale and cost-efficiency of a data lake. We now have a simplified data architecture that enables immediate access to business-critical data."



"Many enterprise organizations are struggling with the limitations of data lakes and data warehouses as well as the complexity of managing both and moving data between them," said Ali Ghodsi, cofounder and chief executive officer at Databricks. "Delta combines the performance of data warehouses with the scale of data lakes and low-latency of streaming systems. With this unified management system, enterprises now benefit from a simplified data architecture and faster access to relevant data - increasing their ability to make decisions that drive results. We have solved a massive struggle facing organizations that are on a mission to run their business in real-time."



Databricks Delta delivers the following capabilities to simplify enterprise data management:



-- Manage Continuously Changing Data Reliably: Industry's first unified data management system simplifies pipelines by allowing Delta tables to be used as a data source and sink. Delta tables provide transactional guarantees for multiple concurrent writers - batch and streaming jobs. Delta natively supports the real-time needs of the business by enabling a streaming data warehouse to return the most recent, consistent view of the writes. Upserts in Delta provide a clean way to change data after it has been written, instead of running the entire job again. -- Perform Fast Queries Without Manual Tuning: Delta automates performance management, removing the need for tedious performance tuning approaches. Self-optimizing data layout ensure data queried together is stored together. Delta automates compaction of small files for efficient reads. Intelligent data skipping and indexing leads to massive speedups by not reading unneeded data. Automated caching leads to subsequent reads being an order of magnitude faster. -- Provide cost efficiency and scale of Data Lakes: Delta stores all its data in Amazon S3 for cost-efficiency and massive scale. The data in Delta is stored in a non-proprietary and open file format to ensure data portability and prevent vendor lock-in. -- Integrate with Unified Analytics Platform: Databricks Delta data can be accessed from any Spark application running on the Databricks platform through the standard Spark APIs. Delta also integrates into the Databricks Enterprise Security model, including cell-level access control, auditing, and HIPAA-compliant processing. Data is stored inside customer's own cloud storage account for maximum control.



Databricks made today's announcement at Spark Summit Europe 2017 during Ali Ghodsi's keynote. For more information on Spark Summit keynotes and sessions, visit https://spark-summit.org/eu-2017.



Visit databricks.com for more information. Contact Databricks to get started: http://go.databricks.com/contact-databricks.



About Databricks Databricks' mission is to accelerate innovation for its customers by unifying Data Science, Engineering and Business. Founded by the team who created Apache Spark, Databricks provides a Unified Analytics Platform for data science teams to collaborate with data engineering and lines of business to build data products. Users achieve faster time-to-value with Databricks by creating analytic workflows that go from ETL and interactive exploration to production. The company also makes it easier for its users to focus on their data by providing a fully managed, scalable, and secure cloud infrastructure that reduces operational complexity and total cost of ownership. Databricks, venture-backed by Andreessen Horowitz, NEA and Battery Ventures, among others, has a global customer base that includes Salesforce, Viacom, Shell and HP. For more information, visit www.databricks.com.



 Databricks 2017. All rights reserved. Apache, Apache Spark and Spark are trademarks of the Apache Software Foundation.



Media Contact: Stacey Collins Burbach P: 415-310-9767 E: stacey.burbach@databricks.com

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LONDON, October 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The start of a new university year has once again brought the cost of a university education into sharp focus - most commentators now agree a three-year course will leave a typical UK student paying 9250 in annual fees, plus accommodation costs and interest with debts of over 50,000 by the end of their course. For overseas students studying in the UK, the figures are likely to be close to three times this total.

With students now under huge pressure to maximise the value of this investment, the question of student health has never been more relevant or important. Now, if a student falls ill, the emphasis must be on accessing the best medical care in order to recover as quickly as possible.

Joe Thomas, APRIL International UK's Business Development Director observes that, "Although many universities will ensure overseas and UK students have a local GP point of contact, very often, the support is quite basic and with long GP wait times now common, today's overseas students will often need more than this. This is why student international private health insurance policies that offer private care and fast access to first-class treatment, such as those offered by APRIL International in France and the UK are now so popular in countries where high concentrations of foreign students are located."

A report published recently by The Mix, a UK-based charity that provides free, confidential support for young people under 25, highlights the main illnesses students can expect to face and why having access to private medical care can be a good financial insurance.

Many of the ailments that can strike an 18-year old living away from home for the first time are obvious, when you consider that students will be moving from a family living environment to living in halls in close quarters with new friends drawn from all over the world. Whilst colds and flu can be expected, meningitis can also be prevalent. There are two types of meningitis, viral and the more serious bacterial variety. The bacterial virus can develop rapidly, causing inflammation of the brain lining, and requires urgent medical attention. Young adults are most at risk, which is why students should always be on the lookout for symptoms. Glandular fever can also strike, particularly amongst those who are run down after the effects of stressful exams. A bad case of glandular fever can affect studies for over 6 months. Add to this common sporting injuries and bouts of food poising, and it is clear why student health and in particular maintaining health so studies are not interrupted, is now a core issue.

Brokers and providers agree that sales of private health insurance is growing in importance in this market and with financial pressures rising each year, sales are likely to keep expanding.

About APRIL International

APRIL International UK Limited (until recently known as MediCare International) is part of the APRIL Group which was founded in France more than 28 years ago. It is an internationally-known and respected insurance services group with operations in 33 different countries, looking after close to 6 million policyholders worldwide, consisting of some 86 different nationalities located in more than 120 countries.

APRIL International UK are specialists in designing and delivering outstanding, flexible international health insurance solutions for individuals and companies, with long term, short term and student healthcare plans available.

All APRIL International UK plans include the additional services of Best Doctors (second medical opinion), Blood Care Foundation (screened blood available worldwide) and RED24 (crisis management specialists).

Cover under group plans may also be available for local nationals. Discounted group rates start with 3 lives and full medical history disregarded underwriting is available on groups of 10 or more employees, making APRIL International one of the most competitive group cover providers.

APRIL International UK Limited is an Appointed Representative of APRIL Medibroker Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Minster House, 42 Mincing Lane, London, EC3R 7AE, United Kingdom Registered in England No7261287.
25th October 2017

Redde plc ("the Company")

At the Annual General Meeting of the above named company, duly convened and held at the offices of Berwin Leighton Paisner, Adelaide House, London Bridge, London, EC4R 9HA on Wednesday 25th October 2017 at 10.00 a.m. the following resolutions were passed as to resolutions 1 to 6 (inclusive) as ordinary resolutions and as to resolutions 7, 8 and 9 as special resolutions:

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution 1

To receive and adopt the financial statements for the financial year ended 30th June 2017 and receive the Directors' and Auditors' reports.

Resolution 2

To declare a final dividend of 5.60 pence per ordinary share recommended by the directors.

Resolution 3

To re-elect Avril Palmer-Baunack as a director.

Resolution 4

To appoint KPMG LLP as auditors to the Company until the conclusion of the next general meeting of the Company at which accounts are laid.

Resolution 5

To authorise the directors to agree the auditors' remuneration.

Resolution 6

That the directors be generally and unconditionally authorised in accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Act") to allot:

(a) shares in the Company or grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares in the Company up to an aggregate nominal amount of 101,327; and in addition

(b) equity securities of the Company (within the meaning of section 560 of the Act) in connection with an offer of such securities by way of a rights issue up to an aggregate nominal amount of 101,327

provided that this authority shall expire on 30 December 2018 or, if earlier, the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company but, in each case, so that the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or agreement which would or might require shares to be allotted or rights to subscribe for or convert securities into shares to be granted after such expiry and the directors may allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert securities into shares pursuant to such an offer or agreement as if this authority had not expired.

"rights issue" means an offer to:

(i) holders of ordinary shares in the capital of the Company in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to the respective number of ordinary shares held by them; and

(ii) holders of other equity securities if this is required by the rights of those securities or, if the directors consider it necessary, as permitted by the rights of those securities,

to subscribe for further securities by means of the issue of a renounceable letter (or other negotiable document) which may be traded for a period before payment for the securities is due, but subject in both cases to such exclusions or other arrangements as the directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates or legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or any other matter.

Resolution 7

That subject to and conditional on the passing of resolution number 6, the directors be empowered, pursuant to section 570 of the Act, to allot equity securities (within the meaning of section 560 of the Act) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by resolution number 6 and/or where the allotment constitutes an allotment of equity securities by virtue of section 560(3) of the Act, in each case:

(a) in connection with an offer of such securities by way of a rights issue (as defined in resolution number 6); and

(b) (otherwise than pursuant to paragraph 7(a) above), up to an aggregate nominal amount of 30,398

as if section 561(1) of the Act did not apply to any such allotment, such authority to expire on 30 December 2018 or, if earlier, the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company, save that the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if this power had not expired.

Resolution 8

That the Company be generally and unconditionally authorised to make market purchases (within the meaning of section 693(4) of the Act) of ordinary shares of 0.01 pence each in the capital of the Company on such terms and in such manner as the directors may from time to time determine, provided that:

(a) the maximum number of ordinary shares hereby authorised to be acquired is 30,398,203 representing approximately 10 per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company;

(b) the minimum price (excluding expenses) which may be paid for any such ordinary share is 0.1 pence;

(c) the maximum price (excluding expenses) which may be paid for any such ordinary share is the higher of:

(i) an amount equal to 105 per cent. of the average market value of an ordinary share in the Company for the 5 business day prior to the day the purchase is made; and

(ii) the value of an ordinary share calculated on the basis of the higher of the price quoted for:

(A) the last independent trade of; and

(B) the highest current independent bid for,

any number of the Company's ordinary shares on the trading venue where the purchase is carried out; and

(d) the authority hereby conferred shall expire (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked) on 30 December 2018 or, if earlier, the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company (except in relation to the purchase of ordinary shares the contract for which was concluded before the expiry of this authority and which will or may be executed wholly or partly after such expiry).

Resolution 9

That with effect from the conclusion of this Annual General Meeting the articles of association contained in the document produced to the meeting (and signed by the Chairman of the meeting for the purpose of identification) be adopted as the articles of the Company in substitution for, and to the exclusion of, the articles of association of the Company existing immediately prior to that time.

CONTACT:

Name: Nick Tilley

Company Secretary

Telephone: 01225 321207

Date: 25th October 2017
SAN FRANCISCO, October 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The globalhalal food marketis expected to reach USD 2.10 trillion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The global halal food industry is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period owing to increasing Muslim population and their substantially increasing expenditure on food & non-beverages, which is considered as the main driving force of this market. The total Islamic population is expected to increase from 23% in the present situation to around 30% of the total world population by 2030.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160524/371361LOGO )



World over initiatives has been seen escalating since the last few years with the advent of few events in Asia Pacific and the Middle East & African region, which are the top two regions contributing to the growth of the global market. A major bilateral initiative to mention would be the cooperation between Abu Dhabi and South Korea, which allowed South Korea to gain further access to the global halal food market.

Governments of the Islamic as well as the non-Islamic nations and the manufacturers of halal-certified food products have been taking various initiatives in terms of marketing & educating consumers about these products. The confidence of consumers in halal brands has been the most influential factor in the actual purchase of these products.

Meat and alternatives were the largest product segment in 2016 with a net market worth of over USD 590 billion globally. Halal meat has always been a remarkable business segment. The formation of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has been well placed to take the initiative of setting an international standard for these food items. Owing to the formation of these types of organizational figures the industry participants have been successful to a great extent in building consumer trust and pushing penetration of the product category to even higher levels.

Browse full research report with TOC on "Halal Food Market By Product (Meat & Alternatives, Milk & Milk Products, Fruits & Vegetables, Grain Products), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, MEA, CSA), And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025" at: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/halal-food-market

Further Key Findings From the Report Suggest:

The global halal foods industry was valued at USD 1,245.6 billion in 2016 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% over the next eight years

in 2016 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% over the next eight years Milk & milk products such as processed milk, cheese, and yogurt are expected to be one of the another primary product segment driving growth for the global industry

Beverages such as carbonated drinks, packaged juice, and sweeteners with halal certification are expected to witness substantial demand over the forecast period. The segment is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 4.8% in Turkey .

. Asia Pacific was the leading consumer in 2016. Around 63% of the global Muslim population resides in this region, which is the main driving factor in the region. Indonesia and Malaysia together accounted for over 55% of the regional demand in 2016.

was the leading consumer in 2016. Around 63% of the global Muslim population resides in this region, which is the main driving factor in the region. and together accounted for over 55% of the regional demand in 2016. Major companies actively operating in the global halal food industry include Nestle, Glanbia Cheese Ltd, Guenther Bakeries UK Ltd, Kellogg's

Companies have been trying to strengthen consumer trust with several marketing campaigns trying to be transparent about their production process of packed halal foods

Browse related reports by Grand View Research:

Poultry Meat Processing Equipment Market -http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/poultry-meat-processing-equipment-market

Meat Processing Equipment Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/meat-processing-equipment-market

Food Enzymes Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/food-enzymes-market

Food Safety Testing Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/food-safety-testing-industry

Grand View Research has segmented the global halal food market on the basis of product and region:

Halal Food Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2014 - 2025) Meat & Alternatives Milk & Milk Products Fruits & Vegetables Grain Products Other Halal Food Products

Halal Food Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2014 - 2025) North America U.S. Europe Turkey Russia Germany UK Asia Pacific Indonesia Malaysia Pakistan India Middle East & Africa Egypt Saudi Arabia Nigeria UAE Central & South America (CSA) Brazil



Read Our Blog By Grand View Research: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/blogs/food-and-beverages

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. Thecompany provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.



Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc

Phone: +1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com



Web: http://www.grandviewresearch.com
25 October 2017

Forbes Ventures

("Forbes" or the "Company")

Issue of Convertible Loan Notes

Forbes is pleased to announce that it has reached agreement with Belvedere Capital Limited ("Belvedere") for Belvedere to subscribe for up to 100,000 of unsecured convertible loan notes 2017 ("Loan Notes") to be issued by the Company.

Belvedere has subscribed for an initial 31,500 of Loan Notes, the proceeds of which will be used by Forbes to satisfy specific creditors of the Company. The Directors of Forbes believe that this will allow the Company to issue its interim results to 30 June 2017 and to restore trading in the Company's ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each ("Ordinary Shares") on the NEX Exchange Growth Market ("Restoration") in due course. Trading in the Ordinary Shares will remain suspended in the meantime.

The Loan Notes are convertible into a maximum of 100,000,000 Ordinary Shares at a conversion price of 0.1p per Ordinary Share; conversion will take place at Restoration or otherwise at the discretion of Belvedere. The Loan Notes bear interest at the rate of 1% per month until converted or redeemed.

Belvedere, incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, was established to act as the holding company of a private investment group focused on technology investments in the Northern Powerhouse region. Belvedere works with early stage companies, providing expertise, infrastructure and funding for companies in the finance, legal and property sectors. As well as technology, Belvedere also invests in large scale property development projects where it can add value through its technology resources. It is expected that a representative of Belvedere will be appointed as an executive director of the Company on Restoration to enable the Company to implement its refocused investment strategy.

Further announcements will be made in due course.

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:
Vienna (ots) - 3,000 attendees from more than 400 cities, 50 countries and 4 continents are expected at the URBAN FUTURE Global Conference (UFGC) from 28 February to 2 March 2018. For the first time the conference will be held in Vienna, bringing together the most inspiring CityChangers of our time. The world's first "Cities FuckUp Night", an experimental event format born in Mexico, presents a special highlight.CityChangers are changing citiesPopulation growth, shortage of resources, climate change and air pollution pose major challenges to cities. Added to this are the rigid administrative structures that prevent necessary changes. That's where the CityChangers come in: Their boldness and dedication is breaking down rigid city structures and rethinking processes and methods of communication."Cities FuckUp Night" highlightFor the first time there will be a FuckUp Night for city leaders as part of the UFGC. This event format has already impressed 200,000 attendees in more than 250 cities. The idea is to break the taboo of failure and learn from mistakes. Councillor Andrea Reimer, Vancouver, reports on the first "Cities FuckUp Night" about what absolutely should not happen.Programme is online - 120 speakers already bookedThe agenda is now available at www.urban-future.org/programme. The content focuses on the four key themes of mobility, living & city planning, communication & leadership and resources. Improving air quality in cities is also at the top of this year's agenda.Speakers include: - Johanna Kotipelto: Expert from the office of the Finnish Prime Minister and founder of a digital platform for sustainable crowdfunding projects in urban administration - Andrea Reimer: The councillor responsible for the multi-award-winning "Greenest City Action Plan" has set herself the goal of making Vancouver the greenest city in the world by 2020. - David Gelber & Joel Bach: Producers of Years of Living Dangerously; an Emmy Award-winning US-American documentary about climate change.For more information, go to www.urban-future.orgOriginaltext: URBAN FUTURE Global Conference digital press kits: http://www.presseportal.de/nr/119244 press kits via RSS: http://www.presseportal.de/rss/pm_119244.rss2Contact: Lisa Gatterbauer Communication UFGC +43 6502211616, media@urban-future.orgGabriele Egartner Grayling Austria GmbH +43 1524430010, gabriele.egartner@grayling.com


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Close on the heels of Senator Bob Corker, President Donald Trump received the wrath of another Republican senator, who deplored the changing tone of politics in the United States.



In a speech in the Senate floor Tuesday announcing that he will not seek re-election, Jeff Flake delivered a fierce attack on Trump.



It came hours after Corker accused Trump of lying, and called him 'an utterly untruthful president.'



Corker announced last month his decision not to seek another term to the Upper House, but Trump claimed Corker dropped out of the race in Tennessee when he refused to endorse him.



Flake, who has sparred frequently with the President, said 'reckless, outrageous and undignified behaviour' at the top of the US government was dangerous to democracy.



'If I have been critical, it's not because I relish criticizing the behavior of the President of the United States, it is because I believe that it is my obligation to do so, as a matter of duty and conscience,' according to the Arizona Senator.



He earlier told the Arizona Republic newspaper that there may not be a place for a Republican like him 'in the current Republican climate or the current Republican Party'.



In reaction to Flake's decision not to seek reelection, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said 'based on the lack of support that he has from the people of Arizona, it's probably a good move'.



'The notion that one should stay silent as the norms and values that keep America strong are undermined and as the alliances and agreements that ensure the stability of the entire world are routinely threatened by the level of thought that goes into 140 characters -- the notion that one should say and do nothing in the face of such mercurial behavior is ahistoric and, I believe, profoundly misguided,' Flake said, in apparent reference to Trump's frequent rhetorics on Twitter, which limits a user to typing only 140 characters in a single post.



Corker and John McCain, two major figures in the Republican Party who continue to trade series of attacks on the President, were both in attendance of Flake's Senate floor speech, and gave him a standing ovation when it concluded.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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TEL AVIV, Israel, October 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Israel's agricultural technology, or Agritech, industry is in rapid growth, with a boom in number of companies, variety of innovations, and funding that's winning an outsized share of global Agritech investment, a new report shows.

The report byStart-Up Nation Central, a nonprofit that connects companies, governments, and organizations around the world to innovative solutions in Israel, singles out Smart Farming, a sector growing three times faster than other Agritech sub-sectors.

By the first half of2017 the segment of Israeli Agritech that deals specifically with on-farm technologies raised 7% of global investment value in technologies of this sort.*

This level of funding is noteworthy, especially for a tiny country the size of New Jersey, and where Agritech entrepreneurs must seek global proofs of concept on large farmland abroad, as some two-thirds of Israel is desert, with only 14% Arable land.

Smart farming is defined as data-driven solutions and hardware for increased resource efficiency and crop yield. Notable also is the growth of Farm-to-Consumer, Special Crops, Machinery & Robotics, Food Safety, and Alternative Protein.

Of the 460 active Israeli Agritech companies tracked inStart-Up Nation Finder, Start-Up Nation Central's innovation discovery platform, more than 25% were founded in the last five years, and 50% over the last ten, indicating a sector which, despite its historical roots in Israel's collectivist kibbutz movement, is characterized by a boom of new companies and innovations.

"Leveraging innovation and talent in the high-tech sector along with decades of experience in overcoming agriculture challenges, the Israeli Agritech sector is becoming a force to be reckoned with," said Prof. Eugene Kandel, Start-Up Nation Central's CEO.

Israeli Smart Farming solutions in IoT systems, machine-learning algorithms, and big-data analytics are being deployed to analyze soil, water, and plant tissue; in solar-powered, wireless sensors that enable crop/livestock monitoring and precision agriculture; in drone-mounted sensors for analysis of fields; and in ultra-sensitive smart irrigation systems that assess crop conditions.

To get the full report, clickhere.

*Sources: Start-Up Nation Finder (Israeli figure) andAgFunder AgriFood Tech: Investing Report, AgFunder (2017) (global figure)

About Start-Up Nation Central:Start-Up Nation Centralis a nonprofit that connects global corporations, NGOs, and governments to the Israeli innovation ecosystem, finding solutions to their most pressing challenges.

For more information please contact:

Amir Mizroch

Head of Communications at Start-Up Nation Central

amir.mizroch@sncentral.org


To provide Industrial IoT Services that enable digital transformation for mining, transportation and utility industries

Microland, a leading Hybrid IT service provider to enterprises, today announced the launch of its Industrial IoT professional services at GE's premier Industrial Internet event Minds Machines in San Francisco. As a GE Digital Alliance Partner, Microland will provide System Integration and Independent Software Vendor services on GE's Predix platform and applications powered by Predix. Microland's team of certified Predix developers complement Predix solutions so that organizations can quickly harness the disruptive potential of IIoT.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025005556/en/

Manjanath Nayak, SVP Strategic Accounts Global Industrial IoT Business, Microland, says, "As a GE Digital Alliance Partner, we are delighted to launch this new service at this event. Businesses across the globe are leveraging the power of Internet of Things (IoT) to create new products, services, and business models to stay ahead of their competition. This transformation can be complex considering the many parts of the business, technologies and processes. We bring our expertise to enable organizations to manage their digital transformation journey and realize the full potential of IoT enablement."

Microland's IoT Professional Services offers a comprehensive portfolio of services to support the entire IoT lifecycle from defining the right strategy and IoT roadmap to building, deploying, adopting and managing IoT solutions.

Manyphay Viengkham, Sr. Director Industrial IoT Digital, Microland, says, "We understand that Digital transformation is not a one-time project but a journey in continuum. Our comprehensive set of Industrial IoT services starting from the edge network to the Cloud, provides clients with solutions that generate meaningful insights and actions leading to higher efficiencies and a healthier bottom line. Having already signed up with two customers in Australia and US, we are excited to present these offerings to a larger audience."

About Microland

Microland is a leading Hybrid IT service provider and a trusted partner to enterprises in their IT-as-a-Service journey. Headquartered in Bangalore, India, Microland has more than 3,700 professionals across its offices in Australia, Europe, India, Middle East North America. Microland enables global enterprises become agile and innovative through a comprehensive portfolio of services that addresses hybrid IT transformation, workspace, service and end-to-end IT management.

http://www.microland.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025005556/en/

Contacts:

Microland

Arun KR

Media Relations

ArunRK@microland.com
MILAN, October 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Following the international success of the 2017 edition, Campari, the iconic Italian aperitif, announces the return of Campari Red Diaries 2018 with an all-star short movie steeped in intrigue, leading viewers in the journey of pursuit of the perfect cocktail. Evolving Campari's ethos that 'every cocktail tells a story', this year's film is a celebration of bartenders' talent around the world and most importantly, the Red Hands, masters of the world's best cocktails.

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/589302/Campari_1.jpg )

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/589303/Campari_2.jpg )

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/589304/Campari_3.jpg )

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/589305/Campari_4.jpg )

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/589306/Campari_5.jpg )

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/589307/Campari_6.jpg )



The short movie acts as the centrepiece of this year's campaign, starring globally renowned actress Zoe Saldana - star of blockbuster film franchises Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy - Italian actor Adriano Giannini and directed by the famous Italian director Stefano Sollima, known for his work on Gomorrah and upcoming movie, Soldado.

Entitled 'The Legend of Red Hand', the story is a thrilling mystery that tells the journey of Mia Parc, played by an intrigued Zoe Saldana, in the pursuit of the perfect cocktail starting in Milan, the birthplace of Campari.

Director, Stefano Sollima brings his storytelling expertise in the thriller genre to create a tense and captivating story, taking viewers on an intriguing journey around the world in the pursuit of perfection. Saldana exudes glamour and finesse in her role as Mia Parc alongside Italian actor, Adriano Giannini, as the male lead and Mia's love interest, Davide as the epitome of Italian style.

Lead protagonist of the film Zoe Saldana comments: "The Campari Red Diaries campaign has a great legacy, so I was delighted to play the role of Mia Parc in The Legend of Red Hand. Mia's character was a fascinating one to play, to portray her sheer determination to reach perfection and bringing this to life in Milan as the birthplace of Campari, the iconic Italian aperitif was very special."

On the creation of the short movie, Stefano Sollima comments: "Directing the Legend of Red Hand short movie and working alongside such talent was a pleasure. Being Italian, Campari is an iconic brand that has been present throughout my life, making it an easy choice to collaborate with. The campaign and the story allows such creativity to create a world of mystery that captivates the viewer and leaves them wanting more."

On his role as Davide, Adriano Giannini says: "Working with Zoe Saldana and Stefano Sollima on The Legend of Red Hand has been an absolute pleasure, especially on a short movie for a brand with such rich Italian Heritage. Playing Davide, a character named after the founder of Campari was a great responsibility, and I am excited for viewers to find out more in next year."

Bob Kunze-Concewitz, Chief Executive Officer of Gruppo Campari: "This year, The Campari Red Diaries campaign takes a new and interesting turn; we are demonstrating Campari's ambition for creating the perfect cocktail whilst continuing the celebration of talent in the art of bartending around the world. We are thrilled to have both Zoe Saldana, Stefano Sollima and Adriano Giannini at the heart of the movie and looking forward to launching the full film and taking our fans on the journey to discover what lies beyond the Legend of Red Hand."

The Legend of Red Hand will be digitally launched globally in 2018 and celebrated with a red carpet premiere in the place it all began, Milan. The short movie will also be available on Campari's official YouTube channel in 2018, please follow Campari's social media channels for further information.

To get a sneak peek behind the scenes of The Legend of Red Hand, view the teaser video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/h_OQQeRc7Tc

Campari RedDiaries

http://www.campari.com

https://www.youtube.com/EnjoyCampari

https://www.facebook.com/Campari

https://instagram.com/campariofficial

https://twitter.com/campari

NOTES TO EDITORS

For media enquiries, please use: International Press Contacts

ABOUT CAMPARI RED DIARIES

Launched in 2017, Campari Red Diaries is the evolution of the Campari Calendar. A 360o holistic campaign, with a short movie at the heart, Campari Red Diaries brings to life Campari's ethos that "every cocktail tells a story". Campari Red Diaries is launched digitally, with the short movie hosted on Campari's official YouTube page.

ABOUT CAMPARI

Campari is a contemporary and charismatic classic. The secret recipe, which has remained unchanged, originated in Novara in 1860 and is the base for some of the most famous cocktails around the world. Campari is an alcoholic spirit obtained from the infusion of bitter herbs, aromatic plants and fruit in alcohol and water. With its vibrant red colour, intense aroma and inspiring flavour, Campari has always been a symbol of intrigue and pleasure, which unfurls itself into a captivating drinking experience. These are the values that have made the Campari brand famous throughout the world as an icon of passionate Italian style and excellence.

ABOUT GRUPPO CAMPARI

Gruppo Campari is a major player in the global spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, spreading across Global, Regional and Local priorities. Global Priorities, the Group's key focus, include Aperol, Appleton Estate, Campari, SKYY, Wild Turkey and Grand Marnier. The Group was founded in 1860 and today is the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry. It has a global distribution reach, trading in over 190 nations around the world with leading positions in Europe and the Americas. The Group's growth strategy aims to combine organic growth through strong brand building and external growth via selective acquisitions of brands and businesses.

Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Campari owns 18 plants worldwide and has its own distribution network in 20 countries. The Group employs approximately 4,000 people. The shares of the parent company Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. (Reuters CPRI.MI - Bloomberg CPR IM) have been listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001. For more information: http://www.camparigroup.com/en

Please enjoy our brands responsibly.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A SOUTH African cabinet minister has warned local farmers against employing Zimbabwean illegals and then blaming the police when robbed and or killed by the foreigners.South Africa's police Minister Fikile Mbalula has warned farmers to be careful not to employ undocumented and unregistered foreigners for the purpose of cheap labour.Mbalula says this makes it difficult to trace undocumented foreigners if they commit crime on farms.Mbalula was responding to the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s Dianne Kohler-Barnard during the release of the annual crime statistics in Parliament."It's true that there are criminals who stealing from farms, undermining farmers work and that. But equally there are farmers, who are wrong, because they employ people from Zimbabwe as cheap labour and exploit them, and then those people turn against them and kill them and then it becomes a safety question."So I am saying to the farmers as I have met with them, stop that. Help me to ensure compliance, working with the department of labour. Don't employ unregistered, undocumented foreigners in our country and when they turn against you blame SAPS. We've got nowhere to find such people."Watch a video below:https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=f7yv-DYZaOA
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 25, 2017 / General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE: GD) will be discussing their earnings results in their Q3 Earnings Call to be held on October 25, 2017 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time.

To listen to the event live or access a replay of the call - visit https://www.investornetwork.com/company/1648.

To receive updates for this company you can register by emailing info@investornetwork.com or by clicking get investment info from the company's profile.

About Investor Network

Investor Network (IN) is a financial content community, serving millions of unique investors market information, earnings, commentary and news on the what's trending. Dedicated to both the professional and the average traders, IN offers timely, trusted and relevant financial information for virtually every investor. IN is an Issuer Direct brand, to learn more or for the latest financial news and market information, visit www.investornetwork.com. Follow us on Twitter @investornetwork.

SOURCE: Investor Network
GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS -- (Marketwired) -- 10/25/17 -- Tethys Petroleum Limited ("Tethys" or the "Company") (TSX: TPL) today announces a corporate update.

Update on Gas Drilling Program

Further to the update provided by the Company on September 28, 2017, drilling company Great Wall has completed drilling the fourth gas well out of the current plan to drill eight wells in 2017 and is now preparing to commence drilling the fifth well.

Testing to date of the first two well drilled, KYZ-111 and KYZ-110, shows potential production rates of between 53 and 60 Mcm/day on a 12mm choke indicating these should be successful commercial wells. Updates on the testing of the other wells drilled will be provided when available.

Application to Transfer the Company's Listing to the TSX Venture Exchange

As previously announced, on August 23, 2017 the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") initiated a review of the eligibility criteria for the continued listing of the Company's ordinary shares on the TSX. At the same time the TSX encouraged the Company to consider its qualifications for a listing on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") or NEX, a subsidiary of TSXV, in order to ensure, to the extent possible, uninterrupted trading for the Company's ordinary shares.

The Company has evaluated the costs and benefits of its listing on the TSX versus a possible listing on the TSXV and concluded that it would be prudent to pursue a listing on the TSXV given the Company's current stage of development. The Company has therefore submitted an application to move its listing from the TSX to the TSXV under the TSXV's streamlined application process and is hoping to complete the process before the end of the year. In the event that the Company does not meet the TSXV's continued listing requirements for any reason in the future it remains open to the Company to step down to NEX, which would continue to provide a marketplace for trading in the Company's ordinary shares.

Ongoing Illegal Actions of Olisol and Current Financial Situation

In its announcement on September 28, 2017 the Company described certain actions being taken against the Company by Olisol Petroleum Limited, its affiliate Eurasia Gas Group LLP ("EGG") and EGG's private marshal or bailiff (together "Olisol").

Unfortunately, Olisol's actions are continuing and are having an adverse financial impact on the Company and its business which could potentially put its operations in jeopardy.

Despite the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("RoK") notifying the Company that the actions of the bailiff were illegal under RoK law and it had suspended the bailiff's licence to operate, Olisol has continued to attempt to disrupt the Company's oil deliveries by sending bailiffs and security personnel to the field. In addition, payments to the Company for its oil and gas sales have been delayed whilst the Company works to reverse the actions of the bailiff which included writing to the Company's oil and gas buyers and local refineries seeking to divert payments for the benefit of EGG.

As a consequence of delayed oil and gas payments, the Company has not been able to make certain scheduled payments on time, including its monthly payment to the secured rig loan lenders which was due on September 30. However, the Company expects to be able to repay the rig loan in full early since it has accepted an offer to purchase its two drilling rigs and is now working to complete the sale.

The Company and its legal advisers are also in active discussions with its customers to provide them with the legal assurances they require in order to release payments to the Company given the correspondence from the bailiff and is hopeful of obtaining payment in the coming days. In the meantime, the Company is continuing to produce and deliver oil and gas and these operations have continued uninterrupted, despite the difficulties referred to above.

About Tethys

Tethys is focused on oil and gas exploration and production activities in Central Asia and the Caspian Region. This highly prolific oil and gas area is rapidly developing and Tethys believes that significant potential exists in both exploration and in discovered deposits.

Disclaimer

Some of the statements in this document are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the intent, belief and current expectations of the Company or its officers with respect to the potential that exists in both exploration and in discovered deposits in Central Asia and the Caspian Region, the timing, number of wells drilled and success or otherwise of the gas drilling program, whether the Company's application for listing on the TSXV will be approved and trading in its ordinary shares will continue uninterrupted, whether Tethys will experience further disruption at its oil production facility and whether the sale of the Company's two drilling rigs will be completed allowing the rig loan to be repaid in full early and whether the Company will be able to obtain the overdue payments for oil and gas in the coming days. When used in this document, the words "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "may," "will," "should" and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are not promises or guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those suggested by any such statements including risks and uncertainties with respect to the potential that exists in both exploration and in discovered deposits in Central Asia and the Caspian Region, the timing, number of wells drilled and success or otherwise of the gas drilling program, whether the Company's application for listing on the TSXV will be approved and trading in its ordinary shares will continue uninterrupted, whether Tethys will experience further disruption at its oil production facility and whether the sale of the Company's two drilling rigs will be completed allowing the rig loan to be repaid in full early and whether the Company will be able to obtain the overdue payments for oil and gas in the coming days, the absence of which could place the Company and its business in jeopardy if alternative sources of funding are not available in time.

No part of this announcement constitutes, or shall be taken to constitute, an invitation or inducement to invest in the Company or any other entity, and shareholders of the Company are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Save as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake to update or change any forward-looking statements to reflect events occurring after the date of this announcement.

Contacts:

Tethys Petroleum

info@tethyspetroleum.com

www.tethyspetroleum.com




Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 25, 2017) - Kivalliq Energy Corporation (TSXV: KIV) ("Kivalliq") today announced results from the 2017 summer exploration program at Kivalliq's 100% owned, Baffin Gold Property in Nunavut Territory, Canada. The Baffin Gold Property is one of the largest undeveloped greenstone-iron formation gold belts in Nunavut, totalling 408,981.6 ha and covering 160 km of the Foxe Fold Belt on central Baffin Island. These results are the first step toward understanding and advancing significant gold-bearing zones and anomalies that occur in a variety of geological settings within the Baffin Gold Property.

2017 Highlights:

Results from 424 rock samples confirmed high-grade gold in banded iron formation (BIF) and (intrusion?)-metasediment hosted quartz veins. Highlight grab and channel sample assays include: 268 g/t (7.8 oz/ton) Au - Malrok BIF grab sample 211 g/t (6.1 oz/ton) Au over 0.5 m and 102.5 g/t (3.0 oz/ton) Au over 0.5 m - Kanosak quartz vein channel sample

114.5 g/t (3.3 oz/ton) and 96.2 g/t (2.8 oz/ton) Au - Brent quartz vein grab sample

86.1 g/t (2.5 oz/ton) Au over 0.96 m, includes 193 g/t (5.6 oz/ton) Au over 0.32 m - W Kanosak/Qim 4 BIF channel sample

20% of rock samples taken in 2017 (85) were > 0.5 g/t Au

Results from 492 till geochemical samples identified a new 10 km long corridor of anomalous gold at south Kanosak, and further outlined seven anomalous areas warranting follow-up at Kanosak, Brent and Central Belt west.

Rock and new till geochemical results have extended the strike length of known gold occurrences at Brent, confirmed gold in BIF over 5 km and 6 km at west and north Kanosak, and expanded anomalies around historic gold in till results.

65 km2 of high resolution airborne drone imagery flown in key target areas will be used to develop digital surface models and aid structural interpretation.

Maps and images of the work performed in 2017 at the Baffin Gold Property can be viewed at: http://www.kivalliqenergy.com/projects/baffin_gold/maps/

"We are excited that Kivalliq's first summer on the Baffin Gold Property was able to confirm gold in a variety of geological settings in Bravo Lake Formation rocks across 68 km of strike length," stated Kivalliq President Jeff Ward. "Furthermore, till sampling was able to discover a new corridor of elevated gold-in till and advance other historic anomalies, substantiating our belief in the untapped potential of this extremely prospective gold belt".

Kivalliq's exploration efforts targeted gold in banded iron formation, and greenstone-metasediment hosted quartz veins through an initial program of prospecting, mapping, rock sampling and till geochemical surveys. The 2017 program succeeded in confirming gold settings, repeating geochemical trends and extending known occurrences in the Kanosak, Brent and west Central belt target areas. In preparation for future drilling, upcoming work will concentrate on: understanding structural controls for gold, integrating drone imagery with existing datasets, follow-up of new gold anomalies and continued reconnaissance till sampling areas of deeper glacial cover.

Kanosak Target Area

The Kanosak Target area is located at the east end of the Baffin Gold Property. Two distinct gold mineralization styles are present: arsenopyrite bearing quartz veins hosted in clastic sediments (Kanosak, Kanosak south) and; sulphidized silicate-oxide iron formation (Qim 4, Qim 5). Rock sampling at Kanosak confirmed the presence of high grade gold within quartz veins hosted by quartzites and micro-conglomerate. Highlights of 2017 repeat sampling of high grade Commander Resources channels include: 211 g/t Au over 0.5 m and 102.5 g/t Au over 0.5m. Vein distribution at Kanosak is strongly controlled by host lithologies with best vein development being restricted to brittle, coarse clastic beds.

Prospecting, rock sampling and till sampling was conducted along the south and southeast portion of the Kanosak area. Here, elevated gold in till over 500 m of strike length corresponds to a 2.5 km east-west belt of interbedded clastic rocks with quartz veining. In addition, a large till survey grid in the south Kanosak area has identified a 10 km long corridor of gold anomalies that runs sub-parallel to folded stratigraphy. This anomalous gold in till trend and cursory mapping suggests the potential to discover new gold-bearing zones in unmapped BIF along the edges of gneissic domes.

A till sampling grid was located in the north-central Kanosak area to test six historic samples having gold grains and situated on the axis and nose of a regional syncline. Results from the 2017 work corroborated these historic gold results with new geochemical anomalies in till and further sampling is warranted.

In the north and west Kanosak areas, samples taken along BIF confirmed gold occurrences along six km (Qim 5) and five km (Qim 4) of strike length respectively. Iron formation corresponds directly with pronounced magnetic highs and is generally exposed as small, low outcrops and subcrops of sulphide and grunerite-silica rock. Twenty samples within BIF returned gold values greater than 1 g/t, with nine samples returning greater than 5 g/t Au. Channel samples taken by Kivalliq at the north end of Qim 4 repeated significant channel results in BIF taken by Commander Resources. This historic channel sample assayed 40.8 g/t Au over 0.96 m and was sampled again in detail to test specific lithologies within the BIF. The second set of results produced a weighted average of 86.14 g/t Au over the length of the detailed channel, with the upper massive grunerite quartz layer returning an impressive 193 g/t Au.

Brent Target

At Brent, quartz veins are oriented north-south and are best developed beside a zone of sub-vertical, east-west shearing within mafic rocks, at the contact with the host diorite-gabbro. The nature of the orientation of the contact between the mafic and gabbro is not known and five historic holes drilled along the trend did not resolve mineralization at surface. Historic grab sampling defined two trends of auriferous quartz veining hosted within a quartz diorite/altered gabbro, with the southern trend being most anomalous. Mineralization is comprised of massive clots of arsenopyrite within the veins and as disseminated arsenopyrite in the altered diorite adjacent to veins. Of the 33 rock samples collected in 2017, 11 returned values of greater than 1 g/t Au, with four samples returning very high grade gold values between 51.3 and 114.5 g/t Au.

A three km long till sampling grid was established this summer over the southern Brent trend in an attempt to tie together historic drilling, rock sampling, gold grains in till and the 2017 repeat results. Anomalous gold geochemistry was present on almost every 2017 till sample line, extending the Brent target zone to 2.5 km of strike length.

West-Central Belt

Exploration in the West Central Belt focused on expanding historic isolated gold anomalies in lesser explored areas, and repeating gold values at Malrok. Three of the four 2017 till sample grids verified historic geochemistry and gold grains reported from this complex folded segment of Bravo Lake formation, including a few outlier gold values in younger Piling Group rocks. The success of broad spaced till sampling in this part of the property indicates this will be an effective exploration tool in areas of less rock exposure and deeper glacial cover.

The Malrok occurrence was visited primarily to review the geological setting of this advanced prospect. One repeat sample of upper Bravo Lake BIF returned 268 g/t Au and was the highest assay in 2017. The remaining samples at Malrok tested mainly lower Bravo stratigraphy and did not return any significant values.

Baffin Gold Property

The Baffin Gold Property is a district-scale land package covering an entire Proterozoic gold belt having geological and structural similarities to multi-million ounce gold mines in the north (i.e. Meadowbank, Lupin) as well as the prolific Homestake Mine in South Dakota. Previous exploration has identified numerous prospects along 140 km of strike length, with high-grade gold occurring in multiple settings: silicate and sulphide iron formation; shear zones and quartz veins hosted in granodiorite, metavolcanics and metasediments. An existing camp, tidewater access and two 1,200 m DEW Line airstrips will help to accelerate future work programs and potential development.

The Baffin Gold Property is comprised of consolidated mineral tenure approximately 230 km southwest of the community of Clyde River on Baffin Island, in the Qikiqtani region of Nunavut. This property comprises fifteen prospecting permits, six crown mineral claims and three Inuit Owned Land parcels subject to MEA's with NTI. As part of Kivalliq's consolidation of mineral tenure, the company acquired an option to earn 100% of Commander's Baffin Gold Property which includes six mineral claims (5,948 ha) and two blocks within Inuit Owned Lands (8,105 ha).

2017 Till Geochemistry Program

The 2017 summer program included the collection of 492 till geochemical samples on seven grids. The program was designed to repeat gold geochemistry and gold grains reported in a variety of historic overburden sampling campaigns since 2001. In addition, grids were located over known occurrences to test the efficacy of Au-CN44 cyanide extraction methods, and to determine anomaly vectors for gold in till. Glacial till samples approximately 2 to 3 kg each was collected at 100 or 250 m intervals along sample lines spaced 250 or 500 m apart.

Table 1 shows value ranges and anomalous thresholds for gold (ppb) from the 2017 till sampling program on the Baffin Gold Property.

Table 1. 2017 Baffin Gold Property

Comparative Percentile Values

Ultra Trace (AuCN44) - Till Samples Percentile Au (ppb) n 75 2.3 123 90 3.0 51 95 3.8 25 98 6.7 10 minimum 0.2 - maximum 21.6 - average 2.1 -

QA/QC

All till samples were sent to ALS Geochemistry (ALS) in Sudbury, Ontario for preparation and then to ALS in Vancouver, BC for final analysis. ALS Geochemistry meets all requirements of International Standards ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and ISO 9001:2015. All ALS hub laboratories are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 for specific analytical procedures. Till samples were analysed for gold using cyanide extraction (Au-CN44) with a 33-element four acid digest ICP-AES analysis (ME-ICP61).

All rock samples were sent to ALS in Sudbury, Ontario for preparation and then to ALS in Vancouver, BC for final analysis. Rock samples were analyzed using ALS's Fire Assay Fusion method (Au-AA23) with an AAS finish for gold, followed by a 33-element four acid digest ICP-AES analysis (ME-ICP61). QA/QC included Kivalliq field standards and duplicates; plus internal standard samples, lab duplicates, re-assays, and blanks inserted by the ALS. All QA/QC results for till and rock samples were within expectations.

Jeff Ward, P.Geo, President of Kivalliq and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release. Exploration results by Commander and previous explorers reported herein and on maps are historic in nature and although not verified by Kivalliq, this work was carried out by knowledgeable explorers using acceptable industry practices at the time.

About Kivalliq Energy Corporation

Kivalliq Energy Corporation (TSXV: KIV) is a Vancouver-based company with a portfolio of high-quality uranium and precious metal exploration projects in Canada. In addition to the new Baffin Gold Property, Kivalliq holds Canada's highest-grade uranium resource outside of Saskatchewan. The Company's flagship project, the 89,852 hectare Angilak Property in Nunavut Territory, hosts the Lac 50 Trend with a NI 43-101 Inferred Resource of 2,831,000 tonnes grading 0.69% U3O8, totaling 43.3 million pounds U3O8. Kivalliq's comprehensive exploration programs continue to demonstrate the "District Scale" potential of the Angilak Property. For disclosure related to the inferred resource for the Lac 50 Trend uranium deposits, please refer to Kivalliq's news release of March 1, 2013.

In Saskatchewan, Kivalliq holds a 100% interest in the 13,711 hectare Hatchet Lake Property adjacent to the north-eastern margin of the highly prolific uranium-producing Athabasca Basin. Compilation of results from previous exploration by Hathor Exploration Limited and Rio Tinto have identified multiple, priority unconformity-related basement targets at Hatchet Lake that were followed up in 2015.

Kivalliq also holds a 50% interest in the 131,412 hectare Genesis Property located northeast of Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin, with Roughrider Exploration Limited funding the current exploration program pursuant to an option to acquire up to an 85% interest in the property. This highly prospective project is located along the Wollaston-Mudjatik trend and extends 90 kilometres northeast from Wollaston Lake to the Manitoba border.

Kivalliq's team of northern exploration specialists has forged strong relationships with sophisticated resource sector investors and partner Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) on both the Angilak and Baffin Gold Properties. Kivalliq was the first company to sign a comprehensive agreement to explore for uranium on Inuit Owned Lands in Nunavut Territory, Canada and is committed to building shareholder value while adhering to high levels of environmental and safety standards and proactive local community engagement.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Jim Paterson"

James R. Paterson, Chairman and CEO

Kivalliq Energy Corporation

For further information about, Kivalliq Energy Corporation or this news release, please visit our website at www.kivalliqenergy.com or contact Investor Relations toll free at 1.888.331.2269, at 604.646.4527, or by email at info@kivalliqenergy.com.

Kivalliq Energy Corporation is a member of the Discovery Group of Companies, for more information please visit: www.discoverygroup.ca.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain disclosures in this release constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to Kivalliq's operations as a mineral exploration company that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including risks as to the completion of the plans and projects. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Other than as required by applicable securities legislation, Kivalliq expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Boeing Reports Third-Quarter Results; Raises Cash Flow and EPS Guidance

CHICAGO, Oct.25, 2017 --

Revenue of $24.3 billion , including a record 202 commercial aircraft deliveries

GAAP EPS of $3.06 and core EPS (non-GAAP)* of $2.72 on solid execution

Strong operating cash flow of $3.4 billion ; repurchased 11 million shares for $2.5 billion

Backlog remains robust at $474 billion , including nearly 5,700 aircraft in commercial airplane orders

Cash flow and EPS guidance raised; segment guidance updated

Table 1. Summary Financial Results Third Quarter Nine Months (Dollars in Millions, except per share data) 2017 2016 Change 2017 2016 Change Revenues $24,309 $23,898 2% $68,024 $71,285 (5)% GAAP Earnings From Operations $2,689 $2,282 18% $7,248 $3,651 99% Operating Margin 11.1% 9.5% 1.6 Pts 10.7% 5.1% 5.6 Pts Net Earnings $1,853 $2,279 (19)% $5,065 $3,264 55% Earnings Per Share $3.06 $3.60 (15)% $8.27 $5.04 64% Operating Cash Flow $3,396 $3,202 6% $10,440 $7,667 36% Non-GAAP* Core Operating Earnings $2,373 $2,194 8% $6,294 $3,400 85% Core Operating Margin 9.8% 9.2% 0.6 Pts 9.3% 4.8% 4.5 Pts Core Earnings Per Share $2.72 $3.51 (23)% $7.26 $4.79 52% * Non-GAAP measures. Complete definitions of Boeing's non-GAAP measures are on page 6, "Non-GAAP Measures Disclosures."

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] reported third-quarter revenue of $24.3 billion withGAAP earnings per share of $3.06 and core earnings per share (non-GAAP)* of $2.72 reflecting strong deliveries, services and delivery mix, and overall solid execution (Table 1).

The company's cash flow guidance is increased to $12.5 billion from $12.25 billion, driven by improved performance. Full year EPS guidance is increased to between $11.20 and $11.40 from $11.10 and $11.30 and core earnings per share (non-GAAP)* guidance is increased to between $9.90 and $10.10 from $9.80 and $10.00 driven by a lower-than-expected tax rate. Full year segment guidance is updated, reflecting the realignment of the company's services businesses into Boeing Global Services (BGS).

"Our teams across all three business segments are driving execution with a focus on both productivity and growth, which has enabled Boeing to deliver solid third quarter financial results, grow cash flow, and raise our 2017 outlook," said Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Muilenburg.

"In the third quarter we successfully launched our newest business segment, Boeing Global Services, leveraging our unique One Boeing advantages to offer complete lifecycle support across the commercial, defense and space sectors. We achieved a number of key milestones in the quarter with the delivery of a record 202 commercial airplanes, including 24 737 MAXs as we continue the smooth introduction of that airplane. On the defense side, we booked $6 billion in new orders, including an initial contract award for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program and an award from the U.S. Navy for 14 F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft."

"We remain focused on accelerating productivity, quality and safety improvements across the company, executing on our future development programs, and capturing new business to ensure our continued growth."

Table 2. Cash Flow Third Quarter Nine Months (Millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Operating Cash Flow $3,396 $3,202 $10,440 $7,667 Less Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment ($399) ($595) ($1,304) ($2,014) Free Cash Flow* $2,997 $2,607 $9,136 $5,653 * Non-GAAP measures. Complete definitions of Boeing's non-GAAP measures are on page 6, "Non-GAAP Measures Disclosures."

Operating cash flow in the quarter of $3.4 billion was driven by solid operating performance and favorable timing of receipts and expenditures (Table 2). During the quarter, the company repurchased 11 million shares for $2.5 billion, leaving $6.5 billion remaining under the current repurchase authorization. The company also paid $0.9 billion in dividends in the quarter, reflecting a 30 percent increase in dividends per share compared to the same period of the prior year.

Table 3. Cash, Marketable Securities and Debt Balances Quarter-End (Billions) Q3 17 Q2 17 Cash $8.6 $8.7 Marketable Securities1 $1.4 $1.6 Total $10.0 $10.3 Debt Balances: The Boeing Company, net of intercompany loans to BCC $7.8 $7.8 Boeing Capital, including intercompany loans $3.0 $3.0 Total Consolidated Debt $10.8 $10.8 1 Marketable securities consists primarily of time deposits due within one year classified as "short-term investments."

Cash and investments in marketable securities totaled $10.0 billion, down slightly from $10.3 billion at the beginning of the quarter (Table 3). Debt was $10.8 billion, unchanged from the beginning of the quarter.

Total company backlog at quarter-end was $474 billion, down from $482 billion at the beginning of the quarter, and included net orders for the quarter of $16 billion.

Segment Results

Commercial Airplanes

Table 4. Commercial Airplanes Third Quarter Nine Months (Dollars in Millions) 2017 2016 Change 2017 2016 Change Commercial Airplanes Deliveries 202 188 7% 554 563 (2)% Revenues1 $14,982 $15,200 (1)% $41,263 $43,630 (5)% Earnings from Operations1 $1,483 $1,293 15% $3,648 $804 354% Operating Margin1 9.9% 8.5% 1.4 Pts 8.8% 1.8% 7.0 Pts 1 Prior year results have been adjusted to reflect the realignment of the services business

Commercial Airplanes third-quarter revenue was $15.0 billion on planned production rates and delivery mix (Table 4). Third-quarter operating margin increased to 9.9 percent, reflecting higher 787 margins and strong operating performance on production programs, partially offset by additional cost growth of $256 million on the KC-46 Tanker program due to incorporating changes into initial production aircraft as we progress through late-stage testing and the certification process.

During the quarter, Commercial Airplanes delivered a record 202 airplanes, including 24 737 MAX 8 airplanes. The production rate increased to 47 per month on the 737 program, and we confirmed plans to increase the 787 production rate to 14 per month in 2019. Development on 777X is on track as production began on the first complete wing for structural test.

Commercial Airplanes booked 117 net orders during the quarter. Backlog remains robust with nearly 5,700 airplanes valued at $412 billion.

Defense, Space& Security

Table 5. Defense, Space & Security Third Quarter Nine Months (Dollars in Millions) 2017 2016 Change 2017 2016 Change Revenues1 $5,470 $5,751 (5)% $15,520 $17,281 (10)% Earnings from Operations1 $559 $564 (1)% $1,670 $1,443 16% Operating Margin1 10.2% 9.8% 0.4Pts 10.8% 8.4% 2.4 Pts 1 Prior year results have been adjusted to reflect the realignment of the services business

Defense, Space & Security (BDS) third-quarter revenue was $5.5 billion on lower planned deliveries and mix (Table 5). Third-quarter operating margin increased to 10.2 percent, reflecting solid performance and mix, partially offset by KC-46 Tanker cost growth of $73 million.

During the quarter, BDS was awarded contracts from the U.S. Air Force for design of the new Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent defense system and preliminary design of the next presidential aircraft. The U.S. Navy awarded BDS a contract for 14 F/A-18 Super Hornets during the third quarter. Additionally, BDS was selected to design and build seven medium earth orbit satellites for SES.

Backlog at Defense, Space & Security was $46 billion, of which 35 percent represents orders from international customers.

Global Services

Table 6. Global Services Third Quarter Nine Months (Dollars in Millions) 2017 2016 Change 2017 2016 Change Revenues $3,568 $3,506 2% $10,638 $10,508 1% Earnings from Operations $506 $524 (3)% $1,639 $1,609 2% Operating Margin 14.2% 14.9% (0.7) Pts 15.4% 15.3% 0.1 Pts

Global Services third-quarter revenue increased to $3.6 billion, primarily driven by higher commercial parts revenue, partially offset by timing of government services (Table 6). Third-quarter operating margin was 14.2 percent reflecting product and services mix.

During the quarter, Global Services was awarded a contract from the Defense Logistics Agency to supply F/A-18 E/F spare parts, and a contract from the Italian Air Force to provide performance-based logistics services to support the KC-767A tanker aircraft. More than 40 commercial airline customers signed up for our digital navigation applications in the quarter. Additionally, Global Services continues to capture new commercial and government customers through expanded offerings, including those powered by Boeing AnalytX.

Additional Financial Information

Table 7. Additional Financial Information Third Quarter Nine Months (Dollars in Millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Revenues Boeing Capital $70 $63 $234 $211 Unallocated items, eliminations and other $219 ($622) $369 ($345) Earnings from Operations Boeing Capital $23 $13 $87 $36 Unallocated pension/postretirement $316 $88 $954 $251 Other unallocated items and eliminations ($198) ($200) ($750) ($492) Other income, net $45 $2 $94 $41 Interest and debt expense ($87) ($81) ($267) ($227) Effective tax rate 30.0% (3.4)% 28.4% 5.8%

At quarter-end, Boeing Capital's net portfolio balance was $3.4 billion. Total pension expense for the third quarter was $100 million, down from $453 million in the same period of the prior year. Revenue increased in other unallocated items and eliminations primarily due to timing of eliminations of intercompany aircraft deliveries, including those accounted for under operating lease. Other unallocated items and eliminations earnings decreased primarily due to timing of eliminations of intercompany aircraft deliveries, offset by higher deferred compensation. The effective tax rate for the third quarter increased to 30.0 percent primarily due to discrete tax benefits recorded in the prior year.

Outlook

The company's 2017 guidance is updated below (Table 8).

Table 8. 2017 Financial Outlook Current Prior (Dollars in Billions, except per share data) Guidance Guidance The Boeing Company Revenue $90.5 - 92.5 $90.5 - 92.5 GAAP Earnings Per Share $11.20 - 11.40 $11.10 - 11.30 Core Earnings Per Share* $9.90 - 10.10 $9.80 - 10.00 Operating Cash Flow ~$12.5 ~$12.25 Commercial Airplanes Deliveries 760 - 765 760 - 765 Revenue $55.5 - 56.5 N/A Operating Margin 9.0% - 9.5 N/A Defense, Space & Security Revenue $20.5 - 21.5 N/A Operating Margin >10.5% N/A Global Services Revenue $14.0 - 14.5 N/A Operating Margin 15.0% - 15.5 N/A Boeing Capital Portfolio Size Stable Stable Revenue ~$0.3 ~$0.3 Pre-Tax Earnings ~$0.08 ~$0.08 Research& Development ~ $3.4 ~ $3.6 Capital Expenditures ~ $2.0 ~ $2.0 Pension Expense 1 ~ $0.6 ~ $0.6 Effective Tax Rate ~ 28.5% ~ 29.0% 1 Approximately ($1.0) billion is expected to be recorded in unallocated items and eliminations *Non-GAAP measures. Complete definitions of Boeing's non-GAAP measures are on page 6, "Non-GAAP Measures Disclosures."

Non-GAAP Measures Disclosures

We supplement the reporting of our financial information determined under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (GAAP) with certain non-GAAP financial information. The non-GAAP financial information presented excludes certain significant items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, results from our ongoing business operations. We believe that these non-GAAP measures provide investors with additional insight into the company's ongoing business performance. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures, and other companies may define such measures differently. We encourage investors to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. The following definitions are provided:

Core Operating Earnings, Core Operating Margin and Core Earnings Per Share

Core operating earnings is defined as GAAP earnings from operations excluding unallocated pension and other postretirement benefit expense. Core operating margin is defined as core operating earnings expressed as a percentage of revenue. Core earnings per share is defined as GAAP diluted earnings per share excluding the net earnings per share impact of unallocated pension and other postretirement benefit expense. Unallocated pension and other postretirement benefit expense represents the portion of pension and other post-retirement costs that are not recognized by business segments for segment reporting purposes. Pension costs, comprising service and prior service costs computed in accordance with GAAP are allocated to Commercial Airplanes and BGS businesses supporting commercial customers. Pension costs allocated to BDS and BGS businesses supporting government customers are computed in accordance with U.S. Government Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), which employ different actuarial assumptions and accounting conventions than GAAP. CAS costs are allocable to government contracts. Other postretirement benefit costs are allocated to all business segments based on CAS, which is generally based on benefits paid. Management uses core operating earnings, core operating margin and core earnings/per share for purposes of evaluating and forecasting underlying business performance. Management believes these core earnings measures provide investors additional insights into operational performance as they exclude unallocated pension and post-retirement costs, which primarily represent costs driven by market factors and costs not allocable to government contracts. A reconciliation between the GAAP and non-GAAP measures is provided on page 14.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow is defined as GAAP operating cash flow without capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment additions. Management believes free cash flow provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available for shareholders, debt repayment, and acquisitions after making the capital investments required to support ongoing business operations and long term value creation. Free cash flow does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures as it excludes certain mandatory expenditures such as repayment of maturing debt. Management uses free cash flow as a measure to assess both business performance and overall liquidity. Table 2 provides a reconciliation between GAAP operating cash flow and free cash flow.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "should," "expects," "intends," "projects," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "targets," "anticipates," and similar expressions generally identify these forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements relating to our future financial condition and operating results, as well as any other statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable when made, but that may not prove to be accurate. These statements are not guarantees and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from these forward-looking statements. Among these factors are risks related to: (1) general conditions in the economy and our industry, including those due to regulatory changes; (2) our reliance on our commercial airline customers; (3) the overall health of our aircraft production system, planned production rate increases across multiple commercial airline programs, our commercial development and derivative aircraft programs, and our aircraft being subject to stringent performance and reliability standards; (4) changing budget and appropriation levels and acquisition priorities of the U.S. government; (5) our dependence on U.S. government contracts; (6) our reliance on fixed-price contracts; (7) our reliance on cost-type contracts; (8) uncertainties concerning contracts that include in-orbit incentive payments; (9) our dependence on our subcontractors and suppliers, as well as the availability of raw materials, (10) changes in accounting estimates; (11) changes in the competitive landscape in our markets; (12) our non-U.S. operations, including sales to non-U.S. customers; (13) potential adverse developments in new or pending litigation and/or government investigations; (14) customer and aircraft concentration in Boeing Capital's customer financing portfolio; (15) changes in our ability to obtain debt on commercially reasonable terms and at competitive rates in order to fund our operations and contractual commitments; (16) realizing the anticipated benefits of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures/strategic alliances or divestitures; (17) the adequacy of our insurance coverage to cover significant risk exposures; (18) potential business disruptions, including those related to physical security threats, information technology or cyber-attacks, epidemics, sanctions or natural disasters; (19) work stoppages or other labor disruptions; (20) significant changes in discount rates and actual investment return on pension assets; (21) potential environmental liabilities; and (22) threats to the security of our or our customers' information.

Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contact: InvestorRelations: Maurita Sutedja or Ben Hackman (312) 544-2140 Communications: Allison Bone (312)544-2002

The Boeing Company and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) Nine months ended

September 30 Three months ended

September 30 (Dollars in millions, except per share data) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Sales of products $60,484 $63,563 $21,825 $21,494 Sales of services 7,540 7,722 2,484 2,404 Total revenues 68,024 71,285 24,309 23,898 Cost of products (49,856) (55,117) (18,050) (17,907) Cost of services (5,730) (6,163) (1,910) (1,983) Boeing Capital interest expense (53) (46) (27) (14) Total costs and expenses (55,639) (61,326) (19,987) (19,904) 12,385 9,959 4,322 3,994 Income from operating investments, net 169 220 49 69 General and administrative expense (2,888) (2,617) (915) (923) Research and development expense, net (2,418) (3,901) (767) (857) Loss on dispositions, net (10) (1) Earnings from operations 7,248 3,651 2,689 2,282 Other income, net 94 41 45 2 Interest and debt expense (267) (227) (87) (81) Earnings before income taxes 7,075 3,465 2,647 2,203 Income tax (expense)/benefit (2,010) (201) (794) 76 Net earnings $5,065 $3,264 $1,853 $2,279 Basic earnings per share $8.37 $5.09 $3.10 $3.64 Diluted earnings per share $8.27 $5.04 $3.06 $3.60 Cash dividends paid per share $4.26 $3.27 $1.42 $1.09 Weighted average diluted shares (millions) 612.8 647.9 606.3 632.7

The Boeing Company and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited) (Dollars in millions, except per share data) September30

2017 December31

2016 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $8,569 $8,801 Short-term and other investments 1,463 1,228 Accounts receivable, net 10,644 8,832 Current portion of customer financing, net 435 428 Inventories, net of advances and progress billings 43,031 43,199 Total current assets 64,142 62,488 Customer financing, net 3,039 3,773 Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $17,401 and $16,883 12,712 12,807 Goodwill 5,344 5,324 Acquired intangible assets, net 2,523 2,540 Deferred income taxes 298 332 Investments 1,270 1,317 Other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $509 and $497 1,679 1,416 Total assets $91,007 $89,997 Liabilities and equity Accounts payable $12,718 $11,190 Accrued liabilities 14,008 14,691 Advances and billings in excess of related costs 26,695 23,869 Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt 988 384 Total current liabilities 54,409 50,134 Deferred income taxes 2,884 1,338 Accrued retiree health care 5,826 5,916 Accrued pension plan liability, net 15,514 19,943 Other long-term liabilities 1,449 2,221 Long-term debt 9,780 9,568 Shareholders' equity: Common stock, par value $5.00 - 1,200,000,000 shares authorized; 1,012,261,159 shares issued 5,061 5,061 Additional paid-in capital 6,754 4,762 Treasury stock, at cost - 414,910,219 and 395,109,568 shares (41,745) (36,097) Retained earnings 44,052 40,714 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (13,036) (13,623) Total shareholders' equity 1,086 817 Noncontrolling interests 59 60 Total equity 1,145 877 Total liabilities and equity $91,007 $89,997

The Boeing Company and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) Nine months ended

September 30 (Dollars in millions) 2017 2016 Cash flows-operating activities: Net earnings $5,065 $3,264 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: Non-cash items - Share-based plans expense 151 144 Depreciation and amortization 1,487 1,364 Investment/asset impairment charges, net 75 61 Customer financing valuation expense/(benefit) 4 (5) Loss on dispositions, net 10 Other charges and credits, net 190 219 Changes in assets and liabilities - Accounts receivable (1,983) (517) Inventories, net of advances and progress billings 254 4,334 Accounts payable 778 1,366 Accrued liabilities 112 82 Advances and billings in excess of related costs 2,828 (1,717) Income taxes receivable, payable and deferred 1,465 (725) Other long-term liabilities 25 (67) Pension and other postretirement plans (550) 144 Customer financing, net 635 (195) Other (96) (95) Net cash provided by operating activities 10,440 7,667 Cash flows - investing activities: Property, plant and equipment additions (1,304) (2,014) Property, plant and equipment reductions 30 14 Contributions to investments (2,847) (928) Proceeds from investments 2,612 956 Purchase of distribution rights (131) Other 4 8 Net cash used by investing activities (1,636) (1,964) Cash flows - financing activities: New borrowings 876 1,323 Debt repayments (83) (836) Repayments of distribution rights and other asset financing (24) Stock options exercised 291 192 Employee taxes on certain share-based payment arrangements (118) (83) Common shares repurchased (7,500) (6,501) Dividends paid (2,575) (2,084) Net cash used by financing activities (9,109) (8,013) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 73 (6) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (232) (2,316) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 8,801 11,302 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $8,569 $8,986

The Boeing Company and Subsidiaries Summary of Business Segment Data (Unaudited) Nine months ended

September 30 Three months ended

September 30 (Dollars in millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Revenues: Commercial Airplanes $41,263 $43,630 $14,982 $15,200 Defense, Space & Security 15,520 17,281 5,470 5,751 Global Services 10,638 10,508 3,568 3,506 Boeing Capital 234 211 70 63 Unallocated items, eliminations and other 369 (345) 219 (622) Total revenues $68,024 $71,285 $24,309 $23,898 Earnings from operations: Commercial Airplanes $3,648 $804 $1,483 $1,293 Defense, Space & Security 1,670 1,443 559 564 Global Services 1,639 1,609 506 524 Boeing Capital 87 36 23 13 Segment operating profit 7,044 3,892 2,571 2,394 Unallocated items, eliminations and other 204 (241) 118 (112) Earnings from operations 7,248 3,651 2,689 2,282 Other income, net 94 41 45 2 Interest and debt expense (267) (227) (87) (81) Earnings before income taxes 7,075 3,465 2,647 2,203 Income tax (expense)/benefit (2,010) (201) (794) 76 Net earnings $5,065 $3,264 $1,853 $2,279 Research and development expense, net: Commercial Airplanes $1,755 $3,152 $538 $633 Defense, Space & Security 599 666 207 201 Global Services 101 126 38 41 Other (37) (43) (16) (18) Total research and development expense, net $2,418 $3,901 $767 $857 Unallocated items, eliminations and other Share-based plans ($67) ($50) ($21) ($9) Deferred compensation (174) (38) (78) (33) Amortization of previously capitalized interest (72) (71) (21) (23) Eliminations and other unallocated items (437) (333) (78) (135) Sub-total (included in core operating earnings) (750) (492) (198) (200) Pension 808 129 275 50 Postretirement 146 122 41 38 Total unallocated items, eliminations and other $204 ($241) $118 ($112)

The Boeing Company and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Summary of Business Segment Data

(Unaudited)

Effective July 1, 2017, we now operate in four principal segments: Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security, Global Services and Boeing Capital. The prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation as set forth below.

Three months ended (Dollars in millions) 06/30/17 03/31/17 12/31/16 09/30/16 06/30/16 03/31/16 Revenues: Commercial Airplanes $13,817 $12,464 $14,382 $15,200 $15,643 $12,787 Defense, Space & Security 5,198 4,852 5,282 5,751 5,394 6,136 Global Services 3,564 3,506 3,417 3,506 3,581 3,421 Boeing Capital 72 92 87 63 84 64 Unallocated items, eliminations and other 88 62 118 (622) 53 224 Total revenues $22,739 $20,976 $23,286 $23,898 $24,755 $22,632 Earnings from operations: Commercial Airplanes $1,274 $891 $1,191 $1,293 ($1,281) $792 Defense, Space& Security 619 492 523 564 362 517 Global Services 564 569 568 524 539 546 Boeing Capital 25 39 23 13 18 5 Segment operating profit/(loss) 2,482 1,991 2,305 2,394 (362) 1,860 Unallocated items, eliminations and other 53 33 (122) (112) (57) (72) Earnings/(loss) from operations 2,535 2,024 2,183 2,282 (419) 1,788 Other income/(loss), net 27 22 (1) 2 13 26 Interest and debt expense (93) (87) (79) (81) (73) (73) Earnings/(loss) before income taxes 2,469 1,959 2,103 2,203 (479) 1,741 Income tax (expense)/benefit (708) (508) (472) 76 245 (522) Net earnings/(loss) $1,761 $1,451 $1,631 $2,279 ($234) $1,219 Research and development expense, net: Commercial Airplanes $592 $625 $554 $633 $1,860 $659 Defense, Space& Security 196 196 149 201 233 232 Global Services 35 28 27 41 47 38 Other (10) (11) (4) (18) (13) (12) Total research and development expense, net $813 $838 $726 $857 $2,127 $917

The Boeing Company and Subsidiaries Operating and Financial Data (Unaudited) Deliveries Nine months ended

September 30 Three months ended

September 30 Commercial Airplanes 2017 2016 2017 2016 737 381 368 145 120 747 8 (1) 8 (3) 4 5 (3) 767 7 10 2 5 777 58 73 16 22 787 100 104 35 36 Total 554 563 202 188 Note: Deliveries under operating lease are identified by parentheses. Defense, Space & Security AH-64 Apache (New) 8 25 3 10 AH-64 Apache (Remanufactured) 43 27 15 9 C-17 Globemaster III 4 CH-47 Chinook (New) 6 17 2 7 CH-47 Chinook (Renewed) 28 23 9 7 F-15 Models 11 11 4 4 F/A-18 Models 18 20 6 6 P-8 Models 14 13 5 4 Commercial and Civil Satellites 3 3 2 Military Satellites 2 1 Total backlog (Dollars in millions) September30

2017 December31

2016 Commercial Airplanes $412,185 $413,036 Defense, Space & Security 45,852 44,825 Global Services 16,251 15,631 Total backlog $474,288 $473,492 Contractual backlog $459,871 $458,277 Unobligated backlog $14,417 $15,215 Total backlog $474,288 $473,492 Workforce 142,300 150,500

The Boeing Company and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

(Unaudited)

The tables provided below reconcile the non-GAAP financial measures core operating earnings, core operating margin, and core earnings per share with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, earnings from operations, operating margin, and diluted earnings per share. See page 6 of this release for additional information on the use of these non-GAAP financial measures.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 10/25/17 -- WSP Global Inc. (TSX: WSP) ("WSP" or the "Corporation") will announce its 2017 third quarter results on November 8, 2017. A conference call will be held on the same day at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss the results.

To participate in the conference call, dial 1-647-788-4922 or 1-877-223-4471 (toll-free). A presentation of the 2017 third quarter highlights and results will be available on the same day at www.wsp.com in the Investor section, under Presentations & Events.

The conference call and slideshow presentation will also be broadcasted live and archived in the Investor section of the WSP website.

A replay of the call will be available until December 8, 2017. The telephone numbers to access the replay of the call are 1-416-621-4642 or 1-800-585-8367 (toll-free), access code 97679538. The replay of the conference call will also be available in the Investor section of the WSP website under Presentations & Events, in the days following the event.

ABOUT WSP

As one of the world's leading professional services firms, WSP provides technical expertise and strategic advice to clients in the Property & Buildings, Transportation & Infrastructure, Environment, Industry, Resources (including Mining and Oil & Gas) and Power & Energy sectors. We also offer highly specialized services in project delivery and strategic consulting. Our experts include engineers, advisors, technicians, scientists, architects, planners, surveyors and environmental specialists, as well as other design, program and construction management professionals. With approximately 36,000 talented people in 500 offices across 40 countries, we are uniquely positioned to deliver successful and sustainable projects, wherever our clients need us. www.wsp.com

Contacts:

Isabelle Adjahi

Vice President,

Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

WSP Global Inc.

438-843-7548

isabelle.adjahi@wsp.com




IRVINE, CALIFORNIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/25/17 -- Novoheart ("Novoheart" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: NVH), a global stem cell biotechnology company, is pleased to announce that it has opened a new US location in The Cove at UC Irvine, California. The Cove is home to UCI Applied Innovation - a public-private endeavour to accelerate the commercialization of technology and other world-class discoveries at UCI - as well as a number of renowned VC firms, entrepreneurs and fast-growth technology organizations. It features 46,000 square feet of state-of-the-art technological facilities and collaborative office space and offers Novoheart direct access to a number of strategic partners as well as to unique and innovative technologies and talent at the forefront of drug discovery.

Novoheart's established presence in California marks a critical milestone in the Company's early steps towards engaging the expansive North American market and supports its mission of positioning itself as a key player in the transformation of drug discovery.

A recently published study by members of the Novoheart team, completed in partnership with the UC Irvine team (Shum et al., Advanced Materials, 2017), clearly demonstrated the value of being in close proximity with like-minded scientists. Using the Company's proprietary MyHeart Platform of human engineered cardiac tissues, researchers were, for the first time, able to detect the devastating arrhythmogenic hazards of certain "anti-arrhythmic" drugs that had previously caused fatalities in human patients despite passing through the flawed process of animal testing for FDA approval. By using the MyHeart Platform, which offers the unique ability to replicate patient responses, the Company was able to further validate its product's highly significant potential for early identification of cardiac side effects prior to moving towards clinical trials.

"We are very excited to further expand our presence in North America and believe that working in The Cove provides an ideal environment to advance both our product and business development," said Ronald Li, CEO of Novoheart. "The type of collaborative research between ours and UCI's team clearly demonstrates the significant value of being in a state-of-the-art facility with other leading specialists. Having this type of validated research is incredibly important as we pursue our large-scale commercialization strategy and we believe that key, long-term, partnerships like those being established here will be a strong driver of our future success."

About Novoheart:

Novoheart is a global stem cell biotechnology company pioneering an array of next-generation human heart tissue prototypes. It is the first company in the world to have engineered miniature living human heart pumps that can revolutionize drug discovery, helping to save time and money for developing new therapeutics.

Also known as '3D Hearts-in-a-Jar', Novoheart's bioartificial human heart constructs are created using state-of-the-art stem cell and bioengineering approaches, and are utilized by major drug developers for accurate preclinical testing as to the effectiveness and safety of new drugs, maximizing the successes in drug discovery whilst minimizing costs and harm caused to patients.

The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") under the symbol "NVH".

About UCI Applied Innovation:

UCI Applied Innovation brings campus-based discoveries together with Southern California's vibrant business community to support job creation and economic growth. To make this happen, UCI Applied Innovation facilitates connections between UCI and industry, including: entrepreneurs seeking access to university inventions and talent, large corporations looking to tap the school's research capabilities, and investors wanting to financially support promising new companies. Additionally, UCI Applied Innovation is cultivating an "innovation district" in the heart of Southern California to produce more start-ups, more scale-ups, and ultimately a world-class entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation; statements about the Company's future plans, its goals and expectations, and the potential applications of its MyHeart platform are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risks identified in the management discussion and analysis section of Novoheart Holdings Inc.'s interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the respective companies undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

Contacts:

For further information, please contact:

Ronald Li, CEO

info@novoheart.com



Babak Pedram, Investor Relations

Virtus Advisory Group

Tel: 416-995-8651

bpedram@virtusadvisory.com



For media enquiries or interviews, please contact:

Josh Stanbury, Media Relations

Tel. 416-628-7441

media@novoheart.com




VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/25/17 -- Assay Highlights Mother Lode Deposit include:

Highlighted Mineralized intervals are calculated using a 0.5 g/t cutoff, with high-grade Mother Lode Structure using a 1 g/t cutoff

-- ML-17-002: 54.8 metres @ 2.95 g/t gold - Upper Zone incl. 2.8 metres @ 10.25 g/t gold (high-grade Mother Lode Structure) & 8.4 meters @ 6.48 g/t gold (high-grade Mother Lode Structure) 9.5 metres @ 1.37 g/t gold - Lower Zone (lost hole in 1.22 g/t gold) -- ML-17-006: 41.1 metres @ 1.47 g/t gold - Upper Zone 16.8 metres @ 1.52 g/t gold - Upper Zone 33.5 metres @ 2.54 g/t gold - Lower Zone incl. 19.8 metres @ 3.54 g/t gold (high-grade Mother Lode Structure) 9.1 metres @ 1.77 g/t gold - Lower Zone

Corvus Gold Inc. ("Corvus" or the "Company") - (TSX: KOR)(OTCQX: CORVF) announces it has received assay results from an additional two holes from its 2017 Phase I drilling program at the Mother Lode project in southern Nevada (Table 1). The results for the Main Target area (Figure 1) are continuing to confirm the Upper and Lower Zones of the deposit as well as the down dip extension of the high-grade Mother Lode Structural Zone. The Company believes that these new results, along with ongoing geologic studies show that both the Upper and Lower Zones are related to the same gold system and directly tie to the unique Mother Lode intrusive center. The system can best be characterized as a Miocene aged sediment hosted deposit similar to those of north central Nevada, although at a younger age.

The Company's new drilling, in combination with the existing 172-hole historic drill database was used to construct a series of grade shells that have revealed a clearer view of the overall mineral system. These grade shells are shown in Figures 1 through 3 with the current drilling results plotted. The Upper Zone results compare well to the prior resource model and highlight a continuous sediment hosted zone of mineralization both laterally and along strike. The new Lower Zone of mineralization is also showing good continuity from hole to hole. Host rocks in both zones are predominantly calcareous sediments and intrusive dikes and sills with the Lower Zone dominantly oxide.

The key structural controls on the Mother Lode mineralizing system and its associated intrusives are the north dipping Fluorspar Canyon Fault (FCF) and the north trending, west dipping Mother Lode Structural Zone. The unique intersection of these two-major regional structures has created a large area of strong fracturing and facilitated the emplacement of several dikes and sills which were contemporaneous with the gold mineralization. The high-grade Mother Lode Structural Zone commonly has dikes within it, as does the FCF. In addition, regional structural work and down hole geochemistry suggests that there could be repeated mineralized bodies at depth to the northwest of the old Mother Lode pit, which is currently being tested with a series of deep holes.

To view Figure 1. Plan map showing recent drill holes on new greater than 0.5 g/t grade shell projected to surface with section lines, ML-306 & ML-338 are historic holes not drilled by Corvus, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Figure1_Corvus.jpg

Table 1

Phase I - Mother Lode Significant Drilling Results - Main Target

(Reported intercepts are not true widths as there is currently insufficient data to calculate true orientation in space. Mineralized intervals are calculated using a 0.3 g/t and 1 g/t cutoff)

from to Interval Gold Silver Drill Hole # (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) Comment ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ML-17-002 75.94 134.88 58.94 2.77 1.30 Upper Zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ML structural inc 79.07 81.90 2.83 10.25 3.64 zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ML structural inc 104.47 112.85 8.38 6.48 2.18 zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 162.39 171.84 9.45 0.98 2.69 Lower Zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lost hole @ AZ 090 dip -50 248.72 262.83 14.11 1.06 33.55 262.83 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ML-17-006 97.54 143.26 45.72 1.35 pending Upper Zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- inc 97.54 121.92 24.38 1.75 pending 1 g/t cut ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 172.21 175.26 3.05 0.49 pending Upper Zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 179.83 199.64 19.81 1.35 pending Upper Zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- inc 205.74 239.27 33.53 2.54 pending Lower Zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ML structural inc 211.84 231.65 19.81 3.54 pending zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 243.84 252.98 9.14 1.77 pending Lower Zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- inc 243.84 248.41 4.57 2.97 pending 1 g/t cut ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZ 090 dip -45 257.56 269.75 12.19 0.76 pendingNew Deep Zone? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jeff Pontius, President and CEO of Corvus states "These ongoing results and recent geologic work on the property by Dr. Richard Sillitoe are beginning to highlight a new sediment hosted gold system in Nevada. We believe that this deposit is actually one large intrusive driven gold system with multiple large sediment hosted bodies of +1 g/t gold which are currently unconstrained. This new, near surface, high-grade, gold system has potential to expand significantly with our current drill program."

To view Figure 2. North-South cross section showing recent select intercepts (0.3 g/t cut) on new grade shell model (greater than 0.5 g/t green & greater than 1 g/t brown), please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Figure2_Corvus.jpg

To view Figure 3. East-West cross section showing recent select intercepts (0.3 g/t cut) on new grade shell model (greater than 0.5 g/t green & greater than 1 g/t brown), please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Figure3_Corvus.jpg

Qualified Person and Quality Control/Quality Assurance

Jeffrey A. Pontius (CPG 11044), a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Pontius is not independent of Corvus, as he is the CEO & President and holds common shares and incentive stock options.

Carl E. Brechtel, (Nevada PE 008744 and Registered Member 353000 of SME), a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, has coordinated execution of the work outlined in this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Brechtel is not independent of Corvus, as he is the COO and holds common shares and incentive stock options.

The work program at Mother Lode was designed and supervised by Mark Reischman, Corvus Gold's Nevada Exploration Manager, who is responsible for all aspects of the work, including the quality control/quality assurance program. On-site personnel at the project log and track all samples prior to sealing and shipping. Quality control is monitored by the insertion of blind certified standard reference materials and blanks into each sample shipment. All resource sample shipments are sealed and shipped to American Assay Laboratories ("AAL") in Reno, Nevada, for preparation and assaying. AAL's quality system complies with the requirements for the International Standards ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 17025:1999. Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the analysis of reagent blanks, reference material and replicate samples. Finally, representative blind duplicate samples are forwarded to AAL and an ISO compliant third-party laboratory for additional quality control.

About the North Bullfrog & Mother Lode Projects, Nevada

Corvus controls 100% of its North Bullfrog Project "NBP", which covers approximately 72 km2 in southern Nevada. The property package is made up of a number of private mineral leases of patented federal mining claims and 865 federal unpatented mining claims. The NBP project has excellent infrastructure, being adjacent to a major highway and power corridor as well as a large water right. The Company also controls 65 federal unpatented mining claims on the Mother Lode project which totals 522 hectares, which it owns 100% of.

About Corvus Gold Inc.

Corvus Gold Inc. is a North American gold exploration and development company, focused on its near-term gold-silver mining projects at the North Bullfrog and Mother Lode Districts in Nevada. In addition, the Company controls a number of royalties on other North American exploration properties representing a spectrum of gold, silver and copper projects. Corvus is committed to building shareholder value through new discoveries and the expansion of its projects to maximize share price leverage in an advancing gold and silver market.

On behalf of

Corvus Gold Inc.

(signed) Jeffrey A. Pontius

Jeffrey A. Pontius,

President & Chief Executive Officer

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and US securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the rapid and effective capture of the potential of our Mother Lode project, anticipated exploration program results, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, the possibility of there being repeated mineralized bodies at depth to the northwest of the old Mother Lode pit, the possibility of a new sediment hosted gold system in Nevada and the potential for the Mother Lode Structural Zone to be a gold system that will expand and become the cornerstone of the Company's regional development plan, are forward-looking statements. Information concerning mineral resource estimates may be deemed to be forward-looking statements in that it reflects a prediction of the mineralization that would be encountered if a mineral deposit were developed and mined. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, the Company's inability to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's 2016 Annual Information Form, as filed as Form 10-K and latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis, as filed as a Form 10-Q, is filed with certain securities commissions in Canada and the Company's most recent filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings in Canada may be accessed via www.sedar.com and filings with the SEC may be accessed via www.sec.gov and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.

Contacts:

Ryan Ko

Investor Relations

info@corvusgold.com

1-844-638-3246 (toll free) or (604) 638-3246




Award-winning technology provides 360 imaging, eliminates need for receiver equipment during examination



SARATOGA, Calif., 2017-10-25 14:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today Silicon Valley-based CapsoVision, Inc. announced CE Mark approval for their CapsoCam Plus System in patients ages 2 and above. It is the only wire-free capsule endoscopy system on the market that provides a full 360 panoramic lateral image of the small bowel mucosa.



"Gastroenterologists and patients have told us that CapsoCam Plus provided them with comfort and convenience compared to other capsule endoscopy systems," CapsoVision President Johnny Wang said. "Since CapsoCam Plus does not require patients to wear a data recorder like with ordinary capsule endoscopes, these benefits are more pronounced for use with younger patients and their caregivers."



The incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in pediatric patients worldwide is on the rise, particularly in Europe. According to a recent report commissioned by United European Gastroenterology (UEG), childhood onset of IBD now accounts for 20-30% of all IBD cases.1 Capsule endoscopy is one of the tools that pediatric gastroenterologists use to identify abnormalities of the small bowel that may lead to an IBD diagnosis.



Dr. Salvatore Oliva, pediatric gastroenterologist at the Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, will discuss the use of CapsoCam Plus in patients ages 2 and above at the United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW) in Barcelona on October 31, 2017 at the CapsoVision exhibit booth and at a Panel Presentation in the evening. More information can be found at CapsoVision.com/events.



About CapsoVision, Inc.



CapsoVision, Inc. is a medical device innovator located in Silicon Valley. A company with out-of-the-box thinking and enviable human capital, CapsoVision strives to empower physicians and patients with innovative technologies that will provide superior clinical outcomes and improve quality of life. CapsoVision is currently working in 70+ countries through strong distribution partners.



The innovations embedded in the CapsoCam Plus system are seen to enhance physician experience in observing and diagnosing small bowel abnormalities while providing unparalleled comfort, convenience, and freedom to patients. CapsoCam's cutting-edge 360 panoramic lateral view and wire-free technology are setting new standards in capsule endoscopy. For more information, visit CapsoVision.com.



Media Contact



Kristin Schaeffer



814-360-0660



Email: Kristin@klunkmillan.com



1Paediatric Digestive Health Across Europe: Early Nutrition, Liver Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. United European Gastroenterology (UEG) EU Affairs. May 2016. https://www.ueg.eu/epaper/UEG_Paediatric_Digestive_Health_Report/index.html

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 25, 2017) - Maritime Resources Corp. (TSXV: MAE) ("Maritime" or "the Company") is very pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement to earn a 100% interest in the El Strato property which connects to the west side of the recently acquired Whisker Hill Project. The El Strato Property is located only 10 km from Maritime's Hammerdown project, near King's Point, Newfoundland. Maritime now holds close to 60 square kilometers of highly prospective ground which is being referred to as the Whisker Valley Project.

The 5-square kilometre El Strato property ("El Strato") consists of 19 claim units owned by United Gold. Maritime continues to look at these high grade, early discovery stage gold prospects that are strategically located close to the Hammerdown project. The property is located immediately to the west of the Whisker Hill project only 10 km from the re-developing Hammerdown Greenbay Gold Project. These two new acquisitions (Whisker Hill and El Strato), contain high grade gold veins which could significantly add high grade material to expand the Hammerdown resource with a common operating base. At present, Hammerdown development plans include trucking high-grade gold ore approximately 140 km to the Nugget Pond gold mill.

The El Strato Option agreement is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval and all securities issued will be subject to a four month hold period.

Gold Zone High Lights

To date, there have been a number of gold occurrences outlined within the El Strato property, including the El Strato and Voodoo showings, which were discovered by Noranda Exploration in the late 1980's during a regional exploration program. Numerous additional gold showings were identified to the NE of these occurrences over an approximate 3 km strike length, related to the Northeast Extension, Crooked Creek and Arrowhead fault zones.

El Strato grab samples assayed up to 155.7 g/t Au and chip samples up to 239.6 g/t Au over 0.5 metres. Significant base metal-silver values of 1.0% Cu, 7.7% Pb, 5.5% Zn and 1.0 oz/t Ag were also reported. Diamond drill hole ML 99-07 drilled on the El Strato intersected a new vein that assayed 9.96 g/t Au, 15.6% Pb, 1.88% Zn and 41.48 g/t Ag, over 30 cm. Assays from 26 grab samples from quartz-carbonate veins sampled by Cornerstone Resources in 2004, averaged 10.3 g/t Au with values up to 54.3 g/t Au.

The Mic Mac Lake showing returned assay values including 5.2 g/t, 6.6 g/t, 9.8 g/t, 12.9 g/t and 15.0 g/t Au.

The Crooked Creek showing consist of multiple veins with grab sample assays including 18.0 g/t, 35.5 g/t 44.8 /t and 62.0 g/t Au. The southwest extension of this mineralized zone was identified by an IP survey completed by Rex Resources; a significant chargeability anomaly was drilled and intersected 2.9 g/t Au over 0.9 m. The total known strike length of the Crooked Creek showings is 400 m. The Northeast Extension and Crooked Creek showings occur in multiple fault-hosted veins over a 200 metres wide x 600 metres long area.

The Arrowhead showings had grab samples with assays of 13.8 g/t Au, 12.7 g/t Au and 54.3 g/t Au. Drilling along the Arrowhead linear in 2011 intersected up to 7.39 g/t over 0.8 metres.

The Rocky Bottom trend, has a 1.75 km long chargeability high that returned grabs samples assaying 20.3 g/t Au and 61.7 g/t Au. Drilling by Cornerstone along this trend during 2011 intersected gold grades up to 14.23 g/t Au over 1.2 metres, 3.15 g/t Au over 3.2 metres, 3.01 g/t Au over 0.8 metres and 2.16 g/t Au over 1.6 metres.

Local Geology

The western portion of the properly is located 1 km east of the deep seated Baie Verte Fault zone. Much of the property is underlain by the Micmac Lake Volcanics comprising ash-flow tuffs, flow-banded rhyolite, massive mafic flows, conglomerate and sandstone, cut by felsic sills and late gabbroic dykes. The Flatwater Pond and Micmac Lake groups arc in fault contact along the Micmac-Flatwater Fault, which trends sub-parallel to the Baie Verte Linc. Additional sub-parallel fault zones within the property have been identified. Along the eastern margin of the property, the Micmac Lake Group rocks arc intruded by the Siluro-Devonian Burlington Granodiorite. Small gabbroic bodies occur at the mafic volcanic - granodiorite contact. Four late fault zones are identified proximal lo the western margin of the granodiorite body, transecting the granodiorite, gabbro and mafic volcanic units. This complex geological and structural fabric at El Strato is an excellent host setting for emplacement of substantial gold deposits.

Terms of the Agreement

Under the terms of the agreement Maritime will earn 100% interest in the El Strato property over a 2-year period by make cash payments totaling $40,000 and issue 750,000 shares of Maritime in accordance with the following schedule:

Upon signing pay $5,000 and 250,000 shares;

Year one anniversary -- $10,000 and 250,000 shares;

Year two anniversary -- $25,000 and 250,000 shares;

2.0 % NSR of which 1% can be purchased up until the end of the second anniversary of commercial production for $1,000,000

Further information on the Green Bay Gold Property can be found on our website at www.maritimeresourcescorp.com. along with the NI43-101 compliant Technical Report and Prefeasibility Report filed on SEDAR.

Bernard H. Kahlert, P.Eng. is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Doug Fulcher

President, CEO

For further information, please call:

Doug Fulcher, President Telephone: (604) 336-7322

info@maritimegold.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements:

Certain information included in this press release, including information relating to future financial or operating performance and other statements that express the expectations of management or estimates of future performance constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding copper, gold and silver forecasts, the financial strength of the Company, estimates regarding timing of future development and production and statements concerning possible expansion opportunities for the Company. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief are based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. Such assumptions include, without limitation, the price of and anticipated costs of recovery of, copper concentrate, gold and silver, the presence of and continuity of such minerals at modeled grades and values, the capacities of various machinery and equipment, the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices, mineral recovery rates, and others. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, interpretation and implications of drilling and geophysical results; estimates regarding timing of future capital expenditures and costs towards profitable commercial operations. Other factors that could cause actual results, developments or events to differ materially from those anticipated include, among others, increases/decreases in production; volatility in metals prices and demand; currency fluctuations; cash operating margins; cash operating cost per pound sold; costs per ton of ore; variances in ore grade or recovery rates from those assumed in mining plans; reserves and/or resources; the ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; operational risks inherent in mining or development activities and legislative factors relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land use, title and permits, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements or any forward-looking statements contained in any other documents whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable security law.
News / National

by Staff reporter

VILLAGERS in Ntabazinduna under Umguza Rural District Council are facing serious water challenges following the siltation of their major supplier, Mfanyama dam.So bad is the situation that livestock is now surviving on sewer water which a local councillor said was contributing to the decimation of their herd."We are seriously in deep trouble here. The situation is not that bad on us human beings as compared to our livestock."It's sad that our livestock now resort to drinking water from sewage sources which has seen a lot of them either dying or falling sick," Bekithemba Qongo, ward 5 councillor, told Southern News."Mfanyama dam used to be our major source of water but since it silted it's no longer holding water that can last throughout the year."We tried to mobilise resources as community to ensure that we desilt it. We laboured for months but our efforts were limited since we didn't have equipment that is needed for a complete desilting process," he added.Meanwhile, the plea by Qongo comes at a time Ntabazinduna business centre recently went for almost a month without running water after pumps at Ngwenya dam which supplies the area were reportedly vandalised.Institutions such as the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services training school, Zimbabwe Republic Police training depot and the entire township were affected, in a development that locals have described as common in the area.
GCP STUDENT LIVING PLC

("GCP Student" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries the "Group")

LEI: 2138004J4ID66FK38H25

Result of Annual General Meeting

GCP Student Living, the UK's first REIT focused on student residential assets, is pleased to announce that, at the Annual General Meeting held today, all resolutions were passed on a show of hands.

Resolutions 1 to 10 related to Ordinary Business. Resolutions 11 to 16 related to Special Business, as set out below:

Resolution 11 (ordinary resolution): To authorise the Directors to allot shares pursuant to section 551 of the Companies Act 2006.

Resolution 12 (special resolution): To authorise the Directors to allot shares for cash pursuant to sections 570 and 573 of the Companies Act 2006 otherwise than in accordance with statutory pre-emption rights.

Resolution 13 (special resolution): To authorise the Directors to make market purchases of the Company's own shares.

Resolution 14 (special resolution): To authorise the Directors to convene a general meeting on not less than 14 clear days' notice.

Resolution 15 (special resolution): To increase the maximum aggregate limit for Directors' annual remuneration contained in the Company's articles of association.

Resolution 16 (ordinary resolution): To authorise the Company to use electronic communications with its shareholders.

The proxy votes received in relation to these resolutions were as follows:

Resolutions Votes For Votes Against Votes at Chairman's Discretion Votes

Withheld Resolution 1 163,081,961 0 971 0 Resolution 2 158,336,747 509,171 971 4,236,043 Resolution 3 162,605,559 472,433 971 3,969 Resolution 4 162,988,992 89,000 971 3,969 Resolution 5 162,988,040 89,000 971 4,921 Resolution 6 162,988,040 89,000 971 4,921 Resolution 7 162,988,992 89,000 971 3,969 Resolution 8 158,378,454 4,612,065 971 91,442 Resolution 9 163,081,961 0 971 0 Resolution 10 163,081,961 0 971 0 Resolution 11 162,610,528 471,433 971 0 Resolution 12 162,609,828 472,133 971 0 Resolution 13 162,561,496 520,465 971 0 Resolution 14 162,037,039 1,042,422 971 2,500 Resolution 15 162,602,726 474,085 971 5,150 Resolution 16 163,081,961 0 971 0

A copy of the resolutions passed as Special Business will be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM .

For further information please contact:

Gravis Capital Management Limited +44 020 3405 8500

Tom Ward tom.ward@graviscapital.com

Nick Barker nick.barker@graviscapital.com

Dion Di Miceli dion.dimiceli@graviscapital.com

Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited +44 020 7710 7600

Neil Winward neil.winward@stifel.com

Mark Young mark.young@stifel.com

Tom Yeadon tom.yeadon@stifel.com

Buchanan +44 020 7466 5000

Charles Ryland charlesr@buchanan.uk.com

Vicky Watkins victoriaw@buchanan.uk.com

AboutGCP Student

The Company was the first student accommodation REIT in the UK, investing in modern, purpose-built, private student residential accommodation and teaching facilities. Its investments are located primarily in and around London where the Investment Manager believes the Company is likely to benefit from supply and demand imbalances for student residential accommodation.

GCP Student's property portfolio comprises nine assets with c.3,450 beds which are either currently fully operational or expected to complete construction / refurbishment over the next two academic years. At 30 September 2017, its property portfolio was valued at 672.1 million.

The Company's standing properties are mainly occupied by international students and offer high specification facilities and hotel-level concierge type services which the Investment Manager believes are attractive to overseas students.
Regulatory News:

Ontex Group NV, a leading international provider of personal hygiene solutions, with expertise in baby care, feminine care and adult care, will release its results for the three and nine months ended 30 September 2017 at 6:00 am GMT 7:00 am CET on Wednesday, 8 November 2017

The press release and presentation announcement will be available on the Company's website: http://www.ontexglobal.com/financial-reports

Management will host a conference call for investors and analysts on Wednesday, 8 November 2017 at 8:00 am GMT 9:00 am CET. A replay of the conference call will also be available for one week afterwards.

Dial-in information

Please dial in 5-10 minutes before the scheduled start time to register your attendance. Dial-in numbers for the call are as follows:

United Kingdom +44 (0)330 336 9105

United States +1 323 794 2093

Belgium +32 (0)2 404 0659

France +33 (0)1 76 77 22 74

Germany +49 (0)69 2222 13420

Passcode 7242052

Replay numbers

United Kingdom +44 (0) 207 984 7568

United States +1 719 457 0820

Belgium +32 (0) 2 620 0568

France +33 (0) 1 70 48 00 94

Germany +49 (0) 69 2000 1800

Passcode 7242052

About Ontex

Ontex is a leading international provider of personal hygiene solutions, with expertise in baby care, feminine care and adult care. Ontex's innovative products are distributed in more than 110 countries through Ontex brands such as BBTips, BioBaby, Pompom, Bigfral, Canbebe, Canped, ID and Serenity, as well as leading retailer brands.

Employing 11,000 passionate people all over the world, Ontex has a presence in 27 countries, with its headquarters in Aalst, Belgium. Ontex is part of the Bel20 and STOXX Europe 600.

To keep up with the latest news, visit www.ontexglobal.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025005578/en/

Contacts:

Ontex

INVESTOR ENQUIRIES

Philip Ludwig

+32 53 333 730

investorrelations@ontexglobal.com

or

PRESS ENQUIRIES

Gaelle Vilatte

+32 53 333 708

gaelle.vilatte@ontexglobal.com
ROUYN-NORANDA, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 10/25/17 -- Radisson Mining Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: RDS)(OTC: RMRDF) ("Radisson" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that hole OB-17-49 has successfully extended the Vintage zone by additional 250 meters ("m") at depth at the O'Brien gold project. The project is located along the Cadillac Break halfway between Rouyn-Noranda and Val-d'Or in Quebec, Canada. The Vintage zone is parallel to, and to the north of bulk of current resources at the O'Brien project. The zone is located only 85 meters north of the Cadillac Break in a context that is similar to producing and historical mines in the Cadillac mining camp.

Press release highlights:

-- Hole OB-17-49 extended the Vintage Zone by over 250 meters at depth with multiple gold intercepts in extension of Hole OB-17-42, which returned 13.7 g/t Au over 1.5 meters. (See October 3rd, 2017 Press release) -- Significant intersections reported are: -- OB-17-49 with 11.4 g/t Au over 0.5 m at 273.5 m depth -- OB-17-49 with 19.7 g/t Au over 0.5 m at 316 m depth -- OB-17-49 with 8.8 g/t Au over 0.5 m at 379 m depth -- OB-17-49 with 6.9 g/t Au over 4.0 m at 610 m depth within intercept of 2.3 g/t Au over 16 meters. (See figure 1 and figure 2) -- The Vintage Zone has been traced over a strike length of 325 meters and vertical depth of up to 580 meters.

Mario Bouchard, President and CEO commented: "Current exploration results continue to increase the overall dimension of the Vintage Zone. Vintage remains open in all directions. We are also encouraged to see that mineralization could also be widening at depth in a Banded Iron formation encountered at 580 meters depth. Due to its high grade potential and proximity to current resources, the Vintage Zone has the potential to be an important part of O'Brien's exploration and development plan. The team is currently planning a second phase drill program that could start as early as November on Vintage."

Table 1 Drilling results summary on the Vintage Zone

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drill hole From To Length Grade (g/t) Interpreted zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (m) (m) (m) Au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OB-17-48 260.0 260.5 0.5 PENDING Cadillac wacke (i)VG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OB-17-49 273.5 274.0 0.5 11.4 Cadillac wacke (i)VG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OB-17-49 316.0 316.5 0.5 19.6 Cadillac wacke (i)VG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OB-17-49 379.0 379.6 0.6 8.7 Cadillac wacke ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OB-17-49 581.0 581.5 0.5 1.9 Cadillac Conglomerate (i)VG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OB-17-49 598.0 614.0 16.0 2.3 Conglomerate, BIF (i)VG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including 610.0 614.0 4.0 6.9 Banded Iron Formation (i)VG ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

(i)VG; Denotes presence of visible gold

Note; Results are presented as down hole width; true width are estimated between 55 to 70% of down hole thickness.

Vintage zone exploration program

The Vintage zone is a parallel zone of the O'Brien project located approximately 85 meters north of the Cadillac Break in the Cadillac Group of meta-sediments comprising sequence of polymictic conglomerate, banded iron formation (BIF) and grauwacke. In comparison, current resources of 36E and Kewagama zones are located in the Piche Group, south of the Cadillac Break. The Vintage zone saw small historical exploration programs, which were never followed upon. In 2017, the company established several high-priority exploration drill targets through historical data compilation in this area of the O'Brien gold project. The first seven drill holes that tested these targets were completed over a strike length of 325 meters and up to 580 meters depth. The new info added to the few available historical information helps to demonstrate the continuity and the favourable geometry of the Vintage zone. All intercepts remain open in all directions.

All drill cores in this campaign are NQ in size. Assays were completed on sawn half-cores, with the second half kept for future reference. The samples were analyzed using standard fire assay procedures with Atomic Absorption (AA) finish at Swastika Laboratories Ltd, in Swastika, Ontario. Samples yielding a grade higher than 5 g/t were analyzed a second time by fire assay with gravimetric finish at the same laboratory. Samples containing visible gold were analyzed with metallic sieve procedure. Standard reference materials and blank samples were inserted prior to shipment for quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program.

Qualified Person

Tony Brisson, P. Geo, independent consultant, acts as a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release.

About Radisson Mining Resources Inc.

Radisson is a Quebec-based mineral exploration company. The O'Brien project, cut by the regional Cadillac Break, is Radisson's flagship asset. The project hosts the former O'Brien Mine, considered to have been the Abitibi Greenstone Belt's highest-grade gold producer during its production (1,197,147 metric tons at 15.25 g/t Au for 587,121 ounces of gold from 1926 to 1957; InnovExplo, April 2015).

For more information on Radisson, visit our website at www.radissonmining.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain certain forward-looking information. All statements included herein, including the scheduled Closing date, but other than statements of historical fact, is forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. A description of assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward looking information can be found in Radisson's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

Contacts:

Hubert Parent-Bouchard

Corporate Development

819-763-9969

hpbouchard@radissonmining.com




BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Commerce Department's Durable Goods Orders for September will be published at 8.30 am ET Wednesday. The economists are looking for consensus of 1.0 percent, compared to 2 percent in the previous month. Ahead of the report, the greenback traded mixed against its major rivals. While the greenback held steady against the franc and the yen, it dropped against the euro and the pound. The greenback was worth 114.14 against the yen, 0.9923 against the franc, 1.1779 against the euro and 1.3259 against the pound as of 8:25 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/25/17 -- News Release - TransCanada Corporation (TSX: TRP)(NYSE: TRP) (TransCanada) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its Ontario solar portfolio comprised of eight facilities with a total generating capacity of 76 megawatts to Axium Infinity Solar LP, a subsidiary of Axium Infrastructure Canada II Limited Partnership, for approximately $540 million. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2017 subject to certain regulatory and other approvals as well as customary closing adjustments.

"This transaction demonstrates our financial discipline as we continue to build on our vision of being North America's leading energy infrastructure company," said Russ Girling, TransCanada's president and chief executive officer. "The proceeds from this sale will help fund our $24 billion near term capital program while maximizing value for our shareholders."

With more than 65 years' experience, TransCanada is a leader in the responsible development and reliable operation of North American energy infrastructure including natural gas and liquids pipelines, power generation and gas storage facilities. TransCanada operates one of the largest natural gas transmission networks that extends more than 91,500 kilometres (56,900 miles), tapping into virtually all major gas supply basins in North America. TransCanada is the continent's leading provider of gas storage and related services with 653 billion cubic feet of storage capacity. A large independent power producer, TransCanada currently owns or has interests in approximately 6,200 megawatts of power generation in Canada and the United States. TransCanada is also the developer and operator of one of North America's leading liquids pipeline systems that extends over 4,300 kilometres (2,700 miles), connecting growing continental oil supplies to key markets and refineries. TransCanada's common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol TRP. Visit TransCanada.com to learn more, or connect with us on social media and 3BL Media.

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

This publication contains certain information that is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties (such statements are usually accompanied by words such as "anticipate", "expect", "believe", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "intend" or other similar words). Forward-looking statements in this document are intended to provide TransCanada security holders and potential investors with information regarding TransCanada and its subsidiaries, including management's assessment of TransCanada's and its subsidiaries' future plans and financial outlook. All forward-looking statements reflect TransCanada's beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made and as such are not guarantees of future performance. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this news release, and not to use future-oriented information or financial outlooks for anything other than their intended purpose. TransCanada undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information except as required by law. For additional information on the assumptions made, and the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the anticipated results, refer to the Quarterly Report to Shareholders dated July 28, 2017 and 2016 Annual Report filed under TransCanada's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

Contacts:

Media Enquiries:

Terry Cunha / Mark Cooper

403.920.7859 or 800.608.7859



TransCanada Investor & Analyst Enquiries:

David Moneta / Stuart Kampel

403.920.7911 or 800.361.6522




MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 10/25/17 -- Stingray (TSX: RAY.A)(TSX: RAY.B), a leading business-to-business multi-platform music and in-store media solutions provider, today announced that has a concluded a groundbreaking agreement with Farmacias del Ahorro, one of Mexico's largest drugstore chains, that will bring custom music programming and digital signage technology to over 1,600 pharmacies and 1,600 clinics across Mexico.

Stingray Business, working collaboratively with its local affiliate, Marketing Sensorial Mexico, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (operating as "Basha"), has been given the mandate of strengthening Farmacias del Ahorro's position as a market leader through expertly curated background music channels and state-of-the-art digital content and technology.

This agreement marks an important milestone for Stingray Business in Mexico. In addition to custom background music channels, specially curated for the specific requirement of local drugstores and clinics, Stingray Business and its local affiliate, Basha, will enhance the chain's customer and patient experience with digital signage content and interactive technology, including digital kiosks and touch screens.

Quotes

"It has long been our position that in-store media should be an integral part of every organization's branding and customer experience strategy," said Eric Boyko, President, Co-founder, and CEO of Stingray. "Clients visit clinics and pharmacies for a number of reasons, and we believe that our custom solutions will go a long way to create a positive and soothing atmosphere while keeping clients informed. We are excited to have found in Farmacias del Ahorro a partner that also believes in the power of expertly programmed music and interactive technology to enhance the customer experience. It is a privilege to have this opportunity to contribute to the success of a brand so dear to the hearts of the people of Mexico."

"We are thrilled to partner with Stingray on our biggest deal to date and to have the opportunity to innovate with Farmacias del Ahorro across all digital platforms to enhance the customer experience," said Jacobo Jafif CEO of Basha. "This is a ground-breaking deal in the Mexican market that represents a major milestone not only for Stingray but for Basha as well. The expertise and technological infrastructure that Stingray brings to the table make it the best partner we could find."

"Our objective when launching this project was to implement innovative solutions that would provide our customers with a comforting and relaxing ambiance when visiting our pharmacies and clinics," said Rafael Selvas, CMO of Farmacias del Ahorro. "To achieve this goal, we required not only a provider but a partner we could rely on for state-of-the-art in-store experience. After a lengthy research process, we selected Stingray and Basha for their cutting-edge technology deployed by an experienced and dedicated team. We are anxious to start implementing the result of our collaboration in our locations across the country."

About Stingray

Stingray (TSX: RAY.A)(TSX: RAY.B) is the world-leading provider of multiplatform music services and digital experiences for pay TV operators, commercial establishments, OTT providers, mobile operators, and more. Stingray's services include audio television channels, premium television channels, 4K UHD television channels, karaoke products, digital signage, in-store music, music apps, and more. Geared towards individuals and businesses alike, Stingray reaches 400 million subscribers (or users) in 156 countries and its mobile apps have been downloaded over 90 million times. Stingray is headquartered in Montreal and currently has close to 350 employees worldwide. For more information: www.stingray.com.

Contacts:

Mathieu Peloquin

Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Communications

Stingray

1 514-664-1244, ext. 2362

mpeloquin@stingray.com




Addition of Medical Expertise and Industry Depth to Meet Demand on Deployment of Technologies for Remote Patient Monitoring

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 25, 2017) - CardioComm Solutions, Inc. (TSXV: EKG) ("CardioComm" or the "Company"), a global medical provider of consumer heart monitoring and medical electrocardiogram ("ECG") software solutions, today announced the appointment of Dr. John Foote, MD, CCFP(EM) from Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, as the newest member of the Company's Board of Directors ("BOD") and the resignation of BOD member Mr. William Smith.

The Company confirms it expects to see continued market opportunities in the tele/m-health and consumer wellness markets in 2018 and acknowledges this will require new BOD leadership and guidance changes to help map how CardioComm's technologies will be introduced to these markets. With growing local and international interest from tele-medicine and mobile-health platform providers and from medical device manufactures who support these platforms, CardioComm's capacity to support remote cardiac monitoring of individuals living with chronic conditions and those presenting acute health changes, is becoming more in demand. The Company first reported BOD changes in late 2016, when the Company welcomed Ms. Margaret (Meg) Helms, a 30 year veteran medical device M&A expert from Johnson & Johnson, whose most recent M&A work includes support to the October 2017 $1 billion acquisition of the Codman Neurosurgery business unit by Integra LifeSciences Today's announcement provides additional weight to the Company's medical advisory capabilities.

Dr. Foote's addition to the BOD as a full voting BOD member and member of the Medical Advisory Committee will be immediate. His role will be to provide current and expert market insights to address best practices for implementation of CardioComm's arrhythmia monitoring technologies in the family practice and emergency medicine fields as well as for community-based arrhythmia management strategies. In addition to his current role as a senior emergency room ("ER") physician and physician influencer, Dr. Foote brings medical and market insights from his academic appointments as Assistant Professor and Director of the Emergency Residency Program of the Schwartz/Reisman Emergency Centre at The Mount Sinai Hospital with the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto; Medical expert for the Canadian Medical Physician Association for College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and Civil Actions involving ER physicians; the Chair of the Emergency Medicine Committee, College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Founding member of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians Academic Section; Medical Director of the Emergency Medicine Clinic at 2015 Toronto Pan AM Games and as an advisory board member to Emergency Medicine Cases, a monthly podcast service that services over 100,000 subscribers internationally, made up of physicians, nurses and paramedics.

Concurrent to the appointment of Dr. Foote, the Company has accepted the resignation of William Smith. Mr. Smith tendered his resignation as he moves into retirement. The board thanks Mr. Smith for his significant efforts and contributions to the Company over the years, and wishes him well.

To learn more about CardioComm Solutions please see the Company's websites www.theheartcheck.com and www.cardiocommsolutions.com or contact the Company at sales@cardiocommsolutions.com.

About CardioComm Solutions

CardioComm Solutions' patented and proprietary technology is used in products for recording, viewing, analyzing and storing electrocardiograms (ECGs) for diagnosis and management of cardiac patients. Products are sold worldwide through a combination of an external distribution network and a North American-based sales team. The Company has earned the ISO 13485 certification, is HPB approved, HIPAA compliant, and has received FDA market clearance for its software devices. CardioComm Solutions is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Etienne Grima, Chief Executive Officer

1-877-977-9425 x 227

investor.relations@cardiocommsolutions.com

www.cardiocommsolutions.com

Forward-looking statements

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forward looking information with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of CardioComm Solutions and certain of the plans and objectives of CardioComm Solutions with respect to these items. Such statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. By their nature, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and forward-looking information.

In evaluating these statements, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information contained in this release other than as required by applicable laws, including without limitation, Section 5.8(2) of National Instrument 51-102 (Continuous Disclosure Obligations).

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 10/25/17 -- The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (The NYSPCC), the world's first child protective agency, is hosting its fifth annual Food & Wine Gala on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at the Metropolitan Club in Manhattan. This annual event brings together prominent business leaders, public officials, and philanthropists to help raise vital funding for the organization.

Continuing a tradition of featuring some of the top chefs and leading culinary experts together during one special evening, the 2017 Food & Wine Gala will feature an intimate conversation with the legendary Nina and Tim Zagat, co-founders and co-chairs of Zagat Survey. The moderator will be long-time Deborah Norville, Anchor of Inside Edition and member of The NYSPCC's Children's Council.

The exclusive menu for the evening will be curated by the renowned Chef Michael Ferraro Owner and Executive Chef of Delicatessen and MacBar, and paired with wines donated by House of Burgundy, Frederick Wildman, Cognac One, M.S. Walker, Opici Family Distributing, and Surly Penguin.

Past gala dinners have featured menus by Chef Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern and Untitled at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Anita Lo of Annisa, Emma Bengtsson of Aquavit, and Jonathan Waxman of Barbuto. Last year's guest speaker was Adam Rapoport, Editor in Chief of Bon Appetit Magazine, and other past speakers include, author and wine expert Jay McInerney, and Jamie Richie, President and CEO of Sotheby's Wines.

WHEN Tuesday, November 7, 2017 6:30 p.m.: Wine Tasting and Cocktails 7:30 p.m.: Dinner and Program Dress Code: Festive Attire WHERE The Metropolitan Club 1 E 60th St. New York, NY 10022

The NYSPCC holds its Food & Wine Gala fundraising event every year to raise funds for its Trauma Recovery Program which offers a specialized therapeutic program for children, ages 5-18, who have experienced physical or sexual abuse, neglect, traumatic bereavement, or who have witnessed family violence. The agency's unique work serves as a model for child welfare agencies across the nation. Since its founding, the team has investigated more than 650,000 cases on the behalf of over two million children and has educated over 46,000 professionals on how to identify and report child abuse and neglect.

For event tickets visit: https://www.nyspcc.org/gala.

Members of the press who wish to attend/cover the event or set up an interviews with the Chef, Nina and Tim Zagat, Deborah Norville, or The NYSPCC leadership, may contact Jocelyn Cordova (jocelyn@high10media.com, 212-918-2029) to RSVP and credentials. Limited availability.

About The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC), founded in 1875, is the first -- and one of the most highly respected -- child protective agencies in the world. The NYSPCC responds to the complex needs of abused and neglected children, and those involved in their care, by providing best practice counseling, legal and educational services. Through research, communications and training initiatives, we work to expand these programs to prevent abuse and help more children heal. The NYSPCC's unique work is used as a model for child welfare agencies across the nation. Since its founding, The NYSPCC has investigated more than 650,000 cases on the behalf of over two million children, and has educated over 50,000 professionals on how to identify and report child abuse and neglect. Please visit www.nyspcc.org for more information.

Contact:

Jocelyn Cordova

jocelyn@high10media.com

212-918-2029




On 25 October, 2017 AB Klaipedos Nafta (hereinafter - the Company), announced a selection of candidates for independent members of the Supervisory Board of the Company.



The selection is announced for two independent members of the Supervisory Board of the Company: one for an independent member of the Supervisory Board in the field of finance and one for an independent member of the Supervisory Board in the field of strategic planning and management.



The selection shall be performed according to the Description of Selection of Candidates for the Board of State or Municipal Enterprise and Candidates for Collegial Supervisory or Management Body Elected by the General Meeting of Shareholders of State or Municipal-Owned Company, approved by the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania No 631 of 17 June, 2015. After the selection procedures are performed, the Supervisory Board shall be elected by the Company's General Meeting of the Shareholders.



The notice regarding the selection of candidates for independent members of the Supervisory Board is announced on the website of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania http://enmin.lrv.lt/en/news/announcement-of-selection-of-candidates-for-independ ent-supervisory-board-members-of-ab-klaipedos-nafta and on the website of the Company www.kn.lt/en/news/news/regarding-the-announcement-of-selection-of-candidates-for -independent-supervisory-board-members-of-ab-klaipedos-nafta/2068











Marius Pulkauninkas, Chief Financial Officer, (+370 46) 620 74103

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
MIAMI, FL -- (Marketwired) -- 10/25/17 -- The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) today announced the slate of more than three dozen speakers for its Winter Meeting, which takes place January 5-7, 2018, at the Hyatt Regency Miami.

"An exceptional group of gaming-related experts from across the country will be convening at our Winter Meeting in Miami," said NCLGS Vice President Helene Keeley, a Representative from Delaware. "Everyone with a stake in the future of legalized gambling -- in any form -- should attend our meeting in Miami to hear a wide range of thought-provoking discussions on this essential issue."

The NCLGS Winter Meeting agenda features six legislative committee sessions, three general sessions including two Masterclasses conducted by the International Masters of Gaming Law, the Women in Gaming Keynote Luncheon, and Kickoff Keynote from American Gaming Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman.

In addition to legislators who will chair Committee sessions, the following experts will speak in Committee and general sessions, with additional speakers to be announced in the coming weeks:

Brett Abarbanel, Director of Research, International Gaming Institute, UNLV

Debbie Alford, Director, Georgia Lottery

Gerald Aubin, Director, Rhode Island Lottery

Bo Bernhard, Executive Director, International Gaming Institute, UNLV

Michael Clohisy, Director of Sports Business Development, Publicis.Sapient

Stephen Crosby, Chair, Massachusetts Gaming Commission

Brad Cummings, CEO, Equilottery

Bill Fasy, President, Casino at Delaware Park

Holly Gagnon, President & CEO, Seneca Gaming Corp.

Steve Geller, Esquire, Geller Law Firm

Kenneth George Jr., Chairman, Forest County Potawatomi Gaming Commission

Blaine Graboyes, CEO, GameCo

Laura (D'Angelo) Holoubek, Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

Ronnie Jones, Chairman, Louisiana Gaming Control Board

Jan Jones Blackhurst, Executive Vice President, Public Policy & Corporate Responsibility, Caesars Entertainment

Stephen Martino, Senior Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer, MGM Resorts International

Erin McMullen, Director of Governmental Affairs, Boyd Gaming Corp.

Gordon Medenica, Director, Maryland Lottery

Laila Mintas, Deputy President, Sportradar US

Sheila Morago, President, Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association

Kevin Mullally, General Counsel and Director of Government Affairs, Gaming Laboratories International

Aric Nesbitt, Commissioner, Michigan Lottery

William Pascrell III, Partner, Princeton Public Affairs Group

Michael Pollock, Managing Director, Spectrum Gaming Group

Lee Richardson, Chief Executive, Gaming Economics

Lori Rugle, Responsible Gambling Specialist, National Association of State and Provincial Lotteries

Dan Russell, former General Counsel, Florida Lottery; Special Counsel, Jones Walker LLP

Russell Sanna, Executive Director, National Center for Responsible Gaming

Richard Schwartz, President, Rush Street Interactive

E. Sequoyah Simermeyer, Vice Chair, National Indian Gaming Commission

Joel Simkins, Head of Gaming & Leisure Investment Banking, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey

Valerie Spicer, President, Trilogy Group

Sara Gonso Tait, Executive Director, Indiana Gaming Commission

David Trujillo, Director, Washington State Gambling Commission

Keith Whyte, Executive Director, National Council on Responsible Gambling

Seth Young, Director of Online Gaming, Foxwoods Resort Casino

Winter Meeting registration is now open to the public at www.nclgs.org/meetings.html. The conference website includes the full conference agenda, as well as information for special attendee hotel rates at the host Hyatt Regency.

The Winter Meeting agenda includes legislative committee sessions on Responsible Gaming, Pari-Mutuels, Lotteries, State-Federal Relations, and Casinos, as well as general sessions that examine regulation, fiscal challenges, and public policy.

NCLGS is the only organization of state lawmakers that meets on a regular basis to discuss issues relating to gaming. Members of NCLGS serve as chairpersons or members of state legislative committees responsible for the regulation of gaming in their state legislative houses. NCLGS does not promote or oppose gaming but is primarily concerned with the proper regulation of the industry. The NCLGS Foundation is the educational and research arm of NCLGS. The 501(c)(3) non-profit is a source of non-partisan data on issues of gaming legislation and regulation.

Spectrum Gaming Group, an independent global consulting firm, serves as NCLGS Executive Director.

Legislators and others seeking NCLGS membership information should contact Wayne Marlin at wayne.marlin@nclgs.org. For sponsorship information, contact events@nclgs.org.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE MDC has stepped up its campaign to have thousands of youths register for next year's elections by reminding them that they hold keys to who becomes the country's leader after the eagerly-anticipated plebiscite.South Africa-based youth wing secretary-general of the Welshman Ncube-led MDC, Descent Collins Bajila, said next year's elections would be decided by the youth vote - joining President Robert Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai who have both urged the youths to register for the crucial polls."There is no doubt that the next elections will be dominated by fresh voters, people who might have registered before and never voted or people who are coming to vote for the very first time."The concentration by Zanu-PF on young voters is not misplaced. They really know what they are doing because now the youth factor counts. However, it is a test on young people on whether they can sell their future to Zanu-PF on account of short-term freebies," Bajila told Southern News."We know that campaigns will be around the distribution of housing stands, land, mining pegs and at a later stage things like Chinese-made torches and flasks will be used but we are hopeful that young people are going to understand that these things won't last at some point they might lose the land or they will not be able to make anything productive out of it because the economy will not allow them to buy implements on their own."We will make it clear to young people that the Zanu-PF promise for more jobs will lead to less jobs. The promise for money will lead to cash shortages and that the future cannot be built on account of freebies," added Bajila.He said there was need for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to intensify its registration awareness campaigns.Zec opened the three-month voter registration exercise where it is targeting to have seven million people registered for next year's elections.So far the national elections management body has registered one million voters.For the first time, Zec is using the biometric voter registration (BVR) to determine who votes in the crucial polls.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 25, 2017) - Ely Gold & Minerals Inc. (TSXV: ELY) (OTC: ELYGF) ("Ely Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will hold its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on Thursday, November 2, 2017 at 11:00 am PST at the Atlantis Hotel, Grand Room #5, 3800 South Virginia Street in Reno, Nevada.

Shareholders are encouraged to attend the Annual General Meeting and are also invited to attend Ely Gold's Open House on November 2, 2017 from 4:00 to 6:00pm PST. The Open House will be held at Ely Gold's new Reno office at 120 South Rock Blvd., Suite E, Reno, Nevada.

For more information on the Annual Meeting of Shareholders or the Open House, please contact the Investor Relations Department.

About Ely Gold

Ely Gold is focused on developing recurring cash flow streams through the acquisition, consolidation, enhancement, and resale of highly prospective, un-encumbered North American precious metals properties. Ely's property development efforts maximize each property's potential for acquisition, while reserving significant royalty interests. Additional information about Ely Gold is available at the Company's website, at www.elygoldinc.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Signed "Trey Wasser"

Trey Wasser, President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Trey Wasser, President & CEO

trey@elygoldinc.com

972-803-3087

Joanne Jobin, Investor Relations Officer

jjobin@elygoldinc.com

604-488-1104

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.
Sales remain impacted by production constraints

Solid net cash position

Regulatory News:

Cellnovo Group (Paris:CLNV) ("Cellnovo" or "the Company" CLNV: EN Paris), a medical technology company marketing the first mobile, connected, all-in-one diabetes management system, today publishes its sales for the first nine months and third quarter ended September 30, 2017.

Jan. Sept. 9 months Quarterly 3 months (In K) 2017 2016 Q3 2017 Q3 2016 Sales 689,533 1,053,591 218,408 301,218

Over the first nine months of 2017, and in line with the Company's strategy to limit sales of systems for new patients until the full ramp-up of insulin cartridge production takes place, Cellnovo generated sales of 689,533, a reduction compared to 2016. During the third quarter of the year, sales totalled 218,408, compared with 301,218 for the same period in 2016. This decrease is entirely attributed to the reduction in new systems sold. As such, over the course of the third quarter, Cellnovo sold 38 new devices compared to 68 in Q3 2016, bringing the total number of systems sold since launch to 774.

As of September 30, 2017, Cellnovo had a net cash position of 18.7 million. Cellnovo confirms that there has been no drawdown of the equity line agreed with Kepler Cheuvreux since the end of June 2017 and, given the Company's net cash position following the funds raised in July 2017, the use of this facility has been suspended.

Sophie Baratte, Chief Executive Officer of Cellnovo, commented: "We are working closely with our partners to accelerate the full commercialisation of our unique micro-pump so that patients are able to benefit from our intuitive, connected device as soon as possible. The demonstrated benefits of our product for people with type 1 diabetes remain strong, reinforcing our confidence in the Company's mid-term and long-term growth prospects. Furthermore, we are well-positioned to advance one or several artificial pancreas solutions, which will revolutionise the management of this chronic condition and reinforce our competitive advanctage on the insulin pump market."

Third quarter operational highlights

A rigorous optimisation of the large-scale production process, ensuring the Company's long-term sucess

Successful transfer of production

As previously announced, the transfer of insulin cartridge production from Cellnovo to Flex was confirmed in early summer with the production of three consecutive commercial validation batches. This marked the completion of a comprehensive industrialisation process and included the manufacture of precision moulding tools for the production of plastic parts at Flex's specialised centre in Switzerland, as well as the development of custom robots and the formation of an automated production line in Austria. The validation batches met regulatory requirements and Cellnovo's criteria for performance and quality, confirming Flex's ability to successfully produce insulin cartridges for the Cellnovo System.

An optimisation phase necessary for a successful ramp-up to large-scale production

In August, Flex began large-scale production to assess how the process performs when operating at high throughput and volumes. During this assessment, Flex identified certain parameters in the production process that need optimising. These adjustments are not unusual at this stage of industrialisation and an immediate action plan is currently underway to achieve large-scale production targets. An update on the progress of this plan is scheduled for January 2018.

Flex, an expert in industrialisation, ensuring long-term success

Flex has extensive experience, a proven expertise garnered through numerous production transfers and a track record of success. Cellnovo believes Flex is well-equipped and that its skill and commitment are a guarantee of quality and reliability that will support Cellnovo's long-term success.

The Cellnovo System remains in high demand, allowing the Company to anticipate strong, sustained sales growth once large-scale production begins.

510(k) application for clearance from the FDA

In November 2016, Cellnovo filed for 510(k) approval to market the Cellnovo System in the United States. The FDA raised questions that were answered by Cellnovo within the required time frame. The FDA has since sent the Company further questions requesting additional details on certain answers already provided (for example, in regard to the biocompatibility of materials in the pump.) Cellnovo plans to meet with the FDA representatives reviewing its submission in order to ensure that its proposed answers are fully in line with the US regulatory authority's expectations.

Cellnovo is working closely with its US advisory team in order to ensure a positive outcome. The Company is taking advantage of this additional time to establish more in-depth dialogue with its local partners to ensure a successful launch in the US.

As announced on September 8th, Cellnovo remains confident in its ability to obtain the FDA clearance in 2018 and will be able to communicate a more precise timeline after its meeting with the FDA.

Cellnovo's artificial pancreas programmes to improve quality of life for people with type 1 diabetes

Cellnovo is positioned as an important player in three flagship projects to develop artificial pancreas solutions: Pepper, a collaborative project supported by the European Union's H2020 programme; a strategic collaboration with the US market leader TypeZero; and the French Diabeloop project.

A clinical trial is in progress for the project in collaboration with Diabeloop. The first part of the trial has been completed and received "very positive feedback from investigator sites" (Diabeloop, August 20, 2017). At the same time, Cellnovo and Diabeloop are discussing the terms of a commercial agreement that has not yet been signed.

The project with the US company TypeZero is also progressing well. In April 2017, the two companies have signed a global commercial agreement. Integration of the Cellnovo System and the TypeZero artificial pancreas software is currently being finalised, which paves the way for a pilot study for validation of the system with a limited number of patients.

More generally, Cellnovo's aim is to be able to offer an artificial pancreas solution coupled with its system to ensure the best experience for patients and maximise the value created for the Company.

Continuous improvement of the Cellnovo System

Cellnovo's R&D teams are finalising the development of the next generation of the Cellnovo System using Bluetooth protocol as the means of communication between the pump and the touchscreen handset. This will allow for an enhanced user experience thanks to faster communication and will open the system's platform to other devices that can be connected by Bluetooth, in particular, continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGM), as part of an artificial pancreas system.

About Cellnovo (Euronext: CLNV)

An independent medical technology company specialising in diabetes, Cellnovo has developed and markets the first mobile, connected, all-in-one diabetes management system that helps make life easier for patients. Compact, intuitive and entirely connected, Cellnovo's insulin pump comprises a mobile touchscreen controller with an integrated blood-glucose meter. This unique device allows optimal management of insulin injections whilst ensuring extensive freedom of movement and peace of mind for patients. Thanks to the automatic transmission of data, it also allows the patient's condition to be continually monitored by family members and healthcare professionals in real time. Cellnovo is currently participating in several major Artificial Pancreas projects with Diabeloop, TypeZero and Horizon 2020 to develop automated insulin delivery systems.

For more information go to www.cellnovo.com

About the Cellnovo Diabetes Management System

Compact, intuitive and entirely connected, Cellnovo's insulin pump comprises a mobile touchscreen controller with a blood-glucose meter. This unique device allows optimal management of insulin injections whilst ensuring extensive freedom of movement and peace of mind for patients. Thanks to the automatic transmission of data, it also allows the patient's condition to be continually monitored by family members and healthcare professionals in real time.

Cellnovo is listed on Euronext, Compartment C

ISIN: FR0012633360 Ticker: CLNV)

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025005953/en/

Contacts:

Cellnovo

Chief Executive Officer

Sophie Baratte

investors@cellnovo.com

or

NewCap

Investor Relations

Tristan Roquet Montegon 33 1 44 71 00 16

cellnovo@newcap.eu

or

NewCap

Media Relations in France

Nicolas Merigeau

+ 33 1 44 71 94 98

cellnovo@newcap.eu
Innovator Launchpad, the start-up funding competition run by intellectual property attorneys Murgitroyd, has launched again with an increased prize fund and new competition sponsor.

The top prize now rises to 6,500 thanks to additional funding from new sponsor Leyton, the innovation funding advisory specialist.

Leyton will also be offering in-kind support to the final three in the competition, to complement the intellectual property advice supplied by Murgitroyd.

Betabrand, the San-Francisco-based online clothing community also continues to support the competition by supplying limited edition "space jackets" for the winners.

The competition invites pre-profit and non-profit businesses based in the UK to demonstrate that they solve a significant business or social problem, and involves the submission of a 30-second video and a short application form.

The initial competition launched in Spring of this year was won by Falkirk-based biotech start-up uFraction8 co-founded by Brian Miller and Monika Tomecka.

The video element is new to the latest competition and Murgitroyd's European Marketing Manager, Fiona McKenzie, commented:

"We're excited about the new on-screen element, as we feel this will really display the passion the applicants have for their business and the problem they solve.

"We've made several changes in this competition, guided by feedback we received from applicants last time, so we're hoping this will make the competition as streamlined as possible".

The top ten applicants from the first phase will go through to a public voting stage where members of the public will be able to vote on Facebook for their top three videos.

The 'Final Three' will then be judged by a cross-industry panel to decide on a first, second and third ranking, with the winner being announced in January 2018.

McKenzie encourages businesses to get their entries in as soon as possible: "For the time it takes to make a 30-second video and fill in a short application form, businesses could win a substantial cash injection to their business.

"We wish all applicants best of luck and look forward to seeing some great entries!".

The closing date for submissions is Wed. 15th Oct. at 1200 GMT, and applicants can enter at: facebook.com/innovatorlaunchpad.

Notes to Editors

Innovator Launchpad (facebook.com/innovatorlaunchpad) is a start-up funding competition run by intellectual property attorneys Murgitroyd. The competition was set up in Spring 2017 and after a successful first iteration, it is returning this Autumn with a top prize of 6,500 cash, an advice and PR package, and limited edition clothing from Betabrand.

Murgitroyd (murgitroyd.com) is a global firm of intellectual property attorneys with UK offices in Aberdeen, Belfast, Glasgow, London, Newcastle and York. The firm specialises in helping businesses protect and maximise return on their intellectual property assets.

Leyton (leyton.com) is a global provider of innovation funding advisory services with UK bases in Glasgow and London. Its specialisms include helping businesses to secure R&D tax credit and R&D grant funding and providing consultancy on company restructuring.

Betabrand (betabrand.com) is an innovative online clothing community, based in San Francisco. It designs, manufactures and releases new products continuously, assisted by design and crowdfunding input from its supporters.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025005986/en/

Contacts:

Murgitroyd

Fiona McKenzie

European Marketing Manager

T. +44 141 307 8400

E. fiona.mckenzie@murgitroyd.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 25, 2017) - RT Minerals Corp. (TSXV: RTM) (OTC Pink: RTMFF) ("RT Minerals" or the "Company") announces that it has entered into an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest, subject to a 2% net smelter royalty, in the 4 claim unit Golden Reed Mine Property (the "Property" or "Golden Reed") located in the McMurray Township approximately six kilometres southeast of Wawa, Ontario.

RT Minerals Corp.'s landholdings in the Wawa area now include three properties: Norwalk, Dill River and Golden Reed, with a combined area of 1,120 hectares. Golden Reed consists of a single 4-unit mining claim staked within Red Pine Exploration Inc.'s ("Red Pine") Wawa Gold Project. The Property is situated about 3,600 metres east-southeast of Red Pine's Surluga Gold Deposit (1.088M oz at 1.71 g/t gold (0.5 g/t gold cut-off) 43-101 inferred resource (source: Red Pine Press Release, June 11, 2015)). Gold mineralization present on Red Pine's adjacent Wawa Gold Project is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Company's Golden Reed Mine Property.

RT Minerals can earn 100% interest in the Property by paying initial consideration of $3,000 and issuing 1,000,000 common shares of the Company, due upon receipt of TSX Venture Exchange acceptance of the agreement (the "Acceptance Date"); and making an optional payment of 1,000,000 common shares of the Company on the first anniversary of the Acceptance Date. The Property is subject to a 2% net smelter royalty, of which 1% can be bought back at any time for $1,000,000.

The historical Golden Reed Mine located on the Property operated from 1907 to 1908 and includes two shafts (14 metres and 7 metres) and an adit (7 metres) developed on gold-bearing quartz veins. A steam-powered mill erected on site produced six ounces of gold from three tons of rock according to historical accounts.

In 1986, Caviar Resources Ltd. mapped a northwest trending gold-bearing quartz vein system for 244 metres in felsic intrusive rocks adjacent to a mafic to ultramafic intrusive complex. Eight historical trenches and pits were located in addition to historical workings of the historical Golden Reed Mine. The gold-bearing quartz vein explored reached 1.37 metres width, and returned three grab samples that averaged 0.22 ounces per ton gold (source: Ontario MNDM Assessment Files).

The Company is actively exploring for gold in the Wawa area, and intends to relocate and sample historical workings on the Golden Reed Mine Property to confirm historical gold assays.

Mr. Kevin Kivi, P.Geo. is the qualified person for the Wawa area holdings of RT Minerals Corp. and he has reviewed the technical contents of this release.

This transaction is subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

ABOUT RT MINERALS CORP.

RT Minerals Corp. is a junior resource company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and evaluation of primarily gold and diamond properties in Canada. The Company's principal mineral properties include:

Ballard Lake Property - 366 square kilometre (~141 square mile) diamond and gold property located approximately 50 kilometres northeast of Wawa, Ontario, in which the Company owns a 100% interest, subject to a 2% net smelter royalty;

Norwalk Property - Gold property located approximately 6 kilometres south of Wawa, Ontario, in which the Company has an option to earn a 100% interest, subject to a 2% net smelter royalty. The property is contiguous to the southern border of Red Pine's Wawa Gold Project;

Dill River Property - Gold property located several kilometres southeast of Wawa, Ontario, in which the Company has an option to earn a 100% interest, subject to a 2% net smelter royalty. The property is contiguous to the eastern border of Red Pine's Wawa Gold Project;

Golden Reed Mine Property - Gold property located 6 kilometres southeast of Wawa, Ontario, in which the Company has an option to earn a 100% interest, subject to a 2% net smelter royalty. The property is staked within Red Pine's Wawa Gold Project; and

Dog Lake Property - Gold property located 59 kilometres northeast of Wawa, Ontario, in which the Company owns a 100% interest, subject to a 2% net smelter royalty.

The Company's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "RTM" and on the OTC Pink Market under the symbol "RTMFF" with DTC eligibility for trading in the United States.

For more information on the Company and its properties, please visit the Company's website at www.rtmcorp.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Antoniazzi

President and Chief Executive Officer

RT Minerals Corp.

Toll Free: 877-581-3170

Telephone: 604-681-3170

Fax: 604-681-3552

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release relating to the Company's exploration activities, project expenditures and business plans are approximate and are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of securities legislation. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements represent management's best judgment based on current facts and assumptions that management considers reasonable, including that operating and capital plans will not be disrupted by issues such as adverse market conditions, mechanical failure, unavailability of parts, labor disturbances, interruption in transportation or utilities, or adverse weather conditions, that there are no material unanticipated variations in budgeted costs, that contractors will complete projects according to schedule, and that actual mineralization on properties may not achieve any category of resource(s). The Company makes no representation that reasonable business people in possession of the same information would reach the same conclusions. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In particular, fluctuations in the price of gold, equity markets or in currency markets could prevent the Company from achieving its targets. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There is no guarantee that drill results reported in this news release or future releases will lead to the identification of a deposit that can be mined economically, and further work is required to identify resources and reserves.We seek safe harbour.
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/25/17 -- Dividend Select 15 Corp. (the "Company") is pleased to announce that today shareholders voted 98% in favour of management's proposal to extend the currently scheduled termination date of December 1, 2017 indefinitely, and all other related amendments as outlined in the Information Circular dated September 25, 2017. Management would like to sincerely thank shareholders and their advisors for this overwhelming level of support.

Since inception, a total of $5.46 per Equity share has been declared in distributions.

The Company invests in a portfolio of 15 Canadian companies selected from the following 20 company universe which are among the highest Canadian dividend yielding stocks.

Bank of Montreal Great-West Lifeco Inc. TELUS Corporation BCE Inc. Husky Energy Inc. The Bank of Nova Scotia CIBC National Bank of Canada The Toronto-Dominion Bank CI Financial Corp. Power Corporation of Thomson Reuters Canada Corporation Enbridge Inc. Royal Bank of Canada TMX Group Inc. EnCana Corporation Loblaw Companies Limited TransAlta Corporation Sun Life Financial Inc. TransCanada Corporation

For full details, please review the Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders and the Management Information Circular which is available on www.sedar.com.

Contacts:

Investor Relations

1-877-478-2372

Local: 416-304-4443

www.dividendselect15.com

info@quadravest.com




TAOS, NM -- (Marketwired) -- 10/25/17 -- Season three of The Marijuana Show series will be filmed in Taos culminating in two events open to the public on November 4 and 5th, 2017.

On Saturday, November 4th, producers Wendy Robbins and Karen Paull will co-host with Taos County Democratic Party, and Lamberts, a pro-cannabis Democratic political fundraiser from 6PM to 8PM. Featured guests include Rep. Bill McCamley, who has been leading efforts to legalize at the state level, plus Gubernatorial candidates Jeff Apodaca, Peter DeBenedittis and more guests TBA will speak about their stance on legalization. This event is at Lamberts of Taos, 123 Bent Street, Taos, New Mexico 87571. A suggested donation of $25 will go to the Taos County Democratic Party.

The following evening, Sunday, November 5th, 5:30 to 8:30 PM, The Marijuana Show, also known as the "Shark Tank for Cannabis," will culminate with their grand finale, a red carpet event at the Taos Center for the Arts located at 133 N. Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, Taos, New Mexico 87571. At the event, 8 finalists pitch investors for investment and mentorship. The audience votes for their favorite pitch and decides who wins the audience favorite award! Who will be the next Marijuana Millionaire? This season features innovative products: A joint-rolling machine that can roll 420 perfect joints in 420 seconds, a robotic security firm, an automated smart-phone controlled grow room, a seed-to-sale software company, nanotechnology CBD age defying skin care system that puts collagen into the skin, and more!

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door and are available online: Get Tickets or by calling (575) 758-2052.

Season One and Two offered $18 million in funding to Cannabis Entrepreneurs and was seen on Amazon Prime by millions of viewers. Over 250 million were reached via mainstream press. For additional funding opportunities, the producers are launching a $20 million private equity fund, High Finance Fund with their partners The Hoban Law Group.

CNBC said the show is "Shark Tank for the Cannabis Industry." The New York Times said it's the "show to watch." Wall Street Journal said the show, "...smokes Shark Tank." The series has been featured on ABC, CNN, CNBC, FOX, NPR, Rolling Stone, Fortune, Forbes, Inc, Bloomberg, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Esquire, High Times, Taos News and many other national and regional networks.

"Albuquerque had Breaking Bad and now Taos has Breaking Bud. I'm excited to roll out of bed and go to work. We intend to shoot more shows here. We have amazing talent here and want to give back to the place we've called home for a decade," Robbins said.

"We have partnered with the New Mexico Film Commission and appreciate that we get to hire locals, caterers, lodging, press, and crew, providing a high six-figure budget into our economy. Ultimately we believe that legalizing adult use cannabis in New Mexico will help our economy," states Paull.

The live November 5th event will sell out. Get tickets early from the Taos Center for the Arts! Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door and are available online at http://bit.ly/mjshowlive or by calling (575) 758-2052. Purchase group tickets of 20 or more can qualify for sponsorship with your logo on the big screen.

Contact Producers@themarijuanashow.com for information on press passes and sponsorship opportunities: Karen Paull - 213-718-1804.

Visit our site: The Marijuana Show

See Season Two trailer: Watch the Trailer

Follow us on Social Media:

FB: @Themjrealityshow

Twitter: mjrealityshow

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3176863

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3176895



Karen Paull

213-718-1804

Producers@themarijuanashow.com




NEC Seiichiro Toda s-toda@cj.jp.nec.com +81-3-3798-6511

TOKYO, Oct 25, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) today announced the launch of a new high-end HPC product line, the SX-Aurora TSUBASA. This new platform drastically increases processing performance and scalability on real world applications, aiming for the traditional application areas, such as science and engineering, but also targeting the new fields of Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Big Data analytics. With this new technology, NEC opens supercomputing to a wide range of new markets, in addition to the traditional HPC arena.Utilizing cutting-edge chip integration technology, the new product features a complete multi-core vector processor in the form of a card-type Vector Engine (VE), which is developed based on NEC's high-density interface technology and efficient cooling technology.Kimihiko Fukuda, Executive Vice President, NEC Corporation, said, "The new product addresses the needs of scalar computational capability while still providing the efficiency of a vector architecture. This is accomplished through a tightly integrated complete vector system in the form of a Vector Engine Card.""We provide a comprehensive range of products to address widely diversified needs, from a deskside tower for the individual scientist, to a high-end system for large computer centers. Compared to NEC's previous generation platform, the SX-Aurora TSUBASA is highly power efficient and compact, providing five times the performance per Watt, and ten times the performance per square meter of floor space."This new product line is not only binary compatible, it features the same hardware architecture and software environment, which is ideal for software developers and enables users to run the same application for a variety of systems, ranging from a deskside tower to the largest high-end configuration, without having to make changes inside the application.NEC will present the SX-Aurora TSUBASA at the world's largest international supercomputing conference and exhibition, "SC17," from November 13 to 16, 2017, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.About NEC CorporationNEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company's experience and global resources, NEC's advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society. For more information, visit NEC at http://www.nec.com.Based on its Mid-term Management Plan 2015, the NEC Group globally provides "Solutions for Society" that promote the safety, security, efficiency and equality of society. Under the company's corporate message of "Orchestrating a brighter world," NEC aims to help solve a wide range of challenging issues and to create new social value for the changing world of tomorrow. For more information, please visit http://www.nec.com/en/global/about/solutionsforsociety/message.html.Source: NEC CorporationContact:Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
(All amounts in EUR)



Q3 2017 - Strong competitive position and good momentum



-- Revenue for Q3 2017 totaled 247.0m [Q3 2016: 234.8m]. -- EBITDA for Q3 2017 was 45.8m or 18.6% of revenue [Q3 2016: EBITDA 41.5m or 17.7% of revenue]. -- EBIT* for Q3 2017 was 37.6m or 15.2% of revenue [Q3 2016: EBIT* 33.4m or 14.2% of revenue]. -- Net result for Q3 2017 was 23.2m [Q3 2016: 17.3m]. Basic earnings per share were 3.29 euro cents in Q3 2017 [Q3 2016: 2.42 euro cents]. -- Cash flow from operating activities before interest and tax in Q3 2017 was 71.8m [Q3 2016: 33.2m]. Net debt/EBITDA was x2.0 at the end of Q3 2017. -- The order book was at 467.6m at the end of Q3 2017 compared with 418.9m at the end of Q2 2017 [Q3 2016: 305.1m].



In Q3 order intake was robust at 296 million. Market conditions remain good and Marel's competitive position is strong. The order book was at a good level of 468 million. Revenue in Q3 2017 was 247 million with a solid EBIT* of 15.2%.



Revenue for the first nine months of 2017 was 743 million compared to 733 million on a pro forma basis for the same period in 2016. EBIT* for the first nine months of 2017 was 111 million (15.0% of revenue) compared to 108 million on a pro forma basis for the same period last year (14.8% of revenue).



Marel's acquisition of Sulmaq, a Brazilian primary meat processing equipment provider, was finalized on August 31, 2017. Sulmaq's annual revenue is approximately 25 million. In the short term, the acquisition is not expected to have a material impact on Marel's financial results.



Cash flow was exceptionally strong in Q3 leading to further deleveraging, despite the acquisition of Sulmaq for an amount equaling the enterprise value of 26 million and the net purchase of treasury shares for 12 million during the quarter. Furthermore Marel continues to invest in the business to stimulate further growth and value creation. Leverage is now down to x2.0 net debt/EBITDA compared to x2.15 in last quarter.



Arni Oddur Thordarson, CEO:



"We are building on good momentum and delivering yet another quarter with robust order intake of 296 million. We are pleased with the operational results in the quarter with 247 million in revenue and EBIT in excess of 15%.



This is delivered despite softness in the operational results of Marel Meat when compared with previous quarters. The outstanding performance of Marel Poultry in Q3 outweighs this. By being the leading global provider to three industries; poultry, meat and fish, we counterbalance fluctuations in business unit operations, leading to good overall operational results.



Good earnings and strong cash flow enables us to continue to invest in innovation and strengthening the operational platform. In Q3 we finalized the acquisition of Sulmaq in Brazil for 26 millions in addition to acquiring treasury shares for 12 million. Marel's financial position is strong and net leverage is down to two times EBITDA.



We will continue to engage with new and existing customers around the world in exciting projects that will advance food processing".



Markets



Marel's competitive position is strong and market conditions are good. In Q3, Marel secured record order intake of 296 million. The order book is at an all-time high of 468 million compared with 419 million at the end of Q2 2017 and 305 million at the end of Q3 2016.



Marel is the leading global provider of advanced processing systems and services to the poultry, meat and fish industries. Overall the business is showing good operational performance with a solid 15% EBIT and good underlying market fundamentals. Marel continues to invest in the future to be better equipped to capture market growth and to increase value for its customers and stakeholders.



Revenue streams in poultry and fish are well balanced between standard equipment, Greenfields and maintenance while meat is a more project driven business. Poultry is delivering very strong results throughout this year with good product mix, volume and profitability. The operational performance of Marel Fish is still below long term targets and potential but is on track towards more streamlined and focused organization. Although Meat had a very good first half of the year, timing of delivery of projects adversely affected revenue and operational results in Q3.



Marel Poultry



Marel Poultry had an excellent first nine months (9M) of the year with solid operational profit margins, strong volume and robust order intake. During the first 9M of 2017, Marel Poultry generated 406 million in revenue and 76 million EBIT (18.7% of revenue). Projects were well distributed geographically and between different products. In Q1, a Greenfield project was secured in Russia and in Q2, large orders were secured in Europe and N-America. In Q3, Marel Poultry secured its largest order to-date, a groundbreaking Greenfield project with Costco and Lincoln premium poultry in the U.S. Marel Poultry accounted for 54.6% of Marel's total revenue for the first 9M of 2017.



Marel Meat



Although Meat had a very good first half of the year, timing of delivery of projects adversely affected revenue and operational results in Q3. During the first 9M of 2017, Marel Meat generated 239 million in revenue and 29 million EBIT* (12.0% of revenue) Marel Meat accounted for 32.1% of Marel's total revenue during the first 9M. Marel Meat is delivering good projects and fulfilling its customers' needs worldwide. With the acquisition of Sulmaq in Brazil, Marel is strengthening its position in Central and South America and ensuring better access to a large and growing market for meat building on past sucess in the region in both poultry and fish.



Marel Fish



Marel Fish is on track in Q3 delivering good order intake, and improving operational margins. During the quarter, Marel secured large orders in Norway, S-Africa and Iceland. During the first 9M of 2017, Marel Fish generated 91 million in revenue and 4 million EBIT (3.9% of revenue). Marel Fish accounted for 12.2% of Marel's total revenue for the first 9M of 2017.



Financial items



Cash flow and investments



The balance sheet is healthy and net interest bearing debt amounted to 375 million at the end of Q3 2017, compared to 443 million at the end of Q3 2016.



Operational cash flow before interest and tax was exceptionally strong at 72 million for Q3 2017 compared to 33 million in Q3 2016. The leverage is down to x2.0 net debt/EBITDA compared to x2.15 last quarter.



Marel continues to invest in the business to prepare for future growth and full potential, which is in line with previous communication. Investment activities are expected to be, on average, above normalized levels for the coming period.



In Q3 2017 Marel acquired Sulmaq where the purchase price is 25.6 million on a debt and cash-free basis.



In Q3 2017, Marel purchased 5.0 million treasury shares for a total amount of EUR 14.5 million to be used as a payment for potential future acquisitions, as per the company's announcement on February 8, 2017. Marel sold 0.9 million treasury shares for EUR 2.5 million to the management of Sulmaq in relation to Marel's acquisition of Sulmaq. The sold shares include a lock-up period of 18 months from the date of closing which was August 31, 2017.



At the end of Q3 2017, Marel had 32.4 million treasury shares (end of Q2 2017: 28.4 million treasury shares).



Outlook



Marel expects market conditions to remain good in the poultry and fish industries, while a softer outlook is expected short term for the meat industry. Long term outlook is good for all industries. Strong position of the order book indicates that revenue will be higher in coming quarters.



Marel is targeting 12% average annual revenue growth in the next 10 years.



-- Marel's management expects 4-6% average annual market growth in the long term. -- Marel aims to grow organically faster than the market, driven by innovation and market penetration. -- Maintaining solid operational performance and strong cash flow supports on average 5-7% revenue growth by acquisition. -- Marel's management expects Earnings per Share (EPS) to grow faster than revenue.



Growth will not be linear but based on opportunities and economic fluctuations. Operational results may vary from quarter to quarter due to general economic developments, fluctuations in orders received and timing of deliveries of larger systems.



Marel's Capital Markets Day 2017



Marel's Capital Markets Day for institutional investors, analysts and the media will take place on November 2, 2017 at Marel's demonstration center, Progress Point, in Copenhagen.



Presentation of results, October 26, 2017



Marel will present its results at an investor meeting on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 8:30 am (GMT), at the company's headquarters at Austurhraun 9, Gardabaer. The meeting will also be webcasted at marel.com/webcast.



Marel's Investor calendar



-- Capital Markets Day in Copenhagen November 2, 2017 -- 4th quarter 2017 February 7, 2018 -- Annual General Meeting March 6, 2018 -- 1st quarter 2018 May 2, 2018 -- 2nd quarter 2018 July 25, 2018 -- 3rd quarter 2018 October 31, 2018 -- 4th quarter 2018 February 6, 2019



Release of financial statements will take place after market closing on the aforementioned dates.



For further information, contact:



Tinna Molphy, Manager in Investor Relations, tel: (+354) 563 8603 / mobile: (+354) 853 8603.



Attachment:

https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=649800

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BOSTON, Mass., 2017-10-25 21:07 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZAGENO Inc., announces successful Series A investment of $8 Million US Dollars led by Capnamic Ventures, with Grazia Equity, lead investor in the seed round, also investing. The investment will be used to fuel growth in the key markets USA and Europe, by ramping up sales, marketing, and technical integration teams.



ZAGENO Launching a New Era of Digital Science and Research



"Just two years old, we are experiencing enormous traction, where global leaders in life science research, such as The Babraham Institute, choose to purchase life science research products through us," said Co-Founder and CEO of ZAGENO David Pumberger. "There is a vast need for digitalization in science and research! We founded ZAGENO with the vision of connecting scientists, administrative departments, and vendors of biotechnology products via one single platform, thereby creating a WIN-WIN-WIN-Situation for everybody involved. Nobody has dared to do that so far," he continued.



What is the WIN-WIN-WIN-situation for scientists, academic research institutes, researching companies, and equipment vendors? For the first time, ZAGENO enables scientists in their laboratories to choose crucial products directly via an online marketplace, from an extensive and high-quality product portfolio. Currently, researchers from 250+ leading research institutions in the U.S. and Europe compare products every day on ZAGENO for their experiments and order directly from across 650+ different vendors. This newly unveiled transparency is an absolute novelty in the biotech industry and saves costs as well as time for researchers.



ZAGENO enables straightforward integration of ordering and purchasing processes into existing software systems. And it is a milestone in the direction of bundled, and therefore, more-efficient, operation flows for academic research institutes and research companies alike. Biotechnology vendors benefit from the ZAGENO online-platform by reaching potential customers right at the buying/decision-making moments. They can also leverage ZAGENO as an additional digital sales channel to increase their reach in the key markets - USA and Europe. Further, the ZAGENO online-platform represents a valuable marketing tool to strengthen brand awareness and foster brand image and thus helps industry players to adapt to existing e-commerce models by increased customer service and content quality.



Commenting on The Babraham Institute's experience with ZAGENO, Michael Norden, the Institute's head of purchasing, said, "ZAGENO enables our 200+ scientists to choose and order life science research products from all vendors using one platform. This further streamlines our purchasing processes and allows us to gain full transparency on our spending. Ultimately, scientists focus on their research while complying with all purchasing requirements. We have found ZAGENO's customer service to be outstanding."



"ZAGENO combines an exceptional team and is the first to unlock an untapped billion dollar U.S. market," said Capnamic Ventures General Partner Christian Siegele.



Founding Partner of Grazia Equity Alec Rauschenbusch commented, "ZAGENO is fantastic. It's a true game-changer, helping the life science industry become more successful."



ZAGENO's Pumberger added, "Together with our partners and the Series A funding, we will strengthen our position at the interface of technology and biotech, as well as reach our targeted growth in focus markets. We feel very fortunate to grow together with Capnamic Ventures and Grazia Equity and to benefit from their deep industry connections and insights. Consistent with entrepreneurial values, mindsets, and growth targets, we focus on fulfilling customers' needs on all sides of the platform!"



About Capnamic Ventures



Capnamic Ventures (www.capnamic.com) is one of Europe's leading early-stage Venture Capital firms, with offices in Berlin and Cologne. The VC invests most of its funds in tech startups in the German-speaking region. Capnamic also joins forces with international co-investors. All portfolio companies are supported through Capnamic's global network of investors and industry partners.



The vast expertise of the Capnamic team includes more than 70 investments, a high turnover of successful trade sales and IPOs, as well as a strong entrepreneurial track record within the investment team. The general partners are Jorg Binnenbrucker (@bibrue), Olaf Jacobi (@olafjacobi) and Christian Siegele.



For more details, visit capnamic.com or @Capnamic on Twitter.



About Grazia Equity



Grazia Equity, one of Germany's top venture capital firms, has been supporting a large number of mostly young companies, often from their foundation to the Initial Public Offering or eventual sale. Grazia's success derives from a partnership with extraordinarily strong entrepreneurial teams to turn them into international market leaders. In contrast to other venture capital firms Grazia has a solid permanent capital structure ("Evergreen"). Grazia's portfolio companies profit from the entrepreneurial background and the business development expertise of its partner team as well as a far-reaching international network. Being active in Germany, Europe and in the USA Grazia has invested early in category leaders such as Statista, Mister Spex, Conergy, Quantenna, and Yeay.



For more information, please visit grazia.com



About ZAGENO Inc.



Since its formation in 2015, ZAGENO Inc. sets new standards in the international biotech market. With the vision to offer an online marketplace connecting scientists, academic research institutes, and biotech manufacturers, ZAGENO grows exponentially and represents a milestone for the digitization of science and research. World-renowned research facilities use ZAGENO for ordering lab equipment and for optimizing internal processes. The start-up employs 35 staff members in Boston (USA) and Berlin (Germany). These two locations were selected to be close to centers known for research advancements and scientific breakthroughs. For more "EUREKA"-moments - welcome to ZAGENO: https://zageno.com/



Attachments:



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8f25a44f-43ac-4555-89c9-88e21 4485457



Attachments:



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4121b588-dce2-4b4c-81f5-1375e a13b05b



Attachments:



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b62c1ccf-4885-4563-813c-5f459 6194fd2



Media Contact: Caroline Grossman (781) 771-5579 Caroline@Mirepoixllc.com Company Contact: Florian Wegener, MD, PhD, MBA, Chief Revenue Officer ZAGENO Inc. pr@zageno.com

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 25, 2017) - Ed Rempel has been a professional Canadian financial advisor for over two decades and has tremendous knowledge and expertise in the financial services arena. SOURCES.COM: Ed Rempel





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News / National

by Staff reporter

Victory World International Ministries Church leader Paul Sanyangore is facing rape charges after a congregant reported a case against him in June this year.The Daily News reported that a woman, whose age could not be determined at the time of going to print, filed a report at Waterfalls Police Station alleging she was raped by the charismatic preacher.But ever since the report was made, it has not been brought to court for prosecution amid claims that the complainant in the matter has not been available to pursue the case, forcing Sanyangore's lawyers to demand the case's closure.The police have, however, said the docket could only be closed at court, resulting in the matter being brought before the Harare Magistrates' Courts for vetting in the absence of Sanyangore and the complainant.Procedurally, the prosecution could not initiate vetting for a record to be opened to have Sanyangore in the dock in the absence of both parties. Therefore the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) could not dispose the case in the absence of the parties involved.Efforts to get the official position from the NPA were fruitless as Prosecutor-General Ray Goba declined to comment on the issue." . . . to respond to cases being handled by NPA is simply not my job," Goba said.The Daily News' attempt to get a comment from the woman on the circumstances surrounding the case could not yield results yesterday as her mobile phone was not reachable."When the complainant reported the matter to the police she never came back to do a follow-up, which would have enabled the case to be brought before the court for trial," a source close to the case told the Daily News yesterday."According to the girl's narration, she claimed she was raped in 2014 after she went to see the charismatic preacher for prayers and one of Sanyangore's brothers knew about it."The girl only resuscitated the case this year following claims that she had been influenced by Sanyangore's brother after the relationship between the two turned sour. There are also claims that Sanyangore could have been in love with the girl, although details are not very clear on that aspect," an authoritative source privy to the case said.A self-proclaimed former "drunkard", Sanyangore comes from a family of five  two boys and three girls.He founded Victory World International Ministries in February 2014 together with his wife "prophetess" Amanda. He has two boys with his wife.He started his ministry in Mbare, but has managed to build a massive house in Houghton Park, where his church is now headquartered at a wing called International Victory Centre.The self-styled prophet gained infamy after he was filmed supposedly "talking to God" on the phone during a church service.Sanyangore, 32, claimed to have the Lord on speed dial and chats with him in front of his congregation  who appear to be very impressed.In the clip, Sanyangore, looking resplendent in a three-piece grey suit, chats through a Public Address system microphone, using a mobile phone to answer questions from "Papa God."The bizarre video was filmed at Victory World International Church in Bulawayo.He can be seen calling a woman from the crowd, she then kneels down, at which point he begins to receive instruction from "heaven."Sanyangore says on the phone: "Hello, is this heaven? I have a woman here, what do you have to say about her?"After a supposed snap chat with God, Sanyangore tells the woman: "He says we should pray for your children, two of them."He is saying the other one is epileptic, the other one is asthmatic.""What else, Papa God?" he adds, before telling the woman: "Heaven is online. God is telling me to tell you that your story has changed."The crowd erupts into cheers and clapping in uproarious applause as the pastor triumphantly paces up and down.Sanyangore said: "I have a direct channel, actually I have His (God's) number and I can call Him when need arises."It is possible to talk to God; why would you doubt that I got a call from Him?"I actually have a direct line which I can call Him on and get instructions on how to proceed."I got this when I was praying and I heard a voice telling me to call directly."He claims that he will make God's number available to the public "when the time is right".Sanyangore's cousin, Andy Zimunya, has alleged that he fakes miracles.But Sanyangore has said "from TD Jakes to Joel Osteen to even the Lord Jesus Himself, all these were called fake so I am in good company".The controversial self-styled prophet has given his congregants anointed condoms, made them drink anointed sewage, claimed to have raised a dead child, and also claimed he could make angels descend on a swimming pool.Of late, pastors have been making headlines for allegedly raping their congregants, with many claiming that physical battles and sexual abuses in churches have brought more suffering than solace that is normally expected with church institutions.Independent End Time Message founder Robert Martin Gumbura is currently languishing in prison after he was convicted on charges of raping his congregants.He is serving a 40-year-jail term.Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries leader Walter Magaya has also been dragged to court on rape allegations that have not yet been finalised by the courts.Over the years, some church leaders have also been subjected to rape trials.One of such men is the late spiritual healer and Johane Masowe Wechishanu faction leader Godfrey Pegnick Nzira.Nzira was released from jail on medical grounds in 2011, while he was serving a 20-year jail term for rape.He had been slapped with a 42-year prison term in March 2003, after he was convicted on seven counts of rape and one of indecent assault involving two women.Part of the sentence was suspended on condition of good behaviour, while a further 12 years were slashed by the High Court on appeal.Another Johane Masowe weChishanu Apostolic Church (Marondera) sect leader Lawrence Katsiru was also released from prison after successfully filing an appeal at the High Court.The politician was released after the prosecution conceded that he was wrongfully convicted on allegations of raping a teenage church member.
TORONTO, October 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (TSX: CF) is scheduled to release its second quarter results and supplementary financial information on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 after TSX market close. Interested investors, the media and other stakeholders may review the earnings release and supplementary financial information at http://www.canaccordgenuitygroup.com.

QUARTERLY CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST:

Interested parties are invited to listen to Canaccord Genuity's second quarter results conference call, via live webcast or a toll-free number. The conference call is scheduled for Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 5:00 a.m. Pacific time, 8:00 a.m. Eastern time, 1:00 p.m. UK time, 9:00 p.m. China Standard Time, and midnight Australia EDT. During the call, senior executives will comment on the results and respond to questions from analysts and institutional investors.

The conference call may be accessed live and archived on a listen-only basis at: http://www.canaccordgenuitygroup.com/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Events.aspx

Analysts and institutional investors can call in via telephone at:

647-427-7450 (within Toronto )

) 1-888-231-8191 (toll free outside Toronto )

) 0-800-051-7107 (toll free from the United Kingdom )

) 0-800-91-7449 (toll free from France )

) 10-800-714-1191 (toll free from Northern China )

) 10-800-140-1195 (toll free from Southern China )

) 1-800-287-011 (toll free from Australia )

) 800-017-8071 (toll free from United Arab Emirates )

Please ask to participate in the Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. Q2/18 results call. If a passcode is requested, please use 93950590.

A replay of the conference call will be made available from approximately two hours after the live call on November 8, 2017, until December 22, 2017 at 416-849-0833 or 1-855-859-2056 by entering passcode 93950590 followed by the (#) key.

ABOUT CANACCORD GENUITY GROUP INC.:

Through its principal subsidiaries, Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (the "Company") is a leading independent, full-service financial services firm, with operations in two principal segments of the securities industry: wealth management and capital markets. Since its establishment in 1950, the Company has been driven by an unwavering commitment to building lasting client relationships. We achieve this by generating value for our individual, institutional and corporate clients through comprehensive investment solutions, brokerage services and investment banking services. The Company has offices in 10 countries worldwide, including Wealth Management offices located in Canada, the UK, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man and Australia. Canaccord Genuity, the international capital markets division, operates in Canada, the US, the UK, France, Ireland, Hong Kong, China, Australia and Dubai. To us there are no foreign markets.[TM]

Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. is publicly traded under the symbol CF on the TSX.

For investor and media relations inquiries: Christina Marinoff, Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications, Phone: +1-416-687-5507, email: christina.marinoff@canaccord.com, http://www.canaccordgenuitygroup.com
Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - October 25, 2017) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Mohammed Ali Rashid, a former senior partner at Apollo Management L.P., with defrauding his fund clients by secretly billing them for approximately $290,000 in personal expenditures, including his family vacations, visits to a hair salon, and purchases of designer clothing and high-end electronics.

The SEC's complaint alleges that Rashid falsely claimed that certain individuals accompanied him to dinners to make it appear various personal expenses had a business purpose, and he doctored a receipt in an effort to justify his purchase of a $3,500 suit for his father as a business expense.

"As alleged in our complaint, despite earning millions of dollars, Rashid used client money to fund his lifestyle and personal expenses, including family vacations, designer clothing, and spa services. Rashid knew what he was doing was wrong because he took active steps to conceal his misconduct," said Anthony Kelly, Co-Chief of the SEC Enforcement Division's Asset Management Unit.

According to the SEC's complaint, despite being caught by the firm and told to stop on two occasions in 2010 and 2012, Rashid continued to expense personal items to clients into 2013. After he was confronted about his expenses for a third time, Rashid admitted that he charged approximately $220,000 in personal expenses. A forensic accountant then uncovered additional personal expenses that Rashid improperly charged to clients.

The SEC's complaint alleges that Rashid violated, and in the alternative aided and abetted violations of, Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

The SEC's investigation was conducted by Donna Norman of the Asset Management Unit and Duane Thompson, and the litigation will be led by Mr. Thompson. The case is being supervised by Jan Folena and Corey Schuster.
Weekly net asset value ("NAV") is calculated as of the close of business on each Tuesday and posted on the following business day. In the event that Tuesday is not a business day, the Company will calculate the close-of-business NAV as of the business day immediately preceding that Tuesday. The end-of-month NAV is calculated as of the close of business on the last day of the month and posted on the following business day. For weeks that include a month-end NAV report, PSH will provide only the month-end NAV and not report the Tuesday NAV. Monthly NAVs are published in accordance with the Decree on Conduct of Business Supervision of Financial Undertakings under the Wft (Besluit Gedragstoezicht financiele ondernemingen Wft).

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/25/17 -- Galane Gold Ltd. ("Galane Gold" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: GG) is pleased to announce the release of its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. All amounts are in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated.

A copy of the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and the corresponding Management's Discussion and Analysis will be available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com.

Third Quarter 2017 Highlights

-- Produced 9,535 ounces of gold. -- Positive cash flows from operating activities of $2,212,757. -- Net income of $1,286,261. -- All-in operating cash cost of $723 per ounce (excluding royalties).(1)

Galane Gold CEO, Nick Brodie commented: "I am pleased that the investment in the development of Tau has resulted in increasing positive cash flows and declining cash costs. With the extension of the current Tau mine plan, and possible further expansion beyond that, it points to a long-term productive future for the Company in Botswana.(2)(3)(4)

We have updated our mine plan for the Galaxy project, and we expect to recommence operations at an initial production level of over 25,000 ounces of gold per annum at a cost per ounce of less than $800. We have commenced further studies to support a subsequent expansion to a production level of over 50,000 ounces per annum.(2)(3)(5)

About Galane Gold

Galane Gold is an un-hedged gold producer and explorer with mining operations and exploration tenements in Botswana and South Africa. Galane Gold is a public company and its shares are quoted on the Exchange under the symbol "GG". Galane Gold's management team is comprised of senior mining professionals with extensive experience in managing mining and processing operations and large-scale exploration programmes. Galane Gold is committed to operating at world-class standards and is focused on the safety of its employees, respecting the environment, and contributing to the communities in which it operates.

Notes:

(1) Total operating cash cost excluding royalties is a non-GAAP measure. Refer to "Supplemental Information to Management's Discussion and Analysis" in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and six months ended September 30, 2017 for reconciliation to measures reported in the Company's financial statements. (2) This is forward-looking information and is based on a number of assumptions. See "Cautionary Notes". (3) There has yet to be sufficient exploration on the potential expansion to extrapolate that it extends beyond the current mined area. (4) The updated mine plan prepared by the Company in respect of the Tau property is based on internal reporting by the Company following open pit mining and not based on an independent feasibility study or pre- feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. (5) The updated mine plan prepared by the Company in respect of the Galaxy property is based on internal reporting by the Company following underground mining and not based on an independent feasibility study or pre-feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability.

Cautionary Notes

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's future financial position and results of operations, strategy, proposed acquisitions, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "plan", "continue", "will", "may", "would", "anticipate", "estimate", "forecast", "predict", "project", "seek", "should" or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.

Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially include, but are not limited to: the Company's dependence on two mineral projects; gold price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Botswana and South Africa; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to the Company's exploration, development and mining activities being situated in Botswana and South Africa; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks arising from the Company's fair value estimates with respect to the carrying amount of mineral interests; mining tax regimes; risks arising from holding derivative instruments; the Company's need to replace reserves depleted by production; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; lack of infrastructure; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; health risks in Africa; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; risks related to restarting production; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; development of the Company's exploration properties into commercially viable mines; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; risks related to the market perception of junior gold companies; and litigation risk.

Management provides forward-looking statements because it believes they provide useful information to investors when considering their investment objectives and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.

Information of a technical and scientific nature that forms the basis of the disclosure in the press release has been approved by Charles Byron Pr. Sci. Nat., MAusIMM., MGSSA and Chief Geologist for Galane Gold, and a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Neither the Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Galane Gold Ltd.

Nick Brodie

CEO

+ 44 7905089878

Nick.Brodie@GalaneGold.com

www.GalaneGold.com




WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Realty Income Corp. (O) revealed a profit for its third quarter that advanced compared to the same period last year. The company said its bottom line totaled $213.60 million, or $0.77 per share. This was up from $186.58 million, or $0.72 per share, in last year's third quarter. The company said revenue for the quarter rose 10.7% to $306.92 million. This was up from $277.17 million last year. Realty Income Corp. earnings at a glance: -Earnings (Q3): $213.60 Mln. vs. $186.58 Mln. last year. -Earnings Growth (Y-o-Y): 14.5% -EPS (Q3): $0.77 vs. $0.72 last year. -EPS Growth (Y-o-Y): 6.9% -Revenue (Q3): $306.92 Mln vs. $277.17 Mln last year. -Revenue Change (Y-o-Y): 10.7% -Guidance : Full year EPS guidance: $3.03 to $3.07 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.
HOUSTON, TEXAS -- (Marketwired) -- 10/25/17 -- Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: EEP) (EEP or the Partnership) announced today that the Board of Directors of Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (EEM), the delegate of the Partnership's general partner, has declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.35 per unit, or $1.40 per unit on an annualized basis, on all of the Partnership's outstanding units for the quarter ended September 30, 2017. The approved distribution remains unchanged from the previous quarter. The distribution is payable on November 14, 2017 to unitholders of record at the close of business on November 7, 2017.

Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. Distribution

Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (NYSE: EEQ) (Enbridge Management) today declared a distribution of $0.35 per share payable on November 14, 2017 to shareholders of record on November 7, 2017. The distribution will be paid in the form of additional shares of Enbridge Management valued at the average closing price of the shares for the 10 trading days prior to the ex-dividend date on November 3, 2017. Enbridge Management's sole asset is its approximate 19.5 percent limited partner interest in EEP. Enbridge Management's results of operations, financial condition and cash flows depend on the results of operations, financial condition and cash flows of EEP.

Tax Notification

This release serves as qualified notice to nominees as provided for under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b)(4) and (d). Please note that 100 percent of Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.'s distributions to foreign investors are attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, all of Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.'s distributions to foreign investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest effective tax rate for individuals or corporations, as applicable. Nominees, and not Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P., are treated as withholding agents responsible for withholding distributions received by them on behalf of foreign investors.

About Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.

Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. owns and operates a diversified portfolio of crude oil transportation systems in the United States. Its principal crude oil system is the largest pipeline transporter of growing oil production from western Canada and the North Dakota Bakken formation. The system's deliveries to refining centers and connected carriers in the United States account for approximately 23 percent of total U.S. oil imports. Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. is traded on the New York stock exchange under the symbol EEP; information about the company is available on its website at www.enbridgepartners.com.

About Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C.

Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. manages the business and affairs of the Partnership, and its sole asset is an approximate 19 percent limited partner interest in the Partnership. Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, Canada (NYSE: ENB) (TSX: ENB) is the general partner of the Partnership and holds an approximate 35 percent interest in the Partnership. Enbridge Management is the delegate of the general partner of the Partnership.

Contacts:

Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.

Media

Michael Barnes

Toll Free: (877) 496-8142

Email: michael.barnes@enbridge.com



Investment Community

Adam McKnight

Toll Free: (403) 266-7922

Email: eep@enbridge.com




Civil, a NYC-based decentralized newsmaking platform, raised $5m in funding.

ConsenSys, the global blockchain venture studio, made the investment committing $2.5m in capital and $2.5m in services.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to develop the platform and expand operations.

Led by founder Matthew Iles, Civil provides a blockchain-based newsmaking platform that enables a direct relationship between journalists and readers. The blockchain-based platform and its smart contracts will protect journalists against censorship and intellectual property disputes while fostering transparency across the network. Meanwhile, tools incentivizing collaborative editing and fact-checking aim to substantially limit misinformation.

In Civils self-governing marketplace, readers may directly sponsor newsrooms, and journalists collaboratively run their own publications. Readers may subscribe to Civil-hosted publications, and will use Civils cryptocurrency (CVL) tokens to sponsor individual journalists, investigations and stories, creating a new collaborative model for the gathering and dissemination of news.

An independent journalism advisory board will govern the platform overall, in order to ensure that fair, objective, professional standards are met throughout the network.

Initially the platform will focus on local, policy and investigative reporting. Civil has dedicated one million dollars to fund the First Fleet, a diverse group of top-tier journalists creating their own newsrooms and publications. Interested journalists can apply on Civils website.

The newsmaking platform and its CVL token sale will launch simultaneously in early 2018 with live newsrooms including Popula, an alternative news and culture publication. Journalist, editor and entrepreneur Maria Bustillos will manage the Popula newsroom, joined by Sasha Frere-Jones, Ryan Bradley, Aaron Bady and other journalists.

FinSMEs

25/10/2017
Tokyo Smoke, a Toronto, ON-based cannabis lifestyle brand, closed its Series B funding of approximately CAD$6m.

The round, which includes CAD$4m announced in August, was led by Aphria and Green Acre Capital Fund I, with participation from strategic investor Paul Rowan, a founding partner at Umbra, a global product design company with presence in over 120 countries.

The funds will be allocated to continued retail expansion, marketing and strategic acquisitions.

Led by Alan Gertner, co-founder and CEO, Tokyo Smoke Tokyo Smoke is a lifestyle brand that aims to bring sophistication and design to the cannabis space via immersive experiences and designer retail spaces selling coffee, clothing and designer products.

The company recently acquired fellow designer cannabis brand Van der Pop.

FinSMEs

25/10/2017
Japanese motorbike manufacturer Kawasaki has launched it's Ninja 400 at the Tokyo Motor Show 2017. The Kawasaki Ninja 400 will replace the Ninja 300 globally. Despite the global rollout, the company has not confirmed details about the Indian launch of Ninja 400.

Ninja 400 comes with 399cc parallel twin engine that produces 44 bhp at 10,000 rpm and 38 Nm torque at 8,000 rpm as reported by Visordown. While the Ninja 300 produced 38 bhp and 27 Nm at 11,000 and 10,000 rpm respectively. The Ninja 400 weighs 6 kg less when compared to the Ninja 300. The company has packed assist-and-slipper clutch which is expected to make the lever 20 percent lighter.

Kawasaki Ninja 400 features a 310 mm disc brake equipped with Nissin ABS. According to a report by Drive Spark, the bike is available in three colour variants that include Metallic Spark Black, Lime Green, and Ebony.

It is expected to take on KTM RC 390, Yamaha YZF-R3, BMW G 310 R, Benelli 302R and others once the bike arrives in the Indian market as reported by Financial Express.

The Kawasaki Ninja 300 has a 4-stroke parallel twin 296 cc liquid cooled engine. The bike is priced at Rs 3.64 lakh in India (Ex-showroom Delhi). Last but not the least, Kawasaki also launched Ninja 250 at the Tokyo Motor Show 2017.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Despite their acrimonious break-up about five years ago, Morgan Tsvangirai's former lover Locadia Karimatsenga no longer bears any grudges against the former prime minister and, in fact, now yearns to see the MDC leader back to full fitness.Opening up for the first time on her much-publicised relationship with Tsvangirai which ended in 2012, Karimatsenga revealed that she has totally forgiven the ailing former trade unionist for everything she held against him, adding that any differences she may have had with the MDC leader were now water under the bridge.Now a woman of cloth at Nation of Glory Ministries, based in neighbouring South Africa, Karimatsenga is not the easiest of persons to track down for an interview.And even after granting the Daily News an exclusive interview, she was quick to express her fears over being misconstrued that she was still "interested in Morgan" when in fact "I have long moved on (with my life)"."I am praying for him," she says of the MDC leader, who recently returned home after a month's health sabbatical in South Africa.Tsvangirai was diagnosed with cancer of the colon around mid last year and has been undergoing treatment in South Africa, the continent's most industrialised economy.Karimatsenga disclosed during the interview that aides of the former prime minister came to her residence in South Africa with a request that she prays for the MDC leader.She obliged."I am an apostle. It's my duty to pray for anyone who asks me to pray for them. His aides came to my house and asked that I pray for him of which I did. And I will continue doing so," she revealed.Karimatsenga became the subject of frenzied media coverage in November 2011 after she wedded Tsvangirai for a hefty bride price at a private ceremony in Mazowe.The marriage did not last the distance after Tsvangirai sensationally claimed that he had "lost confidence" in the relationship, further saying there was "an underhand and active political hand" that had taken over the process.According to Tsvangirai, everything had been choreographed "to inflict maximum damage on my person and character for political gain"."This has caused me to have serious misgivings as to whether this will be a perfect union'."He said back then that he was "a respected family man who owned up to his responsibility by following cultural and traditional procedures" and that in the process he realised he could have done things differently."Having been happily married for 31 years, I also realised that sometimes when you are searching for a partner  especially after losing your wife whom you so dearly loved  there are many stakeholders in the process some of whom have their own ulterior intentions and agendas."Tsvangirai's wife, Susan, had died at the age of 50 in 2009 in a tragic car accident along the Harare-Masvingo road.With his relationship with Karimatsenga having hit the rocks, the MDC leader went on to announce his wedding plans with his current wife Elizabeth Macheka.Karimatsenga had maintained back then that despite all she had been accused of, she was still in love with Tsvangirai and later made an application to the courts seeking the stoppage of Tsvangirai and Macheka's wedding.The magistrates' court ruled that Tsvangirai could not tie the knot with Macheka as he was traditionally married to the property broker, a judgment that was upheld by the High Court with the pair later settling for an out-of-court settlement.It is an episode Karimatsenga does not want to talk much about.
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Finance minister Arun Jaitley said that the government will observe 8 November as anti-Black Money day.

BJP leaders to travel across the country to highlights steps taken to curb black money

"Congress had adequate opportunity to be in power and I can't remember any significant step taken by the party. The Congress had reconciled to India living with a shadowy economy," said Jaitley.

Jaitley defended the demonetisation decision and hailed it as a huge step to make India a cash-less economy. He further said that cases were filed against various illegal account holders.

People who deposited money disproportionate to their income are now being forced to pay taxes, Jaitley said while defending demonetisation. He further said that the aim of the note ban was to increase the tax base, squeeze the funds of terrorists and detect counterfeit currency.

People are understanding digitisation and this time the digital transactions doubled, said Jaitley. He gave an example of Dhanteras, when people even bought gold online.

Congress is a losing and dusgruntled party, which never understood demonetisation, said Jaitley. Congress never tacked black money and facilitated shadowy economy, he added.

#LIVE -- Party members & ministers will travel across the country. They will highlight the steps taken to curb black money: FM Arun Jaitley pic.twitter.com/MZQMhwuUPw

BJP leaders to travel across the country to highlights steps taken to curb black money

"Congress had adequate opportunity to be in power and I can't remember any significant step taken by the party. The Congress had reconciled to India living with a shadowy economy," said Jaitley.

Jaitley defended the demonetisation decision and hailed it as a huge step to make India a cash-less economy. He further said that cases were filed against various illegal account holders.

#LIVE -- We have expanded digitisation and tax base across the country: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Image: ANI pic.twitter.com/2SZII87g9P

People who deposited money disproportionate to their income are now being forced to pay taxes, Jaitley said while defending demonetisation. He further said that the aim of the note ban was to increase the tax base, squeeze the funds of terrorists and detect counterfeit currency.

Cash is an unidentified bearer money, which is circulating in the system: FM Shri @arunjaitley Watch LIVE at https://t.co/QpUvcNNv30

The government and BJP feels that the people have understood demonetisation because it is giving a resounding response to the BJP is all elections, said Jaitley. He added that it is part of the larger campaign of the party and will continue.

People are understanding digitisation and this time the digital transactions doubled, said Jaitley. He gave an example of Dhanteras, when people even bought gold online.

Congress is a losing and dusgruntled party, which never understood demonetisation, said Jaitley. Congress never tacked black money and facilitated shadowy economy, he added.

At a presser on Wednesday evening, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the government will commemorate 8 November, the day of demonetisation, as Anti-black money day. Ministers will travel across India to promote the day, Jaitley said.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has defended the government's decision to maintain secrecy over demonetisation, saying transparency, in this case, would have been the "greatest instrument of fraud".

In his recent visit to the US, Jaitley had defended demonetisation saying while demonetisation and GST are having the desired impact in terms of tax compliances and squeezing the quantum of cash in the economy, for the first time, 'Swachh Bharat' campaign has brought to fore the importance of cleanliness.

Before demonetisation, Indian norm was to live with a high cash economy, not paying taxes, "you buy a property, you transact partly in cash, and in business, you maintain two sets of accounts," he said.

"How can a country, which aims to be the fastest growing major economy in the world, which aspires to grow from a developing to a developed economy, continue with the normal of this type," he asked.

And therefore, "you need to shake the system" in order to reduce the quantum of cash in India and therefore obviously to make it a more tax complaint society, he observed.

As the date of demonetisation approaches, the nation waits to hear the finance minister or Modi's way of commemorating the note ban anniversary.
In nearly two decades of Infosys-watching, I don't recall a single instance where business news channels looked away for hours when the Bangalore-based software giant was declaring its quarterly results. I also don't quite recall the company ever announcing its results after market trading is over for the day. And last, but certainly not the least, it is difficult to imagine the Sensex and Nifty booming while Infosys is stalling or dragging.

But that is precisely the state of play as Indian markets wake up to a strange morning after. The first quarterly results performance after the second coming of Nandan Nilekani as the executive chairman to fix problems that might have their roots in the second coming of Narayana Murthy, the other co-founder of the venerable company, is, to say the least, lacklustre.

In the wake of the resignation of a global star like Vishal Sikka as its CEO, we were all eyes.

It is a blessing in disguise for Nilekani that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley chose to unveil a grand plan to revitalise ailing banks and a slowing Indian economy in precisely the hour that Infosys unveiled its numbers. A cynic might think Jaitley offered a return favour for Nilekani's creating the Aadhaar unique identity that is helping the Narendra Modi government. But jokes apart, the terrain is tough for Infosys, which has clearly lost its bellwether status as it struggles not just with growth issues but also lingering questions after an ugly year in which Murthy fought a boardroom war that saw Sikka's exit.

Nilekani certainly needs time but questions loom after the results day that are not easy to answer.

1) By giving a clean chit to the Panaya acquisition under Sikka and terming it as well-intentioned that Murthy put at the centrepiece of his battle, is Nilekani implying that his co-founder was only playing politics and overreacting?

2) What happened to the old Infosys that used to paint a long-term vision? From all indications, the Sikka strategy continues, but that has not been sufficiently emphasised either.

("We continue to focus on executing on the theme of software-enabled services and on accelerating the growth of our new services portfolio, said U B Pravin Rao, Interim CEO and Managing Director. Is this all he could say to a market hungry for direction?)

3) Does a revenue guidance cut amid relatively respectable performances by industry leader Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Bangalore-mate Wipro signal that Infosys is not even a local hero, much less global?

Narayana Murthy has reacted in an upset manner evidently annoyed by the companys decision to give a clean chit on the Panaya deal. Though Murthy refers only to the board in broader sense, his comments indicate a rift between the two co-founders.

More significant, however, is to Murthy's reference to the severance package offered to former CFO Rajiv Bansal at what the eminent co-founder calls "1,000 per cent" normal severance pay. There is a gridlock here. While the board is ducking transparency citing whistleblower protection, Murthy is sticking to his guns and even adding we may never know the truth. While Bansal left amid gossip of "hush money" Sikka had spoken of "chemistry issues" with the former CFO.The ghost of the past lingers. But the point to note is that both Sikka and R Seshasayee, the chairman under whom the controversial dealings took place, are now out of the picture.

From all indications, Murthy may be secretly happy about the success of his boardroom coup while standing his ground officially. Unless there is a juicy news leak of the Panaya probe report, we may have to just fictionalise the acrimony over the corporate alimony paid to Bansal. In Bangalore's downtown pubs, mugs of beer may be swiggled over whether Sikka's generous act was interpreted as bad governance by Murthy, and also whether the former SAP star was denied the autonomy needed to take Infosys to the next level in challenging times.

Reading between the lines, it is noteworthy that Nilekani is referring to the leadership of interim CEO UB Pravin Rao in a style that shows that he is himself more of a stopgap mentor and a strategist than a hands-on troubleshooter. The hunt for a CEO continues. No wonder the market is hardly excited.

For the moment, Murthy's own joke about listed companies living a QSQT life (Quarter Se Quarter Tak) may be a helpful one for the company. It has bought itself some time -- and that is the best one could say, unless we are optimistic enough to note that its numbers were above some market expectations.

Nilekani needs to start the new year 2018 with a vision that would tell analysts, clients, investors and employees that it is ready to tap the new age of artificial intelligence, software automation and the Internet of Things (IoT) without losing its way. It is difficult to imagine the India Story without Infosys being part of the plot. Maybe a new CEO can do that. That would be another day.

(The writer is a senior journalist. He tweets as @madversity)

(Editor's note: This article has been updated)
Bengaluru: Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy on Tuesday expressed disappointment that none of the questions raised by him on "poor governance" had been answered by the company's board with transparency.

Murthy's comments came after Infosys board, under chairman Nandan Nilekani (considered to be a close confidant of the founder), on Tuesday gave a clean chit to the company's $200 million Panaya acquisition. The board also refused to put out additional details of the probe, as had been demanded by Murthy.

Murthy, in a late evening statement, said that he stood by every question on poor governance raised in his speech to Infosys investors dated 29 August, 2017. He asserted that the core question still remained on "how and why the Infosys board approved an unusual and unprecedented severance payment agreement of 1000 percent (of

the standard Infosys employment contracts) to the former CFO...".

Murthy had launched an offensive against the the previous Infosys management over allegations of corporate governance lapses and had questioned the high severance pay out to former top executives of the company.

The stand-off has culminated into a sudden exit of Infosys' then CEO Vishal Sikka followed by erstwhile Chairman R Seshasayee. Murthy today also questioned why the board did not disclose information (about the severance pay) "proactively and much earlier". "Sadly, it appears we will no longer know the truth," Murthy said in his statement.

Announcing its second quarter earnings today, Infosys had said that it concurs with the previous findings of an external probe that there is no merit in the allegations of wrongdoing with regard to the Panaya deal.

"After careful consideration led by our Chairman, the board reaffirms the previous findings of external investigations that there is no merit to the allegations of wrongdoing," Infosys had said.

Reacting on the outcome of board meeting, Seshasayee said, "The company now deserves a period of stability and undistracted focus on the business. I wish the company all the best".

It may be recalled that Murthy had demanded that the full report by Gibson Dunn and Crutcher on whistleblower allegations pertaining to the $200 million Panaya

acquisition be made public. But, Infosys said that after a "careful re-consideration" it has concluded that putting out more details of the probe would "inhibit the company's ability to conduct effective investigations into any matter in the future".

Further, the company emphasised that its review had confirmed that "appropriate" and "timely disclosures" were indeed made on severance payments to the former CFO.
12:55 (ist)

BharatMala will contribue 2-3% to GDP, says Gadkari

"Our infrastructure plan will contribute 2-3 percent to the GDP and will create 2 lakh crore jobs. This is our target. The biggest profit is that NHI will become more autonomous. I believe that NHI will be able to fulfill 10,000 lakh crore target given to them. The Delhi Ringroad Highway will be finished in a month's time. The Delhi-Meerut package will be completed soon. For the first time, the Ministry is creating express highways which is also part of the SagarMala project. With the BharatMala project we will be able to link 550 districts."

Corruption-free, transparent project to be implemented

Our target is to fulfil BharatMala project be beginning work before 2017-end. We will finish the first phase of the project in 2 years time. The BharatMala project will be transparent-free, corruption, free and time-bound, says the Minister
The Narendra Modi governments Rs 9 lakh crore fiscal stimulus package, announced by Union finance minister Arun Jaitley and his team of officials at the finance ministry, is the first major acknowledgement from the government that all is not well in the economy  a change from the narrative advocated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) top brass and the government so far. This is a good sign. The government finally admits that the growth slowdown isnt merely technical and need deeper surgery.

Thus came the package consisting of about Rs 7 lakh crore infrastructure projects and Rs 2.11 lakh crore capital infusion into public sector banks. This is a welcome move, a much-needed one in an economy where growth has slowed considerably quarter after quarter, the banking sector is in peril and jobs are not being generated enough to accommodate millions of new workers.

There are two critical parts to Tuesdays announcement -- a massive spending promised on infrastructure to build roads, support small entrepreneurs and an unprecedented capital infusion programme announced for the ailing state-run banks that constitute 70 percent of the banking sector. Of these two, the promised infrastructure spending is a clear winner for the economy. The government plans to spend Rs 5.35 lakh crore to build 34,800 kilometres of roads under the Bharatmala programme and another 48,877 kilometres of works under other current schemes by NHAI/MoRTH with an outlay of Rs 1.57 lakh crore. If these investments materialise as planned, it will be a big boost to the economy not only to provide road connectivity to promote business environment, but also to generate a number of new jobs and spur demand for related industries (cement, construction). But a lot will depend on whether the government can manage the funding on time.

The plan is to raise Rs 2.09 lakh crore as debt from the market, Rs 1.06 lakh crore of private investments would be mobilised through public-private partnership (PPP) and Rs 2.19 lakh crore is to be provided out of accruals to the Central Road Fund (CRF), toll-operate-transfer (ToT) monetisation proceeds and toll collections of NHAI. The plan looks good on paper but one needs to see if there is enough appetite from investors.

Recap bonds

So also with the Rs 2.11 lakh crore bank recapitalisation. At the outset, the details (or the lack thereof) look a bit puzzling. Of the Rs 2.11 lakh crore, Rs 1.35 lakh crore is to come from the recapitalisation bonds and the remaining Rs 76,000 crore from the budget allocation and fund raising from the market. Of the Rs 76,000 crore, Rs 18,000 crore is likely to be part of the ongoing captitalisation programme under the Indradhanush plan. Can the banks attract investors to raise funds money from market is a key question. Until now, the experience has not been good.

Now, if one looks at the details of the package, there is no clarity yet on the modalities of the recapitalisation bonds. These instruments had been used in early 90s when the banking sector was in a crisis situation. These instruments are not pure equity recapitalisation like in the normal scenario when the government puts money in state-run banks. This is not the best way of recapitalising banks like in the case of pure equity capital infusion. Here, the bonds issued by the government (or any other agency) are bought by banks using their surplus cash and the government uses the same money to recapitalise these banks. So, there is no fresh cash flow coming from outside. Banks are essentially funding themselves using their surplus cash. This is a good way of recaptalising banks without putting much burden to the exchequer. Fiscally constrained governments world over have used unconventional instruments such as recap bonds to feed capital to their banks.

Clarity is needed on a few issues here.

First, what will be the nature of these bonds at redemption? If these bonds are converted into equity at the end of the tenure, the government holding in state-run banks will go up further contrary to the plan to reduce the holding.

Second, will these bonds be part of the government debt? During the presser on Tuesday, there was no clarity on this. Internationally, these instruments are not counted as part of the government debt but in the Indian system it may not be so. If that is the case, this will have a notable impact on the government's fiscal deficit.

Third, what about the interest costs of these bonds? If the government is the issuing agency, it will have to pay the interest. According to Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) Arvind Subramanian, the interest burden on the government would be about Rs 9,000 crore. The CEA is optimistic that this cost can be offset by the resultant increase in economic activities and private investments. But, that is an expectation while the immediate costs are real. One needs to wait for more details of the recapitalisation bonds to understand the full implications.

More importantly, the government will have to immediately follow up on the capitalisation programme to bring in structural reforms in the banking sector. This can be done only by way of bringing in accountability and professionalism in their lending operations.

The main reason why banks are sitting on large pile of corporate bad loans is years of careless lending and vulnerability to politically connected promoters. These loans have come back to hound banks now. Unless this situation changes even the fresh capital infusion would go the same way. In fact, much of the fresh capital infusion will have to be used to repair the cracked balance sheets hit by bad loans. If the recovery from defaulters is not followed up simultaneously, in effect, the taxpayers money is being used to compensate banks.

The Modi government has done well to finally acknowledge the problem in the economy and acting to offer the much-needed economic stimulus. It will take a while before the economy recovers from the shock of demonetisation and the GST implementation. But the roots of the current phase of economic slowdown run a lot deeper. Along with proper implementation of the economic stimulus, if the government initiates other structural reforms in the economy such as land and labor reforms, the economy can get back to the growth trajectory with a lag.
Aishwarya Rai has reportedly replaced Priyanka Chopra as the first choice to play beauty baroness Shahnaz Hussain in the latter's biopic.

The scriptwriter Kamlesh Pandey confirmed that Rai has been approached with the script and claimed that the former beauty queen has always been the first choice to play the protagonist. He went on to reveal that two other contemporary actresses had expressed a keen desire to essay the role of Hussain, which spans from the age of 16 to 60.

We want the tehzeeb and adab of the character to reflect in the actors DNA. The vocabulary certainly could not be that of the Facebook and Twitter generation. Aishwarya is perfect, keeping in mind all these prerequisites. She has immense potential in comparison to the opportunities that have come her way. Bollywood has been too preoccupied by Aishwarya Rais beauty to challenge the actor in her," said Pandey, according to a DNA report.

Hussain's biopic will be directed by Puja Bedi, daughter of veteran producer Bobby Bedi.

Puja was reportedly keen on casting Chopra in the lead role, however the actor's dates are booked for the next two years owing to her Hollywood commitments, however both Bedi and Pandey feel that Rai will do justice to the portrayal of the beauty mogul.
Comedian Kapil Sharma was present at the trailer launch of his upcoming film Firangi on 24 October and cleared the air about rumours over Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Anil Kapoor being angry with him over cancelled shows. Sharma also said he had wanted former colleague Sunil Grover to launch the trailer of Firangi.

"I wanted him (Sunil Grover) to launch 'Firangi's trailer. I even asked him to do it but he is in Canada currently. I guess he is performing a show there. So that couldn't be possible but if he was here he would have definitely been here," said Sharma when asked if he would like to patch up with Sunil Grover

"I love him. I like to work with the best of people. When I was doing Comedy Circus, I used to tell people, 'I met this guy Sunil Grover in Hans Baliye. 'Let's get him, I saw his show, I liked him'. When you work with the best, you learn a lot. Sunil and I, we have known each other for nine years now, and we have been working together for five years. I don't have any problem with Sunil, but had I been in his place, I would have definitely asked one time that 'I haven't seen you like this in five years, why are you behaving like this?' Maybe nothing would have happened. But still nothing has happened, I love him," Sharma stressed.

Sharma spoke about the alleged fight with Grover at the trailer launch of Firangi. He also opened up about the incident in which during a flight from Australia to Mumbai, Sharma had reportedly physically assaulted Grover.

Clarifying his stance, Sharma said: "When you move with such a huge team, you have to manage a lot of things and I am really bad at it, I will say that much. Touchwood, we have been working together for many years and I would like to repeat it one more time, I didn't actually fight with Sunil Grover at all. It didn't happen."

Narrating exactly what happened during the flight, Sharma said the fight happened with comedian Chandan Prabhakar, and not with Sunil.

He said: "When we reached Australia, since the first day, my mood was really bad. I was juggling so many things, I was shooting the show and for other things. During that time, my film's artiste died. I was so nervous and turned so negative. I wanted to cancel the Australia show but couldn't and before the show, a girl came to me complaining about a guy who happens to be my childhood friend, Chandan. I scolded him. I had to perform for one and a half hours and that girl and boy artiste had 10-minute stints. My whole thing was, 'You are bothering me with this when I have such a long performance ahead'. I am a little impulsive. Chandan went missing for five days. I wanted to meet him and apologize because I didn't listen to his side of the story. I saw him one hour before the Australia flight and I lost it again and I used cuss words again".

The actor also opened up about his depression and said he feels happy now that he had a chance to talk about it openly. "After reading what all media was publishing about me, I got even more depressed. It's upsetting that negative news is valued more on any platform. But because of it I even started to suffer from anxiety attacks. I miss my team, I can't detach myself easily from people and things on my mind. Things like these were the reasons why I could not perform and had to cancel a few shows (sic)," Sharma revealed.

Refuting rumours about Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Anil Kapoor being angry with him as he cancelled the shows which were supposed to feature them, Kapil said, "People wrote stories like, I've sent Shah Rukh Khan away from my sets. The thing is I reached the set at 2 pm and SRK was supposed to come at 7 pm

"He was shooting nearby and somewhere at 8 pm, I suddenly felt that I cannot shoot, I won't be able to go on set, I cancelled the shoot and then I cancelled the second shoot, third and fourth. Some people understood my problem, but some spread rumours," Sharma told the media.

Explaining the Anil Kapoor episode, Kapil said, "When Anil Kapoor sir came to the sets, he saw that I cannot host the show and he was okay with it. He assured me that he will come next time. Shah Rukh Khan came to meet me, he advised me 'Take rest and set your mind', and I took his advice and took a break. I even talked to Anil Kapoor as I was feeling guilty about cancelling the shoot," said Sharma, explaining his side of the story.

Kapil's upcoming film Firangi is set during the British era. The trailer reveals that the audience will be witnessing the quirkiest fight against the British that has ever been seen.

Talking about the film, Sharma said, "Films about the pre-Independence era have always shown the darker side of that time, but people still lived their lives and had happy moments. This film talks about those moments. People will love to see the slice of life feel in that era, they will be able to see how people lived in harmony and had some small fights too. Manga, my character, does not feel that the Brits were bad."

The film, directed by Rajiev Dhingra, is produced by Kapil Sharma and also stars Ishita Dutta, Monica Gill, Aanjjan Srivastav, Maryam Zakaria and Raju Srivastav (special appearance).

Firangi is scheduled for release on 24 November.

(With inputs from IANS)
The Anu Malik song Neend Churayi Meri from the 1997 hit comedy Ishq, which has been rehashed into Maine Tujhko Dekha by his nephew Amaal Malik for the Rohit Shetty film Golmaal Again has caused trouble in the Malik family.

It has been reported by Bombay Times that the renowned composer Anu Malik is miffed because his nephew did not inform him about using his tune, and for not being credited as the original composer. He said, "If you want to give a twist to a song, I have no problem, but don't forget to mention the original composer's name."

Amaal Malik has also presented his side of the story, saying We didnt need to take his permission, actually. We had taken the rights of the original song Sending All My Love by Linear on which the Neend Churayi Meri tune is based. However, Id have liked to take my uncles permission. That seemed like the right thing to do. We even wanted him to sing the remix. It would have been nice nostalgic touch. But he wouldnt entertain my calls. So I gave up, as reported by DNA.

Anu Malik who has been often criticised for plagiarising his tunes throughout his career, feels he should have been shown some courtesy and atleast informed of the matter.

I wish Amaal all the best, but it will always be an Anu Malik tune. It is fine to recreate, but don't forget to credit the original composers. You should pick up the call and tell the original composer, 'this is what I am going to do.' But if you don't have the courtesy to do that, at least, give credit. Thankfully, people know who the composer is, so it is a great feeling."

Amaal Malik was roped in for a rejig of the song, and feels the song is a tribute to his uncle and that he has only retained the hook line and added new verses. In an earlier interview he had also mentioned how he does not enjoy rehashing old numbers, as is the trend nowadays.

The new song is sung by Neeraj Pandey and Sukriti Kakkar, and penned by Kumaar and Rahat Indori.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticised the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) for its protest against the Vijay-starrer Tamil film Mersal. He insisted nobody can object to a film after it has been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

While speaking after a protest meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, he expressed his full support for the film's cast and crew. The former Union minister claimed anybody has the democratic right to make films over social and political issues and if it has passed the CBFCs approval, no one can object to it. He also alleged that the BJP is nothing but trying to intimidate Mersals producers and called it 'completely unacceptable.'

He believes GST was a great idea but it was 'badly implemented' and the general people are now up in arms against it. Consumers and traders have started to complain and "everyone has the right to say that," Tharoor stated.

Thousands of Vijay fans are seeing this protest as an 'insult' to him, Tharoor pointed out. He added that it was simply unjustifiable for a political party like BJP to demand cuts in the film.

Tharoor also said BJP has no right to create an issue about Vijay's religion for acting in this movie. "They made an announcement that Vijay is Joseph Vijay. Do we go for a film after looking at the religion of an actor," he questioned.

Remember: @INCIndia stands for freedom of expression, in or out of power. Creative freedom is only safe in the hands of those who value it. https://t.co/1oLZi3Bm7D  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 21, 2017

The protest is against the BJP's attempt to infringe on democratic rights and freedom of expression," he said, on the Thiruvanathapuram protest meet.The protest countering BJPs demands was staged by Vichar Vibhag of the Kerala Congress Pradesh Committee.

BJP had earlier protested against Mersal for certain dialogues that are allegedly flaying the GST. Tamil Nadu BJP leaders such as state unit chief Tamilisai Soundararajan and national secretary H Raja have raised questions over the references to GST in the recently released Tamil movie and said dialogues in the film were extremely inappropriate.
News / Press Release

by Tendai Mazenge

The People's Democratic Party PDP led by Hon Tendai Biti strongly condemn yesterday's violence that reportedly injured Delmar, the MDC T Chitungwiza South District Organising Secretary and others. He was badly brutalized and his house and property destroyed by suspected Zanu Pf youths in Unit M and left for dead.For exercising his democratic right of conducting a voter registration programme for his party, Delmar is now seeking treatment at Chitungwiza Hospital as his legs were butchered by machetes.Violence in any context is indefensible and will not effect the necessary reforms Zimbabwe needs to achieve true democracy and national reconciliation. Violence will not accomplish anything but furthers Instability. The Zanu Pf continued policy of criminalizing peaceful voter mobilization has only contributed to an environment of mistrust among supporters of different political parties. As PDP we strongly condemn the violence carried out by suspected Zanu Pf youths in Chitungwiza.We can never tolerate bigotry, hatred and the violence carried out in its name.PDP is a member of the MDC Alliance and what happened to our members is of great concern for both parties. We condemn the violence and discrimination of any kind regardless of which political party one is affiliated to.Whilst we cannot comment on this case in particular as it is rightly being investigated by the Chitungwiza Police ,it is important that everyone in our community know that as PDP we are against this kind of brutality. Chitungwiza is well known to be a tolerant and welcoming city that is proud of its diversity.We are absolutely sure that the overwhelming response to this incident will be of huge concern and care for our cadres.We must never be complacent about the need to address prejudices that exist in all societies. PDP will certainly never tolerate such attitudes in our cities as the safety and well being of our supporters is a priority. We therefore hope that the perpetrators will be brought to book and answer for their transgressions. PDP - committed to community - dedicated to progress. Another Zimbabwe is possibleTendai MazengePDP Secretary for Information and Publicity, Harare Province
All the speculations of Sushant Singh Rajput quitting upcoming film RAW have come true. Team RAW - Romeo Akbar Walter has confirmed that the actor has left the project and his sudden exit has not gone down well with the producer Bunty Walia.

In a report by Mumbai Mirror, Bunty has majorly lashed out at the actor for his deranged behaviour and impulsive decision. He also said that he will make sure film gets even bigger now, adding that Sushant Singh Rajput leaving has emotionally affected Robbie Grewal, the director of the film. The first look of the film did quite well with SSR in the poster as the lead.

Now that we have the time, were working to improve the script and it should be ready by month-end, after which the director will decide which actors to approach, said Bunty.

Rumors also claim that Bunty's best buddy Abhishek Bachchan might try fit into Sushant's shoes, as they are barely left with an option.

Ive heard the speculations too but Ive left that decision to Robbie. Ill definitely try to influence him to meet Abhishek, Bunty said to Mumbai Mirror.

The film is based on true events from the era of 1971. Major chunks of the film will be shot in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Kashmir, and Kathmandu. Making it very clear that he is quite offended, Bunty further said, Its a great story that needs to be told. Bad luck to the one who missed the bus.

While there are so many issues doing rounds about SSR in the media, he seems pretty unaffected. SSR Tweeted some of his 'selfmusing' moments on Twitter recently.
New Delhi: The Election Commission on Wednesday rejected suggestions that there was a "collusion" between it and the government to delay the announcement of the Gujarat elections to give the ruling party time to announce new projects in the poll-bound state.

"There is no question of a mili bhagat (collusion)... as I have mentioned, several factors were considered by the commission before deciding on the election dates (of Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat)," Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti told reporters.

He was asked about allegations by the Opposition that there was a tacit understanding between the EC and the government on Gujarat election dates.

Asked whether it was a 'bad decision' on part of the poll panel to give the Gujarat government nearly a fortnight to announce new projects and schemes by declaring the Himachal election schedule first, he replied in the negative.

"No, I don't think it was a bad decision," he said.

The question-answer session which followed the announcement of Gujarat poll dates was dominated by queries related to the EC announcing the poll schedule for the two states separately.

When his comments were sought on the statements of some of the former CECs that the EC should not have delayed Gujarat poll date announcement, Joti said he would not like to say anything on the opinion of his predecessors.

"I would not like to say anything on what the former ECs and CECs have said. So the situation is static. We take decisions on prevailing situation. Situations are dynamic in nature," he said.

Joti also said that though the poll schedule of the two states were announced together in 2012, in the past the two states had elections on different dates.

"Nothing is written on stone. But there are laws," he said and referred to the election law.

He said several political parties and the state administration had urged the EC to hold Himachal Pradesh elections before 15 November as harsh winter and snowfall in at least three districts create problems for the voting process.

Joti said to man polling stations, the commission required the services of Gujarat government officials who were busy in flood relief and rehabilitation work.

He said the Gujarat chief secretary had written to the EC on two occasions  25 September and 2 October  requesting not to announce polls as the state was working to rehabilitate people affected by July floods.

He said between 25 September and 22 October, the flood relief work has progressed and long-term measures were being undertaken in the state.

He also gave out figures on the losses incurred by the state, relief funds disbursed and amount ending distribution.

"I don't say that they should complete it (first). But the work should be maximised as they would then get busy with polls... This time, due to the use of (VVPAT) paper-trail machines, the training would be more intense. Since the same officials are involved in relief work, they cannot be used for poll duty," Joti had earlier said.

He said EC had not announced poll schedule in Tamil Nadu in 2016 after floods as school and university examination schedule had already gone haywire.

The CEC said while the Gujarat and Himachal polls were announced together in 2012, their schedules were different. He also pointed out that the two states had no similarities in geography or weather patterns.

Responding to the argument that by "delaying" the announcement of the Gujarat polls, the EC was giving time to parties and the government to sidestep the provisions of the model code, Joti said in 2001 the law ministry and the EC had reached an understanding following which it was decided that there would not be a gap of more than 21 days between the announcement of polls and the date of the notification of the elections.

He said this would effectively mean that the model code would be in place for 46 days.
New Delhi: Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said the government is ready to talk to every section of Kashmir to normalise the situation there and to go ahead with the political process.

"We are ready to talk to everyone in Jammu and Kashmir. If some section is not ready to talk, we can talk to students, traders, traders associations, any political leader and Kashmiri people," he told the media.

Jaitley said home minister Rajnath Singh has said that the Centre is ready to talk to whoever wants to talk in Jammu and Kashmir. "This is a good thing. It will push the political process ahead," he said.

Welcoming the initiative, Jaitley said: "There is a proper intelligence network in Jammu and Kashmir in the last three years and Hurriyat has been exposed before Kashmiris for the first time."

"After establishment of the intelligence network, Jammu and Kashmir Police and security agencies have been heavily dominating for the first time, and the result is that the terrorists are on the run."

Asked if the government will talk to Pakistan, Jaitley said: "It is another matter. Pakistan will have to create the situation for the talks, and the people of Kashmir will not have to worry about this. The home ministry is talking to its people."

He said the UPA government had no policy on Kashmir. They were just providing "band aid" support to the violence-hit state from time to time, Jaitley said.

"The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government had no policy on Kashmir. When there was no policy, it was said that silent or invisible dialogue was going on. There was no silent or invisible dialogue, it was non-existent (dialogue)," Jaitley told media.

The finance minister also raised questions on the UPA government's Working Group to deal with the problems of people in Jammu and Kashmir.

"It was completely a myth that the UPA government had set up a working group. There was a working group on Centre-State relationship. I was a member of the group. No meeting was held of that group. Only a report was handed over to the central government. I don't know who wrote the report.

"That time, I wrote a letter to the then prime minister Manmohan Singh asking him that there is no report of the working group. I am one of the members of that group but I hadn't seen any such report," Jaitley said.

The minister accused the previous Congress-led UPA government of not taking the Jammu and Kashmir problem seriously or thinking about a permanent solution for the state.

"Thousands of protests would occur that time but the UPA government's policy was just to put band aid over the problems from time to time."
Countering the Opposition parties move to observe 'Black day' on first demonetisation anniversary, finance minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday defended the note ban and slammed the Congress for its criticism of the 'bold reform'. Jaitley announced that the BJP will observe 8 November, the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation decision, as anti-black money day.

8th November will complete one year of #demonetisation. Party has decided to celebrate the day as anti-black money day: FM Arun Jaitley pic.twitter.com/yMtEnhmnX4  News18 (@CNNnews18) October 25, 2017

Party leaders and Union ministers will organise various programmes and inform people about the steps taken by the government against black money, the finance minister said.

He further explained that the aim of the government's decision to flush out old higher currency notes was to increase the tax base, squeeze terrorist funding and detect counterfeit money. "People who deposited money disproportionate to their income were forced to pay taxes" after the note ban, he said. It was a huge decision to make India a cashless economy, he added.

Hailing the move, the finance minister said that following the note ban, the government has increased digitisation and the tax base. Digital transactions have doubled, he said while adding that even on Dhanteras, people bought something like gold online.

He also slammed the Congress, saying that he cannot remember any significant step take by the party when they were in power. Congress is a losing and disgruntled party, which never understood demonetisation, the finance minister said.

The Congress' Uttar Pradesh unit had said that it will observe 8 November as 'Black Day' and hold processions to highlight its "ill-effects".

"We will observe November 8 as a 'black day for the economy' throughout the state, and take out a candlelight march at 8 pm. During the day, meetings, processions and nukkad sabhas will also be held.

"On this day, we will pay tributes to martyrs (balidaaniyo) of demonetisation," Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Raj Babbar had told reporters in Lucknow.

There were no benefits of demonetisation, but only losses. There was unemployment, development came to a standstill and farmers are feeling harassed, Babbar had claimed.

Hitting out at Modi, he also said, "We demand that the prime minister tender an apology to the people for causing damage to the economy."

"We also demand compensation for those who died due to demonetistaion. Modi should be sensitive. A situation should not arise that elections are held on choosing the tolerant and intolerant, instead of being held on issues," Babbar had said.

Even West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that her party will observe 8 November as 'Black Day' and called the note ban as the country's "biggest scam".

"Demonetisation is the biggest scam in the country. There should be an investigation to know why it was done. Our party leaders will observe Kala Dibas (Black Day) in each and every block between 2 pm and 3 pm on 8 November," Banerjee announced.
Bhopal: Over 16 lakh farmers in Madhya Pradesh would benefit from a government scheme under which the 'model price' of their products will be deposited directly into their bank accounts, a senior official has said.

The direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme of the state government is called 'Bhavantar Yojana'.

Under the scheme, the difference between the market price (to be determined by the government) and the minimum support price (MSP) of crops, called the 'model price', will be deposited directly to the accounts of farmers.

"Over 16 lakh farmers have been registered under Bhavantar Yojana, which is being implemented for the first time in the country.

"Under the scheme, farmers would be paid the difference between the market price or the model sale price and the MSP of crops directly into their bank accounts," said Rajesh Rajora, Principal Secretary, Farmers Welfare and Agriculture Development, at a press conference last evening.

Rajora said crops like soyabean, groundnut, sesame, ramtil, moong, urad, arhar and maize have been included under the scheme.

Farmers of the districts under one climatic zone would get equal price of their produce. The model sale price would be declared on 31 December, when the 'sale window' in mandis (local markets) would be closed, he said.

He said the model sale price would be fixed on the basis of the price of a crop sold in three states, including two neighbouring states, during the period of sale window. Rajora said the total crop arrival is estimated to be 58.65 lakh metric tonne under the scheme.
Darjeeling: Dubbing a CID probe into the death of a state police sub-inspector a West Bengal government "conspiracy", Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supremo Bimal Gurung has demanded that the CBI take over the investigation to unearth the truth.

Gurung's comment comes days after the West Bengal CID took charge of the probe into the killing of Amitabh Malik near Darjeeling earlier in October.

The police alleged Malik was shot at by supporters of Gurung when security forces went in search of the GJM chief who they believed was hiding in a wooded area on 13 October.

"The probe by the CID is a conspiracy by the West Bengal government against him (Malik) and the GJM. They are trying to frame the GJM. Only a CBI inquiry can bring out the truth," Gurung, who has been absconding, said in a widely-aired audio message from an undisclosed location on Tuesday night.

Gurung has been in hiding since August, after cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act were registered against him for his alleged involvement in several bomb blasts in Darjeeling and adjoining areas.

"Eleven GJM activists have died in the last four months. The CBI should also probe those deaths," he added.
The bookseller who allegedly sexually assaulted an 11-year-old in a Noida school was sent to judicial custody on Wednesday, ANI reported.

#UPDATE Accused sent to judicial custody for allegedly sexually assaulting a foreign national student inside school premises in Gr Noida.  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 25, 2017

According to the complaint filed by the parents, the boy returned from school and started crying. When his parents consoled him and asked the reason, he told them that a man in the schools administration department had been sexually assaulting him, reported The Hindustan Times.

Girish Kumar Kotiya, Station House Officer, Surajpur police station, told The Indian Express that after the boys parents registered a complaint, police immediately contacted the school administration. Police said a case was registered under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3/4 of the POCSO Act.

The child's mother has alleged they had been noticing changes in his behaviour over the last few years.

The Times of India reported quoted Surajpur SHO Girish Kotiya as saying, "His mother has alleged the child has been sodomised for the past 4-5 years. They had been noticing changes in his behaviour for a while, during which time his academic grades, which were earlier in the 90s, had also seen a steady decline,"

A six-member internal committee has been formed to probe the case, reported Zee News.

This incident comes just a month after the murder of a Ryan International School student in Gurugram.

Pradhyuman Thakur, a Class 2 student was found with his throat slit in the washroom of the school on 8 September.

School bus conductor Ashok Kumar was arrested in connection with the crime following the incident.

The trustees of the Ryan group, CEO Ryan Pinto and his parents, Group's founding chairman Augustine Pinto and managing director Grace Pinto, were also arrested, but were granted interim bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on 28 September.

The victim's father on 9 October moved the Supreme Court challenging the extension of the interim anticipatory bail granted to three trustees.

With inputs from agencies
New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament and alleged the "anti-woman mindset of the RSS" was standing in his way.

Congress spokesperson Sushmita Dev demanded that the Bill be introduced and passed in the winter session of Parliament and implemented in the 2019 general elections.

"The question is, why is the prime minister silent till today? I have no doubt that it is the ideals and principles and the mindset of the RSS which has always been anti-woman and against empowering women, politically and otherwise, that is standing in his way," she said.

The passage of the Bill would be just the beginning of the process, she added.

"Passing the Bill is step one there are various other steps after that which have to be taken so that it is fully implemented in 2019," she told reporters.

The Congress leader alleged that even after ruling for three and a half years, the prime minister had "done nothing" about his "self-proclaimed commitment" to the Bill, also mentioned in the BJP manifesto.

She demanded that the Bill be introduced in the Lok Sabha and constituencies be identified and reserved for women before the next general poll.

"Please make sure it is implemented in 2019," she said. Dev, who is also the All India Mahila Congress chief, said she along with other party workers submitted a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind, carrying signatures of 32 lakh people for the early passage of the Bill.

While the delegation sought Kovind's support on this, she said all Mahila Congress district presidents would submit memorandums to the prime minister through district collectorates on 31 October, demanding an early passage.

Dev said Congress president Sonia Gandhi wrote to Modi on 21 September, assuring him of her party's support to the Bill, but Modi had not responded to or acknowledged the letter.

"The BJP in its own manifesto in 2014 said they were committed to 33 percent reservation for women," she said, adding that the ruling party had not fulfilled its commitment towards women even after three and a half years.

"The Modi government has not only betrayed the youth, farmers and the poor but is also deceiving the political aspirations of 586 million women," she said.

Moving on to the social media, Dev asked if the government's National Informatics Centre had hired a private firm for its "online reputation management".

"I want to question the IT minister... is the NIC being used to help you with social media trending? Are you spending tax payers money?" she asked.

Information Technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad must answer questions raised in the public domain, she said. Dev demanded an impartial investigation into companies that had allegedly obtained government contracts to do "the personal PR of BJP Leaders" on social media sites.
Now that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has visited New Delhi right after the Centre announced talks with all stakeholders in Kashmir, another parallel with the 2003 situation, when then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee offered talks, has fallen into place.

However, prospects seem much more bleak for the new "representative" Dineshwar Sharma, a former director of the Intelligence Bureau. To see why, let's compare the current circumstances with those from February 2003, when NN Vohra  currently the state's governor  was appointed as the government interlocutor.

The main difference is that Geelani and Yasin Malik had split from the Hurriyat Conference the previous year, while most of the remaining Hurriyat leaders were eager for dialogue and peace. But in the present situation, the threat of militants is so great that they are unlikely to do the same.

The second big difference is similar: Mobilisation of troops on the border from December 2001 till the end of 2002 had forced Pakistan to drastically reduce the training and ingress of fresh militants. And emerging technology had made it much easier to track existing militants.

The third difference then was that Mufti Mohammed Sayeed had taken charge as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in November 2002 with a sincere "healing touch" policy. The forces were reined in, and common people were responsive to a peaceful resolution.

The fourth difference was that Prime Minister Vajpayee had already won the hearts of most Kashmiris with moves such as a unilateral ceasefire during Ramzan in November 2000, and a peace mission to Lahore in February 1999.

A fifth key difference is that Vajpayee was preparing to re-engage with Pakistan when Vohra was appointed. He went to Srinagar two months after that appointment and publicly invited Pakistan to engage in an earnest dialogue to resolve the issue. Confidence-building measures, such as opening of roads across the Line of Control, followed. The atmosphere was very positive, and by the beginning of 2004, Pakistan had warmly responded to Vajpayee's talks offer. The so-called "four-point formula" or the "Musharraf plan" emerged over the next couple of years.

A few days after Vajpayee made his dramatic announcement in Srinagar, fiesty US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage was expected in New Delhi  just like current US secretary of state Rex Tillerson is in 2017. On both occasions, the US was expected to press India to resolve the Kashmir dispute through negotiations.

In 2003, the US, which had just invaded Iraq the previous month, was eager to ensure that the situation in Afghanistan remained in control. The post-9/11 invasion of Afghanistan had made Washington dependent on Pakistani routes, logistical support and intelligence inputs. And Pakistan was pressing the US on Kashmir.

Today, the US is again trying hard again to balance its relationships with India and Pakistan. It sees India as the lynchpin of efforts to check China's rise, but also cannot do without Pakistan for access to Afghanistan.

Nor is the US new to getting involved with "the Kashmir problem". As early as 1949, the United Nations had tried to appoint US Admiral Nimitz to arbitrate between India and Pakistan. But then prime minister Nehru had put his foot down, refusing firmly.

It was Nehru who first appointed a committee, headed by his education minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, to negotiate Kashmir's relationship with India  with a Kashmiri team, led by Sheikh Abdullah.

As militancy emerged in 1989, Rajiv Gandhi appointed a ministerial committee, which included the then minister of state P Chidambaram, to figure out what to do in Kashmir.

VP Singh appointed his railway minister, George Fernandes  at Rajiv Gandhi's suggestion, immediately after an all-party delegation had visited Kashmir.

Negotiators, representatives and interlocutors since then have included KC Pant, Arun Jaitley, a couple of home secretaries of the day, and a three-member committee in 2010. Apart from Vohra, who got the majority Hurriyat on board, the Indo-Pak

dialogue process  and to meet the prime minister and home minister in New Delhi  none of them got very far.

But let us wish Dineshwar Sharma the best.
Mumbai: Eminent scientist Dr K Kasturirangan was on Wednesday named chairman of the search committee to appoint the new vice-chancellor of Mumbai University after Dr Sanjay Deshmukh was sacked for delay in announcing results of the March 2017 university exams in time.

Kasturirangan, former chief of ISRO and Padma Vibhushan awardee, is now the chairman of the committee to prepare the final draft of the National Education Policy.

Deshmukh was removed as VC on Tuesday for gross negligence and failure to announce the results in time.

Governor and Mumbai University Chancellor Vidyasagar Rao exercised the powers conferred upon him under section 11(14) (e) of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016 to sack Deshmukh.

A statement issued by Raj Bhavan had stated that Deshmukh (52) had failed to comply with directions regarding early declaration of results issued by the chancellor from time to time.

Deshmukh, who worked with the RSS think-tank Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini as director (research) from 2001 to 2003, was appointed as Rajan Welukar's successor to be the varsity's vice-chancellor in July 2015.

Notwithstanding Opposition from stake-holders and the government and the university's lack of preparedness to handle the online assessment, Deshmukh hastily implemented the massive project which created the chaos in the last five months.

In August, he was asked to go on forced leave.

Meanwhile, the Bombay University and College teachers' Union (BUCTU) has termed Deshmukh's sacking as a step too little, too late.

Aaditya Thackeray, whose students' wing Yuva Sena has been actively opposing Deshmukh's moves for long, said there should not be any mistakes in appointing an able VC for the university now.
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Zimbabwe is a state, in its statehood, it is founded on principles of human rights and compliance to international principles that include cooperation and solidarity to causes of humanity. In its nationhood, the land is guided by a representative democracy that places the presidium as its solemn international proxy in issues of global politics and global administration. Peculiar to the linear unpatriotic perspectives that only observe the ridiculing of the presidium as a supplementation of the intra-national anti-Mugabe mantra, it proposes rather a new dimensional observation of this clear subject but deliberately misinterpreted.The debate about the disappointment of President Mugabe by WHO on the ambassadorial post has transmogrified beyond the level of global health administration. The matter has transformed into being an issue of Mugabe's inadequacies and its tandem with the WHO objectives. It has also attracted observations that include matrices of power and influence in global politics. It is therefore justified for the "independent" academia using concepts of International Law and the mantra of intra- state patriotism to understand the controversy.President Robert Gabriel Mugabe was appointed as the WHO ambassador not in his personal capacity, but as the president and head of a government and head of a legally existing state. What this means is that the inconsistency emanating from WHO does not only ridicule the persona of Mugabe but it ridicules "the Zimbabwean State" that legally placed Mugabe as its representative in such critical positions. WHO is an organization that is founded on professional ethics; hence, we can boldly say that WHO's appointment of President Mugabe as its ambassador was done through a thorough professional procedure. It then defeats the possible border lines of international administration in relation to the respect of other existing states, when the same institution that appointed President Mugabe, whom they clearly knew, including the knowledge about charges leveled against him that are said to constitute the controversy surrounding the ambassadorial post in discussion.. Even if it's true that President Mugabe is guilty of committing the charges leveled against him, that does not mean the Zimbabwean State that he represents is guilty of those charges. The honor to appoint President Mugabe was not to him, as an individual, but as the constitutionally legal representative of the Republic of Zimbabwe. In its own right, a polity that have recorded successes in cooperating with world health policies that target the reduction of NCDs.The act to embarrass and take lightly the presidium of Zimbabwe is a direct devaluation of Zimbabwean authority that is founded on democracy. The presidium represents the Zimbabweans who deserve their right to be respected, and have their dignity recognized even by actors in the global regime. For Zimbabweans, it is critical to understand the long term effects of this ridicule, its effects must not be calculated under the 'Mugabe is wrong' spell. Regardless of our political preferential fragmentations, our national interests are still the equivalent. Hence, the de weighing of Zimbabwean authority sets an unscrupulous precedence for Zimbabwe in international politics; it presents a Zimbabwe that is of no subsequent value hence any mimicry to it is tolerable. Those who are celebrating from the linear terraces that President Mugabe was ridiculed should understand that this issue is not about president Mugabe it is about Zimbabwe and how the global regime perceives Zimbabwe. When we as Zimbabweans cooperate with the global regime when it is ridiculing our institutions of power, it should register that we are normalizing the culture of 'Zimbabwean authority being a joke'.Those Zimbabweans that are celebrating the cancelation of the ambassadorial appointment of Zimbabwe through President Mugabe should never misthink that it equals them to the global regime and its agenda of normalizing the outcome of disciplining a scoundrel regime. Even if the Zimbabwean presidium is rogue, it is only up to the Zimbabweans through its effectively entrenched systems of democracy, to handle and deal with it. Hence, when Zimbabweans collaborate with WHO, they accelerate the undermining of Zimbabwe's sovereignty. Those leaders, who condone the behavior of WHO that deliberately reduced Zimbabwe, should know that by normalizing the culture of embarrassing Zimbabwe, even if it is now from other different international organizations in future. When a culture to handle a nation state is established, that culture outlives the cause it was formulated for, it goes to regenerate itself as a norm even in the future. As the polity, when we cooperate in this wrongdoing, we are normalizing the culture of denigrating our institutions of power that are a representation of our statehood.
Ahmedabad: A court in Gandhinagar on Wednesday ordered inquiry into a complaint by Narendra Patel, member of the Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), that BJP leaders offered him a bribe to join the party.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate R Trivedi ordered 'court inquiry' after hearing the PAAS leader's lawyer, and asked him to submit evidence on 3 November.

Last week, Narendra Patel claimed that the ruling party offered him Rs 1 crore to switch loyalties. He then filed a private complaint in the court seeking probe against five BJP leaders.

The BJP leaders tried to "purchase him like a slave" by giving him Rs 10 lakh and promising more money, he claimed.

The complaint names state BJP president Jitu Vaghani, state BJP youth wing president Rutvij Patel, party spokesperson Bharat Pandya as well as former PAAS leaders Varun Patel and Mahesh Patel who have joined the ruling party.

He has sought probe under IPC sections 171 (H) (illegal payment in connection with an election), 171 (C) (undue influence at election), 370 (buying or disposing of any person as a slave), 384 (extortion), 417 (cheating), 506 (2) (criminal intimidation) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy).

The BJP leaders also wanted him to approach other PAAS members and buy them off as they were speaking against the party, Narendra Patel claimed in the complaint.

Narendra Patel joined the BJP on Sunday. Few hours later he held a press conference and alleged that he had been offered Rs 1 crore for joining the party, and showed Rs 10 lakh in cash which he said he had received.

He joined the BJP only to expose it, he said.

In his plea, he said he was approaching the court with a private complaint as he didn't trust police.
New Delhi: India must fight the next war with home-made solutions, Army chief General Bipin Rawat said on Wednesday while strongly pitching for developing the domestic defence industry.

"We must win the next war with home-made solutions," he said at a conference on defence modernisation at FICCI.

The Army chief also underlined the need for developing an indigenous intelligence and surveillance system to keep a hawk eye vigil on the borders with China and Pakistan as well as to ensure foolproof security at military installations in the

hinterland.

In this context, General Rawat also spoke about the Pathankot and Uri terror attacks, noting that security at military installations was becoming a matter of concern.

"Security of our installations in hinterland is becoming a cause of concern because we keep getting reports about likelihood of some attacks on the lines of Uri and Pathankot in some of our bases," the Army chief said.

He said the private sector must join hands with the government to find solutions to the needs of the security forces.

Stressing on developing the domestic defence industry, General Rawat said the Army was working with the private sector and academia on developing indigenous systems and platforms.

The Army chief also urged the private sector to utilise its financial resources for carrying out research and development activities, focusing on requirement of the armed forces.

India is a leading importer of arms and military platforms globally and the NDA government has listed indigenisation of defence manufacturing as a priority area.
Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat has said the appointment of a new interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, will not impact the work being done by the army in the state.

According to comments reported by the ANI news agency, Rawat said the government's strategy on Kashmir has worked and the army is negotiating from a position of strength. He also insisted that infiltration has come down.

Government has appointed him,let him work, it will not affect Army's operations: Army Chief Bipin Rawat on J&K interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma  ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2017

Rawat's comments come on the heels of his assertion that radicalisation in Kashmir was being addressed with a "lot of seriousness". He had also brushed aside the issue of alleged braid chopping incidents in the state as a "routine matter" which the civil administration and the police would deal with.

"Radicalisation is taking place. It is a worldwide phenomenon that radicalisation is taking place. We are addressing it with a lot of seriousness," Rawat had told reporters when asked if radicalisation was taking place in the Kashmir Valley.

Dineshwar Sharma, a former director of the Intelligence Bureau, was appointed as the government's representative to initiate dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir.

A 1979-batch (retired) officer of the Indian Police Service, Sharma also served as the Intelligence Bureau director between December 2014 and 2016.

The Centre's representative will engage with all walks of life in Jammu and Kashmir and understand their legitimate aspirations, said Home Minister Rajnath Singh. "Dineshwar Sharma will initiate dialogue with elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir, political parties, different organisations and people," Singh had said.

He added said that Sharma will be free to decide whom he wishes to hold talks with, according to a report in India Today.

Asked whether he would talk to separatist groups in the Valley, Sharma had said, "The modalities are being worked out, but I would like to talk to everyone who is interested in bringing permanent peace in the Valley. Let me make it clear that peace is priority and for that my doors will be open to everyone."

"For a substantive dialogue, I will need to talk to everybody," Sharma had told Hindustan Times after the announcement was made public on Monday.

The report said that Sharma was known to have "had a meeting with national security advisor Ajit Doval and the home minister a few hours before the formal announcement".

"Peace must be restored in Kashmir and for that I will talk to all people in an effort to bring about a solution," he added, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

With inputs from agencies
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the Centre's plea challenging the Calcutta High Court order on withdrawal of security forces from Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal.

A bench of Justices J Chelameswar and S Abdul Nazeer said the matter will be listed on 27 October.

Appearing for the Centre, advocate Wasim Qadri said the Calcutta High Court had on 17 October stayed the withdrawal of security forces from the disturbed areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

He said the Centre needs to deploy forces in the poll-bound states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

Some forces also need to be deployed along the borders of Jammu and Kashmir and in the north-eastern states, he added.

The Calcutta High Court had stayed the withdrawal of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) from the Darjeeling Hills, the scene of unrest over the statehood demand, till 27 October after the state government approached it against the Centre's decision.

The high court had on 14 July directed the Centre to deploy four more companies of CAPF in addition to the 11 that was already present in the Hills then.

The West Bengal government had written to the Centre seeking extended deployment of CAPF till 25 December, but was told that of the 15 companies present, 10 would be withdrawn on 15 October and the rest by 20 October.

The state was later informed by the Centre that three companies of women CRPF personnel of the 10 proposed to be withdrawn on 15 October would stay there till 20 October, he said.

The counsel for the central government had claimed that the situation in the Darjeeling Hills had improved compared to July when the order on deployment of paramilitary contingents had been passed by the high court.
The ambivalence suffusing the political atmospherics in the hills of West Bengal's Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts was given a new twist on Wednesday. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung, now in hiding, called for a day's total shutdown in protest against the death of a party worker in the wee hours after, what he alleged, was "months of torture" while in police custody. In an audio message, he also charged the state police authorities of forcing GJM workers under duress to join the Trinamool Congress, the ruling party in the state.

The shutdown which had a marginal impact in Kalimpong and even less in the rest of the hills came less than a month after the lifting of the 100 days-and-more strike in the region to press for a separate "Gorkhaland" state. Gurung, who is on the run since being slapped with terror charges, and those for incidents of violence in the course of the stir also urged unity within a party that was divided with a section sold out to what he insinuated was the state government. He was obviously referring to those with rebel GJM leader Binay Tamang, who has not only emerged as a potent challenger to his hegemony within the party but had earlier, on assuming his present avatar, also ruled out strikes in the hills.

Over the passing weeks, the statehood issue that had propelled the June-September stir seemed to have been put on the back burner in local public discourse with attention diverted to the tussle for stewardship within the GJM. But in his message, Gurung recalled the sacrifices made in support of the "110-year-old Gorkhaland demand" and urged for a better future for the future generations in the hills.

On his part, Tamang, who has described himself as an "andolankari (agitator)", has been maintaining that he would continue with a democratic movement for a permanent solution to the statehood issue.

The on-going contest for power within the GJM has its fair share of intrigue, not least because it continues to rage with Gurung in absentia. For the first time since the party was formed a decade ago, he finds his supremacy more than just challenged; it is under considerable threat and reportedly suffering erosion every other passing day.

As the security forces continue their search for him, he is fighting his battle to retain control of his party from the forests where he is hiding. Leaving the rest to his acolytes who still continue to enjoy the liberties that come with not being forced as yet to go underground, he is left with little choice but to resort to the occasional audio clip to send across his message, with the desperate hope of keeping his flock together.

If this were a ploy of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to push the GJM chief and architect of the Gorkhaland stir out of reckoning by isolating him from the rank and file of his party, she seems to have played her cards well, at least for now.

But there is a flip-side to this game-plan: it also risks ending up enhancing Gurung's stature as a political leader fighting the Gorkhaland cause from distinctly hostile surroundings, in stark contrast to Tamang, out to unseat him from the saddle and who is enjoying the trappings of new-found power under the tutelage of Banerjee.

Given the animus of local hill sentiment with the state government  a factor that feeds the Gorkhaland demand and fuels the underlying political dynamic in the region  playing a victim to the alleged machinations of the state authorities can have its own political rewards. Not surprisingly, Gurung, in his audio messages harps on this theme and his contention could well resonate with the local public.

In this jockeying for power within the GJM, the advantage apparently presently lies with Tamang and the rebel faction of the party which he leads. Handpicked by the chief minister as chairman of the Board of Administrators of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, he is welcoming to his fold sections of the party leadership every other day. Loyalties apparently are switching with a rapidity that at times is confounding to even the most astute of political observers.

But it could be injudicious if not premature to even suggest that the developments are reminiscent of the times when leaders en masse forsook Subash Ghisingh, then mentor to many today occupying the top-rung of the GJM, to break away from the all-powerful Gorkha National Liberation Front to form the GJM under the leadership of Gurung in October 2007.

To be sure, Tamang, despite the emerging picture of being on the ascendancy at least for the time being has his own anxieties to contend with. They stem from primarily two sets of public perception. What is being perceived as his growing proximity to the state government and the patronage he enjoys of Banerjee could well backfire when the political crunch comes.

The aspirations of Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, which is keen to first recover ground in the hills because of the recent statehood stir and, that done, consolidate its position is no secret. Neither is the fact that presently the only credible impediment to its political designs in the hills is the GJM, a party that Tamang is working towards tightening his hold on.
New Delhi: In a bid to expedite linking of mobile phone numbers with Aadhaar, the government today announced three new modes to complete the process from the comfort of home. Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha said mobile numbers can be linked with Aadhaar through OTP (one time password), app or IVRS facility.

This has been done to simplify the process and make it convenient for people, the minister said. While the authentication of mobile phone number with Aadhaar, a process called re-verification, by visiting stores of telecom firms will continue, the government has also ordered the companies to carry out the exercise at the doorsteps of the disabled, chronically ill and senior citizens.

For users who do not have the 12-digit biometric identification number, a separate mechanism for e-verification  an exercise designed to weed-out dummy and unscrupulous users  will be put in place shortly, a source said.

For instance, such verification could be done through passports (in case of NRIs) or ration cards, the source pointed out. Announcing the new modes, the minister said: "The Aadhaar number system was designed to allow all residents to access to critical government services. It is the government's endeavour to improve convenience and reduce time and energy spent by consumers to accessing government information and services."

OTP mode will leverage the mobile number which is already registered with the Aadhaar database, and can be used for re-verification of subscribers' other mobile numbers too.

Operators have been directed to facilitate request for the OTP to e-verify the cell phone numbers through websites or mobile apps. Keying in the OTP would complete the process seamlessly. Similarly, the Interactive Voice Response System or IVRS can be used as also verification through specially designed apps.

Nearly 50 crore mobile numbers are already registered in Aadhaar database, and the OTP can be leveraged for re-verification in all of these cases. Sinha said the telecom operators should provide an online mechanism for people to request for doorstep verification for disabled, critically ill or old persons.

In case of agent-assisted biometric authentication for SIM re-verification or issuance, telcos have been asked to ensure that full e-KYC details of subscribers are not made visible to the agent. Nor should data be stored on the agents device.

In the current dispensation, e-KYC data of the subscriber including photograph is visible to the agent of the telecom operator. The government has made it mandatory to link Aadhaar cards with bank accounts, permanent account numbers (PAN), income tax return (ITR), social security schemes and mobile phones. The deadlines for each vary.

The deadline for linking Aadhaar with PAN for tax returns is 31 December and the same for linking the biometric number with mobile number (SIM) is 6 February, 2018.

The announcement came on a day when the government told the Supreme Court that the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar to avail benefits of various government schemes would be extended till 31 March next year.
Gandhinagar: The Election Commission on Wednesday assured that voters' names will not be deleted from the final electoral roll during the coming Assembly elections in Gujarat.

During the local bodies elections in the state in 2015, a massive controversy erupted after a large number of voters across the state found that their names had been deleted from voters' list at the last moment without any prior intimation.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Gujarat BB Swain on Wednesday said that there won't be a repeat of the 2015 controversy.

"Since there was a controversy about the deletion of names in the past, we had urged the EC to put in place a system to ban deletion of names from the final roll. The EC has agreed to our request," Swain told reporters.

"We want to assure voters that no names will be deleted from the final list till the end of this election. However, people can still approach us to include their names in the voters' list if they have been left out," he said.

The polling will take place on 9 and 14 December and votes will be counted on 18 December.

Voters from the constituencies where elections are to be held on 9 December can submit forms for inclusion in the list by 10 November. For the second phase voters, the final date for submitting forms for inclusion in the list is 16 November.
A local court in Mehsana district of Gujarat has issued a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) against Patidar leader Hardik Patel in connection with a 2015 case where Hardik and several other Patidar leaders were accused of ransacking a BJP MLA's office, media reports said.

The Economic Times reported that the court issued the NBW over non-appearance in the case's hearings. Speaking to the newspaper, Lalji Patel, a key aid of Hardik who was also named in the case, said that he had missed only the last hearing while Hardik could not appear in the last three hearings. This would be the first precedent in the country when an NBW is issued for missing a single hearing, he said.

Hardik was named in an FIR, along with 17 others, for ransacking the office of BJP MLA Rishikesh Patel and instigating the mob to pelt his car with stones during the protest rally of Patidar community demanding reservation in July 2015.

The Gujarat High Court had earlier too, given him bail in the case, but with the restriction that he will not be able to go the Mehasana district in which Visnagar town is located till the trial of the Visnagar MLA office attack case is over, Ahmedabad Mirror had reported.

Visnagar was one of the nerve-centres of the Patidar community's agitation which started in July 2015. Hardik-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) had remained critical of the ruling BJP during the agitation, claiming that the party had duped the Patel youth by asking for votes but doing nothing in return for the community.

Hardik is also facing two sedition cases filed by Ahmedabad and Surat police following the agitation, which arguably fueled his animosity with the current BJP government.

The news comes in the backdrop of reports that the Patidar leader, who shot to fame after spearheading a massive agitation in July 2015, is leaning towards the Congress party ahead of the crucial elections in the BJP bastion.

Congress had invited Hardik and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani to meet party vice-president Rahul Gandhi and join the party to ensure the ruling BJP's defeat.

While news reports, and a leaked CCTV footage, indicated that Hardik did meet the Congress vice-president, however, the Patidar leader denied the reports claiming that when he will meet Rahul, the whole country would be aware of it.

The Congress had reportedly assured Hardik that if voted to power, the party will take action against the alleged police excesses in controlling the Patidars quota stir in August 2015.

Gujarat politics is especially gaining steam around the Patidar community's leanings, with both Congress and BJP vying for their support. Narendra Patel, another Patidar leader also alleged that the BJP offered him Rs one crore to join the party. Narendra had 'joined' the BJP just a couple of hours before he made the allegations, in a high-drama press conference where he also presented wads of notes.

With inputs from PTI
Islamabad: Mumbai attack mastermind and banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed's name was not on a list of 75 militants the US had handed over to Pakistan, foreign minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday.

Saeed, who carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head for his role in terror activities, has been under house arrest in Pakistan since January this year.

Foreign minister Asif told senators during a session of the parliament's upper house that the US has handed over a list of 75 militants to Pakistan.

"The Haqqani network is on the top of the list but none of the militants are Pakistanis," Asif was quoted as saying by the Express News.

Saeed, a Pakistani citizen, headed the JuD which was listed as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in 2014.

The JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of 2008.

The Afghan-based Haqqani network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan. The group is also blamed for several attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan, including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people.

The US, Asif said, had made a habit of handing over lists of wanted people to Pakistan, which traded them for favours  a matter that needed to be debated.

He said the US had been told that Pakistan no longer had influence over the Afghan Taliban as it did in the past.

"Neither are we supporting them (Afghan Taliban), nor do they need our help," Asif told the senators during a session of the parliament's upper house.

"Somebody else is sponsoring them now," he added, without elaborating on it.

Asif asserted that many of the key Taliban names were now shadow governors in Afghanistan or no longer alive.

On his maiden visit to Pakistan yesterday, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson renewed the US demand for tough action against Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) declared the withdrawal of Southwest Monsoon from Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra on Tuesday, according to media reports.

At 3,029.9 millimetres of rain, in 2017, Mumbai received the highest rainfall in six years.

As compared to previous years, the monsoon withdrew from Maharashtra and Mumbai much later, The Times of India reported.

In 2016, Southwest Monsoon withdrew from Mumbai on 14 October, while declaration for 2015 came on 15 October, the report said.

A former scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology said the monsoon's withdrawal criteria depended on cessation of rainfall activity over the region for five consecutive days, establishment of anticyclone in the lower troposphere, and considerable reduction in moisture content, another The Times of India report said.

Officially, the monsoon season for the region starts on 1 July and ends on 30 September, according to Hindustan Times. This year the monsoon took 24 more days to leave the region. However, over the past decade, rains have continued to lash Mumbai well into October.

Mumbais rainfall in 2017 has been 772 millimetres or 25.47 percent in excess of the annual average of 2,258 millimetres, the report said. On two occasions: 29-30 August and on 19-20 September, the city received heavy downpour, recording more than 300 millimetres rain within a period of 24 hours.

In October, however, Maharashtra received normal rainfall.

Sunil Kamble, director-in-charge, IMD Mumbai, told Firstpost in an earlier interview this month, "Monsoon is receding currently, and we expect some irregularities. But overall rainfall during this year's monsoon has been sufficient, except in a couple of districts like Vidarbha."

The Hindustan Times report added that India recorded a 5.2 percent deficient monsoon between June and September 2017.

Of the 36 districts in Maharashtra, 11 recorded deficient rainfall, 17 had normal rainfall, seven witnessed excess rain and one (Nashik) saw large excess rain between these months.
Patti Smith, Cat Power, Joan Baez And More Team Up To Fight Climate Change Through Music





Patti Smith, Cat Power, Joan Baez, Michael Stipe, and more will team up for Pathway to Paris, a concert for climate action, in New York later this month. Pathway to Paris will take place at Carnegie Hall on November 5th in partnership with the UN. Speakers include environmentalists Bill McKibben, Dr. Vandana Shiva, and additional musicians performing include Flea, Talib Kweli, Tanya Tagaq, and Tenzin Cheogyal.



Throughout the night, performers will call for action to combat climate change, with the goal of turning the Paris Agreement into reality. The Paris Agreement, of course, is the international UN agreement in which each country pledges to make environmental changes, such as reducing greenhouse gases, to mitigate global warming. Under President Trump, the United States exited the agreement earlier this year. Recently, Nicaragua joined the agreement, meaning that the United States and Syria are the only two countries in the world who are not participating.



Pathway to Paris will also celebrate the launch of the initiative 1,000 Cities, which calls for the worlds cities to promise to become carbon-free by 2040, with or without the support of national government.



Pathway to Pariss founders and producers spoke to BUST via email about the event.

"We believe in the power of music to bring people together, and the important role that culture plays in any global movement, said Jesse Paris Smith. Music is about expression and collaboration, and the climate movement requires the world to join together in a more ambitious collaboration than we can fathom. We need to continuously inspire each other to action, to build our numbers, even when it is only one at a time. Lets envision the world we want to live in, and work every day to turn that vision into reality."

"This is our time to create a sustainable livable planet for ourselves and future generations, added Rebecca Foon. We can create a climate safe world we are excited to live in. Together lets transition out of the era of fossil fuels into a renewables future."

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For more information, or to purchase tickets (which range from $35 to $250), visit carnegiehall.org.

Top photo: Patti Smith by Beni Kohler via Wikimedia Commons

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Erika W. Smith is BUST's digital editorial director. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @erikawynn and email her at erikawsmith@bust.com.
By Shruti Sunderraman

This may sound strange but if you are a woman ask yourself these questions: Do you worry that men in public places will masturbate looking at you, even if you subtly and/or obviously try to avoid it? And whether the desire to avoid being masturbated to is a constant thrum of thought? Did you say yes? God, me too.

But isnt it strange that while we complain about the strokers, the pokers and the feeler-uppers (sometimes even the flashers), one act of public masturbation is enough for most of us to avoid talking or even thinking about it?

Here we are, in our cramped and nosy households trying to find a quiet spot to do (what my punster middle school friends used to call) khud-khushi and while these men very desperately air their desires.

Is it that much more pleasurable to do it in public? Like eating sandwiches at a picnic as opposed to at home? But we also know that public masturbators needlessly involve us in their picnic so it cant be pleasure alone.

FYI, cases of public masturbation can be filed under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty, Section 509 which deals with gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman, and/or Section 268, which handles cases of public nuisance.

But nowhere in the IPC or Indian law for that matter, public masturbation is listed as a crime. Rashi Vidyasagar, a Mumbai-based criminologist said, that like all sexual crimes, targeting women to masturbate at is also about power, not sex.

Vidyasagar said the picking on strangers to masturbate at makes it easier for these men, unlike say a Harvey Weinstein who found it easier to do it at actors in business meetings.

There might be an aspect of depersonalisation on part of the man since he might not know the woman. This gives public masturbators a peculiar pleasure. For example, voyeuristic masturbation might make them look at the woman less like a victim until they get caught.

Take the 19 October case of an Uber driver in Hyderabad who allegedly masturbated in the cab while the passenger, Uma Sharma travelled with him to the airport. He kept looking at her through the rear view mirror and masturbated while driving, while she went about talking on the phone or reading texts throughout the journey.

Sharma noticed him masturbating and confronted him. But he nonchalantly asked her "what was wrong?" as though nothing had happened. Sharma screamed, asked him to stop the vehicle and found another one to take her to the airport.

Or the other recent story by a woman about a man masturbating while staring at her niece on a train from Dehradun to Delhi on 1 October. She said, The nieces friend filmed the entire incident and informed the woman about what was happening. The man appeared unfazed in spite of knowing that he was being filmed for his crime.

The woman and her niece must have been astonished before the horror set in, when they first realised why exactly he was moving his hand up and down under his blanket, while watching the niece talk to her aunt.

What are men getting out of this? Vidyasagar believes that there is some amount of voyeurism working here. That for the men, not knowing these women and still getting a peek into their lives and imagining them sexually makes it is easier. Easier to not think of these women as victims, or themselves as criminals, until (surprise!) they get caught.

But the psychology of a public masturbator may go beyond voyeuristic tendencies. Some public masturbators fetishise it. Dr Rajan Bhonsle, head of sexual medicine at KEM Hospital in Mumbai, said, A lot of public masturbators may suffer from paraphilia  a condition where one has fetishes towards unusual objects or phenomenon. Voyeurism is just one of them. Its not a disease as much as it is an uncontrollable fetish. Everyone has fetishessome people have foot, role-play and cross-dressing fetishes. But with public masturbators, the difference is that their fetish harms the object of their fetish: Women in public. The difference between most fetishes and public masturbation is, that acting on the former is consensual, while the latter isn't.

Bhonsle believes that a large portion of these fetishes are influenced by environmental and psychological factors. Sometimes, their physical environment is not conducive to express sexual pleasure.

A city like Mumbai hardly finds space, let alone favourable ones, to express sexual desires with a partner. So, some men find themselves wanting release from their frustration at women in public places like bus stops and trains.

Experts offer another plausible explanation. That these men gain pleasure through shock or reactions of shame from women and this is another form of validation which keeps them coming back for more. Mumbai-based counsellor and therapist Sonali Gupta says, The first reaction from women to public masturbation is shock, which leads women to freeze on the spot. The mind doesnt immediately jump to action after being subjected to something unexpected and unpleasant. The shock causes or adds to the arousal of public masturbators.

Gaining pleasure out of shock is reflective of their psychological environment. According to Gupta, in a country where masturbation is still spoken about in hushed whispers, many men find it difficult to express themselves sexually without judgement. This creates a repressive attitude about sex with some men and results in their sexual urges popping up in unfavourable situations, primarily public spaces.

However, one cant rule out instances of psychological illness as a possible reason behind why some men masturbate in public. Exhibitionism, is one such example. Gupta believes that lack of studies and conversations around public masturbation make it even more difficult to separate those who fall into the spectrum of public masturbation as a psychological illness and those who dont.

Some men can control their urges but want to assert their authority through public masturbation. But those who suffer from exhibitionism find it difficult to control this urge. But its difficult to tell the difference unless theres proper studies done about this bearing Indian context in mind, she says.

And lets not discount the comfort these men get from knowing that they can get away with the crime. Public masturbation is taken less seriously than other sexual crimes like assault or rape. When you show that you are not going to let him get away with it, it shocks the offender and they immediately stop masturbating, says Pooja Nair, a sociology student who was publicly masturbated at in a Mumbai local train in July 2017. When she complained to the railway helpline, they laughed at her. This attitude of frivolity attached to public masturbation also emboldens public masturbators, according to Nair.

And with assumptions surrounding sexual violence, we all wonder, is it us? Nair said she wonders if men who masturbate in public prefer the modern-young-girl type: The ones men believe they cant control. Vidyasagar doesnt disagree.

I think 'modern' women could seem unattainable and hence fantasised about. Plus, risk is higher with 'such' women which makes it pleasurable for them.

Gupta completely disagrees, saying that men have masturbated at all kinds of women across ages in public spaces. Its lazy to assume that they go for the modern young girl. The truth is, asserting power over any woman is satisfying to sexual offenders.

Then there is the assumption that public masturbators are only from one class. Dr Bhonsle says he has treated patients from different economic classes who have public masturbation fetishes.

The reported cases of public masturbation may point towards economically lower classes, but fetishes have nothing to do with class, just environment and personal urges people develop at a young age, he says.

The attitude that public masturbation is not a serious crime only emboldens perpetrators, especially with a culture of wanting to bury embarrassing sexual advances under the carpet which public masturbators know and take advantage of.

Trivialising it reduces fear of the law and the consequences of masturbating in public. It actually leaves a victim feeling the same way other sexual crimes do: Disgusted, enraged and violated. It takes up space in our minds that we could all use for something else. Meanwhile the jerks continue their crude acts.

A year ago, Dubai-based journalist Anita Iyer had a screaming match with another friend at Mumbais Marine Drive for asking her to calm down when she yelled at a man for masturbating in public at her. She was angry that she was being told at least he didnt touch you.

The message she was getting was loud and clear: Public masturbation is not an act of assault, so why cry wolf? The whole time, the man who masturbated at her did not move from his seat and just watched these two friends fight.

The Ladies Finger (TLF) is a leading online womens magazine delivering fresh and witty perspectives on politics, culture, health, sex, work and everything in between.
The Indian Army soldier, Chandu Babulal Chavan who was handed over by Pakistan in January 2017, after he had crossed the India-Pakistan border during the 2016 surgical strike has been court-martialed on Wednesday, CNN-News 18 reported.

'If Army have found him guilty still Chandu has the right to appeal in a higher court' @rajkadyan8 to @bhupendrachaube on #Viewpoint pic.twitter.com/c6ysEoeiCH  News18 (@CNNnews18) October 25, 2017

The army court has sentenced Chavan to two months of imprisonment and has also forfeited his pension for two years as penalty. CNN-News18 sources said that Chavan had reportedly run away from his post during the surgical strike across the border.

Despite conviction by an army court, Chavan will have right to appeal in a higher court.

Earlier in January, Pakistan in a "goodwill gesture" had returned Chavan, claiming that he had crossed the International Border "willfully".

Chavan came back to India through the land transit route of Attari-Wagah border. Pakistani forces handed him over to the Indian Army, which took him to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

Chavan, posted with 37 Rashtriya Rifles, had claimed that he had mistakenly crossed the boundary in Kashmir, hours after India conducted surgical strike on terrorist bases across the LoC.

However, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan army's media wing, Sepoy Chavan, stationed in Jammu and Kashmir had "deserted his post at the LOC due to his grievances of maltreatment against his commanders".

"He wilfully crossed LoC on 29 September, 2016, and surrendered himself to Pakistan Army," the statement said.

It said that "as a gesture of goodwill and in continuation of our efforts to maintain peace and tranquility along LoC and WB, International Border, Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan has been convinced to return to his own country and will be handed over to Indian authorities at Wagah Border on humanitarian grounds."

Chavan belongs to Borvihir village in Dhule district of Maharashtra. His grandmother suffered a cardiac arrest and died after the family was informed that he was captured by the Pakistan Army. India had been in regular touch with Pakistan for the release of Chavan.
The UK Supreme Court strongly indicted the British government last year for failing to curb air pollution in their country.

Their concern focussed on how air pollution was causing 29,000 early deaths in a year. An NGO called ClientEarth took the government to task for the high levels of nitrogen dioxide produced by road traffic blaming it for increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and respiratory disorders among the public.

The British Supreme Court then ordered an immediate action to be implemented countrywide to curb pollution.

It is shocking that Indias Supreme Court has not shown a similar concern when the Global Burden of Disease study has highlighted that in India, the ambient air pollution is responsible for 3,283 premature deaths every day. This works out to 2.5 million deaths in a year killing more people than TB, AIDS and malaria put together.

Our Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) has come up with a comprehensive action plan but the Ministry of Environment and Forests is busy denying the validity of the Global Burden of Disease and Lancet studies which establish a direct correlation of deaths to air pollution. Environment ministry officials dismiss the studies on the ground that the State of Global Air 2017 put the number of premature deaths due to air pollution in India in 2015 to 1.09 million while the recently released Lancet study put the number of deaths to 1.81 million.

India has seen the highest increase in pollution levels in the world during the last decade. Today, ten of the world's 20 most polluted cities are in India. Cities in this category include Varanasi, Gwalior, Kanpur, Lucknow, Patna, Allahabad, Vadodara, Surat and of course Delhi which in 2014 was found by WHO to be the most polluted city in the world.

Vivekanand Jha, executive director of the George Institute for Global Health has repeatedly emphasised how there are direct linkages of air pollution with heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and cancer.

Jha has further emphasised how air pollution also reduces the number of years in an individual's life by aggravating asthma attacks, eye and skin disorders and increasing the risk of blood pressure as also psychiatric disorders.

Of course, the Supreme Court did intervene to put a temporary ban on the use of firecrackers till 1 November in the NCR but this can hardly be described as resolving this behemoth problem which is facing us.

While this move did see pollution levels decline in the NCR, millions of Delhites work up post-Diwali to find a cloud of smog hanging over the city line. Mumbai and Chennai also experienced unexpectedly high levels of pollution with some parts of Chennai recording PMO 10 levels of 777 this year against 178 last year. Air Quality Index (AQI) levels across the Indo-Gangetic Plain and Thane, Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Nashik and Solapur also recorded much higher pollution levels this year according to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board.

Anumita Roychowdhury of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) pointed out, "The Graded Action of Plan designed on the lines of the mechanisms in place in Beijing and Paris has kickstarted from October 17 under the supervision of the EPCA.

"This is legally binding and the government will have to enforce it in the NCR. The air quality in Delhi will be monitored on a daily basis. If air quality enters the poor category, it will involve shutting down of the Badarpur power plant, shutting down of brick kilns.

"While if the air quality enters the severe category, then we will have to stop all construction activity in the NCR and introduce the odd-even carpooling system. The entire details are being finalised and should be ready the end of this month."

Roychowdhury said, "Once this starts in Delhi, it should act as a template for the rest of the country."

But why has a similar template not been drawn up for the rest of the country given the dire air pollution situation? Surely the Supreme Court should by now have insisted on a similar template for all our cities.

"The Supreme Court does not do things on its own. It responds to a PIL. We need to build up public opinion across the country. There is greater awareness in some cities like Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru but other cities have to follow suit. The need of the hour is more," she said.
Srinagar: Security forces on Wednesday began a massive cordon and search operation in over 12 villages in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, officials said.

Police sources said security forces including the army, paramilitary and the special operations group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police have started a massive cordon and search operation.

"The operation was launched following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in these areas," a police officer said.

Such operations have been launched in south Kashmir areas in the past as well.

The main objective of these operations, according to informed sources, is to keep the militants on the run and force them out of densely populated villages and towns.
A post containing the names of 60 Indian academicians from colleges all over the country, who have been accused of sexual harassment has been doing the rounds on Facebook. It has been created by Raya Sarkar, who describes herself as an "attorney interested in prisoner's rights, reproductive rights, and anti-caste jurisprudence" in her bio. Apart from Koushik Roy, Bidyut Chakraborty, Nilanjan Dutta, RC Natrajan, Shyamal Sengupta, Mridul Bose, and BN Ray, Firstpost has not been able to independent verify whether a complaint has been filed, registered, or any charges have been filed against the rest of the academicians whose names have been included in this list.

Sarkar has invited other women to contribute to the list, which has now grown to this figure of 60 names of professors who work in institutions like Jawaharlal Nehru University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Film and Television Institute of India. As of 25 October, this list included more than 10 professors from Jadavpur University, nine from Delhi University and two from JNU. It also has names from Christ University, Ambedkar University Delhi and the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute.

"If any one knows of academics who have sexually harassed/were sexually predatory to them or have seen it first hand PM me and I'll add them to the list," writes Sarkar in her post. She says that she has a full list of the names of victims too, but that she will not reveal it. She also said that one of the victims will be filing an internal complaint soon. She has written that the purpose of the list is to make people wary of these professors. "This list is not for their colleagues chai biscuit gossip or some kind of crusade to get them kicked out of their Universities because if that were actually possible they would be long gone," she writes.

Every time a commenter has expressed disbelief over the appearance of a particular name in the list, Sarkar has maintained that the accusations were confirmed by multiple sources who have reported instances to her directly. "Most if not all are first person accounts of people who were molested/sexually harassed by the people who have been put on this list. Rest are a friend they (the victims) have chosen to specifically contact me as they fear their identity being disclosed. In fact, since there is a disturbing amount of rape apologia and victim blaming the victims have gone out of their way to show me screenshots of them being harassed and abused by the people they have named," writes Sarkar in a comment on the post.

Firstpost spoke to one of the academicians on the list, who wishes to be anonymous, and asked him to respond to these allegations. "My name was dropped and then added again. When I reached out to her, I was blocked. If she believes in freedom of speech, why isn't she telling me what I've done? I am feeling like a victim," he said.

Some people and organisations have supported Sarkar and the list.

We stand in solidarity with Raya Sarkar and the survivors who contributed to her list. This is our statement on the same. pic.twitter.com/lPdt5vmrPr  Feminism in India (@FeminismInIndia) October 25, 2017

Kafila, which publishes pieces on contemporary issues authored by Indian academics, scholars, writers and journalists, has released an official statement about this list, condemning it. The authors have said that naming people in this manner can "delegitimise" the fight against sexual harassment and have appealed to the people behind this list to withdraw it.

"We are dismayed by the initiative on Facebook, in which men are being listed and named as sexual harassers with no context or explanation. One or two names of men who have been already found guilty of sexual harassment by due process, are placed on par with unsubstantiated accusations. It worries us that anybody can be named anonymously, with lack of answerability," reads the statement.

It has been signed by 14 women who identify themselves as feminists. These women include Ayesha Kidwai and Nivedita Menon, who are professors at JNU; Kavita Krishnan, an activist and secretary of the All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA); and Vrinda Grover, a lawyer and human and women's rights activist. They go on to say that when there is a genuine complaint filed, there are institutions and procedures which must be made use of, whilst acknowledging that the process is "harsh and often tilted against the complainant". They say that they are committed to due process, which they term 'fair and just'.

Firstpost has mailed Raya Sarkar a set of questions, but is yet to receive a reply. This article will be updated with her responses when she does.

With inputs from Pallavi Kamakshi Rebbapragada
The Madras High Court has banned all authorities in the state from erecting banners that use photographs of people who are alive. In a bid to weed out the menace of hoardings and signboards dotting the skyline, the court has cited provisions of the Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959.

Justice S Vaidyanathan, while disposing a plea by B Thirulochana Kumari of Arumbakkam, seeking a direction to the Chennai corporation commissioner to remove a party board, banner and flag put up in front of her house, came down hard on civic authorities. The court also banned "unnecessary drawings" on walls in order to ensure a "clean atmosphere" in all wards of the state.

The judge recorded the submissions of the counsel for the corporation, including the commissioner, and the inspector of police of Arumbakkam station, that all banners and party flags, if any, not removed, would be removed forthwith.

They will ensure that no such act take place in future in residences of people in the city, the judge said. "If any banner or party flagposts are erected, it should be removed forthwith. Whoever objects to such removal of party flag/banner, etc, the name and address of such person shall be furnished to the police, so that the police shall register a case against such person," the judge said.

The petitioner submitted in April that a person named Mathi erected a party flag in front of her property and when this was objected to, she was threatened with dire consequences. According to the petitioner, it was removed later but another sign board was erected in the same place.

She alleged that the inspector declined to accept her representation to take action against Mathi and threatened that a case would be registered against her under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The court said, "If at all any permission is given by the authority concerned for erecting banners, flex boards, sign-boards, etc., the authority concerned shall ensure that the photos/pictures of such persons who are alive, shall not be depicted by way of those banners, flex boards, sign-boards, etc," the judge said.

The judge further directed that the photos of persons, who are sponsoring the pictures, shall also not be depicted. The chief secretary shall send a circular in this regard to all office bearers of the wards, the judge added.
A list of farmers submitted by banks to the state government as the beneficiaries of Rs 34,000 crore farm loan waiver announced by Devendra Fadnavis government has serious discrepancies that could raise several questions on the whole process of loan waiver.

With this, the BJP-government's much-hyped appeasement package for the debt-ridden farmers in the state has hit multiple roadblocks. The irregularities include cases of many bank accounts of different individuals mapped against the same Aadhaar number, non-existent bank account, and loan account numbers and repetition of names.

Following the Uttar Pradesh government's loan waiver announcement, Maharashtra had announced a similar loan waiver worth Rs 34,000 crore for farmers in June this year.

Firstpost reviewed a list comprising 273 beneficiary farmer names, which is part of the 8.5 lakh entries that were submitted to the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC), a lobby of banks.

The list shows serious discrepancies in the entries submitted by around 35 banks including private, state-owned and district cooperative banks to SLBC.

In the 273 entries, 10 randomly generated Aadhaar numbers were used against multiple entries of farmers.

According to the data, available with Firstpost, a Santosh Jayram Shinde is a farmer with Aadhaar number 111111110157. Dilip Anand Kute is also a farmer and has the same Aadhar number 111111110157 so has Dilip Ramchandra Kachale, also a farmer.

Likewise, Balvant Bandu Vajanari, Sangram Vasant Chavan, Keshav Rangrao Chavan, Suman Vilasrao Patil, Ganpatrao Ramchandra Pawar, Chandrakant Vasant Yadhav, Jayavant Shamrao Satpe, Sangita Hanmant Chavan and several other farmers set to benefit from the Devendra Fadnavis government's loan waiver scheme bear the same Aadhaar number 100000000000. In fact, there are 177 entries made against it. The Aadhaar number 111111111111 features in 45 entries against names like Chandrakant Kashinath Deshmukh, Prakash Dhondu More, Ranjeet Khashaba Jadhav among others.

That's not the only visible discrepancy though. None of the entries Firstpost reviewed has neither the names of the banks nor the branches they belong to.

In many instances, different loan accounts are used against same people. In one instance, the loan account number has a decimal in between. The savings accounts in most cases are different, however, on multiple occasions, the same farmer is listed for multiple loan waivers, often under the same loan account. So, a farmer named Jayvant Shamrao Satpe is listed for loan waiver under loan account 69 and saving bank account number 14905110003020 three times, twice under loan account 71 and saving bank account number 14905110005972, and thrice under loan account 72 and savings bank account number 14905110000204. All these entries are adjusted against the Aaadhar number 100000000000. Thus, the same farmer is shown eligible for loan waiver eight times.

In one instance, a farmer named Suresh Bautis Lopes comes with account number '0' and one of the most repeated Aadhaar number 111111111111.

According to source in SLBC, the number of farmers with identical Aadhaar and savings bank account numbers provided by banks to the state government runs into lakhs. In fact, such lists of farmers with apparently bogus Aadhaar and savings account numbers have been provided to the state government by national banks, district cooperative banks and commercial banks, highly placed sources in SLBC told Firstpost.

The entries which Firstpost studied make just 0.032 percent of all the 8.5 lakh entries that Maharashtra government has received.

While it's not clear whether a scam is being underway in the name of loan waiver, the fact that the 273 entries that Firspost studied were created between 14 October 2017 and 17 October 2017  a day before the Devendra Fadnavis government announced its decision to implement the loan waiver scheme  the state government, which wants to expedite the disbursal of the loan waiver money to 77 lakh farmers covering 56 lakh families across Maharashtra, is staring at a new challenge.

In the hurry to submit the farmers' details to the government the majority Bank submit incorrect data for the farmers' loan waiver scheme, a source said.

A senior bureaucrat in the department of cooperation and marketing at SLBC, requesting anonymity, said, "In the last week of June, the SLBC had 89 lakh entries of farmers' loan waiver accounts, which would burden the state with Rs 34,022 crores. But later in the month of October, the numbers dropped to 77 lakh farmers."

On 18 October Fadnavis had announced that his government has approved the disbursement of Rs 4,000 crore to 8.5 lakh farmers while adding that it's looking at disbursement of 75-80 percent of relief funds by 15 November.

"We have released Rs 4,000 crore of which Rs 3,200 crore will be for writing off the loans of 4.62 lakh farmers. The remaining 800 crore will be in the form of incentive for 3.78 lakh farmers who are paying their loans on time, CM Fadnavis said.

Seeing that the data provided by the banks to SLBC is full of errors and incomplete, the release of funds is likely to be delayed. In fact, Fadnavis called an urgent meeting with SLBC officials and cabinet colleagues on Wednesday.

SLBC, however, has refused to take any responsibility for the errors and the delay it may cause in disbursal of farm loan waivers. When Firstpost contacted an SLBC senior official from Bank of Maharashtra, Pune, he said that the error has been committed by the respective banks. "SLBC didn't upload any data. The respective district co-operative banks, nationalised banks, and private banks uploaded data from their server. We are only conveyer between banks and the state government. Every Banks has given one code and from that code, they fill up details of farmers receiving loan waiver benefits from their bank and branches. So, SLBC has no role in putting the same Aadhar number for different names of farmers," he added.
Mumbai: Learning a lesson from the farm loan waiver scheme in 2008, wherein the banks had to wait for three years before they were given back their capital used for the debt write-off, the public sector and private lenders are treading cautiously this time.

The Maharashtra government, which is implementing the ambitious Rs 34,022 crore farm loan waiver scheme, recently asked the banks to use their own funds to settle farmers' loans and promised them a reimbursement "as soon as possible". However, the banks say that it would be hard for them to sustain until they get back their money.

A nationwide farm loan waiver had been announced during the UPA regime in 2008.

A senior official from a public sector bank said, "Such disposable capital is available only with the public and private sector banks, but the biggest share in crop and term loan given to farmers comes from cooperative banks. The cooperative banks are cash-strapped."

When asked about the concerns expressed by the banks in using their own capital for loan waiver implementation, the official said, "Similar method was used in 2008 where the Centre and RBI were involved in loan waiver decision. All the banks in the country operate as per the RBI guidelines, hence banks followed the route and used their own capital to settle the outstanding loan claims. But, the UPA government took three years to reimburse the amount to the banks. Therefore, we are more cautious this time."

In case of the Maharashtra government's loan waiver scheme, the only guarantee of reimbursement is the state government itself. There is no assurance from the RBI or union government. In fact, Union finance minister Arun Jaitely on 12 June had already clarified that states would have to bear the farm loan waivers from their own coffers, the officer pointed out.

"When we asked this question of how the state government plans to reimburse the amount, we did not get any concrete answer from the government. Even the (government's) letter shot on 13 October, asking the banks to use their own capital, had also used the words 'as soon as possible' for reimbursement from the state to the banks," another officer of a private sector bank.

An official of Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, the apex bank of all the cooperative banks in the state said, "We have been already treated with suspicion in the last three years because cooperative sector is largely in the rural areas and we are always considered inclined towards the Congress (party)."

"The deposits with cooperative banks are used for issuing loans. If we use it for the loan waiver and the state government repays it after 3-4 months, we will not have any income during that period. How can we support it?" he asked.
Mumbai: A mere clerical error or a potential scam nipped in the bud? Soon after a Firstpost report came out giving details of the nature of anomalies that were detected in 273 names out of the 8.5 lakh beneficiaries in the first phase of the loan waiver scheme, an embarrassed Maharashtra government on Wednesday was forced to go on the defensive calling it an 'honest mistake'.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who launched the scheme with much pomp a week ago, on Wednesday summoned bankers and officials from the cooperation and IT departments of the state to an urgent meeting held at Varsha bungalow, his official residence and gave them a dressing down for the 'goof-up' that left the government red-faced.

The meeting was attended by State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) chairman Ravindra Marathe, SLBC convener VU Mhaske and other representatives from various state government departments but was given a miss by a key member of the IT wing of the SLBC who was responsible for uploading the data. The meeting was also attended by state cooperation minister Subhash Deshmukh, principal secretary (cooperation) SS Sandhu and principal secretary (IT)VK Gautam. Representatives from many banks also participated in the meeting through video conferencing.

In the meeting that lasted for nearly 90 minutes, it was decided to form joint teams of representatives from the concerned banks and the state government's IT department to remove all the hurdles on a war footing and that the process of actual disbursement should commence from Thursday itself.

While the state machinery is on a damage control mode and sought to term the present crisis as a hurdle, the blame game among ministers and officials have been fast and furious with none coming forward to take responsibility for the messy handling of the loan waiver scheme which has been consistently reported by Firstpost.

When Firstpost contacted a senior SLBC official from Bank of Maharashtra, he disagreed that the SLBC was at fault.

"SLBC has not uploaded any data. The respective DCC Banks, nationalised and private banks uploaded the data from their server. We are only conveyer between banks and state government. Every bank has been given one code and from that code, every bank has filled up the details of loan-waived farmers including the branches. So SLBC has no role in putting the same Aadhaar number for different names of farmers," the SLBC official said.

It would actually take some conviction to believe the irregularities as just simple technical or clerical errors as more than 180 farmers were found linked to a single Aadhaar card number. Aadhaar numbers are unique to each and every citizen who have one. Many of the beneficiaries also appeared with multiple savings and loan account numbers making the beneficiary list far more suspicious.

"There have been mistakes on our part as we prepared the list in a hurry. This is a historic Rs 34,022 crore loan waiver scheme and these mistakes are small ones. In some cases, members of the same family are shown as having the same Aadhaar number. But since we crosschecked the mistakes were caught," said Deshmukh seeking to downplay the matter.

It is possible that the state's decision to make Aadhaar mandatory to avail benefits of the loan waiver scheme might have helped in the early detection of the 'honest mistake' which could have potentially become a money-making scam. Fadnavis had said earlier that the Aadhaar-based linking will avoid any duplication as well as eliminate the fear of ghost accounts getting benefits of the loan waiver scheme.

"We thought that the Aadhaar number will be our key to check fake farmers. Now, we dont know how to address this challenge with so many farmers showing the same Aadhaar card number. If we carry out a manual check, it will take minimum three months. The whole process will have to start again both for the farmers and the banks again. It's a big mess and we are helpless now," a senior official from the cooperation department who told Firstpost on condition of anonymity.

"Whatever data we received through the SLBC from different districts and nationalised and private banks, the IT department uploaded the data without crosschecking. Everybody was in a hurry for implementation of the scheme before Diwali. But the fact is more than a week after Diwali not a single rupee has been deposited in loan accounts of the concerned farmers," said the official who is closely working with the scheme for the last 100 days.

He pointed out that the private bankers' representative informed the government that they were unprepared to implement the scheme but Deshmukh and Fadnavis had already announced the date of launch as 18 October.

"Till 16 October we didn't have sufficient data from the banks. So in a hurry and due to pressure from various higher authorities, the inaccurate list was released," the official said.

The state government had last week released a sum of Rs 4,000 crore under the first phase of the over Rs 34,022 crore farm loan waiver scheme.

In response to the Oppositions criticism against the online system of filling forms, Fadnavis had earlier said that if this measure was not done, the banks would have mismanaged funds. The Centre had earlier this year made Aadhaar mandatory for getting crop insurance policies.

Following the poor handling of the issue, BJP's alliance partner in the government  Shiv Sena  has come out all guns blazing blaming the state government for the entire fiasco.

"All these have happened because the government was in a hurry to take credit. We were saying from the beginning that the loan waiver should be only for real farmers. Today it showed that the scheme is only a farce," said Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut in a scathing account.

Opposition NCP was equally critical and even hinted at corruption and political rivalry behind this episode.

"It's a bogus government. The cooperation minister is corrupt himself. Fadnavis is enjoying the tussle between Agriculture Minister Pandurang Fundkar and Deshmukh. The chief minister has sidelined Fundkar. We question the modus operandi of the chief minister. The chief minister should take responsibility for the mess. If the government does not start the reimbursement process within 10 days, the NCP is ready for a statewide agitation for the sake of farmers," said NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik.

Also read

Maharashtra farm loan waiver: Online application process confounds farmers; lakhs fail to sign up

Maharashtra farm loan waiver: 50 days on since announcement state clueless on names of beneficiaries

Maharashtra saves Rs 10,000 cr on farm loan waiver scheme as number of beneficiaries drop

Maharashtra farm loan waiver scheme: Mandatory Aadhaar, blocking of ghost accounts save taxpayers money

Maharashtra loan waiver scheme: Fudged Aadhaar data, technical errors make wait for farmers longer

Maharashtra farmers' loan waiver: Non-existent names, fudged Aadhaar numbers pose big trouble for Devendra Fadnavis govt

Maha loan waiver scheme: CM must clear air on fudged data, conspiracy theories that money is being siphoned off
The controversy sparked by the Congress-ruled Karnataka government's plan to celebrate the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan on 10 November was fuelled on Wednesday by President Ram Nath Kovind's comments praising the erstwhile Mysore ruler, inviting the ire of the BJP.

Several BJP legislators had rejected the state government's invitation, with senior party leaders like Union minister Anantkumar Hegde calling the event "shameful".

According to MoneyControl, BJP MLA Ashwanth Narayan said, "Tipu as a ruler, has killed thousands of people and done forcible conversions... It is a party stand. Government is trying to instigate and bring communal tension".

Tipu Sulatn died historic death fighting British.He was also pioneer in use of Mysore rockets in warfare: Pres Kovind in #Karnataka Assembly pic.twitter.com/t4M5pTe06c  ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2017

Kovind, while addressing a joint session of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council on the 60th anniversary of Vidhan Soudha on Wednesday, hailed Tipu's sacrifice. He said, "Tipu Sultan died a historic death fighting the British. He also pioneered the use of Mysore rockets in warfare." Congress members thumped the desks in appreciation as the President mentioned Tipu's name, much to the embarrassment of the BJP members present in the Assembly. The controversy Kovind's comments, that differ from the ruling BJP's views, have reignited an issue that has been mired in controversy since 2015, when the Congress-led government in Karnataka decided to celebrate for the first time, the birth anniversary of the controversial Tipu. As news of the celebrations had spread, riots broke out all over the state, leading to violent clashes resulting in the death of two people.

Congratulations to Hon. President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind for a statesman like address to the Karnataka legislature. @rashtrapatibhvn  Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) October 25, 2017

Now, the BJP has again accused Congress of using the Tipu Jayanti celebration for political gains before the Assembly election slated in May 2018, the report added.

Karnataka's home minister Ramalinga Reddy said, "Any MLA or MP will be invited to an event happening in his or her constituency. It is a protocol, and has been done earlier and will be continued in future too To attend Tipu Jayanti or not is up to Hegde."

As per the BJP, the Siddaramaiah-led state government is using the Tipu Jayanti celebrations to gain political mileage before the Assembly elections that are due in May 2018.

While the BJP has unequivocally stated that Tipu was an 'anti-Hindu and anti-Kannada' ruler, who was responsible for the killing of Hindus and Christians, the Congress has stayed firm in stating that he was a freedom fighter, who fought against the Britishers.

As per The Indian Express, "Opposing historical narratives have frequently been used as ammunition in political battles  a tendency that has quickened alongside calls for 'rewriting' Indian history in a 'nationalist' mould."

"The disagreement over Tipu is old and has been brought alive every few years by political provocation. In much of India, history is seen through an ethnic, communal, regional or religious lens. As both BJP and Congress push their political agendas aggressively as the election approaches, the controversy will likely be raked up repeatedly," the report adds.

The fact that Kovind differed from the BJP's stand and hailed Tipu as a hero might draw flak from the party, given that they nominated him for the president's post. It has surely reignited a long-standing debate: Who really was Tipu? Usurper or saviour of Mysuru?
Supreme Court of Texas. The OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS, Petitioner, v. C.W.H., Respondent No. 15-0944 Decided: October 20, 2017

This is an appeal from a Title IV-D associate judge's order modifying conservatorship and child support for three children. The primary issue is whether the Title IV-D associate judge had authority to enter an order modifying conservatorship. The Legislature recently amended the Family Code to expressly grant Title IV-D associate judges such authority. The court of appeals held that Title IV-D judges had no such authority before the recent amendments. We hold that the Code's prior version granted Title IV-D associate judges authority to modify conservatorship when, as here, the modification related to the establishment, enforcement, or modification of a child-support obligation. We thus disagree with the court of appeals' decision to reverse the associate judge's order on that ground. However, the court of appeals also reversed on the independent ground that the associate judge erred by failing to consider the children's father's request to participate in the hearing remotely from prison. We agree with that holding and affirm the court of appeals' judgment solely on that ground.

I.

Background

C.W.H. (Father) and J.S. (Mother) have three children. In 2010, a Nacogdoches County district court entered a final order naming Father as the children's sole managing conservator, having primary possession of the children and the right and duty to care for them. The same order named Mother a possessory conservator with limited visitation rights and ordered her to pay child support to Father. Later that year, Father left the children with Mother's parents (Grandparents) and gave them a power of attorney so that they could take care of the children. Mother soon moved in with Grandparents and began sharing that responsibility. In July 2011, Grandparents filed a motion to modify the 2010 order to name themselves as the children's managing conservators, alleging that Father had voluntarily relinquished possession and control of the children. Grandparents apparently never pursued a hearing or sought any court action on their motion.

Three years later, in 2014, the Office of the Attorney General of Texas (OAG) filed a Notice of Change of Status and Motion for Further Orders in the same case. The OAG asserted that the children lived with Mother and that Father had voluntarily relinquished custody. The OAG requested that the court modify the 2010 order to make appropriate provisions for the conservatorship of the children and modify the child-support obligations accordingly.

After the OAG filed its motion, the case was referred to the Title IV-D associate judge appointed to hear Title IV-D cases in Nacogdoches County. Father, who was then incarcerated, filed a pro-se answer objecting to modification of the 2010 order. Father asserted that he was indigent and requested that the court appoint an attorney to represent him. He also requested that the court issue a bench warrant so that he could attend any hearing in person, and alternatively asked that the court either delay any hearing until after he was released from prison or permit him to participate from prison via video, telephone, or another alternative means. Father supported his answer with an affidavit in which he admitted he had left the children with Grandparents but explained that he intended that arrangement to be temporary and never intended to relinquish custody of the children.

The Title IV-D associate judge held a hearing on the OAG's motion on November 25, 2014. Father did not attend or participate in the hearing. Following the hearing, the associate judge entered an order appointing Mother and Grandparents as joint managing conservators. The order expressly denied Father's request for a bench warrant, found that Father, although duly notified, did not appear and was currently incarcerated, and ordered Father to have no contact with the children at this time. Although the new order deleted the 2010 order's requirement that Mother pay child support to Father, it did not require Father to pay child support because he was incarcerated and had no income.

The parties' subsequent pleadings are somewhat confusing. Father refiled his original answer and affidavit on December 2, 2014. The district court then appointed counsel to represent Father. Father's new counsel filed a motion for new trial, arguing that the Title IV-D associate judge erred by failing to grant a bench warrant or continuance or otherwise permit Father to participate in the hearing. On January 9, 2015, the OAG filed an Original Answer generally denying all of Father's pleadings. On February 23, Father filed a notice of appeal from the Title IV-D associate judge's November 25 order.

On appeal, Father argued that the associate judge abused his discretion by failing to consider Father's request to participate in the trial remotely from prison. The OAG filed a letter conceding that the associate judge had erred in that manner. The court of appeals reversed and remanded the case, stating two independent reasons: (1) the Title IV-D associate judge had no authority to hear a motion to modify a conservatorship order and (2) the Title IV-D associate judge erred by failing to consider Father's request to participate in the hearing.  S.W.3d , 2015 WL 6560623.

The OAG requested our review. It agrees we should affirm the court of appeals' judgment because the Title IV-D associate judge failed to consider Father's request to participate in the hearing. But the OAG contends that the court of appeals erred by holding that the Title IV-D associate judge lacked authority to modify conservatorship. According to the OAG, this erroneous holding could undermine thousands of existing orders that Title IV-D associate judges issued in other cases before the recent statutory amendments. In light of the OAG's concession, we will affirm the court of appeals' judgment on the ground that the Title IV-D associate judge failed to consider Father's request to participate in the hearing. But we will address the court's alternative holding that the Title IV-D associate judge lacked authority to modify conservatorship.

II.

Title IV-D Associate Judge

Subchapter IV, Part D of the federal Social Security Act creates a child-support-enforcement program through which the federal government provides matching funds to encourage and enable states and U.S. territories to locate noncustodial parents, establish paternity, enforce child-support obligations, recover and distribute child-support payments, and ensure that assistance in obtaining support will be available under this part to all children  for whom such assistance is requested. 42 U.S.C.  651. The program is designed to help strengthen families by securing financial support for children from their noncustodial parent on a consistent and continuing basis, and by helping some families to remain self-sufficient and off public assistance by providing the requisite [child-support-enforcement] services. Carmen Solomon-Fears, Child Support: An Overview of Census Bureau Data on Recipients 1 (Congressional Research Service, 2016), https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS22499.pdf.

The federal statute requires each participating state to adopt a state plan and designate an agency responsible for administering the plan. 42 U.S.C.  654. The Texas Legislature designated the OAG as the Texas Title IV-D agency and required the OAG to develop and implement a statewide integrated system for child-support enforcement. Tex. Fam. Code  231.001, .0011(a). In 2015, the OAG collected and distributed nearly $3.9 billion in child-support payments to benefit more than 1.7 million Texas children. Office of Child Support Enforcement, Annual Report to Congress FY 2015 11112 (2015), https://www.acf.hhs.gov/css/resource/fy-2015-annual-report-to-congress. Nationwide, the Child Support Program collected over $28.6 billion for the benefit of about 16 million children. Id. at iii. Participating states also collected nearly $4 billion through income-withholding orders, making the total of all collections approximately $32.4 billion. Id.

The Family Code defines a Title IV-D case as any case in which the OAG provides Title IV-D services relating to the location of an absent parent, determination of parentage, or establishment, modification, or enforcement of a child support  obligation. Tex. Fam. Code  101.034. The Code requires courts to give Title IV-D cases priority over all other cases. Id.  201.110(b). More specifically, courts must complete at least seventy-five percent of all Title IV-D cases within six months and at least ninety percent within one year. Id.  201.110(a). To assist the courts in meeting these deadlines, chapter 201 subchapter B authorizes the presiding judge of each judicial administrative region to appoint an associate judge for any court that require[s] the appointment of a part-time or full-time associate judge to complete each Title IV-D case within the time limits. Id.  201.101(a), (b).

A Title IV-D associate judge appointed under subchapter B may render and sign any order that is not a final order on the merits of the case and may recommend to the referring court any order after a trial on the merits. Id.  201.104(b), (c). Any party who is dissatisfied with the associate judge's order or judgment may request a de novo hearing before the referring court by filing a notice of that request not later than the third working day after the date the associate judge signs the proposed order or judgment. Id.  201.1042(b). If a party timely requests a de novo hearing, the provisions of subchapter A generally govern that request. Id.  201.1042(a). The referring court must conduct the de novo hearing within thirty days. Id.  201.015(f). The parties may present witnesses at the de novo hearing, and the referring court may also consider the record from the hearing before the associate judge, including the charge to and verdict returned by a jury. Id.  201.015(c). If the associate judge conducted a jury trial before issuing the proposed order or judgment, the parties may not demand a second jury. Id.  201.015(i).

If the parties waive or fail to timely request a de novo hearing, the Title IV-D associate judge's proposed order or judgment automatically becomes the referring court's order or judgment by operation of law without ratification by the referring court, unless the order provides for enforcement by contempt or by immediate incarceration of a party. Id.  201.1041(a), (b).

If a regional presiding judge appoints an associate judge under section 201.101, all Title IV-D cases shall be referred to the associate judge by a general order for each county, issued by either the regional presiding judge or the judge of the court for which the associate judge is appointed. Id.  201.101(d). Before the OAG's filing of its motion in this case, the presiding judge of the First Administrative Judicial Region entered general orders finding that the region's courts require an associate judge to timely complete Title IV-D cases, appointing Title IV-D associate judges, and referring all the region's Title IV-D cases to those associate judges. When the OAG filed its motion in this case, the case was automatically referred to the Title IV-D associate judge pursuant to these general orders.

III.

Title IV-D Case

Before addressing the primary issue of whether the Title IV-D associate judge had authority to hear conservatorship issues, we must first address the preliminary issue of whether this case properly belonged before the Title IV-D associate judge. See id. In the court of appeals, Father argued that the associate judge had no jurisdiction at all because this is not a Title IV-D case. The court of appeals rejected that argument, concluding that the OAG instituted a Title IV-D case when it filed its motion to modify the district court's 2010 order.  S.W.3d at .

We agree with the court of appeals. This is a Title IV-D case because the OAG is providing services in this case relating to the modification of a child-support obligation. Tex. Fam. Code  101.034. The OAG requested in its motion that the court modify the 2010 order to change both the conservatorship provisions and the child-support obligations to reflect the fact thataccording to the OAGFather had voluntarily relinquished custody of the children. Once the OAG filed that motion seeking to modify the child-support obligations, the presiding judge's general order automatically referred the case to the Title IV-D associate judge.

Father argues that the OAG cannot transform a pending suit into a Title IV-D case simply by intervening in the case. Father complains that reading the statute to allow the OAG to transform a private suit into a Title IV-D case deprives the parties of their right to litigate their dispute before an elected judge and forces them into a more informal forum before an unelected judge. Although that may be true, Father overlooks that the Code grants the parties the right to a de novo hearing before the elected judge. See id.  201.1042(b). The associate judge's proposed order or judgment becomes the referring court's order or judgment only if the parties waive or fail to timely request a de novo hearing. Id.  201.1041(a), (b). We assume that the Legislature believed that the efficiencies that Title IV-D associate judges provide for the collection and disbursement of child support in all cases outweigh any burden that appearing first before a Title IV-D associate judge may create in any particular case.

Father notes that the prior version of section 101.034 defined a Title IV-D case by referring only to services relating to the modification of a child-support obligation, not to the modification of conservatorship. See id.  101.034. By contrast, Father notes, the Family Code included conservatorship-modification suits among the definition of suits affecting the parent-child relationship. Id.  101.032(a). Father contends that the Legislature's failure to expressly define a Title IV-D case to include a suit affecting the parent-child relationship or a conservatorship-modification suit precluded this case from qualifying as a Title IV-D case, despite the OAG's motion seeking to modify child support.

We disagree. Under the Family Code's plain language, a Title IV-D case includes any action in which the OAG is providing Title IV-D services relating to the modification of a child-support obligation. Id.  101.034. The term action is generally synonymous with suit, which is a demand of one's rights in court. Thomas v. Oldham, 895 S.W.2d 352, 356 (Tex. 1995); see Jaster v. Comet II Const., Inc., 438 S.W.3d 556, 56364 (Tex. 2014) (plurality op.) (citing Black's Law Dictionary at 28 (7th ed. 1999)) (The common meaning of the term action refers to an entire lawsuit or cause or proceeding, not to discrete claims' or causes of action asserted within a suit, cause, or proceeding.). Although the applicable version of the Family Code did not specifically address the effect of the OAG's decision to provide child-support modification services by intervening into an already pending action, it also did not specifically except such actions from its definition of a Title IV-D case. Nor did it except actions in which the OAG seeks to modify conservatorship as well as a child-support obligation. The Code was simply silent on the issue. Yet we must apply the plain language the statute actually used. Because the OAG is providing services in this case relating to the modification of a child-support obligation, we agree with the court of appeals and the OAG that this is a Title IV-D case under the statute's former version.

IV.

Conservatorship Disputes

Having determined that this case became a Title IV-D case when the OAG filed its motion to modify the 2010 order, we now turn to the primary issue of whether the Title IV-D associate judge had authority to hear the OAG's motion to modify conservatorship. The court of appeals held that the Family Code, as it existed in 2014, granted the OAG no such authority. Father adopts the court of appeals' reasoning and also argues that federal law did not authorize the OAG to seek to modify a conservatorship order. We conclude that the law granted the OAG authority to seek to modify conservatorship and authorized Title IV-D associate judges to decide that issue when it relates to the establishment or modification of a child-support obligation.

A. OAG's authority

Father first contends that the OAG had no legal authority to seek to establish or modify conservatorship. We look to state law to determine the OAG's authority, because the Attorney General can only act within the limits of the Texas Constitution and statutes. Perry v. Del Rio, 67 S.W.3d 85, 92 (Tex. 2001). Here, however, the relevant state statute incorporated federal law by authorizing the OAG to provide all services required or authorized to be provided by [Title IV-D], including

(1) parent locator services;

(2) paternity determination;

(3) child support and medical support establishment;

(4) review and adjustment of child support orders;

(5) enforcement of child support and medical support orders; and

(6) collection and distribution of child support payments.

Tex. Fam. Code  231.101(a). Because this list did not include establishment or modification of conservatorship, Father contends that the OAG was not authorized to provide such services. This list, however, is expressly non-exclusive: the section authorized the OAG to provide all services Title IV-D requires or authorizes a participating state's IV-D agency to provide, including those listed. Id.

Section 231.101(a) requires that we look to Title IV-D to determine whether the OAG had authority to seek to modify conservatorship. The express purpose of the Title IV-D program is to ensure that assistance in obtaining support will be available under this part to all children  for whom such assistance is requested. 42 U.S.C.  651. To fulfill that purpose, the statute requires participating states' Title IV-D agencies to provide services relating not only to the enforcement or modification of existing child-support obligations, but also to the establishment of a child-support obligation that does not already exist. Id.  654(4)(A). The statute also requires state agencies to establish a service to locate parents and authorizes them to obtain information about a parent's location not only for the purpose of establishing and setting the amount of a new child-support obligation, id.  653(a)(2), 653a(h)(1), but also for the purpose of making or enforcing a child custody or visitation determination, id.  654(8) (emphasis added); see also id.  663(d)(1) (defining custody or visitation determination to mean a court judgment, decree, or order providing for the custody or visitation of a child, including initial orders and modifications).

In this case, the OAG sought to modify the 2010 order to reflect that Father had become the noncustodial parent and Mother had become the parent with whom such children [were] living, and that determination related to the OAG's effort to modify the parents' child-support obligations. See id.  654. Because the OAG's request to modify conservatorship was a service that related to the establishment or modification of a child-support obligation, it constituted a service the federal statute authorized the OAG to provide. See id.  654(4)(A).

Although the former version of the Texas Family Code, like the federal statute, did not expressly authorize the OAG to seek modification of conservatorship, it did authorize the OAG to provide all services that Title IV-D requires or authorizes. Tex. Fam. Code  231.101(a). The Code also granted governmental entities standing to file both an original suit to establish conservatorship and a suit to modify a conservatorship order. Id.  102.003, 156.002. And the Code also expressly authorized the OAG, as the state's Title IV-D agency, to review a support order at any time on a showing of a material and substantial change in circumstances, taking into consideration the best interests of the child. Id.  231.101(d). We conclude that the Family Code authorized the OAG to seek to modify the children's conservatorship because doing so related to the OAG's effort to modify the parents' child-support obligations in light of the change in the children's circumstances.

B. Title IV-D associate judge's authority

We also conclude that subchapter B of chapter 201 authorized the Title IV-D associate judge to hear the OAG's motion to modify conservatorship. Section 201.104entitled Powers of Associate Judgebroadly authorized Title IV-D associate judges to refer a complex case back to the judge for final disposition after the associate judge has recommended temporary support, render and sign any order that is not a final order on the merits of the case, and recommend to the referring court any order after a trial on the merits. Id.  201.104(a)(c). Subsection (d) then limited that authority by providing that [o]nly the referring court may hear and render an order on a motion for postjudgment relief, including a motion for a new trial or to vacate, correct, or reform a judgment. Id.  201.104(d). But [n]otwithstanding Subsection (d), subsection (e) authorized Title IV-D associate judges to hear and render an order on

(1) a suit to modify or clarify an existing child support order;

(2) a motion to enforce a child support order or revoke a respondent's community supervision and suspension of commitment;

(3) a respondent's compliance with the conditions provided in the associate judge's report for suspension of the respondent's commitment; and

(4) a motion for postjudgment relief, including a motion for a new trial or to vacate, correct, or reform a judgment, if neither party has requested a de novo hearing before the referring court.

Id.  201.104(e).

Because the list set forth in subsection 201.104(e) did not expressly authorize Title IV-D associate judges to hear conservatorship issues, the court of appeals concluded that associate judges lacked such authority. But subsection 201.104(e) did not purport to provide an exclusive list of a Title IV-D associate judge's authority. Subsection (e) merely listed exceptions to subsection (d), which prohibited a Title IV-D associate judge from ruling on a motion for postjudgment relief. See id.  201.104(d). The court of appeals' holding overlooks subsections (b) and (c), which authorized Title IV-D associate judges to render and sign any order that is not a final order on the merits of the case and recommend to the referring court any order after a trial on the merits. Id.  201.104(b), (c) (emphases added).

The Code authorized Title IV-D associate judges to render and recommend such orders to ensure that the courts complete each Title IV-D case within the statutory deadlines. Id.  201.101(a). Because this is a Title IV-D case, section 201.104 authorized the Title IV-D associate judge to render and recommend any order necessary to timely complete the case, including an order on conservatorship related to the establishment of a child-support obligation. And to the extent that the OAG's motion was a motion for postjudgment relief, subsection 201.104(e)(4) authorized the Title IV-D associate judge to hear and render an order on that motion because no party had requested a de novo hearing before the referring court. Id.  201.104(e)(4). We conclude that the previous version of chapter 201 subchapter B authorized the Title IV-D associate judge to hear and decide the OAG's motion to modify conservatorship and child support in this case.

V.

Conclusion

We hold that the former version of the Texas Family Code authorized the OAG to seek to modify the conservatorship provisions of the 2010 order because that service related to the establishment, modification, or enforcement of a child-support obligation. Once the OAG filed its motion to modify conservatorship and the child-support obligations, this became a Title IV-D case and the Title IV-D associate judge was authorized to render or recommend any order to complete the case. We thus disagree with the court of appeals' holding that the Title IV-D associate judge lacked authority to enter the order modifying conservatorship and child support in this case. We affirm the court of appeals' judgment reversing the associate judge's order and remanding the case, however, solely on the independent ground that the associate judge failed to consider Father's request to participate in the hearing by alternative means.

FOOTNOTES

. The OAG was apparently not aware when it filed its notice and motion that Grandparents had previously filed a motion to modify the 2010 order. After discovering Grandparents' motion, the Attorney General filed an amended notice and motion in which it expressly noted that there is still apparently a legal action pending in this cause brought by Grandparents.

. As mentioned, the Legislature has since amended the Family Code to expressly grant the OAG authority to seek to modify conservatorship and to expressly grant Title IV-D associate judges authority to decide conservatorship issues. For example, section 231.101(d) now provides that the OAG, acting as the state's Title IV-D agency, may file a petition for modification under Chapter 156, which governs suits to modify an order that provides for the conservatorship, support, or possession of and access to a child. Act of June 8, 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., ch. 963,  2, 2015 Tex. Gen. Laws 3407, 3408 (codified at Tex. Fam. Code  231.101(d)); see also Tex. Fam. Code  156.001. Section 101.034 now defines a Title IV-D case to include a suit for modification filed by the Title IV-D agency under Section 231.101(d). Act of May 29, 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., ch. 912,  1.01.02, 2017 Tex. Gen. Laws ,  (codified at Tex. Fam. Code  101.034). And section 201.104 now expressly provides that a Title IV-D associate judge has the power to hear and render an order on any matter necessary to be decided in connection with a Title IV-D service, including  (5) a suit affecting the parent-child relationship; and (6) a suit for modification under Chapter 156. Act of May 25, 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., ch. 699,  1, 2017 Tex. Gen. Laws ,  (codified at Tex. Fam. Code  201.104(e)). Because all of these amendments became effective after the Title IV-D associate judge received, heard, and decided this case, we need not consider these amendments here. Unless otherwise noted, references to the Family Code are to the version in effect at the time this case was pending in the trial court.

. Having concluded that subchapter B authorized the Title IV-D associate judge to enter the order, we need not consider the parties' arguments addressing whether the broader provisions of subchapter A also granted the associate judge such authority. See Tex. Fam. Code  201.102 (providing that subchapter A's provisions apply to a Title IV-D associate judge except that, to the extent of any conflict between subchapter B and subchapter A, subchapter B prevails).

Justice Boyd delivered the opinion of the Court.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday directed the police to ensure that families of militants are not targeted, according to media reports.

India Today reported that Mufti, while addressing policemen at Police Training School in Manigam in Central Kashmir's Ganderbal district, said the police should not to resort to retaliation because militants are attacking policeman's families.

"Police should not attack militants' families as militants are attacking the policeman's families," the report quoted her as saying.

Further, she requested the 'police should maintain difference' and urged them to put efforts so that militants surrender.

She said policemen were facing many difficulties in the discharge of their duties, but they had set an example of discipline and sacrifice.

Her statement comes a week after videos of militants threatening PDP workers after ransacking their houses went viral on social media.

Times Now reported that in one of the videos militants ransacked PDP worker Fayaz Ahmed Mirs house in Shopian district and threatened to pump him with bullets, if he continued support the government. Another PDP worker Abdul Majid Bhat was beaten up and threatened with dire consequences if he or any other PDP leader interfered with their freedom struggle.

"This is last warning, if we get another complaint, will empty 31 bullets on your body, tell your leaders also that there fight is with us, not our families, tell them be it PDP, NC or BJP worker, SPO to SP, we know how to strike back, leave families out, its a fight of gun with gun, why bring our families in this?, the militant said.

The militants had also threatened one Territorial Army (TA) soldier and a cop in south Kashmir, the report added.

With inputs from IANS
New Delhi/Kohima: The NIA is likely to issue summons to Shelly Sumi, wife of Niki Sumi, the "general" of the Myanmar-based National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang, and others over a case of terror funding in Nagaland, an official said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, officials of the National Investigation Agency seized Rs 27.90 lakh from the houses of Shelly, Ikheli Yeptho, Shutoli and Hozheli at Naharbari Basti in Dimapur, the main commercial town of Nagaland.

Twelve mobile phones, three laptops, a hard disk and 33 documents were also seized, it said.

The raids were part of its ongoing case against them for extorting people and sending the money to Myanmar to fund the activities of the NSCN-K, which is still at war with the Indian state.

Niki Sumi, chief of military operations of the NSCN-K, was named by New Delhi as the key figure in the 4 June, 2015 attack which killed 18 soldiers, along with the NSCN-K's Starson Lamkang and 'Major General' Neymlang.

"So far, we have not arrested anyone. Summons will be issued to Shelly and her associates," a top NIA official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

Various intelligence agencies have been keeping a close watch on the movement and activities of Shelly and her associates in Nagaland and Manipur.

"The government wants to know the source of the money... No one is above the law," he said.

NIA officials said the seized money was suspected to have been extorted from the public or government servants and meant for sending to the NSCN-K camps in Myanmar to fund activities "prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India".

In April, Shelly and her associates were arrested by Assam Rifles with Rs 18.47 lakh at Karong in Manipur's Senapati district. Security agencies believed that the money was meant to be sent across to Myanmar to fund the NSCN-K.

But the court granted bail to Shelly and others and the seized cash and articles were released to the accused. Later, the agency filed a case against her and others on the orders of the home ministry.

The NSCN-K abrogated the ceasefire signed with the Indian government in 2001 in March 2015, just a month before the truce was up for renewal.

Subsequently, Khaplang's rebels went on a killing spree, attacking Indian soldiers in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.
North East India is soon going to get a new industrial policy to attract investors from investors across the world, said Assam industry minister Chandra Mohan Patowary in New Delhi.

He also hoped that the new policy would be unique and would not be the same with other states in terms of tax breaks provided to investors.

"The policy has been sent for the Centre's approval after necessary paper works and is likely to be approved within a month or so," Patowary said on Tuesday.

The minister was speaking at a curtain raiser event of the Advantage Assam: Global Investors' Summit 2018 to be held in Guwahati on 3 and 4 February. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to attend the summit.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who was also present at the curtain raiser event invited investors to invest in Assam and avail the benefits to be provided by the state. He also launched the Advantage Assam website.

A new industrial policy is likely to be a sigh of relief for the capital-starved economy of Assam, which according to trade bodies may lose investments of nearly Rs 10,000 crore in absence of perks to investors in lines similar to that of the earlier industrial policy.

The last industrial policy which was introduced in the year 2007 was suspended after the NDA rose to power at the Centre in 2014, nearly two and half years before its expiry date in 2017.

Registration of new industries under the policy resumed last year only after a court order in December 2015. The policy expired on 31 March 2017, which led to drying up of investments in the state.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said in the meeting that during his tenure Assam has secured Rs 6,500 crore as an investment. Sources in the department said that most of these investments projects materialised before the earlier industrial policy expired.

The score of the present Sonowal-led Assam government is seen as much higher in wooing investors than the previous Congress-led government which secured Rs 14,000 crore in seven years starting from the year 2007.

"This amounts to only Rs 2,000 crore investments per year on an average which is far less than Rs 6,500 crore attracted by the state during a span of one and half years of the Sarbananda Sonowal led government, said an industry source.

The Congress had a 15-year continuous run under Tarun Gogoi as chief minister in Assam.

The Assam government has also created a new Act East Policy Department, a message that seems to have gone down well with the investors.

Ravi Capoor, additional chief secretary, industry Department said that Assam which has the potential to cater to the demands of the markets in the South East Asian nations with a population of 80 crore, would focus on attracting investments in eight sectors.

"All the major cities in the ASEAN countries are hardly one and half hours away by air. To add more convenience the state is pushing for an aviation hub with the Centre," he said.

Capoor further said that the northeastern region is being connected with neighbouring nations by trans-national highways and also by the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Project, which will connect Sittwe Port in Myanmar with waterways.

"Apart from that, the Brahmaputra is also being dredged to create a waterway to connect the region with Chittagong Port in Bangladesh," he said.

The eight sectors in which Assam is expecting investments are pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, plastic and petrochemicals, power, river transport, IT and ITES, handloom, textiles and handicrafts, tourism hospitality and wellness, agri-horticulture, food processing including organic cultivation and bamboo.

Sonowal said that the government is planning two 65 storied twin towers for the investing companies to set up businesses.

Pressing that Assam is no more a land of unrest and uncertainty he said, "Those days have faded in memories. We have taken strongest possible measures against insurgency."

Attempting to woo the investors he further said, "The investors only have to decide to invest in Assam. The rest is our responsibility."

In what is seen as a major success of the present regime in Assam is identifying land to set up new industries, which was seen as a major hurdle in attracting investors.

Patowary said that the government has identified 4,000-acre of land to allow investors to set up industries.

The earlier Congress-led regime had a tough time in identifying land for new industries. The trade bodies had been demanding the state government to meet this paucity by converting agricultural land into commercial.

The industry minister also said that Assam government has passed six key policies to ease doing business. These policies relate to start-up, information technology, handloom policy, sugar policy and biotechnology.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday dismissed as unrealistic India's move to appoint an interlocutor to understand the legitimate aspirations of people in Jammu and Kashmir, saying no interaction or dialogue would carry any weight without the participation of the Hurriyat Conference.

India had appointed former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma as its special representative for a "sustained dialogue" with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir, in a fresh move aimed at bringing peace to the troubled state.

Responding to a question on Sharma's appointment, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that the measure did not appear to be sincere and realistic.

He said that, if anything, the Indian GovernmentAs announcement illustrated a recognition  once again  of the futility of the use of force and of the indispensability of dialogue.

"However, for any dialogue process to be meaningful and result-oriented, it has to include the three main parties  India, Pakistan, and the Kashmiris. In that context, without the participation of the Hurriyat leadership, no interaction or dialogue would carry any weight or meaning," he said.

The spokesperson said that the designated interlocutor had been entrusted with the task of understanding the "legitimate aspirations" of the Kashmiri people.

He said that the need of the hour was to have dialogue for peacefully resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

"This was imperative for ensuring durable and sustainable peace and stability in South Asia. Pakistan hoped that the international community would play its rightful role in facilitating such an outcome," he said.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday summoned India's deputy high commissioner for the fourth time this month over the alleged "ceasefire violations" by Indian troops along the Line of Control.

Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh and "condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations" by the Indian forces in Leepa sector on Tuesday, the foreign office said.

It said two women  identified as Sumaira and Maryam  were killed in the firing that also injured six people.

Faisal said that despite calls for restraint, India continues to indulge in ceasefire violations.

"The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws," Faisal said.

"The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation," he added.

The foreign office said Faisal urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, and instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit and maintain peace along the LoC and the Working Boundary.

He also urged the Indian side to allow the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

India maintains that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control.

Faisal claimed that Indian forces have carried out more than 1,150 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary this year, resulting in the death of 49 civilians.

Singh was earlier summoned by the Foreign Office on 15 October. He was also summoned on 2 October and 4 October over the alleged "ceasefire violations".
Award-winning actor, producer, director and philanthropist Prakash Raj is not a person to beat about the bush. Last month, he took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, no less, over his silence on journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder. He said: "As a citizen of this country, I am disturbed, hurt and afraid by the silence of the prime minister. I am talking to my prime minister and I say your silence is chilling and I have a right to say this.''

In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Raj speaks his mind on the Mersal controversy, GST on handicrafts and why he worries that the Taj Mahal is in danger.

We speak at a time when a Tamil film 'Mersal' starring Vijay is in the midst of a huge controversy  because of one scene where his character has criticised GST. Where do you stand on it? Do you see it as an unnecessary controversy?

It is unnecessary. The film has been censored. Let people debate about the right and wrong of it. All of us need not be on the same page on every issue. Let people scrutinise. But to bring in the religion of the actor into it shows that there is an agenda.

In fact, the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP accuses Vijay of having an agenda in criticising the NDA government's economic decision...

I ask them, do you have an agenda? My point is you cannot gag. Period. Let us discuss, express our objections. But you cannot bring religion into it.

Does it make the job of filmmakers difficult if such objections are raised? Will it lead to a situation where the scriptwriter or the director will think twice before writing or filming a scene in a particular?

Has it been easy in the recent past? We are already made to think twice.

With reports that Kamal Haasan is entering politics, and the possibility of Rajinikanth doing the same, do you think it is the established political class's way of sending a message to the film industry-wallahs? That this far and no further.

So, does it mean you say such stuff and threaten? So say so directly. Why in the disguise of a film. Let us fight it out.

On Tuesday, you tweeted about the Taj Mahal and I quote: "Since you have started digging at the foundation of the Taj Mahal, when do you intend to bring it down. We can at least take our children and show it one last time.'' Do you worry the Taj is in danger?

Yes, it is my worry. Why would you hold the present generation responsible for what their ancestors did? It is like making a British child feel guilty for what his or her forefathers did to India. Will you hate them for it?

The other day, members of a right-wing group read out the Shiva Chalisa at the Taj Mahal complex. What do you have to say about that?

I have said what I had to say. I am speaking about my fears. People have to start thinking as well. We need to stop spoonfeeding.

You also tweeted on GST and I quote: "Machine culture has made our handcrafters who live on handmade products slaves of the marketplace. GST is wiping them out. Would you consider zero percent GST for them in your next meeting in November? Or would you be kind enough to at least suggest to rural India, a way to perish with zero percent pain and zero percent humiliation.'' Strong words, strong messaging...

Isn't it true? The British did the same with us. You have a country where the rural economy is unable to compete with the urban economy. It is fighting inequality already and on top of that, now you put GST.

When we speak of handicrafts, we are not talking only of weavers. We are talking of the tribes living on the fringes of the forests, collecting leaves, honey, even a cobbler. Wherever work is done, three-fourth is done by hand and one-fourth by an implement. It is their identity, their culture.

And in most parts, the machines have taken over...

Yes, already handlooms are dying because of the machines coming in. A handloom saree already costs much more and consumers won't buy them. We need social justice. Where is the social justice that BR Ambedkar spoke about? Is this the Swarajya that Gandhiji spoke about.

Yes, we believed GST will work for everyone's good. Great. I am not against GST. But now when we know of the problems, nothing wrong if we admit there are errors. When you bring in a new policy, there are bound to be hiccups.

And this is what you have found during your interaction with rural folk...

Yes. My villagers in the place I have adopted are helpless. I am meeting people, whether in Kondareddypalle in Telangana or near Mysuru. I am working with (theatre personality and handloom activist) Prasanna and am only asking the government if it can reconsider imposing GST on products prepared by tribals living in a forest. It is not only a huge economic burden on them but also disturbs the social fabric.

Earlier this month, you came under a very sharp attack after you criticised the fact that the prime minister was still following those who abused Gauri Lankesh after her murder. It has been some days since that. Did anyone reach out to you after all the abuse you were subjected to?

I do not belong to any political party. My statements are not political. You still want to badmouth me, I cannot help it. Everyone has the right to differ, but this is orchestrated trolling. And you cannot threaten me with continuous abuse. I can see the face behind it and I am going to hit back.

How will you hit back?

By continuing to talk. I know my integrity.

Do you think there is a fear factor in the country?

People do not question because they feel threatened. There is an attempt to induce fear. That is the ambience in the country today and I am appalled by it.

That includes the media?

In fact, when the Karnakata Assembly recently sent two journalists of Kannada publications to jail in June, I was the first one to raise my voice against it and stand up for them. I went and met the two journalists. You cannot stop the media.

Can we say the journalists can punish the MLAs? I am chiselled by one of the greatest journalists ever seen, P Lankesh. He taught me to be fearless and question everything. We cannot become a country where journalists are gagged.

A term often used these days is that the vocabulary in India has become too vicious and the atmosphere very toxic. Do you agree?

The social media is closely monitored. Every political organisation pays certain groups of people to troll individuals. But that is not the majority of people in India. However, this is the group that triggers and creates an atmosphere of hatred. It is like growing a plant using toxins and then eating the same.
On the concluding day of his maiden visit to India, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson held a joint press conference with India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on Wednesday, and they touched upon a wide range of topics, ranging from US-India relations to Pakistan harbouring terrorist outfits.

"India-US relations have deepened after Narendra Modi's United States visit," Sushma Swaraj said, adding that she was privileged to meet Tillerson for the second time in a month, following their meeting at the United Nations General Assembly summit.

Swaraj also said that Tillerson recognised India's role in the development of the region, further informing that India, US and Afghanistan will hold a trilateral meet in December.

On terrorism, Swaraj attacked Pakistan, saying, "Recent attacks in Afghanistan are proof that safe havens and supporters of terrorism are active. Pakistan needs to act on this."

US president Donald Trump's policies on terrorism can only succeed if Islamabad takes action on terror groups in the country, she said.

President Trump's policy on terrorism can only succeed when Pakistan takes action on terror groups: EAM Sushma Swaraj pic.twitter.com/I3cJ12PqtV  ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2017

Calling India an emerging leader in the region, Tillerson said New Delhi is crucial to the US' Afghanistan strategy. "India is a natural partner in our fight against terrorism," he said.

About Pakistan harbouring terrorist outfits, Tillerson said, "In my discussions in Islamabad, we were frank to conclude that there are too many terrorist outfits that find a safe haven in Pakistan. We are putting in place a mechanism to deny these outfits the ability to launch attacks on other countries."

"We want to work with Pakistan in a positive way as we think this is in their interest in the long run," Tillerson said.

Asked if India is ready to cut diplomatic ties with North Korea, Swaraj said trade relations with Pyongyang are at a minimum, but it is important to continue having an embassy in the country. "I told Tillerson that some of your friendly nations must have an embassy there in North Korea for any possible communication," she said.

The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier tweeted to say that the meeting between Swaraj and Tillerson touched on bilateral, regional and global issues "to further strengthen bonds of friendship".
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On Wednesday, during delegation-level talks with Sushma Swaraj, Rex Tillerson is expected to advance the agenda laid out by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Modis visit to the White House in June 2017

"India-US relations have deepened after Narendra Modi's United States visit," says Sushma Swaraj at joint press conference in New Delhi

WATCH: Press Interaction: Visit of Secretary of State of the United States of America to India

Asked if India is ready to cut diplomatic ties with North Korea, Swaraj said trade relations with Pyongyang are at a minimum, but it is important to continue having an embassy in North Korea.

Asked about Pakistan's harbouring of terrorists and its support of terrorism, Tillerson says, "In my discussions in Islamabad, we were frank to conclude that there are too many terrorist outfits that find a safe haven in Pakistan. We are putting in place a mechanism to deny these outfits the ability to launch attacks on other countries."

India is crucial to USA-Afghanistan strategy, back India as a leader in the region: US Secy of State Rex Tillerson

Terrorist safe havens will not be tolerated: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson

Asked if India is ready to cut diplomatic ties with North Korea, Swaraj said trade relations with Pyongyang are at a minimum, but it is important to continue having an embassy in North Korea.

Our trade with North Korea has reduced a lot and our embassy there is very small: EAM Sushma Swaraj

Told Secy Tillerson that some of your friendly nations must have an embassy there in North Korea for any possible communication: EAM Swaraj

Asked about Pakistan's harbouring of terrorists and its support of terrorism, Tillerson says, "In my discussions in Islamabad, we were frank to conclude that there are too many terrorist outfits that find a safe haven in Pakistan. We are putting in place a mechanism to deny these outfits the ability to launch attacks on other countries."

Had a very open frank exchange with Pakistan leaders in Islamabad yesterday, conveyed to Pak the expectations we have: Rex Tillerson pic.twitter.com/gfPhWz5Y34

We want to work with Pakistan in a positive way as we think this is in their interest in longer term: Rex Tillerson,US Secy of State

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived on a tour of India Tuesday. According to the US State Department, he will meet with senior Indian leaders to discuss further strengthening of India-US strategic partnership and collaboration on security in the Asia-Pacific region.

His visit will also advance the agenda laid out by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Modis visit to the White House in June 2017.

Tillerson's first meeting is with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in New Delhi at 10 am after which he will pay tribute at Gandhi Smriti Museum. At 12 am, Tillerson is scheduled to meet Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj with whom he will have a working luncheon. Both leaders will then participate in a joint press conference in the national capital.

At 1.30 pm, the US secretary of state will meet business executives and then will proceed to meet the staff and families of the US Embassy in New Delhi.

Tillerson will round up his visit with a 4.30 pm meeting with Modi.

Ahead of his meeting, Tillerson had said that America's relationship with India is of strategic importance which is not limited to South Asia. He further added that the Trump administration was of the view that India can play a positive role in creating a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

"I think, our view of the relationship with India is one that's of strategic importance not just for this specific region, but also about a free and open Asia-Pacific region stretching all the way from Japan to India," Tillerson had told reporters at the Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan on his arrival for his maiden visit to South Asia.

Tillerson asks Pakistan it to rein in terrorism

On Tuesday, Tillerson had bluntly told Pakistan's top leadership that it must increase efforts to eradicate terrorists operating within the country.

Tillerson had arrived in Islamabad on a whirlwind visit to reset bilateral ties strained after President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorist groups.

During his meeting with Pakistan prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Tillerson had discussed the bilateral cooperation and partnership, expanding economic ties between the US and Pakistan, and Pakistans critical role in the region.

The US embassy had said that the US secretary of state reiterated Trump's message that "Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country."

He had also outlined the United States new South Asia Strategy and the vital role that Pakistan can play in working with the United States and others to facilitate a peace process in Afghanistan that can bring stability and security to the region, the US embassy statement said.

With inputs from PTI
New Delhi: India and the US on Wednesday agreed to further accelerate and strengthen their bilateral engagement when visiting US secretary of state Rex Tillerson called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Welcoming Tillerson on his maiden visit to India in his current capacity, Modi noted with appreciation the firm upward trajectory in the bilateral strategic partnership following the "positive and far-reaching talks" with US president Donald Trump in Washington in June this year, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

"Prime Minister shared the resolve expressed by Secretary Tillerson on taking further steps in the direction of accelerating and strengthening the content, pace and scope of the bilateral engagement," the PMO statement said.

"They affirmed that a strengthened India-US partnership is not just of mutual benefit to both countries, but has significant positive impact on the prospects for regional and global stability and prosperity," it stated.

In the context of President Trump's new South Asia Strategy unveiled in August, Modi noted the commonality in the objectives of eradicating terrorism, terrorist infrastructure, safe havens and support, while bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.

Tillerson also exchanged views regarding his visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan before arriving on Tuesday.

"They further discussed stepping up effective cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and promoting regional stability and security," the statement said.

Earlier in the day, Tillerson and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj held a bilateral meeting following which both jointly addressed the media.

The US secretary of state also held a meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
Lance McCrory, the traffic engineer technician for the city of Chattanooga's Neighborhood Traffic Management Program, will give a presentation Wednesday on solutions for speeding in neighborhoods.

Focused on making neighborhood streets safe and comfortable for all users, the NTMP is able to work with neighborhoods to provide traffic calming solutions.

Mr. McCrory's presentation will be at noon at Golden Corral, 1808 Gunbarrel Road.

For more information check out the October ACTS Newsletter.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the Uttar Pradesh government's restoration plea against its order to demolish a multi-level car parking facility being built within a kilometre of the Taj Mahal on 27 October.

The apex court had on Tuesday ordered demolition of the parking lot, being constructed near the eastern gate of the 17th-century monument.

The Uttar Pradesh government's counsel mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar and sought urgent hearing of the restoration application.

"We have suffered an order of demolition of the multi-level car parking. We are praying for an urgent listing of the restoration application," advocate Aishwarya Bhati, representing the state government, told the bench.

The counsel contended that the state's advocate could not appear before the court on Tuesday when the matter was called up for hearing before a bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur, due to which the demolition order was passed.

The apex court, which is dealing with a petition filed by environmentalist MC Mehta, has been monitoring development in the area to protect the Taj Mahal, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal in 1631. The historic white marble mausoleum is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mehta, in his PIL, has sought protection of the Taj from the ill effects of polluting gases and deforestation in and around the area.

The apex court had earlier passed a slew of directions to protect the monument.
Washington: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has invited US industry majors to invest in his state, positioning it as the logistics and manufacturing hub of India in a post-GST regime offering business-friendly policies.

Chouhan, in a series of meetings with US industry representatives and leaders of the corporate world has invited them to invest in his state. "I am not only the chief minister, but also CEO (chief executive officer) of Madhya Pradesh. If there is any problem,

I try to resolve that immediately. Madhya Pradesh is emerging as an ideal state in India," Chouhan said at a business roundtable organised jointly by the Confederation of Indian Industry and US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

"Come and invest in Madhya Pradesh," he said, as he and his team of officials gave a detailed presentation on the investor friendly policies of the state government.

India, he said is developing at a fast pace. "There is no policy paralysis since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of India. Decisions are being taken quickly. There is high growth rate," he said.

With the implementation of GST or goods and services tax, India has become "as one nation, one tax and one market", thus opening up new vistas for the businesses and industry, he said.

And with Madhya Pradesh being centrally located, the state government has quickly formulated policies so as to make it the "logistics and manufacturing" hub of the country. From food processing to defense manufacturing, the state government has come out with industry specific policies and the first of its kind investment based incentives in a post-GST India, he said.

The availability of skilled manpower and good law and order makes Madhya Pradesh an ideal destination for businesses and industries to invest in. Demonetisation has ended black money-based economy in the country, he said.

He also claimed Madhya Pradesh has the highest agricultural growth (averaging 20 percent) in the country for the last three years and has major defence manufacturing sites. Food processing is one of the focus areas of his government, he said.

In addition, Madhya Pradesh, with its central location and rapid growth, is quickly becoming a leader in rural and urban development for India, he said. The infrastructure in the state is one of the best, he said, adding that Madhya Pradesh is surplus in electricity.

In Rewa, he said, the world's largest solar power plant is under construction where the electricity would be sold at a record Rs 2.93 per unit, the cheapest in the world. Referring to his drive from the airport to the city, Chouhan said the roads in Madhya Pradesh seem to be better than that of Washington DC.

In his presentation, principal secretary Mohammed Suleman said that in new GST regime, we are at the best location to take products across the country. Post GST, Madhya Pradesh would be the most attractive destination for manufacturing in Indian he said.

Madhya Pradesh, because of its location, touches almost 50 percent of the country's population, so any facility which is in Madhya Pradesh can easily transport its manufacturing product to the rest of the country.

The Deputy Indian Ambassador to the US, Santosh Jha, said Chouhan is leading a state that is increasingly setting the bar, adding that increasingly his experimentations in the state are becoming national plans.
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday sent Shahid Yusuf, son of globally wanted terrorist Syed Salahuddin, to seven days NIA custody in connection with a 2011 terror funding case for allegedly receiving money from his father.

Yusuf, who was arrested on Tuesday by National Investigation Agency (NIA), was produced before District and Sessions Judge Poonam A Bamba, who allowed the probe agency's plea for his custody.

According to the agency, 42-year-old Yusuf, who works in the agricultural department of the Jammu and Kashmir government, was summoned to the agency's headquarters where he was arrested after questioning on Tuesday.

The NIA alleged that Shahid used to receive funds through a US-based international wire transfer company from Aijaz Ahmed Bhat, another accused in the case who is absconding and is reported to be based in Saudi Arabia.

The agency has alleged that Yusuf was "one of several Indian contacts of Bhat" who had been in telephonic contact with him for receiving money transfer codes.

The NIA has claimed that so far Yusuf has received a total of nearly Rs 4.5 lakh through eight international wire transfers.

The case, registered by the NIA in April 2011, relates to the transfer of money from Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir through hawala channels via Delhi, which the agency claims was used in funding terrorism and secessionist activities.

The NIA has so far filed two chargesheets against six people including GM Bhat, a close aide of pro-Pakistan separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Siddiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga. All four are in judicial custody.

Two others  Mohammed Maqbool Pandit and Bhat  were also charged by the NIA but are absconding. Interpol Red Corner notices have been issued against them.

Yusuf's father Mohammed Yusuf Shah  better known as Syed Salahuddin  was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department of State in June this year.

Besides heading terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, he is the chairman of the United Jehad Council (UJC), a conglomerate of terrorist outfits operating in the Kashmir Valley.

The NIA had also registered two other cases related to terror funding  one in November 2011 and the other in May this year. It had filed a chargesheet against 10 people including Syed Salahuddin in the April 2011 case.

In the recent case, the NIA arrested 10 people including some close relatives and aides of Geelani.
Mumbai: Two debt-ridden farmers ended life in the last 48 hours in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, officials said.

Balasaheb Nivrutti Raner (32), a resident of Babhulgaon in Pathri tehsil of Parbhani district, hanged himself at his house on the afternoon of 23 October, local police said.

Raner was distressed as he hadn't repaid a bank loan, and crops had failed for three years in a row.

He was alone at home when he committed suicide. His parents and two brothers were in the fields.

Raner had a post-graduate degree in the arts stream and also completed Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) course, but could not find a suitable job, a police official said.

He had borrowed Rs 1,72,543 from Bank of Maharashtra and Rs 5,000 of Parbhani District Co-operative Bank.

"Before committing suicide Raner had spoken to his mother about his frustration. He had also stopped eating his meals," said police sub-inspector Awez Kazi, the investigating officer.

"During the preliminary investigation we found that he ended his life due to his inability to repay the bank loan and frustration over repeated crop failure," Kazi said.

The police would write to the local tehsil office to find out if he was on the list of beneficiaries of the state government's loan waiver scheme, the officer said.

In the second incident, Khanderao Sambhaji Pawar (32), a resident of Kankadi in Nanded district, hanged himself from a tree on his farm last night, police said. The incident came to light on Wednesday morning.

Pawar owed Rs 45,000 to a bank and was apparently depressed as he could not repay the amount. Nanded Rural Police are probing the case.

Implementation of the Maharashtra government's loan waiver scheme has begun since 18 October.
New Delhi: Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh is in Iraq to meet senior officials to coordinate the search operations for the 39 missing Indians and find concrete information related to their whereabouts.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Iraqi embassy in New Delhi said Iraq and India continue their close cooperation in order to find the location of the missing Indians who were kidnapped by Islamic State terrorist group in June 2014.

"Further coordination has been done between India and Iraq to provide the latter with DNA samples of relatives of the missing Indians, as a matter of routine procedure, to help Iraqi investigators in their search to verify the identity of the thousands of victims left by Islamic State, whether alive or exhumed bodies, as a number of mass graves have been discovered in the areas that were under ISIS control," it said.
The video from the Time magazine, that catches the moment when 'Xi Jinping Thought On Socialism With Chinese Characteristics For New Era' is written into the Communist Party charter, is at once comical and bone-chilling the way all political theatres in authoritarian regimes are. Had he been alive, Charles Chaplin may well have used it in The Great Dictator. As Xi cast the vote for himself, nearly 2,500 hands went up in unison. When it came to opposition to the motion, all hands stayed firmly down as repeated and loud echoes of 'no' reverberated in the Great Hall of People in Beijing. It was time, then, for applause.

The moment catches in a nutshell the fearful control Xi Jinping has managed to exert over the 89-million-member party that rules over the world's fastest emerging superpower -- an impression that was reinforced on Wednesday as five new Politburo Standing Committee members were paraded before the world in a puppet ceremony at the end of the 19th Communist Party Congress.

None of the five who were promoted to China's apex decision-making body to join party general secretary Xi and Prime Minister Li Keqiang (to make up the requisite seven) are below 60 years of age. This indicates that none among Xi's chief of staff Li Zhanshu (67), vice Premier Wang Yang (62), chief theorist Wang Huning (62), party personnel chief Zhao Leji (60), and Shanghai party secretary Han Zheng (63) could be considered as heir apparent to Xi when he is expected to step down in 2022, having completed 10 years as president.

Xi broke away from an unwritten party tradition introduced by former leader Deng Xiaoping who wanted to bring a semblance of order into an opaque and fractious power-transition process. In doing so, Xi has reconfirmed the notion that in the Communist Party and in the country, he now enjoys almost Mao Zedong-like status.

The comparison with the founding father of modern China should not be a casual observation. Xi is only the second leader after Mao to have both his name and philosophy written into the party charter, an honour that was accorded to Deng only in death. Xi's predecessors Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin's thoughts and theories were incorporated, but their names were not.

Beijing-based political commentator Zhang Lifan tells Telegraph, UK: "This is Xi's era  and it's an era he has created for himself Mao had to wait 24 years until he had his ideology included in the constitution. But for Xi it was only five."

Xi's Thought On Socialism With Chinese Characteristics For New Era will now be ideologically enshrined, doctrinally enforced and scrupulously implemented at every level of the Chinese society (schools, universities, media, government agencies, political speeches) and opposition to Xi will be tantamount to maligning the Communist Party  a sacrilege with disastrous consequences. It is clear that Xi could afford to break away from Deng-introduced tradition because his stature is now officially above the former leader in a strictly hierarchical environment of Chinese politics.

That brings us to the key question that dominated the latest edition of the quinquennial Party Congress. Why did Xi avoid naming a successor? There are several possibilities:

One, Xi was not keen on naming a successor because anointing an heir at this stage, when he has just been reconfirmed for a second term (a mere formality) as president, may serve to weaken his authority. Media attention will shift to the heir apparent, his moves will be closely scrutinised and Xi's stature, from a Mao-like pedestal, will crash to the rank of a lame duck.

Two, the assumption that Xi is serving his final five-year term is itself under question. Having amassed unprecedented and unassailable power by enshrining his name and thought into the party charter, Xi may now initiate structural changes in the national Constitution and secure a life-term as president. He certainly is in a position to do so, having clinically removed each and every obstacle along the way.

The central committee, politburo and the all-powerful standing committee now stands recast and populated with Xi's allies and faithfuls. Most of his opponents are now either jailed on corruption charges or disempowered. Their proteges have been shown the door. Liberals have either been jailed or purged. Xi has also recast the top military leadership, packing key roles with allies.

The extent of Xi's authoritarianism can be gauged from the fact that major western news organisations whose coverage of Party Congress proceedings has not been to Xi's liking, were blocked from covering Wednesdays event. The list includes BBC, Financial Times, The Economist, New York Times and The Guardian. Naming a successor is always going to be difficult for such an insecure man.

Three, Xi may figure out a way to stay relevant within the Chinese power structure beyond his stipulated second term because he feels that his work of 'making China great again' will remain unfulfilled by 2022. In his work report unveiled during the Party Congress, Xi repeatedly uttered the term 'new era'. He is trying to fashion himself as the man who will achieve sole superpower status for China  shaping the collective consciousness of Chinese people into a reality by 2050. In that sense, if Mao was the builder and Deng was the one to bring prosperity, Xi will usher China into the logical third stage of development.

Four, the decision to not name a successor could even be a benevolent one. The most talked-about names  Guangdong party chief Hu Chunhua (54) and Chen Miner (57), the chief of Chongqing province  have been placed into the party politburo, which is one step below the all-powerful standing committee. This could have been deliberately done to avoid putting either Hu or Chen under premature pressure, or making the chosen one vulnerable to inner-party machinations. Both have age on their side and either one could be inducted into the standing committee at a later stage through a plenum.

Five, viewed in the context mentioned above, Xi's action could also be interpreted as an attempt to "reform" the transition process whereby potential successors are given the time to groom themselves, prove their worth and loyalty to the process. Xi might be laying down new rules here.

What does a powerful Xi mean for India?

It is clear that Xi is totally and firmly in command, and shall continue to do so in the foreseeable future. For India, a more powerful Xi brings more threats than opportunities.

The One Belt, One Road (OBOR) project is now ensconced into the party constitution. This imbibes Xi's flagship infrastructure scheme with a sort of 'sacredness' and opens up the avenues of greater state-sponsored funding. And with China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) being accorded a "flagship status" in OBOR, there is now every chance of greater friction with India over a scheme that is a geopolitical, geostrategic threat to New Delhi and violates its sovereignty.

While delivering the opening address to the Party Congress, Xi had made it clear that "China will never pursue development at the expense of others interests, but nor will China ever give up its legitimate rights and interests. No one should expect China to swallow anything that undermines its interests".

On Saturday, Zhang Yijiong, who heads the Communist Partys Tibet working group, issued a warning against a foreign government on Dalai Lama on the sidelines of the Party Congress. According to a report in The Hindustan Times, Zhang said, "Any country, or any organisation of anyone, accepting to meet with the Dalai Lama, in our view, is a major offence to the sentiment of the Chinese people."

In China's manicured and sanctified political environment, such a statement should be seen as carrying the highest seal of approval. India should get ready for a period of increasing friction on border disputes, and heightened Chinese sensitivity over Dalai Lama's interaction with Indian politicians. A harder line on Tibet and renewal of Doklam-like conflicts cannot be ruled out.
The war of attrition between the Bharatiya Janata Party and firebrand Patidar leader Hardik Patel got even murkier after footage purportedly showing Hardik entering a hotel room in which Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was reportedly staying, leaked.

On Wednesday, a Gujarat court issued a Non-Bailable Warrant against Hardik and Lalji Dal, chief of Sardar Patel Group, a Patidar organisation, in a July 2015 case of vandalising a BJP MLA's office.

The Gujarat government quickly dashed off a press release by deputy chief minister Nitin Patel stating: No political colour should be given to this, this is a court warrant and not an arrest warrant issued by the police. The government has nothing to do with it.

The contrast was unmistakable: Between 24-year-old Hardik being received by a cheering public across the state over the past four days against Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, deputy chief minister Nitin Patel and state BJP president Jitubhai Vaghela falling over each other to call him a Congress agent and say we told you so.

Vijay Rupani on Wednesday repeatedly told the media: We are not saying anything, you people are yourself showing Hardik meeting Rahul Gandhi. Hardik is lying. We are not showing anything. You all are showing it...We have been saying for a long time that they are all agents of Congress and the agitations are inspired and instigated by Congress, he said.

Nitin further stated that Hardik met with Rahul for 55 minutes in Hotel Ummed near Ahmedabad airport.

On Tuesday, Hardik tweeted:

                !!        !!      Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) October 24, 2017

Hardik maintained that he and his supporters met Congress national general secretary in-charge of Gujarat affairs Ashok Gehlot and state party president Bharatsinh Solanki.

Patel told Firstpost: They are invading the privacy of individuals by misusing the police force.

Once upon a time, they snooped on a woman architect, leaked some CD of their senior leader Sanjay Joshi and now their police is pursuing me. Why are they so worried about whether or not I met Rahul? I'll meet Rahul-ji whenever I need to, unlike Narendra Modi-ji meeting Nawaz Sharif at midnight, he added.

Sources told Firstpost the CCTV footage was leaked by officials of the Gujarat Crime Branch and Intelligence Bureau, a claim the Gujarat government vehemently denies.

Hotel Ummed chief security officer Vikram Singh Shekhawat told Firstpost:Half a dozen police officialsand these were not inspector-level but senior officersasked for the CCTV footage. Since it involved high-security VIP movement, I had to give it. They were from the local police, crime branch and intelligence department. There were five or six people."

When Firstpost inquired whether they had a letter from the Gujarat home department, Shekhawat asked: "What would you have done if you were in my place?" Shekhawat would not confirm or deny if the officials had written permission.

When they asked for the footage, I consulted the management of the hotel. They asked me to provide the footage."

When Firstpost pointed out that Shekhawat had dodged the question, he replied: Sir, I can only tell you we have everything that is needed.

Asked how could officials could rummage through hotel rooms and learn the room numbers in which Ashok Gehlot and other Congress leaders were staying, Shekhawat said, No Sir. No rooms were checked, that is my guarantee. Nobody could go there.

When asked if Hardik stayed in a hotel room, he replied that the Patidar leader did not stay at the hotel.

Additional Director-General of Police (Intelligence) Shivanand Jha, speaking to Firstpost, said: "Why are you media people after the Intelligence Bureau? The Intelligence Bureau has nothing to do with this. No one from the Intelligence Bureau was at the hotel."

Jhas office sent Firstpost a press release denying that the Intelligence Bureau played any part in procuring or leaking the footage, adding that Gehlot's charge that the Congress leaders' movements were being monitored was completely false.

Sources among local TV stations said the footage was leaked by certain crime branch officials on the instructions of the Gujarat home department. Despite repeated attempts, Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja could not be reached for comment.

Firstpost reached out to a source close to Hardik Patel to enquire why he was being so cagey about his parley with the Congress leadership.

The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said: " We created the movement through painstaking efforts. It shouldn't look as if the Congress launched the agitation and backed us. If they were capable of that, they wouldn't be in the pathetic situation that they are and have been for all these many years."

At such a critical time, we cannot allow send the wrong message that we have an axe to grind," the source further explained. "Hardik is not joining the Congress because he does not need to and that's precisely what gives him strength. Age is on our side. We are all in our twenties. There's no hurry. Politically, there's plenty of time for us to grow."

The source added that the success of Hardik's rallies, particularly the ones over the past four days and the past couple of years is because of the trust that the youth and the middle-aged Patidars have placed in Hardik.
With the Election Commission all set to announce the dates for the Gujarat Assembly election, an opinion poll conducted by India Today-Axis My India revealed that despite everything going against it, the Bharatiya Janata Party will retain its bastion in the state. According to the opinion poll, the saffron party will comfortably win in both poll-bound states  Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat  with the Congress and other parties trailing the BJP by at least 10 percent of the vote.

The poll conducted between 15 September to 15 October in all 182 constituencies of Gujarat predicts that the BJP is "projected to win" at least 115-125 seats. Congress, the principal opposition in the western state, is projected to bag between 57-65 seats. According to the survey, BJP could wrest Himachal Pradesh from the Congress by winning 43-47 seats, while Congress may trail with 21-25 seats in the 68-seat Assembly. Elections in Himachal Pradesh will be held on 8 November, and the dates for Gujarat elections will be announced on Wednesday.

The term of the Gujarat Assembly ends on 22 January, 2018 and the poll panel was widely criticised for not announcing the dates earlier amid expectations that the prime minister is set to announce a volley sops for the election-bound state.

According to the survey, the BJP tally could be better than the 2012 results, as the party had won 115 seats with Narendra Modi as the chief minister. Congress had won 61 seats in the 182-member House. Axis My India sampled 18,243 respondents  48 percent said that they would vote for the BJP, while 38 percent said that they would vote for the Congress. "A 10 percent gap in vote share in a bipolar race is enough to ensure that BJP is able to overcome all the anti-incumbency that has been building against the party during its reign in power," the survey further noted.

The Hardik factor

Based on latest development, Patidar leader Hardik Patel seems to be a key player in the upcoming polls, but not according to the survey. Two percent of the total respondents said they would back the party that had the support of Patel. In a 'scenario two projection', the survey asked the respondents what might happen if Patel were to officially declare his support for the Congress.

"According to the pollsters at Axis My India, if Hardik openly supports the Congress, the party's vote share can climb from 38 percent to 40 percent. This could lead to a gain of about five to 10 seats for the Congress and a commensurate loss in seat share for the BJP."

On Monday, allegations by two aides of Patel that the BJP bribed them to join the party ruffled many feathers and dominated most news channels. Nikhil Savani, a Patidar leader and former aide of Patel, quit the BJP in Gujarat saying he was "dismayed" by news of the saffron party offering money to Opposition leaders.

Savani, along with two other Patidar leaders, had joined BJP just two days ago. He said that he is likely to return to Patel's side after quitting the party. His comments came just hours after another Patidar leader Narendra Patel had held a press conference, where he displayed wads of notes which were allegedly offered to him by BJP.

Savani said he was "pained and upset" by these claims. "I joined BJP because the government had done good things in the past. But the party is now offering money to people to join them. I am upset by these revelations," Savani said on Monday.

Even though Patel joining Congress, "might" dent the BJP's chances, the survey asserts "it is not enough to upset the ruling party's applecart in this election  which is being seen as a mega prestige battle for the mighty Modi-Shah combine." Also, the opinion poll was conducted before 15 October and events related to the Patidar leader transpired after the survey was completed, the report added.

Patel, meanwhile, has put forward a set of demands before the Congress, including an assurance about reservation for the Patidars in government jobs and educational institutions, as a condition for supporting the party in the elections. Sources in the Congress party said Patel sought a maximum number of tickets for Patidar candidates in constituencies where the community has a large presence.

The GST scare

The survey, however, noted that one thing that could stop the saffron party's victory march in it tracks is the backlash faced by the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Dominated majorly by small-time traders, Gujarat is miffed with the new taxation policy. More than half the respondents said that they were dissatisfied with the GST, the survey has found. "Only 38 percent approved of the GST. It is very clear from the poll numbers that there is anger with the way GST has been implemented, but what is not clear is whether anger over GST will impact voter behaviour."

In fact, the anti-GST sentiments in the state is one of the issues that the Congress is using to its favour. On Monday, while visiting Ahmedabad, Rahul described it as the "Gabbar Singh Tax" and called for changes in the new tax regime to make it simple.

Stating that the GST in its present form was not what the Congress party had conceived, Rahul said the Narendra Modi dispensation went ahead with it despite his party warning the government about the adverse impact.

The Congress leader attacked Modi over the sudden demonetisation of high-value currency in November last year, saying the decision ruined the country's economy. "Their GST is not GST. GST means Gabbar Singh Tax. This is causing a loss to the country. Small shopkeepers are finished. Lakhs of youths have been unemployed. But they are still not ready to listen," Rahul said.

Several opposition parties on Tuesday announced that they would observe 8 November, the first anniversary of demonetisation, as 'Black Day' and would hold protests across the country to highlight its "ill-effects" on the economy.

Announcing the decision at a joint press conference of the opposition coordination committee, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "This particular announcement made on November 8 is the scam of the century, which is why we are observing this as Black Day."

Follow live updates on EC announcing dates for Gujarat elections here

With inputs from agencies
Bengaluru: The BJP Karnataka unit president BS Yeddyurappa on Wednesday slammed the Congress government for its 'failure' to implement various welfare schemes and alleged that governance has collapsed in the state.

He was speaking at the party head office here on the occasion of former Congress MLC DM Sali and many other from that party joining the BJP.

The former chief minister alleged that food grains sent by the Centre to the state under welfare schemes were rotting in warehouses.

Yeddyurappa said the Modi government was procuring rice at Rs 30 per kg and wheat at Rs 22 per kg to give it at a highly subsidised rate of Rs three per kg and Rs two per kg respectively to the weaker sections.

"However, 38,000 tonnes of wheat and lakhs of tonnes of rice meant for economically weaker section could not be distributed in the state and are rotting in warehouses," he said

"Even birds and animals don't eat them now. Governance has collapsed in Karnataka," he alleged.

He questioned the loan waiver announced by the State government as the cooperative societies have not received any amount.

Yeddyurappa urged his party workers to gear up for the "Nava Karnataka Parivarthana Sankalpa Yatra", which would commence on 2 November.

"Our national president Amit Shah will flag off the Yatra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the concluding ceremony of the Yatra on 28 January. We should strive to make the event successful," he said.
The Election Commission of India (EC) finally announced the polling dates for Gujarat on Wednesday, close to two weeks after the announcement of dates for Himachal Pradesh.

The Gujarat election will be held in two phases: On 9 and 14 December.

The EC invited scathing criticism from Opposition parties, including the Congressthe main adversary to the ruling BJP in Gujaratfor delaying the announcement.

This was a controversy which the EC could have averted by making both announcements together.

Though neither its mandatory nor there is any written rule about announcement of poll dates, traditionally, polling dates for both states are announced concurrently.

What Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) said

AK Joti stated that multiple factors such as unprecedented rain, flood relief work and festivities were responsible for the delay in announcing Gujarat poll dates.

Joti claimed elections would divert attention of government workers from pending relief work in seven districts of Gujarat impacted by floods in July.

Clarifying that the EC was not under any political pressure, Joti stated that while in 2012, the Gujarat and Himachal polls were announced concurrently, the states had no similarities in geography or weather patterns.

Joti also added that slips on Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will also be counted in some polling booths as a pilot project.

Criticism from former CECs

The EC could have easily avoided this controversy. It gave enough time to the ruling party in Gujarat by delaying the announcement till Wednesday, former advisor to EC, KJ Rao told Firstpost.

Former CECs SY Quraishi and TS Krishnamurthy also questioned the ECs decision to delaying announcement of polling dates in Gujarat.

Qureshi said that the move to break from the ECs convention of announcing elections together in states where incumbent governments are completing their terms within six months raised serious questions.

Similarly, Krishnamurthy told The Indian Express: All this controversy could have been avoided with better management I suppose they could have announced both (Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls) together, either one week before or one week after. I am not looking at whether the decision was influenced or not. I am concerned with whether, administratively, a solution could have been found. I think I would have found a solution.

'EC is not bound by Congress' feelings'

EC is not bound by what Congress, other parties or even former CECs feel. Its the responsibility of the EC to conduct a fair and peaceful election through efficient management. The decision taken by the commission in the case of Gujarat was based on present situations existing in the state. The commission is accountable to the people of this nation, a senior official with the EC told Firstpost on condition of anonymity.

The Congress party never questioned Ahmed Patels election to Rajya Sabha from Gujarat because it went in their favour. But now, the Congress has levelled allegations against the EC because they think the BJP has been benefited, which is wrong, the official added.
Skeeter the Clown (Branden Pewitt) entertains the students at Antioch Elementary School with a ride atop a chicken. photo by Mitch Talley Antioch Elementary student Joe Jackson has some problems with the magic wand that keeps going limp during a magic trick led by Kee-Kee the Clown. photo by Mitch Talley Antioch Elementary students pointed excitedly toward a fire caused by the Clown Posse during a skit to promote fire safety photo by Mitch Talley Hats fly into the air as students and clowns alike dance to the always popular Hat, Hat song at Antioch Elementary photo by Mitch Talley Pluggie the Fire Plug draws an enthusiastic response from Antioch Elementary students after the fire safety show presented by the Whitfield County Fire Department Clown Posse photo by Mitch Talley Battalion Chief John Chester (right) enjoys a laugh with the Clown Posse in this 2015 photo. Chester, who had been emcee of the clowns shows for several years, passed away unexpectedly in May and was remembered with a slide show during this years fire safety shows. photo by Mitch Talley Previous Next

The energetic sounds of an accordion echo off the walls of the gym at Antioch Elementary School one recent afternoon.



The Whitfield County Fire Department Clown Posse is back in town and ready to have some fun.



Weve been working really hard on all of our dance moves, Kee-Kee the Clown says to emcee Jason Phillips. We can make a chicken dance.



Yall want to see a chicken dance? Kee-Kee asks, looking out at the large group of students, who quickly respond with a loud Yeahhhhhh!



Just then, sure enough, Skeeter the Clown comes riding out on the shoulders of a dancing chicken and bounces around the gym floor.



Thats not a chicken dance, the skeptical emcee retorts.

Thats a clown wearing a chicken suit.So youre not impressed? Kee-Kee asks.No, Im not impressed, Mr. Phillips responds.Plan B, Kee-Kee responds. Let me do one amazing magic trick.With that, the 2017 edition of the Clown Posse is off and running as they deliver another entertaining show and spread their fire safety message for the 17th consecutive year.Weve had some good success with the program, Lt. Chris West said before the performance, as the clowns made final preparations for another of their shows delivered over a seven-day period in front of some 4,200 students at 13 elementary schools in the county. Fire calls over the years of kids playing with matches and lighters are drastically lower, so we hope this has contributed to it.In fact, an Antioch Elementary student actually helped save her family last year when she remembered the clowns message and called 911 after their kitchen caught fire.So weve seen success and we definitely want to keep putting our messages out there, West said, repeating the goal of the show to emphasize the main themes of stop, drop and roll, dont play with matches and lighters, and get out of the house safely with the EDITH drill (Exit Drill in the Home).During this years show, though, the clowns didnt pay attention to those three important fire safety messages, at least at first. They got in trouble for making bad grades, couldnt have a snack per their parents decision, went ahead and made a ham, turkey and cheese sandwich, and promptly caught the kitchen on fire when they tried to bake it in the oven.

Students pointed excitedly at the smoke, trying to warn the clowns about the fire. The frightened clowns first went a little crazy running around the stage, but then remembered to get down low and crawl out of the burning house, then all gather at their pre-determined meeting place, their mailbox. Firefighters dressed in real garb then responded to the blaze, showing the kids what firefighters would look and sound like in case of a real fire. Students also watched as the clowns got in trouble with emcee Phillips for their antics.



A lot of important messages crammed into a funny, five-minute skit.



We want the kids to know how important it is to know two ways to get out of their house in case of a fire, West said. We try to make sure that families know that if their kids live on the second story and theres no way for them to get out on the roof so they can jump off, to make sure theyve got an escape ladder for the kids to get down from the second story.



They also talked how no one should go back into a burning house once theyve escaped, no matter how tempting it might be to try and save another family member, a pet, or a favorite toy.



A catchy song also helped the students remember the importance of Stop, Drop and Roll in case they catch on fire, to help smother the blaze.



This years shows were the first without Battalion Chief John Chester, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year.



John had helped us in the fire safety education program for five or six years, West said, noting that

Chester had served as emcee of the shows many times. We really miss him.



In honor of Chester, West told the students about him at the end of the show, leading into a short slide show of photos.



This year marks the 17th edition for the Clown Posse, which started from humble beginnings in 2001 when Kee-Kee (also known as Lt. Shawn Damon) and Lt. Chris West did a two-man show at Cohutta Elementary.



It was just me and him, straight man and clown, West recalled. We had just a few little props, and we went in and taught fire safety. It caught on in the county. That first year, I think we only did four or five schools. The second year, in 2002, we did all 10 county schools, and now its just grown to what it is today.



The popularity of the show has grown not only with the schools but also with the firefighters.

Nearly 20 firefighters (and one firefighters daughter) take part in the shows. When firefighter Samantha Splawn, who is employed full-time in the countys Probate Office, couldnt play her role as Edith for every show, Wesley Williams daughter Natalie stepped in and did a great job, West said.



When we first started the Clown Posse, he said, we had to sell the idea to the schools. Now the minute I walk in the door, they say, Oh its time again! Were ready. That tells me it works for the school system because they believe in it enough to take time out of their curriculum lineup to do it. Schools have a lot to teach now, and they cant deviate much. But they believe in the fire safety message delivered by the clowns, and the kids will talk about it for days.



2017 FIRE SAFETY EDUCATION PERSONNEL



Shawn Damon (Kee-Kee the Clown)



Chris West (coordinator)



Wesley Williams (Hose-A the Clown)



Jason Phillips (emcee)



Charles Blair (Expert the Clown)



Harold West (helper)



Darren Burnette (Pluggie the Fire Plug operator)



Jake Warnix (Sparky)



Lee Coker (sound)



Branden Pewitt (Skeeter the Clown)



Samantha Splawn (Edith the Clown)



Natalie Williams (Edith the Clown)



Brady Walters (helper)



Christian Chadwick (sound)



Jesse Bond (emcee)



Kyle Lawless (Crawl Space the Clown)



Jamie Franks (helper)



Derek Craft (helper)



Cody Ruddell (helper)
12:45 (ist)

Urban centres give BJP head start in Gujarat

A clear head-start in urban Gujarat has provided enough cushion to the BJP to offset any attrition in the social base in rural areas in the last couple of elections, News18 reported.

The poll outcome of 2012 shows that the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi successfully neutralised challenges from his former mentor Keshubhai Patel by pulverising the Opposition in urban and semi-urban centres of the state. "With a strike rate of 92 percent, the party won 42 out of 46 seats in urban Gujarat. This included 15 of 16 seats in Surat, 15 of 17 in Ahmedabad city, three of Rajkots four seats, both city seats of Gandhinagar, all of Barodas five and both urban seats of Bhavnagar."

The Congress has a lot of catching up to do in the urban constituencies if it wants to take a serious aim at government formation as, in effect, BJPs tally in Gujarat begins from 45.
This is perhaps a first incident of its kind where almost everyone knew the approximate dates of the Gujarat election in advance but one had to wait around two weeks for confirmation.

Remember, on 12 October, when the Election Commission (EC) announced the poll date for the Himachal Pradesh election, a Firstpost piece said: What makes the ECs move even more curious is the fact that now the nation knows (well, almost) when would the results for the Gujarat election be announced. It could be 18 December when Himachal Pradesh poll results are announced and thus the election in Gujarat (to be carried out in two phases) could be anytime between 10 to 16 December.

Now that Election Commission has announced that polls in Gujarat would be held in two phases: On 9 and 14 December, the debate around the propriety of the poll panel delaying schedule will become largely academic, especially in the Delhi circles.

However, in the political battlefield of Gujarat, the issue is entirely different.

Already, different narratives are being constructed.

Two interesting (though unrelated) things occurred the day before the EC announcement. Both were beneficial to the BJP.

First, video footage purportedly showing Patidar leader Hardik Patel meeting Rahul Gandhi at a five-star hotel in Ahmedabad leaked and was splashed all over the media. Although there is nothing wrong with Hardik, a rising Patel leader, meeting with the Congress vice-president to discuss any issue, electoral tie up or merger, but this video seemingly shows Hardik entering and exiting the hotel (although his face is covered) and footage shows him entering room 224, which was apparently occupied by Rahul. If true, this footage completely contradicts Hardik's earlier claim that he did not meet Rahul as he was 'too busy' and that he only met other Congress leaders.

Since this footage was released in two installmentsthe first set late Monday evening and the second set on Tuesdayit has been aired by almost all news channels and picked up by print and digital media. As a result, Hardik has been forced to play defence and spend most of his time explaining whether or not he even met Rahul. Hardik owes his rise to the Patidar movement's demand for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. The Congress and Rahul in particular, has not yet made its position clear on this issue, which is so vital to the Patidar community.

Gujarat (Phase I) Date of polling: 9 December, 2017 District Seats District Seats Kutch 6 Bhavnagar 7 Surendranagar 5 Botad 2 Morbi 3 Narmada 2 Rajkot 8 Bharuch 5 Jamnagar 5 Surat 16 Devbhoomi Dwarka 2 Tapi 2 Porbandar 2 Dang 1 Junagadh 5 Navsari 4 Gir Somnath 4 Valsad 5 Amreli 5

It won't be easy for Rahul to promise the Patidar community reservation. If he does, then the position of Alpesh Thakorewho recently joined Congress with much fanfare (even though his father is a district Congress president and Alpesh even fought a municipal election on a Congress ticket)as an OBC leader becomes untenable.

Alpeshs claim to fame was his spirited fight against Hardik and the Patidar community's demand for reservation. The same logic makes it difficult for Hardik to publicly acknowledge his meeting with Rahul.

The video 'expose' also gives Hardik yet another problem: In 1985, Madhavsinh Solanki, father of current Congress Gujarat Congress president Bharat Sinh Solanki, formed KHAM (Kshatriya, Harijan, Adivasi and Muslim) to render the Patel community politically ineffective. The Patels and other upper caste communities in Gujarat then deserted the Congress en masse and switched to the BJP. Hardik is now attempting to turn back the wheel. We still don't know how the Patel community will react to his move.

Taking a dig at the reported Rahul-Hardik meet, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said there is Congress and Congressmen in disguise. Since they (Hardik and his ilk, he meant) were acting as impersonators, they had to meet in secret, he said. It is only scandals which take place amidst darkness, Jaitley added.

The second interesting development which took place on Tuesday: The release of India Today- Axis My India opinion poll which suggested that despite being in power in Gujarat for the past 22 years, the BJP was not suffering from the anti-incumbency factor. The poll also said that the people of Gujarat are proud of the fact that Narendra Modi, the most prominent modern day Gujarati, is prime minister. The opinion poll predicted a resounding victory for the BJP and a defeat for the Congress despite the latter aligning with the three so-called Young Turks: Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakore and Jignesh Mevani.

Gujarat(Phase II) Date of polling: 14 December, 2017 District Seats District Seats Anand 7 Ahmedabad 21 Banaskantha 9 Kheda 6 Patan 4 Mahisagar 3 Mehsana 7 Panchmahal 5 Sabarkantha 4 Dahod 6 Aravalli 3 Vadodara 10 Gandhinagar 5 Chhota Udaipur 3

In the 2017 poll, as the previous two elections (2012 and 2007), the anger of the Patels against the BJP was a major narrative by the media. In 2012, BJP dissident leader and former chief minister Keshubhai Patel, who was perceived to be a giant of the Patel community, became a rallying point for anti-Modi forces. Though Keshubhai did not officially align with the Congress, he became the focal point for all those opposed to Modi. Keshubhai even floated his own party (Gujarat Parivartan Party), but the results proved that he was unable to influence the Patel community to follow him.

In 2007, BJP dissidents such as Kanshiram Rana, Suresh Mehta, Gordhan Zadafia, Kanu Kalsaria and Kehbhubhai Patel joined to oppose Modi, but the results showed that the electorate rejected them. Rana then claimed that he was an OBC leader, representing a caste and community (which according to him constituted about 50 percent of electorate). But he failed to move the OBCs and the community broadly favoured Modi and the BJP.

Uma Bharti, who floated the Bharatiya Janshakti Party, initially opposed Modi in Gujarat. However, she later changed her position and supported the BJP, which created ripples in the media in the run up to the polls. The Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Kausar Bi encounters were also expected to swing the vote against Modi. But the final tally put paid to even that theory.

The question is: Will December 2017 look any different from 2012, 2007 and 2002?
Ahmedabad: Congress' former leader Shankersinh Vaghela said on Wednesday his new political front will contest all the 182 seats of Gujarat Assembly on the election symbol of a Rajasthan-based party.

The polling for the two-phase elections will take place on 9 and 14 December, and votes will be counted on 18 December.

According to Vaghela, a former chief minister of Gujarat, the All India Hindustan Congress Party, registered in Jaipur a year back and allotted the symbol of 'a farmer driving a tractor', has agreed to give the symbol to his front, 'Jan Vikalp'.

"Though we sought a symbol from the Election Commission to contest this election, it is now too late. Thus, we have entered into an agreement with 'All India Hindustan Congress Party', which has agreed to give its symbol to us. Our candidates will fight polls on that symbol," Vaghela told reporters on Wednesday.

Vaghela, an influential Kshatriya leader, had quit the Congress after the Rajya Sabha polls in August and joined 'Jan Vikalp', an organisation floated by his supporters.

According to Hindustan Congress' national general secretary Anil Kumar Sharma, the party has agreed to give its symbol to Vaghela and be a part of the Jan Vikalp front.

"The party was formed one year back in Jaipur and this is the first election for us. We have agreed to give our symbol to Vaghela's front for the Gujarat election. We hereby declare unconditional support of our party to Vaghela," Sharma told reporters at the joint press conference.

Vaghela said if his front comes to power, it would take care of the poor.

He also promised to bring a bill in the Assembly seeking to give 25 percent additional quota for non-reserved classes in Gujarat.

"I believe that non-reserved classes should get 25 percent reservation. It is a misconception that the state cannot go beyond 49.5 percent quota. We will bring a legislation to give 25 percent additional quota if voted to power," he said.

Out of the existing 27 percent reservation for OBCs, Vaghela said his government would keep aside 10 per cent for some of the most backward communities, if voted to power.

His other promises include Rs 5,000 pension for widows, Rs 5,000 pension for elderly people having nobody to take care of them and more autonomy to sarpanchs.

While joining the 'Jan Vikalp' in September, Vaghela had claimed that he will not contest the Assembly polls.

However, the 77-year-old former Union minister did not rule out the possibility of taking over as the chief minister, if the front secures a majority in the elections.
As politics continues to sizzle in poll-bound Gujarat, the BJP-led governments, both in Centre and in state, have been hastily announcing a series of sops, even as the Congress alleged that the announcement of poll dates was delayed by the poll panel purposely to this effect.

The Election Commission of India, finally announced the dates of Gujarat Assembly polls on Wednesday, differing from the trend of announcing Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls together. The Himachal Pradesh poll dates were announced on 12 October, but the dates of election in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state were withheld citing the ongoing flood relief and rehabilitation work.

The BJP meanwhile squeezed in several major sops, even until a day before the poll dates were announced on Wednesday, for various sections of the society, including farmers and the agitating accredited health workers. From Wednesday, with the formal announcement of election on 9 and 14 December, the Model Code of Conducts kicks in for all political parties, and the sitting government too is barred from announcing any new projects, which can further the ruling party's poll prospects.

On Tuesday, the BJP government effected a hike of 50 percent in the incentive paid to Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), village-level women workers who are a key component in the implementation of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

Making the announcements, deputy chief minister Nitin Patel said the hike would benefit around 40,000 women who work as health activists across the state.

ASHA workers have been agitating in different parts of the state for quite some time demanding a pay hike and other benefits.

At present, each ASHA worker gets around Rs 2,500 per month for carrying out various health-related tasks.

For farmers, Patel said that the government will waive off 18 percent Goods and Service Tax (GST) charged on the purchase of equipment meant for drip or sprinkler irrigation.

"Farmers are now exempted from paying 18 percent GST charged on the purchase of various equipment for drip and sprinkler irrigation. The burden of the tax would be borne by the government in order to promote such irrigation methods," said Patel.

The government also tried to reach out to the backward and Scheduled Castes as it raised the ceiling on the annual income of OBC, SC and ST beneficiaries for availing benefits of state-funded schemes and scholarships.

"The income ceiling has been raised from Rs 47,000 to Rs 1.20 lakh for those living in rural areas and from Rs 68,000 to Rs 1.50 lakh for urban areas. This raise will enable many more people of these communities to avail government assistance as well as scholarships," he said.

In a relief to school teachers appointed on ad-hoc basis, Patel said services of those who have completed more than 10 years will be regularised.

The government also announced various benefits for its contractual employees such as 90 days of paid maternity leave and a Rs 2 lakh compensation to the kin in case of an employee's death during the contract period.

Patel said that the contractual employees will get a daily allowance of Rs 100 for six hours and Rs 150 for 12 hours if they are sent away from their places of posting for government work.

The state will also reimburse the ticket fare in case of such outstation visits, he said.

The Vijay Rupani government had also announced a plethora of sops for teachers of government-aided secondary and higher secondary schools and municipal employees, among others.

Meanwhile, Modi also visited the state three times this month, and five times since September, launching a number of schemes backed by powerful speeches.

On 22 October, Modi inaugurated a Rs 650 crore roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro) ferry service that reduces travel time by six hours between Saurashtra and South Gujarat.

He said the ferry in the Gulf of Khambhat of the Arabian Sea would reduce the travel time between Bhavnagar district in western Gujarat's Saurashtra and Dahej in Bharuch district in south Gujarat from seven hours to just one hour, cutting the distance between two places to 31 kilometre from 360 kilometre. "It is a landmark project not only for India but also for the entire South-East Asia. It is a dream come true for the people of Gujarat," the prime minister had said.

On 7 October, Modi laid the foundation stone of an international airport near Rajkot, Saurashtra's nerve centre and Rupani's hometown. "Airport aave ke nai, vimano aave ke nai? (Should an airport be set up here or not, shouldnt planes fly here too?)."

He said, "The country never had an aviation policy so many years and now after we evolved the policy, there has been a rise of 14 percent in the number of people travelling by air. Not only big cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai but now even smaller cities are being covered."

"In the next few years, there will be a situation when every state will have 10 to 15 airports. Those wearing hawai chappals will also be making hawai yatra (travels by air)," he said, to cheering crowds, assuring them they would also be travelling by air.

The same day, Modi laid the foundation stone of a four-lane cable-stayed bridge between Okha and Beyt Dwarka, and said it was a link between the old and new Dwarka.

Modi also made a number of announcements focussed on areas other than infrastructure. The prime minister unveiled Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), Financial Express said. The prime minister had also launched the Intensified Mission Indradhanusha full-spectrum immunisation program and distributed e-tablets to healthcare workers.

Modi also laid the foundation stone for Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd's MDPL capacity expansion and PVPL extension project at Vadodara and eight other projects.

On 14 September, Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe laid the foundation stone for a proposed Ahmedabad-Mumbai High-Speed Rail Network, commonly known as the Bullet Train.

With inputs from PTI
Kolkata: Terming demonetisation move the country's "biggest scam", West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said the Trinamool Congress will observe a 'Black Day' on 8 November.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had scrapped Rs 500 and 1,000 currency notes on November 8, 2016. The Trinamool Congress leader also reiterated her demand for a probe into the currency exercise.

"Demonetisation is the biggest scam in the country. There should be an investigation to know why it was done. Our party leaders will observe Kala Dibas (Black Day) in each and every block between 2 pm and 3 pm on 8 November," Banerjee announced.

"Come up with short and crisp slogans protesting against demonetisation," she told party leaders.

She claimed her apprehensions about demonetisation had come true and whatever she said within the first few hours of the move was now being reiterated by all the eminent economists.

Accusing the central government of trying to control most of the national media, Banerjee said the Indian media cannot criticise its government the way the media in the US can criticise their President Donald Trump's actions.

"The way the news media in the US are fighting against Trump, the media here cannot do so. Look at Delhi. They are controlling the entire national media barring one or two. No one can criticise them or take action against them.

"If someone does so, CBI, ED officials are sent to intimidate them," she said.

She also took a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left for holding her government responsible for the dengue outbreak in Bengal and said the opposition in the state never plays a positive role.

"The BJP and CPM should look at the condition of the states governed by them before criticising us.

"There are 640 deaths in Maharashtra and more than 400 deaths in Gujarat due to vector-borne diseases. Both the states are run by the BJP. Kerala also registered a high number of such deaths while in Bengal the number is 34," Banerjee said.

"Without helping the dengue victims, they are unnecessarily trying to create a drama on this issue," she complained.
New Delhi: The breakaway faction of the JD(U) will contest the Gujarat Assembly polls in alliance with the Congress, its leader Sharad Yadav said on Wednesday as he pitched for a "minimum division" among opposition parties as they take on the ruling BJP there.

Yadav said he has spoken to vice-president Rahul Gandhi on the tie-up and suggested to him the alliances should be built in such a manner that "division" among opposition parties is "minimised as much as possible".

To underline how a united Opposition could take on the ruling party effectively, Yadav said the BJP could secure "only 31 percent" votes as against 69 percent bagged by opposition in the 2014 general elections.

The Election Commission earlier on Wednesday announced the schedule for Assembly polls in Gujarat, which has seen over two decades of BJP-rule. The election will be held in two phases on 9 December and 14 December, while votes will be counted on 18 December.

"We have already said it...we have already talked about alliance with the Congress. All efforts are being made to ensure that people remain united," Yadav told reporters at his residence here.

Asked whether the parties would take Sharad Pawar-led NCP along as they take on the BJP, Yadav said it is the Congress which is in the "driving seat" in Gujarat and it has to decide who should be its alliance partners there.

"What we have discussed with Rahulji is that division is minimised as much as possible," he added.

To a question whether the JD(U) group led by him and the Congress have discussed seat-sharing for the polls, Yadav said there has been no deliberation on the issue till now.

"That will be discussed by our unit there and the Congress," he added.

He also said the Election Commission not declaring the schedule for Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat assembly polls simultaneously  the dates for election in the hill state were declared on 12 October  has dented the image of the poll panel.
Lucknow: The Congress' Uttar Pradesh unit on Tuesday said that it will mark 8 November, the first anniversary of demonetisation, by observing a 'Black Day' in the state, and hold processions to highlight its "ill-effects".

In 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the scrapping of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes on 8 November.

"We will observe November 8 as a 'black day for the economy' throughout the state, and take out a candlelight march at 8 pm. During the day, meetings, processions and nukkad sabhas will also be held.

"On this day, we will pay tributes to martyrs (balidaaniyo) of demonetisation," Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Raj Babbar told reporters in Lucknow.

Terming the GST (Goods and Services Tax) as "Gabbar Singh Tax", he said, "The implementation of the GST has hurt the traders in general, and the small traders in particular. Owing to demonetisation, people have lost their lives either in police action or due to heart attack. The promise that things will change and improve in 50 days was also not fulfilled."

Babbar also said that if voted to power, the Congress will change the GST in a way that it does not attack the common man, and also usher in a job revolution.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress chief said a memorandum will be given to the Prime Minister's Office demanding families who lost their members during demonetisation be paid Rs 25 lakh as compensation and the next of kin be given a job.

"The people of the country had put their faith in the prime minister, but they have been betrayed," he said.

There were no benefits of demonetisation, but only losses. There was unemployment, development came to a standstill and farmers are feeling harassed, Babbar claimed.

Hitting out at Modi, he said, "We demand that the PM tender an apology to the people for causing damage to the economy."

"We also demand compensation for those who died due to demonetistaion. Modi should be sensitive. A situation should not arise that elections are held on choosing the tolerant and intolerant, instead of being held on issues," he said.

"On 8 November, 2016, the prime minister declared that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes would be reduced to mere pieces of paper. This type of 'farmaan' (announcement) has not been made by any prime minister. This is the job of the RBI or the finance minister," Babbar said.

Economists in India and other countries, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh had said that due to demonetisation the GDP growth rate will decline by 2 percent, the Congress leader said.

"BJP leaders, at that time, made various comments. Not even a year has passed, and the GDP growth rate has declined by more than 2 percent, and the economy has virtually collapsed," he said.

On the recent controversy surrounding the Taj Mahal, Babbar said, "When we speak of shahzaade, they start talking about 'Shah Jahan'. We talk about issues pertaining to the public, they start talking about Taj Mahal."
Kolkata: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday cautioned party workers against indulging in anti-party activities and said anyone who does not agree with its principles and values can leave the party.

"There is no place for groupism or ego-fights in Trinamool. We will not tolerate anti-party activities. Party discipline is foremost. If you cannot follow it, you are free to leave... Workers are our biggest assets," she said at the extended core committee meeting of the party.

The Trinamool Congress core committee meeting is the first since Mukul Roy, a former second-in-command in the outfit and its MP, quit the party and resigned from the Rajya Sabha on 11 October accusing Banerjee of "running a one-man show and propagating dynastic politics".

Banerjee, who is also chief minister of West Bengal, said, "Trinamool did not come power by sitting on armchairs. There is no room for complacency."

She asked Trinamool leaders to take every party-worker along while implementing any party programme in their respective areas.

"It is not possible to give a position to each and every worker of the party. But every worker should be taken into confidence and party programmes should be implemented properly. No one should be left behind. I want everybody to keep aside their infighting and work for strengthening the party," Banerjee said.

Roy was last month suspended from the Trinamool Congress for six years for indulging in anti-party activities after he announced that he would quit the party.

He had described the BJP as a non-communal party and said that TMC would not have tasted success without the backing of the saffron outfit at the national level in its initial years.
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath will visit Taj Mahal on Thursday against the backdrop of various controversial statements made by some BJP leaders and ministers regarding the status of the 17th century monument in India's culture.

Adityanath will be the first BJP Chief minister of Uttar Pradesh to visit the monument of love. According to his programme, Adityanath will stay for half an hour at the graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal and visit the Shah Jahan park nearby.

The chief minister will inspect various places along the way, inside and outside the monument. He will also lay foundation for the development of a tourist pathway from Taj Mahal to Agra Fort.

He will also run a mega cleanliness campaign along with 500 BJP activisits and social workers around the west gate of Taj Mahal. The chief minister has already declared that the state government will spend Rs 370 crore on development plans aimed at promoting tourism in the city of Taj.

Along with the visit to Taj Mahal, Adityanath will inaugurate various development projects in Agra, an official spokesman said in Lucknow on Wednesday.

"During his tour of Agra.., the chief minister will be visiting all the places inside Taj Mahal," principal secretary, tourism, Awanish Awasthi said. His decision to visit Taj Mahal was announced after a series of controversies erupted, beginning with a UP tourism department booklet not mentioning the monument in its list of development projects in the state.

Subsequently, BJP MLA Sangeet Som called Taj Mahal a "blot on Indian history" and BJP MP Vinay Katiyar said it was originally a Shiva temple. However, addressing a rally in Gorakhpur recently, Adityanath called Taj Mahal the "pride of India" and referred to it as a "world class monument".

This was a significant departure from his remarks at a rally in Bihar last year, when he had said that the Taj does not represent Indian culture and that visiting foreign dignitaries should be presented with the Gita rather than replicas of Taj Mahal.

The last time a Uttar Pradesh chief minister visited the Taj was Akhilesh Yadav, more than two years back.

That was the Valentine's Day and Akhilesh sat on one of the benches in front of the monument along with his wife and Kannauj MP Dimple Yadav.
Nimish Sawant

In the inaugural edition of Intel SHIFT, a business focussed initiative from Intel, one technology was the underlying leitmotif - Artificial Intelligence (AI). In the day-long event lined up with talks covering various aspects of how technology will disrupt ways of doing business, artificial intelligence and the insights which machines would be able to derive from big data as well as data analytics was an area of focus.

Intel through its various line up of product portfolios such as Xeon processors, non-volatile memory express storage, hybrid cloud to its most recent announcement of the Intel Nervana Neural Network Processor, has partnered with various companies and businesses to help them deploy solutions to stay competitive in the ever-changing digital world we live in.

On the sidelines of the event, we spoke with Amir Khosrowshahi, vice president and general manager of the Artificial Intelligence Product Group (AIPG). Khosrowshahi and his partner Naveen Rao are the founders of Nervana which was bought by Intel in August last year, and which is getting its own processor line now to focus specifically on AI processing. Nervana led to the formation of the AIPG group within Intel. CEO Brian Krzanich while announcing the Intel Nervana NNP family, hinted that it will have multi-generational NNP products to enable new levels of scalability for AI models, helping the company achieve its goal of 100 times greater AI performance by 2020. The first NNP chip will be available to some Intel customers by the end of next year.

According to Khosrowshahi, making the AI-focussed processor is just one part of the story. It is hard to adopt new technology. So on top of this processor, we have built a full stack of software libraries, machine learning innovations and solutions which can be applied to different domains such as text, speech, and other problems, said Khosrowshahi.

Intel Nervana NNP aims to provide solutions to businesses working in industries such as financial services, healthcare, automotive, social media and more. Since the acquisition, Nervana apart from getting its own product group is also getting access to Intels customers, which help with ensuring an aggressive product cycle for the AI chips, which is expected to have a yearly cadence.

According to Khosrowshahi, the architecture for NNP is built from the ground up for neural networks and its efficiency would improve with time. The first generation of NNP processors was built on TSMCs 28 nm process just to be on the safe side and ensure things were working. He says that with the Intel backing, NNP would move to a lower process node. Khosrowshahi didnt commit to an exact roadmap - 14 nm or 22 nm, etc.

Deep learning workloads are expected to intertwine with other kinds of computing. Khosrowshahi gave the examples of AlphaGO AI which uses multiple workloads in its algorithms and even mentioned edge devices such as the iPhone that have multiple function-specific processors inside it. With the NNP, there is a plan to have a family of chips which will fulfil different needs.

Its a question of mixing and matching. So we have FPGA, Xeon, deep learning technologies which are different functionally. So say in a data centre, we could have a rack of FPGAs alongside a race of deep-learning chips and the enabling technology may not be AI-related at all and can be used for functions such as silicon photonics (an emerging tech where data is transferred among computer chips via laser light), says Khosrowshahi.

In the panel discussion during Intel SHIFT, representatives from the healthcare and movie business, for instance, stated that they were not technology companies, so deploying and implementing solutions to make sense of big data and using AI was something that needed expert intervention. Would Intels role in that case just be to make the chip or to actually identify those specific use cases which industry vertical CXOs may miss out on?

We work alongside our clients (most of whom arent deep-learning companies) to solve issues which they present us with. So the next time they have similar issues, they can take care of it themselves. They can discover ways of improving their processes, but it will take them much longer. Whereas since we already have the underlying technology and have made all the possible mistakes, it is just easier for our clients to let us provide the solutions, says Khosrowshahi.

Lately, there have been a lot of discussions on the rise of AI. Visionaries such as Elon Musk have even gone to the extent of saying that AI could be vastly more risky than North Korea and has the potential to cause World War III. Khosrowshahi agrees that there are areas of concern and there have to be public policy discussions on it. But he also feels that what Musk is describing are problems which could arise 30-40 years down the line and there are more immediate problems facing us with regards to AI.

The problems that are of immediate concern and are difficult to address are building AI models which have an inherent bias in them. If you are trying to build a model to solve a problem then you need to ensure that your data set is vast, to avoid any inset of bias, as that could lead to some bad things. The second biggest concern is to do with data privacy. How do you build a model by using someones personal data, in a way that it cannot let anyone else reverse engineer it and arrive at deductions? These are the difficult AI-related problems that need to be addressed today, says Khosrowshahi.

When one talks about processors built specifically for AI and machine learning tasks, one cannot escape Googles Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) that has been around for a while now. But unlike Intel, the TPU is being used only in Googles data centres.

Khosrowshahi says that the TPU is an interesting product but it is built to address a Google-specific issue - to resolve the speech workload, which was growing rapidly. They had a specific workload which they had to accelerate in a limited amount of time. Google does not have to sell the chip to anyone, which is a huge differentiating factor from Intel. TPU is an in-house product custom made for their needs, so Google can make it quickly. The architecture of the TPU is a big memory (SRAM) component and a big systolic array, which has been known for ages. It is not new, but it helps resolve their needs. But it is not general purpose enough for different workloads and will not scale as easily, says Khosrowshahi.

On being asked if there will be a consolidation in the chipset families going forward, as the AI workloads are going to be a common theme in the future, Khosrowshahi says that it is still early days and Intel would like to have the product differentiation. Intel would want this ideally from a business perspective, as it gives it a larger product portfolio to woo more clients.

The future would hopefully be more heterogeneous and that is the bet Intel is making. I dont know what the actual distribution is going to be like. I see our competitors betting on one architecture - scaling it up or down based on their needs. Its definitely not the right strategy, says Khosrowshahi.

Disclaimer: The correspondent was invited by Intel to attend the Intel SHIFT conference in New York, USA. All travel and accommodation costs were borne by Intel.
on Saturday , Trunk or Treat at Abbas House has been moved to Sunday, from 6-8 p.m. There will be inflatables for the kids, fun for the whole family and, of course, plenty of CANDY. 8 p.m. to end the night on a bang. Due to the high chance of rain, Trunk or Treat at Abbas House has been moved toThere will be inflatables for the kids, fun for the whole family and, of course, plenty of CANDY.to end the night on a bang.





J103 will be broadcasting live from Trunk or Treat, and food trucks will be on hand. Parking will be located on the Abbas House campus, as well as at Northgate Mall, near the library.




tech2 News Staff

Google India has lost its six year old battle with the Indian tax office. As per reports, Google India faces taxation on Rs 1,457 crore of revenue transacted between 2007-08 to 2012-13 from Google India to Google Ireland.

In a report by The Economic Times, the Income Tax and Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Bengaluru has dismissed the appeal of Google India. The ITAT, Bengaluru had sent a notice to Google India questioning the transactions made from Google India to Google Ireland as ad revenues.

According to the ITAT, as reported by ET, Google India had appealed that it was using only customer data and intellectual property rights for rendering services to Information technology-enabled Services. Moreover, the money was paid by Google India to Google Ireland. According to ITAT, Bengaluru, Google India is supposed to deduct TDS (tax deducted at source) for both residents and non- residents. Since no such provisions were made for the non-residents, it was concluded that it was done to evade taxes.

The tribunal has also dismissed double taxation avoidance agreement clause as well. Google India is a subsidiary arm of Google International LLC, US. It uses the patented technology from Google Ireland. And since it was contracted in India, the taxation was treated as royalty.

The appeal made by Google India between 2007-08 to 2012-13, were dismissed by the Income Tax Appellete Tribunal (ITAT). The ET report has quoted the ITAT, saying the intention of the assesse (Google India) as well as of the GIL (Google Ireland) is clear and conspicuous that they wanted to deduct the tax at the time of payment to GIL, no tax was deducted nor any permission was sought for paying the amount (sic).

Similarly, international bodies like European Union were also considering to raise tax bills of multinational digital giants like Google, and Amazon to tighten its grip over such companies in matters of taxation. Earlier this year, Google was charged with antitrust record fine of $2.7 billion by the European Union for anti-competitive practices.
tech2 News Staff

TRAI has issued recommendations for a framework to regulate app based internet telephony by telecom service providers. Highlights of the recommendations include not monitoring the quality of service, leaving it to market forces, assigning the same number to a subscriber for both cellular as well as internet services, and allowing consumers to use the network of any operator for internet telephony.

Most of the telecom industry not been happy with the direction of the consultation paper since its very beginning. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) differs from the recommendations of the regulator on key aspects. One problem is allowing for internet telephony access on any other network but that of the operator, clarification on the numbering series used for internet telephony, security of the network, and interconnection charges are all concerns.

There is some confusion on what exactly internet telephony is, and even TRAI points this out in the recommendations. "The terms IP Telephony, VoIP, Internet Telephony and other variants often generate confusion as there are many different definitions used by various organizations. Some use them interchangeably while others give them distinct definitions. Further confusion is caused by using the terms to refer to both the IP-based technologies and the services that are enabled by these technologies. Internet Telephony can be deemed to be a subset of Voice over IP, in the sense that, when voice is carried over an IP network it can be termed as Voice over IP."

An easier way to understand is that the recommended regulations apply only to licensed telecom service providers, and not over the top applications that support voice calls such as WhatsApp, Viber or Google Duo. TRAI started the entire process of a consultation for internet telephony in May 2016, after the furore created by BSNL when it allowed international roaming consumers to make local and STD calls from their landlines back home through a mobile application.

The COAI had written to the then Telecom Secretary JS Deepak, that the fixed mobile convergence service offered by BSNL violated interconnection rules, leading to losses for the operator. "We, therefore, request DoT to kindly take proactive steps to prevent such illegal routing and strongly suggest that DoT must direct all respective licencees to not terminate Internet Telephony calls by misusing the interconnecting links," COAI Director General Rajan S Mathews had written. Reliance Jio, although a member of the COAI, had said "Reliance Jio has a divergent view on the matter."

Even before the internet telephony consultation was started, the problem for COAI had been the loss of revenue through a lack of interconnect usage charges (IUC). When TRAI initiated the process of consultation, for a holistic set of regulations to govern internet telephony, one of its stated goals was to address the issues of interconnection usage charges. "It eventually has to be decided what aspects of conventional telephony regulation should apply to internet telephony service. To encourage internet telephony services in the country, issues such as allocation of telephone numbers, interconnection, interconnection usage charges and access to emergency service need to be addressed urgently," TRAI had said.

Yet, these matters were not comprehensively addressed in its recommendations.

In its recommendations, the telecom authority has indicated that it feels there is no need to introduce separate interconnection charges for internet telephony, and any changes can be introduced in future clarification or amendment. According to the recommendations, "The Authority observed that present recommendations are limited to provisioning of Internet Telephony by access licensees and they are handing over Internet Telephony call to other service providers like any other voice call and therefore there is no need to prescribe separate Interconnection framework at this stage and the extant POI framework and Interconnection Usage Charges may continue for provision of Internet Telephony services also. Moreover, as mentioned in the paragraph 3.44, DOT has already stated that Internet Telephony service is akin to mobile service. However, if any change is required in the Interconnection regime , the Authority will issue separate amendment/clarification in this regard."

The consultation was bound to be problematic as it was premature and came at a time when a number of pressing concerns were not addressed, including the demand of Telcos for regulation of OTTs, which some operators consider a pre-requisite for any kind of meaningful regulations on internet telephony.

As expected, the Telcos are not happy with the recommendations, and maintain that a number of underlying issues are not addressed by the consultation. "The subject of internet telephony involves important issues such as the need for an underlying access network, separate numbering series, Interconnection, network security etc., which still need to be addressed", COAI Director General Rajan S Mathews told The Economic Times.

Interconnect usage charges has been a source of controversy in the telecom industry, even though experts have called for a total abolition of the IUC regime. In August this year, RNP Sinha, the former CMD of MTNL told CNBC-TV18, "The only solution is that you make it as bill and keep (B&K) and the IUC charges should be made zero, they should not be recovered (from the consumer) and they cannot be treated as source of revenue."

From 1 October, 2017, TRAI slashed the interconnect usage charges by half, to twelve paise per minute, taking a step towards getting rid of the charges entirely. The authority plans to take interconnection charges to zero by 2020. The move came as a jolt to incumbent operators such as Vodafone, Idea and Airtel, but was in line with the demands of the new entrant, Jio, which has always maintained that there should be no IUC. As expected, Airtel and Vodafone were vocal against the introduction of new rules, but Jio indicated that the consumers would benefit from the reduced charges. Arpita Pal Agrawal, Partner and Leader, Telecom Industry practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers India told IANS, "The IUC termination charge cut is not expected to provide any direct benefit to end customers. In the current hyper-competitive situation, most tariff packages already offer free voice calls."

The intense battle over IUC charges between telcos has moved on from domestic cellular charges to internet telephony and international calls. TRAI is in the process of formulating regulations for international call termination charges. COAI has demanded a six fold increase in international call termination charges, from the current 53 paise per minute to Rs 3.50 per minute.

In any case, the writing is on the wall. IUC is not a viable revenue stream, and are on the way to eventually becoming zero. Telcos in opposition cannot stand to gain much by repeatedly fighting for increased IUC.

Disclaimer: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.
Kabul: Afghan officials say Taliban fighters have stormed a security post, killing nine soldiers in a western province.

Spokesman for the governor of Farah province Mohammad Naser Mehri said on Wednesday the militants stormed a security post killing nine soldiers and wounding four other soldiers. The attack took place last night in Pusht Road district.

The intense, four-hour gun battle included the use of artillery against the army.

Mehri says Afghan war planes were deployed and 17 Taliban fighters were killed.

On Thursday, a Taliban attack on a military compound left 43 soldiers lead in southern Kandahar province.

Intense fighting between the Taliban and the Islamic State group in northern Jawzjan province left six Islamic State fighters and 42 Taliban fighters dead, according to Faqir Mohammad Jawzjani, the provincial chief of police.

He said the Islamic State launched an attack on Taliban positions in several locations, capturing several areas and villages from the Taliban in two districts. He said the fighting took place on Monday and Tuesday.

Jawzjani said the number of Islamic State fighters in the two districts of Khush Tipa and Darzab is about 400.
New York: President Donald Trump will skip a key Asia summit at the end of his trip to the region in November.

The White House said on Tuesday that Trump will be returning to the United States on 14 November, which is the same day as the East Asia Summit (EAS) in the Philippines. Trump is slated to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, which is also in the Philippines, the day before but he will not stay the extra day.

Another US delegation that will attend the EAS, which will include more than a dozen Asian nations as well as Australia, New Zealand and Russia. The White House did not give a reason as to Trump's absence.

The Philippines will be the final stop of Trump's 12-day, five-nation trip his first to Asia. The trip is expected to be dominated by Trump demanding that American allies in the region increase pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.

But for all of Trump's overheated talk about North Korea's Kim Jung Un and the country's nuclear programme, Trump will likely not make the customary presidential visit to the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea known as the Demilitarised Zone.

Trump has derided Kim as "Little Rocket Man" and threatened to unleash "fire and fury" on Pyongyang if its leaders do not abandon the weapons programme.

If Trump doesn't go while in South Korea, he would be breaking from recent presidential custom. All presidents but one since Ronald Reagan have visited the DMZ, which has separated the North and South for 64 years.

He will also advocate American economic interests during his trip, which include stops in Japan and China before travelling to Vietnam for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings.

The trip will conclude in the Philippines, where the president is slated to meet with President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been accused of human rights abuses, including killing suspected drug dealers. The White House said Trump could raise concerns about the programme.

The Washington Post first reported Trump decision's to skip the East Asia Summit, which mostly focuses on general strategic issues rather than the economic matters at APEC. The White House said Trump may attend some meetings related to the East Asia Summit before the gathering officially begins.
Washington: President Donald Trump's four-month worldwide ban on refugees ended on Tuesday, officials said, as his administration prepared to unveil tougher new screening procedures.

Under an executive order Trump signed earlier in 2017, the United States had temporarily halted admissions for refugees from all countries, with some exceptions.

The end-date written into the order came and went on Tuesday with no new order from Trump to extend it, according to a State Department official, who wasn't authorised to comment by name and requested anonymity.

Refugees seeking entry to the US will face what officials described as more stringent and thorough examination of their backgrounds, in line with Trump's "extreme vetting" policy for immigrants.

The Homeland Security Department, the State Department and other US agencies have been reviewing the screening process during the temporary ban.

The new screening procedures were to be announced later on Tuesday. It was unclear exactly what measures would be added, but in the past, officials have spoken about examining applicants' social media posts and other investigative measures to identify those who may sympathise with extremists or pose a national security risk to the United States.

Refugees already face an extensive backlog and waiting periods that can take years. Any additional screening would likely extend the timeline.

Even with the ban lifted, refugee admissions are expected to be far lower than in recent years. In August, Trump capped refugee admissions at 45,000 for the fiscal year that started 1 October, a cut of more than half from the 1,10,000 limit put in place the year earlier by President Barack Obama. And the actual number admitted this year could be far lower than Trump's 45,000 cap, which sets a maximum but not a minimum.

The refugee restrictions were in addition to Trump's broader "travel ban" on people from several countries. Courts have repeatedly blocked that policy, but largely left the temporary refugee policy in place.

Trump has made limiting immigration the centerpiece of his policy agenda. In addition to the travel ban, which initially targeted a handful of Muslim-majority nations, the president rescinded an Obama-era executive action protecting young immigrants from deportation and vowed to build a wall along the southern border with Mexico.

During his presidential campaign, Trump pledged to "stop the massive inflow of refugees" and warned that terrorists were smuggling themselves into naive countries by posing as refugees fleeing war-torn Syria.

"Thousands of refugees are being admitted with no way to screen them and are instantly made eligible for welfare and free health care, even as our own veterans, our great, great veterans, die while they're waiting online for medical care that they desperately need," Trump said in October 2017.

Instead, Trump has advocated keeping refugees closer to their homes.

The end of the ban comes amid an alarming refugee crisis in Myanmar, where security forces in August began what human rights groups have called a scorched-earth campaign against villages inhabited by Rohingya Muslims. More than 6,00,000 Rohingya from northern Rakhine State have fled to Bangladesh.
H1B visas are on the agenda when Indias Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu meets Trumps longtime buddy and US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in Washington DC this week even as the mountain of paperwork gets worse for H1B workers. Ross is Trump's kingpin for a sweeping review of anything under the sun that comes into the ambit of the Buy American Hire American anthem and that includes H1B visas.

Link: Follow our comprehensive coverage of visas on Planet Trump

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has been challenging an ever increasing number of H1B applications in patterns that are becoming clearer as the year winds down.

Up until the end of August this year, 85,000 H1B applications have been questioned under the request for evidence (RFE) option that the regulators are spewing out with gusto. Although RFE sounds benign, it invariably delays application processing for weeks or months on end.

Cyrus Mehta, top immigration attorney based in New York, says the RFE is a smokescreen for the unstated but obvious resistance to immigration in general and H1B as a favourite whipping boy - It is not a surprise that when the Administration does not favor a particular visa, the RFE rate increases.

Going by all that we know of the H1Bs tortuous existence in the nearly 365 days since the Trump win last November, the twin themes of increased scrutiny and outrage against outsiders have both made the H1B journey particularly hard, notwithstanding the many high powered India-US engagements so far or the impending Ivanka Trump visit to India.

Mehta explains the various layers in which the H1B is getting cooked: The current trend in RFEs on H-1B visas do not just challenge the Level 1 wage, but also whether the position qualifies as a speciality occupation. The RFE also questions the beneficiarys maintenance of F-1 status under Curricular Practical Training challenging whether the CPT constituted an integral part of the program. At times, evidence is also requested to establish that the company is doing business as stated in the H-1B petition. Many RFEs also challenge the employer-employee relationship under the Neufeld Memo. Even if the H-1B worker is not working at a client site, the RFE still asks for proof that there is sufficient work to employ the H-1B worker in the specialty occupation at the employers place of business. Although there has been a general upswing in the issuance of RFEs, H-1Bs appear to be getting hit the hardest.

Apart from the bucket list that Mehta lays out, theres also a parallel ongoing streamlining process within the multiple arms of government that police the H1B visa.

Early this year the USCIS put out a comprehensive memo that explained in painstaking detail the many meanings and non meanings of speciality occupation. This memo came out in the time gap after Trump took over and before he signed the Buy American, Hire American executive order that called for a sweeping review of the H1B visa. This memo is important because it underpins the basis of many extra queries that are now going out.

The bulk of requests for evidence that are spewing out relate more to entry level wage workers rather than any other single group.

Although entry level is self explanatory to some extent, this is how the US Department of Labor defines it: Level I (entry) wage rates are assigned to job offers for beginning level employees who have only a basic understanding of the occupation. These employees perform routine tasks that require limited, if any, exercise of judgment. The tasks provide experience and familiarization with the employers methods, practices, and programs. The employees may perform higher level work for training and developmental purposes. These employees work under close supervision and receive specific instructions on required tasks and results expected. Their work is closely monitored and reviewed for accuracy. Statements that the job offer is for a research fellow, a worker in training, or an internship are indicators that a Level I wage should be considered.

This memo rescinded an earlier memo which is clearly outdated in the current scenario.

This paragraph explains the thinking: While the (earlier) memorandum stated that most programmers had a bachelors degree or higher based on information provided by the Handbook, that information is not particularly relevant to a specialty occupation adjudication if it does not also provide the specific specialties the degrees were in and/or what, if any, relevance those degrees had to the computer programmer occupation. Further, the memorandum failed to mention that only some of those that had a bachelors or higher degree at that time held a degree in computer science . . . or information systems.

A Reuters report says that this pushback which can slow down the issuance of visas by months, were issued at a greater rate in 2017 than at any time in the Obama administration except for one year, 2009, according to USCIS data.

Overall, if you see this from the Trump administration side, the H1B visa is being beaten into shape even without complicated legislative process. Since 1990, when the Immigration Act was signed into law by Gorge H.W. Bush, till date, the gripes on the H1B have been bilateral, so thats not new. Whats remarkable in the first one year of Trump is the how well coordinated the backlash has been from multiple arms of the government against this most highly regulated work visa in the United States.

Indians bite off the lions share of H1B visas and the relentless scrutiny this year has sent H1B workers scrambling to immigration attorneys in droves.

Until now, general counsels of most companies dealt with H1B issues as a matter of routine. Not any more.

The H1B speciality worker is now being subjected to a special kind of onslaught.
After nearly a full year of predictions that the Islamic State was finished, it seems that the extremist group is indeed in full retreat. The surest proof that Raqqa, Kirkuk and other core areas have been vacated is that militant groups who had united in the fight against Islamic State are now engaged in fighting each other, with equal ferocity. Sectarian divisions are back with a vengeance and the region is back to its old 'normal'.

It's certainly a significant victory for the United States, Russia and their respective allies, and a vindication of a war strategy that was able to gum together hugely disparate terrorist and militant groups against the primary enemy. Though Incredibly messy, it did seem to have provided results, for the time being at least. The declaration of victory by US president Donald Trump is, however, hugely premature.

Islamic State was built on an idea, and on specific ground conditions that caused its emergence in the first place. Neither has died with them. The idea of a Caliphate continues to motivate, only the location may shift. Within the conflict areas, ground conditions are reminiscent of the ravage and devastation of the World Wars. Fears of Sunni disenfranchisement continues and governments in Syria and Iraq appear to have learnt nothing from the past.

In addition, the next chapter for future chaos has already opened, with the September referendum by Iraqi Kurds that is aimed at charting a path to eventual independence. As long the region continues to scald itself, Islamic State will find fertile ground to regroup or morph into something different.

In the first case, it may choose to revert to its former insurgency profile by allying with elements such as the Ahrar al-Sham, which is already a loose coalition of armed groups. Alternatively, it may withdraw into itself and morph into a classic terrorist group. It may also do both. Nobody said this was easy.

There are however several stages to terrorist regrouping or morphing. The process also differs depending on the pecking order or functions within the group. First, a core group of Islamic State cadres are likely to stay within the region. Not every area has been liberated, and there are several ungoverned spaces that offer shelter for the foreseeable future. These elements are likely to go underground and remain quiescent for a while.

A period of internal churning and shake-down will follow, with multiple leaders emerging and claiming true lineage. The blame and counter blame will eventually die down, and once new loyalties are established, a new group will emerge under a new leader. A vital ingredient to this leadership selection and group formation is money. The one who has access to funds wins. The first counter-terrorism objective, therefore, must be to prevent access to past funds, or recourse to new funding sources  sympathisers, transborder criminal groups, or even more likely, another intelligence agency.

It is this group that needs close watching, particularly if it tries to move out of the region altogether. Research indicates that terrorist groups regroup outside the affected country, but usually close enough to retain links to its contacts within. The Tamil Tigers are an example of this. The Mujahideen and the Taliban that followed them are another.

In the case of Islamic State, with its undoubted organisation, the availability of affiliates, and the sheer number of 'ungoverned spaces' available from Somalia to Afghanistan, this regrouping could take place anywhere. There is also the fact that regrouping in any of the states neighbouring Syria is virtually ruled out for the present, with both Russian and United States aircraft dominating the skies, and their intelligence agencies operating below. It's not impossible, but it simply isn't the optimal path for a group with enviable communication skills, that doesn't require proximity to make its presence felt.

At a second level are the local fighters who clung to the group for money, power or both. These are likely to drift to whoever will recruit them. Among these are the eight remaining major groups who are still intact, not including the several government-backed 'rebels'. With the retreat of the Islamic State, and scramble to form new power centres, there is no lack of employment for these drifters.

As research has indicated, a period of criminality follows the end of an insurgency, when every man with a gun takes what he can from those weaker than himself. More trouble ahead.

At a third level are the amorphous groups labelled 'foreign fighters'. It is this section of armed militants that is causing counter-terrorism agencies the maximum worry. First, this is a highly motivated class who left to join the Islamic State of their own free will. Many were engineers and doctors who went to the Caliphate to help the faithful and were not motivated by money. Another class within the foreign fighter group are mercenaries, drifting from one war zone to another for loot. The third class, and the most dangerous, comprise genuine believers in the millennial ideology that spurred the Islamic State, who were part and parcel of the fighting on the ground.

It is almost a given that such fighters will restart terrorist activities, including finding other adherents, once they return to their home countries.

Since the counting on the ground is only available from western sources, several highly coloured graphs will inform the enthusiastic researcher that the largest contingents are from Russia. Yet another will calculate this by population, estimating then that the largest are from Tunisia. Only a few of these databases even mention the 20-30,000 Afghans that have been recruited by Iran from provinces bordering Afghanistan.

Another group comes from Pakistan, and there are no clear estimates of these except that they were rising in 2015 when they were formed as a separate fighting unit. At any figure, the combined number of Afghans and Pakistanis are at least ten times the number of western recruits. If the Central Intelligence Agency is in a quake, Afghan and Indian agencies are probably scrambling. So would agencies from Bangladesh, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and China.

India's own count of nationals going to join the Islamic State has remained surprisingly low. At last count, no more than fifty had been in the fighting area, while another 75 were arrested for Islamic State links. While it is true that estimates of actual numbers who have joined are unclear, it is unlikely to differ much from the present estimates.

As such it is far lower than China, who's tiny Muslim population has sent more than a hundred fighters to the hot spot. In March this year, the Islamic State had put out a clearly threatening video, pledging to "shed blood like rivers" in defence of the Uighurs. Several hundred Uzbeks are also known to be participating in the fight, and their return could lead to a terror partnership from Central Asia to China.

The end of the Islamic State should ideally have led to the beginning of Asian cooperation, particularly between China and India. Both are wary of the Islamic State phenomenon, and both are dependent  in varying degrees  on stability in West Asia. China, however, continues to see terrorism through a regional power prism, rather than the severe security threat that it is. Uighurs may have limited ability to destabilise a country as large as China. But that doesn't prevent them from having a real good try. Especially, if they find that there are others available to help them out.
Rome: Italy's leader says the government is willing to open talks with representatives of two wealthy regions after voters there overwhelmingly passed referendums seeking greater autonomy from Rome.

Premier Paolo Gentiloni said "It's possible, it's probable" that certain services could work better if Lombardy and Veneto acquired greater powers from the central Italian government.

Regional leaders are seeking more autonomy over issues such as education, immigration, security and the environment, as well as retaining more tax revenue.

In his first comments since the twin votes on Sunday, Gentiloni said today in Veneto that the government was "ready to take steps," although he noted the specific issues and conditions up for discussion haven't been decided. And he stressed that Italy didn't need any new "social lacerations" after years of economic stagnation.

"I look with interest, respect and willingness to discuss the issue opened by the referendums on autonomy," he said.

Sunday's peaceful votes reflected the same drive for greater self-determination seen in Spain's conflict-ridden Catalonia region. While nonbinding, the Italian referendums were still approved by Italy's constitutional court.

But analysts say the broad autonomy that was sold to voters will be hard -- if not impossible -- to win and that it's unlikely any serious talks will begin until after Italy's general election next year.
Antananarivo: The death toll from Madagascar's plague outbreak has reached 124, officials said on Tuesday, as they cautiously welcomed a slowdown in infections.

The highly contagious plague has caused alarm across the poor Indian Ocean island since August, spreading to the capital Antananarivo and other cities.

A total of 1,133 people have been infected, the health ministry said.

"There is a decrease in the number of people admitted to hospital (and) an increase in cured patients who leave hospital," Manitra Rakotoarivony, a ministry official, told national radio.

Madagascar has suffered plague outbreaks almost every year since 1980  typically between September and April.

The current outbreak is unusual as it has affected urban areas increasing the risk of transmission, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

WHO has delivered 1.2 million doses of antibiotics to fight the disease while the Red Cross has been training hundreds of volunteers on the island to publicise preventative measures.

Plague bacteria develops in rats and is carried by fleas.

In humans, the pneumonic version is transferred through coughing and can be fatal within 72 hours.

Most of the victims recorded in Madagascar have been infected with the pneumonic form. The bubonic form is less dangerous.

Both plagues can be cured using antibiotics if given quickly.
According to a National Security Agency (NSA) report released by The Intercept, the rocket attacks in March 2013 in the Syrian capital Damascus were ordered by a member of the Saudi royal family, Prince Salman bin Sultan, to help mark the second anniversary of the Syrian revolution. The report said Salman had provided explosives and other weaponry to Opposition forces and instructed them to "light up Damascus and "flatten" the airport.

According to Al-Arabiya, Syrian rebels said that they had fired mortar bombs at the presidential palace, the Damascus International Airport and security buildings. A statement by the Syrian Opposition said rebels groups had fired "a number of 120 mm heavy calibre mortars... in a joint operation coordinated with battalions operating in Damascus."

The claims could not be verified because of restrictions on journalists in Syria, the report added.

The Intercept report also said that the Saudis wanted to unseat President Bashar al-Assad and Salman was one of the key officials responsible for prosecuting the war in Syria. The NSA document, provided by whistleblower Edward Snowden, points to how deeply these foreign powers would become involved in parts of the armed uprising. According to ZeroHedge, the NSA report is sourced to the intelligence agency's controversial PRISM programme  which gives the NSA the ability to sweep up all communications and data exchanged through major US internet service providers.

A US document based on surveillance of "Opposition plans and operations," showed that American spies found out about the attacks several days before they were launched. While it is not known who all received arms from the Saudis, the videos of attacks posted by the Opposition showed different groups identifying themselves as different factions of the 'Free Syrian Army,' The Intercept report added.

It also said that a rebel commander identified as the member of the Free Syrian Army was seen on the camera as saying that the attack was "in memory of the second anniversary of the Syrian revolution," similar to what the Saudi king had said.
Governor Bill Haslam on Wednesday announced Katie Ashley will serve as director of legislation, the governors chief advisor and strategist for legislative matters.

The Crockett County native is one of the longest serving Haslam staffers, starting out on his campaign in 2009 before becoming a legislative liaison in 2011 and handling one of the governors top priorities: education in Tennessee.

Katie knows this administration and the legislative process inside and out, and I am incredibly excited that she will take on this expanded role, Governor Haslam said.

Ms. Ashley has served as deputy director of legislation since 2015, helping develop and implement the administrations overall legislative priorities and strategy while managing the administrations legislative liaison team across 23 departments. She has also been instrumental in the governors Drive to 55 initiative and with the passage of the Tennessee Promise and FOCUS Acts. Ashley will replace Warren Wells as director of legislation on December 1

I have admired Governor Haslam and his commitment to helping make Tennessee the best place to call home since I began working for him more than eight years ago. Having the chance to be part of his administration has given me the opportunity to grow and to work on some really amazing initiatives and priorities, she said. I am truly looking forward to continuing to support the governors vision for my home state in this new role.

Before joining the governors campaign as scheduler, Ms. Ashley was a constituent relations manager in U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexanders office. She graduated from the University of Tennessee, Martin cum laude with a bachelors in University Studies, with an emphasis in political science.

Ms. Ashley, 31, and her husband, Luke, live with their daughter, Ryall, in Franklin and attend Church of the City there.
Islamabad: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif has acknowledged that there is a "trust deficit" between his country and the US over the issue of Afghanistan even as he asserted that the two countries were talking to bridge their differences.

Asif's remarks came after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, during his whirlwind visit to Islamabad, outlined the US' new South Asia Strategy and the vital role that Pakistan can play in working with America and others to facilitate a peace process in Afghanistan that can bring stability and security to the region.

"Yes there is a trust deficit...but we are talking," Asif said in response to a question. "Having said that, (I should say) there is a willingness on both sides to bridge this (trust) deficit," he told BBC Urdu on Tuesday.

The foreign minister also said that the US and international forces had failed to end the conflict in Afghanistan despite their more than a decade long efforts.

"They (US) must do some self-accountability also. Why have they lost 45 percent of the Afghan territory in the last 10, 12 years," he asked. Asif also said that Pakistan was not dependent on the US aid as it has been getting only a "trickle" of the assistance. He said Pakistan was also not looking for military hardware from the US.

"We do not get any military hardware from the US. We are not like in the past when we were their proxy," he said. Separately, talking to Geo TV, he said that Pakistani leaders told Tillerson that there were no terrorist safe havens in Pakistan.

"Terrorist attacks are not planned or executed from Pakistani soil, there are no terrorist safe havens in Pakistan, and we made this clear to the US delegation," Asif said.

He said the Pakistani leadership firmly holds on to the stance that it is not protecting or supporting the Haqqani network.

"We emphasised again and again that their [US] assessment [about Pakistan] is wrong," he said.

"We are not responsible for the increase in the drug trade in Afghanistan or the increasing [Afghan] territory occupied by terrorists," Asif said. Tillerosn paid a short trip to Pakistan yesterday and held a detailed meeting with civil and military leaders in Islamabad.

According to a statement by the US embassy, he asked Pakistan to "increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country".

Pakistan regularly denies that it hosts terror groups fighting the US and Afghan forces in Afghanistan.
Rex Tillerson, Secretary of State, US Department of State, will be visiting India on Wednesday. According to the US State Department, he will meet with senior Indian leaders to discuss further strengthening of India-US strategic partnership and collaboration on security in the Indo-Pacific region.

His visit will also advance the agenda laid out by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Modis visit to the White House in June.

Tillerson's first meeting is with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in New Delhi at 10 am after which he will pay tribute at Gandhi Smriti Museum. At 11.30 am, Tillerson is scheduled to meet Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj with whom he will have a working luncheon. Both leaders will then participate in a joint press conference in the national capital.

At 1.30 pm, the US secretary of state will meet business executives and then will proceed to meet the staff and families of the US Embassy in New Delhi.

Tillerson will round up his visit with a 4.30 pm meeting with Modi.

Ahead of his meeting, Tillerson had said that America's relationship with India is of strategic importance which is not limited to South Asia. He further added that the Trump administration was of the view that India can play a positive role in creating a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

"I think, our view of the relationship with India is one that's of strategic importance not just for this specific region, but also about a free and open Indo-Pacific region stretching all the way from Japan to India," Tillerson had told reporters at the Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan on his arrival for his maiden visit to South Asia.

Tillerson had asked Pakistan it to rein in terrorism

On Tuesday, Tillerson had bluntly told Pakistan's top leadership that it must increase efforts to eradicate terrorists operating within the country.

Tillerson had arrived in Islamabad on a whirlwind visit to reset bilateral ties strained after President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorist groups.

During his meeting with Pakistan prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Tillerson had discussed the bilateral cooperation and partnership, expanding economic ties between the US and Pakistan, and Pakistans critical role in the region.

The US embassy had said that the US secretary of state reiterated Trump's message that "Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country."

He had also outlined the United States new South Asia Strategy and the vital role that Pakistan can play in working with the United States and others to facilitate a peace process in Afghanistan that can bring stability and security to the region, the US embassy statement said.

With inputs from PTI
Yangon: Myanmar and Bangladesh have agreed to work together to repatriate hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees, officials said, but details remain thin as the humanitarian crisis deepens.

Ties between the neighbours have been severely strained by army-led violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state that has driven more than 600,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh since late August.

The exodus has saddled one of Asia's poorest nations with a massive humanitarian crisis, with refugees too terrified to return to Rakhine.

Dhaka and the United Nations have accused Myanmar's army of ethnic cleansing and called for full repatriation of the Muslim minority, who have crammed into makeshift camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district.

Washington is also pressing for targeted sanctions against Myanmar military officers involved in the violence.

After talks in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw on Tuesday, Bangladesh's home ministry said Myanmar had agreed to stop the outflow of Rohingya and take back all refugees.

"Myanmar has agreed to stop continuous entry of displaced Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh and to bring normalcy back to the Rakhine state," the home ministry said in a statement.

But Myanmar offered a more measured commitment, saying only that refugees would need to be scrutinised for proof of their roots in Rakhine state.

"We cannot say when we are going to receive (the refugees)," Tin Myint from Myanmar's home ministry told reporters after the meeting. "We will accept after scrutinising... we will check whether they really stayed in Maungdaw and Buthidaung," he said, referring to the hardest-hit districts in Rakhine that are now nearly empty of Rohingya residents.

That criteria may be difficult to fulfil for Rohingyas who bolted from Myanmar soldiers and Buddhist mobs who they allege drove them out with a massive campaign of arson, murder and rape. Also, Myanmar has rendered the Rohingya stateless with the government refusing to recognise them as a distinct ethnic group.

Myanmar has vehemently rejected accusations of ethnic cleansing and defended the army campaign as a legitimate response to 25 August attacks by Rohingya militants.

Previous Myanmar government statements have suggested that any Rohingya with links to the militants would be barred from returning home.

Even if the reparation plan goes forward, there is widespread concerns over what the Rohingya will return to, since many of their villages have been razed by fires.
Islamabad: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday bluntly told Pakistan's top leadership that it must increase efforts to eradicate terrorists operating within the country.

Tillerson arrived in Islamabad on a whirlwind visit to reset bilateral ties strained after President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorist groups.

During his meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Tillerson discussed the bilateral cooperation and partnership, expanding economic ties between the US and Pakistan, and Pakistans critical role in the region.

Abbasi chaired an inter-agency meeting attended by foreign minister Khawaja Asif, interior minister Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of Defence Khurram Dastigir Khan, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, ISI chief Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar and other officials.

The US embassy said that the Secretary reiterated President Trump's message that "Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country."

To address those concerns, the Secretary outlined the United States new South Asia Strategy and the vital role that Pakistan can play in working with the US and others to facilitate a peace process in Afghanistan that can bring stability and security to the region, the embassy statement said.

"The Secretary noted that Pakistan and the United States share common interests in establishing a stable, peaceful Afghanistan, defeating ISIS in South Asia, and eliminating terrorist groups that threaten both Pakistan and the United States."

During the meeting, Abbasi assured Tillerson that his country is committed to the war against terrorism. "The US can rest assured that we are strategic partners in the war against terror and that today, Pakistan is fighting the largest war in the world against terror," Abbasi said.

Abbasi informed the visiting delegation of the significant strides Pakistan had made in improving the overall security and economic environment of the country, the Prime Minister's office said in a statement. "Talks covered in detail all aspects of bilateral relations, the regional situation, as well as the evolving international environment. Pakistan delegation outlined the government's policy of a peaceful neighbourhood and steps taken to promote cooperation and stability in Afghanistan and the region," it said.

The US delegation was informed that progress in promoting peace and stability in the region was linked to the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, it said. Defence minister Khan told Geo TV that all aspects of relations were discussed and there was agreement to increase cooperation to defeat militancy. "They asked Pakistan to take action against groups which are involved in militancy and also urged Pakistan to help create peace in Afghanistan," he said.

He said the Pakistani side insisted that its efforts for peace were derailed twice  once when the news of the death of Mullah Omar was divulged and second when Taliban leader Mullah Mansoor was killed. He said Pakistan the tone of the US delegation was reconciliatory and it insisted that Pakistans role was important for regional peace as it lies between India and Afghanistan.

Khan said that Pakistan also highlighted the issue of Indian presence in Afghanistan and raised concerns about New Delhi's role in security affairs in the war-torn country. "We said that we do not have any issue with Indian development work in Afghanistan but we have issued with its security role," he said. He said the US official tried to "tell us that India is not a threat to Pakistan but our perception was different".

He said Tillerson expressed gratitude to Pakistan in securing the release of the Boyle-Coleman family from Taliban captivity.

Earlier, Tillerson quietly landed at a military airport in Rawalpindi in the afternoon and was driven to US embassy where he was briefed by senior US officials about relations with Pakistan. He later met Abbasi at the Prime Minister House and held detailed talks on various aspects of relations.

It was Tillersons first visit to the region after Trump unveiled his policy for Afghanistan and South Asia. Trump's remarks in August unruffled the ties already under strain due to various issues.

Pakistan regularly denies that it hosts terror groups fighting the US and Afghan forces in Afghanistan. Trump's criticism led to further strain in US-Pakistan relations with a peeved Islamabad saying the president ignored its efforts in the war against terrorism.

Tillerson flew to India after his meetings in Islamabad, where he is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushama Swaraj.
Washington: The United States has slammed Russia for vetoing a United Nations Security Council resolution extending the mandate of the only official mission probing the use of chemical weapons in Syria, saying Moscow has "once again" demonstrated it would do anything to protect its ally.

Russia on Tuesday vetoed the US-sponsored UN resolution that would extend the work of inspectors seeking to determine who is responsible for chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Russia has blocked such a move by the UN Security Council a number of times, White House press Secretary Sarah Sanders said at her daily news conference.

Russia has blocked the UN Security Council action to hold accountable those who use chemical weapons, including terrorists and the regime of Syrian president Bashar al Assad, she said.

"By blocking the extension of the Joint Investigative Mechanism, Russia has once again demonstrated it does not care about stopping the barbaric use of chemical weapons in the world and will do whatever it takes to protect its ally, the Assad regime," Sanders alleged.

Blocking the extension of the investigating authority means nothing less than Russia's endorsement of the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons against innocent women and children. "We will continue to push back against this," Sanders said.

At the UN headquarters in New York, the Security Council rejected the draft resolution following a vote of 11 in favour to two against (Bolivia, Russian Federation), with two abstaining (China, Kazakhstan).

Had it been adopted, it would have extended the mechanism's mandate established by resolution 2235 (2015) and set to expire on 17 November for one more year. Vassily A Nebenzia, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, suggested that adjourning the meeting until 7 November and discussing an extension without undue pressure.

He said that the Russian Federation expected an honest, impartial, complete investigation, and would accept clear, incontrovertible evidence of guilt. The US had already determined who was guilty, and its actions were politicising the issue, he alleged.

US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Russia has once again demonstrated it will do whatever it takes to ensure the "barbaric" Assad regime never faces consequences for its continued use of chemicals as weapons.

"By rejecting the renewal of the work of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) an independent, purely technical body Russia has made it clear that it does not care about stopping the use of chemical weapons in the world," she said.

"This is the ninth time Russia has protected Assad and his team of murderers by blocking the Security Council from acting. In doing so, Russia once again sides with the dictators and terrorists who use these weapons," Haley said.

British Permanent Representative to the UN Matthew Rycroft described Russia's use of veto power as a "sad day". "It's a sad day for the Security Council when Russia vetoes a simple technical, procedural rollover, of the mandate of an absolutely crucial part of the international communitys architecture to help tackle the appalling use of chemical weapons," he said.

The Syrian regime that they support must have something to hide, and I wonder why Russia continues to defend the indefensible, he said and hoped that Russia will realise that they are isolated on this issue.

"They are seeking to defend the indefensible. And beyond that, they have a particular responsibility as a permanent member of the Security Council with a close relationship with the Syrian regime. They have taken it upon themselves to lead the international community's efforts to disarm Syria of its chemical weapons," he said.

"That job is not complete, and I call on Russia to listen to what we all said today and to step up to meet those responsibilities," the British Ambassador said.
Beijing: Chinas Communist Party revealed its new leadership helmed by President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, breaking with recent precedent by failing to include a clear successor to the president among the seven-man line-up.

Apart from Xi, Premier Li Keqiang was the only one to retain his spot amid sweeping changes on the Politburo Standing Committee, the height of power in the worlds second-largest economy.

Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng were promoted, replacing five retiring members including anti-corruption chief Wang Qishan, a key Xi ally. All seven are in their 60s, and for the first time no Standing Committee member will have been born before the 1949 Communist revolution.

Guangdong party secretary Hu Chunhua and Chongqing party boss Chen Miner had been previously seen as prominent contenders to succeed Xi among the partys so-called sixth generation of leaders but were not included in the Standing Committee. Instead, both were named to the wider 25-member Politburo, a rung below the Standing Committee.

Xi and Li were first promoted to the Standing Committee at the 17th Party Congress in 2007, in a clear signal that the pair would succeed Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao and occupy the top two offices, as transpired five years later.

But Sun Zhengcai, another sixth-generation contender, was abruptly removed from his post as Chongqing party secretary in July, signalling the likelihood Xi would delay naming a successor and adding to speculation that Xi could seek to stay on in some capacity beyond the end of his second term in 2022.

Li Zhanshu, who is considered the closest to Xi among those newly promoted, will likely head Chinas largely rubber stamp parliament, analysts and sources have said, having held a chief-of-staff style role as head of the partys General Office.

The parliament position will be formally decided at the annual meeting of parliament in March.

Zhao Leji, the head of the partys Organisation Department which oversees personnel decisions, replaces Wang Qishan as head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection after being named on the anti-graft bodys list of members on Tuesday.

A new Central Military Commission was also announced. Xu Qiliang stayed on as one of its two vice chairmen, while Zhang Youxia, who is close to Xi, was named its other vice chairman.
The Salvation Army is in the midst of its Christmas outreach programs. Angel Tree registration for local children and seniors has officially started. Applications for the 2017 Angel Tree program will be taken in Chattanooga at 5001 Covington St., off of Rossville Boulevard, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., until Nov. 3. In Cleveland, folks can register by appointment only, by calling 423-308-3467. The Salvation Army is expecting long lines as need is great, officials said.



Families at or below the poverty line with children 12 years of age or younger and seniors 60 years of age and older are invited to register for the Angel Tree Program. "Through the generosity of our donors, the Angel Tree provides much needed clothing, toys and other crucial items to qualified participants," officials said.



For more information, including documentation required for registration, families in need should call 423-756-1023 or visit www.csarmy.org.



"Volunteers are invited to join our ranks and assist our staff with the Angel Tree Program, as well as our other seasonal efforts. Volunteers may assist at Angel Tree tables in the mall and serve as bell ringers in order to raise money for our many ministries, which meet the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of local residents. Additionally, volunteers may fill stockings with everyday essentials for seniors or fill backpacks for local homeless. Changing a life is as easy as ringing a bell or stuffing a stocking or backpack," officials said.



Donations may be made online at www.csarmy.org, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or by mail to: The Salvation Army, 822 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, Tn., 37403. For additional information, call 423-756-1023.
Google on the October 4th event has introduced brand new smart speakers  Home and the Home Mini and also demoed new features including those for families and kids. Today, the company is adding around 50 new kids games, stories, activities and more to the Assistant on Home and smartphones designed especially for kids and family.

Google Assistant since its launch had a good number of games for all, but from today Assistant for Home and phones will get and activities include musical chairs, trivia, and freeze dance, some are Halloween-themed as well. Kids can sign up on their own and start playing games and do fun activities without anyone interference.

Google says that the assistant can now better recognize kids voices and much like adults, it can distinguish kids voices to offer personalized results and customize responses.

However, to do this, kids still need to have Family Link account which became open to every parent in the USA only in September, though launched in March. The Family Link account allows parents to monitor their childrens phone activity and it lets parents create a Google Account for their children which can now be used to access all the new kids games and activities.

Assistants list of new additions that kids can ask Google, just by saying OK Google.

Lets learn Play space trivia Talk to Everyday Heroes Help me with my homework Lets play a game Play Mickey Mouse Adventure Talk to Whats My Justice League Super Hero? Play Sports Illustrated Kids Trivia Tell me a story Tell me the story of The-Not-So-Scaredy cat Play Strangest Day Ever Play Jungle Adventure

The update with the new kids activities and games started rolling in the USA today, and once you are updated, you can get started just by saying Ok Google, I want to do something fun or Ok Google, Abracadabra.

Source
Lenovo in partnership with Intel has introduced first PCs with built-in FIDO authentication system for better and safer online authentication when logging into popular websites like PayPal, Google, Dropbox, and Facebook.

The FIDO Alliance has backing from top giants like Samsung, Microsoft and Google and it eliminates the need for passwords altogether. Lenovo is the first PC company to bring FIDO certified authenticators integrated directly into Windows PCs. It uses Intel Online Connect that is available for both 7th and 8th Gen Intel Core processors, and the integrated FIDO authenticators support both Universal Authentication Framework (UAF) and Universal 2nd Factor (U2F).

U2F with built-in 2nd-factor authentication offers additional security and is incorporated into the authentication process. Once user login to a website using user ID and password, instead of using a separate security key or SMS code, the U2F 2nd-factor authentication identifies the user and directly prompts the user to click a button to log into websites.

Users with supported PCs can now log onto sites with the integrated fingerprint reader or a quick click of a button in real-time. Lenovo says that 81% of the data breaches last year were mainly because of the weak, default or stolen passwords and there is a growth of up to 65% year-on-year in phishing attacks.

Lenovos latest laptops including the Yoga 920, ThinkPad X1 Tablet (2nd generation), ThinkPad X1 Carbon (5th generation) and IdeaPad 720S integrate FIDO-certified authenticators directly into the core of the PCs. The Intel Online Connect and Intel Software Guard Extensions (Intel SGX) are available built-in on the PCs with 7th and 8th Gen Intel Core processors for a secure user experience.

It will also be made available via Lenovo System Update and Lenovo App Explorer on all Lenovo laptops with 7th and 8th Gen Intel Core processors that have enabled Intel SGX. The list of Lenovo PCs apart from the models mentioned above include ThinkPad X1 Tablet (2nd generation), ThinkPad Yoga 370, ThinkPad T570, ThinkPad P51s, ThinkPad T470s, ThinkPad X270 and ThinkPad X270s.
The Sony Xperia XZ1, XZ1 Compact, XZ Premium and XZs that were launched this year feature a new camera sensor that has a bit wider angle lens compared to the most smartphones. While that is a good thing, many users have started complaining about the camera has distortion effects when taking pictures.

This issue is especially noticed when clicking images using the wide-angle lens than shooting in the regular mode. However, Sony was quick to respond and already has a fix for the issue. The Xperia XZ Premium is the first handset to receive the fix as part of the Android 8.0 Oreo firmware update.

Sony has added an option to the camera settings in the form of a toggle that is named Correction for image distortion, which when enabled will fix the distortion issue when clicking wide-angle images.

Sony has also confirmed that the fix will also arrive on the Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact via a new firmware update by the end of November 2017. The Xperia XZs will also get the fix most likely with the Android 8.0 Oreo update.

Commenting on the same Sony said:

We would like to reassure you that we are dedicated to providing the best possible user experience for our customers and have taken your feedback very seriously. We have been taking time to make improvements and increase photo shooting options. Our models featuring our new Motion Eye Camera, including XZ Premium, XZs, XZ1 and XZ1 Compact, feature a wide-angle lens. This lens enables an immersive experience by providing the ability to capture more scenery in the shot, however, it may also yield perspective distortion when shooting photos. Whilst this distortion is consistent with similar wide-angle lens cameras in the industry, we have listened to your feedback and developed a new optional setting in the camera menu called Correction for image distortion to minimize the distortion effect. It will be available via an upcoming software update on XZ Premium, XZs, XZ1 and XZ1 compact.

Source | Via
CHI Memorial Medical Group added Tim Ryder, APN, to CHI Memorial Convenient Care  Signal Mountain.

Mr. Ryder received bachelor and master degrees in nursing from Southern Adventist University in Collegedale. Mr. Ryder was previously with the hospital medicine team at CHI Memorial, performing medical consultations, new admissions, follow-up daily visits and discharge visits. He is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.



CHI Memorial Convenient Care - Signal Mountain provides urgent medical care for many common conditions including allergies and asthma, fevers and flu and stitches and sprains. "With convenient hours and staffed with the highest quality healthcare professionals, the care you need is available right when you need it. Theres no need to make an appointment, and well coordinate with your personal physician to ensure you receive follow-up care," officials said.



Mr. Ryder joins Greg Nieckula, D.O., at CHI Memorial Convenient Care  Signal Mountain. The office is located at 1238 Taft Highway, Suite 170, Signal Mountain, Tn. 37377, inside CHI Memorial Internal Medicine Associates  Signal Mountain. Office hours are Monday through Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. For more information, call 423-886-2004.


After Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra & Goa, Airtel today launched Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services in Gujarat. This lets Airtel customers enjoy HD quality voice calls along with faster call set up time compared to normal voice calls on their VoLTE-compatible 4G handsets.

Airtel promises seamless connectivity and in the case of non-availability of 4G, Airtel VoLTE calls will automatically fall back on 3G/2G network, said the company. It will also allow customers to continue with their data sessions at 4G speeds while the call is in progress.

Airtel says that customers with Dual-SIM handsets should insert their Airtel SIM in SIM slot 1 and network mode should be set as 4G/3G/2G (Auto) for VoLTE to work properly. The company says that the handset manufacturer need to upgrade the smartphones software to support Airtel VoLTE, even though there are hundreds of 4G smartphones in the market with VoLTE support.

You can check out the complete list of Airtel VoLTE compatible smartphones here. Airtel already said that it plans to roll out VoLTE across the country over the next few months without any time frame.

Commenting on the launch, Murthy Chaganti, Chief Executive Officer  Gujarat, Bharti Airtel said:

It is our constant endeavor to offer world-class services to our customers with an aim to enhance their mobile experience. In line with this, we are delighted to launch our VoLTE services across the State enabling customers to enjoy superior quality voice calls. In conjunction with our robust 4G network in Gujarat, VoLTE will enable customers to make the most of their mobile devices and experience advanced technologies.
Eleven-year-old scientist Gitanjali Rao recently won the Discovery Education 3m Young Scientist Challenge for a sensor she invented that detects lead levels in water. Rao appeared on the FOX Business Networks Varney & Co. to discuss her invention, telling Stuart Varney, My device is a lead-detecting tool which detects lead in water specifically, faster than the current techniques out there today. I developed my device in my school, STEM school Highlands Ranch. It uses a disposable cartridge, which can easily be attached and removed, and a core device.

Rao added that she was inspired by the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

I hadnt really thought about creating a device for this until I found my parents testing for lead in our water and then I realized that I needed to create a device not only to help my parents make the process faster, but for the residents of Flint and other places like Flint around the world.

When asked where she would like to go to college one day, Rao responded, I would like to go to MIT, I think it really matches my interest in technology.
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Oil and gas investors, hold your breath. Q3 2017 earnings in the energy sector are right around the corner, and one of the first companies to report is ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), the largest independent U.S. oil and gas exploration and production company.

Quarterly earnings releases are almost always going to have an impact on a company's stock, but this quarter could be make or break for Conoco's stock. Unlike many of its peers, including Apache Corporation (NYSE: APA), Conoco shares are up for the year, by 1.7%. That could change, though, if the company's earnings disappoint. Here's what to look for.

Profitability

ConocoPhillips surprised everyone in Q2 by posting a net profit, albeit a small one. Still, the company finally proved that it could be profitable in a $50-per-barrel oil price environment, and that cheered investors. Trouble is, oil price environments can shift.

Although Conoco was able to turn a profit at $50 a barrel, West Texas intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices were below $50 for most of the third quarter. However, Conoco has generally used Brent crude prices in its projections, and Brent crude spent most of the quarter above $50, the point at which Conoco claims it can earn a 30% profit margin.

It's even possible -- more on why later -- that Conoco has managed to push its breakeven price below $50 a barrel. If that happens, and if the company's fortunes are indeed more dependent on Brent crude prices than on WTI crude prices, it should turn a nice profit in Q3. If that happens, expect investors to reward the stock. But if the company posts another loss, it will signal that Conoco still has work to do to cut costs and adjust its operations. And I'll be listening for management's explanation for a miss, if it occurs.

The good news is that Conoco doesn't expect any changes to its production guidance from Hurricane Harvey.

Margin and mix

During the third quarter, Conoco completed several of its previously announced asset sales that were projected to have a positive impact on the company's margin. This will be investors' first chance to see if the sales were all they were cracked up to be from that standpoint.

In March, the company announced it was selling its low-margin Canadian oil sands business to Cenovus for $13.3 billion in cash and stock. It followed that up with the sale of its San Juan Basin assets for $3 billion in April. Finally, the company disposed of its Panhandle assets to an undisclosed buyer for $184 million.

The Canadian transaction closed in mid-May, the San Juan Basin sale happened at the end of July, and the small Panhandle asset sale didn't close until almost the end of the third quarter, on Sept. 29. So we'll have to wait until Q4 to get a full sense of how the asset sales will affect Conoco. But because the Canadian transaction -- the largest of the bunch -- was closed back in Q2, and the San Juan transaction was closed relatively early in the quarter, the company's Q3 results should give us a sense of where things are headed.They also might shed some light on how other companies that have sold off Canadian assets, like Apache, may be affected by their own asset sales.

In particular, I'll be looking at the company's production mix, which it projected would move from about 35% oil to 50% oil. Oil has a higher margin than natural gas, so this change should have a positive impact on the company's finances. If the company's predictions about its production mix have come to pass, and its margin has indeed improved, that will be a great sign that Conoco is on track to continued profitability.

The nitty-gritty

The last thing investors should watch is pretty straightforward: the balance sheet and earnings per share.

When the company announced its asset sales, management indicated that it intended to use the proceeds to reduce the company's debt load to below $20 billion and to buy back shares. With that in mind, I'll be looking carefully at Conoco's balance sheet to see whether -- and if so, how -- it's deployed the cash it received from its asset sales during the quarter.

We do know that the company spent $1 billion on share buybacks in Q2 and anticipated spending another $2 billion by the end of the year. That ought to boost earnings per share, but the exact amount will depend on how many shares the company repurchased during the quarter. Likewise, the company's long-term debt load will depend on how much debt reduction the company has chosen to undertake during the quarter.

Investor takeaway

ConocoPhillips is a much stronger company today than it was a year ago, thanks to its savvy asset sales. But concerns linger about its ability to succeed in an era of low oil prices. The company's reported post-asset-sale profitability, production mix, and balance sheet should tell investors a lot about whether the stock has a long-term upside, or whether it still has farther to go.

10 stocks we like better than ConocoPhillipsWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

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John Bromels owns shares of Apache. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY), an industry leader in gold mining, is expected to report its third-quarter earnings on Oct. 26. Interested as investors may be in the details, digging through a miner's earnings report can be overwhelming; it's easy to feel buried under the abundance of facts and figures. To make things a little easier, here are three things investors should focus on that I expect management to address.

More about Cerro Moro

Engaged in what it consistently characterizes as "an organic growth phase," Yamana is keenly focused on developing the Cerro Moro project in Argentina. As of the last quarter, construction of the mine had been both on schedule and within budget, so investors will want to confirm that this continued through the third quarter. Management expected mechanical completion of Cerro Moro to be completed in 2017 and commissioning by the end of Q1 2018. If successful, this would lead to a ramp up in the following quarter. For fiscal 2018, Cerro Moro was forecast to produce 80,000 ounces at all-in sustaining costs less than $600 per ounce of gold. We'll see if this guidance still holds.

Looking into the more distant future, management is committed to further exploring the area, with the aspiration, over the next four years, of adding 1 million gold equivalent ounces to the mine's mineral resources. If Yamana succeeds, this will extend the mine life beyond the original estimate of 10 years.

Keeping things in balance

Striving to strengthen its balance sheet, Yamana began 2016 with the goal of reducing its net debt by $300 million by the end of fiscal 2017. Halfway through its two-year plan, the company had appeared to be on track, reducing its net debt by $160 million. But the momentum with which Yamana left 2016 has not been carried into 2017.

Whereas the company's net debt was $1.5 billion at the end of 2016, at the end of the most recent quarter, it had risen to $1.58 billion. Management, however, contended that -- based on historical trends dating back to 2010 -- the second half of the year would be stronger than the first in terms of both gold production and cash flow.

If management is proven right, this may provide the company, with the opportunity to chip away at its net debt.

Is it time to say goodbye?

Yamana may be in an "organic growth phase," but that doesn't mean that the company intends to pursue development of every project in its pipeline. In fiscal 2016, for example, the company sold its Mercedes mine in an attempt to optimize its portfolio, and it used the proceeds from the sale -- $122.5 million in cash and $22.5 million in shares, warrants, and net smelter return royalties -- to shore up its balance sheet and reduce its debt.

Although the company hasn't announced the sale of any assets so far in fiscal 2017, investors should look for commentary from management that alludes to possible divestitures. For example, addressing the Agua Rica project, management states in the company's second-quarter report that, in addition to development of the project, it "is evaluating the selection of financial advisors to advise on potential strategic alternatives." Likewise, in reference to Suyai, located in Argentina, management noted that it "is considering the alternatives of a development plan and other strategic alternatives for the project."

Optimizing their portfolios by selling off assets is a common tactic for gold miners. For Yamana, however, investors must be especially wary. If the company elects to divest its undeveloped assets in order to reduce its debt, it may warrant a red flag since this is not a tenable strategy in the long term.

Investor takeaway

Whether Yamana meets analysts' earnings expectations of $0.03 per share or not, for me, is largely irrelevant. A fifth earnings miss in a row may make for catchy headlines, but the more salient issue is whether development of Cerro Moro remains on track and within budget, since execution of the project is germane to the company's near-term success. Investors, moreover, should confirm that the company reports stronger cash flow in the third quarter, as this would be of great assistance in achieving its debt-reduction target.

10 stocks we like better than Yamana GoldWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

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They're two of the oldest, largest, and most respected healthcare companies around. But one has made investors much happier than the other in recent years. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) stock is up more than twice as much as Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) stock over the past five years, and it's a similar story so far in 2017.

That's looking in the rearview mirror, though. Which of these healthcare stocks is the better choice for long-term investors now? Here's how Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer compare.

The case for Johnson & Johnson

Some investors might have been concerned about Johnson & Johnson's growth earlier this year. Even the company's main growth engine, its pharmaceutical segment, seemed to be only muddling along. However, J&J posted more encouraging numbers in the third quarter, with growth in all three of its business segments.

There were two primary keys to that growth: acquisitions and increasing sales for several top drugs. J&J's acquisition of Swiss drugmaker Actelion helped boost its pharmaceutical performance, while the purchase of Abbott Medical Optics drove its medical devices segment revenue higher. New approved indications for Imbruvica, Darzalex, and Stelara also helped sales for the drugs increase.

Wall Street analysts project that J&J will grow annual earnings by close to 7% over the next five years. How will the company achieve that growth? Probably in the same way J&J did it in the third quarter. The company has hinted that it's looking for acquisitions to fuel better growth in its consumer business. J&J also should be able to count on continued success for several of its drugs, although it faces competition for top-selling Remicade.

J&J also has great expectations for its pipeline, particularly with the addition of Actelion. Market research firm EvaluatePharma ranked the company's pipeline as the fifth best in the biopharmaceutical industry. The company awaits regulatory approval for prostate cancer drug apalutamide and anticipates at least 10 submissions for new drugs and vaccines by 2021.

Investors should also like J&J's dividend. The company has an impressive track record of 55 years of consecutive dividend increases. Its dividend currently yields 2.36%.

The case for Pfizer

We should probably start out focusing on Pfizer's dividend. The company's yield of 3.51% stands as one of the best among big pharma stocks. Although Pfizer can't claim an impressive streak of dividend hikes like J&J can, the drugmaker appears to be committed to growing its dividend in the future.

While Johnson & Johnson is potentially looking to make acquisitions to beef up its consumer business, Pfizer is evaluating the possibility of selling or spinning off its consumer business. If the company follows through, this would likely be great news for investors.

Wall Street thinks Pfizer will grow earnings by a little under 6% annually over the next five years. The company expects several current products to help fuel that growth, especially cancer drug Ibrance and anticoagulant Eliquis. A couple of drugs picked up in acquisitions should also be important in Pfizer hitting analysts' projections -- atopic dermatitis drug Eucrisa and prostate cancer drug Xtandi.

Pfizer has a strong pipeline, with 32 late-stage programs. The company also awaits several regulatory approvals, including potential new indications for Xeljanz in psoriatic arthritis and ulcerative colitis.

The weak link for Pfizer right now is its essential health business segment, which includes legacy drugs that have either lost exclusivity, or soon will do so. However, this segment also includes Pfizer's biosimilars. The company thinks its biosimilar business can be a major source of growth in the future.

Better buy

One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is valuation. Johnson & Johnson stock currently trades at 18 times expected earnings, while Pfizer has a forward earnings multiple of only 13. I think this big valuation gap is important. Pfizer's growth might lag behind J&J's a little over the next few years, but investors can buy that growth at a discount compared to what they'd pay for J&J.

Although it's a tough choice, I give the slight edge to Pfizer. My view is that Pfizer is the better bargain. I also think that Pfizer's total return, including reinvesting dividends, should outperform J&J over the next five years.

Both of these stocks, though, should be winners over the long run. My take is that investors won't go wrong buying either of them.

10 stocks we like better than PfizerWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Pfizer wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.

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Keith Speights owns shares of Pfizer. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Goldman Sachs is ramping up its private-equity investments and going after smaller, high-growth targets as part of a broad plan to offset recent trading declines, three people familiar with the effort told Reuters.

Goldman's investment bank, which typically focuses on advising large companies on mergers and raising capital, is now looking to use Goldman's own funds to finance a handful of small, promising companies in the near-term, the people said.

The team scouting for deals is led by senior investment banker Kathy Elsesser, who earlier this year took on the project in addition to her role as global chair of consumer, retail and healthcare investment banking.

The goal is to repeat Goldman's past success with early-stage investments in tech companies such as Uber Technologies Inc. The latest effort, however, would target industries outside of Silicon Valley, said the people, who declined to be named because the strategy they were discussing was not yet public.

It is one of several initiatives Goldman has launched to add $5 billion to annual revenue after a slump in bond trading. Among those are efforts to lend more, come up with creative deals to pitch to big clients, and convince more corporations and investors to trade with Goldman Sachs.

The private-equity plan may not be a slam dunk. Investments could be duds, especially because fierce competition has made it more difficult to produce strong returns from private equity. Bankers will also have to be careful not to anger Goldman's investor clients chasing the same deals.

Even a successful effort is unlikely to make up for the billions of dollars' of trading revenue Goldman has lost since 2009, analysts said.

"They've admitted there is a potential problem long-term with revenue growth so they need to do something about it," said Brian Kleinhanzl, a bank analyst with Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. "But it's rare for things to move the needle too much with Goldman."

Those involved with the strategy characterized it as one of many ways Goldman is trying to use its own capital to boost returns, even if it is on a small scale.

SMALLER COMMITMENTS

It is unclear how much capital Goldman will ultimately devote to the effort, but individual investments will be in the tens of millions of dollars, people familiar with the plan said. The capital will come from the investment bank's allocated balance sheet, they said.

Commitments will be much smaller than those made by Goldman's merchant banking arm or the private-equity funds it mostly manages for clients, where investments can top $800 million.

Goldman has been reducing its own investments in those funds due to the Volcker rule, which was implemented after the 2007-2009 financial crisis to prevent banks from making big market bets with their own capital. The rule limits commitments to private-equity funds, but not how much banks can invest directly in individual companies through loans or merchant banking-style equity deals.

Elsesser's new role showcases the growing importance of Goldman's investment bank, which is central to many of its new revenue initiatives.

Under the leadership of co-heads Gregg Lemkau, Marc Nachmann and John Waldron, the business has strengthened its presence in cities such as Atlanta and Dallas, hired more senior dealmakers from Wall Street rivals, created a new team to pitch innovative ideas to big clients, and invested in technology.

The new initiative aims to not only profit from investments in the startups, but to make it easier for Goldman to handle public offerings or sales down the line because bankers will already have relationships with management, the people said.

It could be difficult, however, for analysts and investors to track progress.

While the team works within Goldman's investment bank, any income generated from its equity stakes will flow into Investing & Lending, which is not a business but a reporting category that shows the results of Goldman Sachs employing its own capital.

Since the bank began reporting earnings that way, annual revenue from Investing & Lending has varied widely, from $2.1 billion to $7.5 billion.

Through the first nine months of this year, Goldman's Investing & Lending revenue has soared 90 percent. Private-equity gains helped the bank beat Wall Street third-quarter estimates even as trading revenue slumped.

Some analysts are more optimistic about Goldman's private-equity push than other initiatives, such as consumer lending or corporate hedging, where it has little to no experience.

"Part of Goldman's core business is its ability to take equity stakes in companies they're working with," said Marty Mosby, an analyst with Vining Sparks. "It may create more volatile outcomes, but ultimately it's more within their competency than other businesses they're trying to get into."

(Reporting by Olivia Oran in New York; Editing by Lauren Tara LaCapra and Tomasz Janowski)
Dr. Ivo Aaron Miller was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons earlier this week. He is the only oral and maxillofacial surgeon in the area to receive this honor officials said.The letters FACS (Fellow, American College of Surgeons) after a surgeon's name mean that the surgeon's education and training, professional qualifications, surgical competence and ethical conduct have passed a rigorous evaluation and have been found to be consistent with the high standards established and demanded by the College.Dr.Miller is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at the Center for Oral and Facial Surgery. He practices at their Chattanooga and Cleveland offices. He is a native of Cleveland.Dr. Miller is board certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and is a fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He is also a diplomate of the National Dental Board of Anesthesiology, and a fellow of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology."Dr. Miller possesses a full scope of surgical skills that include significant experience in dentoalveolar surgery, implants, outpatient anesthesia, orthognathic surgery, maxillofacial trauma/reconstruction, maxillofacial cosmetic surgery and maxillofacial pathology/oncology," officials said.
Most Americans say President Donald Trump's tax plan would benefit the wealthy and corporations, and less than half believe his message that "massive tax cuts" would help middle-class workers, according to an Associated Press-NORC poll.

The survey could serve as a warning sign for Trump as he pushes Republicans to support his proposal. The president and GOP lawmakers are seeking a major legislative victory before the 2018 elections.

For all the differences of opinion over the details of tax changes, the poll shows a large and bipartisan appetite for tax cuts for middle-class families. Majorities of both Republicans and Democrats think the middle class and small businesses pay too much and that the wealthy and large corporations pay too little.

But doubts and partisan differences emerge when Americans size up whether the middle class will truly benefit from Trump's plan, says the survey conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Just 43 percent of those of adults who have heard at least a little bit about the plan think it would help the middle class. And on that, there's a large partisan divide: 79 percent of Republicans and 19 percent of Democrats share that sentiment.

"The more we give tax breaks to the wealthy, we've gone down that road before in the Bush regime," said Democrat Benjamin Orris, a 36-year-old educator from Evanston, Illinois. "That brought us into the Great Recession  almost back to the Great Depression."

Darron Smith, a 49-year-old Trump voter from West Des Moines, Iowa, said the tax plan would help him as a single parent. He predicted lower taxes would lead to more consumer spending.

As for the warnings from Democrats, Smith said he remembered hearing the same arguments during President Ronald Reagan's tenure.

"Any time Republicans want to do a tax cut, the first thing Democrats say is it's going to help the rich. I don't see it that way," Smith said.

Trump has held weekly events since late August on his tax overhaul, arguing the United States must slash the corporate rate to remain competitive and shrink the number of tax brackets. The Trump administration has suggested cutting corporate rates and overhauling the tax system could provide a $4,000 annual pay raise to the average family. Democrats and other critics question whether lower corporate rates and other changes would result in that kind of increase for families.

Trump and Republicans on Capitol Hill also want to repeal inheritance taxes on multimillion-dollar estates.

"Our plan can be summarized in three simple words: jobs, jobs, jobs," Trump said in the Oval Office on Tuesday.

But the AP-NORC poll shows a negative undercurrent surrounding the plan, and majorities in both parties view the proposal as a boon for the rich and corporate interests.

The poll found 69 percent of adults who have heard at least a little bit about the plan think it would help large corporations. The sentiment was bipartisan, including 70 percent of Democrats and 69 percent of Republicans.

Also, 60 percent said the tax push would bolster the wealthy, with 67 percent of Democrats and 54 percent of Republicans viewing it that way.

"I have no confidence in his tax plan," said Democrat Nancy Bauhs, a 70-year-old retired sweater designer from New Holstein, Wisconsin.

Fifty-four percent of those questioned, including 58 percent of Republicans and 52 percent of Democrats, think they personally pay too much in taxes.

The survey found that 56 percent said they think middle-class households pay too much, while 56 percent say the same about small businesses. By contrast, 72 percent say the wealthy and large corporations pay too little in taxes.

The administration has been actively trying to sell the plan. House Republicans are expected to consider a budget measure this week that would serve as a precursor to the tax overhaul, and administration officials have promoted the plan at events around the country.

Vice President Mike Pence, in a Tuesday speech to the GOP-leaning American Enterprise Institute, noted that Trump "doesn't like talking about tax reform, he likes talking about tax cuts because he wants the American people to know we are cutting taxes for every American."

"And when we cut taxes on businesses, it's going to benefit working Americans. So I encourage you to go make that case," Pence said.

Large majorities of Americans think tax cuts for small businesses, middle-income people and lower income people would help the economy. But the poll shows people taking the opposite view for the wealthy and corporations.

The poll found 51 percent think tax cuts for the wealthy would hurt the economy compared with 23 percent who thought it would help. Also, 48 percent said tax cuts for large corporations would hurt the economy compared with 31 percent who think they would help.

Two-thirds of Democrats think tax cuts for the wealthy would hurt the economy. Among Republicans, about one-third said tax cuts benefiting the wealthy would help the economy, one-third said they would hurt and the final third think they would make no difference.

There's greater disagreement on the impact of cuts for large corporations: Democrats are more likely to think they would hurt rather than help the economy (59 percent to 20 percent) while Republicans are more likely to think they would help than hurt (49 percent to 30 percent).

The AP-NORC poll of 1,054 adults was conducted Oct. 12-16 using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points.

Respondents were first selected randomly using address-based sampling methods, and later interviewed online or by phone.

___

Online:

AP-NORC Center: http://www.apnorc.org

__

On Twitter follow Ken Thomas at https://twitter.com/KThomasDC and Emily Swanson at https://twitter.com/EL_Swan
The House Financial Services committee on Wednesday held an additional hearing on the Equifax (NYSE:EFX) data breach, which affected the personal information of more than 145 million Americans, but not one representative from any of the three major credit reporting bureaus accepted the invitation to appear before lawmakers.

I find that appalling that they are ignoring a request to come before this committee, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) said.

Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), who hails from the state where Equifax is headquartered, went further, calling it a disappointment and an insult that no representatives bothered to appear.

How  can [we] even begin to fix this problem if these boneheaded executives and current CEO will refuse to come before Congress and to answer questions? How can they expect to get a seat at the table? How can we respond to the American people? he asked, before adding that Congress should ask for a subpoena to get their lazy asses  [to] respond to the American people.

Meanwhile, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) likened Equifaxs perceived avoidance of responsibility to Enron executives who pled the fifth before Congress.

More than one of the witnesses present at the House testimony on Wednesday said consumers will always have to worry about their security forever if their birth dates and Social Security numbers were compromised in this hack.

We will all be looking over our shoulders for the rest of our lives, Ms. Chi Chi Wu, a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, said.

Equifax said hackers accessed files on its consumer complaint database between mid-May and July of 2017. The company was made aware of the breach on July 29 and on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 three top executives sold nearly $2 million worth of company stock. The breach was disclosed to the public on Sept. 7.

Congress also discussed penalties, and one witness indicated financial consequences may be the only way to get the companys attention.

A way to get the attention of a company like Equifax is to  require them to internalize the costs of this breach that they seem so eager to externalize onto the American public, Ms. Sara Cable, director of Data Privacy and Security at the Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office said.
A University of Notre Dame graduate is donating $100 million to the university, in the largest unrestricted philanthropic gift the school has ever received.

Notre Dame's president, the Rev. John I. Jenkins, said in a statement Tuesday that he's grateful for the "bold, innovative gift" from aviation entrepreneur Kenn Ricci and his wife, Pamela.

The gift's unrestricted status means school leaders can use the money however they choose.

The South Bend Tribune reports that Ricci is a 1978 Notre Dame graduate who serves on the school's board of trustees.

Ricci, of Cleveland, Ohio, is the principal of Directional Aviation Capital, which operates private aviation companies.

The Riccis will begin fulfilling their commitment through lifetime gifts, followed eventually by proceeds from the sale of assets held in a limited partnership.

___

Information from: South Bend Tribune, http://www.southbendtribune.com
Low expectations weren't enough for Chipotle (NYSE: CMG) to over deliver when it reported its third-quarter results on Tuesday. The company still somehow managed to fall short of expectations. Revenue, earnings per share, and comparable restaurant sales were all below analyst estimates. Chipotle even moderated its plans for new stores and lowered its guidance for full-year comparable restaurant sales.

Investors weren't happy with the news. The stock came tumbling lower, losing 9% in after-hours trading on Tuesday after the fast-casual restaurant chain reported its third-quarter results.

Here's a look at the different ways Chipotle missed the mark in its third quarter.

Revenue and adjusted EPS were below estimates

For its third quarter, Chipotle reported revenue of $1.13 billion and earnings per share of $0.69. Adjusting Chipotle's earnings per share to account for estimated charges related to a data security incident and the impact of hurricanes Harvey and Irma, earnings per share was $1.46.

These results are up from revenue and EPS of $1 billion and $0.27 in the year-ago quarter, highlighting the company's rebound from food safety scares a year ago. But revenue is still lower than the $1.2 billion of revenue the company reported in the third-quarter of 2015 -- before Chipotle's E. coli issues. In addition, Chipotle's earnings per share are still drastically lower than they were two years ago. In Chipotle's third quarter of 2015, quarterly EPS was $4.59.

Making matters worse, Chipotle's third-quarter revenue and adjusted EPS also missed analysts' consensus estimate. On average, analysts expected Chipotle to report adjusted third-quarter EPS of $1.64 on revenue of about $1.14 billion.

Comparable restaurant sales were disappointing

If there's one area Chipotle was likely to beat expectations, it was comparable restaurant sales. On average, analysts expected comparable restaurant sales to rise just 1.1%. But Chipotle's comparable restaurant sales were up just 1%, even with a 1.1% benefit from comparing against revenue in the year-ago quarter that was negatively impacted by a one-time revenue deferral of outstanding loyalty program rewards.

But Chipotle's comparable restaurant sales trends look even worse when investors look to the company's guidance for the key metric. In its second quarter, management had forecasted for comparable restaurant sales for the full year of 2017 to increase by a rate in the high single digits, likely meaning anywhere between about 6% and 9.5%. But with only one calendar quarter left in the year, management is more conservative. In Chipotle's third quarter, management said it expected full-year comparable restaurant sales to increase 6.5%, or at the lower end of management's previously guided range.

Chipotle pulled back on its growth plans

Chipotle's guidance for its restaurant openings was also disappointing. Management said it now expects new restaurant openings to be slightly below the low end of its previous forecast for 195 to 210 new restaurants.

On a similar note, Chipotle's guidance for full-year 2018 restaurant openings was significantly below previous years. The company said it plans to open just 130 to 150 new restaurants next year, representing growth of about 6% over the company's nearly 2,400 restaurants today.

Apparently, Chipotle's launch of its queso toward the end of the quarter wasn't enough to provide the restaurant chain with a surprise boost. Even worse, Chipotle's moderated outlook for store openings -- and its soft guidance for store openings next year -- suggests the company's growth ambitions may get put on the back burner as operations in existing stores and public relations initiatives require more attention from management than expected.

10 stocks we like better than Chipotle Mexican GrillWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

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Daniel Sparks has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Short-sellers who had targeted Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc logged a nearly quarter billion dollar paper profit on Wednesday, a day after the burrito chain reported weaker-than-expected sales that sent its shares into a swoon.

Chipotle shares were down 14.8 percent to $276.23, near a five-year low, and on track for their biggest daily percentage loss in half a decade.

The sharp drop in the shares made for a paper profit of $242 million for short sellers, according to financial analytics firm S3 Partners.

Short-sellers aim to profit by selling borrowed shares with the hope of buying them back later at a lower price.

Chipotle short-sellers are now up $334 million for the year, S3 Partners estimates.

Chipotle has been struggling to recover from a bruising string of food safety lapses that started in late 2015, including a recent norovirus outbreak at a Virginia restaurant. The company on Tuesday said it will open fewer restaurants to get "fundamentals right" and posted lower-than-expected quarterly sales and earnings.

The overall short interest in Chipotle is at about $1.76 billion. It rose $238 million, or 16 percent, in October ahead of Tuesday's earnings release, according to S3 Partners data.

With nearly 20 percent of the company's outstanding shares sold short, Chipotle is the most-shorted stock in the U.S. restaurant sector, followed by Starbucks Corp, McDonald's Corp, Domino's Pizza and Darden Restaurants, according to S3 data.

On Wednesday, shorting activity was muted, as traders appeared in no rush to close out their bearish bets.

"The rule is to let your profits run and cut your losses," said Ihor Dusaniwsky, head of research at S3 Partners in New York.

"I can't see these shorts covering. This is what they have been hoping for," he said.

At least nine brokerages cut their price targets on Wednesday.

Trading in Chipotle's options also leaned towards bearish bets, with volume jumping to 62,000 contracts, or more than twice its daily average, according to options analytics firm Trade Alert.

To be sure, the heightened short interest in the stock might give pause to other market participants looking to add to bearish bets on the stock.

"Once the short position gets to about 20 percent and you have so many other people shorting the stock too, it just puts you in a really weak position," said Brad Lamensdorf, co-manager of the AdvisorShares Ranger Equity Bear ETF, which had a short position in Chipotle shares until last year. (Reporting by Saqib Iqbal Ahmed and Tanya Agrawal in Bengaluru; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli)
President Donald Trump and Republicans were at odds on Wednesday over changing the 401(k) retirement program to help finance tax cuts, with the president insisting the middle-class favorite will remain untouched and lawmakers open to revisions.

Rep. Kevin Brady, the chairman of the House's tax-writing panel, wouldn't rule out changes to the program used by 55 million U.S. workers who hold some $5 trillion in their 401(k) accounts, a system that has become a touchstone of retirement security for the middle class.

Earlier this week, Trump promised the program would be left alone, and appeared to bolster that pledge Wednesday, saying he moved swiftly to end speculation that the tax-deferred program may be changed because it's vital for working Americans.

But he went on to muddy the waters, when asked about Brady's statements hours earlier.

"Maybe it is, and maybe we'll use that as negotiating," Trump said during an impromptu news conference as he left the White House for a trip to Texas. "But trust me ... there are certain elements of deals you don't want to negotiate with ... and Kevin knows it, and I think Kevin Brady is fantastic, but he knows how important 401(k)s are."

Brady, head of the House Ways and Means Committee, said earlier Wednesday he's discussing the issue with Trump, who had shot down the possibility of changes on Monday.

And a senior Republican senator signaled he'd vote for a tax bill even if it crimped 401(k) tax benefits.

The nearly $6 trillion GOP plan calls for steep tax cuts for corporations and promised reductions for middle-income taxpayers, a doubling of the standard deduction used by most Americans, shrinking the number of tax brackets from seven to three or four, and the repeal of inheritance taxes on multimillion-dollar estates. The child tax credit would be increased and the tax system would be simplified.

Crucial details of the plan have yet to be worked out.

An Associated Press-NORC poll released Wednesday found most Americans saying Trump's tax plan would benefit the wealthy and corporations, and less than half believing his message that "massive tax cuts" would help middle-class workers.

With Republican leaders battling to show themselves as true standard bearers for the middle class, eyeing next year's midterm elections that are deemed essential to retaining their majority, the 401(k) issue has become a flashpoint. GOP lawmakers have been considering changes to the 401(k) structure, such as limiting the amount of tax-deferred contributions employees can make, as a way to help finance tax cuts.

Asked whether the retirement savings program was still a possible target, Brady said, "We're working very closely with the president."

"We think, in tax reform, we can create incentives for Americans to save more and save sooner, which can help them," Brady told reporters at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast. "So we are exploring a number of ideas in those areas. ... We are continuing discussions with the president, all focused on saving more, saving sooner."

Brady's counterpart in the Senate, Republican Orrin Hatch of Utah, also indicated that possible changes to 401(k)s remain on the table. "I'm open to looking at anything," he said.

Another senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, went further. He indicated he'd vote for a tax bill that reduced 401(k) tax benefits if the overall legislation brought the needed tax overhaul and cuts. "We've got to have tax reform, and I can't fall on the sword for one issue," Grassley told Iowa reporters on a call.

Rep. Richard Neal, the senior Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee, said of the Republicans, "Right now, even as we speak, they appear to be going wobbly on some of the issues they've raised with great certainty in previous weeks."

The Republicans are straining to find new revenue sources to pay for anticipated tax cuts exceeding $1 trillion.

While keeping open the possibility of changing 401(k)s, Brady also said he continues to seek a compromise with rebellious GOP lawmakers from high-tax states over the tax plan's proposed elimination of the federal deduction for state and local taxes.

"I do expect to reach an agreement with our high-tax (state) lawmakers," Brady said. "We're making good progress."

One compromise being considered would cap the state-local deduction at a single taxpayer's adjusted gross income of $400,000 and $800,000 for a married couple.

The deduction is a widely popular break used by some 44 million Americans, especially in high-tax, Democratic-leaning states like New York, New Jersey, Illinois and California.
What happened

Shares of Tokyo-based social-media service LINE Corp. (NYSE: LN) soared on Wednesday, rising as high as 16.3% above Tuesday's closing prices before backing down to a 12.5% gain at the closing bell. The company reported third-quarter results in the early morning, showing solid revenue growth.

So what

In the third quarter, LINE's top-line sales increased 18% year over year to land near $374 million. Earnings per diluted share and American depositary receipt stopped at $0.07, down from $0.11 in the year-ago period. Thanks to a strong posting in the second quarter, LINE's year-to-date earnings more than doubled year over year.

Now what

In a prepared statement, LINE's management said there's an end in sight to economic and regulatory pressures in key markets such as Taiwan, Japan, and Indonesia. That's good news for LINE, because optimistic consumers buy more smartphones and that's where the company's messaging apps collect their revenues. LINE is exploring new revenue streams these days, including a mobile-game development operation and a small indoor theme park in Taiwan.

LINE shares have performed a strong bounce from February's trough. In turn, that was a correction from an overheated IPO in the summer of 2016. I don't know where this stock is going next, but I have a good idea of who LINE's management wants to be when the company grows up.

10 stocks we like better than LINE CorporationWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and LINE Corporation wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.

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*Stock Advisor returns as of October 9, 2017

Anders Bylund has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Hillary Clintonas campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) reportedly helped fund research to smear then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.

According to the Washington Post, Marc E. Elias, an attorney representing the Clinton campaign and the DNC, retained the Washington firm Fusion GPS to conduct opposition research that resulted in the infamous and controversial Trump dossier. The dossier contained allegations that the Russian government had collected compromising information about Trump and that the Kremlin was engaged in an active effort to assist his presidential campaign.

Sebastian Gorka, former Deputy Assistant to President Trump, said the report is further evidence that allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia were "fabricated by the left."

"This is what happened to the so-called Russian 'collusion delusion.' It was invented, it was fabricated by the left to explain the disaster that was Hillary Clintonas campaign, and now it has come back to blast a hole through the hall of the DNC,a he said in an interview Tuesday on FOX Business' "Lou Dobbs Tonight."

Meanwhile, the House Intelligence Committee announced today itas joining the House Oversight Committee in investigating why the Obama administration approved the sale of Uranium One to Russia, giving Moscow control of 20% of U.S. uranium supply, despite a federal investigation that revealed Russian kickbacks and extortion.

aOne of the things you know we are concerned about is whether or not there was an FBI investigation, was there a DOJ investigation and if so, why was Congress not informed of this matter,a House Intel Committee Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) told reporters.

Florida Congressman Ron DeSantis (R) called on the Department of Justice to immediately lift a gag order on the FBI informant who helped uncover the bribery schemes by Russian officials.

aWe do have a witness who is a confidential informant who wants to talk about his role in this and we are in contact with the Justice Department to release him from a non-disclosure agreement,a DeSantis told reporters.

Sources tell Fox News Chief White House Correspondent John Roberts that the gag order could be lifted soon.

CIRCA investigative reporter Sara Carter said she had the opportunity to meet the informant who she says wants to talk about the time he spent as a confidential informant for the FBI while the agency was investigating a bribery scheme by Russian officials.

aThis is incredible news because at this point in time thereas never been an actual eye witness into the Uranium One deal,a she told FOX Businessa Lou Dobbs.

In an interview with FOX Businessa Lou Dobbs, Victoria Toensing, the attorney representing the FBI informant, said the impact of her clientas knowledge of the Russiansa ability to use the Clintonsa position of power is significant.

aHe can tell what all the Russians were talking about during the time that all these bribery payments were made,a Toensing said Monday on aLou Dobbs Tonight.a

Carter said Attorney General Jeff Sessions is very much involved, and the DOJ will have to work with the FBI due to the highly classified material discovered in the investigation.

aI donat want to make any assumptions that heas not going to follow through. I want to sit back and wait, see what happens tomorrow, what develops tomorrow as far as lifting that non-disclosure agreement,a she said.
As Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) made his stunning announcement on Tuesday that he will be retiring from the Senate, Jay Heiler, a Treasurer of the Arizona Board of Regents, made it clear that heas leaning toward running for the soon-to-be-vacant congressional seat and that he recently spoke with former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon about jumping into the 2018 midterm election battle.

Heiler told FOX Business in an interview that Flakeas resignation has asped upa his timeline on when he will make his announcement and that heas likely to run for the seat that fellow Republican Dr. Kelli Ward is pursuing. aIt would be fair to say that Iave been leaning toward running all along,a Heiler said.

Heiler also said that he spoke with Bannon last week as he got set to endorse Ward, who up until Tuesday was Flakeas main Republican challenger. But Heiler suggested that the conservative firebrand and executive chairman of Breitbart News may have been hesitant to initially support Ward.

aHe said that he did not intend that day to endorse Kelli Ward but he did intend to attend her event. He did not use those words (endorse) based on the coverage Iave seen and the whole video of those remarks. However, as I told him that day, the attendance that day was billed as his endorsement,a Heiler said.

When asked if Bannon could support him instead of Ward, Heiler said, aI understand completely where Mr. Bannon is coming from, but it appears if I run for the Senate, he will be aligned with Kelli Ward.a

A spokesman for Bannon did not return calls for comment.

Even if thatas the case, Heileras contempt for establishment Republicans could signal a perfect alternative candidate for Bannon if he were to get into the race and move ahead of Ward in the polls.

aWe had a very pleasant conversation, and we agreed about many things, including the general public disdain for the present American political class that we both perceive and both share in,a Heiler said.

Heas already looking to reach out to potential campaign donors, including his friend and conservative mega-donor Foster Friess, who told FOX Business on Friday that he will not be supporting Bannonas candidates that are against GOP leadership.

When told that Heiler is hoping to make him a contributor to his campaign if he announces his candidacy, Friess said in an email, aNo surprise Brian, I am on everyoneas donor list.a

Heiler has experience working in government. In 1992, he was the chief of staff for Arizona Gov. Fife Symington, who was forced to resign in 1997 following a conviction on charges of extortion and bank fraud. The conviction was later overturned.

His life outside of the political sphere is a mix of different paths. He co-founded the Great Hearts Academies in 2004, a K-12 charter school that operates 28 campuses across Arizona and Texas. In 2011, Gov. Jan Brewer announced that Heiler would be joining the Arizona Board of Regents, the governing body of Arizonaas public university system.

Ward was elected in 2012 to serve in the Arizona State Senate and ran unopposed for the same post in 2014. She tried to take on Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in the 2016 Republican primary and was eventually defeated. She made controversial remarks in July when she said she believed McCain should step down following the news that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer.

"I hope that Senator McCain is going to look long and hard at this, that his family and his advisers are going to look at this, and they're going to advise him to step away as quickly as possible," she said then. "So that the business of the country and the business of Arizona being represented at the federal level can move forward."

For Bannon, Flakeas demise in the Senate was a victory for him and his anti-establishment political movement. A close ally of Bannonas told FOX Business on the condition of anonymity, aIt was proof weave got them on the run. Weare all encouraged and energized by it.a

Bannon has continuously taken on Flake and others within the Republican Senate leadership since he left the White House, including when he endorsed Ward in Scottsdale, Arizona.

aItas an open revolt, and it should be,a Bannon said before introducing the former state senator. aThese people hold you in total contempt a They think youare a group of morons.a He went on to inform the Arizonans that Jeff Flake aprobably in his gut a doesnat like you,a and that the GOP establishment wanted them to ashut up.a More recently at the Values Voter Summit, he declared a aseason of wara against GOP leadership.

Tensions between Flake and President Donald Trump have also been brewing since the start of the new congress and continued through Tuesday when the lawmaker from Arizona took on the president during his address on the Senate floor.

aMr. President, I rise today to say, enough,a he said. aWe must dedicate ourselves to making sure that the anomalous never becomes the normal. a We have fooled ourselves for long enough that a pivot to governing is right around the corner, a return to civility and stability right behind it. We know better than that. By now, we all know better than that.a
Russia, Russia, Russia ... For months it was all we heard about. The left couldn't get enough of it. They really wanted you to believe that Hillary Clinton lost and Donald Trump won because of Russian meddling.

My how times change! Now its Russia and the Clinton connection. Of course the media refuses to cover and investigate, but there is yet another Clinton scandal hereDevon Nunes, R-Calif., chair of the House Intelligence Committee, is investigating the following:

A Russian backed company wanted to take control of a big chunk of Americas uranium business. They give millions to the Clinton Foundation. Bill Clinton got a half million dollars for a speech in Moscow and met with Vladimir Putin and bingoshortly thereafter, Hillarys State Department gives the okay for the Russians to buy our uranium. Is this pay to play? Baloney," says Hillary.

Wait ... there's more on the Russia-Clinton connection. The Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee paid for the Russian "dossier" ... They bought, they funded, they instigated, a so-called "report" on Donald Trump. Of course it was full of salacious and totally unproven dirt. Back then, the Clinton people denied any knowledge, and took great offense at the suggestion they knew anything about it.

Two points: First, Democrats may regret their Russia, Russia, Russia campaign. Former President Jimmy Carter says the Russians had little, if any, impact on the election. And now the Russia investigation has veered off course to bring in the Clintons.

And second, the Democrats will surely regret the continuing presence of Hillary Clinton. She lost. She's mired in scandal, again. And she won't go away.

A few months ago, it was trump and the republicans getting unwanted attention. Now its Hillary, Bill and the Democrats.

Things change fast.
Whitfield County Fire Station 11 should be up and running in Cohutta by mid-2018, according to Fire Chief Ed OBrien.

A group of Whitfield County and Town of Cohutta leaders gathered Monday afternoon for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new station, which is being constructed at 5268 Cohutta/Varnell Road with Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds.

We are so excited about this fire station, Commission Chairman Lynn Laughter told the large group that gathered for the ceremony, and I appreciate Chief OBrien and his staff that had so much input into it.

The 7,800-square-foot facility, budgeted at about $1.5 million, will feature three bays for trucks, along with living quarters for up to six firefighters, bathrooms, offices, and a room for turnout gear. Once in operation, the station, like the other 10 in the county, will have two firefighters on duty 24 hours a day. Cohuttas volunteer fire department will also continue to help answer calls.

Cohutta Mayor Ron Shinnick expressed his appreciation to the county for its help in making the fire station a reality.

To get these kinds of things done in small municipalities, it really takes a partnership and understanding each others needs and how we can work together to make things like this happen, Shinnick said, because the bottom line for me is that we want to help our citizens and provide the best service possible to them. This is really answering the need for all our citizens in this end of the county.

I think this is remarkable, the mayor continued, that with this project at about $1 million and the sewer project which is just up the road and is going to be coming right in front of the new fire station, were looking at a total of about a $2.1 or $2.2 million investment in the infrastructure of the Town of Cohutta.

That investment is expected to pay off nicely for local property owners. Currently, Cohutta has an ISO fire rating of 9 or 10 for property owners, but OBrien says that rating should plummet to a 3 next year, resulting in much lower homeowners insurance premiums for Cohutta.

Were glad the Board of Commissioners gave us the opportunity to do the SPLOST, OBrien said. Thats where this money is coming from  not our individual property taxpayers, its from anyone who comes into Whitfield County and spends money at our local businesses. That gives us the tax revenue to build this station. Its actually a win-win for the community.

The chief expressed thanks to Cohutta for donating the 2-acre site for the station, helping to lower the cost of construction.

Also on hand for the cereremony were commissioners Harold Brooker, Roger Crossen, Greg Jones, and Barry Robbins, Cohutta council members Sandy Claybourne, Greg Fowler, and Shelia Rose, and Dalton-based architect Ken Harless and contractor Allan Felker.

This is great  we get a chance to design a station in our own hometown, Harless said. Weve designed a lot of fire stations, and no two of them are alike. Weve worked with Chief OBrien and his staff, and Ill tell you that every time we sat down, it was budget, budget, budget and low-maintenance, low-maintenance, low-maintenance. So we took what I think is a great, great design working with these guys. Its going to be extremely functional, going to look real nice. Its not a Taj Mahal  the moneys gone into function.
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's foreign minister defended the country's ties with North Korea and Iran during talks on Wednesday with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson aimed at building robust relations between the two giant democracies.

The Trump administration has launched a new U.S. effort to deepen military and economic ties with India as a way to balance China's assertive posture across Asia.

At the talks with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, both sides pledged to strengthen anti-terrorism cooperation and Tillerson said Washington stood ready to provide India with advanced military technology.

"The United States supports India's emergence as a leading power and will continue to contribute to Indian capabilities to provide security throughout the region," Tillerson told a joint news conference with Swaraj.

But the talks also touched on India's diplomatic ties with North Korea, Swaraj said, at a time when the United States has stepped up efforts to isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs.

Swaraj said she told the top U.S. diplomat that some level of diplomatic presence was necessary to keep open channels of communication.

"As far as the question of embassy goes, our embassy there is very small, but there is in fact an embassy," she said.

"I told Secretary Tillerson that some of their friendly countries should maintain embassies there so that some channels of communication are kept open."

India and North Korea maintain diplomatic offices in each other's capitals, though New Delhi recently banned trade of most goods with the country, except food and medicine. Trade was minimal, Swaraj said.

The focus on North Korea comes as U.S. President Donald Trump heads to China next month, where he is expected to urge President Xi Jinping to make good on his commitments to try to rein in North Korea.

Tillerson, who flew in from Pakistan which he called an important U.S. ally in the restive region, also held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is driving closer ties with the United States.

But India, a former leading light of the Non-Aligned Movement and which was on the opposite side of the United States during the Cold War, still remains wary of any alliances with major powers lest it affect its autonomy.

TIES TO IRAN

India has also maintained ties with Iran which is being targeted by the Trump administration for its alleged military support of extremist groups in the Middle East and for its ballistic missile programme.

India has long sourced its oil from Iran, but in recent years the two sides have been also collaborating on key infrastructure projects.

New Delhi is pushing hard for the development of Chabahar port on the Iranian coast as a hub for its trade links to the resource-rich countries of central Asia and Afghanistan but the Trump administration's tough stance has raised new concerns over the future of that project.

But Tillerson struck a conciliatory stance on India's ties with Iran, saying it wouldn't come in the way of countries doing legitimate business there.

"It is not our objective to harm the Iranian people nor is it our objective to interfere with legitimate business activities that are going on with other businesses, whether they be from Europe, India or agreements that are in place or promote economic development and activity to the benefit of our friends and allies," he said.

America's disagreements were with the Iranian regime, and in particular the Iran Revolutionary Guard, he said.

India is especially keen on the Chabahar port as a way to bypass long-time foe Pakistan which does not allow easy trade and transit arrangements to Afghanistan and beyond.

PAKISTAN

Tillerson said the U.S. stood should-to-shoulder with India in the fight against terrorism which New Delhi has long said is centered in militant groups operating from inside Pakistan.

He said militant groups were a threat to everyone in the region, including Pakistan itself.

"Quite frankly my view - and I expressed this to the leadership of Pakistan - is we also are concerned about the stability and security of Pakistan's government as well."

The United States has been urging Pakistan to act against the groups that operate in Afghanistan, India and inside Pakistan itself. "Terrorist safe havens will not be tolerated," Tillerson said.

Pakistan says it is doing all it can to fight the militants.

(Additional reporting by Aditi Shah; Writing by Sanjeev Miglani and Krishna N. Das; Editing by Nick Macfie and Clarence Fernandez)
Moscow-based Kaspersky Labs would not pass the smell test for a government contract today, witnesses indicated in testimony before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on Wednesday.

If its meant to protect information of a sensitive national security type, I would think that [Kaspersky Labs] would not pass the sniff test [today for a government contract], Sean Kanuck, director of Future Conflict and Cyber Security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said.

Rep. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) said on Wednesday that he was embarrassed that the U.S. government appears to have had knowledge about risks associated with Kaspersky Lab products for three years before taking action to mitigate those dangers.

On Wednesday morning, Kaspersky Labs chief Eugene Kaspersky admitted to accessing classified digital surveillance tools from a U.S. government computer in 2014 and sending it to servers in Moscow. Kaspersky said the companys analysts were tracking a powerful group of hackers and were triggered by an alert on a computer an NSA employee took home. The information, he said, was promptly deleted and not sent to any third parties.

But lawmakers questioned why Kaspersky sent the classified information back to Russia and deleted it, without ever alerting U.S. authorities, who eventually allegedly found out from Israel.

There are so many aspects of this issue that are so disturbing that I cant even get my hands around it, Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) said Wednesday. To me from a legal aspect ... I would have a legal responsibility at that point to notify the authorities look, our software came across this information and you may need to go look at this employee. I also have issue with them just reading the documents that come across as well.

Last month, the Department of Homeland Security issued a binding operational directive to all federal agencies and departments to remove Kaspersky Lab software due to concerns over potential national security risks. The U.S. government is concerned about the companys ties to the Russian government and spies within the country.

One of the witnesses said Wednesday that the governments decision to issue an immediate edict was alarming, adding that the issue is not just Kaspersky, but also other possible intruders as well.

Kanuck said the nature of Kasperskys software, as a complete network monitoring solution, allows visibility into all of their client networks, providing them with a wide open front door. He added that telecommunication and monitoring laws in Russia, along with willful interest in an adversarial context and the access posed by Kaspersky Labs is a potent combination.
The fate of one of the most controversial and in some places cherished perks in the U.S. tax codethe deduction for state and local taxes  could be decided as early as tonight as GOP lawmakers meet to hash out a plan that might still preserve the deduction, the FOX Business Network has learned.

As previously reported the deduction has been targeted by the Trump administration for elimination in its broader tax reform efforts. But GOP lawmakers from high-tax states are vowing to deal a potentially lethal blow to tax reform if the deduction isn't preserved in some way.

To avert that, House leaders will conduct a meeting, scheduled for 9 p.m. Wednesday, which could result in a compromise on the deduction.

One option would preserve the tax break for most Americans, but could force some higher-income earners to no longer benefit from the perk, congressional aides and lawmakers tell FOX Business.

The meeting will be attended by about two dozen Republican representatives, mainly from New York, New Jersey and California, House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-Iowa), House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas).

The possible compromise on the deduction comes as the House prepares to produce a tax reform bill as early as next week that would cut taxes on individuals and business, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The state and local tax deduction (SALT) affects about 30% of all taxpayers, mainly in states such as New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Virginia and Pennsylvania that impose significant state income taxes. The GOP Congress is dominated by lawmakers from southern and western states that dont impose such levies. They have argued for ditching the SALT deduction from the tax code on the grounds that it unfairly benefits taxpayers from just a handful of states and deprives the federal government of trillions in revenue.

Indeed, the Trump administration has called on the elimination of the SALT deduction that would produce close to $1.3 trillion in revenues over 10 years and help pay for his plan to slash taxes for individuals and take the corporate tax rate down from its current level of 35% to 20%.

But lawmakers from these high-tax states argue that the federal government receives a disproportionate share of tax revenues from states like New York and California, where a large percentage of wealthy people reside, thus the tax break provides some degree of fairness in the governments revenue collection efforts.

Making the matter even more contentious as the Republican controlled Congress and the Trump administration move toward the politically vital tax reform bill: close to 60 Republican members come from those states that have benefited from the SALT deduction and could vote against the tax reform if the tax break isnt preserved in some way.

Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.)  a staunch supporter of keeping the SALT deductiontold FOX Business that he should expect a solution at tonights meeting that could allow for some type of compromise that would maintain the perk more most taxpayers. But he added if the full deduction is eliminated, passage of the budget resolution and tax reform could be a problem."

The response has continually been yes, we are going to work this out but there was nothing specific, other than we are going to work it out, MacArthur said, Im told we can expect something more specific tonight.

MacArthur said a group of lawmakers from these high-tax states met Tuesday night to debate how to include at least part of the deduction, which allows taxpayers to deduct state and local property taxes, state and local income taxes or general sales taxes.

One [solution] is to allow a full deductibility of property taxes, MacArthur said. Another is to allow deductibility on income taxes and sales taxes but only up to a certain income level. Im concerned with another proposal that may use tax credits versus deductions and apply it more broadly across the entire country.

The idea of cutting back the SALT deduction for those who hit a certain income level has gained momentum in recent weeks, including the idea that those making more than $300,000 could lose the loophole entirely, those same sources say.

I know there are ongoing talks with members representing states such as New York, New Jersey and California who are particularly sensitive to the local and property tax deductions and they are looking for a compromise, said Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) a ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

When asked if his committee is looking at capping the state and local tax deduction, Roskam said All of those ideas have been discussed within my circles.

A spokesman for Scalise did not deny that leadership was on the verge of cutting a deal with concerned Republicans. When asked if they are going to propose a compromise at Wednesdays meeting, the spokesman, Chris Bond, said The dialogue is ongoing, and both the committee and leadership are working with members from these states to address their concerns. We will keep you up to speed on that process as it plays out.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a memorandum creating a new drone integration pilot program, in an effort to incorporate the growing use of unmanned aircraft into national airspace.

With Trumps signature, the Department of Transportation (DOT) will enter into agreements with state, local, tribal governments and private companies to build innovation zones to test the operations of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Governments and businesses looking to partake in the program would have to be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Part of the reason for the creation of the program stems from the administrations push to improve Americas infrastructureparticularly the nations airspace, including air traffic control reformsomething the Trump administration has prioritized, dating back to the presidents time on the campaign trail, as well as the growing use of unmanned aircraft in the U.S.

Senior administration officials said over one million UAS owners have registered with the FAA, and commercial UAS are projected to increase fivefold by 2021.

Testing of currently-restricted drone operations by governments and companies would be permissible under the program, including flights over people and beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights. This initiative also aims to make it easier to deliver medicines, commercial packages and inspect important American infrastructure.

Speaking at the Drone Focus Conference in North Dakota in May, U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao explained why the administration was concentrating on advancing drone operations in the skies over America.

The integration of drones into our national airspace will be the biggest technological challenge to aviation since the beginning of the Jet Age  Our job is to prepare the way for this new technology, so it can be deployed safely and usher in a new era aviation service, accessibility and ingenuity, she said.

Administration officials expect the program to benefit the American workforce, including the creation of tens of thousands of new jobs.

The first pilot programs will begin within a year of Wednesdays signature, according to senior administration officials.
WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said on Wednesday the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress will not attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare again this year but should try again in 2018.

"I think that is something we should do next year," Ryan said in an interview with Reuters.

The House passed its version of Republican healthcare legislation but the Senate failed in July and September to approve its own legislation despite seven years of Republican promises to dismantle Democratic former President Barack Obama's signature legislative achievement. Getting rid of Obamacare was a top campaign promise last year by President Donald Trump.

(Reporting by David Morgan, Doina Chiacu and Makini Brice; Writing Susan Heavey; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Will Dunham)
The U.S. Treasury and Saudi Arabia are teaming up to take on terrorist funding, Steven Mnuchin told FOX Business on Wednesday.

Were here to open the terrorist financing targeting center, which is something we signed when the president was here. It is one of my single most priorities as you know to fight terrorist financing and we are thrilled to be here in Saudi. I looked at the three buildings today, theyre ready to be opened, and we are launching the center here with Saudi co-chairing it with us, Mnuchin told Maria Bartiromo on Mornings with Maria.

The U.S Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (TFTC) on Wednesday imposed new sanctions targeting leaders, financiers and facilitators of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and on al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

This is a multi-country approach so for the first time, we will have multi-countries here in the gulf doing sanctions with us, and as you know we think this is very effective. It is the reason Iran came to the table to negotiate. These sanctions work, and they are a terrific economic tool to combat terrorism, he said.

These are the first actions taken by the TFTC since President Trumps visit to the region in May.
Eminem may so far be resisting calls for him to run for a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, but politics has already netted the rapper nearly half a million dollars.

A New Zealand court has ordered the nation's main conservative political party to pay Eminems publisher $415,000 plus interest for breaching copyright by using a song too similar to Eminem's Lose Yourself in its campaign ads.

The National Party used the song "Eminem Esque" 186 times during its successful 2014 election campaign before pulling the ad off the air.

Publisher Eight Mile Style sued, saying the track ripped off the rapper's acclaimed 2002 hit.

Judge Helen Cull ruled the difference between the songs was minimal and "Eminem Esque" reproduced the essence of the Eminem original.

The case could have implications for other organizations that use so-called "sound-alike" tracks sold by commercial operators.

Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, drew attention earlier this month for criticizing President Donald Trump in a pre-recorded video shown at the BET Hip Hop Awards.

The rapper referred to Trump as a racist 94-year-old grandpa, and also criticized the presidents feud with the NFL.

The rant sparked speculation that Eminem might face off in a U.S. Senate run against Kid Rock, the rocker  also from Michigan -- who has expressed more pro-Trump views.

Neither recording star has officially announced any plans to seek elected office.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Matt Damon is coming out strong against Harvey Weinstein, just one day after admitting he had some prior knowledge of what was going on behind closed doors with the now disgraced Hollywood mogul and the women in his orbit.

Speaking to NBCs The Today Show, the star was joined by his Suburbicon co-star, Julianne Moore. He explained that he feels Weinstein should face justice from the law for the repeated sexual harassment and assault allegations lobbied against him.

The NYPD, LAPD and London police all announced recently that they were investigating crimes having to do with Weinstein.

Moore accompanied Damon in the interview and reminded everyone that the discussion, at this point, is one of criminal behavior.

Hes got to face justice, Damon continued. Hes got to face what hes done.

Damons harsh statements come just a day after revealing to ABC News that he previously knew about his colleague Gwyneth Paltrow from his friend, Ben Affleck, who says he heard it from the actress directly.

So people say, everybody knew, like, yeah I knew, he said on Monday. I knew he was an a--hole, he was proud of that. Thats how he carried himself. I knew he was a womanizer. I wouldnt want to be married to the guy. But the criminal sexual predation is not something that I ever thought was going on. Absolutely not.

This is the second time that Damon has had to walk back absolute statements about his relationship with Weinstein. Previously, he was accused of helping Weinstein kill a New York Times story that was critical of him and revealed his harassment. That story never went to print, and Damon explained to Deadline that he was never made aware that the article he was calling about had anything to do with harassment.
Fats Domino, who sang such hits as "Ain't That A Shame" and "Blueberry Hill," died Tuesday, the coroner's office said. He was 89.

Domino stood 5-feet-5 and weighed more than 200 pounds, with a wide, boyish smile and a haircut as flat as an album cover.

He sold more than 110 million records, and his 22 million-selling singles helped change popular music even as he honored the grand, good-humored tradition of New Orleans.

Harry Connick Jr. and other celebrities mourned the loss on social media.

Connick Jr. wrote, "you helped pave the way for new orleans piano players... see you on top of that blueberry hill in the sky."

He was one of the first 10 honorees named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Rolling Stone Record Guide likened him to founding father Benjamin Franklin.

His dynamic performance style and warm vocals drew crowds for five decades. One of his show-stopping stunts was playing the piano while standing, throwing his body against it with the beat of the music and bumping the grand piano across the stage.

Domino's 1956 version of "Blueberry Hill" was selected for the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry of historic sound recordings worthy of preservation. The preservation board noted that Domino insisted on performing the song despite his producer's doubts, adding that Domino's "New Orleans roots are evident in the Creole inflected cadences that add richness and depth to the performance."

Domino became a global star but stayed true to his hometown, where his fate was initially unknown after Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005. It turned out that he and his family were rescued by boat from his home, where he lost three pianos and dozens of gold and platinum records, along with other memorabilia.

Many wondered if he would ever return to the stage. Scheduled to perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2006, he simply tipped his hat to thousands of cheering fans.

But in May 2007, he was back, performing at Tipitina's music club in New Orleans. Fans cheered  and some cried  as Domino played "I'm Walkin'," ''Ain't It a Shame," ''Shake, Rattle and Roll," ''Blueberry Hill" and a host of other hits.

That performance was a highlight during several rough years. After losing their home and almost all their belongings to the floods, his wife of more than 50 years, Rosemary, died in April 2008.

Domino moved to the New Orleans suburb of Harvey after the storm but would often visit his publishing house, an extension of his old home in the Lower 9th Ward, inspiring many with his determination to stay in the city he loved.

The son of a violin player, Antoine Domino Jr. was born on Feb. 26, 1928, to a family that grew to include nine children. As a youth, he taught himself popular piano styles  ragtime, blues and boogie-woogie  after his cousin left an old upright in the house. Fats Waller and Albert Ammons were early influences.

He quit school at age 14, and worked days in a factory while playing and singing in local juke joints at night. In 1949, Domino was playing at the Hideaway Club for $3 a week when he was signed by Imperial record company.

He recorded his first song, "The Fat Man," in the back of a tiny French Quarter recording studio.

"They call me the Fat Man, because I weigh 200 pounds," he sang. "All the girls, they love me, 'cause I know my way around."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Michael Moore said Flint's water problem would be solved already if the troubled city was in a state like New York and not in Michigan.

The Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker expressed his frustration at the New York premiere for "Flint," a Lifetime movie about the water crisis. It stars Queen Latifah, Betsy Brandt and Marin Ireland as Flint residents who fought for justice after finding out their water supply was laden with lead. Moore isn't involved in the film but came out to support it because it's about his hometown.

Before the screening, Moore expressed disappointment with the ongoing water problem and spoke of the historical significance of his hometown.

"This country wouldn't have a middle class if it wasn't for Flint, Michigan. It's where the strikes began that formed the UAW (United Auto Workers), which formed the middle class. Our grandfathers and great-grandparents, you know, didn't have anything. And because of Flint, it allowed working people to earn a decent wage and have a life," Moore said.

He added: "The fact that this city would end up now at the beginning of the 21st Century being poisoned by the very system it helped to create, and a certain political party allowed this to happen, is just criminal."

The problems in Flint began in 2014 when the water source changed from Lake Huron to the Flint River. Because of insufficient treatment of the water coming from the river, residents were exposed to dangerously high levels of lead.

Water quality has greatly improved, according to experts, although residents still are urged to filter their water or use bottled water if they're uneasy.

Separately, water lines serving 18,000 homes are being replaced, under a lawsuit settlement that was negotiated by Flint, the state of Michigan and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The deadline to finish the job is January 2020. The cost could be as high as $97 million.

Moore questions why it's not been done already.

"What's the holdup? What is the holdup? I just can't help but think if this was 100,000 people in Westchester County (New York) or outside of (Washington) D.C. in Virginia somewhere that this would (not) still be going on," Moore said.

"Flint" premieres on Lifetime on Saturday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Paul Walkers daughter has reached an agreement with German luxury car maker Porsche.

Meadow Walker, 18, settled the wrongful death suit with Porsche on Oct. 16, The Blast reported. The suit was settled privately and both parties asked the case to be dismissed.

The Fast and Furious actor died at age 40 in Nov. 2013 in a car crash. His friend, Roger Rodas, 38, was driving Porsche Carrera GT in Santa Clarita, Calif., when the car crashed into a lamp post, catching fire. The two men were killed.

FAST AND FURIOUS 9 CO-STAR CALLS OUT DWAYNE THE ROCK JOHNSON OVER RELEASE DATE

The lawsuit, which was filed against the carmaker in 2015, claimed the vehicle did not have the proper safety features installed correctly in the car.

The lawsuit also alleged the actor was alive after the crash but could not get out of the car due to his seatbelt, court documents stated. Meadows lawyers said the car had a history of instability and control issues and the car manufacturer failed to install its electronic stability control system, People reported.

The details of the agreement were not released.

EMINEM SONG WAS RIPPED OFF BY POLITICAL PARTY, COURT RULES

Meadow was given $10.1 million from Rodas estate after a settlement in April 2015 was reached.

Walker left his entire $25 million estate to his daughter.
Seafood restaurants often have a habit of placing giant fish tanks inside their dining rooms, but a new restaurant in Scandinavia is putting its dining room inside a giant fish tank (of sorts).

A restaurant called Under, which is slated to open near the Norwegian village of Baly, will become Europes first underwater restaurant upon opening in the North Atlantic Ocean in 2018. Situated on the countrys southern coast, the structure that houses the restaurant will straddle both the land and the sea  the entrance being at the waters edge, and the dining area installed on the ocean floor.

OAKLAND A'S PLAYER SAYS PRO-TRUMP WAITER REFUSED TO SERVE HIM

More than an aquarium, the structure will become a part of its marine environment, coming to rest directly on the sea bed five meters below the water's surface, writes Snhetta, the architecture firm designing the restaurant.

The restaurant itself will be comprised of three levels, according to Snhetta. The first is more or less a lobby, or wardrobe area. A Champagne bar is located one level down, decorated with subdued colors evocative of shells, rocks and sand. Dining tables are located on the lowest level, which also boasts muted lighting, a blue-and-green color scheme and a panoramic window overlooking the aquatic life on the seabed.

The restaurant floor can accommodate between 80 and 100 diners.

14 CLASSIC AMERICAN DRIVE-INS THAT ARE STILL IN OPERATION

In order to withstand the waves of the North Atlantic Sea, Unders concrete walls will be 1 meter thick, according to Snhetta. The exterior of the structure, which somewhat resembles a large shipping container, will also feature a coarse surface that invites mussels to cling on, and ultimately serve as an artificial reef, they write.

In addition, the designers of Under are hoping to impart a learning experience on diners, with informational plaques positioned along a pathway to the restaurants entrance. Snhetta further claims the structure will also function as a "research center for marine life, though they do not elaborate.

Despite being Europes first underwater restaurant, Under is by no means the first underwater eatery in the world. Similar underwater dining experiences are currently available for patrons in the Maldives, Dubai and Israel.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Snhetta currently lists Unders construction status as ongoing, though the Independent reports that the restaurant will officially open in Feb. 2018.
When it comes to stocking up on the kitchen essentials, more is always butter than less.

But in France, a serious shortage of the dairy product is causing chaos in supermarkets, restaurants and cafes alike, inspiring people to make a quick buck on the goods online.

Dubbing the shortage the worst since the Second World War," the Le Figaro newspaper reported that the sight of supermarket shelves empty of butter is becoming increasingly common.

DESSERT HUMMUS IS NOW A THING AND IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY HEALTHY

In response, one cheeky citizen took to Le Bon Coin, a Craigslist-type classified website, to post an ad for a small slice of baguette slathered in butter  known as a tartine  in an attempt capitalize on the demand.

Tartine for sale covered in real half-salted (demi-sel) Breton butter, bought just a week ago. I stress that the tartine has been toasted, however I waited for it to cool before applying the butter, the seller wrote in a post that has since gone viral, The Local reports.

He also priced the item at 5 euro, or just under $6.

RIKERS INMATES REWARDED WITH DOMINO'S PIZZA WHEN THEY PLAY NICE

While the seller later told France Radio that the ad was a joke simply meant to poke fun at the ongoing butter crisis, the dairy disaster is no laughing matter.

According to The Local, the trouble began in 2015 when the European Union abolished its system of milk quotas, ultimately leading to a decline in production that coincided with a rising demand for buttery baked goods from Europe across Asia and the Middle East.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Though demand remains high, French bakeries struggle to fill orders, many bakers refuse to compromise on the integrity of their butter-centric pastries.

"We cannot change the recipe. That would be unprofessional," Paris bakery manager Jose Pires told Agence France-Presse.
Here in the U.S., where food is certified and regulated, you dont expect to come away from a restaurant with an intestinal parasite.

However, just because these infections dont run rampant does not mean that they dont happen. In fact, several types of intestinal parasites might just be gaining ground in Western countries.

A Sushi Problem

One type of intestinal parasite that may be increasing is often found in sushi. The fact that more cases are occurring in developed areas doesnt mean that more fish are infected. Instead, it reflects peoples increased interest in eating raw fish as a meal.

In one case published in the journal BMJ Case Reports, a healthy man from Portugal made a trip to his doctor after more than a week of severe stomach pain. He was also experiencing vomiting and a low-grade fever.

CARPENTER DIES AFTER CONTRACTING FLESH-EATING BACTERIA INFECTION WHILE FIXING HARVEY-DAMAGED HOMES

Upon careful evaluation, the doctors discovered that the man had recently eaten sushi. Suspecting a parasite, the doctor performed an endoscopy where he viewed the mans digestive tract through a tiny tube with a camera.

Sure enough, the parasite anisakiasis had attached itself to the lining of the mans stomach. His symptoms disappeared immediately once the parasite and its larvae were removed.

Most of the cases were described in Japan due to food habits; however, it has been increasingly recognized in Western countries, the study's authors noted.

With this increased interest in raw food, especially sushi, people should stay aware of safety habits. Experts recommend eating sushi only at high grade restaurants where workers are sure to have taken important precautions.

A Summer of Cyclospora

Normally, health experts encourage you to eat plenty of fresh produce, but in the case of cyclosporiasis, fresh produce is likely the culprit.

This intestinal illness happens when a person gets infected by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. Thankfully, you cant spread Cyclospora from person to person, but it does spread through contaminated food or water.

The most common symptom to watch for is watery diarrhea that lasts for several weeks. It may also be the cause of cases with prolonged, intermittent diarrhea.

THE DANGERS OF STREP THROAT

As for the source, not all fresh produce will have this parasite. Infection happens more often in tropical regions; so most U.S. outbreaks are actually related to imported produce such as basil and raspberries.

In addition, reported cases usually increase in the summer months, possibly due to the higher demand of tropical produce. According to the CDC, reported cases of cyclosporiasis more than doubled this year: 206 cases in 2017 versus 88 cases in 2016.

This increase shows that more food and water sources are being contaminated. The CDC recommends avoiding anything that was possibly contaminated by feces. Also, food growers and producers should follow the guides offered by the FDA to ensure proper growing, storage and processing procedures.

The Silent Offender

Last, another offending parasite that has caused problems in Western countries is the tapeworm. Different species of the tapeworm can be found in meats like beef or pork, and one species can cause a dangerous infection called cysticercosis.

In the case of cysticercosis, a person becomes infected by swallowing tapeworm eggs from the Taenia solium species. The larvae then infect various tissues, forming cysts in areas like the brain or muscle. This infection is dangerous because it can lead to harmful swelling and seizures.

Many cases of tapeworm infection go unnoticed and unreported due to mild or nonexistent symptoms. Although the CDC estimates about 1000 cases in the U.S. each year, the actual number may be much higher or lower.

How are most people infected? Although people can get a tapeworm infection through dogs, this route of infection is not very common. Rather, most people become infected by eating raw or undercooked beef or pork.

TREATING FIRST-DEGREE BURNS

Typically, Americans have a higher risk if they live in a concentrated or poor community, especially if the sanitation is poor. Areas with more animals have a greater risk as well.

In addition, people may get the parasite through contact with an infected person who has not practiced good hygiene or by travelling out of the country.

Protecting Yourself from Parasites

Although different types of intestinal parasites infect humans through different routes, you can protect yourself through a few general practices:

Cook all meat to the appropriate temperatures recommended by the FDA.

Eat only at restaurants with a grade A, especially sushi restaurants.

Practice good hygiene: regular hand-washing, bathing, proper cycling of worn clothing.

Wash and peel all raw fruits and vegetables.

When travelling abroad, only drink bottled or boiled water and stay aware of any food safety concerns at your destinations.

Generally, intestinal parasites arent as common in developed countries as in poorer areas. However, people in the US do get these infections, and many may be unaware of this problem.

Through awareness of food safety practices and proper hygiene, you can protect yourself from many types of intestinal parasites and keep your tummy healthy and happy.

This article first appeared on AskDrManny.com.
At least a dozen people in New York City contracted Legionnaires disease, prompting city officials to launch an investigation into the community cluster to contain it before it becomes a deadly outbreak.

Five people remain hospitalized and seven others were released after being treated for the disease, the New York City Health Department announced on Tuesday. The cases were reported in the last two weeks in Flushing, Queens, and the patients ages ranged between early 30s to late 80s. Health officials are investigating two more cases to determine if it was part of the current cluster. There have been no deaths reported.

LISTERIA RISK PROMPTS MEIJER TO RECALL PRODUCE IN 6 STATES

Health officials have taken water samples from several cooling tower systems in the area where the cases were reported to test for Legionella, the bacteria that causes the potentially fatal disease.

As with our previous Legionnaires disease investigations, we are in the process of investigating the source of the cluster and are working with building owners in the area to rapidly test and clean cooling towers, Dr. Mary T. Bassett, city health commissioner, said in a statement.

NYC MAN DIES OF LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE, 1 OTHER SICKENED

Officials urged residents experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, chills and muscle aches to seek a doctor immediately.

A community cluster of Legionnaires disease turned fatal in June when one person died and six others were sickened by the bacteria on Manhattans Upper East Side. Another Queens resident died in September after contracting the disease.
FLOTUS headed to Michigan with Betsy DeVos, U.S. Secretary of Education, as part of the White Houses Week of Inclusion.

The week, which coincides with National Bullying Prevention Month, is aimed at making sure people feel valued and respected. As part of that effort, Melania Trump visited with 7th and 8th grade students at the Orchard Lake Middle School.

MELANIA TRUMP SLAMMED FOR WEARING SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT

While the fashion model turned First Lady was bringing awareness to No One Eats Alone  a concept seeking to reverse social isolation children may experience while at lunch  she was seen rocking a light pink $2,950 Valentino wool peacoat, similar to a coat she wore during her inauguration dresss Smithsonian induction ceremony.

While she was decidedly dressed down for the occasion, pictures from the day show Trump having a good time smiling with the youngsters and posing for selfies.

During her time there, Trump encouraged the children to find a new friend and eat with your new friend, the Detroit Free Press reports. The First Lady also suggested the middle schoolers mingle with the opposite sex.

I see tables only girls and tables only boys. Maybe you can get together and become friends. Agree?

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

As she concluded her tour, she also met with the Michigan State Police and posed for a picture where she can be seen brightly in the middle with her cherry blossom coat.

The First Lady has spoken out against bullying while sporting something pink before, but received a much different response.
Kate Middleton is a fashion icon and regularly steals the show for her outfit choices, but there is one thing she never wears  colored nail polish.

For her public duties, the Duchess of Cambridge is always pictured with au naturel nails, and there is strict reason for this.

According to OK! magazine, colored nail varnish and fake nails are not part of the royal etiquette, and are typically considered to be vulgar."

On the rare occasion that her nails do have a slick of polish on them, she opts for a nude shade, similar to the Queens personal favorite.

Queen Elizabeth is said to have worn Essie's Nail Lacquer in Ballet Slippers since 1989.

According to the brand's website, Queen Elizabeth's hairdresser wrote to the brand's owner, nail polish-mogul Essie Weingarten, asking for a bottle of the light pink polish as she didn't want to wear any other.

The only time Kate has deviated from the Ballet Slippers shade was her wedding day to Prince William.

On the big day, her manicurist Marina Sandoval revealed her nails were a custom mix of Bourjois So Laque Nail Enamel in Rose Lounge and Essie Nail Polish in Allure.

Its not just the Duchess and the Queen who have been seen abiding by the nude nail varnish dress code.

Prince Harrys girlfriend Meghan Markle was seen with natural nail shades during her first public appearance at the Invictus Games.

This article originally appeared on The Sun
Theres an old proverb that warns better to be slapped with the truth than kissed with a lie. That cautionary tale is at work with the realization that female genital mutilation landed on American shores and is growing throughout the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that more than 513,000 women and girls are at risk of FGM in the U.S. Although this hideous practice has been outlawed under federal law since 1996, the first federal prosecution of a Michigan female doctor who is charged with performing this barbaric procedure on little girls is taking place right now in Detroit.

The linguistic lies are already underway by the defense team and FGM supporters. This brutal procedure performed on young girls from the ages 5 to12, known as clitoridectomy, consists of partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or its prepucethe least drastic of four types of FGMfor purposes of ensuring purity and the inability to enjoy sexual pleasure throughout her adult life. The defense lawyer of Dr. Jamana Nagarwala, the doctor charged in Michigan, has described the procedure as benign and merely removing a mucous membrane. Sounds inconsequential and genteel, but its certainly not.

Former United Nations consultant Fuambai Ahmadu appeared recently on Tucker Carlson Tonight and downplayed the procedure as a mere nick of the clitoris and equated it to nothing more than female circumcision. See how cleverly the egalitarian language of the Left is used to obscure the brutality of this procedure?

These linguistic terms for the horrific mutilation of girls genitals demonstrate the verbal jujitsu employed to mask the brutal and barbaric physical assault on an unsuspecting, innocent little girls. Be prepared for more.

These linguistic terms for the horrific mutilation of girls genitals demonstrate the verbal jujitsu employed to mask the brutal and barbaric physical assault on an unsuspecting, innocent little girls. Be prepared for more.

The ugly truth of this ancient religious and cultural practice must be brought to light by those who examine these victims, as well as the FGM victims themselves. One of the foremost heroic advocates against FGM is Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the prominent international human rights advocate who underwent this procedure as a little girl in Somali. Ms. Hirsi powerfully and passionately describes FGM as a sexual assault upon her innocent body. She forcefully counteracts the silence and equivocation of FGM advocates by stating that the aim of FGM in all its forms is to control female sexuality. The clitoris is removed to take physical pleasure from sex and reduce the libido.

Conversely, Ms. Ahmadu of the UN also claimed on Fox that the indicted Michigan doctor, who is accused of mutilating two young girls, only performed a nick on the girls and that the victims werent actually mutilated. Only a nick?

The forensic doctors who examined Dr. Nagarwalas 7-year-old victims provided preliminary findings to the FBI which found that one girls genitals are not normal in appearance. Her labia minor has been altered or removed, and her clitoral hood is also abnormal in appearance and observed some scar tissue and small healing lacerations. The second child told the forensic doctor that she could barely walk and that she felt pain all the way down to her ankle. The examining doctor made preliminary findings that the second girls clitoral hood has a small incision, and there is a small tear in her labia minora. Hardly just an inconsequential nick.

As an attorney in the child welfare system where every imaginable child abuse injury crossed my desk, the genital mutilation and physical abuse inflicted on Dr. Nagarwalas victims would be evidence that the defendant engaged in torture and sexual penetration with a foreign object under most state child welfare laws. Torture is not a mere nicking.

Beware of the minimizing, renaming and rationalizing of FGM to disguise the heinousness of female genital mutilation. The Michigan defense team will employ every tactic to normalize and obscure the reality of this brutality. Be prepared for a campaign to rename the procedure so mutilation disappears from its name.

FGM defenders, like Fuambai Ahmadu, downplay the horrific procedure as a mere nicks and demand a linguistic renaming FGM as inclusive gender surgeries or gender inclusive genital surgeries. Incredibly, she attempts to elevate FGM as a human right, by insisting, in our culture, we dont discriminate, we have gender-egalitarian surgeries. We do not discriminate.

Shakespeare observed that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Despite attempts to rename female genital mutilation, do not be fooled or misled. Mutilation is, by any other name, barbaric child abuse.
You may have heard of the scandal brewing in Washington. Presidential advisers cutting sweetheart deals with a foreign power, signing million dollar lobbying contracts with that foreign power, bribes being proffered, and the foreign government gained unprecedented access to government agencies and crucial U.S. natural resources? And what if I told you that foreign power was Russia?

Collusion you say? Perhaps. Collusion with Trump? Nope.

Im talking about a news story that fittingly is coming back from the dead just before Halloween to scare a lot of Democrats, Bill and Hillary Clinton and Obama administration officials. If you want to take a deeper dive on this issue, read the book "Clinton Cash," by Peter Schweizer, president of the Government Accountability Institute. But here are the basics.

A decade ago, a long-time Clinton Foundation donor, Frank Giustra, sold his uranium company to another firm, Uranium One. With that deal, Uranium One now owned uranium mines in the western U.S., including Wyoming, with about 20 percent of U.S. uranium production capacity, and about ten percent of the actual uranium mined in the U.S.

In 2009, Rosatom, Russias nuclear agency, took a 17-percent position in Uranium One. A year later, in the summer of 2010, Rosatom bought majority control of the Uranium One, effectively giving the Russian government-controlled entity proprietary access to one-fifth of the U.S. uranium supply.

Consider this: Russia got its generous foothold in the U.S. uranium market in less time than it takes most 16-year-olds to get a drivers license.

All of this was taking place after years of what could best be categorized as challenging times in U.S.-Russia relations, as Russia attempted to annex Georgia, intimidated Ukraine and threatened the former-captive nations of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia with short-range nuclear weapons. In short, Russia was doing nothing that would indicate it was a country unwilling to build and potentially use nuclear weapons; the signs of aggression were everywhere.

Now there is a process that the U.S. government uses to ensure that any business deal that may include significant national security issues is given serious, in-depth and careful review and approval. That review is run through the Treasury Departments Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CIFIUS), which includes representatives from Homeland Security, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Justice, and State, as well as the U.S. trade representative and director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and National Security Council. In addition, the director of national intelligence also has input to the review.

CIFIUS and Congressional reviews killed deals like the Rosatom purchase before. In 2006 it helped kill the deal by a Dubai owned company to buy U.S. ports, in part because of the national security risks it presented, and it killed multiple deals with Chinese companies as well in 2009 and 2010. Yet, between the first week of August 2010 and October 22, 2010, the Obama Administration in expedited time approved the sale of crucial national security resources to Russia by rubber stamping the sale of Uranium One to Rosatom. In 2015, Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, noted the expedited time of the deal's approval in a letter to then Attorney General Loretta Lynch, calling it a deal that was "apparently approved in record speed."

According to most law firms that deal in such matters, CIFIUS reviews involving sensitive national security matters can take up to 120 days. The Rosatom deal took fewer than 90 days. More outrageous: it appears there were no Congressional oversight hearings. Even more outrageous  and puzzling  members of the CIFIUS review board were aware of attempts by Russian government efforts to bribe U.S.-based executives in the U.S. uranium industry at the time this deal was being approved.

This wasnt simply your typical Clinton back room deal. This was a deal that was reviewed by virtually every senior Obama administration official, many of whom were aware of the Clinton connection, the FBI bribery investigation, and Rosatoms history.

On October 5th of 2010, Republicans in Congress demanded that the Obama Administration review the Rosatom deal more closely, citing a host of national security issues. For example, one rationale cited by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for approving the deal was that Rosatom did not have an export license to sell or ship the U.S. uranium overseas. But as the Congressional letter noted, Russias government-controlled nuclear companies had been sanctioned numerous times for breaking uranium import-export deals, particularly to the countries they aid in building nuclear capacity, such as Iran (yes, Rosatom helped build the Iranian Bushere nuclear plant and trained Iranian nuclear scientists). To paraphrase a pop culture reference Vladamir Putin would appreciate: An export license? Russia doesnt need a stinkin export license!

Consider this: Russia got its generous foothold in the U.S. uranium market in less time than it takes most 16-year-olds to get a drivers license. Russia got its deal moved through the Obama Administration faster than it took the Obama Administration Department of Justices Anti-Trust Division to approve any of the mergers of two U.S. companies it reviewed.

How is that possible? Clearly there were motivated folks to get the deal done. One of those was clearly Hillary Clinton, whose family foundation raked in millions from donors with ties to Russia, as well as the uranium industry. Some media outlets have pointed out that the total take for the foundation may have been as little as $4 million. But for a cash-starved foundation that cant even afford to give back $250,000 from serial sex-offender Harvey Weinstein, $4 million is a decent cash reserve.

But lets be clear, this wasnt simply your typical Clinton back room deal. This was a deal that was reviewed by virtually every senior Obama administration official, many of whom were aware of the Clinton connection, the FBI bribery investigation, and Rosatoms history. And let's not forget either: controlling the global supply chain is the very obvious goal of Putin's. To make matters worse, President Barack Obama reviewed the case.

Why would such a deal go through? Sometimes the easiest explanation is the right one: maybe it was nothing more than a payback to Democrat and Clinton donors. When nothing makes sense in Washington D.C., just follow the money.

While this scandal's original focus was on Uranium One and the Clinton Foundation, it goes far deeper into a Democratic administration than anyone within the party wants to admit. Which is perhaps why President Obama seemed less than excited about pushing the Trump-Russia collusion narrative. Perhaps in a rare moment of self-recollection and awareness, he realized that eventually the breadth of this story would end up exactly where we are today, with all eyes looking at Obama's appointees, wondering why they sold Americas national security for the uranium-market equivalent of 30 pieces of silver.
We've fought in Afghanistan for 16 years now. Are we making progress?

After 9/11, we invaded, overthrew the Taliban, killed Osama Bin Laden and -- stayed. Afghanistan is now America's longest war, ever.

President Trump's solution? He'll send several thousand more soldiers.

Erik Prince says he has a better idea -- fight terrorists with only 2,000 American Special Operations personnel, plus "a contractor force" of 6,000.

Prince is the founder of Blackwater, the private military contractor.

The military uses contractors to provide security, deliver mail, rescue soldiers and more. Private contractors often do jobs well, for much less than the government would spend.

"We did a helicopter resupply mission," Prince told me. "We showed up with two helicopters and eight people -- the Navy was doing it with 35 people."

I asked, "Why would the Navy use 35 people?"

Prince answered, "The admiral that says, 'I need 35 people to do that mission,' didn't pay for them. When you get a free good, you use a lot more of it."

Prince also claims the military is slow to adjust. In Afghanistan, it's "using equipment designed to fight the Soviet Union, (not ideal) for finding enemies living in caves or operating from a pickup truck."

I suggested that the government eventually adjusts.

"No, they do not," answered Prince. "In 16 years of warfare, the army never adjusted how they do deployments -- never made them smaller and more nimble. You could actually do all the counter-insurgency missions over Afghanistan with propeller-driven aircraft."

So far, Trump has ignored Prince's advice. I assume he, like many people, is skeptical of military contractors. The word "mercenary" has a bad reputation.

But private contractors have fought for America since America began. Jamestown, Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies all hired private security. During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress authorized "privateers" -- privately owned boats -- to fight British ships.

Before America officially entered World War II, some American pilots made money privately fighting the Japanese. Those "Flying Tigers" were called heroes. John Wayne made a movie about them.

"Markets have a way of providing things when government can't," says Prince.

But contracting is no panacea. The Congressional Budget Office says that although they save the government money during times of peace, during war "costs of a private security contract are comparable with those of a U.S. military unit."

Economist Tyler Cowen points out that private contractors may make the real pain of war less apparent. In Iraq, says Cowen, "use of contractors may have helped to make an ill-advised venture possible."

And in Iraq, Prince's employees killed civilians. Four Blackwater employees were eventually convicted of voluntary manslaughter.

Prince replied, "The guys did more than a hundred thousand missions, protective missions, in dangerous war zones. In less than one half of 1 percent of all those missions did the guys ever discharge a firearm."

Government has its own record of mistakes, civilian deaths and war crimes, too.

In 2010, Prince sold his security firm and moved on to other projects.

He persuaded the United Arab Emirates to fund a private anti-pirate force in Somalia. The U.N. called that a "brazen violation" of its arms embargo, but Prince went ahead anyway.

His mercenaries attacked pirates whenever they came near shore. His private army, plus merchant ships finally arming themselves, largely ended piracy in that part of the world. In 2010, Somali pirates took more than a thousand hostages. In 2014, they captured none.

Did you even hear about that success? I hadn't before doing research on Prince. The media don't like to report good things about for-profit soldiers. Commentator Keith Olbermann called Blackwater "a full-fledged criminal enterprise." One TV anchor called Prince "horrible ... the poster child for everything wrong with the military-industrial complex."

When I showed that to Prince, he replied, "the hardcore anti-war left went after the troops in Vietnam ... (I)n Iraq and Afghanistan they went after contractors ... contractors providing a good service to support the U.S. military -- vilified, demonized, because they were for-profit companies."

If we don't use private contractors, he added, we will fail in Afghanistan, where we've "spent close to a trillion dollars and are still losing."
Des Plaines Man Accused Of Posting Lynching Meme About Congresswoman

By Emma G. Gallegos in News on Oct 24, 2017 9:40PM



Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) earlier this week (Photo by Joe Skipper/Getty Images)



Via the Miami Herald

The meme, posted by a Des Plaines man named Tom Keevers, has a photo of Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-IL) and it reads, "Need ten good men to help carry out of a lynching. Must have own horse and saddle. Rope will be provided."

The Des Plaines Police opened up a case and turned it over to the FBI, Cmdr. Chris Mierzwa told the Tribune. Special Agent Garrett Croon confirmed that FBI agents are aware of a social media posting generated in Des Plaines, IL and are in contact with local authorities."

Keevers, 54, says that he and his family are getting death threats because of the post that went viral over the weekend.

He gave a confusing interview to the Tribune, alternately saying that a meme-maker set him up but also that he couldn't remember what he'd said during a Facebook argument:

During a lengthy phone interview Monday, Keevers initially told Chicago Inc. that he had not threatened to lynch Wilson, but that he last week got into a fast and furious argument with strangers that got out of control on Facebook about Wilson, who he said was using the death of an American soldier for politics. Keevers said he deleted the thread because there was some disgusting language in it that he didnt like. Somebody  he doesnt know who, he said later made a meme to dishonestly suggest he had called for Wilsons lynching as part of a thought-out attack, he said. He said the alleged lynching threat was not something that should be said but described it as a joke, as I read it. I dont have 10 horses either, he said. Dont people get in arguments on Facebook all the time? he added. Later, though, Keevers said he cannot remember whether he threatened to lynch Wilson and that it was possible someone had taken some of his words and made them into a meme. Keevers then returned to his more definitive statement. I did not use those words, he said.

The FBI told the Tribune the post did originate in Des Plaines. Threatening the life of a congress person is a serious charge that carries with it up to a five-year sentence.

Wilson has found herself in the national political spotlight after discussing the contents of a phone call between President Trump and the pregnant widow of Sgt. La David T. Johnson. She says Trump told her that the soldier killed in Niger "knew what he signed up for."
And so the worm turns. Make that worms.

Just as key congressional panels open new probes into the still-smoking debris of last years election, the revelation that Hillary Clintons campaign and the Democratic National Committee paid as much as $9 million for the discredited Russian dossier on Donald Trump flips the collusion script on its head.

Now its Democrats turn in the barrel.

The explosive report in the Washington Post goes a long way to explaining how the dossier was so widely spread among political reporters during the election. The Clinton camp must have passed it out like Halloween candy to its media handmaidens.

To continue reading Michael Goodwin's column from the New York Post, click here.
Headlines about left-wing college students engaging in radical, sometimes racially charged protests are becoming all too common.

In October 2016, students at University of California, Berkeley created a human chain in an attempt to block white students from going to class.

This past May, students at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington demanded  in the name of racial equity  that white students stay home from school for a day. These students shouted down faculty who disagreed with them, and the dispute led to multiple protests that eventually forced the college to hold its commencement ceremony 30 miles away from campus.

These stories are outrageous, but unfortunately, nothing new. Universities have been a hotbed for left-wing activism for decades. In fact, Ronald Reagan ran for Governor of California in 1966 promising to crack down on the rioting and radicalism at Berkeley.

This sudden decline in performance is what happens when educators think it is their job to impose their political views on students.

A recent story out of Minnesota, however, suggests that the left is now bringing this same radicalism to K-12 public education, and the ones suffering are the young students, who are in their most impressionable years.

Katherine Kersten, founding director and Senior Policy Fellow at the Center of the American Experiment, recently wrote about liberal policy and curriculum changes made by Edina school system officials in Minnesota that are causing the once celebrated school system to slip.

The school system itself adopted a so-called All for All policy in 2013 which all students will acquire an awareness of their own cultural identity and value racial, cultural, and ethnic diversities so as to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds.

This may sound innocent, even laudable. But the implementation of this policy shows it is merely a thinly veiled attempt to instill radical, left-wing political views in impressionable children.

According to Kersten, grade school-aged students in the Edina system are learning the alphabet by reading a book called A is for Activist.

As the title suggests, its a left-wing ABC book that teaches children concepts such as C stands for Creative Counter to Corporate vultures, F is for Feminist, T is for Trans  you get the idea.

The books own description describes it as being written and illustrated for the next generation of progressives: families who want their kids to grow up in a space that is unapologetic about activism, environmental justice, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and everything else that activists believe in and fight for.

This is pure, unapologetic political indoctrination of American youth. Imagine the outrage among educators if young students were assigned a book designed to create the next generation of conservatives.

The indoctrination continues throughout the student experience in the school system.

An 11th grade U.S. Literature and Composition teacher in the Edina system instructs students in her syllabus that by the end of the school year, they will have, learned how to apply marxist [sic], feminist, post-colonial, psychoanalytic, reader response, and aesthetic lenses to literature. Notice the absence of any sort of conservative or traditionalist lens.

A high school in the system offered a course called Race, Racism, and Whiteness as an elective during its May term in the 2016-2017 school year. The school system superintendent later denied offering such a course, but the Center of the American Experiment found proof.

When President Trump was elected, Kersten writes that the entire school system went into hysteria. Teachers were openly crying in class the day after the election, and one reportedly told students that Trump winning is worse than 9/11 and the Columbine shooting.

Many students who dont conform to the liberal leanings of the faculty reported being afraid to express their opinions, and after the election, some requested to be picked up early from school for fear of being berated for their views.

Unsurprisingly, when the school system began to focus on left-wing indoctrination and intimidation instead of the fundamentals of education, student performance began to slip.

Citing Minnesota Department of Education statistics, Kersten reported that the percentage of students attending Edina High School who met state standards for reading dropped from 86 percent in 2014 to 79 percent in 2017. In math, 79 percent of Edina high school students were performing at grade level in 2014, while only 66 percent are today.

The high school used to be fifth in the state for reading scores, now its 29th. It used to be 10th in math proficiency, now its 40th.

This sudden decline in performance is what happens when educators think it is their job to impose their political views on students. Every American, in every state should make sure their elected school officials are focused on education  not political indoctrination.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, arrived in South Sudan this week amidst a political, security, and humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions: A country engulfed in civil war that is hemorrhaging more refugees than any African state since the Rwandan genocide and where two-thirds of the population is starving.

To her great credit, Haley delivered an unequivocal message to the brutal regime led by President Salva Kiir: The U.S. has lost its trust in South Sudans government. The United States must now act to provide the African Union and the United Nations with the necessary leverage to broker an end to the conflict.

History suggests that successful negotiated settlements to other civil wars have depended on the parties recognizing that they cannot prevail militarily. However, the absence of a UN arms embargo on South Sudan; the fragmentation of the opposition; and the failure of the guarantors and witnesses of a 2015 peace agreement, including the United States, to impose any meaningful consequences for violations of that agreement have ceded military dominance to Kiirs regime.

This dominance has entrenched a belief in South Sudans capital, Juba, that the opposition can be neutralized by force, leaving little incentive for compromise. Fortunately, the United States and other Western governments have several non-violent leverage points to create a new context for a more successful mediation effort.

First, by renouncing its support for a failed 2015 agreement that the South Sudanese regime has co-opted, the United States can set the stage for a new diplomatic push. In doing so, it would be standing in solidarity with nearly two dozen South Sudanese civil society leaders who recently called for a less politicized, more technocratic leadership. The United States could then work with its international partners, including South Sudans neighbors, to orchestrate a negotiated exit for the morally bankrupt elite that is squanderingnot defendingSouth Sudans sovereignty.

Second, while efforts by the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan have stalled, the regimes main weapons suppliers are not shadowy arms dealers but key security partners of the United States: Uganda, Egypt, and Ukraine. The United States and its allies must deploy their unique leverage on these governments to end their complicity with the regimes atrocities. Uganda in particular is both the main transit point for arms and ammunition for Kiirs forces and the largest recipient of U.S. security assistance in sub-Saharan Africa. The United States can make clear that it will no longer tolerate the contradiction whereby Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni empowers Kiirs regime on the one hand and is then applauded for hosting the more than one million refugees fleeing that same regimeall while the United States spends nearly $1 billion a year for the humanitarian response.

Third, building on Haleys statements this week, African and Western governments must shift the international consensus on the legitimacy of Kiirs government, which is questionable at best. A public signal now from the United States that it is de-recognizing the regime and downgrading its diplomatic status could alter calculations in Juba and generate an urgency for compromise, not least because de-recognition would call into question Kiirs privileges and immunities as a sitting head of state. De-recognizing the government does not imply de-recognition of the independent state for which South Sudanese fought and died bravely for decades or of their right to self-determination; the sovereignty of the state is vested in its citizens, however, not in a regime that multiple international bodies have found responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

President Trumps decision to dispatch Haley to east Africa is a welcome, if nascent, indication of the administrations intention to address the magnitude of South Sudans implosion. By following it now with a sustained diplomatic initiative, her visit can be the beginning of the end of South Sudans nightmare.
Programming note: Watch Varney & Co. weekdays on the Fox Business Channel from 9  12pm ET.

Russia, Russia, Russia. For months it was all we heard about. The left couldn't get enough of it. They really wanted you to believe that Hillary lost and Trump won because of Russian meddling.

My how times change! Now it's Russia and the Clinton connection. Of course the media refuses to cover and investigate, but there is yet another Clinton scandal here.

Rep. Devon Nunes, R-Calif., Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, is investigating the following:

A Russian backed company wanted to take control of a big chunk of Americas uranium business. They gave millions, $145 million to a Clinton Foundation charity. Bill Clinton got a half million for a speech in Moscow and he met with Vladimir Putin, bingo. Shortly thereafter Hillarys State Department gives the okay for the Russians to buy our uranium. Is this pay to play? Baloney," says Hillary.

Wait...there's more on the Russia/Clinton connection. The Clinton campaign and the Democrat National Committee paid for the Russian "dossier. They bought, they funded, and they instigated, a so-called "report" on Donald Trump. Of course it was full of salacious and totally unproven dirt. Back then, the Clinton people denied any knowledge, and took great offense at the mere suggestion they knew anything about it.

Times change.

Two points: first, Democrats may regret their Russia, Russia, Russia campaign. Former president Jimmy Carter says the Russians had little, if any, impact on the election. And now the Russia investigation has veered off-course to bring in the Clintons.

And second, the Democrats will surely regret the continuing presence of Hillary Clinton. She lost. She's mired in scandal, again. And she won't go away.

A few months ago, it was Trump and the Republicans getting unwanted attention. Now its Hillary, Bill and the Democrats.

Again, things change fast.

Adapted from Stuart Varneys My Take on Wednesday, October 25, 2017.
The controversial dossier containing salacious allegations about President Donald Trump and his possible connections to Russia, including coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, resulted from funding by Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee to the firm Fusion GPS, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to Fox News.

Fusion GPS was retained by Marc E. Elias, an attorney representing the DNC and the Clinton campaign, The Washington Post first reported Tuesday. Fusion GPS then reportedly hired former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele to write the now-infamous dossier.

Steele had ties both to the U.S. intelligence community and the FBI.

Prior to the firm being retained in April 2016 by Elias and his law firm, Perkins Coie, Fusion GPSs research had been subsidized by an unidentified Republican during the GOP primary.

But the Clinton campaign  and the DNC  saw the research through, funding the firm through the end of October 2016, just days before Trump defeated Clinton in the general election, according to The Post's reporting.

Steeles findings and other research were then submitted to Elias via Fusion GPS, The Post reported. The method and the amount of the information that was provided to the campaign and the DNC wasn't immediately clear. It also wasnt known who in those organizations knew about the roles of both Steele and Fusion GPS.

Following Trumps victory, The Post reported, the FBI arranged to pay Steele to proceed with intelligence gathering about both Trump and Russia. That deal was later nixed after the former intelligence officer was identified in news reports.

Perkins Coie was paid $5.6 million in legal fees by the Clinton campaign in a time period ranging from June 2015 to December 2016, The Post reported, citing campaign finance records. The DNC also paid the firm $3.6 million for legal and compliance consulting going back to November 2015.

Sources told The Post that neither the Clinton campaign or the DNC specifically directed Steeles work, labeling the intelligence officer simply as a Fusion GPS subcontractor.

FUSION GPS OFFICIALS TAKE THE FIFTH IN TRUMP DOSSIER INTERVIEW ON CAPITOL HILL

Fusion GPS has recently been in the spotlight of congressional Republicans as they've tried to get the firm to reveal those who supported Steeles work.

Fusion GPS has refused to do so, citing client confidentiality agreements.

Officials with the firm have also invoked their right to refuse to answer questions from the House Intelligence Committee. Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., subsequently subpoenaed the firms bank records in order to identify the client who subsidized the dossier.

Meanwhile, Glenn Simpson, the Fusion GPS founder, already gave a 10-hour interview to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

TRUMP DOSSIER FIRM'S 'SMEAR' TACTICS UNVEILED

The report on the dossier's funding come just days after the president tweeted about the controversial file. "Officials behind the now discredited 'Dossier' plead the Fifth," Trump tweeted on Oct 21. "Justice Department and/or FBI should immediately release who paid for it."

Tom Perez and the new leadership of the DNC were not involved in any decision-making regarding Fusion GPS, nor were they aware that Perkins Coie was working with the organization," DNC Communications Director Xochitl Hinojosa said in a statement following the report's publication.

"But lets be clear, there is a serious federal investigation into the Trump campaigns ties to Russia, and the American public deserves to know what happened.

First published by Buzzfeed in January, the dossier contained a series of controversial financial and sexual allegations about Trump.

Fox News' Catherine Herridge and Ashley Koerber contributed to this report.
The unexpected retirement of U.S. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., will likely further inflame the Republican Party's civil war -- with former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon racking up the fruits of victory in his bid to reshape the party.

Flake announced his resignation Tuesday with a scathing attack on Trump from the Senate floor, calling the commander-in-chiefs behavior reckless, outrageous, and undignified."

The senator also slammed the GOP, saying it had given in or given up on the core principles in favor of a more viscerally satisfying anger and resentment, and noted that anger and resentment are not a governing philosophy."

But Flake's speech was likely music to the ears of Bannon, who has announced plans to run pro-Trump candidates against Senate Republicans who don't back the president's agenda. And Flake's emotional speech was unlikely to change the views of GOP voters who see establishment Republicans such as Flake as obstacles for executing Trump's America First agenda.

Recent polls show there is little appetite among voters for anti-Trump legislators in the Senate, especially in Arizona  a state Trump carried in 2016 presidential election. Flake was trailing his primary challenger, Kelli Ward, a former state senator who is backed by Bannon.

After Flake's announcement, Bannon quickly claimed a scalp for his anti-GOP establishment movement, warning incumbents that his recruited candidates will defeat you in primaries or force you to retire," according to Breitbart News Network Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow, who tweeted the reaction.

"The days of establishment Republicans who oppose the people's America First agenda are numbered," Bannon added.

Many more to come, Bannon wrote to the Washington Post following Flakes speech.

Andy Surabian, an adviser for Bannon's pro-Trump political PAC, Great America Alliance, told the Post that the resignation of Flake was a victory for the White House.

This is a victory for President Trump and all of his supporters across the nation, he said. Jeff Flake was Americas top Never Trumper, so getting his scalp is a signal to Never Trumpers everywhere that their time is up.

From Alabama to Mississippi to Nevada, Bannon-backed candidates are emerging to challenge the establishment Republicans during the 2018 midterm elections, potentially reshaping the party beyond recognition.

And while the GOP is coming to realization that opposing Trump is bad politics, some top Republicans have criticized Bannons strategy to strengthen pro-Trump elements in Congress by replacing existing GOP senators rather than increasing the majority and taking seats from Democrats.

Bannons so-called war against the GOP establishment, is the worst strategic action Republicans could take right now, wrote Former House speaker Newt Gingrich, noting that the candidates Bannon seeks to replace are senators who voted overwhelmingly for Trumps agenda despite their public comments.

Noted Gingrich: "All voted to repeal Obamacare; all supported President Trumps Cabinet nominations; all supported the American Health Care Act; all supported the so-called Skinny Repeal of Obamacare; and all voted to confirm conservative Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.
Former deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes spoke behind closed doors to the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday, amid questions over his role in the Obama administrations unmasking of Trump associates during the 2016 presidential campaign and transition.

Rhodes is one of several Obama administration officials tied to the unmasking allegations. Former national security adviser Susan Rice and former ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power also have been questioned for their alleged involvement in requests to identify Americans whose names surfaced in foreign intelligence reporting.

Reports of unmasking by the Obama administration surfaced in March, when House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., claimed the former administration had gathered personal information of several Trump associates.

OBAMA AMBASSADOR'S TESTIMONY ON INTELLIGENCE UNMASKING RAISES NEW QUESTIONS

Rhodes was not available for comment after his meeting.

Power spoke to the same committee earlier this month. Sources have told Fox News that Power was unmasking at such a rapid pace in the final months of the Obama administration that she averaged more than one request for every working day in 2016. A Power spokesman, however, called the reports about her intelligence requests false.

Former attorney general Loretta Lynch also was interviewed by the committee last week.

And back in September, Rice told congressional investigators that she unmasked Trump associates to learn more about the campaigns contact with foreign officials.

Meanwhile, congressional committees continue to probe allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 campaign. Michael Cohen, President Trumps personal attorney, met with House and Senate committees this week to address his alleged communication with Russian officials during the campaign.
Was it the tweet storms or the hurricanes? Something hit President Trumps numbers. His personal ratings have deteriorated and his job approval has hit a low.

Thirty-eight percent of voters approve of the job Trump is doing in a new Fox News poll, down from 42 percent last month. At the same time, disapproval is up 4 points to a high of 57 percent. That includes 49 percent who strongly disapprove.

Some of the drop comes from white men without a college degree, as 56 percent approve of the president, down from 68 percent last month. Working-class white men were a key voting bloc for him in the election (71 percent backed Trump according to the Fox News Exit Poll).

READ THE FULL POLL RESULTS.

Also, his approval among white evangelical Christians went from 74 percent last month to 66 percent now. Eighty percent backed him in the election.

Approval among independents fell to 30 percent (46 percent of independents voted for Trump).

Republican support held steady at 83 percent approval.

John Kelly bests his boss: 42 percent approve of the job the White House chief of staff is doing, while 30 percent disapprove. Twenty-nine percent of voters are unable to rate him, including 25 percent of Republicans. Fewer Republicans approve of Kelly (69 percent) than Trump (83 percent). Yet more than three times as many Democrats approve of Kelly (24 vs. 7 percent).

Thirty-three percent think Trump is honest and trustworthy, though thats hardly changed from just before the election when 35 percent felt that way (November 2016).

Roughly 4-in-10 think Trump has the knowledge (38 percent), compassion (37 percent), and judgment (37 percent) to serve effectively as president.

A similar 38 percent believe Trump cares about people like me, while 6-in-10 disagree (60 percent). Those most likely to feel he doesnt care include non-whites (79 percent), women (68 percent), voters under age 45 (68 percent), and lower-income voters (67 percent).

Trumps favorability stands at 39 percent. Thats down from 44 percent in August, and a high of 47 percent in June. His unfavorable number is 59 percent.

Voters are more favorable toward Melania Trump than her husband, but her numbers have taken a hit too. Shes at 45 percent favorable and 34 percent unfavorable. It was 51-28 percent in June.

The White House receives mixed marks for its response to recent disasters. Voters give net positive ratings for the response to the hurricanes that hit Houston (+7 points) and Florida (+2), but sharply negative ratings to how it responded to the Puerto Rico hurricane (-32), mass shooting in Las Vegas (-23), and the California wildfires (-21).

Meanwhile, 60 percent disapprove of how Trumps handling health care. One third approves (33 percent). At a net negative 27, that makes health care his worst issue rating. He performs better -- but is still underwater -- on North Korea (-24 points), Iran (-21), taxes (-14), and the economy (-5).

President Obamas signature law remains divisive. Twenty-five percent would repeal the health care law entirely (near the low of 23 percent wanting repeal), while another 31 percent would repeal parts of the law. On the other hand, a record 29 percent would expand it, and 13 percent would leave it as is.

When asked to look ahead 10 years, most voters expect at least some of the law will be changed: 21 percent expect it to be repealed entirely, up from 16 percent in 2015. Nearly half, 47 percent, say parts will be repealed. Fewer than one in four thinks it will be either expanded (14 percent) or left alone (9 percent).

What happens with health care carries more risk than reward for Republicans. The poll shows about the same number would credit Obama or the Democrats in Congress (37 percent) as Trump or the Republicans (33 percent) if the health insurance system improves. If the system gets worse, however, twice as many would blame Trump or the GOP (48 percent) as Democrats or Obama (22 percent).

In addition, a record 54 percent of voters have a favorable opinion of ObamaCare. Forty-two percent view it negatively.

Pollpourri

Voters like their past presidents more than their current one: 63 percent have a favorable opinion of Obama, and 59 percent view George W. Bush positively.

Among Trump voters, the president receives his largest negative rating on trust, as 14 percent say he is dishonest. Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), himself once a Trump supporter, tweeted about the presidents dishonesty Tuesday, Same untruths from an utterly untruthful president. That was in response to the president tweeting, in part, that Coker had decided against running for reelection when I refused to endorse him.

Overall, 57 percent of voters disapprove of Trumps tweets, while 30 percent wish hed be more cautious. Only 11 percent approve. Even Trump voters arent as enamored as they once were: 25 percent approve of his tweeting, down from 35 percent in March.

The Fox News poll is based on landline and cellphone interviews with 1,005 randomly chosen registered voters nationwide and was conducted under the joint direction of Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R) from October 22-24, 2017. The poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points for all registered voters.
The bombshell revelation that Hillary Clintons campaign and the Democratic National Committee helped fund the controversial anti-Trump dossier last year has lawmakers and the media asking tough questions about how the dubious document was used by the highest levels of U.S. law enforcement  and why Democrats lied about its origins.

In the midst of a court case that threatened to reveal the dossiers funding, it emerged overnight that political consulting firm Fusion GPS was retained last year by Marc E. Elias, an attorney representing the DNC and the Clinton campaign. The firm then hired former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele to write the now-infamous dossier.

The Washington Post first reported on the connections, which were confirmed by Fox News.

Not only did the Clinton campaign and DNC fund the firm through the end of October 2016, but the FBI reportedly arranged to pay Steele to proceed with intelligence gathering on Donald Trump and Russia after Trumps election. That deal was later nixed after the former intelligence officer was identified in news reports.

CLINTON CAMP, DNC HELPED FUND RESEARCH THAT LED TO TRUMP DOSSIER

House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., said Wednesday that his biggest questions concern to what extent the FBI relied on that document to launch its Russia probe.

My focus has always been whether or not the Department of Justice and the FBI relied upon an unsourced CI document to launch a counterintelligence investigation, he told Fox News Americas Newsroom. I want to know whether the nations premier law enforcement agency relied on a document that looks like the National Enquirer prepared it.  And if they relied upon an unsourced, un-vetted document to launch a really important investigation  then I think our country is big enough to handle that truth.

He noted that representatives with Fusion GPS pleaded the Fifth in a Capitol Hill appearance last week.

Usually people plead the Fifth when they think the answers going to get them in trouble, he said.

Further, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said at a Washington, D.C., event on Wednesday that the FBI has been stonewalling Congress request for documents, voicing frustration about learning this information through the media.

The FBI needs to comply with the documents request that Congress has on their desk right now and they need to do it immediately, Ryan said.

The controversial dossier contained unverified and lurid allegations about dirt the Russians had on Trump and his campaign's possible connections to Moscow.

Perkins Coie was paid $5.6 million in legal fees by the Clinton campaign in a time period ranging from June 2015 to December 2016, The Post reported, citing campaign finance records. The DNC also paid the firm $3.6 million for legal and compliance consulting going back to November 2015.

Sources told The Post that neither the Clinton campaign nor the DNC specifically directed Steeles work, labeling the intelligence officer simply as a Fusion GPS subcontractor.

But after the Post story broke, reporters with The New York Times blasted Elias and others on Twitter, accusing them of denying the connection for months.

When I tried to report this story, Clinton campaign lawyer @marceelias pushed back vigorously, saying You (or your sources) are wrong, New York Times reporter Kenneth Vogel tweeted.

Folks involved in funding this lied about it, and with sanctimony, for a year, Times reporter Maggie Haberman tweeted.

Former Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon boasted on Twitter that, while he didnt know about Steeles hiring before the election, If I had, I would have volunteered to go to Europe and try to help him.

He added, I have no idea what Fusion or Steele were paid but if even a shred of that dossier ends up helping Mueller, it will prove money well spent.

But he defended Elias on the issue of whether he denied the funding connection, tweeting: Dont know what Elias may have said but if he was coy, he was prob just being a good lawyer honoring confidentiality.

Haberman countered: coy is not responding at all. Your sources are wrong is a bit different.

The Democratic National Committee, meanwhile, stressed that the current leadership was not involved in the arrangement.

Tom Perez and the new leadership of the DNC were not involved in any decision-making regarding Fusion GPS, nor were they aware that Perkins Coie was working with the organization," DNC Communications Director Xochitl Hinojosa said in a statement. "But lets be clear, there is a serious federal investigation into the Trump campaigns ties to Russia, and the American public deserves to know what happened.

A spokesman for Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., who led the DNC at the time, told Fox News on Wednesday that, She did not have any knowledge of this arrangement.

Fox News' Judson Berger and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is calling for a Pentagon briefing for members in the wake of the attack in Niger that killed four U.S. service members and left two severely injured.

Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings, D-Md., penned a letter to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday, requesting a briefing, followed by a question and answer with Defense Department officials.

These are the first combat-related American deaths in the course of the U.S. Special Forces training and assistance to the Nigerien armed forces, Gowdy and Cummings wrote. Nearly three weeks after the attack, many questions remain regarding the purpose of the operation, the circumstances surrounding the ambush, and the military response to the tragedy.

The U.S. troops killed in Niger on October 4 were patrolling in unarmored trucks with Nigerien troops when their convoy was attacked by militants thought to be affiliated with ISIS. About 50 Islamic extremists attacked the group.

Sgt. La David Johnson, 25; Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, 35; Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson 39; and Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright, 29, were killed in the attack.

Approximately 10 Nigerien troops were also killed.

NIGER ATTACK LEAVES 4 US SOLDIERS DEAD: WHAT TO KNOW

Gowdy and Cummings noted that their committee has a history of investigating certain deaths of U.S. servicemen killed in the line of duty. The oversight committee led a probe in 2012 into the security failures in the attack in Benghazi, Libya, where four Americans were murdered in a terror attack.

Gowdy and Cummings requested a briefing as soon as possible.

Cummings, however, criticized Gowdy, saying he was greatly disappointed that the chairman did not request similar briefings from the White House and the Intelligence Community. Cummings sent letters to the White House and National Intelligence Director Dan Coats on Wednesday, without the chairmans signature.

The Committee cannot fulfill its constitutional duty while exempting the White House from robust congressional scrutiny, especially one involving the death of U.S. service members, Cummings said in a statement Wednesday.

The Defense Department is still investigating the attack.
Woman Trying To Break Up Fight Was Fatally Stabbed As Her 13-Year-Old Watched

By Emma G. Gallegos in News on Oct 25, 2017 3:19PM



Eddie Crowder

Elizabeth Kennedy, 36, was stabbed in the chest while attempting to break up a fight between her ex-boyfriend Eddie Crowder, 50, and another 34-year-old man, prosecutors told the Associated Press. Kennedy was dropping her 13-year-old daughter off when a fight broke out between Crowder and the other man. It turned into a shoving match that escalated in full view of the 13-year-old. Police were called in at 5:42 p.m.

Kennedy was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where she was pronounced dead at 7:40 p.m., CBS reports. The 34-year-old man was also stabbed several times in the arm, and he was stabilized at Holy Cross Hospital. A 75-year-old man was also hurt in the stabbing, but he refused medical attention.

Crowder, who lives in Oak Park, was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one felony count of aggravated battery and use of a deadly weapon, police said. He was ordered to be held without bail yesterday.

Kennedy had a child by Crowder, and she lived down the block from where the stabbing happened on West Marquette. A friend of Kennedy's wrote on Facebook, "Always had a smile on your face and was a great mother! My heart hurt for them kids!"
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is calling for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate the Obama-era Uranium One deal, amid new revelations about the arrangement that have spurred fresh congressional probes.

Grassley, R-Iowa, tweeted late Tuesday, calling for the Justice Department to appoint an independent counsel to investigate the deal.

Whoever in DOJ is capable w authority to appoint a special counsel shld do so to investigate Uranium One 'whoever' means if u arent recused, Grassley tweeted.

His message may have been a reference to Attorney General Jeff Sessions -- who recused himself from the investigation into Russia's election meddling and potential collusion with Trump associates -- or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Rosenstein is overseeing the Russia probe, but as a U.S. attorney reportedly helped supervise a bribery probe into a subsidiary of the same Russian firm involved in the Uranium One deal.

The deal, which was covered extensively in 2015, concerns the 2010 approval of the sale of Canadian mining company Uranium One to Russias Rosatom nuclear company. The U.S. was involved because the sale gave the Russians control of part of the uranium supply in the U.S.

The Hill reported, however, that the FBI had evidence as early as 2009 that Russian operatives used bribes, kickbacks and other dirty tactics to expand Moscows atomic energy footprint in the U.S., related to a subsidiary of the same Russian firm. Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill quickly started asking questions about how the deal was approved the following year by an inter-agency committee.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS LAUNCH NEW PROBES INTO OBAMA-ERA URANIUM ONE DEAL, FBI HANDLING OF CLINTON CASE

In addition to Grassleys calls for a special counsel investigation, House Republicans on Tuesday launched new probes into several Obama-era controversies, including administrations approval of the deal that gave Russians partial control over American uranium reserves.

Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Devin Nunes, R-Calif., said his committee would not jump to any conclusions, but would try and get the facts.

Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., threatened to use his subpoena power to get access to a former FBI informant in the case who apparently has not yet been released from a non-disclosure agreement. U.S. government officials have told Fox News that senior Justice Department officials are in deliberations over providing the FBI informant to Congress.

But while congressional probes and subpoena power could undercover more details, the FBI informants attorney, Victoria Toensing, echoed Grassleys calls for a special counsel.

REPUBLICANS SEE TABLES TURNED AS DEMS FACE FRESH RUSSIA CONTROVERSIES

This cries out for a special counsel, Toensing said on Fox News' Hannity Tuesday night. Congressional committees are fine, but this is a criminal investigation and Jeff Sessions isnt ever going to feel comfortable appointing that, and Rod Rosenstein is recused because he was the U.S. attorney.

Toensing added that while Sessions can technically appoint a special counsel, he likely was not going to be comfortable doing it.

He ought to get somebody in here and get this off their hands, Toensing said.

Fox News' Judson Berger contributed to this report.
As President Trump headed to Capitol Hill Tuesday to get lawmakers on board with his tax plan, at least one GOP senator was likely to keep his distance.

Trump and Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., have publicly hurled personal insults at one another for several months. Corker has called the White House an adult day care center, and Trump opined that Corker couldnt get elected dog catcher.

Corker still attended Tuesday's lunch with Trump and Senate Republicans to discuss tax reform. But Trump and Corker, who is not running for re-election next year, most likely skipped the hugs and handshakes.

Here is a look at the Trump versus Corker tiff.

Charlottesville fallout

Despite a cozy friendship during the presidential campaign, the relationship between Corker and Trump publicly soured after the presidents response to the deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., in August. Trump initially blamed both sides  the white nationalists and the counter-protesters  for violent clashes.

The president has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability nor some of the competence that he needs to demonstrate in order to be successful, Corker told reporters.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders initially called Corkers remarks ridiculous and an outrageous claim. Trump eventually responded on Twitter.

Strange statement by Bob Corker considering that he is constantly asking me whether or not he should run again in 18, Trump tweeted on Aug. 25. Tennessee not happy!

TRUMPS FEUDS WITH REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, FROM RAND PAUL TO LINDSEY GRAHAM

At the time, Corker had not yet announced that he wouldnt run for reelection.

Corker eventually told NBC News that he stood by what he said at the time. Corker added that he discussed the comments with Trump for about five minutes in what Corker described as a kind of humorous conversation.

Adult day care center

About a week after Corker said he had a humorous conversation with Trump about his public rebuke in August, Trump lambasted the outgoing senator on Twitter.

Senator Bob Corker begged me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said NO and he dropped out (said he could not win without my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, Trump said. I said NO THANKS. He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal!

Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didnt have the guts to run! Trump continued. Bob Corker gave us the Iran Deal, & that's about it. We need HealthCare, we need Tax Cuts/Reform, we need people that can get the job done!

Corker responded with his own tweet.

Its a shame the White House has become an adult day care center, Corker said. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning.

Corkers nickname is born

Corker went after Trump in a wide-ranging interview with the New York Times, in which he said Trump was treating the presidency like a reality show and warned that the president could be putting the U.S. on the path to World War III.

He concerns me. He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation, Corker said.

Two days later, Trump dubbed the senator Liddle Bob Corker as he accused the newspaper of recording the interview with Corker without his knowledge.

The Failing [New York Times] set Liddle Bob Corker up by recording his conversation. Was made to sound a fool, and thats what I am dealing with! Trump tweeted.

INSIDE THE TRUMP AND MCCONNELL FEUD, FROM HEALTH CARE TO THE BUDGET

The New York Times released audio of the interview in which Corker says he knows his aides are recording the interview and hoped the reporters were as well.

Corker couldnt get elected dog catcher

The brouhaha escalated Tuesday morning when Corker blasted the president on several morning shows, and Trump took his criticisms of the senator to Twitter.

Corker said on NBC's "Today" show that the Republican-led Congress should set the course on taxes after Trump shot down at least one GOP idea on retirement plans on Monday.

Asked if Trump should leave well enough alone, Corker said, "I think that's the best way for us to have success."

TRUMP RIPS CORKER FOR SUGGESTING WHITE HOUSE STEP ASIDE ON TAX REFORM

Corker also told ABC that when it comes to foreign policy, he wished Trump would leave it to the professionals for a while and see if we can do something thats constructive for our country, the region and the world.

Bob Corker, who helped President [Obama] give us the bad Iran Deal & couldnt get elected dog catch in Tennessee, is now fighting Tax Cuts, Trump responded on Twitter. Corker dropped out of the race in Tennessee when I refused to endorse him, and now is only negative on anything Trump. Look at his record!

Isnt it sad that lightweight Senator Bob Corker, who couldnt get re-elected in the Great State of Tennessee, will now fight Tax Cuts plus! Trump added.

Sen. Corker is the incompetent head of the Foreign Relations Committee, & look how poorly the U.S. has done. He doesnt have a clue as the entire World WAS laughing and taking advantage of us, Trump continued. People like liddle Bob Corker have set the U.S. way back. Now we move forward!

Corker, again, responded with a single tweet.

Same untruths from an utterly untruthful president, he said, using the hashtag #AlertTheDaycareStaff in an apparent throwback to his earlier tweet.

Corker wouldnt support Trump again

After Trumps tweetstorm, Corker told reporters that Trump is utterly untruthful as he avoided blatantly calling the president a liar.

He also told Fox News that theres no question that Trump is debasing the country and said his political model  is to divide.

And when asked by CNN if he would support Trumps presidential campaign again, Corker said, Lets just put it this way, I would not do that again.

Love fest

Trump continued to assail the senator on Twitter Wednesday morning as he contended that both Corker and Sen. Jeff Flake  who announced a day prior that he would also not seek reelection  had zero chance of being elected in their prospective states again.

The reason Flake and Corker dropped out of the Senate race is very simple, they had zero chance of being elected, Trump tweeted. Now act so hurt [and] wounded!

Trump also said his meeting with GOP senators to discuss tax reform was a love fest with standing ovations and great ideas for USA  aside from Flake and Corker.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
As federal investigators continue to look into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, prosecutors are also probing an Obama-era sale of a uranium mining company.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions last year directed federal prosecutors to look into the sale of Uranium One to a Russian company  a transaction that President Trump has called the real Russia story.

The Hill reported that Russian officials engaged in a racketeering scheme to further its energy goals in the U.S. And an FBI informant recently told congressional committees that Russia paid millions to a U.S. lobbying firm in an effort to influence then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to make sure the deal was successful.

What was the Uranium One deal?

In 2013, Rosatom, backed by the Russian state, acquired a Canadian uranium mining company, now called Uranium One, which has assets in the U.S. Uranium is a key material for making nuclear weapons.

Through the deal, Russia is able to own about 20 percent of U.S. uranium production capacity. However, Colin Chilcoat, an energy affairs specialist who has written extensively about Russia's energy deals, said that the company only extracts about 11 percent of uranium in the U.S.

The deal also doesnt allow for that uranium to be exported at all, Chilcoat told Fox News. Its not like its leaving the U.S. or somehow finding its way to more insidious players.

The agreement was approved by nine government agencies with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an inter-agency group that reviews how certain foreign investments can impact national security. The State Department under Clinton was one of those agencies, though Clinton told WMUR-TV in 2015 that she was not personally involved in the agreement.

Why is it controversial?

Some investors reportedly donated millions of dollars to the Clinton Foundation. Former President Bill Clinton also received a $500,000 speaking fee in Russia and reportedly met with Vladimir Putin around the time of the deal, Republicans, who are largely critical of the deal, have said.

The FBI had looked into the agreement and uncovered that some Russian nuclear industry officials were engaged in nefarious dealings, which included extortion, bribery and kickbacks, The Hill reported. Evidence of wrongdoing by Vadim Mikerin, the Russian official overseeing Putins nuclear expansion in the U.S. who was eventually sentenced to prison, was discovered by the FBI before the deal was approved, according to The Hill.

Author Peter Schweizer  who wrote about the deal in his 2015 book Clinton Cash  told Fox News that there is no evidence that the people involved with approving the agreement knew that the FBI had an ongoing investigation into it.

But White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told Fox News if anyone colluded for a foreign government in [the 2016] election, it was the Clinton campaign [and] the Democrats.

What did the informant reveal?

Douglas Campbell, the FBI informant, alleged that Moscow paid millions of dollars to a lobbying firm to help Bill Clintons charities in order to influence Hillary Clinton, who was then former President Barack Obamas secretary of state.

Campbell made the claims in a 10-page statement given to the Senate Judiciary Committee, House Intelligence Committee and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Campbell said Russian nuclear officials told me at various times that they expected APCO to apply a portion of the $3 million annual lobbying fee it was receiving from the Russians to provide in-kind support for the Clintons Global Initiative.

"Your real Russia story is uranium."  President Donald Trump

The contract called for four payments of $750,000 over twelve months, Campbell said in the statement. APCO was expected to give assistance free of charge to the Clinton Global Initiative as part of their effort to create a favorable environment to ensure the Obama administration made affirmative decisions on everything from Uranium One to the US-Russia Civilian Nuclear Cooperation agreement.

APCO Worldwide is a global public affairs consulting agency. In a statement to Fox News, APCO said Campbells allegations are false and unfounded.

The key issues at stake in this investigation are all about intent and knowledge: was there an intent to influence official business, and, if so, did the recipient take the money in exchange for taking official action, Jamil Jaffer, a former counsel in the Justice Department and the director of the National Security Law and Policy Program at George Mason Universitys Antonin Scalia Law School, told Fox News.

But Jaffer said the credibility of the so-called informant will also come into play.

Was this a foreign agent or criminal who turned? Was this a private individual the FBI placed inside [the deal]? Was this a government employee? All these factors, plus the level of the informants access to relevant information, will make a big difference here, Jaffer said.

But what does this deal have to do with the Russia investigation?

Multiple congressional committees, as well as the Justice Department, are looking into possible Russian collusion in the 2016 presidential election  and ties between Russians and Trumps campaign.

"That's your real Russia story. Not a story where they talk about collusion and there was none. It was a hoax. Your real Russia story is uranium," Trump has said.

Robert Mueller, the special counsel leading the probe into alleged Russian interference in the election, was the head of the FBI when it investigated Rosatom officials extortion and corruption.

And the investigation was led by then-Assistant FBI Director Andrew McCabe, then-U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein, The Hill reported. Rosenstein is now the deputy attorney general; McCabe, until last month, was the deputy director of the FBI.

Mueller's investigators in the Russia probe report to Rosenstein.

The special prosecutors instructed by the Justice Department to investigate certain issues pertaining to the Uranium One deal will also report to Rosenstein and Sessions, according to a letter obtained by Fox News.

Congressional committees are looking into whether Mueller informed the Obama administration, particularly those tasked with approving the Uranium One deal, prior to CFIUS approval.

In her attempt to discredit reports of the controversy surrounding the Uranium One deal, Clinton said Trump and his allies, are diverting from the investigation.

The closer the investigation about real Russian ties between Trump associates and real Russians  the more they want to just throw mud on the wall, she said. Im their favorite target, me and President Obama.

Fox News' Brooke Singman, John Roberts and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told Fox News' "Your World with Neil Cavuto" Wednesday that President Trump should "lower the volume of rhetoric" between him and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

"Theres no easy military solution here," Panetta told Cavuto. "Any military solution involves a serious risk that hundreds of thousands of lives would be lost ... and perhaps a nuclear war would break out on the [Korean] peninsula and in the world.

"So, I think the key right now is to lower the volume of rhetoric going back and forth and focus on tightening the noose around North Korea," Panetta added, "building up our military presence there; building up the security of South Korea, Japan and others; developing a strong missile shield that can protect us from any use of missiles and also tightening these sanctions."

Panetta added that the president should carefully consider whether to visit the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea when he visits the region next month.

"You know, this situation is tense enough and that tension doesnt need to be heightened," said Panetta, who also served as CIA director under Barack Obama and White House chief of staff under Bill Clinton.

"But every president save Ronald Reagan has [visited the DMZ], so what would be the big deal if he did?" asked Cavuto, to which Panetta responded, "Well, past presidents have done this, but youll admit that most of them have done it when the tensions have not been as high as they are today."

"So, Im just asking the president [to] take your time, talk to the key people, get their advice before you decide to do it."
The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee claims he obtained a smoking gun email that proves the Obama Justice Department prevented settlement payouts from going to conservative-leaning organizations, even as liberal groups were awarded money and DOJ officials denied picking and choosing recipients.

It is not every day in congressional investigations that we find a smoking gun, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said Tuesday. Here, we have it.

While Eric Holder was U.S. attorney general, the Justice Department allowed prosecutors to strike agreements compelling big companies to give money to outside groups not connected to their cases to meet settlement burdens. Republican lawmakers long have decried those payments as a slush fund that boosted liberal groups, and the Trump DOJ ended the practice earlier this year.

But internal Justice Department emails released Tuesday by Goodlatte indicated that not only were officials involved in determining what organizations would get the money, but also Justice Department officials may have intervened to make sure the settlements didnt go to conservative groups.

In one such email in July 2014, a senior Justice Department official expressed concerns about what groups would receive settlement money from Citigroup  saying they didnt want money going to a group that does conservative property-rights legal services.

DOJ ENDS HOLDER-ERA SLUSH FUND PAYOUTS TO OUTSIDE GROUPS

Concerns include: a) not allowing Citi to pick a statewide intermediary like the Pacific Legal Foundation (does conservative property-rights legal services), the official, whose name is redacted in the email, wrote under the title of Acting Senior Counselor for Access to Justice.

The official added that we are more likely to get the right result from a state bar association affiliated entity.

The Pacific Legal Foundation responded to the email release Tuesday by telling Fox News it believes permanent reforms to prevent such abuse are needed.

We are flattered that the previous administration would be concerned enough about our success vindicating individual liberty and property rights to prevent settlement funds from making their way to Pacific Legal Foundation, PLF CEO Steven D. Anderson said in a statement.

Goodlatte, who is sponsoring the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017, disclosed the emails during a speech on the House floor, taking aim at then-Associate Attorney General Tony West.

Aiding their political allies was only the half of it, Goodlatte said. The evidence of the Obama DOJs abuse of power shows that Tony Wests team went out of its way to exclude conservative groups.

The documents indicate West played an active role in helping certain organizations obtain settlement information.

Can you explain to Tony the best way to allocate some money to an organization of our choosing? Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Elizabeth Taylor wrote in one November 2013 email.

Groups who received funding also expressed appreciation for Wests efforts, according to the emails.

Now that it has been more than 24 hours for us all to try and digest the Bank of America settlement, I would like to discuss ways we might want to recognize and show appreciation for the Department of Justice and specifically Associate Attorney General Tony West, wrote Charles R. Dunlap, executive director of the Indiana Bar, in an August 2014 email.

Dunlap wrote that West by all accounts was the one person most responsible for the Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts group receiving money.

One person, Bob LeClair, responded to Dunlaps email by saying, Frankly, I would be willing to have us build a statue [of West] and then we could bow down to this statue each day after we get our $200,000.

West, who now works as an executive vice president at PepsiCo, did not immediately return an email from Fox News seeking comment.

In 2015, however, Geoffrey Graber, who oversaw the Justice Departments big banks settlements, told Goodlatte during a congressional hearing that the department did not want to be in the business of picking and choosing which organizations may or may not receive any funding under the agreement.

But internal DOJ documents tell a different story, Goodlatte said Tuesday. They show that contrary to Grabers sworn testimony, the donation provisions were structured to aid the Obama administrations political friends and exclude conservative groups.

Even before the release of Tuesdays emails, Republicans had blasted these settlements as a slush fund for favored groups.

Gibson Guitars was forced to pay $50,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in 2012, though that organization has nothing to do with the case. In 2014, Bank of America gave money to the National Urban League, the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America and the National Council of La Raza as part of a major mortgage fraud settlement stemming from the 2008 financial crisis.

'Aiding their political allies was only the half of it.'  House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va.

Asked about the emails, the Justice Department on Tuesday referred Fox News to Attorney General Jeff Sessions statement in June after he announced the end to the practice.

When the federal government settles a case against a corporate wrongdoer, any settlement funds should go first to the victims and then to the American people  not to bankroll third-party special interest groups or the political friends of whoever is in power, Sessions said.

Goodlatte on Tuesday praised Sessions move to end mandatory donations, but called his legislation a good governance measure, and called it necessary to prevent a future Justice Department from reversing the action. The bill prohibits the Justice Department from requiring defendants to donate money to outside groups as part of a settlement with the federal government.

The Obama administration has been accused of unfairly targeting conservative organizations before  most famously after the revelation the IRS applied extra scrutiny to groups with Tea Party in their names.
The two Republican senators who have cited frustration with Donald Trumps presidency as reason for their retirement also were grappling with weak poll numbers, spurring questions about whether more Trump critics might face pressure to call it quits.

Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake announced Tuesday that he wouldnt seek a second term -- in a lofty Senate floor speech in which the senator said hed no longer be complicit or silent about Trumps perceived offenses.

Flake followed with a Washington Post op-ed Wednesday in which he said: Nine months of this administration is enough for us to stop pretending that this is somehow normal.

But his poll numbers for a 2018 reelection already were under water. Just 37 percent of Arizona Republican voters approved of Flakes job performance and 50 percent disapproved, according to a recent Morning Consult poll.

He was going to lose, and he was going to lose big, Constantin Querard, a GOP consultant in Arizona, told Fox News on Wednesday.

Flake's fallout with Trump started even before the president took office, when he withheld his endorsement because Trump insulted Vietnam veteran and Arizona senior GOP Sen. John McCain. Then came his anti-Trump book this summer, Conscience of a Conservative.

He wrote a book about me before I ever heard of him, Trump told reporters Wednesday. The first time I saw him on TV  I assumed he was a Democrat.  His poll numbers are terrible. He's done terribly for the great people of Arizona, a state that likes Trump.

Flakes relationship with Arizona voters began to deteriorate soon after he went from the House to the Senate and became a member of the chambers bipartisan, so-called Gang of Eight that pushed for comprehensive immigration reform.

In a border state like Arizona, if your single issue is amnesty, you should expect to have problems with your base," Querard also said. "His problems with Arizona voters pre-date Trump the candidate.

But the sparring with Trump might not have helped either.

Everything is in place to get me [to Washington] and drain the swamp, Kelli Ward, a Republican candidate for Flakes seat who is backed by Trump ally Steve Bannon, told Fox News' "Outnumbered" on Wednesday.

Corkers relationship with Trump, compared with Flake's, seemed to unravel more recently in August, when the two-term senator questioned the presidents competence and leadership after the deadly protests in Charlottesville, Va., where a woman was fatally struck by a car allegedly driven by a white supremacist.

Corker announced in September he would not seek reelection. Polls for the Tennessee Star in June showed just 41 percent of likely GOP primary voters said Corker deserved reelection.

In their still-escalating war of words, fought largely on Twitter, Corker suggested Trump got ahold of a cellphone and started tweeting insults at him because TheDayCareStaff# was off duty. Trump called Corker liddle Bob and taunted that he couldnt get elected dog catcher.

Republican strategist Rory McShane said last week that Flake's situation is "indicative of the mood of the electorate."

"At one point rounding up endorsements from every elected official in the state was the first thing you did when running for office, now it probably hurts you," he said. "For years, incumbency came with inherit advantages. Now incumbency is almost an inherit disadvantage with the entire Republican base and volunteer corps demanding we drain the swamp.

So who could be next?

Senate Republicans failure this summer to repeal and replace ObamaCare has put such GOP incumbent senators as Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, and Dean Heller, of Nevada, on Trumps radar.

Endangered Heller got a taste of what running for reelection in 2018 would be like when he said in June that he couldnt support Senate Republicans' ObamaCare replacement bill.

A Trump-aligned super PAC, America First Policies, promptly announced an anti-Heller ad campaign. And while Heller was sitting next to Trump at a White House event, the president said about him: He wants to remain a senator, doesn't he?

Trump has been easier on Murkowski and fellow GOP Sen. Susan Collins, of Maine, in trying to get their votes for ending ObamaCare and giving him his first big legislative win.

Alaska had a 200% plus increase in premiums under ObamaCare, worst in the country. Deductibles high, people angry! Lisa M comes through, Trump tweeted in September about Murkowski.

Collins is far more comfortable in Maine than Flake is in Arizona. Maine voters picked Democrat Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016. And Collins, two years earlier, won a fourth term with more than 68 percent of the vote.

Neither of them really depend on Trump voters, David Payne, president of the Codavate public affairs firm, said Wednesday. Collins is completely insulated.

For now, Collins is staying put, having announced earlier this month that she will not run for governor.

The pressures on moderate senators, however, could create future problems for the Trump agenda.

Despite the Flake-Trump feud, Flake voted for the Trump agenda roughly 90 percent of the time. Republicans will be under heavy pressure to prevent the seat from flipping next fall.

After conservative Judge Roy Moore won Alabamas special GOP Senate primary last month, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned about the perils of divisive GOP Senate candidates losing in the general election -- as happened in 2010 and 2012 with nominees like Christine ODonnell in Delaware and Richard Mourdock in Indiana.

They were not able to appeal to a broader electorate in the general election, the Kentucky Republican said. My goal as the leader of the Republican Party in the Senate is to keep us in the majority. The way you do that is not complicated. You have to ... nominate people who can actually win.
President Trump announced on Twitter that the classified files on the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy will finally be released Thursday.

The long anticipated release of the #JFKFiles will take place tomorrow, Trump tweeted Wednesday. So interesting!

Trump arrived Wednesday afternoon in Dallas, where he received a briefing on Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.

The move to release classified files could shed light on a tragedy that has stirred conspiracy theories for decades.

The National Archives has until Oct. 26 to disclose the remaining thousands of never-seen government documents on the 1963 assassination.

TRUMP SAYS HE INTENDS TO ALLOW RELEASE OF CLASSIFIED FILES ON KENNEDY ASSASSINATION

It's unlikely the documents contain any big revelations about Kennedy's killing, said Judge John Tunheim, who was chairman of the independent agency in the 1990s that made public many assassination records and decided how long others could remain secret.

JFK scholars believe the trove of files may provide insight into assassin Lee Harvey Oswald's trip to Mexico City weeks before the killing.

During the trip, Oswald visited the Soviet and Cuban embassies.

His stated reason for going was to get visas that would allow him to enter Cuba and the Soviet Union, according to the Warren Commission, the investigative body established by President Lyndon B. Johnson. However, much about the trip remains unknown.

Congress mandated in 1992 that all assassination documents be released within 25 years, unless the president asserts that doing so would harm intelligence, law enforcement, military operations or foreign relations. The still-secret documents include more than 3,000 that have never been seen by the public and more than 30,000 that have been released previously, but with redactions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Trump said Wednesday that Republican Sens. Jeff Flake and Bob Corker are not seeking reelection because they would lose, challenging the argument they're leaving out of frustration with his presidency.

The reason Flake and Corker dropped out of the Senate race is very simple, they had zero chance of being elected. Now act so hurt & wounded! Trump tweeted, one day after an acrid social media exchange with Corker and Flake's announcement he would not seek reelection.

Trumps exchange Tuesday morning with Corker -- in which he called the senator incompetent and accused him of not supporting the White House tax-reform plan -- occurred hours before the president had lunch with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill.

Trump earlier this fall decided not to endorse Corker, of Tennessee, for reelection, after the senator questioned the presidents competence and leadership.

Flake, of Arizona, announced after the luncheon that he would not seek a second term in 2018.

I have children and grandchildren to answer to," Flake said. "So, Mr. President, I will not be complicit or silent. I've decided that I would be better able to represent the people of Arizona and to better serve my country and my conscience by freeing myself of the political consideration that consumed far too much bandwidth and would cause me to compromise far too many principles.

A recent Morning Consult poll showed that Flake had only a 37 percent approval rating among Arizona Republicans and that 50 percent disapproved.
Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, was suddenly evacuated Wednesday from a U.N. camp in South Sudan after violence and looting broke out during a political demonstration.

Haley, whos in the middle of a three-country visit in Africa, left the camp as several hundred protesters opposing President Salva Kiir approached, a spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the U.N. told Fox News. The protesters became upset that [Haley] was not able to meet with them, due to time constraint, the U.N. told The Associated Press.

Shortly after Haley left the camp, which is meant for homeless and displaced residents, U.N. security guards fired tear gas into the crowd of more than 100 people who looted and destroyed a charity office operating there, an aid worker at the camp said.

Frustration has been growing both inside and outside of South Sudan over the conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people, and created Africas largest displacement of civilians since the Rwanda genocide in 1994.

We are disappointed by what we are seeing. This is not what we thought we were investing in, Haley said in remarks released later by the U.N. What we thought we were investing in was a free, fair society where people could be safe and South Sudan is the opposite of that.

Just before Haley left the camp, residents attempted to hand the ambassador a letter with their position on the current crisis. The U.N. said a petition was delivered before Haley had left.

Haley is the highest-level U.S. government official to visit South Sudan since President Donald Trump took office in January. The ambassador is in Africa to see the involvement of both the U.S. and the U.N. in Ethiopia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where she arrived late Wednesday.

President Kiir appealed for the Trump administration to remain engaged with the country during his meeting with Haley.

The United States is South Sudan's largest donor and was instrumental in the country's creation. Since the country gained independence in 2011, the U.S. has given more than $5 billion for humanitarian and development initiatives, according to the U.S. Embassy.

South Sudan plunged into civil war in late 2013, and the country faces mass displacement, starvation and allegations of government corruption and war crimes. More than 2 million people have fled the country.

Fox News' Ben Evansky and The Associated Press contributed to this report
Jingdezhen is synonymous with ceramics in China. [Photo/Xinhua]

Canadian artist Terrance Lazaroff has visited Jingdezhen six times. Though the small city in eastern China's Jiangxi Province may be unfamiliar to most westerners, it is a mecca for Lazaroff, 74.

"Everyone who loves china [porcelain] must come here at least once," he says.

Jingdezhen is synonymous with ceramics in China. The city boasts a long history of pottery production. More than 1,000 years ago in the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), emperor Zhenzong named the area with the title of his reign, Jingde, as recognition for its ceramics. The products were exported to many parts of the world.

"For centuries, ceramics production techniques were handed down, like the flame in the kiln," says Liu Huojin, 62, who was Party chief of a major ceramics factory that has now closed.

Past glory

Visiting Jingdezhen, it is easy to see its ceramics tradition, from its porcelain lamp posts and its sculptures depicting different ceramic production techniques.

"At the peak of the industry in the Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1911) dynasties, there were 100,000 ceramics workers in Jingdezhen," Liu said.

The industry was only interrupted in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, when, in 1942, many kilns were destroyed in the Japanese bombing.

"There were more than 500 chimneys for the factories, which the Japanese may have taken for a military base," Liu says.

But Jingdezhen soon returned to glory after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

"In the 1950s we were asked to make porcelain for celebration of the fifth anniversary of China's liberation," he says.

Before the state visit of former U.S. President Richard Nixon, a piece known as the "Nixon cup" was produced as a gift. Similar cups sold briskly.

In the 1980s, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the city to produce ceramics for foreign embassies, emblazoned with the national emblem.

"At that time about 60,000 people in Jingdezhen worked in the ten big ceramic factories," Liu says. The total population of the city proper was then less than 200,000. Almost every family had someone working in a ceramics factory.

Their porcelain products were popular throughout China, but were so hard to buy that people needed to have connections to buy them. Once when Liu traveled to Shanghai, a local asked to buy the cups he brought.

Worldwide, the products were sold to 160 countries.

In the 1990s, however, the factories went downhill with the advent of the market economy. Workers were laid off, and factories closed one after the other.
Albert Einsteins note on the theory of happiness sold on Tuesday for $1.56 million at a Jerusalem auction, handing over the scientists 1922 musings to an unknown buyer.

Gal Wiener, CEO of the auction house, said the offers began at $2,000 and bids quickly flooded in for about 25 minutes. Wiener would not reveal the names of the seller or the buyer of the note.

The note largely exceeded the estimated pre-auction price, which was placed between $5,000 and $8,000. The $1.56 million price included the buyers fee, the auction site stated.

The Nobel-winning scientist wrote the note while he was in Tokyo, just after he was told he would be awarded a Nobel Prize in physics, Winners Auctions and Exhibitions said. A bellboy arrived at his room to deliver an item and Einstein didn't have cash to tip him. Instead, the scientist handed him a piece of paper with a message.

"A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness," the note reads in German.

A second note was handed to the same bellboy, which reads, Where theres a will theres a way. That note also sold in the auction for $240,000, Wiener said. He did not disclose who was the buyer and seller in this case either.

The second note also exceeded its pre-auction estimate, placed between $4,000 and $6,000. Its bidding opened at $1,000.

The seller was reportedly the bellboy's nephew, the BBC reported.

Einstein was a founder of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and left it his literary estate and personal papers. He declined an invitation to serve as Israel's first president. Though not his most famous work, the scientists musings shed light on one of the great modern minds.

Einstein died in 1955.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cat got your tongueor maybe a bear? No one would have pointed the finger at one particular Asiatic black bear (also known as a moon bear) holed up in a Myanmar monastery: He had too much of his own tongue to handle, let alone anyone else's.

The Guardian reports on the plight of Nyan htoo, who recently underwent emergency surgery to remove 7 pounds of tissue from a tongue so large he couldn't keep it in his mouth.

Instead, Nyan htoo dragged it on the floor, and the BBC reports the weight of the tongue fatigued him so much that he often had to rest his head against the side of his cage.

"I've worked with bears for over 10 years and I've never seen anything like it," says Heather Bacon, a University of Edinburgh veterinarian who was part of the team that operated on Nyan htoo, whose name means "bright." She adds his malady was "pretty astonishing." Nyan htoowho'd ended up at the monastery with his brother after they were abducted by Burmese traffickers, then rescued by monksalso couldn't close his mouth.

Bacon and others heard about his condition, which they speculate was either a genetic issue or a form of elephantiasis, swelling brought about by a mosquito-carried parasite that causes infection.

The Telegraph notes that vets had taken excess tissue from Nyan htoo's tongue last year, but before long the swelling came back in full force.

The surgery this time around took about four hours. Per Stuff.co.nz, Nyan htoo is now playing with his brother again, though he'll have a learning curve in adapting to day-to-day tasks without his giant tongue.

"We have been able to make a tangible improvement in the quality of Nyan htoo's life," Bacon says. (This bear made 200 sheep leap to their deaths.)

This article originally appeared on Newser: This Bear's Tongue Weighed as Much as a Newborn Human
Networks in Russia and Eastern Europe have been targeted by a new strain of ransomware dubbed 'Bad Rabbit,' a possible variant of the 'Petya' malware that hit computer systems earlier this year.

Bad Rabbit, which appears to have originated in Ukraine, hit computers at the Odessa international airport in southern Ukraine and the Kiev subway. Prominent Russian media outlets such as Interfax and Fontanka also reported being targeted Tuesday.

The Moscow-based cybersecurity firm Group-IB said Wednesday the ransomware also tried to penetrate the computers of major Russian banks but failed. None of the banks has reported any attacks, though the Russian Central Bank said Wednesday it had recorded BadRabbit's attack on its systems but they were not compromised.

HUGE 'PETYA' RANSOMWARE ATTACK HITS EUROPE, SPARKS MASS DISRUPTION

Cybersecurity specialist Kaspersky Lab, which is based in Moscow, describes Bad Rabbit as a drive-by attack. Victims download a fake Adobe Flash installer from infected websites and manually launch the .exe file, thus infecting themselves, it said, in a statement. Kaspersky Lab reported that the criminals behind Bad Rabbit are demanding 0.05 bitcoin as ransom, roughly equivalent to $280.

While most of the ransomwares victims have been in Russia, Kaspersky Lab also noted attacks in Ukraine, Turkey and Germany.

Prague, Czech Republic-based cybersecurity firm Avast Software reported late Tuesday that Bad Rabbit had been detected in the U.S. "We expect a growing number of detections in the hours ahead," it tweeted.

Bad Rabbit is a suspected variant of the recent Petya ransomware that sparked disruption across Europe, according to a number of experts, including the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT). US-CERT discourages individuals and organizations from paying the ransom, as this does not guarantee that access will be restored, it said in a post on Tuesday.

PETYA RANSOMWARE: EXPERTS TOUT 'VACCINE' TO PROTECT COMPUTERS FROM CRIPPLING CYBER ATTACK

Experts warn that organizations across the globe should be on their guard against Bad Rabbit. As businesses in Russia and Ukraine report infections, global companies must look inward and ask themselves, Have I done enough? Did we patch our systems after Petya? Have we shored up our perimeter web and email defenses? Steve Malone, director of security product management at email security specialist Mimecast explained in an email to Fox News. History tells us the answer to these questions is very likely no, so once again, brace for further widespread outbreaks.

Ransomware is cheap to make and lucrative when it works, so we can expect to see a lot more of it, noted Shirali Patel, cybersecurity manager at defense and cybersecurity specialist Raytheon, in an email. While reports indicate Bad Rabbit is affecting networks primarily in Russia and eastern Europe, we know how easily malware can jump from one host to another.

For organizations to effectively defend against attacks like Bad Rabbit, they need to have instant visibility into which of their assets are susceptible to the attack, added Manoj Asnani, vice president of product and design at security specialist Balbix. On-tap visibility is very hard to achieve manually. Security teams must have automated systems in place that can continuously monitor these type of attack vectors and provide vital information instantly when needed.

AFTER NSA TOOL USED IN PETYA CYBERATTACK, CONGRESSMAN URGES AGENCY TO THWART MALWARE

Bad Rabbit has emerged just four months after Petya, which itself came hot on the heels of the WannaCry ransomware that wreaked havoc across the globe.

The scale of the ransomware threat was highlighted last year when a Los Angeles hospital paid nearly $17,000 in bitcoins to hackers who disabled its computer network.

However, Bob Rudis, chief data scientist of cybersecurity specialist Rapid7 does not think that Bad Rabbit will hammer U.S. organizations. "Enough awareness has been raised and researchers have identified a number of ways to prevent the attack from

occurring that it is unlikely we'll see significant growth," he explained, via email. "As of now, BadRabbit has been contained to the original target regions, with a few confirmed infections in the U.S., but these appear to be rare."

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
Scientists believe the next generation of radio telescopes being designed in New Mexico could watch planets form.

The Very Large Array (VLA) astronomical observatory gathers data about the universe thats light-years away. But newer models will be able to do much more than the existing ones.

If we really want to hone in and zoom in on the formation of planets like our own, we really need a new facility with 10 times the sensitivity and 10 times the spatial resolution, said Chris Carilli, Chief Scientist at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO).

SUN-LIKE STAR MAY HAVE DEVOURED 15 ALIEN PLANETS

Carilli described the current Very Large Arrays ability to view phenomena like planet formation as an out-of-focus television. The next generation of radio telescopes will be 10 times more powerful, with greater sensitivity and resolution.

Its the difference between going for a jog and getting on a highway at 60 miles an hour, or getting on the highway and getting on a Boeing 747 at 600 miles an hour. So you can imagine how having an instrument 10 times more powerful really opens up opportunities for the scientists and how they want to use it, said Robert Selina, project engineer for the ngVLA.

Selina said the antennas of the ngVLA will gather 13,000 petabytes of data per month, equivalent to about 10 percent of the monthly global internet traffic.

DEMAND FOR STEPHEN HAWKING'S DOCTORAL THESIS CRASHES WEBSITE

The current Very Large Array was made famous in movies like Contact starring Jodie Foster, and Terminator Salvation starring Christian Bale. The iconic white antennas stand out for miles in the bright New Mexico desert.

The astronomical observatory sits atop a plain thats 7,000 feet above sea level and is located in a dry climate, which improves distant visibility. The telescopes can scan 80 percent of the sky at that line of latitude. They are also located in a remote area, away from major cities, which have cell phone and radio towers, airport air traffic control, and other signals that can interfere with the telescopes receivers.

The antennas are about 82 feet in diameter and weigh 230 tons each. The next generation telescopes will be 20 feet smaller in diameter. The 27 antennas will also expand to 250, but will spread from their current site to other locations in Texas and Mexico, which will allow it to have significantly higher resolution.

PINK CLOUDS REVEAL GALACTIC COLLISION IN NEW COCOON GALAXY IMAGE

Its kind of like a zoom lens on a camera. You can choose to zoom in on your camera and see fine detail and zoom out and get a very broad view. One of the things we want to do with ngVLA is get all those views at once, Selina said.

The current VLA site has captured stunning moments in our universe and many right here in our galaxy. One image shows hot gas erupting from a black hole as other galaxies twinkle in the background. Another shows the Crab Nebula, which is 6,000 light years away. It is images like these that prompted scientists to push for an upgrade to see what else in the galaxy they can find.

The results that are coming out are spectacular and really driving the field of astronomy forward, Carilli said. And yet also showing that we could really make another big step forward.

The NRAO has about $11 million to improve the telescopes in the next two years. But the expansion, which could happen in 2025, could cost about $1.5 billion.
This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," October 24, 2017. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

SEAN HANNITY, HOST: All right, Tucker. What an amazing show we have. This is a Fox News alert. Welcome to "Hannity."

Tonight, we are following four major breaking news stories. But first, before we even start, tonight is the night of vindication. Even The Washington Post is now tonight being forced to admit what we have been telling you for over a year.

Also tonight, The Hill's John Solomon reporting the Obama administration gave a visa to a Russian nuclear official even after evidence showed he was involved in bribery and kickbacks, extortion and money laundering.

All these schemes to advance Vladimir Putin's radium interest in America. Wait until you hear this report. John Solomon and Circa News' Sara Carter will all be here with the very latest. Also, Victoria Toensing.

Also breaking tonight, the Department of Justice, they are now deliberating whether to allow this FBI informant with all of this evidence to testify before Congress about this corrupt Uranium One deal. And a possible new Clinton pay to play scheme. This is the same FBI informant that helped uncover the Russian nuclear bribery and kickback plot and reportedly has all the evidence of the Russian money flowing straight to the Clintons.

And tonight also, House Republicans, they are finally catching up to us, a year later. They are now launching the investigations we've been calling for into the corrupt Uranium One deal. Thanks to the amazing reporting, investigative work of Sara Carter, John Solomon, and this show. Things are starting to move at an accelerated rate. We are now closer to getting to the truth about what is the biggest national security breach and Russia scandal in American history.

We've got a huge breaking news night tonight on "Hannity." Even The Washington Post is reporting and Fox News has confirmed Hillary Clinton's campaign, the DNC, they paid for the research that became the fake news, anti-Trump dossier. They've been lying to you for a year.

Plus, never Trumper senators, Bob Corker, Jeff Flake, John McCain, they are lashing out at the president, we'll have a full report on that. These senators seem to be more interested in attacking the President than they are in serving you, the American people, the forgotten men and women in this country. They need to move.

Anyway, we've got all of that and tonight's important breaking news opening monologue and part two of our Ivanka interview.

All right. We have made more progress in the last 24 hours with new information and breaking news. Tonight, I'm going to go through all of this very, very slowly.

The media has been lying to you. They have been entirely wrong for almost a year. And that relates to the real Russia story. You don't want to miss a minute of tonight's program. Tonight we will prove how we've been right all along and ahead of the curve and how wrong they have been. We will lay it out all out, all of the ugly details. And there's a ton of new information tonight.

We have explosive information on the massive Uranium One scandal that the Obama administration attempted to cover up. We've been telling you for years this was going to be a big deal, and tonight it is.

Now, The Hill's John Solomon is out tonight with another absolutely stunning report. Here's the headline: Obama administration granted visa entry to Russian nuclear executive under FBI investigation for bribery. Now, according to this new report, the Obama administration actually granted a temporary work visa to this top Russian official in 2011 and then they renewed it in 2014, even after there was overwhelming evidence this official was involved in a criminal scheme that involved racketeering, bribery, extortion, money laundering.

Also tonight, Fox News is learning that senior Justice Department officials are finally deliberating over allowing the FBI informant to now testify and tell the truth before Congress. This informant is the key player in the latest developments that we've been sharing with you on this Uranium One scandal. And as John Solomon and Sara Carter have reported, the informant helped uncover a Russian nuclear bribery -- as I said, bribery, kickbacks, extortion, money laundering -- criminal enterprise which began one year before the approval of the Uranium One deal, before it was approved.

Now, of course, all of this evidence was kept secret from Congress by the Obama administration on purpose. Now because this eyewitness signed a nondisclosure agreement, that prevented him from telling Congress and the American people the truth.

Now in addition to all of this, The Hill and Circa News are reporting that the same FBI informant also has evidence of Russians trying to influence the Clintons specifically. This is on top of what we already know about the Clintons' role with Uranium One.

The Hill is reporting that Bill Clinton tried to get State Department permission -- remember, his wife was running this -- to meet with the Russian nuclear official while the Uranium One deal was actually being approved by the Obama administration.

And we can't forget that just before the deal, what did Bill get? He pocketed half a million dollars in a speech from Moscow. That was double his normal speaking fee. And during that meeting, he was advocating for Uranium One and he sat down with Vladimir Putin.

Now, I want to add one other point here, this is important. You want to talk about a real Russian conspiracy? Listen to this. The bank that was paying Bill Clinton -- when you pay attention to this -- that bank was connected to Putin and that bank also had financial interest in Uranium One.

And there is more. According to a The Hill report published last night after Hillary Clinton became the secretary of state, Russian spies purposely tried to gain access to Hillary, her top aides and the former President Bill Clinton. Now the reports knows that one Russian spy who was successful actually got a job with a major Democratic donor and actually was arrested and deported.

Now, there's Peter Schweizer's book, remember "Clinton Cash"? We were the first to bring that to your attention. It exposed how $145 million in donations poured into the Clinton Foundation while Hillary was secretary of state, while she was approving the Uranium One deal.

Now, this is what people all across this country and all of you corrupt people in the media, you should all be angry about this tonight. Now because of all of the evidence of wrongdoing earlier today, finally -- finally -- prayers answered. House Republicans announced that key committees will finally be launching investigations into this corrupt bribery Uranium One kickback deal. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

REP. RON DESANTIS, R-FLA.: We do have a witness who is a confidential informant, who wants to talk about his role in this. And we are in contact with the Justice Department to release him from a nondisclosure agreement. If that does not work out in a timely fashion, then we obviously would be able to subpoena him. You know, on the oversight committee, particularly my subcommittee, we will be focusing on how the inner agency process work in this.

REP. PETER KING, R-N.Y.: Seven years ago, in fact, seven years ago this month, I've raised these objections with the Treasury secretary who said that it would be fully investigated. And obviously, we want to see what happened to that inquiry, what information was brought to their attention, what they knew then, why they acted or did not and put it in context to what comes out since then.

REP. DEVIN NUNES, R-CALIF.: Our job here is to get the facts for the legislative branch of government. And we will do just that.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

HANNITY: Here's my prediction tonight. People will be going to jail over this. Now, this is something we've been calling for for weeks, months, even over a year.

The House is also launching an investigation into how the Obama Department of Justice, how the FBI handled Hillary Clinton's email server case. And I've got to say, it's about time. Because the evidence of wrongdoing in both of these massive scandals is overwhelming, it's incontrovertible and it puts our security at risk.

And as we have been saying for months, Congress has a duty, a moral obligation. We can't have a dual justice system. They must investigate these scandals fully and they must uncover the truth of what actually happened. How is it possible -- how -- that they never recognized giving Vladimir Putin and the Russians 20 percent of our uranium, the foundational material to nuclear weapons, a hostile actor, is a good idea?

And with Uranium One, Congress literally can start by calling on key Obama administration officials. Eric Holder, Rod Rosenstein and yes, Robert Mueller, I hope you are watching. You need to testify under oath. And let me tell you why.

As the Attorney General Eric Holder -- of course he had oversight over the FBI. He was a member of the government committee that actually approved Uranium One but yet they had all this evidence of corruption and bribery. He clearly had the information.

And then there's now deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Well, he was actually in charge of this FBI investigation into this Russian bribery and money laundering scandal.

And finally, special counsel Robert Mueller. Back in 2009, he was the FBI director. This was when the bureau, the FBI so clearly had this information. He has conflicts of interest. There's no way the American people can trust Robert Mueller to investigate anything Russian related, to be fair and impartial. It's impossible because of his past role in this. He should resign immediately tonight.

Now also, the House tonight is also going to be investigating the Obama Department of Justice and the FBI's handling of the Clinton email server scandal. All happening tonight. Now, aside from Clinton having secret, top-secret, special access program, classified information, mishandled a felony on her server. Remember, the one stored in the bathroom of a mom and pop shop?

The House will be looking into the former FBI director -- which they should -- James Comey. And it's inexcusable conduct. Now, you may remember he drafted the letter exonerating Hillary Clinton before actor conducting the interviews with the key witnesses including Hillary Clinton herself. Comey also, he abused his power when he announced he was not recommending charges against Clinton. He never had that authority.

Then we have the attorney general, former Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Remember the tarmac meeting with Bill Clinton? Days before Comey's decision. And like we've been saying, it's about time. These are all serious issues, all need to be investigated fully. And those involved need to be held accountable.

We are also learning tonight that we were right about the GPS fusion dossier. Tonight, even The Washington Post has to finally begin to report what we have been telling you forever. And according to The Washington Post tonight -- I love to quote them -- Hillary Clinton's campaign and the DNC, they paid for that phony research that eventually became the dossier. That's the same document that used Russian government paid sources and made wild and completely untrue and ridiculous accusations about Donald Trump.

And remember, the Democrats, media, they were happy to repeat. For example, oh, that Donald Trump was in the Ritz in Moscow and he had hookers urinating in his bed. And James Comey wanted to hire this man and pay him taxpayer dollars.

All of this makes the Clinton campaign and the DNC tonight complicit in spreading Russian propaganda and Russian lies about then candidate Donald Trump. Now, if they are spreading this Russian propaganda, they've been lying to you, the American people, using phony Russian sources. And this lie has gone on for over a year.

This is the Russia collusion. This is the real Russia story. Robert Mueller, wake up tonight.

Now, Fox News has also confirmed the information in the post article is correct. In other words, we've been right for over a year.

And we want to point out another part of the Washington Post article. It reads, quote, "Fusion GPS' research into Trump was funded by an unknown Republican client during the GOP primary." This was before the DNC and Hillary Clinton's campaign took over. OK, I want to know, who is that? Was it one of the other candidates? Was it Senator McCain who reportedly gave it to the FBI? Who is behind this? We need answers.

Keep in mind, it was McCain, he said he passed this dossier around. And by the way, we have to wonder, if this new information is the reason why the group behind the dossier, Fusion GPS, is trying to stop lawmakers from accessing their bank records? Hmm. Follow the money.

Now the entire Democratic apparatus, most of the Republican apparatus and all of the mainstream media, they fell hook, line and sinker for a Russian disinformation lying campaign to the American people during an election. The Democrats, Hillary Clinton, they all lied to you for over a year.

Now, keep in mind, there is a report. James Comey, he tried pay Christopher Steele, the former British spy, who put this whole dossier together. He wanted to give me your money.

And tonight, predictably, the new DNC Chairman Tom Perez, he's like, "I didn't do this." He is denying he had any personal involvement with the dossier. You're going to hear a lot more of those denials in the days to come. We will continue to follow that story.

Also tonight, a very important report. And that is pathetic, weak, gutless, spineless never-Trumper establishment Republicans forces all lashing out against the president today. Now, Senators Bob Corker, we have little snowflake whiny Jeff Flake and John McCain all bashing the president instead of doing what? Focusing on passing tax reform for the forgotten men and women in poverty, on food stamps, and out of work in those country.

Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

SEN. BOB CORKER, R-TENN.: I was one of those that hoped that, you know, he would rise to the occasion as president.

He has not risen to the occasion. It's very evident to me.

It's obvious his political model and governing model is to divide.

You know, it's a sad place from my perspective, for our nation. And I think that the worst of it is going to be just the cold debasing if you will of our nation.

SEN. JEFF FLAKE, R-ARIZ.: We must stop pretending that the degradation of our politics and the conduct of some in our executive branch are normal.

Reckless, outrageous, and undignified behavior. It's become excused in countenance as telling it like it is.

A notion that we should say or do nothing in the face of such material behavior is a-historic and I believe profoundly misguided.

To announce that there must be no criticism of the president or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong is not only unpatriotic and servile, but it's morally treasonable to the American public.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, R-ARIZ.: When the Flake service to this country and this Senate is reviewed, it will be one of honor, of brilliance, and patriotism and love of country.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

HANNITY: Here is a simple truth: All three of these guys they are inapt, they're ineffective, they have completely failed to deliver on the promises that they made to their constituents and you the American people, for years. These guys have accomplished nothing. And others like Ben Sasse, too.

And you know what? all they are doing here is standing in the way of enacting an agenda to help move the country forward, what the people voted for last November. And they are trying to be martyrs in the process. You want to be martyrs? You guys go right ahead.

Here is my answer to all of you tonight: Good riddance, happy trails, don't let the door hit you on the way out of town.

Now, before his little stunt on the Senate floor, Senator Flake announced he was not going to be running for reelection in 2018. Now, here's part of the truth here. Flake is now trying to say his decision is all about President Trump. But here's the truth -- because he lied today. At least, he's not choosing to run again because back in August, Flake had an 18 percent approval rating among voters in Arizona. And another poll showed that he was losing to his chief Republican primary challenger Dr. Kelli Ward, who would have crushed Flake in a primary had he had the courage to run.

And then you got Bob Corker, he's done nothing but attack the president now for weeks. Bob Corker, he's stepping aside. He is not running again because he would have lost in Tennessee.

So, I have a suggestion for all you never-Trumper senators that are headed for the exits, people like Corker and Flake, you know what, guess what? You guys, you know, take your other colleagues with you. Mitch McConnell, good-bye. Ben Sasse, good-bye. John Cornyn, goodbye. Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins. Either get the job done that you promised the American people, advance the president's agenda. What other conservative values that the president is advocating for that you are unwilling to support? Many of you can retire and we will all be happier.

Now, the difference here between President Trump and these senators that I just listed, is the president is a fighter. He is fighting for what he believes in. I like somebody fighting for the American people. And he's also somebody that is keeping his word, his promises. The Senate has done next to nothing to help the president keep his promises or help the American people or help the forgotten men in poverty, on food stamps, and out of work.

Look at these statistics. The Senate has confirmed in about a year, since January, only 175 of President Trump civilian nominees. Guess what? Two hundred and twenty nine have yet to be confirmed. How many vacations do these guys take? And during the similar time frame, President Obama had 359 nominees confirmed, over twice as much.

And listen to this. Through September of this year, the House of Representatives -- and I have disagreements with them at times, at least they do their job. They have passed 308 bills that originated in that chamber and of those 308 bills that the House of Representatives passed, the Senate has passed 34. Beyond an embarrassment. Beyond a disgrace. These guys are the definition of failure. The poster children of failure.

Now, Senate Republicans are no longer serving the American people. So you know what, Senator Flake? Bye. You know what Senator Corker? See you later. It is time for accountability. It's time to drain the swamp. If Republicans don't back this agenda, a tax reform, repealing and replacing, they need to get out of the way or resign or retire or do something. Because you know what? The only reason these people are now saying they are not running is because they know they can't win.

And for all you never-Trumpers who were watching tonight, take a look at the side of your screen, they happen to be Donald Trump's accomplishments. Let's see. Pretty long list. Real, tangible, accomplishments, promises made, promises kept. So, what have you never-Trumpers done in this period of time? Have you helped the millions of forgotten men and women of this country that are suffering?

Well, the answers are simple. You've done nothing other than help the Democrats obstruct the president at every single turn. And you know what? Enough is enough.

Now, we are going to have a lot more in all this breaking news. And I promise you, you don't want to miss a minute of any of this. When we come back, the heroes, investigative reporters who have been exposing the truth and standing alone and digging hard. John Solomon, Sara Carter.

Plus, Victoria Toensing, she is the attorney for that FBI informant who is at the center for exposing this Uranium One scandal. We've got all of that.

Sebastian Gorka, part two of our interview with Ivanka and much more. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HANNITY: Welcome back to "Hannity." As we mentioned in our opening monologue tonight, House Republicans finally are opening investigations into this very corrupt Uranium One deal that compromised all of our National Security involving the Obama administration and of course, the Clintons.

Also tonight, the Department of Justice finally is considering whether to lift the gag order on the FBI informant at the center of those scandals.

Here with the reaction are people who deserve a lot of credit for digging deep, The Hill's John Solomon, Circa News' Sara Carter and an attorney I'd never want to go up against, Victoria Toensing who is representing the FBI informant.

Victoria, I want to start with you. Last night you actually said that your client, this informant. The guy that has evidence, emails, documents, tape recordings that prove bribery, extortion, money laundering, et cetera. He has details of the exact plans to bribe the Clintons that was all by designed?

VICTORIA TOENSING, ATTORNEY REPRESENTING FBI INFORMANT: I'm not going into detail. You know that, Sean. But he will give an overview and specific conversations that he had with Russians in what they were thinking about the money that they were spending. I mean, let me just be that general.

HANNITY: Let me --

TOENSING: And it involves the Clintons.

HANNITY: Okay. And listen, I have too much respect for you over the years to push you harder on this. Let me start with the broader question for Sarah and John. In terms of the degree of scandal, because Sara, you know this informant. You've spoken to them. You know what he has. How bad is this going to get for the people that we're mentioning that are involved in this?

SARA CARTER, CIRCA NEWS: Well, let me clarify, I do know the informant. I don't know everything that he has because some of it is considered classified, Sean.

HANNITY: Understood.

CARTER: And I'm not privy to that classified information. And he is bound by the nondisclosure agreement. But I think as the investigation moves forward with the House Intelligence Committee, with the Oversight Committee, with the judiciary. And as soon as the Department of Justice, I hopefully lift his nondisclosure agreement and protects him. I think that this will lead to an investigation that will expose and finally for once tell the American people and Congress what actually happened with the Uranium One deal, how far the Russians are willing to go. And the connections those Russians made in the United States.

And that is going to be imperative. And there's so much there. It's like we've unraveled a threat, right? And it just doesn't stop unraveling. So, I think that the momentum needs to be kept up, Sean. People need to continue to look into this. We need to continue the investigation and we need to see where it leads, wherever it leads. But this is probably one of the most significant stories that we've told in a long time.

HANNITY: John Solomon, I will ask you. Because the FBI knew in 2009 and 2010? Before this Uranium One deal is done? They had evidence, a lot of it, including tapes and emails and documents and an FBI informant. They knew it all and they still approve this deal, knowing that all of this was going on because of Vladimir Putin, and a hostile actor. We've been lectured about Russia, Russia, Russia for a year that they wanted to get the market on American uranium and the sad part is, they succeeded.

So, if you let me do a little reporting on your show here. So, just a little bit ago before we came on air, Victoria and I talked and she was able to confirm for me that her client has information that Director Mueller and President Obama and other officials were briefed on this investigation in real time as it was going on. That's the first time we heard that. Maybe she can answer a little bit more on the show about that?

HANNITY: Victoria?

TOENSING: Well, my client was told this information now whether the bureau was talking, I don't think so. Because they were very specific. They said that the briefing made it into President Obama's daily briefing papers. So, I don't think they made that up.

HANNITY: So let me see if I got this straight. So, Mueller, Rosenstein, maybe even Comey at the time. And the President of the United States certainly Eric Holder was the head of the DOJ. They all knew that they had all this evidence that the Russians had infiltrated with the purpose of a criminal enterprise to corner the market on uranium, the foundational material of nuclear weapons.

TOENSING: That is correct.

HANNITY: Sara, you are shaking your head yes? That's possible and Robert Mueller is now investigating anything involved with Russia, how is that possible?

TOENSING: You know, Sean, I think this cries out for a special counsel. I just don't see how this can continue on. Congressional committees are fine. But this really takes -- this is a criminal investigation. And Jeff Sessions isn't ever going to feel comfortable coordinating that. And Rod Rosenstein is recused because he was the US Attorney who --

HANNITY: So, then who appoints the special counsel?

TOENSING: Well, Jeff Sessions can appoint a special counsel. He's not recused. He is just going to be comfortable doing it. Because he ought to get somebody in here and get this off their hands.

HANNITY: Sara?

CARTER: I agree with Victoria. I think that there's only so far that many of us can go, particularly with this type of investigation. Especially Sean when it goes into territory that's classified. But I think that a special counsel can do that. They can look into this also, the House Intelligence Committee can look into a lot of these issues, oversight can take a look.

Senator Grassley then tremendous as well. As far as asking the right questions and moving forward. But I think a special counsel as Victoria suggested, it is something that I have been hearing from sources. Something that they hope Attorney General Jeff Sessions move forward with.

HANNITY: And John, let's go into the new information.

SOLOMON: Sure.

HANNITY: Now that the investigation, now they allow the visas to individuals that they know is involved in this. How can that happen?

SOLOMON: Yes. The main immigration laws says that you may not grant a visa to someone that you know has engaged in criminal conduct. And specifically, there's a section that says if you know they are involved in money-laundering. Well, we know the Russian nuclear official that was eventually indicted was involved in money laundering. That was a kickback and money laundering scheme. The Obama administration in 2011 and then again, in 2014.

According to court records, not according to anonymous sources. Court records. They gave this guy two visas. Even though they knew he was involved in a criminal conspiracy. And I think that that's why these questions are surfacing. There is either a breakdown in the system or knowing in willful decision to let this people into our country.

HANNITY: And to let people know how hard Sara, you've been working, and John, you've been working. You guys have known this evidence has existed for over a year, correct? Or you suspected that it existed. Let's say it the nice way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: About four or five months for me, personally.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yep. Right about the same time. A little bit longer. Yes.

HANNITY: The DNC and the Russian dossier, Sara, I am trying to understand this too. Now we have confirmation that the DNC and Hillary Clinton's lawyer paid. They lied to us for a year. Outright lied to us.

SARAH CARTER, CIRCA NEWS: They didn't want to admit it right? Nobody wanted this information to be revealed and then we find out in April 2016, the DNC and Clinton campaign were funding the dossier. Sean, I was talking to sources that deal with Russian intelligence. This is U.S. intelligence, U.S. sources that deal with the Russians often. The minute Christopher Steele step in to Russia to start talking to the KGB, former KGB agency and started digging into President Trump, they knew immediately who was funding it and they used it for this information. What's interesting here is that actually, the Democrats may be unknowingly were actually funding a disinformation campaign by the Russians. That is astonishing.

HANNITY: This information campaign, propaganda campaign, let's call what it is, that means lying. And paying Russians for phony stories and everything else, look both of you have come under a lot of fire for your reporting. And I think tonight in many ways is only the beginning of a vindication I've been predicting has been coming. Victoria, great job. I'm glad that your client pick the right person. I've known you for many years. You are tough. I would not want to go against you in a courtroom. We will have you guys back on tomorrow night. Thank you all for being with us. We really appreciate it. We have a lot more to come tonight. A lot more breaking news. Sebastian Gorka and Gregg Jarrett will react to these more explosive details about uranium one and the Russian dossier. And on top of that we will have part two of our interview, the personal side, of Ivanka Trump. A straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HANNITY: Welcome back to "Hannity." We are following major breaking news. The Washington Post first reporting tonight and Fox News confirming that Clinton in the DNC they, after lying for a year, helped finance the research for that fake news anti-Trump dossier.

Also breaking minutes ago, Hillary Clinton's former spokesperson Brian Fallon, they are like racing, and Perez is the first. I didn't know about Christopher Steele's hiring during pre-election. If I had, I would have volunteered to go to Europe and try to help him. Oh, really?

Here with the reaction is the author of "Defeating Jihad," he makes America great again and coalition chief strategist, former deputy assistant for the president, Sebastian Gorka. Fox news legal analyst Gregg Jarrett, what I always love about you, it's you always come with research on everything. If you start where you want. Uranium One, the dossier.

GREGG JARRETT, FOX NEWS LEGAL ANALYST: The confidential informant cannot be gagged. The U.S. Supreme Court --

HANNITY: But he has been gagged. It's a nondisclosure.

JARRETT: It does not prevent him from speaking to congress. The U.S. Supreme Court said so. McGrane versus Dorothy is the case. You cannot gagged a witness when congress wants to talk.

HANNITY: This is why I love Gregg Jarrett, for all of you at home. He always knows his stuff. Keep going keep going.

JARRETT: The Clinton dossier. What strikes me is that Christopher Steele went to Moscow and talk to the Kremlin and gathered false evidence.

HANNITY: He paid for it?

JARRETT: Yes. The victim is the president of the United States. Hillary Clinton's campaign and the DNC was apparently paying for this. Propaganda.

HANNITY: Lies, disinformation, from the Russians during the campaign. Oh, Robert Mueller. Are you awake tonight?

JARRETT: If there is collusion, it's Hillary-Russia collusion. Not Trump- Russia collusion.

HANNITY: I've been predicting this, Dr. Gorka this massive boomerang for a long time. I've known a lot of this evidence was out there and it was all coming. I've been telling my audience, its coming, and its coming. Now the floodgates are open, if you will.

SEBASTIAN GORKA, DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT TRUMP: It's the last scene from that great Tom Clancy movie, "The hunt for red October." When the bad submarine commander launch a torpedo it comes back and sinks his own vessel. That is what the Russian collusion story has done for the DNC and for Hillary. Let's stop using the word collusion, because the evidence we now have is about subversion, it's about sabotaging the political process and it's about propaganda. In the cold war, the Soviet Union will be used what was called active measures to undermine our democracy. This is the Democrat Party, the Hillary campaign using active measures to undermine Donald Trump and the Democratic process in America. It's a shocking story.

JARRETT: What really stinks here is Mueller, Rosenstein, Andrew Wiseman and James Comey. They appear to have covered it all up, the uranium one deal, racketeering scheme with the Russians. And money paid to Hillary Clinton. And a sleeper agent getting close to Clinton. They never notified congress. They had a legal duty to notify congress. Congress would have stopped the sale of the asset.

HANNITY: Why would you ever, especially in light of everything the media and Democrats have been saying about hostile actors, Vladimir Putin, who in their right mind would give Vladimir Putin 20 percent of America's uranium and all the money that floats back, it stunk to high heavens from day one. Now we just have the evidence.

JARRETT: They never sell to the Russians. Plutonium and uranium. Which you make nuclear weapons. They have 1200 strategic nuclear weapons aimed at us right this minute. We are supplying them? The nuclear material?

HANNITY: They all signed off on it and all this money flies back to them. Dr. Gorka.

GORKA: that is the big part of the story. The destruction of evidence, the gag order, that is bad in and of itself. The fact is, these people that are supposed to be investigating this administration that has done nothing wrong, they were complicit. Hillary Clinton approved this deal. They are making a big deal about $100,000 worth of Facebook ads by Russia. Half of which occurred after the election. This is not $100,000 worth of ads. This is stuff to make nuclear weapons, being given to Vladimir Putin. Can we just ingest the enormity of what we are talking about now? This is a massive scandal.

HANNITY: Dr. Gorka, I've said and I will stand by this tonight, they sold out America's national security.

GORKA: Yes, absolutely.

HANNITY: And there so much more to come. Let's talk about potential crimes.

JARRETT: Jeff Sessions who recused himself, you may recall, in his confirmation hearing from anything related to Hillary Clinton, he said it not once or twice but three times, can still appoint a special counsel to investigate Hillary Clinton over uranium one, her interference on behalf of UBS, with the IRS, and received an enormous amount of money to Bill Clinton and their foundation. An arms sales. All of that can be subject to a special counsel investigation. While you are at it, let's throw in the email case, because to me, as a lawyer, it's a clear case of the violation of the espionage.

HANNITY: Mishandling, destroying evidence, felony, obstruction of justice, deleting, breaking up.

JARRETT: It would be a 110 counts based on 110 classified documents.

HANNITY: I want to go back, Dr. Gorka, Bill Clinton trip, he wanted to ask his wife's own state department to approve meetings with Russian nuclear officials, OK that is insane. Double a speaking fee. He is being paid by a bank that has a financial interest in uranium one. Then he wants to meet with Vladimir Putin and his wife signs off on the deal. And then the $145 million kickback. What other evidence do you need to know that they were not putting the security of this country as their first priority?

GORKA: You don't need it. Look, 108 emails of TSSCI, highest level SAP classification on the private home server. We expect this from the Clintons. The most corrupt political clan in modern American history. The issue is how the establishment dealt with it under the Obama administration. How somebody who was a suspect in that investigation was allowed to be the counsel for Hillary Clinton. How the blackberries were destroyed and how the laptops that the FBI had were also destroyed by the Federal Government. That is a banana republic. Mueller would have to be fired and right now, e.g. Sessions has to have a national security special prosecutor.

HANNITY: Attorney general needs to wake up now. This is not a game anymore. Holder, Clinton, Mueller, Rosenstein. They all knew in 2009. They approved the deal, Gregg.

JARRETT: Holder actually sat on the committee if you can believe that.

HANNITY: He was the one that signed off. One of the nine.

JARRETT: It was a unanimous decision, Hillary Clinton presides over it.

HANNITY: Guys, we will have you back tomorrow too. We will continue this investigation. We are not going to stop. Part two of our exclusive interview with the first daughter, Ivanka Trump. She talks about how she responds to the vicious attacks from the left.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HANNITY: As we continue on this breaking news night tonight on "Hannity," yesterday I sat down with one of the first daughters and advisor to the President, Ivanka Trump, for an exclusive interview. I did ask Ivanka how she felt about the mainstream media and their vicious, unprecedented attack on her, her father, and the entire Trump family. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: It was interesting, Jimmy Carter even said he never witnessed any President take as much heat as your dad. But also the family. You've been attacked, Melania has been attacked, and your little brother has been attacked. Don and Eric, I don't care about them.

(LAUGHTER)

IVANKA TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S DAUGHTER: They are really tough.

HANNITY: They kind of deserved it. They can handle themselves. Certain unfairness.

I. TRUMP: They give it out as well.

HANNITY: Don in particular.

I. TRUMP: They punch back.

HANNITY: Some of it is personal and mean. How do you deal with that? Does that hurt?

I. TRUMP: You feel it. I would be disingenuous if I said it did not affect me. But I think at the end of the day, the real people suffering in this country are not me and my family. We can take it. It's the millions of Americans we saw across this country who are addicted to opioids or who have lost a child to opioid abuse, who have lost their job, because their industry can no longer be competitive. There are people who are really suffering. If we have to take a few body blows and advocating for those men and women, I think everyone in my family and everyone in this administration is honored to do it.

HANNITY: That is a great answer. Believe it or not in this little business I am in, I take a few hits, too. More than my fair share.

(LAUGHTER)

I want to ask you and this is interesting, I thought this was a very important point. One of my biggest complaints about people in D.C. Is that they are not there to serve. They do not work hard enough for the people that elected them or put them there. If you work in the house that your dad now lives in, to me, I think that is one of the great honors in life, that you have the opportunity.

I. TRUMP: I also told my father the day I don't get chills walking into the White House, every day. Every day. There's a sense of awe as to what has transpired and what has been accomplished in those halls. You should always remember it and always feel it and always respect it. Yeah, Washington is a complicated place.

HANNITY: Blood sport.

I. TRUMP: I care a lot about ideas. I care much less and this maybe makes me a pragmatist, but I care less about who came up with the idea and who originated the idea and more about the idea itself. And good ideas. Ideas that support this country. And its citizens. It's a complicated city. I was joking earlier today that you leave Washington and you feel rejuvenated.

(LAUGHTER)

So it's nice to be here.

HANNITY: Do go hunting with her brothers?

I. TRUMP: I don't go hunting with my brothers. I'm not a good hunter at all. They say I have a good shot. They at least tell me. Its beginners luck.

HANNITY: You said something the other day and I thought this should be the attitude of anybody that serves in the administration. It's a team, it's her father that got elected and it's his agenda, to serve him so he can serve people.

I. TRUMP: 100 percent. I mean he was elected by the American people. To the privilege of serving this great country. I was not. I am there to support the agenda and areas that I feel I can added value and that I am passionate about. It doesn't mean I am not my own person and that I don't share my opinion. I am also cognizant that he is given me the privilege to think about how I can move barriers. Particularly when I think about women entrepreneurs, women of the workforce. Supporting the American family, job creation, these are things I'm deeply passionate about. Workforce development. A skills training. I feel blessed. I feel very lucky he is given me the opportunity to do that. People that make it about themselves in their own agenda, there's a lot of opportunism in Washington.

Everyone is in service of the President. Look, as an American, I think we all have to be lending our voice to the discussions that matter in this country. We all have to want to have a seat at the table in areas where we agree. You can always find areas of difference. That is easy. In areas of agreement, as an American, I feel like it's my duty to see if I can be helpful and serve.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: I wish more people had that attitude to serve. An important announcement coming next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HANNITY: I am really excited to share with you a special project we've been working on for almost two years. I am the executive producer of a brand-new award-winning film. An independent film, "Let There Be Light." It will be in 500 theaters around the country this Friday. An antidote to the corrupt Hollywood formulaic superhero violent sex movies. You can find the location at hannity.com. Let's take a sneak peek. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I am coming.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are drunk?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The basic tenets of Christianity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't you dare tell me about the love and compassion of your so-called god.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you think it does to the boys to take the death of their brother and use it as part of your carnival act?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It pays the bill.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Daddy!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Clinically dead. For 4 minutes. It's a miracle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All I wanted to do was put my arms around him. I don't want to do it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You've got the best scientific explanation. Would you consider consulting a different source?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: It opens Friday. I hope you will go. We don't have any big studios. 500 theaters. Hopefully it will touch your mind, your heart, your soul, you emotions. That is all the time we have left. Thank you for being with us. We are putting the media unnoticed. Full report on what you are reporting, we will see you back here tomorrow night.



Content and Programming Copyright 2017 Fox News Network, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copyright 2017 CQ-Roll Call, Inc. All materials herein are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of CQ-Roll Call. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content.
This is a rush transcript from "Your World," October 25, 2017. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

NEIL CAVUTO, "YOUR WORLD" HOST: Not surprisingly, this has broken down along party lines, with Republicans saying it's something significant, Democrats saying it's much ado about nothing, that opposition research happens all the time, an argument, Republicans point out, that the administration had been using when explaining Trump Jr.'s meeting with those Russians.

Anyway, it's confusing, some people say a little bit too political.

Regardless, Leon Panetta, the former CIA director, defense secretary under President Obama, former chief of staff for President Clinton.

Director, very good to have you. Thank you for taking the time.

LEON PANETTA, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Nice to be with you, Neil.

CAVUTO: What do you think of this? Is it a big deal? A lot of Republicans have been claiming what is good for the goose, you know the drill, good for the gander. What do you think?



PANETTA: Well, you know, I think the best thing here is to let the committees that are going to be investigating this issue proceed, investigate it, and report exactly what is involved here.

I suspect that Bob Mueller, as special counsel, is also looking at the dossier and the facts associated with that. So, it's obviously a very confusing issue.

I think the best thing is to let the committees do their work and let's find out what the facts are.

CAVUTO: Did you or were you familiar with any of this in your day with the administration, that this was going on or that the Russians were trying to exert some influence here for a uranium deal that would extract some concessions?

PANETTA: No, I wasn't. I wasn't aware of any of that.

CAVUTO: OK.

So when it comes to the possibility or the charges, as you know, sir, that there were bribes and influence maybe through the Clinton Initiative or to at least make payments, it's way too early for you to know whether that was going on or not?

PANETTA: Yes, I think it is important for the American people to allow Congress, as I said, and Bob Mueller both to really be able to look at these issues and determine exactly what is involved.

Everybody these days -- as the president himself said, politics is a pretty ugly business. And there's a lot of negative research that goes on, a lot of attacks that go back and forth. I wish politics were better. I wish they would focus instead of -- on cutting each other up, focus on the issues that are important to the American people.

CAVUTO: Former -- and I don't want to belabor this, sir, so I do want to go on to something -- but former Clinton spokesperson Brian Fallon had said that there is nothing unusual or untoward going on here.

In an interview with CNN, he had said opposition research goes on all the time. Wasn't that the argument that Donald Trump Jr. made and the Trump campaign later made for his meeting with some of these Russians?

PANETTA: Yes, you know, look, it's hard to be shocked about the fact that campaigns engage in negative research on their opponents. That's a reality.

This reminds me a little bit of the Claude Rains quote from "Casablanca," when he was police chief and gambling all day, and then suddenly says he is shocked to know that there's gambling going on in the back room.

Well, in politics, the fact is, both sides do negative research on their opponents, and that's a reality.

CAVUTO: It's interesting, the timing of all of this, as you know, because Senators Corker and Flake, who have been frequent critics of the president, and it really sort of metastasized yesterday, saying that he is scaring other foreign leaders with his demeanor and his behavior.

Yet, if a lot of this was going on in the prior administration, they should have been plenty scared about that, right?

PANETTA: Well, you know, the fact is, Neil, that I have never seen a Washington as dysfunctional as it is.

I have seen Washington at its best and Washington at its worst. I have been involved in public life for 50 years. The good news is, I saw Washington work, where Republicans and Democrats were willing to work together to be able to deal with the issues facing this country.

Today, it's awfully partisan. Both sides attack each other. It's difficult to get people to sit down and really try to resolve issues and find consensus. And that just means that Washington is failing to deal with a lot of the issues facing the American people.

And that's what we ought to be concerned about. And, by the way, it didn't just happen in this administration. I think for the last more than 10 years, we have had a dysfunctional Washington. It's time for Washington, frankly, to get their act together and to govern the country.

CAVUTO: You have seen it from so many sides, as a congressman, a director, even a chief of staff for Bill Clinton.

But this issue of intraparty squabbling, and you have two prominent Republican senators. Maybe I could add a third if you add John McCain's rocky relationship with the president. Rarely do I see it so in the open.

And I'm wondering what that tells you about the environment and even the likely passage or lack of likelihood for passing tax cuts?

PANETTA: Well, that's -- I worry about the depth of divisiveness that is going on, not only within the Republican parties, and just generally with regards to the partisanship that we see in Washington.

And the fact is, I think the last election is the story of a lot of angry and frustrated people who felt that Washington wasn't working to deal with their concerns. Well, we now have a situation where Congress has done very little, other than approving a Supreme Court justice. They have not dealt with health care. They have not dealt with immigration reform. They have not dealt with tax reform.

They have not dealt with the budget. And unless they begin to roll up their sleeves and start to deliver on these issues, you're going to have a very angry and frustrated constituency in the next election.

CAVUTO: I'm wondering, when it comes to this tax cut thing and whether it ever materializes, it looks like it will almost entirely depend on Republicans voting for it, much as it looked like on the health care front it was only Democrats voting for it.



Is that just the way it is now?

PANETTA: Well, it shouldn't be that way. I think that's a lousy way to govern, is to simply try to get your own party to jam something through the Congress. That's a lousy way to legislate.

What you need to do, frankly, is to sit down in a room and be able to find consensus, because we do need tax reform in this country. We do need our health care system improved. We do need, frankly, comprehensive immigration reform. We need funding for infrastructure in this country.

All of those should be bipartisan issues. And, frankly, both sides ought to be willing to sit down, to negotiate, and to come up with an approach that can pass the House and the Senate and be signed into law. That's what governing is all about. That's what our democracy is supposed to be all about.

It's not supposed to be about one party just pounding their shoe on the table or the other party pounding their shoe on the table. They need -- they're elected to go back to Washington to govern. And that's what they should do.

CAVUTO: As a former chief of staff, you have probably heard and read about the dust-up that John Kelly, the four-star general, is getting over his recollection of a congresswoman's statement and whether he should apologize to this congresswoman for maybe misrepresenting that.

But it gets back to how a president conveys sympathies to a spouse who lost a loved one in battle. The president said he said nothing disrespectful or wrong to this woman.

What do you think?

PANETTA: Well, I have been very disappointed with the back and forth on this issue.

And I will tell you why, because the main focus ought to be on our very brave and courageous young men and women in uniform that are willing to put their lives on the line.

And when they lose their lives, it ought to be on those families who basically suffer probably the most terrible sacrifice that any family can suffer. And that's what we ought to be focusing on.

And as to how condolences are delivered or who said what, I frankly think that both sides ought to put this issue aside and focus on the important thing, which is, how do we prevent the kind of wars that are going to take the lives of more Americans in the future?

CAVUTO: North Korea, many critics, including Republican Senators Flake and Corker, have faulted the president for heightening the tensions and maybe making matters worse.

Now, of course, his response has always been, well, they're pretty bad as it is, and that's the result of sort of the normal way we go about negotiating under Republican and Democratic administrations, and he's going to change that.

What do you think of that?

PANETTA: Well, this has been a very difficult issue that this country has struggled with going back to the end of the Korean War.

And the fact is there's a lot of responsibility and blame to go around for all sides in the failure to confront this issue. But the fact right now is that we're dealing with a North Korea that is very close to developing an ICBM. And if they can develop a miniaturized nuclear weapon, they are a direct threat to our national security.

That's the important issue. And so I think it's important for, frankly, the president and his national security team -- it's a national security team that I have a lot of admiration for. They're a good team. But there's no easy military solution here.

Any military solution involves a serious risk that hundreds of thousands of lives would be lost in Seoul in South Korea, and perhaps a nuclear war would break out on the peninsula and in the world.

So I think the key right now is to lower the volume of rhetoric going back and forth and focus on tightening the noose around North Korea, building up our military presence, building up the security of South Korea and Japan and others, developing a strong missile shield that can protect us from any use of missiles, and also tightening these sanctions.

I think if China...

CAVUTO: But isn't the president doing most, if not all of that, sir?

PANETTA: Yes. No, I think he is. And that's what he ought to continue to do, because, frankly, the key right now is to squeeze North Korea, so that they understand that the only option for them is to be willing to sit down and try to negotiate a resolution.

CAVUTO: But we have been working on squeezing them for decades, right, under Republican and Democratic administrations, right?

PANETTA: But it isn't going to happen -- it isn't going to happen -- well, look, Neil, it's not going to happen just with talk.

CAVUTO: Right.

PANETTA: OK?

And words. That's not going to make it happen. The North Korean leader is not going to be moved by the president's words. And the president isn't going to be moved by the North Koreans' words. They can say whatever the hell they want.

But the reality is, can the United States build up our defenses, build up our protection, build up our covert and overt capabilities there, and squeeze on these sanctions to impact the North Korean economy, so that they really are forced to ultimately sit down and negotiate?

That is an option that we have to continue to try to press on, because, frankly, it's the one way ultimately to deal with this, short of war.

CAVUTO: If you don't mind my going back to party politics, what's going on, sir, there's been a lot of back and forth about Republicans and their inability to shoot straight when it comes to coming up with a health care replacement. They haven't. A great division over tax cuts. They might materialize. So far, they haven't.

But yet it's Democrats who appear to have having the fund-raising difficulties. They're raising but a fraction of what Republicans are. There could be anywhere from, I don't know, 25 to 125 going for the next Democratic presidential nomination.

What is going on with your party?

(LAUGHTER)

PANETTA: Well, I think we can ask that question about both parties.

CAVUTO: You're right.

PANETTA: I think there's a lot of concern in this country about whether or not the Republicans and the Democrats are really going to be able to govern our country.

As I said, that hasn't happened for a long time. And so there's a lot of disappointment, a lot of disappointment with the Republicans, who are very divided, a lot of disappointment with the Democrats, who sometimes don't come up with alternatives to the very issues we talked about.

But most important, there's an unwillingness to be able to sit down and work together.

Look, I commend Lamar Alexander and Patty Murray for trying to sit down and trying to do something on health care. And the president initially supported that and then backed away from it.

Well, you know, very frankly, both sides need to work together on these issues.

CAVUTO: Yes.

PANETTA: Tax reform ought to be something supported by both Republicans and Democrats. The time has come for both of them to work out that kind of approach.

CAVUTO: Leon, I would be remiss if I didn't ping-pong -- again, you have been very patient -- but back to North Korea.

And I was reminded of the fact the president today did sort of tease about whether or he's going to visit the demilitarized zone. Officially, it's not on his schedule when he goes to Asia.

I want you to react to the president discussing this with reporters earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: The DMZ, yes or no, are you going? Yes or no?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I would rather not say, but you will be surprised. You will be surprised.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAVUTO: Do you think he should go?

PANETTA: Well, you know, I mean, this is one of those things where I think he ought to ask his key military types, his intelligence types as to what kind of signal would that send to North Korea and could it be incendiary in any way?

This situation is tense enough. And that tension, does it need to be heightened? So, I just think he ought to take the time to carefully talk with people.

CAVUTO: But every president -- I guess every president, Leon, save Ronald Reagan, has, right? So what would be the big deal if he did?

PANETTA: Well, past presidents have done this, but you will admit that most of them have done it when the tensions have not been as high as they are today.

So, I'm just asking the president, take your time, talk to the key people, get their advice before you decide to do it.

CAVUTO: Do you, when you see Washington today and the environment today, is this just the way it's always going to be, and that whoever is best in working that system will work that system, and maybe it is Donald Trump's approach to just fight fire with fire?

PANETTA: Well, I think that's a lousy way to govern. And I don't think it has to be that way.

I think the reality is that the president can exercise the leadership necessary to try to get both sides to the table and try to resolve these issues. They have got to restore and element of trust.

And, you know, throughout my time in the Congress, as a Democrat, I worked with Republicans. Tip O'Neill worked with Bob Michel. Bob Dole worked with George Mitchell.

That is the tradition of how you govern, through consensus, through compromise. And, ultimately, we have got to get back to that, because that is how our democracy works. That's what our forefathers designed, and that's what we need to do if we're going to be able to resolve the issues facing this country.

CAVUTO: You had expressed some empathy, maybe some sympathy for Chief of Staff John Kelly, even recommending, I think, a bottle of scotch to help him out with that job.

(LAUGHTER)

CAVUTO: Did he ever say that he would take you up on that offer?

(LAUGHTER)

PANETTA: If I know John -- he was my military aide.

CAVUTO: Indeed.

PANETTA: And we went on a lot of -- we went on a lot of trips abroad.

And I have to tell you that both of us shared -- shared a glass of something.

(LAUGHTER)

PANETTA: You know, he said he likes whiskey more than Scotch.

CAVUTO: All right. All right.

PANETTA: I will let him decide what he wants to drink. But he needs a good stiff drink at the end of the day.

CAVUTO: Yes, no matter who he is serving. That's a very, very tough job.

(LAUGHTER)

CAVUTO: Leon Panetta, very good seeing you again. Thank you so much.

PANETTA: Nice to talk with you, Neil.

CAVUTO: All right, former defense secretary, CIA director, OMB director, Bill Clinton chief of staff -- what a resume -- Leon Panetta.

END

Content and Programming Copyright 2017 Fox News Network, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copyright 2017 CQ-Roll Call, Inc. All materials herein are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of CQ-Roll Call. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content.
A commercial airline flight bound for Dallas with more than 80 people on board had to return to an Alabama airport because of smoke in the passenger cabin.

A spokeswoman for Birmingham's airport, Toni Herrera-Bast, said an American Airlines flight operated by a regional carrier departed Tuesday morning but had to turn around after the pilot reported smoke.

PHOTOS SHOW CARGO CATCHING FIRE NEAR AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT

The plane returned to the airport at 6:40 a.m. after only 11 minutes in the air. Passengers got off the aircraft on the tarmac before being taken inside the terminal.

No injuries are being reported.

The twin-engine Bombardier CRJ-900 was carrying 79 passengers and four crew members.
A wedding crasher ruined a couples big day when she hurled a drink at guests and got involved in a bridesmaids brawl, police said.

Shelby McDowell, 20, was arrested Sunday night after she showed up uninvited to spy on a guest she claimed was her boyfriend at a wedding in Palm Coast, Florida, according to news station WKMG.

McDowell claimed, upon arriving at Hammock Beach Resorts, that she saw her boyfriend, Darby Johns, dancing with and kissing a woman on the dance floor.

She then poured a drink on the pair, punched the woman in the face and made a break for the bathroom, according to authorities.

Several bridesmaids, however, decided to take matters into their own hands and dragged McDowell out of the bathroom stall, according to WKMG.

Read more from the New York Post.
A man who repeatedly contacted the U.S. Secret Service to threaten President Donald Trumps life was charged in federal court Tuesday.

James Jackson, a truck driver, was arrested in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, after it was determined he made phone calls to the Secret Service field office in Chicago, Illinois, from Oct. 12 through Oct. 13 using a masked phone number, saying he was going to kill the president, The Detroit News reported.

Better watch Donald Trump a--, ya b---h. Yall think someone playing with yo dumba--es, I am going to blow white brains out  his [expletive] head, Jackson reportedly said.

On Oct. 18, Jackson called the Secret Service field office in Detroit, Michigan, saying: Why yall messing with my wires? Im going to blow Trumps brains out.

A woman who Jackson frequently called in an unrelated incident told investigators that after she met a man named Jamie online, he threatened to cut off her head and parade it in front of the White House for Trump.

Jackson, who was arraigned in Spokane, Wash., and remains in custody, denied the allegations against him through his federal defender.
Three people in North Carolina were arrested Saturday after they were caught inside a "mobile meth lab" in a Walmart parking lot.

Robert Harr, 29, Ashley Fisher, 26, and Randy Holmes Jr., 25, were arrested after an officer patrolling noticed them acting suspiciously, according to a Hope Mills Police Department Facebook post.

The officer scanned the license plates of the burgundy-colored Cadillac they were in only to discover that they were registered to a Ford Explorer.

Another officer reportedly went up to the vehicle to determine if it was stolen. It was then they spotted drug paraphernalia in the Cadillacs back seat. A subsequent search of the car found several empty soda bottles with attached hoses and white powdery substance in them.

METH HIDDEN IN STUFFED DOG TOY, BORDER PATROL AGENTS SAY

An investigation of the items by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) found that the items found in the car were indeed components of a mobile meth-lab, the Hope Mills Police Department said.

Harr, Fisher, and Holmes were jailed at the Cumberland County Detention Center on bonds of $80,000 to $90,000 for several drug-related felonies.

Holmes was also charged with one felony count of maintaining a vehicle for the purpose of manufacturing a controlled substance.
The world's largest pork company WH Group Ltd. said on Tuesday that its wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary Smithfield Foods jointed hands with China's largest retailer JD.com to launch online sales of U.S. produced pork in China.

The fresh food division of JD.com, JD Fresh, will become the exclusive online sales platform for Smithfield's pork products in China, according to a tripartite agreement signed here by Smithfield, JD.com and China's Henan Shuanghui Investment and Development Co.

In addition, the parties will sell more than 10 kinds of exclusive products on JD.com, and further cooperate on big data, cold chain logistics and foods traceability.

Kenneth Sullivan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Smithfield, said, "Through this partnership, Smithfield Foods will take yet another step in developing its e-commerce business and expand its presence in China, as we meet consumers where they shop."

"Smithfield has a strong food safety platform and we take this even further to deliver products consumers enjoy and feel good about sharing with their families," he said.

Sullivan said that since Smithfield was acquired by WH Group in 2013, it has created more than 1,000 new jobs in its local community.

Richard Liu, JD.com chairman and chief executive officer, said the products sold on JD will include bone-in cuts and variety meats, with a focus on small packaged frozen products. These are all products which Smithfield specializes in, and includes the types of products in highest demand in China.

He said that JD Fresh is the largest direct sales fresh food platform in China. In the first half of 2017, gross merchandise volume from direct sales of meats on JD increased more than 780 percent year-on-year. It is now the largest online pork retail platform in China.

According to the agreement, JD will leverage its big data insights to help Smithfield in areas including data analysis and categorization of on-shelf goods and to carry out precisely targeted marketing campaigns based on in-depth study of consumers' shopping behaviors.

In order to ensure product quality and safety, JD and Smithfield will work on seamless cooperation in cold chain logistics.
Authorities have arrested a Texas parent seen in a video pummeling a teen girl on high school property, according to a report.

Mary Alice Hernandez, 34, was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily injury on Monday in Corpus Christi after the disturbing footage filmed at Miller High School went viral, according to the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.

The video, which was captured on a cellphone, showed the suspect repeatedly striking a student in the head on Oct. 18 before fleeing the scene.

WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS PROFANITY

The arrest came after the students mom made a plea on Facebook for help tracking down the woman.

Click for more from the New York Post.
Police are hunting for a gunman who shot and killed a student and his friend after an altercation early Wednesday morning at Louisiana's Grambling State University, officials said.

Lincoln Parish police received 911 calls just after midnight about the shooting, which occurred nearly 37 miles west of Monroe, sheriffs spokesman Stephen Williams said. The suspect fled the scene, spurring a manhunt that prompted a call for students to stay indoors. Lincoln Parish Sheriff Mike Stone said later the shooter and the two victims knew each other to some extent and the incident wasnt random or an act of terrorism.

"It was an altercation that started inside one of the dorm rooms and spilled out into the courtyard," Williams said. "We're interviewing witnesses."

Stone said in another statement: "There are no indicators that this incident bears any resemblance to any of the random acts of violence or domestic terrorism that have been experienced around our country in recent weeks.

Police said they have a description of the suspect, but did not release his name.

Earl Andrews, 23, a student at the university, and Monquiarius Caldwell, 23, both of Farmerville, were identified by University spokeswoman Kathy Spurlock as the victims in the shooting. Andrews and Caldwell were friends from college and cousins by marriage, Andrews brother, Ledarius Heard, told The Associated Press.

"Earl didn't bother nobody," Heard said about his brother, adding that they lived off campus in Ruston. Andrews was studying criminal justice and hoped to move to Texas after graduation to be closer to his 1-year-old son.

The shooting occurred as students celebrated the universitys Homecoming, the Monroe News Star reported. Heard said his brother typically came home immediately after classes ended but had been on campus Tuesday night to hang out with friends during homecoming week. Heard said he didn't know of any conflicts between his brother and anyone else.

"If he ever had any problems, he would let me know," he added.

Despite the search for the unidentified gunman, Grambling State University said Wednesday morning that offices and buildings will be open.

"Grambling State University offices are open with normal business hours and students are expected to attend classes as scheduled," the university said in a tweet.

Grambling State University Media Relations Director Will Sutton called the deadly shooting a horrible tragedy and nothing that anybody wouldve ever wanted to have happened.

"Our prayers are with the victims and their families," Sutton said. "Theres no place for violence on Grambling State University campus. We always encourage our students to be safe, to be aware, watch who they hang out with, and watch whos around at all times. This is a most unfortunate situation."

The Associated Press contributed to this report
A third U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike group entered the western Pacific, the Navy announced Wednesday, just days ahead of President Donald Trumps first trip to Asia next month.

The USS Nimitz joined the Roosevelt and Reagan in the region. The Nimitz announcement came a day after the Roosevelt entered the western Pacific.

The deployments came as U.S., Japanese and South Korean maritime forces were conducting a trilateral exercise aimed at improving ballistic missile defenses.

On Monday, Japan's defense minister asserted that North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities had grown to an "unprecedented, critical and imminent" level, requiring "different responses."

The minister, Itsunori Onodera, said the rising threat compels his country to endorse the U.S. view that "all options" must be considered, which Trump has said includes possible military action. Japan was alarmed by North Korea twice launching ballistic missiles over Japanese territory, in August and in September.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis slammed Pyongyang for defying U.N. Security Council resolutions against its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

"North Korea's provocations threaten regional and global security," he said.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.
An Indiana judge ruled Wednesday that a man accused of raping, killing and eating parts of his ex-girlfriends dead body is not mentally competent for trial.

The judge in Clark County made the decision based on testimony from doctors who treated Joseph Oberhansley, 34, Fox 8 reported.

Oberhansley confessed to fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend, Tammy Jo Blanton, 46, in Sept. 2014. He told police that he broke into her home, killed her and cooked and ate her body parts, including her heart, lung and parts of her brain.

FBI ADDS NC MURDER SUSPECT TO MOST WANTED LIST, OFFERS $100G REWARD

He was charged with rape, murder and abuse of a corpse and could have faced the death penalty if convicted.

Oberhansleys defense team officially filed their concerns in February, arguing that their client couldnt understand what was going on in the trial and said he consistently appeared irrational and expressed bizarre thoughts at hearings.

He is suspicious, paranoid, uncommunicative, and agitated, they wrote in the motion, according to Fox 8.

The judge reportedly ordered competency evaluations to be completed by psychologists and psychiatrists, who testified that he was not fit for trial.

MS-13 HAS NEARLY AS MANY MEMBERS AS POLICE IN ONE WEALTHY VIRGINIA COUNTY

Prosecutors said they plan to bring Oberhansley back to court at some point after he receives treatment for competency restoration, Fox 8 reported.

I had hoped that it would be tried before now, prosecuting attorney Jeremy Mull told the Courier Journal. But my main priority is getting a verdict that is going to stand, that is going to survive appeal

Oberhansley has maintained his innocence throughout the legal process, once yelling to the judge in court, You have the wrong guy. Before his hearing on Wednesday he told reporters he was outraged by these false charges against me, WDRB reported.
A former U.S. Navy SEAL cried Wednesday while testifying about his military dog who was shot in the head by enemy fighters in Afghanistan while he was on a mission to find Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.

Bergdahl, who had walked away from his unit, was held captive by the Taliban for five years.

The wounded SEAL, retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer James Hatch, entered the courtroom for Bergdahls sentencing hearing with a limp and a service dog named Mina. Bergdahl pleaded guilty last week to desertion and endangering his comrades. He could face life in prison.

Hatch told the court at Fort Bragg, N.C., that when he was assigned to find Bergdahl he thought someone is going to get killed trying to rescue him, but pushed on because Bergdahl was an American" and had a mom.

Hatch was largely stoic and spoke in measured tones -- except when he talked about the slain military dog.

"His name was Remco," Hatch said as his voice cracked, recalling the moments before the dog was blasted in the head and killed.

"Take your time," said the prosecutor, Army Maj. Justin Oshana.

ARMY SGT. BOWE BERGDAHL: WHO IS HE?

Remco was leading them through a field when the dog located two enemy fighters the team had seen at a distance. Hatch said the fighters sprayed AK-47 bullets at them, killing the dog. Hatch was hit in the leg.

"I screamed a lot. It hurt really bad...I thought I was dead," he said.

Hatch said his unit was rescued, but medics had to kill two Afghans before taking off in the helicopter. Remco was brought on board and staff tried to resuscitate him, but it failed -- the dogs jaw was blown off.

Photos of Hatchs injuries and a vest that Remco was wearing that medics had to cut off were shown in the courtroom.

Hatch said the dog helped protect his team by locating enemy fighters after the SEALs lost sight of them in a chaotic situation.

He added his team's helicopters came under fire as they landed in an area near the Pakistan border where they had information on Bergdahl's possible whereabouts. He said the mission was hastily planned, and their only objective was the Bergdahl search.

Hatch said he believes he would have died if a comrade hadn't quickly applied a tourniquet. Hatch has subsequently had 18 surgeries.

BERGDAHL PLEADS GUILTY IN DESERTION CASE

He now runs a nonprofit dedicated to the care and support of military and law enforcement dogs.

Another witness, Capt. John Billings, told the court Wednesday that Bergdahl was one of his soldiers and they decided to rescue him because they wanted to bring Bowe home.we leave no man behind.

Billings, a platoon leader, described difficult conditions while searching for Bergdahl, as his patrol developed dysentery while trudging about in 100-degree temperatures with little sleep or water.

As the hearing got underway, an Army judge also said he was still considering a motion by the defense to dismiss the case. The defense has argued that President Trump's comments about Bergdahl prevent Bergdahl from having a fair sentencing hearing.

The judge, Army Col. Jeffery Nance said Monday he would be fair and hasn't been influenced by Trump, but that he does have concerns that the president's comments are affecting public perceptions.

While campaigning for president, Trump repeatedly called Bergdahl a traitor and suggested he be shot or thrown from a plane without a parachute. Nance ruled in February those comments didn't constitute unlawful command influence, noting that Trump was a civilian candidate for president at the time. The defense argued that Trump revived his campaign comments the day of Bergdahl's plea hearing, by saying at a news conference that he thinks people are aware of what he said before.

BERGDAHL SENTENCING: TRUMP'S RECENT COMMENTS CONCERN JUDGE

Evan Buetow was the third witness called to the stand Wednesday. Buetow, a sergeant who was Bergdahl's team leader, also became emotional during his testimony.

When asked why he searched for Bergdahl, Buetow said: "Because my guy was gone."

During the search for Bergdahl, Buetow said he was sick, he didn't get much sleep, got dysentery and was always hungry.

According to Buetow, who said he didn't know Bergdahl personally but rather professionally, the former solider always followed orders, was great at physical training and his uniform was always proper. He added that Bergdahl always volunteered, even for things he didn't want to do.

Aviation Col. John White, who also testified, said that when his command post got a report about Bergdahl, he sent squads, picked up a tracking dog and went to where they thought the missing soldier might be to begin tracking him.

While normal flights are supposed to be only nine hours during sunlight, White said he had worked over 13 hours and had to get extensions to fly longer. During that month, extension requests increased tremendously.

White added that less than 10 aircraft were damaged during Bergdahl search-and-rescue missions.

Prosecutors made no deal to cap Bergdahl's punishment, so the judge has wide leeway to decide his sentence. Several more days of testimony are expected.

Bergdahl has said he was caged, kept in darkness and beaten, and that he tried to escape more than a dozen times before President Barack Obama brought Bergdahl home in 2014 in a swap for five Taliban prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

Fox News Terace Garnier and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The leader of a College Republican group in New York City said he felt like there was "a target on my safety" after an Antifa group distributed pictures and personal information about all of the group's members, imploring opponents to let them know "what you think."

The flyers  spread online and littered around the Columbia University campus as early as Friday, ahead of an event with right-leaning political blogger Michael Cernovich  identified the board members of the Columbia University College Republicans student group.

Its crazy, Ari Boosalis, CUCR president, told Fox News on Tuesday. It put a target on my safety.

A financial economics student at Columbia, Boosalis said the doxing  a practice of publishing personal information online, typically with a malicious intent  is just the latest string of harassment he has encountered this semester since it was announced that several right-leaning speakers had been invited to campus.

The harassment came via Twitter and LinkedIn and not only targeted Boosalis but also the other members of the CUCR board.

I am the face of the [CUCR] and I can take whatever they say, he said. You can slander me, you can attack me all you want, and I can take it.

He added: But its going to other board members in smaller roles. Thats different level.

I am the face of the [CUCR] and I can take whatever they say. You can slander me, you can attack me all you want, and I can take it.  Ari Boosalis, president of the Columbia Univ. College Republicans

Boosalis said once he and other board members were alerted to the flyers on campus and online, they filed formal harassment claims with the university. He added they are contemplating getting lawyers involved.

A Columbia University spokesperson told Fox News in an email that "student safety is our top priority."

NYC Anti-Fascist Action was identified as the group behind the posters. The group shared a video on its Facebook page showing members posting the flyers around campus.

Requests for comment from the group were not immediately returned.

Boosalis said he believes Columbia students are in the NYC Anti-Fascist Action group because some of the photos used to identify the board members were behind private Facebook accounts and weren't the members' profile pictures.

Columbia University has experienced its share of public protests after it opened its doors to right-leaning speakers this semester. Just this week, a group of students who disrupted a recent address by ex-English Defense League leader Tommy Robinson were banned from future CUCR events, the Columbia Spectator reported.

Boosalis said the protests and the harassment have not deterred him or his group from hosting Cernovich on Oct. 30. He said there is value to having speakers like him on campus as part of the ongoing freedom of speech conversation on college campuses across the country.

We have gone to an age of hysteria that is stopping these conversations, he said. I am not going to let these people make me feel unsafe.
Every dog has its day.

Hikers in Colorado captured the dramatic rescue of a dog trapped in an abandoned mine shaft.

Preston Gladd was hiking earlier this month in Park County, Colo., when he heard animal sounds coming from the inside of a cave, FOX31 reported. His girlfriend, Portia Scovern, wrote in a Facebook post that Gladd continued on his way thinking the sounds were from a wild animal.

CASE OF COLORADO TEENS WHO DISAPPEARED IN 1982 YIELDS NEW CLUES, POLICE SAY

However, more than a week later, on Oct. 18, Gladd was hiking in the same area when he heard the familiar noise of barking. And he noticed a dog had apparently fallen into an abandoned mine shaft.

Gladd called Scovern and his friend Gannon Ingles to help retrieve the trapped dog.

Scovern captured the men using hiking gear to lapel down the mine shaft and retrieve the dog.

Hi buddy! Were going to get you! a voice is heard saying.

COLORADO RESTAURANT REMOVES BATHROOM SIGN AFTER BACKLASH

After the dog, later identified as Cheyenne, was safely pulled out, she was given food and water. Later, Scovern filmed the canine receiving hugs from the hikers and a bath.

Scovern shared the video and story on her personal Facebook page, hoping to find Cheyennes owner. With some luck, the pups owner was located and Cheyenne was reunited with his family. They have not been identified.

Fox News' request for a comment by Scovern was not immediately returned.
The ex-boyfriend accused of murdering a University of Pittsburgh student with a claw hammer and knives pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he was arrested on the Pennsylvania homicide warrant.

The plea from 21-year-old Matthew Darby to loitering and false information charges clears the way for his extradition to Pittsburgh to face charges in the Oct. 8 killing of 20-year-old Alina Sheykhet.

Darby was arrested earlier this month when "a concerned citizen reported that a male was tampering with a residence," the Myrtle Beach Police Department said in a statement. He was sentenced Tuesday to time served for the South Carolina charges.

Pittsburgh police believe Darby killed the woman, who was his ex-girlfriend, using a claw hammer and two knives before fleeing to South Carolina.

EX CHARGED IN PITT STUDENT'S DEATH ARRESTED IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Sheykhet, 20, was studying to be a physical therapist, and had recently filed a protection from abuse order against Darby over an incident that occurred weeks before her murder.

Darby was arrested Sept. 26 and charged with felony criminal trespass for allegedly breaking into Sheykhet's apartment.

In her protection order, Sheykhet claimed Darby climbed up the gutter of her home and broke in through a second-floor window.

"He did this because I left him and stopped answering his phone calls," she wrote, describing the 21-year-old as abusive, controlling and jealous. The protection order was later granted.

Court records obtained by the Associated Press show Darby was charged in March with rape and sexual assault in another county and later posted $10,000 bail in the case.

Darby's attorney, David Shrager, has called the homicide charge "serious," but did not comment on its particulars.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A former Maine fire chief has pleaded guilty to setting a wildfire that burned 42 acres in 2016.

The Journal Tribune reports that 61-year-old Ricky Plummer pleaded guilty Wednesday to starting the fire when he was chief, under an agreement in which he'd be sentenced to two years in prison.

Firefighters from several towns helped fight the April 15, 2016, wildfire that caused a nearby condominium complex to be evacuated.

The former Old Orchard Beach fire chief told investigators he was elsewhere when the fire started, but later said he accidentally started the fire while smoking.

Fellow firefighters said he didn't smoke.

Plummer previously worked in the fire department in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, for more than 20 years. He has also worked in other fire departments in Maine, Massachusetts and Florida.

___

Information from: Journal Tribune, http://www.journaltribune.com
Alibaba's Ant Financial said it aims to help small and micro business and individual investors by cutting as much as 10 billion yuan (US$1.5 billion) in transaction fees.

It will also waive the transaction fees from small and micro vendors' Alipay accounts to their bank accounts within the next three years.

In the past six months, a total of 2 billion yuan in transaction fees has been waived for small and micro vendors.

Ordinary users will be charged a 0.1 percent transaction fee if they withdraw over 20,000 yuan of their Alipay balance to bank accounts or other debit cards.

Ant will also aim to provide a "total of 1 trillion yuan of small and micro loans for offline merchants and businesses in the next three years," said Ant Financial Vice President Yuan Leiming.

As many as six million small vendors have received 16 billion yuan worth of small loans in the past two months, with their credit lines ranging from 1,000 yuan to 500,000 yuan.

Zhejiang E-commerce Bank Co, in which Ant Financial is the biggest shareholder, is also seeking to provide a more diversified financial service such as financial data analysis and a credit line for small and micro businesses.

The more money small vendors receive through Alipay, the more likely they will receive a higher line of credit and a higher guarantee against fraudulent payments.

Yuan said Ant will also collaborate with third party financial institutions to meet small vendors' demand for wealth management, small loans and insurance.
TOP OF THE MORNING

Welcome to Fox News First. Not signed up yet? Click here.

Developing now, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017:

Salacious Trump dossier funded by DNC, Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign

Two close Clinton allies are central figures in Russia probe, source says

Sen. Jeff Flake's retirement a victory for Steve Bannon and "Trumpism"

Email shows Obama's Justice Dept. blocked conservative groups from settlement payments

TUNE IN: Don't miss "Lou Dobbs Tonight" at 7 p.m. ET on Fox Business as President Trump sounds off on tax reform, his war of words with Sens. Jeff Flake and Bob Corker and much more!

THE LEAD STORY: A controversial dossier containing salacious allegations about President Donald Trump and his possible connections to Russia was funded by Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee, a source confirmed to Fox News ... Fusion GPS, the firm behind the dossier, was retained in April 2016 by Marc E. Elias, an attorney representing the DNC and the Clinton campaign, the Washington Post reported. The firm then reportedly hired former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele to write the infamous dossier. Steele had ties both to the U.S. intelligence community and the FBI. Prior to the firm being retained by Elias and his law firm, Perkins Coie, Fusion GPSs research had been subsidized by an unidentified Republican during the GOP primary. However the Clinton campaign and the DNC saw the research through, funding the firm through the end of October 2016, just days before Trump defeated Clinton in the general election.

THE REAL RUSSIA SCANDAL? In addition to former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, close Clinton allies John and Tony Podesta have become central figures in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe, a source told Fox News' Tucker Carlson ... The source, a former employee of the Podesta Group who has been interviewed by Mueller's investigators, says Manafort worked extensively with the Podestas as far back as 2011 on behalf of Russian government and business interests. Russia sought influence in Capitol Hill and focused on the Podesta Group because of Tony and John's close ties to then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Carlson reported. The source, Carlson said, alleged that Tony Podesta and a member of the Clinton Foundation had a meeting about how to assist Uranium One, the Russia-owned company that controls 20 percent of U.S. uranium production capacity and whose board members gave more than $100 million to the Clinton Foundation.

BANNON CLAIMS VICTORY: Former White House strategist Steve Bannon quickly claimed victory for his anti-GOP establishment movement after Sen. Jeff Flake's surprise retirement announcement. ... Bannon warned incumbents that his recruited candidates will defeat you in primaries or force you to retire," according to Breitbart News Network Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow, who tweeted the reaction. "The days of establishment Republicans who oppose the people's America First agenda are numbered," Bannon added. Flake announced his retirement with a scathing attack on Trump from the Senate floor, calling the commander-in-chiefs behavior reckless, outrageous, and undignified." But his retirement may only fuel the ongoing civil war within the GOP.

'SMOKING GUN': The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee says he obtained a "smoking gun" email that proves President Obama's Justice Department prevented settlement payouts from going to conservative-leaning organizations, even as liberal groups were awarded money ... While Eric Holder was U.S. attorney general, the Justice Department allowed prosecutors to strike agreements compelling big companies to give money to outside groups not connected to their cases to meet settlement burdens. Republican lawmakers decried those payments as a slush fund that boosted liberal groups, and the Trump DOJ ended the practice earlier this year. DOJ officials had denied picking and choosing the recipients of settlements. But internal Justice Department emails released Tuesday by House Judiciary Committee Chair Bob Goodlatte indicated that settlements didnt go to conservative groups.

ABOUT LAST NIGHT

FLAKING OUT: "In listening to what we heard today from Jeff Flake, if you didn't hear his voice and just read it, this could be a speech that was delivered by Nancy Pelosi. This could have been a speech that was delivered by Chuck Schumer. Almost everything that the press is focusing on, not that he's that conscience of the conservative movement. It's the tone, the vitriol. He lost. His view of conservatism is receding."  Laura Ingraham, on "Special Report," breaking down Sen. Jeff Flake's surprise retirement announcement and fiery attack on Trump. WATCH

IVANKA TAKES ATTACKS IN STRIDE: "If we have to take a few body blows in advocating for those men and women, I think everyone in my family... is honored to do it."  Ivanka Trump, on "Hannity," reflecting on media attacks on her father and her family. WATCH

MINDING YOUR BUSINESS

Republicans, Wall Street score victory in dismantling class-action rule.

Airlines prepare for new U.S. security rules going in effect Thursday.

How to maximize your Social Security benefits, retirement savings.

NEW IN FOX NEWS OPINION

John Stossel: After 16 years of warfare, a private military could help make progress in Afghanistan.

The Niger ambush is nothing like 'Trump's Benghazi.'

Judith Miller: It's not too late for Trump to apologize to Myeshia Johnson.

HOLLYWOOD SQUARED

Eminem song was ripped off by political party, court rules.

Global warming flick Geostorm could lose $100 million.

Kathy Griffin calls Donald Trump a 'moron' and 'Nazi.'

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS?

Police catch bear out for a stroll in California town.

Trove of lost Jewish artifacts, thought to have been destroyed in the Holocaust, discovered.

Southwest's dancing employee is a social media sensation.

STAY TUNED

On Fox News:

Fox & Friends, 6 a.m. ET: President of Americans for Tax Reform Grover Norquist on the potential impact of tax reform on the 2018 midterm elections; House Oversight Committee member Rep. Ron DeSantis on the new investigations on the Obama-era Uranium One deal; Army Capt. Gary Rose opens up about being a Medal of Honor recipient.

The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino, 2 p.m. ET: An intimate and wide-ranging interview with former first daughters Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush.

On Fox Business:

Mornings with Maria, 6 a.m. ET: Day 2 of Maria Bartiromo's live broadcast from the financial summit in Saudi Arabia. Her guests include: U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin; Steve Schwarzman, CEO, Blackstone; Mark Weinberger, EY Global Chairman and CEO; Xavier Rolet, CEO, LSEC and Steve Case; Chairman and CEO of Revolution.

The Intelligence Report, 2 p.m. ET: House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy talks tax reform prospects; attorney Robert A. Profusek on the latest revelations in the Obama-era Uranium One deal; presidential historian Doug Wead dissects the significance of the release of the JFK assassination files.

On Fox News Radio:

The Brian Kilmeade Show, 9 a.m. ET to Noon ET: Douglas Brinkley on the historical significance of Andrew Jackson and a pivotal battle in New Orleans; author Anne Applebaum gives us the back story behind "Red Famine: Stalin's War on Ukraine."

The Tom Shillue Show, 3 p.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET: Jackie "The Jokeman" Martling, comedian and former head writer for "The Howard Stern Show," discusses his life in comedy, working alongside Howard Stern and our increasingly politically correct culture.

#OnThisDay

1994: Susan Smith of Union, S.C., claims a carjacker drove off with her two young sons. (Smith later confesses to drowning the children.)

1983: President Ronald Reagan orders the U.S. invasion of Grenada, saying the action is needed to protect American citizens.

1939: The play "The Time of Your Life," by William Saroyan, opens in New York.

Thank you for joining us on Fox News First! Enjoy your Wednesday and we'll see you in your inbox first thing Thursday morning.
Michelle Black is primarily focusing on her 9- and 11-year-old sons these days. She said shes making sure, in the wake of their fathers death, they are physically and emotionally OK.

Special Forces soldier Bryan Black was among four soldiers killed in Niger earlier this month during a mission that remains somewhat unclear. The military is still trying to determine if the soldiers were randomly targeted or if they were led into an overwhelming ambush.

Michelle Black wants the nation to know her husband was more than a Special Forces soldier. He was also a master chess player and avid sportsman, she said, who spoke three languages, including Arabic and the local dialect in Niger, which made him something of a celebrity among his unit. She says most of all, he was an amazing husband and father.

I know that I married a true hero, whether it wouldve been on the battlefield or just in life in general. When you have true moral integrity and you care that much for other people that youre willing to put your life on the line, she said, youre a hero whether its over there or here.

Michelle Black said when it comes to the ongoing investigation into her husbands death, the military is giving her guidance, but shes not watching the news or following the day-to-day details. Someday, she said, shell need answers. But it wont bring Bryan back.

She also said she was very aware of the controversy surrounding President Trump and his conversation with another Gold Star wife, whose husband was also killed in Niger. But she said her experience with the president was different.

TRUMP DENIES ARMY WIDOW'S CLAIM HE STRUGGLED TO REMEMBER SOLDIER'S NAME

Im very grateful that he called and he spoke to the kids. And I think that the excitement from that made it a little better, even if it was just for a minute, she said. So, yeah he was very gracious and I appreciate anyone who calls cause, like I said, that takes quite a bit of bravery to call into that kind of situation.
Video that appeared to show the moment Kate Steinle was shot by a homeless illegal immigrant triggered gasps in court Wednesday, as a police officer explained what he found at the scene.

San Francisco Police Department Officer Craig Dong was the final witness of the day in the trial of Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, who's charged with killing Steinle on July 1, 2015 on Pier 14 in San Francisco. Dong is an investigator with a background in video forensics.

During his testimony, video provided to him that was recorded from a distance was played for the jury. It showed Steinle falling, the suspect walking away and something splashing in the water.

When the part of the video showing Steinle was played, people in the gallery of the court room could be heard gasping. The video was played back again, during which an alternate juror stood to get a second look.

In addition to the video, Dong talked about how he'd received photos from witnesses on the scene and distributed them to officers looking for the suspect.

During Dong's cross examination, he admitted that investigators hadn't looked at video from before the shooting. The defense team stressed the importance of this, arguing that earlier video could have shown that the weapon was already on the pier, backing up Zarate's claim that he found the gun there.

The day began with resumed questioning of SFPD Officer Raymond Ortiz, who was part of the CSI unit that responded to Pier 14 the night Steinle was killed.

During his testimony on Tuesday, Ortiz showed jurors video and several pictures showing the entire length of the pier, including the swivel chair the defendant Zarate was in, the exact spot where Kate was hit, and the location of several witnesses in relation to them.

SFPD Officer Andrew Bryant, who arrested Zarate after the shooting, took the stand next. Bryant told the jury that he noticed the suspect on the scene and when Zarate saw him, his eyes got very big, "like deer in headlights," and quickly walked the other direction.

Bryant said he pulled out his weapon and yelled "stop," but the suspect kept walking. A plainclothed officer appeared and ordered Zarate to the ground, which he obeyed.

He said Zarate was cuffed and searched before being sat in the back of the police car. About 45 minutes later, the suspect's hands were put in bags to protect any gun residue that was potentially on them.

When the defense team cross-examined Bryant, they suggested that perhaps the residue ultimately found on Zarate's hands was actually transferred to him from an officer.

The jury also heard from SFPD Bomb Squad Officer Scott Hurley, who's part of the "underwater hazards device team" and recovered the murder weapon from the ocean floor.

The defense team questioned him regarding tides and currents between when the gun was dropped in the water and when it was located a day later.

None of the victim's family members were seen in court.

On Tuesday, jurors heard from Michelle Lo, a witness to the slaying.

KATE STEINLE TRIAL FEATURES TESTIMONY OF WITNESS TO KILLING BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT

Lo said she was on vacation in San Francisco with her family at the time. She remembered a man dressed in black who "looked like a homeless person" and was spinning around in a chair "grinning and laughing" who made her uncomfortable.

She said she and her family continued along a pier before hearing a "very sharp scream" and seeing a woman on the ground. And she said she saw the same man from earlier walking away.

Zarate, 54, admitted shooting Steinle, but says it was an accident.

Steinle's father testified Monday that before she died, she said to him: "Help me, Dad."

The prosecution said those were her last words.

KATE STEINLE CASE THAT LED TO DEBATE OVER US SANCTUARY CITIES, TRUMPS CALL FOR WALL IS UNDER WAY IN COURT

While Garcia's immigration status is what brought the case into the national spotlight, jurors will not hear evidence about that, and it will not be a factor in the trial.

Steinle's slaying became a signature issue for Donald Trump as he was running for president. He invoked the slaying in calling for the construction of a wall on the Mexican border and stepping up deportations and cracking down on illegal immigration.

Fox News' Jennifer Girdon in San Francisco contributed to this report.
The brother of the man behind the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history was arrested early Wednesday on child pornography charges in California, officials said.

Bruce Paddock, 59, was arrested early Wednesday for possession of child pornography, Los Angeles police said in a news release. He is being held on $60,000 bail. Paddock was taken into custody at an assisted living center in North Hollywood, FOX 11 reported, citing law enforcement sources.

FAMILY OF LAS VEGAS VICTIM 'WANTS ANSWERS,' LAWYER SAYS, AS AUTHORITIES REMAIN TIGHT-LIPPED

The arrest came after an investigation that began months before the Las Vegas shooting, after authorities received a tip Paddock had child porn on his computer, FOX 11 reported.

Authorities said no one knew where Paddock was living until another tip came in, leading police to the North Hollywood facility, law enforcement sources told FOX 11. Police said Paddock was squatting in the facility and was evicted, leading officers to finding the material.

Bruce Paddock is not considered a suspect in the Las Vegas shooting. It wasn't immediately known if he has an attorney.

The Las Vegas massacre killed 58 people and wounded hundreds of others Oct. 1.

Another brother, Eric Paddock, spoke to media following the shooting but Bruce Paddock did not.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
An Illinois man, who was charged Monday with the two-decades old murder of a 71-year-old woman, allegedly disguised himself as the elderly victim on multiple occasions and forged her signature to cash checks, officials said.

Thomas Spear, 43, was ordered held on $3 million bail on first-degree murder charges in the 1994 killing of Illa Venard, the DuPage County State's Attorney's office said in a news release.

Venard's body was found Aug. 4, 1994 in her apartment in Lisle, located about 25 miles west of Chicago.

The state attorney's office said she was killed five days earlier, when then-20-year-old Spear broke into her apartment through a glass door and confronted the 71-year-old woman, whom he forcibly pushed" down.

After the killing, Spear burglarized Venard's apartment and took property -- including her checkbook along with her personal identification, according to officials.

"It is further alleged that on several occasions, Spear disguised himself as an elderly woman, forged Venards signature and cashed four checks from her account," the state attorney's office said.

An investigation into the killing eventually went cold, until the Lisle Police Department, with assistance from the DuPage County State Attorneys Office, reopened the case this year. Spear was arrested in Peoria on Sept. 28 and charged with four counts of issuing or delivering a forged document.

DuPage County States Attorney Robert B. Berlin said he hoped Vernard's family "may begin to feel some measure of closure," with the charges brought against Spear.

"I would like to express my thanks to the Lisle Police Department for their work on this case," Berlin said. "They never gave up on justice for Illa and while much time has passed since her tragic death, it is because of their efforts that Mr. Spear is now faced with the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars."

Spear's court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 6. If found guilty, he faces a potential sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
A Massachusetts mother is furious after her 7-year-old daughters head was shaved at school for hygienic reasons, the New York Daily News reported.

Denise Robinson dropped her daughter, Tru, off at Little Heroes Group Home in Dracut with hair that reached past her shoulders.

Her hair was in two pony tails on the side on Saturday and it was braided in the pony tails and there was nothing wrong, Robinson said.

But when she picked Tru up from the group home that afternoon, her hair had been shaved off.

The school staff claimed the hair cut was necessary for cleanliness, but Robinson said she never gave them permission. According to its website, Little Heroes calls itself an intensive group home that serves children with emotional, mental health and behavioral issues.

SUSPECT IN PITT STUDENT'S KILLING PLEADS IN MYRTLE BEACH

"I was told a clinician gave permission to Tru to have this haircut done," Robinson said. There was no hygienic reason to shave my childs head. There was no head lice. There was no bed bugs.

Robinson said that after receiving an inadequate response from her daughters school about what happened, she is now looking to sue.

I am very upset. And Im not going to stop being upset because I feel like my child was assaulted and violated, Robinson told NECN.

The Department of Children and Families is currently investigating the incident and Robinson has hired attorney Richard Kendall to represent her in the case.

She said Tru was told that if her hair was shaved, it would grow back straight.

SHERIFF: FATHER ABANDONED 5-YEAR-OLD SON IN WOODS AND FLED

The volunteer informed this 7-year-old biracial child that by shaving her head, her hair would grow back straight, Kendall told reporters. I find that appalling.

Robinson says that she cant help but think that the haircut was racially motivated.

In a written statement, Little Heroes said that they were looking into the incident.

Decisions regarding grooming are based on a variety of factors, including hygiene, according to the release. A review of circumstances is underway to determine what occurred and, if necessary, appropriate action will be taken.

Robinson says that, regardless of the motive, her daughter is very emotionally damaged by the incident.

Shes a very emotionally damaged young lady with behavioral issues, her attorney, Kendall, said, and to put this on top of the whole entire thing is really rough.
A young Memphis girl was fondled by a stranger while standing at a school bus stop on Monday morning, police said.

The suspect, a male in his early 30s, drove up to the girl, rolled down his passenger window, and talked to her as she tried to walk away. He then got out of his car and grabbed her inappropriately before returning to his car and fleeing the scene, according to the Memphis Police Departments Facebook page.

Sgt. Karen Rudolph from the Memphis Police Department told Fox News on Wednesday the suspect had yet to be identified.

The girl, who has not been identified, first reported the attack, which occurred around 6:45 a.m. on the 1500 block of Gaither Street in South Memphis, according to the Memphis Police Department. She also told police the suspect was driving a white four-door sedan with tinted windows. The cars make and model is unclear.

The girls parents were notified after the incident, Rudolph said.

There have been two similar episodes in the area, Rudolph said. A male driving a white vehicle has allegedly been attempting to talk to female students in the area of Hamilton middle and high school, according to the police department. However, the suspect did not exit his vehicle and neither victim was fondled during those incidents.

Still, what is now the third in a trio of similar occurrences has some local parents worried for their childrens safety.

I think its a sad time where kids cant walk to schoolcant be saved [while] trying to get an education, a parent told FOX13.
The mother of Las Vegas Metropolitan police Officer Charleston Hartfield died of a heart attack just two days after her sons funeral, Fox 5 Vegas reported.

Sheryl Stiles suffered the heart attack and fell down an escalator, the report said. A family member said she was on her way back to her hotel room.

Her son was among the 58 people killed Oct. 1 in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

He was buried Friday following private graveside services. His burial came after a funeral that drew more than 2,000 family members, friends and police and military officers, with honors that included a motorcade down the Las Vegas Strip.

Afterward the mourning for her son continued. Stiles reportedly suffered the heart attack as well as a brain injury in the fall. She was reportedly placed on life support and died two days later from pulmonary arrest and acute cardio infraction.

Cecil Ralston, a cousin, said the police chaplain told him that she wanted to be with Charleston and that she wanted to die.

Her son was a married father of two and was off-duty during the massacre, where a gunman opened fire on a concert audience from a hotel room.

A year before his death, Hartfield began a computer file detailing the instructions for his funeral.

If youre reading this, then Ive been called home, Hartfields note read. The file was found by his wife, Veronica, following his death.

Nothing I type will make this any easier, so I will get to the facts. My largest request: Please do not allow anyone to wear black. Black is totally depressing and I dont want anyone expressing their sorrow over my passing, Hartfields instructions read.

Hartfield asked that songs by Nina Simone and Johnny Cash be played during his funeral.

I would like for everyone to enjoy themselves. And remember me for who I was. The truth only. None of that stuff about how great I was. Only real stories, the officer wrote.

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo called Hartfield, an 11-year police veteran, a remarkable officer killed by an unremarkable person.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family.
The vicious MS-13 street gang may have killed a teenage boy who vanished in July and whose body was found in a wooded area on Long Island last week, according to a report Tuesday.

The remains of Angel Soler, 16, were found near the Roosevelt-Baldwin border after a police tip led investigators to the gruesome scene. A source told Newsday that Nassau police and federal investigators in the case believe Soler was killed by the vicious street gang that has terrorized neighborhoods on Long Island -- and across the nation -- during the last few years. No details were given on why officials reportedly believe the Freeport High School student was killed by the gang.

Nassau police told Fox News there is an active investigation and they have not confirmed Solers death was gang-related. They added that no information will be released until the investigation concludes.

MS-13 SPREADING ACROSS NATION AS SESSIONS VOWS TO TAKE DOWN GANG

Solers mother, Suyapa Soler, was outspoken on her son's death, saying she believed it was gang-related. But she stopped short of providing the information that led her to that conclusion and didn't name the gang she believed was involved. She told Newsday police requested her to not provide details during the investigation.

The grieving mother added she and her son fled Honduras and came to the U.S. to escape gang violence that ravaged their home city. She arrived in the U.S. for the first time 11 years ago.

On Tuesday, Soler told Newsday: I dont have anything to say about this.

Police searching a Freeport park on Wednesday morning discovered another set of human remains, Newsday reported. Officials were acting on an MS-13-related tip.

WHAT IS MS-13, THE VIOLENT GANG TRUMP VOWED TO TARGET?

MS-13 has been responsible for at least 22 murders on Long Island in the last year, with several killings making national headlines for their brutal tactics. Long Island is reportedly home to more than 1,100 MS-13 members, with more than 700 of them located in Nassau County.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Yangtze River's ecological environment is getting better  and to prove it 12 fish species have reappeared in the river's mouth.

They include the spotted maigre and the Chinese long-snout catfish.

From 2012, more than 30 monitoring spots were set up in the Chinese Sturgeon Nature Conservation Area at Chongming Island near the estuary of Yangtze River, but the 12 species were not observed until the past year.

Six species such as the spotted maigre have been frequently found in the conservation area in the past year, and the other six species, such as the long-snout catfish are also seen in the area, though not as frequently.

Yangtze River's estuary, the passage for fish to travel between the river water and East China Sea, plays a key role in the fishery development along the huge river.

This is why the conservation area was set up at Chongming Island.

In 2012, the conservation area's management office set up an artificial fish shelter in the reservation area. The shelter comprises 2.5-meter-long bamboo poles with holes. The bamboos are set in the riverbed and the holes allow sand to flow in to stabilize the bamboos in the water.

Moss grows on the poles, providing a source of food of fish, and loose sand at the bottom can attract creatures that enjoy swimming in sand. The poles also serve as a shelter for young fish and shrimps when under attack from aggressive fish.

Over the past five years, more than 330,000 bamboo poles have been set up in the river, and the shelter now covers an area of 13,000 square kilometers.

Officials said the shelter has made a significant contribution to improve the eco-diversity of the Yangtze River.
Combating the barbaric MS-13 gang is no easy task in one wealthy Virginia county where the group's membership is nearly equal to the number of cops trying to rein them in.

While U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made dismantling the notorious group a priority for his Justice Department, the gangs membership is estimated to be as high as 10,000 in the United States -- and a good chunk of that membership was clustered in one Virginia community.

In affluent Fairfax County, Va., there were nearly 1,500 members, according to a 2015 police intelligence report. The report said there were about 2,000 members representing 80 different gangs in the county, however, 70 percent of the members were affiliated with MS-13, a police spokesperson told the Washington Post.

That means there were about 1,400 gang members affiliated with MS-13 in the county.

But things may be looking up.

According to an estimate given to the Post in June by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, there were roughly 900 to 1,100 MS-13 members in the greater Washington, D.C. region, of which Fairfax County makes up a large part.

MS-13 SPREADING ACROSS NATION AS SESSIONS VOWS TO TAKE DOWN GANG

Still, the number of Fairfax County police officers on the ground fighting MS-13 and other gangs is just slightly higher.

According to the 2015 report, the countys police department had 1,722 employees, of which about 1,240 are officers on patrol and part of the organized crime and gang units combined. Also included in the total of 1,722 employees are staff members such as secretaries.

Fairfax County is the third wealthiest county in the United States, with a median household income of nearly $113,000, Forbes reported.

In the ongoing war to bring MS-13 to heel, Sessions designated the gang a top priority for his department, a move that directs prosecutors to pursue all legal avenues -- including racketeering, gun and tax laws -- to target the gang.

The new designation also lets local police departments tap into federal money to help pay for things such as wiretaps, interpreters and overtime related to cases involving the gang, but it does not mean all local MS-13 cases will qualify for extra funding, he said.

COPS USING SNEAKERS TO SPOT MS-13 MEMBERS, GANG LEADER SAYS

"MS-13 members brutally rape, rob, extort and murder," Sessions told hundreds of police executives at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Philadelphia. "With more than 40,000 members worldwide, including 10,000 in the United States, MS-13 threatens the lives and well-being of each and every family everywhere they infest."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The gunman in the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School had an interest in children that could be categorized as pedophilia, but there was no proof he ever acted on it, according to a cache of heavily-redacted documents released Tuesday by the FBI.

The more than 1,500 pages of documents were posted on the agency's archive page on the Newtown shooting, and provide a glimpse into the early days of the investigation, as FBI agents gathered evidence on shooter Adam Lanza.

The FBI's behavioral analysis unit document did not say what specific evidence there was that Lanza had a pedophilic interest in children, but in another document, an unidentified woman told FBI agents that Lanza said adult-child sexual relationships could be "possibly beneficial to both parties."

The woman, who said she had an "online relationship" with Lanza for more than two years before the school shooting, said he did acknowledge that adult-child sexual relationships could be "unhealthy" and did not express any personal sexual interest in children. She said Lanza believed he might be asexual.

SANDY HOOK KILLER ADAM LANZAS TURBULENT HOME LIFE WITH MOTHER REVEALED

Connecticut State Police released a final investigative document in December 2013, a year after Lanza murdered 20 first-graders and six educators before killing himself as police arrived. In that report, investigators said Lanza was obsessed with firearms, death and mass shootings but his motive may never be known.

The report by state police also mentioned pedophilia, as investigators said they found on Lanza's computer a file they described as "advocating pedophiles' rights and the liberation of children."

Investigators also said they found a screenplay describing a relationship between a 10-year-old boy and a 30-year-old man.

The unidentified woman told FBI investigators Lanza compiled a spreadsheet that meticulously documented hundreds of mass murders and spree killings, but she didn't believe he would carry out a mass killing.

Lanza believed mass murders were a symptom of a broken society, and he may have believed he was "saving" children from the "harmful influences" of adults during the school shooting, according to the woman.

"The shooter did not 'snap,' but instead engaged in careful, methodical planning and preparation," the FBI's behavioral analysis unit wrote in one of the documents. "The shooter was fascinated with past shootings and researched them thoroughly. The shooter shared many similar characteristics and behaviors with other active shooters."

In another interview one person told an FBI agent that Lanza's mother, Nancy Lanza, had become concerned about him a month before the shooting because he had become a "shut in" who hadn't gone anywhere in three months.

Adam Lanza shot his mother to death in their home before going to the school. He later shot the children and educators with an AR-15-style rifle legally purchased by his mother, who took him to shooting ranges, authorities have said.

The unidentified person also told the FBI agent that Adam Lanza never accepted he had Asperger's syndrome, a condition on the autism spectrum, and never took medication he was prescribed. A report by the Connecticut child advocate in 2014 concluded Lanza's autism spectrum disorder and other psychiatric problems didn't cause or lead directly to the massacre.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Almost a year after Sherri Papini was first reported missing after going for a jog near her Northern California home before being found beaten and branded on a highway Thanksgiving morning, officials released new details Wednesday on the case.

The FBI released sketches of two women Papini said abducted her on Nov. 2, 2016 while she was out for a run near her home.

The first woman was described by Papini as Hispanic, between 20 and 30 years old, about 5 feet 5 inches tall, with coarse, curly dark hair, thin eyebrows and pierced ears, FBI officials said.

The second woman was described as Hispanic, between 40 and 50 years old, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, with long, straight black hair with some gray in it. She had thick eyebrows and pierced ears, the FBI said.

"It has taken time for Sherri to recover to a point to be able to provide accurate details to the sketch artist," the Shasta County Sheriff's Office said in news release. "The sketches then needed to be finalized and approved for release by the FBI."

Papini also told investigators the women were driving a dark-colored SUV with a "large rear side window."

"Sherri continues to look at photographs of various makes and models of SUVs in an effort to provide a more detailed description," the sheriff's office said.

In addition to the details on the suspects, the sheriff's office gave additional details on Papini's physical condition when she was found on the side of Interstate 5 on Thanksgiving, 140 miles away from her home.

"Sherri appeared battered and bruised, her hair had been cut to shoulder length and she had a brand on her right shoulder," the sheriff's office said. "Sherri, however, stated she had not been sexually assaulted, and there is no physical evidence to indicate otherwise."

CALIFORNIA KIDNAP CASE: MOM PREVIOUSLY REPORTED TO POLICE BY FAMILY, REPORT SAYS

The mother of two was also branded with a threatening message.

"The Sheriffs Office continues to examine the brand and its possible meaning, but details of the brand remain confidential as part of the on-going investigation," police said.

Papini's husband, Keith reported her missing on Nov. 2 when she didn't pick up their children that afternoon from their daycare provider. Included in the release of information from police was a 911 call made by Keith, where he described the last time he heard from her and what she was wearing.

Authorities said they conducted a polygraph exam of Keith and "excluded him from involvement" in his wife's disappearance.

HUSBAND OF CALIFORNIA MOM KIDNAPPED WHILE JOGGING REVEALS DETAILS OF HER ORDEAL

"Keith and Sherri Papini have remained in contact with the Sheriffs Office and the FBI," the sheriff's office said. "Sherri, continues to provide details as she can recall them, but has not been able to provide a complete detailed statement due to her poor recollection."

Papini and her husband are believed to still live in Redding, Calif.

Days before Papini's disappearance, police said she was texting with a man in Michigan, and the two tried to meet up while he was in California. Investigators later interviewed the man, and determined he was not involved in Papini's disappearance.

Officials said they have received over 600 tips from around the world as part of their investigation, and continue to review all tips they receive.

A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the identification of the two women.

Anyone with information about the Papini investigation or the two captors is urged to call the FBI at 916-746-7000.
Investigators who recovered a laptop from Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddocks hotel room discovered that its hard drive was missing, according to a report published Wednesday.

The laptop was found inside a room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino where Paddock stayed prior to killing 58 people and injuring hundreds on Oct. 1, ABC News reported.

The hard drive would be a key component to figuring out why Paddock decided to shoot into a crowded music festival down below, resulting in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

FAMILY OF LAS VEGAS VICTIM 'WANTS ANSWERS,' LAWYER SAYS, AS AUTHORITIES REMAIN TIGHT-LIPPED

According to the report, investigators discovered that Paddock had bought software used to erase files from a hard drive. Since the hard drive is missing, it remains unclear if he actually used the software.

Investigators continue to search for clues and are working to piece together the few bits of information discovered about Paddock.

Almost a month after the shooting, some people believe the government has left the public with more questions than answers.

In the days following the shooting, officials changed the timeline of what happened that Sunday night in Las Vegas, raising questions about what actually occurred and at what times.

LAS VEGAS POLICE OFFICER KILLED IN MASSACRE LEFT FUNERAL NOTES: 'REMEMBER ME FOR WHO I WAS'

Two weeks ago, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Joseph Lombardo expressed his own frustrations with the investigation, but said he remained determined to keep the public informed.

Its important for people to know what I know, when I know it. Just to calm the public, Lombardo said.

Early Wednesday, one of Paddocks brothers, Bruce, was arrested for possession of child pornography. Bruce is not considered a suspect in the Las Vegas massacre.
The United States and its Gulf Arab allies announced on Wednesday a coordinated effort to sanction a number of Yemenis and an entity suspected of financing the Islamic State group and al-Qaida.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin described the sanctions list as "the largest ever multilateral designation in the Middle East."

The designations were backed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, who all jointly agreed to the list  despite a monthslong diplomatic standoff between three of those Gulf states and Qatar.

"This bold and innovative multilateral approach is needed because terrorism poses a threat to all of our nations," Mnuchin said as he announced the designations during a speech at an investment conference in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Mnuchin is also scheduled to visit the UAE, Qatar and Jerusalem during his Mideast trip.

Lists released by Qatar and Saudi Arabia on Thursday named 11 individuals who would be sanctioned under the agreement and two Yemeni entities: a supermarket chain and a charity organization.

The U.S. Treasury Department named eight Yemenis and only the supermarket chain, which it said was owned by an al-Qaida weapons dealer and financier. It was not immediately clear why the other lists included additional names and a charity.

None of the Yemenis are particularly well-known figures in the war-torn country. Extremist groups like al-Qaida and the IS group have taken advantage of years of conflict and instability in Yemen to expand their presence on the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.

The sanctions announcement reflected rare coordination among the oil-rich Gulf states nearly four months after Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar over its foreign policies. At the heart of the dispute is Qatar's tolerance and support of opposition Islamist groups in the region, as well as its bilateral ties with Iran.

Washington and others have unsuccessfully tried to encourage an end to the dispute, concerned that the standoff will hinder efforts to fight the Islamic State group. The Gulf states are all members of the U.S-led coalition that is fighting IS in Iraq and Syria. Qatar and Bahrain also host major U.S. military bases.

Mnuchin's remarks at the investment conference come a day after Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, declared that Saudi Arabia would revert to "moderate Islam" as it embarks on social and economic reforms.

Mnuchin compared Saudi Arabia's economic overhaul with President Donald Trump's plans for tax reform, saying that America is "in the middle of our own bold new program for reform."

The U.S.-Saudi relationship has strengthened since Trump took office. Mnuchin pointed to a new Terrorist Financing Targeting Center that's been established in Riyadh. The center, agreed upon during Trump's overseas visit to Saudi Arabia in May, is comprised of the six Gulf states and the U.S.

The Trump administration has also received praise from Saudi Arabia for increased sanctions against entities with ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard and its ballistic missile program, which Mnuchin highlighted in his remarks.

___

Batrawy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Top Cuban security officials are accusing President Donald Trump of peddling "science fiction" and "slander" by claiming the country used a mysterious sonic weapon to attack U.S. diplomats and their family members, Reuters reported.

Cuba had already dismissed the allegations that the country was responsible for the episodes, leading to speculation that a third party might have been responsible.

But the Cuban government's new response indicates that it believes such an acoustic attack would be impossible for anyone to perpetrate.

This is slander by the United States, said Colonel Ramiro Ramirez, the chief of diplomatic security for the Cuban Interior Ministry, according to Reuters.

Another member of the Interior Ministry, Lieutenant Colonel Jose Alazo, said Trump's claims were "unsustainable" when considered "from a technical point of view."

Its impossible," Alazo said. "We are talking about science fiction."

We interviewed more than 300 people in the neighborhood, we also evaluated more than 30 medically, and no one heard these things, Alazo said, according to Reuters.

Cuba's forceful response comes as U.S. investigators continue to review the circumstances of the apparent acoustic attacks in Havana. Beginning in the fall of 2016, U.S. diplomats stationed in the country reported falling ill after hearing piercing sounds outside of their homes and hotel rooms.

One U.S. diplomat must now use a hearing aid as a result of the attacks, a source told CNN.

The Trump administration expelled 15 diplomats from the Cuban Embassy in Washington and pulled many its own diplomatic personnel from Havana, citing Cuba's inability to protect American diplomats.
The first Iraqi Christians to return home after their village was freed from Islamic State control were forced to flee yet again Tuesday as Iraqi forces stormed the area to confront Kurdish soldiers, a dark turn in what was broadly considered a success story of rebuilding in Northern Iraq.

Between 700-1,000 Christian families have been forced to evacuate the village of Teleskof, an Assyrian-Chaldean-Syriac Christian town about 19 miles north of Mosul, sources in the region told Fox News.

Peshmerga fighters from neighboring Kurdistan stationed in the village started engaging in a battle with forces from the Iraqi central government. The fighting wounded civilians, including children. People who returned only recently to rebuild their homes have been told to leave the village before the standoff between Kurdish and Iraqi forces reaches a boiling point.

An emissary from the Iraqi government told the people of the village that they had until sunrise to evacuate, a source in the region, who asked to be unidentified, tells Fox News. They were told that the Iraqi army and the Shiite militia have said they will forcibly evict the Peshmerga in the morning.

Teleskof was only recently liberated from ISIS and was considered the model for rehabilitating minority community towns and villages across the Nineveh Plain region of Northern Iraq earlier this year. The town was recently rebuilt with $2 million in aid from the Hungarian government.

A majority of the Assyrian towns in the plain have been left decimated. In some of the other towns, most of the infrastructure has been reduced to rubble; in others, dangerous chemical compounds have been dumped, polluting the ground to toxic levels.

The one success story in Northern Iraq and its about to be destroyed over a pissing contest between the Kurds and Iraqi central government, sources familiar with humanitarian efforts in the region told Fox News. The whole thing is a mess.

Clashes between Iraqi and Peshmerga forces broke out on October 16 in the aftermath of a referendum where the Kurdish people voted overwhelmingly in favor of seeking full independence from the central government in Baghdad.

The already frail Christian population of Northern Iraq has been caught in the crossfire.

The writing was on the wall when the KRG decided to go through with their premature referendum against the recommendation of world powers, Juliana Taimoorazy, president of the Iraqi Christian Relief Council and senior fellow for Philos Project, which promotes positive Christian engagement in the Middle East, told Fox News.

What we see develop today does not come as a surprise but it brings with it immense heartache for our international Assyrian Chaldean Syriac community, for we watch our already battered family and friends find themselves once again on the run, leaving behind the very little they had started to accumulate since their recent return to their homes in the spring of this year.

An estimated 200,000 Christians remain in Iraq, down from over 1.5 million prior to the 2003 Iraq invasion, the majority of whom were forced to flee Mosul and other parts of the Nineveh Plains to the Kurdish-held north in 2014 as ISIS assaulted in on their land.

Deemed the ancestral homeland of all Christianity, many of these Christian areas in the Nineveh now lie in the disputed areas between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) based in Erbil, and the central government further south in Baghdad.

This is probably the [Iraqi] Christians Waterloo, a source within the regions clergy system said to Fox News, also asking to remain unidentified for fear of retribution from Kurdish forces. This is really the last stand.

The source added, Christianity could be wiped out from the region come tomorrow morning.

Sources also say that some clergy as well as other men, who are being led by Fr. Salar Kajo of the Chaldean Catholic Church, have refused to leave Teleskof.

Officials from the KRG released a statement late Tuesday, in which they acknowledged the firefight in Teleskof and called for Iraqi forces to stop the skirmish and recognize their recent referendum vote.

Attacks and confrontations between Iraqi and Peshmerga forces that started on October 16, 2017, especially today's clashes, have caused damage to both sides and could lead to a continuous bloodshed, inflicting pain and social unrest among different components of Iraqi society, their statement read. Certainly, continued fighting does not lead any side to victory, but it will drive the country towards disarray and chaos, affecting all aspects of life.

The KRG also asked that Baghdad issue an immediate ceasefire and halt all military operations in Kurdistan as well as freeze the results of the referendum.
A new Turkish law that lets Muslim civil servants perform civil marriages is raising fears the government is easing the path to more polygamy and more child brides.

The law, passed last week, lets religious officials, known as muftis, perform marriages, which formerly were only performed by secular state and municipal authorities. The fear among secularists and womens groups is that the law will push the nation toward having more child brides and more polygamy.

This is an attempt by the ruling party to impose [its] political understanding to regulate life according to religion, said Senal Sarihan, a parliamentary deputy of the secular Republican Peoples Party, according to VOANews. And this is against [the] constitution. And we are not accepting this.

Historically, imams have officiated at the majority of religious marriages, but those marriages were not legally recognized. Most marriages in Turkey entail both a religious and a secular ceremony.

Opponents of the law also say that imams have been performing marriages where one spouse  usually the female  is underage, and that giving imams legal power would exacerbate such unions.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is courting a religious voting base, has scoffed at the criticism. He maintains that the law would bring about more order and legal protections in marriages. The Turkish embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.

They are heading to the streets making a fuss, he was quoted as saying in VOANews.com. Whether you want it or not, this legislation will pass in parliament. The marriages will not go unrecorded, they will be under record. On the contrary, this implementation will abolish unofficial marriages.

Feminists, however, say the new law threatens womens rights. A group of women earlier this month held a protest against the new law in Istanbul, chanting, We wont be silenced! according to VOAnews.com

Womens rights activists say Turkey had been making strides as far as empowering females, but that it has been regressing, particularly after a failed coup in 2016.

The activists point to another move in Turkey they say also would usurp womens rights  making it more difficult to get a divorce.

New regulations are underway to require couples considering a divorce to first participate in a reconciliation period where they meet with mediators. Also, a government report on divorce recommended that a spouse alleging domestic violence provide proof when seeking police protection.

No woman would get a divorce after one or two incidents of domestic violence, said womens rights advocate Pinar Iikkaracan to the Media Line. They do it [as a last resort], when they cant take it anymore, and are therefore past the point of counseling.
The BBC says it has filed a complaint with the United Nations over Iran freezing the assets of over 150 people associated with its Persian service.

In a statement Wednesday, the BBC said those assets were frozen as part of a criminal investigation by Iranian authorities into the broadcaster's employees, former staff and contributors over allegations of a "conspiracy against national security."

Iran's mission at the U.N. did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The BBC first announced the asset freeze in August.

The BBC's Farsi-language service is barred from operating in Iran, though many Iranians listen to its radio shows and watch its satellite television broadcasts. The BBC says the service reaches some 18 million people weekly who are hungry for news outside of Iran's state-controlled broadcasters.
An Egyptian court has sentenced a policeman to seven years in prison for torturing a worker to death, a rare decision against a force largely seen as operating with impunity.

The Court of Cassation sentenced officer Samir Hani on Wednesday, and also handed down three-year sentences to five other policemen involved in the case. It rejected appeals and issued what will be a final verdict.

The men were initially convicted last July of beating worker Talaat el-Rashidi to death in the Luxor police station after he was arrested in front of a coffee shop for possession of narcotics.

Egyptian police have conducted a widescale crackdown on government opponents, both Islamist and secular. Human Rights Watch says President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has given a "green light" to systematic torture inside detention facilities.
Egyptian officials are cracking down  on beauty pageants.

Beauty competitions long have been controversial in Egypt, with opposition coming from a wide range of sources, including religious organizations and government officials. Recently, the home of the founder of a beauty contest was set on fire shortly before the event was scheduled to take place.

Now, the subject has moved front and center again, with a member of the parliamentary Human Rights Committee pushing a ban on the Miss Egypt Pageant, which the official condemned as a national security threat.

Solaf Darwish, the parliament member, and several other government officials want more control over pageants if they are to continue, according to published reports.

Miss Egypt Pageant 2017 has stirred public discontent, said Darwish to Al-Monitor. There were videos of the contestants in their bedrooms and in fitting rooms, which does not blend with the values and traditions of Egyptian society.

Religious organizations also are weighing in, hoping to up the ante against beauty contests.

Al-Azhars Senior Scholars Committee, a group whose website says its mission includes carrying the burden and the responsibility of protecting and preserving the purity, moderation, and modesty of Islam over the centuries, has expressed total opposition to the basic concept of beauty competitions, saying they violate Sharia laws.

Al-Azhar officials say that the very requirement that beauty contest judges must visually inspect a womans body and appearance are in contradiction of Sharia laws.

Darwish has argued that, unlike some critics of the contests, she is not seeking an all-out ban on them, but wants them to be answerable to the government to ensure that they comply with cultural and moral values.

I only want to temporarily suspend them until the government and the Egyptian parliament agree on mechanisms to regulate them in line with the norms prevailing in Egyptian society and assign a specific ministry to supervise them, Darwish is quoted as telling Al-Monitor.

Efforts to get a comment from the Egyptian Embassy in Washington D.C. were unsuccessful.

Beauty pageant organizers and winners defend the events, saying they are not just about physical appeal.

Fatima Baker, the beauty pageant organizer whose home was set ablaze, told the Al Arabiya Network that her event was the victim of a misunderstanding of the contest and its purpose.

The contest, which is the first of its kind in Egypt, isnt just about physical beauty, but also about education, fitness, style, aspirations, knowledge of the Quran and social activism, she said.

Baker noted that the contest had generated a lot of enthusiasm from Egyptians.

Suffice it to say that within days we received 250 applications and had to close the registration, she said. The winner wont be selected based on her beauty. The contest is not at all about that. Im a resident of the Delta region and Im against showcasing local girls in this way.
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The German president visited Moscow on Wednesday for talks ranging from economic ties to the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after the talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the two countries need to make efforts to "rebuild a minimum of trust."

Russia-West relations have been strained over Moscow's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine who are fighting government forces.

Putin said they agreed on the need to implement a 2015 peace deal for eastern Ukraine. He added they discussed the possible deployment of a U.N. peacekeeping contingent in the east, but gave no details.

The Russian leader said the talks also focused on Syria, the Iranian nuclear deal and the situation around North Korea.
The recent arrest in Mexico of four men carrying a drone equipped with an improvised explosive device "ready to be detonated" has stoked fears drug cartels could soon target the U.S. with bombs from above.



Mexican Federal Police arrested four men Oct. 20 in Guanajuanto who were driving a stolen vehicle equipped with a 3DR Solo Quadcopter drone attached to an IED, Small Wars Journal reported. The drone had a range of about half a mile, but modifications would have allowed it to fly farther.

State Attorney General Carlos Zamarripa Aguirre confirmed the arrests and the IED attached to the drone.

Aguirre said authorities investigated the drone, which contained a significant amount of explosive and was ready to be detonated from a distance, AM reported.

MEXICAN CARTELS SET TO USE DRONES CARRYING EXPLOSIVES IN U.S.,OFFICIALS SAY

"It is a drone," he said. "I have just confirmed that it is an explosive device, with a remote detonator and a large explosive charge."

The four men, identified as Christian N., Angel N., Eduardo N. and Marcos N. may be charged with terrorism, officials said. The men belonged to a "crime cell," but Aguirre refused to say which drug gang or cartel.

The area where the men were arrested was being contested by several cartels, including the Sinaloa, CJNG and Los Zetas. Since the beginning of 2017, organized crime has increased in the region.

Along with the drone and IED, authorities also said they found cellphones, an AK47, ammo and a remote detonator in the stolen vehicle.

Small Wars Journal reported the men appeared to fit the physical description of having been trained in the military or by law enforcement.

It was not immediately clear what type of IED was attached to the drone or what the target was.

Aguirre's office did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment.

MEXICAN EMPLOYERS FEDERATION PUSHES FOR HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE

The IED attached to the drone has led some analysts to conclude drug cartels may now be using the technologies to attack enemies on either side of the U.S.-Mexico border. Drones have been used by cartels since 2010 to smuggle drugs into the U.S., but the pairing of a drone with an IED is a new development.

Most recently, in August, the U.S. Border Patrol arrested a man retrieving 13 pounds of meth that was dropped by an unmanned aerial vehicle in southern California, The Washington Times reported.

Business Insider reported Mexicos Center for Investigation and National Security has cautioned the Jalisco New Generation cartel has begun using improvised explosive devices dubbed potato bombs, similar to the ones used by Colombias left-wing FARC rebels. The sphere-shaped devices were wound together with shrapnel and other explosives.

The use of an IED attached to a drone has been used by ISIS terrorists to attack areas in Iraq and Syria since 2015.
There were multiple things to blame for the October ambush in Niger that left multiple U.S. service members dead, including insufficient training and preparation as well as the teams deliberate decision to go after a high-level Islamic State group insurgent without proper command approval, the Pentagon has said.

Four U.S. soldiers were killed in October 2017 by Islamic militants who attacked their convoy in Africa with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns. The body of one soldier was not found for two days.

The Pentagons report, released on May 10, took three months to complete, spokeswoman Dana White said in a statement. Defense Secretary James Mattis found institutional and organizational issues, not isolated to this event that must be addressed immediately by the Department of Defense, she said.

However, no amount of investigation or corrective action will ease the agonizing grief that the families of our fallen must feel, White said. The Department hopes that the families will take pride and comfort in knowing  as this investigation makes clear  that their loved ones fought and died bravely in defense of our Nation, its people and the values we hold dear.

From President Donald Trumps calls to the families of the deceased to the White Houses delayed response to the ambush, details about the attack have drawn intense scrutiny and criticism. Read on for a look at what happened in Niger.

Who were the Americans killed?

Sgt. La David Johnson, 25; Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, 35; Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson 39; and Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright, 29, were killed in the attack.

The bodies of some of the Americans killed were recovered by a U.S.-contracted helicopter, a U.S. official previously told Fox News. Sgt. Johnson's body wasn't found until two days after the attack as he and some Nigerien soldiers were separated from the others during the battle, the Pentagon said.

According to the report, the four killed gave their last full measure of devotion to our country and died with honor while actively engaging the enemy. It said none were captured alive by the enemy and all died immediately or quickly from their wounds.

What did the Pentagon say happened?

The Pentagons summary lays out a confusing chain of events that unfolded on Oct. 3-4, ending in a lengthy, brutal firefight as 46 U.S. and Nigerien forces battled for their lives against more than 100 enemy fighters. Amid the chaos, the report identified repeated acts of bravery as the outnumbered and outgunned soldiers risked their lives to protect and rescue each other during the more than hour-long assault.

Military officials found that the U.S. forces didnt have time to train together before they deployed and did not do pre-mission battle drills with their Nigerien partners. And the report found that there was a lack of attention to detail and lax communication about missions that led to a general lack of situational awareness and command oversight at every echelon.

According to the report, the Army Special Forces team left their camp on Oct. 3 to go after an Islamic State leader who was suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of an American aid worker. But the team leader and his immediate supervisor submitted a different mission to the higher command, saying they were going out just to meet tribal leaders. That less-risky mission was approved, and when the team got to the location, the insurgent wasnt there.

Senior commanders, unaware of the teams earlier actions, then ordered the troops to serve as backup for a second teams raid, also targeting the leader. That mission was aborted, however, when weather grounded the second team. The original group was then ordered to another location to collect intelligence on the insurgent, which they did without problems.

It was on their way back to the home base when they stopped for water at the village of Tongo Tongo, about 120 miles north of Nigers capital. There, the group was ambushed by Islamic State-linked militants armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and small firearms.

The Pentagon said it could not conclude that the village willingly (and without duress) aided and supported the militants in the attack.

What else should you know?

The report included multiple recommendations to improve mission planning and approval procedures, re-evaluate equipment and weapons requirements and review training that U.S. commandos conduct with partner forces.

Mattis has directed Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, head of U.S. Africa Command, to take immediate steps to address shortfalls and has given senior leaders four months to complete a review and lay out a plan for additional changes.

Why were troops in Niger?

U.S. forces have been in Niger for more than 20 years and a joint special operations task force was created by the U.S. in 2008.

In 2011, U.S. and French forces set up a counterterrorism force in the country, led by the French, with 4,000 troops and 35,000 Nigerien troops. There were 800 U.S. troops in Niger and 6,000 U.S. troops within 53 countries in Africa, Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said last year.

But the presence of American soldiers in Niger reignited a debate about the Authorization for Use of Military Force  a public law enacted after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. At issue is whether the law gives the president the authority to take action against all terrorist organizations, not just Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

What was the White House's response?

The White House has been widely criticized for its response to the attack  especially in the delay in acknowledging the ambush.

President Trump, too, was criticized for his public feud with a Democratic congresswoman and Sgt. La David Johnsons widow. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., accused Trump of making insensitive remarks to Myeshia Johnson.

Trump has denied Wilsons allegations, but the mother of the deceased soldier has backed up Wilsons claims.

White House chief of staff John Kelly said he was "heartbroken" that Wilson used the conversation she overheard to attack Trump. Kelly, whose Marine son died in Afghanistan, added that the president did the best he could in the situation.

Because of the White Houses response to the attack, its been called the presidents Benghazi by some Democrats, referencing the controversial attack in 2012 that left four American service members dead.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The U.S. troops ambushed in Niger earlier this month may have been betrayed by a local villager, U.S. military officials say.

Pentagon officials believe the local Nigerien may have tipped off attackers to the presence of U.S. commandoes and Nigerien forces in the area, setting the stage for the ambush that killed four Americans, a senior defense official said Tuesday.

The official said the Army Green Berets and about 30 Niger forces stopped in a village for an hour or two to get food and water after conducting an overnight reconnaissance mission. After they left, they were ambushed by about 50 heavily armed enemy fighters, who also killed four Niger fighters and wounded two Americans and several Nigerien troops.

Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Monday that small numbers of Islamic State insurgents have been trying to recruit local fighters in places like Niger.

Those fighters often rebrand themselves as IS. But Dunford said the U.S. has not seen any significant numbers of IS insurgents outside of Iraq and Syria.

Meanwhile, U.S. efforts against terrorism are likely to focus more on Africa now that the Islamic State group has been forced out of Raqqa, Syria, its de facto capital, the Christian Science Monitor reported.

In the wake of the Niger ambush, even senior lawmakers in Washington seemed unaware of the size of the U.S. presence in Niger and surrounding African nations, the newspaper reported.

I didnt know there was a thousand troops in Niger, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Sunday during an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press. Graham is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Details about the Oct. 4 attack in Niger, and the events leading up to it, have been murky, trickling out over the last three weeks.

According to the official, the joint U.S. and Niger patrol was asked to help a second American commando team that had been hunting for a senior member of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb believed to be in the area.

The official wasn't authorized to discuss the incident publicly so spoke on condition of anonymity.

The joint U.S. and Niger team was initially sent on a routine mission to meet local tribal leaders and work with the Niger forces. But after they had set out on Oct. 3, they received a new assignment, the official said. They were asked to go to a location where the insurgent had last been seen, and collect intelligence.

Because the insurgent was no longer in that area, military commanders believed the operation wasn't risky, the official said, adding there was no order to search for or find the AQIM member.

Under the rules, U.S. troops in Niger can accompany local forces on missions when "the chances of enemy contact are unlikely." The official said the decision to change the joint team's mission may have met those rules because the AQIM insurgent was no longer there, but those are some of the questions the ongoing investigations will answer.

U.S. military officials believe the intelligence mission went well during the night. But on their way back to their base in the morning, the U.S. and Niger troops stopped at a village about 50 miles north of Niger's capital, Niamey.

After getting supplies and meeting with tribal leaders, the joint patrol left the village. It is at that point, the official said, that the U.S. believes someone in the village alerted the IS-linked militants that American and Niger forces were in the area.

The joint team was attacked about 120 miles north of Niamey, by what officials believe was a relatively new offshoot of the Islamic State group that calls itself Islamic State in the Sahel. That group is not believed to be connected to the AQIM leader that the other American special forces team has been looking for.

The enemy fighters attacked on motorcycles, carrying rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns, setting off a long and complex battle.

Dunford said the U.S. special forces unit didn't call for help until an hour into their first contact with the enemy. And he acknowledged that many questions linger about the assault.

Those questions, said the defense official, will include who authorized the decision to change the team's mission, as well as why it took so long to evacuate the wounded and why one of the killed U.S. soldiers was missing for two days before his body was recovered.

Asked Tuesday about the decision to give the team another mission, Dunford declined to provide any details, saying those are the questions the investigation will answer. He added that once the investigation is complete, U.S. military officials will first meet with the families of the fallen soldiers and tell them what happened, then release the information publicly.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Authorities in Japan arrested a "ninja" burglar believed to be behind hundreds of break-ins during an eight-year period in Osaka -- only to find out he was 74 years old.

Mitsuaki Tanigawa stole more than 30 million yen -- about $260,000 -- during the course of his crime spree, by mostly stealing cash as people slept, a unnamed police official told Agence France Presse on Wednesday.

Authorities in Osaka had been stumped by the string of burglaries, with their only lead being surveillance footage of a thief with a neck-warmer pulled up to his nose. and a hood down to his eyebrows.

"He was dressed all in black just like a ninja," the unnamed official from Osaka's Kawachi police station told the AFP.

Cops got a break back in May, when his neck-warmer slipped and police were able to identify the "ninja" on camera. When police realized who the masked thief was, a search of criminal records revealed Tanigawa had a previous record of thefts, the official said.

As police began to tail Tanigawa, his alleged criminal patterns began to be revealed.

"Investigators watched him doddering out from his house like any other old man during daytime. He then went to an abandoned apartment room where he changed and waited until it got dark," the law enforcement official told AFP.

The official added: "When he came out in the dark, he was all in black...He did not take ordinary streets, squeezing through tight spaces between houses and running on the tops of walls."

Police said they were finally able to catch the agile thief as he was coming home at 4 a.m. from robbing an electronics store.

Tanigawa told police he embarked on his life of crime because he "hated working and thought stealing is quicker," the official said.

The burglar also boasted he only needed 10 minutes to break in to a house.

"If I were younger, I wouldn't have been caught. I'll quit now as I'm 74 and old enough," Tanigawa told police after his arrest.
North Korean Choi Kwanghyuk is one of the lucky ones.

The 55-year-old managed to escape from the work camp where he was sent after being targeted and persecuted by the government for his Christian faith.

We couldnt raise our voice during a service, we couldnt sing out loud during a worship  that was hard, Choi told Fox News through a translator. Also, we had to hide so that other people could not see us.

Despite having to hide his faith in plain sight while living in North Hamgyong province, Choi was still compelled to bring religion to others when he started an underground church.

There were about nine people, he said. I couldnt do mission work because we had to keep it secret that we had a church.

If that information had leaked, we could have faced the death penalty.

North Korea is officially an atheist state where  except for a show church in Pyongyang that tourists are shown -- public worship is forbidden. The country is ranked the most oppressive place for Christians in the world and has had that ignominious status for years, according to Open Doors USA.

[Chois] statements describing oppression, as well as his report of imprisonment for owning a Bible or practicing faith, align with everything we know about North Korea, Open Doors President David Curry told Fox News. Rated the worst place for the persecution of Christians, North Korea treats Christians horrendously and registers them as 'enemies of the state' for their faith.

The totalitarian state forces the estimated 300,000 Christians living there to hide their religious beliefs and fellowship among each other.

In a nation where the ruling regime demands total control over the general public, anything that challenges the governments power is seen as a threat, including religion, Jeff King, president of International Christian Concern, told Fox News. As a result, the North Korean government does everything in its power to squash the spread of Christianity."

This leads much of the religious population in North Korea to go underground with their worship, much like Choi and his church were forced to do.

We had only one Bible, he said. North Hamgyong province is very cold. In the winter, we would dig a big hole and store kimchi there. We sometimes had services there. In the summer, we had services in the mountain or by the river.

The life in North Korea is hell. The life in America is heaven.  Choi Kwanghyuk

I never heard the term underground church until I got here [to the U.S.].

In 2008, North Korean authorities caught up to Choi and arrested him. He was held in prison by the state security department where he says he was interrogated about his faith.

I was tortured there, he said. I kept denying it.

He said that he was about to be sent to one of North Koreas brutal labor camps when he was able to break free.

I decided to escape because I thought that once they sent me to the other camp, they could eventually send me to the concentration camp or kill me, Choi recalled. I was traveling back and forth between China and North Korea, but they kept searching for me, and I knew it could put my friends in danger too, so I left.

The North Korean gulag system is notorious for harsh conditions and brutal treatment of its prisoners.

Choi feared being sent to the most notorious camp within the system -- Camp 22.

Also known as Hoeryong concentration camp, and part of a large system of prison camps throughout the Communist dictatorship, Camp 22 is an 87-square-mile penal colony located in North Hamgyong province where most of the prisoners are people accused of criticizing the government.

Inmates, most of whom are serving life sentences, face harsh and often lethal conditions. According to the testimony of a former guard from Camp 22, prisoners live in bunkhouses with 100 people per room and some 30 percent show the markings of torture and beatings -- torn ears, gouged eyes and faces covered with scars.

Unfortunately, it is inexplicably easy to wind up in one of these camps. While someone can be sent to one of these camps for openly evangelizing, someone can just as easily be sent there for simply being in contact with a religious person, said King of the International Christian Concern.

Prisoners are forced to stand on their toes in tanks filled with water up to their noses for 24 hours, stripped and hanged upside-down while being beaten or given the infamous "pigeon torture -- where both hands are chained to a wall at a height of 2 feet, forcing them to crouch for hours at a time.

Tiny rations of watery corn porridge leave inmates on the brink of starvation, and many hunt rats, snakes and frogs for protein. Some even take the drastic measure of searching through animal dung for undigested seeds to eat. Beatings are handed out daily for offenses as simple as not bowing down in respect to the guards fast enough. Prisoners are used as practice targets during martial arts training. Guards routinely rape female inmates.

Choi said he finally escaped to neighboring China. While he was figuring out where to go next, he had heard how the general image of North Korean defectors was not positive among those in South Korea.

So, I applied for asylum in the U.S., he told Fox News.

Choi, who was single when he lived in North Korea, was granted asylum in the U.S. in 2013. He first lived in Dallas before eventually moving to Los Angeles where he now lives.

Choi said that as a result of injuries he received while being tortured, he is unable to work but has committed himself to telling the world about the human rights abuses in his native land.

First of all, every human must have the right to freedom, he said. There is no freedom in North Korea. By law, they have the freedom of religion and the freedom of the press, but the reality is very different.

And despite the hardships he may face, Choi said that life in the U.S. is a vast improvement.

There is an enormous difference between my life in North Korea and my life in the U.S, he said.

The life in North Korea is hell  life in America is heaven.

Fox News' Inwook Song contributed to this article.
Afghan officials say Taliban fighters have stormed a security post, killing nine soldiers in a western province.

Spokesman for the governor of Farah province Mohammad Naser Mehri said Wednesday the militants stormed a security post killing nine soldiers and wounding four other soldiers.

The attack took place Tuesday night in Pusht Road district. The intense, four-hour gun battle included the use of artillery against the army.

Mehri says Afghan war planes were deployed and 17 Taliban fighters were killed.

Last Thursday a Taliban attack on a military compound left 43 soldiers lead in southern Kandahar province.
The fall of the final ISIS stronghold of Raqqa  the terror groups self-declared caliphate capital  by the Kurdish-led, U.S-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) last week has heralded much celebration.

But as the jubilation dies down, what remains is little more than smoldering rubble from air bombardment, akin to an apocalyptic wasteland. So whose burden is it to restore the ruined Raqqa?

It is the responsibility of all countries, especially the U.S. and the Coalition because the Coalitions airstrikes and artillery shelling were half responsible for destroying Raqqa, the other half goes to ISIS car bombings, local activist Sarmad Al Jilane, former CEO at Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently and now an advocacy expert at human rights media group Sound and Picture, told Fox News. Around eighty percent of Raqqa is destroyed, and the rest is damaged.

While the cost in lives goes far beyond any dollar amount  as tens of thousands of Raqqa residents have been run from their homes and livelihood with thousands more dead and disabled from almost four years of ISIS occupation  the return to any sense of normalcy will require billions.

According to the latest figures released by the Pentagon, U.S taxpayers have already spent an average of $13.6 million per day to fight ISIS in Iraq and Syria since August 8, 2014  just under $1.6 billion  of which the largest portion was shouldered by the Air Force. So should the U.S bear the responsibility of rebuilding?

Statistics released by monitoring group Air Wars claimed that U.S-led forces dropped 5,775 bombs, shells and missiles in the month of August alone  and more than 20,000 throughout the three-year campaign. While the U.S. has assumed much of the costs and planning to defeat ISIS in the Middle East, U.S Secretary of State Rex Tillerson earlier this year warned the international community that reconstruction will require more from you.

The U.S has spent billions and took a big responsibility to get rid of ISIS. ISIS is a threat not only to the U.S but to the whole world, so the whole international community should be addressing the issue of rebuilding the city, affirmed Bassam Barabandi, a Syrian diplomatic defector and now a political adviser to the official opposition negotiations team at the Syrian High Negotiations Committee.

A spokesperson for Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S name given to the mission to defeat ISIS, told Fox News that the rebuilding of Raqqa will be overseen by the Raqqa Civil Council, a local governing body that has been put in charge since the liberation. The U.S has no defined role in reconstruction, the spokesperson said, and will remain focused on the final defeat of ISIS from pockets across Iraq and Syria.

The coalition is continuing to provide training to the SDF, thus funding such endeavors as the detection and removal of explosive ordnance, which have already killed members of at least nine families attempting to return to their homes in the city post-liberation.

The coalition also provides security and logistical support to the local council and to non-governmental agencies, to assist in rebuilding homes, buildings and medical buildings as well as restoring electricity and providing potable water.

AMERICA'S ROLE IN YEMEN WAR MUST END, US LAWMAKERS DEMAND

SAUDI EX-INTEL CHIEF SAYS ASSAD IS THE BIGGEST TERRORIST, PRAISES TRUMP'S HARSH IRAN STANCE

RAQQA'S ESCAPING VICTIMS FORCED TO LIVE IN TOXIC OIL REFINERY WITH GASOLINE-LACED WATER AND NO SEWER SYSTEM

However, some Syrians are warning that there are already glaring fractions within the Raqqa Civil Council, whose job ultimately is to plan the restoration and maintain its security. Syrians told Fox News that the councils loyalties are largely divided.

The U.S intention was for representatives from both Kurdish and Arab tribes in Raqqa province to join the council, and receive SDF support. However, Raqqa is traditionally an overwhelmingly Sunni Arab-populated city, and a prominent portion would rather not be aligned with SDF but with Turkish forces, also Sunni Arabs, who view the Kurdish fighters as the enemy.

Many of the Arab tribes didnt even want to attend the liberation celebrations, one Syrian insider told Fox News. There is already a push to form a new council with new leadership.

Al Jilane also argued that many members of the civil council are not locals of Raqqa, and for civilians to feel confident in returning, locals and activists should be the ones in charge.

In an effort to try and mobilize some of the disenfranchised Sunni tribesman and council members, Syrian sources said, Saudi Affairs Minister Thamer al-Sabhan visited Raqqa late last week alongside U.S special envoy to the coalition against ISIS, Brett McGurk, to meet with the Raqqa Civil Council.

It is believed Saudi Arabia  a prominent backer of opposition forces against the Assad regime  is mulling a request to significantly contribute to the rebuilding, in return for influence among the tribes.

While Syrias embattled President Bashar al-Assad has insisted he intends to take back the entire country after more than six years of civil war, the U.S. has maintained that the territory is not to be returned into the dictators hands.

The U.S. in partnership with allies including Gulf States like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will work as part of a stabilization effort. But we must ensure that not a single dollar goes into areas under control of the Assad regime, noted Tony Badran, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Otherwise, we would be paying Assad and Iran for having destroyed the country and ethnically cleansed its population.

National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster concurred last week at an FDD that it is U.S. policy to ensure that absolutely no money goes to reconstructing anything that is under the regimes control. However, Badran cautioned that the Russians are working in parallel to create arrangements between the Kurdish-controlled areas and Damascus, which means that if the U.S. wants to vigorously enforce that policy and maintain influence in the Raqqa region, it must now develop a broader plan beyond just defeating ISIS.

Without a broader plan, he cautioned. The various local forces will make their own decisions and arrangements, and these would likely play out against our interests.
Xi Jinping (C, front), Li Keqiang (3rd R, front), Zhang Dejiang (3rd L, front), Yu Zhengsheng (2nd R, front), Liu Yunshan (2nd L, front), Wang Qishan (1st R, front), Zhang Gaoli (1st L, front), Jiang Zemin (4th R, front) and Hu Jintao (4th L, front) attend the closing session of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 24, 2017. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

The communist ideology has undergone various theoretical innovations ever since The Communist Manifesto was published in 1848. Marx and Engels, for the first time, evolved it into a scientific theory from a utopian hypothesis.

The concept of communism was basically an ideological product of the industrial revolution that swept Europe in the 19th century. It created two economic classes - capitalist and proletariat, and Marx envisioned that the working class would ultimately engineer a socialist revolution to abolish the exploitative capitalist system and build a classless egalitarian society.

In Russia and China, Marxism was applied with a different theoretical approach. Lenin orchestrated the first ever socialist revolution in a country that was not fully ripe. It was still backward from the industrial point of view. In China, Mao led a New Democratic Revolution with the peasants as its driving force. It was the innovative application of Marxism-Leninism on the Chinese soil based on its specific cultural, social and economic contexts.

At the hand of Deng, China's experiment with communism proved amazing. He skillfully combined Marxism with market to achieve mesmerizing economic gains. Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe collapsed largely for lack of incentives, efficiency, innovation and creative use of Marxism. And Communist Party of China (CPC) detected and overcome these flaws through sweeping reforms and open-up, which is now famously known as socialism with the Chinese characteristics.

President Xi Jinping, the fifth generation leader of CPC, has now shouldered a historic responsibility of building a modern socialist nation with a more original concept based on the subjective and objective reality of the Chinese society. The international milieu is also different - it is increasingly getting global and digital with the corporate-led capitalism facing cyclic crises from the U.S. to the Europe.

General Secretary Xi took the helm of Party from the 18th CPC National Congress five years ago. The CPC has since witnessed historic shifts and achievements. It has not only enriched the ideological contents of the Party but also brought immense prosperity to the country and radiated hope for the fair globalization and democratic international order.

With evolution of the Xi Jinping Thought, the CPC has declared that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. It builds on and further enriches Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development. It reflects the latest achievements in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context.

A son of revolutionary who had fought along with Chairman Mao during the Chinese civil war, Xi did not only witness the tumultuous political events but also endured harsh rustic life. He befriended and worked with the grassroots peasants and workers, which shaped him into a pragmatic Marxist.

Xi has lucidly highlighted his visions, thoughts and strategies in his 65-page political report presented to the 19th National Congress of CPC in Beijing on October 18.

The Xi Jinping Thought contains 14 main principles that call for complete and deep reform and new developing ideas, absolute authority of the party over the people's army, harmonious living between man and nature, and one country two systems and reunification with the motherland. It emphasizes strong army and Party leadership over all work to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Xi has put forward a two-stage development plan for the period from 2020 to the middle of the 21st century to usher China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful.

Offering his dialectical insight, General Secretary Xi traces the principal contradiction facing the Chinese society. It is between unbalanced and inadequate development, and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life. Xi notes that "not only have their material and cultural needs grown, their demands for democracy, rule of law, fairness and justice, security, and a better environment are increasing."

In order to meet their aspirations, the Chinese economy will be transformed from a phase of rapid growth into a stage of high-quality development, said the report, adding that it adopts law-based governance in all areas to curb endemic corruption that has posed the "biggest threat" to the Party. The CPC with Xi at its core has secured big success in caging many "tigers" and trapping the scores of "flies" in the last five years.

Under Xi, the CPC has been able to infuse core socialist and ethical values into the overall governance system so as to check the capitalistic deviation and gross hedonism.

China is now the world's second largest economy with its increasing clout in the regional and global affairs but it has no intention to act like an imperialist power. "No matter what stage of development it reaches, China will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion," Xi says.

This vision is propitious for creating an inclusive, cooperative, just, cosmopolitan and win-win international political and economic order.

Ritu Raj Subedi is an associate editor of The Rising Nepal.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Russia has become the top exporter of fighters who join the ranks of ISIS, according to a new report.

The assessment from D.C.-based security intelligence consultancy Soufan Group has revised the count of ISIS militants from Tunisia from 6,000 in 2015 to the current number of 2,920. By comparison, Russian nationals who have joined the ranks of the terror group have jumped from 2,400 in 2015 to a current number of approximately 3,417.

Russian security officials long have been worried about the threat that returning Russian nationals could pose. ISIS even has an affiliate in the countrys North Caucasus region. The extremist group has killed over a dozen security forces in Chechnya in recent years.

Past ISIS terror plots in both Moscow and St. Petersburg have been foiled by Russian intelligence officers, and their Air Force has been conducting an airstrike campaign against the terror group in Syria.

Soufans report also points out that the overall number of ISIS fighters from foreign lands has increased since its last count in 2015.

Since the end of 2015, gateway countries like Turkey have made greater efforts to stem the flow of jihadis to Iraq and Syria. As a result, the flow of fighters came to a virtual standstill as the Islamic State began to lose its territory in both Syria and Iraq.

A majority of those who traveled to both countries either have been killed, surrendered themselves to enemy forces or have returned home, which has presented security challenges across the West.

Capping off the top five in the Soufan Groups report is Saudi Arabia, which increased from 2,500 fighters in 2015 to 3,244. Jordan now has approximately 3,000. Tunisia and France has about 1,910.

Its likely that the numbers will not increase from current levels due to the heavy military presence and increased security around Iraq and Syria.

Some fighters have returned to their native countries. Russia has had 400 return and both Saudi Arabia and Tunisia have seen about 800 return. Nearly half of the 800 British nationals who left the United Kingdom to fight alongside ISIS since have returned.
Palestinian men imprisoned for security offenses against Israel have fathered dozens of children with the help of sperm smuggled out of prison to a West Bank fertility center, according to a published report.

According to The Media Line news agency, at least 63 Palestinian children have been born via this ad-hoc method of in vitro fertilization since 2003.

In one case, Rafat Al-Qarawi, who is serving a 15-year prison sentence for shooting Jewish residents of the West Bank, used sperm spirited out of jail in a cookie tin to father a child in 2013. Al-Qawaris brother, Mohammed, said Rafats wife had suffered three miscarriages before he opted for the smuggling method.

Mohammed Al-Qarawi said Israeli authorities barred the couple from seeing each other for 18 months when they found out about the child.

They wanted to have a DNA test done to confirm if the baby was indeed my brothers, but he refused and the matter went away, he said.

Israel Prison Service spokesperson Hana Herbst told The Media Line that the IPS checks every object that enters or leaves prison.

Any illegal smuggling attempts are dealt with by disciplinary or administrative means, she said.

Issa Qaraqe, the Palestinian Authoritys Prisoner Affairs Minister, described the practice as a revolution that helps prisoners strive to maintain families, and this is a great challenge taking into account the harsh reality inside Israeli prisons.

The treatments are carried out on the wives of prisoners with the permission of the Palestinian Authoritys religious council. The fertility center in the city of Nablus provides the procedure  which typically costs around $3,000  free of charge, but requires two relatives from each side of the family to verify the identity of the father.

Click for more from The Media Line.
A court in Istanbul on Wednesday ordered eight human rights activists released from prison pending the outcome of their trial on charges of belonging to and aiding terror groups.

The defendants, including Amnesty International Turkey director Idil Eser, German citizen Peter Steudtner and Swede Ali Gharavi, were detained in a police raid while attending a digital security training workshop in July. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The court ruled on the trial's opening day to free eight of the 10 activists being tried at least until the proceedings end. The other two had been let out of custody.

An 11th activist, Amnesty's Turkey chairman, is being tried separately in another city and remains jailed.

The 10 defendants have been charged with plotting an uprising and aiding Kurdish and left-wing militants. They also stand accused of abetting the movement led by a U.S.-based cleric the Turkish government blames for a 2016 coup attempt. They face up to 15 years in prison, if convicted on all charges.

Amnesty welcomed the activists' release and vowed to continue to defend human rights in the country.

"Today, finally, we celebrate that our friends and colleagues can go back with their loved ones and can sleep in their own beds for the first time in almost four months," said Amnesty's secretary general, Salil Shetty. "Tonight we take a brief moment to celebrate, but tomorrow we will continue our struggle."

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel also welcomed the court's decision to free Steudtner and seven other activists and said Berlin would continue to seek the release of other Germans held in separate cases. He said the ruling showed German calls for a fair trial had been heeded.

The European Union's commissioner for enlargement, Johannes Hahn said on Twitter: "First step into right direction. Now further releases must follow, unfounded charges dropped."

The trial was adjourned until Nov. 22.

Earlier, as their trial opened, the defendants denied the accusations and asked to be released.

"I dedicated my life to truth and justice, and that is all I ask of this court," Ozlem Dalkiran of the Citizens' Assembly organization testified, according to Amnesty's International Director for Europe John Dalhuisen.

Human rights groups say the defendants are accused of "trumped-up" charges.

Amnesty Turkey chairman Taner Kilic, who was imprisoned in June, is appearing before a different court for alleged links to cleric Fethullah Gulen. He is accused of using an encrypted mobile messaging application allegedly employed by Gulen's network.

Gulen himself has denied masterminding the coup attempt.

"There is not a shred of evidence against the 11 human rights defenders on trial today," Andrew Gardner, Amnesty International's Turkey researcher, told The Associated Press.

"For 11 human rights defenders to be . picked up after a routine human rights seminar is an escalation of repression in Turkey," Gardner said.

The trial is one of several cases that have deepened a rift between Turkey and European nations, notably Germany, which considers Steudtner and some 10 other German or German-Turkish citizens jailed in Turkey to be political prisoners.

Steudtner, one of the digital workshop's trainers, told the court Wednesday that none of the accusations in the indictment linked him to a terror group and demanded his "release and acquittal," Amnesty said.

His jailing prompted the German government to toughen its stance toward Turkey by revising its travel advice and threatening to withhold backing for investments there.

Gabriel, the German foreign minister, said: "we will not let up in pushing for a solution and release in these cases, too."

Turkey has arrested more than 50,000 people since the failed coup and sacked at least 110,000 others from government jobs. The crackdown was initially launched to deal with alleged coup-plotters, but critics say it has expanded to include other government opponents, such as academics, journalists and legislators.
The U.S. military estimates the Islamic State now controls just three percent of Iraq and only five percent of Syria after the fall of Raqqa, Syria to U.S.-backed fighters more than three years after the first American airstrikes against the terror group.

So now the fall of the so-called ISIS capital has raised a key question: what comes next?

President Donald Trump said Wednesday, We are decimating ISIS in the Middle East."

They'll go to parts of Africa, they'll go to other places, when they get to those places --we'll beat them, said Trump.

This is an inflection point, it's not the end of the campaign, warned Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. We are not shifting our attention away from Iraq or Syria yet.

Dunford hosted a meeting of 70 defense counterparts Tuesday at Fort Belvoir, Va. outside Washington, D.C to talk about what will follow in the ISIS fight.

The next phase for us more broadly is to expand our information intelligence sharing, Dunford added.

Trump's special envoy to the ISIS coalition said the decision last summer to arm Syria's Kurds sped up the Islamic State's downfall.

It's moving faster more efficiently and more effectively, pretty significant changes made in terms of delegations of authorities, said Brett McGurk, seated next to Gen. Dunford at a press conference, when asked about changes to the ISIS fight under the current administration and which president deserves the credit.

A pretty important decision was made back in May about how to prosecute the Raqqa campaign, that the president made, which allowed us to complete the Raqqa operation, he added.

Former defense secretary Ash Carter said the Trump administration simply carried out a plan designed by the Obama administration.

"The plan was laid out two years ago and has been executed pretty much to the manner and on the schedule that was foreseen then, said Carter on CNN Friday. The credit goes to first and foremost our military for carrying that out. I was always looking for ways to accelerate it.

Both special envoy McGurk and Dunford served under the Obama administration. Dunford said it took time to build momentum and enough local fighters to defeat ISIS.

"If you look at where the Iraqis were in the fall of 2015 and you compare their combat capability to 2017, they have improved significantly over the last two years, Dunford said.

At one point I think we had identified about 175 partners in Syria that we had trained and some hundreds that were available to fight - now we now have 50,000 partners on the ground, half of them Arab partners, Dunford added.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson traveled to Baghdad this week in an effort to diffuse tensions between Iraq forces, some backed by Iran, and the Kurds to keep Iraq from falling into a civil war and prevent outside groups from filling the vacuum in areas now free of ISIS. Meantime, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis traveled to the Philippines to meet with defense ministers from the region and acknowledged the work of the local forces crushing an ISIS-funded insurgency in the southern city of Marawi.

There is also the fear of more lone wolf attacks in the West inspired by ISIS, with local insurgencies around the world rebranding themselves as ISIS.

Today, about 6,500 ISIS fighters remain, mostly in the border region between Iraq and Syria, down from tens of thousands of fighters across both countries covering an area the size of Indiana.

"You expect to see large flows of ISIS fighters coming out of Syria and Iraq. We don't see that at all, said Dunford.

A senior U.S. military officer at the Pentagon offered an explanation.

We're not seeing a lot of flow out of the core caliphate because most of those people are dead now," said Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., director of the Pentagons Joint Staff earlier this month.
The weather has settled into a quiet midweek period around Fredericksburg.

As of this  Wednesday - morning, nine tornadoes have been confirmed across the eastern U.S. from Mondays wild weather. Three of these occurred in Virginia with the closest one to Fredericksburg having touched down in King William county as an EF1. Thankfully conditions have quieted and today the Burg will enjoy clearing skies, light winds, and a high temperature in the mid-60s.

Overnight clouds will scoot back into the area and prop up Thursday morning lows to the mid-40s. Clearing skies and abundant sunshine will push tomorrow afternoons highs back to the low 60s. Then the clear skies and still air Thursday night will likely lead to frosty conditions Friday morning.

A wavy jet stream pattern is very pronounced as denoted on the water vapor satellite image. This upper air steering current has pushed all the way into the northern Gulf of Mexico with very cold air streaming down behind it. Here on the East Coast were still on the warm side of this circulation so Fredericksburgs temperatures are pretty much at seasonal averages.

This very amplified wave pattern will last a few more days and will lead to another big coastal storm over the upcoming weekend. Saturday night and Sunday look to be very wet around Fredericksburg and there are hints that white stuff may dust the higher elevations of the Appalachian mountains. (Sorry snow lovers, itll just be rain here in the Burg.)

After that, the pattern looks as if it will settle down as November begins. That will mean average temperatures for the first week of next month per the Climate Prediction Center forecast. Meanwhile, enjoy this midweek quiet weather interlude.
Alleging he was falsely depicted as a stupid liar who was a sex-crazed maniac, former Richmond mayoral candidate Joe Morrissey has filed a lawsuit against Richmond CBS affiliate WTVR-Channel 6 and longtime local columnist Mark Holmberg over a report the television station aired in the run-up to last years election.

The suit accuses Holmberg and the station of slander and seeks $1.35 million in damage.

The video column at the center of the allegations ran Sept. 2, 2016, and followed polling in the race that indicated Morrissey was the earlier front-runner in a field of eight candidates.

In the WTVR piece, Holmberg recounted Morrisseys history of legal troubles, including the loss of his Virginia law license for misconduct, repeated citations for contempt, a courthouse fistfight for which he was jailed while serving as the citys commonwealths attorney, and, most recently, the jail term he served in connection with allegations he had sex with a 17-year-old receptionist in his law office. He continues to deny the charge involving the former receptionist, though police produced scores of explicit text messages they said the two exchanged and he has since married the woman, who was pregnant with his child at the time the case was being adjudicated.

Holmberg noted in the column that the city had recently been buoyed by positive national attention as a cool place to live. He argued Morrisseys success in the race would weigh the city down.

Do we really want to elect this clown, this nonstop, one-ring circus, this liar? Holmberg saidone of several statements from the TV piece that Morrissey alleges are untrue and defamatory in the suit.

Instead, Morrissey describes himself as a learned man in the filing.

In truth and in fact, Mr. Morrissey is not a clown who has his own one-ring circus, Morrisseys suit alleges. Such an accusation is malicious, spiteful, the product of ill-will and is an overt attempt to discredit and destroy his reputation for honesty and integrity.

Stephen P. Hayes, WTVRs general manager and president, said in an email Tuesday that it is WTVRs policy not to respond to pending legal matters. The suit was filed on Sept. 5 in Richmond Circuit Court, but its not clear whether the station or Holmberg has been served with the complaint.

Holmberg, who also writes occasional columns for the Richmond TimesDispatch, could not immediately be reached for comment.

As a public figure, Morrissey would need to prove not only that the claims are false, but also that they were made with actual malice, said Carl Tobias, a constitutional law professor at the University of Richmond.

I think it would be an uphill battle, Tobias said. Thats about the highest standard you can have. Its like trying to prove criminal intent. It has to really be malicious.

This is not the first time Morrissey has sued a local news outlet. In 2009, he sued Style Weekly over an article detailing his business dealings and legal battles, ultimately receiving an undisclosed cash settlement from the publication.

More recently, Morrissey has been engaged in a legal back-and-forth with former Gov. Doug Wilder alleging Wilders National Slavery Museum owes Morrisseys law firm $130,000 in fees related to a 2013 tax dispute with the city of Fredericksburg. Morrissey withdrew the suit last month but said he plans to refile it.

Meanwhile, Morrissey faces a series of Virginia State Bar complaints set to go before a three-judge panel in November, including one initiated by Wilder alleging incompetent representation. Morrissey also faces a citation alleging he presented a knowingly false defense in response to the allegations he had sex with the underage receptionist in his law office.
 Flash

Russia on Tuesday vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution on the extension of the mandate of an independent investigation mechanism, which was tasked to determine who was responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

The draft resolution sponsored by the United States sought to extend the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) of the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for another year.

Among the 15 members of the Security Council, 11 were in favor, two were against, and another two abstained. As Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council, its "no" vote means that the draft resolution was rejected. Bolivia also voted against the draft resolution. China and Kazakhstan abstained.

Prior to the vote, Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, proposed a postponement till Nov. 7, arguing that the extension of JIM's mandate should be discussed after the publication of its report, which is only two days away. He told the council that a hasty vote was intended to "dishonor" Russia.

British ambassador Matthew Rycroft repudiated the Russian position, saying that a vote on Tuesday was intended to de-link the JIM report and the extension of its mandate, thus avoiding the "politicization" of the issue.

U.S. deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Michele Sison, also rejected the Russian proposal, saying that there was no time to waste. "It's not every day that this council considers an issue that is so horrific and so shocking to the conscience as the use of chemical weapons against civilians. We need to keep this important work of the JIM on track."

Russia's proposal was put to vote and was rejected by the Security Council 8-4 with three abstentions, giving the green light for a vote on the draft resolution on JIM.

After the Russian veto, the U.S. and British representatives attacked Russia and asked to preserve JIM.

"The United States deeply regrets that one member of this council vetoed against this text, putting political considerations over the misery of Syrian civilians who have suffered and died from the use of chemical weapons. The reasons offered fool no one this morning," Sison, the U.S. representative, told the council after the vote.

She defended JIM and questioned Russia's motive of criticizing the investigators. "The question we must ask ourselves is whether the JIM is being attacked because it has failed in its job to determine the truth in Syria or because its conclusions have been politically inconvenient for some council members," she said.

"These attacks are not intended to get us closer to the truth; they are intended to hide the truth. They are not designed to get us closer to accountability for chemical weapons use in Syria; they are designed to shield the perpetrators for some of the worst war crimes of our century."

U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who was absent from Tuesday's vote, launched a harsh attack against Russia.

In a statement released through her mission, Haley said Russia's veto "once again demonstrated it will do whatever it takes to ensure the barbaric Assad regime never faces consequences for its continued use of chemicals as weapons."

"By rejecting the renewal of the work of the Joint Investigative Mechanism ... Russia has made it clear that it does not care about stopping the use of chemical weapons in the world."

Rycroft of Britain noted that it was Russia that initiated JIM. He accused Russia of abusing its veto power to side with Syria, which he said has no regard for international norms.

"Why has Russia alone stopped an investigation whose work is not yet complete? Why has Russia brought an end to a mechanism that they initiated and we all created and mandated when there are still questions to answer?" he asked.

Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador, defended his country's position and explained that the Russian veto did not mean an end to JIM. "We will return to this matter ... (we) will examine what the mandate of JIM should be so that it fulfils its work in a professional, objective and impartial way," he told the Security Council after his veto.

He said Tuesday's vote was "senseless" and was intended to embarrass Russia. He regretted that "others chose the path of confrontation and division within the Security Council," referring to the rejection of his proposal for a postponement.

He promised that his country's veto has no influence on the fate of JIM.

French ambassador to the United Nations Francois Delattre said Russia's veto is a lost opportunity for the international community.

He said the non-proliferation regime is one of the greatest achievements in past decades and the very backbone of international peace and security. "Let's not allow the different policies or technical short-term calculations make the regime a precarious one."

He called for a renewal of JIM's mandate. "The mechanism has shown its mettle. We have the responsibility of building the necessary consensus to put an end to the use of chemical weapons in Syria but also preventing its re-emergency elsewhere."

Wu Haitao, the charge d'affaires at the Chinese permanent mission to the United Nations, said China, which abstained from the vote, is opposed to the use of chemical weapons and supports JIM.

The draft resolution contains positive elements, but also issues of concern by certain members of the council. The council could have continued consultation so that the text wins unanimous support, he said.

"Regretably, however, the council rushed to vote on the draft resolution in the absence of consensus," he said, noting that the practice is not conducive to unity of the Security Council.

The Security Council unanimously approved JIM in 2015 and renewed its mandate for another year in 2016. Its mandate expires on Nov. 17, 2017.
David Granski, of Virginia Beach, an avid swimmer, kayaker and scuba diver, died Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. He was 62. He was born in Parris Island, S.C. on Oct. 8, 1955 and spent most of his adult life in northern Virginia, where he worked for Giant Food. He retired in 2007 after 35 years with the company. After his retirement, he followed his travel dreams, visiting Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Israel, among others. Most recently, he and his daughter, Alix Granski, traveled to Singapore and Cambodia. Another passion was scuba diving. He became a designated dive master before he was 20. In addition to his daughter, he is survived by his mother, Beverly Granski and brother, Steve Granski, both of The Villages, Fla.; his wife, Lisa Callison; and his beloved lab-mix, Toby. Those who wish to honor his life are asked to donate to LonelyWhale.org or OceanConservancy.org.
Marion Tillman "Shorty" Saunders, 94, of Stafford County has been granted 'Fair Winds and Following Seas' on his final journey as he entered eternal life on Thursday, October 19, 2017 at his residence. Mr. Saunders was born December 29, 1922, in Henderson, South Carolina, and later moved to Burlington, North Carolina before joining the United States Navy in 1942 to serve his country during World War II. During his tenure in the Navy he served on the MV Buchanan, Esso Hartford, SS Pierre Laclede, and USS Mission Bay while achieving the rank of Gunnery Mate 3rd Class upon his departure in 1946. After leaving the Navy, he found his way to Virginia where he co-owned a restaurant at Midway Island. He worked as a carpenter until 1951 when he was recalled to serve during the Korean War. During the Korea War he served with the 10th Naval Seabee Construction Battalion constructing and repairing airfields, as well as servicing the K-fields of various Marine Air Groups until the war was over in 1953. Upon his final departure from the Navy, he returned to Virginia to start his new career as a proud union carpenter. He served with the Carpenter's Local Union 1590 from 1953 until his retirement in 1985, at which time he became a lifetime member until his passing. Mr. Saunders over the years had many hobbies included hunting, fishing, and taxidermy. He also had a passion for raising hunting dogs, reading and making bird houses. He was a gifted carpenter and long after his official retirement he was called upon for his carpentry skills by many. Survivors include his children, Gregory S. Saunders, with whom he made his home; Kathy Sartwell, James T. Saunders and Wayne T. Saunders (Danna); his three grandchildren, Christopher Saunders, Lindsay Holtzman (Will) and Daniel Guy; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members; and many beloved friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Linda T. Saunders; and one sister Blondell Massengill. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, October 27 at Quantico National Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society at 2034 Barrett Avenue, Quantico, Va. 22134. Online guestbook available at covenantfuneralservice.com.
EVERYONE DESERVES the opportunity to have a decent place to live. And that would be easy if there werent poor people or if housing werent so expensive. But since there are poor people and housing is expensive, not everyone has access to satisfactory, affordable housing.

Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of various advocacy groups, government agencies and sympathetic politicians, its hard to imagine this problem ever being solved. But that doesnt mean we shouldnt expect to make progress. Our society has a moral obligation to keep trying.

Part of the problem is that like the people who struggle to keep a roof over their heads, the importance of affordable housing is often overlooked. It often gets more attention when the weather turns cold, as the upcoming holiday season arouses concerns about the less fortunate.

The best way to shine a light on affordable housing is to keep people talking about it. The recent forum on the topic sponsored by Virginia Organizing is a good example of how to ensure people are aware that there are far too many individuals and families in the Fredericksburg area who face housing issues; aware that affordable is a highly abused word when applied to housing; and aware that government housing assistance programs are only as good as the level of funds allocated for them.

The United Ways ALICE report, which was discussed previously in this space, offers eye-opening numbers on area residents described as Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

These are folks living on the edge, from paycheck to meager paycheck, who are one car repair away from having to choose between paying the rent and driving to work.

For these people, the cellphone or cable service that so many take for granted are unaffordable luxuries.

Fifty-five percent of Fredericksburg households meet the ALICE criteria; Spotsylvania, 47 percent; Caroline, 39 percent; Stafford, 35 percent; King George, 29 percent. These percentages even include schoolteachers, police officers, firefighters and other public servants whom everyone counts on in one way or another.

The Free Lance-Star recently reported that King George-based Project FAITH, which has already brought 120 units of affordable multifamily housing valued at $27 million to King George, Caroline and Westmoreland counties, is at it again.

The Angelwood Marshall Homes development will provide 35 three-bedroom, single-family homes valued at $275,000 at a subsidized cost of $195,000, thanks to federal and state grant money. Working families household income must range between $42,000 and $66,400 to qualify.

The principle and interest (not including insurance and taxes) for a $200,000 mortgage at 4 percent interest is $955 per month.

A quick search of rental units in King George turns up virtually nothing in that price range, not to mention that theres no such thing as gaining equity in an apartment or rental home.

Project FAITH will also offer homeownership classes designed to help families put themselves on the path to the financial stability they are looking for.

The fact that the areas least expensive housing is found in localities farther away from Fredericksburg doesnt help the areas poor, disabled and aging residents who lack transportation and need to live near the services they require, such as doctors offices and hospitals or adult service and training agencies.

According to the Central Virginia Housing Coalition, the waiting lists for Virginias federally funded Section 8 voucher rental-assistance program are currently closed in all area localities, and theres no indication when grant money will become available to reopen them. The median monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Fredericksburg is $1,630. Affordable housing this is not.

For those who find themselves and their families living this precarious existence, hope can make a difference in the daily struggle to survive. There are people and organizations working tirelessly to give them that hope, but hope is not realized without available funds to offer.

For the sake of what is right, the conversation about affordable housing needs to be ongoing, not something we trot out to warm ourselves while others are out in the cold.

The fact that the areas least expensive housing is found in localities farther away from Fredericksburg doesnt help the areas poor, disabled and aging residents, who lack transportation and need to live near the services they require, such as doctors offices and hospitals.
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Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont on Tuesday was offered the chance to debate in the Spanish senate over the application of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution.

The action would see him and his government sacked and see control of key Catalan institutions being handed over to the central government in Madrid.

Puigdemont has been invited to appear on Thursday evening or Friday morning, before the senate votes to approve the article.

Vice president of the Spanish senate Pedro Sanz said: "It would be an honor to have the president of the Generalitat (Catalan government) here to be able to participate in the debate."

However, it is still uncertain whether Puigdemont will travel to Madrid. Following Sanz's comments, Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turul said Puigdemont's idea "was to go to the senate, but they are making it harder for us all of the time".

The Catalan parliament announced on Monday that it would hold a session on Thursday to debate the "current situation", in which Puigdemont may reportedly make a unilateral declaration of independence or call for fresh regional elections in the hope of avoiding the application of article 155.

The possibility of regional elections in Catalonia has caused divisions between the ruling People's Party and the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE).

PSOE sources said such a move would make it unnecessary to apply the article, while Spanish Justice Minister Rafael Catala insisted this was not the case and that what was needed was a "return to legality".
The future of glyphosate use in the EU remains unclear after a proposal to extend its licence failed to gain enough support.

The EU standing committee on plants, animals, food and feed (Paff), which gathers experts from member states, failed to attract enough support for a European Commission (EC) proposal to extend the licence for 10 years. The licence for glyphosate is due to end on 15 December.

In a statement, the EC said: The standing committee on plants, animals food and feed met on Wednesday (25 October) to discuss renewing the approval of the active substance glyphosate. At the conclusion of the meeting, no vote was taken.

See also: Video  Farmers explain why glyphosate is vital

The commission took note of the positions of the different delegations of member states, upon which it will now reflect, and will announce the date of the next meeting shortly.

Vote postponed

According to reports, 16 countries  Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Ireland, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Spain, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Finland, Romania and the UK  indicated they would vote in favour of the renewal.

However, Germany and Portugal would have abstained, while Greece, Croatia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium, Malta, Austria, Sweden and Slovenia all said they would have voted against the renewal.

This meant the proposal would have failed to meet the threshold of a qualified majority, so a vote was postponed until at least next month.

The commission also failed to attract enough support for a reduced licence extension for glyphosate of seven or five years.

Earlier this week, the European Parliament backed a full ban on glyphosate-based herbicides by 2022 and recommended immediate restrictions on the chemical, which is the active ingredient in Monsantos Roundup weedkiller.

Science disputed

The non-binding resolution  which was adopted by 355 votes to 204, with 111 abstentions  opposed the commissions proposal to renew the marketing authorisation of glyphosate.

Environmental and health groups have called on the EU to ban glyphosate after the World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) listed glyphosate as a probable human carcinogenic.

However, two EU scientific agencies  the European Food Safety Authority and the European Chemicals Agency  both found the herbicide safe to use.

The agencies said they disagreed with the IARCs conclusion.

Monsanto says 40 years of research and scrutiny by regulatory authorities has confirmed glyphosates safety.

Disappointed

The NFU urged members states to look at the science and base their decision on the evidence  which it said showed no reason not to reauthorise glyphosate for 15 years, never mind 10 years.

NFU vice-president Guy Smith said the union was disappointed that member states failed to reach an agreement.

The continued politicisation of this decision damages the credibility of the EUs regulatory bodies and undermines the regulatory process. It also has huge implications for farming in the UK and across Europe, he added.

Glyphosate reduces the need to use other herbicides, it helps to protect soil and cut greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the need for ploughing, and it enables farmers in this country to grow crops that help produce safe, affordable, high-quality British food.

Research by Oxford Economics and business consultants Andersons suggested UK farm output could fall by about 940m/year without glyphosate, partly due to a 20% drop in wheat production.
Getting your first job in the agricultural sector is a real milestone, but what does it take to get the next one and the one after that?

If youve got designs on making it to senior management within a company, it is extremely handy to know the secrets to climbing the career ladder.

Similarly, if you are frustrated in your current role and wonder about the best way to move onwards and upwards, an insight to the best way of achieving your goal cant go amiss.

See also: The latest careers news and advice from Farmers Weekly

Stuart Goodinson, managing director of recruitment consultant De Lacy Executive, and James Trett, executive agriculture recruitment specialist at JP Trett, offer some practical tips.

1. Establish your goal

When people first start work they often take jobs that arent in the area they aspire to be in.

This can prove problematic later on because potential employers will be looking for someone with experience in their own particular field.

It is vital to establish what your aspirations and motivations are for the future. Then you can start to plan for how to get there.

2. Be honest

Honesty should always apply to your CV  the truth will always out during the recruitment process.

It is also important that you are honest with yourself. If you are happy in your current role and can live with the fact your salary isnt going to rise very much then theres nothing wrong with deciding to stay put, and you should not feel pressured to move on.

3. Keep a record of your achievements

Whether it is on your CV or at interview, potential employers will look for tangible evidence of what youve achieved in your current role.

For example, if youve been the top salesman in your company, employers will want to know the facts regarding the level of sales youve achieved. So have figures to hand and be prepared to share them.

4. Have you got the big three?

Employers in the allied industries are typically looking for three things when they interview someone at the second- or third-job stage:

Technical competency

Commercial savviness

The ability to communicate clearly with people.

If youve got these three attributes you will earn good money in the agricultural market.

At the early stages of your career look for openings that will help you develop these skills in one job, or move to a different job if you need to attain them.

5. Think about your online profile

Managing your social media profile is crucial  your LinkedIn page could be the most important ally you have when it comes to getting your next job.

Not all jobs are advertised and many are filled by recruitment consultants who will search the internet for keywords in order to find suitable candidates.

If you are looking for a specific role in the industry, tailor your page so it shows how you might meet the requirements of a job in that sector.

6. Get your manager onside

It sounds obvious, but if you are looking for an internal promotion you want to stand out.

Always do over and above what your job description says you should and always ask questions about everything.

Ask your manager for training opportunities if you are not being offered any and talk to them about what you would like to do in the future.

Even if there is not an immediate job opening, that doesnt mean one isnt going to come up.

7. Positivity is vital

Dont be that person who is always moaning.

Having a positive attitude is really important for employers and the people with the right attitude will be the ones that get on.

An employer wants to know that the people in their boat are rowing it, not drilling holes in it.

Positivity breeds positivity and success breeds success.

8. Talk to a recruitment consultant

A good recruitment company will work with you to help identify where your strengths lie and where you might need improvement.

Talking to a consultant can also help clarify your own thought processes.

Once you are on their radar they can also alert you to opportunities that you might otherwise not hear about.

An employees experiences Sarah Middleton is campaign manager for seeds and traits at Bayer CropScience. Farmers Weekly asked her to share her career history and what she has learned along the way. I graduated from Sutton Bonington (University of Nottingham) in 1997 with a degree in agriculture with plant science. I had at the back of my mind that I wanted to get into marketing, but it was one of those situations where you cant get the job youd like because you havent got the experience, but you cant get the experience because you havent got a job. My first job was as a research biologist with Aventis CropScience where I carried out early-stage herbicide research, later moving into formulation testing. I was made redundant when the research station was closed in 2001, but this did at least make me think about what I wanted long term and I decided I would prefer a role that had more of a commercial element. My next role was with Monsanto in product support for the Latitude seed treatment. Part of my job was with the seeds business and I took the opportunity to transfer to RAGT when that part of the business was sold off. This is where I managed to make the leap into marketing. After about 18 months at RAGT working alongside the marketing manager, I asked if they would fund me to study for a professional diploma in marketing. I did it over 18 months, studying in my own time. It was hard work, but it was something I found interesting so I was prepared to give it the time. I ended up staying at RAGT for 11 years, moving up, as I advanced, to marketing manager. Probably the most significant moment in my career is my move, three years ago, to work for Bayer as a campaign manager for seeds. It was a little bit of a leap of faith because I had been in my previous role for so long. But I felt if I didnt make a move then I would get stuck where I was for the rest of my career. Ive learned you have to take opportunities when they come up. My current role was actually advertised as full-time, but because I have young children I wanted a part-time role. I sent Bayer what I thought was quite a cheeky application stating this, but also showing what I could offer them. I think you have to be brave sometimes and unafraid to go for jobs that might seem out of reach.

An employers view

Andrew Downie is managing director of NWF Agriculture  a national supplier of dairy, beef and sheep feeds.

NWF Agriculture employs about 200 people, while the wider NWF Group employs more than 950. We asked for an insight into how people can progress their careers.

What kind of jobs are on offer at NWF?

A variety of roles including sales, trading, technical, operations and finance opportunities. We are always searching for bright and ambitious people.

What skills and behaviours are you looking for in someone moving into their second or third job?

Ambition, self-motivation and a desire to drive the business forward within a team environment.

What sort of skills would you be looking for in someone in a managerial position?

Somebody who wants to build a team, empower individuals and achieve the companys objectives.

Give me an example of a tough question youd ask someone at an interview?

Convince me that you can deliver change within our company.

What steps can people take to fast-track themselves up the career ladder?

There is no substitute for hard work and a positive mental attitude. Drive and determination underpins our business.

How can a candidate make themselves stand out at interview?

There are three interviewee essentials:

Be well presented so that a potential employer believes you want the job Be able to explain clearly what your talents and attributes are so that an employer can see where you will fit into their business Be able to express your passions to help an employer understand how you can grow their business.

Whats more important  practical experience or attitude?

Both are equally important.

What mistakes do people make that could hold them back from career progression?

A lack of initiative, drive and understanding of what makes a business successful.

What are your three top tips for people seeking to climb the career ladder?

Portray yourself confidently to show drive and ambition Understand the importance of teamwork and trust Be dedicated.
A North Yorkshire livestock farmer has been fined 660 for failing to have his cattle tested for bovine TB.

Paul Parvin, from Sessay, near Thirsk, was found guilty at Northallerton Magistrates Court on Monday (23 October) of breaching disease control regulations by failing to test his cattle for the disease.

North Yorkshire County Council prosecuted Mr Parvin following an investigation by officers from its Trading Standards team.

See also: Photos  how to badger-proof your farm

It followed a referral from the governments Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) which found the farmer had not complied with a requirement to conduct a routine herd test on his cattle for bovine TB.

Mr Parvin did not attend the court and sentencing took place in his absence.

Low-risk area

North Yorkshire is considered a low-incidence area for bovine TB. The default TB testing interval of herds in the low-risk area is four years.

Leonardo Benito-de-Valle, APHA veterinary adviser for field delivery, said: By his actions, Mr Parvin has seriously undermined those central policies which are aimed at protecting the cattle population and the farming industry in areas such as North Yorkshire that is currently a low-incidence area for bovine TB.

The council said bovine TB has cost the taxpayer an estimated 500m over the past decade.

Andrew Lee, the councils executive member for Trading Standards, said Mr Parvins conviction demonstrates the importance the county council gives to its role in protecting both public health and the livestock industry from the potential spread of TB.

We will continue to work with the APHA to safeguard the farming industry in North Yorkshire, he added.
Scottish Conservative MPs have written to Defra secretary Michael Gove asking him to conduct an independent review into how Scottish farmers can receive their fair allocation of EU funds.

In the letter, Alister Jack, MP for Dumfries and Galloway, welcomed the commitment made by the Conservatives to continue farm support at current levels until 2022.

But he said the Scottish Conservatives now wanted to work with the minister to find a solution to the problem of the so-called convergence uplift, by asking him to appoint an independent figure to review the funding allocation.

See also: Future of Subsidies: Improved efficiency will be essential

The UK has qualified for around 190m of additional funds over six years from the EU for farmers because of the nature of farming in Scotland, known as the convergence uplift.

But rather than pass this additional funding onto Scottish farmers, the UK government has instead split it equally between the four devolved nations.

Failed approach

The Scottish government has repeatedly called on Defra to act in giving Scottish farmers their fair allocation, but Mr Jack slammed the Scottish governments actions as ineffective grandstanding.

While it may have boosted Scottish National Party morale, it has not resulted in a single Scottish farmer receiving a penny more in support.

Put simply the Scottish governments approach has not worked.

Mr Jack said the independent figure should report back to the minister with specific recommendations.

We believe this constructive approach will add credibility to future funding allocations between the UK nations and deliver a fairer outcome for Scotland.
City council holding special called meeting for final vote on returning to committees For some reason, Gaffney City Council is in a hurry to make the citys 10 standing committees in good standing again. After approving first reading of an ordinance at its...

POLICE REPORTS Its my birthday and I need a haircut

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A Pinch of Salt: The election is over, I think, so what now?
When Oregon voters approved Measure 99 last fall, they created a fund that allocates lottery dollars to create outdoor education programs for all students in fifth or sixth grade in the state.

And indirectly, they also created Kristopher Elliotts dream job.

The measure, which has $24 million in funding for the current two-year state budget cycle, directed that Oregon State Universitys Extension Service to administer the awarding of grants to school districts for funding existing or establishing new overnight outdoor school programs. (The extension service gets to use some of the funds for administering the program.)

Elliott, who has doctorate in science education from OSU, was working in Tennessee as the director of science, technology, engineering and math education with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools when OSU listed the position as the head of the new program.

If I could have designed my dream job, well, someone built that, he said.

Elliott, who said he had a very inspiring experience at outdoor school while growing up in Linden, California, liked that the program sought to bring outdoor school to every child in the state and that it was something that Oregon voters supported by a wide margin. It combines, he said, his two great passions: the outdoors and education.

Every aspect of it spoke to me, said Elliott, who taught high school science for nine years in Fresno, California, before earning his doctorate.

He started his dream job on Sept. 1, and has been working since then to expand on the work done by OSU extension to get the program off the ground for this year.

Its been a very busy month, he said.

Elliott said districts have to plan outdoor school curriculum and apply for grants, but all districts that meet the baseline criteria should get funding for a five-day outdoor school program, although districts with shorter programs would get less money. He said there are some new outdoor school programs being planned already, but he is expecting more next year.

This is the first year, so well be learning a lot, he said.

Elliott said as the program gets more established, he will be working to expand the outdoor school curriculum that the extension already has (the extension had previously managed a much smaller outdoor school grant program). Elliott said districts would be welcome to use the extension curriculum or develop their own.

Our goal is to support and assist, not mandate, he said.

Elliott said eventually hell have people working for him: possibly a few in the office in Corvallis and six part-time regional coordinators working at extension offices throughout the state to help school districts with their programs and potentially working on regional adaptations for curriculum.

In five years, I hope we have as close to a 100 percent participation rate as possible, he said.

Elliott said he wants all students to have access to outdoor school because students are more engaged in nature. He recalled that at outdoor school as a kid, he went on a guided night hike without flashlights and he got a firsthand lesson on how sensitive the optic nerve is and how the human eye can adjust to darkness. This experience made him want to learn more, he said, and hes excited about the chance to give kids the chance to have their own influential experiences in the outdoors.

You learn every time you are in the outdoors, he said.
Why does Oregon State University look the way it does? How did its building style develop? And what sort of unity exists between the campus of 100 years ago and today?

Those were the questions that sparked the greatest discussion Tuesday night at an event to honor the authors of two books about the university as it turns 150. Even President Ed Ray jumped into the fray.

On hand were William G. Robbins, emeritus distinguished professor of history, whose book The Peoples School has just been released by the OSU Press and Larry Landis, longtime archivist at the university, whose School for the People was produced by the press in 2015. Yes, the symmetry of the titles was intentional.

But in a lively 60-minute discussion at the Valley Library, it was the architecture question from an audience member that drew in the standing-room only crowd of more than 60 people.

Landis and Robbins both noted three key figures in the look of OSU: early 20th century university President William Jasper Kerr, landscape architect John Charles Olmsted and building designer John V. Bennes.

Kerr commissioned a massive construction boom during his 1907-1932 tenure as president, with Olmsted  the nephew of legendary New York Central Park designer Frederick Law Olmsted  providing the plan and Bennes the designs for more than 30 campus buildings.

During that major building boom, Landis said, there was unity in design. It was simple and functional but had its own unique character. And weve maintained that red brick and terra cotta look  well, there was a period in the 1960s, he noted to laughter from the audience.

And, Landis said, the university has continued that look right up to the present, citing the Austin Hall headquarters of the College of Business, which opened in 2014.

Ray, meanwhile, who has been president since 2003, described a recent campus walkabout in which he wanted to see what happened architecturally.

Have we added value to the aesthetics, or have we been utilitarian? he asked. A lot of people tried to be true to the style and architecture of those early days. Thats a quality that needs to be preserved and protected. Unlike other campuses that have taken a 'flavor of the month' approach, I think that there was a genuine effort here not to be ignorant of the past.

Another audience member noted the 1912 Rollin Caughey painting that graces the cover of both books and wondered how the artist arrived at his aerial perspective.

Landis said that Caughey surveyed campus buildings but could not have used any aerial photos  because aerial photos did not yet exist of the campus. Landis noted that when Caughey updated the painting in 1920, he had to add some buildings to reflect recent construction and that some of them looked mushed together.

Robbins, meanwhile, noted that Bald Hill now looks nothing like it is depicted in the painting  where it truly looks bald.

But its a fair representation of what it looked like then, said Robbins who, naturally, researched it.
This log includes incidents in which there might have been a public disturbance or a risk to the public. Information comes from the Corvallis Police Department and the Benton County Sheriffs Office. It does not include all calls for service. The status of incidents might change after further investigation. Locations are approximate. People arrested or suspected in crimes are considered innocent until proven otherwise.

Corvallis Police Department

MONDAY, OCTOBER 23

RACIST STICKERS: 6:37 p.m., Northwest 30th Street and Northwest Orchard Avenue, Corvallis. A woman reported she found racist stickers posted to the backs of stop signs. Police did not say what was on the stickers. No suspects were identified.

FUGITIVE ARREST: 9:11 p.m., 1400 Northwest Buchanan Avenue, Corvallis. Police responded to Corvallis High School after a caller complained of a man wandering inside the school and acting unusual. Officers reportedly located Jacob A. Oaks, 30, and arrested him on a warrant for failure to appear on charges of fourth-degree assault, harassment and second-degree disorderly conduct.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24

DUII: 1:49 a.m., Northwest 13th Street and Northwest Jackson Avenue, Corvallis. An officer stopped a car that did not have its headlights on. The officer arrested the driver, Ian Sedgewick, for driving under the influence of intoxicants. A drug recognition expert reportedly determined Sedgewick was under the influence of marijuana.
TODAY

Spooky Species Camp, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Boy Scout Lodge, 1986 SW Allen St., Corvallis. Corvallis schools will be closed Oct. 25, so have your child age 5 to 10 spend the day at Avery House Nature Centers camp and learn about bats, owls, spiders and mushrooms. Before-care is available at 8 a.m. and after-care is available till 5 p.m. Cost: $40 for the full day; additional care $6 per hour. Information: 541-758-6198 or connie@corvallisenvironmentalcenter.org.

The Shining, 7 p.m., Whiteside Theatre, 361 SW Madison Ave., Corvallis. The classic horror film by Stanley Kubrick, starring Jack Nicholson, will be shown. Tickets: $5-$7. Advance tickets: https://theshiningatwhiteside.brownpapertickets.com.

THURSDAY

Spooky Species Camp, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Boy Scout Lodge, 1986 SW Allen St., Corvallis. See Wednesday for details.

FRIDAY

Spooky Species Camp, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Boy Scout Lodge, 1986 SW Allen St., Corvallis. See Wednesday for details.

Spooktacular Halloween Social, 12:30 p.m., Albany Senior Center, 489 NE Water Ave. Enjoy autumn cuisine, games and a masquerade mask-making craft.

Annual Childrens Community Halloween Party, 2 to 4 p.m., Corvallis Elks Lodge, 1400 NW Ninth St. Activities will include apple bobbing, a costume contest, refreshments, music and more. Information: 541-758-0222.

Candlelit Tour of Monteith House Museum and Ride on the Trolley of Terror, 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m., Albany. The Monteith Society will host this experience of purportedly true ghost stories, some decidedly weird. The trolley, draped in black funeral buntings, will tour the haunted homes and businesses in Albanys historic districts. Cost: $10 per adult, $5 per child. Reservations: Albany Visitors Association, 110 SE Third Ave., 541-928-0911.

Teen Lock-In, 6:30 to 10 p.m., Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave. Activities will include watching scary movies, playing video and party games, costume makeup practice, slime-making, virtual reality games and making yarn balloon lanterns. Teens are invited to wear costumes, but no masks or real or fake weapons. Teens must turn in a release form to participate.

Haunted Barn, 7 to 10 p.m., 31000 Landlab Road, Lebanon. Proceeds support Future Farmers of America. Cost: $5 per person.

Haunted House, 7 to 11 p.m., Morningstar Grange, 38794 Morningstar Road NE, Albany. Proceeds benefit the Jefferson Fire Department Christmas Food Basket Program, the Albany Gleaners and the grange. Admission: $5 or five cans of food. Tickets are available for pre-purchase.

Summit's Spooktacular Funk Halloween Dance, 8:30 to 11:30 p.m., Summit Grange Hall, 19854 Summit Highway. Summit's Halloween "BOOgie" Costume Dance gets funky with Despite the Whiteness, a 10-piece horn and percussion band playing sweet groove music. Costume parade and treats. All ages, alcohol-free. All dance proceeds benefit the Summit Grange, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of National Granges. Admission: $7.

VIP Ghost Hunt Experience, 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., Monteith House Museum, 518 SW Second Ave., Albany. Limited to 10 people. VIPs will be joined by experienced paranormal investigators and learn how to use ghost-hunting equipment. VIPs will then get to help conduct a paranormal investigation of Monteith House. Cost: $50 per person. Reservations: Albany Visitors Association, 110 SE Third Ave., 541-928-0911.

SATURDAY

Zombie Zoup Run, 10 a.m., starts at Jim Riggs Community Center, 880 18th Ave., Sweet Home. Runners and walkers are invited to participate in the only zombie run in the Willamette Valley. Easy 2-mile course through the south trail system and a covered bridge. "Survivors" will vote for the best zombie team, best zombie couple, best adult zombie, best teenage zombie and best child zombie; winners will receive awards from local merchants. Participants will receive a memento and free admission to the Great Community Soup Event. Proceeds will be used to purchase canopies, chairs and tables organizations can borrow for fundraising events in Sweet Home. Registration: $20; $25 day of event; information at www.zombiezouprun.weebly.com or City Hall, 1140 12th Ave.

Great Community Soup Event, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., gymnasium, Jim Riggs Community Center, 880 18th Ave., Sweet Home. Enjoy 10-plus varieties of homemade soup. All-you-can-eat soup and rolls served by local restaurants and cooks. Pies for sale, pumpkins to judge and activities for children. Proceeds will be used to purchase canopies, chairs and tables organizations can borrow for fundraising events in Sweet Home. Admission: $20 per family, $10 per individual.

Candlelit Tour of Monteith House Museum and Ride on the Trolley of Terror, 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m., Albany. See Friday for details.

Haunted Barn, 7 to 10 p.m., 31000 Landlab Road, Lebanon. See Friday for details.

Haunted House, 7 to 11 p.m., Morningstar Grange, 38794 Morningstar Road NE, Albany. See Friday for details.

Live music and Halloween costume contest, 9 p.m., Squirrel's Tavern, 100 SW Second St., Corvallis. Big Outside will play original songs with a global groove. Cover: $5.

OCT. 30

Quick Class: Smoothie Bowls, 6 to 6:30 p.m., Natural Grocers, 1235 NW 10th St., Corvallis. Mary Van Steenbergen will teach about smoothie bowls, and participants will make their own Halloween-themed smoothie bowls. Information: 541-758-0200.

Haunted House, 7 to 10 p.m., Morningstar Grange, 38794 Morningstar Road NE, Albany. Proceeds benefit the Jefferson Fire Department Christmas Food Basket Program, the Albany Gleaners and the grange. Admission: $5 or five cans of food. Tickets are available for pre-purchase.

OCT. 31

Downtown Trick or Treat, 1 to 5 p.m., Corvallis.

Haunted House, 7 to 10 p.m., Morningstar Grange, 38794 Morningstar Road NE, Albany. See Oct. 30 for details.
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.
Article

Protecting the worlds oceans  an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy

The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs.
kacylee at 25-10-2017 08:28 AM (5 years ago) (f)

The Independent National Electoral Commission says it is making arrangements with the Nigeria Prisons Service to ensure that prisoners are allowed to vote in the 2019 general elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission says it is making arrangements with the Nigeria Prisons Service to ensure that prisoners are allowed to vote in the 2019 general elections.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this in Abuja on Tuesday at a dialogue session with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room Dialogue  a coalition of over 70 civil society organisations in Nigeria.



The development comes three years after a Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State, ruled that prisoners in Nigeria have the right to vote in all elections conducted in the country.



The INEC boss said the commission was looking at the possibility of creating polling units in Nigerian prisons to allow some categories of inmates to vote.





He, however, said certain categories of prisoners would not be allowed to vote depending on the nature of the crimes they committed. The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this in Abuja on Tuesday at a dialogue session with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room Dialogue  a coalition of over 70 civil society organisations in Nigeria.The development comes three years after a Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State, ruled that prisoners in Nigeria have the right to vote in all elections conducted in the country.The INEC boss said the commission was looking at the possibility of creating polling units in Nigerian prisons to allow some categories of inmates to vote.He, however, said certain categories of prisoners would not be allowed to vote depending on the nature of the crimes they committed.

Post Reply I have been reporting for several years now and I am very interested in visual news reportage with strong inclusion of photos and video multimedia. Posted: at 25-10-2017 08:28 AM (5 years ago) | Addicted Hero
clarajancita at 25-10-2017 02:33 PM (5 years ago) (f)

Another batch of 257 Nigerians who had been stranded in Libya after failing in their attempt to cross over to Europe, have voluntarily returned to the country as they arrive in Lagos. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received another batch of 257 Nigerian Voluntary Returnees from Libya who were stranded in their failed attempt to cross over to Europe.

Another batch of 257 Nigerians who had been stranded in Libya after failing in their attempt to cross over to Europe, have voluntarily returned to the country as they arrive in Lagos. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received another batch of 257 Nigerian Voluntary Returnees from Libya who were stranded in their failed attempt to cross over to Europe.

The returnees arrived on an Airbus A330-200 aircraft with registration number 5A- LAT which touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja at 9:15 p.m.

It was learnt that the Italian Government provided the flight that conveyed the returnees home while the European Union (EU) is said to be providing the reintegration assistance. They were handed over to the Zonal Coordinator of NEMA Southwest, Alh Suleiman Yakubu by officials of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).



The breakdown of the returnees comprised 241 adult females, two adult children and five female infants, making a total of 248 females while there were only four male adults, four male children and 1male infant.



The Director General of NEMA, Engr. Mustapha Maihajja represented by the zonal coordinator enjoined the returnees to embrace the change mantra of the Federal Government and have positive mindset. He assured the returnees that no one will treat them as second class citizens, saying they are to enjoy their full rights unlike foreign countries where they would be regarded as second citizens without certain benefits especially those that are illegal migrants.



Other agencies at the airport are NAPTIB, police, immigration services and FAAN. The Returnees were given food on arrival and tokens for their transportation to their respective destinations. The returnees arrived on an Airbus A330-200 aircraft with registration number 5A- LAT which touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja at 9:15 p.m.It was learnt that the Italian Government provided the flight that conveyed the returnees home while the European Union (EU) is said to be providing the reintegration assistance. They were handed over to the Zonal Coordinator of NEMA Southwest, Alh Suleiman Yakubu by officials of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).The breakdown of the returnees comprised 241 adult females, two adult children and five female infants, making a total of 248 females while there were only four male adults, four male children and 1male infant.The Director General of NEMA, Engr. Mustapha Maihajja represented by the zonal coordinator enjoined the returnees to embrace the change mantra of the Federal Government and have positive mindset. He assured the returnees that no one will treat them as second class citizens, saying they are to enjoy their full rights unlike foreign countries where they would be regarded as second citizens without certain benefits especially those that are illegal migrants.Other agencies at the airport are NAPTIB, police, immigration services and FAAN. The Returnees were given food on arrival and tokens for their transportation to their respective destinations.

Post Reply I am a metro reporter on Gistmania, I have been publishing news materials for over 5 years Posted: at 25-10-2017 02:33 PM (5 years ago) | Hero
English Finnish

OUTOTEC OYJ PRESS RELEASE OCTOBER 19, 2017 AT 1:00 PM



Outotec to deliver gold processing technology to Fruta Del Norte in Ecuador

Outotec has been awarded an order for the delivery of minerals processing technology packages by Lundin Gold for their greenfield project Fruta Del Norte in Ecuador. The contract value booked in Outotec's 2017 third quarter order intake is over EUR 10 million.

Ecuador, until recently only known by its oil resources, is quickly gaining ground as a mining investment destination in Latin America thanks to significant gold and copper resources. Fruta del Norte, property of Lundin Gold, is one of the world's largest, highest grade undeveloped gold deposits, with reserves estimated at about 4.8 million ounces of gold and 6.3 million ounces of silver. Fruta Del Norte is expected to produce approximately 325,000 ounces of gold a year over a 15-year mine life.

Outotec's scope includes process engineering and the delivery of grinding mills, flotation, thickening and filtration technology packages. The deliveries will take place before the end of 2018.

"We are pleased to deliver our energy efficient process equipment to Lundin Gold's greenfield project, Fruta del Norte. This order will strengthen Outotec's position as a supplier of advanced minerals processing technologies in Ecuador", says Kimmo Kontola, head of Outotec's Minerals Processing business unit.

For further information please contact:



OUTOTEC



Kimmo Kontola, President - Minerals Processing business unit

tel. +358 40 822 7100

Eila Paatela, Vice President - Corporate Communications

tel. +358 20 529 2004, +358 400 817198



e-mails firstname.lastname@outotec.com



DISTRIBUTION:

Main media

www.outotec.com
Lucille Murkleys husbands last words to her were, You stay out of trouble, now.

The World War II veteran, mother and former American Legion commander has lived a colorful life, but Murkley, 93, of Chippewa Falls is doing her best to stay out of trouble, or so she says.

Her latest project, however, has put her in the local spotlight: Murkley spearheaded a project to raise a flagpole on the grounds of Wissota Place Senior Living, 2801 Co Hwy I, where she lives.

The new flagpole will be dedicated at Wissota Place on Nov. 7 at a 9 a.m. ceremony honoring veterans. The American Legion Post 77 will conduct the ceremony, which will be open to the public, and a choir from McDonell Central Catholic High School will perform the national anthem while the flag is raised.

Im the instigator, Murkley admitted.

A small flag, attached to a post, currently flutters in front of the main doors at Wissota Place, visible from Murkleys window. But Murkley said she and other residents at Wissota Place thought Old Glory deserved a better display.

We decided we were going to put a pole up, she said. We didnt know where, but we were going to get a pole.

It seemed like fate when Murkley was mailed an American flag large enough to be mounted outside the building.

A former commander of the American Legion in Omro, Wis., Murkley knew the right strings to pull. Just months after she decided to pursue the project, Wissota Place decided to join in on the cause, said the residences community relations manager, Whitney Michels.

A life well lived

Murkleys story began in Berlin, Wis. where she was born, but she remembers some of the best years of her life in Winnebago County during the Great Depression, where her father was a buttermaker and she serenaded farm dances with her fiddle.

I helped the boys play tricks at school. I was a little stinker, Murkley laughed.

But the 20-year-olds world gained a whole new perspective when, as a trainee nurse at the local doctors office, she took an evening trip that would change her life.

One night, the night nurse came up to me and said, were going to Oshkosh, Murkley remembers. I said to her, What the hell are we going to do in Oshkosh?

She parked right in front of the military recruitment office. I went in, and the fellow there said, I have Lucilles papers all made out. All she has to do is sign them. I have her as a medic.

It took her only 30 minutes to make up her mind to sign the papers and become an Air Force medic, Murkley said  but she didnt tell her parents until a day before she left for the West Coast.

After two years spent working as an Air Force medic in Idaho, Washington and California, she was ready to fly overseas when the news broke: the war was over.

We were just about to get on a plane when they told us, Murkley said. I had a cousin who came back (from Japan), and he told me hed prayed every day that I wouldnt go overseas. I was in Japan, he said, and we were having one hell of a time there, trying to stay alive.

Picking up the pieces

Murkley headed back Wisconsin and attempted to join the nursing program at UW-Oshkosh, but after finding out the program was full, resigned herself to caring for her father in Winnebago County.

It was her brother who finally convinced her to go out for dinner and dancing in Oshkosh after she returned from the West Coast. She would meet her husband that night.

We went through the little town of Redgranite. There was the dance, and there was about 20 of my relatives there, Murkley remembered. We were talking, laughing, they were asking me questions about the crazy things Id done. Two fellows came along, and one fellow says, Im going to pick you up, Saturday night at seven oclock, and Im going to take you out for a dance.

He didnt tell me who he was or anything, she said, laughing.

That impulsive young man, Heber Dewey Pete Murkley Jr., was one of five brothers, and just four months after that fateful dinner date, Pete and Lucy Murkley were married.

The pair moved to Anson, where they had several children and a farm. Murkley first met Harry Bauer, the current commander of Chippewa Falls American Legion, on their Anson farm as well. Bauer grew up playing with her children, she said.

Several decades later, the two will meet again at Wissota Place on Nov. 7, where Bauer will dedicate Murkley and the resident veterans new flagpole just a few days before Veterans Day.

I found out he was Commander here, and I thought, Im going to get him busy, Murkley said.

Murkley herself is still busy at 93, crocheting afghans for other Wissota Place residents and remembering her days as commander of the American Legion post in Omro, Wis. She has no immediately plans to begin other veterans projects, but repeated her husbands words, with a glint in her eye, after telling her story.

Ill try to stay out of trouble, she said.
Concise letters  250 words or fewer  on topics of local interest will receive first consideration for publication. All letters are subject to editing for language and clarity.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LiCo Energy Metals Inc. ("the Company" or "LiCo") (TSX-V: LIC) (OTCQB: WCTXF) is pleased to update its shareholders on the current diamond drilling program for its Teledyne and Glencore Bucke Cobalt Properties situated in Bucke and Lorrain Townships, 6 km east-northeast of Cobalt, Ontario, as originally announced on September 12th, 2017.

The Company has now completed a total of 12 holes for 1,010 metres testing the Main and Northwest zones on the Glencore Bucke Property. Cobalt camp style mineralization has visually been noted in every drill hole that the Company has completed. The historical drilling program outlined two separate vein systems hosting significant cobalt and silver values. The Main Zone, currently is 152 m in length, and the Northwest Zone, measuring 70 m in length. The Main Zone had a north-south strike, which is hypothesized as the southern extension of the #3 vein from the Cobalt Contact Mine located immediately to the north of the property (Bresee, 1982).

Building on what can be described as a successful start to its exploration program, the Company has decided to add a second drill rig to fast forward the overall exploration program. Furthermore, late last week the Company began the preparation of the Teledyne property for drilling its initial drill targets. As of Sunday October 22, 2017, this added drill rig commenced drilling on the Teledyne Property. The first drill hole testing the cobalt/silver targets of the Teledyne property that were previously identified by Teledyne Canada Ltd., that are considered to be extensions from the past producing Agaunico Mine.

Tim Fernback, President & CEO of LiCo, states, "We are still encouraged with the visual results that have been noted in the drill core to date and also excited with the second drill rig has now started to test the Teledyne Property. The core samples from the initial drill holes have recently been sent to the laboratory for analysis and LiCo is anxiously waiting to receive the results." For more information on LiCo's Teledyne and Glencore Bucke Properties listen to Tim Fernback's latest audio interview with SmallCapVoice.com here: http://smallcapvoice.com/blog/10-23-17-smallcapvoice-interview-with-lico-energy-metals-inc-wctxf/.

LiCo will remain drilling on the Glencore Bucke property, while the second drill rig will be used to test the drill targets identified by management on the Teledyne Property. The Teledyne and Glencore Bucke Properties are managed by Joerg Kleinboeck, P.Geo. (LiCo's QP), and supervised by Mr. Dwayne Melrose, Director and Head of the Technical Advisory Board of LiCo.

The overall drilling program will be conducted as part of LiCo's flow thru financing and work commitments for the Glencore Bucke and Teledyne Properties.

About LiCo Energy Metals: https://licoenergymetals.com/

LiCo Energy Metals Inc. is a Canadian-based exploration company whose primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's focus is directed towards exploration for high value metals integral to the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries.

Glencore Bucke Cobalt Project, Cobalt, Ontario:

The Company has entered into a property purchase agreement to acquire a 100% interest from Glencore Canada Corporation (subsidiary of Glencore plc) in the Glencore Bucke Property, situated in Bucke Township, 6 km east-northeast of Cobalt, Ontario, subject to a back-in provision, production royalty and off-take agreement. Strategically, the Glencore Bucke Property consists of 16.2 hectares and sits along the west boundary of LiCo's Teledyne Cobalt Project. The Property covers the southern extension of the #3 vein that was historically mined on the neighbouring Cobalt Contact Property located to the north of the Glencore Bucke Property. Diamond drilling in 1981 on the Glencore Bucke Property delineated two zones of mineralization measuring 150 m and 70 m in length.

Ontario Teledyne Cobalt Project:

The Company has an option to earn 100% ownership, subject to a royalty, in the Teledyne Project located near Cobalt, Ontario. The Property adjoins the south and west boundaries of claims that hosted the Agaunico Mine. From 1905 through to 1961, the Agaunico Mine produced a total of 4,350,000 lbs. of cobalt and 980,000 oz. of silver. A significant portion of the cobalt that was produced at the Agaunico Mine located along structures that extended southward onto property currently under option to LiCo Energy Metals.

Chile Purickuta Lithium Project:

The Purickuta Project is located within Salar de Atacama, a salt flat encompassing 3,000 km2, being about 100 km long, 80 km wide and home to approximately 37% of the worlds Lithium production. The salar possesses a very high grade of both Lithium (1,840mg/l) and Potassium (22,630mg/l) and is close to power, labour, communications, transportation and other infrastructure. The property of 160 hectares is enveloped by a concession owned by Sociedad Quimica y Minera ("SQM") and lies, significantly, within a few kilometers of the property of CORFO (the Chilean Economic Development Agency) where its leases to both SQM and Albermarle's Rockwood Lithium Corp. Together these two companies have combined production of over 62,000 tonnes of LCE (Lithium Carbonate Equivalent) annually making up 100% of Chile's current lithium output. The unique characteristics of Salar de Atacama make finished lithium carbonate easier and cheaper to produce than any of its peer group globally.

Purickuta is a smaller exploitation concession rather than a large exploration concession thereby accelerating the task of taking the project to production once a measured reserve can be established. Currently, the Chilean government retains ownership of lithium separate from other minerals and thus production can only proceed upon receipt of a special lithium operation contract know as a "CEOL". In the future, it will be necessary for LiCo and partner to negotiate a production contract with CORFO concurrently with completing any positive feasibility study. "Chile, which has one of the world's most plentiful supplies of lithium, is pushing ahead with new policies to develop those reserves". (Reuters Jan 2, 2017).

Nevada Dixie Valley Lithium Project:

The Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest, subject to a 3% NSR, on a large lithium exploration project at the Humboldt Salt Marsh in Dixie Valley, Nevada. The geologic setting and presence of lithium in active geothermal fluids and surface salts in Dixie Valley match characteristics of producing lithium brine deposits at Clayton Valley, Nevada and in South America.

Nevada Black Rock Desert Lithium Project:

The Company has entered into an option agreement whereby the Company may earn an undivided 100% interest, subject to a 3% NSR, in the Black Rock Desert Lithium Project in southwest Black Rock Desert, Washoe County, Nevada.

The Company is planning exploration programs on a number of its properties over the next several months. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved Joerg Kleinboeck, P.Geo., an independent consulting geologist and a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Tim Fernback, President & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information:

This news release may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statements.

Contact:

Phone: +1(236)521-0207

LiCoEnergyMetals.com



View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lico-energy-metals---second-drill-rig-mobilized---drilling-continues-on-its-two-cobalt-properties-teledyne-and-glencore-bucke-near-cobalt-ontario-300542960.html

SOURCE LiCo Energy Metals Inc.
Vancouver, October 25, 2017 - Defiance Silver Corp. (TSXV: DEF) (OTC: DNCVF) ("Defiance") is pleased to announce results from the final holes of its Phase 1 drilling program including a 3 meter intersection grading 404 g/t AgEq within a longer 10 meter intersection grading 204.65 g/t AgEq. Defiance commenced its 5000m drill program to test the extension of the San Acacio Deposit at depth. Including the final holes, Phase 1 has extended mineralization up to 230 meters below the current resource.

"We are very pleased with our continued exploration success at San Acacio. The Phase 1 results significantly expanded the mineralized envelope of the San Acacio silver deposit. Mapping and mineralogical studies indicate that the mineralized system hosting the San Acacio deposit is tilted to the southeast. This suggests that drilling along strike could result in the discovery of new mineralized zones containing the full vertical extent of the mineralizing system. Our next step is to prepare for the commencement of an aggressive Phase II drill program targeting new high grade shoots within the 900 meter extension of the Veta Grande vein system to the southeast of the San Acacio deposit," stated Roy Bonnell, President and CEO of Defiance Silver Corp.

Along the entire Veta Grande vein, which pinches and swells along strike, approximately 200 million ounces of silver was historically produced from high grade shoots in the swells. Defiance's portion of the Veta Grande vein has produced an estimated 100M ounces from high-grade shoots such as those that host the San Acacio deposit. Over 4.4 km of Defiance's 5.6 km holdings along the Veta Grande vein have not seen historical production nor been systematically explored. Mapping, sampling and drilling has indicated that pinching and swelling continues along strike, presenting significant potential for the discovery of multiple, new, intact silver shoots.

Drill holes SAD17-13 and SAD17-14 targeted the Esperanza Zone, extending the mineralization to depth below drill hole SAD17-12 which intersected high grade silver over a core length of 27.03 meters of hydrothermal breccia and veins assaying 202.99 g/t AgEq (see News Release dated June 8, 2017). Drill hole SAD17-13 extended the wide zone of mineralization returned in drill hole SAD17-12 with a 10 meter intersection grading 204.65 g/t AgEq. Drill hole SAD17-14 intersected three narrower zones of mineralization before intersecting a fault that displaced the main vein. Drill hole SAD17-15 drilled 100 meters to the southeast on the vein intersected high grade mineralization grading 296.30 g/t AgEq over 3.18 meters. Drill hole SAD17-17, drilled 100 meters farther to the southeast, extended the wide vein intersection of 11.95 meters returned by drill hole SAD15-10 although mineralization was primarily base metals suggesting that it may be in the low grade zone between the silver and the silver-base-metal zones.

With the completion of its Phase 1 drill program, Defiance presents highlights from its recent drilling as part of a complete table of all Phase 1 results (including those previously reported)

Table 1: Phase 1 Drill Results

Hole # From (m) To (m) Length (m) Ag, g/t Au, g/t Cu, % Pb, % Zn, % AgEq,* g/t* SAD14-01 132.50 149.50 17.00 110.21 0.13 0.01 0.11 0.35 139.15 including 134.00 142.10 8.10 222.12 0.22 0.01 0.20 0.53 268.13 SAD14-02 168.50 185.20 16.70 101.11 0.75 0.02 0.14 1.79 235.36 including 168.50 171.70 3.20 419.09 0.82 0.02 0.14 0.30 499.43 including 176.20 182.10 5.90 30.15 1.46 0.03 0.23 4.62 334.68 SAD14-03 194.50 213.30 18.80 21.37 0.42 0.02 0.84 1.10 128.03 including 205.00 213.30 8.30 42.89 0.92 0.04 1.87 2.44 278.33 SAD14-04 143.00 153.10 10.10 100.23 0.56 0.13 0.77 1.61 248.11 including 147.00 153.10 6.10 138.35 0.80 0.19 1.27 1.90 340.41 SAD15-06 178.00 185.30 7.30 109.21 0.13 0.01 0.04 0.09 125.09 SAD15-06 219.50 231.00 11.50 20.06 0.39 0.03 0.04 1.54 114.85 including 224.00 231.00 7.00 19.88 0.57 0.03 0.06 2.35 161.82 SAD15-07 136.40 140.00 3.60 211.49 0.14 0.01 0.11 0.20 234.17 SAD15-07 147.10 149.50 2.40 149.16 0.16 0.02 0.42 1.59 241.55 SAD15-07 185.40 206.50 21.10 70.84 0.24 0.03 0.35 0.77 134.87 including 199.10 206.50 7.40 158.75 0.52 0.07 0.81 1.83 306.68 SAD15-8 106.05 113.30 7.25 631.46 0.43 0.01 0.09 0.22 675.58 SAD15-8 119.50 120.20 0.70 431.95 0.24 0.01 0.21 0.64 483.38 SAD15-8 163.05 163.80 0.75 330.75 0.10 0.01 0.15 0.31 356.81 SAD15-9 221.00 224.05 3.05 Mine Opening on Veta Chica SAD15-9 226.15 241.80 15.65 65.22 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.04 68.99 including 226.15 231.00 4.85 118.32 0.02 0.07 0.01 0.04 129.64 SAD15-9 263.70 266.75 3.05 40.38 0.09 0.01 0.15 0.52 74.55 266.75 269.80 3.05 Mine Opening on Veta Grande 269.80 271.35 1.55 4.90 0.04 0.01 0.15 0.51 33.43 SAD15-10 282.70 284.30 1.60 100.03 0.11 0.01 0.01 0.03 110.72 SAD15-10** 331.50 343.45 11.95 Veta Grande vein including 331.5 333.6 2.1 283.31 0.17 0.01 0.38 0.70 337.75 ** 333.60 335.65 2.05 Mine Opening on Veta Grande including 335.65 341.15 5.5 96.65 0.26 0.03 0.61 1.34 194.32 ** 341.15 341.85 0.7 Mine Opening on Veta Grande including 341.85 343.45 1.60 19.44 0.12 0.02 0.40 1.58 106.88 SAD15-11 283.50 285.00 1.50 136.03 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.06 143.22 SAD 17-12 226.2 253.65 27.03 148.21 0.29 0.02 0.13 0.67 202.99 including 226.2 234.20 7.58 212.91 0.05 0.01 0.06 0.26 230.03 including 238.0 243.00 5.00 230.69 0.51 0.04 0.43 1.68 354.97 including 247.6 253.65 6.05 122.07 0.74 0.01 0.09 1.04 222.59 SAD17-13 261.00 271.00 10.00 171.22 0.08 0.01 0.27 0.42 204.65 including 261.00 264.00 3.00 372.21 0.10 0.01 0.16 0.45 404.03 SAD17-14 308.07 308.67 0.60 139.53 0.40 0.00 1.84 1.09 276.74 314.12 315.00 0.88 213.84 0.30 0.00 0.01 0.00 236.21 318.00 318.30 0.30 477.55 0.46 0.00 0.05 0.17 520.27 SAD17-15 209.82 213.00 3.18 285.04 0.02 0.01 0.05 0.17 296.30 SAD17-17 439.13 440.14 1.01 33.90 0.12 0.01 0.51 3.14 187.85

*Reported for comparison only, with no assumptions regarding metal recovery or smelter payments. Prices used are Au: $1210.50/ounce, Ag: $16.33/ounce, Cu; $2.80/pound, Pb; $0.83/pound and Zn $0.95/pound. US dollars.

**Grade not calculated because of no data for open mine workings.

***True Widths are approximately 70% to 80% of each intersection.

Corporate Update

Defiance is also pleased to announce that it has successfully renegotiated the option payment for the next twelve months at San Acacio. The property vendors have agreed to split the 2017 milestone payment into four equal payments with the last one due in June 2018.

Defiance has retained Momentum Public Relations Inc. ("Momentum") to provide investor relations and corporate development services. Momentum is a public and investor relations consulting agency and will assist Defiance in increasing public awareness by managing its corporate communications and marketing activities and facilitating dialogue with its shareholders, finance professionals, analysts and media contacts. The agreement with Momentum is for a term of six months at $5,500 per month and 300,000 stock options at $0.30 exercisable for a period of two years. The agreement is subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

A Panoramic Video on the San Acacio Deposit is available on our website, or Click Here to visit our Defiance YouTube Channel. Defiance Silver Corp. is a silver explorer and developer advancing the San Acacio Deposit, located in the historic Zacatecas Silver District of central Mexico. Defiance is managed by a team of proven mine developers with a track record of exploring and developing 7 operating mines to date. Defiance's corporate mandate is to expand San Acacio to become one of Mexico's premier high grade wide vein silver deposits.

Mr. Bruce Winfield, P.Geo. consultant to Defiance Silver Corp., is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101, and has approved the technical information concerning the Defiance's material mineral properties contained in this press release.

On behalf of Defiance Silver Corp.

"Roy Bonnell"

President and CEO

For more information, please contact: Sunny Pannu  Corporate Development (604) 669 7315 or via email at pannu@defiancesilver.com

2300 - 1177 West Hastings Street

Vancouver, BC V6E 2K3

www.defiancesilver.com

Tel: 604-669-7315

Email: info@defiancesilver.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.


Almonty Industries Inc. (Almonty) (TSXV: AII):

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Almonty Industries Inc. (Almonty) (TSXV: AII) announces that it has closed its previously announced private placement pursuant to which Almonty issued 1,294,462 common shares at a price of $0.54 per common share for gross proceeds to Almonty of $699,009.48 (the Offering).

All securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to resale restrictions for a period of four months and a day until February 26, 2018 as prescribed by the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable securities laws.

The Offering was completed on a non-brokered basis.

Almonty intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for the financing of their Korean Sangdong mine and for general working capital purposes.

Lewis Black, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Almonty commented: This financing represents the last contemplated raise prior to announcing the completion of our debt financing for our Sangdong project. In the interim we are now underway in applying to graduate from the TSX Venture Exchange to the Toronto Stock Exchange. This is to allow our U.S. shareholder base much greater market access to our stock as well as allow a number of Canadian institutions market access as we would then be a qualified investment for their books.

About Almonty

The principal business of Toronto, Canada-based Almonty Industries Inc. is the mining, processing and shipping of tungsten concentrate from its Los Santos Mine in western Spain and its Panasqueira mine in Portugal as well as the refurbishment of its Wolfram Camp Mine in north Queensland, Australia, the development of its Sangdong tungsten mine in Gangwon Province, South Korea and the development Valtreixal tin/tungsten project in north western Spain. The Los Santos Mine was acquired by Almonty in September 2011 and is located approximately 50 kilometres from Salamanca in western Spain and produces tungsten concentrate. The Wolfram Camp Mine was acquired by Almonty in September 2014 and is located approximately 130 kilometres west of Cairns in northern Queensland, Australia and has produced tungsten and molybdenum concentrate, although the Wolfram Camp Mine is not currently producing due to ongoing refurbishment of the processing plant. The Panasqueira mine, which has been in production since 1896, is located approximately 260 kilometres northeast of Lisbon, Portugal, was acquired in January 2016 and produces tungsten concentrate. The Sangdong mine, which was historically one of the largest tungsten mines in the world and one of the few long-life, high-grade tungsten deposits outside of China, was acquired in September 2015 through the acquisition of a 100% interest in Woulfe Mining Corp. Almonty owns 100% of the Valtreixal tin-tungsten project in north-western Spain. Further information about Almontys activities may be found at www.almonty.com and under Almontys profile at www.sedar.com.

Legal Notice

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

When used in this press release, the words estimate, project, belief, anticipate, intend, expect, plan, predict, may or should and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. This press release contains forward-looking statements and information. These statements and information are based on managements beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and reflect Almontys current expectations.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Almonty to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: any specific risks relating to fluctuations in the price of ammonium para tungstate (APT) from which the sale price of Almontys tungsten concentrate is derived, actual results of mining and exploration activities, environmental, economic and political risks of the jurisdictions in which Almontys operations are located and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, forecasts and assessments relating to Almontys business, credit and liquidity risks, hedging risk, competition in the mining industry, risks related to the market price of Almontys shares, the ability of Almonty to retain key management employees or procure the services of skilled and experienced personnel, risks related to claims and legal proceedings against Almonty and any of its operating mines, risks relating to unknown defects and impairments, risks related to the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, risks related to governmental regulations, including environmental regulations, risks related to international operations of Almonty, risks relating to exploration, development and operations at Almontys tungsten mines, the ability of Almonty to obtain and maintain necessary permits, the ability of Almonty to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements, lack of suitable infrastructure and employees to support Almontys mining operations, uncertainty in the accuracy of mineral reserves and mineral resources estimates, production estimates from Almontys mining operations, inability to replace and expand mineral reserves, uncertainties related to title and indigenous rights with respect to mineral properties owned directly or indirectly by Almonty, the ability of Almonty to obtain adequate financing, the ability of Almonty to complete permitting, construction, development and expansion, challenges related to global financial conditions, risks related to future sales or issuance of equity securities, differences in the interpretation or application of tax laws and regulations or accounting policies and rules and acceptance of the TSX-V of the listing of Almonty shares on the TSX-V.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to, no material adverse change in the market price of ammonium para tungstate (APT), the continuing ability to fund or obtain funding for outstanding commitments, expectations regarding the resolution of legal and tax matters, no negative change to applicable laws, the ability to secure local contractors, employees and assistance as and when required and on reasonable terms, and such other assumptions and factors as are set out herein. Although Almonty has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results, level of activity, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and even if events or results described in the forward-looking statements are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Almonty. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and are cautioned that actual outcomes may vary.

Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. Almonty cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on Almontys forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events.

Almonty has also assumed that material factors will not cause any forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF ALMONTY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE ALMONTY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025006053/en/

Contact

Almonty Industries Inc.

Lewis Black, +1 647 438-9766

Chairman, President and CEO

info@almonty.com
Days before the 2018 open enrollment period begins, an independent health policy consulting firm released a report on Wednesday about the state of premiums on the health exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), otherwise known as Obamacare.It found that premiums for silver plans -- the most popular on the exchanges -- will rise by 34 percent in 2018. By comparison, premiums rose 25percent this year from the year before.Avalere Health partially attributes the hike to continued uncertainty at the federal level over the ACA. Less than two weeks ago, President Trump eliminated cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments, which make insurance more affordable for low-income consumers. That move, critics say, will limit the number of insurers willing to sell plans on the exchanges and lower the number of people who can enroll in them.Also on Wednesday, a judge rejected states' emergency request to reinstate the CSR payments.The biggest hikes will be in Iowa, Wyoming and Utah, at 69 percent, 65 percent and 64 percent, respectively. Anticipating steep rate hikes, Iowa asked to waive certain aspects of Obamacare but withdrew their request this week once it became clear that it would be rejected by the Trump administration.In three states, though, premiums are actually going down. In Alaska, by 22 percent; in Arizona, by 6 percent; and in North Dakota, by 4 percent.Alaskas relatively dramatic decrease is attributed to its reinsurance program, which the federal government approved earlier this year. Under a reinsurance program, government -- state, federal or a combination --pays for the sickest and costliest patients, lowering costs for insurers and consumers.Governors from both sides of the aisle have pressed Congress to help fund their own reinsurance programs, but bipartisan discussions to stabilize the health marketplace have failed. Trump told Congress this week to focus on reforming tax policy, not health care.The non-stop turbulence on the federal level has left state officials and insurers with little clarity this year.Its an unstable market. Its messy and confusing, and weve got no help at the federal level, says Mike Rhoades, Oklahomas deputy insurance commissioner.Oklahomas premiums are rising only marginally -- 6 percent -- compared to 76 percent last year, the highest in the country. But Rhoades says its still been a tough year for the states marketplace. State officials submitted a waiver request earlier this year to establish their own reinsurance program, but it ended up withdrawing it.Most people who shop on the Obamacare marketplace receive subsidies to help pay their premiums. But health experts say there are still millions of people who dont qualify and who will be more likely to opt out of health coverage.Since Trump took office in January, Obamacare has proved to be the most heated topic, spurring fights between and within the parties."The public has become very callous to the whole situation," says Denise Burke, senior policy and planning analyst for the Department of Insurance in Wyoming, which has just one insurer committed to staying in the marketplace.The open enrollment period kicks off Nov. 1.
In New York, Corrupt Lawmakers May Soon Have to Forfeit Pensions
Cranston Republican Mayor Allan Fung launched his second run for governor of Rhode Island on Tuesday, armed for battle against Democrat incumbent Gina Raimondo."I told you I'd be back!" Fung, 47, told cheering supporters packed into a space-for-lease in the Chapel View shopping plaza, for his long-anticipated announcement.After losing to Raimondo in 2014, Fung said he made an implicit promise: "If our governor couldn't turn things around, I would be back, back to take on the status quo, the entrenched special interests, and the dysfunction on Smith Hill."Well, our governor has failed miserably and it's time to lead our state in a better direction," Fung said.He then ticked off a list of Raimondo's alleged failings: the UHIP debacle that ensnared his own father, the aborted "Cooler & Warmer" tourism campaign, and big "taxpayer-giveaways.""This is going to be an uphill climb. We're running against an incumbent governor who has lined her pockets with millions of dollars from Wall Street, from people in Chicago, from people in California ... and other places that [are] not Rhode Island," said Fung of Raimondo, who had more than $2.67 million in her campaign account at last report. "She's going to spend all of that money making excuses for the status quo and attacking me.""We can do better. We must do better," said Fung, the son of Chinese immigrants, who last reported $179,894 in his own campaign war chest.His pledges: "Cutting taxes, cutting through the red tape for businesses, cutting the Raimondo administration's out-of-control and wasteful spending, and cutting out the culture of insider deals that benefit the elite."Fung, who was reelected last November to his fourth and final term as mayor of Rhode Island's third-largest city, first has to win the Republican nomination.House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan announced her own GOP candidacy for governor on Monday. A third Republican -- former Rep. Joseph Trillo, the honorary co-chairman of President Trump's 2016 Rhode Island campaign -- is also mulling a run. (Among the 350 people the Fung camp counted Tuesday were five current GOP lawmakers: Representatives Robert Nardolillo, Michael Chippendale, Robert Lancia and Kenneth Mendonca and Sen. Elaine Morgan.)The last time they faced off, Fung finished second behind Raimondo in what was, essentially, a three-person race. She won that 2014 race with 40.7 percent to Fung's 36.2 percent.Fung was bedeviled during that campaign by Police Department controversies, including the so-called Ticketgate scandal and a series of legal disputes. A subsequent state police assessment of the Cranston Police Department sharply criticized the mayor, his top aides and members of the city police command staff for a corrosive kind of politics in the department.Before launching his reelection bid last year, Fung acknowledged that he and his administrative team had made "mistakes" in managing police business, but noted he had appointed a new chief from outside the ranks -- a first -- and said the department was "on the mend." ("As you can see, folks, when things break, we fix 'em," he declared at the time.)Fung heads into his second run for governor touting what he described as Cranston's turnaround and "thousands" of new jobs in his city."We've taken a city that was a financial mess ... turned multimillion-dollar deficits into surpluses ... achieved the highest bond ratings the city has seen in over two decades and now have the largest rainy day fund of any city or town in the state!"We've done it by making the tough decisions, by cutting wasteful spending, and bringing real economic growth to our city," he said, "without giving one single tax dollar to the developers or companies or any millionaires."Our governor and her friends on Smith Hill would have us believe that businesses will only come to Rhode Island if we bribe them with taxpayer giveaways," said Fung, suggesting a better way: "Fundamentally change our state's business climate."He then listed what he called Raimondo's "dumb mistakes," including the short-lived Rhode Island tourism ad that featured the Reykjavik Opera House.But "this governor's incompetence is no laughing matter," he said of the botched September 2016 roll out of the state's $400-million-plus public-assistance computer system that stranded thousands of applicants in Department of Human Services limbo."I think all of us know someone who has been impacted by the incompetence at DHS," said Fung, citing his own family's experience trying to get his father, who has Parkinson's disease, into the Cedar Crest nursing home."What's not widely known is that our family got caught up in this UHIP disaster," Fung said. "They [DHS] lost his application, not once, but twice. Cedar Crest, like many other nursing homes across the state, had to float the cost of his care for nearly seven months ... while we were waiting for word on approval. And he wasn't the only one.""This is not acceptable ... . What we really need is a new leader at the helm," he said Tuesday, on the same day the Raimondo administration announced that Deloitte has given the state a $58.6 million credit.In mid-afternoon on Tuesday, the Democratic Governors Association lobbed a preemptive strike, linking Fung to President Trump. It said, in part:"Fung was supportive of Donald Trump during the 2016 election and continues to stand by as his policies threaten Rhode Islanders. Most notably, Fung was completely silent during the Trumpcare debate, which threatened to jack up premiums and devastate Rhode Island's state budget."Fung "failed to swiftly denounce the Trump travel ban. He refused to condemn President Trump for his divisive comments on Charlottesville in which he defended white nationalists ... More recently, he repeatedly ducked questions about Trump's decision to end DACA ... It's clear that Mayor Fung would be an extension of the Trump administration if he becomes Rhode Island's governor," the DGA said.
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus will not seek re-election, the San Antonio Republican confirmed Wednesday."The time is right" for him to quit presiding over the House after a record five legislative sessions, he told reporters."I know it is for my family."Under Straus, the House has been the last bulwark for business-oriented, socially moderate Republicans in state politics. For several sessions, it has served as a brake on the ascendancy of movement conservatives -- though only sporadically and rarely for very long.His departure sets off a 14-month scramble to grab the speaker's gavel. On Wednesday, moderate conservative Republican John Zerwas of Richmond declared his candidacy, joining staunchly conservative Weatherford Republican Phil King. More entrants are likely.In a press gaggle in his Capitol office, Straus explained his decision with his wife Julie at his side. Loyal aides and key House lawmaker Charlie Geren of Fort Worth looked on somberly. Tears streamed down the face of Patricia Shipton, the speaker's chief of staff."I make no apology for trying to work across party lines," said Straus said. He'll raise money for and endorse "responsible Republicans" in House primaries in March, he said. He wouldn't close the door to a statewide race. However, asked if voters would see his name on next year's ballot, he replied, "I highly doubt it."Straus said he could win the speaker's post again in 2019 but ultimately decided he'd had enough."I could do it," said Straus, 58, a professional financial adviser who has an investment, insurance and executive benefits practice in San Antonio.His popularity remains "very strong" in his northeast Bexar County district, he said, and "support among members is deep."As Straus said in an earlier Facebook post, though, he's lost a bit of enthusiasm for the job, even as he's proud of his record."Just as my ascension to the speaker's office was unconventional and my approach to governing is unusual in these divisive times, I know this is also an unexpected decision," Straus wrote. "It's been decades since someone has left the speaker's office on his own terms. But we have accomplished what I had hoped the House would accomplish when I first entered this office, and I am increasingly eager to contribute to our state in new and different ways."Some GOP political consultants, though, have said recently that Straus' survival as speaker was increasingly dicey.Long the target for far right elements within his own party, Straus drew the ire of culture war Republicans this year by opposing some of their key agenda items, like school vouchers and the so-called bathroom bill. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, also a Republican who heads the Texas Senate, has spent the last several months criticizing Straus and his allies in the House.Minutes after Straus' news spread, one of these top lieutenants, Corsicana Republican Byron Cook, also said he would not run for re-election. Cook, first elected in 2002, chaired the House committee where the bathroom bill died.Cook did not mention the divisions among the Republican Party in his announcement, simply stating he was "honored" to serve in the House and would now "pursue other opportunities to serve our great state."Both men, and many of Straus' other allies, have been the target of concerted efforts to oust them from the House in recent years. Empower Texans, an influential far-right Republican group primarily funded by Midland oilman Tim Dunn, has spent millions trying to unseat Straus.In the last election, the group gave more than $1.4 million to candidates who challenged Straus or his allies. Straus won re-election that year with a 22-point margin.Straus was first elected to the House in 2005. Less than four years later, he ousted Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, and has retained the speakership since then, an unprecedented tenure for a Republican in that position.As speaker, a number of Republican opponents unsuccessfully challenged him from the right over the years, including Ken Paxton. Paxton was elected attorney general in 2014 and accused of securities fraud the next year by Cook.Straus said he will "continue to work for a Republican Party that tries to bring Texans together instead of us pulling us apart" and "will have a greater opportunity" to express his own views outside of elected office.House Democratic Caucus Chairman Chris Turner of Grand Prairie said Straus' "deliberative approach to public policy" would be missed."Under Speaker Straus, the House led the way on a number of bipartisan accomplishments, including public school accountability reform, water infrastructure and mental health access," Turner said in a statement.Straus opponents celebrated the news -- characterizing it as a win for Republicans who favor anti-abortion legislation and measures like the bathroom bill -- as did a small group of staunchly conservative Republicans in the House who have butted heads with the speaker.Rep. Matt Rinaldi, an Irving Republican and member of the self-styled "Freedom Caucus," tweeted a celebratory gif. Tyler Republican Rep. Matt Schaefer, the group's chair, added, "It's morning in Texas again!"Michael Quinn Sullivan, president and CEO of Empower Texans, tweeted, "Good day for Texas, but now we have to fight harder to make sure his cronies don't keep it."
On Tuesday, in the afternoon, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC and Mrs Kaye de Jersey departed Queensland for an official visit to Singapore and Israel, and Justice Hugh Fraser assumed duty as Acting Governor of Queensland.
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GIS - 25 October, 2017: A four-day training course: Level 1 Certificate of Achievement in Service and Performance Excellence, targeting employees in the manual grades, was launched yesterday in the presence of the Minister of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms, Mr Eddy Boissezon, at the Fooks House in Port Louis.

This joint initiative of the Ministry of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms and the Civil Service College, Mauritius, (CSCM) aims to provide manual grades workers to understand their roles and responsibilities as well as how they contribute in the organisational structure. The objective of the training is also to empower manual grades workers in delivering excellent service in the public service.

The programme will focus on Communication; Motivation; Work Commitment; Productivity Management and Customer Service. It will enable the participants understand how their communication is important; why employee engagement is important so as to embrace change; define their involvement in the organisation and how much they can contribute; and apply techniques for self-motivation performance.

In his address, Minister Boissezon underlined that Government is leaving no stone unturned to invest in human capital and improving performance in the public sector. The training, he highlighted, will help the manual cadre with the fundamental principles of communication and customer service in promoting employee engagement in the public sector.

The Minister also announced the construction of the CSCM at Le Reduit and that Government has already vested a plot of land of around six Arpents. The project will be financed with a grant of some Rs 175 million from the Government of India, he added and in this respect, a Memorandum of Understanding has already been signed between the Government of India and Mauritius. The Government of India, he further added will be responsible for preparing the detailed report and specifications of the building facilities and training strategy which will in turn determine the technical requirements of the CSCM.

Also present at the ceremony, the Director General of the CSCM, Professor Ramesh Durbarry, highlighted that the training will enhance the competencies of public officers for service excellence through capacity building and talent development. CSCM, he emphasised works closely with qualified and experienced resource persons to offer quality training courses to staff from Ministries/Departments, hence improving productivity in the public service.
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GIS  25 October, 2017: We have to provide the right human resource if we want the wheels of business and industry to turn, and in particular, we have to ensure that our youth get easily employable and skilful enough to adapt to the constantly dynamic, evolving and volatile job market, said the Minister of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, today at Cyber Tower 1, Ebene.

The Minister was addressing Senior Educators currently attending a four-day training course under the Integrated Career Counselling System programme. The training is a joint initiative of the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research.

Speaking about the Integrated Career Counselling System, Mrs Dookun-Luchoomun, pointed out that the development of such a System will widen the access to career awareness, education, information and management services, thus, its necessity. The aim is to help citizens, including students, school leavers, and the unemployed as well as retrenched workers, to better manage their education, training and employment opportunities.

According to the Minister, for quite some time, debate has been ongoing regarding the purpose of education. The debate has now rolled down to whether education should focus on the overall development of learners that transform them to engaged and responsible citizens or whether education should provide learners with right skills and expertise to enter the workforce, she observed. The reform that we are currently implementing in the education system seeks to reconcile both, she highlighted.

As regards the current training for Senior Educators, Mrs Dookun-Luchoomun said that it constitutes a vital opportunity to consolidate skills and knowledge and will also be useful outside school premises. Senior Educators are also active members of the community and many people turn to them seeking their views and advice on career information, she added.

For his part, the Director of the HRDC, Mr Raj Auckloo, recalled that it is vital for individuals of all ages, from the youngest student to the unemployed job seeker and employees with various levels of experience, to be aware of where and how to access career information. It is also important to ensure that any career-related information and services can be accessed through one main channel, he said.

Training course

The four-day training programme is targeting 160 Senior Educators from both private and State Secondary schools. It is being conducted in two batches of 80 each.

Resource persons are from the Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, including the Career Guidance Unit, to share their knowledge about the main theories and practices underpinning career development, education, career guidance and counselling. Discussions will also focus on: critical entry points for education and training pathways; TVET-Vocational streams; and, HSC Pro. Moreover, representatives from TEC, Universities and experts from the private sector will share their experience.
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GIS  25 October, 2017: Government has taken note of the twinning of the Haematology Unit of Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Rose Belle, with Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Mauritius has been chosen to be part of the twinning programme by the World Haemophilia Federation in view of the remarkable progress achieved in relation to blood transfusion and treatment of haemophilia cases.

The project will serve as a framework for effective treatment, transfer of know-how, assistance in terms of medical technology and equipment, and capacity building to lead to better management of bleeding disorder and haemophilia cases in Mauritius without resorting to the need to refer patients overseas for treatment.

Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital is one of four central hospitals in Gauteng Province which serves a province that is the most densely populated with much in-migration. Its main function is to provide a highly specialised health care service, a platform for the training of health workers, a place of research, and serve as specialist referral centres for regional hospitals and neighbouring provinces.
(TNS) - She calls it her Big red book.Like its inspiration  the little black book  the big red variety is Cottonwood, Calif., resident Chic Millers neighborhood bible, the one she consults if theres a lost pig or wandering cows  or a fire.The smartest thing anybody can do is make sure that I have their phone numbers, said Miller, who runs Bella Vista Farms animal sanctuary. The more information I have, the more I can look out for everybody.As historically devastating fires that moved so quickly some said they barely had time to notify those in the path continue to burn north of San Francisco, some rural Shasta County residents are doubling-down on the lost emergency-alert method they've used for fire season all along: talking to your neighbors.The firemen can only do so much," Miller said. "Theyre doing everything they can to save your home."It started out as a hodge-podge of phone numbers, and sometimes just descriptions of homes.In the beginning, I identified all of the houses by just the color of the house or kind of a key word for the house, Miller said.Then she got to know more of the neighbors and collected not just phone numbers, but information on how many residents and what kind of animals there are at each house so that they could take evacuation into their own hands as officials sort out the rest.Its not just that its hard to cover all the ground when a fire is raging. Part of the problem is the spotty reception for cellphones in some rural parts of the county, Shasta County resident Nisa Donnelly said.Its a challenge, she said. Were keeping our fingers crossed that the rains will come soon.Miller also has yearly fire meetings where residents meet with local officials and learn how to respond in a disaster, such as having a working trailer for your livestock and easily accessible pet carriers. And she said shes seen the whole system pay off many times.They told me later, Had you not called me, I would have burnt up. I had no idea fire was raging on me, she said. Thinking that youre going to sit there and somebodys going to come and waltz you out of there  its not going to happen.Of course, fire and law enforcement officials have their own alert systems, which include good old-fashioned knocking on top of phone alerts. But in-person contact is more to check on who may need help getting out, not to notify them in the first place, said Lt. Anthony Bertain of the Shasta County Sheriffs Offices Office of Emergency Services.And sometimes, depending on how remote an area is, it can take a while to get an alert out through technology, said Sherry Bartolo, operations manager for SHASCOM.From the minute the first 911 call comes in, it could take 10, 15, 20 minutes, she said. It just all depends on how everything falls into place.Bartolo said neighborhood communication groups are commendable, but she also recommends signing up your cellphone for emergency alerts through SHASCOMs website to cover every base. (Click "Sign up for community alerts" at the bottom of the page found at http://www.shascom911.com/new-index/ to do so.)Bertain said theres something to be said for an old-fashioned communication channel, too.Part of this has to be, you know, community involvement as well and just notthe sheriffs office or the police departments or the fire departments, he said.Miller said anyone interested in starting a community group similar to hers can call Bella Vista Farms at 547-0544.2017 the Redding Record Searchlight (Redding, Calif.)Visit the Redding Record Searchlight (Redding, Calif.) at www.redding.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(TNS) -- Microsoft is in the process of dismissing its lawsuit against the Department of Justice after the government changed its policy related to secrecy orders attached to searches of emails.Microsoft sued the U.S. government in 2016, saying it used overly broad gag orders with search warrants for customer emails and information stored in the cloud. The gag orders often prevented Microsoft, and other tech companies, from telling customers that the government had obtained their data.The Department of Justice issued a memo last week saying it would allow email providers to notify customers unless there was a specific protection order obtained with the warrant. Such protection orders should apply only for as long as necessary, DOJ said.This is an important step for both privacy and free expression, Microsoft President Brad Smith wrote in a blog post Monday.A judge ruled earlier this year that Microsofts lawsuit was allowed to continue, after the government sought to dismiss it.Microsoft has challenged the government in court several times over customer privacy and how much reach the government has into digital storage. It is calling for Congress to update laws governing digital communications to bring them in line with modern technology, an issue several other tech companies and representatives have also taken up.Past gag orders were sometimes indefinite, Microsoft said, meaning the company could never tell customers about the warrant.Privacy protections should apply to digital data as well as physical data, the company said.We believe strongly that these fundamental protections should not disappear just because customers store their personal information in the cloud rather than in file cabinets or desk drawers, Smith wrote.A separate Microsoft suit involving the U.S. governments access to emails held in an Irish data center is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court.
(TNS) -- The Morgan County R-II School District was one of six southern Missouri schools recently recognized by Auditor Nicole Galloway for proactive approaches to cybersecurity awareness.While traveling the state to promote National Cyber Security Month, Galloway stopped at Morgan County R-II on Oct. 19, 2017 to present an award to Superintendent Dr. Joyce Ryerson, Technology Coordinator Aaron Whitfield, and Instructional Technology Coordinator Nicole Whitfield.Galloway also spent time discussing the importance of cyberawareness and proactive security approaches with a current events class, while taking questions from Tiger students. According to the school district, it begins teaching cybersecurity, cyberbullying and internet safety in kindergarten while continuing that approach through the student's high school years."In addition, the district uses internet filtering to help keep students safe while on school computers (this includes Google Chromebooks) and while students are connected to the district's WIFI on their own devices," according to a blog post addressing the subject.Current state law does not require notification if student information is compromised during a cybersecurity audit, according to a press release from Galloway's office, but the state's only Democratic official was part of a statewide initiative encouraging schools to adopt a safeguard policy in the event of a data breach. The bill is expected to be filed again during the 2018 legislative session.Morgan County, along with Houston R-I, Mountain Grove R-III, Ava R-I, Dallas County R-1, and Bolivar R-1, were recognized for already having policies in place that require notification."State law does not require schools to notify parents if their children or family's personal information has been compromised in a data breach, and as a parent and as state auditor, I find that concerning," Galloway said. "I'm pleased to visit and congratulate these schools for taking a proactive approach to cyberawareness and voluntarily incorporating this critical step into their policies."Galloway is also in the process of reviewing ways to better protect electronic data within state government.
(TNS) -- Negative headlines. Congressional inquiries. Corporate apologies. The heightening scrutiny surrounding Facebook after it allowed Russian trolls and inflammatory political ads to spread on its network is the kind of thing companies would do anything to avoid.But dont expect it to harm the tech giants bottom line.As the political world looks to apply the lessons of Donald Trumps victory to future campaigns, one of the few clear conclusions is that Facebook played an outsized role in propelling the candidate to his improbable win.The companys ability to affordably target hyper-specific audiences with little to no transparency gives it a distinct advantage over other forms of media, researchers and political operatives believe.Political ads on Facebook have fueled controversy. They spread Russian propaganda and reportedly helped the Trump team suppress black support for Hillary Clinton and aided a conservative political action committee in targeting swing voters with scaremongering anti-refugee ads. Yet the backlash is unlikely to dissuade future campaigns from relying on Facebooks advertising platform.Even the threat of new regulation governing the disclosure rules for political ads on social media cant stunt the companys stock price, which continues to reach new heights.If anything, the controversies appear to be functioning like a giant advertisement for the effectiveness of Facebooks political advertising business.I dont lose sleep over Facebooks business. I lose sleep over the future of democracy, said Siva Vaidhyanathan, a professor of media studies at the University of Virginia and author of a book on Facebook out next year called Anti-Social Media.Political advertising represents a small percentage of Facebooks booming $26.9 billion ad business, which accounted for nearly 15 percent of all the money spent on digital advertising worldwide in 2016, according to EMarketer. But its growing rapidly.After years of trepidation, campaigns are adjusting to the fact that audiences are increasingly found online rather than via TV, radio or print.Political spending on digital advertising soared in the 2016 election cycle to $1.4 billion, according to Borrell Associates, a data tracking firm.Thats nearly an 800 percent increase from the last presidential election, when only $159 million was spent on digital advertising, a category that encompasses search, display, email, video, social media and mobile.Digital political spending is expected to rise to $1.9 billion in the 2018 election cycle and $2.8 billion in 2020, the firm said.The main beneficiary of those increasing ad dollars probably will be Facebook. The social network took $4 out of every $5 spent on social media in the 2016 election cycle, said Kip Cassino, executive vice president at Borrell Associates.No one can brush off or minimize the impact of Facebook on the 2016 presidential contest, both as a platform for advertising and as the perfect laboratory for testing and honing messaging targeted to various voter blocs, Cassino said.The sea change was first evident with the spread of partisan news, conspiracies and hoaxes on Facebook during the campaign.Then news emerged last month that Facebook had sold about $100,000 in ads to a Russian troll farm. The shadowy group, known as the Internet Research Agency, placed ads believed to have been seen on at least 10 million Facebook users news feeds. The ads were aimed at inflaming divisive social issues such as race, gun control and gay rights to potentially tip the scales in Trumps favor.Facebook has responded to the growing Russian scandal by cooperating with congressional committees and pledging more transparency, including requiring buyers of political ads to disclose their identity and reveal other ads theyve run. The company had previously argued against requiring disclaimers on political ads, saying it would be impractical  akin to placing disclosures on small items such as bumper stickers and pins.Such disclosures could have sounded the alarm on Russian meddling earlier.I dont want anyone to use our tools to undermine democracy, Zuckerberg said last month.Facebook said it will introduce more transparency in the coming months, though no details have emerged about how it will deal with so-called dark posts  ads like those bought by Russian operatives that have no link to a candidate or campaign. Instead, theyre designed to sensationalize wedge issues such as immigration in hopes of racking up more likes and shares, giving their backers a larger audience and more bang for their buck.Russian groups reportedly placed dark posts on Facebook referencing the Black Lives Matter movement to inflame racial tension in Ferguson, Mo., and Baltimore.Currently, no law requires such ads to disclose who paid for them, what other ads or issues they promote, whom the ads were directed at and for how long. Such information is readily available on other mediums such as TV to ensure voters arent being misled or manipulated.Senate democrats Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Mark Warner of Virginia unveiled legislation this month called the Honest Ads Act, which would make political ads on social media subject to the same rules as on traditional media.As the technology companies continue to grow in the political advertising space, the importance of greater transparency and disclosure will only grow along with it, said Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, who favors regulating political ads online.There is no evidence the Russian ads were linked to the Trump campaign. But theres a strong belief in some quarters that Facebook was a difference maker in helping Trump take the White House through persuasion and fundraising.Trumps digital team was able to fire up new support and amass $240 million in small donations, mostly through Facebook, at a cost of $94 million. Thats about 20 percent better than a typical return on investment in digital campaigns, industry officials said.I understood early that Facebook was how Donald Trump was going to win, Brad Parscale, the Trump campaigns digital director, told CBS 60 Minutes this month. Twitter is how he talked to the people. Facebook was going to be how he won.Parscale even said Facebook embedded Republican employees in the Trump campaign to help them maximize the platforms potential. Facebook reportedly offered the same level of support to the Clinton campaign but was turned down.Facebook did not reply to requests for comment.David Karpf, an associate professor at George Washington University and author of Analytic Activism: Digital Listening and the New Political Strategy, said it would have been fair to refuse Facebooks assistance based on the social networks performance in the 2014 election cycle.But by 2016, Facebooks data were exponentially more robust and precise at prospecting for would-be supporters and donors. The Trump team took a chance.It sounds like Facebook went to both campaigns and said they had magic beans, Karpf said. The Clinton team said, Well pass, weve seen the returns, and Parscale and the Trump team said, Magic beans? Take my money. We can call it dumb luck or stumbling into innovation.The response from both parties, despite the likelihood voters were manipulated by a foreign nation state, will be to spend more on the worlds biggest social network and other social media platforms.We certainly hope Democratic campaigns spend more on digital advertising this cycle but not because of Russia, said Patrick McHugh, executive director of Priorities USA, a Democratic super PAC. Its just the smart thing to do if you want to win elections.
Last week, U.S.-backed forces in Syria expelled Islamic State from its self-proclaimed capital of Raqqah, a major victory after three years of fighting against the caliphate that once terrified much of the West. But there was strikingly little celebration. President Trump made no formal announcement of success. There was no banner declaring Mission Accomplished.

That was partly because the struggle against Islamic State is no longer the main event. The Trump administration has already declared a broader war in the Middle East, this time against Iran.

The (Iranian) regime remains the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism, Trump said Oct. 13. The longer we ignore a threat, the more dangerous that threat becomes. He said the United States will escalate its efforts  political, economic and military  to prevent Iran from expanding its influence across the Middle East.

Heres the problem: The Trump administration doesnt actually know how to accomplish that goal. Or if it does, its not telling anyone.

Although the White House released a New Strategy on Iran this month, the four-page document was mostly a laundry list of grievances against Tehran, with no clear description of consequences for alleged misbehavior.

There is no strategic plan, complained James F. Jeffrey, a former senior official in the George W. Bush administration, who has advised Trump aides. Theres no organizing principle.

Hes challenged Iran to a duel, but he hasnt gotten any pistols out, he said.

In Syria, Iran is projecting its power already. The Damascus government of Bashar Assad depends heavily on Iran for military and economic aid. And U.S. officials charge that most of the troops fighting for Assad in the Syrian civil war are Iranian-led proxy forces, not Syrian Army units.

Worse, Assad and his Iranian allies appear to be winning. The regime has gradually consolidated its control over most of western Syria, and now  amid the collapse of Islamic State  its moving into eastern Syria, too.

Last week, Iranian-backed government forces moved into Mayadeen, a town southeast of Raqqah that U.S.-backed rebels had hoped to seize. The area is important for two reasons: Its a crossing point on the Iraqi border, and its near an oil and gas field that is a major prize in the war.

At this point the Trump administration faces a dilemma: Should it continue to supply training, weapons and air support to the Syrian rebels who took Raqqah, at the risk of clashes with government forces who not only have a friend in Iran, but also Russia?

It also needs to decide if it will keep hundreds of U.S. advisors inside Syria. The rebels, unsurprisingly, have said they hope the Americans will stay  for decades to come, one spokesman said recently.

Pulling them out would mean withdrawing help from a force the United States organized, trained and  last week  praised for its valor in battle. And it would deprive the United States of a tool to help prevent the Assad regime and its Iranian allies from taking over the territory that the rebels now hold.

If youre serious about pushing back against Iran, you have to stay involved, said Frederic C. Hof, a former State Department official who now heads the Atlantic Councils Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. Otherwise, youre just standing by as the Assad regime, the people who created the vacuum that allowed IS to grow, come back.

But the advisors were deployed to help Syrian rebels in their fight against Islamic State, not in the civil war against the Assad regime.

Jeffrey, now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, suggested another alternative: a stronger U.S. alliance with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel and other regional powers to bolster the Syrian rebels and keep Iran out.

What we need to do is form an alliance to keep Iran from projecting its power further, he said. Thats not happening.

As before, Syria offers only unappetizing choices. The United States can keep its troops in the country, at the risk of enmeshing them in Syrias civil war. Or it can pull them out, which could mean acceding to increased Iranian influence  the problem Trump has promised to address.

The administration hasnt chosen its course. That may be the worst alternative of all: drifting ahead without a clear plan.

That, after all, is what happened in Iraq after an earlier military success, the U.S. conquest of Baghdad in 2003. Military officials coined a bittersweet term to describe the results. It was, they said, a catastrophic success.
The findings, says the ITF, largely confirm initial results from simulations using mobility data from Lisbon (Portugal). In the Helsinki study, motorized road trips (private car, bus and taxi) were replaced by different configurations of 6-seater Shared Taxis that provide on-demand door-to-door service and Taxi-Buses that offer a street corner-to-street corner service booked 30 minutes in advance. With these shared services, all of todays car journeys in Helsinki Metropolitan Area could be provided with just 4% of the current number of private vehicles.

The findings in a new report from the International Transport Forum (ITF) on shared mobility services in Helsinki, Finland largely confirm that replacing private car traffic with new shared mobility services in urban areas reduces the number of cars needed, cuts CO 2 emissions and frees large swathes of public land for uses other than parkingwithout making it more difficult for users to get from door to door.

The best results in terms of reducing emissions and congestion are achieved when all private car trips are replaced with shared rides:

CO 2 emissions from cars would fall 34%;

Congestion would be reduced by 37%;

Much of public parking space could be used for other purposes.

Shared mobility also means fewer transfers, less waiting and shorter travel times compared to traditional public transport. The improved quality of the service could attract car users that currently do not use public transport and foster a shift away from individual car travel.

The Helsinki study also confirms initial results for Lisbon that shared mobility improves access to jobs (and public services) notably for citizens in areas with few such offers. Shared mobility services thus can play an important role in creating more equitable access to opportunities for citizens, according to the ITF.

Finally, the Helsinki study confirms that shared mobility services can be highly effective feeder services for high-capacity public transport services. As in the Lisbon case, scenarios providing first- and last-mile shared services showed that this can increase rail and metro ridership between 15% and 23%.

The benefits of shared mobility for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area were highly significant in the simulation, yet lower than in the Lisbon case. Replacing all motorized road trips (private car, bus and taxi) with shared services reduced transport CO 2 emissions by 62% in the Lisbon case, while the reduction for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area was 28%. This is because the Helsinki region has a good public transport offer in international comparison and people walk and cycle more.

The current motorized road share in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area is 56% compared to 70% for Lisbon, meaning there is less room for improvement to start with.

Average trip lengths in the Helsinki region are longer than in Lisbon, so that emissions will tend to be higher per trip for the same vehicle occupancy.

Survey. For the first time, a focus group and user survey complemented this shared mobility study. The feedback from potential users in the Helsinki region revealed that citizens are very positive about shared services as an additional tool to improve mobility in the Helsinki region. Potential users are very sensitive, however, to price and service quality.

Respondents want shared services to be available in the entire Metropolitan Area, not just in the city center. Shared services as feeders for rail and metro lines are seen as highly relevant. This squares well with simulation results showing that the service would require sufficient scale to ensure positive impacts and manageable costs.

In the survey, participants chose shared mobility services for 63% of all trips. There is some evidence, however, that public transport users in the Helsinki region are more willing than car users to adopt the new shared modes. Those aged 55 and above and those living far from the city centre also tend to favor shared mobility.

The results of the study will be used by the Helsinki region in its regional long-term land use, housing and transport planning process. The main aim of the process is to decrease emissions drastically by year 2030.
MMC is partnering forces with NewMotion , one of Europes largest providers of smart charging solutions for electric driving; grid operator TenneT in Netherlands; and Nuvve , a leader in V2G technology and grid service deployments. (University of Delaware Professor Willett Kempton, the pioneer of the grid-integrated vehicle concept, is Nuvves CTO.)

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has launched a Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) pilot, with the first charge point already being utilized with Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs in-vehicle storage batteries. Using V2G-technology, peak demand on the electricity grid can be better balanced, by allowing electric vehicles to not just take power from the grid, but also return it to the network and expect to introduce a new potential earnings model for electric drivers.

In this demonstration, MMC will provide services for capacity reserve and balancing services by utilizing NewMotions charging infrastructure (with Enel V2G chargepoint hardware) and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs parked at home or at work in the city of Amsterdam linked to Nuvves Grid Integrated Vehicle platform (GIVe). There are more than 25,000 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs available in the Netherlands.





In Europe, the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015 has resulted in the acceleration of initiatives to facilitate a low-carbon society, including the aggressive promotion of environmentally-friendly policies aimed at achieving renewable targets. As solar, wind and other renewable sources, which are intermittent, replace fossil fuels as a source of energy and enter mainstream power grids, stabilizing the power supply also poses a challenge.

Further the governments of the UK and France have outlined aspirational plans to prohibit the sale of fossil fuel vehicles from 2040, and the flow of electricity to vehicles is accelerating. Hence, a new mechanism to reduce the burden on charging electricity infrastructure is required.

MMC will verify the technology of V2G through this demonstration and aim to create new value and business opportunities utilizing electric cars / vehicle storage batteries.

Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and Nuvve, along with Nissan, Frederiksberg Forsyning, Enel, Insero and DTU (Technical University of Denmark) Electrical Engineering (PowerLabDK) are also partnering in the Danish project Parker to develop a universal definition for grid integration for electric vehicles. (Earlier post.)

Transmission system operators (TSOs) in Europe are required to secure a certain amount of capacity reserve in order to prepare for sudden power loss or extensive blackout. Capacity reserves are procured through market transactions. The services offered on the market vary according to degree of urgency and duration of charge / discharge.

With access to more than 50,000 public charge points, NewMotion has the largest charge network in Europe.
500 Years After the Protestant Reformation -- Can the Differences be Overcome? Dr. Peter Kreeft highlights what Catholics and Protestants can agree upon



Contact: Kevin Wandra, 404-788-1276,



SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2017 /



But can the differences between the two Christian sects be overcome? Can they be unified?



Kreeft acknowledges in CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS that the differences are indeed significant yet emphasizes that they agree on the important issue of justification.



Dr. Kreeft is honest and fair in the book, noting that overcoming differences would be difficult, but Protestants and Catholics need to stop "directing arrows not against each other but against our own hearts and minds and wills."



The 500th anniversary of the Reformation is monumental and Dr. Kreeft would agree. But he makes the case that the ties broken that day can not only be put back together, but by Christ's Word "will" be done.



"Peter Kreeft, one of our finest Christian writers today, has given us a passionate plea for Christian unity, one that builds upon the great common core of Christian belief confessed by faithful Protestants and Catholics alike," Timothy George, dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University, says of CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS. "A volume full of faith  and hope."



For more information, to request a review copy or to schedule an interview with Dr. Peter Kreeft, please contact Kevin Wandra (404-788-1276 or

Share Tweet Contact: Kevin Wandra, 404-788-1276, KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- October 31st marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, which split the Catholic Church. Dr. Peter Kreeft, a Catholic convert himself and author of CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS: What We Can Learn From Each Other, says that Protestants and Catholics are not as far apart as it seems.But can the differences between the two Christian sects be overcome? Can they be unified?Kreeft acknowledges in CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS that the differences are indeed significant yet emphasizes that they agree on the important issue of justification.Dr. Kreeft is honest and fair in the book, noting that overcoming differences would be difficult, but Protestants and Catholics need to stop "directing arrows not against each other but against our own hearts and minds and wills."The 500th anniversary of the Reformation is monumental and Dr. Kreeft would agree. But he makes the case that the ties broken that day can not only be put back together, but by Christ's Word "will" be done."Peter Kreeft, one of our finest Christian writers today, has given us a passionate plea for Christian unity, one that builds upon the great common core of Christian belief confessed by faithful Protestants and Catholics alike," Timothy George, dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University, says of CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS. "A volume full of faith  and hope."For more information, to request a review copy or to schedule an interview with Dr. Peter Kreeft, please contact Kevin Wandra (404-788-1276 or KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com ) of Carmel Communications.
Nearly 40 years ago, former High Point Enterprise editor Holt McPherson pronounced any hopes that his city could break away from Guilford County doomed forever.

I cited that statement in a 2005 column for this newspaper with an endorsement of McPhersons foresight and finality.

Was I right? Do ideas ever really perish forever? Is there a chance that this one can make a comeback?

The spur this time is the decision by Guilford County commissioners to stall High Points request for financial support of its downtown catalyst project, which includes a ballpark and related development.

While commissioners said they preferred to study the proposal for 60 to 90 days, their lack of follow-up revealed that the real answer was no. Last week, the High Point City Council voted to proceed without county backing.

The citys request was reasonable  asking the county to contribute property tax revenue from the future growth in assessed value within a designated development zone. Any county tax money, therefore, would come from High Point for return to High Point.

Now High Point plans to pay off debt from its own resources over a longer period of time.

Unhappiness with commissioners disdain has revived an ancient complaint that High Point is never treated fairly and always plays second fiddle.

The proposed solution is ever the same and never successful: High Point must become a new county unto itself.

Its natural. We see independence movements around the world when people in one region find themselves with what they think are irreconcilable differences from those with political authority over them.

Today its the Catalonia region of Spain. The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, inspiring many people in Scotland to seek another vote to leave Great Britain. South Sudan carved a new nation out of Sudan. Someday, French Quebec might separate from English Canada. The old Soviet Union fragmented into many parts, although Vladimir Putin aims to reassemble them, as did several countries in Eastern Europe.

Our own national history began with a defiant exit from Britain. Later, Texas won its independence from Mexico, then joined the United States, then seceded from it, then was yanked back in again. Last I checked, it is still one of the 50. Its Confederate partners likewise attempted an ill-fated departure, nearly wrecking our great country.

High Point has attempted a peaceful parting of the ways and nearly succeeded once. In 1911, the city was rapidly growing, with a population approaching 10,000. Furniture factories and textile mills were opening with regularity. The first Southern Furniture Market had debuted in 1909. Business leaders were tired of running to the courthouse in Greensboro to take care of legal matters.

There were also political differences. Greensboro was a Democratic city, High Point was Republican. In fact, the 1908 Republican candidate for governor was High Point banker J. Elwood Cox.

In January 1911, High Point leaders pushed a bill in the General Assembly to establish Piedmont County from High Point and parts of adjoining Davidson and Randolph counties. It was vehemently opposed by Greensboro interests.

Because Greensboro has a courthouse, High Point wants to ring a bell, too, and that is all there is to it, Greensboro lawyer James T. Morehead told the Greensboro Record.

The bill advanced to the floor of the House and was defeated 54-42 on Feb. 9. A second effort two years later met a similar fate.

In the 1930s, the bell rang again. This time, High Point was soothed when the state agreed to give the city its own courthouse.

From time to time, the cause is raised anew. Its not unreasonable. With a population of 108,000, High Point by itself would be the states 24th largest county  and it already has a courthouse and jail. It could run its own school system and put its own tax monies to work for itself.

But, if a new independence movement stirs, it likely would end in failure as past attempts did. No new counties have been formed in more than a century. Holt McPherson, who died in 1979 after a life of distinction, may have been right about finality.

High Point cant take its ballpark and go home. Its an important part of Guilford County and probably ever shall be. It just deserves a little more respect from county leaders.
Awards

Suzanne Plihcik of the Junior League of Greensboro has been recognized for a lifetime of outstanding service, both as a league member and as an advocate for racial equity, by the Association of Junior Leagues International with the 2017 Mary Harriman Award for Community Leadership. The award, which is The Junior Leagues most prestigious, was made at AJLIs 95th annual conference in Minneapolis-St. Paul on May 19.

Plihcik joined the Junior League of Greensboro in 1982 at a time when Guilford County was considering merging its three school systems  and race was a central issue. Met with passionate opposition, the merger would not take place for another 10 years. Plihcik was chosen as one of 20 community members to study the potential merger and communicate their findings to Guilford County commissioners.

In 2008, Plihcik co-founded the Racial Equity Institute, an alliance of trainers, organizers and institutional leaders devoted to the work of creating racially equitable organizations and systems.

***

Chuck Trull, the director of human relations at Crumley Roberts, has received the 2017 KSR Servants Heart Spirit Award.

As part of the award, Trull received a red crystal heart paperweight from Tiffanys. Crumley Roberts also donated $5,000 to the Back2Back Ministries in his honor.

***

Kenneth L. Carter, assistant health director of the Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services public health division, was honored with a 40-year service award for his years of work in the public health field at the annual meeting of the N.C. Public Health Associations in September.

***

Carol Pennington recently won both the state and the chapter media relations awards at the National Association of Health Underwriters 87th annual convention and exhibition in Orlando, Fla. This award honors states and chapters for outstanding achievements in using the media to reach out to their members, the industry and the public.

Pennington has served as the media chairperson for the N.C. Association of Health Underwriters since 2010 and as the media chairperson for the Triad Association of Health Underwriters since 2006.

***

Bookmarks, a literary arts nonprofit organization that works to foster a love of reading and writing in the community, recently announced the winners of its three annual awards: Ruth Wilcox, Authors in Schools Educator Award, given to an advocate for reading who inspires students to make life-changing discoveries through books; Emily Herring Wilson, Literary Achievement Award, given to someone whose writings and/or service represent artistic achievement and meritorious contributions to community and humanity; and the Mulder family (Megan and Philip Mulder and son David Mulder), Debora D. and Victor F. Harllee Jr. Volunteer Award, given to an exceptional volunteer.

***

Denise Rhew and Bryan Gray have been honored by the Emergency Nurses Association. Rhew received the Clinical Nurse Specialist Award and Gray the Nursing Practice and Professionalism Award. The awards were recently presented at the organizations national convention in St. Louis.

***

Healthgrades has recognized Cone Health with multiple awards for providing outstanding medical care.

Annie Penn Hospital, Moses Cone Hospital, Wesley Long Hospital and Womens Hospital received: One of Americas 100 Best Hospitals for Pulmonary Care Award; One of Americas 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery Award; A Joint Replacement Excellence Award; and A Stroke Care Excellence Award.

Alamance Regional Medical Center is listed separately from the rest of Cone Health by Healthgrades. It received: One of Americas 100 Best Hospitals for Pulmonary Care Award; A Five-Star Recipient for Stroke Care; A Critical Care Excellence Award; A Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure Award; A Five-Star Recipient for Pacemaker Procedures; and A Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Sepsis.

***

The N.C. Humanities Councils board of trustees has selected Bland Simpson as the recipient of the 2017 John Tyler Caldwell Award for the Humanities. The award recognizes Simpson for his lifelong achievements as a professor, author, musician and environmentalist, as well as his work as a public humanities advocate across North Carolina.

***

The Guilford County Family Justice Center received national recognition from the Family Justice Center Alliance earlier this month for both its Elder Justice Committee and its Friends Against Fraud programs.

The center provides legal services, law enforcement and advocacy for children, adults and the elderly all in one location.

For information about the center, contact Sonya Desai at 336-641-7233 or sdesai@myguilford.com.

Announcements

After a period of inactivity, the N.C. World Trade Association recently held an organizational meeting to discuss plans to develop and increase its membership for the local chapter.

Its mission is to help its members expand their international trade opportunities. For information, visit http://www.ncwta-triad.org.

***

Bill Erickson, the owner of Be Shoes, and Rob Simon, the owner of Windsor Jewelers, recently founded the Triad Buy Local campaign in an effort to educate the public about the benefits of shopping at local merchants.

For information contact Erickson at 336-722-0747.

Achievers

Greensboro Day Schools head of school, Mark C. Hale, has begun his second of a two-year term as the president of the N.C. Association of Independent Schools. Hale was nominated by the current board and approved unanimously by the membership.

***

Attorney Michael Taliercio with the law firm of Black, Slaughter & Black has been elected 2018 national treasurer of the American College of Parliamentary Lawyers. Taliercio is a professional registered parliamentarian and a fellow in the ACPL, which recognizes attorneys who have distinguished themselves in the practice of parliamentary law, including lawyers who advise conventions, condominium and homeowner associations, governmental bodies, and nonprofit organizations.

On the move

After the recent death of former CEO Wayne Long, Well Care Health has announced that Zac Long has moved into the chief executive officer role and Wanda Coley has become the president and chief operating officer. They oversee all entities under Well Care Health, including Well Care Home Health of the Triad.

***

Cameron Jones, a physicians assistant, has joined UNC Regional Physicians and will provide services at UNC Regional Physicians Surgical Associates.

***

The Guilford Technical Community College Foundation has named Nancy Calkins as executive director. Calkins served three years as the foundations assistant director.

***

High Point Universitys Nido R. Qubein School of Communication has three new faculty members: Florian Hemme, assistant professor of sport management; Curtis Matthews, associate professor of strategic communication; and Jim Scott, instructor of communication.
Its easy to focus on flavor when entering San Miguel Restaurant and Market  a grocery, butcher and restaurant, tucked next to a discount store in a strip center off Cone Boulevard. But, the stories behind the business offer a window into the unseen and overlooked aspects of immigrant food businesses.

For instance, the shelves holding up grocery items, and the commercial kitchen in the back, were paid for partly by the sale of a 1996 Dodge Neon owned by one of the founders, Miguel Juarez Luvian, and a 1997 Mustang owned by his brother Enrique.

They brought in maybe $2,500, says Miguel. It wasnt enough. Thats why we had to sell the house we were living in, too.

Miguel and his brothers wouldnt even be here if they could have inherited the family business, helping their father sell construction materials to builders back home in Mexico. But starting in the early 1990s, as Mexicos interior states were hollowed out by NAFTAs new economic order and corruption, very few people had the money to build anymore. One by one, each brother made the trip, following others from Tlaxcala who had made Greensboro home.

We couldnt believe it, says Miguel. We could earn up to $7 an hour.

Miguel, Enrique and their middle brother, Humberto, have driven thousands of miles over the years from Browns Summit to jobs as chefs at P.F. Changs six or seven mornings a week, and on their return from evening shifts at Ruby Tuesday and Outback Steakhouse.

Miguel would point at the vacant corner of this shopping center as they passed on Yanceyville, the brothers dream taking shape. For six years, they saved up, self-financing their build-out, while also supporting family members in Tlaxcala.

There arent many lines of credit open to immigrant entrepreneurs, but we found a way, Miguel said, laughing.

They opened San Miguel  named after their hometown  in 2007, the only Latino restaurant-market in a 20-mile stretch up U.S. 29, which has a significant immigrant population. Then the recession hit.

The property manager actually said, This is not the time to open a business. 

He says that in hindsight, they had it relatively easy.

Back then, immigrants could get drivers licenses in North Carolina, and there wasnt as much hostility. We only had to worry about building up our clientele.

On Nov. 1, San Miguel will host Ethnosh, the international food adventurers, to showcase the cuisine and cultures of Mexico. At this NoshUp, you can meet the Juarez family and their staff who bring all of this goodness to your city.

Eventually, their sales started climbing, and customers clamored for more options, leading them to add a butcher counter four years ago.

Lately, their concerns have taken a turn away from those of the average business owner. In late July, a regular patron and several of his coworkers were detained by Immigrant and Customs Enforcement a block away from the store on their way to work, hours before the restaurant opened. Sales plunged for several weeks, as rumors swirled about whether federal agents were indiscriminately targeting restaurant patrons. The wife of one of the detainees was once a San Miguel waitress.

It really hurts, especially when these things happen to people we care about, Miguel says. And when you think, Well, that could be me. It makes you rethink every time you leave the house. Do I really need to drive there? 

The food itself has its own stories, at once obvious and undetectable. Their mother taught Miguel and his brothers to cook the dishes typical of their native Tlaxcala early on, with all three capable of whipping up gorditas and sopes, a thick corn cake soaked in lime and topped with beans, cheese, meats and vegetables, before age 10.

She told us it would give us more options later on, Miguel says. She would say, What if you marry someone who doesnt cook as well? 

The same gorditas continue to be popular menu items, but the brothers have learned to adapt to local tastes. Theyre traditionally made as a simple afternoon meal, a kind of cornmeal cake topped with leftover pork cracklings, which are fried repeatedly in lard and pressed to remove excess fat. The Greensboro version adds beans, lettuce, cream, even avocado. The sopes are similarly crisp and crunchy, the flavors popping out with each bite.

But the standouts here are the stews, called guisados. These entrees typically include a meat and a vegetable, all cooked together in a distinctive sauce, depending on the dish. Few local Mexican eateries serve such a wide variety of complicated entrees, such as mole poblano and costillitas. The Steak a la Mexicana is especially popular among regulars, cooked in tomatoes, green chilies and onion.

Miguels enthusiasm overflows as he describes how theyve come to tinker with the menu based on feedback from regulars. He shakes his head when asked if it has been difficult to square the support he gets from patrons with the way immigrants are talked about by many politicians.

Most people have no idea how much were contributing in sales taxes, business taxes, payroll taxes, income taxes. And were glad to do it. We genuinely want this country to keep getting better. He pauses suddenly, trying to find just the right phrase. This country has been our door to the future.

He mentions the steep discount offered to all first responders, which I dont see advertised anywhere. Its just another hidden layer. Like the repurposed flavors from home, sown with care throughout the menu. Like San Miguels regulars, youre likely to find one worth coming back for, too.
Evangelist Will Graham Shares Hope of Jesus in Romania, Third Generation to Preach in Eastern European Country Contact: Erik Ogren, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 704-577-2109, eogren@bgea.org



CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 25, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- More than three decades after his famous grandfather, evangelist Billy Graham, preached behind the Iron Curtain during a seven-city tour in Romania, Will Graham returned this weekend to share the Gospel in the city of Cluj-Napoca. The younger Graham spoke to overflow crowds totaling 24,500 over two days, Oct. 21-22, at Polyvalenta Hall, not far from St. Michael's Church, the soaring cathedral in which his grandfather preached in 1985.



"Jesus is Truth; the truth that you're looking for. He's the answer to your problems. You'll never regret giving your life to Him," said Graham from the stage, speaking through an interpreter. "I'm here to tell you that your Heavenly Father loves you and is ready for you to come home!"



More than 570 people responded to the invitation to make a commitment to Christ, including 90 at a special pre-Celebration service on Friday night, Oct. 20.



"My faith is strengthened and restored. We see that all of our prayers and the time and everything we've prepared for is not in vain," said Paul Tuns, one of many volunteers who helped to lead the Celebration effort in Cluj-Napoca. "I think the main thing is we see that God is alive, He's working, and He's listening to our prayers. As a Christian, yeah, you have that amazing feeling."



Graham was joined by several talented Romanian artists, a 1,500-voice choir made up of students, pianist Huntley Brown and worship leader Aaron Shust.



Graham is actually the third generation to preach the Gospel in the country. In addition to his grandfather's 1985 tour, his father, Franklin Graham, visited Timisoara, Romania, in July 2008.



Graham's next event  his last of the year  will be held Nov. 4-5 in Charlottetown, Canada. His previous 2017 events have been in Dothan, Ala.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Pachuca, Mexico.



A photo gallery of Graham's time in Cluj-Napoca is available at www.billygraham.org.



About Will Graham

Will is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). He is the grandson of Billy Graham and the oldest son of Franklin Graham. He also serves as vice president of the BGEA, and as executive director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, N.C. Follow Will on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/WillGraham4 and on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TellaGraham.

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GREENSBORO  The defense rested its case on the 17th day of the capital murder trial of Garry Gupton, but not before the prosecution attacked a key defense witness.

Gupton, 29, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 46-year-old Stephen White, who died on Nov. 15, 2014  six days after Gupton set him on fire in a hotel room.

During testimony on Monday in Guilford County Superior Court, psychiatrist Katayoun Tabrizi told jurors about medical evaluations of Gupton she had completed on behalf of the defense that found he suffered a psychological break, but was not psychotic.

But for at least an hour Tuesday, prosecutor Robert Enochs picked apart both her testimony and her report, questioning the authenticity of the medical terms she had used and her statement that White sexually assaulted Gupton before Gupton attacked White. No evidence of sexual assault had been provided other than the defendants word, Enochs said.

Mr. Whites actions were not the focus, but what Mr. Gupton perceived them to be, Tabrizi testified Tuesday morning.

Last week, Gupton admitted during testimony he killed White during a fight between the two men on Nov. 9, 2014.

They had met the night before at Chemistry Nightclub, a gay bar and lounge. Gupton consumed a beer, several mixed drinks as well as caffeine pills and 80 milligrams of Adderall, a stimulant typically used to treat attention deficit disorder.

White and Gupton left the bar together and went to the Battleground Inn to have sex, but Gupton testified that the sexual acts went further than he wanted.

Gupton said during testimony and in medical reports that when they were having sex, he was transported to a desert and saw an ISIS soldier attacking him.

He admitted that he then punched White, strangled him with a phone cord, beat him on the head repeatedly with the phones base, threw a 27-inch tube television on him and then set a comforter on fire next to his unconscious body.

Firefighters found White in Room 417 of the Battleground Inn, suffering from burns so severe it destroyed his skin, nerves, muscles and exposed several of his bones.

Police found Gupton outside the hotel screaming about Middle East terrorist groups and that the hotel had been booby-trapped with explosives  outbursts which were captured on an officers body-worn camera and shown to jurors.

Tabrizi testified that what jurors saw was Gupton slipping in and out of delirium based on his intoxication, diabetic problems and sexual assault.

Part of Tabrizis evaluation of Gupton was that he was too drunk to consent to sex. Enochs pointed out that White had a higher blood-alcohol content than Gupton.

Police reports, read to jurors on Tuesday, also detail that officers were able to communicate with White about the attack before he died. White said he was asleep when Gupton began punching him.

Mr. White was suffering from smoke inhalation and severe burns and went into shock, Tabrizi said. By the time this came up, a lot had happened to his brain. To remember the events of that night would have been medically impossible.

Enochs also criticized Tabrizi for using inaccurate medical terms in her pretrial report.

Tabrizi wrote that diabetic ketoacidosis  high levels of blood acids that prevent the body from creating insulin  played a part in Guptons delirium. However, during testimony she said it was caused by lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis is an increase of lactate in the body that leads to excessive acid accumulations.

Earlier in the week, a doctor testified that diabetic ketoacidosis could not cause delirium but lactic acidosis could.

Tabrizi said Gupton was diagnosed with both problems and each could cause high levels of acid in the body. She told Enochs that he was nitpicking.

But he wasnt done.

Tabrizi also wrote in her pretrial report that the delirium was caused, in part, by hypoxemia  low levels of oxygen in the blood. On Tuesday, Tabrizi testified she meant hypoxia, which is the deprivation of oxygen to the brain.

Im not perfect, Tabrizi said. Ill admit that under oath.

Enochs asked the psychiatrist one other question: Can amphetamines cause bizarre and violent outbursts? She said they could.

In earlier testimony, Tabrizi said Adderall, a type of amphetamine, was in Guptons bloodstream when he was admitted to the hospital.

Jurors spent more than two hours reviewing Tabrizis report. When they finished at 2:45 p.m., the defense rested their case and Enochs decided against his previously announced plans of calling a rebuttal witness.

Guptons attorney, Wayne Baucino of Greensboro, requested the judge dismiss the charges.

Judge Michael Duncan said there was enough evidence to move forward.

The judge said he wanted to review some cases overnight and then finalize the jury instructions.
RALEIGH  A yearlong case against two prosecutors seemed stagnant until Tuesday, when surprise indictments accused former Person-Caswell County District Attorney Wallace Bradsher of multiple felonies.

A Wake County grand jury indicted Bradsher on charges of felony conspiracy, obtaining property by false pretense, aiding and abetting, three counts of obstruction of justice and misdemeanor failure to discharge the duties of his office.

Bradsher and former Rockingham County District Attorney Craig Blitzer had already been indicted in June on that latter charge, but the fact that it was just a misdemeanor charge stunned many people in the court system and residents in Rockingham, Person and Caswell counties.

The State Bureau of Investigation had spent 880 hours investigating allegations that Bradsher and Blitzer had hired each others wives in a scheme to collect $48,000 in unearned salaries during a 15-month period.

Court documents revealed the lengths SBI agents had gone to prove Cindy Blitzer was not working while being paid, even raiding Blitzers office just two days before he would resign on March 10.

But Craig Blitzers approach to his criminal charge has been very different than Bradshers.

On July 18, he pleaded guilty, striking a deal with prosecutors that his wife wouldnt be charged and that before his own sentencing he would reimburse the state and would serve as a witness in pending criminal matters involving Bradsher.

Bradsher had been expected to make a similar deal in August, but hours before his last hearing he fired his attorneys, chose to represent himself and made allegations against Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman of malicious prosecution and talking too candidly with the media.

Officials with the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts asked former Wake County prosecutor Tom Ford to take over Bradshers case and allow Freeman to walk away from it and focus on other legal matters in Wake County.

Ford agreed and has said little about the case since than other than to watch the court calendar for future hearings. But Bradsher was never added to that schedule.

Instead, Ford took the case to a grand jury and came out with six new felony indictments.

Those charges build on the SBIs case and name Craig and Cindy Blitzer as co-conspirators. Despite that, neither of the Blitzers faced new charges Tuesday.

Craig Blitzers attorney, Chris Clifton, said he could not comment on Bradshers charges or the allegations against his client, because Craig Blitzer has not been sentenced on the misdemeanor charge.

In sworn affidavits from both Blitzers, filed Aug. 17, they admitted to scheming with Bradsher and his wife, Pamela, over lunch at Elizabeths Pizza in Wentworth. Craig Blitzer said he told his future colleague, before being sworn in as district attorney, that trading his job as a capital defender to become a prosecutor would involve a serious pay cut and that he was worried he couldnt afford it.

Craig Blitzers affidavit stated that Bradsher told him his concern was not a worry because he hired his wife, Pamela, to work for him and she comes and goes as she pleases.

Upon being sworn in as district attorney Craig Blitzer immediately hired his wife as a legal assistant, making $46,900 a year.

But Bradsher sent up a red flag about this arrangement just weeks before Blitzer took office. He told the Administrative Office of the Courts that he planned to promote his wife to investigator with an annual salary of $48,000. Weeks later, state officials realized that both men were employing their wives, a violation of the states ethic act.

The men were told their wives needed to resign. Instead, they swapped jobs.

Court records show that for 15 months Cindy Blitzer was enrolled full-time in nursing school while claiming hours working for Bradsher.

They might have gotten away with their plan, but three of their employees reported them, including Debra Halbrook, whom Bradsher fired on Jan. 11.

One of Bradshers obstruction of justice charges states that grand jurors believe he maliciously fired Halbrook with the intent to punish her for working with state agents and to stop any other employees from doing so.

In February, she filed a lawsuit against all principals and the state accusing Bradsher of just that.

We will obviously be following this with great interest, said Drew Erteschik, Halbrooks attorney.

Erteschik confirmed Wednesday that civil lawsuit against the state is ongoing.

In that lawsuit, Halbrook says she grew suspicious of the prosecutors because she saw Bradshers Chief Assistant District Attorney John J. Stultz filling out a computerized timecard for Cindy Blitzer, but she had not seen her at work.

The second obstruction charge accuses Bradsher of lying to Stultz for six months about whether Cindy Blitzer was working in order to insulate himself from the fraudulent activity.

Stultz has since left the district attorneys office and was elected as a District Court judge in Person and Caswell counties.

The last obstruction charge accuses Bradsher of lying to Special Agent David Whitley, who oversaw the entirety of the case. it was unclear what Bradsher might have lied to the special agent about.

Bradsher resigned as district attorney in May, just weeks before his first charge was filed.

He does not have a court date set, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts website.

Its not clear if he has been arrested or turned himself in on his latest charges.
GREENSBORO  Police are trying to identify an armed man who robbed a BB&T branch at 201 W. Market St. on Tuesday.

According to a police news release, the robber was described as a light complexioned black male, about 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches tall, muscular build, wearing a T-shirt, gray knit cap, blue jeans, and Timberland boots. He was armed with a semi-automatic handgun.

The robber fled with an undetermined amount of money in an unknown direction and was last seen on foot heading south on Greene Street. No one was injured during the incident.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000 or text the tip to 274637 using the keyword badboyz. All calls to Crime Stoppers are completely anonymous, and may result in a reward up to $2,000.
GREENSBORO  Mayoral and at-large candidates want you to know that they care about jobs, reducing poverty and improving the quality of life in the city.

The City Council hopefuls talked about the issues Tuesday at a forum sponsored by the Greensboro Neighborhood Congress. About 50 people attended.

Both candidates for mayor, incumbent Nancy Vaughan and the Rev. Diane Moffett, participated.

Voters from across the city will pick three at-large members from the six candidates. Participants in the forum were council members Marikay Abuzuaiter, Mike Barber and Yvonne Johnson, and challengers Michelle Kennedy and Dave Wils.

Challenger T. Dianne Bellamy-Small, who is a member of the Guilford County Board of Education, attended the final 15 minutes of the forum because she was attending a school board meeting.

Election day is Nov. 7, and early voting continues through Nov. 4. All nine council members, including the mayor, will serve four-year terms this time.

Here are some of the things the candidates discussed:

On supporting

local development

Vaughan: I know what its like to be afraid that your neighborhood is going to change because, quite frankly, thats how I got involved (in politics). This is not a council that will rubber stamp development proposals. Were not just looking for money. We are very careful about the zonings we approve.

Barber: On builders, developers and job creators: Theyre the good guys.  They create jobs. They fund the nonprofits that many of us spend our days, professionally, working on.

Wils: If the neighborhood is strongly opposed to a development, my inclination is to side with the neighborhood.

Creating one new position within city government

Moffett: Champion on poverty in the city. She said shes concerned that there are 57,000 citizens in poverty in the city.

Vaughan: Inclusion manager. We need to have an absolute focus when it comes to equity.

Johnson: Ambassador. I would like a person who would bring information from people in the communities  especially problems, especially challenges.

Kennedy: Office of equity. The candidate must have the power to make changes. If equity isnt our central focus  then I think all weve done is create a position for not much impact.

Building better relationships

with General Assembly

Moffett: The council needs to nurture relationships with legislators, one-on-one if necessary. We have to rise above the pettiness, above whatever is keeping us from one another.

Vaughan: I believe we need to pick our battles wisely. We cant sue over everything.

Barber: We have zero power against the legislature. We will lose every single time. Barber said the council has to work on building a relationship with the state House and Senate. We will not get 100 percent of what we want, but we will get a portion of what we need for the citizens of Greensboro.

Johnson: When the General Assembly attempted to redraw the councils district lines in 2015, Im the one who said, Sue them. 

Wils: I am so sorry, but I am not going to let the General Assembly steamroll us. The city of Greensboro needs to stand up for itself.

On moving services for the homeless out of downtown

Moffett: Homeless people arent chess pieces, she said. They have lives. They (deserve) some determination as to where they need to be. Do the homeless want to be moved?

Abuzuaiter: She said shes a proponent of one-stop shops for services and likes the idea of putting more services under one roof. I think something like that needs to be looked into, whether its downtown or somewhere else.

Kennedy: She said any conversation about moving the homeless is morally bankrupt, particularly when it comes out of the mouths of people who have never visited the centers that serve the homeless.

Wils: We really shouldnt be trying to move people out of sight to be out of mind.

On bringing ideas to the City Council

Abuzuaiter: No matter what you bring to council, you are going to need five votes to get it passed. You need to make sure you can work with your colleagues.
DALLAS  The NAACP is warning African-Americans that if they fly on American Airlines, they may face discrimination or even safety issues.

Americans chief executive said Wednesday that he was disappointed by the announcement and that American wants to discuss the matter with the civil rights group.

The NAACP said that for several months it has watched a pattern of disturbing incidents reported by African-American passengers. Among them were separate cases in which an NAACP official and another civil rights activist were kicked off flights.

In an interview, new NAACP President Derrick Johnson said the group isnt boycotting American Airlines, but the sheer number of events made it feel it had to issue a warning.

Were not telling people not to fly on American, Johnson said. Were just saying to individuals that here is an advisory note. We have picked up a pattern of a certain behavior of this corporation and until further notice be on alert.

American Airlines issued a statement saying that it serves customers of all backgrounds and itself has a diverse group of employees.

In a memo to employees, CEO Doug Parker said American endorses the NAACPs mission statement against racial discrimination.

We do not and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind, Parker wrote. We have reached out to the NAACP and are eager to meet with them to listen to their issues and concerns.

The NAACP highlighted four recent incidents in which black passengers said they were treated in a discriminatory way.

One involved the head of the North Carolina NAACP, the Rev. William Barber, who sued American after the airline summoned a police officer to remove him from a flight last year. Barber said he had asked a flight attendant to tell two white passengers behind him to quiet down, but she was dismissive. After one of the white men said loudly that he didnt like those people and mocked him, Barber said he stood and turned to ask the man to stop talking about him.

Barber dropped his lawsuit against American in June.

An incident last week involved Tamika Mallory, an organizer of the Womens March on Washington in January. She had changed her seat at an airport kiosk, only to be told at the gate that it had been assigned to another customer.

Mallory said she was treated disrespectfully by the gate agent  another African-American woman  and was outraged when a white male pilot asked if she could control herself while on the flight.

After being told she was being kicked off the plane, Mallory called the pilot a racist in a profanity-laced exchange. She later threatened to take legal action.
US House to Vote on Tightening Sanctions Against Iran and Hizballah

Contact: Liberty Counsel, 407-875-1776, Media@LC.org; Press Kit

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- The U.S. House of Representatives will vote today on the Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act and the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2017, both of which address the dangerous aggression of Iran and its terrorist organization, Hizballah.

The Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act, known as H.R. 1698, expands sanctions against Iran's illicit ballistic missile program and its aggressive behavior in the region. The bill states: "the President shall impose sanctions against: (1) Iranian government agencies involved in ballistic missile development; (2) foreign entities that supply material for, or otherwise facilitate or finance, such efforts; (3) foreign persons or foreign government agencies that import, export, or re-export prohibited arms or related material to or from Iran; and (4) foreign persons or entities that transfer goods or technologies contributing to Iran's ability to acquire or develop ballistic missiles, including launch technology, and destabilizing numbers and types of advanced conventional weapons."

The Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2017, known as H.R. 3329, cuts off the flow of resources to the Lebanese-based terrorist organization and its affiliates, and targets foreign governments, individuals and companies that support them. H.R. 3329 strengthens and expands the scope of economic and financial sanctions by previous legislation imposed on Hizballah, the Shi'a Islamic political party and militant group. This bill is significant in light of Hizballah's global reach to areas in the Western Hemisphere where it is involved in organized crime such as drug trade, trafficking of exotic animals and black-market sales of precious metals and gems to finance its terror activities and its fighting in support of the Assad regime in Syria. In addition, H.R. 3329 requires that Congress receive information on Hizballah's illicit activities, which legislators could use to better fund the resources necessary to counter the terrorist group.

"In order to protect the United States and Israel from Iran, the U.S. House of Representatives must pass the Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act and the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2017," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, President of Christians in Defense of Israel, and Founder and President of Covenant Journey. "It is the right thing to do. Hizballah terrorists are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans, and their funds for terrorism must be cut off immediately. Congress should use all appropriate means to stop Iran's emerging stranglehold over much of the Middle East where Hizballah terrorists continue to be a serious threat to the United States and Israel," said Staver.

Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.


EDEN  Another suspect has been brought into custody following a police chase just before midnight on Oct. 9.

Eric Lanorris Watkins Jr. was arrested by the Greensboro Police Department on Oct. 25 and charged with four counts of felonious assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury. He was also charged with one count of discharging a weapon into an occupied property.

Police responded to a report of shots fired at the 900 block of Willow St. at about 11:52 p.m. on Oct. 9, according to a news release.

Police located a black Ford Fusion with broken windows parked on the edge of a roadway in front of 905 Willow St.

The first responding officer observed a suspicious vehicle, a tan Ford Taurus, leaving the area, and responding officers attempted to conduct a stop at the intersection of Irving Avenue and Center Church Road.

The vehicle then traveled west on Center Church before turning left onto Black Bottom Road and driving to the dead end.

There, four black males fled the vehicle on foot into a wooded area, according to EPD.

Police also seized a Zastava Serbia AK-47 left in the back seat.

Shortly after, officers and detectives learned there was a gunshot victim at Morehead Hospital, according to the release.

Detectives spoke with the victim who was released a short time later.

As police worked on the crime scenes on Willow Street and Black Bottom Road, officers were dispatched to 1424 Maryland Ave. regarding a second shots fired report at about 1:20 a.m.

Police found several rounds shot into the residence. No injuries were reported at this location.

On Oct. 10, detectives secured warrants for Kelvin Scott Smith, 33, after identifying him as the operator of the vehicle.

He was arrested by the Greensboro Police Department on Oct. 14 and charged with one count of fleeing to elude arrest and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Warrants have also been issued for two other suspects in the incident that have yet to be located.

Jeffrey Chazz Dickerson, like Watkins, is charged with four counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and one count felony discharge of a weapon into occupied property. Dickerson has lived in the Eden and Ruffin areas of Rockingham County.

Eden resident Deonta Devon Hairston is also wanted on the same charges.

Anyone with information regarding the location of Dickerson or Hairston is asked to call Detective Brian Disher at 336-623-9755. Those wishing to provide information anonymously are asked to call Rockingham County Crime Stoppers at 336-349-9683.
WENTWORTH  The Piedmont Triad Regional Council surprised Chairman Mark Richardson of the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners last Wednesday with a special designation.

The commissioner and community advocate was honored by the voluntary association of local governments with the 2017 Grady Hunter Regional Excellence Award.

The award is presented annually to a current member of the PTRC board who demonstrates dedication and service to the region.

It honors the late Grady hunter, a long time Yadkin County Commissioner who spent 19 years as a member of the board of directors for the Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments. The selection is designed to recognize an individual dedicated to public service and the issues facing the Piedmont Triad region.

Richardson, who also serves as chairman of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Public Education Steering Committee, has also been very active with the PTRC as a member of the board of delegates and the executive committee.

In addition, he is part of the Rural Planning Organization, alongside NC DOT officials to enhance transportation opportunities and playing for rural areas. He is also part of the Transportation Advisory Committee and serves as an alternate to the Rockingham County Planning Committee for Services to the Elderly under the Area Agency on Aging.

Outside of the PTRC, Richardson is part of several other regional organizations, including the Tourism Development Authority, the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation, the Northwest Piedmont Job Training Consortium, Rockingham County Community College Board of Trustees, among others.

A Rockingham County native, Richardson is a U.S. Air Force veteran who served as a fighter pilot, instructor and operational test pilot  retiring with the rank of colonel in 1996 following a 24-year career.

Following his retirement, Richardson spent time as a teacher at Rockingham County High School and as principal of Bethany Community Middle School.

The Stokesdale resident isnt the first Rockinhgam County official to receive the prestigious award. Former Reidsville Mayor James Festerman, who currently serves as Reidvsille councilman, was selected for the Grady Hunter Award in 2013, after 15 years as a delegate to the Piedmont Regional Triad Council.

The PRTC is one of the largest regional councils in North Carolina and serves 73 members from 12 surrounding counties.

The council is authorized to make and implement joint regional decisions, provide management, planning and technical services to local governments, identify and solve short and long-term problems at the regional level, and bring together local elected officials regularly to give them an opportunity to form working relationships.

For more information on the Piedmont Triad Regional Council, visit www.ptrc.org.
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STAMFORD  Marriott International plans to lay off 107 Stamford employees in December, marking the latest round of job cuts the hotel giant has undertaken since its acquisition last year of Stamford-based Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide.

The layoffs at Marriotts South End offices, at 333 Ludlow St., mostly affect staff in vice president, director, manager, specialist and coordinator positions, according to records posted Wednesday to the state Department of Labors website. Bethesda, Md.-based Marriott has now laid off about 330 local workers since it bought Starwood for $13 billion in September 2016, a deal that created the worlds largest hotel company.

The 107 jobs that are impacted are part of our continued integration post-merger with Starwood, a Marriott spokesperson said in an email Wednesday. These jobs are related to the integration of various systems and platforms and the resulting reorganization of teams  an effort that has been underway since we closed the transaction in September 2016 and will continue into 2018.

Thomas Madden, Stamfords economic development director, gave a similar description of the downsizing.

Marriott has over the last year been consolidating overlapping departments or moving full departments from here in Stamford to their headquarters in Maryland, he said in an email.

Affected employees would be encouraged to apply for vacant positions within the company, Darryl Franklin, Marriott vice president and senior counsel, said in a letter Monday to the Labor Department.

Building and Land Technology, the landlord of 333 Ludlow St., declined to comment.

Marriott has carried out several rounds of local job cuts since the Starwood acquisition. Within about four months of the deal closing, Marriott had announced the elimination of some 220 Stamford positions.

Despite the cuts, the Marriott spokesperson said the company planned to maintain a long-term presence in Stamford.

As we move through our integration, we want to make sure we are retaining talent, and, in some cases, roles are located in Bethesda ... in other cases, work can be located in Stamford, said the spokesperson. While its fair to say that the staffing of the Stamford office is not at the level it once was, we still have a presence at Star Point (a nickname for 333 Ludlow St.), and we will continue to have one.

Starwood moved its headquarters in 2012 to Stamford, from White Plains, N.Y. It would grow into one of Stamfords largest employers, operating with a reported contingent of about 700 around the time of the merger.

Stamford Mayor David Martin said in an interview last month that public funding might help to prolong Marriotts presence in Connecticut. State officials announced in May 2014 they would provide a loan of $5 million and up to $20 million in tax credits to support Starwood creating 340 more jobs in the state. Those incentives are still in effect, state Department of Economic and Community Development officials have said.

Since the Starwood acquisition, Marriott has rebounded from initial losses. In the first half of 2017, its revenues were flat, but its bottom line rose 33 percent, from the same period in 2016, to an adjusted total of $827 million.

Marriott is also reorganizing in its home city. Earlier this year, the company signed agreements to move to a new headquarters, in downtown Bethesda. Its lease at its current Bethesda address runs until 2022.

pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott
GREENWICH  Recent years for the newspaper industry have been difficult, but challenges facing print journalism can be overcome with hard work and investment in the newsroom.

That was the report given to an audience at the Retired Mens Association of Greenwich Wednesday by Lincoln Millstein, senior vice president and special assistant to the CEO for Hearst, parent company of Greenwich Time.

Newspapers have faced challenges almost throughout their history, said Millstein, who lives in Old Greenwich. Whether its the afternoon papers folding because of demographic change or classified ads versus display ads and the penny press. They were very competitive and a lot of newspapers failed. Its an industry thats quite accustomed to challenges.

With that in mind, Millstein  who has worked for the New York Times, Hartford Courant and Boston Globe, and co-founded the latters website in 1995  said he cant understand why the newspaper industry as a whole panicked when the Internet came to prominence in the 1990s. The industry reacted to the emergence of digital media differently than to any previous challenge, he said, recalling dark and gloomy stories about how print journalism was dying.

It is the only industry I know of that publicly disparages its own core product, Millstein said.

He compared the response to that of the television news industry, pointing out that the days of Walter Cronkite anchoring the CBS Evening News with a 50 percent share of the audience are long gone.

Today in the nightly news if theyre able to get a 10 percent share its considered phenomenal, Millstein said. But you never saw Tom Brokaw get on TV and say, Oh, by the way, last year we lost a million viewers. Only newspapers do that.

Newspapers pessimism sent a message to advertisers, potentially making their challenges worse, he said, and making it harder to dig out of the 2008 recession, which caused a larger decline in newspaper advertising than in other media.

But Hearst had an advantage over other companies such as Gannett or McClatchy, Millstein said. As a private company that is not publicly traded, Hearst was able to take a longer view and invest in journalism by growing its newspaper division.

With the recent purchase of the New Haven Register properties, Hearst has eight dailies in Connecticut and many weeklies.

Youre paying us to do one job, find out stuff that you cant find out on your own thats important to you and important to your community so you can make decisions like going to the polls on Nov. 7, Millstein said. What were finding out is that there are people willing to pay for that and theyre willing to pay us quite a bit for that journalism. We need to do a better job and more of that. I believe in communities like Greenwich we will sustain ourselves for quite a long time if were committed to that.

Millstein said work is underway to improve the digital experience of Hearst papers such as Greenwich Time, but added interest in print editions of newspapers remains strong. While he spends his commute on the train reading the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and his local paper on his phone, he still reads the hard copies of the newspapers when he arrives in the office, he said.

Every single day I miss something on my phone, Millstein said. I dont know if you have the same experience but I cant be assured that I read everything.

Millsteins speech was part of the ongoing Greenwich Reads Together program put together by Greenwich Library. Each year one book is chosen for the community to read and events are held throughout town to explore its themes. The 2017 selection is News of the World, an acclaimed historical novel by Paulette Jiles, which tells the story of a Civil War veteran who carries newspapers from all over the globe to remote portions of Texas to bring news to people starving for information.

Events will continue to take place for the next few weeks, including an appearance by Jiles, who will speak at Greenwich Library on Nov. 14 in an event open to the public.

Millstein praised the book, and recommended people interested in it also read Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
In secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome!
I started seeing patients during the day and sort of moonlighting as a chef at night, leading this double life. Photo: Melissa Hom

When Helen Goh was growing up in Malaysia, dinner always required a certain degree of constructive criticism. At the table, you would not get away with just, Thanks, Mum, Goh says. You would have to say what was nice about the food, what you didnt like, and how could she improve it the next time. I mean, every single meal was a discussion.

Goh didnt realize it at the time, but this behavior would inform the two careers she would eventually pursue: psychology and baking. She became so successful at the latter that she earned a coveted role working with Israeli-British chef and writer Yotam Ottolenghi, and now, the two have co-authored a cookbook, Sweet.

For any baker, this is something of a dream job; Ottolenghi has five thriving restaurants in London and international reach through his newspaper columns and best-selling books. In many ways, hes a true celebrity chef without any baggage from cheesy cooking shows. And yet Goh says her path to becoming a vital part of the Ottolenghi empire was completely convoluted, a tale of multiple degrees, continents, and jobs.

Goh first experienced unexpected baking success early in her career. She was born in Malaysia but raised in Melbourne, where she studied science and psychotherapy. She worked for a pharmaceuticals company, organizing lunches to talk to doctors, until she realized, Im actually more interested in the lunch than the drugs. Her boyfriend at the time, a journalist, had just taken a payout, and the two used the money to open a small cafe. Neither had baking experience; Goh learned by reading Californian pastry chef Emily Luchettis cookbooks. It didnt take very long for Goh to receive acclaim. I worked my butt off, and one day, I saw the owner of the local murder-mystery bookshop running toward me, she says. He was waving the weekend paper. On the front page was my face, with the title, Worlds Best Chocolate Cake.

The success, though, quickly turned into a burden. I was baking 24 hours, Goh says. With no experience and that big buildup, we just couldnt continue. The couple broke up and sold the bakery, and Goh earned an apprenticeship at a notable Melbourne restaurant, Donovans. On her second day, the pastry chef walked out. Goh was shoved into the lead role. She spent seven years there, working 17-hour days, and then decided to return to school for her graduate degree. She was still able to keep her job at the restaurant part-time, and thats when everything clicked: Goh only felt satisfied when pursuing both psychology and baking.

I started seeing patients during the day and sort of moonlighting as a chef at night, leading this double life, Goh says. I didnt see why I couldnt keep the two. The pressure was always to make a decision, and I thought, Well, fuck it, why should I?

In 2006, Goh moved to London. A former boss had told her to look out for a man named Yotam Ottolenghi; his cafes were gaining popularity, but he wasnt yet a household name. She barely listened. I thought, I need a break. Im just going to come to London and be a lady of leisure. And yet, on her second day in the city, she visited Ottolenghis Notting Hill store and felt seduced. Goh emailed to introduce herself and Ottolenghi responded within minutes. The two clicked, partly because Ottolenghi had his own convoluted academic background. Before working as a chef, he had completed Tel Aviv Universitys genius program and wrote a philosophy thesis. Goh only recently learned that Ottolenghi responded to her email so fast because his Australian neighbors had specifically suggested he find and hire her.

Goh started making salads at his cafe almost straightaway, but felt out of her element. Ottolenghi didnt use recipes. He worked entirely by his senses, and I had to learn how to develop that palate. It was crazy. Her first task, cutting a whole box of butternut squash, left her hands blistered. Ive never worked so hard. Eventually, she told Ottolenghi that she planned to go back to school for her Ph.D. I said, I think Im too old for this now, Goh, now 51, recalls.

Ottolenghi countered with a different offer: He said he loved her ideas and proposed that she manage his stores and conceive new recipes. Goh agreed, but after feeling surrounded by a team of boys literally half my age, blasting Fatboy Slim and Eminem, she again tried to leave the company. I wish I could say that I had the courage to ask for exactly what I wanted, but each time, I said, Im sorry, Im moving on, Goh recalls. And each step of the way, I had people supporting me. Ottolenghi valued her so highly that he asked if she could work from home and develop new products.

For a time, nobody really knew what I did, she says. I just sort of cooked and took it to him. If he liked it, I would then work on the recipe and send it out to all the chefs. One of those recipes was a Yo-Yo custard cookie, a staple of Gohs childhood, and it appears as the first recipe in Sweet with roasted-rhubarb icing. Goh could still practice as a psychotherapist and treat patients while baking on the side  an ideal, sustainable arrangement. Then, one day, she casually mentioned the idea of writing a book together. Ottolenghi agreed, and that talk led to Sweet.

The book combines Ottolenghis signature sensibility  unexpected spices and obscure, exotic ingredients  with Gohs grounded techniques that are suited to home bakers. Take the Anzac biscuits, for example: Ottolenghi used Gohs base, a riff on a recipe thats popular in Australia, and added sultanas, honey, and orange zest. I start with a foundation, and then we talk and he puts the twists in it, she says. Like any true academic, Goh also doesnt hesitate to credit her sources  two Sweet recipes explicitly draw from Rose Levy Beranbaums Perfect Pound Cake. Im not going to be silly and start developing a pound cake from scratch when Ive got this basis to work from, Goh says. I dont think theres any shame in saying, I got this idea from another person. (She had the idea to elevate it with coffee and cardamom.)

Ultimately, I like simple things, Goh explains. Yotam is not bound by tradition like I am. If something is French, then, yes, this is the way you do it. All that time analyzing her family dinners plays a role in informing Gohs approach, too. Yotam and I constantly nudge each other. Whether its in psychology or baking, the foundation is important to me.
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Haiti - Politic : PM remarks on current issues





Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant invited as part of the 20th edition of the Mondays of the ress reported about the insecure situation "We are working to establish security in the country. This is the condition for us to attract foreign investment at home," adding "smugglers must start to change jobs, because we will not tolerate smuggling..."



Regarding education he recalled "despite our limited resources we managed to pay more than 2,800 teachers who had not received their salary for 3 years..."



At the social level he said "[...] the whole population has the right to have access to drinking water. The state will support the private sector in this way, as it began in Port-de-Paix. Even if there are dissatisfied people, we believe that the public has the right to have electricity. The Government is working to make this a reality in the near future..."



Regarding infrastructures he announced "the 18 communes of the border line will be rehabilitated, with particular emphasis on the 3 major border cities" without further details...



Regarding the political parties, the Prime Minister said Lafontant "Political parties are the basis of democracy. The Government has a special fund to help political parties. In Haiti we want to have strong political parties, with the active participation of the population..."



Concluding on corruption he said "[...] corruption will not be tolerated. Clear instructions have been given to Ministers, Directors General and Public Servants in this regard. Without special permission, state employees can not use state vehicles like they want..."



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Environment : Our Military Engineering Corps collect garbage !





As part of a partnership with the Ministry of Defense, the City of Arcahaie organized two days of cleaning and sanitation in downtown Arcahaie.



The soldiers of the Corps of Engineers cleaned the streets of the City Flag with shovels were picked up and removed 120 m3 of solid waste and leveled 1,000m2 of a land located a few steps from the public market of Arcahaie.



These soldiers also, with great humility, sensitized the population of Archeloise on the importance of the maintenance of urban spaces.



"Building a Defense Force according to the constitutional prescriptions for Haiti's development is now the priority mission," says the Ministry of Defense.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Environment : Bi-national strengthening of environmental cooperation





Tuesday, the Minister of the Environment Pierre Simon Georges and the Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources of the Dominican Republic, Francisco Dominguez Brito met in Port-au-Prince to strengthen binational environmental cooperation of border area.



At the end of the meeting, the two Ministers agreed on a draft joint declaration on the main political axes and common actions in favor of the environment. It was agreed to strengthen existing cooperation in the field of the environment through the active involvement of the two ministries, local authorities and civil society, especially youth organizations.



The two ministries intend, in particular, to strengthen cooperation in the fields of: the fight against climate change, the reduction of natural risks, reforestation, the fight against desertification and pollution, the integrated sustainable management of watersheds and resources in water, and finally environmental governance.



The question of the availability of water, both in quality and quantity, in the shared watersheds of the Artibonite River and Rio Macacia has attracted the attention of the two Ministries who have agreed to initiate immediate concrete initiatives, targeting the two watersheds.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : The Government yield to the pressures of customs officers





Following the truce accepted by the customs officers strikers https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22349-haiti-politics-customs-officers-accept-a-truce.html and in order to avoid a further national customs paralysis scheduled for October 23, if the demands were not satisfied, Jude Alix Patrick Solomon, the Minister of Economy signed two days before the truce deadline, two protocols of agreement with two entities of the General Administration of Doaunes (AGD): the Haitian customs officers think tank (CRDH) and the Haitian customs union association (ADH).



It should be remembered that customs officers demanded improvements in working conditions, demanded a significant wage increase and a special status in the same way as police officers, because of the importance of their mission and their responsibilities: fiscal, economic.



In this agreement, the Ministry of the Economy is committed to grant several non-wage benefits to various members of the staff of the AGD and a salary adjustment from next 1 October. In addition, the Ministry also undertook to finalize, within a period not exceeding 90 days, the specific status of the customs officer that will come into force, according to the agreement, at the beginning of the fiscal year 2018-2019. New status which will result in a specific salary increase over a period of 2 years.



For their part, the members of the two entities have separately pledged not to strike and to facilitate decisions to improve the working conditions of customs agents and staff of the AGD.



It took the customs agents after 8 days of ultimatum 2 days of strikes https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22268-haiti-economy-customs-officers-give-8-day-ultimatum-to-authorities.html followed by a truce https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22349-haiti-politics-customs-officers-accept-a-truce.html to yield the government and get satisfaction on most of their claims.



It should be remembered that customs revenue is the first item of the Treasury and that any paralysis of this sector has considerable consequences, both for the State and for the country's economic activities.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22349-haiti-politics-customs-officers-accept-a-truce.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22268-haiti-economy-customs-officers-give-8-day-ultimatum-to-authorities.html



PI/ HaitiLibre


















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OIV estimates near 10% drop in global wine production

By Lisa Riley

Global wine production for 2017 has been estimated at 246.7 million hl  an 8.2% drop compared to 2016 and one of the lowest levels for decades, according to the Organisation of Vine & Wine (OIV).

The OIV attributed the drop in production to unfavourable climate conditions citing frosts and drought, with production levels in Europe particular low.

The European decline was driven by historically low levels in the three main producing countries  Italy down 23% to 39.3 million hl and France by 19% at 36.7 million hl, with Spain recording a 15% decline to 33.5 million hl.

Germany also recorded low production at 8.1 million hl, with the only European countries to see a rise compared to 2016 being Portugal (6.6 mhl), Romania (5.3 million hl), Hungary (2.9 million hl) and Austria (2.4 million hl), albeit all from small platforms.

Although not enough to offset the overall decline, global production was boosted by the US (23.3 million hl), but this estimate could change as the potential consequences of the recent wildfires in California had not been taken into account, said Jean-Marie Aurand, General of the OIV.

In South America, production increased particularly in Argentina (11.8 mhl) and Brazil (3.4 mhl), while in Chile (9.5 mhl) vinified production remained low.

Australian production (13.9 mhl) grew and New Zealand production (2.9 mhl) maintained a good level despite a slight decline, with South Africa stable at 10.8 million hl.
Phelps donates $100,000 to Napa and Sonoma relief efforts

By Lisa Riley

Napa winery Joseph Phelps Vineyards has donated $100,000 through its Phelps Foundation to support fire relief efforts in the area following the devastating wildfires.

Phelps said the funds would be divided among the Napa Valley Community Foundations Disaster Relief Fund, the Redwood Credit Union Community Fund North Bay Fire Relief: Sonoma County and the Sonoma Humane Society.

Additionally, Joseph Phelps said it would match dollar-for-dollar donations put forth by its employees to these relief organizations.

Our hearts go out to those displaced by these horrific fires and we are committed to providing support in the healing and rebuilding of our community, said executive chairman, Bill Phelps.

Earlier this month, members of the UK drinks trade, including California specialist Roberson Wine, started rallying around to gather funds for immediate relief as well as lay the groundwork for recovery.

Multinationals have also reached out to California, including tech giants Apple, Google and Facebook, which have pledged a combined $2.5m to relief efforts.
North Korea Disaster Preparedness

News Release from Office of Rep Gene Ward October 24, 2017

What: Representative Gene Ward (R-17 - Hawaii Kai, Kalama Valley) will be hosting a town hall to discuss:

The origins and history of the North Korean Missile Crisis

The potential dangers faced by the Pacific Region and how this may or may not impact our community and state

How to prepare and know the best practices to follow if the unthinkable occurs

Hawaiis Generals and disaster experts from the State Department of Defense will be available for questions.

When: Thursday, November 9th

7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Where: Hahaione Elementary

595 Pepeekeo St.

Honolulu, HI 96825

Media Info: Parking will be located in the parking lot of Hahaione Elementary. Street parking will also be available.

Background: With North Koreas looming threat of a nuclear attack, it is important that in all aspects we are prepared. Representative Gene Ward has taken the imminent threats seriously, and has actively presented to a variety of civic and service groups interested in knowing how to best prepare for a nuclear attack.

(Rep. Gene Ward is the House Minority Leader Emeritus, Vietnam Veteran and former Peace Corps Volunteer who represents House District 17  Hawaii Kai, Kalama Valley)

Download Attachment: North Korea Disaster Preparedness Flyer

* * * * *

WINDWARD DISASTER PREPAREDNESS MEETING SCHEDULED FOR NOV. 14, 2017

News Release from Office of Rep Cynthia Theilen, October 25, 2017

Honolulu  A community meeting on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness is scheduled for Tuesday, November 14, 2017 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Kailua Intermediate School cafeteria. The school is located at 145 S. Kainalu Drive in Kailua.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) Executive Officer Toby Clairmont will give a presentation on disaster preparedness.

In addition, in light of recent concerns reading North Korean nuclear and missile tests, he will discuss what HI-EMA is doing to prepare our state for the nuclear threat, what efforts are being conducted between the counties and what steps it is taking to educate the public and our community. A question and answer period will follow the presentation.

Senator Laura Thielen, Representative Cynthia Thielen, and Representative Chris Lee, as well as the Kailua Neighborhood Board's Public Safety, Public Health and Civil Defense Committee, are co-sponsoring the meeting.

For more information, please call Senator Thielen's office at 587-8388.
High Court Dismisses Final Lawsuit Against Trump Travel Ban

by Dan McCue, Court House News, October 24, 2017

(CN)  The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the last case challenging President Donald Trumps controversial travel ban.

The court issued an order dismissing the lawsuit brought by the state of Hawaii challenging the 90-day travel ban on nationals from six majority-Muslim countries and the 120-day halt on the U.S. refugee resettlement program, claiming the case is now moot.

Because the 90-day ban expired on Sept. 24 and the 120-day ban expired on Tuesday, the court said there is no longer a live case or controversy.

In June, the court reinstated the ban after it was blocked by a lower court, though it exempted people traveling to the United States who could show they had a bona fide relationship to a person to entity in the U.S.

The court combined Hawaiis challenge with a case brought by the International Refugee Assistance Project, but cancelled the oral arguments scheduled for Oct. 10 after Trump issued new, targeted restrictions on travel from eight countries.

The court dismissed the International Refugee Assistance Project earlier this month because it only challenged the 90-day ban. In dismissing the second case, the court said it was expressing no view on the merits.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented from the court order tossing out the lower court rulings. She said she would have dismissed the case as improvidently granted.

* * * * *

Trump Set to Appeal Rejection of Latest Travel Ban

by Matthew Renda, Court House News, October 24, 2017

(CN)  The Trump administration will appeal the latest judicial block of the presidents travel ban, according to papers filed in federal court.

The Justice Department gave notice of its intent to appeal U.S. District Judge Derrick Watsons recently imposed preliminary injunction on the third version of the President Donald Trumps travel ban. The appeal will be heard by the Ninth Circuit, which has heard appeals relating to injunctions of the previous two versions of the executive order, both times upholding injunctions of the orders.

Trump had sought to bar travelers from six Muslim-majority nations plus North Korea and certain officials from Venezuela from entering the United States for an indefinite period before Watson awarded the state of Hawaii the injunction hours before the ban was to take effect.

Iran, Syria, Somalia, Chad, Yemen and Libya made up the targeted nations in the third version, with Chad taking Sudans place from the second edition.

Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin argued in court that the third version of the travel ban was the same thinly veiled attack on the Muslim religion and violated the U.S. Constitution along with sections of U.S. immigration law.

Watson said earlier this month that Hawaii had enough of a likelihood of prevailing on its claims of being unduly harmed by the travel ban that an injunction was warranted.

The White House called Watsons decision deeply flawed and said this version of the ban was carved out after diligent study of the immigration and national security policies of more than 150 countries around the world.

Chin and other organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union said the study was simply a guise to justify what is essentially an unconstitutional attack against residents from the six Muslim-majority nations.

The appeal comes on the same day the U.S. Supreme Court formally dismissed the appeal of the previous travel ban case, which it was scheduled to hear in early October.

Because those provisions of the order have expired by [their] own terms, the appeal no longer presents a live case or controversy, the court said in a summary disposition order issued Tuesday morning.

Days before oral argument was slated to begin for the second version of the travel ban, the Trump administration announced its third iteration.

Many legal analysts said at the time that the inclusion of North Korea and Venezuela could thwart potential legal challenges that cited the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment. But Watsons injunction involved only the parts the third travel ban dealing with the Muslim-majority nations, allowing the parts relating to Venezuela and North Korea to stay in place.
Manage their time well. Its a scarce resource, so it always makes sense to spend it wisely. They do not have to do everything. They should be able to tell which tasks are not essential and which are more impactful than others.

Delegate. They should know which tasks require their expertise and which do not. Know the strengths of each team member and make good use for them. Learn to say no  if they feel overwhelmed, they should be able to decline or ask for help.

Establish boundaries. There are times when work is demanding and they do have to stay late or work extra hard. But these are the exception, not the rule. Remind your workers why they are working in the first place  to support themselves or their families, and to feel fulfilled, empowered or professionally satisfied.

loyers like workers with strong work ethic. They are assets to the organisation. They can be relied upon to the tough work and see the company through during challenging times.Unfortunately, working well does not equate to working too much. Hard work pays off, sure. But an all-hours approach to the job where one is available 24/7 can have a serious impact on ones work-life balance, says Megan Alexander, General Manager of Robert Half New Zealand.Fatigued exhausted employees would be of little use to the organisation, eventually. Heres how to spot the workaholics in your team  so you can go tell them to relax, before its too late:Punctuality is a good trait  it shows commitment and devotion. But longer hours at work may also mean that the workload has become all about quantity over quantity. Perhaps they can work smarter and get more done in less time?Every person has to have some passion outside of the office. Do you hear your workers talking about what interests them? Always making work a priority over personal life can have serious negative consequences. Dont wait for these to rear their ugly heads.Some employee stress is reassuring for employers  it tells them that workers are not complacent and always on their toes. But if workers are in a perennial state of worry, even when they are not supposed to be thinking of work, then this can be bad for productivity and for their health.They cant take 30 minutes off to eat their lunch?Every professional needs to give their brain a scheduled rest. And then, after resting and supposedly enjoying a good meal, brain faculties should be at their optimal state again.Its good that your employees are ready to respond to email. But it is unreasonable to expect them to keep checking their inbox even when they are not supposed to be working. Youre paying them to work regular hours, not 24/7.If your employees are curt with their colleagues who want to leave the office a little early or take time off to work from home, it is a sign that they are exceeding limits  and expect everybody else to do the same.If it is not work-related, its not worth talking about.Now that youve identified them, heres what you can do  help them:
inesses should offer paid parental leave to employees who have lost a child to stillbirth, an Australian foundation said.Stillbirth Foundation General Manager Victoria Bowring said employers should review their corporate policies to send the message that they recognise all births, including stillbirths.Six babies are stillborn every day in Australia. Its far too common, she said.Despite the common occurrence, however, employer-funded parental leave policies are not clear about the support they offer to parents of a stillborn child.In addition to the grief of organising a funeral instead of a nursery, if you have a stillbirth, you also get the normal postpartum and other physical symptoms of birth  milk coming and drying up, bleeding, soreness and depression, Bowring said.All these need to be recognised in parental leave policies of businesses, she said, given that they are often written in the sole context of caring for a baby.Some managers might interpret paid leave as not applicable to stillbirth despite best intentions of the employer, Bowring said. This ambiguity needs to be removed.The foundation said that having clear policies means that the employer recognises stillbirth as a social issue.A parent is legally required to register the birth of a stillborn baby and yet also has to contend with organising a funeral for their own child, a burden that no parent should face, said Bowring.Some parents, however, may want to get out of the house and get back to work at once  there should also be a policy for this.This is about making it clear to everyone that it is the parents choice, not anyone elses, as to when they are ready to return to work, Bowring said.Support is needed more than ever after a stillbirth.Bowring said the move would also bring employer-funded paid parental leave in line with the government-funded paid parental leave schemes.
lier in the year, it was revealed that the success rate of Australian employers in unfair dismissal cases has dropped below 40% for the first time.Indeed, unfair dismissal claims are consistently the most common claim year on year.Every three and a half minutes an unfair dismissal claim is made against an employer - thats 127 a day.Some interesting cases HRD has reported this year include the employee who was reinstated after being dismissed over the phone , Chevron Australia being told to reinstate an employee who made a racist slur and the offensive and vulgar Facebook post which was not a valid reason for termination. Ed Mallett, managing director of Employsure, said unfair dismissal claims have become a growth industry of sorts.With options available to employees like unions, and advocacy groups, and particularly with the rise of no-win-no-fee lawyers, its no surprise the employer success rate in unfair dismissal cases are dipping, said Mallett.Lodging an unfair dismissal case is easier than lodging a tax return.In the last financial year, the Fair Work Commission lodged a total of 33,071 applications with unfair dismissals being the most common application more than double that of any other.Mallett added that ending an employment relationship is never easy for both the employee and employer.The truth is that it is no different to any other relationship break up. It is industrial divorce, he said.Employers must first ensure they understand and comply with the regulatory guidelines or risk a claim for unfair dismissal, added Mallett.Its critical that the right process in line with the Fair Work Act is followed to the letter or employers run the risk of an unfair dismissal claim, he said.If in any doubt, employers should get advice in advance of taking any steps to terminate employment. This is not a risk restricted to big business. All employers are potentially liable.We hear from employers all the time that it is hard to understand what is actually required. The complexities of the Fair Work Act can leave employers exposed.Employers had experienced a success rate of 50-60% since 2003, peaking under WorkChoices but dropping in 2009 when the Fair Work Act was introduced.However, arbitrated unfair dismissal claims found to be "fair" or in the employer's favour fell from 46% to 39.6% in 2015-16, according to Fair Work reports.Since 2013, the rate has fallen below 50%, reaching 48% in 2013-14 and 46% in 2014-15.During the same period, appeals of unfair dismissals almost doubled, from 79 in 2013-14 to 139 in 2015-16.
The Trump administrations opening salvo in launching its America First trade policy was to pull out from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)  a move that many assumed effectively killed this 12-nation trade agreement comprising 40 percent of world GDP.

The administrations single-minded pursuit of unilateralism in trade policy  as seen in the withdrawal from the TPP and seeking to rewrite NAFTA  is a recipe for disaster. The world is moving on and, ultimately, Americans will be the losers.

In rejecting a multilateral agreement such as the TPP, President Donald Trump heralded the benefits of bilateralism: one-on-one deals where the United States can leverage its overwhelming market power to win fast results at the negotiation table. And yet, that expectation has not panned out. The TPP project lives on and there are no prospects for a string of U.S.-led bilateral trade agreements to materialize any time soon.

The real driving force of the Trump administrations trade policy is not the rejection of multilateralism in favor of bilateralism. Rather, it boils down to ensuring that the United States enjoys near free reign in reinstating tariffs for specific products, changing the terms of existing trade agreements, and weakening dispute settlement mechanisms at the regional and global level that could be used to tame U.S. protectionism.

This much is clear from developments in trade policy during the first nine months of the Trump presidency.

First, there is heightened reliance on domestic U.S. trade laws that provide the executive branch with powers to restrict imports: stepped up anti-dumping investigations; the revival of Section 301  where the United States reserves the right to punish what it deems are unfair trading practices of others; and the little-used Section 232, which uses national security grounds to limit (steel and aluminum) imports, notably steel and aluminum.

Second, there are demands in trade renegotiations that aim to weaken legal strictures on U.S. behavior; for example, eliminating the North America Free Trade Agreements Chapter 19, which gives member countries the ability to establish panels to review anti-dumping actions, and the idea of making NAFTAs investment arbitration system optional.

Third, there are actions to weaken the World Trade Organizations dispute settlement system by stalling the appointment of new members of the appellate body until some undefined reforms take place. Triggering tit-for-tat retaliation or undermining the WTO are clear and present dangers of unilateralism.

But the United States is also going it alone in one more fundamental way: its choice of trade negotiation strategy.

The Trump administration is following a rearview mirror approach to negotiations, looking backward by reopening existing trade agreements. Hence, a redo of NAFTA and amendments to the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS). Constructive engagement with our partners to modernize trade agreements or ensure their faithful implementation is a worthwhile endeavor. But the Trump administration is setting up these renegotiations to fail by doubling down on eliminating bilateral trade deficits as the central objective of the talks  despite the fact that the trade balances reflect larger macroeconomic forces and are not an indicator of U.S. economic health.

This misguided negotiation mandate has led the U.S. trade representative to toy with NAFTA proposals that are non-starters for Canada and Mexico or other stakeholders in Congress and the business community. For example, the trade representative is considering a sunset clause to phase out NAFTA in five years if all three parties do not move to renew it. Another clause insists on a new requirement of 50 percent U.S. content in automobiles, despite the goal of NAFTA to nurture an integrated and competitive regional production platform that awards consumers the best products at the lowest cost.

While the United States is trying to change the terms of its existing trade agreements  in ways where there is no domestic consensus or partner buy-in  governments in Asia and elsewhere are placing their bets on a new crop of large-scale, multiparty trade pacts: the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership comprising 16 nations in East Asia including China; the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement; and a TPP 2.0.

The remaining eleven TPP member nations are engaged in a concerted effort to relaunch the project with the objective of securing an agreement in principle at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economic leaders summit meeting in Vietnam next month. This is certainly a tall order given the profound impact of Americas exit from the agreement. However, the negotiators have wisely chosen a formula  temporal suspension of some of the TPP disciplines until the U.S. returns to the agreement  that allows them to reconcile their two most fundamental objectives: to persuade reluctant parties to stay on despite diminished economic gains by rebalancing concessions and to encourage the United States to come back by keeping the option of reverting to the original agreement.

How, when, or if ever the United States will rejoin the TPP is anyones guess. But U.S. leadership has already taken a toll. Some of Americas closest partners and allies are now moving forward in an effort to create market opportunities that do not include America. The nations losses are bound to multiply. If NAFTA unravels, American farmers and ranchers will lose market access to some of their top clients. Factory workers will be made redundant as well. By one estimate, just in the auto parts sector, a U.S. pullout from NAFTA would put 50,000 jobs in jeopardy.

Unilateralism is not a recipe for American success; rather it makes Americans losers.

Mireya Solis is a senior fellow in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution, where she is a co-director of the Center for East Asia Policy Studies and holds the Philip Knight Chair in Japan Studies. Her main research interests include Japanese politics, political economy, and foreign policy. Her most recent book, Dilemmas of a Trading Nation: Japan and the United States in the Evolving Asia-Pacific Order, was published by the Brookings Institution Press in August 2017.
Helsingin Sanomat has reported that several companies are considering pulling their products from the shelves of J. Karkkainen, a chain of low-cost department stores headquartered in Ylivieska, due to the alleged neo-Nazi ties of its managing director, Juha Karkkainen.

Helkama, a group of companies best known to consumers for its bicycles, is also likely to discontinue its co-operation with the department store chain, Tero Valtonen, the director of operations at Helkama, confirmed in an interview with Uusi Suomi on Tuesday.

At this point I can say were indeed considering it seriously and will very likely end the co-operation, he stated. Helkama as a traditional family-owned business naturally doesnt tolerate discrimination, intimidation or any kind of extremist thinking and wants absolutely nothing to with such activities.

Valtonen reminded that the decision to discontinue the co-operation will not be without its financial repercussions.

Itll naturally create a hole in our budget for the next term, but another big question is where will we draw the line when it comes to corporate values, he stated to Uusi Suomi.

Helsingin Sanomat on Sunday published a report detailing the long-running ties of Juha Karkkainen to the Nordic Resistance Movement. Karkkainen, the newspaper wrote, has collaborated with members of the far-right organisation for several years, was convicted of ethnic agitation in 2014, and gave editorial control of his freely distributed magazine, Magneettimedia, to the organisation in 2015.

Many domestic consumer product manufacturers subsequently announced they are re-considering their co-operation with J. Karkkainen.

Fazer, for example, issued a public statement indicating that it will discontinue the distribution of its products to the department stores immediately if the retailer, its main owner or senior executives do anything to violate human dignity.

Roleff Krakstrom, the chief executive of Moomin Characters, told Helsingin Sanomat that the situation is problematic as licensed, Moomin-branded products are manufactured and retailed in the department stores by, for example, Fiskars. Maija Taimi, the head of corporate communications and corporate responsibility at Fiskars, stressed to the newspaper that the consumer goods manufacturer renounces any unethical activity and expects its retail partners to do the same.

Finlayson and Otava ended their co-operation with J. Karkkainen already in 2015.

Karkkainen responded to the outrage by accusing the newspaper of orchestrating a smear campaign. The outrage, he estimated, is simply a result of differences of opinion between him and the editors-in-chiefs of Helsingin Sanomat.

The Finnish media is trying to hurt a company that is employing hundreds of Finns by orchestrating a historically unprecedented, systematic and years-long smear campaign, even though the company is not suspected of violating any laws or treating its stakeholders poorly, reads a public statement signed by Karkkainen.

He has been reticent, however, about his alleged ties to the Nordic Resistance Movement.

J. Karkkainen operates department stores in Ii, Oulu, Ylivieska, Jyvaskyla and Lahti and is constructing a new department store in Rovaniemi.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Emmi Korhonen  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
Enola is back with a new adventure and she's getting some help from Sherlock and others to solve her latest mystery. A new trailer and ...

Collider just interviewed Director Chad Stahelski and he gave an update on the new Highlander film in the works. He also talked about c...

There are always fun moments we don't get to see when a movie is in production. Netflix just released the BTS from Enola Holmes 2 . Enjoy!

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A convicted criminal who led gardai on an eight-hour manhunt across the city armed with a machine gun is expected to face at least 10 serious charges over the rampage.

Joseph Rafferty (37) remains in custody after being arrested in the CityWest area following an all-out pursuit involving more than 50 armed and unarmed gardai.

During his crime spree, he hijacked six vehicles and assaulted two people, while also causing injuries to a number of road users.

The Herald has learned that gardai will look to bring at least 10 charges against Rafferty, the most serious of these being false imprisonment, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment upon conviction.

Quizzed

Other charges which will be considered by the DPP include the possession of a firearm, possession of drugs, hijacking, dangerous driving, assault, endangerment, hit and run, driving without insurance and driving without a licence.

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He was last night still being quizzed by detectives at Tallaght Garda Station.

Rafferty is currently serving a lengthy road ban after being disqualified from driving last year.

He was previously sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in an armed robbery, during which his accomplice was stabbed to death.

He has more than 20 previous convictions here and in the UK, including an eight-year sentence from Oxford Crown Court for robbery and carjacking, three years for criminal damage with a petrol bomb and seven years for four robberies, both from Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, in 2000 and 1999.

Detectives are still attempting to establish the timeline of events, with officers unsure of Rafferty's whereabouts for around five hours during his crime rampage.

One line of inquiry is that the thug was sleeping in an offside location during his crime spree.

It is also understood that he has connections in the Clondalkin area, and it will be probed if he was in contact with any persons known to him living there.

Members of the elite Emergency Response Unit (ERU) were drafted in to help in the capture of Rafferty.

The crime spree began following a domestic dispute at his partner's home in the Brookfield area of Tallaght.

He stole the woman's Audi car and drove around the Jobstown area, but crashed the car in the Russell Square area a short time later.

It is understood that he collided with a van driver, who required hospital treatment overnight.

Rafferty then hijacked a Citroen Berlingo van, which he abandoned in the Whitestown Way.

He then went to a house in the Watergate area of Tallaght, not far from The Square shopping centre, where at 6.50am he rang the doorbell.

Ten minutes later, Rafferty drove into the forecourt of the Topaz filling station at ninth lock near Clondalkin in a Renault stolen from the house.

"He came in and was very agitated and aggressive," said a filling station employee.

"He bought Club Orange and Lucozade, as well as pastries and sweets, and paid for them and then left."

Rafferty abandoned the Renault in a car park on the Naas Road and then stole a silver Volvo car with a 06 MO registration.

Within minutes there were reports that he had ditched the Volvo and stolen a blue Subaru car at a dealership.

Marked and unmarked garda cars, as well as members of the ERU and Armed Support Unit (ASU) poured into the area around Tallaght and CityWest, as the garda helicopter hovered overhead.

Then Rafferty hijacked a black Mercedes car and gardai chased it in the direction of CityWest shopping centre.

The pursuit came to a dramatic end at the shopping centre when Rafferty was arrested following a scuffle with detectives shortly after 2pm.

A firearm was also recovered nearby and is being technically examined by gardai.

Horrible

Meanwhile, the man who was attacked by Rafferty after he broke into his family home in Tallaght to steal their car has said he hopes the gunman will be off the streets for a long time.

"I wish no malice to any man but people like him should be off the streets," he said.

"I hope, if he gets a sentence it's for 20 years, because the public has to be safe from people like him. Drugs and what they do are horrible."

The man answered his doorbell at 6.50am on Monday morning to see Rafferty standing on the other side of the porch brandishing a machine gun.

"I couldn't speak more highly of the gardai. The two that were in my house on Monday were true professionals. They all did well to catch him without any more injuries," he added.
KINGSPORT, Tenn.  Curtis Harris, an outlet gas manager for Airgas, asked a group of fourth-graders crowded around a table to take a deep breath.

The air they had just inhaled, Harris explained to them, contained nitrogen, which is used in all kinds of amazing science, like flash-freezing fruit. To wit: Harris took a banana out of a cooler of liquid nitrogen and slammed it into a nail jutting out of a two-by-four. The banana hit as hard as a hammer.

You think your dad could make you a treehouse at home with a banana? he asked the group from Abingdon Elementary School, to a round of giggles.

Harris demonstration was part of the Northeast Tennessee Section of the American Chemical Societys annual Celebration of Chemistry for 4th Graders. About 1,400 students will filter through Eastman Chemical Co.s Toy F. Reid Employee Center to learn more about STEM: science, technology, education and math.

The event, which coincides with National Chemistry Week, began Tuesday and ends today.

Harris has been showcasing the banana experiment for the last 15 years. He said watching the kids learn is a joy.

Theyre just ready to learn, he said of fourth-graders. Science is very important to them at this stage of their life because theyre so receptive.

At another station, a group of chemistry students from Emory & Henry College were showing groups the process of chemiluminescence, which  to put it simply  is what makes glow sticks light up on camping trips and at concerts.

Kelsey Smith, a senior chemistry student at E&H, explained to a different group from Abingdon Elementary School why glow sticks glow when theyre cracked: luminol mixes with hydrogen peroxide and gives off light.

Smith and a few peers poured luminol and hydrogen peroxide into a tube shaped like the letters E&H and then asked the kids to shout, Make it glow.

With the lights turned off, the letters glowed bright blue, drawing oohs from the kids.

Shawn Dougherty is the National Chemistry Week coordinator for the Northeast Tennessee Section of the American Chemical Society. She said the event is important on a local level because many of the kids who attend go on to work in the local science community.

The purpose of the event is to help kids understand that chemistry and science helps them every day  to really help them appreciate the value of curiosity and that curiosity is really the secret to being a great scientist, Dougherty said.

Twenty-four schools participate in the event over the two-day stretch. Companies like Eastman Technology, Airgas, Wilmad-LabGlass, Swagelok and VWR International created exhibits for the experience.

Cassady Brooks, 9, a student at High Point Elementary School, said one her favorite parts of the day was learning about rocks.

I learned that you can make your own rocks out of borax, she said.

Another part of science Cassady likes: explosions.

Her mom, Angie Brooks, a parent helper for the day, said she thinks the day is a great way to spark kids interest in science.

Seeing all of this different cool stuff that they can do at home  I hope it gets them more interested in science, Brooks said. I never got to do anything like this.

Brooks said her daughter has expressed interest in being a trauma surgeon or an emergency room nurse.

Shell definitely need to know her science.
BRISTOL, Va.  Dozens of police officers and top law enforcement officials from across Virginia will spend the next two days in the Twin City taking part in the annual Virginia Law Enforcement Accreditation Coalition (VALEAC) Conference.

This years conference is the first held west of Roanoke, and law enforcement will take part in training programs and lectures. The states accreditation board will also meet during the conference as a number of agencies from across the state are up for reaccreditation.

We see the conference almost as like one big brainstorming session, said Maj. Harold Heatley with the Tazewell County Sheriffs Office. Were providing training, networking and, most importantly, an opportunity to come together and exchange ideas with our agencies.

The states accreditation agency has created an accreditation manual that features 191 standards that law enforcement agencies should follow, ranging from administrative duties to use of force. State standards are set in line with national standards, according to Heatley.

Energizing would be the best word to describe the conference, Heatley said. During the conference, we have breakout sessions planned and different tracks for various folks as well.

Lt. Clay Robinette, conference chairman and accreditation officer at the Bristol Virginia Police Department, said the accreditation aspect of the conference is the most important to him.

It sets a department at a much higher level, Robinette said. For a department to be able to function at that level and successfully regulate itself, accreditation is so important. You have to have checks and balances in terms of operation and be able to know how to operate quickly and effectively.

The conference started with the opening ceremonies, including remarks from Chief John Austin, a recorded message from U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, and another welcome message to the attendees from Del. Israel OQuinn, R-Bristol.

Its amazing to have all these folks come together who might not have gotten the chance to otherwise come to Southwest Virginia, Heatley said. Were hoping to make Bristol a regular stop.

The conference will wrap up Thursday, and during the evening, attendees will also have the chance to tour Bristol Motor Speedway and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.

More information about the law enforcement accreditation process in Virginia can be found online by visiting www.dcjs.virginia.gov/law-enforcement/programs/vlepsc.
ABINGDON, Va.  Washington County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved CenturyLink to become the countys partner in the Last-Mile Funding Project at Tuesday nights meeting.

Vice Chairman Saul Hernandez made the motion to approve CenturyLink to partner with Washington County to apply for the Last-Mile Broadband Grant provided by the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission. Supervisor Phillip McCall seconded the motion, and the board approved it 7-0.

The Last-Mile Funding Project is designed to provide unserved areas access to broadband speeds of at least 10 Mbps [megabits per second] download and 1 Mbps upload, according to the meetings public packet. ... The objective is to serve as many project areas as possible rather than providing superior service to a few areas.

The county sent out a Request for Proposal [RFP] for the Last-Mile Broadband Private-Public Partnership to seek out one or more internet service providers that could partner with the county to draft and submit applications to the Tobacco Commission for the grant, according to the public packet.

If granted, the Commissions grant will provide one-time financial assistance to supplement construction costs by private sector broadband service providers that are in partnership with local units of government that will extend internet services to areas that are presently underserved, according to the public packet.

It is not the countys plan to spend any local dollars in this situation, County Administrator Jason Berry said.

The project will cost approximately $660,000, Berry said. The county is asking for $330,000 from the Commission through the grant application. CenturyLink will pay the remaining costs of the project if the county receives the grant, Berry said.

The project will benefit 725 homes, the real target homes, as stated in the RFP, Berry said.

CenturyLink and the county will work on a joint application submission to meet the Commissions Nov. 15 grant deadline. The application will be reviewed sometime in January 2018, Berry said.

If the grant is approved, then the county will enter a more formal agreement with CenturyLink, Berry said.

Chairman Randy Pennington said that the partnership give more citizens access to internet service.

Its the last mile, Pennington said. It will give citizens who either have no service or poor service better service, and hopefully it will grow.

The supervisors also unanimously approved the transfer of the Cable Television Franchise Ordinance from Bristol Virginia Utilities to Sunset Digital Communications Inc.

Hernandez made the motion to approve the transfer from BVU to Sunset. Supervisor James Baker seconded the motion, and the board approved it 7-0.

In other business, Supervisor Vernon Smith has received complaints regarding an abandoned home on Rim Road in Abingdon, Virginia. The concern is large rats have infested the abandoned home and are moving into other homes in the neighborhood, according to the meetings public packet. There have also been reports of property damage.

Smith requested that the item be placed on the agenda to allow for comments from the citizens.

During the comment session, Dickie Kiser said that the abandoned property has been a continual problem.

According to Kiser, the property has been vacant for 30 years, and the owner comes by about once a month in the summer to check on it.

Kiser and his wife own a residence right beside the area but have since moved diagonally, just out the street. Over the years that the couple lived in the first home, they had approximately three or four instances of rats in that first residence.

Even after moving, the problem still persists, Kiser said.

That thing is a rat hotel over there, Kiser said.
The Washington County, Virginia, government is accepting sealed bids for 911 Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support after it revoked the Glade Spring Volunteer Life Saving Crews service area.

During its regular meeting Tuesday, the Washington County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution to revoke the Primary Service Area from Glade Spring Volunteer Life Saving crew.

This was due to a lack of provision of Advanced Life Support (ALS) coverage over an extended period of time and no clear prospect for improving ALS delivery, county officials said in a news release on Wednesday.

Since Jan. 1, 2017, the Glade Spring Volunteer Life Saving Crew has been available as ALS only 4.6 percent of the time, the release states. Over the past six months, neighboring EMS agencies have assisted the Glade Spring crew with 111 calls. During that time, the county said assisting agencies have left their primary response areas to provide assistance.

Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Estes said the crew also did not have any members trained in the ALS discipline.

Washington County is committed to ensuring emergency medical services are maintained for its citizens throughout the entire county, including the Glade Spring area, the release states. The Board of Supervisors has authorized the county administration to conduct an emergency procurement for a contract with an emergency medical service provider duly permitted by Washington County.

The county is now accepting sealed bids from qualified vendors to provide 911 Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support emergency medical transportation service 24/7 as the first due agency in the geographic service area of Glade Spring.

Sealed bids must be received no later than 12 p.m. on Oct. 27, the release states. The bid package is available on Washington Countys website, www.washcova.com. Questions concerning the invitation for bid will be answered if they are directed to kwilliams@washcova.com, received before 5 p.m., Oct. 26, and identified with the subject line Question regarding EMS IFB, the release states.

Until a new provider is selected, surrounding agencies will respond to emergency calls in Glade Spring.

A criminal investigation is also underway in connection with the Glade Spring Life Saving Crew, the Washington County Virginia Sheriffs Office confirmed late Wednesday.

We are currently working two misdemeanor thefts from the Glade Spring Life Saving Crew, Maj. Byron Ashbrook said.

Estes said he would not comment on the criminal investigation, but he affirmed that the countys decision was based on the crews lack of training in ALS.
LINCOLNTON  The parent of a 14-year-old boy has been issued a criminal summons in connection with an accidental shooting that left a 15-year-old boy injured Sunday evening, according to a Lincoln County Sheriffs Office press release.

Jerry Lee McVey, 49, of Denver, was served a criminal summons by a Lincoln County Sheriffs Office detective for one misdemeanor count of storage of firearms to protect minors.

A criminal summons must be directed to the person summoned to appear and must be delivered to and may be served by any law-enforcement officer having authority and territorial jurisdiction to make an arrest for the offense charged, according to North Carolina General Statute 15A-301.

Detectives say the incident stemmed from when five teens were playing a game they described as trying to get through the door into the mobile home.

A 15-year-old boy was entering the mobile home when a 14-year-old boy fired a shot from a 12 gauge shotgun, with the blast grazing the 15-year-olds chest from about three feet away, according to the release.

Lincoln County Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to Carolinas HealthCare System in Lincolnton, where he was treated for his injuries and released to his parents.

There were no adults at the residence when the incident occurred, according to the release.
HICKORY  Emergency management officials still were assessing damage late Tuesday while crews cleared roadways in the aftermath of Monday afternoons severe storm.

The National Weather Service has not confirmed a tornado or tornadoes in Catawba or Burke counties as of press time, however the severe weather downed trees and created widespread power outages.

The NWS survey team from Greer, S.C., viewed damage in Cherokee and Spartanburg counties in South Carolina and said both places were hit by EF-2 tornadoes, according to The Associated Press.

A NWS survey team is present in the Hickory area and is still assessing damage.

Damage in Hickory

Two hangars at the Hickory Regional Airport were damaged by the storms.

The airport is open and functioning and, to my knowledge, flights are not being affected, Hickory Communications Specialist Sarah Prencipe said via email.

Several traffic lights also were out, with police officers directing traffic on U.S. Highway 321.

When traffic lights are out and there are no officials directing traffic, the North Carolina General Statutes dictates all drivers are to treat the intersection like an all-way stop.

Catawba County Communications and Marketing Director Amy McCauley said in a phone interview Tuesday evening that officials were still assessing the damage.

Both Catawba County and the City of Hickory declared states of emergency Tuesday morning.

In northwest Hickory, city crews were out late Tuesday morning attempting to remove obstructions from the roadways.

Crew leader David Sloope said the biggest challenges the crews encountered were downed power lines.

Weve got power lines down everywhere, and we cant move debris knowing that the power lines are hot, Sloope said.

When the crews encounter power lines, they must wait for Duke Energy workers to turn off the power before they can clear debris.

The crew went to a few different obstructed locations only to find they were unable to clear the trees because of downed lines.

The crew did eventually find an area they could clear, and after taking a break for lunch, Sloope and his crew returned to remove the debris.

Although the northwest part of Hickory was the hardest hit, there were crews working in every quadrant of the city, Sloope said.

Workers were out clearing roadways until about 1 a.m. Tuesday, at which time they had to quit because the conditions became too dark and dangerous, Sloope said.

Widespread impact

A release from Gov. Roy Coopers office included information about the nature of the damage in Catawba County and the surrounding counties.

Dozens of homes, including manyin the Grace Chapel area, were damaged in Caldwell County, according to the release.

The Blue Ridge Piedmont Chapter of the American Red Cross is operating a shelter at South Caldwell High School, according to a release from the chapter.

McCauley said the shelter also is open to Catawba County residents.

In Burke County, multiple buildings...in the Hildebran area were damaged, according to the release.

About 10 to 15 homes were affected in Alexander County as well, according to the release.

Though the overall number of power outages has been decreasing throughout the day, many in the area were still left without power heading into Tuesday night.

There were 19,005 outages in Catawba, Caldwell, Burke and Alexander counties around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, with 9,981 outages in Catawba County alone, according to the outage map on Duke Energys website.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, Duke Energy reported more than 54,000 customers were still without electricity. Of that total, 46,299 were in North Carolina and 7,908 were in South Carolina, according to The Associated Press.

The projected time for restoration of power was Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. for Caldwell County and Wednesday at 11:45 p.m. in Burke County.

There was still no estimated time of power restoration for Catawba and Alexander counties because the damage was still being assessed late Tuesday.

Health and safety

Prolonged power outages raise concerns about the safety of food left in refrigerators.

Food that still has ice crystals or is less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit should be safe to eat, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website.

Food should be safe if the power is out for up to 4 hours and the refrigerator door has not been opened.

For more information on food safety following power outages, visit www.foodsafety.gov/keep/index.html.

City of Hickory crews would come around as soon as they could to collect yard waste and giving the public tips on how to handle that waste, according to a release sent Tuesday.

Residents are advised to place yard waste in the open, but not in the street, and away from vehicles, storm drains and low branches and power lines.

The city asks that residents cut limbs into segments less than 6 feet in length and that all branches be arranged with their butts to the curb.

Leaves, clippings and twigs should be put in either clear plastic bags or 32-gallon cans with the lid open or removed.
VALDESE- The Blue Ridge Piedmont Chapter of the American Red Cross has opened a shelter at the Valdese Recreation Center.

Emergency management officials asked that a shelter be opened, according to a Red Cross press release.

A shelter the Red Cross had been operating at South Caldwell High School closed Wednesday morning, Red Cross Regional Communications Officer Jerri Jameson said in a phone interview.

The shelter in Caldwell County served four people on Monday night and one on Tuesday night, Jameson said.
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The Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Mike Pompeo has warned that North Korea could well be just months away from developing the ability to hit the American mainland with nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). The country has already carried out six nuclear tests since 2006 the latest being in September this year. Pyongyang claims the last was a hydrogen bomb but this is doubted by experts.

In parallel with developing its nuclear weapons capability, North Korea has also been conducting a series of missile tests of different range. It has tested ICBMs with a range that could strike the Pacific coast of the US though these are not yet of operational quality. There appear to be problems relating to the missiles re-entry into the earths atmosphere since in some tests the missiles have been seen to burn up and disintegrate upon re-entry. However, it is a matter of time before these technological glitches are fixed. The development of nuclear weapons and delivery capabilities has proceeded despite strict economic sanctions imposed on the country including by China, its main ally.

China has refrained from applying an economic squeeze on a scale which might lead to a regime collapse in North Korea with all its negative and unpredictable consequences. China is unlikely to accept a situation where it may be inundated with large number of refugees escaping political and economic collapse. Nor would it accept the possible incorporation of the North into South Korea resulting in a much stronger neighbour at its doorstep. Even if South Korea were to exit its military alliance with the US, it would still be difficult for China to accept a reunified Korea. Furthermore, would the South inherit and retain the Norths nuclear weapons after reunification? If this were to happen the security situation in North-East Asia would undergo a dramatic transformation.

The US has been unable to prevent North Korea from developing a nuclear arsenal which may now number more than a dozen weapons. The focus has therefore shifted to preventing the country from acquiring a delivery capability that extends to the US homeland. But this stance of the US is not reassuring to its allies, South Korea and Japan, who are covered by the US nuclear umbrella. North Korea already has the capability to strike these two countries with fully tested missiles of a shorter range. The US was unable or unwilling to use coercive force to prevent it. If it is now willing to risk using force to prevent North Korea from graduating to a capability to strike the US itself then it may be inferred that the assurance to its allies is of lesser importance. The deployment of the THAD anti-missile system in South Korea and Japan offers some protection but then it has brought China and Russia into the equation since they believe their own nuclear deterrent has been rendered less effective as a result.

North Korea has already crossed the threshold in terms of having a credible nuclear arsenal and a reasonably sophisticated delivery system with intercontinental range. Therefore, the only option short of war to respond to this threat would be to build and deploy an effective and credible deterrent against it. The deployment of THAD would appear to tacitly accept this proposition. But Donald Trump has drawn a line at the acquisition of a delivery capability that threatens the US itself. His National Security Advisor, General HR McMaster said recently

There are those who have said what about accept and deter? Accept and deter is unacceptable and so this puts us in a situation where we are in a race to resolve this short of military action.

The American assumption appears to be that China, given its core interests in maintaining the status quo in the Korean Peninsula will eventually use its coercive power to defang the North Korean political regime rather than risk a US attack leading to a wider war in the region. This is mostly wishful thinking. The alternative of a diplomatic solution seems unlikely since the North Korean regime sees its survival linked to its acquiring a nuclear deterrent. The fate of Iraq and Libya which gave up their pursuit of nuclear weapons on assurances of regime survival but ended up as targets for military attack is a cautionary tale much cited by Pyongyang. And with the Iran nuclear deal being in jeopardy could the Americans be trusted to deliver on commitments?

What is likely to happen? Only a massive military operation may give the assurance that North Korea has been deprived of its nuclear and missile capabilities but in the bargain there might be consequences far more dangerous than a nuclear armed Pyongyang. Any rational calculation would lead to reconciling with a nuclear armed North Korea and seek to deter it from using or threatening to use nuclear weapons. It is possible that Japan and even South Korea may decide that becoming nuclear armed states themselves may be the only effective means of ensuring their security. These developments will fundamentally alter the security situation in Asia-Pacific in unpredictable ways. On balance, the emergence of these two countries friendly to India as nuclear weapon states may not be unwelcome and may seriously limit Chinas room for manoeuvre. There will be risks and dangers but preferable to a war on the Korean peninsula.

Shyam Saran is a former foreign secretary and is senior fellow, CPR

The views expressed are personal
Napoleon Bonaparte and Auguste Rodin are both household names in their own right. But a bust of the French emperor created by the master sculptor faded into oblivion in an American town, only to be discovered by chance. The white marble statue was certainly visible in the meeting room of the borough hall of Madison  a municipality of 16,000 people in New Jersey.

In fact for some 80 years, the bust was positioned on a pedestal, carelessly leaned on during meetings. But in 2014, a 22-year-old art history student recruited to take inventory of the buildings artworks, came across the bust and noticed a signature that read A. Rodin in the sculptors immediately recognisable style.

Intrigued by the discovery, Mallory Mortillaro consulted experts and dug into archives, determined to confirm whether it was indeed a genuine Rodin. She was eventually pointed in the direction of the Paris-based Comite Auguste Rodin, the leading authority on the father of modern sculpture.

And the mystery was solved: in the groups collection of documents was a photograph showing Rodin posing with the bust, which was believed to have been lost. In September 2015, Rodin expert Jerome Le Blay, author of the artists catalogue raisonne, or descriptive inventory, travelled to Madison. He needed only seconds to confirm the authenticity of the piece.

In addition to the hundred-year-old photo, Le Blay confirmed in an interview: The stone corresponds exactly with that used by Rodin during that era.

The proof was in the pantograph

The identification of the statue  worth between $4 and $12 million  paradoxically was cause for concern for the Hartley Dodge Foundation, which manages the building. There was no paperwork, there was absolutely no record that it had entered the building, Nicolas Platt, the foundations president, told CBS News.

For security reasons, the directors kept the revelation a secret for two years, before announcing last week it was to be transferred to the prestigious Philadelphia Museum of Art. During this time, the busts history was uncovered.

The marble was commissioned originally in 1904 by the wife of John Woodruff Simpson, a prominent lawyer in New York  but after some time, Simpson stopped responding. Marbles generally took two or three years to complete in Rodins time, so its possible that between the commission and 1907-1908, she became a little discouraged, Le Blay told AFP.

Lost without a trace

Thomas Fortune Ryan, a friend of the collector, then bought the piece during a visit to the Paris suburb of Meudon in 1909. Once he died, the bust was lost following a 1933 auction of his estate. Research revealed that a merchant had bought the statue on behalf of Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge, daughter of prominent financier William Rockefeller.

She constructed the Hartley Dodge Memorial  Madisons borough hall  in tribute to her son killed in 1930 in a road accident in France, and decorated the interior with works from her collection. Geraldine Rockefeller regularly brought pieces, a bit like you would decorate your country house with pieces from your main house, Le Blay explained. But records were not kept, meaning the busts whereabouts became unknown over time.

It is thought that Rodin took inspiration from Napoleons death mask to create the bust, as well as working with a lookalike as he did when creating his Monument to Balzac. The statue is engraved with the inscription wrapped in his dream.

In plaster studies kept at the Rodin Museum in Paris, Napoleons face is a bit more warrior-like, Le Blay said. In the final marble, he has a more questioning side, much more evasive. He is no longer Bonaparte, the young victorious general, but he is not yet the French emperor who went on to conquer Europe, crushing everything in his path. He is between the two, Le Blay added.

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Asin Thottumkal and Rahul Sharma may have welcomed their first child on Tuesday but Akshay Kumar took no time to share with his fans how proud he was of the baby. He has posted the first photo of the couples newborn daughter and congratulated the family.

One joy which is completely unmatched...congratulations to my dearest friends Asin and @rahulsharma on the arrival of their little angel, he captioned the photo posted on Twitter on Wednesday morning. Akshay can be seen cradling the baby in his arms, with a big smile on his face. The actor went all the way to Kochi to meet the new parents and their angel.

One joy which is completely unmatched...congratulations to my dearest friends Asin and @rahulsharma on the arrival of their little angel  pic.twitter.com/fLEwUtHNzD  Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) October 25, 2017

Asin shared the news of her daughters birth on Instagram on Tuesday and wrote, Ecstatic to announce the arrival of our Angelic Baby Girl earlier today. Thank you for all your love and wishes. She is the best birthday present I could ever ask for!

A post shared by Asin Thottumkal (@simply.asin) on Oct 24, 2017 at 10:15am PDT

Akshay had previously said that he was instrumental in getting Asin and Micromax founder Rahul together. It was during Housefull 2 and we were in Delhi. Dont laugh, but we were playing hide and seek, and I made the two of them hide together in one cupboard. That is how it started and it is so nice that they are getting married now, he had said. In fact, Asin and Rahul had given the first wedding invite to Akshay.

 #ARwedding #WhiteWedding #DayWedding #Asin #Rahul A post shared by Asin Thottumkal (@simply.asin) on Jan 22, 2016 at 5:27am PST

After an entire day of playing and then watching cricket at #home #delhi #friends #sunday A post shared by Asin Thottumkal (@simply.asin) on Apr 3, 2016 at 12:39pm PDT

A post shared by Asin Thottumkal (@simply.asin) on Feb 13, 2017 at 6:38pm PST

Asin, 30, tied the knot with the Micromax founder in a Christian wedding ceremony followed by Hindu rituals in Delhi on January 19, 2016. Both the ceremonies were attended by Akshay. He has worked with Asin in films like Housefull and Khiladi 786.

Asin bid goodbye to acting after her marriage. 2015s All Is Well was her last film.

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Key benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty were trading higher by up to 1% in late morning trade, pulling back from their life-time highs, as select banking, IT, auto and pharma stocks gained.

The government on Tuesday announced various measures to spur economy, including PSU banks Rs 2.11 lakh crore capitalisation plan and Rs 6.92 lakh crore massive road building programme, which boosted the market sentiment.

Firmness in Asian stocks also supported gains on the bourses.

While, continued selling were seen in telecom, consumer durables, metal and realty stocks.

The 30-share Sensex resumed higher at 32,995.28 and soared to its intra-day life time high of 33,117.33 as banking stocks rallied.

The index retreated to a low of 32,804.60 in late morning due to profit booking but strong gains in SBI, ICICI, L&T and a recovery in IT major Infosys helped it trade higher by 324 points 0.99% at 32,931.55 at 1140hrs.

While, the NSE 50-share Nifty was also trading up by 61.15 or 0.60% to 10,268.85.

However, side counters were sluggish the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.17 pct and the S&P BSE Small-Cap index up 0.05%. Both the indices underperformed the Sensex.

Major gainers were, SBIN by 19.65%, ICICI Bank 8.74%, Larsen 5.14%, Axis Bank 2.49%, Infosys 1.27% and Powergrid 1.05%.

However, Kotak Bank fell 3.25%, HDFC Bank 3.22%, HDFC 2.77%, BhartiAirtel 1%and Lupin 0.95%.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 1306.76 crore on Tuesday, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges.

Domestic institutional investors bought shares worth a net Rs 592.28 crore, as per provisional data.

Globally, Asian stocks rose following the overnight gains on Wall Street as upbeat corporate earnings results and optimism about global economic growth boosted investor sentiment.
In a novel initiative by the petroleum ministry, 10 oil and gas companies under it launched a startup programme on Wednesday for entrepreneurs with a fund corpus of Rs 320 crore to be disbursed over a 3-year period to support innovations in the energy sector.

The scheme was launched here with memoranda of understanding (MoU) being signed by 36 startups for partnering with various state-run firms like Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and GAIL India, which is Indias largest gas transmission utility.

The people we are partnering today will establish new benchmarks for India. We have to go for out of the box thinking and disruptive frameworks, petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan said at the launch event.

Pradhan, who has recently been elevated to cabinet rank and given additional charge of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said India could not afford to miss out on the ongoing Industrial Revolution 4.0 that signifies the changes being wrought by information technology.

He pointed out that being the third largest energy consumer in the world with an annual oil import bill of Rs 7 lakh crore, India urgently needed to act on import substitution.

Oil import substitution can best come through alternate fuels, which can only be developed through innovation and new business models, the minister said.

This programme is based on the premise that oil and gas companies have the required technical acumen and financial strength to act as venture capitalists to talented entrepreneurs who wish to build businesses, he added.

Some of the innovative projects that signed the partnership with the ministry include for developing multiuse fuel from agri-waste, remotely operated vehicles for underwater inspections, converting waste plastic to high value fuels, electronic leak detector for LPG and solar cookers.
Ahead of the India-US Trade Policy Forum meeting, an influential business advocacy group asked the Trump Administration on Wednesday to press India to address issues that limit market access or undermine the competitiveness of US industries.

In a letter to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the Alliance for Fair Trade with India (AFTI) expressed concerns that India is failing to provide adequate and effective protection of intellectual property (IP) rights and fair access to its markets.

India maintains and continues to propose significant IP and market access barriers, said the letter signed by Brian Pomper, AFTI executive director.

Specifically, the letter cites price controls, forced localisation, technical barriers to trade and intellectual property barriers as the issues of significant concern that US industries face in India.

This weeks Trade Policy Forum and Commercial Dialogue create opportunities to strengthen the bilateral US-India trade relationship and break down market barriers in India to boost FDI, innovation and market access and boost manufacturing jobs in both countries, said Linda Dempsey, vice president for International Economic Affairs at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

Manufacturers, however, want to see fair access to that market, and efforts to address priority issues such as price controls on innovative medical devices, continued challenges in protecting innovation and IP, forced localisation policies in high-value, innovative industries, and other barriers, Dempsey said.

The letter urges Lighthizer to make use of all bilateral dialogue and trade tools available to improve the US-India commercial relationship and implement concrete, tangible progress to address issues in India that limit market access or undermine the competitiveness of US industries.

The innovation industry is encouraged by the government of Indias positive action on software patentability and intellectual property rights awareness, as well as its pursuit of much-needed procedural reforms, said Patrick Kilbride, vice president of International Intellectual Property for the US Chamber of Commerces Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC).

However, growing price controls on innovative US medical devices will not only limit quality and consumer choice, but they also pose a formidable barrier to entry for innovative products, in turn hurting bilateral trade ties, he warned.
Two years after he was appointed to head the University of Mumbai, Sanjay Deshmukh became the first vice-chancellor (V-C) to be sacked in the history of the 164-year-old varsity. Senior university officials told HT this will be the shortest tenure for a V-C. Officials said Deshmukhs decision to implement the online assessment of answer sheets became his undoing.

While On-Screen Marking (OSM) system was a good move, its implementation, despite opposition from various stakeholders, was a mistake. The outcome of this mistake was huge, so he had to take the responsibility, said Neeraj Hatekar, head of department, Mumbai School of Economics and Public Policy, MU. Hatekar was recently in the news for opting to take voluntary retirement by calling a fight within a hopeless system of no use.

The OSM system was introduced in May after a three-month struggle to find an online agency to carry out the assessment. Senior university officials said they had suggested that OSM be implemented in a phased manner but Deshmukh insisted on conducting all assessment work online.

Former V-C Bhalchandra Mungekar had demanded Deshmukhs resignation over the results chaos this year.

His continuation as V-C was harmful to the university and the decision by the chancellor has come too late in the day, said Mungekar. The governor also needs to push for a judicial inquiry into this mess that has affected lives and future of lakhs of students.

In addition, most of Deshmukhs pet projects, including setting up university campuses in the US and Dubai also courted controversy and failed to see light of the day. His decisions, such as purchasing an aircraft to offer hands-on training to students pursuing BSc Aviation and a revaluation facility for internal examinations of colleges were rolled back. Plans to raise Rs1,000 crore as an endowment fund for the academic and infrastructure development of the university too remained on paper.

AD Sawant, former pro V-C, who fought a long-drawn legal battle against Deshmukhs predecessor Rajan Welukar, said, In Maharashtra, vice-chancellors are being appointed based on their political affiliations, instead of their calibre. The search committee appointed by the government consists of a bureaucrat and a judge, as opposed to academicians as prescribed by University Grants Commission (UGC).

In July this year, HT had highlighted how after two months of online assessment more than 80% answer booklets were pending assessment. Whats worse is that almost four months into the process the university revealed they had lost thousands of answer booklets leading to a five-month delay in announcing results of exams conducted between March and May 2017. All results were finally announced last week.

He added, The assessment crisis has proved that the search committee has failed to judge the qualifications of the vice-chancellor. Even if Deshmukhs intention was right, he faltered in the path. He should have accepted his fault and resigned on his own. Instead, he blamed his employees and was desperate to get back to university.
The Uttarakhand tourism department on Tuesday filed an affidavit before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) informing about the ongoing ground survey for construction of ropeway at Kedarnath shrine.

The government claims to submit a Detailed Project Report soon. The matter is now listed for hearing on November 2.

A bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar was informed about the progress of ropeway services which were recommended as a potential medium of transportation to replace helicopters that were causing noise and air pollution, by a report of Wildlife Institute of India.

In its report titled Assessment of impacts on wildlife of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary due to helicopter services, the WII said: To prevent noise pollution and unaccounted part of air pollution due to very frequent flying in the highly fragile environment, the option of mass transportation of pilgrim via passenger ropeways could be considered, as the same emits minimal sound and causes no air pollution.

The incident dates back to 2013 when the then divisional forest officer (DFO) submitted a report to the forest officers sharing how unregulated chopper service is causing disturbance in the breeding pattern of high altitude wild species. The matter didnt caught attention of government as in June Kedarnath reported flashfloods.

But, Doaba Paryavaran Sansthan, a non government organisation (NGO), filed a petition before the Tribunal urging to declare the area around the Kedarnath sanctuary as eco-sensitive zone.

It also prayed for setting the minimum altitude for flying choppers. The Uttarakhand government failed to take steps in this regard, following which environment activist Kavita Ashok of the NGO filed a petition this year.

Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, who represents the NGO, told Hindustan Times, The tourism department assured that the ground survey for construction of ropeway is on and soon DPR will be submitted.

The Uttarakhand Infrastructure Projects Company is the officiating agency that will be proposing the DPR.

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DEHRADUN: The probe into the confiscation of five tiger skins from Shyampur in Haridwar forest division is not moving ahead as six Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers are yet to respond to queries of a fact-finding team.

Its been two months since the three-member team sought response from the IFS officers about certain points regarding the confiscation of tiger skins and 130 kg bones in 2016. The Wildlife Institute of India had confirmed

that four skins were of tigers from Corbett. Incidentally, the Corbett administration had reported the presence of 208 tigers this year, up from 163 in 2015.

I have written to the officers concerned and an NGO to furnish details within a weeks time. I know the investigation cannot move ahead unless the (response to) queries are duly submitted, RK Mahajan, the head of forest force and the principal chief conservator of forest, told Hindustan Times.

Rajeev Mehta of the NGO Operation Eye of The Tiger-India had requested forest minister Harak Singh Rawat to order a probe. Subsequently, a list of questionnaire was forwarded to a former Corbett director, his deputy, the chief wildlife warden, the additional principal chief conservator of forest and the divisional forest officers of Haridwar and Lansdowne. Mehta was also directed to submit his response to the queries.

In its August 4 edition, Hindustan Times published that the fact-finding team had submitted a list of queries to Mahajan. The questionnaire raised points on the confiscation of 130 kg of tiger bones, indicating poachers may have killed more striped cats. It sought evidence, reports, FIR copies and other details.

Mehta had accused chief wildlife warden Digvijay Singh Khati and other forest officers of erasing evidence of poaching. Earlier, additional principal chief conservator of forest Dhananjai Mohan had investigated the case but his report was not substantial, according to sources in the forest department.

Khati, the chief wildlife warden, told Hindustan Times that he had submitted his response to all the queries about 10 days ago. Theres no delay at my end, he asserted.

Other officers, including the Haridwar and Lansdowne DFOs, are yet to furnish details, Mahajan said, adding that Mehta is also yet to submit reply.

Mehta, however, told Hindustan Times that he had filed his response. I have submitted my reply to the head of forest force along with a 24-minute video giving him the proof how the evidence I had submitted were erased.

Haridwar divisional forest officer HK Singh said he has not received any questionnaire, while the other officers could not be contacted.

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Delhi Traffic Police is set to rake in a record Rs 100 crore as fines and challans by the end of 2017, after a conscious decision to increase the visibility of traffic cops on roads.

The renewed effort has also brought down the number of road fatalities by nearly 15% this year so far, with as many as 47.76 lakh motorists flouting road rules being fined in the first nine months of 2017, compared to a total of 40.25 lakh motorists last year.

A senior traffic officer said that fines have already added Rs 74.84 crore to the governments coffers in the first nine months of 2017, as compared to Rs 66.89 crore collected as penalty last year.

The highest-ever collection by the traffic police so far was in 2007, when prosecution of errant drivers yielded Rs 84.81 crore.

Dependra Pathak, special CP (traffic), confirmed that their projections hinted that the department might earn Rs 100 crore by the year end, but insisted that earning money through fines was not the objective. We would rather that motorists followed traffic rules and our collections dipped, he said. The money collected as fine goes to the Union governments exchequer.

In the last three years, penalties for dangerous driving, riding without helmet, illegal parking and speeding has made up for most of the money collected by the traffic police.

Dangerous driving carries a fine of Rs 1,000 while speeding can be fined with Rs 400. The penalty for riding without helmet and illegal parking is Rs 100 each.

In the past few months, however, the traffic police have been focusing particularly on offences that cause fatal accidents. Not using a vehicles head and tail lights or indicators can lead to fatal accidents. This year the number of such offenders have gone up by 250%, when compared to last year. We have also challaned significantly more number of motorists who ran a red light, violated the speed limit , crossed the stop line or drove against the flow of traffic, said Pathak.

Experts agreed that the fear of prosecution can help make the roads of a city safer. But for more efficiency and transparency, they said, the policing system must move towards electronic prosecutions.

Piyush Tewari, founder of Savelife Foundation, an NGO on road safety, said monitoring cameras and sensors will not only increase the number of prosecutions but also reduced corruption.

A research by Transparency International has found that Rs 22,000 crore is collected as bribe from truckers in India every year. The police corner nearly 57% of that amount. Although the situation is better in Delhi, electronic enforcement will ensure better transparency, said Tewari.

He said the police should also focus on prosecuting offenders in the night hours when chances of fatal accidents are higher. The use of automatic number plate reading (ANPR) cameras, which can capture images even in fog or darkness, will increase prosecutions and help prevent deaths, said Tewari.

Dr S Velmurugan, senior principal scientist, Traffic Engineering and Safety Division, Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), said the police must also crackdown on drivers using mobile phones. As per our law, even using phones through Bluetooth devices or earphones is not permitted as it causes mental distraction, said Velmurugan.

The law mandates a hefty fine of Rs 1,000, for people using phones while driving. The Delhi Traffic Police, however, have booked just about 9,400 motorists for this offence in the last two years.

Stringent penalties proposed in the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill will further discourage people from flouting norms. But the police will need to replace their staff with technology for the system to work. The higher fines will mean more likelihood of corruption by traffic officers, said PK Sarkar, professor at Department of Transport Planning in School of Planning and Architecture.

The traffic police, meanwhile, have also cracked the whip on another menace: illegal parking. At least 8 lakh motorists have been challaned in the first nine months of this year, a 70% jump in prosecutions when compared to 2016.

Velmurugan said the crackdown on illegal parking was a welcome move in a city that often chokes on traffic due to wrongly parked cars.

This will reduce choke points. Residents are unlikely to bring out their vehicles if they know that it might be twoed for illegal parking. That is a major deterrent and will also help reduce air pollution, said Velmurugan.

A traffic policeman, on condition of anonymity, said the average annual collection made by every traffic cop this year so far, matched their yearly wage.
A 34-year-old woman was shot dead in northwest Delhis Rohini on Wednesday, after the car she was travelling in with her restaurateur husband and two-year-old son was fired upon by assailants.

The victim, Priya Mehra, was on her way back from a gurudwara when the alleged attack took place on Wednesday morning, police said. The husband later told the police that the assailants had allegedly been sent by his financer to whom he owed Rs 40 lakh.

Priyas son, who celebrated his second birthday last week, was in her lap when the assailants opened fire. As soon as the men opened fire, Priya instinctively ducked under the seat with her baby, said a police officer. The child received minor injuries from glass shards while Priyas husband, Pankaj, remained unhurt.

Pankaj has told police that he and his son survived because the pistol used by the assailants jammed after firing two rounds, giving them an opportunity to escape.

Read: Attack faked, Rohini woman allegedly killed by restauranteur husband, says Delhi Police

Pankaj owns a restaurant-cum-bar in Paharganj and a cafe in Hudson Lane, said Milind Dumbere, DCP (northwest). The DCP added that both the eateries had failed to take-off and have been shut for around two months and Pankaj was being pursued and threatened by his financer, to whom he owed money.

The couple and their son lived in Rohini Sector 15. Pankajs family said that he would often sit at another restaurant owned by his brother, Anil, in Hudson Lane till late in the night. His wife and son would later join him at the restaurant for the drive back.

Pankaj has claimed that the family left Hudson Lane after midnight. They then visited Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in CP, before driving back home in their car, said the DCP.

The car had reached near the Bhalswa flyover, near Rohini Jail, when it was allegedly intercepted by a white Maruti Swift around 4.15am.

The DCP quoted Pankaj as saying that an unidentified man, armed with a pistol, came out of the Swift car and threatened to teach him a lesson for going into hiding with the financers money.

Pankaj claimed that he had borrowed lakhs of rupees on a high rate of interest from a Paharganj-based financer. The financer was hounding him for the money, Dumbere said.

When Pankaj refused to open the door, the attacker allegedly used the pistol butt to break open his window glass. Pankaj then got into a scuffle with the man and tried to snatch his pistol away, said the DCP.

This allegedly prompted the attacker to start shooting. The first bullet hit Priya in her face and cracked the cars windshield. Priya had already pushed her son to safety under the cars seat by then. Pankaj realised his wife was hit only when a second bullet hit Priya in her neck, the DCP said.

As the attacker tried to fire more rounds, the pistol apparently jammed. The man then called out to his associates in the car to hand him another gun. Pankaj seized this opportunity to managed to drive away and reached a hospital. His wife was later declared dead at a hospital, Dumbere quoted Pankaj as saying.

While the police are focusing their probe on the role of the financer, they have not given a clean chit to anyone. Priyas family has mentioned that the duo had a troubled marriage in which the couple even stayed separately for a year. We will probe if that had anything to do with the killing. We are analysing the alleged sequence of events and the collecting forensics of the crime scene, said Dependra Pathak, chief spokesperson of Delhi Police.

Pankajs family, however, said they were unaware of their sons problems with his financer and claimed that all was well between the couple. They had a love marriage 11 years ago and were very happy together, said Pankajs sister, Ritu Sharma.
The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday issued notice to the Haryana government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a petition seeking an independent probe into the lynching of Junaid Khan, a Faridabad youth, in July 2017.

The high court acted on the petition of Jalaluddin, father of Junaid, and sought responses from the CBI and the Haryana government by November 1.

The 16-year-old Junaid was killed on Mathura-bound train on June 22.

The petitioner father has stated that all the witnesses statements were deliberately distorted to introduce ambiguity, discrepancies and contradictions so as to benefit the accused.

The stab injuries to two accompanying Junaid and his lynching was motivated by deep rooted communal hatred against the community of the victims, the petition said.

The investigating agency (police) has carried out a seemingly casual and shoddy investigation. However, beneath the surface it becomes clear that the power and functions of investigation have been subverted in a calculated manner (to favour accused), the petition states.

It has been argued that the conduct of the accused and others as a lynching mob has been concealed and projected as if the occurrence /events were sudden. The police deliberately acted with undue haste because the crime had attracted huge nationwide outcry, the petition said.

To achieve this nefarious objective, false witnesses were introduced, statements of real witnesses were arbitrarily recorded without actually eliciting information from them and material evidence been not taken into record, the petition states.
What documents did you submit while renewing your car insurance? Most probably only the registration certificate (RC) of your vehicle. But did you know that two months ago, the Supreme Court had made pollution under control (PUC) certificates mandatory for renewing vehicle insurance?

Two months after the order, many companies and associated vehicle dealers in Delhi continue to hand out renewal papers without pollution certificates.

You just need to visit our office with the RC book of your car and the renewal will be done, a car dealer in East Delhi said.

Renewing the policy is easier on online portals as the companies directly send payment details without even asking for the RC.

If you have our online insurance, the RC is not required for its renewal as we already have it in our database. You have to fill a few details. We shall mail you the payment gateway and it will be done, a customer care executive of a leading insurance company said.

When asked if a PUC certificate is required, representatives of companies Hindustan Times spoke to said it was not necessary.

The onus of implementing the order now lies with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH), which has been asked to set up PUC checking units at all fuel stations across the national capital region.

The order, which aims to curb pollution, is just one of the many rules being brazenly flouted when it comes to PUC certificates.

ALMOST ALL VEHICLES PASS TEST

Delhi has over 10 million registered vehicles but only 1,004 PUC centres. Of this, 5.56 million vehicles need to get new PUC certificates every quarter as they meet only BS-III emission standards or even less.

BS-IV vehicles, on the other hand, need to get PUC conducted annually.

Despite the sheer volume of cars and the fact that most of them, especially all two-wheelers, are BS-III, the number of vehicles that fail the pollution test is as low as 4.69%.

Also, out of 13.7 lakh emission data analysed for Delhi, nearly 20 per cent of tests have recorded zero values, showed a survey on PUC centres across Delhi-NCR conducted by the Supreme Court-empowered Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA).

Diesel vehicles, which release the maximum toxic emissions, had the lowest failure rate at 1.68%, whereas, it should have been just the opposite. Most polluting vehicles are diesel-run trucks and inter-state buses, many of which are over 10 years old, said Sunita Narain, member EPCA.

Reasons for the poor failure rate were inadequately done tests, malpractice and weak norms. Inspection teams in PUC centres found rampant cheating through fake software, issue of false passes and inappropriate tests. Some units were found to be operating with malfunctioning equipment, the report stated.

SPECIAL PUC TEAM NEEDED

With a compliance rate of 23.2%, most vehicles in Delhi continue to remain out of the PUC checking network.

The Delhi governments transport department and the traffic police are required to monitor or enforce the PUC programme.

The transport department, which is responsible for monitoring these centres and also has the power to prosecute errant drivers, blamed it on staff crunch.

We have less than 50 pollution level test inspectors (PLTIs) for PUC checks. But, half of them are doubling up as motor licensing officers to check fitness of vehicles, take driving tests and to issue licenses, said a transport department official who is not authorised to speak to the media.

The problem has emerged as the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection (DSSSB) is yet to recruit more licensing officers in the transport department.

Though the traffic police has a bigger force of 5700 personnel on the field, they have a number of other duties to perform.

From January 1 to October 24, the traffic Police issued 24,597 PUC challans. So, we do work proactively. But our officers have to pay attention to other aspects too, said Garima Bhatnagar, joint commissioner of Police (traffic).

Traffic officials said they have to regulate traffic and prosecute violators. Accidents take much time as an immediate report has to be submitted to the local police apart from filling up the incident report diary as directed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Experts suggest the only way is to create a special team for pollution checks.

Pollution monitoring is a collaborative act. It definitely calls for an exclusive unit having prosecuting powers comprising officials from traffic, transport and even MCDs, said Dr. Sewa Ram of the department of traffic and transport at the School of Planning and Architecture.

TRUCKS AND BUSES

Nearly 80,000 trucks and 3,700 inter-state buses enter Delhi every day. Most run on diesel and are more than 10 years old.

Inspection of buses at the Kashmere Gate ISBT on Tuesday found that almost 50% buses were flouting PUC norms.

On Tuesday, we installed a mobile PUC unit at the ISBT. Of at least 50 buses we checked, 24 failed the PUC test. Surprisingly, many had valid PUC certificates, said KK Dahiya, special commissioner (transport).

In November 2015, the SC has directed levying an environment compensation charge (ECC) or environment cess on trucks entering Delhi. It was expected to reduce the number of trucks entering Delhi by nearly 30%.

Data from the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) suggested this tax is being actively collected by the concessionaire.

From November 6, 2015 till October 2017, we have collected 971 crore from 85,000 vehicles, said an SDMC spokesperson.

Asked about the impact of the cess, Sunita Narain said the EPCA was conducting a study on it.

A study is underway to find out he impact of this cess, whether the number of trucks have reduced or not. Besides, we are also looking at how effectively this is being implemented, she said.

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For the first time since 1995, the Congress is energetic and fancying its poll chances in the home turf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

The optimism stems from the crowd response to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhis public meetings over the past two months in which he has taken on the prime minister over demonetisation and troubles with the Goods and Services Tax (GST), in a bid to woo traders and the middle class  two key support bases of the ruling BJP.

The addition of Other Backward Classes (OBC) leader Alpesh Thakor and possible support from Patidar quota protest leader Hardik Patel and Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani have also raised the hopes of a turnaround for the opposition party after 22 years.

The Congress is no longer in defeatist mood. There is no doubt great resentment against the BJP. But the challenge for the Congress will be to tap this popular resentment and convert it into votes, said Ahmedabad-based political analyst Prakash Shah.

Congress leaders say the BJP downslide in Gujarat started in 2015 when the ruling party suffered its worst loss in local bodies elections and insisted that Modis Gujarat Model has lost its steam.

Leaders say the exit of veteran leader Shankersinh Vaghela has not had any major impact on the Congress at ground level and the absence of Modi has appeared to have worked in its favour. A victory in the local body elections in December 2015 was the first sign of a Congress revival as the opposition party won more than double the number of panchayats than the BJP, though it was defeated in urban areas and municipal corporations.

The BJPs position has worsened due to the note ban and GST. These two decisions have ruined small and medium traders and the middle class as well, senior Congress leader Arjun Modhvadia said. People of Gujarat are fed up with BJP and want to teach them a lesson in this election.

Had Modis Gujarat Model worked, they would not have been wiped out in local bodies polls. There is an overwhelming support for Congress from across Gujarat now and that will be reflected in assembly elections, Modhvadia said.

Party leaders say a hard-fought victory for Congress president Sonia Gandhis political secretary Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha elections in August this year helped the party pick up momentum. The win, that came after a clutch of Congress legislators quit and a late-night hearing at the election commission, buoyed the party.

A win in Modis home state will give a major boost to the Congress revival efforts at the national level ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress leaders privately say they are assured of support from Patidar leader Hardik Patel and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani. With the addition of OBC leader Alpesh Thakor this week, the Congress also hopes to win over the OBCs, Patidars and the Dalits that almost make up 60% of the state.

But some in the Congress say they are aware of the danger of going back to the KHAM (Kshatriya, Harijan, Adivasi, Muslim) strategy that brought the party to power in 1980 with a record victory but alienated the dominant castes, who went to the BJP.

There is unrest among all sections of the society. Patidars, tribals, youth and farmers have launched agitations and are on streets against the BJP rule. For us, all castes and sections are same and we will take everybody along, former state Congress chief Siddharth Patel said.

Other experts say the Congress campaign has been boosted by anti-incumbency against the ruling BJP.

Even Jyoti Basu (of the CPI-M) lost in West Bengal. There is visible restlessness among the youth and several other sections of the society, said Gujarat-based political analyst Vidyut Joshi.

The Congress has not declared its chief ministerial candidate and party leaders suggest this work to their advantage and checks factionalism as well. There is no such tradition in Congress. The entire Congress is united and we all will ensure that BJP bites the dust this time, said Patel.

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The University Grant Commission (UGC) has asked 12 institutions to get the status of a university to continue offering online and distance learning courses from 2018.

According to a notification issued on Tuesday called UGC (open and distance learning) regulations 2017, (first amendment), the standalone institutions can offer courses till 2017-18 the way they have been. However, thereafter, they have to get affiliated to a university, or get the status of a deemed university to continue offering the courses. If they fail to comply, the commission will not give any approval to the courses being offered by the standalone institutions.

Recently, UGC had issued a regulation under which only universities can offer distance education courses to students in India. This means that going forward, no standalone institution will be able to offer any distance learning courses to students.

Many institutes in the country, especially B-schools, have been offering diploma courses through distance learning mode.
The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) is ready to supply 80MW electricity to DLF for Cyber City, subject to availability of infrastructure such as setting up of substations.

The executives of DLF Limited and officials of the DHBVN held a meeting in this regard a couple of days ago to prepare a road map.

Sanjiv Chopra, chief engineer, DHBVN, said, We have told DLF to set up two substations of 66 KVA so that we can supply electricity to Cyber City. We have offered electricity to DLF and it is up to the them to decide when they want it.

DLF spokesperson refused comment on the matter. I have no idea about this development. I will enquire and comment later, he said.

Currently, electricity is supplied to Cyber City through a gas station. The DHBVN supplies power at roughly Rs 8 per unit against Rs 11 per unit on the power supplied by the gas station.

DLF Cyber City, DHBVN officials said, requires a minimum of 80 MW electricity daily to run smoothly. Meanwhile, the official said only one substation of 66 KVA is ready and one more of the same capacity has to be constructed by the DLF.

KC Aggarwal, superintending engineer, DHBVN, said, We have offered DLF that it at least take a partial supply of 15MW from us. Cyber City has a gas plant that generates electricity but the power so generated is much more costlier than DHBVN power. We are ready to supply 15MW electricity to Cyber City as we have adequate electricity and it would not affect the supply to the rest of the city. We can start supply within 15 days.

DLF and DHBVN officials had met about six months ago in this regard.

We received a request from DLF and we have been emphasizing on installation of two substations of 66 KVA. DLFs one substation in Q Block is almost ready and another one is yet to be built. DHBVN supply will help reduce pollution as gas plants cause pollution, the SE said.

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Two suspected ISIS operatives were today arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), which claimed that they were plotting an attack on a Jewish synagogue in Khadia area of Ahmedabad in very near future.

The suspects, arrested in Surat, have been identified as Mohammad Kasim Stimberwala and Ubed Ahmed Mirza, an official said.

While Stimberwala used to work as a laboratory technician with a hospital in Ankleshwar town, Mirza is a practicing lawyer with the Surat district court and also owns a hotel there.

They were booked under IPC sections 120-A (criminal conspiracy), 121-A (waging or attempt to wage war against Government of India) and 125 (Waging war against any Asiatic power in alliance with Government of India) of the IPC, besides under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the official said.

As per the FIR registered by the ATS, the duo have been radicalised by the ideology of Islamic State and were planning to carry out a lone-wolf attack on the synagogue, for which Stimberwala had visited Ahmedabad and conducted a recce of the Jewish centre located in Khadia area.

ATS sleuths believe that Srimberwala and Mirza are highly radicalised by the fundamental ideology of the Islamic State for the last many years and are actively planning to cause terrorist acts.

Both the suspected operatives of the IS were under the influence of Abdullah el-Faisal, a radical preacher based in Jamaica, the official said quoting the FIR.

As per the FIR, el-Faisal was earlier convicted for spreading hatred in the UK and then deported to Jamaica. He was detained in Jamaica on the charges of persuading youths to travel to Syria to take up the cause of Jihad.

Surveillance of their social media accounts had revealed that the duo were attracted to the extreme ideology since the last three-four years, according to the FIR.

They were also in contact with one Shafi Armar, an ISIS handler who is wanted in various cases of serial blasts triggered by Indian Mujahideen (IM) and is currently believed to be out of India, the official said.

ATS suspects that both the accused were making intensive efforts to radicalise other youths in India using various mediums, such as social media, one-on-one meetings and telephonic calls.
US secretary of state Rex Tillerson visited the iconic memorial of Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi on Wednesday and hailed him as one of the few global leaders who changed the world.

During his brief visit, Tillerson was given a tour of the room at Birla House where Gandhi spent his last 144 days.

Dressed in a grey suit, the US secretary of state paid tribute to Gandhi at the Martyrs Column, a monument erected at the spot in the lawns of the sprawling House, where he was killed on January 30, 1948 by Nathuram Godse, when he was taking a stroll there.

The House was converted into a memorial after his assassination. A museum, an art gallery, a library and bookstore are housed in its well-kept white bungalow.

A statue of Mahatma sculpted by noted artist Ram Sutar welcomes visitors near the main entrance, in its premises which includes a manicured lawn at the back and a giant world peace gong in the front of the building.

Dipanker Shri Gyan, director of the memorial, accompanied Tillerson during his visit.

The US secretary of state spent about 10 minutes at the memorial. He first visited the room in which Gandhiji had stayed before his assassination and was struck by its aura, he said.

His immediate reaction after seeing the room was -- Such a simple man. Gandhijis life, indeed was simple and inspiring, two rare qualities, Gyan told PTI.

Tillerson then while walking to the Martyrs Column, stopped midway to enquire about the stone-made footsteps, which were covered with rose petals.

He asked me about the footsteps, and I told him they symbolised the last steps taken by the Mahatma before he was shot dead. Tillerson then remarked -- Gandhi was one of the ten global leaders who changed the world. He then paid homage to him at the Martyrs Column, Gyan said.

The US secretary of state also circumambulated the column as a mark of respect.

Charge dAffaires at the US Embassy MaryKay Carlson and various other senior officials of the American mission were also present at the memorial.

Tillerson was to visit the Gandhi memorial around 11am. His visit was, however, delayed a bit owing to his busy schedule, and he finally arrived around 11:20am.

A senior official at the Embassy initially told the press that The US Secretary of State would not be able to make it, as he has another meeting to attend.

However, within minutes, the official communicated to the journalists and cameramen, from both domestic and foreign media houses, that he was coming.

The list of visitors to the memorial located on Tees January Marg, includes the whos who of the world.

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Kate Middleton had visited it in April last year.

The royal couple had spent about 45 minutes there. They also saw the exhibits and came to know that Gandhi had learned to wear a tie and play violin during his stay in London as a student.

Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India was related to the British royal family. Gandhi and Mountbatten were known to have shared bonhomie and the last Viceroy even attended his funeral.

Gandhi had stayed at Birla House several times from 1939- 1948, according to a plaque installed on a wall of the memorial.
Two days after a couple set themselves and their children ablaze following alleged harassment by moneylenders, Tamil Nadu chief minister E Palaniswami on Wednesday directed all the district collectors and police superintendents to take strict against those who charge heavy interest.

Palaniswami said the J Jayalalithaa government had in 2003 enacted the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act. This was designed to prevent moneylenders from exploiting the poor. There is also a provision of settling disputes through courts, he said. The chief minister also urged people to approach officials for redressal without fear.

I have directed the district collectors and police officials to take quick action on such complaints, Palaniswami said.

The couple  Isakki Muthu (30) and Subbulakshmi (28)  set themselves and their two daughters, Mathi Saranya (4) and Atchya Bharanika (1.5 years), on fire on Monday.

Following the incident, the police arrested the accused  Dhalavai Raj, his wife Muthu Lakshmi and Dalavai Rajs father Kalimuthu.

Two police officials who allegedly threatened the couple have also been suspended.

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The appointment of an interlocutor for Kashmir would not affect armys operations in the Valley, chief Bipin Rawat said on Wednesday, two days after the government named a former IB chief to restart the dialogue process.

The governments Kashmir strategy has worked and we are negotiating from a point of strength, army chief Gen Rawat said about the Centre picking former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma to hold talks with all stakeholders to find a solution to the 30-year-old insurgency.

The governments decision to restart the dialogue process was an admission that its muscular approach to the Valleys problems had failed, the opposition Congress had said.

With appointment of interlocutor, I hope government has finally admitted muscular approach has failed in J-K, senior Congress leader and former home minister P Chidambaram had tweeted after the announcement of talks.

The government has been pursuing a tough line against a surge in violence in Kashmir that has left more than 100 people dead over the past year.

Security forces have stepped up the offensive and 140 militants have been killed in Kashmir this year.

Speaking at a FICCI seminar on finding solutions to the armys modernisation problems through indigenisation, the army chief flagged concerns about the security of military installations in the hinterland.

He stressed on the need to deploy robust intelligence and surveillance systems to prevent a repeat of Uri and Pathankot-style militant attacks.

Security of bases in the hinterland is a cause for concern, Rawat said, adding the army was working on plans to deploy electronic warfare and early-warning systems to keep an eye not only on border areas but also in the interiors.

Nineteen soldiers were killed when suspected Pakistani militants struck at an army camp in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri on September 18, 2016, one of the deadliest strikes against the force in recent years.

Ten days later, Indian soldiers crossed the line of control and attacked terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

On January 2 of the same year, a group of heavily armed alleged Pakistan militants stormed the Pathankot airbase. The three-day audacious siege left six soldiers dead and raised questions over intelligence gathering.
At a time when political parties are going all out to woo young voters, there is certainly no effort to field youth candidates. Both the major partiesBJP and Congressare fielding octogenarians and septuagenarians for the big battle for Himachal Pradesh.

Six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh, who is heading the campaign panel this time, is once again criss-crossing the state after he filed his nomination from Arki. Virbhadra Singh has contested eight state assembly elections and five Lok Sabha through his career. Singh is the longest serving chief minister of the state. In the country, he is only next to Sikkims Pawan Chamling and West Bengals Jyoti Basu.

Virbhadra, 83, is this time shifting to Arki from Shimla rural. Besides ensuring a win for Congress, the stakes are double for Virbhadra Singh whose son is making his electoral debut from Shimla rural.

Former speaker Gangu Ram is once again in fray from Pacchad his long-held bastion. Gangu Ram, who contested the first elections 1982, won seven consecutive elections. But lost to Suresh Kumar of BJP in 2012.

Similarly, the Congress partys front-line leader in Mandi, health minister Kaul Singh Thakur, 72, is also contesting his ninth elections. Thakur had lost once in 1990. This time, his daughter Champa Thakur is the partys nominee from Mandi and is pitted against Anil Sharma, the former rural development minister in the Congress government who had switched sides at the last moment. Sharmas father, Sukh Ram, a former telecommunication minister and once a reckoning force in the Congress, too had switched his side. Nonagenarian Sukhram is still actively canvassing for the victory of his son Anil Sharma in Mandi town.

BJPs stalwart Prem Kumar Dhumal is contesting elections from Sujanpur. Dhumal faces his protege Rajender Rana in Sujanpur. Dhumal entered the electoral politics in 1994 he contested elections to Lok Sabha but lost. He won the elections to Lok Sabha in 1996. Dhumal emerged stronger when he became the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1993. Dhumal was again elected in 1998.

Initially, Jaswan was a Communist Party India (CPI) stronghold. Senior Congress leader Viplove Thakurs father, renowned freedom fighter comrade Paras Ram, won the seat in 1967. In 1972, Congress won from Jaswan and in 1977, the Janata Party (JNP) won. Viploves mother Sarla Sharma contested the election in 1982 from Jaswan but was defeated. Viplove won from here in the 1985 assembly polls. She got re-elected in 1993 and 1998 while her brother Nikhil Rajour won from here in 2007.

In 2014, Viplove was elected to the Rajya Sabha for the second time. At 74, she is now the Congress candidate from Dehra, Kangra, and is pitted against Ravindra Singh, the sitting legislator from the assembly segment.

A veteran of many political innings, the low-profile leader Mansa Ram is once again the Congress nominee from Karsog assembly segment. He was first elected from Karsog in 1967 as an independent candidate but Mansa Ram switched over to the Himachal Vikas Party and in BJP.

Former speaker Gangu Ram is once again in fray from Pacchad his long-held bastion. Gangu Ram, who contested the first elections 1982, won seven consecutive elections. But lost to Suresh Kumar of BJP in 2012. Gangu Ram again faces young Suresh Kumar.

Gulab Singh, a former speaker, 70, fought his first elections in 1977. He was elected on a Janata party ticket but later defected to Congress. Gulab Singh grasped headlines in 1998 when he sided with Dhumal. His defection played an instrumental role in toppling the Congress government that lasted barely a month.

Dhumal headed then HVC combine government . Gulab Singh again won in 2003 and then in 2012. His daughter Shefali is married to former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumals older son and Hamirpur Lok Sabha member Anurag Thakur.

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From one election victory to another, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continues to ride on Prime Minister Narendra Modis popular appeal and many see the party as the best bet to return to power in 2019. But, as the saying goes, there are a few imponderables between the proverbial cup and the lip.

The party has won nine of 13 states that went to polls since May 2014, but the four states it lost exposed the chinks in its seemingly impenetrable armour.

Between 2014 and now, the BJP lost Bihar, Delhi, West Bengal and Punjab, which it ruled with Shiromani Akali Dal.

Modis popularity and development agenda were BJPs unique selling point, while it also gained from anti-incumbency and inertia among political rivals.Party chief Amit Shahs shock-and-awe tactics  defections in rival camps, high-voltage campaigns and alliances with small political outfits with followers among particular caste groups  was effective, too. But the BJP was found wanting when faced with anti-incumbency in states ruled by it.

While SADs unpopularity was a major factor in Punjab, the BJP could not retain its support base among Hindus who constitute about 38% of the states population. Congress emerged single largest party in BJP-ruled Goa despite a subtle projection of Manohar Parrikar  then defence minister as the likely CM .

Professor Badri Narayan of Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University, however, believes that BJP will still have an advantage in 2019 if it can successfully communicate its achievements.

Worrying signs

Shah has repeatedly told party leaders to publicise Modis schemes such as free LPG to below poverty line families and social security schemes. While there are many takers for Modis development agenda, the BJP may need to set its house in order in states where it is in power. Many NDA-ruled states have witnessed signs of discontentment  farmers protests in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and other places, and agitations by caste groups demanding reservation in Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, and possibly Rajasthan, where the issue erupts ahead of every election.

In Jharkhand, it buckled under pressure from Adivasi groups and diluted a law to facilitate land-use change for welfare activities. The inept handling of the law and order situation created by supporters of rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim brought the spotlight back on Manohar Lal Khattar governments record of administrative ineptitude.

Its early days yet but the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh faces the heat on a host of issues, be it the instances of farm loan waiver of less than Rs 1, death of infants in a Gorakhpur hospital, or the law and order situation. The BJP rules 18 states today and would not have excuses to offer for the state of affairs in 2019.

OBC gambit

The Union cabinet recently decided to set up a commission for the sub-categorisation of other backward classes (OBCs), which intends to give more reservation benefits to non-dominant OBCs.

The move, as the saffron party hopes, might create a coalition of non-dominant OBCs in its favour. It might also alienate dominant castes such as Jats in Rajasthan and Yadavs in Bihar and UP.

Professor Badri Narayan of the Centre for the Study of Discrimination and Exclusion, JNU, however, says the OBC outreach has put the BJP in a win-win situation. The upper castes, he says, identifies itself with the BJP and OBCs have started to gravitate towards it.

The BJP is trying reach out to the broader Hindu society, says Narayan, adding if the BJPs all-inclusive projection succeeds, it might not need to return to Hindtuva (as a poll plank).

The BJP has also sought to mobilise non-dominant castes, who together are numerically superior as compared to dominant ones, in its favour. This explains the installation of chief ministers from non-dominant castes  a non-Jat in Haryana, a non-tribal in Jharkhand and a non-Maratha in Maharashtra. Whether it works or backfires would be clear only in the next state elections .

Undelivered promises

In the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP promised 10 million jobs if voted to power. Job and employment figured 26 times in the partys manifesto, a 42-page document.

A strong manufacturing sector will not only bridge the demand-supply gap leading to price stabilisation, but also create millions of jobs and increase incomes for the working class BJP recognises the role tourism and hospitality can play as a foreign exchange earner and its ability to create millions of jobs every year, said the party manifesto.

The country was dragged through 10 years of jobless growth by the Congress-led UPA government. Under the broader economic revival, BJP will accord high priority to job creation and opportunities for entrepreneurship, it added.

These promises could return to haunt the BJP in 2019, with jobs still at a premium and GDP growth rate slumping to 5.7% in the first quarter of 2017-18. Opposition accuses Modis economic policies have led to jobless growth, a term the BJP used to attack the UPA government.

West Bengal

Critics also see a further downslide in the economy, citing what they see as an adverse impact of demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 bank notes, which sucked out 86% of the cash in circulation.

The youth voted overwhelmingly for Modi in 2014 and the BJP could ill afford to alienate this vocal support base.

The BJP manifesto had also spoken about a national education policy to meet the changing dynamics of the populations requirement.

In its fourth year, the government is still finalising the national education policy. Similarly, the ambitious skill India programme has failed to impress. Modi recently dropped Union skill development minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy from the government and allocated the portfolio to Dharmendra Pradhan.

Bad economy returns good political dividends for the opposition, if it is ready to accept it.

Modi did so in 2014, bringing down a scam-tarred regime of Manmohan Sin- gh, who also struggled at the economic front. Modi has managed to avoid any corruption taint on him or his ministers. But the impact of a cash squeeze on consumption, business sentiments and layoffs throw up big challenges for the BJP.

Milan Vaishanv, director and senior fellow in the South Asia Programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, says the short-term challenge for the government is reviving the domestic investment cycle, which is in a precarious position today.

Unlocking this potential is vital for securing his top-three key economic objectives: jobs, jobs, and jobs...There is no question that the BJP is anxious about the state of the Indian economy, three years into its tenure. It is an essential liability, but perhaps not fatal as far as 2019 is concerned, Vaishanv adds.

He, however, points out that many of the deadlines the PM has set for his government are due by 2022, midway through a possible second term. Given where things stand today, the Indian voters are likely to give his government more time.

Sadanand Dhume, resident fellow with the Washington-based public policy think-thank American Enterprise Institute, has similar views.

As of now, the BJP is clearly in pole position to return to power in 2019. But two years is a long time in politics, he says.

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Calcutta University (CU) decided to confer D.Litt on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, a move that triggered a barrage of criticism from the Opposition leaders on Wednesday.

Mamatas pursuit of art and literature has often been a matter of controversy, but it seemed to catch her political opponents by surprise when word got around that the countrys oldest university decided to confer the honorary degree on her.

The state government-funded autonomous institution was criticised for blatant display of loyalty.

It was decided during the senate-syndicate meeting today that a D.Litt degree will be conferred upon her for her literary and social works, vice chancellor Sonali Chakraborty Bandopadhyay said.

Today the CM recovered her prestige lost due to her false claims of being a doctorate from a non-existent university. This is also the day when West Bengal and Calcutta University lost its prestige.

The event shows the extent of bootlicking and appeasement in the education system of the state, said Lok Sabha MP and CPI(M) politburo member Md Salim.

Thenon-existent university refers to a decades-old controversy over Banerjees claim during the 1980s that she had obtained a Ph.D from East Georgia University in the US, an institute which did not exist.

I am not surprised. All the state universities in West Bengal, including Calcutta University, have become extended branch offices of Trinamool Congress, said Abdul Mannan, Congress MLA and the leader of the opposition in the state Assembly.

BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha took a dig at the Calcutta University authorities for stooping unimaginably low.

I hope that this D. Litt degree will pave the path to delete Mamata Banerjee from the throne of power, Sinha remarked.
Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde on Wednesday said the Centre will invest Rs 6000 crore in association with the World Bank to improve the quality of the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the country.

The Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said the Centre wants to take these ITIs to every community and rural development block in the country

To strengthen these ITIs we have started a new scheme with an investment of around 6000 crore in coordination with World Bank to improve quality of some institution which are performing good. In rural areas also we are planning to take ITIs there, he told PTI at the sideline of an inspection of the ITI centre here.

Hegde said the Centre was forced to de-affiliate around 400 ITIs due to their poor and deteriorating quality.

It has come to my knowledge that ITI quality is substandard, we were forced to disaffiliate few ITIs since the quality is not good, he said.

The Union minister was here to take stock of functioning of various ITIs and also took feedback from the people about the functioning of these institutes in the state besides other skill development institute in the region.

The Skill Development Ministry has begun monitoring the ITIs with a view to maintaining their quality standards and also introduced voluntary self grading by the institutes.
The BJP is expected to introduce a number of new faces in its list of candidates for the Gujarat assembly polls in December, while the Congress looks set to repeat its sitting MLAs as part of an earlier promise.

The Election Commissions announcement of the election dates gave rise to hectic political activity in both the camps. The BJP is already in the middle of a six-day state-level parliamentary board meeting that will conclude on Thursday. On the other hand, senior Congress leaders have left for Delhi to prepare the partys list of candidates.

Sources said the saffron party, which is battling anti-incumbency in the state, is likely to project several former aides of Patidar quota stir leader Hardik Patel  including Varun Patel and Reshma Patel  in its efforts to woo members of the influential community. The duo had joined the BJP recently.

On the other hand, the fate of 44 Patidar MLAs in the BJP camp is looking particularly precarious at a time when the community is up in arms against the party leadership over non-fulfilment of its demand for OBC status.

Chief minister Vijay Rupani had already dropped several Patidar heavyweights  including Saurabh Patel and Rajnikant Patel  while forming his cabinet in August 2016.

The BJP, which lost the 2015 rural local body elections in the backdrop of the Patidar agitation, was unhappy that MLAs from the community not only failed to gauge the scale of the movement but also fell woefully short in containing it.

According to sources, OBC leader Alpesh Thakor and some of his team members  who were formally inducted into the party earlier this week  may emerge as new faces from the Congress. They were formally inducted into the party earlier this week.

The selection of candidates for the Congress will be done on merit, said senior party leader Arjun Modhwadia, reiterating that all its 43 sitting MLAs would be repeated.

The Congress had assured its sitting MLAs of re-candidacy when six of them quit ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls in August, endangering the electoral prospects of veteran leader Ahmed Patel. Despite this, eight of its sitting MLAs cross-voted and, later, resigned. Twelve have already joined the BJP.

While the BJP is unlikely to drop senior Patidar leaders like deputy chief minister Nitin Patel, they will be subject to greater scrutiny. It may be recalled that Dalit leader Ramanlal Vora was removed from the cabinet and appointed as the assembly speaker in the wake of the Una controversy, when four lower caste youngsters were assaulted by alleged cow vigilantes.

The parliamentary board meetings will end on Thursday. Panels will come up with a list of probables for each seat in the next stage, following which the final list will be announced from Delhi, said Rupani.

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A crowded courtroom is common, but a counsel failing to negotiate his way through the throng to present his case to the judges is rare.

This particular rarity put the Uttar Pradesh government in a spot on Tuesday when the Supreme Court ordered demolition of parking lot being constructed without its consent near the Taj Mahal, a protected world heritage site.

The government requested the top court on Wednesday to recall its order, saying the states counsel couldnt move through the crowd in the courtroom and stand before the bench to argue his case.

The bench led by Justice J Chelameswar approved UP additional advocate general Aishwarya Bhatis request and listed the case for hearing on Friday.

Bhati countered allegations that no approvals were taken before initiating construction of the parking lot outside the Taj Mahal, visited by millions from around the globe.

She insisted the court should re-examine its order.

A bench led by Justice MB Lokur instructed the Agra commissioner on Wednesday to demolish the parking lot near the monuments east gate, after being informed that the courts permission was not taken to cut trees to make space for the facility.

Trees cannot be cut without the top courts approval and no construction is allowed within 500 metres of the 17th century white marble monument built by Mughal emperor Shahjahan for queen Mumtaj.

Advocate ADN Rao, representing the Archaeological Survey of India, contended that construction started before the UP government applied for permission to cut 15 trees at the site.

The state applied for permission last November but the ASI found during an inspection that construction had already begun, pending the courts approval.

The government apologised to the court for any activity that may have damaged the protected zone and promised to stay away from any activity detrimental to one of the worlds seven wonders.

The parking lot is part of the Taj orientation centre the state government proposes to develop in the area. World-class facilities would be provided at the centre for foreign tourists and VIPs visiting the Taj Mahal.

According to a UP government affidavit, the parking lot falls outside the 500-metre ceiling.
COLUMBUS  Becton Dickinson has a long history in Columbus.

The New Jersey-based medical technology companys first manufacturing plant outside that state opened here in 1949.

That plant at 23rd Street and 10th Avenue is now BDs longest-running and largest manufacturing facility among 66 locations across the globe, and its the largest producer of needles and saline syringes in the world.

BD opened a second plant  the east location  in Columbus 15 years ago and currently has more than 1 million square feet of manufacturing space and nearly 1,800 employees in the city.

Columbus has really benefited from BD, but BD has also benefited from Columbus, said City Councilman John Lohr, whose father was among the local leaders who helped bring the company here almost 70 years ago. What you had was a great company choosing to locate in a great city within a great state  to everyones benefit. It doesnt get any better than that.

Lohr was among the local and state officials gathered at BDs east plant to celebrate the longstanding partnership between the company and Columbus while also kicking off a project that represents a step into the future.

BD broke ground Wednesday on a $60 million project that will make the 920 E. 19th St. facility the centerpiece of its manufacturing operations for plastic injection molded products in North America.

The company is one of the largest users of plastic molded products in the world, with billions of units produced internally and purchased from suppliers each year.

The 69,000-square-foot addition and other upgrades will make the Columbus location one of the largest and most-sophisticated plastic molding manufacturing facilities in the world, according to Laurie Reagan, plant manager for the new facility.

Expected to be fully operational by 2021, the plant will transition from making glass injection devices to producing plastic components such as syringe caps, plunger rods and backstops, luer connectors, vials and tubes.

Columbus-based B-D Construction, the projects contractor, is expected to begin dirt work this fall with construction starting next spring. The expansion will be completed in phases.

Im very excited about our future at BD, our new facility and our future in Columbus, Reagan said.

The project wont have any impact on the number of workers BD employs, according to spokesman Troy Kirkpatrick.

This is more about technology as opposed to adding more people, he said.

BD plans to invest about $7 million to train its workers on the new production process and some employees could be transferred to other facilities, including the west location in Columbus. The company is partnering with Central Community College to develop curriculum for this training.

During Wednesdays ceremony, Mayor Jim Bulkley called Columbus fortunate to have a company like BD located here.

On his first trip through town 41 years ago, the companys west plant stood out as he drove by.

Since then the growth and expansion just continues, he said. Its just amazing.

Bulkley said the companys local partnerships, including working with CCC and donating $100,000 for STEM education at Columbus Public Schools, put the city above and beyond other communities.

The manufacturing jobs also make Columbus less susceptible to economic downturns when industries such as agriculture take a hit, the mayor said.

Gov. Pete Ricketts pointed to numerous BD employees attending the groundbreaking, most of whom have been with the company for 20-plus years, as the reason why its important to promote business expansion in the state.

When we see companies like Becton Dickinson come to Nebraska, we want to welcome them because they create the great jobs that you can have for 25 or 40 years working there, he said.

The governor called BD, which also has manufacturing facilities in Holdrege and Broken Bow and employs nearly 2,900 people in the state, a great partner for Nebraska.

In September 2016, BD announced a $100 million investment at its Holdrege facility to expand its insulin syringe manufacturing operations.

Ricketts noted that he is promoting manufacturing opportunities in Nebraska by pushing for tax reform, eliminating unnecessary red tape for businesses and investing in educational programs and infrastructure.

We see it paying off, he said.
The Election Commission will announce the dates of assembly polls in Gujarat at 1pm on Wednesday, officials said.

The poll panel has faced criticism for not announcing these dates along with the election schedule for Himachal Pradesh earlier this month. Opposition parties allege that this helped the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to sidestep rules and offer incentives to voters in Gujarat.

The vote is seen as a barometer of support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a time when a sputtering economy has handed the opposition Congress party a possible opening to regain political ground.

The contest in Gujarat, Modis home state where the BJP has been in power for 22 years, will also be keenly watched for signs of voter reaction to some of his radical economic policies that made doing business far more complicated and raised the cost of compliance.

The BJP has also been facing angry protests by the states powerful Patidar community that has been demanding a quota in education and government jobs. Earlier this month, a new potential embarrassment emerged over the business dealings of Jay Amitbhai Shah, son of BJP chief Amit Shah.

Not that any of this necessarily upsets the BJPs expected victory in its citadel. The party has been extending its reach across the country, emboldened by a string of state election victories and high public approval for Modi.

But with the economy still reeling from last years cash clampdown and the bumpy implementation of the Goods and Services Tax, the party appears to have lost, for the first time since its resounding national victory in 2014, some of its confidence.

For the Congress, the stakes have never been higher. Its vice-president Rahul Gandhi is said to be preparing to take over the party by the end of this month, setting up what could be his first formal leadership test in Gujarat.

Over the past few months, Gandhi has also appeared to recover from a raft of bruising election defeats, displaying a new confidence in his public speeches as well as social media campaigns that has triggered some unease in the BJP.

In Gujarat, the ruling party has announced several incentives for voters, including loans without interest for farmers, jobs for sanitation workers and big ticket infrastructure projects.

As for allegations of being partial to the BJP, chief election commissioner AK Joti has defended his decision to delay the announcement of polls dates for Gujarat, saying multiple factors including weather, flood relief and festivities were considered.

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the government whether it would take coercive action against people who did not link their bank accounts and mobile numbers to the Aadhar unique-identity scheme before the governments stipulated deadline.

A bench headed by chief justice Dipak Misra sought the clarification after attorney general KK Venugopal said the government was willing to extend the deadline for the mandatory linking from December 31, 2016 to March 31 next year, but only for those who had not registered under Aadhaar yet and are willing to enroll.

The top court is hearing a raft of petitions challenging the governments move, which has raised privacy concerns, especially after recent massive leak of citizens details  including mobile numbers and bank details.

An Aadhaar card, containing a 12-digit identification number, is issued to individuals after collecting their biometric data such as retina scan and fingerprints.

The top court recently ruled that privacy is a guaranteed fundamental right which the petitioners are citing to build their case.

Advocates for the petitioners relied on a two-page government note containing the proposal for extending the deadline.

The three-month leeway, the government note read, was for Aadhaar-willing citizens.

Those with Aadhaar numbers, it said, would be required to sync their numbers with SIM cards, bank accounts, PAN and other schemes where notifications under the law have been issued.

The discrimination between Aadhaar card holders and those without it was strongly opposed in the court, prompting the bench to ask Venugopal to reconsider its proposal.

Can we say you (government) will take no coercive action till March 31? the court asked the AG who gave a verbal assurance, which did not satisfy the petitioners. He was then asked to come back to court on Monday with a response.

Senior advocate Shyam Divan, lawyer for one of the petitioners, contended the note meant Aadhaar card holders would be forced to part with their bank details and mobile phones. A sizeable section of the population have Aadhaar but are apprehensive to link it, he said.

He referred to government promises given to the court in past, despite which, he argued Aadhaar continued to spread.

Assurances are being made since 2014. The way Aadhaar is spreading is unconstitutional. Now those who have Aadhaar are vulnerable. People who have Aadhaar do not want to link. They have to share their one time password, Divan submitted, saying the petitions against Aadhaar have been crying for a hearing in SC since 2014.

He reminded the court that the attorney general had agreed for a hearing in November.

Venugopal said the government-appointed expert committee on Data Protection Law headed by former SC judge, Justice BN Srikrishna, has started working towards a robust data protection regime as the top court suggested in its privacy judgement.

The committee is also considering changes in the Aadhaar Act of 2016 and the Information Technology Act of 2000. A final form of law would be available by February 2018 due to which the government has proposed to extend the deadline for Aadhaar linking.

Senior advocate Arvind Datar  appearing for one of the petitioners - asked the government to make it categorical that nobody would it coerced to link Aadhaar. When the counsel repeatedly urged the CJI to set up a constitution bench to decide the issue once for all, the judges got upset.

You cannot command us... come back and mention on Monday, the court said.

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Gujarat will vote in two phases to pick a new assembly, the election commission said on Wednesday, setting the stage for a crucial battle that is seen as a test of support for Prime Minister Narendra Modis policies to revive a sputtering economy.

Chief election commissioner AK Joti said voting will take place on December 9 and 14. Polling will be held first in 89 seats across 19 districts and then 93 seats in 14 districts. Results will be out on December 18.

Joti said all polling stations will have voting machines with a paper trail attached called the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). The system records the candidate and symbol a person voted for but the voter cannot take the receipt home.

The election comes at a time when sluggish economic growth has handed the opposition Congress party a possible opening to regain political ground.

The contest in Gujarat, Modis home state where the BJP has been in power for 22 years, will also be keenly watched for signs of voter reaction to some of his radical economic policies that made doing business far more complicated and raised the cost of compliance.

The BJP has also been facing angry protests by the states powerful Patidar community that has been demanding a quota in education and government jobs. Earlier this month, a new potential embarrassment emerged over the business dealings of Jay Amitbhai Shah, son of BJP chief Amit Shah.

Not that any of this necessarily upsets the BJPs expected victory in its citadel of Gujarat. The party has been extending its reach across the country, emboldened by a string of state election victories and consistently high public approval for Modi.

But with the economy still reeling from last years cash clampdown and the bumpy implementation of the Goods and Services Tax, the party appears to have lost, for the first time since its resounding national victory in 2014, some of its confidence.

Its not going to be easy for the BJP. The job market has all but collapsed Scheduled castes have started organising themselves. People are unhappy, said Sebastian Morris, professor of economics at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

For the Congress, the stakes have never been higher, given that a good showing in BJPs bastion could help the party recover nationally from a raft of bruising election defeats. Its vice-president Rahul Gandhi is said to be preparing to take over the party by the end of this month, setting up what could be his first formal leadership test in Gujarat.

Over the past few months, Gandhi has also displayed a new confidence in his public speeches as well as social media campaigns that have triggered some unease in the BJP.

For the first time in three decades, the Congress is calling the shots and the BJP is reacting. But it remains to be seen if the support gets translated into votes, said senior Ahmedabad-based political analyst Hari Desai.

The elections are also a test of Gandhis ability to stitch political alliance in the state which is seeing the emergence of several young leaders, especially along caste lines, who oppose the BJP and whose support could be a swing factor.

The Congress has reached out to the most popular among them, Hardik Patel, the leader of the Patidar community, as well as Dalit leader Jignesh Mewani. The party has already enlisted the support of Alpesh Thakor, who leads a section of the Other Backwards Classes who are opposed to the Patidars demand for quota.

The BJP has responded with several incentives for voters in the state, including loans without interest for farmers, jobs for sanitation workers and big ticket infrastructure projects. The Gujarat election dates also come a day after the central government announced Rs 9 trillion in investments in banks and roads to boost the economy.

The poll panel has faced criticism for not announcing these dates along with the election schedule for Himachal Pradesh earlier this month. Opposition parties allege that this helped the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to sidestep rules and offer incentives to voters in Gujarat.

The panel denies any wrongdoing.

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Gujarat will vote in two phases, on December 9 and 14, the Election Commission announced on Wednesday.

The election watchdog has faced criticism for not announcing these dates along with the schedule for Himachal Pradesh earlier this month. Opposition parties allege that this helped the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to sidestep rules and offer incentives to voters in Gujarat.

The vote is seen as a barometer of support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a time when a sputtering economy has handed the opposition Congress party a possible opening to regain political ground.

Here are the live updates:

2.20pm: Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani says, We are ready. Confident that BJP will win with 3/4th majority.

1.41pm: CCTV cameras will be used at border checkposts to prevent smuggling of liquor and money and to stop anti-social elements from entering the state, says CEC Joti.

1.40pm: Poll process in Gujarat to start on November 14 with issue of notification and filing of nomination for first phase: EC

1.38pm: No. of voters in phase 1: 2.21 crore

1.37pm: No. of voters in phase 1: 2.11 crore

1.34pm: Phase 2 will see voting in 93 seats.

1.34pm: Phase 1 will see voting in 89 seats.

1.33pm: Counting on December 18, along with Himachal Pradesh, says EC.

1.31pm: Poll dates are: December 9 and December 14, says EC.

1.29pm: Schedule for election-- polling in two phases.

1.24pm: Conduct of govt officials: Discharge duties in impartial and fair manner, says EC.

1.22pm: Online application for rallies or public meetings, called Suvidha, will be there: EC

1.20pm: Control room and complaint monitoring centres will be available 24x7, says EC.

1.19pm: Voter helplines will be there: EC

1.16pm: Rs 28 lakh is the ceiling of expenditure for candidates: EC

1.15pm: Candidates will have to open separate account and use that for elections.

1.14pm: Election expenditure of candidates: Several agencies, including police and excise department, will be monitoring the situation.

1.13pm: Elaborate security arrangements will be in place -- CRPF will be available to help local police: EC.

1.11pm: Model code of conduct also covers the Union government, says EC

1.10pm: Model code of conduct comes into effect immediately, says EC

1.09pm: Slips generated by VVPAT machine will be randomly selected and counted.

1.08pm: 50,128 polling booths will be set up: Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti

1.07pm: 182 polling stations with 100% women personnel: EC.

1.06pm: VVPAT, along with EVM, will be there: EC.

1.05pm: Differently-abled voters will be given priority: EC.

1.04pm: All polling stations will have drinking water, electricity, says EC.

1.03pm: Voter guide brochure should be put out in local language, says EC.

1.02pm: Total number of electors is 4.33 crore. Photo rolls updates to 99%, says EC.

1.01pm: Election Commision press conference begins.

12.37pm: Centre tells Supreme Court that forces need to be deployed in the poll- bound states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

12.34pm: Elections in this crucial state will be fought amid a new potential embarrassment that emerged over the business dealings of Jay Amitbhai Shah, son of BJP chief Amit Shah.

12.33pm: For the Congress, the stakes have never been higher. Its vice-president, Rahul Gandhi, is said to be preparing to take over the party by the end of this month, setting up what could be his first formal leadership test in Gujarat.

12.32pm: For the BJP, the contest in Modis home state will be keenly watched for signs of voter reaction to some of his radical economic policies that made doing business far more complicated and raised the cost of compliance. It is also a state where the party has been in power for 22 years.

12.28pm: Some of the key issues at play

Patidar quota demand: Protests for OBC status by the influential Patidar community is probably the biggest challenge the BJP government has faced in its two-decade rule. The state government last month announced a commission and a corporation for communities outside the purview of reservation. But Hardik Patel has vowed to continue the agitation. Patidars can affect the result in as many as 60 of the total 182 seats.

GST: Small and medium-scale businessmen and traders, who form the core of the BJP support base, have been hit by what they call implementation glitches in the roll out of the Goods and Services Tax.

Farmers/Narmada: While the BJP has so far largely weaved its campaign around the Sardar Sarovar Dam  dedicated to the nation by PM Narendra Modi in October, the Congress has been trying to raise the issue of unavailability of Narmada water for irrigation.

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India on Wednesday told visiting US state secretary Rex Tillerson that it plans to retain its diplomatic mission, which is very small in size, in Pyongyang, even as the Trump administration heightens its efforts to isolate North Korea for its nuclear and missile programme.

Officials familiar with the meeting between Tillerson and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said Swaraj broached the topic of the Indian mission in North Korea and Indias diminishing  trade with Iran, even before any specific aspect of Delhi- Pyongyang ties were brought up by the American side.

They could have asked specific questions. But the minister spoke about the issue before any specific question was asked, said an official. The issue of North Korea was expected to come up during the talks in a big way as US President Donald Trump heads to China next month.

As far as the question of embassy goes, our embassy there (Pyongyang) is very small, but there is in fact an embassy, Swaraj said in a press conference.

I told secretary Tillerson that some of their friendly countries should maintain embassies there so that some channels of communication are kept open. They (the US) might need to talk to them sometime. So, its better to have friendly countries missions there, she explained.

India and North Korea maintain diplomatic offices in each others capitals, though New Delhi recently banned trade of most goods with the country, except food or medicine after the fresh round of UN sanctions.

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Interstate migration in India doubled between 2001 and 2011 compared to the previous decade, with Pune and Surat emerging as the most affected cities in the Asian region, says a WEF report.

According to the World Economic Forums report on Migration and Cities, India is home to one-fourth of the 100 fastest-growing cities in the world while Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are among the 10 most populous urban areas worldwide.

The report further said in the Asian region, Pune and Surat have been named among the most affected cities, besides Guangzhou and Davao City.

According to the United Nations, there are three times more internal migrants than international migrants in the world.

In India, interstate migration doubled between 2001 and 2011 compared to the previous decade, growing 4.5% annually, WEF said, adding annual interstate migration in the country averaged about 5-6 million migrants a year.

Migrants are drawn to cities in search of economic, social and creative opportunities, said Alice Charles, Lead, Cities, World Economic Forum.

Citing examples, the report said, Bihar, a state with one of the highest outflows of domestic migrants, has a per-capita income roughly equivalent to Somalias (around USD 520) and a birth rate of 3.4 children per woman, on the other hand, Kerala, a destination for in-migrants, has a per-capita income four times that of Bihars (about USD 2,350) and a birth rate of 1.6 children per woman, on par with Denmark.

Moreover, cities like Faridabad, Ludhiana and Surat total over 55% of in-migrants, whereas the rate in Agra and Allahabad is below 15%, demonstrating the significant variation among Indian cities regarding in-migration.

Regionwise, the report highlighted 22 of the most affected cities around the world, including from North America (Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, New York, Boston), Latin America (Sao Paulo, Medellin).

The report further noted that in Middle East and North Africa (Dubai, Amman, Ramallah) were the most affected cities, in sub-Saharan Africa (Cape Town, Dakar), Asia (Pune, Surat, Guangzhou, Davao City), Europe (Berlin, Athens, Paris, Amsterdam, Rotterdam) and Oceania (Auckland).

The report looked at the solutions implemented or initiated to meet the needs of the migrant population, particularly in the delivery of vital urban infrastructure and services like housing, education, health, employment, integration and social cohesion, and safety and security.

Partnerships between cities will have greater prominence in the years to come, with possibilities of migrant redistribution and responding to labour market needs with immigrants, said Gregory Hodkinson, chairman, Arup Group Ltd; Chair of the World Economic Forum Future of Urban Development and Services Initiative.
The CPI(M)-led Kerala government on Wednesday decided to seek legal opinion on land grabbing charges against state transport minister Thomas Chandy, who is in the dock after the district collector of Alappuzha submitted a report confirming encroachment by the resort owned by him.

TV Anupama submitted an interim report last week, saying his five-star resort in Alappuzha illegally grabbed lake and wetland around its premises. It also said the resort had encroached backwaters and the adjoining land was filled with mud flouting all norms.

A parking lot was also built in front of the resort after reclaiming paddy fields illegally, it added.

The report has recommended strong action against revenue, agriculture, and port officials who facilitated the land encroachment.

But the minister, a Nationalist Congress Party nominee, brushed aside the report, saying the collector was misled by some forces. He moved the Kerala high court challenging the report, saying it was prepared without hearing him out. He said he built the resort 13 years ago and it was not proper to raise allegations now.

It is the first time that a minister has approached the court against the collector.

An expatriate businessman, Chandy became the minister in April last year after NCP minister AK Saseendran resigned in the wake of a telephone sex scandal.

Fissures soon surfaced in the ruling front after revenue minister E Chandrasekharan (CPI) asked chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take action against the minister based on the report of the collector.

Though there were many allegations against Chandy they came to limelight after he became the minister. Despite the mounting allegations against him, the chief minister defended him on several occasions inviting sharp reactions from the Congress-led opposition.

Despite a scathing report against the minister, the CM is scared to drop him. It seems there is an understanding between the two. How can the CM who came on anti-corruption plank defend such a corrupt minister? asked opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala.

However, CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the government will take appropriate action after examining the collectors report in detail.

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The trade union arm of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has objected to as many as 25 provisions of the proposed legislation on wages on Tuesday, setting the stage for a possible confrontation with the Centre over labour reforms.

Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), arguably the countrys largest trade union, demanded that apprentice or trainees should also be defined as employee.

The BMS has maintained distance from the Left and Congressbacked trade unions since the NDA government returned to power and didnt participate in any general strike called by other unions. The BMS had red-flagged land bill and FDI in some sectors earlier, leading to an acrimony within the Sangh Parivar.

On Tuesday, it echoed a similar line with other unions on the provision of slapping penalty of eight-day wages if a worker joins a trade union strike for a day.

It is a black law against freedom of trade unions, the BMS said. Communist Party of India (Marxist)-backed Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), which wants the bill to be scrapped, dubbed the provision as draconian. Section 20(2) of the Wage Code says if the strike is declared illegal by the government, the penalty would be sla- pped. And, no strike can be legal, if the proposals made in the Lab- our Code on Industrial Relations are enacted, said Tapan Sen, general secretary of the CITU.

BMS has also objected to the governments proposal of replacing inspectors with facilitat- ors in the bill. If this is done due to corruption in the inspectorate, it has to be addressed differently and not by eliminating the system, said Pawan Kumar, representing the BMS at the meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on labour. Business chambers like ASSOCHAM, which support the wage code, also deposed before the panel.

Code on Wages 2017 is the first of the four bills that Centre plans to push to reform the labour sectors archaic laws, with an eye to woo investors. The government may also face protests from Opposition on the issue.

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The Maharashtra governments attempt of online registration for loan waiver implementation has sent the authorities into a tizzy as names over 100 farmers have been found linked to a single Aadhaar number.

The state government had earlier stressed on online registration by farmers with their Aadhaar, which is a unique identification.

The government has said that the Aadhaar-based linking will avoid any duplication as well as fake accounts getting the benefit of the loan waiver.

A senior official from the Maharashtra cooperation department showed a list of potential beneficiaries of farmers having a common Aadhaar number, which has become a cause of concern for the government.

We always thought that the Aadhaar number will be our key to check fake beneficiaries. Now, we dont know how to address this challenge with so many farmers showing the same Aadhaar number. If we have to carry out a manual check, which will take weeks. The farming community is already agitated over the delay in implementation of the scheme, the official said.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has called an urgent meeting with bankers on Wednesday to address issues like this that crop up in the way of speedy implementation of the scheme.

Officials of some banks also admitted that the data they received from the online registration portal  Aapale Sarkar  varies the data at their in their records.

The names of some farmers are missing and some do not match with the land size or type of loan.

In many cases the principal amount and interest are not matching. It leads to suspicion. Unless the state officials have verified the account and its loan amount, we cannot consider that account for loan waiver, a senior official of a leading public sector bank.

The state government had last week released a sum of Rs 4,000 crore under the first phase of the over Rs 34,000 crore farm loan waiver scheme.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis handing over loan waiver certificates to the beneficiary farmers at a special function in Mumbai on Wednesday. (PTI)

Responding to the Oppositions criticism against the online system of filling forms for availing the scheme, Fadnavis last week earlier said had that not been done, the banks would have mismanaged funds.

The Centre had earlier this year made Aadhaar mandatory for availing crop insurance policies.

As per the agriculture ministrys directive, banks were asked to persuade farmers to furnish Aadhaar identification card at the time of sanction/renewal/ disbursement/inspection of the loan or on visit at bank branches.
The Madras high court on Tuesday banned the use of pictures of living persons on banners and hoardings in Tamil Nadu, where towering cut-outs of politicians and actors are almost a part of the local culture.

The court asked Tamil Nadus top official to maintain a clean environment and also ensure that there were no unnecessary drawings on buildings and residential places in all wards of the southern state.

If at all any permission is given by the authority concerned for erecting banners, flex boards, sign-boards, etc, the authority concerned shall ensure that the photos/pictures of such persons who are alive, shall not be depicted by way of those banners, flex boards, sign boards etc, justice S Vaidyanathan said.

It means that pictures of the chief minister, ministers or politicians can no longer be used in posters or hoardings, often put up as a show of strength and support  larger the better.

The court has also barred use of photos of people sponsoring the pictures.

The court was hearing a plea by Chennai resident B Thirulochana Kumari who had asked the local civic body to remove a party board, banner and a flag erected in front of her home by a Mathi.

The petitioner said police declined to accept her application and instead threatened her with a case under the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes (prevention of atrocities) act.

Asking the chief secretary to ensure clean surroundings, the court told the official to ensure that provisions of the Tamil Nadu open places (prevention of disfigurement) act, 1959, were amended from time to time.

Many Twitter users welcomed the decision, saying banners and posters in public areas hindered traffic and dirtied the environment. But, others wondered how the advertising industry would react to the order.

Banners , flex boards ,cutouts a bad culture .They create problems for traffic,environment &hatred among people.Court ban is most welcome.  HalanSevannan (@HalanSevannan4) October 25, 2017

Nice idea as we waste lot of money on it and we can save environment too   narwal  (@ishan007_ishan) October 25, 2017

What is going to happen to the ad world? After shoots for ads models be killed before putting pics on ad banners?  lazybeee (@lazybsingh) October 25, 2017

Politicians and celebrities are often elevated to a god-like status in Tamil Nadu. Supporters raising shrines to their leaders and fans bathing their favourite actors cut-outs in milks are a common phenomenon in the state, where cinema has huge influence on politics.

(With PTI inputs)
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday again mocked the government over its growth forecast, terming as a farce the Modi governments statements on its economic performance.

Attaching a tweet posted on Tuesday by the Press Information Bureau, the governments official publicity wing, which said that real GDP growth average was 7.5% in the last three years, Rahul Gandhi posted: Dear Mr. Jaitley, May the Farce be with you. His remark was also a pun on the famous line from the Star Wars blockbuster movie series.

Dear Mr. Jaitley, May the Farce be with you. pic.twitter.com/Dxb5jFCaEa  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 25, 2017

The table accompanying the PIB tweet said IMF Forecast said that 8.2% growth was achieved in 2015-16, temporary economic slowdown was bottoming out and the GDP was projected to grow much faster in the times to come.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley had on Tuesday said the Indian economy is on a strong wicket and expressed confidence in its macroeconomic fundamentals. He had also maintained that India has been the fastest growing major economy for the last three years and the government is attempting to maintain a high growth rate.
Minister of state for external affairs VK Singh is in Iraq to meet senior officials to coordinate the search operations for the 39 missing Indians and find concrete information related to their whereabouts.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Iraqi embassy in New Delhi said Iraq and India continue their close cooperation in order to find the location of the missing Indians who were kidnapped by the IS terrorist group in June 2014.

Further coordination has been done between India and Iraq to provide the latter with DNA samples of relatives of the missing Indians, as a matter of routine procedure, to help Iraqi investigators in their search to verify the identity of the thousands of victims left by ISIS, whether alive or exhumed bodies, as a number of mass graves have been discovered in the areas that were under ISIS control, it said.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh assured Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday that the territorial integrity of the state would not be compromised with, amid reports of a possible peace settlement with Naga rebel group NSCN-IM.

This was conveyed when Sonowal called on Singh in New Delhi, an Assam government statement said.

The issue of Nagalim (Greater Nagaland) also came up for discussion in the meeting and the Union home minister assured the chief minister that territorial integrity of Assam would not be compromised at any cost and the central government is committed to maintain peace and harmony in the Northeast region, the statement said.

The NSCN-IM is on a peace negotiation with the central government and there have been reports that a settlement with the insurgent group is possible in near future.

One of the key demands of the NSCN-IM is integration of Naga-inhabited areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal meets finance minister Arun Jaitley. (Photo: Sarbananda Sonowals Twitter account)

In his meeting with Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, Sonowal urged him to announce a new industrial policy for Assam and other northeastern states.

Sonowal sought Jaitleys intervention in announcing the new industrial policy for the northeastern region before the proposed the Global Investors Summit to be held in Guwahati on February 3 and 4, 2018.

The chief minister impressed upon the finance minister about the need for an industrial policy, exclusively for Assam and Northeast, to incentivise investments in Assam as it would augur well to create an investor friendly climate in the region before the investors summit, the statement said.

Sonowal also sought Jaitleys help in expeditiously releasing Rs 1,138 crore due for the flood management programmes.

He said the release of the funds would help in early implementation of 141 ongoing and proposed flood and erosion management projects in the state.

In his meeting with transport and water resources minister Nitin Gadkari, Sonowal was informed that the central government has accorded investment clearance against implementation of five flood and erosion management projects in Assam with an expenditure of Rs 256.55 crore.

He urged the union minister to ensure early release of funds for the ongoing flood management programmes.
Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba on Tuesday gave his stamp of approval to a new deployment pattern that seeks to position mission-ready Indian warships and aircraft along critical sea lanes of communications and choke points.

Lanba ordered the scaling up of the navys maritime footprint on the opening day of the naval commanders conference, amid growing sightings of Chinese naval assets in the Indian Ocean region.

The four-day conference  a biannual event - is aimed at taking stock of navys combat readiness with focus on operational effectiveness of combat platforms, logistics and development of shore support infrastructure for sustaining high tempo operations.

The deployment of Chinese naval units in the Indian Ocean is being closely monitored by the Indian Navy - it sighted more than a dozen Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean in May-June including submarines, destroyers and intelligence-gathering vessels.

Navy officials said anti-piracy patrols and freedom of navigation were the reasons cited by China for its rising presence in the region.

The officials Navy sources said under the new deployment model, up to 15 Indian warships would be deployed from as far as the Persian Gulf to the Strait of Malacca and northern Bay of Bengal to the southeast coast of Africa.

In July, China began deploying troops to its first overseas naval base at Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, a significant leap forward in the expansion of its foreign military presence that triggered concerns in India. The Djibouti base will boost Beijings ability to sustain naval units in the Indian Ocean.

The Indian Navys deployments are part of an effort to meet any eventuality across the spectrum of operations including maritime terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), human trafficking, piracy and narcotics trade.

We have emerged as first responders in HADR situations in the region on numerous occasions, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said at the 4th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus) in the Philippines on Tuesday, highlighting the navys greater presence and visibility.

A senior navy officer said the force was re-balancing its deployments in the Indian Ocean region in line with Prim Minister Narendra Modis vision of security and growth for all in the region, known by its acronym SAGAR.
A womans desperate bid to get a child after suffering two miscarriages landed her in trouble after she stole a newborn boy from a state-run hospital.

The woman, identified as Manjula, was arrested on Tuesday night, deputy commissioner of police (central zone) Joel Davis said, adding the baby later died of ill health.

The accused, a native of Warangal district, had come to the Niloufer Hospital on Saturday with the hope of getting a child from some parent, he said.

On Sunday, the childs grandmother had brought him to the hospital for treatment. Manjula tricked the elderly woman by helping her with the formalities of the treatment, and allegedly stole the baby. She then fled to Telanganas Nagarkurnool district, police told reporters late Tuesday night.

A case of kidnapping was registered and 15 teams were formed to trace the woman, they said.

After an analysis of more than 100 CCTV cameras in different areas of the city, the police found that the accused went to Petlaburz area, met her husband there and they went to his native village in Nagarkurnool, Davis said.

She had concealed from her husband and in-laws about her second miscarriage and posed to them as if she was pregnant and had come to Hyderabad for a check-up, the DCP said.

A woman from the village of the accuseds husband informed the police that she had seen Manjula coming there with a newborn boy, he said.

According to the informant, the baby died of ill health on Sunday. The offenders family members buried the baby in an agricultural field the next day and left the village, Davis said.

The police managed to track the accuseds location and arrested her around 10 pm on Tuesday from Hyderabad, the DCP said.

We are examining whether there was an involvement of her husband in the matter, though the accused asserted that her husband was not aware about the kidnapping, and that he still believes the boy was their child, Davis added.
There are fresh fears in a few northeast states that Naga-inhabited areas in their territory could be ceded to Greater Nagalim as peace talks have picked up pace and speculations about a final solution to the six-decade-old issue have been swirling.

Naga rebel groups have been demanding the creation of a Greater Nagalim comprising contiguous Naga-inhabited areas in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and parts of Myanmar bordering India.

Despite assurances from the Centre that no such decision was taken while signing the framework agreement with National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) in 2015, apprehensions continue as details of the agreement are yet to be made public.

NSCN-IMs demand for Greater Nagalim encompasses nearly 1,20,000 sq km - more than seven times Nagalands 16,527 sq km area. Significantly, the demand has been endorsed five times till date by Nagaland assembly between 1964 and 2015.

Centres chief interlocutor for the Naga talks RN Ravi on Monday held a meeting, for the first time in Nagaland, with six rebel outfits, other than NSCN-IM, leading to speculations that a final agreement could happen soon.

In recent weeks, chief ministers of BJP-ruled Assam and Manipur have reiterated no part of their territories would be compromised but organisations in these states are also opposing the creation of any pan-Naga cultural or social body covering all Naga-inhabited areas.

We welcome a final solution to the Naga issue but we are opposed to ceding any part of Manipur to Great Nagalim or creation of any organization, be it cultural, social or any other form, which extends beyond Nagaland, Johnson Elangbam president of United Committee Manipur (UCM), a civil society organisation, told the Hindustan Times.

The hill districts in Manipur, which are inhabited by over a half a dozen Naga tribes, are part of the Greater Nagalim envisaged by NSCN-IM and other Naga groups.

The Centre should not succumb indirectly to Naga demands and create a body which covers Naga people living in Manipur. Manipuris wont tolerate such a thing and it will lead to major unrest, said Elangbam.

Similar anxiety also prevails in Assam, where Nagas reside in districts bordering Nagaland.

We have nothing against the Naga issue getting resolved, but it should not be at the cost of Assams integrity, said Lurinjyoti Gogoi, general secretary of All Assam Students Union (AASU), the states biggest students organisation.

He said AASU wont accept the formation of any authority or organisation, which covers Nagas residing outside Nagaland.

There is fear that such a body could turn into a political platform in future. We have no issues if the Assam government wants to do something for Nagas residing in our state, but there should be no control of that from Nagaland, Gogoi stressed.

All this confusion is prevailing because the Centre is yet to make details of the framework agreement with NSCN-IM public. In a democracy, the public has every right to know contents of such a major document. If it is shrouded in mystery, there would be no lasting solution to the Naga issue, he added.

Caption: An NSCN-IM map shows areas falling under Greater Nagalim.

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Once a cash-surplus undertaking of the state government, the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) is in the middle of a financial trouble as it has accumulated Rs 12,000 crore debt in less than a decade.

The main reason behind the debt is the borrowings the public sector undertaking made for payments for land it acquired. The corporations debt equity ratio is at 8:1 as against the accepted 2:1, showing the magnitude of financial trouble it is facing.

In view of the low-inventory turnover and low-cash inflows, the debt equity ratio has deteriorated and come to the level of 8:1 which is unacceptable to any financial institution or bank.

Moreover, it has received poor response to the allotment of industrial plots, forcing it to contemplate price reduction. The corporation is facing a severe cash crunch due to low recovery from allottees, low demand for industrial, commercial and institutional plots besides huge liability towards enhanced costs, read an HSIIDC note.

HSIIDC officials did not respond to calls for their comments.

Rs 1,000 crore annual interest burden

Documents accessed by the HT show the corporation which remained cash-rich till the financial year 2010-11 was hit by an annual interest burden of Rs 1,000 crore as a result of huge market borrowings in the last seven years. The servicing of the interest on borrowings has become a serious challenge for the corporation.

Major land acquisitions  IMT Kharkhauda (3,302 acres), Dharuhera (433 acres), Barwala Phase 2 (557 acres), IMT Manesar, Integrated Complex and Railway Sidings (365 acres), Global City interchange (147 acres), Integrated Multi Modal Logistic Hub, Narnaul (1,208 acres) and MRTS project (304 acres) and award of enhanced compensation by the courts meant that the corporation had to resort to borrowings in the form of short and long-term loans and cash credit limit from the banks.

Lopsided equity ratio

In view of the low-inventory turnover and low-cash inflows, the debt equity ratio has deteriorated and come to the level of 8:1 which is unacceptable to any financial institution or bank. As such, the bankers are reluctant to provide any further financial assistance to the corporation, says a corporation file noting.

So much so that the Punjab and Haryana high court came down heavily on the corporation, ordering it to submit a comprehensive schedule for payment of outstanding amount of enhanced compensation to the tune of Rs 7,200 crore to land owners. The state government on September 18 told the HC that Rs 1,500 crore has been placed at the disposal of the land acquisition collectors for disbursement as compensation to the landowners. Till date, a sum of Rs 2,431 crores has already been paid to the landowners, the government told the HC.

Borrowing limit increased

The financial mess has made the corporation increase its borrowing limits, primarily aimed at paying the cost of land and enhanced compensation ordered by the courts. Its Board of Directors increased the borrowing limit from Rs 3000 crore to Rs 7500 crore in August 2013. The borrowing limit was further enhanced to Rs 10,000 crore in December 2015 and it was increased to Rs 15,000 crore in March 2017.

Thats not the end of it. The corporation has estimated that its debt will exceed the approved limit of Rs 15,000 crore on account of land acquisition cost and enhanced compensation expenditure. Thus, the board of directors has been requested to increase the corporations borrowing powers to Rs 25,000 crore, documents revealed.

Financial implications arising out of development works has not only invited proposal from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)-registered merchant banker for appointment as a financial consultant for raising fresh debt of Rs 5000 crore, it has also asked banks, financial institutions, merchant bankers to provide up to Rs 10,000 crore in shortest possible time to ensure HC order compliance.

Figuring it out

The HSIIDC has also informed the high court that it proposes to auction plots worth Rs 5,000 crore by December to generate funds for making outstanding payments. Among other measures, the corporation plans to revise the allotment price of plots in various industrial estates.

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The new US policy for South Asia, with India being asked to play a larger role in Afghanistan, can succeed only if Pakistan acts decisively against terror groups operating from its soil, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said after meeting her American counterpart Rex Tillerson in New Delhi on Wednesday.

As Tillersons six-nation tour, which also took him to Afghanistan and Pakistan, culminated with meetings with the Indian leadership, the two sides decided to expand cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region to counter an aggressive China as part of efforts to cement bilateral ties.

The US secretary of state travelled to New Delhi from Islamabad, where he told the Pakistani leadership to increase their efforts to eradicate terrorists. He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and national security adviser Ajit Doval.

India and the US discussed that no country in the world should provide safe havens to terror groups. Any country backing terrorism must be made responsible. The USs South Asia policy can succeed only if Pakistan acts decisively against terror groups (that operate from its territory), Swaraj told the media while summing up a major part of her discussions with Tillerson.

US secretary of state Rex Tillerson with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj during a joint press briefing in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO)

Officials familiar with the talks said Swaraj explained to Tillerson, whom she met for the second time, that the safe havens Pakistan provides to terror groups which target India and Afghanistan pose the biggest threat to peace and stability in the region.

The US should take this into account and get Pakistan to act decisively against such groups for the success of its new South Asia policy, the Indian side said.

Sharing Indias concerns but noting that the US has to work with Pakistan, its long-standing ally in the region, Tillerson told reporters that the US is concerned about militant groups threatening the stability and security of the government in Islamabad. No country should provide safe havens to terror groups, he added.

The new South Asia policy unveiled by President Donald Trump in August envisages a bigger role for India in Afghanistan. Trump also threatened to crack down on Pakistan if it did not act against militant groups sheltering in its territory.

India has for long blamed Pakistan-based terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba for carrying out strikes in the country, the same way American officials have accused Islamabad of not acting against the Afghan Taliban and its ally, the Haqqani Network.

Tillerson held talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, foreign minister Khawaja Asif and the heads of the army and intelligence services in Islamabad on Tuesday before flying into New Delhi.

He said terror groups based in Pakistan, who go unchecked, pose a threat to the stability and security of the government in Islamabad.

This could lead to a threat to Pakistans own stability. It is not in anyones interests that the government of Pakistan be destabilised, he said. In the fight against terrorism, the US will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with India.

His discussions in New Delhi also focussed on the critical role India would play in the US regional strategy for the Indian and Pacific Oceans to counter an assertive China.

I look forward to further cooperation in the broader Indo-Pacific region as we both promote a rules-based approach to commerce and a transparent and sustainable approach to economic development. We are glad to be joined in this effort by our close mutual partner Japan, he said.

India and the US are also working to host their first 2 plus 2 dialogue, a meeting between their foreign and defence ministers, early next year, the leaders said.

Answering a question on Indias extensive ties with Iran, Tillerson said the US would not block legitimate business between Tehran and any ally of his country. The Trump administration has taken a tougher stand on Iran over its nuclear and missile programmes.

Our fight is not with the Iranian people. Our disagreements are with the revolutionary regimeWe are taking actions to impose sanctions on the regime and in particular the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. It is our objective to deny financing capacity and to disrupt activities related to these malign behaviours, he said.

Swaraj said she and Tillerson also discussed significant contributions to the US economy made by skilled Indian professionals holding H1-B and L1 visas.

During his meeting with Tillerson, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pointed to the commonality of the objectives of India and the US, which include eradicating terrorism and terrorist infrastructure while bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.

They further discussed stepping up effective cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and promoting regional stability and security, said a statement from the PMO.

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Pakistans army says Indian forces have fired artillery shells at villages along the separation line in the disputed region of Kashmir, killing two people and wounding six others.

The military in a statement said the Tuesday attack was the latest violation of a 2003 ceasefire agreement between the two countries.

Deputy commissioner Abdul Hameed said Wednesday that the Pakistan army returned fire after coming under attack in the Leepa Valley.

There was no immediate comment from India.

Pakistan and India routinely accuse each other of firing across the Line of Control.

Leepa valley is located 100 kilometers (60 miles) northeast of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The Election Commission on Wednesday announced polling in Gujarat assembly election will begin on December 9 as political parties traded barbs and targeted rivals ahead of the high-stakes poll.

A look at the key issues that can make or break a partys fortunes in the state:

Patidar quota demand: The influential Patidar communitys protests to grant them other backward community (OBC) status is probably the biggest challenge the BJP government faces in its two-decade rule. The state government last month announced a commission and a corporation for communities outside the purview of reservation. But Patidar leader Hardik Patel says the governments measures are not new and has vowed to continue the agitation. Patidars can affect the result in as many as 60 of the total 182 seats.

GST: Small and medium-scale businessmen and traders, who form the core of the BJP support base, have been hit by what they call implementation glitches in the roll out of the Goods and Services Tax. The government has moved to address some of their concerns but many say the slowing economy has added to the woes. Textile traders in the state want the government to roll back 5% GST on cloth. In industrial hub Surat, over a lakh traders protested on the streets in July to oppose the 5% GST on textiles.

Narmada dam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September dedicated the Sardar Sarovar dam built on the Narmada to the nation. The dam will irrigate 2,46,000 hectares of land and is as an emotive issue for the people of Gujarat, who largely depend on Narmada waters to quench thirst and irrigate agriculture fields. The Congress, on the other hand, has been raising the issue of incomplete canal network. Though over 500-km long main canal and six branch canals have been completed, work on minor, sub-minor and dis-tributaries is still on.

Unemployment: Over the last three years, youth across Gujarat have hit the streets demanding jobs and quota. Fourteen young men of the Patidar community lost their lives, 700 OBC youths detained for locking down factories, and one chief minister--Anandiben Patel--has had to step down. This Hindustan Times story in May 2017 noted that industries enjoys a momentum in the state but they dont translate into employment. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has tried to raise the issue in his recent rallies, attacking Modi for a lack of jobs. His jobs pitch is aimed at wooing the youth, who otherwise vote for the BJP.

Contractual workers: Teachers, anganwadi women workers, clerks and others hired on contractual basis with fixed salaries have been protesting for two years. While some sections are demanding a hike in their pay others want permanent job status.

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If you think Chhath is observed only along the banks of the Ganga, hold on! Again, if you think only Hindus celebrate the festival, dedicated to the Sun God, think again.

Elaborate preparations have been made even inside Bihar prisons, where hundreds of under trial and convicted prisoners, including Muslims, are performing Chhath Puja across the state. As the festival, ending Friday, demands, many are observing fast and following all the rituals that go with it.

In the 58 jails, including eight central jails spread across the state, prisoners, cutting across religious beliefs have geared up for the strict Chhath rituals. On their part, prison authorities are extending all help to them.

The devotees prepared kheer, made of milk and rice, on Wednesday, to offer it to other prisoners, as well as officials.

In view of the strict norms associated with Chhath, the jail administration has banned non-vegetarian food until the completion of the festival. The inmates have been singing devotional songs over the public address system as part of the rituals.

Over a dozen Muslim convicts, serving life term in Beur model jail in the outskirts of Patna, besides several in Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur central jails, are also observing fast and performing other rituals of Chhath, the most popular Hindu festival of Bihar, prison authorities said on Wednesday.

This has strengthened the bonding. Prisoners of all communities are helping each other on the occasion. Chhath demands a very high level of purity and hygiene. All jail inmates - whether Hindus, Muslims or Sikhs - have been actively engaged in cleaning and decorating the premises. There is a complete change in the environment. It doesnt look like a jail at all, said Beur Jail superintendent Rupak Kumar.

Manoj Kumar, superintendent of Motihari central jail, said why Chhath was such an important religious festival was evident in more ways than one. It has a huge spiritual impact. Those facing serious charges also seem completely taken over by the Chhath spirit, which calls for utmost devotion. As it is a matter of faith and piety, jail authorities provide all help to the devotees, he added.

The Muzaffarpur jail superintendent said that a pond had been dug up inside the jail premises and filled with fresh water mixed with Ganga Jal. All devotees have been provided new clothes and puja material, including fruits, milk, sugar, rice and flour, he added.

A senior official of home department told HT that though no centralised data regarding the number of Chhath devotees in the prisons is maintained, it was a fact that several of the inmates in various jails undertook fast and performed rituals on the occasion.

Many prisoners volunteered and cleaned the campus as well as decorated the premises. May be it is also a way of performing penance and reforming. The entire environment here has turned spiritual, he added.

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The Centre moved the Supreme Court Wednesday against Calcutta high courts order restraining it from withdrawing the central police forces deployed in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal, which witnessed violent protests over demand for separate Gorkhaland.

The appeal was mentioned before a bench led by Justice J Chelameswar who said the forces were required to be moved to Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, which will hold elections in December and November, while some were to be stationed at border areas to strengthen internal security.

Justice Chelameswar agreed to hear the government on October 27.

Centres advocate Wasim Qadri said the high court had on October 17 stopped the Centre from withdrawing seven of 15 companies, which were sent to the regions in an emergency after Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) called for a strike to meet their political demands.

The HC order came on Mamata Banerjee governments plea following Centres refusal to extend the time to let the troops remain deployed in the two districts. In a letter written to the Union of India, West Bengal had sought extension of deployment till December 25. The request was, however, declined. The HC had stopped the withdrawal till October 27.

Stressing the need for troops outside the state, the Centre claimed in its appeal that the situation has improved in the two districts after the GJM called off its 104-day-old strike on September 2. An assessment done on the basis of inputs received from other agencies revealed the same.

The Centre also questioned the HC order on the ground it interfered with an executive decision, which was based upon an objective assessment of the fact situation. ... the moot question requiring examination of this court is as to whether it would be within the domain of the court to take a judicial decision on a subject which can be addressed only by way of an administrative decision, read the petition.

The Centre wants the top court to determine whether the HC could act as an appellate court and exercise its power of judicial review in matters affecting the policy, requiring technical expertise.

Whether the policy decision should not be left to the government as it alone can adopt which policy should be adopted after considering all the points from different angles and whether Court is appropriate forum for such investigation? said the Centre, posing the legal question to the SC.
The election commission has made it mandatory for candidates to get each page of their election affidavit notorized, that is, get attested by notary public. The EC expects the move to facilitate more authenticity in the declarations made by candidates about their personal profile.

At present, candidates are required to notarize only a few pages of the affidavits, regarding their age, educational qualification and assets.

Sources said the move comes following a rise in cases filed by political leaders against their rivals, seeking disqualification of their membership on ground of filing wrong information in election affidavits during elections in various states, including Bihar.

A few such cases have gone to court, following dispute over the genuineness of the information contained in affidavits, especially on the pages that are not notorized.

Candidates facing the charge of filing wrong information often claim their election affidavits have been tampered with. This is why, EC has now directed that all pages of affidavits have to be notorized, said an election officer.

The ECs move is also said to be a fall out of the recent petition filed with the poll panel by Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi against former health minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasads elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav.

Modi has claimed in his complaint that Yadav had concealed information about his property in his election affidavit filed ahead of the November 2015 Bihar assembly poll.

Modi, who has made a series of exposes about the allegedly unexplained wealth of RJD chief and his sons, had approached the poll panel in July, seeking Yadavs disqualification from membership of the state assembly.

To back his demand, Modi had argued that the former health minister was liable for action under the provisions of the Representation of People act as he had not revealed his properties in Aurangabad worth several lakhs, in his election affidavit.

However, the election commission in had asked Modi to file a petition against the Tej Pratap, a sitting MLA from Mahua in Vaisali district, in the competent court, observing that the poll panel was not empowered to take action in such matters on its own.

Sources said disqualification from membership of a house by the poll panel was admissible under clauses like, if a candidate after winning an election is found to be below 25 years of age (in case of assembly), not an Indian citizenship or mentally unstable.

As per the advice of the election commission , a case has been filed in the CJMs court in Patna against Tej Pratap for filing a false declaration by concealing his properties, said Modi, when reached for his comments.

BJP leader Surajnandan Kushwaha had filed the case under section 125 (A) of the Representation of People Act which stipulates that anybody giving false information in the affidavit was liable for fine or imprisonment.

The poll panel move to get every page of affidavit notorized is likely to make candidates more careful about giving information in declarations, knowing well that any slip up could land them in trouble.

Sources said the new directive would be effective in coming polls including the by-election for the Araria parliamentary constituency, which has become due after the demise of sitting MP Mohammed Taslimuddin.

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A Delhi court on Wednesday sent Syed Shahid Yousuf, son of globally-wanted militant Syed Salahuddin, to seven-day NIA custody in a 2011 terror funding case to enable the agency unearth the criminal conspiracy.

The National Investigation Agency(NIA), in its plea seeking custodial interrogation of Yousuf, said it needed to unravel the entire criminal conspiracy and establish his link with prescribed militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen.

Yousuf, who was arrested on Tuesday by the NIA, was produced before district and sessions judge Poonam A Bamba, who granted the NIA his custody till November 1.

Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case and submissions made in the application, to enable the NIA to unearth the criminal conspiracy and link of the accused with prescribed terrorist organisation of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Syed Shahid Yousuf is remanded to police custody till November 1, the judge said.

In its application, the NIA submitted that the case was registered on the basis of information regarding funds from Pakistan being sent to Jammu and Kashmir through hawala channels via Delhi for funding terrorism.

The counsel for Yousuf, however, opposed the application and claimed he was falsely implicated in the case.

The agency submitted that certain telephone calls were intercepted which revealed that a member of the Pakistan-based banned terrorist group HuM was sending huge amount of funds to the seccessionists and terrorists of Jammu and Kashmir through Delhi.

The NIA had in 2011 arrested accused persons Ghulam Mohd Bhat and others with Rs 21.20 lakh, it said, adding that Yousuf was one of the several Indian contacts of Bhat who had been in telephonic contact with him for receiving money transfer codes.

It was submitted by the agency that Yousufs involvement was found in collecting funds from a terrorist outfit in Saudi Arabia as well as from other accused on the directions of his father Mohd Yousuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, self-styled supreme commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen.

Syed Salahuddin was declared a specially designated global terrorist by the US Department of State in June this year.

The NIA has claimed that so far Yousuf has received a total of nearly Rs 4.5 lakh through eight international wire transfers.

The agency has so far filed two charge sheets against six people including Bhat, a close aide of pro-Pakistan separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Siddiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga.

The NIA had also registered two other cases related to terror funding -- one in November 2011 and the other in May this year. It had filed a charge sheet against 10 people including Salahuddin in the April 2011 case.

In the recent case, the NIA arrested 10 people including some close relatives and aides of Geelani.
Too many terror groups find safe haven in Pakistan and such sanctuaries will not be tolerated, the American secretary of state Rex Tillerson said during a press conference with Indias foreign minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The comments by Tillerson, though expected, represent a diplomatic victory for India which has called on Washington and other world leaders to get Pakistan to rein in militant groups.

The terror groups are now threatening stability of the Pakistani government, Tillerson said, urging its partner to work together to defeat militancy.

We want to work with Pakistan in a positive way as we think this is in their interest in longer term.

Tillerson is visiting India after he made a trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The US secretary of state said that he had a very open and frank exchange with Pakistan leaders in Islamabad yesterday, conveyed to Pak the expectations we have, ANI reported.

Swaraj and Tillerson held a meeting earlier in the day where they discussed several aspects of the India-US bilateral relation. They discussed Afghanistan, military cooperation and North Korea.

Swaraj told Tillerson that New Delhi wanted to retain its small embassy in North Korea despite Washingtons efforts to isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

She said India believed a diplomatic presence in North Korea was necessary to keep lines of communication open.

Swaraj said she also raised the issue of H1B visa with him and requested Tillerson not to take action that might adversely affect Indians.

On Afghanistan, Tillerson said India was crucial to USAs strategy.

The US Secretary of State said the Trump administration was ready to share its best technology for Indias military modernisation, adding that it looked forward to discussing deals for F16 and F18 fighter jets with New Delhi.
Police arrested three men in Kerala for their suspected links with the Islamic State terrorist group, after an intelligence report said the trio returned home when they failed to enter Syria through Turkey.

The cops anticipate more people from the coastal state to return as the Islamic States so-called caliphate is crumbling under sustained military assaults and the groups base in Syria and Iraq has shrunk.

Since the situation in IS-controlled areas is bleak we expect more such returns. We have alerted the immigration wing and other agencies, an officer said.

The arrested trio belongs to the states northern district of Kannur. Their identity and details such as when they went to join the Islamic State werent revealed.

Kannur police deputy superintendent PP Sadanandan said on Wednesday the trio went to Turkey from neighbouring Asian countries and returned after their attempts to enter Syria failed.

They said they were detained by Turkish police  and sent back to the countries from where they went, he said.

The men allegedly stayed some months in the Saudi peninsula, which has a 1.8-million Kerala expat population, before rerunning home.

Their passports show they travelled to Turkey. They told us five of them travelled together. Attempts are being made to capture the other two, officer Sadanandan said.

The arrests reaffirm Kerala polices suspicion that many people working in the west Asian countries might have joined the Islamic State and gone to fight in the war-ravaged region. Their concerns compounded as theres no mechanism to check these peoples travels abroad.

Intelligence agencies too had warned that young Indians working in these countries were prime targets of headhunters working for the terrorist group.

The UAE expelled five Kerala youth last year for allegedly propagating Islamic State ideology.

Last year, 21 youth from the state reportedly joined the group and intelligence agencies traced them to the Nanghar province of Afghanistan. They reportedly slipped out of India via Sri Lanka and Iran.

Five of them may have died, according to relatives.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today noted the commonality in the objectives of India and the US to eradicate terrorism, terrorist infrastructure, safe havens and support, while bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.

He noted this in the context of US President Donald Trumps new South Asia policy, according to a PMO statement.

The prime ministers observations came when US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on him here this afternoon, the statement said.

The prime ministers observations came when US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on him here this afternoon, the statement said.

Tillerson exchanged with Modi views on his recent travels in the region.

They further discussed stepping up effective cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and promoting regional stability and security, the PMO statement said.

Welcoming Tillerson on his maiden visit to India in his current capacity, Modi noted with appreciation the firm upward trajectory in the bilateral strategic partnership following the positive and far-reaching talks with Trump in June this year, the statement said.

The prime minister shared the resolve expressed by Tillerson on taking further steps in the direction of accelerating and strengthening the content, pace and scope of the bilateral engagement, it said.

Modi and Tillerson affirmed that a strengthened India-US partnership is not just of mutual benefit to both countries, but has significant positive impact on the prospects for regional and global stability and prosperity.

Earlier in the day, Tillerson held detailed discussions with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
The Pakistan-fueled Kashmir separatist unrest was at its peak in 1992 and the countrys internal intelligence agency was struggling in Srinagar after militants shot dead four officers from close range.

Intelligence Bureau (IB) assistant director Dinesh Kumar, who was on deputation from the BSF, was the lone man standing. At this vulnerable moment, then IB director MK Narayanan asked for a list of IPS officers to replace Kumar.

A couple of them virtually refused the rough assignment. But an officer of the 1979 batch volunteered and even decided to shift his entire family, including school-going children, to Srinagar.

Hes Dineshwar Sharma  short, slightly built and with a quiet and non-fussy temperament. He was IB assistant director for Jammu and Kashmir for the next two years, diligently doing his job without fuss and keeping the national flag flying in extreme conditions.

Sharma was instrumental in the arrest of former Hizbul Mujahideen chief Master Ahsan Dar, who had returned to the Valley after falling out with the Syed Salahuddin, commander of the outfit in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

He retired as IB director last December and the government appointed him this October as its representative for talks with the people in Kashmir, including separatists.

Sharma, or Panditji for his friends, is the fourth official interlocutor appointed by the Centre since 2000. According to intelligence officers, Sharmas task is cut out as the Valley is reeling from protracted unrest after the killing of young Hizbul militant leader Burhan Wani last year.

But the Narendra Modi government could expect positive changes as the man known for his intellectual honesty in his analysis and reports is said to feel for the Kashmiris and has never been a supporter of extra-constitutional means in the Valley.

He has a holistic perspective about the Kashmir issue and does not view the problem through a narrow security prism. He has tremendous capacity to hear people and is accessible to all, said a former IB chief.

Sharmas mandate is to keep the door open for dialogue even with separatists, including the Hurriyat amalgam, but the engagement will have no role of Pakistan.

The representative is meant to have a sustained dialogue to understand the legitimate needs of the cross-section of society in J&K, and then communicate them to the state and central governments, a senior IB officer said. This is a natural step forward from Prime Minister Modis August 15 address in which he said Kashmirs problems can only be solved by embracing people, not by bullet or abuses.

Sharma would require support from the Mehbooba Mufti government and ground-level assessment to make the initiative credible. A Kashmir dialogue is a minefield that will have to be negotiated by Sharma as consensus needs to be built on common issues while avoiding the contentious legacy issues of the past, the official said.

Sharma will find support from his IB predecessor Asif Ibrahim and national security adviser Ajit Doval as the three have more than 100 years of combined experience in handling the troubled state.

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With 43% vote share, youth holds the key to the election outcome in Himachal but political parties in the state are less than willing to field young candidates in the electoral fray.

The two major partiesBJP and Congresshave fielded only 10 candidates below the age of 40 even as the majority of voters fall in the age group of 18-39 years. Out of this, the Congress has given tickets to six youth candidates while the BJP has fielded four candidates below the age of 40.

The third frontCommunist Party of India, which is contesting on 14 seats is fielding three candidates below the age of 40. The BJP and Congress, however, have over two dozen candidates above the age of 60.

Interestingly, both the parties have youth wings besides their student organisations. While the RSS student-wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) disassociates itself from the BJP, the National Student Union of India (NSUI) openly supports Congress. Nearly, two dozen people who are in the poll fray this time are those who have served as student leaders in the ABVP, NSUI and SFI in their college years. Almost all CPM candidates are from SFI background.

But when it comes to ticket distribution, senior leaders with a lot of experience are given preference. Many factors are considered during ticket distribution. Your hard work in the student and youth organisation is of no use, said a BJP youth leader, requesting anonymity.

No tickets but youth issues figure in all speeches

Interesting enough, youth issues figure prominently in the speeches of all political parties. To entice youth voters, the government has been promising jobs. With time, the scope of a government job also keeps shrinking and political parties change their assurances.

In 2012, the Congress had promised unemployment allowance while the BJP assured jobs. After the Congress came into power in the state, it announced a skill-development allowance instead unemployment allowance. Earlier this year, the Congress government announced unemployment allowance with some riders.

The BJP too has been raising the issue of implementation of pre-poll promises regarding youth.

All parties promise many things before elections but once they come to power, they forgets about the youth. The youth is on the mind of politicians during elections only, says Harish Verma, a research scholar at Himachal Pradesh University.

The ruling Congress in the state claims that it has given employment to more than 25,000 youths while the BJP contradicted the claim.

EC mobilising young voters

The youth is not only on the radar of political parties but the election commission also has been mobilising them to increase the voter turnout. Himachal has over 49 lakh registered voters including nearly 25 lakh men and over 24 lakh women voters.

Around 43% votes fall in the cohort of 18-39 years. Under Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) plan, monitored by state election commission, the district administrations have put in all efforts to mobilise youth to exercise their franchise to vote.

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Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the Centre on Wednesday, saying she will not link Aadhaar to her phone number and dared authorities to disconnect it if they wanted to.

Banerjee, the chief of Trinamool Congress, also urged an audience of about 3,000 party workers and leaders not to link the two.

The Aadhaar, a 12-digit identity number given to people who enrol with their biometric details, has been a matter of controversy for political parties and privacy advocates who believe the programme gives government indiscriminate power.

Under no circumstances will I link my Aadhaar with my telephone number. If the authorities disconnect my phone, let them do it. It will actually save me a lot of trouble as I wont have to go through a number of text messages, she said.

She was speaking at an extended core committee meeting of Trinamool Congress in Kolkata.

I would urge you to protest in a similar manner. How many telephone connections will they disconnect? she said, indicating she would urge the common people to do the same.

What does BJP want? Do they want to listen to peoples secrets. Its a direct attack on privacy.

Describing the decision to link the two as an attack on privacy, she said, I am not bound to make all my personal conversations public. After you link Aadhaar with your phone, even personal conversations between husband and wife will reach the BJP office. We are taking up the issue in and out of the Parliament. If need be, we may fight it legally too.

The Bengal chief minister also pointed out that her party has already accepted the decision to link Aadhaar with PAN since it involves income tax collection.

The meeting was held at Nazrul Mancha, an indoor stadium in south Kolkata in which MLAs, MPs, civic body chiefs, zilla parishad sabhadhipatis were present.

The meeting became the platform for presenting the partys blueprint for the rural polls in 2018 and Lok Sabha elections the following year. These elections are significant since it is being considered as a rehearsal for the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

BJP president Amit Shah has said Bengal is one of the focus states, and wants to secure at least half of the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. In 2014, it won only two. Mamata Banerjees party managed to stop the Modi wave at the borders of Bengal.

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Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath will visit the Taj Mahal during his Agra trip on Thursday after a controversy erupted over the 17th-century monument to love.

This will be Adityanaths second visit to the city after taking over as the chief minister and he is likely to stay in Agra for about eight hours.

The visit comes after controversial Bharatiya Janata Partys Sardhana legislator Sangeet Som triggered a political slugfest by describing the marble monument as a blot on Indias culture and saying it was built by traitors. The statement drew widespread criticism.

Adityanath reached the Kheria technical airport in the morning. He will fly in a helicopter to Kachhpura near Mehtab Bagh where he will lay foundation stones for pro-poor development schemes before flying to the other side of the Yamuna.

Four helipads have been set up in various parts of the city for his helicopter to land. Traffic diversions have put in place and the parking at the western gate of Taj Mahal shifted to Ramlila Ground for a day.

He will inaugurate the tourist walkway from Agra Fort following which he will go to the western side of the Taj Mahal for a cleanliness campaign. He will later fly for Nagla Pema to inspect the spot proposed for a rubber check dam on the Yamuna.

The chief minister is expected to spend around two hours at the Taj during which he would sit through a presentation on the monument and inaugurate a childrens painting competition.

The chief minister is also expected to inspect projects for Taj Orientation Centre and a Mughal museum before meeting officials in the circuit house. He will address a public gathering at GIC Ground before leaving for Keetham Bird Sanctuary to promote eco-tourism.

Adityanath will also hold a meeting with the tourism guild of Agra before addressing a scheduled press conference. He is expected to leave for Lucknow by 4.10pm.

Despite traffic diversions and high-level security, the Taj Mahal will remain open for public. Entry of heavy vehicles will, however, be restricted in the city area.

During his earlier visit to the city, the chief minister expressed concern over the state of Yamuna and also laid special stress on an effective check on lapkas or touts harassing tourists.

The chief minister is likely to provide a momentum to tourism. This visit is highly awaited and a mood of optimism prevails, said Rajeev Saxena from tourism guild of Agra.

The Taj Mahal draws crores of rupees in annual revenue but has received a barrage of negative comments in recent months from top BJP leaders, including Adityanath  who in June said the ivory-white marble mausoleum didnt represent Indian culture.

Adityanath presided over a meeting to review the development projects in Agra on May 7 and also inspected the Yamuna but did not visit the Taj Mahal or areas close to the monument.

On July 11, the Adityanath government did not mention the Taj Mahal in Humari Sanskritik Virasat (Our Cultural Heritage), a part of the annual budget presented in the state assembly by the minister for finance Rajesh Agarwal.

Last month, the state government omitted the reference to the Taj Mahal in a booklet published on the completion of six months of the Adityanath government. The move drew sharp criticism, prompting state tourism minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi to remark that the Taj Mahal was of great importance to the state government as well as the nation.
Public works department and transport minister Yunus Khan, who was addressing 120 doctors and nursing personnel associated with trauma care at two-day Triage Protocol workshop on Wednesday, said that road safety is a continuous process.

The minister said that the government is making efforts at various levels to create public awareness in cities and villages on road safety so that accidents dont take place and bettering trauma care so that the injured can be saved.

Khan announced that 10 beds and necessary equipment will be provided to Sawai Man Singh Hospitals trauma centre. He added that there will be no dearth of funds to strengthen trauma care infrastructure in the state.

The minister was addressing the doctors and nurses at the Jaipur Medical Association auditorium at SMS hospital. During the workshop, he said that approval for 10 news beds will be given. SMS Medical College principal Dr US Agarwal and hospital superintendent Dr DS Meena had asked for the additional beds.

Khan asked the medical and transport department officials to complete the tender process within 60 days.

The minister said that the governments priority is that the injured should get proper treatment.

Dr Meena said that before implementing the triage protocol, the death rate of injured was 68%, which after the triage protocol has reduced to 28%.

The trauma centre at SMS hospital at present has seven beds, which is also shared with neuro care and ICU beds are available only for serious patients. Looking at the grave situation, the transport department had earlier approved 3.23 crore for 10 beds in the ICU and now with the ministers announcement, the ICU will have 20 new beds.
The Jaipur police on Wednesday dispersed workers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) protesting against the controversial ordinance that shields public servants from probe without the governments approval.

Alka Lamba, AAP legislator from Delhis Chandni Chowk, along with more than three dozen protesters, was taken away in a police vehicle as they tried to push the police barricades at the Civil Lines railway crossing and march towards chief minister Vasundhara Rajes house.

Addressing the gathering at Rajmahal crossroad, Lamba said in the next 40 days, the party workers will reveal 40 cases of corruptions against public officials and servants.

Calling the bill a black law, she said that it has exposed the Raje government.

The government is trying to shield corrupt officials and ministers. It will again table the bill in February, she said.

Well come out on the streets with evidence against the corrupt officials and not let the government shield them.

Ummed Singh, a former police officier and a member of the AAP said the government was trying to superimpose legislature over the Constitution. They are trying to disrupt the checks and balances for the legislature provided by the Constitution, he said.

The protesters were stopped from marching to the chief ministers house as they shoved and pushed police personnel. Police arrested a number of protesters under Section 129 of CrPC (dispersal of assemblies by use of civil force).

Yogesh Goyal, additional deputy commissioner of police, Jaipur South, said the protesters did not have permission to hold the protest at the spot. The protest was in violation of the high court directives barring protests in urban areas on weekdays. Moreover, they pushed police personnel and tried to bring down the barricades, he said.

Meanwhile, civil society groups also held a protest outside Vidhan Sabha against the bill.

The bill should be withdrawn entirely. Sending it to a select committee is keeping the agenda open, said Kavita Srivastava of the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties.
The Rajasthan Assembly witnessed noisy scenes during the Question Hour on Wednesday as the Congress continued their dharna demanding complete loan waiver for farmers.

Speaker Kailash Meghwal continued the proceedings amid uproar and did not pay heed to the protesting legislators. However, commotion continued in the Zero Hour and the speaker adjourned the house for half an hour.

Congress leaders, who were sitting on a dharna in the house from Tuesday afternoon, continued their protest as the assembly met on Wednesday. They trooped into the well of the house shouting anti-government slogans as the lawmakers assembled to begin the house proceedings at 11 am on Wednesday.

Despite the speakers plea to call off the sit-in, Congress MLAs paid no heed and continued. Meghwal later said that the MLAs are making a mockery of democracy.

To pacify the opposition, parliamentary affair minister Rajendra Rathore said that the government is ready to hold discussions on farmers issue in the house.

Let the Congress inform if they have waived off even a single penny in the last 50 years. Congress MLAs are just creating chaos in the house, said home minister Gulab Chand Kataria.

The uproar continued during the Zero Hour. Meghwal said if the Congress MLAs are ready for discussion on farmers issues, he is ready to allocate time. To which, senior Congress MLA Pradyuman Singh said, We are ready for a discussion if the government is ready to announce loan waiver.

Agriculture minister Prabhu Lal Saini said that the government has constituted a high-power committee to submit recommendations on farm loan-waiver.

Meanwhile, state Congress president Sachin Pilot visited party MLAs on dharna at the state assembly. The entire state is suffering due to the BJP governments dictatorial attitude. Sidelining public welfare issues, the BJP is making promises to misguide as the bypolls are near, said Pilot.

He said that the government has constituted a committee to avert farmer loan waiver, which shows that they are insensitive towards farmers issues.

The government has brought the controversial ordinance to protect corrupt and suppress rights of people, media and judiciary, which now under the pressure of Congress and other democratic forces has been referred to a select committee, said Pilot referring to the controversial ordinance that shields public servants from probe without the governments approval.

The BJP government had tabled the Rajasthan Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill 2017 in the assembly on Monday, but was forced to refer it to a select committee after protests.

No committee was constituted for the controversial ordinance. But only after over 80 farmer suicides, they constituted a committee, this shows that the BJP isnt concerned about the farmers, he said.
A 19-year-old student was stabbed to death by two youngsters following spat over overtaking his motorcycle, police said.

Sandeep Kapoor (19), a resident of Shivpura neighbourhood of the city, was standing near the Beejasan temple in Dadabari late on Tuesday, when two youngsters, Shubham Tiwari and Aakash Suman on a motorcycle, tried to overtake Kapoors bike at a high speed, which led to an altercation, police said.

The duo stabbed Kapoor in the chest and head and fled the spot, said city deputy superintendent of police Rajesh Meshram.

Local residents rushed a critically injured Kapoor to a hospital where he was declared brought dead, he said.

Police have detained the accused and questioning them, he said, adding that following a complaint by Kapoors elder brother, Raju, police have registered a case of murder against the accused.
Bandh returned to Kalimpong in the north Bengal hills on Wednesday as the news of death of a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha councillor, Barun Bhujel, in judicial custody in a Kolkata hospital, travelled to the hills that is trying to return to normalcy after a record 104 days of shutdown.

Bhujel died in SSKM Hospital in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Read: Hills on the edge: Police excesses have reopened Darjeelings old wounds

Shops were closed and the streets were empty in Kalimpong town on Wednesday. The bandh was observed as common people paid their last respect at Damber Chowk where Bhujels photo was kept.

Though Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung urged the people of the Darjeeling hills to observe a one-day bandh, Kalimpong went into the shutdown mode on its own. However, the bandh call had no effect on other parts of the hills like Darjeeling and Kurseong.

Councillor of ward number 16 of Kalimpong Municipality, Bhujel was taken to Kolkata and admitted to SSKM three days ago. Earlier, he was admitted in North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) in Siliguri, where his health condition had deteriorated.

Read: 100 days of Darjeeling shutdown: A tale of survival and ordeal

He was arrested on June 16 on charges of arson and rioting and was in jail for more than four months.

My brother was tortured by police immediately after his arrest and was taken to Siliguri. At NBMCH he was chained and kept like a dog. The police did not honour the request of the family members for better treatment elsewhere, alleged Biren Bhujel, the younger brother of the councillor.

Superintendent of police in Darjeeling district, Akhilesh Chaturvedi, did not take calls. However, Manimoy Bandpadhyay, superintendent, SSKM Hospital told the media that Bhujel was suffering from ailments of the liver and pancreas. When he was brought to SSKM hospital, his condition was very bad. He was admitted to the ICU, said Bandpadhyay. Post mortem examination will be conducted.

In an audio message sent from his hideout, Gurung also claimed that Bhujel was tortured by police after he refused to join Trinamool Congress and the Binoy Tamang-Anit Thapa faction of the GJM.

Bhujel was a resident of Kalimpong. The two-time GJM councillor was popular among local residents. He is survived by two children and parents. His father served in the Indian Army for 38 years and his elder brother is in the Eastern Frontier Rifles.

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Raw food items such as rice, red lentil, chicken, fish, biscuits, spice sold in roadside markets of Kolkata contain high levels of lead, prolonged consumption of which can permanently damage kidneys, liver and the blood system, a recent study by Geological Survey of India (GSI) has found.

Lead is a highly toxic element that is especially harmful to children, who can even suffer reverses in brain growth on regular exposure to lead.

Read: Pollution causes 1 in 4 premature deaths in India, the worst in the world: Study

The findings of this rare study are alarming. While the acceptable levels of lead in blood are pegged at less than 0.05 mg/litre for children and less than 0.25 mg/litre for adults, the presence of the element varied from a minimum of 5 times (in fish) to 2,911 times (in vegetable) of that limit.

File picture. The presence of lead in samples of fish was found to vary approximately between 5 to 71 times higher than the permissible limits in adults and 26 to 356 times the limit suitable for children. (HT Photo)

The GSI team identified diesel exhausts of the city traffic and soil in the nearby areas where vegetable is grown as the major sources of excessive lead. The lead has come from diesel exhausts. This type of study is rare in the world. A few have been conducted in the US and France. A new machine has helped us to pinpoint diesel as the chief source of lead and there is no ambiguity in the findings, Dipayan Guha, director of geochronology and isotope geology division of GSI told HT.

The outcome of the study, conducted by project director Dipayan Guha and a team of six scientists, was published in Environmental Science and Technology and Environmental Science and Pollution Research. The studies began in 2014 and continued till March 2016.

Read: How indoor air pollution is leading to stunted growth in Indias children

In rice the presence of lead was a minimum of seven times (of the limits for adults) to a maximum of 30 times. It implied a level that is 36 times to 149 times of the safe limits for children. The presence of the element in chicken is as high as 38 times the permissible limit for adults and 191 times of that for kids.

Samples of rice were found to contain lead that was 58 times more than the permissible limit for adults and 287 times of the ceiling for children. (HT Photo)

The maximum Pb concentration in rice was 14.39 mg/kg in the Khidirpur sample from west Kolkata. Vegetables sold in the sampled markets had a Pb concentration ranged from a low of 3.28 mg/kg to a very high value of 145.47 mg/kg, read a GSI statement.

The GSI team collected samples of polished rice, red lentil (masoor dal), chicken, fish (without scales), spinach, biscuits, spices (cumin seeds) and tulsi from 12 roadside markets from north, south, east and west of Kolkata.

Even if one washes the items in water, one can get rid of 50% of the lead, said Guha.

Read: Killer in the air: WHO says polluted environments kill 1.7 mn children a year

The maximum concentration of lead was found in the soil at and near Dhapa, the citys principal dumping ground.

The GSI team also found the lead content in the street dust alarming. The mean concentration of Pb found in the 29 sites was 383.2 mg/kg with a range from 23.82 mg/kg to a very high value of 2,697.24 mg/kg at Amherst Street in north Kolkata, a GSI release said.

The GSI spokesperson told HT that they chose samples from the roadside markets since common people buy from these.

Since much of the contamination is caused by exposure to air, one can expect that packaged items sold in closed conditions will have less lead, said the spokesperson.

Kalyan Rudra, chairman of the state Pollution Control Board, told HT there was no immediate relief in sight. CNG is not available in Kolkata and is only expected to reach here in 2020. Even after it reached the city, it will take a lot of time for the commercial vehicles to switch from diesel to CNG. The autorickshaws, however, have already to LPG, said Rudra.
The driver of a diesel tanker died while 50 got injured when it collided with an express train at a manned crossing in Bareilly Wednesday evening.

Rajya Rani Express was stranded near Pitambarpur railway station in Bareilly till the time of filing this report.

According to a railway official, the crossing was not closed when the accident occurred. Local administration was first informed by bystanders after which over 20 ambulances with emergency medical team was sent to the area. The injured were carried to nearby hospitals. A major tragedy could have taken place as the tanker was reportedly filled with diesel at the time of the accident. The damage to the passenger trains engine was also limited.

The railways dispatched a rescue team and relief operations were being supervised by senior officials.

We are in the process of making a list of injured passengers. No passenger causality has been reported so far, said additional divisional rail manager of Moradabad divison Sanjeev Mishra.

The train coming from Lucknow was headed to Meerut when the mishap took place. Giving details Mishra said, The incident occurred near Gosia gated railway crossing at around 6.30 pm when the over speeding tanker collided with the engine of Rajya Rani express.

He further said, Prime facie it appears that the gate at the crossing was not closed, which led to the accident. We are investigating role of the gate man who was responsible for closing the gate and the station master who should have alerted the gate man.
The Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board has proposed demolition of the tomb of Mughal emperor Humayun to make space for burial of Muslims.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Boards chairman Waseem Rizvi has suggested that demolition of the tomb would solve the acute problem that the Muslims face in the burial of their dead in the national capital as there is no space in existing graveyards and new land is not available.

The Board said there was no hindrance as per Islam in bringing down the structure.

Rizvi said the Mughals came from other countries and plundered Indias wealth and established their rule.

The Mughals harmed the Indian culture and historians have estimated that they misused their power to demolish 3,000 temples. The Mughals were neither the propagators of Islam nor were they righteous rulers. Their graves or tombs cannot be a national heritage, he said.

Rizvi wrote the letter after All-India Rabta-e-Masajid and Madaris-e- Islamia asked the Board to provide land for graveyard in a UP area close to Delhi.

Read More | Babri dispute: Shia Waqf Board says mosque can come up at a distance

We tried to find out a right piece of land but it emerged that the Board did not have big land close to Delhi. The problem is serious in nature and demolition of the tomb would make 35 acres land available for Muslims, the letter said.

According to Rizvi, the tomb has no religious structure in its vicinity and has a grave of the emperor. It can easily be perceived as a graveyard. It tomb should be demolished in the national capital in public interest, he said.

The Muslim community to which Humayun belonged do not recognize any tomb as a part of its ideology and theology, he said citing several instances from Saudi Arabia where a number of historical tombs, including the one of Fatima Zahra, daughter of Prophet Mohammad, were demolished in 1925.

Such Muslims do not have an issue with the demolition of tombs, he added.

Read More: UP Shia board to gift silver arrows for Lord Rams statue in Ayodhya

He said the Government of India did not earn from the tomb but spent a huge amount on its maintenance. Public money shouldnt be spent on preserving graves of unjust rulers, he said urging the PM to grant permission to his proposal.

Shia Waqf Board has also stoked controversies in the recent past. It filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court claiming the Babri Masjid was its property, suggesting the new mosque could be built in Ayodhya at a reasonable distance from the birth place of Lord Ram. It also asserted that the mosque was built demolishing a temple

The Board also announced to gift 10 silver arrows when the state government comes up with the 100-metre statue of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.
Most people I know have never eaten caviar. Of those who have tried it, the honest response of the vast majority is: what is this stuff? Why is it such a big deal? This is rubbish.

I can empathise with them.

There is the famous story of the young Geoffrey Boycott coming to Bombay in the late Seventies and attending a chi-chi party where caviar was on the buffet. The young Boycott, whose exposure to foods that were not especially popular in Yorkshire was limited, tried the caviar without knowing what it was and exclaimed, this jam tastes of fish.

God knows he was right. If the story is accurate (and sadly, most great stories turn out to be apocryphal), then Boycott was served the sort of caviar that Bombay society hostesses would procure from the black market in that era. And yes, it did taste like fish jam.

There are three primary reasons why people dont like caviar. One: it is not for everyone; many people simply dont like anything that tastes of the sea. Two: it is an acquired taste even among those who like it. When Shakespeare wrote about caviar to the general, he did not mean that we should send a can of caviar to the Chief of Army staff. He meant that most people had not developed a taste for it.

And three: most of the caviar you are likely to be served is crap. Well, all right: expensive crap.

Why is it so bad?

The problem with caviar is that, like most seafood products, it tends to go bad over time without refrigeration.

Well, lets start with a little marine biology. Most fish reproduce by laying eggs. These are usually called roe. Some roe can be popular (the big, pop-pop spheres of salmon roe for example) and some is not particularly tasty.

But the roe of the sturgeon, a large, almost prehistoric, fish, has always been prized in those regions where the sturgeon swims free. In the areas surrounding the Caspian Sea, where there used to be an abundance of sturgeon, the locals extracted the caviar from the fish, added a little salt and ate it. Sturgeon was less common elsewhere in the world but usually, anyone who had access to sturgeon roe, loved it.

In English, we call sturgeon roe, caviar. The Russians who were the earliest major consumers just call it ikra a general term that means roe.

The problem with caviar is that, like most seafood products, it tends to go bad over time without refrigeration. So it was only a century or so ago that the Russians were able to send large quantities of caviar to France, once methods of refrigerated transportation had been developed. Even then, the caviar did not always keep its freshness so the ingenious French began serving it with lemon and onion, two strong flavours that made up for any loss in the quality of the caviar. Because it was so expensive they also began serving it with chopped boiled egg whites and other accessories to make each mouthful go further.

The Russians, who had access to fresh caviar, did not bother with the so-called caviar trimmings. They ate it with blinis (buckwheat pancakes) and lots of sour cream. Usually caviar needs to rest on a bed of fat to bring out the flavour. (Butter is fine.)

To keep Russia-imported caviar fresh, the French began serving it with lemon and onion, two strong flavours that made up for any loss in the quality of the caviar.

But how good can refrigerated transportation ever be? The trouble with caviar is that if it is not stored at a cool temperature, it spoils. But if the temperature is too cold, then that spoils it too: the grains lose their texture, the membranes deteriorate and the fish jam that poor old Boycott was supposed to have been served is an inevitable consequence.

As for the Bombay hostesses I talked about, they had a single source: Air India.

Yups. You read that right.

Till the 1990s Air India (like some other international airlines) would serve caviar to first-class passengers.

It was extraordinarily generous with its servings and because many Indian first-class passengers were vegetarians and refused to eat it there was always plenty to go around. Unscrupulous members of cabin crew would do one pass around the cabin with the caviar and finish a single 100 gram can. Then, they would refuse to open the second can and spirit it away.

This stolen caviar found its way to the Bombay black market where the crew would sell it for absurdly low amounts. The guys who bought it would then add a mark-up and sell it to Malabar Hill sophisticates. The problem was that a) the cold chain was broken during the theft. The crew could hardly smuggle it out in a refrigerator and b) the guy they sold it to kept it in his freezer because he was not sure when he would be able to sell it. The socialites who bought caviar from one of the semi-secret locations (a shop in Colaba, for instance) were told to also keep it in their freezers.

Usually caviar needs to rest on a bed of fat to bring out the flavour.

By the time the caviar was eventually served, it smelt overly fishy (which good caviar should not) and had turned into jam. But as nobody who ate it actually liked the stuff --- it was just a snob thing --- they kept drowning it in lemon, pilling on the onions and pretending that they were having a great gourmet experience.

So if you tried caviar from those sources in that era and hated it, well, good for you. It only proves that you never fell for all the bullshit snobbery.

But then, a more serious problem occurred. The overwhelming majority of the worlds caviar supply came from the Caspian Sea which was bordered by Iran and the Soviet Union. When the Shah ran Iran, he rigidly controlled surgeon fishing and caviar extraction. When the Ayatollahs took over, they said that they did not like caviar and more or less, prohibited its export.

The Soviet Union, the worlds largest producer of caviar, maintained a government monopoly. Sturgeon could only be fished when they had reached a certain age. There was a limit to how much caviar could be extracted each year. Only one state-run company was authorised to can it. And so on.

Then, the Soviet Union collapsed in the Nineties. The Caspian coast now became the location for several largely lawless independent republics. The control of the caviar trade collapsed. It was a free-for-all with overfishing and caviar extraction on such a massive scale that prices collapsed.

But they ended up overfishing the Caspian. They caught the sturgeons when they were too young and today many sturgeon species are endangered. Russian has banned the export of many kinds of caviar under international pressure and in the other independent republics, there isnt enough good quality caviar to go around.

There is still a global demand for caviar though and there are large companies that depend on the distribution of caviar. So caviar continues to be sold at prices that are idiotically high. Because caviar is sold in a sealed container and because most people are not regular buyers (the average customer buys it once or twice in his life for a lark or to make a celebration seem more special) the big caviar companies fill their cans with rubbish --- with caviar that would never have been sold in the heyday of the Soviet Union when there was strict quality control.

There is still good quality caviar out there but the caviar suppliers only sell it to big, regular buyers like three star restaurants. The rest of us, who buy it in the shops, are fobbed off with the rubbish.

So if you have paid a huge sum for caviar at an Indian restaurant or hotel and ended up with fish jam, dont be surprised. Thats what the caviar business has become these days.

Is there a way out?

Well, sort of. When the Soviet Union collapsed, many people set up their own sturgeon hatcheries all around the world and tried to farm the fish. Though it takes years for the sturgeon to get to the age where it lays eggs (caviar), they have waited patiently for that to happen.

So now, you get farmed caviar from a variety of countries. The best known is Aquitaine caviar from France which such chefs as Alain Ducasse prefer to serve rather than the unreliable supplies of Caspian caviar. I have had farmed caviar from America, Uruguay and Belgium. And somebody from a caviar farm in Israel recently got in touch saying that they wanted to know more about the Indian market.

How good was the caviar?

Well, most of it was surprisingly good. None of it was as good as the best wild Caspian caviar. But then, you are about as likely to get a can of great Caspian caviar these days as you are to see a unicorn.

Farmed caviar is not cheap. Yes, it is cheaper than the fantastic prices that the likes of Caviar House or Petrossian charge for wild caviar. But, compared to the old days when wild caviar was just expensive and not ridiculously over-priced, the price of farmed caviar is high.

So any Indian hotel that wants a regular and reliable supply of caviar for high-rollers should serve farmed caviar. I have seen the Maurya do it (I dont know if it still does) but most Indian hotels will still give you little tins of overpriced fish jam. I guess they realise that nearly all of the people who will pay those prices dont know enough to know the difference between good caviar and crap.

So, should you buy caviar?

Yes, if a) you are feeling rich, b) you have something to celebrate and c) you know a good supplier (and I dont know any in India). Otherwise, save your money. If you must, then buy farmed caviar --- at least you wont get conned.

But never buy caviar only for the snob value. The supplier will laugh all the way to the bank. And you will seem like a sad and pathetic figure who is willing to pay through the nose for rubbish. Better to spend money on good quality food you really enjoy.

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A 23-year-old man from Gujarat was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly sending obscene messages, photos, and a porn video to a 15-year-old girl from Mumbai.

The issue came to light after the girls father checked her mobile phone and registered a complaint with the MIDC police. According to the police, the two met on a social media platform, where they exchanged numbers and began chatting on the phone.

The man, who studies in a renowned Gujarat university, has been booked under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modest) of the IPC, Section 67A (publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act in electronic form) of the Information Technology (IT) Act, and Section 12 (sexual harassment of the child) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

He was produced before the Dindoshi sessions court and sent to police custody till October 27.
The Shivaji Park police detained around 40 Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party workers on Wednesday morning for allegedly protesting without police permission in Dadar.

According to Rajiv Jain, deputy commissioner of police (zone V), the workers had asked for police permission to protest against the government for their failure to evict illegal hawkers outside railways stations. Although they were denied permission, a protest was organised outside Suvidha mall and Nakshatra mall in Dadar.

We have detained about 40 people from MNS for gathering in one place to protest without permission, said Jain.
A tutor of a south Mumbai-based private centre was arrested for allegedly molesting a Class 10 student inside class. According to the police, the accused, 44-year-old Rajjad Mosin Maledina, a resident of Mazgaon, called the survivor to the centre under the pretext of taking extra classes where he touched her inappropriately.

The police said the incident took place around 3pm on Saturday and the survivor was alone.

An officer from JJ Marg police station said, As the survivor was a late admission, the tutor called her to class an hour early saying she was lagging behind in the portion. Another girl had also been called, but as she was ill she didnt turn up for the class.

According to the police, the survivor didnt speak to anyone for two days. After noticing a sudden change in her behaviour, her parents started enquiring with her friends first and then approached her. The officer said, The survivor broke down and narrated her ordeal to her mother.

The parents then filed a complaint against Maledina at JJ Marg police station on Monday. A police team was dispatched to the centre and Maledina was arrested while he was teaching.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Manoj Sharma (zone 1) said, We registered a case after her parents approached the police station and the accused was nabbed immediately. We are investigating the case thoroughly.

The police team is investigating whether Maledina committed similar offences with other students.

The accused has been booked under section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code along with sections 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children under Sexual Offences act 2012. The accused was produced in court and has been remanded in police custody for two days.

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Your commute on air-conditioned cool cabs and black-and-yellow taxis may become cheaper if the state accepts recommendations made by Khatua panel appointed to fix the fare of all autorickshaws and cabs in the state. Besides this, hailing pre-paid taxis from airports, railway stations and bus stands would also become economical.

In its 212-page report, the panel recommended that the AC charge in black-and-yellow taxis be reduced to 10% from existing 20% and the same for blue-silver cool cabs be cut to 20% from 25%. The panel has suggested this since the additional cost for running the AC is just 5% of the basic fare.

Also, while suggesting to rationalise the distance slabs and incentives given for pre-paid autorickshaws and taxis at international airport, domestic airport and railway stations, the panel said such services should be introduced at other places too. It recommended a 20% discount for rides up to 8km in pre-paid autorickshaws and 25% discount in rides up to 4 km.

While recommending a minimum and maximum fare cap ranging from Rs14 to Rs38 per km for app-based taxis, the panel also recommended several amendments in Maharashtra City Taxi Rules 2017. It includes reducing permit fee, allowing diesel taxis to ply till the permit is valid and sharing data and drivers list with the government.

To overcome the shortage of drivers, the panel also said the 15-year domicile rule should be relaxed for city taxi permit and public service badge. A preliminary reading of the report suggests that the committee has made welcome strides in turning aside some of the contentious provisions of the proposed Maharashtra City Taxi Rules that directly impact thousands of driver partners on app-based platforms. However, there is further scope for liberalisation, said Shailesh Sawlani, general manager, Uber India, West.

Earlier this month, the four-member panel chaired by retired IAS officer BC Khatua had submitted its report to the state, almost after a year after it was appointed in October 2016.

For stopping misuse of permits, the panel recommended that it be linked with the drivers Aadhar cards.

While suggesting to introduce online meter testing facility, the panel suggested that prompt action be taken against the driver and meter manufactures in meter tampering cases.

For safety of passengers, the panel has suggested that GPS based panic buttons be installed in autos and taxis in front of the passenger seats, cabbies be barred from fitting central locking system and restricted from sharing ride without explicit consent of the passenger.

Khatua panel has also suggested creation of General Insurance and Welfare Corporation for the social security and welfare of auto-taxi drivers. Their unions have welcomed this recommendation. We expected fare hike of at least Rs 3, in the minimum fare as per the Hakim panel formula, said Shashank Rao, leader of auto rickshaw unions. We are providing the service under fixed rate. It is not wanted and it will create too much confusion. We are going to oppose it if it is implemented.

Prem Singh, leader of Mumbai Taxi Association, said they only talk about it after studying entire report.

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Irked by the illegal hawkers that congest the citys streets? You might soon be able to use a mobile application to complain about them.

Civic chief Ajoy Mehta has asked the information technology (IT) department to look into Maharashtra Navnirman Senas (MNS) request of to create a WhatsApp number where citizens can complaint against hawkers, and prepare a plan.

According to Mehta, the number will be modelled along the lines of the pothole-tracking app, where complainants can also submit their location. I have asked for the geo-tagging feature, as it gives authenticity to the complain. Our aim is to weed out fake complaints, said Ajoy Mehta.

After 23 people lost their lives and 34 were left injured in the Elphinstone Road station stampede on September 29, the railways and civic body swung into action to clear the station premises of illegal hawkers.

The civic body has employed more people at the licence department, and allowed ward officers to hire vehicles to seize hawkers goods if the earnings from confiscation are 1.5 times the cost of hiring. So far, only two vehicles are available per ward.

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Fahad Shaikh, a 24-year-old Kalyan resident who fled from home with three of his friends to join the Islamic State in 2014, has been reported killed.

Fahads father Tanveer Shaikh told HT on Wednesday that a phone call from an unknown number alerted him to his death on Tuesday afternoon. Your son is no more, the caller told him in English, before switching to Hindi. He then went on to say that Fahad had been killed in fighting in Syria, and the last rites would be performed soon.

Unable to take it anymore, I handed the phone to my wife, said Tanveer. The person, who did not reveal his identity, was using a masked Voice over Internet Protocol number to make the call.

The information has been shared with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which have been keeping track of the youngsters ever since they went missing in 2014. We also shared our telephone number with the NIA, so they can inform us after obtaining confirmation from Indian officials posted in Syria or Iraq, the victims father said, adding that Fahads last rites (Namaaz-e-Zanaaja) will be conducted only after that.

Thane police commissioner Param Bir Singh told HT that Tanveers statement was recorded at the Bazaarpeth police station, where a missing complaint was lodged after Fahads disappearance. We have already intimated the NIA and the ATS in this regard, he said.

In November 2014, the parents of Aman Nadeem Tandel  a resident of neighbouring Govindwadi received a similar call from an unknown number informing them about his death. He had earlier featured in an alleged Islamic State video, wherein he threatened to avenge the deaths of Muslims in Gujarat, Kashmir and Muzaffarnagar.

In January 2015, a close friend of Saheen Tanki  another missing Kalyan resident  received information about his death from an unknown caller. The information, however, could not be corroborated through independent sources.

In August 2014, Tanki had called up the family of Areeb Majid, the fourth missing man, and informed them about the latters martyrdom in Syria. However, this information turned out to be false. Two months later, Majeed reportedly made a dramatic escape from Islamic State-controlled areas and surrendered before Turkish authorities.

He was later arrested by the NIA, and remanded in the high-security Aanda Cell at Arthur Road prison.
A car depot for the recently approved Metro-6 corridor at Kanjurmarg has made activists question the Maharashtra governments motives yet again. Activists have long suggested that a car depot for the Metro-3 corridor (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz) be built at Kanjurmarg instead of Aarey colony, one of the citys green lungs.

The Maharashtra cabinet approved the Metro-6 line on Tuesday. The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) identified a 18-hectare plot in Kanjurmarg for the car depot, which is currently under litigation.

Jyoti Sharma, a member of the Aarey conservation group, said Kanjurmarg was one of the seven options identified as an alternative to Aarey. The Kanjurmarg land was always available, but when we listed it as an option, authorities told us it was unsuitable as it is a marsh. If officials agree to a slight change in plan, 3,000 trees will be saved, she said. Stalin D, an activist from NGO Vanashakti tweeted to CM Fadnavis asking how the Metro-6 car shed at Kanjurmarg would be built on a marsh.

Senior MMRDA officials, however, said the Metro-6 car depot needs less space than that needed for Metro-3. While the depot in Aarey will be built across 30 hectares, Kanjurmargs needs just half this space. The government said shifting the depot to Kanjurmarg would add Rs1,500 crore to the cost of the Metro-3 project.

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A special court has issued a proclamation order - issued when a person fails to appear before court - against Vijay Kothari, the prime accused in the fake import remittances case.

On Monday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Sanjay Jain, former director of Raghukul Diamonds Pvt Ltd.

Investigations have revealed that Kothari is the kingpin. He is involved in hawala business and used the import of diamonds, mainly from Dubai and Hong Kong, as a front, the agency told court.

A court can order the attachment of any property  movable and immovable  under proclamation.

Read: Multi-crore import remittance scam: ED arrests third accused from Mumbai

The ED has also sent a formal request to Hong Kong (letters rogatory) for details pertaining to financial transactions in the case.

Investigations have revealed that Rs518 crore was sent as remittance to various Hong Kong-based bogus companies for pre- and post-import payments through submission of forged bills of entry and invoices to the bank.

So far, three people have been arrested in the case  Saurabh Pandit, director of a Hong Kong-based company; Anil Chokhra, former director of Kanika Gems; and Jain. The accused conspired and remitted Indian currency through the Opera House and Fort branches of IndusInd bank, the agency has alleged.

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A customs officer was detained for allegedly assisting a Kalina resident to smuggle a kg of gold into the country at the Mumbai airport on Tuesday.

According to the officials from the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU), the passenger, Nilotpal Mrinal, who had flown in from Dubai was asked to reveal the contents of his bag after an X-ray scan was found to be suspicious.Mrinal, 33, however, was allowed to pass through after a D-batch customs official said that senior officials had given the clearances.

However, an AIU officer stopped Mrinal, searched him and seized gold worth Rs28.6 lakh, apart from other illegal goods. The customs department said the passenger and the official were both detained and are being questioned

The screening attendant asked the passenger to open the bag, but the accused officer insisted that he had got a call from a senior official telling him to allow the passenger to leave, an officer explained, An AIU officer continued with his checking and found gold and some other illegal materials in his bag.

The passenger was carrying four iPads, two laptops, five Apple watches, three Samsung gear watches, two packets of platinum glutamine  a steroid used for body building, 20 Mont Blanc resin pens, 28 iPhone 8 plus, four cartons of Dunhill cigarettes and 25 bottles of Davidoff perfume in the bag, worth around Rs30 lakh. The passenger also had two gold kada (bangles), one gold chain and five gold bars in his trouser pockets, totally weighing 1,050 grams.

Custom officials said Mrinal runs a cosmetics and perfume business in the city and has travelled at least 20 times to Dubai and China. According to a source, Mrinals offices have not been searched yet. Officers said that he had travelled to Dubai thrice this month and could have been assisted by the accused custom official to smuggle goods into the country.

While APS Suri, chief customs commissioner, zone III did not respond, Rama Mathews, commissioner of customs (Airport) said, There was a seizure and the investigation is going on.
The Railways finally has a date to start running the first air-conditioned (AC) train in Mumbai. Union railway minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday announced the train will be operational from January 1.

Addressing the media in New Delhi on Wednesday, Goyal said the trials of the AC train are going on successfully and the local train services will be operational from January 2018. The train will run on the Churchgate-Borivli route of Western Railway (WR). Its fare is planned on the Delhi Metro fare structure, but its details are still being worked out.

Trials of the AC local train are in the final stage and the approval of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) is expected by the end of this year, said Ravinder Bhakar, chief public relations officer, WR.

The AC local train for the city was first announced in the 2012-2013 railway budget, but it actually arrived in Mumbai only in April 2016. Initially, it was supposed to run on Central Railway. It was then parked in a Kurla carshed for months. It had software issues in the beginning and a series of tests and trials were conducted.

Post the trials, CR officials were supposedly reluctant to operate it on their tracks citing technical problems. The train was then handed over to WR for operation on their route.

Interestingly, this is not the first time a deadline for the operation of an AC local train has been given. Earlier, railway board member Ravinder Gupta had stated that the AC local train would start operating by September this year. However, the deadline was missed owing to a series of technical complications in the rake.

Read more:

Mumbai will soon get its first AC local
A 62-year-old from Charkop allegedly lost Rs 3.15 lakh to a credit card fraud within two hours.

Utpal Ghosh told the Charkop police that he got messages between 11.45 pm on October 15 and 2.04 am on October 16, said an officer.

Ghosh fell victim to a card cloning fraud. The accused used Ghoshs data to make transactions to the sum of Rs 3.15 lakh, said the officer.

He first informed his bank about the fraud and went to the police station to file a complaint on Tuesday.

The police have written to the cybercrime cell for assistance and are seeking details from the bank. Officials said prima facie Ghoshs credit card data was used for online transactions. They will also investigate where Ghoshs last used his credit card.

We have registered a case of cheating under section 420 of the Indian Penal Code along with relevant sections of the Information Technology Act, said P Yele, inspector at Charkop police station.

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After running a pilot ferry project from Mumbai to Ratnagiri and Raigad this Diwali, the Mumbai Maritime Board (MMB) has decided to make it a permanent service.

Atul Patne, chief executive officer of MMB, said the ferry service got good response from people when it was operational for a week during Diwali.

We will invite interested contractors to run the service permanently now, Patne said. The services we operated had a limited capacity of 35 passengers each, and we are looking at increasing the capacity too.

Read: Diwali surprise: Take a ferry to Ratnagiri, Raigad

These ferry services will leave from Mumbais Ferry Wharf (Bhaucha Dhakka) to Dighi in Raigad and Dabhol in Ratnagiri districts. The MMB will also run services between Dighi and Dabhol.

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Dance bars will not reopen in the city anytime in the near future, as the Mumbai police have rejected all 79 applications that they received for fresh licences, following a Supreme Court order in November 2016.

The hearing on the petition to stay the law that makes dance bars almost impossible to operate in Maharashtra, scheduled for April this year, has been deferred till January 2018, said advocate Satyajit Saha, who is representing the dance bar association in the apex court. The hearing was postponed as the judges deciding on the matter are currently part of a five-member Constitutional bench that is hearing an important case.

Following the SC ruling on November 24, 2016  it asked the state government to consider granting licences to dance bars if they are at par with the three dance bars that have already been granted licence  the police had received 79 applications till this July. By last month all applications were rejected, and there are no new pending applications now.

The applications were rejected because of negative non-compliance reports from police stations in their respective areas after inspections, a source at the police headquarters, which issues such licences, said. None of the applicants fulfilled the 26 court-approved conditions that would make them eligible for licences to operate dance bars, the official said.

The 12-year battle 2005: Dance bars are banned in Maharashtra in August 2005, with the passing of the Maharashtra Police (Amendment) Act, 2005. 2006: The ban is struck down by Bombay High Court in 2006, which states that the amendment is unconstitutional. SC admits states petition challenging this verdict, and continues stay on granting of licences. 2013: The SC upholds the high court verdict in July 2013, says dance bars can reapply for licences. However, licences are not processed by the police, and bar owners send reminder notice, threaten to file contempt petition in SC. The police say they are awaiting instructions from state. 2014: The state bans dance bars once again by bringing in an ordinance in June 2014. Bar owners file a petition in apex court challenging it, allege that state has disregarded SC ruling. Court sends notice to state in September, asking for response. 2015: In February, SC issues second notice to government seeking its reply. In October, the SC stays the 2014 law, calling it unconstitutional, and paves the way for dance bars to reopen. 2016: State Assembly passes new law in May, the Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women Act, 2016, to circumvent judgment. Bar owners challenge it in July. In September, SC rejects many draconian conditions in the law, accepts 26. In an interim order in November, it allows dance bars to submit licence applications to the police. The police ask inspectors to check bars that have applied for licences and submit compliance report. They ask applicants to submit fire safety compliance reports. 2017: By July, the police receive 79 applications for fresh licences, which are rejected following negative compliance reports. The hearing on the petition in SC is likely to resume in January 2018.

After the court order, the Mumbai police headquarters asked senior inspectors of police stations in areas where the bars were to be located to conduct inspections and determine whether the applicants met the 26 conditions. These include facilities to maintain a five-feet distance between customers and the performance area, a three-foot-high barricade around the stage, and installation of CCTV cameras at the bars entry and exit points, among other things.

Besides this, the police had also asked all applicants to produce fire safety compliance certificates, which nobody managed to produce, the official revealed.

Bar owners allege that the police are not interested in issuing licences and have rejected applications without reason. They want a court-appointed body to inspect their premises and file a compliance report before the court in order to ensure transparency.

Earlier, the audit process ran into controversy after four police officers had been found to have prepared false compliance reports though the applicant bars had not adhered to the conditions. Subsequently, these policemen  three inspectors and one assistant police inspector  were suspended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The Maharashtra government and the dance bar and hotels owners association have been locked in a court battle for more than a decade now, ever since the state first banned dance bars in 2005. While issuing the ban for the first time, the state had said that it was prompted by the need to prevent immoral activities, trafficking of women and to ensure the safety of women in general. The ban raised a lot of concerns and controversies, from the states right to police the moral lives of citizens to the impact it would have on the livelihood of bar dancers.

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The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authoritys (Mhada) affordable housing lottery scheme has not got the huge response this year that it usually gets, with the number of applicants dropping by as much as 40 per cent compared to 2016 .

Till date, 77,937 people have applied for flats, compared to last years 1.36 lakh.

The extremely high price of flats, and the economic slowdown seem to have put people off from investing in Mhadas no-frills apartments. This is the first time that Mhada has priced its flats at more than Rs1 crore. Of the total 918 flats on sale, 204 cost above Rs1 crore. Ami Patel, a media professional, said the rate is exorbitant this year. The houses are too expensive and beyond my reach, Patel said.

A 364 sq ft (carpet area) house in Lower Parel, for instance, is priced at Rs1.42 crore, which works out to Rs39,010 per sq ft for carpet area, and Rs23,500 for super built-up. Similarly, a 476 sq ft flat in Lower Parel is priced at Rs1.95 crore, which translates to Rs40, 966 per sq ft carpet and Rs24,800 for super built-up.

Real estate research firm Liases Foras said the poor response is because of high prices. Mhada prices are on par with market rates this year. In fact, some builders are selling at rates lower than this. Buyers expect lower rates from Mhada, said Pankaj Kapoor, CEO, Liases Foras.

Patel said the current slowdown has also influenced her decision. It makes no sense to apply in such an environment with so much economic uncertainty, she said. Mitesh Gala, a private school tutor, shares the same opinion. After demonetisation, people have lost jobs all around, and living costs are rising by the day. I will apply only after things stabilise, he said.

In recent years, as private builders quoted increasingly exorbitant, unaffordable rates, more and more people in the city have been trying their luck with Mhada, which is known to sell houses at affordable rates. In the last nine draws, 13.58 lakh applicants applied for the 22,923 houses that were put up for sale.

Mhada, however, claims that its rates are lower than private developers this year too. We charge 30 to 50 per cent lesser than private builders. This time, we have got less response as we are selling fewer smaller-sized houses, said Subhash Lakhe, vice-chairman and chief officer, Mhada (Mumbai board).

Mumbais realty market has seen a major slowdown in the past few years, with sales dropping as prices shot up. The inventory of unsold houses is huge - there are around 2.67 lakh unsold houses in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, of which 1.05 lakh are within Mumbai city limits.

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Thane crime branch is likely to seek the custody of underworld don Dawood Ibrahims brother Iqbal Kaskar, 52, and other accused in an extortion case  Pankaj Gangar,54, Mumtaz Shaikh,48, and Israr Sayyed,57  under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). They were sent to judicial custody on October 14.

There are certain elements which need to thoroughly probed and to connect the missing dots, we will sort their custody with due permission of the MCOCA court, said a senior police officer from Thane commissionerate.

The police are currently short on the trail to unveil the investments made by the four accused across Maharashtra and other parts of the country.

Pradeep Sharma senior police inspector from Thane Anti-Extortion Cell said, We will take the accuseds custody in a day or two and we have also got more than two dozens complainants, out of whom three have filedFIRs and few others are scared but we have assured them of protection. We have done paper work and are waiting for court orders.

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The Kherwadi police recently arrested two men who pretended to be MHADA agents, for allegedly cheating a Goregaon resident of Rs19.5 lakh on the pretext of getting him a flat in Parel. The police are looking for five other people who helped them.

The accused, in a bid to win the confidence of the victim, also called him to the MHADA office at Bandra (East).

The two accused have been identified as Javed Patel and Sampanna Parab.

The complainant, Vijay Kamble, resides in Goregaon (East) and works as a BEST driver. He had discussed his plans to buy a house with his colleague, Sampanna Parab. Parab then introduced Kamble to Patel, and assured him that Patel was reliable person who had contacts with senior MHADA officers.

Patel demanded Rs25 lakh from Kamble, and promised him a house in a tower in Parel. Kamble then sold his room in Parel and gave Patel Rs18 lakh in two installments.

After taking the amount, Patel took the victim to Parimal Tower in Parel to look at flats. After Kamble finalised one flat, he told Patel to speed up the process as he wanted the flats possession as early as possible. The victim then gave a demand draft of another Rs5 lakh in favour of Offices bank account Mhada lottery 2014 to a man called Anil.

Kamble met Patel several times regarding his flats possession from April 2016 to September 2017. However, neither was he given the flat, nor was his money returned to him.

He then approached the MHADA officers in Bandra and narrated the entire incident. The officers told Kamble that he had been cheated, and advised him to file a police complaint.

Kamble then approached the Kherwadi police and an FIR was registered on September 22.

As per Kambles allegation, we conducted an inquiry and arrested Parab and Patel from Bandra. Patels brother Ibrahim and four other suspects are also wanted in the case. Investigations are on, and we have learnt that Patel has cheated other people in the past, said senior inspector Rajendra Patil of Kherwadi police station.

Both the arrested accused have been sent to judicial custody.
Two months after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) passed the Development Plan (DP) 2034, it released a separate document for three land parcels in the city on Tuesday. Citizens will now have 60 days to submit suggestions and objections to the BMC.

The maps and plan related to the three land parcels are on display at the BMC headquarters near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, said an official from the DP department. Citizens can send their feedback via post to the BMC headquarters.

The three land parcels  39.3 hectares in the Oshiwara District Centre, 47.37 hectares of A block in the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and 27.37 hectares between LBS Marg and Mithi river in Kurla  were handed over to the BMC by the MMRDA in 2016. By this time, the DP-2034 had already been finalised, resulting in a separate document. The BKC land includes Bandra reclamation, Lilavati Hospital, ONGC Colony and a recreation ground. The plan includes development of a ramp connecting Bandra-Worli Sea link to Lilavati Hospital, which is likely to bring relief to commuters by reducing congestion during peak-hour traffic. It also reserves land between SV Road and Linking Road in Bandra for commercial and industrial zones.

To mitigate flooding around Mithi river especially in Kurla, the plan has reserved areas for three pumping stations. We have earmarked areas for more social amenities, said the official. After the plan of developing Central Business Districts (CBD) in Oshiwara, the BMC has reserved at least three large plots as commercial and two plots as industrial zones in the DP.

How to send views via post

Write in to the office of chief engineer (Development Plan), 5th floor, municipal head office, Fort  with a headline, Suggestions/objections to the draft development plan 2034 of three years

You can also submit your views by visiting the under-construction BMC site portal.mcgm.gov.in, which will reopen next month.

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Fats Domino, the amiable rock n roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music while honouring the traditions of the Crescent City, died Tuesday. He was 89.

Mark Bone, chief investigator with the Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, coroners office, said Domino died of natural causes at 3:30 am Tuesday.

In appearance, he was no Elvis Presley. He stood 5-feet-5 and weighed more than 200 pounds, with a wide, boyish smile and a haircut as flat as an album cover. But Domino sold more than 110 million records, with hits including Blueberry Hill, Aint It a Shame and other standards of rock n roll.

He was one of the first 10 honorees named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Rolling Stone Record Guide likened him to Benjamin Franklin, the beloved old man of a revolutionary movement.

His dynamic performance style and warm vocals drew crowds for five decades. One of his show-stopping stunts was playing the piano while standing, throwing his body against it with the beat of the music and bumping the grand piano across the stage.

Dominos 1956 version of Blueberry Hill was selected for the Library of Congress National Recording Registry of historic sound recordings worthy of preservation. The preservation board noted that Domino insisted on performing the song despite his producers doubts, adding that Dominos New Orleans roots are evident in the Creole inflected cadences that add richness and depth to the performance.

Domino became a global star but stayed true to his hometown, where his fate was initially unknown after Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005. It turned out that he and his family were rescued by boat from his home, where he lost three pianos and dozens of gold and platinum records, along with other memorabilia.

Many wondered if he would ever return to the stage. Scheduled to perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2006, he simply tipped his hat to thousands of cheering fans.

New Orleans rhythm and blues legend Fats Domino performs at the 30th Annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival April 25, 1999. (REUTERS)

But in May 2007, he was back, performing at Tipitinas music club in New Orleans. Fans cheered - and some cried - as Domino played Im Walkin, Aint It a Shame, Shake, Rattle and Roll, Blueberry Hill and a host of other hits.

That performance was a highlight during several rough years. After losing their home and almost all their belongings to the floods, his wife of more than 50 years, Rosemary, died in April 2008.

Domino moved to the New Orleans suburb of Harvey after the storm but would often visit his publishing house, an extension of his old home in the Lower 9th Ward, inspiring many with his determination to stay in the city he loved.

Fats embodies everything good about New Orleans, his friend David Lind said in a 2008 interview. Hes warm, fun-loving, spiritual, creative and humble. You dont get more New Orleans than that.

The son of a violin player, Antoine Domino Jr was born on February 26, 1928, to a family that grew to include nine children. As a youth, he taught himself popular piano styles - ragtime, blues and boogie-woogie - after his cousin left an old upright in the house. Fats Waller and Albert Ammons were early influences.

He quit school at age 14, and worked days in a factory while playing and singing in local juke joints at night. In 1949, Domino was playing at the Hideaway Club for $3 a week when he was signed by Imperial record company.

He recorded his first song, The Fat Man, in the back of a tiny French Quarter recording studio.

They call me the Fat Man, because I weigh 200 pounds, he sang. All the girls, they love me, cause I know my way around.

This January 23, 1986 file photo, from left, musicians Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino and James Brown pose at a reception where they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. (AP)

In 1955, he broke into the white pop charts with Aint it a Shame - but actually sang the lyrics as aint that a shame. The song was covered blandly by Pat Boone as Aint That a Shame and rocked out years later by Cheap Trick. Domino enjoyed a parade of successes through the early 1960s, including Be My Guest and Im Ready. Another hit, Im Walkin, became the debut single for Ricky Nelson.

Domino appeared in the rock n roll film The Girl Cant Help It and was among the first black performers to be featured in popular music shows, starring with Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers. He also helped bridge rock n roll and other styles - even country/western, recording Hank Williams Jambalaya and Bobby Charles Walkin to New Orleans.

Like many of his peers, Dominos popularity tapered off in the 1960s as British and psychedelic rock held sway.

Domino told Ebony magazine that he stopped recording because companies wanted him to update his style.

I refused to change, he said. I had to stick to my own style that Ive always used or it just wouldnt be me.

Antoine and Rosemary Domino raised eight children in the same ramshackle neighbourhood where he grew up, but they did it in style - in a white mansion, trimmed in pink, yellow and lavender. The front double doors opened into an atrium with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and ivory dominos set in a white marble floor.

In 1988, all of New Orleans seemed to be talking about him after he reportedly paid in cash for two Cadillacs and a $130,000 Rolls-Royce. When the salesman asked if he wanted to call his bank about financing, Domino smiled and said, I am the bank.

President George W. Bush (R) meets with musician Fats Domino in New Orleans, Louisiana, August 29, 2006. (REUTERS)

In 1998, he became the first purely rock n roll musician to be awarded the National Medal for the Arts. But he cited his age and didnt make the trip to the White House to get the medal from President Clinton.

That was typical. Aside from rare appearances in New Orleans, he dodged the spotlight in his later years, refusing to appear in public or even to give interviews.
Ghaziabad: The newly introduced scheme of door-to-door collection of daily municipal solid waste is facing some teething problems as residents of high-rise buildings have pointed out shortcomings in the schemes implementation.

The scheme, initiated by the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation, is based on user charges ranging from 40 to 70 per month in residential areas. For that purpose, the corporation procured 80 additional new vehicles and flagged off the scheme for 65 residential wards on October 22.

High-rise residents are facing issues because they are required to come outside their building to hand over the daily solid waste bins to the corporations collection agents. Some of the high-rises are 18 floors high. It is a very difficult proposition for residents to come down and give away the household garbage, said VK Mittal, president of Kaushambi Apartment Residents Welfare Association (KARWA).

As per the present arrangement, the 22 high-rise buildings in Kaushambi have hired private collectors and are paying them 1,000 per month for each building to collect the solid waste from each flat and take it outside.

Another nearby residential society, Jaipuria Enclave, having ground plus two other floors with nearly 306 flats. There, too, residents have been complaining of similar issues.

Nearly 50% of our residents are working professionals and leave for offices early morning. Once they leave, only senior citizens are at home and they find it difficult to take the garbage down to the corporation vehicles. Our private waste collection agent instead arrives and collects solid waste from each flat and charges us 50 per month, said Shiv Raj Singh, a resident.

The private collector is known to us and verified. On the other hand, corporation deploys different staff on different days. This creates a safety issue and these workers are not verified, he said.

Residents of Sector 5, Vaishali, said they are still continuing with the services of private collectors.

The scheme is yet to start in our area and for it be successful in multi-storeyed buildings, the residents would need the help of private collectors. It would be a feasible idea that private collectors collect waste from each flat and transfers it to bins. From there, the corporation vehicles can pick it up. However, this will be an additional burden on residents, said BK Pandey, a resident of Sector 5, Vaishali.

The corporation officials said the scheme was implemented as it is a mandatory condition under the Solid Waste (Management & Handling) Rules and will also help improve citys ranking in the upcoming Ministry of Urban Developments Swachh Survekshan which will take place in January 2018. Ghaziabad had secured a poor ranking in the earlier two editions of the survey.

To overcome the issue in multi-storeyed buildings, residents will have to rope in private collectors who can collect garbage from each flat and hand it over to our vehicles. At the most, we can dispatch our vehicles inside the building to a common point, said CP Singh, Ghaziabad municipal commissioner.

However, we invite suggestions from residents on steps to make this scheme more beneficial. There is always scope for improvement, he said.

At present, the corporation has rolled out the new scheme in 65 out of 100 residential wards. For rest of the wards, the corporation will rope in private firms through a tendering process.

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A Greater Noida school official allegedly raped a foreign national student for a year, police said after the 11-year-old boys parents filed a case.

According to the complaint, the parents discovered the months-long assault on Monday. When the boy returned from school on Monday, he started crying again. When his parents consoled him and asked him why he was crying, he told them that a man in the schools administration department had been sodomising him, a police officer said.

The law in India does not recognise rape of males, and such offences are usually tried under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (punishment for sodomy) and Sections 3/4 of the Pocso Act if the victim is a minor. Police have invoked both sections in the case lodged at the Surajpur police station.

HT is not identifying the school to protect the boys identity.

One of the boys parents is a Nigerian and the family had been living in Greater Noida for five years.

The accused has been arrested from Greater Noida. He is a resident of Delhi, said district superintendent of police (rural) Suniti.

Safety of students in school campuses has been in focus since the murder of an 8-year-old boy in Gurgaons Ryan International school.

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Peeved at the alleged apathy of the former councillors towards their colony, the apex body of RWAs - Kaushambi Apartment Residents Welfare Association is fielding its own candidate in the upcoming municipal elections.

The measure is seen as a unique step in which a locality has embarked upon itself to field a candidate of its own. Generally, candidates contest from political parties or contest elections as independent or from lesser-known parties.

The office bearers of KARWA said that they came upon the decision after deliberation during their recent executive committee meeting of the association on October 18.

This is because we feel we have been let down by representatives of various parties. We had been longing for streetlights, roads and to get rid of unhygienic conditions. As a result, we had to move to courts like Allahabad High Court and also to the National Green Tribunal to get even the basic amenities. After the court directions we got streetlights, got the desilting of drains and even got drains constructed, said VK Mittal, president, KARWA.

We are still contesting petition in NGT against polluted surroundings of our area. Seeing this, we realised that if we, as residents, have to do all this and fight, then why not let our candidate be chosen who will make our voices heard in the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation, he added.

The RWA also sent out WhatsApp messages to other 22 RWAs in Kaushambi. It is estimated that Kaushambi has nearly 3,500 voters and comprise of an estimated population of nearly 10,000 in Ward 72.

What may also disturb the voter equations of other candidates is the fact that Kaushambi is now an independent ward after the delimitation. Earlier, it was a combined ward with nearby locality of Bhovapur village. The latter has now merged with nearby Simant Vihar.

KARWA says it will be a tough fight for other candidates as they have already started preparations with handbills, banners, WhatsApp messages, e-mails and there will be an annual general body meeting (GBM).

The candidate will be formally introduced in the GBM on October 29, Mittal added.

Residents have also welcomed the move of KARWA which has nominated its own independent candidate.

Around 22 high-rises and other residents of Kaushambi want improvement in conditions. We will also request the other nearby plot area residents to come for the meeting. We hope they will also support the move. There are some areas of Vaishali included in the ward as well. We will be requesting them to support the decision, said Raja Mani, a Kaushambi resident.

We feel that everybody will support us. We have proposed a candidate and the name will be put forward in the GBM, he added.

The Kaushambi high-rises are located in Ghaziabad, next to Anand Vihar in Delhi. It is surrounded by ISBT Anand Vihar, ISBT Kaushambi, Vaishali and Sahibabad Industrial Area.

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In view of the Chhath puja, Noida traffic police will be enforcing diversion on the movement of heavy transport vehicles towards Kalindi Kunj. The traffic restriction will be in place from 2pm on Thursday to 9am on Friday.

Thousands of devotees throng the banks of river Yamuna in Noida as well as the Delhi side. As per an estimate, over 30,000 devotees offer prayers on the Noida side and around 10,000 devotees from neighbouring villages of Delhi assemble on the other bank.

No heavy transport vehicle (HTV) will be allowed towards Kalindi Kunj. During the 19-hour traffic restriction, HTVs will have to take alternate routes to reach Delhi, said Layak Singh, traffic inspector.

The movement of HTVs from Noida-Greater Noida Expressway towards Kalindi Kunj at the left turn, about 70 metres before the Mahamaya flyover, will be prohibited. Instead, they will have to drive down straight on the Dadri-Delhi Link Road towards the Delhi-Noida-Direct Flyway or Mayur Vihar Phase-I for going to Delhi.

Singh said the left turn before the Mahamaya flyover going to Kalindi Kunj will not be barricaded as the movement of light and medium motor vehicles will be allowed.

Our personnel will divert HTVs near the turn towards Dali Prerna Sthal for their onward journey to Delhi via the DND Flyway or Chilla border. Blocking the approach road to Kalindi Kunj bridge with the help of barricades will restrict the movement of cars on the route, he said.

However, Singh said that if there are jams or congestion on roads, movement of cars towards Kalindi Kunj will also be prohibited.

Officials said the HTVs moving from Sector 37 to Mahamaya flyover will be allowed to take the cloverleaf on the flyover to go towards Dalit Prerna Sthal and ahead, towards Delhi.

Singh said that nine traffic personnel will be deployed at three points to check entry of HTVs.

We will have teams of three traffic police officers each at three points  the left turn ahead of the Mahamaya flyover on the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, near the head of the cloverleaf on the Mahamaya flyover and one at the roundabout in Sector 94  to prohibit the movement of HTVs towards Kalindi Kunj, he said.

Singh said two teams of cops will also be deputed to check parking of vehicles from Mahamaya flyover to Kalindi Kunj. Two more teams of cops will be there on both sides of the road leading to Kalindi Kunj as some devotees park their cars in the vacant area along the road for performing Puja. This causes traffic congestion. Traffic cops will be there to check any unauthorised parking of vehicles on both sides of the road, he said.

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Two minor girls who went missing from their residence in Sector Pi-1 of Greater Noida on Monday were traced to Patna on Wednesday, the police said.

The girls had called their parents from a cellphone on Tuesday night, which helped to trace their location, the police said.

Jitendra Singh, the station house officer of Kasna police station, said, On Tuesday night, one of the girls made a phone call to her father, but the sound was not clear as they were calling from the moving train. The phone went offline from then. An hour later, her father was able to make a call to the same number but a man on the other side informed him that the girls had borrowed his phone to make a call. He told that the girls got down at Danapur railway station, which is 30 kilometres from Patna.

They got down from the Howrah-bound Himgiri Express and were spotted roaming aimlessly and under the influence of some drug in Patna, the police said. The Patna police took the girls into custody, during which one of the girls was able to recollect her fathers cellphone number, after which their parents were informed about their whereabouts, the police said.

The families of the girls suspect that the girls might have been drugged and kidnapped, because they were found in a semi-conscious state. The families have rushed to Patna along with the police to bring the girls back home.

A Noida police officer said, The girls travelled in a bus from Greater Noida and were then found to be travelling in Himgiri Express. Further details may be revealed once the girls are brought back here.

The girls, a 15-year-old and a 14-year-old, had gone to a nearby market from their homes in a Greater Noida apartment to get a study material photocopied but did not return, following which their families lodged a complaint with Kasna police station.

The two girls hail from Kerala and Bihar, respectively, and have been living in Greater Noida for a few years. Both are students of Kendriya Vidyalaya.
For a gang of robbers, Wednesday was the day when things did not go as planned.

They targeted a 28-year-old cash collection agent and snatched a money bag outside Noidas Spice Mall in Sector 25-A only to find it empty.

When the collection agent, employed with private firm  Brinks Arya, resisted the robbery attempt, they shot him, snatched the bag and fled the spot on a bike.

But they were in for a harder time as Ghaziabad Police managed to hunt them in Sector 4, Vaishali and arrested one of them after a brief gunfight; the other managed to escape.

The collection agent, Krishna Om Prakash and was shot in the belly. He is being treated.

The incident took place on Wednesday noon when Prakash was about to enter the Spice Mall for his daily collection.

The two suspects entered the malls parking area and cornered Krishna.

Prakash was also accompanied by a gunman and the driver of the cash collection van but both were several metres away from him. The two suspects gave them the slip and fled on their bike towards Nithari.

The gunman said, Krishna emptied his collection in the van and was entering the mall to collect money when the two persons intercepted him and opened fire. The bag that was taken did not contain any cash.

The collected cash kept in the safe box is still not opened. Generally, the collection agents take different routes every day. Whether they were being followed is to be investigated, said Rajeev Kumar Singh, circle officer of Noida  II.

Unaware that the Noida police had flashed the wireless messages to neighbouring districts, including Ghaziabad, about the incident, the two rode towards Vaishali residential locality.

In Vaishali, there was a vehicle check on and the two men opened fire assuming that they had been identified. Hearing the shots, one of our sub-inspectors borrowed a two-wheeler and chased the duo. At a distance of nearly 200 metres, he shot at the bike and both men fell, said Akash Tomar, superintendent of police (city), Ghaziabad.

He said one of the men, identified as Rizwan Qureshi, opened fire at SI Bhupendra Singh, the Vaishali police post in-charge.

Singh sustained a bullet injury but retaliated, injuring Rizwan in the leg. His accomplice, identified as Shehzad Qureshi, managed to escape.

The police said the duo, from Bulandshahr, is a part of a dreaded gang of robbers, with 15 cases of robberies and chain snatching against it in Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr and Gautam Budh Nagar.

Rizwan, whose brother Furkan is currently lodged in Tihar jail in Delhi, was taken into custody and rushed to GTB Hospital in Delhi.

Singh is also being treated at a private hospital, as the bullet fired by Rizwan hit his elbow.

The white Apache bike used by the suspects was seized by the police.

Later in the afternoon, the Noida police also reached Ghaziabad as Rizwan had confessed to his role in the Noida incident.

Prima facie, we identified the robber on the basis of description, age group and build, as told to the police by the victims colleagues. The white Apache used by them was also a major connecting point. We will get him identified by the victim, who is still undergoing treatment, said Love Kumar, senior superintendent of police, Gautam Budh Nagar.
Senior officials of the state government on Wednesday agreed to release a fund of Rs1,000 crore to the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) to acquire land for the Noida international airport at Jewar. The airport is expected to be developed along the 165-kilometre Yamuna Expressway.

The decision was taken in the meeting among Anup Chandra Pandey, the industrial development commissioner, Dr Prabhat Kumar, chairman of YEIDA and other senior officials in Lucknow. The recommendations made in Wednesdays meeting will be put up before the state cabinet for its final approval before the fund is released.

The government has assured us a fund of Rs1,000 crore, which is likely to be released in a month. Therefore, we have decided to issue a notification with regard to the land for the airport in December and start acquiring the land in January. The state government has put the project on fast-track, said Kumar.

The issue of a notification implies that the sale and purchase of land earmarked for the airport will be stopped.

The Union civil aviation ministry on June 24 had given its approval to build an international airport at Jewar.

Officials of YEIDA were awaiting funds from the state government to acquire 1,000 hectares of agricultural land, in the initial phase of the project. On the whole, 5,000 hectares are required for the project.

To begin procuring land, we will initially use the Rs1,000 crore provided by the state government. Later, we will seek a loan to acquire the land. We need a total of Rs3,000 crore to acquire land in the first phase, said Kumar.

The UP government has decided to directly purchase the agricultural land from farmers on agreement basis instead of acquiring the same. Officials said they decided against it as acquiring land by implementing the provisions of the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, will be a challenge for YEIDA.

We will have meetings with the farmers and then start buying the agricultural land through mutual consensus. We will pay the farmers the rate that is prevailing in their areas at present, said Kumar.

According to officials, the UP government has expedited the formalities so that work can be started at the earliest.

We will offer twice the prevailing circle rate in respective villages. It means we will offer R3,500 per square metre to farmers. Apart from this, we will discuss their issues amicably before starting the process of land acquisition, Kumar said.

YEIDA has also got a loan of Rs1,000 crore sanctioned by four banks  HDFC, Indian Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and Canara Bank  to pay hiked land compensation to farmers.

If the need arises, we will also use this loan for the airport project. However, we are yet to decide on the order of villages where land will be bought first. We are working out the details and formalities to start acquisition, said Kumar.

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajs visit to Bangladesh has been a major confidence booster for the bilateral relationship between the two countries. The visit has come at a time when Bangladesh is grappling with a large influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. Interestingly, the relationship between India and Bangladesh, otherwise warm, has been somewhat strained over the Rohingya issue largely due to the popular perception in Bangladesh that India has not adequately responded in their hour of need. The visit aimed to highlight Indias genuine support to Bangladeshs concern.

Sushma Swaraj visited Dhaka on 22nd and 23rd of October, 2017 to attend the consultation of the foreign ministers of the two countries to assess the development in the bilateral relationship, a routine affair between the two countries. Besides reviewing the developments in the bilateral relations including the projects funded by India, the issue of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar to Bangladesh was an important agenda in her visit. During her visit, she also met various important political leaders, including the opposition party chief Begum Khaleda Zia.

Since August this year, there has been a continuous flow of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh from Myanmar. The number has now crossed half a million. Rohingyas are an ethnic group living in Myanmar having linguistic similarities with some dialects of Bangladesh. Rohingyas fled their homes due to violence, allegedly by the Myanmar Army as a retaliation to a terror attack on army camps by an armed group belonging to the community.

Keeping in mind humanitarian concerns, Bangladesh provided shelter to the refugees but it feels it will be unsustainable for the country to retain them for long. The presence of refugees in such a large number adds to the already immense burden on its resources which are already scarce. There is also some concern about its internal stability.

Some voices among the local communities are demanding the relocation of the camps from the Coxs Bazaar area where refugee camps are mostly located. Locals fear that the refugees could disturb the demographics of the region which might lead to socio-economic tensions within communities. Also, one cannot overlook the humanitarian aspect involved, as there is the presence of a large number of youth and children who need opportunities for employment and education, that can be ensured only by stability.

Bangladeshs anxiety also arises from the reason that Myanmar does not recognise Rohingyas as citizens and consider them illegal migrants from Bangladesh. Earlier in the 80s and 90s, the country experienced an exodus of Rohingyas from Myanmar following persecution. Although Myanmar took back refugees after long persistence, a large section still resides in Bangladesh. Some estimates suggest that around 4 lack refugees were already in Bangladesh. Thus, Bangladesh is seeking the support of global powers for the resolution of the issue.

Ironically, the response of powers like China and Russia, close friends of Bangladesh, has not been satisfactory for Bangladesh as they have favoured Myanmar. Hence, India being a close neighbour and an important regional power, Bangladesh expects India to take the lead in resolving the issue.

Given Myanmars exclusivist approach to the issue, there is some doubt about the extent of influence India can actually assert. Also, India would have to consider its own relationship with Myanmar. The humanitarian aspect of the issue also needs to be factored in while formulating a policy.

The external affairs minister, during the visit, not only expressed her concern over the spell of violence but has also been categorical in arguing for repatriation of the refugees for normalcy to return in Bangladesh.

Joyeeta Bhattacharjee is senior fellow, Observer Research Foundation, Delhi

The views expressed here are personal
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent three days in Varanasi before the final phase of the Uttar Pradesh election earlier this year, many saw it as a sign of desperation. He, however, told a party leader, Chunav jang hai, aur main senapati hoon (Election is a battle, and I am the commander).

The results showed it was not anxiety but the willingness to give it all and leave nothing to chance that drove Modi to campaign with vigour.

His frequent travels to Gujarat in the run-up to the assembly election, which will be held on December 9 and 14, have spun a similar narrative -- of BJPs nervousness.

It is indeed true that the party confronts a set of challenges in Gujarat, the home state of Modi and party chief Amit Shah.

There is a discontent among traders and BJPs traditional constituents over the goods and services tax. This is also the first election in more than 15 years when Modi is not the chief minister.

The partys broad social coalition has suffered a deep fracture, with the influential Patidar community moving away, upset that its demand for a quota in government jobs and education has not been met.

The opposition is displaying energy and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is trying to stitch together a broad coalition of disaffected leaders and communities.

Yet, BJP leaders argue they are comfortably placed and Modis visits must be seen in the wider context of the party taking each election -- including municipal polls -- with seriousness and without complacency.

Given it is his home state and he remains the partys most potent weapon, it is little surprise then that Modi will invest all his political capital to retain Gandhinagar.

He represents Gujarati asmita (pride) and his presence is a constant reminder to the electorate that they have to vote for their leader who has made it to Delhi.

If the party is relying first and foremost on the PM, its second source of strength is the sangathan, or the organisation. The BJP, under Modi and Shah, has consistently used power to expand power.

And remember, being in power for more than two decades has meant that the BJP has been able to create a network of patronage in every sphere of society.

It controls dairy cooperatives, self-help groups, rural banks. The party structure is both wide and deep; Shah has focused on ensuring booth committees are operational and active.

The party claims it has 700,000 panna pramukhs (in-charge of each page of electoral rolls) who are tasked with ensuring that potential voters turn up at polls booths on the voting day.

The BJP also thinks it can stitch together a wide caste coalition -- of upper castes (Brahmins and Banias in particular), a large section of other backward classes (especially Kolis), tribals, who constitute 15% of the states population, and a section of the older, more loyal Patels. It also hopes to continue its dominance of more than 60 urban and semi-urban seats.

And finally, while they acknowledge a sense of disillusionment among a section of their own voters, BJP leaders claim that the Congress, with no credible local face, is still in no position to wrest the state from them.

The last the Congress won the assembly election in Gujarat was in 1985. The BJPs last loss came in 1990. From 1995, over five elections, the BJP got a majority on its own. This history of dominance - the BJP hopes - will push it past the finish line yet again.

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Panjab University Campus students council (PUCSC) supported the cause of Punjabi language raised by the students of the Punjabi department at Panjab University, Chandigarh. Also, they are in favour of having Punjabi on signboards on the campus.

Students of the Punjabi department had written a letter to vice-chancellor Arun K Grover on October 11, asking him to bring back Punjabi on the signboards here. They had held a symbolic protest on October 17 outside the V-C office, teaching Punjabi to the participants.

Signboards should have all 3 languages

Jashan Kamboj, president, PUCSC, said, Punjabi is our mother tongue and we believe in the issue raised by the students of the Punjabi department students. We want that signboards should have all the three languages.

When asked if they have joined the protest organised by the students, he said, We havent as such joined the protest but we support the issue.

Protest at PGIMER

The students of the Punjabi department staged a silent protest outside the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in protest on Tuesday. Other students protested at different parts of the city for the cause.

SFS supports students

Members of Students for Society (SFS) also joined the students of the Punjabi department on the issue. They, along with the other students, silently interacted with residents, displaying placards in Punjabi.

SFS spokesperson said that a meeting was held on Tuesday morning at the Student Centre to create awareness among students on the issue. Members of SFS interacted with students to tell them about the importance of the language.
The local police on Tuesday booked unidentified people for supplying unauthorised gas cylinder to the Sector-10 house here that resulted in a major blast in which seven people died due to burn injuries.

Sukhwinder Singh, Sector-10 police in-charge said the owners of House No 702, where the blast had taken place last Wednesday, did not have a legal Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) connection. Despite that the workers associated with a private gas agency supplied the cylinder to the house, and this cylinder blasted, resulting in loss of lives and property.

We have registered the case under Section 304A (death due to negligence) and transferred the investigation to the crime branch, he said. The police are suspecting that blasted cylinder was leaking but the workers, who supplied it, did not attend to the complaint in due course of time.

Must read | Panchkula cylinder blast toll reaches seven; prof loses both sons

When Ajit and his family went for Diwali shopping, they kept the cylinder inside a store room that blasted after gas accumulated inside the house, said sources. However, Sukhwinder Singh added that nothing could be said with certainty at this stage. He said the testimony of the wife of deceased Ajit Chaudhary, owner of the house, will be vital in their investigation.

Since she was not in position to record her statement, the police have lodged FIR against unknown persons. She will be contacted soon, he said.

Residents agitated over indifferent response of administration

The area residents were furious of the fact that no senior official from the district administration visited them to take stock of the situation. Arun Singh said despite such a big tragedy there was no officer so far having come forward for the help.

TC Garg suffered the worst as he lost his two sons in the tragedy. He was not told about the death of his elder son, after he passed away, as Garg was to perform last rites of the younger son.

Even area councillor did not come to offer condolences or help if theres anything needed. Residents wanted administration to help in clearing the debris from the house that had collapsed after the incident. The house still has remnants of LPG smell and it could still be dangerous for the locality.

Three families lose their loved ones

As seven people lost their lives, three families have suffered the agony of losing their loved ones. The first was deceased Ajits family.

Ajit (34), was a computer engineer and is survived by wife and two young daughters, one a 2-year-old and other 6-year-old. Ajits relative said after his death, his wife is in a state of shock and finding it hard to come to terms that her husband is no more.

Young, promising lives cut short

Ajits next door neighbour TC Garg suffered the worst as he lost his two sons in the tragedy. His neighbours said the father was not told about the death of his elder son, Pranshu Garg after he passed away on Monday evening

It is because he had in afternoon performed last rites of his younger son Anmol Garg. It was only before the arrival of Pranshus body that Garg was informed about his death. It was hard to see his condition thereafter, said neighbour Ved Kakkar.

Anmol Gargs friends said he had got a job package of Rs 27 lakh in Hyderabad in a leading online company after getting his degree in computer science from PEC last week. He was soon to join the job after Diwali. Even his brother Pranshu was working with a leading bank in Mumbai.

Hem Raj Sharma, who also passed away, was living with his wife. His son was working in Ludhiana, while daughter was married in Delhi. The family is bracing up to the prospect of how the deceaseds wife will spend the rest of her life.

Lot of time wasted at formalities in hospitals

The kin of the deceased boys, SK Singla, said during the treatment a lot of time got wasted in unnecessary paper formalities, first at Sector-6 Civil Hospital and then at GMCH-32. We were initially told that boys had 30-35% burn injuries and they will be saved. But we were left shocked when both the boys could not be survived, he said. Pranshu was even shifted to Mohalis Fortis from GMCH-32.

Sanjeev Bhandari, kin of deceased Ajit Chaudhary, also said there was a shortage of ventilator at GMCH-32 but it was sorted out later.
The sensational murders of three tribal women in Bundu near Ranchi early this week has turned out to be fallout of a property dispute among family members, according to police.

Investigators have virtually zeroed in on the culprits, who apparently knew the victims, said a source close to the probe. Police did not share details as the extended family members were busy carrying out the last rites on Wednesday.

We are very close to solving the case, deputy superintendent of police (DSP) KV Raman told HT. He said the investigation would take a few days more to expose the culprits. He ruled out witch-hunting, as speculated initially, as the reason for the triple murder.

The victims  Bibi Devi, Lakhomani Devi and Taramoni Devi  were hacked to death in the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

According to police, a sharp object was used to attack the women on their necks with the intent to behead them. Their semi-decapitated bodies were recovered from bushes.

The murders sent shock waves across Jharkhand, as rumours spread that the women became victims of the superstitious practice of witch-hunting.

Police suspect Bibi Devi, 60, Lakhomani Devi and Taramoni Devi were murdered in their sleep.

Lakhimoni and Taramoni were widows of Mahipal Munda, who died a couple of years ago. Mahipal was the younger brother of Chandramohan Munda, who was married to Bibi.

Chandramohan too had a second wife.

Due to repeated altercations, Bibi used to live with Lakhimoni and Taramoni at Hathitopa while Chandramohan lived with his younger brother, Jagatpal, in Kullaburu, barely 500 metres away. Police are looking into information that the two brothers wanted to usurp around 1 acre of land the joint family owned at Hathitopa. Police are assessing information that Bibi Devi, Lakhimoni and Taramoni opposed the brothers.

Jagatpal dismissed this. He said, There was no dispute over property or land in the family at any point of time and issues were often settled amicably.

Police said, the two brothers could be picked up for interrogation but declined to divulge any details of their involvement in the triple murder.
Eminent filmmaker IV Sasi, who died on Tuesday, has left behind a legacy of blockbusters as well as revolutionary films which captured the imagination of cinema lovers.

Sasi, 69, dominated the Malayalam film scene for four decades, since 1970s with a wide variety of films through his close association with veteran writers like Jnanpith laureate MT Vasudevan Nair, late T Damodaran and P Padmarajan.

With over 150 movies to his credit, Sasi made a mark in the industry through the path breaking movie Avalude Ravukal, a sympathetic look at the life of a sex worker.

A still from Avalude Ravukal starring Seema, who would later marry Sasi.

Though the movie dealt with a risque theme, Sasi, made the film a success with his deft handling of the subject.

Seema, the reel-life heroine in that new wave movie, later became his partner in real-life. They had a successful on-screen collaboration throughout their careers.

Sasis films stood out for their elaborate sets and ensemble cast. The stories that he primarily dealt with were about the struggles of the working class.

The director, who began his film career as an art director, went on to become one of the most sought after filmmakers from 1970s to mid 1990s.

A still from the still popular song Illiyilam Kili Chillimulam Kili from the hit film Kanamarayathu.

His first directorial venture, Ulsavam (1975), a love story, starred by Vincent and late Sreevidhya and was a hit.

A native of Kozhikode district, Sasi, whose full name was Irruppam Veedu Sasidharan, was a diploma holder from Madras School of Arts.

Some of his well-known blockbusters include Alkoottathil Thaniye, Kanamarayathu, Aksharangal and Vadakaykkoru Hrudayam, Itha Ivide Vare, Angadi, Ee Nadu, Vartha, Devasuram and Avanazhi.

Sasi blurred the divide between the commerce and art in Malayalam films and was instrumental in moulding several superstars of the industry such as Mammootty, Mohanlal and veterans like late Jayan and Sukumaran.

Vellathooval, released in 2009, was Sasis last movie, which he directed after a long gap. He also had some Tamil and Hindi movies to his credit.

Sasi, who was planning a comeback to the industry in recent times, was a winner of national and state awards.

In 2015, the Kerala government presented him with the JC Daniel Award, the highest film honour in the state, in recognition for his overall contribution to the film industry.

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the demise of Sasi and said he was a filmmaker who rewrote the conventional formula in the Malayalam film industry.

Sasis long-term friend and Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan tweeted: My friend for 45 years IV Sasi is no more. The industry and I mourn a great technician. My support and love to my sister Seema Sasi and family.

My friend for 45 years I.V.Sasi is no more. The industry & I mourn a great technician. My support & love to my sister Seema Sasi &family  Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) October 24, 2017

Mourning his death, Mammootty said, I feel sad on the demise of my beloved friend.

Calling him the master of Malayalam movie industry, Mohanlal said, Portraying the life of commoners, IV Sasi was a man who created wonders on the silver screen. I salute the master of Malayalam movie industry who made the viewers and actors, including me, understand the basics of cinema.

Mammoottys son Dulquer Salmaan wrote on Facebook, RIP Sasi uncle! He created an Era of his own in Malayalam Cinema. Have fond memories of him from my childhood.

Sound designer Resul Pookutty tweeted, The man who rewrote the course of mainstream Malayalam cinema IV Sasi is no more. We had been in discussions on a film together, its my personal loss!

The man who rewritten the course of mainstream Malayalam cinema #IVSasi is no more.We been discussion a film together,its my personal loss!  resul pookutty (@resulp) October 24, 2017

One of the greatest filmmakers of mainstream Indian cinema bids goodbye. We will miss you Sasi sir! So many personal memories! Prithviraj Sukumaran posted.

Young actor Nivin Pauly tweeted: RIP Sasi Sir. You will be truely missed.

RIP I.V.Sasi sir! You will be truly missed! pic.twitter.com/96ukV7bNWo  Nivin Pauly (@NivinOfficial) October 24, 2017

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Actor Vijay has finally spoken about the recent Mersal controversy. The star released an official statement where he thanked his fellow artistes, national and state politicians, fans and everyone who supported the film during the row over a GST scene in the film. In the official statement, he has said, Mersal film had released on Diwali and has so far received a warm response from audience. It is currently running successfully in the theatres. However, this successful film faced a few problems too. In response to this - my colleagues from the industry, friends, the South Indian Actors association, Tamil Nadu Film Producers Council, national political leaders, regional political leaders, media, and the public - supported my film Mersal and the team.

He added, I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for making this film a raging success. While the producers were ready to cut the controversial scenes, it looks like this was not necessary after the filmmakers met with the BJP party members. While the GST scene and the resulting controversy has taken a back seat, fans are still unhappy about their favourite stars religion being used against him.

The film that released on October 18 has so far reportedly collected Rs 150 crore in its opening week. Also starring Nithya Menon, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Kajal Aggarwal, this film is about a doctors dream to provide quality healthcare facilities for the people in his country. Vijay plays three different roles in the film, that of a doctor, magician and a common man from rural Tamil Nadu.

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Adam Joan actor Prithviraj has apparently backed out of Aami, the biopic of poet Kamala Das. Initially, it was said that the actor was playing a pivotal role in the film. However, due to his busy schedule, he reportedly doesnt want to continue with the project. The actor apparently even recommended that Oru Mexican Aparatha star Tovino Thomas do the role. The two of them had earlier worked in the film Ennu Ninte Moideen together.

Prithvirajs busy schedule doesnt come as a surprise as the actor is a part of multiple upcoming projects, and is said to be busy till 2020. Starting with Vimaanam, Detroit Crossing, the untitled Anjali Menon project, Aadu Jeevitham, Karnan, Veluthampi Dalava, Syamanthakam and, of course, My Story, Prithviraj is completely booked.

Speaking of busy schedule and unavailability of dates, director of My Story, Roshni Dinaker, had recently accused Prithviraj of not giving her enough dates to complete the film. According to media reports, the director claimed that even after paying him an amount of Rs 1 crore, Prithviraj did not give them dates. When this matter reached the Kerala Film Chamber, it was decided that the actor will first complete My Story before he begins work on the Anjali Menon project.

The team of My Story has, in fact, begun to shoot their next schedule in Mysuru and the team shared its details on their official Facebook page.

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It will be a treat for superstar Rajinikanths fans as theyll get to watch their matinee idol twice on the big screen as two of his films 2.0 and Kaala are gearing up for release. While the Rs 400 crore science-fiction action adventure 2.0 is gearing up for January 2018 release, it has been learnt that Kaala, in which Rajinikanth plays a slum lord turned gangster, will release in April, according to reliable sources. Interestingly, Rajinikanth is done with shooting both the films recently.

Kaala is rumoured to be made as a Tamil-Hindi bilingual and will also have lines in Marathi as the film was predominantly shot in Mumbai. The films story revolves around the lives of oppressed Tamils in Mumbai and their fight for equality, lead by Rajinikanth in the role of a slum lord. The makers spent over Rs 5 crore to build a replica of Dharavi slum to shoot key portion of the film, which is produced by Dhanush and has music by Santosh Narayanan. The film was originally planned to be released on the occasion of Rajinikanths birthday on December 12. However, for reasons unknown the project was pushed to next year and now has been confirmed to hit the screens in April.

The project marks the reunion of Rajinikanth and director Ranjith after 2016s blockbuster Kabali, and Kaala is said to be made on a budget less than the former. The film also stars Nana Patekar, Huma Qureshi, Anjali Patil, Pankaj Tripathi and Samuthirakani in pivotal roles.

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Touted to be Europes first underwater restaurant, the semi-submerged building in Norway would host a restaurant, marine research centre and artificial mussel reef. Called Under, the multi-purpose building designed by Snhetta will be located at the southernmost tip of Norway, in the village of Baly, part of the Lindesnes region.

Snhetta will design Under, Europes first underwater restaurant. (AFP)

Sliding into  or out of  the water, the concrete grey box design features a restaurant for up to 100 guests, with a front-facing 11 x 4m panoramic glass panel like a sunken periscope giving a view into the depths beyond. Under, whose meaning in Norwegian is very close to wonder, will be Europes first underwater restaurant according to Snhetta.

During the day, parts of the restaurant will act as biology research centre to study marine biology and fish behaviour. The sea bed facing the building will be optimised to encourage fish and shellfish to proliferate, and the walls themselves would act as an artificial mussel reef.

The interior will be inspired by the environment, with subdued dark blue and green shades, with warm oak contrasting with the 1-meter-thick concrete on the outside. Sustainability will also be an important design element when it comes to materials.

While the Oslo- and New York-based Snhetta have previously designed waterside architecture, such as the Norwegian Opera and Ballet, Under marks the first time the studio will be diving underwater. Previous projects of note include the Times Square Reconstruction project in Manhattan, the Desmond Tutu memorial arch in Cape Town and the SFMOMA extension.

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When Dr Maral Yazarloo (35) is cruising along on her superbike  a 800 cc BMW GS that weighs 370 kg  passers-by dont give her a second glance. Its only when she takes a pit stop that the reactions begin: Its a woman, they realise with disbelief and shock. People then notice that the bike has butterflies and toys hanging on it. At this point, onlookers get pretty excited. If they dont speak English, they gesture with their arms to imply Yazarloo is strong. Other women often hug her warmly.

Majaraie aroosake bi hayaye Ma  A post shared by Dr.Maral Yazarloo (@maralyazarloo) on Sep 23, 2017 at 12:47pm PDT

Yazarloo is no stranger to this scenario  shes been riding for six years now. An Iranian by birth, she moved to Pune 15 years ago. Now, shes on a mission to cover 45 countries in seven continents, and traverse over 100,000 km, on her bike. All in 18 months. Joining her is fellow rider Pankaj Trivedi (42), a photographer and documentary maker. The duo has daringly chosen not to travel with any backup vehicle or support team.

And we finished our US trip and getting to Mexico! A post shared by Dr.Maral Yazarloo (@maralyazarloo) on Sep 9, 2017 at 9:58pm PDT

Shes riding across the world to change the stereotype of women, and in particular, Middle Eastern women. Its the fear of the unknown that gives her a thrill and keeps her going. Yazarloo and Trivedi kicked off their mission, Ride to be One, on March 15. So far, they have finished the first leg of their journey (crossing Myanmar, Thailand, and Australia).

We dealt with bike break downs and extreme weathers. I cant say it was easy but I definitely can say its possible and its wonderful. What makes it all the more special is that we have not made any travel arrangements in advance (except in Antarctica), so were taking each day as it comes. Were relying on faith - that everything will happen for the best, Yazarloo says.

The duo is currently in Peru, on the second leg of the journey (which included crossing Canada, USA and Mexico). They will soon enter the third leg of their journey (South Africa, Sudan, Egypt) and then move on to the fourth leg (Greece, Turkey, Russia, China, and back to India).

Pushing the envelope

I started riding after I moved to India. Until then, I didnt know anything about it since Iranian women are not allowed to ride a motorcycle, she says. Earlier this year, there were reports of two women being arrested after they were filmed riding a motorbike in Iran. Last year, Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, even issued a fatwa against women riding bicycles.

A post shared by Dr.Maral Yazarloo (@maralyazarloo) on Oct 8, 2017 at 9:26pm PDT

As part of Ride to be One, I plan to enter Iran on my bike and request the countrys leaders to rethink the rules as riding is not against any religion or social rules, Yazarloo says. She may sound like a revolutionary, but shes quick to clarify: Theres no fight against the government and Im not a rebel. It is only a request and Ill be there to answer any questions they might have about the matter. Im positive about it, and hopefully, well soon have Iranian ladies riding motorbikes.

On the road

As part of her global tour, Yazarloo will also ride through snow and ice in Antarctica, and spend a month in a boat there  a feat not many have been able to accomplish. In the past, two women bikers did manage a trip to Antarctica but on small bikes. We are on much bigger and heavier bikes, which makes it a lot more challenging, she says. To accommodate the huge bikes, Yazarloo and Trivedi have booked a 50ft sailing boat. Also, we are preparing ourselves every day to face the weather, she adds.

A post shared by Dr.Maral Yazarloo (@maralyazarloo) on Jul 26, 2017 at 1:20am PDT

All along the journey, Mazarloo and Trivedi have encountered various challenges related to the weather and terrain. But explaining the concept of vegetarian food (Trivedi does not eat meat) to restaurant chefs who have never heard of it was also a task. Language is a big barrier, but so far we have managed to get at least cheese, bread and noodles. Laos proved to be the toughest country in that regard till now, the biker says.

Its not just Yazarloos travel plans that are unconventional. Her professional life too has been varied. She holds an MBA and PhD in marketing, and is the head of retail and marketing at Panchshil Reality since 11 years. In 2012, she launched a fashion brand named Ma/Ya, which offers everything from bridal couture to kids wear. On the current world tour, she is keen to explore fabrics in different countries.

Im studying traditional textures, fabrics, and the story behind them. As a designer, I think its important to know what we are wearing. So far, I have been particularly impressed by the silk and lotus fabric factories in Myanmar, Yazarloo says. Upon her return, she plans to hold fashion shows that are inspired by the textiles she learnt about.

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Eating lunch in Italys Bolgheri wine country, it is not hard to understand why the number of international visitors to this bucolic corner of Tuscany has doubled in five years. People have always come in the summer for the beaches, says Riccardo Binda, cutting into a succulently tender slice of Florentine steak, grilled over embers. Now were getting visitors all year round. Its something new that has developed as the reputation of Bolgheris wine has grown.

Binda is the general manager of the local consortium of winemakers in an area known for its production of high-quality Bordeaux-style reds. Sourced from eighth generation master butcher Dario Cecchini and hung for 100 days, the T-bone he is eating is a popular choice. On a sunny October afternoon, the Osteria Magona is packed and abuzz with the mingling murmurs of quiet foodie contentment and wine-fuelled chat in English, French, German and Japanese. Its a scene to gladden the heart of Dario Franceschini, Italys culture and tourism minister, as he prepares the accounts on what is expected to be a record year for tourism.

Enogastronomic (food and wine) tourism is a big new trend across the world today. (Shutterstock)

The sector accounts for around 10% of the countrys GDP and has become a significant engine of growth for an economy emerging from years of stagnation. A bumper summer season saw a 16% surge in the total number of visits to the countrys long coastlines, with the number of overseas customers up a little more than five percent.

But with just over 52 million foreign visitors in 2016, according to the UNs World Tourism Organization, Italy still lags behind its comparable neighbours France, with 82 million visitors last year, and Spain with 75 million. The minister is also acutely aware that much of the recent growth in tourism can be attributed to terrorism-related security concerns that have diverted holidaymakers from Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey. Against that backdrop, authorities are looking to bolster year-round arrivals and target visitors in search of more than a sun tan.

Foreign directors have been brought in to revamp some of the countrys major museums and art galleries, while a major upgrade of the Francigena pilgrims route reflects an effort to draw in more hikers and cyclists. But according to designer and entrepreneur Franco Malenotti, the country is not making the most of its celebrated wines and rich culinary heritage. Enogastronomic (food and wine) tourism is a big new trend, Malenotti told AFP, citing research that points to a major surge in Asian and Latin American foodies heading for Europe in the next few years.

Food, culture and well-being are the things driving todays tourism. (Shutterstock)

Italy should be in the avant-garde in this sector. But its not. Why? Because we have done almost nothing to foster and promote it. Malenottis eclectic career has included designing Batman and other Hollywood costumes as well as owning the cult fashion label Belstaff. His latest venture is a World Wine Town, an accommodation and restaurant complex constructed around a recently opened museum dedicated to the story of Bolgheris wines and designed by Oscar-winning cinema set designer Dante Ferretti.

With more than 1,000 wines on tap, Malenotti is banking on the complex drawing in people like German couple Susann and Rainer Schmidt. You want to taste and try the wines, but also to learn something, says Susann, glass in hand after a stroll round an exhibition in which holograms of famous winemakers such as Piero Antinori and Nicolo Incisa della Rocchetta recount their roles in making Bolgheris reputation. Malenotti was inspired by the example of Bordeauxs Cite du Vin.

Whatever product you are selling, you need a back story. It is called storytelling and it is very important in marketing, he said. After coming here the majority of tourists go on to visit the wineries. In places like the Napa Valley (in the US), estates get more than half their sales from the cellar door, here in Bolgheri it is only five percent. That shows how much there is still to do. As well as keeping restaurateurs busy, booming wine tourism has also impacted the local economy by creating a new demand for accommodation that the traditional hotel sector has yet to meet.

In Castagneto, the village closest to the museum, Malenotti estimates that three quarters of the properties are partly or fully available to rent on Airbnb-style platforms. It is a very disruptive trend, but not necessarily a bad one: the people really live in the area, buy stuff at the shop downstairs, eat out. And already there are service companies springing up offering to do the check-ins and check-outs, the cleaning and the laundry for these kind of rentals. The wine town project will be completed over the next year with the opening of a school for sommeliers.

I worked with Dante on many Hollywood films and Id also seen the great success he had with his redesign of the Egyptian museum in Turin, which has doubled its visitor numbers and is now one of the most visited museums in all of Italy, said Malenotti. It is what people are looking for. Once vacations were about going to a disco, relaxing, having fun. Now culture and well-being are the things driving todays tourism. So Italy should really be leading the world.

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The Tokyo International Film Festival opens on Wednesday with a Japanese work called Fullmetal Alchemist by Fumihiko Sori. Nothing could have been a greater tribute to the festivals 30th anniversary than kickstarting with a homegrown work.

I thought it is appropriate to present to the world a comic book and VFX-based work that represents the current trend in Japanese cinema, festival director Takeo Hisamatsu said. Even if the budget is not comparable to a Hollywood production, you will be surprised at its quality.

The last time Tokyo opened with a Japanese movie was 10 years ago, during its 20th edition. The film was Midnight Eagle, and the year was 2007.

While Fullmetal Alchemist transforms a highly popular comic series (and Japan is very well known for its Manga comics) into live action, tracing the journey of two brothers as they decide to regain all that they have lost, the festivals closing work, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power will document how close we are to a real energy revolution. It has on its cast Al Gore, the American politician and environmentalist who served as the US Vice-President from 1993 to 2001. Al Gore will attend the screening.

Between the opening and closing nights, Tokyo will showcase movies, which will be -- in the words of Hisamatsu - expansive, empowering and enlightening. The programme will offer a wide mix of genres, which will include dramas, thrillers and romantic comedies with a riveting international competition that will be judged by a panel, headed by the popular American actor-director Tommy Lee Jones.

The competition will have eight world premieres. Here are some: Zhanna Issabayevas Sveta, about a woman with a hearing disability fighting to survive; Takahisa Zezes The Lowlife, focusing on the personal struggles of female adult-video performers; Margarethe von Trottas Forget About Nick, which talks about a model turning into a designer and being forced to live with her husbands ex-wife when he disappears; Asghar Yousefinejads The Home, tracing the travails of a woman who returns to her family home after a long absence when her father dies; Govinda Van Maeles Gutland, an erotic thriller about a village drifter and; Dong Yues The Looming Storm, which follows a factory guard as he begins to fancy himself as a detective trying to probe a murder.

Apart from competition, the festival will have several sections like Crosscut Asia, Japanese Cinema Splash, World Focus and Japan Now. And then there will be The World of Steven Soderbergh - who will be in attendance with three of his own titles: Sex, Lies and Videotape (1989), Oceans Eleven (2001) and Haywire (2011).

Some delightful masterclasses have been planned and will include top arthouse names from the region like the 2017 Samurai Award winner, Ryuichi Sakamoto, The Philippines Brillante Mendoza, Japans Fumihiko Sori and Cannes favourite Naomi Kawase.

(Gautaman Bhaskaran has been covering the Tokyo International Film Festival for some years now.)

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Three of the four candidates for two four-year seats on Carlisle Borough Council attended a forum Monday hosted by the local League of Women Voters.

Democrats Deb Fulham-Winston and Brenda Landis were joined at the table by Republican Chris Wyman. A second GOP candidate, Marella Dias, did not attend the event held in the council chambers at borough hall.

The candidates introduced themselves before answering questions provided ahead of time by the League or fielded from the audience of about 20 people.

In her opening remarks, Fulham-Winston cited as qualifications her work experience as a development officer and professional fundraiser for nonprofit organizations.

Her volunteer work has included service on the governing boards of the Partnership for Better Health, the Carlisle Arts Learning Center and the Cumberland County Library System.

From 2009 to 2011, Fulham-Winston served as the Elm Street program manager, which allowed her to network with various neighborhood associations. She was appointed to a one-year term on borough council in February.

Landis described herself as a community grassroots organizer whose outreach activities have included helping with the renovation of the Heberlig-Palmer Park and the urban redevelopment effort underway in the borough.

I wanted to have more of an impact and to continue my work in the community, so I decided to run for council, Landis said.

A property manager by profession, Wyman called himself a fiscally conservative constitutional Republican with experience in helping different communities make better fiscal sense of their activities.

Wyman questioned the constitutionality of changes in borough government practices brought about by the Home Rule referendum approved by Carlisle voters in May 2015.

The questions posed to the candidates ranged from their views on homelessness and storm water management to what they would identify as priorities. Below is an edited list of the questions and a summary of candidate responses:

Employee salaries and benefits are the largest source of borough expenditures. What should council do to maintain a quality workforce while balancing the need for a tax increase with the burden it places on those less able to pay?

Fulham-Winston: The borough needs to able to attract qualified applicants with a capable living wage. This can be a challenge in a market where the unemployment rate is at 3.6 percent.

She said the borough has a structured deficit and needs to find ways to address property tax revenue growth, which remains flat, and health insurance rates, which continue to increase by 8 to 9 percent each year.

Every borough employee and elected official should commit themselves to treat all residents fairly and any future tax increase proposal needs to reflect that consideration.

Landis: Has worked with borough employees in the past and sees them as helpful. They bring so much to this government.

None of them should have to worry about losing their jobs due to a lack of funding, and there are always opportunities to find alternative funding.

Council should make it a priority that any future tax increase be fair across the board and not disproportionately hurt one group of borough residents.

Wyman: He questioned why, under Home Rule, the police chief reports to the borough manager instead of the mayor. He felt a change in accountability could lead to financial savings.

Council recently received the findings of a storm water management study it had commissioned to outline infrastructure needs and funding options. Are you aware of the study? What are your reactions to the findings?

Fulham-Winston: She knew about the study because of her current service on council.

The borough has significant storm water issues, she said. We have reached the point where the structure needs to be upgraded. Part of the urgency is to bring the system up to where it meets new federal and state requirements.

We are currently spending $300,000 to $400,000 a year managing the storm water, she said. Some of the estimates in the study have an upgrade costing close to $1.2 million to $1.5 million.

The storm water issue is a great example of intergenerational equity. Our parents and grandparents paid for the infrastructure that we are using now. We need to do it for our children so they have safe water to drink and so that businesses and homes can be safe and work well within the borough.

Landis: She agreed storm water infrastructure has been underfunded in the past. Instead of a property tax increase, any borrowing to upgrade the system should be paid for through a fee hike because it spreads out the burden to a broader range of borough residents.

Any fee hike should be accompanied by a closer look at the borough zoning code to change parking requirements and other regulations that could increase impervious coverage.

Wyman: I dont know why we wasted taxpayer dollars getting a study. He argued the exact same study with the exact same parameters was done countywide by county government.

Should Carlisle have a rental inspection ordinance and what principles should undergird the regulations?

Fulham-Winston: The current ordinance was enacted while she was the Elm Street program manager. There were two measures not included in the final language that she wants council to reconsider: a mandatory inspection program and a destructive conduct clause.

I would like to see both of these things put into place to protect our neighborhoods, protect the tenants and protect the property value of the people living next to the rental unit, Fulham-Winston said. She said there are renters so poor with so few choices they are not in a position to complain when a landlord does not repair or maintain a property.

Landis: Agreed the ordinance in place is a stripped down version of the original proposal. While many landlords are responsible caretakers, others are less ideal and there is a breaking point to just having a voluntary inspection program.

She favors having council reevaluate the ordinance so long as it addresses the concerns without being overly burdensome to the landlords and the tenants. Landis said that good landlords should be rewarded with a longer turnaround time between mandatory inspections.

Wyman: As a property manager, he has to deal with many ordinances across the 107 municipalities he works in. They vary greatly in their impact in improving neighborhoods and tenant-landlord relations, Wyman said.

I dont think there should be a rental ordinance [for Carlisle], he said. Here is why: How will we fund it? Anytime anyone enacts a rental ordinance, the first thing that happens is the tenants rent goes up a minimum of that rental ordinance. The landlord never pays. They just up the rent and if the tenant does not want to pay more, they find a new tenant.

What should borough council do to address homelessness in Carlisle?

Fulham-Winston: Over the years, borough government has been an active partner with community organizations seeking to develop affordable housing options, services for the homeless and to identify and reduce those conditions that contribute to homelessness. She cited as examples the renovation of the Molly Pitcher hotel, the development of the Carlisle CARES center on West Penn Street and borough representation in a countywide task force. She favored a continuation of that involvement.

Landis: She supports the recent formation of the nonprofit organization NOAH  New Options for Affordable Housing  which takes a grassroots approach to not only helping the homeless acquire a home, but to provide them with services that can help them maintain a household.

There are plenty of questions to ask when council weighs the issue of the best place to locate new affordable housing, Landis said.

Wyman: Being homeless is something that is very pressing on my heart, he said. Wyman recently found out that a friend of his living in Florida has become homeless. Wyman is an Air Force veteran and the friend is a Marine who had saved his life twice in Afghanistan.

Wyman favors the development of affordable housing projects on former factory brown fields. Council should do what it can to allow for the development of such projects that could be funded through state incentives and federal grants.

Carlisle has worse air pollution than many large cities. What can council do to reduce this exposure?

Fulham-Winston: This is something we have absolutely no control over. She said Carlisle is also on the top 10 list of communities impacted by diesel particulates from truck exhausts.

Forty-three percent of vehicles traveling Interstate 81 through Carlisle are tractor-trailers compared to an average of 21 to 22 percent for much of the rest of the U.S., Fulham-Winston said. That same road system allows companies access to the majority of the East Coast population centers within a days travel by truck.

We are just in the middle of it, Fulham-Winston said. The only thing we can do is have the federal and state folks reduce the amount of pollution being produced by the trucks. We can be supportive of that.

Landis: Even with research, it is hard to find a solution to a problem caused by the presence of the highway system and the continuous construction of warehouse facilities in the Carlisle area.

I dont have an answer for this, but I do think it is something we cant ignore, Landis said. We have to continually discuss this and bring experts in. Any solution should not involve the crushing of business.

Wyman: He favored working with other government partners in neighboring municipalities, state lawmakers and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on solutions that curtail pollution and reduce the volume of trucks moving through Carlisle Borough.

We are talking interstate highways, Wyman said. This is nothing that is going to change that. There is nothing borough council can do about it.
A Vietnamese student activist was jailed for six years plus four years of probation by a local court on Wednesday for conducting propaganda against the state, his lawyer said.

Despite sweeping reforms to its economy and growing openness to social change, including gay, lesbian and transgender rights, Vietnams sole Communist Party retains tight media censorship and does not tolerate criticism.

Phan Kim Khanh, 24, is a student studying international relations and the eldest child of a Catholic farming family in a remote area north of capital Hanoi. He had written blogs criticising the government before he was arrested earlier this year.

The proof used in court against Khanh was vague, lawyer Ha Huy Son told Reuters, adding he was not certain if Khanh wants to appeal.

Human Rights Watch on Tuesday called on Vietnam to drop all charges and release Khanh.

The bogus crime of conducting propaganda against the state is designed to silence peaceful critics of the Vietnamese authorities, said Brad Adams, Human Rights Watchs Asia director.

Vietnam ought to get rid of these laws and stop persecuting students and ordinary people for just talking about the countrys problems on the internet.
Hes long been a winner at cards, but American poker star Phil Iveys good fortune does not extend to Britains Supreme Court  he lost a major case Wednesday that will keep him from cashing in.

The British Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that Ivey had used illegitimate means to amass 7.7 million pounds ($10.2 million) in winnings during a stint at the baccarat table in 2012.

He and a colleague were found to have used a technique known as edge sorting to gain an unfair advantage while gambling at the Crockfords casino in Londons posh Mayfair district.

They did not actually touch the cards being dealt, but convinced the croupier to arrange the cards a certain way that allowed them to determine, in some cases, which cards were being dealt, allowing them to bet accordingly.

Crockfords cried foul and refused to pay his winnings, leading Ivey to pursue his claim in court.

Supreme Court Judge Anthony Hughes said the integrity of Punto Banco baccarat depends on the cards being dealt at random without gamblers knowing their face value.

What Mr. Ivey did was to stage a carefully planned and executed sting, he said.

He said Ivey took positive steps to fix the deck by tricking the croupier. He said that is inevitably cheating.

Ivey, long recognized as one of the top players in international poker, said his winnings were honestly obtained.

At the time I played at Crockfords, I believed that edge-sorting was a legitimate Advantage Play technique and I believe that more passionately than ever today, he said after the ruling.

He said he pursued the case to Britains highest court out of a sense of honour.

As a professional gambler, my integrity is everything to me, said Ivey, who has won a number of World Series of Poker competitions.

The president of Genting Casinos UK, which operates Crockfords, said the ruling vindicates the companys decision not to pay Ivey his baccarat winnings.

We are delighted that the High Court, the Court of Appeal and now the Supreme Court have all found in Gentings favor, confirming that we acted fairly and properly at all times and that Mr. Iveys conduct did indeed amount to cheating, he said.
Bangladesh has arrested on terrorism charges a prominent Buddhist whose charity operates in Myanmars strife-torn Rakhine state, police said on Wednesday.

Police said U Shit Maung, 67, was detained as he tried to board a flight to Myanmar at Dhakas international airport last week.

Police only revealed on Wednesday that Maung, who heads the Rakhaing Development Foundation, had been detained after allegedly suspicious images were found on his laptop.

The RAB (Rapid Action Battalion) arrested him over anti-terrorism charges last week from the airport and handed him to us, airport police chief Noor-e-Azam Mia told AFP, without elaborating on the charges.

Violence in Rakhine, likened by the UN to ethnic cleansing, has driven more than 600,000 Muslim Rohingya from Buddhist-majority Myanmar into Bangladesh since August.

Many displaced Muslims in Bangladesh say the army and Buddhist mobs massacred or raped civilians and razed villages.

Maungs sister Ayethein Rakhaing said her brother, whose wife lives in Myanmar, was innocent and described the charges against him as false.

He works for both the Muslims and Buddhists. He works there (Rakhine) for peace, said Rakhaing, a former lawmaker from the ruling Awami League.

His wife Mra Raza Linn was a prominent rebel leader turned peace activist in Myanmar, according to Maungs family.

She is known to Aung San Suu Kyi, a family member told AFP by phone, referring to Myanmars de facto leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

The relative added Linn heads a womens group in Rakhine and is a senior member of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), while she used to be a guerilla leader.

The ALP has been anti-Rohingya in recent years, a Bangladesh security official told AFP.

The Rohingya refugee crisis has prompted an outpouring of sympathy in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, but has also fuelled tensions with the small population of ethnic Rakhine Buddhists living there.

Some refugees living in overcrowded camps have alleged that Bangladeshi Buddhists, known locally as Moghs, have joined militias perpetrating atrocities across the border in Rakhine.

My brother was killed by Bangladeshi Moghs, Rohingya refugee Amirul Islam, who fled from Myanmar, told AFP at a camp in Coxs Bazar district.

Bangladesh police have bolstered security at Buddhist temples near the border, fearing local hostility among the Rohingya could boil over into reprisal attacks.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday unveiled the new members of the Communist partys highest decision-making body who for the next five years will rule the worlds second-largest economy.

Just before noon on Wednesday, President Xi and Premier Li Keqiang  the only two remaining members of the Communist partys 2012 politburo standing committee (SC)  led the new five members to meet journalists at the packed and ornate Eastern Hall in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

On Tuesday, Xi himself got a renewed mandate to continue as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the worlds largest political party, for another five years.

The five new members in order of seniority were: Li Zhanshu, director of the partys general office who serves as Xis chief of staff; vice premier Wang Yang; Wang Huning, director of the partys central policy research office; Zhao Leji, head of the central organization department responsible for job assignments; and Shanghai party leader Han Zheng, a veteran manager of the countrys financial hub.

Zhao is expected to head the CPCs corruption watchdog body, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), which was at the forefront of Xis anti-corruption campaign since 2013.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping walks to the lectern to deliver his speech during the opening session of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China October 18, 2017. (Reuters File Photo)

While the selection procedure to the SC remains a closely-guarded secret, the composition indicates an effort to balance various interest groups in the country.

Two of the front-runners who were expected to make it to the SC  Chen Miner, the Chongqing city party secretary and Hu Chunwa, the Guangdong province party chief  didnt make it to the SC.

Both leaders, in their late 50s and considered to be part of the 6th generation of Chinese leaders, however, made it to the Politburo, the 25 member group of senior most CPC leaders including the seven SC members.

Not including the two younger leaders could be an indication that Xi has delayed indicating a successor at this years Congress, the key CPC event where leadership changes are announced.

All the new members of the new SC are in their 60s and would likely retire by 2022 when Xis term would end.

State councilor Yang Jiechi, who is the special representative for border talks with India, found a place in the Politburo as well.

Challenges for the new team

Chinas new leaders face tough internal and external challenges comprising a slowing of the economy as well as increasing levels of local debt besides a more belligerent North Korea at its doorstep.

China has a problem of a slowing economy besides an ageing society and whole lot of unresolved issues in the society, AK Kantha, former Indian envoy to China told HT.

But Xi also sees the present as a great opportunity for China, he said.

This point of time with the US distracted and in temporary retreat from the region, Xi sees an opening, which might not last for too long, Kantha said.

In the next five years to come, the two greatest domestic and foreign relations challenges facing Xi Jinping are: 1) to turn around the economic down-turn and 2) the North Korean nuclear issue.

Painted portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and late communist leader Mao Zedong at a market in Beijing on September 19, 2017. (AFP File Photo)

Policy on neighbours

In terms of India, China will not play tough, but, instead, will try to buy peace. This is because since Xi took office, Chinas border issues have become tense all around: the dispute with Japan over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, the dispute with South Korea over the deployment of THAAD, and disputes in the South China Sea with the Philippines and Vietnam,

Gao Wenqian, senior policy advisor, at New York-based Human Rights in China and author of official biographies of Mao Zedong and former Premier Zhou Enlai told HT over email

With all this, China will not be able to afford to add fights with India to this mix. In addition, the military led by Xi is filled with internal conflicts: the top commanders dont have faith in the rank-and-file, nor do they have their support. It is a military that is hard to deploy, he said.

One can predict that after the 19th Party Congress, Xi will continue his rule-by-suppression in the country, comprehensively controlling the society, and cracking down on any social forces that dare challenge the CPC. The human rights situation in China will continue to worsen. If the economy continues to slide, social conflicts will intensify, and official suppression will redouble, Gao said.

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Berlin police confiscated weapons and a large quantity of munitions in a series of raids Wednesday focused on a man they allege is connected to Islamic extremism.

Police said the 40-year-old German citizen was taken into custody in the overnight raids in four locations and was expected to be brought before a judge later in the day.

Authorities say the raids came after an investigation that started in June with the arrest of a drug dealer and that they decided to act over fears that the weapons could be used in an attack, even though no concrete plans were known.

Police spokesman Winfrid Wenzel said investigators found handguns, rifles and 20 to 30 cases of ammunition.

Wenzel said the suspect had visited mosques that were of particular interest to authorities. He told n-tv television that authorities were concerned that he either might have been pursuing an idea with the weapons or planned to give them to other people.
Mumbai attack mastermind and banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeeds name was not on a list of 75 militants the US had handed over to Pakistan, foreign minister Khawaja Asif said Wednesday.

Saeed, who carries a $10 million bounty on his head for his role in terror activities, has been under house arrest in Pakistan since January this year.

Foreign Minister Asif told senators during a session of the parliaments upper house that the US has handed over a list of 75 militants to Pakistan.

The Haqqani network is on the top of the list but none of the militants are Pakistanis, Asif was quoted as saying by the Express News.

Saeed, a Pakistani citizen, headed the JuD which was listed as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in 2014.

The JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of 2008.

The Afghan-based Haqqani network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan. The group is also blamed for several attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan, including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people.

The US, Asif said, had made a habit of handing over lists of wanted people to Pakistan, which traded them for favours  a matter that needed to be debated.

He said the US had been told that Pakistan no longer had influence over the Afghan Taliban as it did in the past.

Neither are we supporting them (Afghan Taliban), nor do they need our help, Asif told the senators during a session of the parliaments upper house.

Somebody else is sponsoring them now, he added, without elaborating on it.

Asif asserted that many of the key Taliban names were now shadow governors in Afghanistan or no longer alive.

On his maiden visit to Pakistan yesterday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson renewed the US demand for tough action against Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.
US secretary of state Rex Tillerson delivered a tough message to Pakistans civil and military leadership to step up the fight against terrorists on the countrys soil while also noting Islamabads incredibly important role in tackling regional challenges, the Pakistani media reported on Wednesday.

Tillersons first trip to Pakistan after assuming office was extensively covered by the local media, with most dailies and TV channels speculating about the message the Pakistani leadership had been given and whether the visit would lead to improved relations between the two countries or a possible deterioration.

Tillerson talks tough to incredibly important Pakistan was the headline on the front page of The Express Tribune while the influential Dawn newspaper headlined its report Tillerson asks Islamabad to step up fight against terrorists.

The Urdu daily Jang, Pakistans largest circulated paper, led its main story on a positive note: Pakistan holds an important position for the US in the region. The newspaper said that while the American delegation made some demands from the Pakistani leadership, it was appreciative of the countrys role in fighting terrorism.

The Dawn reported that Tillerson had reiterated President Donald Trumps message that Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate terrorists operating on the countrys soil but noted that the top US diplomats message appeared significantly toned down as compared to the usual American rhetoric on alleged terrorist sanctuaries. However, it also said in essence there was little difference in the messaging.

The Express Tribune reported that Tillerson, during his meetings with the civil and military leadership on Tuesday, had pressed Pakistan to speed up its efforts against terrorism but described Islamabad as an incredibly important player to deal with some of the pressing challenges facing the region.

The daily noted that Tillersons agenda was wide-ranging, covering bilateral issues, the war on terror, Afghanistan and wider regional matters. Unlike the past, Tillerson did not interact with the media in a move that suggested he did not want to face tough questions, it added.

In contrast, The News daily headlined its report Tillerson gets cold shoulder. The newspaper reported that a mid-level Foreign Office official had received the American delegation, and the visit lacked the pomp and show usually associated with such arrivals by American officials.

This theme also figured in the reports by many news channels, including Geo News, with analysts saying that Pakistan wanted to show the US that its message to do more would not find favour this time round.

Leading analyst Mujib-ur Rehman Shami told Samaa TV that Tillersons visit was nothing to worry about as Pakistan and the US had been playing cat and mouse games for over five decades now.

He said the tension was a result of redrawing of some priorities on the side of the Americans. All Pakistan is worried about is that its funding will be drastically cut, he added.

The TV channels played a 30-second video, released by the Prime Ministers Office, in which Tillerson could be heard telling premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi that Pakistan is so important regionally to our joint goals of providing peace and security to the region and providing opportunity for greater economic relationship.

In response, Abbasi said Pakistan is committed to the war against terror. We have produced results and we are looking forward to moving ahead with the US and building a tremendous relationship, he said.

Foreign minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistans civil and military leadership jointly met the American officials so that one message goes to the Americans.

But social media was not that welcoming.

#Tillersonnotwelcome was trending on Tuesday, with many social media activists insisting the US secretary of state should not dictate terms to Pakistan.

In a column that appeared on Wednesday in The News, writer Syed Ali Jaffery that while the US is not in a position to browbeat Pakistan, Islamabad should not entertain thoughts of riding on a high horse at the behest of allies.
Two photographs of the secret meeting between US secretary of state Rex Tillerson and Afghan president Ashraf Ghani have left everyone scratching their heads.

Tillerson met Ghani on Monday and reaffirmed his countrys support to establishing peace and stability in the region. But their meeting was made public only after Tillerson had left the country.

The United States embassy in Kabul and Ghanis office issued photographs from different angles of the productive meeting.

The U.S., along with our regional and international partners, continues to support a stable, sovereign, unified, and democratic Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/9hMAc43fmF  U.S. Embassy Kabul (@USEmbassyKabul) October 23, 2017

Both show Tillerson and Ghani sitting inside a windowless room with two giant television screens in the background. Delegates from both the countries are also seen in the photos. The US embassy tweeted the picture mentioning that the meeting took place in Kabul.

It was, however, a clock that gave away the slight discrepancies in the photos.

A digital wall clock hanging behind the two displaying Zulu time- a military term for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) - appeared to have been morphed out in the picture shared by the office of the Afghan president on Facebook.

A red fire alarm in the background also seemed digitally removed.

The digital wall clock and red fire alarm appear to have been morphed out (Office of the President of Afghanistan/ ARG Facebook)

Equally enigmatic was Tillersons Twitter account. A tweet initially mentioned that the meeting took place in Kabul but then a correction was subsequently issued, saying they met at the high-security military base in Bagram.

Correction: Earlier we posted the location of this meeting as Kabul. The meeting occurred at Bagram Airfield.  Department of State (@StateDept) October 23, 2017

Hany Farid, a photo forensics expert and professor of computer science at Dartmouth College, told the New York Times that the objects were most likely removed through Photoshop.

There is no question that the photo has been manipulated, he said.

Experts say the manipulation was aimed at ensuring that the meeting venue was not revealed to avert a security threat. Around 50 rockets landed near the Kabul airport during US defence secretary James Mattis visit last month.

Keeping the venue obscure was also seen as an effort by Afghanistan to project strength and advance a positive narrative about the countrys security situation.

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Kenya plunged deeper into crisis on Wednesday after a no-show by the majority of Supreme Court judges scuppered an eleventh-hour petition to delay a presidential election and the governor of a volatile opposition region endorsed rebellion against the state.

Within minutes of Supreme Court chief justice David Maraga announcing that five judges had failed to turn up, preventing a quorum, hundreds of supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga took to the streets of Kisumu, his main stronghold.

Riot police used tear gas to disperse them.

Odinga had successfully challenged the outcome of an initial ballot in August, which he lost, in the same court.

We were expecting Maraga to cancel (Thursdays) elections. This means the push for postponement of the election is on, said George Mbija, a motorcycle taxi driver in the western city, repeating an Odinga demand for a clear-out of election board officials.

As we wait for Raila to give us the direction, the status quo remains  No reforms, No election.

Supporters of National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate Raila Odinga barricaded roads with burning tyres, during a demonstration on the boycott of the upcoming elections on Wednesday. (AFP Photo)

The opposition leader has called on loyalists to boycott Thursdays vote, because he said the election boards failure to institute reforms means it will be neither free nor fair.

Kisumu governor Anyang Nyongo, a hardline Odinga supporter, went a step further.

If the government subverts the sovereign will of the people ... then people are entitled to rebel against this government, Nyongo told reporters in Kisumu.

Such comments seem certain to fuel fears of a major confrontation with security forces, already blamed for killing nearly 50 people in Kisumu and Nairobi slums after the cancelled August vote.

For many in East Africas economic powerhouse, the instability will also rekindle memories of large-scale ethnic violence that killed 1,200 people following a disputed election in 2007.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who won the annulled election by 1.4 million votes, has made clear he wants the re-run to go ahead and with the Supreme Court  the only institution that can delay it  unable to meet, it appears he will get his way.

God is great! The evil schemes to deny Kenyans the right to vote kesho (tomorrow) have failed. WE WILL DECIDE and move our country forward tomorrow, Deputy President William Ruto said in a tweet.

In his announcement on live television, Maraga said one judge was unwell, another was abroad and another was unable to attend after her bodyguard was shot and injured on Tuesday night. It was unclear why the other two were absent.

Election board lawyer Paul Muite said Maragas statement meant the election would proceed as planned.

It means elections are on tomorrow. There is no order stopping the election, he told the Citizen TV station.

In the capital of Nairobi, hundreds of opposition supporters began to converge on Uhuru Park, waiting for Odinga to give a speech in which he promised to outline his strategy for election day.

Recipe for chaos

If the election goes ahead, it is likely to deepen the ethnic and political divides that have frequently sparked violence in Kenya, a key Western ally in a turbulent region.

In a related ruling, High Court Judge George Odunga said some local election officials had been appointed in an irregular manner, but to withdraw at the last minute would only make an already dire situation worse.

For the elections to proceed in the absence of the said officers would in my view constitutional crisis of unimaginable magnitude. Simply put, it would be a recipe for chaos.

However, he admitted that not dismissing them could form the grounds for legal challenges afterwards. The Supreme Court has said it is prepared to annul the re-run, and send the country of 45 million back to square one, if it does not pass muster.

Opposition lawyers seeking to challenge the October 26 polls could also cite the failure of the election board to hold elections in all parts of the country, if enough polling stations are unable to open.

In Kisumu, returning officer John Ngutai said attacks by opposition supporters last week meant the election board had only managed to train 250 out of 1,300 staff they needed to hold the election in his constituency.

Our trainings were disrupted and officials attacked, so some people withdrew, he said.

Both the European Union and the Carter Center, an election-monitoring group run by former President Jimmy Carter, have said they will reduce their monitoring missions amid rising tensions between the Kenyatta and Odinga camps.

Foreign observers were heavily criticised by the opposition in August for focusing on the vote, rather than the tallying process led by the IEBC election board.

The current political impasse constrains the IEBCs ability to conduct a credible election, the Carter Center said. There is a serious risk of election-related violence should the elections go forward.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) offered on Wednesday to put an independence referendum on hold as part of efforts to end the military confrontation with Iraqi forces, and resolve the crisis with the central government in Baghdad through dialogue.

The fighting between the two sides will not produce a victory for any, it will take the country to total destruction, said the KRG in a statement.

We make the following proposal to the government and Iraqi and international public opinion: 1- immediate ceasefire (..) 2- freezing the results of the referendum (..) 3- starting an open dialogue with the federal government based on the Iraqi Constitution, it said.

The Iraqi government has transformed the balance of power in the north of the country since launching a campaign last week to seize back territory from the Kurds, who govern an autonomous region of three northern provinces and had also seized a swathe of other territory in northern Iraq.

The Kurds held a referendum on independence on Sept. 25 that Baghdad called illegal. Baghdad responded by seizing back the city of Kirkuk, the oil-producing areas around it and other territory that the Kurds had captured from Islamic State.

Prime Minister Haidar Abadi has ordered his army to recapture all disputed territory and has also demanded central control of Iraqs border crossings with Turkey, all of which are inside the Kurdish autonomous region itself.
Eight decades of The Sentinels history saw daylight Tuesday morning for the first time since 1978.

Workers from Dutys Lock, Safe and Security opened a safe that had been in the basement of The Sentinel building at 457 E. North St. since the newspaper moved its operations from a downtown office in 1953.

Not wanting to offer a tutorial on opening locked safes, Mike Beers and Trayer Rende asked that photos not be taken of their work. Special drill bits, a medical scope and a lot of muscle proved to be the winning combination for a process that took about 30 minutes to complete.

Its a puzzle that got solved, Beers said.

The safe was full of the documents normally expected at a business, primarily ledger books, statements and legal documents. Ledgers from the 1950s showed building expenses, wages, interest expense and department salaries among other financial details.

Sentinel Publisher Gary Adkisson noted light and power expenses ranging from $258 to $276 per month.

Ours runs almost $2,000 a month, and thats just lights, he said.

Blueprints for the current building were also found neatly folded and dated 1952. Those plans show spaces for a lunch room and mens locker room in the basement that is now mostly empty.

A small drawer contained the oldest documents, which Beers said were in excellent condition for having been kept in a safe. Many safes draw moisture, which makes the paper brittle, he said.

This held up pretty well, Beers said.

Former owner

A note, signed with the initials A.D.T, attached to a bundle of papers indicated they were papers related to the estate of Mary K. Thompson. Mary Thompson and her sons, Allan D. Thompson and J. Vance Thompson, took over the newspaper in 1922 after the death of David R. Thompson, who had purchased the newspaper in 1894.

The oldest document in the safe dates to less than two years later. A deed between the Clerk of Orphans Court and William H. Peffer of South Middleton Township dated Dec. 17, 1896, indicated the sale of a property along Church Avenue for the sum of $11,000. A later deed, dated Sept. 2, 1912, showed the property known as The Sentinel building was sold to David Thompson for $20,000.

One curious item dated to 1947. Originals and copies of a marriage certificate and a birth certificate had a small hand-written slip attached to it that indicated that a Maurice Martin had asked for the copies at a rate of $1 each. Theres no further explanation, but its possible that Martin never picked up the requested copies.

Beers helped to more closely pinpoint when the safe was made thanks to a logo printed on the inside of the door that declared the York Safe Co. had won an award at the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition. Obviously, that would have been used as a bragging right after the award had been won, he said. Beers estimated that the safe had been built between 1915 and 1930.

Recording history

Adkisson said The Sentinel will work with the Cumberland County Historical Society on coming up with the best way to catalog the finds.

There is no plan for what to do with the safe, Adkisson said.

The Sentinels impending move to a new location in Carlisle offered the perfect occasion to hire a company to come in to crack open the safe.

In July 2016, the newspaper announced it would be leaving its home of more than 60 years. Changes in the printing process drastically cut the need for the large space at the current building, leaving much of the building unused.

Adkisson said there are no firm plans on when the move will happen or where the new office will be located.
Pakistan summoned Indias deputy high commissioner for the fourth time this month on Wednesday over the alleged ceasefire violations by Indian troops along the Line of Control.

Director general (South Asia and SAARC) Mohammad Faisal summoned Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian forces in Leepa sector Tuesday, the Foreign Office said.

It said two women  identified as Sumaira and Maryam  were killed in the firing that also injured six.

Faisal said despite calls for restraint, India continues to indulge in ceasefire violations.

The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws, Faisal said.

The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation, he added.

The Foreign Office said Faisal urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, and instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit and maintain peace along the LoC and the Working Boundary.

He also urged the Indian side to allow the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

India maintains that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control.

Faisal claimed that Indian forces have carried out more than 1,150 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary this year, resulting in the death of 49 civilians.

Singh was earlier summoned by the Foreign Office on October 15. He was also summoned on October 2 and October 4 over the alleged ceasefire violations.
Republican disquiet with their president scaled a new high on Tuesday when a party senator facing re-election announced he would instead retire because of the degradation of our politics and the conduct of some in our executive branch, and accused Donald Trump of being reckless, outrageous and undignified.

Arizona senator Jeff Flake, who was up for re-election in 2018, did not name Trump even once but in a speech from the floor of the Senate, he left no doubt about his target as he delivered a scathing critique of the president, his politics, his tweets, and the Republican Party and its leaderships failure to stand up to him.

We must stop pretending that the conduct of some in our executive branch are normal, Flake said in the Senate with party leaders looking on. They are not normal. Reckless, outrageous and undignified behaviour has become excused and countenanced as telling it like it is when it is actually just reckless, outrageous and undignified.

And when such behaviour emanates from the top of our government, it is something else. It is dangerous to a democracy.

Senator Jeff Flake (Republican, Arizona) speaks to reporters after announcing he will not run for re-election on Capitol Hill in Washington on October 24, 2017. (Reuters)

Flake has been at odds with Trump, and has taken him on in remarks, tweets and in a recent book. Though his retirement was a surprise, his re-election chances had seemed extremely dim - he was in danger of losing the primary and was trailing his eventual Democratic challenger in polls.

The White House was quick to point that out. Based on previous statements and certainly based on the lack of support that he has from the people of Arizona its probably a good move, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters at her daily briefing, referring to Flakes retirement.

Flakes attacks on Trump came just hours after another Republican senator, Bob Corker, retaliated against Trumps insults on Twitter in the morning and called the president untruthful and accused him of debasing the country through untruths and name-calling.

Trump triggered the Tuesday exchange in a string of tweets wrongly accusing Corker of helping former president Barack Obama with the Iran deal. Corker had opposed the deal and rallied others to join him, and called Obama incompetent and liddle (for his slight frame).

Corker fired back soon enough. I think at the end of the day, when his term is over, I think the debasing of our nation, the constant non-truth telling, just the name-calling...I think the debasement of our nation will be what he'll be remembered most for, and that's regretful, he told CNN.

Trump has clashed with his own party as often as, if not more than, with Democrats. He has had running feuds, all in public, with Corker, chairman of the powerful foreign relations committee, and John McCain, who heads the armed services committee.

McCain, who emerged as Trumps chief critic in the Republican Party, took an unambiguous swipe at the president and his foreign policy recently, accusing him and his advisers of peddling half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems.

And former president George W Bush, who has rarely commented on politics, especially on this president, has joined in too. Bigotry seems emboldened, former Bush said recently. Our politics seems more vulnerable to conspiracy theories and outright fabrication.
A senator from Donald Trumps Republican Party unleashed a fierce broadside Tuesday against the US leader as he announced he would not seek re-election, telling Senate colleagues he will not be complicit with a reckless presidency.

Jeff Flake, of Arizona, has served in the Senate since 2013 and has been an outspoken critic of Trump-era politics, writing a book called Conscience of a Conservative.

We must stop pretending that the degradation of politics and the conduct of some in our executive branch are normal. They are not normal, Flake, 54, said as he announced he would not run for office again next year.

Reckless, outrageous and undignified behaviour is excused as telling it like it is when its actually just reckless, outrageous and undignified. When such behaviour emanates from the top of our government, it is something else.

Flake blasted Trump for his habit of tweeting and attacked his Republican colleagues for staying silent as the norms and values that keep America strong are undermined.

Politics can make us silent when we should speak and silence can equal complicity, he said.

I have children and grandchildren to answer to. So, Mr. President, I will not be complicit or silent.... I am announcing today that my service in the Senate will conclude at the end of my term in early January 2019.

Flakes extraordinary speech comes as a Senate colleague, Bob Corker, has stepped up a war of words with Trump, calling him an utterly untruthful leader who debases the nation.
The Richardson community in the US was mourning the death of Sherin Mathews, the three-year-old Indian girl whose foster father has claimed that she choked while drinking milk, with many people asking why he did not wake up his nurse wife when the child was struggling to breathe.

Sherin, who had developmental issues and limited verbal communication skills, was confirmed dead by US police on Tuesday after over two weeks of investigation. She was missing since October 7.

Wesley Mathews, 37, the father of Sherin, told the police that his daughter choked while drinking milk and he removed her body from the house as he believed she had died.

He was re-arrested and charged with first-degree felony injury to a child due to a conflicting statement to police.

The arrest came a day after the body of a small child was found in a culvert near their home in suburban Dallas.

While the cause of her death was still being probed, the community and neighbourhoods all across Texas are shocked, heartbroken, angry and mourning her death.

Wesleys wife Sini Mathews, who is a registered nurse and could have helped her, was reportedly sleeping in her room.

All these lies, first punishing the girl and putting her under tree, later choking her in a garage at 3am for not drinking milk, does not add up. It is heartbreaking and shocking, said a teary-eyed resident Diana.

It will be another story soon, when police will find the actual cause of the death, she said.

This photo provided by the Richardson Police Department in Richardson, Texas, shows Wesley Mathews. (AP)

Another neighbour Barabaa Diamond Johnson asked why did not Wesley Mathews wake his nurse wife as Sherin Mathews choked to death, especially when she is a registered nurse at Childrens hospital Dallas.

Im normally quiet about such things. But as a paediatric nurse and the mother of a child who aspirated, you dont just say, Oops they died You call 911! You run screaming for anyone to help you. Im sorry, this is more fishy than leaving her by a tree. RIP sweet girl, no one will hurt you anymore, Barbara said.

People who live in the neighbourhood stopped their cars or their daily walks on Tuesday to see the ditch where Sherins body was found. They pulled phones from their pockets to take photos of the spot.

Since Sunday, heavy hearts joined in song and prayer for the little girl found in the culvert.

I think everybody is just ready for closure and we just want her to be at peace, said resident Gauthami Vemula.

The incident has left the shocked community with many unanswered questions.

Over the past two weeks, Sherin brought the whole community together in the suburb, as countless volunteers searched in and around Richardson hoping to find her.

Sunday evening, many gathered for a prayer vigil a few hours after learning of the heartbreaking developments. It was not the first time music and prayer filled the air in the 900 block of Sunningdale in Richardson.

It was not the first vigil held underneath the tree that the girls father, Wesley, told police he last saw the girl standing near.

A lot of people are in shock and anger and frustrated. Lets just try our best to breathe and regroup to focus our energy back on this little girl, this princess and find ways to seek her justice as best and as quick as possible, said vigil organiser Omair Siddiqi.

Meanwhile, Richardson police are sharing new details into their ongoing investigation into the disappearance and death of Sherin.

Richardson Police Department sergeant Kevin Perlich told reporters that they had previously searched the area near the culvert where Mathews body was found Sunday but had come up empty-handed.

After heavy rainfall overnight Saturday, police returned to the area near East Spring Valley and South Bowser roads with cadaver dogs Sunday morning, knowing that rain tends to help intensify smells. An investigator and search team said the little girls clothed body was then found a ways into the culvert, according to Perlich.

On Tuesday, Richardson police made a plea for Sini to agree to speak with the police. She has reportedly not cooperated with the police since the weekend of October 7.

Her attorney Kent Starr said she is distraught over the loss of her daughter and that she is trying to regain custody of her four-year-old biological daughter who was placed in foster care after her sisters disappearance.

Starr told NBC 5 that he has withdrawn and is no longer Sinis criminal defence attorney.

Additional information on the change in representation was not immediately available, and it was unclear whether she had retained a different attorney.

Wesley remained in the Richardson City Jail on $1-million bond. It is not known when he will be transferred to the Dallas County Jail.

Police are still investigating how long the girls body had been in the drainage ditch.

Wesley, who works in an IT company, was charged on Monday night with injury to a child, which is punishable by up to life in prison.

Sherins body was positively identified yesterday and autopsy results are pending. It is unclear whether authorities believe Wesleys new account of what happened.

Police have unsuccessfully tried to get Sini to voluntarily answer questions, said Richardson police sergeant Kevin Perlich.

She works at Youngsters Medical Middle in Dallas, the hospital confirmed yesterday.

Police spoke with her on Monday -- the day after Sherins body was found but before authorities confirmed her identity.

The girls body was found Sunday with the help of search dogs in the culvert near Spring Valley and South Bowser roads.

Police asked Sini to identify clothing found on the body.

She told police the clothing, which Perlich did not detail, looked like something Sherin might have worn. She also provided police with dental records, which were used to identify Sherin.

Attorney Kent Starr has said Sini was cooperating with the police. But his office confirmed yesterday that he was no longer representing her.

The police have said Sherin was small for her age and it wasnt unusual for her to eat in the middle of the night to gain weight. Sherin, who was about three-feet tall weighing just 22 pounds (10 kgs), was malnourished when she was adopted last year and did not have the language skills of a typical three-year-old.

The couple adopted Sherin from India last year, according to media reports. The girl had been found in the bushes before authorities sent her to an orphanage.

Neighbour Joe Keonine said yesterday that he never saw Sherin or her four-year-old sister outside. But he would sometimes see their parents doing yard work or Sini outside in her scrubs, likely on her way to or from work.

He said the neighbours are worried about what will happen to Sherins sister. The girl is now in a foster care.
Police in Texas have not ruled out the possibility of more arrests in the mysterious death of a three-year-old Indian girl even as her foster father is facing a charge that carries the possibility of a life sentence.

Wesley Mathews, 37, was re-arrested after the Indian-American changed his story about his adoptive daughter Sherin Mathews mysterious disappearance over two weeks ago from their home, police in Richardson city in suburban Dallas said.

Mathews had previously claimed that Sherin went missing after he sent her outside their home around 3 am on October 7 as punishment for not drinking her milk.

Richardson police spokesperson Sergeant Kevin Perlich said Tuesday that the probe is continuing, despite the revised statement by Wesley.

Wesley has been charged with injury to a child, a felony punishable with a maximum 99 years in prison, Richardson police said. He was being held on $1 million bond.

Criminal charges are determined based on what information and evidence is available at the time. Mr. Mathews statements today to Richardson detectives currently support the offense of Injury to a Child, the Richardson Police Department said in a Facebook post.

This charge carries the possibility of a life sentence in prison. Keep in mind, this is an active investigation, and there is the possibility of additional arrests or modified charges as more evidence becomes available, the police said.

Wesley, who works in an IT company, admitted to police that he disposed of the childs body after she choked on her milk, according to a probable cause affidavit released by police.

The father was previously arrested and charged with felony endangerment to a child and was placed on electronic ankle monitoring. He surrendered his passport as a condition of making bond on October 9. He was later released.

Police confirmed yesterday that the body of a child found on Sunday in a culvert beneath a road was that of Sherin Mathews.

The cause of death was still pending, the Richardson Police Department said on its Facebook page, citing the Dallas County Medical Examiners Office.

Wesleys wife Sini Mathews, who is a registered nurse, was reportedly sleeping in her room when the incident occurred.

Perlich had earlier said police believe Sini was unaware of her husbands alleged punishment of the girl and that she was sleeping at the time. She cooperated with police to identify Sherins body by providing the dental records of the child, he said.
The US secretary of state Rex Tillerson interacted with Indian leadership on Wednesday as Washington and New Delhi set to expand their strategic ties in South Asia and Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean region. Tillerson held discussions with his counterpart Sushma Swaraj.

Here are the highlights from the joint briefing:

2:01pm: Sushma Swaraj says there has been no change in the United States policy on H1-B visas. We are in talks with the US so that Indian professionals are not affected, says Swaraj.

1:59pm: We had a discussion with Pakistani leadership yesterday (Tuesday), says Tillerson, replying to a question. We are concerned about the stability of Pakistan, he says, adding militant networks in Pakistan are also a threat to Islamabad.

1:51pm: India and the US look forward to a brighter future, says Tillerson.

1:51pm: India is crucial to USA-Afghanistan strategy, says Tillerson.

1:49pm: Terror safe havens wont be tolerated, says Tilerson.

1:48pm: US acknowledges Indias rise, says Tillerson. The US secretary of state talks about military cooperation with India.

1:48pm: India and US are natural allies. They stand shoulder to shoulder against terror, says Tillerson.

1:45pm: We also discussed the important contribution of Indians working in the USA on H1B visa, says Swaraj after meeting Tillerson. Swaraj says she requested Tillerson not to take action that may adversely impact Indians.

1:44pm: India, US, Afghanistan trilateral meeting to be held in December, says Swaraj.

1:42pm: President Trumps policy on terrorism can only succeed when Pakistan takes action on terror groups, says Swaraj.

1:42pm: India, US think that Pakistan should take quick steps to destroy safe havens for terrorists, says Swaraj.

The two sides are expected to come up with a timeline for the 2 plus 2 dialogue mechanism (foreign minister and defence ministers of both sides) to take the ties forward.

Tillerson is visiting India after he made a trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan. This visit comes after the US government announced a new Afghan policy in August, envisaging greater role for India while faulting Pakistan for not walking the talk on reining in terror outfits. But the Trump administration mellowed its position after Pakistan authorities rescued a US-Canadian couple this month. Though the previous US administrations also talked tough on Pakistan, it did not yield much result as Islamabad remained a key ally of Washington in the region.

In Islamabad, Tillerson reiterated President Trumps message that Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country, according to a statement from the US embassy.

India blames Pakistan for providing safe havens for terrorists that destabilise Afghanistan as well as the region. The two sides are expected to reiterate their commitment to fight terrorism in the region and step up their cooperation with Afghanistan.

Ahead of his visit, Tillerson said the US policy in Indo-Pacific is closely linked to India. In an address to a US think tank, Tillerson had called India and the US the two bookends of stability and said that while China has risen, it has done so less responsibly.

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President Donald Trump spoke to his counterpart Xi Jinping, the White House said Wednesday, after the Chinese leader solidified his grip on power at a landmark Communist Party Congress.

A senior administration official told AFP the pair had spoken on telephone after Xi was formally handed a second term.

The Congress also saw the Chinese leader fuel speculation about how long he will remain in the post by not anointing a possible successor to take over in five years time.

Chinas state-run news agency Xinhua reported that Xi expressed a desire to work with Trump to jointly blueprint future development of China-US ties.

Trump is expected to meet the Chinese leader during a state visit to China early next month.

That is part of a broader Asia trip likely to be dominated by concerns about North Koreas ballistic and nuclear programmes.

Successive White Houses have viewed Xis meteoric rise to become Chinas most powerful leader since Deng Xiaoping with cautious optimism.

They hope it will lead to more streamlined decision making and see benefits in having an interlocutor who can afford to take some risks domestically.

A senior aide to Trump said the president has a very good working relationship with Xi Jinping. He wants to continue building on what the president terms a constructive and results-oriented relationship.

The 19th Party Congress provides the opportunity for us to get some things done in the relationship to put us on a good footing deep into the future.
President Donald Trump has honoured two Indian-American businessmen in recognition of their small but significant contribution to the US economy.

Trump felicitated Sharad Thakkar and Karan Arora along with seven other owners of minority businesses in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday.

Thakkar is president of Polymer Technologies, which is recipient of Minority Energy Firm of the Year.

Based out of Ohio, Polymer Technologies works with plastic industry individuals to transform their throwaway scrap plastic into valuable raw material.

PTS has a proven track record of providing long-term solutions in automotive, home care, and lawn care product lines.

Based out of Florida, Arora is director of family-owned Natural Vitamin Labs, which is recipient of Minority Export Firm of the Year award.

With 25 years of experience in supplying natural health products to industry partners worldwide, NVL operates from a 95,000-sq ft facility in Miami, Florida.

The facility is equipped with a manufacturing practices system and fully automated packaging machinery that allows precision and error minimization, resulting in high speed production.

A night earlier, Thakkar and Arora received their respective awards from the Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross at an event in Detroit.

Both Thakkar and Arora came to the US as students for studies and earned the pathway to citizenship through H-1B and Green Card.

Arora said Trumps policies are reviving Americas manufacturing base.

The simplification of tax code would come out as a great boon for small family-owned businesses like him.

There is a big demand (globally) for US-made products, which have more value anywhere in the world, Arora told PTI.

Indian-Americans are making great contributions to the US economy, said Thakkar.

Originally from Baroda, he came to the United States some 30 years ago. I am very proud that this country gave me this opportunity, he said.

Arora moved to the US in 2000 for undergraduate studies from Mumbai. The opportunities that we had have been fantastic, tremendous, he said.

During his interaction with Thakkar and Arora along with other awardees inside the powerful Oval Office, Trump congratulated all of us and said he is proud of minority businesses and their contribution in creating jobs in the country.

Praising Trumps new policies, Arora said businessmen like him need to spend more time on business planning rather than tax planning.

Simplifying the tax code would definitely help the minority businesses, he said.

The tax reform, would not only simplify the process, but also put more money into businesses, Thakkar told PTI.

In his remarks, Trump said his Administration is deeply committed to empowering minority business owners.

Were working to lift government barriers so that you can thrive, prosper, and grow, he said.

Ross said nationwide, there are 996,246 minority-owned firms with paid employees last year, up 4.9% from the prior year.

And these minority-owned businesses produced $1.1 trillion of annual revenue, he said.

They employ eight million people, but only 22% of them have 10 or more employees.

So theres plenty of room to grow. But we know that minority entrepreneurs are up to the task, he said.
Former US President George HW Bush has issued an apology to an actress who accused him of groping her from his wheelchair while attending a screening, according to reports.

Heather Lind, 34, said the incident occurred four years ago at an event to promote the TV series Turn: Washingtons Spies, according to the Daily Mail, which saved a screenshot of a lengthy Instagram post she wrote and later deleted.

It is the latest in an outpouring of sexual harassment allegations against powerful male figures in entertainment, fashion and finance that followed the downfall of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, who stands accused of assaulting and raping actresses.

File photo of actress Heather Lind. (Reuters)

Lind added she decided to share her story after seeing Bush Sr, 93, appear onstage at a benefit concert to raise money for victims of the hurricane-ravaged southern United States and the Caribbean.

I found it disturbing because I recognise the respect ex-presidents are given for having served, she wrote.

But when I got the chance to meet George HW Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo.

He didnt shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke, she added.

Later on, as pictures were being taken, Bush repeated the act, while Barbara rolled her eyes as if to say not again.

In a statement circulated to the Daily Mail and the New York Daily News, a spokesman for Bush did not deny the allegation but said it was an ill-judged attempt at humour.

President Bush would never - under any circumstance - intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologises if his attempt at humour offended Ms Lind, the statement said.

Lind further wrote on Instagram: We were instructed to call him Mr President. It seems to me a Presidents power is in his or her capacity to enact positive change, actually help people, and serve as a symbol of our democracy. He relinquished that power when he used it against me and, judging from the comments of those around him, countless other women before me.

She said she decided to come forward because of the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences, the report said.

In the past few weeks, dozens of women have accused media mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault and harassment, and made similar claims against other actors, producers, directors, photographers and musicians.
The United States on Tuesday lifted a 120-day temporary ban on refugees from entering the country, but said that applicants from 11 high-risk countries will face extra scrutiny.

The 11 countries were not identified, but reports indicated they would mostly be Muslim-nations  Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen  as well as North Korea and South Sudan.

In an executive order issued on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said the improvements in the vetting process of refugee admission programme since the ban was imposed are generally adequate to ensure the security and welfare of the United States and the departments of state and the homeland security may resume that programme, and that they will apply special measures to certain categories of refugees.

The new enhanced vetting measures include increased data collection to more thoroughly investigate applicants with more biographical information, improved information sharing between agencies to identify threat actors, and new training procedures to strengthen screener ability to detect fraud and deception.

The executive order did not spell out the categories, or even the number of countries whose applicants will be impacted. That came in a separate announcement from the department of homeland security, which said that the admissions for applicants from those 11 high-risk countries will move forward on a case-by-case basis during an additional 90-day review period. They may return to standard vetting processes after complete individual country reviews.

The security of the American people is this administrations highest priority, and these improved vetting measures are essential for American security, acting secretary of homeland security Elaine Duke said. These new, standardised screening measures provide an opportunity for the United States to welcome those in need into our country, while ensuring a safer, more secure homeland.

Trump had imposed a temporary ban on the entry of all refugees just days after assuming office in January, with an indefinite ban from those from Syria. He had also suspended the entry of visitors from seven Muslim-majority nations. However, the travel ban was narrowed down subsequently in the face of outrage and legal challenges.
Booking air travel is stressful. How far in advance should you book? Did you get the best fare?

That anxiety is magnified this time of year as travelers finalize holiday plans and look ahead to winter getaways and spring break. In an interview with AP Travel's "Get Outta Here" podcast , AirfareWatchdog.com founder George Hobica offered some advice for finding the best deals.

Fare searches

"Sign up for airfare alerts," Hobica said. "There are many website products that will give you an alert when the fare goes up or down," including AirfareWatchdog, Google Flights, Expedia, Kayak and Priceline.

Just remember not all airlines are tracked by every website. For example, Delta flights don't show up on Hopper, JetBlue no longer sells tickets on Vayama and Southwest bans third-party websites from automatically scraping its data. AirfareWatchdog includes Southwest flights by manually collecting the information.

AirfareWatchdog also specializes in spotting deals that may "only last for a few hours or maybe a day or two," Hobica said. Sign up for alerts for specific routes and you'll receive an email when prices hit reasonable levels or go on sale.

Hoping to score a $1 or $20 "mistake fare" that airlines publish by accident? Hobica says they're "rare these days" because airline computers are programmed to catch them.

How far in advance?

"Last-minute fares are always more expensive," Hobica said.

Some studies suggest that nine to 12 weeks ahead is the best time frame for booking domestic tickets.

How about holiday fares? Should you book Thanksgiving fares in April or May?

"Definitely start looking as early as possible if you know you're going to travel over a holiday," Hobica said.

Prices are higher around the holidays because many travelers prefer the same schedule. They want to arrive in time for the meal on Thanksgiving Thursday or be back at work the first weekday after Christmas. If your schedule is flexible, you'll get a better price by staying a day or two later or leaving a day early. "Traveling on the Saturday after Thanksgiving is going to be cheaper than the Sunday after Thanksgiving," he said.

Magic day?

"I don't think there is a magic formula or a magic time of the week to look for a good airfare," said Hobica. "There is a myth out there that Tuesday is the best time to book airfares."

Airlines do announce sales on Tuesdays, he said, but also post sales on Fridays, sometimes unannounced, "hoping people will buy the last remaining seats on a flight."

Hobica also sometimes sees "amazing airfare sales on Saturday and Sunday" when searches by consumers tend to fall off. Sometimes the lower demand can push automated pricing down.

Does the very act of repeatedly searching for a flight nudge prices higher? Hobica says no. But you could see prices rise while you're searching if all the cheap seats get booked by others. Usually airlines limit how many seats sell at the lowest fares.

Booking tips

Is it better to book through airline websites?

Not necessarily. The same flight might be priced differently on different third-party sites. A search engine like BookingBuddy.com lets you compare the same flight on different websites. Sometimes an online travel agency like Expedia or Priceline will offer a lower fare than the airline because of a specially negotiated deal, Hobica said.

But if there's a problem with the flight, it might be easier to straighten out if you've booked directly with the airline.

Other tips:

If fares drop after you book, you're probably stuck with the higher fare because airlines charge so much to change tickets. But there are a few exceptions. Southwest, for example, does not charge for changing tickets. And U.S. Department of Transportation rules state that passengers may "cancel a booking without penalty, for 24 hours after the reservation is made, if they make the reservation one week or more prior to a flight's departure date." That means if the price drops within 24 hours, you can rebook without penalty on flights at least a week out.

If you're buying multiple seats on the same flight, book the trips separately for each traveler. Airlines limit how many seats are sold at the lowest fare, and if there's only one cheap seat left, you'll miss the deal if you're buying two tickets at once. But if you're flying with kids, best to keep their tickets on the same reservation as the accompanying adult in case of bumping or other issues.

It may be cheaper to fly one way on one airline and return on another. Just remember that if your outgoing flight is canceled, you'll be stuck for the return on the other airline.

Consider airport alternatives: Baltimore versus Washington; Newark versus Trenton, New Jersey; Boston versus Providence, Rhode Island.

Hotel-airfare packages can be cheaper than booking flights and lodging separately. Look for deals on sites like Upside.com.
The US has slammed Russia for vetoing a UN Security Council resolution extending the mandate of the only official mission probing the use of chemical weapons in Syria, saying Moscow has once again demonstrated it would do anything to protect its ally.

Russia on Tuesday vetoed the US-sponsored UN resolution that would extend the work of inspectors seeking to determine who is responsible for chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

Russia has blocked such a move by the UN Security Council a number of times, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in her daily news conference.

Russia has blocked the UN Security Council action to hold accountable those who use chemical weapons, including terrorists and the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad, she said.

By blocking the extension of the Joint Investigative Mechanism, Russia has once again demonstrated it does not care about stopping the barbaric use of chemical weapons in the world and will do whatever it takes to protect its ally, the Assad regime, Sanders alleged.

Blocking the extension of the investigating authority means nothing less than Russias endorsement of the Assad regimes use of chemical weapons against innocent women and children.

We will continue to push back against this, Sanders said.

At the UN headquarters in New York, the Security Council rejected the draft resolution following a vote of 11 in favour to 2 against (Bolivia, Russian Federation), with 2 abstaining (China, Kazakhstan).

Had it been adopted, it would have extended the mechanisms mandate  established by resolution 2235 (2015) and set to expire on November 17  for one more year.

Vassily A Nebenzia, Russias Permanent Representative to the UN, suggested that adjourning the meeting until November 7 and discussing an extension without undue pressure.

He said that the Russian Federation expected an honest, impartial, complete investigation, and would accept clear, incontrovertible evidence of guilt.

The US had already determined who was guilty, and its actions were politicising the issue, he alleged.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Russia has once again demonstrated it will do whatever it takes to ensure the barbaric Assad regime never faces consequences for its continued use of chemicals as weapons.

By rejecting the renewal of the work of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM)  an independent, purely technical body  Russia has made it clear that it does not care about stopping the use of chemical weapons in the world, she said.

This is the ninth time Russia has protected Assad and his team of murderers by blocking the Security Council from acting. In doing so, Russia once again sides with the dictators and terrorists who use these weapons, Haley said.

British Permanent Representative to the UN Nikki Haley described Russias use of veto power as a sad day.

Its a sad day for the Security Council when Russia vetoes a simple technical, procedural rollover, of the mandate of an absolutely crucial part of the international communitys architecture to help tackle the appalling use of chemical weapons, he said.

The Syrian regime, that they support, must have something to hide, and I wonder why Russia continues to defend the indefensible, he said and hoped that Russia will realise that they are isolated on this issue.

They are seeking to defend the indefensible. And beyond that, they have a particular responsibility as a permanent member of the Security Council with a close relationship with the Syrian regime. They have taken it upon themselves to lead the international communitys efforts to disarm Syria of its chemical weapons, he said.

That job is not complete, and I call on Russia to listen to what we all said today and to step up to meet those responsibilities, the British Ambassador said.
Tensions have soared between Iraq and its northern autonomous Kurdish region since Kurdish voters overwhelmingly backed independence in a non-binding referendum a month ago.

Here are the key developments:

Millions vote

Despite weeks of threats and warnings, the vote goes ahead on September 25 with more than 12,000 polling stations opening for 5.3 million registered voters.

It is held in the three provinces of Iraqi Kurdistan  Arbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk  as well as in disputed border areas such as the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

Baghdad says the vote is illegal and the United States warns it will increase instability.

Neighbouring Turkey, concerned the vote could stoke separatist aspirations among its own Kurdish minority, warns the Iraqi Kurds they will face sanctions.

Iran, which has similar fears, has already announced it is stopping all flights to and from Iraqi Kurdistan.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on September 26 gives authorities in Kurdistan 72 hours to hand the central government control of airports, warning he will otherwise ban international flights to and from the region.

A massive yes

The official results released on September 27 show that more than 92 percent of voters back statehood. Turnout is over 72 percent.

Iraqi Kurd leader Massud Barzani says there will be no immediate declaration of independence but calls for negotiations.

But Abadi demands the vote is annulled. We will never hold talks based on the results of the referendum, he says. We will impose Iraqi law in the entire region of Kurdistan.

Flights cut

Baghdad cuts the Kurdish regions direct air links with the outside world indefinitely on September 29. Foreigners have already started leaving while they can.

The US says it does not recognise the referendum and its result which lacks legitimacy.

An empty shop in Irbil, Iraq. (AP File Photo)

On October 2, Iranian and Iraqi forces conduct joint military exercises near the border with the Kurdistan region.

Iran embargoes trade in fuel products with Iraqi Kurdistan.

An Iraqi court on October 11 orders the arrest of the chairman and two other members of the commission that organised the independence referendum.

Soldiers deployed

Kurdish peshmerga forces on October 12 block roads from Iraqi Kurdistan to Iraqs second city Mosul in response to an increase in deployments and movements of Iraqi forces near the front line.

Abadi denies an attack is imminent, vowing to preserve the unity of our country.

On October 13, the Iraqi army launches an operation to take Kurdish-held positions around the provincial capital of Kirkuk, which has a Kurdish majority and took part in the contested referendum.

A senior Kurdish official says thousands of heavily armed fighters have been deployed to resist the offensive at any cost. He calls for international intervention.

October 15: The Kurds ignore a looming deadline set by Baghdad for their forces to surrender positions they took during the fightback against jihadists.

The following day, Iraqi forces take control of the city of Kirkuk as well as key military sites and an oil field.

The capture of more key oil fields in the disputed province on October 17 dashes Kurdish hopes of creating a viable independent state. Abadi says the referendum is a thing of the past.

Conciliatory signals

October 18: Iraqi Kurdistan postpones presidential and legislative elections scheduled for November 1.

The Iraqi Kurdish regional government says on October 19 that it is open to talks with Baghdad. The next day, Iraqi forces retake control of the last sector of Kirkuk province.

October 22: Iraqi Kurdistans main opposition party calls for Barzani to resign.

October 25: Iraqi Kurdish leaders offer to freeze the outcome of the independence vote.
All Tvvins will return to The Olympia Theatre, Friday 23rd March 2018.

Founding band members Conor Adams and Lar Kaye say their goal when setting up the band was to one day headline the 1,600 capacity Dublin venue.

The duos latest single Anything came out at the end of last month, their second release since their Choice Music Award nominated debut album IIVV.

Since the success of IIVV, the bands approach to song writing has totally changed. Instead of painstakingly crafting each song together, they now create ideas individually before allowing the other partner to put their stamp on it.

Lar describes the new material as being varied and extreme and emotionally charged.

The two Dublin natives have been busy over the last few months, sharing stages with some big names such as Arcade Fire, Pixies and Foals.

Tickets are on sale this Friday October 27th at 9am from 22.00.
The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff is partnering with Farmington American Legion Post 416 to host the second official Stand Down Community Outreach Day on Friday.

The Stand Down Community Outreach Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Farmington American Legion Post #416, located at 1604 W. Columbia Street.

According to a statement from the medical center, the event will provide a wide array of resources for homeless or at-risk individuals in the community, with a focus on veterans.

Bill Henson with the Farmington American Legion post described the event as an opportunity to connect people in the community with resources they need.

The event is sponsored by the Veterans Administration (VA), Henson said. Theyll come up from Poplar Bluff with their large van and well have the American Legion Hall opened up with booths.

Between the VA van and the folks inside the Legion Hall, well be able to talk to veterans and their families regarding housing, employment, home health, education, applications for food stamps, VA services for veterans, resources located here in the area and homes that can house veterans for a short period of time.

"The immediate goal of the Stand Down is to be a 'one-day, one-stop shop' providing services and resources to people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless," according to VA social worker, Jennifer Hale.

Henson said there have been other similar "stand-downs" in the past, but this years and last years have been among the most informative and helpful.

This is actually the third or fourth year weve had some type of stand-down, Henson said. But this one, I believe, is more inclusive than any of the others that Ive seen.

As a veteran and in dealing with the VA, we see a lot of this. But Ive never seen it as extensive as it is this time. Theyre covering more areas than we have in the past.

According to the statement from the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, the VA is working to combat veteran homelessness by providing resources at the yearly stand-down. The VA estimates one-third of Americas homeless to be veterans.

The many resources to be available at the stand-down include the St. Francois County Health Department, Shared Blessings Shelter, Mers/Career Center, Missouri Disabled Veterans' Representative, Kindred at Home (home health care), the Farmington VFW Post 5896, the Farmington DAV Chapter 12, Desloge VFW Post 2426, the University of Missouri Extension, the Park Hills Career Center, the St. Francois County Community Partnership (area resources and program information), Leadington VFW Post 5741, Mineral Area College, Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health, St. Francois County Mental Health Board, Life Inc., St. Patrick's Center and Heroes Care, Humana Insurance, and the Ministerial Alliance.
Phil Coulter celebrates 52 years of music this year and embarks on a 27-date nationwide tour.

Phil Coulter is without doubt one of the enduring talents in the music business, having enjoyed success and notched up hits in the 60s, 70s 80s and 90s with a tally of 23 platinum, 39 gold and 52 silver discs.

Having contributed at least four titles to the list of Great Irish Songs - the anthemsThe Town I Loved So Well, Irelands Call and the haunting Scorn Not His Simplicity and Steal Away, he was also the receiver of the 'Legend of Derry award' in June of this year as part of Foyle Legends of Derry.

Tour dates:

Sun. 5th Nov. 2017  Theatre at The Mill, Newtownabbey

Fri. 10th Nov. 2017  Millennium Forum, Derry

Sat. 11th Nov. 2017  Birr Theatre & Arts Centre

Sun. 12th Nov. 2017  St. Patricks Church, Gurteen, Co. Sligo

Thurs. 16th Nov. 2017  Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen

Fri. 17th Nov. 2017- Tullamore Court Hotel

Sat. 18th Nov. 2017  CORK OPERA HOUSE

Sun. 19th Nov. 2017  Trim Castle Hotel

Wed. 22nd Nov. 2017  Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick

Thurs. 23rd Nov. 2017  NATIONAL CONCERT HALL, DUBLIN

Fri. 24th Nov. 2017  Termon Complex, Pettigo

Sat. 25th Nov. 2017  Iontas Arts Centre, Castleblayney

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Sun. 26th Nov. 2017  Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire

Fri. 1st Dec. 2017  Town Hall Theatre, Galway

Sat. 2nd Dec. 2017  Town Hall Theatre, Westport

Sun. 3rd Dec. 2017  Ballymaloe Grainstore, Shanagarry, Co. Cork

Thurs. 7th Dec. 2017  Draiocht, Blanchardstown

Fri. 8th Dec. 2017  Siamsa Tire, Tralee

Sat. 9th Dec. 2017  Ramor Theatre, Virginia

Sun. 10th Dec. 2017  Source Arts Centre, Thurles

Tues. 12th Dec. & Wed. 13th Dec. 2017  Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray

Thurs. 14th Dec. 2017  Mill Theatre, Dundrum

Fri. 15th Dec. 2017  St. Michaels Theatre, New Ross

Sat. 16th Dec. 2017  Axis Arts Centre, Ballymun

Sun. 17th Dec. 2017  Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise

Wed. 20th Dec. 2017  Solstice Arts Centre, Navan

Thurs. 21st Dec. 2017  An Grianan, Letterkenny
Leo Varadkar's government is being criticised over its failure to meet its own deadline for the construction of new schools across Ireland.

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The Trump administration said Tuesday that it will sell leases for some 77 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas drilling in the largest U.S. offshore lease sale ever.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said the sale, scheduled for March, would open an area the size of New Mexico to drilling, including all unleased areas on the Gulf's outer continental shelf. The Gulf's outer continental shelf is estimated to hold recoverable reserves of more than 48 billion barrels of oil and 141 trillion cubic feet of gas.

The sale would come as the offshore sector continues to struggle with low oil prices, and oil exploration and production companies focus investments on lower cost shale fields onshore, particularly the Permian Basin in West Texas. Exxon Mobil and Chevron, for example, have spent billions to acquire and develop land in the Permian, one of the nation's most productive shale plays.

In a report Tuesday, the research firm IHS Markit said that the world's biggest oil companies have divested offshore holdings and become less active in acquiring new tracts. Overall, IHS Markit said, reduced spending on oil and gas exploration offshore has limited the number of quality oil and gas fields available for acquisition, through either outright sales or mergers.

"Low oil prices have significantly reduced operator spending on exploration - particularly in deep water, which is very costly," said Cindy Giglio, an analyst at IHS Markit. "That means fewer deep-water discoveries are made and even fewer world-class assets become available."

Crude oil settled at $52.47 a barrel in New York Tuesday, up 57 cents.

Increasing U.S. energy production is key component of President Donald Trump's economic strategy. With the so-called shale revolution catapulting the U.S. to one of the world's biggest producers, Trump has called for expanding exports and asserting the nation's energy dominance to generate jobs. In the summer, he ordered his Cabinet to move ahead on replacing the Obama administration's offshore drilling policies, with an eye to opening up the Atlantic and Arctic coastlines to oil and gas development.

In a statement, Zinke said opening the Gulf's outer continental shelf to development will aid drillers, under pressure from low prices, by providing more opportunities offshore.

An auction of Gulf leases last August attracted more than $120 million in high bids, according to the Interior Department.

Zinke said the leasing program would create jobs and spur economic growth.

Many Gulf coast lawmakers and political leaders praised the new lease sale and the potential economic benefits. But environmentalists sharply criticized the move, noting a recent spill from an offshore rig that dumped some 16,000 barrels of oil into the Gulf.

"For far too long, the Gulf has been treated as a sacrifice zone by polluters," Athan Manuel, director of the lands protection program of the Sierra Club, a national advocacy group. "They've drilled in their waters, spilled recklessly, and burned fossil fuels and chemicals in their communities. Now, in the wake of the biggest offshore oil spill disaster since Deepwater Horizon, Donald Trump and Ryan Zinke are pulling out all the stops to expose even more of the Gulf to the threats of drilling."
For the 23rd year, the Greater Houston Black Chamber recognized leading African-American entrepreneurs for their financial success as well as community service efforts at the Pinnacle Awards.

Winners included She's Happy Hair, a hair product provider; Sterling Staffing Solutions, a licensed physician management company; Taylor Construction Management LLC, a global construction firm; and The Imani School, a private pre-k through eighth grade school predominately serving African-American students.
Dozens of black executives and their spouses joined Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Kamala Harris, D-Calif., as well as Eric Holder, the former attorney general, for a private dinner in July in Bridgehampton, N.Y. Over kale salad and sea bass on the grounds of a hotel, the executives sought advice about their intermittent fundraising efforts to address political and social issues, and for the candidates who support those causes.

Ronald Kirk, a former mayor of Dallas and a lawyer who served in the Obama administration, had the bluntest message. "You're wasting your money," he recalled saying. "My advice is: Get organized."

It was a crystallizing moment. Many attendees had long been part of an informal group of friends and associates who raised money for philanthropies or policy issues on an ad hoc basis. At the dinner, they decided it was time to use their wealth and stature in a more formal way.

By early 2018, the group hopes to start a political action committee, creating a new fundraising model for corporate executives of color. The group would support candidates of any political party who fit the PAC's agenda.

The main organizers - including Charles Phillips, chief executive of the software company Infor; Tony Coles, head of the biotech firm Yumanity Therapeutics; Marva Smalls, global head of inclusion strategy for Viacom; and William M. Lewis Jr., co-chairman of investment banking at Lazard - are still in the planning stages for the PAC.

They are focused on areas like access to education and employment, as well as voter participation. But they are still trying to find consensus. Many don't want to narrowly define the mandate around race, since initiatives like improving school quality and job training are as much about geography and income level.

The 10 or so core organizers, who meet every other Sunday in New York, have hired a lawyer to get the paperwork ready but haven't started to raise money. They plan to create three structures: a "super PAC" to run political ads or host events; a federal PAC to support candidates; and a 501(c)(4) group, or social welfare nonprofit, that will do a mix of the two.

"What we've been doing is just writing checks for years, and we don't know what happened" once the money was received, Phillips said. "We've got to learn from the Koch brothers, do what they do, have them sign pledges."

The core organizers plan to reach out to a group of roughly 100 black executives, lawyers and other professionals who attended the July dinner. They have mutual friends. They meet socially in places like East Hampton, N.Y., and Kiawah Island, S.C. They attend the same charitable functions, like the annual fundraising dinner in New York City for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

The group has been increasingly stepping into the national debate about race and inequality. Two years ago, it funded screenings so that 320,000 students across the country could see "Selma," the movie about a crucial moment in civil rights history. After the police shootings of black people in Ferguson, Mo., and other cities, the group raised $1 million in 48 hours to fund a police reform initiative. And in August, it supported Kenneth Frazier, the chief executive of Merck and a member of the extended network, after President Donald Trump criticized him.

"We have now entered more the ranks of corporate America with the financial wherewithal, with the thought leadership, to now engage around the issues," said Smalls, who while growing up in South Carolina in the 1960s watched her parents help organize get-out-the-vote rallies and fight for equality in local schools.

The election last November, Smalls said, was an "inflection point." The question now, she said, is "defining a narrative, politically, that matters to our community."

The ranks of black senior executives remain small. In 2001, when Kenneth Chenault was named to the top job at American Express, just one other black chief executive was running a Fortune 500 company, Franklin D. Raines of Fannie Mae. On this year's list, Chenault, who is preparing to step down after a 16-year tenure, was one of four.

While black business leaders have long used their money and influence, they have often worked individually behind the scenes. Still, many have proved adept at mobilizing money and support for causes dear to them.

Chenault is a prime example. In September, he hosted a dinner at his apartment for Cashmere Nicole, who founded an online cosmetics company, Beauty Bakerie, with her own money. Chenault, Infor's Phillips, Lazard's Lewis and Adebayo Ogunlesi, a private equity executive who is Goldman Sachs' lead director, all provided seed capital for the company.The shift from an informal network to a more organized effort was marked in 2015 by an appeal by Lewis.

Early that year, he sent an email to friends and fellow executives, asking if they'd like to pool funds to sponsor student tickets to "Selma." After seeing the film, "I walked out of the theater with my wife and said, 'Every New York City eighth-grader should see this movie,'" Lewis recalled in an interview at the time. They raised more than $2 million and funded screenings in about 30 cities.

Early in 2017, some of the same executives funded student screenings of "Hidden Figures," which told the story of three female black mathematicians who worked for NASA during the 1960s. They paid for 63,000 students to see the movie in 25 places, including Britain and Nigeria.
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RIO DE JANEIRO - When Leticia Miranda had a job selling newspapers on the streets, she earned about $160 a month, just enough to pay for a tiny apartment she shared with her 8-year-old son in a poor neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.

When she lost her job about six months ago amid Brazil's worst economic crisis in decades, Miranda had no choice but to move to an abandoned building where several hundred people were already living. All of her possessions - a bed, a fridge, a stove and some clothes - have been jammed into a small room that like all the others in the building has windows with no glass. Residents bathe in large garbage cans filled with water and do their best to live with the stench of mountains of trash and rummaging pigs in the center of the building.

'Nowhere to go'

"I want to leave here, but there is nowhere to go," said Miranda, 28, dressed in a bikini top, shorts and sandals to deal with the heat. "I'm applying for jobs and did two interviews. So far, nothing."

Between 2004 and 2014, tens of millions of Brazilians emerged from poverty and the country was often cited as an example for the world. High prices for the country's raw materials and newly developed oil resources helped finance social welfare programs that put money into the pockets of the poorest.

But that trend has been reversed over the last two years due to the deepest recession in Brazil's history and cuts to the subsidy programs, raising the specter that this continent-sized nation has lost its way in addressing wide inequalities that go back to colonial times.

The World Bank estimates about 28.6 million Brazilians moved out of poverty between 2004 and 2014. But the bank estimates that from the start of 2016 to the end of this year, 2.5 million to 3.6 million will have fallen back below the poverty line of 140 Brazilian reais per month, about $44 at current exchange rates.

Economists say high unemployment and cuts to key social welfare programs could exacerbate the problems. In July, the last month for which data is available, unemployment was close to 13 percent, a huge increase from 4 percent at the end of 2004.

Lines of job seekers

Lines of job seekers stretching several blocks have become commonplace whenever any business announces openings. When a university in Rio this month offered low-skilled jobs paying $400 a month, thousands showed up, including many who stood outside in the rain a day before the process began.

Meanwhile, budgetary pressures and the conservative policies of President Michel Temer are translating into cuts in social services. Among those hit is the Bolsa Familia - Family Allowance - program that gives small subsidies each month to qualifying low-income people. It's credited with much of the poverty reduction during Brazil's boom decade.

Maria de Pena Souza, 59, lives with her 24-year-old son in a small house with a zinc roof in the Lins favela in western Rio. They want to move because the home sits on a steep hill that is prone to deadly mudslides. But her son hasn't been able to find work since finishing his military service a few years ago.

"I would leave if there was a way, but there isn't," said de Pena Souza, who added: "When it rains, I can't sleep."

Political comeback

The economic doldrums are clearly fueling the political comeback of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who from 2003 to 2010 presided over much of the boom. After leaving office with approval ratings over 80 percent, da Silva's popularity plunged as he and his party were ensnared in corruption investigations. Da Silva is appealing a conviction and nearly 10-year sentence for corruption. But he still consistently leads preference polls for next year's presidential election.

On the campaign trail, da Silva promises both a return to better economic times and refocusing on the poor.
Shoppers will no longer be able to buy Whirlpool, KitchenAid or Maytag appliances at Sears, following a pricing dispute that has ended a 101-year relationship between the department store chain and the country's largest appliance maker.

Whirlpool, which announced this week that it is raising prices to make up for costlier raw materials, said it notified Sears Holdings in May that it would stop supplying appliances to the retailer.

"We simply could not reach terms that were acceptable to both parties," Marc Bitzer, Whirlpool's chief executive, said during a call Tuesday with investors.

The dispute highlights escalating tensions between manufacturers and retailers over exactly how much items should cost. Retailers have grown accustomed to offering steep discounts to win over consumers. Manufacturers, meanwhile, say they are struggling to keep up with growing expenses and stiffening competition, often from overseas.

The news deals yet another blow to Sears, which has already closed hundreds of stores this year. Once a dominant seller of appliances, the company has lost much of market share in recent years. It has not turned a profit since 2010, and last year it reported a $2.22 billion loss.

"Sears is breaking up with everybody - the business is in steep, deep decline," said Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia Business School and former chief executive of Sears Canada. "They've lost half of their market share in the last 14 years, and vendors aren't seeing much value in the relationship anymore."

Sales at Sears make up about 3 percent of Whirlpool's total revenue, Bitzer said Tuesday.

"In terms of the impact, to be honest it's not a whole lot," he said.

Harikesh S. Nair, a marketing professor at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, said tussles over price between retailers and manufacturers are common, particularly when the retailer can still offer its own house brand.

"Sears already has a large private-label appliance brand, so it helps to be able to say, 'If we can't stock your products, we can always stock ours,' " he said.

Indeed, Sears characterized the decision as an effort to support its customers.

"Whirlpool has sought to use its dominant position in the marketplace to make demands that would have prohibited us from offering Whirlpool products to our members at a reasonable price," Sears said in a memo to employees last week. "Associates should continue to sell with confidence our Kenmore brand."

Whirlpool will continue to manufacture at least some Kenmore appliances for Sears.

Sears' stock fell about 9 percent on Tuesday. Shares of Whirlpool, meanwhile, tumbled nearly 11 percent to their lowest level in about a year. The manufacturer also posted financial results that fell short of Wall Street's expectations, and said it was taking "strong actions" to make up for narrowing operating margins.

During the most recent quarter, the company said operating profit fell 10 percent to $$376 million. Earnings rose about 5 percent to $272 million, or $3.83 per share, up from $244 million, or $3.66 per share, a year earlier. Revenue, meanwhile, increased 3 percent to $5.4 billion. (Analysts had expected about $5.5 billion.)

The split with Sears comes as Whirlpool awaits a federal decision on a trade dispute filed with the International Trade Commission. In it, Whirlpool alleges that Korean manufacturers Samsung and LG have been selling washing machines in the U.S. at unfairly low prices for years.
Back in the 1970s, I was a little girl who rambled through the woods and played hide and seek in the dark with other neighborhood kids.

The same kind of seemingly safe community existed along Oak Drive in Dickinson back when Georgia Geer and Brooks Bracewell lived there in 1974.

They were best friends. Brooks, still only 85 pounds at 12, kept her any blonde hair cut into a stylish shag. Georgia, willowy and tall, had already reached 5'8" at 14. They both wore bell bottoms and crop tops, and their girlish faces gave hints of the beautiful women they would have become.

A short trail through tall pines connected the two girls houses along Dickinson Bayou. They always walked together to the bus stop. They often visited the UtoteM store for canned pop or bags of chips. Sometimes, they walked nearly a mile to a German restaurant near where I-45 was under construction.

Even that ramble seemed safe. The pair didn't know that a serial killer had been preying on other girls in towns near-by.

'The Eleven' What: Watch "The Eleven" to find out more about Brooks and Georgia's case When: Thurs., Oct. 26, on A&E at 8 p.m. CST Click here for more information See More Collapse

Read more: The girls' murders are the subject of a new documentary series called The Eleven.

On the Sept. 6, 1974, they disappeared.

Dickinson was too small then to have its own police department. The Galveston County Sheriff's Deputy who stopped by the house to take a report that evening didn't waste much time on a couple of "runaways."

His findings were summarized in a single paragraph. Georgia, he concluded, probably talked her younger friend into "running away."

Police conducted no search at all. Instead, their families hung homemade flyers labeled "Missing From Home" in local stores and restaurants.

Neither girl had taken extra clothes or money or left notes. Georgia was last seen in an orange outfit. Brooks, wearing plaid high-rise pants and a gold V-neck sweater, was "believed to have less than $1."

In their pictures, both girls are smiling.

Courtesy

Police reports I read more than 40 years later reveal that the Galveston County deputy didn't follow up until December 13  more than two months after the two girls vanished. At that point, the officer interviewed Brooks's mother about what he again described as "her runaway daughter."

A single line in his second report shows that another investigator  from Harris County  requested dental records in case they turned up dead.

Yet in the 1970s, a string of long-haired teenage girls had been murdered in Harris, Galveston and Brazoria Counties. Two other pairs of girls were killed. Nearly all those murders remained unsolved. These cases are the focus of an investigation that retired Galveston detective Fred Paige and I conducted as part of an A&E series called The Eleven.

But the murders of Brooks and Georgia generated by far the least attention from authorities in the first crucial days and months.

They were killed in 1974. But their case was not worked as a homicide until 1981  a delay during which important witnesses left town or disappeared. Some key witnesses were interviewed for the first time for the series. I'm haunted by the idea that, if the pair had vanished today, would the investigation have been better?

Technology has improved. Teenagers have cell phones. National databases help officers track long-term missing person reports and the unidentified dead. Those tools improve the ability of authorities and families to pursue clues across county and state lines.

But Texas agencies still receive many missing person reports  and not all get worked. Harris County alone still has more than 200 unidentified body cases dating back to the 1950s. Many other counties have no medical examiner's office.

And the state of Texas dedicates few resources to identifying missing persons or tracking potential serial killers. Human traffickers, murderers, rapists and pedophiles still take advantage of the holes in the system.

Before Brooks disappeared, her huge barn-like home held a large blended family  her mother, stepfather, sister, stepsister, brother and stepbrother. The siblings had formed a bond. But in their grief and anger, her mother and stepfather soon divorced. Brooks' older sister ran away, her half-sister moved out.

The family Brooks had known fell apart.

Brooks' stepbrother, Gary, had celebrated his 12th birthday the day before Brooks disappeared. He remembers the gift Brooks gave him as a moment of happiness in a turbulent childhood. For years after, he was left to wonder if he'd only dreamed of that lost sister. He believed for years that Brooks had to be somewhere still alive.

Today, he started a nonprofit to help abused and exploited children  he knows just how vulnerable missing Texas teens are to predators.

Some of his sister's bones were recovered in a culvert near Alvin in May 1976  less than two years after Brooks and Georgia disappeared. Incredibly, no investigator thought of them  though Alvin is only 10 miles west of Dickinson, it's in Brazoria County, not Galveston County.

It was in 1981  when Gary was away at college  that Brazoria County deputy Matt Wingo inherited the unidentified bones case from 1976. He searched the Alvin ditch again and found more remains, as well as the fragments of a gold sweater and plaid pants. Brooks and Georgia had been found at last.

And their murder investigation could finally begin.

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I knew I wasn't the only one who felt undervalued and misjudged as a mother.

And I knew that the way our society treats women has been at the forefront of people's minds, especially lately, thanks to the Harvey Weinstein imbroglio, the #MeToo movement and the election of Donald Trump.

But the number  and sources  of substantive reactions to last week's piece, "Why don't we respect mothers more?," surprised me. In the days that followed, I heard from women between 30 and 86, women who are single, married, mothers, not mothers, women who work (or worked) in the professional sphere full-time, part-time, and no time.

I heard from each of these demographics' male counterparts, too.

One retired lawyer and full-time mom of three told me that the piece "left [her] in tears for some reason."

A 40-year-old pediatric oncologist and mother of two young children said, "My husband is a stay-at-home dad and, no doubt, his days are much harder than mine. Fortunately, he feels that he has the most important job in the world and, no doubt, he does."

A close male friend vowed to forward the piece to his wife. She's a small-business owner, the primary caregiver to twin daughters and CEO of your home  I hope she can't identify with any of this!, I thought. But, of course, she can  so much so that she forwarded the essay to friends and colleagues in New York.

A female executive and mother of three said, "I tell clients who are re-entering the work force just to use their Mom Skills and lead. Unsurprisingly, this usually works out well for them. Nothing hones your leadership skills like being a mom."

Two married mothers and psychologists lamented acquaintances' and even patients' reluctance or refusal to call them "doctor." Now, my friend Julie knows why I insist my son call her "Doctor Julie," despite the fact that our families are close.

Another female doctor friend told me that she had sat on a panel with a male colleague. The panel's moderator addressed my friend by her first name but her counterpart by either "professor" or "doctor." The moderator also referenced my friend's children, but not the male panelist's.

I challenged her to speak up next time. (And there will be a next time.)

A friend from Rome has delayed finishing her medical degree for years to raise three daughters. On Facebook, she posted: "Same exact life and feelings on the other side of the ocean." In response to the abundance of comments before hers, she added, "Feels so good to be in such great company."

A single female friend with no kids  and lots of married mom friends  said that the most egalitarian marriage she knows is between two gay women. "The mom gets stuck with more crap in all my straight friends' marriages, regardless of who earns, who works more hours, or any other factor, really."

She's onto something. Several moms in heterosexual marriages bemoaned the disproportionate mental and emotional loads they carry. "My husband will happily take our sons to birthday parties, but never thinks to buy presents beforehand. That's on me," said one.

"When my husband is out of town, he's off the hook. When I'm out of town, I'm responsible for preplanning the kids' carpools, play dates and appointments and running point [from afar]," said another.

I'VE ALSO heard a lot about Mom Guilt. It kills me that the deepest wounds are often inflicted by other moms. One friend, a nurse and mother of two young girls, had just gone back to work when an acquaintance hit her with, "Wow, I could never give up these crucial years in my babies' lives for a job!"

This "reeked of judgment and hurt me at a core level," my friend recalled.

Another mom remembers feeling similarly sucker-punched when she left the workforce to care for her first baby. "A former colleague said something like, 'I wish I could just stay home with my kids, but  for me  I need something more.' I felt worthless."

OUT OF NOWHERE: Me, too. My story of sexual assault.

"Why are you working?" our neighbor snarked at my own mom one day. "You don't need to."

My mom worked as a commercial illustrator out of our house, was on a tight deadline, and had just refused to watch our neighbor's son for the afternoon. Our neighbor's frustration was selfishly motivated  who doesn't love free babysitting?  but Mom felt demeaned all the same.

An active mom of three, who does the unglamorous, impactful kind of philanthropic work that doesn't ever make the society pages, excitedly shared with a group of other moms that she was about to hire a promising new nanny.

A professional mom asked her, "A nanny? But you don't work." The comeback was perfect and immediate: "What's your point?"

PREDICTABLY, I'VE heard a lot about how the American workplace undermines mothers. One friend was unable to pump often enough at work to maintain her milk supply post-maternity leave. She should have felt like a bad ass for getting through a five-day week on 10 minutes of sleep. Instead, she felt wretched for "failing" to feed her baby. (The baby got fed. He's now four and has the best set of cheeks I know.)

Another observed that, though she never feels comfortable leaving work early to be with her children  when they've been sick or had a bad day at school, for example  her male colleagues feel comfortable leaving to attend their children's sporting events because "you know  dads need to be there."

One professional and mother of two cringed when her father-in-law asked how much money she made last month. (To her credit, she told him it was none of his business.) Did his question imply that, because his son makes more than she does, her work wasn't valid? That she doesn't earn enough to justify not "staying home" with her children?

"My parents never ask my husband how much he makes," she noted.

TOXIC WORKPLACES: What companies have to do to end sexual harassment

It's been a rough few weeks, full of heart-wrenching #MeToo stories and inescapable truths about the insidious, pervasive abuse of male power. But the discussions I've had leave me feeling buoyed.

The evolving conversation about gender equality that so many brave women have dedicated their lives to pushing forward seems to have taken a leap in the right direction. Women know they're not alone. The feature story in this week's Time is titled, "The Goddess Myth: How a Vision of Perfect Motherhood Hurts Moms."

And men are buying in. One man whose wife ran their home and raised their two now-grown sons felt compelled to forward the article to his entire law firm. And a single man with no children said: "I hope we can one day let mothers and families make their own choices ... without there being all sorts of assumptions and prejudices and implied criticisms that seem to come with the territory, all based on gender. We have a long way to go."

He recognizes that how we treat moms isn't a "woman problem" or a "family problem" but, rather, a universal social problem.

Lots of us are starting to think about how we can better support other women  women who've made different choices from our own. Maybe the pot has  finally  boiled over. Maybe we can rededicate ourselves to cleaning up the mess.

Do you have a story to share? Please comment below or leave a note on Facebook.

Emily Wolf is a recovering lawyer and emerging writer. In 2009, she moved from Chicago to Houston, where she lives with her husband and two young sons.





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With the abuse of opioids becoming a growing epidemic across the state of Missouri, legislators in Jefferson City are trying their best to find ways to stifle its rampant abuse.

But according to local lawmakers Sen. Gary Romine, R-Farmington; Rep. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington; Rep. Elaine Gannon, R-De Soto; and Rep. Mike Henderson, R-Bonne Terre, the answers most often given to fix the problem tend to lead to only more questions.

Rep. Henderson isnt shy about admitting hes got pretty strong feelings about the problem of opioid abuse in the state.

I supported the bill this year to put in a statewide prescription monitoring database, he said. I know that some people say, Oh, our name could be in a database, but this is my feeling on that  if youve ever gone to BJC or youve ever gone to Mercy, youre already in a database. If youve ever gone to Walmart and used a credit card, youre in a database. I know we may all feel like were giving up some privacy, but if weve done any of those things were already in a database.

Heres the thing  for me its about kids more than anything. In my 31 years of education I saw what this does to kids, even if its not them on the drugs. If the parents are on drugs it affects the kids. I dont think that adults should just do opioids either, but at the same time my biggest concern is they are affecting the lives of kids who dont have a choice in this and its affecting them for the rest of their lives.

I think we have to do something to get this epidemic under control. I support Gov. (Eric) Greitens coming forward to help with the health grants  like St. Francois County got a grant through the health department  and I applaud the county commissioners for stepping up and being willing to set up a countywide database. I still wish that we could have a statewide database because I dont think we realize how this is affecting our kids.

While Rep. Gannon favors a statewide prescription monitoring database, she fears the problem is already too big to handle on its own.

Were all aware that Missouri faces high opioid use and its really big in the rural areas, she said. Its now one of Missouris most pressing health issues. Im not so sure theres a bill that fixes this problem. Thats how big the problem is in Missouri. We probably have one of the highest rates of use in all the states and weve tried and tried on bills.

While I think the drug monitoring program is very important because it flags the pill shoppers, we need some safeguards put in place to make sure doctors are not over-prescribing the opioids and patients are not drug shopping.

Rep. Engler believes there are other things that can be accomplished by the legislature to help stem the problem of opioid abuse in the state.

Through my committee I know theres going to be a bill that lets you drop off excess drugs at more than just the police station, he said. You can turn them in at your pharmacy.

Then were going to have to address the prescription writing and try to come up with something where they dont have to write so many numbers of pills. I had dental surgery this past week and they gave me 20 codeine-based pills. I took one after and that was it. Well, Ive got 19 left and some people can get addicted if they take the other 19.

We may need to come up with a system that lets them write a prescription for two or three days and then they at least have to contact the doctor to get the rest.

Sen. Gary Romine agreed with Engler and offered his thoughts on the effectiveness of a statewide prescription monitoring program in curbing the abuse of opioids.

I guess my concern is that weve really spent a lot of political floor time debating the drug monitoring program and how Missouri is the only state that does not have one, but as we look nationwide every other state does have a drug monitoring system and it has not affected the opioid epidemic.

I am concerned that we may be spending so much political time on drug monitoring when we may need to be looking at a different avenue to deal with this issue. Obviously, the drug monitoring hasnt had the impact that they said it would or we wouldnt be having the problem nationwide. Thats my contention. I hate to spend the time on a subject matter when its not producing the results we really want.

Some of the conversations that we have had on this that have come out of the debate  which is good  is that drugs seem to be written on a 30-day prescription instead of a 7- or 10-day as it was once upon a time. So those extended numbers of pills handed out for broken legs or having stitches put in is, I think, part of the problem. If somebody needs to come back after a week for a follow up and theyre still in pain, maybe give them a few more, but it seems that automatically writing 30-day prescriptions on some of these painkillers isnt a good idea.
Four days after Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, volunteer medical relief was critically important. But 33 days after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, volunteer medical relief continues to be critically important to the island.

It should not be this way. This is not the job of volunteers or donors. This is the job of our government.

I have been intimately involved in providing medical relief for both Harvey and Maria for the past two months. When Harvey hit, I walked into the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) and volunteered my services as a physician.

I am not a disaster medicine specialist. I am a melanoma medical oncologist at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. But the people of my city were in need. Working in conjunction with the City of Houston Emergency Medical Services (EMS), I used social media to mobilize donated medications, medical supplies and volunteer medical professionals to meet the needs of the 10,000 or more evacuees sheltered at GRB.

By the fourth day, the Federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) came in to take over running the medical shelter. A Kroger mobile pharmacy truck and representatives from Walgreens and CVS set up as well.

This was as it should be, though at the time our naive question was, "Why did it take so long?"

As Houston clinics and hospitals reopened, we turned our resources toward East Texas and Louisiana. This experience led me to create a group (Medical Disaster Resource Network) to match medical needs and resources in disaster areas. I never expected this network to be put to use so quickly.

After Maria hit, getting relief to Puerto Rico was more difficult than expected. It took us five days to establish a safe place to land and a trusted network to receive and distribute aid.

But our expanded grassroots medical relief network has now sent about 30 planes and 100,000 pounds worth of aid, including eight planes from Houston that I have been personally involved in.

Still, I ask: Why was a 50,000-pound donation from the City of Houston, sent on Oct. 5, the largest relief shipment Puerto Rico had received to date?

Thirty-one days after the Maria, why was the largest public hospital in San Juan losing power and requiring surgeons to operate by flashlight?

Ricardo Arduengo / AFP / Getty Images

Why do I get verified messages about an orphanage running out of food and water and a mountain municipality that has yet to receive any aid?

Why does a physician drive 100 miles to San Juan every night for three days to get a cellular signal to talk to me to coordinate receiving medical supplies?

When the plane arrives and these critically needed medications are loaded into his van, he calls me crying, "Thank you  on behalf of the people of Puerto Rico  thank you."

Why am I now working on my ninth plane of medical supplies for the island 33 days after the hurricane hit?

To be honest, I'm tired. We are all tired. This is not the job of volunteers or donors. These are American citizens who are suffering. This is the job of our government.

Most of San Juan has had power and water restored. Most of the rest of the island has not. We will continue to send medical relief for as long as is needed, but what is needed so that relief will no longer be needed is for critical infrastructure to be restored.

Dr. Jennifer McQuade is a physician-scientist with UT MD Anderson Cancer Center and founder of Medical Disaster Response Network.

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The Harris County Sheriff's Office is rounding up suspected and documented sexual predators to make the streets safer for Halloween trick-or-treaters.

The deputies on Monday and Tuesday arrested about 10 people and cleared a handful more warrants - a start on their goal to track down 55 unregistered sex offenders.

In partnership with the sheriff's office patrol unit and the Texas attorney general, the criminal warrants division also aims this week to arrest 90 people charged with sexual crimes, said Lt. Darren Chambers with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

To meet these twin goals, the agency this week assigned all 13 of the sheriff's deputies who work in the field serving criminal warrants for sex-related crimes.

The Halloween initiative began Monday and ends Friday.

At the forefront of the effort are Thom Smith and Don Bock, the sole sheriff's deputies assigned full-time, year-around to executing warrants related to sexual crimes.

Combined, the pair have more than 50 years on the force. They make about 50 arrests every month - a volume that outnumbers their peers, Chambers said.

The duo starts their days early.

By 5 a.m Tuesday, Smith and Bock had hit their first house, where they tracked down a man accused of two counts of sexual abuse of a child.

Three hours later, their peers nabbed an employee of a Chick-fil-A off of Beltway 8, near Aldine, who had been charged with two counts of sexually assaulting a child between 14 and 17 years old.

Things slowed down later in the morning. Smith and Bock, plus three state police, wound up at a nondescript office park off of the Southwest Freeway in an effort to find a man accused of possession of child pornography. That man was in New York on a business trip, said his manager, who did a double-take upon hearing the charges.

He'll be caught when he tries to board the airplane back home, Bock said as he exited the building.

A warrant for a different man with two counts of sexual assault and felony criminal mischief brought the pair of deputies to a ramshackle house in the Third Ward and led them on a fruitless chase across south Houston.

Hours later, the man's lawyers had the warrant retracted.

"Crap," Bock said, upon hearing the news over his cellphone.

Across town, another sheriff's team proved more successful. Deputies arrested a man in southeast Houston who had not registered as a convicted sex offender.

The criminal warrants division isn't tackling Halloween safety alone. As part of the initiative, patrol deputies are knocking on doors where registered sex offenders live to make sure their homes aren't decorated to attract trick-or-treaters.

In their half-dozen years serving warrants together, Smith and Bock have found some days they're luckier than others.

"A lot of our days are hit or miss," Smith said. "It's just the luck of the draw."
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WASHINGTON  With the White House on the cusp of a major deal to cut taxes, Texas Republican Kevin Brady said Wednesday that he can guarantee that every American will be "better off."

But he did not promise that every American will pay lower federal taxes under the GOP plan, being billed as the first major tax reform bill since President Ronald Reagan in 1986.

Speaking a day ahead of a critical House budget vote needed to pass a tax cut bill without Democratic support in the Senate, Brady said many of the details of the Republican tax cut plan remain to be worked out.

Brady did, however, promise that the tax benefits recently conferred on victims of the recent hurricanes in Texas, Florida and the Caribbean will stay in place, even if the Republican tax bill is made retroactive to 2017.

"That was passed in separate legislation," said Brady, a key player in tax legislation as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. "In no scenario will the hurricane disaster relief tax relief be impacted by tax reform."

In a wide-ranging breakfast meeting with Capitol reporters, Brady, a Republican from The Woodlands, also downplayed concerns that the GOP tax reform agenda could be hampered by the deepening feuds between Trump and several Republicans senators who in recent days have questioned his character as a national leader.

In the wake of the stinging criticism from Republican Sens. John McCain, Bob Corker and Jeff Flake, Brady said tax reform remains on track, with the aim of getting a major tax bill to Trump by the end of the year or early 2018.

"It would be a tough fight under any circumstance," Brady said. "I can tell you this. On tax reform, my relationship with President Trump has been excellent... For me, he's been incredibly helpful."

One potential stumbling block, however, could be Trump's insistence that the GOP plan will not diminish workers' ability to protect their earnings in 401(k) retirement plans, which reduce their taxes.

Along with Trump's rejection of an earlier Brady plan for a special tax on imports, that assurance would deny Republicans another needed source of revenue to offset their tax cuts. Brady made no promises: "We are continuing discussions with the president," Brady said.

Trump cast doubt on Brady's suggestion that a 401(k) deal is still up in the air. "Well, maybe it is, and maybe we'll use it as negotiating," Trump told reporters afterwards. "But trust me. That's one of the great things. You know, there are certain elements of deals you don't wanna negotiate with. 401(k)s  and Kevin knows it, and I think Kevin Brady is fantastic, but he knows how important 401(k)s are."

Brady acknowledged that many other details are still being worked out, including the future of the federal deduction for state and local taxes, a major sticking point for wealthy, Democratic-leaning states with high tax rates such as New York and California. Even some Republican lawmakers from those states have balked over eliminating the deduction.

Brady said a compromise deal may be in the offing. But it's a delicate balance. Repealing or limiting the deduction also would affect Texans who claim their state sales and property taxes in lieu of the absence of a state income tax.

On the other hand, retaining the state and local sales tax deduction would deny congressional Republicans a major offset for their proposed tax cuts.

Concerns about the popular deduction appear to have given Republican congressional leaders pause. House Speaker Paul Ryan, speaking at a Reuters Newsmakers event Wednesday, said, "I think there's a way of addressing the concerns that members have."

Democrats have charged that despite the Trump administration's promise of middle-class tax cuts, once the details are revealed millions of taxpayers could actually see their taxes go up under the GOP tax plan.

Some have cited studies showing that the plan could actually raise taxes on millions of Americans, including about 1.5 million Texas households.

"The GOP tax plan does nothing to reform the system, and instead offers a multi-trillion dollar giveaway to the wealthiest at the expense of the middle class Texans who can ill-afford it," said Houston Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee.

Brady allowed that for some tax filers there could be a "singular exception," but added most would benefit under the plan, which is expected to be rolled out in the next week.

"What I do know is that it flattens out the (tax) brackets and lowers them at every level," Brady said. "Lowering the rates on which people are taxed, protecting more of the first dollars they earn, means Americans will keep more of what they earn."

The GOP plan would also also lower the top corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent, end the estate tax, and eliminate the alternative minimum tax meant to ensure that the wealthy don't escape taxation through loopholes.

Democrats argue that the proposed tax cuts, which disproportionately favor the wealthy, will increase federal deficits and the national debt. Under a budget resolution just passed by the Senate, the Republican tax cuts would have room to increase deficits as much as $1.5 trillion over the next decade.

Brady discounted the assertion of growing deficits, arguing that tax cuts could unleash economic growth that produces more tax revenue.

"I believe that tax reform can move us toward a balanced budget, rather than away from it," he said. "Done right, tax reform can grow federal revenues."

Ryan, however, seemed to hedge is bets, saying, "We don't anticipate a big deficit effect from this tax reform."

Brady said one key element would be eliminating "special interest" loopholes in exchange for lower tax rates, as the Republican plan proposes.

But the exact credits and deductions often referred to as loopholes are still taking form. Brady said that negotiators also are working out the income levels that will fit into the GOP plan's newly compressed tax brackets. He also said he could not define what constitutes a "middle-class" taxpayers, saying it depends on where they live.

Democrats, and some Republicans, have decried the lack of detail this far into the tax reform process. "The Republicans want the public to know as little about the details of their sham as possible," said Austin's Lloyd Doggett, a top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee. "That's why they'll have it introduced next week, passed in committee the following week, forced onto this floor and into the Senate. The American people have to understand what is in it, and speak up, and say no."

Under the GOP tax plan, the federal tax code would drop from seven to three or four tax brackets for individual filers. Asked during the discussion sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor if the new scheme might put some taxpayers in a higher tax bracket, Brady demurred:

"In about a week you will be able to see the reforms proposed and where we're heading with them."
AUSTIN  House Speaker Joe Straus will not run again to lead the chamber, leaving the powerful leadership seat up for grabs in 2019.

Buzz also broke out immediately about whether Straus is done seeking office -- or might be on the verge of running statewide, perhaps for governor or lieutenant governor.

Straus did not rule out running for governor, saying he's "not one to close doors." He said supporters have urged him to run for a higher office.

But he said said he would "highly doubt" he would appear on the ballot in 2018. He said he does not "have a plan today" to run for governor.

Straus said running a chamber of 150 members is "inhibiting" and said he looks forward to being more vocal and engaged on issues he thinks matter to Texans, including pushing back against ideas he said are bad for businesses here.

In a letter to supporters, Straus said he will not run for reelection to the House next year, giving up his north San Antonio seat.

Straus encountered much turbulence in this year's legislative session, frequently butting heads with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and a conservative caucus in his chamber over social issues like which bathrooms transgender people can use.

"Joe Straus has served with distinction for both the people in his district and for the Texas House of Representatives," Abbott said in a statement. "I thank Speaker Straus for his service and for his commitment to the State of Texas."

Patrick, one of Straus' harshest critics, thanked the speaker for his service and added, "any man who enters the arena deserves respect."

Also out is a top Straus lieutenant in the House, Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, who chairs the state affairs committee.

"It is an honor to represent the families of Anderson, Freestone, Hill, and Navarro Counties in the Texas House of Representatives," Cook said in a statement published by The Quorum Report. "However, I will not seek a 9th term in the upcoming March 2018 Republican primary for the Texas House of Representatives. Instead, I will pursue other opportunities to serve our great state."

Straus posted a statement on Facebook explaining his decision.

"Just as my ascension to the Speaker's office was unconventional and my approach to governing is unusual in these divisive times, I know this is also an unexpected decision," Straus said. "It's been decades since someone has left the Speaker's office on his own terms. But we have accomplished what I had hoped the House would accomplish when I first entered this office, and I am increasingly eager to contribute to our state in new and different ways."

Straus went on to say, "I believe that in a representative democracy, those who serve in public office should do so for a time, not for a lifetime." He added he will "continue to work for a Republican Party that tries to bring Texans together instead of us pulling us apart."

Within hours, Straus ally Rep. John Zerwas, a Richmond Republican, announced he is running for speaker. Also running is Rep. Phil King, a Republican from Weatherford.

News of Straus' eventual departure was met with applause by his critics, including Michael Quinn Sullivan, who leads Empower Texans, a conservative group critical of the speaker.

"Breaking - #txlege House @SpeakerStraus is OUT! Good day for Texas, but now we have to fight harder to make sure his cronies don't keep it, Sullivan said on Twitter.

The news came as a surprise after the speaker had said at the end of this year's legislative session he planned to run again for the leadership post. Last month, he said of people bucking him for the gavel, "bring it."

Conservatives immediately hailed it as an opportunity for them to push even harder for passage of some of their key proposals, including a bathroom bill, that had died in the House.

Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, praised Straus' leadership.

"His deliberative approach to public policy will be truly missed, as will the inclusive manner in which he ran the House," he said. "Under Speaker Straus, the House led the way on a number of bipartisan accomplishments, including public school accountability reform, water infrastructure and mental health access."

Turner said Democrats will have their say in electing the next speaker.

"As past speakers have been, the next speaker will be elected only with bipartisan support. When the full House votes on a new Speaker in January 2019, members of the House Democratic Caucus will support a member who has demonstrated he or she will focus on real solutions for all Texans, not on narrow, divisive, partisan interests," Turner said.

Andrea Zelinski covers politics and the courts for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Send her tips at andrea.zelinski@chron.com.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I moved to a new neighborhood a few months ago, and I am getting to know some of the people who live nearby. I learned that there is a women's group that gets together once a month for drinks or dinner. In theory, it's really nice. The thing is, I don't like a couple of the women. They are very catty and sit in the corner and talk about people -- or worse, they talk about people out in the open -- when the people in question are not there. How can I befriend some of the other women without condoning that behavior? I don't want to be a bystander and allow that kind of talk to go on in my presence. -- Fitting In, Scarsdale, New York

DEAR FITTING IN: Chances are, you cannot change the behavior of an established group. You can choose which women you like and want to get to know. You can either invite them to spend time with you separately or align yourself with them when you are at the group gatherings. When you notice that the gossipy women are revving up, if you are sitting near them you can quietly ask them to tone it down, saying it bothers you when people talk about other people. Or you can leave.

If you decide you want to remain part of the group, you may try to become part of the leadership, if such a role exists, so that you can then work with the group to implement boundaries around gossip and name-calling. You have to decide if this is a fight you want to wage.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have an exercise buddy who is great for keeping me motivated to get up and work out, but she is pretty brash. She curses a lot and always finds fault with people. I don't like that part at all. I like to start my day peacefully. I'm not sure what to do. On one hand, I have been losing weight and doing well with my workouts, which has never happened before. The downside is that I have to listen to her nonstop banter. Do you think it's worth it? -- Too Much Negativity, Austin, Texas

DEAR TOO MUCH NEGATIVITY: I understand the value of having a buddy to keep you motivated in your workout routine. You have made great strides, which is to be commended. But your state of mind is equally important for your overall well-being.

For the long haul, you should think about how you want to organize your fitness routine. Begin to wean yourself off a daily grind with this woman. You can tell her you want to spend some days in silence during your workout, so you want to go it alone sometimes. You have the full authority to manage your life, including your fitness profile. It may be difficult for you to distance yourself from her at first, but you can do it.

You can also tell her it is hard for you to listen to her judge people and speak negatively all the time. Describe how you like to start your day. You may be able to inspire her to consider another way of looking at the world.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am about to get married, and my fiance and I have come to an impasse over something that I don't think is such a big deal. I grew up in a household where everybody had chores, but we also had a housekeeper who came once a week to do heavy cleaning. It was so helpful having Mrs. Lancaster with us. She became part of the family. I want the same thing for my new home. Of course, both of us should do chores, but I believe having extra help will ensure we keep everything organized and clean. My husband thinks this is excessive and a waste of money. He grew up in a household where no extra help was ever there. They couldn't afford it. We can. Plus, I work 80 hours a week usually. I need the help. How can I get my fiance to see that? -- Clean Up, Rochester, New York

DEAR CLEAN UP: This is one of many value-driven conversations you must have with your fiance to determine whether the two of you can compromise when needed to build your life together. While it may sound cliched, it is the little things in a marriage that help to make your bond stronger or erode it entirely.

Since your husband-to-be does not see the need for a housekeeper, a compromise might be to have someone come in once a month in the beginning. Suggest this as an acknowledgment that you know he doesn't see eye to eye with you on this point but that you know you need help in order to keep your home in the manner you believe appropriate.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My son is applying for college, and he is required to write several essays. The ones we have seen thus far are not good at all. It looks like he has been rushing through them. He hasn't gotten particularly good grades on them. I have offered to edit his work to help boost his writing, but he wants to do it by himself. I like that in theory, but I'm shocked he hasn't become a stronger writer yet. With the essays he has shown me thus far, I don't think he is going to get into a good school. How can I support him? -- Need a Boost, Boston

DEAR NEED A BOOST: It is often difficult for parents to serve as tutors for their children. Tempers can flare quickly, and judgments abound. You and your son would do better if you hired a writing tutor to support him. There are many companies that offer this service, specifically for helping students write their essays for high school and college admission. Interview several of these services to find the best fit for you. One small company that has a good reputation is Write for the Future. You can reach them at writeforthefuture.com. A much larger company that people recommend is Kaplan at kaptest.com.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've been dating a man who is the quintessential nice guy. He calls me a lot. He asks me out on dates every weekend. He has great manners.

On paper, he is everything a girl could want. The problem is, I am bored out of my mind. He is so predictable. I understand this should be great, but I want to have my guy make things exciting, at least a little.

I tried to light the spark by suggesting different kinds of dates, but he is clear about what he wants to do, when the date begins and when it ends. I am spontaneous, at least a bit, and he doesn't seem to have room for that.

I know we aren't a perfectly matched couple, but I do like him. How can I get him to think more collaboratively? It is nice to have company, so I don't want to push him away. -- Rev Him Up, White Plains, New York

DEAR REV HIM UP: Ask yourself if nice is enough. It doesn't sound like it to me. If you want more, be willing to ask for more. Be honest. Tell him you want to mix things up a bit. Ask him to consider being more collaborative. Think about trying to get closer to him rather than pushing him away. Say as much to him.

Now is the time to get to know him better. He may be cautious about what you do on dates because he is watching his budget. Suggest free or affordable activities that are fun, like apple picking or hiking around a lake and bringing a bag lunch.

If he doesn't budge for any new idea, rethink whether he's your guy. You deserve a date who is willing to consider your ideas too.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've been dating a man who is the quintessential nice guy. He calls me a lot. He asks me out on dates every weekend. He has great manners.

On paper, he is everything a girl could want. The problem is, I am bored out of my mind. He is so predictable. I understand this should be great, but I want to have my guy make things exciting, at least a little.

I tried to light the spark by suggesting different kinds of dates, but he is clear about what he wants to do, when the date begins and when it ends. I am spontaneous, at least a bit, and he doesn't seem to have room for that.

I know we aren't a perfectly matched couple, but I do like him. How can I get him to think more collaboratively? It is nice to have company, so I don't want to push him away. -- Rev Him Up, White Plains, New York

DEAR REV HIM UP: Ask yourself if nice is enough. It doesn't sound like it to me. If you want more, be willing to ask for more. Be honest. Tell him you want to mix things up a bit. Ask him to consider being more collaborative. Think about trying to get closer to him rather than pushing him away. Say as much to him.

Now is the time to get to know him better. He may be cautious about what you do on dates because he is watching his budget. Suggest free or affordable activities that are fun, like apple picking or hiking around a lake and bringing a bag lunch.

If he doesn't budge for any new idea, rethink whether he's your guy. You deserve a date who is willing to consider your ideas too.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I feel like the luckiest man in the world when I look back and I see how good my wife has been to me. When I was younger, I played the field, and she never left me. We got married young, and I sowed my oats even after we got married.

I'm not proud of my indiscretions, but I do want to do something for my wife to celebrate her and our marriage. I had surgery recently, and she has been way better than a nurse to me. How can I show her my appreciation now? -- Filled With Gratitude, Los Angeles

DEAR FILLED WITH GRATITUDE: Start by telling your wife on a regular basis how much you love and appreciate her. Notice the little things she does and comment on them. Think about what she loves to do, and plan a special occasion to give that to her. It could be taking a trip or going to the museum or a play. It could be watching a chick flick or taking a walk. Tap into what makes your wife smile, and offer that to her every day. Paying attention to her needs and desires will show her your appreciation.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I feel so lucky we were able to get my son into a private school that offers all the courses that interest him. This is a blessing, considering my husband and I cannot afford to pay the hefty tuition. We received a scholarship that allows my son to attend.

What has become difficult is many of the kids have a lot more money and things than my son. That is to be expected, but practically speaking, it is hard to manage. I don't want my son to feel "less than," but am unsure what to do to support my son and manage his expectations. -- Looking In, Washington

DEAR LOOKING IN: Your son is getting to see how wealthy people live. Consider that a good thing. The more he learns about the dynamics of the world, the better off he will be. Will he lust for things he doesn't have? Probably. But that's part of our commercial culture, isn't it?

What you must do is remind him of your family values and teach him it's OK he doesn't have all the things that some of his friends do. What he is getting is a top-notch education. This includes access to see what money can and cannot bring you.

Suggest that he observe everything happening in his world. He will discover what types of jobs afford certain luxuries, the value of connections and relationships, the priceless value of honesty and respect, and the downside of excess. Encourage him to choose friends who share his beliefs, regardless of how much money or how many things they have.

Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106
The tribunes are sounding. Nine months into the current administration, serious members of President Donald Trump's party are beginning to raise alarms about the man who occupies the White House. For the good of the nation, all of us, particularly Republicans at all levels of government, must pay heed.

On Tuesday, it was U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, the Arizona Republican, who concluded there is no place for a traditional conservative in the Republican Party and who announced that he will not seek reelection. He joins U.S. Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, also not seeking reelection and also warning for weeks now that Donald Trump is a danger to the Republic.

Add those words of caution to the grave observations of our fellow Texan, former President George W. Bush, and those of another Arizonan, U.S. Sen. John McCain, an old warhorse, mortally ill and fighting to the very end for the good of the nation he loves. Conservatives all, they are responding to a political and moral duty to speak up, to speak out.

Here is Flake on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday: "Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior has become excused and countenanced as 'telling it like it is,' when it is actually just reckless, outrageous and undignified.

"And when such behavior emanates from the top of our government, it is something else: It is dangerous to a democracy. Such behavior does not project strength - because our strength comes from our values. It instead projects a corruption of the spirit, and weakness."

Corker, the man who memorably described the Trump White House a few day ago as "an adult daycare center" and who has warned that Trump's volatility could set the United States on a "path to World War III," said this on Tuesday: "For young people to be watching, not only here in our country, but around the world, someone of this mentality as president of the United States is something that is I think debasing to our country. You would think he would aspire to be the president of the United States and act like a president of the United States. But that's just not going to be the case, apparently."

The senator's warning followed on the heels of Bush's admonition, who, without naming names, left no doubt about his target. "Bigotry seems emboldened," he said. "Our politics seems more vulnerable to conspiracy theories and outright fabrication. [...] And we know that when we lose sight of our ideals, it is not democracy that has failed. It is the failure of those charged with preserving and protecting democracy."

What these men are saying goes deeper than an internecine feud between conservatism and radicalism within the Republican Party (though it is that). It is an existential moment that speaks to the direction of the party, to be sure, but also to the direction of this nation. As the traditional Republican Party devolves with Trump's encouragement into the nationalistic, nativist party of Stephen K. Bannon, Stephen Miller and Roy Moore, we call on John Cornyn, Ted Cruz and other Texas Republicans to look to their consciences. Consider the good of the nation, not merely your own party. You and your fellow Republicans must not allow Trump's behavior to be "the new normal," to use Flake's words.

Democrats need to use whatever diminished power they have to resist, to offer a clear and compelling alternative to "the debasement of our nation" (Corker's words). And voters, please, whether you're Republican, Democratic or independent, you must take the next election seriously. Political nihilism and countenancing political chaos have done enough damage.

"We live in a land made of ideals, not blood and soil," McCain said last week, his voice as weak and reedy as his spirit remains strong. "We are the custodians of those ideals at home, and their champion abroad."

Are we? With three long years to go, that's the unsettling question this White House forces all of us to ask. And answer.
Free speech is under assault on college campuses across the country. The latest incident occurred at Texas Southern University, where I experienced this problem firsthand. On Oct. 9, I was just about to deliver remarks to a group of law students at TSU when an angry group of protesters stormed in and shouted me down.

I did not even have a chance to say a word because the protesters drowned me out by screaming that I did not deserve a platform to speak at all. I patiently waited until they either left on their own volition or were escorted out by campus security. I tried to say that I would happily answer every question posed by everyone in the room, but they were not interested in a discussion.

Once the protesters were mostly gone, I tried again to deliver my remarks when the president of TSU, Austin Lane, entered the room, strode to the podium, and took charge of the microphone. He called the protesters back in and informed them and the rest of the crowd that he was canceling my speech.

Lane said, contrary to the truth, that the event had not gone through the proper university approvals process. As TSU law school dean James Douglas has publicly stated, students at the law school did go through the proper approval process for the law school, and Douglas himself approved the event.

The law school promoted the event electronically and on campus flyers, and even helped the students reserve the best room in the law school. Upon arriving I was given a parking pass by the law school, and have multiple email confirmations that the event was pre-approved. This was a student-organized event, was planned weeks in advance, and was hosted by the law school's chapter of the Federalist Society, a registered student group at the law school.

Despite all of these facts, Lane showed up and abruptly ended the event, to the dismay of the students who had come to listen to my speech. It has become more clear why Lane decided to join the protesters in denying me the right to speak, and denying the students the right to hear my speech, both of which are unconstitutional acts.

My legal team has uncovered facts that indicate that Lane's actions were willful, deliberate and meant to silence me because of my political beliefs. As a state university, funded by taxpayer dollars, he and TSU do not have the right to stifle my speech, nor that of others.

This is why I have decided to move forward with legal action against Lane and TSU, on First Amendment grounds. My legal team will argue that a public university and its president can not and should not take actions that violate the First Amendment protection of free speech.

Universities should be places where the free exchange of ideas should not only be tolerated but encouraged and protected. Instead, Lane and TSU decided to make it clear that they believe they have the power to prevent people who they might disagree with from having a platform at TSU.

Their actions have created a chilling effect that is just as harmful as the actual silencing of my speech.

It saddens me that we have to take such an action in 21st century America, and on a college campus of all places. But unfortunately it is clear that if we do not take legal action, Lane, TSU and other universities around the state and country could continue down this path of silencing those they disagree with. Such actions are inimical to freedom and to preserving America as a republic built on the rule of law, and the rights of man.

Cain, R-Deer Park, represents Texas House District 128, which includes voters from La Porte, Baytown, portions of Pasadena, Highlands, McNair, Morgan's Point and parts of Crosby.
As Ive said many times in the past, my job allows me to meet many interesting people.

Last Saturday, I had another one of those opportunities and came away thoroughly impressed. This time the fascinating subjects were members of an Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter crew based in Salem, including pilot Gordon Vandivort (a Houston native who now lives in Richland) and emergency medical technicians Jamie Dunn (of St. Clair) and Teresa Click (of Sullivan.

I spent close to an hour hanging out and talking with them, as they graciously showed off their aircraft and discussed their duties with numerous inquisitive adults and kids who stopped by. Before they lifted off, I learned a great deal about what its like to do what they do.

I also learned that before they get to do it, they must have a whole lot of prior experience. When Dunn told me pilots need at least 2,000 hours before getting on with Air Evac, I said, where the heck does someone get that kind of time in a helicopter cockpit?

Her answer was rather obvious once I heard it.

Mostly military duty, she said. We get an occasional tour guide from Arizona or somewhere, and there was a man who ran a crop dusting business and owned his own aircraft, but 95-percent or more of them come from the military.

Like Vandivort. He said he had more than 5,000 hours flying a Blackhawk. Wow, 5,000 hours.

You must have some stories, I said.

Maybe a few, he said.

Dunn told a story about a non-military pilot who had a hard time when he landed at the scene of a bad one.

He couldnt take it, she said. He was like, Im out, and he quit.

Having been witness to a couple of bad ones, I can understand that. I can also understand why that makes military veterans even more suited for the job.

Dunn has been an airborne EMT for more than four years. She said she still works part time for a ground ambulance outfit, but sometimes feels limited by the resources at her disposal in that role.

An Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter crew from the Salem base stands next to their aircraft just before lifting off from the Raymondville Fairgrounds last Saturday during the fourth annual Festival of Yesteryear. From left, EMS personnel Jamie Dunn (of St. Clair), Teresa Click (of Sullivan) and pilot Gordon Vandivort (a Houston native who now lives in Richland).

We have more tools with us in the helicopter, she said, but we have to. But sometimes Ill find myself wishing I had something with me on the ground that were not authorized to have on hand.

Dunn pointed out that ground crews arent really stifled, its just that getting used to having more available resources and then working without as much can be a bit challenging. But medical chopper crews have earned the clearance to carry additional tools; basically, they rank higher.

Click said she had been with the Salem crew for about four months and is still learning the ropes, so to speak. She said she can already tell shes in for many exciting moments.

And these people Im around are as good as it gets, she said.

I got that same feeling. I dont know who does the hiring for Air Evac and what the specific criteria are for getting on with the company, but I do know this trio from the Salem base knows what theyre doing. I felt like anyone unfortunate enough to be strapped into the aircrafts single horizontal transport bed is at least in very, very good hands.

But more importantly, I learned that these are folks who are not only good at what they do, but sincerely love doing it.

You cant do this and not love it, Dunn said. Someone who didnt love this wouldnt be right for it and wouldnt be good at it.

Id say thats a good thing. Especially for people who are picked up for a ride.

Doug Davison is a writer, photographer and newsroom assistant for the Houston Herald.

Email: ddavison@houstonherald.com.
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Today, the leading global campaign to end the cruelty of animal testing for cosmetics  #BeCrueltyFree  launched in Chile at a media event hosted by NGO Te Protejo and Humane Society International. #BeCrueltyFree Chile features support from a cross-party group of Chilean lawmakers, together with artists, musicians, actors and TV hosts, and leading cruelty-free beauty brand LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics. #BeCrueltyFree Chile is calling on federal lawmakers to join with nearly 40 other countries that have already banned the use of animals in cosmetic testing by enacting similar measures contained in the bipartisan federal bill No10514-11.

In 2016, the bipartisan group PARDA (Parlamentarios por la dignidad animal en Chile) introduced bill No10514-11 to modify the Health Code to prohibit the use of animals in toxicity testing of cosmetic products or their individual ingredients in Chile, as well as the sale of cosmetics that been tested on animals abroad after the law change takes effect. PARDA general coordinator, Deputy Vlado Mirosevic, said: I celebrate and thank #BeCrueltyFree Chile for pushing this pro animal cause, which we in Congress have also promoted, although still with little success. I hope that with the support of civil society this will be possible.

Chile is the second largest cosmetics market in South America, and a critical player in the global movement toward a cruelty-free model in the beauty industry. Already more than 600 successful beauty brands on sale in the Americas have made a cruelty-free commitment, and are able to produce new, safe and profitable cosmetics. They do so by choosing from among thousands of widely available raw ingredients that are known to be safe, instead of purchasing newly developed chemicals that will also have been newly animal-tested. Te Protejo publishes a list of cruelty-free brands available in Chile at teprotejo.cl and via the free app #ViveCrueltyFree.

Camila Cortinez, general director of NGO Te Protejo and spokesperson for #BeCrueltyFree Chile, said: In Chile it remains perfectly legal for cosmetic chemicals to be dripped into rabbits eyes and spread on their delicate skin, all for the sake of a new lipstick and skin cream. Yet Chilean consumers are increasingly demanding beauty products that are free of animal cruelty. Approving this law is a great step for our country, as it places us at the same level as the European Union in the market for cosmetics and personal care products. The public can support this bill by signing our petition at becrueltyfreechile.org and help us demonstrate to the government that animal testing for cosmetic products is unnecessary and should be banned.

Sign the Global Pledge to Be Cruelty-Free.

Facts:

Chilean law does not currently regulate animal testing for cosmetics. In 2016, the Institute of Public Health sold 235,510 animals for laboratory testing, of which an unknown number were used in tests for the cosmetic industry.

Animal testing for cosmetics has been fully or partially banned in 37 countries, including the European Union, Norway, Switzerland, Israel, India, New Zealand, South Korea, Turkey, Taiwan, Guatemala, and five states in Brazil.

Chilean celebrities supporting the launch of #BeCrueltyFree Chile include Pedro Engel (TV host), Antonella Rios (actress), Neptune Keller (vegan trans artist), Mariana Montenegro (lead singer in Denver), Jennifer Boldt (TV host and singer), Elvira Cristi (actress), Paloma Jimenez (model and photograph), Polo Ramirez (TV journalist) and Tabatha Pacer (TV host). Photos of the celebs sporting #BeCrueltyFree t-shirts are available online.

Media contact: Nicole Valdebenito, +56 9 8937 6741, nicole@teprotejo.cl
A major 'public interest' scoop?

It hasn't been an easy few days for the UK's police service. The Sun led the way by publishing pictures of Humberside police enjoying themselves on dodgems at the conclusion of a major fair in the city of Hull. The fact that police jumping on dodgems at the end of an event they'd been policing has been a tradition over decades clearly passed the Sun by as it did other media outlets who gleefully pounced on the story.

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The issue divided the normally united police social media community. Some felt that indulging in such activities were demeaning and undignified while others felt that showing a support for community issues and events was worthwhile. However there was a general consensus that these 'stunts' gave ammunition to those in the media whose mission appears to be to heap bile on a beleaguered police service.

I think I have to confess that as a retired officer I was, until the 'blue nails' story appeared, totally unaware that some workers in nail bars were trafficked slave workers. I am now.

To have officers tottering around Cardiff in high heels is perhaps more problematic especially in the event of them having to be called into action.Yet closer examination reveals that this was the fourth year of an annual 'white ribbon' event to highlight domestic violence which included men from a variety of occupations including police. The two 'bears' were at a community tea event in Nuneaton.

Justifiable concerns

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Crime Figures and Stunts

Of course, revelations concerning these 'stunts' came amidst the publication of crime figures which saw dramatic increases especially in violent crime. The 'stunts' of course whether desirable or demeaning would only take a tiny fraction of an individual officer's time for that day yet, with a predictable certainty, they were linked to the crime rise rather than the loss of 20,000 police officers plus thousands of PCSO's and 'backroom' staff.

Interesting too that the Daily Mail linked the above headline to criticism of police by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary that they failed to pursue human trafficking/slavery crime networks. Yet in an earlier Mail online article police were criticised in respect of being too lenient towards cannabis growers; one of the criticisms being;

Nuneaton: Praise where praise is due?

Interestingly, Sunday saw a dramatic event in Nuneaton where a male armed with a shotgun allegedly took two hostages at a bowling alley; ironically this area is policed by the same Warwickshire force whose officers were roundly criticised for the Nuneaton 'bear mask' incident and indeed it was officers from that force who brought a dangerous incident to a successful conclusion thanks to the professionalism and bravery of its officers. Yet in most newspaper reports there were facts but no praise. It wasn't mentioned at all in Monday's Daily Mail editorial which linked 'politically correct stunts' with the rise in crime.

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Mocking criticism and ridicule: Keep calm and carry on.

Of course, as sections of the media search for stories which criticise and ridicule police, everyday police work continues. Officers, countless times a day will perform heroically, compassionately and professionally when confronting the most horrendous of situations. Only rarely will these actions be propelled into the public domain.
The issue of the way controversial political issues impact on teaching at Universities hit the headlines with the (to say the least) awkward request of Chris Heaton-Harris, Conservative MP for Daventry, to Universities to declare what they are teaching their students about Brexit and to provide a list of those involved in doing so.

The media furore that erupted made me think. Unlike my colleagues however, I haven't been thinking about academic freedom, outraged at the inappropriateness (and questionable legality) of this request. As an academic, I have been thinking about how my political views colour my teaching, what this means for my students, and whether it is the job of the government to be concerned about any of this. I am thankful for the opportunity to address this in a serious manner.

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To be fair to Mr Heaton-Harris, I am probably exactly the sort of person he is worried about lecturing on Brexit. I am a European, a Remain campaigner and a very vocal opponent of most things Tory. To make matters worse (one could argue) I am a lawyer, teaching on Financial Regulation, Banking and Business Law, all areas hugely impacted by Brexit.

How do my politics colour my teaching? The first ingredient of successful teaching is being able to communicate ideas and knowledge to the students. In order to do this, one needs to be passionate about their subject, but also knowledgeable about the wider context within which their substantive expertise resides. This context is very often (especially in the case of legal studies) political. My job as a teacher is not to be a cheerleader for any political manifesto. My job is to analyse and critique. How can I debate the consequences of the potential loss of financial passporting with my students and not reveal my personal conviction (borne out of research and scholarship) that this is a terrible calamity for the financial industry? How can I encourage my students to examine and critique the core issues that affect the employment market in which they will emerge without highlighting the dangers that Brexit poses to them, personally and professionally?

Am I subconsciously trying to turn my students against Brexit? Does Mr Heaton-Harris and those who have come out in his support have a point? Are there hordes of bearded lefty academics poisoning young minds against what the Tories perceive to be a national effort? Should there be an attempt to balance opinions in teaching, as our friends across the Atlantic have been suggesting? Trumpian America does indeed bear similarities to Brexit Britain, one of which is concern about hipster academics conspiring to turn the young against the current teams in power. I see why Mr Heaton-Harris and his colleagues find this a reason to fret. But, there is a solution, a much simpler one than lists and documents. The solution is honesty. Being upfront about one's beliefs sets the stage from the word go, it allows the material to disentangle itself from the person of the presenter. It lays the truth bare, open to dissection.

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I start my classes by declaring my affiliations, background and beliefs to the extent that they touch upon the subject of the day. I offer my students a range of literature, admit which works I agree with and encourage students to disagree with me, to prove me wrong. The task I have set my Banking students is to discuss a post 'passport' future for the City. Believing that it will not be rosy, does not prevent me from encouraging others to reach their own conclusions. Mr Heaton-Harris ought not to worry about me and my colleagues poisoning minds against Brexit.

And there is another reason why all this is not a concern. Tory policies have effectively privatised our universities. Our fee paying students support us. We do not answer to our former paymaster (the state), we answer to our 'customers'. Tory policies have ensured that those eligible to vote for Mr Heaton-Harris have all but disappeared from the majority of our classes. Most of my students are from overseas, engaged in a brief spell in London combining high level study with a bit of, I guess, Brexit disaster tourism. The minds of young British voters will mostly go unspoiled by university education in general, never mind Remainer propaganda, thanks to the efforts of Mr Heaton-Harris and his colleagues on the government benches.

The best antidote to bias and politicisation is study and reflection, not lists and suppression. I am not seriously threatened by suggestions of McCarthyism. The survival of my institution, the prospects of my students, the rights of my colleagues are imperiled by Brexit in more immediate ways than government gag orders and threats.
On October 19th 2017, I handed in my new book, How To Be Human: The Manual, to the publishers at Penguin. The agony of writing a book is not dissimilar to having a baby. Not that I ever pushed out a baby (I am of the Caesarean clan - I do not believe in any pain when modern surgery can do it for me. Though, I did have one contraction once before I screamed 'give me the drugs now!', so I can imagine how bad it gets).

While you're pregnant with a book life can be almost blissful because you can shut yourself into your own world and flow. You can let go of distractions like cleaning your house or meeting people you don't really like, because you are 'writing your book' and that's the best excuse you'll ever have to cancel everything. When I was writing while I was on tour I'd spread out my books and notes and turn that seat into an office as soon as I got on the train. People didn't even want to sit next to me because I'd make them hold my books open and ask them how to spell certain words. They'd all move away so I had an empty four seats and table even during rush hour. I could look up and notice the odd cow whenever I needed a rest. Often, I missed my station because of a riveting piece of information delved out of my portable library, that I wheeled around the country in my suitcase. I'd often arrive at the theatres still writing up to walking onto the stage.

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Each chapter of this new book ends with a discussion between a monk - Thubten, and a neuroscientist - Ash. We could make each other hysterical; not only are they brilliant people but also hilarious. I'd sometimes tell the monk to stop being so Buddhist, it was enough already. And he'd tell me "Suck it up, this is 2,000 years of wisdom". He used to meditate around my house in those orange robes. Sometimes I'd trip over him thinking he was a fire hydrant. We even went to Cape Town together to write some of the book. It was important to not get too cold when writing about consciousness. And we'd go to hotels to have tea with scones while writing about who humans really are. It was quite civilized, if not indulgent.

Toward the end all I was doing was re-reading the book hundreds of times, mostly to make it funnier when needed and to count just how many words I had left to write. I remember seeing I had written 456 words, and subtracting that from 65,000 (how many I was supposed to write), on the first day. Aside from not being able to spell, I can't count. I wrote the book in chapters so had to add all of them up to get a total. Even using a calculator every day my totals were different sometimes by 10,000 words. Towards the end you start pushing so you're doing twelve hours a day for days (the pushing takes longer with a book). Then the editor at Penquin takes it away and does her edit on it. Then I got it back and had to take out most of her edits because she uses grammar and I don't, so I have to make it bad English again like how I talk. Then we all read it a hundred more times and nitpicked our way toward the deadline. So, yesterday the baby was finally handed over for the last time. I wanted to put the 262 pages in swaddling but we only had a paper bag to hand it over in to the publisher, Venetia Butterfield, for her to nurture and put in a nice cover.

I'm now in mourning so I'm writing this blog to feel the keys beneath my fingers once again. The womb is empty I have nothing left to say. It's officially born to the public January 25th. Then I will push that baby like a showbiz mother to to make sure it not just lives but sells like f..k.

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If you want to be the first to know more about Ruby's new book, How To Be Human: The Manual, is published, as well as exclusive news, special offers and other things that might be useful to you, just tell Ruby where to get in touch.

Ruby is on tour in the UK and Ireland this autumn 2017 with her #Frazzled Show. Tickets are still available - book quick. Dates have also just been announced for Spring 2018!
''Freedom! that's what I like about living in Britain,'' says Salaam Al Farrah as she flicks some paint onto the canvas at a special migration art workshop for women held at the Library of Birmingham.

''Being at this workshop is important for me because I'm meeting people I would not usually meet. It's difficult to meet people and socialise especially as a refugee,'' she explained.

Salaam, like many other Syrian refugee women in the UK, fled her hometown of Homs to escape the ongoing conflict and has been living in the UK for two years.

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''There was fighting and snipers in our street. I saw many people injured, the bombing caused a lot of devastation, buildings were destroyed and we could not go out of our homes,'' she said while trying to hold back the tears.

According to recent local newspaper reports around 500 Syrian refugees are being accepted in Birmingham, those newly arrived are still struggling to integrate.

While Birmingham is a city which prides itself on diversity hosting many different migrant communities for decades, recent events such as Brexit and terrorist attacks have seen a rise in hate crimes across the city and the West Midlands region. More than 100 hate crimes were reported to West Midlands police in the week following the EU referendum, reports said.

Unlike male migrants, women are more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse and need specific support to help them resettle in a new environment, according to the United Nations Migration Agency, IOM, which supports migrants.

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Female migrants, bring enormous benefit to the UK, according to the IOM's London office. Whether they be Somali women working in the service and food industry in Birmingham, or Afghan and Pakistani women working to keep hospitals clean and functioning in London, or cutting edge female scientists at our top universities like Oxford and Cambridge.

At the creative workshop in Birmingham a group of 25 women paint their thoughts on what being British means to them. There were images of birds in relation to freedom, traditional British associations such as the English Rose and the flag, as well as creations related to protection of human rights.

''Integration is key in creating peaceful societies, in preventing hate crimes and ultimately prevents extremism," Humanitarian Artist and workshop organiser, Salma Zulfiqar said. As part of her migration project creative workshops are taking place in Birmingham to bring people from all walks of life together to break down barriers between them and create greater understanding in communities.

''We live in a world where hatred in increasing and we know that art has the power to change the way people behave with one another. That's why I've created this migration project to show the positive impact migrants have had around the world and to promote integration of migrants,' she added.

The idea behind the workshop, supported by the IOM, the Amirah Foundation and Nasir Awan, the Deputy Leutenant for the West Midlands, is for the women to deepen their connection with the UK and share experiences of integration with each other to create deeper connections.

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''With these kind of activities we can help female migrants turn their lives around,'' said Shaz Manir, Director of the Amir Foundation.

Other participants, including Mariam Khalique, the long term teacher of Malala Yousafzai, who fled the Taliban and now lives in the UK, said that opportunities need to be available for women to be able to connect with others so they can fully integrate.
The City Council is now down one with the resignation of Ronald Boucher, who moved to Clarksburg.

Cariddi Leaves More Largesse to North Adams Library



Councilor Eric Buddington gives a rundown on the state of the internet in North Adams and some ideas for making it better. NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The City Council on Tuesday accepted an unknown amount of money left by late state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi for the North Adams Public Library.

Cariddi, who died at age 63 in June, named the library as a beneficiary under an insurance policy and apparently left cash benefits in her will.

I want to acknowledge with great thanks Gail's commitment to our library and our community," Mayor Richard Alcombright read from his communique to the council. "This gift further ensures Gail's legacy of generosity and goodwill."

The library trustees voted to accept the funds on Oct. 11; with the council's approval, the funds would be established in a separate account for use for library programs, maintenance and operations. But no one knows how much that bequest totals.

"We don't know what it is and we can't know until we have accepted the gift," the mayor explained. "I don't know if it's by order of the will, or order of the policy, but in all respects the solicitor has poured through to develop the order as presented."

Cariddi served on the City Council for two decades before being elected representative for the 1st Berkshire District in 2010. The library has already received other legacies, including $7,465.47 in July from the representative's credit union account to put toward astronomy programs and memorial donations.

"Gail left two retirement accounts to the library and one was for a certain amount and we've received a check already," Library Director Mindy Hackner said. "This second one, which comes from the state retirement [fund], they won't release any information on it until you decide to accept the gift. Apparently there's some legal reason they won't do that."

Responding to a query by Counselor Wayne Wilkinson, Hackner said there were no restrictions on the funds.

The library was also apprised that Cariddi had left the institution something from her final estate, but again, that bequest is not yet known.

"None of these gifts will be expended quickly," Hackner said in response to a question from Councilor Keith Bona. "It's going to take some time to decide what to do with them. There's $8,700 and some odd dollars for astronomy."

The council also was provided some information on the operations of the Water Treatment Plant as requested by Councilor Eric Buddington. The city has twice been cited for compliance violations in the last few months. The first was for lab delays in reporting three failed tests to the state; the three areas were retested immediately and no evidence of coliform bacteria found. The second was for failure to use soda ash treatments to adjust the water's pH and prevent corrision in the pipes.

The mayor reported that the filtration plant is monitored daily through the use of technology, including for pH, turbidity, particulates and other factors. Reports are sent monthly to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Twenty random sites are tested coliform around the city, both private and public, and the water is checked regularly and at entry points for contaminants and byproducts.

The two water technicians are certified, one at Level 3 and the other at Level 2, he said, and the plant's management structure has been approved by DEP.

"We're in a good place, our water is good," the mayor said. "Everything we do that I've just read is as required by the DEP. So we're meeting all those standards."

Commissioner of Public Services Timothy Lescarbeau has been out for five weeks after having some type of medical incident at the new Department of Public Works building. He is expected to return to work part time this week.

In other business, Buddington gave a brief rundown of possibilities for municipal internet.

Most users here have cable or DSL connections. Cable has about an download speed of 25 megabits per second, and upload of 3 Mbps; by comparison, fiber optic offers 40K Mbps/40K Mpbs.

"We have a publicly owned backbone in Western Massachusetts, Mass Broadband fiber, it's owned and managed by the Mass Technology Collaborative," he said. "When hear about fiber to the home, that's the speed that's often available."

Communications between computers on the current DSL and cable systems are difficult because providers can change addresses at times of their choosing and you can't run a website from your home. There's also no guarantee of neutral access or to court arbitration.

"The terms of service for these are very limited its a matter of you having internet access and using it however you want," Buddington said. "I would very much like that to be the case."

A new version of the internet would allow the city to buy a million addresses (like having a phone number)  more than enough to cover every household  for $1,000 a year. He would also like to get access to the fiber network, which is already connected to public buildings. Buddington also held out the hope that as the city continues to work on its water and sewer, conduits could be laid underground to get away from the expensive problems in running lines on poles owned by utilities.

"This is obviously a long project and I'm not going to propose anything concrete right now," Buddington said. "But I wanted to get this down for future discussions."

 The council also set a tax classification hearing for Tuesday, Nov. 14.

Councilor Lisa Blackmer offered kudows to the city's financial team for making it easier each year to get state approval for tax classification. In the past, the council has been holding classification hearings in December and several times special meetings had been held to them done prior to the new year.

"I really appreciate the work that's been done to get this, and dealing with the state in getting you're numbers done I can attest is not an easy task," said Blackmer, who is tax collector and treasurer for the town of Buckland.

The council set the municipal election and special election for state representative for Tuesday, Nov. 7, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for all five wards at St. Elizabeth's Parish Center.

 And finally, Councilor Ronald Boucher submitted a resignation letter effective Oct. 23 because he is moving to Clarksburg. The former mayoral candidate and seven-term councilor is the second member of the council to resign because of relocation; Nancy Bullett in June tendered her resignation to move south.

Bullett was replaced by the council with Wayne Wilkinson, but President Benjamin Lamb said he leave the post open since the election is only a couple weeks away. Boucher has not attended the past few meetings.




iciHaiti - Education : Training seminar for 180 Spanish teachers





A training seminar for 180 Spanish teachers from the 10 Departmental Directorates of Education (DDE), was launched Monday at the Lycee Alexandre Petion, at a ceremony presided by Pierre Josue Agenor Cadet, Minister of Education together with the Spanish Ambassador to Haiti, Don Manuel Lorenzo.



This training, designed to improve the quality of classroom learning, will initially reach 90 teachers of Spanish from the West, from 23 to 25 October and from 26 to 28 October, a second session will be held for 90 students. teachers from the other 9 DDEs.



This activity is supported by the Spanish Cooperation which provides technical and financial assistance. Indeed, the training is led by professionals from the Cervantes Institute, the most important institution in Spain for the dissemination and promotion of the Spanish language. It is an action that fits into the dynamics of teacher training to improve the quality of learning.



It will eventually allow the beneficiaries to improve their teaching techniques of Spanish, said the Minister Cadet , which specifies, moreover, that the most advanced techniques of pedagogy will be used as well as the use of online resources and new technologies for the animation of this seminar.



For his part, the Ambassador of Spain welcomed and congratulated Minister Cadet for this initiative, which received his full support.



IH/ S/ iciHaiti


















Imperial Valley News Center

Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Enters 7th Fleet

Pacific Ocean - The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) entered the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations (AOO) yesterday, to conduct maritime security operations, theater security cooperation and port visits as part of the U.S. Navy's ongoing presence in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Theodore Roosevelt, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, is joined by the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and the guided-missile destroyers USS Halsey (DDG 97), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Sampson (DDG 102).



"Entering 7th Fleet is an exciting opportunity to integrate with other U.S. Navy units in the AOO, as well as operate with our partners and allies in the region," said Rear Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, Carrier Strike Group 9. "We look forward to continued partnerships that lead to mutual security and common views about operating at sea."



TRCSG consists of the staff of Destroyer Squadron 23 and the squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, which includes Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113, VFA-94, VFA-22, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139, Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73 and Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30.



"USS Theodore Roosevelt is prepared to carry out the full spectrum of possible missions, from humanitarian relief to combat operations," said Capt. Carlos Sardiello, Theodore Roosevelt's commanding officer. "When a carrier leaves on deployment, we have to be ready for anything."



Roosevelt left its homeport of San Diego October 6, for a regularly-scheduled deployment to the U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility. Roosevelt's last deployment to 7th Fleet was in 2015 during the ship's homeport shift from Norfolk.
Imperial Valley News Center

Status of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program

Washington, DC - Based on Section 6(a) of Executive Order 13780, Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States, the U.S. government undertook a 120-day review of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) to identify and implement additional security screening processes in order to uphold the safety of the American people.

As a result, the President has issued a new Executive Order that provides for the general resumption of the USRAP.

While the Departments of State, Homeland Security, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence have jointly determined that the screening and vetting enhancements to the USRAP are generally adequate to ensure the security and welfare of the United States and therefore that the Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security may resume that program, they have also concluded that additional in-depth review is needed with respect to refugees of 11 nationalities previously identified as potentially posing a higher risk to the United States. Admissions for applicants of those 11 potentially higher-risk nationalities will resume on a case-by-case basis during a new 90-day review period.

For family members who are following-to-join refugees that have already been resettled in the United States, additional security measures must also be implemented for all nationalities. Admissions of following-to-join refugees will resume once those enhancements have been implemented.

The United States will continue to resettle more refugees than any other country in the world, and we will continue to offer protection to the most vulnerable refugees while upholding the safety and security of the American people. The United States remains the worlds leader in humanitarian assistance to refugees and displaced persons, providing more than $8 billion in FY 2017.
For Inexpensive Sensors and Better Batteries, It's All about the Mix

Washington, DC - A marriage between 3-D printer plastic and a versatile material for detecting and storing gases could lead to inexpensive sensors and fuel cell batteries alike, suggests new research from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

The material is called a metal-organic framework, or MOFperhaps not as familiar a substance as plastic, but one that may prove as broadly useful. They are easy to make, cost little, and some of them are good at picking out a particular gas from the air.

Seen on a microscopic level, MOFs look like buildings under constructionthink of steel girders with space between them. A particular MOF talent is to allow fluids to flow through their spaces while their girders attract some specific part of the fluid and hold onto it as the rest of the fluid flows past. MOFs are already promising candidates for refining petroleum and other hydrocarbons.

MOFs have caught the attention of a team of scientists from NIST and American University because they also might be good as the basis for inexpensive sensing technology. For example, certain MOFs are good at filtering out methane or carbon dioxide, both of which are greenhouse gases. The big problem is that newly made MOFs are tiny particles that in bulk have the consistency of dust. And its hard to build a usable sensor from a material that slips through your fingers.

To address this problem, the team decided to try mixing MOFs into the plastic that is used in 3-D printers. Not only would the printer mold the plastic into any shape the team desired, but the plastic itself is permeable enough to allow gases to pass right through it, where the MOFs could snag the specific gas molecules the team wants to detect. The question was, would the MOFs work in the mix?

The teams new research paper shows the idea has promise not only for sensing but for other applications as well. It demonstrates that the MOFs and the plastic get along well; for example, the MOFs dont settle to the bottom of the plastic when its melted, but stay evenly distributed in the mixture. The team then moved on to mix in a specific MOF thats good at capturing hydrogen gas and conducted testing to see how well the solidified mixture could store hydrogen.

The auto industry is still looking for an inexpensive, lightweight way to store fuel in hydrogen-powered cars, said NIST sensor scientist Zeeshan Ahmed. Were hoping that MOFs in plastic might form the basis of the fuel tank.

The paper also shows that when exposed to hydrogen gas, the solid mix retains more than 50 times more hydrogen than plastic alone, indicating the MOFs are still functioning effectively while inside the plastic. These are promising results, but not yet good enough for a fuel cell.

Ahmed said his team members are optimistic the idea can be improved enough to be practical. They have already built on their initial research in a second, forthcoming paper, which explores how well two other MOFs can absorb nitrogen gas as well as hydrogen, and also shows how to make the MOF-plastic mixtures immune to the degrading effects of humidity. The team is now pursuing collaborations with other NIST research groups to develop MOF-based sensors.

The goal is to find a storage method that can hold 4.5 percent hydrogen by weight, and weve got a bit less than one percent now, he said. But from a materials perspective, we dont need to make that dramatic an improvement to reach the goal. So we see the glassor the plasticas half full already.
United States and Ukraine Hold Nonproliferation Working Group Meeting in Kyiv

Kyiv, Ukraine - The United States and Ukraine held a Nonproliferation Working Group Meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, today. The regularly-held meeting is one of several exchanges the United States and Ukraine hold each year to strengthen bilateral cooperation to address the threat posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, advanced conventional weapons, and sensitive dual-use technologies.

Interagency experts from both sides met to discuss a range of nonproliferation, counter-proliferation, and strategic trade control challenges and how the countries can best cooperate to address those challenges. In light of the growing threat from the DPRKs nuclear and ballistic missile program, this meeting put special emphasis on promoting effective and robust implementation of strategic trade controls and all relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, including 2270 and 2321.
Protests in Togo

Washington, DC - The United States is deeply concerned about rising levels of violence and restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly in Togo related to protests over proposed constitutional reforms. We are particularly troubled by reports of excessive use of force by security forces and reports that Government-sponsored vigilantes are using force and the threat of force to disrupt protests and intimidate civilians. The United States is also concerned with the Government of Togos decision to restrict demonstrations during the workweek and to arrest a prominent imam in the city of Sokode.

We call on the Government of Togo to uphold its citizens human rights, notably their freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and internet freedom and to ensure that all those arrested during demonstrations are afforded the right to due process.

The United States deplores the violence that has claimed the lives of protesters and security forces alike. We urge all parties to renounce violence. We encourage the Government and opposition to engage in dialogue without preconditions, which is the only solution to the current impasse.




This Isnt Our Last Love Letter



Dear Don Don,

Way back in 92



I walked into the room and knew



Never felt this way before



I shook your hand while gazing into your eyes



And the feeling grew



As I took a seat I knew



A love that would have my heart



Forever



I knew



Way back in 92





They say love at first sight doesnt always last or isnt true



We were the exception to that rule



Our love had no where to hide



A spark set fire



As if this is how the universe started





I never doubted our love or what we could do



Together we grew



Forming a bond everlasting



That became our glue



My euphoria was YOU



Im eternally grateful for the love and life we shared



For how fortunate we were :



to have and to hold

through sickness and in health

Til death do us part



Until we are together again



This isnt our last love letter



I love you with all my heart and soul



Yours forever,



Deirdre (Mrs. Hank Snow)





Im fortunate to have fallen in love with, marry and make a life with the sharpest, coolest, funniest, most rare, bad ass, tender loving, loyal man on the planet, my husband Don Imus.









A True American Hero

I dont know why it has been so hard for me to write about my dear friend Don Imus.



I certainly know what he meant to me, my family, my charity, my hospital and the millions of fans that listened and loved him for so many years.



I keep reading all the beautiful condolences that people are writing about how much a part of their lives were effected by listening to him over the years.

But what most people dont talk enough about is what he did for all of us.

In every sense of the word, he was an American Hero. His work with children with so many different illnesses and his dedication to their future was unmatched by anyone I have ever known or heard about.



Besides raising over $100,000,000 for so many causes, he took care of young people for over 20 years in a state where he could not breathe. Along with his incredible wife Deirdre, he created a world where children were not defined by their disease. That was a miracle! He was a miracle.

I will miss him ever day for the rest of my life.

I was blessed to be a part of his and Deirdes life.

No one will ever do what he did.

I love you Don Imus - A TRUE AMERICAN HERO





David Jurist

IMUS IN THE MORNING

FIRST DAY BACK!
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Andy Serkis is famed as the guy to go to when you need an actor to play a creature using performance-capture technology. He wowed audiences around the world when he played Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and again when mimicking simians in King Kong, as well as in the role of Supreme Leader Snoke in Star Wars: The Force Awakens  and most recently as Caesar in War for the Planet of the Apes.

So its a bit of a turn up that the 53-year-olds directorial debut, Breathe, starring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, is a character-driven film about a man paralysed by polio.

Yes, I think people have been surprised that this is my directorial debut, and there has been a lot made of that, says Serkis of the film that opened at the London Film Festival. But he says that this is more a result of the film-production process than by design: Jungle Book we shot beforehand but that will come out next year.

His adaptation of Rudyard Kiplings novel, which stars Christian Bale (as Bagheera), Cate Blanchett (Kaa) and Benedict Cumberbatch (Shere Khan), mixes live-action sequences with performance-capture technology; consequently, the post-production process is extraordinarily long  and so when Disney managed to release their version first (in 2016), it was decided to delay Serkiss version until 2018.

Out of character: Serkis sees his future behind the camera (Laurie Sparham)

Despite Breathe being a period drama, its true to say that the film may never have been made if it wasnt for Serkiss enthusiasm for performance-capture technology. Breathe is inspired by the true story of the parents of the Bridget Jones producer Jonathan Cavendish, who formed the company Imaginarium with Serkis in 2011.

Cavendishs father, Robin, was paralysed from the neck down after contracting polio in Kenya in the late 1950s while his wife Diana was pregnant. The film shows how Robin and his family coped with paralysis and how he helped change the way that polio sufferers could live, by asking his band of eccentric friends to come up with inventions to enable him to leave hospital and live life at home.

Serkis met Cavendish in 2009, just after he had completed filming King Kong, by which time he had realised there was a gap in the market for a UK-based performance-capture studio. In 2007, after the success of Lord of the Rings, Serkis was approached by Cambridge-based video game designers Ninja Theory to direct performance-capture sequences for their flagship game Heavenly Sword. When it came to shooting the sequences that we rehearsed, there was nowhere to shoot it, so rather ridiculously I had to take the whole team to New Zealand, says Serkis. I came out of this experience thinking, this is crazy, especially as the technology, software and cameras were all made in Oxford and Cambridge.

Bumpy ride: Garfield as Robin Cavendish and Foy as his wife Diana in Breathe

A friend suggested that Serkis meet with Cavendish. I had been looking at the market and it seemed to me that TV, film, games, virtual reality and artificial intelligence were moving closer together and visual storytelling was going to change, says Cavendish. And then of course Andy was a world leader in performance capture.

At first, most of the jobs came about because people wanted Serkis to be the performance-capture actor in their films or wanted to ask his advice on how it should be done. Serkis lent his expertise to Mark Ruffalo when he was preparing to play Hulk in Avengers 2 by telling him to wear weights to get a sense of the bulk. Serkis also helped Ruffalo change his voice and got him to play with his avatar so he knew what it looked like, as he was prancing around in a digital costume. He also consulted on Godzilla.

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The big advantage of shooting creatures using humans is that it helps the other actors onset, says Serkis: Peter Jackson fully understood the notion of, how can you expect an actor to act and give a real performance? Its impossible. In a way they then have to act two characters, themselves and what they are acting against.

Apeing: Serkis as Caesar (centre) in War for the Planet of the Apes (Rex Features)

I ask Serkis if it is odd that he has become famous for playing characters masked by digital effects. He argues that he doesnt see a difference between performance capture and traditional acting. You work in the same way as you do on a traditional set, all that is different is that youre dressed in a digital costume and the make-up happens after, says the actor. You are on set for six months and you are the guardian of the character. Performance capture is not fixing something in post-production, you have to get the performance on the day.

Born and raised in Ruislip, his mother was English and his father an Iraqi gynaecologist of Armenian descent. Serkis says in hindsight that perhaps he was destined for a career where performance capture would be a big component, even if it was an unconscious decision. It can all sort of make sense now, he says. Because I went to Lancaster University to study visual arts and I ended up constructing a degree which is called Theatre Design and Movement. I did a production of Raymond Briggs The Tin-Pot Foreign General and the Old Iron Woman, which was done with puppetry and movement, and performance capture seemed like an extension of what I was doing.

The force is strong in this one: Serkis in motion-caption mode as Supreme Leader Snoke in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Cavendish had wanted to tell the story of his parents for a long time. He commissioned William Nicholson (Shadowlands, Gladiator, Les Miserables) to write the screenplay of Breathe and then showed it to Serkis, having now worked together for a number of years and built not just a studio for performance capture but also a separate production company. I would have let many people direct it, says Cavendish. But I knew that Andy would direct it brilliantly, and he has an experience of disability with his sister suffering from multiple sclerosis, and his mother taught disabled children. And then when we were in post-production on Jungle Book, both Garfield and Foy became available and we had a small window of opportunity.

That created a mad rush to raise the 8.7m budget for the film. Despite being the world leader in performance capture, Serkiss name meant very little as the director of a period drama, especially as Jungle Book kept on being delayed.

Tim Haslam of Embankment Films, which provides financing solutions for films, explains the conundrum: Serkis is a well-known actor but he was still notionally a debut director. This was in April 2016; by the time the Cannes Film Festival had finished in May, Breathe had been funded and would shoot in the summer. Serkis had something to occupy his creative mind through the Jungle Book delays.

These are the type of problems and issues Serkis will have to start getting used to, as he sees his immediate future as being behind the camera. He wants to direct a performance-capture version of George Orwells Animal Farm and also turn The Beggars Opera into the first performance-capture musical. But he insists that Breathe will not be an anomaly and that he will also make films that do not rely on the technology he has become famous for. In the near future the concentration will be more on the directing. The wheels are oiled now.

Breathe is out on general release
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Wow, youre tall.

Jeff Goldblum, standing 6ft 4in, greets me (6ft 3in) at the door of a London hotel room. Are your family just as tall? he asks. I tell him my two brothers are both taller, standing 6ft 5in.

Taller than you! Thats incredible. What do they do?

One was in a band, the other studies animation. Amazing. Your parents must be very proud. Did you know Im in a jazz band?

I did.

If you come to Los Angeles, will you come and see us? At Rockwell  just remember Sam Rockwell. Ill give you a doctors note, telling them you need to get the West Coast air.

How can I say no?

Make sure to find me, will you?

So starts my interview with Jeff Goldblum. Actors dont often ask questions at junkets, preferring to move swiftly onto being questioned. But thats not Jeff Goldblum. Instead, the 65-year-old keeps them coming, asking about everything from family to my acting abilities. Cynics may say that hes diverting attention away from himself and merely being charming for a positive write-up. To me, Goldblum just seems downright charming  perhaps Ive been duped?

Perched forward on a white chair and wearing a denim jacket/turtleneck combo, Goldblums promoting Thor: Ragnarok, the most recent Marvel blockbuster to reach cinemas. Directed by Taika Waititi, the wildly fun picture sees Goldblum play the devilishly hilarious Grandmaster, the tyrannical ruler of the planet Sakaar and an all-out pleasure seeker. The role seems very Jeff Goldblum.

I dont know how much was me, the actor says. But, Taika Waititi, hes an improviser. He said If you want to, I have a notion that well improvise a lot. And itll be a character who will make use of several of the things you do. It wont be comic-book-y. Your character is theatrical.

Jeff Goldblum as the Grandmaster in Thor: Ragnarok (Disney/Marvel)

Sure enough, when they were on set in Australia, Goldblum was able to improvise, often offering 10 completely differing takes on a single scene. I would go, why dont I say this? Taika would say, dance like I am. Then I would [Goldblum starts dancing in his chair] until we got kicked off set. We fooled around a lot. I was very anxious to see which version made the final cut. I liked what they used. They took out the bad stuff and made me look OK. Then at the end... did you stay until the end credits? I did, the scenes great. That was a kind of improvised thing we did.

Of course, Goldblum has worked on many big-budget pictures before, including Jurassic Park, Independence Day and both their respective sequels. For Ragnarok, everything seems to have been a little looser, the final project having  at times  more in common with an indie movie than $180m blockbuster.

You cant imagine the team it takes to make these big epic productions, he says. And add the element of having someone like Taika coming along. Its this free actor workshop. They build in extra time to redo some scenes if need be. On some other things, [Goldblum puts on a stern voice] this is your moment and we have to do it now. Its a little more burdensome here and there. Although, Ive been quite lucky to work with Mr Spielberg and Jack Bellicec. They know how to loosen things up, so its big and its free.

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 Thor: Ragnarok! trailer

Being on the set of Ragnarok certainly sounds like a lot of fun, I say. Do you act? Goldblum asks. I dont. The closest Ive been is directing a small production at school, donkeys years ago. For the stage? A stage version of Moulin Rogue. Like a stage version of the movie? Exactly that. It wasnt very good. Goldblum starts singing: La di dah di da, heres my audition for you, so I can be in your next production. I think wed make a good teeeeeeeeam.

Goldblum certainly doesnt need any more work at the moment. Last year, he reprised his role from Independence Day for the sequel Resurgence. Next year, the actor will once again play Dr Ian Malcolm, this time alongside Chris Pratt in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Later that same year, Goldblum will voice a canine in Wes Andersons Isle of Dogs (Just look at that trailer, hes a brilliant artist, he says of the director). The question, then, is why are we having a Goldblumaissance now?

Its just about pestering people, jokes Goldblum. Dont worry everyone, itll be over soon enough! The tone shifts to one thats slightly more serious. Theres coming and going, and that includes me. But, Im sitting up and taking nourishment at this point with much delight. I dont know why Im so lucky. Im more grateful, predominantly, than any other colour I can think of. Im lucky that Ive stayed continually active. Thats a pretty good trick in itself.

An excited Goldblum feels full of vim, vigour, and vitamin A if thats the right vitamin (Getty) (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP/Getty Images)

Goldblum studied acting under Sandy Meisner, whose pupils include Steve McQueen, Naomi Watts, Sandra Bullock, and another Jeff (Bridges). Meisner told Goldblum something very early on that stuck with the actor throughout his life: It takes 20 years to even call yourself an actor, and then a lifetime to keep getting better.

Maybe that has something to do with it, Goldblum continues. I do aim to... to have a chance to get better. Im on the threshold of doing something better. Im enjoying acting, certainly enjoying it more than ever. Maybe babies are lucky. Thats what my wife says. We had one a couple of years ago, then one six months ago.

Married twice before, Goldblum never had children before wedding Canadian Olympic gymnast Emilie Livingston. Their first son, Charlie Ocean, was born mid-2015, a year before Resurgence reached cinemas. The pair then had another boy, River Joe, in April earlier this year. I feel full of vim, vigour, and vitamin A if thats the right vitamin, he says.

One thing I wonder, after becoming a father and having been an actor for well over 20 years, is whether Goldblum still sees himself as a movie star? I wouldnt say I am a movie star, he answers. But, Ill tell you what, it gives me a real thrill when He pauses. I flew here yesterday, and that card you fill out on the aeroplane. Ill be darned when they ask whats your first name? Last name? Given name? Where were you born? Whats your profession? I still get a thrill out of just writing actor Isnt that crazy?

27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Show all 27 1 /27 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Black Panther Released: 12 February 12 February Director: Ryan Coogler Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Forest Whitaker, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 The Greatest Showman Released: 1 January 1 January Director: Michael Gracey Cast: Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Darkest Hour Released: 12 January 12 January Director: Joe Wright Cast: Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Mendelsohn 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri Released: 12 January Director: Martin McDonagh 12 JanuaryMartin McDonagh Cast: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Caleb Landry Jones > Twentieth Century Fox 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Coco Released: 19 January 19 January Director: Lee Unkrich ,p>Cast: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Renee Victor 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Downsizing Released: 19 January 19 January Director: Alexander Payne Cast: Matt Damon, Christopher Waltz, Jong Chau, Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Early Man Released: 26 January 26 January Director: Nick Park Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, Maisie Williams, Timothy Spall 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Fifty Shades Freed Released: 9 February 9 February Director: James Foley Cast: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Kim Basinger 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Maze Runner: The Death Cure Released: 9 February 9 February Director: Wes Ball Cast: Dylan O'Brien, Thomas Brodie Sangster, Kaya Scodelario, Giancarlo Esposito, Aidan Gillen 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 The Shape of Water Released: 16 February 16 February Director: Guillermo del Toro Cast: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg, Doug Jones 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Annihilation Released: 23 February 23 February Director: Alex Garland Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Lee, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Oscar Isaac 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Dark River Released: 23 February 23 February Director: Clio Barnard Cast: Ruth Wilson, Mark Stanley, Sean Bean 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Red Sparrow Released: 2 March 2 March Director: Francis Lawrence Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Jeremy Irons 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Tomb Raider Released: 16 March 16 March Director: Roar Uthaug Cast: Alicia Vikander, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu, Dominic West, 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 A Wrinkle in Time Released: 23 March 23 March Director: Ava DuVernay Cast: Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Zach Galifianakis 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Pacific Rim: Uprising Released: 23 March 23 March Director: Steven S. 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Goldblum shares a quick story about wanting nothing more than to be an actor since being 10 years old. I just wanted to do it the best way, he says. My father was a doctor. Everyone I knew in Pittsburgh was similar. I was embarrassed to tell anybody until I left for New York. Nobody knew it, because, you know, it was this romantic idea.

Now that hes achieved that dream, does he feel fulfilled? Fulfilment means you bring an ability to be satisfied, to be fulfilled in any circumstance. You dont wait for the outer confluence of circumstances to go, oh, now your fulfilled, Ive got the car I wanted, Im on a date with the right girl. The talent I aspire to is, no matter what cards present themselves, youre able to find something that youre able to call fulfilment. A moment of reflection. What do you think of that answer? I quite like it. You do? Very much.

Perhaps then, one should ask which path Goldblum would have gone down if acting hadnt worked out. I like to play the piano, and having a weekly gig, he says. A rock star or a movie star, I say. I dont know if I would have been a rock star. I like jazz. I taught acting for a couple of years. I like the classroom, by gum! I like the activity and the challenge of trying to transmit something, awaken that in someone else. Thats a fun and worthy thing. My sister teaches, shes a painter, and she makes things all the time. Thats a great thing to do.

Someone working for Disney waves around frantically behind Goldblum, signalling that our interview has come to an end. As I begin to leave, I profess that Jurassic Park was one of my favourite movies growing up. The actor begins singing the films theme song. I ask if he would play a jazz version when I arrive in LA? He begins scatting along to the song. Its all very Jeff Goldblum.

Thor: Ragnarok is in cinemas now
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What does it take to make a universe implode? Marvel doesnt want to know. Now owned by Disney, Marvel Studios Marvel Cinematic Universe passed $12bn (9.1bn) at the box-office in July, and its future is set out in seeming perpetuity. Most of us have only the dimmest idea what well be doing on 5 July 2019, but Marvel are confident that well be queuing for an as yet unmade Spider-Man film then. This weeks Thor: Ragnarok is 2017s third MCU instalment, and after a short gap Black Panther will usher in 2018. Presidents come and go, nations rise and fall, but superhero films, its presumed, continue forever.

Thor: Ragnarok ticks all the MCUs strengths and weaknesses. It imports an unlikely indie film-maker  here Taika Waititi, New Zealander director of What We Do In the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople  to add an engaging, hip sensibility between CGI fight scenes, much as Stan Lees Jewish New York patter grounded and leavened Jack Kirbys cosmic art in the original 1960s comics. Jeff Goldblums turn as supervillain the Grandmaster could be a nightclub act from a smoky dive back then, and the films rootedness in its half-century-old source extends beyond Lees inevitable cameo, to its Kirbyesque title lettering and design.

Waititis film is fun and fast-paced. But its already less fresh than Thor: The Dark World (2013) or the two films which really began Marvel Studios bonanza, Jon Favreaus Iron Man (2008) and Joss Whedons The Avengers (2012). The former ran on Robert Downey Jrs jittery riffs on his post-addiction persona, routines weve now been hearing for nearly a decade; Whedon ingeniously expressed his love for the Avengers, made anarchic sparks fly from Tom Hiddlestons Loki, and powered it all with a humane vision.

Ruffalo as Hulk, Hemsworth as Thor, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie and Tom Hiddleston as Loki in Thor: Ragnarok

Whedon, though, was part of the problem. You dont want to feel like Episode Two of anything. Thats a bad feeling, he confided to Wired when Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) was released. But this was a sequel which began in the middle, and didnt really end (a feeling the MCUs teasing post-credits sequences perpetuate). Whats more, Whedon had already introduced TV audiences to the comics concepts of connected universes and angst-ridden story-arcs with Buffy the Vampire Slayer 20 years ago. Russell T Daviess 2005 Doctor Who reboot was among the shows which closely followed this example, gaining spin-off series and the tone of an endless, portentous saga. The Doctor was lost in the Whoniverse (James Bond was another veteran whod soon be saddled with a leaden mythology in the otherwise excellent Skyfall).

Whedon quit Marvel in 2016, burnt out. But he has since bitten the bullet to co-write and direct reshoots for Justice League, the stuttering DC Extended Universes attempt to replicate The Avengers success (with only Wonder Woman liked by anyone much, four otherwise glum films in).

Ben Kingsley as the villainous Mandarin in Iron Man 3 (Rex) (Rex Features)

Twelve billion dollars buys plenty of imitators. Marvels pre-Disney distributors, Paramount, have commissioned writer Akiva Goldsman to create a Transformers Cinematic Universe around an already witlessly derivative franchise. Universal resurrected its 1930s horror properties for a Dark Universe which has already failed twice with Dracula Untold (2014) and Tom Cruise calamity The Mummy (2017). Bride of Frankenstein is next up for desecration.

Disney meanwhile owns not just Marvel Studios, but Star Wars, and has scheduled the Star Wars anthology to run in the fallow years between the original series. The first release, Rogue One, was the most thrilling and romantic Star Wars film since The Empire Strikes Back. Co-directors Phil Lord and Christopher Millers removal from 2018 release Solo, though, shows the limitations of films made to make billions.

Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth and Robert Downey Jr in Avengers  Age Of Ultron (Rex) (Rex Features)

These other floundering universes demonstrate the achievement of the MCU and its visionary instigator, Marvel Studios president and lifelong Marvel fan Kevin Feige. The nimble scripts and character acting which really animate its CGI, and its interconnections ingenuity, also vastly improve on the old Rocky, Rambo and Lethal Weapon franchises. They would never have let Lethal Weapon creator Shane Black get away with the wild tonal swerves of Ben Kingsleys icon-undermining Mandarin in Iron Man 3. On the other hand, Blacks female characters were scaled back because Disney doubted their merchandise potential. As Edgar Wright discovered when his long cherished Ant-man vision was nixed, these films are art up to a point.

Twenty-first-century technology has let superheroes fly gracefully from the comic-book page. But the cinema economy they dominate resembles the 1950s, when a desperate industry used biblical epics and 3-D to lure audiences to spectacles they couldnt see on TV. That effort was so hollow that Hollywood was on the point of collapse by the end of the 1960s. Todays cinema-going feels equally unhealthy. Disney/Marvel and Warner/DC are forward-planning their universes into 2019. Plans for when weve had enough of superheroes and star warriors seem considerably less advanced. Even cowboys bit the box office dust in the end. And audiences arent being catered for in great numbers with anything else.

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Spider-Man: Homecoming was released earlier this year (Rex) (Rex Features)

Were all trying to work out how we can connect Gods Own Country to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, art-house distributor Artificial Eyes head of theatrical sales James King wryly states. The way things are is putting all of our industrial eggs in one basket, and its not a safe basket. Its not very healthy, and its not very interesting. Once fatigue sets in, and audiences have a bad experience watching Suicide Squad or whatever, thats potentially someone who wont go to the cinema next week, or next year.

Though he blames Brexits temporary effect more than Batman, King has noticed a narrowing of audience tastes. Weve seen a change in the market this year. The types of films people are willing to see are less challenging. Even in the mainstream sector, Blade Runner 2049 is really underperforming. Its not the sort of easy escapism people are looking for. Audiences are becoming more conservative, and independent cinemas are becoming more conservative. Theyre no longer taste-makers. Theyre showing La La Land [and Rogue One] when it already has multi-million-pound marketing. Its a vicious circle.

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe makes $12bn, Rogue One makes $1bn, and even Universals derided The Mummy makes $400m, what does everyone else make? Marvel and its imitators may wish to ponder not just the sudden collapse of the seemingly perennial Western in the Seventies, but the fate of Marvel Comics itself. Lee and Kirbys radical comics revolution in the Sixties ran aground in the Seventies. Much fascinating work was still done. But sales haemorrhaged in part because of the Universe. Spider-Man swinging across the Manhattan skyline was exciting. Then the sky filled with superheroes, and interconnected storylines made new readers feel like they were entangled in Spider-Mans web.

One day cinemas universes, too, will collapse under their own groaning weight. When the only box office certainty left becomes a black hole, lets hope someone knows what to do next.

Thor: Ragnarok is out now
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Actress Julianne Moore has voiced her hopes that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein will face "prosecution" following accusations of sexual harassment.

The US star said it was important to recognise the recent wave of allegations against the producer as claims of "criminal behaviour" rather than just "salacious conversation".

Moore, who has previously worked with Weinstein, but said she was never in a situation where she was alone with him, told NBC News: "I think it's really, really important when we discuss this that, rather than it being salacious conversation, this is criminal behaviour.

"I hope that he's prosecuted for some of these things. I hope that some of the charges stand."

Her comments come after it was announced that The Weinstein Company, co-founded by Weinstein, was under an investigation by New York's top prosecutor.

The state's attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, launched the civil rights investigation on Monday, saying: "No New Yorker should be forced to walk into a workplace ruled by sexual intimidation, harassment, or fear."

The probe will look into what previous complaints have been made within the company, following claims from stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie who have recently accused Weinstein of sexual harassment.

Rose McGowan claimed in a tweet that the disgraced producer had raped her, but Weinstein has so far "unequivocally denied" non-consensual sex.

 Matt Damon admits he knew Harvey Weinstein harassed Gwyneth Paltrow

Matt Damon, who worked with both Weinstein and Paltrow on 1999 film The Talented Mr Ripley, said: "I knew the Gwyneth story. She and I never talked about that. Harvey was incredibly respectful of her, always. I don't know what I would have done. I never saw it in front of me.

"He was a bully, he was intimidating, that was part of who he was and I've been reading these stories because I am racking my brain... Could I have known something? Is there something I could have done?"

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But Moore said: "Rather than continue to discuss what could have happened (we should be discussing) what can we do to prevent it? How can we communicate to people that it's not okay, that they should speak out, that they will have support, that people will be taken to task?"

Damon added: "I think women are seeing that their voices are not going to fall on deaf ears. (Weinstein) is a pariah, and he was the most powerful guy in Hollywood. He's got to face justice, he's got to face what he's done."

Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Show all 42 1 /42 Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Harvey Weinstein Harry Weinsteins reputation as one of Hollywoods leading executives was long cemented in stone. The acclaimed movie mogul, who produced Oscar-winning films Shakespeare in Love, The English Patient, and The Artist, clocked up box office successes and accolades aplenty. But this has quickly changed since a chorus of women have come forward to accuse the Hollywood producer of sexual harassment and assault. Since the New York Times bombshell report disclosed sexual harassment and rape allegations against the film mogul dating back decades, Weinstein has been fired from his namesake company, expelled from the Oscars and has had his wife leave him. Weinstein has apologised for having caused a lot of pain but has denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Annabella Sciorra The Sopranos actor alleged Weinstein raped her after shooting The Night We Never Met, a 1993 movie that Weinstein produced. Similar to the stories told by other women, Weinstein drove the actor home, only to reportedly burst into Sciorra's apartment and start unbuttoning his shirt. He shoved me onto the bed, and he got on top of me, Sciorra said. I kicked and I yelled. Weinstein then allegedly locked her arms and forced sexual intercourse on her. After the incident, Sciorra found it increasingly hard to get work, many filmmakers saying 'We heard you were difficult', something the actor claims was because of the 'Weinstein-machine'. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Natassia Malthe The model and actress, who has appeared in around 50 films, said she met Weinstein at a BAFTA after party in 2008 while she was working as a spokeswoman for LG. She told a press conference in New York that she felt pressured into telling Weinstein she was staying at the Sanderson Hotel after being put on the spot. Malthe, now 43, said after her shift on February 10 she went back to her room and went to sleep, but was awoken by "repeated pounding" on her door, from someone yelling: "Open the door Natassia Malthe, it's Harvey Weinstein." Feeling humiliated, she said she opened the door. She alleged Weinstein began implying sex would get her a role in an upcoming film while semi-undressed and then he began to masturbate. "I was sitting on the bed talking to Harvey when he pushed me back and forced himself onto me. It was not consensual. He did not use a condom," she said. AP Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Sean Young The actor, best known for her role in Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, said that Weinstein exposed himself to her in the early 1990s, when she was starring in the Miramax-produced Love Crimes - a production company that Weinstein headed at the time. "I personally experienced him pulling his you-know-what out of his pants to shock me," she said. "My basic response was, 'You know, Harvey, I really dont think you should be pulling that thing out, its not very pretty.'" Young never worked with Weinstein again after the incident. Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Mimi Haleyi Mimi Haleyi said she was assaulted by Weinstein in what appeared to be a child's bedroom in his New York City apartment in 2006 when she was in her 20s. She said she was aspiring to work in television and film production when she was first introduced to him at the London premiere of The Aviator around two years earlier and he helped her get experience on the set of a TV show being produced by The Weinstein Company. But, she added, he repeatedly hassled her and even tried to force himself through her front door in an effort to get her to join him on a trip to Paris. At one point he allegedly forcibly performed oral sex on an aspiring production assistant while she was on her period. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lupita Nyong'o In an op-ed for The New York Times, the Oscar-winning actor said she was invited to Weinsteins family home in Connecticut on the premise of watching a film shortly after they met in 2011. But she said shortly after it started he "insisted" in front of his children that she follow him and she was led to his bedroom. The Kenyan-Mexican actress, now 34, said she felt pressured into giving him a massage after he offered her one. "Before long he said he wanted to take off his pants," she wrote."I told him not to do that and informed him that it would make me extremely uncomfortable. He got up anyway to do so and I headed for the door, saying that I was not at all comfortable with that." Over the years that followed, he continued to get in touch, Nyong'o said, and when she declined another proposition she felt her career was threatened. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lena Headey Writing on social media, the Game of Thrones actor claims she first met Weinstein at the Venice Film Festival in 2005 where, after taking her for a walk by the water, he made some suggestive comment and gesture. Headey claims she bumped into Weinstein years later where he kept asking her questions about her love life. She alleges that, when Weinstein invited her to his hotel room to show her a script, the "energy shifted. The actor notes how, after saying she was not interesting in anything but the work, Weinstein was furious, apparently marching her back to a lift, "grabbing and holding tightly to the back of [her] arm." She claims that, after paying for her car, he whispered in her ear: "Don't tell anyone about this, not your manager, not your agent. Headey finished the post, writing: I got in the car and I cried. Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lucia Evans The actor told The New Yorker that after a meeting to discuss casting her in various projects, Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him. I said, over and over, I dont want to do this, stop, dont. She added: Hes a big guy. He overpowered me. I just sort of gave up. Thats the most horrible part of it, and thats why hes been able to do this for so long to so many women: people give up, and then they feel like its their fault. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Laura Madden Madden, a production assistant who worked at Miramax for a decade, told the Times that Weinstein allegedly prodded her for massages at hotels, a common theme among the sources the Timess reporters spoke with. On one occasion, she claims she locked herself in his hotel bathroom, sobbing Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Ashley Judd Judd recounted for the Times how Weinstein allegedly harassed her while she was filming Kiss the Girls in 1996, inviting her to his hotel room and asking her for a massage, then inviting her to watch him shower. Judd first went public with the allegations in a 2015 interview with Variety during which she discussed the experience without naming the producer involved. She described Weinsteins alleged behaviour as coercive bargaining; I said no, a lot of ways, a lot of times, and he always came back at me with some new ask, she told the Times AFP/Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Rose McGowan McGowan reportedly reached a previously undisclosed $100,000 settlement with Weinstein in 1997, over an incident that occurred in a hotel room Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Mimi Haleyi Mimi Haleyi said she was assaulted by Weinstein in what appeared to be a child's bedroom in his New York City apartment in 2006 when she was in her 20s. She said she was aspiring to work in television and film production when she was first introduced to him at the London premiere of The Aviator around two years earlier and he helped her get experience on the set of a TV show being produced by The Weinstein Company. But, she added, he repeatedly hassled her and even tried to force himself through her front door in an effort to get her to join him on a trip to Paris. At one point he allegedly forcibly performed oral sex on an aspiring production assistant while she was on her period. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Emily Nestor Nestor had been temping at the Weinstein Company for only one day in 2014 when Weinstein allegedly offered to boost her career in return for sexual favours, according to the Times. She declined and reportedly complained of his behaviour to colleagues, who later passed the information on to senior executives. An internal Weinstein Company document cited by the Times describes Nestors encounter with Weinstein as follows: She said he was very persistent and focused though she kept saying no for over an hour Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Ambra Battilana In March 2015, Battilana, an aspiring model and actress, was reportedly summoned to Weinsteins office on a Friday night to discuss her career. According to a police report cited by the Times, Battilana claimed she was assaulted by Weinstein, who grabbed her breasts after asking if they were real and put his hands up her skirt. Weinstein later claimed that Battilana had set him up, according to colleagues of his who were interviewed by the Times. The Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, later declined to press charges, and according to the Times, made a payment to Battilana. On 5 October, the International Business Times reported that after Vance dropped the charges, he received $10,000 from Weinsteins lawyer Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lauren OConnor Lauren OConnor, an employee of the Weinstein Company, penned a memo to executives alleging a toxic environment for women at the company. The memo cited numerous incidents of Weinstein harassing or coercing women who worked for him. She expressed fear that Weinstein was using her and other female employees to facilitate liaisons with vulnerable women who hope he will get them work. That same year, Weinstein allegedly reached a settlement with OConnor Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Kate Beckinsale The actor, who starred in the Weinstein Company films Serendipity and The Aviator, alleges that she was invited to Weinsteins hotel room at the age of just 17. When she approached the door, the producer reportedly greeted her dressed in just a dressing gown. 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, she wrote on Instagram. After declining alcohol and announcing that I had school in the morning I left, uneasy but unscathed. Theo Wargo/Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Gwyneth Paltrow The actor alleges that after he cast her in the title role of the film Emma when she was 22, he took her to his hotel room, placed his hands on her and suggested massages. I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified, Paltrow told the New York Times. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Asia Argento Italian actress Asia Argento has alleged that in 1997 Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her as she repeatedly told him to stop. When I see him, it makes me feel little and stupid and weak, Argento told The New Yorker. After the rape, he won. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Cara Delevigne The British model and actress penning an Instagram post claiming that Weinstein had ordered her to kiss another woman in his hotel room, and tried to kiss her on the lips. AFP/Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Ashley Judd Ashley Judd said she rebuffed Harvey Weinsteins unwanted sexual advances by offering to consent only after she had won an Oscar. When she was initially invited to a meeting with Weinstein, Judd said, she was surprised to learn the producer was in his hotel room - a tactic that recurs in other womens accounts. Echoing the accounts of other women, Judd said Weinstein suggested she give him a massage and then invited her to watch him shower. After a volley of nos she said she would only after she wins an Oscar, fleeing after making the comments. Reuters/Mike Segar Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Judith Godreche French actress Judith Godreche said when she was 24 Weinstein invited her to his hotel room and asked to give her a massage. The next thing I know, hes pressing against me and pulling off my sweater, she told the New York Times. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Mira Sorvino The Oscar-winning actor said she found herself in a hotel room with Weinstein in 1995 where he started massaging my shoulders, which made me very uncomfortable, and then tried to get more physical, sort of chasing me around. According to an interview in The New Yorker Weinstein subsequently arrived at her apartment late at night and she had to call a friend to come over to pose as her boyfriend in order to get Weinstein out of the house. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Katherine Kendall The actress said Weinstein undressed and chased her around a living room when she was just 23. She subsequently felt that telling others meant Ill never work again and no one is going to care or believe me, she told the New York Times. WireImage Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Tomi-Anne Roberts As an aspiring actress and working in a restaurant in New York, Tomi-Ann Roberts encountered Weinstein who encouraged her to audition for one of his films back in 1984. She subsequently went to meet him and found him naked in the bath and invited her to get naked and get into the bath with him, she told the New York Times. She said she left feeling manipulated. Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Myleen Klass It has also been alleged that the disgraced film producer propositioned Myleene Klass with a sex contract at Cannes Film Festival in 2010. One of the singer and television personalitys friends reportedly told The Sun, Klass had told Weinstein to f*** off. Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Sophie Dix Sophie Dix, best known for her role as Captain Sadie Williams in Soldier Soldier, described her encounter with Weinstein when she was 23 as the single most damaging thing thats happened in my life. She told The Guardian Weinstein had pushed her to her bed and was tugging at her clothes. She rushed to the bathroom to escape, but when she came out she found him standing there masturbating. I quickly closed the door again and locked it, she said. Then when I heard room service come to the door I just ran. Rex Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lea Seydoux The actor and director claims she had to fight off Weinstein after he brought her to his hotel room during what she remembers to be 2012. 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. I left his room, thoroughly disgusted, she wrote in The Guardian. AFP/Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Claire Forlani British actress Claire Forlani wrote on Twitter that she had evaded Weinsteins advances on five occasions at the age of 25. At meetings with the Hollywood a-lister, she says massage was suggested, and that Weinstein had boasted of all the women hed had sex with. Mark Douet Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Florence Darel French actress Florence Darel claimed Weinstein relentlessly pursued her in the mid 1990's and propositioned her while Eve Chilton, his wife at the time, was in the hotel room next door. I was astonished, she told People magazine. When you have someone so physically disgusting in front of you, continuing and continuing as though this was all perfectly normal What happened to me may not be illegal but it was inappropriate. Very inappropriate. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lysette Anthony Lysette Anthony, who starred as Marnie Nightingale in Hollyoaks, has claimed Weinstein raped her in the late 1980's after turning up to her London home in the late 1980s. She described the disgraced film producers alleged attack as pathetic and revolting and said it left her feeling disgusted and embarrassed. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Dawn Dunning Dunning said she met Weinstein in 2003 when she was 24-years-old and the disgraced film producer suggested she have a threesome with him and someone else. She told the New York Times Weinstein got angry when she refused. Youll never make it in this business, she said he told her as she left. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Rosanna Arquette Rosanna Arquette was already well known for her role in Desperately Seeking Susan, when she said she met Weinstein at his hotel to pick up a script in the early nineties. Weinstein was dressed only in a dressing gown, and tried to put her hand on his erect penis. Speaking to the New York Times, Arquette said as she left she told him: I will never be that girl. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Emma de Caunes Caunes, a French actor, claimed Weinstein took her to his hotel room in 2010 supposedly to retrieve a book he was making into a film, but once there he went into the bathroom. De Caunes said he then emerged naked, with an erection and told her to lie on the bed. She fled the room. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Zoe Brock Model Zoe claimed that she had to lock herself in a bathroom at Weinsteins hotel in 1997, after the mogul had sent all of the assistants out of the room, and then appeared naked. I was alone with Weinstein, she told ITVs This Morning programme. He very quickly left the room and came back naked. He chased me naked. Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Jessica Barth Actress Jessica Barth described an encounter with Weinstein in 2011 in an interview with The New Yorker in which she said Weinstein veered between offering her roles in films and demanding a naked massage. She alleges the producer said to her: So, what would happen if, say, were having some champagne and I take my clothes off and you give me a massage? When she tried to leave, he then promised to give her the number of a female executive at the company. He gave me her number, and I walked out and I started bawling, Barth said. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Romola Garai The actress told The Guardian she felt violated after she went to a meeting with Weinstein at the age of 18 and he met her in his hotel room wearing nothing but a dressing gown. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Heather Graham Graham claimed that during a casting opportunity in the early 2000's Weinstein had told her he had an open relationship with his wife. He could sleep with whomever he wanted when he was out of town. I walked out of the meeting feeling uneasy, Graham told Variety. There was no explicit mention that to star in one of those films I had to sleep with him, but the subtext was there. Graham was never hired to work in a Weinstein film. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Jessica Hynes Spaced and W1A star Jessica Hynes tweeted about an encounter with Weinstein earlier this week, but subsequently deleted the tweet. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lucia Evans The actor told The New Yorker that after a meeting to discuss casting her in various projects, Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him. I said, over and over, I dont want to do this, stop, dont. She added: Hes a big guy. He overpowered me. I just sort of gave up. Thats the most horrible part of it, and thats why hes been able to do this for so long to so many women: people give up, and then they feel like its their fault. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Louisette Geiss The former actress said she met Weinstein to pitch a film script she was working on. During the meeting, Weinstein allegedly went out and reappeared naked and got into a jacuzzi where he masturbated in front of her and said he would make the script into a film if she stayed and watched. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Liza Campbell Liza Campbell, a British writer and artist, alleged that Olympically ugly Weinstein asked her to join him in the bath and began getting undressed at a hotel. In a piece for The Times, Campbell claimed she was forced to sprint to the door to escape. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Louise Godbold Writing in a blog post, Louise Godbold, a non-profit director in Los Angeles, said her encounter with Weinstein took the form of an office tour that became an occasion to trap me in an empty meeting room. She said then Weinstein was begging for a massage, his hands on my shoulders as I attempted to beat a retreat.

As well as the dozens of direct complaints launched against Weinstein - who has since been fired from The Weinstein Company and resigned form its board - a number of high-profile stars have condemned his alleged behaviour.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tom Hanks spoke at an NPR Presents event this week and said of "predatory" Hollywood executives: "They think, somehow, this is how it works. 'Don't you understand, this is how it works, I'm your boss and you will have to please me'.

"I think those days are close to (over). I don't know if they'll ever be over."

He also urged all people who may have witnessed such behaviour in the workplace to ask themselves: "Did you aid it? Did you abet it? Did you warn people against it?"
Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

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Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein could be stripped of his honorary CBE after a formal investigation was launched, according to reports.

The Honours Forfeiture Committee is understood to have begun looking at the case after receiving a complaint.

A decision could be made within weeks, with a Whitehall source telling one newspaper removing the CBE was under "active consideration".

Recommended Harvey Weinstein expelled from Motion Picture Academy

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "Forfeiture action is confidential and we cannot comment on whether or not specific cases are being considered by the committee."

Weinstein was awarded the honour for outstanding contribution to the British film industry in 2004.

The move comes after Labour MP Chi Onwurah called for the committee to act last week.

Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Show all 42 1 /42 Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Harvey Weinstein Harry Weinsteins reputation as one of Hollywoods leading executives was long cemented in stone. The acclaimed movie mogul, who produced Oscar-winning films Shakespeare in Love, The English Patient, and The Artist, clocked up box office successes and accolades aplenty. But this has quickly changed since a chorus of women have come forward to accuse the Hollywood producer of sexual harassment and assault. Since the New York Times bombshell report disclosed sexual harassment and rape allegations against the film mogul dating back decades, Weinstein has been fired from his namesake company, expelled from the Oscars and has had his wife leave him. Weinstein has apologised for having caused a lot of pain but has denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Annabella Sciorra The Sopranos actor alleged Weinstein raped her after shooting The Night We Never Met, a 1993 movie that Weinstein produced. Similar to the stories told by other women, Weinstein drove the actor home, only to reportedly burst into Sciorra's apartment and start unbuttoning his shirt. He shoved me onto the bed, and he got on top of me, Sciorra said. I kicked and I yelled. Weinstein then allegedly locked her arms and forced sexual intercourse on her. After the incident, Sciorra found it increasingly hard to get work, many filmmakers saying 'We heard you were difficult', something the actor claims was because of the 'Weinstein-machine'. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Natassia Malthe The model and actress, who has appeared in around 50 films, said she met Weinstein at a BAFTA after party in 2008 while she was working as a spokeswoman for LG. She told a press conference in New York that she felt pressured into telling Weinstein she was staying at the Sanderson Hotel after being put on the spot. Malthe, now 43, said after her shift on February 10 she went back to her room and went to sleep, but was awoken by "repeated pounding" on her door, from someone yelling: "Open the door Natassia Malthe, it's Harvey Weinstein." Feeling humiliated, she said she opened the door. She alleged Weinstein began implying sex would get her a role in an upcoming film while semi-undressed and then he began to masturbate. "I was sitting on the bed talking to Harvey when he pushed me back and forced himself onto me. It was not consensual. He did not use a condom," she said. AP Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Sean Young The actor, best known for her role in Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, said that Weinstein exposed himself to her in the early 1990s, when she was starring in the Miramax-produced Love Crimes - a production company that Weinstein headed at the time. "I personally experienced him pulling his you-know-what out of his pants to shock me," she said. "My basic response was, 'You know, Harvey, I really dont think you should be pulling that thing out, its not very pretty.'" Young never worked with Weinstein again after the incident. Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Mimi Haleyi Mimi Haleyi said she was assaulted by Weinstein in what appeared to be a child's bedroom in his New York City apartment in 2006 when she was in her 20s. She said she was aspiring to work in television and film production when she was first introduced to him at the London premiere of The Aviator around two years earlier and he helped her get experience on the set of a TV show being produced by The Weinstein Company. But, she added, he repeatedly hassled her and even tried to force himself through her front door in an effort to get her to join him on a trip to Paris. At one point he allegedly forcibly performed oral sex on an aspiring production assistant while she was on her period. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lupita Nyong'o In an op-ed for The New York Times, the Oscar-winning actor said she was invited to Weinsteins family home in Connecticut on the premise of watching a film shortly after they met in 2011. But she said shortly after it started he "insisted" in front of his children that she follow him and she was led to his bedroom. The Kenyan-Mexican actress, now 34, said she felt pressured into giving him a massage after he offered her one. "Before long he said he wanted to take off his pants," she wrote."I told him not to do that and informed him that it would make me extremely uncomfortable. He got up anyway to do so and I headed for the door, saying that I was not at all comfortable with that." Over the years that followed, he continued to get in touch, Nyong'o said, and when she declined another proposition she felt her career was threatened. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lena Headey Writing on social media, the Game of Thrones actor claims she first met Weinstein at the Venice Film Festival in 2005 where, after taking her for a walk by the water, he made some suggestive comment and gesture. Headey claims she bumped into Weinstein years later where he kept asking her questions about her love life. She alleges that, when Weinstein invited her to his hotel room to show her a script, the "energy shifted. The actor notes how, after saying she was not interesting in anything but the work, Weinstein was furious, apparently marching her back to a lift, "grabbing and holding tightly to the back of [her] arm." She claims that, after paying for her car, he whispered in her ear: "Don't tell anyone about this, not your manager, not your agent. Headey finished the post, writing: I got in the car and I cried. Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lucia Evans The actor told The New Yorker that after a meeting to discuss casting her in various projects, Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him. I said, over and over, I dont want to do this, stop, dont. She added: Hes a big guy. He overpowered me. I just sort of gave up. Thats the most horrible part of it, and thats why hes been able to do this for so long to so many women: people give up, and then they feel like its their fault. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Laura Madden Madden, a production assistant who worked at Miramax for a decade, told the Times that Weinstein allegedly prodded her for massages at hotels, a common theme among the sources the Timess reporters spoke with. On one occasion, she claims she locked herself in his hotel bathroom, sobbing Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Ashley Judd Judd recounted for the Times how Weinstein allegedly harassed her while she was filming Kiss the Girls in 1996, inviting her to his hotel room and asking her for a massage, then inviting her to watch him shower. Judd first went public with the allegations in a 2015 interview with Variety during which she discussed the experience without naming the producer involved. She described Weinsteins alleged behaviour as coercive bargaining; I said no, a lot of ways, a lot of times, and he always came back at me with some new ask, she told the Times AFP/Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Rose McGowan McGowan reportedly reached a previously undisclosed $100,000 settlement with Weinstein in 1997, over an incident that occurred in a hotel room Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Mimi Haleyi Mimi Haleyi said she was assaulted by Weinstein in what appeared to be a child's bedroom in his New York City apartment in 2006 when she was in her 20s. She said she was aspiring to work in television and film production when she was first introduced to him at the London premiere of The Aviator around two years earlier and he helped her get experience on the set of a TV show being produced by The Weinstein Company. But, she added, he repeatedly hassled her and even tried to force himself through her front door in an effort to get her to join him on a trip to Paris. At one point he allegedly forcibly performed oral sex on an aspiring production assistant while she was on her period. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Emily Nestor Nestor had been temping at the Weinstein Company for only one day in 2014 when Weinstein allegedly offered to boost her career in return for sexual favours, according to the Times. She declined and reportedly complained of his behaviour to colleagues, who later passed the information on to senior executives. An internal Weinstein Company document cited by the Times describes Nestors encounter with Weinstein as follows: She said he was very persistent and focused though she kept saying no for over an hour Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Ambra Battilana In March 2015, Battilana, an aspiring model and actress, was reportedly summoned to Weinsteins office on a Friday night to discuss her career. According to a police report cited by the Times, Battilana claimed she was assaulted by Weinstein, who grabbed her breasts after asking if they were real and put his hands up her skirt. Weinstein later claimed that Battilana had set him up, according to colleagues of his who were interviewed by the Times. The Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, later declined to press charges, and according to the Times, made a payment to Battilana. On 5 October, the International Business Times reported that after Vance dropped the charges, he received $10,000 from Weinsteins lawyer Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lauren OConnor Lauren OConnor, an employee of the Weinstein Company, penned a memo to executives alleging a toxic environment for women at the company. The memo cited numerous incidents of Weinstein harassing or coercing women who worked for him. She expressed fear that Weinstein was using her and other female employees to facilitate liaisons with vulnerable women who hope he will get them work. That same year, Weinstein allegedly reached a settlement with OConnor Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Kate Beckinsale The actor, who starred in the Weinstein Company films Serendipity and The Aviator, alleges that she was invited to Weinsteins hotel room at the age of just 17. When she approached the door, the producer reportedly greeted her dressed in just a dressing gown. 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, she wrote on Instagram. After declining alcohol and announcing that I had school in the morning I left, uneasy but unscathed. Theo Wargo/Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Gwyneth Paltrow The actor alleges that after he cast her in the title role of the film Emma when she was 22, he took her to his hotel room, placed his hands on her and suggested massages. I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified, Paltrow told the New York Times. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Asia Argento Italian actress Asia Argento has alleged that in 1997 Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her as she repeatedly told him to stop. When I see him, it makes me feel little and stupid and weak, Argento told The New Yorker. After the rape, he won. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Cara Delevigne The British model and actress penning an Instagram post claiming that Weinstein had ordered her to kiss another woman in his hotel room, and tried to kiss her on the lips. AFP/Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Ashley Judd Ashley Judd said she rebuffed Harvey Weinsteins unwanted sexual advances by offering to consent only after she had won an Oscar. When she was initially invited to a meeting with Weinstein, Judd said, she was surprised to learn the producer was in his hotel room - a tactic that recurs in other womens accounts. Echoing the accounts of other women, Judd said Weinstein suggested she give him a massage and then invited her to watch him shower. After a volley of nos she said she would only after she wins an Oscar, fleeing after making the comments. Reuters/Mike Segar Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Judith Godreche French actress Judith Godreche said when she was 24 Weinstein invited her to his hotel room and asked to give her a massage. The next thing I know, hes pressing against me and pulling off my sweater, she told the New York Times. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Mira Sorvino The Oscar-winning actor said she found herself in a hotel room with Weinstein in 1995 where he started massaging my shoulders, which made me very uncomfortable, and then tried to get more physical, sort of chasing me around. According to an interview in The New Yorker Weinstein subsequently arrived at her apartment late at night and she had to call a friend to come over to pose as her boyfriend in order to get Weinstein out of the house. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Katherine Kendall The actress said Weinstein undressed and chased her around a living room when she was just 23. She subsequently felt that telling others meant Ill never work again and no one is going to care or believe me, she told the New York Times. WireImage Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Tomi-Anne Roberts As an aspiring actress and working in a restaurant in New York, Tomi-Ann Roberts encountered Weinstein who encouraged her to audition for one of his films back in 1984. She subsequently went to meet him and found him naked in the bath and invited her to get naked and get into the bath with him, she told the New York Times. She said she left feeling manipulated. Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Myleen Klass It has also been alleged that the disgraced film producer propositioned Myleene Klass with a sex contract at Cannes Film Festival in 2010. One of the singer and television personalitys friends reportedly told The Sun, Klass had told Weinstein to f*** off. Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Sophie Dix Sophie Dix, best known for her role as Captain Sadie Williams in Soldier Soldier, described her encounter with Weinstein when she was 23 as the single most damaging thing thats happened in my life. She told The Guardian Weinstein had pushed her to her bed and was tugging at her clothes. She rushed to the bathroom to escape, but when she came out she found him standing there masturbating. I quickly closed the door again and locked it, she said. Then when I heard room service come to the door I just ran. Rex Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lea Seydoux The actor and director claims she had to fight off Weinstein after he brought her to his hotel room during what she remembers to be 2012. 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. I left his room, thoroughly disgusted, she wrote in The Guardian. AFP/Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Claire Forlani British actress Claire Forlani wrote on Twitter that she had evaded Weinsteins advances on five occasions at the age of 25. At meetings with the Hollywood a-lister, she says massage was suggested, and that Weinstein had boasted of all the women hed had sex with. Mark Douet Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Florence Darel French actress Florence Darel claimed Weinstein relentlessly pursued her in the mid 1990's and propositioned her while Eve Chilton, his wife at the time, was in the hotel room next door. I was astonished, she told People magazine. When you have someone so physically disgusting in front of you, continuing and continuing as though this was all perfectly normal What happened to me may not be illegal but it was inappropriate. Very inappropriate. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lysette Anthony Lysette Anthony, who starred as Marnie Nightingale in Hollyoaks, has claimed Weinstein raped her in the late 1980's after turning up to her London home in the late 1980s. She described the disgraced film producers alleged attack as pathetic and revolting and said it left her feeling disgusted and embarrassed. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Dawn Dunning Dunning said she met Weinstein in 2003 when she was 24-years-old and the disgraced film producer suggested she have a threesome with him and someone else. She told the New York Times Weinstein got angry when she refused. Youll never make it in this business, she said he told her as she left. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Rosanna Arquette Rosanna Arquette was already well known for her role in Desperately Seeking Susan, when she said she met Weinstein at his hotel to pick up a script in the early nineties. Weinstein was dressed only in a dressing gown, and tried to put her hand on his erect penis. Speaking to the New York Times, Arquette said as she left she told him: I will never be that girl. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Emma de Caunes Caunes, a French actor, claimed Weinstein took her to his hotel room in 2010 supposedly to retrieve a book he was making into a film, but once there he went into the bathroom. De Caunes said he then emerged naked, with an erection and told her to lie on the bed. She fled the room. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Zoe Brock Model Zoe claimed that she had to lock herself in a bathroom at Weinsteins hotel in 1997, after the mogul had sent all of the assistants out of the room, and then appeared naked. I was alone with Weinstein, she told ITVs This Morning programme. He very quickly left the room and came back naked. He chased me naked. Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Jessica Barth Actress Jessica Barth described an encounter with Weinstein in 2011 in an interview with The New Yorker in which she said Weinstein veered between offering her roles in films and demanding a naked massage. She alleges the producer said to her: So, what would happen if, say, were having some champagne and I take my clothes off and you give me a massage? When she tried to leave, he then promised to give her the number of a female executive at the company. He gave me her number, and I walked out and I started bawling, Barth said. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Romola Garai The actress told The Guardian she felt violated after she went to a meeting with Weinstein at the age of 18 and he met her in his hotel room wearing nothing but a dressing gown. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Heather Graham Graham claimed that during a casting opportunity in the early 2000's Weinstein had told her he had an open relationship with his wife. He could sleep with whomever he wanted when he was out of town. I walked out of the meeting feeling uneasy, Graham told Variety. There was no explicit mention that to star in one of those films I had to sleep with him, but the subtext was there. Graham was never hired to work in a Weinstein film. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Jessica Hynes Spaced and W1A star Jessica Hynes tweeted about an encounter with Weinstein earlier this week, but subsequently deleted the tweet. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lucia Evans The actor told The New Yorker that after a meeting to discuss casting her in various projects, Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him. I said, over and over, I dont want to do this, stop, dont. She added: Hes a big guy. He overpowered me. I just sort of gave up. Thats the most horrible part of it, and thats why hes been able to do this for so long to so many women: people give up, and then they feel like its their fault. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Louisette Geiss The former actress said she met Weinstein to pitch a film script she was working on. During the meeting, Weinstein allegedly went out and reappeared naked and got into a jacuzzi where he masturbated in front of her and said he would make the script into a film if she stayed and watched. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Liza Campbell Liza Campbell, a British writer and artist, alleged that Olympically ugly Weinstein asked her to join him in the bath and began getting undressed at a hotel. In a piece for The Times, Campbell claimed she was forced to sprint to the door to escape. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Louise Godbold Writing in a blog post, Louise Godbold, a non-profit director in Los Angeles, said her encounter with Weinstein took the form of an office tour that became an occasion to trap me in an empty meeting room. She said then Weinstein was begging for a massage, his hands on my shoulders as I attempted to beat a retreat.

She wrote to Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood highlighting the allegations against Weinstein and said his expulsion from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - the organisation behind the Oscars - added weight to calls for the honour to be stripped from the impresario.

"One of the criteria listed by the Government for forfeiture of an honour is if the individual in question is 'censured or struck off by a professional or regulatory body for something directly relevant to their honour'," she said.

PA
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Mark Wahlberg has revealed he sought forgiveness from God for his role in 1997 film Boogie Nights.

Speaking at a Q&A in Chicago, the actor - as reported by Chicago Tribune - said: I just always hope that God is a movie fan and also forgiving because I've made some poor choices in my past.

When pressed on which films in particular he regrets, Wahlberg - a practicing Catholic - added: Boogie Nights is up there at the top of the list.

Wahlberg headed up Paul Thomas Anderson's ensemble at the age of 26 playing porn star Dirk Diggler alongside Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Heather Graham and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

It's unclear whether he deems the critically-acclaimed film a poor choice due to its adult content or whether he genuinely reflects upon it as a bad career move (in which case we'd point him to Ted 2, Pain & Gain, or Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes remake).



He continued: I've never been shy about sharing my past and the bad decisions I've made and being affiliated with gangs, being incarcerated, so absolutely I think they can identify with me on a personal level, and that's why I've continued to try to do as much as I can to help young people, he said.

If Wahlberg does think Boogie Nights is one of the weaker films in his back catalogue, he wouldn't be the only cast member to believe so: Reynolds fired his agent shortly after completing the film - a decision he may have gone on to regret after earning an Oscar nomination for his role of porn director Jack Horner.

Film premises that shouldnt have worked but did Show all 14 1 /14 Film premises that shouldnt have worked but did Film premises that shouldnt have worked but did 1. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Kicking us off is Phil Lord and Christopher Milles bizarre animated film about a scientist who creates a machine that transforms water into food. So far, not too crazy, but then the machine gets stuck in the sky and it starts raining food. Everything goes wrong and Flint Lockwood must save the day by flying up to the machine and kicking fried chicken butt. Yeah, a pretty crazy premise, but a fantastic film. Film premises that shouldnt have worked but did 2. Frank Michael Fassbender may be one of the most bankable stars of the moment - having starred in the likes of Steve Jobs, X-Men and Macbeth - but in 2014, instead of flaunting his face, producers decided to make him wear a weird papier-mache mask for the films near entirety. The plot sees Fassbenders titular character front a rock band, play SXSW and make likeable music. Its all just a bit strange. Film premises that shouldnt have worked but did 3. Groundhog Day Almost anything with Bill Murray in it is a win in my book, but when you say the premise of Ground Hog day out loud - a weatherman who must relive the same day over and over again - it sounds quite boring. What transpired was one of Murrays funniest films. Film premises that shouldnt have worked but did 4. Star Wars With Star Wars being so prevalent in pop-culture, its hard to imagine a time when no-one except George Lucas knew what a Lightsaber was. Producers must have been shocked when this young director came into the office trying to sell a script about Luke Skywalker, R2D2, Darth Vader, Chewbacca and Stormtroopers. Thankfully, they believed in his vision and now we have one of the best sci-fi sagas of all time. Film premises that shouldnt have worked but did 5. Incepetion A dream, within a dream, within a dream. Even those who watched Inception were left confused, let alone those who only heard what the film was about. Christopher Nolans final flick, however, was a masterclass in storytelling and one of the best films of the last ten years. Film premises that shouldnt have worked but did 6. Speed The high-concept Speed is quite ridiculous really. Keanu Reeves cant let a bus go below 50 miles per hour or it will blow up. Its quite amazing how Jan de Bont managed to make his debut 116 minutes long in the first place, let alone making it a decent film in the process. Film premises that shouldnt have worked but did 7. Edward Scissorhands Tim Burton is a director who could fill this entire list up. While he may have chosen to reboot numerous films in the past few years (Alice in Wonderland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the upcoming Dumbo 2) it was his original concepts that set him apart from everyone else. In Burtons head, the love story of a man with scissors for hands and a young woman made complete sense, while for everyone else - from just the premise - it seemed entirely weird. Luckily, he was given the opportunity to make the film and a cult classic was born, all while Johnny Depps ability to play the outsider was solidified. Film premises that shouldnt have worked but did 8. Mrs Doubtfire Post-Hook and Aladdin, Robin Williams was on a role. One of his standout performances was as Mrs. Doubtfire, the father-turned-drag-housekeeper. As a premise, dressing your lead male as a woman wasnt exactly new (see Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie), so the filmmakers ran the risk of it all seeming like an overdone joke. Luckily, Chris Columbus managed to pull off the ridiculous plot (how wouldnt the kids know its their father, really?) leading to one of the funniest films of the 90s. Film premises that shouldnt have worked but did 9. The Lobster Like Burton, most of Yorgos Lanthimoss films could probably feature on this page, but weve gone with The Lobster. The film tells of a hotel where residents must find a suitable partner within 45 days otherwise they will be turned into an animal. Try to run away and the other residents will hunt you down with tranquillisers. The result was one of the best love stories of 2015. Film premises that shouldnt have worked but did 10. Ant-Man Some comic book superheroes should not be adapted to the big screen (*cough* Howard the Duck *cough*). Ant-Man is not one of them. Against all the odds, Paul Rudd and Peyton Reed managed to make a compelling film about a man who could shrink down in size and control ants. Whats incredible is that - somehow - the film quickly became one of Marvels most beloved films. Of course, everyone knew Marvel could pull off weird, having knocked it out of the park with Guardians of the Galaxy the year before. Film premises that shouldnt have worked but did 11. Beetlejuice Two ghosts living in their old home want to scare away the alive people who now live there. Unfortunately, the new home-owners cant see them and so the ghosts have to call upon a deranged Michael Keaton to help them out. Add one of the strangest afterlife scenes in film history and youve got a brilliant film. Film premises that shouldnt have worked but did 12. Forrest Gump While not an obvious contender like Star Wars or Beetlejuice, when you think about it, Forrest Gump is a weird idea. A below-average intelligent man, sitting on a bench, waiting for a bus, telling strangers about all the famous moments in history where he observed/effected. Thanks to Tom Hanks, Gump was a magical film of love and hope, winning over the hearts of thousands and becoming an instant classic. Film premises that shouldnt have worked but did 13. The Lego Movie Another film from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, The Lego Movie shouldnt have worked. Making a beloved toy into a film; it was all just a bit silly. Thankfully, Chris Pratts turn as Emmett (and a catchy song in Everything is Awesome) the film was a huge hit with critics and fans alike, and now we have a cinematic universe of Lego movies to come. Awesome? Film premises that shouldnt have worked but did 14. Im Not There Lets get Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, and Ben Whishaw to all play Bob Dylan in a single film, Todd Haynes said. While you would think that would be overkill, the result was stunning, with Dylan himself eventually praising the film in 2012.

Filmmaker Anderson's new film Phantom Thread - which is expected to mark the final role of Daniel Day-Lewis - is expected next year with the first trailer released earlier this week.
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Devolver, the second solo album from Jamie Lenman, may well be the most eclectic album of his career to date, a smorgasbord of musical styles and elements fused together and filtered through the perspective of one of the country's finest songwriters. The evidence is plentiful; I Dont Know Anything begins with a bass line that sounds like the procreated offspring of The Sugarhill Gangs Rappers Delight and Queens Another One Bites the Dust. The industrial dirge that permeates throughout Mississippi evokes the dark, twisted downward spiral that percolates throughout the work of Nine Inch Nails. Bones sounds like louche lounge music thats been hi-jacked by an overdriven bass tone, as if Norah Jones decided to jam with The Melvins after one too many G&Ts.

All these disparate pieces and ideas come together to create an intricate and mysterious puzzle that perfectly reflects the enigmatic musician behind it. Devolver is released through Big Scary Monsters on Friday 27th October, but those who wish to wrap their minds around the ex-Reuben frontmans latest effort a little early can do so now by listening to an exclusive pre-release stream of the record below.

Devolver is yet another string to Lenmans musical bow; not content with mastering jazz, hardcore, folk and swing (as he did on his double-disc 2013 debut solo effort Muscle Memory) he has now turned his hand to a set of 11 songs infused with electronic flourishes and ornamentation, whilst still holding steadfastly onto the visceral, human heartbeat that permeates throughout his body of work. Its something that he reveals hes wanted to achieve in his music for a very long time.

I've been trying to put electronic blips, beeps and beats into my music ever since the second Reuben album (2005s Very Fast, Very Dangerous). We were all very big fans of Nine Inch Nails and Soulwax, so we were keen to try and push those influences into our music at the time. There are bits and pieces of that on songs such as Blamethrower' and Every Time a Teenager Listens to Drum & bass a Rockstar Dies' and there were even attempts later on with Suffocation of the Soul but we could never quite get it right. We were never really confident enough to roll the fader high enough on those elements, so when it came to writing these songs, I thought this was the time where I could really try and push those details into sharp focus.

Collaborating with his long-time friend, the enigmatic record producer Space (a hard cat to pin down) the duo began working through Lenmans demos, peppering them with digital textures and patterns, whilst still retaining a raw, pure beating human heart. Its clear that Lenman feels a huge responsibility to deliver something meaningful and substantial, particular at a time where the accessibility of music has the adverse effect of making it seem more disposable than ever before. If youre asking people to spend 10 or 15 on a physical copy or even on a download, you want to ensure that youre making something that feels worthy of their time and money. I want people to feel fulfilled by it.

Jamie Lenman alongside producer Space in the studio (Lena Mae)

Much like David Bowies Blackstar or Science Fiction, the funereal, long-awaited fifth album from Long Island alt-rock quartet Brand New, Lenman has littered Devolver with little nods and references to his previous work; its a litany of treasures for his most dedicated fans to unravel. One such secret hidden in plain sight is the M-I-double S-I-double S-I-P-P-I refrain, first used in Shotgun House (from 2013s Muscle Memory) and repeated here on the albums first single Mississippi.

My father used to sing a little rhyming song about the Mississippi, thats what that M-I-double S-I-double S-I-P-P-I mnemonic is. I put it in Shotgun House as a nod to my Dad who passed away around the time that I was putting Muscle Memory together. It was something I kept singing it over and over in my head but it got all clung up, as if it were a magnet for all the negative thoughts I was having around that time. So Mississippi is largely about the negative thoughts that you'd really rather forget and of course, my Dad dying was one of them. It became a byword for bad feelings and memories."

Whilst some of the secrets hidden within the album may take repeated listens before they reveal themselves, one thing is abundantly clear from the off; Devolver is the product of a man who adores and deeply cares about music. Whilst hes reluctant to be identified solely as the artist that rails, fist clenched and raised towards the sky, against the injustices of the music industry, it is a theme that has permeated throughout Lenmans oeuvre. The integrity and, above all, honesty of his lyrics is a fundamental ingredient that continues to resonate and instil such a deep-rooted connection and dedication among fans. In that respect of course, Devolver is no different; Body Popping, with its lines If youve never played an instrument / you can still get big and If you cannot do a f**king thing / you can still get big, is a scathing diatribe against superstar DJs and their ilk. Bones sardonically calls out those that make soulless, dispassionate music with its central query of Ive gotta ask what do you do it for? / is it really music you adore?

If I do have an enemy, its lazy, s**t music Lenman says and the only weapon I have against that is good music! All the albums I've made have, at some point, made some sort of commentary about the music industry because that's my field. Personally, I find it odd that more artists don't talk about it; if music is your entire f**king life, how can you be in a band and not address, at some point at least, what its like to be in a band?

Its Lenmans dedication to music that drives him to speak out with such fervour against what he perceives as the injustices of the music industry. But despite the examples on Devolver, Lenman will be the first to admit that he has mellowed somewhat compared to the twenty-something that wrote such scathing diatribes about the music industry in his youth. When I was in Reuben, the three of us definitely saw ourselves in a war against s**t music because there was so much of it! Almost every song is me having a go at someone and pointing out what I deem as some kind of social injustice or whatever. I'm much more reluctant to do that these days because when you get older you start to see things from both sides a little more. I guess in a way, I still feel like Im trying to fight the good fight, although I'm a lesser player in it now than I was back then because that period where I had this great spurt of creativity and all these ideas were pouring out of me? Thats a period I like to call my 20s and that is very much over for me now! I dont tend to have that many problems with people anymore or rather, if I do, those problems are usually related to conflicts that are so huge that it's not really my place to address them.

Of course, listening to Devolver, one could easily argue that Lenmans self-deprecating insinuation that his creativity is waning with age is complete balderdash. But once again, self-mockery is a theme interlaced throughout Devolver, particularly on I Dont Know Anything and the interconnected pairing of Comfort Animal and the albums title track. I suppose you'd have to blind not to pick up on that theme Lenman says with a wry chuckle, and I do feel insignificant but in a positive way! When I say that Im irrelevant, its not a pity party that Im, having, its actually a really positive outlook because I think it frees you! Its super-liberating to just say, Hey man, I dont know a f**king thing! Im just a speck of sand on this big rock floating through space.'

I tell Lenman that his sense of emancipation reminds me of famous American cosmologist Carl Sagans reflections on Pale Blue Dot, a photograph taken of the Earth at a distance of 6billion kilometres by the Voyager 1 space probe on Valentines Day in 1990. It's funny that you talk about the planets and what not Lenman chimes in because I began exploring those themes on (Reubens last album) In Nothing We Trust, particularly on that last song A Short History of Nearly Everything. Its about two brothers walking on Westers Hill and theyre having a terrible time after one of them cuts his leg on a fence. One brother picks up a rock and says to the other, This is a rock that has been here for a million years, before humans even existed and it'll continue to be here long after humans have gone. Think about the vast universe we live in and the tiny space that we occupy in it and I bet after that, you're bleeding leg wont seem so bad will it! Its the idea that were tiny specks of light in a vast, cavernous universe and if you think of things in that way, it alleviates a lot of pressure. Whenever I get a bit too big for my boots or I start believing my own press when people say flattering things about me, I bring myself back to that idea. I dont devalue the nice things that people say, but its good to remember sometimes that, at the end of the day, Im just a guy that writes a few rock songs.

Devolver is available to preorder via Big Scary Monsters on Vinyl, CD and digitally and will be released on Friday 27th October. Jamie Lenman begins a 12-date UK tour in support of the album on 1st February 2018
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The change in season can play havoc with our complexions, as our skin reacts to not only the colder climate but the environment around us (think central heating and hot showers). You may notice your skin feeling dry, uncomfortable or tight, or you may be suffering from inflammation.

Just as we switch up our wardrobe at this time of year, applying an extra layer to your skincare routine in the form of a night oil will comfort the skin.

Oils dont actually hydrate the skin, explains consultant dermatologist Dr Sharon Wong. They are occlusives, meaning they act as sealants on the skins surface. So they play a vital role in strengthening the skins moisture barrier and locking in your serum and moisturiser which makes them work harder.

Advances in cosmetic science mean next-generation formulas work that bit harder too with added skincare benefits. Youll find skin rejuvenating formulas with retinol (or plant-derived alternatives) for softening lines, wrinkles and pores.

And there are skin-soothing blends that will transform irritation or inflammation, as well as mind-calming oils that will help lull you to sleep. With so many to choose from, theres a perfect night oil for you, so let us help you find it.

Read more:

How we tested

To find the slickest operators on the beauty shelves, whether in the spa, shops or online, we put the latest night oils on trial. To make our winning selection, the bottle had to boost hydration levels quickly, making skin feel soft, supple and smooth but also had to go the extra beauty mile by offering something more for our skin.

The best night oils for 2021 are:

Best overall  Scientia dusk elixir active oil blend: 32, Cultbeauty.co.uk

 Scientia dusk elixir active oil blend: 32, Cultbeauty.co.uk Best for a youthful glow  Votary intense night oil: 135, Spacenk.com

 Votary intense night oil: 135, Spacenk.com Best alternative to retinol  REN bio retinoid youth concentrate oil: 52, Lookfantastic.com

 REN bio retinoid youth concentrate oil: 52, Lookfantastic.com Best for stressed-out skin  Paulas Choice CBD oil + retinol: 41.58, Cultbeauty.co.uk

 Paulas Choice CBD oil + retinol: 41.58, Cultbeauty.co.uk Best for uneven skin tone and fine lines  PSA Skin midnight courage rosehip and bakuchiol retinol night oil: 37, Beautybay.com

 PSA Skin midnight courage rosehip and bakuchiol retinol night oil: 37, Beautybay.com Best for all-round skin rejuvenation  Sunday Riley luna sleeping night oil: 45, Spacenk.com

 Sunday Riley luna sleeping night oil: 45, Spacenk.com Best for sensitive skin  Gallinee prebiotic face oil: 35, Lookfantastic.com

 Gallinee prebiotic face oil: 35, Lookfantastic.com Best for mature skin  Irene Forte orange blossom face oil: 99, Flannels.com

 Irene Forte orange blossom face oil: 99, Flannels.com Best for wellness  Tea and Tonic saving grace rich face oil: 45, Teaandtonic.co.uk

 Tea and Tonic saving grace rich face oil: 45, Teaandtonic.co.uk Best value  Biossance limited edition 100% squalane oil jumbo size: 37, Cultbeauty.co.uk

Scientia dusk elixir active oil blend, 50ml Best: Overall Rating: 9/10 For a skin-renewing oil that also helps you unwind at bedtime, look to this impressive formula packed with no less than 23 oils. Before applying, we found inhaling the blend from the palm of our hands instantly promotes calmness thanks to the lavender, ylang-ylang and frankincense  this quickly became a PM ritual. It also gives skin a helping hand in repair mode as we sleep. Stand-out actives include bakuchiol  a natural alternative to retinol  as well as nourishing avocado and rosehip oils. This literally lulled our tester to sleep at night and helped restore her dehydrated skin back to health leaving it brighter and radiant with ongoing use. And all with such a reasonable price tag. Buy now 32 Cultbeauty.co.uk {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}}

Votary intense night oil, 50ml Best: For a youthful glow Rating: 9/10 The brand behind a collection of beautiful face oils has this stellar bottle in its line-up. If youre looking for the skin-rejuvenating results of adding a retinoid to your routine, this uses hydroxypinacolone retinoate, which is known to be more effective than retinol with less irritation. Vitamin C-packed rosehip and avocado oil are just some of the other ingredients that make up this youth-boosting blend thats also a delight to smell with its delicate scent of rose. We found a softening to dark spots, fine lines and a definite glow using this consistently for a month. Well worth a skincare splurge. Buy now 135 Spacenk.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}}

REN bio retinoid youth concentrate oil, 30ml Best: Alternative to retinol Rating: 8/10 Look no further than this slick formula if you cant use retinol formulations. This oil uses bidens pilosa also known as blackjack  a plant-based alternative to retinol to treat signs of ageing. Other sustainably sourced ingredients include glow-boosting organic rosehip oil and skin-nourishing sea buckthorn oil that combine to produce a natural night oil that we found turned around a dry complexion with just one week of use. After three weeks we noticed even better results, with improvements to firmness too. Buy now 52 Lookfantastic.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}}

Paulas Choice CBD oil and retinol, 30ml Best: For stressed-out skin Rating: 8.5/10 While the therapeutic benefits of CBD are now well known for medical purposes, theres also a beauty buzz around its benefits in skincare  thanks to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. It cleverly soothes and calms when combined with skin-rejuvenating retinol (although this can cause irritation and sensitivity to the skin for some). Our tester felt zero irritation and after one months use, skin felt smoother, pores looked smaller, and pigmentation wasnt so prominent looking either, we thought. Buy now 41.58 Cultbeauty.co.uk {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}}

PSA Skin midnight courage rosehip and bakuchiol retinol night oil, 15ml Best: For uneven skin tone and fine lines Rating: 9/10 PSA is the more affordable sister brand to beauty editor favourite Allies of Skin, but this night oil proves its just as powerful and effective. It contains a superior retinoid, which is purer than retinol and also less irritating to the skin. Its paired with plant-based alternative bakuchiol that we found made a notable combination, as there was no sensitivity whatsoever when used night after night. Skin looked plumper when layered with a good night cream after just a few days, but give it a month and youll notice a softening of dark spots and fine lines, as well as brighter skin tone with pore size reduced too. Buy now 37 Beautybay.com {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}}

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Gone are the days when skirts were just for women and trousers were just for men.

In 2017, gender no longer dictates the way people dress.

Fashion designers are combining mens and womens collections on the runway, John Lewis have abolished girls and boys labels on childrens clothes, and more fashion brands are launching gender-neutral collections, one of these is streetwear-inspired label: Wildfang.

Following in the footsteps of H&M (who announced their unisex denim line in March), the forward-thinking brand is leading the way in gender-neutral fashion.

Their most recent project, The Future Is Fluid, reflects societys changing attitudes around gender expression and identity. Plus, 100 per cent of the profits go to LGBTQ causes.

The androgynous collection features a mixture of loose fitting suits, slogan T-shirts and tailored jackets that are neither overtly feminine nor masculine.

Gender is a fairly restrictive concept, Wildfang CEO, Emma McIlroy tells The Independent.

Historically, it has dictated what jobs people can do, how someone can act, how someone can dress and that limits someone's ability to truly self-express and reach their full potential.

Gender-neutral clothing doesn't force someone into a box. It allows them to self-express exactly how they chose to.

McIlroys progressive ideologies could be beneficial when applied to childrens clothing, explained psychologist Dr Christina Richards.

Initiatives like John Lewis allow children to express themselves fully and be all they can be - irrespective of sex, she said,

However, gender therapist Dr Christella Antoni, stresses the importance of not replacing one with the other.

There is advantage to having clothes available that our more gender-neutral but this doesn't mean they should totally replace clothes for girls and clothes for boys, she told The Independent.

In an ideal world gender-neutral clothes should exist alongside clothes for girls and clothes for boys, she said, adding that it would be wrong to force a child to wear clothes that they feel dont match their identity, whether that is strictly gendered or not.

As for all matters relating to gender, the issue isn't simplistic, she added.

Recommended John Lewis gender neutral clothing labels faces public backlash

However, while brands are embracing this cultural subversion of gender norms, we still have a long way to go, Antoni notes.

It's always been easier for women to cross the dressing stereotypes and much more difficult for men, which is more repressive, she explained.

When British mode Agyness Deyn first came onto the sartorial scene in 2007, she became the poster child for androgynous fashion thanks to her tailored suits and trademark blonde buzzcut.

Hailed by fashion editors and photographers everywhere, she landed covers for Vogue and Elle and was cast in all of the top shows.

It wasnt until 2016 that an inverse phenomenon occurred, when Jaden Smith  son of Hollywood actor Will Smith  donned a skirt in Louis Vuittons spring/summer 2016 campaign.

Now, a whole host of A-list celebrities are embracing so-called feminine fashion tropes.

Theres Harry Styles in his Gucci boots, Zayn Malik in ladies blouses  even Justin Bieber is impartial to womens skinny jeans.

If there was ever a clearer move towards gender fluidity in fashion, this is it.
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Many of the world's richest and most powerful people are bracing themselves for a huge leak of their information.

The Bermuda hack  which could be somerthing like a repeat of the Panama Papers  may be about to lead to a major examination of the financial, corporate and tax affairs of the most important people on the planet.

High net worth individuals and the world's biggest companies are gearing up with legal firms and PR companies for the huge drop. But here's exactly what it means, who will be affected and how.

What's about to happen?

We don't know exactly, but something big. A number of media organisations are gearing up to release information from the cyber attack, though it's not clear what that information will be.

What is Appleby?

This is the biggest clue to what's about to happen, really. Appleby is a leading offshore law firm that does work for people including the super-rich and many of the world's biggest international corporations. That work is likely to take a number of forms, but much of it happens from Bermuda, where it is based, meaning that it probably has some connection to tax affairs.

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The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

And what happened to them?

They suffered what they called a "data security incident", which is presumably a hack of some description. It happened last year, but the consequences are just becoming clear  Appleby said it has gone public with the event because it was contacted by journalists about its "business and the business conducted by some of our clients", with the resulting story expected to be published soon.

Who's worried?

Many of the world's most famous, influential and important people, according to numerous reports. The company behind the hack looked after the affairs of some of the richest people around, and so you can expect them to be caught up in the attack.

For the most part, that's probably going to be influential people who could be accused of hypocrisy or outright immorality on the basis of their business dealings. Anyone caught up in it may well know about it already  The Telegraph reported that a number of wealthy and high-profile people are speaking with lawyers and PR firms, presumably because they've either been contacted by journalists or because they know their information was being held by Appleby.

The other major concern will be among the government. Appleby's has offices in a number of British overseas territories, and the information could show that business is happening in those places that should have been clamped down on by authorities.

Is this like the Panama Papers?

It is remarkably similar, and comes just about a year after that leak. Though the methods were different, the aftershocks and details of the Panama Papers are a good clue for what might happen.

In that case, news organisations that got hold of the papers used them almost entirely responsibly, to report information that was in the public interest. The  but that hasn't

Appleby's has said it was disappointed that the media may choose to publish material obtained illegally and warned that it may result in exposing innocent parties to data protection breaches.

Of course, if the information makes its way into the public domain then it's likely that it will be used by hackers. The fact that the Panama Papers were leaked by a source meant that wasn't likely to happen to data contained in them, but we know from other major cyber attacks that hackers are decidedly not shy about taking publicly available information and using it to make money, either through the obvious means or through blackmail.

Do I need to worry?

Probably not, unless you're one of the global public and private companies, financial institutions, and high net worth individuals who does its business with Appleby's. Even if you are, then the company has advised its customers that their data remains secure  though the very fact that it had to say it suggests that there might be some risk.

None of which is to say that you should stop being vigilant. As with any hack, the repercussions can go further than just those who have their details being stored by the compromised companies  the files held by Appleby's presumably include detailed information about their customers' associates, for instance, and that might be you.

Either way, the advice is always the same: watch for questionable activity happening in your accounts, both online and financial; make sure your passwords are regularly changed and your details are up to date; regularly check your credit reports;

How can I avoid this sort of thing happening to me?

The short answer is that it's almost impossible. In this case, like in the Equifax hack, the people who are being caught up in it might have had no option: they simply gave over their data to a company they trusted, and that company's servers were broken into.

With Equifax, many people caught up in the hack weren't even aware that the company was holding their details. That's because it didn't necessarily ask for permission  the company's business model involves hoovering up financial and other data and using it on behalf of other companies, meaning that it remains mostly unknown.

Still, that doesn't mean it's not worth making sure that you're handing your data over to responsible companies, when you can. Your personal information is one of the most valuable things you own, and companies often (mostly correctly) presume that people aren't aware of that  so just like you would with other things, make sure that you use companies you can trust to have put the work in to keep you safe.

But just as important is behaving as if you've already been part of such a hack, in small ways. Make sure that you check through your bank accounts and credit score regularly, looking for anything untoward, for instance.

Ultimately, though, the fallout from the Bermuda hack could be huge  but will probably only affect people in the public eye. For most people, there can be financial but not reputational repercussions from such hacks, and so as long as you're not using sensitive websites like Ashley Madison, it's unlikely you'll suffer in the same way.

What does Appleby have to say?

Exactly what you'd expect, really.

We are an offshore law firm who advises clients on legitimate and lawful ways to conduct their business," read a statement.

"We do not tolerate illegal behaviour. It is true that we are not infallible. Where we find that mistakes have happened, we act quickly to put things right and we make the necessary notifications to the relevant authorities.

We are committed to protecting our clients' data and we have reviewed our cyber security and data access arrangements following a data security incident last year which involved some of our data being compromised.

These arrangements were reviewed and tested by a leading IT forensics team and we are confident that our data integrity is secure.
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Facebook's Live video might be one of the site's most celebrated recent features. But it also among its most troubling.

A suicide in Turkey is just the latest example to bring to the fore how dangerous, traumatic and important Facebook's livestreaming technology can be. Since it was introduced in 2015, it has become one of its biggest features  and Facebook would like it to be even bigger  but also one of its most controversial.

That's because it is among the most direct and dangerous tools that the site offers. The same engagement and immediacy that has led news organisations and public figures around the world to adopt the feature has a terrifying darkside  one that sees the feature being used increasingly to document and even encourage harm and death.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

Facebook says that it is still building the technology that will allow it to properly regulate live video. And even once that is built, it might not opt to take down such videos, it said  indeed, doing so could actually put the people involved in more danger.

In May, after a number of high profile deaths that were streamed live on the service, Mark Zuckerberg posted on his personal Facebook account to make clear that it would do more to try and stop them.

Over the last few weeks, we've seen people hurting themselves and others on Facebook  either live or in video posted later," he wrote. "It's heartbreaking, and I've been reflecting on how we can do better for our community."

In that post, he announced that the company would hire 3,000 more people to its "community operations" team, which already had 4,500 people. They will look over live videos and other content that has been reported, looking not only for people at risk of hurting themselves but banned content like hate speech and child exploitation.

The trouble with that is there is simply too much content for any amount of people to look at. Even with huge numbers of people being helped out by even bigger numbers of civilians reporting videos, Facebook simply doesn't have time to look through videos in realtime and find out ones that show people in danger.

Eventually, some of that work might be taken over by artificial intelligence. Mark Zuckerberg said in a call to investors that because of the size Live video was growing, he expected that it would have to hire more people. Eventually, AI might have to take over, he said  but that will be a matter of years.

"Over time, the AI tools will get better," he said. "Right now, there are certain things that AI can do in terms of understanding text and understanding what's in a photo and what's in a video. That will get better over time. That will take a period of years though to really reach the quality level that we want.

"So for a while our strategy has been to continue building as good of tools as we can. Because no matter how many people we have on the team, we're never going to be able to look at everything, right? So that's going to be a big challenge."

Earlier this year, Facebook added new, less technical features to help people who are at risk of suicide, self-harm or other crises. They primarily exist to put people in contact with groups that can help them out  and the site has said that more technical approaches, like cutting off livestreams too early, can actually cause problems for the people involved.

If someone sees a friend on Facebook they're worried about, then they can report the person and the content that worried them. Once that happens, it triggers a range of different features: the person who did the reporting will see tips on how they can help their friend, but the friend themselves will also be given suggestions like helplines and tips that can be useful at difficult times.

It introduced the tools with a range of partners, all more experienced in the work of harm prevention. Those included the Crisis Text Line, the National Eating Disorder Association and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Mr Zuckerberg said in May that those features were working  some of the time.

"This is important," he wrote. "Just last week, we got a report that someone on Live was considering suicide. We immediately reached out to law enforcement, and they were able to prevent him from hurting himself. In other cases, we weren't so fortunate."

The site said when it rolled those out that it needed to be careful with cutting of livestreams, since that might actually put the person at the centre of them at more risk. Some might say we should cut off the livestream, but what weve learned is cutting off the stream too early could remove the opportunity for that person to receive help, Facebook Researcher Jennifer Guadagno told Techcrunch when it was promoting those features.

Anyone faced with suicidal thoughts or in need of someone to talk to can access free support by calling the Samaritans on 116 123.
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Square Mile firms will begin activating their Brexit contingency plans unless the Government provides clarity over a transition period by the end of the year, the City of London Corporation has warned in a letter to the Chancellor.

Catherine McGuinness, the corporation's policy and resources chairman, told Philip Hammond that it was critical that UK-based financial services firms have urgent clarity from the UK and EU on time-limited, legally binding transitional arrangements as well as the principles that underpin them.

While businesses will have different cut-off points for activating contingency plans, clarity will be needed by the end of this year, Ms McGuinness wrote in a letter to the Chancellor.

Recommended Business leaders and financial experts slam deadlock in Brexit talks

If delivered in time, those details could allow companies to slow, or even scrap, their contingency plans, she said.

For businesses that have already begun activating contingency plans, clarity on transition will allow them to decelerate those plans.

For others, it may help them avoid taking unnecessary contingency measures entirely. The earlier transitional arrangements are agreed, the more value they will have for businesses and their customers.

The letter, written ahead of the Chancellor's Budget on 22 November, also included calls to cut tax rates down from 17 per cent for corporate treasury centres, which are common among Asian multinationals and operate as in-house banks for their businesses.

The City of London Corporation wants to make UK rates competitive and allow London to win more business from Asian rivals including Singapore and Hong Kong, who tax at 8 per cent and 8.25 per cent, respectively.

It was part of a broader call to action on fiscal policy, which Ms McGuinness said must go beyond Brexit considerations.

But Germany's financial regulator warned earlier this week that Britain is nearing a point of no return for financial services firms, which are unable to wait much longer for a mutual recognition agreement that would allow them to continue serving customers in each others' markets.

Speaking in London on Tuesday, Bafin president Felix Hufeld said that it will be hard for companies to stall or halt plans if Britain fails to strike a deal by the first quarter of 2018.

Have we already hit a point of no return? I don't think so. But we're getting closer, he said.

A number of global banks and insurers are preparing to relocate business and staff from London to the continent in order to secure their EU operations, with many looking to the likes of Frankfurt and Dublin as their new continental home.

London lobby group TheCityUK also warned last week that financial firms will pull the trigger on irreversible Brexit job relocations in the new year unless the Conservatives agree a transition deal imminently.

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.

It also said that the value of a transitional deal is disappearing by the day.

They can still take their foot off the accelerator if a transitional deal is agreed, but without progress soon, it may be too late. Once businesses start moving, there is no reverse gear. It is simply not efficient or economically viable to move operations twice.

TheCityUK argued that, to avoid this scenario, an agreement must be reached by the first quarter of 2018 at the latest.

PA
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Rising economic nationalism, embodied by Donald Trump, Brexit and resurgent far-right movements across Europe, is causing companies to reconsider investing in research and development, according to research by PwC.

Tighter regulations around visas, immigration, and protectionist policies governing the sharing of knowledge and technology, could threaten global innovation, a survey of research and development (R&D) leaders from the worlds biggest companies found.

Almost a quarter of global firms surveyed said they had already felt pressure to change their approach to innovation in their home country because of a rise in economic nationalism. Survey participants saw the US, UK, and China as being most at risk from protectionist policies, while Canada, Germany, and France were seen as most likely to benefit.

The 1,000 companies analysed spent more than $700bn (530bn) on R&D in the last financial year, a 3 per cent rise on the year before, the annual report found.

But a third of R&D professionals said that they have already found it more difficult to find or retain skilled staff because of economic nationalism.

UK companies have warned that Brexit could trigger a skills crisis as the flow of workers from the EU begins to slow, while those that are already in the country begin to leave in greater numbers.

In the US, Silicon Valleys technology companies  including Google, Facebook and Microsoft  have united to call for continued access to talent from around the world in the face of President Trumps ban on immigrants from some Muslim majority countries.

More than half of the R&D leaders polled said they believe a general move towards protectionism around the world would lead to at least a moderate or significant impact on their companys research efforts.

The study analysed spending by the 1,000 publicly listed companies with the biggest outlay on R&D, of which thirty-six were British. UK firms invested a total of $23bn between them, or just over 3 per cent of the worlds total. British firms spent just 3.8 per cent of their revenue on R&D - less than the global average of 4.5 per cent.

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.

Healthcare companies account for half of the UKs R&D spend. The automotive industry, along with aerospace and defence are the next biggest R&D spenders, investing 21 per cent and 7 per cent of the total respectively.

Marco Amitrano, UK consulting leader at PwC, commented: Organisations that operate in and around the UK are rightly watching the ongoing Brexit negotiations closely and, as greater clarity emerges, that will drive decisions on investment bets to support medium and long-term plans.

Innovation is essential for the future success of any economy, but here in the UK, the development of policy to maintain companies ability to bring talent from abroad will be an area of critical debate and importance for business. We need to make sure that stronger borders don't mean weaker innovation.
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A subsidy ban for new onshore wind farms could add 1bn onto energy bills over five years by eschewing one of the cheapest forms of clean energy.

Generating power from new onshore wind farms would be 100m a year cheaper than doing so from new nuclear reactors or biomass plants, and at least 30m cheaper than under the latest offshore wind-power contracts, according to research by the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit, a London-based non-profit group.

Savings would reach 1bn over five years if 1 gigawatt of capacity was installed in the first year and another 500 megawatts in following years, said ECIU, which urged Theresa Mays Conservative government to allow wind farms to compete for contracts in the next power auction, due to be held in 2019.

UK onshore wind may supply electricity for as little as 50 a megawatt hour according to research this year by Baringa Partners compared that estimate to an auction last month which saw Dong Energy A/S win a contract to supply power from offshore wind farms at 57.50 pounds a megawatt hour, as well as to a 92.50 contract awarded to EDF to supply power from the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant in Somerset.

The cost of onshore wind may have fallen even further since the Baringa analysis was published in April, Richard Black, ECIUs director, said in an email. Both the offshore auctions and the latest prices elsewhere in Europe suggest prices would be below the Baringa figure, he said.

We do not believe that more large-scale onshore wind power is right for England, a spokesman for the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy said in an email. Were committed to supporting the development of onshore wind projects in the remote islands of Scotland and will set out further details shortly.

Bloomberg
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Executives at some of Britains largest companies have reacted with alarm to Prime Minister Theresa Mays statement that the details of any transitional arrangements with the European Union may not be known until a broader trade deal has been agreed.

Already rattled by the slow progress of Brexit talks, businesses operating in the worlds fifth largest economy have been pressing for months for details about what any transitional EU trade deal will actually look like.

May had promised to retain full access to the EUs single market for two years after Brexit and told executives from leading British companies two weeks ago they should consider a transition period as assured.

Recommended Government spending millions on preparation for no deal Brexit

But the Prime Minister surprised many on Monday when she told parliament that any transition deal would be part of a wider trade agreement - meaning companies may not have specific details about interim trade arrangements for some time.

Britain is due to leave the EU in March 2019 and many companies say they need to know the terms of any transition deal at least a year beforehand to reap any benefits while some banks have already triggered contingency plans.

The difficulty is timing, Barclays chairman John McFarlane told Reuters. We can avoid material dislocation if we know by the end of the first quarter next year, although real money is likely to be spent if uncertainty persists.

Mr McFarlane said he believed Brussels was open to a transition deal that gave businesses and the British government time to adjust to the post-Brexit world, but an agreement needed to be reached as soon as possible.

A spokesman for Ms May tried to provide more clarity on Tuesday saying Britain hoped to agree a broad framework for its transitional trade agreement quickly, but declined to say when such a deal might be reached.

It is incredibly disheartening, said Catherine McGuinness, the political leader of the City of Londons municipal body. Clarification around a transition so late in the day will be like closing the stable doors once the horse has bolted.

Reuters spoke to seven senior executives at leading companies in Britain on Tuesday as well as five business organisations to get their reaction to Mays comments.

Concern about Brexit arrangements had been growing even before Mays comments on Monday spooked executives further. The countrys five leading business organisations warned on Monday that companies would start moving jobs and investment out of Britain if they do not get a transition deal soon.

An executive at a company in the FTSE 100 index of blue-chips said its management had spent much of Tuesday morning trying to establish if May had misspoken in parliament, or whether her statements had been incorrectly reported.

I can understand it politically and from a negotiation point of view, but from a business point of view, this is going to cause problems, the executive, who declined to be named, said.

Executives at some other FTSE 100 companies were also confused by Mays statement on Monday, saying it was the latest example of a lack of coherence from the government about its Brexit plans, and that they needed hard details.

Several opposition lawmakers pressed the Prime Minister in parliament on Monday to clarify what her negotiating stance meant for businesses.

The issue of an implementation period is about practical arrangements to reach the future partnership, and you do not know what those practical arrangements are until you know what that future partnership is, Ms May told lawmakers.

Companies have become increasingly vocal in recent weeks about fears that Britain could crash out of the worlds biggest trading bloc without any deal.

Some businesses, including the biggest banks and financial institutions, have already identified locations in Europe to open offices and reallocate staff because of a lack of clarity.

An executive at a US bank in London said at this point words would no longer suffice to reassure businesses that a transition deal would fall into place.

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.

When you sit down with your lawyers they will warn business that soft sounding words are not enough, he said.

British officials say they can agree a trade deal with the EU next year but EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said in comments published on Tuesday it would take until the end of 2020.

May consistently says a transition ... period will be agreed because she truly believes she will have an agreement on a future trade deal by March 2019, said another banker at a major international lender. She is the only person in the entire world who believes that is possible.



Reuters
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A record number of firms are unhappy with the state of infrastructure in their region, new research shows.

According to the 2017 Infrastructure survey from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and engineering multinational AECOM, only a fifth of firms are satisfied with the pace of infrastructure delivery in the UK, while 74 per cent doubt infrastructure will improve over the course of this Parliament. This was primarily attributed to political inconsistency (94 per cent of firms) and political risk (86 per cent).

More than half the firms even described themselves as dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with infrastructure in their region: 54 per cent, which was 8 per cent higher than in last years report, and a record number for the CBI survey (now in its seventh year).

For the first time, the survey included a public poll on infrastructure, which showed that the publics outlook is similar to that of the companies: 76 per cent of respondents doubted that there will be an improvement in infrastructure by the end of this Parliament.

CBI director-general Carolyn Fairbairn said that the Government had shown a commitment to infrastructure over the past year, including making decisions to approve Heathrows third runway and to upgrade the A303 road near Stonehenge. It had also made pledges to scale up the supply of housing and clean energy.

But Ms Fairbairn added that this was clearly not translating into business or public optimism, and that the Government had reached crunch time on UK infrastructure  which is fundamental to driving productivity.

Ms Fairbairn said: This is no time for discussion and delays; its time for delivery. This needs to be heard not just by Westminster, but by local and devolved governments, as making progress on smaller, local projects is just as important as the bigger projects.

The devolution of power from Westminster is seen by firms as an opportunity, with 42 per cent of those surveyed believing the agenda could lead to infrastructure improvements. However, this had dropped from 47 per cent in the 2016 survey, and 61 per cent in 2015. The CBI said this shows devolution must translate into better infrastructure results across the country.

In the survey, over half of firms (51 per cent) saw new free trade opportunities with countries outside the EU as positive. However, 45 per cent of businesses thought that improvements to port access through road and rail was critical for the UK to make the most of a new trading future.

Meanwhile, with infrastructure accounting for nearly half (47 per cent) of the European Investment Banks investments in the UK, there is little confidence that firms will receive similar funding after Brexit.

Ahead of Brexit, access to skills from the EU was seen by firms in the digital, energy and aviation sectors as the top priority in building a new relationship with Europe.

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.

Richard Robinson, chief executive of civil infrastructure in Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa at AECOM, said: The overriding message from business and the public in this years survey is clear: more needs to be done to raise confidence and up the pace in which infrastructure is delivered. Now is the time to provide clarity around infrastructure investment and accelerate action.

Of the businesses surveyed by the CBI, 96 per cent said that they think infrastructure is important to the Governments agenda.

The survey of businesses was carried out between June and August and included responses from 727 firms. Public polling figures are from market research firm YouGov and include the responses of 1,668 people.
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More than 100 MPs have written to the heads of Oxford and Cambridge University calling for urgent reforms after data revealed a "social apartheid" in student admissions.

The MPs, many of whom represent parts of the country that are under-represented at Oxbridge, criticise the institutions for continuing to draw the overwhelming majority of their students from a small minority in terms of both geography and socio-economic background.

The letter, organised by Labour MP David Lammy, calls on Oxbridge to take the initiative in directly contacting talented students and in reaching out to parts of our society and our country that are under-represented.

It accuses the collegiate admissions system of being highly subjective, arguing that Oxbridge must consider implementing a centralised admissions process in order to achieve real and sustained progress.

The letter states: Much more work is required to find the most talented students who may be from disadvantaged backgrounds, lack the confidence or support networks to apply to Oxbridge or live in parts of the country and attend schools that do not traditionally send many students to Oxbridge.

We call on you to take the initiative in directly contacting talented and straight A students, whether following GCSE, AS Level or A Level results, and in reaching out to parts of our society and our country that are under-represented.

Data published last week by Mr Lammy following Freedom of Information requests found a decline in the social diversity of students at Oxford and Cambridge, with 82 per cent of Oxbridge offers currently made to applicants in the top two social classes, compared to 79 per cent in 2010 and 77 per cent in 2004-09.

It also revealed that Oxbridge makes more offers to applicants from four of the Home Counties than the whole of the North, drawing just under half (48 per cent) of its students from London and the South East, with 11 per cent from the Midlands, 15 per cent from the North and 2 per cent from Wales.

Thirteen Oxford University colleges failed to make a single offer to black A-level applicants over a six-year period, with only three of its 32 colleges making an offer to a black A-level applicant every year between 2010 to 2015, the figures showed.

Mr Lammy, who accused the institutions of "social apartheid" when the figures emerged, said Oxbridge were letting down whole swathes of the country  arguing that the taxpayer should not continue to foot the bill for them.

These universities are public bodies taking over 800 million each year from taxpayers in every city, town and village, but they are letting down whole swathes of the country  particularly across the North, the Midlands and Wales, he said.

Oxbridge are failing to live up to their responsibilities so there is no reason why the taxpayer should continue to foot this bill. An Oxbridge degree is still the golden ticket in our society and a gateway to the top jobs so the Government has a responsibility to hold Oxbridge to account.

"For far too long Oxbridge have been long on rhetoric when it comes to improving access and widening participation but very short indeed on action and this needs to change urgently."

The vice-chancellor of Cambridge University, Professor Stephen Toope, said in response to the letter: "I believe that all universities, including Cambridge, have a duty to be open to people from all backgrounds, irrespective of race, class and origin.

"Our excellence is built on diversity. We recognise that more hard work is required, but a great deal has already changed in our outreach work, in the financial support we give students, and in our admissions processes  particularly over the last 10 years."

He claimed the university's latest admissions statistics show the highest proportion of state-educated students in 35 years, and a significant increase in the proportion of UK students coming from the hardest to reach communities.

We currently spend 5m a year on measures to widen access to students from across the UK. Last year we invested nearly 8 million on bursaries that supported more than 2,600 students from lower income families. We are making real and sustained progress.

A spokesperson for Oxford University said its vice-chancellor would respond to the letter in the coming days, but said the institution shared the concerns expressed by MPs about "uneven access to Oxford", and acknowledged that it had "a great deal of work to do".

"We are committing more money and people than ever before to addressing these problems, including opening our latest outreach centre in Sunderland next month, the spokesperson said.

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The MP said foundation year programmes should be rolled out across every college and Oxbridge must make more of an effort to reach out directly to talented students from disadvantaged or under-represented areas.

They should be writing to these students to persuade them to apply or attend an open day, as the Ivy League colleges do in the US. It is also time for Oxbridge to seriously consider moving away from a collegiate system for admissions, he said.

Warms words can only go so far when the admissions process is actually in the hands of autonomous colleges, many of which are complacent and unconcerned at best about improving access."

A Department for Education spokesperson: Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are not only entering our world class universities at record rates, the latest UCAS data shows that they are 51 per cent more likely to go to one of the most selective universities than in 2011.

We have also seen record entry rates across all ethnic groups. But we recognise there is more to do. That is why we have already produced guidance instructing the Office for fair Access to push universities, particularly those that are highly selective, to close the gap in access faster.

The Prime Minister also recently launched a Race Disparity Audit and a programme of work to tackle disparities across all levels of society  including employment, education and criminal justice. The audit highlights how far we must still go but also how committed we are to confront inequality in order to truly build a country that works for everyone.
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Betty Campbell was an inspiration to black pupils; a career pioneer; a community activist and racial education champion  and Black History Month in the UK can be traced back to her efforts in the 1970s. But Waless first black headteacher remained so grounded that she preferred to be known simply as Betty.

Born Betty Johnson in 1934, she grew up in Butetown, south Cardiff, a social and cultural milieu that could have held her back from success, but instead forged her mettle. Known as the docks, or Tre-biwt in Welsh, Butetown was one of the UKs first multicultural communities, drawing immigrants from more than 50 countries by the outbreak of the First World War, most of whom found work on the docks of Tiger Bay.

Campbells father Simon Vickers Johnson had come over from Jamaica when he was just 15, but was killed in the Second World War when his ship, the Ocean Vanguard, was torpedoed in 1942. Her Barbadian mother Honora, known as Nora, was forced to work as an illegal street bookmaker to make ends meet.

Growing up in the poverty of Tiger Bay, Campbell would curl up with Enid Blyton novels and dream of idyllic girls boarding schools. Eventually, she won a scholarship to the exclusive Lady Margaret High School for Girls in Cardiff, where she would study alongside mostly white, middle-class girls.

Always top the class in secondary school, Campbell confided to the headmistress that she too would like to teach  only to be told: Oh my dear, the problems would be insurmountable.

And she never forgot the words. I went back to my desk and I cried, Campbell once recalled. That was the first time I ever cried in school. But it made me more determined; I was going to be a teacher by hook or by crook.

But there would be a bump or two along the way. As a teenager, she took a bus to a dance in Pontypridd and met a fitters mate, Rupert Campbell, who like her father had come from Jamaica.

Campbell ended up doing her A-levels while pregnant with her first child, leaving school at 17. She married Rupert in 1953, and went on to have two more children, but never gave up my dream of being a teacher.

In 1960, she read an article about Cardiff Teacher Training College, which had begun taking on female students for the first time  albeit only six of them  and she was eager to apply. But her mother told her: Dont be so bloody soft. Youve got three kids. How are you going to do that? Campbell was to prove her mother wrong, despite struggles with the birth of her fourth child who had special needs.

After her first teaching post in Llanrumney, east Cardiff, she jumped at the chance to return to Butetown when a position opened up at Mount Stuart Primary School. But back in Tiger Bay, things werent, as she put it, all honey.

Butetown was in transition: new developments were being built on the docks, which was hoped would spur integration in the town. But the divide between the wealthy Cardiff Bay and the poorer Tiger Bay endured, as the housing estate became increasingly excluded.

Campbell also faced hostility from some parents. They hadnt seen a black teacher before. It was as if you could do a job, but if youre black youre werent quite as good.

But again she proved her detractors wrong by becoming headmistress in the 1970s: the first black headteacher in Wales. Not content to just make history, she set about making sure her students knew the history.

On a trip to America, she had been inspired by learning about the life of abolitionist and former slave Harriet Tubman and other civil rights activists. Later at the National Assembly for Wales, she explained: I was determined that I was going to become one of those people and enhance the black spirit, black culture as much as I could.

She made it her mission to promote a diverse curriculum, which included references to black peoples experiences and their positive contribution to British society. Pupils have spoken of how every month was Black History Month.

I looked at black history, the Caribbean, Africa and slavery and the effects. There were people that said: You should not be teaching that. Why not? It happened. Children should be made aware.

Her efforts did not go unnoticed: Prince Charles himself attended the schools annual St Davids Day celebration in 1994, and she became a member of the Home Offices race advisory committee, eventually appointed a member of the Commission for Racial Equality.

Campbell even had her students write letters to Nelson Mandela, calling him a fantastic role model for the children. They were rewarded in 1998 when she was invited to meet Nelson Mandela during his only visit to Wales, accepting the Freedom of the City of Cardiff.

She became known outside Wales as a leading academic and an authority on education, but she never forgot her Butetown roots. Representing her community as councillor from 1999 to 2004, for both Labour and as an independent, she oversaw a difficult time in Tiger Bay history. Welsh coal exports were over, jobs were scarce, and the development was eventually bulldozed to make way for new tower block council estates.

Cardiff South MP Stephen Doughty, who first met Campbell when she was just a child, said: She was fiercely strong in her advocacy for local people, and fiercely passionate about the diversity and history of the amazing docks communities.

Campbell continued to teach a series of workshops for Black History Month to raise awareness of the role of Butetowns citizens in the Second World War, and the involvement of their countries of origin, right up to her death.

In 2003, Campbell was awarded an MBE for services to education and community life. She was also honoured by Unison Cymrus Black Members group in 2015 with a lifetime achievement award for her contribution to black history and Welsh education  and award she said meant more to her than her MBE.

Carwyn Jones, First Minister of Wales, called her a true pioneer and inspiration to other black and ethnic minority people.

Betty Campbell (nee Johnson), teacher and councillor, born 1934, died 13 October 2017
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Scientists in China have developed several types of rice that can be grown in seawater, potentially creating enough food for 200 million people.

Researchers have been trying to grow the grain in salty water for decades but have only now developed varieties that could be commercially viable.

The rice was grown in a field near the Yellow Sea coastal city of Qingdao in Chinas eastern Shandong province. 200 different types of the grain were planted to investigate which would grow best in salty conditions.

Recommended Tourists plant rice in famine stricken North Korea

Sea water was pumped into the fields, diluted and then channelled into the rice paddies.

The scientists expected to produce 4.5 tonnes of rice per hectare but the crops exceeded expectations, in one case delivering up to 9.3 tonnes per hectare.

"The test results greatly exceeded our expectations," Liu Shiping, a professor of agriculture at Yangzhou University who is involved in the project, told Xinhua.

There are one million square kilometres of land in China where crops do not grow because of high salinity. Scientists hope the development of the new rice will allow some of these areas to be used for agriculture.

If even a tenth of these areas were planted with rice, they could produce 50 million tonnes of food  enough to feed 200 million people and boost Chinas rice production by 20 per cent.

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. 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The new type of rice was developed by a team led by 87-year-old Yuan Longping, who has spent decades trying to breed rice to grow in different conditions. The Chinese government has been investigating how to grow rice in salty waters since the 1970s.

Mr Yuan said: "If a farmer tries to grow some types of saline-tolerant rice now, they most likely will get 1,500 kilogrammes per hectare. That is just not profitable and not even worth the effort.

"Farmers will have an incentive to grow the rice if we can double the yield.

The saltwater rice is currently on sale for around 50 yuan (6) per kilogramme  around eight times more than ordinary rice. Despite the cost, six tons of the grain have already been sold, with consumers praising its flavour and texture.

The rice is also thought to have several health benefits, including being high in calcium.
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A Russian man banned for life from Sweden for making bomb threats was stopped by border officials in Malmo as he tried to return to retrieve his cat.

The 52-year-old, who reportedly has hijacking-related convictions in Russia, was stopped at Lernarkcen, on the Swedish side of the resund bridge which connects Denmark and Sweden.

The as-yet-unnamed man is currently being detained in Malmo on charges of breaking the country's foreign citizen laws.

The man stated that he had returned to pick up his beloved pet, which is currently being accommodated at a cat hotel in Boras, reports Sydsvenskan.

The cat was left stranded in 2014 when its owner was arrested in connection with a bomb threat he made towards a flight from St. Petersburg to Helsinki.

The man was detained after he tried to enter the country on 12 October.

 Sweden's Museum of failure opens June 7

"This is about a shy cat that is scared of strange people, so we must find a solution to this, the man's lawyer, Richard Schonmeyr, said to the Sydsvenskan newspaper.
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The United States is retreating from the global community under a president who rejected the Paris Climate Accords and denigrates Nafta and Nato. This provides an opportunity for China to play a greater role in global affairs.

This is the backdrop to the 19th Party Congress, as China seeks to balance external influence with domestic economic stability. One area in which China can exert greater influence is infrastructure, an urgent issue for development. According to the OECD, supporting development worldwide requires yearly infrastructure investment of $6.3 trillion until 2030. With knowledge of development honed through decades of rapid domestic economic growth, China is well placed to shape global development in ways that may define the rest of the 21st century.

China has invested in infrastructure projects around the world since the 1970s but a coherent policy for infrastructure investment first appeared in 2013. During a speech in Kazakhstan, Xi unveiled the Silk Road Economic Belt concept.

Shortly thereafter he proposed the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Other institutions supporting Chinas global initiatives include the $40bn Silk Road Fund and the New Development Bank led by China, Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa.

The crown jewel, Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, is expected to attract $1 trillion for trade, transport and energy initiatives around the world.

Build at your own risk

Infrastructure is a development necessity, but its expense is a barrier and assistance from China is attractive. More than 60 countries have signed agreements for China to fund infrastructure projects.

However, loan recipients should not assume that infrastructure will automatically transform their economy. Projects can drain resources and often provide little benefit to greater society. Attracting a Belt and Road Initiative project may grab headlines but it is no panacea.

The economic benefits of infrastructure are often vastly overstated. Currently Sri Lanka is unable to service debts to Chinese lenders for expensive but largely unused ports, airports and highways.

Not all infrastructure investment pays off, as Sri Lanka has discovered (Wikimedia)

Designed for one million passengers per year, Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Southeast Sri Lanka now handles roughly 12 passengers per day. This is less than 1 per cent of original projections, but the airport cost the country$209m.

As infrastructure benefits failed to materialise, Sri Lankas external debt ballooned from $10bn in 2006 to $25bn in 2016, much of it owed to China.

Fiscal pressure prompted Sri Lankas government to sell 70 per cent of Hambantota Port, located on the countrys southern coast, to a Chinese state-owned port operator in July 2017.

In 2015, Ghana refused a second tranche of loans from the Chinese government for another energy project because of lack of absorptive capacity of the country to manage such high capital inflows.

Recipient countries must weigh economic benefits with fiscal sustainability in deciding whether to collaborate with foreign partners on infrastructure.

Unsustainable projects

Environmental pitfalls are also a concern. President Xi declared in 2017 that the Belt and Road Initiative development would be green, low-carbon, circular and sustainable.

Yet, a torrent of Chinese investment is flowing towards environmentally unsustainable projects. A significant amount of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor investment will support an energy portfolio that includes coal-fired power plants. In Bangladesh, concerns about pollution have led to violent protests against a coal-fired power plant being constructed by Chinese firms.

Chinese cement companies reliant on coal have moved to Tajikistan. China-funded projects for roads, oil and gas pipelines, and hydroelectric dams could threaten ecologically sensitive areas in aid-dependent countries like Myanmar and Mongolia. This trend is likely to accelerate in the absence of local pushback or concern for broader impacts.

In a 2011 example, Myanmars government suspended the Myitsone Dam project. Protests had raised concerns about potential environmental and social impacts on the Irrawaddy, the countrys largest and commercially most important river.

Green implications

China has achieved historic progress in domestic growth, and is now turning to environmental sustainability. By 2020, China plans to spend more than $360bn developing renewable energy while de-commissioning coal-fired power plants.

The countrys commitment to clean domestic energy is also demonstrated by its issuance of 40 per cent of the worlds green bonds in 2016.

At the outset of the Belt and Road Initiative, China can use its growing experience transitioning from unsustainable to green energy sources. This could shape a new generation of environmentally sensitive infrastructure developments around the world.

China and collaborating countries must consider all risks associated with infrastructure projects, not only financial but also environmental and social. Belt and Road Initiative participants should thoroughly evaluate infrastructure in reference to national development goals, rather than using projects solely for political theatre.

In 2016, the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, whose loan portfolio may rival that of the World Bank within the next two decades, released a framework that includes environmental, social and governance standards.

These guidelines provide a ready-made template for Chinese institutions involved in global infrastructure lending. They can also be implemented for individual projects in Belt and Road Initiative countries. Ensuring these guidelines are faithfully observed requires a level of transparency that is arguably unprecedented in China.

The Belt and Road Initiative represents an opportunity to internationalise the Chinese model of state-led economic growth supported by massive infrastructure rollouts. With prudent strategy and thorough monitoring, the initiative could herald a departure from decades of unsustainable and failed global infrastructure development.

If the emerging geopolitical power vacuum leads to Chinas preeminence, the countrys government must heed the immense responsibility of development leadership. Aid-dependent countries are ready for sustainable infrastructure and they deserve better help than what they have received.

Asit K Biswas is a distinguished visiting professor at Lee Kuan Yew school of public policy at the National University of Singapore and Kris Hartley is a lecturer in city and regional planning at Cornell University. This article first appeared on The Conversation (theconversation.com)
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People who daydream might be far more intelligence, according to new research.

For a long time, getting lost in thought has been seen as a symptom of inefficient minds: people who can't concentrate or get distracted. But actually, it might show that your brain is simply too quick and efficient to avoid getting distracted, according to a major new study.

"People with efficient brains may have too much brain capacity to stop their minds from wandering," said Eric Schumacher, the psychology professor who helped lead the study.

In the research, scientists put 100 people inside an MRI machine and had them stare at one specific point for five minutes. That allowed them to build up a picture of how their mind works when it's at rest, by examining what parts of the brain were active.

Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. Getty Science news in pictures Turtle embryos influence sex by shaking The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperatures at which they are incubated. Warm temperatures favour females. But by wiggling around the egg, embryos can find the Goldilocks Zone which means they are able to shield themselves against extreme thermal conditions and produce a balanced sex ratio, according to the new study published in Current Biology journal Ye et al/Current Biology Science news in pictures Elephant poaching rates drop in Africa African elephant poaching rates have dropped by 60 per cent in six years, an international study has found. It is thought the decline could be associated with the ivory trade ban introduced in China in 2017. Reuters Science news in pictures Ancient four-legged whale discovered in Peru Scientists have identified a four-legged creature with webbed feet to be an ancestor of the whale. Fossils unearthed in Peru have led scientists to conclude that the enormous creatures that traverse the planets oceans today are descended from small hoofed ancestors that lived in south Asia 50 million years ago A. Gennari Science news in pictures Animal with transient anus discovered A scientist has stumbled upon a creature with a transient anus that appears only when it is needed, before vanishing completely. Dr Sidney Tamm of the Marine Biological Laboratory could not initially find any trace of an anus on the species. However, as the animal gets full, a pore opens up to dispose of waste Steven G Johnson Science news in pictures Giant bee spotted Feared extinct, the Wallace's Giant bee has been spotted for the first time in nearly 40 years. An international team of conservationists spotted the bee, that is four times the size of a typical honeybee, on an expedition to a group of Indonesian Islands Clay Bolt Science news in pictures New mammal species found inside crocodile Fossilised bones digested by crocodiles have revealed the existence of three new mammal species that roamed the Cayman Islands 300 years ago. The bones belonged to two large rodent species and a small shrew-like animal New Mexico Museum of Natural History Science news in pictures Fabric that changes according to temperature created Scientists at the University of Maryland have created a fabric that adapts to heat, expanding to allow more heat to escape the body when warm and compacting to retain more heat when cold Faye Levine, University of Maryland Science news in pictures Baby mice tears could be used in pest control A study from the University of Tokyo has found that the tears of baby mice cause female mice to be less interested in the sexual advances of males Getty Science news in pictures Final warning to limit "climate catastrophe" The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a report which projects the impact of a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and warns against a higher increase Getty Science news in pictures Nobel prize for evolution chemists The nobel prize for chemistry has been awarded to three chemists working with evolution. Frances Smith is being awarded the prize for her work on directing the evolution of enzymes, while Gregory Winter and George Smith take the prize for their work on phage display of peptides and antibodies Getty/AFP Science news in pictures Nobel prize for laser physicists The nobel prize for physics has been awarded to three physicists working with lasers. Arthur Ashkin (L) was awarded for his "optical tweezers" which use lasers to grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living cells. Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou were jointly awarded the prize for developing chirped-pulse amplification of lasers Reuters/AP Science news in pictures Discovery of a new species of dinosaur The Ledumahadi Mafube roamed around 200 million years ago in what is now South Africa. Recently discovered by a team of international scientists, it was the largest land animal of its time, weighing 12 tons and standing at 13 feet. In Sesotho, the South African language of the region in which the dinosaur was discovered, its name means "a giant thunderclap at dawn" Viktor Radermacher / SWNS Science news in pictures Birth of a planet Scientists have witnessed the birth of a planet for the first time ever. This spectacular image from the SPHERE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope is the first clear image of a planet caught in the very act of formation around the dwarf star PDS 70. The planet stands clearly out, visible as a bright point to the right of the center of the image, which is blacked out by the coronagraph mask used to block the blinding light of the central star. ESO/A. Muller et al Science news in pictures New human organ discovered that was previously missed by scientists Layers long thought to be dense, connective tissue are actually a series of fluid-filled compartments researchers have termed the interstitium. 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"The correlated brain regions gave us insight about which areas of the brain work together during an awake, resting state," said Godwin, a Georgia Tech psychology Ph.D. candidate. "Interestingly, research has suggested that these same brain patterns measured during these states are related to different cognitive abilities."

They also had the participants fill in a questionnaire about how much they daydreamed in their daily life. The two could then be put together to work out quite how much a given person daydreamed, and how their mind worked.

They then compared that data with the results of tests that examined their intellectual and creative ability. They found that those who daydreamed more did better on those tests, and also that their mind appeared to be working more efficiently when it was in the MRI machine.

"People tend to think of mind wandering as something that is bad. You try to pay attention and you can't," said Schumacher. "Our data are consistent with the idea that this isn't always true. Some people have more efficient brains."

Professor Schumacher suggested that efficiency was actually what was leading people's mind to wander. Because their brains are more efficient, and perform tasks more quickly, they end up finishing and moving on to something else.

He said that one way of testing whether that is true is whether you tend to zone out of conversations. If you can do that and then slot back in, without feeling like you've missed out, then your brain might be working more efficiently.

"Our findings remind me of the absent-minded professor  someone who's brilliant, but off in his or her own world, sometimes oblivious to their own surroundings," said Schumacher. "Or school children who are too intellectually advanced for their classes. While it may take five minutes for their friends to learn something new, they figure it out in a minute, then check out and start daydreaming."
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Scientists have discovered the first evidence of a huge, meat-eating dinosaur that roamed southern Africa around 200 million years ago.

Several three-toed footprints left by the two-legged "megatheropod" - an early forerunner of Tyrannosaurus rex - were found near the site of a prehistoric watering hole or river bank in the kingdom of Lesotho.

Experts calculated that the creature would have been around nine metres (30ft) long and stood almost three metres (9.8ft) tall at the hip.

It was four times the size of a lion, the largest carnivore in southern Africa today.

The dinosaur, named Kayentapus ambrokholohali, was much larger than any other meat-eating dinosaur previously discovered in Africa.

British team member Dr Fabien Knoll, from the University of Manchester, said: "The latest discovery is very exciting and sheds new light on the kind of carnivore that roamed what is now southern Africa.

"That's because it is the first evidence of an extremely large meat-eating animal roaming a landscape otherwise dominated by a variety of herbivorous, omnivorous and much smaller carnivorous dinosaurs. It really would have been top of the food chain."

Each of the footprints, preserved in rock over many millions of years, measured 57cm (22.4ins) long and 50cm (19.7ins) wide.

A scale diagram demonstrating just how large this dinosaur is (PA)

What makes them especially significant is their age, dating back to the Early Jurassic period.

Theropods - meat-eating dinosaurs that stood on two legs - from this era were generally relatively small. Most measured three to five metres (9.8ft to 16.4ft) in length, with some reaching seven metres (23ft) at most.

Scientists had thought that theropods only started to get huge towards the end of the Jurassic period and during the Cretaceous, which ran from 145 million years ago until the end of the dinosaurs' reign.

Those dinosaurs that did not evolve into birds became extinct around 65 million years ago.

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T rex, which lived between 85 million and 65 million years ago, was somewhat larger than its southern African cousin, having a body up to 12.3 metres (40ft) long.

The footprints were found in the Maseru district of Lesotho by an international team of experts who described the find in the journal Plos ONE.

Nearby, they also uncovered other footprints of much smaller theropods. The surface on which they were found was covered in ancient ripple marks and cracks, indicating the presence of water.

Co-author Dr Lara Sciscio, from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, said: "This discovery marks the first occurrence of very large carnivorous dinosaurs in the Early Jurassic of southern Gondwana, the prehistoric continent which would later break up and become Africa and other landmasses.

"This makes it a significant find. Globally, these large tracks are very rare. There is only one other known site similar in age and sized tracks, which is in Poland."

PA
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A hairdresser accused of deliberately infecting male lovers with HIV told a concerned alleged victim he was "overdramatic" and "paranoid" when asked if he had the virus, a court heard.

Daryll Rowe, 26, is accused of telling his lovers he did not have the virus and insisting they had unprotected sex with him or tampering with condoms.

He sent a series of "aggressive" texts to a 22-year-old university student after a broken condom was found when they finished having sex, jurors at Lewes Crown Court were told on Tuesday.

The student, who cannot be named for legal reasons, contacted police after seeing a witness appeal for information about a man he thought was Rowe.

He told officers the pair met in Brighton, East Sussex, in January last year after speaking on gay dating app Grindr.

In a video recording of a police interview shown to the jury, the man told Detective Constable Sarah Townsend he was in pain after having sex with Rowe and was later given anti-viral drugs to prevent him contracting HIV as well as treatment for genital herpes.

During the interview, the man said: "I remember not really enjoying it. There were moments when I was like, I wanna get up and go.

Daryll Rowe, 26, is charged with infecting four men with the HIV, and of attempting to infect a further six between October 2015 and December 2016 (PA)

"[Afterwards] I went to the toilet and the condom was on the sink and I noticed that it had, like, it was completely broken. Like the whole top of it was off. At the time I didn't see him put it on.

"Because I had seen it broken I was kind of freaking out a bit."

The man said he was becoming concerned so contacted Mr Rowe by text.

In a series of messages read to the court, the man repeatedly pleaded for Mr Rowe to give him an honest answer to confirm he had been tested and did not have HIV.

In response the hairdresser is alleged to have said: "And yes I'm riddled by the way" and called the man a "dramatic, paranoid fool that's easily wound up".

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Later he branded the man an "idiot" and "paranoid, over dramatic", before saying he would be blocking the number, the court heard.

Mr Rowe, originally from Edinburgh and now of no fixed abode, denies allegations lodged by 10 men that he deliberately set out to infect them with HIV.

The 26-year-old originally appeared in court facing four charges of grievous bodily harm with intent and six of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

But one of the charges has since been amended so he is now facing five counts of each charge.

The trial is expected to last six weeks.
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The terror threat to the UK shows no sign of decreasing any time soon, a top prosecutor has warned amid record arrests.

Sue Hemming, head of the Crown Prosecution Services (CPS) counter-terror division, said although the increase has mostly been driven by Isis and other Islamist groups a spike in right-wing extremism is also to blame.

Now, more than ever, we need to work together to maximise our ability to tackle the threat, she told the National Security Summit in London.

Terrorism is not new to this country but the current threat does not appear to be diminishing any time soon.

Resources are scarce, but we will continue to do our best to protect people here and abroad, and ensure we have the right strategy and tools to do so.

More people were arrested on suspicion of terror offences in the past financial year than ever recorded before, with 79 trials prosecuted in the same year at a conviction rate of 86 per cent.

Most defendants were prosecuted with preparation for terrorist acts, which can include terror plots or planning to travel to Isis territories in Syria and Iraq.

 MI5 chief warns that Britain is facing an unrelenting terrorist threat

The number of people charged with joining a banned group, like Isis or the neo-Nazi terrorist organisation National Action, has also increased alongside those for encouraging terrorism and distributing extremist material.

Ms Hemming said the CPS has doubled its counter-terror staff to deal with the workload, while recruiting more prosecutors to brace for a continued rise.

Cases emerging from the conflict in Syria and the emergence of Daesh [Isis], together with the more recent terrorist attacks, have resulted in a substantial increase in the number of prosecutors dealing with terrorism cases, she added.

Recommended More than 400 British Isis jihadis have already returned to the UK

The prosecutor said a significant number of cases since 2013 were linked to foreign terrorist fighters who have either travelled to Syria and returned, or been prevented from going.

However more recently, the increase has been in activity at home, she added.

Much of the increase has been from Daesh or similarly inspired activity, but we have also seen an increase in extreme right-wing activity from organisations like National Action who have been recently proscribed.

This can be demonstrated in part by the increase in terrorism arrests for those who identify themselves as from white ethnic groups.

Ms Hemming warned that many cases require evidence from abroad, which is impossible with nations like Syria that have no functioning criminal justice system, leaving prosecutors relying on unreliable digital media to prove guilt.

Debate has been intensifying on how the UK should punish or rehabilitate convicted terrorists, as well as how to treat those returning from the battlefield.

Figures released this week estimated that 425 British men, women and children have so far returned from Isis territory and the fate of 400 others who joined the self-declared caliphate remains unclear.

Timeline: The emergence of Isis Show all 40 1 /40 Timeline: The emergence of Isis Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2000 Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (pictured here) forms an al-Qaeda splinter group in Iraq, al-Qaeda in Iraq. Its brutality from the beginning alienates Iraqis and many al-Qaeda leaders. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2006 Al-Zarqawi is killed in a U.S. strike. Al-Zarqawis successor, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, announces the creation of the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI). Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2009 Still al-Qaeda-linked ISI claims responsibility for suicide bombings that killed 155 in Baghdad, as well as attacks in August and October killing 240, as President Obama announces troop withdrawal from Iraq in March. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2010 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi becomes head of ISI, at lowest ebb of Islamist militancy in Iraq, which sees last U.S. combat brigade depart. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2012 In Syria, protests (pictured here starting in Daree) have morphed into what president Assad labelled a real war with emergence of a coalition of forces opposed to Assads regime. Syria group Jabhat al-Nusra are among rebel groups who refuse to join, denouncing it as a conspiracy. Bombings targeting Shia areas, killing more than 500 people, spark fears of new sectarian conflict. Sunni Muslims stage protests across country against what they see as increasingly marginalisation by Shia-led government. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2013 Al-Baghdadi renames ISI as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or Isis, as the group absorbs Syrian al-Nusra, gaining a foothold in Syria. In response, al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri (Bin Ladens successor) concerned about Isis expansion orders that Isis be dissolved and ISI operations should be confined to Iraq. This order is rejected by al-Baghdadi. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - January Isis fighters capture the Iraqi cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, giving them base to launch slew of attacks further south. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis declares itself the Caliphate, calling itself Islamic State (IS). The group captures Mosul, Iraqs second largest city; Tal Afar, just 93 miles from Syrian border; and the central Iraqi city of Tikrit. These advances sent shockwaves around the world. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Around the same time Isis releases a video calling for western Muslims to join the Caliphate and fight, prompting new evaluations of extremists groups social media understanding. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis take Baiji oil fields in Iraq - giving them access to huge amounts of possible revenue. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August James Foley is executed by the group as concerns grow for second American prisoner, fellow reporter Steven Sotloff. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August Obama authorises U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, helping to stall Isis along with action by Kurdish forces following the deaths of hundreds of Yazidi people on Mount Sinjar. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release video showing Steven Sotloffs murder prompting Western speculation his executioner is same man who killed Mr Foley. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Obama tells us that America will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release a video appearing to show David Haines, who was captured by militants in Syria in 2013, wearing an orange jumpsuit and kneeling in the desert while he reads a pre-prepared script. It later shows what appears to be the aid worker's body. Rex Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Peshmerga fighters scrabble to hold positions in the Diyala province (a gateway to Baghdad) as Isis fighters continue to advance on Iraqi capital. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Aid worker Alan Henning is killed. Self-imposed media blackout refuses to show images of him in final moments, instead focuses upon humanitarian care. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Isis raise their flag in Kobani, which had been strongly defended by Kurdish troops. The victory goes against hopeful western analysis Isis had overextended itself, while alienating much of the Muslim population through the murder of Henning. Victory causes fresh waves of Kurdish refugees arriving in Turkey. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - November American hostage, who embarced values of Islam, Peter Kassig and 14 Syrian soldiers are shown meeting the same fate as other captives. But intelligence agencies will be poring over the apparently significant discrepancies between this and previous films. Seramedig.org.uk Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis has released a video revealing the murder by burning to death of a Jordanian pilot held by the group since the end of December 2014. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have released videos which appear to show the beheading of Japanese hostages Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February American aid worker, Kayla Mueller was the last American hostage known to be held by Isis. She died, according to her captors, in an airstrike by the Jordanian air force on the city of Raqqa in Syria, though US authorities disputed this. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have posted a gruesome video online in which they force 21 Egyptian Coptic Christian hostages to kneel on a beach in Libya before beheading them. Egypt vowed to avenge the beheading and launched air strikes on Isis positions. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February The British Isis militant suspected of appearing in videos showing the beheading of Western hostages has been named in reports as Mohammed Emwazi from London. Rex Features Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - March Isis triple suicide attack has killed more than 100 worshippers and hundreds of others were injured after the group members targeted two mosques in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Iraqi forces have claimed victory over Isis in battle for Tikrit and raised the flag in the city. EPA/STR Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis has claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan that killed at least 35 people queuing to collect their wages and injured 100 more. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis media arm released a 29-minute video purporting to show militants executing Ethiopian Christians captives. The footage bore the extremist groups al-Furqan media logo and showed the destruction of churches and desecration of religious symbols. A masked fighter made a statement threatening Christians who did not convert to Islam or pay a special tax. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Isis has been "incapacitated" by a spinal injuries sustained in a US air strike in Iraq. He is being treated in a hideout by two doctors from Isis stronghold of Mosul who are said to be "strong ideological supporters of the group". Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis has also claimed responsibility for killing 300 of Yazidi captives, including women, children and elderly people in Iraq AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis attack on Prophet Mohamed cartoon contest in Texas was its first action on US soil. Two gunmen were shot and killed after launching the attack at the exhibition. Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi have been named as the attackers at the Curtis Culwell Centre arena in Garland. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isiss deputy leader, Abu Alaa Afri, a former physics teacher who was thought to have taken charge of the deadly terrorist group, has been killed in a US-led coalition airstrike. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May US special forces have killed a senior Isis leader named as Abu Sayyaf in an operation aiming to capture him and his wife in Syria. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Iran-backed militias are sent to Ramadi by the Iraqi government to fight Isis militants who completed their capture of the city. Government soldiers and civilians were reportedly massacred by extremists as they took control and the army fled. Charred bodies were left littering the city streets as troops clung on to trucks speeding away from the city. Ramadi is the latest government stronghold to fall to the so-called Islamic State, despite air strikes by a US-led international coalition aiming to stop its advance in Iraq and Syria. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis rounded up civilians trapped in Palmyra and forced them to watch 20 people being executed in the historic citys ancient amphitheatre. The Unesco World Heritage site was overrun by militants, threatening the future of 2,000 year-old monuments and ruins. Thousands of Palmyras residents fled but many are still living within the city walls, while the UN human rights office in Geneva said it had received reports of Syrian government forces preventing people from leaving until they retreated from the city. Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May A group of Isis-affiliated fighters have captured a key airport in central Libya. The militants took control of the al-Qardabiya airbase in Sirte after a local militia tasked with defending the facility withdrew from their positions. Affiliates of Isis, already control large parts of Sirte, the birthplace of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and a former stronghold of his supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June The US Air Force has destroyed an Isis stronghold after an extremist let slip their location on social media. According the Air Force Times, General Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, said that Airmen at Hulburt Field, Florida, used images shared by jihadists to track the location of their headquarters before destroying it in an airstrike. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Kurdish forces captured a key military base in a significant victory in Raqqa as well as town of Tell Abyad. YPG fighters, backed by US-led airstrikes and other rebels, consolidated their gains, when they seized the key town on the Syria-Turkey border. They are now just 30 miles to the north of Raqqa and have cut off a major supply route deep inside Isis-held territory. Ahmet Silk/Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has released gruesome footage claiming to show the murder of more than a dozen men by drowning, decapitation and using a rocket-propelled grenade as it seeks to boost morale among its fanatical supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has begun carrying out its threat to destroy structures in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, blowing up at least two monuments at the Unesco-protected site as Syrian government troops made advances on the Islamists positions. AFP

Max Hill QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, called for a focus on reintegration in cases where authorities decide returnees should not face prosecution and said that those in a state of utter disillusionment could be diverted away from criminal courts.

In a speech earlier this week, Mr Hill warned against a knee-jerk reaction to the terror attacks in Westminster, Manchester, London Bridge, Finsbury Park and Parsons Green as he raised concerns about Government plans for new laws.

Responding to proposals to jail people who repeatedly view terrorist content online for up for 15 years, he warned there must be very careful work to stop innocent people being pursued.

Mr Hill said thought without action or preparation for action must not be criminalised, adding: Legislating in the name of terrorism when the targeted activity is not actually terrorism would be quite wrongwe must be vigilant against any future instances of knee-jerk, something must be done lawmaking.

In a previous interview with The Independent, the watchdog said in an ideal world we wouldn't have specific terror offences, arguing crimes can be adequately handled by pre-existing laws.

In what appeared to be a veiled jab on Wednesday, Ms Hemming said we must recognise that specific counter terrorism powers are necessary.

Prosecutors regard those who commit terrorist offences as criminals, she added.

Acting early to safeguard public safety means that traditional investigative powers are not always sufficient, and prosecutors need offences available to prosecute those who rightly need to be brought to justice, where traditional criminal offences do not fit conduct that rightly calls for punishment.

Mr Hill has argued that the use of specific terror offences has worsened the perception of bias against the Muslim community that threatens to worsen cooperation with authorities, and that new laws could have human rights implications.

Calls have been mounting for specific offences targeting hate preachers like Anjem Choudary (EPA)

But Ms Hemming said: There is no conflict between having appropriate laws and powers to protect national security and acting in a way that safeguards human rights, provided we tackle all types of terrorism in the same way.

She added more may need to be done to increase trust across communities and show that the CPS is not differentiating between motives or targeting certain groups unfairly.

Whilst not every terrorist allegation will need a prosecution, the seriousness will often make it more likely than not that prosecution will take place in a terrorism case, the prosecutor said.

She noted that normal criminal offences could be charged with a terrorist connection as was the case with the Islamist murder of Lee Rigby and far-right killing of Jo Cox.

New guidance from the Sentencing Council could see punishments intensified for suspects using cars and knives, or for offences that recent attacks have shown to be more serious than previously perceived.

Authorities in London said they are working relentlessly to prevent future atrocities after considering the results of a review by Lord Harris.

Sadiq Khan, who commissioned the inquiry after being elected mayor last year, said two thirds of the 127 recommendations had been implemented and blamed the Government for dragging its feet on those outstanding.

Lord Harris review  published five months before the Westminster attack  warned of the risk of vehicle rammings and called for barriers to protect potential targets, but the Home Office has not yet confirmed the requested funding.

The Government has since commissioned a separate review by David Anderson QC into how police and security services responded to this years attacks to see whether lessons can be learned.

A spokesperson for Downing Street said: As we have seen painfully in the UK this year, we face an unpredictable threat from terrorism. We have to tackle the ideologies that drive or inspire these kinds of attacks.

That is why we are doing things like establishing a new commission on countering extremism to help expose all forms of extremism and division and to challenge those who preach hate.

What we want to do is to send a clear message that we will not tolerate terrorism, those who help radicalise terrorists with their extremist views, or those who turn a blind eye to terror.
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Anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller has been named the UKs most influential black person.

The 52-year-old campaigner led the successful legal challenge which forced Theresa May to get Parliaments approval before triggering Article 50 in March.

She topped the 2018 Powerlist of 100 people, which recognises people in the UK of African and African Caribbean heritage who are rated on their ability to change lives and alter events.

Other nominees included British Vogue editor Edward Enninful, boxer Anthony Joshua and musician Stormzy.

The names were chosen by an independent panel which included former High Court judge Dame Linda Dobbs and former Apprentice winner Tim Campbell.

Ms Miller, who is originally from Guyana, joined other big names who have previously topped the Powerlist, including former childrens laureate Malorie Blackman, philanthropist Mo Ibrahim, architect David Adjaye and Baroness Patricia Scotland.

The activist said she received racist and sexist abuse as a result of her campaign against a hard Brexit, which resulted in a Supreme Court judgement against the Government in January.

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

She said she had been "shocked" by the level of abuse she suffered online and called on people in "positions of power" to do more to help.

The activist said there was a period when she was unable to travel on public transport or go out with her family at the weekends due to the death and rape threats she received after the initial High Court challenge last November.

In July, a viscount was sentenced to 12 weeks for posting abusive messages about her online  offering money to the first person who ran over Ms Miller, who he called a boat jumper, and said she should be sent back to the stinking jungle.
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The Government has launched an appeal against a ruling that its controversial benefits cap unlawfully discriminates against lone parents with children under two.

The cap, which came into force last year, limits the total amount of benefits a household can receive to 23,000 a year in London and 20,000 elsewhere.

But in June, a High Court Judge said the benefit cap was disproportionately affecting lone parents, and causing real misery to no good purpose".

The case was brought by two lone parents who said they were unable to work the 16 hours a week that is required in order to avoid the benefits cap, because of childcare responsibilities.

He said the successful claim related to the "revised" benefit cap which "requires the parent in order to avoid the imposition of the cap to work at least 16 hours per week".

 High Court rules proposed benefit cap as unlawful and illegal

However, at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, lawyers for the Work and Pensions Secretary urged three judges to overturn his decision.

Government lawyers told Sir Brian Leveson, Lord Justice McCombe and Sir Patrick Elias that the judge had made "a number of serious errors", adding: "But for those errors, the claim would have been dismissed."

Mr Sheldon said there was "no discriminatory impact and, in any event, any such impact would be justified".

Lawyers for the families are asking the appeal judges to dismiss the Government's challenge.

After Mr Justice Collins ruled in June, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described it as a "further demonstration of the failure of this government's austerity agenda", and said: "The Prime Minister should accept the High Court's judgment and end this discrimination against parents and children."

Lawyers for the claimants said that a reduced benefit cap, introduced last year, "drastically reduced housing benefits, leaving lone parent families across the country unable to afford basic life necessities to care for their children".

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: "The benefit cap incentivises work, even if it's part-time, as anyone eligible for working tax credits or the equivalent under Universal Credit, is exempt.

"Even with the cap, lone parents can still receive benefits up to the equivalent salary of 25,000, or 29,000 in London, and we have made Discretionary Housing Payments available to people who need extra help."
Relying on the ADL I see. No, they didn't get it right either. The hatchet job done on Wikipedia was the work of a disgruntled former member that was dishonorably discharged. And BTW, I didn't address your communist nosy ***. So, go screw yourself.And yes, all those militias that were under the umbrella of U.S. Militias ARE, in fact, recognized by the government. They are citizen militias, NOT private, select militias NOR government militias.Relying on the Internet for factual information about U.S. Militias and the who and what about them will lead you down some dark, lonely roads full of the wrong information. The dumb ***** at the ADL of who you quote have at least one group listed whose leadership is 35% non-whites. So, your intel is about as accurate as you've ever been. Freaking libtards have low IQs.And, since you want to play games, let's talk about the peopleare supportive of:So, you want to be a smart *** and stick your nose into my business? Guess you just figured out that people that live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. You keep company with that kind of filth and have the audacity to try to tie me to hate groups? If I were to call you a sorry son of a bitch, it would be an insult to the term. Instead, I'm happy to show the posters what kind of filth you wallow in while getting involved in the personal differences handydude and I are having. If you want to hold his hand, that is okay. He needs someone like you to hold his hand and help him fight those no-win battles.Gritz never committed a mass murder and Col. Mohr was the first American captured during the Korean Conflict. He was beaten, tortured, and sentenced to death. He managed to escape and go on to write military manuals on psychological warfare. And you suck up to mass murderers that are as racist as handydude. God knows we've witnessed you kissing those killers ***** more than once.
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Muslim converts can be vulnerable to radicalisation because their vacuum of knowledge leaves them ill-equipped to reject extremist ideology, a new report has warned.

Research by the Henry Jackson Society (HJS) think-tank found that although the vast majority of converts to Islam are peaceful and law-abiding, they are over-represented among Isis foreign fighters and have perpetrated major terror attacks.

When taken together with other aggravating factors such as possession of a criminal record, paternal absence, and exposure to the messages of radical preachers, the process of conversion can indicate a vulnerability to extremism, the report concluded.

Converts are often more malleable and vulnerable to radical rhetoric, often combining enthusiasm to change the world with a vacuum of knowledge about different interpretations of Islam.

Analysts argued that many dawah groups working to convert followers to Islam preach fundamentalist Salafi teachings, while Isis has deliberately tailored its propaganda to appeal to those with little religious knowledge.

Dr Julia Rushchenko, an associate fellow at the HJS Centre for the Response to Terrorism and Radicalisation, said jihadi groups have proven capable of luring a wide range of individuals from across Europe, adding: Policy-makers and practitioners must be alert to this specific but understudied danger, if they are to counter extremism effectively.

A poster shared on social media by Rayat al-Tawheed, a group of British Isis fighters from London

The research found that born-again Muslims who rediscover their faith are also at risk of being drawn into extremism, as are prisoners and people with existing grievances who could seek redemption through jihad.

A mounting body of evidence points to what has been dubbed a crime-terror nexus, where young people involved in gangs or violent crime are tempted by Isis problems of action, salvation and purpose.

Those who convert to Islam in prison or the probation system fall into both groups, being left doubly vulnerable to radicalisation.

A study for the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism found that the groups foreign fighters in Syria tend to come from disadvantaged backgrounds, have low levels of education and employment, and lack any basic understanding of the true meaning of jihad or even the Islamic faith.

The research found that most of the militants surveyed were novices in their professed religion and some did not know how to pray properly.

Among the Isis fighters who converted to Islam in the UK is Harry Sarfo, a former Royal Mail postman who is now in a German prison after fleeing the groups territories in Syria.

Born into a Ghanaian Catholic family, he told The Independent how he became interested in Islam through speeches he heard during lunch breaks at a sixth form college in east London.

One of my best mates of Bangladeshi origin started to become more religious and we started to have long conversations about religion, purpose and the hereafter, Sarfo said.

 Met Police announce that terror perpetrator Khalid Masood was born Adrian Russell

I accepted Islam by the age of 20, in a small mosque in east London where friends of mine regularly attended.

He quickly became devout, praying five times a day and making pilgrimages, but it was not until he met an al-Qaeda recruiter in a German prison while serving a sentence for robbery that Sarfo learned the ideology of tawheed and jihad.

Among other converted Isis supporters is Khalid Masood, who killed five people and injured dozens of others in the Westminster terror attack in March.

Muslim converts have also carried out other terror attacks in the UK, including 7/7 bomber Germaine Lindsay and Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, who murdered soldier Fusilier Lee Rigby in Woolwich.

They also rank among known extremists who have travelled to Syria and Iraq, including the White Widow Sally Jones  who has reportedly been killed in a US drone strike  and Mosul suicide bomber Ronald Fiddler, who called himself Abu Zakariya al-Britani.

Al-Qaeda has also drawn on converts, such as the shoe bomber Richard Reid, a Londoner who became a Muslim at Feltham Young Offenders Institution before going on to attempt downing American Airlines Flight 63.

HJS research called for authorities leading counter-extremism efforts including Prevent to recognise that the appeal radical Islam as an ideology can extend well beyond communities historically associated with the religion.

A separate report published by the think tank in March found that 16 per cent of those who committed Islamist terror offences in the UK between 1998 and 2015 were converts  far above the population within the Muslim community as a whole.

It cites figures that show the overall number of British Muslims who were converted rather than born into the religion rose from 60,000 in 2001, to 100,000 in 2010.

Timeline: The emergence of Isis Show all 40 1 /40 Timeline: The emergence of Isis Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2000 Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (pictured here) forms an al-Qaeda splinter group in Iraq, al-Qaeda in Iraq. Its brutality from the beginning alienates Iraqis and many al-Qaeda leaders. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2006 Al-Zarqawi is killed in a U.S. strike. Al-Zarqawis successor, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, announces the creation of the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI). Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2009 Still al-Qaeda-linked ISI claims responsibility for suicide bombings that killed 155 in Baghdad, as well as attacks in August and October killing 240, as President Obama announces troop withdrawal from Iraq in March. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2010 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi becomes head of ISI, at lowest ebb of Islamist militancy in Iraq, which sees last U.S. combat brigade depart. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2012 In Syria, protests (pictured here starting in Daree) have morphed into what president Assad labelled a real war with emergence of a coalition of forces opposed to Assads regime. Syria group Jabhat al-Nusra are among rebel groups who refuse to join, denouncing it as a conspiracy. Bombings targeting Shia areas, killing more than 500 people, spark fears of new sectarian conflict. Sunni Muslims stage protests across country against what they see as increasingly marginalisation by Shia-led government. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2013 Al-Baghdadi renames ISI as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or Isis, as the group absorbs Syrian al-Nusra, gaining a foothold in Syria. In response, al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri (Bin Ladens successor) concerned about Isis expansion orders that Isis be dissolved and ISI operations should be confined to Iraq. This order is rejected by al-Baghdadi. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - January Isis fighters capture the Iraqi cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, giving them base to launch slew of attacks further south. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis declares itself the Caliphate, calling itself Islamic State (IS). The group captures Mosul, Iraqs second largest city; Tal Afar, just 93 miles from Syrian border; and the central Iraqi city of Tikrit. These advances sent shockwaves around the world. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Around the same time Isis releases a video calling for western Muslims to join the Caliphate and fight, prompting new evaluations of extremists groups social media understanding. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis take Baiji oil fields in Iraq - giving them access to huge amounts of possible revenue. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August James Foley is executed by the group as concerns grow for second American prisoner, fellow reporter Steven Sotloff. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August Obama authorises U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, helping to stall Isis along with action by Kurdish forces following the deaths of hundreds of Yazidi people on Mount Sinjar. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release video showing Steven Sotloffs murder prompting Western speculation his executioner is same man who killed Mr Foley. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Obama tells us that America will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release a video appearing to show David Haines, who was captured by militants in Syria in 2013, wearing an orange jumpsuit and kneeling in the desert while he reads a pre-prepared script. It later shows what appears to be the aid worker's body. Rex Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Peshmerga fighters scrabble to hold positions in the Diyala province (a gateway to Baghdad) as Isis fighters continue to advance on Iraqi capital. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Aid worker Alan Henning is killed. Self-imposed media blackout refuses to show images of him in final moments, instead focuses upon humanitarian care. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Isis raise their flag in Kobani, which had been strongly defended by Kurdish troops. The victory goes against hopeful western analysis Isis had overextended itself, while alienating much of the Muslim population through the murder of Henning. Victory causes fresh waves of Kurdish refugees arriving in Turkey. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - November American hostage, who embarced values of Islam, Peter Kassig and 14 Syrian soldiers are shown meeting the same fate as other captives. But intelligence agencies will be poring over the apparently significant discrepancies between this and previous films. Seramedig.org.uk Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis has released a video revealing the murder by burning to death of a Jordanian pilot held by the group since the end of December 2014. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have released videos which appear to show the beheading of Japanese hostages Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February American aid worker, Kayla Mueller was the last American hostage known to be held by Isis. She died, according to her captors, in an airstrike by the Jordanian air force on the city of Raqqa in Syria, though US authorities disputed this. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have posted a gruesome video online in which they force 21 Egyptian Coptic Christian hostages to kneel on a beach in Libya before beheading them. Egypt vowed to avenge the beheading and launched air strikes on Isis positions. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February The British Isis militant suspected of appearing in videos showing the beheading of Western hostages has been named in reports as Mohammed Emwazi from London. Rex Features Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - March Isis triple suicide attack has killed more than 100 worshippers and hundreds of others were injured after the group members targeted two mosques in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Iraqi forces have claimed victory over Isis in battle for Tikrit and raised the flag in the city. EPA/STR Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis has claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan that killed at least 35 people queuing to collect their wages and injured 100 more. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis media arm released a 29-minute video purporting to show militants executing Ethiopian Christians captives. The footage bore the extremist groups al-Furqan media logo and showed the destruction of churches and desecration of religious symbols. A masked fighter made a statement threatening Christians who did not convert to Islam or pay a special tax. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Isis has been "incapacitated" by a spinal injuries sustained in a US air strike in Iraq. He is being treated in a hideout by two doctors from Isis stronghold of Mosul who are said to be "strong ideological supporters of the group". Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis has also claimed responsibility for killing 300 of Yazidi captives, including women, children and elderly people in Iraq AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis attack on Prophet Mohamed cartoon contest in Texas was its first action on US soil. Two gunmen were shot and killed after launching the attack at the exhibition. Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi have been named as the attackers at the Curtis Culwell Centre arena in Garland. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isiss deputy leader, Abu Alaa Afri, a former physics teacher who was thought to have taken charge of the deadly terrorist group, has been killed in a US-led coalition airstrike. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May US special forces have killed a senior Isis leader named as Abu Sayyaf in an operation aiming to capture him and his wife in Syria. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Iran-backed militias are sent to Ramadi by the Iraqi government to fight Isis militants who completed their capture of the city. Government soldiers and civilians were reportedly massacred by extremists as they took control and the army fled. Charred bodies were left littering the city streets as troops clung on to trucks speeding away from the city. Ramadi is the latest government stronghold to fall to the so-called Islamic State, despite air strikes by a US-led international coalition aiming to stop its advance in Iraq and Syria. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis rounded up civilians trapped in Palmyra and forced them to watch 20 people being executed in the historic citys ancient amphitheatre. The Unesco World Heritage site was overrun by militants, threatening the future of 2,000 year-old monuments and ruins. Thousands of Palmyras residents fled but many are still living within the city walls, while the UN human rights office in Geneva said it had received reports of Syrian government forces preventing people from leaving until they retreated from the city. Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May A group of Isis-affiliated fighters have captured a key airport in central Libya. The militants took control of the al-Qardabiya airbase in Sirte after a local militia tasked with defending the facility withdrew from their positions. Affiliates of Isis, already control large parts of Sirte, the birthplace of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and a former stronghold of his supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June The US Air Force has destroyed an Isis stronghold after an extremist let slip their location on social media. According the Air Force Times, General Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, said that Airmen at Hulburt Field, Florida, used images shared by jihadists to track the location of their headquarters before destroying it in an airstrike. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Kurdish forces captured a key military base in a significant victory in Raqqa as well as town of Tell Abyad. YPG fighters, backed by US-led airstrikes and other rebels, consolidated their gains, when they seized the key town on the Syria-Turkey border. They are now just 30 miles to the north of Raqqa and have cut off a major supply route deep inside Isis-held territory. Ahmet Silk/Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has released gruesome footage claiming to show the murder of more than a dozen men by drowning, decapitation and using a rocket-propelled grenade as it seeks to boost morale among its fanatical supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has begun carrying out its threat to destroy structures in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, blowing up at least two monuments at the Unesco-protected site as Syrian government troops made advances on the Islamists positions. AFP

At present, around 5,000 British people convert to Islam every year - most of them women.

The report came as separate research from The Soufan Center warned that thousands of Isis fighters have already returned to their home countries amid confusion over the number of foreign jihadis remaining in the dwindling caliphate.

At least 425 British Isis members have so far returned to the UK, where many are feared to have disappeared from the view of security services.

Rory Stewart, an international development minister, previously argued that the only way to deal with most potential returnees was to kill them.

But Max Hill QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, has instead called for a focus on reintegration in cases where authorities have decided individuals who return should not face prosecution.

He said it was right that security services have left space for those who travelled out of a sense of naivety, at a young age and who return in a state of utter disillusionment to be diverted away from the criminal courts.

Richard Barrett, the author of the Soufan report, said: As the so-called Islamic State loses territorial control of its caliphate, there is little doubt that the group or something similar will survive the worldwide campaign against it so long as the conditions that promoted its growth remain.

Its appeal will outlast its demise, and while it will be hard to assess the specific threat posed by foreign fighters and returnees, they will present a challenge to many countries for years to come.
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The UK-backed Libyan coastguard is running a racket in the Mediterranean Sea by turning its legitimate power to stop migrant crossings into a cash cow, according to victims accounts.

Guards allegedly stop smuggler vessels offshore and detain those onboard, before taking bribes to later release them. Migrants say they are then able to attempt another crossing to Europe.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has collected numerous testimonies from migrants intercepted at sea who subsequently bribed their way out of Libyan detention centres. HRW says the accounts are tantamount to evidence EU funding could be exacerbating the refugee crisis it aims to fix.

Britain and other countries have been supporting the countrys coastguard with training and equipment despite heavily documented evidence of refugee abuse and even instances of violent clashes with aid vessels.

Stephane, a 30-year-old man from Cameroon, told The Independent he was beaten and robbed by uniformed members of the force while attempting the treacherous boat crossing to Italy in June. This crossing had been organised by a Cameroonian smuggler.

While they were beating us they demanded money, dollars, telephones  they took everything, he said. They claimed that if we gave them money, they would have taken us to Italy themselves.

Stephane and the other passengers were transferred to a prison near Sabratha, one of the biggest smuggling hubs in Libya, where he was kept for three weeks.

 Libyan Coast Guard puts refugees and rescuers in danger during rescue operation at sea

Migrants are supposed to be offered support to return to their countries of origin  but Stephane was offered a different way out.

He said officials offered to free prisoners for 155 (140) a head. With no money or possessions left after the first crossing, the bribe to release Stephane and 56 other people was paid by the same Cameroonian smuggler who organised the initial crossing.

Stephane was then taken to the same house he stayed in before his first crossing attempt, before boarding another smugglers dinghy and five days later being rescued and transferred to Sicily unchallenged.

Recommended Aid workers recount Libyan coastguard attacks on refugee rescue boats

The Independent met him at a rehabilitation centre run by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) for migrants with medical and psychological needs in Catania.

Stephane told of horrific experiences in Libya, where he was kidnapped for ransom by two separate armed militias before attempting to flee to Italy, where he now hopes to complete his law studies.

His account is the latest in a series of allegations levelled at the Libyan coastguard, which has allegedly shot at humanitarian rescue ships, beat migrants and caused sinkings.

Despite credible evidence of abuses, the Ministry of Defence has embarked on a third round of training which started in October 2016, taking on 60 Libyan coastguard members in total.

Two rounds of programmes including human rights education have been completed offshore and in recent days a classroom-based course on maritime law, navigation and boat-handling has started at a military base in Italy.

Europe has steadily been increasing its cooperation with Libyas fragile Government of National Accord (GNA), following the arrival of hundreds of thousands of migrants in crossings which have killed more than 15,000 men, women and children over the past four years.

A Libyan coastguard boat observing a rescue by MSFs Bourbon Argos ship on 4 November 2016 (Lizzie Dearden)

The Government insists it carries out robust assessments on its partners, despite mounting evidence Libyan coastguard operations are both inhumane and ineffective.

Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty UKs director for refugee and migrant rights, said Stephanes story matched evidence of migrants being passed from the coastguard to detention centres where they may be sold on to smugglers and others.

He added: There isnt effectively a government to deal with in Libya but the EU is pursuing its obsession to stop people reaching Europe, regardless of the consequences.

Mr Valdez-Symonds said the chaotic aftermath of Libyas civil war, when the UK was among Nato members bombing Muammar Gaddafis forces before he was overthrown and killed, meant money was difficult to trace.

Youve got people in quasi-official positions like that of a coastguard who are probably not being paid regularly or properly supervised, he warned. Whether of their own initiative or as part of the operation theyre being directed in, these sort of abuses do seem to be pretty common.

According to the International Organisation for Migration, there are between 700,000 and one million migrants in Libya, with between 5,000 and 6,000 of those in detention.

The flow over the Central Mediterranean has been relatively steady since 2014 but dipped temporarily over the summer amid suspicions militias had been paid to hold migrants back using money from the Italian interior ministry.

Judith Sunderland, the associate Europe director for Human Rights Watch, warned of an overlap between smugglers, armed groups and recognised authorities in Libya, which remains fractured between two rival governments and numerous militias.

We are concerned about the violent, reckless, erratic behaviour of coastguard forces receiving support and equipment from Europe, Ms Sunderland said.

In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A baby being taken on to MSF's Bourbon Argos ship from a boat carrying 130 migrants and refugees Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A refugee boat carrying 101 people being rescued by MSF's Bourbon Argos Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A refugee boat carrying 101 people being rescued by MSF's Bourbon Argos all images by Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A baby among refugees on a boat carrying 185 people off the coast of Libya Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea Migrants and refugees sleeping after being rescued by MSF's Bourbon Argos ship Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A crew from MSF's Bourbon Argos ship rescuing a boat carrying 130 migrants and refugees off the coast of Libya, at sunrise Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A woman in a stretcher being lifted onto MSF's Bourbon Argos ship from a boat carrying 130 migrants and refugees off the coast of Libya Lizzie Dearden

These are unreliable partners and a lot of evidence collected points to collusion between Libyan coastguard forces and smugglers.

So theres very clearly a danger that EU money, training and equipment is feeding a cycle contributing to further pain and suffering, and ultimately not serving its aims.

Ms Sunderland said HRW had documented no substantial change either in the flow of refugees or conditions in Libya since EU training programmes started more than a year ago.

A Government spokesperson said the UK carries out robust assessments on all partners, including impact analysis and human rights compliance checks, before providing support in fragile states with poor human rights records.

All our work considers possible risks to vulnerable migrants, he added.

In Libya, our support is saving lives, improving conditions and rights for migrants. The alternative would be to turn a blind eye to their suffering.

A spokesperson for the GNA told The Independent: The Libyan government takes these allegations very seriously. We have a zero tolerance for corruption in any instances and will investigate these very serious allegations before taking the appropriate action.

We are doing our best, in the most difficult circumstances imaginable, to provide appropriate facilities for migrants onshore and protective measures of our coastline offshore. We are committed to fighting illegal human trafficking with our international partners.
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The wife of a soldier accused of sabotaging her parachute in one of two alleged attempts to murder her, has admitted she did not always tell police the truth about her husbands actions.

Victoria Cilliers told Winchester Crown Court that she despised her husband, Emile, after becoming suspicious about his extra-marital affair, which had pushed her to suicidal thoughts.

She admitted that she had given differing accounts in her police interviews on the amount of time her husband was alone with her parachute.

Asked whether she had always told the truth, she replied: Not always. The extent of his lies and deceit had been disclosed to me and I just wanted to get my own back to a certain extent.

She said she had been generous with the timescales, adding: I said he was away for a couple of minutes then the second time was five minutes which was probably an exaggeration. It was probably somewhere in between.

Ms Cilliers suffered extensive injuries after falling 4,000 feet at Netheravon Airfield near Salisbury, surviving the drop because she landed in a field rather than a tarmacked road.

Sergeant Emile Cilliers, 37, is accused of tampering with her parachute the day before a jump at Easter in April 2015.

Prosecutors allege the NCO in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps took the chute into a lavatory at the airfield at Netheravon, Wiltshire, and twisted the lines of the main parachute before removing vital parts called slinks from the reserve.

 Court shown parachute can be tampered with in less than five minutes

Earlier in the trial, a video was shown which demonstrated how the parachute could be sabotaged in a toilet cubicle in just over five minutes.

Mr Cilliers is also accused of damaging a gas valve at the couples home a few days before the parachute jump.

Offering an explanation as to why she had given police differing accounts of the length of time her husband was alone with the parachute, Mrs Cilliers said the stress of being injured while caring for a newborn child was horrific.

Cracks were starting to show, I was aware around that time, I had suspicions before that he was having an affair, she said.

Ms Cilliers told the court she changed the terms of the will to leave the house to their children.

In a letter to her husband written at the time the will was changed, she wrote: I do hope Emile you understand my reasons. I love you and you are an amazing father to the children, I just want to ensure that they have the access to education I had.

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She told the court: I was trying to threaten him, if you do not take a grip, I was threatening suicide.

When asked if she meant it, she replied: I am not sure, before adding: I do not think anyone would understand.

Mr Cilliers denies two counts of attempted murder and one of criminal damage recklessly endangering life.

The trial continues.
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The Government has been accused of presiding over a Brexit shambles after the minister leading negotiations was forced into an embarrassing climbdown, while officials highlighted major flaws in the UKs withdrawal plans.

Brexit Secretary David Davis performed a same-day U-turn after angering Downing Street by claiming the House of Commons may not get to approve any Brexit deal until after the country has left the EU.

In a difficult day for Theresa May, the UKs ex-ambassador to Brussels also suggested her approach could leave Britain screwed in negotiations, while HMRC could not say border systems will be ready in time for a no deal Brexit.

Recommended David Davis is making enemies in the House of Commons over Brexit

Ex-attorney general Dominic Grieve, leading attempts to reshape the PMs Brexit plans, later said Britain may have to extend its EU membership beyond March 2019 to allow time for a final deal to be properly ratified by Parliament.

The Governments troubles began when Mr Davis bragged at a 9.15am Brexit Committee hearing that negotiations will drag on until the last minute and be very exciting.

Asked if that meant the promised Parliamentary vote on the agreement could be delayed until after Brexit Day, in March 2019, Mr Davis replied: Yes, it could be.

With Ms May already under pressure from Tory backbenchers to allow Parliament a greater say over her Brexit deal, she attempted during Prime Ministers Questions at noon to correct Mr Davis by saying she was confident a vote could take place ahead of the 2019 deadline.

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

But her words, falling short of guarantee the vote would happen, failed to quell anger leaving Labour MPs demanding a statement in the House and Tory backbenchers grumbling about Mr Davis competence.

By 4pm his department issued a statement explaining that Mr Daviss morning words had been dealing with hypothetical scenarios and that he did indeed expect a vote in the Commons before the UK left the EU.

The Independent understands that Ms May had been angry at having to fire-fight problems created by Mr Davis as she prepared for her weekly PMQs session.

Her spokesman later did not deny Downing Street had been in contact with Mr Davis department before it published its clarification of his comments, and was also forced to say that Ms May still has confidence in his abilities.

Speaking to The Independent afterwards, Conservative MP Nicky Morgan said: I hope hell stop asking himself hypothetical questions as weve got enough really hard questions to answer.

Labours Sir Keir Starmer refuted Mr Daviss words (Getty)

Ex-business Tory minister Anna Soubry said Mr Daviss comments had been really worrying, adding: Any eleventh hour deal is going to be in the run up to the end of next year, not March 2019, because it needs to be ratified by other European parliaments. He must know that, hes the secretary of state.

Jeremy Corbyns spokesman said Mr Davis words were obviously absurd, while Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keri Starmer said no one in any other European country or in Brussels had suggested ratification would come after March 2019.

Labour Pat McFadden MP, leading supporter of Open Britain, said the U-turn exposed the self-created shambles over Brexit, while the Lib Dems Tom Brake said it showed the total contempt with which the Government holds Parliament.

As Downing Street was managing the fallout, the UKs former ambassador to the EU said Ms Mays decision to trigger Article 50 without first establishing the sequencing of talks had opened up Britain to being screwed in negotiations.

Giving evidence to the Treasury Committee, Sir Ivan Rogers said he advised waiting until ministers were sure how the negotiating timetable would work but said he had been heavily opposed by various people in London.

At the same time in a hearing of the Public Accounts Committee, the chief executive of HM Revenue and Customs said there is no guarantee a new IT system will be ready for a no-deal Brexit.

Mr Davis did receive some support from hardline Brexiteer MPs, including Chris Chope who said Mr Davis had made a perfectly sensible point, suggesting that a deal may be pushed to the last minute and that therefore Parliament will not vote until afterwards.

 Theresa May refuses to guarantee MPs vote on Brexit deal before Britain leaves EU

Mr Chope was himself sitting on the Procedure Committee questioning Mr Grieve about his proposed amendment to the Governments EU (withdrawal) Bill, that would see it committing to a enshrine the eventual deal Ms May seals in UK law with a new piece of legislation.

Mr Grieve said Britain may have to temporarily extend its EU membership if a Brexit deal has not been ratified by both sides at the planned exit date of March 2019.

He explained: What will happen is that there will be a necessary extension, short extension, of time on both sides for this matter to be resolved.

With MPs on both sides of the Commons coalescing around his proposed amendment to Ms Mayplans, The Independent reported earlier this month that the Government is considering further legislation.
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Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has described Brexit as the "stupidest thing any country has ever done"  apart from the election of Donald Trump as US president.

The American businessman reportedly told a technology conference in Boston two weeks ago that he would have thought twice about building a European headquarters in London had he known the UK was going to quit the EU.

"Maybe I wouldn't have" opened the 1bn City office, he said.

Recommended City firms set Government an end of year deadline over Brexit plans

"My former wife was a Brit, my daughters have British passports, so we love England - it's the father of our country, I suppose," Mr Bloomberg said, according to The Guardian.

"But what they are doing is not good and there is no easy way to get out of it because if they don't pay a penalty, everyone else would drop out.

So they can't get as good of a deal as they had before."

He added: "I did say that I thought it was the single stupidest thing any country has ever done but then we Trumped it."

 Donald Tusk says Brexit can still be stopped

It comes after the City called for clarity over plans for a post-Brexit transition period by the end of the year.

The City of London Corporation warned Chancellor Philip Hammond it was "critical" details were set out quickly or contingency plans will be put into force.

Additional reporting by PA
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David Davis has stunned MPs by warning they may not get a vote on any Brexit deal until after Britain has left the European Union.

The Brexit Secretary predicted the negotiations will drag on until the last minute on the last day in 2019 and be very exciting.

Asked if that meant the promised Parliamentary vote on the agreement could be delayed until after Brexit Day, in March 2019, Mr Davis replied: Yes, it could be.

The threat blows out of the water the Prime Ministers repeated pledge of a vote  although she insisted it would not allow Parliament to halt withdrawal.

A cross-party alliance of MPs is attempting to amend the Brexit Bill to require that vote to be a separate Act of Parliament, to give Parliament more muscle.

And a separate amendment aims to use it to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU with no deal, if the talks collapse.

The vote was expected at the end of next year  the EUs deadline for agreement, to allow ratification  but Mr Davis ripped up that timetable, when giving evidence to a Commons committee.

Warning EU deals tended to be agreed at 11.59pm on the last day - or even later, by stopping the clock  he told MPs: Thats exactly what I would expect to happen here

And he added: It will be very exciting for everyone watching.

Asked where that left the Parliamentary vote, Mr Davis said it would not take place until afterwards  which could mean after the UK has left the EU, on March 30, 2019.

He said he hoped to agree a transitional deal in the first quarter of next year  if the UK passes the sufficient progress test on divorce terms in December.

But Theresa May has bowed to Brexiteer Tory MPs by insisting that deal will only be implemented if agreement on a long-term trading partnership has also been struck.

The claim that the nail biting talks will be very exciting is certain to anger business leaders who have demanded clarity on Brexit by the end of this year.

It also comes despite the Prime Minister refusing to confirm that the 3.2m EU citizens in this country will be able to legally stay, if the UK crashes out of the EU with no deal.

Earlier, Mr Davis acknowledged that major banks are threatening to move out of London to Frankfurt, Paris or Dublin if there is no deal by March or April next year.

He argued they would not incur that huge cost, if a transition deal looks likely, but admitted: They might reduce the size of the office.

Mr Davis also hinted that France  not Britain  would be to blame if there was no agreement and new customs arrangements were not in place.

Insisting the UKs new customs systems would be ready for March 2019 regardless, he suggested the French were not investing enough  which could cause backlogs in the UK.

The Brexit Secretary was also asked what questions the MPs should out to Michel Barnier, when he gives evidence to the Brexit committee in a fortnights time.

He suggested they find out what Mr Barnier means by the sufficient progress Britain must make to move the talks on to transition and trade  despite five rounds of face-to-face talks with him.

The EU has repeatedly made clear that Britain must move in three areas; the financial settlement, EU citizens right and the Irish border.
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The UKs customs chief says there is no guarantee that a new IT system will be ready for a no-deal Brexit  contradicting Government promises.

Jon Thompson warned there were four major risks threatening its introduction by Brexit day, in March 2019, telling an inquiry by MPs: Nobody said we were confident.

Asked if it would be catastrophic for the system to fail, if Britain has crashed out of the EU with no new customs arrangements, he replied: Yes.

David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, has repeatedly boasted that the new hi-tech system, called the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), will be in place by January 2019.

It will need to cope with a staggering 363 per cent leap in customs declarations  from 55 million to 255 million  if tax and duties must be collected on trade between the UK and EU.

There are fears of enormous queues at Dover and other checkpoints and huge disruption to trade  even if the new system is ready in time.

But, giving evidence to the Commons Public Accounts Committee, Mr Thompson, the chief executive of HM Revenue and Customs, highlighted the risk that CDS would go off track.

I need to be transparent with you, he said. There are four significant risks with this programme.

And he added: I would never give a guarantee that an IT system will work until after. Its the way technology is.

Mr Thompson revealed he had, so far, been given funding only for initial tests in January, saying: I run out of money at 630,000.

Overall, HMRC would need up to 450m additional funding to cope with a no deal Brexit, but had received only 78m so far  plus an extra 3,000-5,000 staff

Layla Moran, a Liberal Democrat MP who sits on the committee, seized on the comments, warning: This blows a hole in claims that we can just crash out of Europe with no deal without disastrous consequences.

HMRC is being asked to do the impossible, without enough time, resources or clarity over what will happen next.

It is people across the country who will pay the price, with gridlock at our ports and roads and prices in the shops going up.

And Stephen Doughty, a Labour MP and supporter of the pro-EU Open Britain group, said: By threatening no deal, we are aiming a loaded gun at our own foot.

The Government has proposed keeping the same customs rules with the EU for an interim period after Brexit, to avert border chaos.

However, EU leaders have suggested they will reject the plan  after Cabinet ministers insisted Britain must also be free to seek trade deals with non-EU countries, from day one after departure.

HMRC is therefore preparing for no deal, admitting it will have to fall back on the existing CHIEF (Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight) system, if CDS is not ready.

However, CHIEF is incompatible with a new EU code, requiring all communications between customs authorities and economic operators to be electronic.

The deadline for compliance is December 2020, but will be brought forward by Britains EU exit to Brexit day in March 2019.
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Labour MPs have backed calls for Jared O'Mara to be suspended while the party investigates claims he called a constituent an "ugly b****" just months before he was elected.

Former shadow education secretary Lucy Powell condemned the allegations of verbal abuse, which were revealed after the emergence of racist, homophobic and sexist comments the Sheffield Hallam MP made on online message boards more than a decade ago.

Mr O'Mara, who claimed former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg's seat in the election, is facing a party probe after constituent Sophie Evans claimed he called her an "ugly b****" and made transphobic slurs in March this year - a claim he "categorically denies".

He also resigned from the Commons Women and Equalities Committee over a string of derogatory remarks he made in online forums in the early 2000s.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has faced pressure to remove the whip from Mr O'Mara as his comments drew condemnation from opposition parties.

Ms Powell told ITV: "One of the key questions you are asked when you become a candidate for the Labour Party - and you have to sign a contract to say this - is there anything in your past that would bring the party into disrepute? And I don't understand how in all honesty Jared could have signed that paper."

She added: "That's why I think he should be suspended while that investigation is taking place."

Fellow Labour MP Lisa Nandy, a former shadow cabinet member, also said he should be suspended, telling an event at Queen Mary University in London: "We have a very clear process in the Labour Party that in my view ought to be upheld.

"In this case - just as in previous cases - it's absolutely clear. We suspend, we investigate and we make a decision."

It comes after former shadow business secretary Clive Lewis had to apologise for for telling a man get on your knees, b**** at a Momentum event during the Labour Party conference.

Earlier, Mr OMara said he had made a full and unreserved apology to Labour MPs about the online remarks, and felt deeply ashamed of his past comments.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 November 2022 Lesley Sutcliffe shelters from the rain next to a life-sized replica of the innermost coffin of King Tutankhamun by artist Amanda Stoner as it goes on display inside a traditional red telephone box which has been converted into a museum, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. 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Overwhelmingly, people accepted my apology, accepted my sincerity and remorse; they accepted I have been through a journey of education, he said in an interview.

Ive stood down from the Women and Equalities Select Committee too  I think its the right thing to do. I dont think I can continue on that committee when I feel so deeply ashamed of the man I was 15 years ago.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: The party is investigating Jared OMara MP in relation to comments and behaviour which have been reported from earlier this year.
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Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has claimed that criticism of Saudi Arabia in Parliament is hindering Britains ability to secure sales of fighter jets to the oil-rich kingdom.

The extraordinary claim came as Sir Michael was quizzed on why a deal on Eurofighter Typhoon jets to the Middle Eastern country  currently being brokered by BAE and the British Government with Riyadh  was yet to be agreed.

The Defence Secretary said: I have to repeat sadly that obviously other criticism of Saudi Arabia in this Parliament is not helpful and Ill leave it there.

We need to do everything possible to encourage Saudi Arabia towards batch two and I believe they will commit toward batch two and we continue to work away on the timing.

Speaking to Parliaments Defence Committee, Sir Michael continued: Well weve been working extremely hard on the batch two deal and I travelled to Saudi Arabia back in September and discussed progress on the deal with my opposite number the crown prince of Saudi Arabia and we continue to press for signature of at least a statement of intent.

His comments were immediately seized upon by the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) who branded Mr Fallons warning to colleagues as disgraceful.

Recommended Government announces plan to put army cadet units in state schools

He is calling on other parliamentarians to join him in putting arms sales ahead of human rights, democracy and international humanitarian law, said Andrew Smith.

Arms sales to human rights abusing regimes like Saudi Arabia would not be possible without the support of Ministers like Fallon. If the Governments main concern is jobs then it should be shifting that support into more positive areas like renewable energy and low carbon technology, and other industries which are not dependent on war and conflict for profit.

Emily Thornberry, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, described Sir Michael's comments as "extremley concerning", adding: "The sale of arms should never be prioritised over human rights, the rule of law, and the lives of innocent children in Yemen.

Jo Swinson, the Liberal Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson, added: There is no justification for the UK to continue selling billions of pounds worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia while they continue their deadly operation in Yemen. We must suspend arms sales to Saudi immediately.

This is a conflict which has killed thousands of civilians and subjected millions to famine and disease. Britain is better than this, we should stand firm for our values, not sell them to the highest bidder.

A Tory source later said Mr Fallon had been aiming to attack Labour over its approach to the country, adding: "Their policy of denouncing and disengaging with Saudi Arabia is not going to help the UK. It won't help it with defence exports and it won't help it bring about change over human rights."

During the session Sir Michael also said there had been an extraordinary increase in Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic. On the current military capability review, which is under way across the Ministry of Defence, he said its principal driver was that the threats identified in 2015 have got markedly worse.

We have seen an extraordinary increase in Russian submarine activity over the last couple of years in the North Atlantic, Sir Michael told the House of Commons Defence Committee.

We have seen North Korea testing their missiles, we have seen cyber attacks on our own country and on our own Parliament.

We have had terror attacks  five this year on our own streets. These threats have intensified since we carried out the 2015 [Security Defence Spending] review.

I think it is right we look again and make sure, across the board of security and defence, we have our capabilities in the right place.
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Welcome to The Independents live blog on the latest developments from Prime Ministers Questions.

Following Tuesdays emergency debate on Universal Credit, Mr Corbyn dedicated a number of his questions to the rollout of the Governments flagship welfare scheme and asked whether Theresa May would respect the will of the House. The Prime Minister refused to accept Mr Corbyns comments and said the Government was gradually phasing in Universal Credit.

But one the most significant issues during the session came before the Labour leaders questions as the Prime Minister announced a major U-turn on the housing benefit cap for elderly and vulnerable people.

The Prime Minister prompted cheers when she announced the Government would not roll out changes that would see people living in social housing having their housing benefit capped in line with the private rented sector.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 November 2022 Lesley Sutcliffe shelters from the rain next to a life-sized replica of the innermost coffin of King Tutankhamun by artist Amanda Stoner as it goes on display inside a traditional red telephone box which has been converted into a museum, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire PA 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

The proposed cap, which was due to be introduced in April 2019, also prompted warnings from supported housing providers that it could put their viability at risk.

Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, she said: I can also say today that as part of our response to the review, we will not apply the Local Housing Allowance cap to supported housing.

Indeed we will not be implementing it in the wider social rented sector and the full details will be made available when we publish our response to the consultation.
Heres a story consistent with what has been reported in the presshow reliably reported is uncertain. Democratic political opponents of Donald Trump financed a British former spook who spread money among contacts in Russia, who in turn over drinks solicited stories from their supposedly connected sources in Moscow. If these people were really connected in any meaningful sense, then they made sure the stories they spun were consistent with the interests of the regime, if not actually scripted by the regime.



The resulting Trump dossier then became a factor in Obama administration decisions to launch an FBI counterintelligence investigation of the Trump campaign, and after the election to trumpet suspicions of Trump collusion with Russia.



We know of a second, possibly even more consequential way the FBI was effectively a vehicle for Russian meddling in U.S. politics. Authoritative news reports say FBI chief James Comeys intervention in the Hillary Clinton email matter was prompted by a Russian intelligence document that his colleagues suspected was a Russian plant.



OK, Mr. Mueller was a former close colleague and leader but no longer part of the FBI when these events occurred. This may or may not make him a questionable person to lead a Russia-meddling investigation in which the FBIs own actions are necessarily a concern.



But now we come to the Rosatom disclosures last week in The Hill, a newspaper that covers Congress.



Heres another story as plausible as we can make it based on credible reporting. After the Cold War, in its own interest, the U.S. wanted to build bridges to the Russian nuclear establishment. The Putin government, for national or commercial purposes, agreed and sought to expand its nuclear business in the U.S.



The purchase and consolidation of certain assets were facilitated by Canadian entrepreneurs who gave large sums to the Clinton Foundation, and perhaps arranged a Bill Clinton speech in Moscow for $500,000. A key transaction had to be approved by Hillary Clintons State Department.



Now we learn that, before and during these transactions, the FBI had uncovered a bribery and kickback scheme involving Russias U.S. nuclear business, and also received reports of Russian officials seeking to curry favor through donations to the Clinton Foundation.



This criminal activity was apparently not disclosed to agencies vetting the 2010 transfer of U.S. commercial nuclear assets to Russia. The FBI made no move to break up the scheme until long after the transaction closed. Only five years later, the Justice Department, in 2015, disclosed a plea deal with the Russian perpetrator so quietly that its significance was missed until The Hill reported on the FBI investigation last week.



For anyone who cares to look, the real problem here is that the FBI itself is so thoroughly implicated in the Russia meddling story.



The agency, when Mr. Mueller headed it, soft-pedaled an investigation highly embarrassing to Mrs. Clinton as well as the Obama Russia reset policy. More recently, if just one of two things is trueRussia sponsored the Trump Dossier, or Russian fake intelligence prompted Mr. Comeys email interventionthen Russian operations, via their impact on the FBI, influenced and continue to influence our politics in a way far more consequential than any Facebook ad, the preoccupation of John McCain, who apparently cannot behold a mountain if theres a molehill anywhere nearby.



Which means that Mr. Mueller has the means, motive and opportunity to obfuscate and distract from matters embarrassing to the FBI, while pleasing a large part of the political spectrum. He need only confine his focus to the flimsy, disingenuous but popular (with the media) accusation that the shambolic Trump campaign colluded with the Kremlin.



Mr. Muellers tenure may not have bridged the two investigations, but James Comeys, Rod Rosensteins , Andrew Weissmanns , and Andrew McCabes did. Mr. Rosenstein appointed Mr. Mueller as special counsel. Mr. Weissmann now serves on Mr. Muellers team. Mr. McCabe remains deputy FBI director. All were involved in the nuclear racketeering matter and the Russia meddling matter.



...




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Theresa May has said she will celebrate the centenary of the Balfour declaration, which paved the way for the creation of Israel, with pride next week.

After welcoming Benjamin Netanyahu to London, Ms May and the Israeli Prime Minister will dine together at an exclusive event to celebrate the historic promise made in 1917 that the British Government would use its best endeavours to facilitate the creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, will not be attending the high-profile event but the partys Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry will be taking his place.

Speaking in the Commons, the Prime Minister added: We are proud of the role that we played in the creation of state of Israel and we will certainly mark the centenary with pride.

I am also pleased that good trade relations and other relations that we have with Israel we are building on and enhancing.

We must also be conscious of the sensitivities that some people do have about the Balfour declaration and we recognise that there is more work to be done. We remain committed to the two state solution in relation to Israel and the Palestinians.

Ms May's comments came ahead of a Westminster Hall debate on the declaration  organised by the Conservative MP Dr Matthew Offord  during which a range of cross-party MPs echoed Ms Mays comments.

Mr Offord said that since its creation Israel has stood as a "bastion of freedom and democracy in a region where liberties cannot be taken for granted".

But others said the centenary cannot be met with unbridled celebration and joy.

Naz Shah, the Labour MP for Bradford, said: While the state of Israel has come to exist over the last 100 years and this document is largely symbolic of a changing in attitude  certainly within this country  to have a notion of a Jewish nation co-exisiting in Palestine it is crucial that the next 50 years from 1917 played a far more important role."

What is clear that the vision laid out in the letter was always certain to fail," Ms Shah added.

"Some 5m Palestinians of varying descent live as displaced refugees living by and large in poverty across the Middle East. 2.5m live in torturous conditions within the occupied West Bank and 1.7m people live in the largest open prison camp on the planet in Gaza with no basic rights, no citizenship and no hope of a lasting future.
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Theresa May has criticised Labour MP Jared O'Maras misogynistic comments, demanding that all MPs show respect for women.

The Prime Minister stepped into the row over the Sheffield Hallam MP, just minutes after Jeremy Corbyn bowed to pressure to suspend him from the party.

The Labour leader acted after allegations  denied by Mr OMara  that he called a constituent an ugly b**** just months before he was elected.

Earlier this week, he resigned from the Commons Women and Equalities Committee because of racist, homophobic and sexist comments he made on online message boards more than a decade ago.

In the Commons, Ms May was asked how such comments could give encouragement to the women and girls in his constituency to take part in public life.

In reply, she said: All of us in this House should have due care and attention to the way in which we refer to other people and should show women in public life the respect that they deserve.

The criticism came as the Prime Minister urged the country to mark the centenary next year of the first female MP.

I want to see young women actually able to see this House as a place that they actively want to come to, she said.

That they want to contribute to their society, that they want to respond to the needs of local constituents and make a real difference to peoples lives

Thats what Im in it for. Thats why Id encourage more women to come into this House.

A Labour spokesman said Jeremy Corbyn asked for the MP to be suspended because new material allegedly written by Mr O'Mara had come to light dating from 2009, when he was "significantly older" than the earlier mesages.

Describing social media posts as "heinous, he said: "The original information related either to things that were written and said around 13, 14 years ago, or to things that were contested. The latest information is more recent and so Jeremy took the decision to ask for his suspension."

The spokesman said: "This kind of abusive, misogynistic, sexist language is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the Labour Party."

He added that if the investigation decided to strip Mr O'Mara of his party membership he could not remain a Labour MP.

Senior MPs condemned Mr O'Mara - who won former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg's seat in the election - after constituent Sophie Evans claimed he called her an "ugly b**** and made transphobic slurs to her earlier this year.

He also wrote a series on online posts featuring gay slurs as well as racist and sexist abuse.

Speaking earlier this week, Mr OMara said he had made a full and unreserved apology to Labour MPs about the online remarks, and felt deeply ashamed of his past comments.

Overwhelmingly, people accepted my apology, accepted my sincerity and remorse; they accepted I have been through a journey of education, he said in an interview.

Ive stood down from the Women and Equalities Select Committee too  I think its the right thing to do. I dont think I can continue on that committee when I feel so deeply ashamed of the man I was 15 years ago.
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A Conservative whip who sent a McCarthyite letter asking universities to list their Brexit lecturers was simply planning to write a book, a minister has claimed.

Joe Johnson, the universities minister, defended Chris Heaton-Harris after the letter provoked a storm of criticism  calling it an academic inquiry.

Mr Heaton-Harris has declined to explain his actions, after university chiefs accused him of "idiotic Leninism" and censorship worthy of the notorious Joe McCarthy.

But Mr Johnson said the whip had told him he had been pursuing a very longstanding interest in European affairs and the history of European thought.

He was pursuing inquiries of his own which may in time, I think, lead to a book on these questions, the universities minister claimed.

So it was more of an academic inquiry, rather than an attempt to constrain the freedom that academics rightly have.

After repeated questioning, on BBC Radio 4s Today programme, Mr Johnson conceded: A letter that could have been misinterpreted should probably not have been sent in this way.

But he argued it was perfectly legitimate for anybody to inquire into the details of teaching at universities, which are public bodies.

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

Mr Heaton-Harris was acting in an individual capacity as an MP, rather than as a government minister, Mr Johnson insisted.

However, the short letter made no mention of a book, simply asking for the names of professors at your establishment involved in Brexit teaching, plus a copy of the syllabus and links to the online lectures.

Alistair Jarvis, the chief executive of Universities UK, which represents university leaders, has attacked the move as an alarming attempt to censor or challenge academic freedom.

Lord Patten of Barnes, chancellor of Oxford University, and a former Tory party chairman, branded it absolutely disgraceful and offensive and idiotic Leninism.

And David Green, the vice-chancellor of Worcester University, said: It appears so innocent but is really so, so dangerous.

Here is the first step to the thought police, the political censor and Newspeak, naturally justified as the will of the British people, a phrase to be found on Mr Heaton-Harriss website."

Downing Street was keen to distance itself from the man in the post of vice-chamberlain of Her Majesty's household, the fourth most senior government whip.

Asked whether universities should comply with the request, the No 10 spokesman said it was completely up to them, stressing academic freedom.

But some Conservative MPs offered their support, accusing universities of over-reacting and even of trying to influence students with anti-Brexit messages.

Mr Johnson said it was a gross exaggeration to describe Mr Heaton-Harriss request as Leninism. Asked whether the whip should apologise, he replied: Chris can speak for himself.
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Three-quarters of the British public  including the majority of Conservative voters  want government action now to cut the time vulnerable people are waiting before receiving universal credit benefit payments, a poll has revealed.

The exclusive survey by BMG Research for The Independent showed 74 per cent of people think the average six-week wait facing most new claimants before they get a first full payment is too long.

There is growing pressure to use the Budget next month to tackle the issue, with a group of Tory MPs and even the benefits architect Iain Duncan Smith saying the waiting time should be shorter.

Labour called a further Commons universal credit debate on Tuesday to push the Government into making changes as the new welfare system is rolled out across the country, with Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke attacked for not attending the session.

Respondents to the poll were asked whether they thought the average six-week period new claimants are made to wait before receiving their first full payment is an acceptable wait, or should the Government take steps to reduce waiting times?.

Just 15 per cent of people said it was an acceptable amount of time and 11 per cent said they did not know, while the other 74 per cent said the Government should take steps to reduce waiting times.

Some 71 per cent of people who would vote Conservative at the next election also wanted the Government to cut the six-week period.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA

The biggest criticism of universal credit, which will eventually merge six existing benefits into one, stems from the fact that people must wait for their first payment, with a six-week gap being the norm, though Labour suggested on Tuesday that one in four wait longer and one in 10 wait more than 10 weeks.

A government spokesman highlighted the system of advances that is in place, allowing claimiants to get up to half of their first payment within five days, with future payments then being reduced to make up the difference.

Responding to the poll, the spokesman said: We note with interest that people were not asked or informed about the new system of advances put in place which means that people can get payments within five days or on the same day if urgent. We are committed to ensuring that people do not face hardship while they await their first full payment and we are continually monitoring the system and will take action if necessary, as we did to provide upfront advances.

But even former Work and Pensions Secretary Mr Duncan Smith, seen as the universal credits architect, has said the waiting time should be cut, adding that he had envisioned a four-week wait.

The idea of the extra days was not something which I or my colleagues came up with, he said.

It was a Treasury matter at the time and I think its certainly worth them reviewing that to see whether or not they can get rid of the waiting days  theyre not wholly necessary.

Conservative MPs Heidi Allen and Kevin Hollinrake were among those who repeated calls this week for the period to be reduced from six weeks.

 Universal Credit leading to "unprecedented" levels of debt and people "stealing" to survive

Polling on whether the roll-out of universal credit should be halted altogether was more equivocal, with 36 per cent saying the roll-out should be halted, 35 per cent saying it should continue and 29 per cent saying they did not know.

The Government had been rolling out the benefit to new claimants at a rate of five jobcentres a month, but in July they completed 29.

With officials having deemed the increase over the summer a success, the roll-out is being increased to 50 jobcentres a month for new claimants up to January, potentially going up to 60 after that.

Mr Gauke has said he hopes that by the autumn 2018 all new claimants would be on the new benefit and the Government would begin to convert longer-term claimants.

But in the Commons opposition MPs relayed stories of vulnerable claimants being affected by the roll-out.

In the Commons session on Tuesday, Mr Gauke was accused of snubbing Parliament after he failed to turn up to the emergency debate on the issue, with employment minister Damian Hinds sent in his place.

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Debbie Abrahams said: I always welcome the minister to his place, but I would like to ask why the Secretary of State isnt here to answer.

A spokesperson later explained that Mr Gauke had been undertaking departmental work, while the debate went on, highlighting that he had taken part in a long debate last week.

Ms Abrahams later claimed that the roll-out had meant food banks are running out of food as people struggled to get by and called for a pause in the policys implementation.

Mr Hinds urged caution in ascribing the reasons for the usage of food banks to individual or simple causes and argued that universal credit continues to improve in its performance.

Fieldwork was carried out between 17 October and 20 October, interviewing a 1,506 GB adults, aged 18+. Results were weighted to reflect the profile of GB adults. BMG are members of the British Polling Council and abide by their rules
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Hopes for a last-minute postponement of Kenyas general election re-run on Wednesday flickered and died, with a deeply flawed vote now set to go ahead amid the countrys greatest political crisis for a decade.

A Supreme Court hearing in Nairobi was supposed to give the judiciary a final chance to push back the election a couple of months, allowing room to bring the opposition  which has effectively withdrawn from the ballot  back to the negotiating table.

But that hearing could not go ahead as five of seven judges failed to show. At least one of them cited security concerns: Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu had her bodyguard shot and injured on Tuesday night. Chief Justice David Maraga said in a live TV address that another judge was unwell and a third was abroad.

Recommended Kenya has the task of choosing between the lesser of two evils

Supporters of the opposition Nasa alliance and its leader, Raila Odinga, had pinned their hopes on the Supreme Court  the same court which annulled the first attempt at an election on 8 August after there were found to be irregularities when counting the results.

Its failure to even stage a hearing on Wednesday is now just another reason the opposition will use to dismiss Thursdays vote, which the government of President Uhuru Kenyatta has vowed will go ahead regardless.

Speaking in Nairobis Uhuru Park in the afternoon, Mr Odinga called on his loyal supporters to boycott the vote, saying his party will become a resistance movement when they now inevitably lose.

He pulled his name out of the running for the presidency earlier this month when his demands for electoral reform in the wake of Augusts aborted ballot were not met. Do not participate, he said at Wednesdays rally, adding that a fresh election should be held within 90 days.

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga greets the crowd as he arrives for as rally in the Uhuru Park in Nairobi (AP)

Harun Ndubi, a lawyer for the petitioners to the Supreme Court, suggested that those judges who did not provide good reasons for missing the hearing were failing their constitutional duty.

The justices must forever be available, said Mr Ndubi. I don't buy their explanation. I don't see a credible or legitimate election happening tomorrow, he said, adding that any vote that does go ahead would be a farce.

All signs pointed to Kenya not being ready to hold a national election with just hours to go until ballots open. Images from the western opposition heartlands of Kisumu, posted to social media, showed little evidence of preparations at schools and town halls supposedly to be used as polling stations.

Even in pro-government regions where turnout could still be high, observers said lots of stations had yet to receive lists of registered voters.

And while OT-Morpho, the French digital security company providing equipment for use in the vote, said it was able to deliver a credible poll, it also admitted some of its capabilities were not ready. Stations with poor 3G or 4G mobile coverage would not be able to send their results by text, as they did in August.

There are some suggestions that it is a matter of time before the Supreme Court annuls the re-run itself, something it has said it is willing to do. In another related ruling, High Court Judge George Odunga said on Wednesday that there was evidence some local election officials had been appointed in an irregular manner, but stopped short of withdrawing them at the last minute.

He admitted that the failure to remove them now, citing the chaos it would cause, would provide further grounds for a legal challenge after the vote takes place.

The concern is that a prolonged breakdown of political order could lead to a repeat of 2007s election violence, in which more than 1,200 people died. Those clashes proved so deadly because they were between ethnic groupings across the country  in the current crisis, the overwhelming majority of the few dozen deaths have been at the hands of police shutting down protests.

A Kisumu governor stoked fears earlier on Wednesday, saying that the people would be within their rights to lead a rebellion if Thursdays vote went ahead. Anyang Nyongo told reporters: If the government subverts the sovereign will of the people... then people are entitled to rebel against this government.

Protesters blocked roads with boulders, sticks, and burning tyres in sections of the town. Riot police used tear gas to disperse them, and two protesters received gunshot wounds, a witness for the Reuters news agency said.

But at his Uhuru Park rally, Mr Odinga sounded a note of caution, and told supporters to stay home rather than head out to demonstrations.

"We advise Kenyans who value democracy and justice to hold vigil and prayers away from polling stations, or just stay at home," he told a cheering crowd of thousands.

"Convince your friends, neighbours and everyone else not participate," he said. If they support the president, he warned: "do not insult or assault them. Instead, seek to open their eyes."

For his part, Mr Kenyatta avoided making any conspicuous public statement on the eve of the poll. But in an interview with the Star newspaper on Tuesday night, he promised to include all sides in talks once the election was over.

He warned against any attempts to block the vote. Let people of Kenya go to the ballot and decide their leader, he said. Once that leader is picked, then that leader will have to talk to everyone from Kenyans to regional leaders to international leaders.

The rights of all Kenyans must be respected. They can insult me for all they want, but I dare them to try and disrupt election.
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One of the world's most isolated tribes has promised to fight the mining companies which are threatening their home deep in the Amazon rainforest.

The Waiapi live in an indigenous reserve that is part of a much larger conservation zone called Renca.

Brazils government would like to open the area up to international mining companies who want access to the regions deposits of gold and other metals.

But Tapayona Waiapi, a 36-year-old tribesman vowed his people would "keep fighting".

"When the companies come well keep resisting," he told the Agence France Presse (AFP) news agency. "If the Brazilian government sends soldiers to kill people, well keep resisting until the last of us is dead.

Brazil's President Michael Temer ended mining restrictions in huge swathes of Renca in August, before backtracking the following month.

But Fiona Watson, campaigns director for tribal peoples rights organisation Survival, told The Independent the Waiapi are facing a barrage of attempts to weaken and destroy their constitutional rights.

Waiapi tribe members at the Manilha village in the Waiapi indigenous reserve. (Getty Images)

These attempts are spearheaded by President Temer himself, as he cuts deals with a large bloc in Congress which is dominated by the powerful agribusiness sector, she said. These are powerful landowners and business people determined to take over indigenous lands and steal tribal peoples' resources.

There are fears the government wants to resurrect an incomplete road that would cut right through the jungle and link Brazil with Venezuela.

 Rare footage captures one of world's last uncontacted tribes

Were that to happen, Calibi Waiapi, a 57-year-old tribesman, told AFP: There would be cars, trucks, violence, drugs, robberies. The culture would change. The young would want the cellphones, the clothes, the computers. If a lot of white men came, it would be the end.

Ms Watson also warned that opening up indigenous territories to mining would pollute the Waiapis rivers where they fish and drink and contaminate their soils. The newly built roads would bring in waves of settlers, sparking social conflict and health problems, she added.

It is believed there are still group of Indians living near the Waiapi that have yet to contact the outside world. Ms Watson said they would be devastated by the introduction of industry.

In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon A group from the Mashco Piro people in Peru, photographed from a distance by the Madre de Dios river Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International

Despite the uncertainty, the Waiapi have proved extremely resilient since they were first contacted in 1973, Ms Watson said, adding that their population has grown from 150 to more than 1,200 today.

They have set up their own organizations, expelled the gold miners working illegally on their land, have their own health agents treating diseases like malaria which is a big problem, and their own teachers, she said.

The Waiapis vital role in conserving the Amazon and its rich biodiversity ultimately benefits all Brazilians and humanity.
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The National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) has issued a travel advisory warning African-American travellers to be careful when flying with American Airlines.

The social justice organisation has documented what it calls a pattern of disturbing incidents reported by African-American passengers, specific to American Airlines, according to its statement.

It warns that passengers booking and boarding flights on American Airlines could subject them disrespectful, discriminatory or unsafe conditions.

The NAACP has not yet provided dates and further details of the incidents and could not immediately be reached for comment.

However, in one instance raised by the group, an African-American female passenger and their fellow traveller, who was white, were booked in first class seats.

At the ticket counter, her ticket was changed to economy while her white companion was allowed to remain in first class. American Airlines appears to not have given a reason for the change to the passengers.

In another instance, an African-American male passenger was asked to disembark a flight because he responded to disrespectful and discriminatory comments directed toward him by two unruly white passengers, according to the NAACPs account.

Another passenger was removed from a flight after she complained to a gate agent after having her seating assignment changed without her consent.

Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP said in a statement that the incidents documented are demonstrative of behaviour that cannot be dismissed as normal or random.

American Airlines Spokeswoman Shannon Gilson sent The Independent a statement that said the airlines have invited NAACP representatives to meet with the corporate team in Fort Worth, Texas. The statement did not go into details about the incidents raised by the NAACP.

We are ready to both listen and engage, said Ms Gilson.

American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker issued a message to employees of the company in which he said: we were disappointed to learn of a travel advisory issued by the NAACP regarding American Airlines. The mission statement of the NAACP states that it 'seeks to remove all barriers of racial discrimination.' Thats a mission that the people of American Airlines endorse and facilitate every day.

He encouraged employees to make the world a smaller and more open place, and do it professionally and safely as the airline works in concert with the NAACP regarding the advisory.
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The Army judge overseeing Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl's sentencing hearing says that he is still considering dismissing the case, after the former prisoner of war's defence team argued that President Donald Trump had made it impossible for him to have a fair trial.

Even with that potential for dismissal, the judge, Army Colonel Jeffrey Nance, is allowing three service members who were injured during the search for Sgt Bergdahl to testify. Sgt Bergdahl voluntarily left his post in Afghanistan before being captured by the Taliban in June of 2009.

"Under the military justice system, it's unlawful for commanders to influence legal cases, or even give the appearance of influence. That principle covers the president as commander in chief," Colonel Nance said earlier this week, considering whether Mr Trump's recent comments that Sgt Bergdahl is a "traitor" constitute interference in the case.

As the sentencing hearing proceeded, an ex-Navy SEAL, broke down in tears while testifying about a military dog that was killed during search and rescue efforts. The SEAL, retired Chief Petty Officer James Hatch, entered the courtroom with a limp, accompanied by a service dog.

While remaining mostly stoic during questioning, Chief Hatch broke down in tears when describing the dog, that helped identify enemy combatants when they lost sight of them during hectic situations.

His name was Remco, he said. His voice cracked as he named the dog.

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. 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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. 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Chief Hatch said that his teams helicopter came under fire during a search and rescue mission near the Pakistan border, near where they thought Sgt Bergdahl may have been. The mission was hastily planned, he said, and solely aimed at finding Sgt Bergdahl. He later recalled saying to a fellow soldier that the efforts to find Sgt Bergdahl would likely end up with dead American soldiers.

After landing, they came under fire again while the dog was leading them through a field, and found two enemy fighters. Those Taliban fighters then began spraying the group with AK-47 bullets, killing the dog and hitting Chief Hatch in the leg, he said.

I screamed a lot. It hurt really bad I thought I was dead, Chief Hatch testified.

Another witness, Captain John Billings, Sgt Bergdahl's platoon leader, described the searches immediately after he disappeared into the desert. He said that they were hectic with worry.

"The next 10 days were just kind of a blur," he said. "Everybody in Afghanistan was looking for Bergdahl."

Sgt Bergdahls sentencing had been delayed because of Mr Trump's comments, who recently described him as a dirty rotten traitor.

In those remarks, Mr Trump said that the Idaho native should be executed by firing squad, or thrown out of a plane without a parachute.

Sgt Bergdahl was captured in 2009 after he left his post, sparking a major search and rescue mission. At least six soldiers were reportedly killed in the effort, though that figure has been disputed by some who point out the difficulty in establish blame for deaths in a warzone.

He was released from Taliban custody in 2014.
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Senator Bob Corker said a lot of things about President Donald Trump on Tuesday morning. The Tennessee Republican warned that Trump's itchy Twitter finger could set off another world war. He suggested Trump is a liar. He said Trump's legacy will be debasing America. He said Trump is not a role model for children. He declined to say whether Trump should be trusted with the nuclear codes. He said Trump's conduct is very sad for our nation. He said Trump has proven himself unable to rise to the occasion.

Later on - and perhaps most damningly - he said there were multiple occasions where [White House] staff has asked me to please intervene; he was getting ready to do something that was really off the tracks.

Early in this onslaught against Trump, Corker assured us that he considers all of his words carefully. I don't make comments I haven't thought about, he told ABC News. In other words: He truly believes all this stuff, and he's not just flying off the handle.

Recommended Republican Senator Corker suggests Trump is unfit for office

Which leads to the next question: If you truly believe all of that, wouldn't you also believe that Trump should be removed from office?

Corker's comments sure seem to be trending in that direction - whether he intends it or not. The senator is describing Trump as an imminent threat to American government and American lives. He's suggesting Trump is damaging American society. He says Trump isn't only failing, but that he's unable to rise to the occasion. He suggests Trump was ready to do crazy things before Corker intervened and put a stop to it. He's basically arguing that Trump is derelict in his duties as president, or unfit for the office.

Depending upon whom you ask, that could be approaching grounds for impeachment - or the less likely option of removal via the 25th Amendment, in which Trump would be declared unfit by his own Cabinet.

Grounds for impeachment are forever the topic of debate, of course, given that the Constitution requires high Crimes and Misdemeanours for removal from office. But those high crimes and misdemeanours need not necessarily be criminal in nature; many scholars believe dereliction of duty is also sufficient, and it's really up to Congress. As Princeton University's Keith E. Wittington wrote in The Post in May:

Even actions that might never be crimes could be impeachable... In 1933, Judge Halsted Ritter's impeachment included the charge that he had continued to practice law in a manner 'calculated to bring his office into disrepute,' violating judicial ethics. Associate Justice Samuel Chase was charged with abusive behaviour from the bench, and President Andrew Johnson was charged with firing the Secretary of War in a manner inconsistent with a federal statute.

Many impeachment efforts have been prompted by behaviour seen as inconsistent with the responsibility and reputation of the office. Some individuals are impeached to get them out of office, when their actions threaten the political system's functioning, and they can't be stopped any other way.

Impeachments also serve a broader function. Congress can use it to reinforce or create new political norms. Even when the impeached official is not convicted and removed from office, the impeachment itself sends others the message that those actions were unacceptable and must not be repeated. When a federal official is destabilising established norms of conduct, Congress may impeach to send a strong signal that such behaviour must not become the new normal.

Even lawful actions, or actions within an officer's authority, can be impeachable offences. Context is everything. Actions that are ordinary and inoffensive in some circumstances can be extraordinary and threatening in others. Impeachment is not merely for illegal or constitutional actions. It is also a remedy for dereliction of duty and abuse of power.

Some Democrats have argued that previous Trump actions - or inaction - have constituted dereliction of duty, especially when it comes to his reluctance to condemn Russia for its 2016 election interference. Perhaps some of that could be dismissed as overheated partisan rhetoric.

In the case of Corker, though, it's coming from a Republican who was once close to Trump and might be more measured in his comments. Yet he's basically labeling Trump an irredeemable failure who cannot be prevailed upon to perform his job functions. Corker previously said Trump hadn't yet demonstrated the stability or competence needed to serve; now he's basically saying it's a lost cause.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

And whether you think that's a sufficient basis for impeaching and/or removing a president from office, it stands to reason that a politician who believes those things would seek out whatever remedies were available for preventing the things he's warning us about.

It maybe never come to pass - and it likely won't - but Corker's rhetoric here can't help but point in that direction.

The Washington Post
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An Australian tourist has claimed she does not remember attacking a 68-year-old cyclist taking part in an annual Zombie Bike Ride because she was drunk.

Prue Harvey, 32, reportedly shouted "fall, bitch" before pushing Linda Malcolm as she rode in the parade in Florida Keys.

Ms Malcolm's daughter told police Ms Harvey was running between the bikes and gave one family "dirty looks" before shoving her mother.

She was subsequently arrested a felony battery charge.

The police report said Ms Harvey, of Yamba in New South Wales, was in town for a wedding. Jail records did not list a lawyer.

A conviction on the battery charge could reportedly see Ms Harvey jailed for up to five years and fined $5,000 (3,800).

Police noted that she "had no recollection of the above incident".

They added in a report: "She smelled strongly of an alcoholic beverage. She was at a bar earlier and was unable to recall anything she had done after 1pm."

Harvey told them she had been drinking and could not remember anything, they said.
This would be far funnier if it were eerily prescient ...

A Missive from 2036: I was Disgusting to Criticize Trump

President Trump has already Made America Great Again. In fact, he keeps Making America Even Better and Better.



It is fair to say that no other president has done more than President Trump, now 90: Over 50 Legislation approvals, massive regulation cuts, energy freedom, pipelines, border security, 2nd Amendment, Strong Military, ISIS, historic VA improvement, Supreme Court Justice, Record Stock Market, lowest unemployment in 17 years! He is getting what will be the biggest tax cut in U.S. history. He will give great and popular tax breaks to the middle class but not make any changes to 401(k) plans. It all stays! It will be historic and once-in-a-generation. He will also get HealthCare and it will be great. The budget that just passed is a very big deal.



Jobless claims were the best last month. The stock market continues to set all-time highs. Unlike his predecessors, Trump has written personally, on parchment and with quill pen, to every relative of every U.S. soldier ever killed, going back to the French and Indian War. Raqqa is liberated. The National Football League is requiring all 32 teams to participate in color-guard drills. And Democrats continue to be wacky and crooked. Click to expand...

Did I mention that Trump, in addition to being the best president ever, is very handsome? Click to expand...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2036  Some of my old-timer colleagues still talk about the good old days when we used to work in what they called a free press. I dont know what theyre on about.Sure, we were free. But were we happy? I think not.Its hard to remember back then, the first year of Donald Trumps presidency, when we in the fake news media were the enemies of the American people. Im embarrassed to say it, but I was one of those who criticized President Trump. It was a tremendous disservice to the American people. I was one of the most dishonest people on Earth. I really did not like America, and 46 percent of people knew my colleagues and I fabricated stories about the president. It was frankly disgusting the way I was able to write whatever I wanted to write, and people needed to look into it.People did look into it, and I was admittedly concerned when Congress passed  and all 11 justices appointed by Trump to the Supreme Court upheld  the following:The Trump Equal Time and Fairness Doctrine of 2018, making it a felony to criticize, or joke about, President Trump unless simultaneously providing a harsher criticism and/or funnier joke about a Democrat.The Adult Day Care Act of 2018, also known as the Corker Act, making it illegal to raise questions about the presidents state of mind.The Huckabee Sanders Act of 2018, making it a crime to commit the highly inappropriate action of questioning a military officer.The Stephen Miller Act of 2018, which said that all actions of the president on matters of national security are not to be questioned.The Jeff Sessions Act of 2018, making it illegal to quote any source without the express written consent of the Justice Department and Major League Baseball.The Open Up Our Libel Laws Act of 2018, which allows Trump to win lots of money when people write negative and horrible articles about him.The Fake News Reform Act of 2018, which revoked the licenses of all broadcasters, put Jeff Bezos under house arrest at the Federal Trade Commission and placed the failing New York Times and the Amazon Washington Post under the control of Minister of Information Sebastian Gorka.That was 18 years ago, and Trumps first term in the White House has now extended to nearly two decades. (Under the new rules, only House Speaker Steve Bannon and Senate Majority Leader Roy Moore can call an election, and they say they have no immediate plans to do so.)While I at first chafed at the new restrictions  no sources, no criticism  I quickly came to realize how much easier and low-stress the new journalism would be. Each morning I get a call from Gorka with my assignment. I write it up, and then its up to the Russian bots to spread the word on social media.Heres the first draft of tomorrows column I just sent to Gorka:Okay, so its a bit dull. And it pretty much comes out the same every day. But it only took me about five minutes because I didnt have to waste time with research or interviewing or fact checking. In fact, it took almost no thought at all.And its safer. Remember Trumps response when asked about Vladi*mir Putins killing of critical journalists? Our country does plenty of killing, too, he said.By Dana Milbank
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Two men, including one student, have been shot dead on the campus of Grambling State University in northern Louisiana, according to police.

The shooter is reported to have fled the scene.

Police said the student and his friend were killed after a fight that began in a dorm room.

They have been named as Earl Andrews  the student  and Monquiarious Caldwell, both 23, of Farmerville.

Their bodies were found in a courtyard between two residential buildings, according to reports. Police were called by a female 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

A university spokesman told CBS: We have asked students to stay in their dorms. We know of no other threats.

Campus police are cooperating with the Lincoln Parish Sheriffs Office, which is leading the investigation.

Our prayers go out to the victims and their families. Violence has no place on our campus.

The university is celebrating its homecoming this week, it was reported.

It tweeted on Wednesday: Grambling State University offices are open with normal business hours and students are expected to attend classes as scheduled.
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Honolulu has become the first major city in the world to ban texting while walking under new legislation dubbed the "distracted pedestrian law."

Police in Hawaii's capital will now be able fine pedestrians up to $99 (75) for viewing an electronic device while crossing the road.

City Council member Brandon Elefante, who proposed the bill, said the law means pedestrians are forced to share the responsibility for their safety with road users.

"This is really milestone legislation that sets the bar high for safety," he told The New York Times.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell said the "distracted pedestrian law" was necessary because of the high rate of citizens being hit by cars.

"Sometimes I wish there were laws we did not have to pass, that perhaps common sense would prevail," he said when the legislation was passed in July. "But sometimes we lack common sense."

More than 11,000 injuries resulted from phone-related distraction while walking in the US between 2000 and 2011, according to a University of Maryland study published in 2015.

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 findings pushed the non-profit National Safety Council to add distracted walking to its annual compilation of the biggest risks for unintentional injuries and deaths in the US, highlighting the severity of the issue.

Pedestrian deaths in the US rose by nine per cent in 2016 from the previous year to 5,987 fatalities  the highest rate since 1990.

The ban comes as cities around the world grapple with how to protect phone-obsessed smartphone zombies from injuring themselves by stepping into traffic or running into stationary objects.

In Germany, the city of Augsburg last year embedded traffic signals into the ground near tram tracks to help downward-fixated pedestrians avoid injury, local media reported.
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The Trump administration is expected to release thousands of pages of documents about the investigation into the assassination of President John F Kennedy to the public, the final batch of documents related to the 1963 tragedy that shook American life and politics.

The documents are expected to be released Thursday, and could contain a trove of information related to the activities of Lee Harvey Oswald in the months before he shot the US president during a Dallas, Texas parade.

What might be in these documents?

First off, the final batch contains more than 3,000 files, and each of those files could contain hundreds of individual documents. Those documents are said to include a handwritten note from Jackie Kennedy after the killing about funeral plans, and other potentially interesting records like that. In total, the remaining files represent just 1 per cent of the total documents.

Reports indicate that the last batch of JFK assassination documents may also contain several references to Oswalds travels to Mexico City in September 1963, just two months before Kennedy was killed in his motorcade.

The documents could detail the actions of prominent Mexican officials who at the time may have provided information to the CIA and other American agencies just before the assassination.

Others note that the JFK documents could contain information on CIA agents involved in monitoring phone calls in Mexico City, or involved in larger spy operations in Central and Latin America.

Confusion, panic and realpolitik  new tape throws light on the day JFK died Show all 3 1 /3 Confusion, panic and realpolitik  new tape throws light on the day JFK died Confusion, panic and realpolitik  new tape throws light on the day JFK died Pg-29-confusion2-ap.jpg AP Confusion, panic and realpolitik  new tape throws light on the day JFK died Pg-29-confusion3-reu.jpg Reuters Confusion, panic and realpolitik  new tape throws light on the day JFK died Pg-29-confusion-reu.jpg Reuters

Will that have any implications for anyone today?

Gerald Posner, the author of the 1993 book Case Closed, told USA Today that some details may be embarrassing for informants at the time who have moved on to high profile positions.

There may not be deep, dark secrets in there, but the release could be embarrassing to people who were involved, Mr Posner, whose book determined that Oswald acted alone in the killing, said. You have to remember that Mexico City in the 1960s was a hodgepodge of intrigue where everyone was spying on everyone else.

There may be people who were informing to the CIA at the time who have moved on to careers in politics and business, and the revelation that they were informing will be embarrassing to them, he continued.

Who is currently thought to be responsible for the assassination?

Oswald is, by and far, the most frequently blamed. The killer, who spent some time in the US military, and also travelled to Russia, was killed by nightclub owner Jack Ruby while being transferred by police after the shooting. His death sparked speculation, though, that there was something larger at foot  including conspiracies that Kennedys death came as the result of a US intelligence plot.

A House investigation report in 1979 concluded that Kennedy was likely killed as a result of a conspiracy. A Senate investigation in 1975 and 1976 led by then-senator Frank Church  known as the Church Committee  found evidence of abuses by the CIA and FBI and many details of plots to kill then-Cuban leader Fidel Castro, a country frequently cited as having reason to try and kill the America president.

Why are these documents being released now?

Longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone, who has worked as a political consultant and is an author, told conspiracy theorist Alex Jones last week that he had urged Donald Trump to release the documents, and that CIA Director Mike Pompeo has been lobbying the President to keep the files classified.

The files could potentially reveal sources and intelligence gathering methods used by the intelligence communities, even though they are decades old.

The files were set to be released automatically by October 26, unless Mr Trump decided to stop them.
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A man who raped his 63-year-old mother and broke her neck in an argument about money has been jailed for 11-years.

The 46-year-old from Cincinnati, Ohio dragged her around the home, punching her in the face and body and forcibly raped her, according to court documents cited by The Cincinnati Enquirer.

She suffered a fractured vertebrae in her neck, bruises, and cuts and bite marks to her inner thighs and back.

Anne Flanagan, an assistant prosecutor in the case, told Judge Charles Kubicki the mother tried to flee naked to a neighbours house, but her son dragged her back home before throwing her back over the fence.

She also told Hamilton County Common Pleas Court the mothers DNA was found on the defendants genitals.

After initially trying to renege on his plea deal at the last moment, the man who has not been named to protect his mother's identity, pleaded guilty to rape.

 Game of Thrones actor Jason Momoa jokes he loves his job because he gets to "rape beautiful women"

"I take my plea back," he said. "I want to go to trial with this. It's all bogus and lies."

After words with his lawyer, who told the judge his client was having a hard time wrapping his mind around the sentence, the man changed his mind.

The man did eventually go on to plead guilty to rape, criminal assault and kidnapping. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dropped charges of attempted rape and abduction.

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. 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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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But the man told the judge he could not remember the incident.

"This is a bad situation. I feel bad about the whole incident. But I don't even know what happened. I blacked out, somebody slipped me something in my drink. I don't even know what was going on. I just don't know," he said.

The mother was not involved in the case because of affection for her son, prosecutors said.
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America must take literally the threat of North Korea conducting a powerful nuclear test over the Pacific Ocean, according to a top official.

Dramatically upping the stakes as it showcases its bolstered military prowess, North Korea last month conducted its first test of a powerful hydrogen bomb. Shortly afterward, the countrys foreign minister responded to Donald Trumps threat to totally destroy North Korea by saying the country could conduct the strongest hydrogen bomb test over the Pacific Ocean.

It was not an idle warning, according to senior diplomat Ri Yong Pil, who told CNN the possibility was meant to be taken literally.

The foreign minister is very well aware of the intentions of our supreme leader, so I think you should take his words literally, Mr Ri told CNN.

The threat of a nuclear test came as North Korea renewed its warning that America was provoking a military conflict, calling joint naval exercises a prelude to nuclear war.

The claim, made in a letter from North Korean ambassador Ja Song Nam, is the latest in a series of threats and recriminations America and North Korea have exchanged over a tense few months. As North Korea has tested increasingly powerful weaponry and threatened to obliterate its enemies, the Trump administration has responded with vows to punish Korea with force if necessary.

Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Show all 6 1 /6 Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Photos released by North Korea show Kim Jong-un talking to subordinates next to a device thought to be the new thermonuclear weapon. There is no way of independently verifying the pictures STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korea claims it has successfully tested an advanced hydrogen bomb which could be loaded onto an intercontinental ballistic missile AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A diagram on the wall behind Mr Kim shows a bomb mounted inside a cone STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) attending a photo session with participants of the fourth conference of active secretaries of primary organisations of the youth league of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in Pyongyang STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters

It has also conducted joint military exercises with South Korea, including a Navy drills that dispatched around 40 vessels -among them the nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier - near the Korean Peninsula this month.

At the time North Korea referred to those drills as a rehearsal for war. In his letter, Mr Ja asked the United Nations Security Council to examine what he called the general mobilization of the strategic assets for the exercise.

 CIA Chief Mike Pompeo says threat of North Korea

Mr Ja said Donald Trump made the most ferocious declaration of war in history by claiming to totally destroy North Korea. The President issued that warning during a mid-September speech to the United Nations, continuing to match Korean bellicosity with American warnings of military reprisal. Defense Secretary James Mattis had said weeks earlier that North Korea risked total annihilation if it continued to defy the world and threaten allies.

The latest provocations from North Korea come as Mr Trump makes final preparations for a trip across Asia at the start of next month, that will include stops in Japan, South Korea and China. On Wednesday he tweeted that he had spoken with China's President Xi Jinping about the issue of North Korea.

Mr Trump also said he congratulated Mr Xi for his "extraordinary elevation" after China's president consolidated his grip on power in the country with a new leadership line-up unveiled at the Communist Party Congress in Beijing.

Mr Xi told Trump China would unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development and promote coordination and cooperation among world major powers, the state Xinhua news agency reported.

China attaches great importance to the Sino-US relations and is willing to promote the long-term, healthy and stable development of bilateral relations on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefits, Xinhua cited Mr Xi as saying.

Mr Trump was also earlier asked by reporters whether he would visit the tense demilitarized zone dividing North and South Korea during his Asia tour - his response was typically cryptic.

I'd rather not say, but you'll be surprised, he said.

China, seen as crucial to reining in its belligerent neighbor, has joined the world effort to halt North Korea but has also echoed the countrys warnings about US military exercises functioning as acts of aggression.

In August, the countrys foreign ministry urged America to suspend planned military drills that it warned would escalate tensions. A state editorial condemning North Koreas nuclear test in September also reprimanded the US for its belligerent tone, cautioning that military exercises on DPRK's doorstep ate into Pyongyang's sense of security and suggesting that North Korea suspend its military programs in exchange for the suspension of military exercises.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un also sent a rare congratulatory message to Mr Xi, the North's state media said on Thursday, wishing the Chinese leader great success in his future tasks as head of the nation.

It was a warm overture from the North Korean leader, who rarely issues personal messages. It expressed the conviction that the relations between the two parties and the two countries would develop in the interests of the peoples of the two countries, the North's state-run central news agency said in a statement.

The UN Security Council to which Mr Ja issued his plea has had limited success in containing North Korea. It has clamped successive rounds of sanctions on the North Korean economy but failed to deter the nation's military ambitions, leading American ambassador to the the UN Nikki Haley to declare diplomatic options exhausted.

A leading South Korea opposition figure, Hong Jun-pyo, head of the conservative Liberty Korea Party, told Reuters in Washington that he backed Mr Trump's tough stance.

The only way to deal with the situation is by having a nuclear balance between the North and the South, said Mr Hong, the runner-up in South Korea's 2017 presidential election.
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Donald Trump's former presidential campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, is reportedly being investigated for money laundering.

The probe by the Manhattan US attorney's office will be conducted alongside an existing investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into the lawyer and lobbyist, sources told The Wall Street Journal.

Mr Mueller is carrying out a criminal investigation into money that was allegedly laundered by Mr Manafort as part of a broader inquiry into possible Kremlin-backed attempts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.

Mr Manafort has not been formally accused of money laundering and he has previously denied wrongdoing.

As inquiries continue into Mr Manafort, the Brooklyn US attorney's office is investigating companies belonging to the family of Jared Kushner, Mr Trump's son-in-law.

News of the Manhattan attorney's office probe came as Mr Trump prepared to nominate US prosecutors.

The newspaper said the investigations could complicate the nomination process, since Mr Trump is said to be considering people with ties to his personal lawyer and to one of his political allies.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 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Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 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Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

Mr Trump is said to have personally interviewed Edward McNally to head the Brooklyn US attorney's office. Mr McNally is a law partner of Mr. Trumps personal attorney, Marc Kasowitz, at Kasowitz Benson Torres and Friedman LLP.

One candidate for the Manhattan post is said to be Geoffrey Berman. Mr Berman is a law partner of former New York City mayor Rudy Guiliani. Mr Guiliani is a close political ally of the US President.

White House spokeswoman Kelly Love said Mr Trump and other presidents before him and after may talk to individuals nominated to positions within the executive branch".
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Puerto Rico and Whitefish Energy have defended their $300 million contract for the small Montana company to repair the US territorys hurricane-ravaged power grid after the deal was criticised by US lawmakers.

The back-and-forth comes as Puerto Rico struggles to restore power to more than 80 percent of the island a month after Hurricane Maria made landfall.

Whitefish last month signed a deal with Puerto Ricos quasi-public power utility, PREPA, to help fix a grid that was nearly destroyed by Maria, the strongest storm to hit Puerto Rico in 90 years.

Recommended Firm linked to Trump administrations wins huge Puerto Rico contract

Whitefish was awarded the deal without a competitive bidding process, and despite the facts that it had just two full-time employees and was established only two years ago. That drew criticism from legislators who suggested cheaper options might have been available.

In a statement on Tuesday, Governor Ricardo Rossello said his administration would review PREPAs contracting practices and forward findings to the islands comptroller.

Rossello defended the deal, saying it was necessary to ensure Puerto Rico would have workers in place quickly.

Of those (contractors) who met the requirements and aggressive schedules to bring brigades, one was asking for a substantial amount of money - which PREPA had no liquidity for - and another did not require it, Rossello said. That other one is Whitefish.

Already in bankruptcy to shed $72 billion of debt, Puerto Rico was in financial straits even before the storm. As the island grapples to get back on its feet, power restoration is a key challenge - and one of keen interest to contractors and lawmakers alike.

Maria cut power to all of Puerto Rico when it made landfall on 20 September. As of Monday, only 18 percent had been restored, according to US Department of Energy data.

Rossellos comments followed criticism from lawmakers like Democrat Raul Grijalva, the ranking member of the US House Committee on Natural Resources, who said in a statement on Tuesday that Congress needs to understand why the Whitefish contract was awarded and whether other, more cost-effective options were available.

In a telephone interview Tuesday evening, Whitefish spokesman Ken Luce called the criticism unfounded, saying Washingtons got it backwards.

US lawmakers should be admiring Whitefish for getting up and running quickly, while the US government was still assessing what to do, Luce said in a telephone interview.

The firm has been working in Puerto Rico since 2 October, Luce added.

Whitefish, named for its hometown of Whitefish, Montana, has hired dozens of workers, largely through subcontracts, as it ramps up operations in Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, the Department of Defence said on Tuesday the US Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a similar power grid repair contract to a subsidiary of Fluor Corp.

Greenville, South Carolina-based Fluor Enterprises Inc beat out another undisclosed bidder for a $240 million construction contract set to run through next April, the DOD said in a statement.

Others working on power restoration include JEA, a Jacksonville, Florida-based utility, and representatives from the New York Power Authority.

Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Show all 20 1 /20 Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Crew chief Kenney shelters under the blade of an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit preparing to take off during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Isla Grande, Puerto Rico, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico An HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit takes off behind Crew Chief Alexander Blake and his fellow soldiers during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Morovis, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Crew member Bynum stands in tropical rain as a HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit prepares to take off during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Isla Grande, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot Chris Greenway receives a hug from a woman thanking him for water as he works with the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Verde de Comerio, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico A man carries a case of water away from an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter after soldiers working with 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit dropped off relief supplies during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Jayuya, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Crew chief Alexander Blake from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit loads water into a helicopter during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Isla Grande, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Residents wait for soldiers in UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade to deliver food and water during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in San Lorenzo Reuters Bringing aid to Puerto Rico An HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit lands in a field to avoid lightning during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Manati, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Residents hold their hands aloft to signal that they need water as UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade fly past during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, near Ciales, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Tropical rain splashes on a runway as HH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit wait for weather to clear during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Isla Grande, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Pilot Eldwin Bocanegra Torres speaks with residents isolated by landslides in the mountains after unloading water and food from a helicopter during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, near Utuado, October 10, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Residents stand in front of wind-damaged trees as they wait for soldiers in UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade to deliver food and water during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in San Lorenzo, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico The contents of a home are seen from the air during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria near Utuado, October 10, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Thomas looks out of the window of an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit, loaded with relief supplies, during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria in Isla Grande, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico A message written on the rooftop is seen from the air during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria near Humacao, October 10, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico A HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit lands in a field during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria in San Sebastian, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Sergeant First Class Eladio Tirado, who is from Puerto Rico, looks for a landing spot for a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade, during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria near Ciales, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Boys carry water away from an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter after soldiers working with the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit dropped off relief supplies during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Jayuya, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Sergeant First Class Eladio Tirado from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade, who is from Puerto Rico, speaks with residents as he helps during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in San Lorenzo, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Residents peek through a fence at helicopters from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit that had parked in a locked field during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Lares, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson

Fixing Puerto Ricos power grid is an enormous task. Maria would have seriously damaged a healthy grid, but Puerto Ricos was hanging by a thread after years without maintenance. PREPA has struggled with heavy management turnover and a $9 billion debt load, which landed it in bankruptcy in July.

PREPA has set aggressive goals for fixes, saying it wants 95 percent of power back by mid-December, a schedule viewed as ambitious.

Reuters
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A brother of the man who shot and killed almost 60 people in Las Vegas earlier this month has reportedly been arrested on possession of material relating to child sex abuse.

Bruce Paddock, a brother of Stephen Paddock, was detained in Los Angeles.

The Associated Press said it was unclear whether the offences alleged against Bruce Paddock, who is not a suspect in the shooting, predated the Las Vegas massacre.

Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures A handout photo released via Twitter by Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) showing concertgoers running away from the scene (C) after shots range out at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Eiki Hrafnsson Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People lie on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures A man in a wheelchair is taken away from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures People stand on the street outside the Mandalay Bay hotel near the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Paul Buck Las Vegas shooting  in pictures FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting during a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival Ethan Miller/Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Metro Police officers pass by the front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting  in pictures A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP/John Locher Las Vegas shooting  in pictures A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival in Las Vegas Getty Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Las Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting  in pictures Sheriff Joe Lombardo (2-R) speaking during a press briefing in the aftermath of the active shooter incident on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA

Fifty-eight people were killed and hundreds more were wounded on 1 October at the Route 91 Harvest Festival on the Las Vegas Strip. Stephen Paddock opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay casino-hotel tower, before killing himself as police prepared to storm the room.

Another brother, Eric Paddock, spoke to media following the shooting but Bruce Paddock did not.

 Las Vegas shooting: Security guard who confronted Stephen Paddock breaks silence

News of Mr Paddocks arrest was first reported by TMZ, which said he was taken into custody at an assisted living facility in North Hollywood. It said that police obtained a warrant after allegedly being told that material relating to child sex abuse existed on his computer.

It was not immediately clear whether Mr Paddock had been assigned a lawyer, whether he had been charged or been given a chance to enter a plea.
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A university professor has claimed teaching maths perpetuates "unearned" white privilege.

Rochelle Gutierrez, from the University of Illinois, urged her colleagues to be aware of the "politics that mathematics brings" in a new anthology directed at teachers.

Titled Building Support for Scholarly Practices in Mathematics Methods", Ms Gutierrez argues a focus on Pythagorean theorem and pi feed into the idea that maths was developed by the Greeks and Europeans.

"On many levels, mathematics itself operates as Whiteness. Who gets credit for doing and developing mathematics, who is capable in mathematics, and who is seen as part of the mathematical community is generally viewed as White," she wrote, according to Campus Reform.

Are we really that smart just because we do mathematics?

She also believes society's focus on maths as a key skill can perpetuate discrimination against minorities.

"If one is not viewed as mathematical, there will always be a sense of inferiority that can be summoned," she wrote.

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

Ms Gutierrez said knowledge is "relational" and must be treated as such, saying: "Things cannot be known objectively; they must be known subjectively."

She believes the problem can be addressed by teachers developing a better political understanding outside of the classroom.

The Independent has contacted Ms Gutierrez for comment.
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The USs new ambassador to Canada has said she respects both sides of climate science.

Kelly Craft, who began her role this week, said she appreciated all of the scientific evidence on climate change.

I think that both sides have their own results, from their studies, and I appreciate and I respect both sides of the science, Ms Craft told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBS).

Recommended USA and Syria become only two countries not in Paris Agreement

Ms Craft's husband, coal mogul Joe Craft, has criticised the climate change policies of former US President Barack Obama.

Comments from Mr Trump over the past seven years show he has long dismissed scientific evidence that climate change is occurring. And earlier this year, senior administration officials repeatedly sidestepped questions from reporters about whether the President believed in man-made climate change.

Nikki Haley, the US's ambassador to the United Nations, also faced the question.

The president believes the climate is changing, and he does know that pollutants are a part of that equation, she told CBS in June.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

In May, Mr Trump made the controversial decision to withdraw the US from the landmark Paris accord, drawing expressions of disappointment from several world leaders, including Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The US and Syria are now the only two nations that are not included in the pact, which aims to reduce greenhouse gases and slow the rise of global temperatures.

Ms Craft told CBS that while Mr Trump's approach to climate change is different from the government of Canada's, both the US and Canada have the same goal: to better our environment and to maintain the environment.
hot dragon said: i agree with all that. i know there are individuals who hold this kind of misogynistic attitude. in places there are lots of individuals. it was much worse in the past, its getting better, but its still a problem, i agree.



now, can you agree that the law doesnt hold this kind of attitude. the law doesnt blame her for anything, the law holds him responsible. the state doesnt make it her fault. lawmakers at every level of government say its not her fault, with maybe the rare exception, who is roundly shouted down if he ever does blame the victim.



your point, the sexist ******* who thinks sluts in short skirts are asking for it, that exists, yes i agree, there are such people. some of them might even be cops who investigate rape, and that makes life awful for the victims. but there is another counter attitude that also exists, and the counter attitude has the backing of the state and institutions. Click to expand...

I would agree that "the law" is making strides. Great strides. It's just sad that most of them have been in my lifetime. However the law is still staffed by people. And many of them still bring their biases into the office with them. They speak the words because it's the PC thing to do, but they don't believe it. The bias is still there, just infinitely more subtle. It's worse in rural areas. That good ole boy network is still alive and well out there. Again my personal experiences which are anecdotal are that it's worse in rural areas among older and more religious, where as it seems less pervasive among younger, less religious urbanites. I guess it'll take a few more generations.We still have politicians using words like "legitimate rape". Go figure !! Look at the debate over birth control. Looked at logically, it would seem providing low cost or no cost BC would pay vast benefits down the road. In fact there was just a report released which stated that for the first time in years the abortion rate has DECLINED. The poor, those living at or below the poverty level, are almost half of all abortion seekers. For the first time in more than 20 years the number of abortions among the poverty group has declined. While not the only factor, a major contributing factor was the ACA requirement that birth control be covered by insurance. A rule the Trump is trying to get rid of at this very moment. Seems completely illogical to me, but there it is.I guess my point here is that, at least in my part of the world, it's still far more prevalent than most people want to admit. It may be vastly different where you live.
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A pair of senators from Donald Trumps own Republican Party launched stinging attacks on their leader on the same day. One accused the President of debasing our country.

Arizonas Jeff Flake, who has repeatedly and publicly clashed with the US President, took to the Senate floor to announce he would not seek re-election in 2018.

He said he had children and grandchildren to answer to, adding that he would not be complicit in going along with reckless, outrageous and undignified behaviour.

Recommended Firm linked to Trump administrations wins huge Puerto Rico contract

We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country  the personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms, and institutions, the flagrant disregard for truth or decency, the reckless provocations, most often for the pettiest and most personal reasons, Mr Flake said.

He reportedly received a standing ovation from fellow Arizonan Senator John McCain, Wyomings John Barrasso and Bob Corker, who had earlier made his own feelings about Mr Trump abundantly clear.

Hes obviously not going to rise to the occasion as President, said Mr Corker, the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee. He added that the debasement of our nation would be what Mr Trump will be remembered most for.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

He said: Ive been with him on multiple occasions to create some kind of aspirational approach, if you will, to the way he conducts himself. But I dont think that thats possible. Unfortunately, I think world leaders are very aware that much of what he says is untrue.

I dont know why he lowers himself to such a low, low standard and debases our country in the way that he does.

The President fired back in typical style by tweeting: Corker dropped out of the race in Tennessee when I refused to endorse him, and now is only negative on anything Trump. Look at his record!

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, dismissed Mr Corker and Mr Flake as petty and said their decisions to step down next year were probably the right ones.

 Soldier's widow says Trump 'couldn't remember her husband's name'

It is estimated that the President has personally attacked one in five of his own partys senators.

The party has struggled to reconcile its more moderate, pro-business wing with the growing numbers of populists and nationalists who fuelled Mr Trumps political rise.

The President  a former Democrat with no ideological mooring to conservative principles or deep ties to the partys leaders  appears to have widened the gulf between millions of Republican voters and the congressional leaders sent to Washington to represent them.

Privately, many Republican officials have raised concerns about the direction in which Mr Trump is pulling the party, both on policy and tone.

He has moved it right on immigration and pulled out of a key Pacific Rim trade deal, attacked Germany, the FBI and London mayor Sadiq Khan.

The President has also drawn open support from some white nationalists.

Peter Wehner, a Trump critic who served in President George W Bushs White House, said there was a struggle going on for the soul of conservatism and the Republican Party.

He said: If this party is defined by Donald Trump and Steve Bannon, then a lot of these people arent going to want to be a part of that party anyway.

Aside from occasional criticism of Mr Trumps tweets or his most callous comments, most Republican office holders have stayed silent, in part out of fear of alienating the Presidents supporters.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Donald Trump has claimed that Republican senators set up a "love fest" for him, where he was greeted with "standing ovations".

The President's early-morning comments on Twitter came just a day after two GOP senators, Jeff Flake and Bob Corker, launched stinging attacks on his leadership.

Mr Trump said: "The meeting with Republican Senators yesterday, outside of Flake and Corker, was a love fest with standing ovations and great ideas for USA!"

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

Both Mr Corker and Mr Flake publicly criticised the president, with the latter saying that he had "children and grandchildren to answer to" and committing not to seek re-election next year.

Mr Corker has been a longtime opponent of Mr Trump, with the two regularly tweeting about each other. The President has claimed that his opponent's feelings stem from that fact that he refused to endorse him in an election, and that he is "now is only negative on anything Trump".

That comment was just one of a run of tweets in which the President attacked his opponents. He said that both had ruled out standing for election not because they opposed Mr Trump but because "they had zero chance of being elected".

"Now act so hurt & wounded!" he added in another tweet.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders dismissed the two senators' actions as petty and said their decisions to step down next year were probably the right ones.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

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A protester has thrown Russian flags at Donald Trump during his visit to Capitol Hill to try and encourage party unity among Senate Republicans.

Mr Trump can be seen in a video walking down a long hall alongside Mitch McConnell, illuminated by the flashes from reporter cameras. Then, as the President rounds the corner toward the meeting, several Russian flags can be seen floating down to the ground.

"Trump is treason! Trump is treason!" a protester can be heard yelling.

The protester was later identified as Ryan Clayton from the anti-Trump group Americans Take Action.

Mr Trump's first year in office has been dogged by questions surrounding his presidential campaign's ties to Russia, especially in light of reports that Russia actively sought to meddle in that democratic process.

Several individuals associated with Mr Trump's campaign had contact with Russian sources during the 2016 campaign, and failed initially to disclose those contacts. That includes Mr Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, who had extensive financial ties to Russian sources, as well as Mr Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Mr Kushner was found to have attended a meeting with Donald Trump Jr with a Russia-connected lawyer, who they were promised had damaging information on Hillary Clinton.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

Others with ties to Russian sources included Mr Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, who was forced to resign form his White House post less than a month into Mr Trump's presidency after it was discovered that Mr Flynn had misled Vice President Mike Pence about a conversation he had with Russians about sanctions.

Those questions about Mr Trump's team's potential involvement in Russian meddling in the 2016 election were exacerbated last year, when the President fired former FBI Director James Comey, and later indicated on national television that he was motivated to do so at least in part because of the FBI's investigation into Russian meddling. That firing ultimately resulted in the appointment of Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller, who has been overseeing the investigation ever since.

Congressional committees have also indicated that they're looking into how extensive Russia's interference in the US election was in 2016.
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A Republican senator has joked about bringing popcorn to watch the feud play out between President Donald Trump and Senator Bob Corker during a party lunch.

Throughout the morning, Mr Corker and Mr Trump traded insults in advance of the Presidents visit to Capitol Hill.

Mr Trump was expected to discuss tax reform during a policy luncheon with Republicans. But there was the possibility that the Presidents and Mr Corkers war of words could escalate during the meal.

Recommended Trump hits back again at Republican Senator Bob Corker as feud deepens

Senator Thom Tillis tweeted a photo of himself getting popcorn out of a machine, with the caption, Ready for lunch with POTUS and @SenateGOP.

When asked - before the image was posted - by Fox News reporter Neil Cavuto about whether he anticipated any problems between Mr Trump and Mr Corker at the luncheon, Mr Tillis joked that he was going to bring some popcorn.

Mr Tillis also held the popcorn as he rode the elevator up from the basement of the Capitol to the floor where the lunch was taking place.

Mr Corker, who will not seek re-election this year, declared earlier in the day that Mr Trump is debasing the nation and predicted that the ex-tycoon was not going to rise to the occasion as president.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

The President hit back on Twitter, arguing that Mr Corker is retiring in 2018 because he couldnt get elected dog catcher in Tennessee.
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Senator Jeff Flake, who announced he would not seek re-election because of the toxic transformation he believes Donald Trump has had on politics, has claimed a lot more Republicans are set to speak out against the President.

Mr Flake took to the floor of the Senate earlier this week to say he would not run again for his Arizona seat, as a form of protest against the Presidents reckless, outrageous and undignified behaviour.

We must never regard as normal the regular and casual undermining of our democratic norms and ideals, he said. We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country.

The attack from Mr Flake was probably the most outspoken yet from a Republican. Mr Trump has also been criticised by Senator John McCain, who is suffering from cancer, and Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, who has also said he is not seeking re-election. Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine has also continued to speak out.

On Wednesday, Mr Flake was asked why, if Republicans on Capitol Hill were so outraged by the Presidents actions and style, more had not spoken out against him. A lot of my colleagues have spoken out and I think a lot more will, he told ABC News. What I tried to say in my speech, was the longer we wait, the longer we normalise this sort of behaviour and this sort of politics, and we cant.

Yet while Mr Flake may find he receives plenty of support in private, it may be that Republicans decide not to speak out against Mr Trump in public, having calculated they do not want want to upset the Presidents supporters as they head into the midterm elections.

 Jeff Flake: I don't think removing Trump from office is a justifiable remedy

Jennifer Duffy, an expert with the Cook Political Report, told The Independent that Republicans were going into the midterms having to protect just nine senate seats, while Democrats were having to hold on to 25, 10 of which were in states Mr Trump won. All 435 House seats are being contested.

A key problem for Republicans is that Mr Trumps former chef strategist, Steve Bannon, has vowed to support insurgent candidates to force Republican primaries in every Senate seat except for that of Ted Cruz.

Ms Duffy said Mr Bannons actions could have the impact of opening the path to the Democrats, still desperate for a win after Mr Trumps surprise victory almost a year ago, to take control of the Senate.

Moreover, Mr Bannons strategy, which received a boost when his candidate former judge Roy Moore recently won a Republican primary in Alabama, will mean that more and more Republican candidates challenging in 2018, or competing to challenge, will be from the Tea Party wing of the party. In short, those seeking reelection, cannot afford to anger Mr Trump or the approximately one third of voters who remain solidly loyal to him.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

Mike Allen, the executive editor of Axios.com, said that lost in much of the flurry of reporting about the criticism of Mr Flake, Mr Corker and Mr McCain, was that Mr Trump enjoyed public support from most of the 49 other Senate Republicans and 239 House Republicans, including every person in elected leadership.

Republicans in private cringe at the thought of President Trump. But its meaningless if they publicly bow to him, routinely vote for him and never condemn him, he wrote. This  not the criticism by the few  is the story of the moment and the first nine months. With few accomplishments, countless petty GOP fights and slights, Trump is strong as ever.

Mr Trump later dismissed Mr Flakes comments, saying he did not blame him for standing down as he doubted he could be re-elected. He said there was great unity among Republicans despite the assertions of Mr Flake. The first time I saw him on TV I asked if he was a Democrat, he said. His poll numbers are terrible, he would never have won. He is saying that because he has nothing else to say. I wish him well, and Im sure he will do the right thing by voting for our tax cut.

Earlier this year, Mr Flake wrote and published Conscience of a Conservative: A Rejection of Destructive Politics and a Return to Principle, a book in which he criticised what he said was a Faustian bargain the Republican Party had made by supporting Mr Trump.

As it was, Mr Flake was facing a tough primary challenge in Arizona from former state senator Kelli Ward, who previously failed in her effort to take out Mr McCain. This year her campaign has gained traction and Mr Bannon recently attended a fundraiser for her.

Whether Ms Ward, who is very conservative, can beat Krysten Sinema, a moderate Democrat, is unclear. The politics website FiveThirtyEight said while polls showed Ms Ward some way ahead of Mr Flake, a poll in August gave Ms Sinema a 32-31 lead over Ms Ward, with 38 per cent undecided.
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Funding for a controversial dossier detailing Donald Trumps alleged connections to Russia came from Hillary Clintons presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee, according to a new report.

The dossier, compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, made salacious claims that Mr Trump has denounced as false, politically motivated attacks. Investigators exploring potential links between Russia and Mr Trumps campaign orbit have spent hours interviewing the co-founder of Fusion GPS, the firm that hired Mr Steele.

It has previously been reported that the research was funded by a wealthy Republican donor who opposed Mr Trumps ascendancy. But according to The Washington Post, some funding also came from a Democratic Party establishment with deep ties to Ms Clinton, the Democratic nominee whom Mr Trump defeated for the presidency.

According to the Post, an attorney representing Ms Clintons campaign and the DNC hired Fusion GPS after the Republican donor stopped funding the effort. Fusion GPS then shared its findings with the attorney, Marc Elias, the Post reported.

Previous reporting had found that Democrats funded the dossier in addition to the Republican donor. But in specifically citing the DNC, a key party institution, and Ms Clinton, still widely vilified by Mr Trump and his conservative base, the explosive report is likely to stoke the partisan flames raging around the investigations into Mr Trumps circle.

The President has frequently rejected any allegation he or his campaign colluded with the Kremlin, and Mr Trump has specifically singled out the dossier as an example of what he calls a larger smear campaign.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

As recently as this weekend, Mr Trump blasted the discredited document in a tweet and demanded that the federal government reveal who paid for it.

Allies of the President swiftly pointed to the Posts reporting as evidence vindicating Mr Trump.

Evoking a common accusation against Mr Trump, conservative commentator Laura Ingraham referred to the story as a sign of collusion.
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Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has accused the Trump administration of stonewalling legislators requests for information about the infamous Russia dossier.

The hunt for details about the 35-page document, which sets out allegations of ties between President Donald Trump and the Kremlin, has intensified in recent months, as multiple congressional panels  along with special counsel Robert Mueller  continue to investigate whether Trump campaign advisers colluded with the Russian government.

Weve had these document requests with the administration, with the FBI in particular, for a long time and theyve been stonewalling, Mr Ryan told Reuters, adding that the department and the FBI need to comply with the requests and they need to do it immediately.

Mr Ryans comments came after The Washington Post reported that Hillary Clintons campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) partially funded the dossier, which was produced by Fusion GPS, a private research firm in Washington, DC. Fusion hired former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele to compile the report.

Speaking about the dossier before heading to speaking engagements in Dallas on Wednesday, Mr Trump said that it was a disgrace that Democrats had helped pay for research which produced the document.

Its just really  its a very sad commentary on politics in this country, Mr Trump said.

Mr Trump has called the material phony stuff and fake news, and in an earlier tweet he portrayed himself as the aggrieved party, posting a quote he said was from Fox News that referred to him as the victim.

Clinton campaign & DNC paid for research that led to the anti-Trump Fake News Dossier. The victim here is the President. @FoxNews, Mr Trump wrote on Twitter.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

Lawyer Marc Elias and his firm, Perkins Coie, were reported to have retained the company in April 2016 on behalf of the Clinton campaign and the DNC. Before that agreement, Fusion GPSs research into Mr Trump was funded by an unknown Republican client during the partys primary.

Reporters from The New York Times blasted the Clinton campaign and the DNC over the report.

When I tried to report this story, Clinton campaign lawyer @marceelias pushed back vigorously, Kenneth Vogel tweeted, referring to Mr Elias.

Mr Elias did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent, having declined to comment to the Post for its report.

In a statement, the DNC seemed to try to distance its current leadership from the situation.

Tom Perez and the new leadership of the DNC were not involved in any decision-making regarding Fusion GPS, nor were they aware that Perkins Coie was working with the organisation, said DNC spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa.

But lets be clear, there is a serious federal investigation into the Trump campaigns ties to Russia, and the American public deserves to know what happened, she added.

The new disclosure is likely to fuel Mr Trumps repeated complaints that the document is a collection of salacious and uncorroborated claims. However, the FBI has been investigating it as part of the probe into possible coordination last year between Russia and the Trump campaign, with special counsel Robert Muellers team having spoken in recent weeks with Mr Steele.

The dossier contends that Russia was engaged in a longstanding effort to aid Mr Trump, and had included compromising information about the then-candidate.

As well as the dossier, Mr Trump has cast doubt over the findings of the FBI, NSA and CIA that Russia waged a large-scale campaign to interfere in the election. The FBI and CIA have said with high confidence that the effort was aimed at hurting Ms Clintons candidacy and helping Mr Trump. The NSA found the same with moderate confidence.

Last week, Fusions partners Peter Fritsch and Thomas Catan invoked their Fifth Amendment rights, refusing to answer questions about their work before the House Intelligence Committee.

Fusion lawyer Josh Levy said company officials had cooperated with previous requests from Congress, and its founder, Glenn Simpson previously testified for 10 hours before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Republicans on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee earlier this month subpoenaed an unidentified bank for the last two years of records of the accounts of Fusion GPS.

A US judge has given Fusion GPS until Thursday to reach an agreement with Congress over the subpoena.

Judge Tanya Chutkan of the US District Court for the District of Columbia late on Tuesday temporarily extended the deadline for complying with the subpoena, according to court records seen on Wednesday.

Politico reported that company officials have accused the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Devin Nunes, of trying to compel them to disclose who funded their opposition research on Mr Trump, which they say would force the company to violate its clients guarantee of confidentiality and harm its business model.

Responding to the news, Mr Trump wrote on Twitter: Workers of firm involved with the discredited and Fake Dossier take the 5th. Who paid for it, Russia, the FBI or the Dems (or all)?
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Donald Trump has offered his congratulations to President Xi Jinping after he was made the most powerful Chinese leader in decades.

Chinas ruling Communist Party elevated five new officials to assist President Xi as he embarked on a second five-year term. It stopped short of designating an obvious successor, thereby strengthening his position.

Some commentators said Mr Xi, who was given a renewed mandate during the partys five-yearly national congress, was now the most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, who ruled as Chairman of the Communist Party of China from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976.

China, a one-party state that is frequently criticised for human rights abuses an its intolerance of dissent, is a crucial trading partner for the US. Earlier this year, Mr Trump invited Mr Xi to his private estate in Florida.

Mr Trump said he had spoken to Mr Xi to congratulate him on a new leadership lineup. He said they had also spoken about trade and North Korea.

Spoke to President Xi of China to congratulate him on his extraordinary elevation. Also discussed NoKo & trade, two very important subjects, he wrote on Twitter.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Mr Trumps former strategic adviser, Steve Bannon, has expressed the belief that China represents an existential threat to the USs global dominance.

The Associated Press said the fact that an an obvious successor was not appointed was an indication of Mr Xis longer-term ambitions, according to Joseph Fewsmith, an expert on Chinese politics at Boston University.

It suggests that Xi will likely serve a third term, and that he is likely to name his own successor, Mr Fewsmith said. We have not seen that for two decades.

 Arabella Kushner, Donald Trump's granddaughter, serenades Chinese President Xi Jinping

Speaking to reporters, Mr Xi said: We will mobilise the whole party and the whole country in a resolute push to deliver on our pledge and eradicate poverty in China.

Some reports said that because the party had formally written his Mr Xi name into the constitution, he now shared the same status of Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, who became Chinas most powerful leader in 1978 until his retirement in 1989.

And he is seeking to make China a superpower while rejecting Western beliefs about democracy and free speech.

No one doubts Xi bestrides the landscape like a colossus, said Jeremy Paltiel, a China expert at Canadas Carleton University. Organised or even unorganised resistance is inconceivable.
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One-in-four serving US military personnel have seen examples of white supremacism within their ranks and consider it more of a threat to national security than Islamist extremists such as Isis they have been battling in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a new poll.

The poll, conducted by the Military Times, was carried out after a neo-Nazi-led protest in Charlottesville, Virginia, resulted in clashes with anti-fascist demonstrators and the death of a young woman. A young man from Ohio, said to be an admirer of Hitler, has been charged with her death.

Donald Trump was criticised for his slow, shifting response to the violence, seeking to claim there was blame on many sides. Yet senior leaders from all branches of the military spoke out to say that threats or discrimination against minorities, did not fit with the values of national service the military sought to espouse.

Concern about white supremacism was most pronounced among soldiers of colour, the survey found. Almost 42 per cent of non-white troops who responded to the survey said they had personally experienced examples of white nationalism or with supremacism, in the military. For white service members, the figure stood at 18 per cent.

When asked whether white nationalists posed a threat to national security, 30 per cent of respondents labelled it a significant danger, more than many war zones such as Syria (27 per cent), Pakistan (25 per cent), Afghanistan (22 per cent) and Iraq (17 per cent).

 Nazi shouts "Hey n****" and fires gunshot at counter-protester in Charlottesville

The newspaper said five per cent of those polled complained that groups such as Black Lives Matter, whose stated goal is to protest in a non-violent way to draw attention to discrimination and violence towards people of colour, were not included in the poll as a possible threat to national security.

While the poll include unspecified US protest movements and civil disobedience, respondents concerns about those issues fell well short of the perceived threat from white supremacism.

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

Some polled were annoyed by the decision to single out white supremacist groups. White nationalism is not a terrorist organisation, wrote one Navy commander, who declined to give his name.

Another commenter, an Air Force staff sergeant, wrote: You do realise white nationalists and racists are two totally different types of people?

More than 60 per cent of troops who took the survey said they would support activating the National Guard or reserves to handle civil unrest arising from white nationalist events such as the clashes in Charlottesville in August.
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Thailand on Wednesday began an elaborate five-day funeral for King Bhumibol Adulyadej with his son, the new monarch, performing Buddhist merit-making rites in preparation for moving Bhumibols remains to a spectacular golden crematorium.

Thousands of mourners dressed entirely in black endured tropical heat during the day and torrential rains at night as they waited to enter the historic royal quarter of Thailands capital to bid farewell to a monarch celebrated as a unifying symbol throughout his seven-decade reign.

The rites in the ornate Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall of Bangkoks Grand Palace, where Bhumibols remains have been kept for the past year, began the series of ceremonies and processions that include his cremation on Thursday evening within a golden edifice representing mystical Mount Meru, where Buddhist and Hindu gods are believed to dwell.

About 250,000 people are expected to line the streets of Bangkoks royal quarter to witness elaborate gilded processions that will be broadcast live.

Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Show all 21 1 /21 Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 26 The Royal Urn of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej is seen inside the Royal Crematorium site REUTERS Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 26 Smoke is seen at the Royal Crematorium site REUTERS Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures A Thai woman grieves as she watches a video screen showing the funeral of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej Getty Images Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 26 The Royal Urn of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej is seen inside the Royal Crematorium site REUTERS Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai mourners gather to watch the royal cremation ceremony of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej EPA Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 26 The Great Victory Chariot carrying the royal urn of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej arrives REUTERS Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 26 The royal chariot is brought into the cremation grounds AFP/Getty Images Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 26 The Great Victory Chariot carrying the royal urn of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej Rex Features Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 26 Soldiers pay their respects at the funeral procession AP Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 26 The Great Victory Chariot carrying the royal urn is pulled during the funeral procession REUTERS Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 26 The funeral urn of the late Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej is transported up a ramp into the crematorium AFP/Getty Images Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 26 Mourners attend the funeral procession for Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej REUTERS Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 26 The Great Victory Chariot carrying the royal urn of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej REUTERS Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 26 The royal cremation ceremony EPA Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 26 The Great Victory Chariot carrying the royal urn is pulled during the funeral procession Reuters Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 25 Mourners praying for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej AP Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 25 Policemen patrol outside Grand Palace where the body of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej is enshrined AP Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 25 People queue to attend the funeral of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej Getty Images Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 25 A mourner holds an image of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as she waits for his funeral AFP/Getty Images Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 25 Mourners rest as they wait for the funeral of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej to begin AFP/Getty Images Funeral of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej: in pictures Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's funeral - October 24 Mourners shelter from the rain as they gather at night while waiting for the funeral of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej AFP/Getty Images

As orange-robed monks chanted and officials in crisp white uniforms looked on, King Maha Vajiralongkorn knelt beneath a nine-tiered golden umbrella. The ceremony was preparation for the moving of an urn representing Bhumibols remains to the crematorium built over the past year.

By tradition, deceased Thai royals have been kept upright in elaborate urns during official mourning. But Bhumibol, who spent much of his early life in the West, opted to be put in a coffin, with the urn placed next to it for devotional purposes.

Bhumibols death at age 88 on 13 October last year sparked a national outpouring of grief and a year of mourning. More than 12 million people  nearly a fifth of Thailands population  visited the throne hall at Dusit palace to pay respects.

The adulation Bhumibol inspired was in part the result of decades of work by palace officials to rebuild the prestige of the monarchy, which lost its mystique and power after a 1932 coup ended centuries of absolute rule by Thai kings.

That effort built an aura of divinity around Bhumibol, who was protected from criticism by draconian lese majeste laws, but was also respected for his charitable work, personal modesty and as a symbol of stability in a nation frequently rocked by political turmoil.

Recommended Thailand jails man for 35 years for insulting the monarchy on Facebook

One mourner, Banterng Saeuong, said on Wednesday that the funeral was the most important event in his lifetime. I am happy to stand in the rain or sit under the sun, said the 55-year-old.

The funeral will be an intensely sombre event, but also rich in history and cultural and spiritual tradition.

Mourners are allowed to prostrate when royal processions pass but must not shout out Long Live the King or hold up cellphones to take photos or selfies.

Police are trying to calm occasional flare-ups of tension among mourners.

There have been accusations of queue jumping and sharp exchanges between some whove waited hours or travelled from far away.

Volunteers handed out water to offset the tropical heat as the crowd slowly moved through security checks into the historic royal quarter.

Portraits of King Bhumibol were held by many in the crowd, and some wore plastic raincoats during the heaviest rains overnight  the only bits of colour breaking up the sea of black as the crowds grew.

Yuwadee Tyler, a Thai woman, said she had come from Hobart, Australia, where she has lived for more than a decade.

When I know my king is passed away, my heart is broken, she said. I am so glad to be here.

AP
ABCNews.com(LINCOLN PARISH, La.) -- A suspect is at large after two men were shot dead on the campus of Grambling State University in northern Louisiana early Wednesday morning, authorities said.



Police said they believe there was an altercation in a dorm room on campus, which led up to the shooting in a courtyard outside.

"This tragic incident appears to have occurred between persons that knew each other, to some extent at least. There are no indicators that this incident bears any resemblance to any of the random acts of violence or domestic terrorism that have been experienced around our country in the recent weeks," Lincoln Parish Sheriff Mike Stone said in a statement Wednesday.

The suspect fled the scene, according to the Lincoln Parish Sheriffs Department, which said it doesn't believe the suspect was a GSU student. The suspect has not been apprehended.



The victims were Earl Andrews, a senior at Grambling State, and Monquiarious Caldwell, who was not a student, Grambling State University Director of University Communications Will Sutton said. Both men were 23 years old and from Farmerville, Louisiana.



"This is a horrible tragedy. Nothing that anybody would've ever wanted to have happened," Sutton said in an on-camera statement early Wednesday. "Our prayers are with the victims and their families. Theres no place for violence on Grambling State University campus. We always encourage our students to be safe, to be aware, watch who they hang out with, and watch whos around at all times. This is a most unfortunate situation."

In a statement, the university's president offered his condolences for both victims and announced that a prayer vigil would be held Wednesday afternoon.



"We offer our deepest condolences to their families," Grambling State University President Richard Gallot wrote in the statement. "We are working with authorities to do all that we can to ensure your safety on campus, our first priority."



The Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Department told ABC News that it is assisting campus police with the investigation.

The sheriff's office said extra patrols will be provided on and around campus "for the foreseeable future."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crimestoppers at 318-255-1111.

The campus was not placed on lockdown after the incident, but students were advised to stay inside and remain vigilant.



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
MILLERSBURG  The city manager and city recorder of this small town, both on the job for less than a year, have each resigned.

Though not given as a reason for leaving, the timing coincides with a staff vote of no confidence in Mayor Jim Lepin.

During a City Council meeting on Monday, the deputy clerk for the city also resigned, writing in a letter that Lepin had created a hostile work environment.

Lepin said after the meeting that he didnt have a chance to communicate with staff about their complaints.

I fault them for not having the mature leadership skills to say, Lets sit down and talk, Lepin said.

City Manager Steven Hasson, City Recorder Sarah Cook and four other employees signed a memorandum detailing the vote of no confidence on Monday.

City staff has lost confidence in Jim Lepins ability to lead the city as demonstrated by his management actions and complemented by what we view as improper behavior and request he step down from his position as city mayor, the memo states.

Cook said that there was tension between employees and the City Council. Staff is very concerned with how Steves departure is being handled and Jims role in that, she said.

Hasson, whose last day is Friday, declined comment about the memo.

In his resignation letter, Hasson said he is leaving to care for his elderly mother in Spokane, Washington. He said in an interview that he would be available to act as a consultant for the city in the coming months.

Cook is resigning to return to the city of Jefferson, where she held the same position before joining the city of Millersburgs staff.

She said that her heart remained in Jefferson, but Hassons resignation also influenced her decision to switch jobs, as she expected to have him as a mentor for years. Hes done an amazing job. Hes light years ahead of this town, Cook said.

Cooks last day on the job is Nov. 2.

LeAnn Chartraw, the deputy clerk for the city and an employee for 15 years, effectively gave her two weeks notice during the meeting.

During Mondays meeting, the council also voted to name Barbara Castillo as acting interim city manager, and she will volunteer for the position.

Castillo served the city for 42 years, retiring as city recorder and administrator in the summer.

However, she has an active complaint against her filed with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. The commission has confirmed the complaint, but, it does not release details about filings in the review stage. The agency is determining whether to investigate the matter, and could have a decision in mid-November.

I am confident all of the allegations will be dismissed.  The City Council knows about the details of the allegations, and they contacted me to see if I could help them keep the city moving forward, Castillo said, after the meeting.

She added that the complaint involves a potential conflict of interest with her renting a residence from the city.

Lepin said if the state comes to a negative resolution regarding the ethics complaint, the city will respond accordingly.

The council will hold a meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday at City Hall to discuss the future of the town, including Millersburgs growth.
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The rebuilding effort has begun in the Philippine city of Marawi, after the government declared an end to months of fighting in the region on Monday.

The siege began in May, when the Philippine security forces tried to arrest Isnilon Hapilon, a militant on the FBI's most wanted list for his leadership of Abu Sayyaf, Isis' regional Philippines group.

Instead of giving up his weapons he formed an alliance with another local militant group and took over part of the city.

More than 1,000 people have been killed since the conflict began, including more than 800 militants. 600,000 people have been displaced.

Now, new pictures have emerged showing a city in ruins - buildings riddled with bullet holes, rubble and debris lining the streets, and the shells of burnt out mosques.

Defence chief Delfin Lorenzana announced on Monday that the army had "defeated terrorism in the Philippines" during a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Damage caused in Islamic State assault on Marawi city: In pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Damage caused in Islamic State assault on Marawi city: In pictures Damage caused in Islamic State assault on Marawi city: In pictures A bombed-out mosque stands in what was the main battle area in Marawi AFP/Getty Damage caused in Islamic State assault on Marawi city: In pictures Damaged buildings and houses Reuters Damage caused in Islamic State assault on Marawi city: In pictures Damaged vehicles are seen in Marawi city Reuters Damage caused in Islamic State assault on Marawi city: In pictures Damaged houses, buildings and a mosque Reuters Damage caused in Islamic State assault on Marawi city: In pictures A military vehicle drives past bombed-out buildings AFP/Getty Damage caused in Islamic State assault on Marawi city: In pictures Damaged houses, buildings and a mosque are seen inside Marawi city Reuters Damage caused in Islamic State assault on Marawi city: In pictures A graffiti that reads "I love ISIS" is seen in a damaged building in Marawi city Reuters Damage caused in Islamic State assault on Marawi city: In pictures Bombed-out buildings are seen as government troops board trucks AFP/Getty Damage caused in Islamic State assault on Marawi city: In pictures Damaged buildings and houses Reuters Damage caused in Islamic State assault on Marawi city: In pictures Military trucks drive past destroyed buildings and a mosque AFP/Getty

"After 154 days of the siege of Marawi by the Daesh-inspired Maute ISIS group, or after a week since the Commander-in-Chief declared the liberation of Marawi, we now announce the termination of all combat operations in Marawi," the general said.

The government estimates that the rebuilding effort will cost more than a billion US dollars (755 million).

The mayor of Marawi, Majul Gandamra, told Philippine newspaper The Inquirer: "Emotionally, it's very hard for us to see the ruins and destruction left by the atrocities committed by the militant group.

Architect Felino Palafox Jr, who is supporting the reconstruction of the city, The Manila Times of the psychological toll of the destruction: Marawi was a progressive and thriving city with mid-rise buildings, schools, hospitals, business and grand mosques and masjids.

"Almost everything [in the Mapandi and Bangolo areas], was burned down and destroyed. We were holding back tears as we were told of the significant events. 
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A second US aircraft carrier strike group has entered the western Pacific in as many days, bringing the total number to three ahead of Donald Trumps Asia tour.

Amid heightened tensions with North Korea, The USS Nimitz and Theodore Roosevelt joined the Seventh Fleet operations area alongside the USS Ronald Reagan, which has been conducting exercises with South Koreas navy.

North Korea dubbed them a rehearsal for war.

The US Navy said the nuclear-powered carriers and their attendant smaller craft were due to conduct maritime security operations, theatre security cooperation, and port visits.

The so-called supercarriers are one of the main ways the US projects its power around the world.

Mr Trump will begin a tour of the Asia-Pacific region with a briefing by US Pacific Command in Hawaii on 3 November, before moving on to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

He will use his stop in Beijing to urge President Xi Jinping to do more to curtail North Koreas nuclear ambitions and missile tests.

The secretive communist state conducted a sixth nuclear test in recent months and launched a number of ballistic missiles, including two that passed over the Japanese mainland.

Mr Trump has threatened fire and fury like the world has never seen if the North continues to threaten its neighbours.

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 Roosevelts commanding officer, Captain Carlos Sardiello, said: When a carrier leaves on deployment, we have to be ready for anything.

A US Navy spokeswoman told The Independent: Carrier strike groups routinely deploy to the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean. These deployments are part of a previously planned deployment cycle and it is not uncommon for incoming and outgoing carrier strike group transit timing to overlap.

Retired US Navy admiral John Kirby said the deployments would also send a message to China, which for some years has been building up islands and military installations in the South China Sea  a bone of contention in the region.

"The navy is taking advantage of a scheduling overlap to demonstrate its capabilities to potential adversaries, he told CNN. America was making sure China knows its still the predominant force in the Pacific region, he added.

China currently operates just one aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, which is based on a Soviet-era hull, but has said it will develop its own ships using domestic technology.
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Chinas Communist Party has broken with recent tradition by failing to include a clear successor to President Xi Jinping in its new leadership.

None of the members of the seven-man line-up are young enough to be heir to the president, suggesting he could stay in power beyond 2022.

The party had already elevated President Xis status by inserting Xi Jinping Thought into the partys constitution alongside past leaders Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.

Professor Kerry Brown, associate fellow in Chatham Houses Asia programme, told The Independent the line-up leaves the space open for Mr Xi to continue as leader of the party indefinitely.

Mr Brown said Mr Xi could continue as head of the Communist Party even after he had finished two terms as president, serving as long as his health or political circumstances allowed.

The presidency isnt where the power is, the power is with the party. In theory, he could stay on for 15 or 20 years.

He added: Its deeply dependent on what the political circumstances are in three or four years time. If hes done a great job and people still think hes great, then hes got a good chance of staying on.

Mr Brown said the presidents stronger position means he could take a harder line on North Korea and Chinas desire to expand into the South China Sea.

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

Apart from President Xi, Premier Li Keqiang was the only one to retain his spot amid sweeping changes on the Politburo Standing Committee, the height of power in the worlds second-largest economy.

Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng were promoted, replacing five retiring members including anti-corruption chief Wang Qishan, a key Xi ally.

All seven are in their sixties, and for the first time no Standing Committee member will have been born before the 1949 Communist revolution.

No women have ever made it onto the Politburo Standing Committee, despite the list of delegates being hand-crafted to burnish the partys image as representative of the masses.

In the new Politburo, only one of 25 members is a woman. Sun Chunlan, the head of the party body charged with outreach to non-Communists, is in her second term and is likely to retire in five years.

China ranked 74th in political empowerment of women out of 144 countries in the World Economic Forums global Gender Gap Report last year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping takes a vote at the closing session of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party (Reuters)

Mr Xi said his return as general secretary constituted not just approval of my work but also encouragement that will spur me on.

In this new context, we must get a new look and more importantly, make new accomplishments, he said in comments to reporters at a brief ceremony at the Great Hall of the People to introduce the new Politburo Standing Committee.

The makeup of the committee reflects the presidents efforts to foster party unity by striking a balance between different interest groups in the 89-million member organization as he seeks to better position a reinvigorated party to dominate Chinas affairs at home and abroad.

They will assume responsibility for running the rubber-stamp legislature, the National Peoples Congress and its advisory body, the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, and assume a range of portfolios, including those responsible for propaganda, party discipline, ethnic and Taiwan affairs and science and technology.

Mr Xi has made his wide-ranging anti-corruption campaign the hallmark of his first five years in office. While popular among ordinary Chinese, it is seen as part of a drive to purge his rivals and political opponents and boost supervision over the party at all levels.

The Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, where the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party was held (Reuters/Thomas Peter)

Alongside the campaign, the president has overseen one of the harshest crackdowns on civil society aimed at crushing dissent and activism among lawyers and rights advocates.

The new leaders will face challenges that include reining burgeoning levels of debt seen as the biggest threat to economic stability and managing trade tensions with Washington and Europe over Chinas excess production of steel and other goods.

They will also have to tackle the risk of war over neighbouring ally North Koreas nuclear program, manage the crucial relationship with the US and navigate delicate ties with Southeast Asian nations wary of Beijings expansion in the disputed South China Sea.

President Xi has outlined his vision of strengthening the partys role in Chinese life and shepherding Chinas rise to prominence at a time when the United States and others in the West are seen to be in retreat.

Additional reporting by agencies
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The Ukrainian oligarch whose daughter killed five people and injured six in a car crash has begged the family of those killed to forgive her.

Alyona Zaitseva, 20, allegedly jumped a red light while driving at 60mph before crashing into pedestrians at a crossroads and flipping her own car over.

Gruelling photos of the aftermath of the collision, which took place in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv last week, showed the mangled 4x4 vehicle surrounded by bodies scattered across the pavement and injured people.

Ms Zaitseva, the daughter of energy company multimillionaire Vasily Zaitsev, could face up to 10 years in jail, the MailOnline reports, and has been detained for two months until her trial takes place.

Mr Zaistev, who is the CEO of Ukrenergochormet, has issued an emotional plea for those affected by the collision to forgive his daughter.

A terrible tragedy has taken the lives of people. Words cannot describe the terror and grief for the perished and injured, Mr Zaitsev told MailOnline.

On our knees we are asking families of the perished and injured in this horrific road accident to forgive our daughter.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The local property and energy mogul added: We will do everything we can for the families of the perished. We are raising money and are ready to provide financial assistance. It is terrible, and there are no words to express feelings when you lose loved ones.

The funerals of the four women and one man who were killed in the collision are being hosted by relatives.

Local media report Ms Zaitsevas driving history shows a series of minor offences. Lawyers acting for her are reportedly working with the victims families, a legal expert told Vesti Ukraine TV.

Ivan Liberman told the channel the purpose of this move could be to help Ms Zaitseva eschew jail by sorting out compensation for the victims, saying: Unfortunately, money can shut many mouths here.

He added: Both injured people and relatives of the deceased can go to a notary office and sign statements that they received compensation and dont have any claims against the driver.

He said he has witnessed a previous case where $1.5m (1.1m) was forked out in compensation.

Reports suggest the status of the Volkswagen driver who was hit in the collision could potentially be altered from witness to suspect in the investigation.

Ms Zaitzeva has apologised for the crash and the people who have suffered because of it.
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An ancient Turkish city which has survived for more than 12,000 years old, is set to vanish forever under waters produced by the new Ilisu Dam project.

Hasnkeyf in the country's Batman province, has provided a home to the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires during its lifespan. Excavations in the area have uncovered a settlement dating back to 9500 BC.

But the new dam and hydroelectric power station project is set to completely submerge it in water.

The construction project which began in 2006, will provide electricity and irrigation essential to the development of the Kurdish majority south east of the country.

Although authorities have promised that historic edifices and landmarks - such as the Old Tigris Bridge which dates back to the 12th century - will be preserved and moved, the citys residents are sceptical about whether they will be properly preserved.

However, the tomb of Zeynel Bey, an Islamic Ak Koyunlu tribesman who fought for supremacy in Anatolia before the rise of the Ottoman empire, has already been moved to a new "archaeological park", which authorities are banking on becoming a major tourist attraction.

It is the first of 10 monuments which Turkish authorities plan to relocate.

Are Turkey's UNESCO heritage sites in danger?

Some locals have been sceptical about plans to flood the region.

There is no going back, Arif Ayhan, a member of the Association for Trade and Tourism in Hasankeyf, told the Agence France Presse news agency.

Local bazaar trader Mehmet Emin Aydin added: We will try to fight as long as we can, so that the beauty and history of this city will not be destroyed.

Europa Nostra, a cultural heritage organisation also predicted that "the forseen flooding of Hasankeyf would destroy evidence for one of the oldest organised human settlements ever discovered.

Many generations of families have lived in the town and have not ever left (Getty Images/EyeEm)

Despite its age and being referred to as one of the most ancient locations on earth, the city was not granted Unesco World Heritage status.

Hasakeyf was also declared a first degree archaeological site" by Turkey's supreme board of monuments in 1978, but the project has still gone forward.

It has been estimated that around 80,000 people will be displaced by the flooding. Some could face impoverishment due to new debts being taken up in the wake of displacement.

But both the hydro-electric plant and dam are close to being completed and the flooding process is scheduled to take place on 31 December, according to the state run Anadolu News Agency.
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Catalonia's vice-president has said that the Spanish government has given them "no choice" but declare independence.

Oriol Junqueras said his party, one of the two in the ruling separatist coalition which forms the Catalan government, is "going to work toward building a republic" because they have a "democratic mandate" following a referendum earlier this month.

Madrid declared the referendum illegal and sent in its centralised police force, the Civil Guard, to stop people voting. Officers were seen firing rubber bullets at crowds and beating voters as they attempted to enter polling stations during the vote on 1 October.

Nearly 900 people were injured in the violence and the final result showed 92 per cent backed independence based on a turnout of 43 per cent.

Mr Junqueras was speaking for Republican Left party and not for the regional government as a whole, which is headed by President Carles Puigdemont.

Mr Puigdemont announced he would be delaying his declaration of independence  which was originally due to happen around a week after the vote  to seek negotiations with the Madrid government.

In a defiant TV address after the polls closed, Spanish Prime Mariano Rajoy said there had "been no referendum" in Catalonia and the population had been duped into taking part in an illegal vote.

Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Show all 17 1 /17 Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A man faces off Spanish Civil Guards outside a polling station in Sant Julia de Ramis Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Riot police form a security cordon around the Ramon Llull school in Barcelona EPA Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Riot police evict a young woman during clashes between people gathered outside the Ramon Llull school in Barcelona EPA Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Spanish Civil Guard officers break through a door at a polling station in Sant Julia de Ramis Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Spanish National Police clash with pro-referendum supporters in Barcelona on Sunday AP Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Crowds raise their arms up as police move in on members of the public gathered outside to prevent them from voting in the referendum at a polling station where the President Carles Puigdemunt will vote later today Getty Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters People confront Spanish Civil Guard officers outside a polling station Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Three man hold each other as they try to block a Spanish police van from approaching a polling station AP Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A woman shows a ballot to a Spanish Civil Guard officer outside a polling station Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A man wearing a shirt with an Estelada (Catalan separatist flag) and holding carnations faces off with a Spanish Civil Guard officer Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Police try to control the area as people attempt to cast their ballot at a polling station in Barcelona Getty Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A man is grabbed by officers as police move in on the crowds Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Two women argue with a Spanish National policeman during clashes between Catalan pro-independence people and police forces at the Sant Julia de Ramis sports centre in Girona EPA Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Sant Julia De Ramis in Spain Getty Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Confrontation outside a polling station in Barcelona, where police have tried to stop people voting AFP/Getty Images Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A Spanish National Police officer aims a rubber-bullet rifle at pro-referendum supporters in Barcelona AP Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Riot police clashed with voters as polls opened in Barcelona Sky News

He defended the Civil Guard's actions and Spanish King Felipe later called for calm and unity  denouncing the actions of the "disloyal" separatists.

In September, the Constitutional Court in Madrid ruled that the referendum was illegal because it violated a clause in the Constitution which refers to "the indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation, the common and indivisible homeland of all Spaniards".

It later declared the result of the referendum null and void and the Spanish government is expected to impose direct rule on Catalonia using Article 155 of the constitution later this week.

The Spanish Senate is due to impose the order on Friday but may introduce it gradually to avoid causing too many fresh protests.

Meanwhile, Mr Puigdemont turned down an invitation to address the Senate about Catalan independence.

Earlier on Wednesday, aides had indicated that Mr Puigdemont, who is the region's President, would attend the session in Madrid.

But a spokesman for Mr Puigdemont said later the Catalan leader would not do so because the Spanish government had already announced its intention to impose direct control on the autonomous region to counter its independence drive.

Additional reporting by AP
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Egypt have released an Irish-Egyptian man detained for over four years on charges related to a 2013 Muslim Brotherhood protest in Cairo, his lawyer said.

Ibrahim Halawa's release, announced by Irish lawyer Darragh Mackin, came about a month after an Egyptian court acquitted him of charges including murder, arson and illegal possession of weapons.

Halawa was tried along with nearly 500 defendants, many of whom received sentences up to life in prison in a mass trial that was slammed by rights groups as unfair. Among those convicted was an American-Egyptian, Ahmed Eitwy. Only 52 of the defendants, including Halawa, have been acquitted.

Recommended Irishman facing death penalty in Egypt acquitted after four years

Finally, the day where I can see the sky without bars, smell fresh air, walk freely and smile deeply from the bottom of my heart, Halawa wrote in a Facebook post after his release Friday.

His family was not immediately available for comment.

Irish government officials and the European parliament have previously called for his release but Cairo rejected such pleas, saying they are a violation of the independence of its judiciary.

Amnesty International issued a statement welcoming Halawa's release as a resounding victory.

He should never have been jailed in the first place, said the group's North Africa Campaigns Director, Najia Bounaim.

No one should have to face the injustice he was forced to suffer, she added, urging Egyptian authorities to release others in prison.

Also, Maya Foa, director of the UK-based rights organisation Reprieve, said Halawa's release was long overdue and urged the Egyptian government to halt mass trials.

Irish officials welcomed the news as well, saying the government is working on returning the 21-year old Halawa to Ireland. He is from Dublin.

We are helping him to get back to Ireland to be reunited with his family and get on with his life and his studies, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said. He's receiving full consular assistance at the moment.

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said all appropriate ongoing support that Ibrahim requires in the period ahead will be available to him.

Halawa was arrested at the age of 17, along with his three sisters, in August 2013. The Irish student is the son of a senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group that swept to power in elections after the 2011 uprising but is now outlawed as a terrorist organisation in Egypt.

His arrest took place days after security forces violently broke up sit-ins held in support of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, who hailed from the Brotherhood and had been overthrown by the military the previous month after mass protests against his divisive, one-year rule.

Halawa's sisters were released later in 2013, after which they left Egypt. They have been campaigning for his release since.

Since Morsi's ouster, Egypt has launched a crackdown on the country's Islamists that saw hundreds killed and thousands jailed. The security campaign also swept up liberals and young pro-democracy activists who spearheaded the 2011 popular uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

The government's clampdown also included civil society groups, particularly human rights organisations that receive foreign funding.

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

Earlier this year, Egypt also acquitted US-Egyptian Aya Hijazi among others. She was held for nearly three years over accusations related to running a non-governmental organization founded to aid street children. Hijazi and others faced charges of abusing children, which were widely dismissed as bogus by human rights groups and US officials.

Hijazi and her husband, who was charged in the same case, returned to the United States shortly after their release.

AP
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The combined wealth of Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle stands at nearly $24bn (18bn) a new investigation has claimed.

In 2016, Mr Putin's official income was was reported at just $133,000 and he has repeatedly denied he is one of the worlds wealthiest men.

But a joint investigation by Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta and Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), has valued him at considerably more, although it suggested that his wealth may be tied up in a series of proxies.

Some of the Presidents inner ring have no obvious explanation for their hidden wealth, according to the report.

These proxies wealth may be accounted for by the simplest explanation: It may really be Putins money. But in Russia, nothing is simple, the authors wrote.

One alleged proxy is Mikhail Shelomov, a relative of Mr Putin, who works at a Russian shipping company for a job which would usually pay around $8,500 a year.

Mr Shelomov is a major investor in a new race track near StPetersburg, and has a personal wealth of $573m according to OCCRP, as well as links to the state energy giant Gazprom.

A childhood friend of the President, Pyotr Kolbin, a former butcher, has amassed a personal fortune of $550m - despite telling the Russian press he is not a businessman.

William Browder, a US-born anti-Putin campaigner, told OCCRP Mr Shelomov, Mr Kolbin and other cronies were nominees who formally own assets, while really holding them in trust for Putin. While Mr Kolbin has been sanctioned by the United States, Mr Shelomov, who keeps such a low profile the OCRUP could not find any photograph of him, has so far escaped the penalties.

The investigation has not been widely reported in Russia, which is currently ranked 148 out of 180 countries on Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index.
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The Iranian authorities have sentenced a doctor resident in Sweden to death on charges of spying for Israel, rights groups have said.

It emerged on Tuesday that Dr Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian national who had residency and worked in Sweden, was convicted by a Tehran court on treason and espionage charges. It is not clear when the verdict was issued.

While the chief prosecutor did not name the defendant, Amnesty International identified the condemned man as Dr Djalali, who was arrested over allegations that his spying activity had led to the Israeli intelligence agency assassinations of four scientists working on Irans nuclear programme between 2010 - 2012.

 Jailed in Iran: Richard Ratcliffe calls on the government to bring Nazanin home

Dr Djalalis colleagues have previously said they believe his arrest was related to his international contacts in academic circles, some of whom are Israeli, but maintained that his work was solely scientific.

One man has been executed in connection to the killings of the nuclear scientists to date.

Married father-of-two Dr Djalali, who taught at the Karolinska Institute of medicine in Stockholm, was arrested during a business visit to Iran in April 2016. He was not given access to a lawyer for seven months, three of which were spent in solitary confinement, Amnesty said.

The doctor also alleges he was forced to make two confessions by reading statements provided by interrogators in front of a video camera.

Iran's 'Trumpism' contest Show all 10 1 /10 Iran's 'Trumpism' contest Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images Iran's 'Trumpism' contest AFP/Getty Images

According to his wife Vida Mehrannia, both his physical and mental health have sharply deteriorated since he has been detained.

The [charged person] had several meetings with Mossad and provided them with sensitive information about Irans military and nuclear sites in return for money and residency in Sweden, state prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi told an Iranian news agency.

The sentencing has been condemned by Sweden, which has raised the issue with Iranian diplomats in both Stockholm and Tehran.

We condemn the use of the death penalty in all its forms. The death penalty is an inhuman, cruel and irreversible punishment that has no place in modern law, Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said in an emailed comment to Reuters news agency.

The vice chancellor of the Karolinska Institute, where Djalali received his PhD in disaster medicine in 2012, also said he was deeply concerned.

Recommended Boris Johnson to urge Donald Trump to keep Iran nuclear deal

For many years, he has worked with researchers from all over the world to improve the capacity of hospitals in countries suffering from extreme poverty or affected by disasters and armed conflicts, Ole Petter Ottersen said in a statement.

We ask that Dr Djalali be subjected to due process and fair trial.

Amnesty is calling for Dr Djalalis release on the grounds his trial was grossly unfair.

The Iranian authorities continue a steadfast commitment to (the) use of the death penalty but utter contempt for the rule of law, said a statement from Philip Luther, Amnestys Middle East advocacy director.

Reuters contributed to this report
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Israel has been accused of continuing to sell military equipment to the Burmese military even as it faced accusations of war crimes against minority Rohingya Muslims.

Pictures on the Burmese Navy's Facebook page "welcome" two Israeli-made gunboats to the military fleet.

"Welcome to the Myanmar Navy," the caption says. "The Super-Dvora MK III is moving forward at 45 knots on Myanmar waters."

The gunboats feature a remote weapons station which would allow the military to mount of heavy machine gun or 30mm cannon.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has denied media reports it has sold advanced weapons to Burma and categorically rejected any "alleged involvement in the tragedy in the Rakhine region."

More than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Buddhist-majority Burma to Bangladesh since a military crackdown launched in late August. The United Nations denounced it as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.

 Drone footage shows thousands of Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar

According to Haaretz, the Ramta division of Israeli Aerospace Industries, which manufactures the Super Dvora, is meant to provide at least two more boats to the Burmese military.

The remote weapons station on the boat is made by Elbit Systems, the paper said, adding that the two remaining vessels could be built in Burma with Israeli assistance.

The total value of the arms deal is estimated to be tens of millions of dollars, Haaretz said, citing sources in the Israeli weapons industry.

Rohingya refugees  in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya refugees  in pictures A young girl and a baby wade through mud after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh from Burma on 10 September Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya refugees walk through a camp in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh after arriving from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures A young Rohingya refugee gathers firewood after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya refugees wait for sacks of rice to be distributed in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees arrive on a boat in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh after crossing from Burma on 8 September Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees react after being re-united with each other after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh on a boat from Burma Getty Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees walk along the remains of a road after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh on a boat from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees wade through water after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh by boat from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees wade through water after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh by boat from Myanmar Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees stand in the rain after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh by boat from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Indian children hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against the alleged persecution of the Rohingya Muslims in Burma EPA/Raminder Pal Singh Rohingya refugees  in pictures Supporters of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), an Islamic organisation, listen to their leaders' speeches against Burma's persecution of Rohingya Muslims, during a demonstration in Karachi Reuters/Akhtar Soomro Rohingya refugees  in pictures Hundreds of Iranians take part in a protest against violence in Myanmar after weekly Friday prayers, in Tehran EPA/Abedin Taherkenareh Rohingya refugees  in pictures Indonesian Muslim activists hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against the alleged persecution of the Rohingya minority in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia EPA/Ali Lutfi Rohingya refugees  in pictures Members of an Islamic organisation shout slogans against the Burma government during a protest in Dhaka, Bangladesh EPA

The patrol boats could be used to attack Rohingya refugees fleeing to Bangladesh, Eitay Mack, an Israeli lawyer who petitioned the Israeli High court to block arms sales to Burma told the Middle East Eye.

"These images have confirmed what activists have been saying for a number of years," he said. "While Israel has a gag order against details on its arms deals with the Junta, Myanmar proudly showcases its purchases as it defies existing EU and US arms embargoes on the country.

"This shows how a gag order means nothing in 2017 as the Myanmar government and Junta love to publish everything they have bought from the Israelis on Facebook, which is giving us more evidence and helping fuel a public campaign against Israeli arms sales to Burma."

Last month, the Israeli High Court of Justice ruled in response to Mr Mack's petition, but the ruling has been kept classified at the state's request.

Investigations by several human rights watchdogs found more than 100 tanks, as well as boats and light weapons, have been sold to the Burmese government by Israeli arms companies in recent years.

One Israeli company, TAR Ideal Concept, posted a picture on its website in August last year of its staff teaching combat tactics to Burmese special forces in northern Rakhine state, where much of the violence is taking place.
January 28, 1939  October 15, 2017

He was very artistic and loved to paint with oils, tied his own fishing flies which were functional but also creative and beautiful works of art, and took stunning photos of waterfalls, flowers, and nature. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman. He loved spending time camping and fishing in the summer and his favorite place was Miller Lake where he would almost always catch his daily limit of trout. He bow hunted for deer and elk and was a very successful hunter. He liked to read and solve puzzles and enjoyed taking trips to the Oregon Coast and casinos after retiring.
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Saudi Arabias crown prince almost didnt say one of the most revolutionary things ever uttered by a member of the House of Saud.

For many reasons, today is not the right day to discuss [extremism], Mohammed bin Salman told a panel at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh on Tuesday.

We were not like this in the past we want to go back to what we were before  a country of moderate Islam that is open to all religions and to the world, he said to applause.

10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Show all 10 1 /10 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In October 2014, three lawyers, Dr Abdulrahman al-Subaihi, Bander al-Nogaithan and Abdulrahman al-Rumaih , were sentenced to up to eight years in prison for using Twitter to criticize the Ministry of Justice. AFP/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2015, Yemens Sunni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was forced into exile after a Shia-led insurgency. A Saudi Arabia-led coalition has responded with air strikes in order to reinstate Mr Hadi. It has since been accused of committing war crimes in the country. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Women who supported the Women2Drive campaign, launched in 2011 to challenge the ban on women driving vehicles, faced harassment and intimidation by the authorities. The government warned that women drivers would face arrest. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Members of the Kingdoms Shia minority, most of whom live in the oil-rich Eastern Province, continue to face discrimination that limits their access to government services and employment. Activists have received death sentences or long prison terms for their alleged participation in protests in 2011 and 2012. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses All public gatherings are prohibited under an order issued by the Interior Ministry in 2011. Those defy the ban face arrest, prosecution and imprisonment on charges such as inciting people against the authorities. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2014, the Interior Ministry stated that authorities had deported over 370,000 foreign migrants and that 18,000 others were in detention. Thousands of workers were returned to Somalia and other states where they were at risk of human rights abuses, with large numbers also returned to Yemen, in order to open more jobs to Saudi Arabians. Many migrants reported that prior to their deportation they had been packed into overcrowded makeshift detention facilities where they received little food and water and were abused by guards. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to deny access to independent human rights organisations like Amnesty International, and they have been known to take punitive action, including through the courts, against activists and family members of victims who contact Amnesty. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison for using his liberal blog to criticise Saudi Arabias clerics. He has already received 50 lashes, which have reportedly left him in poor health. Carsten Koall/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Dawood al-Marhoon was arrested aged 17 for participating in an anti-government protest. After refusing to spy on his fellow protestors, he was tortured and forced to sign a blank document that would later contain his confession. At Dawoods trial, the prosecution requested death by crucifixion while refusing him a lawyer. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was arrested in 2012 aged either 16 or 17 for participating in protests during the Arab spring. His sentence includes beheading and crucifixion. The international community has spoken out against the punishment and has called on Saudi Arabia to stop. He is the nephew of a prominent government dissident. Getty

In a later interview with The Guardian, the crown prince said that the countrys conservatism was in part fallout from Irans Islamic Revolution.

What happened in the last 30 years is not Saudi Arabia. What happened in the region in the last 30 years is not the Middle East. After the Iranian revolution in 1979, people wanted to copy this model in different countries, one of them is Saudi Arabia. We didnt know how to deal with it. And the problem spread all over the world. Now is the time to get rid of it.

Seventy per cent of [the Saudi] population is under 30 and we wont allow the 30 per cent to hold them back.

The comments  Prince bin Salmans most direct criticism of Saudi Arabias puritanical religious establishment to date  appear to have cemented his reputation as a bold and liberal reformist.

Of course, his words were carefully chosen, no matter how nonchalantly they were delivered.

Riyadh is keen to diversify its revenue streams and open up to the modern world following a global plunge in oil prices, but the states continuing human rights abuses mean the declaration has been met with scepticism internationally.

 LSE Saudi Arabia academic: Lifting ban on women driving is being used to deflect bad news

At home, however, many think the prince has sent a clear message to the kingdoms hardliners: the 32-year-old heir to the throne, who will mostly likely set the agenda in Saudi Arabia for decades, is quickening the pace of social change  and does not expect the religious establishment to challenge him.

Saudi social media has lit up with praise for Prince bin Salman since yesterdays comments: Finally, we can join the 21st century, one woman posted on Twitter. Hes going to change history, said another user.

This country needs someone like him, 25-year-old Yousif al-Helw, from Jeddah, told The Independent.

Hes a lot more brave in spearheading reforms, whereas previous  older  Saudi rulers were always worried about keeping the conservatives at bay.

People in the kingdom have watched from afar as Arab Spring demands in other countries have ended in the rolling back of freedoms or war.

In Saudi Arabias restive east, armed protests demanding an end to discrimination against Shia citizens have led to a brutal crackdown which have left parts of Qatif province looking like war-torn Syria.

While many of Saudi Arabias tireless rights activists would have preferred a bottom-up, more democratic movement for change, soome feel that any change is better than none.

Theres excitement about the momentum in contrast to the stagnation of years past, but uncertainty about the direction, said one young professional living in Riyadh, who did not want to be named.

The crown prince, who was suddenly appointed to the post in June this year at the expense of his uncle, is not without his critics.

In his role as defence minister  a position he has held since 2015  bin Salman has proved hawkish, attracting censure over his role in Saudi Arabias bloody intervention in the Yemeni civil war, as well as his aggressive stance on regional rival Iran.

The prince is also regarded as one of the primary decision makers behind the Gulf states recent cutting of ties with Qatar.

But even if its just domestic, and even if implemented through the will of an absolute monarchy, it seems change for the better is on the cards.

I definitely think [Prince bin Salman] is genuine, because he doesnt have a reason not to be, Mr Helw said. There isnt real formal opposition in Saudi. He doesnt need to do this for show, because the people have no say.
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Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz bin Saud has announced plans for a new 380 billion city to be built to run entirely on alternative energy and be an innovation hub for the future.

The project, dubbed Neom, will be built on untouched land along the country's Red Sea coastline near Egypt and Jordan.

The ambitious project could lead the way in the use of drones, driverless cars and robotics.

10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Show all 10 1 /10 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In October 2014, three lawyers, Dr Abdulrahman al-Subaihi, Bander al-Nogaithan and Abdulrahman al-Rumaih , were sentenced to up to eight years in prison for using Twitter to criticize the Ministry of Justice. AFP/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2015, Yemens Sunni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was forced into exile after a Shia-led insurgency. A Saudi Arabia-led coalition has responded with air strikes in order to reinstate Mr Hadi. It has since been accused of committing war crimes in the country. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Women who supported the Women2Drive campaign, launched in 2011 to challenge the ban on women driving vehicles, faced harassment and intimidation by the authorities. The government warned that women drivers would face arrest. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Members of the Kingdoms Shia minority, most of whom live in the oil-rich Eastern Province, continue to face discrimination that limits their access to government services and employment. Activists have received death sentences or long prison terms for their alleged participation in protests in 2011 and 2012. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses All public gatherings are prohibited under an order issued by the Interior Ministry in 2011. Those defy the ban face arrest, prosecution and imprisonment on charges such as inciting people against the authorities. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2014, the Interior Ministry stated that authorities had deported over 370,000 foreign migrants and that 18,000 others were in detention. Thousands of workers were returned to Somalia and other states where they were at risk of human rights abuses, with large numbers also returned to Yemen, in order to open more jobs to Saudi Arabians. Many migrants reported that prior to their deportation they had been packed into overcrowded makeshift detention facilities where they received little food and water and were abused by guards. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to deny access to independent human rights organisations like Amnesty International, and they have been known to take punitive action, including through the courts, against activists and family members of victims who contact Amnesty. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison for using his liberal blog to criticise Saudi Arabias clerics. He has already received 50 lashes, which have reportedly left him in poor health. Carsten Koall/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Dawood al-Marhoon was arrested aged 17 for participating in an anti-government protest. After refusing to spy on his fellow protestors, he was tortured and forced to sign a blank document that would later contain his confession. At Dawoods trial, the prosecution requested death by crucifixion while refusing him a lawyer. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was arrested in 2012 aged either 16 or 17 for participating in protests during the Arab spring. His sentence includes beheading and crucifixion. The international community has spoken out against the punishment and has called on Saudi Arabia to stop. He is the nephew of a prominent government dissident. Getty

The kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, which the crown prince chairs, the Saudi government and global technology firms will help build the city.

Prince Mohammed announced the project at a major investment conference in Riyadh aimed at shining a spotlight on the kingdom's efforts to diversify its revenue streams away from dependence on oil exports.

The Future Investment Initiative conference is being attended by giants in the business world, corporate managers from some of the world's largest firms and senior Saudi officials.

 LSE Saudi Arabia academic: Lifting ban on women driving is being used to deflect bad news

Prince Mohammed defended his bold reform plans, including the kingdom's recent decision to lift the ban on women driving, saying: We were not like this in the past.

The 32-year-old prince added: We want to go back to what we were: moderate Islam.

The heir to the throne said the kingdom will work to defeat extremist ideas and ensure that young Saudis live in harmony with the rest of the world.

We will eradicate the remnants of extremism very soon. We represent the moderate teachings and principles of Islam.

He addressed a panel that included business leaders Stephen Schwarzman of US private equity firm Blackstone and Masayoshi Son of Japan's technology conglomerate SoftBank.

The panellists later praised the prince for his passion, vision and enthusiasm, but he interjected, saying he is only one of 20 million people. I am nothing without them.

AP
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After a year that has seen concern about potential voicano eruptions in Iceland, Italy and Bali, volcanologists on the Canary Islands have been asked to work out whether the island of La Palma is facing an imminent eruption.

The experts have been asked to monitor activity on the island, which saw 400 tremors in 15 hours over the weekend, according to The Express.

Close to Tenerife, Cumbre Vieja (meaning Old Summit) previously erupted in 1949 and 1971. After the recent tremors - and a 3.5cm rise in the earth over the past year - scientists have been asked to monitor the volcano, amid fears that an eruption might lead to an earthquake and possible tsunami.

So now a special hydrogeochemical monitoring programme has been set up in a bid to improve volcanic monitoring of the volcano. Scientists will take samples of subterranean waters and PH levels, conductivity, temperature and dissolved gas activity three times a week at four locations in Cumbre Vieja.

Meanwhile, a team from the National Geographic Institute (IGN) are monitoring the site around the volcano 24 hours a day.

In the south of La Palma, Cumbre Vieja has experienced much seismic activity recently

Recent seismic movements of a low magnitude raised concerns over the volcanos emerging activity, ranging between 1.5 and 2.7 on the Richter scale and up to 17.4 miles underground. While experts have warned that an eruption holds the potential of creating a tidal wave, academics have been quick to point out a mega tsunami is unlikely.

Iain Stewart, Professor of Geoscience Communication at the University of Plymouth, told The Independent: "The possibility of a catastrophic collapse of the volcano is a really controversial issue amongst geologists. There has certainly been large chunks of the volcanic island that have detached in the distant past, presumably associated with volcanic activity.

"But there's no evidence that this is happened in the last 10,000 years, and no signs that the collapse was so big and sudden that it produced huge tsunamis. It is theoretically possible, but most geologists think that smaller more localised collapses of the steep sides is more likely.

"This could generate local tsunamis with destructive waves a few metres high, but what we call transoceanic tsunamis are unlikely."
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A year to the day after the Government confirmed a third runway at Heathrow was its preferred solution to the airport capacity crunch in South East England, yet another consultation is under way.

The Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, began work in September 2012. It reported in July 2015, recommending a new runway at Heathrow to the north-west of the existing pair, ahead of the other two shortlisted options: an extended northern runway at Heathrow, and a second active runway at Gatwick.

The new runway is expected to deliver at least 700 additional air transport movements daily, increasing capacity at Britains busiest airport by slightly more than half.

But it took a further 16 months before the Government accepted the recommendation of the Davies Commission.

An Airports National Policy Statement was published, but has now been revised  with a consultation continuing until 19 December.

The new NPS sets out specific requirements that the applicant for a new north-west runway at Heathrow Airport will need to meet to gain development consent, mainly on noise and air quality.

The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) expressed frustration about the delay, saying: It has been over a year since the Government announced its support of expansion at Heathrow, yet so far, no firm decisions have been made over how and when this will happen.

BALPA's General Secretary, Brian Strutton, said: Heathrow is already pretty much at capacity and were concerned that we could lose out to other large European airports such as [Paris] Charles De Gaulle or [Amsterdam] Schiphol if capacity isnt increased.

Post-Brexit we need to ensure we encourage international business in the UK and one of the key components of this is efficient transport links.

The Government concedes that its preferred option has the greatest negative impact on local communities.

Opponents of a third runway at Heathrow say environmental considerations should rule the scheme out.

Ruth Cadbury, Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth  a west London constituency on the main Heathrow approach path  has secured a debate in Westminster Hall on the issue. She said: It is unacceptable that any expansion at Heathrow can take place when risk of non-compliance to air quality limits remains high. Londoners deserve better than to be subject to breathing toxic air pollution.

The Governments continued attempt to support Heathrow expansion totally undermines efforts to make London a more sustainable city and the UK a cleaner country.

But the Governments NPS says a third runway is urgently needed to counter the increased risk of flight delays and unreliability, restricted scope for competition and lower fares, declining domestic connectivity, erosion of the UKs hub status relative to foreign competitors, and constraining the scope of the aviation sector to deliver wider economic benefits.

It adds: London is beginning to find that new routes to important long haul destinations are being set up elsewhere in Europe. This is having an adverse impact on the UK economy, and affecting the countrys global competitiveness.

Heathrow aims to complete the new runway by 2025, and said that the additional consultation will not affect the timetable.

Gatwick is still actively campaigning for a second runway, saying: We continue to offer a credible privately-financed runway plan to the Government.
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Dubai, the Maldives, Florida - and now Norway. Underwater restaurants are usually confined to exotic destinations - but a village on the south coast of Norway is down to join the ranks.

Under - due to open in February 2019 near Baly - will be a concrete structure tipping into the sea, reports CNN. Designed by Norwegian architecture firm Snohetta, it'll be half-submerged, resembling both a periscope and sunken ship.

It should be an exciting experience, but people should also feel secure and well sitting down there," Rune Grasdal, the projects lead architect, told CNN.

With an emphasis on local cuisine, the restaurant will accommodate up to 100 people. A huge panoramic window will provide views of the seabed and abundant marine life.

Guests will descend three levels through a submerged wardrobe area, a champagne bar and then finally the restaurant itself. The name, Under, is a play on words - in Norwegian, "under" can also mean wonder.

The restaurant is set to be Europe's first underwater (Snohetta)

Renderings of the project show a restaurant half-submerged into the icy waters off the coast of Baly, a town about three hours from Kristiansand, Norways fifth-largest city.

Not only will it be a unique foodie experience, but according to Snohetta, the restaurant will also serve an ecological purpose.

Under will welcome research teams to study fish and shellfish below the surface (Snohetta)

Under has been designed with sensitive consideration for its geographic context and aquatic neighbours," reads the website. "The sleek, streamlined form of the building is encapsulated in a concrete shell with a coarse surface that invites mussels to cling on. Over time, as the mollusc community densifies, the submerged monolith will become an artificial mussel reef that functions dually to rinse the sea and naturally attract more marine life to its purified waters.

As the restaurant becomes a reef, interdisciplinary teams will be invited to study marine behaviour and fish biology - aiming to optimise conditions for fish and shellfish in close proximity to the restaurants, meaning more choice for seafood lovers.

It's not the first time Norwegians have floated the idea of an aquatic tourist attraction. In 2014, a snowflake-shaped floating hotel to be built in the waters off Troms was announced to great fanfare. It never materialised, however.

Here's hoping Under will be less of a disappointment.
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China has chosen continuity in politics, but what does it mean for the Chinese economy?

The Party Congress has ended and the new Politbureau and its Standing Committee were elected on Wednesday. As expected, Xi Jinping remains General Secretary and Li Keqiang remains Premier. The other five members of the PSC are all relatively old, so there is no obvious successor yet to Mr Xi. He has also been elevated to the same position as Mao Zedong in the party constitution, making him in effect the most powerful leader since Mao Zedong.

From an economic perspective the question is a simple one: does this consolidation of power speed up or slow down the pace of economic reform in China? The country remains on track to become the worlds largest economy, passing the US in the next 10 to 20 years. Indeed, if you calculate the size of the economy in terms of purchasing power parity rather than market exchange rates, it already has.

More of that in a moment. But it faces at least four huge problems: its ageing population; environmental concerns; the need to run down state-controlled enterprises and build up market ones; and the shift from manufacturing to services.

The central government cannot do much about demography, though it has acknowledged the issue and is easing the one-child policy. It has to do more about the second and is already trying to do so, for example by promoting electric cars. As for the last two, this is where policy matters.

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State-owned enterprises, and there are about 100 of them, are less efficient than privately owned ones. According to official figures they produce an average return on assets of 2.9 per cent last year, against one of 10.2 per cent for the private sector. That is not entirely the fault of their managers, for they are often directed to do things for the authorities social objectives that make them less profitable: for example maintaining employment and investment rather than slimming down when demand falls.

China has rejected rapid privatisation of these companies in favour of a gradual shift, perhaps passing three or four a year into ownership by state-owned holding companies, which can then gradually be sold to the public at some later stage. Why? It wants to retain control of the economy, as it has for the past 40 years.

It is hard not to feel sympathy for this gradual approach, for China has managed to avoid the chaos that engulfed Russia. But a slower transition will probably mean slower growth.

The shift from manufacturing to services is a parallel one. This is not something that countries have much control over. Germany has maintained a somewhat larger manufacturing sector than other G7 economies, but not much. In every advanced economy the shift is taking place, with manufacturing typically between 10 and 15 per cent of GDP. In China manufacturing is still nearly 40 per cent, but was passed by services (now more than 50 per cent) back in 2012.

Services are by their nature different from manufacturing, and in particular harder to fit into a command economy. So the Chinese governments power over the economy will tend to fall as a result. So there is another dilemma: promote the shift (as for example the Shanghai municipality is doing) and you accept you cede control, or seek to retain control by resisting it.

We know enough about economic development to be pretty sure that giving greater power to the market will lead to faster growth. China is the classic real-world model of this. But social order matters and it may be sensible to go for a slower transformation of the Chinese economy if that enables the country to avoid overly disruptive change.

In any case, China almost inevitably passes the US to become indubitably number one. When? Well, the famous Goldman Sachs BRICs report calculated that this would happen about 2027. More recent work by HSBC suggested it would not be until about 2040. But if it were the earlier date, and were Xi Jinping to have a third term as General Secretary, that would be at the end of his period of office.

At the moment there is a long way to go. Last year, according to World Bank data, the US GDP was $19.6 trillion; China was $11.2 trillion. A lot, good or bad, can happen in a decade. But lets do the sums. Suppose the US were to grow at 2 per cent compound its GDP in 2027 would be about $24 trillion, and if China were to grow at 7 per cent it would be around $22.5 trillion. So China would not quite be there, but it would snapping at the USs heels.

Maybe those growth projections are too pessimistic for the US and too optimistic for China, but you can see the prize: be leader of China when it becomes the largest economy in the world. No wonder Xi Jinping would like to stick around.
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Does body-shaming Harvey Weinstein warp our perception of sexual predators?

To be clear, I condemn sexual harassment and abuse in all its forms. The allegations made against Weinstein disgust me. But I'll be damned if I'm going to call Weinstein overweight, old and ugly to better express that support.

I can see why my social media feed and Howard Stern (who last week called Weinstein a big fat guy, adding: There is no girl on the planet who wants to see Harvey Weinstein naked and is gonna get aroused) are full of it. I could see it coming when I read Zoe Brocks admission that Weinstein cried: You dont like me because Im fat when she rejected him.

Kate Beckinsale also said, when recounting meeting Weinstein at 17: 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.

Elsewhere, French actress Lea Seydoux alleged: He [Weinstein] 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.

Meanwhile Italian actress Asia Argentino described her assault as twisted. A big fat man wanting to eat you. Its a scary fairytale."

 Matt Damon admits he knew Harvey Weinstein harassed Gwyneth Paltrow

Weinstein is six feet tall  his overbearing physicality is a fact. The victims are right to describe it.

However, beyond this, referencing Weinsteins weight and appearance  or that of any abuser, attacker or harasser when condemning their behaviour  is irrelevant.

We need to address our language, and consider that Weinstein is becoming the new  that is, the old, the enduring  face and body of sexual misconduct.

By the way, this isnt about protecting Weinsteins feelings. I dont care about his feelings.

Firstly, hes a body-shamer himself  it's claimed he called British actress Hayley Atwell a fat pig  so why stoop to his level? Secondly, I fear such ridicule is empowering to the abuser. It reinforces a sick structure of objectification that affects us all, and women the worst.

My most pertinent encounter as the victim of sexual harassment involved an older, influential man in my industry, a lot of alcohol and him using every trick in the book to get me to be intimate with him. One of these methods involved trying to make me feel sorry for him based on his age, appearance, weight and state of mind. To a degree, he succeeded. The Weinstein scandal makes me view his tools of manipulation in a new light.

Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Show all 42 1 /42 Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Harvey Weinstein Harry Weinsteins reputation as one of Hollywoods leading executives was long cemented in stone. The acclaimed movie mogul, who produced Oscar-winning films Shakespeare in Love, The English Patient, and The Artist, clocked up box office successes and accolades aplenty. But this has quickly changed since a chorus of women have come forward to accuse the Hollywood producer of sexual harassment and assault. Since the New York Times bombshell report disclosed sexual harassment and rape allegations against the film mogul dating back decades, Weinstein has been fired from his namesake company, expelled from the Oscars and has had his wife leave him. Weinstein has apologised for having caused a lot of pain but has denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Annabella Sciorra The Sopranos actor alleged Weinstein raped her after shooting The Night We Never Met, a 1993 movie that Weinstein produced. Similar to the stories told by other women, Weinstein drove the actor home, only to reportedly burst into Sciorra's apartment and start unbuttoning his shirt. He shoved me onto the bed, and he got on top of me, Sciorra said. I kicked and I yelled. Weinstein then allegedly locked her arms and forced sexual intercourse on her. After the incident, Sciorra found it increasingly hard to get work, many filmmakers saying 'We heard you were difficult', something the actor claims was because of the 'Weinstein-machine'. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Natassia Malthe The model and actress, who has appeared in around 50 films, said she met Weinstein at a BAFTA after party in 2008 while she was working as a spokeswoman for LG. She told a press conference in New York that she felt pressured into telling Weinstein she was staying at the Sanderson Hotel after being put on the spot. Malthe, now 43, said after her shift on February 10 she went back to her room and went to sleep, but was awoken by "repeated pounding" on her door, from someone yelling: "Open the door Natassia Malthe, it's Harvey Weinstein." Feeling humiliated, she said she opened the door. She alleged Weinstein began implying sex would get her a role in an upcoming film while semi-undressed and then he began to masturbate. "I was sitting on the bed talking to Harvey when he pushed me back and forced himself onto me. It was not consensual. He did not use a condom," she said. AP Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Sean Young The actor, best known for her role in Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, said that Weinstein exposed himself to her in the early 1990s, when she was starring in the Miramax-produced Love Crimes - a production company that Weinstein headed at the time. "I personally experienced him pulling his you-know-what out of his pants to shock me," she said. "My basic response was, 'You know, Harvey, I really dont think you should be pulling that thing out, its not very pretty.'" Young never worked with Weinstein again after the incident. Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Mimi Haleyi Mimi Haleyi said she was assaulted by Weinstein in what appeared to be a child's bedroom in his New York City apartment in 2006 when she was in her 20s. She said she was aspiring to work in television and film production when she was first introduced to him at the London premiere of The Aviator around two years earlier and he helped her get experience on the set of a TV show being produced by The Weinstein Company. But, she added, he repeatedly hassled her and even tried to force himself through her front door in an effort to get her to join him on a trip to Paris. At one point he allegedly forcibly performed oral sex on an aspiring production assistant while she was on her period. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lupita Nyong'o In an op-ed for The New York Times, the Oscar-winning actor said she was invited to Weinsteins family home in Connecticut on the premise of watching a film shortly after they met in 2011. But she said shortly after it started he "insisted" in front of his children that she follow him and she was led to his bedroom. The Kenyan-Mexican actress, now 34, said she felt pressured into giving him a massage after he offered her one. "Before long he said he wanted to take off his pants," she wrote."I told him not to do that and informed him that it would make me extremely uncomfortable. He got up anyway to do so and I headed for the door, saying that I was not at all comfortable with that." Over the years that followed, he continued to get in touch, Nyong'o said, and when she declined another proposition she felt her career was threatened. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lena Headey Writing on social media, the Game of Thrones actor claims she first met Weinstein at the Venice Film Festival in 2005 where, after taking her for a walk by the water, he made some suggestive comment and gesture. Headey claims she bumped into Weinstein years later where he kept asking her questions about her love life. She alleges that, when Weinstein invited her to his hotel room to show her a script, the "energy shifted. The actor notes how, after saying she was not interesting in anything but the work, Weinstein was furious, apparently marching her back to a lift, "grabbing and holding tightly to the back of [her] arm." She claims that, after paying for her car, he whispered in her ear: "Don't tell anyone about this, not your manager, not your agent. Headey finished the post, writing: I got in the car and I cried. Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lucia Evans The actor told The New Yorker that after a meeting to discuss casting her in various projects, Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him. I said, over and over, I dont want to do this, stop, dont. She added: Hes a big guy. He overpowered me. I just sort of gave up. Thats the most horrible part of it, and thats why hes been able to do this for so long to so many women: people give up, and then they feel like its their fault. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Laura Madden Madden, a production assistant who worked at Miramax for a decade, told the Times that Weinstein allegedly prodded her for massages at hotels, a common theme among the sources the Timess reporters spoke with. On one occasion, she claims she locked herself in his hotel bathroom, sobbing Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Ashley Judd Judd recounted for the Times how Weinstein allegedly harassed her while she was filming Kiss the Girls in 1996, inviting her to his hotel room and asking her for a massage, then inviting her to watch him shower. Judd first went public with the allegations in a 2015 interview with Variety during which she discussed the experience without naming the producer involved. She described Weinsteins alleged behaviour as coercive bargaining; I said no, a lot of ways, a lot of times, and he always came back at me with some new ask, she told the Times AFP/Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Rose McGowan McGowan reportedly reached a previously undisclosed $100,000 settlement with Weinstein in 1997, over an incident that occurred in a hotel room Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Mimi Haleyi Mimi Haleyi said she was assaulted by Weinstein in what appeared to be a child's bedroom in his New York City apartment in 2006 when she was in her 20s. She said she was aspiring to work in television and film production when she was first introduced to him at the London premiere of The Aviator around two years earlier and he helped her get experience on the set of a TV show being produced by The Weinstein Company. But, she added, he repeatedly hassled her and even tried to force himself through her front door in an effort to get her to join him on a trip to Paris. At one point he allegedly forcibly performed oral sex on an aspiring production assistant while she was on her period. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Emily Nestor Nestor had been temping at the Weinstein Company for only one day in 2014 when Weinstein allegedly offered to boost her career in return for sexual favours, according to the Times. She declined and reportedly complained of his behaviour to colleagues, who later passed the information on to senior executives. An internal Weinstein Company document cited by the Times describes Nestors encounter with Weinstein as follows: She said he was very persistent and focused though she kept saying no for over an hour Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Ambra Battilana In March 2015, Battilana, an aspiring model and actress, was reportedly summoned to Weinsteins office on a Friday night to discuss her career. According to a police report cited by the Times, Battilana claimed she was assaulted by Weinstein, who grabbed her breasts after asking if they were real and put his hands up her skirt. Weinstein later claimed that Battilana had set him up, according to colleagues of his who were interviewed by the Times. The Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, later declined to press charges, and according to the Times, made a payment to Battilana. On 5 October, the International Business Times reported that after Vance dropped the charges, he received $10,000 from Weinsteins lawyer Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lauren OConnor Lauren OConnor, an employee of the Weinstein Company, penned a memo to executives alleging a toxic environment for women at the company. The memo cited numerous incidents of Weinstein harassing or coercing women who worked for him. She expressed fear that Weinstein was using her and other female employees to facilitate liaisons with vulnerable women who hope he will get them work. That same year, Weinstein allegedly reached a settlement with OConnor Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Kate Beckinsale The actor, who starred in the Weinstein Company films Serendipity and The Aviator, alleges that she was invited to Weinsteins hotel room at the age of just 17. When she approached the door, the producer reportedly greeted her dressed in just a dressing gown. 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, she wrote on Instagram. After declining alcohol and announcing that I had school in the morning I left, uneasy but unscathed. Theo Wargo/Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Gwyneth Paltrow The actor alleges that after he cast her in the title role of the film Emma when she was 22, he took her to his hotel room, placed his hands on her and suggested massages. I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified, Paltrow told the New York Times. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Asia Argento Italian actress Asia Argento has alleged that in 1997 Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her as she repeatedly told him to stop. When I see him, it makes me feel little and stupid and weak, Argento told The New Yorker. After the rape, he won. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Cara Delevigne The British model and actress penning an Instagram post claiming that Weinstein had ordered her to kiss another woman in his hotel room, and tried to kiss her on the lips. AFP/Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Ashley Judd Ashley Judd said she rebuffed Harvey Weinsteins unwanted sexual advances by offering to consent only after she had won an Oscar. When she was initially invited to a meeting with Weinstein, Judd said, she was surprised to learn the producer was in his hotel room - a tactic that recurs in other womens accounts. Echoing the accounts of other women, Judd said Weinstein suggested she give him a massage and then invited her to watch him shower. After a volley of nos she said she would only after she wins an Oscar, fleeing after making the comments. Reuters/Mike Segar Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Judith Godreche French actress Judith Godreche said when she was 24 Weinstein invited her to his hotel room and asked to give her a massage. The next thing I know, hes pressing against me and pulling off my sweater, she told the New York Times. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Mira Sorvino The Oscar-winning actor said she found herself in a hotel room with Weinstein in 1995 where he started massaging my shoulders, which made me very uncomfortable, and then tried to get more physical, sort of chasing me around. According to an interview in The New Yorker Weinstein subsequently arrived at her apartment late at night and she had to call a friend to come over to pose as her boyfriend in order to get Weinstein out of the house. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Katherine Kendall The actress said Weinstein undressed and chased her around a living room when she was just 23. She subsequently felt that telling others meant Ill never work again and no one is going to care or believe me, she told the New York Times. WireImage Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Tomi-Anne Roberts As an aspiring actress and working in a restaurant in New York, Tomi-Ann Roberts encountered Weinstein who encouraged her to audition for one of his films back in 1984. She subsequently went to meet him and found him naked in the bath and invited her to get naked and get into the bath with him, she told the New York Times. She said she left feeling manipulated. Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Myleen Klass It has also been alleged that the disgraced film producer propositioned Myleene Klass with a sex contract at Cannes Film Festival in 2010. One of the singer and television personalitys friends reportedly told The Sun, Klass had told Weinstein to f*** off. Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Sophie Dix Sophie Dix, best known for her role as Captain Sadie Williams in Soldier Soldier, described her encounter with Weinstein when she was 23 as the single most damaging thing thats happened in my life. She told The Guardian Weinstein had pushed her to her bed and was tugging at her clothes. She rushed to the bathroom to escape, but when she came out she found him standing there masturbating. I quickly closed the door again and locked it, she said. Then when I heard room service come to the door I just ran. Rex Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lea Seydoux The actor and director claims she had to fight off Weinstein after he brought her to his hotel room during what she remembers to be 2012. 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. I left his room, thoroughly disgusted, she wrote in The Guardian. AFP/Getty Images Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Claire Forlani British actress Claire Forlani wrote on Twitter that she had evaded Weinsteins advances on five occasions at the age of 25. At meetings with the Hollywood a-lister, she says massage was suggested, and that Weinstein had boasted of all the women hed had sex with. Mark Douet Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Florence Darel French actress Florence Darel claimed Weinstein relentlessly pursued her in the mid 1990's and propositioned her while Eve Chilton, his wife at the time, was in the hotel room next door. I was astonished, she told People magazine. When you have someone so physically disgusting in front of you, continuing and continuing as though this was all perfectly normal What happened to me may not be illegal but it was inappropriate. Very inappropriate. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lysette Anthony Lysette Anthony, who starred as Marnie Nightingale in Hollyoaks, has claimed Weinstein raped her in the late 1980's after turning up to her London home in the late 1980s. She described the disgraced film producers alleged attack as pathetic and revolting and said it left her feeling disgusted and embarrassed. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Dawn Dunning Dunning said she met Weinstein in 2003 when she was 24-years-old and the disgraced film producer suggested she have a threesome with him and someone else. She told the New York Times Weinstein got angry when she refused. Youll never make it in this business, she said he told her as she left. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Rosanna Arquette Rosanna Arquette was already well known for her role in Desperately Seeking Susan, when she said she met Weinstein at his hotel to pick up a script in the early nineties. Weinstein was dressed only in a dressing gown, and tried to put her hand on his erect penis. Speaking to the New York Times, Arquette said as she left she told him: I will never be that girl. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Emma de Caunes Caunes, a French actor, claimed Weinstein took her to his hotel room in 2010 supposedly to retrieve a book he was making into a film, but once there he went into the bathroom. De Caunes said he then emerged naked, with an erection and told her to lie on the bed. She fled the room. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Zoe Brock Model Zoe claimed that she had to lock herself in a bathroom at Weinsteins hotel in 1997, after the mogul had sent all of the assistants out of the room, and then appeared naked. I was alone with Weinstein, she told ITVs This Morning programme. He very quickly left the room and came back naked. He chased me naked. Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Jessica Barth Actress Jessica Barth described an encounter with Weinstein in 2011 in an interview with The New Yorker in which she said Weinstein veered between offering her roles in films and demanding a naked massage. She alleges the producer said to her: So, what would happen if, say, were having some champagne and I take my clothes off and you give me a massage? When she tried to leave, he then promised to give her the number of a female executive at the company. He gave me her number, and I walked out and I started bawling, Barth said. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Romola Garai The actress told The Guardian she felt violated after she went to a meeting with Weinstein at the age of 18 and he met her in his hotel room wearing nothing but a dressing gown. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Heather Graham Graham claimed that during a casting opportunity in the early 2000's Weinstein had told her he had an open relationship with his wife. He could sleep with whomever he wanted when he was out of town. I walked out of the meeting feeling uneasy, Graham told Variety. There was no explicit mention that to star in one of those films I had to sleep with him, but the subtext was there. Graham was never hired to work in a Weinstein film. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Jessica Hynes Spaced and W1A star Jessica Hynes tweeted about an encounter with Weinstein earlier this week, but subsequently deleted the tweet. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Lucia Evans The actor told The New Yorker that after a meeting to discuss casting her in various projects, Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him. I said, over and over, I dont want to do this, stop, dont. She added: Hes a big guy. He overpowered me. I just sort of gave up. Thats the most horrible part of it, and thats why hes been able to do this for so long to so many women: people give up, and then they feel like its their fault. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Louisette Geiss The former actress said she met Weinstein to pitch a film script she was working on. During the meeting, Weinstein allegedly went out and reappeared naked and got into a jacuzzi where he masturbated in front of her and said he would make the script into a film if she stayed and watched. Getty Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Liza Campbell Liza Campbell, a British writer and artist, alleged that Olympically ugly Weinstein asked her to join him in the bath and began getting undressed at a hotel. In a piece for The Times, Campbell claimed she was forced to sprint to the door to escape. Rex Features Harvey Weinstein: his accusers Louise Godbold Writing in a blog post, Louise Godbold, a non-profit director in Los Angeles, said her encounter with Weinstein took the form of an office tour that became an occasion to trap me in an empty meeting room. She said then Weinstein was begging for a massage, his hands on my shoulders as I attempted to beat a retreat.

Furthermore, if we paint the picture that Weinstein is especially guilty because he looks the sort, abusers who dont can move in plain sight. It allows them to get away with it.

Casey Affleck, Ben Affleck and Johnny Depp are just three of Weinsteins better-looking contemporaries recently accused of mistreating women whose careers are still relatively intact. This year, Depps latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie grossed $794.7m. Could this reality be silencing yet more Hollywood women?

Outside of LA and in the real world  in the workplace, the playground, the street  the misogynistic behaviour of young, everyday men of no power or status is often written off as cute, inevitable, laddish. If the man is conventionally attractive, they treat you as if you should be grateful. Why do we let this happen? Is it because we find it easier to condemn the man from the twisted, scary fairytale?

Monsters come in all shapes and sizes, from ogres and teddy bears to movie-star handsome to completely average-looking. The Weinstein scandal is so far mostly focused on one perpetrator, and while the fallouts been huge, I think the full story is even uglier than we could imagine.
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Its easy to roll your eyes at Republicans. Besides their run-of-the-mill odious policies which would starve the poor and oppress anyone who isnt straight and white and male, they nominated Donald Trump. Then, when he continually proved himself unfit for office, they either remained silent or defended him. Many still do.

But now a few brave souls are speaking up, and whether those of us in the resistance like it or not, we need them.

The latest Republican to speak out is Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, who, in an impassioned speech on the Senate floor, announced he would not be seeking re-election in 2018.

Politics can make us silent when we should speak, and silence can equal complicity, Flake said. I have children and grandchildren to answer to, and so, Mr President, I will not be complicit.

Hear. Bloody. Hear.

 Republican senator Jeff Flake quits: Mr. President I rise today to say "enough"

Ive seen several prominent left-wing writers criticising Flakes statement as grandstanding. Shannon Watts, a leading gun control campaigner, tweeted that Jeff Flake voted against background checks even after former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in 2011. Others have pointed out he voted against disaster relief for Puerto Rico. Analyst group FiveThirtyEight says hes voted with Trump nearly 90 per cent of the time.

This isnt surprising, as the Arizona Republics Robert Robb pointed out last month. Although on many specific policies the Senator and the President may agree, Flakes principal problem with Trump, Robb writes, is how he plays politics. Trumps only political modus operandi is to attack other people, often demagogically. Flake finds that abhorrent and destructive.

Thats because any American who loves their country would agree it is. Part of our resistance to Trump has to be his policies. Of course it must, as it would be with any Republican president.

If it were Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio or Ben Carson in the Oval Office, Id be opposing their policies the same as I oppose Trumps  because Im a progressive and a socialist. But that cant be the only thing we oppose, and honestly, it isnt the most important.

Democracy is a contest of ideas, but that contest only works if we agree on the rules beforehand. Trump violates the basic norms of American democracy, degrading them to a point of no return.

He threatens the media, questioning whether networks critical of him should have their licences revoked. He embraces fringe elements (such as neo-Nazis) and normalises their attacks on our multicultural society. He defines patriotism not as a defence of the ideals our country aspires to, but as a racial and cultural purity test. He freely threatens nuclear war on social media. And dont forget, he campaigned on locking his political opponent up.

These arent American ideals. Theyre authoritarian tactics.

 Bob Corker says Donlad Trump has 'debased our nation'

The danger of Trump isnt that hell cut taxes for the wealthy, or fail to pass gun control, or roll back some civil rights protections for LGBT people. Any Republican president would do the same, and thats something the American left would have to fight no matter which GOP candidate had won the White House.

Even if Trump is defeated in 2020, well have to fight these same battles the next time we have a Republican president. That sucks, but its not the same as having a proto-fascist as president. After all, if Trump succeeds in destroying our democracy, well have no chance of winning any future progressive battles. Thats the whole point of fascism.

Trump presents a unique risk to our country, to civil discourse, to the American experiment, which has existed since 1788 when the Constitution was ratified. Were not fighting for a progressive agenda right now. Were fighting for the soul of America and the continued existence of democracy on these shores.

That means erstwhile opponents will have to become allies, even if we have to hold our noses as we embrace them. In any other year, under any other president, I wouldnt bat an eyelid at a Republican senator standing down. But we dont live in ordinary times.

This is a time for American patriots. We must put party aside and fight for the country we all love and the norms that make it work. If that means embracing anti-Trump Republicans, Im more than willing to offer that olive branch.
CABARRUS COUNTY- The North Carolina teen who police said murdered and left his girlfriends body in Cabarrus County has been added to the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

A reward of up to $100,000 is being offered for information leading to the capture of Alejandro Castillo who is wanted in connection with the 2016 murder of 23-year-old Truc Quan Sandy Ly Le, whom he had previously dated. Castillo was 17 years old at the time of the killing.

The womans body was found in Harrisburg after investigators tracked Les cellphone to an area near Robinson Church Road and Britley Lane.

A joint investigation by the FBI and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department revealed that Castillo owed Le money, approximately $1,000. Text messages between Castillo and Le showed they agreed to meet in Charlotte on August 9, 2016 so he could repay her.

When Le arrived at the meeting place that evening, Castillo apparently had no intention of returning the money. According to CMPD Det. Brent Koeck, Castillo had Le remove a large sum of money from an ATM and investigators believe he drove her to a remote, heavily wooded area and shot her in the head. He then dumped her body in a ravine and fled the state with his new girlfriend in Les car.

Castillo and his accomplice, Ahmia Feaster, then drove to Arizona and crossed the border in Nogales into Mexico. But two months after the homicide, Feaster turned herself in to Mexican authorities and is now back in North Carolina facing charges.

Castillo remains at large and investigators believe he may be in the cities of Pabellon de Arteaga or San Francisco de los Romo, in the Mexican state of Aguascalientes. He may have also traveled to the Mexican states of Guanajuato or Veracruz. He is a fluent Spanish speaker.

Castillo has been charged with murder in North Carolina, and in February 2017 he was charged federally with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

This crime was horrific, said Special Agent Marc Weingrad of the FBIs Charlotte Division. Sandy was an innocent woman who was shot in the head. Weingrad believes the significant reward in the casetipsters can remain anonymous and still be eligible for the rewardwill motivate someone to come forward.

The FBI has a long reach, and no matter where he is, we will not rest until Castillo is captured and brought to justice, Weingrad added.

Castillo is considered armed and dangerous. If you have information regarding Castillo, contact your local FBI office or the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov.
Note: We explain the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2018 here.

The Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017 came into effect December 20, 2017. The 2017 Act replaces the Maharashtra Shops and Establishment Act of 1948.

Previously, the federal government enacted the Model Shops and Establishments Act in 2016 that revised the regulatory norms for operating commercial establishments in India. Following this, several states initiated legislation to implement the new rules in their respective state jurisdictions.

Maharashtra is the first state in India to draft the new Shops and Establishments law. The law is applicable to all commercial establishments in the state, (not covered under the Factories Act), which employ 10 or more workers.

Firms that employ more than 10 workers must obtain a license under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act within 60 days after the new Act comes into effect (December 20) or once a firms current license expires. The registration can be done online, and all records will be maintained electronically. Further, the commercial entity can determine the validity period of its registration, which cannot exceed 10 years. Firms which employ less than 10 works must still register under the Act but do not require a license.

Key changes to the 1948 Maharashtra Shops and Establishment Act

The Act introduces significant reforms for the employment conditions for workers in the following areas:

Hours of operation  Certain businesses in Maharashtra may now stay open 24/7. This includes movie theaters, restaurants, financial institutions, medical practices, and retail outlets. The Act excludes any establishment which sells alcohol or cigarettes from remaining open passed existing deadlines.

Working hours for women  The Act allows female workers the ability to work work passed 9:30pm so long as their employer provides safe transportation from the work site to their residence.

Protection of women  The Act prohibits the discrimination of women workers in matters of recruitment, training, promotion, and wages. Generally, women workers will be required to work only between 7 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. In emergencies, women may choose to work beyond these hours, provided the work space is safe and transport is made available for her to commute back to her residence.

Over time  The working hours for employees will not exceed nine hours per day and 48 hours per week. Otherwise, the employer must pay employees double their regular wages as over time.

Holidays and leave  The Act specifies that workers are eligible to eight casual leaves (CLs), and can accumulate 45 days of paid leave during a year. The establishment will declare eight days as paid festival holidays, including four national holidays. The other four festival holidays may be mutually agreed between the establishment and its workers.

Welfare of workers  The law makes it mandatory for the establishment to ensure adequate arrangements are made for the health and safety of workers. Cleanliness, hygiene, ventilation, and lighting also come under the definition of safety of workers.

Specifically, the law mentions the following safety measures:

Provision of first-aid facilities in the place of work;

Provision and maintenance of sufficient and clean drinking water at suitable points, conveniently situated for all persons employed in the establishment;

Provision of washroom facilities for men and women;

Establishments employing 50 or more workers must provide creche facility for the use of children of such workers; and

Establishments employing 100 or more workers must provide and maintain a canteen for the use of its workers.

Compliance and flexibility under the 2017 Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act

The Act appoints facilitators to enforce its provisions. Facilitators will inspect the premises of registered establishments, review documents, and advice establishments towards complying with the norms. Any establishment that deviates from the standards and norms specified under the Shops and Establishment Act will be liable to a fine of US$1,535 (Rs 100,000).

However, it is useful to note that by not regulating the working conditions in firms engaging less than 10 workers, the Act provides significant compliance relief for micro, small, and medium sized firms (MSMEs).

Finally, responding to concerns raised by business associations, the Maharashtra state government has proposed different working hours for different categories of establishments. Malls, restaurants, movie theatres, and other recreational centers are likely to benefit the most from this move.
Jan Heaton has seen breast cancer attack many people in her life, from the neighbor lady who taught her to knit to her closest friend from high school.

She didn't expect to become a part of the solution to people who have battled the disease. But then her high school friend called her a few months ago with an unusual request: Would she, as a knitter, be able to craft a pair of substitute breasts for her?

Heaton hadn't ever heard of Knitted Knockers, a national organization that provides handmade breast prostheses for women who have undergone mastectomies or other breast procedures. But after her friend guided her to the website  www.knittedknockers.org  Heaton said she'd take on the challenge.

The website provided her with the pattern and the information on the specific type of yarn (Heaton used 100 percent Pima cotton) and filling (Poly-fil) to use. An online tutorial showed her how to put it together.

"You knit, like, a little sack, and you leave an opening, and you have a drawstring," she said, demonstrating on a completed prosthesis. "And you stuff it and you can close it."

Heaton used double-pointed knitting needles to create her Knockers, but said the organization has a pattern for single-point needle use, too. They can be made in various sizes, from an A cup on up.

"You can knit them with or without a nipple," she added. "I don't put nipples on mine."

Heaton said her friend was thrilled with the set. Shortly afterward, a new friend heard about her work and asked for a set, too.

"She shared that she had a double mastectomy 12 years ago. She had difficulty finding suitable 'replacements.' They were too heavy, too easily perforated and in the summer too hot," Heaton said.

Heaton said her new friend tried stuffing her bras with socks, but the shape didn't look natural. She told Heaton the cost of an actual prosthesis to her was $500 and she couldnt afford the deductible, and that a "supplemented" T-shirt was also out of her price range and not covered by her insurance. So Heaton said she'd be happy to help.

It takes about four hours to knit one Knocker. Heaton is currently working on another pair, which she intends to send to the national organization.

"They share free patterns and instructional video presentations. They also encourage knitters to send knockers to them. They will give them away for free to people who are in need," Heaton said.

Heaton said she's an advocate for a universal health care system where the emphasis is on patient care rather than profitability. Ideally, she said, the Knitted Knockers would be a part of such a system, and made available automatically as part of a surgical procedure.

In the meantime, she'll continue to help  and she's not the only one.

Heaton meets weekly with a group of women who like to knit and crochet a variety of projects. Sometimes they work on things for themselves or their families, and sometimes they join efforts for charitable organizations: tiny hats for premature babies, for instance, or shawls for hospice patients, or lap robes for residents at assisted living facilities within the Mennonite Village.

The women meet from 1 to 4 p.m. each Tuesday at the Lakeside Center in the village. Two of their members live in the village, which provides the access to the window-lined room where they work.

The group started perhaps 15 years ago or more; no one is entirely sure. It grew from a Linn-Benton Community College class originally held at the Albany Senior Center.

One of the participants, Margie Langston, has also done a Knitted Knocker: just one so far, in soft purple yarn. "I haven't done any more, because it's hard to get started," she said.

Langston learned about the project through a fellow knitter in the group, Rosie Allen, whose friend had sent her a brochure about the website. Allen hasn't made any herself, but brought the idea to the others and passed it around

The women said other crafters are welcome to join the group, whether to make Knockers or a project of their own.

Said Libby Bohlen, a member for about eight years: "Everyone is very helpful and supportive, and it's just a great group."
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The news shouldn't have been a surprise, especially as it has become clear over the last few weeks just how pervasive sexual harassment is in American culture.

But somehow it was still startling, the news that harassment apparently extends into the halls of the Oregon Legislature, and even to the floors of our legislative chambers.

And it took an extraordinary event in Oregon politics to focus attention on harassment in the state Capitol.

"Let me very clear," says a letter Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney sent last week to Sen. Jeff Kruse, a Republican. "Women in the Capitol do NOT want you to touch them."

Courtney, a Democrat, told Kruse in the letter that he previously had been instructed by officials in the Legislature not to touch women. But Courtney, pointing to two new alleged incidents, took the highly unusual step of removing Kruse from the committees he sits on, stripping the lawmaker of much of his power.

Courtney's letter apparently was prompted by complaints from Democratic Sen. Sara Gelser of Corvallis that another senator was making unwanted physical contact with her; on Monday, Gelser identified that senator as Kruse. She said she had filed complaints with the Legislature's human resource officials and attorneys.

For his part, Kruse has denied any inappropriate conduct and has said he's being deprived of due process.

But it's not just the Oregon Legislature that suddenly is grappling with sexual harassment issues in the wake of the stunning downfall of movie executive Harvey Weinstein.

For example: In Illinois, an open letter is making the rounds noting harassment and intimidation for women trying to negotiate legislation and work on campaigns. In California, the Senate hired a law firm to investigate what women called a culture of sexual intimidation. Female lawmakers in Rhode Island have spoken up to report incidents in which they were told that sexual favors might help advance legislation.

Sex scandals, of course, are as old as politics. But just as it feels as if the national discussion about sexual harassment has turned a new page in the wake of the Weinstein revelations, something feels different about the discussions that we're having today on how harassment rears its head in the halls of political power. (And everyone knows it's only a matter of time before this particular spotlight gets turned on the U.S. Capitol.)

"I did not know it was as serious or as a big a problem as it was since I saw the letter," said California state Sen. Connie Leyva, referring to a letter making the rounds in that state alleging sexual harassment and intimidation in the statehouse. "Enough is enough. I can't believe it's 2017 and this is still happening."

But it is 2017. And it's still happening.

Part of the reason why it's been happening for many years in the corridors and backrooms of political power is that these venues frequently include many of the risk factors for sexual harassment that have been identified by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Lack of diversity? Check. (Women make up just 1 in 4 state lawmakers, according to data collected by the Center for Women in Politics at Rutgers University. In Oregon, the numbers are a little better: Women make up a third of the state's 90 legislators.)

Let's get back to that checklist of risk factors: Power disparities, especially between legislators and staffers? Check. Tolerating or encouraging alcohol consumption? Check. Many young staffers? Check.

"Every industry has its own version of the casting couch," reads the letter making the rounds of the Illinois Legislature. And that includes our political process as well.

"It is long past time for these issues to be openly discussed and directly addressed," Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said in a statement Tuesday. We're having the discussion now, and that's good. But, as Brown's statement suggested, that's just half the battle. (mm)
The Tragic Plight of Germans In America During The First World War



Tarred and feathered, lynched in the street and locked up in internment camps



By Harvey Day As Europe was ravaged by fighting, German immigrants in the US suffered harassment, internment, lynchings - and even the humiliation of being tarred and feathered

Although a little-remembered part of history today, America was completely wracked by the fear and paranoia that swept from coast to coast during the Great War

The United States declared war on Germany in April 1917 and helped lead the Allies to victory. But before that, many Americans were terrified of the German threat growing on the other side of the world October 25, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - A fascinating collection of photos have resurfaced showing the hardships faced by German-Americans at the brutal height of the First World War. As Europe was ravaged by fighting, German immigrants in the US suffered harassment, internment, lynchings - and even the humiliation of being tarred and feathered. Although a little-remembered part of history today, America was wracked by the fear and paranoia that swept from coast to coast during the Great War. The United States declared war on Germany in April 1917 and helped lead the Allies to victory. But before that, many Americans were terrified of the German threat growing on the other side of the world. . No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter This collection of pictures reveals the full extent of war hysteria and open hostility towards all things German that erupted across the nation. A fascinating collection of photos have resurfaced showing the hardships faced by German-Americans at the brutal height of the First World War. Pictured, German-American farmer John Meints, from Luverne, Minnesota, after being attacked, tarred and feathered by a group of masked men because he was accused of failing to buy war bonds in August 19, 1918 As Europe was ravaged by fighting, German immigrants in the US suffered harassment, internment, lynchings - and even the humiliation of being tarred and feathered. Pictured, the dormitory inside a German-American internment camp at Fort Douglas, Utah Although a little-remembered part of history today, America was wracked by the fear and paranoia that swept from coast to coast during the Great War. Pictured, a crowd gathers for a German-language book burning at Baraboo High School in Wisconsin in 1918 The United States declared war on Germany in April 1917 and helped lead the Allies to victory. But before that, many Americans were terrified of the German threat growing on the other side of the world. Pictured, interned Germans forced to build the barracks for their own internment camp Before the war broke out, America had welcomed German immigrants and regarded them highly. German was the second most widely spoken language in the country and there were over 100 million first and second-generation German-Americans living in the United States, with many of them involved in the thousands of German organizations across the country. The United States embraced them and the German language became an established part of the high school curriculum. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter
Our Quest For Absolute Security Guarantees Forever War





It's not just the neocons. This is a deeply rooted American problem.



By Danny Sjursen

October 25, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Ah, the illusion of security. Most Americans love it, need it, crave it.

Need an example? Let us examine everyones least favorite (and ever present) national ritual. Weve all been there: you queue up, empty those pockets, undo the belt, (maybe) kick off your shoes, do a final liquid check, and wait your turn for airport security. Depending on the day and the culture of the town, you listen as a cynical, jovial, or sometimes even clever TSA agent rattles off familiar instructions. No metallic objectsblah blah blahliquidouncesstep backstep forward. Wait, wait some more, then we raise our hands in afor mefamiliar pose of enemy surrender.

If youre lucky, the whole affair consumes less than 20 minutes. Then you load the plane, do a cursory check for vaguely Arab facesfeel a tinge of liberal guilt about thatand settle in for the miracle of flight.

But realistically the sharper minds among us know were not really safe. Motivated terrorists are inevitably smarter than the average TSA agent, and the entire ritual (usually) only deters yesterdays threat. The rational mind recognizes the illusion of it all. One is never truly safe from terrorismor lightning strikes for that matterin any absolute sense. Nevertheless, life goes on. It must.

Theres just one problem. At the macro level, policymakers, politicians, and the public alike actually expect total security from terrorism. Well, at least one kind of terror: as President Trump so loves to enunciate: Radical. Islamic. Terrorism. Never mind that more American deaths stem from right-wing extremists, or that the chances of dying in a terror attack are comparable to drowning in your own bathtub. Because the public, and our elected leaders, demand absolute security from terror, the United States has spent the last decade and a half shipping people like me on one quixotic adventure after another across the Middle East.

Brace yourself for an uncomfortable fact: the blame for todays indecisive wars doesnt rest with George W. Bush, Barack Obama, or Donald Trump alone. Rather, these quagmires represent symptoms of an entirely American problem. While it is quite satisfying to blame Iraq and Afghanistan on a group of neoconservative, interventionist zealots in the Bush administration, that explanation will not entirely suffice. A combination of three factors has enabled the lengthy, inconclusive, and unnecessary wars of the 21st century: optimism about the efficacy of force, our current all-volunteer system of military service, and a fixation on absolute security.

If youre a regular reader of TomDispatch , youve heard me drone on about the dangers of military optimism , and you are certainly familiar with Andrew Bacevichs powerful takedown of the all-volunteer military. That leaves the third tradition: Americas fixation on the mythical search for absolute security.

Here I must invoke critical analysis by the eminent military historian John Shy. Shy identifies several enduring characteristics of American military culture, among them a concept of military security that was expressed not in relative but in absolute terms. From the outset, Americans inherent military optimism has combined with this distinctive obsession for absolute security. As Shy notes , American interpretations of national security are traditionally binaryeither the United States is secure, or it is not; it is threatened, or it is not. Only thats not reality. Global geopolitics play out in a vast gray abyss. Some level of threat, insecurity, or uncertainty is inevitable, and to assume otherwise is to seek the impossible. Unfortunately, after 9/11 thats exactly the path the United States embarked upon: to defeat evil and restore the bygone era of free security. So here we are, tilting at windmills amidst fruitless campaigns across rather inhospitable sections of the globe.

When combined with fearwhich, along with honor and (often economic) interest, are the prime motivators of human behaviorobsession with absolute security led post-9/11 policymakers down the road towards open-ended military deployments. This just wasnt realistic or smart. Too many places on earth house potential terrorists or anti-American extremists for our military to reasonably handle them all. Moreover, it is unclear whether the deployment of U.S. troops doesnt in fact do more harm than good. It is now certain that one of Osama bin Ladens goals in the 9/11 attacks was to lure American ground forces into Islamic Southwest Asia in order to inflame local passions and ignite a millennial holy war. As bin Laden himself declared : Iraq has become a point of attraction and a restorer of our energies. Well, mission accomplished!

While intelligence operations, Special Forces raids, and limited conventional incursions are (maybe) necessary and appropriate, prolonged occupations in the Middle East tend only to radicalize the locals and dangerously conflate nationalist with religious resistance. Human beings are a proud lot. We tend to get touchy about having our capitals seized and our streets filled with foreign soldiers. Think Americans would respond any differently? Hardly. Exhibit A: Boston, 1775. Exhibit B: Not one, but two iterations of the film Red Dawn !

President Bush and his advisors wasted no opportunity instilling in the American people a distinct, if convenient, Manichean worldview. It all centered on mythical promises of perfect security. The events of 9/11, we were told, changed everything. The globe was now divided between the forces of good and evil. Bush communicated this quite clearly in an address to the nation just days after 9/11: Our responsibility to history is already clear: to answer these attacks and rid the world of evil.

Such proclamations define the contemporary American quest for absolute security. If terrorism exists, then so does evil, and evil must be swept away to avoid a 9/11 repeat. No one seems to ask whether a relatively small, 10-division, professional, volunteer army is even equipped to rid the world of evil. An even tougher question is whether U.S. military force has any utility in the Mideast these days. Two wars and 16 years in uniform later, this soldier, at least, isnt so sure. Either way, its not the average citizens problem. Leave that quandary to a volunteer, warrior caste. The new American way.

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But it gets worse. Think for a moment about all the counterproductive decisions this (and previous) administrations have made in this pursuit of absolute security fromIslamicterrorists:

Travel (read: Muslim) bans and tightened immigration limitations as the world suffers through the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War. All the while, ISIS has taken to calling Trumps travel policy the blessed ban.

Warrantless wiretapping and a domestic surveillance state (to paraphrase Mr. Trump) the likes of which this world has never seen. Anyone else miss the long ago-demolished Fourth Amendment ?

A 16-year military campaign that has cost the U.S. military about 7,000 killed and more than 50,000 wounded in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, and Yemen. What exactly did they all sacrifice for anyway?

And thats but a cursory list.

On it goes, the eternal urge for American troops to do something about the over-hyped Islamic. Terrorist. Threat. A surprisingly bipartisan foreign policy consensus combines with a flourishing military-industrial complex, American armaments industry, and terrifiedoften by the proclamations of those same politicianspublic to ensure theres likely to be more military interventions in the near future.

Perhaps it is time to shed naive notions of absolute security and reinstate the American people as agents of national defense. Ever since Nixon ended the draft, the vast majority of Americans have ceased to fear, expect, or even consider national service. The result is an apathetic citizenry disconnected from an all-volunteer, warrior caste. When combined with their obsession over absolute security, American apathy proves the lethal nail in the coffin. Seen in this light, Americas decade of failures appear wholly predictable. Perhaps it is worth reflecting on this and questioning the trueif unpleasantlegacy of the War on Terror, as hawks once again beat the drums for the ever expanding interventions in Syria, Iraq, and who knows where else.

Should the U.S. once again escalate its commitments in Iraq, I suspect the outcome will prove disappointing. But who knows: perhaps in the Persian Gulf, the third times the charm.

Anyway, I dont buy it. Heres one absolute you can bet on: weve already lost.

Major Danny Sjursen, a TomDispatch regular , is a U.S. Army officer and former history instructor at West Point. He served tours with reconnaissance units in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the author of Ghost Riders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge. Follow him on Twitter @SkepticalVet .
Hamas and Fatah Must Transform to Speak on Behalf of Palestinians By Ramzy Baroud October 25, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - The reconciliation agreement signed between rival Palestinian parties, Hamas and Fatah, in Cairo on October 12 was not a national unity accord -- at least, not yet. For the latter to be achieved, the agreement would have to make the interests of the Palestinian people a priority, above factional agendas. The leadership crisis in Palestine is not new. It precedes Fatah and Hamas by decades. Since the destruction of Palestine and the creation of Israel in 1948  and even further back  Palestinians found themselves beholden to international and regional power play, beyond their ability to control or even influence. The greatest achievement of Yasser Arafat, the late and iconic leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was his ability to foster an independent Palestinian political identity and a national movement that, although receiving Arab support, was not entirely appropriated by any particular Arab country. The Oslo Accords, however, was the demise of that movement. Historians may quarrel on whether Arafat, the PLO and its largest political party, Fatah, had any other option but to engage in the so-called peace process. However, in retrospect, we can surely argue that Oslo was the abrupt cancelation of every Palestinian political achievement, at least since the war of 1967. Despite the resounding defeat of Arab countries by Israel and its powerful western allies in that war, hope for a new beginning was born. Israel reclaimed East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, but, unwittingly unified Palestinians as one nation, although one that is oppressed and occupied. Moreover, the deep wounds suffered by Arab countries as a result of the disastrous war, gave Arafat and Fatah the opportunity to utilize the new margins that opened up as a result of the Arab retreat. The PLO, which was originally managed by the late Egyptian President, Jamal Abdul Nasser, became an exclusively Palestinian platform. Fatah, which was established a few years prior to the war, was the party in charge. When Israel occupied Lebanon in 1982, its aim was the annihilation of the Palestinian national movement, especially since Arafat was opening up new channels of dialogue, not only with Arab and Muslim countries, but internationally as well. The United Nations, among other global institutions, began recognizing Palestinians, not as hapless refugees needing handouts, but as a serious national movement deserving to be heard and respected. At the time, Israel was obsessed with preventing Arafat from rebranding the PLO into a budding government. In the short term, Israel achieved its main objective: Arafat was driven to Tunisia with his partys leadership, and the rest of the PLOs fighters were scattered across the Middle East, once more falling hostage to Arab whims and priorities. Between 1982 and the signing of Oslo in 1993, Arafat fought for relevance. The PLOs exile became particularly evident as Palestinians launched their First Intifada (the uprising of 1987). A whole new generation of Palestinian leaders began to emerge; a different identity that was incepted in Israeli prisons and nurtured in the streets of Gaza and Nablus was sculpted. The greater the sacrifices and the higher the Palestinian death toll rose, the more heightened that sense of collective identity grew. The PLOs attempt to hijack the Intifada was one of the main reasons why the uprising eventually faltered. The Madrid talks in 1991 was the first time that true representatives of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories would take on an international platform to speak on behalf of Palestinians at home. That endeavor was short-lived. Eventually, Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas (todays head of the Palestinian Authority - PA) negotiated an alternative agreement secretly in Oslo. The agreement, largely sidelined the United Nations and allowed the United States to claim its position as a self-proclaimed honest broker in a US-sponsored peace process. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter While Arafat and his Tunisian faction were allowed back to rule over occupied Palestinians with a limited mandate provided by the Israeli government and military, Palestinian society fell into one of its most painful dilemmas in many years. With the PLO, which represented all Palestinians, cast aside to make room for the PA - which merely represented the interests of a branch within Fatah in a limited autonomous region - Palestinians became divided into groups. In fact, 1994, which witnessed the official formation of the PA, was the year in which the current Palestinian strife was actually born. The PA, under pressure from Israel and the US, cracked down on Palestinians who opposed Oslo and justifiably rejected the peace process. The crackdowns reached many Palestinians who took leadership positions during the First Intifada. The Israeli gambit worked to perfection: The Palestinian leadership in exile was brought back to crackdown on the leadership of the Intifada, while Israel stood aside and watched the sad spectacle. Hamas, which itself was an early outcome of the First Intifada, found itself in direct confrontation with Arafat and his authority. For years, Hamas positioned itself as a leader of the opposition that rejected normalization with the Israeli occupation. That won Hamas massive popularity among Palestinians, especially as it became clear that Oslo was a ruse and that the peace process was moving towards a dead-end. When Arafat died, after spending years under Israeli army siege in Ramallah, Abbas took over. Considering that Abbas was the brain behind Oslo, and the mans lack of charisma and leadership skills, Hamas took the first step in a political maneuver that proved costly: it ran for the PAs legislative elections in 2006. Worse, it won. By emerging as the top political party in an election that was itself an outcome of a political process that Hamas had vehemently rejected for years, Hamas became a victim of its own success. Expectedly, Israel moved to punish Palestinians. As a result of US urgings and pressures, Europe followed suit. The Hamas government was boycotted, Gaza came under constant Israeli bombardment and Palestinian coffers began drying up. A Hamas-Fatah brief civil-war ensued in the summer of 2007, resulting in hundreds of deaths and the political and administrative split of Gaza from the West Bank. Officially, Palestinians had two governments, but no state. It was a mockery, that a promising national liberation project abandoned liberation and focused mostly on settling factional scores, while millions of Palestinians suffered siege and military occupation, and millions more suffered the anguish and humiliation of shattat  the exile of the refugees abroad. Many attempts were made, and failed to reconcile between the two groups in the last 10 years. They failed mostly because, once more, the Palestinian leaderships leased their decision-making to regional and international powers. The golden age of the PLO was replaced with the dark ages of factional divisions. However, the recent reconciliation agreement in Cairo is not an outcome of a new commitment to a Palestinian national project. Both Hamas and Fatah are out of options. Their regional politicking was a failure, and their political program ceased to impress Palestinians who are feeling orphaned and abandoned. For the Hamas-Fatah unity to become a true national unity, priorities would have to change entirely, where the interest of the Palestinian people - all of them, everywhere - would, once more, become paramount, above the interests of a faction or two, seeking limited legitimacy, fake sovereignty and American handouts. Ramzy Baroud is an internationally syndicated columnist, author, and the founder of PalestineChronicle.com. His latest book is My Father Was a Freedom Fighter: Gaza's Untold Story This article was originally published by MA'AN News - - See also - New report details Israels broad systemic abuse of East Jerusalem minors
The campaign for Ann Roe, who is running for Congress against Lyin' Bryan Steil has come out with the best one-liner of this cycle so far: I can't argue...

1 year ago
Rotten To The Core

Mike Pence Casts Tie-Breaking Vote to U.S. Protect Banks from Lawsuits By Bess Levin October 25, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - As a candidate, one of the planks in Donald Trump's campaign platform involved stopping Wall Street from getting away with murder and standing up to the handful of large corporations and political entities that have robbed the working class. Shockingly, it now appears that such statements were talking points that the president had no intention of following through onan about-face exemplified late Tuesday night when populist hero Mike Pence cast a tie-breaking 11th-hour vote to overturn a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule that permits class-action lawsuits against banks and credit unions. After the Senate vote to repeal the rule, which allows consumers to join together to sue banks or credit-card companies rather than be forced into mandatory arbitration, ended in a 50-50 split, Pence triumphantly stepped in to break the tie. The measure now goes to Trumps desk, where he will most certainly sign it, even as the administration tries to paint the outcome as a win for the little guy. The rule would harm our community banks and credit unions by opening the door to frivolous lawsuits by special-interest lawyers, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told NBC News . Acting Comptroller of the Currency Keith Noreika, a former Wall Street lawyer whom the White House used a brazen backdoor move to install in May, added in a statement that The elected representatives acted to stop a rule from going into effect that would have likely increased the cost of credit for hardworking Americans and made it more difficult for small community banks to resolve differences with their customers without achieving the rules goal of deterring future financial abuse. The action by Congress is a victory for consumers and small banks across the country. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter Obviously, Democrats believe otherwise. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who helped to create the consumer bureau, called the bill a giant wet kiss to Wall Street. Senator Sherrod Brown asked rhetorically, Who does forced arbitration help? Wall Street banks and other huge corporations that never pay the price for cheating working people. And Richard Cordray, the head of the bureau, said in a statement that Tonights vote is a giant setback for every consumer in this country. Wall Street won, and ordinary people lost. Overturning the class-action rule is just the first in a series of steps the administration and the G.O.P. hope will end in vanquishing the bureau, which Republicans have been decrying since the day it was legislated into existence. House Financial Services chair __Jeb Hensarling,__who has received millions in campaign contributions from the financial industry and would likely lie down in traffic for Wall Street, has described the C.F.P.B. as a  dictator , and in May helped pass a bill that would gut the bureau of funding . (The Choice Act has not yet made its way to the Senate.) This article was originally published by Vanity Fair -
America's War Addiction By Finian Cunningham



October 25, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - The US has a serious addiction problem. George W Bush previously warned about its addiction to oil. Current President Trump this week declared the nations addiction to opiate drugs an emergency. While his predecessor Barack Obamas calls for firearms controls following numerous mass shootings fueled concerns of gun addiction.



But the biggest American addiction of all is hardly mentioned  the countrys massive dependency on war. On that problem, the country is living in denial, at least for those among its political class. While Trump is feuding with Republicans and Democrats over passing his budget for tax cuts and social spending, one item remains off-limits for debate. The Congress is whistling through a record miltary spend of $700 billion for next year. Thats an increase of some $50 billion on last years budget for the military, which itself was something of a record. As the US-based National Priorities Project audits, American military spending consumes over half of the annual $1.1 trillion discretionary budget. That allocation represents about 10 times what the US federal government spends on either education or healthcare out of its annual discretionary budget. Putting that $700 billion annual military expenditure into a global context, the US spends 10 times more than either Russia, Britain or France. Or, put another way, the US spends the same aggregate amount as the next nine top world military spenders combined, including China, Russia, Britain, France, Saudi Arabia and South Korea. Whats more, today the American military budget is at a record high compared with any other time during the Cold War. Think about that. Officially, the Cold War ended in 1991 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Yet, in a nominal period of peace, the US has escalated its war economy. David Stockman, who worked as a senior economist in the Ronald Reagan administration during the 1980s, has compared the present military spend with previous peaks during the Cold War. In equalized dollar terms, he estimates that the current $700 billion figure is roughly double what the US was spending at the height of the Cold War during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. Another data point, in 1968 when the Vietnam War was raging, the annual American military spend was $400 billion, according to Stockman. Even during the 1980s, when President Reagan launched an unprecedented arms race against the Soviet Union  the US military budget reached a peak of $550 billion a year. That is, $150 billion less than what the Trump administration and Congress are proposing. A quarter-century after the Cold War supposedly ended. Stockman, with some understatement, calls this allocation of US tax dollars hideously oversized. He describes America as a warfare state and he predicts that the misallocation of resources is leading eventually to the nations economic collapse. The bleeding of fiscal solvency is piling on ever-more national debt  estimated already at $20 trillion. There are many reasons why this insatiable consumption of national resources for the military should be deplored. One good reason is the appalling neglect of social needs for millions of Americans. Trump is pushing through a $1.5-trillion tax cut plan  which the Tax Policy Center calculates will largely benefit the super wealthy and corporations. That giveaway for the richest top 10 per cent of the population will be paid for by brutal cuts in public spending on healthcare, social welfare, education, housing, and medical and scientific research. If the US government slashed its military spending instead, it is estimated that all Americans would have top-class, universally free health and education systems. Another lamentable reason is that Americas monstrous military-industrial complex is the cause of so much global insecurity and conflict. Paradoxically, US politicians justify military spending with the need to make America secure with robust defense. The reality is the opposite. Logically, as the US stockpiles more and more weapons, other nations are obliged to increase their defenses. This dynamic leads to further tensions, mistrust and misapprehensions. As the worlds top military spender, the onus is on the US to scale back. If it did so, that would serve to deescalate the military spending by other nations. Americas war economy  for thats what it is  has other far-reaching deleterious impacts. The US weapons industry accounts for half of the worlds arms trade. The planet is awash with America-made weapons, which fuels regional conflicts and non-state terror groups. Furthermore, with such an engorged military, the ineluctable logic is for US governments to seek wars in order to maintain its war economy. Americas scramble for Africa is a topical case in point. READ MORE: America's Scramble for Africa The historical record shows that no other nation has been involved in as many wars as the US since the Second World War. Theres no comparison. Historian William Blum has documented dozens of US wars around the world. The major ones include Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and a host of clandestine ones in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. The death toll from US military conduct over the past seven decades is reckoned to be about 25 million. Why is the US addicted to war? A major reason is do with the failure of American capitalism. The US economy is propped up by its military-industrial complex, comprising giant weapons manufacturers like Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Raytheon. These companies have enormous lobbying influence on government, think tanks and corporate media, which perpetuates in the warfare state. However, this war economy is unsustainable, as David Stockman and others remark. It is leading to cataclysmic American fiscal debt and social decay. It is also fomenting a highly unstable world of international tensions and conflict. Washingtons belligerence towards China, Russia, Iran and North Korea is a corollary of its irrationally disproportionate military forces. The dangerous state of affairs was warned about some 55 years ago in 1961 by President Ike Eisenhower during his farewell address to the nation. Eisenhower foretold the grim emergence of an all-dominant military-industrial complex that would pose a danger to the US nation and the world. His successor, John F Kennedy , was determined to rein in the military. He was opposed to a nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union and was moving to withdraw American troops from Vietnam. Its not just the rest of the world that suffers from Americas addiction to war. American society and democracy are also casualties. Just imagine how much healthier, better educated, more prosperous, more cultured American citizens would be if they did not have to feed their war-addicted economy with an annual fix of $700 billion. The final irony is that Americas other pathological addictions are intertwined with its war habit. Its Big Oil addiction, the opiate crisis fueled by illicit drug business behind the war in Afghanistan, and the proliferation of military weapons in society, are all, in one way or another, rooted in Americas addiction to war. 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 Sputnik News -
Witness to the Workings of a Colonized - and Wounded - Psyche

Sex, Rage Displacement, and Ecocide: Wanderings In An Interior Archipelago Of The Colonised

By Phil Rockstroh

October 25, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Human sexuality mirrors human culture. Mating dances of seduction and refusal, and acts of non-consensual aggression cannot be separated from traits witnessed, practiced and internalized by the people of a particular society. It is impossible to close the bedroom door to the culture at large. Eros not only inhabits the genitals and the heart but Anima mundi as well.

Sexuality is not going to go away because its nature, which is sublime in the sense of the beautiful and the monstrous, makes people uncomfortable. The phenomenon brings all things human to the fore of consciousness. Therefore, it is imperative we talk about it all, and without mind-negating shame and heart-freezing hysteria.

The late, archetypal psychologist James Hillman, in his final book, the brilliant but under recognized, A Terrible Love Of War, noted the consort, the backdoor man, of the Goddess of Love and Beauty is Ares, the God of War. Moments after her practical-minded husband Hephaestus would leave for work, Ares and Aphrodite would be ensconced in the lovers bed, locked in intimate embrace, under the very roof constructed by her craftsman spouse. Withal, libido translates, often, into impractical, irrational and dangerous phenomenon.

Hillman asks, where else in human experience, except in the throes of ardor  that strange coupling of love with war  do we find ourselves transported to a mythical condition and the gods most real?  A Terrible Love of War (p. 9).

When human beings evince the erotic, we are gripped and grappled by primal forces. The ancient Greeks traced the phenomenon to the heights of Olympus while the lurid, Calvinist/Puritan imagination places it in lakes of torment-inflicting hellfire.

Under capitalism, the activity will be commodified. Sexuality is deemed a human resource. And, as is the case with the finite resources of all things on planet earth, designated as fodder for exploitation by ruthless profiteers. The genitals of an individual are but another precinct to be colonized. One is advised to be ready with a local insurgency of the heart, mind and body to retain self-rule.

If only it was that easy. Where are the mountains of the heart from which to stage a guerrilla war? The option is possible. But expect a long struggle, and for your heart to receive all manner of wounds. Yet the pain of struggle provides us with a common tongue that limns the radiance of everyday catastrophe, including catastrophes attendant to the realm of Eros, son of errant and erratic Aphrodite. Thus we blunder into self-knowledge, are privy to our own biography, read by pressing fingertips to the braille of ones scars.

Taking It All

When sexuality has been degraded by inequitable power, and the powers at large have decreed all the things of the world theirs for exploitation then the system from which the predatory class gains their power over the individual must be challenged and dismantled. But the setup cannot be changed from within its own self-sustaining, self-defining order. The notion is as risible as a yellow fin tuna joining the crew of a massive, sea life-decimating fishing trawler, the tuna claiming it plans to reform the system from within.

Men who callously disregard the autonomy of others are only as powerful as the societal structures in place that not only protect but lavishly reward their hyper-aggressive mode of mind and attendant modus operandi  apropos, the spoils gained by the capitalist class by means of their acts of perpetual plunder perpetrated against all of humanity and the whole of nature.

Speaking of which, the coal and steel processing company town, Birmingham, Alabama, where I was born was a colonized place. The small, Southern city, squatting at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, was founded, built and controlled by Northern industrialists. The homes of the citys affluent management class, known among us economic lessers as the Big Mules, luxuriated in the clear, fresh air upon Red Mountain (on which stands an imposing, iron ore cast statue of Vulcan, the Roman version of the Greeks Hephaestus) while the white laboring class and citys Jim Crow-shackled African-American community were relegated to dwelling in the industrial smog below.

As is the case with colonialist socio-economic structures, worldwide, in which a regions wealth is generated by a local, under-compensated labor force, it was imperative for the anger and resentment of the colonized masses to be shunted away from the colonizers. The time-tested method of racial animus did the trick. In my memory, the air of Birmingham was ridden with a heavy industry-generated, sulfuric, rotten egg-smelling reek that was inseparable from the miasmic rage of white working-class men such as my father.

The reasons for their fuming resentment included: When my father would ask for a raise, the stock reply from management was, You know, I can go over to Colored Town, right now, and hire five n*gg*ers for what I pay, your narrow ass.

Thus the anger of Birminghams Jim Crow era among working men was always close to the surface, and, at the slightest provocation, would come boiling forth like phalanxes of fire ants from a disturbed bed. Exposing the hateful social milieu of the Jim Crow-ruled South to the world at large was a primary factor in the decision of Martin Luther King et. al. to bring the Civil Rights cause to the city of my birth.

Denuded Empathy

For the maintenance of a colonized order to be maintained, empathy must be denuded, fear and antipathy of the alien other must be perpetuated thereby obstructing any inclination towards mutual respect and incipient feelings of affinity between the tribe granted a favored, dominant position and the tribes subjugated into positions of low status. Alliances among the exploited would prove dangerous to the elites whose fortunes are dependent on perpetual racial and ethnic division and divisiveness. Then, as now, class consciousness must be suppressed by the fomenting of racial resentments. When one gazes upon the sorehead denizens of the so-called alt-right, one becomes witness to the workings of a colonized  and wounded  psyche.

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In my fathers case, the following reveals how he transmigrated the howling abyss of his displaced rage into the precincts of empathy.

My father injured his back in a fall from a freight car while loading a cache of pig iron; as a consequence, he, on a permanent basis, could no longer perform manual labor  the primary type of work available to the working-class men of Birmingham. During his convalescence, he taught himself photography, and, by the advent of the Civil Rights Movement, he was freelancing to Black Star Syndicate and became Life Magazines primary stringer in the region. I have memories of him arriving home from work, his clothes redolent of tear gas, his adrenal system churning, his mind buffeted, unable to process the brutality he witnessed being perpetrated by both city officials and ordinary citizens on the streets of the city.

On a Sunday, in late summer of 1963, my sister and I were immersed in Blakean innocence playing in the sandbox in the backyard of our familys apartment when he returned from the site of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. There was a quality about his stare that I found unnerving. His gaze kept returning to my sister and me. Being a father now myself, I know what thoughts were gripping and grappling him what if it had been them. My god  what if it had been them.

Empathetic awareness has its starting point by evincing a sensitivity to the feelings, hopes, and aspirations of those close to ones heart yet cannot stall out there. The quality must ripple out to distance shores inhabited by the alien other. In this manner, the process of de-colonization of ones mind can begin.

Denial of the reality of Climate Change, albeit outside the cynical ranks of obscenely compensated Big Energy Industry lobbyists and shills, is borne of a similar, life-negating dynamic, i.e., an ossified egotism winnows down awareness to manageable bits of casuistry:

I just shoveled three feet of snow from my driveway. Global Warmingmy frozen butt. I think too much political hay is made from weather. Our ancestors braved it and it was part of their lives, arrive the (verbatim) quotes as seen on my Facebook newsfeed.

The declarations reveal an inner colonization, manifested by a monoculture of the mind. Because the natural world and the human psyche emerged from the same evolutionary schematic, circumscribing down ones consciousness to ad hoc rationalizations for maintaining a destructive status quo, as is the case with climate denialism, amounts to psychical ecocide thus mirrors the fate of the earth, now in the throes of the sixth great extinction, due to the predation attendant to hyper-industrialization and consumerist addiction. The exponential loss of biodiversity is mirrored in the collective psyche of the consumer-scape, as if a massive fishing trawler has stripped all signs of life from the oceanic heart of humankind.

Going On

I cant go onIll go on.  final two sentences of Samuel Becketts novel, The Unnamable.

Yet, at times, Im baffled as to how we, the scant and scattered few, who refuse to close our eyes and block our hearts to the realities of the day continue to go on. What force restrains one from reeling into the street seized by lamentation?

One foot is placed before the other. One word follows the next on the page. An ineffable understanding draws us into communion with the world and each other, even as the din of disconsolate angels braces the mind and cleaves the heart.

I know I am not alone in this. Nor are you. Even though, it seems so. What is the common prayer for those who cannot close themselves off from the agonized soul of the colonized world  for those of us who are ants who dream we are Atlas, and our visions crush us as if it were the weight of the earth itself upon our shoulders?

We face a vast aloneness together. An affinity of isolation binds us like a prayer of sacred vehemence. Empathy enjoins us thereby bestowing preternatural strength. Otherwise, the immense sadness of the earth would crush us into oblivion.
Xis Road Map to the Chinese Dream





By Pepe Escobar

October 25, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Now that President Xi Jinping has been duly elevated to the Chinese Communist Party pantheon in the rarified company of Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory, the world will have plenty of time to digest the meaning of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Xi himself, in his 3-hour speech at the start of the 19th Party Congress, pointed to a rather simplified socialist democracy  extolling its virtues as the only counter-model to Western liberal democracy. Economically, the debate remains open on whether this walks and talks more like neoliberalism with Chinese characteristics.

All the milestones for China in the immediate future have been set.

Moderately prosperous society by 2020.

Basically modernized nation by 2035.

Rich and powerful socialist nation by 2050.

Xi himself, since 2013, has encapsulated the process in one mantra; the Chinese dream. The dream must become reality in a little over three decades. The inexorable modernization drive unleashed by Dengs reforms has lasted a little less than four decades. Recent history tell us theres no reason to believe phase 2 of this seismic Sino-Renaissance wont be fulfilled.

Xi emphasized, the dreams of the Chinese people and those of other peoples around the world are closely linked. The realization of the Chinese dream will not be possible without a peaceful international environment and a stable international order.

He mentioned only briefly the New Silk Roads, a.k.a. Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as having created a favorable environment for the countrys overall development. He didnt dwell on BRIs ambition and extraordinary scope, as he does in every major international summit as well as in Davos earlier this year.

But still it was implicit that to arrive at what Xi defines as a community of common destiny for mankind, BRI is Chinas ultimate tool. BRI, a geopolitical/geoeconomic game-changer, is in fact Xis  and Chinas  organizing foreign policy concept and driver up to 2050.

Xi has clearly understood that global leadership implies being a top provider, mostly to the global South, of connectivity, infrastructure financing, comprehensive technical assistance, construction hardware and myriad other trappings of modernization.

It does not hurt that this trade/commerce/investment onslaught helps to internationalize the yuan.

Its easy to forget that BRI, an unparalleled multinational connectivity drive set to economically link all points Asia to Europe and Africa, was announced only three years ago, in Astana (Central Asia) and Jakarta (Southeast Asia).

What was originally known as the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road were endorsed by the Third Plenum of the 18th CCP Central Committee in November 2013. Only after the release of an official document, Visions and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Roads, in March 2015, the whole project was finally named BRI.

According to the official Chinese timeline, were only at the start of phase 2. Phase 1, from 2013 to 2016, was mobilization. Planning, from 2016 to 2021, is barely on (and that explains why few major projects are online). Implementation is supposed to start in 2021, one year before Xis new term expires, and go all the way to 2049.

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The horizon thus is 2050, coinciding with Xis rich and powerful socialist nation dream. Theres simply no other comprehensive, inclusive, far-reaching, financially solid development program on the global market. Certainly not Indias Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC).

Have BRI, will travel

It starts with Hong Kong. When Xi said, We will continue to support Hong Kong and Macau in integrating their own development into the overall development of the country, he meant Hong Kong configured as a major BRI financing hub  its new role after a recent past of business facilitator between China and the West.

Hong Kongs got what it takes; convertible currency; total capital mobility; rule of law; no tax on interest, dividends and capital gains; total access to Chinas capital market/savings; and last but not least, Beijings support.

Enter the dream of myriad financing packages (public-private; equity-debt; short-long term bonds). Hong Kongs BRI role will be of the Total Package international financial center (venture capital; private equity; flotation of stocks and bonds; investment banking; mergers and acquisitions; reinsurance) interlinked with the Greater Bay Area  the 11 cities (including Guangzhou and Shenzhen) of the Pearl River Delta (light/heavy manufacturing; hi-tech venture capitalists, start-ups, investors; top research universities).

That ties up with Xis emphasis on innovation; We will strengthen basic research in applied sciences, launch major national science and technology projects, and prioritize innovation in key generic technologies, cutting-edge frontier technologies, modern engineering technologies, and disruptive technologies.

The integration of the Greater Bay Area is bound to inspire, fuel, and in some cases even mould some of BRIs key projects. The Eurasian Land Bridge from Xinjiang to Western Russia (China and Kazakhstan are actively turbo-charging their joint free trade zone at Khorgos). The China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor. The connection of the Central Asian stans to West Asia  Iran and Turkey. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) from Xinjiang all the way to Gwadar in the Arabian Sea  capable of sparking an economic revolution according to Islamabad. The China-Indochina corridor from Kunming to Singapore. The Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) corridor (assuming India does not boycott it). The Maritime Silk Road from coastal southeast China all the way to the Mediterranean, from Piraeus to Venice.

Yiwu-London freight trains, Shanghai-Tehran freight trains, the Turkmenistan to Xinjiang gas pipeline  these are all facts on the ground. Along the way, the technologies and tools of infrastructure connectivity  applied to high-speed rail networks, power plants, solar farms, motorways, bridges, ports, pipelines  will be closely linked with financing by the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the security-economic cooperation imperatives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to build the new Eurasia from Shanghai to Rotterdam. Or, to evoke Vladimir Putins original vision, even before BRI was launched, from Lisbon to Vladivostok.

Xi did not spell it out, but Beijing will do everything to stay as independent as possible from the Western Central Bank system, with the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) to be avoided in as many trade deals as possible to the benefit of yuan-based transactions or outright barter. The petrodollar will be increasingly bypassed (its already happening between China and Iran, and Beijing sooner rather than later will demand it from Saudi Arabia.)

The end result, by 2050, will be, barring inevitable, complex glitches, an integrated market of 4.5 billion people mostly using local currencies for bilateral and multilateral trade, or a basket of currencies (yuan-ruble-rial-yen-rupee).

Xi has laid Chinas cards  as well as the road map  on the table. As far as the Chinese Dream is concerned, its now clear; Have BRI, Will Travel.
Germany expelled 14 rejected Afghan asylum seekers, the interior ministry said Wednesday, amid angry protests that the war-ravaged country is unsafe for returnees.

A chartered Czech plane with the Afghans on board, all of them men, took off late Tuesday from the eastern German city of Leipzig and arrived in Kabul on Wednesday.

Eleven of the deportees had criminal records for acts including manslaughter, causing grievous bodily harm, the sexual abuse of children, fraud and theft, interior ministry spokeswoman Annegret Korff told reporters.

The other three Afghans had refused to cooperate on establishing their identity, she added.

Saxony state interior minister Markus Ulbig told public broadcaster MDR that Germany was sending a loud and clear message that those not granted refugee status following an official review no longer have a right to be in Germany.

While Germany has granted safe haven to most asylum seekers from war-torn Syria, Berlin has argued that it can safely repatriate people to Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan, even as Taliban and Islamic State militants terrorise much of the country.

Around 150 demonstrators gathered at the airport in Leipzig to protest against the expulsions.

In Berlin, leading Greens MP Claudia Roth called on the government to stop the deportations, noting that some 250 people were killed in attacks in Afghanistan in the last week.

Under these conditions, expulsions to Afghanistan clearly violate our responsibility to provide humanitarian protection, she said in remarks reported by DPA news agency.

Germany resumed deportations of rejected asylum seekers from Afghanistan last month after suspending the process when a devastating truck bomb hit the Afghan capital in May.

That group of eight Afghans represented the sixth wave of repatriations of Afghans from Germany since December under a disputed Afghan-European Union deal aimed at curbing the influx of migrants.

Amnesty International warned European governments earlier this month that a surge of failed Afghan asylum seekers forcibly returned are at risk of torture, kidnapping and death.

Almost 9,500 Afghans went back to their homeland in 2016 after their applications for asylum in Europe were rejected, compared with fewer than 3,300 a year earlier, the rights group said.

Berlin has set a policy of returning to Afghanistan convicted criminals, people feared by police to be planning an attack, and those who refuse to cooperate with authorities or give their names.

More than 13,300 Afghans have applied for asylum in Germany since the start of the year.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has been struggling to bring down the numbers of asylum seekers after the arrival of more than one million migrants  mainly from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan  since 2015.

Source: ( AFP )
The problem of child marriage will soon be history in Africa as leaders come together in unity to tackle the menance.

African political leaders, activists, and local chiefs joined forces on Monday to commit to ending child marriage in West and Central Africa.

More than a third of girls in the region are married under the age of 18, with the rate over 50 percent in six countries and up to 76 per cent in Niger.

Driven by factors including poverty, insecurity and religious tradition, marrying off girls once they reach puberty or even before is a deeply engrained social custom in much of West and Central Africa.

The World Bank said the practice hampers global efforts to reduce poverty and population growth and has negative impacts on womens and childrens health, educational achievements, and earnings.

The conference in Senegals capital Dakar, which included government, civil society, and religious representatives from 27 countries, was the first gathering of its kind to address child marriage in the region.

What we need to end child marriage is a movement, Francoise Moudouthe of advocacy group Girls Not Brides told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

We hope this will be solidified in the region with this meeting.

World leaders have pledged to end child marriage by 2030 under the UN Sustainable Development Goals, but at current rates it will take over 100 years to end it in West and Central Africa, UNICEF said.

Although the rate of child marriage has declined from 50 to 39 per cent across the region since 1990, population growth means that the number of child brides is still increasing, said Andrew Brooks, UNICEFs regional head of child protection.

I think the fact that they came is a sign that theyre ready to do something, said Brooks of the local and national leaders present.

Other activists said they hoped the meeting would result in concrete national action plans and would pressure countries to enact and enforce laws against child marriage.

We have heard your heartfelt cry, said Senegals prime minister, Mohammed Dionne, to campaigners, who chanted

No to child marriage as he took the stage.

Dionne said: the problem is how to move from vision to action, said Dionne.

Beyond the legal framework, what we need today is collective engagement in the search for solutions.

(Reuters/NAN)
Back in March, Meek Mill was charged with misdemeanor assault after he allegedly got into an altercation with an employee at St. Louis International Airport.

Now, his lawyers have gotten the case dropped. Meeks attorney Joe Tacopina revealed that Meek was able to come to a deal with his prosecutors, and it was pretty straightforward. If Meek agreed to complete some community service, then his case would be dismissed. Meek completed his community service at Philadelphias Veterans Association, so thats that.

Just weeks ago, Meek Mill took a deal for his reckless driving charges in New York City. Now all he has to do is avoid any legal issues for six months, and that arrest will be wiped clean from his record.

Source: Linda Ikejis blog
Members of a syndicate, who reportedly specialise in kidnapping of babies, have been arrestearrestedod by the Ogun State Police Command.

The command also rescued a 3-year-old victim from the gang. The gang members, who were paraded by the command on Tuesday include Abibat Oyesanya, Morenike Shittu and Olubunmi Tajudeen.

The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ilyasu, said through intelligence gathering, the gangs activities were uncovered around Mowe-Ibafo area in Obafemi-Owode local government area.

He added that information revealed that the nefarious activities of the gang cut across the South-west, where they had succeeded in abducting many children.

The operatives from FSARS went after the women and three of them were promptly arrested, Mr. Ilyasu said.

The commissioner said the leader of the gang, Abibat Oyesanya, had been arrested and convicted for a similar offence in the past.

Source: ( Premium Times )
Some war veterans who participated in the civil war have expressed thanks to President Muhammadu Buhari for approving payment of their pension.

President of Association of Retired War Affected Police Officers (ARWAPO), Chief Matthew Udeh, has thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his forthrightness and belief in one Nigeria after approving payment of pension entitlements for war-affected police officers from the Old Eastern Region.

The veterans were pardoned and retired from the Nigeria Police Force through a Presidential Amnesty granted on May 29, 2000 by the administration of the then President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He said: We believe we are all one, one Nigeria forever. The war is over and over forever.

God will continue to bless President Muhammadu Buhari for looking at the nation as one indivisible entity.

I feel fulfilled today. The whole ARWAPO members are full of gratitude to Mr President for hearing our cry for over 40 years and running, Udeh, who was an Assistant Superintendent of Police before the war, said.

According to a report by Vanguard, the President, Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria, Mr Fidelis Oyakhilome, thanked the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) and the Federal Government for living up to their words and treating the officers fairly.

I must commend ARWAPO members for their patience, endurance and perseverance all these years and as well thank Mr President, President Muhammadu Buhari, for making this possible, Oyakhilome said.

A beneficiary, Mr Francis Ukaraoha, said that he was happy to have received his first pension alert some hours ago.

Ukaraoha, who was elated, showed the amount (figure withheld) of pension arrears paid to his account few hours ago to newsmen. Highlights of the occasion were the tapping on computer to click-start the payment as well as a title-name award given to PTAD boss Sharon Ikeazor for assisting to make the payment possible after 47 years.

Ikeazor got the title-name I di uko nmba meaning You are very rare among a people

President Muhammadu Buhari had graciously given approval for the payment of pension entitlements to these officers and their Next of Kins who since May 29, 2000 have had Presidential pardon and verification but many of them remained unpaid for years.

At the launch of the Pension Payments to Retired War-Affected Police Officers in Enugu, the Executive Secretary of Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Mrs Sharon Ikeazor, said that the Federal Government through President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration would end all the painful legacies of the war.

Ikeazor said that Mr President tended to fulfill all Federal Governments obligation to the South-East in line with available resources.

This represents another decision by the current Federal Government to bring closure to the painful legacies of the civil war, and indeed a clear demonstrate that President Muhammadu Buhari is indeed a father to all Nigerians.

His (Mr President) administrations reforms under the PTAD will ensure that Nigerians who spent the productive years of their lives serving their nation will not experience difficulties in getting their pensions, she said.

According to her, the day marks another milestone in re-integrating the hitherto neglected officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force who have suffered untold hardships over the years catering for their needs and that of their dependents.

In this particular batch of payment, 162 officers who have never been on the payroll and 57 Next of Kin who have also not been paid their death benefits will be paid today.

The others, 155 who are on payroll but were being short paid would be paid in the next batch as soon as their pension benefit computation is concluded, she said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a deacon of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, over multi-million Naira fraud.

A deacon of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), identified as Cyril Idakwoji, has been apprehended by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

According to a report by PUNCH, the suspect handed over two cheques covering N11.9m to the church, and the anti-graft agency also recovered N36m belonging to Jephthah International School stolen by Idakwoji.

It was gathered that the amount was said to have been stolen by Idakwoji, who is a former Port Harcourt-based employee of Access Bank.

While speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Ishaq Salihu, the South-South Zonal Head of the EFCC, said that Idakwoji, a former account officer of the church for the bank, was diverting the funds handed to him by the church for his private use instead of transferring them to the churchs bank account.

Salihu told that the suspect had forged letterheads of the church and the signature of the pastor in charge of the region, adding that Idakwoji forged the signature of the churchs accountant in a bid to successfully carry out his criminal activities.

Handing over the cheques to the Pastor of Province 4 of the church, Salihu said, He (suspect) forged the letterhead of the churchs Region 5 and the signatures of the pastor in charge of the region. He also forged the signature of the churchs accountant to execute his criminal schemes in RCCG.

The stolen funds were paid back by the bank, who had since sacked the fraudulent employee.

Speaking after receiving the cheques from the anti-graft agency, the Pastor of Province 4 of RCCG, Port Harcourt, Mark Barango, expressed gratitude to the EFCC for ensuring that the money was recovered.

He expressed surprise that Idakwoji, who was a deacon in the church, could involve in such a criminal act.

He said, He (suspect) was the account officer assigned by the bank to us. He was also a member of the church. EFCC is an agent of transformation. I thank the EFCC for helping us recover the money. What they have done is perfect.

Salihu, however, recalled that the EFCC had earlier recovered the sum of N36m, which belonged to Jephthah International School but also stolen by Idakwoji with his position as a marketer in Access Bank, Port Harcourt.

Idakwoji, according to the EFCC zonal head, had also served as an account officer to the private school.

Salihu said that the stolen fund was recently paid back in bonds by the bank to the affected private school through the EFCC, adding that the management of the bank had reported to the commission immediately it found out that the suspect was fraudulent.
The race for the N200m prize at stake in the Labour Room Television Reality Show continues as the housemates address issues concerning the fundamental aspects of their fatherland.

Beyond the desire to win the cash, however, the programme is giving participants the opportunity to appraise the project Nigeria. It appears to be awakening and deepening the sense of patriotism in the housemates called Governors, just as it is giving them the opportunity for bonding.

One other advantage is that dignitaries from different backgrounds regularly visit them. Such people not only lecture the housemates, they also inspire them in such a way that will impact on their lives after the programme.

Among others, The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Julie Okah-Donli, has visited the Labour Room. She spoke on the menace that human trafficking constitutes and the need to curb it. According to her, it is widespread, meaning that all hands should be on deck to fight it. The NAPTIP DG also gave the Governors tips on how to identify trafficking scenarios.

A report on the visit, written by Salome Silas, adds, Defining human trafficking as the act of recruiting people through false pretences, deceit, kidnapping and abduction for the purposes of sexual exploitation, domestic servitude or even organ harvesting, she stressed the need for intense awareness in various states to enlighten parents, youths, communities and other stakeholders on human trafficking, its dangers and consequences.

The show follows the ideas of 37 Governors, since they represent each state of the federation, as they develop ideas that could harness the nations potential.

The National Coordinator of the Nigeria Rebirth Foundation, organisers of the show, Mr. Isaac Balami, said the initiative was a platform for young people to explore their talents and proffer solutions to Nigerias challenges.

These selected Governors have been housed in a mansion, in an undisclosed location and they will be there for 60 days. They will, during the period, analyse and x-ray the myriad issues bedevilling the Nigeria to articulate workable, sustainable, solution-driven recommendations, Balami said.

source: Punch
A drunk Nigerian police officer has shot a farmer in a Delta State community, sparking serious commotion in the area.

Ijeh Chukwuedo, a farmer in Ubulu Uku community, Delta State, is currently recuperating at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, after undergoing a surgery to remove bullets allegedly lodged in his stomach and thigh.

According to Punch Metro, the 23-year-old was reportedly returning home from his farm on Sunday when a drunken policeman, identified simply as Sergeant Emeka, gunned him down along Ubulu-Issele-Uku Road.

It was learnt that Emeka and two other policemen had wanted to pick up Chukwuedo over N15,000 wages he collected from a man, identified as Funaya.

The cops were said to have been led to the scene by Funaya.

It was learnt that the policemen and Funaya stood by the roadside waiting for Chukwuedo to emerge from the farm.

It was gathered that the moment Chukwuedo, who was riding a motorcycle, surfaced, Funaya alerted the cops.

He was flagged down, but he reportedly attempted to evade arrest.

When it appeared that they might not catch up with him, Emeka reportedly opened fire, which hit him in the stomach and thigh.

A resident, who did not want his name in print, said Chukwuedo was rushed to a hospital while the trigger-happy policeman was arrested.

He said, Sergeant Emeka is well known in Ubulu Uku community. He is a drunk and we learnt he was drunk that day when he shot Ijeh (Chukwuedo). Other policemen with him blamed him for shooting the young man. People wanted to mob him, but he was rescued. He has been taken into custody. Ijeh is admitted to the FMC, Asaba.

Chukwuedo was said to be asleep when our correspondent demanded to speak with him on Tuesday.

However, the Coordinator of a human rights body, Behind Bars Intervention, Harrison Gwamnishu, told PUNCH Metro on the telephone that Funaya had contracted Chukwuedo to work on a farmland.

He said Funaya gave the victim N15,000 for the work, which he failed to complete as agreed.

The coordinator stated that Funaya, in company with a friend, Tochukwu, confronted Chukwuedo on Saturday and asked him to refund the money.

Gwamnishu said, They had Iwu festival in the community on Saturday. Funaya and Tochukwu went to Chukwuedos house to collect the money. Chukwuedo said he would not refund the money since he had already started the work Funaya gave him and promised to complete it after the festival.

He said Tochuwku angrily asked him to pay the money and he scolded him for meddling in a matter that did not concern him. The disagreement led to a fight.

The following day, Funaya led some policemen to arrest Chukwuedo and they waited for him to come out of his (Chukwuedos) farm. As he came out from the farm on his motorcycle, they asked him to stop.

Because that road is usually quiet and for fear of being killed, he tried to escape. One of the policemen, Sergeant Emeka, shot him. He was injured in the stomach and thigh. The other policemen took him to a hospital in the community. He was referred to the FMC, Asaba, where he underwent a surgery.

Gwamnishu said the victims family had spent about N50,000 on his treatment, adding that the police only sent N10,000 as medical bill.

They have not come to check him at the FMC. The policeman that shot him should be punished accordingly. He is a drunk and is not fit to be carrying a gun, he added.

When contacted, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Zanna Ibrahim, said, I have not been fully briefed. I will find out.

Subsequent calls made to his line later went unanswered.
Sunday Oduntan, the Research and Advocacy Executive Director of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors has suggested that public officers responsible for providing power should be banned from using generators.

He made the call when he spoke with reporters in Lagos on Tuesday, saying that the measure was necessary to compel public officers to live up to expectations in doing their jobs.

According to him, top government functionaries, including the minister of power, Babatunde Raji Fashola and other agencies in the power sector should be disallowed from using generators at their homes and offices to make them find lasting solution to the endemic power problem.

He said:

I believe that Nigeria has reached a point when all of us, including investors in the power sector should be banned from using generators. If the minister of power, permanent secretary and investors in the power sector are banned from using generators, I believe we will come together and fix the problem once and for all. My personal opinion is that as long as we continue to have alternatives to this problem, power failure will persist.

_Punch
Another round of strike action is looming in the nations Universities as academic staff counts down to the deadline for the implementation of agreements reached with the government which led to the conditional suspension of its indefinite strike action in September.

The government had signed an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities as a result of the strike action embarked upon by the union to press the implementation of the memorandum of understanding entered into between both parties in 2013 as well as the 2009 agreement.

A timeline of October 2017 was reached between the government and the unions for the implementation of some components of the agreement, especially the payment of shortfall in salaries and Earned Academic Allowances.

But some lecturers informed The Nation that barely one week to the end of the October timeline, the government has not implemented any aspect of the agreement, even when they claimed during negotiation that implementation has commenced.

While suspending their strike action in September, ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi had said that the union was suspending its action conditionally to pave way for government to commence implementation of the agreement, stressing that the union will not hesitate to resume the action if the government fail to meet its own aspect of the agreement.

One lecturer who would not want his name in print told The Nation that the government has not done anything. We have not heard from them and it is just one week to the end of the October deadline. I can assure you that we are warming up and there is the possibility that from November 1, we will resume the suspended action.

They (government) told our leaders during negotiations that they have prepared everything for the implementation. They were even brandishing some papers, especially on the earned Academic Allowance. But we have not seen anything nor heard from them.

They were also supposed to carry our verification because of those who employed workers without permission so that the issue of shortfall in salary can be addressed. Many of us have been verified, but nothing has happened. We have not been paid. They should not take us die a ride because when we resume the suspension action not are not going to listen to any discussion.

However, ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, however, declined to say whether or not the union will call out its members at the end of October if they are not satisfied with the level of implementation of the agreement.

Prof. Ogunyemi told The Nation over the telephone that members of the union will determine the next line of action based on the level of implementation of the agreement reached between the government and the unions.

He said both parties were making progress in the implementation of the memorandum of understating signed between them, adding that the union is still engaging the government and expressed the hope that the government will keep to their promise.

He said: We are engaging them and we are making some few progress and we hope they will keep their promise. Otherwise, our members are ready to activate their action.

We are still in October, but we are on our guard.

We believe they will follow the process through and implement it fully. That is why we still engage them and we are talking. We are working with them and we hope they will continue to cooperate.

Asked whether they will embark on any Industrial action at the end of October, he said I cannot say whether there will be any action at the end of October or not. It is what our members say that we shall do. I hope I am very clear? Our members shall determine what we shall do at the end of the deadline based on the level, of implementation.

The government had promised to meet the demand of the unions with a promise to release of about N220 billion to the universities not later than October 2017 to fund the revitalisation of federal universities in the country and the payment of the shortfall in their salaries as well as payment of earned allowances which has accumulated.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige who promised that his Ministry will monitor the implementation the agreement reached had told newsmen after the conciliatory meeting in September that We have concluded negotiations, the government and the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. The ASUU negotiating team and the government discuss salient issues and most of those issues are well-known to the media but for the purposes of clarity, I can go around the grounds again.

Theres one funding for revitalization of public universities and the issue of Earn Academic Allowances, the issue of University Staff Schools on which that there is a court judgement, the issue of National Universities Pension Management Company, and the issue of salary shortfalls for lecturers and staff of universities.

There is the issue of TSA exemption and the problems in the state universities. All are the issues that ASUU felt that government should address.

Most of these issues stemmed from the 2009 agreement that government had ASUU and also from the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding, that the government had with ASUU. Government is a continuum, most of those issues were not issues that cropped up from the Buhari administration, we inherited them.

But be that as it may like I said, the government is a continuum. So we are to really address those issues, we inherited them but there are issues concerning the welfare of our people. So, on the issue of funding for the revitalization of public universities, this negotiating team discussed in detail and extensively on that.

This is the fund that would be needed for the revitalization of public universities in terms of their working tools and other things needed for the effective performance of their duties.

There was an agreement from the MoU of 2009 and that of 2013, for government to be making some quarterly payments into this fund. And from 2014 to date, it has not been possible for the government to pay or they didnt pay. But this government has been negotiating with ASUU since last year. Today, there is a government proposal which we all agreed id workable.

But ASUU has to take back this our proposal to their organs, so we decided that theres an agreement for government to make some funds available in September and October to show that they are not repudiating their agreement and to also show sign of good faith.

However, because of the inability of the government to pay the required amount which is at N220 billion, a seven-man committee was proposed and ASUU leadership is expected to send in three nominees into this committee. Its a technical committee so to say, a working committee and they would send in the three-man nomination, the Minister of Education will appoint three persons to represent the federal government and the chairman, making four to bring the number to seven. ASUU will also send in their proposal for testing terms of reference for the committee to the minister.

We expect that that will be done today since today is already a Friday. This committee is expected to work out the ways and means for the government and ASUU to actualize the aspirations as per the 2013 MoU.

This is without prejudice to the Babalakin committee on the re-negotiation of the 2009 MoU between the Federal Government and ASUU.

On the issue of Earn Academic Allowances, we have listened and payment has started in that direction.Same with staff schools.

Government is though not appealing, we have agreed that the decision should be conveyed to the various universities.

The Issue of NUPENCO was addressed and ways have been fashioned out for the registration of that company. Salary shortfalls for lecturers and university staff were also addressed and the government has shown their commitment and evidence that payments have started in order to liquidate the outstanding allowances.

The issue of TSA exemption was also discussed and an agreement or proposal was muted by which the Central Bank would a special account for that in order for endowment funds and research grants will be exempted.

State universities which have been the concern for ASUU and everybody who has been looking for quality education in the country was also discussed and the Minister of Education was mandated to take the memo to the council of state and the Federal Executive Council.

Based on these discussions, ASUU leadership will consult with its organs and revert back to government within one week. They will consult with their organs with a view to calling off the strike.And we expect them that within one week, they will get back to government. These are the highlights of the meeting and I can tell you that the meeting took place in the very cordial atmosphere.

The Nation
Handsome Mechanical Engineering student of the Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH), Inyang David has died in a tragic circumstance.

A 100 level student of Mechanical Engineering of the Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH) identified as Inyang David has reportedly died after a high tension pole fell on the building he was staying in causing a fire that razed down the building.

It was gathered that the young man alongside a nursing mother were killed in the incident which happened on Tuesday at 14 Adak Uko Street in Calabar on Monday night.

The landlord of the building, Mr Obo, said the cable had always been falling in the past, but not on the roof.

He said the affected building had 12 tenants. He said since the incident occurred nobody from the fire service or the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company had shown up.

A friend of the deceased student, Mr Tolale Prince Harmony, reiterated that the cable had been falling several time in the past and the PHEDC office in Calabar had been approached severally to do something about it, but they kept referring the residents to Port Harcourt.

They keep directing the people to call Port Harcourt. I am wondering, what does Port Harcourt have to do with this? I dont understand. During the fire, they called the fire service and they said no water, no imprest, nothing to run. Harmony said.

Confirming the death, Inyangs best friend, Emmanuel Edem wrote on Facebook: Death why?

Youve made me cry all day for. My bro my Engr my selfie partner and the only person that calls me everyday no matter what Chai death why? rest in peace bro I dont have anything to say again but I love u but Gods loves u more.

And this is the last time Ill ever tag my greatest comrade. RIP ENGINEER DAVID INYANG may u gentle soul rest in the bosom of the lord.

I dont understand this. The cable fell on the building. And caused a fire that killed Inyang David and killed another lady, who just gave birth, and did child dedication just two Sundays ago.
Next week, Ghana will hold roadshows in several cities of the United States and London to sell six billion cedis (equals 1.4 billion dollars) in local-currency debt to close arrears owed to banks by electricity and petroleum utilities which are owned by the state.

Ken Ofori-Atta, the country`s Finance Minister, released this information.

We will do the first tranche, size up the market and then come back. We dont have to close all ten billion cedis immediately, Ken Ofori-Atta informed.

YEN News has found out that next week the roadshows will take place in New York, Washington, London, and Boston pending support for the sale by the countrys Securities and Exchange Commission.

In June 2017, Ghana appointed Fidelity Bank Limited (Accra) and the local unit of Standard Chartered Plc as advisers for sale.

According to Bank of Ghana data, on June 30, the stock of non-performing credit at banks was eight billion cedis. The International Monetary Fund also informed that at the end of 2015, the most significant power utilities in Ghana, such as Volta River Authority, Electricity Company of Ghana, and Ghana Grid Company had over 7,7 billion cedis in billed loans.
Kenya opposition leader, Raila Odinga, has urged supporters to boycott Thursdays repeat presidential election and persuade their friends to do the same, saying he would lead a campaign of civil disobedience against the government.

Mr. Odinga told a cheering crowd of thousands of people on Wednesday in Uhuru Park, Nairobi that he has however backed away from previous promises to hold large-scale protests on Election Day.

We advise Kenyans who value democracy and justice to hold vigil and prayers away from polling stations, or just stay at home, he said.

Convince your friends, neighbours and everyone else not participate, but if they support the president, do not insult or assault them, instead, seek to open their eye.

Election officials said the repeat presidential poll would go ahead regardless of Mr. Odingas decision.

The repeat election was ordered by the Supreme Court after judges nullified the results of an August 8 presidential contest over procedural grounds.

Mr. Odinga is refusing to participate because he said that the election commission has failed to implement reforms to prevent another failed poll.

The Supreme Court was due to hear cases seeking to delay the polls but was unable to do so after five out of seven judges had failed to turn up, preventing a quorum.

Minutes after Chief Justice David Maraga said the case could not be heard, hundreds of supporters took to the streets of Kisumu, Mr. Odingas main stronghold.

A Reuters witness said riot police used teargas to disperse them. Two protesters had gunshot wounds.

If the government subverts the sovereign will of the people then people are entitled to rebel against this government, Kisumu governor, Anyang Nyongo, a hardline Odinga supporter, told journalists in Kisumu.

Such comments seem certain to fuel fears of a major confrontation with security forces, already blamed for killing nearly 50 people in Kisumu and Nairobi slums after the canceled August vote.

For some in East Africas economic powerhouse, the instability has rekindled memories of large-scale ethnic violence that killed 1,200 people following a disputed election in 2007.

Source: (Reuters/NAN)
There are strong rumours that the embattled former head of the presidential task force on pension reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina has been discreetly escorted by operatives of the secret service into a neighbouring country.

Conspiracy theories have alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari had a hand in the reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina who has been linked with a pension scam in the tune of N2billion since 2013.

Controversial news platform, Sahara Reporters claims the fugitive who fled Nigeria for the United Arab Emirates has been escorted on a clandestine note into Niamey, Niger republic by officials of the Department of State Security, DSS.

This has corroborated strong rumours that the state backed the re-instatement of Maina which the Presidency has denied being complicit.

Tweets by Sahara Reporters alleged that President Buhari smuggled Maina into the country to assist him in prosecuting his 2nd term presidential bid.

Read the tweets below:
A man who met a Zimbabwean Reverend Sister, Plaxedes Kamundiya, at a prayer shrine in Mutoko has been arrested for allegedly raping and killing her.

The deceased, an official at St Georges High School reportedly visited Mtoko Mother of Peace Community in an assessment tour in connection with a visit by mass server students from St Georges High School in Harare before the incident occurred, as her body was found floating in a dam after days of searching for her.

The Reverend sister reportedly a brief pilgrimage to the Glorious Cross of life which is a prayer shrine after concluding her meeting with orphans, and was escorted by a female community member to the area, whom she told she needed a brief time to say her prayers in solitude.

However after it was discovered that Plaxedes car was still parked at the same spot where it was left, an alarm was raised and a search party was sent who met a man who said he saw Plaxedes a while ago acting like a mad person.

Not convinced by the mans statement, the search group decided to search through his belongings and found groceries which he claimed belonged to his sister. These groceries were the first link to Sister Plaxedess disappearance.

Her body showed signs of struggle including bruises, blisters and bleeding from the nose.

The man confessed to killing Plaxedes after which he hid her bloody clothes in a sack at Chido Mudzinyama Farm. He also confessed to dragging her body and tossing it in the dam in a bid to concealing the evidence. Plans are already under-way for the burial of Plaxedes, as the accused had since been handed over to the police.

Gistreel
A 50-year-old man, David Ekong, who allegedly had carnal knowledge of two of his stepdaughters was on Wednesday charged before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates Court.

The accused, a bricklayer, who resides at 30 Abule Oki St., Iyana Ipaja, a suburb of Lagos, is being tried for defilement, rape and assault.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Clifford Ogu told the court that the offences were committed on Sept. 2 and 4 at the accuseds residence.

Ogu said that the accused, who married the mother of the two girls, raped the first girl, 16, and defiled the second girl,12, on different days.

The accused threatened to kill them if they told their mother, the prosecutor said.

Ogu said that when the first girl resisted his advances some weeks after he raped her, the accused beat her to stupor.

It is then that the girl told her mother what the accused had been doing with her and her younger sister.

The mother reported the matter at the police station and the accused was arrested, he said.

The offences contravened Sections 135, 171 and 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Taiwo Akanni, committed the accused to a bail of N250,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Akanni adjourned the case till Nov. 21, for mention.

Source: (NAN)
The Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ahmed Makarfi, has told members of the party that the office of the national chairman of the party is open to all the three zones in the southern part of the country.

The three zones are South-West, South-South and South-East.

He spoke against the backdrop of rumours making the rounds that the office had been zoned to the South-West.

Makarfi gave the explanation in Abuja on Tuesday at a meeting he held with all the eight aspirants who have shown interest in the office. The meeting was held at the national headquarters of the party.

A former Governor of Oyo State, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, who just returned to the party, was at the meeting, which indicated that he would also be running for the position.

Ladoja returned to the party a few weeks ago.

He left the PDP to join Accord Party about eight years ago.

Also at the meeting were Chief Bode George, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Prince Uche Secondus, Chief Raymond Dokpesi and Chief Gbenga Daniel.

Before the meeting went into a closed-door session, Makarfi declared that his committee did not have the power to alter the zoning arrangements that had been agreed to by the national convention of the party.

At the national convention held in Port Harcourt in 2015, the party zoned the office of the national chairman to the southern part of the country, while the presidential slot was ceded to the northern part.

Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna State, told the aspirants that the decisions taken by the national convention of the PDP and its National Executive Committee could not be reversed by either him or the national caretaker of the party.

Makarfi said, We have no power beyond the convention and I want to remind all of us, the only thing the convention did was to zone two positions and as chairman or caretaker committee, you cannot go beyond that.

The office of the national chairman is zoned to the South while that of the president is for the North. No micro zoning.

Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, George, who spoke on behalf of the aspirants, said they had agreed to work together in the interest of the party.

He said, We had a very useful meeting with the NCC. We agreed that we will remain civil and educate our followers because it is a family contest. It is not a matter of life and death.

We have agreed and you can see us now holding our hands. There is no quarrel; let the best man win.

That is the spirit of the party; that is the spirit we are sending to the public because we want to win the minds and hearts of the public that we are better managers.
The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) has announced that it is making plans with the Nigeria Prisons Service to ensure that prisoners are allowed to vote in the 2019 general elections.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this in Abuja on Tuesday at a dialogue session with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room Dialogue  a coalition of over 70 civil society organisations in Nigeria.

The development comes three years after a Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State, ruled that prisoners in Nigeria have the right to vote in all elections conducted in the country.

The INEC boss said the commission was looking at the possibility of creating polling units in Nigerian prisons to allow some categories of inmates to vote.

He, however, said certain categories of prisoners would not be allowed to vote depending on the nature of the crimes they committed.

Yakubu said, We have already engaged the Comptroller-General of Prisons and we have statistics on the number of prisoners nationwide and the number of inmates that are registered. We are looking at the possibility of creating polling units in the prisons and to enable some categories of prisoners to vote.

Ghana does it but there are some categories of prisoners who by the nature of crimes committed lose the right to vote. Whatever we can do to open up the process to ensure that as much as possible Nigerians are given the opportunity to vote, will be done.

Also speaking on the forthcoming Anambra governorship election, the INEC boss said the commission would do everything to ensure that the election is not inconclusive.

Yakubu raised the alarm over the wrongful substitution of names of governorship candidates by two political parties ahead of the governorship election.

He regretted that the high level of non-compliance to the Electoral Act by the political parties was threatening the electoral system.

Although the INEC boss declined to name the parties involved in the wrongful substitution of candidates names, he warned that if the act was eventually challenged in court, the whole election could be voided on that account and the nation made to bear the financial brunt of conducting a fresh election.

The Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, and Convener of Situation Room, Clement Nwankwo, said the event was organised to find out the commissions preparations for the forthcoming Anambra State governorship poll as well as other elections update.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
A senior Pastor and General overseer at Favour of Anointing Ministries, based in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, posted photos of his bundles of cash and new car he got for himself.

A young Nigerian prophet identified as Ibe Victory a.k.a Gwogwo 1, who is the general overseer of Favour of Anointing Ministries in Rivers State, has taken to his social media page to show the world how much God has blessed him.

The young prophet whose church is located in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, flaunted bundles of Naira notes which were laid on a bed in a beautifully furnished bedroom.

Victory who also showed off the car he acquired on Tuesday, October 24, expressed that he got the car because he has only one life to live and went further to show how much God blessed him by flaunting bundles of money on his Facebook page.

See more photos below;
The many residents of Ubimini Community in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State have been gripped by serious fear.

This is following a threat letter reportedly sent to the community by a notorious cult in the area.

It was gathered that the dreaded cult gang had earlier attacked some neighbouring communities in the area before writing a letter to Ubimini last week to inform the residents of its plan to strike.

Southern City News reports that the elders and youths of the community had convened a series of meetings, strategising on how to address the threat.

It was gathered that the cultists, in the letter, informed residents of Ubimini of their plans to visit the community to hoist their flag, which would indicate their supremacy in the area.

Speaking to Southern City News, a source within the community privy to the letter, Mr. Elezer-Okwukwu Didia, said some residents of the community had begun to flee the area for fear of attack.

Didia expressed fear that if security operatives did not intervene urgently, the cultists might make good their threat.

He called on the security operatives to come to the aid of the community, adding that it would be wrong for cultists to take over the area.

Didia said, We got a letter from a cult group that they will come and pin their flag in our community. We dont know what that means. We are afraid. Since then, we have been living in fear. We want adequate security attention now.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, said he was not aware of the development.

Omoni, however, promised that he would get back to our correspondent as soon as he was briefed on the case by the Divisional Police Officer in the area.

But he had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.
Popular Yoruba actor, Tunde Owokoniran and his US-based wife, Oluwatunmise have welcomed their first child, a daughter. Tunde announced this via his Instagram page today, sharing a photo of them cuddling their baby girl after she was born. See his post below

Source: Linda Ikejis blog
Congratulations are in order for a woman who recently welcomed a set of quadruplets at a hospital in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The new mother and her babies (three male and one female) are said to be in good condition after the delivery.

Nationalhelm
Less than half of our planets surface is covered by land. The rest is water, and this environment is home to an enormous range of animal species, most of which remain undiscovered and thus have not yet been named.

A newly discovered species, Plenaster craigi, has turned out to be the most abundant species on the ocean floors. Its habitat is dominated by nodules, which are metal balls the size of grapefruits that have been formed over millions of years and that are found in most big oceans at depths of over 4 000 metres.

A new study involving researchers from the University of Gothenburg finds that, as deep-sea mining companies remove the nodules in order to extract the metals inside them, Plenaster craigi will probably disappear entirely from the affected areas.

Modern society, with its power lines and advanced batteries, has a great need for cobalt, nickel and copper, metals found in high concentrations in so-called polymetallic nodules on the Pacific seafloor in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, says Thomas Dahlgren from the Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg.

The sponge Plenaster craigi must filter the water to find small particles with nutrients and energy that after being formed at surface level several kilometres above have slowly fallen down to the bottom.

There is not a whole lot of material that makes it all the way to the bottom. Most of it gets eaten by zooplankton and small fish on its way down and is returned to the food web in the oceans upper sunlit layer. Consequently, Plenaster craigi must filter large amounts of water to survive. This makes it vulnerable to the sand and mud stirred up when the nodules are harvested and pumped the 4 000 metres to the collection barges waiting at the surface, says Dahlgren.

Since 2013 when the sponge was first discovered, the species has temporarily been referred to as Porifera sp. A. Following the recent species description (see link to the article below), the sponge has now been assigned a permanent name, Plenaster craigi.

Plenaster craigi is the only known species of the newly defined genus Plenaster, which means many stars. Craigi was included in the name to honour Professor Craig Smith at the University of Hawaii, who led the two expeditions during which the animal was first discovered and collected.

The new species can now be used to explore how deep-see mining of minerals affects an environment that has not been touched for billions of years.

Thomas Dahlgren from the University of Gothenburgs Department of Marine Sciences in Sweden and Uni Research in Norway participated in the study together with researchers from the National University of Singapore and the Natural History Museum in London.

Title: A new genus and species of abyssal sponge commonly encrusting polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, East Pacific Ocean.

The article is available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/14772000.2017.1358218?needAccess=true

Contact: Thomas Dahlgren, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, tel.: +46 (0)31 753 80 05, email: thomas.dahgren@marine.gu.se

http://science.gu.se/english/News/News_detail//marine-species-threatened-by-deep
Self-storage operators who are unfamiliar with Twitter might find themselves asking how it can help them grow their business. Many realize Facebook is a useful tool for marketing to todays consumer, but Twitter is even more valuable in some ways. The following explores Twitters relevance to the storage industry and how to take advantage of this growing social media platform.

The Basics: Tweets, Usernames and Hashtags

Twitter is an interesting beast, a quick-moving conversation. Each message, or tweet, is limited to 140 characters intended to travel swiftly through the Twitterverse. The length limitation forces users to think deliberately about what they want to post.

Due to the short and fast nature of Twitter, you wont be able to sit on the couch at night and catch up on everything that happened on the platform during the day. Tweets flow rapidly and are just as quickly replaced by new messages. You wont find a synopsis or timeline like you do on Facebook.

While anyone can read tweets, to post on Twitter, youll need a username, or handle. Always preceded by an @ symbol, your username is how youre identified on the platform. To create one, you can only use uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and the underscore character. For example, if your name is John Smith, you might choose @johnsmith or @john_smith. (There are many methods for choosing a username. Simply Google choose Twitter username for guidance.)

Twitter is well-known for the use of hashtags. A hashtag is a wordor a phrase all connected as a single wordwith a pound sign (number sign) at the front, for example, #selfstorage, #fashion, #photooftheday and #followme. Hashtags are used to group like ideas, which allows Twitter users to search and find related content. For example, if someone is interested in reading tweets about self-storage, he can simply search on the #selfstorage hashtag and find all connected posts. He can then choose to join a conversation.

If youre a self-storage operator, a good way to get started on the platform is to read all the #selfstorage posts to see what people are saying about the industry. This will also allow you to see whos talking about the business, which could be a useful tool for finding potential new tenants (more on this later).

Customer Service

Twitter isnt just a place to post memes about #MondayMotivation. Its the social media platform for customer service. Unsatisfied customers go to Twitter to get help when they have an issue with a brand. Many of the larger companies have Twitter profiles specifically to assist with help-related concerns. For example, cable giant Comcast has one Twitter profile for the company in general (@comcast) and another specifically for customer service (@comcastcares). Many studies have shown that the cost of conflict resolution on Twitter is significantly less expensive than using a call center.

Its imperative for any business to be available to respond to customer concerns on Twitter. If you dont, the world will see your lack of attention. With the U.S. consumer base now being dominated by Millennials, its more important than ever to establish a digital voice.

Twitter is different from Facebook because people can talk about your company without you being a part of the conversation. On Facebook, if someone wants to leave you a bad review or a comment, you must first have a page on which they can post it. With Twitter, people can simply create a hashtag about your company and its poor service, which would be available for any searcher for the foreseeable future.

Knowing how valuable the platform is for customer service, Twitter has begun implementing features that make it easier for businesses to connect with clients. For example, it recently added the ability to direct-message a favorite brand, which allows people to express concerns privately and without the 140-character limit of a typical tweet. This flexibility makes it much easier to explain a situation and offer solutions.

Another feature is Customer Feedback, a rating system allows users to rate a company using a scale of one to 10 and provide a small amount of feedback. The information is then visible to any Twitter user searching on a brands username.

Lead Generation

The Twitter search functions (simple and advanced) allow you to find people who are talking about #selfstorage. It also allows potential customers to find your business. You can see what people are saying about the industry and what features and benefits might be important to them. Most important, you can poll your audience without the click of a button. You then know what you need to entice prospects away from the competition.

Community Involvement

Twitter users are a genuine community of like-minded individuals. Think it as a digital chamber-of-commerce event. You can find people in your geographic community and connect with them, or discover local events you might want to attend. By seeing whats trending on Twitter, you can tailor your posts to include content that will resonate with users.

You can also connect with other self-storage operators and can see what theyre posting, share ideas and learn from one another. On Facebook, users must comment on your page to start a dialogue. Twitter doesnt impose this limitation. A business account operates mainly the same as a personal account. This free-flowing style of conversation allows you to communicate better and establish deeper connections.

Twitter Ads

Twitter ads allow you to promote tweets about your business to people who might be interested in what you have to offer. You can even target your ad to those whove already expressed an interest in self-storage. In an event-driven business like ours, finding a willing audience is often difficult. Thus, Twitter ads can be an excellent option. In addition to being valuable, theyre inexpensive. You can place ads for as little as $5 per day.

Twitter isnt a platform you can look at once a day and put out of your mind, but checking in a few times a day takes mere seconds. For a small investment of time, you can find customers who might want to talk to or rent from you. Thats an opportunity no self-storage operator should be willing to lose.

Cheli Rosa is director of marketing for StorageStuff.Bid, which provides online storage-auction services. Shes a former high school teacher turned storage professional turned auctioneer. Shes worked in all areas of self-storage. Her constant desire for additional knowledge led her to immerse herself in the lien-foreclosure process. For more information, call 877.758.4243; visit www.storagestuff.bid. Find her on Twitter as @Chelirosa.
National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSAT), a Maryland real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in self-storage, has acquired an A+ Mini Storage facility in Navarre, Fla. The facility at 7030 Navarre Parkway comprises 91,825 rentable square feet in 751 units, according to a press release from the Argus Self Storage Sales Network (ASSSN), a national network of real estate brokers, which helped broker the deal.

Navarre is on the Florida Panhandle near Pensacola. A+ Mini has 10 remaining facilities in the southeastern portion of the state.

The seller, W.M. Bell & Co. of Santa Rosa County LLC, was represented in the deal by Shannon Barnhill Barnes and Bill Barnhill, both affiliates of ASSSN and brokers with Omega Properties Inc., a Mobile, Ala., real estate services firm. Barnes and Barnhill represent the Gulf Coast for ASSSN.

ASSSN is a Denver-based network of real estate brokers who specialize in storage properties. Formed in 1994, the company has 36 broker affiliates covering nearly 40 markets.

Headquartered in Greenwood, Colo., NSAT is a self-administered and -managed REIT focused on the acquisition, operation and ownership of self-storage properties within the top 100 U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas throughout the United States. The company has ownership interest in 483 storage facilities in 28 states. Its portfolio comprises approximately 30 million net rentable square feet. It's owned by its affiliate operators, who are contributing their interests in their self-storage assets over the next few years as their current mortgage debt matures.
The New York Department of Financial Services has launched an investigation into the National Rifle Associations (NRA) part in an insurance program marketed at firearms owners.The financial regulator is concerned about whether or not the firearms-advocacy group is properly promoting the policy  called the NRA Carry Guard  and if the group is receiving commissions without proper licensing.Wall Street Journal reported that the department issued a subpoena yesterday to the NRA, requesting documents and information on the insurance program. The program was launched last April.Under the Carry Guard program, policyholders can receive $250,000 to $1.5 million of insurance protection. The policy also covers legal fees and access to emergency support services for self-defense cases, which includes a lawyer-referral network.On top of the subpoena, the Department of Financial Services also sent a letter to units of Chubb , the issuer of the Carry Guard policies. Another subpoena was delivered to Lockton Companies . According to a press release by NRA in April, Chubb underwrites the insurance while Lockton serves as administrator for the program.Chubb told WSJ that it has received the regulators letter and would provide a timely response.Meanwhile, a Lockton spokesman said that Lockton Affinity is cooperating fully with the department and that Lockton Affinity is properly licensed.
The insurance industry needs to do much more to attract millennials, according to one top executive.



Speaking at the recent Insurance Risk & Capital Conference, Jonathan Reiss, group chief financial officer for Hamilton Insurance Group, said the insurance industrys appeal to young people was woeful. That needed to change, Reiss said, in order to attract fresh blood to the business.



How can the industry attract millennials? Find out at IBAs Millennials in Insurance Master Class!



(Hamiltons) former CEO, Brian Duperreault, once said insurance should be catnip to the millennial generation, who care so much about having a job that makes a difference, Reiss said. But in most of the world, our image is woeful. In the US and the UK, less than 5% of high school and college undergrads even consider a career in insurance.



Reiss said younger insurance professionals are sorely needed as the industrys top players age out of the business.



Celebrate excellence in insurance. Join us at the Insurance Business Awards in Chicago.



In the US, theres a looming talent crisis as more than 300,000 managers approach retirement in the next three years, he said. No-one is clamoring to take their place.



Reiss said recruiting millennials was especially important since the industry needed employees with technology skills, according to a Royal Gazette report.





Related stories:

10 ways to attract Millennials to insurance

Insurance industry is terrific future for young people: Patrick G. Ryan
Meadowbrook Insurance Group has announced that it is changing its name to AmeriTrust Group.AmeriTrust is led by a new management team, which has been in place since November of 2016. The company also plans to increase its business by maximizing the distribution channels through which its customers can purchase insurance products, it said in a news release.This corporate name change turns the page toward the future, said Kenn R. Allen, AmeriTrust president and CEO. It reflects the trust our clients have in our ability to provide best-in-class service, support and insurance solutions, as we have done in America for the past 62 years. We are committed to providing that trust for decades to come.The names of the insurance subsidiaries owned and operated by AmeriTrust will remain the same, the company said. These subsidiaries include Meadowbrook Insurance Agency, Mackinaw Administrators, Ameritrust Insurance Corporation, Century Surety Company, ProCentury Insurance Company, Savers Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Star Insurance Company, and Williamsburg National Insurance Company.Our growth plans include acquisitions of insurance carriers and retail and wholesale insurance agencies, Allen said. Having recently centralized our core risk-management functions, including underwriting, claims and loss-control services, we have created a platform for growth as AmeriTrust Group.AmeriTrust Group will operate as the US-based insurance holding company for Chinese firm Fosun International Limited.
The insurance landscape has changed dramatically with the emergence of new technologies and widespread digitization. Customers are demanding speed and efficiency and will cut their business at the drop of a hat if theyre denied a seamless digital experience.Engaging with digital trends and embracing insurtech capabilities are essential in todays marketplace. Insurers and brokers alike are working towards the same goal of increased productivity and seamless customer experience, according to Henning Haagen, Northeast Zone Leader of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty ( AGCS ).In the last couple of years, there has been a major shift towards using digital capabilities to improve client and customer experience and to boost underwriting processes and data-driven conclusions, Haagen told Insurance Business.Embracing digitization impacts how we are able to process business. Automating how we access clients, quote, bind, process claims and manage premium payments is vitally important. If we dont do that, then we will ultimately lose out in the future.The end customer has a greed for speed. Both personal and commercial lines clients expect almost instantaneous quotes from various carriers when they approach a broker or go insurance shopping online. Swift responses and a smooth buying experience are the trend at the moment, according to Haagen.One way AGCS is adapting to meet client needs is through strategic partnerships. The specialist carrier for corporate business has recently connected with three insurtech companies  Praedicat, Cyence and Zeguro  to elevate both its underwriting capabilities and product/service offerings.We partnered with Cyence to help with the modelling of our cyber underwriting processes, said Haagen. We can use Cyences cyber analytics platform to better assess cyber exposures at a company level for large businesses. This partnership helps us to be smarter with our underwriting, assess risks in a better way and ultimately offer the best solutions to our clients.Weve also partnered up with Zeguro, an expert in cyber consultancy for small and medium-sized enterprises. Some smaller corporations cant afford their own IT departments, so Zeguro can advise those clients and help them to reduce their cyber exposures via training and awareness campaigns.AGCS is hitting innovation on all fronts. It recently launched AllianzGo, an online tool for SME businesses, which gives brokers the ability to rate, quote and issue policies, submit claims and generate portfolio reports  all online.Intermediaries like brokers and agents can think about innovation both internally and externally via beneficial partnerships. They can also increase their dialogue with insurers to improve the insurance experience and make sure that all systems are talking to each other and are interlinked, Haagen added.
As the mandatory electronic logging device (ELD) rule implementation nears, the trucking industry is preparing for the transition from paper logbooks to digitized records.The ELD rule, congressionally mandated as a part of MAP-21 and set for implementation on December 18, is meant to help create a safer work environment for truck operators. It also hopes to make it easier and faster for operators to precisely track, manage, and share records of duty status (RODS) data.Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) office of enforcement and compliance director Joe DeLorenzo explained that while the enforcement of the new rule will not change the Hours of Service enforcement, it would have new requirements on how workdays are tracked.Citations and warnings will be issued to those truck operators who do not conform to the ELD requirements. On December 18, the ELDs will begin tracking hours of service violations by the minute.Technically theres never been wiggle room, said Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) executive director Collin Mooney said, adding that all violations found at the roadside will be documented.DeLorenzo said that the FMCSA will not be concerned by one violation detected in a day. Multiple violations picked up by an ELD, however, will call for compliance reviews.There are exceptions to the rule. Trucking companies that operate with a 160-kilometer radius and do not require a logbook are exempted from utilizing ELDs. Drivers required to prepare a RODS for eight or fewer days in any 30-day period can also stick to using paper logbooks. Trucks that are rented for eight or less days will also be allowed to use paper logs.Paper logs are also going to be accepted in truck that have pre-2000 model year engines, Todays Trucking reported.The CVSA will begin trainer sessions next week to allow state representatives to learn more about ELDs.
Small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) are ideal targets for cyberattacks, according to a new whitepaper from Chubb.



The whitepaper, authored by Chubb with insurtech company CoverHound and cybersecurity firm Symantec, found that smaller businesses shouldnt think themselves immune to cybercrime.



While SME owners are aware of cybercrime, they often see themselves as too small to attract such attacks or dont see themselves as a gateway to large cyber threats, said Anita Sathe, chief strategy officer at CoverHound. When it comes to hacking, SMEs vulnerability and state of unpreparedness make them a perfect target.



Cyber criminals can easily pinpoint SMEs with few cybersecurity measures in place, which makes the risk of a cyberattack too great to ignore, said Patrick Thielen, senior vice president of Chubbs financial lines division. Companies can create their very own cyber risk management programs, but before anything, they need to identify what areas of their internal system are vulnerable to a breach.



SMEs can take simple steps to help protect against data breaches, the whitepaper said. These steps include:

Developing and enforcing a formal, written password policy

Educating employees about cybersecurity vigilance

Updating IT equipment and monitoring computer networks

Creating a cyber incident response plan

Purchasing cyber insurance



Although SMEs dont often think they are a target for cyber criminals, according to Symantecs 2016 Internet Security Threat Report, small businesses now comprise 43% of all spear phishing attacks  up from 18% in 2011, said Pascal Millaire, Symantecs vice president for cyber insurance.





Related stories:

Hospital loses $10m to cyberattack, but brokers recommendation saves the day

The new approach to mitigating cyber risk


by Chris Davies



The inaugural Insurance Business America Awards are fast approaching! We caught up with a selection of finalists and asked them to tell their stories.



Today its the turn of Robert Klinger, President and CEO of Klinger Insurance Group and finalist for both the Award for Diversity & Inclusion and the Award for Employer of Choice for 100 Employees or Fewer



Insurance Business: Tell the world about yourself! Whats your ultra-quick biography?



Robert Klinger: I am the President and CEO of Klinger Insurance Group, which I founded in 1993. Klinger Insurance Group offers personalized, expert service to individuals and businesses in the Washington, DC area and in 15 states across the country, and has been doing so for the past 24 years.



I served in the United States Army for 20 years, and served as an Infantry Commander for the 1st Infantry Division under the Big Red 1. Before I retired from the military in 2008, I was wounded in combat and received a Purple Heart. While recovering, I continued to grow my insurance agency, as I was even more determined to make sure my clients and future clients received the service and coverage they needed to protect their families, their personal insurance needs, and their business insurance needs.



Celebrate excellence in insurance. Join us at the Insurance Business Awards in Chicago.



I have joined many of the insurance industrys major associations, and have served in leadership positions on their boards. I am both a board of directors member and the treasurer of the American Insurance Marketing and Sales Society, and I serve the Disabled Veterans Insurance Careers as the regional director for Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. I am a former national director for the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents, past chairman of Insurance Agents & Brokers, and a member of the Member Agent Panel under Insurance Agents & Brokers. I sit on the boards of several organizations so that I may take part in important decision-making and lobbying, allowing me to stay up-to-date on what is happening in the insurance industry. I strive to be a mentor to my clients, employees, interns, and others.



I enjoy getting involved in and around my community, devoting time and funds to help local charities and provide scholarships to minority students. Several of the organizations that Klinger Insurance Group volunteers with include Operation Second Chance, Manna Food Center and the Smart Snacks Program, KindWorks, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Frederick Soup Kitchen, Hire Our Heroes, and Wreaths Across America.



IB: What have been the highs and lows of your journey through the industry?

RK: When I was deployed to Iraq and had to leave my business behind, I did not know if I would ever come back. After I was injured and spent time recovering at Walter Reed, I tried my best to hang on to my business. I quickly learned who my faithful employees and clients were, which gave me the strength I needed to recover and return to my business with the drive to do more for my clients, my community, and my country.



When you first start out as an independent agent, you work very hard to get appointments with insurance carriers. After you prove yourself, it is no longer an issue - once you form niche markets and your independent agency is profitable, it is easy to make money for insurance carriers and provide amazing customer service. It becomes difficult, however, when insurance carriers pull out of niche markets because they are no longer profitable, or because they have pulled out of other states and therefore affected the overall program.



When I started out, I wanted to do so much more for my clients and employees, but did not have the financial resources to do so. Now, I am proud to be able to give back to my clients, my employees, my community, and my country. It is amazing to be able to give back to so many organizations over the years, and to make a difference in peoples lives through charity or through covering a loss that was devastating. I strive to be cutting-edge, using advances in our industry on a daily basis, and providing amazing service to our clients each day.



IB: What do you define as success  and how did you get it?



RK: Success is having and maintaining an all-around balance in your life. Maintaining good health and focus allows you to lead a balanced life, where you are able to do more for your family, your industry, your company, your staff, your community, and your country. Success is all about what you do and how you make a difference in the lives of others.



It is essential to be a good role model for your child, and to always be there. It is important to be a good employer and a great leader. It is fulfilling to be able to give back to your community and your countryI initiated a Foundation so that I could give back to organizations in my community financially, and I served for 20 years in the United States Army, giving back to my country.



Each day, you move the ball forward and push a bit more. You need to set goals and have timelines in place. Watching myself and my company meet and surpass goals that I have set is an amazing experience. It is an honor to be recognized for our accomplishments, and to serve on boards that allow me to give back to our industry.



IB: What does your IBA finalist status mean to you?



RK: Klinger Insurance Groups IBA finalist status for both the Award for Diversity & Inclusion and the Award for Employer of Choice for 100 Employees or Fewer is humbling. Being recognized among my peers in our industry for the past 24 years has been incredible. My individual accomplishments have never been about me - they are all about my amazing staff and the relationships that I have with my clients. As an independent insurance agency, being recognized as an IBA finalist up against major insurance carriers puts you in awe. While we may not be able to compete in premium, my staff competes with their heart and soul through their commitment to providing our clients with the best possible customer service each and every day. This recognition is a symbol to my peers in our industry that they, too, can make a major difference in our industry and in our communities.



IB: How great does it feel to be part of the insurance community?



RK: It has been an amazing ride so far. I love everything that we stand for - there is no other profession out there that does what we do. We sell something intangible - something that you cannot wear, drive or taste - but it is a promise that, when something bad happens, we are there to keep families together, to keep businesses running, and to bring people back to the way they were before the tragedy. When bad things happen, most industries continue to send bills. But our industry sends a promise. We are the ones who pay the bills and rebuild lives. We are the supermen and women of our industry. When you love what you do, it is not work.



IB: What are your celebration plans if you win big on the night?



RK: I have never been one to party as a form of celebration. I always try to live my life humbly, knowing where I came from and where I am now. I reflect back on what this industry has given to my family and my employees, and what this industry has allowed me to give back to my clients, my community, and my country. If Klinger Insurance Group wins the Award for Diversity & Inclusion or the Award for Employer of Choice for 100 Employees or Fewer, this will be a reflection. I work hard to be an ambassador in our industry, to inspire young agents to dream big and achieve big, and to give back and continue to help those in need. To thank my mother for all that she does and has done for me, and for instilling in me the drive to do more for my community and my country, I will take her out to a nice restaurant in celebration.
European Union President Donald Tusk revived the notion that the U.K. will stay in the bloc after all, as British Prime Minister Theresa May struggles with persistent splits in her government.

Speaking 16 months to the day since Europeans woke up to the news that Britons voted to leave the EU, Tusk said the outcome of negotiations on a Brexit accord is fully in the U.K. governments hands. He signaled the scenarios include no departure from the bloc as scheduled in March 2019.

It is in fact up to London how this will end  with a good deal, no deal or no Brexit, Tusk, who chairs EU summits, told the European Parliament on Tuesday in Strasbourg, France. But in each of these scenarios we will protect our common interests only by being together.

The comment reveals a consensus across the EU that Brexit is a colossal mistake for the U.K., a major headache for the continent and a choice that Britons could reverse if only they can muster the political courage. It also reflects a lingering view in Europe that an anti-EU faction in Mays Conservative Party led by the likes of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is holding the whole country hostage.

Separation talks between the U.K and its 27 EU partners have progressed much more slowly than had been anticipated, preventing the start of parallel negotiations on a future free-trade deal between the EU and Britain and on transitional arrangements. The bloc denies the delays have been caused by any uncooperative attitude by Brussels officials, saying Londons refusal to agree on a method to settle the divorce bill is to blame.

Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the European Commission, the EUs executive arm conducting the Brexit talks with London, told students on Monday in Strasbourg that the June 23, 2016, U.K. referendum in which 52 percent of Britons voted to leave the bloc was a tragedy.

On Tuesday in the EU Parliament, Juncker said his negotiating team was working to ensure Britain doesnt crash out of the bloc without an agreement.

The commission is not negotiating in a hostile mood, he said. Those who dont want a deal, the no-dealers  they have no friends in the commission.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Europe London
RMS, the Newark, Calif.-based global risk modeling and analytics firm, has opened a new office in Sydney, Australia, as part of its drive to support clients expansion in the Australian and New Zealand markets.

The focus will be to help re/insurers with the adoption of new models and to advise the regions superannuation funds as they invest in insurance-linked securities (ILS).

The offices managing director is Dr. Pierre Wiart, who will be responsible for client relationships and market development in Australia and New Zealand.

Discussing RMS modeling capability for this region, Wiart said the companys earthquake HD model for New Zealand has been offering clients advanced insights into seismic risk since it was released last year. In addition, the cyclone and earthquake models for Australia will be updated next year, he noted.

My task is to make clients adoption seamless and help them underwrite the best book of business, based upon best-in-class models, Wiart continued.

Wiart started his career in catastrophe risk modeling in 2000 at RMS, before working for Aon, White Mountains Re in Bermuda, SCOR, QIC and IAG Re. His experience includes managing funds and providing consultancy in the ILS sector.

This is an expertise he will bring to investors in Australia and New Zealand who are looking to diversify into catastrophe risk, further strengthening RMS capital markets specialism in Asia-Pacific. He is also committed to driving forward the RMS agenda to help the industry close the protection gap, focusing on resilient solutions for the public and private sectors alike.

Its great to have Pierre back on board at RMS. Over the past decade he has gained experience across the international insurance industry, as well as with alternative capital and ILS, said Paul Burgess, RMS regional vice president, client development in Asia-Pacific. This insight will help RMS better support clients in the Australian and New Zealand markets, not only in property lines but in emerging classes of risk such as cyber.

In addition to Sydney, RMS other offices in the Asia-Pacific region are in Delhi, Beijing, Tokyo and Singapore.

Source: RMS

Topics Australia
The Clark County coroner and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the death of a worker at a southern Indiana auto parts manufacturing plant.

The coroners office says 44-year-old Melissa Stephens suffered multiple blunt force trauma in an accident involving a machine Saturday night at the Autoneum North America plant in Jeffersonville.

The Swiss-based company released a statement confirming the death and saying it has begun an internal investigation. It says it is committed to the highest local and international occupational health and safety standards.

Autoneums Toledo, Ohio, plant was fined nearly $570,000 in May following the amputation of an employees hand, wrist and part of his forearm. It was cited for three willful violations, meaning the company was aware of them, and two repeated violations.

Topics Auto Indiana Manufacturing
Residents of a Lincoln, Nebraska, neighborhood have expressed frustration with flooding they blame on a public schools renovation and expansion.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Lincoln Public Schools began a major renovation two years ago of a 1950s-era building that reopened last year as the Nuernberger Education Center, a program for middle school students with behavior problems. The $6.7 million project led to flooding in residential properties and several frustrated homeowners.

I really wasnt too worried about it at the same, said homeowner Mason Adams of the first time he saw flooding in his yard. But after it happened a few more times  

District officials told residents last year that the flooding would end when construction finished because of several design elements created to redirect water. But homeowners said its only been exacerbated.

When (the LPS property) was all torn up and there was no grass and there was flooding early on  we said, Be patient. Its a good design and when its done the solution will work, said Scott Wieskamp, director of operations for the district. Obviously, it didnt.

Wieskamp said the district wants to find a solution.

Thats going to be a process (for them) to regain our trust, he said. They want us to admit ownership and weve done that. I think we need to stay on top of it.

Engineers hired by the district this spring recommended running a drain along the fence line of several residential properties to direct water to a pipe they would install under Adams backyard. Residents last week opposed the solution, saying officials should offer more than one option.

I dont think you know how close this neighborhood is, said Krissy Divis, a mail carrier in the area. Nobody here is going to let you come in and take Masons property.

Residents want a solution that involves district property and not their own, but district officials said they worry that wont solve the flooding.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Flood
Banks, credit card issuers and other financial companies will be able to block customers from banding together to sue over disputes, after the U.S. Senate on Tuesday narrowly killed a rule banning the firms from using forced arbitration clauses.

Republican Vice President Mike Pence appeared on the Senate floor at 10:11 p.m. EDT (0211 GMT) to cast the tie-breaking vote as the chambers president and approve the most significant roll-back of Obama-era financial policy since President Donald Trump took office vowing to loosen the leash on Wall Street. The final count was 51 to 50.

The Republican-dominated House of Representatives has already passed the resolution repealing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule released in July. The resolution also bars regulators from instituting a similar ban in the future.

After a signature from Trump, expected soon, the resolution will abruptly end a years-long fight that has included multiple federal regulators, consumer advocacy groups, and financial lobbyists.

CFPB Director Richard Cordray, a Democrat appointed by former President Barack Obama, rarely comments on congressional action but on Tuesday night said Wall Street won and ordinary people lost.

This vote means the courtroom doors will remain closed for groups of people seeking justice and relief when they are wronged by a company, he added.

Customers must agree to the clauses as a condition of opening accounts, saying they will take any disputes to closed-door arbitration instead of joining class action lawsuits, where complainants band together to share litigation costs. The clauses are used for nearly every U.S. consumer product and service since the Supreme Court ruled them legal in 2011.

Victims of the Equifax Inc. hack were outraged last month when the company included forced arbitration fine print in offering them free credit monitoring. The company later removed the clauses.

At the same time, Wells Fargo & Co. customers whose identities were used in last years phony accounts scandal have had difficulty suing the bank because they are bound by arbitration clauses in contracts they signed for legitimate accounts. The CFPB rule, set to go into effect next spring, was not retroactive and would not have helped Equifax or Wells customers.

Members of Trumps administration have relentlessly assailed the regulation, and on Monday the Treasury Department laid out arguments against it in a special report.

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Keith Norieka said on Tuesday the Senates action stopped a rule that would have likely increased the cost of credit for hardworking Americans and made it more difficult for small community banks to resolve differences with their customers.

Meanwhile, major bank lobbying groups who sued last month to block the rule cheered the resolutions passage.

One of the groups, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said congress had reined in the overgrown and unaccountable CFPB, an independent agency created to protect individuals finances that conservatives say consistently reaches beyond its authority in its rulemaking.

Critics of the rule had said class actions only benefit trial lawyers and arbitration generally wins larger settlement awards for customers. Supporters said forced arbitration harms customers by putting companies in control of the process and taking away the right to sue enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

The CFPB created its rule after conducting a five-year study that found customers struggle to have banks open arbitration cases about their complaints, but that those few cases have led to slightly higher individual awards than class actions.

The Senate today prevented a cash grab that would have transferred wealth from consumers to the pockets of wealthy attorneys, said Ted Frank, director of the center for class action fairness at the free-market group Competitive Enterprise Institute.

Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, the most senior Democrat on the Banking Committee, meanwhile, said Tuesdays vote will make the rich richer, and the powerful more powerful.

(Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Paul Tait and Muralikumar Anantharaman)

Topics Lawsuits USA Legislation
The Senate sent President Donald Trump a $36.5 billion hurricane relief bill Tuesday that gives Puerto Rico access to $4.9 billion in low-interest Treasury loans, amid concerns that recovery efforts from the recent disasters will require significantly more funding.

The measure, passed 82-17, also would replenish the troubled National Flood Insurance Program, which runs out of money as early as this week.

The vote followed a failed push by Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas to insert more disaster recovery aid into the bill for his state, hit hard by flooding from Hurricane Harvey in late August. Democrat Bill Nelson of Florida also pushed unsuccessfully for up to $3 billion more for his states citrus industry. Cornyn told reporters Trump assured him that the White House would request the funds for Texas in November.

We are all committed to meeting the need that has arisen because of these devastating hurricanes, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said during floor debate Monday.

The House passed the bill on a 353-69 vote Oct. 12, and Trump is expected to sign it.

Puerto Ricos governor, Ricardo Rossello, met with Trump at the White House on Oct. 19 to discuss recovery efforts. Rossello pressed Trump for $4.6 billion in recovery assistance on top of the amount provided in the Senate bill. Trump said he deserved a perfect score for his handling of Hurricane Maria, for which he has been criticized.

Low-Interest Loans

The measure, H.R. 2266, calls for $18.7 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including $4.9 billion for low-interest loans to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico is seeking the loans to avert an Oct. 31 government shutdown due to a dwindling cash balance.

The U.S. territory of 3.4 million people has been operating in bankruptcy since May, which makes it difficult  if not impossible  for the government to borrow on its own. The devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria is threatening to exaggerate the financial crisis that had already pushed the island into a series of record-setting defaults on its $74 billion of debt.

The bill provides $16 billion in debt relief to the National Flood Insurance Program, which FEMA has said will run out of money as early as this week without action by Congress.

If that happened, the program would be unable to make claims payments to people whose homes have been damaged by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria or Nate, or other disasters.The federal government cant borrow more money from the U.S. Treasury to pay those claims because Congress has limited the flood programs borrowing authority to $30.4 billion, which it has now reached.

The bill also would provide $576.5 million for fighting wildfires in the West. The House passed the measure after new wildfires broke out that devastated northern Californias wine country.

Texas, Florida

Texas Republican Senators Ted Cruz and Cornyn sought an additional $18.7 billion in rebuilding funds and threatened to hold up passage of the bill until they got assurances from the White House the money would be requested in November.

Nelson said he was disappointed that Florida didnt receive additional funding in this measure.

Im disappointed that the president has nixed the disaster money for Floridas citrus growers, Nelson said in a statement. He said it will be included in a November supplemental instead.

The next round of disaster aid in the House could face some resistance from conservatives.

The conservative groups Heritage Action, Freedomworks and Club for Growth urged members to vote against the bill when it came up in the House.

Natural disasters are predictable  we know with 100 percent certainty that they will occur in the future. So fiscally responsible stewards of American tax dollars should plan accordingly, the Club for Growth said in a statement Thursday.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Catastrophe USA Florida Texas Flood Hurricane Politics
A non-partisan federal watchdog says climate change is already costing U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars each year, with those costs expected to rise as devastating storms, floods, wildfires and droughts become more frequent in the coming decades.

A Government Accountability Office report (Information on Potential Economic Effects Could Help Guide Federal Efforts to Reduce Fiscal Exposure) said the federal government has spent more than $350 billion over the last decade on disaster assistance programs and losses from flood and crop insurance. That tally does not include the massive toll from this years three major hurricanes and wildfires, expected to be among the most costly in the nations history.

The report predicts these costs will only grow in the future, potentially reaching a budget busting $35 billion a year by 2050. The report says the federal government doesnt effectively plan for these recurring costs, classifying the financial exposure from climate-related costs as high risk.

The federal government has not undertaken strategic government-wide planning to manage climate risks by using information on the potential economic effects of climate change to identify significant risks and craft appropriate federal responses, the study said. By using such information, the federal government could take the initial step in establishing government-wide priorities to manage such risks.

GAO undertook the study following a request from Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

This nonpartisan GAO report Senator Cantwell and I requested contains astonishing numbers about the consequences of climate change for our economy and for the federal budget in particular, said Collins. In Maine, our economy is inextricably linked to the environment. We are experiencing a real change in the sea life, which has serious implications for the livelihoods of many people across our state, including those who work in our iconic lobster industry.

The reports authors reviewed 30 government and academic studies examining the national and regional impacts of climate change. They also interviewed 28 experts familiar with the strengths and limitations of the studies, which rely on future projections of climate impacts to estimate likely costs.

The report says the fiscal impacts of climate change are likely to vary widely by region. The Southeast is at increased risk because of coastal property that could be swamped by storm surge and sea level rise. The Northeast is also under threat from storm surge and sea level rise, though not as much as the Southeast.

The Midwest and Great Plains are susceptible to decreased crop yields, the report said. The west is expected to see increased drought, wildfires and deadly heatwaves.

Advance copies were provided to the White House and the Environmental Protection Agency, which provided no official comments for inclusion in the GAO report.

Requests for comment from The Associated Press also received no response on Monday.

President Donald Trump has called climate change a hoax, announcing his intent to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accords and revoke Obama-era initiatives to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Trump has also appointed officials such as EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, all of whom question the scientific consensus that carbon released into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels is the primary driver of global warming.

Earlier this month Trump nominated Kathleen Hartnett White of Texas to serve as his top environmental adviser at the White House. She has credited the fossil fuel industry with vastly improved living conditions across the world and likened the work of mainstream climate scientists to the dogmatic claims of ideologues and clerics.

White, who works at a conservative think tank that has received funding from fossil-fuel companies, holds academic degrees in East Asian studies and comparative literature.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Trends Wildfire Climate Change Pollution
New Orleans celebrity chef John Besh stepped down from management of the restaurant group that bears his name after a newspaper reported that 25 women who are current or former employees of the business said they were victims of sexual harassment by male co-workers and bosses.

New Orleans media outlets said Beshs departure from the business he co-owns was announced to employees on Oct. 23.

John has decided to step down from all aspects of operations and to provide his full focus on his family, Shannon White, the woman who is stepping in as CEO, said in an email to staff.

The allegations were published Saturday by NOLA.comThe Times Picayune after an eight-month investigation. Women interviewed said male bosses in the Besh Restaurant Group touched or verbally harassed them and, in a few cases, tried to leverage positions of authority for sex.

Besh acknowledged a sexual relationship with an employee, saying in a written statement to NOLA.comThe Times-Picayune that it was consensual, despite the womans assertions in a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that she felt pressured.

The allegations came to light in a time when sexual harassment allegations have been made against other famous men, including Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, the late Fox News executive Roger Ailes and comedian Bill Cosby.

Repercussions from the Besh story were being felt even before the allegations were published. Last month, Alon Shaya, a star chef who rose up through the Besh Group ranks, was dismissed as executive chef at Domenica, Pizza Domenica and his critically acclaimed namesake restaurant, Shaya.

Shaya had contacted NOLA.com in August regarding his concerns on how sexual harassment allegations were handled. I do feel like I was fired for talking  and for standing up, Shaya said in a follow-up interview Oct. 17.

Current and former staff, meanwhile, said in the article and in social media that Shaya did not do enough to stop sexual harassment at the restaurants he ran.

On Sunday, Harrahs New Orleans Casino said it was severing ties with Besh and would rename its Besh Steak restaurant in the casino.

Nine women interviewed for the NOLA.com story agreed to the use of their names, including Madie Robison.

After being immersed in the culture of the company, I realize my morals and values do not align with the daily practices, Robison wrote in a resignation email, sent to Besh, his business partner Octavio Mantilla and others.

In multiple interviews, Robisons complaints included persistent, sexualized comments from peers and supervisors. Robison claimed she also endured the uninvited touching of Mantilla for almost the entirety of her two years at the Besh Group.

Mantilla said he doesnt remember touching Robison. I dont remember touching her at all, not on intention or anything, he said.

A Besh Group spokesman said none of the thousands of current or former employees has ever filed an internal complaint alleging sexual harassment in the companys 12 years of existence. Besh and Mantilla said during an Oct. 16 interview that in the past the company had lacked a human resources department to process such claims. The company has one now  its first ever director of human resources took the job Oct. 11, the spokesman told NOLA.com.

In his separate, written statement to NOLA.com, Besh said he was working to rebuild my marriage and publicly apologized to employees who found my behavior as unacceptable as I do.

I alone am entirely responsible for my moral failings, he added. This is not the way the head of a company like ours should have acted, let alone a husband and father.

Raymond Landry, an attorney for the restaurant group, gave the news outlet a written statement as well, not mentioning specific allegations, but saying the company is implementing a better procedure for receiving and dealing with complaints.

While weve had a complaint procedure in place that complies with all existing laws, we now recognize that, as a practical matter, we needed to do more than what the law requires and we have revamped our training, education and procedures accordingly, Landrys statement said.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Emergency managers say an Oklahoma casino had part of its roof torn off by an EF1 tornado during a concert that the states governor was attending.

The twister touched down in Cleveland County, one of several counties where National Weather Service officials were surveying damage after reports of as many as four tornadoes late Saturday. No injuries were reported.

Part of the Riverwind Casinos roof was ripped off in Norman during a Beach Boys concert Saturday. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, who was among those attending the show, told KWTV that there was this huge flood of rain coming through the roof and she had to be evacuated from the casino twice.

Casino operators said in a statement that they had no time to alert guests before the storm hit the property because it happened at the same time that the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for the area. The casino has no electricity and parts of the property are closed off while repairs are made, spokeswoman Kym Koch said. Reservations were canceled through at least Tuesday, she said.

Like all Oklahomans, we know that weather events such as this can hit without warning and unfortunately, that is what happened at Riverwind last night, Koch said.

Meteorologists classify an EF1 tornado as one capable of producing winds up to 110 mph, said Keli Cain, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. She said other businesses, including a hotel, also were damaged along with cars and trucks during the storms.

National Weather Service meteorologist John Pike said officials were surveying Tillman, Comanche, McClain and Seminole counties, where the tornadoes and damage were reported. Forecasters had issued eight tornado warnings as the storms developed Saturday evening ahead of a cold front.

Since most of the storms hit rural or remote areas, widespread damage was minimal, Pike said.

Anytime we walk away like that, you can say we dodged a bullet, he said.

He said the weather is expected to change again heading into the coming weekend, when the state could see its coldest temperatures yet this year and parts of southwestern and western Oklahoma might possibly get their first freeze.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Windstorm Oklahoma
Louisiana workers compensation insurer, LWCC, has hired Kappie Mumphrey as its chief information officer (CIO).

Mumphrey is an IT leader with over 25 years experience in management, including having served as CIO for the LSU AgCenter. She has been instrumental in developing and implementing IT strategies and governance processes in several different industries, and has significant experience managing large-scale, enterprise-wide application implementation projects, many of which contained business process re-engineering components.

Most recently, she served as senior director, Office of the CIO for CB&I.

Mumphrey earned a bachelors degree in computer science and an MBA, both from Louisiana State University. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Additionally, Mumphrey is a member of the Baton Rouge CIO Roundtable and has spoken at several national conferences as well as served as guest lecturer at LSU.

LWCC, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a private, nonprofit mutual insurance company that is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best.

Source: LWCC

Topics Louisiana
This is a guest post, written by Margarita Konaev, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Center for Strategic Studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and Kirstin J.H. Brathwaite, Assistant Professor in the James Madison College at Michigan State University.

The referendum on independence of Iraqi Kurdistan and subsequent military clashes between the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad are setting off alarm bells across the Middle East. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to cut off the flow of Kurdish oil exports, warning that the Kurds could go hungry as a result of economic sanctions. Military options, he added, were also on the table. The Syrians are refusing to recognize the results of the referendum. And at the request of the central government in Baghdad, Iran has closed the airspace to the Iraqi Kurdish area. The United States, United Nations, and even Russia have all expressed their disapproval of this unilateral move. In fact, the only country that welcomed the independence vote is Israel.

To a great extent, this staunch opposition to the referendum is rooted in the fact that Iraqs neighbors all fear that the emergence of an independent Kurdish state will fuel separatism within their own borders and even ignite a rebellion. Our research shows that nationalist leaders are more likely to use force to try and preempt such a scenario from happening when faced with relatively large ethnic minority groups. Indeed, nowhere is fear of Kurdish separatism more acute than in Turkey, where the Kurds account for nearly 20% of the countrys overall population. With an unapologetically nationalist and often brutal leader in Erdogan, the Turkish government could therefore use the referendum crisis in Iraqi Kurdistan as pretext to intensify repression against its own Kurdish minority.

Threat Assessment, Nationalist Leaders, and the Ethnic Balance of Power

As Iraqi federal troops clashed with Kurdish Peshmerga forces in the contested Kurdish-held areas in northern Iraq, barely three weeks after the independence referendum, Damascus, Tehran, and especially Ankara were watching their own Kurdish populations with a growing unease. In a recent article we argue that when members of a transnational ethnic group such as the Kurds are involved in conflict in one state, political leaders in neighboring states draw information about the potential threat minority groups in their own country pose based in part on the behavior of their ethnic kin in the conflict-affected state. Two factors combine to cause these leaders to be especially apprehensive about the possibility that a nearby rebellion will inspire an uprising within their own borders, and in turn, to use violent measures to block this potential challenge from materializing  a nationalist ideology and the presence of a relatively large ethnic minority group.

From Serbias Slobodan Milosevic to Russias Vladimir Putin, nationalist leaders in particular tend to inflate the threat posed by competing ethnic groups to bolster their own popularity and consolidate political power. With the outbreak of ethnic violence in the region, ethnic minorities whose kin take up arms against the government of a nearby state become a useful target for nationalist leaders, as they can simply point to the neighboring country as evidence of the threat these groups presumably pose. In many cases, however, it is specifically those ethnic minority groups that make up a relatively large percentage of the national population that attract the wrath of nationalist leaders.

When it comes to politics in ethnically divided states, as the saying goes, size matters. Larger ethnic minorities pose a greater threat to the incumbent regime  both in terms of latent military capabilities and from a political legitimacy standpoint. Recent research in international relations suggests that leaders expectations of political survival, meaning how secure they feel in office, shape their behavior in the face of domestic opposition movements. Aware that allowing relatively large ethnic minority groups greater access to national politics would inevitably weaken their own position, leaders are therefore more likely to use repressive measures to block a potential uprising inspired by ethnic kin involvement in the nearby conflict than to risk losing power.

All Eyes on Turkey

Turkey is home to the regions largest Kurdish population, and the Kurds are the largest minority group in Turkey. Our findings suggest that if the ongoing clashes between Baghdad and Erbil escalate into a full blown armed conflict, Erdogans nationalist government could attempt to exploit the situation to justify additional and more extensive anti-Kurdish measures within its own borders.

Why the dire predictions? For one, Erdogans previous experience with granting the Kurds greater political representation on the national stage has backfired. The Kurdish-dominated Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) won sufficient seats in the June 2015 parliamentary elections to deny his Justice and Development Party (AKP) the majority it needed to consolidate presidential power through a constitutional amendment. AKP failed (or arguably, refused) to form a ruling coalition, and new elections were held in November 2015. That Erdogans AKP managed to regain the majority it needed to form a government alone in the November elections had a lot to do with a crackdown on HDP leaders and the resurgence of conflict against the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) in July 2015.

Furthermore, since the failed July 2016 coup, the Turkish government has become increasingly repressive of opposition groups and violent towards even peaceful dissent. Erdogan has also used the coup as an opportunity to target the Kurds; claiming that the Gulen movement (led by a longtime political rival who Erdogan blamed for the coup attempt) had links to the PKK, the government purged 11,000 teachers and dozens of elected officials in the Kurdish areas.

Finally, the resumed violence between the government and the PKK has heightened nationalist feelings in the Turkish society. This has allowed Erdogan to continue consolidating power as well as helped solidify AKPs alliance with the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which rejects concessions to the Kurds. In short, it is unlikely that the government will adopt a more conciliatory approach anytime soon.

Those with eyes on the region might wonder how much worse can it get for Turkeys Kurds.

Since the ceasefire between the PKK and the Turkish government broke down in July 2015, fighting in the majority-Kurdish southeast has claimed at least 2,748 lives; over 100,000 people have lost their homes, and up to 400,000 were displaced. According to The Early Warning Project, however, the estimated risk of state-led mass killings in Turkey has tripled since 2015. And thats without accounting for the July 2016 attempted coup. Now that the independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan has triggered a military confrontation between Iraqi federal forces and Kurdish fighters, the next question is how these developments will influence the internal stability of Iraqs neighbors. The most likely outcome is that Erdogans national government will capitalize on the referendum crisis to intensify repression against Turkeys own Kurdish population  a sizable ethnic minority group that Erdogan sees as a major threat to his continued hold on power.
The reports author, from the Danish Ministry of Finance, tells ITR - in his personal capacity - that more robust policies are needed to tackle what is a serious global problem.
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Breaking EV Stock News: Mullen's (NASDAQ: MULN) 'Strikingly Different' EV Crossover Tour Heads to Texas After Completing a Successful Sold Out Stop in Las Vegas

BREA, Calif. - November 15, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, announces today that it has successfully completed the third stop of the Mullen FIVE Strikingly Different EV Crossover Tour in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Breaking AI Stock News: FatBrain (OTCQB: LZGI) Acquires UK-based Forecasting Innovator Predictive Black To Help SMEs Optimize Cash Management

NEW YORK, NY - November 15, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow (some call SMEs), has acquired Predictive Black Ltd, a UK-based innovator of real-time cash management, financial insights and business wellness for SMEs.

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New Fashion Designer Launches this Holiday Season in Kelowna and Online; Sweet Dees Creations  Fun, Flirty and Affordable

Kelowna B.C. - November 14, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) A local fashion designer is launching a new women's line at Kelowna markets and online this Holiday Season that will make heads turn with her whimsical and colourful choices

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Title IX Information

As an educational institution, Iowa Central Community College strives to provide a respectful, safe, and non-threatening environment for students and employees. The mission of the College is to provide quality educational opportunities in and outside the classroom. Harassment and violence against students, faculty, and staff subverts this mission and will not be tolerated. Students who feel that they have been the subjects of such harassment should advise the Dean of Student Services and staff contact. Staff members should advise one of the following: their immediate supervisor, the appropriate Vice President, or the College's Executive Director, Human Resources / EEO Coordinator.

Title IX Brochure

Title IX - Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures

Harassment & Violence - Board Policy 223

Harassment & Violence on Discrimination and Harassment Based on Sex Prohibited by Title IX - Board Policy 225

Title IX Team

To reach Campus Security call 515-574-1000. Campus members are strongly encouraged to store this number into their cell phones. You can email Campus Security at any time at: security@iowacentral.edu

In the event of an immediate threat, danger, or injury contact the local authorities by dialing 911.

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If you have an urgent health problem, physical or emotional, that requires prompt attention but is non-life threatening emergency:
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A doctor in Northern Ireland, who is the 27-year-old son of a woman who was found dead in Belfast at the weekend, has been remanded in custody today after being charged with murdering his mother.

Anne ONeill, 51, was found dead at a house in Ardmore Avenue, Finaghy, in the early hours of Saturday morning.
By Ann O'Loughlin

The HSE has apologised in court to a couple for the shortcomings in care which resulted in the death of their baby son at Cavan General Hosptial over eight years ago.

The apology was read out as part of the settlement of two actions for nervous shock taken by the parents of baby Padraig Eugene McArdle-McElroy who was still born at birth at Cavan General Hospital.

In court today, HSE Counsel Brian Foley BL read an apology on behalf of the HSE the RCSI Hospital Group and the staff and management of Cavan General Hospital in which it conveyed sincere apologies "for the shortcoming in management and care" at the time of Padraig's mother's admission to maternity services in June 2009.

The statement added: "We acknowledge that those shortcomings resulted in the death of your baby son Padraig Eugene on June 28, 2009. We extend our sincere apologies for the distress and suffereing that this has caused to both of you and your extended family."

Agnes McArdle and Finbar McElroy, Smithboro, Co Monaghan, had sued the HSE for nervous shock arising out of the death of the their baby son Padraig Eugene on June 28, 2009 at Cavan General Hosptial.

Ms McArdle had self referred to the hospital on June 27, 2009, as she and Mr McElroy were concerned there was little foetal movement.

She was assessed and CTG tracing was commenced. After midnight Ms McArdle was in pain and it was claimed she was left unexamined in the maternity ward for one hour and 40 minutes after being transferred there from the Labour Ward.

She was then transferred back to the Labour Ward and the foetal heart rate was recorded and an ultrasound was carried out. A second scan at 2.30am showed the baby was dead and Ms McArdle subsequently had a caesarean section at around 4.48am.

Padraig's parents claimed they never received a written reply to the letter they later sent to the HSE seeking an explanation of the events.

It was also claimed there was a failure to ensure the foetal heartbeat of the baby would be monitored properly and continuously and that the circumstances surrounding the labour, delivery and death of baby Padraig has been extremely traumatic and shocking.

The couple claimed that when they came back to the hospital to arrange the removal of the baby's remains, they were advised to take him via the service lift to the back entrance of the hospital.

They said that when they said they wanted to take him out the front door, they received a phone call asking them again, if they would prefer to take the remains out the back entrance. They said this added further to their already distraught state.

Senior Cousnel Denis McCullough, with Vincent P Martin SC, told the court the case for nervous shock by the parents had been settled.

Mr Justice Kevin Cross, noting the settlement, extended his sympathies to the McArdle-McElroy family on their sad loss.

Outside court the solicitor for the family, Shane Kennedy, read a statment on behalf of Padraig's parents.

He said Padraig was tragically a full-term still birth born on June 28, 2009 at Cavan General Hospital.

"Of course the clock can't be put back, but Padraig's parents hope no other family has to go through this traumatic loss," he said.

The darkest hour, he said, for Padraig's parents happened on June 28, 2009, and the delay in reaching the conclusion of the case had been "a harrowing experience."

"They hope that a more humane and compassionate way can be put in place to deal with these types of cases," he added.
Update 9pm: Placing time limits on abortion for women who received a diagnosis of severe or fatal foetal anomaly is unworkable, campaigners for those affected have said.

In an emotional address to the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, Gerry Edwards, chairman of Termination for Medical Reasons Ireland, laid bare the trauma of travelling home from the UK on a ferry or plane with the remains of a still born child.

He asked politicians if any of them would be comfortable with a relative or neighbour going through the ordeal.

Mr Edwards said mothers and fathers who find themselves in these distressing circumstances feel abandoned and treated like "medical refugees".

And he said they can only make a decision on whether to seek an abortion abroad after getting the best information on the diagnosis from their doctors.

"It is important that we point out here that it is impossible to require families to get this information and process it, and to arrive at a decision within a 22-week gestation limit," he said.

"This limit is one area that we feel must be reconsidered by this committee.

"Nobody should be judged for coming to the point where hope ends."

Mr Edwards's son Joshua died from anencephaly, a condition that prevents the normal development of the brain and skull.

He said some families have to leave the baby behind in the UK for a post mortem.

Others are later able to repatriate the ashes of their child.

He said there is then the question of whether a priest will grant a funeral in Ireland.

"It makes it almost impossible for us to grieve normally and leads to more traumatic, complicated and disenfranchised grief than would be expected if we were properly supported throughout this entire process," he said.

Mr Edwards said other families find the ordeal of travelling to the UK for an abortion too arduous.

He said abortion services should be part of maternity care and available to all regardless of location or financial means.

Mr Edwards also said protests or harassment of patients seeking abortion services should not be tolerated under any circumstances.

The Oireachtas committee met on Wednesday to examine recommendations on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution ahead of a planned referendum in the middle of next year.

Update - 5.02pm: Independent TD and pro-life campaigner Mattie McGrath has stormed out of the Oireachtas abortion committee after making fresh claims it is biased and accusing other members of disrespecting his views, writes Fiachra O Cionnaith.

Mr McGrath left the meeting on the affects of abortion or being forced to continue a pregnancy against a woman's wishes after taking issue with Sinn Fein TD Jonathan O'Brien saying he had "mesmerised" him with his pro-life questions.

During a two-hour meeting with Tallaght mental health services consultant psychiatrist Dr Veronica Keane, Mr McGrath asked if the expert was opposed to "genocide" as she was advocating for the legalisation of abortion.

When it was pointed out by other committee members Mr McGrath may have meant "gender-cide" - a situation apparent in countries like India and China where some abortions take place because parents would prefer a boy to a girl - Prof. Keane said commenting is "outside my expertise".

Mr McGrath was told by Fine Gael senator and committee chair Catherine Noone not to ask the question, at which point he hit out at the committee over alleged bias and said "this is why I wrote to the committee on procedure and privileges".

The Independent TD then entered into a shouting match with a number of other committee members, and referred to the murder of Jean McConville during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Sinn Fein TD Jonathan O'Brien said "I've been mesmerised" by Mr McGrath's comments, at which point Mr McGrath stood up, grabbed his files and pointed at Ms Noone, before shouting: "Do you want me to be thrown out? Are we having a committee or is this thing just a charade? I told you, this has been an absolute charade from the start".

Independent senator Lynn Ruane shouted back at Mr McGrath saying that "I want to disagree about Mattie standing up and pointing at the chair, it is totally disrespectful".

As Mr McGrath stormed out, Fianna Fail health spokesperson Billy Kelleher said "mesmerised is not an offensive word Mattie, it's not an offensive word".

Moments later as the committee ended the first of three public meetings today, Prof. Keane told committee chair Ms Noone she was "very impressed with your... skills" in handling the situation.

Asked by Ms Noone if he was "mesmerised" by what happened, Mr O'Brien added: "Chair, I've been mesmerised and traumatised."

During the same meeting, Fine Gael TD and prominent pro-life member Peter Fitzpatrick engaged in a lengthy row with Prof. Keane over his claim 100,000 people's lives have been saved by the eighth amendment since 1983.

After being unable to provide a specific reference for the statistic, a pro-life campaigner took advantage of the row involving Mr McGrath by standing up from his gallery seat and handing Mr Fitzpatrick a note on the 100,000 figure.

It is understood this individual was Tim Jackson, who last month was involved in a short-lived 9am to 5pm hunger strike outside the Dail in protest at any potential decision to remove the eighth amendment.

Update 4pm: A leading psychiatrist has said everyone's mental health is being damaged by Ireland's constitutional rules and restrictions on abortion.

The Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution was told that there is no register of women who have sought a termination for mental health reasons and been denied.

Professor Veronica O'Keane, of Tallaght Mental Health Services and Trinity College Dublin, said there is no information to say some of those women did not die later.

The psychiatrist told the committee that legislation which allows for a termination if there is a real and substantial risk to a woman's life, including the threat of suicide, is clumsy and difficult for women.

Prof O'Keane said the experience of women who travel to the UK for an abortion has been made real, both at the Citizens' Assembly and during the @TwoWomenTravel publicity campaign.

She said: "I would go further and say that the mental health of every person in Ireland is being damaged by the Eighth Amendment.

"We are all shamed by the current situation."

Prof Veronica O'Keane. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins

Prof O'Keane said changing abortion legislation in Ireland will not lead to an increase in the number of women who terminate a pregnancy.

And she praised the Citizens' Assembly and its decision to recommend no distinction between mental and physical health for access to abortion.

"It is an enormous relief," she said.

"It is a relief to those of us working in psychiatry and to allied mental health professions, to colleagues from other medical and surgical disciplines, and to the many Irish people who suffer from mental health problems."

Prof O'Keane also noted research of more than 100,000 women in the US which found unwanted pregnancy increases the risk of perinatal depression by 50%.

The Oireachtas committee is examining what recommendations it will make on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution ahead of a planned referendum in the middle of next year.

Earlier: The chair of the Oireachtas abortion committee has offered pro-life campaigners the opportunity to bring in doctors and other medical experts who oppose terminations next month amid ongoing claims of bias in the group, writes Political Correspondent Fiachra O Cionnaith.

Fine Gael senator and committee chair Catherine Noone offered the olive branch as she separately denied any bias allegations and insisted the cross-party group "did not refuse" to hear the testimony of witnesses because of the "public position" they hold on abortion.

In the past fortnight, the committee has been beset by claims of bias, with Independent senator Ronan Mullen and Independent TD Mattie McGrath threatening to quit and pro-life campaigner and psychiatrist Prof Patrica Casey pulling out of a planned meeting.

In the letter to committee members, Ms Noone said the claim is untrue and warning ongoing allegations of bias are "distracting" from the work of the cross-party group.

However, she in a bid to end the allegations, she said an extra date will be made available in November to allow other witnesses who are likely to represent pro-life views to have their voices heard.

"I would like to take the opportunity to invite members who wish to propose other witnesses who they believe will provide additional evidence and expertise to the already scheduled list of witnesses to put forward their suggestions.

"I would be happy to schedule an additional hearing in late November for these witnesses," the letter from Ms Noone, sent this afternoon, read.

Fine Gael senator and committee chair Catherine Noone

"There is a matter being played out in the media that requires clarification and is distracting from the work of this Oireachtas committee.

"It relates to a perception that the committee showed a bias in the way witnesses were selected. I would like to recall the earlier decision of the committee which was that the criteria approved when we sat down to plan our work was we would not repeat the work of the Citizens Assembly.

"Instead, we would use our time to examine the recommendations of the assembly with expert witnesses, and some of the witnesses we selected had in fact given evidence.

"Committee members were invited to submit the names of experts whose testimony would enable the committee to fully test the recommendations of the assembly.

"I want to be clear, and the committee records bear this out, the committee did not refuse to hear testimony of any witness because of the known public position they held on abortion.

"The fact that many of our witnesses, for example medical professionals, have advised the committee to recommend constitutional change does not make them biased.

"However, if there are experts who can give a different view, I am certain the committee will be open to hearing from them," she wrote.

The letter is one of a number of issues expected to be discussed today in addition to the scheduled meetings with groups affected by abortion.

Among other issues to be discussed will be a call from Solidarity-PBP TD Ruth Coppinger to hold a vote potentially as soon as this week as "a delayed vote on repeal is dangerous for all who want to deal with the reality of abortion".

As reported by the Irish Examiner on Tuesday, key Fine Gael and Fianna Fail committee members are likely to block any attempt to vote this week over claims it would undermine the independence of the committee.
Update 1.32pm: A knife has been recovered in the investigation into an attack on a woman in Dublin last night.

Gardai believe the knife was used during the attack, according to RTE.

Update - 10.52am: The Garda Technical Bureau is examining the scene in Dublin where a woman was killed last night.

The 37-year-old French woman died, and her 35-year-old Brazilian partner is in hospital, after a suspected domestic incident.

The scene at the Dorset Square Apartments remains sealed off ahead of an examination by the State Pathologist.

Local Councillor Neil Ring says it is an upsetting incident to see.

He said: "In this particular area, Dorset Square, it is off the beaten track, so to speak. There seems to be, from my knowledge of the area, a lot of foreign nationals live there.

"They keep themselves to themselves and in a way that's sad, because nobody heard anything or there doesn't seem to be any neighbours who have heard anything at all."

Earlier: A murder investigation has been launched after a woman has died in Dublin's north inner city.

Gardai in Mountjoy were called at around 11.30pm last night to an incident at Dorset Square Apartments.

When they arrived they discovered a 37-year-old woman and 35-year-old man with serious injuries.

Both were treated at scene by Dublin Fire Brigade.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and her body remains at the scene.

The man was taken to the Mater hospital where his injuries are described as serious.

The scene has been preserved for a Forensic examination by the Technical Bureau and the State Pathologist has also been notified.

Witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to contact Mountjoy Garda station on 01 6668600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
By Ann O'Loughlin

Two local residents have asked a High Court judge to allow them appeal his decision clearing the way for tech giant Apple to develop the first phase of a planned 850m data centre in Athenry, Co Galway.

Sinead Fitzpatrick and Allan Daly, of Lisheenkyle, Athenry, claim the High Court wrongly found that An Bord Pleanala met its obligations by carrying out an environmental impact assessment (EIA) on Apples planning application for one data hall.

Because Apples masterplan for the entire development will include eight data halls, the Board was required to do an EIA of the masterplan, their counsel Michael McDowell SC said.

Although an inspector with the Board raised concerns about the energy demands of the entire data centre and its impact on Irelands obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Board itself failed to take a position on that key issue, he said.

The Athenry site was selected because of its 500 acre size and the fact it could accommodate eight data halls and the project would not go ahead unless all eight were built in accordance with Apples masterplan, he said.

How was it permissible to go ahead with one eighth of a masterplan without a full assessment of the entire masterplan? he asked.

His side met the legal criteria entitling them to bring an appeal as they had shown the courts judgment dismissing their case raised points of law of exceptional public importance which were desirable, in the public interest, for the courts to decide, he said.

Their points of law include the extent to which interdependence between various developments needs to be considered in deciding whether a particular development is a standalone one. Another point concerned the obligation under national and EU law to identify the main effects of the development and the main measures to reduce or offset those.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott will hear closing arguments from Mr McDowell tomorrow on the application for leave to appeal his judgment delivered earlier this month.

Opposing permission for an appeal, Nuala Butler SC, for the Board, said the proposed development was unusual as no such development had proceeded in Ireland before and it was also very significant for the East Galway area.

However, the legal issues raised were not that unusual and the courts judgment raised no point of law of exceptional public importance entitling the applicants to appeal, she argued.

The Board had taken account of Apples overall masterplan although the masterplan was not the subject of the planning application, she said. The masterplan was relevant to the Boards consideration, including whether the Athenry site was appropriate.

The Board was not required to conduct a full EIA of the masterplan and the High Court had correctly found that was the case, she said.

The applicants had also failed to show an appeal was necessary in the public interest, she argued. Taking the matter further would delay the development and that was not in the public interest.

Rory Mulcahy SC, for Apple, endorsed Ms Butlers arguments and said the applicants had failed to identity any error in the High Courts judgment. Nor had they shown an appeal was necessary in the public interest, he argued.

Counsel for Brian McDonagh, whose separate challenge to the Apple permission was also rejected by the judge, told the judge he and solicitors had just been instructed in the case yesterday evening and wanted time to consider their position.

The judge said he had fixed this week to consider application for leave to appeal and Mr McDonagh should note that.

In his judgment on the case by Mr McDonagh, Ballymount Cross Business Park, Dublin, the judge found Mr McDonagh lacked the necessary legal standing to challenge the permission as he does not live close to the site and had not participated in the planning process.

Mr McDonagh should have disclosed at an early stage he was a director and shareholder of Ecologic Data Centre Ltd which had secured permission for a data centre on a Co Wicklow site considered as an alternative location for the Apple development, the judge added.
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has warned people will needlessly die unless Government accepts there is a "deep crisis" within Ireland's defence forces and addresses the problem immediately, writes Fiachra O Cionnaith.

Mr Martin made the claim after a detailed University of Limerick report based on the views of 600 members of the air corps, army and navy raised serious concerns about the funding, personnel and support structures in the groups.

Speaking after the publication of the report, which was first revealed by the Irish Examiner earlier this year, Mr Martin said the Government's "collective head is in the sand" on the need to address the "deep crisis" that has been revealed.

He said there is near unanimous agreement within the defence forces that the services "are now at risk" and that there will be "a serious incident with a number of people, a number of deaths" due to the gaps unless action is taken now.

Mr Martin urged Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to accept "there is a deep crisis in our defence forces that demands an exceptional response".

However, despite the concerns being raised in the independent University of Limerick report, Mr Varadkar steps are already being taken to address problems he said are a hangover from Fianna Fail's time in power.

Mr Varadkar said Government has established "a very successful" recruitment process to bring in 800 more defence forces personnel, and is also addressing recession-era pay cuts.

Noting the 406m the Government has also set aside to further fund the services over the coming years, he said while there is no deep crisis there are "real, substantive issues that have to be dealt with".

Your reply doesn't tally with the views of 600 people in unprecedented research by the University of Limerick," Mr Martin said. "They want some kind of acknowledgment of their plight, of their crisis."
Madrid plans to use Article 155 of its constitution to dissolve Catalonias parliament and directly administer the northeastern region. Rule by Madrid could have a dramatic effect on Spains independence movements.

Fears that Catalonias distinct culture and language are under threat drive the Catalans independence push. There are four ethnolinguistic groups in Spain, including the central Spanish identity, each with varying degrees of separatist sentiment.
The inquiry will address gaps in the understanding of e-cigarettes and assess the suitability of regulations.

All disruptive technology challenges regulatory frameworks, said Derek Yach, head of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, which is part-funded by Philip Morris International. E-cigarettes require a rethink of regulatory philosophy.

Tobacco companies, including the UKs BAT and Imperial Brands, are pouring billions into researching and marketing cigarette alternatives, as the popularity of smoking dwindles across the developed world. Many in the public-health community remain wary of Big Tobaccos involvement in developing safer products.

While e-cigarette sales have grown rapidly, regulations are an obstacle to further growth. Some countries  including Australia, Brazil, and Japan  have banned the sale of e-cigarettes altogether, while US Food and Drug Administration commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, has said e-cigarettes have an important role to play in the war on tobacco.

The UK health charity, Action on Smoking and Health, welcomed the review.

While e-cigarettes are helping smokers quit, they are not a stand-alone solution to the tobacco epidemic, said Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the group. Its important that the evidence is considered in the context of tried-and-tested policies.

The UK has taken a relatively lenient regulatory approach, which has paved the way for the countrys e-cigarette market to grow to 1.1bn, according to researcher, Euromonitor.

The UK inquiry will also examine the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a way to quit smoking and whether or not they normalise smoking.

BAT forecasts that revenue from devices such as e-cigarettes, and those that heat tobacco without burning it, should exceed 5bn by 2022.

The relative health benefit of heated tobacco products was questioned earlier this year, in a study that found that they release chemicals linked to cancer, sometimes in higher concentrations than conventional cigarettes.

Bloomberg and Reuters
E-Learning Corgi focuses on distance training and education, from instructional design to e-learning and mobile solutions, and pays attention to psychological, social, and cultural factors. The edublog emphasizes real-world e-learning issues and appropriate uses of emerging technologies. Susan Smith Nash is the Corgi's assistant.
It follows a meeting of the city councils corporate policy group, the various party leaders, and party whips on Monday night.

Their decision is likely to heighten tensions between the city and county over the ongoing standoff on the city boundary extension proposed by the Mackinnon review group.

The county council, which is opposed to the scale of the extension, has refused to engage with the definition of the extended boundary by the implementation oversight group which has been established to implement the Mackinnon recommendations which suggest the city boundary be expanded to include Ballincollig, Cork Airport, Blarney, Glanmire, Little Island, and Carrigtwohill.

The county appealed recently for the appointment of a mediator, and threatened Local Government Minister Eoghan Murphy with legal action if the boundary was altered in line with the Mackinnon report.

Mr Murphy responded to County Mayor Declan Hurley and said the oversight group is well positioned to perform any required mediation, and he urged both local authorities to work with the group with a view to reaching agreed boundary proposals as a matter of urgency.

He said the decision to alter the boundary rests ultimately with the Oireachtas, or by the enactment of primary legislation.

However, I believe that the most important factor, in the first instance, in achieving effective and appropriate local government arrangements in Cork is the exercise of leadership and goodwill on the part of the elected members and the executives of both authorities working in the best interests of Cork and its communities, said Mr Murphy.

On foot of that correspondence, Mr Lucey wrote to Ms Doherty on Friday outlining the countys view that the best outcome for local government arrangements in Cork is for both councils to reach agreement on the boundary, and suggesting that the oversight group could perform a mediation role if required.

However, if would be our wish that this would be a last resort position should agreement not be capable of being reached, said Mr Lucey.

He suggested to Ms Doherty they would immediately engage in bilateral discussions, accompanied by senior executives, if she so wished, with a view to reaching agreement. He said such talks would not conflict with the countys public consultation on its smaller boundary alteration proposal.

Ms Doherty brought the correspondence to the attention of her councils corporate policy group and party leaders, who considered it in detail on Monday.

A source said there was a frank exchange of views and that a decision was taken to continue to work through the oversight group process.
His remarks came as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also said that lenders involved in the rip-off scandal should apologise to customers.

Estimates now put the amount owed to wronged customers as more than 1bn.

Mr Donohoe, during questions in the Dail, confirmed he had finished meetings with bank CEOs.

All lenders need to bring the Central Banks examination to a conclusion to the satisfaction of impacted customers, he added.

He also reiterated that the regulator is taking enforcement actions with some lenders, referring to a previous 4.5m fine slapped on Springboard Mortgages, a sub-prime lender under Permanent TSB.

The time has arrived to finally act in the best interests of impacted customers, it was added, with the minister committing to outlining government actions this evening during a Fianna Fail motion on the scandal.

Fianna Fails Michael McGrath told the Dail that up to 10,000 customers have not got any money back from lenders. Banks are unlawfully holding onto money, Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty also declared.

Referring to enforcement proceedings under way by the Central Bank over the tracker mortgage scandal, Mr Donohoe said he is confident the regulator will be able to stand over the conclusions of its examination into the overcharging of customers when its probe is finished.

Fines alone though are not an answer, warned Mr McGrath, as this does not involve any accountability. Fines will simply be passed onto customers, he warned.

Mr Donohoe replied that the hurt and harm caused by the banks was not acceptable as a minister and as a shareholder in the banks.

He told the Dail during his meetings with CEOs this week that he had made it clear to them it is a disgrace and should have been resolved by now.

Speaking in Paris, the Taoiseach said lenders should absolutely apologise to affected borrowers.

Asked whether banks had also colluded on overcharging borrowers, Mr Varadkar said: I think its a little bit premature to say whether or not there was collusion, there is an investigation underway by the Central Bank and I dont want to prejudge the outcome of that.

Earlier, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said comprehensive statements from the five main banks  AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB, KBC and Ulster Bank  on resolving the issue are expected today.

He reiterated that if the Government is not satisfied with the responses, that there will be options. These would be considered at another Cabinet meeting, Mr Coveney told the Dail.

Mortgage campaigner Padraic Kissane estimates banks owe over 1bn to wronged customers.
The party will today table a Dail private members motion calling for greater powers for the Central Bank to sanction banks who stole peoples money, as described by party leader Micheal Martin. The Government has agreed not to block the motion, saying it supports the objective and thrust in principle.

Yesterday, the partys finance spokesman, Michael McGrath, described the actions and behaviour of the banks as reprehensible. The motion calls for a thorough investigation as to how the tracker scandal occurred and a probe into whether there was any co-ordination, formal or informal, across the industry. Any offences must be reported to Revenue and gardai, among others, it says, and extra powers should be given to the Central Bank.

The Government should also vote against the reappointment of directors to the banks and introduce legislation to stop repossession proceedings on tracker- related mortgages until all affected customers are redressed, states the motion.

We believe that what we need is a step change, said Mr McGrath. The banks behaviour has been reprehensible ... the banks who are still in control of this process. Our view, there is no reason why the remaining 10,000 customers should get their money back before Christmas.

The intervention of Mr Donohoe will be measured by the outcome. People affected should get justice.

Mr McGrath also called for a halt to repossessions of homes involving mortgages subject to the current examination.

The Cork South Central TD said he had no evidence there was any collusion between the banks, but did say the fact that 11 financial institutions all made the same mistakes in taking trackers off customers was more than a coincidence.

Systems and processes can be discussed but, at the end of the day, people made decisions, he said.

We support any legislation which would give the Central Bank more powers, said Mr McGrath. The Government should vote against the reappointment of any bank director in institutions who are still refusing to live up to their duty.

The cost of dealing with the scandal could top 1bn, Mr McGrath said, adding that those affected by the scandal must be given clarity on a timeline when they will receive what they are owed and, furthermore, those who facilitated the scandal must be held to account.

As part of the current examination, around 13,000 customers have been affected by the banks failure to honour the customers contractual rights, said Mr McGrath. To add insult to injury, many banks have failed to hand back the money owed to their customers. Some are out of pocket to the tune of tens of thousands of euro, leaving many in arrears on their mortgage.

In some instances, families have had their homes repossessed as a direct result of the banks actions. We have outlined a number of measures in our motion that the banks, the Central Bank and the Government should implement to help bring about a speedy conclusion.

One in four customers to date have received redress and compensation.
Sean Laffey, the head of asset management with the state utility, said it is committed to having all of the contaminated sites treated by the end of 2021.

This follows a finding by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the pace of improvements to Irelands wastewater treatment infrastructure is falling far short of requirements.

It has initiated seven prosecutions against Irish Water over sewage discharges over the past 10 months. Irish Water was fined 13,600 for discharge of untreated sewage from a pump station in Cork City that caused a fish kill, and 9,700 for a similar discharge in Balbriggan-Skerries, Co Dublin. It was fined over 30,000 for failing to carry out upgrades to treatment plants in Athenry, Co Galway; Boherbue, Co Cork; and Drumcollogher, Co Limerick.

In a statement, Irish Water said the EPA report showed the size and scale of the challenge faced by the company in meeting the demands of decades of under-investment in wastewater infrastructure. This is a key element of the infrastructure challenge that Irish Water, in 2015, estimated would cost 13bn and require large scale investment over several investment cycles, said Irish Water.

In its 2016 Urban Waste Water Treatment Report, the EPA said sewage treatment at 50 of Irelands 185 largest towns and cities is failing to prevent pollution and protect public health.

It comes 26 years after EU standards were set and 12 years after the deadline for complying with them.

Irish Water has estimated that it will cost up to 13bn to implement the necessary changes. Mr Laffey said the utility is quite confident of meeting that deadline and takes full responsibility for failures highlighted in the EPA report.

However, he pointed out that historically there has been a lack of investment in wastewater treatment and that a programme of wastewater treatment is now under way.

Mr Laffey said concrete results on the ground will be delivered over the next number of years and that a projected average of 326m a year will be spent on wastewater between now and 2021.

The EPA report correctly reflects the size and scale of the challenge facing Irish Water as we work to meet the needs of homes and businesses around the country and facilitate future growth, said Mr Laffey.

The scale of the problem was laid bare yet again months after the European Commission warned it was taking Ireland to court over the practice of discharging untreated sewage and leaving the country potentially liable for millions of euro in anti-pollution fines.

That case relates to missed deadlines for sewage plants to be built or upgraded by the end of 2000 and 2005.

But in its latest report on waste water standards for last year, the EPA said five towns are hoping to see work on new sewage treatment plants finish this year  Youghal, Belmullet, Rush, Bundoran, and Killybegs.

But David Shannon, an EPA inspector, said: Theres not enough money being invested in waste water treatment. We are spending 100 million less per annum than we were a decade ago. We have this legacy of under-investment. We need to see more money going in.
The European Council president said it was up to Theresa Mays government whether there was a good deal, no deal or no Brexit.

Meanwhile, the EUs chief Brexit negotiator indicated that agreement on a free trade deal with Britain after it leaves the European Union will take years to complete.

Michel Barnier said the discussions would be very different from the first phase of the negotiations on the terms of Britains withdrawal and would entail risks.

His comments came after Ms May told MPs there could be no transition period after Britain leaves the EU unless there was agreement on a trade deal.

In a House of Commons statement, she said she remained confident a deal was possible following the latest EU summit last week in Brussels. Her remarks caused consternation among opposition MPs who warned the UK was heading for a cliff-edge break with the EU which businesses have been desperate to avoid.

Updating the European Parliament on last weeks Brussels summit, Mr Tusk stressed his obsession with the unity of the 27 members who will remain in the EU after the UKs departure.

Ahead of us is still the toughest stress test. If we fail it, the negotiations will end in our defeat, he said.

We must keep our unity regardless of the direction of the talks. The EU will be able to rise to every scenario as long as we are not divided.

It is in fact up to London how this will end: With a good deal, no deal or no Brexit. But in each of these scenarios we will protect our common interest only by being together.

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker moved to reassure the UK that there was no hostile agenda from Brussels and a no-deal scenario was not our working assumption.

Mr Juncker told MEPs in Strasbourg: The commission is not negotiating in a hostile mood. We want a deal. Those who dont want a deal... they had no friends in the commission.

Leaders of the other 27 EU states agreed on Friday to begin discussions among themselves on a possible transition period  prompting hopes in Downing St that they will agree to move to trade talks in December.

In an interview with Frances Les Echoes newspaper, Mr Barnier said agreement on a time-limited transition period after Britain leaves the bloc in March 2019 should be possible.

If we reach an agreement on the orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom, such a period, both short and framed, is possible, he said.

To my mind, it makes sense that it covers the financial period, so until 2020. It would leave us more time to prepare for the future relationship.

However he warned that the negotiations would continue to be difficult and that agreeing the future relationship between the EU and the UK would take time.

The two phases are difficult. The second will be very different and will last several years. It is truly unique because, instead of promoting regulatory convergence, it will aim to frame a difference. It will involve risks, including about its political ratification, making all the more necessary transparency around these topics.

Ms Mays spokesman said the UK government believed it could agree a trade deal with the EU quickly.
IT WAS one of the most shocking and notorious multiple murders in Irish history, and many still remember the time in 1994 when Brendan ODonnell took three innocent lives in the quiet Co Clare countryside.

The nation was horrified when news emerged that ODonnell shot dead Imelda Riney and her three-year-old boy Liam. More bloodshed was to follow in the killing of local priest Fr Liam Walsh.

Now a new film is set to pose the difficult question: what if you love somebody who has done a terrible thing? Thats the dilemma posed by Property of the State, a new film about ODonnell told from his sisters perspective.

Based on Ann Marie ODonnells diaries and accounts, the drama starring David Rawle, Aisling Loftus and Elaine Cassidy, documents the abuse, mental illness and events that brought her brother to that shocking place. For anyone familiar with the case, it makes for difficult but revealing viewing.

Young actor David Rawle  one of three who plays ODonnell at various points in his life  was not even born when the killings took place. But he says he was daunted at the prospect of taking on such a troubled character.

It wasnt a story that I was familiar with. But I understood that a lot of people in Ireland, it was a story that theyd either heard about, or were quite close to, he said.

This is somebodys life that youre taking on, and originally, after reading the script, I said: I dont think I want to be part of this. I was scared, because it was so different. Id agreed to meet with Ken (the producer), and Kit, the director, so I said Ill see what they have to say and well see what happens.

I talked to them and they completely put me at ease. By the end of the conversation I went from not being particularly sure to being eager to get started.

The film depicts how ODonnell was taking valium from a very young age, went on to suffer from acute mental illness and struggled to cope with the death of his mother. His father, according to Ann Marie, was extremely violent towards him.

For the 17-year-old actor, who endeared himself to audiences in Moone Boy, the prospect of going into such dark territory was not an easy one. Obviously it was a very daunting, very harrowing story. Youre working with all these amazing people but at the end of the day it was a very serious storyline and it wasnt like anything Id done before.

It was difficult for me to do something that was so out of my comfort zone. But I think it was good to try something that Id never done before. It was seeing if I was able to do this, able to do something that was on the other end of the spectrum.

I think the story is very important and we all did it justice. Its not a particularly nice story but I think its important at the same time that people see it from this perspective.

For director Kit Ryan, it was important that ODonnells story be told, even if it aroused controversy. I was very aware there are some in Ireland who would rather this film had not been made, that old wounds should not be reopened, he said. However, the tragic events were the culmination of domestic violence, institutional abuse and mental illness that went untreated for years and then the subsequent trial of a mentally ill young man, being tried as a sane man. I felt that this story was too important not to be told.

Ryan spent some time living around the very community where the events took place. I have spent some of my life in East Clare and was a teenager when this horrific tragedy took place in the next village. I was abroad at film school when Ireland was shocked to its core by what Brendan had done, and although I didnt know him personally, I did know of him from the village, and I too couldnt understand what had taken place.

In the years that followed, Ryan says it wasnt difficult to believe that this young man was pure evil.

At this point it was never my intention to make this as a film, however as the years passed I began to think more and more about why this terrible tragedy happened and if there were lessons to be learned from it. Though the story I have told now is very different to the one I knew then.

Terence Ryan, the producer, also lives in Clare and was well aware of the Brendan ODonnell case. It only became a project we considered once we started to hear about concerns some locals had that Brendan had been failed by the mental health system.

Terence brought in some researchers and over several years, we slowly started to piece together a different picture to the one we had been originally told. Ann Marie was interviewed early on though it wasnt for another ten years before we knew that she was our story.

Still, the director says he feared the film could get a negative reaction when it was shown to audiences, but is heartened by the response it has received so far.

I was most nervous at our first public screening, not because it was the first but because it was being premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh, not a long way from where it all took place. I was preparing myself for a bad reaction, though instead as the end credits rolled, we had a standing ovation.

I now have experienced this quite a few times in different parts of the world, with many people wanting to talk to me about their own similar experiences with family and friends.

It has a very deep emotional impact on people and it has opened debate up on how the mentally ill have been treated, and maybe more importantly how they are cared for in todays society.

Rawle agrees, and his great hope is that the film will spark debate about supporting the mentally ill.

I think its so, so important. That people can see its not just the circumstances that somebody is brought up in, what happens to them. Its also how theyre dealt with, how you treat people and how the State let all these people down. And what the terrible consequences of these seemingly small actions can be. How they can all mount until something like this, something terrible, happens.

Property of the State opens on Friday
ELKO  The Northeastern Nevada Honor Choir performed Tuesday night in the Elko Convention Center, featuring 165 students from northeastern Nevada.

Elko, Humboldt, Lander, White Pine and Lincoln counties had students represented in the honor choir. Sixty-five of those students are from the Elko High School Honor choir.

All students in the state honor choir must participate in their regional choir, and then audition for the state honor choir. The honor choir performs once a year at the Elko Convention Center. The center is chosen as the performance venue because the stage is large enough to support all of the students in the Northeastern Nevada Honor Choir.

I make all of my students in my top group try out, said Elko High School Choir Director Karen Rodgers. They rehearse for two days straight, and they put the whole concert together in those two days.

Each student singing in the honor choir was wearing his or her individual schools choir uniform to create a sea of colors. Elko High Schools choir uniform colors are maroon and black.

Guest Conductor Dr. Michael Huff was returning for his third year to direct this choir after previous performances in 2006 and 2013. Huff is the director of choral activities and head of the piano area at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah.

I just love coming here, Huff said. The students want to be great, and they work really hard.

The concert features patriotic music. The program first features each schools individual choirs to sing a piece, and then they converge to sing together in the state honor choir.

The selections are the Navy Hymn arrangement by Huff with piano accompaniment, America the Beautiful arranged by Huff, The Star Spangled Banner with all four verses, "God Bless America", and a medley of military branch songs called Proud to Serve.

Where I used to go to church in 2003, on the Sunday near the Fourth of July, we always sang the The Star Spangled Banner. Huff said. It was hideous with only three of the four verses, and I turned to my wife, and said that something needs to be done. Thats when I decided to write this arrangement, and its been performed by honor choirs and in music education clinics since then.

The program was created to remind Americans of the ideals that leaders and writers such as Thomas Jefferson and Francis Scott Key promoted, and for which many Americans strive for these 240 years later, Huff explained as he talked about the music. Some of those ideals include supporting the soldiers in our armed forces, reverence, and reflecting on American values.

Its a concert to pay tribute to those who serve, but also to remind us of our ideals of America as a city on the hill of the world, Huff said.

Connie Muir was accompanying all program pieces on the piano. The audience was also invited to sing with the honor choir for a medley of songs for each branch of the military.
Oct. 23

Aleem Carter, 43, of Boise, Idaho was arrested at the Elko County Jail for felony battery by a prisoner. Bail $50,000

Tyler C. Barr, 21, of Spring Creek war arrested at the Elko County jail on two counts of failure to appear after bail on a gross misdemeanor crime. Bail $50,000

Robert G. Cardona, 42, of Carlin was arrested at the 1600 block of Puett Drive for disturbing the peace and felony child abuse or neglect. Bail $100,352

Tyler J. Neumann, 27, of Elko was arrested under a warrant at Raleys for failure to appear on a misdemeanor crime. Bail $855

Linda K. Roa, 53, of Battle Mountain was arrested at 212 Eagle Road on four tribal charges. Bail $2,000

Nicholas R. Rose, 23, of Elko was arrested at the Elko County Jail on a warrant for failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor crime. Bail $1,000

The charges above do not imply guilt. Under the law, everyone is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
NATIONAL High street broker, Swinton Insurance, is holding a free cyber security seminar aimed at businesses on the Isle of Wight.

The how to survive a cyber-attack breakfast event will be run by cyber experts and will include a live hack.

The event is taking place on Thursday, October 26 from 8am to 10.30am, at CECAMM, Isle of Wight College, and will include experts in the fields of law, accountancy, insurance, IT and cyber security.

Specialists from Taylor Made Computer Solutions, Swinton Insurance, ESID, HSB Insurance Ltd/Munich Re, Rothmans and Moore Blatch will offer advice about how to safeguard against online threats.

John Cornett, commercial area development manager at Swinton Insurance, said: Please join us at this seminar. Its a must for businesses on the Isle of Wight who want to know how to protect their company before, during and after a cyber-attack. Whatever the reason a hacker chooses to attack their evolving techniques are an ever-growing concern for businesses striving to protect their information and assets.

Learn about your weakest areas, the appropriate use of IT systems in the workplace, current cyber threats, how to strengthen your information security and manage privacy compliance. There will also be the opportunity to network with other local business leaders.
Carol Hockett is a registered imaging technologist at NNRH. She is also a survivor of breast cancer. We recently sat down with Carol and asked her to tell us her story.



I was 48 years old when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Leading up to my diagnosis, I had this feeling that something was off. I couldnt really feel a lump, but my body was telling me that something was wrong. Its hard to explain, but I think its really important to listen to your body.

Anyway, I scheduled a mammogram. We actually did both a mammogram and an ultrasound of the breast, but nothing showed up. Still, I had this feeling that something was abnormal, so I requested a biopsy. The doctor really didnt think that I had breast cancer, but he did the biopsy because I requested it. When the results came back, they were positive for cancer.

After my diagnosis, I went to the Huntsman Institute in Salt Lake City. Thats where I got a mastectomy and underwent chemotherapy. It was a very difficult time in my life. My dad was in hospice in South Dakota, and I was down here. I was trying to deal with his illness while I went through my own. I knew that he was just holding on until I made it through my surgery before he passed away. I got to go see him a few weeks before my surgery. And then I came back and had my mastectomy. Six hours after he was told that I was OK, my dad passed away. It was such a tough time, because I knew what my dad was waiting for. I actually had to plan his cremation before I had my surgery. Like I said, it was just a really tough time.

After the mastectomy, I had several smaller surgeries for the first couple of months. Then I did 16 weeks of chemo. I kept working here at the hospital all throughout my chemo. My friends and my co-workers were a really good support group. Even the patients here at NNRH were a huge support. They watched my whole journey with chemo, and they still talk to me about it when they come to the hospital. I remember, after my hair fell out, I was wearing a stocking cap at work. This gentleman came in for an ultrasound, and he asked me, Why are you wearing your hat? And I said, Because Im bald. And he said, Well, so am I, honey. Its not a big deal! That kind of humor and support helped me get through this.

Now my cancer has been in remission for seven years. I still go to the Huntsman a couple times each year for additional testing. Its important to stay watchful.

I do believe that God worked a great deal in my life to get me to this point. I think my career as an imaging tech actually saved my life. I wouldnt have been aware of my risk and I wouldnt have known that something was wrong inside me if I didnt work in mammography.

Ive always been an advocate for breast cancer awareness, even before my own diagnosis. Ive been doing mammograms for over 25 years and ultrasounds for over 30. So, Ive always had a focus on womens breast health during my career. What my personal experience with breast cancer really brought home to me was how large a role genetics plays in this disease. I have a strong family history of breast cancer. After I was diagnosed, I got tested for the BRCA gene. There are many different cancers that are associated with mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. I have this gene mutation, and we can trace it back to my mother and my grandmother, as well as my aunt. All of these women passed away from cancer before the age of 45.

Now, I encourage people  both women and men  to get tested for the BRCA gene, especially if there has been cancer in every generation of your family. Being aware that you have an elevated risk means that youll get screenings more frequently than other people. And that helps doctors catch the cancer early while it is still treatable. There are also a lot of preventative steps that people with the BRCA gene mutation can take to help avoid getting cancer in the first place. It only takes a simple blood test to check the BRCA gene. It is definitely worth it.

The fact that I am a breast cancer survivor helps me relate even more to women who come in for mammograms, especially when they are called back for additional tests. Usually these patients are pretty scared. I can sit with them and share my own experience and let them know that its not the end of the world. Breast cancer is life-changing, but you can still have a really good life afterward. Im proof of that.

This past summer, I had an amazing opportunity to promote breast health abroad. I was asked if I was interested in travelling to Romania to provide ultrasound screenings to an underserved population. My response was, Well, sure! The group that I travelled with is called ServingHIM Healthcare International Ministries. I had to raise quite a bit of money to pay for the trip. Im very grateful to all of the individuals and organizations, including NNRH, who supported this mission.

ServingHIM helps facilitate the Diaconia Clinic in Braila, Romania. Unfortunately, there has been very little health education in this part of Romania, and that includes breast cancer education. We were able to teach the women there how to perform breast-self exams, and we talked a lot about the importance of mammography and early detection. I performed breast ultrasounds for dozens of women, many of whom had never been screened before. We sent all of the images back to a radiologist in the U.S. for interpretation. Then the local clinic staff provided follow-up with each woman.

The patients in the clinic were wonderful. They were just so grateful and appreciative. I know that many of them really needed the care and the education that we provided. It was very rewarding to get to know them and to serve them. It was a great yet humbling experience. And Im hopeful that I can go back before too long.

I guess, as a survivor of breast cancer, I really just want to give back. I have been blessed with so much and each day truly is a gift. If I can give back and be there for women who are going through something similar, then that is a reward in and of itself.

On behalf of all of us at NNRH, we want to say thank you to Carol for sharing her story with such honesty and courage. Her passion for womens health  not just in our community, but around the world  is an inspiration to us all.
Despite Israels 5th election in four years, it remains a beacon of democracy and freedom

The Israeli elections are fast approaching. On November 1, Israelis go back to the polls for the fifth round of elections in less than four...

What is a Jew? Israeli museum attempts an answer

JERUSALEMI was on a short visit to Israel and spent time with a friend with whom I have been engaged in a 30-year argument. Elli...
ELKO  Where do breast cancer patients go for radiation therapy if they live in rural northeastern Nevada?

More than two years ago, patients would have only out-of-town options, but the opening of the Northeastern Nevada Radiation Oncology Center provided a choice closer to home.

Since 2015, the center has treated approximately 160 patients who come from the Elko area, Battle Mountain, Ely, Eureka, Round Mountain and Winnemucca.

Robert LoBue, clinical manager and lead radiation therapist at NNROC, said he understands the challenges patients face in a rural community, having lived in northwestern Arizona most of his life before moving to Elko last year.

What you see in rural environments when it comes to cancer patients is more economic difficulties than in a suburban environment [or] urban environment, LoBue said.

Patients might not know what options are available for treatment, if its affordable or where they can go, LoBue explained. Once they do, the tumor may have grown, and the treatments could take longer, he said.

By the time they [have the information], theyre in pain, having other side effects and its much harder to cure them, LoBue said.

Radiation therapy, one of five treatment options including surgery, chemo, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy, is much more time consuming, with some tumors requiring daily doses for eight to nine weeks.

Having a facility in the rural areas means patients can avoid extra costs to travel and stay in a hotel, LoBue said, adding it would also reduce stress because patients can sleep in their own beds.

Its been proven that being able to go home makes the patient feel so much better, LoBue said.

At NNROC, state-of-the-art equipment is used to give exact doses of radiation suited to the thickness or thinness of the tumor that makes the dose homogenous, LoBue said.

LoBue said that because of differing body measurements, the technicians direct the radiation to the patients tumor.Were extremely precise, LoBue said. Laser beams positioned in the walls and the ceiling of the treatment room are used to pinpoint the exact location of the tumor.

The whole tumor has enough dose to kill it, but it will keep the surrounding tissue as healthy as possible, LoBue said.

Since opening, NNROC has also worked with patients referred to them from other cancer treatment centers in the region including Teton Cancer Institute in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and Renown Institute for Cancer in Reno.

They know were here, and theyve worked with us before, LoBue said. They send patients back to us so the patient can stay at home.

Rural Nevadans are well-insured, LoBue said and the center treats patients regardless of their ability to pay, LoBue said. The center accepts what insurances pay and zero balances the rest.

Average out-of-pocket cost for a course of therapy that runs for five days a week, eight to nine weeks of treatment is $266, LoBue said.

With the advancements in cancer treatments and locations, it mostly comes down to getting checked for breast cancer, LoBue said, by starting conversations with both men and women.

Breast cancer can also happen in men, LoBue said, noting that the most prevalent cancer he has seen in the area was lung cancer followed by breast cancer.

The sooner we as clinicians see a cancer, the much more curable it is, LoBue said. Thats what can help with cancer most.
WEST WENDOVER  Police arrested two Utah residents on forgery charges Friday at the Rainbow casino.

Andrew Pham, 35, of West Valley, Utah was at the Rainbow casino when he approached the cashiers cage to cash a business check, and the cashier notified security believing it was forged, according to West Wendover police.

Another witness believed Pham to have a concealed firearm, and Pham was patted down to check for weapons.

Pham was arrested for being in possession of a weapon by an unauthorized person, carrying and concealing a knife without a permit, four counts of intent to enter a fictional check, four counts of forgery, obtaining money on a false pretense, and possession of a controlled substance. His bail was listed at $112,500.

Narron Polygam, 34, of West Jordan was interviewed by officers on the scene and found to be in possession of fraudulent checks. His bail was listed at $20,000.

The investigation recovered several credit cards and checks that had been reported stolen, and officers of the West Wendover police are continuing the investigation with other jurisdictions in the Salt Lake City area.
ELKO  The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests Mountain City-Ruby Mountains-Jarbidge Ranger District is accepting comments until Nov. 2 on a proposal to make approximately 54,000 acres of oil and gas available for leasing in the Ruby Mountains.

The input will help the Forest Service prepare an environmental assessment addressing the potential effects of implementing this proposal.

This is an opportunity for the Forest to engage the public before making a decision that will influence the management and use of these lands moving forward in the future, said District Ranger John Baldwin.

The Forest Service is looking at which National Forest System lands may be made administratively available to the Bureau of Land Management for oil and gas leasing and what stipulations would be included to protect resources.

The NFS lands being considered for oil and gas leasing are located south of Lamoille Creek and North of Sherman Creek, on the west side of the Ruby Mountains. These lands are within areas covered by the 1986 Humboldt Land and Resource Management Plan, and all are designated as open to leasing.

The Nevada BLM is a cooperating agency on this National Environmental Policy Act analysis.

For any lands made available, the Forest Service would need to identify reasonable and necessary stipulations to avoid or minimize impacts to resources such as wildlife, soils, watersheds, roadless area characteristics and cultural resources.

The public can view the scoping material and maps for this project on the Forest Service website.

Written comments must be mailed to Susan Elliott, Minerals Program manager, at the Mountain City-Ruby Mountains-Jarbidge Ranger District Elko Office, 660 S. during normal business hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays.

Email comments can be submitted to sgelliott@fs.fed.us. Please put Ruby Oil and Gas into the subject line. Electronic comments can also be submitted using the project website.
GREENSBORO  The estate of a High Point woman murdered in 2014 has been awarded $100 million in a wrongful death suit filed against her killer.

Adam Arthur, the attorney for Joyce Price Eatons estate, said Judge L. Todd Burke made the announcement Monday in Guilford County Superior Court. Arthur said he asked the judge how much of a judgment he would consider, and Burke said $100 million.

Eaton, who lived in High Point, was left to die in a ditch beside a road in McLeansville after she had been shot and beaten and her throat had been slit. Anthony Clay Campbell of Mocksville pleaded guilty last month to her murder.

As far as I can tell, its the largest judgment in Guilford County, Arthur said.

He said Campbell has 30 days to appeal the judgment, and if no appeal has been filed in that time, there will be an attempt to collect $25 million in compensatory damages and $75 million in punitive damages, according to a news release from Kirkman Attorneys at Law, a Greensboro law firm.

Arthur said that if any money is collected, it will be distributed to Eatons five children.

Eaton and Campbell had been in a relationship for only a few months, Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes said after the slaying.

Arthur said Tuesday that Eaton was shot in the back and that he believes it was at close range. He said he believes the gun jammed, and when Campbell couldnt fire another shot into Eaton, he beat her with the butt of the gun before cutting her throat.

Guilford County sheriffs deputies found Eatons body in a ditch off AT&T Drive at 11:20 a.m. on June 12, 2014. Her body had been dragged 15 feet from the road into the ditch.

The investigation into Eatons death began as three separate cases: Guilford County deputies had an unidentified body, High Point police and the Alamance County Sheriffs Office had reports of a missing woman and Orange County deputies had found Eatons abandoned vehicle.

Arthur said Campbell had driven Eatons vehicle toward Raleigh, the couples apparent destination, but ditched it.

Detectives accessed Campbell and Eatons phone records from the night of the shooting and were able to place the two phones at Alamance Crossing in Burlington, where Eaton worked, and the crime scene in McLeansville.

Another cell tower placed only Campbells phone at the location in Orange County where Eatons car was found.

On Sept. 29, Campbell pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
MOCKSVILLE  A Davie County sheriffs deputy who was accidentally shot by former sheriff Andy Stokes during a standoff three years ago has been fired, according to documents that the Winston-Salem Journal obtained through a public-records request.

Cpl. Chris Fleming, 30, of Cooleemee, was terminated on Oct. 12 from the Davie County Sheriffs Office, according to a Personnel Action Form signed by current Sheriff J.D. Hartman and Fleming. Hartman did not give a reason for the termination on the form.

Hartman also filled out another form for the N.C. Sheriffs Education and Standards Commission, which is at the N.C. Department of Justice. On that form, Hartman answered yes to this question, Was separation a result of a criminal investigation or violation of Commission standards? Hartman also answered yes to the question, Are you aware of any ongoing or substantiated internal investigation regarding this officer within the last 18 months?

Hartman said in an email Friday that a violation of a criminal statute is a violation of Commission Standards. He also said that no criminal charges have been filed against Fleming. He added that the internal investigation is still active.

Hartman declined to provide any details about the internal investigation or why Fleming was fired. At the time he was terminated, Flemings annual salary was $43,163. According to the documents, Fleming was hired as a part-time officer in September 2010 and soon became a full-time officer.

Fleming said in a brief interview late Friday afternoon that he could not comment and referred questions to his attorneys. Benjamin Winikoff, an attorney for Fleming, declined to comment Tuesday.

On Jan. 22, 2014, Fleming responded with other officers to a standoff. Nicholas Scott Tilley lived in the house on Cornatzer Drive where a deputy had earlier tried to serve an arrest warrant in connection with a home invasion.

When the deputy attempted to arrest Tilley at his house, Tilley left in a car and took at least one juvenile hostage. He told his probation officer he would not surrender to deputies and that he would kill them if they confronted him.

Ninety-minutes later, deputies found Tilley inside a mobile home on Angell Road with the juvenile and a young man. At some point, Tilley released the hostages. Then Flemings police dog, Gorky, went in, followed by Fleming, three other deputies and Stokes.

Stokes said at a news conference a day after the standoff that Tilley shot Gorky with a 12-gauge shotgun as the dog walked down a hall toward Tilley. Fleming was hit in the face by pellets that ricocheted inside the home, Stokes said.

Stokes said he unintentionally shot Fleming in the right shoulder as he was trying to provide cover for Fleming and the other deputies.

Gorky later died. The State Bureau of Investigation reviewed the shooting and Stokes was cleared. Stokes retired as sheriff at the end of December 2016.

Tilley, 23, was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting serious injury and other charges. He is currently serving nine years and seven months in prison, according to the N.C. Department of Public Safety.
RALEIGH  The Carolinas were cleaning up Tuesday, a day after being slammed by severe thunderstorms with flooding and damaging winds that flipped tractor-trailers and small planes, broke storefront windows and pushed at least one house off its foundation.

At least 98,000 homes and businesses lost power, forcing some schools and parks to close.

In North Carolina, closures were still in effect Tuesday on several stretches of the Blue Ridge Parkway because of the heavy rainfall, parkway officials said in a news release. Park engineers were assessing areas for any undercutting of the road and needed repairs.

Officials for Chimney Rock State Park said on their webpage Tuesday that a wall at the top of a parking lot fell during Mondays heavy rainfall. The statement said some debris from the collapse was washed onto a road below. The park said the section will remain closed until further notice.

Stone Mountain State Park in Roaring Gap was also closed because of downed trees.

You could hear it howl through downtown, Michael Parsons told WXII-TV in Winston-Salem. His jewelry store in North Wilkesboro was damaged when a nearby roof blew off.

JoAnn Perez arrived home in Shelby shortly after the storms passed, to see her home pushed off its concrete slab, but her dogs and cat inside it were unharmed.

States of emergency were declared in Catawba County and the city of Hickory, where airplanes were flipped and two hangars damaged at Hickory Regional Airport.

In South Carolina, a team from the National Weather Service team confirmed Tuesday that two tornadoes had touched down in the state during the severe weather.

The survey team from Greer, S.C., viewed damage in Cherokee and Spartanburg counties from Mondays storms and said both places were hit by EF-2 tornadoes. On the Enhanced Fujita Scale, an EF-2 tornado carries winds of between 111 mph and 135 mph.

According to the weather service, additional damage was to be surveyed and the tornado rating could be adjusted. A final assessment was expected later.

In addition, the S.C. Highway Patrol reported approximately 20 accidents in Spartanburg County, as well as traffic light malfunctions and trees down in roadways on Monday afternoon.

Daily rainfall records were reported in Asheville and Charlotte in North Carolina, as well as the Greenville-Spartanburg area. Totals ranged from about 2 inches in Charlotte to more than 3.5 inches in Asheville. Streets were under water in Asheville and Boone, and firefighters rescued drivers from flooded roads in Pickens County in western South Carolina.

As of 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, Duke Energy reported 34,096 customers were still without electricity. Of that total, 30,638 were in North Carolina and 3,458 were in South Carolina.

No deaths have been reported from the storms. Spartanburg Regional Hospital said it had treated eight people with minor injuries.
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center has signed a letter-of-intent agreement to acquire High Point Regional Health System and affiliates from UNC Health Care of Chapel Hill.

The systems announced Wednesday that Wake Forest Baptist expects to complete taking ownership of High Point Regional by next summer. The goal is to begin the integration process in January.

The systems said the agreement is aimed at enhancing coordination of care for the many patients served by both Triad hospitals and to help Triad patients receive care close to home.

No financial disclosures or commitments were announced by the hospitals, although Terry Williams, Wake Forest Baptists chief strategy officer, said discussions are progressing about ways to help High Point Regional grow and aid its community foundation.

UNC Health Cares decision to hand off High Point Regional comes nearly two months after UNC announced Aug. 31 it would form one of the nations largest health care systems with Carolinas HealthCare System of Charlotte. The two hospital systems plan to create a joint operating company that would allow them to work together in myriad ways, from building new hospitals to negotiating with insurance companies.

David Meyer, senior partner with Keystone Planning Group of Durham. said the transition perhaps is influenced by the Carolinas-UNC Health Care combination which also includes Carolinas management contract with Cone Health of Greensboro.

Divesting in High Point could be a mechanism for obtaining Federal Trade Commission approval for UNC/CHS combination, Meyer said.

High Point Regional becomes the fourth community hospital to be affiliated with Wake Forest Baptist, along with Davie, Lexington and Wilkes medical centers.

The acquisition gives Wake Forest Baptist a more prominent presence in Guilford County. In May 2016, Wake Forest Baptist acquired Cornerstone Health Care of High Point, a multidisciplinary practice with a presence in 12 counties.

High Point Regional, like Cornerstone, is expected to operate as a wholly owned separate business unit in its affiliation with Wake Forest Baptist.

Wake Forest Baptist and High Point Regional Health have a long history of working together to provide high quality care to patients in our Triad communities, Dr. Julie Ann Freischlag, chief executive of Wake Forest Baptist, said in a statement.

We are very glad to unite with our neighbors and colleagues at High Point Regional Health to bring our collaboration  to improve the health of all in the Triad  to the next level.

Ernie Bovio, president and chief executive of High Point Regional, said the systems have not progressed in their talks to discussing potential impacts on their work forces. Wake Forest Baptist has 14,600 employees and 1,159 hospital beds systemwide; High Point Regional has 2,500 employees and 351 beds.

The intent is to create clinical jobs in High Point through adding services here, Bovio said.

Bovio called the ownership change an important step for the long-term growth and future of High Point Regional.

High Point Regional joined UNC Health Care in early 2013, with both systems saying the realities of the increasing cost of providing health care made the merger economically sensible.

At that time, High Point Regional officials spent seven months pursuing proposals from health care systems in the state. Wake Forest Baptist confirmed at that time it did not submit a proposal.

UNC Health Care provided $150 million for capital improvements to High Point Regional and $50 million for the establishment of a community health fund.

Bovio stressed that UNC Health Care fulfilled its financial and health care services commitment to High Point Regional, in particularly helping it gain financial stability following the ending of the Great Recession, as well as offering the cost-saving benefits of being part of a larger system.

In recent months, however, as Wake Forest Baptist and High Point Regional collaborated successfully on small projects, Bovio said it began to make sense for the hospitals to consider a larger relationship.

There is a difference in terms of geography and proximity between High Point and Winston-Salem, and High Point and Chapel Hill, Bovio said.

Dr. Bill Roper, chief executive of UNC Health Care, said we have been proud to have High Point Regional as an integral part of the UNC Health Care System.

After careful consideration, we found this opportunity to bring High Point Regional and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center together to be in the very best interest of the communities they serve.

Roper will chair the board that will oversee the combined Carolinas-UNC Health Care system.

Bovio said High Point Regionals referral patterns never really changed with High Point Regional being part of UNC Health Care just for the sake of the partnership.

Together, we can have a stronger overall presence being part of the Big 3 hospitals in Triad, rather than being a viable and relevant, but still smaller No. 4, Bovio said.

The High Point system serves more than 300,000 individuals annually. That total includes the systems presence in Kernersville  a market shared by the Triads four hospitals (Cone Health, High Point Regional, Novant Health Inc. and Wake Forest Baptist).

The future High Point Regional board will include representatives from the High Point community, Wake Forest Baptist and UNC Health Care during the transitional period.
School board member banned from schools

LAS VEGAS (AP)  An elected school board member in Las Vegas has been banned from directly contacting district employees and visiting schools without approval over allegations of harassment.

Clark County Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky issued a memo Tuesday notifying school workers in the nation's fifth-largest school system of the restrictions imposed on Trustee Kevin Child.

Skorkowsky cited student and employee safety for the urgent directive, saying there have been repeated and serious complaints of Child making district employees feel uncomfortable.

The 55-year-old Child blamed politics and said he is saddened by what he calls Skorkowsky's "shenanigans."

The real estate agent also said he earlier this year issued a cease-and-desist letter to the retiring superintendent over the harassment claims.

Skorkowsky ordered administrators to call district police if Child refuses to leave district property.

Hunters find body in Bruneau desert

BOISE, Idaho (AP)  State police have launched an investigation after hunters stumbled upon a body in a remote area of southwestern Idaho.

The Idaho Statesman reports that authorities with the Owyhee County Sheriff's Office say a man's body was found on Saturday in the Bruneau Desert area.

Sheriff Perry Grant says they "determined there were suspicious circumstances," and they decided to turn the investigation over to Idaho State Police.

The sheriff says the man's age, the cause of death and when he died are not yet known. Grant did not say what led authorities to believe the death was suspicious.

Judge serves eviction notice on mom's unborn baby

PROVO, Utah (AP)  A Utah mom in her final days of pregnancy gave her baby an eviction notice and made it official with a judge's signature. Incredibly, the baby obeyed.

Kaylee Bays was pregnant with her third child, a girl, and thought she was going into labor last week, but it stopped.

She went back to work to her job as a judicial assistant at the Fourth District Court in Provo, and jokingly asked Judge Lynn Davis to serve an eviction notice on her baby.

He did. And It worked. Less than 12 hours later, baby Gretsel was born, the Daily Herald reported .

Bays said Davis told her it was his first baby eviction notice in his 31 years as a judge.

"He told me, 'If it really works, I want it framed.' It did, and I'm going to frame it for him," Bays said.

Bays said the eviction notice gave her baby three days to "vacate the premises."

The notice was addressed to Gretsel at Mommy Belly Lane, in Womb, Utah.

"She came 12 hours later. So far, she's a good listener," she joked. "She didn't want to be in contempt of court."

Man charged in friend's suicide pleads not guilty

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  A Utah man accused of encouraging a high school friend to hang herself and filming the act has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge.

Court records show 18-year-old Tyerell Przybycien entered the plea Tuesday.

Prosecutors say he was fascinated with death and told a friend that helping her would be "like getting away with murder."

They say he Przybycien bought a rope and tied the noose for the 16-year-old girl who hanged herself in May.

Defense attorneys argue the 16-year-old girl left suicide notes showing she made the choice herself, and Przybycien's role did not amount to murder.

A judge last week called the case unusual and said allegations Przybycien was deeply involved with the suicide were strong enough to warrant a murder charge.
Summerville, SC (29483)

Today

Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
JURIST Guest Columnist Azadeh Shahshahani of Project South discusses a case of discrimination in access to public utilities 

Its hard to believe that in the twenty-first century there are still households that face the risk of going without electricity or running water because of who they are and where they come from. But in Georgia, thats still the case. In LaGrange, a town about an hour southwest of Atlanta, the City is the sole utility service provider and will not provide these basic services to any applicant who cannot provide specific identity documents that are unavailable to many immigrants, including those who are undocumented  and many who are lawfully present.

While the Citys identity document requirements disproportionately hurt Latinos, the City also limits and denies basic utility services to people with unrelated court debt owed to the City, a policy that predominantly harms African-Americans. To deny utility services to people because they cannot provide certain identity documents, or owe the City debt, is both inhumane and in violation of federal lawwhich is why we went to court.

In May, the Southern Center for Human Rights, the National Immigration Law Center, and the law firm of Relman, Dane and Colfax PLLC filed a lawsuit [complaint, PDF] on behalf of the Georgia NAACP, the Troup County Branch of the NAACP, Project South, and several impacted individuals, challenging two local policies [PDF] that make it incredibly hard, and even impossible, for many residents to keep the lights on and maintain running water in their homes. We are asking the court to permanently block these discriminatory policies.

Both local policies unlawfully restrict access to utility services that are vital to peoples ability to live in LaGrangeincluding gas, water and electricityand the overwhelming majority of residents impacted are Black and Latino. Both of these policies put low-income residents of color in an impossible situationeither leave their homes and families in LaGrange or live without basic utilities.

Many of the individuals affected by this first policy are undocumented Latino immigrants who, in order to get water or electricity, must either rent from a landlord who provides the utilities, which seriously limits available housing options, or find a third party willing to open an account for them. The latter practice is criminalized under a current municipal ordinance and could subject the utility user (and the third party) to jail time and fines. Both options make families vulnerable to exploitation.

The policy applies to renters and homeowners alike. But for the kindness of a friend willing to risk prosecution, for example, a Project South member and his wife, and their two young children, would be unable to obtain water or electricity in their home in LaGrange, which they own.

Another resident impacted by this policy is an undocumented man who has lived in LaGrange for more than fifteen years. He lives with his four children in a home that he rents. He cant obtain utilities from LaGrange in his own name because he does not have a social security number and separate U.S. or state-government-issued photo ID.

Another man lives in LaGrange with his wife and their two young children in a home that they own. He, too, is unable to obtain utilities from the City of LaGrange in his own name because he lacks a social security number and other U.S.- or state government-issued photo ID. His wife is similarly unable to meet the requirements of the discriminatory LaGrange policy.

The second policy were challenging adds individuals unpaid fines and fees from the LaGrange Municipal Court to their utility bills, and then threatens utility service disconnections if the court debt is not paid. LaGrange residents are often threatened with utility disconnection because of unpaid fines for things like traffic offenses, loitering and petty theft. Some of those convictions are more than ten years old. Most of the individuals affected by this policy are African-American  even though only half of the towns residents are African-American, more than 90 percent threatened with utility disconnection because of court debt in recent years are African-American.

Many of the individuals affected by these discriminatory policies are on a fixed income, and some rely on electricity for medical treatment. One of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, for example, is an African-American man with disabilities who relies on an oxygen machine to breathe. Yet the City of LaGrange has continually threatened to disconnect his electricity and other utilities, in part, because of court fines stemming from a traffic ticket.

These policies prey upon LaGranges most vulnerable residents. They are not only inhumane  they are illegal, too. We are confident the courts will agree.

Azadeh Shahshahani is Legal and Advocacy Director at Project South and a past president of the National Lawyers Guild. Azadeh has worked for a number of years in the Southeast to protect the human rights of immigrants and Muslim, Middle Eastern, and South Asian communities. She previously served as National Security/Immigrants Rights Project Director with the ACLU of Georgia. Her work has also appeared in the Guardian, the Nation, MSNBC, Aljazeera, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and the Huffington Post, among others.

Suggested citation: Azadeh Shahshahani, Discrimination Via Public Utility Monopoly in LaGrange, JURIST  Professional Commentary, Oct. 25, 2017, http://jurist.org/professional/2017/10/azadeh-shahshahani-utility-discrimination.php.
[JURIST] The Communist Party of China amended their constitution [text] Tuesday to add a section titled Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The partys absolute leadership over the military, the fight against corruption, Xis Belt and Road development initiative, supply-side reforms, and market forces in resource were also addressed [Xinhua report] in the amendments.

The partys constitution [USC backgrounder] is separate from Chinas national Constitution. The partys document governs party procedures the party is to follow. Xis thought enumerates a number of issues but has the goals of leading China to become a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful by the middle of the century. The constitution of the party also includes Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development.

Xi Jinping [BBC profile] is due to hit the 67-year age limit typical for Chinese Communist leaders, but could likely remain [NPR report] in power past that date. Some have seen this move as a consolidation of power [Reuters report] by Xi since assuming party leadership in 2012. His move up has been a gradual one since his rise to leadership.
The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit [official website] on Tuesday ruled [opinion, PDF] 6-3 that a 17-year-old unidentified, undocumented immigrant has the right to obtain an abortion.

A week earlier, the same court through a three-judge panel temporarily blocked [JURIST report] a lower court ruling permitting the teen immigrant to have an abortion, noting that it needed time to consider the emergency motion.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) [official website], as well as other federal and state officials, claimed the teen had no inherent right [NPR report] to an elective abortion in the US due to her status as an undocumented immigrant.

In a concurring opinion, Judge Milett wrote:

[T]odays decision rights a grave constitutional wrong by the government.  Where the government bulldozed over constitutional lines was its position that an unaccompanied child  has the burden of extracting herself from custody if she wants to exercise the right to an abortion that the government does not dispute she has. The government has insisted that it may categorically blockade exercise of her constitutional right unless this child (like some kind of legal Houdini) figures her own way out of detention by either (i) surrendering any legal right she has to stay in the United States and returning to the abuse from which she fled, or (ii) finding a sponsoreffectively, a foster parentwilling to take custody of her and to not interfere in any practical way with her abortion decision. That is constitutionally untenable. Settled precedent, establishes that the government may not put substantial and unjustified obstacles in the way of a womans exercise of her right to an abortion pre-viability. [A] pregnant minor who (i) has an unquestioned constitutional right to choose a pre-viability abortion, and (ii) has satisfied every requirement of state law to obtain an abortion, need not wait additional weeks just because she [is in government custody].

The case was remanded to a lower court to determine the appropriate dates for compliance with the ruling. A federal district court issued an order [press release] granting her access to an abortion, which took place on Wednesday.
The Supreme Court of Kenya [official website] ruled [text, PDF] Wednesday that it was unable to hear a case in which the petitioners are seeking to delay [BBC report] the upcoming presidential election.

The court was unable to hear the case because it did not have the required quorum of justices present. There are a total of seven judges on the Kenyan Supreme Court. One of the justices was not able to attend due to their bodyguard being shot and wounded on Tuesday. One justice is out of the country for treatment, while another justice was unable to get a flight back to Nairobi in time for the trial. Two other justices were listed as only not being able to come to court. This left only two justices at the court at the time of the trial.

The new presidential election is schedule to take place on October 26 at 6:00 AM local time. The election is necessary after the Kenyan Supreme Court invalidated [JURIST report] the previous election results in September. The new election has triggered many protests in the country. The Kenyan High Court lifted [JURIST report] a ban on the protests last week.
ELKO  A vote to approve a marijuana dispensary and casino in the Elko Indian Colony was postponed until Wednesday after presentations and some heated discussions during an Oct. 22 meeting of the Elko Band Council of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone.

David Decker, chairman of the Elko Band Council, announced that the vote is slated for a meeting on Oct. 25 at the Elko Colony Health & Wellness Center  formerly the Indian Colony Gymnasium.

About 100 people attended the nearly three-hour long meeting Sunday night. Participants heard presentations from Cannabis Consulting Group LLC owners Josh and Terra White, and Californian Jon Goldstein, who represents company seeking to bring in a marijuana facility and casino to the tribe.

Goldstein explained that because of confidentiality agreements with ourselves and some of our partners, he did not want the names divulged publicly until there is a formal agreement with the nation.

Josh White, of Elko, explained he has talked with Mayor Chris Johnson and Assemblyman John Ellison about his proposed business. Yerington, Ely and Moapa Valley already have medical marijuana dispensaries, and on Jan. 1, tribes can opt to sell recreational marijuana.

It would be smart of the tribe to participate, Josh White said. Theres a possibility that if they dont that they will be swallowed up and out of the marijuana deal.

It is the tribes decision, Terra White said.

Some audience members questioned Goldstein and White on the legality of bringing the ventures to the tribal land. One woman asked Goldstein if he had a letter from the federal government if he had permission to bring a marijuana business on the reservation.

Others in the audience said the band council was only one part of the Western Te-Moak Tribe and that the whole tribal council needed to be included in the discussions.

The tribe is comprised of Battle Mountain Band Council, South Fork Band Reservation, the Wells Band Colony and the Elko Band Council.

Decker said the Elko Band is federally recognized, but the overseeing government is Te-Moak.

Felix Ike, former Te-Moak Tribal Council chairman, spoke to the audience and first thanked Decker for organizing the meeting. He went on to express his concerns about the casino venture.

Almost 50 percent of all gross or net profits go to the LLC and 5 percent to all of the consultants, and theyre not really transparent in regards to who their consultants or partners are, Ike said. [T]hey want to utilize Nevada state law on the reservation, that means were going to be giving up our sovereignty.

After the meeting, Decker said the experience was very positive.

Im glad the negative people had a chance to say their piece because they needed to hear the facts behind everything, Decker said, even though it was difficult to answer some of their disgruntled questions ... . They would have been problems for us if we didnt follow that avenue with the transparency with the state.

Josh White said he hoped the Elko Band, along with the Elko County Commissioners, and Elko City council saw the economic boost thats coming.

I think they [will] see we are going to capitalize to the tunes of millions, Josh White said.

Because of the economic impact on the area, Josh White said he would rather be recognized for helping the economy rather than the marijuana sales.

I want to be known for job creation and industry creation a lot more than for marijuana, Josh White said. Im really good with the hope of helping people.

I think Wednesday will be a happy day for my company.
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website] on Tuesday ordered the dismissal [text, PDF] of Hawaii v. Trump [SCOTUSblog materials], the last remaining challenge of the now expired March 6 travel ban [JURIST news archive].

In the brief order, the court noted that the provisions of the original executive order expired by [their] own terms, and thus the matter is rendered moot. As a result of the expiration of the order, the court vacated the judgement [text] of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [official website] in which the court of appeals blocked the implementation of the initial travel ban. The court then remanded the matter to the court of appeals with instructions to dismiss the matter as moot.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor [official profile] was the only Justice to dissent from the order on the grounds that the writ of certiorari should have never been granted as the order was bound to inevitably expire.

The Supreme Court now awaits the likely appeals arising out of the September travel ban [text, PDF], which has already been blocked by the US District Court for the District of Maryland and the US District Court for Hawaii [JURIST reports].
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkul Karman proposed in Honduras on Tuesday the creation of a global tribunal to prosecute executives of multinational firms who damage the earth.

Karman, of Yemen, made the suggestion in the Central American country that Amnesty International last year described -- along with its neighbor Guatemala -- as the most dangerous in the world for environmentalists.

"A world court should be created that could punish all these multinational corporations" that damage the environment and contribute to climate change, Karman said through a translator.

She spoke at a press conference with Shirin Ebadi of Iran, a fellow Nobel laureate who won the peace prize in 2003.

As part of the Nobel Women's Initiative, they aimed "to gather a first-hand account of the ongoing violence against women land defenders" in Honduras and in Guatemala, where they travelled later Tuesday, the group's website says.

The murder of Berta Caceres, 45, gunned down last year, highlighted the threat to Honduran activists and sparked international outrage.

Caceres opposed plans by the company Desarrollos Energeticos to build a hydroelectric dam across a river on which indigenous communities depended.

Rachel Vincent, advocacy and media director for the Nobel Women's Initiative, said Honduras has the world's highest rate of murders for human rights and land defenders.

Since 2009, 123 activists have been killed, she said.

In comments to AFP, Karman said a special international court is needed "to fight against corruption and money laundering and against all those involved in destroying the environment and exploiting the climate in a damaging way."

She said such a tribunal could be similar to The Hague-based International Criminal Court which investigates and tries people charged with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Karman said the court she proposes would handle cases in which human rights and environmental activists or anti-corruption fighters are "found dead."

She also said the investigation of Caceres's murder must be deepened "to discover all those who benefited from this crime."

Eight people were arrested, among them an employee of Desarrollos Energeticos.

The Nobel laureates met Austra Berta Flores, the mother of Caceres, on Saturday.

In Guatemala, they are to join two other Nobel Peace Prize winners, Guatemala's Rigoberta Menchu and Jody Williams of the United States.
Have you ever wondered why your computer often shows you ads that seem tailor-made for your interests? The answer is big data. By combing through extremely large datasets, analysts can reveal patterns in your behavior.

A particularly sensitive type of big data is medical big data. Medical big data can consist of electronic health records, insurance claims, information entered by patients into websites such as PatientsLikeMe and more. Health information can even be gleaned from web searches, Facebook and your recent purchases.

Such data can be used for beneficial purposes by medical researchers, public health authorities, and healthcare administrators. For example, they can use it to study medical treatments, combat epidemics and reduce costs. But others who can obtain medical big data may have more selfish agendas.

I am a professor of law and bioethics who has researched big data extensively. Last year, I published a book entitled Electronic Health Records and Medical Big Data: Law and Policy.

I have become increasingly concerned about how medical big data might be used and who could use it. Our laws currently dont do enough to prevent harm associated with big data.

What your data says about you

Personal health information could be of interest to many, including employers, financial institutions, marketers and educational institutions. Such entities may wish to exploit it for decision-making purposes.

For example, employers presumably prefer healthy employees who are productive, take few sick days and have low medical costs. However, there are laws that prohibit employers from discriminating against workers because of their health conditions. These laws are the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. So, employers are not permitted to reject qualified applicants simply because they have diabetes, depression or a genetic abnormality.

However, the same is not true for most predictive information regarding possible future ailments. Nothing prevents employers from rejecting or firing healthy workers out of the concern that they will later develop an impairment or disability, unless that concern is based on genetic information.

What non-genetic data can provide evidence regarding future health problems? Smoking status, eating preferences, exercise habits, weight and exposure to toxins are all informative. Scientists believe that biomarkers in your blood and other health details can predict cognitive decline, depression and diabetes.

Even bicycle purchases, credit scores and voting in midterm elections can be indicators of your health status.

Gathering data

How might employers obtain predictive data? An easy source is social media, where many individuals publicly post very private information. Through social media, your employer might learn that you smoke, hate to exercise or have high cholesterol.

Another potential source is wellness programs. These programs seek to improve workers health through incentives to exercise, stop smoking, manage diabetes, obtain health screenings and so on. While many wellness programs are run by third party vendors that promise confidentiality, that is not always the case.

In addition, employers may be able to purchase information from data brokers that collect, compile and sell personal information. Data brokers mine sources such as social media, personal websites, U.S. Census records, state hospital records, retailers purchasing records, real property records, insurance claims and more. Two well-known data brokers are Spokeo and Acxiom.

Some of the data employers can obtain identify individuals by name. But even information that does not provide obvious identifying details can be valuable. Wellness program vendors, for example, might provide employers with summary data about their workforce but strip away particulars such as names and birthdates. Nevertheless, de-identified information can sometimes be re-identified by experts. Data miners can match information to data that is publicly available.

For instance, in 1997, Latanya Sweeney, now a Harvard professor, famously identified Massachusetts Governor William Welds hospital records. She spent $20 to purchase anonymized state employee hospital records, then matched them to voter registration records for the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Much more sophisticated techniques now exist. Its conceivable that interested parties, including employers, will pay experts to re-identify anonymized records.

Moreover, de-identified data itself can be useful to employers. They may use it to learn about disease risks or to develop profiles of undesirable employees. For example, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website allows users to search for cancer incidence by age, sex, race, ethnicity and region. Assume employers discover that some cancers are most common among women over 50 of a particular ethnicity. They may be very tempted to avoid hiring women that fit this description.

Already, some employers refuse to hire applicants who are obese or smoke. They do so at least partly because they worry these workers will develop health problems.

Whats stopping them?

So what can be done to prevent employers from rejecting individuals based on concern about future illnesses? Currently, nothing. Our laws, including the ADA, simply do not address this scenario.

In this big data era, I would urge that the law be revised and extended. The ADA protects only those with existing health problems. Its now time to begin protecting those with future health risks as well. More specifically, the ADA should include individuals who are perceived as likely to develop physical or mental impairments in the future.

It will take time for Congress to revisit the ADA. In the meantime, be careful about what you post on the internet and to whom you reveal health-related information. You never know who will see your data and what they will do with it.
Marijuana sales are coming to Elko County regardless of what commissioners or the Elko City Council want.

West Wendover plans to have a dispensary licensed around the first of the year. The next one could be located in Jackpot or even right here in Elko  although not technically within the city limits.

County commissioners last week said they would have staff look into a request by Jackpots town advisory board and Idaho-based businessmen to allow a dispensary in the border town, although they would need to sway at least one more commissioner to change his opinion. Three commissioners voted to set up the anti-pot ordinance, with Rex Steninger and Jon Karr in opposition.

A dispensary in Jackpot and/or Wendover would do big business because of their locations right across the line from neighboring states that currently do not allow marijuana sales. Judging from the business being generated in Las Vegas and other states where pot is sold, they could see a huge boost in tourism and tax revenue.

Marijuana sales also could be coming to Elko, where two companies have proposed putting a dispensary across from the smoke shop on the upper Indian colony, as well as growing facilities. The Elko Band Council heard pitches from both on Sunday night, but some members are saying that only the full Te-Moak Tribal Council has the authority to approve a deal.

The Las Vegas Paiute Tribe opened a dispensary last week, which claims to be the largest in the country. Tribal groups in Ely and Yerington have also registered with the state to set up dispensaries.

Sentiment at the Elko Band Council meeting appeared to be mostly in favor of selling marijuana, although there was a definite difference of opinion coming from the other side of the bleachers.

The hastily called meeting included presentations from Joshua White of Elko-based Cannabis Consulting Group LLC, and Jon Goldstein representing separate marijuana and casino proposals.

We were familiar with the Whites proposal, and their support from Elko Band Council Chairman David Decker, who testified for a bill passed by the Legislature last spring and signed into law by Gov. Brian Sandoval. Decker and others see it as a way to fund needed services such as health care and road maintenance.

What surprised us was the proposal from an established marijuana grower and dispenser from California, which is seeking to spread out to several other states besides Nevada. Goldstein spoke Sunday about separate proposals for a marijuana operation  which has already been designed  and a hotel-casino-retail development that could be proposed soon.

Goldstein claims to have political and business connections in Nevada and investors from out of state that could quickly make both projects a reality, provided that Te-Moak members can come together and agree on a business plan. Thats a big if, considering the diversity of opinions and lack of communication in the tribe.

The Elko Band could choose the homegrown route and approve the Whites proposal, which they claim would provide a greater return to the tribe. At a recent Elko Rotary Club presentation, they talked about the high amount of legal marijuana already coming into Elko city and county, while all of the tax revenue goes to the counties were marijuana is legally sold.

Its hard to argue with their position that marijuana has medical benefits, and that local governments should be getting tax revenue from the hundreds of legitimate medical users who live here. Some of those people showed up at Sunday nights band council meeting to plead for a local dispensary.

Unfortunately, there is no hard line between medical and recreational marijuana sales because of the way state law is written. Another snag involves the clause that prohibits individuals from growing their own pot if they live within 25 miles of a licensed retail dispensary.

The Whites proposal appeared to be overshadowed by the interest shown in Goldsteins plan for a full-scale marijuana operation and casino. If everything he spoke about Sunday night came to fruition, it would be a major development in Elko, particularly when it comes to Interstate 80 traffic that runs adjacent to the property.

Investing in a casino would also come with risks for the tribe. Concerns mentioned at the band council meeting included an increase in crime, paying off the loan, and even a potential threat to tribal sovereignty.

One thing is clear: Neither city nor county officials have any jurisdiction over the tribe. Any deal with the Te-Moak would likely include a portion of the tax revenue going to the city and/or county, which would put Elko in the marijuana sales business after all.

The only remaining question is, at what point will city and county leaders stop fighting what Nevada voters have already approved?

Unfortunately, there is no hard line between medical and recreational marijuana sales because of the way state law is written. Another snag involves the clause that prohibits individuals from growing their own pot if they live within 25 miles of a licensed retail dispensary.
Ucoms mobile customers will benefit from the best internet roaming rate of 8 AMD/MB when travelling to Georgia, Egypt or the UAE

Ameriabank Launches Google Pay and Google Wallet Support for Card Users in Armenia

Karen Vardanyan donated 112 million drams for the medical equipment for National Center for Infectious Diseases.

UCOM HAS INTRODUCED FUTURE NETWORK WI-FI 6E ROUTERS

Statement by the Spokesperson on the conflict resolution and reconciliation efforts

Foreign Minister of Armenia to participate in the Fifth Paris Peace Forum

Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights

Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh

Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom

Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Google Ad

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS

There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces
Ucoms mobile customers will benefit from the best internet roaming rate of 8 AMD/MB when travelling to Georgia, Egypt or the UAE

Ameriabank Launches Google Pay and Google Wallet Support for Card Users in Armenia

Karen Vardanyan donated 112 million drams for the medical equipment for National Center for Infectious Diseases.

UCOM HAS INTRODUCED FUTURE NETWORK WI-FI 6E ROUTERS

Google Ad

Statement by the Spokesperson on the conflict resolution and reconciliation efforts

Foreign Minister of Armenia to participate in the Fifth Paris Peace Forum

Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights

Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh

Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom

Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Google Ad

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS

There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces
KEARNEY  A Gibbon man faces four felony charges in connection to an alleged sexual assault involving a girl and then allegedly threatening a woman who questioned him earlier this month in Kearney.

Jordan Cockerham, 19, is charged in Buffalo County Court with felony first-degree sexual assault of a person who is at least 12 years old but younger than 16 and with contributing to the delinquency of a child, a misdemeanor.

He also is accused of felony terroristic threats, possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony and tampering with a witness.

A Kearney Police Department incident report says on Oct. 10 a woman reported Cockerham became upset with her when she questioned him about the alleged sexual assault of the girl, and Cockerham allegedly threatened the woman.

Cockerham was arrested on a Buffalo County warrant Friday. Court records detailing the incident have been sealed, and can only be unsealed by a judge. Cockerham appeared in court Monday, and Judge Gerry Jorgensen set his bond at $15,000. Jorgensen forbade Cockerham to have contact with either alleged victim.

Cockerham is scheduled to appear in court in November. If convicted on all counts, and if he isnt placed on probation, he faces up to 60 years in prison.

@HubChic
KEARNEY  One of two drivers in a February switcheroo pursuit south of Gibbon must complete classes in responsible thinking and decisions because of his role in the incident.

John P. Kelly, 22, of Bellevue was placed on probation for one year on convictions for flight to avoid arrest and willful reckless driving in the Feb. 12 incident. In addition to the classes, under his probation Kelly must complete an alcohol education class and outpatient counseling, attend the 12-Step Recovery Program once a week, complete a victim/impact panel, and complete a class in peer relationships.

Kelly also saw his drivers license suspended for 30 days, and he must pay a $300 fine.

Buffalo County Court Judge Gerry Jorgensen gave Kelly three days credit for time already served in jail and approved work release. Jorgensen gave Kelly until January to complete his sentence and allowed Kelly to serve his probation in Douglas or Sarpy County.

At about 2:41 a.m. Feb. 12, the Buffalo County 911 Communications Center received a report of a car trying to run another vehicle off Interstate 80 near Gibbon. A deputy sheriff pursued the car until they crossed into Kearney County.

Later, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper located a vehicle with its lights off on a dead-end road in Kearney County. When the trooper activated her emergency lights, the car fled on Denman Road south of Shelton toward Kenesaw in Adams County.

The car went through Kenesaw and back north on Denman Road until it came to a curve at 24th Road. The car missed the curve, hit the curve sign and came to rest about 200 feet from the road.

The car crashed as Joseph Paterno, 21, also of Bellevue and Kelly were trying to navigate the curve while also trying to switch drivers.

Kelly, who was identified as the driver at the time, and Paterno were then taken into custody without incident.

Paterno has been sentenced to 30 days in jail and was placed on one year probation.

@HubChic
KEARNEY  An alleged domestic assault turned into a search for two Kearneyites Wednesday around the Kearney area.

Around 8:35 a.m. a Kearney woman reported being awaken at 6 a.m. in her apartment in south Kearney to the sound of someone being thrown into a wall. The woman discovered a man and woman, who she had recently allowed to live with her, arguing.

The incident escalated and the man, identified in Buffalo County Court records as Alex Bogroff, 54, allegedly hit the second woman and threatened to kill her. He also allegedly threatened the first woman if she called police he would hurt her.

Bogroff then allegedly physically pulled the second woman out of the apartment by her clothing, got into a van in the apartment complex parking lot and left. Kearney police, Buffalo and Kearney County deputies and troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol were involved in the search.

At 3:10 p.m., Bogroff and the alleged victim were located near Talmadge Street and Second Avenue. The man was arrested and taken into custody without incident following a traffic stop.

The woman wasnt seriously injured.

Bogroff is charged in Buffalo County Court with domestic third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, and two counts of felony terroristic threats in the incident. Late this morning he was being held at the Buffalo County Jail waiting his initial bond hearing.

If convicted on all counts, and he isnt placed on probation, Bogroff faces up to nine years in prison.

@HubChic
A man found dead Saturday near the Union Pacific Railroad tracks in Columbus, Nebraska, has been identified as Scott Dirksen.

Dirksen, 27, is thought to have died after he was struck by a train, authorities said. Columbus police found him about noon Saturday by the tracks near 23rd Avenue.

Platte County Attorney Carl Hart said Monday that an autopsy was conducted Sunday in Douglas County. Authorities are awaiting results of a toxicology report to find out whether Dirksen had alcohol or drugs in his system.

What we dont know yet is why he died, Hart said. It appears to be an accident.

Dirksen is originally from Minnesota but lived in Columbus, Hart said. Witnesses said Dirksen had been at a Columbus bar Friday night.
Having relatives in Kearney, I am aware that evangelist Franklin Graham was in Nebraska last year for his tour of state capital cities. That was fine. Yet, Franklin needs to cover more medium-sized towns. I heard Franklin Grahams remarks at his Decision Texas rally held Oct. 19 in Longview.

I kept thinking back to his fathers revivals and when I went to the Rev. Billy Graham Crusade in Oklahoma City in 2003. I must say, I prefer Billy to Franklin. I realize that Franklin had his rebellious years, such as in 1970, when he was expelled from our own Le Tourneau University in Longview, for keeping a female classmate out past curfew.

Obviously we are all human and all sinners, yet I wonder how that nameless woman feels now. In nearly all mainstream houses of worship, the pastor, priest or minister notes that repentance comes from within and its a two-way street. Theologians would call this a firm act of contrition.

Law-men would call this making a firm act of restitution. Almighty God will ultimately be the judge.

I feel Billy Graham got more compassion in his soul as he aged. He will be age 99 next month in November. I wish him the best.

Franklin Graham, like me, is a Trinitarian Christian  meaning we each believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit is essentially an equal-partner of the Holy Trinity, giving us discernment in our spiritual direction.

My point is I hope that more believers would remember all three components of the Holy Triangle or Delta.

My seeing the Rev. Billy Graham in 2003 was an inspiring, stirring moment and the only time I ever saw the musician Charlie Daniels perform anyplace.

Again, I applaud Franklin Graham for coming back to Longview. I only wish Franklin would come to a town of 35,000 population such as Kearney.

James Marples, Longview, Texas
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The Carleton University campus is seen Wednesday October 25, 2017 in Ottawa. Carleton University has won the right to reclaim roughly $500,000 in pension payments made to a former professor who was missing for years before his remains were found in the woods near his Quebec home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A grizzly bear fishes along a river in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park near Bella Coola, B.C. Friday, Sept 10, 2010. The long-term health of British Columbia's grizzly bear population is the focus of an audit by Auditor General Carol Bellringer set for release today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A worker on the production line at Chrysler's assembly plant in Windsor, Ontario, works on one of their new minivans on Tuesday, January 18, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Geoff Robins
SPIKE's use should not be surprising (video)

Before the Geneva Summit and the Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting, no one in Armenia hoped that the presidents would establish peace at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. We should not be surprised at the recent use of Spayk armament by the Armenian side at the border. According to political analyst Tevan Poghosyan, besides suppressing Armenia, the tension in the border is beneficial to certain circles of the Azerbaijani elite. "There is a generation growing up, and for which Aliev's father spent a lot of money for their studies in his times by sending them abroad. Now, there is a generation who have received a brilliant education and are trying to do some tricks in the government to show that it is not only Aliev's dynasty, but also their. I feel that during their internal struggle, we have some kind of tension, that they say, even if you are in agreement, we will not allow it. "
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley speaks to reporters following a Council of the Federation meeting in Ottawa on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says an alternative sex education curriculum being crafted by Catholic school officials will never be taught if it arrives as previously advertised. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
FILE - In this July 1, 2017, file photo, Eugene Kaspersky, Russian antivirus programs developer and chief executive of Russia's Kaspersky Lab, poses for a photo on a balcony at his company's headquarters in Moscow, Russia. The founder of Russian anti-virus firm Kaspersky tells The Associated Press his company did upload classified U.S. documents a couple of years ago, only to delete them immediately after realizing what had happened. Kaspersky's acknowledgement is the first on-the-record confirmation of an incident described earlier this month in three U.S. newspapers.(AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
In this July 12, 2017, photo, Asbestos Removal Technologies Inc., , job forman Megan Eberhart wears protective gear for asbestos abatement in Howell, Mich. Spurred by the chemical industry, President Donald TrumpAos administration is retreating from a congressionally mandated review of some of the most dangerous chemicals in public use: millions of tons of asbestos, flame retardants and other toxins in homes, offices and industrial plants across the United States. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2017, photo, activists with Planned Parenthood demonstrate in support of a pregnant 17-year-old being held in a Texas facility for unaccompanied immigrant children to obtain an abortion, outside of the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington. A federal appeals court on Oct. 24 cleared the way for a 17-year-old immigrant held in custody in Texas to obtain an abortion. The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 6-3 in favor of the teen. The decision overturned a ruling by a three-judge panel of the court that at least temporarily blocked her from getting an abortion. The Trump administration could still appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
The royal officials walk in front of the Grand Palace during the Royal Funeral in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. A ceremony in an ornate throne hall Thursday morning began the transfer of the remains of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej to his spectacular golden crematorium in the royal quarter of Bangkok after a year of mourning for the monarch Thais hailed as "Father." (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
FILE - In this file photo taken on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, a Crimean Tatar leader, Ilmi Umerov, speaks during an interview to the Associated Press in Simferopol, Crimea. Ukraine's president Petro Poroshenko says two prominent Crimean Tatar leaders, including Ilmi Umerov, who were imprisoned in Russian-occupied Crimea have been released and flown to Turkey. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File)
Ken Burns and Lynn Novicks comprehensive documentary series on the Vietnam War is filled with the stories and voices of ordinary soldiers on all sides of the conflict. But the most tragic aspect of the tale, for me, was to hear Lyndon Johnson on tape, before full U.S. engagement, admitting that the war could not be won. Johnsons dilemma is one that presidents dread facing  and one that Donald Trump is bringing upon himself with North Korea and Iran.

In May 1964, when the United States had fewer than 20,000 troops in Vietnam, serving as advisers and trainers, Johnson said to his national security adviser, McGeorge Bundy, I just stayed awake last night thinking about this thing. ... It just worries the hell out of me. I dont see what we can ever hope to get out of there with once were committed. ... I dont think that we can fight them 10,000 miles away from home and ever get anywhere in that area. I dont think its worth fighting for, and I dont think we can get out.

I look at this sergeant of mine this morning, Johnson continued. Hes got six little old kids ... What in the hell am I ordering him out there for? What the hell is Vietnam worth to me?... What is it worth to this country?

Johnson was asking all the right questions. He understood that Vietnam was not actually vital and that it could easily become a quagmire. And yet, he could never bring himself to the logical conclusion  withdrawal. Like so many presidents before and after him, he could not see how he could admit failure. No president could do that. In another conversation, with his mentor from the Senate, Richard Russell, Johnson speculated that theyd impeach a president, though, thatd run out [of Vietnam], wouldnt they?

And so, because the president of the United States could not think of a way to admit that the U.S. needed to reverse course, Johnson increased troop levels in Vietnam from under 20,000 to over 500,000, tearing apart Indochina, American society and his presidency. It is generally true that in foreign policy, when the United States is confronted with a choice between backing down and doubling down, it follows the latter course.

In two crucial arenas, North Korea and Iran, Trump has dramatically raised the risks for the United States, and for no good reason. Determined to seem tougher than his predecessor, he has set out maximalist positions on both countries. He wants a totally denuclearized North Korea and an Iran that stops making ballistic missiles and stops supporting proxy forces in countries like Syria, Iraq and Yemen. There is a vanishingly small possibility that North Korea and Iran will simply capitulate because Washington demands it. And if they dont, what will Trump do? Will he back down or double down? And where will this escalation end up?

Trump seems to view international negotiations as he does business deals. He has to win. But there is one big difference. In the international arena, the other person also has to worry about domestic politics. He or she cannot appear to lose either. As a leading businessperson recently said to me, Trump is playing a two-person negotiation, thinking its just him and the other guy, two principals, making a deal, as in business. But actually there are people outside the room  the two nations publics  that place huge constraints on the negotiators. Its not a two-person game at all.

For any international negotiation to succeed, there has to be some element of win-win. But Trump seems to believe above all that he must win and the other side must lose. A senior Mexican official told me renegotiating NAFTA was possible, as would be funding the border wall, but Trump needed to allow us to also declare some kind of victory, give us some concessions. Instead he started out by humiliating us and made it impossible for [President Enrique] Pena Nieto to make a deal. After all, no Mexican government can be seen to simply surrender to Washington.

Trump is not doing real estate deals anymore. The arena is different, the conditions are far more complex, and the stakes are higher  astronomically higher.

Fareed Zakarias email address is comments@fareedzakaria.com.
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American company to participate in Shnogh HPP construction project

The American "The Robbins Company" will participate in the construction of Shnogh HPP power station. Debed Hydro LLC and the Robbins Company have signed a contract . RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Ashot Manukyan and US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills were present during this. Ashot Manukyan, during his opening speech of the ceremony, noted: "The construction project of Shnogh HPP is an important step towards Armenia's energy security in the context of the strategy adopted by the Government of Armenia. The Armenian government highly appreciates the fact that this step is taken by American partners. I would like to thank debed Hydro LLC and the Robins companies for the energy system of our country and for the economy of Armenia in general. The Minister also thanked the US Embassy in Armenia and personally Ambassador Mills for active support for the long-term cooperation between the two private sectors. This year we mark the 25th anniversary of our diplomatic relations with the Republic of Armenia and I cannot recall a better representation of our 25-year partnership, than the achievement that we celebrate today, "said US Ambassador Richard Mills. Signing the contract between Debed Hydro LLC and Robins companies is an example of US-Armenia cooperation in the field of energy. I want to thank Minister Ashot Manukyan for introducing me the investment opportunity of Shnogh hydroelectric power station as well as I want to congratulate him for the completion of the program of bringing world-class American tunnel drilling technology and equipment through joint work.
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Over the past seven seasons, Game of Thrones fans have demonstrated the ability to spot an emerging threat early on  a quality more leaders in health care need to possess.

If youve tuned into the popular HBO series from the beginning, you likely recall Ned Stark (Lord of Winterfell) forecasting doom and gloom in the shows opening episode, appropriately titled Winter Is Coming. Right then, you knew something bad was lurking, and yet very few characters paid the warning any mind. Instead, the rulers of the seven kingdoms focused their energy and attention on the political squabbles at hand, a trait they share with many health care leaders.

In-fighting dominates todays health care landscape: Insurers and care providers clash over pre-authorization, medical specialties are locked in endless turf wars, and primary care physicians struggle to eke out their small slice of the financial pie. In doing so, theyre failing to spot and act upon the biggest threats: Health care costs continue to rise faster than our ability to pay, inefficient hospitals and care systems have become the norm, and we are all close to the breaking point.

For patients, annual out-of-pocket costs are reaching unaffordable highs. The CDC reports 40 percent of all Americans with employer-based insurance now have a high-deductible health plan. Five years ago, that number was 14 percent. And despite stagnating wages, employees now contribute 32 percent more toward their familys premiums than they did in 2012. Company contributions toward premiums over that same period are up a mere 14 percent. The result is workers now pay an average of $5,714 a year toward premiums alone, and its $6,814 for people working at companies with fewer than 200 employees.

Inside our nations hospitals and medical offices, redundant care is commonplace and at odds with what the clinical studies show to be most appropriate. All this ineffective care has driven up costs without any notable improvement in quality, signaling a major threat to our nations financial and overall well-being.

For years, weve heard about the need to transform care delivery. Still, most health care professionals assume someone else  businesses, the government or their patients  will come to the rescue and shoulder the ever-growing economic burden.

Health care needs someone willing to act on the threat. In Game of Thrones, that someone was Jon Snow, the supposed bastard son of Ned Stark. Wanting to make a difference in the world, Snow left Winterfell behind and journeyed north to join the Nights Watch, protectors of the wall. Standing guard atop the giant structure of ice, Snow proudly guarded the realm, battled the external threat head-on and earned the title King in the North. In the future, we will need more John Snows in the medical profession than we have today.

Time and again, the powers that be, regardless of industry, tend to dismiss threats to the status quo as distant and improbable. They pay a massive price for their overconfidence. Just ask Kodak, Borders and Yellow Cab. History teaches that outside forces will disrupt any inefficient organizational model. Health care will be no different.

The wall protecting health cares status quo is crumbling. Signs of disruption are everywhere.

County officials in Santa Barbara, for example, got so fed up with the monopolistic pricing of two local hospitals that they began offering their employees thousands of dollars to get routine surgeries done in San Diego. One major health group, the Pacific Business Group on Health, used its market power to lower the cost of total joint replacements, outright refusing to pay providers more than $30,000 total. And throughout the country, self-insured businesses are sending more and more patients to Thailand and the Cayman Islands, where the quality of care matches the best providers in the U.S., with prices up to 50 percent less than in American hospitals.

Indeed, winter is coming to health care as we know it. But what will be the breaking point? As we know, disruption in Game of Thrones was triggered when a zombified dragon descended from the sky and melted the giant wall of ice that separated the living from a massive army of White Walkers. The process for health care will be less dramatic, of course, triggered perhaps by the next recession or the failure of Congress to stabilize the insurance marketplaces, but the consequences will be extreme nonetheless. Transformational change will happen.

Today, there are more than 5,500 hospitals in the U.S., almost as many as there were two, three and four decades ago, back when the need for inpatient services (and therefore the patient volumes) were dramatically higher. To make U.S. health care more efficient, some hospitals will need to merge; others will close their doors, for good. It will be painful for hospitals but good for clinical outcomes.

As patient care improves, we will need fewer specialists, and well rely on them to perform more procedures with greater expertise. Resources will shift from procedural specialties into primary care, thus maximizing preventive medicine and chronic illness management. All physicians will need to offer patients video visits and other convenient forms of virtual care, rather than requiring them to miss work and important life events. None of this will be easy. All of it will be necessary to rescue American health care.

In fantasy fiction, supernatural solutions to complex problems are possible, if not inevitable. I predict that all major threats posed in the next and final season of Game of Thrones will be addressed through strong leadership and courageous action, likely with the assistance of one or more dragons. Alas, these kinds of magical outcomes dont exist in real life. Addressing the threats facing health care will require leaders to demonstrate vision, anticipate and prepare for disruptive forces, mobilize people, engender broad collaboration and make change happen before its too late. But who among us will step up?

The U.S. government, despite its relative inaction in 2017, has the power to create a regulatory framework that ensures a competitive, transparent health care marketplace. With bipartisan support, Congress can reverse the opaque and monopolistic pricing approaches of drug companies and hospitals today.

In the private sector, the nations largest businesses have the power to demand care delivery transformation, but only if they can coordinate their efforts. If all the largest purchasers told doctors and hospitals they had five years to (a) integrate, (b) implement a comprehensive electronic health record and (c) prepare to be paid through capitation, I am confident providers would make the improvements needed. Especially if businesses were willing to back up their demands by no longer including inefficient providers in their employee health plans.

Most important, patients need to speak up and vote with their feet. Using available tools that rate the quality and cost of care providers (including ranking systems provided by the NCQA, J.D. Power and Medicare), patients can and should choose the most efficient and effective care options available.

I predict everyone in the health care profession will have a decade, maybe two, before major disruption transforms American medical practice. And though we may not know exactly when or how it will happen, we do know this for sure: If we wait for a magical dragon to swoop in and save the system, we will all be very disappointed.

Robert Pearl is a physician and CEO, Permanente Medical Groups. This article originally appeared in Forbes.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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Its hard to put into words the horror we all feel about the events in Las Vegas. So I wont try. But what I will try to do is point out an often unspoken reality. Which is that those who work in emergency care constantly face terrible things with courage and skill and keep coming back for more. And everyone needs to remember that all those folks society counts on are truly remarkable.

Imagine, if you will, being the police officer who is called to an accident. Theyre usually the first ones there. They roll up and survey the scene to make sure its safe. Theres twisted metal, spilled gasoline, possibly a fire. And all too often, there are gravely injured people covered in blood, surrounded by others screaming for help or trying their best to give aid. They call for EMTs, paramedics and firefighters. They may start CPR. Or, if its the scene of a violent crime, they may be busy fighting to save their own lives, or the lives of others, from a violent death.

Next, those medics and firefighters arrive. Their job is to assess and stabilize the injured and get them to the hospital as fast as reasonably possible. They have to keep the scene safe, manage airways, put in IV lines, administer medications, dress bleeding wounds, shock dangerous heart rhythms, splint fractures and gather information. All in the chaos of passing cars, flashing lights, blistering heat, pouring rain, driving snow or dangerous winds. Never mind that they see heart-wrenching scenes of tragedy and loss; broken bodies of adults and children, grieving spouses, frantic parents. Never mind that sometimes theyre in as much danger as the patients when they treat the victims of violence.

Once they arrive at the hospital, its nurses and nursing assistants hurrying to move patients onto the ER bed from the EMS stretcher. Trying to get more information as patients scream, trying to replace IVs that fell out, check falling blood pressures, slow rapid pulses, cover open wounds. Hanging blood to replace what has spilled on the floor; the tile slick underneath their shoes.

The nursing staff is busily notifying physicians of second to second changes as the gravely injured improve or deteriorate. Looking into the terrified eyes of patients who ask, nurse, am I dying? and trying desperately to be hopeful. Not if I have anything to do with it! Its the nurses who are trying to restrain the frantic, confused patients. And sometimes, all too often, the nurses who are threatened, punched, kicked or stabbed by patients. Its the nurses dealing with us irritable physicians and our demands. And escorting the families to the bedsides of those who died, or whose injuries and illnesses are unlikely to be survivable.

And there are the physicians, moving between rooms, assessing, deciding, placing lines, ordering X-rays and labs, putting tubes in collapsed lungs, evaluating who needs to go to the OR next; in large disasters, deciding who will have to be ignored, as they will not, cannot, survive. Physicians balancing the seriously sick and injured against the not sick at all who come with a rash, a fresh tick-bite, an ankle sprain; all customers in the modern hospital paradigm. Customers who need to be seen as quickly as possible, and who are sometimes unsympathetic to the tragedies unfolding around the next hall.

Its dramatic, and its glorious in its own way. But all of those wonderful, dedicated people eventually struggle. The pain gets inside them, and even as they do their best, they wrestle with the memories, the question did I do enough? And with the fear that it could happen to them or their loved ones. Some of them will face PTSD and depression. Too many of them will kill themselves because it was just too much. And a great many, especially in law enforcement, fire, EMS, and nursing, are paid far less than theyre worth.

My heart goes out to all of those responders in Las Vegas. And Miami, Paris, New York, Kabul, Mosul, Houston, Puerto Rico and London. And in every place where brave folks bring hope and order against the background of blood and last breaths.

Its remarkably hard to describe. And those who endure it all are either too humble, or to wounded, to tell the whole story. So have pity on them. And advocate for them. The world needs them 24/7.

God bless them and ease their pain as they ease the pain of others.

Edwin Leap is an emergency physician who blogs at edwinleap.com and is the author of the Practice Test and Life in Emergistan. This article originally appeared in Greenville Online.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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A couple of weeks ago I visited Canada. It was my first visit in a very long time. We were in Ontario, spending most of the time in the Toronto area, and also getting to visit the majestic Niagara Falls for the day. Ive heard so much over the years about the differences between neighbors USA and Canada, and in even just a few days there, agreed that there are many significant ways in which the two countries differ (some ways in which Canada is better, worse, and just plain different).

Of course, with regards to their health care system, it could not be more different than her southern neighbor. Good timing with my visit, because the week before I left, a physician reader of my blog, who I had previously been corresponding with, emailed me to share his experiences after doing a stint working in Canadas health care system. His name is Steve, and hes a very experienced physician. He answered my questions about working over there. His answers are very interesting and insightful.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?

I have five years in the Indian Health Service, 23 years in private practice in Sioux City, one year of locum tenens while my non-compete ticked off, three years community health, and locum tenens since 2014. Married since 1980, three grown children, one grandchild. I like writing, hunting, target archery, and learning new languages.

2. What made you want to try out working in Canada?

I got tired of hearing American doctors blasting the Canadian system, and American liberals championing it, while neither had any idea of what they were talking about. And I wanted to check out a place where I could hunt moose and my hunting buddy could hunt elk at the same time.

3. Whats the first thing that struck you about Canadas health care system?

How happy the doctors are; they are far from burnout and have a great work-life balance.

4. How do bureaucratic requirements for doctors vary, especially with regards to electronic medical records and data entry, which is a huge cause for physician burnout in America?

Canada has one level of service; the U.S. has 5; so American doctors spend a lot of energy documenting a higher level of service, while Canadian doctors just document whats medically important. Meaningful use documentation is absent in Canada, and there are no incentives for excess documentation. The doctor faces no prior authorizations.

5. How was the collegiality among your physician colleagues?

This was the best physician group morale Ive ever seen. Everyone valued everyones input. I found no backstabbing or backbiting. And the group did well incorporating other locum tenens, residents, and students.

6. Was there any difference you perceived with Canadian versus American patients?

Canadians, in general, are more polite than Americans.

Because theres only one level of service, a lot of practices have a one problem per visit policy, so very few patients were surprised when I put a limit on the number of complaints.

Canadian patients are used to an under-resourced medical system; no one demanded an MRI because they knew the wait list stretched into 2018.

7. What are three things the USA could learn from Canadas health care system?

1. Go to a single level of service. 2. Patient flow would go much better if the person who rooms the patient would just room the patient. 3. An EMR system should be for medical documentation; using it for billing and data mining ruin it for patient care.

8. What are three things we do better in the USA compared to Canada?

We dont have wait lists for joint replacements, MRIs, or tubal ligations. Strangely, we immunize adults better. We provide our Natives Americans with much more accessible health care.

9. Would you work in Canada full-time if you could?

This answer is far from simple. Im in the last third of my career, and I know the time will come when the social network Ive been working on for the last 30 years will be more important than my work. Still, the quality of life and the quality of work is better in Canada. But medicine is full of moving targets, and you cant know if Canadian medicine will undergo the same deterioration that American medicine has since 2010. Nor can you know if the American system will improve.

Having said all that, it would be very easy for me to move to Canada to work full time if the children moved. Which they might, depending on the next election.

10. Do you have any other message or advice for physicians practicing in the USA who want to try practicing abroad?

Go, by all means. You will make the memories of a lifetime. But correspond with physicians who have been there or who work there before you go.

11. How hard was it to get a license?

It was insane. It took 22 months, $7,000, hundreds of hours and thousands of emails. I would have given up long before except I didnt want to ever say Id withdrawn an application for licensure. In the end, though, it was well worth it.

12. How well are Canadian doctors paid?

On average, a Canadian general practitioner makes about 10 percent more than an American family physician; I dont know about specialists. Office overhead runs between 15 percent and 30 percent. The cost of living, though, is very high.

Suneel Dhand is an internal medicine physician and author. He is the founder, DocSpeak Communications and co-founder, DocsDox. He blogs at his self-titled site, Suneel Dhand.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
The Piltown bypass scheme will be upgraded in up to two and a half years from now, according to the chief executive of Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

The upgrade will involve building an overhead bridge and having a means of driving onto the road system, as with motorways.

Last month the Kilkenny People reported that Kilkenny County Council received approval to appoint a consultant to design a new overpass bridge at a stretch of the N24 Piltown bypass where a number of people have lost their lives in recent years.

Locals fought a hard campaign to get the road upgrade on the bypass.

Speaking before the Public Accounts Committee recently, chief executive of TII, Michael Nolan, said there are interim safety measures being funded at the moment which are ongoing.

Local Fianna Fail TD, Bobby Aylward, raised the Ink Bottle and Tower Road junctions and Mr Nolan said: There will be a grade separation at Tower Road and a roundabout linking the link road into the village and the main road junction. There will be a two plus two scheme over that 1.3 km section.

Basically, we are grade separating and moving that conflict of traffic coming out of that junction. That scheme has a decent benefits to costs ratio.

Subject to getting planning consent through the Part 8 process with the local authority and acquiring the lands from three or four landowners...we could be in a position to open that scheme in late 2019 or early 2020 if we had the funding for it.

The Council will have the consultants on board by December and we should be able to get the Part 8 approval next year.

Deputy Aylward asked: Could Mr Nolan clarify whether he is talking about closing the two junctions, building an overhead bridge and having a means of driving onto the road system, as with motorways?

Mr Nolan responded: Exactly, a left-in, left-out. There would be grade separation. It is a standard junction arrangement but it will also tidy up the conflict with the Ink Bottle junction further down the road, and the junction directly at the village. I would say it will take the best part of all next year to get the design and Part 8 through the local authority.

As the contract period for a scheme of that scale is 12 to 15 months, subject to a positive outcome regarding Part 8, planning approval, getting land, design and procurement, one is looking at two to two and a half years from now.
By Paulina Duran

SYDNEY, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Australia's largest supplier of building materials, Boral Ltd , said on Wednesday it had raised $950 million in bonds to repay a loan that funded its Headwaters acquisitions in the United States last year.

The company said the money raised and "other funds" would be used to repay in full a bridge loan facility for it's $1.8 billion acquisition of Headwaters, aimed at doubling the size of its U.S. business. The issue is split into a $450 million tranche maturing in 2022 that pays a fixed coupon of 3 percent, and a second tranche of $500 million bonds maturing in 2028 that pay 3.5 percent.

"The offering is consistent with our strategy of diversifying our funding sources and lenghtening the average tenor of our borrowings," Chief Financial Officer Ros Ng said in a statement to the exchange.

The guaranteed bonds are rated BBB and Baa2 by Standard and Poor's and Moody's, respectively.

(Reporting by Paulina Duran; Editing by Andrew Hay)
HONG KONG, Oct 25 (Reuters) - The chief financial officer of China Jinmao Holdings Group Ltd is assisting Hong Kong's anti-graft body with an investigation although neither the developer nor any of its units are the subject of a probe, the company said.

Jiang Nan, also an executive director, was assisting the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in relation to a bribery investigation, the Hong Kong-listed firm said in a statement late on Tuesday.

The ICAC had searched the company's office in Hong Kong as part of the investigation, it added.

China Jinmao said it was cooperating and providing certain documents and records to assist the ICAC in its investigation.

It did not expect the probe to have any adverse effect on its business, operations or financial status, it added.

It gave no further details.

Jiang could not be reached for comment.

The ICAC did immediately respond to an email request for comment.

According to its policy, the ICAC does not comment on individual cases.

(Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Stephen Coates)
(Kitco News) - As fear trade is dwindling down and the old-guard investors are stepping back, the new generation is buying gold to make money rather than to hedge against risk, said one precious metals expert.

We advise investors to buy gold and silver out of a combination of greed and fear, the managing director of CPM Group Jeff Christian told the Korelin Economics Report on Monday. But, the fear factor is relatively low in our view. And the real thing is  lets make money here.

Christian doesnt deny the existence of "fear trade," stating that people still purchase gold and silver as an insurance policy.

But, the new trend that CPM Group described is investors coming in and saying that they want to figure out how to make money [by buying gold], Christian noted. We are seeing a combination of factors driving these guys that we havent necessarily seen with investors in the past.

This is a good change for gold, according to him, since the older type of investors are exiting the playing field.

[There is] a lot of long-term gold bulls, who have either given up or died, and their heirs are going back to their brokers and saying: Give me the money [back].

The disappearance of the old guard is reflected in lower U.S. Mint's coin sales of gold and silver American Eagles, said Christian. But, this is countered with increasing investments into ETFs, futures and options.

The new investors are more opportunistic, described Christian, adding that a new gold renaissance is on a way. Our view has been that a secular upward shift in investment interest in gold is going to continue for many years to come, Christian said.

One of the main drivers behind this positive shift for gold is the rallying stock market, which has been controlled by the bulls since 2010, according to the precious metals expert. Smart money sees that and says that the stock market rally has to end and it will probably end badly, he said.
By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss

NEW YORK, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Overstock.com unit T0.com (tZERO) will launch an initial coin offering next month, company chairman Patrick Byrne announced on Tuesday at the Money 20/20 conference in Las Vegas.

In a statement, Byrne said tZERO's coin offering will be legally compliant with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission using an instrument called the Simple Agreement for Future Tokens (SAFT).

Analysts said the SAFT structure makes ICOs viable because it limits participation to accredited investors under Rule 506(c) of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933. As such, companies issuing SAFTs need not register with the SEC.

It was the same ICO structure used by Filecoin's offering in August and September, which raised approximately $200 million. Filecoin is a decentralized network that aims to facilitate the storage, retrieval, and transmission of data.

Byrne said the tZERO SAFT pre-sale is expected to open on Nov. 15 and run until Dec. 31.

The proceeds from the sale, he added, are expected to fund, among other things, scaling tZERO's technology development and regulatory teams and potentially acquiring or establishing a custody and clearing firm to complement the company's existing infrastructure.

The Argon Group and RenGen have been tapped as tZERO's advisers to lead and manage the company SAFT pre-sale.

Byrne said he expects this to be the first digital token pre-sale to generate significant participation from both the growing crypto-currency community and traditional global financial institutions.

tZERO believes its token will be the first to offer a percentage of its profits, distributed as a quarterly distribution paid into token holders' digital wallets.

"Three years ago I stood up in front of an audience for the opening Keynote speech at Bitcoin 2014, in Amsterdam, and told the world that the main event of bitcoin is not bitcoin, it is the blockchain, and it would change the world," said Byrne.

Blockchain is a digital ledger of transactions that has underpinned bitcoin, the original crypto-currency.

(Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)
(Adds details)

WASHINGTON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump used a luncheon with Senate Republicans on Tuesday to get their views on who he should tap to be the next leader of the Federal Reserve, according to senators who attended.

"He said he'd make a decision soon," Senator John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, told reporters. Cornyn declined to say who appeared to win the most support.

But a source familiar with the matter said Trump polled the Republicans on whether they would prefer Stanford University economist John Taylor or current Fed Governor Jerome Powell for the job.

More senators preferred Taylor than Powell, the source said.

Trump also said he was considering reappointing the current head of the U.S. central bank, Janet Yellen, the source said.

In an interview with Fox Business Network that aired on Sunday, Trump said he was considering nominating both Powell and Taylor for top spots at the Fed, but added that he also liked Yellen.

White House officials have said Trump economic adviser Gary Cohn and former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh were also under consideration.

Asked who won the poll, Senator John Kennedy told reporters he did not remember. "Some people raised their hands on some names and some on others, but I don't think anybody counted them," he said.

Another senator who attended, Tim Scott, said he thought Taylor had won, Bloomberg News reported, remarks that pushed yields on U.S. government debt higher and weighed on stocks.

Yellen, who was nominated to the top job at the Fed by Democratic President Barack Obama, has led the central bank since early 2014. Her term expires in February, but Trump could decide to renominate her.

Any nominee would have to win Senate approval.

"He mentioned he'd had a really great meeting" with Yellen, Kennedy said. "But I couldn't tell which way he was going, and its not my place or anybody else's to ask."

(Reporting by Susan Cornwell and Steve Holland; Writing by Tim Ahmann and Steve Holland; Editing by David Gregorio and Tom Brown)
By Carl O'Donnell

Oct 25 (Reuters) - Activist hedge fund Snow Park Capital Management sent a letter to Cedar Realty Trust Inc on Wednesday urging the U.S. shopping center owner to explore options, including a potential sale.

Snow Park said Cedar had already received several expressions of interest from potential buyers, and its shares were trading significantly below where the company would be valued in a potential sale.

In addition, Snow Park urged Cedar to review management pay and find ways to reduce administrative costs, among other changes.

It criticized management's proposed plan to expand Cedar's portfolio into mixed-use developments in urban centers, which it said would push the company outside its core area of competence.

Snow Park said it hoped the current board would voluntarily agree to its demands, but that it would consider nominating its own slate of board directors next year if it was not satisfied with the company's progress.

Cedar did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Reuters first reported in September that Snow Park had built a stake in Cedar and has been urging it to consider selling itself.

Snow Park said a deal could potentially value Cedar at more than $8 per share, a substantial premium to its current trading price of around $5.60 per share.

Under new management since 2011, Cedar has been shifting out of non-core retail assets such as shopping malls to focus on grocery-anchored strip malls.

Snow Park said in July it had bought a stake in Dillard's Inc (DDS.N) and encouraged the retailer to unlock the value of its real estate by considering other uses for some properties.

As many prominent retailers have gone bankrupt during the sector's downturn over the past year, Cedar's stock has fallen from highs of more than $8 in mid-2016 to less than $6 in recent months.

"We still struggle to reconcile the negative sentiment in the news media and among investors on account of the secular changes in retailing with the progress we continue to make," Chief Executive Bruce Schanzer said during the company's earnings call in August. (bit.ly/2vAmFLI)

"We have no real exposure to distressed retailers," he said.

(Reporting by Carl'Donnell in New York)
BUENOS AIRES, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Argentina sold $800 million in Treasury notes to refinance maturing debt, the Finance Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. The government sold $400 million in 209-day Treasury notes and $400 million in 364-day Treasury notes, for which it received $2.07 billion and $1.28 billion in orders, respectively.

(Reporting by Maximiliano Rizzi, writing by Caroline Stauffer, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
BEIJING, Oct 25 (IFR) - Asian credit markets were active on Wednesday as Chinese investment-grade names rallied ahead of China Ministry of Finance's planned US$2bn offering of sovereign US dollar bonds.

CICC, one of the bookrunners on the proposed offering, expected to be priced tomorrow, estimated that the pricing of the two tenors of five and 10 years, would be as low as 20bp-40bp over US Treasuries due to strong demand.

Traders noted that overall China IG names were 3bp tighter, particularly mainland asset-management companies, which were 5bp tighter.

The iTraxx Asia IG index was 1bp tighter at 73bp/74bp. China five-year CDS was 1bp tighter at 49bp/50bp.

Meanwhile, China stocks rose as the ruling Communist Party revealed on Wednesday its new leadership line-up without a clear successor to President Xi Jinping.

The Shanghai Composite Index closed up 0.3%.

China Jinmao's US dollar notes fell 0.4 points after the Property developer said on Tuesday that its chief financial officer was assisting Hong Kong's anti-graft body with an investigation.

Neither the developer nor any of its units were the subject of a probe, it said.

Chinese state-owned power producer Huaneng Group's newly priced US$500m 3.60% perpetual non-call 5 securities, were quoted at 100/100.25 in cash price.

Bank of Jinzhou's new AT1s were below water, quoted at 99.6/99.9 in cash price.

(Reporting by Ina Zhou; Editing by Dharsan Singh)

Keywords: MARKETS ASIA DEBT/
(Kitco News) - Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE, TSX: ABX) said Wednesday that the company reversed to a net loss in the third quarter and had a smaller adjusted profit as production fell from the same period a year ago.

The net loss was $11 million, or a penny per share, a turnaround from net earnings of $175 million, or 15 cents, in the prior-year period. The decrease primarily reflects lower gold production and lower gold prices, as well as the impact of Tanzania's concentrate export ban on Acacia Mining, of which Barrick is majority owner, the company said. Net earnings were also impacted by a tax provision of $172 million related to the proposed framework for Acacia's operations in Tanzania.

Excluding special items, Barrick listed adjusted net earnings for the third quarter of $186 million, or 16 cents per share, down from $278 million, or 24 cents, in the prior-year period.

Barrick also announced that its board of directors maintained a quarterly dividend 3 cents per share, payable on Dec. 15 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 30.

Gold production in the third quarter, which was pre-released earlier this month, was 1.24 million ounces, down from 1.38 in the same period a year ago. All-in sustaining costs were put at $772 per ounce, compared to $704 per ounce in the third quarter of 2016.

Officials continued to tout debt-reduction efforts, reporting that the company has reduced total debt by nearly $1.5 billion so far this year, slightly exceeding a target of $1.45 billion. During the third quarter, the company completed the redemption of approximately $731 million of May 2023 notes and fully repaid the amounts outstanding on the Pueblo Viejo project financing agreement.

Our goal is to reduce our total debt to $5 billion by the end of 2018, using cash flow from operations, and through further portfolio optimization, including potential divestments and the creation of new joint ventures and partnerships, Barrick said in its earnings report. The company will continue to pursue debt reduction with discipline, taking only those actions that make sense for the business, on terms we consider favorable to our shareholders.

Barrick ended the quarter with a cash balance of some $2 billion. The company said it has less than $100 million in debt due before 2020, and three-quarters of outstanding debt of $6.4 billion does not mature until after 2032.

Barrick narrowed its 2017 gold production and cost guidance ranges. The company now looks for full-year gold production to be between 5.3 million and 5.5 million ounces, at a cost of sales of $790 to $810 per ounce and AISC of $740 to $770 per ounce. Previously, the guidance range was of 5.3 million to 5.6 million ounces, at a cost of sales of $780 to $820 per ounce, and all-in sustaining costs of $720 to $770 per ounce.

Barrick produced 115 million pounds of copper in the third quarter at AISC of $2.24 per pound. This compares to 100 million pounds at AISC of $2.02 per pound in the third quarter of 2016.

The full-year copper-production guidance range has narrowed to 420 million to 440 million pounds. The copper AISC guidance range was narrowed to $2.20 to $2.40 per pound.

We allocated more capital to our pipeline of low risk, organic projects, located at or near Barrick's core operations, the company said. These projects have the potential to contribute more than 1 million ounces of annual production to Barrick, beginning in 2020.
BRASILIA, Oct 25 (Reuters) - A Brazilian congressional committee approved on Wednesday a proposal by President Michel Temer to raise mining royalties, amending it to favor smaller miners and support infrastructure development, before passing it on for full approval.

Temer proposed sweeping mining reform in July in three decrees aimed at attracting foreign investment to help the country exit its worst recession on record. The measures, considered by separate committees, must be approved by both houses of Congress by Nov. 28 to become permanent. The proposal to create a new mining regulatory agency passed a committee vote on Tuesday, while the third and final proposal on streamlining mining rules is set for a vote later on Wednesday.

The committee on royalties amended Temer's proposal so that miners by default will pay 4 percent rate on iron ore, with a measure that allows exceptions lowering the rate to 2 percent and mainly favors small miners over majors like Vale SA . Originally the decree proposed a rate varying from 2 percent to 4 percent based on the market price of iron ore.

The committee also amended the proposal to give 10 percent of the proceeds to municipalities affected by the mining, such as by transport or shipping, rather than only those where mining occurs.

"It's not a solution for everything but those that got zero will now get around 300 million reais ($92.35 million) for construction of viaducts, railway crossings, to protect the population and minimize the urban impacts of railroads that sometimes have big impact on municipalities," said Deputy Marcus Pestana, who oversaw amendments for the committee.

($1 = 3.2486 reais)

(Reporting by Jake Spring; Editing by Bill Trott)
* Separatist leader expected to address Senate

* Direct rule to be imposed on Catalonia Friday

* Possibility of civil disobedience looms

* Both sides seek to avoid blame

By Paul Day and Angus MacSwan

MADRID, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont is likely to go to Madrid on Thursday to explain his position on independence from Spain and try to stop the national government imposing direct control on the region.

The timing of Puigdemont's appearance before the Senate suggests he is now unlikely to formally declare independence or call a snap regional election on Thursday, as many analysts had expected. He could still do this on Friday before the Senate strips him of his powers and imposes direct rule from Madrid.

An appearance at a Senate debate could pit Puigdemont face to face with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy who is vehemently opposed to independence for Catalonia.

The political crisis, Spain's worst since democracy was restored four decades ago, has become increasingly fraught at the prospect of civil disobedience and even confrontation if Madrid goes ahead with taking direct control of Catalonia in the next few days.

The conflict has caused deep resentment elsewhere in Spain, dented the prosperous region's economy, and worried other European leaders who see it as fanning separatist sentiment elsewhere on the continent.

Secessionists in Catalonia say an independence referendum on Oct. 1 -- which attracted a 43 percent turnout but was mostly boycotted by those Catalans who want to remain in Spain -- has given them a mandate for statehood.

The Madrid government declared the referendum illegal and has spurned Puigdemont's calls for dialogue, instead opting to take control of a region which now has a large measure of autonomy.

It has, however, invited Puigdemont to debate in the Senate.

"President Puigdemont is willing to attend the Senate to explain the allegations, explain his political position, and explain how we have arrived here," a lawmaker for PDCat (Catalan Democratic Party) said on Wednesday.

Thursday would be the most convenient day, he said.

However, Puigdemont is unlikely to make much headway against a government which vehemently opposes full independence and is using all its legal and political power to stop it.

On Friday, the Senate is due to strip him of his powers and impose direct rule, although the actual steps could be taken gradually in order not to inflame the situation.

ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

Catalonia said on Monday it was confident its officials, including the police, would defy attempts by Madrid to enforce direct rule. A senior Catalan politician said on Tuesday secessionist leaders may call a snap election to try to break the deadlock. The Catalan parliament meets on Thursday and Friday.

Some Spanish political and business leaders, along with most Catalan newspapers, have urged Puigdemont to call a regional election before he is stripped of his authority. They say direct rule from Madrid would be a humiliation for Catalonia and pose a serious risk of civil unrest.

Calling an election could either strengthen Puigdemont's mandate if pro-independence parties won, or allow him a graceful exit if they did not.

An opinion poll published by the El Periodico newspaper on Sunday showed a snap election would probably have results similar to the last ballot, in 2015, when a coalition of pro-independence parties formed a minority government.

Justice Minister Rafael Catala said that if Puigdemont appeared before the Senate, it would help resolve the crisis. Madrid has so far refused to meet him until he drops his call for independence.

"If his appearance is within the constitution and the law we'll be delighted...but if it's just to ratify his position on Catalonia's independence, sadly we will not be able to do anything else than continuing with the measures already set by the government," Catala said.

Analyst Antonio Barroso of Teneo Intelligence said Puigdemont was caught between radicals and moderates in the Catalan establishment.

Radical elements want him to make the Catalan parliament declare independence unilaterally on Thursday or Friday. This would provoke a tough government reaction, playing into their hands, he said.

More moderate voices have said that if he calls an early election, he could stop the imposition of direct rule.

Puigdemont is likely to repeat his call for a dialogue between the Catalan authorities and Madrid and remain ambiguous on his next steps, Barroso said.

"Both sides are engaged in a game to tag each other with the blame for what happens next," he said.

(Reporting by Paul Day,; Writing by Angus MacSwan; Editing by Julien Toyer and Richard Balmforth)
CAIRO, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Egypt's cabinet approved on Wednesday executive regulations for a law aimed at luring back investors, cabinet media advisor Osama Abdel Aziz told a press conference. The new law includes a raft of incentives, from tax breaks and rebates on projects established in underdeveloped areas and labour-intensive sectors.

(Reporting by Moemen Abdelkhalek; Writing by Arwa Gaballa; editing by John Stonestreet)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
* Enefit Renewables IPO was planned for early 2018

* Stock could be biggest on Tallinn exchange

* IPO timing in part depends on tender for new wind park

* Eesti plans switch from oil shale to 40 pct renewables

By Geert De Clercq and David Mardiste

TALLINN, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Estonian utility Eesti Energia may postpone the planned stock market flotation of its Enefit Renewables unit beyond early 2018 following a delay on a key wind park project, its CEO said.

The state-owned firm had said in June it planned to raise several hundred million euros by listing up to 49 percent of Enefit in an initial public offering (IPO) in early 2018.

The listing, agreed in the Estonian government's coalition agreement in November 2016, could make Enefit the biggest listed company on the Tallinn exchange.

Chief Executive Hando Sutter told Reuters the timing of the issue would in part depend on the results of a Nov. 8 government tender for a wind park in Tootsi, southwest Estonia. Eesti Energia hopes to build a 140 megawatt wind park there.

"The government has granted us the IPO option and we are ready. When it is launched will depend on when we need the capital," Sutter said in an interview. He could not confirm the operation would definitely go ahead in 2018.

"We want to make sure we have a solid and convincing prospect and a clear growth story to present to investors before we proceed with the IPO."

In 2016, Eesti Energia generated more than 90 percent of its 9.1 terawatt/hour power production by burning oil shale, which it mines in Estonia, but the firm plans a switch to renewables.

"We have an ambitious target to have 40 percent of our generation portfolio in renewables by 2021, this will require a lot of new capital," Sutter said.

Last year, about 5 percent of Eesti Energia's electricity came from wind, waste-to-energy and biomass.

The Estonian government had originally awarded Eesti Energia the Tootsi plot of exhausted peat land to build a wind farm, but following protests from local and foreign competitors it decided to put up the site for auction.

Eesti Energia is Estonia's main power vendor, with a market share of about 60 percent. It also has a 20 percent market share in Latvia and about 10 percent in Lithuania. This year it also started selling gas and power to industrial customers in Poland.

Sutter said that from next year, the company plans to start selling power in Finland and Sweden, where it will make use of the wide availability of smart meters to propose competitive internet-based price formulas.

(Reporting by Geert De Clercq and David Mardiste; Editing by David Holmes)
BERLIN, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Complicated talks between German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc and two rival parties on forming a coalition government are not causing uncertainty for companies, an Ifo institute economist said on Wednesday.

"The German economy has shown it is not affected by political developments," said Klaus Wohlrabe, referring to coalition talks launched after an election in September.

He added companies also appeared unfazed by Britain's expected departure from the European Union, the Catalonia crisis and U.S. tax reforms.

If the indicator rose again in November after hitting an all-time high this month, a change in the growth forecast for Europe's largest economy could be needed, he said.

Wohlrabe also said export expectations had picked up, partly due to positive developments in the euro zone.

(Reporting by Joern Poltz; Writing by Michelle Martin; Editing by Joseph Nasr)
DUBAI, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Gulf Navigation Holding will issue a $250 million Islamic bond by the end of the year that it had planned to issue by September, the Dubai-listed shipper's chief executive said on Wednesday.

Plans to issue the sukuk were delayed after the company had to "weigh certain offers" and "rethink certain concepts," CEO Khamis Juma Buamim told a press conference in Dubai. "As you know market driven forces usually make you adjust your time frame," he said. "In my view, the appetite was there. It was the time frame of how this appetite can be cultivated."

Buamim said that the sukuk would "definitely" be issued this year, "sometime during next month or (the) beginning of December."

The proceeds of the sukuk will support company expansion plans, Buamim has previously said.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by Adrian Croft)
Oct 25 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks rose on Wednesday, underpinned by strong gains by listings in the city of mainland-based companies, as China's ruling Communist Party revealed its new leadership line-up.

The Hang Seng index rose 0.5 percent to 28,302.89 points.

China Enterprises Index , an index tracking major domestic firms listed in Hong Kong, gained 0.8 percent, to 11,493.30 points.

On Wednesday, the Communist Party unveiled its core decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee, headed by President Xi Jinping.

Julia Wang, HSBC economist for Greater China, said that following the party's congress, she expects co-ordinated Chinese policies to reduce financial risks, more institutionalised environment policies and accelerated state-owned enterprise (SOE) reforms.

Most Hong Kong sectors gained ground.

Energy plays firmed, boosted by a 2.5 percent gain in leading oil producer CNOOC , as oil prices hovered near a four-week high after top exporter Saudi Arabia said it was determined to end a supply glut. Information technology sector rose 1.2 percent, led by leading Chinese mobile devices provider ZTE rallying 3.5 percent.

(Reporting by the Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Richard Borsuk)
BEIRUT, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Iran opened a border crossing with the Kurdistan region of Iraq Wednesday which was closed after a referendum on independence in the Kurdish area, Iranian state media reported. "After the referendum and changes within the Kurdistan region our borders with the Kurdistan region of Iraq were closed... today the Bashmagh border is open," Jahangir Bakhshi, the head of customs for the border crossing, said, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) news agency.

(Reporting By Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Toby Chopra)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
DUBAI, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian stocks opened largely flat on Wednesday as gains by Saudi Electricity Co (SEC) were offset by declines for Zain Saudi and Middle East Healthcare .

SEC was one of the biggest gainers, rising by 4.5 percent in early trading after news on Tuesday that the kingdom will consider selling a large stake in the utility to SoftBank Vision Fund, the world's largest private equity fund.

The Saudi government would retain a controlling stake, the utility said in a statement. Public Investment Fund, which holds a 74 percent stake in SEC, signed a memorandum of understanding with SoftBank Vision Fund for SEC to develop 3 gigawatts of solar energy in 2018, SEC said in a statement.

Weighing on the Saudi bourse was Zain Saudi, which fell 4.9 percent after its board proposed a capital reduction to 3.62 billion riyals from 5.84 billion riyals to write off accumulated losses.

Zain Saudi swung to a third-quarter net profit of 3 million riyals, but missed forecasts of three analysts of 21.2 million riyals. Middle East Healthcare, which posted a 39.8 percent third-quarter profit drop earlier in the week, fell 8.6 percent in early trading.

The Saudi stock index .TASI edged down 0.08 percent.

In Qatar .QSI, the index was down 0.2 percent, with Qatari Investors Group , the biggest loser, down 4.3 percent.

In Dubai, the main index .DFM dropped 0.5 percent, with Dubai Investments the top gainer, rising 6.0 percent, while the Abu Dhabi index .ADI edged down 0.2 percent.

(Reporting By Tom Arnold; Editing by Jon Boyle)
* Saudi index slightly up

* Gains offset by almost 10 pct drop by Zain Saudi

* Dana Gas rebounds in Abu Dhabi

By Davide Barbuscia

DUBAI, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's stock market posted a small gain on Wednesday on the back of firm oil prices, seemingly little impressed by heavy investment plans showcased at a major conference in Riyadh. The Saudi index gained 0.3 percent, supported by Saudi Electricity Co (SEC) , whose shares rose 4.4 percent after the utility said the Saudi government is considering selling a large stake in the company to SoftBank Vision Fund, the world's largest private equity fund, while maintaining a controlling stake. SEC, which is 74 percent owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, has assets estimated at around $100 billion.

SEC's gains were largely offset by a 9.9 percent loss in Zain Saudi Arabia , caused by a proposed capital reduction to 3.6 billion riyals ($965 million) from 5.8 billion to write off accumulated losses of 2.2 billion riyals.

After the reduction, Zain is planning to increase capital to 9.62 billion riyals through a 6 billion riyals rights issue. Zain swung to a profit of 3 million riyals in the third quarter, from a 266 million loss a year earlier.

The Saudi petrochemical sector was largely higher on the back of firmer oil prices, with Brent crude , the global benchmark, at $58.13 a barrel by 1245 GMT.

Oil prices eased but were still close to a four-week high after Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, said on Tuesday it was determined to reduce oil inventories through an OPEC-led deal aimed at cutting output, and it raised the prospect of prolonging output restraint once the OPEC pact ends. LARGEST VOLUME

Most Saudi banks were up, with Alinma Bank seeing the market's largest volume of trading after last week posting third-quarter net profit of 542 million riyals, up from 312 million a year ago.

Outside Saudi Arabia, the Dubai index rose 0.7 percent, lifted by Dubai Investments , a conglomerate partly owned by the sovereign wealth fund Investment Corp of Dubai, which rose 4.42 percent.

The company announced a plan to discuss an offer by Union Properties to sell its 50 percent share in Emirates District Cooling, which would lead Dubai Investments to full control of the district cooling service provider.

The Abu Dhabi index edged up 0.1 percent, with Dana Gas posting the highest trading volume and rising 4.11 percent.

Dana Gas, which has assets in Kurdistan, may have been boosted by the Kurdistan Regional Government's offer to freeze the results of an earlier referendum on independence. Dana Gas had declined over the past few days, despite a statement last week in which it said its operations and production in the Kurdish region were proceeding as usual.

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

SAUDI ARABIA

* The index gained 0.3 percent to 6,905 points.

DUBAI

* The index rose 0.7 percent to 3,665 points.

ABU DHABI

* The index was flat at 4,499 points.

QATAR

* The index edged up 0.2 percent to 8,124 points.

EGYPT

* The index dropped 0.2 percent to 13,901 points.

KUWAIT

* The index nudged up 0.35 percent to 6,621 points.

BAHRAIN

* The index edged up 0.15 percent to 1,278 points.

OMAN

* The index dropped 0.7 percent to 4,998 points. ($1 = 3.7501 riyals)

(Editing by David Holmes)
Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Wednesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 2 hours):

DEBT

Poland's finance ministry to sell bonds due July 2020, November 2022, January 2023, January 2026, and April 2047 worth 4.0-8.0 billion zlotys at Wednesday tender.

PKN , LOTOS A merger of Poland's biggest oil refiner PKN with its smaller rival Lotos is unavoidable, Parkiet daily quoted deputy infrastructure and construction minister as saying.

GOVERNMENT

Planned changes in the government will be announced by December, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily said. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of ruling PiS, considers replacing Beata Szydlo as PM, but worries this change may undermine support for PiS.

CHEMICALS The European Parliament's decision to impose limits on cadmium used in fertilisers may hit Poland's biggest chemicals group Azoty, which uses phosphorites mostly from North Africa, in which the concentration of cadmium is high, Parkiet daily said.

DOCTORS' STRIKE

Most Poles support protest conducted by doctors, who demand increased funds for the healthcare system, Rzeczpospolita said quoting an opinion poll conducted by IBRiS pollster.

ALIOR AND PEKAO A merger between state-run banks Alior Bank and Bank Pekao SA which was signalled on Monday diminished the market capitalisation of the two banks by 2 billion zloty ($553.91 million), Puls Biznesu daily calculated.

****Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.****

For other related news, double click on: Polish equities E.Europe equities Polish money Polish debt Eastern Europe All emerging markets Hot stocks Stock markets Market debt news Forex news For real-time index quotes, double click on: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX (Reporting by Warsaw Bureau)
CAPE TOWN, Oct 25 (Reuters) - South Africa should resolve the stalemate over its new mining charter, Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba said on Wednesday, as the policy remains bogged down in court over differences between mining firms and government on how best to increase the participation of black people in the sector. "Government is eager to get all parties back to the negotiating table to find a solution," Gigaba said during his maiden budget speech to parliament.

(Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Editing by James Macharia)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
LJUBLJANA, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Slovenia may offer to pay a penalty to the European Commission to avoid having to sell off a stake in state-owned Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB), sources close to the matter said on Wednesday.

Slovenia had agreed to sell a 50 percent stake in NLB, the country's largest bank, this year in exchange for the Commission's approval of the bank's rescue in 2013 in which the government gave the bank 1.55 billion euros in state aid.

But in June the government cancelled a planned sale of 50 percent of the bank, saying the suggested price, which valued the whole bank at a minimum of 1.1 billion euros, was too low. Slovenia's finance minister Mateja Vranicar Erman is due to meet European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager on Oct. 26 to discuss delaying the sale. The government hopes it could delay the sale by three years.

The sources said Slovenia might propose that NLB pays a penalty of some 365 million euros to try to gain the Commission's approval for the bank to stay in state hands indefinitely.

Slovenian finance ministry declined to comment. The European Commission's spokesman also declined to comment but said the Commission was "in constructive contact with the Slovenian authorities."

Sources said the Commission might ask Slovenia to sell NLB's businesses in the Balkans if the sale of a 50 percent stake in the bank does not go ahead.

Slovenia has been reluctant to sell off its major banks and the government still controls about 44 percent of the banking sector. It plans to sell the second largest bank, Abanka, by the middle of 2019.

The third largest bank Nova KBM was sold to US investment firm Apollo Global Management and the EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) in 2015. Both, NKBM and Abanka, also received state help four years ago when the country managed to only narrowly avoid an international bailout. ($1 = 0.8466 euros)

(Reporting By Marja Novak. Editing by Jane Merriman)
HANOI, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official and unofficial markets, indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi and interbank offered rates at 0414 GMT.

October 25 USD/VND mid-point 22,470 USD/VND interbank 22,720/22,725 USD/VND unofficial 22,760/22,780 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.27/36.49

Interbank offered rates Overnight 0.4-1.0

1 week 0.7-1.1

1 month 1.4-1.9

3 months 3.2-3.6

NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016, the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank offered rates are the latest indicative bid/ask prices, quoted from market sources.

One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co.

For more interbank rate fixings released at 0400 GMT, click on .

For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
CAPE TOWN, Oct 25 (Reuters) - South Africa's Treasury on Wednesday halved its economic growth forecast for 2017 to 0.7 percent and said annual growth would remain below 2 percent for the next three years, as policy uncertainty has knocked investor confidence. "Delays in finalising key regulatory processes, as well as a pattern of poor governance in several large state-owned companies, contribute to concerns about policy uncertainty," the Treasury said in its medium-term budget policy statement.

(Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana; Editing by Alexander Winning)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
ZURICH, Oct 25 (Reuters) - The Swiss blue-chip SMI was seen opening 0.11 percent down at 9,185 points on Wednesday, according to premarket indications by bank Julius Baer .

The following are some of the main factors expected to affect Swiss stocks:

VONTOBEL The Swiss private bank and money manager saw its advised client assets rise in the third quarter to 175.3 billion Swiss francs ($176.93 billion), up from 164.7 billion francs at the end of the previous quarter. For more, click on COMPANY STATEMENTS * HBM Healthcare Investments said it contributed $20 million to a $50 million private placement in privately held immunotherapy company Y-mAbs Therapeutics. HBM also said that it posted a profit of 13.6 million Swiss francs in the first six months of its financial year. * Wisekey International said Thomas Whayne III is resigning from the board less than a year after he was added to the panel. It did not immediately name a proposed successor in a statement. * Emmi is increasing its stake in Mexideli 2000 Holding SA de CV to 51 percent from 50 percent. * Glarner Kantonalbank said net income in the third quarter rose 13 percent to 14.9 million Swiss francs. * Cosmo Pharmaceuticals said it established a distribution agreement with Fujifilm for Eleview in Europe and South Africa. * Swiss Prime Site confirmed its 2017 targets as it held a capital markets day in Zurich. ECONOMY * Swiss investor sentiment for October due at 0800 GMT. * UBS consumption indicator for Switzerland in September rose to 1.56 points from a revised 1.50 points in August. ($1 = 0.9908 Swiss francs)

(Reporting by Zurich newsroom)

Daily Swiss stock market report in German................ All SMI constituent stocks............................ News on major Swiss stock price moves.................. FTSE Eurotop 300 index................................ DJ STOXX index........................................ Top 10 STOXX sectors............................. Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors........................ Top 10 Eurotop 300 sectors....................... Top 25 European pct gainers... , losers... Swiss mid-cap index SMI futures Swiss all-share index Market statistics Swiss market digest Sector overview All Swiss news Swiss research news All equity news INTERNET ADDRESSES: Swiss Exchange / Eurex STOXX Ltd SPEED GUIDES: ))

Keywords: MARKETS SWISS STOCKS/
KAMPALA, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Yields on Uganda's Treasury bills declined on all tenors at an auction on Wednesday, where a total of 130 billion shillings ($36 million) worth of debt of various tenors was on offer.

The central bank said in a statement the rate on the 91-day notes declined to 9.006 percent, from 9.351 percent fetched at the previous sale on Oct. 11.

Complete auction results below:

91-DAY 182-DAY 364-DAY EFFECTIVE YIELD This Auction 9.006 9.231 9.316 Last Auction 9.351 9.455 9.543 OFFERED (bln shillings) This Auction 10.00 15.00 105.00 Last Auction 10.00 15.00 105.00 TENDERED BIDS (bln shillings) This Auction 36.49 81.26 231.93 Last Auction 21.79 41.71 348.82 ACCEPTED BIDS (bln shillings) This Auction 10.00 15.00 105.00 Last Auction 10.00 15.00 105.00 BID TO COVER RATIO This Auction 3.649 5.417 2.209 Last Auction 2.179 2.780 3.322 ($1 = 3,645.0000 Ugandan shillings)

(Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by James Macharia)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump is unlikely to pick economic adviser Gary Cohn as his nominee for Federal Reserve chairman because Cohn is playing a crucial role in the White House tax reform effort, a senior administration official said on Wednesday.

No decision has been made and no candidate has been ruled out but Garys role is too crucial to getting tax reform done. It might be too important for him to continue to be the lead, for him to announce a change at this time, the official said.

The Republican president is looking to announce a Fed chair nominee before leaving on a trip to Asia on Nov. 3, in order to give his choice time to go through the Senate confirmation process. Current Fed Chair Janet Yellens term ends in early February.

But an announcement is unlikely this week, said another source familiar with the situation.

Trump told Republican senators during a private lunch on Tuesday that his focus for a new Fed chair was on Stanford University economist John Taylor, Fed Governor Jerome Powell and Yellen, a source familiar with the meeting said.

When Trump asked the senators for a show of hands on whether they would prefer Taylor or Powell, the most support went for Taylor, the source said.

Cohn irritated Trump by criticizing the presidents response to violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August at a white supremacist rally.

But the two men in recent weeks seemed to have ironed out their differences, with Trump singling out Cohn for praise for his help in the tax reform effort.

Trump is also considering a fifth candidate for the Fed job, former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh, sources have said.

Trump told Fox Business Network that he admired Yellen but that the decision to pick a new Fed chair was something to which he would like to contribute.

You like to make your own mark, which is maybe one of the things shes got a little bit against her, but I think she is terrific. Weve had a great talk and we are obviously doing great together, you look at the markets, Trump told the network.

Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by James Dalgleish and Peter Cooney
ISTANBUL, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Turkey will meet its target of hosting 30 million tourists this year, Culture and Tourism Minister Numan Kurtulmus said on Wednesday. The number of foreigners visiting Turkey fell sharply last year, mainly due to security concerns following a series of militant attacks and a failed military coup.

(Reporting by Ceyda Caglayan; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Dominic Evans)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
(Adds statement from Cedar)

By Carl O'Donnell

Oct 25 (Reuters) - Activist hedge fund Snow Park Capital Management sent a letter to Cedar Realty Trust Inc on Wednesday urging the U.S. shopping center owner to explore options, including a potential sale.

Snow Park said Cedar had already received several expressions of interest from potential buyers, and that its shares were trading significantly below where the company would be valued in a potential sale.

In addition, Snow Park urged Cedar to review management pay and find ways to reduce administrative costs, among other changes.

It criticized management's plan to expand Cedar's portfolio into mixed-use developments in urban centers, which it said would push the company outside its core area of competence.

Snow Park said it hoped the current board would voluntarily agree to its demands, but that it would consider nominating its own slate of board directors next year if it was not satisfied with the company's progress.

Cedar responded in a statement on Wednesday: "Cedar Realty Trust's Board and management team regularly evaluate strategic options to ensure the Company is best positioned to achieve our objective of driving shareholder value."

Cedar declined to comment further.

Reuters first reported in September that Snow Park had built a stake in Cedar and has been urging it to consider selling itself. Snow Park said a deal could potentially value Cedar at more than $8 per share, a substantial premium to its current trading price of around $5.60 per share.

Since new management took over in 2011, Cedar has been shifting out of noncore retail assets such as shopping malls to focus on grocery-anchored strip malls.

Snow Park said in July it had bought a stake in Dillard's Inc and encouraged the retailer to unlock the value of its real estate by considering other uses for some properties.

As many prominent retailers have gone bankrupt during the sector's downturn over the past year, Cedar's stock has fallen from highs of more than $8 in mid-2016 to less than $6 in recent months.

"We still struggle to reconcile the negative sentiment in the news media and among investors on account of the secular changes in retailing with the progress we continue to make," Chief Executive Bruce Schanzer said during the company's earnings call in August. (bit.ly/2vAmFLI)

"We have no real exposure to distressed retailers," he said.

(Reporting by Carl'Donnell in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
(Adds announcement unlikely this week, background)

WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump is unlikely to pick economic adviser Gary Cohn as his nominee for Federal Reserve chairman because Cohn is playing a crucial role in the White House tax reform effort, a senior administration official said on Wednesday.

"No decision has been made and no candidate has been ruled out but Gary's role is too crucial to getting tax reform done. It might be too important for him to continue to be the lead, for him to announce a change at this time," the official said.

The Republican president is looking to announce a Fed chair nominee before leaving on a trip to Asia on Nov. 3, in order to give his choice time to go through the Senate confirmation process. Current Fed Chair Janet Yellen's term ends in early February.

But an announcement is unlikely this week, said another source familiar with the situation.

Trump told Republican senators during a private lunch on Tuesday that his focus for a new Fed chair was on Stanford University economist John Taylor, Fed Governor Jerome Powell and Yellen, a source familiar with the meeting said.

When Trump asked the senators for a show of hands on whether they would prefer Taylor or Powell, the most support went for Taylor, the source said.

Cohn irritated Trump by criticizing the president's response to violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August at a white supremacist rally.

But the two men in recent weeks seemed to have ironed out their differences, with Trump singling out Cohn for praise for his help in the tax reform effort.

Trump is also considering a fifth candidate for the Fed job, former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh, sources have said.

Trump told Fox Business Network that he admired Yellen but that the decision to pick a new Fed chair was something to which he would like to contribute.

"You like to make your own mark, which is maybe one of the things she's got a little bit against her, but I think she is terrific. We've had a great talk and we are obviously doing great together, you look at the markets," Trump told the network.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by James Dalgleish and Peter Cooney)
* Building division suffers further NZ$160 mln earnings hit

* Fletcher appoints former UGL head Ross Taylor as CEO

* Major issues linked to two NZ projects

* Incoming NZ govt seeks to build more, while cutting immigration

(Adds economist quote, NZ election impact)

By Jonathan Barrett and Ana Nicolaci da Costa

Wellington, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Fletcher Building Ltd said on Wednesday its 2018 financial year earnings would be hit by a NZ$160 million ($110.38 million) loss before interest and tax at its building business as project cost overruns and labour shortages continue to weigh on New Zealand's biggest construction company.

The hit to earnings was released amid post-election debate in New Zealand over how the government will meet worker shortages in the construction sector while also fulfilling a pledge to cut immigration.

The inability to manage costs at major projects in the New Zealand cities of Auckland and Christchurch has plagued Fletcher recently, leading it to lower two earnings forecasts earlier this year. The NZ$160 million hit is the first guidance issued for 2017-18.

Fletcher chairman Ralph Norris said the company had taken remedial action and improved its practices around bidding, contracting and managing future projects.

"However, these measures will only go so far in altering the trajectory of our legacy projects that commenced some time ago," Norris said in a statement.

Fletcher also said on Wednesday it had appointed Ross Taylor, who formerly headed engineering and construction company UGL, as its new chief executive, effective Nov. 22. Former chief executive Mark Adamson stepped down in July. The company's stock is one of the worst performers on the New Zealand main index so far this year, losing about one-quarter of its value. The share price fell more than 5 percent after a trading halt ended on Wednesday morning, before recovering slightly in afternoon trade.

"I guess investors only have so much patience, they will be looking for expectations that this is as bad as it gets," said James Smalley, client advisor at New Zealand investment advisory firm Hamilton Hindin Greene.

"I think they just need to stem the bleeding from a couple of their long-term legacy contracts."

In August, the company reported an 80 percent plunge in fiscal 2017 earnings to NZ$94 million, hurt by a NZ$292 million loss in its building unit. POLICY BALANCE

While the company is tapped into New Zealand's strong economy, parts of the business have been hit by cost blowouts and poor project decisions in a country where labour shortages, high material costs and supply constraints have undermined profits.

The Registered Master Builders Association of New Zealand is searching overseas for workers to fill an apparent void at the same time as the incoming government seeks to radically wind back immigration.

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern is due to be sworn in as the country's next prime minister on Thursday, one week after securing office through the formation of a coalition with New Zealand First and negotiating a "supply and confidence" arrangement with the Greens in the wake of a closely fought election. Labour has pledged to cut immigration from its current annual rate of around 70,000 by as much as 30,000, while also pursuing a major infrastructure and affordable housing building program.

"The government itself will be creating demand for construction workers at the same time as wanting to tighten up on immigration," said Nick Tuffley, chief economist at ASB, owned by Commonwealth Bank of Australia .

"How immigration is tightened up and the extent to which the brakes are put on will matter."

($1 = 1.4495 New Zealand dollars)

(Reporting by Jonathan Barrett and Ana Nicolaci Da Costa in Wellington; Additional reporting by Christina Martin and Devika Syamnath; Editing by James Dalgleish and Christopher Cushing)
The Moscow Sretensky Monastery Choir gives a preview performance to the Korean press, Wednesday, at the Plaza Hotel in Seoul. / Courtesy of Eagon



Russian Orthodox Church music has deep resonance'

By Yun Suh-young

The sound was so powerful that it seemed to be about to explode the ceiling, when the 22-member Moscow Sretensky Monastery Choir gave a preview performance Wednesday. It was a glimpse into what they will perform during their weeklong nationwide tour which starts Thursday.

The mini preview lasted 15 minutes and consisted of five pieces including "Ah, My Steppe Wide" and "The Waves of Amur" which will be part of the official program. The tour will take the choir to six cities from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1, beginning with Busan, and then to Goyang, Incheon, Seoul, Gwangju and Daegu. The performance in Seoul will take place at the Seoul Arts Center Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and at Myeong-dong Cathedral Oct. 30 at 8 p.m.

The first part of the two-part program will be a sequence of religious songs, while the second part will consist of Russian folk songs, wartime songs and popular music. The performance at Myeong-dong Cathedral will be mainly hymns. All of the performances are free and are sponsored and organized by affiliates of the building materials company Eagon.

The choir, which was established in 1397, represents the Russian Orthodox Church and has been led by conductor Nikon Stepanovich Zhila since 2005.

"Russian Orthodox Church music is expressive of the inner self. It can express wisdom, look into people's hearts, feelings. Whereas traditional Catholic music is bright and colorful, Russian Orthodox music has deep resonance," said Zhila, during a press conference in Seoul, Wednesday.

"We accompany the archbishop when he conducts masses and perform music. Our goal is to communicate with the world through Russian music represented by folk songs, even if they're not religious songs. When all of the majestic voices of our soloists are combined, it becomes a beautiful work of art."

The members of the choir are quite young and mostly from music or theological schools. Apparently, it is impossible to become a priest of the Russian Orthodox Church without being able to sing. It is an important part of their daily job, as singing is required throughout the three-hour masses.

The choir often goes on overseas tours which may take from days to weeks, which requires stamina. Hence comes the strong physique of the members.

"All of the members take care of their appearance and health in their own ways. We don't have many long-term performances, but when we do, it's an opportunity for the members to upgrade their level of self-management," said the conductor.

Since Zhila was appointed conductor, the choir has been holding a lot of overseas performances since 2007.

"It simply coincided with the archbishop's travel plans. He began to increase his visits to Russian orthodox churches around the world and our performances increased because we accompany him during those visits," said Zhila.
By Yoon Ja-young



Government revenue from so-called sin taxes has risen steeply over the past five years. While the government plans to collect more of such taxes, some point out that it is levying a relatively bigger burden on lower income workers.



According to data submitted to Rep. Shim Jae-chul of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, the government levied 18.6 trillion won ($16.5 billion) taxes on goods and services that are deemed to have a negative impact on society such as cigarettes, alcohol and gambling last year.



This compares with between 11 and 12 trillion won for 2012, 2013 and 2014. It jumped to 15.9 trillion won in 2015 following a cigarette tax hike. The government started levying a 77 percent individual consumption tax on cigarettes in 2015, on top of raising other cigarette related tax rates.



Of the 18.6 trillion won revenue from sin taxes last year, cigarettes contributed the biggest part at 12.4 trillion won, or 66.5 percent of the total. It includes a 3.7 trillion won cigarette consumption tax, 2.2 trillion won individual consumption tax and 1.5 trillion won value added tax.



The government levied 4.4 trillion won in taxes on alcohol. This included a 2.8 trillion won liquor tax, 845 billion won value added tax and 814 billion won education tax.



Gambling businesses also paid 174 billion won in taxes. Casinos were levied 140 billion won in taxes and horse racing, 27 billion won. Cycle and boat racing contributed 7 billion won in taxes to state coffers.



The government earned 1.6 trillion won from lottery businesses. Those who win first prize in the Lotto for instance pay 33 percent of their prize money as income tax.



Since experts agree that a tax hike will be essential to fund snowballing social welfare costs, the imposition of sin taxes is also likely to rise steadily in the future.



Oh Moon-sung, a professor at Hanyang Women's University, said in a forum organized by the Korea Institute of Public Finance that the government needs to expand sin taxes.



"The government should consider expanding sin taxes to other items. Since it is levied with objectives to regulate those activities deemed socially undesirable, the measure would get enough support from the public."



While the government said back in 2015 that the cigarette tax hike was aimed at curbing the consumption of cigarettes, which are bad for people's health, there was also criticism that increasing sin taxes leads to a bigger burden on low income workers.



Cigarette, alcohol and lotteries are generally perceived as goods more often consumed by them than the wealthy. Sin taxes are also levied regardless of income unlike other taxes which contribute to a redistribution of wealth.



"Sin taxes are indirect taxes levied regardless of one's income. It thus could be too much of a burden on low income workers. Instead of focusing on collecting more taxes through sin taxes, the government should revise the current tax system," Rep. Shim said.




By Park Hyong-ki





KDB CEO Lee Dong-gull / Yonhap

An initial public offering (IPO) of the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB) has been considered since the 2008-13 Lee Myung-bak administration.



As part of Lee's drive for the privatization of state assets and enterprises, the IPO was then viewed as essential.



Former governments saw it as a key step to make local financial companies globally competitive.



Then and now, the subject of a KDB IPO has emerged again  is it necessary while the KDB has not really lived up to its role as a policy bank?



In a National Assembly audit of the bank, lawmakers have questioned the feasibility of its stock listing.



They asked whether it will do any good to reshape and refurbish the bank that has faced a series of investment losses and corporate and political scandals.



KDB CEO Lee Dong-gull said both yes and no.



He said the IPO would certainly help boost the governance and transparency of the policy bank, and remove the influence of politics.



"The positive aspect is it can improve transparency and keep political intervention in check," Lee said.



However, he added the bank should be cautious about listing because it could also bring negative effects including getting caught up only with short-term results.



"If the bank pursues an IPO, it may not fully carry out its policy financing as it could focus mostly on achieving short-term results."



The state policy bank has been implicated in a number of scandals involving the 2013-17 Park Geun-hye administration and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME).



The KDB was "politically pressured" to provide a lifeline to the debt-ridden DSME, which was charged with accounting fraud.



Some analysts call for a role change for the KDB.



Instead of continuing to provide capital to aging industries such as shipbuilding and petrochemicals that have been overtaken by China, it should redefine itself as a policy bank that can develop new industries for future growth.



Byeon Yang-kyoon, a former secretary for policy planning during the 2003-08 Roh Moo-hyun administration, suggested in his recent book that the KDB should be "a bank for startups."



The KDB was originally founded to help finance the growth of new industries that would create jobs and spur economic development.



However, it has been criticized for not carrying out its duties, but only trying to save dying industries and concentrating on conglomerates.



Lee was appointed the new chief executive of the state-run KDB early last month.



He previously worked with former President Roh Moo-hyun. He also went to the same high school as Jang Ha-sung, presidential chief of staff for policy.
By Choi Ha-young

International humanitarian aid to North Korea has been falling in recent years mainly due to tension over its nuclear program.

According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, North Korea received only $33.9 million in humanitarian aid this year, which is less than 30 percent of the U.N's yearly goal of $113.5 million.

This is mainly due to reduced aid from the United States and the European Union.

The U.S. provided only $1 million in humanitarian aid to the North, which is only 0.03 percent of its total aid worth $4.14 billion to the international community. The EU has not provided any aid to North Korea this year.

Before the North accelerated its nuclear program, international society was relatively generous to the totalitarian state. In 2012, when its leader Kim Jong-un inherited power, $139 million was given to Pyongyang.

The amount has been on a downturn since. Last year, the North received only $37.9 million in aid, 26.7 percent of the U.N. target.

Meanwhile, the Moon Jae-in administration of South Korea plans to provide $8 million in humanitarian aid. The decision made last month is in line with Moon's faith that aid for the North's healthcare and medical programs should not be affected by politics.

The government said aid will be delivered via the World Food Program and the United Nations Children's Fund, but the specific date of provision has not been confirmed.
By You Soo-sun

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is endeavoring to have the "comfort women" archives listed by UNESCO, which began its first review Tuesday.

The UNESCO International Advisory Committee began reviewing applications for its Memory of the World Register, established to preserve documentary heritage throughout the world.

"We are doing our best to submit the comfort women archives, following our basic stance the issue should serve as a historic lesson," ministry spokesman Roh Kyu-deok said during a regular briefing.

At the general meeting, which will continue until Thursday, the committee is expected to examine around 130 applications, including one for the comfort women, a term used to refer to wartime sex slaves of imperial Japan.

Around 2,744 documents for consideration have been submitted by civic organizations from 14 countries including Korea, China, Japan and the Netherlands.

This is the first review to take place since the application was filed.

The Korean government is seeking to have it pass the review board before the incumbent UNESCO secretary general's term ends next month.

Prior to the review, there were growing concerns about the listing due to opposition by Japan which funds about 10 percent of the program. Japan's influence at UNESCO has grown after the United States recently pulled its funding from the program.

The Japanese government has been delaying to pay its share this year, which some critics believe is an attempt to prevent the selection of the comfort women archives.

The UNESCO board has stated its intention to follow regular protocols in determining which submissions to accept.
By Park Si-soo



U.S. President Donald Trump was invited to visit the Camp Humphreys military base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, during his trip to Korea next month, according to the White House. If he accepts, he might skip his much-anticipated visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the heavily armed narrow strip of land separating the two Koreas, because his schedule here would be too hectic.

Trump will be in South Korea on Nov. 7 and 8, during which he will have a summit with President Moon Jae-in, deliver a speech at the National Assembly and visit the national cemetery in Seoul. Other appointments remain unknown.

In July, the Eighth U.S. Army launched its new headquarters at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek after moving from Yongsan in central Seoul.












By Jung Min-ho



Pictures of an anti-U.S. protest rally in South Korea spread online, causing concern ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's state visit to the country next month.



The rally was led by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the country's second-largest umbrella trade union. Near a Busan hotel where the U.S. Navy held a party to celebrate its 242-year history Oct. 14, protesters chanted messages like "U.S. troops go home!"



Since then, photos and a video of their protest have been shared by thousands of people on social media, including U.S. sailors and their families.



In their propaganda pamphlet to the sailors, they said, "Koreans despise dotard Trump. We also abhor you, his servants. It is because you are a war monster."



A 35-second video, which is believed to have been filmed by a U.S. sailor on the same day, shows a Korean woman screaming and cursing at U.S. soldiers.



The KCTU, which has carried out anti-U.S. protests before, also criticized local police on its Facebook and Twitter accounts for protecting the sailors from protesters.



The pictures, video and the KCTU's messages aroused anger among many Americans as well as Koreans.



During the course of the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery on Korean soil, some anti-U.S. groups, including the KCTU, held protests against Trump and his North Korea policies.



Most recently, two members of the Young Resistance, another left-leaning, anti-U.S. group, were apprehended on Oct. 17 for calling Trump a "lunatic" and creating a commotion near the U.S. Embassy in central Seoul.



Another anti-Trump group, Ban Trump's Crazy Action, said last week its members will visit some U.S. cities from Oct. 25 to Nov. 1 to teach Americans "how to impeach the president." They said they also plan to stage a protest in front of the White House to block Trump from visiting South Korea, scheduled for Nov. 7 and 8.



But their views about Korea's most important ally and its leader are not popular here.



According to a survey by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs early this year, 72.2 percent of Koreans said they believe the Korea-U.S. military alliance is good for national defense. When asked which country they would help in the case of a war between the United States and North Korea, only 2.3 percent said they would take sides with North Korea.








President Moon Jae-in, center, walks with the nation's new ambassadors to four powerful countries after presenting credentials to them at Cheong Wa Dae, Wednesday. From left are Ambassador to Japan Lee Su-hoon, Ambassador to Russia Woo Yoon-keun, Moon, Ambassador to China Noh Young-min and Ambassador to the U.S. Cho Yoon-je. / Yonhap



President says ties with 4 powers more critical than ever

By Jun Ji-hye

South Korea's diplomacy with four powerful countries  the United States, China, Russia and Japan  is more important than ever as the North Korea nuclear issue has entered a critical phase, President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday.

Moon made the remark during a ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae to present credentials to the country's new ambassadors to the four nations.

They are Ambassador to Washington Cho Yoon-je, Ambassador to Beijing Noh Young-min, Ambassador to Moscow Woo Yoon-keun and Ambassador to Tokyo Lee Su-hoon.

Moon asked the new ambassadors to make every effort not only to seek diplomatic solutions to the nuclear issue, but to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.

"The United States, Japan, China and Russia are the backbone of our diplomacy," Moon said. "I hope the four ambassadors will speak for South Korea's new government at a time when it is shaping its diplomatic policy direction."

Moon said Seoul needs to enhance its alliance with Washington to better cooperate in coping with North Korean threats, but also to resolve difficult problems including the renegotiation of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) and defense cost-sharing.

Under his America-first policy, U.S. President Donald Trump has been putting pressure on South Korea, calling on the need to "renegotiate or terminate" the KORUS FTA. His trade negotiators have successfully started renegotiations with South Korean officials.












By Kim Rahn

South Korea's relations with China, soured by the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system here, are showing signs of improvement following Chinese President Xi Jinping entering into his second term.

The icy relationship has apparently been thawing recently in the economic and defense areas, and expectation is growing that leaders of the two countries may have a summit within the year.

South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo and his Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan had talks for about half an hour in Clark, the Philippines, Tuesday, the last day of the Chinese Communist Party's 19th congress.

Although it took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus, it was the first bilateral meeting between the two in almost two years, with the last one being held in November 2015.

They did not elaborate on what was discussed but critics say the meeting itself is meaningful because it shows the two countries' desire to improve ties in the defense and security areas.

Seoul and Beijing have been at odds for nearly a year over the former's deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to combat North Korea's missile threats.
Lee Gyung-phil, right, who was born during the Hungnam Evacuation, a major U.S. military evacuation of civilians during the 1950-53 Korean War, hugs U.S. war veteran Jean Paul White during an event at Seoul National Cemetery, Wednesday, to commemorate those who fought in the Jangjin Lake Campaign and participated in the evacuation operation. He was one of five babies born during the evacuation who were called the "Kimchi 1-5." Also known as the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, it was one of the fiercest battles in the war, and enabled the evacuation of 90,000 Korean refugees from the besieged port of Hungnam in North Korea to Geoje Island in South Gyeongsang Province. Among the refugees were the parents of President Moon Jae-in. / Yonhap
The chief of the ruling Democratic Party sent a congratulatory message to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday on his re-election as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Rep. Choo Mi-ae said in the telegram that she hopes the two countries will further strength their relations and work together for a more prosperous and peaceful Northeast Asia after the election of China's new leadership.

Earlier in the day, Xi was elected the party's general secretary for a second term. Also elected was a seven-member Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee, including Xi and Premier Li Keqiang. (Yonhap)












By Kim Hyo-jin





Rep. Woo Won-shik

Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) floor leader Woo Won-shik defended President Moon Jae-in's vision for a nuclear energy-free nation Wednesday, calling the opposition's protest "anachronistic."



"They are bucking the trend of replacing energy resources," Woo said during a party meeting. "Building nuclear power plants is a declining industry, which can be seen from the bankruptcy of U.S.-based Westinghouse."



Claiming the opposition's protest was merely a political offensive, he said: "They only shed light on the issue of sunken costs, dismissing safety concerns for nuclear power plants."



He vowed to support Moon's policy direction of gradually reducing nuclear power plants and increasing the use of renewable energy.



His remarks came as the opposition parties voiced strong objection to the government's decision to phase out nuclear-generated electricity.



Rep. Lee Yong-ho, chief policymaker of the People's Party, claimed Moon is pushing ahead with the controversial plan unilaterally.



"I'm deeply concerned about the government speeding up the nuclear energy-free policy," he said during a party meeting.



"It's not an issue the President can self-righteously decide. It took 30 years for Germany, and Switzerland held five referendums. The government should collect public opinion and come up with a decision following a legal process."



Rep. Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the Bareun Party, called for further study.



"Moon should set up another public debate commission before he pursues a plan to scrap nuclear-generated power," Joo said. "No country will appreciate nuclear power plant technology from a country that is seeking to turn off its nuclear power."



The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced the energy transition roadmap at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday.



According to the plan, construction of Shin-Kori nuclear reactors 5 and 6 will resume. But plans for six other nuclear reactors will be dropped and the ratio of renewable energy in power generation increased to 20 percent by 2030.



Moon reaffirmed Sunday he will build a nuclear energy-free nation while accepting the recent recommendation of a public commission to resume construction of the two nuclear reactors he earlier pledged to scrap.



He vowed to stop building new reactors and suspend the operation of the Wolseong-1 reactor after its allotted lifespan was extended, as long as stability in the power supply is confirmed.
By Park Yoon-bae





Since I traveled to Latvia in late September I have become curious about how the small Baltic country with a population of just 1.9 million has kept its national identity despite a long period of foreign rule and occupation.

Latvia declared independence and formed statehood in 1918. Before that, the Baltic state underwent a German Crusade in medieval times and then foreign rule by Sweden, Poland and Russia.

The country was forcibly annexed by the Soviet Union during World War II. It regained sovereignty in 1991 following the collapse of the USSR. Then it joined the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 2004.

Latvia has been through a tumultuous history due to its geopolitical location. It stands at the crossroads of Western and Eastern Europe.

The country has long served as a trade and logistics hub by taking advantage of its strategic position in the Baltic region. At the same time it had seen the conflict of interests of some European powers taking place on its soil.

Against this backdrop, Latvia has had to meet challenges arising from the rapidly changing international situation and security threats. Its accession to the EU and NATO is part of its survival strategies.

I believe Latvia's unique culture and its own language have made it possible for the country to establish and maintain its national identity. Had it not been for them, the country might have disappeared from the world map.

There is no doubt that culture is a driving force behind what Latvia is today.

For Latvians, culture has always been at the beginning and the core of the nation  it was at the core when the idea of an independent Latvian nation was just taking root, according to "Latvia Today," a booklet published by the Latvian Institute.

The booklet also stated, "Having a language that has ancient roots but is nowadays spoken by only two million people is another source of inspiration."

Latvians have preserved their own language that belongs to the Baltic group of the Indo-European family of languages well.

The country has developed and preserved its unique culture for thousands of years although it has a relatively short history of statehood.

Latvians are proud of the country's cultural diversity. The picturesque Old Town in the capital city of Riga is a UNESECO World Heritage Site. The town is full of cultural diversity.

Latvian history is another factor in shaping the Baltic nation.

Latvia, which became an independent state in November 1918, was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940 and then by Nazi Germany in 1941. The Soviet Union occupied the Baltic state again from 1944 to 1991.

During the occupations, Latvia and its people suffered atrocities, including the Holocaust and the deportation of more than 40,000 Latvians to Siberia.

They also went through "Russification" which was aimed at spreading Russian culture and language and obliterating those of Latvia and other occupied regions.

A historical landmark changing the course of Latvia is the so-called Baltic Way that showed how strong Latvians' aspiration for regaining sovereignty was.

The Baltic Way refers to the 600-kilometer human chain formed by almost two million people across the three Baltic states  Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia  on Aug. 23, 1989.

The participants stood hand in hand to call for their independence from the USSR. They succeeded in their struggle and restored statehood in 1991 in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Latvia is preparing for the centennial celebration of its independence declaration next year. It plans to hold a variety of events at home and abroad.

Now Latvia has to tackle some challenges. It needs to promote social cohesion and harmony in a multi-ethnic society which comprises of Latvians (61.4 percent), Russians (26.2 percent) and others including Ukrainians, Poles and Lithuanians.

The country also has to upgrade its economic structure to realize a transition from agriculture and forestry-based industries to IT, ICT, pharmaceuticals, life science, industrial design and other value-added industries.

In addition, it is required to boost a low birthrate of 1.2 as this demographic factor has a significant socioeconomic effect on the country.

The nation also should solve the problem of "non-citizens," or citizens of the now-defunct Soviet Union who live in Latvia with no citizenship. There are about 290,000 non-citizens in the country, which account for 14 percent of the population.

I hope Latvians will see a successful result in their efforts to redefine their national identity and set a new course for their future.



byb@ktimes.com
By John J. Metzler





UNITED NATIONS  Truth is often stranger than fiction. Indeed elections for new members of the UN's 47-member Human Rights Council proved yet again that some of the least qualified and most repressive regimes would win coveted seats on the watchdog committee tasked with monitoring human rights and freedoms globally.

The annual vote was held in the General Assembly to select and elect fifteen candidates from regional groups which would then serve three year stints on the Geneva-based Council starting in 2018. While the United States, Britain and South Korea serve on the Council they are vastly outnumbered by regimes the likes of China, Cuba and Venezuela.

Let's take a look at the often curious contenders and callous outcomes in which systematic rights abusers have been afforded an amazing aura of respectability. Employing a multi-disciplined methodology and analysis, the respected UN Watch, a Geneva based human rights monitoring group offered its views on the new Council members, adding that only five out of sixteen countries are qualified.

Africa; Four seats for the African continent were presented as a closed slate. In other words please pick four out of four; Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria and Senegal.

Angola a southern African petro state seems to embody all the bells and whistles of classic corruption; extreme wealth and poverty, forced labor, restrictions on media freedom, arbitrary arrest, torture and human trafficking. Angola's long ruling leader Jose Eduardo dos Santos just stepped down after 38 years as leader of the old Marxist group the MPLA which ran the resource rich former Portuguese territory like a family business.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo nearly stands in a class by itself. A regime whose pedigree is marked by brutality, gender abuse, torture and widespread disappearances, and discrimination against minorities, the DRC has long been one of Africa's hotbeds of violence towards its own population.

Louis Charbonneau of Human Rights Watch opined, "The Democratic Republic of the Congo's election to the Human Rights Council is a slap in the face to the many victims of the Congolese government's grave abuses."

U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley called the DRC's selection "yet another example of why the Human Rights Council lacks credibility and must be reformed in order to be saved. "

She added that the DRC was under investigation by the same Council to which it was elected!

The other two African states selected include Nigeria and Senegal.

The Asian Group saw five countries running for four seats: Afghanistan, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Qatar. The only partly free country in the lot was Nepal, and they lost. UN Watch, scorned all four Asian candidates as "Unqualified" for Council membership.

Again let's look at the record.

Afghanistan faces wide spread corruption, the use of torture and human trafficking among others. Equally Afghanistan's embattled government is facing terrorism and insurgency. Pakistan allows violence and discrimination against women, torture, sectarian violence and persecution of religious minorities. Human Rights Watch describes violence against women and girls as "routine." Moreover, under Pakistan's draconian blasphemy laws, it is a capital offense to insult the Prophet Muhammed.

Qatar. While civil liberties and freedom of expression are significantly curtailed, the report adds that "Qatar is notorious for supporting jihadi terrorism. It supports the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood and its Palestinian offshoot, Hamas, and also has close ties with the Taliban, certain al-Qaeda affiliates in Syria".

Hillel Neuer, Director of UN Watch stated, "It is an insult to victims in these countries and it's a defeat for the global cause of human rights when the UN helps gross abusers act as champions and global judges of human rights. When the U.N.'s highest human rights body becomes a case of the foxes guarding the henhouse, the world's victims suffer."

Ambassador Haley added, "This calls into serious question the General Assembly's methods of selecting membership on the Human Rights Council."

Now some better news.

Latin America. Chile, Mexico and Peru were elected to the Council. UN Watch adds that Mexico's status is "questionable," given its flawed democracy and harsh media restrictions.

Western Europe and Others. Australia and Spain won seats. Both are working democracies.

Eastern Europe Slovakia and Ukraine won too. Slovakia is a democracy holding membership in both the European Union and NATO. Ukraine's membership qualifications are more nuanced.

It's lamentably laughable that the Council is offered such dismal choices for membership. And it's tragically ironic that such regimes have gained an undeserved legitimacy to the very Council which should probably be watching them.





John J.Metzler (jjmcolumn@earthlink.net) is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense e issues. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism: The Diplomacy of Separated Nations: Germany, Korea, China."
The government has brought up the possibility of raising the legal age of senior citizens, currently at 65, which makes them eligible for welfare benefits such as free subway access. Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon told the National Assembly last week the government is considering raising the age or having senior passengers pay during rush hour.



The discussion shouldn't be delayed any longer. Two years ago, the Korea Senior Citizens Association proposed the legal senior citizen age be raised to 70 in light of Koreans' drastically rising average life expectancy. The government has failed to act on it. Still it is better late than never.



The legal age of 65 was defined in the Senior Citizens Welfare Law in 1981 when the average life span was just 66, compared to 82.1 as of the end of last year: 77.2 for men and 84.1 for women.



Most Koreans of today in their 60s or even 70s are no longer considered old and are still physically capable of earning a paycheck and contributing to society.



The rapid increase in the number of elderly, coupled with the lowest birthrate among major advanced nations, poses many social and economic problems, including a worsening labor shortage and snowballing welfare costs.



The rapidly aging country will soon join the "super-aged" club of 34 countries where more than one in five are 65 or older, with the ratio of the aged population rising to 35.6 percent in 2045 from the present 13.7 percent.



Of course, there are lots of problems to be solved first in the course of examining the upward readjustment of old age with regard to the critical question of whether to reduce welfare benefits. Policymakers should also work on all possible plans to increase jobs for the aged generation.



Related authorities, including Seoul City Hall, should as soon as possible discuss ways of raising the age entitlement for free subway rides to see how society in general will react to it.








Middle Kingdom at critical crossroads



Chinese President Xi Jinping has been crowned his country's supreme leader endowed with absolute powers rivaling emperors. In the just-ended People's Congress, the 64-year-old had his philosophy bearing his name enshrined in the Constitution of the omnipotent Communist Party. Mao Zedong, the founder of the modern China, had previously been the only living leader with such an honor.



Plus, there are few hints about Xi's successor after his new five-year leash on power expires, leaving open the possibility of another extension.



With this emperor-like power, Xi is being closely watched for hints on how he will lead the world's most populous nation, the second-largest economy that may replace the U.S. as No. 1 sooner than expected, and the contender for the status of the world's most powerful nation.



He may take this leviathan nation in two directions _ on the "Great Helmsman's" path of terror by sacrificing its people for the purpose of the state often at his personal whims, or on a new road that seeks the best interests of his country and the world.



So far, Xi's choice is unclear. His thought boils down to "Socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era." But the question is whether this will be an extension of Deng Xiaoping's version based on the free market, private ownership and foreign investment, or a setback from it.



What Xi has achieved in his first five-year term shows he is inclined to take his nation on the ambitious path to unprecedented prosperity and superpower status _ the "One road, one belt" initiative of linking the world together being a good example.



What worries the world is Xi's inferiority complex and sense of vendetta for the subjugation of his country by Japan and the West _ the Opium Wars and imperial Japan's Invasion of Manchuria.



In his closing speech, Xi declared his pursuit of the Chinese dream of great revival. That dream is given clarity when it is remembered he opened the congress by saying, "No nation can dare to imagine China will suffer losses and swallow bitter fruits." It has an eerie Trumpian ring to it.



There could be a couple of indicators about Xi's intentions. One is about his policy toward the U.S. Soon, President Trump will visit Beijing to meet Xi. The Chinese president may bare his pursuit of hegemony in the region in unmistakable terms as the country's old emperors did. For instance, he could dismiss Trump's pressure tactics on North Korea or the South China Sea.



Worthy of note is his immediate approach toward the U.S. missile interceptor in the South that Beijing opposes vehemently. Xi has been expected to ease on Seoul after the Beijing meeting.



The world needs a new constructive leadership at a time when the U.S. is faltering. It is a collective wish to see Xi rise up to the challenge and offer an alternative.












SK Innovation's Choi Dong-soo, front row center, holds a board after donating $50,000 to Rice University at the Houston-based ivory tower, Wednesday. Rice University representative Y. Ping Sun, front row left, and Lora Wildenthal, second from left in the front row, interim dean of humanities, also took part in the event. / Courtesy of SK Innovation



By Kang Seung-woo

SK Innovation has donated $50,000 to Rice University in Houston, Texas, to support Korean programs at its the Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication. The donation will also support scholarships for the "Rice-in-Korea" study-abroad program as well as Korean cultural programs at Rice University.

The Seoul-based firm said the contribution is in line with its management philosophy of "growing together with the local community."

Thanks to its contribution, SK said Rice University will be able to solidify its Korean programs and raise understanding of Korean language and culture on campus by sponsoring scholarships, diversifying Korean-related courses and hosting campus-wide cultural activities.

Choi Dong-soo, president of SK Innovation's exploration and production (E&P) business, and Kim Tae-won, head of E&P North America Business Division, made the presentation to Y. Ping Sun, the university's representative, and Lora Wildenthal, interim dean of humanities.

"We are delighted to act upon SK Group's management philosophy of sharing happiness, Choi said. "We hope our donation enables the cultivation of social values while helping the local scholarship program and enhancing awareness of Korea in the community."

Rice University Director Rafael Salaberry welcomed the donation.

"The Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication at Rice University is delighted to receive this generous gift from SK Innovation," Salaberry said. "With this gift, we will continue to support students with limited financial means to participate in our Rice-in-Korea program.

"The generous support of SK Group will help many students at Rice have access to an educational opportunity that is quickly becoming a needed component of a well-rounded university education. We are honored by the trust SK Innovation has placed in us to help them continue to advance their vision of community engagement through our academic programs in Korean."

Based in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report.

Rice has highly respected schools of architecture, business, continuing studies, engineering, humanities, music, natural sciences and social sciences. It is also home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy.

With 3,879 undergraduates and 2,861 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is six-to-one. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for quality of life and for race and class interaction. It is rated No. 2 for the happiest students by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as the best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
By Kang Seung-woo



The police will start using drones to locate missing persons in the second half of next year.



Using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is expected to contribute to the police's search and rescue (SAR) operations as the number of reports on missing persons amounts to 30,000 a year.



The Korean National Policy Agency said its aviation division is seeking to revise regulations on using drones for SAR missions.



"Drones have been used in limited roles, including catching cars driving on the shoulder of the road, but they will be deployed in public order duties next year," an officer said.



"Development of police-specialized drones has already started."



In the past, the police sometimes used UAVs in maintaining public order such as rescue operations, traffic management and patrols in vulnerable areas, but they needed support from other organizations that own drones.



"Drones for maintaining public order require a high-performance camera, but the aircraft we used were just leisure drones, which were not enough for the tasks," the officer said.



The drone under development by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute is specialized in S&R operations, so it features an optical camera.



In addition, it will be equipped with an infrared camera that is capable of locating heat sources, such as human bodies or fires, in the dark.



The drone will also be capable of autonomous flight and autonomous searching to identify whether something is a human or an inanimate object.



The loosening of the nation's aviation-related regulations also gives room for the police to fly drones.



According to the revisions that are scheduled to go into effect next month, government organizations are allowed to fly drones for public purposes.



"We had numerous cases in which we could not locate missing senior citizens with Alzheimer's disease in a rural area despite dispatching up to 100 police officers for the whole day," the officer said.



"When the SAR drones are deployed, it will help us effectively protect the safety and security of the people."



Once a prototype is developed next May, it will go through safety and performance tests. If successful, the drone will take on duties in the latter half of 2018.



The use of drones by police departments in other countries is increasing.



In Michigan and a few other U.S. states, the police use surveillance drones to help with operations at the scenes of major accidents.



Canada's Ontario Provincial Police are also mulling purchasing a drone for various purposes.




KT Network Division President Oh Seong-mok, second from left, looks at marine safety information shared by the firm's Skyship unmanned aerial vehicle, on a yacht at Haeundae beach in the nation's southeastern port city of Busan, Wednesday. / Courtesy of KT



By Lee Min-hyung

BUSAN  KT unveiled two marine safety systems Wednesday, tightening its leadership as the nation's widest network coverage operator.

The maritime security network is one of the mobile carrier's five growth areas. The company is using its satellite long-term-evolution (LTE) network systems to operate the coastline service.

On the sidelines of this year's Marine Week 2017 exhibition here, the company unveiled the Marine Navi anti-collision system. By combining the LTE network with closed circuit television (CCTV) on a boat, the system displays maritime information, preventing vessels from colliding.

One of Marine Navi's key features is a real-time location-sharing service. This informs captains of potential threats. In bad weather, the system also displays virtual images around the ship, according to the company.

"Marine Navi allows a ship's crew to monitor their surroundings within a radius of 10 kilometers on the ocean," Oh Seong-mok, president of KT's network division, said at the BEXCO convention center in Busan.

The system also comes with image-analysis technology, providing captains with clearer, vivid views day and night, according to KT.

KT said Marine Navi is targeted at the small-ship market here and abroad, as most mid- and large-sized vessels are equipped with similar systems.

"There is much more expensive safety equipment than Marine Navi, but it is for huge vessels," Oh said. "Half of the ships in Korea are small ones, which are the target market for the system. We hope Marine Navi becomes a reasonable option for them to enhance their safety."

The company is considering offering packaged safety systems, including Marine Navi and other network devices, to expand sales overseas.



Skyship

The company also unveiled its state-of-the-art Skyship unmanned aerial vehicle. The 10-meter-long machine can fly at up to 70 kilometers an hour, which the company says is the best maritime security device combining the merits of drones and helicopters.

Skyship comes with LTE and fifth-generation (5G) network modules, providing real-time datasets to base stations and marine rescue centers. It can fly up to 25 kilometers, the company said.

"We focused on overcoming drawbacks from drones, which cannot fly for such a long period of time," Oh said. "A helicopter is, for this reason, widely used as a safety tool in case of a marine disaster. But it requires massive initial purchasing costs and needs a special workforce for its flight and maintenance.

"But Skyship overcomes such shortcomings. The vehicle is filled with helium gas and can take on multiple safety missions with ease and convenience."

The size of the Skyship can be expanded to meet users' needs, allowing the vehicle to carry medical kits, life jackets and safety equipment, KT said.

As the device is also equipped with LTE modules and a 360-degree camera, Skyship can send high-definition videos in real time to safety control centers on land.

In the case of an emergency, Skyship can also serve as a moving base station, offering network services in disaster areas. KT aims to expand its use in various areas, such as marine safety, illegal fishing and forest fires.
Andy Freels, left, president of the Hyundai America Technical Center, poses with John Maddox, CEO of the American Center for Mobility (ACM), after signing an agreement to invest $5 million in ACM's planned research complex for connected and automated vehicle technologies in the U.S. State of Michigan, Tuesday (local time). / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor



By Lee Hyo-sik

Hyundai Motor has invested $5 million in the creation of a research complex to be built by the American Center for Mobility (ACM) in the United States to secure more advanced connected and automated car technologies, the company said Wednesday.

This is the latest move by Korea's largest automaker to enhance its knowhow and expertise in vehicle automation and connectivity, and get an upper hand in the development of eco-friendly, energy-efficient future vehicles.

On Tuesday (local time), Andy Freels, president of the Hyundai America Technical Center, signed an agreement with ACM CEO John Maddox to invest the $5 million in the center's research complex for connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technology in Ypsilanti, west of Detroit in the U.S. State of Michigan.

ACM is currently building a world-class proving ground where companies will collaborate to develop CAV and future mobility technologies, as well as working on standards and education programs.

The move is a joint initiative with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, State of Michigan, Michigan Department of Transportation, the University of Michigan, Business Leaders for Michigan and Ann Arbor Spark.

Hyundai is one of ACM's founding members along with AT&T, Toyota and Ford.

The complex's first phase of construction is nearing completion. Validation, product development, education and standards facilities will open in December.

The 2 square-kilometer site is only 11.5 kilometers away from the Hyundai America Technical Center, making it easier for the Korean automaker to develop and test its driver-assistance, CAV and other technologies.

The complex will also provide testing under unique and extreme conditions in a controlled environment to improve vehicle safety.

It is expected to help advance Hyundai's safety, connectivity, cyber security and autonomous technologies, Freels said.

"Hyundai's investment supporting ACM strengthens our long-term commitment to the advancement of safety and mobility through automated vehicle technology," Freels said.

"We are excited to be a founding member of the government-industry team at the neighboring ACM facility. As a founding member, we will help set the direction for CAV standards and test advanced technologies in a safe environment for the North American customer," he said.

Maddox said ACM has been working closely with Hyundai over the years.

"We are thrilled Hyundai decided to take the next step with this significant investment to further our collaboration. The Hyundai team has some unique developments they are working on and we are eager to help them achieve their goals," he said.
PMI's IQOS (top) and BAT's glo (bottom)

By Lee Hyo-sik

Multinational tobacco companies selling heat-not-burn (HNB) e-cigarettes are set to raise prices as the National Assembly moves closer to hiking taxes on this new type of cigarette.

When materialized, this would adversely affect millions of smokers who have switched from standard cigarettes over the past few months to those that its makers say produces 90 percent less harmful chemicals.

Philip Morris International (PMI) Korea, headed by CEO Chong Il-woo, and British American Tobacco (BAT) Korea, headed by CEO Matthieu Juery, have been refraining from publically discussing what they call the "inevitable" price hike.

But they say they would be left with no other choice but to charge consumers much more than 5,000 won ($4.46) per pack, if lawmakers put their plans into practice.

In May, PMI Korea began selling the IQOS, an electronic device designed to heat HEETs, while BAT Korea introduced glo and its tobacco Neostiks, in August. Both HEETs and Neostiks are priced at 4,300 won for a pack of 20.

On Oct. 20, the Assembly's Strategy and Finance Subcommittee passed a revised bill to increase the excise tax levied on a pack of 20 HNB sticks to 529 won from the current 126 won. If lawmakers pass the bill during the upcoming plenary session in early November, the tax increase will go into effect.

The 529 won is equivalent to 89 percent of the 594 won excise tax that consumers pay when purchasing a pack of standard cigarettes.

Lawmakers are now moving to raise other taxes levied on HNB cigarettes, such as a consumption tax, a health promotion fee and a local education tax, to the degree that they equal 89 percent of those imposed on conventional cigarettes.

"Revised bills concerning HNB cigarettes are designed to increase all types of taxes," an official at the Ministry of Strategy and Finance said. "Other subcommittees were waiting for the Strategy and Finance Subcommittee to pass the excise tax revision. They will soon take necessary steps to increase the consumption tax, health promotion fee and local education tax."

The official expected the Assembly to pass the excise tax revision at a plenary session Nov. 9.

"We are trying to have revised bills go through the Assembly as quickly as possible so we can remove market uncertainties surrounding HNB cigarettes. So we need to complete the revision process as soon as possible," he said.

The Health and Welfare Subcommittee will soon deal with a revised bill increasing the health promotion fee imposed on a pack of 20 HNB sticks to 750 won from the current 438 won.

The Security and Public Administration Subcommittee is also expected to pass the revision to hike the HNB cigarette consumption tax to 897 won from the current 528 won, and the local education tax to 395 won from 232 won.

PMI Korea and BAT Korea have been saying HNB cigarettes are less harmful than conventional ones, arguing it is not fair to impose the same amount of taxes on both.

But they appear to be accepting the controversial tax hike as a done deal and are scrambling to deal with its fallout.

"We will likely have to raise the price of (HNB cigarettes), given a sharp increase in taxes," a PMI Korea official said. "We first need to estimate the extent of the price hike. But we still have time because the National Assembly has yet to approve any revisions."

A BAT Korea spokesman also said the price hike is inevitable.

"We have begun discussing ways of dealing with the tax increase. In addition to the excise tax, if lawmakers decide to raise other taxes, we will have no choice but to charge consumers more."
President Xi Jinping emerged more powerful than ever from the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which drew to a close on Tuesday in Beijing.



By Shi Jiangtao





President Xi Jinping was elevated to the status of late paramount leaders Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, securing an almost unchallengeable dominance over the Communist Party, which ended its week-long gathering on Tuesday with a newly elected Central Committee, the party's elite decision-making body.

At the closing session in Beijing's cavernous Great Hall of the People, Xi declared that his governing philosophy, officially titled "Xi Jinping thought on Socialism with Chinese characteristic for a new era", had been added to the party constitution.

The widely expected move cements Xi's rapid rise over the past five years as China's most powerful man in decades as more than 2,300 carefully vetted delegates from around the country approved an amended party constitution carrying the name of the country's new "core" leader.

The elevation of several of Xi's proteges to the powerful Central Committee, which has 204 full members and 172 alternative members  the latter do not have voting rights  coincided with the departure of his key ally and anti-graft tsar Wang Qishan and China's vice-president Li Yuanchao from the top leadership.

The absence of Wang, 69, a Politburo Standing Committee member and head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), from the full list of Central Committee members released by Xinhua confirmed an earlier report by the South China Morning Post.

Li Yuanchao, who at 66 is still below the official retirement age of 68, was also missing from the list, effectively meaning that he too will be stepping down from the Politburo.

Delegates also cast their votes behind closed doors to decide the 133 members of the CCDI. Zhao Leji, the party's personnel chief, was named among them in a move that the Post said in an earlier exclusive report could pave the way for him to take the reins of the anti-graft agency after the congress.

Among the new members of the Central Committee are a large number of China's new generation of politicians, several of whom are expected to emerge as contenders for the country's top leadership roles in the future.

The country's two leading bureaucrats on Hong Kong affairs  Zhang Xiaoming, the new director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, and Wang Zhiming, director of the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong  were among those to be voted on to the Central Committee.

The revamped group will meet for the first time on Wednesday when it will decide the make-up of the Politburo and its standing committee  the party's innermost circle of power  and, in doing so, bring to an end months of behind-the-scenes power struggles and horse trading that are the trademarks of China's twice-a-decade leadership reshuffles.

In a closing statement, delegates also hailed Xi's opening address to the party congress which declared that China's socialism building had entered a new era as a "guiding Marxist document" in a world of grim challenges threatening the survival of the one-party rule.

Under Xi's leadership, it said China had "solved many tough problems that were long on the agenda but never solved, accomplished many things that were wanted but never got done, and prompted historic shifts in the causes of the party and the country".












FONTANA  After 50 years in the hospitality business, David Lindelow believes he has earned the right to retire and relax.

And it would be darned inhospitable to deny him that.

Lindelow came to the Abbey Resort as general manager in 2007, where he was asked to turn around a property that had seen better days.

At the end of October  11 years and millions of dollars in changes and renovations later  Lindelow will leave the Abbey Resort and head into retirement.

Lindlow said he thought of retirement when he and his twin sister had their 65th birthdays together on Aug. 13. They celebrated with a family reunion.

I had such a lovely weekend, he said. I thought, I would like to do more of this family time.

His retirement also creates a void in the Lake Geneva area tourism infrastructure. Lindlow served as chairman of the board for Visit Lake Geneva, the business group that serves as the regions convention and tourism agency.

The organization is currently searching for a new board chairman.

Visit Lake Geneva President Ed Switak said Lindelow did amazing work as the Abbey Resorts general manager. Switak noted that the Fontana resorts occupancy has climbed from less than 40 percent to more than 60 percent.

Hes done an unbelievable job, Svitak said. Hes done great things there.

Michael Lucero, manager of the Abbey Resort under Lindelow from 2008 to 2010, has been installed as the new general manager.

Lindelow said he had approached the resorts owners with the idea of gradually leaving his position, and ownership was comfortable with his plan for a phase-out.

Its nice to have several months to transition, he said.

When he vacates his temporary office as consultant to the business officially known as The Abbey Resort and Avani Spa, Lindelow is headed to Charleston, South Carolina, where his son is a managing partner of a Bonefish Grill restaurant. Lindelow already owns a house there.

But the Philadelphia native also has some Wisconsin roots. His daughter works in marketing for Kimberly-Clark Corp. in Appleton. And he owns a house in Fontanas Indian Hills subdivision.

So, he said, he will spend winters in South Carolina and summers in Wisconsin.

You have beautiful summers here, he said.

Community impact

Among the other roles that Lindelow has filled was president of the Fontana Rotary Club.

Fontana Village President Pat Kenny said that under Lindelows leadership, the Abbey Resort and the village worked well together.

Kenny credited Lindelow with increasing the Abbeys value and popularity.

Were going to miss him, Kenny said. He worked well as a general manager.

According to figures provided by Fontana Treasurer Scott Vilona, from the time he arrived in 2007, Lindelow has increased the room taxes paid by the Abbey annually from $350,204 to $451,474  an increase of more than 25 percent.

The village collects a 5 percent tax on hotel room rentals.

Family ties

Love of the hospitality business seems to be in Lindelows blood.

His grandfather owned a restaurant, and his father went to University of Cornells School of Hotel Administration.

I said I wasnt going to do it, Lindelow said.

But it was a promise he had to break at age 15 if he wanted to buy a car at 16. He took a restaurant dish-washing job and bought a Triumph Spitfire.

That was in the day when we still believed in British automobiles, he said.

The car may not have been a peach, but the dish-washing job planted a seed.

He went to business school at Temple University in Philadelphia.

I worked my way through school in hospitality, and I found I really enjoyed it, he said.

Lindelow said he worked for a number of hotels and hotel chains, including Wyndham, a chain that grew rapidly in the 1990s. He said he became an expert in transitioning hotels. Transitioning was the process of transforming newly-purchased hotels into Wyndham hotels.

While his children were growing up, he worked mostly in downtown Philadelphia. But his career also took him to Long Island, New York, Palm Springs, California, and Kingston Plantation, South Carolina.

What brought him to Fontana?

I was recruited to come to the Abbey when the new ownership group took over in 2007, he said.

Lindelow said he was impressed by the passion and commitment of the new ownership group, which was made up of 12 local investors.

The resorts location was also an attraction, offering not only a small-town charm, but also proximity to Milwaukee and Chicago.

Rooms redone

The new ownership group that took over in 2007 invested about $10 million into redoing the look of the resort.

Strategically, we felt we could achieve success by enhancing the quality of the property and the service, Lindelow said. We touched every square foot of the resort.

When it was first built in the 1960s, the Abbey was done in dark and rustic tones preferred at the time.

In addition to a makeover on all nine buildings in the complex, the owners also tore down and rebuilt the spa and renovated every restaurant and common area.

Perhaps more important was a change in the Abbeys philosophy, Lindelow said.

The resort embrached the industrys four-diamond standard, which involves 50 pages of rules that specify uniforms to be worn by the staff, a doorman at the door, and a concierge in the lobby to greet guests.

10-5 rule

Then there is the 10-5 rule.

At 10 feet, you recognize a guest, he said. That could be a smile or nod of the head. At five feet, you greet them. Good morning, good afternoon, good evening.

It seems like a small thing, but it was noticed.

Guests came back and said, You have the friendliest staff, he recalled.

With about 300 employees year-round and another 150 part-time and summer seasonal help, the Abbey has a significant local economic impact, with a payroll of about $10 million a year. And 98 percent of that stays in Walworth County.

This isnt money we send to a corporation for bath towels, he said.

The Abbey became the first non-Lake Geneva resort to join what was then known as the Lake Geneva Convention and Visitors Bureau. The resort hit some rough spots during the recessionary period in 2008 and 2009.

We decided in the recession that it would be difficult to compete as an individual property in the marketplace, he said. We thought we would like to ally with other resources.

Civic pride

A subsequent reorganization combined the convention bureau with the regional chamber of commerce to form Visit Lake Geneva.

Lindelow was involved in the restructuring, and he believes it has resulted in a much broader, more focused organization.

Not everyone is pleased with Visit Lake Geneva. During a recent Fontana Village Board meeting, Trustee Arvid Pete Petersen said he objected to the name and its focus on Lake Geneva rather than the larger region.

Lindelow said he talked with Petersen later, adding: I understand the civic pride.

Reflections

Reflecting on his 50 years of work in hospitality, Lindelow called it a labor of love.

You cant beat interaction with people, he said. Its very challenging.

But now theres time to relax.

Im very excited about the realization that I can do whatever I want, he said.
WILLIAMS BAY  With a swing of its huge bucket, the large excavator crashed into the turret of the whitewashed Dronley house that once looked out over Geneva Lake, pulling pieces of the historic house to the ground.

The last day for the 129-year-old cottage was not an easy one.

The excavator and workers from Glenn H. Johnson Construction, Des Plaines, Illinois, worked through the day Oct. 23 to take the three-story structure down to the ground, timber by timber.

The demolition took place at Conference Point Center, 300 Conference Point Road. The 21-acre nondenominational Christian retreat is at the southern point of Williams Bay.

Kurt Kreis, agent for the Lake Geneva Foundation, which owns Conference Point and the Lake Geneva Youth Center in Lake Geneva, said the foundation plans to replace the old building with a two-story residence and meeting center, which should be ready for use next summer.

He said once the building is down and debris is removed, the contractor expects to begin excavating the basement and foundation for the new two-story Geneva Lake Lodge.

According to information from Conference Point, the new lodge will have 27 bedrooms with a capacity for 90 guests, a meeting room for up to 100 guests, and a lakeside patio.

The building was designed by Skiffington Architects of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois.

The new building will come in at an estimated $2 million, said Christiaan Snedeker, advancement director at the Conference Point Center.

Dronley

Called Dronley, or the Pinkerton-Chalmers House or the Oak Lawn Building, the house had been built in 1878 for the newly-wed William and Joan Chalmers.

William was a scion of the family that founded the Allis Chalmers Co. in West Allis. Joan was born Joan Pinkerton, daughter of Allan Pinkerton, founder of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency and personal bodyguard to President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.

The lakeside mansion served as the Chalmers summer home that hosted parties and family get-togethers for nearly 50 years. The Chalmers were proud of their Scottish heritage, and they named their home Dronley after a region in central Scotland.

In 1919, the Chalmers family sold Dronley to the Conference Point Camp, which bordered their property to the south. The camp renamed the house Oak Lawn.

According to Snedeker, the foundation inherited the building when it bought the Conference Point property in 2010.

By then, he said, the mansion had been converted into a bunkhouse for Conference Point visitors.

It could house up to 66 campers. And there were groups who would request lodging in Oak Lawn, Snedeker said.

Snedeker said the house had never been on either the national or state register of historic buildings.

According to Snedeker, maintenance for the old building was becoming more difficult. Just maintaining the building over the years cost Conference Point $10,000 a year.

As the years passed, more structural problems became apparent.

Structural problems

Structural studies of the old building showed that the foundation needed at least $1 million in repairs. The rest of the building would need another $1 million to bring the interior into compliance with ADA regulations and correct some of the changes made when previous owners turned Dronley into a bunkhouse.

The failing foundation made the building lean, with its main floor seeming to sink toward the lake.

Facing a $2 million price tag on the old building, Snedeker said, the Lake Geneva Foundation decided it would be better to build new.

James Bakken, project manager for Johnson Construction, said construction crews and employees from both Conference Point and Lake Geneva Youth Camp went through the building before demolition, removing doors, fixtures and leaded glass windows.

Some of those salvaged items are expected to find their way into the new Geneva Lake Lodge.

Bakken said the family that started Johnson Construction are descendants of the original owners of what is now Conference Point. He said the area was once known as the Johnson Farm.

Conference Point is a picturesque backyard to Williams Bay. Since 1873, it has been a retreat, first for ministers, then for Christian groups and individuals.

When first opened in 1873, Conference Point was a privately-owned retreat. Before being taken over by the Lake Geneva Foundation, it had also been owned and run by the Chicago Sunday School Association and the National Council of Churches.
Communities in Walworth County are growing  some more than others.

New population statistics released by the county show that trends emerging since the 2010 census have been generally upward.

Enjoying varied degrees of population growth are the cities of Lake Geneva and Whitewater, the villages of Williams Bay, Fontana and East Troy, and the towns of Linn, Geneva and Darien.

But not everyone is riding the wave.

Population decreases have been recorded in Elkhorn, Delavan, Genoa City and, in the most extreme example, the town of Bloomfield.

The town of Bloomfield population has plummeted from 6,278 people to just 1,598. The nearly 75-percent decrease was caused by the emergence of a new municipality  the village of Bloomfield.

Created in 2011, the village of Bloomfield has gone from zero people in 2010 census to 4,675 people today.

Village of Bloomfield President Gary Grolle said the village is off to a good start, and he envisions still more growth in the years ahead.

Grolle noted that leaders of the municipality are seeking to continue signs of positive progress by building more infrastructure and by improving government services for their 4,675 residents.

Were nowhere near where we want to be, he said. I think its going to grow.

Bloomfield Town Chairman Daniel Schoonover said the original plan was for the entire town to convert into a village. But state rules and legal challenges have prevented that, leaving a small segment of the town in its diminished state, at least in terms of population.

Thats just the way it happened, Schoonover said.

Overall, Walworth Countys population in the past seven years has increased by more than 300 people, from a total of 102,228 to 102,590.

Other than the village of Bloomfield, the biggest sign of growth has occurred in the city of Whitewater, where the population jumped from 11,150 to 11,541.

Lake Geneva is not far behind, with a population that climbed from 7,651 to 7,824, or an increase of 173 people.

Lake Geneva Mayor Al Kupsik said he welcomes the growing community as a positive sign that people are attracted to the citys schools, neighborhoods, restaurants and other assets.

Kupsik said city leaders have kept pace by moving to improve police protection, fire protection and other basic services.

Lake Geneva is an attractive place to live  its got everything, he said. I think the city is handling the growth as necessary.

One community that has seen its population going in the other direction is Elkhorn, the county seat. The population has dropped since 2010 from 10,084 to 9,914.

Elkhorn Mayor Howie Reynolds said the community has been slow to recover from the economic recession of 2008. Some plans for building new houses were shelved during the recession, Reynolds said, and they never got back on track.

But rather than people moving out of Elkhorn, Reynolds theorizes that the population decline has been more natural  an aging population in which a certain number of people simply die.

He added: Maybe people arent having the babies to keep up with it.

In the village of Williams Bay, the population has gone upward slightly, from 2,564 to 2,576.

Village Administrator Jim Weiss said Williams Bay went through a couple of tough years of slowed development following the recession.

Weiss said the population would appear more robust if the census counted tourists who live in Williams Bay on a part-time basis.

Nevertheless, Weiss said, the village has seen encouraging signs of development recently.

He expects the population will increase more rapidly as new housing developments progress.

The village is poised for growth, he said.
Response time is crucial when it comes to first responders. In fact, response time is the rock upon which their house is built. This holds true for fire, police and rescue personnel across the board. It doesnt matter if youre serving a rural, suburban or metropolitan area: You have to react fast when the need arises.

And response time also matters when were gauging public officials performances. In the case of the city of Lake Geneva, officials have been asked to respond to a $150,000 budget increase for the fire department which will allow for 24/7 service. Its a request that would bring the 2018 proposed budget for the department to $1.2 million total, and its an upgrade that Mayor Alan Kupsick endorses. The police and fire commission back the budget change as well, and Fire Chief John Peters has pointed out the benefits, both overt and less obvious, for the citys taxpayers.

And no matter what the cost, going full time is a change that has been in the works since 2015, when the fire department put into motion a 10-year plan. Although many Wisconsin cities around Lake Genevas size make do with volunteer fire departments, there is a distinct and important difference. Our citys population swells to well into five figures during the summer months, and this alone puts a strain on first responder resources. This alone makes the change a reasonable one.

But Peters and other supporters of the 24/7 plan make another point that should resonate with taxpayers. The firefighters ranks include 20 people who are certified paramedics who, under current law, cannot act in the capacity for which theyre trained because the city doesnt hold the right certification. Peters pointed out that yes, Lake Geneva could go ahead and seek the paramedic licensing before the department goes full time  but it makes little sense to do so without first making sure the department can meet the demand staffing-wise. Its a Catch-22 that $150,000 per year will put to rest. Thats 14 percent of the departments 2018 proposed budget as it stands. Its a relatively small amount that will pay dividends in increased efficiency, improved services and a much better use of existing resources.

Theres really no downside to the plan. Its time for city officials to respond in a timely fashion.

The editorial board consists of General Manager Robert Ireland, Editor Scott Williams, Resorter Editor Jessica Franzene and Office Manager Sue Hinske.
One of the greatest motorcycle movies ever made may never be seen. The filmmakers have run out of money.

The currently untitled feature-length documentary chronicles the three-year, around-the-world motorcycle expedition by Daniel Rintz and Josephine Flohr. The two riders left their native Berlin in April 2014 and, after visiting North and South America, Africa and multiple points along the way, returned to Germany this summer.

Rintz planned the documentary as a follow-up to his Somewhere Else Tomorrow, a much-admired motorcycle adventure he filmed while on a multiple-year ride through Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

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Somewhere Else Tomorrow enjoyed some success when it was released in 2013, and became available on Amazon Prime, iTunes and other outlets. Rintz felt, after the acclaim, that it deserved a sequel.

But now the travelers funds are depleted, with and the movie is not completed. Rintz started an IndieGoGo campaign to raise the money required to finish it.

Rintz ended the first part of his planned around the world journey in New Zealand. Later, he and Flohr, whom he had met in Thailand, resumed the ride, she on a BMW R80GS, he on a BMW R1200GS.

The travelers worked odd jobs along the way  making promotional films for hotels that let them stay for free, washing dishes in restaurants and picking berries, for example  to pay for gas, food and lodging.

Rintz shot it all, using a Canon 5D mkII, Sony a7S, Sony a7II, GoPro4 Black, Sony ActionCam and various iPhones.

The result is a magical tapestry of images, a catalog of colorful places, people and practices.

The main story that we bring back is that 99% of the people are fantastic, helpful and interesting, Rintz said by phone from Berlin. But there were tough times as well. There were accidents and hardship, and we were sick sometimes.

There were breakdowns, too, especially with Flohrs vintage R80GS, and some sticky situations involving difficult geographical landscapes, unstable political landscapes, uncomfortable border crossings and run-ins with child soldiers in Africa.

The best riding?

It seems corny to say to someone from Los Angeles, but the U.S. really surprised us, Rintz said. The riding is fantastic, and the people are fantastic. Everywhere we visited, people stopped us in supermarket parking lots and said, Whats your story? We were invited to camp in a lot of peoples backyards.

So far, the IndieGoGo campaign has raised about 86% of the target of about $30,000.

We need help with the music and with graphics, and some legal fees, he said. Were not actually taking any of this money. Its just to finish the movie.

The fundraising campaign ends Nov. 11.

charles.fleming@latimes.com

@misterfleming
The Senate voted Tuesday night to kill a controversial rule that would have allowed Americans to file class-action suits against banks instead of being forced in many cases into private arbitration.

The move by the Senate followed a similar action by the House in July to rescind the rule. President Trump is expected to sign the repeal legislation, providing a major victory for the financial industry.



For the record: A previous version of this story said Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana was one of two Republicans who voted against repealing the rule. He voted for the repeal.

Vice President Mike Pence cast the deciding vote after the Senate tied 50-50. All but two Republicans  John Kennedy of Louisiana and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina  voted to repeal the rule. No Democrats or independents supported the move.

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The White House said Trump applauds Congress for voting to repeal the rule, which would have given consumers fewer options for quickly and efficiently resolving financial disputes.

The rule was unveiled in July by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and praised by Democrats and consumer advocates as giving average people more power to fight industry abuses, such as Wells Fargo & Co.s creation of millions of unauthorized accounts.

But banking lobbyists argued that the rule would unleash a flood of class-action lawsuits, and that the cost of fighting those suits would be passed on to consumers. Republicans quickly moved to repeal the regulation.

The entire purpose of this rule is to promote class-action litigation and stop arbitration resolution when there is a dispute, said Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce praised the repeal vote, saying the rule would have benefited the class-action trial bar at the expense of American consumers and businesses alike.

Set to take effect in March, the rule would not have banned clauses in checking account, credit card and other banking agreements that say disputes between companies and customers must be dealt with privately or in small claims court.

Instead, there would have been a ban on provisions that block consumers from banding together to bring class-action cases. The CFPB argued that such cases help hold banks accountable.

The determinations of an arbitrator are binding and consumer advocates say most decisions favor the company. The private proceedings also allow banks to deal with individual problems quietly rather than address widespread abuses.

Bureau Director Richard Cordray called the Senate vote a giant setback for every consumer in this country and urged Trump to veto the repeal legislation.

It robs consumers of their most effective legal tool against corporate wrongdoing, Cordray said. As a result, companies like Wells Fargo and Equifax remain free to break the law without fear of legal blowback from their customers.

George Slover, senior policy counsel for Consumers Union, said the vote means that big financial companies can lock the courthouse doors and prevent consumers whove been mistreated from joining together to seek the relief they deserve under the law.

For years, Wells Fargo used arbitration clauses to block lawsuits from customers who alleged that unauthorized accounts had been opened in their names. Ultimately, the bank estimated that as many as 3.5 million such accounts were opened.

The bank agreed to settle some class-actions suits, but not until the CFPB, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Los Angeles city attorneys office fined the bank over those practices last year. Even in cases that the bank settled, it had argued that the plaintiffs could not sue because of arbitration clauses.

Democrats cited the Wells Fargo case and the recent massive data breach at credit reporting company Equifax as proof that the new CFPB rule was needed to protect consumers from abuses.

Equifax has been criticized for initially making consumers give up their right to sue if they wanted to take advantage of the companys offer of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection after the breach. Equifax later backtracked on that requirement after a public uproar.

Our job is to look out for the people whom we serve, not to look out for Wells Fargo, not to look out for Equifax, not to look out for Wall Street banks, not to look out for corporations who scam consumers, said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio.).

The House voted 231 to 90 to repeal the rule using the Congressional Review Act, a formerly little-used mechanism that Republicans have employed under Trump to invalidate more than a dozen Obama administration regulations.

No House Democrats voted to repeal the rule.

The Review Act was put in place in 1996 to give Congress the expedited ability to repeal new rules put in place by federal regulators. Such a measure needs only a simple majority vote in the Senate, so opponents cannot block it with a filibuster.

The act had been used successfully just once before this year, because it usually is only relevant when the presidency shifts parties and a new administration wants to invalidate actions of a previous one.

Although Republicans controlled Congress the final two years of Obamas presidency, his ability to veto repeal efforts short-circuited most of them.

Last year, congressional Republicans tried to repeal a consumer bureau rule for retirement advisors. The measure passed the House and Senate, but Obama vetoed it.

On Monday, the Treasury Department issued a report slamming the arbitration rule as flawed and a giveaway to class-action attorneys.

The 18-page analysis, which the Treasury Department said was based on consumer bureau data, concluded that the rule would impose extraordinary costs on businesses that probably would be passed on to consumers.The department estimated the rule would lead to more than 3,000 additional class-action lawsuits over the next five years.

Treasurys report shows that the CFPB is more interested in helping trial lawyers than consumers, said Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas).

Democrats this week criticized the Treasury report on the arbitration rule as simply echoing industry arguments.

The consumer bureau had determined that the effect on the entire financial system would be less than $1 billion a year. Cordray has noted that U.S. banks earned a record $171 billion in profits in 2016.

Hensarling has been an outspoken critic of the rule and the consumer protection bureau in general. The independent agency was created by the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial regulatory overhaul to oversee credit cards, mortgages and other financial products.

Nearly all Republicans opposed creation of the bureau and have pushed to reduce its authority over financial firms. They also have urged Trump to fire Cordray, a Democrat who was appointed by Obama to a term that does not expire until July 2018.

Republicans have complained that Cordray has been too heavy-handed as bureau director, putting in place rules they say have restricted consumer access to credit. In June, the House voted along party lines for a Hensarling bill to repeal many of the stricter Dodd-Frank regulations.

The bill, which the Senate has not yet considered, also would gut the consumer bureau. The director would be subject to removal by the president for any reason and the agencys independent funding stream would be eliminated, making it subject to congressional appropriations that would allow Republicans to reduce its budget.

jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com

Twitter: @JimPuzzanghera

ALSO

National Park Service considers fee hike of up to 180% for most popular parks, including Yosemite

FCC ends decades-old rule designed to keep TV and radio under local control

Trumps pick for FTC chief: a Washington insider who has represented many tech firms

UPDATES:

3:20 a.m. Oct. 25: This article was updated with comment from CFPB Director Richard Cordray.

8:30 p.m.: This article was updated with a correction regarding a senator.

7:35 p.m.: This article was updated with a vote breakdown and comment from the White House, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Consumers Union.

This article originally was published at 7:10 p.m. Oct. 24.
Cosmo Goss, executive chef of five Publican restaurants in Chicago, has been fired by parent company One Off Hospitality, months after an incident that violated a staff members privacy and respect, according to a statement from the Chicago-based restaurant group.

Another employee, Antonio Molina, general manager of Publican Anker in Wicker Park, also had his employment terminated by One Off in relation to the incident. Eater Chicago first reported the news.

The firings can be traced to an employee at a One Off restaurant sharing an inappropriate photo of a co-worker without her permission among staff. That happened in late 2016, according to separate statements by both One Off and Goss. But the incident didnt come to light until early this fall when the subject of the photo reported it to company human resources, and One Off started an investigation immediately, according to a One Off spokeswoman.

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The employee who shared the photo was fired earlier this year for unrelated personal performance issues. Neither the fired employee or subject of the photo were managers.

After a three-week outside investigation, One Off removed Goss and Molina from their positions. Goss, who helmed the five Publican-branded kitchens in One Offs stable of restaurants, was not allowed in any of the companys Wicker Park properties (Big Star, Doves Luncheonette, Violet Hour, Publican Anker) during the investigation.

Goss thought it was a fleeting incident, said the spokeswoman in an interview, but the reason this is so concerning is he was executive chef. He didnt report the incident, or fire the person (who took and shared the photo). He discussed it with other employees.

A One Off employee for seven years  he was named executive chef last year  Goss is also a coauthor of the recently released cookbook, Cheers to The Publican, alongside One Off partner and chef Paul Kahan. Goss is no longer part of the books promotional tour.

The old mantra is that its just kitchen culture, that its just the way it is. It is actively counterproductive to perpetuate that, said the spokeswoman. This is a societal issue, and as you see examples of people stepping up in other industries, it makes one optimistic that this pervasive culture can be changed.

One Off already mandates harassment training for managers, but will be examining its employee training and handbooks.

In his statement, Goss admits to treating the incident of viewing the inappropriate photo as a fleeting moment that was wholly unprofessional and unacceptable. He wrote that he is deeply sorry to the woman portrayed in the photograph and the other individuals whom these consequences have affected.

Goss was already planning his exit from One Off for a venture announced in February with Erling Wu-Bower, formerly chef of Nico Osteria, another One Off restaurant  their project is called Pacific Standard Time. One Off, a partner in that restaurant, is supporting the project; for now, says the spokeswoman, the partnership and operating agreement are under evaluation and Goss position is under review.

As for that project, Goss wrote in his statement, My partners and I will bring an overdue perspective with a strict set of standards to our next venture. These standards include professional, human resources counsel, and continual training in areas of sexual harassment, hostile work environment and all-encompassing sensitivity  for all employees.

One Offs news comes amidst increased scrutiny of workplace sexual harassment via the viral #MeToo movement, started last week in response to allegations leveled against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

On Monday, chef John Besh of New Orleans, resigned from the company he built, Besh Restaurant Group, after 25 women came forward with sexual harassment allegations against him, other managers and the company for fostering a culture of sexual harassment, reported Brett Anderson for the Times-Picayune after an eight-month investigation.

This is the first complaint weve heard of this nature, said One Offs spokeswoman.

We want to acknowledge the severity of these actions, and want this person to feel that her story is being heard. Just because youre beloved and a rising star doesnt mean youre not held accountable just like everyone else.

Joseph Hernandez is a Chicago Tribune staff writer.

jbhernandez@chicagotribune.com
The Federal Communications Commission is planning to vote in November on proposals to roll back ownership rules that were meant to support diverse voices in local media.

The newspaper and broadcasting industries have pushed for changes to the rules as they face growing online competition. Critics say dropping the rules will encourage media consolidation and hurt local voices and diversity.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Wednesday at a congressional hearing that he wants to eliminate rules that, among other things, bar a company from owning both newspapers and TV stations in one market. Its been in place since 1975, but exceptions have been allowed. He also proposed scrapping limits on owning both radio and TV stations.

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The marketplace today is nothing like it was in 1975, Pai said, adding that newspapers are shutting down and broadcast TV and radio stations are struggling, while competition from the internet, where Google and Facebook dominate in digital advertising, is rising.

Republicans outnumber Democrats on the five-member FCC, suggesting Pai has the support to change the rules. Democrats on the commission and in Congress have criticized efforts to the rules.

The head of the National Assn. of Broadcasters, Dennis Wharton, said Wednesday that the limits have hurt TV broadcasters.

He said the NAB supports Pais plan and looks forward to rational media ownership rules that foster a bright future for broadcasters. Its expected that rolling back the FCC limits will allow companies that own TV stations to get bigger.

The FCC is currently reviewing a takeover deal between two TV station owners, Sinclair and Tribune Media, the former parent company of the Los Angeles Times. Pai has already allowed one rule change that eased the way for Sinclair by permitting it to reach more households than was otherwise allowed. It would reach more than 70% of American households if the Tribune Media deal goes through.

Companies such as Sinclair own TV stations that run programming from the major networks, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, around the country.

The head of Free Press, an advocacy group that opposes media consolidation, said that Pais plan will hurt independent news sources.

We need to strengthen local voices and increase viewpoint diversity, not surrender our airwaves to an ever-smaller group of giant conglomerates, Craig Aaron said in a statement. He said Pais proposals will face opposition at the FCC and in the courts.
Citing a pattern of disturbing incidents reported by African American passengers, the NAACP is warning African Americans that flying on American Airlines could subject them to disrespectful, discriminatory or unsafe conditions.

The airlines chief executive said Wednesday that he was disappointed by the advisory and called for a meeting with leaders of the civil rights group.

We do not and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind, American CEO Doug Parker said in a letter to his employees. No meeting has yet been scheduled, an airline spokesman said.

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The travel advisory is the latest of several actions by the civil rights organization to bring attention to what the group calls unsafe conditions for African Americans.

The NAACP issued the American Airlines advisory, citing four incidents in which African American passengers were either removed from a flight or forced to give up a first-class seat on the carriers planes.

All travelers must be guaranteed the right to travel without fear or threat, violence or harm, NAACP Chief Executive Derrick Johnson said in a statement. The growing list of incidents suggesting racial bias reflects an unacceptable corporate culture and involves behavior that cannot be dismissed as normal or random.

The move comes only two weeks after the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Muslim Advocates, an advocacy and education group, called on eight of the nations largest airlines to require anti-bias training for all customer service employees.

The request for training came in response to a September incident in which a Muslim woman, Anila Daulatzai, told the crew on a Southwest Airlines flight that she was allergic to two dogs in the cabin, but refused to leave. She was forcibly removed by police in an incident that was recorded on cellphone video.

Daulatzai, a Baltimore professor, was taken into custody and charged with disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace and resisting arrest, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority Police.

In August, the NAACP issued a travel advisory for the state of Missouri after legislators in the state adopted a bill that made it more difficult for employees to prove that their protected class, such as a race or gender, directly led to unlawful discrimination.

Individuals traveling in the state are advised to travel with extreme CAUTION, the advisory warned. Race-, gender- and color-based crimes have a long history in Missouri.

As for the American Airlines advisory, the NAACP cited several incidents, including one in which an African American woman who booked first-class tickets for herself and a white companion was switched to a coach seat while her white companion remained in first class.

In another incident cited by the NAACP, an African American man was removed from a plane in Washington, D.C., when he responded to disrespectful and discriminatory comments directed toward him by two unruly white passengers.

The move against American Airlines comes as the NAACP tries to reposition itself nationally after some members accused it of being eclipsed by the ACLU and Black Lives Matter.

In May, the groups board suddenly removed its president, Cornell Brooks, saying that changing times require us to be vigilant and agile, and said its leaders would embark on a national listening tour to solicit ideas from members for its new direction. The tour stops in Los Angeles on Thursday.

In his letter to the Fort Worth carriers 120,000 employees, Parker said American endorses the NAACPs mission statement against racial discrimination.

We do not and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind, Parker wrote. We have reached out to the NAACP and are eager to meet with them to listen to their issues and concerns.

American Airlines issued a separate statement saying that it has a diverse group of employees and serves customers of all backgrounds.

Staff writer Jaweed Kaleem contributed to this article.

hugo.martin@latimes.com; jaweed.kaleem@latimes.com

For more news about airlines, travel and tourism, follow Hugo Martin on Twitter: @hugomartin

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UPDATES:

2 p.m.: This article was updated with background on the NAACP and a statement by an American Airlines spokesman that no meeting had been scheduled between leaders of the civil rights organization and the airline.

12:55 p.m.: This article was updated throughout and supplemented with Times reporting.

This article was originally published at 8:05 a.m.
Clover Sonoma dairy has long cultivated a dual image of folksy kitsch and foodie trend-spotting.

While its cartoon mascot, Clo the Cow, cracked tortured puns on billboards along U.S. 101, the Bay Areas top milk supplier touted its small-scale farms in the dwindling grasslands of Californias northern coast.

Clover Stornetta, as the Petaluma-based processor was known until this year, was among the first dairies to ban growth hormones  now virtually absent from the national dairy herd. It also was a West Coast leader in adopting organic feeds nearly 20 years ago.

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So, as Clo might say, it behooved the newly rebranded Clover Sonoma to jump into the accelerating trend of labeling products as free of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, which some consumers fear could cause health and environmental damage, despite firm rebuttals from the countrys top scientific and medical organizations.

In April, the first half-gallons of milk from cows that ate no GMO feed rolled off Clover Sonomas production lines and right onto a metaphoric shelf shared with GMO-free kitty litter, salt and condoms.

The move did not go unnoticed by the industry or agricultural scientists.

The National Milk Producers Federation launched a peel back the label campaign this summer, aimed squarely at a growing list of dairy products like Clovers GMO-free milk.

Marcus Benedetti, chief executive of Clover Sonoma, says the the non-GMO move was consistent with how the company brands its dairy products. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times )

Its really trying to market a distinction without a difference, said Jim Mulhern, president of the federation, whose members produce half the nations milk.

Its like unicorn-free milk, said Alison L. Van Eenennaam, a UC Davis animal genomics scientist. There arent any GMOs in milk anyway.

Already, Mann Packing, a produce company in the Salinas Valley, more than 140 miles south of the Clover Sonomas headquarters, opted this month to remove its GMO-free labeling, saying it causes confusion about products that never were modified in the first place.

We dont want to perpetuate the fear, said Gina Nucci, the companys director of marketing. Nothing thats grown in Monterey County is genetically modified.

Marcus Benedetti, chief executive of Clover Sonoma, said the non-GMO move was consistent with how the company brands its dairy products, which have certifications for humane treatment of animals and sustainable practices.

Surveys showed consumers wanted GMO-free milk but did not want to pay the premium price of organic milk, which can reach $8 a gallon, Benedetti said.

And voters had made their views on the issue clear by banning cultivation of GMO crops from nearly every coastal county from San Francisco to Oregon.

Absent perfect information, consumers wanted an alternative, said Benedetti. And their expectation was that Clover would deliver that alternative.

Since the Food and Drug Administration approved the first genetically modified enzyme in the early 1990s, environmentalists have expressed fear of unforeseen consequences on health, biodiversity, the agricultural economy and food supply.

Agribusiness giants have modified crops such as corn, soy, cotton, canola, alfalfa, sugar beets, Hawaiian papaya, a squash variety, some potatoes, an apple variety and even a salmon. They have given these foods traits nature didnt bestow on them  such as enhanced resistance to insects, disease, drought, decay and chemical herbicides.

Milk production at the Clover Sonoma dairy plant in Petaluma. The companys products have certifications for humane treatment of animals and sustainable practices. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times )

Crafting plants that more readily tolerate the same herbicides these companies also manufacture has been a flashpoint among consumers, who see GMOs as emblematic of an increasingly industrialized food chain controlled by a handful of companies.

But health claims about GMOs have been strongly discredited by scientists, some of whom accuse the largely left-leaning environmental movement of engaging in the same kind of contrarian opposition as those who doubt climate science.

The American Medical Assn. and National Academy of Sciences have said there is no evidence that currently marketed GMOs are any less healthy than their alternatives.

Environmental and food-safety advocates argue that consumers nonetheless have the right to know if their food contains GMOs or ingredients derived from them, such as the oils, sugars, starches and emulsifiers that are ubiquitous in processed foods.

Sixty-four countries have enacted GMO labeling requirements. In the U.S., Vermont began enforcing label requirements last year, while efforts for a similar law are under way in several other states, including California, where a ballot initiative failed last year.

A federal labeling effort ended last year with a compromise that has yet to be implemented by the FDA  embedding GMO information in bar codes on food products.

Meanwhile, the nonprofit Non-GMO Project, based in Bellingham, Wash., has put its butterfly emblem on 43,000 products, with annual sales of more than $19 billion. It verifies products based on the source crops  the grass and grains cows eat, or the soy that becomes lecithin.

When something is labeled non-GMO, it isnt about the presence of detectable DNA or protein, said Michael Hansen, chief scientist of Consumers Union, which vetted the Non-GMO Project standards.

Look, theres sugar from engineered sugar beets, Hansen said. There isnt any detectable DNA in them, but thats still derived from genetic engineering.

Clover Sonoma dairy plant was among the first dairies to ban growth hormones. Though consumers fear foods with GMOs could cause health damage, the countrys top scientific and medical groups refute that claim. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times )

Hansen believes orange juice fortified with vitamin C  produced via a fermentation process based on corn  could be considered a GMO food.

That approach has resulted in non-GMO labels on kitty litter, Himalayan pink salt, waters (coconut, flavored and alkaline, in particular) and condoms.

Even Jeff Hollender, co-founder of Sustain brand condoms, found it hard to explain why his New York-based companys prophylactics, made of latex derived from sap from a rubber plant, bear the seal of the Non-GMO Project.

What were having certified is that neither the sap nor any of the 12 other ingredients, which are a variety of different chemicals, are GMO, Hollender said.

Asked what chemicals are GMO, Hollender said, Im not a chemist.

geoffrey.mohan@latimes.com

Follow me: @LATgeoffmohan

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The 18th-century theorists who devised the well-tempered system of tuning instruments meant merely to improve music. This is the mathematical way to fiddle with the size of intervals between notes so that fixed-pitch instruments, particularly keyboards, can play in all 12 keys without retuning. This has been the tuning system of Western music in all its manifestations ever since. However ill-tempered, the civilized world is, for the most part, musically well-tempered.

Why not purify the musical ecosystem by eliminating microtones, the notes between the cracks in the piano, just as we might like to cleanse our oceans of micro-plastics? One answer is that implacable Mother Nature likes that which we call out of tune. When the weather is hot and humid, its time to call your piano tuner. Leave a Stradivarius out in the rain and see what it sounds like. Wave your hand in front of a Theremin and try to get electrons in the air to settle on a specific pitch instead of randomly flit about, as is their nature, on infinite other paths.

Beginning the middle of the last century (and in a few instances before), maverick composers in America, and some abroad, have found microtonal music a lot more interesting than our commonplace vanilla temperament. But might microtones be something more, something actually good for the environment? Lets take this a step further: Might we even turn to microtones to help address climate change?

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Last Saturday night, the Santa Monica new music series Jacaranda began its 15th season at First Presbyterian Church, two blocks from the palisades, which rising sea levels could conceivably submerge within the lifetime of todays young composers. The concert was titled Micro Climates, and it included works by two of the most captivating American microtonalists, Ben Johnston and the late Lou Harrison. It began with a conversation between Robert Lempert, a climate scientist at nearby Rand Corp., who was part of a team that shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore, and Culver City Vice Mayor and new music philanthropist (you read that right) Thomas Small. They talked about the environmental and economic threats to Santa Monica as the Earth warms.

We first need to learn to think differently so that we can do business differently. Nor should we expect the same solutions for every environment. For instance, climate-change deniers in states like Wyoming arent necessarily stupid, Lempert said, rather they just see no options when their survival is entirely dependent on the fossil fuel industry.

This was also Harrisons argument against the industrial gray of using the same tunings for every piece. He liked to move around, between styles, between centuries and between cultures. In his alluring Varied Quintet, for violin, harp, harpsichord and percussion, Harrison let bells ring the way bells like to ring in all their sonic complexity. Harp and harpsichord had Baroque-era tunings and provided extra perfume to his most delicious melodies, such as the one for violin sensuously played by Shalini Vijayan in a movement honoring Fragonard.

Pairing Johnstons Ninth String Quartet and Philip Glass String Quintet provided a compelling example of how microtones alter perception. After a while what first seems out of tune eventually starts to sound right. This can be compared to what happens when you don spectacles that turn everything upside down. After a while your brain adjusts and when you take the glasses off everything is upside down.

Johnstons 1988 quartet, illuminatingly played by the Lyris Quartet, is a small masterpiece of altered reality, its every unamplified chord taking on the quality of amplification, of righting a topsy-turvy world. Glass sextet (played by an enhanced Lyris, with extra violist and cellist) is a reduction of his Third Symphony meant to presumably cut through the sonic haze of the original orchestration for 19 strings. But it also loses in the process a richness, making me wonder what might have happened were it played in a more acoustically natural equal temperament.

Sometimes tuning is everything, sometimes not. The watery effects of Karen Tanakas Jardin des Herbes for micro-tuned harpsichord, performed by Gloria Cheng, suggests the sound of nature in her natural state. Steven Stuckys Two Holy Sonnets of John Donne performed in memory of the composer who died last year, are conventionally tuned, but the musky mezzo-soprano of Peabody Southwell filled in earthy nuance.

Three nights later at REDCAT, French composer Pascale Criton made her first visit to the U.S. She revealed an approach to microtones as seemingly different from the American music heard at Jacaranda as our two countries official attitudes toward global warming. The fact that violinist Silvia Tarozzi, cellist Deborah Walker and violist Eyvind Kang tuned their instruments to a 1/16th of a tone instead of 1/12th surely created special effects. But the short solos, duos and trios were more about the fragility of sound.

Strings and wood were scraped by bows, tapped and plucked by fingers. The music moved through micro-changes in harmony and touch as well as microtones. This gave the uneasy impression of the Earth speaking to us in a language yet to be deciphered, to say nothing of our fear of what it may tell us.

mark.swed@latimes.com

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Lupita Nyongo relates her story of inappropriate Harvey Weinstein encounters

Lupita Nyongo with her Oscar after winning Best Actress for 12 Years a Slave at the 86th Annual Academy Awards. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

With stories about women allegedly harassed by Harvey Weinstein surfacing all around her, Oscar winner Lupita Nyongo decided she couldnt keep her own story squashed down any longer.

She thought the things that had happened were unique to her, not a larger pattern of what she on Thursday called sinister behavior. She blamed herself for much of it.

I had shelved my experience with Harvey far in the recesses of my mind, joining in the conspiracy of silence that has allowed this predator to prowl for so many years, Nyongo wrote in an op-ed for the New York Times.

The 12 Years a Slave actress was still at Yale School of Drama when she and Weinstein crossed paths at a 2011 awards ceremony in Berlin, where he was introduced to the then-aspiring actress as the most powerful producer in Hollywood. Dinner companions told her he was a good man to know in the biz, but someone to be careful around because he could be a bully, she wrote.

The interactions that followed between her and the producer went back and forth between seemingly appropriate and uncomfortably inappropriate, Nyongo said.

The invitation to screen a movie with Weinstein and his children at his Connecticut home turned into a restaurant lunch where he tried to bully her into drinking alcohol, she wrote, followed by him cutting short her viewing of the movie after 15 minutes and taking her to his bedroom where he offered to give her a massage. She said she flipped the situation around.

I began to massage his back to buy myself time to figure out how to extricate myself from this undesirable situation, the actress said. Then he wanted to take off his pants, she wrote.

He couldnt make it to see a production she was in, but invited her to bring anyone she wanted to see a staged reading of Finding Neverland, one of his. Dinner followed, with her friends relegated to a non-Harvey table.

The talk was shop the whole time and Harvey held court with ease. He was charming and funny once more, and I felt confused about the discomfort I had previously experienced, Nyongo said.

Lupita Nyongo accepts the supporting actress Academy Award for her work in 12 Years a Slave on March 2, 2014. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

A couple of months later, he invited her to a screening of W.E. followed by a trip to the Tribeca Grill, which she said she assumed would be another group meal. It was not. His assistants, she said, had seemed uncomfortable as they set up the logistics with her.

Before the starters arrived, he announced: Lets cut to the chase. I have a private room upstairs where we can have the rest of our meal. I was stunned, Nyongo wrote. I told him I preferred to eat in the restaurant. He told me not to be so naive. If I wanted to be an actress, then I had to be willing to do this sort of thing. He said he had dated Famous Actress X and Y and look where that had gotten them.

She declined, and his tone changed, she said. As he escorted her out, sans meal, she checked in with him to make sure they were still good after shed said no.

His response, according to the actress: I dont know about your career, but youll be fine, he said. It felt like both a threat and a reassurance at the same time; of what, I couldnt be sure.

They didnt cross paths again until the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, which she was attending in support of 12 Years a Slave.

At an after-party, he found me and evicted whoever was sitting next to me to sit beside me, she wrote. He said he couldnt believe how fast I had gotten to where I was, and that he had treated me so badly in the past. He was ashamed of his actions and he promised to respect me moving forward. I said thank you and left it at that. But I made a quiet promise to myself to never ever work with Harvey Weinstein.

Our business is complicated because intimacy is part and parcel of our profession; as actors we are paid to do very intimate things in public. Thats why someone can have the audacity to invite you to their home or hotel and you show up.  Lupita Nyongo

The following year, after her Oscar win, he tried to get her in one of his films, showering her with talk of a star-vehicle film in the offing for her later if shed first take a role in a Weinstein Co. movie shed already turned down. She held firm.

When she first met the now-disgraced producer, she wrote, she was entering into a community that Harvey Weinstein had been in, and even shaped, long before I got there. He was one of the first people I met in the industry, and he told me, This is the way it is. And wherever I looked, everyone seemed to be bracing themselves and dealing with him, unchallenged.

Since then, she said, she hasnt encountered treatment like that from anyone else. Still, she talked about the often-blurry lines in the workplace known as Hollywood.

Our business is complicated because intimacy is part and parcel of our profession; as actors we are paid to do very intimate things in public, wrote Nyongo, who is now 34. Thats why someone can have the audacity to invite you to their home or hotel and you show up. Precisely because of this we must stay vigilant and ensure that the professional intimacy is not abused.
If ever there was an example of the adverse effects of late-night Twitter use, its the story of how Kate del Castillo became entangled in one of the most bizarre stories of modern times.

The outspoken actress has long been a household name in Latin America and beyond thanks to her roles in numerous telenovelas such as Muchachitas (Girls) and La Reina del Sur (Queen of the South). Then a 2012 tweet, in which she expressed having more trust in Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman than the Mexican government, thrust her into a media frenzy of a different sort  and captured the attention of the notorious drug lord in the process.

The tweet eventually led to text message exchanges and, ultimately, a secret introduction in Sinaloa in 2015. Del Castillo met with Guzman, who was on the run from Mexican authorities after breaking out of maximum-security prison (a second time), with the intent of making a film about his life after being contacted by his lawyers. Adding a real-life telenovela twist to the encounter: she was joined by actor Sean Penn  with whom, she reveals in the documentary, she developed a brief intimate relationship  who would go on to chronicle the experience for Rolling Stone magazine.

Guzman was eventually captured and extradited to the U.S. where he is awaiting trial on charges of drug trafficking and murder.

Del Castillo says the ordeal left her ostracized in her home country (Mexican officials launched an investigation into her affairs over possible money laundering charges in connection with El Chapo) and her career has suffered greatly as a result of the situation.

The three-part Netflix docu-series, The Day I Met El Chapo: The Kate del Castillo Story, now available on the streaming service, chronicles her side of how it all unfolded.

Penn and his lawyers have protested the release of the series, saying it includes false claims.

According to a statement given to the L.A. Times by Mark Fabiani, a spokesman for Penn: These producers are propagating false and reckless fabrications for their profit. This is nothing but a cheap, National Enquirer-esque tale spun by a person whose hunger for fame is both tawdry and transparent. Sean Penn made an attempt to correct the documentarys shoddiness and profound inaccuracies, an attempt which the producers rejected out of hand.

A Netflix spokesperson said Penn was given multiple opportunities to participate in The Day I Met El Chapo and did not do so: The events surrounding the now-infamous meeting have been well covered, including by Penn himself in Rolling Stone and his many public comments since. The only new ground we're breaking with this series is to give Kate a chance to finally tell her side of this stranger-than-fiction story.

In a recent telephone interview with The Times, the 46-year-old actress, who currently lives in Los Angeles, talked about the tweet that launched it all, Penn, and navigating life in the U.S. in the era of Trump.

Was this documentary something you were seeking to do or were you approached?

Netflix approached me. We already had a relationship for Ingobernable (Ungovernable), another TV series. To be honest, I was, and I'm still, fed up with this thing. I didn't want it in the beginning. But then I asked my parents, because they are the ones that have been suffering the most. And my lawyers. We all thought, at the end, that it would be a good idea, just to get it out of my chest and speak my truth.

Kate Del Castillo in a still from The Day I met El Chapo. (Netflix)

In the first installment, you say something to the effect of the cameras offering you protection. Talk about what you meant by that.

Listen, I've always been outspoken and I've gotten into a lot of trouble. I had to go to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington [D.C.], to do something. Because in my country, they are violating my human rights.

I'm not going to stay silent. I'm going to speak out. Thats what I mean about the camera being my protection. It gives you a shield, in a way, when you say who is the criminal or when the one who is abusing you is exposed. So, it would be really stupid if something happened to me. I am not afraid. I think I've been through the worst part already  me and my family. I think if the truth comes out and it's on your side, it will win.

Did you look back on things differently with some distance from it?

I know it's been years, but for me, it's been nothing. It's been two years that I have put my life on hold because of this. So, for me, it's fresh. You go back again to the same day. Yes, it scares me sometimes. It sometimes makes me cry. Sometimes it makes me really angry. I still have that in me. I'm much better, though. But going back, in a way, is cathartic too.

Do you regret sending that initial tweet?

No, I have no regrets.

I'm not going to stay silent.  Kate del Castillo

How do you live your life now? When did you feel like you didnt have to look over your shoulder? Or is that still a feeling?

I do sometimes. I don't know if my cellphone and my landline are still tapped. But I don't care anymore, because I have nothing to hide. Because I cannot live with that fear. It's just too much. It takes a lot of energy from me. I need to concentrate and go back to my career and put myself back together. If they're listening to me, they're going to get bored. So, ever since the investigation was closed, I feel much better.

What has this done to your career?

Well, I haven't worked in two years. I did Ingobernable, thanks to Netflix. They are the only ones who stuck with me. For that, I will always be thankful. You know, we're actors and sometimes we work a lot and sometimes we don't work a lot. But my life was literally stopped by this. If it wasn't for Netflix, I would have had to sell my house. That's for sure. It's two years that I haven't been working, but paying a lawyer in the United States and three lawyers in Mexico. So, it's not easy.

I've been auditioning lately a little bit and having meetings.

I don't want people to think I'm a victim. I'm responsible. I decided to go down there. That's the consequences. I'm getting much better. I've always worked, my entire life. I've never asked for any favors, and I'm not going to do it right now. So, I'm going to work my ass off. I will recuperate the money and my life and my career back.

Kate del Castillo is photographed in her office with her dog, Lola, at her L.A. home in March. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Do you still plan to make a movie about El Chapo?

That's not my priority. I already risked my life for that, so I really do want to do it, because I think it would be an amazing, fantastic story to tell. It would be appealing for both countries and the world, just to know a little bit more. Where does this little boy from Badiraguato become the biggest drug lord, and who helps him and how? I am interested in knowing the truth and go deep inside of that.

What is it about that world that you think captivates audiences?

For Mexicans, its because we live that every single day. It's something that is not changing. It appeals to every part of the world because that's how far they get. Who helps them? Who are the real criminals? I'm not saying they're not. I'm just saying, who helps them? Both countries, both governments. Not until the people stop snoring, this is not going to end. There could be a thousand more Chapos. That's not going to end.

We've seen that Sean Penn is not happy about this documentary. Have you heard from him directly?

No, I haven't heard from him. I know that he saw the documentary and he was not happy about it. But he had his opportunity. We approached him. We reached out to him. And he ignored us. So, they had their opportunity. They decided to ignore us. I'm so sorry, but it's too late. He can do his own documentary.

Any communication with El Chapo? Have you been communicating through the lawyers at all?

One of [his] lawyers, Andres Granados, is in the documentary, He's there, and I really appreciated that he wanted to participate. But that's it.

Do you view El Chapo as a sympathetic character?

No. That's not the case. It's not that I feel bad that he was captured. He belongs there. It's just that my instinct was the timing [of his capture] was too much of a coincidence.

In this Jan. 8, 2016 file photo, Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman is escorted by army soldiers to a waiting helicopter after he was recaptured from breaking out of a maximum security prison in Mexico. (Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press)

What would you say to him now?

Oh, my God, I don't know if I would ever see him again or ever would want to see him again. I know, if I ever want to do the movie, probably not me but the writers sit down with him and ask him a lot of things. The only thing that I could say is that I had nothing to do with it. I know they know I had nothing to do with it. If not, the lawyer would not have participated in the documentary.

How is it like trying to navigate life in the U.S. in the era of Trump?

I have so much to say about that, although I always get in trouble talking about politics. The only thing I can say is that I am an American citizen now. I'm very grateful to the Americans because they opened the door for me and gave me the opportunities I did not have in my country, which is already sad that I have to leave my country in search of better opportunities.

But unfortunately, I became an American in the worst time, with a president that does not represent me. And the Mexican president does not represent me either. It's kind of sad, but I'm also happy and it gives me hope to see all of my paisanos, all of my Latin people, that come here to work, to try a better life. We're united and I feel more Mexican now than I did before, and more proud of my roots and everything.

Sean has no power over me. He did. But he has no power over me. So, let's not give him that power. He wanted to edit. He wanted to stop it. He wanted to do a lot of things with the documentary. No. If I was not afraid of El Chapo, I was not afraid of the Mexican government, why would I be afraid of this guy? He's only a guy.

When do you think youll visit Mexico again?

Well, legally I could, but after living this for two years and seeing firsthand what the Mexican government has done with me and what they're capable of, I don't feel protected. They killed the investigation, they opened another one, they killed it, then they opened another one. I don't know what their plans are. Now, with the documentary, I don't know how they are going to react. I have no business there. I haven't worked in Mexico in a long time. My parents come visit. The only business I have in Mexico is the tacos. That I miss, to eat some tacos and some good food. Other than that, I have nothing there right now. My heart is there, for sure. I wish I was there to help in the earthquake, but I can't. So I only can do what I can do from where I am.

------------

The Day I Met El Chapo

Where: Netflix

When: Any time

Rating: TV-MA (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 17)

yvonne.villarreal@latimes.com

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Of the many terrific places to eat on Jonathan Golds 101 Best Restaurants list, where can you go for a great taco or a tlayuda, a bowl of fideo and a michelada, maybe a sheet pan loaded with pescado zarandeado? Here are the 11 Mexican restaurants on this years 101  or rather, 10 Mexican restaurants and one food court with some pretty terrific Mexican food.

Taco Maria

(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times )

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If you were going to write a novel about 2017 Orange County, Taco Maria might be a good place to start. Young cook from a Mexican-restaurant family leaves home to work in a famous modernist kitchen and returns to run a taco truck, which quickly leads to a tasting-menu restaurant in a comically overwrought hipster mall, then fame for the chefs breathtaking Chicano cuisine. Its straight out of Jonathan Franzen. But while it is easy to dismiss the perfection of Carlos Salgados narrative, it is far more difficult to dismiss his food

Guerrilla Tacos

(Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times )

If you were trying to choose a kitchen most emblematic of the Los Angeles food scene at the moment, Guerrilla Tacos is a good place to start. Wes Avila trained with Gary Menes, Walter Manzke and Alain Ducasse before he ditched the world of fine dining to start making tacos. He uses the same farmers market produce, high-end seafood and sustainably raised meat as the best chefs in town, including the occasional Perigord truffle. And if you happen to be by Blacktop or Cognoscenti Coffee when his truck rolls by, you can eat what is in effect a first-rate tasting menu, except that you are sitting on the curb instead of having a white tablecloth spread before you, the dishes come rolled into tortillas instead of on fine china, and you are spending a tiny fraction of the cost.

>>PHOTOS from the Jonathan Gold 101 Best Restaurants list party

Broken Spanish

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times )

Ray Garcia is a Guillermo del Toro of the kitchen, a master of technique whose serene farmers market cooking and gory late-night taqueria fantasies exist not just in the same restaurant but on the same plate. Broken Spanishs complex menu hasnt changed much since the restaurant opened a couple of years ago, but inconsistencies seem to have evaporated  it is probably the most accomplished Mexican kitchen within the borders of L.A.

Holbox/Chichen Itza

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times )

Holbox is the new Yucatan-style seafood restaurant from Gilberto Cetino Jr., whom you may know from Chichen Itza. Like Chichen Itza, Holbox occupies a corner of the Mercado La Paloma complex. As at Chichen Itza, you wait in line to order, and commandeer as many kinds of chile sauce as you are allowed. As at Chichen Itza, you will wind up with twice as much food as you thought you might be  especially if you also walk over to Chichen Itza and order a couple of panuchos and a plate of papadzules to go along with your seafood.

Salazar

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times )

Salazar is the kind of restaurant youd think thered be millions of in Los Angeles, a laissez-faire outdoor dining room more Austin, Texas, than California, with a smoggy view out over the river, margaritas for days and a menu centered on grilled meats and beer. Everybody sooner or later gets around to inhaling a taco or two. Esdras Ochoas carne asada is simple but perfect, grilled over blazing hot mesquite, chopped and stuffed into a flour tortilla. His marinated pork al pastor is sweet, slightly charred, with a bit of burnt pineapple. You can supplement the tacos with a cocktail of cold, wild-caught shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico, an anchovy-forward Caesar salad or a gooey potato puree.

La Casita Mexicana

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times )

There may be something essentially touristic about the La Casita Mexicana experience. The chefs, Jaime Martin del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu, are well-known from Spanish-language TV. The souvenir shop next door sells the restaurants branded sauces. At some point during your meal, you start to realize that you may be eating enchiladas, but they are wonderful enchiladas, made with thick, freshly made tortillas, slicked with unusually delicious chile sauce, stuffed with cotija cheese better than you are likely to find in your local supermarket. If you manage to wake up early enough for breakfast, the chilaquiles, fried tortillas softened in salsa or mole, are among the best in town.

Grand Central Market

LOS ANGELES, CA --APRIL 19, 2011-- Customers line up in front of Tacos Tumbras a Tomas inside the Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles, April 19, 2011. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times )

It is convenient sometimes to think of the century-old sprawl of Grand Central Market as a single entity, a living, breathing organism whose cells are constantly replenishing themselves although the outward appearance stays the same. Is it still Latin American? Not quite, although the best carnitas downtown are still at Villa Moreliana, Roast to Go and Ana Maria are still serving gorditas, the hand-ground moles from Chiles Secos are still lovely, and the lines at Tacos Tumbras a Tomas are still long. And it is still impossible to imagine downtown without it.

ConiSeafood

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times )

Without anyone quite noticing it, Colima-style pescado zarandeado became one of the emblematic dishes of Los Angeles, a broad, thin fish, dabbed with some mixture of citrus, spices and mayonnaise, roasted slowly over a smoky fire. If you follow the confluence of food and social media, this fish may have been bubbling through your feeds for more than a decade by now. But Connie Cossio of ConiSeafood may be the most gifted cook in the family, skilled not just with pescado zarandeado but with crisp smoked marlin tacos, shell-on shrimp fried until they become as bent and brown as insects, the ceviche marinero studded with crunchy green mango and impeccable shrimp aguachile in a sharply spicy citrus marinade.

Guelaguetza

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times )

Guelaguetza is home to L.A.s best enmoladas, ace micheladas, an enormous selection of tequila and mezcal, and a theater-size projection screen. The tlayudas, imported table-size tortillas smeared with black beans and melted lard, are as good as any pizza youve ever eaten at 7 in the morning, and the tiny, ruddy globes of chorizo are much better. There are a lot of Oaxacan restaurants in Los Angeles now, and it is possible to debate the merits of the mole coloradito at one and the molotes at another, but Guelaguetza remains the most accomplished Oaxacan restaurant in the United States.

Colonia Publica

(Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times )

The noodle bar Colonia Publica is devoted to the spicy beer-plus cocktails called micheladas and to fideo, the ultimate dish of Mexican home cooking; a toasted-noodle soup strongly identified with Mom and Thursday nights in front of the TV. And when you settle into a booth, you are handed a checklist asking exactly what you would like to put into your soup. You can stage little competitions at your table, seeing who has managed to compose the tastiest bowl.

Mariscos Jalisco

LOS ANGELES, CA- April 11, 2013: The shrimp taco at Mariscos Jalisco. ( Mariah Tauger / For the Times) (Mariah Tauger / For the Times )

When out-of-town friends come to Los Angeles, the sushi bars I recommend may vary, and the hot Italian restaurant changes every year, but I take them to the Mariscos Jalisco truck every time. Because there may not be an item of food more reliable than Raul Ortegas taco dorado de camarones, a fried taco stuffed with impeccably fresh shrimp among other things, slightly crisp around the edges, sluiced with a juicy, spicy tomato salsa and garnished with a bit of ripe avocado on the side. The tacos taste of clean oil and chile; toasted corn and the sea  a recipe imported from Ortegas hometown of San Juan de los Lagos that has become the culinary symbol of Boyle Heights.

food@latimes.com

@latimesfood

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It is still odd to think of England as a wine region; its too cold, too foggy, too wet, too outlying to be anything more than marginal as a place to make wine. But a confluence of circumstances  advances in viticulture, climate change, accidents of geography and, perhaps most of all, an insatiable global thirst for bubbles  has made the country one of the most compelling wine regions on the planet.

In the last 20 years, vineyard projects have sprung up across the southern coast from Plymouth to Dover, mostly given to sparkling wine, forging a collective style that pays homage to Champagne (just 300-odd miles and one English Channel away) even as it remains entirely distinct in character. Its a case where what was once marginal isnt  and compelling evidence that the margins will have to be redrawn altogether.

England is, in fact, not a new wine region at all. The Romans practiced viticulture there, and theres evidence of a heyday about 800 years ago, when the last great epoch of global warming overtook the planet. But the current warming trends have gotten vignerons to start planting again: At present, there are 5,000 acres of vines in the ground and 500 vineyards, managed by more than 130 wineries.

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More than two-thirds of the countrys production is given to sparkling wine, and for good reason  the climate here is too unpredictable to grow much else.

Spring frosts can disrupt flowering and fruit-set; rain in the fall can threaten the crop with rot and mildew. (In England, as in Champagne, chaptalization, or the addition of sugar to achieve alcoholic strength, is often necessary.) But perhaps the real reason producers have been compelled to produce sparkling wine is that much of the regions soils are composed of chalk  the same geological formation that makes much of Champagne such a unique growing region. Its called the Paris Basin, and it confers on English fruit the same nerve, energy and mineral tang as it does the fruit in France.

Not surprisingly, Champagne houses are taking interest, with Taittinger and Pommery investing in properties across the Channel. Already there is fluid cultural and intellectual exchange between the two regions: many winemakers in England are French, and many English winemakers do work stages, or internships, in Champagne.

These wineries may emulate Champagne, but despite being part of historic properties, many are scruffy affairs with the look and feel of start-ups, like Ridgeview, housed in a corrugated structure that looks like it went up yesterday; or Wiston Estate, which is in fact part of a 6,000-acre property owned by a family of landed gentry in South Downs, complete with a manor house that rivals Downton. The winery is housed in an old turkey abattoir.

As with any wine region, there are variations in flavor and texture among these wines. But in many theres a distinct character that seems quintessentially English.

For starters, theyre fresh. Insanely fresh, bright, mouthwatering and laser sharp, with a fruit character thats bright and tangy, flirting with the citrus spectrum, ranging toward passion fruit and crisp apple in some instances. Champagne is also fresh of course but English wines often feel kicked up a notch, owing partly to the cool climate and white soils, and partly because, unlike Champagne, the English houses have fewer old base wines with which to compile their multi-vintage blends.

The other feature is a pristine texture, linear and fine, with an elegance and a firm tone thats quite consistent and pronounced. Whether or not you believe that a wine can convey minerality, these English sparklers will make you think of the chalk soils from which many originate.

Here are five brands to get acquainted with. Routinely difficult vintages mean that these wines dont come cheap: Expect to pay at least $40, but the quality is there.

Ridgeview, South Downs

Founded in the early 90s, Ridgeview is managed by Robin Langton, who worked in the U.S. with, among others, Patz & Hall. These are fine, classic cuvees, with the 2013 Blanc de Blancs an especially sexy and lifted wine, with scents of green apple and pomelo, citrusy flavors bearing a hint of toasty lees, and a lemon-rind finish.

Wiston Estate Winery, South Downs

An irrepressible Irishman named Dermot Sugrue makes the wines at Wiston Estate Winery, in a repurposed turkey farm. The estates NV Brut is in fact all from the 2013, since 2012 was such a dreadful vintage. The aromas are fine and lifted, almost delicate. The flavors are nothing of the kind: assertive and resolute, with fruit tones that run from lemon to passion fruit, with remarkable persistence and length.

Nyetimber, Sussex

One of the countrys more visible wine brands, Nyetimber winery was established in 1992; the estate itself is old enough to be mentioned in the Domesday Book. Nyetimber makes a NV Classic Cuvee of exceptional elegance, with a fine, delicate mousse, a lemony scent and detailed flavors that angle toward yuzu and lime, with a coyly tangy and mineral grip.

Hush Heath Estate, Kent

Hush Heath Estate is a relatively new winery, devoted largely to rose wines, from Kent, southeast of London. Proprietor Richard Balfour-Lynn blends Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier in his Balfour Brut Rose, a wine with the scents of green plum and white cherries, and a firm, appley acidity lent some grip by the red grape tannins.

Gusbourne, Kent

Gusbourne is another ancient estate in Kent (dating back to 1410) with relatively new (2010) aspirations in fine wine. Gusbourne works with properties from both Sussex and Kent. The 2013 Blanc de Blancs is remarkably pithy and dry at the outset, with scents of lemon rind and a smattering of fresh herbs marking citrusy flavors; theres a stirring core of acidity and a talc-like finish.

You can find selections at John & Petes Fine Wine and Spirits in West Hollywood, Lincoln Fine Wines in Venice, K&L Wine Merchants in Hollywood, Vendome Wine & Spirits in North Hollywood and wine.com.

food@latimes.com

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Even before Tui and Jazz, Jitlada was one of the most respected Thai restaurants in Los Angeles. Opened in the 1970s  a cozy Hollywood dining room known for well-made seafood, gentle curries and carved-vegetable garnishes that alluded to royal court cuisine  it was the restaurant Thai friends recommended before they knew whether or not you were up to the heat and stink of the bawdier sorts of Thai cooking. It may be where you first experienced pad Thai or chicken-coconut soup.

But if you had visited Jitlada in 2007, not long after it was bought by chef Suthiporn Tui Sungkamee and his sister, Sarintip Jazz Singsanong, you might have thought you had wandered into a different place. The Thai wood carvings were still on the walls, but it seemed as if half the customers were clutching translated menus theyd downloaded from the internet. And instead of chicken satay on the tables, there were herb-zapped plates of rice salad from Thailands jungly tail, beef simmered with pickled buds from the cassia tree, and curries made with dried mudfish, sour tamarind shoots or fresh fish kidneys. The most popular dishes seemed to be turmeric-yellow fried sea bass, a severely spicy mango salad flavored with coconut milk, and fish balls formed around salted duck egg yolks.

Tui was quiet; Jazz was loud. Tui presented his dishes with a shy smile; Jazz told you they were the best thing you would ever eat. Tui would mention a new herb he managed to bring in from Thailand; Jazz would steer you toward what she knew you already loved. For years, a plastic-encased list of my recommendations adorned most tables  at any other restaurant, I would have complained.

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Jitlada restaurant co-owners and sister and brother Jazz Singsanong, left, and Tui Sungkamee. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

The restaurant, which quickly became the object of obsession among chefs, film people and the online food community, also helped popularize the idea of regional cooking  that a chef could specialize in the cooking of a specific area, in this case southern Thailand, without feeling obligated to represent the cuisine of an entire nation.

And the vibrancy of Sungkamees approach to strong southern flavors proved that Thai chefs didnt have to cook for some imagined non-Thai customer. They could be just as successful cooking for themselves. He died of lung cancer last week, but his influence is likely to linger for quite a while. There is an entire generation of chefs in Los Angeles  including Cassias Bryant Ng, Night + Markets Kris Yenbamroong and perhaps Broken Spanishs Ray Garcia  whose success might be less possible without Sungkamees example.

Jitladas strong following among chefs is not an accident. But the restaurants transformation perhaps was.

On a lark, in his first months at Jitlada, Sungkamee had printed a list of southern Thai dishes, in untranslated dialect, on the back page of the takeout menu. A visiting food enthusiast found a stack of takeout menus in the lobby of his Hollywood hotel and wrote a long post translating the specialties for the Chicago-based restaurant site LTHforum under the name Erik M. I reviewed the restaurant not long afterward, focusing on the mephitic intensity of the southern Thai untranslated dishes.

Lines began to form in the evenings  not for the tame dishes that the menu continued to feature, but for previously unapproachable regional specialties. People were eager to try the pickled crab, the turmeric fish and the shredded catfish salad. Some people speculated that Ryan Gosling may have eaten at Jitlada more often than he dined at home.

Sungkamees death was a huge loss to Jitlada and the Thai community. (The restaurant will continue under Singsanong and other family members, some of whom had been cooking with Sungkamee for years.) But he influenced Los Angeles restaurants in ways that go beyond his gift for balanced flavors and punches of spice.

There was always someplace to find yourself on the makeshift list of southern specialties attached to the back of Jitladas menu  a list that swelled to almost 400  even if you were vegan, avoiding carbs or suspicious of new flavors. Jitladas cult quickly grew beyond the usual band of Thai-restaurant enthusiasts. In a way, it may have been the first Los Angeles restaurant of the internet era.

Sungkamee was not the first Thai chef with a celebrity following in Los Angeles; he wasnt the first to prepare southern dishes, and he wasnt even the first to get attention for an untranslated list of specials.

He grew turmeric and other Thai herbs when they werent available in markets, but so have a lot of other chefs. His kua kling phat tha lung was probably the spiciest dish available in Los Angeles at the time, a turmeric-rich beef curry that pinned your nervous system far into the red. But a lot of chefs have made exceedingly hot food. It was always a pleasure to run into him in the Thai market LAX-C, eyeing coconuts and jackfruit with the concentration you sometimes see in a neuropathologist peering at a slide, but its always fun to see a great chef looking at produce.

Posts on Yelp and Chowhound didnt talk about pad Thai or chicken satay, but fried dried mullet, acacia omelets and those hallucinatory southern curries, the coco-mango salad and mussels in spicy broth, the savories wrapped in betel leaves and soft-shell crabs fried with strong-smelling sator beans.

The real importance of Sungkamee may be that at a time when it was assumed that non-Thais preferred sweet, crunchy food, that only people brought up on the cuisine could tolerate the unusual seasonings and the funk, his cooking inspired his customers to go beyond the long menu of the usual Thai dishes to discover the challenging food of his native region  to embrace the ideas of regionality, unusual spices and challenging flavors themselves.

jonathan.gold@latimes.com

@thejgold
Theres nothing like scarcity to drive up the price of any commodity. At the height of McDonalds Szechuan sauce mania, a bottle of the rare McNugget dipping sauce sold for $15,000 on eBay. Now, with France facing a butter shortage thats been described as the worst since WWII, some budding French entrepreneurs have been posting their buttered toast for sale online at extreme markups.

According to The Local, an ad on Le Bon Coin, a popular classified website thats like a French Craigslist, went viral this week after someone posted a small, slightly over-toasted slice of baguette covered in butter for the whopping price of 5, or nearly $6.

Tartine for sale covered in real half-salted (demi-sel) Breton butter, bought just a week ago, the ad said. I stress that the tartine has been toasted, however I waited for it to cool before applying the butter.

The seller later told reporters that he posted the ad as a joke mocking the butter shortage that has French bakers in a panic. Even supermarkets have been running out of butter, as customers have been stockpiling their own supplies as news of the butter shortage gets worse.

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Customers have been stocking up, particularly local restaurant owners, one Paris supermarket manager said, according to The Local. For the moment were able to manage but weve been warned to expect more shortages.

Some of those butter sticks might even be winding up online. French butter has been popping up on more Le Bon Coin ads lately, and not everybody seems to be joking. Other people on the site have been advertising single blocks of butter for prices ranging from 10 to 50.

A 50 block of butter seems like a probable case of a fake classified ad joke, but at 10 its hard to tell the difference between an Internet meme and a budding entrepreneur trying to get out in front of the secondhand butter market. When a packet of McDonalds dipping sauce can be traded for a car, 10 for butter barely even registers as being overpriced. The French government says its optimistic the shortage wont go on too much longer, so with any luck French butter wont wind up alongside $27,000 melons and these other insanely expensive foods.
More than two years after Los Angeles lawmakers unveiled a proposal to legalize and regulate the popular practice of renting out rooms or whole homes for short stays, the city has yet to pass any new restrictions on Airbnb and similar platforms.

For the second time this year, hundreds of people crowded into City Hall on Tuesday for a hearing on the proposed regulations, but a City Council committee held off voting on the plan.

Instead, lawmakers asked city staff to report back with additional options, including loosening the proposed rules to allow people to rent out a second home for short stays.

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Renting out a home or room for less than 30 days at a time is currently illegal in many residential areas of Los Angeles, according to planning officials. But as the phenomenon has exploded with the rise of Airbnb and similar platforms that allow hosts to offer rooms or entire homes to travelers, those rules have rarely been enforced.

Critics, including neighborhood activists, housing advocates and the hotel industry, complain that some houses and apartments have been rented out constantly, aggravating neighbors and exacerbating the housing crisis by taking rentals off the market for ordinary tenants. They have pushed for strict limits on the practice to eliminate de facto hotels.

Under draft rules that were first released last year, L.A. would cap short-term rentals at 180 days annually and allow hosts to rent out only their primary residence. Hosts would have to register with the city. And short-term rentals would be banned in homes that fall under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, which covers the majority of apartment units in the city.

Violating the rules could lead to costly fines: Hosts could be fined at least $500 a day for advertising an illegal rental and at least $2,000 per day for exceeding the annual cap. L.A. could also impose fines of $1,000 per day on rental platforms that advertise illegal listings or refuse to turn over addresses of unregistered rentals.

Rental hosts argue that the proposed restrictions would devastate homeowners who make ends meet by renting out their homes on Airbnb, HomeAway or other platforms. At the Tuesday hearing, many said their short-term rentals were not harming their neighbors and did not eliminate housing because they would not have been rented out to longstanding tenants.

Airbnb, in turn, has warned the city that imposing the proposed rules could reduce tax revenue and hurt the local economy. It touted a report, released Tuesday by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp., which found that Airbnb rentals will generate more than $600 million in new economic output annually.

Critics have countered that those economic benefits are offset by the cost of replacing housing. Last month, the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, an advocacy group aligned with labor, argued it would cost taxpayers an average of $11.8 million monthly to replace the units taken off the market with moderate income housing.

City staff has estimated that out of roughly 23,000 units being rented out for short stays in Los Angeles, there are anywhere from 6,000 to 10,000 housing units that are not available to tenants because they are used primarily for short-term rentals.

That represents less than 1% of the units in the city, but staffers nonetheless argued that the rapid growth of the practice, as well as its concentration in tourist hot spots such as Venice and Hollywood, threatened housing availability and affordability in heavily affected neighborhoods.

At Tuesdays hearing, Councilman Mitch Englander said he wanted to explore whether to permit vacation rentals  someone renting out a property other than their primary residence  with a possible cap on the total number of properties allowed.

Englander also asked for city staffers to report back on eliminating the annual cap for people renting out their primary residence as well as imposing a fee on travelers to fund affordable housing.

Councilman Bob Blumenfield also suggested that the city should consider allowing vacation rentals, possibly through a more stringent process that requires a public hearing.

It should be a different process  you have to go through something that would give your neighbors a chance to weigh in, Blumenfield said.

But Councilman Paul Koretz, who does not sit on the committee, appeared at the hearing to argue that L.A. should allow people only to rent out their own home for short stays, warning that looser rules could abet corporations buying up dozens of units.

The proposed regulations must be vetted by the committee and voted on by the entire council before they can become law.

emily.alpert@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATimesEmily
Protesters took graffiti-covered toilets to Los Angeles City Hall and occupied bathroom stalls on Wednesday to highlight what they called a severe hygiene shortage for homeless people on skid row.

The activists tried to deliver the toilets, scribbled with slogans, to Mayor Eric Garcetti. But they were stopped at the security checkpoint by Los Angeles police, who cited safety concerns with hauling the ceramic thrones through the gilded Art Deco hallways and elevators of the landmark building.

Protesters also occupied fourth-floor bathroom stalls and placed at least one set of sneaker-clad dummy feet inside a stall to make it appear someone was inside.

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The new call for more bathrooms follows this falls Hepatitis A outbreak, which has struck 14 people in Los Angeles County  at least half of whom are homeless. Statewide, 614 people have been infected with the virus and 19 have died, all in San Diego County.

The demonstrators asked for 164 toilets and wash stations for skid row, which they said would bring hygiene conditions in the 50-block district up to United Nations standards for Syrian refugee camps. Nine toilets are available to 1,800 homeless people who sleep on skid row, they said.

Were not asking for gold toilets with diamonds and emeralds, were just asking for some  toilets, said Ruben Martin Garcia, 55, a downtown resident who lived on skid row streets for 24 years.

Councilman Jose Huizar, who represents skid row, agreed more bathrooms were needed and said he was looking to add to the $500,000 set aside for facilities in this years budget.

We need more resources and more urgency on this issue, Huizar said.

The city plans to open a skid row hygiene center with 14 restrooms later this fall as a first step toward expanding bathroom access for homeless people citywide.

The city is working to create new facilities in other areas of Los Angeles  because no one should be forced to live in unhealthy, dangerous, or unclean conditions while they are waiting to move into new permanent supportive housing, Garcetti spokesman Alex Comisar said in a statement.

The City Council has scheduled a discussion Friday on bringing emergency portable toilets to the burgeoning number of homeless people living in street encampments.

A motion from Councilmen Huizar, Mike Bonin and Marqueece Harris-Dawson would set a two-week deadline for staff to report on public health threats and portable toilets, including a mobile toilet program in San Francisco. The councilmen also called for hiring bathroom attendants, which Bonin last week suggested could fix past problems with public toilets.

Toilets for homeless people have a long and checkered history in Los Angeles. Former Mayor Richard Riordan had two dozen portable toilets placed on skid row. Half were yanked in 1998, then returned after a protest.

In 2006, the city, under then-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, had the toilets pulled out after they were discovered to have been taken over for prostitution and drug use.

More recently, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department cited the city for deplorable hygiene conditions on skid row in both 2012 and 2014, and the city expanded overnight access to mission and other bathrooms. But the improvements were slight.

At the demonstration, Los Angeles Catholic Worker organizer Matt Harper read a statement from a USC doctor stating that public toilets were important to combat the spread of Hepatitis A. Advocate Suzette Shaw said a dearth of feminine hygiene products as well as bathroom access intensifies the trauma of being homeless for women on skid row.

Where is the dignity and humanity when we talk about the needs of women? Shaw said.

A single hygiene center on a single corner is not enough to meet the needs of thousands of people on skid row, Harper said.

gholland@latimes.com

Twitter: @geholland
A brother of Las Vegas mass shooter Stephen Paddock was arrested in Los Angeles on Wednesday on suspicion of possessing hundreds of images of child pornography, according to authorities.

Bruce Douglas Paddock, 58, was taken into custody at a nursing facility in the 5300 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard, in the Valley Village neighborhood, and booked at 8 a.m. Television news footage showed Paddock in a wheelchair being loaded into the back of a van by Los Angeles Police Department officers.

Documents filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court outlined 20 criminal charges against Paddock, all related to possession of child pornography or the sexual exploitation of children. The felony complaint for the arrest warrant accused Paddock of having more than 600 pornographic images of children or youths, including 10 or more images showing a child younger than 12.

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The investigation of Paddock began after evidence was found in a Sun Valley business where he had been squatting, the LAPD said in a statement. The evidence was found after Paddock was evicted, police said.

Paddock was homeless at the time and couldnt be found, the LAPD said, adding that investigations recently tracked him to the North Hollywood facility where he was arrested Wednesday.

The LAPD released a photo of Paddock in case there may be victims of unreported incidents, who might see it and contact authorities, the department said.

Josh Rubenstein, an LAPD spokesman, said Paddocks arrest was the result of an independent investigation by the LAPD and not related to the deadly shooting rampage in Las Vegas. The LAPDs case began before the shooting, he added.

Theres no connection, he said.

On the night of Oct. 1, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock fired on the crowd at a country musical festival from his hotel room in Las Vegas. Paddock killed 58 people in the meticulously planned attack and wounded hundreds more before he shot and killed himself. His motivation remains a mystery, authorities say.

On Wednesday, Sandra Breault, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Las Vegas, declined to comment on Bruce Paddocks arrest.

Bruce Paddock was apprehended at a nursing home that offers patients long- and short-term medical care. A spokeswoman for the facility confirmed the police activity occurred there but declined to comment on Paddock, citing patient privacy laws.

The suspect is one of four brothers. Their father, Benjamin Hoskins Paddock, was a convicted bank robber who was once placed on the FBIs Most Wanted list.

Bruce Paddock has had numerous run-ins with local law enforcement over the last 25 years, according to Los Angeles County criminal records.

In 1989, he was charged with assault and battery and criminal contempt of court, although the charges were later dismissed, according to court records.

In 1993, Paddock was charged with annoying a child under 18 but was acquitted, court records show.

Between 1994 and 1995, prosecutors accused Paddock of various property crimes and driving without a license. He twice pleaded no contest to driving on a suspended license and to tampering with a vehicle, according to court documents.

More recently, he was charged with burglary and petty theft while having a previous conviction. He pleaded no contest to petty theft, and the burglary charge was dismissed, records show.

In separate cases in 2005 and 2006, Paddock was charged with making verbal threats, vandalism and arson. He was convicted of making threats and vandalism, but the arson charges were dismissed.

He was convicted of criminal contempt of court in 2007, according to public records.

Paddock pleaded no contest to vandalism in 2014, court records show.

kate.mather@latimes.com

joseph.serna@latimes.com

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UPDATES:

11:55 a.m.: This article was updated with details on Bruce Paddocks criminal record.

11:05 a.m.: This article was updated with comments from LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein.

10:30 a.m.: This article was updated with details from the felony complaint submitted for the arrest warrant for Douglas Paddock.

10 a.m.: This article was updated with details on where the suspect was taken into custody.

9:20 a.m.: This article was updated with comments from FBI spokeswoman Sandra Breault.

This article was originally published at 8:45 a.m.
Kevin Shaw was handing out Spanish-language copies of the U.S. Constitution to fellow students at Pierce College one afternoon last fall when an administrator approached him.

He told Shaw, president of a libertarian student group, that he needed to move to the campus free-speech zone: a 616-square-foot rectangle, about the size of three parking spots, on the colleges sprawling 426-acre Woodland Hills campus.

But first, Shaw learned, he needed a permit. And even in the zone, he was told, he was allowed to distribute literature only between 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on weekdays.

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Shaw challenged administrators in a First Amendment lawsuit that recently caught the attention of an unusual ally: the U.S. Justice Department.

In a brief filed this week, federal officials argued that the schools policies amounted to an unconstitutional prior restraint that chilled free expression. The requirement that students give administrators their names and organizational affiliations before engaging in free speech effectively bans all spontaneous speech, the filing said.

It marks the second time in a month that the agency has thrown support behind students challenging policies that limit free speech on campus to certain areas. Campus free speech has become an emotional issue over the last year, most notably at UC Berkeley, where the arrival of conservative speakers sparked violent protests. Protesters prevented right-wing firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos from talking at Berkeley earlier this year, a move President Trump himself criticized.

The Justice Departments actions came soon after U.S. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions said in a speech at Georgetown University Law Center that the agency would start intervening in court cases involving universities restricting free speech.

The university campus, Sessions said, once a place of robust debate, had become an echo chamber of political correctness and homogenous thought, a shelter for fragile egos.

Starting today, the Department of Justice will do its part in this struggle, Sessions said last month. We will enforce federal law, defend free speech and protect students free expression from whatever end of the political spectrum it may come.

Legal experts say the Justice Departments actions in the Pierce College dispute underscores a clear political shift.

Since colleges are bastions of liberalism, the conservative Justice Department is going after them, said Jonathan Kotler, an attorney and media law professor at USC.

Even so, he said, I think theyre 100% right.

Others welcomed the intervention, but said campus free-speech zones were hardly the most pressing First Amendment problem facing Americans.

I dont see [Sessions] or the Justice Department taking any stance on Trumps statement that anyone that burns an American flag should be jailed or stripped of their citizenship, said David Snyder, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition. It would be nice to see the Justice Department making noise about, I think, much higher profile and, in some ways, more disturbing threats to the First Amendment that are emanating from Washington D.C. and from the executive branch in particular.

The violence at Berkeley has been used by both the far-left and far-right to push their movements in the Trump era. Some conservatives have criticized Berkeley and other causes for what they see as students and others trying to silence free speech they dont agree with. Carol T. Christ, UC Berkeleys new chancellor, is trying to counter this with plans for a Free Speech Year. Among other things, the campus will hold point-counterpoint panels to demonstrate how to exchange opposing views in a respectful manner.

Now what public speech is about is shouting, screaming your point of view in a public space rather than really thoughtfully engaging someone with a different point of view, Christ said in August.

The Pierce College case is not the only one getting attention from the Justice Department.

A student at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville, Ga., filed a federal lawsuit last year, saying he was barred from distributing Christian literature near the school library and told to stay inside the schools two designated free speech zones. Another student joined the case later. In a brief filed last month, the Justice Department said the students 1st and 14th Amendment rights had been violated.

A spokesman for the nine-campus Los Angeles Community College District, which includes Pierce, declined to comment on the Justice Departments filing.

We are fully committed to free expression on our campuses, district spokesman Yusef Robb said via email. As a community college district, promoting the free exchange of ideas and knowledge is at the core of what we do, every day.

Attorneys representing the district have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

Efren Lopez, Pierce Colleges student body president, felt Shaw, as a student, should be allowed to hand out copies of the Constitution wherever he wants on campus. He added that the free-speech zone is mostly used by outside groups, including those recruiting people to sign petitions or offering discounts on movie passes.

Shaw was doing homework Tuesday when a friend messaged him saying Sessions had mentioned him, by name, in the filing announcement.

He was stunned.

I dont know what helps and hurts in a court of law, but it feels good to know theres support, Shaw, 27, said. It feels vindicating in some way to know that Im not alone in the belief that this isnt fair.

Two weeks after his initial encounter with the campus administrator, Shaw spent several hours distributing materials, uninterrupted, outside the free speech area. Soon after, he said, a large protest against Trump convened on campus, also outside the free speech area. Administrators stood by, he said, clapping and cheering.

It just seems silly that we would silence some speech and allow others to go on uninhibited, he said. Its entirely unfair. Its arbitrarily applied to silence specific segments of the population.

Since then, Shaw has scaled back his campus outreach. He said he doesnt want to get in trouble.

I cant afford to get kicked off campus, he said. I have classes, I have tests... Im here for a reason.

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AleneTchek
A burned body found near Mt. Wilson last week as firefighters battled a brush fire belonged to an 18-year-old who was reported missing earlier that day, authorities said Wednesday.

Police and coroners officials identified the man as Matthew Huerta, who was last seen in Sylmar the morning of Oct. 18.

The Los Angeles Police Department released a photo and description of Huerta after he went missing and asked for help finding him.

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Matthews family is concerned for his safety because he is suicidal, the police statement said.

Huertas body was found later that day in a burned area south of a parking lot at the Mt. Wilson Observatory.

Coroners officials said they had scheduled an autopsy for Wednesday to determine how he died. At the time his body was found, officials said it was not clear whether the 50-acre fire burning nearby had caused his death.

Times staff writer Sonali Kohli contributed to this report.

kate.mather@latimes.com

@katemather
Its been almost a year since Redding mother Sherri Papini was abducted while jogging in Shasta County and then unexpectedly freed weeks later.

On Wednesday, the Shasta County Sheriffs Office released new details in the mysterious case, saying that the DNA of two other people was found on Papini when she was discovered partially clothed and shackled alongside Interstate 5 on Thanksgiving.

For the record: A previous version of this story said that both Papini and her husband took and passed a polygraph test. Only her husband took the test.

The samples belonged to a woman and a man and were collected off Papinis body and clothing, respectively, said Sgt. Brian Jackson. The DNA samples submitted to the FBI did not belong to Papini or her husband.

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Authorities also revealed Wednesday the existence of a male acquaintance from Michigan that Papini had been texting and had planned to meet when he was in California, then said he was not involved in the incident.

Papini had vanished Nov. 2 while she was out for a jog in the small town of Mountain Gate.

Her husband reported her missing after he came home from work and found that she hadnt picked up their children from day care, officials said. Her cellphone and headphones were found near where she had last been seen, about a mile from her home, investigators said.

She was found before sunrise on Thanksgiving on the side of Interstate 5 in Yolo County with a quarter-inch-thick chain around her waist, hose clamps around her wrists, her face bruised and her nose broken from beatings she sustained during her time in captivity, her family said. She was emaciated and weighed only 87 pounds when she flagged down a motorist, who dialed 911.

Officials said they were not aware of a motive for the apparent kidnapping. Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko also said it was not clear whether Sherri Papini knew her abductors.

Her captors branded her shoulder and cut her hair to shoulder-length, officials said. Her kidnappers covered their faces and usually had a bag over Papinis head. They freed her by simply kicking her out of their car on the side of the road, authorities said.

Papini described her captors as two women who spoke Spanish most of the time. She described one of the captors as having long curly hair, pierced ears, thin eyebrows and a thick accent.

The second captor was described as being older, with thick eyebrows and straight black hair with some gray.

Papinis husband passed a polygraph test regarding their accounts of the incident, authorities said.

joseph.serna@latimes.com

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter.

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While weekly street sweeping is a way of life on one-third of Los Angeles streets, to the chagrin of residents chasing scarce parking, the rest of the citys roads can go a year or more without being cleaned, according to a city controller audit released Wednesday.

The citys lumbering yellow vehicles sweep the same 34% of streets every week  routes that are identified through signs that prohibit on-street parking during street-sweeping hours, the audit found.

The remaining ones are swept when employees get to them  sometimes, less than once a year  or when someone complains, Controller Ron Galperin wrote. In other cases, he said in an interview, streets are swept only if an employee has enough time, or space for more debris in the sweeping vehicle.

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Sometimes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease, Galperin said. The Bureau of Street Services approach to sweeping the majority of city streets was not at all clear, he said.

The Bureau of Street Services should work to rewrite its policies so that streets are swept only when they need attention, Galperin said. A thorough analysis of sweeping routes and debris levels on city streets could eventually save the department money and time, he said.

Street sweeping, which keeps debris and trash from entering the stormwater drainage system, is necessary on some streets every week, Galperin said. Others may need less attention.

There may be some folks who will miss seeing their street cleaned every week, Galperin said. But in a world of not unlimited resources, you have to choose wisely where youre going to invest your money.

In Los Angeles, the streets that are regularly swept are distributed unevenly. About 36% of streets south of the 10 Freeway are swept weekly, while just 14% of streets in the west San Fernando Valley are, the audit said.

Los Angeles street-sweeping policy makes the city an outlier among its peers. Auditors studied nine other cities, including Houston, Denver and Phoenix, and found that eight regularly scheduled all city streets for sweeping.

The department should also focus on collecting more data and building digital maps of sweeping routes to better inform their decisions about which streets need attention, Galperin said.

Last spring, the city installed GPS trackers on 100 street-sweeping vehicles. The department should also consider investing in digital signs that could be changed to warn drivers when a street will be swept. Such signs would provide more flexibility for the department, Galperin said.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Public Works, which includes the Bureau of Street Services, said officials agreed with the majority of Galperins findings.

The report validates our need for additional resources, spokeswoman Elena Stern said. She said the department is eager to begin a comprehensive study of street sweeping, but that the analysis will require significant investment.

Since the Great Recession, the department  and particularly the street-sweeping program  have seen a dramatic drop in staff, the audit found. The number of bureau employees fell from 263 to 111 over a decade, a decrease of 58%.

There are a lot of departments that got cut back, but in many ways, staffing for this particular function of the Bureau of Street Services was devastated, Galperin said.

During the last two fiscal years, the bureau requested 20 additional positions in an attempt to hire more street sweepers and clean some streets more often, Stern said. Neither request was approved by the City Council.

laura.nelson@latimes.com

Twitter: @laura_nelson

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The UCLA Republican club is taking a preemptive free-speech stand against security fees that administrators could charge their club for an upcoming visit by conservative commentator Ben Shapiro.

The security costs are being used as a barrier to free speech, said Tyler Fowlkes, vice president of the Bruin Republicans. We have to risk our own financial stability simply to bring a mainstream conservative speaker to campus.



For the record: A previous version of this article said that campus Republicans paid $358 for security when Milo Yiannopoulos came to UC San Diego last year. The amount was $385.

An attorney for the students, in a letter to UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, said making the conservative political club pay security fees would be an unconstitutional violation of 1st Amendment free speech rights because most of the other 1,200 student organizations havent had to do so when theyve sponsored events.

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UCLA, under a 2009 policy, foots the entire security bill for events in which students, faculty and staff make up at least 70% of the audience. Administrators have asked the Republican club representatives to sign an agreement that would hold them personally liable for security costs if the audience for the Shapiro event does not reach that threshold.

UCLA spokesman Tod Tamberg said a speakers viewpoint is never considered in assessing security fees. Administrators, he said, have worked closely with the Republican club to ensure a free exchange of ideas, consistent with our universitys commitment to free speech.

The criteria used is content-neutral and viewpoint-neutral, he said. It is neither Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal.

According to the policy, university staff, police and fire officials determine security needs based on such criteria as the venue, expected audience size, publicity, timing and length of an event. Free debate, it states, should be actively protected and encouraged, even where the positions advocated are controversial and unpopular.

Tamberg acknowledged that administrators have not asked all student organizations to sign security cost agreements, but he could not confirm what Bruin Republicans said they had been told by campus administrator Mike Cohn: that the university had required them in only four other cases since 2009.

Although student groups may be asked to cover basic security costs, the university foots the bill for any extra measures needed to control protests, whether the audience threshold is met, Tamberg said. He said security costs for Shapiros Nov. 13 talk had yet to be determined.

Fowlkes said so far the event does not appear to have generated active opposition, as was the case when the club last year hosted right-wing firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos.

Tyson C. Langhofer, an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom who is representing the Republican students, has asked that UCLA drop any demand for security fees.

Who pays for security for controversial speakers varies across the UC system. The fees have become controversial in the Trump era, as speakers such as Shapiro and Yiannopoulos draw increasingly large, sometimes violent, protests.

UC Berkeley charges student groups basic security fees, determined by criteria similar to UCLAs, and covers additional costs for major, controversial events. For Shapiros appearance at Berkeley last month, campus Republicans paid about $9,000 and the university spent more than $600,000, UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof said.

When Yiannopoulos came to UC San Diego last year, campus Republicans paid $385, and the university, about $5,100, spokeswoman Christine Clark said.

UC Irvine covers all security for all student events.

teresa.watanabe@latimes.com

Twitter: @teresawatanabe
The Trump administration said it would resume admitting refugees to the U.S. after the expiration Tuesday of a four-month ban on all resettlement but increase vetting, and announced a new partial ban on refugees from 11 countries.

The new vetting rules, which would apply to all new refugees admitted under a 45,000 per year cap that became effective Oct. 1, could slow the refugee approval process and halt admission for certain groups, according to resettlement groups and government officials.

Department of Homeland Security and State Department officials would not give details about exact changes in vetting  which currently takes years for many refugees  or name the 11 higher-risk nationalities whose refugees would be subject to case-by-case approval.

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But refugee groups that were briefed by government officials called the rules unnecessary and said they would probably affect some of the largest refugee populations in the world.

There isnt anything in what we have heard or seen that will make us safer, said Melanie Nezer, a spokeswoman for the refugee resettlement group HIAS, one of nine government-approved agencies.

Nezer said new procedures would include requests for applicants to provide all phone numbers and home and email addresses for places they have lived for more than 30 days in the last 10 years. Currently, refugees must give that information for the last five years.

She said the government would require refugees to share contact information for all family members. Previously, that request was made only for family members who live in the U.S. or have U.S. connections.

Refugees are fleeing war, they may not remember all information, or they may give accidentally incorrect information and be delayed, Nezer said.

Refugee resettlement groups said government officials told them that nationals of Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen would be approved only on a case-by-case basis for 90 days while the government further considered vetting for those countries. The countries accounted for more than 40% of refugee admissions to the U.S. over the last year. In addition, some Palestinians would face similar hurdles.

Resettlement organizations said they feared that refugees who had already passed vetting but had not yet entered the U.S. would be blocked.

Hundreds, possibly thousands of families that have gone through the exhaustive vetting process in good faith and were promised refuge in the United States will see their eligibility revoked and be exposed to even further danger, said a statement from the agency Church World Service.

Government officials said the changes would protect the United States.

The U.S. refugee admissions program takes seriously its commitment to ensure the security and integrity of the program, said Jennifer Higgins, associate director of Refugee, Asylum and International Operations for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The refugee ban that expired Tuesday applied to refugees without close relatives in the United States. Trump signed it as part of his travel ban, which federal judges struck down before the Supreme Court allowed parts of it to proceed over the summer. The travel ban slashed by more than half the refugee cap President Obama put into place before he left office.

Trump further cut the cap last month for the new fiscal year that began in October. The 45,000 limit is the lowest since the government began setting refugee admission ceilings in 1980.

The president also signed a new travel ban that federal judges in Hawaii and Maryland struck down last week. That ban does not mention refugees. The Department of Justice is appealing the judges rulings.

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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With each passing year, Los Angeles transportation system seems to bear an increasing resemblance to the dystopian film series The Hunger Games. We accept as tributes the deaths of hundreds of our children, our family members and our neighbors in traffic collisions  sacrificed to the nostalgic fantasy of a conveniently drivable city.

In 2015, it seemed like an end to this horrific reality was finally nearing. Mayor Eric Garcetti issued an executive order enacting a program called Vision Zero, vowing to eliminate deadly collisions on city streets by 2025. L.A.s program was to be modeled after one that succeeded over decades in Sweden, and had achieved a 27% reduction in deaths after just three years in New York City. The program worked by acknowledging that people will inevitably make mistakes, but that by redesigning roads to deter speeding, those mistakes dont have to be deadly.

And yet, since the mayors 2015 directive, Los Angeles hasnt just gotten more dangerous, it has become outright hostile to the concept of roadway safety. A small but vocal contingent of residents has taken an increasingly combative posture to any meaningful safety improvements that appear to interfere with their daily car commutes. City agencies have responded to this pushback by buckling  either canceling or watering down proposals to address dangerous speeding on North Figueroa Street, Lankershim Boulevard, the Hyperion bridge and elsewhere. At the same time, weve seen a 43% increase in traffic fatalities in the first year after the adoption of Vision Zero, with the fatality rate trending to rise again in 2017.

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Garcetti, meanwhile, has been inexplicably and unaccountably silent on the matter.

When Councilman Mike Bonin and Garcetti announced last week that they were removing a multi-street Vision Zero effort in Playa del Rey, it was in large part because Garcetti refused to insert himself in the debate around safety. As the drama escalated and some residents threatened a recall of Bonin over the safety upgrades, Garcetti never came to the councilmans defense. Confused motorists who were upset that the city seemed to be worsening their driving commutes received no explanation from the mayor that, in fact, the city was acting to curb multimillion-dollar settlements for frequent pedestrian deaths that courts had deemed to be preventable.

L.A.s Vision Zero failures belong first to Angelenos who are obstructing the program out of anger over traffic congestion that would work itself out over time, and which data show is actually much less severe than most drivers perceive. But the mayor isnt powerless here. In 2016 he successfully lobbied Angelenos to tax themselves to provide billions for transportation funding via Measure M. So why isnt he using his bully pulpit to speak up now for Vision Zero?

This inaction is especially perplexing considering Garcetti is just beginning an extended 5 year term, plenty of time to implement transformative changes and allow them to settle in before facing another election. Why would Angelenos entrust Garcetti with higher office when he has been unable to deliver on his own policy goals locally?

The failure of leadership is alarming. If L.A. cant get behind even modest changes that could affect rush hour drive times to save lives, how can we expect to do so in order to improve public transit, support new housing, or to achieve the mayors vision for the 2028 Olympics?

New York Citys former Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan credits the unwavering support she received from New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg as crucial to overcoming driver backlash in her successful efforts to remake her citys streets between 2007 and 2013. As she wrote in her 2016 book Street Fight: For leaders, overcoming obsolete thinking demands the resolve, courage, and grit to withstand the slings and arrows that inevitably follow change.

Angelenos admonish national leaders for failing to address climate change while locally we attack improvements to sustainable transportation options for fear of losing some personal convenience. Many are upset at congressional leaders who fail to hold the executive branch to account, yet we have let our mayor and City Council off the hook for their lack of leadership. Should we be surprised when our representatives select political expediency over moral courage?

If Mayor Garcetti doesnt have the backbone to improve the safety of L.A.s streets, will Angelenos find the courage to demand that he grow one?

Michael MacDonald is a Los Angeles-based architect and advocate for safe streets.

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President Trump and his Republican allies face a basic problem as they try to build public support for a cut in corporate taxes: Most Americans think big businesses pay too little in taxes, not too much. So the president and his staff decided to rebrand the proposal. Dont think of it as a tax cut for corporations, they argue; think of it as a pay increase for ordinary workers.

The average American family would get a $4,000 raise under the Presidents tax cut plan, Trumps spokeswoman, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, said on Twitter. How could any member of Congress be against it?

Trump, ever the promoter, couldnt resist increasing the number. It can be $5,000 average per individual  per group, he said in a television interview. (He apparently meant per household.)

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All those numbers are inflated at best, and largely made up at worst. Although most economists agree that a corporate tax cut can help boost economic growth, theres no guarantee; too many other factors can intervene. Its even less clear that lower corporate taxes will automatically produce higher wages. The theory isnt that corporations will share tax cuts with workers. Its that tax cuts will induce businesses to invest more in the United States, that investment will lead to greater productivity, and that productivity growth will naturally result in higher incomes.

Much of this debate may be moot, since Trump is making it difficult for Congress to pass any tax bill at all.

But as weve seen over the last decade, the link between productivity and income growth doesnt seem to be functional any more. Its quite possible for corporations to earn record profits without wages growing at all.

That reality didnt stop Kevin Hassett, the chairman of Trumps Council of Economic Advisers, from issuing a bullish estimate about the impact of the presidents proposed reduction of the top corporate tax rate from 35% to 20%.

I would expect to see an immediate jump in wage growth, Hassett told reporters last week. I would expect capital spending to really take off.

He said his estimate of a $4,000 raise was very conservative, that the increase could be as high as $9,000, and that it wouldnt be a one-time event; it would recur, he promised, year after year.

Sound implausible? Maybe thats why few other economists stepped up to endorse his numbers, and so many jumped up to dispute them  in some cases, hotly.

It is some combination of dishonest, incompetent and absurd, wrote Lawrence Summers, who was Treasury secretary under President Clinton. If Hassett were one of his students, he said, I would be hard pressed to give [him] a passing grade.

Summers said Hassetts estimates of the benefit to workers from a corporate tax cut were vastly exaggerated. Most of the benefits go to corporate shareholders, who have high incomes, he said.

Others were milder, but still dismissive.

Hassetts projections are way too high and not well-justified, William G. Gale, co-director of the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, said Tuesday. He said the Trump tax cut could produce an increase of about $400 in average household income, a long way from $4,000.

And it wouldnt be immediate. It is a long-term effect, said Gale, who was an advisor to President George H.W. Bush. The adjustment to a corporate tax will take time.

Goldman Sachs, the investment bank that provided Trump with some of his top economic advisors, sounds skeptical too.

The research literature appears to suggest that tax cuts can have modestly positive supply side effects, though some studies find no effect, the firm said in a report this month.

Not only are the White House estimates controversial, but Hassett and other Trump aides also are already overselling them. Down in the fine print, Hassett notes that a household in the middle of the income distribution  the median American family  would see its income increase by $3,000, not $4,000. (The $4,000 figure applies to average household income, but that number is distorted by the giant incomes of the top 1%. In 2016, the median household earned income of about $59,000, but average household income was about $83,000.)

Despite his promise that a tax cut would produce an immediate jump in wages, Hassett also acknowledged to reporters that it might take several years. And hes assuming, optimistically, that the economy wont suffer a downturn soon. (Historically, the U.S. has seen a recession every eight to 10 years; the current recovery is  gulp  now in year nine.) But Hassett is an incorrigible optimist. In 2000, he coauthored a book titled Dow 36,000 that predicted a meteoric stock market rise. The market promptly fell to 11,000.

Much of this debate may be moot, since Trump is making it difficult for Congress to pass any tax bill at all. On Monday, he said he would oppose any change to 401(k) retirement plans, an idea Republican leaders were considering to pay for some of their tax cuts. On Tuesday, he attacked Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, one of the Republicans he will need to get a tax bill through the Senate.

And the week is still young.

So dont count on that $4,000 raise  or the $3,000 version either.

doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com

Twitter: @DoyleMcManus

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One time the veil fell for me. I was visiting Henan, a Chinese province with all the charm of a New Jersey and the educational competencies of an Arkansas. At a restaurant, a drunk man outfitted like a mid-level Chinese Communist Party official  zippered jacket, black leather shoes, a man-purse  approached my table, complimented my Chinese, and asked me how I liked his province. I lied and told him it was very nice. He beamed with approval and staggered away. When I called for the check, the waiter informed me that the drunk man had paid for it.

Outside, his wife propped him up. Hey! he slurred. I paid for your meal. I work for the tax bureau. Im the boss here. They at this restaurant have to be nice to me or Ill shut them down. I, and the Party  not the rules, or slogans or statements  we are what matters, he seemed to say. His wife, mortified, interrupted with the usual banalities. Welcome to Henan, she said. China has 5,000 years of history, and Henan has several important historic sites. I hope you enjoy your visit to China.

The memory stuck because the wifes sanitized description of her province, vague and historic, competed in real time with the husbands grimy  and probably honest  description of his Partys present-day corruption. Usually, I only get the sanitized version.

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Many Chinese scab over festering wounds inflicted by the Chinese Communist Partys policies with niceties about economic development and cultural sites.

Since I began visiting this country in 2001, Ive found that many Chinese scab over festering wounds inflicted by the Partys policies with niceties about economic development and cultural sites, canned complaints about traffic and pollution, or patronizing queries about my language ability and whether I can use chopsticks.

At one conference in Europe several years ago, I met the Party secretary of Guangzhou, an important Chinese city. Your Chinese is so good, he replied dismissively, after I asked him a relatively innocuous question about U.S.-China relations. How did you like studying in China?

I remain maddeningly ignorant about the most important issues: Whats happening inside the higher levels of the Party? How do Chinese citizens feel about Party rule in general, and Communist Party Secretary Xi Jinping in particular?

Tuesday was the last day of the Party Congress, the quinquennial event where the Party announces important personnel changes and policy priorities. On Wednesday, five to nine men will demonstrate their status as the most powerful people in China by walking across the Congress stage. In the Chinese style, the men will clap while the audience claps at them. They will likely be in their 50s and 60s, with dyed black hair, and conservative, dark suits. Xi will almost certainly walk out first, as the partys top official.

While we know a wealth of biographical details about these men, we know little about their policy preferences, and even less about their personalities or, perhaps most important, their intrapersonal relations. How does Xi get along with the other members of the Politburo Standing Committee, that five-to-nine-member body that rules China? We dont know.

Chinas Party-state is extremely successful at controlling information, Jessica Batke and Oliver Melton, a former and current State Department analyst respectively, wrote in a recent essay for ChinaFile. Even the most basic insights into policy deliberations and processes, leaders intentions and views, and elite power dynamics are filtered through a sophisticated propaganda and censorship regime.

How can one learn more? Good contacts help. One Western journalist I know uses his wifes network; her father is an important Party official. But such access is obviously hard to come by.

I dont mean to perpetuate old ideas of the unknowable Orient  tired tropes about the inscrutable Chinese. But its important to recognize that the Party, especially at the top, remains awfully opaque. For that reason, most of us have to settle for knowing what we dont know.

On a bus ride from a hotel to a conference some time ago, I noticed the son of a former Chinese premier sitting by himself. I sat next to him, and for the roughly 30-minute ride, he excitedly asked me questions about how I felt about China and how I learned Chinese and, if memory serves, whether I could use chopsticks. I peppered him with questions about Chinese politics. He was pleasant, and unfailingly polite. I learned about his experience studying in the West and his desire for peace and harmony. I learned nothing about the Party.

Isaac Stone Fish is a senior fellow at the Asia Societys Center on U.S.-China Relations, on sabbatical from Foreign Policy Magazine.

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To the editor: Amy Wakeland, Los Angeles first lady, rightly argues that our sexual abuse problem extends far beyond Hollywood. (Sexual abuse is everywhere in L.A., and its behind our most challenging social problems, Opinion, Oct. 23)

Indeed, one needs to look no further than local detention facilities to grasp the crippling effects of this violence. Jails and police lockups are filled with women who have endured sexual assault.

In communities nationwide, elected officials are investing in programs to support women upon their release from incarceration. This is a positive step. But reentry initiatives must be matched by a similar commitment to helping women while they are locked up. If we deny rape crisis services to incarcerated women  or, worse, do not protect them from abuse  then reentry efforts will be doomed to fail.

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The good news is that Wakeland and Mayor Eric Garcetti have embraced their duty to help all survivors of sexual violence, affirming that no matter what crime a person may have committed, rape is not part of the penalty.

Lovisa Stannow, Los Angeles

The writer is executive director of Just Detention International.

..

To the editor: In her list of common victims, Wakeland did not include men and women with disabilities. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are victimized at three times the rate of the general population, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics.

There is a cascade of system failures for victims with disabilities: Fewer report (they believe nothing will happen), and in most cases, their reports are not handled as are the cases of the general population. Treatment, when provided, is often done by interns, so those with the most complex needs are served by the least experienced and trained persons.

Please include people with disabilities (both children and adults) in future lists of victimized populations.

Nora Baladerian, Los Angeles

The writer is director of the Disability and Abuse Project.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
The Democrats favorite party game these days is guessing whether they would be better off politically with a full four years of Donald Trump in the White House or with some kind of political upheaval that would produce a President Mike Pence. Its the old quandary of dealing with the devil they know versus the devil they dont know.

Or, to be more precise, the dangerously ignorant, erratic, boorish narcissist they know versus the smugly pious tool of the Koch brothers they dont know.

Trump is such a disaster that Republicans who care about the republic and care about the future of their own party  like Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker and Arizonas two senators, John McCain and Jeff Flake  are now openly ridiculing their presidents policies and personality. McCain decried Trumps half-baked, spurious nationalism. Flake has called Trumps behavior in office reckless, outrageous, and undignified. And Corker called Trump a constant non-truth-telling person who is debasing the presidency and the country.

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These traditional conservatives are devastatingly accurate in their assessment of Trump, but each of them is nearing the end of his political career. Very few of the Republicans on Capitol Hill who will be seeking reelection have been even mildly critical of their president and, until they do reject him, the idea Trump will be impeached is a liberals pipe dream.

1 / 51 la-1491523602-y7ephyarj1-snap-image (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 51 la-1491368625-0bgh58ihw8-snap-image (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los angeles Times) 6 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 51 Trump inspires millions to take to the streets -- to oppose him. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 51 Top of the Ticket cartoon (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 51 Cartoon caption contest winner at the DENT conference in Sun Valley, Idaho: Jon Duval, executive director of the Ketchum Community Development Corporation. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 51 Old radicals and big media descend on Selma (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 51 Horsey imagined the creation of the Ann Coulter phenomenon in this cartoon from 2007. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 51 This David Horsey drawing is a reconfiguration of a cartoon he first published in 2006. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 51 Donald Sterling, owner of the L.A. Clippers, should give Cliven Bundy a call. After Sterling loses his NBA franchise and the deadbeat Nevada rancher loses his cattle, the two old racists will both need a buddy. Maybe they can team up together and open an all-white rodeo. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 51 Besides sending a chill up the spine of the international community, Vladimir Putin has accomplished one other thing by seizing Crimea and threatening the rest of Ukraine: Putin has brought back the bear. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 51 The right-wing insurrection at the Bundy ranch in Bunkerville, Nev., has taken another weird turn with new revelations about the family history of Cliven Bundy. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 51 David Horsey / Los Angeles Times (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 50 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 51 See full story (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times)

The other means of kicking Trump out of office is invoking the 25th amendment to the Constitution through which the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet could declare Trump incapable of carrying out his duties. That seems even less likely than impeachment, even though Trump proves every day that, both temperamentally and intellectually, he is not up to the job.

Nevertheless, Democrats continue to speculate. Trump or Pence? Who would be the most advantageous adversary to face in the political trench warfare leading up to the 2020 presidential campaign?

Anyone interested in that question would do well to read Jane Mayers recent in-depth profile of Pence in the New Yorker. Mayer reports that Trump calls Pence a vice president straight from central casting. The former Indiana governor projects the stolid, square-jawed rectitude of early 20th century Republican presidents Warren Harding and Herbert Hoover. In demeanor, he could not be further from his boss, yet he has been loyal to Trump to the point of obsequiousness. As Mayer writes, Pence has dutifully stood by the president, mustering a devotional gaze rarely seen since the days of Nancy Reagan.

But it is important to understand that, despite his public bleats of blind loyalty, Pence has been far more than a sheep. Arguably, the actual policies of the Trump administration have been shaped more by Pence than by Trump himself. Many have wondered how Trump, the allegedly populist, philosophically elastic ex-Democrat, ended up assembling the most rigidly conservative, pro-business Cabinet since Ronald Reagan, or maybe Calvin Coolidge. The answer is that it was Pence who led the pre-inauguration process of staffing the new administration.

And, in that process, it mattered very much that Pence is a favorite of billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch. Arguably the most powerful and influential funders of anti-government, anti-tax, anti-environment causes and candidates, the Kochs sat out the 2016 presidential election because they saw the choice between Trump and Hillary Clinton as a choice between cancer or a heart attack. They were pleased as punch with the elevation of Pence and are certainly even more pleased that the vice president helped usher into government so many people who are eagerly serving the economic interests of billionaires, big corporations and the fossil fuel industry.

If Pence were to become president for any reason, the government would be run by the Koch brothers  period, Rhode Islands Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse told Mayer. Hes been their tool for years.

It is hard to imagine that the Kochs could ask for much more than they already have gotten, although Pence might work better with the Republican majorities in the House and Senate than has Trump. Trump makes enemies among his supposed allies; Pence would pass legislation.

So, is it better for Democrats to have Trump bungling the conservatives billionaire-coddling agenda and exacerbating the ruptures in his party? Perhaps, but it may also be that with the news media continuously distracted by Trumps daily provocations and general personality disorder, his administrations crusade against environmental regulations, consumer protection, public lands and civil rights is getting too little notice.

With Pence as president, there would be no distractions and no illusions.

David.Horsey@latimes.com

Follow me at @davidhorsey on Twitter
President Trump finds himself at midweek facing blistering criticism from Capitol Hill for what he says and how he says it.

And thats from Republicans.

So far, three GOP senators have this week done something unheard of in modern U.S. political history: a strong rebuke, and almost even ridicule, for the president from their own party.

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FLAKE: I WILL NOT BE COMPLICIT

It all began with high hopes, as the president met on Tuesday with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill

Its not as though Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake was a strong supporter of Trump. But in a 17-minute speech on the Senate floor Tuesday, the Republican lawmaker offered an unprecedented public condemnation of the current political dialogue and the man engaged in it from the Oval Office.

Flake called out the reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior coming from the top of our government in his comments.

(Oh, and Flake announced he wont seek reelection next year -- a big bombshell of its own in Republican politics.)

That scathing critique came just hours after another round of bitter jabs between Trump and Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, with the president saying Corker (who is stepping down after 2018) couldnt get elected dog catcher and the senator replying that Trump is an utterly untruthful president.

And dont forget all of this came after earlier comments this week by Flakes Arizona counterpart, Sen. John McCain, about the men who received draft deferments during the Vietnam War.

We drafted the lowest-income level of America, and the highest income level found a doctor that would say that they had a bone spur, McCain said. Trump received a 1968 draft deferment because of bone spurs in his heels.

NATIONAL POLITICS LIGHTNING ROUND

-- No, says the president, there wont be any downsizing of how much Americans can contribute tax-free to their 401(k) accounts.

-- A federal appeals court in Washington has rejected an anti-abortion rule adopted by the Trump administration and cleared the way for a 17-year-old migrant to end her pregnancy.

-- House Republicans are opening investigations of the Obama administrations 2010 decision to approve the sale of American uranium mines to a Russian-backed company, lawmakers said Tuesday.

-- Congress gave final approval Tuesday of $36.5-billion in disaster aid for wildfire victims and those cleaning up from hurricane damage in Puerto Rico and several states.

-- With a reality-TV star in the White House, the political norms have shifted  at least among some Republicans hoping to emulate his success.

-- A new study suggests the Trump administrations reluctance to confront climate change could create a massive burden on taxpayers.

-- When he ran for president, Trump said Americans would win so much they would be tired of winning if he prevailed. Nearly a year later, both sides think theyre losing.

AS WOMEN SPEAK, LAWMAKERS PROMISE ACTION

For more than a week, Californias political world has been squarely focused on the detailed and disturbing allegations made by scores of women about what they see as a pervasive culture of sexual harassment at the state Capitol and beyond.

On Tuesday, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) announced special legislative hearings in November and pledged additional steps as a comprehensive effort. That announcement came one day after Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) announced the hiring of an investigator and human resources consultant to examine specific allegations.

THREE DAYS, TWO DEBATES

The four leading California Democrats running for governor have now had two chances this week to debate the issues facing voters in 2018. On Tuesday, it was a forum in San Francisco.

While there were few fireworks between state Treasurer John Chiang, former state schools chief Delaine Eastin, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the candidates did stake out separate, nuanced views on single-payer healthcare and schools.

As always, well be keeping an eye on that race and the U.S. Senate race on our Essential Politics news feed.

TODAYS ESSENTIALS

-- The #metoo campaign encouraging women to speak out about sexual harassment has led to allegations that prompted the campaign manager of a Democratic congressional challenger to resign.

-- In another free-speech campus controversy, college Republicans are protesting what they call UCLAs unconstitutional security fees assessed on the student club for a Nov. 13 appearance by conservative writer Ben Shapiro.

-- A judge has dismissed disorderly-conduct charges against protesters who burned an American flag outside the Republican National Convention in Cleveland last year, ruling Tuesday that they were arrested for practicing 1st Amendment-protected free speech.

-- Los Angeles school board member Ref Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty to charges of political campaign money laundering.

-- A group appointed by California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye concluded in a report this week that money bail for criminal defendants should be replaced with risk assessment. Legislation on the issue remains under discussion in Sacramento.

-- Gubernatorial candidate Newsom wants the state to nearly quadruple its annual housing production to deal with Californias affordability problems.

-- Tenant groups are weighing a possible 2018 statewide ballot measure to expand rent control across California.

-- Of the more than 70,600 voters who signed petitions to hold a recall vote for state Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), only 849 asked that their signatures be withdrawn by last weeks deadline. That all but assures a recall election next year.

-- A former deputy director of the state Board of Equalization said Tuesday he was improperly fired after cooperating with a state Dept. of Justice investigation into allegations that agency officials improperly used public resources.

LOGISTICS

Essential Politics is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

You can keep up with breaking news on our politics page throughout the day. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics?

Miss Mondays newsletter? Here you go.

Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com.

Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox.

john.myers@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter at @johnmyers and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast
Theres a new ministry at St. Robert Bellarmine Church and its purpose is to boost morale of Burbank police and fire first responders.

Church members and husband and wife Brian and Courtney Ulrich are at the helm of S.I.R.E.N., which is an acronym for Supplication, Intercession, Rosaries, Encouragement and Needs.

The couple saw a need for the ministry after reading local newspaper reports that surveys showed morale was low in the Burbank Police Department.

Each word relates to what the group hopes to provide. Supplication and Intercession are both about prayer, Courtney Ulrich said.

We want a just and fair police department, but we also want to intercede on their behalf for their protection and make sure we have a community that supports them, she said. We dont want their morale to be [low]. We want them to be proud of being a part of our community.

A unique part of the ministry is that members create handmade rosaries that are blessed by a priest. Rosaries were presented to several members of the Burbank Police Department as part of a celebration of the feast day of St. Michael, the patron saint of police officers.

There was a Mass held in the departments honor at St. Roberts Church, followed by a reception in the courtyard. Dads Donuts donated 17 dozen of the delectable delights and two local Starbucks provided coffee and cups.

The rosaries are designed for police officers and the beads are blue, Courtney Ulrich said. We pray lovingly over each bead as they are being put together.

The couples daughter, Luda Ulrich, is a cadet with the Burbank Police Department, so as parents of a prospective officer, they wanted to create a way to support first responders.

Another Mass honoring the Burbank Fire Department will be held in May on the feast day of St. Florian, the patron saint of firefighters.

Ministry volunteers raised funds for the rosaries with a bake sale and childrens boutique.

They also made gift boxes for the police filled with hygiene items such as lip balm and hand sanitizer. The boxes included a wooden cross made by a group in Portland, Ore., led by Doug Naimo, who is a nephew of Bea Lockwood, a ministry member.

The ministrys focus is on the local community, but members also raise funds for those in need in other states. Recently, they took up a special collection at the church, which was split between first responders and victims of the hurricane in Houston, Brian Ulrich said.

In one precinct, they said that 80% of their firefighters had lost their own homes, he said. They were out working, and they were volunteer firefighters, so they were not being paid. On top of that, they were fueling up their trucks out of their own pocket.

Leading the group of officers and staff attending the Mass at St. Roberts Church was Burbank Police Capt. Eric Deroian, a 27-year police veteran who has served five years with the local department.

Deroian said the Mass held in honor of the police department shows what a supportive community Burbank is.

This was just wonderful for them to bring us into their church and offer support to our police officers and their families in these times, he said. It makes us want to engage with the community more. It feels like a family here in Burbank.

Brian Ulrich, who recently converted to Catholicism, credits Star Wars for the rosaries. Every Jedi has to construct his own light saber to complete his training, so the ministry leader thought he should learn how to make his own rosary and found instructions on YouTube.

All of the beads are made of natural materials, such as agate.

Thats the joy of it  making it with nice things and finding someone who needs or wants one and giving it away, he said

Another element of the ministry is the Golden Girls Cookie Brigade, co-chaired by Sally Peterson and Doris Owings.

Once a month, eight volunteers make four dozen cookies that are delivered to the Burbank police and fire headquarters and the six fire stations.

We hope that our sweet treats will let the first responders know that they are appreciated for their service and bravery in action, Peterson said.

Fire Capt. Mike Malloy and police officer Paul Lin accepted the cookies delivered earlier this month at the downtown headquarters.

Its very nice that the community supports its emergency services, Malloy said. It gives you a warm feeling in your heart and its much appreciated.

Its really awesome! Lin said about the cookie delivery. Myself, as well as other officers and employees of the department, truly appreciate the community support and it definitely feels good to know that we have people who care for us and what we do.

To volunteer, prospective Golden Girls can contact Peterson at (818) 843-6263.

JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.
Newport Beach interim Fire Chief Chip Duncan was officially named the departments leader Tuesday, making him the citys first fire chief promoted internally in 31 years.

City officials and staff and community members packed the City Council chamber to celebrate the promotions of Duncan, newly appointed Assistant Chief Jeff Boyles and six other Fire Department employees.

The ceremony was the first in the departments history that included promotions for all ranks in the fire service, according to city spokeswoman Mary Locey.

Duncan has served as interim fire chief since former chief Scott Poster retired in December. Duncan began his career in Newport Beach as a firefighter in March 1987 and steadily rose through the ranks, eventually earning the title of assistant fire chief.

He also has been a hazardous-materials technician, a fire investigator and an urban search and rescue team member.

Boyles, second in command of the Fire Department, has 24 years experience in the fire service, beginning in San Bernardino before accepting a firefighter position with Newport Beach in 2000.

He also has been a paramedic, fire captain, battalion chief and training chief.

As assistant fire chief, Boyles will be responsible for fire operations, training and community outreach.

Six other staff members also celebrated climbing the ranks.

Newport Beach Fire Department personnel, from left, Matt Ambrose, Matt Skelly, John Mollica, Anthony Terzo, Matthew Reis, Assistant Chief Jeff Boyles and Chief Chip Duncan take the oath of office during a promotion ceremony Tuesday. Nic Lucas is not pictured. (Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer )

Capt. Nic Lucas was promoted to battalion chief. Fire engineer Matt Ambrose and paramedic Matthew Reis were both promoted to captain.

Firefighters John Mollica and Matt Skelly were promoted to engineers, and firefighter Anthony Terzo was promoted to paramedic.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
Newport Beach will use Bluetooth technology in an effort to improve traffic flow.

The City Council agreed Tuesday night to buy a traffic monitoring system that, in several locations around town, will ping signals off Bluetooth-enabled equipment such as cellphones and in-car hands-free devices, building a real-time profile of motorists routes and travel times.

Brad Sommers, an engineer with the city, told the council that generally when the city wants to time its traffic signals, it runs a study over a couple of days.

The newly approved BlueTOAD system will gather unique but anonymous signature data in real time.

Equipment and software will cost about $119,000 and include 12 detection devices to be placed along the Balboa Peninsula, MacArthur Boulevard, Newport Coast Drive and Coast Highway. The California Department of Transportation already has its own BlueTOAD devices on Coast Highway.

By comparing the time it takes a car to get from one detection device to another, traffic engineers can get an idea of congestion. Or the city can study patterns that show strategic routes, such as what percentage of people may, say, have taken Coast Highway to MacArthur to get to John Wayne Airport, or maybe they took Newport Coast and up the hill that way, Sommers said.

The data is aggregated to show trends with no private information, he said.

The citys system is expected to be in place by the beginning of 2018.

hillary.davis@latimes.com

Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD
Last year was a challenging and controversial time for education.

We had Common Cores rocky reception. There were heated debates over standardized testing, the handling of sexual assaults, and issues involving race and gender identity on campus. Questions surrounding how to better prepare students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) loomed large, as did push-me-pull-you agonizing over the role of technology versus traditional teaching methods.

Locally, we had the added distractions of the continued fallout from Corona del Mar High Schools notorious cheating scandal, which called into sharp relief the broader issues of whos to blame for students misbehavior, and how to best handle discipline. And, of course, we were witness to the lawsuit against Newport-Mesa Unified by a former administrator who accused top district officials of submitting improper records to the state, a case that demonstrated  if nothing else  that deep divisions persist within the management of our schools.

Im no doubt leaving some important topics out, but you get the picture. With so much contentiousness and polarizing ideology swirling around, its hard not to feel that our entire system of education is perilously off-kilter. Thats why Im proposing a new theme for 2016  balance.

Im not suggesting that we all need to start swimming in synchronicity all the time. Education benefits from robust debate and a healthy, open airing of opinions, ideas, and grievances. That shouldnt change.

But whats needed at this point in time is a lot less accusatory rhetoric and hysterical reactions, and far more seeking of a stabilizing, common-sense-driven middle ground.

Take Common Core. The basic goal of the new K-12 educational standards is sound: To move the education dial away from rote memorization and toward analysis and conceptual understanding.

Hardly anyone would take issue with that objective, but right from the start Common Core was beset by angry opposition that painted it as a federal takeover of education, while on the other side weve seen unrealistic proponents who over-promised on results while rushing implementation.

The whole proposition to add depth and complexity to education is close to devolving into a failed experiment because one side was so intransigent it wouldnt even consider giving the reforms a chance, while the other side was so giddily optimistic that  in some cases  expensive new curriculum was purchased without proper vetting and then turned out to be terrible.

Yet its not too late to find a healthy balance with Common Core if we jettison the backbiting and the defensiveness. Mistakes have been made, but lets focus our efforts on what weve learned about whats working  and whats not working  and find a way to move forward together. Most important in this next phase is to seek the input of teachers, and to give them the support they need. No reform can be successful without teachers playing a leading role.

In other areas as well, balance is sorely needed. And there are a few hopeful signs.

For instance, weve seen some movement to back away from the test-centric culture that has dominated education for so long. Amid the news clutter at the end of 2015, scant attention was paid last month when a bipartisan replacement to the hugely controversial No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law. The new Every Student Succeeds Act, instead of using the punitive model of NCLB, gives states more authority to deal with schools that underperform on standardized tests.

Its critical that we not end things there. Going forward, we still have to find a better means of identifying the sources of problems at struggling schools, and effective ways to help them improve. Saying goodbye to an unpopular law is the easy part. Joining together to fix what remains broken is extremely difficult. But its necessary.

So too is a cooperative effort to find a suitable balance in issues ranging from school discipline to the handling of concerns involving race, gender, and free speech on campus.

Last year we saw some acrimonious exchanges relating to these issues. Students who complained about so-called micro-aggressions  everyday insults and slights to minorities and other groups  and those who asked for trigger warnings on upsetting material were subjected to scathing criticism and accused of trampling on the First Amendment.

Yes, some of these students went too far, treading dangerously close to advocating censorship and dulling scholarship. On the other hand, some critics responses were little more than knee-jerk demagoguery, painting todays youth as entitled brats and college campuses as swamplands of political correctness.

Instead of flame-throwing from their self-appointed corners, cant everyone just take a breath and listen to the other side? There is plenty of room for cooperation, compromise and coordination, if we just ratchet down the noise and engage in a thoughtful discussion about some students concerns and how best to address them.

In other areas  school disciplinary policies come to mind  we are seeing scales tipping in a new direction, away from the bludgeon of zero tolerance policies toward more nuanced responses that try to address the reasons behind student misbehavior. Theres risk in this, of course, if we tip too far toward an overly lax disciplinary environment.

But at least were seeing an attempt at balance. In this and other issues, thats always a welcome sign.

PATRICE APODACA is a former Newport-Mesa public school parent and former Los Angeles Times staff writer. She lives in Newport Beach.
The State Lands Commission issued a decision on the narrow issue of whether a supplemental environmental impact report was a minor adjustment to its prior EIR. Speakers favorable to the Poseidon desalination plant stated the obvious need for water and technology, none of which had anything to do with the issue of whether the adjustment to the intake pipes and the difference in the mesh size was considered a minor change.

So the fact that the commission granted approval of the supplemental EIR does not mean that Poseidons plan for a $1-billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach is a done deal. The community at large will continue to oppose this desalination plan and once the general public is aware of the harm that it will cause our coast I expect different results will follow.

Richard C. Armendariz

Huntington Beach

Why oppose a brewery when grocers sell beer too?

I read the letter to the editor from Joan Morrow of Costa Mesa about the city planning commissions approval of a restaurant planned for 2930 College Ave. New brewery is too proximate to kids, (Daily Pilot, Oct. 2).

She is most concerned because neighborhood children can walk on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant as they go about their daily trips to school. It is this close proximity to schools that bother the letter writer.

What I dont read in her letter is her concern for children walking past grocery, drug and liquor stores in the neighborhood. In fact, children could walk inside a grocery store and be so close to alcoholic beverages they could actually touch the bottles of liquor. Hard liquor, not beer.

Reaching back into my memory, I cant remember anybody who took it upon themselves to police the grocery stores and neighborhood restaurants for the display of alcoholic beverages.

Rob Macfarlane

Newport Beach

Disappointed in councilman

While recent headlines have focused on Newport Beach Councilman Scott Peotters misguided efforts to refuse Newports gas tax revenues, and ridiculous charges by Peotter supporter Bob Rush regarding an imaginary enemies list, it is important not to forget that Peotter provides a clear and present danger to the quality of life in Newport Beach due to his full-throttled support of high-rise development.

We need public officials who will focus on reducing traffic, improving our streets, protecting our quality of life and keeping our city safe. Peotter would rather address state and national issues to the detriment of Newport Beach taxpayers.

Georgia Foell

Big Canyon

How to get published: Email us at dailypilot@latimes.com. All correspondence must include full name, hometown and phone number (for verification purposes). The Pilot reserves the right to edit all submissions for clarity and length.
A group of concerned homeowners and residents in the Verdugo Woodlands neighborhood has filed an appeal and started a petition against approval last month by the Glendale Design Review Board for a project to tear down an existing home and build a house more than three times the size on a lot on Los Encinos Avenue.

The issue is over applicant and project architect Hamlet Zohrabians request to demolish a one-story, 948-square-foot, single-family home with a detached two-car garage at 1849 Los Encinos Ave. and construct a two-story, 3,264-square-foot, single-family home with an attached two-car garage on the 10,140-square-foot lot.

Despite raising concerns during the public comment portion of the Design Review Board meeting over the mass and scale of the project and its modern design that several said was uncharacteristic of the neighborhood, the project was approved 4-1, with some conditions.

According to the record of decision by the board, the site planning is appropriate and compatible with the predominant pattern on Los Encinos Avenue.

Regarding mass and scale, board members pointed to a number of conditions of approval that will lower the homes overall height and massing, including lowering the first floor plate height to 10 feet and the second floor plate height to 8 feet. There is also an option for the applicant to relocate a bedroom as a way to lower the height.

However, Meiling Pope and Jerome Gross, who live near the proposed home, filed an appeal against the project with 16 other co-appellants living along Los Encinos Avenue as well as nearby Alpha Road and Mira Vista Drive.

The appeal alleges that the Design Review Board failed its duty to adhere to portions of the Glendale Municipal Code when it approved a project that would be incompatible with the neighborhood, unreasonably impact the privacy of nearby homes and outdoor spaces as well as a failure to issue clear and binding conditions for the project that would help ease its overall impacts.

Pope and Gross said they are also worried about the second floor design, which they consider overbearing and intrusive to their own property on Alpha Road. The two also said a separate evaluation conducted on the proposed project would diminish their property value.

Project architect Zohrabians said at the meeting that the project accounts for the unique property lot, as it is double the size of the average lot in the neighborhood. The project does not exceed the allowed maximum floor-area-ratio, or FAR, of 0.42 as allowed in a residential zone.

An informal pushback on the project is also gaining traction. Danielle Ondarza, a next-door neighbor to the project, started a Change.org petition asking Glendale City Council to ensure the Design Review Board preserve the character of [the Verdugo Woodlands] neighborhoods.

Ondarza said the more than 500 signatures on the petition reflects concerns of both the residents in the neighborhood and those in the city who share similar experiences with McMansions, a negative term for large new or recent multi-story homes, usually in a modern style.

While Ondarza said she does not see an issue with the proposed square footage of the home, shes worried about a contemporary design in a neighborhood that looks historic.

Im angry with the [Design Review Board] for not doing their job and being so careful to impose rules on existing homeowners but letting new construction just go by, Ondarza said. Im normally a live-and-let-live kind of person but the [board] is putting me in this position where Im making an enemy of whoever moves next door  They are pitting neighbor against neighbor.

The appeal is pending approval by city staff members, who will decide if the appellants are granted a hearing with City Council.

jeff.landa@latimes.com

Twitter: @JeffLanda
If your passport lists your age as 46 or older, forget about setting sail on U by Uniworld, a new river cruise company thats targeting millennials.

Uniworld, which has marketed its European river cruises to multi-generational customers for decades, is moving into uncharted waters with its new 21 to 45 only cruises.

The company calls U a new take on experiential travel, with cruises designed for those with a passion for exploring and a taste for authentic adventures.

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Its first cruise, earlier in October made its maiden journey along Paris Seine River. Two ships are scheduled to sail in Europe beginning in April 2018, and one ship will sail on the Mekong River in Southeast Asia in 2018.

The maiden journey included activities that Uniworld hopes to make standard on its trips, including yoga and camping on the top deck, and wine classes.

Offshore activities included breakfast on a Gastronome bus, treasure hunt at the Louvre, special tour of Versailles, and a Paris rooftops tour.

The ship, named B, was renovated and features an all-matte black exterior with suites, 26 balcony bedrooms, 29 studio bedrooms and two studio bedrooms with triple occupancy.

All have waterfront views and are equipped with built-in bluetooth speakers. The ship also has two rooftop venues, a spa, DJs and communal tables for dining.

Info: U by Uniworld, (866) 784-5755 or contact a travel agent

ALSO

Lonely Planet names Chile the worlds top travel destination for 2018. Detroit and San Juan land on 10 best cities list

Some cruise lines announce return dates to Caribbean islands hardest hit by hurricanes

New hotels mean Palm Springs is once again the capital of cool

Where to hop aboard the Polar Express and other Christmas train rides

travel@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimestravel
Kenya faces its deepest democratic crisis in nearly a decade, with a rerun election due to proceed Thursday though the vote lacks legitimacy among opposition supporters and may trigger violence, according to analysts.

The election process, plagued with killings, hate speech, death threats, attacks on democratic institutions and a tangle of court disputes, has paralyzed the economy for months and has even seen rising levels of hunger.

One of the most troubling signs in a chaotic process came Wednesday when the Supreme Court failed to decide on a petition calling for the election to be delayed, for lack of a quorum. The petition was brought by three activists who argued that conditions for a fair election did not exist.

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Several judges were unable to appear, and the highly charged political atmosphere gave rise to speculation that some of the jurists were unwilling to preside in the case.

Kenyans voted in a presidential election Aug. 8, but the Supreme Court annulled the outcome because of irregularities. After that decision, President Uhuru Kenyatta, who won the most votes in the disputed balloting, called the judges crooks, accused them of stealing the election and vowed to fix them.

The courts failure to convene follows an armed attack Tuesday on the car of Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, one of the Supreme Court judges who annulled the August election.

A motorcyclist pulled up and shot Mwilus bodyguard, seriously injuring him. Mwilu was not in the car at the time. She was one of the judges who did not appear in court Wednesday. Another judge was sick and out of the country, and a third was not in Nairobi. No reason was offered as to why two other judges did not come to court.

The courts failure to adjudicate the petition also comes after one electoral official was killed days before the August vote and another fled to the U.S. last week, fearing for her life after receiving death threats.

The International Crisis Group, an independent think tank specializing in conflict resolution, has called for the election to be delayed, warning that the risk of violence was high and that proceeding with the vote could further escalate the crisis.

The risk of clashes between rival supporters or between security forces and protesters seeking to block the vote is high. New violence would be devastating for Kenya, the economic hub of East Africa, the group said in a statement.

The European Union election observer mission has scaled back its effort and also called for a delay to allow for dialogue and compromise.

We have assessed the safety of our observers considering the extreme tension, disruptions of polling preparations, and strong criticism that has been made of the international community. Based on this, we have had to reconsider the extent to which we can observe across the country, it said in a statement.

The Atlanta-based Carter Center, which observes elections, called for dialogue and also scaled down its mission for security reasons.

Given the heightened political tensions, it is imperative that Kenyas political leaders find a mutually acceptable path forward for holding credible democratic elections, said former President Carter.

Experts from the United Nations Human Rights Council issued a statement Wednesday calling for both sides in the impasse to show restraint, warning that peoples rights are threatened.

We are alarmed by recent reports of threats, intimidation, inflammatory statements, and mob violence contributing to an increasingly hostile political environment as Kenya heads into the repeat presidential election, said the statement, issued in Geneva.

Kenya is an important strategic partner for the U.S. in its fight against terrorism in East Africa, and it has troops in Somalia fighting the extremist group Shabab. The country gets more than $639 million a year in U.S. assistance. It is also East Africas main economic powerhouse and a drawing card for Western tourists.

The humanitarian situation in the country, recovering from a severe drought, has deepened during the election crisis, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council, with 3.4 million people facing hunger, a sharp increase since June.

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga, who challenged Kenyatta in the August vote, withdrew from the upcoming election earlier this month, saying it would not be free and fair, after his calls for changes in the voting process were ignored. Odinga has since called a series of protests demanding that the elections be delayed and reforms be carried out.

Odinga on Wednesday said the judges who failed to appear were either intimidated or compromised and accused the government of breaching the constitution by insisting the election go ahead.

The August elections and the one scheduled for [Thursday] are part of the emerging trend of electoral autocracy gaining ground in Africa. This is a system where dictators give a cloak of democratic respectability by organizing sham elections every four or five years which they must win at any cost, he said.

Electoral commissioner Roselyn Akombe, who fled last week because of death threats, said the commission was divided along partisan lines and unable to deliver an election that was free and fair. Commission Chairman Wafula Chebukati also expressed doubt last week on whether the panel could deliver an untainted election, saying his attempts to introduce the reforms required had been stymied by commissioners partisanship. He accused political leaders of both parties of interference.

The impasse is alarming given Kenyas history of volatile elections and political violence along ethnic lines. After disputed elections in 2007, mobs hunted down and killed members of rival ethnic groups, killing about 1,500 people across the nation. Under Kenyatta, most jobs in the government, civil service and state-owned enterprises have gone to members of the Kikuyu and Kalenjin ethnic groups that form his political coalition, while other ethnic groups, notably from Odingas tribe, the Luos, feel excluded and aggrieved.

When opposition protests broke out after the August vote, police fired live bullets at demonstrators, killing 67 people, according to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

There are fears dozens more could die in coming days, with tensions high and opposition supporters furious over the electoral commission decision to press ahead with the election.

The election process has been so divisive that even the word peace  a central part of Kenyattas rhetoric  has become politicized. Some opposition supporters believe that the governments rhetoric of peace at all costs creates an environment in which election shortfalls are tolerated.

An opposition governor, Anyang Nyongo, from Kisumu  a stronghold of Odinga in western Kenya  said Thursday that if the election went ahead, Kenyans would be entitled to rebel against the government.

If the government subverts the sovereign will of the people ... then people are entitled to rebel against this government, he told Reuters. Riot police quelled protests which erupted in Kisumu Wednesday over news the election would go ahead.

As the opposition called for a boycott, Kenyatta addressed the nation on television, saying Kenyans had a duty to vote because freedom fighters had shed blood for the right of Africans to vote.

He said the Supreme Courts decision to annul the Aug. 8 0election was distressing and unsettling, and came at a time when Kenyans needed to heal after a divisive election.

Experience has taught us that elections by their very nature polarize people, he said. Kenyatta said he would not let the country slide into anarchy and warned that security forces had been deployed around the nation to enforce peace.

We cannot remain in a perpetual state of politicking. Many wonder when if ever all this politicking will end, he said, adding that it had cost business millions.

robyn.dixon@latimes.com

Twitter: @RobynDixon_LAT
Throughout the crisis over the fate of Catalonia, about 600,000 of the 7.5 million people who live there have followed the news in their native language on Catalunya Radio.

Now the hundreds of journalists who work there find themselves in the crosshairs of the northeastern regions showdown with the central government.

In response to Catalonias drive toward independence, Spains Senate on Friday is set to approve a plan by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to take over the regional government  potentially including the radio station, TV3 and other public media.

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Those outlets could be managed by the state to ensure that reporting is truthful, objective and balanced, Rajoy said Saturday in announcing his plan.

The reporters at Catalunya Radio, which has been providing round-the-clock coverage of the deepening battle over independence, took deep offense.

We give voice to everybody, said 53-year-old Quim Balaguer, who has worked at the station for three decades. We work with objectivity, freedom and veracity. We disagree totally with the statement of the Spanish government.

Fellow reporter Marc Garriga, 45, who serves on a five-member elected ethics committee with him, said: We are not liars. We are not a propaganda machine. We need to preserve our liberty.

Helping fuel the central governments charge of bias is the relationship between Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont and the station director, Saul Gordillo. Before Puigdemont became a politician, the two worked together at a local newspaper and founded a website together. Puigdemonts government appointed Gordillo last year.

Despite those ties, Gordillo said that Catalunya Radio is objective.

Im not a politician, he said in his office overlooking Avinguda Diagonal, a historic thoroughfare that bisects Barcelona, where the station is headquartered. I dont tell any reporters to censor themselves.

He said that if the central government tries to replace him, he will resist. I will leave. Sure. In handcuffs with the police beating me.

Roughly 900 journalists from the station, TV3 and the ACN news agency issued a statement Monday opposing any takeover by the central government. They appeared on television in red T-shirts featuring the station logos and a message: Without public media there is no democracy.

The intervention into TV3 and Catalunya Radio is also a violation of the right to information, a basic pillar of democracy, since these media are unambiguous, informative reference points for Catalan society, the statement said.

The Catalonia Journalists Assn., which has a membership of 4,000, also condemned the governments threat, as did Spanish journalists unions, the European Federation of Journalists and state television reporters at the Spanish Radio and Television Corp.

The central government has yet to respond.

Catalunya Radios staff members vowed that if the central government removes Gordillo, they wont recognize his replacement.

Do they think 400 journalists are going to change their style of working? Gordillo said.

He said that a takeover would backfire, and that if the government disconnects the broadcast tower the station shares with TV3, reporters could still do TV and radio on the internet.

He described the last couple of months as an emotional roller coaster for his staff, starting with the Aug. 17 terrorist attack in Barcelona that killed 14 and injured 130.

Then came political protests leading up to an Oct. 1 referendum on secession, which passed with an overwhelming majority of the vote, though turnout was low. The central government, backed by court rulings, declared the referendum illegal as federal police cracked down on protesters. That only invigorated the push for independence.

The prime ministers plan to suspend Catalan autonomy relies on Article 155, a provision of the 1978 constitution that allows the central government to intervene when an autonomous government fails to fulfill the obligations imposed upon it by the constitution or other laws, or acts in a way seriously prejudicing the general interests of Spain.

Catalonias parliament is scheduled to meet Thursday  ahead of the Senate vote Friday  and is expected to mount a legal challenge to prevent the central government from taking over, a regional spokesman said Tuesday.

Appeals will be lodged in Spains Constitutional and Supreme courts, and if those fail, in international courts, said spokesman Jordi Turull.

Puigdemont could also call an early regional election to avoid a takeover by the central government. A spokesman for his office, Joan Maria Pique, would not say what steps Puigdemont planned to take, but insisted the Oct. 1 vote gave the government a mandate to declare independence if it chose to do so.

As for the fate of the regions journalists, Gordillo said the situation reminded him of the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, who died eight years before Catalunya Radio was founded in 1983.

Gordillo, who grew up during Francos repressive reign of nearly 40 years, recalled how Catalan writers forced into exile continued to write from France, Mexico and the U.S.

Now we are in exile in Spain, he said. Its exciting because every day there are new developments, but you fear Madrid because of what happened under Franco.

molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com

Twitter: @mollyhf
At first glance, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi appears to be a strange fit to lead a country that has seen almost 40 years of continuous war. Unlike his predecessor Nouri Maliki , a Shiite whose sectarian excesses fueled the rise of Islamic State , Abadi is a man who would prefer to avoid confrontation.

Though he presided over the battlefield defeat of Islamic State (Iraqi troops are preparing for an assault on their remaining enclaves), he has stuck to a neutral course, steered the country away from involvement in regional conflicts even while working with the U.S. and Iran  who are archenemies  to prevent Iraqs breakup.

But with Baghdads coffers almost empty, he now faces the difficult task of rebuilding Iraq, while trying to convince the countrys explosive mix of ethnic groups and sects to remain together.

He sat down on Tuesday for a question-and-answer session with three U.S. news organizations.

How many U.S. troops are here? How long do you expect them to stay now that the fight against Islamic State is winding down and under what conditions? Also, what functions do you see them performing in the future?

We reached the peak number of U.S. troops during the battle to liberate Mosul, Nineveh  5,200 soldiers, I believe  and they have started a drawdown of forces.

Their role at present is training, logistical support and providing air cover for our forces. We are going to conclude this last task with the liberation of western Anbar and securing the Iraqi-Syrian border. With that job done then there will not be any need for any air cover in the future, but the three key areas are logistical support, training, and intelligence cooperation.

But its very important to follow up after the defeat of Daesh [Islamic State] militarily. We have a fear that some of their fighters have moved to other countries because we know theyre spreading, theyre going to cause problems somewhere else, its not in our interest, nor in the interest of other countries in the region for terrorists to regroup again.

The unfortunate thing is some countries thought they can separate their security from others We should work together with our friends in the U.S. and others to finish off this terror. We can do it.

Last week, Iraqi troops advanced into northern Iraq in a bid to reassert control over areas claimed by both Baghdad and the semi-autonomous Kurdish region. The move came after Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani held a controversial independence referendum in September. At what point do you see [Iraqi troops] stopping? Is this operation militarily over, or is it ongoing?

Weve said it publicly since this call for the referendum in the Kurdistan areas, and we told them we are citizens of one country, you cant just draw a line and say, Im going to protect it with blood. This is not your right.

There is a lot of enmity in the country we have to mend the relationship between communities, and the timing [for a referendum] is wrong. And it is fundamentally wrong to decide unilaterally they want to separate and impose their borders by force.

Im not a fan of these borders, to be honest with you, which were drawn up 100 years ago and were imposed on the whole region. I remember in school were always taught this was an imperialist plot.

Having said that, 100 years have passed, and peoples lives have been reorganized along these borders. If youre going to change them by force, you are calling for blood, and this can lead to the disintegration of the whole region.

At the moment were very eager not to enter into confrontation. Our demand is clear. Disputed areas, under the Iraqi constitution, must be under the control of the federal state.

Weve seen moves to open relations with Saudi Arabia, like the creation of the Saudi-Iraqi Cooperation Council, etc. How is this playing out with your other friend, Iran? Has Iraq emerged as a go-between? How are you able to balance those two forces together?

Were having good relationships with all, but our role is not to be a go-between.

Iraq is in dire need of investment. Unfortunately, Iraq in the last 50 years has relied on oil, constituting some 90% of our income, so we have to build a parallel economy that relies on something else. The only way we can build it is by cooperating with other countries.

We have to build strong relationships with our nations rather than just governments. If its just governments the unfortunate thing is that leaders disagree sometimes for personal reasons, and this can sabotage the whole relationship.

But if it is strengthened by having a level of cooperation which touches the interests of people in both countries, then it will be very difficult to sabotage the relationship.

On Sunday, you corrected U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in his assertion that Iranian militias in Iraq need to go home. [The reference was to Iraqi Shiite-dominated paramilitary groups, supported by Iran and collectively known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).]

I wanted to know your vision for the PMF. Do you see some kind of demobilization of these forces, or more integration into the police and army?

Let me state first that there is a misunderstanding between the U.S. and Iran since the 1979 revolution. This is not our own creation.

But what we are telling everyone, including our Iranian neighbors and the U.S., who have become our friends by supporting us in our fight against Daesh, that we welcome your support, we would like to work with you, both of you, but please dont bring your trouble inside Iraq.

We should not pay the price of misunderstandings somewhere else.

Regarding the PMF, it must become a professional force under the command of the Iraqi government, loyal only to Iraqi official institutions, rather than to political parties or any other force outside Iraq.

Will the country be ready for the elections [scheduled for April]?

Elections were held in 2005-2006 under more severe conditions than this. Many parts of the country were controlled by terrorists at the time, and still, elections were held.

So I think now we are in a much better place than before: Before the end of this year, well have all of the country under control of the Iraqi government and elections can take place.

What is the status of Iraqi democracy? How true is the democracy here?

This a big question. The Arab Spring was supposed to be a democratic movement. They ended with chaos in the Arab region. Somebody is at work trying to send the wrong message to the region that democracy is bad for them.

I think we have to work together to give more say for the people. I know democracy is under threat, not only in Iraq, but also everywhere else in the world. This may sound philosophical, but Im very alarmed by this, especially after witnessing what terrorism can do.

You have to share with other people your decision-making. Thats what were trying to achieve here.

We now have victory over the terrorists, who wanted to create differences in our community. But the actual victory is to undo whatever they have done by working together.
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Experiential learning: Lehigh Engineering's fabled undergraduate program has been all about it since the very beginning. Here, students discover their passions, make real impact, and evolve into the engineers they aspire to be. Our faculty specializes in providing meaningful opportunities for talented young minds to engage in the lab, the workplace, and the community, here in the beautiful Lehigh Valley and all around the world. These are a few examplesare you next?
Current demand for parking in South Bethlehem is quite low compared to the north side business district.

That's one of the findings of an ongoing comprehensive city-wide parking study commissioned by the Bethlehem Parking Authority.

Desman Design Management has been hired to study the parking demand and supply in the north and south side business districts.

The firm wants to hear the good, the bad and the ugly of Bethlehem parking from city residents, business owners and other stakeholders.

As part of that effort, Desman held two community meetings Tuesday to update the public on the study thus far and solicit feedback. Folks are encouraged to complete an online survey on city parking as well.

"We still need to know people's perceptions of parking so we can address them," Kevin Livingston, parking authority executive director, said in a recent interview. "This is the public's chance to tell us what problems they have."

Currently, there are 2,431 public parking spaces -- 444 on-street metered spots; 117 surface lot parking spots and 1,870 spaces in four parking garages -- in the historic north side downtown.

Across the Lehigh River, the South Side has 2,622 public parking spaces -- 791 on-street meters; 1,679 spots in 14 surface lots and 152 spaces in the Riverport Garage.

The South Bethlehem figures don't include the new, 626-space New Street parking deck, slated to open Nov. 1. But they do count the 1,200 parking spots in the three ruins parking lots by SteelStacks, which are not owned by the city, explained Tim Tracy, of Desman.

That's very important to note, because if the Sands decides to develop those lots the city loses a huge chunk of its public parking, he said.

This heat map shows the parking utilization in South Bethlehem.

Desman completed parking counts in South Bethlehem and in Center City in both May and September to gauge usage. The city is also piloting 50 parking meter sensors in both districts to get real-time parking data.

Parking demand on the South Side peaked in the morning with an overall demand of 34 percent in May and 36 percent in September. On-street parking was more highly sought in the neighborhood than off-street spaces.

In Center City, demand was highest in the afternoon with 71 percent of the parking spots in use in May and 68 percent in September. There, the off-street parking demand was higher.

This heat map shows the parking usage in the north side business district on a day in May.

When it comes to parking, perception is often reality, Tracy said.

Even if there are plenty of spaces, it can be hard to overcome that perception and get people to drive downtown.

Some are worried that an actual or perceived lack of parking could inhibit further development or urban infill projects, Tracy said. A robust marketing campaign and better signage can overcome those perceptions, he said.

Via small meetings and the online survey, Desman has learned that patrons of some north side businesses and restaurants do not want to park in the garages.

Some report the parking authority is difficult to deal with and they worry that the authority doesn't consider how its pricing and operational decisions impact businesses.

Many have relayed parking is too expensive, either the meter rates or monthly parking rates. But an analysis shows that Bethlehem has some of the lowest rates in the tri-state area.

"Parking is always way too expensive," Tracy quipped. "If it was free, it would be way too expensive"

South Bethlehem participants think that the Mechanic Street parking lots should include hourly parking rather than all permit spaces. And they are concerned about what will happen if Lehigh University and the Sands start developing their surface lots.

The Bethlehem Parking Authority authorized the $69,800 study earlier this year and plans to use the final report to guide its future decision making.

"It is really a living document," Livingston said.

The city is currently negotiating to obtain land at Third and Polk streets for a new parking garage to support the neighborhood's ongoing redevelopment. The final plan will account for this and will have the ability to be updated and tweaked to account for future developments and projects.

What are the next steps?

Desman will outline future realistic development scenarios and outline the impact on parking demand and supply.

Close the online survey around Nov. 8 and analyze the results.

Identify solutions to the parking demand and supply issues and recommend operational improvements to the authority.

Finalize the parking study and present it to the city Jan. 8.

Present findings to the public in a Jan. 22 meeting.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A 27-year-old man living in public housing in Bethlehem tried to blow up his apartment, risking the lives of six adults and 14 children in neighboring, attached homes, according to police.

Dennis Lee Sandt III (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Dennis Lee Sandt III was charged Wednesday in the attempted arson Oct. 5 at 1118 Mansfield Court, in the Bethlehem Housing Authority's Marvine-Pembroke public housing development.

Sandt was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.

City police said three officers responded about 6:12 p.m. that Thursday to the report of a male and female screaming at each other and items possibly being broken inside the apartment.

The home at 1118 Mansfield Court is attached to five other homes, 1110-20 Mansfield Court, off Pembroke Road.

The officers could immediately smell a strong odor of natural gas coming from the apartment, and numerous attempts to get residents to come to the door failed.

Police entered the home and "were met by the exceptionally strong odor of natural gas as well as the smell of smoke," court records say. "Officers observed a high degree of smoke coming from the home."

Police began to evacuate the neighboring, attached apartments while trying to vent 1118 Mansfield Court.

Sandt was unresponsive in bed, and police found he had turned two natural gas burners on the stove to high, extinguished the pilot light and lit small fires inside the home, according to court records; the kitchen curtains, a small book on the kitchen floor, a large pile of bedding with a pillow and part of a wood chest on the living room floor were all found smoldering.

Sandt allegedly also tore out hard-wired smoke alarms from the ceiling and removed their backup batteries.

Police turned off the burners and attempted to render medical assistance to Sandt, who awoke and told police to "just let me die," court records say.

Police said they could see a tissue smoldering on the bedroom floor and told Sandt he was under arrest for arson.

Sandt allegedly refused police commands and began gathering items from the bedroom, saying he was leaving.

It took three attempts to subdue him with Tasers, and Sandt "at one point pulled the Taser probes from his shirt and insisted he was leaving," police said.

He was finally taken to the ground and arrested.

A woman identified as Sandt's wife told police Sandt had been threatening since August he would "burn the place down" when they got into arguments, as they did on Oct. 5, police said.

Bethlehem fire Marshal/Deputy Chief Craig Baer "determined that the defendant attempted to cause an explosion to perhaps commit suicide by allowing the home to fill with the natural gas and having small fires burning in hope that they would ignite the gas after a period of time in which the volume of the gas in the home was such that it could be ignited," police Detective Christopher Beebe wrote in court records.

His actions put in danger of death or serious injury one woman and three children in 1110 Mansfield Court, one woman in 1112 Mansfield Court, a woman and four children in 1114 Mansfield Court, a man in 1114 Mansfield Court, a woman and four children in 1116 Mansfield Court and a woman and three children in 1120 Mansfield Court, according to police.

Sandt was arraigned before District Judge Jacqueline Taschner on felony counts of attempted arson and risking catastrophe, misdemeanor resisting arrest and 20 counts of misdemeanor reckless endangerment.

He faces a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled Nov. 6 before District Judge Joseph Barner.

Taschner agreed to 10 percent bail if approved by Northampton County Pretrial Services, provided he remain under their supervision; undergo evaluations for mental health and drug and alcohol use; submit to random urine screens; stay out of the 1100 block of Mansifield Court and have no contact with any resident there, as well as stay off any Bethlehem Housing Authority property, and provide a verifiable address.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The question before Palmer Township supervisors Tuesday night was whether to permit the transfer of a liquor license from Betlehem to Sheetz, so the 3501 Nazareth Road convenience store can sell beer and wine.

First, though, residents had some concerns about the way the store is run now, chiefly the way some people loiter there. They disturb the neighborhood with their after-market exhausts, squealing tires and speeding from the lot of the 24-hour store with gas station, the residents said.

"I didn't have my window open all summer," said Lynn Werner, from Brentwood Avenue, across Nazareth Road -- also known as Route 248 -- from Sheetz.

"You can't control your loitering policy. How are you going to control an alcohol policy," challenged Al Cooper, who lives in the 3400 block of Nazareth Road.

After some 90 minutes of impassioned, sometimes heated discussion at the supervisors' meeting inside the township library, township solicitor Charles Bruno sought to rein things back in. Sheetz, after all, was making a specific application allowed under state law.

"If the applicant complies with the law on this application, you may not have a choice," Bruno said.

At Bruno's urging, the board delayed a decision on Sheetz's application until Nov. 28. No further testimony will be taken, but the delay will give time for the applicant to state in writing to the township why its application meets the letter of the law, Bruno said.

It's unlikely a month will do much to soothe the emotions of residents who spoke Tuesday night.

A majority of supervisors expressed concerns about the application, as well. Chairman David Colver said he couldn't "in good conscience" give his OK. But he also said voting no could lead to township taxpayers footing the bill to defend a lawsuit over a denial.

Ann-Marie Panella drew a rebuke from Mark Kozar, counsel for Sheetz, over her complaint that "someone from your illustrious Altoona training department" should have been present Tuesday night.

She was referring to Sheetz's central operations center there that allows staff to zero in on security cameras at the Sheetz and even ask troublemakers to leave via a loudspeaker, if store employees are busy. The training is provided to employees under the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board-approved Responsible Alcohol Management Program and Training for Intervention Procedures courses.

The issue residents and the board kept returning to is the behavior in the parking lot and of car enthusiasts as they come and go.

"Sheetz says it's a responsible owner," said Supervisor Jeffrey A. Young. "Be a responsible owner. This is a problem like I have never seen in this township."

Supervisor Robert E. Smith said he agreed that the issue is "managing that property correctly."

"I don't see that changing," he said.

Even the township police chief, Larry Palmer, said selling booze there is a bad idea, after he shared with supervisors an account of police calls to Sheetz totaling 207 since 2014: 58 the first year, 41 in 2015, 51 in 2016 and 57 so far in 2017. About one-third of those are called in by Sheetz employees like store manager Tom Mears, who was present Tuesday night with district manager Jeremiah Hoffman.

"With all respect to Tom because Tom and his staff do work with us ... I have to go on record as my humble opinion is we don't need the consumption at Sheetz," Palmer said to applause from the two dozen residents gathered.

Sheetz would be required to permit consumption of up to two beers on premises under the license, as defined by state law, said Kozar, the store's attorney. Other guidelines Sheetz expects to put in place are hours of alcohol sales between 7 a.m. and 1:45 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 1:45 a.m. Sunday, with all wine sales ceasing at 11 each night. Customers could buy 192 ounces of beer, or two six packs of 12-ounce containers, or 3 liters of wine.

Martin Coleman holds his service dog, Moki, a maltipoo, during a meeting Oct. 24, 2017, before the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors on an application from Sheetz to begin selling beer and wine at its 3501 Nazareth Road (Route 248) convenience store and gas station, near a shopping center Coleman owns. (Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Kayleen Raymondo was among those who spoke out against alcohol sales at Sheetz. Her 12-year-old daughter, Emma, was struck and killed by a car the night of Sept. 22 as she walked with her younger siblings from Sheetz to their home about 500 feet south on Route 248.

She worried about alcohol consumption leading to drunk driving on roads in the area, which she referred to as a residential area.

"That has to be taken into consideration," she said, joined by Emma's father, Matthew Raymondo.

The investigation into Emma's death is complete, said Palmer, the police chief. It's up to District Attorney John Morganelli to decide on whether to press charges against the driver, who has been cooperating with police. The driver was not under the influence of alcohol, police have said, and Palmer said Tuesday the driver had not just pulled out of Sheetz when he hit Emma.

"That we have on video," he said. "We know that."

Martin Coleman, owner of the nearby shopping center that is home to businesses like Active Learning Center, survived the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, fleeing down 85 floors to safety. He clutched his service dog, Moki, a maltipoo, as he gave an emotional plea to not sell beer at a gas station near the school.

"It's not OK by me," he said, turning to the board: "I'm asking you, you approve that center in good conscience, if this gets approved, if any of those children in my center die, that blood is on your hands."

Sheetz has 32 stores that sell beer in Pennsylvania, spokesman Nick Ruffner said. In the Lehigh Valley, in addition to Palmer Township, the chain is looking to begin selling beer at its 3201 Schoenersville Road store in Bethlehem, Lehigh County.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Allentown State Hospital has been empty for years, but the campus is slated to host some major stars starting next week.

Director M. Night Shyamalan is scheduled to shoot scenes for his new movie "Glass," starring Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis and James McAvoy, at the former psychiatric hospital, according to the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, which acts as a liaison between film productions and communities. The filming will start Oct. 30 and last a few weeks.

Keep an eye out for A-listers around town -- the film office's executive director Sharon Pinkensen said the movie's "entire cast" is expected to be on-site for the shoot. There are no plans to film at other Lehigh Valley locations, she said.

"Glass," scheduled for release in 2019, is a follow-up to Shyamalan's 2000 thriller "Unbreakable" and his 2016 movie "Split." Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis will reprise their characters from "Unbreakable," which (spoiler alert) was linked to the James McAvoy-starring "Split" in the latter film's final scene.

Along with the Hollywood stars, the film might include appearances from some locals -- or at least, the backs of their heads. Heery-Loftus Casting has posted calls for actors to serve as stand-ins during the Allentown shoot from Oct. 30 to Nov. 17.

Shyamalan routinely films his pictures in and around the Philadelphia area, where he grew up. "Glass" began shooting in Philly on Oct. 2, and the director has posted occasional updates on social media. He called the film "17 years in the making," and said, "At times I get emotional seeing all these characters together in one film."

The cast has reportedly been seen dining around the city, and Shyamalan and Jackson attended the Philadelphia 76ers' home opener against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 20.

Allentown State Hospital site shuttered in 2010, and the state has been trying to sell the former psychiatric hospital for years now. The state Senate voted Tuesday to sell the nearly 200-acre campus to a Doylestown developer, according to The Morning Call.

Andrew Doerfler may be reached at adoerfler@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @adoerfler or on Facebook.
Parkland School District will allow two of its students to form an anti-abortion club at the high school.

The legal settlement announced Monday will allow Elizabeth Castro and Grace Schairer to form the group Trojans for Life on a provisional basis for two years.

The girls tried to form the club in May but were denied permission from an assistant principal, who allegedly told them the club was too political and too controversial.

The girls sued the school district in July with help from the Chicago-based Thomas More Society.

The settlement allows the group to leave provisional status if it maintains active members and regular meetings after two years.

The recognition of the club does not indicate the school district's "endorsement or promotion of the club's mission, goals, objectives or activities," according to a news release issued Monday from the school district.

The club will be a branch of Students for Life of America, a nonprofit organization based in Virginia whose stated mission is to abolish abortion.

As with any district club, Trojans for Life may not interfere with the educational process, threaten harm to the school community, encourage illegal activity or interfere with others' rights, the school district's statement says.

The school board will amend its districtwide policy to require signed parental waivers for any student to participate in an off-campus club activity, according to the release.

"We are pleased that the Parkland School Board has seen fit to recognize the rights of these young women," said Joan Mannix, Thomas More Society special counsel. She issued a prepared statement.

"Elizabeth and Grace wanted nothing more than an opportunity to create a life-affirming culture at their school, educate their peers on the issue of life, hold diaper drives to support pregnant and parenting students, and become a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves," the statement said.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
A young man wrongly accused of arson by a Stockertown police officer will receive $175,000 as part of a legal settlement with the borough.

The settlement between Zachary Handley and the borough was agreed to Oct. 17, 2017, according to the online docket for the U.S. District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania.

The docket doesn't disclose the amount of the settlement, but the borough released the settlement document in response to a right-to-know request filed Wednesday by lehighvalleylive.com.

Handley missed out on a normal high school experience, holidays with his family and time with his friends when he was sent to a juvenile boot camp, according to his lawsuit.

He will turn 24 years old on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. He once lived in Moore Township but now lives in the first block of Belvidere Street in Nazareth, his lawsuit says.

Handley was charged in December 2007 with arson. Although he didn't start the fire, police officer Joseph Straka badgered him until he confessed, according to the lawsuit.

Straka told him that if he confessed he'd be able to spend Christmas with his family. Instead he was adjudicated delinquent in the juvenile court system and in custody of juvenile authorities for 15 months.

The only witness who put him at the crime scene was Karla Dewey, a resident in the building that burned. Dewey was later charged with multiple arsons herself, which cast doubt on whether her story concerning Handley was credible.

Handley was cleared in 2015 and a restitution order against him for $625,000 was revoked, the lawsuit says. Dewey took a plea deal and spent about three years in state prison.

When he returned to Nazareth Area High School after boot camp, he was ridiculed by peers, who called him a "fire starter." He turned to drugs and alcohol to escape, he told lehighvalleylive.com in 2013.

The borough's attorneys didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Handley's attorney, Mark Loevy-Reyes, said he could confirm the settlement amount but couldn't comment beyond that.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
A disgraced boxer who tested positive for banned substances at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and who was later charged with criminal damage, public intoxication, and with being threatening and abusive in public, was given a 5-month prison sentence at Thurles District Court.

Michael OReilly (Jnr.), of 20 New Line Close, Mountrath, was charged with criminal damage arising from an incident in Ballybeg, Littleton, Thurles, on April 18 last year. Mr OReilly was involved with three other co-accused in throwing rocks at two cars and a caravan following an engagement party, heard Judge Elizabeth MacGrath.

At a hearing today (October 24, 2017) Judge Elizabeth MacGrath said that, of some 2,500 damage caused, only the princely sum of 250 had been offered to the Court by way of compensation.

Michael OReilly and the three co-accused, his father Michael OReilly (Snr.) of Clonkeen, Portlaoise, Co. Laois; Bernard OReilly, of Main Road, Clonkeen, Portlaoise; and James OReilly, of Clonkeen, Portlaoise, were observed by Sgt Declan OCarroll and Garda Pat OBrien on the day in question, causing damage to the two cars and one caravan.

At a previous sitting of Thurles District Court, Inspector Padraic Powell said the parties were pleading guilty to damaging a Nissan Micra belonging to Michael Doyle, and a Citroen Hatchback, the property of Mary Doyle. Criminal damage was also caused to a Bailey Regency 2001 Caravan, the property of Brigid Doyle, but this would be dealt with separately by the families, explained a Solicitor for OReillys three co-accused.

Inspector Powell said Gardai arrived in Littleton that day, following an engagement party in the village. Gardai directed Michael OReilly to leave the area on a number of occasions. Gardai remained at the scene, and later saw OReilly shouting, and throwing rocks.

Rocks were thrown at a caravan, and as Sgt Pat OBrien assisted at the scene, Michael OReilly (Snr) and James OReilly were also seen throwing rocks at the Doyles property. Two other men were seen collecting rocks, added Inspector Powell. James OReilly was a juvenile at the time of the offences, but is now aged over 18.

There had been some sort of altercation at the engagement party prior to the incident. The Doyles and OReillys are related, heard the Court. Some 879.63 of damage was caused to the Nissan Micra, and 663.98 of damage to the Citroen.

In her ruling today (October 24), Judge MacGrath noted that the compensation of 250 offered to the Court was totally unsatisfactory.

Judge MacGrath noted that James OReilly was a juvenile at the time of the offence, and he has no previous convictions. At the time of the incident, he was surrounded by family members and under their influence. James OReilly was bound to the peace for 12 months, on his own bond of 250.

Co-accused Michael OReilly Snr. has two previous convictions. He offered no compensation bar some 150. Judge MacGrath imposed a 3-month prison sentence on OReilly Snr. Judge MacGrath fixed recognizances at 500 in the event of OReilly Snr. appealing that sentence.

Judge MacGrath noted that Michael OReilly Jnr. has 37 previous convictions, related to road traffic matters, and theft. Solicitor JJ Fitzgerald said his client has three children and is involved in pro-sport, and a custodial sentence would have an adverse effect.

Judge MacGrath said the 100 offered by way of compensation is totally inadequate. Judge MacGrath imposed a sentence of 5 months imprisonment on Michael OReilly Jnr., fixing recognizances at 500 in the event of an appeal.

Bernard OReilly was not in Court for the hearing.
DEIS secondary schools in Laois will benefit from a brand new project called Trinity Access 21 which is an innovative university led school outreach programme that empowers students, supports 21st century learning environments and strengthens college going cultures in DEIS schools.

A total of 7 million in funding has been awarded to projects involving innovation around education in Ireland.

Trinity Access 21 was one of ten innovative projects awarded funding from 50% private philanthropic funding, self-raised by the awardees and the other half from Government, through the Department of Rural and Community Development via the Dormant Accounts Fund.

See a Gallery of photos from Mountrath Community School's Mass at the start of the school year.

Second level school students across DEIS schools in Laois will benefit from this Social Innovation Fund Ireland (SIFI)s backed initiative.

Mountmellick Community Schools and Portlaoise College are two DEIS secondary schools in Laois.

Schools that have a DEIS status means they have been identified as being in educationally disadvantaged areas, qualifying them for extra funding and staff.

The Social Innovation Fund Ireland is one of the most significant investments of private philanthropy in programmes that tackle educational disadvantage.

The 10 awardees, have demonstrated innovation in education service provision that tackles educational disadvantage, and will share the 7 million include; Cork Life Centre, Trinity Centre for People with Disabilities, and An Cosan Virtual Community College, among others.

The Education Fund has identified the best in class innovative education programmes that serve as models of excellence in overcoming inequalities in education with a long-term positive impact on their young and adult learners, their families and communities.

PICTURES: Laois ETB students Academic Achievement awards night.

Proving and improving their impact, these projects have strong potential to be replicated across Ireland with a view to creating a community of innovators who have the collective ability to create systemic change.

Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton TD was delighted to announce the winners.

"I have set out the ambition to make Irelands Education service the best in Europe within a decade.

"Some of the initiatives that we see here today, show real innovation in tackling some of the challenges we face in education, particularly in the area of breaking down cycles of disadvantage, and will most definitely contribute towards our realisation of this ambition.

"Furthermore, the Education Fund is a celebration of the power of collaboration between the private and public sectors and its great to see SIFI showing the potential of both to work in partnership together to deliver real results," he said.

Deirdre Mortell, CEO of SIFI highlighted the importance the impact of education has on people's lives.

Education has a huge impact on our later lives; how much money we earn, the kind of job that we can get, and our capacity to support older parents or young children.

"Most especially, it affects the confidence that we have as we progress in life. It has the power to lift you out of disadvantage or exclusion onto a new life trajectory.

"Early school leaving and exclusion can have a devastating impact on that potential.

"It is with that in mind that we set up the Education Fund. People experience educational disadvantage for many reasons, including poverty, ill health, mental health issues, or disability.

"We believe the Education Fund helps people who have been excluded to get qualifications and build new lives for themselves, she said.

Striking school sculptures from Clonaslee students in Laois shine light on mental health.

Full List of Winners

An Cosan Virtual Community College (VCC)

An Cosan VCC (Virtual Community College) have developed an innovative entry level model of higher education aimed at isolated and disadvantaged communities by offering a blended model of online learning, including live online classes, face-to-face workshops, mentoring, and online resources, all at a pace that suits the learner. Most of the learners who engage with VCC are taking their first steps into higher education, and for some it is their first step back to education at any level. VCCs holistic, learner-centred model puts the learner at the heart of the project.

Who benefits? People who struggle with disadvantage, urban and rural isolation, early school leavers, lone parents, long term unemployed, travellers, Roma and those in direct provision, across Ireland.

Partnership between DPS Engineering and UCD Foundation

Aspire 2

Aspire2 aims to support students to achieve Leaving Certificate results that reflect their true potential & increase levels of progression to third level institutions and further education colleges. Aspire2 achieves this through working in partnership with schools, education providers, parents and students to provide mentoring, funding, and work experience placements.

Who benefits? Leaving Certificate Students in Dublin and Cork.

Cork Life Centre

Cork Life Centre provides a community of support and learning to young people who have not been able to reach their potential in mainstream educational settings. A holistic approach provides outreach and a wrap-around service to young people based on individual needs.

Who benefits? A diverse cohort of young people (12-18 years) who have had to leave school for a variety of reasons including social, personal, academic & health-related issues in Cork.

Churchfield Community Trust

Churchfield Community Trust uses education and work experience as a means of alcohol and drug deterrence. Churchfield Community Trust offers training, work and enterprise skills with a particular focus on Adult Education, Woodwork, Painting and Horticulture. They bridge the gaps in formal education through Computer Skills, Cookery and Literacy.

Who benefits? Adults who are at risk or who have a criminal record in Cork.

Focus Ireland

PETE - Preparation for Education Training and Employment

PETE is an Education Programme which aims to provide support to adults who have reached out to homeless services, to facilitate their journey into mainstream education, training or employment.

Who benefits? People at risk of homelessness, who have experienced homelessness, and who are experiencing homelessness.

Fast Track Academy

City Wise Education and IT Tallaght

The Fast Track Academy develops academic and social skills by a tailored teaching support, mentoring, career guidance & work placements to improve numbers of students in West Tallaght progressing to third level education.

Who benefits? Students in West Tallaght, Dublin aged between 15-19 years.

iScoil

iScoil is an online learning community that offers an alternative path to learning, accreditation and progression for young people. iScoil provides an inclusive solution to address educational disadvantage and to ensure that young people have access to achieve and progress in their lives.

Who benefits? Early school leavers or those at risk of leaving school aged between 13-18 years across Ireland.

Speedpak Group - Enhanced Skills Traineeship

Speedpak Group operates commercial businesses to support people get back to work by providing real work experience, accredited industry training, mentoring and tailored supports. The combination of trading and training transforms lives. Matching local talent with available jobs provides trainees with greater financial independence through their employment and job resilience through education.

Who benefits? People who are long term unemployed, for 12 months or more, living on Dublins Northside.

Trinity Development and Alumni

Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities

Trinity Centre provides an advanced education programme for young people with Intellectual disabilities. This programme is designed to enable young people with intellectual disabilities to make the transition to employment and/or further education and to lead more independent adult lives.

Who benefits? Adults with Intellectual disabilities across Ireland

Trinity Development and Alumni

Trinity Access 21

Trinity Access 21 is an innovative university led school outreach programme that empowers students, supports 21st century learning environments and strengthens college going cultures in DEIS schools.

Who benefits? Second level school students across DEIS schools in Laois, Offaly, Kerry and Dublin
No Laois event is being promoted in a Failte Ireland press release promoting Ireland Ancient East Halloween events.

The tourism body came in for a lot of criticism recently over the low amount f being spent promoting Laois. In total, 93,750 out 125 million over seven years to 2014.

In its Halloween press release Failte Ireland says every county in the region has its own ghostly traditions and haunted places bound to excite anyone with an interest in the paranormal - and the kids will love it, too.

It says there is a huge selection of events for all the family this Halloween right across the region.

However, it highlights events in Wexford, Waterford, Cork city and county, Carlow, Offaly, Meath, Tipperary.

LAOIS IS PACKED WITH HALLOWEEN EVENTS

Also highlighted are "frightful things to do - all year". Again Laois does not make the cut. Attractions in Wexford, Offaly are highlighted.

County councillors criticised Bord Failte last week at their annual monthly meeting. Cllr Mary Sweeney said the money spent to promote Laois was 'shocking'.

Laois TD Sean Fleming has described the spending on Laois as 'measly'.

HALLOWEEN COOKIE RECIPE
Two Laois men are understood to have suffered extensive injuries following an aircraft crash in the Czech Republic.

The two family men from the Portlaoise area understood to have suffered serious injuries in an aircraft collision near the Czech capital Prague. Family members say the incident occurred on Tuesday morning, October 25.

The Leinster Express understands that both men have suffered broken bones and a number of other injuries.

At least one of the men is in intensive care but the injuries suffered are not believed to be life threatening.

They were named locally as Ger Doody and Ned McEvoy.

Mr Doody works in well known Portlaoise car dealership Downey's Autostop on the Dublin Road.

The men were partners in Ridge Aviation a light aircraft business based in Eyne Airfield, Portlaoise. They are lifelong aviation enthusiasts and pilots and were on an aircraft related business trip.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that it was aware of the incident and are providing consular assistance. Family members have disputed this and saying they have not received any help from Irish authorites.
A big crowd is expected to converge in Laois tonight to discuss how to get the message through to Leo Varadkar and his Government not to downgrade Portlaoise hospital.

The emergency meeting on Wednesday night was called in response to plans from health management in Dublin and the Midlands to downgrade Portlaoise hospital.

The downgrade plan is contained in a Dublin Midlands Hospital Group strategy that was leaked to Laois TD Brian Stanley. He claimed that health service management are due to meet on Wedesday morning to sign off on how to execute the plan to reconfigure hospitals in Dublin, Offaly, Kildare and Laois.

200,000 EMERGENCY PRESENTATIONS TO DUBLIN MIDLANDS HOSPITALS

There has been no statement from the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group on the outcome of a meeting on what is a five year strategy.

Portlaoise Hospital Action Group chairman Noel Tuohy said that an emergency public meeting was called following consultations with fellow Hospital Action Committee members and members of the public and public representatives.

The organisers said the meeting would be apolitical and open to all members of the public on the proposed downgrading including the removal of its 24/7 A&E Department.

They said the Portlaoise hospital A&E currently deals with more than 39,000 referrals annually, more than either Naas or Tullamore, and caters for a population catchment in excess of 250,000; in close proximity to two high security prisons, two major motorways (M7 and M8), as well as mainline rail in the fastest growing town in the country.

LEAKED STRATEGIC PLAN CONFIRMS AIM TO DOWNGRADE PORTLAOISE HOSPITAL

Portlaoise Parish Priest Msgr John Bryne also backed the campaign to retain the A&E department. He feared that what is being pursued by health service management is a strategy of "death by a thousand cuts".

Central to the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group plan is to turn Portlaoise into a Category 2 hospital without any A&E. Instead management want to

The meeting will now take place in the Midland's Park Hotel, Portlaoise s Wednesday, October 25 at 8pm. It will be Chaired by Mr Peter O Neill.

POLL - WOULD YOU MARCH TO SAVE PORTLAOISE A&E?
Sean Fleming TD spoke to a huge crowd gathered to discuss the future of Portlaoise Hospital on Wednesday, October 25.

"The Minister for Health said consultation will take place with local representatives after the report is published. My view is I want the minister to publicly state that he is rejecting this plan outright.

"Once this gets published we are on the rocky road to nowhere. If that happens we are fighting on our backs from there on in. Absolutely reject the report now. He has stated that he will speak to us. I am taking Simon Harris at his word.

"When it comes to Laois, Laois is the fastest growing county in Ireland. Portlaoise is bigger than Athlone, Tullamore, Mullingar. It is the fastest growing provincial town in Ireland. Cutting back services makes no sense.

"We did have problems in the maternity unit in Portlaoise hospital, they increased staff and resources and that has been greatly improved.

"It is lazy lazy management when you see a problem to close it down and run away.

"When you see a problem you fix the problem you dont run and that is what Sheila O Reilly is doing.

"I am really concerned about the A&E, how can you have a maternity without A&E how can you have pediatric? If A&E goes everything else will follow in due course.

"This is a bigger plan to downgrade Portlaoise hospital over the years, they have to be stopped in their tracks. I cannot fathom how Portlaoise management have been drawing up this report.

"It is reckless management, I cant understand the mindsets of the people. I believe we have a very very strong case to fight here.

"This is not the first second or third or fourth time.

"This has to be dealt with once and for all that can only happen if the minister rejects it.

"I will be saying reject that report, upgrade the hospital and upgrade A&E around the country.

"I genuinely believe this is not going to happen. I believe it is the agenda of HSE management to make it happen. Our job is to stand up for the people in Laois we will fight it tooth and nail," he said.

Read what Brian Stanley TD said at the meeting here.
If a hospital is taken down, it cannot be put back up again.

Some very passionate messages were passed around a room of 300 people in Portlaoise, discussing how Portlaoise Hospital can be saved from the planned downgrade by Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.

Two members of the public strongly stated the need for a strong social media presence, especially with the amount of young people in the county who will benefit from sustaining the hospital for future generations.

"Marches are important but it seems to me the only thing our politicians seem to care about is what is said about them on social media," on person said.

"I am all for marching but we need to be careful about how we get our message out there. We need to think of every avenue to raise awareness," they added.

Another individual said he moved away from Portlaoise 25 years ago and he recently came back and Portlaoise Hospital is still up for discussion. He agreed that the use of social media is important but the main point is that the strategic report cannot be published.

"What the Minister needs to do is what Sean Fleming said. It is the one clear suggestion we have heard tonight and that is to not publish the report.

"Simon Harris will use that as cover to downgrade the services. We need to be very strategic on how we target Minister Harris, use social media, we need to be calm, measured and strategic about how we do this," he said.

Another person strongly suggested that a committee be organised after the meeting on Wednesday, October 25 to organise marches and a strategy going forward.

"There is no point in organising a march without a committee and after the damage is gone. Now is the time for Minister Flanagan to put his neck on the line and say if they close Portlaoise Hospital I am walking away from the party," he said.

There was a huge call for unity across all political parties to come together as one to fight for Portlaoise Hospital in Dail Eireann.

Fine Gael Cllr Willie Aird spoke powerfully about Minister Charlie Flanagan and Sean Fleming's power and tactics in rejecting and destroying the report.

He said that the Minister's tactics from here on out will be key to the future of Portlaoise Hospital. He added that the funding is not there and it has not been there for 30 years for people who worked hard in Portlaosie Hospital.

A decision was made to form a committee to help save Portlaoise Hospital and discuss the options around marching either in Dublin or Portlaoise.
The Leinster Express ran an online poll for four hours on Wednesday, October 25 asking our readers If a march was organised to save Portlaoise A&E would you go?.

HAVE YOUR VOTE IN THE POLL HERE - an update of votes will be done 24 hours after the poll.

Hundreds of people voted in the poll with 97 percent saying they would march in a protest to save Portlaoise A&E.

Three percent of voters said that they would not take part in march to save Portlaoise A&E.

Thousands of people engaged with the post on Facebook and some people left comments sharing their thoughts.

Just tell me where and when and if I can bring my 2 dogs a husky and Alsatian

We marched before for the oncology unit. Look where it got us.

Yes and I'd make sure my family came also.

Yes. Unfortunately I have marched to save our hospital since I was a child in the Seventies and am disgusted that yet again our Government are trying once again to downgrade Portlaoise. Time and again it had been shown that the services in our hospital need to be expanded not reduced. We have had the largest increase in population averaged over the lady 2 Censuses and still we are not big enough.

An emergency public meeting is being held on Wednesday, October 25 at 8pm in The Midlands Park Hotel to discuss the recent leaked plan to downgrade A&E services at Portlaoise Hospital.

Leaked 'Strategic' plan finally confirms Portlaoise hospital downgrade.

Minister Simon Harris responds to Leinster Express on leak of downgrade plan for Portlaoise hospital.

Staggering 200,000 patients present to A&Es in Portlaoise and Dublin / Midlands hospitals.
Reginald D Hunter makes his Laois debut at the Dunamaise Arts Centre this weekend with his highly anticipated brand new show following hugely successful and critically acclaimed tours across Europe and the UK.

Reginalds searingly honest material has garnered him a popular fan base that spans the generations, with his distinctive take on subjects including race and sexuality.

His work can be brutally honest and is often considered to be controversial but it is always meticulously thought out and he has never been afraid to face challenging issues head on, even when the focus is on his own principles or beliefs.

He has become one of the UK comedy industrys best-known performers.

The Leinster Express chatted to Reginald ahead of his visit to Portlaoise this weekend. We fired a couple of questions at him, here are the ones he was happy to answer!

What advice would you give up and coming comedians?

Take as little advice as possible those first few years, take time to discover in what way you are funny.

Have you been to Ireland before?

If I have it has been years and years, I want to live there, I like it very much.

What is your favourite part of your job?

I would have to say that moment that you try something new, something you thought of and you hear that laughter. That moment you prove yourself right in front of a few hundred people. That moment is sweet, it is the moment it connects. I dont know if I have found a drug or a woman that felt better.

What are your comedy influences?

I like stupid stuff, I am embarrassed at my sense of humour, fart noises break me up. In my work I try to take on issues, there is a bit of goofy stupidness. I like a mix of Jack Benny, Redd Foxx, Bill Hicks, Eddie Murphy and Dave Allen, especially lately. Just genuinely cool, not trying to be cool or sexy cool. What makes humans comfortable in their own skin makes them sexy. That whole thing of wanting to put people at ease - I got that from my Dad, he is my biggest influence. Hes 92.

What can people expect from the show?

Its pretty good, its been improving. My comedy brain has switched back on. Daddys going to have to pick some jokes to sit on the bench. Im not going to promise whats in the show, theres no telling what Trump will have done by then. I am laid up with a broken leg watching the news. They can expect to be fairly entertained somewhat geopolitically. I have got one or two things I need to say to Ireland. I am hoping it wont make yall mad.

Gender politics, I have developed a persistent following of pseudo feminists. I have to proof read my logic so I can defend my position. One of my egos about my work is that I can show you the steps I took to arrive at this position , the benefit is that if I am wrong, I can see where and correct it.

My father taught me that there is nothing that cannot be resolved with 15 minutes of honest conversation.

Reginald takes to the stage of the Dunamaise at 8pm this Friday, October 27. Tickets are 26.

Get tickets here.
If someone goes to the toilet in Kilberry it will end up in the river, this was what a local councillor claimed at this months Athy area meeting which was held on Monday.

Cllr Thomas Redmond tabled a motion that the Athy District immediately write to Irish Water and instruct it to fix the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Monasterevin, Kilberry and Athy.

While members agreed that both plants in Monasterevin and Athy are in good working order the main issue, it was noted, was however with the Kilberry plant.

Cllr Redmond said he got a stupid response when he contacted Irish Water on the issue.

I contacted Irish Water and their reply was like putting two fingers up, he said.

Im not happy with Irish Water  the Barrow is where we get our drinking water and the Kilberry plant is a disaster.

Cllr Mark Wall said that Cllr Redmonds allegations were quite serious but added that he too had some concerns.

Director of Services for Athy Joe Boland told the members that Irish Water took over from the council in 2014. He said that the Kilberry plant was due for an upgrade around then by the council but Irish Water then took over and the 'upgrade was stalled'.

Kilberry needs to be upgraded, he said.

I can confirm that this is still a matter for Irish Water. There are no issues with Athy or Monasterevin as both plants are fully compliant. Kilberry has an issue but it is not a priority with Irish Water and that is the bottom line.

Cllr Aoife Breslin said that the issue now needs to be addressed.

Chair Ivan Keatly added that the plant in Kilberry had been left in a state of neglect for too long.

It was agreed that the council would write to Irish Water and request a meeting.

Irish Water earlier this month told the Leader on the issue that the Kilberry Wastewater Treatment Plant, as it is certified by the EPA, discharges to a tributary of the River Barrow. The plant is not considered to have a significant impact on the receiving waters.

READ MORE:Concerns over south Kildare Wastewater Treatment Plants
A 16-person Kildare delegation is setting off today for a week-long trip to Lexington, Kentucky.

The visit will be led by Mayor Martin Miley and will include Kildare County Council officials and representatives of the Councils twinning committee.

Lexington has been twinned with Kildare since 1984. Both areas have strong horse-racing connections, as do Lexingtons other twins under the Sister Cities programme  Deauville, France; Newmarket, UK, and Shinhidaka, Japan. The visit marks the 60th anniversary of Lexingtons participation in the Sister Cities Programme, and takes place in response to an invitation from Lexington-Lafayette County.

Accompanying Mayor Miley are Peter Carey, Kildare County Council chief executive; Peter Minnock, KCCs Director of Services; Cllrs Fintan Brett, Morgan McCabe and Brendan Weld, along with S Cleary, A Cullen, J Donovan, S Griffin, P Linehan, T McNeela, M Moore, A OKeeffe, P OMurchu and L Quinlivan.

The visit will last until Wednesday, November 1.

There are annual exchange programmes for teenage students between Lexington and Kildare, plus racing industry business links.

I am delighted to lead this delegating to Lexington to mark the 60th anniversary of their twinning agreement with Deauville, and am especially pleased that we are building on the academic, business, cultural and equine links already established, said Mayor Miley.
A 26 year-old man jailed for attempted burglary in Athy has told Naas District Court that he can get drugs a short walk from his prison cell.

Noel Kelly, 11 Canal Walk, Athy, was jailed for ten months, following what were aggravating features.

He was convicted of trespass with an intent to steal from 12 Cardington Court in Athy on October 24.

A day later, October 25, at Naas District Court, Mr Kelly pleaded guilty.

Represented by solicitor, Jacqueline McManus and barrister, Richard Wixted, BL, Mr Kelly pleaded to the court to help him with his heroin problem.

The court was told that the owner of the Athy house came home at 6.20pm and spotted a figure in an upstairs room.

Mr Kelly, who had 19 previous convictions fled, but was caught.

The crime was committed while he was on bail.

Mr Wixted said Mr Kelly was a heroin addict, who had tried detox three times.

His convictions were all aimed at feeding his drug habit.

He had been helped in the past, but fell back into the illegal drug habit, which he started as a juvenile, aged sixteen.

Addressing the court, Mr Kelly said: I know I am going to jail but it is not doing me any good. I am trying to get back into treatment.

The addict said he could not handle withdrawal from drugs.

Prison is not going to do me any good and I would ask for a bit of leniency today, he said.

Judge Zaidan said he had tried to help Mr Kelly in the past.

Mr Kelly continued: I am really struggling with it. I am angry at myself. I am sweating under the arms. There are pains in my legs. I am emotional and cold, he told the court.

He went on to describe how he gets heroin in jail.

I would be about five minutes on the landing of the prison, and I will be offered heroin. There is more available in prison than there is on the outside, he said.

Judge Zaidan said he accepted Mr Kelly was different when he was not on drugs. But he had not give the victim of the attempted burglary a chance.

The judge said there is very little treatment in jail.

There should be a specialised setting for drugs and alcohol treatment which is away from the mainstream prison. It is a damning indictment on the system, said Judge Zaidan.

Mr Kelly said when he went back to Athy his addiction spiralled out of control.

Judge Zaidan said it was disheartening to hear drugs could be got on the landing of the prison.

Mr Kelly asked: What do I do?

Judge Zaidan said he would strongly recommend treatment for Mr Kelly in the medical wing in jail.

Mr Kelly then said there was no medical wing in jail.

The court was then told that there was a service in that prison and that if Mr Kelly worked with the team they would try and help him.

If he is determined there is treatment, the judge was told.

Mr Wixted said there were two addiction counsellors for every 850 prisoners.

Judge Zaidan said that around half of prisoners had addiction problems.

Mr Kelly asked if he could get treatment at Cuan Mhuire.

Regarding drugs being available in jail, Judge Zaidan asked rhetorically: How do people get them through security.

He said there were aggravating features to Mr Kellys case and jailed him for ten months.
LIMERICK council boss Conn Murray has clashed with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, saying his governments planning framework is limiting to Limericks potential.

The draft National Planning Framework (NPF) envisages the population of Limerick city to grow from 100,000 to 140,000 by 2040.

But it also suggests a growth of some 250,000 people in Dublin  and Mr Murray says all the plan does is reinforces the imbalance between east and west.

He made the comments at City Hall, where Dublin TD Mr Donohoe was giving a briefing on Budget 2018.

The NPC forecasts one-million extra people in Ireland by 2040  but of these, just 5% will come to Limerick, it suggests.

But a number of parties have said Limerick is likely to outstrip this target.

The approach of the development of city regions is the most forward thinking strategy which has seemed to emerge nationally for a long time. However, the scripting is actually limiting the potential of these city regions, and is not addressing the fundamental issue, which is the balance with Dublin, the chief executive of Limerick City and County Council added.

In response, Mr Donohoe said: Its helpful for me to hear your concerns in regard of alleged caps, and your concern that we might be missing a regional trick. Thats not what we are trying to do.

Chamber chief executive Dr James Ring echoed Mr Murrays concerns, adding: I dont think its a very ambitious strategy. We believe the projected growth in the city is limited. There is too much of an emphasis on growth in Dublin.

He fears that rather than redress the balance, it could bring three-tiers to Ireland  high-population growth in Dublin and Cork, and then the remainder of the nation.

Limericks ambition is far higher than what the governments ambition appears to be, Dr Ring added.

Chamber president Ken Johnson said: Dublin is bursting at the seams in terms of housing, whereas there is an opportunity in the west by linking Limerick, Galway and Cork as a broad region and skewing investment this way.

Mr Donohoe said it is the governments intention to offer a more integrated approach.

This is the reason we made the announcement on the M20 in advance of the 10-year capital plan. We wanted to send out a clear signal that the main missing link in our national road network was incomplete, he said.

Limerick City and County Council has linked up with local authorities in Clare, Tipperary, plus the University of Limerick, the Shannon Foynes Port Company, and the Limerick Institute of Technology to provide a comprehensive submission to the action plan.

The deadline for submissions falls on Friday, November 3.

Following this, a final National Planning Framework will be unveiled by the government.
LIMERICK is a thriving city, hailed Pat McDonagh, the multi-millionaire founder of the Supermacs chain, as he opened their seventh restaurant in Limerick at the weekend.

Mr McDonagh invested some 3m in the premises on the Ballysimon Road, which was officially opened by deputy and former Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, and former rugby star Alan Quinlan.

Sixty jobs were created during the construction phase of the 65-seater restaurant and a further 35 jobs have now been created in the restaurant.

This brings to 300 the number of people employed by Supermacs and So Hotel group in the Limerick region, including the Castletroy Park Hotel, which is also poised for a 9m redevelopment, to include at least 30 extra bedrooms.

Im delighted with the success of this restaurant. A lot of work went into it. It was under planning for three or four years, and it was in the middle of the recession when we got the opportunity to buy the place, Mr McDonagh said at the official opening.

Limerick, he said, is a thriving city and its the envy of a lot of cities around the country because it has everything going for it.

Its a city that going to continue to thrive because I think the people of Limerick have put the effort and the energy into it, led by quality leaders.

 I wish Limerick the very best of luck in the future in attracting more industry to the city

In no small way should we be thanking the former Minister for Finance for helping the city. It has the infrastructure, the education facilities, and quite an awful lot going for it.

Industry wants to come to Limerick, and its a place very close to my own heart, because I went to college in Mary Immaculate. At that time, there were 450 girls and 40 fellows, so the ratio was pretty good, he said.

Mr McDonagh outlined that the next big project is the expansion of the Castletroy Park Hotel, next year.

You dont invest in a business unless you see theres a business there to invest in and theres going to be a great future in it

Deputy Noonan paid tribute to Mr McDonagh for his latest investment in Limerick, adding a seventh store in the city to his suite of outlets.
FRAUDULENT transactions totalling more than 2,000 were completed after a womans debit card was stolen from her purse shortly after she paid for her groceries.

Gardai believe the culprit or culprits obtained the womans PIN by watching her as she was paying and that the debit card was removed from her purse in the car park of the store a short time later. The incident happened last Thursday.

It is believed the card was taken when the woman was distracted by a man who asked her for directions in the the car park.

This lady realised a short time later that her card was missing but in that time over 2,000 worth of transactions had been carried out using her card, said divisional crime prevention officer Sergeantt Ber Leetch.

I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to protect your PIN number, put your hand over the number pad when youre putting it in and be very aware of people around you, she added.

Gardai at Henry Street are investigating the incident.
LIMERICK has received another huge boost this Wednesday, with pharmaceutical firm Regeneron announcing 300 new jobs.

The company, which is based in Dells old factory at the Raheen Industrial Estate, has announced an 84.9m ($100m) investment to further expand its Limerick industrial operations and product supply.

It will mean the company  which is headquartered in Tarrytown, New York  will increase the number of people employed in Raheen to 800.

Regeneron exists to develop drugs for people with serious medical complaints. This latest news brings the total investment by the firm locally to 636m ($750m) since it opened in Limerick back in 2014.

The new jobs will be high-end specialist positions in commercial manufacturing, process sciences, quality assurance/control/validation and various support functions.

Regenerons 400,000 square foot, state-of-the-art production facility in Limerick is the largest scale bulk biologics production facility in Ireland and one of the largest biologic production operations in the world.

And there is yet more good news in terms of employment, with this investment set to support the construction of a number of manufacturing suites to increase drug substance production.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was on hand to formally welcome the announcement, alongside Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.

Regenerons decision to expand so significantly is testament to the talent pool and attractive business environment available to companies in Ireland. This planned further expansion by Regeneron in Limerick is a significant contribution to the rejuvenation of the region, the Taoiseach said.

Ms Fitzgerald added: I am delighted to see the great progress made to date giving rise to further substantial investment and additional jobs to be created in Limerick. It is great news for Limerick and the wider region.

Dan Van Plew, the executive vice president and general manager of industrial operations and product supply at Regeneron said: Gut feel is a large portion of any site selection. When we picked Limerick years ago, we simply felt good about the community, universities and people. A few years and a lot of experience later, I can now confidently say I know Limerick is a place where you can build and thrive as a biotech.

"We are proud of what has happened here and the vast majority of this work has been completed by people who come from Munster. These folks built, validated and began production in a way Id put up against any other team on the planet. We feel at home here and the way we have been welcomed has made our ongoing growth and investment in Limerick rewarding on the most personal levels.

Martin Shanahan, the chief executive of IDA Ireland described the investment as a huge boost for the Mid-West.

Speaking to the Limerick Leader, local Fine Gael Senator Kieran O'Donnell described the announcement as "phenomenal".

"They're here only three and a half years and are looking at a fresh investment. It's a fantastic news story for Limerick. I really want to complement Regeneron and for all involved.

"It is the most modern plant of its type in the world. And it's important to note that a huge percentage of its staff are graduates from LIT and the University of Limerick. Plus 42% of its workforce are women which is a very positive signal."

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Stephen Keary said the announcement was "fantastic news".

"I'm particularly proud that Dan Van Plew, Regenerons executive vice president has confidently proclaimed his belief in Limerick, that it is a place where you can build and thrive as a biotech," he said. "The US$100 million investment is a massive vote of confidence for the Limerick city region and the entire ecosystem that has been created here to foster innovation and to make Limerick more attractive for foreign direct investment.

"The latest investment by Regeneron brings to US$750 million the investment the company has made in Limerick since 2013, when it first announced it was planning to come to Limerick. And it is testament to the local workforce, that their hard work and dedication is being recognised by the company and Limerick is being rewarded with this latest expansion."

Pat Daly, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Economic Development with Limerick City and County Council, said the authority was "working with IDA Ireland to create an environment in the Limerick city region that is attractive for companies to invest".

"Limerick City and County Council is delighted that the strong links between IDA Ireland, the local authority, third level institutions and local business is paying off and seen as a strong selling point for Limerick.

"An additional 300 jobs will bring to 800 the number of people working in Raheen by the end of next year. This is a fantastic boost to the Limerick economy, and for the entire region, as it increases Limericks profile and attractiveness as a location for the biotech sector."

Fine Gael senator Maria Byrne said it was "very exciting news and I am really pleased that Regeneron has decided to expand its operations in Limerick. Todays announcement by Regeneron is a very significant announcement for Limerick and proof that our infrastructure and talented workforce are attractive to big companies."

Delighted to welcome the massive announcement by Regeneron today of 300 new jobs. Further endorsement of Limerick... https://t.co/TjpS0Kfns4  Cllr Daniel Butler (@DanielButlerFG) October 25, 2017

Regeneron expanding in Limerick. Probably the second biggest biopharma plant in Ireland. What a turnaround for Limerick. @IDAIRELAND  Chris van Egeraat (@Cvanegeraat) October 25, 2017

The @regeneron Limerick site is now one of the largest biologics manufacturing facilities in the world. https://t.co/9p7RckTaUO pic.twitter.com/oBzGkQXYJA  IDA Ireland (@IDAIRELAND) October 25, 2017

.@regeneron +300 jobs & investment of $100m, brings the total expected employment to 800 & total investment to $750m https://t.co/9p7RckTaUO pic.twitter.com/pU0ccuHiYn  IDA Ireland (@IDAIRELAND) October 25, 2017

Fantastic news! @regeneron expanding its bioprocessing campus with an additional 300 jobs & investing $100 million #Limerick #WorldofTalent pic.twitter.com/9Miyaaixdr  American Chamber (@AmericanChamber) October 25, 2017

Great to join local reps Kieran ODonnell & Michael Noonan in Limerick for announcement of300 additional jobs for @Regeneron pic.twitter.com/j1IoCNMiXN  Frances Fitzgerald (@FitzgeraldFrncs) October 25, 2017
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The Stockton airport is going to keep calling itself the Stockton airport, for a little while longer.

A proposal to change the name of the Stockton airport to the San Francisco-Stockton Regional Airport was postponed indefinitely on Tuesday, after the folks in charge of christening things in Stockton received a sharply worded letter of protest from the director of San Francisco International Airport.

We formally object, said the letter from SFO Airport Director Ivar Satero to the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors. The new name being considered by Stockton ... is likely to cause confusion or mistake among the public.

If those words werent enough to break off the budding advances from Stockton, Satero added: A relationship or connection between the two airports ... does not exist.

Now Playing: The Stockton Airport is trying to change its name to add San Francisco Airport. The airport manager said the name change will bring the airport more recognition. Video: KCRA

Stockton Metropolitan Airport, 83 miles from San Francisco, was seeking to follow the example of other U.S. airports (Hollywood-Burbank, Reno-Tahoe, Fresno-Yosemite, Melbourne-Orlando) that have  for marketing purposes  hitched their names to more famous destinations located, in some cases, a long way away.

But SFO was having none of it.

The new name ... suggests to consumers that the Stockton Metropolitan Airport is closer to San Francisco than it actually is or that there is great and readier availability of transportation options between Stockton and San Francisco than there actually are, Satero wrote.

Also weighing in on the Stockton-vs.-San Francisco tiff was Rep. Jackie Speier (D-San Mateo), who told the San Joaquin County supervisors in a letter that she objected to the name change, too. She did call it a creative and audacious approach to selling plane tickets to Stockton, but said there were less confusing ways to achieve your goal.

Harry Mavrogenes, the Stockton Metropolitan Airport director who had been pushing for the new name after a marketing study indicated it was the thing to do, said he now supported the decision by the supervisors to postpone voting on it. The whole purpose behind the 11-syllable San Francisco-Stockton Regional Airport, he said, was to make the great city of Stockton a little more recognizable. To that end, the airport naming proposal had done its part.

Were very pleased that so much light got shined on Stockton, Mavrogenes said. Well see where this goes. Well make sure we do all our homework.

Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com
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A Texas woman is turning heads online with her amazing nail-art designs and she might make you want to drive to south Texas for her skills.

Over the past eight years, Nichole Herrera of Artistic Nails has been doing nails in Corpus Christi and has turned to social media to promote her designs.

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For Halloween, Herrera designed a glow-in-the-dark "Nightmare Before Christmas" nail set for her customer - and her Facebook followers couldn't believe the remarkable craftsmanship on her tiny canvases.

"I need these in my life," Sabrina Molina-Crayton commented on the Facebook post. Another user commented saying, "You always outdo yourself! Love them."

"I'm a very patient person and I take my time when I do the nails," Herrera told Chron.com. "If I don't like something, I take it off."

Herrera took about two hours to complete the "Nightmare Before Christmas" nail set. A similar set like this costs the customer about $85: $40 for the acrylic nails and an additional $15 to $45 for the design, depending on how elaborate it is.

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"What I enjoy most about doing nail art is the challenge," Herrera told Chron.com "I see a picture of what someone wants me to do on their nails I get a little nervous, but once I'm done I'm like 'heck yeah that looks awesome!' Most the times my clients say it looks even better than the original."

She continued to say that her clients are more like her "close" friends and she "knows their whole lives and they know mine," she said.

Herrera's other designs vary, but she's created specialized nails with various themes, including back to school, Thanksgiving, "Snoopy" Christmas and loads more. To see her creative creations, go through the photos above.
Emerging technology investment hub VelocityTX says it is planning a brand new fast track program with its Brazilian partner Outsource Brazil, known as OBr, to prepare companies to go international.

And companies  as a part of that program  are coming to San Antonio.

Dubbed the 6+3 program, the OBr and VelocityTX-run program will prepare lucky startups for the international journey in the Brazilian market for six months, according to a news release. Those companies will then come to San Antonio for three months, to the planned VelocityTX innovation center at the Merchants Ice complex, according to the release.

San Antonio is the best place in the USA to begin gauging your go-to-market strategy, not Silicon Valley, said OBr CEO Robert Janssen in the release. OBr recognizes that the overall value proposition for startups coming out of emerging countries is best aligned with San Antonio and Texas as a whole.

Eventually the goal is to get the startups in 6+3 to have a permanent location in San Antonio, but that depends on their specific needs, Krista Covey, vice president of economic development and operations at VelocityTX, said in a statement via email. But for the three months the companies will be housed in the San Antonio innovation center, and VelocityTX will be working with them and investing in them, Covey said.

VelocityTX is a new subsidiary of the Texas Research and Technology Foundation, which has said it would use part of its recent purchase of the historic Merchants Ice complex on the East Side for VelocityTX to establish a multi-building innovation center.

For now the 6+3 program is specific to the OBr partnership, Covey said. VelocityTX also recently announced it was partnering with Austral Incuba, of Chile.

The organizations partnership with OBr, and with Austral Incuba of Chile, will result in companies coming to the Merchants Ice campus in 2018, VelocityTX Vice President of Global Development David Fonseca said in a news release.

VelocityTXs team is fully focused on economic development for San Antonio by bringing in the best growth companies in emerging markets, Fonseca said.

VelocityTX CEO Jorge Varela had said earlier this month that the organization has tentative agreements to work with six significant business development centers in Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica, Argentina, Peru and India.

sehlinger@express-news.net | Twitter: @samehlinger
One of the two people fatally gunned down in a rampage Monday in the Lake County town of Clearlake Oaks was the 85-year-old father of the gunman, who also shot and wounded a woman and a California Highway Patrol officer, authorities said Tuesday.

Investigators have yet to determine why 61-year-old Alan Ashmore went on the deadly shooting spree, but said it started just after 11 a.m. at the home of his father, Douglas Ashmore.

Alan Ashmore fatally shot his dad with a semiautomatic handgun outside the elderly mans home in the 13000 block of Anchor Village in the Clear Lake Keys area of Clearlake Oaks, said Lt. Norm Taylor of the Lake County Sheriffs Office. The suspect also shot a 22-year-old Middletown woman in the foot during an argument inside the house, Taylor said.

Ashmore also fired at several neighbors, but missed, Taylor said.

During the spate of violence, which lasted about 90 minutes, Alan Ashmore fired shots at several houses, a winery and two gas stations and set wildfires. He left authorities with seven crime scenes to investigate, Taylor said.

Even before the gunfire began, neighbors noticed trouble was afoot, Taylor said. Richard Braden, 64, a longtime friend of Ashmore, was seen at Douglas Ashmores residence banging on the front door and windows, Taylor said.

When no one answered, Braden parked nearby on Anchor Village and sat in his car, only to be shot to death by Ashmore, Taylor said.

Ashmore then tore around town in his white Chevrolet Tahoe, armed with a Remington 1200 12-gauge semiautomatic shotgun, a Raven arms .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol and numerous rounds of ammunition, Taylor said.

He drove to a neighbors house on Anchor Village and shot at the residence, prompting a woman inside to jump out a window and suffer non-life-threatening injuries, Taylor said.

Ashmore shot at several other houses, including one of a former employer, before a CHP officer tried to pull him over, Taylor said. The officer was shot in the leg during the confrontation and was treated at a hospital and released, said Officer Kory Reynolds of the CHP office in Kelseyville.

Ashmore fled in his sport utility vehicle to a Chevron station in the 13200 block of Highway 20, Taylor said.

Bob George, the owner of the Chevron station, said he was in a backroom receiving a delivery from a beer vendor when he heard a great, big, loud boom.

He said Ashmore entered the stations market just as the vendor was leaving. He said Ashmore bumped into the vendor and nearly knocked him over.

The vendor turned to him and said, What the hell are you doing? and the guy turned around and shot the gun, George said. He was like 5 feet away from the vendor when he shot the gun.

The round missed the vendor and hit an advertising sign, breaking the front window.

As George ran out of the back door, he saw Ashmore running to his vehicle with a shotgun and a 2-liter Pepsi. The beer vendor, who has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, returned fire, shattering the windows of Ashmores SUV, George said.

After the shooting at the Chevron, Ashmore drove to the Power Mart on Highway 20 near Foothill Boulevard, where he stole a pack of cigarettes, a cigarette lighter and had an altercation with another person, Taylor said. There were no reported injuries.

As he drove east on Highway 20 toward High Valley Road, Ashmore set several wildfires, Taylor said, just days after the Sulphur Fire tore through the area and destroyed more than 150 homes while burning 2,207 acres. The fires were quickly put out by the Northshore Fire Protection District and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Taylor added.

Ashmore made a pit stop at Brassfield Winery, on the 10000 block of High Valley Road, where he shot at a person there, but missed, Taylor said.

Police caught up with Ashmore and chased him until he ran into a roadblock set up by CHP officers and a Lakeport police officer at Bartlett Springs and High Valley roads. He surrendered without incident and was arrested on suspicion of murder and robbery.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @SarRavani
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Most did not notice the slight figure dressed all in black on San Franciscos Pier 14, but a few who did testified Tuesday about the mans unusual behavior before and after the single shot rang out that killed Kate Steinle.

On the second day of the trial into the shooting that intensified a national debate around immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies, the prosecution sought to bolster its assertion that the defendant, Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, intentionally fired toward Steinle as she walked along the waterfront with her father on the evening of July 1, 2015.

The defense, which says Garcia Zarate found the gun wrapped in a T-shirt under a bench before it fired accidentally in his hands, questioned the reliability of the witnesses recollections.

A tourist, Michelle Lo, testified that she saw Garcia Zarate spinning in his seat and laughing to himself just before a bullet pierced Steinle in the back.

Now Playing: A "freakish ricochet" after a stolen gun went off in the hands of the homeless man who found it led to the accidental shooting of Kathryn Steinle as she walked on Pier 14 with her father two years ago, according to Matt Gonzalez, chief attorney for t Video: Fox5Atlanta

Later, Maria Moreno, an elementary school teacher who had been visiting San Francisco, told jurors she witnessed the aftermath of the shooting from her fifth-floor room in a nearby hotel, and saw Garcia Zarate hurrying away with a scowl on his face and his hands balled into fists in his pockets.

Neither witness could settle the main question in the Superior Court trial, which is whether the shooting was intentional or accidental, but prosecutors are seeking to build evidence establishing that Garcia Zarate acted with the implied malice, or intent, needed to convict him of second-degree murder.

Through a Cantonese interpreter, Lo testified she was visiting San Francisco from the East Coast when she and her sister brought their children to the pier. Just before the shooting, she said, she glanced briefly at Garcia Zarate as she walked by him.

Garcia Zarate was dressed in black, grinning and looking at everyone who passed him as he spun on a seat near the middle of the pier, Lo said. She said she noticed him because of his movements, and that she continued to the end of the walkway to take pictures of San Francisco Bay.

In cross-examination, Matt Gonzalez of the public defenders office questioned Los recollection, asking if she remembered telling officers after the shooting that she did not see the mans face.

He asked why Lo did not initially tell officers she saw Garcia Zarate laughing and grinning, and suggested her identification of the defendant may have been influenced by seeing photos of him after his arrest.

I saw him physically that day, and then I saw his photograph, Lo said. That is how I remember him.

Gonzalez questioned the teacher, Moreno, about her description of Garcia Zarates hands balled into fists, and why that differed from photos she took of him. Moreno stood by her recollection, saying that while two photographs may show him with one hand out, she saw him with a scowl on his face.

Her roommate, Aryn Carpenter, who was with her in the hotel room, testified that she and Moreno zeroed in on the man because he appeared to be the only one leaving the pier as others rushed to help Steinle, though he walked slowly, almost casually.

Gonzalez is seeking to prove the shooting was an accident that occurred when his client stumbled upon the .40-caliber Sig Sauer.

The gun had been stolen from a U.S. Bureau of Land Management rangers car four days before the shooting, when the off-duty ranger drove into the city and parked along the Embarcadero. No one has been arrested in the burglary.

Because Garcia Zarate, a 45-year-old Mexican citizen, was in the country illegally, the case added fuel to the anti-immigration fervor that helped propel President Trump into the White House.

Before the shooting, Garcia Zarate had been on track for a sixth deportation after serving 46 months in prison for felony re-entry into the country. But he was transferred from federal custody to County Jail in March 2015 on an old warrant alleging he fled marijuana charges in 1995.

When city prosecutors discharged the case, the Sheriffs Department released Garcia Zarate despite a federal request to hold him for deportation, relying on the citys sanctuary policies.

The case sparked a push against the policies, and the House of Representatives in June passed Kates Law, which would boost punishment for people who repeatedly enter the U.S. illegally.

San Francisco has stood by its sanctuary laws, with officials saying they benefit public safety by ensuring that immigrants, including witnesses to crimes, feel comfortable working with authorities. Gov. Jerry Brown this month signed a bill to create a statewide sanctuary policy.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo
The thriller-ish premise of "All I See Is You" sounds familiar enough: A woman, blind since a childhood accident that killed her parents, undergoes surgery to restore sight in one eye, only to discover that her seemingly devoted husband is - well, what exactly? A prude? A control freak? Someone who doesn't like dogs?

In this bait-and-switch of a movie, marketed like a modern "Gaslight" but in truth a dim-bulb marital melodrama, the chills - let alone the shocks - are nonexistent. And the secrets that are revealed, to the extent that a viewer is able to make out what they are, remain murky, even to the end of the movie.

Blake Lively plays Gina, who, as the film opens, is living with her adoring, insurance-executive husband James (Jason Clarke) in what an on-screen title informs us is Bangkok. We are again reminded of the unlikely setting - given the scarcity of actual Thai people seen - when Gina is shown eating carryout from Bangkok Kitchen. Never mind that this sounds more like the name of a restaurant in Cleveland than in Thailand.

Director Marc Forster ("World War Z") juices up the mysterious atmosphere in his story (written with Sean Conway) from the get-go, shooting with a blurry, impressionist evocation of blindness that you might call impair-o-vision. Sudden, loud noises intrude on the inchoate swirl of light and shapes, meant to suggest Gina's enhanced sense of hearing but actually evoking a cheesy horror film. The movie has barely begun, and already it feels like we're supposed to be afraid of something. Yet it isn't clear what - or whom.

Once Gina regains her sight, her relationship with James almost immediately starts to deteriorate. She's an animal lover, he isn't, and he complains about the dog she has adopted without his permission. Permission? Uh-oh.

James also disapproves when Gina begins dressing more provocatively, dyeing her straw-colored hair light blond and, during a visit to Barcelona to see her sister (Ahna O'Reilly), watching a peep show featuring a couple copulating in animal masks. Although Gina and James's sex life seemed fine before, it's obvious that something is off now. In one scene, James panics when Gina ties him up, blindfolds him and mounts him in, one assumes, an effort to turn the tables.

Clearly, there was something unhealthy about their relationship all along: a power imbalance that has uncomfortably shifted now that Gina has gained more independence. At the same time, some of her new behavior is demonstrably odd. The trip to Spain, for instance, includes a morbid pilgrimage to the spot where Gina's parents died. She also bathes with her nephew (Xavi Sanchez) and places a dead bird in the fridge after it flies into a pane of glass.

Throughout all of these head-scratching red herrings, Forster's Hitchcockian camera keeps drawing our attention to the eyedrops that Gina's doctor (Danny Huston) has prescribed to reduce inflammation but which seem to have the opposite effect, causing a loss of visual acuity. At one point, there's a mysterious break-in at James and Gina's apartment, and the couple's dog goes missing. Gina, who seems to be drifting further and further away from her husband - to the point of infidelity - is going blind again. Whether it's because of tainted drops - and who is doing the tainting and why - is an enigma, albeit not much of one.

"All I See is You" is a drama of sexual compulsion and control masquerading as a mystery. Despite a modicum of visual style and competent performances, it is unable to keep us guessing - or, more important, to make us care - long enough to work up true suspense.

Does James want Gina to go blind so he can feel needed again? Or does Gina, having experienced a world that is simultaneously more - and less - than the one she dreamed of, decide that she was better off in the dark? These are all good questions. But they are not answered, let alone asked, in "All I See Is You." When Gina tells James that the world in front of her is "not how I imagined," you may find yourself sharing that same sense of letdown.

---

One and one-half stars. Rated R. Contains sex, nudity, strong language, including sexual dialogue, and some bloody images. 110 minutes.

Ratings Guide: Four stars masterpiece, three stars very good, two stars OK, one star poor, no stars waste of time.

End advance fri oct. 27
In "Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver" (Penguin), one of our most beloved writers offers both the best of her work and a spiritual road map of sorts. Spanning more than 50 years and featuring more than 200 poems, the collection shows Oliver, in the early years, turning away from grief and finding in nature a "vast, incredible gift." Over time, as she carefully observes and records, Oliver extols the beauty and complexity around her and reminds us of the interconnectedness of living. She also asks important questions, such as "have you ever dared to be happy/ ... have you ever dared to pray," and "Tell me, what it is you plan to do/ with your one wild and precious life?" Those lines resonate as much today as when she first penned them decades ago. No matter where one starts reading, "Devotions" offers much to love, from Oliver's exuberant dog poems to selections from the Pulitzer Prize-winning "American Primitive," and "Dream Work," one of her exceptional collections. Perhaps more important, the luminous writing provides respite from our crazy world and demonstrates how mindfulness can define and transform a life, moment by moment, poem by poem.

---

Nikki Giovanni's "A Good Cry" (William Morrow) may cause readers to weep in places, as when she describes watching her father beat her mother every Saturday night. That experience, which taught a young Giovanni "It will not be/ All Right/ So I must learn/ To cry," forms the emotional center of this book. Other losses - the deaths of friends, the pain of fathers who must bury their sons, aging - also shape her perspective, as do the grandparents, writers and other people who have enriched her life. Giovanni, who has published 27 collections of poetry and received the first Rosa Parks Woman of Courage Award, covers wide ground here as she celebrates unsung activists and heroes of history, and muses about the future of humanity in space. The work shifts from topic to topic, as if the poet feels compelled to share what she has learned about perseverance, joy and sorrow from decades of writing, teaching and advocacy. Sometimes that includes much-needed wisdom, as in these lines from the poem "The Past ... the Present ... the Future": "We cannot undo/ The past we can build/ the future" but "When we decide to thank the Deity/ ... We will all ... no matter which/ Ideology ... wrap our arms/ Around each other." The best writing here is surprising and poignant, and shows Giovanni's strength and originality.

---

The title poem of "Good Bones," by Maggie Smith (Tupelo), went viral earlier this year because its central theme - wanting to believe in the goodness of the world for the sake of one's children - connected with so many people. The other pieces in this collection, Smith's third, provide a fuller understanding of the complexities faced by the speaker, who tries to teach everything a child needs for survival, but admits that "What can I say but stay/ alive? You're new, and there's too much to learn." Sometimes motherhood makes her feel invincible, which she knows is not the case. Or she - like the reader - is charmed and touched by the innocent yet wise perspective of her children, who wonder about the sky, the past and the future. At other times, the writing is heartbreakingly real, as when the speaker mourns the loss of two "dears I was not meant to have" or must teach her children to avoid strangers offering rides or puppies, without destroying their faith in this world. Several poems have a fable-like feel, as hawks, crows, hunters and a mountain family reveal truths about childhood and the fragility of human life. No matter what the style or subject, though, the writing remains honest, compassionate and graceful, and the speaker maintains her determination to "love the world like a mother."

---

bookworld@washpost.com

Lund writes about poetry every month for The Washington Post.
Around the time of Halloween and DIa de los Muertos, the separation between the corporal and spiritual worlds is at its thinnest, so say true believers.

Which is another reminder that, despite store shelves being lined with sugar skulls next to Halloween totems, Dia de los Muertos isn't about collecting candy, it's about honoring those lost.

"As this time gets more commercialized, we feel it's real important to keep it rooted in tradition, especially here in the United States," says Xavier Herrera, a high school teacher and leader of Danza Azteca Taxca Yoloztl, a local dance group that looks to continue a tradition almost as old as Dia de los Muertos, which begins on Tuesday.

Cemetery visits and all-night veladas, or vigils, to connect with the spirits of those who have passed on, are all parts of traditional Dia de los Muertos celebrations. Then there's the familiar face painting and that tasty, sugar-sprinkled pan de muertos, which is supposed to be a treat for those on both sides of the dead/living divide.

More Information Dia de los Muertos Festival When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday Where: MECA Houston, 1900 Kane Details: Free; facebook.com/MECAHouston See More Collapse

But don't forget about danza, an ancient dance that goes back centuries to the beat of a drum and indigenous hollers.

The four basic elements are always present during a danza event - water, air, fire and earth. It's an ancient ritual that involves incense burning, elaborate head dressing and shells wrapped around the feet.

"Traditionally, its stayed alive since the conquest in families and passed down from parents to kids. Our more modern history is it being passed down in the community. It's kind of like martial arts, in a way. You find a teacher," Herrera says.

Danza is not a martial art, but it was military training during pre-Columbian times.

Herrera is the first palabra, the leader of his danza group, which will perform this weekend at the Dia de los Muertos Festival at MECA Houston. He teaches the dances and some of the history and meaning behind the dance.

"For me, personally, it was a way to reconnect with my indigenous roots. Growing up, I called myself Hispanic, as a Tejano, I was second-generation, American born," he says during a break at his teaching job. "With the second-generations, we were taught more to assimilate in the American society, and learn English and not really learn Spanish. That was done in order to succeed in school."

Herrera, a Corpus Christi native, moved to Houston in 2002. He's been practicing danza for about 15 years.

"Looking at myself in the mirror, I knew that I wasn't European or Spanish. I knew I had a certain look, and learning more about Mexican and Mexican-American there was that native root in there that I had no knowledge of. None of that culture," he says. "It was a way for me to reconnect with that side of my culture that was lost in my family."

That connection with the spiritual dance went beyond an esoteric relationship with Aztec ancestors, it meant learning about history and cultural importance, and Herrera was able to strengthen bonds with his immediate family.

Danza is a practice that's easily found throughout the Southwest, Mexico and anywhere in the U.S. where large populations of Mexican-American's gather.

"There's about three that I know of, there are more if you include the church groups," Herrera says about danza groups in Houston. For Herrera's Danza Azteca Taxcayolotl group, it is more of a community gathering, with around 20 people holding regular sessions in Eastwood Park. The name of the group means "working together with the same heart."

Herrera explains it as a metaphor for people coming together with the same vision. And during regular dance sessions, that's precisely what the group is trying to do. The vision in this case is reaching out to the past and strengthening the knowledge of indigenous Mexican culture of people in Houston.

But like a lot of the others, the tools of the danza are mostly the same: instruments such as the huehuetl, or drum, made from the trunk of a tree and the caracol, or trumpet shell, that helps initiate the danza ceremonies. The feathered copilli is the headdress that provides the look of an Aztec warrior.

It does more than provide a cultural look, though, it can connect beyond the costume and into the spirit of the culture.

"I was able to communicate things to my grandparents," Herrera said after entering the danza lifestyle. "I was saying things to them on their deathbeds, and it was some of the most profound conversations I've had with them, right before they passed on to the other world. Without the danza, I probably wouldn't have been that interested in learning and connecting in the way that I did."
On a recent Saturday afternoon, Laura Ingraham sat at the head of her long kitchen table. Her shoes were kicked off, but she was hardly relaxed, having just rushed home after giving a morning speech to a convention of social conservatives.

A stylist was touching up her lip gloss for a photo shoot. Holding very still as her hair was brushed, Ingraham sent her 12-year-old daughter Maria off to grab a guest a can of LaCroix. Her young sons, Dmitri and Nikolai, were playing outdoors, and Ingraham sent word that they should clean up the balls and pumps they had strewn about the garage of their gated McLean, Virginia, mansion.

"We fed them, right?" she asked her babysitter.

Ingraham has spent more than three decades in the D.C. political-media-industrial complex while perfecting the public performance of conservative firebrand, and it's paid off. A big home on a tree-lined street, chummy relationships with politicians, fabulous family vacations with well-heeled friends, assistants to help her tend to her kids and remind her to pay her bills.

Next week, her star will rise even higher. The queen of conservative talk radio, whose "Laura Ingraham Show" is heard in 230 markets, is adding a nightly Fox News prime-time show to her media empire.

Even as she's climbed the ranks in Washington, Ingraham has maintained her connection with loyal listeners, who, like her, want to stick it to the establishment. She is a member of the East Coast media elite but says she wants to speak for the "heartland."

In that way, she's similar to President Donald Trump - a billionaire born into wealth who has positioned himself as champion of the working man. Like Trump, who lived in a gilded Manhattan tower before the White House, Ingraham sees no irony in enjoying the trappings of D.C. success while flouting the conventions of "political correctness."

On her radio show last summer: "Oh, we have a new transgender update for you as well," she said. "For all of you who are bathroom-goers. ... You use public restrooms? I think a lot of people are going to be walking around with just Depends on from now on. They're just not going to use the bathroom. Adult diapers, diapers for everybody."

Ingraham, 54, who said she doesn't spend a lot of time worrying about whom she offends, chooses to see herself as a happy conservative warrior, her mother's daughter and a woman with working-class roots.

"I never forget where I came from - ever," said Ingraham, who grew up in Glastonbury, Connecticut, where her mother worked as a waitress. "My mother told me when I left for college, 'Never forget your roots,' and I never have. ... I say to my kids regularly, 'Don't get used to any of this because tomorrow, if we have to, I'll be cleaning toilets.' "

---

On a recent Thursday night, friends turned out to toast Ingraham's new book, "Billionaire at the Barricades: The Populist Revolution From Reagan to Trump." The party was held at the Capitol Hill rowhouse that serves as a headquarters for Breitbart News, the conservative website, and a seat of power for its chairman Steve Bannon, the former White House strategist now attempting to lead a nationalist revolt within the Republican Party.

"I don't know how you do it all," Bannon gushed, adding that Trump and "our movement" owed Ingraham a debt of gratitude.

The jubilant scene was more evidence that Ingraham's faction of the civil war ravaging the GOP is ascendant. The nationalist populists who drove Trump to power, including her old friend Stephen Miller, now senior policy adviser at the White House, mingled with mainstream journalists and establishment consultants.

And yet, it was still every bit the D.C. swamp that Ingraham has been railing against since she arrived in Washington 31 years ago as part of the pack of brash, young Reagan conservatives.

"I never saw her wilt under pressure," said Gary Bauer, the conservative activist who gave Ingraham her first D.C. job, as a speechwriter, when he served as Department of Education deputy.

After earning a law degree at the University of Virginia, she returned to Washington to clerk at the Supreme Court for Clarence Thomas. She worked briefly for a law firm but soon broke out on TV as a political talking head. In the early days, her name was often mentioned alongside Ann Coulter and Kellyanne Fitzpatrick Conway - two other blond conservative pundits on their way up. Her first book, published in 2000, argued that then-first lady Hillary Clinton's ideas had set women back, amounting to "demanding special gender privileges to get ahead."

The next year, Ingraham got her talk radio show. In 2005, she used this megaphone to help sink President George W. Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court by asserting that the White House counsel was insufficiently conservative. During the Obama years, she railed against most everything he did. And she was an early proponent of Trumpism - an anti-immigration, tax-slashing America Firster who opposed big trade deals and international organizations such as the United Nations because, as she proclaims in her new book, they "take power out of the hands of the voters and give it to a far-away and often hostile global elite."

"She was Trump before Trump," said Brian Rosenwald, an instructor at the University of Pennsylvania who is writing a book about talk radio's impact on politics and public policy.

Ingraham, the only woman in the top tier of conservative talk radio, has mastered the rhythm of the medium, he said. She and her producers use funny sound effects and toss off derisive nicknames - John F. Kerry as "Lurch" from "The Addams Family." To drive home her restrictive views of immigration, she'll reframe a mainstream media story about an immigrant as an "illegal immigration sob story."

It's a rhetorical style that's made her a lightning rod for liberal critics, perhaps second only to Coulter.

"She's right-wing radio's high priestess of hate," said Rory O'Connor, a liberal journalist and author of "Shock Jocks," a book that lays out some of her more offensive lines through the years, such as calling the children of immigrants in the country illegally "anchor fetuses."

Ingraham argues that the left calls almost everyone who supported Trump a "hater." "They prefer to maintain their monopoly on satire and criticism - where only conservatives are the ones skewered," she said.

---

Fox News is banking on Ingraham's star power, though their longtime contributor has not yet proved that she can hold down a television show. In the late 1990s, Ingraham hosted a short-lived MSNBC show, "Watch It!"; in 2008, her hour-long weekday Fox program, "Just In," ran for less than a month. What works on radio doesn't always translate to the faster pace of TV, where personal chatter and brassy humor can come off as unsophisticated.

But with the channel's prime-time lineup in flux since the departure of Megyn Kelly for NBC and the ouster of Bill O'Reilly amid sexual harassment allegations, Ingraham was tapped for the high-profile 10 p.m. slot. Most everyone assumes that Trump will be watching her.

"I'm going to be watching his administration very closely, and I've never been shy of criticizing - I hope (in) a positive way - and critiquing when they're falling short if they're betraying the promise of America First," said Ingraham. She says she seriously considered joining the Trump White House in a communications role. But people who know her think Ingraham is more likely to run for office herself, with many speculating about a challenge to Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.

As an attractive woman who came to prominence at a relatively young age, she has been an enduring fascination for Washington gossips, linked romantically to liberal VIPs such as Keith Olberman and Larry Summers. She took to the airwaves to explain her broken engagement with Washington businessman James Reyes, which ended soon after she was diagnosed with breast cancer about a decade ago.

She has also developed a reputation among those who frequent D.C.'s green rooms as a temperamental colleague. Videos and audio clips of Ingraham sternly correcting her staff for slip-ups on her shows have circulated online. (LifeZette.com, the website she co-founded in 2015, has been blasted for trafficking in dubious conspiracy theories, though Ingraham has been only distantly involved and will step away from the site as she launches her show.)

Ingraham's longtime friend Raymond Arroyo, who had appeared on her radio show, scoffs at the criticism. "Her observations can be so incisive that at times they might be cutting," said Arroyo, a news anchor for the Eternal Word Television Network. "But, more often than not, those are over work-related issues where the other party didn't do what they were supposed to do."

Her friends add that adopting her children was transformative. Her daughter is from Guatemala, and her sons are from Russia, where Ingraham spent time in college.

Her children are regular characters in the stories Ingraham tells about herself on her radio show, and her life as a mother is a reference point she often uses to try to outline some commonality with people who disagree with her politically.

Gay Hart Gaines, a wealthy GOP donor who is hosting Ingraham and her children for Thanksgiving in West Palm Beach, Florida, put it this way: "My God, that little girl from Guatemala was brought back from poverty in the embrace of Laura and now she is getting an amazing education," Gaines said. "... My God, and those two little boys."

---

What Ingraham has done well on her shows is conflict. On air, she often seems to be spoiling for a fight.

"We are a nation divided, but that's what makes us, in a way," she said.

Ryan Williams, a GOP operative, went on Ingraham's show several times in the 2016 cycle representing Jeb Bush's campaign at a time when the former front-runner had become a punching bag for conservatives. Williams understood his role was to be her foil.

"She'll rib you and talk over you, but I got to make my points and enjoyed the experience," Williams said. "You have to understand the medium and know what you're getting into before you go on her radio show. ... She would vehemently disagree with me, and she would talk over me and I talked over her. You can't back down, because she never will."

Away from the cameras, Ingraham's demeanor is more reserved, said Phil Lerman, a neighbor who became a friend. Ingraham would come home in full TV makeup from appearances on Fox and sit down for a glass of chardonnay with him and his wife.

Lerman, a freelance producer and writer whose politics are liberal, would rib her - saying, "You've been out spreading the evil word."

Ingraham would laugh, Lerman recalled. They rarely talked politics.
A veteran's assimilation into civilian life comes with high expectations - ones made even higher when the returning warrior has wounds that can't be seen. With limbs intact and no significant scarring, so the thinking goes, adjustment should be easy.

Yet it's the expectations of the former soldiers themselves - not society's - that are set the highest.

That's a small piece of the wisdom behind "Thank You for Your Service," an observant drama about returning veterans based on the nonfiction book by David Finkel, an editor and former reporter at The Washington Post. Feelings of guilt and shame - to say nothing of post-traumatic stress - often pervade the lives of former soldiers. Writer-director Jason Hall astutely conveys these and other facets of the modern veteran's experience, generating authentic drama, in scenes that play out in unexpected ways.

The film opens in 2007, with an intense vignette from the Iraq War: Sergeant Adam Schumann (Miles Teller) leads his team to a rooftop, where a soldier (Scott Haze) is almost immediately shot in the head. Adam carries the stricken man back down the stairs, getting covered in blood. Smash forward to Adam's flight home, where anxious family members wait inside an airport hangar, Adam's wife, Saskia (Haley Bennett), among them.

Saskia's excitement is short-lived, since Adam is already experiencing hallucinations and PTSD. His friend Solo (Beulah Koale) is worse off still, with memory loss resulting from a series of head injuries. In private conversation and at therapy sessions provided by a seemingly indifferent Department of Veterans Affairs, both men acknowledge their trauma. Yet the path forward is littered with red tape, and emotional peril.

Hall, the filmmaker, shrewdly burrows into Adam's and Solo's psyches, revealing character obliquely through mundane activities that serve to highlight the depth of their troubles. In one remarkable scene in which Adam brushes his teeth and makes breakfast for his daughter, Teller communicates the soldier's internalized sense of purpose: Before, he would brush his teeth while gearing for battle. Now, with the stakes so much lower, he feels an aimlessness, a sense of disappointment that is impossible to share or explain.

That's but one of the myriad minor adjustments that Adam must make, while others have the potential to be deadly. When Adam and Solo go hunting before dawn, for instance, Adam thinks he sees an armed enemy approaching in the woods. Many films, including this one, use jump scares and hallucinatory imagery to suggest post-traumatic stress. Here, there are few special effects, conveying with simple, blunt power the breathtaking intensity of Adam's and Solo's imaginations.

The film is strongest, however, when it subverts expectation. When Adam salutes a superior officer at VA, his deference and sense of duty is met with a withering put-down. When Saskia joins Adam at a counseling session in which he openly discusses suicidal thoughts, his confession results in mutual laughter, not tears. Hall, who wrote the screenplay for "American Sniper," brings a wartime sense of the unknown to domestic drama. If the soldier on patrol never knows what danger lurks around the corner, the veteran, likewise, has no idea what small, innocuous thing might be a comfort - or an emotional trigger.

Teller, who made a splash in such coming-of-age films as "The Spectacular Now" and "Whiplash," brings a maturity and nonverbal eloquence to Adam, especially in scenes in which he yearns to tell his wife his true feelings but all he can muster is a thousand-yard stare. Koale's performance is the showier of the two, since Solo's symptoms include lashing out and covering up for lost cognitive ability. Like Saskia, Solo's wife (Keisha Castle-Hughes) is compassionate, but only up to a point. The story is at its most poignant when we're shown how and why these women finally lose their patience.

"Service" is flawed only because the demands of narrative cinema require an ending, while recovery, at least in the real world, is a lifelong process. When Adam shares his darkest secret with a widow (a miscast Amy Schumer), the film frames it like a form of redemption, albeit one that's unearned. Parts of Solo's subplot - a story arc whose thriller-ish elements feel borrowed from an entirely different movie - are similarly inauthentic.

But if the film does justice to veterans and the pervasive problems that many of them face - and it does - it's not because it offers the possibility of healing, but something far more important: a simple acknowledgment of, and empathy for, their experience.

---

Three stars. Rated R. Contains wartime violence, pervasive crude language, drug material, some sexuality and brief nudity. 109 minutes.

Ratings Guide: Four stars masterpiece, three stars very good, two stars OK, one star poor, no stars waste of time.

End advance fri oct. 27
Now 89, Agnes Varda has had a long and honorable career in the movies as an early member of the French New Wave, and one of that movements few women. In both fiction and documentary forms, she has specialized in humane portraits, typically of working-class people and often with a feminist slant.

Because of age and illness, Varda is losing her sight, and Faces Places, which she co-directed, could be her last film. If so, shes going out on a high note.

She made the movie with a much younger colleague, the French photographer and artist JR, born in 1983. It documents a road trip they made to corners of France that are well off the beaten path, such as a dying town that was once a home to many coal miners. At these sites, the pair photographed the locals and left behind huge blowups of the images on various structures.

Combining the New Wave practices of location shooting and using nonprofessionals with its disdain for commercial cinema, the film clearly echoes her previous work. Among her documentaries, perhaps the most memorable is Jacquot de Nantes (1983) about her dying husband, director Jacques Demy. Outstanding among her fictional works are Cleo From 5 to 7 (1962) and Vagabond (1985).

Besides their age difference, Varda and JR are a droll study in contrasts. Hes tall, shes very short. Hes a hipster, shes an old-school bohemian. He constantly wears sunglasses. Both are energetic, but he has a prickly side that she lacks. Though new acquaintances, in the course of the film they develop a deep affection for each other.

They drive from city to town to village in a truck decked out like a huge camera, which contains a photo booth that spits out mammoth instant pictures. These become the straight-ahead images pasted on barns, houses, fences, etc., that seem invariably to tickle their subjects. (That everyones excited by the images and their placement may be genuine or may be the result of editing. Maybe its not important.)

A less happy note is sounded when the two set off for a prearranged visit to the home of Vardas old comrade-in-arms, Jean-Luc Godard. The outcome is bitterly disappointing to Varda, who has some hard words for her long-ago buddy. In contrast, the movies most touching sequence is when Varda and JR visit her (very) aged mother. The simple and relentless passage of time is central to Faces Places.

Varda herself is as much the subject of the movie as any of the people the pair photograph. At one point, she crisply considers her own death: Im looking forward to it. Because thatll be that. This is someone worth spending time with.

Walter Addiego is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: waddiego@sfchronicle.com

Faces Places

Documentary. Directed by JR and Agnes Varda. In French with English subtitles. (PG. 90 minutes.)
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MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON

1001 Bissonnet; mfah.org

"Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards": An in-depth portrait of master shoe designer Manolo Blahnik. 2 p.m. Thursday

"Ex Libris: New York Public Library": Filmmakers delve into the New York Public Library. 5 p.m. Sunday

"Near Dark": A small-town farmer's son joins a traveling group of vampires after he is turned by a beautiful drifter. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday

"Night of the Living Dead": People barricade themselves in an old farmhouse in an attempt to remain safe from flesh-eating monsters. 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday

MEMORIAL CITY MALL

303 Memorial City Way; memorialcity.com

"Hotel Transylvania": Dracula operates a high-end resort away from the human world. 7 p.m. Friday

DISCOVERY GREEN

1500 McKinney; discoverygreen.com

"Hotel Transylvania 2": Dracula and his friends try to bring out the monster in his grandson. 7:30 p.m. Friday

ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE CINEMA

531 Mason, Katy; drafthouse.com/houston

"Steel Magnolias": A young beautician finds work at a local salon, where a small group of women share a close bond of friendship. 7:30 p.m. Thursday

"Shaun of the Dead": A man decides to turn his life around when his entire community is threatened by zombies. 7:45 p.m. Thursday

"Psycho": A woman on the run checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Tuesday

"The Ghost of Frankenstein": Dr. Ludwig Frankenstein gets the idea of replacing a monster's brain with a normal one. 12:30 p.m. Sunday

"Goosebumps": A teenager teams up with the daughter of horror author R.L. Stine to fight off demons. 2:45 p.m. Sunday

"The Golem": In 16th-century Prague, a rabbi creates the Golem to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution. 6:15 p.m. Sunday

"The Thing": A crew in Antarctica finds a neighboring camp destroyed and its crew dead. 7:30 p.m. Monday

EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

5601 S. Braeswood; erjcchouston.org

"Dear Cancer, Love Stacy": Stacy Middleman documents her challenging journey by writing "letters to cancer." 7:30 p.m. Monday

14 PEWS

800 Aurora; 14pews.org

"The Abominable Snowman": A kindly English botanist and a gruff American scientist search for the legendary Yeti. 7 p.m. Friday

RIVER OAKS THEATRE

2009 W. Gray; landmarktheatres.com

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show": A couple has a breakdown in an isolated area and must pay a call to a bizarre residence. Midnight Friday and Saturday

RICE CINEMA

6100 Main; film.rice.edu

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban": It's Harry's third year at Hogwarts, and trouble is brewing. 6 p.m. Tuesday

CENTRAL GREEN PARK

23501 Cinco Ranch, Katy; drafthouse.com

"Casper": A paranormal expert and his daughter bunk in a haunted house. Dusk Saturday

ITALIAN CULTURAL CENTER

1101 Milford; iccchouston.com

"Give Us This Day": An Italian bricklayer living in Brooklyn during the Great Depression struggles with having enough money to court a girl. 7 p.m. Monday

ASIA SOCIETY

1370 Southmore; asiasociety.org/texas

"Train to Busan": While a zombie virus breaks out in South Korea, passengers struggle to survive on the train from Seoul to Busan. 8 p.m. Tuesday

MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE

6000 Hermann Park Drive; milleroutdoortheatre.com

"Halloween": Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night, Michael Myers returns to kill again. 8 p.m. Tuesday

UH STUDENT CENTER THEATER

4455 University Drive; saludosconnection.org

"Women of Venezuelan Chaos": Five Venezuelan women draw a portrait of their country as it collapses under the worst crisis in its history. 6:15 p.m. Wednesday

HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE

5555 Hermann Park Drive; hmns.org

"Incredible Predators 3-D": Deconstructs the world of major predators, taking an intimate look at the remarkable strategies they use to succeed. Multiple screenings daily.

"Dream Big 3-D": Learn how today's engineers are shaping the world of tomorrow. Multiple screenings daily.

"Amazon Adventure 3-D": A Victorian-era naturalist discovers a butterfly that reinforces Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Multiple screenings daily.
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A man could lose vision in one of his eyes after he was involved in a fight outside a local gas station, Laredo police said.

The case unfolded when officers responded to the incident at about 2 a.m. Saturday in the 2500 block of Jacaman Road.

A police report states that Jose Humberto Hernandez, 35, exited a vehicle with a .40-caliber handgun on his side and got into a verbal altercation with a man. LPD said the firearm was loaded with seven rounds and one in the chamber.

READ MORE: Family caught Laredo couple having sex in Peter Piper Pizza parking lot, police say

Then, Leonel Ortiz approached Hernandez from behind and was able to take the gun away, according to police. Ortiz and his brother, Jose Francisco Ortiz, 24, began assaulting Hernandez, LPD said. Leonel Ortiz then allegedly pointed the firearm at Hernandez and a crowd of people.

Paramedics reported that Hernandez refused to go to the hospital. Police said they took him into custody to be charged for unlawful carrying of a weapon and theft of a firearm. According to LPD, the gun Hernandez had was reported stolen.

RELATED: Laredo firefighter accused of choking, pushing wife while heavily intoxicated

During booking procedures at LPD headquarters, Hernandez stated he could not see out of his left eye. He was taken to Laredo Medical Center. EMS crews later took him to San Antonio via an ambulance to be treated for a possible broken eye socket, LPD said.

Meanwhile, police charged Leonel Ortiz with aggravated assault with a firearm and Jose Ortiz with assault.
A sex offender has been arrested for allegedly failing to report his change of address, according to Laredo police.

William Veve, 55, was charged Sunday with sex offender's duty to register in the 6900 block of Texas 359. He is out on bond.
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A couple of months ago, El Cenizo Mayor Raul Reyes announced on Facebook that he would not be seeking another term in that position, where he has held office for 14 years, seven terms.

On Tuesday, Reyes announced his next step: He is running for Webb County treasurer.

A good leader knows when it's time to pass on their responsibility and their role, Reyes said. He told the crowd of supporters at the LISD Performing Arts Center that he could serve as mayor of El Cenizo for another 20 or 30 years, but other people need that opportunity.

The county treasurer position seems boring, but it is important, Reyes said.

The treasurer is tasked with processing payroll for the county's employees, sending IRS payments, sending employees their W-2s and 1099s to vendors, and generally overseeing the county's money.

READ MORE: Border Patrol agents threatened to detain sick 10-year-old from Laredo, family says

Reyes said he wants to bring transparency and community outreach to this office.

First, he wants to streamline the office so that every check is uploaded online once the payment has been posted, not a month later, he said.

Second, he said he wants to reassess the county's current investments and look into other investment opportunities to start saving taxpayer dollars.

Third, he wants to be more proactive in letting people know about any exemptions they might qualify for as a homeowner, especially the elderly and veterans

And fourth, he wants to personally give back to the community. Reyes said if he is elected, he will be donating $18,000 of his salary to LULAC to fund student scholarships. He also wants to move a couple thousand dollars out of his paycheck to fund a community outreach coordinator to help people fill out forms for food stamps, Social Security, and to be a liaison for community concerns.

RELATED: Premiums for Webb County employees could be raised as much as 95 percent

Reyes said he has been managing the City of El Cenizo's payroll since he was elected mayor at age 21, and knows how to complete the tasks of the Treasurer's Office.

Reyes does not want people to view him as the small-town mayor who stood up against Senate Bill 4. The bill permits local peace officers to ask the people they detain or arrest about their immigration status, and furthermore punishes local officeholders who stop police from asking these questions.

Reyes said he wants to be known as the person who is always at the forefront of these issues, and a person with experience, professionalism and a record of leadership and service.

"I will work my heart out for you, your family, and all of Webb County," Reyes said.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
After four years of uncertainty, 23 public meetings and negotiating, the residents of Russell Terrace will continue to call it their home.

On Tuesday, the Laredo Housing Authority held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the official start of Russell Terrace's revitalization. Russell Terrace houses 200 units with about 750 residents. Thirty homes were empty in anticipation of the renovations, as residents sat comfortable with certainty that they would not face displacement.

Of the 200 units, 138 will be reconstructed, 24 will undergo rehabilitation and 38 will be for market. The project will cost about $12 million. BBVA Compass Bank will finance close to $6 million and the property, Russell Terrace, had $3.5 million in project reserves. Additional funding will come from the Laredo Housing Authority.

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In October 2015, residents found a notice in the newspaper that told them their homes were set for demolition. The building of a new housing complex, Casa Verde, was contingent on the demolition of Russell Terrace, built in 1958, despite the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development deeming it still suitable to live in.

Laredo Housing Authority Chairman Jose Ceballos said he believed something better could be done than to displace families from the community.

"For me it's very important and as a community member you want to have a choice," he said. "I don't care if you're living in assisted housing or not."

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So Ceballos, along with a team made up of residents, community leaders and members of the Laredo Housing Authority, engaged in a plan to save Russell Terrace. The public housing has been converted into section eight housing, meaning it will operate under a private model of ownership.

"So it becomes like a private property that has to generate revenue to sustain itself and maintain occupancy at the right levels to work," Ceballos said.

Ceballos added, "I'm most excited that the residents that are here as a community get to stay here. Out of the 200 households that live here, only one of them has told us that they would go to Casa Verde. So when you compare a brand new unit to living in their community, they're going to choose their community. So I'm a real believer in that, and for trying to save different neighborhoods you got to reinvest. It's well worth it."

The Russell Terrace revitalization project is scheduled to be completed by June 2019.
Found Footage Festival: Who is this mysterious New Age guru, and how can he help you achieve nirvana?

Or some such nonsense.

New Age Miracles: Fact or Fiction is just one of the found videos that populate the traveling festival, which hits Oaklands Grand Lake Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 26, and San Franciscos Roxie Theater on Friday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Oct. 28.

Founded by Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett, who will host in-person, the FFF is a compilation of VHS treasures recovered from trash cans, Goodwills, garage sales and personal collections that is never less than hilarious.

New Age Miracles: Fact or Fiction was found in the Bay Area. Other highlights include The Law Enforcement Guide to Satanic Cults, part of a collection of satanic panic videos from the 1980s; outtakes and on-air bloopers from years of North Dakota local news; and commercials by the late Don Davis, a legend in Indiana for his hilarious ads for his Dons Guns stores (I dont wanna make any money folks. I just loooove to sell guns).

Speaking of Indiana, Prueher, a former researcher for the Hoosier States own David Letterman, got his old boss to donate his personal VHS collection of odd stuff when he retired in 2015. Several of those gems are presented this weekend.

8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Grand Lake Theatre, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland. (510) 452-3556; and 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 27-28, at the Roxie Theater, 3117 16th St., S.F. (415) 862-1087. Tickets are $15 at www.foundfootagefest.com.

Another Hole in the Head Film Festival: The 14th annual horror and genre festival by the folks at S.F. Indie (IndieFest, Docfest) returns to New People Cinema in Japantown with 29 features and 94 short films. Local talent at the festival that runs through Nov. 8 include retrospective tributes to Christopher Coppola (The Art Film Triology, G-Men From Hell) and Dave OShea (Day Job). The festival closes with Norbert Keils Replace, starring festival favorite Barbara Crampton. A contender for most over-the-top is Empire of the Sharks (Nov. 7), in which a young woman with supernatural powers goes up against an army of sharks. Move aside, Sharknado. Through Nov. 8 at New People Cinema, 1746 Post St., S.F. http://sfindie.com

Errol Morris in person with Wormwood: The legendary documentarian will screen his new four-hour film about the mysterious death of military scientist Frank Olson in 1943, which is set to drop on Netflix in December. While the miniseries is a documentary, actor Peter Sarsgaard plays Olson in Morris re-creation of events. 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Vogue Theatre, 3290 Sacramento St., S.F. (415) 346-2228. www.sffilm.org

G. Allen Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ajohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BRfilmsAllen
Using previously unseen footage stored for more than 50 years in National Geographics archive, Jane offers a close-up, extraordinary look at Jane Goodalls pioneering work with chimpanzees in 1960s Tanzania.

Director Brett Morgen, who stuffed too much ephemera into his 2015 film, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, uses archival material more judiciously here. From 100-plus hours of footage shot by Goodalls late ex-husband, acclaimed wildlife filmmaker Hugo van Lawick, Morgen crafted a 90-minute film full of tiny thrills and key discoveries.

Jane tracks how Goodall, through infinite patience and no small amount of personal magic, won the trust of chimps that initially fled from her. Once the chimps allowed her near, after months of observing them through binoculars, Goodall found that humans had not cornered the markets on rational thought, emotions or toolmaking.

Morgen started with gold, in the van Lawick footage. Full of vivid greens and sun-backlit wildlife imagery, van Lawicks shots are beautifully composed yet not too formal looking, thanks to the warm, grainy quality of 16mm film. Jane looks like an old home movie directed by David Lean.

It is fun to see Goodall, now 83 and one of the worlds foremost animal-rights advocates, when she was still green as a public figure. In the old footage, she often appears too aware of the camera, clearly suppressing grins at moments when she should look studious.

The chimps were less self-conscious. Shots of a mother and infant are striking in their intimacy. Even with all we know now about chimps, seeing these animals fashion tools from sticks to retrieve insects from a hole still inspires awe.

Morgen uses a new Goodall interview to give the old footage context. Yet Jane is lopsided, thoroughly exploring her early career but encapsulating later decades too neatly. This does not make the Tanzania footage less exquisite, but keeps Jane from being a truly groundbreaking work on its own.

Carla Meyer is a Northern California freelance writer.

Jane

Documentary. Directed by Brett Morgen. (PG. 90 minutes.)
Galveston County officials are asking voters to support a proposed $80 million bond package to fund street, drainage and facility improvements through projects in communities including Friendswood, Dickinson, League City, Kemah and Clear Lake Shores.

The package on the Nov. 7 ballot includes more than a dozen road projects throughout the county and associated drainage work. Added floodwater detention measures to Dickinson, Cloud and Highland bayous also are in the plan, along with upgrades to five county facilities.

The bond proposal is on the ballot as three separate items - $56 million for road projects, $18 million for facility upgrades and $6 million for drainage work.

It's unlikely that the bond package will require a property tax increase, said Precinct 4 Commissioner Ken Clark, who represents an area including League City and Friendswood. The county tax rate is 55.19 cents per $100 valuation.

More Information ROAD PROJECT INFORMATION What: A 3-mile section of Texas 146 from Red Bluff to south of the Galveston/Harris county line will be widened and restructured to a six- to 12-lane freeway and there will be express lanes over Clear Creek. Details: Go to www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/projects/studies/houston/sh146-red-bluff.html See More Collapse

"We think we should be able to absorb this through the existing budget," Clark said. "If the bottom falls out of the economy next year, 2019 or 2020, we would have to increase taxes, but at this point it's unlikely."

But the bond proposal has met with mixed response from Friendswood city officials, with some feeling that the $3.5 million in projects their community could receive from the bond package is not enough.

"We don't think were getting our fair share and we're not happy about it," Friendswood Mayor Kevin Holland said at a recent meeting.

"We send (the county) a lot of money, and I'm not in agreement with the amount they're giving us. We give them three times that amount of money a year."

Proposed road, flood work

Among the road projects, League City could see the largest influx of dollars of any city north of Dickinson, with $10.4 million in proposed work.

Reconstruction of Dickinson Avenue in League City would include a multiuse trail, according to county documents.

An intersection upgrade at Texas 96 and Walker Street would feature an added right turn lane.

Texas 96 at the intersection of Texas 3 would get left-turn lanes on both east- and westbound directions, and bond money also would fund a right-turn lane at Texas 96 and Interstate 45.

Dickinson residents could see reconstruction of California Avenue along an almost two miles in length from Park Avenue to 20th Street.

The bond would provide flood-control projects totaling $6 million.

A detention system project on Dickinson Bayou would add further flood control to an area that Clark said was protected during Hurricane Harvey by a detention project completed in 2008.

That project, said Clark, protected residents in the vicinity of Lago Lane in League City by a ditch that prevented water from flowing into the bayou during the storm.

Projects also would provide Cloud and Highland bayous with greater floodwater detention.

The bond also would provide $18 million for work to the medical examiner's office in Texas City, the county annex in League City, the court and community buildings in Bacliff and the road-and-bridge facility on Texas 3.

The bond would also provide $3.5 million toward a Friendswood Lake Boulevard extension project in Friendswood.

Criticism of the bond package

Extending that boulevard would allow for an additional emergency route through the city and relive traffic, Friendswood city officials said, but some don't feel a $3.5 million portion of the bond money is enough for their community.

Despite comments from City Councilman Jim Hill in favor of the bond proposal, several others on council said they would vote against it.

"This is a great deal where you can double your money," Hill said.

"I hope it passes and we have an opportunity to get some money from the county."

For municipalities where bond projects are proposed, the county is offering to match up to $1 million for funds a city raises to go toward the work.

Clark says the county has created an equitable distribution of money for each city.

"In 2008, Friendswood got $10 million for regional detention that nobody else got," he said.

"Sometimes you get a situation where there's needs in different parts, and those needs have to be met.

"Everybody was treated equally."

One project that could benefit residents county-wide and beyond, said Clark, is the repair of Pelican Bridge to spur economic development in Galveston. Pelican Bridge connects Galveston to Pelican Island where students travel to attend classes at Texas A&M University on a daily basis.

"That particular bridge has been functionally obsolete," Clark said of the 60-year-old structure. "The mechanism that raises it is old enough that it has historic significance. If something isn't done the bridge will be shut down."

County officials are asking voters to authorize $5 million in bond money for the bridge to go with $5 million the county has set aside for the project.

Texas Department of Transportation promised to fund the bulk of the cost with a $45 million commitment.

Once Port of Houston has reached its growth capacity, said Clark, Port of Galveston could become the major port in the area if reconstruction and repairs are done to bring the bridge up to date.

"We need leadership and vision to develop Pelican Island to create jobs and assess value," he said. "Which will in turn reduce the tax burden on residential taxpayers by creating an industrial base and more value."

EARLY VOTING

Early voting in Galveston County is from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3. For more information about polling locations go to www.galvestonvotes.org.


The delegation in a survey trip

As planned, the delegation of 15 leading travel companies and journalists surveyed and used typical tourism services in key localities for tourism such as Ho Chi Minh city, Ben Tre province and Phu Quoc island.

This is also a chance for local businesses to exchange information with the delegation to promote and introduce new products and services to Hong Kong visitors, contributing to attracting more travellers from the market.

In the first nine months of 2017, Vietnam greeted 34,938 tourist arrivals from Hong Kong, a year-on-year rise of 35.9%, according to VNAT.

As Hong Kong is one of the largest transit centres for tourists in Asia, the receiving of the delegation is among VNATs tourism promotion activities to lure more Hong Kong tourists in particular and international tourists in general travelling through the Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China to Vietnam./.
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A man who was on the run for 21 years after allegedly murdering two University of Texas students is now on trial, according to Wednesday notice from the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office.

Chiron Francis, 44, allegedly shot and killed Douglas Schwartz and Eric Heidbreder on April 11, 1994, while the two students were on vacation from college classes, the Houston Chronicle reported in 2002.

The students were shot in the head, execution style, while they sat in a car in the 15700 block of Park Manor in Houston.

Francis is on trial in the 268th District Court of Hon. Brady G. Elliott. Prosecutors are Mark Hanna and Matthew Banister. The defense attorney is L.T. Bradt.

POLICE: Texas man offered $25,000 to have ex-girlfriend killed

Francis was 28 years old at the time of the alleged murder.

According to previous reports, Schwartz knew Francis from a warehouse job where they worked before Schwartz went to college, and the victims had arranged to meet Francis the night they were murdered.

After he allegedly shot the two college students, authorities said Francis fled the country. He was apprehended in 2015 in Venezuela and extradited to Ford Bend County, ABC13 reported in July of that year. No details were available on how authorities were able to locate and arrest the suspect.

Francis has been in the Fort Bend County Jail since 2015 with bond set at $1.3 million.

More details on the murder trial will be reported as they become available.
A student and a campus visitor were fatally shot at Grambling State University, and the gunman is on the loose, officials said Wednesday.

The authorities began receiving calls just after midnight reporting shots fired on the historically black university campus in northern Louisiana. Campus police found two males on the ground in a residential courtyard, a school spokesman said.

Earl Andrews, a 23-year-old Grambling senior, and his friend, Monquiarious Caldwell, also 23, were both pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

"An unknown suspect shot the two of them and fled," said Will Sutton, the university's director of communications.

The shooter remains at large, a Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman said.

The fatal shooting apparently began as "an altercation that started inside one of the dorm rooms and spilled out into the courtyard," said Maj. Stephen Williams, the sheriff's spokesman. No weapons were found at the scene. The sheriff's office has taken over the investigation from campus police.

The shooting occurred during Homecoming Week, when the campus, in the city of Grambling, sees a spike in visitors.

"It's a horrible thing to happen on any day of the week, any week," Sutton said. "It's particularly unfortunate that it's Homecoming Week, an annual, joyful series of days, where we have people returning home to campus.  Nobody wants to return to something like this."

About 5,188 students are enrolled at the university. The majority of the students are black, and about a third of them live on campus.

Students received emergency text messages from the university after the shooting, urging them to stay in their rooms overnight, school officials said.

Andrews lived with his older brother, Ladarius Heard, in Ruston, La., a short distance away from the Grambling State campus.

Heard, a contractor for an industrial building company, had been staying in Shreveport for an extended job assignment last week - but drove back to Ruston on a whim Friday night.

"I don't know what it was," Heard told The Post. "Something that told me to drive back."

Heard said was sleeping when a friend called him around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday to alert him of the shooting on campus.

He said he can't fathom why anyone would have wanted to harm his younger brother.

"He was always smiling, dancing," Heard said. "He didn't bother nobody."

Andrews was studying criminal justice at Grambling, he said, and had planned on moving to Texas after graduation.

His mother, Juanita Augman, said he wanted to be a parole officer.

"I just can't explain it," Augman said of her son's death. "It's just been the longest, longest day. He was a wonderful child."

He played football at Patterson High School, about four hours south of Grambling, and wanted to play in college, but couldn't because of an injury, she said.

He enjoyed basketball as well, and often played at the campus gym with members of Grambling's basketball team. Andrews was also a runner, and had earned more than 15 trophies during his time on the Patterson High School track team.

"He was a very active person, everybody loved him," she told The Post. "And he was very respectable."

She added: "I love all my kids but he was just a special one - everybody loved him."

School officials said class will be in session Wednesday.
In a speech before student interns and fellows this summer, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson condemned racism and pledged to boost diversity at the State Department. Many American diplomats applauded the speech, seen by some as a tacit rebuke of President Donald Trump's bungling response to violent clashes at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville.

But in the months that followed, there's been little follow-up on Tillerson's pledge, sparking growing concern and disenchantment in Foggy Bottom, according to multiple current and former State Department officials.

"The talk about diversity is great," one senior State Department official said, "but he hasn't put his money where his mouth is."

It's not just to check diversity boxes -- current and former officials all agree a diverse workforce makes the department much more effective and responsive to the challenges of diplomacy on the front lines and back in Washington.

Tillerson said in his Aug. 18 speech, "I know from my long career in the private sector, my experience has been the value of diversity in the workplace is it enriches our work." He added, "They will see things in the world that I cannot see. I did not have that life experience."

Tillerson's pledge to confront this included boosting campus recruiting at historically minority universities and expanding the department's footprint at minority-focused job fairs. He also vowed to require at least one minority candidate for each ambassador posting.

"All of this is a leadership issue," Tillerson said in his speech. "We have to own this process. We have to manage this process and be held accountable for the results of this process."

Ten months into office, Trump has put forth nominations for 51 of 197 open ambassador slots. Of those, 36 are men and only a small handful are nonwhite. A State Department spokesperson wouldn't confirm if Tillerson met his goal for putting forth at least one minority candidate for each ambassador posting and referred Foreign Policy to the White House for questions on ambassador nominations. The White House declined to comment.

While Tillerson pledged to boost diversity at the top, many of the few remaining senior ranking minority officials were pushed out or forced into retirement.

This includes: Arnold Chacon, the senior-most Hispanic foreign service officer and first ever Hispanic to be director general of the foreign service; Linda Thomas Greenfield, the most senior-ranking African-American woman in the foreign service, who spent over 30 years there; Joyce Anne Barr, another senior-ranking African-American woman with nearly 40 years in the foreign service; and Brian Nichols, one of the two highest-ranking African-American foreign service officers.

According to the State Department's own numbers from 2016, only 11 percent of senior executive service and only 13 percent of senior foreign service members are nonwhite. These are the top career ranks in U.S. diplomacy, equivalent to three- or four-star generals in the military. Roughly two-thirds of the senior ranks are men -- and a slew of recent retirements of top women in the foreign service hasn't helped that number.

Tillerson inherited this longstanding problem from past administrations, Republican and Democrat alike. (Diplomats used to jokingly describe their own ranks as "pale, male, and Yale.")

The State Department spokesperson said they set goals to "expand efforts" this year to recruit more women and minorities and said increasing diversity "has gained momentum over the past two decades." This includes working with an "outside partner" to forge stronger relations with minority-serving institutions.

"Ensuring the diversity of the United States is reflected in the ranks of our most senior officials, including Chiefs of Mission, is a top administration priority and key to the successful conduct of American foreign policy," the spokesperson added. Expanding diversity is "also a constant process - whatever progress we make, there is still more to do."

Some officials lay blame at the feet of Trump, who entered office with the whitest and most male-dominated Cabinet of any president in decades and has stoked new national debates on racial issues. (The CIA under Trump has also been accused of backtracking on expanding diversity, as FP reported). And ultimately, the president, not the secretary of state, nominates ambassadors and other top-level State Department posts.

Tillerson's supporters point to his history of boosting diversity elsewhere. As CEO of oil giant ExxonMobil, Tillerson added gay marriage benefits, transgender medical coverage, and other employee protections to the historically socially conservative company's benefits. He is also widely credited with pushing the Boy Scouts to accept openly gay scouts after serving as the organization's national president from 2010 to 2012.

At Foggy Bottom, however, he stumbled out of the gate when he quietly rescinded job offers to elite minority and female recruits selected for a prestigious fellowship. He only restored their offers after fierce public backlash and outcry from lawmakers.

The minority exodus is part of a broader decapitation of senior ranks at the State Department. Some senior-ranking minority officials were nearing retirement age but expected one or two more assignments before they retired. State Department officials say these people were invaluable to the diplomatic corps. Like the military, the foreign service has an "up or out" policy, meaning only a select few can compete for such lengthy tenure and top jobs; these were the cream of the crop.

But many were pushed out -- either being forced to retire or having their next assignment axed in front of their eyes. According to two current senior officials and one former, Nichols was slated to become next U.S. ambassador to Colombia. Instead, at the last minute the post was given to Joseph Macmanus, a foreign service officer of lower rank and with weaker Spanish language skills and less experience in the region.

The White House declined to comment on this pending appointment.

"It makes no sense," one State Department official told FP. "The diversity issue is already bad enough here. Why are they pushing everyone out?"
Shortly after Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., announced Tuesday that he would not seek reelection next year, a former aide to President Donald Trump called The Washington Post's Robert Costa. "Bannon has three scalps," he said, "Luther Strange, Bob Corker, Jeff Flake."

"Bannon," of course, is Stephen Bannon - also a former adviser to Trump who came from and returned to Breitbart News, resigning from his White House role in August. The informal Breitbart motto is "#war," a declaration of opposition to the Republican establishment to which Flake belongs - but only until January 2019, thanks to Flake's retirement, a development for which that aide and news outlets figured Bannon deserved credit. Another battle won in the #war.

There were two other people mentioned alongside Flake by that aide, Luther Strange and Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. Strange was the preferred candidate of the Republican establishment in the Alabama race to replace Jeff Sessions in the Senate. Corker, like Flake, recently announced that he wouldn't seek reelection to the Senate in the face of his party's embrace of Trumpism.

But neither of those cases is really like Flake's. Strange was trailing the eventual Republican primary winner, Roy Moore, even before Bannon weighed in on Moore's behalf. Corker was also up for reelection next year, but decided against running. Unlike Flake, it's not clear that he faced a significant primary challenge (as Nate Silver noted on Wednesday morning). Claiming credit for Corker's retirement is like a boxer dropping dead of a heart attack in the ring and his opponent claiming he scored a KO.

Nor does Bannon necessarily deserve the credit for Flake's decision. Flake was trailing in Republican primary polling behind Kelli Ward, a state senator in Arizona who had Bannon's support in that race. But Bannon endorsed her only about a week ago, nearly a year after Ward announced her intention to run. Even Trump backed Ward publicly before Bannon did, tweeting his support for her in mid-August. We'll come back to this.

More broadly, Bannon's track record in electoral politics is thin bordering on nonexistent. National Journal's Josh Kraushaar made this point earlier this month. Bannon went to work on the Trump campaign in August 2016, and Trump, as you likely know, won. But for those claiming to be able to determine the outcomes of elections there's a caveat to Trump's victory: He lost the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes. He won the Electoral College anyway, of course, but if you're a guy who claims to be able to deliver victories on demand, losing your highest-profile race by 2 percentage points isn't a great record to cheer.

There's not much more to the record than that. Breitbart has tried repeatedly to influence the outcomes of elections, including by working against House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., during last year's Republican primary. (Ryan won by nearly 70 points.) Breitbart weighed in heavily on behalf of Chris McDaniel's GOP primary challenge to Sen. Thad Cochran in Mississippi in 2014, but after McDaniel won the primary with a plurality of the vote, he lost a run-off.

What Bannon has not done is show that he knows how to get people elected to office. What he has done is leverage a particular sentiment in the Republican Party to market himself - and that sentiment - as unstoppable forces in American politics. That sentiment can be called Trumpism, but that term actually undersells Bannon's role. Trump's political views were clearly shaped and informed by Breitbart; Trump is the clearest and most successful manifestation of that sentiment that Bannon cultivated at his website.

It's why when Kelli Ward announced her bid for the Senate last year, she gave the story to Breitbart exclusively at the outset, to claim the mantle of that sentiment from the people who publicized it to the world.

On Tuesday, as he announced his intention to leave the Senate, Flake said that he thought "this fever will break" - this anti-establishment, Trumpist fever that led Flake to determine that he couldn't win next year. (It's a mutation of the fever that President Barack Obama lamented in 2012.) What will likely break it, though, isn't Republican voters rising up and declaring that they've had it with Trump and Trumpism. More likely to break the fever would be a string of losses by Bannon-backed Trumpist candidates, showing Republicans on Capitol Hill that Bannon's threats are empty.

Bannon has gotten lucky before. But for now, he has proven much more adept at slapping ideological certificates of authenticity on candidates than on getting them elected to office.
Its been about 14 years since Edwardsville resident Theresa Carrington reached out to the world in hopes of changing the lives of those living in poverty in countries on other continents. With the help of numerous people from Edwardsville and the surrounding communities, Carrington built from her garage The Blessing Basket Project, a non-profit organization that pays artisans in impoverished countries a prosperity wage, a higher wage than fair trade, for the products they make.

This unique financial model allows the artisans, through entrepreneurship, to gain financial independence and escape poverty. Since 2012 over 100 individuals from Bangladesh and Ghana have graduated out of poverty through The Blessing Basket Project.

The Blessing Basket Project blossomed and moved its office in 2011 to a St. Louis warehouse, but once a year, the organization holds its inventory blowout mega sale where it throws open its warehouse doors and invites the public inside to meet via Skype some of its leadership teams and artisans located across the world. At the same time, the organization sells thousands of its unique handcrafted products made by its artisans. This years 12th annual sale takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 11 and 12 at 5234 Oakland Ave. in St. Louis (near the St. Louis Science Center). Theres also an exclusive early bird access from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Nov. 11 only for a $5 donation.

Were selling off what we call scratch and dent baskets, Carrington explained. Baskets that for some reason or another  was the wrong color, the wrong size, maybe the weaving wasnt perfect - we were unable to sell to the person who it was intended for which is typically Whole Foods, Joes Market Basket - folks like that.

Theres also baskets available that are whats left from a particular basket line. So we have only three or four or 20 or 50 items left when our average client will order 200 or 300 baskets worth, Carrington noted.

Then theres some experiments, she added. We sell what we call samples, and thats actually the secret best deal of the sale. These samples tend to be really creative baskets or really unusual patterns. Samples are one-of-a-kind items.

But its not just a basket sale. The Blessing Basket warehouse sale has everything from dresses for women to jewelry to home decor items that have come in as samples from around the world. And we go live to our countries by Skype and they get the opportunity to see our leadership teams from around the world, Carrington said. In all cases its dark or near dark there so its not like we get to see big, beautiful scenery shots, but we do get to talk to our teams live so its a really great cultural experience for kids, and we encourage everyone to come out.

This years sale takes place over two days, a first for Blessing Basket. It will take us more than 40 volunteers to pull off this event. Weve never done a two-day sale so we need all hands on deck for the event itself, Carrington noted. Then outside the event, we need volunteers like Meg (Solon).

Carrington explained how the Edwardsville community and its volunteers like Meg Solon have played a critical role in The Blessing Baskets beginnings as well as its current day successes. From volunteers like Solon, an Edwardsville resident who volunteers once a week to retail stores like Joes Market Basket that carry The Blessing Baskets products, Carrington stressed that the Edwardsville community has helped us change the world in ways they are very likely unaware of, she said. So were grateful. Very, very grateful.

Volunteering for our organization is a very enriching and rewarding experience because with every product you handle you are actually able to know the very person who made that very item, Carrington pointed out.

Solon echoed Carringtons comments and added that she particularly enjoys volunteering because she knows the prosperity wage Blessing Basket provides helps the artisans escape poverty. Thats why Im so passionate about it because I know that when Im going there and helping prepare these baskets and getting them in great shape to go out and be sold, its representing these artisans who are working so hard to work their way out of poverty. So the more baskets that are sold, the more these artisans are going to make and the sooner they will work their way out of poverty, Solon emphasized.

The flexibility that Blessing Basket offers its volunteers was another reason that Solon recommended volunteering for the organization. You can make your own hours. Youre not committed to a set day and time, Solon stressed. You can really do as much or as little as you want and they are never pestering you about committing to come in. So it really is great. You can go as often or as infrequently as your schedule allows.

We serve 3,500 artisans across seven countries throughout three continents, and we do that with a staff of 10 people. We couldnt do that without the help of people like Meg. And we need more Megs. Although shes hard to replicate. Shes super awesome, Carrington said.

While Solon primarily works to prepare the baskets for shipment, theres a multitude of other volunteer opportunities at The Blessing Basket, which can be found on its website at www.BlessingBasket.org under the contribute and then volunteer tabs.

As an example, Carrington explained how Jean, another volunteer, was working on a global project for them. She has experience running events. We have her working on a global summit where well be bringing in all of our country directors and support teams from around the world, Carrington said. That will be done in May of next year. Shes using her time and talents and energy as an event planner to help us plan literally a global event. So it gives her a chance to work with people and places and have experiences that she might not otherwise have, and we get the benefit of her amazing skills.

Volunteers can also help in the office while others help with social media and the organizations website. One of the most rewarding volunteer programs that we run is where people can sit in the comfort of their own home and review the letters that the artisans are receiving and sending back from customers around the United States and Canada, Carrington noted. So this technology we developed empowers you as the customer to know the very artisan who made your very basket. You can write them a letter and they will respond, and we need volunteers to read those letters - both outbound and inbound - to make sure that everybody is safe. So its a huge responsibility that we have on our shoulders to literally open the world to some of the farthest reaching villages on this planet. The responsibility to keep both sides of the equation safe and ensure that nothing crazy happens. We train volunteers, who from the comfort of their own home, are watching those letters go back and forth to make sure everything is safe.

On top of that we talk to our artisans twice a year about the progress that they are making in their lives through your purchase, Carrington added. Those updates need to be reviewed before its released to the public. This is all online, all cloud based and so volunteers sit in the comfort of their own home and do the letter approval and the update approval. We have volunteers working with us as far away as California and Boston.

This is a rewarding place to spend any extra time that you have because its a really great opportunity to see the faces, see the names, understand the personal stories of those living somewhere in this world that really, really need our help and are certainly grateful for receiving it, Carrington added. Were just in partnership with them. They are doing as much work because they are making these incredible items that will be available for the sale in November.

Anyone interested in volunteering for The Blessing Basket can fill out the form online and a member of the Blessing Basket team will contact you to start the coordination or you can simply call them at 1-888-618-1503 or 314-272-1250.

Dont have time right now to volunteer? You can help support The Blessing Basket by visiting its warehouse sale on Nov. 11 and Nov. 12. Carrington said that they had a goal to get 1,000 people to attend the sale. We are challenging Edwardsville  you helped birth us, come help grow us. Help us get 1,000 people in here, Carrington said. We are here because we were born and raised in Edwardsville, and they have a right to come and see what theyve made happen, and to help us grow as we head on into the future. So Im sending a lot of love to Edwardsville and to the community that helped give birth really to this organization, and Im very, very grateful.
Hale Centers animal shelter, which for years has been located about two miles west of that community on the grounds of the police firing range/city dump, will soon be move to a more convenient downtown location.

Last week the Hale Center City Council approved moving the facility to the east side of the old Hale Center Co-op building. That complex, located across the street north of the current City Hall, was given to the city recently by the Lemond Family. The Hale Center Co-op Store ceased operations earlier this year.

This really is an ideal location because its so much more convenient and conducive to adoptions. It will be easy for the public be see what animals we have available, City Manager Dennis Burton commented. At the current location, we dont have running water or electrical service. That means our city employees have to haul those out to the country whenever they go out to check on the animals. And our kennels are outside, exposing the animals to the elements  the oppressive heat during the summer and bitter cold during the winter. Weve been looking for a solution to correct those deplorable conditions for quite a while.

According to the Hale Center American, the Hale Center Animal Shelter is a no-kill shelter and works in conjunction with Hale Center PAW Pals to adopt out animals that have gone past the 10-day window in which pet owners can pick up their dogs.

The current shelter was built in the 1950s, PAW Pals Director Alexis Atwood told the American, and is not a good situation for the animals nor those taking care of them.

Reporting on last weeks council meeting, the American said the council as well as City Attorney Lanny Voss thought the new arrangement would be a win-win situation for all parties involved.

The contract between PAW Pals and the City of Hale Center is renewable annually, upon agreement of both parties.

The vote to relocate the shelter was unanimous, although a timetable for the move was not announced.

Burton said the Public Works Department already is using part of the Hale Center Co-op property to park trucks and heavy equipment and the city plans to eventually use the vacant store as its new City Hall.

Hale Centers current City Hall and Police Station was built after the old City Hall was destroyed in a 1965 tornado. Designed as a community storm shelter, most of the offices and meeting rooms are underground, with the Utility Office on ground level along with bays for the Hale Center Volunteer Fire Department.

Burton acknowledged that Hale Center has been looking into relocating City Hall for some time since the current facility does not meet standards set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act. There is no elevator at City Hall, no handicapped ramp leading up to the front door, and restrooms do not meet ADA standards.
It is not a bad thing for us, that the route known as the Goldene Strae or the Golden Road as we will get to know it- has escaped the attention of so many. It has been spared being overrun by hordes of tourists and as you will discover the
JUBA, South Sudan - U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley warned South Sudan's president Wednesday that U.S. aid and other assistance were at stake, as Washington seeks to boost pressure on a leader it blames for helping plunge the world's youngest nation into civil war.

"The United States is at a crossroads," Haley said she told President Salva Kiir, a day after she heard refugees' horrific stories of violence and cruelty they claim were carried out by Kiir's forces in a conflict largely fought along tribal lines.

"We have to decide how we're going to look at South Sudan going forward, and that will be based on how he goes from here," she said. "And based on his actions the United States will act accordingly."

In the balance is billions in U.S. aid, a potential international arms embargo and the goodwill of the United States, which gave critical backing to South Sudan's independence from Sudan in 2011.

The United States has distanced itself from Kiir, the cowboy hat-wearing former rebel leader who presided over the promising birth of a nation blessed with oil and other natural resources.

But it fell to Haley to deliver an ultimatum.

"It was a very honest conversation. I basically said the United States had invested well over $11 billion in South Sudan and into him, and that we were now questioning that investment. I told them that he couldn't deny the stories about his military," which include allegations of rape, murder, kidnapping, forced labor and the use of child soldiers.

Haley claimed Kiir did not deny those allegations. There was no immediate word from Kiir or South Sudanese officials about the meeting.

"To his credit, he acknowledged everything I was saying," Haley said. "He listened to everything I was saying and he was not defensive."

Haley spoke to reporters traveling with her immediately after two lengthy meetings with Kiir, one of them a longer-than-expected private session. U.S. expectations include an end to violence snd full and consistent access for humanitarian groups, she said.

"I told him that we need to see him right the ship," she said.

On Monday, Haley toured a sprawling refugee camp in Ethiopia's Gambella region.

She ducked into a makeshift home for a newly arrived family of five, and heard the harrowing story of a weeks-long walk to flee renewed fighting across the border in South Sudan.

Haley crouched in the mud beside a nursing mother inside a hut that was little more than a tarp stamped with a U.N. humanitarian agency logo stretched over a frame of sticks. She promised to convey more details to U.N. colleagues and the Trump administration about the plight of the more than 400,000 South Sudanese now housed in Ethiopia. The U.N. estimates that 35,000 have arrived just since the end of September.

"I was mad when I left the camp. How do you not go through listening to those women talk and hearing what their families went through and not just be totally angry at those that are responsible?" Haley said afterward.

Inside a stifling, low-slung building reserved as a "women- and girl-friendly space," one woman broke down in sobs as she and two others told Haley stories of rape, murder and survival.

One woman told Haley that her family was killed - she did not say by whom but suggested that it was South Sudanese Army forces - and her baby thrown into a fire. Then, the woman claimed, she had been forced to eat the flesh.

"We want to go home," one woman said, according to a U.N. translator. "We need our leader in the country."

That was a reference to former vice president Riek Machar, now in South Africa. Although some South Sudanese see Machar as their protector, the United States has long viewed him as part of the problem and has not advocated his return.

One woman told Haley that she blamed former president Barack Obama for the spiral of violence that began in 2013, and for the failed reconciliation effort in 2015. Haley looked startled at that, but did not respond.

Names of the women who spoke to Haley were not provided by the U.N. or humanitarian groups that serve the camp to protect their privacy and safety. Reporters were allowed to listen from several feet away.

Haley did not say that she would advocate for more U.S. humanitarian aid.

The Obama administration attempted to foster reconciliation talks between Kiir and Machar, and blamed both for squandering the democracy they helped to found.

"President Obama didn't do this to these women," Haley said in a second interview. "I think their perception is that they were let down by the United States back in 2013 when they really needed us."

Haley also toured a U.N.-run camp in Juba for internally displaced people. As Haley met with a family, protesters from Machar's Nuer tribe gathered outside, shouting "down, down, Salva Kiir." Kiir is a member of the rival Dinka tribe.

One held a sign reading, "Salva Kiir is a killer and must go!"

Haley and her party were quickly hustled into waiting cars.

Her five-day visit to Africa this week is heavily focused on South Sudan.
For 11 years, Bessie Strawther longed for a chance to visit her son's grave. Pvt. Henry Strawther, a black American soldier in a segregated infantry unit, had died fighting the German army on Oct. 6, 1918, nearly five weeks before World War I ended in armistice. Veterans in his hometown of Urbana, Ohio, had named an American Legion post after him, but his body remained interred somewhere in France - an ocean away from his mother.

Then came an extraordinary proposal from the U.S. government. The War Department in 1929 created a program to send bereaved mothers and widows like Strawther on two-week, all-expense-paid trips to Europe to visit the final resting places of their sons and husbands. The journeys became known as the Gold Star mother and widow pilgrimages, named after the newly-minted organization for women who had lost family members in the war.

In summer 1930, Strawther took a train from Urbana to New York City, where the War Department had arranged for her to board a commercial steamer bound for France.

But shortly after she arrived in the city, she started having second thoughts. Government officials were requiring Strawther and the other black women to travel on a different ship and stay in different quarters from white women making the same journey.

The idea of being segregated sickened Strawther. Her son had given his life, but her government still treated her as a second-class citizen. Days before the ship set sail, she backed out. "I am not going to France," she wrote to a prominent NAACP member at the time. She had accepted the invitation "not knowing what I do now," she wrote. "I do not want to be a disgrace to my son and the race."

Strawther was one of a few hundred black women who signed up to make the government-funded pilgrimage to Europe in the early 1930s, only to be told by the War Department that they couldn't travel or share hotels with their white counterparts.

Her story was highlighted in a Journal of American History article from September 2015 that detailed the little-known story of the federal government's well-intended but discriminatory program that brought Gold Star mothers and widows to the battlefields and cemeteries of the First World War.

The article received renewed attention this week after President Donald Trump was accused of insulting a black Gold Star widow whose husband, U.S. Army Sgt. La David Johnson, was recently killed in an ambush in Niger. On Monday, as Trump clashed openly with the widow over allegations that he was insensitive during his condolence call to her, the Journal of American History announced it was posting the article free online for the next month. "Insulting African American gold star widows has a history," the journal wrote in a tweet.

The article was written by Rebecca Jo Plant, an associate professor of history at the University of California San Diego, and Frances M. Clarke, a senior lecturer in history at the University of Sydney. Their research, along with a 1999 essay in the National Archives' Prologue magazine, represents some of the only publicly available scholarship on the segregation of black women who took part in the pilgrimage program.

"I'm incredibly happy that people are reading it now," Plant told The Washington Post on Tuesday, "but I'm also sad that this is what it has come to, that it's getting all this attention because it's so resonant in the current moment."

The call for government-sponsored pilgrimages to Europe began in the 1920s. Two national organizations, the American War Mothers and the American Gold Star Mothers, lobbied successfully for the all-expenses-paid journeys after learning that many women couldn't afford to travel overseas to see where their loved ones were buried.

After the program was authorized by Congress, the War Department decided to segregate the women. Integrated trips were "impracticable," the department said. Plus, the mothers and widows "would prefer to seek solace in their grief from companions of their own race."

The move set off a sustained protest against the pilgrimages, led primarily by black male leaders from the NAACP and black newspapers, according to Plant and Clarke's research. The Chicago Defender urged a boycott, calling the program the "crowning insult" in a long list of abuses by the administration of President Herbert Hoover. Some Democratic politicians spread rumors that the women would be sent over in cattle boats.

The women were presented with a wrenching choice: join the protest and take a stand against segregation, or make what would likely be a once-in-a-lifetime voyage to see where their sons and husbands were buried.

Ultimately, most would choose the latter. Plant and Clarke found that 279 black women made the pilgrimage, traveling in all-black groups between 1930 to 1933.

It was an easy decision for some. "Ever since I lost my son in 1918 I have been wanting to come," one mother said. "I would have come over on a cattle-boat. I would have swam if possible. I love my race as strongly as any other but when I heard that the United States was going to send us over I could not refuse."

But others agonized for years.

Strawther, the mother from Ohio, was hesitant. She canceled her trip in 1930 but sailed to France with the last all-black party in 1933, according to Plant and Clarke.

Carrie Brown of Eatonton, Georgia, had twice booked the trip to see her son's grave, only to cancel her reservations. It was "enough to go there to see the last of my son with a weeping heart," she wrote to a protest organizer in 1930, according to the article. Combined with the segregation, the experience seemed "dreadful," she added. "As Mr. Patrick Henry said, 'Give me Liberty or give me death.'" But eventually, she, too, went on the journey, shipping out with the last party, according to Plant and Clarke.

About two-dozen women canceled their reservations and never looked back. For them, the ignominy of a segregated voyage outweighed the desire to visit the grave sites.

One Philadelphia widow told the War Department she would "not be a party to this conspiracy against the dead," according to the article. Another wrote: "I am a Massachusetts born woman and my parents before me and I strongly resent any such stand as the United States government has taken. I feel they have grossly insulted our race and that they can never make amends."

In total, about 6,700 women of all races made the pilgrimage, as archivist Constance Potter has written in the National Archives' Prologue magazine.

Backlash against the program embarrassed President Herbert Hoover, who was facing a tough reelection fight that he would ultimately lose. So his administration tried to mend things by making sure the women were cared for in every other way possible, according to Plant and Clarke.

Col. Benjamin O. Davis Sr., the Army's highest-ranking black officer, was tapped to oversee the effort. A staff of black civil servants and other workers handled day-to-day operations on every leg of the journey. Black officials from the Quartermaster Corps, the Army's logistics branch, bought suitcases for women who showed up without luggage. They repaired eyeglasses and shoes, and coordinated health care for those with medical needs, Plant and Clarke wrote.

When they got to Paris, crowds of cheering Parisians and American expatriates greeted them ("France Seeks to Make Up for U.S. Jim Crow," read one headline in the Baltimore Afro-American). The American jazz bandleader Noble Sissle and other black performers played for them. The women were treated to meals at top-notch restaurants and visits to the Louvre, Versailles and Napolean's tomb. Then they took the more solemn trips to the battlefields and cemeteries where the fallen soldiers were buried.

Plant and Clarke noted that there were some disparities in the accommodations. White women sailed on ocean liners, while black women traveled on modified freight ships. In New York, white women stayed in expensive hotels while black women stayed in Harlem's YWCA. In Paris, white women stayed near the center of the city while black women were housed closer to the edge of town.

Still, many of the women returned home with glowing words about the journey and high praise for the federal government, according to Plant and Clarke's research. "Uncle Sam is doing his best for us," one woman told a Jamaican American newspaper reporter. "Nothing more could be done for us unless they presented us with a sack of gold."

In an interview last week with the history blog Process, Plant and Clarke said the black Gold Star women had essentially fought their own two-front war over the pilgrimage - against black male activists on one side and government officials on the other.

"The pilgrims declined to assume the role of the self-sacrificing race mother who upheld the memory of her son by foregoing the government-funded trip, regardless of her heart's desire," they said. "Nor did they stick to the role the federal government had scripted for them: that of the grieving and grateful supplicant who gained peace of mind through the benevolent actions of the state."
Miscommunication, conflict, assumptions, errors, mistakes, ineffective decisions and a loss of team cohesion: What do all of these organizational issues have in common? All are the result, at least in part, of poor listening.

Related: Listening Is an Art, and Mastering it Will Make You a Great Leader

It's often said that we have two ears but only one mouth. Therefore, we should listen twice as much as we speak. Yet, while effective listening is a highly valued skill in the workplace, many of us find that task difficult to master.

Even good listeners have difficulty remembering what they heard. A study by the University of Minnesota on thousands of students and hundreds of business professionals revealed that people could remember only about 50 percent of what they'd heard just a few minutes after listening to a short lecture. This retention rate dropped to less than 25 percent after about two months.

The ability to listen ranks high on most lists of skills employers desire in employees. In addition, listening is critical when you're learning on the job, which is another skill that employers desire. Listening also comes into play in collaboration, problem-solving and teamwork -- more skills and qualities that rank near the top with employers.

According to listening experts like Lyman Steil of the University of Minnesota, the average adult spends about 70 percent of his or her day in some form of communication. The most oft-cited statistics show that adults spend 9 percent of their communication time writing, 16 percent reading, 30 percent speaking and 45 percent listening. Therefore, if you want to improve your interpersonal communication skills, focus on becoming a better listener.

Myriad experts have written volumes on this subject, but we find that keeping the focus on a few key tips gives the best results.

Listen for content.

While words are only part of the message, they are an important part. Albert Mehrabian, in his book Silent Messages, suggested that words provide 7 percent of the meaning we derive from a message. So, use your intellect to listen for facts and ideas as well as the specific words people choose; but focus on the main idea being presented.

Related: The Psychological Effect That Stops Smart People From Listening to Good Advice

You may also want to check your understanding by feeding back the main idea to the speaker and asking if you are correct in what he or she is trying to convey. It is essential to ask questions if you dont understand the meaning of a word, idiom or acronym. Dont let a reluctance to show a lack of knowledge get in the way of understanding.

Listen to the intent.

Mehrabian also reported that 38 percent of the meaning of a message comes from tone of voice, inflection, pauses and other vocalizations. Practice using your intuition to hear the underlying messages. If you know the speaker, this will be easier, but you can become more aware by actively listening for the clues of how a message is presented.

Assess the speakers nonverbal communication.

Body language, including facial expressions, provides another 55 percent of the verbal message. Watch for signals that tell you what the speaker is really saying. Remember to take in the entire picture instead of focusing on one indicator. For instance, crossed arms dont always mean that the speaker is defensive, disagrees, is uncertain or insecure. Sometimes this just signals that the person is cold.

Monitor your nonverbal communication.

You must be just as vigilant about the messages you are sending to the speaker while you are listening. Remember, body language can speak very loudly without your saying a word. If the conversation is positive, it's fine to show this.

However, if the topic is more negative, you need to practice your poker face, especially if you tend to be animated and are easy to read. Sending negative signals may shut down the conversation before you are able to understand the other persons point of view. Doing this will end your chance for resolution.

Listen to the speaker with empathy.

Finally, try to see the situation from your speakers point of view and try not to prejudge. One of the best pieces of advice we ever received was to listen to a persons entire point before interjecting our thoughts into the mix. In addition, try to focus on the speaker and what he or she is saying, instead of mentally composing your rebuttal. If you can do this, your listening prowess will immediately improve.

Becoming a better listener takes time, practice and commitment. We often recommend this exercise as a way to sharpen your skills: First, choose a person with whom you would like to strengthen your relationship. Begin by asking an open-ended question to get the conversation started. Then, listen while you apply the five steps listed above.

Related: 6 Ways to Show People You're Really Listening

Start small. Strive to listen for five minutes during which you are not allowed to interrupt, or give advice or hijack the conversation by telling the speaker your side or story. Keep the conversation going by giving the speaker verbal and nonverbal signals that you are listening, and asking additional questions.

Remember, interpersonal communication is a two-way street. People often need you to listen to them before they will be willing to listen to you. As Stephen Covey said in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, you should seek first to understand, then to be understood.

Related:

Want to Learn How to Be a Better Communicator? Learn How to Listen.

3 Simple Body Language Tips to Turbocharge Your Selling

In Sales, Silence Is Golden



Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved



This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com


Felipe Massa continues to promote his own agenda, claiming that Robert Kubica would be physically challenged to perform consistently behind the wheel of a new-spec car.

Williams is narrowing down its options for its 2018 driver line-up with Massa, Kubica, Paul di Resta and Pascal Wehrlein all in contention for a seat at the Grove-based outfit next season.

Kubica ramped-up his F1 comeback program over the summer, with runs in a 2017-spec Renault in Hungary and two outings in a 2014-spec Williams at Silverstone and again at the Hungaroring.

Massa is skeptical however of the Pole's ability to race and perform consistently in F1 given the limited ability of his right arm.

"I have no idea how he's driving, first of all," he said in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com's GP Gazette.

"To be honest, I cannot do what he's doing, driving with only one hand.

"It's impossible for me to believe that he will not suffer with some of the races with this car that we're driving that is a lot more difficult physically.

"I really respect what he's doing, and what he's doing is just amazing. But it's impossible to believe that he will not have some issues."

As he grind his axe, Massa also took a shot at di Resta, claiming the Scot's results in DTM with Mercedes these past seasons were nothing to write home about.

"I don't believe he's the right driver for the team, to develop the car and show the results and everything," Massa said.

"Plus I mean I don't think he's doing a great job in what he's racing as well. Anyway, I'm not here to complain or say about anything, that's only my opinion."

Massa insisted however that he would show no frustration should Williams opt not to include the Brazilian in its line-up next season.

"Yeah, sure, but I'm good on that. I have zero frustration. As I've said before, I did a lot more than I expected.

"So if it needs to finish, it's the time. If it doesn't need to finish, it's because maybe something is still reserved.

"As I said, I'm quite relaxed, thinking about my job, thinking about my car. The time for being frustrated is passed already in my career."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

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The Haas F1 Team left its home soil disappointed by its performance and heads south of the border in quest of an elevated result in the elevation of Mexico City.

With only three races remaining, the mid-field battle is as tight as it's been all year, and every point is valuable for Haas which is currently eighth in the Constructors' standings, just five points behind Renault and 20 points ahead of McLaren.

But Mexico's Hermanos Rodriguez circuit offers teams some difficult challenges linked to its altitude but also to its specific configuration which forces a compromise between straight-line speed and downforce.

Haas boss Guenther Steiner confirms the altitude factor plays a big role in performance in Mexico.

"Its very different to anything else," he says.

"You need your highest downforce level  whatever you can you put on there because of the air being so thin. Cooling  you never have enough up at that altitude. It is different, but we know we have to adapt to it."

Historically, grip has also been in short supply at the Mexican track, and Steiner isn't expecting anything different next weekend.

"You always try to get as much downforce as possible. It hasnt been a favorable circuit for us. Were not afraid of it, but it will be a challenge."

Finding grip however requires a proper exploitation of the tyres, a tricky exercise in qualifying which includes many variables, as Steiner explains.

"It is a moving target. You never know, there are so many factors coming in from the track that affect how your tyres work. Were surprised every weekend what it does," he says.

"What you try to do is get the tyre to the temperature you want to have it for when you cross the start-finish line.

"At the beginning of the lap, at turn one, youre already in the temperature window, then youre not running too hot when you come out of the last turn.

"Every track is different and every day is different because of the temperature. Its a very difficult task, and its very difficult to do it mathematically. It also involves a lot of driver feeling  what is best to do.

"Its a lot of planning and theres a lot of management involved in it."

Regardless of the challenges which lay ahead, Steiner is too smart to make any predictions about the outcome of the mid-field battle.

"Its up and down, and its unpredictable what is happening. Who wouldve thought thatd wed finish eighth and ninth in Japan?

"Nobody wouldve given us that credit to work to those positions on merit. Anything can happen in this midfield, and I hope were able to make the best out of it."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
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AUSTIN -- It could take as long as the year 2020 before some homeowners get federal funding to permanently rebuild or fix their Hurricane Harvey-ravaged homes, key state officials told a Texas Senate committee on Tuesday.

Although Congress passed a $7.4 billion initial relief bill last month to help people rebuild after the numerous natural disasters that hit the nation over the last three months, Texas General Land Commissioner George P. Bush warned that money has a lot of red tape to get through before Texans will see any of it.

He said historically, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has taken anywhere between 9 months and nearly 3 years to get that money to the people who need it. Additional aid was approved Tuesday, and more is in the pipeline.

"It is a painstaking process. Everyone is frustrated by it," Bush said moments after testifying before the Texas Senate's Finance Committee.

While funding for temporary housing has been flowing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Bush said the key to helping homeowners long term rests with HUD's community development block grant program, often referred to as CDBG money. That process is a lot more complex, he said.

While Congress agreed to spend the money, HUD officials must go through a lengthy rule-making process to determine how the $7.4 billion can be used by states and which states get what share of it. But even that calculation cannot begin until better damage assessments come in from Puerto Rico, said HUD spokesman Brian Sullivan.

In short, the rule-making process to even start the process has yet to begin for owners of the more than 300,000 homes and businesses in Texas damaged or destroyed by Harvey.

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"We are doing whatever we can in our power," Bush said, noting that he's spoken with HUD Secretary Ben Carson several times and will travel to D.C. again on Monday to encourage a more expedited process.

Carson has seen the damage in Texas up close. In September, Carson was part of President Donald Trump's entourage as they toured Houston's shelters and some of the flooded neighborhoods.

On Friday, HUD did release $58 million for CDBG funding from previously unspent disaster funding to help Texas as it awaits the larger pot of money.

'Disheartening'

State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, said the news of how long the help could take to reach Meyerland and other hard-hit areas was disappointing. She said people are in limbo now trying to figure out if they can rebuild and mitigate their property to prevent future flooding.

"It was disheartening," Huffman said.

Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, was more pointed, wondering aloud what happened to the Trump administration's promise to cut regulations and red tape.

"I don't understand it," West said. "It's bewildering."

The time estimates came at a hearing the lawmakers were already vowing to be more aggressive with the federal government after years of the Lone Star State feeling slighting over federal disaster allocations. State Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, said after Hurricane Ike hit, Louisiana got a lot more funding than Texas though many argued Texas was hit harder. And Taylor said the federal government spent $15 billion on New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 - a city he noted is a lot smaller than Houston.

"We pay a lot of taxes, it's time for that to come back and help us," Taylor said.

He said among that help should be help in building a coastal spine system to protect Houston and the port from future storm surges. He said when the rest of the nation's economy was in a tailspin, Texas was still chugging along and producing jobs. He said it's in the national interest for the federal government to help Texas this time.

The six-hour hearing on Tuesday at the state Capitol also served as a chance for lawmakers to pose some testy questions toward Gov. Greg Abbott's office for how they've handed out money to help Houston with debris cleanup but not to other cities. Last month, Abbott gave a $50 million check to Mayor Sylvester Turner to help Houston pay for its share of federal disaster cleanup. FEMA officials have agreed to pay 90 percent of debris cleanup costs with local governments required to take up the remaining 10 percent. After Turner proposed a property tax increase to cover the city's share, Abbott hand-delivered a check to Houston to cover the expense.

Smaller cities

But that isn't sitting well with state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, who questioned why smaller cities haven't had their 10 percent paid by the governor's funds as well.

"I think we set a precedent," Kolkhorst said.

She wasn't alone in the questioning. West jumped in after her and asked Jordan Hale, Director of Administration of Abbott, why Beaumont, Port Arthur and Victoria specifically haven't had their 10 percent paid out. Hale said none of those cities had asked, "to my knowledge."

That brought a stern response from State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, who said he's happy Houston got its money, but is worried that smaller cities didn't get the same chance to get their share covered.

Tuesday's hearings are the second round of hearings in the Texas Senate about the impact of Hurricane Harvey. Last week the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs met in New Caney to hear from residents about the impact of the storms on their neighborhoods.

On Wednesday, the Senate's State Affairs Committee is next up and looking deeper into the interactions between the state and federal government in a hearing that starts at 9 a.m.
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AUSTIN - State House Speaker Joe Straus - championed by moderates as their best hope for stopping Texas from passing divisive social issues into law - announced unexpectedly Wednesday he will not seek re-election and left the door open to a possible run for governor.

The San Antonio Republican said he plans to make his voice heard in a more vocal way but declined to say how. While Straus said he would "highly doubt" he will appear anywhere on a 2018 ballot, he said he didn't want to rule out a possible statewide race.

"I'm not one to close doors," he said.

What Straus would commit to was taking the opportunity to speak his mind in a way he hadn't before after spending five terms overseeing the House chamber of 150 members, most of whom are embroiled in a tumultuous struggle over the heart and soul of the Republican Party.

The speaker this legislative session spoke out against the Senate's effort to pass the so-called bathroom bill that would have restricted transgender people to using the bathroom that aligns with the sex on their birth certificate. He also pushed hard for education funding reforms that ultimately fell flat in the Senate. The result was a constant war of words between the two chamber leaders and the holding hostage of major policy reforms.

Straus plans to serve out the remaining 14 months of his House term representing a north San Antonio district and the finishing out his speakership. He said he will still spend this year's election cycle supporting "responsible Republicans who face challenges in the primary."

Supporters suggest daily that he run for another office, he said.

"I don't have plans to do that, but I will be looking forward to speaking out more and more on issues that I think are important for people. What that leads to, we'll have to see," he said.

Straus acknowledged his name ID among voters statewide is low. He called that a fact that "brings me back to Earth once in a while when I see that."

Unlike the lieutenant governor, the House speaker is a state representative elected by his peers in that chamber.

Between lower name recognition and his position to the left of tea party Republicans, Straus is unlikely to have a viable chance to win election statewide, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science expert teaching at the University of Houston. Straus represents a wing of the Republican Party that is likely to be out-voted by more conservative voters of the party, he said.

"I don't think money is the problem. It's just the perception that he's too liberal for Republican ideas of Texas," said Rottinghaus.

Instead, the soon-to-be retired speaker could position himself as a supporter of candidates challenging conservative Republicans from the center, he said.

"In the future, when there are more distinct coalitions of moderate Republicans who are challenging more conservative Republicans, you can see Straus as a potential future kingmaker," said Rottinghaus.

Political frenzy

Straus' decision to make this term his last in the House came as a surprise after the speaker had said in May he planned to run again for the leadership post. Last month, he said of people bucking him for the gavel, "bring it."

His departure from the House after the 2018 election leaves the seat up for grabs in 2019 after years of mounting Republican infighting between conservative and moderate factions over pro-life issues, bathroom policies, state spending and property tax policies.

Tea party Republicans with a taste for more conservative policies have occupied a growing share in the Texas Legislature for much of the last decade while Straus, a business-minded moderate, ran the chamber. This term marks his fifth, trying him with two previous speakers - both Democrats - for the longest tenure leading the chamber.

Within hours of Straus' announcement, his ally chairing the powerful Appropriations Committee announced he was running for the seat. Rep. John Zerwas, a Richmond Republican, promised to offer members leadership roles in sync with the values of their constituents.

Rep. Phil King, a Republican from Weatherford who announced in September he is running for speaker, said Wednesday he wants to "ensure that members can serve the interests of Texans in a transparent, productive and functional environment where all views are heard."

Straus frequently butted heads with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and the conservative 12-member Freedom Caucus in his chamber. Patrick, one of Straus' staunches critics, thanked the speaker for his service and added, "any man who enters the arena deserves respect."

Also out is a top Straus lieutenant in the House, Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, who chairs the state affairs committee.

"It is an honor to represent the families of Anderson, Freestone, Hill, and Navarro Counties in the Texas House of Representatives," Cook said in a statement published by the Quorum Report. "However, I will not seek a 9th term in the upcoming March 2018 Republican primary for the Texas House of Representatives. Instead, I will pursue other opportunities to serve our great state."

News of Straus' eventual departure was met with excitement by his critics and conservatives immediately hailed it as an opportunity for them to push even harder for passage of some of their key proposals.

"But now isn't the time to celebrate, it's time to escalate," said Michael Quinn Sullivan who leads Empower Texans, a conservative group critical of the speaker, encouraging supporters to donate to efforts to defeat the speaker's other allies in next year's primary election. "Straus' abrupt departure is a signal that the battle for Texas is going to get hotter."

Split on values

From the start of his tenure as speaker, Straus has been on the wrong side on key issues, said State Rep. Matt Schaefer, a Tyler Republican who leads the Texas Freedom Caucus. He said in the first year, Straus was quoted in the media as not supporting overturning Roe v Wade, the landmark abortion case that affirmed abortion rights in the United States.

"He did not share our Pro-Life values," Schaefer said, adding that any anti-abortion legislation that passed was always "in spite of Joe Straus, not because of him.

"He positioned himself against Dan Patrick and Gov. Abbott. Imagine what could happen if they had a partner. Overall we are a Republican state and we are electing conservative legislators, but we haven't governed that way," said Schaefer.

He said the caucus is working to impose new rules on the Republican caucus within the House to assure only Republicans get to nominate a candidate for speaker, preventing Democrats from playing a role in electing a speaker like they did with Straus in 2009.

Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, praised Straus' leadership and said Democrats will have their say in electing the next speaker.

"His deliberative approach to public policy will be truly missed, as will the inclusive manner in which he ran the House," he said. "Under Speaker Straus, the House led the way on a number of bipartisan accomplishments, including public school accountability reform, water infrastructure and mental health access."

State Sen. Joan Huffman, a Houston Republican, said it is clear big changes are coming to the relationship between the House and the Senate, depending on who becomes the next Speaker.

"I think it changes the dynamics between the House and the Senate in huge ways," Huffman said.

Huffman said holds Straus partly accountable for helping push Fort Bend ISD president Kristin Tassin into running against her in 2018 in a GOP primary. Earlier this year, Straus gave a speech to an audience in which he praised Tassin individually and later encouraged people in the room to run for office to change the direction of the government.

Jeremy Wallace contributed to this report.
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On Tuesday, Sen. Ted Cruz endorsed Alabama Judge Roy Moore, a controversial candidate for U.S. Senate best known for his support of the Ten Commandments and opposition to gay marriage.

Cruz announced his support of Moore the same day that Talking Points Memo resurfaced a 2016 podcast interview in which Moore said the Supreme Court's 2015 same-sex marriage ruling was "even worse" than an 1857 court decision that upheld slavery.

"Yes, sir. I was simply pointing out that in 1857 the United States Supreme Court did rule that black people were property. And of course that contradicted the Constitution and it took a civil war to overturn it," Moore told the "Here I Stand" podcast last November.

HEAD TO HEAD: Ted Cruz takes on Bernie Sanders in debate over tax cuts

"But this ruling in Obergefell is even worse in a sense because it forces not only people to recognize marriage other than the institution ordained of God and recognized by nearly every state in the union, it says that you now must do away with the definition of marriage and make it between two persons of the same gender," he continued.

In previous comments, Moore said "homosexual conduct" should be illegal and compared it to bestiality.

Now Playing: On Tuesday, Roy Moore won the Senate GOP runoff election in Alabama  claiming victory over Donald Trumps prefered candidate, Senate Luther Strange. The former justice chief of Alabama has made headlines on more than one occasion for his statements on hot-button issues, one of which led to his removal from the Alabama Supreme Court bench. In 2005, Moore had this to say about homosexuality: Homosexual conduct should be illegal. It is immoral, it is defined by the law as detestable. Video: Mic

"This December, the People of Alabama have a clear choice," wrote Ted Cruz in his endorsement of Moore. "They can choose a liberal Democrat, who will stand with Chuck Schumer to raise taxes, weaken our military, open our border, and undermine our constitutional rights. Or, they can choose to elect Judge Roy Moore, a conservative who will proudly defend Alabama values."

More Information site See More Collapse

FUNNY EXCHANGE: Ted Cruz tweets image of Zodiac Killer letters

Moore, a former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice, is tied in the Senate race against Democratic candidate Doug Jones, according to a Fox News poll last week.

Alabama voters go to the polls on Dec. 12.

See where Houston ranks among Texas most and least LGBTQ-friendly cities above.
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A local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy has sued San Antonio and city officials over the removal from Travis Park of the statue memorializing fallen Confederate soldiers.

In a federal lawsuit, the organizations Albert Sidney Johnston chapter No. 2060 said it did not receive due process to challenge the decision.

It accused the city of damaging the monument during the removal and said officials have yet to disclose what was done with it or hold a public discussion about the removal.

The suit claims violations of the First, Fifth and 14th amendments, and seeks unspecified monetary damages and attorneys fees.

It said chapter President Robin Terrazas of Helotes tried to meet with Mayor Ron Nirenberg prior to the statues removal but he declined. Instead, Terrazas was told by a city staffer to appear at a City Council meeting to make her voice heard, the lawsuit states.

Crews removed the statue of a Confederate soldier, with its inscription dedicating it to Our Confederate Dead and its two accompanying Civil War cannons, on Sept. 1 shortly after the City Council ordered it by a 10-1 vote.

The removal came during a national debate over the appropriateness of such monuments, which critics argued were erected across the South as a way to bolster Jim Crow racism by romanticizing a slave-holding past.

Besides the city, the lawsuit names as defendants those who voted for its removal  Nirenberg and nine members of the City Council: Roberto Trevino, William Shaw, Rebecca Viagran, Rey Saldana, Shirley Gonzales, Greg Brockhouse, Ana Sandoval, Manny Pelaez and John Courage.

The lone dissenting vote was by District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry, who had expressed an issue with the timing being so close to Hurricane Harvey, and that the decision circumvented the Historic Design Commission, which handles historic monuments in San Antonio.

A spokesman for the mayor said Wednesday that Nirenberg was out of the country, had not seen the lawsuit and wouldnt be able to comment on it. The city declined comment because the suit had not been officially served, adding that the City Attorneys office cant comment on pending litigation.

The suit said members of the now-defunct Barnard E. Bee chapter of the UDC held bake sales and other public fundraisers to earn $3,000 in the 1890s to help pay for the statue, which was erected in 1900. In todays dollars, it would cost more than $81,000 to replace the monument, the suit says.

The suit also said the Bee chapter placed a time capsule under the statues foundation that included a roster of the chapters membership, Confederate currency and coins; a Confederate flag bearing the name Jeff Davis in a wreath of violets; pressed flowers from the coffin of Confederate President Jefferson Davis daughter, Varina Anne Winnie Davis; newspapers; and an Old Testament kept by a Confederate soldier in a Union prison.

It was unclear if the city was aware that that a time capsule had been buried under the statue.

The city of San Antonio gave use of the land underneath the monument to the Barnard E. Bee chapter in 1899 in perpetuity, the lawsuit states.

The Bee chapter closed because of declining membership, but the Johnston chapter succeeded to the property and interests of the Bee chapter, and neither chapter ever gave or donated the common Confederate soldier monument to any entity, the suit said. Both chapters were named for Confederate generals killed during the war.

The suit defended the statue, saying it did not contain markings or signage referring to the former Confederate States of America or to any of its leaders.

The Daughters have no idea where their statue is or in what condition it may be, the suit said. The members of the ASJ chapter No. 2060 have no idea where their time capsule is or where the contents are. The UDC has been excluded from the community discussion.

gcontreras@express-news.net
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A man accused in the 2014 death of his girlfriend was moved Tuesday to the Bexar County Jail from a psychiatric prison unit in Lubbock, authorities said.

Leroy G. Sanchez Jr., 29, was charged with murder in the death of Gabriela Sandoval, according to court records.

Sandoval was 22 in 2014 when a family member found her dead at about 11 a.m. April 12, 2014, in a home in the 11300 block of Cache Path, according to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office.

According to his arrest warrant affidavit, Sanchez had been convicted of assaulting Sandoval, the mother of their two children, in 2010.

When he was released from jail on April 1, 2014, he moved in with Sandoval at her parents Northwest Side house, investigators said in the affidavit.

A witness told investigators that Sanchez had forced Sandoval to have unwanted sex on multiple occasions since his release, according to the affidavit.

The morning of April 7 was the last day family would see Sandoval alive, leaving with Sanchez in her fathers green van, deputies said.

When the family attempted to call Sandoval later that day, the phone went to voice mail, investigators said. Cellphone records indicated her phone had been near the home on Cache Path.

After Sandoval didnt return home that night, the family reported her missing to the San Antonio Police Department. They also reported Sanchez missing.

On April 12, a family member who had been out of town found Sandoval dead in the living room floor of the Cache Path home with multiple wounds, authorities said.

Investigators said in the affidavit that when they found Sanchez and told him Sandoval was dead, he showed no emotion and said, Well, thats a relationship that I broke with a long time ago.

Sanchez initially told detectives that he had never been inside any of the family homes. He later changed his story, saying he visited Sandoval once, and had been to the Cache Path home, the affidavit states.

Surveillance video obtained by detectives shows Sanchez using a green van at multiple gas stations during the time that he and Sandoval were reported missing, according to the affidavit.

Both Sandovals blood and Sanchezs DNA were found on a pair of shorts recovered by authorities from inside the Cache Path residence.

Before being moved to the Bexar County Jail, Sanchez had been serving a three-year sentence at the Montford Unit for assaulting a public servant causing bodily injury in October 2014, according to the sheriffs office.

jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA
Despite some long-running attempts by conservative advocacy groups to oust House Speaker Joe Straus, the San Antonio Republican said Wednesday critics cant claim credit for his surprise decision not to run for reelection.

They tried to defeat me before I was elected the first time, they didnt even know my name, Straus told the Express-News in a one-one-one interview Wednesday afternoon. He has been speaker since 2009. I win, they lose They will say what they say, but the records will show they were 0 for 5.

Straus, 58, said he wants to leave office on a high note after maintaining control of the gavel for five terms. Some critics crowed at the decision, pointing to votes of no confidence and other rebuffs of Straus by more than 50 Republican Party organizations. Straus, a pro-business Republican, clashed with tea party-aligned groups in the last session over social issues including to so-called bathroom bill.

It seemed only a matter of time before the mounting grassroots and electoral pressure was too great for them to continue in office, said Values Action President Jonathan Saenz in a statement, referring to Straus and Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, who also announced he wont seek reelection.

Several business groups said they were sorry to hear the news.

Speaker Straus has been a true crusader for bringing real solutions to real challenges and showed his commitment time and time again to private-sector growth, said Jeff Moseley, CEO of Texas Association of Business.

Despite making public statements as recently as mid-September that he would run seek another term, Straus said he decided to step back after reflecting on what a record-setting sixth term as speaker would mean. He hasnt ruled out a run for higher office, but said he highly doubts his name will be on the 2018 ballot.

At some point it just gets so repetitive, if I want to do something else, do I really want to do three more years here? he said. Anyone who is serving as speaker for 5 sessions amasses a certain amount of power in the job, and I think its really important in our system that those of us in these election positions can say heres the power back. Give it back before you have to.

Already a race for to replace Straus as House leader is underway, with at least two Republicans seeking the job, and many other mulling it over.

Recently, the House has been a block to conservative social policies championed by Senate. Though he wont take a position on any speaker candidate, Straus said hes leaving the chamber in good, capable hands.

I feel good and confident theres been enough examples of success, the way I like to define success, which is working with people, trying to build consensus, not apologizing for working across party lines, he said. Whatever decision the house makes in terms of future leadership, i think that will continue.

Some quietly suggested that Straus decision stemmed from the recent hospitalization of one of his sisters who faces a serious health challenge. When asked, Straus said he has a really close family, but her illness was not a factor in his decision not to seek reelection.

Its just time and I feel really good about being confident in making this decisions. he told the Express-News. Its unexpected and when I was first elected speaker that was unexpected, too. You never know what the future holds, but I feel very good about the timing.
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AUSTIN  House Speaker Joe Straus of San Antonio announced unexpectedly Wednesday that he will not run for re-election in 2018, saying he wants to leave office on a high note after maintaining control of the gavel for five terms.

A confident leader knows when its time to give it back, he said at a news conference in his Capitol office. I want to find other ways to service this state.

Straus said he highly doubts his name will appear on the 2018 ballot, though he didnt rule out a run for future office, possibly even governor.

He will be an active player in the upcoming GOP primaries, supporting responsible Republicans, he said.

Now Playing: San Antonios Joe Straus announces he wont be coming back to the Texas House next year. (Oct. 25) Video: San Antonio Express-News

Straus, a pro-business Republican, often found himself at odds with members of his own party in the recent legislative session, especially over the so-called bathroom bill targeting trangender Texans. He became a regular target for the Tea-Party aligned House Freedom Cacucus and recently some members of the Bexar County Republican Party tried unsuccessfully to censure Straus.

At least one GOP House member, Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, already announced plans to challenge Straus for speaker.

Those recent tensions did not contribute to his decision, said Straus, who added that his pro-economic policies have gained a strong response from constituents, some of whom suggest on a daily basis that he run for other office.

I dont have plans to do that, but I will be looking forward to speaking out more and more on issues that I think are important to most people, he said. There is a hunger for a Republican voice out there that stresses issues that maybe havent gotten enough attention around the Capitol in the last years.

Though Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick most recently heaped blame on Straus when the special session ended with nearly half of Abbotts agenda left incomplete, both thanked the speaker for his service Wednesday.

Joe Straus has served with distinction for both the people in his district and for the Texas House of Representatives, Abbott said in a statement. I thank Speaker Straus for his service and for his commitment to the State of Texas. Cecilia and I wish Joe and Julie all the best.

Patrick, on Twitter, echoed the sentiment. Any man who enters the arena deserves respect, he said. The media often tried to portray our differences as personal when they were actually just a markedly different approach to governance and political ideology. I wish Julie and him well as they begin a new chapter of their life.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, on his way to Germany after a trade mission to Israel, sent a statement via text.

Cities will have to work that much harder to get an increasingly polarized legislature to understand and advocate for the needs of the constituents we all represent, Nirenberg wrote. You cant replace Joe Straus leadership and experience overnight. Nor can you overestimate the impact of the mans compassion for all Texans. He is a statesman par excellence, and we need more of that kind of steadiness in our state, not less.

Straus, as recently as mid-September, talked publicly about running for reelection, saying simply bring it when asked about potential challengers at Tribune Fest

I wouldnt run for reelection if I didnt think I would have a leadership role," he added.

And on several fronts, Republicans have been working to challenge Strauss grip on the gavel.

Recently, Freedom Cacucus members floated a rule change that could have undermined Straus' chances of winning the gavel again. Under the proposal, GOP representatives would select their own speaker candidate before the official vote on the House floor, when Democrats can participate. Straus, now in his record-tying fifth term as speaker, has relied on support from both parties to remain in power.

At the same time, more than 50 Republican Party organizations across Texas have taken votes of no confidence or passed other rebuffs of Straus leadership, according to news reports. Some Bexar County Republicans sought to censure Straus, which if it were approved at the state level, could have let the Texas GOP withhold financial support for Straus' reelection.

Straus acknowledged his decision is unexpected.

Its been decades since someone has left the Speakers office on his own terms, he wrote on Facebook. But we have accomplished what I had hoped the House would accomplish when I first entered this office, and I am increasingly eager to contribute to our state in new and different ways.

Read Straus full post on Facebook here.

amorris@express-news.net
PM dismisses acting head of state service for geodesy, cartography and cadastre Tsviakh, promises to jail him for appointing 'enforcers'

Acting head of the State Service for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre (Derzhgeocadastre) Oleh Tsviakh has been dismissed.

"Mr. Tsviakh, from now on you are suspended from performing your duties. Tomorrow I will appeal to the General Prosecutor's Office and the National Security and Defense Council to launch a case against you, against all your chiefs at district administrations, to investigate it and you will be imprisoned," Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman said during the course of the Regional Development Council in Kyiv.

The prime minister urged local authorities to provide him with information about the "enforcers" by the end of the day.

"Dear colleagues, who applauded, I expect from you by the end of the day specific facts, specific names of those who are acting as "enforcers" in your districts and regions," Groysman said.

President Petro Poroshenko asked to provide him with duplicates of these materials.

"The "enforcers" remained behind in 2014, far off 2013. And I emphasize that what you are doing today, if it's true, you piggy-back today on our state and you are not forgiven for it. If you are guilty, you will be in jail. End of story," the prime minister said.

The corresponding decision was made after the appeal of the head of Vasylkivska district administration of Dnipropetrovsk region, Serhiy Lytvynov, to the president with the request to remove Kyiv's "enforcers" of the State Service for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre from the regions.

"Mr. President, I listened to the information about the "enforcers" and we will not dwell on that. I believe that everything we heard here should be investigated and not be ignored, and guilty persons should go to jail," Groysman said.

The president thanked the PM for the decision, and also said that it is necessary to solve the issue of the disposal of state lands outside the populated areas by the local communities and bring it to the meeting of the National Council of Reforms.

Tsviakh has been appointed to the post of acting head of the State Service for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre since July 2016. He worked as the head of the land management department of land resources of the executive body of Kyiv City Council (Kyiv City State Administration) from 2012 to 2015.

From February to July 2015, he served as the head of the Main Directorate of the State Agency for Agrarian Policy in Kyiv. On July 24, 2015, he was appointed Chief of the Main Directorate of the State Service for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre in Kyiv.
In one week, Border Patrol agents stopped four convicted sexual predators, some of whom abused children, as they tried to re-enter the U.S. illegally.

The stops spanned a period of five days and were made by agents from the Weslaco, Falfurrias and Fort Brown stations. The men attempting to re-enter the country illegally were from Mexico and Honduras.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump is heading back to Texas Wednesday to headline a high-dollar fundraiser to benefit his re-election campaign and the Republican National Committee.

The $2,700-a-plate dinner in Dallas was rescheduled after Hurricane Harvey forced the cancellation of a previously planned fundraiser last month. Hosted by the Dallas County Republican Party, the event will be Trump's first fundraising trip to Texas as president.

Trump will also meet with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for a briefing on Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.

The trip comes on the eve of a deadline set by Congress for the release of all classified material relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas almost 54 years ago.

Well-heeled donors will be able to pony up $100,000 per person for a roundtable with Trump. A photo opportunity with the president is $35,000 per person. Republican officials said they expect upwards of $4 million will be raised there.

With protests having been aimed at the Trump fundraiser that was cancelled in September, organizers were keeping the location of Wednesday's event closely under wraps.

The fundraiser to replenish Trump's campaign account follows a Tuesday confab of wealthy Trump backers at the Mesa Vista ranch of oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens near Pampa.

The Mesa Vista meeting was expected to include Dallas businessman Roy Bailey, who has been working with America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC for the 2018 and 2010 elections. Bailey and Dallas businessman Tommy Hicks Jr. helped lead Trump's campaign fundraising efforts in Texas.

The president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., also was reportedly scheduled to talk to the group at Mesa Vista.
A total of 18 coalmines have been flooded in the temporarily occupied areas of Donetsk region, Deputy Minister for Temporary Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons Heorhiy Tuka has said.

"Some 18 coalmines in Donetsk region have been flooded and 12 more are being flooded. They all produced anthracite. It is impossible to resume their operations, as it should be invested more than it would be received from these coalmines," he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Tuka called on politicians not to speculate with the issue of separating Donbas from Ukraine due to high expense on its reintegration.
Last week, I walked into the hospital and greeted my colleague, who was clearly agitated. He had just finished an urgent Cesarean section that resulted in both baby and mom ending up in intensive care. Why? The flu.

Its only early fall, but the flu has arrived and started to claim its victims. As an obstetrician, I want my patients to have a safe delivery and a healthy baby. The flu shot during pregnancy is an important part of achieving that goal.

I sigh when I hear one of my pregnant patients say, But Ive never gotten the flu. I dont need a shot.

I recall a patient I had to put on life support two years ago because the flu severely damaged her lungs. I also remember my patient whom I had to deliver early because of the flu and how she waited 10 days to meet her baby. I visited her in the intensive care unit as her distraught husband balanced the joy of the newborn, the fear of losing his wife, and the anxiety of doing this alone.

The flu is dangerous to pregnant women, so dangerous that they and children under the age of 5 are prioritized to get the flu shot. Pregnant women lose 30 percent of their lung capacity by 16 weeks. When your lungs lose that much volume, you cant take the flus hit without risking serious consequences.

And the flus fever can threaten the developing babys life, as happened with my colleagues patient last week: That babys heart rate went from 230 to zero beats in less than five minutes; baby needed chest compressions to revive its heart. Flu affects a fetus early, too; in the first trimester, fever can cause neural tube defects  birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord.

The flu shot a pregnant woman receives protects her and her baby in two important ways. First, it can reduce the risk of getting the flu by as much as 60 percent. And if mom does get the flu, it can be milder. The shot also protects the newborn for those first six months when the baby is too young to get the flu shot.

The protection mom gets from the flu shot is transferred to the baby to help build up his or her ability to fight the illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends flu vaccination for anyone over 6 months of age.

Multiple studies and years of evidence support the safety of flu vaccination in pregnant women. A pregnant woman can get a flu shot anytime during pregnancy, and flu season can last from October through May. No mom-to-be should skip her flu shot.

Knowing these facts, I was dismayed to read a recent controversial study questioning the safety of flu shots during the first trimester of pregnancy. The researchers studied only a small group of women (lessening confidence in accuracy), and this stand-alone research begs more scrutiny. One of the studys co-authors even acknowledged the outcomes were unexpected and need more investigation.

My colleagues and I are not alone in our continued confidence about vaccinating pregnant women. Recently, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and CDC voiced support for influenza vaccination during pregnancy. ACOG stated: Influenza vaccination is an essential element of prenatal care, citing flus increased risk for illness or death to pregnant women. ACOG reiterated the vaccines protection of newborns, too.

For me, flu vaccination during pregnancy is a given. The benefits far outweigh any potential risks. Influenza can kill, and pregnant women  and newborns  are at high risk for the disease. Unless proven otherwise, my colleagues and I will continue adamantly to advise the flu vaccines protection to our patients. Were heading into flu season; get vaccinated as soon as possible.

If you have any concerns, be sure to talk with your doctor.

Kimberly Carter is an Austin obstetrician-gynecologist, a fellow with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the immediate past president of the Texas Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and a physician advisory panel member for the Texas Medical Association Be Wise  Immunize program.
Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on the Texas shoreline and it will soon remake the political landscape as we approach the November 2018 midterm elections. Its impact will be felt for elections to come.

Our elected officials can no longer ignore common-sense questions. Could our leaders be so out of touch that they ignored the warning signs? Aren't we getting 500-year storms more regularly? Why is critical infrastructure like chemical plants and public utilities so susceptible to flooding? Who is asleep at the wheel, and why do we keep returning them to office?

This ineptitude - or willful failure to prepare for risks that are readily-apparent - will cause the already-simmering groundswell of political tumult to overflow, having real political ramifications in races at every level. It is up to Democrats and concerned citizens to demand solutions rather than more bathroom politics.

People who seek a government that most fundamentally works to keep us safe now have an opportunity to answer the questions that today's current politicians simply (and negligently) refuse to address. As we rebuild, there must be a campaign to secure the necessary funding to make Texans whole and prepare for the next big storm. That requires a new way of talking about Harvey, and the man-made environmental disaster that is unfolding before us.

Voters already have little confidence in Congress to get the job done, so why not go all in: Demand the funds and resources that Texas needs to recover while preparing for the next threat. For once, voters might actually reward a politician for going to the mat for their livelihoods. They might replace their current elected official in exchange for one who wants to use the storm as an opportunity to rebuild the infrastructure of Texas, get good paying jobs to areas that need them, make our chemical plants ready for flooding and secure our future against another storm.

It was only in August when we saw Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey call out U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for his no vote on Hurricane Sandy funding. Cruz was not the only Republican who rejected federal monies; Mike Pence wanted budget offsets for the Sandy funding package. Even a few members from Texas - all Republicans - voted against the initial Harvey relief funds! These principled leaders wanted to inflict harm on people because it was an opportunity to rack up political points with a base that suffers alongside the rest of America's recent storm victims.

Similarly, the Houston Chronicle, International Business Times and other publications have led the way on investigating flooded Superfund sites and the Arkema plant explosions in Crosby. The invisible dangers alone that we face from hazardous chemicals and plant safety should be enough to enrage any Texan, but the fact that Republicans work to regulate less, cut funding to the Environmental Protection Agency and actively court polluters should be a liability. Democrats can work to make that a reality by building on the momentum and consensus that something needs to be done.

Democrats will be hesitant to politicize a tragic natural disaster. They will fret that bringing politics into the Harvey funding debate will harm them at home and make them seem opportunistic. The reality is that there are people right now without homes, cars and jobs because of the storm. Some lost their lives or family members and just don't see a way forward. Despair will metastasize into anger. But Democrats can break the cycle by showing Texans a path to recovery by providing plans, timelines and assurances that together, we can work to protect our communities against the next natural disaster.

While Texas are still coming to grips with the extent of Harvey's impacts, it is time for Democrats to treat this event as a catalyst for a renewed push for a common-sense approach to fulfill the most basic job of government - protecting its citizens.

It is time to advocate for our communities and hold elected representatives accountable.

Kolenc is a Democratic political consultant with clients in Texas and across the country.
Public joint-stock company Ukrzaliznytsia in 2018 seeks to build 4,000 gondola cars and around 200 fitting platforms at own production facilities  Paniutyne, Stryi and Darnytsia car repair plants.

An Interfax-Ukraine correspondent has reported that Head of the car department at Ukrzaliznytsia Oleh Motin gave the information at the international conference "Car Building & Rolling Stock Repair in Ukraine" in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Commenting on building of cars this year, he said that today 1,676 gondola cars were built at own production facilities, and 800 or 900 more cars will be built by the end of this year.

Ukrzaliznytsia's enterprises started producing 360 gondola cars a month, he said.

Motin also said that in 2018, it is planned to buy 700 grain carriers. In general, the grain carrier fleet today is over 5,000. Around 900 cars were built this year.

Some 2,500-3,000 gondola cars will be bought using funds from the increase of freight tariffs in 2018.

In addition, it is planned to buy 6,000-6,500 gondola cars using a loan of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). First contracts will be started implemented in H2 2018.

Earlier, in May 2017, Motin told Interfax-Ukraine that the factories that are branches of PJSC Ukrzaliznytsia are increasing the pace of building of gondola cars. For example, Darnytsia car repair plant has materials to build almost 1,000 freight cars before the end of 2017.

"It's quite realistic to build 3,000 freight cars at our own plants by the end of 2017, since the annual capacity of these enterprises is 4,500 cars. Now the construction is revitalized not only in the Darnytsia car repair plant, but also in Paniutine and Stryi plants," he said.

Speaking at the conference about the problems of buying gondola cars from Ukrainian car-builders, Motin recalled that this year not a single car was bought (in 2016 - 650 units), since tenders for 2,500 gondola cars did not take place over permanent appeals.

"There is a hope that still another tender will be success for 250 gondola cars. However, there is also a claim filed to the business court, and there is no understanding whether we see Ukrainian gondola cars. According to the results of hearing the claim, we will see whether we conduct tender this year, or in 2018," he said.

Motin said that for today the Ukrzaliznytsia's fleet of freight cars is 103,500 units, private companies have 65,500 units.

At the same time, he said, about 30,000 cars remained in the uncontrolled territory - in Crimea and the ATO zone, including 21,000 of Ukrzalinytsia cars (including 16,000 gondola cars).

"If 45,000 is an Ukrzaliznytsia's fleet of gondola cars, then the third part of it was left in the uncontrolled territory, while 66% of cargo is transported by gondola cars," he said.

According to him, Ukrzaliznytsia had some difficulties at the beginning of the year with suppliers of raw materials and components for cars.

"We lost time negotiating with them, but thanks to the successful negotiations we can already see that the Kremenchuk Steel Works, the producer of car casting, has started operating at full capacity. Azovelektrostal started operating two months ago and began shipping products for us. Now it is reaching its full capacity. The manufacturer of all-rolled wheels Interpipe started operating at its full capacity too. Last month the manufacturer of the brake equipment FED launched its operations and we have already received a first batch," Motin said.

He said that all enterprises in Ukraine have already built 4,022 cars since the beginning of the year, whereas in 2016 1,771 cars were built.
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Ukraine could become one of the most successful economies in the continent, but only if its GDP growth is 5% or 7% a year and more, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said.

"I several times said that we could become one of the most successful economies in the continent. This is absolutely possible, but we need growth [of GDP] not 3%, but 5-7% and more," he said at a government meeting on Wednesday.

The prime minister said that favorable business climate should be crated for seeing this pace of GDP growth in the country.
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Culture / Art Republik

US-born and British-based shipwrecked hunter found an old treasure during a dive and traced its roots, which revealed the object existed between the 1496 and 1500 period

Oct 25, 2017 | By Andrea Sim

David Mearns, a British-based shipwreck hunter was diving off the coast of Oman in 2014, and he came across a bronze disc, which was passed on to Warwick University for lab scans and analyses.

Most recently, studies from the university has confirmed of the revealed etches on the 17.5-centimetre wide artefact after laser scans done by Professor Mark Williams.

It was fantastic to apply our 3D scanning technology to such an exciting project and help with the identification of such a rare and fascinating item.  Warwick University Professor Williams

According to Mearns, the bronze disc revealed the royal coat of arms on it and he told AFP in an interview that he knew immediately that it was a very, very important object.

This is the oldest maritime astrolabe, he said, with origins dating back to the 1496 and 1500 period, which was around 30 years earlier than the previously known oldest astrolabe.

Astrolabes  as the word suggests  is a solar navigation tool, historically used by astronomers and navigators to measure the altitude of the stars and the positioning of celestial bodies, and whether if its day or night according to the positioning of the sun.

Williams also found out that the Etches was separated by five degrees intervals to calculate the height of the sun, said AFP.

According to Mearns, the astrolabes has been used since the ancient times as a navigation tool, but the Portuguese explorer developed a version of their own for the mariners to measure the latitude of a ship at sea.

Mearns company began a research on the shipwreck in 1998 and started the evacuation in 2013 after his company collaborated with Omans culture ministry.

Mearns believes Esmeralda was a ship that sank, while Vasco da Gama was on his second voyage to India between 1502 and 1503. Being the first European to reach India by sea in 1498, he discovered the doorway to the age of colonialism and trade between Europe and Asia.

The astrolabe carried the personal emblem of King Manuel I of Portugal, who came to the throne in October 1495.  US-born Mearns, who has worked on shipwrecks around the world revealed the image shown on the astrolabe

The maritime astrolabe developed by the Portuguese took reference from the oldest astrolabe at that time when it was used at sea is about 1480. The previous oldest was on a ship from 1533, Mearns said.

The astrolabe is with Omans National Museum.
Ukraine starts eighth round of talks on FTA with Turkey

Ukraine has started the eighth round of negotiations on the signing of the free trade agreement (FTA) with Turkey, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Ukraine's trade representative Natalia Mykolska has said on her Facebook page.

"During the recent visit of President Erdogan [Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan] to Ukraine special attention was paid to the increase of trade and intensification of the negotiations," she wrote.

As reported, the FTA with Canada took effect on August 1, 2017.

Earlier representatives of the government said that the next FTA Ukraine could sign with Israel.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has dismissed Oleh Tsviakh from the post of Acting Head of the State Service for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre (Derzhgeocadastre).

"Tsviakh has been fired," Deputy Prime Minister Pavlo Rozenko told reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on Wednesday.

As reported, on October 24, Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman announced the suspension of Oleh Tsviakh from serving the duties of the head of the State Service for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre (Derzhgeocadastre).

"Mr. Tsviakh, from now on you are suspended from performing your duties. Tomorrow I will appeal to the General Prosecutor's Office and the National Security and Defense Council to launch a case against you, against all your chiefs at district administrations. You will be imprisoned," Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman said during the course of the Regional Development Council in Kyiv.

The prime minister urged local authorities to provide him with information about the "enforcers" by the end of the day.
Thrissur: Four members of the Tantri family opposed the statement of Guruvayur Temple Tantri Chennas Dinesan Namboodiripad asking government to take decision on allowing non-Hindus into temple.

Chennas Narayanan Namboodiripad along with three other family members in a statement said that it was the personal opinion of the Chennas Dinesan Namboodiripad. He added that allowing non-Hindus to Guruvayur temple will hurt the feeling of devotees.

The chief priest Chennas Dinesan Namboodiripad on last day said that the state government is the authority to take a decision on temples. He added that all customs will change according to time. The government should take action considering these changes.
Prosecutor general advocates for change of rules of re-registering ownership papers in agriculture to combat illegal seizures

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko advocates the change of the rules of re-registering ownership papers in the agricultural sector, which would help combating illegal seizures.

"We should make two systemic steps: change the rules of re-registering ownership or rental documents in agriculture, as the current system simply opened doors to all fraudsters The second issue is that it time when we need to authorize elected communities to manage land outside cities and towns," Lutsenko said at a meeting of the Regional Development Council in Kyiv on Tuesday.

He said that in the past year the number of illegal seizures in agriculture significantly fell.

"This year the situation has improved, as there were no large-scale battles for harvest, appropriations of harvest in large amount, illegal changes of owners of firms, appropriation of machinery, while rare cases were still seen," he said.
The Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the government is considering building 50 more Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) posts along the Indo-China border. He added that the posts will be built using technology to ensure 20 degree Celsius in all its high-altitude bases throughout the year.

Rajnath was addressing the jawans and officers of the ITBP during its 56th Raising Day celebrations. He also announced a series of measures to boost its capabilities. Currently there are 176 border posts along the India-China border.

Apart from these, the ITBP personnel are now learning Chinese during their basic training. During his speech, Singh lauded the courage and commitment of ITBP personnels and asked the officers to take responsibility of at least one family of personnel killed at the time of duty.
New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on last day urged the Delhi High Court to stop journalist Arnab Goswami and his news channel Republic TV from "misreporting" his wife Sunanda Pushkar's death, saying his "right to be left alone" and "right to silence" must be respected.

The submission was made before Justice Manmohan, who reserved the verdict on Tharoor's plea seeking to restrain Goswami and his channel from airing any news or debate about the death of Ms. Pushkar. The journalist and the channel, on the other hand, said they had only placed the actual evidence and the police report while broadcasting the news.

The Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha MP has filed an interim application for stopping the channel from broadcasting the incident in the pending Rs two crore civil defamation suit against the TV anchor and Republic TV.
Discovering a designer I love feels like developing a new crush but better. I get all tingly, my stomach feels weird in a good way and, after the fireworks subside, the newfound affection feels like an accomplishment. The best part is? Its a process with infinite possibilities. I am always surprised to learn that there are (somehow) more hidden gems out there just waiting to be found. Below are five designers Ive recently fallen for. Some are brand spankin new while others have flown below my radar for way too long. Read on in case theyve done the same for you and then add yours below.

My love for New York-based brand Markarian began like most modern love stories: via Instagram.

When I happened upon the most whimsical collection of dresses Id seen in a while, designed by Alexandra ONeill, I Googled the word markarian to find a Wikipedia page for the Markarian galaxies. Theyre galaxies defined by their unique ultraviolet blue center. After spending some time reading about high energy emissions and star clusters and a bunch of other things I dont truly understand, it became clear this name is no coincidence. Born and raised in Colorado, ONeill credits her vast hometown skies as a constant source of inspiration. One look at her collection and it all makes sense. Everything is out-of-this-world special.

My favorite dress is the pale yellow sequin one with discrete cut-outs and quirky little starfish. I love how this rather mature silhouette is offset by playful details, a pattern the rest of the collection follows. I dont know about you, but there are few things more magical than an occasion dress I want to wear with a pointy pump, but also white Converse.

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Think of Sacais penchant for intricate details and embroidery and Comme des Garcons voluminous style mixed in with the romanticism of a couture house, like perhaps Diors, and you end up with Cecilie Bahnsen. If Ive lost you, stay with me for a second.

You know all that hype surrounding Danish designers and Copenhagen Fashion Week this past season? Well, Bahnsen is one of the incredible designers contributing to Copenhagens fashion boom right now. Only three seasons in, the brands stockist list already includes heavy hitters like Dover Street Market, Ssense, and United Arrows  retailers many newcomers only ever dream of. She was also one of this years LVMH Prize finalists, and so far the only Danish designer to ever be considered.

Scrolling through her latest SS18 collection feels like going through museum archives. The same goes for her previous two collections. Theres a very sculptural, structured feel to her clothing, but just as youre starting to think her clothes are more art than they are wearable, you get hit with the lightness and fluidity of her delicate fabrics. I dont even know if that sentence even made sense, but just look at the clothes! And the styling! Are you drooling right now, too?

After putting her Central Saint Martins education to the test at Celine and Proenza Schouler, New York native Chelsea Goldman launched her own namesake brand in 2014. I dont exactly remember how I came across her clothing, but it was her Fall 2017 collection that really won me over  those corsets especially.

Its not every day you see such a niche item become a part of a designers core collection. Recreated in various prints and slightly different shapes, her corsets have become a key layering piece and part of CF Goldmans enchanting DNA.

The contrast of highly functional, high-volume pieces (her cargo pants are a personal favorite) against a historically rich article of clothing speaks to my heart in so many ways. For an undergarment that is so rooted in traditional customs, there is nothing about Goldmans clothing that feels archaic. However, if Marie Antoinette were around in 2017, Im 100% certain the closet of her West Village town house would be filled with CF Goldman.

Although Goldman is still a relatively new designer, shes already garnered the attention of Rihanna and Solange (or at least those who style Rihanna and Solange, which also bodes well). Shes one to keep your eyes on.

When it comes to handbags, these days I tend to gravitate toward smaller brands that arent so easy to identify. Also, like the Aries that I am, I keep finding myself on both extremes of the spectrum. I either want to carry as close to nothing as possible, or I want a purse that fits my laptop and essentially my entire life. Oh, and of course, quality; something that lasts.

Ive been looking for bag that fits the aforementioned profile for some time now, so when I unsuspectingly walked into a dinner celebrating the launch of Tara Zadehs debut SS18 collection last week, I was dumbfounded.

I had no previous information on, nor connection to, the brand when I walked into her uncles gallery. The space was adorned with marigold and poppy red suede bags and I found it very hard to leave the Roshan tote behind.

Zadehs bags live in that sacred space between timeless and trendy. Its a tricky territory to conquer, but her experience as an art director must account for the strong point of view. The combination of sharp geometric shapes and vibrant colors make for bags that are sophisticated with just the right amount of edge, not to mention the attention to detail that goes into every step of the development and production process. In search of the best artistry, Zadeh took her designs to Ubrique, a small town in Spain renowned for its leather industry. A quick scroll through her Instagram account and youll notice street-style stars like Camille Charriere and Eleonora Carisi are already fans.

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A striped knit bodysuit was my gateway drug to Belize. Composed of stand-out knitwear, easy dresses and separates, its hard to believe Belize was started just one year ago as a passion project between two friends. Its all so good! And wearable! I soon found out this was no ordinary friendship. Valeska Duetsch and Fiona Bansal met while working for Stella McCartney in London. Having also spent time at Chloe and Net-A-Porter, respectively, the duo knows a thing or two about luxury womenswear.

Duetsch and Bansal have combined their industry savoir-faire with their love for excellent craftsmanship to create a uniform for the fashion-forward woman. Inspired by their own international backgrounds (German, Parisian, English and Indian), their designs are made with a globe-trotting woman in mind. From the seaside views of the French Riviera to the gritty streets of Berlin, Valeska describes the Belize woman is always almost missing her flight. This resonates with me way more than it should.

From Italian printmakers to Indian artisans, Belize is committed to bringing couture-like quality to everyday clothing by collaborating with the best of the best.

23 PHOTOS click for more

Which is your favorite? And what new/new-ish designers are you into these days?
Three inspection teams from Italy, Romania and Slovakia began their work on Tuesday to verify Ukraine's compliance with international arms control obligations, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.

"As of today, Ukraine has taken 50 inspections, three of them will be held today," head of the Verification Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Hudz said at a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.

The representative of the General Staff noted that one inspection team will consist of representatives from Italy, two more inspections will be conducted by Romania and Slovakia.

Hudz also said that Ukraine fully fulfills its international obligations in the framework of treaties and agreements on arms control and security enhancement.
COLLINSVILLE-The application of plea agreements and the opioid crisis were the chief topics that Martinsville Commonwealths Attorney candidate Joan Ziglar discussed at a live forum on Monday evening.

The forum was held at Star News/Cable 18 and was moderated by Jessica Robinson. Ziglars opponent in the election, incumbent Martinsville Commonwealths Attorney Clay Gravely, declined to attend the event, Robinson said.

Ziglar served as Commonwealths Attorney from 1998 through 2013, when she lost her bid for a fifth consecutive term to Gravely.

One of the first topics discussed was the use of plea agreements, which has been the central point of contention between the candidates in previous debates.

Ziglar said that while she was Commonwealths Attorney, she used plea agreements in 20 percent or fewer cases. In a late September debate at Morning Star Holy Church in Axton, she said, Gravely said that his office used plea agreements in 40-50 percent of cases, a percentage she feels is too high.

Sometimes the Commonwealths Attorney may have a reason for entering into that plea agreement, she said. Perhaps the facts are not as strong as they should be. Perhaps you know the facts but your witness is starting to back out on you. So there are many reasons that a prosecutor will use plea agreements, and thats why I said I will use them like Ive always used them. Ive never been zero percent plea agreements.

Ideally, she said, plea agreements should be beneficial to both sides in a case. However, she added, if, for instance, the prosecutor is not prepared and has not done his or her homework, then theyre going to use that plea agreement as a way of getting a conviction  any conviction  to be able to say, I get convictions in 90 percent of my cases. But the work hasnt gone into those cases.

When asked by Robinson if the use of more plea agreements was a sign of laziness, Ziglar said that in certain cases, that is correct.

In other cases, they may have had so many cases to prepare for that one day that they didnt get around to doing them all, she said. Being able to get continuances in all cases is not an option in every situation.

Robinson read part of a statement provided by to Star News by Gravely, in which Gravely said he was proud of the accomplishments his office had made in combating violent crime in Martinsville over the past four years, especially the fact that crime rates in Martinsville are now at a historic low across the board, including a nearly 60 percent decline in violent crime since I took office.

This success is the result of the tremendous efforts made by my office working together with our wonderful law enforcement community, and I could not be more proud of the progress we have made together, Gravely said in his statement. This working partnership with law enforcement and community leaders has also led to a more than 20 percent decrease since 2010 in the amount of legally prescribed opioid painkillers per capita here in Martinsville.

Ziglar argued that the 60 percent decrease in violent crime was a continuation of the success of the previous administration, and that when she first became Commonwealths Attorney in 1998, Martinsville was often referred to as Little Chicago due to its high rate of homicides and drive-by shootings. While the violent crime statistics have continued to decline, she said, she attributed much of that progress to the citys community policing efforts and residents working together to keep gangs out of Martinsville.

While working as an assistant Commonwealths Attorney in Danville, Ziglar said, she saw first-hand the negative consequences that follow when a city doesnt do all it can to combat gang violence.

Ziglar recently left the Danville Commonwealths Attorneys office and is currently employed as an Assistant Commonwealths Attorney in Pittsylvania County, she said, as that office allowed her more leeway for campaigning in this election.

She contested Gravelys statement that Martinsville has seen a 20 percent decrease since 2010 in the amount of legally prescribed opioid painkillers per capita. A recent article in Virginia Lawyers Weekly, she said, stated that the number one cause of both unnatural death and accidental death in Virginia is drug overdose, and that the number of deaths attributed to drug overdose has been on the rise every year since 2012.

Ziglar said that opioid-based drugs like heroin, morphine and fentanyl have largely supplanted cocaine-based drugs in Virginia, and that people are willing to break into homes and cars to steal medication.

Robinson asked Ziglar about a perception in the community that she was tougher on African-American defendants while previously serving as Commonwealths Attorney.

I did ride with police officers frequently, but I never arrested anyone, Ziglar replied. The cases that come to prosecutors are those that are made by the police department. We do not pick and choose who we prosecute.
We report from the October Revolution festival - five days of inspiring activities, events, and discussions celebrating the centenary of the Russian Revolution.

Last weekend, from 19-23 October, over 300 Marxists from across Europe, gathered in London for the October Revolution festival - an inspiring commemoration of the centenary of the Russian Revolution.

Throughout the five-day festival, the enthusiasm, energy, and incredible political level of the young Marxist activists present was clearly on display. The confident and passionate mood was palpable, with all those in attendance commenting on how stirring and stimulating the weekends discussions were.

One Swedish comrade, who had never been to such an event before, said that he would never have expected that he could learn so much in just a few days as he has done at the festival. Another attendee from Norwich stated that he was amazed at the depth of knowledge on display in the weekends discussion, and also at the reach of the International Marxist Tendency, with comrades present from all over Britain and Europe.

Above all, it is this revolutionary energy and enthusiasm seen at the festival that is the most fitting celebration of the 1917 October Revolution - for Marxists, the greatest event in human history.

Exploring Londons revolutionary history

Alongside the weekends political and theoretical discussions, international visitors were treated to a series of activities surrounding the main event. Through these extra activities, attendees were able to explore the revolutionary history of London and the citys links to the lives of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Trotsky.

Visiting Marx's grave / Photo: own work

On the Thursday (19th October), for example, there was a walking tour around London to see the sights where Vladimir Lenin lived and worked in the city. Rob Sewell, editor of Socialist Appeal, led the tour, which included comrades from Britain, France, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Greece, Germany, Austria, Spain and Poland. Highlights included a visit to the house where Lenin and Trotsky met for the first time.

The tour ended in a crowded room above the Crown Tavern in Clerkenwell Green, next door to the Marx Memorial Library, where Lenin had his office when he was working in London. Here, Alan Woods - author of Bolshevism: the Road to Revolution - spoke about the history of Bolshevism in Russia, from its birth up to the 1905 Russian Revolution.

On Friday (20th October) comrades visited Highgate cemetery, the final resting place of Karl Marx. Ben Gliniecki from the Socialist Appeal editorial board spoke about the last ten years of Marxs life, during which he wrote his Critique of the Gotha Programme, despite his ill health. Extracts from Engels speech at Marxs graveside were also quoted, in which Engels paid tribute to Karl Marxs contribution to the struggle of the international proletariat. The visit concluded with a rousing rendition of the Internationale, sung by Marxs grave in ten different languages.

On Monday, meanwhile, the festivals activities continued at the British Museum - where Marx wrote Capital - for a Marxist tour of the artefacts in the museum.

Josh Holroyd and Adam Booth, respectively, gave historical materialist analyses of the exhibitions on Mesopotamia and money, outlining how class society developed and how money has evolved over time. Such insights, in turn, allowed those on the tour to see how we can fight against the exploitation of class society and the evils of capitalism today.

Rally for the Russian Revolution

The highlight of the festival for many was undoubtedly the opening rally on Friday night, dedicated to the 1917 Russian Revolution and its centenary anniversary.

An audience of around 150 revolutionary activists were in attendance at the packed rally, which began with the premiere of a new documentary about the life and ideas of Leon Trotsky, produced by the International Marxist Tendency. The documentary gave a detailed analysis of Trotskys role in leading the Russian Revolution, as well as highlighting Trotskys defence of the traditions of Marxism and Bolshevism against the Stalinist bureaucracy, who eventually ended his life on 21 August 1940.

The keynote speech at the rally was given by Leon Trotskys grandson, Esteban Volkov, who joined the meeting via video link from the Trotsky museum in Mexico, in the house where Trotsky was assassinated.

Volkov gave a rousing defence of his grandfather and the ideas of genuine Marxism, thanking the International Marxist Tendency for the work that the organisation has done in keeping these ideas and traditions alive today. Esteban finished his contribution by imploring the crowd of young revolutionaries present to take inspiration from the Russian Revolution and go forward in building the forces of Marxism.

The Friday rally was closed by Alan Woods, who spoke about the significance of the Russian Revolution for revolutionaries today.

As well as discussing the Revolutions impact, Alan also answered the lies, distortions and myths surrounding the October Revolution and the role of Lenin. Despite all of the attempts to slander the legacy of 1917 and the Bolsheviks, Alan stressed that the Russian Revolution still provides us with an incredible inspiration today as we fight for a worldwide socialist society.

The revolutionary ideas of Marxism

The festival continued on Saturday with a programme of discussions about Marxist theory and practice. Topics included: a Marxist critique of postmodernism; the origins of terrorism; an introduction to Marxist economics; an analysis of Fascism and the far right; what is a revolution?; the rise and fall of neoliberalism; the nature of imperialism today; and a history of socialist struggles in Scotland.

Amongst the many highlights was Gerry Ruddys talk about the history of the Troubles in Ireland, given to a packed room, with people sitting on the floor and standing at the back in order to listen to the talk and participate in the discussion.

On the Saturday evening, over 200 people crowded into the main hall for the evenings rally supporting Corbyns Labour Party and the fight for a socialist Labour government. The rally was addressed by two leading trade unionists: Steve Hedley, Senior Assistant General Secretary of the RMT railway union; and Paul Holmes of the Unison NEC, speaking in a personal capacity.

Steve Hedley spoke about the impact of the Russian Revolution on the British Labour movement, 100 years ago, whilst Paul Holmes gave an overview of the Corbyn movement and the class struggle in Britain at the present time.

Natasha Sorrell speaking on Marx's Das Kapital / Photo: own work

Natasha Sorrell, a teacher and Socialist Appeal activist, also gave a moving speech about the attacks on teachers and the whole education sector under this brutal Tory government, calling for socialist policies as the only way forward.

Rob Sewell, editor of Socialist Appeal, ended the rally by analysing the crisis facing British capitalism and its Tory representatives, highlighting the anti-establishment mood that has now erupted out into the open with the rise of Corbyns Labour.

Rob stressed that the Marxists in Britain will fight for the election of a Corbyn Labour government. However, Rob also wanted that such a government would be faced with a campaign of sabotage from the ruling class from day one, and would need to take emergency measures and carry out a bold socialist programme.

Labour must not bend the knee to capital, as in the past, Rob emphasised. It is now the centenary of the Russian Revolution. We should commemorate this event by committing ourselves to this struggle today.

Ed Swanepoel of the Reading Marxists made these comments about the weekend, and the Saturday rally in particular:

The October school which took place in London this past weekend was a fantastic gathering of Marxist minds and radical revolutionaries. All of the sessions that I attended were very informative and educational and really showcased how socialist ideas can change the world. Out of all the excellent talks that took place over the weekend, the rally on Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party was particularly interesting. Marxist ideas are often asserted (by Marxisms critics) as being too dogmatic or not fit for purpose in the 21st century; ideas that are idyllic but not practical. Saturday evenings rally dispelled that myth. Having members of some of Britains biggest trade unions speak to the meeting helped crystallise the task facing the workers movement in Britain and showed how our revolutionary ideas are the tools required to overthrow capitalism and build a socialist alternative. The struggles of the working class in 2017 are not at all different from the ones faced by the workers of Russia in 1917. The centenary celebrations of the October Revolution proved once again how relevant Marxist ideas are in todays fight for a fair and equal society. I look forward to the next conference!

Finally, an excellent collection, led by Fred Weston, editor of www.marxist.com<, raised around 4,500 for the IMT, demonstrating once again the enthusiasm amongst those present. This followed by an enjoyable social of drinks and music, at which young attendees continued the days passionate discussions.

A history of revolution

Further sessions were held on Sunday, with meetings on: Stalinism; Marxism and the Labour Party; dialectical philosophy; automation under capitalism; Trotskys theory of the Permanent Revolution; and the relationship between art and revolution.

One most important discussions was on the astonishing events in Catalonia. Jorge Martin gave a fascinating historical overview on the question of Catalan nationalism, explaining its origins and developments over the centuries.

Importantly, Jorge highlighted, the 1978 Spanish constitution provides no democratic rights on the question of independence and separation. The struggle for an independent Catalonia, therefore, Jorge stressed, is a revolutionary task that can only be carried through by the masses, and which has the potential to break the repressive Spanish regime and ignite the spare of revolution across the whole Iberian peninsula.

Joe Attard from the KCL Marxist society provided this report about the session on Marxism and the Labour Party:

On Sunday morning, Jack Halinski-Fitzpatrick introduced a discussion on the Labour Party, outlining its history and explaining the role of revolutionaries in the organisation today. Jack pointed out that Marxists were among the founding members of the Labour Party, via the Social Democratic Federation, and that the party was considerably more radical in its early years (particularly in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution): openly advocating the transfer of the means of production to the working-class. Moreover, the lack of a mass Communist Party left the Labour Party as the only game in town for the British left, resulting in Labour becoming very entrenched in the traditions of the British proletariat. In spite of decades of betrayals from its reformist and Blairite leadership, therefore, the Labour Party remains a major focal point for the British workers movement, as evidenced by the wave of support behind Jeremy Corbyn, who has served as a lightning rod for the anger of millions of workers and youth hammered by Tory austerity. Jack concluded that Marxists must be fighting inside the Labour Party, to advocate revolutionary ideas directly to the working class, and to help build radical currents in the party that can become a decisive factor in the event of a Corbyn-led government coming to power. Such a government would inevitably face a strike of capital; attempted political sabotage from within and without; and perhaps even resistance from the military. Only the organised working class and youth, armed with Marxist ideas, would be able to defend against such attacks and push Corbyn towards radical measures like expropriation of the commanding heights of the economy - and ultimately to socialism.

John Russell from Norwich, meanwhile, gave these thoughts about the session on the origins of class society:

In a session on the origins of class society on Sunday afternoon, Josh Holroyd led off the discussion with an in-depth and captivating explanation of the development of settled agricultural communities in the Mesopotamian region, and how these historical developments ultimately led to the creation of class society and the state. In his well researched and well structured talk, Josh provided many examples of real archeological sites, described the findings in these regions, and explained the conclusions that can be drawn from them, painting for the audience a detailed and rich narrative of this ancient and foundational period in our history as a species. With a Marxist understanding of history, and the archeological evidence available, we can analyse how and why the first class distinctions - and ultimately the first states - arose, and use this history to further our understanding of class-based state society today under capitalism. In the discussion following the introduction, excellent contributions from comrades with backgrounds in the fields of archeology and history provided further examples of these early class societies from other regions of the world, adding to and corroborating Josh's analysis. A truly fascinating session, the whole discussion was incredibly educational and demonstrated the wealth of expertise and knowledge of this subject present in the minds of young Marxists. Such a thorough understanding of the origins of class society provides a scientific basis for our understanding of class society today, and gives us insight into the possibilities of future classless societies.

A revolutionary celebration

The weekend finished with closing remarks by Alan Woods, who again highlighted the enthusiasm and high political level on display throughout the festival. Most importantly, Alan stressed the urgent importance of the revolutionary task facing us.

We are fighting for the greatest cause in the whole history of humankind, Alan emphasised. We are fighting for the sacred cause of the emancipation of the working class - in Britain, in Europe, and on a world scale - and to raise society to unknown heights of culture, democracy, and civilisation.

Alan Woods / Photo: own work

These inspiring words were followed by another rousing rendition of the Internationale, sung in a dozen different languages.

Overall, around 300 people attended this festival to celebrate the centenary of the Russian Revolution - the overwhelming majority of them being students and young workers. It should give us enormous confidence that, 100 years after the Bolsheviks led the Russian workers and peasants to the conquest of power, such large numbers are interested today in continuing the work of Lenin, Trotsky, and the Bolsheviks and fighting for socialist revolution.
Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian troops 15 times in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, in the past day, as a result of which four Ukrainian soldiers were killed and another four were wounded, the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) headquarters has reported.

"At the end of the past day, the situation in the ATO area remained tense. In the evening and night, Russian-occupation formations concentrated fire provocations mainly in the Donetsk and Mariupol sectors," the ATO HQ wrote on Facebook on Wednesday morning.

Ukrainian positions near the village of Vodiane in the Mariupol sector came under 82mm mortar fire twice and there was one attack with the use of an anti-tank grenade launcher. Militants twice used 82mm mortars and grenades to shell ATO positions near the village of Talakivka.

Attacks on the Armed Forces of Ukraine stationed near the town of Avdiyivka in the Donetsk sector lasted from 19:30 to almost 00:00. The enemy used grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns and small arms. Similar weapons were used near the villages of Zaitseve and Luhanske. One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in an attack on Ukrainian positions near the village of Verkhniotoretske.

Russian proxies used small arms near the village of Triokhizbenka in the Luhansk sector.
A man who initially helped put together the "Free Speech" rally earlier this year is suing Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, saying Walsh's comments about the rally led to the loss of his reputation and his job.

Brandon Navom, a Lowell resident who previously worked as a software consultant, filed the lawsuit in Berkshire Superior Court. Rinaldo Del Gallo III, a Pittsfield attorney, filed the lawsuit on Navom's behalf.

"My reputation has been ruined and I will suffer emotional and economic loss the rest of my life because of Mayor Marty Walsh's high news profile defamatory comments," the lawsuit says.

Navom is seeking $50 million in actual damages, $50 million in punitive damages, attorney fees, and a declaration that Walsh's statements were false and defamatory.

Walsh said hate groups were not welcome in Boston and repeatedly condemned the rally, which came a week after a violent clash involving hate groups in Charlottesville.

In the suit, Navom says he was one of the organizers of the "Free Speech" rally that took place on August 19 on Boston Common, but he "ultimately decided to not join." None of the speakers were white supremacists, hate group members or neo-Nazis, the lawsuit says.

"The Mayor's statements were either knowing lies or reckless false statements - the false statements were a result of conduct more egregious than mere negligence," the lawsuit adds.

Navom, who was raised in North Adams, continues: "I was subjected to an Internet hate mob which tracked me down and harassed my employer until they let me go simply because my name was on the list of speakers."

Del Gallo offered his own statement in a release announcing the lawsuit, saying, "The Mayor's numerous slanderous statements were a grotesque display of virtue signaling for political gain for an upcoming election, with an egregious indifference to the truth."

Walsh, running for a second four-year term, is facing challenger Tito Jackson, a city councilor, in the Nov. 7 election.

"I don't know much about it," Walsh said when asked about the lawsuit on Wednesday. "I read about it in the paper today."

Walsh said his attorneys didn't mention the lawsuit to him yesterday because he was heading into a televised debate with Jackson at WGBH.

"I'm not going to get into particulars of what it is, what it's about," Walsh told reporters.

Walsh added: "I'm not sure what that's all about."

Walsh said the "Free Speech" rally was scheduled to occur a week after Charlottesville, where white nationalists clashed with counter-protesters. One counter-protester was killed and others were injured in Charlottesville.

"We were very clear we weren't going to have an incident like that," Walsh said.
BOSTON -- Massachusetts utility regulators said Tuesday they will conduct a "thorough review" of allegations that energy conglomerates Eversource and Avangrid artificially constrained pipeline capacity in New England, costing consumers $3.6 billion over three years.

The Department of Public Utilities "takes seriously its responsibility to protect ratepayers," and has begun "a thorough review of allegations raised in a recent report on the unnecessary withholding of natural gas capacity," wrote DPU chairwoman Angela O'Connor in a statement.

The department will seek information from natural gas companies "on how their procurement practices balance gas supply needs with delivering reliable service at the lowest costs possible for consumers," O'Connor wrote.

The Environmental Defense Fund and three university researchers last week released a report titled Vertical Market Power in Interconnected Natural Gas and Electricity Markets.

It accuses Avangrid and Eversource of reserving capacity on the Algonquin pipeline system on a day-ahead basis, and then not using it. The practice caused electricity prices to spike during cold weather, the report alleges.

"We estimate that capacity withholding increased average natural gas and electricity prices by 38 percent and 20 percent, respectively, over the three-year period we studied," the report states.

While the authors do not accuse Eversource and Avangrid of breaking any laws, they said the companies manipulated fuel supplies to accrue profits, particularly during the "Polar Vortex" of 2013-2014, when New England's wholesale power prices skyrocketed.

The report called for market reforms to prevent the practice.

Around half of New England's electricity is generated by power plants that burn natural gas. The plants buy gas on the volatile spot market, whereas natural gas utilities lock in prices -- and guaranteed capacity -- via 20-year contracts, and have first dibs on the fuel.

The two companies have condemned the report, saying they did nothing wrong, had the full approval of regulators and acted prudently to reserve enough capacity to serve their home heating and business customers.

Eversource said the report "appears to be fabricated by anti-pipeline proponents who are trying to make the case that pipeline shortages in New England are due to capacity withholding." It is "well-documented that New England pipeline demand greatly exceeds the supply on cold days," Eversource said.

Avangrid said it reserves capacity only "to help protect customers from interruptions -- including during unpredictable, extreme weather conditions," and that it "rigorously follows all applicable laws and regulations."

A trade group representing the natural gas industry went one step further, calling the authors' conclusions "false, and frankly ridiculous." The report is "profoundly misleading and inaccurate," said the Northeast Gas Association.

Utility regulators in Connecticut have also opened a probe. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to investigate, and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said her office would review the allegations.

The Massachusetts utility regulators said Tuesday they would open six dockets and request information from Bay State Gas, Berkshire Gas, Fitchburg Gas & Electric, Boston Gas and Colonial Gas, Liberty Utilities and NSTAR Gas.

Eversource reiterated Tuesday it does not "artificially constrain capacity," and said the report was issued by "anti-gas proponents."

"We are confident that any review of our practices will demonstrate that we are following all rules and regulations and are always acting in the best interest of our customers and communities," said company spokesman Michael Durand.

There are "critical flaws" in the report regarding the flow of gas through the pipeline system, making the conclusions about manipulation false, said Durand.



"The authors manipulated the data so as to ignore the fact that we have an obligation to reserve enough gas capacity to deliver reliable supply to our customers in cold periods, and that's what we do," he said.

Durand said that Eversource's power plants, located in New Hampshire, make no extra profit when energy prices are high.

Eversource, the former Northeast Utilities, was formed in 2015. Its utility subsidiaries include 3.6 million customer accounts in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Avangrid owns gas and electric utilities in New England and New York, and was formed in 2015 in a $3 billion merger.

Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com
SPRINGFIELD - Big Y donated $200,000 to American Red Cross Massachusetts representatives on Wednesday in support of Red Cross Hurricane Disaster Relief efforts following several significant hurricanes which hit the United States and its territories in the past two months.

Big Y customers and employees made donations to American Red Cross Disaster Relief at all Big Y locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut.

"I am absolutely blown away by the generosity of our extended family, our fellow employees and customers," said Donald D'Amour, CEO of Big Y during the check presentation at the Big Y Cooley Street Springfield location.

In the past eight weeks, the American Red Cross has launched wide-ranging relief efforts to help people devastated by three historic, back-to-back hurricanes--Harvey, Irma, and Maria. The American Red Cross says it has provided nearly $200 million in direct financial assistance to those affected by the disastrous weather conditions in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

"The proceeds that are raised from this drive here at Big Y or any of the other programs are going to The Red Cross coffers in Washington D.C. Where they purchase materials and supplies to assist in those areas where we have had natural disasters wither it be the fires in California, tornadoes, hurricanes whatever it is, that is how the Red Cross operates its organization," said Brad Campbell, chair of the board of directors, American Red Cross of Western Massachusetts.

"We then send people to those areas, provide meals to the first responders as well as the community. We set up shelters so these folks have a place to stay and can have some normalcy to their lives after these crazy disasters," Campbell added.

The fundraiser for hurricane relief isn't the first for the Springfield-based Big Y grocery store chain. Past relief campaigns centered on the 2004 Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and the earthquakes in Japan, Haiti, and Nepal. The 10-plus-year partnership with the Red Cross has raised over $1.1 million to support both international and domestic disasters, according to the company.
Leader of the Movement of New Forces party and former Odesa Regional Governor Mikheil Saakashvili has said that he spent a night in a tent outside the building of the Verkhovna Rada and invites Ukrainians to a gathering at 19.00.

"I spent the night in a tent in front of the Verkhovna Rada, where people gathered and are waiting for November 7, when the Verkhovna Rada should adopt the three promised laws in order to take the first steps to change the system," Saakashvili said in a video clip posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday morning.

The video shows how the politician leaves a big canvas tent and says "Good morning!"

Saakashvili said that lectures and seminars on political reform and information technologies would be held near the Verkhovna Rada on Wednesday.

"We are waiting for you. We'll have a general meeting at 19.00 on the Constitution Square near the Verkhovna Rada," he said.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry reported on its Facebook page that as of 08.30, there were about 35 people in a tent camp on Hrushevskoho Street from Shovkovychna Street to Lypska Street. According to police, there were about 20 people near the tents located in the park and on the Constitution Square.

Saakashvili said on October 24 that he intended to move to a tent near the building of the Verkhovna Rada. He also said that a rally would be held on the Constitution Square near the building of parliament at 19.00 on October 25.
AMHERST - U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III will speak at Amherst College Saturday as part of the college's celebration of his great-uncle President John F. Kennedy.

The event marks the 100th anniversary of the 35th president's birth and his Oct. 26, 1963, visit to the college, something the college also celebrated in 2013. The forum is called "Poetry and Politics."

According to the event website, the forum will trace the "thread connecting President Kennedy's concerns with the College's current interest in, to use President (Carolyn) Martin's words, setting 'an example of community characterized by openness and respect, freedom with responsibility, and politics inflected by poetry.'"

Joseph Kennedy will speak at 4:15 p.m. Events begin at 1 p.m. with an introduction by Martin followed by a film of John F. Kennedy's speech at the college.

Current students will offer reflections, followed by a faculty panel, at 3 p.m.

John F. Kennedy was awarded an honorary degree and celebrated the groundbreaking for the Robert Frost Library when he visited the college. Less than a month later, he was assassinated in Dallas.

Frost read at Kennedy's swearing in, the first poet to take part in a presidential inauguration.

In his Amherst speech, Kennedy said: "If sometimes our great artists have been the most critical of our society, it is because their sensitivity and their concern for justice, which must motivate any true artist, makes him aware that our nation falls short of its highest potential. I see little of more importance to the future of our country and our civilization than full recognition of the place of the artist."
SPRINGFIELD - Police were alerted on this week to the presence of a skimming device found on an ATM machine at the Greater Springfield Credit Union, police said.

Department spokesman Ryan Walsh said the device had been at the ATM at 1030 Wilbraham Road for about two hours before it was detected on Sunday. He said the bank is supposed to be alerting all customers who used that bank machine that morning.

Police have obtained photos of a suspect and the vehicle he was using from surveillance cameras inside the ATM machine and from nearby locations, he said.

The suspect in photos released by police appears to be a man, but has his face concealed with a New York Yankees cap. He is wearing a dark jacket with light-colored strips on the shoulders.

The vehicle used appears to be a black Jeep Cherokee. It was spotted in the parking lot of the nearby Dunkin Donuts.

People with information are asked to call the Springfield Police Detective Bureau at (413) 787-6355. Those who wish to remain anonymous may text a tip via a cell phone by addressing a text message to "CRIMES," or "274637," and then beginning the body of the message with the word "SOLVE."
EASTHAMPTON -- After a quarter-century with the Easthampton Public School District, Superintendent Nancy Follansbee has announced her retirement.

"I have been privileged and honored to have spent the majority of my career in education in Easthampton," Follansbee said at Tuesday's School Committee meeting.

Follansbee's three-year contract actually expired June 30, 2016, but the School Committee voted two consecutive one-year extensions. Now earning $133,687, Follansbee's agreement will expire on June 30.

She said she had originally intended to retire two years ago, but upon learning the Massachusetts School Building Authority would work with the district to build a new, consolidated school for kindergarten through eighth-grade students, she changed her mind.

"I knew I had to stay to do everything I could to support a project that could result in 21st century learning for all students in Easthampton," Follansbee said.

The city will hold a special election in May where voters will be asked to approve borrowing to build the new school, which could cost as much as $101 million to $109 million. With reimbursement from the state, local borrowing could amount to $52 million to $61 million.

Follansbee has said the new facility, which would replace three 100-year-old elementary schools and the 1970s-era White Brook Middle School, is essential to the city's future and that of its school children.

Initially a teacher in New York, Follansbee joined Easthampton in 1991 as a reading specialist. Over the years, she acted as literacy coordinator, Title I director, district grants manager, and in 2006, was promoted to director of curriculum. In 2010, after a months-long search by the School Committee, she was named superintendent, replacing Deborah Carter, who retired.

Under Follansbee's watch, Easthampton High School earned a top Level 1 accountability rating from the state. The rating shows consistent progress over three years in narrowing achievement gaps as measured by MCAS tests. The city's elementary schools also earned Level 1 status.

The last year has been challenging for the School Committee and district administrators, as allegations of racial bias at Easthampton High School resulted in an investigation by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. The schools are now operating under a consent agreement with the AG's office.

In response, Follansbee developed a ten-point action plan to improve culture and climate within the district. That plan is now being implemented, with intensive training for teachers and administrators, a re-working of the student handbook, a revised agreement between the police department and the schools, the creation of a stakeholder advisory group, and more.

Follansbee has always been "a consummate professional" with a commitment to excellence, said School Committee chairwoman Debora Lusnia. The district has seen growth under Follansbee's leadership, said committee member Cynthia Kwiecinski.

"There are very few people I admire in my life, and you are one of them," said Mayor Karen Cadieux, who added that "it's been a pleasure to work side-by-side" with Follansbee.

"I can't believe you're still standing," said committee member Kasey Corsello, who marveled at the long hours Follansbee puts in.

The School Committee, after convening its regular meeting, held an open "work session" to begin the search for Follansbee's replacement.

The superintendent thanked the School Committee, Cadieux, and members of the community. "It's been a collaborative effort," she said.

Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com
WILBRAHAM -- With the Town of Hampden considering possible legal action to prevent the closure of Thornton W. Burgess Middle School, Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee Chairman Bill Bontempi says he will fight to make sure that providing a strong education to all HWRSD students remains the committee's top priority.

"As a member of the School Committee, I could never, ever in good conscience put the education of our children in the backseat because of a potential legal challenge," Bontempi said at the board's Oct. 19 meeting, receiving a hearty round of applause from the audience.

"I just can't do it," he said.

Moments later, the seven-member panel voted 4-3 to implement Superintendent Albert G. Ganem Jr.'s five-year reorganization plan for the Hampden-Wilbraham district. The plan's most immediate impact is the closure of TWB at the end of the current academic year, when the 50-year-old Hampden institution will officially shut its doors for good.

By July 1, 2018, the building at 85 Wilbraham Road will be returned to the Town of Hampden, leaving Green Meadows Elementary School as Hampden's only educational facility in the seven-school district.

Under the districtwide school reconfiguration plan, Green Meadows will absorb the middle school students from TWB, some of whom are expected to request transfers to Wilbraham Middle School -- a process that requires permission from district officials.

Other changes will be phased in as the rollout continues over the next five years. Scheduled changes include the closure of a Wilbraham school and reconfiguration of Minnechaug Regional High School by the 2022-23 academic year, when the 9-12 school in Wilbraham is slated to become a 7-12 school.

None of this is ideal, school board members and district officials concede, which is why nearly all of them still support the idea of moving TWB students to Wilbraham Middle School to address declining enrollment in the district, especially at the middle school level.

A middle school unification plan was shot down by Hampden voters last fall, when Wilbraham voters gave their support to the same plan, which required approval from both towns to take effect. That led to the creation and implementation of Ganem's staggered reorganization plan, which calls for shrinking the seven-school district to five schools in the coming years.

Concerns over a possible "injunctive lawsuit against the school district to prevent the closure of TWB" are not unfounded, according to Bontempi.

Hampden voters will consider two deregionalization articles at the municipality's fall town meeting next week, including appropriating $50,000 to cover the cost of a possible injunction or other legal fees related to modifying the regional agreement between Hampden and Wilbraham.

If Hampden were to leave the regional district, a costly and potentially lengthy process, it would require approval from voters in Hampden and Wilbraham and authorization by the state Department of Education.

School Committee member Mary Ellen Glover, who supports maintaining two schools in Hampden, said adopting the reorganization and school-closing plan could become a legal liability for the regional school district.

"I envision that if you pass this plan, the likelihood that legal action will be taken is increased," she said shortly before the school board voted to adopt Ganem's plan.

Glover, a Hampden resident, questioned whether the district could "afford to pay the legal bills for this issue," asking her school board colleagues to empathize with Hampden residents who want to maintain two schools in their town.

"If you put yourself in the position of Hampden residents and you see the emotion that they bring to the table when they're discussing this issue, I think you have to say, 'Can't we do better? Can't we come up with something that everybody can embrace?'" she said. "I think we can."

A lawsuit is not the answer, according to School Committee member Sean Kennedy, who voted for the reorganization plan and supports middle school unification. "A lawsuit is not logic. A lawsuit is emotion," said Kennedy, one of five Wilbraham residents on the school board.

"If there is a legal challenge," Bontempi said, "I will be the first one to stand up and make sure that the voices of these children are heard and that education is the primary responsibility of this committee."

Patrick Kiernan, one of the three school board members who voted against the reorganization plan -- the others were Glover and Sherrill Caruana -- pointed out that both towns, which formed a regional district in 1994, will have lost 50 percent of their schools by the time the reorganization plan is fully implemented in five years.

"The biggest piece that I continue to hear is ... that people feel one side is losing far too much and the other is not sacrificing enough," Kiernan said.

Immediately after the vote to adopt the five-year plan, the School Committee agreed to draft two warrant articles to present to Hampden and Wilbraham voters in January.

The articles pertain to amending the regional agreement to allow students to cross town lines. Under the current agreement, Hampden and Wilbraham students are required to be educated in their hometowns until high school, grades 9-12, when all students attend Minnechaug.

The first article would allow Hampden students in grades 7-8 to cross town lines to attend Wilbraham Middle School. The second would allow Hampden sixth-graders to also cross town lines to attend Wilbraham Middle School. If neither article passes, the school district will move forward with converting Green Meadows into a K-8 school. The Hampden school presently serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

"If there are modifications to the regional agreement, then that plan can change," Bontempi said.

After last week's lengthy school board meeting, Bontempi commended the Hampden residents who are opposed to unifying district middle school students on one campus in Wilbraham.

"Although I do not agree with their opinion, I admire their resolve," he said in an Oct. 20 post on the "Bill Bontempi HWRSD School Committee" Facebook page. Their opposition inspired district officials to devise the reorganization plan, according to Bontempi.

"Moreover, the School Committee and the residents of both towns owe these individuals a debt of gratitude," he said. "Through their stalwart resistance, they forced the School Committee and the school administration to look harder and dig deeper for alternatives. In doing so we were able to devise this five-year plan."

Now is the time to look forward, Bontempi said, not backwards.

"For those contemplating legal action against the school district, please remember every dollar that we spend in court is one dollar less than we have to spend on children's education," he said.

"And so, if the individuals who oppose this plan are truly advocates for children and for education, their threat of legal action should end today," Bontempi said.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved an action plan to implement the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement with a three-day revision by the requisite ministries.

An Interfax-Ukraine correspondent has reported that the decision was made at a government meeting on Wednesday.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze said that the plan envisages 2,016 tasks and around 5,000 of events.

The government also approved the approximate plan for translation of EU legal acts into the official language of Ukraine for 2017-2018.
Obolonsky District Court of Kyiv has decided to replace public defender of Viktor Yanukovych, Maksym Gerasko, in criminal proceedings on charges of Ukraine's ex-president in high treason.

The corresponding decision was taken by the court at a meeting on Wednesday, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.

According to the court's decision, the new public defender must be immediately appointed to Yanukovych and arrive at the court session on October 26.

The court decision says that Herasko showed "unprofessionalism and lack of sufficient qualifications" to provide legal assistance in this criminal proceeding, which is extremely difficult.

"Beginning from August 18, the court gave the defender Herasko all the opportunities to provide qualified legal assistance to the accused Yanukovych, but, as of October 25, defender Herasko continued to deny the possibility of defending Viktor Yanukovych for far-fetched reasons," presiding judge Vladyslav Deviatko said.

According to him, the defender's refusal to exercise defense for reasons of his own workload or the inability to communicate with the defendant is unacceptable.

"The participation of defender Herasko in the investigation of evidence in the trial actually narrowed down to the filing motions to call the police to the court to assess the actions of judges, announcing a lunch break in the meeting that began after 14:00, the prosecutor's challenge," he said.

Deviatko said that the court is obliged to ensure the right to qualified legal assistance for the accused, and by its decision it defends the rights of the accused Viktor Yanukovych, since the lawyer Herasko actually retired from performing his duties.
Senator: These Resources Will Help Montana Recover from Record-Breaking Fire Season

(U.S. Senate)U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured $576 million for wildfire relief and forest management in a major disaster funding bill.

Video: https://sentester.box.com/s/6flhcykcpei1ygtxer006gjx1tyxf5ww

Tester used his position as Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee to replenish the Forest Service accounts that were drained in order to pay to fight wildfires. During a speech on the Senate floor today, Tester underscored the urgent need to replenish these forest management accounts so the Forest Service can salvage timber, remove debris, restore trails and roads, and more actively manage forests after a landmark fire season.

"When the Forest Service has to borrow from its non-fire accounts to cover firefighting on the ground, we lose out on critical maintenance, mitigation, and restoration work," Tester said. "This funding will pay back those accounts, and support the work that is needed to recover after a record-breaking fire season. This funding can restore trails and roads that were lost to fire, as well as keep our fishing streams clean and clear from runoff."

Fighting wildfires in Montana has this year burned more than 1.2 million acres and cost $386 million. Wildfires across the country have burned nearly 9 million acres.

The intense wildfire season once again forced the Forest Service to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars from forest management accounts to pay for fire suppression. The cost of fighting wildfires has dramatically increased from 16 percent of the Forest Services budget in 1995 to over 50 percent today.

Tester emphasized that fire borrowing is leaving the Forest Service underfunded and without certainty to actively manage forests, maintain roads and trails, and mitigate fire risks. During his floor speech, Tester pushed the Senate to move forward with his bipartisan Wildfire Disaster Funding Act to provide a long-term funding fix for the Forest Service by ending fire borrowing and funding catastrophic wildfires the same way as other natural disasters.

"Money that should be used to curb fire risks, maintain and improve forest health, research and develop better forest management policies, and fund the work that must get done to make our forests more resilient is borrowed to fight wildfires," Tester added. "We must change the way we pay for fighting wildfires and the bipartisan Wildfire Disaster Funding Act is one step toward that fix."

Testers Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee is responsible for emergency disaster funding. Also included in the disaster funding bill were resources for the Gulf Coast, Florida, and Puerto Rico to help recover from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

The disaster funding bill passed the Senate with a bipartisan vote. It will now go to President Trumps desk for signature.
Montana kids face greater challenges to opportunity than children in most other states and the gap is even wider for American Indian youth, according to a new report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The 2017 Race for Results report analyzes risks for healthy development and progress toward key milestones to calculate an index score for each state on a scale of 1 to 1,000. The latter would mean "there are no barriers and all children have full opportunities available to them," said Montana Kids Count Outreach and Communications Director Jennifer Calder. Although no racial group in any state reached that mark, she said it is nonetheless important to set that as the goal.

JAYME FRASER [email protected]

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/report-montana-ranks-st-in-equal-opportunities-for-children/article_50f6973a-685d-5613-a335-d88060045d73.html
Senator encourages Montanans to weigh in with public comment on proposed $70 fee

U.S. Senator Jon Tester is blasting a new proposal by the National Park Service to significantly increase entrance fees to both Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks.

Current summer entrance fees for both Yellowstone and Glacier are $30 per vehicle and $25 per motorcycle. The Park Services proposal would double these fees to $70 per vehicle and $50 per motorcycle during the "peak season"the five consecutive months that a park receives the most visitors.

"Americans already own these parks and they shouldnt have to empty their wallets to enjoy them," said Tester. "Glacier and Yellowstone should be accessible to all of us. This decision will price Montana families out of our public lands, and hurt local economies, which thrive thanks to our National Parks. I encourage all Montanans to weigh in and make their voices heard."

A 30-day public comment period is currently open and will close on November 23. Montanans wishing to offer public comment can do so HERE https://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?documentID=83652

Tester added that Congress has a responsibility to fund the longstanding maintenance backlog of National Park Service sites without imposing drastic fee increases on visitors.

The Park Service is proposing to raise fees on 15 other National Parks in addition to Yellowstone and Glacier.
The White House is welcoming a congressional measure killing the ability of millions of Americans to band together to sue bank or credit card companies to resolve financial disputes in a major win for Wall Street.

The Senate narrowly voted late Tuesday night to nullify the rule, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the final vote to break a 50-50 tie. The measure now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature.

By KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/ap_news/politics/white-house-welcomes-senate-vote-killing-consumer-rule/article_58861c59-eff1-5ff6-97e0-3df1aafec20c.html
Russia is deliberately delaying the return of two Ukrainian border guards detained at the border in Sumy region, with the aim of exchanging them for employees of the Russian special services who were detained earlier on the administrative border with Crimea, Ukrainian State Border Service spokesman Oleh Slobodian has said.

"We suspect that Russia will most likely try to exchange two of our servicemen for two Russian border guards who we detained several months ago on the administrative border with the temporarily occupied Crimea," he said live on Espreso.TV late on Tuesday, October 24.

He said that the situation with border guards who disappeared when patrolling a section of the border in Sumy region could be solved at one meeting, but the Russian side refused to establish contact.

"As part of normal working cooperation, on peaceful sections of the border, this issue is resolved within one meeting within one or two days after the incident if there are no aggravating circumstances," Slobodian said.

He added that the State Border Service was still unaware of the whereabouts of the missing servicemen, their condition and how they got into Russia.

As reported, on October 3, two employees of the State Border Service of Ukraine disappeared in Sumy region near the border with Russia. Later, Russia officially confirmed the detention of two Ukrainian border guards. The Ukrainian consul was denied a conversation with the detainees. Later Slobodian said that the Russian side had agreed to a border representative meeting on the fate of the detained border guards.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness informs the public that vaccination session at Riviere du Rempart Youth Centre will end at 12:30, tomorrow Thursday 05th May 2022 due to pest control.

Vaccination session will resume on Friday 06th May 2022 at 09hr.

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Le minsitre du Travail va presenter lors de la seance parlementaire du 16 Juillet 2019, deux projet d eloi attendu par la classe syndical et les salaries de Maurice.

The Workers Rights Bill





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Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine Hugues Mingarelli believes that effective coordination of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU requires a strong coordination of ministries, the involvement of the Verkhovna Rada and communication with citizens.

"Our experience tells us that four conditions have to be met for the effective implementation of this agreement. The first condition is that there's a need for a strong coordination of various ministries involved, which means that the deputy prime minister in charge of European integration and the government office in charge of European integration must be given the possibility to coordinate the work of all ministries in this regard," he said at a government meeting on Wednesday, October 25.

The EU ambassador added that the second condition concerned the involvement of the Verkhovna Rada in this process, which means that every year there should be a common "roadmap" for the government and the parliament on priority actions to be implemented.

At the same time, Mingarelli believes that ahead of each session of parliament it would be necessary for government members to spell out clearly the priority legal acts that need to be adopted.

Also, he said, all stakeholders such as the Government Office for European Integration, various ministries and committees and the EU Delegation should meet on a monthly basis to discuss the implementation process, as well as identify and eliminate possible obstacles.

"The last condition is the need for an effective communication around the Association Agreement, which would explain to ordinary Ukrainian citizens the benefit that this Association Agreement can bring to the country," Mingarelli said.
Mondays strong storm in McDowell resulted in more than 400 calls to the 911 Center, left 1,816 people without power and put one person in a predicament due to rising, rapid waters, according to reports.

Other nearby areas were hit harder. High winds damaged hangars, planes and cars at the Hickory Regional Airport and the City of Hickory declared a state of emergency on Tuesday. Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State announced Tuesday that it would remain closed until further notice after a retaining wall and portions of roadways collapsed there.

Conditions began worsen at approximately 2:15 p.m. Monday afternoon when McDowell County was placed under consecutive hazardous weather warnings, including a tornado watch that lasted until 5:25 p.m. and a flash flood warning that lasted until 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. As heavy rain and strong winds impacted the area, Emergency Services took at least 93 calls in regards to downed trees and power lines, numerous motor vehicle collisions, minor flooding at Catawba River Road and Mud Cut Loop and a landslide at Mt. Hebron Road at the McDowell/Buncombe line.

Among these incidents, emergency units responded to Gilbert Byrd Road near the McDowell/Burke line to perform a swift water rescue. Nebo Fire Department, McDowell EMS, McDowell Rescue Squad, Emergency Management and the McDowell Sheriffs Office responded to this call.

The patient, whose name was not available by Tuesdays deadline, was residing in a home on the property when the flash flooding occurred and entrapped him in the residence, according to Emergency Services Deputy Director Adrienne Jones. The property owner called 911 when he became concerned that the resident could be trapped inside the home. Emergency workers on scene made visual contact with the victim and could communicate verbally with him from their location. McDowell Rescue Squad launched a boat to pick him up. He was taken to McDowell Hospital and listed in stable condition.

According to Emergency Services update on Monday night, Duke Energy reported 1,816 power outages throughout McDowell.

We were at max staffing for eight hours yesterday in our 911 Center to ensure calls were properly answered, said Emergency Services Director William Kehler. Once again emergency personnel from all agencies worked together through hazardous conditions to respond to nearly 100 storm-related incidents throughout McDowell.

In a statement on Tuesday, Gov. Roy Cooper responded to the damage throughout western N.C., saying, While this band of storms brought high wind, rains and some damage, were fortunate that weve had no reports of serious injuries or loss of life. Today, communities are surveying the damage and beginning the cleanup, and our state experts stand ready to help however needed.

By 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, approximately 54,500 homes and businesses still were without power throughout affected areas, down from a peak of more than 92,000 the previous night.
Morgan County Veterans Day Parade slated Nov. 11 Audio Article The Morgan County Veterans Day Parade will be held on Friday, Nov. 11. The parade will form at the Commons, in McConnelsville, at 9:30 a.m. and set out at 10 a.m. The American Legion Post 24 will render honors at the monuments at the Commons, Riecker Building, the Square, at...

A concert with two purposes Audio Article Wednesday, Nov. 30, a concert with dual purposes is being held at the Twin City Opera House in McConnelsville, Ohio. Its a thank-you to healthcare workers, who can attend for free, and its a benefit for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society. In September 2021, Rick Shriver contracted COVID-19. He collapsed...

BOE reminder of early voting hours and polling location change Audio Article Remaining early voting hours at the Morgan County Board of Elections are as follows: from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov, 2 through Friday, Nov. 4; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5; from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6; and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m....

Lions Club announces annual Wreaths Across America Audio Article On Saturday, Dec. 17, the Chesterhill Lions Club will be joining with National Wreaths Across America in the laying of wreaths at each of the seven cemeteries located in Marion Township. The mission is to honor the local veterans who have served our nation so their families can rest assured...

Governor DeWine awards $6.7 million for domestic violence survivor programs Audio Article Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced that he is awarding $6.7 million to support the work of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) to offer mobile and health advocacy services and temporary residential services for domestic violence survivors across the state. The announcement comes during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month....

CDC committee vote wont change Ohio school vaccine requirement Audio Article Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA has released the following statement: The CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation for the COVID-19 vaccine to be added to the formulary or schedule of vaccines for children does not mandate this vaccine for school children. Ohio law determines...


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China and the U.S. have signed a bilateral airworthiness agreement after years of negotiations, with the deal taking effect on October 17, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

The agreement points to China's advances in the civil aviation industry and improvements in industry standards and could pave the way for domestic commercial aircraft to enter mainstream global markets, Chinese experts noted on Tuesday.

The CAAC said in a statement on Monday that the airworthiness agreement between the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the CAAC was reached in late September.

Under the agreement, Chinese and U.S. regulators achieved "full, reciprocal recognition" of each other's civil aviation products, including airworthiness certification, according to the statement by CAAC.

Specifically, the agreement covers the airworthiness examination and approval of design standards, production oversight, export airworthiness, technical support and other areas of cooperation, the statement said.

Airworthiness is the measure of an aircraft's suitability for safe flight and the basic requirement for any aircraft to be allowed for flight. China and the U.S. signed an airworthiness agreement in 1991, but terms under that agreement were not fully reciprocal because the U.S. did not fully recognize Chinese authorities' airworthiness measures, the People's Daily reported on April 28.

But the new agreement, coming after three years of negotiations between the CAAC and the FAA, changed that.

"The signing of the [new] agreement laid the foundation for deeper and broader cooperation between the two countries' civil aviation authorities and created a positive bilateral environment for the exchange of the two countries' civil aviation products and the cooperation of the countries' industrial sectors," the CAAC statement read.

The new agreement could pave the way for the rise of China's civil aviation industry in the global market, which has been dominated by U.S. and European companies, Chinese experts said on Tuesday.

The agreement could help the export of China's domestically developed planes such as the C919 and the ARJ-21, both produced by the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, according to the experts.

"All new aircraft have to obtain airworthiness certificates before entering the market, and currently there are two widely recognized certificates: one from the FAA and the other from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)," Lin Zhijie, an independent market watcher, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Lin added that although the CAAC has been issuing airworthiness certificates, the procedure was not fully established or widely recognized. Signing of the agreement with the FAA means a big step that could hopefully speed up the export of the large passenger jet C919 to mainstream markets abroad.

According to Lin, the ARJ-21 regional jet, which was delivered to domestic airlines in 2015, has not been able to be exported to major markets because it did not receive airworthiness certificates from either the FAA or the EASA.

China is also in talks with the EASA on a bilateral airworthiness agreement, which could be signed by the end of this year, Wang Jingling, deputy director general of airworthiness plans at the CAAC, said in April, according to the People's Daily report.

The signing of the China-U.S. agreement also highlighted the fast development in China's civil aviation industry and technological advances in aircraft manufacturing, according to Li Yimin, a long-time industry insider.

"I think this is a very significant move for China's civil aviation industry, because it reflects the fast rise of our industry in the global market, not only in market size but also technological capability," Li told the Global Times on Tuesday.

China is the world's second-largest civil aviation market and one of the fastest-growing markets in the world, the U.S. inter-agency trade information website export.gov said in a post on its website, pointing to China's aviation imports, expanding network of civilian airports and air fleet.

The U.S. aviation sector exported $13.2 billion worth of goods to China in 2016, accounting for 58 percent of China's total imports in the sector, according to the post on export.gov in July.
N. KOTZIAS: I would like to thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs, my friend Mevlut Cavusoglu, for the invitation to come to Ankara once again, a city constantly growing more beautiful, as do its people.



I thank him for the invitation that gives us the opportunity to exchange thoughts, because as long as diplomacy comes first, one can set a positive agenda in the relations between two countries.



I also must say that I am pleased that today I will be meeting with President Erdogan, a great leader of our neighbouring country.



We want Greek-Turkish relations to be as close, friendly and considerate as possible. Our peoples have a great deal to gain from the development of our cooperation and from our keeping third parties from meddling our relationship.



We are living in a difficult world, a world that is changing fast, a world in which many people feel insecure. That is, they feel they live in instability, and often they do not have in mind a perspective on what the future will hold.



In this fast-changing world, it is important for the relations between Greece and Turkey  two important countries with great histories and even greater future  to develop steadily.



Our countries are located in a region rife with crises: to our north, in Ukraine; to our south-west, in Libya; to our south-east, in Syria and Iraq. We are two countries that want peace in the region, that want stability, and this is why we need to work together and exchange opinions and ideas on the subject.



It is of great importance that we form an anchor of stability in a world that is changing and is unstable, and that this firm friendship is a sincere one. We have differences and disagreements, but we also have a positive agenda before us so that we can move forward.



We support, passionately I would say  because we have experienced similar challenges democracy and the democratic institutions in Turkey, and from the very outset we took a stand against the coup, as we do with any kind of coup.



We are also a country that, with great sincerity, conviction and consistency, supports Turkeys European path, Turkeys path to the European Union.



We believe deeply that our country will gain more than any other country in the European Union from a Turkey that is a member of this Union. We believe it, we want it, and we dont like it when we witness doublespeak, double standards and hypocrisy. These have no place in international politics or inter-state relations.



It is of great importance, during this period of instability, that we maintain open the channels of communication between the two states. The meetings between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs are very important from this perspective, because the Ministries of Foreign Affairs also coordinate the cooperation and contacts among other ministries.



Today we discussed the need for us to continue our cooperation on the migration issue and to organize a meeting of the Culture Ministers. But I think two things are the most important: in February we will hold the fifth G2G meeting, the High-Level Cooperation Council, in an historic city, Thessaloniki, where many peoples have left their mark. And I will also tell you now, though perhaps it might be somewhat inelegant of me: today I will be conveying an official invitation to President Erdogan, who is very welcome. The President of the Hellenic Republic, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, awaits him with great pleasure and friendship.



In general, Mevlut and I are developing a positive agenda and contribute to the cooperation in the tourism sector. We are fortunate to be representatives of two states with beautiful coastlines and regions. We are moving ahead on economic cooperation and on the joint transport projects, on cooperation in the field of education and training, particularly at the level of higher education.



We also believe that we should continue our meetings on all the levels of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and especially the very successful meetings of our Secretaries General, the equivalent of Political Directors - because there is no precise correspondence between the two positions.



We asked our Secretaries General to contribute to the preparations for the High-Level Cooperation Council and coordinate the various Directorates, so that we can exchange thoughts on major problems affecting or vexing the two states and that we always talk, as we do, with great understanding for one another.



We discussed on issues such as the betterment of living conditions for the Muslim minority and its education and for the Greek presence from Imbros to Istanbul, so as to resolve certain problems of legal or bureaucratic nature that have existed for many years now. I was very pleased that my colleague Mevlut and I agreed to seek and promote solutions on issues that do not need to be outstanding anymore.



I would like to thank Mevlut once again for his hospitality; this wonderful hospitality of the Turkish soul. And I would like to promise him that I will reciprocate this hospitality.



The last time he visited, it was on the beautiful island of Crete. Now we agreed to go to an equally beautiful island, but we will reveal which one in good time. I think that when the Ministries of Foreign Affairs hold their meetings in different places in each country, this brings an element of culture and an image that helps develop tourism on both sides.



Mevlut, thank you once again for your hospitality, for the creative, productive talks we had, which we will continue with President Erdogan.

Thank you very much.

JOURNALIST: I have a question regarding the Greek-Turkish fight against terrorism. You, too, referred to it at the start of your speech. During the bilateral talks, there was discussion of the process regarding the extradition of the 8 putschist military men who fled to Greece following the attempted coup of 15 July. Can you brief us on the most recent developments regarding the extradition of these putschist soldiers?



N. KOTZIAS: I dont like coups. As a youth, I lived through the military coup in Greece, from 1967 to 1974, and I have been a victim of that coup. I remember my military judges.

We have our own experience, and the government in Athens is composed of people who are against coups, and many of these people spent time in prison during the coup I referred to  those who are older, not the younger members of the government.

Consequently, as soon as the coup broke out  I was in Mongolia at the time, at the Asia-Europe Meeting  I obviously returned to Athens immediately, on that same day, and expressed our solidarity with the democratic institutions of Turkey and the need for the democratic defence of these institutions.

And of course, whoever took up arms against democracy, must answer to the justice system of the Republic of Turkey.

Those requesting asylum in Greece are granted or refused asylum by the courts, not the government. Court rulings, in general, might be liked by some or disliked by others, but in every case they are respected.

The Greek courts, as I often said to Mevlut, have very often struck down draft laws of the Greek government, including one of our strongest bills, which concerned the oligarchs control of the mass media, and which was rejected by the courts. That is, under the Rule of Law, the Judiciary thinks in its own way. A lot of rulings dont appeal to us, others we like. But the justice system is indifferent. The main thing is for us to respect the justice system.

Beyond that, whatever isnt a matter of justice, and is thus a matter of political will, we understand, standing by the Republic of Turkey.

Moreover, as regards the issue of terrorism, we are a country that doesnt like terrorist groups or terrorists.

I must say, and Mevlut remembered this, I wrote my first article at the age of 17, under a alias. It was during the first year of the Greek junta, and the article was against terrorism, and this was during the time of a coup.

So, I believe it is perfectly obvious that, for me personally and for my government, anyone who uses the method of terrorism to create fear in a democracy and its citizens is to be condemned, and there has to be the necessary international cooperation.

Thank you very much for your question, madam.
Thirty white-hat hackers from 10 Chinese universities measure their skills in attacking and defending computer systems during Chinas third Cyber Security Week on Sept. 20, 2016, in Wuhan, central Chinas Hubei province. (Photo from Peoples Daily)

In the first nine months of 2017, a total of 710 people were charged with committing online crimes, an increase of 80.7 percent year-on-year, according to Chinas Supreme Peoples Procuratorate (SPP), with 334 of the cases indicted, for an increase of 82.5 percent.

China has strengthened its crackdown on online crimes recently, especially after the death of Xu Yuyu, an 18-year-old female who died of cardiac arrest after losing 9,900 yuan ($1,495) of her university tuition to telecom fraudsters in August 2016.

This July, the principal culprit in Xus case was sentenced to life in prison and all his personal property was confiscated.

Cyber-crimes are getting more complex over time, and better organized and operated, with a rising number of them committed by young people, said the SPP spokesperson Wang Songmiao, who noted that they are also getting more disguised, and come in diverse forms, with more severe consequences.

Wang explained that procuratorates across the country are now making a greater effort into cracking down on telephone scams, individual information infringement, and illegally producing, selling or using malicious base stations, radio equipment or software.

Zhang Xiangjun, deputy director of the SPPs prosecution department, said that cyber-crimes have become more difficult to fight because evidence is getting harder to obtain and the crimes harder to prove.

Many of the illegal sites are located overseas, which also makes it harder to investigate, especially along an entire criminal chain as well as to bring charges against or verify criminal behavior, Zhang explained.

In addition, new types of cyber-crime are harder to define under current laws, which slow the crackdown, Zhang said, and there is the lack of special talent to obtain, identify and define cyber-crimes, also making it hard to fight.

Were taking steps to tackle these issues effectively. For instance, the SPP has come up with guidelines to assist prosecutors in examining criminal cases, as well as approve arrests and prosecution, Zhang concluded.
The 4th Tianfu Old Town International Arts Festival

From August to November, the 4th Tianfu Old Town International Arts Festival is held in Huanglongxi, an old town in Chengdus Shuangliu District, under the theme of "Tianfu old towns radiate beauty to the world. See the dreamscape of the water towns and enjoy the music of Huanglongxi."

The festival will showcase original songs and music. It aims to excavate the cultural layer of Huanglongxi as an old town, and to make the old town known worldwide as "Huanglongxi Worlds Leading Millennium Pier." The original songs and music include the folk-music suite "Jincheng String and Wind Instruments: Dreamscape Water Town," the musicals "Tianfu Water Town: Huanglongxi," the theme songs "Splendid Pearl" and "New Song of the Old Town," and an exhibition of traditional and modern Chinese paintings of the town.

Chuangonghaozi performed by boatmen

In a next step, Shuangliu District will start to focus on two features: history and water, to create a new layout called the Ten-Li (mile) River with Eight Bays, so that each traveler can experience the history of this millennium pier and the leisure lifestyle of Chengdus Liujiang Old Town.

Cheongsam Fashion Show in Huanglongxi
BAD AXE  The Huron Daily Tribune recently announced several promotions from within the company.

The new roles of current Tribune employees Rebecca Watson, Kate Hessling and Renee Golder were introduced this week.

Watson was named General Manager of both the Tribune and its sister paper the Midland Daily News; Tribune Editor Hessling will take on the additional role of Operations Manager for the Tribune; and Sales Representative Golder will step into the role of Advertising Director for the Tribune.

In her new role, Watson will continue to manage the Tribune, but will focus the majority of her efforts on the Midland paper at this time.

"While I will miss the daily interaction with both the staff and clients of the Tribune coverage area, I look forward to building those same long-lasting relationships in the greater Midland area," said Watson of the move.

With the transition of Golder into the Advertising Director's role, the Tribune will look to continue to grow locally as a newspaper by increasing its sales staff to four. The additional salesperson will help the paper fill a need in its increasing digital sales platform, while keeping the same high overall quality of the digital and print products.

"I am very excited about this opportunity and looking forward to continuing to help businesses in the area," Golder said.

Golder has been with the Tribune as a sales representative since 1988. She has served multiple territories over the years, developing a vast knowledge of the community's advertising needs.

"If anyone knows the advertisers, it's Renee," Watson said. "I know the community will join me in celebrating Renee in her new position."

Hessling will continue to guide the Tribune as its editor, while now being responsible for the day-to-day operations of the building. An 11-year veteran at the paper, Hessling took over as editor in July.

"I'm beyond excited to work with Renee in her capacity as the new advertising director," Hessling said. "Rebecca has laid a solid foundation for growth, and I know Renee will continue that path toward further prosperity. I also look forward to continue working with Rebecca, who truly cares about our local area as well as the entire Hearst Michigan franchise."
Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen has joined his counterparts from nine other states to oppose proposed rule changes by the U.S. Department of Energy that would subsidize coal and nuclear power plants.

The proposed changes, spearheaded by Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry, would exempt coal and nuclear power plants from having to compete in the wholesale energy market with natural gas, wind, and hydropower. Perry proposed the new rules last month in an effort to allow older coal-fired and nuclear plants to compete against more efficient natural gas generation units as well as renewable energy options.

Jepsen said Perrys proposed rule changes would radically change the electric generation markets by subsidizing certain coal-fired and nuclear power plants despite their high cost and environmental harm.

This proposal could cause Connecticut consumers to pay considerably higher utility rates, Jepsen said in a statement. I am committed to protecting consumers and the environment. I will continue to aggressively oppose this proposal and others that unnecessarily raise ratepayer bills or threaten our progress on climate change.

Jepsen and his fellow attorneys general have detailed their opposition to Perrys proposed rule changes in a 58-page filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Attorneys general from California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington joined Jepsen in submitting the filing to FERC on Monday.

The attorneys general argue the proposed rule mandates that customers subsidize inefficient power plants, including highly polluting coal-fired plants. Furthermore, they contend the change threatens to destroy the nations competitive wholesale electric power markets, adding billions of dollars to customers bills.

The attorneys general contend the underlying assumption of the proposed rule  that electric system reliability is in danger because aging power plants are retiring at a rapid rate  is inaccurate. They claim that many states have already retired aging coal plants and are successfully integrating clean energy resources and innovations that benefit system reliability.

Perrys proposed changes also seek subvert the normal rule making process, according to attorneys general. Perry directed FERC to complete action on the rule in 60 days, which the attorneys general say denies stakeholders and public officials the ability to provide meaningful comment on the proposed changes.

If Perrys rule changes are passed, some Connecticut officials contend they could benefit Dominion Energy, the Virginia-based company that operates the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant in Waterford.

Dominion officials have sought for the past several years to convince Connecticut lawmakers to allow Millstone to compete with renewable power generation resources for valuable, long-term contracts with the states electric utilities. Ken Holt, a spokesman for Dominion, was not immediately available Tuesday to comment on whether the utility company supports Perrys proposed rule changes.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
ABC News(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump has turned to Twitter to respond to Sen. Jeff Flake's announcement that he will not seek another term.



The Arizona Republican also used his announcement Tuesday to denounce the president and his behavior. Flake followed up today with a number of interviews on morning shows, including a remark to ABC News Good Morning America that a lot more of his colleagues will eventually speak out against the president.



Trump was quick to respond, though slightly misquoting the senator.



"Jeff Flake, with an 18% approval rating in Arizona, said 'a lot of my colleagues have spoken out.' Really, they just gave me a standing O!" Trump wrote on Twitter.



Flake was in the middle of an interview with CNN when Trump posted that tweet.



"It's very difficult to be re-elected in the Republican Party right now," Flake told CNN, because the focus is not on policies, but whether "you're with the president."



That tweet was the second time this morning Trump made a reference to a Tuesday standing ovation, tweeting earlier: "The meeting with Republican Senators yesterday, outside of Flake and Corker, was a love fest with standing ovations and great ideas for USA!"



He also took another swipe at Flake and Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who has also announced he will not seek re-election next year and has been openly dismissive and disparaging of the president.



"The reason Flake and Corker dropped out of the Senate race is very simple, they had zero chance of being elected. Now act so hurt & wounded!" Trump wrote.



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi will meet with French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire in Paris on Wednesday to discuss economic ties and bilateral projects, the French ministry said in a statement.

"Bruno Le Maire will discuss means to facilitate investment and trade between the two countries andhow to best strengthen them in the future," read the statement, which was published on the website of the French government on Tuesday.

The talks will also be attended by the Egyptian ministers of foreign affairs, trade, finance, planning, administrative reforms and transport.

The president and the French minister are also due to meet 20 executives from French companies currently working or investing in Egypt, or planning to do so, to discuss investment projects, particularly in the fields of energy, telecommunications, transport and sustainable cities.

Four letters of intent are scheduled to be signed at the end of the mornings meetings. They will include one to promote the entrepreneurship of young Egyptians, one to finance a study on urban transport for the Nile Delta city of Mansoura, one between Frances SNCF state rail company and the Egyptian National Railways authority (ENR), and one between state-owned public transport operator RATP Dev and Egypt's National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) on operating a Cairo metro line.

Egypt's transport minister said on Tuesday that Cairo is seeking to have France continue funding the construction of its third underground metro line, part of the countrys decades-long cooperation with Egypt on building the Cairo subway.

Hisham Arafat said Tuesday in comments carried by MENA that there would also be technical cooperation between Cairo and Paris to build two high-speed railway lines, as well as to bolster railway safety and security.

Paris has previously provided Egypt with concessional loans for the construction of its underground system.

Le Maire will also reiterate his support for the economic reforms introduced by El-Sisi over the past two years, while highlighting the importance of the countrys economic partnership with Cairo, the statement said.

Egypt's government introduced a series of major economic reforms in recent years to revive the economy, including cutting fuel subsidies, introducing a new value-added tax (VAT), and floating the Egyptian pound.

El-Sisi began his four-day visit to Paris on Monday. Following bilateral talks with President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, the latter said he backs El-Sisi in his country's fight against terrorism and refused to "lecture" him on human rights.

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Marine Corps and Navy responded in force to hurricanes in the Caribbean this summer, deploying two Marine expeditionary units aboard Navy amphibious ships and additional aviation elements to aid those affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

But the weeks the 24th and 26th MEUs spent delivering humanitarian assistance in the Caribbean do not come without a cost, said Lt. Gen. Robert Hedelund, commanding officer of II Marine Expeditionary Force.

Speaking at the National Defense Industrial Association's Expeditionary Warfare Conference, Hedelund said II MEF is still taking stock of the impact of deploying ships that had not been scheduled to conduct operations.

"This [Defense Support of Civil Authorities] period this summer is going to have a huge impact on amphibious shipping for us," Hedelund said. "The Navy has gone way over the top on ensuring they can support that mission. But we're going to pay that price; we're going to pay that bill in availability in the months to come."

The 26th MEU raced to the Caribbean in early September, delivering supplies to the Virgin Islands and setting up a logistics hub close on the heels of Hurricane Irma. The unit, which returned from its previous deployment in April 2016, was conducting a months-long predeployment workup when it was called to the region.

The MEU spent roughly a month in the region, supporting aid to Puerto Rico as well. The unit delivered 390 pallets of food and water and cleared more than 65 miles of road while there.

But ultimately, Hedelund said, planners determined the ships should return to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to continue predeployment training.

"The clock is ticking ... so the 24th MEU comes back from their previous deployment, and they say, 'Hmm, not so fast, we need you to do some work for us here as a global response force,' " Hedelund said.

The 24th MEU had deployed from Lejeune in March with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, training and conducting operations in Europe and the Middle East.

On Oct. 11, instead of returning home, the unit conducted a relief-in-place to continue humanitarian aid efforts.

"They're a ready force," Hedelund said. "They're tired, no doubt about that, but they're a ready force, and we can send them off to do the nation's work, should it be needed."

Elements from the 26th MEU would still be on standby for storm efforts, however.

In early October, the commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Adm. Phil Davidson, ordered the amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima and amphibious transport dock New York, with 26th MEU troops aboard, to position off the Gulf Coast to be ready in case assistance was needed in the wake of Tropical Storm Nate.

Ultimately, though, the Iwo Jima's departure would be delayed by mechanical issues, and the damage assessment for Nate would change. The ships remained in port.

One side effect of sending ships to the Caribbean is immediate: They were unable to participate in the massive biennial naval exercise Bold Alligator. Among the ships that will miss Bold Alligator are the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge, still deployed for hurricane aid; the Iwo Jima; the New York; and the dock landing ship Oak Hill.

Long-term impacts are still to be determined, Hedelund said.

"If there's a bullet flying anywhere on the planet, Marines want to be there. But if something big breaks, there ain't a lot in the barn," he said. "You begin to find out where your readiness is, and possibly is not, when you do short-notice, relatively ad-hoc deployments."

He said Fleet Forces Command will determine how the deployments affect platform availability and what ship schedules might have to be adjusted to support upcoming deployments.

"I know we acknowledge that even though Marines may be ready to deploy, that ship is going to have to be ready to deploy, and we're not going to take any time away from them to make sure they're comfortable where they are," Hedelund said.

"So I'm going to let Fleet Forces Command make those decisions on what impact to a deployment schedule is going to be," he said.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
A group of military spouses met with an influential U.S. senator Monday near Washington, D.C., to discuss ways to reduce the high level of unemployment in their community.

While the percentage of unemployed post-9/11 military veterans decreased from 10 percent in 2010 to less than 4 percent in 2017 -- a lower unemployment rate than the 4.4 percent in the civilian population -- the percentage of unemployed spouses actually increased from 26 percent to 28 percent during the same period, according to figures compiled by Blue Star Families.

Gathering around a table with Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the spouses spoke of the challenges associated with trying to keep a job or land a new one as their husbands or wives advanced in their military careers.

With military families making frequent moves -- about once every two years -- the spouses said they often arrive at unfamiliar bases in remote areas in the U.S. or overseas facing a dearth of employment opportunities, inconsistent professional guidance, limited child care options and a complicated professional licensing process that can vary by state.

"What's available for a spouse varies from place to place," said Carmen Emborski, a military spouse and doctoral candidate in environmental toxicology and human health at Texas Tech University. "That's a big part of the problem."

Emborski, the wife of an Air Force officer and a mother added, "It's challenging to find a career that you can take with you."

She was among a handful of spouses who met with Kaine, Pentagon officials and business executives for the event, which was held at the Consumer Technology Association, a trade group in Arlington, Va., and organized by Blue Star Families, an advocacy group based in Encinitas, Calif.

"I think this started a good dialogue," the senator said afterward.

Kaine, whose son serves in the Marine Corps, said he heard a number of good suggestions during the event, such as adding a military family preference to the website www.usajobs.gov, expanding state reciprocity compacts that recognize common licensing standards, and creating an award or designation for companies and states who hire military spouses.

"It's not always about regulations and mandates -- sometimes it's merely about shining a positive spotlight on those that do it well," he told reporters.

When asked about his own legislative push to allow military spouses to transfer professional licenses and credentials across state lines, Kaine said, "We promote it, but as we heard, just because all 50 states have laws on the books doesn't mean that everybody enforcing the laws is paying attention to it and really making sure it happens."

Kaine, the second-highest ranking member of the committee's Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee, pledged to work with the National Governors Association on the licensing issue and with his colleague, Sen. Jim Inhofe, a Republican from Oklahoma and the panel's chairman, to schedule a hearing in Congress on the broader topic of military spouse unemployment.

Army Lt. Gen. Gwendolyn Bingham, assistant chief of staff for Installation Management, compared the employment of a spouse to the readiness of a soldier.

"I would not be where I am without my spouse," she said. "I see this as a readiness issue."

C. Eddy Mentzer, a military spouse who works at the Pentagon as associate director for family readiness and well-being in the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy, said more companies must develop employment programs designed to target military spouses, just like they do for military veterans.

"We have to move spouse employment out of the fine print," he said to applause.

Mentzer touted as a best practice a "train-to-move" program developed by a business operations company located on Fort Monroe in Hampton, Va., designed specifically for military spouses with the goal of keeping them employed even as they make a permanent change of station, or PCS.

Executives at companies ranging from Amazon.com Inc., the biggest online retailer, to CACI International Inc., a professional services and IT company, said they are working to hire more veterans and military spouses.

And the employment website Monster.com (which owns Military.com) plans to expand www.ustechvets.org, designed to accelerate veteran employment in the technology industry, to include more offerings for military spouses.

Kathy Roth-Douquet, chief executive officer of Blue Star Families, encouraged attendees to collaborate on potential fixes to the problem.

According to her organization's research, fewer than half, or 48 percent, of military spouse respondents were employed in 2016. Of those, about half, or 51 percent, earned less than $20,000 and more than a third, or 39 percent, earned less than $10,000.

"This solution is not in the hands of one person," she said. "We have to work together."

-- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry.
An Indigenous airman, who had to cut his braids when first joining the Air Force two years ago, is now one of the first in...
U.S. Navy and Japanese forces joined up this week to save an Iranian fishing boat that was reportedly attacked by pirates off Yemen.

According to a release from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, the Navy received a call for help from the Iranian Coast Guard on Monday. The Iranian Coast Guard reported the pirate attack, south of Socotra, Yemen, and requested assistance for the boat.

NavCent then coordinated with the European Union Naval Force, which investigated the fishing vessel via a patrol aircraft, according to the release.

NavCent sent the destroyer Howard and the Japanese destroyer JS Amagiri, currently attached to Combined Task Force 151, to the location to investigate and help.

According to the release, a Navy boarding team from the Howard provided medical aid to three civilian mariners; provided food and water to the boat crew; and made repairs to the vessel.

The aid effort came near the end of a year that has seen rising tensions and hostility in the region, with Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps boats harassing Navy ships on multiple occasions. The mission demonstrates positive international collaboration in spite of recent incidents of aggression.

In late July, the Navy Cyclone-class patrol ship Thunderbolt was forced to fire warning shots from its .50-caliber machine gun to stop the approach of an Iranian vessel that was determined to be nearing the U.S. ship in an "unsafe and unprofessional" manner.

A NavCent spokesman, Lt. Ian McConnaughey, said at the time that the boat's behavior was "not in accordance with international law and created an unnecessary risk of collision that could have led to potential miscalculation and escalation."

McConnaughey also noted that Navy vessels had had other interactions with smaller Iranian vessels that were deemed safe and professional.

"It is our desire to see more of that type of behavior going forward," he said.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
Egypt's Court of Cassation upheld on Wednesday a seven-year prison sentence for a police officer convicted of torturing a man to death in a police station in Luxor governorate.

The court also confirmed three-year jail verdicts for four police informants convicted in the same case, which related to the beating death of papyrus vendor Talaat Shabeeb following his arrest in November 2015.

The court also ordered the minister of interior to pay EGP 1.5 million compensation to Shabeeb's family.

The four men were originally convicted in July 2016.

Shabeeb, 47, had been arrested and held at the governorate's El-Awameya Police Station on charges of drug possession.

His family was later informed that he had died and his body was brought to a local hospital.

Shabeeb's family denied the directorate's claim that he had possessed drugs, saying that he was arrested because of personal feuds with police officers.

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The carrier Nimitz arrived in the Pacific on Tuesday, marking an exceedingly rare occurrence: three carriers and their attached strike groups operating together in the same region of the world.

The carrier convergence comes amid intensifying threats from North Korea and other moves from the Pentagon indicating preparations for a decisive military response.

The Nimitz entered the 7th Fleet area of operations following operations in support of the fight against the Islamic State in the Middle East. Since July 25, the Nimitz launched 1,322 sorties and dropped 903 pieces of ordnance, according to a news release from the 7th Fleet.

The Nimitz joins the carriers Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan in the Pacific. The Roosevelt entered the Pacific on Monday, and is eventually expected to take the place of the Nimitz in the 5th Fleet area of operations, covering the Middle East.

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Fox News reported Roosevelt's arrival marked the first time since the 1990s that two carriers had been together near the Korean peninsula.

7th Fleet officials said the Nimitz strike group is next scheduled for a port visit, but would remain ready to support operations throughout the Pacific before returning to homeport.

Rear Adm. Gregory Harris, commander of Carrier Strike Group 11, said in a statement that the strike group had demonstrated dedication and commitment during its three-month airstrike mission in the Middle East.

"They performed flawlessly in extremely austere conditions, maintaining an incredible spirit that was awe-inspiring," he said. "I am eager to see what this team does in the next phase of our journey and welcome the opportunity to serve with such a fine group of sailors and Marines."

A Navy spokeswoman, Lt. Mary Walsh, characterized the carriers' activities as standard, and noted the Nimitz' presence in the region is temporary.

"It's not uncommon for two carrier strike groups to overlap when they're transiting from deployments," she said.

The convergence of carriers comes days after reports surfaced that the Air Force is preparing to place its fleet of nuclear B-52 bombers on 24-hour alert status, a defensive step that has not been taken since the Cold War.

Rhetoric has also been escalating. On Monday, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera called the threat posed by North Korea "unprecedented, critical and imminent."

To date, North Korea has fired 22 missiles in 15 separate tests in calendar year 2017, most recently firing two missiles that flew over Japan on Aug. 29 and Sept. 15.

On July 4, North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Military leaders, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford, have said publicly that the United States should assume North Korea has nuclear weapon capability and is willing to use it.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Greg Thornbury, president of King's College in New York City, wanted to be in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, Oct. 24, to share his memories and honor Helen DeVos, one of his school's most faithful and generous benefactors.

"She loved our kids because they were following their dreams," said Thornbury of DeVos, who served on the board of the Christian liberal arts college in Manhattan.

"She was on the search committee that brought me to the college," Thornbury said. "In my 4 1/2 years of service, there was not a single meeting that she missed."

Thornbury was among hundreds of friends and associates who attended a reception at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel's Ambassador Ballroom after DeVos' funeral service at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church.

DeVos, the wife of Amway Corp. co-founder Rich DeVos, died Oct. 18, from complications following a stroke.

Family members posted themselves around the ballroom to greet their friends during the three-hour reception that included cocktails and light refreshments.

Rich DeVos, Helen DeVos' husband of 64 years, greeted guests from a wheelchair perched on an elevated stage. Their four adult children and grandchildren mingled with the guests under the watchful eyes of plain-clothed security guards.

While most of the political figures who attended the funeral skipped the reception, DeVos' daughter-in-law, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, greeted guests who included her mother, Holland philanthropist Elsa Prince-Broekhuizen.

Jerry Tubergan, president and CEO of RDV Corp., said Helen DeVos was influential in helping create and maintain the culture of the company, which oversees the DeVos family's business operations and philanthropic gifts.

As Rich and Helen DeVos pored over the stacks of requests they received for gifts, Tubergan said Helen DeVos focused on requests that stressed Christian education, the arts, music and community enrichment.

"Neither of them wavered from their Christian faith and things that would be edifying to people," he said.

Sam Rehnborg, former president of Nutrilite Products, flew in from California to express his condolences and reminisce about the girl who married one of their company's top salesmen in 1953.

"They are great friends," said the 81-year-old Rehnborg, who sold the company founded by his father to Amway in 1972.
WAYLAND, MI - The Michigan Statewide Carpenters and Millwrights Joint Apprenticeship and Training Fund broke ground this week on a 67,000 square foot training facility that will train skilled construction workers.

The new training center, scheduled to open in 2018, will occupy 19.5 acres just off U.S. 131 in Wayland, and serve union carpenters and millwrights throughout West Michigan, according to an announcement on Monday, Oct. 23.

"Our new joint training center in Wayland will ensure Michigan's carpenters and millwrights are the most highly-skilled in the nation, ready to take on any job," said Mike Jackson, executive secretary-treasurer of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights (MRCC).

"There's a lot of talk about the growing demand for a skilled trades workforce, and Michigan's carpenters and millwrights are taking bold action today to meet the demand."

The facility is designed to meet a shortage of skilled construction workers in Michigan. Nationally, 60 percent of contractors had trouble finding skilled workers in 2017, according to a recent report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

"There's incredible demand for skilled workers throughout our state, especially here in West Michigan, and local contractors want to hire skilled, local workers," said Donna Pardonnet, executive director of Architectural and Construction Trades Michigan.

"This new training center is good for business and the economy. We're proud to partner with the union to build this facility."

The new training facility will include indoor areas for carpenters and millwrights to gain real-world experience - allowing union members to practice skills that are used to build everything from single-family homes to medical centers, bridges and schools, according to fund officials.

The center will also contain areas for woodshop training and welding booths to help members hone specialized skills. The facility also will focus on cross-training between carpenters and millwrights, equipping workers with unique skills and helping them take on complex projects.

"This new training center will provide tremendous opportunity for every carpenter and millwright in our union, whether they are just starting out as an apprentice or a seasoned worker seeking professional development," said MRCC Organizing Director Kevin Klingler.

Apprentices can "earn while they learn," meaning they earn money while working toward a rewarding career in the skilled trades as a carpenter or millwright, Klinger said.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Touching on everything from Russian interference to the role of sexism in politics, former presidential nominee Hillary Clinton recapped lessons learned from the 2016 presidential election during a visit to Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Oct. 24.

Clinton took the stage at the University of Michigan's Hill Auditorium Tuesday evening to talk about her new book, "What Happened," that aims to identify the key factors that contributed to her losing the election to President Donald Trump.

The majority female audience that filled the auditorium welcomed Clinton to the stage with a standing ovation after Anne Curzan, UM English professor, introduced her.

Clinton started her speech with references to her previous visits to Michigan, including an "exhilarating" rally in Grand Rapids, stops at businesses in Detroit and Futuramic Tool and Engineering in Warren. Former President Barack Obama campaigned for Clinton in Ann Arbor just before the 2016 election, and Clinton gave a shout-out Tuesday to the Ann Arbor chapter of the Hillary Clinton Fan Club, which was the largest in the world at one point.

Clinton narrowly lost in Michigan in the 2016 presidential election. She received 47.33 percent of the state's votes, to Trump's 47.6 percent.

"The outcome in Michigan was not what I hoped or worked for. Let me just tell you that," Clinton said, to a round of laughter from the audience. "But I want today as I talk about the book I wrote to really urge everyone to not grow weary. We have a lot of work to do to stand up for the values that we share and the causes we believe in. That is more important now, here in Michigan and across America, than it's ever been."

Clinton was the first female presidential nominee from a major national party. She served as Secretary of State under Obama from 2009 to 2013. She was a U.S. Senator from 2001 to 2009, and was First Lady from 1993 to 2001, when her husband Bill Clinton was president.

Injecting plenty of humor in her comments, Clinton laughed about what she's doing with "so much time on my hands" now, the recent trip on some stairs that left her with a boot on her right foot, even as she walked on stage Tuesday, "those damn emails" and other moments from the campaign.

Clinton summed up four main lessons learned from her unsuccessful presidential campaign that are included in her book: the importance of perseverance, the need to get more women involved in politics, the threat of propaganda and "alternative facts" spread on social media and the forces that shaped the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, which she said are still at play in the political process.

"The forces at work in the 2016 election are still with us," Clinton said. "Now that was a perfect storm - deep currents of anger and resentment flowing through our culture, a political press that told voters my emails were the most important story, the unprecedented intervention in our election by the director of the FBI and the information warfare waged against us from the Kremlin."

She also took some jabs at Trump throughout her comments, saying he needs to do more to determine the extent of Russian interference in the election, and to implement harsher sanctions against Russia.

"The President swore an oath to faithfully execute the law and defend our Constitution, and he should start doing his job," Clinton said. "And the rest of us have to keep up the pressure."

Members of the audience had the opportunity to submit questions for Clinton in advance, which Curzan then asked on stage.

When asked what she changed her mind about over the course of writing "What Happened," Clinton said she had not initially realized the extent to which Russian control of information reaching voters influenced the election.

She compared the leak of the Democratic National Committee emails to Watergate, saying in this case, the theft was of virtual information.

"I did not understand as much as I learned in the process of the book what it meant to weaponize information," Clinton said. "It was revelatory for me, but so just sickening."

Curzan and Clinton also discussed the difficulties that face women in leadership roles and what can be done to encourage more women to enter politics.

"There is a price that you face (as a woman in politics), and you have to decide how much you're willing to pay. Because when you enter the public arena, as Eleanor Roosevelt said, you are immediately going to be attacked, criticized, questioned," Clinton said. "We just don't have enough women in positions of leadership in both the public and the private sector so that it becomes really unremarkable."

Clinton said it's important to build up girls' confidence, starting when they're young. People need to recognize the widespread practice of discrediting of women in leadership positions, she added.

Priya Varadan, 44, of Ann Arbor, and Sonali Vijayavargiya, 45, of Ann Arbor, said they left Clinton's book tour event feeling inspired to get engaged in the political process. They both said they are longtime supporters of Clinton, and they said they were shocked and heartbroken by the outcome of the 2016 election.

"If you look at her, she's not whimpering or crying," Vijayavargiya said. "She's saying, 'Get up, stand up and get engaged for yourself and for everybody around you.' I think her demeanor gives us encouragement. We cannot be on the sidelines."
During the talks, El-Sisi stressed that Egypt is "keen to develop its economic and trade relations with France by carrying out joint projects that meet the interests of both sides, contribute to creating jobs and support small- and medium-sized projects," presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef said in a statement.

Prior to the meeting, the French ministry had said Le Maire would discuss "the means to facilitate investment and trade between the two countries andhow to best strengthen them in the future" with El-Sisi.

The talks were also attended by the Egyptian ministers of foreign affairs, trade, finance, planning, administrative reforms and transport.

The president and the French minister met with 20 executives from French companies currently working or investing in Egypt, or planning to do so, to discuss investment projects, particularly in the fields of energy, telecommunications, transport and sustainable cities.

During that meeting, El-Sisi discussed his government's sweeping economic reform programme and recent changes and legislation aimed at facilitating investment in Egypt and encouraging investors to pump money into new areas in the country.

He also listened to propositions by French businessmen "to improve the investment climate in Egypt."

A long-awaited investment law, which is aimed at attracting badly needed foreign investors to help the economy recover after the 2011 revolution, was passed by parliament earlier this year, and its executive regulations approved by the cabinet on Wednesday, bringing it into effect.

The law is expected to reduce red tape, especially for new projects, and provides a raft of incentives to investors, including tax breaks.

The president called on French corporations to invest in major national projects in Egypt, mainly the Suez Canal Economic Zone--a mega-project launched in 2015 to create an international industrial and logistics hub along the canal.

New deals

Four letters of intent were signed at the end of the mornings meetings. They include one to promote the entrepreneurship of young Egyptians, one to finance a study on urban transport for the Nile Delta city of Mansoura, one between Frances SNCF state rail company and the Egyptian National Railways authority (ENR), and one between state-owned public transport operator RATP Dev and Egypt's National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) on maintaining Cairos oldest metro line and operating the third and newest line.

Egypt's transport minister said on Tuesday that Cairo is seeking to have France continue funding the construction of its third underground metro line, part of the countrys decades-long cooperation with Egypt on building the Cairo subway.

Hisham Arafat said Tuesday in comments carried by MENA that there would also be technical cooperation between Cairo and Paris to build two high-speed railway lines, as well as to bolster railway safety and security.

Paris has previously provided Egypt with concessional loans for the construction of its underground system.

The French minister reiterated his support for the economic reforms introduced by El-Sisi over the past two years, while highlighting the importance of the countrys economic partnership with Cairo, a ministry statement read.

El-Sisi's office quoted Le Maire as saying that he plans to visit Egypt "soon" along with a delegation of officials from French companies interested in investing in Egypt.

Egypt's government introduced a series of major economic reforms in recent years to revive the economy, including cutting fuel subsidies, introducing a new value-added tax (VAT), and floating the Egyptian pound.

El-Sisi began his four-day visit to Paris on Monday. Following bilateral talks with President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, the latter said he backs El-Sisi in his country's fight against terrorism and refused to "lecture" him on human rights.

In a separate statement on Wednesday, El-Sisi's office said the two countries have signed a number of agreements and cooperation declarations, including deals to fund Egypt's energy budget, develop healthcare centres in five governorates, and develop a water treatment plant in Alexandria.

The two countries also signed a number of "joint declarations" to establish power generation plants in Egypt's southern Aswan governorate and to bolster the country's social solidarity budget.

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Egypt's General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) has rejected media reports claiming that wheat imports from France have been temporarily halted.

According to GASC, Egypt imported 180,000 tons of French wheat in 2016/2017, and 60,000 tons so far in the current fiscal year, which began in July.

The state grain buyer stressed that French wheat exporters have not stopped lodging bids.

The world's biggest wheat importer threw the international grains market into confusion in 2015 by rejecting a cargo that contained the common wheat fungus ergot, triggering a row over policy in Cairo that is still simmering and worrying traders.

Egypt's agricultural ministry said last month its quarantine authority was examining seeds in the French cargo, Reuters reported. If they prove to be poppy seeds, the ministry spokesman said, a decision will be taken to reject the shipment and transfer the case to the general prosecutor."

Egypt will issue a streamlined guide on wheat imports within two weeks that will detail all specifications, procedures, and regulations for traders selling to the worlds largest buyer, Supply Minister Ali Moselhy told Reuters on Wednesday.

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Morocco's King Mohamed VI dismissed on Tuesday several ministers and other top officials, the state news agency MAP said, after protests in the north of kingdom earlier this year.

The king dismissed the ministers of education, planning and health, among others officials, the agency said.

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Iraqi Kurdish leaders offered Wednesday to freeze the outcome of last month's vote for independence, taking a step back in a major crisis after Baghdad delivered a body blow by seizing swathes of disputed territory.

The proposal came as world powers scrambled to avert any further escalation of the conflict between the key allies in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) militant group that has seen more than 30 combatants killed.

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi did not respond to the proposal during a visit to Ankara but once again slammed the Kurdish authorities for pushing on with the referendum "unilaterally and without any consideration for the rest of Iraq".

Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) force, whose mainly Iran-trained Shiite paramilitaries played a major role in the operation against the Kurds, said a freeze did not go far enough and demanded the outright annulment of the independence referendum.

Washington, Moscow and the United Nations have all pressed Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani to open talks with Baghdad on a way out of the crisis sparked by the fateful September 25 vote that he called.

The Kurdistan Regional Government, led by Barzani, said it would propose to the federal government "the freezing of the results of the referendum... and the start of an open dialogue" on the basis of the constitution.

It also called for "an immediate ceasefire and cessation of military operations in Kurdistan".

Since early last week, Iraqi federal troops and allied militia have retaken virtually all of the territory held by the Kurds outside their longstanding three-province autonomous region in the north.

There were clashes on Tuesday between government and Kurdish forces close to the frontier with Turkey as Baghdad made a push to reclaim control of key border crossings around the region.

The Hashed al-Shaabi, which has taken a hard line in the dispute with the Kurds, demanded that they annul the independence vote as a precondition for any dialogue.

"The Kurdish proposal is worthless because freezing the referendum means recognising it and the position of the Iraqi government is clear -- the referendum must be annulled," Hashed spokesman Ahmed al-Assadi told AFP.

The independence referendum deeply divided Iraqi Kurdish leaders and many commanders ordered their forces to pull back without resisting.

The loss of so much territory, including the major city of Kirkuk and lucrative oil fields, dealt a huge blow to Kurdish dreams of economic self-sufficiency and eventual independence.

"Today nobody is with us except for God," lamented Mohammed Ali, 59, a trader in the Kurdish capital Arbil.

Barzani's longtime political rival, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, had opposed the independence vote and backed a UN plan for negotiations on wider Kurdish autonomy.

The Iraqi constitution adopted during the US-led occupation of 2003-11 provides for plebiscites in the disputed areas on their possibile incorporation in the autonomous Kurdish region.

Washington has made clear that while it will not take sides in the conflict between its Iraq allies, it does not regard Baghdad's reoccupation of the disputed areas as a fait accompli.

"The reassertion of federal authority over disputed areas in no way changes their status -- they remain disputed until their status is resolved in accordance with the Iraqi constitution," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Friday.

The United Nations said on Tuesday that it stands ready to broker talks.

UN envoy Jan Kubis "expressed confidence that despite the recent tensions, Iraq will be able to ride this crisis".

"Both sides publicly expressed their willingness to engage in dialogue and negotiations on the basis of the Constitution. The UN is ready to assist, if requested," he said.

Abadi, whose domestic prestige has been sharply boosted by the return of the disputed territories to federal control, has been on a tour of regional countries which share his hostility to Kurdish moves towards secession.

He also held talks in Baghdad on Monday with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

During his visit to Turkey, which is fiercely opposed to Kurdish independence, he was expected to push his demand for the federal government to retake control of border crossings.

As Abadi was looking to press his advantage against the Kurds, Iran -- another neighbour opposed to the vote -- reopened one of its three border crossings with Kurdistan.

Iran closed the crossings in response to the referendum and, like other governments around the world, last month halted flights to Iraqi Kurdish airports at the request of the Baghdad government.

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Sudarshan Sukhani of s2analytics.com told CNBC-TV18, "Coal India is a buying opportunity, a big sharp rally. It changes the structure of the stock from bear market to a bull market. It is probably going to breakout today after a consolidation."

"Dewan Housing Finance Corporation (DHFL) is a buy; it has been an outperformer among non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) stocks - that should continue if the market remains cheerful."

"Hindustan Unilever (HUL) is a buying opportunity; same pattern, big rally, small consolidation and an expected breakout from the consolidation today."
Ashwani Gujral of ashwanigujral.com told CNBC-TV18, "Larsen & Toubro is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 1190, target of Rs 1250. HCC is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 37, target of Rs 41. NCC is also a buy with a stop loss of Rs 105, target of Rs 112."

Bharat Forge is a buy with a stop loss of Rs 640, target of Rs 665 and Simplex Infra with a stop loss of Rs 498, target of Rs 520. Sadbhav Engineering is also a buy with a stop loss of Rs 308, target of Rs 325," he said.
Eleven human rights activists, including the two local heads of Amnesty International, went on trial in Turkey on Wednesday, accused of belonging to and aiding terror groups in a case that has increased concerns over Turkey's authoritarian turn under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ten of the activists, including Amnesty's Turkey director Idil Eser, German national Peter Steudtner and Swede Ali Gharavi, were arrested while attending a digital security training workshop at a hotel on an island off Istanbul in July.

They are accused of plotting an uprising and charged with aiding Kurdish and left-wing militants as well as the movement led by U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed for last year's coup attempt. They face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.

Amnesty's Turkey chairman Taner Kilic, who was imprisoned separately in June, is appearing before a court in the city of Izmir for alleged links to Gulen. He is accused of using an encrypted mobile messaging application allegedly used by Gulen's network.

Human rights groups say the defendants have been accused of "trumped up" charges.

"These two trials will be an acid test for the Turkish justice system and will demonstrate whether standing up for human rights has now become a crime in Turkey," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's director for Europe.

The trial is one of several cases that have deepened a rift between Turkey and European nations, notably Germany, which considers Steudtner and some 10 other German or German-Turkish citizens jailed in Turkey to be political prisoners.

Turkey has arrested more than 50,000 people since the failed coup and sacked at least 110,000 others from government jobs. The crackdown was initially launched to deal with alleged coup-plotters but was expanded to include other government opponents, such as academics, journalists and legislators, critics say.

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Infosys Co-Founder N R Narayana Murthy may pursue his questions on "poor governance" at the company and take up the issue with Chairman Nandan Nilekani, sources close to Murthy said.

"I spoke to Murthy, he has gone abroad yesterday. He said he will come back and talk to Nandan. He said he is not going to keep quiet," said an ex-Infosys official, who is on the same page with Murthy on the issues raised by him.

The Bengaluru-headquartered company yesterday absolved itself of any wrongdoing vis-a-vis the Panaya deal, as well as severance pay to its former chief financial officer, in what is seen as a snub to Murthy.

Another former official of Infosys, on condition of anonymity, said the board was anyways not expected to "publicly admit to wrongdoing".

"If the board comes out and says they have done something wrong, there will be a class-action lawsuit on the company; so they have to say nothing wrong to protect the company," the official said.

So, the clean chit given to the company is being seen as some kind of a balancing act by Nilekani to "protect" the company, the official added.

The official noted that when former CFO Rajiv Bansal's severance pay issue was raised, the company "stopped payment" and also claimed that "almost all members of the M&A team were told to go" when questions were asked about the Panaya deal.

He added that Infosys replaced Rupa Kudva as chairperson of the audit committee with independent director D Sundaram.

"So, they have taken some internal action but they can't publicly admit there was a mistake," the official claimed.

Murthy yesterday expressed disappointment that none of the questions raised by him on "poor governance" had been answered by the company's board with transparency.

His comments came after the Infosys board under chairman Nilekani gave a clean chit to the company's USD 200 million Panaya acquisition. The board also refused to put out additional details of the probe, as had been demanded by Murthy.

Murthy said he stood by every question on "poor governance" raised in his speech, dated August 29, 2017, to Infosys investors.

He asserted that the core question still remained on "how and why the Infosys board approved an unusual and unprecedented severance payment agreement of 1,000 per cent (of the standard Infosys employment contracts) to the former CFO...".

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected Jaiprakash Associates proposal to hive off Yamuna Expressway for Rs 2500 crore to raise money to pay off homebuyers after the IDBI, Government of India, YEIDA and homebuyers all opposed the move, saying that Yamuna Expressway being a property of Jaypee Infratech, which is under insolvency resolution proceedings, cannot be sold by its holding company Jaiprakash Associates.

It also extended the date for JAL, the parent company, to deposit Rs 2000 crore by November 5.

The SC would not allow JAL's application for hiving off Yamuna Expressway as the proposed hiving off was opposed by IDBI, YEIDA, Government of India and the homebuyers, says Ramakant Rai of Trilegal, who represented the homebuyers in the matter.

The IDBI opposed the proposal to hive off Yamuna Expressway because it is their main security over Yamuna Expressway and their argument was that it should not be hived off without their consent and that the apex court should not permit it.

The government of India opposed it because assets of a company against which insolvency proceedings have begun cannot be hived off other than through the resolution process.

YEIDA objected to it because as per the concessionaire agreement with the embattled company, both JAL and JIL cannot transfer Yamuna Expressway to a third party, lawyers said.

It is submitted by Mr. Kapil Sibal and Mr. Mukul Rohatgi, learned senior counsel appearing for the applicant that JAL may be permitted to transfer its rights under the Concession Agreement in respect of Yamuna Expressway.

The same is seriously opposed by Mr. K.K. Venugopal, learned Attorney General for India, Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, learned senior counsel appearing for the IDBI Ltd. and Mr. Ravindra Kumar, learned counsel appearing for the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority.

It is also submitted by Mr. Parag P. Tripathi, learned senior counsel representing the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) that the rights under the Concession Agreement in respect of Yamuna Expressway are of Jaypee Infratech Limited (JIL), which is subject to proceeding under the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code and, therefore, it cannot be transferred, the order said.

Ravinder Kumar, learned counsel appearing for the Authority has submitted that the rights under the Concession Agreement, are non-transferable, it said.

While the apex court made an oral observation that it may only be able to ensure refund of money to homebuyers of Jaypee Infratech Limited and may not be able to ensure delivery of flats as it may not be possible for the court to monitor construction of the units since it is a long drawn process, it said in its order that We have also heard Mr. Ajit Kumar Sinha, learned senior counsel appearing for some of the home buyers.

There are other counsel who are representing the home buyers who are interested in having their flats. We do not want to address the said aspect today.

As per the order dated September 11, 2017, the Supreme Court had required JAL to deposit Rs 2,000 crore with the Apex court by October 27 and JAl has proposed to hive off the Yamuna Expressway which is an asset of JIL.

As many as 2,400 homebuyers who have invested in projects by both Jaypee Associates Ltd (JAL) and Jaypee Infratech Limited (JIL), had written a letter to the Insolvency Resolution Professional (IRP) Anuj Jain and the amicus curiae Shekhar Naphade and Shubhangi Tuli, Advocate-on-Record that Jaiprakash Associates' proposal to significantly undervalue the Yamuna Expressway and hive it off for Rs 2,500-3,000 crore will harm their interests.

They had claimed that Jaypee Infratech has spent a minimum amount of Rs 10,237 crore towards the construction and development of the Yamuna Expressway.

They had also suggested in the letter that proceeds from the securitisation of the tolls and the hiving off the Yamuna Expressway be deposited with the Supreme Court or in escrow account for the benefit of the homebuyers.
Integrated business and human resource service provider Quess Corp saw a 367 percent growth in net profit for the quarter ended September 30, 2017. The company posted profit after tax of Rs 141 crore for Q2 FY18 as compared to Rs 30 crore in the same quarter last fiscal.

Also, Quess Corp has signed definitive agreements to acquire 70 percent equity in Vedang Cellular Services Private Limited with an investment upto Rs 40 crore as per an announcement on the exchanges.

The company's revenue grew 25.2 percent year on year to Rs 1,274 crore in Q2 of FY18. As per the company press release, the employee headcount as on September 30 was ~212,500 compared to ~139,000 employees in the corresponding quarter of last year, marking a growth of ~53 percent.

Ajit Isaac, CMD & CEO, Quess Corp said that Quess grew revenues by 25 peecent YoY and 7 percent on a QoQ basis.

"During the quarter, we also successfully completed our first Institutional Placement Programme through which we raised Rs 874 crore," he added.

Talking about the acquisition, he said that this will be immediately EBITDA accretive for them. Quess is also entering into a Joint Venture with Trimax IT Infrastructure and Services Ltd to implement a smart city project in Ahmedabad to create city wide IT Infrastructure.

Isaac said that the JV marks Quesss entry into smart city segment, thereby expanding their Industrials vertical.
The government on Tuesday announced Rs 2.11 lakh crore recapitalisation plan for public sector banks spread over two years in a bid to shore up their finances, boost private investment and revive the economy.

Nirmal Jain, Chairman, IIFL said its a very positive, bold and timely move from the government because till now the recapitalization has never been adequate, and since it is well documented that banks need Rs 2,40,000 crore and government has provided for almost entire sum.

However, there needs to be further clarity on bonds and coupon rate tenure but this could help banks clean their balance sheets and post that started lending more and see revival of private sector investment come back.

Also required is autonomy and consolidation of banks from longer-term point of view, so that these things dont reoccur, said IILF.

All this could also help economy get back on growth path, he said.

He also talks about how all this also help revival in industries like steel, cement etc.
The Banks Board Bureau (BBB) on Tuesday suggested that the supervisory role of the Board of a bank be separated from its management functions to improve governance in public sector banks.

It also said that the number of committees on bank boards and their mandate should be rationalised, as per its recommendations listed on its website on Tuesday.

The BBB, chaired by former Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai, wants to empower the non-official directors of PSBs (public sector lenders) to play the role of independent directors on the same lines as provided in the Companies Act, 2013.

The BBB was set up in February 2016 to improve governance standards, professionalise PSBs, select bank chiefs and suggest ways to raise capital.

However, the BBB has seen little success with a few members leaving while another reinstated after resignation. Further, the BBB's appointment recommendations were changed by the government last year.

On Tuesday, it said the BBB intends to set up a nomination and remuneration committee (NRC) of the board with composition and mandate along the same lines as provided in the Companies Act, 2013.

The Bureau wants an optimal board composition with expertise in the areas of risk management, information technology and human resource management, according to the recommendations. It wants the NRC to conduct a search for non-official directors and decide on remuneration of non-executive directors.

The bureau said it is working on leadership and succession planning by devising a world-class strategy to groom bank leaders for the future who can lead the transformation of public sector banks to more 21st century banks - modern entities with better public services and meet competition.

The Bureau will also be advising the government on evolving suitable training and development programs for management personal in PSBs, it said.
A labourer works at the construction site of the Delhi-Jaipur national highway in Manesar in the northern state of Haryana, India, July 9, 2015. To match insight INDIA-INFRASCTRUCTURE/ REUTERS/Adnan Abidi - RTX1KM9A

Union minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, today presented a detailed road map of the Modi-governments flagship road programme Bharatmala Pariyojana (BMP), having a capital outlay of Rs 6.92 lakh crore.

It is our target to start first phase of Bharatmala before the end of 2018,said Gadkari.

Briefing the media in New Delhi, the union minister termed the Bharatmala Pariyojana as the biggest infrastructure project in Indian history, connecting border areas, coastal regions, tourist and pilgrimage sites and port areas.

He said that it was a part of the New India that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishes to create by 2022.

The umbrella programme for highways sector, which will subsume National Highways Development Programme (NHDP), on Tuesday received Cabinets assent to start the work on phase-I of Bharatmala. Moneycontrol had first reported that the project was expected to get Cabinets nod in October.

Also read: Highways project Bharatmala expected to be launched by October

The project will be taken up by the ministry in two phases of 24.800 kilometre and 30,600 km each, and envisages connecting the missing links in NHDP.

... Wherever we found that there were missing gaps which needs to be optimised... Bharatmala was conceptualised, said Yudhvir Singh Malik, secretary, road transport.

The secretary said that an intensive study was undertaken to conceptualise the programme to solve issues related to traffic congestion, seamless cargo movement across ports and border area connectivity.

Identification has gone through three layers of due diligence. First is identification of origin and destination study, second is traffic study and third was satellite mapping of routes, said Malik.

BMP has identified 26,200 km of economic corridors, 15,800 km of feeder roads, 13,100 km of national corridors, 5,200 km of border and international connectivity roads, 3,300 km of coastal roads and 1,800 km of expressways for construction.

The ministry said that once such routes are developed, travel time by road would reduce cost across supply chain by 20-25 percent while highways would be capable of carrying freight up to 80 percent.

The ministry also said that it was undertaking development of logistics parks under BMP near major metro cities to increase carriage capacity of trucks to improve supply chain management.

The Logistics Parks would work as hub and spoke model where the park could be set up between two major cities, said Malik adding that a huge truck could carry freight between the two cities while smaller trucks at the disbursal spot could carry the freight further as per requirement.

Apart from this, National Highways Authority of India has been given greater authority to carry out the construction work under BMP for speedier progress.

The entire project would be financed through budgetary support of Rs 59,973 crore, Central road fund of Rs 2.37 lakh crore, Monetisation of highways up to Rs 34,000 crore and through Toll-Permanent Bridge Fund Fee (PBFF) of Rs 46,048.

The union minister said that he would target at least Rs one to 1.5 lakh crore from private investors along with targeting sources like insurance, et cetera.

Funding is a cycle... it is not an issue, said Gadkari.
India is expected to be on third position, just behind China and US, among the fastest-growing markets in terms of annual additional air passengers in 2036, according to an International Air Transport Association (IATA) report.

The report correlates the increase in the number of passengers with the market growth of the countries in the aviation market. Accordingly, it says that the shift of the market positions is due to the rising demand and predicts India to have 337 million new passengers totalling to 478 million by 2036.

The report says that the highest demand for air travel is seen coming from the Asia-Pacific region which will result in India climbing up to the third position, Indonesia to the fourth and China to the first.

IATA, which keeps a check on the global standards in aviation sector, said that India will surpass the UK in 2025 and China will succeed the US by 2022.

(Source: IATA)

The report points out that the developing economies are catching up and succeeding developed economies. It also shows that Turkey is the fifth fastest-growing market in terms of the addition of passengers. The country is likely to accommodate 119 million new passengers which will total to 196 million in 2036.

However, the growth will be witnessed only if the risks identified are taken care of. The report says, "Maximizing the potential benefits of aviation growth will depend on current levels of trade liberalisation and visa facilitation being maintained."

This means that if there are travel restrictions and trade protectionism are ordered by an economy, then growth, in terms of passenger capacity, can drop to 2.7 percent  which is "1.1 billion fewer passengers journeys annually in 2036".

The report advises the countries to direct more liberalisation norms where the growth can be boosted by two percentage points faster which will help increase the passengers capacity three times in the next 20 years.
Hero MotoCorp is seeking legal opinion on whether it should challenge the Karnataka's ban on pillion riders on bikes with small engines, reports CNBC-TV18 quoting sources.

According to a notification issued by the Karnataka Transport Department in compliance with the Karnataka Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, No pillion seat shall be attached to a motorcycle with less than 100cc engine. All motorcycles currently produced in India come with a pillion seat.

A decision would be taken by the company in this regard in the next 2-3 days. The company will seek a stay and challenge the Karnataka governments notification in the High Court.

The company sells around 20,000 units of 100cc bikes in Karnataka every month. However, nearly 10,000 units of its 100cc bikes sold during the Diwali festival were stuck without registration due to the notification.

The Karnataka government has said it will review the order, but the two-wheeler industry is worried any review would take a month and a half and business will be lost during the said period.

Almost half a dozen units of Hero Motocorp, Indias largest two-wheeler maker, would be impacted the most from the ban on the sale of small engine bikes in Karnataka if the state government does not amend rules. These brands include Splendor, Splendor+, Passion, Passion Pro, HF Delux and HF Delux Eco which have an engine capacity of 97 and 98 cc.
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Indias second and third largest mobile operators Vodafone India and Idea Cellular who have announced that they are going to merge their business to become the largest telecom player in India are selling their 20,000 odd standalone towers to American Tower Corporation (ATC) in an all-cash deal valued at USD 1 billion, reports The Economic Times.

The report said that after a parallel discussion with Canadas Brookfield Asset Management and IDFC Project Equity failed to materialise due to valuation differences, both companies decided on a combined sale of their standalone towers to ATC.

Sources told the newspaper that both sides are working on a move to give finishing touches to the deal. In his trip to India earlier this month, ATC Chairman James Taiclet met with top executives of Vodafone and Idea and had shown interest in acquiring their captive tower units.

The sale is done at a lower valuation due to overlapping of 3,000-odd tenancies on either side that would reduce the tenancy ratios on their captive towers.

American Tower Corporation is a US-based company founded in 1995 with operations in 15 countries across the globe. ATC buyout of Vodafone and Ideas captive tower would increase its towers tally to 80,000 just closer to Bharti Infratels 91,000 towers.
Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management, India's third largest mutual fund company, could be a unique play in a highly under-penetrated mutual fund market. The ratio of India's equity assets under management (AUM) to GDP is only 3 percent as against the global average of 30 percent. Barring the initial expenses, mutual fund/asset management businesses are primarily asset-light in nature with the ability to generate good cash flows over a period of time. Being a highly scalable business, Reliance Nippon, with AUM exceeding Rs 3.5 lakh crore and market share of 11.5 percent, is poised to do well on the back of high margins, strong brand value, and good returns on equity.

About the company

Co-promoted by Reliance Capital and Nippon Life Insurance Company, Reliance Nippon manages mutual funds (including exchange-traded funds), institutional accounts (includes portfolio management services, alternative investment funds, pension funds), and offshore funds. Reliance Growth Fund, its oldest mutual fund scheme (launched in 1995), compounded investors money at 24 percent annually. In the mutual fund space, a long track record becomes an advantage in terms of scale and brand equity.

Extensive distribution network, top-ranked player

Reliance Nippons pan-India presence spans 171 branches through its 58,000 distributors (comprising independent financial advisors, foreign banks, Indian private and public sector banks, broking companies, national distributors, and digital platforms). What is worth noting is that the company has built a strong portfolio of 1.86 million systematic investment plan (SIP) accounts that generate inflows of close to Rs 510 crore per month or Rs 6,120 crore annually. SIPs account for 10 percent of the companys equity AUM.

Not just retail, Reliance Nippon plays a pivotal role in the institutional market as well. The company has been entrusted with the responsibility to manage portfolios of regulatory bodies such as Employees Provident Fund Organization, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority, and Coal Mines Provident Fund Organization.

Growth Strategy

The current AUM of all mutual funds in India, amounting to approximately Rs 18 lakh crore, is likely to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20 percent (to Rs 45 lakh crore) by the end of FY22, as per an ICRA report. Reliance Nippon is well-positioned to tap the structural expansion of the savings pool in the country.

Reliance Nippons strategy is to add 150 new branches, mainly in the tier-2 and 3 regions of India by the end of FY21, thereby taking the total count of branches to 321. Furthermore, 54 existing branch offices of the company will also be relocated. To broaden the distributor reach to retail investors across the country, the company aims to tie up with more scheduled public sector banks in due course.

Additionally, Reliance Nippons target is to ensure that the contribution of equity and debt funds to the total AUM remains fairly well balanced (more or less 50 percent in each category) over the long term to limit downside risks. Building better visibility internationally (in connection with offshore fund management and advisory mandate domains) and exploring inorganic growth opportunities are some of the other priority areas.

Valuation

At the upper end of the price band (Rs 252 per share), the issue is valued at 5.7 times price to FY18 projected book value. Though Reliance Nippon has no listed peers, given its growth trajectory and consistent return ratios, the valuation looks reasonable. To put things in perspective, over the last four years, the companys top-line and bottom-line registered an impressive CAGR of 21 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

More importantly, the company sold a small portion of its stake at a relatively higher valuation in the past. In July 2017, a group of US and Singapore funds picked up a 4.43 stake in the company for Rs 675 crore, valuing it at around Rs 15,000 crore or 8 times its FY17 book value.

Key risks

Despite Reliance Nippons widespread geographical coverage, its dependence on third-party distribution channels is significant. The competitive intensity in Indias mutual fund space is high, particularly from mutual fund companies of leading banks in the country. Underperformance or non-performance of investment products has a direct bearing on the companys AUM and revenues.

Compliance measures undertaken to align Reliance Nippons investment products with a recently-issued SEBI circular, that restricts mutual fund houses from operating numerous schemes under specific categories, may result in loss of existing business owing to scheme mergers and wind-ups.

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A Turkish former interior minister once dubbed Turkey's Iron Lady and seen as a potentially strong challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a political party Wednesday after months of speculation.

Meral Aksener delivered a defiant speech promising a "strong, happy" Turkey at the official launch of the Iyi ("Good") Party in the capital Ankara.

"We have hope. We have dreams. We want a rich Turkey. We have strength. We want a fair Turkey... we want a free society. We want a happy Turkey," she said during a spirited address to an audience waving Turkish flags.

She was cheered by thousands of supporters and founding party members in a hall surrounded by the party's blue and yellow sun logo and banners of modern Turkey founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

The party's slogan is "Turkey will be good".

Aksener, 61, was a member of the opposition right-wing Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) until she was expelled in September 2016.

There has been frenzied talk of Aksener running against Erdogan in the presidential election in November 2019 when Turkey's parliamentary system will formally become an executive presidency.

"The emergence of a new party is a positive thing because Turkey really had a drought of effective opposition parties for many, many years," Amanda Paul, senior policy analyst covering Turkey and the Eurasia region at the Brussels-based European Policy Centre, said.

"It seems that this party has the potential to be more effective than the ones that already exist."

Selim Sazak, a Turkish political analyst, said he was "greatly" sceptical of Aksener's chances of becoming president in 2019.

Aksener is a rare dominant female figure in the Turkish political scene, where only two women are part of the cabinet.

Aksener has been described as Turkey's Iron Lady in a nod to the late British premier Margaret Thatcher but has also been compared to the French National Front leader Marine Le Pen.

She served as interior minister for less than a year between 1996 and 1997, but was notably critical of the 1997 ousting of the then Islamist government by the military.

Aksener was in fact close to figures from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the early 2000s before choosing the MHP.

Aksener and her allies encountered difficulties finding a venue for the launch after a hotel in Ankara last month cancelled an agreement to host her.

There was heavy security at the launch on Wednesday.

After audience chants of "prime minister", Aksener said "not prime minister, president!"

She then said founding members wanted her to run against Erdogan in 2019 but did not say she would definitely do so.

A lawmaker from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Aytun Ciray, resigned on Monday to join Aksener's new party, which came as reports suggested she wanted to form a parliamentary group with MPs who are prepared to switch their allegiance. Aksener has denied the reports.

The party's supporters believe it can win over both CHP and AKP voters.

But experts said more time was needed to see what voters made of the new party.

"It's really unclear at the moment... and I don't expect an easy end result," said Kemal Can, a veteran Turkish commentator, adding that an "important chunk" of MHP voters could be attracted to the new party.

Paul said Aksener's weakest link would be Kurdish voters because "historically she has had a hawkish approach to the Kurdish issue" referring to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party insurgency in the southeast raging since 1984.

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Reliance Nippon Life AMC IPO opened for subscription today and the issue was fully subscribed within a minute of the opening.

Sundeep Sikka, ED & CEO of the company while thanking all the investors for participating in the IPO told CNBC-TV18 that the focus of the company remains on profitable growth.

He said with India going through a structural change post various government initiatives, there has been a change in investor behaviourpeople are now not investing only in physical assets but also financial assets.

Moreover, with the kind of response the company's IPO has got from international investors across the world, shows India growth story is here to stay.

Going forward, with all the structural changes, it is likely that more money will flow into domestic mutual funds than ever before, said Sikka.

He said partnership with Nippon Life has led to lot of foreign money coming into India. So there would be far more operating leverage than seen in the past, he added. Moreover, as of now only 3 percent of population of the country is investing in MFs, so this could and should multiply.

With the kind of franchise we have built, operating leverage will play and return on equity should improve, he said.

He said although both insurance and asset management companies are playing the India savings story, the dynamics of both are different. Within the AMCs there are 4-5 top companies which have the lion's share so far, and although some could go in for listing, there could also be consolidation in the industry, he said.

He said, currently 85 percent revenues for them comes from domestic MFs and 15 percent from new initiatives like alternative investment funds, ETFs, offshore funds but we will remain a pure Indian domestic AMC and continue playing the India story.
3:30 pm Market Closing: Benchmark indices ended at record closing high on Wednesday, backed by banks and infrastructure stocks after recapitalisation and highway projects boost.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was up 435.16 points or 1.33 percent at 33,042.50 and the 50-share NSE Nifty rose 87.70 points or 0.86 percent to 10,295.40.

The market breadth was negative as about three shares declined for every two shares rising on the BSE.

3:29 pm V-Guard Industries up 8%: V-Guard Industries today reported a 25 percent increase in its net profit at Rs 46.49 crore for the quarter to September.

The corresponding figure during the same period of the previous fiscal is Rs 37.18 crore, V-Guard Industries said in a BSE filing.

Net sales during the quarter under review was up 15.26 per cent at Rs 559.91 crore as against Rs 485.75 crore in the year-ago period.

"We have been able to partly recover the sales loss due to GST," V-Guard Industries Managing Director Mithun K Chittilappilly said.

On outlook, he said the company expects to perform in line with expectations in the coming quarter and the outlook remains cautiously positive.

3:25 pm Earnings: FMCG company Emami's second quarter (July-September) profit beat analyst expectations, rising sharply by 49.3 percent year-on-year to Rs 98.7 crore.

Profit for the quarter ended September 2016 stood at Rs 66.1 crore. It was expected at Rs 80 crore for the quarter, according to average of estimates of analysts polled by CNBC-TV18.

Revenue during the quarter grew by 9.7 percent to Rs 628.1 crore compared with Rs 573 crore in same quarter last fiscal.

Consolidated EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) rose 14.9 percent year-on-year to Rs 201.3 crore and margin expanded by 140 basis points to 32 percent for the quarter ended September 2017.

3:15 pm Fundraising: Manappuram Finance, a gold loan NBFC, today said its board will meet next week to consider raising Rs 200 crore through allotment of non-convertible debentures on a private placement basis.

"The Financial Resources and Management Committee of the board of directors of the company... will consider the allotment of secured redeemable non-convertible debentures having face value of Rs 10 lakh each for Rs 200 crore on a private placement basis," Manappuram Finance said in a BSE filing.

Stock of the company was trading 3.61 percent lower at Rs 97.40 on the BSE.

3:07 pm Divestment: Sources told CNBC-TV18 that the government is planning to divest 10 percent stake in NBCC for around Rs 2,400 crore.

Department of Disinvestment is likely to send a note for cabinet clearance soon.

Sources said the government is expected to reduce its stake in NBCC to 65 percent (from 75 percent) via stake sale.

In 2016, it sold 15 percent stake in NBCC for Rs 2,200 crore through IPO.

3:03 pm Interest cost of recap bonds: Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian today said interest burden of recapitalisation bonds on the government would be around Rs 9,000 crore and the move may not have an inflationary impact.

This cost can be offset by growth in economic activity, credit supply and private investment, he said in a lecture at SGTB Khalsa College here.

"First, the true fiscal cost of issuing the Rs 1.35 lakh crore recapitalisation bonds is the interest payment of about Rs 8,000-9,000 crore. But cost can be offset by the confidence impact of addressing the critical economic bottleneck, thereby increasing credit supply, private investment and growth," he said.

2:55 pm Infra stocks in action: Driven by the governments recent push to infrastructure sector, shares of frontline infra companies soared between 2 and 19 percent intraday on Wednesday.

JKumar Infra gained the most at 19 percent, while stocks such as Larsen and Toubro, NCC, Dilip Buildcon, HCC and Sadbhav Engineering, among others rose 5-12 percent between them.

The government on Tuesday approved mega infrastructure projects worth Rs 6.92 lakh crore as part of a broad plan to create thousands of new jobs, raise income, boost investment and quicken growth in the broader economy.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley said that the government will launch an umbrella road building programme to de-bottleneck the sector. The program will cover 83,677 km of roads and will involve a capital expenditure of Rs 6.92 lakhs crore over the next 5 years.

2:45 pm Buzzing Stock: Shares of Reliance Communications fell 5 percent intraday on Wednesday as investors turned cautious of some corporate developments.

According to a report in The Economic Times, RCom is shutting down its DTH (direct-to-home) operations effective from November 18.

The company confirmed to the newspaper that since their licence is expiring they will not be able to continue with their DTH operations - Reliance Digital TV.

2:30 pm Recap thumbs up: Bank recapitalisation is "critical" for the economic recovery of the country as it will step up lending which in turn will aid growth numbers, says a report. According to a research report by Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofAML), "bank recapitalisation is a sin qua non (an essential condition) for recovery.... It will step up lending, and, therefore, growth, step up tax collections and partly bring down the fiscal deficit".

The government yesterday unveiled a Rs 2.11 lakh crore two-year road map for strengthening NPA-hit public sector banks, which includes re-capitalisation bonds, budgetary support, and equity dilution. "This (capital infusion in PSBs) will pull down lending rates, spur aggregate demand, put idle factories to work, exhaust capacity and spark investment in 2-3 years," the report said.

The capital infusion of PSBs entails mobilisation of capital, with maximum allocation in the current year, to the tune of about Rs 2,11,000 crore over the next two years, through budgetary provisions of Rs 18,139 crore, and recapitalisation bonds to the tune of Rs 1.35 lakh crore.

"This should help PSU banks heal their broken balance sheets and meet adequate capital requirements. Once growth recovers, the government can gradually convert these recap bonds into normal G-secs and sell them to the market, as happened in the past," the report said.

2:10 pm GIC Re Update: General Insurance Corporation of India fell as much as 14.5 percent today to hit a low of Rs 780 after tepid debut.

It was trading at Rs 803.55 on the National Stock Exchange, lower by 11.9 percent compared with issue price of Rs 912 per share.

2:00 pm Earnings Estimates: FMCG major Hindustan Unilever's second quarter profit is seen rising 10.5 percent year-on-year to Rs 1,210 crore and revenue may increase 5.8 percent to Rs 8,971 crore.

EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) is likely to grow 17.5 percent to Rs 1,649 crore and margin may expand 180 basis points to 18.4 percent compared with same quarter last fiscal, according to average of estimates of analysts polled by CNBC-TV18.

Margin may be aided by higher gross margin, lower advertising spends & cost controls.

1:50 pm Market Check: Equity benchmarks extended gains in afternoon, with the Sensex rising 429.74 points or 1.32 percent to 33,037.08 and the Nifty climbing 88.30 points to 10,296.

The volatility increased a bit during the day ahead of expiry of October derivative contracts on Thursday.

Nifty Bank rallied 750 points, largely backed by PSU banks after mega recapitalisation plan of Rs 2.11 lakh crore that will be spread over two fiscal years.

The broader markets continued to underperform benchmarks as the BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices were flat due to weak market breadth. About three shares declined for every two shares rising on the BSE.

1:35 pm Market Outlook: "We were waiting for a cue for the investment cycle to pick up. Public sector undertaking (PSU) bank recapitalisation of Rs 2.11 lakh crore is perhaps the first step. We still need to address the demand side of the investment but yes, the supply at least is in place now," said Pramod Gubbi, Head of Equity at Ambit Capital in an interview to CNBC-TV18.

The shape of economic growth will necessarily move from consumption led to investment led at some stage, he added.

This step augurs well for the broader cyclical segment of the market particularly sectors which have been short of capital, particularly real estate, metals, engineering and construction, infrastructure. These could see fund flows coming into them, said Gubbi.

He expects overall credit demand to pick up across the board.

1:24 pm RCom falls 3%: The debt-ridden telecom operator, Reliance Communications, has plans to shut down its 2G mobile business by the end of November, but will continue to offer 3G and 4G services, industry sources told PTI.

The company has also asked a number of employees to quit as part of its winding up of the operations.

An e-mail query sent to RCom elicited no immediate reply.

The move comes after the company failed to close the merger deal with telecom operator Aircel early this month.

1:12 pm Kotak Bank in focus: Private sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank's July-September quarter grew by 22.2 percent year-on-year to Rs 994.31 crore, backed by operating income, other income and NII.

Profit for the quarter ended September 2016 stood at Rs 813.29 crore.

Net interest income, the difference between interest earned and interest expended, increased 15.9 percent to Rs 2,312.66 crore compared with year-ago quarter.

Asset quality improved nicely in the quarter ended September 2017 as gross non-performing assets (NPA) fell 11 basis points sequentially to 2.47 percent and net NPA slipped 42 basis points to 1.26 percent.

Provisions for bad loans for the quarter stood at Rs 216.5 crore, higher by 6.3 percent quarter-on-quarter and 9.5 percent year-on-year.

At 13:12 hours IST, the stock price was quoting at Rs 1,024.10, down Rs 43.60, or 4.08 percent on the BSE.

1:00 pm Earnings: Coromandel International has reported higher consolidated profit at Rs 342.5 crore for July-September quarter, a growth of 60.5 percent compared with Rs 213.4 crore in same quarter last fiscal.

The stock gained a percent.

12:55 pm IPO subscription: Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management's Rs 1,542-crore initial public offering has been oversubscribed 2.87 times, as per data available on NSE.

The issue received bids for 12.28 crore equity shares against offer size of 4.28 crore shares, excluding anchor investors' portion.

12:50 pm Moody's on recapitalisation: Moody's Investors Service today said the government's plan to infuse Rs 2.11 lakh crore in PSU banks is "significant credit positive" as it will help address the problem of weak capitalisation.

To strengthen capital position of banks for onward lending to private sector, the government yesterday announced that an 'unprecedented' Rs 2.11 lakh crore would be infused in PSBs over two years.

"The quantum of the plan is large enough to comprehensively address these banks' weak capitalisation levels and is a significant credit positive as weak capitalisation is the main credit weakness for most rated public sector banks," said Srikanth Vadlamani, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Credit Officer.

Of the total Rs 2.11 lakh crore, Rs 1.35 lakh crore would be in the form of recapitalisation bonds, while the rest would involve a combination of already announced budgetary support and capital raisings by the banks themselves from the capital markets.

12:40 pm Europe Trade: European stocks opened lower as investors look out for new earnings reports and economic data.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 was 0.13 percent lower with most sectors moving in negative territory.

12:34 pm Management Interview: HCL Technologies' President & Chief Executive Officer C Vijayakumar told CNBC-TV18 that India business impacted numbers by USD 20 million.

"Global business has outperformed, but biggest headwind this time was India business decline," he said.

HCL Technologies will see marginal pressure from India business in coming quarters, he feels.

"We have seen project specific ramp downs in India business. We have been participating in India business but will reduce focus over time," he said.

12:25 pm Gold Update: Gold prices edged lower today, pressured by stronger equities and a firmer dollar amid speculation over who will be the next US Federal Reserve chief.

US gold futures for December delivery were 0.2 percent lower at USD 1,275.20 per ounce.

Asian shares inched higher, while US Treasury yields and the dollar got a lift following a report that Republican senators were leaning towards John Taylor to be the next Federal Reserve chief.

: IT major Infosys recovered from its early losses of as much as 1.24 percent, a day after the company reported over 3 percent

rise in net profit but lowered its annual revenue forecast.

However, later the stock recovered from losses and was trading 1.58 percent higher at Rs 941.35 on BSE.

Infosys, India's second-biggest software services exporter, yesterday reported a better-than-expected 3.3 percent rise in the second quarter net profit to Rs 3,726 crore but slashed annual revenue forecast.

It cut revenue growth forecast to 5.5-6.5 percent for the year to March 31, 2018, from 6.5-8.5 percent previously projected.

12:04 pm Market Check: Equity benchmarks retained morning gains, though were trading off record highs. PSU banks were biggest gainers after the government announced recapitalisation of Rs 2.11 lakh crore that will be spread over two fiscal years.

Infrastructure stocks were also in action on a Rs 7 lakh crore highways development plan. L&T gained 5 percent.

The 30-share BSE Sensex rose 322.91 points or 0.99 percent to 32,930.25 and the 50-share NSE Nifty rose 57.30 points or 0.56 percent to 10,265 despite weak market breadth.

About 1,248 shares declined against 1,117 advancing shares on the BSE.

The Government

of Indias decisive package to restore the health of the Indian banking system is in the view of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), a monumental step forward in safeguarding the countrys economic future, RBI Governor, Urjit Patel said in a statement.

"For the first time in last decade, we now have a real chance that all the policy pieces of the jigsaw puzzle will be in place for a comprehensive and coherent, rather than piece-meal, strategy to address the banking sector challenges. It bodes us well that this step has been taken in a time of sound macroeconomic conditions for the economy on other fronts."

11:50 am USFDA nod: Wockhardt Bio AG, the subsidiary of Mumbai-based pharma company Wockhardt, has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for Abiraterone Acetate tablets.

Abiraterone Acetate tablets are used for treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer.

11:45 am Benefits of PSU banks recapitalisation: The capital infusion of public sector banks (PSBs) is a "big bang reform" aimed at supporting credit growth and job creation, says a SBI research report.

The government on October 24 unveiled Rs 2.11 lakh crore two-year road map for strengthening NPA-hit public sector banks, which includes re-capitalisation bonds, budgetary support, and equity dilution.

According to the SBI research report Ecowrap, as PSBs have 70 percent market share in the banking space, this will help the government to gear-up lending to MUDRA scheme, which has the highest employment opportunities in the country.

"Till now Mudra loan has been distributed to around 9.18 crore units and around 80 per cent of these loans have been sanctioned to women entrepreneurs," the report said.

It further said that Mudra since its inception has generated 1.68 crore incremental jobs and total around 5.5 crore of jobs mostly in industrialised states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

11:37 am Stake Buy: Zee Entertainment Enterprises' promoter group firm Cyquator Media Services will acquire a little over 1 percent stake in the company from Essel Media Ventures for an estimated value of Rs 516 crore.

In a regulatory filing, Zee Entertainment Enterprises said Cyquator Media Services will acquire 99.32 lakh shares or 1.03 per ent stake on October 31 or within 90 days thereafter.

Essel Media Ventures is also a part of the Zee Group.

11:28 am Nilekani's strategy: Infosys' non-executive Board chairman and co-founder Nandan Nilekani outlined the broad strategy for the company going forward and provided an update on some issues that were taken up when he returned to the company in August this year.

Taking the dais, Nilekani  also known as the architect of Indias biometric identity programme, Aadhaar  took questions on strategy, but divulged little about the internal on goings at the country's second largest software exporter.

The companys search for a new chief executive, post Vishal Sikkas exit in August, is making decent progress, Nilekani said in a media interaction post the second-quarter results.

He also spoke about the shareholder meetings, the first round of which has been concluded. This process will continue into this quarter, and a report will be presented with the third quarter results in January, he said.

Referring to the turbulence the company faced during the September quarter, Nilekani praised the managements efforts to carry out the business effectively.

11:23 am FM on GST revenues: Three months into GST rollout, the new indirect tax regime has consistently given Rs 93,000-94,000 crore in taxes every month on back of encouraging response from the industry, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today.

On a day the government announced waiver of late fee for those who filed late tax returns for months of August and September, he indicated rationalisation of GST tax slabs once revenue stream stabilises.

As much as Rs 92,150 crore  Rs 14,042 crore in Central-GST levy, Rs 21,172 crore from State-GST and Rs 48,948 crore on account of inter-state and exports levy called Integrated-GST, was collected for the month of September.

GST tax collections in July  the maiden month of rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST)  was over Rs 95,000 crore and it was over Rs 91,000 crore in August.

11:10 am USFDA approval: Drug firm Lupin today said it has received the final approval from the US health regulator for its testosterone topical solution.

The company has received final approval for its testosterone topical solution, 30 mg per actuation from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market the product, Lupin said in a BSE filing.

The approved product is a generic version of Eli Lilly and Company's Axiron topical solution, it added.

The testosterone topical solution are indicated for replacement therapy in males for conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone, it added.

11:07 am Food price inflation: The hike in minimum support prices of rabi crops is a prudent policy response and should keep food price inflation contained in the near term, says a Nomura report.

The government yesterday hiked the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat by Rs 110 to Rs 1,735 a quintal and of pulses by up to Rs 400 per quintal to encourage farmers to boost area and production of these crops.

MSP is the rate at which government buys the grain from farmers. According to the Japanese financial services major, the MSP increase is largely similar to the hike announced last year, although larger than the rise during 2013-14 to 2015-16.

"In the context of the upcoming elections and reports of farm distress, we view these hikes as a prudent policy response," Nomura said.

11:00 am Private banks weak: The market came off day's high due to selling pressure in private banks as Rs 2.11 lakh crore recapitalisation may help public sector banks gain market share. The Nifty Private Bank index was flat.

HDFC Bank, HDFC, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd Bank, Yes Bank, Indiabulls Housing Finance and Bajaj Finance were down 2-4 percent.

10:50 am Market Check: Benchmark indices traded steady after cooling off the record high marks as investors bet big on bank recapitalisation step of the government.

The Sensex was up over 250 points at 32,850, while the Nifty traded higher over 51 points at 10250, below 10,300 mark it achieved intraday.

State Bank of India and ICICI Bank were the top gainers, while HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Edelweiss and Bhushan Steel were the top losers.

10:43 am Mutual Fund View: S Krishna Kumar, CIO Equity at Sundaram Mutual Fund believes the recapitalisation plan is a long-awaited step.

They had to take the bull by the horns and it has taken the massive step to put this capital. This changes the framework with which an investor would look at banking and financial space. Structurally, they are back in the game, S Krishna Kumar, CIO Equity, Sundaram Mutual Fund told CNBC-TV18 in an interview, adding that the risk profile of PSU banks will get a lot better.

The government on Tuesday announced Rs 2.11 lakh crore recapitalisation plan for state-owned banks and approved mega infrastructure projects worth Rs 6.92 lakh crore as part of a broad plan to create thousands of new jobs, raise income, boost investment and quicken growth in the broader economy.

10:25 am FII View: In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Arvind Sanger, Managing Partner of Geosphere Capital Management spoke at length about the mega recapitalisation plan and shared his views public sector undertaking (PSU) banks. He expects public sector undertaking banks to take aggressive write-downs and clean up the balance sheet. He also sees loan cycle turning up post the PSU recapitalisation.

10:10 am IPO subscription: The Rs 1,542-crore initial public offering of Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management (formerly Reliance Capital Asset Management) has been subscribed fully soon after opening for subscription on Wednesday.

The public issue has been oversubscribed 2.05 times, receiving bids for 8.77 crore equity shares against offer size of 4.28 crore shares (excluding anchor investors' portion), as per data available on the National Stock Exchange.

10:00 am Tepid Listing: General Insurance Corporation of India share price listed at Rs 857.50 on the National Stock Exchange, lower by 6 percent compared with issue price of Rs 912.

Pre-opening trade already indicated that the stock would fall in early trade.

The stock did touch a high of Rs 867 and low of Rs 850 (the price in pre-opening trade) in early trade.

The Rs 11,370-crore initial public offer (IPO) of General Insurance Corporation, which was opened during October 11-13, was oversubscribed 1.38 times.

9:55 am Private Banks mixed due to asset quality concerns:

9:45 am Pre-opening: General Insurance Corporation of India share price has settled at Rs 850 per share, lower by 6.8 percent compared with issue price of Rs 912.

9:39 am Penalty: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 2 crore on IDFC Bank Limited for contravention of regulatory restrictions pertaining to loans and advances.

The RBI in a release said the action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers.

The status report of the bank based on its financial position as on December 31, 2016, revealed, inter alia, non- adherence with certain directions pertaining to sanction / renewal of loans and advances, the central bank said.

9:33 am Earnings: Software firm HCL Technologies said the second quarter (July-September) consolidated profit grew 0.8 percent sequentially to Rs 2,188 crore and has raised its full year dollar revenue guidance but retained constant currency revenue guidance.

Consolidated rupee revenue and dollar revenue during the quarter increased 2.3 percent each quarter-on-quarter to Rs 12,434 crore and USD 1,928 million.

The IT services provider has maintained its full year constant currency revenue growth guidance at 10.5-12.5 percent and EBIT margin guidance at 19.5-20.5 percent, but has raised full year dollar revenue guidance to 12.1-14.1 percent from 11.3-13.3 percent earlier.

EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) grew by 0.3 percent to Rs 2,451 crore but margin contracted 40 basis points to 19.7 percent compared with previous quarter.

Earnings barring bottomline missed analysts expectations. Profit was estimated at Rs 2,143 crore on revenue at Rs 12,572 crore and dollar revenue was expected at USD 1,951 million while EBIT was estimated at Rs 2,489.3 crore with margin at 19.8 percent for the quarter, according to average of estimates of analysts polled by CNBC-TV18.

9:25 am Nifty PSU Bank index up 23%:

9:20 am Market Outlook: Nirmal Jain, Chairman of IIFL said PSU banks recapitalisation was very positive move.

"Till now, the amount of recap was never adequate. Government has provided for almost all of the requirement. Although we dont know the coupon rate for the bonds and tenure as well, but it looks like it was much needed and this will better balance sheets," Jain said in an interview to CNBC-TV18.

But what is needed also is the autonomy and consolidation of banks from longer term point of view. Along with this, the infra spend of Rs 7 lakh crore could help economy revive and come back on growth path, he added.

9:15 am Market Check: Equity benchmarks hit historic highs in opening trade on Wednesday, driven by banks after the government announced Rs 2.11 lakh crore recapitalisation for PSU banks on asset quality worries.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was up 456.55 points or 1.40 percent at 33,063.89 and the 50-share NSE Nifty rose 104.80 points or 1.03 percent to 10,312.50.

HCL Technologies, Infosys, HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Asian Paints were under pressure in early trade.

Can Fin Homes, M&M Financial, L&T Finance and Bharat Financial were down 1-2 percent.

UCO Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Corporation Bank, Bank of Maharashtra and Union Bank rallied 15-20 percent.

Shipping Corporation, KNR Construction, J Kumar Infra, Ashoka Buildcon, Sadbhav Engineering and Electrosteel Steels rallied up to 8 percent.

The Indian rupee has drifted lower in early trade. It has opened at 65.14 against the US dollar, down 7 paise compared with 65.0675 level in previous session.
mployees walk along a corridor in the Infosys campus in Bangalore (Image: Reuters)

At the fag end of his second term ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hoped, somewhat forlornly, that history would be kinder to him than the media had been. While Singh waits for his wishes to be realised, another veteran, this time from the corporate world, would be harbouring a similar wish.

Narayana Murthy, co-founder of one of the best companies in India, has taken a beating at the hands of the media, analysts and shareholders of the company he co-founded. Now, Nandan Nilekani, a man he likes to consider his protege, is back in the saddle at Infosys and has taken the same position as the ousted board on the contentious issue of the acquisition of Israeli firm Panaya.

Murthy is increasingly looking like a possessive parent, protecting the company from non-promoter management who took over after he and the founders took turns at being CEOs (itself a questionable practice).

Many decisions, including the CEO salary, acquisition price, and severance packages taken by the management were questioned by Murthy and some of his co-founders. Despite getting some answers, Murthy and his disgruntled team continued their attack publicly. Under the name of shareholder rights, which was nothing short of shareholder (hyper) activism, Murthy and team demanded a level of transparency which could have been detrimental to the functioning of the company.

Unable to take the pressure, CEO Vishal Sikka decided to quit and in his parting note said: the constant drumbeat of the same issues over and over again, while ignoring and undermining the good work that has been done Sikka was followed by some other members of the board and Chairman R Seshasayee.

When Co-founder Nilekani replaced Sikka and took over the reins of the company Murthy felt vindicated and said he was ..confident Nandan will determine whether the members of the current board who were involved in the events alleged by the whistleblower exercised their proper and expected role in governance; and that he will take appropriate corrective actions. These actions will bring back the rigor of governance standards at Infosys.

Unfortunately for Murthy his euphoria has been short-lived. Along with the September 2017 quarter results Nilekani and the new board members said there was no merit in the allegations of wrongdoing. Additionally, the board said that publishing additional details would affect Infosys ability to conduct future probes, besides confidentiality of whistleblowers in any future investigation.

This was not something that Murthy wanted to hear. He sent a statement saying that he was disappointed and that the board did not address his questions.

Unfortunately, Murthys activism is causing more harm than good to the company. It has already cost it a team which could have improved its commoditised offerings several notches. Worse, with continuous meddling from Murthy and his ilk, few independent-thinking professionals would like to sign up with the company.

What the entire MurthySikka episode highlights is the downside of shareholder activism. If allowed to grow, such activism can affect operations of companies. Management will be reluctant to take decisions if their freedom is affected.

Activism has had its positive fallouts. It was only when shareholders (institution shareholders) objected to the acquisition of Maytas firm by Satyam Computers that the Satyam scam was exposed.

Just like there are committees within market regulator SEBI that work on corporate governance, there is a need to protect companies from unreasonable shareholder activism. The shrillest voice has a tendency of silencing the saner ones. As shareholders have a right to know and protect themselves from wrong corporate governance practices, companies and their management should also be protected from such voices. Murthys insistence that the findings of the Panaya probe be made public is clearly out of order; if the board is satisfied after multiple investigations, its word should be taken. Shareholders affected by righteous indignation are free to go to court.

While a shareholders choice to exit from a company that he does not like will not affect the operations of the company, a good management quitting because of activism can hamstring a company that is already facing sectoral headwinds.

For more research articles, visit our Moneycontrol Research Page
Arvind Fashions Rights Entitlement | Kotak Standard Multicap Fund offloaded 4,83,404 RE shares in company at Rs 36.26 per share. (Image: PTI)

Pankaj Renjhen

The recent acquisition of the Hypercity brand by Kishore Biyanis Future Group is one of the many instances highlighting a key ongoing trend in the retail industry  cross-category consolidation. Retailers are increasingly exiting businesses that drag down their profits and focusing on strengthening their core businesses to increase their market share and create value for their shareholders.

Earlier this year, online retail giant Alibaba picked up stake in Chinese supermarket chains Hema and Bailan. Amazon bought out grocery chain Whole Foods for a whopping USD 13.7 billion.

Last year, the world's largest brick-and-mortar supermarket chain Walmart bought out US-based e-commerce company Jet.com for USD 3.3 billion.

In India, Future Group acquired Hypercity for USD 107 million and effectively added around 1.4 million square feet of retail space to their existing 13.8 million square feet.

There is a visible change in the appetite of retailers, especially in the food and grocery business. So, why are supermarkets out shopping?

To Gain Scale

Future Group already has presence in 221 cities after a series of acquisitions over the past couple of years. Last year, it acquired 124 retail stores of Heritage Fresh in Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai. It also acquired retail group chain Sangam Direct, Easy Day and Nilgiris, significantly ramping up its presence in South India. The merger with Bharti Retail and acquisition of Big Apple effectively added 250 stores to its portfolio in the North.

This approach has not only boosted Future Groups organic growth in terms of geography but also in terms of formats. The group now operates across all formats - from 1000 sq. ft. feet micro-stores to 50,000 sq.ft. hypermarkets.

To Transition from Retail to Consumer Goods

Future Groups strategy has slowly evolved from a pure play retail model to a fast-moving consumer goods model. Consolidation in the grocery space will further help them push their own products over private label consumer products. The recent acquisition of Hypercity is Biyanis attempt at consolidation in the fashion and food category.

While most peers tried to go the FMCG way by outsourcing food processing and manufacturing to smaller firms, Future Group in fact outsmarted them all with the creation of Food Parks. These INR 1000 crore-worth large food processing factories, wholly owned by Future Group, have ensured that their margins are a few percentage points higher than their competitors.

To get Online and Offline

The ongoing consolidations in the food and grocery business gives out strong signals of convergence in online and offline retail, as retail margins shrink for companies following both business models. Indias offline retailers such as Tata Groups Trent and Godrej Groups Natures Basket have acquired small online app-based retailers to set up their online sales operations. Though Future Group has steered clear of the online market for a while now, most of its competitors have gone ahead to bite the bullet of omni-channel retailing.

India is the Rising Food and Grocery Retail Star

India is the worlds second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables and sixth-largest food and grocery market globally, with the retail sector contributing 70% of the sales. Food has also been one of the largest segments in Indias retail sector and is, according to the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, expected to reach $895 billion by 2020.

In 2016, the market size of the food and grocery sector was 30,25,218 crores (or $472.7 billion), with the organized share accounting for 2.4%. (Source: India Retail Report 2017-18; Images Group). The Indian food and grocery segment is attracting investments from leading global players keen on opportunities in global-standard food services and retail technology.

While Indias retail story has unfolded slowly over the decades, the pace of change has now accelerated to such an extent that retail houses need to constantly innovate to remain relevant to consumers. By 2020, the market is expected to reach the size 52,91,125 crores (or $826.7 billion) and is growing at 15% per annum (Source: India Retail Report 2017-18, Images Group)

Future Readiness

There have been talks of Amazon launching a private grocery label in India, and its intention of making its nationwide debut in online food retailing soon. Future Group is readying itself for battle by building an extensive network of offline retail, covering the entire spectrum from small formats to hypermarkets.

As a result of the retail sectors globalization, Indian retailers are facing escalating challenges from foreign retailers in providing a complete retail experience. To cater to evolving customer expectation, retailers are adopting multi-channel retailing and are re-strategizing their store networks to stay competitive. Reconfiguration of real estate is an important part of the retail evolution that brands are adopting.

The key mantra for success in modern retailing is no longer just the store in the right location, but necessarily also involves the right strategy to attract and retain customers as a key to constantly improving margins.
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The debt-ridden telecom operator, Reliance Communications, has plans to shut down its 2G mobile business by the end of November, but will continue to offer 3G and 4G services, according to industry sources.

The company has also asked a number of employees to quit as part of its winding up of the operations.

An e-mail query sent to RCom elicited no immediate reply.

The move comes after the company failed to close the merger deal with telecom operator Aircel early this month.
accusing it of promoting Google Shopping in organic search results while simultaneously demoting rival services.

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) on Tuesday ruled in favour of the Indian tax office after a six-year-long battle with Google India, in what could set precedence for other multinational companies, according to a report by The Economic Times.

The Income Tax (IT) Department had questioned transactions of Google India, which had been routinely remitting a part of the advertisement revenue generated from here to technology giants office in Ireland, which is known for its lax tax rules.

The tax office had called it clear case of tax evasion as no tax was deducted by Google India while remitting funds to Google Ireland.

Google India had contested the claims and had issued six appeals related to the assessment years 2007-08 to 2012-13.

It had said that Google Ireland had not transferred the intellectual property (IP) rights to Google India and that it was only distributing advertising space and had no control over running of the Adwords programme.

ITAT after dismissing all the appeals said, the intention of the assessee (Google India) as well as of the GIL (Google Ireland) is clear and conspicuous that they wanted to avoid the payment of taxes in India. That is why, despite the duty of the assessee to deduct the tax at the time of payment to GIL, no tax was deducted nor was any permission sought for paying the amount (sic).

Google India is now looking at a tax demand on Rs 1,457 crore which was the total amount it had remitted to Google Ireland during the period under scrutiny.

However, according to the tax tribunal, the remittance to the foreign entity is royalty which, under law, should be taxed in the contracting state (India) as Google India had used the information and patented technology from Google Ireland.
The American coffee company Starbucks has opened its 100th store in Mumbai to mark its 5th year of selling coffee in India.

The 100th store is located in Mumbaithe same city where Starbucks had opened its first store back in 2012. With the store in Mumbais Horniman Circle, the global coffee chain entered India in a joint venture with Tata Global Beverages Ltd.

On its 5-year India anniversary, the company is focused on growth and wants to open three stores in Kolkata in 2018, Tata Starbucks Private Limited said in a press release.

The coffee chain currently operates in six cities in India--Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi and Bangalore.

Even as the 40-year old Seattle-based company aggressively pushes for international expansion, the number of Starbucks stores worldwide doubled in the last decade.

As of 2016, they had 25,085 stores across the world  that is more than number of KFC stores on earth while the coffee chain catches up with McDonalds which has 36,899 stores.

According to Millward Brown market research firm, Starbucks is the second most valuable fast food brand in the world right now. Its brand valuation stands at USD 44.23 billion in 2017.

The company plans to double the number of partners, who are actually its employees, to 3,000 in the next five year while increasing proportion of women in the workforce to 40 percent in India.

Starbucks will be offering all tall size beverages at Rs 100 per cup on November 28 across all its Indian outlets as part of its celebratory initiatives.
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PSU Bank Recap

Brokerage: Nomura

The global broking firm said that the move was a game changer and expects re-rating in PSU banks. In fact, the package takes care of all requirements in one stroke, it added. The infusion is highly dilutive, but very positive for FY19 adjusted books. Though it is positively surprised by the quantum of recap, it said that the recap still managed to match its estimates of capital needs for both NPA provisioning and growth. Among stocks, it expects the highest positive impact on Punjab National Bank as it is more sensitive to capital availability than State Bank of India or Bank of Baroda.

Brokerage: Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley gave a double upgrade to SBI to overweight and highlighted that this was the first overweight since 2011. It also upgraded PNB, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank to overweight, while Bank of Baroda was upgraded to equal-weight.

Brokerage: Macquarie

Macquarie said that recapitalisation would likely further compress risk premiums. Along with this, it said, structural reforms in the banks need to be followed soon. A bold measure, it added, is that this is a first step towards solving a vexed issue.

Zee Ent

Brokerage: CLSA | Rating: Buy | Target: Rs 660

CLSA said that the companys results showed a positive surprise in ad revenues despite GST disruption. It expects this revenue to accelerate in the second half of FY18. The management also maintains its mid-teens guidance for domestic subscription growth. It also forecast the company to deliver 21 percent earnings CAGR over FY17-20.

Brokerage: Morgan Stanley | Rating: Overweight | Target: Rs 610

The research firm expects a rebound in both ad & subscription revenue in H2. The valuation at 18x FY19E EV/EBITDA is undemanding. The firm also trimmed FY18 & FY19 EBITDA estimates by 7 percent & 5 percent, respectively.

Brokerage: Macquarie | Rating: Outperform | Target: Rs 615

The global broking firm said that there is an upside risk to margin estimates of 31.5 percent in FY19 and FY20. It estimates a robust 20 percent EPS CAGR over FY17-20.

Infosys

Brokerage: Morgan Stanley | Rating: Equal-weight | Target: Rs 980

Morgan Stanley said that the revenue headwind was offset by resilient margins and that P/E rerating was some time away. The brokerage also said that the revenue growth guidance cut is a negative, but valuations provided a support.

Brokerage: Macquarie | Rating: Outperform | Target: Rs 1,070

The global broking firm said that valuation gap between the company and TCS will narrow when a clarity on CEO emerges. Having said that, it raised EPS estimates by 2.2 percent for FY18 and sees FY18 EBIT margin in the midway of 23-25 percent guidance.

Brokerage: CLSA | Rating: Buy | Target: Rs 1,100

CLSA highlighted that the company has begun to bring costs back under control and that it is returning to basics with focus on execution and cost control. It tweaked earnings upwards from margin execution and said that the valuation is inexpensive at 13 times FY19.

Asian Paints

Brokerage: Macquarie | Rating: Neutral | Target: Rs 1,100

The brokerage house highlighted that volume growth was returning after GST-led disruption in the first quarter. It also said that margin recovered back, aired by lower other expenses. In the near term, raw material could keep the pressure on margins. It is advising investors with long term horizon to add stock on dips.

Brokerage: Morgan Stanley | Rating: Overweight | Target: Raised to Rs 1,400

Morgan Stanley said that a recovery was underway and that domestic business could benefit from acceleration in discretionary consumption growth. It cut FY18-20 EPS estimates by 2-5 percent and is projecting 19 percent earnings CAGR for FY17-20.
Angel Broking's currency report on EURINR

Euro spot surged by 0.50 percent due to weak US Dollar Index as tensions among Republicans soared after two senators accused US President Trump of debasing U.S. politics and the country's standing abroad, a rebellion that could portend trouble for his legislative agenda. EURINR spot is expected to trade higher as markets discount the robust release of economic data sets like manufacturing and service from the zone that came better than the expected level.

EURINR spot is expected to trade higher as markets discount the robust release of economic data sets like manufacturing and service from the zone that came better than the expected level.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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Public as well as private sector banks rose up to 37 percent on Wednesday a day after the Indian government announced a capital infusion of Rs2.1 trillion into state-owned enterprises (SOE) banks over the next two years via recap bonds and other means.

In the near term, all the SOE bank stocks are likely to go up meaningfully. However, it is important for investors to look for banks that will sustain this performance.

Reacting to the news, Morgan Stanley in a research note said that the India government plan to recapitalise banks or troubled asset relief program (TARP) will break the five-year-plus cycle of NPLs.

The global research firm doubled upgraded SBI, ICICI Bank, and Punjab National Bank to Overweight (OW). It also raised Axis Bank to OW from equal-weight EW, and Bank of Baroda to Equal-Weight (EW) from Under-Weight (UW).

This is the first time since early 2011 that Morgan Stanley had an OW rating on SBI and PNB. Earnings for these banks will remain under meaningful pressure in FY18 and FY19 as the bank provides for bad loans. But from F2020, ROEs could spike, said the note.

A proper recapitalization will help banks to recognise NPLs and make adequate provisions for them as well. The banks can take the required hits, make proper provisions, and move ahead. The insolvency code was helping NPL resolution  now this will accelerate, added the note.

According to Morgan Stanley, the biggest beneficiary of the move on a sustained basis will be State Bank of India (SBI). It is not a surprise that the stock vaulted over 24 percent to hit its fresh 52-week high of Rs316.95.

ICICI Bank will benefit from NPL clearing mechanism working. Now, with strong capital levels, the stock could trade above book value, said the note. The stock rose over 13 percent in trade on Wednesday.

Axis Bank might not be the obvious beneficiary but will benefit from NPL clearing. Moreover, this move could be a precursor to implementation of IND-AS (Indian version of IFRS) in FY19.

We think this could help Axis provide properly for NPLs, raise capital, and move to normalized provisioning in the next 12 months, said the MS note.

The global investment bank has also raised their price target for BOB, but see a limited upside: The starting point of valuations is high. It has a base target of Rs170 on the stock for next 12 months.

Retail lenders could struggle in the near-term, but structurally they remain the winners, said the note. As SOE banks get capital, they can start competing for loans, especially to MSME, a big growth area.

This concern and strong outperformance could cause these stocks to lag. But structurally, these are the high ROE banks and we expect strong growth. Upgrade industry view to Attractive, said the note.
A US drone strike has killed six suspected Islamic State (IS) militants in central Yemen, security sources said Wednesday.

The strike in Bayda province would be the second known US strike against IS in Yemen.

The first came just over a week ago, when the US military said it had killed dozens of Islamist militant in training camps in the same province.

The US is the only country known to operate armed drones over Yemen, but its previous known strikes have targeted Al-Qaeda.

IS has however risen to prominence in the country's civil war, targeting both government forces and Shiite Huthi rebels, which it considers heretics.

Washington has intensified its drone war against Yemen-based Islamist militants since US President Donald Trump took power in January.

A Saudi-led coalition, which entered Yemen's conflict in March 2015 to prop up the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi against the Iran-backed Huthis, has also turned its firepower on Sunni militants.

The Yemen war has killed 8,673 people and wounded 58,636 since 2015, including many civilians, according to the United Nations.

Another 2,100 have died of cholera this year.

The top UN aid official arrived in Yemen Tuesday on a five-day trip aimed at drawing attention to what his organisation has called the world's top humanitarian crisis.

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A man walks past a logo of State Bank of India outside a branch in New Delhi, India, February 1, 2017. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi - RTX2Z5DT

The governments plan to recapitalise public sector banks (PSBs) is a commendable one. Both the amount and the timing are appropriate. The Rs 2.11 lakh crore amount is the best possible number that experts have put on the table as required by banks. None expected the government will actually cough up so much.

It takes care of all loan losses so far, a good 50 percent of the provisioning that may be needed for known cases of stress and enough growth capital to fund at least 10 percent loan growth for the next two years.

But it is the timing that is impressive. It comes only after government and RBI took a series of steps to send a message to bankers and borrowers that they better shape up. First, in 2014, RBI ended the unnecessary permission given to banks to restructure loans indiscriminately after the global financial crisis. Then it built a database of loans across banks (called CRILIC), so that each bank knew the entire loan liabilities of each of their borrowers. In Dec 2015, RBI forced banks to recognize a bunch of large stressed loans as NPAs, whether or not they were paying interest. Most of these were repaying only because bankers were lending them enough money in surreptitious ways to keep the account green.

In 2016, government passed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code that made it easier for creditors to dispossess defaulting promoters and sell the companies or assets to new promoters. Finally, in 2017, RBI and govt forced banks to march the top 50 odd defaulters to the NCLT. The final Act came on Tuesday when the government decided enough had been done to punish wrongdoers and it was time for positive action. It announced a massive recapitalization of the public sector banks to, once and for all, make good the loan losses and go ahead and lend clean loans to healthy companies.

The question now is has the government done enough to ensure that the public sector banks wont slip into their lousy ways again.

Let us recall why the banks lent indiscriminately. One, there is much political interference in banks with their boards being stuffed with nominees from political parties or downright corrupt fixers.

Two, the majority government ownership makes PSU bankers answerable to the CVC, CBI, CAG and courts preventing quick decisions to accept some losses and forge ahead in hopeless cases. The four Cs make bankers prefer inaction to loss-reducing actions that may be questioned on hindsight.

Three, public sector banks are hamstrung in terms of hiring efficient personnel laterally and compensating them competitively. Four, they are unable to run their companies nimbly, shutting down unviable businesses or acquiring good ones, or enthusing their staff with monetary incentives and disincentives.

These ills and handicaps havent ended and wont end till the government changes the legislative framework. The overbearing influence of politicians and ruling party on the boards of PSU banks is possible because of the Banking Regulation Act.

Scrapping this Act and bringing banks under the Companies Act is a reform that should have come 15 years ago. The Companies Act, in the very least, allows for a majority of independent directors who can safeguard the interests of the bank.

A second and equally urgent reform is to bring down the stake of the government in public sector banks below 51 percent. This will remove the pressure on bankers of having to defend commercial actions to the four Cs. It will also allow for competitive hiring.

But the third and the most important reform measure that the government needs to announce is that it is willing to sell off some PSU banks. The very whiff of privatization will fetch a better price for all PSU banks who are looking to raise capital. Today a raft of retailers, non-bank finance companies and fintech companies are looking for ways to reach out to semi-urban and rural India and government has probably the best chance to find buyers for midsized public sector banks that have excellent branch networks and ready-made customer bases. Everyone agrees there is no need for the government to have 15 nationalized banks.

While mergers ought to be encouraged after the banks fully recover from the NPA pain, privatization or selling at least some of the banks is absolutely necessary. Given the deep financial holes in some of the banks and the uninspired staff, many banks look set to become as sick as MTNL or Air India.

The government needs to sell them off while they are still perceived as commercially viable. Their unfunded pension liabilities may make then unattractive, but a way has to be found to put a lid on the liabilities and sell off these units.

Despite the immediate stock market cheer, global investors and eventually even domestic taxpayers will look askance at a tax-funded recapitalization programme unless it comes with definite steps that makes the PSU banks more commercially viable. The shift to Companies Act can begin rightaway. Privatization may have to wait for this governments next term. But the intent must be announced rightaway.
South African president Jacob Zuma gestures as he hosts his Zimbabwean counterpart, President Robert Mugabe during the 2nd Session of the South Africa-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission in Pretoria, South Africa October 3, 2017. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko - RC1F09135900

The Robert Mugabe-led government in Zimbabwe appointed a minister for newly formed Cyber Security, Threat Detection and Mitigation Ministry, and the Twitter users started calling him WhatsApp minister.

As soon as the announcement was made, a spoof letter with fake signatures of Patrick Chinamasa, the new minister who formerly held the finance portfolio, started doing the rounds on the internet which laid out new rules for the WhatsApp groups in the country. The letter was signed By The Cyber Powers Vested In Me.



When you go from Minister of Finance to national whatsapp admin. pic.twitter.com/9gfyBBNw82

 Prophet Cynic (@CynicHarare) October 9, 2017

Source: Twitter/ @Abaidulah_Aslam



"By the cyber powers vested in me" - Minister of Whatsapp pic.twitter.com/SPXOZZpovK  TLC (@tshepanglerato) October 13, 2017

Ministrys mandate

Jokes aside, the Zimbabweans are trying to figure out what this new ministry will mean for them, especially with regard to freedom of speech.

The government is saying that social media was creating problems and the ministry will deal with "emerging threat to the state... a threat founded on abuse and unlawful conduct".

Last month, a fuel shortage led to Zimbabweans flocking to the markets to stock up the supplies, anticipating a food shortage. However, the government blamed social media for the chaos.

"Social media was abused to create a sense of panic, thereby creating some sort of destabilising in the economy," said President Robert Mugabe's spokesperson, George Charamba.

However, many citizens and the rights group are saying that the ministry is formed to muzzle their civil liberties. Whereas, the opposition is saying that the move has been made by keeping the 2018 polls in mind. The government wants to spy and control the peoples opinion.

"Mugabe... will do whatever it takes to control and muzzle social media in order to suppress public discontent against his regime," BBC quoted Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

According to rights groups, quoted by BBC, the country already has various laws to curb the freedom of expression. They claim that hundreds of people have been jailed under the law which makes "insult[ing] the president" and "undermine[ing] his authority" a jailable offence.

In recent times, social media has become the primary method for the people of Zimbabwe to communicate, thanks to the increasing internet penetration.

Almost every country has departments which deal with social media nuisance, however, Zimbabwe may be the first country to have a whole ministry for this.
The ruling party Bharatiya Janta Party will celebrate Anti-Black Money Day on November 8, the first anniversary of demonetisation.

The party leaders will travel around the country and celebrate the day, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said while addressing the press conference.

Demonetisation was a big step towards making India a cashless society, Jaitley said, adding that the main purposes were digitising commercial transaction, expansion of tax base and squeezing liquidity in the economy.

All three motives have shown positive results so far, he added.

Speaking on black money crackdown, Jaitley said that "it cannot be achieved through baby steps" and that note ban was a step towards it.

This comes after several opposition parties said they will hold rallies and call November 8 as the 'Black Day' to mark note ban implemented last year that day.

Nearly 18 parties said they would hold rallies in every state to highlight "ill-effects" of the move on the economy that day.

Announcing the decision at a joint press conference of the opposition coordination committee, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "This particular announcement made on November 8 is the scam of the century, which is why we are observing this as Black Day."

He described the note ban move as the NDA government's "most ill-conceived and hasty decision".

Countering, Jaitley said that Congress, which had ample time to be in power, did not take any substantial steps towards curbing black money.
India Economy

Eminent jurist and former Attorney-General of India Soli Sorabjee said that India should join the Hague Convention dealing with inter-parental child abduction, which has been signed by over 90 countries globally.

The Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, signed on October 25 in 1980, provides for a mechanism to return a child internationally abducted by a parent from one member country to another.

The signatories to the multilateral treaty include the US and the UK, and there has been a debate over whether India should join it or not.

"India should join the Hague Convention. So, many countries, over 90 of them have signed it. India has not done it, since there are a few notions attached with it. I do not see any reason, why our country should not be a signatory to it," Soli told PTI on the sidelines of an event.

At the panel discussion on -- Reconciling Domestic Violence and Cross Border Removal of Children -- held late evening at the IIC here, Supreme Court judge justice A K Sikri said, a domestic legislation related to the issue was needed first before addressing it through global measures.

"India is a in a state of flux. There is 'India vs Bharat' situation. While the India is shining and prospering, the other part ('Bharat') is still struggling and so there is a wide gulf between the rich and the poor," he said.

The debate on whether India should join the Hague Convention, is "sharply divided", the apex court judge said.

Sikri said in an era of globalisation, the situation is not confined to mere two Indian parents settled abroad. Today there are women, who are earning more than their husbands and there are women, who are not economically capable of meeting challenges resulting out of any domestic violence.

"But, should few cases block our vision and we should not sign the convention? Which aspects should we consider while taking into account the welfare of the child, (in case of marital dispute)," he asked.

Besides Sorbajee, a senior US official and a Chicago- based attorney also pitched for India to join the convention.

"The Hague Convention is not a miracle remedy but it is better than not signing it... We (the US) encourage all countries, including India to join the convention," said Joseph M Pomper, Minister-Counselor for Consular Affairs at the US Embassy here.

US-based lawyer Molshree Sharma, another panelist, said, "India should sign the convention.
The Government Railway Police (GRP) on Wednesday seized 10 gold biscuits weighing 1.6 kg from two persons travelling in the Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express at the Guwahati Railway station here.

During routine checking in the train at Guwahati Railway station this morning, GRP personnel seized the gold biscuits valued at Rs 50 lakh from the two persons travelling from Dimapur in Nagaland to Delhi, GRP Officer-in-Charge Pankaj Kalita told PTI.

The two persons carrying the gold biscuits were apprehended and identified as Ravi from Ghaziabad and Sanjay Sharma from Delhi, Kalita said.

The seized gold was handed over to the Customs Department, the OC added.

Guwahati has emerged as a hub for smuggling of Gold primarily from Myanmar, via Manipur and Mizoram and this is not the first instance of Gold being seized by Assam railway police.

Earlier in May, GRP had seized 20 kg of gold from four people travelling to Delhi by train at the Guwahati station. The gold worth Rs 6 crore was recovered in the Tripura Sundari Express.

Similarly, in April, the railway police had confiscated 15 kg gold bars from New Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express.

(With inputs from PTI)
Clearing the air on media reports that suggested the linking of Aadhaar to bank accounts was not mandatory, the central bank today clarified that such a linkage was mandatory under government laws.

"The Reserve Bank clarifies that, in applicable cases, linkage of Aadhaar number to bank account is mandatory under the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records) Second Amendment Rules, 2017 published in the Official Gazette on June 1, 2017," RBI said in a statement on its website.

"These rules have statutory force and, as such, banks have to implement them without awaiting further instructions," RBI added.

This comes in light of a report in news portal Moneylife, which, based on the Reserve Bank's reply to its Right to Information query, said that the central bank had not mandated linking of the unique 12-digit biometric identity Aadhaar number to bank accounts.

The RBI's clarification thus points to the central government's Gazette Notification GSR 538(E) dated June 1, 2017 under the Prevention of Money laundering (Maintenance of Records) Second Amendment Rules, 2017, mandates every individual "who is eligible to enroll for an Aadhaar number" to submit it, along with a PAN card, to the reporting authority.

"Provided that where an Aadhaar number has not been assigned to a client, the client shall furnish proof of application of enrolment for Aadhaar and in case the Permanent Account Number is not submitted, one certified copy of an 'officially valid document' shall be submitted," the rules say.

Every person who has been allotted PAN as on the 1st day of July shall intimate his Aadhaar number to the tax authorities, a notification from revenue department had said in the June notification.

It had added, "The Central Government or, as the case may be, the State Government may, for the purpose of establishing identity of an individual as a condition for receipt of a subsidy, benefit or service for which the expenditure is incurred from, or the receipt therefrom forms part of, the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI), require that such individual undergo authentication, or furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number..."

This would cover central government schemes and services like MNREGA or issuance of passports. The deadline to do so is December 31.

Earlier, the Centre had made it mandatory for more than 50 centrally-sponsored schemes, even as the Supreme Court restricted usage of Aadhaar for six other schemes where the Centre is providing benefits or subsidy to individuals.

Experts have questioned the legality of the action and have moved the apex court alleging contempt of its orders.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear several linked cases on Aadhaar in November.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday on his first official visit to South Asia, as the world's two biggest democracies look to deepen economic and strategic ties amid China's growing clout.

Tillerson landed in New Delhi on Tuesday night after a day-trip to India's arch rival, Pakistan, which he called an important U.S. ally in the restive region that includes war-torn Afghanistan.

The visit comes a week after Tillerson made a speech in Washington about the United States wanting to "dramatically deepen" cooperation with India which it sees as a key partner in the face of what he considers to be negative Chinese influence in Asia.

"This visit could not come at a more promising time for the U.S.-India partnership, as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of relations between our two countries and look forward to co-hosting the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in (the Indian city of) Hyderabad next month," Alice G. Wells, a senior U.S. state department official, wrote in a blogpost.

Tillerson, who toured India on several occasions as an oil executive before joining President Donald Trump's government this year, was meeting Modi's powerful national security adviser, Ajit Doval, on Wednesday morning.

He will also see his Indian counterpart, Sushma Swaraj, before meeting Modi.

Fast-growing India is already a major market for the United States, with bilateral trade at around $115 billion last year which the countries aim to raise to $500 billion by 2022.

Defence ties are also growing quickly, though U.S. firms such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing offering to set up production lines in India to win deals worth billions of dollars are seeking stronger assurances they won't have to part with proprietary technology.

Trump told Modi during their meeting in June that there was a need for more balance in the U.S.-India trade relationship in keeping with his campaign promise to expand American exports and create more jobs at home. Last year the U.S. trade deficit with India neared $31 billion.

The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) said the recent U.S. outreach to India should be backed by an economic thrust to sustain the upswing in the relationship amid rising Chinese investments in the region, mainly through its massive "Belt and Road" infrastructure project.

"The Chinese investments in the region are peaking and its every strategic move is crafted to realize its agenda to become an economic superpower ...," IACC said in a statement. "India offers a pathway for the U.S. to make its economic presence in the region and to meet the developmental imperatives of the nations in the region."
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has invited US industry majors to invest in his state, positioning it as the logistics and manufacturing hub of India in a post-GST regime offering business-friendly policies.

Chouhan, in a series of meetings with US industry representatives and leaders of the corporate world here has invited them to invest in his state.

"I am not only the Chief Minister, but also CEO (chief executive officer) of Madhya Pradesh. If there is any problem, I try to resolve that immediately. Madhya Pradesh is emerging as an ideal State in India," Chouhan said at a business roundtable organized jointly by the Confederation of Indian Industry and US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

"Come and invest in Madhya Pradesh," he said as he and his team of officials gave a detailed presentation on the investor's friendly policies of the state government.

India, he said is developing at a fast pace.

"There is no policy paralysis ever since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India. Decisions are being taken quickly. There is high growth rate," he said.

With the implementation of GST or goods and services tax, India has become "as one nation, one tax and one market" thus opening up new vistas for the businesses and industry, he said.

And with Madhya Pradesh being centrally located, the state government has quickly formulated policies so as to make it the "logistics and manufacturing" hub of the country.

From food processing to defense manufacturing, the state government has come out with industry specific policies and the first of its kind investment based incentives in a post- GST India, he said.

The availability of skilled manpower and a good law and order, makes Madhya Pradesh an ideal destination for businesses and industries to invest in Madhya Pradesh.

Demonetization has ended black money-based economy in the country.

He said Madhya Pradesh has the highest agricultural growth (averaging 20 per cent) in the country for the last three years and has major defense manufacturing sites already located in the region.

Food processing is one of the focus areas of his government, he said.

In addition, Madhya Pradesh, with its central location and rapid growth, is quickly becoming a leader in rural and urban development for India, he said.

The infrastructure in the state is one of the best, he said, adding that Madhya Pradesh today is surplus in electricity.

In Rewa, he said, world's largest solar power plant is under construction where the electricity would be sold at a record Rs 2.93 per unit, the cheapest in the world.

Referring to his drive from the airport to the city, Chouhan said the roads in Madhya Pradesh seem to be better than that of Washington DC.

In his presentation, Mohammed Suleman, Principal Secretary said that in new GST regime, we are at the best location to take products across the country.

Post GST, Madhya Pradesh would be the most attractive destination for manufacturing in Indiam he said.

Madhya Pradesh, because of its location touches almost 50 per cent of the population of the country, so any facility which is in Madhya Pradesh can easily transport its manufacturing product to the rest of the country.

The Deputy Indian Ambassador to the US, Santosh Jha said Chouhan is leading a state that is increasingly setting the bar, adding that increasingly his experimentations in Madhya Pradesh are becoming national plans.
A special court today deferred hearing in the 2G spectrum scam cases in which former telecom minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi are among the accused.

Special Judge O P Saini, who is exclusively dealing with cases arising out of the 2G spectrum scam, also issued production warrants against Unitech Ltd MD Sanjay Chandra and Bollywood producer Karim Morani, who were absent as they are in judicial custody in other cases.

While Chandra is in Tihar Jail in connection with several cheating cases against his real estate firm Unitech Ltd, Morani is in a Hyderabad jail in a rape case.

The other accused were present in the court.

The court -- which has been hearing the three cases, two filed by the CBI and one by the Enforcement Directorate -- has fixed November 7 as the next date of hearing when it is likely to decide the date of pronouncing the judgement.

In the first case filed by the CBI, those facing trial include Raja and Kanimozhi as well as former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, Raja's erstwhile private secretary R K Chandolia, Swan Telecom promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, Unitech Ltd MD Chandra and three top executives of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (RADAG) -- Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair.

The directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal, Kalaignar TV Director Sharad Kumar and Karim Morani are also accused in the case.

Besides these 14, three telecom firms -- Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd (STPL), Reliance Telecom Ltd and Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Ltd -- are facing trial in the case.

In October 2011, the court framed charges against them under various provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act dealing with offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, faking documents, abusing official position, criminal misconduct by public servant and taking bribe.

In its charge sheet filed in April 2011 against Raja and others, the CBI had alleged that there was a loss of Rs 30,984 crore to the exchequer in the allocation of 122 licences for 2G spectrum which were scrapped by the Supreme Court on February 2, 2012.

The court has recorded the statements of 154 CBI witnesses -- including Anil Ambani, his wife Tina Ambani and former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia -- running into over 4,400 pages.

The offences entail punishment ranging from six months in jail to life imprisonment.

In the second CBI case, those facing trial are Essar Group promoters Ravi Ruia and Anshuman Ruia, Loop Telecom promoters Kiran Khaitan, her husband I P Khaitan and Essar Group Director (Strategy and Planning) Vikash Saraf.

Three firms, Loop Telecom Ltd, Loop Mobile India Ltd and Essar Tele Holding Ltd (ETHL), have also been named in the charge sheet. The ED had filed a charge sheet in April 2014 against 19 people, including Raja, Kanimozhi, Shahid Balwa, Vinod Goenka, Asif Balwa, Rajiv Aggarwal, Karim Morani and Sharad Kumar, in connection with a money laundering case relating to the scam.

In its charge sheet, the ED also named DMK supremo M Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal as an accused in the case, in which it alleged that Rs 200 crore was paid by STPL promoters to DMK-run Kalaignar TV.

The final report named 10 individuals and nine companies as accused in the case. The ED has charge-sheeted them for the offence of money laundering under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Humayun's Tomb is pictured in New Delhi, India August 25, 2016. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi - RC116599D820

The Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has asked for the demolition of Humayuns Tomb in Delhi so that Muslims in the city can get a burial ground for their kins. According to the Board President Waseem Rizwi, the conversion of the tomb into graveyard will be in public interest as it will provide burial space for 100 years.

The letter was written in response to a couple of communication received from the All India Rabta-e-Masajid and Madaris-e-Islamia of Yamuna Vihar to the board. Both the organisations had pointed out that there was no space in burial grounds left in Delhi. They added that there is no other land available which can be used to make a burial ground.

The Delhi-based organisations asked for land around the city which could be used by Muslims of Delhi to bury their deceased loved ones. However, the Waqf board could not find any land available with them, the letter published in India Today said.

The board while suggesting the demolition of the tomb reasoned that "It is not a religious place. It will be considered as a graveyard because of the grave present there." Rizwi further said that Humayun was a Mughal ruler and he, along with others, came to India to loot and torture Indians. Since they were neither propagators of Islam nor were efficient rulers, their tomb cannot be considered a national heritage.

"These Mughals snatched away the kingdoms from the kings, looted them and became the rulers. They extorted the hard-earned earnings of the people by imposing lagaans for several generations, he said.

"The Mughals caused immense harm to India's old culture and traditions. According to historians, the Mughals demolished more than 3,000 temples by misusing their power and rule."

The letter also said that there was no problem with demolishing the monument as "the community to which Humayun belonged does not recognise any tomb." Rizwi further reasoned that the tomb does not result in any financial gains for the government either. On the contrary, a huge amount of money is spent on the upkeep of the monument.
Catalonia appeared to be steering Wednesday towards a head-on clash with Spain, after its separatist leader snubbed senators in Madrid preparing to depose his independence-seeking government.

As pro-secession activists started gathering on the streets of Barcelona, Carles Puigdemont turned down an invitation to state his case before a senate committee Thursday, or a meeting of the full house Friday.

Puigdemont's team sought to shift blame for the stalemate onto Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who said Wednesday that triggering Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, devised to rein in rebel regions, was "the only possible response" to the independence push.

The central government, interpreted a source close to Puigdemont, "has already announced that it will implement Article 155 no matter what".

The worst political crisis in Spain in decades was sparked by a "Yes" vote in a banned October 1 referendum on independence for the semi-autonomous region which accounts for 16 percent of Spain's population and 20 percent of its economic output.

The region of 7.5 million people is fiercely protective of its language and culture and has long struggled for self-determination.

Its inhabitants, however, are deeply divided on independence from Spain, and only about 43 percent of eligible voters -- some 2.3 million -- turned out in a plebiscite that did not meet electoral standards.

Puigdemont subsequently announced, and suspended, a unilateral declaration of independence, prompting Madrid to turn to the never-before-used Article 155. It gives the government ill-defined and untested powers when the country's "general interests" come under threat.

Only two days remain before the senate approves measures stripping Puigdemont and his executive of all political power, and seizing control of Catalonia's institutions and finances.

The measures would come into effect once published in the government gazette on Saturday, and remain in place for up to six months -- until elections are called and a new Catalan parliament sworn in.

On Thursday, the Catalan parliament will have its own sitting to start formulating a response to Madrid.

Some fear the 135-member parliament, in which pro-secessionists hold a majority, may opt to vote to unilaterally carve Catalonia away from Spain.

Another option would be for Puigdemont to call early elections for a new regional government, widely seen as a move that could hold Madrid at arm's length, at least for a while.

Rajoy Wednesday accused independence-seekers of "contempt for our laws, the constitution, Catalonia's status and contempt for millions of Catalan citizens who see that their government has liquidated the law."

As the pressure built, cracks appeared between separatist regional leaders.

Several members of Puigdemont's executive urged elections rather than rebellion at a weekly meeting on Tuesday, a source close to the Catalan leader told AFP.

Other allies, however, will accept nothing less than a unilateral declaration of independence.

Civil society groups, too, piled on the pressure, organising a march on the regional parliament for Wednesday evening to push for an independent Catalan republic.

Committees for the Defence of the Referendum -- civilian groups set up to defend the October 1 vote and now spread out across Catalonia -- called a protest under the banner "No 155, no elections. A republic now."

The groups had mobilised thousands of Catalans to "protect" voting booths against police seeking to break up the October 1 referendum ruled illegal by Spanish courts.

Other groups organising resistance include the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) and Omnium Cultural.

"As from Thursday, we have to be ready and available to mobilise in the streets," Catalan MP Antoni Castella told AFP at an ANC planning meeting.

An anti-independence march is planned for Sunday in Barcelona.

Whatever happens, observers fear the standoff will spark unrest in the northeastern region where tourism numbers have dropped and close to 1,500 companies have removed their legal headquarters since the banned referendum.

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A mistake by Facebook in translating a message led to a man being detained by the Israeli police.

According to a report in The Guardian, a Palestinian man ended up in the Israeli prison after Facebooks machine translation service mistakenly translated his Arabic message that meant good morning to attack them.

The man, who works in the construction sector at West Bank had posted a picture of himself leaning on a bulldozer with an Arabic caption yusbihuhum that means good morning. However, the AI-powered translation service of the social networking company wrongly translated the word. The caption was mistranslated into Hebrew with the meaning attack them.

Alarmed by the wrong translation, Israeli police arrested the man. The man was later questioned by the authorities who feared that he may be planning to carry out an attack on Israeli citizens probably with the aid of the bulldozer. It was only later that the authorities realised their mistake.

Israel which is a prime target for Islamic terrorists has an extensive system to monitor online activities of Palestinian citizens.

Also Read: Facebook to break language barriers with new tool soon

Facebook on its part has stated that it will look into the mistake. The company was quoted saying in a report by Gizmodo that even though our translations are getting better each day, mistakes like these might happen from time to time and weve taken steps to address this particular issue.
The cabinet yesterday took two big ticket decision, one was recapitalisation of banks and two, was an almost Rs 7 lakh crore push for infrastructure, specifically to the road and highways sector.

Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in exclusive interview to CNBC-TV18 explains what one should expect over the next few years as part of highway development programme.

He touched upon various issues related to highway developments  the Bharatmala Project, NHAI awards, electric vehicles, road safety etc.

With regards to Bharatmala Project he said it covers about 60,000 kms of which 35,000 kms is part of Phase I. He said they aim to get this project off the ground by December 2018.

Talking about awards by NHAI, he said he is not satisfied with the award target of 6000 kms but expect a target of 10000 kms by March, 2018.

He is also confident of closing the current financial year at 30 km per day and expect to hit 40 km per day by end of next financial year.

He is confident that there would be no problem of raising funds from the market to fund various projects because many pension funds, insurance funds and foreign investors have shown interest.

The Bharatmala Project would be funded via CRF funds, budgetary allocations and monetisatin of projects, he said.

NHAI bonds could be one of way of raising funds, said Gadkari adding that he is confident of raising Rs 5 lakh crore via these bonds because NHAI projects are economically viable and has a AAA rating.

He said further clarity on NHAI bond issue would come in one months' time.

Below is the verbatim transcript of the interview.

Q: It is almost Rs 7 lakh crore over the next five years and Bharatmala is only aspect of this overarching highway development programme that got the cabinet clearance. If you can specify for us, in terms of award, how soon can we actually expect some of these road projects to be awarded out and what can be expected at least as far as the first year is concerned?

A: Actually, total Bharatmala project is for 60,000 km, out of which first phase of 35,00036,000 km, that cost involved is Rs 8 lakh crore. Now, this is the first phase out of which already, for 25,000 km, we have already prepared the detailed project report (DPR) and for 9,000 km we have already ordered DPR for that. So today, some of the projects we are in position that we can start. And now, my target is before December, 2018, at any cost -- it is my target and not commitment, at any cost, we want to start this project of Rs 7 lakh crore before December, 2018. And whatever the target which I declared, my track record is 100 percent clear that always I am in position to fulfil that.

Q: But if I can ask you to give us a little more colour on the numbers. You are saying that your target is to get this off the ground by December, 2018. Now as part of the first phase of Bharatmala is concerned, I ask you this because a lot of analysts have raised the concern that yes, a lot of these projects are at the DPR stage, but from the DPR stage to the actual process of the execution starting on the ground, it could take at least a year, if not more. So, what should we realistically then expect?

A: This is not a correct perception. I am giving you an example. In 2011-2012, the award for road construction was 2,000 km and 2015-2016 it was 16,000 km. So it is eight times more. It means that the land acquisition, utility shifting, all the problems are eight times more. So today, there is no problem about land acquisition, out of which the 25,000 km DPR which is ready now, some of the projects we have started land acquisition. So I am confident that before 2018, 100 percent project we will start.

At the same time, different schemes are going on and under that scheme also, we are expecting the investment of Rs 6 lakh crore. So that is also part of the project, but it is difficult for me to make commitment about that projects. Again, one thing which I will tell you, because of this decision of cabinet, it is not only for Bharatmala. Here is a decision for division of work and decentralisation of power. The first time the cabinet has cleared and given more powers to NHAI. My Chairman and my team is working very fast and if compared with the previous track record, the record is good. So for this year, I am expecting the track record from them about the award of road construction of 10,000 km.

Q: From NHAI?

A: Yes.

Q: You are saying 10,000 this year from NHAI?

A: Yes, up to the end of March and I am confident that they are fully capable that they can award 10,000 km of road construction.

Q: Because the number that we were working with was between 5,000 km and 6,500 km. That was the expected rate as far as the awards from NHAI is concerned. You are saying it could be 10,000 km.

A: NHAI Chairman and my secretary is always giving me this 6,500 km, but I am not satisfied on that.

Q: You are not satisfied?

A: I said no, you have to do 10,000 km. And now, the way in which the power is delegated to NHAI, I feel that our Chairman and his team is in the position to go up to 10,000 km.

Q: We often get lost in big numbers, Rs 7 lakh crore, 25,000 km, 84,000 km and so on and so forth. So let me, for the sake of simplicity, break this down in terms of what it is going to come down to eventually when we talk about execution on the ground on a daily basis. Currently, we are doing about 24-30 km a day. If we want to achieve the 84,000 km target that you have set out as part of this scheme that the cabinet has approved, it means doing 40 plus km everyday. You believe that that is doable, that is achievable?

A: First of all, I am not talking about 84,000 km, I have never commited to this target. But, I will assure you one thing. At the end of March, for this year, we will be, as long as we will complete the target of 30 km per day, more than that, I am trying for that. Last year, it was 23 km per day and the next year, 100 percent I am confident we will be more than 40 km per day.

Q: You are saying you will close this financial year at more than 30 km a day?

A: Yes. One thing I am telling you very frankly and fairly. You just check my track record from last three years when I became a minister. I am not a minister. Whatever I declare, I always fulfil that. So you record it and after March you can ask me. At the same time, at the end of March, my target, I am not talking about my commitment, it is my target, more than 30 km per day and at the end of next year, March, it will be more than 40 km per day. And for that purpose, I always make persuasion, follow up and I solve the problems.

There is a lot of problems with land acquisition, environmental clearances. I always follow up, take meetings for that and by the cooperation of the state government and my all cooperative colleagues, I am very much confident about their capability and we are in position to complete that target.

Q: Since we are talking about targets, to achieve that target, what about the funding? When we talk about this almost Rs 7 lakh crore, it is about Rs 1.41 lakh crore, that is the budgetary support that totally you get.

A: No, I do not have the exact report, but when we prepared the project of Bharatmala, from eight months we are working on that and here there is a financial model. One is budgetary provisions that we have. Second is from Central Road Funds (CRF). Third is from monetisation. Now first we have already tendered the first project of toll-operate-transfer (TOT) of Rs 6,000 crore is in tender. So we have the project where we get more than Rs 1.25 lakh crore. There are lot of projects with us now on TOT.

Q: That is what you hope to monetise?

A: TOT, yes. The third thing is, already government has given permission to raise the Rs 70,000 crore from the market out of which we have raised Rs 15,000-16,000 crore -- Rs 3,000 crore in London Stock Exchange, Rs 8,000 crore LIC and now, I am confident that there is no problem. We can raise it from Indian market. NHAI's rating is AAA. At the same time, we have a lot of offers from pension funds, insurance funds, foreign investors.

But now, my feeling is in such an economic situation, for the road construction in the country, we should encourage the investment from the common man, the service people, the journalists, the teachers, the labourers and government servants. These small people, they are investing their money in some chit funds and other things. Now the bank rate is reduced. So my idea is we can give them 1-1.5 percent more interest than banks and we can go for bonds. And now we have appointed a consultant.

Q: So NHAI bonds?

A: Yes, but NHAI is an authority. So that is why we appointed a financial consultant by which we can make a special vehicle which is guaranteed by NHAI. We will go for capital market, we raise the fund from the common people and after their retirement, 10-15 years, we will give them interest more than banks, more than chit funds and that will be a secured scheme for the poor people, the service people of India. At the same time, their contribution for making of great infrastructure in the country.

Q: So when do you hope to launch these infrastructure bonds?

A: I am just waiting for the consultant reports for NHAI. We have already appointed him. After his report, we will decide.

Q: Is it likely to happen within this financial year or do you believe that you will have to wait for the next financial year?

A: Within a month.

Q: Within a month you will get the report?

A: Yes. You know our track record. At the time of Cochin Shipyard, our need was Rs 1,650 crore. We have received 76 times oversubscribed, Rs 1.26 lakh crore, 76 times oversubscribed. So that is the credibility of our department, our corporation, our authority in the mind of the people of India. So I am confident that the poor people, the middle class people, the service class people will respond to me and by which we can raise the fund from the market. And my interest is by making this infrastructure, I want to transfer this benefit to the poor people, the service class people of this country where I assure them to give them 10-15 years interest more than banks.

Q: What is the kind of money that we are talking about? What is the quantum that you are expected to raise?

A: I do not want to declare that amount.

Q: Ballpark? What are you working with?

A: It can go to Rs 3 lakh crore, Rs 5 lakh crore I can raise it, because it is a need for me. My projects are economically viable, my internal rate of return (IRR) is good, my rating is AAA. Now one of the company is now making the rating of NHAI, reputed company, so we do not have any problem. We are in a position that we can get that much money from the capital market.

Q: So the Finance Minister said that the bank recap bonds, we should have clarity on that by December. Are you saying that perhaps even as far as the infrastructure, I am using the word infrastructure loosely, the infrastructure bonds that you are talking about, perhaps will coincide with that?

A: No that is the different bonds. Actually, the bank sector is now the way in which the Finance Minister has already declared the package related to the banking sector. I am only talking about limited with infrastructure. My limited response is related with road sector, shipping, ports, inland waterways and now, I am related with the Ganga, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, even I am working on that river connectivity and at any cost, within three months I am going to start three major projects related to the river connectivity where the investment is more than Rs 80,000 crore. So, for that purpose, the National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development (NABARD) is the agency where we can get the fund. But in NHAI, we do not have any problem.

Q: I just want to come back to that target that you said that you are not satisified with 6,500 km, you would like to close the year with 10,000 km. If I look at the project execution by NHAI, it is expected to reach 3,000 odd km in 2017-2018 and over 3,500 km in the next fiscal. So how do you see this from about 3,500-4,000 km?

A: You are talking about the targets given by the administration, the bureaucracy. I am the minister. I am going to decide.

Q: But the bureaucracy has to deliver.

A: 100 percent. I will see that they will deliver. It is my responsibility. It is my task and I know how to get it done. I will make up the process fast, fast track decision making process. Now I am giving, already we have sanctioned, giving more power to NHAI and related to the land acquisition problem, I am always in contact with all the Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries, I am calling meetings, making persuasions and whatever the problems for them, I am responsible for that. I will push them, I will support them, I will cooperate with them and at the same time, I am confident that they have the capability and we can do it and we can achieve our goal.

I am giving you one example.When I was talking about when there was 2 km per day road construction, I was talking about 15-18 km, no one was in position. No one was expected from me that we will achieve the goal of 20 km more because it is a track record. Even from independence, the way in which the road, it is a track record and Bharatmala is the first infrastructure project, big project, first time in the history of our country, launched by our government under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, no one was confident about it. But now, we are now going up to 30 km per day. So, there is some maybe gap because target and getting the result, performance, there is a gap. But I am sure.

Now I am telling you about the history of award. Now, the award this year, we want to cross 20,000 km more award for this year. There are some problems because rainy season, land acquisition, we are making the law very strictly about land acquisition must be more than 80 percent. There is a lot of appointment, that financial closure from the bank, there is a problem. But still, I always have a persuasion of 1-2 projects, I am always taking review. I always find out where is the problem and my always positive attitude for helping NHAI people, ministry people, and if the problem is not solving on their level, then I intervene and I take the responsibility, I pursue it and we solve it.

Q: Two quick questions, one related to NHAI - possibility of an IPO, is that still something that you are pushing forward with because we understand that there were some issues that had cropped up. So, NHAI IPO, is that likely to be on the cards?

A: I am trying my level best to go to capital markets within a month. We are waiting for the report from financial consultant. The Prime Minister already has given us a direction to register all corporations in the stock exchange. However NHAI is a authority so there are some legal problems. So, on that basis there are some suggestions, we can make some special vehicle for that with NHAI and then we can go for the capital market which is backed up by NHAI. However I don't know what is the solution. After the financial consultant gives us the report on that, we will decide and we will go for the capital market.

Q: Let me move away from roads and highways to talk about the other ambitious target that you have set and that has to do with the electrification plan that you have put forward by 2030. You were very clear when you spoke at SIAM that come hell or high water, you will move to electric vehicles by 2030. You also said that by the end of the year you hopped to take the electric vehicle policy to cabinet, where do things stand now as far as the EV's policy is concerned?

A: Our automobile sector is very important sector. Automobile sector export is Rs 1,45,000 crore and this is an industry of capital investment of Rs 4,50,000 crore. This is an industry which is giving maximum jobs to the youth of this country.

I am not against petrol and diesel and other things but the country is facing serious problem related with pollution. Pollution is a big problem for the common man from health point of view. You know the Delhi pollution situation and now Mumbai is on that way, Bengaluru is on that way, traffic jam, air pollution, water pollution, it is a big concern.

So, second thing which is important is import substitute, cost effective, pollution free and indigenous technology.

Today because of my persuasion we have electric auto rickshaw, e-rickshaw, then we have electric bus. In Mumbai the city bus service BEST, their cost per kilometre is Rs 110. In electric air conditioned bus their cost is Rs 65-70 per kilometre. The London transport model is the ideal model.

In transport ministry we just decided to give all presentations from London transport system where 9 operators are there. On the basis of that I appeal to all the transport ministers that you can use electric buses, you can use ethanol buses.

In due course of time, a bike is going to be launched in the country which is on flex engine, 100 percent on bio ethanol or petrol. Now within two months a bike is going to be launched on 100 percent electric.

Lot of people have already started manufacturing of electric cars and electric buses are available. Now when the number increases it is going to reduce the cost of the vehicle.

Q: Are you still that by 2030 we will be only electric or are you saying that there is room for the combustion engine to also coexists?

A: When you get benefits, when cost effectiveness is there - suppose you have a car and your petrol consumption is suppose Rs 8000 per month and by taking electric car of the same cost, your consumption comes down to Rs 1500 or Rs 2000 then you don't need any advice from anybody, you will purchase it. Also the maintenance cost is very less. So, that is the reason that people will accept it.

Q: So, you are saying the market will determine, the government is not saying that they will phase out or ban the use of petrol and diesel vehicles?

A: In a convention some of the leading speaker was telling, the government should be clear, it should give a clear direction to the policy. Tell us what is the government plan on this? I said, we don't want to encourage petrol and diesel cars, we want to encourage all our motor transport on basis of ethanol, bio-diesel, bio-CNG, electric and alternative fuel and we are very much concerned about pollution.

The second thing is it is cost effective, pollution free, import substitute and indigenous.

Third thing, in Ganga we have 97 projects for water recycling and 55 state government projects where we are going to improve that project and again recycle the water. In these 150 projects I have received an offer from a consultant that he can collect methane from that material and bifurcate methane from CO2 and we get bio-CNG. So, I am talking with the petroleum ministry and IGL that you come and take all the bio-CNG and give it to the people in that area. It is import substitute, cost effective, pollution free and it is indigenous.

Q: When do you move cabinet with the electric vehicle policy?

A: It is not my responsibility. NITI Aayog has already started it, they have taken my advice, they have taken the advice of other ministries and now they are submitting their proposal for electric vehicles to the cabinet and then it will be decided by the cabinet.

Q: Are you going to be asking the finance minister for more budgetary support and to the tune of what?

A: BharatMala is a good project but still there is no promise from finance minister. I request him to increase our budgetary support.

Q: How much more would you like?

A: The way in which we are developing the infrastructure, it is the dream of new India of our Prime Minister, we are developing the road sector and started when it was 96000 kilometer to 200000 kilometer of national highway, making 12 express highways, converting four lane into six lane, six lane into eight lane, two lane into four lane. So, we need too much support from the finance minister. I don't want to quote what I am demanding for that. However I am in contact with the finance minister.

Our finance minister is very clear that he wants to support infrastructural development. From the first day he has always insisted on development of infrastructure. I am expecting a good support from him.

Q: On account of GST what has been the impact as far as the sectors that you handle are concerned, what is the feedback that you have got coming in from industry because at this point in time we do know that a review is underway, whether rate rationalisation is the need of the hour etc, what is the recommendations that you perhaps would be putting forward when it comes to GST implementation?

A: In my ministry one meeting was organised with the shipping sector, with the finance secretary and lot of issues he solved. Now related with the road construction contractors, there are some reservations, grievances are there. The investors, contractors, stakeholders they are meeting me. There are some legitimate and genuine problems, we are going to organise a meeting with the finance secretary.

Q: Is it only related to the GST rate that they fall under or other issues are also there?

A: There are issues regarding the procedure, regarding taxes.

Q: Have the cost of projects gone up on account of the GST?

A: Yes and that is my concern.

Q: What is the escalation?

A: There are lot of different type of interpretations. The stakeholders in the sector, they have lot of concern with GST. The Prime Minister has already given direction to all of us that in your ministry if there is some problem with the GST, you call the finance secretary and have communication and cooperation between the stakeholders and the finance ministry. Since this is the first time we are launching GST, these are the teething troubles. I am confident that in our meeting with the finance secretary we will be in a position to solve all the issues related with GST.

Q: A lot of what comes under your portfolio and your various ministries, it is going to be responsible for providing the fillip to the economy since we are talking about getting back to the high growth trajectory of 8 percent plus growth. Do you feel confident now that perhaps towards the end of the year - are you seeing visible signs of things picking up on the ground and what is going to be the priority as far as you are concerned?

A: When I took charge as the minister I fixed my target for five years. At the end of five years my all ministries we will contribute 2-3 percent to GDP growth. Second target was creating employment potential for 1 crore youth of this country. Third target is, presently every year we have 150000 deaths on the road, out of which 36 percent of accidents are on national highway. So, at any cost my mission is to save the life of the people. Constructing more roads is priority for me but more than that my priority is how I can save the life of people. So, to reduce the death rate in accidents from 150000 we will try our best to make it 50 percent less. So, these are the three targets for me.

Fortunately or unfortunately whatever target I decided always I am in position to achieve my goal. Let us try, I am confident that regarding these three sectors my target is very clear, very transparent. My all colleagues, my secretaries, my chairman and myself are all working hard and with team spirit and cooperation of all of us it is not only my success, it is the success of a team. So, with cooperation of all stakeholders in my department definitely I will be in a position to complete this target.

One more target is there, in my road sector, shipping sector I had decided for investment of Rs 25 lakh crore. I am confident that at the end of December 2018 or somewhere before election, when we will complete five years, I will be in position where my ministry will contribute Rs 25 lakh crore of investment in the sector, 2-3 percent addition of growth rate for GDP, at the same time creating 1 crore jobs and reduce the accident deaths by 50 percent. These are the four targets for me. My team and I are working day and night for that. I am confident that with the help of all the sectors, all the stakeholders, we will be in position to complete this dream.
Fans of Tamil actor and director Kamal Haasan pour milk on his life-sized cardboard cut-out to celebrate the release of his new movie "Vishwaroopam" in the southern Indian city of Chennai February 7, 2013. The controversial film opened in cinemas in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu on Thursday, nearly two weeks after its scheduled release was put on hold by the state government after Muslim groups protested over the film's alleged depiction of the community in a negative light. REUTERS/Babu (INDIA - Tags: RELIGION POLITICS ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - GM1E9271H0B01

The Madras High Court on Tuesday has disallowed use of photographs or pictures of living persons in banners, flex boards and signboards across the state, reports the Indian Express.

Not only hoardings of living persons but also hoardings of the person(s) who have sponsored those hoardings "shall not be depicted."

In a directive to the State Chief Secretary, the Court has said that the authorities who give the permission to erect the hoardings should ensure that it should not be of those who are alive.

The Secretary will also have to ensure that the Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959 provisions are complied with henceforth. The official is required to send a circular regarding this order to all the concerning parties which include the panchayat union, municipalities and city's corporation units.

Justice S Vaidyanathan issued the order based on a petition filed by a Chennai resident B Thirulochana Kumari who had asked the court to direct the city's Corporation unit and police commissioner to remove the political party hoardings which were put up in front of her property.

She had submitted the plea in April when the party flag was put up. When the resident had objected she claimed to be threatened by the party workers. Later, she approached the Chennai Corporation and the Arumbakkam police station, where the police refused to file her complaint.

After the flag was removed, a signboard and a party flag were put up at the same spot. The resident again approached the police where she said that they warned her that a case under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act will be registered against her.

During the hearing the concerning parties - the city's corporation unit and the government departments - said that they will remove the hoardings from the resident's property.
President Donald Trump will skip a key Asia summit at the end of his trip to the region next month.

The White House said yesterday that Trump will be returning to the United States on Nov 14, which is the same day as the East Asia Summit (EAS) in the Philippines. Trump is slated to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, which is also in the Philippines, the day before but he will not stay the extra day.

Another US delegation that will attend the EAS, which will include more than a dozen Asian nations as well as Australia, New Zealand and Russia. The White House did not give a reason as to Trump's absence.

The Philippines will be the final stop of Trump's 12-day, five-nation trip his first to Asia. The trip is expected to be dominated by Trump demanding that American allies in the region increase pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.

But for all of President Trump's overheated talk about North Korea's Kim Jung Un and the country's nuclear program, Trump will likely not make the customary presidential visit to the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea known as the Demilitarised Zone.

Trump has derided Kim as "Little Rocket Man" and threatened to unleash "fire and fury" on Pyongyang if its leaders do not abandon the weapons program.

If Trump doesn't go while in South Korea, he would be breaking from recent presidential custom. All presidents but one since Ronald Reagan have visited the DMZ, which has separated the North and South for 64 years.

He will also advocate American economic interests during his trip, which include stops in Japan and China before travelling to Vietnam for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings.

The trip will conclude in the Philippines, where the president is slated to meet with President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been accused of human rights abuses, including killing suspected drug dealers. The White House said Trump could raise concerns about the program.

The Washington Post first reported Trump decision's to skip the East Asia Summit, which mostly focuses on general strategic issues rather than the economic matters at APEC. The White House said Trump may attend some meetings related to the East Asia Summit before the gathering officially begins.
President Donald Trump's four- month worldwide ban on refugees ended today, officials said, as his administration prepared to unveil tougher new screening procedures.

Under an executive order Trump signed earlier this year, the United States had temporarily halted admissions for refugees from all countries, with some exceptions.

The end-date written into the order came and went today with no new order from Trump to extend it, according to a State Department official, who wasn't authorised to comment by name and requested anonymity.

Refugees seeking entry to the US will face what officials described as more stringent and thorough examination of their backgrounds, in line with Trump's "extreme vetting" policy for immigrants.

The Homeland Security Department, the State Department and other US agencies have been reviewing the screening process during the temporary ban.

The new screening procedures were to be announced later today. It was unclear exactly what measures would be added, but in the past, officials have spoken about examining applicants' social media posts and other investigative measures to identify those who may sympathize with extremists or pose a national security risk to the United States.

Refugees already face an extensive backlog and waiting periods that can take years. Any additional screening would likely extend the timeline.

Even with the ban lifted, refugee admissions are expected to be far lower than in recent years. Last month, Trump capped refugee admissions at 45,000 for the fiscal year that started October 1, a cut of more than half from the 110,000 limit put in place the year earlier by President Barack Obama. And the actual number admitted this year could be far lower than Trump's 45,000 cap, which sets a maximum but not a minimum.

The refugee restrictions were in addition to Trump's broader "travel ban" on people from several countries. Courts have repeatedly blocked that policy, but largely left the temporary refugee policy in place.

Trump has made limiting immigration the centerpiece of his policy agenda. In addition to the travel ban, which initially targeted a handful of Muslim-majority nations, the president rescinded an Obama-era executive action protecting young immigrants from deportation and vowed to build a wall along the southern border with Mexico.

During his presidential campaign, Trump pledged to "stop the massive inflow of refugees" and warned that terrorists were smuggling themselves into naive countries by posing as refugees fleeing war-torn Syria.

"Thousands of refugees are being admitted with no way to screen them and are instantly made eligible for welfare and free health care, even as our own veterans, our great, great veterans, die while they're waiting online for medical care that they desperately need," Trump said last October.

Instead, Trump has advocated keeping refugees closer to their homes.

The end of the ban comes amid an alarming refugee crisis in Myanmar, where security forces in August began what human rights groups have called a scorched-earth campaign against villages inhabited by Rohingya Muslims. More than 600,000 Rohingya from northern Rakhine State have fled to Bangladesh.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said that the Skill Development Department should ensure 20 lakh jobs by 2022.

Presiding over the second meeting of Jharkhand Skill Development Mission Society here, Das called for ensuring the goal, an official release said here.

Higher Education and Skill Development Department Secretary Ajay Kumar Singh said that out of the 71,400 youth skilled this year, 14,618 have been employed by different institutions and many others have been connected with employment.

They have been provided loan from MUDRA, PMEGP etc, the release said.

The Chief Minister said that big malls, schools and hospitals are coming up in the state and training should be given, keeping this in view.

Das directed that the children of 6.5 lakh building construction workers should be connected with education.
In a blunt statement, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told the Pakistani leadership that they must increase efforts to eradicate terrorists operating within the country.

This is Tillersons first visit to the country after US President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorist groups.

During his meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Tillerson discussed the bilateral cooperation and partnership, expanding economic ties between the US and Pakistan, and Pakistans critical role in the region.
Q12. The development of the "short-link" radio technology was initiated in 1989 by Nils Rydbeck, CTO at Ericsson Mobile in Lund, Sweden and Johan Ullman. What was it later called?

The Delhi High Court allowed telecom major Ericsson's plea seeking to constitute a 'confidential club' to ensure limited access to the documents in its ongoing patent tussle with Chinese handset maker Xiaomi.

The high court said there was no impediment if the confidential club was created and access to the documents would be limited by adopting an eight-point procedure.

"The law... furthers the argument of the plaintiff (Ericsson) that such confidential club though can be created but the access to information may be restricted, especially in patent cases," Justice Yogesh Khanna said.

The court's order came on Ericsson's application that such confidentiality clubs have been constituted even in the past in cases involving patents and trademarks and in disputes involving fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) issues.

The application was filed by Ericsson in a pending suit for permanent injunction against Xiaomi seeking to restrain it alleging violation and infringement of its various patents.

Ericsson's counsel had argued that it was legitimate for the courts to constitute a confidentiality club to ensure that the sanctity and confidentiality of business and commercially sensitive information, filed by a party, is maintained.

Though Xiaomi Technology was not averse to constitution of such a confidentiality club, it said it should be made a party to such a club or granted access to the information.

The eight-point procedure to be adopted includes that all confidential license agreements relating to similarly placed parties be permitted to be filed in a sealed cover and kept in the safe custody of the registrar general of the high court.

"Each party be directed to provide on an affidavit, a list of no more than five lawyers (who are not and have not been in-house lawyers of one of the parties) and no more than three external expert witnesses, who alone will be entitled to see the aforesaid confidential documents/patent license agreements," it said.

The court said those lawyers and expert witnesses will be bound by its confidentiality orders and not make copies or disclose the contents of the confidential documents/patent license agreements to anyone else, including in other legal proceedings, communications to the press and blog publications so that the spirit of confidentiality regime is preserved.

The court said the parties will be allowed to inspect the patent license agreements only through the confidentiality club members and no copies will be made of such confidential documents or license agreements.

"The parties would give copies of the confidential documents/patent license agreements to the members of the confidentiality club only after redacting the confidential information including the name of the parties. However, the rates/products will not be redacted," it said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for a meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart Maithripala Sirisena at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia March 23, 2017. REUTERS/Kirill Kudryavtsev/Pool - RTX32D9E

Russia is all set to test Satan 2 ballistic missile that could carry payload large enough to wipe out an area as large as France.

According to a report by Daily mail, RS-28 Sarmat which is better known by its NATO nickname Satan 2 is a next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile that the Russian military claims can beat any defence and is capable of wiping out whole countries.

The report also indicated that while initial trials will be carried out in the coming months at Plesetsk testing ground in Western Russia, the weapon will be operational only around by 2019-2020.

The missile is estimated to have a range of 10,000 kilometres with a capacity to travel at a speed of 7 km per second. Sources have claimed that missile could carry warheads that weigh around 40 megatons i.e. 2000 times powerful than the atomic bombs that exploded over Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Television channel Zvezda was quoted in the report by Daily Mail claiming that the missile can 'wipe out UK, France or Texas'.

The project was initially conceived by Russian authorities in 2009 but met several hurdles including failure in the initial stages.

Also Read: US slams Russia for vetoing UN resolution on chemical weapons

Russia is implementing a re-armament program of over Rs 42 lakh crore in an effort to beef up its military strength. While the range and power of the missile itself should be a cause for worry, the fact that it is capable of carrying Object 4202 - a hypersonic warhead, further raises concerns.
When Pizza Hut introduced the stuffed crust Pizza in 1995, they oddly turned to a celebrity from Britain to introduce this concept to the American public. The related ad sees him attempting to reunite The Boys as he keeps calling them throughout the ad in celebration of this new development in pizza, only for a mix up to result in the arrival of the 3 band members from the US band Monkees. Weirdly, he had never eaten a slice of Pizza in real life due to severe allergies to onion, garlic and spices and can be glimpsed at the very end of the ad trying very hard not to actually insert a slice of the pizza in his mouth. Who is he?

Famous restaurant chain Pizza Hut was forced to apologise for an advertisement that allegedly insulted people with a stammering problem.

As per a report on BBC, the issue started after Pizza Hut Saudi Arabia posted an advertisement on its Twitter account. The tweet which appeared on International Stammering Awareness Day gave information about new offers, but the tweet that was in Arabic was filled with repeated letters and syllables.

Soon Twitter users started to criticise the advertisement which was apparently mocking people with stuttering issues on a day that was meant for supporting people with the problem. And soon, a hashtag written in Arabic calling for a boycott of the restaurant chain was being widely used on social networking site.

Later authorities also took notice of the offensive advertisement. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Trade and Investment posted the screenshot of the controversial advertisement on its Twitter account and stated that the advertisement was a violation of its rules. It also promised to take proper action against the company.

(Source: @ SaudiMCI, Twitter)

The restaurant chain soon took action to resolve the issue. The company deleted the advertisement and posted a tweet that apologised for the earlier tweet. In the new tweet that was also in Arabic the company also assured to take action against those who were behind the irresponsible tweet.

Source: @ PizzaHut_Saudi, Twitter

This is not the first time that the company has had its run in with controversy for its insensitive advertisements. Earlier the company was criticised in Israel after an ad that allegedly mocked Palestinian activists who were carrying out hunger strikes inside prisons.
The North Korean foreign minister's warning of a possible atmospheric nuclear test over the Pacific Ocean should be taken literally, a senior North Korean official told CNN in an interview aired on Wednesday.

"The foreign minister is very well aware of the intentions of our supreme leader, so I think you should take his words literally," Ri Yong Pil, a senior diplomat in North Korea's Foreign Ministry, told CNN during the interview.

North Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Yong Ho said in September that Pyongyang may consider conducting "the most powerful detonation" of a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean amid rising tensions with the United States.

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Education

Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu.

Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu.

Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events:

International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu.

EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu.

Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale  an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s  will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets  June Homecoming: Participant  $18 per person; Sustainer  $25 per person; Benefactor  $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler  Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events:

SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available  for information call 610-275-1960

Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above)

SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m.

Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.  4 p.m.  computers are available during those hours.

Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863.

Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376.

Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com.

The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes:

Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at

other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020.

CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313.

The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events:

Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m.

Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30.

Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301.

For Kids & Families

The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443.

Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950.

Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required.

The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950.

Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus.

Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage.

Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun.

Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train.

Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world!

Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class.

Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org.

Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583.

Community Events at the Ambler Y:

-YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register.

Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org.

Health

Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot.

The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information.

Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245.

Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net.

Spring Aquatic Programs  UDHS Pool:

-Summer is just around the corner  Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required.

 Shallow Water Aerobics  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR.

 Adult Swim Instructions  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR

-Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21.

-Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday  Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m.

-Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons.

-Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates.

Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994.

SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com.

Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org.

Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs:

FITNESS CLASSES

Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month.

Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30  9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000.

Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30  7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047.

New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.  12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30  4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931.

Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325.

Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes.

Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com.

Librarytalk

Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744

www.upperdublinlibrary.org

APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS:

Storytimes: Please register in the library.

o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m.

o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m.

o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m.

o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6.

APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS:

North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee

APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS:

NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org.

One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register  contact info above.

Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744.

o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register.

Meetings:

Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m.

Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m.

Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org.

For children and teens at Blue Bell:

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m.

* May 14  Despicable Me

* June 11  Alpha and Omega

* Special Events

* April  watch for date of spring/Easter events

* April 14 at 4:30 p.m.  Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children.

* April 14 at 7 p.m.  Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided.

* April 16 at 1 p.m.  Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King.

* April 16 at 1:30 p.m.  Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes?

* April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button.

* April 30 through May 3  Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults.

* May  sign up for Science in the Summer

* June  sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children

* June  sign up for Summer Reading, all ages

For adults at Blue Bell:

* Daytime Book Discussion Group  fourth Tuesday, Jan  April at 1:30 p.m.

* April 26  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Night-time Book Discussion Group  third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

o April 19  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges

o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked?

*Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs

* Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class.

* Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class.

* Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m.

* Giant Book Sale, April 29  May 3

o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults!

o Held during library hours.

o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m.

o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join.

* Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series

o May 11 at 1 p.m.  Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society

* Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room.

* Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read.

* Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome.

* Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome.

*Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older.

* Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours

* Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours

* Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday!

Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library.

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* For adults:

* Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn.

* Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net

* Special Events:

* April 14 at 1:30 p.m.  Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian.

* April 19 at 7 p.m.  Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m.

* April 21 at 7 p.m.  Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades.

*May 2 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

*May 10  Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*May 12 at 1:30p.m.  Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman.

*May 17  Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*June 13 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

Meetings and Lectures

The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833.

The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200.

The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/.

LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings.

Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org.

Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org)

-Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them.

The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter.

For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps.

Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin.

Special Events

The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County.

The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065.

Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members.

Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex.

The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com.

The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348.

The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org.

Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163.

The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu.

The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com.

The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net.

Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages.

13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries.

Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family.

The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler.

JPRN  Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them  Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike.

Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies.

Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately.

Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways.

Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table.

Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp  Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall:

-Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store.

Music and Theater

The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220.

Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html.

Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free.

The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org

Religious News

The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276.

Reunions

St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net.

Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572.

Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779.

Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net

Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net

The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411.

Support

New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149.

PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931.

The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296.

Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656.

Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group  every other Wednesday, 7  8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support  second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner  Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers  Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information.

CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7  8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich,
State officials announce $2.85M for new police station in Upper Moreland
Headed Home (Friday)

Friday was a bittersweet day. It was the day I began my journey home. Its sweet because Im looking forward to getting home. Its bitter because there is still so much work to do. While Baptists on Mission have done an amazing amount of work, the devastation on Big Pine Key and a couple of nearby Keys is significant. So much property and so many lives need rebuilding, and it will take a long time to complete.

Its only been six weeks since Irma made landfall in Florida. Yet, very little is being said about now. We live in such a fast news cycle that other issues and disasters have taken over our attention. Thats unfortunate. Those affected by Irma will be rebuilding for quite some time. Many of them are just now getting the damage cleared from around their homes. A huge amount of debris has not even been removed. This is typical of disasters. People quickly engage in the news story and just as quickly disengage for other news. Resources are mobilized in the weeks after a disaster but much of the work will be done in the months that follow. About this time last year, floods swept through the Lumberton area and a number of families are still rebuilding. While numbers never tell the whole story, they can provide context. My last evening in the Keys, the site commander reported over 270 requests for assistance. Of that, 104 had been completed. The rest were waiting to be assessed or included some type of recovery work that Baptists on Mission could not complete. Those numbers will only increase, because the number of homes impacted is much greater. Baptists on Mission will need volunteers, equipment and funding for months to come.

During my week in the Keys, I made contact with 55 victims, each contact lasting twenty to more than ninety minutes. Some contacts led to follow-up for folks who were struggling. Almost all of these individuals allowed me to pray with them and give them a New Testament. Because of some special donations, I was also able to support a number of them with gift cards for Winn-Dixie and Home Depot. I also checked in with the recovery crews, making sure they were doing well physically and emotionally. During the week I visited with 123 volunteers. A final number I wanted to share is 2,552. Thats how many miles I drove during the week. Time for a tire rotation and oil change!

It would be impossible to recognize and thank all of the volunteers who provided disaster relief during the week. This type of effort truly embodies Pauls analogy of the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12. Over 80 people brought differing giftedness, interests and passions to recovery; so many members making up a single recovery body. There were several recovery teams, a feeding team, damage assessors, a laundry team, skid-steer drivers, a laundry team, chainsaw workers, an administration team handling volunteers, logistics, chaplains, a shower trailer team, command center administration, and a site commander  and everybody mattered. I cannot forget the good people of Fifth Street Baptist Church of Key West, who allowed us use of their church.

There were so many highlights from the week. It was great to see Janet go from a hopeless and emotional state to working side-by-side with the recovery crew on her home. It was refreshing to meet LaVerne, Demetrius and Megan, and find a steadfast faith in the midst of so much devastation to their property. I appreciated the kindness of Sam and his team from New Horizons Fellowship. They were great to work with on the Keys, and then they adopted me for a portion of the journey home. One of Sams team, Lee, kept me in stitches. All of Sams team treated me like one of their own. Sam and I had some great conversations about faith and church. I enjoyed Rays sense of humor, but was far more grateful for how hard he worked on logistics. From laundry supplies to equipment repairs, he took care of it all. Bill and Carolyn felt like family. Bill kept me engaged with stories, while Carolyn always greeted me with a smile and a hug. They are such caring people. Grady always sought out the heart of the disaster victims he was there to serve. He was a model for being loving and caring. Carey was a soft-spoken site commander, but steady and ready to make good decisions, just as a good site commander should. Trish worked very hard in administration, apparently, in part, to keep me in line. Her husband, Ben, was one of the dedicated feeding team members and always went out of his way to speak with me. Last, but not least, there was Aaron. Aaron worked on one of the recovery teams. He and I had some time to talk about faith. He wasnt raised in the church and had recently come to faith as an adult. He wrestled with what faith meant to him and how it would develop in his life. Part of the reason he came for disaster relief was to test how God might use him. I truly enjoyed talking with him. His faith is raw and genuine. Im excited about where his faith is going. He has a great opportunity to impact the kingdom in ways that churchy people cannot. Hes rough around the edges and thats what I like about him! See how many great people there were  and I only scratched the surface.

It seems to me that we, in this culture, are becoming a more cynical and divisive people. Yet, poignantly, here was a group of people doing exactly what Jesus modeled for us; trying to be the hands and feet of Christ, meeting physical needs so we could speak to spiritual needs. It is my prayer and hope that we were living, as Paul says, the more excellent way.

Blessings,

Pastor Steve
US President Donald Trump declined to say on Wednesday whether he will visit the Korean Peninsula's demilitarized zone during an upcoming Asia tour. "Id rather not say, but youll be surprised," Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn as he prepared to depart on a trip to Dallas.

Trump is scheduled to depart on Nov. 3 on a trip that includes visits to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

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NATO wants to talk to Russia about reports that Russian fuel is reaching the Taliban, an alliance official said Wednesday.

NATO ambassadors are to meet Thursday in Brussels with Russian's envoy to the alliance, Alexander Grushko, and Afghanistan is on the agenda, Petr Pavel, chairman of the NATO Military Committee, told journalists in Washington.

Asked about reports that Moscow is supplying arms to the Taliban, which US-led coalition forces are fighting, Pavel said he had not seen any hard evidence of this.

However, he said he has seen reports that Russia is providing fuel to companies which in turn sell such fuel to the Taliban.

Afghanistan will be on the order of business Thursday because it is in the interest of both NATO and Russia to fight terrorism, Pavel said.

Russia is eager to stem the spread of jihadist fighters in Afghanistan, fearing the destabilization of former Soviet republics in Central Asia, which Moscow sees as falling within its sphere of influence.

The head of US military forces in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, accused Russia in February of giving "influence and legitimacy" to the Taliban and thus thwarting NATO's drive to bring peace to the country.

A month later General Curtis Scaparrotti, commander of NATO forces in Europe, told the US Congress that Moscow might be providing supplies to the Taliban. He did not say if he meant weapons or other kinds of equipment.

Pavel also said NATO is trying to arrange by the end of the year a meeting between Scaparrotti and General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces.

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Jonathan Miller: Welcome to the Morningstar Manager Check-up for the latest updates from our fund research team.

BlackRocks BGF Emerging Europe fund has been managed by Sam Vecht since 2009. The process is a combination of top-down and bottom-up. It starts with input from the teams economists, which Vecht uses to decide the portfolios country allocation. Then when the country weights have been finalised, the team looks to identify stocks with growth opportunities. What theyre seeking, are companies that can translate top-line revenue growth into free-cash-flow.

Vecht is then sensitive to valuations and looks to avoid market consensus, so theres a sense of being contrarian when it comes to portfolio construction. Weve noted changes in the team of late, but we feel that much of the outperformance is derived from Vechts strength in tactically shifting the portfolio. So weve still got confidence in him and the risk-aware approach he instils in the team, meaning the fund maintains its Morningstar Analyst Rating of Bronze.

Paul Wild became lead manager of the JOHCM [Continental] European fund in April 2010, but his association with the fund dates back to 2003, when he was hired as a comanager. He uses a strategy that starts by taking macro views. This informs the portfolios sector weightings, and Wild then hunts for stocks across the continent that fit these views. He looks to identify stocks with the most compelling earnings growth and positive earnings momentum.

Theres an awareness of the benchmark at the sector level and this has helped avoid significant drawdowns versus the index. His current thinking here is shown by an underweight in consumer staples and overweight to financials. By having an experienced manager with a sound and tested process, we believe this is an appealing fund, and it holds a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Silver.

Loomis Sayles US Equity Leaders is managed by Aziz Hamzaogullari, who since 2006, has been using the same process, surrounded largely by the same team. Of the six analysts working with him, three have been there for 10 years. Through the proprietary bottom-up framework, he looks to invest in high-quality businesses, with sustainable competitive advantages and profitable growth, when they trade at a significant discount to intrinsic value. With a concentrated portfolio of 30-40 stocks, sector and stock positioning can differ significantly from the index.

However, this hasnt historically meant higher volatility compared with peers. What we see is sufficient diversification by compiling a portfolio of companies with different business drivers. All told, the managers long-term, disciplined approach has been consistently applied over the years, resulting in a favourable risk/return profile. The fund therefore earns a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Silver.
The 2017 Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere 'toured like an Egyptian' during her visit on Wednesday to the historic Giza Plateau, riding camels and posing for pictures.

In images released by Al-Ahram Arabic news website, the French beauty queen Mittenaere toured the site of the Great Sphinx of Giza and the pyramids on a camel, danced around and posed for photographs.

Mittenaere, a 24-year-old model, was crowned Miss Universe at the 65th edition of the annual international contest, which was hosted this year by the Philippines.

She posed for pictures with a "#ThisIsEgypt" banner, the slogan of the country's official tourism campaign, expessing happiness to be visiting the ancient Egyptian site.

The first deputy of tourism ministry Adel Al-Masry accompanied Mitternaere on the tour.

Wednesday's visit to the renowned tourist site is a first leg in the French beauty queen's trip to Egypt, where she is also set to participate in a charity event in Luxor for Egypte Terre d'Espoir.

Egypte Terre d'Espoir offers educational services to poor children in Luxor, including apprenticeships in pottery. The charity also provides food and medical services to poor families.

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Upcoming Events; Condo, Jumbo, and Lock Policy News

Yesterdays commentary noted that HUD Secretary Ben Carson turned some heads by suggesting lower potential penalties for lenders, especially those financing low-income borrowers." The news prompted R.C. Whalen with Whalen Global Advisors LLC to respond, "The folks at GNMA had to remind Dr. Carson that he does not control the DOJ. Afraid relief from False Claims will require a lot more time and effort." Good point... Here's another story about control: Starting today, texting while walking across a street in Honolulu is illegal due to a new law that allows police to fine pedestrians for checking their phone while crossing an intersection in the Hawaiian city and surrounding county. Is chewing gum next up?

Lock policy changes

Effective September 12, for all existing active and new locks, NewLeaf Wholesale updated its Rate Lock Policy.

NewLeaf has a 180-day Extended Rate Lock with Free Float Down Option on a To Be Determined Property. Some restrictions apply but the main theme is no upfront fee, TBD, extended lock capped rate float down - 180-day lock with option to "float down" to current market rate, available on Conventional, FHA and VA 30-year term program.

Optimal Blue launched the second phase of its application programming interface (API). Originators can lock their loans faster than ever before with scenario pricing and locking, as well as functionality and enhancements built directly into its LOS platform. This expanded suite of API offerings will provide full listing search results, best execution search results and unprecedented pipeline and lock management. Users can not only create, update, and retrieve loans, but they can also seamlessly retrieve, filter, and sort pipelines.



Jumbo/Non-Conforming News

Wells Fargo Funding is updating its unacceptable property types for Non-Conforming Loans to include A-frame homes and other atypical properties that do not conform to the neighborhood due to their unique style and limited comparable properties. Effective on Best Effort Registrations, Locks, relocks, and renegotiations on and after October 24, 2017.

Effective immediately, any Jumbo Product Energy State underwriting restrictions previously announced by Fifth Third Correspondent Lending have been eliminated. For Correspondent Connect users, all product parameter restrictions have been eliminated as well. Lenders using Correspondent Connect can follow the standard Non-Agency Jumbo product manual for all states. For LendingSpace users, the product parameter restrictions published in the Product manual are still in effect. A future announcement will be made when LendingSpace is updated to remove the product parameter restrictions. Refer to the Correspondent Underwriting Guidelines for additional information.

MGIC is simplifying its pricing of jumbo loans, loans with temporary buydowns and loans with an agency AUS response other than Approve or Accept. For MI applications received on or after December 4th, MGIC is eliminating the loan amount premium adjustment for loans > $650,000 and > $450,000. Pricing loans with temporary buydowns as Fixed when the permanent payment terms of the mortgage note meet its Fixed loan category criteria. Pricing loans with an Agency AUS response other than Approve or Accept according to the Representative Credit Score, rather than using the lowest credit score tier (see its Underwriting Guide sections 2.03.03 and 3.10.02b). These loans continue to require an MGIC MI Underwrite/Full-Doc Review.

MB Financial Bank N.A. is enhancing its current guidelines. It has remove the requirement for an Operating Income Statement on investment property transactions and will allow student loan payments as reflected on the credit report or accept a letter from the creditor stating the payment amount on Conforming loans. Its Jumbo 90 Plus will allow rental history documented to cover 12 months, down from 24 months to show no 30-day late payments.

Pacific Union adjusted the cap for Fixed Jumbo Prime JP30 (JP30PACPL) and JP15 products: Fixed max price is 102.250.

Effective 10/18/17, Weslend Jumbo ARM Transactions are limited to a max LTV of 80%.

Reduced tax amounts resulting from a tax abatement on the subject property can be used for debt ratio calculation provided the abatement will last greater than 60 months (5 years) from the Note date applicable on FTMC's Agency and Jumbo products. If the tax amount increases over the abatement time-period, the annual tax amount at the end of the 5th after the first mortgage payment date can be used.

Flagstar Closing Services announced a product expansion for the Broker ABC program and ABC customers are now closing Jumbo loan products.

Franklin American Mortgage has updated its guideline to reflect new policies and guidelines to include ineligible DU PIW's: transactions with a gift of equity and transactions with rental income from the subject property being used to qualify the borrower (1unit investment properties). Also, FHA Streamline Refi guidelines have been expanded to allow 1-unit investment properties for Streamline Refinance transactions on the FHA standard products. Investment property Streamlines will remain as not permitted for the FHA Jumbo product.



Condo Lending Trends

Looking back a ways, effective August 16, Flagstar Bank's Project Review will no longer be reviewing Condo Projects on Delegated files to better align with the Limited and Full Condo Project review process. Project Eligibility Certification Form, Doc. #3285 will be updated to reflect the Full Project review responsibility of the Delegated Correspondent and must be provided prior to purchase. The Delegated Correspondent will be responsible for providing the required documents to support Full Project review was completed or the loan may be subject to repurchase. The Flagstar Bank approved condo list does not relieve the customer of reps and warrants, it is informational only.

Investors, of course, continue to inform clients of approved condo projects. For example, here is SunTrust's.

On Oct. 21, Fannie Mae updated the Condo Project Manager (CPM) system to enhance the user experience through improved system navigation and functionality. To accommodate the upgrade, CPM was unavailable from Oct. 20 at 9 p.m. ET until Oct. 23 at 7 a.m. ET. For more information, review the release notes on the CPM web page.

MGIC's latest enhancements are effective with MI applications received on or after Oct. 20, 2017. These include eliminating its Condominium Ineligible Projects List, reducing our documentation requirements for activating coverage on loans without a valid Agency AUS response. When the documentation age is > 180 up to 365 days, and adding disaster policy into its Underwriting Guide. See the Summary of Changes in its Underwriting Guide for details on these and other changes.



Events and Trainings:

As the MBA's conference wraps up and the participants fill the trollies, trains, and cabs to the airport and back to their hometowns, there are some events coming up of note and of fun.

Join Silicon Valley CAMP for the Murder Mystery Dinner at Winchester Mystery House on November 2nd from 6-9pm. Dinner, Wine, Costume Contest, Silence Auction, Murder Mystery, self-guided tour at Winchester Mystery House and more. What a better way to network with realtors, lenders and fellow mortgage professionals.

Join MBA ST. Louis for lunch, networking, and discussion on driving profits with Craig Palubiak at Strategies to Grow Your Business on November 16th at Ces and Judy's.

Plaza is offering a webinar entitled "MI cancelation and termination, the when and how" on October 27th, register now.

Following the CFPB's recent consent order, title agencies want to ensure compliance to avoid getting fined. Join October Research 2-3 p.m. ET Thursday, October 26th for Redefining Relationships. Attendees of this webinar will find out how the relationships between underwriters and title agents could change and what that means for disclosing relationships.



Capital Markets

The news driving rates (and stocks)? The press talking about Taylor's odds of being the next Fed Chairman, general peace around the world, and the feeling that economies around the world are doing well - as indicated by the equity markets.

The MBS basis (how Fannie, Freddie, and Ginnie prices do relative to risk-free Treasury prices) closed wider as treasury yields marched higher, steepening the curve as the 10-year yield saw its highest level since mid-May, closing at nearly 2.42%. Bond traders are now counting on a slimmer spread between short- and long-term US Treasuries, regardless of who takes the reins at the Federal Reserve, as the normalization path will continue to flatten the yield curve.

Interestingly enough, the cash close was followed by more selling in the futures market, after it was reported that President Trump conducted a poll among Republican Senators to see who would be their preferred pick for next Fed Chair. John Taylor was said to be the favorite. But wait...there is more talk about Trump liking Yellen!

Today, we have the usual Weekly MBA Mortgage Index (-4.6%, -19% from a year ago, refis -3%, purchases -6% - no inventory!); last week it was up 3.6%. September Durable Orders and Orders ex-transportation were released (+2.2%, +.7% - strong), along with the August FHFA Housing Price Index, and September New Home Sales. Additionally, we have a $34 billion 5-yr note auction. We commence Hump Day with rates higher versus Tuesday's close: the 10-year is at 2.47% and agency MBS prices are worse .250-.375 on continued decent economic news.





Business Opportunities, Jobs, Products, and Promotions

Mortgage 1, Inc., a billion-dollar retail lender licensed in multiple states, is looking to add branches in Ohio, Florida and Texas. All inquiries should be directed to Rick Holcomb, President. Mortgage 1 was voted one of the top Midwest Mortgage Employers.

A top-20 correspondent investor is looking for an experienced leader to take the helm as Executive Vice President of its B2B business. The Candidate will oversee the growth of Correspondent lending. Candidate should have experience with all aspects of loan origination. If you are interested, please send your resume to me for confidential forwarding.

Floify, the enterprise-grade mortgage automation solution for top-producing lenders, has just elevated the bar when it comes to advancing mortgage workflows for big businesses. Floify's white-labelable solution - which already features an embeddable and customizable 1003, a secure portal for document management, loan status tracking, automatic updates via email and SMS, and mobile apps for iOS and Android - has even more incredible advancements in the works. In addition to their integrations with major CRM and LOS providers, Floify's upcoming improvements are sure to enhance the way loan origination teams process mortgages and manage the delicate lender-borrower relationship. Using Floify,countless enterprises have reported a reduction in their loan officers' workload by up to 5 hours/loan and a significant improvement to the entire mortgage experience for their borrowers. To see how Floify can help you streamline your enterprise's mortgage workflow and get the inside scoop on their upcoming features, request a live demo of Floify.

PrimeLending elevated Uly Kim to Regional Manager for Southern California and Hawaii Targeting New Branch Growth on West Coast. With a proven track record of developing top performers and recruiting established producers, Kim is well-positioned to lead the company's aggressive growth initiative in the region. PrimeLending plans to continue growing market share nationally by strategically adding branches in areas with increasing demand for purchase loans. If you're an elite producer in Southern California, Hawaii, or any thriving market in the country, PrimeLending can help you discover your best. Contact Bill Harp (469-737-5767).

As a full-service mortgage banker, Assurance Financial is seeking motivated, experienced Branch Managers and MLOs who want to take their career to the next level. As seen in Scotsman Guide, leaders who join our team enjoy our reputation of closing loans on time, with great back-office support, ready-to-use marketing and advertising tools, and a state-of-the-art CRM. Close more loans, fill your pipeline, and enjoy your career with Assurance Financial. Contact Sales Recruiting Manager Paul Peters, CMB at 225-239-7948 or visit LendTheWay.com/Careers.

Considering your business plan for 2018? Finance of America Mortgage's Wholesale division, FirstFunding, Focus Fulfillment and FACo are teaming up to offer a series of live "B.Y.O.B Power Workshop" events around the country. Brokers and non-delegated correspondents are invited to hear about new trends in business models for the small business owner. Topics include steps to Become Your Own Banker. A bonus session will be presented on "Fix and Flip" and Portfolio rental products. Learn how you can earn residual income originating commercial loans and lines of credit. Here you go: November 7 Sacramento, CA, November 8 Glendale, CA, November 9 Santa Ana, CA, December 4 Saddle Brook, NJ, December 5 Mt. Laurel, NJ, December 6 Orlando, FL, and December 7 Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
During Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis visit to France, the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs announced that France is set to return to Egypt eight ancient Egyptian artefacts that were illegally excavated and smuggled from the country.

The artefacts were seized in 2010 after they were found in the possession of a French citizen at a train station in France, a source from Egypts antiquities ministry told Ahram Online.

The artefacts were seized after the citizen failed to produce a deed proving ownership, and were sent to the Louvre museum for authentication.

The artefacts are to be handed to the Egyptian ambassador to France at a gala ceremony on Thursday.

Further details on the nature of the artefacts are expected to be announced after their arrival to Egypt, the source said.

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The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has begun efforts to pull back on penalties on mortgage lenders to make them more comfortable with lending to lower-income borrowers without fear of government sanctions, according to a report by Bloomberg News.According to HUD Secretary Ben Carson, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is working with the Department of Justice to clarify mortgage lending rules. Carson, who spoke at the Mortgage Bankers Association conference in Denver, said that under the changes, lenders would only be penalized for intentional fraud and not immaterial errors.Innocent errors should not create chaos and fear and make people less likely to get involved in the first place, Carson said.Since the financial crisis, lenders have paid out billions of dollars in penalties for FHA loan errors, according to the report. As a result, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and other large banks backed off from the FHA loan program. HUD and mortgage experts said this left lower-income borrowers with higher costs and fewer financing options, Bloomberg said.Carsons statements are likely to be welcome news for many banks, the report said. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has previously urged the FHA to refrain from using the False Claims Act except in cases of intentional fraud, as the law triples the amount of damages. In a letter to shareholders early in 2017, Dimon said settlements under the law wiped out a decade-worth of the banks FHA profits, according to the report.
On the 24th of October 2017, we celebrate together with the Arab Republic of Egypt the 72nd anniversary of the UN Charter coming into force in 1945. Egypt, one of the founding members of the United Nations, celebrates the global commitment, along with the other Member States, to global peace and security.

The UN-Egypt partnership is one that is enshrined in mutual respect, advocates for universal norms and values that promote the protection of human rights as laid out in the UN Charter, and supports the development needs and priorities of the most marginalized communities and individuals.

Egypt is a valuable and dynamic member of the United Nations. For the 5th time, Egypt is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Egypt has also attained a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council and is one of the top contributors to peacekeeping operations globally. As underlined in President H.E Abdel Fattah el-Sisis speech at the 2017 United Nations General Assembly, Egypt adamantly believes in the values of the United Nations. Moreover, he also stressed that the realization of these values is not only possible, but rather an obligation and necessity.

Since assuming my role of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, I have observed great partnership opportunities with Egypt. We are committed to build a partnership for sustainable development that targets those who are most in need towards a prosperous Egypt and wellbeing for all. Soon, the United Nations and Egypt will launch the next five-year Partnership Development Framework. This is a pledge of the United Nations in Egypt to work side by side with our national partners, and our commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), guided by the principles and ideals of the United Nations, aligned with the national Sustainable Development Strategy; Egypt's Vision 2030.

Sustainable development, peace and stability are a collective and individual responsibility. The Sustainable Development Goals require new and innovative partnership between Governments and private initiatives for instance. The corporate sector has an incredible role to play in developing concepts such as Green Growth, Job-reach growth, and Women friendly workplaces into tangible investments. Finally, ecological and environmental sustainability will require commitment and action from individual citizens: participation and taking responsibility with Government and private initiative to give shape to a bright common and sustainable future. All can and have to contribute to this very ambitious agenda.

In the recent years, Egypt has seen progress in women empowerment, the fight against Female Genital Mutilation, improving South-South cooperation, conflict resolution and peacekeeping, etc. The United Nations in Egypt is honoured to accompany and support these efforts. I am confident that Egypts leaders are aware of the magnitude of the efforts required to sustain these results and translate Egypts global commitments into concrete, sustainable benefits for all.

The pathway to a more resilient and inclusive Egypt in the 21st century calls for even more commitment, support and determination. Fortunately, Egypt has a great potential in its youth, its private sector and its inclusive development. I am therefore particular pleased that President H.E. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is hosting the World Youth Forum from 4 to 10 November 2017, as this marks the start of deepening the ambitious youth in the transformative agenda.

Lastly, I wish to quote the United Nations Secretary General Mr. Antonio Guterres, during his visit to Egypt in late February 2017:

Here in Cairo University and in a country with an extremely vibrant young population, it is important to say how much I believe that young population can contribute to making Egypt one of the leading countries, not only in this part of the world but in the international community as a whole



I wish all Egyptians a happy United Nations Day!

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On day nine of the Luis Toledo trial, prosecutors tried to show evidence of a troubled relationship between the accused killer and his wife.

Luis Toledo is accused of murdering wife Yessenia Suarez, stepchildren

Defense trying to convince jury there's no proof Toledo killed the children

Jury could get the case Friday to begin deliberations

Toledo is accused of killing Yessenia Suarez and his stepchildren. On Tuesday, the state tried to show the couple had marital problems as they called witnesses to read text messages between the two.

The defense, meanwhile, tried to make a case that there's no evidence Toledo killed his stepchildren.

A Volusia County Sheriff's Office investigators testified that Toledo killed the children, even though he had no evidence of it.

The defense continued to say investigators aren't aware of the time the kids were killed, nor how they died.

"Has he ever said that Tyshawn Jackson didn't kill his kids?" defense attorneys asked. "No sir," the investigator responded.

"Has he ever said that he did it?" the attorney asked. "No sir," said the investigator.

But later the prosecutor questioned the same investigator.

"Which direction does this circumstantial evidence point in this case?" the prosecutor asked.

"It points to that Luis Toledo is the person who killed everybody," said the investigator.

But that'll be for the jury decide.

On Tuesday the jury also heard prosecutors describe the scope of Toledo's relationship with Suarez just days leading up to her disappearance.

From arguments to emotional text exchanges, Toledo wrote he wanted to make it work but Yessenia said she was done.

The state did not finish and has another witness to call first thing Wednesday. The defense is then expected to call some key witnesses to help their case.

We're told the jury could get this case Friday to begin deliberations.


A major Melbourne roadway that sees tens of thousands of cars and trucks daily, plus frequent crashes, could soon see some big safety changes.

Especially for those who aren't driving.

Wickham Road in Melbourne sees up to 43,000 vehicles per day

Space Coast Transportation officials looking for safety improvements

Seeking public input on ways to ease congestion as well

It's something bicyclists like Bonnie Ida encounter every time they decide to ride along Wickham Road -- constant traffic from Eau Gallie Boulevard to Lake Washington Road.

"It's just really, really dangerous," Ida said. "You take your chances."

The Space Coast Transportation Organization estimates up to 43,000 vehicles use this corridor each day.

But pedestrians and people on bikes also have to navigate their way through too, and in some areas there's no room for them to stay safely away from traffic.

Ida grew up in Chicago, where biking and walking are the norm. She wants that mentality to spread here.

"I want them to feel safe and ride their bikes, and not have to get in the car," said Ida.

Her efforts were noticed by the TPO, which has been studying safety improvements in the area.

This section of roadway averaged 75 crashes over the past five years, with four of them involving pedestrians or bicyclists.

The TPO is studying ways to ease congestion, and make intersections safer and more friendly for those who aren't behind the wheel.

"We will be healthier, the air will be cleaner and the traffic easier for drivers," said Ida.

The Space Coast TPO is holding a community meeting until 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Wickham Park Community Center to get input from the public.
A friend of a 16-year-old Seminole High School student stabbed last month is now facing charges in the teen's death, the second person charged in the case.

Friend of Kaleb Rabun charged in his death, police say

Investigators: Rabun, 2 friends wanted to rob Justin Seale of drugs

Rabun was stabbed by Seale during robbery, investigators say



RELATED: Juvenile victim killed in Sanford stabbing, police say

Man charged with murder in stabbing of Seminole High student





The Sanford Police Department says the friend, who is also 16 years old, is being charged with murder during a specific felony for the deadly stabbing of Kaleb Rabun, which happened Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.

Police investigators think the 16-year-old friend plotted to rob 20-year-old Justin Seale of drugs after he arrived at the Stonebrook Apartments. He told Rabun of his plan, according to police, and when Seale arrived, Rabun went inside his car to carry out the robbery.

Thats when police say Seale stabbed Rabun, killing him.

Seale is charged with felony murder.

Now, investigators say Rabuns friend initially contacted Seale to lure him to the apartment complex.

Hes basically being charged with assisting with the death of the individual," said Ronny Neal, a public information officer with Sanford Police. "He (the teen friend) helped set it up, so by setting the robbery up, he's culpable with the offense of what happened.

The teen was taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

Because the friend is a juvenile, he is not being identified at this time per Spectrum News 13's crime guidelines.
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A dance party scheduled for November 3 in San Francisco has spurred outrage among Bay Area residents due to its "Day of the Dead" theme and what some perceive as a perversion of Mexican traditions.

The party's Facebook event page, titled "Day of the Dead Comes to San Francisco," became a bulletin board of vitriol from people decrying the intentions of the event and its cultural appropriation.

"This is completely offensive," Bernardette Arellano wrote on the event page. "Do the organizers know anything about Dia de Los Muertos?"

A source of contention for many commenters was the party's description, which reads, "In the last few years, Day of the Dead has exploded in popularity and we've decided to go MASSIVE."

The event promises attendees "an authentic Dia De Muertos experience," complete with DJs, pinatas, aerial performers, and "Europe's largest confetti cannons." The event is scheduled for Nov. 3, whereas Day of the Dead celebrations end Nov. 2.

While such spectacles may have a place at raves and dance clubs, many commenters agreed that one would be hard-pressed to encounter them at traditional Day of the Dead festivities.

"It's a shame to see this degree of whitewashing in a place that prides itself in genuinely embracing cultures," wrote Gino Abrajano.

After seeing the event circulate on Facebook  nearly 20,000 people have RSVPed as "interested" or "going"  Moises Garcia with Calle 24 Cultural District in the Mission District didn't know what to make of it.

"I can't tell if it's real or not," he said.

Some commenters speculated that the high number of RSVPS stemmed from people confusing the party with the 35th annual Dia de los Muertos procession in the Mission.

"This isn't the normal festival," John Baehr pointed out, suggesting that this event was taking away attention from "the traditional Dia De Los Muertos that has been put on in SF every year."

The event is similarly marketed to a "Day of the Dead" party that toured the United Kingdom earlier this year. Tickets for the UK tour were available for purchase on party promoting website Fatsoma. Neither representatives from Fatsoma nor the "Day of the Dead" US and UK tour Facebook pages could be reached for comment.

Day of the Dead  El Dia de Los Muertos or Dia de Muertos in Spanish  is a Mexican holiday devoted to remembering and celebrating the deceased. The lively festival originated thousands of years ago among the Aztecs in central and southern Mexico and later blended with Christianity to become a three-day celebration coinciding with All Saints' Eve (Halloween), All Saints' Day (Nov. 1), and All Souls' Day (Nov. 2).

Garcia directed those interested in Day of the Dead celebrations to the Dia de los Muertos procession in the Mission, hosted by El Colectivo del Rescate Cultural on Nov. 2. The procession will culminate at the Mission Cultural Center for the Marigold Project's Annual Festival of Altars.

Nanette Asimov contributed to this report.

Read Michelle Robertsons latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.




A 53-year-old check-guarantee company is shuttering its Sugar Land headquarters, citing damage from Hurricane Harvey.

Telecheck Services, a division of Atlanta-based First Data Corp., is offering relocation packages to hundreds of its Houston-area employees. Telecheck workers can relocate to other First Data facilities across the country, or choose to quit and accept a severance.

"As a result of the severe damage to First Data's facility during Hurricane Harvey, we will move our office from Sugar Land," a First Data spokeswoman said in an email. "Those who choose not to relocate will be given severance, and we will work with local employers, search firms and government officials to help them find jobs."

The company declined to comment beyond its statement. First Data informed the Texas Workforce Commission that it would be laying off 406 workers.

Telecheck, founded in 1964, verifies and processes paper and electronic checks. The company had an office in the Galleria area for decades but relocated to Sugar Land in 2015.

The city's economic development arm wooed the company to the southwest Houston suburb with economic incentives, details of which were not disclosed. In return, Telecheck promised to invest $10 million and add 600 new jobs over a 10-year period.

Now, Sugar Land is seeking to recover the incentives, plus interest, through a clawback provision, said Phil Wagner, the city's economic development director.

"We're certainly disappointed in their decision, but we respect that businesses need to do what's best for their company and shareholders," Wagner said. "We will be aggressively pursuing repayment of those incentives. We're always going to look after public funds."

Telecheck will be vacating a 90,000-square-foot space in the Sugar Creek on a Lake office complex, owned by PM Realty Group. The Houston-based real estate company confirmed the building, 14141 Southwest Freeway, sustained some damage to the concourse below ground.

"Sugar Creek ownership and property management took immediate steps to address the issue and have provided tenants access to retrieve belongings from their space," PMRG said in a statement. "Ongoing repairs are going smoothly and tenants have been notified that the building is set to reopen on Nov. 15."

Telecheck's decision comes amid a decades-long decline in check-writing. Consumers increasingly have written off writing checks in favor of digital payment systems like credit cards, direct deposit and newer online and mobile systems like Paypal, Venmo and Square Cash. Americans wrote 3 billion fewer checks in 2015, compared to three years prior, according to the Federal Reserve.

First Data, which owns Telecheck, is one of the largest credit card, gift card and e-commerce processors nationally, handing more than $2 trillion worth of transactions on behalf of banks and retailers. The publicly traded, Fortune 500 company has embraced e-commerce. Earlier this year, First Data acquired two credit-card processors - BluePay and CardConnect - for more than $1.5 billion.

Three Telecheck workers, who asked not to be identified because they are still employed by the company, said they were caught off guard by their employer's decision. They said they feel left behind by the company moving forward after Harvey.

Some are considering offers to move to First Data offices in places like Atlanta, Jersey City, N.J., and Hagerstown, Md. But most don't want to relocate, the employees said. Many longtime, local employees are now polishing their resumes while working remotely until they are asked to leave, they said.

"Obviously, I'm not happy at all," one veteran employee and Houston native said. "I love my job and the people I work with. It's disappointing when so many companies in Houston reached out to help people after Harvey."
(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump does not intend to appoint National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn to lead the Federal Reserve, three people familiar with the matter said.

Trump has privately told people at least twice in the last week that he would not appoint Cohn as Fed chair, according to two people who met with him. They asked not to be identified discussing private conversations with the president.

Trump has told advisers that Cohn is doing a great job in his current role and that he wants to keep him at the White House through congressional consideration of his proposed tax overhaul, according to a person familiar with the conversations.

No decision has been made and no candidate has been ruled out but Garys role is too crucial to getting tax reform done, a senior administration official familiar with the presidents thinking said. It may be too important for him to continue to be the lead, for him to announce a change at this time.

Cohn is likely to leave the White House soon after Congress disposes with the tax plan, two people said. Cohn declined to comment.

Now Playing: During a White House press briefing Thursday, Gary Cohn repeatedly declined to answer the question about the tax reform plan benefiting President Trump. Video: GeoBeats

The former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. bankers prospects at landing the Fed job had been dwindling for a while -- Trump stopped talking about him publicly as a candidate a week ago. Cohns elimination whittles the list of contenders down to four people: the current chair, Janet Yellen, Fed Board Governor Jerome Powell, Stanford University economist John Taylor and former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh.

Straw Poll

In public and in private in the last week, Trump has left out Warsh and Cohn when discussing his decision. He said in an interview with Fox Business Network broadcast Sunday that he was deciding between Yellen, Powell, Taylor and a couple others, without naming them. On Tuesday, in a closed-door meeting with Republican senators, he asked for a show of hands in support of Yellen, Powell or Taylor -- but not Cohn or Warsh, according to Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who participated in the meeting.

Scott said that Taylor appeared to win the presidents ad hoc straw poll. Trump is being deliberative with the choice, understanding that its one of the most crucial decisions of his first term, one person familiar with the matter said.

Cohns relationship with Trump suffered after the former Goldman Sachs president criticized the U.S. president in August for his response to violent protests by white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia. One person familiar with the relationship said that Trump also has been frustrated with the pace of the tax overhaul.

Trump told Fox Business Network host Lou Dobbs that hes narrowed his search to two or three people, in an interview to be broadcast Wednesday. Dobbs told him that Yellen might be worth keeping, and Trump responded that I would certainly think about it, according to excerpts the network released.

Yellen is not popular among many Republicans and Trump advisers, however. Three Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee sent a letter to Trump on Wednesday urging him to select new leadership at the Fed. The letter, circulated by Representative Warren Davidson of Ohio and also signed by Alex Mooney of West Virginia and Ted Budd of North Carolina, didnt mention Yellen by name.

In the letter, the lawmakers criticized Fed decisions under Yellens leadership, including the central banks handling of international regulatory agreements.

Cohns Qualifications

Within the White House, theres been debate about whether Cohn is qualified to lead the Fed, one person involved in the discussions said. The last three central bank chiefs were Ph.D. economists, an academic credential Cohn lacks. While Trumps advisers agree that Cohn is a formidable personality qualified to run a large bank, the job of Fed chair demands an ability to generate consensus among the board of governors, and there is doubt about whether Cohn is well suited to such a role, the person said.

Cohn made it onto Trumps shortlist thanks to his grasp of regulatory issues and his decisiveness as a leader at Goldman Sachs and in the White House, the person said. Trump also publicly floated the idea of appointing Cohn as Fed chairman himself, in a July interview with the Wall Street Journal -- shortly after which Cohn recused himself from advising the president on the search, according to people familiar with his decision.

Warshs consideration for Fed chair meanwhile has rekindled an old feud between him and Fed Governor Randal Quarles, who was sworn in this month as vice chairman of bank supervision. Quarles has told friends that he doesnt think Warsh is qualified to lead the worlds most powerful central bank, according to people familiar with his remarks.

Warsh Vs. Quarles Feud Is Said to Be Renewed by Trump Fed Search

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who has been assisting Trump with the Fed chair search, is aware of Quarless concerns and also doesnt support Warsh for the job, two people familiar with his thinking have said.

(Updates with second person who met with president in second paragraph, and additional information.)

--With assistance from Saleha Mohsin and Robert Schmidt

To contact the reporters on this story: Kevin Cirilli in Washington at kcirilli@bloomberg.net, Jennifer Jacobs in Washington at jjacobs68@bloomberg.net, Margaret Talev in Washington at mtalev@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alex Wayne at awayne3@bloomberg.net, Joshua Gallu

2017 Bloomberg L.P.
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San Francisco police Officer Scott Hurley of the departments dive team had veered off course in his search of the bay floor south of Pier 14. With zero visibility, he had to feel his way back toward the correct course over large boulders and debris.

It was then, on July 2, 2015, that his hand slipped through a crevice between two rocks. And my hand touched something that felt unique, Hurley said Wednesday in San Francisco Superior Court.

That something was the stolen .40-caliber handgun that had, the previous evening, fired the single bullet that pierced Kate Steinles back as she strolled with her father along the pier.

As the trial into the fatal shooting that fueled a national debate about immigration and sanctuary laws went into its third day, the prosecution focused on the aftermath of the killing in its effort to prove that the defendant, 45-year-old Mexican citizen Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, had intentionally fired the gun toward Steinle and should be convicted of second-degree murder.

The defense says the shooting was an accident, with the gun going off in Garcia Zarates hands after the homeless man with a history of deportations and drug crimes found it wrapped in a T-shirt or cloth under a bench.

Surveillance video  what has long been considered the 21st century version of a smoking gun in criminal cases  only further muddled the two conflicting narratives when the prosecution introduced the footage Wednesday.

In her opening statements, Assistant District Attorney Diana Garcia said Garcia Zarates actions reflected his guilty state of mind. Prosecution witnesses have since said he tossed the firearm into the bay and walked away as bystanders rushed to aid the wounded Steinle.

When Officer Andrew Bryant came across him about an hour after the shooting near the Java House on Pier 40, Garcia Zarate was a deer in the headlights.

His eyes got really big and he stood up, Bryant testified Wednesday. He walked away in a fast pace.

Now Playing: Steinle's death sparked debate over immigration and so-called sanctuary city policies because the man charged with her murder was deported to Mexico five times before the shooting. Video: Time

Garcia Zarates attorney, Matt Gonzalez of the public defenders office, said in his opening statement that the evidence jurors will hear  including that the bullet skipped off the ground before hitting Steinle  supports an accidental discharge.

The defendant tossed the gun into the bay because he was frightened it had gone off, Gonzalez said, not because he was trying to cover up a crime.

A crime scene investigator also testified on Wednesday that he did not find any shell casings on the pier, which Gonzalez said supported the theory that the gun had been wrapped in a cloth when it fired.

And though Officer Hurley of the dive team said he did not find a cloth when he located the gun in the bay, Gonzalez raised the possibility that the cloth could have been buried or swept out into the bay. Under cross-examination, Hurley said he was not instructed to search for a shirt or cloth while underwater.

In the afternoon, Garcia played an enhanced version of the surveillance video taken from a camera a quarter of a mile away on the firehouse pier. Even zoomed in, the video only showed a black figure, identified as Garcia Zarate, and a white spot, identified as Steinle, walking away from the black figure and then falling to the ground.

The footage showed the figure identified as Garcia Zarate almost immediately tossing the gun into the bay and leaving the scene, slowly meandering down the Embarcadero and looking into garbage cans before encountering Officer Bryant near Pier 40.

The pistol had been stolen from a U.S. Bureau of Land Management rangers car four days before the shooting, when the off-duty ranger drove into the city and parked along the Embarcadero. No one has been arrested in the burglary.

Before the shooting, Garcia Zarate had been on track for a sixth deportation after serving 46 months in prison for felony re-entry into the country. But he was transferred from federal custody to County Jail in March 2015 on an old warrant alleging he fled marijuana charges in 1995.

When city prosecutors discharged the case, the Sheriffs Department, relying on the citys sanctuary policies, released Garcia Zarate despite a federal request to hold him for deportation.

The case sparked a push against the policies, and the House of Representatives in June passed Kates Law, which would boost punishment for people who repeatedly enter the U.S. illegally.

San Francisco has stood by its sanctuary laws, with officials saying they benefit public safety by ensuring that immigrants, including witnesses to crimes, feel comfortable working with authorities.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @VivianHo
The King of Country stopped by one of San Antonio's newest music and food venues Tuesday night, to the delight of customers who quickly documented the occasion on social media.

George Strait was in the house at The Rustic at the Rim on the Northwest Side, according to several posts.
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The family of a 10-year-old girl from Laredo who's in the country illegally said Border Patrol agents threatened to detain her after undergoing gallbladder surgery Tuesday in Corpus Christi if she didn't voluntarily leave the country.

Aurora Cantu said she accompanied her 10-year-old cousin Rosa Maria Hernandez in an ambulance to Corpus Christi early Tuesday morning, but were stopped at a Border Patrol checkpoint. Agents eventually allowed them to continue, said Cantu, a U.S. citizen, but followed them to the hospital.

"They told me that my aunt (Rosa Maria's mother) had two options," Cantu said. "The first option was we could take her back to Mexico and arrange for a family member to get her. If my aunt didn't want to do that, the second option was that she could spend several weeks in a detention center."

READ MORE: Laredo firefighter accused of choking, pushing wife while heavily intoxicated

Officials at Driscoll Children's Hospital, where Cantu said Rosa Maria was taken, wouldn't comment Tuesday citing federal privacy laws.

In a statement, the Border Patrol said agents stopped the two at the checkpoint near Freer on U.S. 59.

"Due to the juvenile's medical condition, Border Patrol agents escorted her and her cousin to a Corpus Christi hospital where she could receive appropriate medical care," the agency stated. "Per the immigration laws of the United States, once medically cleared she will be processed accordingly."

Agents alerted Mexican consular officials, according to the statement.

Immigration officials by law cannot detain children for long periods of time, and they're often transferred to the Health and Human Services Department. Immigrant children apprehended at the border are usually turned over to family members living in the U.S., although earlier this year then-Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to consider deporting family members without legal status who come forward to claim children in government custody.

RELATED: A Mexican cartel enforcer's prediction about a valuable border territory appears to be coming true

Rosa Maria's mother, Felipa de la Cruz, 39, said the girl, who has cerebral palsy, came to the U.S. when she was three months old.

Rosa Maria underwent the surgery Tuesday, but de la Cruz said she doesn't think her daughter can receive the medical care she needs in Mexico.

"I'm afraid because I don't want her to be deported to Nuevo Laredo," she said.

Incidents like this discourage immigrants in border communities, which in South Texas don't offer the same level of medical care as larger cities to the north, from seeking the treatment they need, said Priscilla Martinez, the Texas Immigration Coalition Coordinator for the Workers Defense Project in Austin, which is advocating on behalf of Rosa Maria.

"They have to put either their health at risk or they put their status at risk, and we think this is totally unacceptable to have to put people in this situation," Martinez said.
The Trump administration has no plans - and anticipates no requests from the Defense Department - to change the mission of U.S. troops in Niger or the rules under which they operate, following the killing of four American service members in a militant ambush there early this month, according to senior administration and defense officials.

At the same time, officials this week expressed consternation over claims, sparked by the deaths, that Congress has been kept in the dark over how many American troops are in West Africa and what they are doing there.

Senior lawmakers, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a member of the Armed Services Committee, and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., have said they "did not know" there were up to 1,000 U.S. troops in Niger. Armed Services Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the panel, both demanded more information.

"Let's get a grip," responded an administration official familiar with U.S. operations in the region. "This has been known for quite a while." The U.S. mission, the official noted, began years ago under President Barack Obama, has continued under President Donald Trump, and has been repeatedly expanded and briefed on to Congress by both administrations.

The deaths of the four Americans, along with those of five Nigerien partner troops in an ambush while they were traveling from an outlying village to their home base, were the first from hostile action that the mission has experienced. The incident has sparked a domestic political firestorm over White House interaction with the family of Sgt. La David Johnson, one of those killed.

While they can defend themselves, U.S. forces based in Niger, and in neighboring Cameroon, have no authorization to conduct "direct action" offensive operations, according to senior officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss deployments in areas under a terrorism threat. In addition to training and advising local security forces, the United States also supplies logistical and intelligence assistance to a 4,000-member French force whose rules allow targeted offensive action against terrorism suspects.

The Pentagon has said it is still investigating the circumstances of the Oct. 4 attack. Once it determines whether there was a communications, intelligence or other operational failure, officials said, the military will adjust to prevent further incidents.

But there will be no "mission creep," Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Monday. Administration officials said the policy against terrorist groups in West Africa, including Nigeria-based Boko Haram, and those tied to al-Qaida and the Islamic State, will continue to focus on assisting local forces, and the French.

Dunford acknowledged that U.S. Africa Command, which has cited a lack of sufficient surveillance and reconnaissance resources, would like to have more. But such requests, he said, are received constantly from commanders all over the world. Most surveillance resources, including drones, are currently devoted to operations in Afghanistan.

The United States operates armed drones out of a base still under construction in Agadez, in central Niger. But those weapons are used in Libya and Somalia, the only places in Africa where direct action by U.S. forces is authorized. Unarmed U.S. surveillance drones are also based at a French airfield in Niamey, the Nigerien capital. Dunford said that a pilotless U.S. aircraft was dispatched to the site of the ambush once commanders were notified, but "did not strike." He did not say where the drone had come from or whether it was armed.

The Agadez base was first approved in 2014, the year Obama outlined expanding military counterterror operations in a speech at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He described "a network of partnerships from South Asia to the Sahel," allowing training of local forces to address "emerging" terrorism threats, assisting multinational forces and, in particular, facilitating French operations in West Africa.

But U.S. operations in the Sahel - the arid, sub-Saharan swath of Africa that includes Chad, Niger, Burkino Faso, Mali and Mauritania - had begun long before. U.S. Special Operations forces started a train-and-assist program in 2005, and have been authorized by Congress every year since then.

Obama regularly reported troop levels and described their mission in biannual reports to Congress under the War Powers Resolution, including his final report last December indicating a troop total of 575 in Niger and 285 in Cameroon. In June, using nearly identical terminology on the French-support and partner-training missions, Trump reported 645 troops in Niger and "approximately 300" in Cameroon.

The senior administration official said about 200 troops had been added in Niger, some of whom military officials said were working on the Agadez base construction. The administration official said updates on the deployments were delivered in monthly counterterrorism assessments to members of national security committees in both houses of Congress, and by U.S. embassy and military officials on the ground during at least a half-dozen member and staff trips to the region this year.

"You could go to the Africa Command website and find that they have troops there," Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said at the Hudson Institute on Monday. "Second, if you are on the Armed Services Committee, you could attend our hearings and hear testimony that we had troops there."

Administration officials took issue with statements about mission changes made by Graham on Friday, following a closed-door briefing on West Africa that he and McCain received from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

"Here's what the American people need to know," Graham told reporters. "The counterterrorism rules under President Obama were overly restrictive" and "you're going to see more actions in Africa rather than less," with "more aggressive" rules that will include "status-based targeting" of unidentified but presumed militants.

The senior administration official said there were no plans to authorize such activities beyond where they already are permitted, in Somalia and Libya. In the rest of Africa, the official said, "we remain committed to working with our partners and improving their ability to defeat terrorists."

The domestic uproar over the deaths in Niger also is likely to draw new attention to a simmering controversy between the administration and France. The French have backed the establishment of a U.N.-funded cross-border counterterrorism force of 5,000 troops, drawn from the five Sahel nations. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in an unreleased report to the Security Council, has also recommended some form of U.N. funding.

The administration, which has raised overall questions about the efficacy of U.N. operations and what Trump has said is an unfair burden on the United States to pay for them, is opposed to U.N. funding for the force, especially under the mantle of peacekeeping. The United States is assessed nearly 28 percent of the cost of U.N. peacekeeping missions, one of which already operates in the Sahel.

"The United States is committed to supporting an African-led and -owned G5 force through bilateral security assistance," a U.S. official said, referring to the Sahel group. "What we don't support is U.N. authorization or assistance to the force."

The controversy may come to a head on Monday, when French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian plans to chair a Security Council meeting on the subject. France will likely introduce a resolution including funding for the force.

France has said it expects the force to be operational by the end of the year. "Discussions are currently ongoing with the U.S., in good faith and with a common will to reach a mutually agreed solution," said Francois Delattre, France's U.N. ambassador. "We are confident that we will get there soon."
BAGHDAD - Once derided as a "traffic warden" by members of his own party, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has won public and political praise for sending troops to reclaim disputed territory after the Kurdish independence vote.

The action has earned the Iraqi leader the prestige that eluded him after successive victories against the Islamic State. Even some of his traditional critics have called his decision "wise" and "shrewd."

By moving forcefully, Abadi has burnished his nationalist credentials and quieted potential challengers in next year's elections who are backed by Iran and espouse policies of Shiite dominance, analysts and Iraqi politicians said.

For the United States, Abadi's surging popularity is probably the silver lining of a crisis that has pitted two of its closest political and military allies - the Iraqi government and the Kurds - against each other. Many Iraqi politicians say Abadi has all but assured his reelection next year.

"A referendum by arms," said Saad al-Muttalibi, a member of Baghdad's provincial council and a close ally of former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, a likely challenger to Abadi in elections slated for next spring.

"The general perception is that he's indecisive in his moves," Muttalibi said. "But what he did last week proved everybody wrong, including myself. He was very decisive and very stubborn in his approach. He stuck to the law and the constitution."

It remains unclear how far Abadi is planning to go in the push to reclaim territory lost to the Kurds in 2014 as the Islamic State swept through the country. But Abadi's supporters warn that he must resume negotiations with the Kurdish authorities and keep forces away from Kurdish cities, or risk squandering the goodwill he has earned with Iraqi voters and regional powers.

"The referendum is over and now belongs to the past. We have finished it on the ground," Abadi declared last week in a rare moment of public bluster by a politician who never quite shed the perception that he has been indecisive since he came to office in 2014.

The first test of Abadi's willingness to moderate his response to the Kurds came early Wednesday, when the Kurdish government issued a statement calling for an immediate cease-fire in exchange for "suspending" the results of the referendum and entering into negotiations with Baghdad based on constitutionally enshrined guidelines on borders and revenue sharing.

Abadi, who has said he will only enter talks if the referendum result is annulled, has not yet responded to what amounts to a precipitous comedown for the Kurdish authorities. Not engaging in talks raises the specter of further military clashes between Iraqi and Kurdish forces to control northern borders with Syria and Turkey.

Although the military action in Kirkuk has sparked a feverish debate in Washington over waning U.S. influence as Iran asserts itself as a regional power, Iraqis have viewed it as a critical move to avoid a much-feared partition of the country.

Abadi "may have decided to ride the wave of domestic chauvinism rather than being swept aside by it," the Crisis Group wrote in a report last week.

The move has also won the support of Sunni politicians who previously expressed reservations about a second term for Abadi.

"His policies in leading the country are not entirely clear to us," said former deputy prime minister Salam al-Zaubai, citing Abadi's membership in Dawa, a Shiite Islamist party that also counts Maliki as a senior leader. "But in general we are very comfortable with what happened in Kirkuk because it was something that needed to be done long time ago."

In the weeks leading up to the Kirkuk offensive, American officials made clear that the burden fell on the Kurdish leadership to offer concessions to Abadi, who the Trump administration thought was "grievously hurt by the referendum," said one U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private negotiations.

"Our policy is they need to do something to help Abadi. It's not starting out on an equal basis," the official said.

Trump administration officials were frustrated that the Kurds had rebuffed a proposal that U.S. officials claimed would have given the Kurdish leadership a face-saving way to postpone the referendum.

Abadi had informed U.S. diplomats of his intention to order forces into Kirkuk, but did not reveal the timing and scale of the operation, people close to Abadi said.

"This was coordinated by Mr. Abadi himself; he did not have any other choice but to move," said Mowaffak al-Rubaie, a lawmaker who sits on the security and defense committee in parliament.

As the Iraqi forces swept into Kirkuk and reclaimed its vast oil fields and municipal buildings, the United States issued conflicting responses. U.S. diplomats in Baghdad said the United States supported Iraq's right to impose federal control over contested areas, while President Donald Trump said the United States remained neutral in the dispute.

The differing U.S. responses fueled a perception among U.S. officials and some Iraqis that Iran had superseded the United States as the most important power broker in Iraq.

The Iraqi forces who moved on Kirkuk and other places in northern Iraq included Shiite militias with ties to Tehran, fueling intense speculation of Iran's role in the campaign.

Iraqi Kurdish officials and some Iraqi politicians have concluded that Abadi acted on behalf of Iran, which fears that Kurdish independence in Iraq would provoke a similar action among its own sizable Kurdish population.

"The prime minister will take advantage of what happened, and of course it will raise his popularity in the street," said Izzat Shahbandar, a former Iraqi lawmaker. "But the reality is that [Iran] had the main role in achieving this scenario."

Shahbandar pointed to the high-profile presence of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Iran's military point man in Iraq and Syria, in Iraq before and after the referendum vote and in the lead-up to the sweep of Kirkuk.

Kurdish officials said Soleimani brokered a deal in which peshmerga fighters from a Kurdish faction who were lukewarm on the referendum stood down when Iraqi forces entered Kirkuk.

But two people close to Abadi, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive government planning, gave a different account of how it played out. They said Soleimani entered the negotiations only after Abadi and those Kurdish officials had reached the framework of an agreement. Soleimani helped persuade the Kurds to call on their forces to retreat, telling them they were vastly outnumbered.

Soleimani's interjection delayed Abadi's plan to move on Kirkuk by two days in the hopes that Kurdish President Masoud Barzani would agree to enter negotiations. The talks failed, but Soleimani's warnings were "partially helpful in convincing them to avoid bloodshed. Some of what he said had a profound impact," said a person close to Abadi who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive planning.

"Soleimani came in, but he was not the architect of all this," the person said.

The perception that Abadi was not in full control of the Kirkuk operation is among the many challenges he faces.

The more extremist factions of the Shiite militias are agitating for a deeper push into Kurdish territory, a move that analysts say could backfire.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson signaled his concern about Abadi's campaign, telling the prime minister during a meeting in Baghdad on Monday that further moves toward Kurdish-held territory could provoke more armed conflict and urged the two sides to enter serious negotiations.

Abadi has shown a willingness to take risks to turn political events to his advantage.

In the summer of 2016, Abadi faced a crisis when weekly protests staged by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr culminated with Sadr's supporters raiding Baghdad's Green Zone.

To the surprise of American diplomats and his own military commanders, Abadi announced a campaign to evict the Islamic State from Fallujah - a city that was seen as an impenetrable base for the group.

The Islamic State collapsed in Fallujah in about three weeks, defying forecasts of a protracted battle and forcing Sadr to call off protests. The move proved decisive in raising the morale of Iraq's security forces, which carried over to the longer and tougher battle for Mosul.

"Abadi took a big risk to get his 'rah-rah' moment, and it paid off," said a former Western diplomat. "The victory in Fallujah did bring the country together more than any other moment in recent memory."

Political opponents will be looking to exploit any strategic mistakes by Abadi, said Sajad Jiyad, an analyst at the Al-Bayan Center for Planning and Studies, a think tank based in Baghdad.

"It means he has a bigger target on this back now that the perception is that he can win in a landslide," he said, "and that other Shiite groups will have less of a say in how things are done."

---

The Washington Post's Kareem Fahim in Irbil, Iraq, contributed to this report.
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Advocates of legalized prostitution took their challenge to Californias 145-year-old ban on commercial sex before a federal appeals court Thursday and appeared to get a hint that theyll have another chance to show why the law should be cast aside.

The case was brought by three former prostitutes, a would-be client and the Erotic Service Providers Legal, Educational and Research Project. They contend the law violates the right to engage in consensual sex, as defined by the U.S. Supreme Court in a 2003 ruling overturning criminal laws against gay sexual activity.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White of Oakland rejected their argument last year, saying the high court ruling protected only intimate personal relationships, not commercial sex. He said the state had adequately justified the current law as a deterrent to violence against women, sexually transmitted diseases and human trafficking.

But at Thursdays hearing, members of a three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco suggested that the law might need closer scrutiny, given todays less restrictive standards, as recognized by the high court, on sex between consenting adults.

Why should it be illegal to sell something that its legal to give away? asked Carlos Bea, one of the courts most conservative judges.

Another conservative, Judge Consuelo Callahan, pointed out that prostitution, like gay sex, had historically been subject to moral disapproval. Just as in 2003, the current case, she said, deals with individuals rights, so why wouldnt a ruling for the right to engage in prostitution be a natural extension of Supreme Court precedent?

Deputy Attorney General Sharon OGrady, the states lawyer, responded that the difference is in the commercial aspect ... the commodification of sex.

The state is not telling anyone who they can sleep with, OGrady said. It is prohibiting only a harmful category of business transactions, not intimate or enduring relationships, she said.

But Bea said the 2003 Supreme Court ruling might require the court to send the case back to White for another review, and perhaps even a full-scale trial, in which the state would have to show a compelling need for the law.

California made prostitution a crime in 1872, defining every common prostitute as a vagrant subject to a $500 fine and six months in jail. The law was updated in 1961 to reclassify prostitution or soliciting prostitution as disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine and six months in jail.

The Ninth Circuit left the state law intact in a 1988 ruling that said the relationship between a paid escort and a client possesses few, if any, of the aspects of an intimate association. H. Louis Sirkin, the plaintiffs lawyer in the current case, argued that the ruling is no longer binding.

The Supreme Courts 2003 decision established the right of individuals to make their own individual choices as to how they want to behave in consensual sexual relationships, Sirkin told the court. If people put a dollar amount on it, that should not alter the intimate relationship.

But Bea questioned whether the high courts ruling applied to totally anonymous sex for hire. And the third panel member, Jane Restani, a judge from the U.S. Court of International Trade temporarily assigned to the appeals court, noted that Justice Anthony Kennedy, in the 2003 Supreme Court ruling, had specified that the case before the court did not involve prostitution.

On the other hand, Bea quoted from another portion of the 2003 case in which the late Justice Antonin Scalia, writing in dissent, declared that the ruling called into question state laws against prostitution.

True, said OGrady, the states lawyer  but Scalia, in the same opinion, also predicted the ruling would be used to strike down laws against incest and bestiality.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @egelko
The Brookings Institution has suspended senior fellow Leon Wieseltier without pay following a decision by Emerson Collective to pull the plug on a literary journal over the longtime cultural critic's "past inappropriate workplace conduct."

The announcement came in an email from Brookings President Strobe Talbott: "As you may have seen in press reports (Tuesday) night, Leon Wieseltier, has issued a statement acknowledging and apologizing for past misconduct in his treatment of female colleagues. He has been suspended without pay from from his position at the Institution, effective immediately, while we gather information," wrote Talbott.

Emerson Collective, headed by Laurene Powell Jobs, issued a statement to Politico's Michael Calderone: "Upon receiving information related to past inappropriate workplace conduct, Emerson Collective ended its business relationship with Leon Wieseltier, including a journal planned for publication under his editorial direction. The production and distribution of the journal has been ended."

The name of the journal was "Idea," and its first issue was due to be published this month. The magazine's staff has been disbanded.

Chatter about Wieseltier's behavior toward women during his high-profile three-decade tenure as the literary editor of the New Republic began circulating after the New York Times revealed the plume of sexual-harassment allegations against Hollywood titan Harvey Weinstein. According to Calderone, Wieseltier was included in a much-discussed, anonymously authored and selectively circulated list of "Sh-ty Media Men" with histories of sexual misconduct in the workplace. Wieseltier had reportedly made "unwanted" advances toward an employee of the management company in the New Republic's office building.

In a statement, Wieseltier said, "For my offenses against some of my colleagues in the past I offer a shaken apology and ask for their forgiveness. The women with whom I worked are smart and good people. I am ashamed to know that I made any of them feel demeaned and disrespected. I assure them that I will not waste this reckoning."

"And I am profoundly sorry to my extraordinary collaborators at the journal we began together that the misdeeds of my past have made it impossible to go forward," he said. "My gratitude to them is boundless."

Wieseltier was named as Brookings's Isaiah Berlin Senior Fellow in Culture and Policy in March 2015. Upon his accession, Talbott said, "We're proud to have Leon, a major figure in literary journalism, join our community of scholars. We have established the Senior Fellowship he holds in honor of Isaiah Berlin's eminence as a political theorist, philosopher, and historian of ideas. Sir Isaiah's humanist values, commitment to civil discourse, and intellectual leadership resonate with the legacy and aspirations of Brookings. They also resonate with Leon's career and gifts. He combines a capacious intelligence with a uniquely powerful and passionate voice. With his arrival, Brookings will have a fresh perspective and deep-rooted expertise on the intersection between culture and public policy, thereby bringing a new dimension to our mission."
WESTPORT  A video was released by Westport police Wednesday that shows the assault that took place after a car chase Tuesday morning, warning that it may be graphic to some.

The video shows one male party exit a white van that proceeds to drive down the wrong side of the road, in the wrong direction. A second male party is seen chasing after another male, who falls to the ground prior to the assault.

The assault, according to the witness footage, took place in the middle of the road.

The victim of the assault is showed being dragged by his feet before the male begins to hit and kick him, even stomping on his head several times. An additional vehicle pulls up to the scene and another male exits the vehicle and begins to kick the victim.

Now Playing: A video was released by Westport police Wednesday that shows the assault that took place after a car chase Tuesday morning, warning that it may be graphic to some. Video: Westport police

Police said the person who pulls up to the scene while the assault is going on fled the scene and has yet to be located.

The vehicle was described as a red-bronze or rust colored Ford Explorer with possible Maryland registration, Westport police said.

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Anyone with information on this is asked to contact the Westport Police Department Detective Bureau at 203-341-6080.

Fernando Morales, 42, of Derby, and Rafael Valle, 34, of Bridgeport, were arrested following the incident, Westport police said.

Morales was charged with second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and breach of peace. Valle was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment. The two were released after each posted a $5,000 bond. They both have court dates of Nov. 6.

The incident began around 9 a.m. on Oct. 24 when Westport police responded to the 500 block of Post Road East for a report of a fight nearby.

Police said officers that responded to the scene found two men fighting in the middle of the road in front of the Volvo dealership. Officers said that it appeared the two had gotten into an accident prior to the fight.

Officers handcuffed Morales and Valle as they investigated the incident and attempted to determine what took place. They soon discovered there had been a disturbance between the two in Derby earlier and that at least one person had fled the scene.

Morales and Valle were taken into custody. Police said one of them  but did not specify which  was taken to Norwalk Hospital for injuries he sustained during the fight.

The Westport and Derby police departments worked together during the investigation, Westport police said.
WASHINGTON - Allies of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declared open warfare on Wednesday against Stephen Bannon, the former White House chief strategist and leader of an insurrection aimed at defeating mainstream GOP candidates in next year's midterm elections.

More than a year ahead of the 2018 congressional contests, a super PAC aligned with McConnell, R-Ky., revealed plans to attack Bannon personally as it works to protect incumbents facing uphill primary fights. The effort reflects the growing concern of Republican lawmakers over the rise of anti-establishment forces and comes amid escalating frustration over President Donald Trump's conduct, which has prompted a handful of lawmakers to publicly criticize the president.

Yet the retaliatory crusade does not aim to target Trump, whose popularity remains high among Republican voters. Instead, the McConnell-allied Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) will highlight Bannon's hard-line populism and attempt to link him to white nationalism to discredit him and the candidates he will support. It will also boost candidates with traditional GOP profiles and excoriate those tied to Bannon, with plans to spend millions and launch a heavy social media presence in some states.

The turbulence presents a danger to Republicans' narrow 52-seat majority in the Senate, with seasoned GOP lawmakers deciding to not seek reelection amid the political storm - and with many GOP voters cheering the rancor that Bannon has stoked from his perch at his website, Breitbart.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., in an emotional plea Tuesday, said that he would not run in 2018, one week after Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., had done the same. Both men, no longer accountable to Republican primary voters, have taken on higher-profile roles as critics of the president, with Corker calling for a "day care" to step in and control him and Flake calling Trump's behavior "unacceptable."

But some Republican lawmakers have privately fretted that simply speaking out against Trump's incendiary statements or the Bannon-aligned candidates that are rousing anger in their states will not be enough - and could backfire - as they try to survive the surge of grievance-driven politics that has gripped the GOP's base.

"It's tough," Flake told CNN on Wednesday. "I'm competitive. I like to fight these battles. But I also knew that I couldn't run the kind of race that I would be proud of and win in a Republican primary at this time. The politics in that way have changed."

In the wake of Flake's announcement, the SLF called Arizona state Sen. Kelli Ward, Bannon's pick to replace Flake, a "conspiracy theorist" and promised to ensure her defeat.

In recent weeks, Bannon has held court as dozens of candidates have streamed through his Capitol Hill townhouse, including Ward last week, urging them to pledge to vote against McConnell for majority leader. Mississippi state Sen. Chris McDaniel, R, is close to making a decision on a bid against Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and has won Bannon's blessing, according to a person close to him.

Bannon's critics argue that he is causing unnecessary internal divisions that could make it harder to pass tax legislation - and to win general elections next fall. They also point to Sen. Luther Strange's defeat in last month's Republican primary in a special Senate election in Alabama as an example of a dynamic they worry could repeat itself across the next year if left unchecked. The SLF spent more than $10 million to help Strange.

Strange was endorsed by Trump and McConnell but lost to a former state judge, Roy Moore, who had won the backing of Bannon and his orbit of allies. Moore is now in a tight race with Democratic nominee Doug Jones.

"This is a guy who is more interested in seeing his name in the headlines than he is in any kind of accomplishment for the president," said Josh Holmes, a former chief of staff to McConnell who has been increasingly outspoken in his opposition to Bannon. "It comes at great cost to the president's term, the Republican Party and any hope they can have at working as a team."

On Wednesday, the SLF's Twitter account mocked Danny Tarkanian - a frequent conservative candidate in Nevada who is challenging Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., - for suggesting that Heller join him in pledging to oppose McConnell as majority leader.

The tweets also turned the spotlight on Bannon.

The SLF tweeted a 2016 headline from the New York Daily News - "Anti-Semitic Trump campaign CEO Stephen Bannon not a big fan of 'whiny brat' Jews, ex-wife says" - with space for Tarkanian's signature.

"Here's another pledge for @DannyTarkanian to sign," the PAC tweeted.

The Daily News reported last year that in a 2007 court statement, Bannon's former wife Mary Louise Piccard said he didn't want their twin daughters attending a school because too many Jews attended. "The biggest problem he had with Archer [School for Girls in Los Angeles] is the number of Jews that attend," Piccard said in her statement, the newspaper reported.

Bannon's spokeswoman Alexandra Preate told The Washington Post last year that Bannon has denied saying that and proudly sent the girls to Archer. And after seeing the SLF tweet to Tarkanian on Wednesday, a Bannon confidant said, he responded to the group's social-media blitz with laughter - as he has to other attacks on his character in recent weeks.

That attack was one of a number of swipes at Bannon that have popped up as the former White House adviser has emerged as a player on the national political scene. Holmes and others have called him a "white supremacist."

Holmes defended his use of the term to describe Bannon in a recent interview. "If you look at his associations, the people who are ecstatic about his efforts, the long history of conduct that he has been a part of, I will let others come to their conclusions," Holmes said. "But this is not a guy that just burst on the scene. Let's not act like everybody doesn't know exactly who Steve Bannon is."

Bannon has said repeatedly that his nationalist, populist vision includes a place for all races, sexual orientations and genders to succeed.

"Do we need any further evidence than Mitch McConnell and his cronies reducing themselves to using left-wing talking points to attack Steve? It's pathetic to watch," said Andy Surabian, a senior adviser to the Great America Alliance super PAC and Bannon's former deputy at the White House. The pro-Trump PAC is engaged in a slew of races, sending around a bus to rally activists, and counts longtime operative Edward Rollins as its strategist. "Every poll shows Mitch McConnell is an albatross on the Republican candidates," Surabian said. "If McConnell truly cared about our Republican majority in the Senate more than he cares about his own power, then he would step down as Senate majority leader today."

Bannon's circle says the contents of his divorce proceedings, along with claims of racism, are unlikely to do new damage to his reputation, since he has been targeted in the past along those same lines by Democrats, and even in a "Saturday Night Live" caricature as an angel of death. Advisers also note that the attacks elevate Bannon's profile, which could help carry his anti-establishment message.

In an email, SLF President Steven Law said he expects Bannon to become a liability for any insurgent candidates he supports in 2018.

"But his real impact would be felt in general elections, where Bannon's well-documented, toxic views and alt-right paper trail could become a liability for candidates who are perceived as closely tied to him," Law said.

According to public polling, neither McConnell nor Bannon is in good standing with voters. In an April poll conducted by Quinnipiac University, one of few to ask voters about Bannon, just 11 percent said they viewed him positively and 45 percent said they viewed him negatively. The numbers were better among Republicans, with a nine-point favorability margin.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wy., one of the incumbents mentioned as a possible target for Bannon in 2018, dismissed the effort to get Senate Republicans to sign pledges vowing to oppose McConnell.

"No, I haven't signed pledges. I didn't sign Grover Norquist's pledge," Barrasso said on Wednesday, referring to the anti-tax advocate's famous pledge. "I'm not a guy that signs pledges, and I'm going to vote for whoever I believe is in the best interests of the people of Wyoming."

The reasons for Flake's decision may be tied less to the national environment surrounding the feud between McConnell and Bannon and more about raw home-state politics. Reams of public and private polling in recent months have found Flake to be an unpopular incumbent, especially among the Republican voters he would need to win over in a primary fight next year.

McConnell's polling among Republicans has tumbled since the start of the year - a fact that Bannon has used to his advantage. On Tuesday, Bannon's Breitbart website reported that a Harvard-Harris poll found 56 percent of Republicans in favor of dumping McConnell as leader. That same day, at a media roundtable organized by the conservative Heritage Foundation, a reporter for Breitbart asked members of the House Freedom Caucus to respond to the poll number.

"It was that high?" scoffed Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., wondering jokingly about why it wasn't even higher.

As the two sides spar, Senate Republicans are trying to demonstrate that the party's agenda is moving forward despite the infighting - and that relations with the White House are smooth. On Wednesday, a day after Flake made his charged speech, Ivanka Trump appeared with Republican senators to pitch a child tax credit that she has lobbied to include in the upcoming tax legislation.

Still, GOP donors who are friendly with McConnell welcomed the effort to thwart Bannon's attempts to shape the 2018 contests and rattle McConnell as Senate Republicans are trying to work with Trump.

"Absolutely. Why not?" said Al Hoffman, a major Republican donor and McConnell ally. "You've got to get rid of the Bannon banner."

- - -

The Washington Post's Ed O'Keefe and Paul Kane in Washington and Sean Sullivan in Alabama contributed to this report.
TOKYO - The Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday that Ivanka Trump, the eldest daughter of President Donald Trump and an adviser to her father, will visit Japan in November.

She will attend a special event on Nov. 3 before her father arrives in the country - the 2017 World Assembly for Women (WAW!), to be held at the Tokyo Prince Hotel in Tokyo Nov. 1-3. The event will include discussions on measures to promote women's empowerment.

The government has held the assembly annually since 2014 because "a society in which women shine" is one of the Abe administrations's most important initiatives. It is accepting applications from the general public for WAW! until Thursday, Oct. 26, in an effort to have members of the public learn from active discussions by leading women's figures.

On opening day, Chief Executive Officer for the World Bank Kristalina Georgieva and others will give keynote speeches and join a panel discussion on the theme of "women and entrepreneurship."

On the second day, they will discuss issues such as "technology transformation and women's education" and "the future of women's empowerment from the youth perspective." The government aims to present its own measures and achievements on the issue, and promote women's empowerment through lively discussion on political, economic and societal issues in Japan and overseas.

Last year the number of attendees including general audience members was about 800, with over 90 leading figures, including Instagram's Chief Operating Officer Marne Levine, discussing women's leadership and other themes.

On the final day of Nov. 3, the government and World Bank will co-host a special event on women's empowerment. Georgieva will deliver another keynote speech, followed by a panel discussion on the theme of "supporting women entrepreneurs."

In July, the World Bank Group announced the creation of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi). The facility aims to advance women's entrepreneurship and help women in developing countries achieve better access to the financing, markets and networks necessary to start and grow a business.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: "Women's active participation in society is one of the pillars of Abenomics. Women's empowerment and leadership will diversify and revitalize organizations and societies."

To register for the event, visit http://reg.convention.co.jp/waw2017/ and fill out the registration form. If there are too many applications, a drawing will be held and applicants will be notified of the results by email. The application deadline is 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26.
Elisha Cooke-Moore had been told she had cancer-causing genes.

The 36-year-old mother said an obstetrician-gynecologist noted that the results of her genetic testing showed she had a 50 percent chance of getting breast cancer and up to an 80 percent chance of getting uterine cancer, so she underwent a recommended double mastectomy and hysterectomy to try to beat the odds.

But Cooke-Moore, 36, from Gold Beach, Oregon, said that months after she had the surgeries, she learned that her medical team was wrong - the test results were negative. Now she is suing Curry County Health District and members of her medical team for $1.8 million.

"I am damaged for the rest of my life," she told The Washington Post in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon, her voice cracking.

The lawsuit states that Cooke-Moore had a total hysterectomy in August 2016 and, not two months later, a prophylactic bilateral nipple sparing mastectomy along with breast implants.

During an annual exam in 2015, Cooke-Moore received genetic testing to determine her risk of breast and other cancers. Cooke-Moore said she had expressed concerns to her doctor regarding a family history of cancer, so it was agreed she would be tested for a BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene mutation. Although the results were negative, her nurse practitioner misinterpreted them - and Cooke-Moore was told she had the MLH1 gene mutation and Lynch syndrome, according to the medical malpractice lawsuit.

The National Institutes of Health states that Lynch syndrome increases the risks of many types of cancer, particularly those in the colon and rectum, but also ovarian, uterine and other cancers.

Cooke-Moore said her nurse practitioner, who seemingly misread the results, referred her to specialists within the Curry Health Network - gynecologist William Fitts, who performed her hysterectomy and then recommended surgeon Jessica Carlson to handled her double mastectomy and reconstruction. But Cooke-Moore said neither of the doctors independently confirmed the results.

The lawsuit claims that Cooke-Moore's medical team "continued to negligently rely upon the misinterpreted genetic testing results."

Cooke-Moore said a doctor even wrote a letter to her children, who do not live with her, urging them to get tested for the mutation.

"I'm dumbfounded. We're all dumbfounded," said Cooke-Moore's attorney, Christopher Cauble. "They all should have caught this."

Cauble said that in addition to needless operations, his client's replacement implants were placed during the double mastectomy surgery, prompting at least 10 corrective surgeries to manage complications.

Representatives for the Curry Health Network and an attorney for the hospital and Fitts did not respond to requests for comment. An attorney for Carlson said she could not comment on pending litigation.

Cooke-Moore said she discovered the mistake earlier this year while reading through her test results and noticed that it read "negative."

"Devastated," she said, remembering how she felt at the time. "I'm just not sure how you can mistake a negative for a positive."

If she had it to do over, Cooke-Moore said that she would probably get a second opinion before she agreed to have the surgeries.

More and more, medical experts are encouraging second opinions - not out of distrust, but to ensure that the doctor and patient are making the best decisions.

"Every patient has a right to a second opinion," Joseph Fins, chief of medical ethics at New York-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, said, "and it would worry me if a physician was opposed."

Major hospital systems, including the Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins, even have remote second-opinion services so that patients across the country can more easily seek peace of mind.

Petrow recently wrote an op-ed for The Post titled: "I heard what my doctor thinks; now I want a second opinion. How do I get one?" In it, he bullet-pointed how patients should handle second opinions:

--Don't be talked out of seeking another opinion by your current doctor or anyone else; this is your decision.

--Be upfront but respectful with your doctor. You are partners in this, and having your doctor on your side makes it easier to transfer your medical records and coordinate care.

--Don't shop for a specialist who will tell you what you want to hear. You need the unvarnished truth.

--Provide the second doctor with all relevant information in your medical record. Fins warns about the "discontinuity of care if all the facts don't follow you."

Cooke-Moore said she was too trusting.

"I trusted my community," Cooke-Moore said, adding that she has since been diagnosed with PTSD. "I guess shame on me. Maybe I shouldn't have, but I did."
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More than two months after Texas Education Agency officials filed a police report alleging felony theft of school property from a San Antonio charter district they had just shut down, the agency said it obtained the release of the items from the charters former board president.

Two members of a board of managers that the TEA had appointed Aug. 3 to close the San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity gained access Wednesday to a storage unit on the West Side that held tens of thousands of dollars worth of electronic equipment and musical instruments.

They watched as the items, including Apple computers and guitars, were loaded into a U-Haul truck bound for Houston, where they were to be distributed to charter schools affected by Hurricane Harvey.

All were doing today is transferring these items to Houston, said Velia Minjarez, a TEA monitor serving as SASICs interim superintendent. These are going to be in good hands, to people who need them.

In mid-August, TEA officials filed a report with the San Antonio Police Department, accusing Denise Fritter, the former SASIC board president, of stealing the property, valued at between $30,000 and $150,000. They told police Fritter recruited a young man who was hoping to complete community service hours to help move the items from a SASIC campus on Aug. 6. He had no idea that it was illegal because school security guards also were moving the property, the report states.

The items were state property. The TEA had shut down the charter district after determining it had been operating schools at unapproved sites, listing students enrolled there as attending other schools in reports sent to the agency.

Fritter has not been charged. The case is still open, an SAPD spokesman said. She has not responded to previous requests for comment and didnt return a call Wednesday.

Officials gained access to the storage unit through negotiations with Fritters attorney, said Ron Rowell, the TEA director of governance and investigations. At the time the police report was filed, state officials had no idea where the property was, but its recovery does not mean the criminal complaint has been resolved, he said.

Theres been no resolution at this time, he said.

After the state revokes a districts charter, it typically reassigns school equipment and supplies to other charter schools in the region. In light of the extensive storm damage to many schools in Houston, state officials decided the items could best be used there.

Its an unusual situation where you have to go and retrieve your own property in order to share it with other charter schools in need, Rowell said. Thats sort of unusual.

The TEA first became involved with SASIC earlier this year, after an eruption of allegations and complaints from parents, students and school staff that included spoiled food being served in cafeterias. After briefly suspending classes at SASIC around Spring Break, the TEA allowed the district to reopen for the remainder of the 2016-17 school year with state oversight.

A special accreditation investigation later found that the locations of several schools and administrative buildings in the district had not been approved by the state. School officials had reported the data for students enrolled at the illegal sites through the approved ones, it found.

Additionally, SASIC had not completed the required criminal background checks on some of its employees and had put student safety at risk because of the problems with the food, according to the investigation.

After SASIC exhausted appeals over the summer, the TEA upheld its decision to shutter the district. Coming just before the start of 2017-18 school year, it sent parents scrambling to find new schools for their children and staff hurrying to find new jobs.
A 36-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly sexually assaulted a 17-year-old after a night of drinking with her.

Fritz Joshua Brietzke, of San Antonio, was charged with sexual assault. He was booked into the Bexar County Jail on a $75,000 bond.

According to his arrest affidavit, Brietzke and another woman were drinking together the night of Sept. 30 at a home on the Northeast Side.

RELATED: SAPD: Gunman opens fire through apartment window, fatally shoots woman in head

The victim arrived from work around 11:15 p.m. and began drinking with them. She went to bed around 5 a.m. on Oct. 1.

Brietzke allegedly woke her up by touching her inappropriately. According to the affidavit, he assaulted her, then stopped and told the victim he would return an hour later.

He did so and got in bed with the victim and raped her, police said.

Afterwards, the victim told her boyfriend about the incident and then reported the alleged sexual assault to police, authorities said.

RELATED: BCSO: 24-year-old fatally T-boned after running red light on far East Side

Later that day, police contacted Brietzke and the woman he had been drinking with. Police said they refused officers' requests to search the home, so a warrant was obtained and evidence was collected.

Police also collected DNA evidence from both Brietzke and victim. After receiving analyses of the evidence from a forensic examination unit, police obtained an arrest affidavit for Brietzke and booked him into jail.

Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

Caleb Downs is a crime reporter for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here.| cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns
A busy weekend for Border Patrol agents resulted in the seizure of nearly $4 million in drugs at two different checkpoints, according to news releases from the agency.

Agents stationed at the Falfurrias checkpoint reportedly stopped four smuggling attempts over the weekend. On Friday night, after a canine alerted agents to a tractor trailer driven by a Mexican national, agents found 80 pounds of cocaine worth about $2.8 million, officials said.
A standoff that required a SWAT response ended with the arrest of a Cibolo man on suspicion of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, police said.

Cibolo police were called out to the 300 block of Morgan Run around 11 p.m. Tuesday, according to a news release from the department. The caller told police that a man was holding his wife hostage at gunpoint, authorities said.
San Antonio Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information on aggravated robbery suspect who held up a dollar store employee at gunpoint.

On Oct. 14, the suspect walked into the Family Dollar in the 4600 block of FM 78 and picked out a remote control toy, according to a news release.
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A man accused of firing into an apartment and fatally shooting a woman in the head Wednesday morning on the East Side was arrested hours later.

San Antonio Police Department spokeswoman Sgt. Michelle Ramos said Desmond Leray Farr, 32, faces a murder charge in the shooting.

The suspect, who police described as a black man with bright red hair extensions, walked up to the woman's apartment around 1:15 a.m. in the 2900 block of Rigsby Avenue and began shooting through one of the windows, police said.

"She was there asleep in her apartment with her family," Ramos said. She confirmed that the woman was a mother of three.

RELATED: BCSO: Female inmate dies after being rushed to hospital

Now Playing: A gunman, police describe as a black man with bright red hair extensions, fatally shot a woman in the head Wednesday morning, Oct. 25, on the East Side. Video: San Antonio Express-News

The woman, who was in her 30s, was struck in the head, and paramedics transported her to San Antonio Military Medical Center in critical condition. She was later pronounced dead.

Detectives said Farr had been in a fight with another man who lived in the same building as the woman when he later returned and fired the shots.

"I'm innocent," Farr said as he was led in handcuffs to a police vehicle at the Public Safety Headquarters.

"I ain't even from Texas, I'm from Illinois," he said. "I came here to make a better life for myself."

Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

Caleb Downs is a crime reporter for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here.| cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns
Harris County Judge Ed Emmett plans to announce on Wednesday afternoon a series of recommendations to prepare for major storms like Hurricane Harvey.

Emmett will release 15 recommendations, according to a news release from Emmett's office.

"Only two months after one of the most catastrophic storms in American history, the sense of urgency that followed Hurricane Harvey has already begun slipping away in some levels of government," the release states. "But before the rest of the nation and Texas move on entirely, Harris County Judge Emmett will unveil 15 specific recommendations that federal, state and local governments -- as well as those in the private sector -- need to consider to help Harris County and southeast Texas alleviate the threat of a similar disaster in the future."

Last month, Emmett called for a sweeping reexamination of the region's flood control strategy, including billions of dollars to upgrade aging dams, building a new storm water reservoir and ramping up regulations to tamp down booming development in flood-prone areas.

Emmett also floated the possibility of large-scale buyouts, banding with surrounding counties to create a regional flood control district and seeking authority from the state to levy a sales tax to pay for what likely would be a massive initiative.

Emmett is also one of a majority of Harris County Commissioners Court that backs a bond issue --possibly upward of $1 billion -- to pay for flood control projects.
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WILTON  Thanks to a new partnership with an up-and-coming web-based developer, Wilton residents can now report non-emergency issues and concerns to the town at the click of a button.

This month, Wilton unveiled a new platform, called SeeClickFix, that will allow residents to report non-emergency neighborhood issues  such as potholes, trees down, traffic safety or park and playground issues. The reports can then be relayed directly to the appropriate town department, which will address and resolve the issue.

With free SeeClickFix web-based and mobile app tools, town residents can not only transmit their complaints immediately, but they can also provide the appropriate departments with pictures, videos, specific descriptions, and more.

In addition, the SeeClickFix platform will provide officials with a centralized issue management system to manage issues from creation to resolution  engaging town residents throughout the process. That way, residents will no longer have to go to Facebook to ask how to get their road repaired, said First Selectman Lynne Vanderslice.

Our residents have asked for more online government services, and SeeClickFix will facilitate communication with residents and respond to their needs more efficiently. We also hope SeeClickFix will empower our residents to collaborate in the care of our town, Vanderslice said.

This partnership not only allows Wilton residents to report problems, but also to view, comment on, and vote to fix problems submitted by their neighbors. Citizens can even create their own watch areas to receive notifications about all the issues reported in their neighborhood, enabling them to follow the progress of all service requests  not just the ones they report.

Vanderslice said that the town has been considering a switch to SeeClickFix from the more traditional methods of having to physically visit the Department of Public Works or call or email in a tip for a couple of years.

Though the software switch associated with system cost the town $7,000, the first selectman said that the cost will largely be offset by the resulting labor efficiencies.

We are happy to welcome the Town of Wilton to the SeeClickFix family, said SeeClickFix CEO and cofounder Ben Berkowitz. We look forward to an engaging partnership with the Wilton community.

SeeClickFix was founded in 2008 to empower citizens with tools to publicly document quality of life concerns in their local municipalities. In the nine years since its introduction, the reporting system has been adopted in other Connecticut municipalities, including New Haven, Hamden and Enfield.

Since New Haven adopted the system more than six years ago, more than 17,000 citizens, or 12 percent of the citys population, are using SeeClickFix. Former city administrator, Rob Smutts called SeeClickFix the universal front end for the city of New Haven.

Over its nearly decade-long lifespan, SeeClickFix has built one of the largest neighborhood networks in the world  upon which public agencies and public citizens engage to improve communities. Today, SeeClickFix has official partnerships with hundreds of cities, engaging hundreds of thousands of citizens in the resolution of millions of issues.

Not only has the system made reporting community problems instantaneous, but it may also make the towns that use it safer, according to study done at Yale University. The study shows that neighborhoods with more SeeClickFix posts tended to have fewer crimes and the crime rate was lower after the creation of SeeClickFix relative to before.

The SeeClickFix mobile app is available for download on Android, iPhone and Blackberry.

In addition to the mobile apps, citizens can send reports to the town of Wilton website and seeclickfix.com.
Find the newest releases to watch from National Geographic on Disney+, including favourite documentary series and films Free Solo, The Rescue, Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth and The World According to Jeff Goldblum.
Geography took pride of place in Cashel Community School with the inaugural Geography Week.

It is the study of patterns and processes in the physical and human environments, and during the week all students were encouraged to become involved in a range of activities to enhance their geographical knowledge and skills.

During the week sixth year students travelled to Tramore, Co. Waterford where they carried out their Leaving Certificate Geographical Investigation. They measured cliff height, examined wave-cut platforms and the geology of the area. They also assessed wind speed and direction, along with investigating the effects of coastal erosion in the locality of Tramore Bay.

Furthermore, transition year students were tasked with finding out the county/ country of origin of students and staff, and located them on a World map which was displayed in school.

At Cashel Community School the junior cycle classes are named after rivers, lakes and mountains located in Ireland, and each student had to find the root of their class name and some relevant facts about it.

Second year students were also involved as they constructed two and three-dimensional models related to geographical features, such as volcanoes and karst landscapes. They produced some outstanding work and they were presented with gift vouchers as prizes.

A big thanks to all staff and students for their help and cooperation during Geography week.
Oakpark Foods in Cahir is to create twenty new jobs after securing a deal to supply Aldi Uk stores.

Aldi announced that Tipperary-based premium pork and bacon producer Oakpark Foods has secured a contract worth over 2 million to supply Aldi UK.

The new deal will see Oakpark export its Maple Back and Honey Back Rashers for sale exclusively in 700 Aldi UK stores.

The new partnership with Aldi UK has led to the creation of 20 new jobs at Oakpark Foods.

Based in Cahir Oakpark Foods has supplied Aldi Ireland since 2012. The relationship has grown considerably over the past five years, with Oakpark Foods now supplying 40 pork and bacon products to Aldi Irelands 129 stores. Part of the Brett Group, Oakpark Foods employs just under one hundred full-time staff.

Finbar McCarthy, Aldi Irelands Group Buying Director said: We are delighted that another of our Irish suppliers has progressed to supplying Aldi internationally. Oakpark Foods produce the highest quality pork and bacon products and I am confident its offering will be a huge success with UK customers. The new partnership is an excellent example of the opportunities that exist for Irish producers and manufacturers who can supply high quality innovative products to our international network of stores.

Several companies supplying Aldi Ireland have availed of Aldis worldwide store network to access international markets and trade with Aldis international business including ABP,Glenpatrick Spring Water and Irish Dog Foods.

Commenting on the new contract with Aldi UK, John Brett, Account Manager at Oakpark Foods stated: We are very proud of our strong tradition of providing the very finest in award-winning Irish bacon and pork products to market. Our relationship with Aldi for the past five years has been a key driver of innovation and expansion at Oakpark Foods within the Irish market and beyond. We look forward to continuing this fruitful partnership into the future and taking it to a new level by supplying premium Irish products to Aldi.

Oakpark tasted success recently at the prestigious Grocer Gold Awards in London where it picked up gold for Aldis own label Thick Cut Honey Back Rasher which is on sale in Aldi Irelands 129 stores under Aldis private label Brannans.

Aldi is committed to growing its Irish supply base and increasing the number of Irish products available in its stores. In 2016 Aldi spent over 700 million with Irish producers, manufacturers and suppliers. Over 50% of Aldis sales come from products sourced from Irish based suppliers. Aldi recently increased its support for small Irish suppliers by reducing its payment terms to 14 days for suppliers that transact up to 300k annually with Aldi.
Martin Luther in the Circle of Reformers, 162550 (oil on panel), by an artist of the German School. Credit: DHM Berlin/Bridgeman Images

On 31 October 1517, as legend has it, renegade monk Martin Luther nailed a document to the door of All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, Germany. The Ninety-five Theses marked the beginning of the Reformation, the first major break in the unity of Christianity since 1054. Luther proclaimed a radical new theology: salvation by faith alone, the priesthood of all believers, the ultimate authority not of the Church, but of the Bible. By 1520, he had rejected the authority of the pope. Lutherans and followers of French reformer John Calvin found themselves engaged in bitter wars against Catholicism that lasted for a century and a half.

This age of religious warfare was also the age of the scientific revolution: Nicolaus Copernicus's On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres (1543), Tycho Brahe's Introduction to the New Astronomy (1588), Johannes Kepler's New Astronomy (1609), Galileo Galilei's telescopic discoveries (1610), the experiments with air pressure and the vacuum by Blaise Pascal (1648) and Robert Boyle (1660), and Isaac Newton's Principia (1687).

Were the Reformation and this revolution merely coincident, or did the Reformation somehow facilitate or foster the new science, which rejected traditional authorities such as Aristotle and relied on experiments and empirical information? Suppose Martin Luther had never existed; suppose the Reformation had never taken place. Would the history of science have been fundamentally different? Would there have been no scientific revolution? Would we still be living in the world of the horse and cart, the quill pen and the matchlock firearm? Can we imagine a Catholic Newton, or is Newton's Protestantism somehow fundamental to his science?

The key book on this subject was published in 1938 by Robert Merton, the great US sociologist who went on to invent terms that have become part of everyday speech, such as 'role model', 'unanticipated consequence' and 'self-fulfilling prophecy'. Merton's first book, Science, Technology and Society in Seventeenth-Century England, attracted little attention initially. But in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, historians of science endlessly and inconclusively debated what they called the Merton thesis: that Puritanism, the religion of the founders of the New England colonies, had fostered scientific enquiry, and that this was precisely why England, where the religion had motivated a civil war, had a central role in the construction of modern science.

Those debates have fallen quiet. But it is still widely argued by historians of science that the Protestant religion and the new science were inextricably intertwined, as Protestantism turned away from the spirituality of Catholicism and fostered a practical engagement with the world, exemplified in the idea that a person's occupation was their vocation. Merton was following in the footsteps of German sociologist Max Weber, who argued that Protestantism had led to capitalism.

I disagree. First, plenty of great sixteenth- and seventeenth-century scientists were Catholics, including Copernicus, Galileo and Pascal. Second, one of the most striking features of the new science was how easily it passed back and forth between Catholics and Protestants. At the height of the religious wars, two Protestant astronomers were appointed one after another as mathematicians to the Catholic Holy Roman Emperor: first Brahe, then Kepler. Louis XIV, who expelled the Protestants from France in 1685, had previously hired Protestants such as Christiaan Huygens for his Academy of Sciences. The experiments of Pascal, a devout Catholic, were quickly copied in England by the devoutly Protestant Boyle. The Catholic Church banned Copernicanism, but was quick to change its mind in the light of Newton's discoveries. And third, if we can point to Protestant communities that seem to have produced more than their share of great scientists, we can also point to Protestant societies where the new science did not flourish until later  Scotland, for example.

Discovery and dissemination

What made the scientific revolution possible were three developments. A new confidence in the possibility of discovery was the first: there was no word for discovery in European languages before exploration uncovered the Americas. The printing press was the second. It brought about an information revolution: instead of commenting on a few canonical texts, intellectuals learnt to navigate whole libraries of information. In the process, they invented the modern idea of the fact  reliable information that could be checked and tested. Finally, there was the new claim by mathematicians to be better at understanding the world than philosophers, a claim that was grounded in their development of the experimental method.

If the scientific revolution is properly called a revolution, it is because of that: the mathematicians seized power and prestige from the philosophers. The challenge is in the full title of Newton's Principia: Philosophi Naturalis Principia Mathematica  the mathematical principles of natural philosophy. This revolt goes back to works such as Niccolo Fontana Tartaglia's New Science of 1537, a study in the mathematics of artillery. The frontispiece shows ancient Greek mathematician Euclid holding the gate through which one must pass to attain true knowledge, announcing the new ambition of mathematicians to interpret the world. With the exceptions of Boyle and anatomist Andreas Vesalius, all the scientists I mention here were mathematicians, and even Boyle is remembered for a law on the behaviour of gases that he discovered with the help of mathematicians.

Break with tradition

This was no easy or rapid victory: philosophy, particularly Aristotelianism, had long had a powerful hold over Europe's intellectual life. It was widely held that Aristotle had known everything worth knowing about nature, and that to recover that knowledge one had only to study his texts with exquisite care, rather than explore what Galileo and others called the book of nature. The key question is: did the Protestant Reformation encourage the turn from the books of Aristotle to the book of nature?

Certainly, Aristotelian philosophy was embedded in Catholic theology. The Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation  that in the Mass, bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ  was propounded through Aristotelian ideas about essence and appearance. The Catholic Church condemned the writings of Rene Descartes because his emphasis on the quantifiable was seen as incompatible with this doctrine. The mechanical philosophy of Descartes and others became the intellectual underpinning of much of the new science in the second half of the seventeenth century, but was always suspect in Catholic countries.

However, in the real world, things were not so simple. The first powerful advocate of the mechanical philosophy was a Catholic priest (and professor of mathematics), Pierre Gassendi; Descartes never wavered in his Catholicism, although he did choose to live in the Protestant Netherlands. Both Catholic and Protestant theologians knew that Aristotle had denied the immortality of the soul and the creation of the Universe, and were accustomed to making a sharp intellectual distinction between his philosophy and Christian theology. Even in the Netherlands, the Cartesians were able to establish themselves in universities only by insisting that they, too, were entitled to keep their philosophy distinct from their theology.

Not so different

Protestants did not reject Aristotelianism. Their universities outside the Netherlands were as wedded to it as Catholic ones. In England, a chair in natural philosophy was established in 1621 at Oxford, one of the universities most open to the new science. Yet until the end of the century, its holders were required to teach Aristotle; Oxford's mathematicians taught the new physics and astronomy of Galileo, Kepler and Newton.

An image from Rene Descartes's Optics (1637). Credit: LIB. Congress/SPL Moreover, Catholics were often just as willing as Protestants to make intellectual space for the new science. Kepler's argument that Copernicanism could be reconciled with the Bible was censored by Protestant theologians, but later published under Catholic Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II. And among both Catholics and Protestants, religious commitment sometimes clashed with scientific activity. Pascal gave up science after a religious experience; so did the Protestant Jan Swammerdam, one of the first great microscopists. And although Protestants had a tradition of disputing authority and undertaking radical change, Protestantism as a state religion could be as conservative as Catholicism. If England led the way in promoting the new science, the relative openness and intellectual diversity of its culture after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 is more significant than the religion of its scientists.

What fatally weakened the hold of the old Aristotelian physics and Ptolemaic astronomy was the voyages of discovery, followed by the invention of the telescope and the barometer. It was not the Reformation: the scientific revolution would have taken place without that. Indeed, progress might even have been more rapid, because the Church would have been less dogmatic in responding to novelty. The Council of Trent (154563), assembled by the Catholic Church in reaction to Luther's bombshell, tightened up doctrine, requiring it to conform to long-established tradition. This led directly to the condemnation of Copernicanism and its heliocentric cosmos as heretical. One only has to think of the continuing clash between Protestant fundamentalism and Darwinism to see that there is no straightforward match between Protestantism and scientific values. The Catholic Church has never condemned Darwinism.

So, let's for a moment imagine again that there had been no Ninety-Five Theses, no Reformation, no Protestantism. In this alternative world, Copernicus would surely have published On the Revolutions, and Vesalius his 1543 treatise On the Fabric of the Human Body. Brahe would have observed the supernova of 1572 and the comet of 1577; the telescope would still have been invented; and Galileo would have observed the phases of Venus and discovered the law of free fall. The intellectual problems that led to Kepler's new astronomy, and made possible the Newtonian synthesis, would still have been in place by the early seventeenth century.

Scientists, as scientists, are under no particular obligation to either celebrate or bemoan the publication of Luther's theses 500 years ago. There have been great Protestant and Catholic scientists, and others who had different faiths or (perhaps including Galileo) no religious belief at all. What happened in the scientific revolution was that science developed its own procedures and modes of enquiry and thus established its independence from both philosophers and theologians. Newton's heresy (he was a Unitarian) and his obsession with biblical chronology as a tool for calculating the coming end of the world neither helped nor hindered him in formulating his theory of gravity, any more than Pascal's heresy (he was a Jansensist, a denier of free will) helped him to develop a sophisticated theory of pressure in liquids and gases.
Science PhD students love what they do  but many also suffer for it. That's one of the top findings from Nature's survey of more than 5,700 doctoral students worldwide. Credit: Adapted from Getty

The survey is the latest in a biennial series that aims to explore all aspects of PhD students' lives and career aspirations. Respondents indicated high levels of satisfaction with PhD programmes overall, but also revealed significant levels of worry and uncertainty: more than one-quarter listed mental health as an area of concern, and 45% of those (or 12% of all respondents) said that they had sought help for anxiety or depression caused by their PhD studies (see 'A challenging road'). Many said that they find their work stressful, worry about their futures and wonder whether their efforts will pay off in earning them a satisfying and well-compensated career. For some, it's almost too much to handle. Every university should have a special room reserved for graduate students to get some crying time in when they are feeling overwhelmed, said an ecology student at a US university, in the survey's comment section.

Responses also uncovered a strong, perhaps crucial, connection between a well-matched PhD adviser and the student's success. Good mentorship was the main factor driving satisfaction levels. Most respondents were happy with their adviser, but nearly one-quarter said they would switch advisers if they could. Students can survive and thrive during a PhD programme  challenges and all  but they generally can't do it alone. I'm a happy PhD student, a genetics student from South Africa wrote in the comments. This life is difficult but it's what I've wanted to do my whole life, so it's worth it. I also have a fantastic supervisor who is understanding, helpful and ready to push me to the next level.

Widespread struggles

The respondents to the 2017 survey came from diverse scientific fields and from most parts of the world. Asia, Europe and North America were all strongly and equally represented. The survey was advertised through links on nature.com, in Springer Nature digital products and through e-mail campaigns. The data (which are available in full at go.nature.com/2kzo89o) were fleshed out by interviews with a small group of respondents who had indicated that they were willing to be contacted.

There were many positives. Overall, more than three-quarters of respondents were at least somewhat satisfied with their decision to do a PhD, a strong endorsement for such a massive commitment. That result closely mirrors those from other surveys of PhD students, says Katia Levecque, an industrial-relations specialist at Ghent University in Belgium. About 80% of PhD students are satisfied or very satisfied, she says. It's a consistent finding in most universities.

The fact that 12% of respondents sought help for anxiety or depression caused by their PhD underscores the stresses of the graduate student life, Levecque says. You're expected to take responsibility, but you aren't given control over a lot of issues, she points out. And because the 12% includes only people who sought help for their distress, it almost certainly understates the prevalence of anxiety and depression among all respondents to the survey.

The Nature survey also found that students with anxiety don't always have an easy time getting help. Of those who sought assistance, only 35% said that they found helpful resources at their own institution. Nearly 20% said they tried to find help at their home institution but didn't feel supported.There are so many cultural and financial barriers to seeking help, says Levecque.

In the Nature survey, nearly 50% of students who reported seeking help for anxiety or depression said that they were still satisfied or very satisfied with their doctoral programme. Kate Samardzic, who studies pharmacology at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia, was one of the hundreds of respondents who live with that apparent paradox. She's satisfied with her programme, but she is also under considerable stress. There's a lot of uncertainty in becoming a researcher, she says. You're under pressure to please your adviser and do everything in a certain time frame. And you don't know what kind of job you'll get at the end of the day. I'm halfway through and I still don't know where it's going to lead.

Samardzic knows that she isn't the only one going through this. She had read a study published in March by Levecque and colleagues (K. Levecque et al. Res. Pol. 46, 868879; 2017) showing that PhD students were about 2.5 times more likely than highly educated people in the general population to be at risk of depression and other common psychiatric disorders. To tackle this problem, Samardzic, a student representative who serves as liaison to the university board, helped to form Research Resilience, a university group that holds regular seminars designed to help students cope with the emotional toll of PhD studies. I sensed that there wasn't enough support for people who are feeling anxious or upset about their PhD programmes, she says. That should be more of a priority.

Research Resilience holds monthly seminars that draw 3040 students. Recent topics have included tips on mindfulness and the pitfalls of impostor syndrome  the pervasive feeling that one doesn't really belong with the rest of the PhD crowd (go.nature.com/2gtufgt). We're all high-achieving individuals, which makes us even more prone to those sorts of feelings, Samardzic says. Indeed, nearly one in four respondents to the survey listed impostor syndrome as one of the difficulties they face.

Among them was Andrew Proppe, who studies physical chemistry at the University of Toronto in Canada. Like Samardzic, he is satisfied with his PhD, despite hefty doses of anxiety. For him, feelings of alienation were exacerbated by the fact that, for a while, he also felt physically out of place.

Proppe had started a PhD programme at Princeton University in New Jersey, but left after about a year and a half because, despite having an excellent adviser, he didn't feel fully prepared for the programme or the town. He had grown up in culture-rich, populous Montreal, and felt disoriented in the relatively small town of Princeton. It was no fun at all, he says. I hadn't factored in how important the environment would be to me. I gave up everything I had back at home to go out there, and it didn't seem worth it. I was unhappy.

Proppe's current adviser, Ted Sargent at the University of Toronto, was eager to add Proppe to his team. He was working with one of the world's best physical chemists at Princeton, so he had some skills that were a clear benefit to my group. Proppe was also able to provide some insight into how his previous adviser ran his lab. I asked him to engage in academic espionage, Sargent jokes. You might think that after 20 years I have this completely figured out, but it's still an evolving process.

Returning to Canada helped Proppe to regain his footing, but it didn't completely remove the anxiety of PhD work. I was running the day through my head, he says. At three in the morning, I'd be thinking about data sets. Having never had to deal with much stress or anxiety before in his life, it took him a while to recognize the problem. Once he realized how much his PhD worries were affecting his life, he started to make changes. I stopped trying to stay at work until 11, to instead make more time to play guitar, exercise and be with my girlfriend, he says.

A worthwhile commitment

PhD anxiety can have a variety of causes. Among other issues, the survey uncovered widespread concerns about future employment. Only 31% of respondents said that their programme was preparing them well or very well for a satisfying career. But more than three-quarters agreed or strongly agreed that it was preparing them well for a research career, suggesting that many see a significant distinction between a research career and a satisfying career. And although two-thirds of respondents said that a doctoral degree would substantially or dramatically improve their future job prospects, one-third had a more tepid outlook.

Not all respondents are certain that the labour and stress of their programme will pay off. Hannah Brewer, a data scientist at the Institute for Cancer Research in London, says that she second-guesses herself whenever she Googles job openings in her field. A lot of those jobs only require a master's degree, so I don't know if a PhD is going to help in any way, she says. Still, she's happy with her decision to get a doctorate. I wouldn't do it differently if I could go back, she says. I appreciate the level of skill that I'm working at, and I'm excited about my research.

Important advice

Mentorship contributed more to respondents' overall satisfaction with their PhD programme than did any other factor. Specifically, guidance from, and recognition by, an adviser proved to be the top determinant.

Yet, a sizeable proportion of survey respondents are unhappy with the mentoring they receive. Beyond the 23% who said they would swap advisers if they could, nearly one-fifth of respondents, or 18%, said that they do not have useful conversations about careers with their advisers  the person who is uniquely well positioned to help doctoral students to identify their ideal career path and learn how to pursue it.

Respondents said that conversations with their supervisor about non-academic careers are notably absent. My adviser looks down on non-academic jobs and thinks they're only suitable for people who aren't very motivated, wrote a chemistry student in the United States in the comments. Around 30% disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement that their supervisor has useful advice for non-academic careers, about the same proportion as in Nature's 2015 survey of graduate students. Slightly more than half of respondents in this year's survey agreed that their supervisor was open to their pursuing a degree outside of academia, which also echoes findings from the 2015 survey.

Sensing an institutional indifference towards career development, Samardzic and other students have started organizing careers events in which graduates and other experts talk about their options. She helped to arrange a recent talk by a PhD student who had gone overseas for a workshop on entrepreneurship and biomedical innovation. There needs to be more of that, she says. I feel like I don't know about half of the jobs that exist out there.

The survey responses suggest that many PhD students lack a clear vision of their future. Nearly 75% of respondents said that they would like a job in academia as an option after they graduate, whereas 55% said that they would like to work in industry. That might partly be down to indecision: nearly half of respondents indicated that they were likely or very likely to pursue a career in either sector.

The strong interest in academia echoes findings from the 2015 survey in which 78% of respondents said that they were likely or very likely to pursue a career in academia despite a lack of job opportunities. The dearth was highlighted in an analysis published in 2015 (N. Ghaffarzadegan et al. Syst. Res. Behav. Sci. 23, 402405; 2015), which estimated that in the United States, there are on average 6.3 PhD graduates in biomedical sciences for every tenure-track academic job opening.

Doctoral studies don't seem to be prompting large numbers of students to rethink their commitment to research. Nearly 80% said that the likelihood that they will pursue a research career has grown or remained unchanged since they launched their PhD programme  up from 67% in the 2015 survey.

With an already tough academic job market getting tougher, many hopefuls will need guidance. But that's not always easy to come by. Only 15% of respondents said that they found useful career resources at their institution, down from 18% in the 2015 survey.

To a large extent, students are serving as their own career counsellors. When asked how they arrived at their current career decision, almost two-thirds chalked it up at least in part to their own research on the topic. Just 34% credited advice from their adviser.

Laying some groundwork with an adviser early on can go a long way towards improving the PhD experience, Proppe says. After leaving Princeton for Toronto, he immediately had a direct talk with Sargent, his new adviser. I asked all of the questions I wished I had asked when I first started graduate school, he says. By the end of the conversation, he had a good idea about how the lab operated, how often he'd see his adviser and how much supervision he could expect.

Alberto Brandl, a student in aerospace engineering at the Polytechnic Institute of Turin in Italy, knew his co-supervisors before he started his PhD programme. I hoped they would be great mentors, and I'm very satisfied, he says. It helped that his advisers were very accommodating when his daughter was born, early in the PhD process. They said it was a beautiful thing, he says. I didn't take much time off, but they told me to take as much as I needed. He feels that his advisers give him just enough guidance to make his own decisions, instead of dictating every step. It's the difference between a boss and a leader, he says. Brandl counts himself fortunate. I know people who have abandoned their PhDs because of their mentors.

Survey responses can only go so far, and sometimes there's a deeper story beneath the data. Yissue Woo, a microbiologist at the Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, gave his adviser high marks, but says that he and his supervisor have had no career-related discussions. For now, Woo is too preoccupied with his studies and research to broach the subject with his adviser.

I'm not new to research, so I'm not surprised by setbacks. When things don't work, I know that's just how it is.

He also rated his PhD experience highly, but that's partly because he's learnt to take failures in stride. I'm not new to research, he says, so I'm not surprised by setbacks. When things don't work, I know that's just how it is.
Illinois lawmakers returned to the Capitol for veto session Tuesday, and one of the issues at the forefront was a growing number of sexual harassment allegations involving everyone from elected officials to lobbyists and staffers.

After so many women spoke out about predatory behavior in Hollywood following the bombshell allegations against disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, the #MeToo movement has spread to politics.

While sexual harassment is not limited to Springfield  that's where change may first take place.

Kady McFadden lobbies lawmakers for the Sierra Club and wants others to know their voice has power.

"I've had my hair pulled, I've had hands up my skirt, I've also just been laughed off, she said.

McFadden is among the women in Illinois politics speaking out, using a Facebook group Illinois Say No More and an open letter that details a culture of misogynistic and even predatory behavior that signers say happens on a regular basis.

Titled #MeToo? Its Time to Demand #NoMore in Illinois, the letter includes very specific allegations  without naming names  as well as a call to action to demand better from The Women Who Make Illinois Run.

"I had candidates refuse to pay me because I rejected them for dinner and dates," political fundraiser Katelynd Duncan said of her own experience with harassment.

Duncan runs her own consulting business, in which candidates hire her to raise campaign funds, and she said shes not alone in her experiences that led her to work on the letter.

"There are hundreds of women who are not comfortable telling their story, she added. They do not feel safe they're afraid that theyll be fired from their jobs or they'll be publicly shamed."

The letter and group have caught lawmakers attention  with state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) introducing a resolution urging the General Assembly to work on ways to change the culture, and state Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston), whos running for governor, introducing a proposal to require all legislators, staff and lobbyists to receive yearly sexual harassment training.

That proposal has garnered bipartisan support from Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan and GOP Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady.

Sexual harassment is unacceptable in any workplace, Madigan said in a statement promising to advance the legislation.

We can and should do more to ensure no individual is the target of sexual harassment in the Capitol or anywhere else, he continued, adding that he has directed staff to conduct a thorough review of all existing policies related to this issue and to continue identifying further changes that can and should be made.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Bruce Rauner said in a statement that he "mandated a sexual harassment-free workplace for state employees almost two years ago."

An executive order signed by Rauner in Feb. 2016 "directed the creation of the states first Code of Personal Conduct," she added.

"The order derives from the Governor's strong belief in an ethical, respectful and accountable workplace and from his personal conviction that sexual harassment is unacceptable in all forms. State agency employees also receive required sexual harassment prevention training," the statement concluded.

The issue isnt just about the hazards women face in the workplace, supporters said  its also about the negative impact a toxic culture has on the policies that come from Springfield.

"I've devoted my life to fighting for a strong state, to fighting for a healthier planet, for healthier communities and ultimately this culture in Springfield is preventing us from having a stronger democracy," McFadden said.

"We're the ones that pass legislation and laws, and if we can't set the bar, if we can't set the standard for how to behave, then shame on us, added Duncan.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the open letter had more than 170 signatures from lawmakers, staffers and political consultants demanding change.
What to Know Girl reported missing Oct. 7 after father said he placed her outside when she refused to drink her milk.

In a statement to police Oct. 23, girl's father said she choked on her milk and died and that he removed her body from the home.

Dallas County medical examiner confirmed through dental records that the child found Sunday was Sherin Mathews.

The body of a North Texas child found in a drainage culvert Sunday has been confirmed to be missing 3-year-old Sherin Mathews.

Richardson police released new details to NBC 5 and confirmed the finding late Tuesday morning, citing a report from the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office saying the child had been positively identified using dental records.

Richardson Police Sgt. Kevin Perlich gives an update on the case of Sherin Mathews.

The girl's adoptive father, Wesley Mathews, was arrested Monday night after changing his story, telling police he "physically assisted" his daughter in drinking milk and that she died after beginning to choke, according to an arrest affidavit. He then told police he removed her body from the family's Richardson home.

Today Dallas M.E. has confirmed the identity of child recovered on 10/22 as 3yo Sherin Mathews using dental records. Cause of death pending. pic.twitter.com/Xkhg0TeEo4  Richardson Police (@RichardsonTX_PD) October 24, 2017

After being read his Miranda rights, detectives said Mathews told them had been trying to get his youngest daughter to drink milk in the garage but that she wouldn't listen to him.

"Eventually the 3-year-old girl began to drink the milk," the affidavit said. "Wesley Mathews then physically assisted the 3-year-old girl in drinking the milk. The 3-year-old girl began to choke. She was coughing and her breathing slowed. Eventually, Wesley Mathews no longer felt a pulse on the child and believed she had died."



Mathews told police he then removed the girl's body from the home, though no further details were given about where he left his child, according to the affidavit.

Mathews, who was out on bond after being charged with negligence, was re-arrested and charged with felony injury to a child Monday night. His bond on the new charge was set at $1 million.

NBC DFW was reaching out to his attorney.

The body of a child found in a drainage culvert Sunday has been confirmed to be missing 3-year-old Sherin Mathews.

Sherin Mathews was reported missing Oct. 7. Wesley Mathews initially told police she went missing around 3 a.m. after being told to stand outside as punishment for not drinking milk and that she was gone when he checked on her 15 minutes later.

In his original story, Wesley Mathews told police he went to look for the girl but returned home and did some laundry while waiting for her to return. Just after 8 a.m., nearly five hours after she disappeared, Mathews called police to report his youngest daughter was missing.

NBC 5 News

After a night of heavy rainfall Sunday morning, the body of a small child was found in a drainage culvert not far from the Mathews' home. Richardson police said late Tuesday morning the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the child was Mathews using dental records.



Earlier Monday, Wesley Mathews and his wife Sini Mathews attended a court hearing to determine whether they could regain custody of their biological 4-year-old daughter, who had been placed in protective custody after her sister was reported missing.

The body of a child found in a drainage culvert Sunday has been confirmed to be missing 3-year-old Sherin Mathews.

The judge postponed the hearing until Nov. 13 to give Wesley Mathews time to hire a civil attorney, said Marissa Gonzales, a spokeswoman for Child Protective Services. The girl will remain in foster care at least until that hearing or until a judge orders a change in custody.

Wesley Mathews Arrest Affidavit


President Donald Trump visited Dallas Wednesday afternoon for fundraisers benefiting his campaign and the Republican National Committee.

Donors at the events were asked to contribute between $2,700 to $100,000 per person. A photo with Trump costs $35,000 per person.

Trump was expected to raise $4 million at fundraisers. The event for 200 guests at Belo Mansion also featured RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel and some guests paid up to $100,000 to attend.

The president's Dallas visit was originally scheduled for Sept. 27, but was rescheduled due to Hurricane Harvey.

According to organizers, only donors in Houston and Los Angeles contributed more to the president's 2016 campaign than Dallas.

About three dozen protesters, including members of the Texas Organizing Project, gathered outside the event center.

Texas @GovAbbott & Lt. Gov. @DanPatrick,



Thank you for todays briefing on hurricane recovery efforts here in TX. Keep up the great work! pic.twitter.com/rBel6IWrJl  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2017

Before heading to the fundraiser, Trump participated in a briefing with Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at Dallas Love Field, pointing to "tremendous success" in Texas' work to recover from Hurricane Harvey.

Trump praised all of the emergency responders in the aftermath of the devastating hurricane that dumped record rainfall on areas around Houston and flooded thousands of homes as it lingered for days in late August.

"We've had a tremendous success in the state of Texas," Trump said.

Abbott credited Trump for returning to Texas to assess recovery efforts.

"He continues to show his commitment to helping Texans respond to the disaster of Hurricane Harvey and the flooding events. He has seen firsthand the challenges that Texans face," Abbott said.

Trump noted that Texas has long been at risk for hurricanes and flooding and said the state and federal government should "look at the concept of a more permanent solution because you do get inundated and it's been going on for decades."

"Let's take a look at the cost and see if it's possible to do, because that would save a lot of money into the future and it would also put a lot of people to work," Trump said.

The president, who earned his fortune in New York City real estate, spoke of the benefits of using greenboard in buildings because it is more water resistant than typical drywall. He described it as "a little more expensive than sheetrock" but might be useful in hurricane zones.

"I'm the builder president," Trump said.
A woman who says she slipped on the remnants of a sandwich can continue her lawsuit against a popular convenience store chain, a Delaware judge said last week.



Lisa Donovan says she slipped and fell on "hoagie guts," or discarded sandwich pieces, in the parking lot of a Wawa store in 2014.

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Defense attorneys asked for summary judgment in their favor, arguing that Donovan had failed to identify a liability expert on the issue of whether the store was negligent.

Donovan argued that an expert was unnecessary because the need to sweep up trash in a parking lot is something the average person can understand.

The judge agreed with Donovan last week, saying a splattered hoagie in a parking lot is no different than water on the floor of a grocery store.
The brother of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock has been arrested on suspicion of possession of child pornography, according to police.

Bruce Paddock, 59, was arrested early Wednesday at an assisted living center in North Hollywood. Aerial video showed investigators in a lot behind the building in the 5300 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard.

A criminal complaint filed in Los Angeles County lists 20 potential counts and indicates the alleged crimes, including possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child, occurred in 2014. Los Angeles police said the investigation began after authorities discovered evidence inside a business in Sun Valley. Bruce Paddock had been "squatting" inside the business on San Fernando Road following his eviction from a residence, police said.

Authorities were unable to locate Paddock during the initial investigation. It was not immediately clear what led investigators to the North Hollywood location.

It wasn't immediately known if he has an attorney. Bond was set at $60,000.

An attorney who represented Bruce Paddock in past criminal matters told NBC News that he is no longer representing him and declined comment. Court records show Bruce Paddock has previous convictions for vandalism, criminal threats and theft, according to NBC News.

Bruce Paddock spoke with NBC News following the shooting, describing his own misdeeds as "minor." He said he was questioned by FBI agents after the mass shooting, mostly about his brother's childhood, NBC News reported.

Another brother, Eric Paddock also spoke to NBC News following the Oct. 1 shooting where his 64-year-old brother fired on a crowded outdoor music festival in Las Vegas, killing 58 people and wounding scores more. He said he was "dumbfounded" by his brother's actions and recalled him as "just a guy" who stayed at hotels, gambled and went to shows.

Nearly a month after the shooting, authorities are still attempting to determine the motive behind the shooting, the deadliest in modern U.S. history.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.


Carlo's Bakery, best known as the setting of the TLC series "Cake Boss," will celebrate the grand opening of its first California location at the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica next month.

"We're taking the bakery to California - I can't believe it!," said master baker Buddy Valastro, who will be on hand for the 7 a.m. opening ceremony on Nov. 18.

"We're always asked when we'll make it out there and I honestly couldn't be more humbled to say the big day is finally here," he said. "Carlo's Bakery has come such a long way since Hoboken. I'm touched by the outpouring of support and encouragement we receive from fans to grow the business. I know my father would be so proud. I just want to give everyone a little piece of that Hoboken magic and I'm so thrilled that Santa Monica is the next stop on our journey."

The 22nd Carlo's location will offer the brand's full menu of signature treats, including cannoli, lobster tail and cupcakes, along with over-the-top custom cakes for all occasions made famous by Valastro on "Cake Boss."

Established in 1910 in Hoboken, Carlo's Bakery has seven locations in New Jersey, three in Texas and two each in New York and Pennsylvania, along with Las Vegas; Orlando; Atlanta; the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota; Uncasville, Connecticut; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.


To celebrate Samhain, a Wiccan festival that falls on the evening of Oct. 31, Washington, D.C. resident Elizabeth Stephens usually prepares a pot of jambalaya to honor her late grandmother and a plate of roast beef in memory of her parents. She marks the festival with witches and fellow Wiccans, who offer their own dishes as a part of the days feast. The table they set becomes patterned with platters that were the favorites of family members and friends.

As a part of the celebration, a black cloth is held above the heads of the attendees and cut with a knife through the center, representing an opening between the spirit and material worlds. After some time has passed, participants encourage the spirits to return to their realm and the cut in the cloth is sewn.

Images of witches being veiled in darkness, casting spells over cauldrons endure, but a new generation of Wiccans and witches have established growing communities in D.C. and across the country.

Like other Wiccans and witches, Stephens has come out of the broom closet -- a term that refers to publicly revealing ones beliefs as a Wiccan or witch. They are fighting back against misinformation about Wiccans and witches.

Stephens said she loves Halloween.

Its a celebration of the witch. You can have sexy witches, you can have scary witches, but its still a celebration of the witch. Even if the witch isnt shown in a positive light, said Stephens, a 37-year-old Wiccan who also practices witchcraft.

Teighe Thorsen is a 29-year-old D.C. resident and witch who cofounded the group CityWitches in 2016.

Thorsen said she created the group, which includes Wiccans, Pagans and other occultists, as a place where the alternate outcasts of magic can actually come together and talk.

Were getting a lot of youth, a lot of people generally under 30, although not always, who are trying to find somewhere in their life that they actually have power, she said. Theyre trying to find it in something that is non-dogmatic and something that is just their own -- mystical, different, badass and empowering.

Since starting CityWitches, Thorsen said she has seen an increase in interest from those inspired by her magic, including the rituals she writes on her Instagram, and a rise in members on the group's Facebook page.

On her Instagram, Thorsen posts pictures of and describes in detail her magical practices. In one photo, she set up candles around a pentagram, with tarot cards, amethyst crystals and feathers surrounding the shrine. She occasionally posts photos of herself that show her colorful hair and amulets of jade and lapis lazuli.

Witches have repeatedly captured Americans' imaginations. The Craft" and the Harry Potter series are all hits, along with television shows like American Horror Story: Coven." But the visibility can create problems with perceptions. This Halloween version of witchcraft has made people assume about what Thorsen's practices are, she said.

Those are fantastical interpretations of what a witch is, but there is a little bit of truth to it, Thorsen said. There are things that you can do to affect certain results around you that most people wont pick up on but you know how to do it.

All magic involves completing certain things, like spells, to create certain consequences that a witch wants, Thorsen said.

It [magic] is a tool for personal development and empowerment as well as for changing your environment, for helping the people around you, and fear is never welcome. Fear is the antithesis of forward momentum, Thorsen said. "What I practice in magic is fearlessness.

Whereas witchcraft includes magical practices that can change from witch to witch, Wicca is a religion with a set structure, according to Penny Verin-Shapiro, a professor in the anthropology department at California State University, Fresno. Verin-Shapiro spoke to Wiccans and witches, studying their separate systems of beliefs, for her 2014 book Central Valley Pagans.

Verin-Shapiro found in her interviews with Wiccans and witches that many of them didnt seem to fit into the religions that they followed previously and stumbled on something that made them want to convert. She said that the influx of information on the internet has contributed to more individuals identifying themselves within modern-day witchcraft and Wicca.

Its [the internet] made it a lot easier to find out information that was hidden before and to find a group, if you want to a group to work with or to learn from, Verin-Shapiro said. Theres just a whole lot more information out there now that is easily accessed."

Along with the availability of information, a more accepting attitude toward other religions has allowed Wiccans and witches to be more vocal and visible with their beliefs, according to Verin-Shapiro.

The general public has become more accepting that not everybody has to be Christian, that there are many ways to worship, she said. So it has become easier for some people to come out of the broom closet.

Being out of the broom closet hasnt always been an option.

For centuries, the word witch was associated with witch trials, including the famous Salem witch trials in the 17th century, which accused some of practicing and performing magic.

Witchcraft didnt begin and end with the witch trials. From Caribbean Santeria to Italian Stregheria to various voodoo practices in West Africa and Louisiana, witches have discovered methods to magic and medicine within themselves in the past and present.

Modern-day witches have created their own collection of magic practices, inspired by centuries of witchcraft from across the world, according to Laura, a 58-year-old Wiccan high priestess who asked News4 to withhold her last name because she does not want her children to be harassed because of her beliefs. She said she has considered herself a witch for more than 30 years.

Within every faith, you can find some sort or form of magic worker or belief in energy, in that you are able to work with the energy forces, Laura said. Not all of those people would have necessarily called themselves witches, of course. But they were working with the same constructs.

Laura said she has been interested in magic since childhood. She found Wicca through a teacher, who said she could trace her teachers back to the founder of the modern-day Wiccan movement.

Gerald Gardner, a member of the Masons, combined elements from ceremonial magic and folk tradition into what he coined Wicca, which means "to bend," according to Laura. She studied different degrees of mastery in Wicca to become a high priestess.

For me, it is literally seeing the giant web of life and how every touch upon it affects something else in ways that are often unexpected," Laura said.

From honoring an earth goddess with a mindfulness about ones effect on the environment to an awareness about the three-fold law, which says that any action put out into the world comes back to someone three times, the Wicca that Laura follows teaches her that we fully responsible for our own words and that includes what goes beyond ourselves.

Laura said that her teachings and traditions in Wicca arent all necessarily followed by other Wiccans or witches, who may observe a completely separate set of customs.

If you talk to five witches, you are going to get 10 different answers, she said.

Laura has heard others describe what they think her religion is about: dancing naked, worshiping the devil and sacrificing animals. Those ideas are far from the truth, she said. She said she knows a man who lost visitation rights to see his child because a judge misconstrued his beliefs with Satanism.

Ive had people not take me seriously. Ive had people be very condescending to me. Are you a good witch or a bad witch? kind of thing. I kind of looked at them and said ... 'Find out," Laura said.

Stephens too said she has seen how stereotypes have seeped into how people understand her beliefs. Once, when she was reading a Wiccan book of spells at a McDonalds, a cashier asked her about the book. While Stephens explained her faith, the cashier told her that Evil never makes sense.

It was the worst experience that Ive had as a witch, Stephens said.

Still, in the coven of three other witches that shes a part of, Stephens has found a family that she sees almost every week in Virginia.

A lot of people think that were evil, that were spawn of Satan, that we worship the devil. We dont even believe in hell, much less Satan, Stephens said. Were people. We have as much variety within ourselves as a group as any other group."

Were not all painted with one brush. There are witches that I would not associate with, but there are Christians that I would not associate with and Muslims and Jews and Hindus and Sikhs, she added. Every faith has its own share of bad apples. But just because there are a few bad apples does not mean that we are all bad apples.
What to Know Prosecutors say longtime Suffolk County DA Thomas Spota and one of his chief aides tried to cover up the beating of a man who was in custody

The December 2012 beating led to the conviction of Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke; he's serving nearly four years behind bars

Spota and the aide, Christopher McPartland, face a number of charges, including obstruction of justice

Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota and one of his top aides have been indicted on charges that they obstructed a federal civil rights investigation into the beating of a handcuffed prisoner by a police chief.

Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota and the chief of his anti-corruption bureau, Christopher McPartland, were named in an indictment charging them with obstruction of justice, witness tampering and other offenses related to the case against former county Police Chief James Burke.



Sources told NBC 4 New York they surrendered Wednesday afternoon. They were scheduled to appear in court later in the day.

The charges against Spota, 76, and McPartland, 51, relate to an FBI investigation that led to the conviction of former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke.

Burke is serving prison time for beating a handcuffed man for stealing embarrassing items from his SUV. He pummeled the heroin addict who had taken his gun belt, ammunition, a box of cigars and a bag containing sex toys and pornography, prosecutors said.

While FBI agents were working to restore justice in a civil rights investigation, (the defendants) were conspiring to obstruct it, William Sweeney, Jr., assistant-director-in-charge of the FBIs New York field office, said in a statement Wednesday.

In a pre-sentencing letter, prosecutors said "high-ranking officials" from other county agencies helped Burke silence potential whistleblowers after he pummeled a heroin addict who had taken his gun belt, ammunition, a box of cigars and a bag containing sex toys and pornography.

Officers subpoenaed by FBI agents investigating the 2012 beating were interrogated afterward about whether they had talked, prosecutors said. Unnamed co-conspirators had warned some that if they admitted wrongdoing, their union would not pay their legal fees, prosecutors said.

According to the indictment, Spota, McPartland, Burke and other police officers had numerous meetings and telephone conversations discussing the assault of "John Doe" and how to conceal Burke's role in the assault.

The defendants used their authority "to obstruct and attempt to obstruct the federal investigation by, among other means, using intimidation, threats and corrupt persuasion to pressure multiple witnesses, including co-conspirators, not to cooperate with the federal investigation, to provide false information, including false testimony under oath, and to withhold relevant information to prosecutors," the court paper said.

In a bail letter, Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget Rohde wrote that "the strength of the evidence in this case is overwhelming and consists of dozens of witnesses, including current and former members of the Suffolk County Police Department and Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, who will detail the assault of John Doe and the long-standing and far-reaching obstruction of justice conspiracy spearheaded by (the) defendants." She said evidence includes telephone call records, cell site records, police records, financial records, and photographs.

There was no immediate response to messages left Wednesday seeking comment from the men's attorneys.



A spokesman for the district attorney's office had no comment.

Spota, a Democrat, was elected 16 years ago and is not running for re-election.


What to Know A pair of senators from the Republican Party blistered criticism in a dramatic day of denunciation that laid bare a GOP at war with itself

Nurx ships birth control directly to doorsteps, bypassing the traditional visit to a clinic necessary for getting or renewing a prescription

Robert Guillaume, who became a star in stage musicals and win Emmys for his portrayal of the sharp-tongued butler in TV sitcoms has died

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Breakdown in Talks With North Korea Has U.S. Diplomat Sounding Alarm on Capitol Hill, Sources Say

North Korea is shunning talks with the United States after President Trump's attacks on its leader, imperiling diplomatic efforts, multiple U.S. government and congressional officials told NBC News. A top U.S. diplomat to North Korea, Joseph Yun, has been on Capitol Hill warning of the breakdown and enlisting help to persuade the Trump administration to prioritize diplomacy with Kim Jong Un over heated rhetoric that appears to be encouraging nuclear conflict, sources said. Trump will make his first official trip to Asia next month, as tensions with North Korea are at an all-time high, and government officials worry that the risks of military action are high as well. "It is not so much that North Korea is shutting down, it's that the message from the U.S. government is, 'surrender without a fight or surrender with a fight,'" a U.S. official said.

GOP Senators Blister Trump, Reveal Party at War With Itself

A pair of senators from President Trump's own Republican Party blistered him with criticism in a dramatic day of denunciation that laid bare a GOP at war with itself. Jeff Flake of Arizona declared he would not be "complicit" with Trump and announced his surprise retirement, while Bob Corker of Tennessee declared the president "debases our nation" with constant untruths and name-calling. Corker, too, is retiring at the end of his term, and the White House shed no tears at the prospect of the two GOP senators' departures. A former adviser to Steve Bannon, Trump's ex-strategic adviser, called it all "a monumental victory for the Trump movement," and Trump himself boasted to staff members that he'd played a role in forcing the senators out. It was a stunning rebuke of a sitting president from prominent members of his own party  and added to a chorus of criticism of Trump that has been growing louder and more public. Flake challenged his fellow senators to follow his lead, but there were few immediate signs they would. At midafternoon, as fellow lawmakers sat in attentive silence, Flake stood at his Senate desk and delivered an emotional speech in which he dissected what he considered his party's accommodations with Trump and said he could no longer play a role in them.

Bergdahl Due Back in Court With Trump Talk Looming Over Case

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl returns to a military courtroom at Fort Bragg for his sentencing hearing, where prosecutors plan to present evidence that fellow service members were seriously wounded in a fruitless search for him after he abandoned his post in Afghanistan. Prosecutors are expected to start calling witnesses to discuss these search missions and resulting wounds to multiple soldiers and a Navy SEAL , which the judge ruled would not have happened had Bergdahl not endangered his comrades in 2009. They include an Army National Guard sergeant who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being shot in the head and a Navy SEAL whose career was ended by a leg wound. The 31-year-old soldier who spent five years as a Taliban prisoner faces up to life behind bars in the U.S. after pleading guilty to the rare charge of misbehavior before the enemy as well as desertion. President Trump's criticism looms over the case. The military judge, Army Col. Jeffery R. Nance, has yet to rule on a defense motion that Bergdahl can't get a fair sentence with the Republican as commander in chief.

Nurx Aims to Help Women in the Nation's Contraceptive Deserts

Often referred to as the "Uber of birth control," Nurx ships birth control directly to a woman's doorstep, bypassing the traditional visit to a clinic or physician typically necessary for getting or renewing a prescription. Available in 15 states plus Washington D.C., the app may simply be an extra modern-day convenience for some women, NBC News reported. But for others, it's the difference between having access to birth control and not. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, nearly 20 million women in America live in so-called "contraceptive deserts": counties where the number of public clinics is not enough to meet the needs of the county's population. The group estimates that more than 19.7 million females ages 13 to 44 lack reasonable access to public clinics that provide birth control, defined as at least one clinic or provider for every 1,000 women.

Crying Babies Push Same Buttons in Mothers Brains, Study Finds

Crying babies push the same "buttons" in their mothers' brains no matter what their culture, a new study suggests. The research found that mothers in 11 countries tend to react the same way to their bawling child  by picking up and talking to the baby  and that the way mothers respond seems to be programmed into their brain circuits. An author of the study said he hopes the results will spur others to study brain responses in women who mistreat their children. Crying is a common trigger for abuse, said Marc Bornstein of the government's National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The new results were released by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers analyzed videotapes of 684 mothers as they interacted with their infants, who were around 5 months old. Analysis showed that the mothers were likely to respond to crying by picking up and talking to the infant. But they were not likely to use other responses such as kissing, distracting, feeding or burping the child. Results were similar across the various countries.

Robert Guillaume, Emmy-Winning Actor and Voice of Rafiki in The Lion King, Dies

Robert Guillaume, who rose from squalid beginnings in St. Louis slums to become a star in stage musicals and win Emmy Awards for his portrayal of the sharp-tongued butler in the TV sitcoms "Soap" and "Benson," has died at age 89. Guillaume died at home in Los Angeles, according to his widow, Donna Brown Guillaume. He had been battling prostate cancer, she told The Associated Press. Among Guillaume's achievements was playing Nathan Detroit in the first all-black version of "Guys and Dolls," earning him a Tony nomination in 1977. He became the first African-American to sing the title role of "Phantom of the Opera," in a Los Angeles-based production, and was the voice of the shaman-slash-mandrill Rafiki in the film version of "The Lion King." Guillaume won a Grammy in 1995 when a read-aloud version of "The Lion King," which he narrated, was cited for best spoken word album for children. He also served as narrator for the animated HBO series "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child," which aired form 1995-2000.
The search for a getaway driver who escaped police custody following a shooting in North Philadelphia led to the discovery of hundred of thousands of dollars' worth of heroin as well as weapons, according to police.

The ordeal began on the 4000 block of L Street Tuesday evening. Police say a 19-year-old gunman shot a 24-year-old man in the chest and then fled the scene in a vehicle driven by 19-year-old Lamic Conde.

Both suspects were then stopped by police on 10th and Russell streets about two miles away around 7:45 p.m.



As he was being placed inside a marked police vehicle, Conde managed to escape with handcuffs still on and fled the scene on foot, police said.

"For some reason, he was not in the car," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small. "Somehow he was able to get out of this police vehicle."



More police and K-9 units joined the search for Conde and a dog managed to track his scent to a nearby home, investigators said. As they searched the house they found a vehicle riddled with bullets, bundles of heroin worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, several assault weapons, ammunition and cellphones. Police are investigating the source of the drugs and weapons but believe it's unrelated to Conde and the shooting suspect.

While the unidentified shooting suspect was taken into custody, Conde remained on the loose. Conde is described as a man standing 5-foot, 8-inches tall and weighing 150 pounds. He has several tattoos around his neck as well as a red tattoo that says "family" above his right eye. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored shirt and blue jeans.

Philadelphia Police

If you have any information on his whereabouts, please call Philadelphia Police.

The 24-year-old man who was shot on L Street was taken to the hospital and listed in stable condition.

As for the home where the drugs and weapons stash was found, a SWAT team was called in to search the home. Investigators could later be seen taking bags from the building.


About 1,000 people gathered in South Philadelphia Wednesday night on the street where two teen boys with promising futures were killed in a hail of gunfire.



Caleer Miller and Salvatore DiNubile, both 16, were on the 2300 block of S. 12th Street at 8:24 p.m. when an argument broke out between two groups of teens, police said.

At least one gunman opened fire and shot both victims in the chest and then fled the scene.

"I heard the shots," said Frank Decero, DiNubile's friend. "I was right on 13th and Porter. I didn't know this happened. I thought it was fireworks."



The teens were both taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital where doctors pronounced them dead a short time later.

"It's just one of those tragic mixes when fights happen. Years ago it used to be with fists," a Philadelphia police spokesman said.

Police could not confirm whether Miller and DiNubile were the intended targets. They believe a fight had broken out between two groups shortly before the shooting. They are working to identify six possible suspects, some of whom they believe are teens. They have not yet released descriptions however.



News 4 NY/NYPD

Miller, who lived on Dorrance Street, was just one month into his junior year at a new high school, Mastery Charter School Thomas Campus in South Philadelphia. Teachers described him as an active and engaged student who made friends quickly. He worked in the neighborhood and volunteered in his church and the local YMCA, Mastery said.

"He was a great kid," Miller's cousin told NBC10. "Straight A's, respectful, full of love with a big heart."



Counselors will be available for both students and staff coping with Miller's death, Mastery said.

SHUTTERSTOCK

DiNubile lived near where the shooting took place. He was a junior at St. Joseph's Preparatory School and a member of the hockey team, school officials said. Parents were notified of DiNubile's death and a closed church service was held at the school Wednesday morning.

"He was a good kid," Decero said. "He didn't deserve this at all. He would do anything for you."

During Wednesday's vigil, loved ones brought flowers and candles in honor of the slain teens.



"He was well-loved by his Prep brothers, his hockey teammates and all who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sals family and friends at this terrible time," St. Joseph's posted on the school's website.



There have been 253 homicides this year in Philadelphia as of Tuesday, a 10 percent increase from the same period in 2016. More than 1,000 people have been shot since the beginning of 2017, according to Philadelphia police.


Angry Baydon villagers in protests over traffic calming proposals

A BAYDON Parish Council meeting had to be suspended, after angry villagers refused to stop shouting.

The extraordinary scenes were triggered by a long-running dispute over traffic-calming proposals.

Previous meetings have ended in chaos, with councillors being shouted down, threatened with legal action and even having to duck missiles of screwed-up paper.

At issue was the parish council scheme, which is supported by Wiltshire Councils highways department and largely funded by the Community Area Transport Group.

A buildout near the Ermin Close entrance has been agreed, which means that westbound traffic would need to give way.

Another single buildout, planned near the flashing 30mph sign at the western end of Ermin Street, would mean that eastbound cars must give way.

The parish council has been trying to tackle the issue of speeding in the village since the 1960s, but the current scheme has brought howls of protest from some villagers whose homes are near the proposed chicanes.

During a rowdy parish meeting last October, according to the minutes, one member of the public screwed up a piece of paper and threw it at councillors, asked where they lived and stormed out of the meeting.

At the most recent parish council meeting on Monday, Amy Bryan  who was chairing  warned members of the public to conduct themselves in a courteous and civil manner or she would suspend the proceedings.

But within minutes, the meeting degenerated into a free-for-all, with villagers shouting at councillors that they were an absolute disgrace.

One local resident, Jane Archer, told councillors they did not represent public opinion and added: The whole process is flawed.

Its not been minuted, so its illegal.

When this point was disputed, the shouting from the public intensified, with cries of this isnt good enough, youve failed us and if it aint broke, dont fix it.

After a final warning was ignored, Mrs Bryan announced she had no choice but to suspend the meeting.

The public anger is unlikely to change anything, however. The parish council has already voted to go ahead with both schemes.

n WHAT do you think of the traffic-calming proposals? Are the protesters justified or are they are vocal minority? Have your say  contact reporter John Garvey via email at john.garvey@newburynews.co.uk or call him on (01635) 564528.
UKIP presence at community event sparks debate

POLITICAL parties will not be banned from events in Thatcham, town councillors have declared.

Following comments made about presence of UKIP at the Thatcham Family Fun Day, Rob Denton-Powell (Con, Thatcham South and Crookham) had asked whether political parties should be welcome at community events.

The issue was discussed at a recent meeting  once all councillors present declared an interest through their allegiance to a political party.

Town clerk Mel Alexander explained that the town council did not have a policy and there was no legal reason to prevent groups exhibiting.

But she added: I do feel that the town council should have a policy.

It will help officers deal with any inquiries that come in, but it would apply to all parties.

Lee Dillon (Lib Dem, Thatcham North) argued that it wasnt for the town council to interfere with democracy in the town.

He said: People join political parties to stand for election and for the friendship and social side as well.

They work best when representing the views of the community.

He added that local Lib Dems had held stalls at previous events, not only for promotion, but also to hold activities and offering sweets to children.

And, taking a dig at his political rivals, he added: As the Conservatives are now the third largest political party they might want to have stalls to bring their membership back up.

Mr Denton-Powell said: I think they should be allowed, although I wouldnt advocate bribery through sweets.

Its a long-term programme, said Mike Cole (Lib Dem, Thatcham North).

Restating his call for debate, Mr Denton-Powell said: My concern was we could end up with parties or

organisations that could cause offence and therefore I would be very keen to have a policy adopted by the town council.

I think there are certain viewpoints that we just need to be careful with.

Its not the parties per se, its certain movements.

It could be anti-semitic and we have to say thats not acceptable.

Mr Cole added: If someone was to have a legitimate political party that advocated a policy thats illegal, we would surely seek to exclude them.

Such as the EDL, said mayor Ellen Crumly.

Or legalising cannabis, Mr Denton-Powell sniped back at the Lib Dems.

You could argue that all parties have lots of policies that are illegal because they want to get elected to make them law, Mr Dillon replied.

He added that there was a process to forming a political party and restated that they should be allowed at events.

I think we can trust the residents of Thatcham to understand what political parties have to offer, he said.

I think we just have to be brave and not stop them.

However, the town council policy would not cover campaign groups.
Ajay Moses By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: She was a role model for many students. Her guest lectures on suicide not the solution and talks on gender equality touched many. Despite this, Sana Iqbal, known among riders as bikerni, allegedly suffered a lot of pressure from her in-laws. After her death in an accident on Tuesday, conspiracy theories are afloat claiming the accident was a deliberate attempt to kill her. In a message circulated on social media few week ago, Sana detailed the harassment she faced from her husband and his family. She claimed to have been subjected to physical and verbal abuse. He called me names and slapped me hard. While trying to escape my thumb got stuck in his mouth and he bit me so hard that it started bleeding profusely, read the message.

Even on Tuesday, Sana was allegedly forced by her husband to go on a drive with him. He came to our house at 2 am and asked Sana to join him for a ride to check out his new car stereo system. When she refused, he threatened to create a scene, said her mother, Professor Shaheen Khan.

A techie and a popular biker, Sana got married in 2014. Her mother-in-law, allegedly, was not happy with the marriage right from initial days. After tension escalated, Sana moved back to her mothers house.

He forced her to start a joint back account with him. He also forced her to give him a divorce so that he could marry again. We will soon file a police complaint, the mother alleged.

Lalit Jain, founder of the riders group Wanderers Bulleteers of Hyderabad, said her pain was evident.

We chatted until 3 am, discussing arrangements to be made for a Bombay rider. This is a made up accident by her husband who smartly escaped with little injuries while crashing the car from the left-hand side.

However, police maintain that the offense does not suggest conspiracy.

It was not a head-on collision, said Narsingi Police Inspector GV Ramana Goud. The car was moving at a high speed and lost control after going over the median. The car turned left impacting the co-passenger.

Earlier in the month of May, Sana had filed a harassment petition (ID 00636) against her husband at Himayun Nagar Police Station. However, the Inspector counselled the couple and send them off without registering a case.

Bikers shocked

Sanas sudden death has shocked the biking community across India. Her first two-wheeler was a Honda Unicorn. She later graduated to Royal Enfield Electra 350 cc.

During her rides, members recall, she always carried a photograph of her son and a can of pepper spray. She was the only woman biker in Wanderers Bulleteers.

HYDERABAD: She was a role model for many students. Her guest lectures on suicide not the solution and talks on gender equality touched many. Despite this, Sana Iqbal, known among riders as bikerni, allegedly suffered a lot of pressure from her in-laws. After her death in an accident on Tuesday, conspiracy theories are afloat claiming the accident was a deliberate attempt to kill her. In a message circulated on social media few week ago, Sana detailed the harassment she faced from her husband and his family. She claimed to have been subjected to physical and verbal abuse. He called me names and slapped me hard. While trying to escape my thumb got stuck in his mouth and he bit me so hard that it started bleeding profusely, read the message. Even on Tuesday, Sana was allegedly forced by her husband to go on a drive with him. He came to our house at 2 am and asked Sana to join him for a ride to check out his new car stereo system. When she refused, he threatened to create a scene, said her mother, Professor Shaheen Khan. A techie and a popular biker, Sana got married in 2014. Her mother-in-law, allegedly, was not happy with the marriage right from initial days. After tension escalated, Sana moved back to her mothers house. He forced her to start a joint back account with him. He also forced her to give him a divorce so that he could marry again. We will soon file a police complaint, the mother alleged. Lalit Jain, founder of the riders group Wanderers Bulleteers of Hyderabad, said her pain was evident. We chatted until 3 am, discussing arrangements to be made for a Bombay rider. This is a made up accident by her husband who smartly escaped with little injuries while crashing the car from the left-hand side. However, police maintain that the offense does not suggest conspiracy. It was not a head-on collision, said Narsingi Police Inspector GV Ramana Goud. The car was moving at a high speed and lost control after going over the median. The car turned left impacting the co-passenger. Earlier in the month of May, Sana had filed a harassment petition (ID 00636) against her husband at Himayun Nagar Police Station. However, the Inspector counselled the couple and send them off without registering a case. Bikers shocked Sanas sudden death has shocked the biking community across India. Her first two-wheeler was a Honda Unicorn. She later graduated to Royal Enfield Electra 350 cc. During her rides, members recall, she always carried a photograph of her son and a can of pepper spray. She was the only woman biker in Wanderers Bulleteers.
By Online Desk

Actor Vijay's much-anticipated film 'Mersal' was released on 17th October 2017 to massive reception. The film which has broken box-office records also ran into major political controversies.

Directed by Atlee, 'Mersal' was slammed by the Tamil Nadu section of the Bhartiya Janata Party for few scenes in the movie which reportedly takes a dig at demonetisation, the recently implemented Goods and Services Tax and the Digital India initiative.

Actor Vijay has released a statement in which he thanks fans, industry friends and political leaders who supported the movie.

Read Vijay's statement here:

Mersal, which released for the festival occassion of Diwali is currently running successfully in the theatres. However, this successful film faced a few problems too.

But my film industry friends, co-actors, directors, Nadigar Sangam (the Tamil Actors association), Tamil Nadu Film Producers Council, political leaders, party representatives, media friends, my fans (nanba), common people, and the public, everyone joined together and gave the support to me and the entire team of 'Mersal'.

My heartfelt thanks to all of you for making Mersal, a huge success and for lending your support against all the odds.

Thanks,

Ungal Vijay."

ALSO READ: 'Mersal' row continues - Plea filed in Madras HC to revoke censor certificate given to film

Vijay took a potshot at BJP leader H Raja's attempt to communalise the issue by referring to Vijay's Christian first name - by issuing the statement on a letter-head that carried his full name.

BJP leaders, including H Raja, a national secretary in the party, state president Tamilisai Soundarajan and Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan, had demanded that the "incorrect" references be deleted from the big-budget flick.

While speaking to Tamil channel Puthiya Thalamurai, H Raja, mentioned that he saw Vijay's 'Mersal' - on the 'net'.

H Raja's statements met with harsh criticism from the public and triggered people to widely share the pirated clip of the same controversial scene from 'Mersal' in which Vijay talks about Singapore being able to provide better facilities with relatively lesser taxes, which India couldn't.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, former Union minister P Chidambaram, DMK working president M K Stalin, veteran star Kamal Haasan and a host of Tamil cinema industry representatives had supported the film crew on the issue.

Superstar Rajinikanth had said on Twitter that the film addressed an important issue.

ALSO READ: Law students offer Rs 1 crore if 'Mersal' team can prove Singapore gives free medical care

Actor Vijay's much-anticipated film 'Mersal' was released on 17th October 2017 to massive reception. The film which has broken box-office records also ran into major political controversies. Directed by Atlee, 'Mersal' was slammed by the Tamil Nadu section of the Bhartiya Janata Party for few scenes in the movie which reportedly takes a dig at demonetisation, the recently implemented Goods and Services Tax and the Digital India initiative. Actor Vijay has released a statement in which he thanks fans, industry friends and political leaders who supported the movie. Read Vijay's statement here: Mersal, which released for the festival occassion of Diwali is currently running successfully in the theatres. However, this successful film faced a few problems too. But my film industry friends, co-actors, directors, Nadigar Sangam (the Tamil Actors association), Tamil Nadu Film Producers Council, political leaders, party representatives, media friends, my fans (nanba), common people, and the public, everyone joined together and gave the support to me and the entire team of 'Mersal'. My heartfelt thanks to all of you for making Mersal, a huge success and for lending your support against all the odds. Thanks, Ungal Vijay." ALSO READ: 'Mersal' row continues - Plea filed in Madras HC to revoke censor certificate given to film Vijay took a potshot at BJP leader H Raja's attempt to communalise the issue by referring to Vijay's Christian first name - by issuing the statement on a letter-head that carried his full name. BJP leaders, including H Raja, a national secretary in the party, state president Tamilisai Soundarajan and Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan, had demanded that the "incorrect" references be deleted from the big-budget flick. While speaking to Tamil channel Puthiya Thalamurai, H Raja, mentioned that he saw Vijay's 'Mersal' - on the 'net'. H Raja's statements met with harsh criticism from the public and triggered people to widely share the pirated clip of the same controversial scene from 'Mersal' in which Vijay talks about Singapore being able to provide better facilities with relatively lesser taxes, which India couldn't. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, former Union minister P Chidambaram, DMK working president M K Stalin, veteran star Kamal Haasan and a host of Tamil cinema industry representatives had supported the film crew on the issue. Superstar Rajinikanth had said on Twitter that the film addressed an important issue. ALSO READ: Law students offer Rs 1 crore if 'Mersal' team can prove Singapore gives free medical care
By Online Desk

After well-known feminists like Kavita Krishnan and Nivedita Menon put out a post asking lawyer Raya Sarkar to withdraw the post naming and shaming academicians accused of sexually harassing students (and sometimes colleagues), a response was posted.

READ HERE | Raya Sarkar interview: 'Professors accused of sexual harassment promising victims passage to Oxford'

The response, posted by Inji Pennu, a reporter for 'Global Voices', an international community of writers, bloggers and digital activists, tagging Raya Sarkar and others, acknowledged concerns raised by the women in a post on Kafila Online. Kafila Online is a team blog, among whose contributing members are Lawrence Liang, co-founder of the Alternative Law Forum in Bengaluru, who is also one of those named in the Hall of Shame list of academicians.

In the post, Inji Pennu describes the due diligence that had been done before the names of the alleged sexual harassers were posted online. The writer said the Hall of Shame list was compiled from first-person accounts of the victims. Where the victim preferred to remain anonymous, a friend stood in, and evidence in the form of WhatsApp messages, call recordings, screenshots and emails had been collected and saved.

The google document in which the names of the alleged sexual abusers have been compiled with details can be viewed here.

Inji Pennus post was in response to the statement on Kafila that the names had been put on social media without context, and that the names of those found guilty of sexual harassment had been banded together with several other names without any explanation given about them.

The Kafila statement claimed that the public naming and shaming of alleged sexual harassers would delegitimise the struggles against sexual harassment and make the task tougher for feminists.

Inji Pennu acknowledges that the victims could go back on their allegations, that they could face defamation suits, and that some of the allegations may not even lack legal standing in courts of law. She also addresses the fear that someone may have been wrongly accused on the list. She says, If someone is wrongly accused, out of vengeance, which of course can happen, would love to hear from them too.

Here is the text of Inji Pennus Facebook post:

Dear Kafila feminists,

Glad for acknowledging the Sexual Violence Hall of Shame list, Raya Sarkar has put together painstakingly. It is a little surprising when a million lists come up on Facebook regularly, there was an atypical rush to conjure up with a statement within hours. Even with all the interminable struggles against sexual violence you all have endured, it is marvelous, an ethical position is taken.

To acknowledge the concerns you have raised, below are some of the ways how the list is updated:

* The list is put together as first-person accounts when women are coming forward to talk.

* If it is a victim who wants to be completely anonymous, then her friend stands alibi for the victim.

* ScreenShots of chats, Whatsapp messages, emails, call recordings are all collected in a folder for complete anonymity.

As you can see, these were not random data with no context. However it is worrisome that the victims can take a U-turn, there can be lawsuits against this accumulation of data, and possibly even lack legal standing at many of the gathered shreds of evidence.

But, enough!

We witnessed a sea of #metoo, a cycle of victimisation filling our streams. For all these #metoo, there are many #himtoo. Where are they?

Every day passes through these cycle of exasperating violence, the legal system is shattered and broken (not tilted), and the victims have no respite through law or the institute.

When the victims are harassed regularly, and until they died in the act, there is a shadow of doubt lingering above their heads, that they could have been an accomplice to the violence that was perpetrated towards them.

It is perturbing that the law has not caught up yet, that there cannot be any visible marks, but sexual crimes occur nevertheless.

There can be projects, Ph.D.s, films, career, completely destructed because a woman didnt let herself to be violated.

Every year as these crimes just pile up, victims falling into self-damaging depression, whimpering and withering away to silence.

It is not that as soon as a student joins a University, after long struggles of entrance exams, financial loans, that the professors just grab them the first day and rape them.

It is through constant intimidation, nurturing of the rape culture, peer pressure, verbal teasing, cultivating a so-called liberal atmosphere where a professor asking for sex is the norm, developing a camaraderie with other male professors and male students, they build this web slowly and carefully, where they have absolute power over the victim.

How do you collect evidence of such to present to the archaic legal system, that has no clue about sexual aggression?

In this lawless land where patriarchal aggression seeps through every pore of an institution, along with those non-existent sexual grievance committees, this is the first step, to break the taboo.

To vocalize, that even if it is your professor, even if it is your mentor, your teacher, your guru, your editor, your director, he is no God Almighty and he might be culpable of creating an atmosphere of sexual aggression and actively participating in it.

If someone is wrongly accused, out of vengeance, which of course can happen, would love to hear from them too. Let us have the conversations started on why there are these many professors in this list, some universities are just teeming with it, some of them quite famous, even called in to write feminist discourses.

It is only fair and just that the accused be heard. But also would need to know, whether their silence also helped in nurturing a sexually aggressive environment, whether they came forward to help a student or employee, whether they reported to higher-ups, whether they ignored the law of not setting up a sexual grievance committee in their workplace. Whether they were complicit.

Fret not, for this is not a legal document, no one is even remotely capable of taking these powerful privileged upper caste men to the Court for any form of justice.

But rather think of this as a secret whisper list, of hundreds and hundreds of women, those witches they burned at the stakes, to be aware of the predators lurking around them. This is to let her know, she has some support system and her veins need not bleed in resistance.

This list is precisely for the new students, starting out, some of them are sisters and some of them our daughters to break the silence so that they can approach the legal system, of course with help from your privileged class and caste positions, your political connections, and strengthen the judicial process just like you all have envisioned.

This is an appeal to the Kafila feminists to bring those names forward, whom your students/peers have many times whispered to you, when you felt helpless, when the struggles ended without any resolution when you witnessed the victims falling into depression.

Please refresh your memory and let us join together to stop this cycle of violence which we owe to the new generation of feminists.

After well-known feminists like Kavita Krishnan and Nivedita Menon put out a post asking lawyer Raya Sarkar to withdraw the post naming and shaming academicians accused of sexually harassing students (and sometimes colleagues), a response was posted. READ HERE | Raya Sarkar interview: 'Professors accused of sexual harassment promising victims passage to Oxford' The response, posted by Inji Pennu, a reporter for 'Global Voices', an international community of writers, bloggers and digital activists, tagging Raya Sarkar and others, acknowledged concerns raised by the women in a post on Kafila Online. Kafila Online is a team blog, among whose contributing members are Lawrence Liang, co-founder of the Alternative Law Forum in Bengaluru, who is also one of those named in the Hall of Shame list of academicians. In the post, Inji Pennu describes the due diligence that had been done before the names of the alleged sexual harassers were posted online. The writer said the Hall of Shame list was compiled from first-person accounts of the victims. Where the victim preferred to remain anonymous, a friend stood in, and evidence in the form of WhatsApp messages, call recordings, screenshots and emails had been collected and saved. The google document in which the names of the alleged sexual abusers have been compiled with details can be viewed here. Inji Pennus post was in response to the statement on Kafila that the names had been put on social media without context, and that the names of those found guilty of sexual harassment had been banded together with several other names without any explanation given about them. The Kafila statement claimed that the public naming and shaming of alleged sexual harassers would delegitimise the struggles against sexual harassment and make the task tougher for feminists. Inji Pennu acknowledges that the victims could go back on their allegations, that they could face defamation suits, and that some of the allegations may not even lack legal standing in courts of law. She also addresses the fear that someone may have been wrongly accused on the list. She says, If someone is wrongly accused, out of vengeance, which of course can happen, would love to hear from them too. Here is the text of Inji Pennus Facebook post: Dear Kafila feminists, Glad for acknowledging the Sexual Violence Hall of Shame list, Raya Sarkar has put together painstakingly. It is a little surprising when a million lists come up on Facebook regularly, there was an atypical rush to conjure up with a statement within hours. Even with all the interminable struggles against sexual violence you all have endured, it is marvelous, an ethical position is taken. To acknowledge the concerns you have raised, below are some of the ways how the list is updated: * The list is put together as first-person accounts when women are coming forward to talk. * If it is a victim who wants to be completely anonymous, then her friend stands alibi for the victim. * ScreenShots of chats, Whatsapp messages, emails, call recordings are all collected in a folder for complete anonymity. As you can see, these were not random data with no context. However it is worrisome that the victims can take a U-turn, there can be lawsuits against this accumulation of data, and possibly even lack legal standing at many of the gathered shreds of evidence. But, enough! We witnessed a sea of #metoo, a cycle of victimisation filling our streams. For all these #metoo, there are many #himtoo. Where are they? Every day passes through these cycle of exasperating violence, the legal system is shattered and broken (not tilted), and the victims have no respite through law or the institute. When the victims are harassed regularly, and until they died in the act, there is a shadow of doubt lingering above their heads, that they could have been an accomplice to the violence that was perpetrated towards them. It is perturbing that the law has not caught up yet, that there cannot be any visible marks, but sexual crimes occur nevertheless. There can be projects, Ph.D.s, films, career, completely destructed because a woman didnt let herself to be violated. Every year as these crimes just pile up, victims falling into self-damaging depression, whimpering and withering away to silence. It is not that as soon as a student joins a University, after long struggles of entrance exams, financial loans, that the professors just grab them the first day and rape them. It is through constant intimidation, nurturing of the rape culture, peer pressure, verbal teasing, cultivating a so-called liberal atmosphere where a professor asking for sex is the norm, developing a camaraderie with other male professors and male students, they build this web slowly and carefully, where they have absolute power over the victim. How do you collect evidence of such to present to the archaic legal system, that has no clue about sexual aggression? In this lawless land where patriarchal aggression seeps through every pore of an institution, along with those non-existent sexual grievance committees, this is the first step, to break the taboo. To vocalize, that even if it is your professor, even if it is your mentor, your teacher, your guru, your editor, your director, he is no God Almighty and he might be culpable of creating an atmosphere of sexual aggression and actively participating in it. If someone is wrongly accused, out of vengeance, which of course can happen, would love to hear from them too. Let us have the conversations started on why there are these many professors in this list, some universities are just teeming with it, some of them quite famous, even called in to write feminist discourses. It is only fair and just that the accused be heard. But also would need to know, whether their silence also helped in nurturing a sexually aggressive environment, whether they came forward to help a student or employee, whether they reported to higher-ups, whether they ignored the law of not setting up a sexual grievance committee in their workplace. Whether they were complicit. Fret not, for this is not a legal document, no one is even remotely capable of taking these powerful privileged upper caste men to the Court for any form of justice. But rather think of this as a secret whisper list, of hundreds and hundreds of women, those witches they burned at the stakes, to be aware of the predators lurking around them. This is to let her know, she has some support system and her veins need not bleed in resistance. This list is precisely for the new students, starting out, some of them are sisters and some of them our daughters to break the silence so that they can approach the legal system, of course with help from your privileged class and caste positions, your political connections, and strengthen the judicial process just like you all have envisioned. This is an appeal to the Kafila feminists to bring those names forward, whom your students/peers have many times whispered to you, when you felt helpless, when the struggles ended without any resolution when you witnessed the victims falling into depression. Please refresh your memory and let us join together to stop this cycle of violence which we owe to the new generation of feminists.
Aihik Sur By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Raya Sarkar, the 24-year-old law student from University of California at Davis, said that some of the professors she named as sexual harassers in her controversial Facebook post have been calling up their accusers and promising them help in getting to Oxford University.

READ HERE | 58 academics from top institutions named as sexual harassers in Facebook post

ALSO READ | Social media divided over Raya Sarkar's FB post

In an exclusive email interview with New Indian Express, Sarkar explains why she posted the list and what she aims to achieve from it.

What prompted you to post such a list?

People ask victims why now? Why 20 years later? And use that as a reason to dismiss allegations. One needs to understand the power assemblages at work that silence and prevent victims from speaking out. Why am I doing this now? Because I feel Harvey Weinstein's case has started many discussions and people are now more open to believing victims. The #Metoo campaign (started by an actress to highlight sexual harassment) did trigger me to do this, and I took this opportunity to create a list to warn students using first-hand accounts from survivors. The list is primarily for students to be wary of these professors because in my opinion  knowing how college administrations function  these harassers will continue to hold their positions of power.

Have you faced sexual harassment by academics?

I have not faced any sexual harassment by professors in my university. However, that does not mean other students in universities do not face any. The professors at Jindal Global University where I studied have always maintained professional behaviour with me.

Activists like Kavita Krishnan, Ayesha Kidwai and others have said your post delegitimises the work of feminists. What is your response to their criticism?

Not surprisingly- the list was not well-received. Even by feminists who hold powerful positions because it rattles the power assemblages, they benefit from. After all, even Donna Karan (American fashion designer), who is a self-proclaimed feminist, blamed the victims and the clothes they wear in order to defend her friend Harvey Weinstein. I think the response by most 'academic feminists' has been similar. Students have reported that professors are calling them incessantly and asking them to make me take off their names and luring them with scholarships to Oxford University. I don't know if they will decide to face defamation charges or not, I think it is worth it  as long as my list saves more victims from being harassed.

How has been the response from victims?

An overwhelming number of people have shared the list and have supported the campaign and have chosen to believe the victims. I have received over 300 messages from different women  often accusing the same professor of sexual harassment. I am very glad that there are many people in India men, women and non-men who are open to believing victims of sexual harassment who have risked their career to report to me.



What do you intend to do next? Do you intend to take any legal action against the people mentioned?

The list was not prepared with institutional action in mind. It is meant to be a cautionary list for students. The victims themselves must consent to approach the courts or a ministry. My friend Aroh Akuth, who is a member of a student-run action committee at Ambedkar University, New Delhi, and I have convinced one of the victims to file a complaint against two professors. But it is shocking how most victims do not wish to file complaints, fearing that they will be bullied, silenced and made a pariah by academic communities.

CHENNAI: Raya Sarkar, the 24-year-old law student from University of California at Davis, said that some of the professors she named as sexual harassers in her controversial Facebook post have been calling up their accusers and promising them help in getting to Oxford University. READ HERE | 58 academics from top institutions named as sexual harassers in Facebook post ALSO READ | Social media divided over Raya Sarkar's FB post In an exclusive email interview with New Indian Express, Sarkar explains why she posted the list and what she aims to achieve from it. What prompted you to post such a list? People ask victims why now? Why 20 years later? And use that as a reason to dismiss allegations. One needs to understand the power assemblages at work that silence and prevent victims from speaking out. Why am I doing this now? Because I feel Harvey Weinstein's case has started many discussions and people are now more open to believing victims. The #Metoo campaign (started by an actress to highlight sexual harassment) did trigger me to do this, and I took this opportunity to create a list to warn students using first-hand accounts from survivors. The list is primarily for students to be wary of these professors because in my opinion  knowing how college administrations function  these harassers will continue to hold their positions of power. Have you faced sexual harassment by academics? I have not faced any sexual harassment by professors in my university. However, that does not mean other students in universities do not face any. The professors at Jindal Global University where I studied have always maintained professional behaviour with me. Activists like Kavita Krishnan, Ayesha Kidwai and others have said your post delegitimises the work of feminists. What is your response to their criticism? Not surprisingly- the list was not well-received. Even by feminists who hold powerful positions because it rattles the power assemblages, they benefit from. After all, even Donna Karan (American fashion designer), who is a self-proclaimed feminist, blamed the victims and the clothes they wear in order to defend her friend Harvey Weinstein. I think the response by most 'academic feminists' has been similar. Students have reported that professors are calling them incessantly and asking them to make me take off their names and luring them with scholarships to Oxford University. I don't know if they will decide to face defamation charges or not, I think it is worth it  as long as my list saves more victims from being harassed. How has been the response from victims? An overwhelming number of people have shared the list and have supported the campaign and have chosen to believe the victims. I have received over 300 messages from different women  often accusing the same professor of sexual harassment. I am very glad that there are many people in India men, women and non-men who are open to believing victims of sexual harassment who have risked their career to report to me. What do you intend to do next? Do you intend to take any legal action against the people mentioned? The list was not prepared with institutional action in mind. It is meant to be a cautionary list for students. The victims themselves must consent to approach the courts or a ministry. My friend Aroh Akuth, who is a member of a student-run action committee at Ambedkar University, New Delhi, and I have convinced one of the victims to file a complaint against two professors. But it is shocking how most victims do not wish to file complaints, fearing that they will be bullied, silenced and made a pariah by academic communities.
Aihik Sur By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Facebook post by a US-based lawyer naming prominent academics from India's best universities as sexual harassers has left the country's liberal intellectuals divided with one group lauding the initiative, and another asking for it to be pulled down as it lacks 'answerability'.

READ HERE | Raya Sarkar interview: 'Professors accused of sexual harassment promising victims passage to Oxford'

The Facebook post by Raya Sarkar, a master's student of law at the University of California, Davis, and a Google document posted on social media named 75 senior professors from at least 21 universities as academics who used their position to sexually harass scholars.

The Google document has a list of the professors, their designations and a description of the victims' complaints. The names of the institutions included Jadavpur University, Delhi University, Film and Television Institute (FTII) and SRFTI, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences among others.

Many of the professors named in the post expressed surprise when contacted by New Indian Express. A professor of Delhi University who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity, said, "These allegations are completely false and baseless. Im going to file a criminal defamation against the persons concerned.

Asked how his name had come to figure in the list, the professor said, "There was a sexual harassment complaint filed against me in the university around 2013-2014. I was accused of doing improper things in front of the whole class. However, there was an internal enquiry set up and the allegations were dismissed."

A psychologist named in the list angrily said, "Anyone can write such a post alleging anything. Would you believe them?"

Another, brushing off the accusation, said, "Neither have I received any enquiry letter nor is there any inquiry going on in Jadavpur University. I don't know why my name is there."



Of the 60 academics listed in Raya Sarkar's Facebook post, at least four were previously in the news for sexual harassment-related cases. One of them, a vice-principal of a reputed Delhi college, was accused by male students. Two are from Jadavpur University in Kolkata. One of them quit following an inquiry into sexual harassment allegations while the other was accused by a first-year student of molesting her.

Another one outed, the director of the Institute of Rural Management-Anand, was in the news when he was sent on leave after the management completed an investigation into a sexual harassment complaint filed by a woman staffer.



Liberal academics such as Kavita Krishnan and Shohini Ghosh who questioned -- in a statement on the debating platform Kafila.online -- Raya Sarkar's tactics of naming the professors met a barrage of criticism on social media. One comment read: "How come the likes of Kavita Krishnan and other staunch left feminists are suddenly (against) the sexual predators' list of university professors? Simply because it names men from (their) own circle...?"

In an emailed response to New Indian Express, Shohini Ghosh, a professor at the Anwar Jamal Kidwai Mass Communication Research Centre, defended her reservations on the Raya Sarkar post:

"I signed the statement because I disagreed with the mode in which the outing was being done. A list of names contributed through the safety of cyber-anonymity places neither rigour nor responsibility on those making the allegations. Moreover, is there a consensus on what we all mean by sexual harassment? I raise this question because I believe that sexism in the workplace can be equally insidious and debilitating for women and this form of discrimination may not be sexual at all. And because its not sexual, it is routinely normalized. The trouble with a campaign of this nature is that emphasises sexual more than harassment in a way that all distinctions between sexism and sexual harassment are blurred."

CHENNAI: The Facebook post by a US-based lawyer naming prominent academics from India's best universities as sexual harassers has left the country's liberal intellectuals divided with one group lauding the initiative, and another asking for it to be pulled down as it lacks 'answerability'. READ HERE | Raya Sarkar interview: 'Professors accused of sexual harassment promising victims passage to Oxford' The Facebook post by Raya Sarkar, a master's student of law at the University of California, Davis, and a Google document posted on social media named 75 senior professors from at least 21 universities as academics who used their position to sexually harass scholars. The Google document has a list of the professors, their designations and a description of the victims' complaints. The names of the institutions included Jadavpur University, Delhi University, Film and Television Institute (FTII) and SRFTI, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences among others. Many of the professors named in the post expressed surprise when contacted by New Indian Express. A professor of Delhi University who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity, said, "These allegations are completely false and baseless. Im going to file a criminal defamation against the persons concerned. Asked how his name had come to figure in the list, the professor said, "There was a sexual harassment complaint filed against me in the university around 2013-2014. I was accused of doing improper things in front of the whole class. However, there was an internal enquiry set up and the allegations were dismissed." A psychologist named in the list angrily said, "Anyone can write such a post alleging anything. Would you believe them?" Another, brushing off the accusation, said, "Neither have I received any enquiry letter nor is there any inquiry going on in Jadavpur University. I don't know why my name is there." Of the 60 academics listed in Raya Sarkar's Facebook post, at least four were previously in the news for sexual harassment-related cases. One of them, a vice-principal of a reputed Delhi college, was accused by male students. Two are from Jadavpur University in Kolkata. One of them quit following an inquiry into sexual harassment allegations while the other was accused by a first-year student of molesting her. Another one outed, the director of the Institute of Rural Management-Anand, was in the news when he was sent on leave after the management completed an investigation into a sexual harassment complaint filed by a woman staffer. Liberal academics such as Kavita Krishnan and Shohini Ghosh who questioned -- in a statement on the debating platform Kafila.online -- Raya Sarkar's tactics of naming the professors met a barrage of criticism on social media. One comment read: "How come the likes of Kavita Krishnan and other staunch left feminists are suddenly (against) the sexual predators' list of university professors? Simply because it names men from (their) own circle...?" In an emailed response to New Indian Express, Shohini Ghosh, a professor at the Anwar Jamal Kidwai Mass Communication Research Centre, defended her reservations on the Raya Sarkar post: "I signed the statement because I disagreed with the mode in which the outing was being done. A list of names contributed through the safety of cyber-anonymity places neither rigour nor responsibility on those making the allegations. Moreover, is there a consensus on what we all mean by sexual harassment? I raise this question because I believe that sexism in the workplace can be equally insidious and debilitating for women and this form of discrimination may not be sexual at all. And because its not sexual, it is routinely normalized. The trouble with a campaign of this nature is that emphasises sexual more than harassment in a way that all distinctions between sexism and sexual harassment are blurred."
By PTI

BENGALURU: President Ram Nath Kovinds glowing tribute to Tipu Sultan as a hero of war on the historic occasion of the diamond jubilee of Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday has triggered an ugly political slugfest in the state.

At a time when the BJP has been protesting against the glorification of the 18th century ruler, who, it believes, was a religious bigot, the Presidents praise of Tipu has come as an embarrassment to the party. The Presidents reference to Tipu Sultan came after he noted the contributions of various historical figures of Karnataka.

Addressing a joint session of the state legislature to commemorate the occasion, the President said, Tipu Sultan died a heroic death fighting the British. He was a pioneer in the development and use of Mysore rockets in the warfare. This technology was later adopted by the Europeans.

Congress members welcomed the Presidents words by thumping desks. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah congratulated him in a tweet for a statesman-like address to the Karnataka legislature.



However, BJP accused the Siddaramaiah government of misleading the President by providing false inputs to Rashtrapati Bhavan about Tipu to prepare the speech. But the state government denied any role in scripting the Presidents speech.

President Ram Nath Kovind leaving after

addressing the joint session to mark the

diamond jubilee celebrations of Vidhana

Soudha in Bengaluru on Wednesday

| NAGESH POLALI

The Presidents praise of Tipu has dealt a blow to BJPs plans to exploit Tipu Jayanti as a major issue ahead of the Assembly polls in the state. The party has drawn up state-wide agitation plans to observe Tipu Jayanti on November 10 as a Black Day.



Accusing Tipu of indulging in forced conversions of Hindus in Kodagu and Christians in Dakshina Kannada, BJP leaders have questioned the rationale of Siddaramaiah governments decision to go ahead with state-sponsored celebrations of Tipu Jayanti.



Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa said that there was no question of any change in the partys stand on anti-Tipu agitation.

We will go ahead with protests against the celebrations by the state government, There is no change in the partys decision to observe Tipu Jayanti as a Black Day, Eshwarappa said.

Recently, Anantkumar Hegde, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, asked the state government not to include his name in the invite for Tipu Jayanti celebrations.

Two years ago, when the state government decided to celebrate Tipu Sultans birth anniversary, there were violent protests in Kodagu in which two people died.

We did not provide inputs, asserts CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has rejected BJPs charges of the state government providing inputs as blatant lies. We did not prepare the Presidents speech, nor did we send any inputs for the speech, he said. This is not a Governors speech which is usually prepared by the state government. This is an independent speech delivered by the President of India. The President has only said the truth about Tipu and it is regrettable that some are trying to create a controversy,



Historic occasion reduced to insipid affair

The historic ceremony to celebrate the diamond jubilee of Vidhana Soudha was reduced to an insipid affair as chaos, controversies and confrontation ruled through the day-long chain of events that marked the occasion.

While President Ram Nath Kovinds address praising Tipu Sultan and missing out the name of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda made BJP and JD(S) members see red, the photo session of the legislators with the President proved a disaster of sorts in terms of protocol.

Feeling insulted at the lack of designated seating arrangement for former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and floor leader in Legislative Council Basavarj Horatti befitting their status for the photo shoot, JD(S) legislators boycotted the event.

The laser light and music show organised at Vidhana Soudha was a big crowd puller; folk artistes performing as part of the diamond jubilee fete; (Photo | Nagesh Polali, Pushkar V)

Chairman of Legislative Council D H Shankaramurthy and Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad have insulted us as they are running the entire show according to their whim and fancy. As a former chief minister, Kumaraswamy should have been seated in the front row with the President. But he was asked to sit in the back row, while another former CM Jagadish Shettar was seated in the front, Horatti said, announcing the boycott of the photo shoot.

Conveying their opposition to big splurge on the event JD(S) members boycotted the lunch too and refused to even drink water provided during the ceremony.Senior JD(S) leader HD Revanna, known for his staunch belief in choosing the auspicious time to stir out of his home arrived too late for the historic session. The event was over and the national anthem was being played when he entered the house.

Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa stayed away from the function.Most of the legislators, journalists and guests did not turn up for the lunch, which was a simple vegetarian spread that again raised questions about the reported spending of `800 per meal.

Passersby try hard to catch a glimpse of Soudhas show



The lawns of Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday turned into an open ground for many who wanted to watch the diamond jubilee celebrations. Passersby on Ambedkar Veedhi Road halted to watch the laser lights show while some other stopped to take a selfie even as the traffic police made attempts to clear the vehicles. A display of the states schemes were projected on the building. Those without passes chose to jump the railings on the pavement and sit on the lawn to watch the show. It began as an introduction to Kengal Hanumanthaiah and his dreams.

PIL against money spent on Soudha diamond jubilee



A public interest litigation (PIL) questioning the amount spent for the diamond jubilee celebrations of Vidhana Soudha was heard by the High Court, here on Wednesday. A division bench of acting Chief Justice H G Ramesh and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar adjourned the hearing to Thursday. Petitioner S N Aravinda has sought directions to stop spending of the money for the celebrations, calling it wasteful. The petitioner, who argued his case on his own, contended that `10 crore spent on the function could have been used for some other constructive purpose.

BENGALURU: President Ram Nath Kovinds glowing tribute to Tipu Sultan as a hero of war on the historic occasion of the diamond jubilee of Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday has triggered an ugly political slugfest in the state. At a time when the BJP has been protesting against the glorification of the 18th century ruler, who, it believes, was a religious bigot, the Presidents praise of Tipu has come as an embarrassment to the party. The Presidents reference to Tipu Sultan came after he noted the contributions of various historical figures of Karnataka. Addressing a joint session of the state legislature to commemorate the occasion, the President said, Tipu Sultan died a heroic death fighting the British. He was a pioneer in the development and use of Mysore rockets in the warfare. This technology was later adopted by the Europeans. Congress members welcomed the Presidents words by thumping desks. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah congratulated him in a tweet for a statesman-like address to the Karnataka legislature.  However, BJP accused the Siddaramaiah government of misleading the President by providing false inputs to Rashtrapati Bhavan about Tipu to prepare the speech. But the state government denied any role in scripting the Presidents speech. President Ram Nath Kovind leaving after addressing the joint session to mark the diamond jubilee celebrations of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Wednesday | NAGESH POLALIThe Presidents praise of Tipu has dealt a blow to BJPs plans to exploit Tipu Jayanti as a major issue ahead of the Assembly polls in the state. The party has drawn up state-wide agitation plans to observe Tipu Jayanti on November 10 as a Black Day. Accusing Tipu of indulging in forced conversions of Hindus in Kodagu and Christians in Dakshina Kannada, BJP leaders have questioned the rationale of Siddaramaiah governments decision to go ahead with state-sponsored celebrations of Tipu Jayanti. Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa said that there was no question of any change in the partys stand on anti-Tipu agitation. We will go ahead with protests against the celebrations by the state government, There is no change in the partys decision to observe Tipu Jayanti as a Black Day, Eshwarappa said. Recently, Anantkumar Hegde, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, asked the state government not to include his name in the invite for Tipu Jayanti celebrations. Two years ago, when the state government decided to celebrate Tipu Sultans birth anniversary, there were violent protests in Kodagu in which two people died. We did not provide inputs, asserts CM Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has rejected BJPs charges of the state government providing inputs as blatant lies. We did not prepare the Presidents speech, nor did we send any inputs for the speech, he said. This is not a Governors speech which is usually prepared by the state government. This is an independent speech delivered by the President of India. The President has only said the truth about Tipu and it is regrettable that some are trying to create a controversy,Historic occasion reduced to insipid affair The historic ceremony to celebrate the diamond jubilee of Vidhana Soudha was reduced to an insipid affair as chaos, controversies and confrontation ruled through the day-long chain of events that marked the occasion. While President Ram Nath Kovinds address praising Tipu Sultan and missing out the name of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda made BJP and JD(S) members see red, the photo session of the legislators with the President proved a disaster of sorts in terms of protocol. Feeling insulted at the lack of designated seating arrangement for former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and floor leader in Legislative Council Basavarj Horatti befitting their status for the photo shoot, JD(S) legislators boycotted the event. The laser light and music show organised at Vidhana Soudha was a big crowd puller; folk artistes performing as part of the diamond jubilee fete; (Photo | Nagesh Polali, Pushkar V)Chairman of Legislative Council D H Shankaramurthy and Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad have insulted us as they are running the entire show according to their whim and fancy. As a former chief minister, Kumaraswamy should have been seated in the front row with the President. But he was asked to sit in the back row, while another former CM Jagadish Shettar was seated in the front, Horatti said, announcing the boycott of the photo shoot. Conveying their opposition to big splurge on the event JD(S) members boycotted the lunch too and refused to even drink water provided during the ceremony.Senior JD(S) leader HD Revanna, known for his staunch belief in choosing the auspicious time to stir out of his home arrived too late for the historic session. The event was over and the national anthem was being played when he entered the house. Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa stayed away from the function.Most of the legislators, journalists and guests did not turn up for the lunch, which was a simple vegetarian spread that again raised questions about the reported spending of `800 per meal. Passersby try hard to catch a glimpse of Soudhas show The lawns of Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday turned into an open ground for many who wanted to watch the diamond jubilee celebrations. Passersby on Ambedkar Veedhi Road halted to watch the laser lights show while some other stopped to take a selfie even as the traffic police made attempts to clear the vehicles. A display of the states schemes were projected on the building. Those without passes chose to jump the railings on the pavement and sit on the lawn to watch the show. It began as an introduction to Kengal Hanumanthaiah and his dreams. PIL against money spent on Soudha diamond jubilee A public interest litigation (PIL) questioning the amount spent for the diamond jubilee celebrations of Vidhana Soudha was heard by the High Court, here on Wednesday. A division bench of acting Chief Justice H G Ramesh and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar adjourned the hearing to Thursday. Petitioner S N Aravinda has sought directions to stop spending of the money for the celebrations, calling it wasteful. The petitioner, who argued his case on his own, contended that `10 crore spent on the function could have been used for some other constructive purpose.
US investigating reports that Russian missiles crossed into Poland

A senior U.S. intelligence official says Russian missiles crossed into NATO member Poland, killing two people, the Associated Press reported.
Columnist

Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich).
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

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Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 29F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
Hyderabad: Infosys Co-Founder N R Narayana Murthy may pursue his questions on "poor governance" at the company and take up the issue with Chairman Nandan Nilekani, sources close to Murthy said.

"I spoke to Murthy, he has gone abroad yesterday. He said he will come back and talk to Nandan. He said he is not going to keep quiet," said an ex-Infosys official, who is on the same page with Murthy on the issues raised by him.

The Bengaluru-headquartered company on Tuesday absolved itself of any wrongdoing vis-a-vis the Panaya deal, as well as severance pay to its former chief financial officer, in what is seen as a snub to Murthy.

Another former official of Infosys, on condition of anonymity, said the board was anyways not expected to "publicly admit to wrongdoing".

"If the board comes out and says they have done something wrong, there will be class-action lawsuit on the company; so they have to say nothing wrong to protect the company," the official said.

So, the clean chit given to the company is being seen as some kind of a balancing act by Nilekani to "protect" the company, the official added.

The official noted that when former CFO Rajiv Bansal's severance pay issue was raised, the company "stopped payment" and also claimed that "almost all members of the M&A team were told to go" when questions were asked about the Panaya deal.

He added that Infosys replaced Rupa Kudva as chairperson of the audit committee with independent director D Sundaram.

"So, they have taken some internal action but they can't publicly admit there was a mistake," the official claimed.

Murthy on Tuesday expressed disappointment that none of the questions raised by him on "poor governance" had been answered by the company's board with transparency.

His comments came after the Infosys board under chairman Nilekani gave a clean chit to the company's USD 200 million Panaya acquisition. The board also refused to put out additional details of the probe, as had been demanded by Murthy.

Murthy said he stood by every question on "poor governance" raised in his speech, dated August 29, 2017, to Infosys investors.

He asserted that the core question still remained on "how and why the Infosys board approved an unusual and unprecedented severance payment agreement of 1,000 per cent (of the standard Infosys employment contracts) to the former CFO...".
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who is on a six-day visit to the US got the taste of the troll medicine on Tuesday. Chouhan's visit which is aimed to promote investment in Madhya Pradesh indicated that he was not left much impressed by the state of roads in Washington D.C.

While Addressing the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum meeting, Chouhan said, "When I got down at the Washington Airport and travelled on roads, I felt the roads in Madhya Pradesh are better than the United States."

"Few years back, MP was termed as a diseased state, but when I became the Chief Minister 12 years back then it was in my mind that without basic infrastructure no state can develop. Our first focus was on building the roads. Today, we have constructed around 1.75 lakh kilometer roads in the state and all the villages have been well-connected with roads," Chouhan added.

When I got down at Washington Airport & travelled on roads, I felt roads in MP are better than US: Madhya Pradesh CM in Washington DC pic.twitter.com/saMTLqKDqT ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2017

Chouhan who felt that the roads back home in MP were a lot better than those in the US was later trolled on the microblogging site with many tweeting photographs of "MP roads".

Here are the funniest submissions:

"Because in Madhya Pradesh when you travel on the road you feel you're traveling by a Helicopter" ~ Shavraj Singh Chauhan. (2017) pic.twitter.com/NGdnAVwqbL History of India (@RealHistoryPic) October 24, 2017

#MPRoads now you can travel to Jupiter. Fuck you Washington DC pic.twitter.com/ptfc47I1Ck Bakwas Rider (@BakwasRadio) October 24, 2017

Lovely highway in Katni, a small town in Madhya Pradesh. Only haters will say this is not in India. #MPRoads pic.twitter.com/zSCJu8hN8q SAGAR (@sagarcasm) October 24, 2017

unesco has declared this flyover in palasia, indore as the best flyover in the world. proud of #MPRoads pic.twitter.com/KPklu1bEWU _ (@floydimus) October 24, 2017

While everyone is cribbing, @ChouhanShivraj is doing It. Losers will say this is not MP. #MPRoads pic.twitter.com/uDQXsANzJq Anuj Khurana (@HaddHaiYaar) October 24, 2017

A beautiful view of an empty 56 dukaan in Indore. #MPRoads pic.twitter.com/sVFVowi4Cz Purva (@thatobesewoman) October 24, 2017

This is the actual pic during Shivraj Chauhan visit to Niagara falls in US. #MPRoads pic.twitter.com/sEvyfugA1m Fazlur (@fazlurism) October 24, 2017

This one in Bhopal is Worlds best highway declared by UNESCO #MPRoads pic.twitter.com/md9Hda69kW Indian National Con (@desimojito) October 24, 2017

The smart transport infrastructure in Narsinghpur, Madhya Pradesh. 3600 Crore project. #MPRoads pic.twitter.com/H1jP4ZUpFt Aye Himan  (@4mlvodka) October 24, 2017

A road of MP's capital Bhopal.Looks like heaven totally..Haters keep hating..#MPRoads pic.twitter.com/D2MYOZ3HMe shadab khan (@shadabk2426) October 24, 2017

With the help of Elon Musk, Shivraj Singh is building this road which connects Bhopal to Mars. What a CM! #MPRoads pic.twitter.com/ZNN11OXMe0 SAGAR (@sagarcasm) October 24, 2017

This is Indore-Bhopal SH 18. Libtards will say this is photoshopped. #MPRoads pic.twitter.com/cD3DFhCCWH Keshava (@Kumar_Ke5hav) October 24, 2017

clicked on ayodhya bypass in bhopal. only true indians can see it #MPRoads pic.twitter.com/Mz9rSC5n7f _ (@floydimus) October 24, 2017

(With ANI inputs)
Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh): It is early morning in Himachal Pradesh's tranquil Kinnaur district. Shyam Saran Negi, a former school teacher, is sitting in front of an old and highly uneven-looking brick wall. The wall, in a way, serves a testament to his age.

Negi is hundred-and-one-years old and was 35 when the independent India went to polls for the first time. His wrinkled forehead and hollow cheeks may show signs of aging, but his enthusiasm to participate in yet another democratic exercise in his home state remains unsullied.

In the last eleven times, since its founding, if there has been one thing constant in the hilly state is a voter, Negi, who has gone to the nearest booth to cast his vote every time Himachal elected its government.

In a brown woolen bandhgala, donning a traditional Himachali skull cap and a pair of dark-shade sunglasses, Negi expresses concern over his health right from the word go. "My time is coming to an end," he starts, but adds, "if I stay healthy, I will definitely go out and vote".

I desire to vote once again in the forthcoming elections, he says, predicating the possibility once again on his health. Negi says that he speaks on the basis of his health at this very moment. "You never know what might happen tomorrow," he says, adding, "sometimes even I don't know if I will see another day."

Negi appeals to everyone, especially the youth, to come out and vote in large numbers.

Himachal Pradesh, where the Virbhadra Singh-led Congress government is facing a stiff competition from the BJP, will go to polls on November 9.

Corruption charges have jolted the 83-year-old leader's rule in a state that has continuously oscillated between the Congress and the BJP.
Greater Noida: The family of a 12-year-old Nigerian student has alleged that their son was sexually assaulted for five years by a bookseller of a private school in Greater Noida.

The accused, who works as a bookseller in the school, has been arrested, police said.

A police official said that a complaint was made in the case after which the accused man was booked under Indian Penal Code Section 377 for unnatural sex.

This news comes just barely two months after 7-year-old Pradyuman Thakur was molested & murdered in the washroom of a Gurugram school washroom.
New Delhi: Its tyres replaced, a brand new battery and an engine control module finally in place, the Aam Aadmi Party's Wagon R, which was stolen earlier this month, is ready to hit the road after beating a severe fund crunch.

Vandana Singh, a mid-rung AAP leader who was using the car before it was stolen, calls it "jugaad", that particularly north Indian term to denote innovative, quick-fix solutions.

The battery and two tyres (the other two are workable) have been sponsored by AAP volunteers, while the engine control module has been purchased by Singh.

Dents, scratches and all, the humble blue hatchback is more than just a set of wheels for Delhi's ruling party and has enormous sentimental value, say party workers.

The car was stolen from right outside the Delhi Secretariat on October 12 and found in Ghaziabad two days later. The robbers had removed its battery, replaced the tyres with old worn out ones and even changed the spare.

"The IP Estate police station handed over the car to us on October 16. But we realised that its battery was stolen and tyres replaced. We had to tow the car using another vehicle from the party office," said Singh.

Then began the task of starting the car. Shortage of funds proved to be major hurdle, she said. Till the "jugaad" happened, it rested inside the premises of the party office at Rouse Avenue.

"Kuch jugaad kar diya hain (we have made some arrangement)," Singh said with a sense of satisfaction. She described the two days after losing the car as amongst the most miserable in her life. Reproachful eyes of party workers conveyed that losing the car was an "unforgivable mistake", she said.

"I must have got at least 100 calls the day I lost the car," she said.

However, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tried to cheer her up, Singh added.

Gifted by a party volunteer in January 2013, the blue Wagon R helped in crystallising Kejriwal's status as an "aam aadmi" with a people connect.

He used it till the 2015 assembly election. The car has seen it all -- Kejriwal's ascension to power in 2013, his downfall in 2014 and again his rise in 2015. Quick to realise that the car itself had become a talking point and was synced with his 'aam aadmi' image, Kejriwal chose to use the Wagon R even after becoming chief minister the first time in 2013.

Photographs of Kejriwal sitting next to the driver did the rounds of newspaper and social media pages, as much a part of his persona as the muffler or the wide collared shirt and sweater. He also slept in it during a protest outside Rail Bhavan after he became chief minister in the winter of 2013. Associated with its "andolan" days, the car also carries a lot of emotional value for its volunteers.

AAP's Haryana unit convenor Naveen Jaihind borrowed the "lucky" car from Kejriwal when he was contesting the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Rohtak.

He lost the election but his affection for the car remained -- he announced a prize to anyone who helped get back the car.

"The blue Wagon-R is more than a car to us. That is why it was important for us to have it running," Singh said.
Kolkata: West Bengals transport department is all set to get its own aviation wing  the first in the country  that will operate small aircrafts to meet the rising demand for faster connectivity in various parts of the state.

The department will collaborate with private airlines operators for the initiative. For Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, it is a dream project and she is pushing for its launch at the earliest. The project was conceptualised by our Chief Minister and we are happy to announce this initiative, Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari said.

Adhikari said that the government plans to start flights to small sectors in the state from early next year. A tender has already been drafted and the most suited private airline company will be given the opportunity to be a part of this unique project with us, he said.

Initially, aircraft will be operated from Kolkata to Andal, Cooch Behar, Bagdogra, Malda and a few other small airports, said Adhikari. Each aircraft will have a seating capacity of 10 to 25 people. Airports at Bagdogra, Balurghat and Cooch Behar have been renovated by the government for small aircraft, he said.

The transport minister said the project will also boost tourism in the state. I am sure this will be a boon for several people in Bengal who were demanding better air connectivity. This will help us in promoting tourism in the state, he said.

Sources said the state government is also considering the idea of sea planes in coastal areas as part of the tourism developmental plan.

The government has also decided to spend Rs 300 crore for infrastructure development of Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport in Andal near Durgapur. The revamp would include a better transport system as well as sewerage and drainage system.
The Election Commission announced the dates for the Gujarat Assembly on Wednesday. The polls will be held in two phases, voting will take place on December 9 and 14. The results will be declared on December 18. The EC has faced criticism from opposition parties for not announcing the dates for Gujarat polls along with Himachal Pradesh.

Stay tuned for LIVE updates:

Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here.
New Delhi: US Secretary of State Rex Tillersons meeting with his counterpart Sushma Swaraj went on for over one and a half hours in Jawaharlal Nehru Bhavan in New Delhi this morning.

The focus of the discussion was regional security, with US expressing serious concerns over the expanding base of terror outfits in Pakistan. Tillerson said it was in Pakistans own interest to not just contain but eliminate terror safe havens as they could threaten the stability of the government.

In a press interaction after the meeting he said, There are too many terrorist organisations that find a safe place in Pakistan who used to conduct operations in the past against other countries.

He said terror safe havens will not be tolerated and this message has been communicated to Pakistan, but also underlined how international effort on this front needs to continue.

The Secretary of State also met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval before his meeting with Sushma Swaraj. Sources told News18 that India specifically conveyed to US its concerns on Pakistan's doublespeak on terror. According to sources, US acknowledged in the meetings that they are aware of Pakistan's back and forth on terror.

However, Tillerson ended by saying US wants to work with Pakistan. Sources said not much should be read into this as US has made it amply clear over the past few months that Pakistan is under scrutiny and pressure to act.

Swaraj also reiterated at the press interaction that countries harbouring terror should be held accountable and Tillerson too pointed out that terror safe havens will "not be tolerated."
Chennai: A Madras High Court bench, headed by Justice S Vaidyanathan, has directed the state government to ensure banners, signboards, flexes and other hoardings do not depict photographs of living persons.

The court ordered the de facto ban be implemented as it decided a petition against political hoardings and flags placed on the petitioners private property by Mathi, one of the respondents in the case.

The petitioner, B Thirulochana Kumari, said that the respondents refused to remove the hoarding and flags despite repeated requests. Even the Chennai Corporation had intervened in the matter but could not resolve the dispute.

The authorities concerned have now assured the court that the hoardings will be taken down at the earliest. They have also assured the bench that no such act will be repeated in the future.

On one occasion, the petitioner was also said to have been threatened by Mathi.

Kumari further alleged that when she approached the police to take action against Mathi, she was told to keep quiet, lest a case be registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The court has ordered that the Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959, be amended from time to time and ensure that even if permission is granted to erect hoardings, it is ensured that no living person features in any of the depictions.

The Court also directed the police to register cases against any person objecting to the removal of such hoardings.

"The authority concerned shall ensure that the photographs/ pictures of such persons who are alive, shall not be depicted by way of those banners, flex boards, sign-boards, etc. It is further directed to ensure that the photographs/ pictures of the persons, who are sponsoring for the photographs/ pictures, shall also not be depicted," reads the order.
New Delhi: In a major move to wrest the initiative from the opposition, the NDA government will observe November 8, the one-year anniversary of Demonetisation, as Anti Black Money day.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, in a press conference on Wednesday, said that union and state ministers of the BJP, as well as the functionaries, will fan out across the country to highlight the steps that the government has taken to tackle black money. The intervening period until November 8 will also witness preparations for the day.

The move is part of the ruling partys efforts to seize the day from the opposition, which has vowed to observe the one-year anniversary of the cash ban as a black day. The opposition parties plan to highlight the failures of the government in the aftermath of a shocking decision to invalidate 86% of cash, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.

In the past 2-3 months, the cumulative effects of the cash ban and the disruption caused by the Goods and Services Tax, have been termed as consecutive shocks to the economy, responsible for slowing economic growth and evaporation of jobs, especially in the informal sector.

November 8, thus, becomes crucial for both the government and the opposition, for completely different reasons. The government will want to highlight the steps it has taken to combat the shadow economy, while the opposition will want to pin the blame on the government for the failures, ahead of crucial elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

Jaitley said that the UPA government did nothing to tackle illicit cash because it was never on their political agenda. He said the Supreme Court-mandated Special Investigative Team on black money was constituted by the Modi government after the UPA ignored it for 3 years.

Jaitley also highlighted other steps that the government took to combat the shadow economy, namely, amending the double taxation avoidance agreements with Mauritius and Cyprus to prevent round-tripping of black money, coordinating with other sovereign governments, especially those with secretive banking systems, to get real-time information on black money account holders, and the drive to reduce the cash to currency ratio.

Jaitley also slammed the Congress over its criticism of the Election Commission for the delay in the announcement of dates for the Gujarat elections.

The governments announcement comes just a day after opposition parties said they will observe November 8 as black day.

Announcing the decision at a joint press conference of the opposition coordination committee, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "This particular announcement made on November 8 is the scam of the century, which is why we are observing this as Black Day."

He described the note-ban decision as the NDA government's "most ill-conceived and hasty decision".

"One can say this is a scam of the century. Eighteen political parties have decided to hold protests in every state in their capacity against the government's decision which caused hardship to the people. Never ever in the world people have died because of a government policy," Azad said.

Azad, flanked by Sharad Yadav of the breakaway faction of the JD-U and TMC leader Derek O'Brien, said, "Each political party will try to give a regional name to observe this as a 'Black Day' and will hold protests and processions."
New Delhi: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj discussed Pak-based terrorism, regional security and India's role in Afghanistan during their meeting in the national capital on Wednesday.

"India is a natural ally of the US and both the countries will work together to eliminate terror," said Tillerson.

He said US has put pressure on Pakistan to act against terrorist organisations operating from their soil. Relations between US and Pakistan has been frosty since US President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorist groups.

"India is crucial to USA-Afghanistan strategy, back India as a leader in the region," Tillerson said.

Swaraj said India and the US agreed that that no country in the world should provide safe heavens to terror groups. India, USA, Afghanistan trilateral meeting to be held in December in New Delhi, she said.

The External Affairs minister asserted that Trump's policy on terrorism can only succeed when Pakistan takes action on terror groups. We also discussed skilled immigrants who have gone to the US on H-1B visas and talked about issues related to them, said Swaraj.

US President Donald Trump's plan to eliminate terrorism will work only if countries harbouring terrorism are deterred. No country should be a sanctuary for terroism. Pakistan should be isolated in the international society," said Swaraj.

Tillerson had, during his meeting with Pakistani leadership on Tuesday, told Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to increase efforts to eradicate terrorists operating within the country.

Tillerson discussed the bilateral cooperation and partnership, expanding economic ties between the US and Pakistan, and Pakistans critical role in the region.

Ahead of Tillerson's three-day visit, the external affairs ministry had said that there will be detailed discussions on further strengthening of Indo-US partnership. Strengthening cooperation in strategic areas of defence, counter-terrorism, security, energy and trade is expected to figure during the meeting between Swaraj and Tillerson.

Tillerson will meet with senior Indian leaders to "discuss further strengthening of our strategic partnership and collaboration on security and prosperity" in the Indo-Pacific region, State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert had said in Washington last week.
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is in the news again, and for all the wrong reasons. His recent self-praise while on a US visit extolling the quality of roads in his home state has come in for intense criticism and online ridicule.

"When I got down at the Washington Airport and travelled on roads, I felt the roads in Madhya Pradesh are better than the United States", Chouhan said on Tuesday as he addressed media on the sidelines of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum meet in Washington.

A fact-check of Shivrajs claim proves otherwise.

To a question by Biju Janata Dals Lok Sabha MP about road accidents in India due to potholes, the then Union Minister of State for Road Transport Pon Radhakrishnan, based on 2015 data, replied that while the country recorded as many as 10,876 road accidents resulting from potholes, the number was the highest in Chouhans state.

A total of 3,070 pothole-related road accidents were reported from Madhya Pradesh, a little over 28% of the total such accidents. MP was followed by Maharashtra with 1,867 accidents and Uttar Pradesh with 1,196 accidents.

Even so-called economically backward states like Bihar fared better on the count with 402 pothole-related accidents. Rajasthan had 309 such accidents and West Bengal 362.

Even hilly states of the North-East, where heavy rainfall and water current constantly washes away roads and creates potholes, fared much better.

Assam had a mere 24 pothole-related accidents, while Arunachal had 34 and Manipur 31. Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland recorded zero pothole-related accidents.

Mountainous Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh too logged zero such accidents.

Even if one ignores roads in the hinterlands, the roads of capital Bhopal remain in the news constantly due to their poor condition. In August last year, Aam Aadmi Party cadres with an aim to highlight pathetic road condition in the city had planted saplings in potholes and named them after politicians in the state.

As he boasted on his states roads, Chouhan perhaps also forgot what his own party colleague and Union Minister of Road Transport and Highway, Nitin Gadkari, said in July last year. That was in Washington too.

Interacting with Indian journalists after his meeting with US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Gadkari had said he was very disturbed by the state of road safety in India. While acknowledging that road safety is a crucial issue back home, he said with better innovative technology and software in intelligent traffic management, India would collaborate with United States to make its roads safer.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused permission to Jaiprakash Associates Ltd to hive-off the rights of Yamuna Expressway, which connects Greater Noida with Agra in Uttar Pradesh, to pay off troubled homebuyers.

Taking note of the objections raised by Attorney General K K Venugopal and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the IDBI Ltd, the court refused to modify its September 11 order.

However, it gave the embattled realtor time till November 5 to deposit Rs 2,000 crore in relation to the insolvency proceedings.

We are not inclined to entertain the application for modification of the order dated 11th September, 2017. However, we extend the time to deposit the sum of Rs 2000 crore till November 5, 2017," a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said.

The bench, also comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, disposed of the application and said it will deal with issue of homebuyers seeking flats at a later stage.

Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for JAL, said the company may be permitted to transfer its rights under the Concession Agreement in respect of Yamuna Expressway.

Senior advocate Parag P Tripathi, representing the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP), also opposed the submission of JAL and said the rights under the Concession Agreement in respect of Yamuna Expressway are of Jaypee Infratech Limited (JIL), which is subject to proceeding under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and, therefore, cannot be transferred.

Advocate Ravinder Kumar, appearing for Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), also submitted that the rights under the Concession Agreement were non-transferable.

During the hearing, the bench said that homebuyers who were earlier moving from pillar to post to get possession of their flats were now getting their money back after the courts took up their cause.

The top court observed that it was easy to ensure that flat buyers get their money refunded from the errant builders, rather than getting their flats from them.

At the outset, Sibal said the company has an offer from a Singapore-based firm to hive-off the expressway at a cost of Rs 2,500-3,000 crore. "We need money to pay the homebuyers. This company which is running four highways in the country has given us an offer. This is a reputed Singapore-based company. To hive-off, we need permission of the court as per earlier orders," he said.

Sibal contended that interest of all financial creditors were secured as the company has assets worth Rs 17,000 crore which even on distress sale will fetch Rs 14,500 crores. "We have loan liability of only Rs 9,000 crore and by selling of the properties we can easily pay the financial creditors," he said.

"Allow us to hive-off the properties or else both the companies Jaypee Infratech and Jaiprakash Associates Limited will fall," he said.

The apex court had on September 11 directed Jaypee Associates, the parent company of Jaypee Infratech, to take prior approval of the court if it wished to sell any asset or property to raise funds to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore to be deposited by it in the apex court registry by October 27 to pay off the troubled home buyers.

The apex court while hearing a plea of home buyers of Jaypee's Wish Town project at Noida in Uttar Pradesh challenging the insolvency proceedings initiated against Jaypee Infratech, had restricted the directors of firm from leaving the country.

It had revived insolvency proceedings against Jaypee Infratech Ltd and given its management control to the IRP, appointed by the National Company Law Tribunal with immediate effect.

It had asked Jaypee Infratech to hand over records to the IRP for drafting a resolution plan, indicating protection of interests of over 32,000 hassled home buyers and creditors.
Bengaluru: Tipu Sultan died a glorious death fighting the British, President Ramnath Kovind said on Wednesday, about a leader whose legacy has been a bone of contention between the BJP and the Congress.

He was a pioneer in the development and use of Mysore rocket. This technology was later adopted by the Europeans, Kovind added in his address to the joint session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, eliciting a groan from the BJP-led Opposition.

The Congress members, on the other hand, thumped the tables in approval.

The occasion was the diamond jubilee of the iconic Vidhana Souda -- the seat of Legislature of Karnataka, which became functional 60 years ago. President Kovind was asked to deliver a special address to mark the occasion when a joint session of the Assembly and Council was called.

And while he recalled Karnataka's glorious past and asked the MLAs and MLCs to stay committed to carrying this legacy forward, he made a reference to Karnataka's famous soldiers/ warriors in the speech.

From talking about inspiring kings such as Krishna Devaraya (of the famed Vijayanagar Empire) and Kempe Gowda (known as the founder of Bengaluru), he shifted focus to rulers such as Rani Chennamma and Rani Abakka who took on colonial invaders 200 years ago. It was in this context that he spoke of Tipu Sultan.

Unbeknown to him, the Tipu reference touched a raw nerve in the BJP -- the party that was instrumental in elevating Kovind as President. The BJP has been whipping up emotions against the celebration of Tipu Jayanthi -- the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan on November 10 -- saying that Tipu was known for forced conversions and should not be celebrated.

They have questioned his heroics, and one Union Minister has even called him a rapist, asking the State government to not include his (the Minister's) name in any of the events.

Caught on the backfoot after this speech, a crimson-faced BJP tried to pass off the speech as a manipulation by the ruling Congress in Karnataka.

"Such speeches for the President are usually written by the State government. He was merely mouthing it. This does not mean we will call off our agitations against Tipu Jayanthi," said R Ashok, BJP MLA, and a former home minister.

Opposition leader in the Council K S Eshwarappa went a step further, saying the speech was handed to the President just minutes before he took his place at the head of the Legislature Hall -- that, until 11.15, the President did not know what he was talking about.

Others, like party General Secretary C T Ravi, shied away from the controversy. "No, let's not comment on his speech. Some issues should be left alone if I comment it will become big," he told News18.

The Congress took a grim view of the accusation that it wrote the President's speech. "How can we write the President's speech? Does the BJP not know even something so basic? They must have a conscience," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah retorted angrily, while also praising President Kovind for a "statesman-like address".

AICC Spokesperson Dinesh GunduRao said the BJP was belittling the office of the President by suggesting that his speeches are ghost-written. "He has an entire office for such things, he doesn't have to parrot what others say. Why is the BJP going so petty as to question the wisdom of the President's office," he said.

Interestingly, while the President's official twitter handle tweeted out nuggets from his speech between 11.41 am and 12.06 pm, the tweets steer clear of the para on Tipu. The tweets include bits from his speech about inspiring kings such as Krishna Devaraya and formidable soldiers like Field Marshal Cariappa and General Thimayya. While the tweets are all put out within a minute of each other, there is a gap of three minutes -- between 12.01 and 12.04 -- between the references to Krishna Devaraya and the soldiers. In the speech, the reference to Tipu comes between these two paras.

The celebration of Tipu Jayanthi has become controversial ever since the Siddaramaiah government started this in November 2015, in which two people lost their lives in riots during protests by the BJP. The BJP has accused the Congress of minority appeasement in its attempt to celebrate an 18th-century monarch, while the Congress has accused the BJP of communalising this issue every year deliberately.
Dior is launching a new anti-aging skincare line for women in their 30s, and it has signed up supermodel and actress Cara Delevingne to front its campaign.

The French fashion and beauty house announced the news on social media, publishing a photo of Delevingne, her pixie crop dyed a new coppery shade of brunette, on Instagram, alongside the caption: "The house of Dior is delighted to announce that @caradelevingne, revolutionary top model, committed woman and rising actress, is now the face of the skincare line "Capture". #diorforyouth."

'Capture Youth' is aimed at thirtysomethings who want to preemptively target the early signs of aging, WWD reports. "The younger you start, the more chances you have to keep youthful features for a longer time," Edouard Mauvais-Jarvis, environmental director and scientific communication director of Parfums Christian Dior, told the publication.

The new line, which is slated to launch in January 2018, will feature an anti-oxidant day cream and five serums that will allow for a customizable, more personal approach to skincare, by targeting factors such as lifting, soothing, mattifying, plumping and boosting glow.

Delevingne has cut back on her modeling commitments over the past year or so to focus on her budding acting career. However, despite starring in Luc Besson's summer blockbuster "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets," and penning her first novel, "Mirror, Mirror," which debuted this month, the British beauty still found time to pose for Chanel's Gabrielle' handbag campaign and Magnum, amongst others. This is also not her first major beauty contract -- the fashion star was unveiled as a Rimmel brand ambassador back in April 2016.
The semi-submerged building in Norway would host a restaurant, marine research center and artificial mussel reef. Called 'Under', the multi-purpose building designed by Snhetta will be located at the southernmost tip of Norway, in the village of Baly, part of the Lindesnes region.

Sliding into -- or out of -- the water, the concrete grey box design features a restaurant for up to 100 guests, with a front-facing 11 x 4m panoramic glass panel "like a sunken periscope" giving a view into the depths beyond. Under, whose meaning in Norwegian is very close to "wonder," will be "Europe's first underwater restaurant" according to Snhetta.

During the day, parts of the restaurant will act as a biology research center to study marine biology and fish behavior. The sea bed facing the building will be optimized to encourage fish and shellfish to proliferate, and the walls themselves would act as an artificial mussel reef.

The interior will be inspired by the environment, with subdued dark blue and green shades, with warm oak contrasting with the 1-meter-thick concrete on the outside. Sustainability will also be an important design element when it comes to materials.

While the Oslo- and New York-based Snhetta have previously designed waterside architecture, such as the Norwegian Opera and Ballet, Under marks the first time the studio will be diving underwater. Previous projects of note include the Times Square Reconstruction project in Manhattan, the Desmond Tutu memorial arch in Cape Town and the SFMOMA extension.
The tastemakers at travel guide Lonely Planet have released their picks for the best destinations to visit next year, declaring Chile the country of 2018 and Seville, Spain the top city of 2018.

To make the cut on one of the most influential travel lists of the year, destinations must offer outstanding experiences in the year ahead, editors say, be it for a special event, milestone, or new openings and attractions.

Likewise, along with emerging, topical and trending hotspots with wow factor, overlooked and underrated destinations can also score a coveted spot in Lonely Planet's travel yearbook.

In the category of best countries, editors say Chile is poised to steal the travel spotlight next year, when the country marks its 200 years of independence.

"Chile is a sinewy sliver of a nation, isolated from the rest of South America (and indeed the world) by the soaring Andes to the east, the vast Pacific Ocean to the west, the bone-dry Atacama Desert up north and the impenetrable wilds of Patagonia down south" reads an excerpt.

"Thanks to new non-stop flights from both London and Melbourne, it's never been easier to catch a plane, raise a glass of pisco sour and toast the celebration."

Rounding out the top three spots for best countries are South Korea and Portugal.

A scan of the top 10 countries list reveals an interesting cross-section of destinations scattered across the Southern Hemisphere, Asia and Eastern Europe.

Meanwhile, the selection of best cities 2018 offers up travel ideas that are largely off the grid for many travelers, with destinations like Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Matera, Italy; and Guanajuato, Mexico.

But taking the top spot overall, is Seville, Spain, which editors applaud for having transformed itself from a gridlocked metropolis to a dynamic city of bikes and trams. The year 2018 is also poised to be a big one for the Andalusian capital, as it will host the European Film Awards and take a star role in the cult fantasy series "Game of Thrones."

Throughout 2018, Seville will continue to mark the 400th anniversary of Baroque painter Bartolome Esteban Murillo with a series of half a dozen art expositions.

Rounding out the podium for best cities is Detroit, USA and Canberra, Australia.

Here are some of the winners:

Top countries

1. Chile

2. South Korea

3. Portugal

4. Djibouti

5. New Zealand

6. Malta

7. Georgia

8. Mauritius

9. China

10. South Africa

Top cities

1. Seville, Spain

2. Detroit, USA

3. Canberra, Australia

4. Hamburg, Germany

5. Kaohsiung, Taiwan

6. Antwerp, Belgium

7. Matera, Italy

8. San Juan, Puerto Rico

9. Guanajuato, Mexico

10. Oslo, Norway

Top regions

1. Belfast and the Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland

2. Alaska, USA

3. Julian Alps, Slovenia

4. Languedoc-Roussillon, France

5. Kii Peninsula, Japan

Top value destinations

1. Tallinn, Estonia

2. Lanzarote, Canary Islands

3. Arizona, USA

4. La Paz, Bolivia

5. Poland
Not all movies and documentaries that are made are successful enough in making it to the theatres; in fact, there are many that are banned for reasons ranging from offensive plots to violent language and political reasons. The latest addition to an existing long list of films that have courted controversy because of their content is actor Vijays recent release Mersal.

Last week, the BJP was visibly irked with a sequence in the film wherein a character played by Vijay questions the need of the recently introduced Goods and Service Tax. In the sequence that lasts for close to two-and-a-half-minutes, Vijay asks the reasons that deters a country with a GST rate of 28% from providing good healthcare to its people. Rather than initiating a prolific exchange of perspectives, the BJP went on to revile superstar Vijay.

Amidst the ongoing Mersal debate, we get you the list of all controversial films and those banned projects that could never see the light of the day due to political reasons.

Aandhi (1975)

Gulzatrs Aandhi hit the theatres when the citizens were already facing a tumultuous phase and the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had imposed emergency in country. The alleged reason for the ban on the film was the female protagonists (Suchitra Sen) bearing striking resemblance with the then ruling Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. As a leader of a political party, Suchitras striking similarity - in terms of the saris she wore, to her appearance and brisk walking style - with Mrs Gandhi couldnt be ignored. What made the film more contentious were the inclusion of sequences depicting the protagonist smoking and drinking during their Assembly election campaign. The decision to impose the ban on the film was announced after the film had run of close to 20 weeks!

Kissa Kursi Ka (1977)

Faeturing Shabana Azmi and Raj Babbar in lead roles, this Amrit Nahata (an MP) directorial was a political which was banned by the Congress as it allegedly mocked the Emergency. The films print and copies were burned by those who supported the party. The film was released the same year after the government had changed.

Parzania (2005)

Rahul Dholakia's controversial film Parzania may have been appreciated for the way it dealt with Gujarat riots. But it faced ban in the state of Gujarat due to the religious issues that were shown in the film- which could have provoked further violence. The film - featuring Naseeruddin Shah and Sarika in the lead roles- was inspired by the true story of a Parsi boy who disappeared after the February 28, 2002 Gulbarg Society massacre. Many cinema owners decided not to screen the film because they feared a political backlash from the ruling party.

Firaaq (2008)

Nandita Das directorial which was based on post-Godhra riots was banned in Gujarat multiplexes. The move had surprised the the director who couldnt understand the need to impose a ban. The film which put forth a hard-hitting depiction of families caught in the savage aftermath of the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat bagged 7 international awards, and critical acclaim at film festival across different countries. The film featured Naseruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal, Raghuveer Yadav, Deepti Naval, Sanjay Suri, Shahana Goswami and Tisca Chopra.

Black Friday (2005)

With a subject that was as controversial as 1993 Mumbai blasts, it was obvious that the films release would run into trouble. Inspired by the famous book Black Friday - The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts by S Hussain Zaidi, the films release was stayed by the Bombay High Court as the trial of the 1993 Bombay blasts wasn't over yet. The film got a countrywide release in 2007.

Fire (1996)

Fire was the first in mainstream Indian cinema to have shown no inhibitions in exploring homosexual relations. While it introduced a taboo subject to the viewers, it attacked for its content. On the day of its release, Hindu fundamentalists and some political parties attacked theatres.

Water (2005)

Directed by Deepa Mehta, Water portrayed the hard and simple lives of widows that stayed in ashrams. The films concept didnt go down well with the Hindus which resulted in damage of the posters on the ghats. Activist Arun Pathak had organised a suicide protest to stop the production of Water.

Hava Aane De (2004)

The reason why Hava Aane De was never released in India was the directors refusal to accept the cuts as suggested by CBFC. The film was based on the growing tension between India and Pakistan.

My Name is Khan (2010)

This Shah Rukh Khan-starrer courted controversy when political parties demanded a ban on the film because he denied to apologise for his remarks supporting the inclusion of Pakistani players in Indian Premier League (IPL). The Sena had threatened to hold back the release of his movie in Mumbai today but theatre owners went ahead with the film's screening in 2010. The film featured Khan essaying the role of Rizwan Khan, a man who suffered from Asperger's Syndrome and is mistaken for a terrorist in post 9/11 America. He deicded to embark on a journey across the US to prove that he is innocent to Kajol. Since some theatres were attacked, director Karan Johar and some distributors decided to meet the city police to get additional security. The Maharashtra government got five battalions of the State Reserve Police Force to protect 63 cinema halls in the city that screened the film.
Mumbai: Actor-comedian Kapil Sharma on Tuesday denied the infamous and controversial fight with Sunil Grover.

At the trailer launch of his second film Firangi, Kapil opened up about the incident in which during a flight from Australia to Mumbai, Kapil had reportedly physically assaulted Sunil.

Clarifying his stance, Kapil said: "When you move with such a huge team, you have to manage a lot of things and I am really bad at it, I will say that much. Touchwood, we have been working together for many years and I would like to repeat it one more time, I didn't actually fight with Sunil Grover at all. It didn't happen."

Sunil famously essayed the role of Mashoor Gulati, a doctor, in The Kapil Sharma Show.

Narrating what exactly happened during the flight, Kapil said the fight happened with comedian Chandan Prabhakar, and not with Sunil.

He said: "When we reached Australia, since the first day, my mood was really bad. I was juggling so many things, I was shooting the show and for other things. During that time, my film's artiste died. I was so nervous and turned so negative.

"I wanted to cancel the Australia show but couldn't and before the show, a girl came to me complaining about a guy who happens to be my childhood friend, Chandan. I scolded him.

"I had to perform for one and a half hours and that girl and boy artiste had 10-minute stints. My whole thing was, 'You are bothering me with this when I have such a long performance ahead'. I am a little impulsive.

"Chandan went missing for five days. I wanted to meet him and apologize because I didn't listen to his side of the story. I saw him one hour before the Australia flight and I lost it again and I used cuss words again".

Kapil also said he has no issues with Sunil.

"I love him. I like to work with the best of people. When I was doing Comedy Circus, I used to tell people, 'I met this guy Sunil Grover in Hans Baliye. 'Let's get him, I saw his show, I liked him'. When you work with the best, you learn a lot.

"Sunil and I, we have known each other for nine years now, and we have been working together for five years. I don't have any problem with Sunil, but had I been in his place, I would have definitely asked one time that 'I haven't seen you like this in five years, why are you behaving like this?'

"Maybe nothing would have happened. But still nothing has happened, I love him," Kapil stressed.

Kapil also took a dig at the media for the speculation regarding the 'fight'.

He is currently excited about Firangi, a period drama film set in the year 1920. Directed by Rajiv Dhingra, the movie also features Ishita Dutta and Monica Gill. It will release on November 24.
Rana Daggubati is all ready for his new film 1945 and he has donned a new look for the film. Sharing his brand new, no beard look on his social media account, Rana wrote, "Alright the beard gone!! Moving into another period!! Working on a new look for #1945. The first look will be out November!! #faceunderthebeard "

Alright the beard gone!! Moving into another period!! Working on a new look for #1945. First look will be out November!! #faceunderthebeard pic.twitter.com/vmRgdxmxR6 Rana Daggubati (@RanaDaggubati) October 24, 2017

The Baahubali actor is reportedly playing the role of an Azad Hind Fauj soldier. Regina Cassandra, who played one of the female lead roles in Ranas previous film Nene Raju Nene Mantri, will essay the role of the female lead in the film. Directed by Sathya Siva, the film unites Rana with his Baahubali supporting cast of Sathyaraj, Nasser and RJ Balaji.

Well, looks like no shave November isn't going to apply to Rana as he begins the shooting in Kochi.
New Delhi: The Election Commission, after much anticipation and growing criticism, on Monday declared the dates for the Gujarat assembly election, almost two weeks after it announced the schedule for Himachal polls.

The Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, castigated the poll panel for the delay in the announcement, alleging that the Modi government was putting pressure on EC to defer announcement of Gujarat election along with Himachal, to suit its political ends (sic).

Senior Congress leader and former finance minister P. Chidambaram led the charge against the EC, accusing the Commission of going on an extended holiday".

While announcing the poll dates on Wednesday, CEC Achal Kumar Joti defended the delay, saying that multiple factors, including the weather, flood relief work, and festivities, were considered before taking a call on election dates.

With the declaration of dates (9th and 14th December 2017), the poll panel has given political parties a period of 50 days to campaign.

In 1995, the then chief election commissioner, T N Seshan, announced the poll dates on December 8, 1994.

The results were announced on February 20, 1995, giving contenders more than two months for electioneering.

The Bhartiya Janata Party won 121 of the 182 seats it contested, and for the first time, won a majority in the state assembly.

Party veteran Keshubhai Patel became the chief minister. However, Keshubhais tenure was cut short as another BJP leader Shankarsinh Vaghela rose banner of revolt against him. BJPs central leadership replaced him with Suresh Mehta.

The next time Gujarat went to poll was in 1998. The then poll panel chief, MS Gill, scheduled the election for January 28.

February 28 was set for the counting, giving candidates and parties 31 days to pitch for themselves.

The BJP won 117 of 182 seats it contested, garnering a whopping 44.81% of the votes.

Keshubhai Patel, for the second time, was handed over the reins of the state. Three-and-a-half years into the government, the leadership issue again plagued the state BJP. Under Keshubhais leadership, the party lost panchayat elections in 2000, and then two bye-elections to the Sabarmati assembly seat and the Sabarkantha Lok Sabha constituency in September 2001.

On October 2, Keshubhai resigned from his post. Five days later, on October 7, amid a lot of fanfare, the second BJP Ministry headed by Narendra Modi was sworn in by the then Governor Sunder Singh Bhandari.

The 2002 state polls were held post-Godhra violence. The then Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, on July 19, 2002, through a one-line state cabinet resolution prematurely dissolved the Assembly.

The BJP wanted an early assembly poll, but the Election Commission was in no mood to oblige. Four months later, on November 18, 2002, the then chief election commissioner, J. M. Lyngdoh, announced December 12 for the election, giving just 24 days for campaigning.

The BJP, under Narendra Modis leadership, won 127 of the 182 seats it contested, winning almost 50% of votes.

The poll panel gave a long rope to political parties during the 2007 assembly polls.

While the model code of conduct kicked in on October 10, the two-phase polls were held on December 11 and 16 respectively. This gave parties 56 days to campaign.

The incumbent BJP came back to power, winning 117 of the 182 seats it contested, polling 49.12% of the votes.

The last assembly polls in the state were held in 2012. The Election Commission announced the two-phase poll dates on October 3, 2012. While the first phase was scheduled for December 13, the concluding phase was held on December 17, 2012.

This gave candidates almost 74 days to pitch for their election, the lengthiest period in the last many polls. The BJP reclaimed the state with 115 seats and 48.30% of the votes polled.
Lucknow: Many were taken by surprise when Yogi Adityanath was chosen as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh but he has quickly become the go-to man in the BJP when it comes to election campaigning.

Yogis crowd pulling capacity has endeared him to the BJP, RSS cadre. The popularity of the UP CM could be gauged by the fact that his popularity ratings were second only to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in internal surveys by the party.

With his firebrand image, Yogi is the ideal figure to reach out to BJPs traditional voters in upcoming Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. As the BJPs vikas model is under attack by the Congress, Yogi is being pitched to keep traditional (Hindu) voters in good humour.

He had already held a roadshow in Kerala and addressed a gathering of party workers in Gujarat earlier this month. Sources said Yogi will be a star campaigner in Gujarat and the BJP wants to pursue an aggressive Hindutva pitch in these polls.

Many in the party think that people outside Uttar Pradesh want to know more about Adityanath, and that has created a demand for him during campaigning. There is a large workforce in Gujarat that is from eastern Uttar Pradesh and the BJP plans to woo them by using the Yogi card.

Apart from CM Yogi, other UP ministers will also be asked to campaign in areas with considerable Hindi-speaking population. Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Dinesh Sharma is one of them.

Yogi had also joined BJP chief Amit Shah during his Jan Raksha Yatra to protest the killing of RSS-BJP workers in Kerala.

Yogi has also been included in the BJP list of star campaigners for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections. PM Modi will also be roped in for campaigning in Himachal along with Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj, J P Nadda, Thawar Chand Gehlot, Smriti Irani, Uma Bharti, Vijay Sampla and V K Singh.
New Delhi: With the Election Commission announcing the dates for the Gujarat Assembly polls, the process to elect a new government in the state has formally begun.

A month ahead of the actual polling, it is but premature to discuss the poll outcome. But its worth discussing issues which may impact these elections.

The Congress hopes to gain from the fact that Narendra Modi will not be the chief ministerial candidate for the BJP this time. The Grand Old Party also hopes that activists Hardik Patel and Jignesh Mevani will lend their support to the Congress. Meanwhile, OBC leader Alpesh Thakor has formally joined the Congress. But collecting faces alone does not win elections. Will this be enough to help the Congress sail through?

The Congress itself has not been able to mount a successful movement against the government. The partys visibility on the ground is limited to Rahul Gandhis own campaign across the state. Other leaders are only seen around their leader.

On the other hand, the BJP, too, lacks a big face in the state. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is being projected as the leader but the saffron party may find it difficult to sail through on his popularity alone. The BJPs prospects, therefore, will depend solely on Prime Minister Narendra Modis personal popularity and on party chief Amit Shahs electoral arithmetic.

While it is clear that Hardik Patels agitation will lead to a dent in the BJPs traditional support base  the Patidars, it is unclear just how big a dent this will be. Several members of Hardik Patels team have broken away from the agitation to join the BJP.

The two main sub-castes of the Patidars are the Leuvas and the Kadvas. The Leuva Patels, given their greater number, are more influential electorally, particularly in the Saurashtra region. Hardik Patel belongs to the Kadva Patel community, whose influence is limited to a few seats in northern Gujarat.

Alpesh Thakor may have joined the Congress but his community, the Thakors, has traditional been in the Congress camp. Thakor may have had no option but to join the Congress. Besides, his father Khedaji Thakor was considered close to Congress veteran Bharat Singh Solanki.

Jignesh Mevani, too, has limited influence over his community. Dalits in Gujarat are largely divided into Bunkars and Charmakars. Bunkars, by virtue of their larger number, are more influential while Mevani belongs to the Charmakar community.

While Mevanis fiery speeches have made him a popular figure among all Dalit youths in the state, it remains to be seen whether he is influential enough to wean them away from the BJP.

A matter of concern for the Congress and relief for the BJP is that in urban Gujarat, the saffron party is still dominant. The Congress does not have any big face in the state who can mount a challenge to the BJP in urban areas.

Of the states 182 seats, there are 45 urban seats where a BJP win is being seen as a certainty. The BJP needs to win just 47 more seats from the rural areas to get to the 92 seat mark. The road to 92 is looking much steeper for the Congress.

Besides, the BJP is aware that its trump card in the state of Gujarat is Narendra Modi. That is why, perhaps, the PM is expected to address at least 50 rallies across Gujarat to rack up support for the BJP.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has shown great maturity in the campaign so far but after he becomes Congress President (which seems like a foregone conclusion at this point), the Gujarat polls will be his first big challenge.

For Modi, this is an election more important than even the UP polls. Gujarat is his home state and he will leave no stone unturned to retain his bastion. BJP has a goal of winning 150 seats and Congress has a goal of 125. But the only certainty is that this will be the most hotly-contested Gujarat election in over a decade.
New Delhi: As Himachal Pradesh is gearing up for voting on November 9, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is once again silent on its chief ministerial nominee. Congress, on the other hand, has named 83-year-old Virbhadra Singh as its CM candidate. The announcement from the Grand Old Party is on expected lines as the veteran leader is the longest serving CM of Himachal Pradesh.

Post 2014, Congress has been banking on its old guard in states. For instance, earlier this year, five elections took place. In three out of five occasions, Congress fought under the leadership of veterans.

In Manipur, Congresss CM pick Ibobi Singh was 68. Similarly, in Punjab, the partys CM nominee, Captain Amarinder Singh, the only winning candidate in the pack, was 75. In Uttarakhand, the Congresss choice, Harish Rawat, was 68. In Goa, the party didnt declare a candidate for the CMs post. In Uttar Pradesh, the party initially nominated 79-year old Sheila Dikshit as its CM face. However, later it stitched an alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

Last year, in Kerala, Congress reposed faith in 72-year-old Oommen Chandy. Similarly, in Assam, sitting CM Tarun Gogoi, 82, took an unsuccessful shot at power.

In states like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry, where elections took place last year, the Congress chose not to name any CM nominee.

The Congress fought in alliance with the Left Front in West Bengal, and in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, they forged an alliance with the DMK. Similarly, in 2015 Delhi Assembly polls, the Congress refrained from officially declaring CM candidate. In Bihar, the party fought in alliance with JD(U) and RJD, which unraveled after CM Nitish Kumar broke ranks to join hands with the BJP.

During Maharashtra polls in 2014, all parties chose not to announce their CM candidate. In Jharkhand, the Congress fought in alliance with the RJD, JD(U) and JMM. While in Haryana, the partys CM nominee Bhupinder Singh Hooda was 68 three years ago.

On the other hand, BJP banked upon younger candidates. For instance, Manohar Parikkar, CM of Goa was 61 when elected. Similarly, N. Biren Singh, CM of Manipur, was 56 when chosen for the job.

UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath was 44 when elected for the job. Similarly, Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat was 56.

In 2016, BJP chose Sarbananda Sonowal as the CM of Assam, he was 52 then. In 2014, partys nominees for CM post  Manohar Lal Khattar (Haryana), Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra) and Raghubar Das (Jharkhand) were 61, 44 and 59 respectively.
Thiruvananthapuram: Controversy has erupted over a Kerala Director of Public Instruction (DPI) issued circular, asking principals of government schools in the state to celebrate the birth centenary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay.

The circular states that the decision was taken based on the directions of the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry.

The Kerala Students Union (KSU) protested the move, terming it a move by the state government to implement RSS agenda in schools.

State education minister C Raveendranath came out in defence and said, "The government never decided to celebrate the day. September 25 has passed, did we celebrate it? If the state had decided, we would have celebrated it. It was just a letter from the HRD ministry, which was forwarded by the DPI."

Kerala Congress president MM Hassan has demanded a retraction of the circular and alleged that it shows a "secret relationship" between CPI(M) and BJP.

"The DPI had given the direction based on HRD ministry's circular. I believe it was issued with the state education minister's knowledge. This is proof that there is a secret relationship between the CPI(M) and BJP. CM Pinarayi Vijayan is showing a soft Hindutva side. Otherwise, why would the Sangh Parivar be extended the support that its getting from the present government?"
Ahmedabad: Congress' former leader Shankersinh Vaghela said on Wednesday his new political front will contest all the 182 seats of Gujarat Assembly on the election symbol of a Rajasthan-based party.

The polling for the two-phase elections will take place on December 9 and 14, and votes will be counted on December 18.

According to Vaghela, a former chief minister of Gujarat, the 'All India Hindustan Congress' party, registered in Jaipur a year back and allotted the symbol of 'a farmer driving a tractor', has agreed to give the symbol to his front, 'Jan Vikalp'.

"Though we sought a symbol from the EC to contest this election, it is now too late. Thus, we have entered into an agreement with 'All India Hindustan Congress Party', which has agreed to give its symbol to us. Our candidates will fight polls on that symbol," Vaghela told reporters on Wednesday.

Vaghela, an influential Kshatriya leader, had quit the Congress after the Rajya Sabha polls in August and joined 'Jan Vikalp', an organisation floated by his supporters.

According to Hindustan Congress' national general secretary Anil Kumar Sharma, the party has agreed to give its symbol to Vaghela and be a part of the Jan Vikalp front.

"The party was formed one year back in Jaipur and this is the first election for us. We have agreed to give our symbol to Vaghela's front for the Gujarat election. We hereby declare unconditional support of our party to Vaghela," Sharma told reporters at the joint press conference.

Vaghela said if his front comes to power, it would take care of the poor.

He also promised to bring a bill in the Assembly seeking to give 25 per cent additional quota for non-reserved classes in Gujarat.

"I believe that non-reserved classes should get 25 per cent reservation. It is a misconception that the state cannot go beyond 49.5 per cent quota. We will bring a legislation to give 25 per cent additional quota if voted to power," he said.

Out of the existing 27 per cent reservation for OBCs, Vaghela said his government would keep aside 10 per cent for some of the most backward communities, if voted to power.

His other promises include Rs 5,000 pension for widows, Rs 5,000 pension for elderly people having nobody to take care of them and more autonomy to sarpanchs.

While joining the 'Jan Vikalp' last month, Vaghela had claimed that he will not contest the Assembly polls.

However, the 77-year-old former Union minister did not rule out the possibility of taking over as the chief minister, if the front secures a majority in the elections.
New Delhi: Tipu Sultan, the 18th-century ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, and his legacy were once again at the centre stage on Wednesday when President Ramnath Kovind called him a pioneer in the development of rocket and a fighter who died a "glorious" death.

Kovind's adulation for Tipu came as a surprise to many in the BJP, a party that played a pivotal role in elevating him to the top post.

He was a pioneer in the development and use of Mysore rocket. This technology was later adopted by the Europeans, Kovind added in his address to the joint session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, much to the chagrin of the BJP-led Opposition in Karnataka.

The address didn't go down well with the BJP so much so that the party leaders said that the ruling Congress had scripted the speech, and Kovind had no idea about it.

Add to that another rebuke, this time from a BJP parliamentarian, Pratap Simha, from the very place Tipu once reigned over for 17 years. Simha, hours after Kovind's address, took to Twitter, questioning the President over two things.

"Respected @rashtrapatibhvn ji, if Tipu was d pioneer of missile technology, y did he lose 3rd n 4th Anglo-Mysore war? Y didnt he fire them?" Simha wrote.

Respected @rashtrapatibhvn ji, if Tipu was d pioneer of missile technology, y did he lose 3rd n 4th Anglo-Mysore war? Y didnt he fire them? Pratap Simha (@mepratap) October 25, 2017

Simha also sought to downplay President Kovind's "glorious" death remark, saying the former Mysore ruler had died "inside his fort" without putting up a fight.

"Tipu Died A Hero, Pres Says. Sir, Heroes fight n die in battlefield, Timid Tipu died inside d fort without fighting!"

Tipu Died A Hero, Pres Says. Sir, Heroes fight n die in battlefield, Timid Tipu died inside d fort without fighting! https://t.co/7IrJCX2o9o Pratap Simha (@mepratap) October 25, 2017

The Congress and the BJP have been involved in a tug-of-war ever since the Siddaramaiah government decided to celebrate the birth anniversary of Tipu as "Tipu Jayanti". The BJP has registered its disapproval of these celebrations, calling it Congress' strategy of Muslim appeasement.

The BJP leaders have called out the 18th-century monarch for his forced conversions that are deserving of no celebrations. The Congress continues to cite BJP's stand as "communal" in nature.
Ahmedabad: A sessions court in Gujarat on Wednesday issued a non-bailable warrant against Patidar leader Hardik Patel in a case of an alleged attack on a BJP MLA's office, a day after it was reported that the 24-year-old leader had placed a list of demands before the Congress for his support.

The warrant was issued for not attending the last three court proceedings, news agency IANS reported. A case was registered against Hardik Patel, leader of the Patidar quota stir, and 17 others in 2015 for ransacking the office of a BJP Legislator, Rushikesh Patel, during a protest rally.

A similar warrant was issued against another leader Lalji Patel, too. "I have been regularly attending the hearings. It is only today that due to some social commitment I could not attend," Lalji Patel told reporters.

"This could be due to the political situation prevalent today. No one would have heard that one gets an arrest warrant issued for not attending one hearing."

Dinesh Bhambaniya, a close aide of Hardik Patel, asserted that this was a reflection of the ruling BJP's desperation ahead of Assembly elections. "He (Hardik) has not attended only one hearing," Bhambaniya said.

Another Patidar leader, Atul Patel, claimed this would have an adverse impact on the already worsening poll prospects of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"It has been 27 months and 18 days since we launched the agitation and we will continue to fight against the BJP with more force. As for Hardik, we will consult our lawyers and take the legal process forward," he said.

Hardik Patel, meanwhile, has been on a whirlwind tour for the last four days holding rallies across the Saurashtra region. This will continue till October 31.

(With IANS inputs)
New Delhi: A clear head-start in urban Gujarat has provided enough cushion to the BJP to offset any attrition in the social base in rural areas in the last couple of elections.

A closer look at the poll outcome of 2012 shows the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi successfully neutralising challenges from his former mentor Keshubhai Patel by pulverising the opposition in urban and semi-urban centres of the state.

With a strike rate of 92%, the party won 42 out of 46 seats in urban Gujarat. This included 15 of 16 seats in Surat, 15 of 17 in Ahmedabad city, three of Rajkots four seats, both city seats of Gandhinagar, all of Barodas five and both urban seats of Bhavnagar.

In an assembly with 180-odd seats, this nearly translates to a quarter of the house strength. Basically implying that BJP during the last elections needed to win in other 45-odd seats to touch the half-way mark.

The Congress has a lot of catching up to do in the urban constituencies if it wants to take a serious aim at government formation as, in effect, BJPs tally in Gujarat begins from 45.

NORTH GUJARAT

Congress has done relatively better in North Gujarat during the last couple of elections. This was one of the few regions which bucked the 2012 Modi wave with Congress winning 14 out of 27 seats.

Two state ministers Jaynarayan Vyas and Praful Patel had even lost their seats. This time though, the Congress misses out on its strongest card in the deck  Shankarsinh Vaghela. The former CM has quit the grand old party and may dent its prospects with his influence.

CENTRAL GUJARAT

The corporative belt of Central Gujarat had once been the stronghold of the Congress party but central districts around Vadodara have seats with a substantial tribal population. The Congress needs to tap into that very group to turn the region into one of its bastions.

SAURASHTRA

A BJP fortress which in 2012 was challenged by former CM Keshubhai Patel. The Patel leader formed his own regional outfit but only managed to bag just two seats as the BJP negated any and all threats in the region. In fact, the incumbent government won 35 out of 45 seats, as compared to 42 out of 58 in 2007.
Acer on Tuesday announced the launch of its Predator Triton 700 ultrathin gaming notebook in India at a price of Rs 2,99,999. The latest Acer gaming device carries a slim design and boasts of top graphics and processors with thermal technology. The Predator Triton 700 houses the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (overclockable) GPU and is powered by a 7th Generation Intel Core i7 processor in an 18.9 mm-thin (0.74 inch) aluminum chassis, made possible by Acers AeroBlade 3D metal fans that, as per the Acer, increase airflow by 35 percent yet take up less space within the device. This is further coupled with two NVMe PCIe SSDs in RAID 0 configuration and up to 32 GB of DDR4 2400 MHz memory.

The Predator Triton 700 utilizes Max-Q, NVIDIAs approach which is also a part of NASAs mission to launch humans into space. The Max-Q is defined as the point at which the aerodynamic stress on a rocket in atmospheric flight is maximized. Thus, the design of the rocket is precision-engineered around Max-Q. As per the company, NVIDIA has applied a similar philosophy to designing gaming laptops, enabling Acer to build laptops that are thinner with more GPU performance of previous generation products.

Adding to it, Chandrahas Panigrahi, CMO and Consumer Business head, says, Gamers looking for a sleek design with uncompromised power will find the Triton 700 to be the perfect machine. With a ultraslim form factor, it is one of the few Notebooks that was truly built from scratch keeping in mind philosophy of delivering the maximum performance in the Slim and light Package offering Maximum Efficiency.

The Predator Triton 700 comes as a VR-ready device that offers visuals on a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display with 120Hz refresh rate and supports NVIDIA G-SYNC for smooth gameplay. The audio quality is supported by Dolby Atmos surround sound and Acer TrueHarmony. Skype for Business Certification is also offered by the gaming notebook.

Other features of the Acer's Predator Triton 700 notebook are Killer DoubleShot Pro networking and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, which aim to provide speeds of up to 40 Gbps and support dual 4K video output. The Predator Triton 700 also includes two USB 3.0 ports (featuring power-off USB charging), one USB 2.0 port, an HDMI 2.0 port, one DisplayPort connector and a Gigabit Ethernet port for those preferring a hard-wired connection. Networking is powered by Killer DoubleShot Pro technology, which picks the fastest network connection (Ethernet or Wireless) and sends all high priority traffic over that interface, while standard traffic is sent over the other.

A large Corning Gorilla Glass plate above the keyboard serves as a window into the notebooks cooling system, showcasing the AeroBlade 3D Fan and five heat pipes, and also functions as a Precision Touchpad. There is also a mechanical keyboard, which aims to deliver a fast and accurate response times. The keys are RGB backlit and can be individually programmed.

PredatorSense software enables gamers to control and customize the Predator Triton 700s vitals from one central interface, including Overclocking, lighting, hotkeys, fan control and general system monitoring.

The gaming notebook will be available in India through Acer exclusive stores and authorised online stores including Flipkart at a price of Rs 2,99,999.

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Facebook was dealt a setback on Tuesday when an adviser to the top European Union court said any data protection authority in the bloc had the power to take action against it for breaching privacy laws. Facebook has its European headquarters in Ireland and has argued that only the Irish data protection authority has the power to police it for its processing of Europeans' data. Nonetheless, other European privacy regulators, including the French, Belgian and German authorities, have taken action against the U.S. company.

Yves Bot, the advocate general at the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ), said in a non-binding opinion that any national authority could take action against a company for breaching data protection laws in the context of its activities in the country, even if the company is established in another member state. The case stems from a dispute about a German fan page on Facebook which collected data on visitors to that page by storing a cookie on their hard drive. A German court asked the ECJ whether a German data protection authority had jurisdiction over Facebook given its Irish subsidiary Facebook Ireland was responsible for its data processing activities in Europe.

Bot said that since the data processing at issue via the installation of cookies "is specifically intended to enable Facebook better to target the advertisements which it publishes," it could be considered as being part of the activities undertaken by Facebook Germany, which is responsible for the promotion and sale of advertising space in Germany. A spokeswoman for Facebook said: "We respectfully disagree with the Advocate General and await the European Court's decision." Opinions from Advocate Generals tend to be followed by the Court's judges in a majority of cases. A final ruling should follow in the coming months.

A new EU data protection law will come into force in May next year which seeks to make life easier for multinational businesses like Facebook by introducing a "one-stop shop" principle whereby they would only have to deal with the authority in the member state of their main establishment. But Bot pointed out that the new law was not yet in effect and the current framework enables each member state to apply its own national legislation, thereby making the "application of multiple national legislations possible".

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Samsung Spain has successfully pulled off a brilliant marketing campaign recently by giving out free Galaxy Note 8 to as many as 200 people. As per a recent report, Samsung Spain gave away 200 Galaxy Note 8 devices to the passengers of Iberia's flight IB514 as a surprise. The passengers on the flight which took off from Madrid had no clue that they were in for a surprise by the South Korean giant.

"It was a very special moment because we were looking forward to seeing the faces of all the passengers when we received the news. It was a brief message and I spoke on behalf of all the employees that we formed Samsung Spain when I confirmed that they would receive the last equipment and that was just a gesture to record our gratitude for the support and confidence we have received during the last months. In addition, we have found in Iberia an exceptional partner, which has made it possible for the action to be a success," Celestino Garcia - Corporate Vice President of Samsung Spain was quoted as saying.

To pull off the entire exercise successfully, Samsung had partnered with Iberia airlines and offered free in-flight snacks and beverages to mark the launch of Samsungs flagship device in Spain. The smartphone manufacturer had also put up customised decoration on the flight.

Te dejamos un resumen de lo que hemos vivido con @iberia y #note8abordo  200 caras de felicidad  pic.twitter.com/mIg1EU24iW Samsung Espana (@SamsungEspana) October 23, 2017
Beijing: China's Communist Party revealed its new leadership helmed by President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, breaking with recent precedent by failing to include a clear successor to the president among the seven-man line-up.

Apart from Xi, Premier Li Keqiang was the only one to retain his spot amid sweeping changes on the Politburo Standing Committee, the height of power in the world's second-largest economy.

Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng were promoted, replacing five retiring members including anti-corruption chief Wang Qishan, a key Xi ally. All seven are in their 60s, and for the first time, no Standing Committee member will have been born before the 1949 Communist revolution.

Guangdong party secretary Hu Chunhua and Chongqing party boss Chen Miner had been previously seen as prominent contenders to succeed Xi among the party's so-called sixth generation of leaders but were not included in the Standing Committee. Instead, both were named to the wider 25-member Politburo, a rung below the Standing Committee.

Xi and Li were first promoted to the Standing Committee at the 17th Party Congress in 2007, in a clear signal that the pair would succeed Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao and occupy the top two offices, as transpired five years later.

But Sun Zhengcai, another sixth-generation contender, was abruptly removed from his post as Chongqing party secretary in July, signalling the likelihood Xi would delay naming a successor and adding to speculation that Xi could seek to stay on in some capacity beyond the end of his second term in 2022.

Li Zhanshu, who is considered the closest to Xi among those newly promoted, will likely head China's largely rubber-stamp parliament, analysts and sources have said, having held a chief-of-staff style role as head of the party's General Office.

The parliament position will be formally decided at the annual meeting of parliament in March.

Zhao Leji, the head of the party's Organisation Department which oversees personnel decisions, replaces Wang Qishan as head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection after being named on the anti-graft body's list of members on Tuesday.

A new Central Military Commission was also announced. Xu Qiliang stayed on as one of its two vice chairmen, while Zhang Youxia, who is close to Xi, was named its other vice chairman.
Washington: Donald Trump made a rare trip to Congress on Tuesday to lobby for his tax reforms, but the president's efforts were overshadowed by an explosive new war of words pitting him against a top senator from his Republican Party.

Trump arrived on Capitol Hill to attend the Senate Republican caucus lunch for the first time since his inauguration, to rally support for passing a tax overhaul before year's end.

But attention instead has served to a brutal back-and-forth with Senator Bob Corker, who charged in response to a Twitter attack from the president that Trump is an "utterly untruthful" leader who "debases" the nation.

Corker, an influential Republican who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has emerged as an outspoken critic of the president, excoriated him earlier this month as dangerously impulsive and branded the White House an "adult day care center."

He appeared to further antagonize Trump when he told ABC early on Tuesday that he would like the president to stand clear of the debate over tax legislation and "leave it to the professionals" to finalize the plan.

Trump rounded on Corker in a series of tweets, and the war of words was on, playing out on television and social media in real time.

"Bob Corker, who helped President O give us the bad Iran Deal & couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee, is now fighting Tax Cuts," Trump tweeted.

"Same untruths from an utterly untruthful president," shot back Corker.

"I don't know why he lowers himself to such a low, low standard and debases our country in the way that he does, but he does," Corker went on to tell reporters at the Senate. "He has proven himself unable to rise to the occasion."

Corker -- who himself is not running for re-election next year -- expressed regret for supporting Trump's presidential bid, and said he would not vote for him again.
Islamabad: In a blunt statement, US Secretary of State Rex on Tuesday told the Pakistani leadership that they must increase efforts to eradicate terrorists operating within the country.

This is Tillersons first visit to the country after US President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorist groups.

During his meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Tillerson discussed the bilateral cooperation and partnership, expanding economic ties between the US and Pakistan, and Pakistans critical role in the region.

Abbasi chaired an inter-agency meeting attended by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of Defence Khurram Dastigir Khan, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, ISI chief Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and other officials.

The US embassy here said that the Secretary reiterated President Trumps message that "Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country."

To address those concerns, the Secretary outlined the United States new South Asia Strategy and the vital role that Pakistan can play in working with the US and others to facilitate a peace process in Afghanistan that can bring stability and security to the region, the embassy statement said.

"The Secretary noted that Pakistan and the United States share common interests in establishing a stable, peaceful Afghanistan, defeating ISIS in South Asia, and eliminating terrorist groups that threaten both Pakistan and the United States."

During the meeting, Abbasi assured Tillerson that his country is committed to the war against terrorism.

"The US can rest assured that we are strategic partners in the war against terror and that today, Pakistan is fighting the largest war in the world against terror," Abbasi said.

Abbasi informed the visiting delegation of the significant strides Pakistan had made in improving the overall security and economic environment of the country, the Prime Ministers office said in a statement.

"Talks covered in detail all aspects of bilateral relations, the regional situation, as well as the evolving international environment. Pakistan delegation outlined the governments policy of a peaceful neighbourhood and steps taken to promote cooperation and stability in Afghanistan and the region," it said.

The US delegation was informed that progress in promoting peace and stability in the region was linked to the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, it said.

Defence Minister Khan told Geo TV that all aspects of relations were discussed and there was agreement to increase cooperation to defeat militancy.

"They asked Pakistan to take action against groups which are involved in militancy and also urged Pakistan to help create peace in Afghanistan," he said.

He said the Pakistani side insisted that its efforts for peace were derailed twice  once when the news of the death of Mullah Omar was divulged and second when Taliban leader Mullah Mansoor was killed.

He said Pakistan the tone of the US delegation was reconciliatory and it insisted that Pakistan?s role was important for regional peace as it lies between India and Afghanistan.

Khan said that Pakistan also highlighted the issue of Indian presence in Afghanistan and raised concerns about New Delhis role in security affairs in the war-torn country.

"We said that we do not have any issue with Indian development work in Afghanistan but we have issued with its security role," he said.

He said the US official tried to "tell us that India is not a threat to Pakistan but our perception was different".

He said Tillerson expressed gratitude to Pakistan in securing the release of the Boyle-Coleman family from Taliban captivity.

Earlier, Tillerson quietly landed at a military airport in Rawalpindi in the afternoon and was driven to US embassy where he was briefed by senior US officials about relations with Pakistan.

He later met Abbasi at the Prime Minister House and held detailed talks on various aspects of relations.

It was Tillersons first visit to the region after Trump unveiled his policy for Afghanistan and South Asia. Trump's remarks in August unruffled the ties already under strain due to various issues.

Pakistan regularly denies that it hosts terror groups fighting the US and Afghan forces in Afghanistan.

Trump's criticism led to further strain in US-Pakistan relations with a peeved Islamabad saying the president ignored its efforts in the war against terrorism.

Tillerson flew to India after his meetings in Islamabad, where he is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

(With PTI Inputs)
Moscow: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday he was unhappy about the state of relations between Moscow and Berlin and that both sides needed to work to improve it.

The first visit to Russia by a German president since 2010 happened as relations remain strained over Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and a pro-Russian separatist uprising in eastern Ukraine, as well as German accusations of Russian meddling in its politics, something Moscow denies.

"It's essential that we use this opportunity for us as presidents to continue our dialogue to try to improve our bilateral relations, the state of which we can't be happy about," Steinmeier told Putin at the start of talks.

"I'm convinced that we need to resist the alienation that has grown up between our countries in recent years and to do that we need to continue the dialogue and need long-term attempts from both sides to find solutions in crises."

Steinmeier, a Social Democrat who previously served as foreign minister, has long called for increased engagement with Moscow.

His party, which will go into opposition after four years in a coalition government with Chancellor Angela Merkels conservatives, wants a gradual easing of EU sanctions imposed on Moscow for its role in Ukraine.

Steinmeier has also launched a disarmament initiative he hopes will spur Russia and the United States to embark on talks about reducing conventional weapons.

Merkel, who has resisted moves to ease sanctions on Russia, is now trying to forge a three-way alliance with the pro-business Free Democrats and the environmental Greens.

A new Russia policy is unlikely to take shape until coalition negotiations begin in late November, but the Greens have generally backed a hard-line stance against Moscow for its annexation of Crimea and backing for the Syrian government.
Islamabad: Pakistan foreign affairs minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said that the United States' list of 75 militants handed over to Pakistan didn't have the name of Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed.

Saeed has been under house arrest in Pakistan since January 2017. He carries a bounty of $10 million on his head.

External affairs minister Asif, during a session in Pakistan parliament today, said that the US had handed Pakistan a list of 75 militants.

"The Haqqani network is on the top of the list, but none of the militants are Pakistanis," Asif was quoted as saying by the Express News.

Saeed, a Pakistani citizen, headed the JuD which was listed as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in 2014.

The JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of 2008.

The Afghan-based Haqqani network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan. The group is also blamed for several attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan, including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people.

The US, Asif said, had made a habit of handing over lists of wanted people to Pakistan, which traded them for favours a matter that needed to be debated.

He said the US had been told that Pakistan no longer had influence over the Afghan Taliban as it did in the past.

"Neither are we supporting them (Afghan Taliban), nor do they need our help," Asif told the senators during a session of the parliament's upper house.

"Somebody else is sponsoring them now," he added, without elaborating on it.

Asif asserted that many of the key Taliban names were now shadow governors in Afghanistan or no longer alive. On his maiden visit to Pakistan yesterday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson renewed the US demand for tough action against Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.

(With PTI inputs)
Islamabad: A Pakistani high court has accepted a petition aimed at preventing ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif from again heading his Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) party.

Sharif, 67, was re-elected as the party chief earlier this month after he stepped down as the president of his party following a decision of disqualification by the Supreme Court on July 28 in the Panama Papers case.

Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Aamer Farooq on Wednesday admitted the petition and issued a notice to Sharif and others.

The same petitioner has challenged the Election Reforms Act (ERA) 2017 and through the recent petition, he said that permitting a disqualified person to head a political party was against the spirit of the Constitution.

The petition cited secretary Law & Justice, Establishment Division, Cabinet Division, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) through its chairman and secretary and Sharif as respondents.

The petitioner pointed out to the court that Sharif was disqualified as a member of the National Assembly through a verdict of the Supreme Court.

The petitioner maintained that according to Article 5 of the Political Parties Ordinance (PPO) 2002, a disqualified person could not preside over any meeting of any political party.

Neither a disqualified person can become president of a party, nor can head any political party, the petitioners said.

The petitioner argued that ERA 2017 was against the basic scheme of the Constitution as no law could be passed against the Islamic injunctions.

Furthermore, this ERA to the context of allowing a disqualified person to head the party is also in contraventions of Quran and Sunnah.

The petitioner was of the view that a law should be made keeping in view the legitimate needs of the people and not for a single person.

Earlier, parliament adopted the Election Reforms Act (ERA) 2017 this month to pave way for Sharif to become president of PML-N once again.
Shanghai: Chinese President Xi Jinping's vast "Belt and Road" infrastructure project was unexpectedly included in the ruling Communist Party's constitution on Tuesday, giving it greater policy heft and added pressure to succeed.

The party's amended charter, approved at the close of its twice-a-decade congress, pledged to "pursue the Belt and Road initiative", a further sign of Xi's expanding power and evidence that the ambitious "Silk Road"-like initiative will endure beyond Xi's tenure.

It also underscores how the Communist Party has increased its attention to foreign policy and reflects Xi's growing desire for China to take a global leadership role, analysts said.

"Everyone knows that the Belt and Road is very important to Xi, it has his personal stamp and authority," said Peter Cai, a non-resident fellow at Sydney-based think tank Lowy Institute.

"But to have a major policy, especially an external engagement policy, to be written into a party constitution, at least in recent memory, it is something quite significant," he said.

First mentioned during a speech Xi gave to university students in Kazakhstan in 2013, the plan is a vehicle for China to take a greater role on the international stage by funding and building global transport and trade links in more than 60 countries.

Xi has heavily promoted the initiative, inviting world leaders to Beijing in May for an inaugural summit at which he pledged $124 billion in funding for the plan.

Local Chinese governments, as well as state and private firms, have rushed to offer support by investing overseas and making loans.

Some critics argue that China is exporting excess industrial capacity to spread its influence and that the initiative, which has seen developing countries take on heavy debt, needs higher standards of governance and transparency.

"China has made commitments and pledges to many developing countries and it will take that length of time, 10 years or more, to complete the initiative," said Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific chief economist at IHS Markit.

"This has also strengthened China's soft power globally, so it wouldn't make sense for China's point of view to suddenly pull away from all of this," he said.

Other analysts said its inclusion could be a double-edged sword that adds pressure for the initiative, which remains broadly defined and leaves much to interpretation, to succeed.

"The danger of having given it greater visibility is that actually there are going to be more of those efforts to play to the policy in a political way rather than considering carefully the costs and benefits of each portion of what one is doing," said Dali Yang, a professor at the University of Chicago.

Many private investors have jumped on the bandwagon to describe their projects as Belt and Road-related, while local governments have rolled out individual Belt and Road plans.

The heads of Chinese firms including China Communications Construction Co and China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation told Reuters during the week-long congress that they would place greater focus on developing their overseas businesses in support of the Belt and Road initiative.

The party congress saw Xi cement his power ahead of a second five-year term and put him in the same company as the founder of modern China, Mao Zedong, with the enshrinement of his political thought into the country's constitution.
Washington: US government officials declined on Tuesday to characterise the treatment of Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims as ethnic cleansing, but listed new measures including targeted sanctions Washington is considering to address the crisis.

"I'm not in a position ... to characterize it today, but to me this very closely resembles some of the worst kind of atrocities that I've seen during a long career," Mark Storella.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State from the Bureau Of Population, Refugees and Migration said at a Senate hearing, when pressed to say whether he viewed the situation as ethnic cleansing.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state since security forces responded to Rohingya militants' attacks on August 25 by launching a crackdown the United Nations has denounced as ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, rejects that accusation, insisting action was needed to combat "terrorists" who killed civilians.

But it has left the world community counting the cost as international organisations and the government of Bangladesh, which has taken in the vast majority of the refugees, race to provide food, water and medical care.

Many US lawmakers have clamored for a strong US response to the crisis and criticized government leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace laureate once hugely popular in Washington, for failing to do more.

"She's an impressive person, but she's not taking on the challenge," said Senator Ben Cardin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Cardin said he considered the treatment of the Rohingya genocide.

The State Department said on Monday that Washington is taking steps and considering a range of further actions over Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya, including targeted sanctions under its Global Magnitsky law.

At the foreign relations committee hearing, Patrick Murphy, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian And Pacific Affairs, said broader sanctions were also being considered, but cautioned that doing so could lessen the US government's ability to influence the Myanmar government to change.
Washington: The US has slammed Russia for vetoing a UN Security Council resolution extending the mandate of the only official mission probing the use of chemical weapons in Syria, saying Moscow has "once again" demonstrated it would do anything to protect its ally.

Russia on Tuesday vetoed the US-sponsored UN resolution that would extend the work of inspectors seeking to determine who is responsible for chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Russia has blocked such a move by the UN Security Council a number of times, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in her daily news conference.

Russia has blocked the UN Security Council action to hold accountable those who use chemical weapons, including terrorists and the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad, she said.

"By blocking the extension of the Joint Investigative Mechanism, Russia has once again demonstrated it does not care about stopping the barbaric use of chemical weapons in the world and will do whatever it takes to protect its ally, the Assad regime," Sanders alleged.

Blocking the extension of the investigating authority means nothing less than Russia's endorsement of the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons against innocent women and children.

"We will continue to push back against this," Sanders said. At the UN headquarters in New York, the Security Council rejected the draft resolution following a vote of 11 in favour to 2 against (Bolivia, Russian Federation), with 2 abstaining (China, Kazakhstan).

Had it been adopted, it would have extended the mechanism's mandate established by resolution 2235 (2015) and set to expire on November 17 for one more year.

Vassily A Nebenzia, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, suggested that adjourning the meeting until November 7 and discussing an extension without undue pressure.

He said that the Russian Federation expected an honest, impartial, complete investigation, and would accept clear, incontrovertible evidence of guilt.

The US had already determined who was guilty, and its actions were politicising the issue, he alleged.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Russia has once again demonstrated it will do whatever it takes to ensure the "barbaric" Assad regime never faces consequences for its continued use of chemicals as weapons.

"By rejecting the renewal of the work of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) an independent, purely technical body Russia has made it clear that it does not care about stopping the use of chemical weapons in the world," she said.

"This is the ninth time Russia has protected Assad and his team of murderers by blocking the Security Council from acting. In doing so, Russia once again sides with the dictators and terrorists who use these weapons," Haley said.

British Permanent Representative to the UN Matthew Rycroft described Russia's use of veto power as a "sad day".

"It's a sad day for the Security Council when Russia vetoes a simple technical, procedural rollover, of the mandate of an absolutely crucial part of the international community's architecture to help tackle the appalling use of chemical weapons," he said.

The Syrian regime that they support must have something to hide, and I wonder why Russia continues to defend the indefensible, he said and hoped that Russia will realise that they are isolated on this issue.

"They are seeking to defend the indefensible. And beyond that, they have a particular responsibility as a permanent member of the Security Council with a close relationship with the Syrian regime. They have taken it upon themselves to lead the international community's efforts to disarm Syria of its chemical weapons," he said.

"That job is not complete, and I call on Russia to listen to what we all said today and to step up to meet those responsibilities," the British Ambassador said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping was re-elected as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China. He introduced the new five members of the Politburo Standing Committee, the country's highest decision-making body, to the media on October 25, 2017. (Image: AP)
Altavistas Town Council work session was more crowded than usual Tuesday night as representatives from Altavista, the town of Hurt, Pittsylvania County and a private company gathered to hear about what it would take to bring water and sewer access to a shuttered mill that is the focus of a new economic development effort.

As part of a larger regional partnership to transform the former Klopman Mills site in Hurt from a factory that has been closed for a decade into an industrial park of the future, Altavista, Pittsylvania County and property owner Samet Corporation commissioned an engineering study of the site to determine what steps are necessary to bring water and sewer services to the site.

According to Altavista Town Manager Waverly Coggsdale, bringing water and sewer to the former factory  which has sat empty since 2007  would boost the regions ability to market the property to a manufacturing operation that would bring jobs to Southside Virginia.

What were trying to do is think about how do we plan and be ready so when that company that wants to invest in our community comes, were ready for them, Coggsdale said. Weve got land, but youve got to have water and sewer. Were trying to lay the groundwork to be successful in economic development.

The $27,000 cost of the study was split three ways equally between Altavista, Pittsylvania County and Samet because those three parties would be the ones responsible for providing utilities to the site because of the infrastructure available, Coggsdale said.

Conducted by Christiansburg firm Peed & Bortz, the six-month-long study process, which all parties approved earlier this year, identified the current water and sewer infrastructure servicing the plant and laid out potential plans Altavista, Pittsylvania County and Samet could follow to increase the capacity of the area depending on what prospective companies are looking for.

Presented in three tiers of increasing amounts of water and sewer processing capacity added, Peed & Bortz firm partner Scott Bortz and his team presented options to council that would build water capacity with price tags starting at $500,000 all the way up to $35 million.

According to Coggsdale, now that the report has been completed, town council, Pittsylvania County and Samet can evaluate the options available and plan for the future.

The engineering firm developed a variety of options depending on how the three partners want to utilize the combined resources of the Altavista Water Treatment plant, a pump station and water mains in Hurt and the offline water treatment plant that used to serve Klopman Mills on the site of the industrial park.

Although there also is a wastewater treatment facility on the industrial park property, it no longer has a discharge permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, so the two-year-long process of retrofitting that facility and obtaining a permit means utilizing it is not feasible, according to Altavista Director of Public Utilities Tom Fore.

This effort to bring utilities to the site is happening alongside the larger effort by Altavista, Hurt, Pittsylvania County and the city of Danville to form the Staunton River Regional Industrial Facility Authority that began in February 2017 to develop the site.

Altavista Economic Development Director Dennis Jarvis expressed optimism about both the development of the Staunton River RIFA and the move to plan utility expansion to the site.

For the region, I think its an enormous partnership showing that four jurisdictions can see past geography and political boundaries to come together for the common good, Jarvis said.
The YWCA of Central Virginia took the phrase Walk a day in my shoes to a new level Wednesday with a domestic violence simulation called In Her Shoes.

The goal of the lunch and learn at the YWCA on Church Street was to understand the perspectives of victims living in domestic violence situations, to increase awareness about the issue and show participants they all have a role to play in ending domestic violence.

About 20 women showed up to the event sponsored by the Bank of the James.

This simulation will show what it is like to be in the shoes of domestic violence victims, YWCA Volunteer Coordinator Caitlin Fetterman said. We want to encourage people to think creatively in the ways to end it.

The women paired up in groups of two, one being a shadow, the other portraying the victim. The shadows role was to remain silent and allow the victim to choose their own decisions. They received character cards and had to make decisions based on different scenarios.

Each scenario was based on real-life experiences of those living with domestic violence.

Each participant wore a heavy backpack throughout the whole simulation, which lasted about an hour, to give an idea of the burden victims carry. If they had children in the scenario, the participants carried a teddy bear representing each child.

Each time an abuse happened during the simulation, the participant placed an adhesive bandage on themselves. Some women walked out with five or more bandages.

Afterward, many of the women said the simulation was eye-opening and impressive but also made them frustrated and angry. It helped them realize what victims go through, they said.

It gives you a grasp of their day-to-day living for these victims, Fetterman said.

She added often victims face hurdles getting help because of bad advice and sometimes gain no help at all from family, friends, police, religious figures and even law enforcement.

Bethany Harrison, Lynchburgs chief deputy commonwealths attorney who is running to be the citys top prosecutor in Novembers election, said even though she has worked with domestic violence victims for years, the training gave her a new perspective on the issue.

The takeaway I took from the exercise and seeing victims come through the criminal justice process is understanding why they go back to their abuser, she said. Its so much easier. The emotional and psychological hold the abuser has over them and if they have family pushing them to do so and if they have children  they are really faced with a lot of impossible decisions and a lot of work on their end in order to break free.

During the event, a video was played for attendees showing several women talking about how hard it is to leave their partners in a domestic violence situation.

I was bound by a psychological trap, various women in the video said. I thought I was loved. I believed he wouldnt do it again. I didnt have the money. My religious community convinced me to stay. I thought love could conquer all, including abuse.

Harrison, along with Lynchburg YWCA family advocate Toy Eagle, said there are resources in the area, and the community should support anyone who needs help.

Support anyone who comes to you expressing they are a victim of domestic or partner violence, letting them know there are resources out there and that they dont need to stay, Harrison said. Thats a choice they need to make, and you support them in whatever decision they make.

Melissa Owens, a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, is working on a community health project for her bachelors degree focused on domestic violence and sexual assault that will include the Lynchburg region.

She said the simulation was eye-opening, and domestic violence is heartwrenching.

In her education on the topic, she has learned how prevalent domestic violence is in the area.

The community needs to be educated and needs to talk about it, she said. Offer to get victims help and get them in touch with an advocate. Call the police, get them to a shelter.
Since being sworn-in as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in January, I have travelled across Virginias Fifth Congressional District and heard from countless families and business owners who are being crushed under the weight of Obamacares higher premiums and outdated tax code that punishes innovation and success.

Yet, despite controlling both chambers of Congress and the White House, Our Republican majority has failed in spectacular fashion to pass a bill to repeal Obamacare  our partys signature campaign promise for seven years  and replace this disastrous legislation with a competitive health care system that expands choice, while lowering premiums and deductibles for families and small businesses.

If we add craven insult to incompetent injury and fail to secure the partys generational promise to reform our nations uncompetitive tax code, the electoral repercussions for the party will be dire. Congress must act to overhaul the tax code  now. If we, as a party, cannot deliver on our core promises to voters when we have unified control of government, we will be annihilated come Election Day 2018  and justifiably so.

Beginning with the election of President Trump and a GOP takeover of the U.S. Senate last November, the business climate has been on an upswing, and the agenda set forth by President Trump has primed the public and markets for positive economic change. Consumer and small-business confidence is high, unemployment is low and the prospect for increased economic growth is strong. The people of Virginia will continue to stand with Republicans on this reforming our nations tax code  if we get it right. That means lowering, simplifying and restructuring the tax code to ensure it benefits businesses, both large and small, S-corporations, individuals and hardworking middle-income families.

In the short term, to get tax reform done, we must pass a budget that balances the budget within 10 years by cutting spending, reforming government, and growing the economy.

Every year, Congress generates more than half-a-trillion dollars of deficit spending, and were on our way to $30 trillion in debt and $100 trillion in unfunded liabilities. If we do not attach meaningful conditions to cut federal spending, these already inconceivable numbers will only continue to grow.

At the same time, more and more young people are being infected by the disease of socialism, with its easy and dangerous answers to the hard questions of governing. The antidote to this philosophical contagion is capitalism itself. Those of us who believe in liberty and free enterprise need to be more proactive in telling the true success story of capitalism and why it is the best and only system for a nation of free men and women. But, in order to do so we must free capitalism from the fetters put upon it by decades of over-regulation, profligate spending and economically stifling progressive taxation.

In the end, this is more than just abstract political ideas. It is about what kind of nation we want our children to inherit. It is no coincidence that young people are the only major group in society without a powerful lobbying presence in Washington, D.C. Our obscene levels of debt and reckless spending represent the greatest inter-generational theft that has ever occurred in our history, and creates economic and fiscal realities that make tax reform all but impossible. And without tax reform, the next generation will not be able to understand the great power for good that is capitalism.

The time for talk is over. We in Congress must focus on simplifying the tax code to ensure middle-income Americans keep more of their hard-earned money while reducing taxes on business owners, and getting rid of more than 200 loopholes buried throughout the 75,000 page tax code that collectively costs more than $1.2 trillion annually.

And we must make the tax system fairer and better for all, not just those who are well connected in Washington, D.C. It is time to put our campaign promises into action and earn the trust our constituents have put in us to return our nation to robust growth and constitutional principles. It is time for Congress to move forward on tax reform  now.

Garrett represents Virginias Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a member of the Education and Workforce, Foreign Affairs, and Homeland Security committees.
A 10-YEAR-OLD boy died while the other was seriously injured after they were attacked by a buffalo in Chiredzi.



The injured who is also 10 years old is admitted to Chiredzi District Hospital in a critical condition. An 11 -year-old boy who was with the pair herding cattle in Gwayizi Village on Saturday, managed to escape and rushed home to report the attack.





ZimParks spokesperson, Mr Tinashe Farawo confirmed the incident.

We received a report about young boys who were attacked by a buffalo while driving their cattle home. One was killed on the spot, the other was seriously injured and the third managed to escape, he said.





Mr Farawo said this was a second buffalo attack incident in the area in less than a month.

Last month a man in his mid twenties was seriously injured after he was also attacked by a buffalo, he said.





Meanwhile, a serial poacher, Johannes Matanga, has been arrested in Chishakwe Range, Masvingo.

His two accomplices managed to slip through the rangers dragnet on Sunday at around 6AM and are on the run.





Mr Farawo said the serial poacher who once served seven months in prison for rhino poaching in 2012, was arrested following a tip off from villagers.





A rifle, silencer, 22 rounds of ammunition and two knives were recovered on him, he said.

Last month, two suspected poachers were shot dead during an exchange of gunfire with rangers in Matusadona National Park near Binga. The other two suspects escaped and are still on the run.





Two elephant tusks were recovered. Chronicle
ZAPU president Dumiso Dabengwa who also served as the chief of Zimbabwe Peoples Revolutionary Army (Zipra) intelligence - has poured his heart out on the highly emotive issue  reminding the authorities that the atrocities will not be forgotten.



Dabengwa, now 78, said the Gukurahundi atrocities should be remembered as the countrys darkest period in post-independence.



The veteran politician, who alongside radical pressure group Ibhesthu Likazulu, was last weekend barred by riot police from visiting Bhalagwe, one of the Gukurahundi flash points in Kezi, Matabeleland South Province, said any efforts by the Zanu PF government to obliterate that chapter in history will be starkly resisted.



We are witnesses to mass killings on a scale that future generations (will find difficult) to comprehend, yet even we ourselves at times wish it was just a bad dream.



In Bhalagwe, we remember what should not have happened to the people of Matabeleland and Midlands and indeed what should not have happened to anyone in newly-independent Zimbabwe.



We recall and recount these gruesome facts of the Gukurahundi massacres so that those who died unnecessary and painful deaths may not be forgotten for the great price they did not have to pay but which they paid so soon after the children, siblings, parents and friends died in the struggle for the liberation of Zimbabwe, the soft-spoken Dabengwa told the Southern News.



In the 1980s, an estimated 20 000 innocent civilians were killed by a North Korea-trained Zimbabwe army unit  the Fifth Brigade, which was deployed in the Matabeleland and the Midlands provinces  in an operation which government said was meant to fight insurrection in these regions.



President Robert Mugabe has since said the killings were a moment of madness.

Dabengwa described Bhalagwe, where thousands are believed to have been ruthlessly thrown into a disused mine, as a memorial site which deserves great respect and honour.



In Matabeleland South, Bhalagwe became a notorious place of sadistic beatings and torture. We recall with sadness and outrage that this place experienced daily deaths as a result of these cruel acts of armed men. Many families can attest to the constant digging of graves by survivors. At the same time, some of the bodies of victims were taken away in truckloads and dumped in Antelope Mine shafts.



When Zanu PF gained control of Zimbabwe in April 1980 following our independence from Britain, it did not take long to show its intent to destroy Zapu.



In October 1980, . . . Mugabe, who was prime minister at the time, came to an agreement with the government of North Korea for the training of the Fifth Brigade, recalled Dabengwa.



The next step was the arrival in 1981 of 106 military instructors to train the Fifth Brigade which according to the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo was recruited from the Zezuru ethnic group, Zvimba.



As it turned out, the purpose of the Fifth Brigade was to carry out ethnic cleansing dubbed Gukurahundi as well as crushing Zapu to pave way for a one-party state controlled by Zanu PF, Dabengwa claimed.



He said as a result false allegations were made against Zipra cadres which saw him and many others being targeted, arrested and subsequently detained without trial.



At the end of January 1983, Mugabe unleashed his Fifth Brigade on a genocide expedition in Matabeleland and Ndebele-speaking parts of the Midlands.



Over 20 000 civilians were killed yet the excuse of the operation was that it was to fight so-called dissidents who were threatening the security of the State.



Early this year, the Americans released damaging claims of who among Zimbabwes ruling class allegedly directed the Gukurahundi massacres.



According to declassified Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reports that were released in January, very senior government and military officials  whose names the Daily News opted to withhold  allegedly plotted at the time to annihilate Zapu and the Ndebeles, as Zanu PF sought to create a one-party State.



The reports further claimed that a rattled Zanu PF leadership also feared at the time that the then in power apartheid South Africa government, working with unrepentant Rhodesians, would join forces with the late revered Zapu leader Joshua Nkomo, to destabilise the new Zimbabwe government.



The released CIA documents also revealed how the USA viewed Mugabes new government in the early 1980s as a key player in regional peace-building efforts, as well as, bizarrely, in Washingtons fight against the Soviet Union during the Cold War era.



The Americans also feared then that Mugabe would be assassinated, and overtly and covertly worked to keep the nonagenarian in power to protect their interests. Daily News
A tour of the designated points for commuter and vendors by the Minister of State for Harare, Cde Miriam Chikukwa and the Joint Operations Command (JOC) and officials from the Harare City Council has indicated that nothing is being done on the ground.



Ever since the launch of Operation Restore Order in Harares central business district where illegal vendors and commuter operators were being removed to designated points, the local authority has failed to complete the construction of the actual sites in time as agreed.

Minister Chikukwa expressed disappointment, noting that there is no progress on the ground.



A City of Harare official, Engineer Calvin Chigariro blamed contractors for the slow pace but however promised to complete all the construction in November.



The delays in the completion of the sites for vendors and commuter omnibuses have prompted the return of vendors and commuter omnibus in the CBD, nullifying efforts of the Operation Restore Order.
CONCESSIONARY school fees charges offered to elite private schools workers is income and liable to taxation in terms of the law, the Supreme Court has ruled.



Justice Tendai Uchena made the ruling in the tax row pitting Arundel School, Chisipite Senior School, St Johns Educational College, Gateway School, St Georges College and Christian Brothers College, on one hand, and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) on the other.



The schools had approached the Supreme Court on appeal against the decision of the Special Court for Income Tax Appeals, which dismissed their appeals against the determination of the Zimra Commissioner-General turning down their objection against an income tax assessment for additional profit tax.



The appeal raised three issues for determination, whether or not the lower court correctly found that the subsidised school fees fit in the definition of gross income in terms of section 8(1) and 8(1) (b) of the Income Tax Act.



Secondly, whether or not the lower court correctly found that the subsidised school fees were an advantage or benefit in terms of section 8(1) (f) 8(1) (a) of the Act, and, lastly, whether or not the court correctly assessed the calculations of such waived amounts. Arguing for the six schools, Advocate Firoz Girach submitted that the difference between the amount paid by full school fee-paying children and that paid by the children of parents employed at these schools was not part of the schools employees gross income under section 8(1) of the Income Tax Act.





The lower court, he argued, was wrong in dismissing the schools objection to that difference being included in the assessment of payable tax. He further argued that the subsidised fees were not an amount in terms of section 2 of the Act. But Zimra lawyer Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba insisted that the schools were liable to tax in terms of section 8(1) of the Act. He said according to Zimra, the definition of the term gross income covered the position of the Trust schools workers school fee concession for their children. In his ruling, Justice Uchena did not accept Mr Girachs contention and upheld the tax collectors argument and decision on the matter.





It is clear that the benefit received by the employees of the appellants falls within the broad definition of the term gross income and, therefore, was subject to taxation, said Justice Uchena, while dismissing the trust schools appeal. He said section 8(1) (b) of the Act clearly stated that any amount received or accrued in respect of services rendered or to be rendered whether due and payable under any contract of employment or service was liable to taxation.





On whether or not the lower court correctly found that the subsidised school fees were an advantage or benefit in terms of section 8(1) (f) 8(1) (a) of the Act, Justice Uchena noted that the concessionary fee benefit was granted to the schools workers. He said the benefit was not being used for the benefit of the schools business but that of their workers. herald
The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Jonathan Moyo has blasted the chairman of the Taskforce on Transformation of Higher Education for Industrialisation and Modernisation over a misconception on the role of the taskforce.



This came out at a taskforce meeting that was held at Catholic University today.

Following a recent speech by the chairman of the taskforce, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, Professor Levi Nyagura, as cited by Professor Moyo, there is a misconception lying within the taskforce over the role of the team.



The Minister said the taskforce is not confined to the University of Zimbabwe alone, but comprise of the 10 universities represented.



In the recent press statement by the chair of the taskforce, there are indications that the chairman of the team used the University of Zimbabwe in place of the taskforce, according to Professor Moyo.



The Taskforce on Transformation of Higher Education for Industrialisation and Modernisation, which comprises of 10 vice chancellors from state universities in the country, was established this year with part of its mandate being to help industry and business to facilitate the countrys industrialisation and modernisation programme.
Smoking Pot May Not Be

as Safe as You Think
"They were eating oysters like crazy," an archaeologist says of Native Americans who visited what is now the coast of Maine for thousands of years. And it's a good thing they did. The piles of discarded oyster shells created by hungry Native Americans over centuries are an irreplaceable source of information on their cultural practices, as well as the environment and climate of Maine millennia ago. "If you want to know what was in the western Gulf of Maine 3,000 years ago, this is how you're going to figure that out," Dr. Alice Kelley says. But the New York Times reports Maine's more than 2,000 shell piles, or middens, are disappearing thanks to climate change and rising oceans. "They are disappearing so fast, and the knowledge that is within those middens will be washed out to sea," says Donald Soctomah, historic preservation officer for two Passamaquoddy tribes.

Middens protect Native American artifacts from acidic soils because of the calcium carbonate in the shells. Stone tools, ceramics, and bones have been discovered in the shell piles, and artifacts from one midden were found to be more than 5,000 years old. "The shell middens are a link to the past and give us an idea of how life was at a certain time," Soctomah says. However, there are so many middens there's no way to study and save them all, the Mount Desert Islander reports. Kelley is securing funding to scan the shell piles with ground-penetrating radar to figure out which are most worthy of studyand which are most endangered by erosion. In a case illustrative of the time pressure Kelley and her team is under, they attempted to use radar to scan a midden recorded just 49 years ago only to find it had disappeared into the sea. (Read more archaeology stories.)
Women's rights groups reacted with outrage after a Portuguese court quoted the Bible in a ruling that justified a suspended sentence for a man who attacked his "adulterous" ex-wife with a nail-spiked bat, NPR reports. The appeals court judges in Porto called adultery a "serious attack" on a man's "honor and dignity," citing a 1886 law that calls for only a symbolic penalty when a man kills a cheating wife. The Oct. 11 ruling says the Bible calls for an "adulteress" to be "punished with death," per Reuters. The panel writes that "society has always strongly condemned adultery by a woman and therefore sees the violence by a betrayed, humiliated man with some understanding."

The man was ordered to pay a fine of $2,000, per the AP. Prosecutors had requested 3.5 years in prison. The woman's scorned lover, who was also fined, participated in the 2015 attack in which the woman was kidnapped and beaten, per NPR. The victim, who was left with cuts and bruises, could appeal the ruling, which women's rights activists called "revolting," per Reuters. The Women's Union for Alternative and Response slammed the decision as "victim blaming," saying it legitimizes violence against women. The Bible has no place in a courtroom, the group added in a statement, calling for protests on Friday. A council that oversees the judicial system said courts are independent and it could not intervene even in cases in which judges make "archaic, inappropriate, or unfortunate" comments, per the AP. (A woman in Qatar was convicted of adultery after reporting a rape.)
You really can put a price on happiness, or at least Albert Einstein's pithy theory on the matter: The theory, scribbled on a piece of paper and handed to a messenger, sold at auction for $1.56 million, AFP reports. The record-setting bid at Tuesday's sale in Jerusalem far surpassed estimates of $5,000 to $8,000, per Winner's auction house. Einstein scrawled the note on Imperial Hotel Tokyo stationery in 1922 while on a tour of Japan after being informed he'd won the Nobel Prize for physics. It reads in German: "A calm and humble life will bring more happiness than the pursuit of success and the constant restlessness that comes with it," per the BBC. The physicist better known for another theory gave the note to a courier who made a delivery to his room.

Einstein didn't want the man to leave empty-handed, so instead of a tip he handed him two notes, the anonymous seller tells AFP. The second missive, which sold for $240,000, was less original. "Where theres a will, theres a way," it reads. "Maybe if youre lucky those notes will become much more valuable than just a regular tip," Einstein told the man, says the seller, a relative of the courier who lives in Hamburg, Germany. The auction house says the buyer was a European who wants to remain anonymous, per the BBC. Two other letters Einstein wrote later were also auctioned, fetching prices of $33,600 and $9,600, per AFP. Other Einstein letters about God, Israel, and physics sold for almost $210,000 in June. (These US cities are the happiest.)
The US military believes someone in a Niger village may have tipped off attackers to the presence of US commandos and Nigerien forces in the area, setting in motion the ambush that killed four Americans, a senior defense official said Tuesday. The official says the Army Green Berets and about 30 Niger forces stopped in a village about 85 miles north of Niger's capital, Niamey, for an hour or two to get food and water after conducting an overnight reconnaissance mission, the AP reports. After they left, they were ambushed by about 50 heavily armed enemy fighters. The official says the US believes someone in the village alerted militants in a relatively new ISIS offshoot that calls itself Islamic State in the Sahel.

The official backs up a survivor's account of a morphed mission, saying the joint US and Niger team was initially sent on a routine mission to meet local tribal leaders. But after they had set out on Oct. 3, they received a new assignment, the official says. They were asked to assist a second American commando team in the area by collecting intelligence at a location where an al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb insurgent had last been seen. Because the insurgent was no longer in that area, military commanders believed the operation wasn't risky, the official says. The group that attacked is not believed to be linked to the AQIM militant. Army records show that the four soldiers killed had little to no combat experience, though the Pentagon stresses that all four went through intensive Special Forces training, the Wall Street Journal reports.

(Read more Niger stories.)
President Trump on Tuesday allowed the resumption of refugee admissions into the US under new, stricter screening rules but ordered nationals from 11 countries believed to pose higher risk to US national security to face even tougher scrutiny. Officials refused to identify the 11 countries, but said refugee applications from those nations will be judged case-by-case. Trump issued his new order on refugee screening as the administration's four-month ban on refugee admissions expired. It directs federal agencies to resume refugee processing, which he clamped down on shortly after taking office, the AP reports.

The new "enhanced vetting" procedures for all refugees include such measures as collecting additional biographical and other information to better determine whether refugees are being truthful about their status; stationing fraud detection officers at certain locations overseas; and training screeners to weed out fraud and deception. Jennifer Sime, senior vice president of US programs for the International Rescue Committee aid group, said she was concerned the new screening procedures would add months or even years to the most urgent refugee cases. In a separate action Tuesday, the US Supreme Court dismissed a case about the refugee ban, wiping away a lower court ruling.

(Read more refugees stories.)
Five Michigan teens who allegedly killed a 32-year-old father with a rock thrown from a highway overpass will remain in custody. On Tuesday, a judge refused bail for the five teens, aged 15 to 17, who have all pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and other charges, reports CNN. Each is charged as an adult and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted. However, a lawyer for one of the teens says he expects "a distinction once the evidence comes forward," per WNEM. "Although the charges are all the same, the kids are all different" and "the actions that the kids may have become involved in are all different," he says.

Police say they believe 17-year-old Kyle Anger was the one who threw the rock that killed construction worker Kenneth White via blunt force trauma to the head and chest. However, they also say 20 other rocks were thrown from the overpass before a 6-pound rock crashed through the windshield of a vehicle in which White was passenger. White's fiance, now a single parent to the couple's 5-year-old son, says she hopes the teens are punished to the fullest extent of the law, per WJRT. "I just hope they realize  how many lives they [tore] apart, and know that what they did was wrong," she says, adding her wish that the individual who threw the rock will be behind bars for life. (Read more Michigan stories.)
A sheriff's spokesman says two people have been fatally shot on the campus of Louisiana's Grambling State University, and the shooter fled the scene, per the AP. A Lincoln Parish Sheriff's spokesman says detectives are at the scene of the double homicide, assisting campus police. Grambling State University Media Relations Director Will Sutton told local media early Wednesday that it happened during a late-night altercation in a courtyard. Local media reported that Sutton identified one of the victims as a Grambling senior, Earl Andrews, and the other as Monquiarius Caldwell, both 23 and from Farmerville, La. (Read more campus shooting stories.)
A rule that would have offered consumers a powerful tool against financial institutions by allowing them to join together to sue saw its demise Tuesday night at the hands of Senate Republicans. The New York Times and Wall Street Journal report that, by a vote of 51 to 50 (with Vice President Pence as the tiebreaker), overturned a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau initiative started under former President Obama that would allow consumers to launch class-action lawsuits against banks and credit card companies instead of being pushed into private arbitration. "Tonight's vote is a giant setback for every consumer in this country," CFPB Director Richard Cordray said in a statement, noting that big players like Wells Fargo and Equifax can now basically do as they please without fear of major customer pushback. Cordray added: "Wall Street won and ordinary people lost."

The CFPB, which emerged after the housing crash, says the rule that was set to take effect in 2019 would have offered consumers recourse against predatory practices. The Trump administration, however, has called the bureau "an agency gone rogue" and accused it of overregulation that hurts businesses and the economy. Critics of the CFPB rule, which would have barred financial institutions from being able to slip arbitration clauses into contracts with consumers that prohibit class-action suits, say arbitration is more efficient than duking issues out in court. The Times notes this vote can be filed under "win" for Republicansa column that's been mostly empty in terms of major GOP legislative initiatives passed under Trump. Two Republicans sided with Dems in the vote: Lindsey Graham and John Kennedy. The measure now heads to Trump's desk; he's expected to give it the green light. (Read more class action lawsuits stories.)
Cuban military officials have a few words to describe the notion that Havana has some kind of sonic weapon it has used against American diplomats: "science fiction" and "slander." In interviews with reporters, Cuban officials say they have investigated thoroughly and cannot find the source of the mystery ailments. But they strongly reject the accusation, made by President Trump and other US officials, that Cuba is somehow responsible. "Our main concern at this moment are the accusations being made by the US government and we are focused on that because this is a slander," says Coronel Ramiro Ramirez. As for some kind of acoustic weapon: "It's impossible," Lieutenant Colonel Jose Alazo tells Reuters. "We are talking about science fiction."

Cuban officials say they examined hotel rooms, conducted air and soil tests in the neighborhoods of diplomats' homes, talked to hundreds of neighbors, looked into whether insects might be to blameand came away with nothing, reports NBC News. "Not even one person was sick," says a doctor. As for whether a third party such as Russia might be responsible, the officials say Cuba would never allow that on their territory, though Ramirez added, "We don't have definitive answers yet." One hindrance to the Cuban inquiry: The US has not provided access to victims' medical files or to homes where the illnesses occurred, and the officials called for greater cooperation on that front. The US has pulled most of its diplomats out of the country in the wake of the illnesses, though scientists outside of Cuba are similarly skeptical of a sonic attack. (Read more Cuba stories.)
Bomb shelters on Yeonpyeong Island have remained neglected for the last nine months despite urgent calls to reinforce them and ensure islanders' safety after North Korea shelled the island in November.

According to islanders, most of the 19 shelters on the island were unusable on Aug. 10, when the North Korean coastal artillery again shelled waters off the island, because they were submerged and power supply was cut off in the wake of downpours.

On Aug. 10, "no evacuation announcement was made. Worse, residents found the floor of some shelters filled with water," said Kim Jae-sik (49), the chairman of a Yeonpyeong islanders' committee. "One shelter that was in better condition was so packed with the families of military officers that it was difficult for ordinary islanders to squeeze in."

"Since the North's attack last November, the government has worked out various responses, but it's failed to maintain the bomb shelters properly despite the urgent need to restore them," said islander Kim Young-sik (60). "With the floor flooded by rain, there's no single foam mat in the shelters, let alone emergency supplies like bottled water and pot noodles."

The local government is building 42 new bomb shelters on the five northwestern-most islands in the West Sea, including Yeonpyeong, with a budget of W53 billion (US$1=W1,075) from central government. The new shelters will be furnished with heating and cooling systems, bathrooms, kitchens, public-address booths, and power generators.

But it a mere W14.6 million was allocated to Yeonpyeong to maintain and repair the old dilapidated shelters.
The US ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa is blaming the "blood sport" of politics for the kerfuffle he's in over comments he made while visiting the latter islands. Per the New York Times, witnesses told local media that former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown acted "obnoxiously" at a July Peace Corps event in Apia. Brown confirmed Wednesday to New Zealand's Stuff that there had indeed been an "administrative inquiry" by the US State Department into his behavior and that he'd been warned to be more "culturally aware." The Guardian reports the complaints apparently came from two female Peace Corps members. The remarks revolve around him telling guests at the event they looked "beautiful," as well as noting to a waitress she could make "hundreds of dollars" if she were a waitress in America.

But while Brown says he did compliment guests on their appearance, he says he'd seen them before the event looking "dirty and grungy" and that they'd cleaned up so nice he felt compelled to compliment them. He also says he made comments about both women and men, and that his wife, Gail Huff, made similar remarks. As for the waitress, he says he was simply noting she was doing a "great job," per the Times. Why he thinks the complaints against him are politically motivated: He's a Trump supporter said to have the president's ear. "At this event there were a lot of people [who] didn't like [Trump]," he told Stuff. "Sadly, it's politics, and it is what it is." He did note, however, he'll try to be more culturally sensitive in the future. Huff says the experience "has been a real learning curve" and that she was by her husband's side at all times and "literally saw nothing. It's absurd." (Read more Scott Brown stories.)
Bridesmaids who party together, fight together. That was apparently the unspoken code at a wedding last Sunday in Palm Coast, Fla., where the New York Post reports an uninvited interloper caused a scene with a man she claimed was her boyfriend. Per WKMG, deputies say 20-year-old Shelby McDowell snuck into the Hammock Beach Resort to keep tabs on Darby Johns, who was attending a wedding there as an invited guest and who McDowell says is her romantic partner. Once there, McDowell said she saw Johns making out with a woman on the dance floor. That woman told cops McDowell rushed over to where she and Johns were, tossed a drink on the pair, then punched her face; Johns says they hadn't even made it to the dance floor yet when McDowell came onto the scene, and he denies kissing the other woman.

After allegedly assaulting Johns' companion, witnesses say McDowell then ran to a resort bathroomand that's when the wedding party apparently decided to get involved. McDowell says a bunch of bridesmaids yanked her out of a bathroom stall by her feet and started hitting her, but the resort manager told police that when he arrived on the scene to break up the brawl, McDowell was on top of the woman who'd been with Johns and was punching her. To make matters more complicated, at least for McDowell: Johns says she's not his girlfriend. McDowell was booked at the Flagler County Jail and faces misdemeanor battery charges, per WPEC. (Read about a more amusing wedding story.)
Visiting Honolulu? Better get out of the habit of texting while walking, or at least while walking across a street. In a new law that took effect Wednesday, the Hawaiian city has banned looking at your phone (or any mobile electronic device) while crossing a street or highway. Anyone who does so in Honolulu or the surrounding county can be fined up to $35 for the first offense, the New York Times reports. Subsequent offenses will cost up to $75, and then up to $99. The exceptions: If you're communicating with 911 at the time, or if you're an emergency responder performing your official duties, TechCrunch reports. (Pedestrians can also still talk on phones or listen to music while crossing streets.) KHON notes the fines aren't just tickets to pay; offenders must appear in court.

Honolulu is the first major US city to pass such a law, NPR reports. Similar legislation has been considered, but not passed, in multiple states and is pending in two states. Municipal laws aren't officially tracked, but Rexburg, Idaho, banned the practice in 2011 after five pedestrian deaths were recorded in a short period of time in the small town. There have been no more pedestrian deaths since. Honolulu officials cite safety as the reason for their city's ban; experts say people who text while walking are almost four times as likely to engage in a dangerous behavior like jaywalking or not looking both ways before crossing a street, and they also take 18% more time to cross streets than those who aren't distracted by a device. (Read more Honolulu stories.)
President Trump took a public drubbing from outgoing Sens. Jeff Flake and Bob Corker on Tuesday, but he doesn't sound fazed by the criticism from his fellow Republicans. "The reason Flake and Corker dropped out of the Senate race is very simple, they had zero chance of being elected," the president tweeted Wednesday. "Now act so hurt & wounded!" While Flake's speech on the Senate floor has been hailed as "historic" in some camps, not all the sentiment is in his favor:

What gets lost: Mike Allen at Axios points out that Trump still has the public support of nearly every GOP senator and House member, even if some grumble in private. "Thisnot the criticism by the fewis the story of the moment and the first nine months: With few accomplishments, countless petty GOP fights and slights, Trump is strong as ever."

Mike Allen at Axios points out that Trump still has the public support of nearly every GOP senator and House member, even if some grumble in private. "Thisnot the criticism by the fewis the story of the moment and the first nine months: With few accomplishments, countless petty GOP fights and slights, Trump is strong as ever." Spare me: At the Resurgent, Erick Erickson is tired of seeing the same sentiment being shared about Flake over and overa nice, principled man bullied out of a job by Trumpism. Please. "Jeff Flake is leaving the Senate because he is a crappy politician who built his brand as one thing, used it to get to the Senate, then betrayed that brand once there." Erickson thinks Flake abandoned true fiscal conservatism in the Senate.

At the Resurgent, Erick Erickson is tired of seeing the same sentiment being shared about Flake over and overa nice, principled man bullied out of a job by Trumpism. Please. "Jeff Flake is leaving the Senate because he is a crappy politician who built his brand as one thing, used it to get to the Senate, then betrayed that brand once there." Erickson thinks Flake abandoned true fiscal conservatism in the Senate. Why surrender? If things are as dire for America as Flake says, wouldn't it be better to stay and fight, wonders Charles Pierce at Esquire. Corker similarly bailed. Evidently, "Flake believes that the way to reassert the balance of power between the national legislature and a national executive with a narcissistic crackpot at the helm is to get the hell out of Dodge before the roof caves in. Good profile, lacks courage."

If things are as dire for America as Flake says, wouldn't it be better to stay and fight, wonders Charles Pierce at Esquire. Corker similarly bailed. Evidently, "Flake believes that the way to reassert the balance of power between the national legislature and a national executive with a narcissistic crackpot at the helm is to get the hell out of Dodge before the roof caves in. Good profile, lacks courage." Ditto: This "defiant surrender" won't accomplish much, writes Ross Douthat at the New York Times. Politicians such as Flake and Corker "should engage in electoral battle because the act of campaigning, the work of actually trying to persuade voters, is the only way anti-Trump Republicans will come to grips with the legitimate reasons that their ideas had become so unpopular that voters opted for demagoguery instead."

This "defiant surrender" won't accomplish much, writes Ross Douthat at the New York Times. Politicians such as Flake and Corker "should engage in electoral battle because the act of campaigning, the work of actually trying to persuade voters, is the only way anti-Trump Republicans will come to grips with the legitimate reasons that their ideas had become so unpopular that voters opted for demagoguery instead." Party of Trump: Flake is right about one thing, writes Ben Domenech at the Federalist. He is a "vestige" of the pre-Trump GOP and is out of step with its new direction. "Again: the GOP as it was died in Cleveland," he writes, referring to the site of the GOP convention. "Flake's decision authenticates this."

Flake is right about one thing, writes Ben Domenech at the Federalist. He is a "vestige" of the pre-Trump GOP and is out of step with its new direction. "Again: the GOP as it was died in Cleveland," he writes, referring to the site of the GOP convention. "Flake's decision authenticates this." Multi-party system? At Real Clear Politics, Caitlin Huey-Burns agrees with the sentiment that Trump has taken over the GOP, and the divisions between him and Republicans such as Flake seem only to be widening. Which raises a provocative question: "Might Trumpism fuel a counter-movement toward a multi-party system?" It's obviously a long-shot prospect, but at least one poll suggests voters might be ready.

Flake followed up his memorable speech with an op-ed declaring that America is "sick." (Read more President Trump stories.)
Professional poker champ Phil Ivey won't be getting the $10.2 million he thought he won from a London casino, the Guardian reports. The 40-year-old, whom the BBC calls "the Tiger Woods of poker," was found to have cheated in order to win the money while playing a version of baccarat at Crockfords Club in Mayfair in 2012. He's been fighting to get the millions ever since, insisting the strategy he used to win wasn't illegal. His case against Genting Casinos UK, the owner of Crockfords, was dismissed last year, and he challenged that dismissal. But on Wednesday, Britain's Supreme Court upheld the lower court's ruling, the AP reports.

Ivey and a colleague used a technique called "edge sorting," in which they got the croupier to unknowingly arrange the cards in a way that allowed Ivey and the other player to figure out what cards were being dealt, based on small differences in the pattern on the back of the cards, and bet accordingly. Crockfords returned his stake but never paid out the winnings, leading to the court battle. The Supreme Court found what Ivey did was definitely cheating, but after the ruling Ivey maintained his innocence. "At the time I played at Crockfords, I believed that edge sorting was a legitimate advantage-play technique, and I believe that more passionately than ever today," he said. "As a professional gambler, my integrity is everything to me." Ivey was accused of doing the same thing in the US. (Read more Phil Ivey stories.)
An Oregon woman is seeking $1.8 million after she says multiple medical professionals misread test results, resulting in her getting a double mastectomy and hysterectomy last year, the Oregonian reports. "I wish this on nobody, nobody," 36-year-old Elisha Cooke-Moore tells KTVL, which has a copy of her lawsuit filed last week. Cooke-Moore says she underwent genetic testing because both her mother and grandmother had cancer. The lawsuit claims Cooke-Moore was wrongly told the test showed she had the MLH1 gene mutation and Lynch syndrome. She says she was told by gynecologist William Fitts that she had a 50% chance of getting breast cancer and an up to 80% chance of getting uterine cancer. She says nurse practitioner Lori Johns recommended surgery based on the test results.

Months after her surgeries, Cooke-Moore says she was reading the test results for herself and says they were clearly marked "negative," the Washington Post reports. Quite frankly, we are stumped to why they would make this mistake, her lawyer tells the Oregonian. The hysterectomy put Cooke-Moore into early menopause, and she says the botched mastectomy has required more than 10 corrective surgeries. She says she's been diagnosed with PTSD. "It's terrible," she says. "As a woman, they took what God gave me. I don't even feel like I am one at times." The mother of five now says she should have gotten a second opinion before having the surgeries. Her lawsuit names Fitts, Johns, the Curry Medical Practice, the Curry Medical Center, and surgeon Jessica Carlson. (This woman sued after losing her limbs in a donkey attack.)
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There is serious shortage of emergency shelters near the inter-Korean border, especially in Incheon, Gyeonggi Province, and Gangwon Province.

Emergency management authorities on Tuesday said that the country needs a total of 380 shelters in the border regions, but by the end of last year only 62 had been completed.

The government hastily built more shelters after the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in 2010. At the time, the Ministry of Public Administration and Security spent W53 billion (US$1=W1,139) to build new shelters in the five islands in the West Sea off the North Korean coast.

The National Emergency Management Agency also conducted a study from April to August in 2011 to establish how many shelters are needed in the border regions and arrived at the figure of 380. It built 56 of them the same year but only another 17 in 2012. This year it plans to build another 20. At this rate it would take over a decade to build all 380.

The agency cites budget constraints for the slow progress. Each shelter costs W600 million, so all 380 would cost W170 billion. An NEMA official said this would be "unrealistic." "There could well be population and landscape changes in these areas that could alter demand in few year's time," the official added.
"We are sharing recent and relevant information with our foreign allies and are consulting the aviation industry," DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement.

It did not specify which airports or what countries would be affected, nor did it say what triggered the extra precautions.

The Department of Homeland Security said "enhanced security measures" would be implemented in the next few days at "certain overseas airports with direct flights into the United States."

European airports would be taking the extra precautions, the U.S. officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The United States said on Wednesday it would increase security at overseas airports with direct flights into the country, as U.S. officials cited concerns al-Qaeda operatives in Syria and Yemen were developing bombs that could be smuggled onto planes.

Earlier, law enforcement and security officials told Reuters the United States and European authorities were discussing measures that could include extra scrutiny of U.S.-bound passengers' electronics and footwear, and the installation of additional bomb-detection machines.

Bombmakers from the Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, and Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, are believed to be working together to try to develop explosives that could avoid detection by current airport screening systems, U.S. national security sources said.

The main concern is that militant groups could try to blow up U.S.- or Europe-bound planes by concealing bombs on foreign fighters carrying Western passports who spent time with Islamist rebel factions in the region, the sources said.

AQAP has a track record of plotting such attacks. It was behind a 2009 attempt by a militant with a bomb hidden in his underwear to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner.

U.S. officials believe Nusra and AQAP operatives have carried out operational testing of new bomb designs in Syria, where Nusra is one of the main Islamist groups fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad, a national security source said.

The "stealth" explosives the bombmakers are trying to design include non-metallic bombs, ABC News reported.

There was no immediate indication U.S. intelligence had detected a specific plot or time frame for carrying out such an attack, but officials are especially worried that the recent battlefield successes of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, an al-Qaeda splinter group, have drawn a growing number of militants from America and Europe to the jihadist cause. These fighters would have easy access to flights headed for American cities.

Still, the Obama administration has been cautious in its response.

Negotiations for beefed-up security with European governments have taken place behind the scenes, apparently to avoid raising alarm among air travelers and to minimize diplomatic fallout. U.S. officials said some measures under discussion would remain secret.
New Delhi:

A 30-year-old Pune techie was found dead in Gurugram. The deceased has been identified as Mayura Sode. She had recently moved to Gurugram after getting job with American Express.

According to police officials, she had committed suicide and left a suicide note in which she had apologised to her parents stating that her love life had failed.

After the repeated attempts to reach her over the phone, two of Mayura's friend visited her flat on Monday evening which is located at Mahindra Aura in New Palam Vihar.

After reaching the flat, friends found lights were on but there was no response when they knocked the door. They called guard who through an open window found Mayura hanging from a ceiling fan.

Police said Mayura had been working with the Amex for the last four months. She had leased EWS flat number 213 on the second floor of a tower at Mahindra Aura in Sector 109, one of the city's new sectors. Her friends Ankur Mishra and VK Mishra reached her apartment around 9 pm on Monday to check on her.

Police found one -page suicide note near her body. "In her note, she said sorry mummy-papa, I cannot carry forward. She said she had failed in her love life," inspector Deepak Kumar, the SHO of Bajghera police station, said.

"After getting information, her father Manohar Ramdas Sode and family members reached Gurgaon on Tuesday. They too did not blame anyone. We handed over her body after an autopsy. She might have committed suicide during the day. When we reached her flat, her body was found hanging from a dupatta from the fan," Kumar added.

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New Delhi:

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said that the Bhartiya Janata Party will celebrate 'Anti-Black Money Day' in the nation on November 8, 2017. It was on the same day in 2016 that the Modi government had announced demonetisation of high denomination currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000.

Attacking Congress, the FM stated that Congress had adequate opportunity to be in power and he cannot recollect a single significant step that they ever took against black money.

Jaitley further said that Congress had reconciled to India living with a shadow economy and it is understandable that this would never be on political agenda of Congress leadership.

Earlier on Tuesday, Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said 18 opposition parties would observe November 8 as Black Day to mark their protest against demonetisation which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year on the very same day.

While addressing a press conference in the national capital, Azad said demonetisation is a scam of the century. He said Congress president Sonia Gandhi has constituted a coordination committee of six parties.

Azad said the government made 135 changes since demonetisation was implemented and several people lost their lives.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O Brien said that all opposition parties will question the government, and would observe November 8 as Black Day.

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New Delhi:

Three Naxals were killed in a joint operation by in a joint operation by ITBP and Chhattisgarh police in a forest of Chhattisgarhs insurgency-hit Rajnandgaon district at around 10 pm on Wednesday, police said.

While speaking to news agency PTI, Rajnandgaon Superintendent of Police Prashant Agrawal said that the skirmish took place at around 10 pm in the forest of Kopenkadka village under Khadgaon police station limits when a joint team of security forces was out on an anti-Maoist operation.

The joint operation was launched in the interiors of Manpur, around 200 km away from the state capital, Raipur.

When the patrolling team was advancing through the jungles of Kopenkadka, it came under heavy fire that led to gun-battle between the two sides, Agrawal said.

ALSO READ: CoBRA troopers returning from Naxal operation save life of road accident victim

However, ultras soon escaped into the deep forest on finding security personnel zeroing on them, he added.

Bodies of three ultras along with three automatic weapons, including one AK 47 rifle, one Insas rifle and one SLR rifle, were recovered from the sport during a search operation.

The Naxals were identified as Mahesh, an area committee member (ACM), Rakesh, ACM and Pallemadi LOS Commander and Ranjit, Pallemadi LOS deputy commander, the SP said.

Mahesh and Rakesh were carrying rewards of Rs 5 lakh each on their heads, while Ranjit was carrying Rs 3 lakh reward.

They all hailed from Bastar region of the state and more details are awaited, he added.

(With PTI inputs)

ALSO READ: Ex-army man arrested for training Naxals in Odisha

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Two women on trial for murdering the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un were taken Tuesday to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport where they allegedly poisoned him.

Wearing bulletproof vests and escorted by heavily armed guards, Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong of Vietnam toured the crime scene along with the judge, defense lawyers and prosecutors.

The purpose of the visit was to give the trial participants a better understanding of the events that took place on Feb. 13, the day the two women allegedly smeared Kim Jong-nam's face with the VX nerve agent.

The judge and rest of the participants retraced the steps taken by Kim and the defendants, including a restaurant where Aisyah was seen with a man identified by police as "Mr. Chang," and the airport clinic where Kim sought help after he was attacked.


New Delhi:

A woman was shot dead in her car in Shalimar Bagh of the national capital. An FIR has been registered and a probe is on, the police said.

The deceased has been identified as Priya Mehra. Primafacie, the police officials are suspecting it as a case of loot. A

According to officials, Priya was present along with her husband and son in the car when the incident took place.

In a similar incident on Tuesday, two men were shot dead allegedly by unidentified bike-borne men in northeast Delhi's New Usmanpur and Krishna Nagar area of Shahdara.A

Woman shot dead in her car in Delhias Shalimar Bagh. Police begin investigation pic.twitter.com/allIRar0Cs a ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2017

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New Delhi:

Woman biker, Sana Iqbal, from Hyderabad, who drove across the country to fight against suicide, died in a car crash at the outskirts of Hyderabad.

According to police Sana and her husband, Abdul Nadeem had went out on a drive in the early hours of Tuesday when their car rammed a median on the Outer Ring Road at Narsingi.

The accident occurred around 4 am in the morning and the car was being driven by Nadeem, said Police.

Narsingi inspector Nadeem said, Sana died at the incident site, while her husband has suffered serious injuries in the incident.

According to a sub-inspector of Narsingi, a case has been registered under Indian Penal Code sections 304 (A) (causing death by negligence) and 337 of IPC (causing hurt by endangering life or personal safety of others).

Narsingi sub-inspector Sudhir Kumar said, In our initial investigation we have learnt that the card crashed into the median after over speeding.

He added that left side of the car was destroyed due to the impact.

Sanas friends and family members have raised suspicion over the accident after a text message sent by her got widely circulated on the social media.

Sana in the message had reportedly stated that her husband or in-laws should be held responsible in case she died of heart attack or brain stroke.

We are investigation the case in all angle. We have learnt that the message was sent by Sana a few weeks ago to her friend, said an inspector.

Sana solo-riding had travelled 38,000 kilometers across 29 states and union territories. She had started her campaign against depression and suicides in November 2015 after she went into depression.

Also read| Bihar: Train runs over 5 women in Munger; 4 dead, 1 injured



During her travel, Sana used to hold counselling session gave speeches at schools and colleges across India.

Also read: CoBRA troopers returning from Naxal operation save life of road accident victim



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New Delhi:

The security forces on Wednesday launched a search operation in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. Around 13 districts have been cordoned off.

The officials said that joint teams of police, Army and CRPF have cordoned off at least eight villages of the district.A The massive search operation comes in the wake of recent militant attacks in south Kashmir.A

J&K: Search operation launched by Security forces in Shopian district. 13 villages cordoned off a ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2017

Senior police, Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel started burning the midnight oil to overcome the crisis of controlling Shopian, which is located south of the Peer Panjal mountain range and can provide free access to terrorists to cross over to Doda, Kishtwar and Poonch area of Jammu, the officials added. (with PTI inputs)

#Visuals from J&K: Search operation launched by Security forces in Shopian district. 13 villages cordoned off (deferred visuals) pic.twitter.com/zzWqIhRrKb a ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2017

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New Delhi:

Police said, one Shivaji Kamble, 48, stabbed a 37-year-old woman in her stomach and neck on Tuesday evening at Mumbaias Kurla. She was rushed to a local hospital by locals.

According to Nehru Nagar Police, the victim was later identified as mother of a rape survivor and her attacker as father of 22-year-old youth accused of raping the womanas daughter.

Police sources said that Kamble's son, 22, has been in judicial custody since August after he was arrested for raping the complainant woman's daughter.

According to police, the incident occurred when the woman was purchasing vegetables at a nearby market. Kamble approached the woman asking her to withdraw the case. On denying he got furious and attacked the woman with a knife. The victim was kicked and dragged for few meters by the accused.

The victims standing nearby rushed the victim to a nearby hospital.

Police said, aKamble has been taken into custody.a

Also read: Accenture techie stabbed to death for Rs 500 in Bengaluru

Also read: Delhi Police constable shoots self with service pistol



Mumbai Police has registered a case against Kamble under IPC Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
New Delhi :

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday kicked off his Gujarat tour. He said the Gujarat model of development has failed in the state and the grand old party will sure win the upcoming assembly polls.

While addressing a rally in Ahmedabad, Rahul said the Congress party would give ticket in assembly polls to those party workers who have been fighting against the policies of BJP and RSS.

He targeted BJP and media, saying that small traders do not run media but it is being operated by a few friends of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said there are a few media persons who want to write against the Prime Minister but they fear of governmentas dictatorial approach. A

Jo hamara Congress ka karyakarta zameen pe RSS aur BJP se ladta hai usey hum ticket dilvaenge: Rahul Gandhi in Ahmedabad pic.twitter.com/cTsPj3yCKO a ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2017

Rahul also slammed Centre for various GST slabs, saying that there should be limit for 18 per cent.

Media ko kisaan aur chhote vyapari nahi chalate usko Modi ji ke 2-4 dost chalate hain: Rahul Gandhi in Ahmedabad pic.twitter.com/ZchOleonGE a ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2017

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New Delhi:

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday claimed Syed Shahid Yousuf, son of globally-wanted terrorist and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, had admitted he received funds for subversive activities in the Kashmir Valley.

Yousuf, who was sent to seven days of custody to the agency for further questioning, had also given the names of overseas Hizbul Mujahideen members involved in fund-raising for the terror outfit, an NIA spokesman said.

The 42-year-old Yousuf, who works in the agricultural department of the Jammu and Kashmir government, was arrested here yesterday.

The NIA claimed during questioning he admitted to having received funds from cadres of the Hizbul Mujahideen on the direction of his father, Mohammed Yusuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, for fomenting terrorist activities in the Valley.

The NIA said he also revealed the names of his associates abroad who were linked with the Mujahideen and involved in raising, collecting and transferring funds from other countries to India.

This was being verified and investigated, the NIA said.

It alleged Yousuf used to receive funds through a US-

based international wire transfer company from Aijaz Ahmed Bhat, another accused in the case who is absconding and is based in Saudi Arabia.

The agency alleged Yousuf was one of several Indian contacts of Bhat who had been in telephonic contact with him for receiving money transfer codes.

The NIA claimed so far he had received a total of nearly Rs 4.5 lakh through eight international wire transfers.

The case, registered by the NIA in April 2011, relates to the transfer of money from Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir through hawala channels via Delhi, which the agency believed was used in funding terrorism and secessionist activities.

The NIA has so far filed two charge sheets against six people including G M Bhat, a close aide of pro-Pakistan separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Siddiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga. All four are in judicial custody.

Two othersMohammed Maqbool Pandit and Bhatwere also charge sheeted by the NIA but are absconding. An Interpol Red Corner notice has been issued against them.

Yousufs father Salahuddin, based in Pakistan, was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department of State in June this year.

Besides heading terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, he is the chairman of the United Jehad Council (UJC), a conglomerate of terrorist outfits operating in the Kashmir Valley.

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New Delhi:

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday in the national capital.

While issuing aA joint press statement, Sushma Swaraj said Pakistan needs to act on safe heavens and supporters of terrorism as recent attacks in Afghanistan are proof of the same.

She said President Trumpas policy on terrorism can only thrive when Pakistan takes action on terror groups.

Swaraj said she also discussed the important contribution of Indians working in the USA on H1B visa.

We also discussed the important contribution of Indians working in the USA on H1B visa: EAM Swaraj after meeting with Rex Tillerson a ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2017

Tillerson said India and US are natural allies and both nations stand shoulder to shoulder against terror.

India and USA are natural allies. Stand shoulder to shoulder against terror: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson pic.twitter.com/dFJkxrR1VK a ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2017

He said safe havens of terrorists will not be tolerated.

Terrorist safe havens will not be tolerated: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson a ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2017

aIndia is crucial to USA-Afghanistan strategy, back India as a leader in the region,a Tillerson said.

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New Delhi:

Islamabad has to make clear choice or pay a price under the USas new South Asia policy if it does not stop funding terror groups, said Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani lambasting Pakistan for supporting terrorism at Vivekananda International Foundation think tank in New Delhi.

aSanctuaries are provided, logistics are provided, training is provided, ideological base is provideda Pakistan has come to a juncture and it needs to make a choice,a said Ghani.

The Afghanistan president in his speech on Tuesday also mentioned about China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

He warned Pakistan on providing Afghanistan access route to Wagah and Attari for trade with India, then Kabul will also restrict Islamabadas access to central Asia.

During his speech he also cleared on the allegations made by Pakistan regarding a secret deal between India and Afghanistan joining hands against Pakistan.

He said, aNo secret agreement between Afghanistan and India. There is no destabilisation of any neighbours from Afghanistan taking place through implicit or explicit collusion. Letas get out of the word of fiction.a

Also read| President Ashraf Ghani: I thank every Indian for contributing $1 each to Afghanistan



Afghan Presidentas India visit was a day after he met US secretary of state Rex Tillerson and discussed the new Afghanistan policy in Kabul. Tillerson was in Pakistan on Tuesday, when Ghani lambasted Islamabad on terror funding. The US state of secretary is scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on Wednesday.

A

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New Delhi:

Swine flu, the human respiratory infection caused by an influenza strain has claimed over 400 lives in the last seven years in Nagpur, as per the reports, provided by the deputy director of health office, Sanjay Jaiswal.

While around 569 people have tested positive this year, 108 have succumbed to the deadly disease.

The informations were provided following an RTI query filed by activist Abhay Kolarkar.

Kolarkar also tried to investigate regarding deaths due to waterborne diseases in some parts of Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, and Wardha in the division.

There are also reports that, H1N1 influenza has been most active since March with 229 cases and 34 deaths recorded in September and several festivals and lack of precautions are also some of those significant reasons behind the sudden jump in the death toll. In 2016, only two people had lost their life due to the same.

Also Read: Researchers found 'suicide molecules' may help fight cancer

"September recorded the highest number of swine flu deaths this year. There were several festivals and people failed to take necessary precautions," Deputy Director (Health) Sanjay Jaiswal was quoted while talking about the same.

"We have been asking citizens to immediately take precautionary steps in case of cold and cough. Since very few swine flu cases were reported in 2016, people may have ignored these warnings," Jaiswal added.

Since new virus keeps developing deadlier strains, it is imperative that everyone takes hygiene seriously, he warned further.

Also Read: Kolkata raw food items have alarming lead levels, finds study

Moreover, diseases like gastro and hepatitis claimed three lives in the last three years while more than 1000 cases have been reported during the period.
New Delhi:

US President Donald Trumps ended his four-month-old temporary ban on refugee admissions to the country on Tuesday. However, his administration is set to unveil tougher screening procedures and he has called for a 90-day review of the program for 11 countries which are considered high risk by his administration.

The President had previously suspended the processing of all refugees to the US for a period of 120 days as part of a previous executive order, issued in tandem with his travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries.

Refugees seeking entry to the US will face what officials described as more stringent and thorough examination of their backgrounds, in line with Trumps extreme vetting policy for immigrants.

The Homeland Security Department, the State Department and other US agencies have been reviewing the screening process during the temporary ban.

The White House has however declined to name the 11 countries which would be subjected to a new 90-day review. Until the end of 2016, higher-security screening was needed for most adult male nationals of Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Apart from them, screening of Palestinians living in those countries was also required.Its still unclear exactly what new measures would be added, but in the past, officials have spoken about examining applicants social media posts and other investigative measures to identify those who may sympathize with extremists or pose a national security risk to the United States.

Refugees already face an extensive backlog and waiting periods that can take years. Any additional screening would likely extend the timeline.

Even with the ban lifted, refugee admissions are expected to be far lower than in recent years. Last month, Trump capped refugee admissions at 45,000 for the fiscal year that started October 1, a cut of more than half from the 110,000 limit put in place the year earlier by President Barack Obama.

Further, the actual number admitted this year could be far lower than Trumps 45,000 cap, which sets a maximum but not a minimum.

The refugee restrictions were in addition to Trumps broader travel ban on people from several countries. Courts have repeatedly blocked that policy but largely left the temporary refugee policy in place.

Trump has made limiting immigration the centrepiece of his policy agenda. In addition to the travel ban, which initially targeted a handful of Muslim-majority nations, the president rescinded an Obama-era executive action protecting young immigrants from deportation and vowed to build a wall along the southern border with Mexico.

During his presidential campaign, Trump pledged to stop the massive inflow of refugees and warned that terrorists were smuggling themselves into naive countries by posing as refugees fleeing war-torn Syria.

Thousands of refugees are being admitted with no way to screen them and are instantly made eligible for welfare and free health care, even as our own veterans, our great, great veterans, die while theyre waiting online for medical care that they desperately need, Trump said last October.Instead, Trump has advocated keeping refugees closer to their homes.

The end of the ban comes amid an alarming refugee crisis in Myanmar, where security forces in August began what human rights groups have called a scorched-earth campaign against villages inhabited by Rohingya Muslims. More than 600,000 Rohingya from northern Rakhine State have fled to Bangladesh.

With PTI inputs

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To meet the demand, and with Hawkings encouragement, Cambridge made it available online.

Professor Hawking's "Properties of Expanding Universes" has been the most requested item in the university's library.

When Britain's Cambridge University put physicist Stephen Hawking's 1966 thesis online for the first time Monday, the universitys website collapsed.

About 60,000 people sought to access it, causing the system to periodically shut down throughout the day Monday.

Hawking is the world's best-known physicist and expert on the cosmos.

His landmark 1988 work "A Brief History of Time" has sold more than 10 million copies.

With his thesis now available for anyone to read, Hawking said he hopes to "inspire people around the world to look up at the stars and not down at their feet, to wonder about our place in the universe and to try and make sense of the cosmos."
New Delhi:

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that the classified government documents about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy will be released on Thursday.

"The long anticipated release of the #JFKFiles will take place tomorrow. So interesting!" Trump tweeted.

However, it is still not clear that whether the President will allow the entire set of documents to be released or block some files from public view.

The question arises as the Trump administration was urged by the elements of the intelligence community not to release some of the documents.

The long anticipated release of the #JFKFiles will take place tomorrow. So interesting!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2017

Kennedy had served as the President of the United States (POTUS) from January 1961 until his assassination on November 22, 1963.

ALSO READ | John F Kennedy Assassination: In an astonishing development, Donald Trump allows public release of secret files

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New Delhi :

Sherin Mathews, the three-year-old Indian girl missing for over two weeks, is dead, US police said today.

Sherin, who had developmental issues and limited verbal communication skills, was last seen outside her family'sbackyard in Richardson city in Texas on October 7.

The Richardson Police earlier announced that they discovered the remains of a small child in a tunnel beneath a road, expressing apprehension that it was "most likely" that of Sherin. The body was found about one km from the house ofher adoptive parents Wesley and Sini Mathews.

Police said medical examiners used dental records to identify the child. Her cause of death is still pending. The Richardson Police Department has re-arrested the foster father of the girl. Mathews, 37, who hails from Kerala, was booked into the Richardson City Jail on a USD one million bond.

Mathews and his wife Sini reportedly adopted Sherin two years ago from an orphanage in Bihar.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson delivered a blunt message to Pakistan while asking the countrys top leadership to increase efforts and eradicate terrorists operating within its soil. Tillerson visited Islamabad to reset bilateral ties strained after President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorist groups.

During his meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Tillerson discussed bilateral cooperation, expanding economic ties between US and Pakistan, apart from Pakistans critical role in the region.

Abbasi chaired an inter-agency meeting attended by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of Defence Khurram Dastigir Khan, Foreign SecretaryTehmina Janjua, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, ISI chief Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and other officials.

The US embassy said that the Secretary reiterated President Trump's message that "Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country."

To address those concerns, the Secretary outlined the United States new South Asia Strategy and the vital role that Pakistan can play in working with the US and others to facilitate a peace process in Afghanistan that can bring stability and security to the region, the embassy statement said.

"The Secretary noted that Pakistan and the United States share common interests in establishing a stable, peaceful Afghanistan, defeating ISIS in South Asia and eliminating terrorist groups that threaten both Pakistan and the United States."

ALSO READ: Rex Tillerson arrives in India; talks on strengthening ties on cards

During the meeting, Abbasi assured Tillerson that his country is committed to the war against terrorism. "The US can rest assured that we are strategic partners in the war against terror and that today, Pakistan is fighting the largest war in the world against terror," Abbasi said.

Abbasi said Pakistan is "committed in the war against terror." He said Pakistan has produced "results" in its war against terrorism and it was looking forward to moving ahead with the US and building a tremendous relationship. So far no official statement was issued by Pakistan but Defence Minister Khan talking to Geo TV said that all aspects of relations were discussed and there was agreement to increase cooperation to defeat militancy.

"They asked Pakistan to take action against groups which are involved in militancy and also urged Pakistan to help create peace in Afghanistan," he said.

READ: Time for Pak to take action against terror safe heavens: Tillerson

He said the Pakistani side insisted that its efforts for peace were derailed twice -- once when the news of the death of Mullah Omar was divulged and second when Taliban leader Mullah Mansoor was killed.

He said Pakistan the tone of the US delegation was reconciliatory and it insisted that Pakistan's role was important for regional peace as it lies between India and Afghanistan.

Khan said that Pakistan also highlighted the issue of Indian presence in Afghanistan and raised concerns about New Delhi's role in security affairs in the war-torn country.

"We said that we do not have any issue with Indian development work in Afghanistan but we have issued with its security role," he said. He said the US official tried to "tell us that India is not a threat to Pakistan but our perception was different".

He said Tillerson expressed gratitude to Pakistan in securing the release of the Boyle-Coleman family from Taliban captivity. Earlier, Tillerson quietly landed at a military airport in Rawalpindi in the afternoon and was driven to the US embassy where he was briefed by senior US officials about relations with Pakistan.

He later met Abbasi at the Prime Minister House and held detailed talks on various aspects of relations. It was Tillerson's first visit to the region after Trumpunveiled his policy for Afghanistan and South Asia.

Trump's remarks in August unruffled the ties already under strain due to various issues. Pakistan regularly denies that it hosts terror groups fighting the US and Afghan forces in Afghanistan.

Trump's criticism led to further strain in US-Pakistan relations with a peeved Islamabad saying the president ignored its efforts in the war against terrorism. Tillerson flew to India after his meetings in Islamabad, where he is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi andExternal Affairs Minister Sushama Swaraj.

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Passengers bound for the U.S. need to arrive at boarding gates about half an hour before departure under enhanced security measures starting Thursday.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Tuesday said it carried out a test run for the new measures on Oct. 19 at the request of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration.

It said passengers will have "no problems" despite tougher security screenings if they arrive at the airport about three hours before departure. Airline security officers interviewed passengers waiting in line at check-in counters, but it did not take much longer than usual.


Weather officials say a tropical storm, Saola, formed over waters south of Japan on Tuesday afternoon.

Japan's Meteorological Agency says it has a central atmospheric pressure of 1000 hectopascals.

It is expected to move northward over waters east of the Philippines, as it gradually gains strength.

The Meteorological Agency is advising people to keep an eye on the storm's course.
The head of Fast Retailing Co. on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of the Uniqlo chain selling its casual wear through the online retail giant Amazon.com.

Speaking to journalists in New York, CEO and President Tadashi Yanai said its subsidiary will sell through its own stores and sites.

Uniqlo would be just one of many brands if its products were sold on Amazon, he said. But he also saw the need to learn from Amazon's innovative technologies.
The U.S., South Korea and Japan on Monday called on China to respect territorial rights in the South China Sea.

The defense ministers of the three nations met on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian nations' defense ministers meeting in the Philippines to discuss the North Korean nuclear threat and South China Sea disputes.

In a joint statement they "reaffirmed that freedom of navigation and overflight must be ensured, and that all disputes should be resolved in a peaceful manner in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law."

These terms have been used by the U.S. to warn China against laying claim to islands in the South China Sea, but South Korea had so far stayed out of the debate.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Song Young-moo met with his Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan and discussed the U.S. deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery in South Korea, which has incensed China and triggered an unofficial boycott there.


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DANBURY  Even before Hurricane Maria destroyed Lorenzo and Braulios home in Caguas, Puerto Rico, their future was uncertain.

The dogs were given up for adoption in September by an owner who knew it would be impossible to care for them on an island soon to be ravaged by the massive storm.

But on Sunday, the two inseparable pups took a step toward a new start when they arrived in Danbury. They are awaiting adoption at Tails of Courage, a small shelter on Smith Street turned haven for dogs displaced by hurricanes.

Lorenzo, a 2-year-old Great Dane, and Braulio, a 1-year-old mutt, are just two of the nearly 60 dogs Tails of Courage has taken in because of hurricanes. The nonprofit has received dogs displaced by hurricanes Maria and Irma, which devastated islands in the Caribbean, and houses dogs from shelters across the South and the Danbury area.

Most dogs are adopted within weeks, said Melanie Dzamko, the organizations adoption coordinator. Some puppies are so young they likely were born in shelters.

Lorenzo and Braulio were among 18 dogs from Puerto Rico that came to the mainland late last week.

Along with the others, the two were shepherded from the island to Miami, where they boarded a chartered jet to New Jersey and then got into a truck to Danbury.

Most of the dogs were given up for adoption soon before Maria hit. They arrived in Danbury through the Sato Project, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing dogs from Puerto Rico.

On the tarmac in New Jersey, the Puerto Rican pups faced the cold northeastern fall for the first time.

Theyre acclimated now, Dzamko said. At first they were pretty freaked out, shivering. They needed blankets.

The Danbury shelter took in 10 dogs after Hurricane Irma with the the help of Georgina Bloomberg  daughter of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg  who flew them to the Northeast from Miami, said Tails founder Kristan Exner. Bloomberg has used a private jet to get abandoned dogs out of Miami the past few months, Exner said.

Tails sees some 1,000 dogs come through its doors every year, Dzamko said. Many come from southern states where spaying and neutering is less common and shelters often kill dogs after prolonged stays.

Exner, who ran the organization from her Norwalk home, said Tails of Courage has been in Danbury since 2014.

Some of its adoptions have made headlines, like the time Mayor Mark Boughton joked he voted for his dog, Ellie Mae, a former Tails resident, in the 2016 presidential election. The statement caused a stir when some people took him seriously.

Boughton visited Danburys hurricane survivors Tuesday afternoon to see how they were faring.

He took a liking to Lorenzo, but said he couldnt adopt him. It wouldnt be fair, the mayor said.

He did, however, tweet a photograph of Lorenzo to his 34,539 Twitter followers, asking someone to come adopt him.

This is Lorenzo, Boughton wrote. Straight in from Puerto Rico. His house was destroyed in the hurricane. Needs a good home.

All the animals are available for adoption at Tails of Courage, 39 Smith St. But, for those interested in Lorenzo, he wont go without his buddy.

Theyll be adopted together, Dzamko said. Thatll be the rule: Braulio wont leave his side.

blytton@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3411; @bglytton
DANBURY - The attorney for a psychiatrist accused of having sex with one of his patients will able to use portions of the victims diary in his clients defense, a Superior Court judge has ruled.

After reviewing the diary, Judge Dan Shaban said portions of the document could be used in the defense of Paul Fox, a psychiatrist who once treated Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza.

An 18-year-old Western Connecticut State University student, identified as Jane Doe in court records, had begun seeing Fox in 2011 for treatment of depression and an eating disorder, authorities have said, and at some point he began having sex with her.

The allegations surfaced in 2013 when detectives working on the Sandy Hook investigation began interviewing former clients of the psychiatrist, who stopped treating Lanza about five years before the Dec. 14, 2012, shooting at the elementary school.

The woman told investigators about the sexual relationship, saying she was drugged up and out of my mind on a cocktail of prescription drugs Fox prescribed, court documents state. The sexual encounters occurred at his Brookfield office and on a sailboat he kept at Candlewood Lake, documents show.

Fox, who now lives in Maine and did not appear in court Wednesday, faces a number of charges including second-degree sexual assault.

Shaban reviewed the womans diary in his chambers. In a written ruling, he said the document contains passages that could be used to dispute claims that the victim was emotionally dependent on Fox - an element the state must prove to convict on a second-degree sexual assault charge.

The court finds a limited amount of information that, while not exculpatory, could be considered material to the defense on the issue of guilt, Shaban wrote.

Some of the language used in the diary by the victim, according to the judges ruling, include statements such as I love him and Im obsessed.

He added that the diary may be reviewed only by the attorneys and is not to be released publicly. Fox will also not be allowed to have copies of the diary entries.

Maura Crossin, an attorney representing the victim, said copies of the diary were provided to both the defense attorney and States Attorney Stephen Sedensky, who asked the judge Wednesday for more time to review the information.

The case was continued to Nov. 16.

dperrefort@newstimes.com
"Giving women in Ghana easier access to financing and a better understanding of their economic opportunities is crucial. This initiative will help support thousands of Ghanaian women to become real economic actors in their communities, " said the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie.

SMEs are at the foundation of Ghana's economy, accounting for 70% of Ghana's GDP, and 92% of businesses throughout the country. Within that context, women form 53% of the Ghanaian labour force, account for 44% of the GDP, and comprise 70% of Ghana's SME sector. However, economic growth is hindered because traditional banks avoid lending to SMEs (as SMEs tend to operate in risky informal sectors). The Financial Inclusion for Enterprise Development (FINEDEV) Program will address the need, and work towards consolidating Ghana's lower middle income status by supporting a more modern, equitable and sustainable SME sector.

"We at OIC are honored to be partnering with Global Affairs Canada and our implementing partners in Ghana," said Dale Patterson, President and CEO of Opportunity International Canada. "We look forward to working as a team and utilizing our core capabilities on the FINEDEV Program, and are excited about the long-term inclusivity and sustainable impact of this Program for the benefit of the women, vulnerable groups, and SME's entrepreneurs in Ghana."

About Opportunity International Canada

Opportunity International Canada is a Canadian non-profit organization that helps people in developing countries work their way out of poverty, strengthen their families and improve their communities through holistic microfinance. OIC is part of the Opportunity Network, founded in 1971, which currently provides loans, savings programs, insurance and other financial services and training to more than 9.6 million clients in over 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. Clients use the resources to expand businesses, provide for their families and create jobs in their communities.

Discover more about Opportunity International Canada at www.opportunityinternational.ca

SOURCE Opportunity International Canada

For further information: Opportunity International Canada, Jannalee Anderson, Vice President, Business Development, [email protected], 226-376-3129

Related Links

http://www.opportunityinternational.ca/


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Legislators apparently figured they should wait to adopt a Connecticut budget until after the Yankees and Red Sox lost in the playoffs, which, by the way, is just barely before towns run out of cash.

As the Senate prepared to vote on the bipartisan compromise plan late Wednesday, everyone wanted to know how big a tax increase well see. This would seem an easy question: Look at the list of changes from last year and add up the ones that raise new money from residents and businesses, right?

Wrong. Its not easy because the revenue enhancements, which total $1.6 billion this year in the new budget, involve a lot of moving money around in ways that are hard to define.

For example, the budget swipes $327 million from something called the municipal revenue sharing account, or MRSA, not to be confused with the skin-eating bacteria. Tax increase? Hard to say; it could end up as one if we have to raise that money later or if towns have to raise their property taxes.

Theres no increase in the rates of any of the big three levies that come to mind when we think about sending money to Hartford. Those are the income tax, which accounts for about $9 billion, or half of regular state spending; the sales tax, which pulls in $4 billion at 6.35 percent; and the corporate earnings tax, less than $1 billion but fiercely contested because it hurts the midsize companies that pay an unfair share of it exactly as were asking them to hire more people.

And so the size of the tax increase remains a mystery.

By Wednesday afternoon, despite the scheduled vote, we still didnt have final documents. Based on comments by legislators and a fleeting look at a list, my take is that the increase in taxes and fees in the first year of the 2-year budget will be in the range of $200 million to $300 million, just over 1 percent of the total budget, and a slight increase beyond that in the second year.

That includes a few easy-to-define hikes such as 45 more cents for a pack of cigarettes, which will raise $38 million a year.

Why are we hearing about billion-dollar tax hikes? Those figures are based on running totals, which can be highly misleading. They count the added tax twice  once for the first year and once for the second  rather than reporting annual increases after the second year.

Besides, to get to those $1 billion figures, we have to include a hospital financing shell game that looks like a $344 million tax increase but is actually a $209 million decrease because it comes with far higher Medicaid reimbursement.

The stated figure matters deeply for the 2018 elections, when Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the Democrats will be tarred with huge tax increases, wrongly. Never mind the fact that Malloy wasnt in the room for the final round of talks; never mind the fact that regular government spending is going down, not up as most people think; never mind the fact that two of the biggest Republican spending cuts in the budget Malloy vetoed were from fantasyland; and never mind the fact that Democratic control of the General Assembly is down to almost nothing.

I asked the co-chairmen of the tax-writing finance committee  Sen. John Fonfara, D-Hartford, and Rep. Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, how big the tax increase would be and they had no clear answers.

Were taking existing revenue sources and repurposing them, Rojas said.

Ill have a number tomorrow, Fonfara said, meaning Wednesday, in time for him to introduce the bill in the Senate.

Rep. Themis Klarides, R-Derby, the House minority leader, didnt have an answer, either, but she said, There were a lot of fee increases in this budget that we did not support.

One revenue boost that no one likes is a raid on three set-aside programs to boost energy efficiency  programs that create a lot of jobs and save electric ratepayers money.

That energy raid yielded $80 million as of Tuesday night  which counts as added revenue  but was one of the last items being adjusted, preferably downward. Even people who strongly back the programs, including Rep. Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, the House majority leader, conceded the raid was a necessary evil as negotiators fought for their highest priorities; Ritters was making sure the city of Hartford got its complex bailout.

How many priorities are you going to have? Ritter asked.

Up and down the list, we see items that could count as tax increases, or not. A $57 million gain by deferring generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP; an increase in teachers pension payments; an additional $90 million in tax collection through better enforcement; a cut in the tax-credit for working poor people.

For all these reasons, there is no exact number for a tax increase and there never will be one. Finances are complicated for a reason and a state budget that relies on finding quarters under couch cushions is all the more so.
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Waco officials told mySA.com that actor Robert Redford robbed a local bank last weekend. Well, sort of.

Redford helicoptered into town Saturday to film scenes for his new movie, "The Old Man and the Gun," in which he plays an older bank robber who has escaped from prison more than 12 times, according to the flick's IMDb page.

The veteran bank robber is looking to "spice things up with another heist" before retiring, according to the page.

Redford's bank of choice?

The American Bank, or "round bank," in Bellmead, just north of Waco.

RELATED: Miniseries on infamous cult standoff with federal agents riles Waco city officials

"This was the biggest star I think Waco has seen," said Carla Pendergraft, director of marketing for the Waco Convention Center.

She said presidents have visited Waco and Anthony Bourdain once filmed an episode of his show "No Reservations" there, but no one as legendary as Redford.

He spent the day filming at the bank and on Elm Avenue in town, Pendergraft said. She said Redford didn't look like himself -- he was outfitted in a wig and shaggy mustache. Although Pendergraft was not allowed to take photos of Redford acting, she said it was a sight to see.

"It was so exciting for me," she said.

Redford also filmed in Fort Worth for two days.

Kelsey Bradshaw is a digital reporter for mySA.com. Read more of her stories here.| kbradshaw@express-news.net | Twitter: @kbrad5
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MERIDEN  Franklin and Gioconda Ramos have met the high bar required to get their deportation cases reopened and are expected to adjust their status to permanent residents when they attend a court hearing in December.

James McCarthy, a judge in Immigration Court in New York, has ruled that the couple, who have been in the United States since 1993 and have two citizen sons, have demonstrated that they are prima facie eligible to adjust status if the cases are reopened.

McCarthy set Dec. 28 as the date his court would take up the case.

He accepted the key arguments we made and set a further hearing in late December to proceed with adjustment of status (final green card processing) for Franklin and Gioconda. Its the correct decision legally, and a wonderful result that vindicates the work of the Ramos family and their hundreds of supporters, Michael Boyle, their attorney wrote in an email.

Based on documentation, McCarthy found the couple is eligible to adjust their status because they have approved I-130 petitions filed on their behalf, by their oldest son, Jason Ramos. Under an I-130, a child can petition for an adjustment of status for his or her parents.

McCarthy said Franklin Ramos, 45, is also the recipient of an alien employment certification filed prior to April 30, 2001, which under immigration law, allows him to adjust his status.

The court found the labor certification was properly filed, was non-frivolous and showed a bona fide employer/employee relationship when he was in New York.

The couple had been scheduled to be deported on Sept. 29, but were granted a stay by McCarthy on Sept. 25 to give him enough time to consider Boyles request that it be reopened.

McCarthy, in his ruling on Boyles motion, said a request to a judge to reopen such a case is granted sparingly. He said the applicant has the burden of demonstrating that an exceptional situation exists and there is a substantial likelihood that the result in his case would be changed if reopening is granted.

On Sept. 28, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security filed a motion opposing Boyles request to reopen the case. McCarthy said the department was unable to access its administrative files and based its opposition on the information provided.

Given the new information, McCarthy said the department has not argued that the couple was not eligible to adjust their status or required a waiver in order to adjust it.

On Nov. 5, 2005, the couple was ordered to leave for their native Ecuador, but they said the did not receive the final court order.

On April 26, 2012, Franklin Ramos was picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but was granted annual stays of deportation until this year when the Trump administration tightened use of prosecutorial discretion.

The couples situation was the subject of a civil disobedience action where 36 people were arrested for blocking Immigration Court in Hartford over their impending deportations.

Jason Ramos said his parents were headed for work when they got the news, so it really hasnt totally sunken in for them.

Ramos said they feel vindicated, proud, and grateful for all the support they received and the work done on behalf of their parents. He gave a special thanks to Boyle for unraveling a complicated case that should have been resolved years ago in Brooklyn, N.Y. where his father first worked.

He said his parents kept all the documentation over the years, which made the appeal possible.

Jason Ramos said he was exhausted by the uncertainties of what was going to happen to his parents and how he and his younger brother, Erick, 17, were going to pick up the pieces.

My life has completely changed. We can now take ownership of our lives, he said. The 24-year-old said there is a tangible path ahead for his family and he is experiencing a certain peace.

mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com Contact me at 203-641-2577.

.
Christine Stuart/CTNewsJunkie / Christine Stuart/CTNewsJunkie

HARTFORD  As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, which was about five hours before the Senate was expected to vote on a bipartisan budget, there was still no publicly available document.

The only thing that existed for an eight page document created by Republicans to help lawmakers in their caucus understand the deal they spent half a month constructing behind closed-doors.
NEW HAVEN  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has ruled against approving a drug for muscular dystrophy that a student at Southern Connecticut State University relies on to live independently and to walk long distances without tiring, according to the drugs manufacturer, PTC Therapeutics.

PTC plans to appeal the ruling, which calls for PTC to conduct an additional clinical trial in order for the drug, ataluren, to be considered for approval, according to a press release issued Wednesday.

Josh Wagner, 24, has Becker muscular dystrophy, a less severe form of MD than Duchenne, for which ataluren specifically has been targeted.

We are extremely disappointed for the Duchenne community and strongly disagree with the agencys conclusions, said Stuart W. Peltz, chief executive officer of PTC Therapeutics, in a statement. We believe that this decision fails to consider the benefit-risk of ataluren and the high unmet medical need. Therefore, we plan to file a formal dispute resolution request next week.

According to Jane Baj, a spokeswoman for PTC, which is based in South Plainfield, New Jersey, the appeal would go through a different FDA office than the one that rejected approval of ataluren, the Office of Drug Evaluation I.

We are filing next week and were just going to work through that process, Baj said.

According to PTC, the FDAs complete response letter indicated that evidence of effectiveness from an additional adequate and well-controlled clinical trial(s) will be necessary at a minimum to provide substantial evidence of effectiveness.

Ataluren is marketed under the trade name Translarna in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Israel and South Korea, according to the companys website. We have been providing it for at least 10 years  for 150 boys in the United States and we will continue to do so, Baj said. Ataluren has only been available in the United State to those enrolled in clinical studies. Two worldwide trials have been conducted involving 400 patients, Baj said.

Wagner, 24, of Meriden, at one time was so weak he needed a wheelchair or motorized scooter to go more than a couple of blocks or his leg muscles would become tight and stiff. Since taking ataluren, he has been able to complete a 5K run and has begun lifting weights. An accounting major, he will graduate from Southern in May.

Wagner could not immediately be reached for comment.

Sandy Walsh, a spokeswoman for the FDA, said in an email, the FDA recognizes the unmet medical need of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a devastating disease for patients and their families. We remain committed to addressing the urgent need for new treatment options. We have taken a number of steps in recent months to advance and support the development of orphan drugs, and will continue to look for opportunities to specifically support the advancement of DMD treatments.

Walsh said the FDA has approved two treatments for Duchenne, but we understand that much more is needed and recognize the importance of bringing new treatment options to this community.

One of those treatments is eteplirsen, marketed as Exondys 51, which Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDAs Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, approved over the objections of her staff.

An FDA advisory committee, after hearing testimony from Wagner and others and taking in hundreds of comments, voted 10-1 against approving ataluren.

Ataluren works by helping restore the protein dystrophin, which those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy lack because of a nonsense mutation in their genes, according to PTC. Those with Becker MD do not completely lack dystrophin, and their skeletal muscles are not affected as severely, but their heart muscles may be weakened similarly to those with Duchenne, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Associations website.

Contact Ed Stannard at edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com or 203-680-9382.
Farm-state interests just conquered Big Oil in a fight over biofuels, proving that in Donald Trump's Washington, King Corn still reigns.

The clash erupted over the future of the Renewable Fuel Standard, a 12-year-old law that compels the use of fuels such as corn-based ethanol and soy-based biodiesel. Although the president had repeatedly promised Midwest voters he would "protect" ethanol and support the program, his Environmental Protection Agency was considering steps to dilute the mandate.

Farm-state governors and senators revolted -- setting off a behind-the-scenes struggle between two special-interest heavyweights. Lobbyists for oil refiners warned of higher gasoline prices if the administration backed down. Iowa leaders countered that Trump could face political retribution in 2020 during the state's first-in-the-nation caucuses. Republican senators threatened to delay confirmation of his nominees.

"I wasn't afraid to put the squeeze on," Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, said in an interview. "This was really important. We've got 88,500 family farms here in Iowa, and they rely on this."

After three weeks of frenzied lobbying by both sides, the president ordered his EPA administrator to back off -- handing an unalloyed victory to the farm belt. EPA chief Scott Pruitt's formal capitulation came days later in the form of a letter that detailed concessions to biofuel producers and underscored corn's continued clout in the nation's capital.

The issue is politically perilous for any president, but especially Trump, who visited ethanol factories while campaigning in Iowa and promised the state's voters he would stand by the home-grown biofuel if they elected him to the White House.

But biofuel industry leaders grew worried after Trump began staffing his administration with allies of the oil industry, which views the biofuel requirements as costly and burdensome. Chief among them: Pruitt, a former attorney general from Oklahoma who criticized the RFS before he became EPA administrator and is expected to run for political office from the state, where ethanol-free gasoline flows at many filling stations and the oil industry dominates.

Then came a formal EPA request for public comment on possibly reducing biodiesel quotas. The Sept. 26 "notice of data availability" that set those potential changes in motion posed some 20 questions about ways to lower quotas. None related to increasing the mandate. It explicitly invoked oil industry arguments about the danger of relying on imported biodiesel.

A day later, Bloomberg reported the EPA was weighing a plan to allow exported biofuel to count toward domestic quotas -- a move that would drive down compliance costs for refiners but disadvantage many ethanol makers.

The threat was obvious. "It galvanized our industry," said Brooke Coleman, executive director of the Advanced Biofuels Business Council.

The oil industry, by contrast, remained fractured over the best prescription for what they argue are rising costs of complying with the law. Oil industry lobbyists urged Trump administration officials not to give in to an "extortion" attempt by senators, nor back down from changes they described as modest fixes needed to keep gasoline prices from spiking.

But they were outmatched. In the Midwest, the news of a possible reduction in biofuels quotas arrived as cash-strapped farmers were already growing concerned about Trump's trade policy. Taking the teeth out of a program that helps to put a floor under corn and soybean prices would only add to their current woes, they worried. Some 38 percent of the corn crop is destined for ethanol plants, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The response was immediate. Ethanol supporters who had battled biodiesel backers on other policy matters linked arm in arm.

"With that one-two punch, there was not a segment of the industry that was not facing a severe threat to its future," said Monte Shaw, head of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. "The only alternative was to try to get this on the president's radar screen and hope that he in fact was going to stick by his promises -- and he did."

The biofuel industry was able to count on a host of Midwest politicians to advance their cause, from statehouses to the U.S. Capitol. Thirty-eight senators sent a letter to Pruitt backing the RFS on Oct. 5, and four governors sent their own missive to Trump on Oct. 16.

Among the industry's fiercest advocates: Chuck Grassley, the Republican senior senator from Iowa, who immediately decried a "bait and switch" by the Trump administration. He took to Twitter and the Senate floor to voice his displeasure. Grassley's complaints prompted a call from Trump, who told Pruitt to meet with senator. "That woke everybody up," Grassley said.

"My point in talking to the president was to make the point that he had some people in his administration that weren't helping him keep his campaign promises," Grassley said in an interview. "He needed to know he was being undercut."

Trump subsequently directed his EPA administrator to resolve the senator's concerns, according to people familiar with the discussions. The message: Keep Grassley happy.

Grassley had unique leverage. He heads the Senate Judiciary Committee, which plays a gatekeeper role vetting judicial nominations and has the power to probe numerous issues, including Russia's meddling in the 2016 election.

"It is clear that the political novice -- the president -- knows how powerful the head of the Judiciary Committee is," said Jeff Stein, a political analyst who hosts an afternoon talk radio program on KXEL in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. "To have Iowa's leading senators make very public stands sent a message to the White House that this was different."

Grassley and Pruitt met for lunch on Monday, Oct. 16, followed by a closed-door meeting with four other senators a day later. According to multiple accounts, Grassley did most of the talking in that session -- occasionally with a raised voice.

Pruitt and his staff members may have thought the RFS program "could be modified a little bit without doing any harm," Grassley said in an interview. "Our job was to point out great harm could be done, and we made our point."

An EPA spokesman declined to comment on this story. A top EPA official said last week that the agency's goal was to make the program work better -- and to encourage domestic biofuel use, not undermine the initiative.

Even beyond politics, biofuel backers had additional leverage. Ernst, the other Iowa senator, is one of 11 Republicans on the Environment and Public Works Committee, which was considering the nomination of lawyer Bill Wehrum to lead the EPA office that administers the biofuel program. With 10 panel Democrats expected to vote no, her position would be decisive.

Although Pruitt told senators he would support the RFS, Ernst insisted she needed Pruitt's assurances in writing before she could support Wehrum.

Back in Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds pressed the issue in a phone call with the president, following it up with a Wednesday news conference with ethanol producers.

"They are feeling the pressure, and that's why we need to keep it up, we can't let down," Reynolds said then.

The following evening, Pruitt sent a letter to Ernst and other senators promising the EPA would not cut biodiesel quotas and would drop consideration of the ethanol exports idea. Ernst said she would back Wehrum for the EPA job, and the Senate committee rescheduled its vote on his nomination for Wednesday.

But not everyone was pleased.

The Wall Street Journal editorial board termed the episode a "special-interest shakedown." Chet Thompson, head of the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, said it was "astonishing" to see Pruitt making concessions "to appease a few senators at the expense of American families and workers."

Valero Energy Corp., an independent refiner seeking some of the changes, blasted the senators' opposition as "bullying" rooted in "a desire to maintain the status quo" and "protect windfall profits associated with unregulated trading" of biofuel compliance credits.

Coleman, with the biofuels council, says this wasn't a case of the administration bowing to special interests, but rather it was an example of Trump keeping his promise to the mid-American voters who got him elected.

"We're not the swamp; we're the anti-swamp," Coleman said. "He bucked special interests to return to and in favor of rural America."

---

Bloomberg's Mario Parker and Jennifer Jacobs contributed.
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NEW HAVEN  How many coffee shops get an endorsement from a nationally recognized artist who will only bring guests to the Coffee Pedaler because of the attention the owner pays to detail?

Titus Kaphar was one of almost a dozen people who spoke in favor of the shop getting a special exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals Tuesday for a tavern license to serve wine and beer at its 605 East St. location.

He said he has brought curators from museums in Princeton, from the Museum of Modern Art and from over seas to the city.

I dont bring them anyplace else, because I know that when I go there I am going to get a product that is exceptional and I am going to get quality, Kaphar said.

Zoning staff has recommended approval as long as the seating capacity remains at 28 and the shop closes at 10 p.m. It now goes to the City Plan Commission, which will rule on a request to eliminate the parking requirement for seven on-site parking spaces where no onsite parking exists.

Ryan Taylor, who opened the shop four years ago, said he is talking to the Parking Authority about designating several parking spaces in its State and Mechanic street lot for the operation.

Kaphar wasnt the only one who praised the coffee at Coffee Pedaler as the best in the city, until BZA Chairman Ben Trachten reined them in to address the issue of the tavern license.

We are not by any means trying to build a bar out of our existing coffee shop, Taylor told the BZA.

With his new found love for old-world wines, he said he wants to be able to offer wine to patrons, but in an educational setting, where they would sample them and listen to experts on the topic.

William Reynolds, who lives close to the Coffee Pedaler, said it is by far the best coffee in Connecticut. The point I am making is Ryan runs a quality business. With this wine stuff I have already learned so much from him ... that there is a difference between Napa Valley and Italy. ... The type of people he is going to bring to the Coffee Pedaler ... it is not going to be a dive bar. Im part of this neighborhood. I want the Coffee Pedaler to thrive. I want it to expand.

Kyle Skar, who lives on Pearl Street, echoed that it was a quality establishment.

Hesper Rego, who is new to East Rock, said finding a shop like Taylors was part of the decision why she and her husband moved to this neighborhood.

I firmly believe that ... shops like Ryans are the backbone of communities, she said. Rego said the first thing they looked for when checking out the real estate market was where are the cool coffee shops  thats the neighborhood we want to live in.

She said they have put a lot of sweat equity into their new home and feel the Coffee Pedaler adds to the value of the area.

I think that is probably true of a lot of people who are trying to become stewards of this neighborhood and for a younger generation to sort of take ownership, Rego said.

I think coffee and wine go great together and in other parts of the world it is sort of a normal thing that coffee shops stay open a little later to serve their community, Rego said.

Kevin McCarthy favored the tavern license, but did think the business should make some provision for parking, which gets to be a premium in the evening, although some patrons said they never had a problem finding a place to park.

Taylor said he knows a lot of people in the wine industry, who do come to his shop when they are in town. He said he would incorporate the serving of wine into his daily menu with the tastings announced on Instagram and Facebook and held from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

He already offers BYBO, where friends bring wine for sampling and discussions on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. 10 p.m. Taylor said he will drop this once he gets the zoning OK and can apply for the tavern license.

The only complaint came from his next-door neighbor, Deborah Rossi, who said his guests leaving the wine tastings were loud, while during the day she finds cars blocking her driveway and trash left in front of her house.

Taylor said he has put out a trash receptacle, as well as one for cigarettes, and has asked his patrons to be considerate. In the future, the city is proposing a bus stop in front of his shop, which will keep people from blocking Rossis driveway.

mary.oleary@

hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577
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WEST HAVEN  The three candidates for mayor shared the stage at West Haven High School Tuesday night for a mostly civil but occasionally feisty debate on subjects ranging from economic development to fire district consolidation to transparency in government.

Mayor Ed OBrien, who will be a write-in candidate Nov. 7, was joined in the West Haven Chamber of Commerce debate by Republican City Councilman David Riccio and Democratic former councilwoman Nancy Rossi, who defeated OBrien in the Sept. 12 Democratic primary.

In opening statements, Rossi came out of the gate saying she feels its so important to keep our city moving forward and to keep it vital, and her top priority would be to balance the budget.

You do that by not spending money you dont have, she said.

Riccio said West Haven has the best beaches, fantastic parks, a caring community and some of the best restaurants in the state of Connecticut, but we deserve a city leader who loves the city as much as you do.

I want to ensure we have a strong and solid future, Riccio said, vowing to be a leader who truly cares about you.

OBrien said his goal has always been to leave it better than the way you found it.

This election ... West Haven is truly at a crossroads that will shape this city for years to come, he said. For the first time in a long while, we see large development coming. ... For the first time in a long time, we see Allingtown returning to the vital community it once was.

But that being said, this election isnt about the past, its about the future, he said, suggesting he was the best person to lead West Haven into that future.

Throughout the debate, the citys precarious fiscal condition loomed around every corner  and on questions such as whether West Haven is better off now than it was four years ago, the differences between the candidates couldnt have been any starker.

OBrien answered that first question from moderator James Walker, senior editor of the New Haven Register, enthusiastically and afffirmatively, saying that when he came into office, he vowed to improve the citys economic development, education and quality of life and he believes he has delivered.

Absolutely  yes, I do, he said.

But Rossi and Riccio saw it very differently.

Rossi said Beach Street looks horrible and the citys General Fund deficit is now double what it was when the mayor came into office.

We have not been able to pay our bills, and the citys quality of life has been deteriorating, she said.

Riccio said West Havens problems are systematic.

Weve had the same government for the last quarter-century, he said.

The Democrats who have run West Haven for many years make campaign promises and what happens? Riccio asked. When they get into office, when they get to the third floor, they forget about who put them there.

Other questions dealt with economic development beyond The Haven, the area around Metro-North railroad station, housing, absentee landlords, what cuts each candidate would foresee making in the budget, a spending freeze, the West Haven High School reconstruction project, fire district consolidation, government transparency and how to ensure a clean election.

Those interested in hearing what the three candidates have to say have another opportunity Wednesday

at a University of New Haven candidates forum, at 5 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge in Bartels Hall, the universitys student center.

On economic development, Rossi said she would invest in downtown, beginning with the long-proposed arts center. That was one of the promises when the OBrien administration came into office, she said, that downtown was going to be revitalized.

Rossi also said that Beach Street is in dire need of a facelift, and said the city should begin putting together site tours to interest developers in what the city has to offer.

Riccio said there is much the city could learn from shoreline communities, including those such as Asbury Park, N.J.

The problem is, Theres no theme to any or our corridors or businesses, he said. We have thousands of people that are walking our shores. And what do they do? They get in their cars and they go elsewhere.

OBrien said his opponents suggestions are just campaign gimmicks.

We are marketing the city and working to fix up and lure development to all of the citys gateways, with the long-term hope that that will spill over into downtown...

With regard to the area around the train station, which opened in 2013, that area already is starting to develop with the recent announcement that Pinpoint Promotions will move from Stratford to Railroad Avenue near the station.

In addition, were showing Armstrong, he said, referring to the former Armstrong Rubber headquarters.

OBrien reiterated that there is no affordable housing planned for that transit-oriented development zone. Its all market-rate housing, he said, adding that West Haven cannot stand still.

Riccio said two key city industrial areas, along Front Avenue and Railroad Avenue, have languished for years. The current administrations idea for the area around the trainstation is predominantly a housing idea, he said. In West Haven, we need more job opportunities.

He suggested that attracting biotech companies was the way to go.

Rossi asked, Have we leveraged a train station? and then added, Id have to say not. She suggested looking at what Milford has done arround its railroad station for comparison. We dont have busieness around our railroad station and it looks terrible, she said.

We need to utilize the area around the railroad station to bring people in, she said.

With regard to the citys budget and whether it needs to be cut in order to address the citys recurring deficits, Riccio said, You have to make bold and tough decisions. He said he would propose a 10 percent cut across the board  becuase that is the position were in.

If people are cutting their own budgets at home, I think city government needs to make do with less, Riccio said.

Rossi said that I absolutely anticipate making cuts in the budget but that she would not be slashing police and stuff, as some have suggested she might in social media posts.

But to begin with, I am not making promises to anybody, nor will I, she said. But Rossi, a CPA, said that the citys self-insurance fund needs audits  every year. Payroll really needs to be looked at, and when somebody leaves a job, see if you can get somebody else to do the job or perhaps split it between two people rather than fill the position again.

OBrien said, We always look to make cuts in the budget ... We cut an awful lot of positions in the budget. We currently have three open positions in the finance department that are not being filled, he said.

The city also shopped around for insurance and ways to lower energy costs  and recently saved $338,000 by going with new, more efficient streetlights.

All three candidates said they favor consolidation of the citys three fire districts, two of which remain independent of the city.

I would like to see one fire district and one fire chief, said Rossi. But the problem is, the mayor doesnt have the power to make people do it.

While City of West Haven Fire Department  Allingtown is now part of city government, You have to have the other two fire districts agree, she said.

Riccio said he favored consolidation but I think we need charter revision for it to be feasible, he said. Thats one of the major problems. Right now, the charter is tilted in favor of the politicians ... not the people.

OBrien said, Yes, I think they should be consolidated, and while that didnt happen during his two terms, Ive met with the chiefs and they are working together, geographically.

With regard to government transparency, OBrien said, I think weve gone a long way ... I answer calls from constituents every day...

Listen, can we do better? Absolutely, he said.

Riccio thinks West Haven can do a lot better. I think we fall a little bit short in the transparency department, he said. Transparent means to be upfront on issues, on economic development programs.

When I ask the economic development commissioner, Joe Riccio  no relation  whats going on with the Haven, I just want transparent answers  and were not getting them, he said.

Rossi, who has made Freedom of Information Act requests and fought Freedom of Information Commission battles with the OBrien administration since OBrien came into office, said transparency is non-existent in West Haven government.

As a result of one of her FOI battles, West Haven was supposed to implement FOI classes for city staff members  and it has yet to be done, she said.

Beyond that, theres really no reason why all agendas, council packets, cant be on the website, Rossi said. I think its lacking.

OBrien said that with The Haven, the city is limited in what it can release. We cant talk about the stores until the developer says its OK.

But we have been very transparent when we could, he said.

West Haven Chamber of Commerce President Alexander Cuevas began and ended the debate, welcoming people and later urging all in attendance to go out and vote.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
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Just a few hours after a 21-year old UConn senior grabbed a womans buttocks on campus one November morning last year, the entire student body received an alert with an image of the suspect caught on campus camera, according to UConn police. The offender, an engineering major, was arrested that same day in his dorm room and charged with fourth-degree sexual assault and second-degree breach of peace.

State colleges want to welcome students from Puerto Rico and...

The widely-publicized incident was one of 37 reported sex crimes last year on the 27,000-student campus, a 24 percent decrease in sexual assault from 2015, according to data from UConns annual safety report released earlier this month.

The university increased its campus security training and guidance four years ago after a group of students filed a lawsuit and a Title IX complaint against UConn, alleging that school officials mishandled reports of sexual assault. UConn paid $1.3 million to settle the lawsuits.

We will continue to do the important work of ensuring that our university community is free from all forms of sex-based discrimination and violence, just as we were doing before, UConns president, Susan Herbst, said in a recent statement. This commitment is unwavering.

Reports of other criminal offenses, including robberies and burglaries slightly increased for the 2016 school year at all UConn campuses, school data shows. But for the first time in three years, the university didnt receive any reports of aggravated assault.

Trinity College in Hartford had the highest rate of criminal offenses of all four-year universities in Connecticut last year, averaging close to 20 incidents per 1,000 students for a campus of roughly 2,300 undergraduates and graduates, according to the schools safety data. But crime incidents on campus have slightly decreased since 2015.

"The college has paid particular attention to the incidents that have occurred on campus and our Campus Safety operation uses various methods  education, technology, and crime prevention strategies  to reduce the opportunity for criminal behavior," said Trinity spokeswoman Kathy Andrews.

Trinity has put in place more safety measures that have helped lower crime rate, from increasing its deployment of officers on bicycles to requiring ID card access for buildings throughout campus, and adding more closed circuit cameras.

All U.S. universities and colleges that receive federal funds are required to share on-campus crime statistics with the public under the Clery Act of 1990. The law was named after Jeanne Clery, a Lehigh University freshman who was raped and murdered in her dorm in 1986.

But Clery reports dont always capture the whole picture. Less than 28 percent of even the most serious sex crimes are reported to an organization or agency, according to a study conducted by the Association of American Universities in 2015.

Small and less serious incidents are also not always reflected in Clery reports, said Lt. John Ritchie, the assistant director of public safety at Fairfield University.

"The required statistics provides a limited snapshot of the incidents reported on campus, Ritchie said. We actually go a little further and do a complete incident analysis annually for a much larger picture of campus activities."

Fairfield University, a Jesuit school with a 200-acre campus, had six reports of sexual assault last year for a total enrollment of about 5,100 students. In response to increased safety escorts and student requests, the school released an app in 2016 called EmergenSee that let people stream real-time video and share their GPS location with Fairfield Universitys public safety dispatch center. Other schools like Sacred Heart University, Yale and Central Connecticut State University, have launched similar safety apps to reach students and employees in an emergency scenario and better respond to crime reports.

Students like to text and use smart phone apps rather than make phone calls, Ritchie said. EmergenSee is a smartphone app that is a great addition to our arsenal of technology as we strive to make our campus as safe as possible.

Goodwin College, a suburban school in East Hartford, was the safest campus last year with no reported crime. Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven had one of the lowest crime rates among universities in the state, with only 6 reported offenses in 2016 for an enrollment of more than 10,400 students.

Yale University, also in New Haven, reported about 113 criminal incidents, including 25 rapes for the 2016 school year. Eighteen rapes happened inside Yale's campus residences, and for the first time since 2014, the university reported two incidents of statutory rape last year.

"Yale makes a strong effort to provide information and tips to our students, faculty and staff," said Yale spokesperson Thomas Conroy. "We don't believe we face higher challenges than other campuses. We all have similar concerns."

Check out the gallery above to see how many crimes were reported at colleges and universities in Connecticut.

Additional reporting by Nicole Funaro.
Happy New Month Nigeria! Welcome to the month of June. As the world searches for a respite from all its troubles since 2020 began, one can ...
The hustle is real everywhere...White man selling can drinks by the roadside in the UK...I thought this happened only in our country...cc @nikkilaoye

A post shared by LIB - Linda Ikeji Blog (@lindaikejiblog) on Oct 24, 2017 at 11:38am PDT
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday condemned the spate of scandals rocking the All Progressives...

They likened the fight against corruption by President Muhammadu Buharis administration to Satan calling Judas Iscariot a sinner.The Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum who is also the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, spoke on behalf of his colleagues at the partys 76th National Executive Committee meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.The PDP governors accused the Federal Government of being corrupt and urged members of the party to continue with their criticism of the ruling party, saying if we dont expose them, nobody will do so.Fayose added, The ruling party (the APC) is now in many scandals, we have to raise our voices up to expose them. Armed robbers calling people thieves, who are the armed robbers now?Buharis anti-corruption fight is like Satan calling Judas Iscariot a sinner.He appealed to members of the party to ensure that the December 9 national elective convention succeeds.The last national convention was applauded; I want to believe that this one will be the same. In this convention, there will be no winner and no loser, but in all, the party must win. The fact that you did not win should not make you decide to destroy the party, he added.Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, Ahmed Makarfi, said all the states where caretaker committees were needed had been inaugurated.It is only in Ogun State that the party has a senator with antics that we are having issues . Our party also disciplined some members especially those from Anambra State, he added.The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, Walid Jibrin, also begged the members of the party to remain loyal.He said this was the only way through which the party could reclaim the government it lost in 2015.Jibrin said, It is only by accident that the ruling party has come to be and therefore by the grace of almighty Allah, we shall reclaim our status and rebuild Nigeria again.If there is going to be election today, there is no state that the PDP will not win.Now that we have won the case against Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, we must sincerely start to rebuild the PDP. We must shun all forms of impunity and godfatherism.In the PDP, we must treat ourselves as equal always by respecting the dignity of individuals, dynamism of leadership, the supremacy and decision of the party. Leaders must be fair umpires.We should never do anything to harm our loyal party men and women who labour to keep the PDP together.The success of our party convention will depend on our unity and love for this party as the outcome is going to determine our success or the death of our party as every Nigerian is waiting for the PDP to come back and rule Nigeria again.Therefore, we should not begin to adopt people without seriously adhering to the rule and regulations of the party.The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, said he was happy with the quality of persons aspiring to lead the party.He told the gathering that the PDP Senate Caucus met with the national chairmanship aspirants on Monday night.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has appealed to the Central Bank (CBN...

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has appealed to the Central Bank (CBN) and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to give more time to Nigerians in Diaspora to register for their Bank Verification Number (BVN).Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa urged the apex bank to put logistics in place for Nigerians in the Diaspora to obtain the BVN to avoid forfeiture of their savings in their bank accounts.The appeal is coming on the heels of an interim order of forfeiture granted by a Federal High Court in Abuja on October 17, for the banks to show cause within 14 days why the balances in such accounts should not be forfeited.A statement in Abuja by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Special Assistant Media to Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa implored CBN to make it possible to Nigerians abroad to have their BVN done in their countries of abode following challenges they were encountering.She argued that such Nigerians have been remitting billions of U.S. Dollars back home on yearly basis, the highest on the continent of Africa.The Presidential aide added that the citizens have been contributing to the countrys socio-economic growth.I hereby appeal to the CBN to look into the challenges the Nigerians living abroad face in getting their BVN done and extend the deadline for them to get the BVN done, Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa pleaded.The Presidential aide also pleaded with the commercial banks to make the procedure easier for their customers, especially those living outside the country, to be able to meet up with the new deadline.The Federal Government had on September 28, instituted an action in court for the forfeiture of any balance in a bank account without a BVN.This is why the Attorney-General of the Federation should intervene in this matter to assistNigerians living abroad, who who are at disadvantage by allowing them more time to comply with the BVN directive, she said.The present practice is that banks only permit deposits into such accounts. No withdrawal is allowed. Should the Federal Government succeed, the money in the accounts will be forfeited permanently.
Former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) has disclosed how lies by late warlord, Odumegu Ojukwu after the Aburi accord l...

Former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) has disclosed how lies by late warlord, Odumegu Ojukwu after the Aburi accord led to Biafra civil war, between 1967 and 1970.

Gowon made the claim while giving insight into what happened at the Aburi Conference, in Ghana, convened to resolve Nigerias political logjam.





He said the Federal Government went to Aburi unprepared, following a disagreement which broke out between the Supreme Military Council (SMC) and the Eastern region, led by Ojukwu.

Speaking on AITs programme People, Politics and Power, on Tuesday, Gowon said the decision to go to Aburi was borne out of the desire to win back the trust and confidence of Nigerians.





He maintained that secession was never part of the resolutions they agreed on.





Gowon said, We agreed to put our heads together, to regain the trust and confidence of Nigerians. We went to Aburi, to agree to deal with the situation of our country, by ourselves.





We did not go with any prepared position on the federal side, but, Ojukwu came with a paper he prepared. His prepared position was on a pink paper. Usually, pink paper at the Staff College is directing staff solution to the problem.





Gowon said most of the positions presented by Ojukwu at the conference were accepted and upon their return to Nigeria, he was determined to keep the country united by assuaging the South East but Ojukwu felt otherwise.





He said Ojukwus refusal may have been as a result of killings of Igbos in the North, a situation that made him (Ojukwu) insist on Nigerias breakup.





Gowon disclosed that part of the agreement reached in Aburi was that upon return to Nigeria, he would be the first to make any statement concerning the resolutions before any governor makes any statement.





He said, But, by the time I returned, I was ill; I had fever. I could not make any statement. But, Ojukwu went to the radio, to make a statement and said the things we never agreed on.





David Ejoor was the one who called me one early morning to ask if I had heard what Ojukwu said, and I said no. He then reeled out all that Ojukwu had said and I asked David, in all honesty, if that was what we agreed. He said no.





To keep the country together was not a task that I could do alone. I needed the cooperation and understanding of every Nigerian. And, in order to ensure we kept the country together, I reckoned that we needed to have discussions among ourselves. We had a civil servant who was exceptionally experienced and good.




An Ikeja High Court heard yesterday that Pastor Nsikakabasi Akpan-Jacobs confessed voluntarily to defrauding former Vice President Abub...

An Ikeja High Court heard yesterday that Pastor Nsikakabasi Akpan-Jacobs confessed voluntarily to defrauding former Vice President Abubakar Atikus wife, Titi, of N918 million. A retired detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Dickson Graymond, spoke as a witness at the resumed sitting of the court in the fraud charge against Pastor Akpan-Jacobs before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye.Graymond was giving evidence during a trial- within- trial sitting of the court to investigate the voluntariness of Akpan-Jacobs alleged confessional statement to the anti-graft agency.Graymond, who was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Babatunde Sonoiki, said Akpan-Jacobs confessed to so many things to him that he refused to put in writing.The retired detective said: There are so many things that he confided to me that he refused to put into writing.He admitted to me that Florence Doregos was Titi Atiku but he refused to put that into writing.He confided to me that he wanted to contest in the Akwa Ibom elections and that as soon as he begs her excellency, the matter will be over.All what he told me were not forced. I did not even force him to write all what he confided in me in his confessional statement.Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Mr. Amos Ibe, the retired detective denied illegally detaining the pastor in EFCC custody for three weeks.He also denied that the defendant was refused access to legal representation.Graymond said: Akpan-Jacobs was served with bail conditions by the EFCC but he could not provide sureties and we could not grant him bail on self-recognisance because of the gravity of the case against him.He did not spend three weeks with us but six days and he was given the opportunity to produce a lawyer but he refused, saying he will write his statement on his own.He said other EFCC operatives did not force the accused to write any undertaking either.Graymond denied bringing Akpan-Jacobs to the Abuja office of the EFCC on the influence of Titi Atiku.Earlier during proceedings, Ibe objected to the tendering of statements Akpan-Jacobs had made at the EFCC offices dated February 6, 12, and 13, 2009, March 4 and 5, 2009 and April 2, 2009 on the grounds that they were not given voluntarily.Following Ibes objection, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye in a ruling ordered a trial-within-trial should begin.The EFCC had charged Akpan-Jacobs; Abdulmalik Ibrahim, a lawyer; and Dana Motors Ltd with a 14-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent conversion of property worth N918 million belonging to THA Shipping Maritime Services Ltd.THA Shipping Maritime Services Limited, a company created in 2000, is owned by Titi Atiku, Akpan-Jacobs and Fred Holmes, her German business partner.According to the EFCC, Akpan-Jacobs sold a property belonging to the company to Dana Motors Nigeria Limited for N918 million based on an alleged fraudulent shareholding.Justice Ipaye adjourned the case till tomorrow for the continuation of the trial-within-trial.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has expressed hope that Nigerias future is secured owing to the commitment of the people to God.Delivering a sermon entitled: The place of God in nation building, at the pre-event prayer session for the National Prayer Breakfast organised by Christian Legislators Fellowship at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Hon Dogara, noted that all hope is not lost for the country.As in the case of Abrahams encounter with God over the fate of the city Sodom and Gomorrah, God will intervene to save this country. What gives me hope is that we have so many people who are committed to God that the future of Nigeria is secured. We have a very bright future, we have the great army of leaders in this country, he said.Reading from the Book of Isaiah 60:12, he urged all Nigerians, leaders and followers alike to return to God because as it is written in the Holy Bible For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.He also quoted from Robert Cooper, one of Europes most respected scholar-diplomats, who in his book titled: The Breaking of Nations, warned that the twenty-first century may be worse than any previous time in history, because the new century risks being overrun by both anarchy and technology.I like the idea that only a few of us are here. Jesus wasnt a fan of a crowd. He chose few, almost all of them successful Professionals. Luke was a physician, Mathew an accountant, Peter and others running a successful fishing company. Every change or revolution has always been promoted by few change agents and early adaptors. The bulk of the people always comes later. He stated.The Speaker argued that no nation can be built without God who is the source, foundation, supporter, and sustainers of His people.The times in which we live. Millions have watched the efforts of America, Britain and the United Nations to rebuild Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other struggling countries. While it is shocking to see the devastation and suffering caused by war, it has also been sobering to witness the difficulties, frustrations, and intrigues that have accompanied these human-driven attempts to intervene and rebuild nations where millions have been abused and exploited.He noted that failing nations and cultural decline have made nation-building a major concern in our world today. There is no shortage of candidates willing to tackle the challenge. Communists, socialists, monarchists, dictators and democracies and even religious leaders have all tried their hand at solving these problems. Yet none have found the key to building truly successful nations or salvaging faltering countries.All nations today are struggling with their peculiar problems, thus, according to him, will God descend from heaven to rebuild this nation? Will God send angels to rebuild our nation? God didnt do it for Israel and He wont do it for Nigeria. This responsibility rests on our shoulders and whether we succeed or not depend on the source of our wisdom. Without God, nothing works. Except we are back in our Eden we cannot accomplish the task of nation-building.The National Prayer Breakfast is organised annually on the last Thursday of the month of October and Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo is expected to deliver the sermon at the main event on Thursday morning in Abuja.
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to spare anyone found to have been involved in facili...

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to spare anyone found to have been involved in facilitating reinstatement into service of fugitive Assistant Director in the Ministry of Interior, Abdulrasheed Maina, describing the development as an embarrassment.The partys declaration came on a day the two arms of the National Assembly, Senate and the House of Representatives, asked the President to sack and prosecute Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, Interior Minister, Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), and all others involved in the reinstatement of Maina. Maina was former head of the Presidential Task Force on Pensions Reforms.This is even as armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday sealed six properties allegedly belonging to the embattled former chairman of the Presidential Pension Reform Task team, Abdulrasheed Maina in Kaduna State.Also yesterday, details emerged of how Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice bypassed the Head of Service of the Federation and used the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission to reinstate Maina. In a formal reaction to the incident, APC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described the incident as a huge embarrassment to the Buhari administration and the ruling party which rode to power on the mantra of change.He told journalists that the party would, however, not dissipate its energy in replicating the actions of the President who had already ordered a probe of the entire scam. We are all shocked like any other person. It is almost unbelievable that such a thing can happen. However, we are all delighted that President Buhari has taken a very decisive, punitive action against those that are involved.We are also delighted that he has ordered a full scale investigation into the circumstances that led to this individual being reinstated into public office. We believe as a party that whoever that was part of this or found to have been part of this must face appropriate consequences because it is an embarrassment to the party, government and it is unacceptable.Having failed to act on previous probe reports regarding activities of the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency NIA, Ayo Oke, the APC said Nigerians must have faith in the ability of the President to right all wrongs.I cannot comment on this because it is the same President that has taken a decisive action on this that still has the other reports. In his wisdom, he must have a reason and unless we know those reasons, we cannot come to the conclusion that he has not acted.We have to be willing to admit that in his judgment, he does have all the facts because we are not sitting in that chair. We have no doubt in our minds that the President will do what is necessary and do what is right. But he does not have to act because everybody wants him to act. He has to exercise the best judgment at all times. So, if we are satisfied that he is acting in the best interest of the nation, definitely we cannot continue to insinuate that he will shield these people.He was the one who ordered that the investigation be carried out and he is the one who ordered that the SGF and NIA boss be removed from office and we have not heard that they have returned to their duty posts. So, definitely, action will be taken on them. I think we should just be kind and wait for Mr President to act on that before we come to the conclusion that he has not acted, said Abdullahi. He added that the party will not set up an independent panel to investigate the incident.Why should the party set up an independent investigation team as if it is not our government? There is no need to set up one because it is our government. The President as the leader of the party, is not independent of the party. We are confident that the President will do what is necessary.Meanwhile, senators yesterday indicted the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, for being the mastermind of the clandestine return to the country and subsequent placement at the Ministry of Interior of former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdullahi Abdulrasheed Maina.Senators, who took time to speak during discussions on the point of order raised by Senator Isa Hamman Misau (APC, Bauchi South) on the return of Maina in controversial circumstances, also indicted Interior Minister, Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd). They also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently sack the two ministers, saying the President has surrounded himself with those undermining him and causing confusion in the country.Consequently, the Senate set up an ad-hoc committee to determine the circumstances that led to the return of Maina to the country and his being compensated with a position as a Director in the Federal Civil Service, in spite of the fact that he had been under watch.The committee, headed by Chairman, Senate Committee on Establishments and Public Services, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP, Bayelsa Central), has as members the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Senate Committees on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes; Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters; Interior and Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Services.While hailing President Buhari for acting promptly in dismissing Maina from the civil service, the Senate, however, said it lacks confidence in the expected outcome of the presidential committees report. Earlier in his presentation yesterday, Senator Misau, who spoke under Order 42 and 52 of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as amended, described the incident as a sad development.In his contribution, Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye (APC, Osun Central), who noted that President Buhari had it as a duty to hold the ministers responsible, said: I remember what happened then. It got to a point when the former President of the Senate, David Mark, told the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, to chose between Abdulrasheed Maina and loyalty to the country. It got so bad that Maina had over 30 police officers attached to him.As a member of APC, it is a sad moment. We cannot say that we want to fight corruption and have this approach. Jesus Christ said it is difficult for a rich man to pass through the eye of a needle. This saddens me and I am sure it saddens all of us. I am glad that following the outrage from the public, the President acted swiftly. We read in the papers that the rules of the civil service were bypassed.Also contributing, Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central), said: I want to appreciate the person who brought this motion by exposing some dubious people in government. No family can boast of having 100 per cent good people. APC is not an exception.We cannot attribute everything to the President. He should be commended for rising to the occasion. Reinstating Maina is a crime against Nigerians. We should approve a full blown investigation into what happened. We must not allow this thing to go unnoticed. Also contributing, Senator Attai Idoko (PDP, Kogi East), said: We are looking at the symptoms; we are not looking at the cause. Maina is too small to go back to office. Somebody brought him back to the office.Maina is too small; he is not the issue. We should look at those who returned Maina. As we were told, the person who approved this thing is the AGF. The simplest thing the President could do was to terminate the appointment of Maina. That is not the issue. The AGF brought him back.The AGF has a history of doing things like this. The President should tell us what he will do to the AGF. In his contribution, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (PDP, Akwa Ibom North-East), said: The Senate must investigate and bring to book any person who wants to bring this country to disrepute. We will stand with the Senate to ensure that the right thing is done. Also contributing, Senator Tayo Alaosoadura (APC, Ondo Central), said: The President has set up a committee to investigate.We should not call names of people who have not been indicted; we should not duplicate issues. If the executive has set up a committee, we should not do the same thing. We must not set up committees every time. In his contribution, Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West), said: It is pathetic. We should continue in sin and ask grace to abound? The AGF, time after time, has abused his office.Maina did not get himself back. We should talk about the integrity of the AGF and his office. If the number one law officer is breaking the law, where is the hope? The AGF started with the forgery case against Saraki and Ekweremadu. Something happened we have not noticed.Two public officers had issues and the AGF chose to support the Inspector-General of Police against Senator Isa Hamman Misau. Today, it is Senator Isah versus the Federal Government.In his remarks, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who presided, commended senators who spoke, saying we are all very disturbed and I would like the committee to work hard on this matter that borders on our security, corruption and how we manage the public service.The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, yesterday, his broke silence on the allegation that he spearheaded the recall, promotion and posting of Maina to the Ministry of Interior. Malami, who grudgingly spoke to newsmen, last night, said he would rather respond to the avalanche of allegations against him when he formally appears before the Senate, which had summoned him to speak on his role on the entire saga. Malami, who did not make reference to anyone, nonetheless, described the allegations made against him as a grand conspiracy and mischief but did not explain who the conspirators were and what the mischief was. Pressed to clear himself of the weighty allegations, Malami said: I am a legal practitioner, who is always guided by law and public interest and will therefore not do anything that deviates from the law or breaches public interest.I believe that Nigerians are entitled to know the truth in the entire saga and I am ready to speak directly to them when I appear before the Senate since I have been summoned by the legislature, which is investigating the matter. I will not however talk until I get clearance from my principal on the matter and I look forward to addressing anxious Nigerians on the matter when I appear before the Senators, the minister said.Meanwhile, details of how the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice bypassed the Head of Service of the Federation and used the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission to reinstate the wanted chairman of the defunct Presidential Task Force on Pensions Reforms, emerged last night. This came as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday continued with identification and marking of no fewer than six houses in many parts of the country traced to the wanted Maina. Spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the raid on the identified properties but did not disclose nature and locations of the property.We have continued our efforts to track Maina down and our operatives have also intensified the identification of properties which he might have used the proceeds of corruption to secure while in office, the spokesman said. Top federal officials conversant with how the AGF got Maina back into the federal service after he had absconded for over three years, described Abubakar Malamis action in the recall and promotion of Maina as desperate and a breach of known public service rules.It was also learnt that in his desperate bid to return Maina to his post, Malami wrote two memoranda to Oyo-Ita to recall Maina based on the lame argument that no court of the land had convicted him of any offence but the woman ignored him since she was sure the chief law officer had breached established rules of the civil service.The development emerged, as some Nigerians yesterday questioned the Presidents power to sack Maina without referring to the appropriate government body with relevant powers to do so. But on its twitter handle, the Presidency said Buhari breached no known law, having given approval to the appropriate government agency saddled with the responsibility of disciplining erring officials.The Presidency said: Reports that due process was not followed in the disengagement of Mr. Maina from service are incorrect. The President directed the appropriate authorities to effect the disengagement in compliance with due process. President Buhari will continue to ensure that due process is followed every step of the way.
Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity) GARBA SHEHU points out the gains of President Muhammadu Buharis four-day...

President Recep Tayyeb Erdogan hosted Muhammadu Buhari, the President of Nigeria for a fairly long one-on-one meeting in Ankara, the Turkish capital on Thursday before the bilateral meeting that involved their ministers and members of their delegations.This was President BUharis first visit to Turkey since his election in 2015, but the second meeting with President Erdogan who as Prime Minister visited Abuja in March, last year.Though the meeting of the group, Development Eight, simply D 8 in Istanbul was what President Buhari set out to attend, he spent an earlier 24 hours in the capital, Ankara to round off the technical meetings of delegates from both governments in what can be summed as a compressed State Visit.President Buharis overarching objective during this visit for both occasions was to focus on issues of security and anti-terrorism; agricultural cooperation; trade cooperation; education and health; transport and connectivity; energy sector cooperation and increased private sector participation.Expectations on major concrete deliverables out of the trip had been loudly suggested by our officials, even before the meetings began and from the early outcomes we got, there is every reason for that excitement. The visit has achieved quite a lot on the stated objectives.The meetings have also helped to enhance momentum in ties between Nigeria and the rest of the G 8 members and the establishment of a positive working relationship especially between Presidents Buhari and Erdogan. This is an added bonus.Here are some takeaways from the bilateral meetings between Nigerian and the Turkish government leaders:The two governments agreed to support each other in the fight against terrorism, human trafficking, drugs trafficking and arms trafficking.Turkey specifically mentioned the menace of the Fethullah organization FETO which they accused of terrorism and involvement in the abortive coup plot last year which the Turkish population gallantly resisted.There are more than 1,000 Turkish citizens in Nigeria, many of them accused of belonging to this organization and for which reason, their passports have been declared invalid by their country.Nigeria has her own problems with the Boko Haram terrorist organization which claims ties to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS and (possibly) Daesh, (two international terrorist organisations which Turkey is up against) in the fight of which we get support from Turkey and we desire more.Both countries also have issues with domestic terror organizations for which they need each others help.There is, equally, the burning issue of the smuggling of illicit arms allegedly from Turkey, which their authorities effectively debunked but nonetheless agreed to enter into agreement with Nigeria that their ports, harbors, airports and territories will not ever again be used as transit points for such trafficking originating from other lands.On the issues of the suspected terrorists of Turkish origin in Nigeria, President Erdogan received the the best assurances from our leader that Nigeria will not allow any person or organization to use her territory for any subversive activities. President BUHARI used every given opportunity to denounce the failed coup attempt. The Turkish citizens who have sought and already obtained assistance from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, UNCHR since they became stateless persons have been warned not to engage in any political activities while they are in Nigeria.Turkish authorities for their part gave all assurances that no subversive activities against Nigeria will be permitted of their citizens or on their territory.Nigeria and Turkey also discussed the possibility of working together on the challenges brought about by Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs and refugees in the Northeast, especially that Turkey has the experience in handling about five million refugees in her territory.On the specific issue of arms smuggling, our team which included the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau(Rtd) and the Comptroller-General of the Customs, Colonel Hamid Ali reached conclusions with the Turkish authorities on how to avert future occurrence and to that effect, a negotiated agreement is to be signed by both sides after vetting by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice as a requirement of our own administration.The primary objective of the visit by the President was to seek ways to increase the size of trade and investment between both countries had in many ways been realized.After the various meetings, the delegations agreed that there are basic complementarities between both countries which should result in more trade and investment relations between them.Turkey serves as a hub and intersection for transport, trade, religion and cultures.Nigeria as a large domestic market and is considered as the access to a West African market (which together is twice its size).The volume of trade between both countries fluctuates severely (from Turkeys perspective) and does not seem to follow a pattern. For instance, there has been swings of 40 percent trade surplus in a year to a trade deficit of 30 percent the next year.In addition, the level of trade generally between D-8 Member States is also low. The proportion of trade between member states is only about 7 percent, while the European Union (EU) has about 65 percent trade relations between member states. It was agreed by them all to boost the amount of trade between the D 8 member states.To achieve this, certain concrete steps aimed at increasing the volume of trade and investment between Nigeria, Turkey and the D 8 were outlined and these included:The setting up of a technical committee to analyze the trade relations between both countries, with a view to increasing the volume. This committee will come up with a roadmap with timelines for defining and measuring key goals.Presently, there are Forty-Eight (48) Turkish companies operating in Nigeria, with investment of about $USD600mm, whereas Ethiopia, a smaller economy, has investments of over $USD3,000m from Turkey. Our government is determined to understand why Nigeria with stronger innate complementarities with Turkey, is not attracting similar or larger investment.Some of the agreements that both countries agreed that will potentially advance these objectives include a treaty against double taxation, investment promotion and protection agreement, banking regulation, and preferential trade agreement.Nigeria also gave commitments to make further efforts to diversify the economy and make the environment attractive for investment.Some of these measures include diversifying the economy from relying primarily on Oil & Gas, to developing other areas of comparative advantage; enhancement of initiatives and programs currently being implemented including the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP); creating the enabling for business and investment; industrialisation programs; extensive build-out of hard infrastructure (including roads, rails, power, etc.) and focus on deepening trade relations with strategic partners (including Turkey).The team from Nigeria also brought home lessons from Turkey, which included using their Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model for the funding of infrastructure requirements. For instance, the Turkish Government has just completed a $26 BN BOT arrangement with a consortium to build and expand the Istanbul airport into the largest in the world.The BOT arrangement does not cost the government anything, as the private sector partner fully funds the financing.The Turkish Government recommended the BOT arrangement for Nigeria, especially as government funding takes exceedingly long time and is fraught with a lot of bottlenecks and bureaucracy.In regards to this specific sector, Turkey made a demand for increased slots of air transportation for their airline, the Turkish Airline and in addition made a case for a Turkish Company seriously interested in bidding for the concession of the Abuja Airport. They were informed that the airport concession process in Nigeria is ongoing and Turkish Investors are welcome to participate.Nigeria and Turkey reached very important agreements on matters concerning education and health. These are key areas in which Turkey has made a lot of progress.There are existing Turkish investments in these areas in Nigeria and it is on record that a number of countries in the world, including some in Africa have shut down schools and hospitals on the request of their home government following allegations that they are owned and operated by this organization accused of terrorism.The smart thing the owners of some of these businesses did is that they transferred part or full ownership to Nigerian citizens at the onset of the crisis.The Nigerian government delegation has accepted offers by the Turkish authorities to support a new group, the Maarif Organization intent on setting up of schools and specialist hospitals as new investors who are not tainted by such accusations.It was in this regard that this new organisation, the Maarif Foundation for educational was introduced to the Nigerian delegation. A delegation from the foundation will visit Nigeria to commence the process of registration as well as following the procedures of establishing the new schools.The two countries agreed to expand cooperation in exchange of scholars, exchange of students and exchange/sharing of ideas, skills and education technology and to improve scholarships for Nigerians to study in Turkey. They also agreed to resolve the issues relating to Nigerian students in Turkish universities that are facing exclusion due to visa challenges.Nigeria and Turkey have equally agreed to strengthen and promote investments in health institutions and this, as promised by the President will proceed quickly, that is as soon as the details of the various agreements reached in the bilateral discussions are laid on his table.The two countries agreed to strengthen defence and military cooperation initiated by them a few years ago.This had already lead to the establishment of the Defence section in the Turkish Embassy, Abuja in 2013 and Nigerias Defence section in Ankara in 2016.In the latest rounds of discussions, Nigeria and Turkey penned an agreement on military training.They also agreed to collaborate towards the development of the Defence Industries Corporation, DIC in Kaduna into a Military Industrial Complex of Nigeria, which is a key agenda of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.Furthermore, two Turkish companies have have taken the giant stride to collaborate with the DIC in the production of arms and ammunition.Of the two companies, one is establishing a rifles production line and the supply of raw materials, technical assistance and training while the second one is partnering the DIC in the conceptualization, designing, consulting, invention, manufacturing, marketing, sale, exportation and sale of military industrial products.Ninth Summit of the D 8The ninth summit, which took place in Istanbul on the 20th October also marked the 20th Anniversary of the organization.It also witnessed the handover of the baton of its leadership from the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Sahid Khaqan Abbasi to President Recep Tayyep Erdogan of Turkey.At the end of the Summit, the Heads of State and Government adopted a communique which spelt out the direction of the organization for the coming two years under Turkey.Immediate next steps:The Turkish Minister of Economy plans to visit Nigeria as part of the Trade Ministers of the D-8 Conference holding in Abuja between November 14 and 17, 2017.Nigeria will consider hosting the Joint Action Committee (JACO) on boosting the volume of trade and investment between Nigeria and Turkey in January 2018. This will also include a business forum with the private sector of both countries. The Turkish Ministry of Economy will send a formal notification to the Nigerian Government in the coming days.The Turkish Government will prepare a case study of the BOT model used to fund airport and other infrastructure projects to Nigeria. Specifically, the case-study on the successful build and expand Istanbul Airport project.Turkey will invite Nigeria for the Turkey-Africa Business Forum that will be taking place in Istanbul sometime in Autumn.Nigeria will work on ratifying the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) of the D-8.Nigeria and Turkey will in the coming weeks sign an agreement with Turkey against against trafficking in weapons, humans and drugs.Nigeria will raise a technical committee to advise her on how to ramp up trade and investment with Turkey as well as with other members of the D 8.Taking everything concerning the trip as a whole, the two meetings, i.e the bilateral between Nigeria and Turkey and that of the D 8 in which the country participated, it can safely be concluded that this is perhaps one of the best outings by President Muhammadu Buhari in a little over two years of his administration.The President was accompanied on this mission by his wife, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Geoffery Onyeama, Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (Rtd), Defence, Brig-Gen. Mansur Dan Ali (Rtd), Education, Adamu Adamu and that of Industry, Trade and Investment Okechukwu Enelamah.The rest included the National Security Adviser, Maj-General Babagana Munguno (NSA),his counterpart in the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Arab Yadam, the Comptroller-General of the Customs, Colonel Hamid Ali (Rtd) and Nigerias Ambassador to Turkey, Ilyas Sulaiman Paragalda.
INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said his team has put in place measures to ensure a trans...

INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said his team has put in place measures to ensure a transparent, free and fair election in Anambra State.He said his commission has not given up on the process for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye.He said the process was only being delayed by the court and the legal process initiated by Melaye.Yakubu spoke in Abuja yesterday at a dialogue session with civil society organisations under the aegis of Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room.He said INEC has learnt some lessons from the Melaye recall process and has now reviewed its regulations and guidelines to provide room for the participation of civil society organisations and other stakeholders.Yakubu, who explained the seeming delay in the Melaye case, said: These are legal processes. We cannot, as law-abiding agency, ignore the court and just proceed.Supposing we do so, proceed, conclude the process and the court nullifies it? So, we said we will continue to obey the law on this matter of recall. But I will not like to say more, because the matter is already before the court, he said.On the Anambra election, he said the commission will ensure that no opportunity was created for anyone to dispute the election, including the omission of candidates name and partys logo.Yakubu said: The preparation we have put in place for Anambra is simply amazing. We have done all that needs to be done to ensure a successful outing. We have finished printing the voters register in triplicate. One in colour, two in black and white.I am telling you that in Anambra, there is no possibility of omitting the logo of any political party.And, we will supervise the processes to ensure that no logo is omitted in the course of printing or any of the processes leading to the delivery of the ballots.We have, as usual, customise the ballot papers. Each local government will have a different colour code. So, even if somebody wants to print his ballot paper, he doesnt know which colour is for which local government.There is also a secret code, which only myself and the printer know. Nobody in the commission knows this.We have also customised the result sheets. It makes it easier because you have the names of the political parties, then the column for the raw figures, the figures in wards and signatures by the agents, he said.On the threat by IPOB to disrupt the election in Anambra, he said INEC was capable of countering the groups propaganda, but would leave the issue to security agencies should the group resort to physically stopping voters from participating in the election.Yakubu said the delay in the conduct of the rerun election in Anambra Central Senatorial District was because of the pending court case.He hoped that since the Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in the case, INEC will conduct the election with the coming governorship and House of Assembly elections should the appellate court deliver judgment before the scheduled elections.Coordinator of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and Executive Director Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) said the dialogue session was meant to enable INEC educate Nigerians on its preparation for the Anambra election and related issues.
MAHWAH -- It was the mayor's idea. It was conceived by a reckless council president. It's a conspiracy to get Phil Murphy elected governor.

There was no shortage of blame or finger-pointing in Mahwah on Tuesday, when Christopher S. Porrino, the state's attorney general, dropped a bombshell complaint against the town that pushed the largest municipality in Bergen County into full-on crisis mode.

Porrino dropped words like "hatred," "bigotry," "small-minded" and "bias," in an extraordinary press release condemning the actions of Mahwah's leaders and some of its citizens, likening them to "1950s-era white flight suburbanites who sought to keep African-Americans from moving into their neighborhoods."

At issue is Mahwah's rocky relationship with the large Orthodox Jewish community across its shared border with Rockland County, New York, and its illegal efforts to keep the community from "infiltrating" Mahwah, as Porrino put it.

The state is seeking an injunction against two township ordinances - one approved and one pending -- that it alleges are discriminatory against the Orthodox Jewish community.

The first ordinance, which went into effect at the end of July, limited the use of Mahwah's parks to New Jersey residents. The passing of the ordinance could have a financial impact on the township, as the nine-count complaint seeks a return of more than $3.4 million in state Green Acres grants received by Mahwah.

The second ordinance the office found discriminatory was introduced, but ultimately tabled, and would've expanded an existing town rule that bans signs on utility poles to include any "device or other matter."

In effect, it would have banned "lechis" from utility poles, essentially PVC piping that forms a religious boundary known as an eruv, the state alleged. The eruv allows Orthodox Jews to perform routine tasks outside of their home on the Sabbath.

An eruv shown on a utility pole in Mahwah

Reached for comment on Tuesday, most council members said they had no idea about the advanced state of the attorney general's review of the ordinances. They said they were required to submit documents as part of a subpoena, but did not know Porrino had come to a decision. Most declined to comment for publication.

Mayor William Laforet initially said was unaware of the complaint. But a little more than an hour after receiving a call for comment, he issued a statement that largely blamed Council President Robert Hermansen for Mahwah's "loss of reputation."

"It has been a lonely and painful struggle for me and my family these past several months, having to deal with a reckless and oblivious council president, Rob Hermansen," Laforet said. "He personally led his council mates to this action by the state's highest law enforcement official, and is most accountable."

Hermansen, a former county freeholder, is specifically named in the complaint, which alleges he told a non-Orthodox woman that her mother, who lives in New York, would have no issue taking her grandchildren to a township park because her "situation" was not why the town passed the park law.

Robert Hermansen

Hermansen went so far as to suggest a neighborhood eruv watch, writing in a social media post that "the goal is to have everybody working together to make sure that our poles stay clean in Mahwah," according to the complaint.

Hermansen was the only council member to speak out on Tuesday, producing emails that he says prove Laforet is lying, and that the mayor pushed the council to pass the residents-only ordinance and supported the battle against the eruv.

He saved his sharpest criticism for Porrino, however, intimating that the attorney general and Laforet were colluding in an attempt to get Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy and Laforet's preferred council candidates in Mahwah elected.

"I believe this has everything to do with trying to get Phil Murphy and [Laforet's] council candidates elected," Hermansen said. "Am I shocked that the mayor of Mahwah is backing Phil Murphy after having received a $2,600 check from him? Not really."

"To me, this is nothing more than a witch hunt," he said.

Hermansen said it was Laforet who, in the spring, pushed the council to pass the resolutions -- even sending emails on the topic.

Emails provided to NJ Advance Media show that Laforet repeatedly emailed council members about posting "New Jersey residents only" signs at town parks.

"Will you approve this ordinance so I can get these signs posted," Laforet wrote.

Laforet said the idea for the ordinance came about after meeting with a group of local mayors. But he says he backed off after the town was told that the residents-only park designation wouldn't pass legal muster, and that Hermansen is only telling half the story.

William Laforet

Hermansen also pushed part of the blame toward the township's legal counsel, nothing that the attorney writes ordinances based off "what they deem is good law. We pass the ordinance on the advice of our legal counsel."

Mahwah's township attorney, Brian Chewcaskie, did not return calls for comment.

Chewcaskie did wade into the the political discourse over the summer when he told council members and Laforet not to comment to the press about the eruv, according to emails obtained by NJ Advance Media through a records request.

The attorney's request set off another confrontation between Hermansen and Laforet, who have butted heads in the full-contact world of Mahwah politics for years.

Hermansen chastised the mayor in one email, saying he had "concern" for Mahwah and was, "struggling mightily with the decisions and comments" Laforet was making in public.

"I begged you to stop and you just can not help yourself. So here we are again," the council president wrote to the mayor.

The drama continued as Mahwah Police Chief James Batelli bypassed council members and wrote to Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal about his concerns enforcing the park ban.

As the mayor put it on Tuesday, "I'm on the chief of police's side."

Grewal told the chief not to enforce the ordinance. The county prosecutor did not respond Tuesday to requests for comment.

In an interview on Tuesday, the police chief said that he thought that Porrino's complaint "spoke for itself."

"Throughout our country, officials have to answer for their actions through these types of civil complaints," Batelli said. "Several months ago, I expressed my concerns about the ordinance that the council had submitted for enactment. From here, we'll have to see the response from the township."

After ordering the removal of the lechis and having the order met with a federal lawsuit in August, the town doesn't seems to have taken any additional action.

"America is a great place and nobody should have to endure the kind of discrimination that's emanating from Mahwah," said Yehudah Buchweitz, a partner in the litigation department at Weil Gotshal and Manges, part of the team going up against Mahwah.

Buchweitz is also litigiating against other townships in North Jersey fighting an eruv expansion, including Upper Saddle River and Montvale.

"I don't know what it is there. They have some people who I guess think you're allowed to say whatever you want. It's pretty disturbing and I'm glad it caught the attention of the New Jersey attorney general," he said Tuesday.

Reaction to the complaint and controversy was less pronounced among Mahwah residents, most of whom said they knew very little to nothing about the issue when approached in the town on Tuesday.

One mother who was leaving the library said she tries to avoid all media, so she hadn't heard of the eruv, parks ban or sign ordinance.

Another man said he was unfamiliar with the issues but if there were anti-Semitism at play, that would be wrong.

Alan Roth, who lives in Suffern but has family in Mahwah, said anything that threatens people's freedom of expression "needs to be avoided -- even if it inconveniences some residents."

"Once restrictions are placed on that, where does it end? There's something larger at stake," he said.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) had already commented on Mahwah's eruv case and wrote to Laforet asking him to rescind the decision to have it removed. It also condemned the vandalism to the eruv over the summer and called it, "deeply disturbing."

On Tuesday, the group commended Porrino and said the town's ordinances violated "the letter and spirit of the US and New Jersey constitutions as well as state anti-discrimination laws," said Joshua Cohen, ADL New Jersey regional director.

"We urge the township to foster an inclusive and welcoming community for all by amicably resolving this lawsuit," Cohen said.

The ACLU took a similar tone. "Officials should move to rebuild the community and make clear that everyone is welcome," said Jeanne LoCicero, deputy legal director of the ACLU of New Jersey.

As Porrino said in the statement Tuesday, he believes the "bottom line is very simple."

"The township council in Mahwah heard the angry, fear-driven voices of bigotry and acted to appease those voices," he said.

Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.

Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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FLORENCE -- The parents of a woman who died last year when an off-duty, intoxicated police officer crashed his car are suing the former officer and bars where he drank that night.

Ariana Williams, 27, of Florence, was killed in a September 2016 crash when her friend, then-Burlington Township police officer Justin Rodriguez, veered off the roadway and struck a pole.

Rodriguez, 26, was driving nearly twice the speed limit at 86 mph with an open can of Coors Light at the time of the crash, authorities said. He was thrown from the vehicle and critically injured, while Williams was pronounced dead at the scene.

He had a blood alcohol level of .17 percent.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter in June, and is serving a four-year prison sentence.

The suit, brought by Ariana's parents Ronald and Chavella Williams, was filed in Burlington County Superior Court. It names Rodriguez, as well as Ruby Tuesday in Hamilton and the Brickwall Tavern in Burlington Township.

"Justin Rodriguez's guilty plea of vehicular homicide and driving under the influence in the recent criminal case against him was only the start of the Williams family's pursuit of justice in their beloved daughter's tragic death," Fritz Goldenberg & Bianculli lead partner Brian Fritz said in a statement.

Evidence presented in court revealed Rodriguez ordered three beers, a margarita and a mix drink made with tequila at Ruby Tuesday that evening before moving on to the Brickwall Tavern in Burlington just after 9 p.m. He drank several more beers and shot of Jose Cuervo over the course of several hours there, purchasing a drink as late as 1:40 a.m., just before he and Williams got back into his car.

"Ariana's family said from the outset of this nightmare that they intended to hold accountable every individual and every establishment involved in their young daughter's tragic death," Fitz's statement continued. "We will not cease until we have gotten justice for Ariana."

A request to comment sent to Ruby Tuesday corporate was not immedaitely returned. A call to the Brickwall Tavern Wednesday morning was not answered, and an email seeking comment was not immediately returned.

Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amahoover. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
WESTWOOD -- When Michael Fiorello arrived at Berkeley Avenue Elementary School in Westwood in 2009, the 300-student Bergen County school was considered a "challenge," district officials said.

The Berkeley Avenue school was unusual in Westwood because low-income and Spanish-speaking students made up a large portion of its enrollment.

As the school's new principal, Fiorello decided to embrace the school's ethnic and socioeconomic diversity. He began hiring bilingual teachers, instituted multicultural nights for families, offered Latino Literacy and Technology classes for parents and introduced new teaching methods.

Earlier this year, eight years after Fiorello's arrival, Berkeley Avenue Elementary School was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for its "exemplary" performance.

Federal officials announced Wednesday that Fiorello will also be honored for his role in helping turn the school around. The principal will be one of eight school leaders from around the country recognized at the National Blue Ribbon Schools awards ceremony on Nov. 6, in Washington, D.C.

The principals will receive the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership, an honor named after the second U.S. Secretary of Education.

"It's a privilege to honor this year's Bell awardees and to recognize them for their achievement," said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. "Through their work, these principals show that when effective leadership is coupled with high expectations, we can expect great results for all of our nation's students."

All of the principals were nominated for the honor by their communities.

"To provide exceptional educational opportunities to all students, Principal Fiorello leveraged the entire community to help level the playing field for children attending Berkeley Avenue Elementary School, adopting the 'Berkeley Way,'" according to the announcement of his honor.

In addition to the other changes he oversaw at the school, Fiorello implemented a daily "Breakfast Club" before school for students and "Homework Club" twice a week after school. He also also took a hands-on approach to many of the changes at the school, training to be one of the staff members who lead students in daily "mindfulness" meditation exercises.

Fiorello will receive his honor alongside principals from Brooklyn, San Francisco, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Texas and West Virginia.

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook.
He, however, asserted the state govt should also respect its limits that it's not their job to run universities.
NEWARK -- Authorities on Wednesday identified the truck driver who was thrown from the vehicle and killed in a crash involving two other trucks on the New Jersey Turnpike in Newark.

Jose Cruz, 46, of Egg Harbor Township, died at the scene of the wreck in the highway's northbound outer truck lanes near milepost 104 around 9:40 a.m. Tuesday, a New Jersey State Police spokesman said.

Cruz was ejected after the Mack Truck he was driving crashed into another truck, State Police said. A dump truck was also hit in the crash.

Authorities said Cruz died at the crash scene.

The driver of the second truck suffered minor injuries and was not hospitalized. The dump truck driver was not hurt.

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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Musician Chris Leo developed an interest in wine while touring and now runs the PS Wine Bar as part of Pet Shop JC. (Jim Testa | For The Jersey Journal)

It's nearly 11 on a Tuesday night and dozens of fans, packed shoulder-to-shoulder, bounce on their feet to the potently infectious grooves of classic garage-rock.

Welcome to the Pet Shop JC, one of several new venues bringing live music to Jersey City's Downtown with an enthusiasm not seen in decades.

Located at the corner of Newark and Jersey avenues, the former pet store has been converted to a classic pub, with wooden fixtures, an interesting selection of draft beers, and -- in deference to the changing demographics of downtown -- an entirely vegetarian/vegan food menu.

Head to the rear and a little to the right and you'll find the staircase that takes you down to the PS Wine Bar, which is what really sets this place apart from the dozens of other martini mills and brew pubs in the neighborhood.

Chris Leo -- a career musician who toured the world with bands like The Van Pelt and the Lapse in the go-go days of the alternative '90s -- developed an interest in wines while both touring and working day jobs in the service industry during his bands' downtime.

"In between tours, as many musicians do, I worked in restaurants, and wine was the thing I really loved about the restaurant business," Leo told us last July. "But, also, on tour, I've never been a guy who can drink a lot of industrial beer, and that's what they give you backstage at most clubs. So I would always ask for local wine instead, especially when we were touring Europe, and little by little I learned a lot about wine and found myself getting into the business."



Leo has been curating the wine bar at the Pet Shop for a little more than a year and was also responsible for originally bringing live music to the basement, whose brick, wood, and cinderblock construction gives it the feel of a real rustic wine cellar.

Booking duties have now been taken over by Dave Rappaport, who offered the space to Mint 400 Records' Neil Sabatino for Tuesday night's show.



"I actually have never been here before but I have heard a lot of good things, and Dave offered to let us fill up two nights with bands from the label, so we're excited to see how it turns out," Sabatino said.

Mint 400 Records specializes in finding local bands who might not be ready to make the touring commitments bands need to pursue larger label deals, and Sabatino's found success working radio and building buzz with acts like the the Sink Tapes, the Clydes, the Maravines, and his own band, Fairmont. Lately, Sabatino's been on a tear, signing a host of new acts to the label including Chicago's the French Goodbye, California songstress Tiegan, and the Components, winners of JC Studios recent Battle of the Bands.

The comedic act Yawn Mower was among the performers at the Pet Shop JC on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. (Jim Testa | For The Jersey Journal)

On Tuesday, the lineup included Yawn Mower, a comedic two-man guitar/drums act who look and sound like two of the Muppets moved to Jersey City and started the band. They're followed by A Bird, the work-in-progress act of Adam Bird, formerly of the popular Those Mockingbirds. This night, A Bird is trying out a drum machine named "Laramie" in lieu of a live drummer, and it sounds fine, with Birds' guitar and evocative vocals coddled by bass and synth.



But it's Tony Saxon that the crowd had come to hear. One of the label's more recent signings, Saxon plays old-school '60s, four-on-the-floor rock 'n' roll that invokes an almost tribal response in rock fans of all ages and tastes. The audience includes hipsters, punks, older couples out on dates, and neighborhood regulars who have made the Pet Shop part of their weekly routine.



"Things are good, but we worked really hard to make them good," Leo said. "We didn't just open the doors and people came in here. We had to work really hard and now people are coming in. It's become a hangout for lots of people in the neighborhood, and the shows have been going great. I'm very proud of what we've accomplished. This crazy warm weather we've have been having is really helping us, people just go out for a walk in the nice weather and stop here for a glass of wine. But I think we're at the point where we'll be fine when winter finally gets here."



Leo's approach has him serving wines from small, unknown wineries, things most people haven't tried before.

"We talk about DIY bands all the time but these are DIY wineries," Leo said. "These are people with their hands in the earth, running their own small business, and making a product they love."

Drinking wine at the Pet Shop is an adventure; sometimes you find a new favorite and sometimes you don't (I don't recommend the orange Pinot Grigio, for instance.) This night, the bar has white wines from Hungary, Italy, Spain and France, the orange Pinot from Lombardy, and reds from Slovenia and small French wineries. (The Passe-tout-Grains pinot noir comes highly recommended.)

But, fear not, there's a large selection of beers as well, including several rarely seen European imports, if you don't feel like wine. And the kitchen makes a number of small plates depending on the night (Tuesdays are taco night), all vegetarian, many Gluten free, and almost anything on the menu can be made vegan on request.

There's never a cover for shows at the Wine Bar; bands are paid from profits made from the bar.

Mint 400 Records will be back at the Pet Shop on Tuesday, Nov. 7 with a show headlined by the Skullers, Delicate Flowers, and Mutual Interest. That show will be promoted in conjunction with Sniffling Indie Kids Records, a label Mint 400 collaborates with often.

The Pet Shop's Halloween show on Tuesday, Oct. 31 will feature local musicians doing cover sets by INXS, the Damned, and Marilyn Manson.

The Pet Shop JC and the PS Wine Bar are located at 193 Newark Ave., at the corner of Jersey Avenue in Downtown Jersey City. For information, go to petshopjc.com.
Family photo

By Caitlin Mota | The Jersey Journal

Patrick Andriani was sitting on a bench in front of the Brennan Courthouse with his wife, Azucena, on a recent Monday evening. The 73-year-old woman told her husband she was going to buy something for dinner.

Azucena Andriani had only walked about 10 feet away from her husband when she was struck by an SUV as she crossed Baldwin Avenue inside the crosswalk.

Patrick Andriani rushed to his wifes side and tried to help but authorities asked him to step back so EMTs could aid the 73-year-old woman.

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Caitlin Mota | The Jersey Journal

She died at the hospital a short time later. The Oct. 10 crash has left Patrick Andriani heartbroken, but two weeks later he's eternally grateful for the support he's received from local businesses along Newark Avenue.

Sitting at a table inside Johns Luncheonette where he and his wife regularly had coffee together, Andriani said the business helped pay a large sum of the cost to have his wife cremated.

This restaurant has done so much for my wife, he said.

Beshoy Mourad, the owner of the restaurant, rushed to the hospital when he heard of the crash. He was one of the first people to be by the grieving husbands side and has been checking to make sure Andriani is taken care of.

He always helps me, Mourad said. I wanted to pay him back.

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Caitlin Mota | The Jersey Journal

But the help extends beyond the small restaurant. Walking up Newark Avenue, Andriani pointed out more than half dozen businesses that have come forward to donate their time, services, or money to help him pay for his wifes funeral.

An employee at the courthouse and Johns Bail Bonds made create fliers to post in nearby businesses about a collection to help pay for the cremation.

Even high school students dropped some of their lunch money into a jar at Johns. Andriani said children he didnt know personally would hug him and express their condolences.

When my wife was hurt, it was all (the students) who came to me out of nowhere telling me to be strong.

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Authorities say 22-year-old Somani Gupta was driving west on Newark Avenue around 5:20 p.m. The Watchung woman turned south onto Baldwin Avenue and struck Azucena Andriani while she was in the crosswalk.

Police did not release the report until one day after The Jersey Journal reported about the fatality.

Gupta was not criminally charged, but she was issued a traffic summons for failing to yield to a pedestrian on Oct. 23. Patrick Andriani did not know a summons had been issued and said he was frustrated the driver was not initially punished in anyway.

She didnt yield to a pedestrian and thats my big argument, he said.

Gupta has not returned requests for comment.

Officials say it's not uncommon for summonses to be issued up to two weeks after a crash.

Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari said authorities did not find it appropriate to bring criminal charges because the driver was not speeding, alcohol was not involved, and she had a green light.

"This was an unfortunate incident that tragically claimed the life of Mrs. Andriani, however there does not appear to have been any intent to cause harm or any criminally reckless behavior by the driver, and thus criminal charges would be inappropriate and misguided," Schillari said in a statement. "On behalf of the entire Sheriff's Office, I offer my sincerest condolences to Mrs. Andriani's family as they cope with this tragic loss."

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Caitlin Mota | The Jersey Journal

Patrick Andriani said his wife was thrown several feet from the crosswalk. A woman who watched as his wife was hit said the 73-year-old had a look of fear in her eyes before the crash and watched as the car struck her.

She was bleeding from the eyes, the head, the ears, Patrick Andriani said. I couldnt even recognize her anymore.

Upset that Gupta has not offered any condolences or apologies for his wife's death, Patrick Andriani said he's trying to move forward.

If my wife would have lived, she would have forgave this girl," he said. "Thats the kind of woman she is.

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Caitlin Mota | The Jersey Journal

People who live and work in the Journal Square neighborhood say authorities need to be tougher when it comes to enforcing traffic violations at the intersection.

Frank Greenfield said he recently counted 10 drivers pass or turn through the intersection when they did not have the proper signal.

"If they dont do something about that corner this is going to happen again," he said.

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Leroy Applin | For The Jersey Journal

And for Greta Vosbury, who works at John's Bail Bonds on the corner where the crash happened, she said she often sees crashes or tragedies narrowly avoided.

In May 2016, two cars crashed into the business damaging the front-end of the building she works in. Then earlier this year, a woman was hit at the same intersection by a driver behind the wheel of a Hudson County Improvement Authority SUV.

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Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
JERSEY CITY -- The Jersey City man accused of leaving the scene of a crash that left two teens dead last week could face additional charges, an attorney for the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office said today.

Authorities say Rashaun Bell, 20, was driving the Nissan Maxima that slammed into Elionel Jimenez, 15, and Alexander Rosas, 16, at about 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 18 in the area of Terrace Avenue and Leonard Street in the Jersey City Heights.

"I don't know if there will be additional charges, maybe there will be," Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Najma Rana said this morning during a detention hearing for Bell.

The two victims were riding on a single bicycle when they were struck, officials said. Elionel was pronounced dead at the scene after 2:40 p.m., officials said.

The impact of the crash threw Alexander over a tall fence and onto the Routes 1&9 north roadway about 30 feet below. He was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced dead the next afternoon, officials said.

Investigators believe that after the crash, Bell and his three passengers abandoned the vehicle a short distance away at Secaucus Road and fled on foot. The complaint says they fled toward North Bergen.

Two of the passengers in the vehicle returned to the scene and were taken to Christ Hospital for treatment of minor injuries before being taken the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Unit headquarters.

While Bell turned himself in on Friday, one of his passengers, Denasia Felder, 20, was charged with hindering, authorities said.

Rana said the state has turned over videotaped statements of witnesses, including the statement of one of the vehicle's passengers and that of a PSE&G worker who was nearby at the time of the crash.

The prosecutor said the female passenger told investigators Bell was driving the car at the time of the crash, he knew he was in a crash and he left the scene.

Rana said the PSE&G worker told police he saw two males running through backyards and removing items of clothing as they went. She also said police recovered fingerprints from the vehicle.

Defense attorney Lynda Benzenhoefer said the state had not provided any police reports on the incident, nor had they handed over an accident report. She said she had not been provided with enough information from the state to defend Bell properly and asked for an adjournment.

But Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale said that for the limited purpose of establishing probable cause, the state had provided sufficient information.

"I spoke to client briefly before the hearing and he gave me some information which I will be investigating," Benzenhoefer said, adding that she also needed time to review the videotaped statements provided by the state.

DePascale then adjourned the hearing, which will resume on Monday in the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City.

Jimenez's mother, Esperanza Sanchez, was in court with other family members. They chose not to comment. Both teens were Dickinson High School students.

Bell, who is no stranger to the criminal courts, was relaxed and gazed around the courtroom today as he stood at the defense table in handcuffs and wearing the green garb of the Hudson County jail in Kearny.

He was among more than a dozen people arrested in Jersey City during a sweep of the city's "most violent" gang members. Bell was charged with gang criminality in April 2016 and was then arrested four months later on cocaine possession and distribution charges.

The gang criminality charge did not stand in court, as a grand jury returned a "no bill" response to the charge. Meanwhile, the drug charges were settled in Jersey City Municipal Court.

But he was again arrested on cocaine, hindering apprehension, and obstruction charges in October 2016 -- a case that was also heard at the municipal court level, authorities said.

However, Bell was arrested last month with cocaine for a third time. He appeared in court earlier this month on those charges and a next court date has not yet been scheduled.
A U.S. postal worker from Jersey City was sentenced today to three years in prison for stealing personal information of co-workers and others to file phony insurance claims, state Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced.

Kayson Allen, 33, must also pay $11,464 in restitution to two insurance companies under the terms of the sentence, handed down by Superior Court Judge Timothy Lydon in Mercer County. Allen, who was arrested in late March, pleaded guilty in August to trafficking in personal identifying information.

Allen, who worked the night shift as a janitor at the United State Postal Service (USPS) Processing and Distribution Center in Trenton, admitted that he rifled through office files and trash cans to obtain names, birthdates, and other personal identifying information of postal employees, applicants, and USPS clients.

Allen admitted that he then created fake IDs, filed fraudulent insurance claims and opened bank accounts in the names of his victims.

"The defendant used his position as a federal employee to victimize people who believed their personal information was safe in the hands of the U.S. Postal Service," Porrino said in a statement. "His prison sentence sends a message that we will not allow criminals to commit illegal acts behind the stolen identities of honest individuals."

An investigation by the Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor found that Allen submitted false claims for thefts that never occurred:

-- A claim filed with American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida seeking $7,750 for jewelry Allen claimed was stolen during a robbery in Camden;

-- Another claim with American Bankers Insurance seeking $1,387 for an iPhone and a "Joe Rodeo" watch purportedly stolen in Clearwater, Florida;

-- A claim filed with Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance seeking approximately $2,800 for a watch and money purportedly stolen in Tampa, Florida

-- A claim filed with Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company seeking $2,327 for a gold rope chain and medallion purportedly stolen in Niagara Falls.

All but the claim to Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance were paid.

"Identity theft is crime that can ruin people's lives before they're even aware they've been targeted," Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Christopher Iu said in a statement. "We will continue to work with fellow law enforcement agencies to shut down those who abet this crime by trafficking in the personal identification of others."

Authorities began investigating Allen when he was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers while trying to re-enter the United States after a one-day trip to Canada in September 2013, authorities said.

Authorities found that Allen had more than 50 documents containing personal identifying information of other individuals, including Social Security numbers, falsified drivers licenses, insurance policy applications, bills and bank account information.

Further investigation revealed that Allen falsely assumed the identity of three postal workers and another person to obtain four fraudulent insurance policies in their names.
HOBOKEN -- When Dawn Zimmer announced she would step down as mayor next year to fight global warming beyond Hoboken she attributed her decision to what she said was President Donald Trump's disregard for the need to address climate change.

So on Wednesday, Zimmer emphasized the significance of word from the Trump Administration that it was releasing $230 million in federal funding for a waterfront flood barrier network intended to protect her waterfront city from storm surges that she and others say will be more likely as the Earth gets warmer, weather events intensify, and sea levels rise.

"Was I concerned about President Trump pulling back the money? Yes, I was," Zimmer said in an interview following Wednesday's announcement. "So, I'm very pleased that the money has been released to the state and is now in the hands of the state of New Jersey."

The release of the funds by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development will allow final design and engineering work to proceed over the next 18 months, said Zimmer. That will be followed by construction of the project, which has a 2022 completion deadline set by HUD.

The state Department of Environmental Protection, not the City of Hoboken, is administering the project. A sister state agency, the Department of Community Affairs, received HUD's Oct. 17 authorization to start spending the $230 million in federal grant money.

The project grew out of a competition, hosted by the HUD in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, inviting submissions intended to improve the resiliency of flood-prone communities against future super-storms. Barack Obama was president at the time.

A plan was devised to erect barriers to protect Hoboken and portions of neighboring Weehawken and Jersey City against storm surges like Sandy's. In 2014, the plan was named by HUD as one of six winning projects awarded a total of $920 million, including two in New Jersey, three in New York City, and one on Long Island.

In addition to Hoboken's $230 million grant, HUD awarded a $150 million grant to a project in Little Ferry, after that inland community was inundated by Sandy's heavy rainfall and the overflowing Hackensack River.

The "New Meadowlands" project, involving restoration of wetlands and creation of a berm, is not as far along as Hoboken's, and funds have not yet been authorized, said Little Ferry Borough Administrator Paula Cozzarelli.

In the three years since Hoboken's "Resist, Delay, Store, Discharge" project was awarded the HUD grant, Zimmer and city and DEP staffers have held scores of planning and community meetings to arrive at a concept plan.

In September 2016, the DEP chose the so-called Option 3 concept, made up of a series of flood barriers and gates on or near the Hudson River waterfront that would run from 19th Street in Weehawken, down the length of Hoboken, before bending west to a point at the Jersey City border.

The barriers would take the form of berms, platforms and even a boathouse complex. It was designed to have as little impact as possible on traffic, waterfront access, and aesthetics, though officials said it would provide less protection than more intrusive plans.

The barrier project was cited by the United Nations in 2015, when it named Hoboken as one of 44 "role model" cities worldwide for communities seeking to become more resilient to severe weather.

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A grieving mother's federal lawsuit contended that quick dispatch of a U.S. Coast Guard rescue helicopter, as shown in this file photo, could have saved her 16-year-old son from a 2015 drowning death in waters off Grand Isle.(Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Markques Simon, 20, also known as "Black Jesus" and "Black," is wanted by police in connection with an attempted armed robbery that occurred Monday night (Oct. 23, 2017) near the 13000 block of Hayne Boulevard, police said.(NOPD)
Lewis Barron, 51, was booked into Orleans Justice Center Tuesday (Oct. 23) on one charge of human trafficking. (Orleans Justice Center Jail)
Johntrell 'John John' Washington, 20, pleaded guilty Tuesday (Oct. 31) to a felony charge of resisting a police officer with force, after receiving assurance from the Department of Corrections that he would be released on time served after processing.(Courtesy of Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office)
An Oct. 19 Revenue Estimating Conference report showing $133 million less than anticipated in Iowas revenue projections for this fiscal year has primed the states gubernatorial campaign with a hot topic: how finances are being managed.

Opponents of Gov. Kim Reynolds, who took office May 24 after previous Gov. Terry Branstad became U.S. ambassador to China, have set their sights on her: either as manager of the budget or as Branstads partner during a series of budget cuts and patches made since Jan. 1.

I think this is a big problem that Kim Reynolds has failed to understand, said state Sen. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines. When she was asked, What is the effect of these budget cuts? she said that theres been no effect on state services. And thats just, its difficult to swallow.

Boulton is one of seven people seeking the Democratic gubernatorial nomination to run in the 2018 general election and three, Reynolds included, seeking the Republican nomination in what will shape up to be a lively primary on June 5, 2018.

Were still growing, Reynolds countered, referring to the councils report that state revenue had grown 2.4 percent so far this fiscal year, which began July 1. So, I think its always important to point that out to Iowans, and that is that our revenue is still growing. Its just not growing as fast as the projected rate of the Revenue Estimating Council.

The revenue is supporting a $7.2 billion fiscal 2018 state budget.

The Republican-led Legislature cut almost $118 million in spending early this year to handle a shortfall in anticipated tax receipts. Later in the session, and with Branstads approval, it shifted $131 million from its reserves when it became evident that the cuts would not handle the shortfall. The reserves account had $738 million at the time.

With Reynolds in office, the state closed the books on fiscal 2017 in September by shifting another $13 million from reserves to balance the ledger. Reynolds says she anticipated repaying $20 million of the money this fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2018, with the rest to be repaid the following fiscal year.

Democrat State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald said he worries about the state making payroll.

A year ago when we started, we had a $44 million surplus. We had $750 million in our savings account, Fitzgerald said. So we were prepared for bad times. Now, theres absolutely no surplus. And that $750 million reserve funds is down to $600 million. So were going in the wrong direction.

Four years ago, Fitzgerald noted, the state had about $1 billion in reserves.

He blamed Republican-led efforts to cut the property tax businesses pay as part of the problem. Democrats did the same thing with tax credits, he said, when giving the movie industry large credits to shoot movies in the state around the turn of this century.

But Democrats point to the 2013 law Branstad signed that gave what Branstad called the states biggest tax cut ever to businesses that own property. The law called for:

 Spending $50 million annually on business property tax credits in the fiscal year that began July 1, 2014.

 Spending $100 million annually for the credits after July 1, 2015.

 Spending $125 million annually for the credits after July 1, 2016, and in subsequent years.

That totals $400 million since the law took effect in revenue the state previously would have collected. Branstad pushed for the law, saying businesses should not have had to pay property taxes at 100 percent of their propertys assessed value when homeowners get a break through rollbacks in taxable value of their property.

Republicans point out that a slow agriculture economy is keeping state tax receipts lower than anticipated. Some have accused Fitzgerald of playing politics when criticizing moves under Branstad and Reynolds to fix the budget.

But Republicans, too, have their criticisms. Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett, running for the Republican gubernatorial nomination for next years election, said Reynolds should have called a special legislative session to deal with the budget.

Corbett said the state needs to reform how it spends money. They need to get more spending controls in place, not just borrowing money to balance the budget, Corbett said of the Legislature.

Next year, when they come back in January, the first appropriation they have to make isnt to K-through-12 schools. It isnt to human services. It isnt to the Department of Corrections. Its to the debt.

Reynolds said the state made targeted cuts instead of across-the-board cuts to balance spending this year. That differs from a 10 percent, across-the-board approach taken by Democratic Gov. Chet Culver in 2009 during the recession. Republicans criticisms of Culver have included that cut and, in general, how he managed the state budget.

We held harmless pre-K-through-12 (education), Medicaid and the backfill, Reynolds said. The backfill refers to the money paid by the state to cities to compensate for the business property tax break.

Democrats point to dire possibilities when on the campaign trail.

What happens if we see a 5 percent downturn in the Iowa economy? Boulton asked. Are we equipped to deal with that, and still have the essential services that are required for our state to continue to function?

Fred Hubbell, also seeking the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, said the state should reduce tax breaks for businesses that dont return the benefits they get from the breaks. A sunset clause is needed on tax break legislation to ensure that the breaks do not become entrenched, he said.

Inertia is a strong force of government, Hubbell said.

 This story was produced for Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalisms IowaWatch.org, a nonprofit, online news website dedicated to collaborating with Iowa news organizations to produce explanatory and investigative work.
Farm-state interests just conquered Big Oil in a fight over biofuels, proving that in Donald Trumps Washington, King Corn still reigns.

The clash erupted over the future of the Renewable Fuel Standard, a 12-year-old law that compels the use of fuels such as corn-based ethanol and soy-based biodiesel. Although the president had repeatedly promised Midwest voters he would protect ethanol and support the program, his Environmental Protection Agency was considering steps to dilute the mandate.

Farm-state governors and senators revolted  setting off a behind-the-scenes struggle between two special-interest heavyweights. Lobbyists for oil refiners warned of higher gasoline prices if the administration backed down.

Iowa leaders countered that Trump could face political retribution in 2020 during the states first-in-the-nation caucuses. Republican senators threatened to delay confirmation of his nominees.

I wasnt afraid to put the squeeze on, Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, said in an interview with Bloomberg. This was really important. Weve got 88,500 family farms here in Iowa, and they rely on this.

After three weeks of frenzied lobbying by both sides, the president ordered his EPA administrator to back off  handing an unalloyed victory to the farm belt. EPA chief Scott Pruitts formal capitulation came days later in the form of a letter that detailed concessions to biofuel producers and underscored corns continued clout in the nations capital.

The issue is politically perilous for any president, but especially Trump, who visited ethanol factories while campaigning in Iowa and promised the states voters he would stand by the home-grown biofuel if they elected him to the White House.

But biofuel industry leaders grew worried after Trump began staffing his administration with allies of the oil industry, which views the biofuel requirements as costly and burdensome. Chief among them: Pruitt, a former attorney general from Oklahoma who criticized the RFS before he became EPA administrator and is expected to run for political office from the state, where ethanol-free gasoline flows at many filling stations and the oil industry dominates.

Then came a formal EPA request for public comment on possibly reducing biodiesel quotas. The Sept. 26 notice of data availability that set those potential changes in motion posed some 20 questions about ways to lower quotas. None related to increasing the mandate. It explicitly invoked oil industry arguments about the danger of relying on imported biodiesel.

A day later, Bloomberg reported the EPA was weighing a plan to allow exported biofuel to count toward domestic quotas  a move that would drive down compliance costs for refiners but disadvantage many ethanol makers.

The threat was obvious. It galvanized our industry, said Brooke Coleman, executive director of the Advanced Biofuels Business Council.

The oil industry, by contrast, remained fractured over the best prescription for what they argue are rising costs of complying with the law. Oil industry lobbyists urged Trump administration officials not to give in to an extortion attempt by senators, nor back down from changes they described as modest fixes needed to keep gasoline prices from spiking.

But they were outmatched. In the Midwest, the news of a possible reduction in biofuels quotas arrived as cash-strapped farmers were already growing concerned about Trumps trade policy. Taking the teeth out of a program that helps to put a floor under corn and soybean prices would only add to their current woes, they worried. Some 38 percent of the corn crop is destined for ethanol plants, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The response was immediate. Ethanol supporters who had battled biodiesel backers on other policy matters linked arm in arm.

With that one-two punch, there was not a segment of the industry that was not facing a severe threat to its future, said Monte Shaw, head of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. The only alternative was to try to get this on the presidents radar screen and hope that he in fact was going to stick by his promises  and he did.

The biofuel industry was able to count on a host of Midwest politicians to advance their cause, from statehouses to the U.S. Capitol. Thirty-eight senators sent a letter to Pruitt backing the RFS on Oct. 5, and four governors sent their own missive to Trump on Oct. 16.

Among the industrys fiercest advocates: Chuck Grassley, the Republican senior senator from Iowa, who immediately decried a bait and switch by the Trump administration. He took to Twitter and the Senate floor to voice his displeasure. Grassleys complaints prompted a call from Trump, who told Pruitt to meet with senator. That woke everybody up, Grassley said.

My point in talking to the president was to make the point that he had some people in his administration that werent helping him keep his campaign promises, Grassley said in an interview. He needed to know he was being undercut.

Trump subsequently directed his EPA administrator to resolve the senators concerns, according to people familiar with the discussions. The message: Keep Grassley happy.

Grassley had unique leverage. He heads the Senate Judiciary Committee, which plays a gatekeeper role vetting judicial nominations and has the power to probe numerous issues, including Russias meddling in the 2016 election.

It is clear that the political novice  the president  knows how powerful the head of the Judiciary Committee is, said Jeff Stein, a political analyst who hosts an afternoon talk radio program on KXEL in Cedar Rapids. To have Iowas leading senators make very public stands sent a message to the White House that this was different.

Grassley and Pruitt met for lunch on Oct. 16, followed by a closed-door meeting with four other senators a day later. According to multiple accounts, Grassley did most of the talking in that session  occasionally with a raised voice.

Pruitt and his staff members may have thought the RFS program could be modified a little bit without doing any harm, Grassley said in an interview. Our job was to point out great harm could be done, and we made our point.

An EPA spokesman declined to comment on this story. A top EPA official said last week that the agencys goal was to make the program work better  and to encourage domestic biofuel use, not undermine the initiative.

Even beyond politics, biofuel backers had additional leverage. Ernst, the other Iowa senator, is one of 11 Republicans on the Environment and Public Works Committee, which was considering the nomination of lawyer Bill Wehrum to lead the EPA office that administers the biofuel program. With 10 panel Democrats expected to vote no, her position would be decisive.

Although Pruitt told senators he would support the RFS, Ernst insisted she needed Pruitts assurances in writing before she could support Wehrum.

Back in Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds pressed the issue in a phone call with the president, following it up with a Wednesday news conference with ethanol producers.

They are feeling the pressure, and thats why we need to keep it up, we cant let down, Reynolds said then.

The following evening, Pruitt sent a letter to Ernst and other senators promising the EPA would not cut biodiesel quotas and would drop consideration of the ethanol exports idea. Ernst said she would back Wehrum for the EPA job, and the Senate committee rescheduled its vote on his nomination for Wednesday.

But not everyone was pleased. The Wall Street Journal editorial board termed the episode a special-interest shakedown.

Chet Thompson, head of the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, said it was astonishing to see Pruitt making concessions to appease a few senators at the expense of American families and workers.

Valero Energy Corp., an independent refiner seeking some of the changes, blasted the senators opposition as bullying rooted in a desire to maintain the status quo and protect windfall profits associated with unregulated trading of biofuel compliance credits.

Coleman, with the biofuels council, says this wasnt a case of the administration bowing to special interests, but rather it was an example of Trump keeping his promise to the mid-American voters who got him elected.

Were not the swamp; were the anti-swamp, Coleman said. He bucked special interests to return to and in favor of rural America.

 Bloombergs Mario Parker and Jennifer Jacobs contributed.
The following editorial appeared Oct. 20 in The Quad-City Times:

Iowas top-ranking Republicans may have made the mother of all Faustian bargains this past year when they jumped on Donald Trumps bandwagon. And, as proven in the past three weeks, they know it.

But theres a bright side to the presidents recent swipes at Iowas most sacred of cows. Slowly and quietly, Iowas most influential Republicans arent rolling over for the president anymore.

The past week saw an all-hands push to scuttle Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitts call to reduce the amount of corn ethanol in the countrys gas tanks. No state has benefited more from the Renewable Fuel Standard than Iowa. U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst and Gov. Kim Reynolds were especially loud about their displeasure.

No one should be surprised about Pruitts maneuver. The man spent his career in the oil industry. But the political peril that reductions to RFS pose to Iowa GOPs brand cannot be overstated.

Any deal with the Devil is perilous.

Trump promised to protect RFS while campaigning in Iowa. Anything else would be political suicide in a state thats built an entire economy around biofuels. But he proceded to stock his cabinet almost exclusively with oil industry executives, a slew of generals and the executive team from Goldman Sachs.

Thing is, Trumps word isnt worth much. The man wants applause. He has just two real goals: Elevating himself and scrubbing his predecessor from the history books. That pesky policy bit bores him, evidenced by the fact that, in a matter of hours, he came out for, and then against, a bipartisan Senate deal to prop up the very Affordable Care Act that Trump himself threw into chaos by executive order. His opinion on any given issue depends entirely on whom last had his ear. As such, Trump may be waffling on Pruitts RFS rollback after Iowas full-court press, according to Bloomberg News.

In the past few weeks, Trump and his administration have repeatedly targeted Iowa. Pruitt proposed drastic reductions in ethanol. He argued against tax credits for wind energy, another cash cow for Iowas economy, hated by the vaunted coal industry. Trump reportedly personally intervened against Iowas proposal to stabilize its health insurance marketplace.

Iowa went for Trump in November. Its Republican officials stumped for him. Ernst championed him at the Republican National Convention. To this day, Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann lambastes anyone  Republican, Democrat or Martian  who criticizes the president.

But, slowly, the very criticism Kaufmann detests is beginning to bubble among Iowa GOPs most powerful elected officials. Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, vowed to hold up Trumps nominees for key EPA posts if Pruitt continues to move toward gutting RFS. On Thursday, Grassley co-authored a letter to the Trump administration lampooning its proposed withdrawal from agricultural regulations designed to keep small farms competitive with factory farms. This week, Reynolds lobbied Trump by phone and is scheduled to next week fly to Washington for a sit-down with Vice President Mike Pence to talk health insurance and ethanol.

Such gripes arent on par with the likes of Sens. Bob Corker or John McCain. Corker, a Tennessee Republican, who this month labeled the president a threat to peace and stability. No, Iowa Republicans, still clinging to a hope that the president suddenly reinvents himself, are taking a less feverish approach. Its a form of criticism thats strongly worded but grounded in the specifics of policy, not an area the president has shown much interest in. Its a form of critique thats unlikely to raise the presidents ire and fuel an early morning Twitter rant.

Again, these are officials who carried Trump in Iowa. And, quite literally, theyre having to beat back his anti-Iowa agenda just to save face.

Mainline Republicans in Iowa ignored their instincts and backed Trump this past year. They focused on isolated issues  especially judicial nominations  instead of Trumps temperament, character and basic lack of curiosity. They promised that the gravity of the presidency would change him.

It hasnt.

So, theyre stuck fighting weekly battles against pro-oil and pro-coal policies that would be catastrophic for Iowa.
Council Bluffs resident disappointed by theft

I am disappointed about a theft from my yard.

I was given some yard ornaments from a very dear friend who moved away recently. Im a senior citizen living (more than 50 years) in the west end of Council Bluffs. I sincerely hope that whoever took the ornaments gets a great deal of pleasure from them (as I did).

It hurts your heart when these things happen. I am disabled and must use a cane to walk. My neighbor specifically wanted me to have them!

It takes a very small, selfish individual who would do this. Enough said!

Velda Scott, Council Bluffs

Construction owner: Walsh supports small businesses

My name is Chris Rochleau, and I am the owner of Cherry Ridge Construction, a small business located in Council Bluffs. Recently it has come to my attention that some people are claiming that our current mayor, Matt Walsh, is not supportive of small businesses. As the owner of a small business, I can tell you that nothing could be farther from the truth.

I knew Matt Walsh long before he was elected as mayor of our great city. Shortly after I started in business I met Matt when he was working for Security National Bank. He helped me understand the process involved in getting a construction loan, and he explained what a bank (not only his bank, but all banks) would be looking for from a small business like mine.

At that time, Matt Walsh knew nothing about me other than I was a young guy working hard to grow a small business in Council Bluffs. He treated me with respect, sincerity and honesty at a time when a lot of other bankers wouldnt have given me the time of day. He was encouraging, supportive and willing to share his knowledge of banking.

We still work with Security National today because of the foundation that Matt Walsh built.

Just this morning I went to Carrie McDonalds First Row Fitness to work out in the 5:30 a.m. class. One of the individuals who walked through the door to work out today was Matt Walsh. Carrie started her own small business a little more than a year ago, and Matt has supported the growth of her small business by showing up regularly.

As a supporter of small businesses, Matt Walsh understands what we bring to this community. All businesses are important to our community, and Matt knows that a business cannot survive without the support of the community and its leaders.

Matt Walsh has always been approachable and has worked hard to lead our community in the right direction. Our citys economy has benefited greatly from his understanding of budgets, balance sheets and profit and loss statements.

Council Bluffs has a bright future and is headed in the right direction under the leadership of Mayor Matt Walsh.

Chris Rochleau, Council Bluffs

Congresswomen gone wild

It has not escaped my attention that lately I see Democratic Congresswomen playing to their base, using disturbing anti-Trump rhetoric.

Californias Maxine Waters has been often televised chanting Impeach 45, impeach 45. She also promised to bring him down and called his cabinet a bunch of scumbags.

Floridas Frederica Wilson defamed President Trump by misinterpreting a private phone call to the widow of fallen soldier, Sgt. La David Johnson. She then doubled down by attacking the White House Chief of Staff John Kelly concerning his statement to the media press. His statement was made to quell and clarify the controversy generated by congresswoman Wilson.

Wilson is pleased with the attention she has received from her efforts. A video of her professing look at me, I am a rock- star has been played often. That is disgusting and very telling.

Adding their House leader Nancy Pelosi, to this cast of characters, because of her irrational, absurd, half baked behavior, is befitting of a new sitcom ready for primetime TV consumption.

An appropriate title for such programming would be 2 And a Half Women.

Ken Lane, Council Bluffs
The Manly Sea Eagles have been in discussions with Mitchell Pearce to lure him across the bridge as the Sydney Roosters look to finalise a deal with Australian halfback Cooper Cronk.

It is understood Manly are keen to sign Pearce if Cronk, as widely reported, inks a two-year deal with the Roosters.

Pearce has two years remaining on his deal with the Tricolours and it is believed the 28-year-old is unhappy about potentially being forced to take a back seat at the Roosters and could be tempted to walk away from the club in the coming days.

It is believed the Roosters have given Pearce a couple of days to consider his options.

Manly are in the box seat to claim Pearce's services.

NRL.com can reveal the Sea Eagles have already reached an agreement with the Warriors which would allow five-eighth Blake Green to switch across the ditch to link with the Auckland-based club on a lucrative multi-year deal.

Cronk's deal with the Sydney Roosters is expected to be rubberstamped in the near future, leaving Pearce's immediate future in a precarious position.


U.S. Steel filed plans with the state of Indiana in February to build a new galvanizing line at the Midwest Plant in Portage, but ended up spurning Northwest Indiana for Ohio.

The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker announced in late September it would partner with Kobe Steel to build a new $400 million continuous galvanizing line for lightweight vehicles at its PRO-TEC Coating Company joint venture in Leipsic, Ohio. A few weeks later, it sent a letter to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management saying it was withdrawing plans to build the finishing line in Portage.

"On Feb. 21, 2017, U.S. Steel Corporation submitted a significant permit modification for the Midwest Plant Title V Operating Permit," U.S. Steel's Gary Works Environmental Control Director Joseph E. Hanning wrote in the letter. "The modification requested authorization to construct and operate a proposed continuous galvanizing line. U.S. Steel is no longer pursuing the CGL project at this time, and therefore it is retracting the CGL request from the permit modification package."

U.S. Steel is instead building the "first-of-its-kind" finishing line that can produce 500,000 tons a year at a non-unionized plant in northwest Ohio.

"We looked into multiple locations before deciding upon Ohio," U.S. Steel spokeswoman Meghan Cox said. "We often explore multiple options when undertaking a project of this size."

Cox declined to discuss why U.S. Steel passed up on Northwest Indiana, where it operates the Gary Works, Midwest Plant and East Chicago Tin mills.

"We dont publicly discuss our decision-making process," Cox said.

It's not the first time a major steelmaker has rebuffed the Region, the largest steel-producing area in the United States, in favor of a newer facility elsewhere. ArcelorMittal has recently closed some finishing lines at ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor after shifting the work to AM/NS Calvert, a 50/50 joint venture between ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. in Alabama.
GARY  The courts and the Indiana Public Access Counselor are being asked to weigh in on how transparent the reconstruction of the Gary Community School Corp. must be.

Gary attorney Clorius Lay filed suit in Crown Point Tuesday after filing a complaint last week with Indiana Public Access Counselor Luke H. Britt, alleging the state is violating its own open door law in its dealings with Gary schools.

Lay is suing the state and the private, for-profit company now running Gary schools as well as the Gary School Board. He is asking the courts enjoin the state to hold more public meetings with the Gary School Board and city residents to explain what measures will be taken to improve the school district.

The General Assembly approved the creation of the emergency manager in April and authorized the state's Distressed Unit Advisory Board to hire Florida-based MGT Education Consulting Group and its subsidiary, Gary Schools Recovery LLC, and Peggy Hinckley, the Gary schools' new emergency manager.

The state takeover of Gary schools has raised some hackles. State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Merrillville, has said he wants Gary residents to have more say in decisions made by the state-appointed emergency manager.

Lay complains Hinckley is willing to meet with individual Gary School Board members, but limits her meetings with the full school board in what appears to him as an effort to divide the community's voice over the future management of city schools.

He said he is suing the school board to enjoin board members from setting up separate meetings with the emergency manager, which he said violates the open door law.

Gary School Board President Rosie Washington said Tuesday, "I have gone round and round with DUAB and state officials to ascertain why we cannot get together other than the one meeting (per month) the law says we can. I do believe in speaking with one voice. The emergency manager said she wanted to meet with us one on one."

Jenny Banks, a spokeswoman for the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance and DUAB, didn't provide a comment early Tuesday afternoon.

No court date has been set for Lay's suit.

Britt, who was in Crown Point Tuesday taking part in a symposium on open access to local government, said he received Lay's complaint and is still formulating an opinion on the issue.

Gary school finances have deteriorated in recent years due to a combination of declining student enrollment, charter school competition, low property tax collection rates and legislative reductions to Indiana's school funding formula.

The district is more than $100 million in debt, has had difficulty making payroll, and Hinckley told the state last month its finances were in disarray.

The new law gives Hinckley near-total authority to implement academic and financial changes, renegotiate contracts and run Gary's schools as she sees fit, subject only to informal review by a local advisory board and DUAB oversight.

The law gives elected trustees of the Gary Community School Corp. and the district's superintendent no official say in decisions made by the emergency manager.
CROWN POINT  The sister of a 38-year-old man charged in their parents' killing testified against her brother at his murder trial Tuesday.

Julie Niemeyer told the jury she and her brother, Thomas T.J. Snow, were adopted as children by Clifford and Joyce Snow. The family grew up in Hammond.

Niemeyer, 45, said she left the state for college at 18 years old and her parents eventually moved to a home in 14500 block of West 197th Avenue in West Creek Township.

She said her brother continued to live with his parents until Oct. 18, 2013. She said she learned on that date there were messages on social media suggesting her father had died of a heart attack, though she was not informed of his death at her home in Missouri.

She eventually contacted the Lake County Sheriff's Office, who dispatched deputies to the home for a welfare check.

Officer Brian Kersey testified Tuesday he noticed there were about a dozen wrapped newspapers and a large metal refuse bin in the driveway of the home when he arrived. Static from a radio could be heard from a pole barn near the home.

Kersey told the jury he kicked in the back door after he received permission from his superior officer, and noted a strong, pungent odor of decomposition.

The deputy found the heavily decomposed body of Clifford Snow, 68, under a pile of debris in the home's garage. The body of Joyce Snow, 66, was wrapped in a blood-stained rug and covered in cat litter in an upstairs bathroom.

Thomas Snow was not found at the home. He was arrested the next day after leading police on a high-speed chase in his father's vehicle in Minnesota.

The jury also heard testimony Tuesday from a friend and former student of Clifford Snow. Clifford Snow was a retired shop teacher from Hammond Morton High School.

Dennis Roper told the jury Thomas Snow visited his home Oct. 1. He said Thomas Snow told him his parents were in Germany, and there was a major septic problem at the family's home.

Roper said Thomas Snow invited him, his wife and his children to visit the home in two weeks to celebrate his parents' return from Germany.

Roper said he declined the offer, and found the exchange unsettling. He said Thomas Snow seemed high-strung or hyper. It was also unusual that Snow drove to his home in his father's truck, which he was forbidden to drive.

Roper said he and Thomas Snow were cordial, though he only talked to the son out of respect for Clifford Snow.

He's a very uncomfortable person to be around, if you spend any length of time with him, Roper said.

Thomas Snow is charged with two counts of murder in his parents' death. The trial is scheduled to continue Wednesday.
INDIANAPOLIS  An Indiana law barring "serious" sex offenders from ever entering school buildings does not apply to churches, even those that offer Sunday school classes or provide toddler nurseries.

The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled 3-0 Tuesday that the plain meaning of the 2015 statute, sponsored by state Sen. Frank Mrvan, D-Hammond, does not encompass religious institutions, because: "To state the obvious, a church is not a school."

Republican Attorney General Curtis Hill argued that churches should be covered by the law, which he said prohibits "serious" sex offenders  generally those who have committed sex crimes against children  from entering nonprofit facilities that "serve, assist or otherwise benefit children" between ages 3 and 5, in addition to traditional school buildings.

The appeals court declined to adopt Hill's broad reading of the statute, finding instead that toddler nurseries at churches are not educational but provided as a service to parents who wish to attend services undisturbed.

The judges pointed out that if the Legislature intended to cover churches then lawmakers would have listed churches in their exacting definition of "school property."

"Churches are not 'school property' and they do not become 'school property' by virtue of conducting Sunday school or offering child care services," the court said.

The lawsuit was filed by the Indiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of three "serious" sex offenders who were warned by the Boone County sheriff that they risked arrest and prosecution for attending church.

The ACLU argued that banning the offenders from church was an unconstitutional burden on their religious liberty under Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which requires the state to show that any law infringing religious rights furthers a compelling government interest by the least restrictive means.

The appeals court opted not to directly address the RFRA claim after deciding the case through statutory interpretation.

However, it observed that the law likely is overly broad as applied to the three plaintiffs, all of whom have served their criminal sentences and are not otherwise prohibited from being around children in any other location.

"Even under an intermediate level of scrutiny, it is unlikely the state could prevail in this case," the court said. "RFRA imposes a heightened level of scrutiny."

The attorney general is likely to ask the Indiana Supreme Court to review the ruling.
INDIANAPOLIS  Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has a starring role in one of the first re-election campaign commercials for Republican Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner.

In the 30-second ad released Tuesday, Holcomb and the Republican governors of Wisconsin and Missouri cheekily thank Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, D-Chicago, for making their states more attractive by hiking Illinois' income tax over Rauner's veto and blocking Rauner's legislative agenda.

"Thanks, Mike Madigan, for helping create new jobs in Indiana. ... We're growing union jobs faster than Illinois," Holcomb says in the ad.

Holcomb also proclaims at the end, "Hoosiers love you, Mike Madigan!"

Rauner has continually clashed with Madigan since taking office three years ago. The Illinois governor claims the 46-year House incumbent is the source of Illinois' financial mess and the top reason why Illinois needs legislative term limits.

A Holcomb campaign spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment about how involved the Hoosier governor plans to be in the 2018 Illinois gubernatorial contest beyond the commercial.

Rauner donated $100,000 of his own money to Holcomb's campaign last year immediately after Indiana's then-lieutenant governor secured the Republican nomination for the state's top job.

Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody wasn't impressed by Holcomb's appearance in Rauner's ad.

"Gov. Holcomb is implying his party's policies aren't responsible for growing good-paying jobs in Indiana, and he's right about that," Zody said. "Fact is, Indiana remains 38th in per capita income, and there is no plan to grow wages at the Statehouse  except to study the pay of state elected officials."
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  Illinois House Democrats on Tuesday endorsed banning firepower-boosting "bump stocks," the same device used by the Las Vegas gunman in the nation's deadliest mass shooting three weeks ago.

The Judiciary Committee's 7-5 tally along party lines signals a floor vote involving a device few people had even heard of before 58 people died Oct. 1 in the Nevada massacre.

Only one other state  Massachusetts  has thus far taken up bump-stock restrictions.

"It's a device used to kill and injure as many people as you can by modifying a semi-automatic weapon into an automatic weapon," the legislation's sponsor, Democratic Rep. Marin Moylan of Des Plaines, told the committee.

Critics call it an overreach because Moylan's measure technically addresses "trigger modification." It's defined in part as any implement "intended to accelerate the rate of fire of a firearm."

Sport-shooters routinely make after-market modifications to get an edge on firing speed, the National Rifle Association's Todd Vandermyde testified. He labeled Moylan's language so broad, "it would make a criminal out of the vast majority of the state's 2.2 million" Illinois firearm-permit holders.

Bump stocks were found on 12 of the rifles stockpiled by the Las Vegas gunman. Bump stocks don't affect the trigger but allow more rapid firing by relying on the inertia of the recoil to simulate a rapid-fire weapon.

The national NRA has endorsed the request by nine Republican U.S. senators for federal authorities to review bump stocks' capacity for harm. A U.S. Senate bill would ban them nationally but appears stalled, said Avery Gardiner, co-president of Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

A bump stock ban has the support of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker. He awaits legislation, approved by both houses, which must be reconciled.

California explicitly bans bump stocks and New York restricts weapons that "simulate machine guns," Gardiner said. Minnesota, Michigan, New Jersey and Oregon have laws restricting devices that accelerate firing rate. And seven states and the District of Columbia have assault-weapons bans.

Gardiner said, however, that the answer is on Capitol Hill, not in patchwork state laws.

"They're important, they're effective, they're good," Gardiner said. "But without a federal standard, there's the opportunity for people to take advantage of weaker laws in neighboring states and import them, thereby endangering Illinois."

The Illinois State Rifle Association opposes Moylan's proposal, too, citing the restriction on law-abiding sport-shooters. But it differs from the NRA on bump stocks.

"They're used by bad people," Illinois State Rifle Association lobbyist Ed Sullivan told the committee. "But the unintended consequences of this bill are that it prohibits altering a trigger to advance the rate of speed."

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The bill is HB4117.

___

AP researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this report.

___

Contact Political Writer John O'Connor at https://twitter.com/apoconnor . His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/john%20o'connor

___

Sign up for the AP's weekly newsletter showcasing our best reporting from the Midwest and Texas: http://apne.ws/2u1RMfv .
To submit Halloween events or trick-or-treat hours, email annette.arnold@nwi.com

Trick-or-treat hours

Burns Harbor, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Calumet City, 3 to 6 p.m.

Cedar Lake, 5 to 7 p.m.

Chesterton, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Crown Point, 5 to 7 p.m.

Demotte, 5 to 7 p.m.

Dyer, 5 to 7 p.m.

East Chicago, 5 to 7 p.m.

Gary, 5 to 7 p.m.

Griffith, 5 to 7 p.m.

Hammond, 5 to 7 p.m.

Hebron, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Highland, 5 to 7 p.m.

Hobart, 5 to 7 p.m.

Homewood, 3 to 7 p.m.

Kouts, 5 to 7 p.m.

Lake Station, 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Lakes of the Four Seasons, 5 to 7 p.m.

Lansing, 4 to 7 p.m.

LaPorte, 6 to 8 p.m.

Long Beach, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Lowell, 5 to 7 p.m.

Merrillville, 5 to 7 p.m.

Michigan City, 5 to 7 p.m.

Munster, 5 to 7 p.m.

New Chicago, 4 to 7 p.m.

Ogden Dunes, 5 to 7 p.m.

Portage, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Porter, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Rolling Prairie, 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Sauk Village, 4 to 7 p.m.

Schererville, 5 to 7 p.m.

South Holland, 4 to 7 p.m.

St. John, 5 to 7 p.m.

Unincorporated Porter County, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m

Valparaiso, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Wanatah, 5 to 7 p.m.

Westville, 6 to 8 p.m.

Whiting, 5 to 7 p.m.

Winfield, 5 to 7 p.m.

EVENTS

Indoor Trick or Treat

Rittenhouse Village At Valparaiso will be hosting its Spooky Halloween Party and Indoor Trick or Treat from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at 1300 Vale Park Road. The event will feature door-to-door trick or treat, a free photo booth, chef-prepared nacho bar, treats to take home and more. Dress the kids in their costumes and come join the fun. For more information or directions, call 219-531-2484 or visit www.rittenhousevillages.com

Halloween in the park

LAKE STATION  Halloween in the park is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at 2701 Ripley St. Tickets sold in the park office or at the door are $5. Parents will be able to buy food and hayride tickets separately that night. This is sponsored by Lake Station Park Department.

Trunk or treat

The city of Portage will host its trunk or treat event 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 27 at Founders Square Park.

Trick or Treat downtown

CHESTERTON  Duneland business community's Halloween event is from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 27 in downtown Chesterton for Duneland children and their families.

Haunted trails of Sunset Hills

VALPARAISO  The Haunted Trails of Sunset Hills are presented by Region2 Porter and LaPorte County Abate. Hours are 6:30 to 10 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28. Admission is $10 per person; children 6 and younger free with adult admission. Three will be a concession stand with food, drinks and bake sale. Call 219-616-7777.

The Haunted Forest

CEDAR LAKE  The Haunted Forest, extreme scare event, will be held 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28 at Cedar Lake Knights of Columbus, 13039 Wicker Ave. Cost is $7 per person. Not recommended for small children. Call 219-374-4294.

Haunted house weekend

HAMMOND  A haunted house will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28 at St. John Bosco Hall at 171st and Columbia. Cost is $7 for adults, $6 for high school students and $5 for younger children.

Bieker Woods Night Walk

MUNSTER  Munster Parks and Recreation will hold its Bieker Woods Night Walk Oct. 27 and 28. The Oct. 28 event is from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and this is the not-so-scary night. Tours begin at 6:30 and cost is $5 per person. Children younger than 8 must be accompanied by an adult. The Oct. 28 event is scary and is from 6 to 10 p.m.

Trunk or treat

CEDAR LAKE  The Town Grounds will hold a trunk-or-treat event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 28 at 7408 Constitution Ave. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in their costumes to visit different vehicles that will be full of treats. In addition to safe trunk-or-treating, guests are encouraged to visit the craft area to make their own Halloween keepsake. People can also visit the welcome booth to enter to win a chance for four tickets to Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium. Call 219-374-7000, ext. 105.

Trunk or treat

First Baptist Church of Valparaiso, 2205 Campbell St., will have a trunk-or-treat community event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31. There will be free candy, kid-friendly games and more. Call 219-462-8754.

Trunk or treat

CROWN POINT  St. Anthony Village is hosting trunk-or-treat event for community from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 27 in the main parking lot at 203 Franciscan Drive. Call 219-661-5168.

Halloween program at National Lakeshores Douglas Center

A Halloween program is set for 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 28 at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshores Douglas Center, 100 N. Lake St., Miller. Kim Hoover of Hoots to Howls rehabilitation center will bring an assortment of native owls under their care and share their stories from 6 to 7 p.m. in the auditorium. Jim Louderman of the Chicago Field Museum showcases the benefits and diversity of insects and spiders in our world. He'll lead a night hike, weather permitting, to search for bats and bugs in Miller Woods. Call 219-395-1821.

Halloween blessing

GRIFFITH  On Oct. 31, ghosts and goblins in the form of children are invited to come for a special blessing before going trick-or-treating at St. Mary Church, 525 N. Broad St., Griffith. Children, accompanied by an adult, will receive a special blessing from St. Mary pastor the Rev. Theodore Mens and then get a special treat bag and treats. For more information, call the rectory office at 219-924-4163.
A review of online and paper inspection records for more than 200 child care homes in Northwest Indiana revealed many of the homes routinely were cited for not complying with state regulations, though those citations mostly were for minor issues, including missing paperwork.

The Times reviewed the records of 200 child care homes in Lake County, as well as records of dozens more such businesses in LaPorte and Porter counties.

The newspaper's investigation was prompted by allegations earlier this year that a day care operator in Merrillville hid from police 15 children in her child care home, which allegedly contained loaded guns, knives and liquor bottles, all allegedly within the children's reach.

The records, made available online by the state Family and Social Services Administration, suggest that while the allegations against the child care operator, Tawana Cole, were an aberration, several child care homes in Lake and LaPorte counties have been cited regularly during annual inspections for failure to comply with state regulations.

Eighteen child care homes in Lake County were cited more than two dozen times in the past four years for not complying with state regulations, according to the online records.

Ten child care homes in LaPorte County were cited more than two dozen times in that same period, and no child care homes in Porter County received a similar number of citations, according to the records reviewed.

The Times also spoke with several child care operators in the Region about the state's inspections.

Paperwork problems

Cole is charged in Lake County Criminal Court with 13 counts of neglect of a dependent and 13 counts of criminal confinement. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Attempts to reach Cole were unsuccessful. Her attorney, Timothy Bianco, did not respond to requests for comment.

Cole has operated two child care homes in Merrillville since 2009; one unnamed home at 1730 W. 53rd Ave., and the other, Tender Loving Spirits, at 1770 W. 53rd Ave., according to state records.

In May 2016, she registered a third child care home, Kids in Kare, at 1217 W. 19th Ave. in Gary.

Cole's unnamed child care home in Merrillville was cited 56 times in the past four years for noncompliance with state regulations, according to inspection records. Tender Loving Spirits was cited 50 times during that same period, records state. The child care home in Gary has been cited 11 times since May 2016.

Only two child care homes in Northwest Indiana, Retta's Romper Room and Gregory Brown's child care home, have received more citations in the past four years than Cole's child care homes, according to inspection records.

Retta's Romper Room, 2181 Arthur St. in Gary, has been cited 87 times for noncompliance in that period. Gregory Brown Jr.'s child care home, at 3144 W. 63rd Lane in Merrillville, was cited 58 times for noncompliance in that period.

The most common reason for a citation at these homes was missing paperwork, according to the records.

Fifty-eight of the citations issued for Retta's Romper Room in the past three years were for missing paperwork, including missing child enrollment forms, parental consent forms, immunization records and employee drug test results.

Twenty-five of the citations issued in the past three years for Gregory Brown's child care home were for missing paperwork.

Retta's Romper Room also received citations in the past three years for not documenting fire drills, not implementing safe sleeping practices and, on one occasion, for operating without running water.

All the citations for the problems identified during inspections at the child care homes were corrected, often in less than a month, records show.

The operator of Retta's Romper Room, Sheretta Riley-Bryant, was placed on probation last year due to the paperwork problems, according to Marni Lemons, a spokeswoman for the state FSSA.

Lemons said the number of citations could be explained by a missing file for a child or employee. If the child care operator loses a file, for instance, the facility can be cited for each missing form contained in the file.

A missing file for a child could result in up to nine citations, because the operator did not provide forms related to the child's enrollment, discipline, emergency medical care and immunizations, Lemons said. A missing staff file could result in up to 13 citations, she said.

The paperwork problems at Retta's Romper Room apparently resurfaced during a license renewal inspection in March. The child care home was missing enrollment forms for nine children, and missing waivers for four children verifying they could participate in the child care home's activities.

Operators describe rigorous inspections

Riley-Bryant declined to comment, but The Times interviewed several other child care operators in Northwest Indiana about the state's inspections. The child care operators interviewed said the state's inspection process was rigorous, and offered varying explanations for the paperwork problems, including parents who were slow to submit forms, and issues obtaining paperwork for foster children.

Karen Brown, the wife of Gregory Brown Jr. and co-operator of their Merrillville child care home, said she and her husband have operated their business for about three years.

She said the state's inspectors went through the home in a thorough and detailed manner, testing the home's water temperature, looking under sinks for chemicals that could be within reach of children, and inspecting fire extinguishers.

Brown said the inspections should be thorough, and she keeps an accordion folder on her table filled with the children's paperwork, ready for review. She said she tries to keep the home safe, and quickly addressed any issues identified during the visits.

Jenine Sherman, who operates Laughter & Love, at 7150 Parrish Ave. in Hammond, said she has operated her child care home for eight or nine years, but was considering quitting the business and opening a restaurant.

Laughter & Love has received 44 citations in the past three years for violations of state regulations, again mostly for missing paperwork. The child care home was cited during an inspection in March for missing enrollment forms for five children, and missing birth certificates for 12 children, among other concerns.

Sherman, 36, admitted she did have issues with paperwork, but "once I know something's due, I turn it in," she said.

She said she believed the regulations were too onerous, and operating the child care home was the most stressful job she has had.

"I love the kids, but I don't like dealing with my boss, with the inspectors and, sometimes, the parents," she said, clarifying that her boss was the state of Indiana.

Merrillville day care operator collected $300k in tax dollars while problems mounted A police investigation earlier this year at a child care home in Merrillville, where officers recovered guns, knives and alcohol, was a shocki

Gynna "Shelle" Wing operates Wee Care Day Care Home, a child care home at 7125 Broadway in Merrillville.

Wee Care Day Care Home received no citations during inspections in 2015 and 2016, according to state records, and only two citations during its most recent inspection in August. One citation was for a missing child enrollment form and a second was because a staff member did not use a home inspection checklist.

Wing said in an interview she has operated the child care home for 17 years.

She said she has had success during inspections, because she goes through an itemized checklist before the visit, ensuring the home meets all the state's requirements and she possesses all the necessary documents.
VALPARAISO  The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld the murder conviction Wednesday of former Center Township resident Steven Lindsey.

Lindsey was found guilty in March 2016 of shooting and killing his wife, Melinda Lindsey, 23, on Jan. 16, 2015, as she lay in bed at the couples home along Ind. 149 in Center Township.

He was sentenced a month later to 55 years behind bars.

"We were confident that the conviction would be affirmed," Porter County Prosecutor Brian Gensel said.

"Both the Porter County Sheriff's Department investigation and the trial work of Cheryl Polarek and Matt Frost were exemplary," Gensel added. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Kirby family as they continue to mourn the loss of their daughter Melinda."

The appellate court rejected seven challenges raised by Lindsey, including a claim that the court abused its discretion by not allowing him a continuance when, in the middle of the trial, prosecutors introduced new evidence that showed Lindsey's boots matched a footprint found outside the house where the murder occurred.

"Nothing in the record suggests that a continuance would have further aided Lindsey," according to the appellate court.

Lindsey also argued the court erred when it did not further question a juror after it was clear the trial would interfere with her vacation plans. He raised concerns about potential prejudice by the juror.

Considering the juror "only stated minor concern during voir dire about the disruption of her trip, it was reasonable for the trial court to conclude there was no actual bias on the part of the juror," the appellate court said.

Lindsey also challenged the admission of blood evidence, the lack of police interviews that he claimed showed an inadequate investigation and the admission of evidence that he had the victim's dog euthanized shortly after her murder.

Lindsey has denied pulling the trigger, claiming instead that he was also a victim of a violent home invasion. He said he was attacked while sleeping on a couch, rendered unconscious, bound and carried to his then-2-year-old daughters bedroom, where he awoke to the sound of a gunshot that turned out to be someone else shooting his wife in their nearby bedroom. The home invasion came after weeks of harassment by a stalker/thief, he said.

Lindsey is required to serve at least 75 percent of his sentence.
VALPARAISO  Porter County government officials are mulling over a proposal to spend $1.83 million to provide local voters with electronic equipment to cast ballots.

"No more drawing ovals," said Kathy Kozuszek, Democratic director at the Porter County Voter Registration Office.

County election officials announced last month they were seeking prices from the five equipment vendors certified by the state.

Only one vendor  Election Systems & Software, which currently provides equipment to the county  submitted a proposal, Kozuszek told the County Council on Tuesday night.

The proposal calls for purchasing 300 ballot-casting machines and kiosks, 250 electronic poll books to check in voters, 250 ballot printers, 140 scanners to accept ballots at the voting sites and one high-speed ballot counter.

"This was not a wish list," Kozuszek said.

The request includes enough equipment to handle continued growth in the county and is not much more expensive than the $1.5 million the county paid 12 years ago for its current equipment, she said.

The company is offering to pay $355,000 to purchase the county's current equipment, said Sundae Schoon, the Republican director at the Porter County Voter Registration Office.

Election officials have another $445,000 on hand to pay toward the bill, she said.

The council intends to discuss how to pay the balance after the proposal is presented to the Porter County Board of Commissioners next Tuesday.

The goal is to have new equipment up and running by the time voters return to the polls for what is expected to be a busy 2018 midterm election, Kozuszek has said.

While the new touch-screen equipment replaces the need to fill in small ovals with a pencil, there is still a paper ballot for each voter and a photo taken of each ballot for further backup, Schoon said.

Voters will sign in on an electronic, rather than paper poll book and a corresponding ballot will be printed on demand, she said. Voters will then feed it into the terminal, make their choices and then place the paper ballot into a scanner.

The electronic terminals will identify any errors in the ballots before allowing the voters to finish, Kozuszek said.

Anyone wanting to view or try out the proposed equipment can do so between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in the voter registration office on the lower level of the county administration center, 155 Indiana Ave. in Valparaiso.
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On Nov. 7, all of us who call Hammond home have a chance to make Hammond a better place for this and future generations. Through a transparent process decided by voters, we will determine the future of our schools and indirectly our community by voting on the school referendums.

I am asking you to vote Yes to support our children, our parents, our community and yes, those teachers and staff who work hard every day to prepare our kids for the educational, public service and employment opportunities of the future.

Why is your Yes vote so important?

First, you will be making a wise investment in our teachers and staff so we can retain those who do an excellent job each day in the classrooms and in our buildings. They are the people we rely upon to educate our children, to help them transition from being at home to being at school and to help them as they prepare to graduate.

Second, with your support, we will design and build a new middle/high school to replace Hammond High School. This new building will be housed on the current Hammond High School site. Hammond High has served us well for more than 100 years, but it is in serious need for safety and security upgrades, more and better classroom space, energy efficiency improvements and technology support to help our children compete in the global economy. In addition to Hammond High, we will make improvements to all schools so each school in our district benefits from your support.

Third, despite continued reductions of state support for our schools, we have done everything possible to do more with less." We have reduced positions, delayed improvements, closed some schools years ago, eliminated additional staff support and saved millions on energy programs. We can no longer to do more with less in the classroom. That is why the locally elected School Board held numerous open and accessible meetings to explain our plans to hear your feedback. In addition, we have posted information about the positive impact of the referendum on our website and discussed our needs with various local community groups. If you still have questions about the referendum, please email me directly at wjwatkins@yahoo.com.

With your support, we will continue to keep our school community moving in the right direction and will improve the educational opportunities and offerings available to this and future generations of students. We do believe our schools are very important to the quality of life in your neighborhood and know that better schools will help to increase your property value.

We continue to graduate students each year who are ready for the challenges of the workforce, public service and our colleges. Our teachers and staff are truly dedicated to our young people and our community. We are a partner in the progress of the city of Hammond. With your Yes vote on Nov. 7, we will continue to make our community the best place to live in Northwest Indiana.

It is an honor to serve as superintendent of the School City of Hammond. I ask for your Yes vote for our community and the future of Hammond.
The purchase of 346 portable breath test devices for use by 28 police departments in Northwest Indiana will, we hope, make the Region safer.

The portable units are not a replacement for blood alcohol tests administered at police stations and hospitals. However, the devices will allow police to give a quick test to drivers to determine whether there is probable cause to use a Breathalyzer test at the police station.

If the portable breath test is given after police conduct field sobriety tests, the results from the portable unit can then be used in court, Hammond police Lt. Patrick Vicari said.

The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute used a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to purchase these portable units.

Dyer Police Chief Dave Hein said his department's 20 kits will allow each patrol officer to have one.

"The new (tests) are 'next generation' and allow officers to also test vapors of a liquid to determine if they are an alcoholic beverage or not," Hein said.

Chesterton Police Chief David Cincoski said his department would not have been able to afford the 14 kits it received were it not for the federal grant.

Over the coming year, 725 additional breath test devices will be purchased for the Indiana State Police at a cost of $310,000.

Law enforcement, like everything else, must continue to evolve to meet growing expectations for public safety.

Equipping police with new technology, funded through grants like these for departments that couldn't afford them otherwise, is a way to officers can more efficiently function.
The issue is guest edited by Eileen Sullivan-Marx, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean and Erline Perkins McGriff Professor of New York Universitys Rory Meyers College of Nursing, and Linda McCauley, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean and professor at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University.

In an editorial, Sullivan-Marx and McCauley write, Scientists are clear that the planet is experiencing extremes in climate change, but political debate lingers regarding the cause, human or otherwise, for climate changeRegardless, it is clear that climate is changing, and nursing needs to rise above this debate to address the issue as part of our scope of a discipline that focuses on health promotion, disease prevention, and environment measures within the interrelated concepts of person, environment, health, and nursing.

In the issue, nursing scholars present papers addressing the multitude of challenges that health providers face related to climate change in the United States and globally, and how nurses can play a role in addressing climate change. For instance, two NYU reports examine disaster preparedness and recovery in a hospital during and after its evacuation from Hurricane Sandy, focusing on the nursing workforces challenges and resilience.

In addition, Ann Kurth, PhD, CNM, MPH, FAAN, dean and the Linda Koch Lorimer Professor of Nursing at Yale University, writes about importance of nursing in protecting planetary health, recognizing the need for the healthcare industry to reduce its carbon footprint and empowering nurses to identify and encourage sustainable practices within their practice domains and hospitals.

The issue also highlights the role that nursing educators can play in preparing the workforce of the future to care for populations  including vulnerable ones, such as children, older adults, and those with chronic illnesses  experiencing uncertain climate conditions. Several papers in the issue discuss frameworks for integrating climate change content into health professional education, nursing's role in disaster preparedness, and prevention of illness related to climate change.

Recent natural disasters have had considerable health consequences, including deaths in nursing homes and an extreme lack of access to medical services. Now more than ever, it is critical that the nursing community work with other health professionals to plan for changing conditions and ensure sound decision-making when faced with difficult situations, said NYU Meyers Sullivan-Marx. We hope the papers in this issue will serve to lay a foundation for future engagement of nursing scholarship in addressing climate change globally.

"The papers in this special issue demonstrate the important roles that nurses play in extreme weather events, disaster response and protecting our most vulnerable populations, explained McCauley of the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. "As the largest health care profession, nurses will be generating research findings, applying evidence in protecting populations, and educating the workforce of the future.

The Journal of Nursing Scholarship, published by Wiley, is the official journal of The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.

About NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing (@NYUNursing)

NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing is a global leader in nursing and health. Founded in 1932, the College offers BS, MS, DNP, and PhD degree programs providing the educational foundation to prepare the next generation of nursing leaders and researchers. NYU Meyers has three programs ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News & World Report and is among the top 10 nursing schools receiving NIH funding, thanks to its research mission and commitment to innovative approaches to healthcare worldwide.

About the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University

The Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing produces nursing leaders who are transforming health care through science, education, practice, and policy worldwide. It has 250 baccalaureate, 200 masters, and 20 doctoral students as well as two postdoctoral fellows. Students who complete their undergraduate degree go on to become national and international leaders in patient care, public health, government, and education. In 2011 the school received over $10,000,000 in research funding. Overall, the School is ranked 21st nationally by U.S. News and World Report.


Opelika teachers will be able to have access to more virtual reality devices to use as a tool in the classroom after the school board approved the purchase of eight Google Expedition Kits at Tuesdays meeting.

Each kit contains the equipment for 30 students to participate in a virtual reality experience, according to Stacy Royster, technology coordinator for Opelika City Schools.

Virtual reality provides new forms and methods of visualization, drawing on the strengths of visual representations, Royster said. It provides an alternate method for presentation of material. Virtual Reality can change the way a learner interacts with the subject matter.

The school system will purchase a kit for each school. The kit price for 30 students is approximately $9,500.

These kits are more self-contained, said Kenneth Burton, assistant superintendent of administration. They have their own charging station in them.

Patricia Skelton, a sixth grade english and history teacher at Opelika Middle School, said the kit is very user friendly and has a wide variety of places to explore.

One of the biggest joys in using this program is watching the magic unfold before my eyes, Skelton said. Many of my students have never left the state of Alabama. Using Google Expedition allows my students a way to travel and see the world from the comfort of our classroom.

Royster explained how students benefit from the experiences they receive while using the kits.

They learn best when they can internalize the content and Virtual Reality helps that happen for them, Royster said. It is a lot easier to teach and to understand a unit on oceanography if you have visited the ocean than if you have never seen it before. It is a completely immersive experience that gives students the sensory experience of actually being in the place they are viewing.

Royster said some schools are already making plans to purchase more kits with site-based and state technology money.

The cost of the kits will be paid through local funds in the school systems $55 million budget. Local revenues make up 40 percent of the school system's general fund budget.

As for general fund expenditures, the system allocates 80 percent of its money toward instructional services and support.

Since 2010, the school system has used $13 million of its local funds to pay for textbooks, transportation and technology, according to Superintendent Mark Neighbors.
Global demand for ivory continues to go up, inciting more criminals to engage in poaching and hampering local efforts to tackle the vice.

Such strong appetite for ivory undermines interventions made by international bodies such as USAID, which support the fight against poaching.

Under the USAID-supported $11.6m (Shs 41.7bn) biodiversity program, African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) has been developing the capacity of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in monitoring wildlife and gathering intelligence information.

"Our investments for instance here in Uganda, are to stop the killing. This involves training of UWA staff and working with the government in the deployment of sniffer dogs at the airport to sniff trafficked wildlife products," AWF president Kaddu Sebunya told The Observer.

The sniffer dogs at Entebbe International airport have improved UWA's capacity to intercept trafficked wildlife products. The airport remains one of key transit routes for illegal wildlife products such as ivory, rhino horns, among others.

The problem of poaching is not a big one in Uganda but the country is a major transit route maybe because the traffickers know that the systems are not as strong here as they are elsewhere, Sebunya said, citing the case of the

Vietnamese national who was arrested at Entebbe airport with 23kg of rhino horns in August. The Vietnamese who was later fined Shs 20m after spending close to a month in police cells is suspected to have got the rhino horns from Kenya, entered Uganda by road through Malaba to catch a flight at Entebbe.

Several African governments are increasing investment in the tourism sector owing to its potential to rake in more foreign exchange earnings compared to the traditional exports such as coffee.

There is a reported reduction of ivory prices by 70 per cent on the Chinese market, which is seen by conservationists as a positive development in the fight against poaching and trafficking of wildlife products given that China has the largest ivory market.



sadabkk@observer.ug
Three years ago, Harriet Balyama was firmly on course to achieving her dream.

She also had a well-paying accountancy job, had commenced construction of rental housing units in Namugongo and had plans to start a hardware shop.

But in 2015, her health deteriorated and she was forced to quit her job due to continued absenteeism. Soon, doctors told her she had a tumor in her brain and, therefore, needed immediate surgery to save her life.

Because I had stopped working, I couldnt afford the high medical bills I had accumulated; so, I sold off part of my land in Namugongo, recalls Balyama.

Harriet Balyama at her hardware shop

Still, the money was not enough to cover the medical bills. Thats when friends advised her to apply for her NSSF savings to foot the costs of the surgery recommended by the doctors. It proved to be a stitch in time when the Fund gave her Shs 90m as invalidity benefits.

The NSSF benefits helped me clear the costs and I handed some money to my brother to help me with completing the houses. I was not in position to handle much work, she confesses.

Matters werent helped when two months later, doctors at International Hospital Kampala (IHK) discovered she had a life-threatening blood clot in her lungs.

Devastated, she spent most of the remaining NSSF savings [Shs 40 million] to foot bills for the new surgery. That meant she didnt remain with enough money to complete her rentals. That is when she learnt about NSSFs Friends with Benefits television competition in 2016.

Through the campaign, the Fund seeks to improve financial literacy levels of Ugandans. Contestants tell stories about how they used their NSSF benefits and stand a chance to win.

With the support of family and friends, Balyama wrote a proposal and submitted it for the chance to win the top prize of Shs 30 million.

In the proposal, Balyama explained how she would put the money to proper use by completing construction of her rental units.

As someone who had experienced post-treatment trauma, she also planned to use part of the money to start up a support group for people who have gone through similar experiences of trauma.

Later, her presentation was shortlisted among the top three. On December 1, 2016, after eight weeks of inspiring stories, Balyama topped the maiden edition after the highly-competitive final.

A year since, she is putting into effect what she presented in her proposal. Currently, she has started reaping from her rentals.

I have completed two of the apartments and what is remaining with the other two is the painting. I didnt expect to get the Shs 30m and I think I have used it in a good way, she observes.

The turnaround of Balyamas fortunes is surely an inspiration for competitors in the second edition of Friends with Benefits competition that rolled off on October 16.

More than 100 people are taking part and the winner will take home Shs 30m.
In the coming days, a legal showdown looms after the High court gave former workers of Crane bank green light to sue dfcu bank over what they term as unlawful termination of employment.

The High courts decision came after 10 former employees asked court to allow them file a representative suit on behalf of more than 300 of their colleagues who lost their jobs following the takeover of Crane bank by dfcu early this year.

Isaac Kimaze Ssemakadde, the lawyer representing the former Crane bank staff, said this would be a protracted legal battle.

We are going to leave nothing unturned to ensure that these people get the justice they deserve, Ssemakadde said shortly after the ruling. In a matter of days, we shall be filing a suit against dfcu to assert the rights of employees.

In the case which was heard ex parte (without dfcu lawyers), Ssemakadde contended that all other members of the represented class have the same interest in the intended suit because their respective contracts of service with Crane Bank Limited were in January this year transferred to dfcu bank.

Consequently, Ssemakadde argued that dfcu is duty-bound to fulfill any liabilities and obligations of Crane bank vis a vis the applicants and each member of the represented class.

The ten former employees of Crane bank, who were cleared to represent others, are: Catherine Kate Achan, Teddy Akullo, Janet Mector Angwena, Mactose Arinaitwe, Edward Bukenya, Dianah Loy Kiwumulo, Abbey Mivule, Benjamin Muchwa, Robert Mwanje and Emmanuel Ngororan.

The applicants complain that dfcu breached their employment contract and also breached their rights when they lost their jobs after the said bank took over Crane bank.

Before the takeover, Bank of Uganda, which arranged the sale of the bank to dfcu, assured the 700 employees of Crane bank that they would not lose their jobs. However, after dfcu took over the bank in January, they sacked some of the employees in a restructuring exercise and closed some of the branches.

Contacted yesterday, Agnes Isharaza Tibayeita, dfcus legal officer, said she couldnt comment about the court proceedings since they havent been called to take part in the same.

We hear stories in newspapers, Tibayeita said. We shall give our position if we are served.

At the end of last year, Bank of Uganda took over Crane bank after its capital had fallen below the minimum requirement set by the regulator. In January, dfcu acquired all cash, deposits, loans and advances, furniture and some branches of Crane bank.

However, dfcu did not acquire insider loans, related company loans, any shareholder liabilities and taxes, among others.

Currently, Bank of Uganda and Sudhir Ruparelia, the former owner of Crane bank, are embroiled in a fight over the treatment of the defunct Crane banks non-performing loans worth Shs 600bn.



dkiyonga@observer.ug
Corruption and poverty, according to a new report, are the leading reasons why thousands of Ugandans languish in prison having failed to get timely justice in courts of law.

The findings are contained in State of access to justice 2017, a new report launched on October 19 at Hotel Africana in Kampala.

The report noted that seven million Ugandans are trapped in chronic poverty, a situation which compounds illiteracy and low levels of education, which in turn defeat access to justice due to ignorance.

The Legal Aid Service Providers Network (LASPNET) commissioned a countrywide survey, which established that as a result of corruption and poverty the poor are denied opportunities to enjoy, claim or assert their rights.

Court session

Uganda is also faced with the challenge of marginalised and vulnerable groups disadvantaged by age, gender, history, disability and economic status. These categories have bigger challenges in accessing justice and face discrimination, abuse, exploitation and neglect and yet lack capacity to enforce their rights through meaningful remedies, the report reads.

The report also notes that the high levels of corruption within the judicial system create fear with people wondering where to go to obtain justice.

It quotes correspondents who said they were asked to make payments, which were not receipted for court services.

Some of these services include; accessing court files, bail payments, fixing hearing dates and meeting magistrates. The report notes that corruption, whether real or perceived has a strong bearing on how or if at all people will interact with the judicial system.

Recently, Inspector General of Government Irene Mulyagonja told The Observer that chasing after every corrupt judicial official strains the already meagre resources of the inspectorate.

Mulyagonja said she now goes for those who steal more money but Chief Justice Bart Katureebe during a Uganda Law Society conference in May urged the IGG to prosecute even those who take little money.

High court registrar Immaculate Businge said, Access to justice is a human right and a crucial one since the enforcement of all other human rights depends on it.

During the launch of the report, Assistant Commissioner for Prisons Robert Munanura said when courts delay cases and remand suspects, it adds pressure on the prisons service and worsens existing congestion.

Large numbers of remand inmates also increase pressure on the few prison warders since for every seven prisoners, we have one officer, he said.

Prisoners addressing their grievances to Principal judge Dr Yorokamu Bamwine

We treasure where we have convicts, whether they are guilty or not, but at least when they have faced the law. This business of mention of cases should stop. We think that trials of anyone incarcerated should start fast, Munanura said.

He added: We have space to keep convicts. What pains us is having a bigger number in our prisons being on remand.

Out of the 54,166 prisoners in Uganda, 27,747 are on remand and 26,419 are convicted.

The report recommends advocacy as an anti-corruption strategy to curb corruption in the judiciary and recruitment of more judicial officers to speed up judicial processes.

It further notes that the impact of cost on the ability to access justice must be analysed and action taken to ease the process.



kamogajonathan50@gmail.com
One of eight people who were yesterday committed to the High court for trial in the Andrew Felix Kaweesi murder case lost his cool and insulted Nakawa grade one magistrate, Noah Sajjabi.

Joshua Kyambadde suddenly started shouting at the top of his voice, denouncing Sajjabi as a Kafir.

Kafir is an Arabic word meaning one who covers the truth or one who covers something, also translated as infidels or unbelievers according to Wikipedia.

Kyambadde, who was standing together with 22 other co-accused, was astounded when Sajjabi said Kyambadde together with seven others murdered the former police spokesman and assistant inspector general of police in Kulambiro.

He raised his voice, babbling a lot of incoherent things. The magistrate calmly asked him to behave himself and tried to inform him that at this stage he isnt allowed to say anything but the suspect kept on.

I have never been to Kulambiro, Kyambadde started.

Some of the Kaweesi murder suspects

His Muslim tunic swishing about as he gestured in anger, Kyambadde shot back: This government is nothing, this is just life; we shall all die! I have never killed Kaweesi, this is all government, God will judge you.

Taken aback, Sajjabi ordered prison warders to take him out of court. Kyambadde unleashed another torrent.

God is going to judge you! All of you, God is going to judge you! he shouted while being led away with his hands now shackled.

You kafir, you kafir, Allah Akbar (God is great), he said. The charges were later read to him in Sajjabis chambers amid tight security.

The magistrate indicated that out of the 22 people who have been charged with killing Kaweesi, eight were committed to the High court for trial.

They include: Abdu Rashid Mbazira Buyondo Muhammed, Aramazan Higenyi Noordin aka Taata Abdallazack , Mugerwa Yusuf aka Wilson, Bruhan Balyejusa aka Masiga Jimmy Ogutu, Kyambadde, Jibril Kalyango, Abu Aisha, Yusuf Nyanzi Siraje aka Ssentamu Jimmy and Shafiq Kasujja.

According to the DPP, the accused committed acts of terrorism when for political or religious reasons they involved themselves in or were complicit in the murder of Kaweesi on March 17.

They are also charged with murdering Kaweesi, his bodyguard Kenneth Erau and driver Godfrey Wambewa. Charges of robbery have also been brought against them in respect to the robbing of Kaweesis pistol and the escorts SMG rifle at gunpoint.

According to a summary of the evidence, police investigations led to the arrest of Mbazira. The DPP alleges Mbazira revealed that he was involved in the planning and execution of the murder. Mbazira is said to have identified some of his accomplices as Higenyi, Mugerwa, Balyejusa, Kyambadde, Kalyango, Nyanzi, Siraje and Shafiq.

Mbazira, according to the DPP, revealed that the assassination of Kaweesi was ordered by the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a terrorist organisation.

Mbazira allegedly revealed that ADF plotted to assassinate top government officials and that Kaweesi was one of their targets.

Upon obtaining information from Mbazira, the DPP says, police tracked down his accomplices. Higenyi was arrested on March 21, in Kasese aboard a bus en route to Mpondwe, which the DPP says is a notorious crossing point for ADF rebels and recruits into DR Congo.

He was in the company of a young boy and upon search, he was found in possession of a forged a national ID card which he revealed was made for him by accused eight (Kasujja), the indictment says.

The DPP says it was established that the juvenile Higenyi was being transported to DRC to join the rebels. Police arrested Kasujja from the home of Balyejusa and interviewed him.

Kasujja allegedly led the police to his workplace on Nasser road in Kampala where the DPP says a computer containing digital images of forged national IDs were recovered.

Kyambadde is also alleged to have been present during a meeting where Kaweesis murder was decided and assigned the role of reconnaissance at the deceaseds home.

In respect to the 14 who were not committed to High court, Sajjabi said he will convene a court session next week to hear prayers to have them discharged.



dkiyonga@observer.ug
I have read Senior Counsel Peter Muliras thought-provoking article titled Constitution should not be tampered with by politicians in Daily Monitor of October 17, 2017.

Mulira raises very interesting procedural grounds on which the proposed amendment to Article 102 (b) of the Constitution could be forestalled through preemptive court process or through which the amendment can even be set aside and reversed after it has been passed.

That is of course assuming the Constitutional court and/or the Supreme court would be ready to consider making such a decision, a big if, when you consider the recent trends in the superior courts of our beloved country. In my view, the legal points he raises are valid.

However, there is another equally interesting ground on which the validity of the unfolding amendment could be challenged, even if it was to be passed in scrupulous compliance with the procedural requirements. I wish to suggest that the proposed amendment arguably violates the Basic Structure doctrine.

The Basic Structure doctrine was enunciated by the Supreme court of India in one of its most important decisions ever, in the 1973 case of Kesavananda Bharati vs The State of Kerala.

The doctrine is to the effect that a national constitution has certain basic features which underlie not just the letter but also the spirit of that constitution, and any amendment, which purports to alter the constitution in a manner that takes away that basic structure, is void and of no effect.

The rationale of the decision was that an amendment which makes a change in the basic structure of the constitution is not really an amendment but is, in effect, tantamount to rewriting the constitution, which parliament has no power to do.

The court held that as the Supreme court of the land, it had a limited power to review and strike down amendments which went to the very heart and core of the constitution, by seeking to alter its basic structure.

In its wisdom, the court did not lay down a list of provisions it considered to constitute the basic structure.

Consequently, the claim of any particular feature of the constitution to be a basic structure is left to be determined by the court on a case by case basis.

The basic structure doctrine has since been upheld and relied on in subsequent decisions in that country, for example in Minerva Mills Ltd v. Union of India (1980) and Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975).

It has also been widely accepted, adopted and cited with approval in many other Commonwealth countries, or what we call common law jurisdictions, for example in Anwar Hossain Chowdhary v. Bangladesh (Supreme Court of Bangladesh, 1989), Phang Chin Hock v. Public Prosecutor (Federal Court of Malyasia, 1980), Si- varasa Rasiah v. Badan Peguam (Federal Court of Malaysia, 2010), Pakistani Lawyers Forum v. Federation of Pakistan (Supreme Court of Pakistan, 2005) and many others.

In the process, the courts have suggested various guidelines which can be relied on to determine whether an amendment touches the basic structure of a particular constitution and is therefore void.

Whether or not a provision is part of the basic structure varies from country to country, depending on each countrys peculiar circumstances, including its history, political challenges and national vision.

Importantly, the decisions I have cited show that in answering this important question, courts will consider factors such as the preamble to the constitution, national objectives and directive principles of state policy (in countries which have them in their constitutions, such as Uganda), the bill of rights, the history of the constitution that led to the given provision, and the likely consequences of the amendment.

It is very clear that in the case of Uganda, all the above factors being taken into consideration would lead to the inevitable conclusion that Article 102 (b) is part of the basic structure of our constitution, that its removal would strike at the very heart, core and essence of the constitution, and should only be amended with the direct involvement of the entire population, possibly through a constituent assembly.

The 1995 Constitution was en- acted against the historical reality that since independence, Uganda has never had a peaceful transfer of power, but was instead characterised by presidents hanging on to power by all sorts of stratagems until they are violently removed, including even a life president.

The amendment sets the stage for the very history the repetition of which the constitution was designed to forestall. The preamble to the Constitution captures the spirit behind the Constitution, that it was made to address a history characterised by political and constitutional instability.

The goal of ensuring stability is echoed in National Objective number III. Above all, the preamble declares that what was intended to be enacted was a constitution for ourselves and our posterity, in other words, a durable Constitution.

The amendment not only paves way for a fresh round of instability, it also wipes out the intended durability of the Constitution. To amend the Constitution, moreover, through the casual and frivolous route of a private members bill is to reduce it to an ordinary Act of Parliament.

You cannot do that and thereafter pretend that the Constitution is sacred. Indeed, the very idea summarised in Ms Evelyn Anites arrogant assertion, that they will amend it because they have the army, is the best proof of the low regard, verging on contempt, in which the Constitution is now held.

It is indeed a proclamation that the Constitution is not supreme, that it is the military that is supreme. The point is that removing Article 102 (b), especially having earlier removed term limits, basically wipes out the very purpose for which the constitution was enacted through an extremely elaborate and expensive process.

Since what would remain would not be any different form the 1967 Constitution, what was the purpose of making this Constitution?

Consequently, it is my submission that the amendment, both in intent and effect, undermines the basic structure of the 1995 Constitution, the very spirit that informed the enactment of the Constitution. The amendment is therefore void and, on that ground alone, it ought to fail.



Benson Tusasirwe, a lecturer at Makerere Universitys school of Law, and PhD candidate, argues that the proposed constitutional amendment is void because it violates the basic structure doctrine.

This follows veteran lawyer Peter Muliras much-debated opinion in which he made a legal case for Article 102(b) remaining intact.
It will be exactly one month this Friday, October 27, since the invasion of parliament by soldiers from the Special Forces Command (SFC).

The soldiers who roughed up, beat and dragged MPs out of the parliamentary chambers were escorting a proposal aimed at changing the Constitution to allow Gen Yoweri Museveni rule Uganda until his death.

Many things have happened since that invasion. Mukono municipality MP Betty Nambooze Bakireke remains grounded at

a hospital in Bugolobi. The aggressive and forceful eviction from the chambers affected bones and discs around her spinal cord.

The usual Third World bureaucracy is delaying her treatment and proposed surgery in India. Mityana municipality MP Francis Zaake, who was severely beaten, has also been referred abroad for further medical examination and attention.

Although I suffered what doctors at Naggalama described as soft tissue injury, close friends have advised me to seek further medical examination to avoid what happened to Hajji Hussein Kyanjo, former Makindye West MP. Kyanjo, we believe, was poisoned.

You have all seen what has happened to our sensitization public rallies  bullets and tear gas, death in Rukungiri and further injuries.

Dr Kizza Besigye, Hon Patrick Oboi Amuriat and Ms Ingrid Turinawe have spent days in detention at Naggalama police division. We may in the interim not have a solution to all these but it is important to know what has hit us as a country.

The foundation Gen Museveni has built will need the Almightys intervention for us to avoid a full-blown ethnic conflict in future. Ethnic conflicts have had a tendency of resulting into genocide wherever they have happened.



By coincidence, the two MPs severely beaten, Nambooze and Zaake, are Baganda. And the force, Special Forces Command, that has brutalized them, is commanded historically by members of Musevenis tribe.



Yes it is important for the country to know this. I googled information about the Special Forces Command (SFC) and landed on its website. Thank God, the website had all the information that I wanted.



Most important for me is the history of this force. Information on its website reveals that this force has been under construction since the Luweero war in 1981 that brought Museveni to power in 1986.



It grew from 400 soldiers to a brigade. A brigade is 2,100 soldiers because it comprises three battalions. It then later became a Special Forces Group and now it is a Special Forces Command. Capt Chris Magezi, who speaks for it, gives good information on the website again.



He says with its capability and special skills built over time, SFC is now a service equal to the Land Force. I will come back to that point which, if well understood, will help everybody know that SFC is an illegal militia.



Let me deal with the command first. Currently, Col Don Nabasa is its commander. He took over from Maj Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The commanders of this force since its inception include Lt Col Akanga Byaruhanga, Maj Gen Geoffrey Muheesi, Col Dick Bugingo, Brig Leopold Kyanda, Col William Bainomugisha, Col Sabiti Muzeyi and Lt Col Johnson Namanya. All these commanders are from one region.



James Tumusiime, who edits The Observer, was one time shocked when these fellows in SFC kept communicating in Runyankore at a high-profile event. That was the Queens visit to Uganda during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala in 2007.



Tumusiime had been invited to one of the events hosted by the Queen. And at the entrance, the repetitive sentence was Ogu waamukyekinga? (Have you checked this one?)

Many of these lads are university graduates and can fluently speak English but here they were communicating in Runyankore at the Queens event. And for me this is most significant, because the man has been building a tribal army since his time in the Luweero jungles.



The tribal army has now become of age. The UPDF has two services; land and air. If you didnt, now know it at least from Chris Magezi that we have a third service called SFC.

In terms of numbers, a service may range from 30,000 to 60,000. Actual numbers of the SFC I am sure will never be known under the Museveni era.

Mind you, Article 2010 of the Constitution states that parliament shall make laws regulating the UPDF and in particular providing for the organs and structures of the UPDF.

And in fulfilment of this duty, parliament enacted the UPDF Act 2005 and provided under clause three that the UPDF shall comprise (a) land force, (b) the air force and (c) any other service prescribed by parliament. Parliament has never prescribed for the SFC as a service, but it exists as one!



So, when this militia invaded parliament and strangled us, with that background, you can appreciate the motivation. The force is constructed by Gen Museveni and his son.

I now even know why they targeted me although my name was not on the list that Speaker Rebecca Kadaga read out.

They came for specific people who are disturbing their thing. I also know why they strangled me. Col Don Nabasa was in parliament a day earlier to draw a route that was eventually used when beating and dragging MPs from the chambers.

And Janet Kataahas chief bodyguard was there on the actual day to command the operation. If both Museveni and his wife didnt like you, it was what the lawyers call double jeopardy. I think you will never say that I didnt inform you.



The author is Kira municipality MP and spokesperson of Forum for Democratic Change
Paul Ferrell, a British ex-pat who has been living in Taiwan for the last 13 years, recently decided to show everyone how much he loved the small Asian country by getting a tattoo of its Chinese name on his forehead and its green independence flag inked on his chin.

Ferrell became the talk of the town in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where he owns a popular bar, after getting the unusual tattoos inked on his face. He claims to have made the rash decision after a night of heavy drinking and a passionate discussion about Taiwans independence. The British ex-pat recently told reporters that he was inspired by his love for Taiwan, but insists that he would not have gone through with his impulse, had he not been so drunk at the time.

Photo: Paul Ferrell

Im stupid, I love Taiwan. Thats why I did this, the 32-year-old said. But I wouldnt have done this had I not been drunk. My wife doesnt like it. Shes very angry. Thats putting it lightly, as according to some news reports, Ferrells Taiwanese wife, whom he met on a holiday in Australia in the mid 2000s, has left him over the tattoos, although its not clear if shes also filed for divorce.

Taiwanese media reported that Paul Ferrell walked into the nearest tattoo shop he could find and just asked the artist there to ink the Chinese characters for Taiwan and the countrys green independence flag on his forehead and chin. After photos of Pauls tattooed face started doing the rounds online, many accused the tattoo artist for taking advantage of a drunk man, but he recently came out to defend himself against these accusations.

Wei Cheng, the artist who worked on Pauls face, insists that he asked the man several times if he really wanted to get the tattoos on his face, even going as far as telling him that they might cause trouble with the police.

Are you sure you want to tattoo this on your face? Wei claims to have asked Ferrell, to which he replied: I love Taiwan. Tattoo it on my face.

Though reeking of alcohol, the man spoke clearly and answered my questions without ambiguity. We discussed where he wanted to place the two characters before I asked him again, Do you really want to tattoo it on your face? He insisted that was what he wanted, the tattoo artist told Taipei Times. I told him he could even be pulled over by the police, but he said he would change his passport photo.

Pauls story went viral after he visited another tattoo artist, hoping to have the tattoos modified or removed. Since they are very large, the artist posted some photos of the guy on social media, asking people for advice on how he should go about helping him.

Photo: Wei Chen

Ferrell also posted some photos of himself on his Facebook account, acknowledging that he had made a big mistake. I got very very very drunk and got a stupid tattoo on my face!, he wrote. I love Taiwanese independence but Im well aware of how stupid it was to get done. Just how bad do you think it is?

Apparently, Paul Ferrells love for Taiwan is no joke. A known supporter of Taiwans sovereignty and independence movement, he also got a tattoo of the independence flag on his arm last year, and he once chose to return to the island country even though he knew he would be thrown in jail.

A couple of years back, Pauls drunkenness got him in trouble again. Angry that a convenience store clerk wouldnt serve his hamburger with ketchup, he improvised a petrol bomb and lit the place on fire. He managed to skip bail and flee back to the UK, but returned just a few months later, saying he would rather spend some time behind bars than leave Taiwan. England sucks, I love Taiwan,' he reportedly told his cell mate.

Doctors said that Paul will have to undergo 10 painful laser sessions if he wants to get his face tattoos lightened, and a lot more if he wants them removed completely.

This is obviously not the first person to get a stupid face tattoo and regret it soon after. A few years back, a young girl made headlines after getting 56 stars tattooed on her face. She claimed she only wanted 3, but fell asleep on the tattoo artists chair and he just inked 53 extra stars
Known as a sanctuary for plus-sized people looking to have a good time without feeling embarrassed about their weight, The Resort is believed to be the worlds first and only vacationing retreat for the obese.

Hidden away on the island of Eleuthera, in the heart of the Caribbean, The Resort opened its gates two years ago, and has since become popular among overweight tourists looking for an exotic and judgement-free holiday destination. The entire complex was built from the ground up with obese people in mind. The doorways are wider than usual, the extra-strong beds are reinforced with two bars of steel to support hundreds of pounds, and the chairs and loungers are a meter wide and made of a particularly strong wood. Even the toilets are custom made to support heavier frames.

Photo: The Resort/Facebook

The Resort was created by entrepreneur James King, who claims to have come up with the idea for it 14 years ago, after witnessing an embarrassing incident where an overweight person accidentally broke a piece of furniture and, as the humiliation wasnt punishment enough, had to pay $150 for it.

I was MD of a hotel in Grenada and saw a guest go through a beach chair, King recently told The Independent. As per hotel policy, she was charged $150 for destruction of property.

Photo: The Resort/Facebook

So King decided to create a place where you can come and have a good holiday without any judgement whatsoever. Guests never have to fear that someone will laugh at them when they take their clothes off, or when they make a big splash jumping in the pool. He and his staff understand the insecurities overweight and obese have regarding their bodies, and try to make them as comfortable as possible.

I could jump in the pool and not worry about how big a splash I made. Or I could lie on a sun lounger which was made from strong Brazilian wood, so I didnt have to worry about breaking it, Amy Flahery, who recently visited The Resort with her husband, told The Sun.

Photo: The Resort/Facebook

In the past Ive broken plastic loungers and although Ive always laughed it off at the time, I was left mortified and wanted the world to swallow me up, Flahery added. But when you know a hotel has been specially made for plus-sized people, you dont have to worry about breaking any furniture or not fitting into anything because you can relax and just go for it.

Shawn-Marie Riley, a 375-pound woman from Texas, had a similar experience when she visited The Resort, in 2015.

Whats so great is [the Resorts] recognition that people of size have insecurities and challenges that the general public never considers. Will they have chairs I can sit on? Will the bed hold my weight? Will I fit in the tub? Riley told New York Post. I wore a bikini and never felt uncomfortable, and I was noticed for my beauty, not my size. Living as a plus-size person in a judgmental world is stressful.

Photo: The Resort/Facebook

James King says that around 60% of its clients are American, and around 10% of them are from the New York area. The rest come from European countries like the UK or Spain. However, if you plan on visiting, you should know that The Resort only accepts small groups, not individual tourists.

For the first couple of months, we did single bookings, but the issue was a lot of people just started to relax and feel comfortable and then new people turned up, the owner said. To preserve the friendly and comfortable atmosphere that The Resort has come to be known for, it only accepts group bookings.

Photo: The Resort/Facebook

Dont despair just yet, though, as King plans on setting up a second resort for obese people on the nearby Cat Island, where couple and single visitors will be welcome.

Why should 40 percent of our population be subjected to being ignored by the hospitality industry? the entrepreneur said about his plans to expand his travel services for the overweight.
Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt has taken much well-deserved flak for his mission to overturn regulations regarding clean air & water, excessive spending for travel and security (e.g., 24/7 bodyguards, soundproof phone booth) and crackdown on EPA scientists for participating in programs dealing with the effects of climate change.

The EPA press shop has adopted Pruitts confrontational approach, dropping its traditional fishbowl or total transparency policy advocated by its first administrator Bill Ruckelshaus. In 1983, Ruckelshaus: EPA will not accord privileged status to any special interest group, nor will it accept any recommendation without careful examination.

The EPA press shop traditionally adhered to that fishbowl strategy by remaining neutral to agency policy directives. Team Trump has shattered that neutrality.

Inside Climate News, the Pulitzer Prize-winning environmental watchdog, reported Oct. 24 that the EPA press office has gone from stripping mentions of climate change from the agencys website and singing praises of Pruitt to lobbing personal attacks at reporters.

EPA spokesperson Liz Bowman, an alum from the American Chemistry Council, responded to an email request from New York Times reporter Eric Lipton with: No matter how much information we give you, you would never write a fair piece. The only thing inappropriate and biased is your continued fixation on writing elitist clickbait trying to attack qualified professionals committed to serving their country.

An Associated Press reporter was attacked in an EPA release for a history of not letting the facts get the way of his story.

Reporters represent the publics interest. The EPAs press offices hostility toward the media is a disservice to the American people.
Patricia Evans estimates that she has spoken with more than 45,000 people, 97 percent of them women, who have dealt with severe verbal abuse by a partner.

The phrases and speech patterns used by their abusers  insults such as "lazy" and "stupid," statements ("That never happened" or "I never did that") meant to distort past events, and accusations that slowly isolate them from family and friends  were strikingly similar. As opposed to a bad-tempered partner or someone who occasionally says something cruel and then apologizes, verbal and emotional abusers engage in abuse over years and decades, convincing the victim she's at fault, finding ways to cut off her emotional or financial support, and slowly "erasing her consciousness," as Evans, an expert on domestic abuse, put it.

"We definitely see this as an epidemic," said Cameka Crawford, a spokeswoman for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, an advocacy group based in Austin. "It doesn't happen overnight. It's gradual and continues to happen for years."

The Office on Women's Health, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, lists 11 signs of emotional, or nonphysical, abuse, including humiliating victims, monitoring what they are doing, discouraging them from seeing friends or relatives, constantly accusing them of cheating, and telling them what to eat or wear. The Justice Department's Office on Violence Against Women adds "name-calling" and "constant criticism." Crawford's group adds: Trapping a victim in her home, blaming her for the abuse, damaging objects, threatening to hurt loved ones or pets, and "gaslighting" (distorting the victim's reality by, for example, denying past events or saying the abuse is "all in your head").

None of these actions involve physical abuse, but they can be severely harmful. The Office on Women's Health notes, "Attempts to scare, isolate, or control you also are abuse. They can affect your physical and emotional well-being. And they often are a sign that physical abuse will follow."

The Domestic Violence Hotline  which has received more than 4 million calls since 1996  says that while 58 percent of the calls, emails and texts it received in 2016 involved physical violence as one component of the call, 84 percent of those 323,000 contacts involved emotional or verbal abuse.

"Domestic abuse is about an imbalance of power and control," Crawford said. "One person tries to control the other using lots of different tactics to keep the power over them in the relationship."

Jeanne King, a psychologist who has specialized in domestic abuse since 1999, said she often gets calls from women or men who reach out only after years of emotional abuse turn physical.

"It's the physical abuse that helps them wake up to what's happening," she said. "If you're dealing with intimate-partner violence, you are usually coming in with lots of exposure to emotional abuse, verbal abuse and often financial abuse.

"The potential for it to become physical is often there, but it doesn't always happen. I've had people say, 'I don't hit my wife. I'm above that. I'm a CEO, I'm a physician, I'm an attorney; that's beneath me.' But they'll keep their partner in a room, block the door, prevent their partner from leaving. They're violating their rights without putting their hands on them."

Evans said some verbal abusers never use physical violence "because they know hitting means jail." But they engage in demoralizing or trivializing behavior, such as deciding for their partner what they should think, feel or want, saying such things as "You're not really hurt" or "You just want to argue."

A woman in her 50s living in California, who spoke on the condition that she not be identified by name, said it took two decades to leave her abusive marriage. She met her husband when they were in their late 20s. They had mutual friends, and she said he struck her as easygoing and "comfortable to be with."

But when they returned from their honeymoon, things took a dark turn. She said he would rage at her for up to an hour at a time, calling her names, such as "lazy," "stupid" and "dumb," wag his finger in her face, say she was the "worst mother," and threaten to leave her with no money and take away their child. Most frighteningly, some of this raging occurred while they were in the car, and he was driving. During their last year of marriage, she said, he started holding her down when he was yelling, claiming he had to do that "because I don't listen." By the time she filed for divorce, she felt scared, twisted and "devastated," with no self-esteem. She felt better only when she read a book about verbal abuse.

Crawford and King said that if a person recognizes abuse and is not in immediate danger, the first thing to do is get educated  by contacting the hotline, finding a domestic-violence group or reading about the issue online.

Surprisingly, the hotline and other experts recommend against marriage counseling for an abusive situation. They say marriage counselors focus on a 50/50 split of responsibility to improve the marriage rather than addressing the fact that one person is abusing the other. Also, the abuser may manipulate the counselor or become enraged later about what happened in the session.

"Both parties need to feel safe during the sessions," Crawford said. "A lot of the time, the victim doesn't feel safe and is worried about retaliation. Oftentimes what can happen is, couples can go in and the couple presents one way in the session, so the counselor is unaware of how the abuse is occurring. So they may provide feedback inadvertently that allows the abuse to escalate."

Crawford said that abusive partners who want to change could enter a program to address their behavior, particularly a "battering intervention and prevention program."

King said: "Marital therapy is not recommended when there's domestic violence. That's pretty much standard in the literature. The reason is that marital therapy is based on a systems approach, which means you spread the responsibility across the system, but that's the very thing that supports the abuse dynamic."

She said that it takes years of training and experience to understand the abuse dynamic. As a clinical psychologist trained in domestic violence, she sees couples together, but she also meets with the individuals separately. She calls what she does "domestic-abuse intervention in the context of relationship therapy."

Evans said: "Marriage counseling does not work if the therapist is trained to see it as 50/50. Every day I hear from women who go to marriage therapy and are told, 'Can you be sweeter? Try harder and he'll try, and everything will be fine.' Abuse is not 50/50."

Sandra Stith, a licensed marriage counselor and professor of family studies and human services at Kansas State University, has developed counseling programs for couples in certain types of abusive relationships.

She said that graduate students in psychology are learning more about domestic violence than was taught decades ago, so there may be couples therapists who can help, but they must be well educated in domestic violence. She said a good counselor should be trained to screen for domestic abuse, thus determining early whether couples counseling is appropriate. Also, someone seeking help with a domestic abuse situation should ask therapists, "Do you have experience in this area, or can you refer me to someone who does?"

Stith agrees that a caller to the hotline should probably not be referred to couples counseling as a first response. "If you're in a situation in which you call the hotline, you likely need to talk to a domestic-violence expert who hopefully will work on a coordinated community response," she said.

Not everyone who recognizes emotional abuse wants to end the marriage immediately. Some may hope the abuser will change. And some don't want to share custody of young children or may not have the financial or familial resources to leave.

Evans said whether an abusive partner can change depends on many factors, including his desire to not want his partner to leave or to want her back if she has left, and how hard he is willing to work. King said the reasons behind the abuse matter in terms of treatment, too. There's no one psychiatric diagnosis or situation that explains why some people are abusive. Some may suffer from trauma or have a mental-health issue, such as a mood disorder, addiction or a personality disorder.

Crawford said education about emotional abuse is important. "People are just starting to have more of a conversation about it," she said. "What I've seen just in the last three years at the hotline, there used to be a lot of conversation and questions that placed blame on the victim, such as 'Why do they stay?' Now more conversations are about 'What are some of the signs?' The questions we're getting are about the complexities of this issue."

Evans said verbal abuse is not new, but some factors allow it to continue. "It's still a male-dominated society," she said. She also noted that abusers may see "people on the news" engaging in name-calling and think it's acceptable.

Evans stressed that people who want to get out of an abusive relationship should understand that the most dangerous time for them is when they're about to leave or are in the midst of leaving  and need to plan cautiously.

The Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 800-799-SAFE or thehotline.org.
This article was originally published in 2017.

* * *

NEBRASKA CITY  She saw the bodies hanging by nooses from the trees, their chests blown open by gunshots.

Seven hung there, dangling above the graveyard in the woods.

The other people walking with her on that day two summers ago saw only trees and leaves.

But to Cheryl Ann Fletcher, this was no hallucination.

It was clear as day, as if it were you and me standing right here, said Fletcher, a medium based in Lincoln. There were seven bodies, males and females mixed. The one that captured my attention was a little boy who was blonde, he was about 7 years old.

Fletchers account is one of many youll hear from those around Nebraska City whove visited the site near Seven Sisters Road. For some, its a ghost story to tell the kids, something to send a chill down the spine. For others, its much more than just a scary story.

During her first visit to the site, Fletcher said she felt the young boys fingers wrap around her arm. When she looked down, she saw white depressions form on her skin, then felt a tug.

The spirit pulled and gripped tighter, leading her toward a gravestone without inscription. There, at the weathered stone, the little boy introduced himself: Matthew. The two conversed until Fletcher left the graveyard and went home.

It took me a couple of days to recover after the first initial meeting of the afterlife there, Fletcher said. But the second time ...

Fletcher returned, this time with a crew tasked with trying to document any paranormal activity.

The property owner led Fletcher through the trees, beyond Matthews grave, to an open field. There, they stopped, and the landowner turned around, pointed to a tree with a small hunting stand and shared a story.

It was at this spot one quiet day before dawn, where, armed with a bow and arrow, he watched as a creature walked upright, slowly, as if a wolf were stalking prey, directly toward him. Through the fog, he saw only the beasts glowing red eyes, shining like rubies.

Then the creature broke east and headed off over the hill and out of view.

As his story progressed, Fletcher said she began to feel hot breath on her neck. Petrified, she stood still.

I knew I would be face-to-face with something demonic, she said. So she walked away, never turning around, and hasnt been back since.

* * *

The legend of Seven Sisters Road has a few iterations, as local tales do. The most enduring one starts with a farmer who lived along a road with seven hills a few miles southeast of town.

One night, the farmer snapped. Some say he suspected his wife of cheating. Others say he was a drunk or just downright deranged. One by one, he dragged his daughters out of the farmhouse and onto the hilltops, stringing them up from the trees by their necks, one atop each hill.

If you visit the spot at night, you may hear screams; many say they do. Theyre loud and nearby, yet just out of reach. And these high-pitched, piercing screams arent the only phenomena associated with this legend.

Headlights dim, speedometers freeze, windows roll up and down on their own. Cell service drops. The wind changes, and shadowy figures dart in the darkness.

Some have heard bells. Others have seen red eyes in the shadows.

In November 1968, a series of strange reports were made along this road. Every night for a week, a deputy responded to calls about a monster in the hills.

Around 11 p.m., the monster would come alive, according to a Nebraska City News-Press account from that year. At 6 feet tall, the monster was said to resemble a bear with a wolf face.

One account, told by locals and referenced in the 1968 article, was particularly jarring.

A group of teenagers were partying in the area when they saw glowing red eyes in the distance. They tore off down the gravel road, kicking up rocks as they sped off. The beast, barreling after, grabbed hold of the bumper and stopped the car with such force that the back window shattered, locals say.

According to the article, one person reported that a boy was grabbed by the monster, scratched up and thrown in a ditch.

Half a century later, the legend is still alive.

* * *

At Nebraska City High School, steps away from Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, guidance assistant Dawn Leu beeps into the intercom.

Attention students, anyone who has a story about Seven Sisters needs to report to the guidance office.

Students came running. Soon, a crowd had formed around Leus office, including 16-year-old Natalie Sturm. Her name was one of the first on Leus list.

Sturms family owns the land alongside Seven Sisters Road, with No Trespassing signs posted around the perimeter. Deep into the woods on a muddy, winding trail, sits a private graveyard atop a hill, the same one where Fletcher says she saw the bodies hanging.

The Sturms dont like intruders on their property, and its difficult to find the graveyard on your own. The Sturms lead tours for friends, family and most curious passers-by. Natalies dad estimated that he has given the same tour 100 times.

Many of Natalies high school classmates have taken those tours. Some think the ghost stories are cool. Some dont believe them.

When people say its not haunted down there, it makes me mad, Sturm said.

She and her friend Sarah Sullivan have heard the bells, the screams and the muffled whispers in the forest countless times. So often that theyre almost used to it. Almost.

One Halloween, Natalies parents, Nate and Becky, were in the forest after dark. Changing winds, voices, shadows  they can handle all of that. Theyll usually stick it out. But this night, they fled when they heard a scream at point-blank range.

It was curdling, Nate said. It was not a bobcat, it was definitely a woman screaming. It was crazy.

Just this month, Beckys truck stalled in front of their property, refusing to go even with a jump-start. But in the morning, it fired right up. Its far from the first report of this phenomenon.

On occasion, the Sturms tend to the graveyard, raking, pulling weeds and clearing the gravestones. Its some way to try and keep the peace.

They know the stories about this place, and theyve done research. They cant find concrete evidence of exactly what happened here, but one gravestone could offer hints.

The largest and most ornate stone in the cemetery, which has broken from its base and sunk into the grass, bears the names John and Julia Warden. Julia died in 1880. John in 1901.

Genealogy records show that the Wardens had seven daughters and one son. Seven daughters.

Is he the madman? The one who fired the shots and strung the rope?

Probably not.

Theres no report of such a horrible incident ever occurring. And even in the late 1880s, when Warden homesteaded the property after arriving from Virginia, incidents of this magnitude didnt go unreported.

Theres another catch. Each Warden daughter has a different date of death. One, Letha Warden Wilhelm, lived to be almost 90.

There are a lot of questionable tales in the Warden and Wilhelm families, but Ive never heard this one connected to them, said Barbara Boardman Wilhelm, who married into the family and has studied its genealogy.

There are no reports of hangings ever occurring along this stretch of road. Others buried in this private cemetery have no reasonable connection to such a story, either.

Otoe County Sheriff Jim Gress, who grew up less than a block from Seven Sisters Road, said theres no record of anyone getting seriously hurt or killed along the road.

It never did scare me, Gress said. I know people, before they cut the hills down, they would go over the hills pretty fast because they could get airborne with them. That was scary.

But just because theres no evidence of a crime doesnt mean the tale is entirely fabricated. Legends can warp over time in fireside games of telephone. Names change. Locations change. Details are embellished.

* * *

There might be a way to explain the legend of Seven Sisters Road.

In the late 1800s, angry mobs of masked vigilantes began taking justice into their own hands. No rural town in Nebraska had more lynchings than Nebraska City during that time. Five men were hanged between 1866 and 1887.

One of those lives lost was a homesteader who lived not far from this road.

That man was Lee Shellenberger, who sat in the courthouse jail awaiting trial for murder. Shellenberger was accused of slicing his 11-year-old daughter Maggies throat, according to an Omaha Daily Bee account at the time.

The masked mob is said to have stormed the jail, overpowered the guard and carved through the floor above Shellenbergers cell. They pulled him out and tied a rope around his neck.

Shellenbergers final words reverberated: Ill haunt you sons of bitches if I can.

Seven Sisters Road is an inherently creepy trail. Tall, looping hills, shaved down in later years, create mystery with each coming valley. Twisted trees creak in rural silence. Whether or not ghosts and beasts truly haunt this land, its the kind of place that deserves a backstory.

Its possible that the culture of hangings and the Shellenberger story somehow evolved into the legend of the Seven Sisters. Over the years, each telling could add or confuse a detail, and somehow a slit throat became a lynching. One daughter became seven, perhaps to better link the story to an already spooky place nearby.

Its not unreasonable to believe retellings transformed the story bit by bit over the last century. That the backstory cant be entirely proved or disproved adds to the mystique, helping keep the legend strong all these years.

Seemingly everybody in town has a Seven Sisters story. And those who dont should go back for another visit, Natalie Sturm says.

The second time is when it all starts.

Photos: Halloween history in Omaha
Marshall Mickey Washington Jr. just wanted to get out of the nursing home for his 49th birthday.

So a girlfriend who lived out of town posted a message on Facebook, asking if anyone could pick up Washington and take him out.

Theodore Loving, a friend from 30 years ago, did just that. In fact, he literally picked up Washington  who weighed 105 pounds and had a hard time walking, after being afflicted with diabetes and kidney failure  and placed him in Lovings car.

The nice gesture was followed by a deadly twist. Washington soon would find himself in the middle of a family feud.

Lovings nephew, Jeffrey, owed his Uncle Theo money over a three-year-old drug debt, prosecutors said. Tensions had risen just before that July 7, 2016, evening.

As Theodore Loving drove by his nephews house, Jeffrey Loving hollered at him to get the (expletive) out of here.

Jeffrey Loving then fired 10 shots at his uncles car. He missed his intended target but killed Washington, sitting in the passenger seat.

For that, a jury convicted Jeffrey Loving on Tuesday of second-degree murder and gun use. He faces 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced in January.

With the conviction, jurors rejected Lovings argument that he fired in self-defense.

That was a story he had more than a year to cook up, said Val Johnson-Stewart, Washingtons former guardian. In our wildest dreams, we could never imagine this would happen. (Washington) would have had no clue (the Lovings) were having problems.

Prosecutors Tressa Alioth and Nissa Jones said family tension had ramped up in the weeks before the shooting.

Jeffrey Loving was a marijuana dealer who had problems paying his suppliers, prosecutors say.

In late June 2016, his uncle began trying to collect on a debt owed from 2013. Testimony differed on how much the debt was  anywhere from $600 to $3,000. But it persisted.

In early July 2016, Theo Loving noticed that his nephew, Jeffrey, and niece, Dynasti, had spent money on all kinds of food, fireworks and alcohol for a July Fourth party. Yet Jeffrey Loving kept claiming he had no money to pay his uncle.

Then came July 5, 2016. Jeffrey Loving got a voicemail from a phone number with an Oakland, California, area code. (According to testimony, the Lovings had a cousin who sold drugs in California.)

A man with a deep voice warned Loving that he knew that Loving lived with his sister and her children and that he would smoke Loving and anyone in the house if Loving didnt pay Theo.

Jeffrey and his sister, Dynasti, testified that they were scared  at times crying over the threat.

However, prosecutors displayed several text messages the two sent their Uncle Theo after getting the voicemail. In the texts, they vowed to do their own harm to him.

Prosecutors argued that anger, not fear, fueled Jeffrey Loving the day of the shooting.

Theodore Loving testified that he and Washington were looking for some weed to smoke, so they went to a part of Crown Point Avenue, near 28th Street, where Loving thought he could get marijuana.

As he drove by his nephews house about 6 p.m., Theo testified, his nephew screamed at him to get the (expletive) out. Theo kept moving but watched as Loving ran toward his vehicle, raised a gun and fired 10 times.

A bullet struck Washington in the face. Theo Loving rushed to a gas station about a mile away. Paramedics arrived soon after, but it was too late.

I never meant to hurt Mr. Washington, Jeffrey Loving told jurors, between tears. I thought Theodore was going to kill me. ... It was like a bad dream.

Washingtons family knows something about bad dreams. Washington had been ailing  and his kidneys had been failing, requiring him to undergo dialysis. He had just gotten to the Florence Home Healthcare a couple months before the shooting.

The 49-year-old, who had two children and dozens of friends, lived a colorful life. Spoiled rotten by his mother, he was a tough-as-nails wrestler in high school, his family said. He was in the Army for a while.

His stepfather, Emmett Hawkins, described him this way: Im not going to paint him as no saint, but he wasnt near no devil. He was a very entertaining man who loved people.

Even when his health turned, he was a sweet talker  complimenting the ladies at the nursing home.

He was charismatic with all the women, said Victoria Johnson, the mother of Washingtons two children. He had a lot of women but I was the one he really loved.

Val Johnson-Stewart said she regrets that she wasnt the one who answered that birthday Facebook post. She would have snuck him some cake. They would have talked and laughed like they always did. And Mickey might still be alive.

When they told me he had been shot, I said, No, no, somethings not right. How could he have gotten shot?  she said.

Then this feeling of guilt set in, because I felt like I should have been there for him. I dont think I ever cried so hard in my life.
WASHINGTON  Conservative death penalty opponents on Wednesday touted a surge of momentum for ending capital punishment on their side of the ideological spectrum.

Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty released a report showing that the number of Republican state lawmakers sponsoring death penalty repeal measures has jumped in recent years.

In the single digits from 2000 to 2012, the number hit a high of 40 last year.

The group highlighted its findings at the National Press Club with the help of lawmakers from Utah, Montana, Washington state and Nebraska.

Those lawmakers cast the death penalty as an inefficient government program and said opposition to it reflects long-standing core conservative principles that value life, fiscal responsibility and limited government.

Supporting the abolition of the death penalty, as my colleagues have said, isnt in spite of being a conservative at all, former Nebraska State Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln said at the press conference.

Its actually because we are conservative that we can stand here today and say this is a program that isnt working for us.

Theres reason to think campaigns against the death penalty will benefit from bipartisanship, but opponents of capital punishment still have a ways to go in winning over red states.

Lawmakers, after all, dont always have the last word.

Coash and many of his fellow Republicans successfully repealed the states death penalty only to see Nebraska voters swiftly and overwhelmingly reverse that move at the ballot box.

A former Utah state senator spoke about rallying support for repeal in his state, where legislation passed the full Senate last year. But the House did not take it up before the end of the 45-day session.

A Washington state senator described it as a pro-life issue and said he believes his state is close to eliminating the death penalty with an ideologically diverse coalition.

The event also included a lawmaker from Montana, where a death penalty repeal measure fell just short in the states House in 2015.

In an interview, Coash acknowledged the challenges of arguing against the death penalty in conservative areas and said its difficult to present nuanced arguments in a 20-second commercial.

But he also said groups like the one releasing Wednesdays report will help keep the conversation going and suggested that eventually the death penaltys flaws will be impossible to ignore.

Nebraska, he noted, hasnt executed anyone in 20 years.

Our government doesnt have the ability to execute somebody, they dont have the means, he said. That problem didnt go away with the vote we had.
When Lu Ann Kluch takes her seat at the head of the Papillion City Council chamber twice a month, she knows shell see some things differently.

She may need to speak a little louder. She may have to point something out that seems silly  like the discussion about updating park restrooms when she had to remind everyone that women have no choice but to sit when they use public toilets.

Kluch is Papillions only elected female leader. These are the things that come with the territory.

And shes not the exception. Women remain underrepresented at all levels of politics in Nebraska, particularly at Kluchs level: local government.

The next opportunity to change that is around the corner, with 2018 elections for many federal, state and local offices.

* * *

Of course, the mayors of the states largest and third-largest cities are women.

But look at the front of the room at any area city or county meeting, and the faces are overwhelmingly male. In Springfield, there are no elected women leaders. The Sarpy County Board is all men. In Bellevue, Mayor Rita Sanders works with an all-male council.

In Omaha, Mayor Jean Stothert and Councilwoman Aimee Melton work with six male council members. Douglas County has one woman among its seven board members.

Papillion, Gretna and Ralston each have one woman on their councils. La Vista has two women on its eight-person council, and Valley has two on a council of five that includes a female mayor.

Lincoln and Lancaster County have the most balance: three women on the seven-member City Council, and three women among five County Board members, respectively.

From simply a democratic standpoint, you have a demographic group that is clearly underrepresented, said Kevin Smith, chairman of the political science department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Thats not to say a male cannot represent female interests or vice versa. But when its overwhelmingly dominated by one group, that seems a little strange.

La Vista City Council member Deb Hale said the problem is attracting people to get involved in city government in general. She said the low rate of women isnt a problem.

I honestly dont think it matters, Hale said.

But Kluch said lopsided representation hurts a citys ability to meet the needs of all of its citizens.

I like the guys Im on council with, she said. Theyre smart men. They localize. They are considerate. They study. I have nothing against any one of them. But we see issues differently.

Our uniquenesses are what make us powerful when we put them together.

Jodi Benenson agrees. The more closely the government represents the country, the state, the city, the county as a whole, the more representative its policies are likely to be, said the assistant professor in the School of Public Administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Any one group making decisions for the population can have severe implications.

There are differences in how men and women govern, Smith said. Women generally are more likely to prioritize issues related to health care, social services, children and the environment, according to one study. Women also enjoy and are better at the collaboration required once in office, Smith said.

These distinctions are significant when examining how public policy is formed, Benenson said, and gender isnt the only variable.

We need to be thinking about representation broadly, she said. The intersection of not just women, but women of color, women and different religions, income status, immigration status.

* * *

Make no mistake: When women run for elected office, they are competitive. Reports  including one this year from Rutgers University  say the data show no consistent gender disparity in candidate win rates.

The problem is that not enough women run.

There are a lot of reasons women may be deterred, Benenson said. Women generally are more risk-averse, less confident and less competitive. Theyre not asked to run as often.

Women in elected office in the Omaha area said other women have given them a variety of reasons they wont run. They dont want to detract from time with family. They dont want to lose friendships over political views. Theyre focused on their careers. The pay is too low.

And, Melton said, Politics have just gotten nasty. I get it.

Stothert has endured attacks based on her gender, including a T-shirt depicting Stothert as a stripper on a pole and a particularly crude tweet.

In an interview, Stothert didnt mention those attacks. But she said women must ask themselves, Do I want to put myself out there for those negative comments? Do I want to put my family out there?

There are also the times women are actively discouraged from running.

When Stothert first ran for City Council in 2009, shed been on the Millard school board for three terms.

I had quite a few people tell me at that time, Maybe stick with school board because thats where women should be. Not City Council. Thats a job for men.  Stothert said.

The World-Herald interviewed 11 women serving in elected and appointed offices in Sarpy and Douglas Counties. Most of the women said they felt respected by, and had positive experiences with, their male colleagues. None said being a woman prevented them from doing their jobs. A few said theyve never noticed a difference in how theyre treated.

But most had more than one example of being treated differently.

There were the times they were interrupted or talked down to. The times it was assumed that they were a secretary or intern. The scrutiny of their appearance. The times they were called a certain b-word for being assertive.

When Stothert was newly elected mayor, she stepped into a City Hall elevator full of men one morning, and a man said, Good morning, honey.

Someone told the man she was the new mayor. The man responded, What are you going to decorate your office with? Stuffed animals?

Women have to be experts in everything, Stothert said, because their competence is more often questioned.

And they have to be more likable, Melton said. You do have to be a little careful about how you come across and how you approach things when you are trying to be strong.

Many of the women said they expect a lot of what theyve encountered to fade as younger generations step up.

* * *

The solution to women being underrepresented in public office? Women have to show up, Gretna Councilwoman Angie Lauritsen said.

And you have to be assertive. ... If people want to call me whatever they want to call me for speaking my mind, for having a voice, then so be it, she said.

Outreach efforts that persuade talented people to run for office help, Smith said.

Both parties said they want to attract more women to office.

The fact that we do not have a single woman of any party affiliation elected at the statewide constitutional offices is something the Democrats plan on ending in 2018, said Jane Kleeb, chairwoman of the Nebraska Democratic Party. Women bring to the table a strong sense of fairness and focus on our families. It is critical for our sons and daughters to see more women leading our state government.

The Nebraska Republican Party partners with the Cornhusker Republican Womens Club, among other groups, to recruit women for office.

We are proud to be the party that elected Nebraskas first congresswoman, female governor, female U.S. senator and female mayor of Omaha, said Executive Director Kenny Zoeller in a statement.

Among others: U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., hosts an annual seminar that encourages women to get involved in their communities, in and out of politics. The League of Women Voters hosts workshops, and UNO on Wednesday is holding a Running and Winning workshop for girls to meet with female elected leaders.

The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce held sessions on running for and serving in office  whatever the gender  at a September leadership conference.

Benenson is organizing a new Women in Public Policy Week for next spring to help students envision being engaged citizens.

We need to be starting outreach to people at a younger age, she said.

Another thing that can help: Women encouraging other women.

Women really need to start supporting each other and be proud of each others accomplishments, Stothert said.

Lauritsen said, Its going to take strong women that are already in that position to say its OK, you can do this job. 

World-Herald staff writer Emily Nitcher contributed to this report.

* * *

Words of advice from women in office

We asked three women office holders what they would say to someone who is considering a run.

Jean Stothert, Omaha mayor: Believe in yourself and your abilities. Focus on what you are best at. Be courageous. Embrace optimism. Value relationships and work to improve them in your professional life and your personal life. Most importantly, try. You cant win if you dont try.

Lu Ann Kluch, Papillion councilwoman: I say, Go for it! While there will be many ups and downs, in the end, representing your constituents to the best of your ability and getting to know so many of them is highly rewarding. Many issues will have you use all your skills of logical thinking, determination to research and ability to fully listen to all sides of that issue  but in the end when you make your vote that represents your area, and for what is best for your community, you will experience a feeling of great satisfaction.

Angie Lauritsen, Gretna councilwoman: There is no right time to run for office, and, yes, you can fit it into your life.
The ambush that killed four soldiers assigned to U.S. Army Special Forces in Niger should spur needed debate over whether the United States is stretching its special forces too thin overseas.

As part of that discussion, our military and political leaders should make all changes necessary to ensure such operations receive adequate support in the field. The Niger incident raises serious concerns, and its imperative to conduct a thorough investigation and share information with lawmakers and the public.

A 2016 conference in Washington, D.C., focusing on global operations of U.S. special forces pointed to their stepped-up operational commitment and warned that continuing at the current pace of deployments risks burning out the force.

The Pentagon is placing even greater emphasis on special forces this year under a directive from President Donald Trump.

In Africa, the U.S. Special Operations Command is currently operating in 20 countries. U.S. personnel provide military training in numerous African nations and operate a large military base in the country of Djibouti.

U.S. personnel also aid in direct military operations. In Somalia last year, a major U.S. airstrike killed 150 fighters with the terrorist group al-Shabab. In 2014 a U.S. air attack killed the then-leader of the organization.

Al-Shabab, which has links to al-Qaida, remains a potent force. This month it detonated two truck bombs in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, killing more than 300.

Our special forces are a major military instrument, but are we overextending them?

That should be a topic for significant discussion by our leaders in Washington, including members of the Midlands congressional delegation involved in national security policy.
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Grambling State University is set to break ground on an NIL deal for student-athletes that will provide each athlete with an annual..
Opalesque Industry Update, for New Managers - NewAlpha Asset Management announced the launch of Swave, the first physical incubator, entirely dedicated to FinTech firms and managed by Paris&Co with the support of the French government. NewAlpha is an expert in investments targeting the entrepreneurial financial industry worldwide and has launched the first French venture capital fund*dedicated to FinTech companies in November 2015. This fund is exclusively reserved for French domiciled professional clients as defined by the MiFID Directive and is currently closed to subscriptions. The new Swave platform, fostering "innovation", will offer 2,500 m of office space in the Grande Arche, in the heart of La Dfense. The objective is not only to create an innovation-friendly business environment but to attract European FinTech firms to La Dfense which is Paris' main financial district. Swave, founded by NewAlpha, Societe Generale, Crdit Municipal de Paris and Exton Consulting, will work closely with the research and higher education bodies (Institut Louis Bachelier) as well as territorial authorities. "An actual physical platform for the incubation of Fintech start-ups fits perfectly in the array of services offered by NewAlpha. Joining forces with Paris&Co and the other founding members seemed ideal, because the project is part of a real public-private commitment to promote the FinTech sector internationally." says Lior Derhy, Director of Private Equity at NewAlpha AM. "The historical positioning of NewAlpha as an emerging manager incubator and its capacity to connect with institutional investors convinced us in our quest for the right partner for Swave" adds Edouard Plus, Head of Swave. NewAlpha has met with more than 150 start-ups over the last twelve months. Its FinTech analysis and selection expertise, as well as potential financing from its Venture Capital NewAlpha FinTech* fund are valuable strengths. More than thirty start-ups, from four different sectors of innovation, will constitute the first "class" to be admitted to Swave. - Neo-finance: new ways to conceive traditional banking and insurance models - Cybersecurity: data access, data encryption, anti-hacking, blockchain - Artificial intelligence, big data and machine learning - The finance of tomorrow: sustainable finance, climate finance, impact investing, regtech Applications are to be submitted by 17 November 2017 (click Source link below). Swave will open its doors on 8 December 2017. Article source - Opalesque is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
SALEM  The Oregon Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the attorney general to change the ballot wording voters will see in January when they are asked to overturn much of a $550 million health care tax plan.

A "yes" vote on the Jan. 23 referendum would affirm the tax plan passed by the Legislature earlier this year, and a "no" vote would overturn a significant portion of it.

Lawmakers narrowly passed the plan to close a hole in Oregon's Medicaid budget and stabilize the individual insurance market. The ballot measure targets a tax on insurance premiums that would go toward that stabilization effort.

It is unclear whether it also could be used to entirely undo a separate tax on certain hospitals to fund Medicaid. Opponents wanted to get rid of the new 0.7 percent hospital tax, but a lawyer for the Legislature said they failed to write the referendum in a way that would achieve that.

The matter won't be decided until after the January election. Depending on how that dispute is settled, the repeal would take away $210 million to $320 million in the current two-year budget.

The rate stabilization program is designed to spread risk among many Oregon insurers. It charges a 1.5 percent tax on premiums to create a state-controlled pot of money from which to reimburse insurance companies that get hit with particularly expensive claims.

The ballot fight over the tax is highly partisan. After Democratic lawmakers got word that some Republican lawmakers might try to challenge the tax, the Democrats countered by changing the normal rules for ballot initiatives. They instituted a one-time rule that moved the election up to January from November and put a Democrat-dominated committee, not attorney general, in charge of writing the ballot wording.

As Democrats had feared, three Republicans from the Oregon House then succeeded in an effort to refer much of the law to voters.

The ballot wording that Democrat-dominated committee wrote was the subject of Wednesday's Supreme Court ruling. The House Republicans hailed the decision, with communications director Preston Mann saying in a statement that "the Supreme Court took steps to restore some semblance of sanity to the partisan circus."

In it, the court upheld some of the language written by the committee of lawmakers. But the court unanimously instructed Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum to rewrite other sections, saying the language did not make the implications of voting yes or no clear enough.

That led both supporters and opponents of the taxes to claim victory.

Under the one-time election changes passed in the final days of the legislative session, the Supreme Court had just one chance to review the ballot language.

Rosenblum must now rewrite the committee's proposed wording to take into account the high court's opinion. Anyone who is unhappy with Rosenblum's final wording cannot appeal it.

"Fair, honest elections": Republicans ask Kate Brown to veto one-time election changes

The justices rejected a central argument by opponents of the tax plan, that the referendum should describe the revenue-raising mechanism as a "tax" rather than an "assessment." The bill passed by the Legislature used the term "assessment" rather than "tax." But the three Republican lawmakers behind the effort to overturn much of the plan said the word "assessment" would mislead voters.

The court cited previous rulings that it would not confuse or mislead voters to use commonly understood terms from the underlying legislation, such as "fee" or "bills for raising revenue," in ballot language.

"This is not a situation in which the use of technical, legal, or unique wording drawn from the measure's text results in a caption that is impermissibly misleading or confusing," Chief Justice Thomas A. Balmer wrote.

However, the court also rejected much of the ballot language written by lawmakers and signed off on by Rosenblum.

For example, Balmer wrote that the current ballot wording "may confuse or mislead voters, by including a lengthyand difficult to readdescription of programs funded" before explaining the state would pay for those new programs with new taxes. The justices directed the attorney general to rewrite it to make clear that a "yes" vote on the referendum "would impose new temporary assessments that would fund certain programs."

The Supreme Court said it must also be clear to voters that insurance companies can raise premiums by 1.5 percent, to recoup the cost of the tax that would fund the state reinsurance program. And the court said the ballot language could not assume the outcome of an unresolved legal dispute: whether opponents of the tax plan correctly worded the referendum to eliminate the increase in hospital taxes.

The Supreme Court's opinion was unanimous. It will become final unless someone files a petition for reconsideration by 4 p.m. Thursday.

-- Hillary Borrud

503-294-4034; @hborrud
A second female state senator has accused Sen. Jeff Kruse of inappropriately touching her at the Oregon Capitol, Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick said Tuesday.

Hers was the latest in an escalating number of reports that women, all but one of whom have declined to have their names made public, have accused Kruse of unwanted touching during his two decades in the Legislature.

Senate President Peter Courtney, expressing outrage that Kruse violated a 2016 directive not to touch women at work "period," has stripped the Roseburg Republican of all committee assignments, hobbling his ability to affect legislation.

Kruse, who did not respond to multiple requests for comment Tuesday, told The Oregonian/OregonLive by email Friday that he categorically denied touching women inappropriately. He told the Roseburg News Review he expects to be cleared and back to work under normal conditions when the Legislature is next in session, in February.

Burdick would not name the second senator or her party affiliation or disclose details of her allegations or the date she made her report.

"I'm not saying anything," Burdick said. "It's enough to say that there was another one."

Staff in Courtney' s office said they fielded the report of misconduct last week.

The only woman who has gone public with accusations, apart from Burdick vouching that other women were affected, is Sen. Sara Gelser, a Corvallis Democrat. She told The Oregonian/OregonLive Monday that Kruse first touched her inappropriately around 2011 and the behavior continued. She did not report him until 2016, she said.

The accusation by a second senator has trigged a fact-finding inquiry, Dexter Johnson, head lawyer at the Legislature, said Tuesday. Johnson said he will interview all female state senators to get a better picture of Kruse's conduct.

Gov. Kate Brown released a statement Tuesday evening saying workplace harassment is "absolutely unacceptable." She did not name Kruse. Brown said it is clear that no workplace is immune from sexual harassment and abuse against women, including the Oregon Capitol.

"This behavior must be stopped, and I applaud the courage of those who brought these allegations to light," Brown said.

Sen. Sara Gelser, D-Corvallis

Johnson said Gelser was not the only person to report Kruse to his office and Legislative human resources officials in 2016. Johnson declined to name who else reported Kruse and declined to say whether they were a member of the Legislature or staff.

"The individuals involved asked not to be named I'm going to leave it at that," Johnson said. He said he is not aware of any reports of impropriety made against Kruse prior to 2016.

Johnson said he "explained in detail" to Kruse at the time what he was accused of and told him people felt he had invaded their personal space. Kruse was told to "back off," Johnson said.

But Kruse did not stop, Gelser said.

Burdick, D-Portland, told The Oregonian/OregonLive Sunday that she witnessed Kruse wrapping his arms around and standing too close to Gelser on the Senate floor this year. Burdick said she intervened and told Kruse not to touch Gelser.

Burdick also said this year's incident was not the first time she had seen Kruse inappropriately touch a woman on the Senate floor. She described his conduct with women as a "chronic problem."

Rep. Jodi Hack, a Salem Republican, said a sexist culture remains in the Oregon Capitol, just as in many other workplaces. Hack said she's glad women are speaking out to raise awareness of the problem.

Hack declined to go into detail or say whether she'd observed inappropriate behavior by other lawmakers. But she confirmed that she's experienced offensive comments from men in her capacity as a lawmaker.

"I think we all have," Hack said.

After denying inappropriate touching in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive Friday, Kruse has stopped responding to requests for comment. He has told the Roseburg News Review that he is unaware of the specific allegations against him and that he has no plans to resign.

Courtney sent Kruse a letter Friday notifying him his continuing to touch women at the Capitol and smoke in his office prompted Courtney to impose unprecedented sanctions on him.

In the letter, released to The Oregonian/OregonLive Tuesday, Courtney told Kruse he has "repeatedly broken the law" by smoking in his Capitol office and the parking garage. Kruse had been fined twice by Oregon's health agency, but smoked in the Capitol as recently as September, Courtney wrote.

Kruse's continued smoking "demonstrates your disrespect for the laws of this state" and leaves the legislative branch open to liability and "public scorn and charges of hypocrisy," Courtney wrote.

Courtney said Kruse was also warned in 2016 "not to touch women at work. Period."

"Let me be very clear. Women in the Capitol do NOT want you to touch them," Courtney, D-Salem, wrote.

The letter does not name the women who accused Kruse of inappropriate touching and it does not give details of the incidents. Courtney did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

In a statement, Senate Republican Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day, said he is aware of Courtney's letter. He said no one has filed a formal complaint against Kruse. Ferrioli acknowledged that there is an ongoing investigation into Kruse's conduct and said the Senate Republican Caucus takes it seriously.

In his letter, Courtney said of the discipline he leveled against Kruse, "I have never taken this kind of action before but I am left with no other options at this time to protect our employees, members of the legislature and the public."

Oregon's state senators can take further action against Kruse. The Oregon Constitution gives lawmakers power to censure or expel a member of their chamber on a two-thirds vote. There is no indication that senators are contemplating such a vote. The earliest it could occur is mid-November, when the Senate is schedule to meet in order to confirm the governor's latest batch of appointees.

Politics reporter Hillary Borrud contributed to this story.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

503-221-8209; @GordonRFriedman
Gary Bertoni, a Portland criminal defense lawyer, pleaded guilty Tuesday to failure to pay employment taxes and has agreed to pay $181,898 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.

Bertoni admitted that between the second quarter of 2009 and third tax quarter of 2011, he failed to pay taxes withheld from the wages of employees at his law firm, Bertoni & Associates.

Prosecutors alleged that Bertoni used the thousands of dollars that he failed to pay to the IRS for his own personal benefit.

Willful failure to pay taxes is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year and a $25,000 fine.

As part of the plea deal, the government agreed to dismiss a felony indictment filed against Bertoni and not file additional charges. Prosecutors also will recommend a reduction in Bertoni's sentence for accepting responsibility when he's sentenced on Jan. 29.

The plea deal doesn't affect any civil liability Bertoni may still face from the IRS, according to the agreement.

Gary B. Bertoni

Bertoni is an active member of the Oregon State Bar, now practicing criminal and juvenile defense at Bertoni Law.

However, the state bar's trial panel decided to sanction Bertoni in February for failing to keep clients informed and not preserving client property. The trial panel decided to suspend Bertoni's license to practice law for one year, but he has appealed the suspension to the Oregon Supreme Court, according to Kateri Walsh, state bar spokeswoman. Bertoni can continue to practice, pending the outcome of the appeal.

The bar's trial panel cited Bertoni's "extraordinary repetition of negligence.''

Two other complaints involving Bertoni are pending review or under investigation by the bar.

Bertoni's lawyer Kevin M. Sali declined comment on Bertoni's plea in court or the state bar sanction.

This isn't the first time Bertoni has found himself in hot water.

The Oregon State Bar suspended Bertoni's license for 150 days in 2012 for mismanaging his client's money.

In 2011, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office declined to prosecute Bertoni for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up his use of clients' money, saying the statute of limitations had expired.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian
Viewpoint Construction Software says it closed its Portland headquarters on Monday "to err on the side of caution."

On Sunday night, the company told hundreds of Portland employees to stay home because of an unspecified "security issue." The offices, at the east end of the Hawthorne Bridge, reopened Tuesday.

Marketing vice president Abe Cohen said the decision to close the office resulted from "what turned out to be an unfounded concern," but didn't specify what triggered that concern.

Viewpoint's software helps contractors plan large projects and manage their business. It's one of the city's largest tech employers.

-- Mike Rogoway; twitter: @rogoway; 503-294-7699
HILLSBORO, Ore. -- Authorities say someone stole more than $300,000 worth of merchandise from two vendors who attended the Portland Regional Gem & Mineral Show.

Hillsboro police Lt. Henry Reimann said Tuesday that Randy and Katie Gneiting of Columbus, Montana, reported the theft Oct. 15. It happened after they left the show at the Washington County Fairgrounds and grabbed a bite to eat at a McDonald's in Hillsboro.

Reimann says the couple sat at a window so they could watch their Ford Expedition. But they missed the thieves who acted quickly. Reimann says it's apparent they knew exactly what they wanted and where to find it.

The thieves removed heavy aluminum cases that contained gems and jewelry.

Surveillance video released Tuesday shows the suspect vehicle to be a gray Dodge Journey.

-- The Associated Press
A man accused of sexually abusing children in Washington County was found in China and returned to the United States, authorities said.

Toby Mendenhall, 41, was booked Tuesday into the county jail on suspicion of first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree sodomy, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office. He is being held on $2.5 million bail.

Mendenhall is accused of abusing three girls between 2009 and 2012 while they were younger than 14, according to an indictment.

An investigation of the allegations began in June 2016 and a warrant for Mendenhall's arrest was issued six months later, the sheriff's office said. U.S. marshals found Mendenhall in Shanghai and worked with Chinese authorities to bring him back to Oregon.

Mendenhall has previously lived in the Portland metro area including in Vancouver, the sheriff's office said. Investigators believe there could be other victims.

The sheriff's office asks anyone with more information to contact the agency's investigations division at 503-846-2500.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com

503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey
Brand authenticity

Each year, New York public relations firm Cohn & Wolfe surveys thousands of consumers on their perceptions of more than 1,000 brands. Then it uses an algorithm to parse those results and produce rankings of the most authentic brands. Those in marketing say authenticity is key because it breeds trust. Trustful customers often become repeat customers. Therefore, authentic brands are more likely to succeed. Here are Cohn & Wolfe's latest rankings for the U.S.

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AP Photo/Steve Helber

10. UPS

This shipping company, which got its start in 1907 as a bike messenger company in Seattle, rakes in more than $60 billion a year. After it acquired its first vehicle  a Model T Ford  it grew steadily, and by 1953 UPS offered two-day air service to major cities along the East Coast and West Coast. Now, the company ships to more than 220 countries. In 2008, UPS started hiring bicycle delivery workers in Portland, Eugene and Vancouver, proving that time is a circle.

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Michael Lloyd/The Oregonian

9. AAA

AAA, pronounced "Triple A," has been around since 1902, offering drivers hotel guides, safety programs and more. Now the nonprofit member group offers roadside assistance and lobbies for safer roads and lower gas prices.

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Newman's Own

8. Newman's Own

One of the newer companies on this list, actor Paul Newman and author A.E. Hotchner launched Newman's Own in 1982 after their homemade salad dressing was a hit with friends. The company grew to include a host of other products, with all proceeds going to charity. Newman died in 2008, but the company continues its legacy. According to the company, Newman's Own has given more than $495 million to charity since 1982.

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AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

7. Hershey's

Americans seem to view some of the country's oldest brands as its most authentic. The Hershey Chocolate Co. started in 1894 in Pennsylvania, and production eventually moved to a local town that would become Hershey. The candy-maker is best known for its chocolate bars, Kisses and syrups, but it has branched out by buying other companies, including Oregon's Dagoba Organic Chocolate.

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Mike Zacchino/The Oregonian

6. LEGO

This Danish company  with its seemingly endless opportunities for creative kids and painful lessons for barefoot parents  has seen success since it started in 1932. In 2015, The Lego Group became the world's largest toy company, bringing $2.1 billion in sales, beating out Barbie-maker Mattel. LEGO has branched out over the years, opening retail stores and making several movies.

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Christopher Prentiss Michel via Wikimedia Commons

5. M&Ms

Traditional M&Ms were introduced in 1941, after Forrest Mars Sr., son of Mars Co. magnate Frank C. Mars, saw British soldiers eating Smarties during the Spanish Civil War and decided to copy the idea. Now, candy-lovers can buy M&Ms in dozens of varieties, including dark chocolate, pumpkin spice, pretzel, dulce de leche, coconut and cherry.

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Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

4. Crayola

Possibly one of the first brands Americans become familiar with as children, this company has endured since it was founded in 1885 in New York City as Binney and Smith. At that point, the company made pigments for industrial uses, but in 1903 added wax crayons to its lineup. The name Crayola comes from craie (French for "chalk") and ola for "oily." The company sold to Hallmark Cards in 1984, and now manufactures 120 standard crayon colors.

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WestportWiki via Wikimedia Commons

3. Burt's Bees

This Maine company started in 1984, when beekeeper Burt Shavitz and partner Roxanne Quimby started selling candles at a crafts fair. Their sales grew when they started making lip balm, and now the company's offerings  from lipstick to body lotion  can be found at supermarkets throughout the United States. Shavitz died in 2015, but his scruffy face still graces his products. Meanwhile, Quimby sold her stake in the company and has used her payout to buy up land and donate it to the National Park Service.

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The Associated Press

2. PayPal

Get this: PayPal's stock is now worth more than American Express's. The payment company got its start under eBay in 1998. Since then, its growth has far outpaced eBay's, which spun it off in 2015. Now, PayPal can be used in 200 countries, and boasts 218 million active accounts. It also owns Venmo, a cash-transferring app favored among millennials.

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AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

1. Amazon

It's hard to say for sure, but Amazon may have landed at the top of this list simply because so many Americans are familiar with the enormous company. According to the latest estimates, 90 million Americans have Amazon Prime. That's nearly three-quarters of U.S. households. But Amazon's reach is not limited to its online marketplace. Amazon owns a cloud-computing platform and has been investing in brick-and-mortar retail, namely with its recent acquisition of Whole Foods Market.

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Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP

Changing tastes

Although many of these brands have been around for decades or even a century, their authenticity factor might be in danger. In many cases, millennials  who else?  are bypassing these brands for newer, tech-oriented firms, according to an index compiled by consulting agency Enso.

For instance, millennials rank AAA and Newman's Own much lower than baby boomers do. Instead, the young'ns favor Starbucks and Snapchat. They also think highly of PayPal, so at least some of the brands on this list seem to have staying power.
Wednesday 25 October 2017 3:27pm

Otagos Ms Charlotte Steel and Dr Erica Todd are among seven highly promising researchers at an early stage of their career to be awarded Rutherford fellowships and scholarships, the Royal Society Te Aparangi announced today.

Ms Charlotte Steel, who is finishing a BSc(Hons) in Neuroscience at Otago, receives a three-year Cambridge-Rutherford Memorial PhD Scholarship while Dr Erica Todd, a Department of Anatomy researcher in the Gemmell Lab, has gained a two-year New Zealand Postdoctoral Fellowship.



Ms Charlotte Steel. Photo: supplied.

Up to two Cambridge-Rutherford Memorial PhD Scholarship are awarded each year. These are jointly funded by the Rutherford Foundation and the Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust (CCEIT). Recipients of the Scholarships will carry the identity of the Rutherford Foundation Cambridge-Rutherford Memorial PhD Scholarship jointly funded by the Rutherford Foundation and the Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust (CCEIT) each year.

They are intended to provide full support to enable completion of a PhD at the University of Cambridge in pure or applied science. Dr Steels PhD project is titled how protein misfolding can be prevented in neurodegenerative disease. She will receive a living allowance of approximately 13,900 (indicative amount) per annum, and will have her course and college fees paid. In addition, she is eligible for one, non-transferable, return airfare between the United Kingdom and New Zealand per annum.



Dr Erica Todd. Photo: supplied.

Dr Todd will investigate the epigenetic regulation of sex change in her postdoctoral research project. The fellowship, which aims to build human capability in science, technology, engineering and mathematics by providing early career support for the countrys brightest and most promising researchers, will provide funding to undertake two years postdoctoral research in New Zealand. Each year, the Fellow will receive a stipend of NZ$75,000. In addition a GST-inclusive fund is paid each year of NZ$10,000 to support direct and indirect research costs. Up to five are awarded nationally each year.

Details of the Otago recipients projects follows below:

Ms Charlotte Steel

How protein misfolding can be prevented in neurodegenerative disease

About 60,000 New Zealanders currently suffer from dementia, and this number is expected to increase by 300% by 2050. Many of these neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimers, Parkinsons and Huntingtons diseases, involve the deadly build-up of unfolded or misfolded proteins in brain cells. The resulting death of neurons leads to a progressive degeneration of brain function, which is ultimately fatal. There is no known cure for dementia, and current therapies are only able to treat the symptoms and not the underlying causes of disease.

At the University of Cambridge, Ms Charlotte Steel hopes to undertake a PhD research project in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences. She is interested in the work of an internationally recognised expert research team, led by Professor Mallucci, who specialise in understanding the common cellular processes involved in various neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, Ms. Steel is interested in the unfolded protein response, a protective pathway normally activated during cellular stress, which is detrimentally over-activated in the brains of patients with diseases such as Alzheimers. This over-activation causes cells to stop producing new proteins. However, re-initiating protein synthesis can prevent further neurodegeneration in a mouse model. Ms Steel is interested in investigating how certain compounds that re-induce protein production could be used to prevent the death of brain cells. In the future, such drugs could have the potential to treat, and even prevent, dementia.

Dr Erica Todd

Epigenetic regulation of sex change

Most plants and animals remain the same sex throughout life. Some, however, can change their sex as a normal part of their lifecycle. Natural sex change is very common in highly social species of reef fish, caused by changes in the groups social structure and resulting in gonad restructuring and alternations in appearance and behaviour. The molecular underpinnings of this amazing transformation are not yet well understood. Recent research has linked environmental cues to DNA modifications that shape how genes are expressed, without changing their underlying genetic code  known as epigenetic modifications. This process is relevant to understanding how sex is determined at a molecular level as well as how the external environment can influence gene expression.

In this project, Dr Todd will use fish such as the spotty (Notolabrus celiodotus) and bluehead (Thalassoma bifasciatum) wrasse to study the genetic and environmental bases of sex change. These species are excellent models as manipulating captive social groups readily induces female to male sex change. Dr Todd will combine cutting edge, genome wide analysis of epigenetic DNA modifications and with measures of gene expression in the wrasses to explore how natural sex change is initiated and controlled. She will also examine how manipulating DNA modifications affects the sex change process. This research will advance our understanding of vertebrate sexual development and plasticity, and may also provide insights into human disorders of sexual development.
Wednesday 25 October 2017 4:14pm



Associate Professor Haxby Abbott. Photo: supplied.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) causes adult New Zealanders to lose a total of 467,240 quality-adjusted years of life (QALY) across their lifetimes, new University of Otago research shows. One QALY equates to one year in perfect health.



Knee OA is a debilitating, painful disease that affects many New Zealanders, and now new Otago research has used updated data and models to gain a clearer picture of this chronic conditions considerable impact on health-related QALY losses.



The study, published in the international journal PLOS ONE, is the first to specifically look at the burden of this form of arthritis in New Zealand. It estimates that, across the adult population, on average, each person living with knee OA loses 3.44 years of healthy life (QALY), compared with people without knee OA.



Associate Professor Haxby Abbott, who led the research, says the proportion of QALYs lost, out of the total quality-adjusted life expectancy for those with knee osteoarthritis, is similar across all male, female, Maori and non-Maori subgroups, ranging from 20 to 23 per cent.



Even though it is one of the most common causes of health losses over peoples lifetimes, this particular form of arthritis is an often overlooked quality of life issue for many New Zealanders,  not only can it be severely painful, but it can greatly restrict mobility.



We could potentially make large health gains from public health and policy measures aimed at decreasing the incidence, progression, pain, and disability of osteoarthritis.



Such measures could include models of care that remove system- and funding- barriers to the access and timely delivery of recommended best practice interventions, Associate Professor Abbott says.



The computer simulation model used to calculate the health losses from knee OA in this study can also be used to assess the impact of improvements in OA care. For instance, our earlier research has shown that taking part in properly designed exercise programmes can not only reduce patients pain but also increase their physical function and overall quality of life, he says.



The research is part of a wider Health Research Council of New Zealand-funded study into osteoarthritis in New Zealand.

For more information, contact:



Associate Professor Haxby Abbott

Department of Surgery

Dunedin School of Medicine

University of Otago

Email:haxby.abbott@otago.ac.nz
Goose Creek, SC (29445)

Today

Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Volunteers and employees of Disability Network of Mid-Michigan will be gathering donations Thursday in the front parking lot of the DNMM office building, located at 1705 S. Saginaw Road in Midland.

There is no greater example of what is meant by community than the United Way, said DNMM Executive Director Steven Locke. The United Way directly supports a multitude of area non-profits, as well as hundreds of community members; our friends, our families and our neighbors. Were happy to encourage our employees, our supporters, and our community to Give Change For Change.

Those wishing to donate can stop by the Disability Network parking lot from 8 to 6 p.m. Thursday, rain or shine. Having two driveways, the parking lot offers easy-in / easy-out access. All donors will be entered into a drawing for gift cards and other prizes.

This is a fun and simple way for our staff and our supporters to say thank you to United Way, added Locke. And of course were happy to accept the change that jingles, but we love the change that folds.

Disability Network of Mid-Michigan is a federally-funded Center for Independent Living dedicated to creating accessible and inclusive communities. They provide an array of services to people of all ages and all types of disabilities with the goal of helping them live independently, fully able to access their communities. For more information, please contact Disability Network of Mid-Michigan at 1-800-782-4160 or at www.dnmm.org
Christmas cheer is coming early this year.

More than 200 of "Santa's cousins" will be in downtown Midland at a Claus family reunion Thursday night.

Hosted by the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School, the celebration starts at 7 p.m. The "Claus family" will walk from the courthouse area to Ace Hardware.

Anyone is free to join in on the hour-long event. The Northern Star Express train will be running and a five-piece brass band will accompany the Santa Choir during the festivities.

"There is really just one Santa, and all of these Santas that will come in for training are 'Santa's cousins,'" said Tom Valent, dean of the Santa school.

The more than 200 people entering Santa training this year at the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School are traveling everywhere from out of state to Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway and Australia, Valent said.

The Santas-in-training will be dressed with "a flair of Christmas" during the event, Valent said.

Founded in 1937, the Santa house in Midland is the oldest Santa school in the world, and is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.

The Santa House will be open Nov. 28.
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Members of a Northeast Middle School club launched message-bearing balloons into a clear blue sky, inspired by a similar launch by a Midland resident more than 50 years ago.

John Holmes told members of the Northeast Electronics and Wireless Communications Club about putting a note he wrote inside a balloon in 1963 and eventually  more than a year later  getting a letter from someone who found the balloon and note while fishing in Larry's Creek, Pennsylvania.

"I did the same thing you're going to do today," Holmes told the students last week. The club and another one at Midland High School are educational outreach projects of the Midland Amateur Radio Club (MARC).

Holmes was a student at Parkdale Elementary School when he and a dozen or so friends launched their balloons. At Northeast, a few dozen club members gathered in a classroom and attached cards that said, "Greetings from Northeast Middle School ...," along with their names and information about their project.

A few balloons popped while the group was still in the classroom, but most made it safely outside. After a countdown, the balloons in multiple colors were released and the wind took them east, up and over the tree line.

Anyone who finds a students balloon should contact Northeast science teacher Carman Kessler, a club sponsor, at KesslerCR@midlandps.org.

Club members also launched a much larger, helium-filled "information balloon attached to a small electronics payload that will allow tracking of the balloon.

MARC member Will Halphen explained that the balloon would go up to 45,000 feet, to the stratosphere. Itll fly above the clouds, above the storms, he said.

Connected to the large, clear balloon by a metal wire was an electronics payload including a tiny solar panel, a GPS chip and an antenna.

There are radios all over the country that are listening on that frequency, Halphen said. Because of the GPS chip, We can see precisely where this thing is, anywhere in the world.

The solar power source means that the payload transmits only in sunlight, said MARC organizer Dennis Klipa.

Halphen carefully carried the balloon outside and launched it after some difficulty due to the strong winds. It drifted up much more slowly than the other balloons.

The helium balloon can be tracked online at www.aprs.fi by searching the designation W8MHS-11 in the "Track callsign" box.

As of Tuesday, the tracking signal showed up over Lake Huron, east of Au Gres.

Klipa said it is possible the balloon has taken a northerly route over sparsely populated Canada where there are no relay stations or, less likely, that it sprung a leak during the strong winds before launch and the balloon deflated.

We will just have to wait and see, Klipa said via e-mail. Like all experimental science you can't control all of the variables and, as I am sure NASA would concur, sometimes things fail despite your best efforts.

At the launch, a few club members talked about why they are in the group. Club member Zach Gonzalez is an eighth-grader in his second year with the club. When asked what he enjoys most, he said, Its the whole thing. He has a particular interest in photography, and is enthusiastic about the clubs annual building and launch of a weather balloon which carries a camera.

Felicia Morey is a Midland High ninth-grader and member of the high school club who volunteers with the middle school group. She also loves the weather balloon project, in part because we get to solder things.

The club at Northeast is open to all seventh- and eighth-grade students at the school. The high school club is open to all high school students in Midland County. For more information, contact Klipa at 989-948-5427.
BLOOMINGTON  Five Central Illinois courthouses have a new portrait of Abraham Lincoln to showcase as part of the state's upcoming bicentennial.

William Furry, executive director of the Illinois State Historical Society, delivered 30- by 40-inch framed canvas portraits to courthouses in McLean, Logan, Woodford, Livingston and Ford counties on Tuesday.

The Illinois State Historical Society will be putting these portraits of Lincoln in every courthouse in the state for the 200th birthday of Illinois, he said. So we have 102 counties and so far, we have about 25 counties completed.

The photograph is one of the most iconic of the pre-presidential Lincoln, Furry said. It was taken June 3, 1860, by renowned Chicago photographer Alexander Hesler at a setting in what is now the Old State Capitol in Springfield.

It is the one which he said he believed depicted the best likeness of him, he added.

The canvases are a gift from the Jerome Mirza Foundation, a Bloomington not-for-profit organization founded by the late Jerome Mirza, a Bloomington- and Chicago-based lawyer and past president of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. He died in 2007.

McLean County judges Robert Freitag and Rebecca Foley and 11th Judicial Circuit Court Administrator William Scanlon accepted the portrait on behalf of the county.

We will display it, but we have not yet made the final determination as to where, yet, Scanlon said. We have a Lincoln display in the lobby, but it is too big to put there.

Scanlon said several McLean County officials likely will decide where to place the portrait, including the McLean County property committee, Sheriff Jon Sandage, Facilities Manager Jack Moody, McLean County Administrator Bill Wasson, and officials with the McLean County Museum of History.

The framed canvases are each inscribed with a donor plate acknowledging the gift of the Mirza Foundation and the Illinois State Historical Society.

Furry was joined for the presentations by Judge Thomas Harris of the 4th Judicial Appellate Court and author Guy Fraker, a retired local attorney and Lincoln historian.

The portraits are especially important for Central Illinois, Furry said, because Lincoln rode the 8th Judicial Circuit as a lawyer and sometimes as a sitting judge, arguing for rich and poor clients and helping serve the cause of justice in the early years of Illinois.
BLOOMINGTON  A jury will be allowed to hear circumstantial evidence that may link Kirk Zimmerman to the death of his ex-wife, including testimony about a trip to Indiana where he may have bought a gun and financial reports that prosecutors say show a man whose assets were dwindling sharply after a contentious divorce.

Judge Scott Drazewski ruled Tuesday that prosecutors will be allowed to present evidence that Zimmerman's car traveled to Crawfordsville, Ind., on Oct. 25, 2014  about a week before Pam Zimmerman was shot to death in her Bloomington office.

First Assistant State's Attorney Adam Ghrist argued that data collected by police from Zimmerman's 2011 Hyundai Sonata shows he went to Indiana where he may have purchased the hand gun used to shoot his ex-wife multiple times on Nov. 3, 2014.

Ghrist acknowledged the weapon used to kill the 53-year-old victim has not been found, but circumstances surrounding Zimmerman's actions in the days leading up to her death show "a desire to disguise or hide this travel to Indiana."

On his way to Indiana, Zimmerman stopped briefly in Champaign where his former wife was attending a volleyball game for one of couple's children. He continued on Interstate 74 to Crawfordsville where he stayed less than 50 minutes before heading back to Bloomington, said Ghrist.

The state's lack of proof that Zimmerman, 59, actually bought a gun in Indiana should exclude the information from the trial, argued defense lawyer John Rogers.

"Opportunity doesn't equal motive. Opportunity doesn't equal the purchase of a gun," said Rogers.

Several other factors support the state's contention that Zimmerman killed his wife, contended Ghrist, including the suspect's efforts to disable the locator device on his recently installed Sirius radio system and the use of a cleaning system to wipe all internet search records from his computer.

Gunshot residue found on the gear shift handle of Zimmerman's car after his arrest in July 2015 links him to a weapon  despite Zimmerman's denial that he ever owned or fired a gun, said Ghrist.

Drazewski ruled prosecutors will need to provide expert testimony if they intend to argue that Kirk Zimmerman went to Indiana because it's easier to buy a gun in that state.

Ghrist said he plans to have a witness testify about the differences between Illinois and Indiana gun laws.

"Indiana by a long margin is the largest out-of-state contributor to guns in Illinois," said Ghrist.

Rogers told the prosecutor to expect a pre-trial challenge to such testimony.

Also, a forensic accountant for the FBI will be allowed to share with a jury his report on the Zimmermans' finances before and after their 2012 divorce, according to Drazewski's ruling.

In his effort to bar the testimony, Rogers said Thomas L. Byers is a biased source employed by law enforcement whose conclusions are confusing and misleading.

The state's theory of the murder turns on financial disputes between the couple. Byers' report contends the defendant was struggling to pay his bills and child support after the divorce.

The defense disagrees, saying records will show "Mr. Zimmerman's financial situation was just fine" in November 2014.

Assistant State's Attorney Brad Rigdon countered that the defense objects to the report because of its negative view of Zimmerman's finances.

"The reports shows a financial motive for the murder because he's hemorrhaging money. He's bleeding $1,600 a month," said Rigdon.

The expert's testimony could help jurors understand the 1,000 pages of financial records reviewed as part of the case, the judge ruled. The defense contention that Byers' opinions are not valid can be taken up at the trial during cross examination of the witness, said Drazewski.

The hearing on pre-trial motions ended with the setting of a Dec. 20 hearing on at least three more motions related to potential evidence. No trial date has been set.
BLOOMINGTON  A Central Illinois man facing murder charges has accused a co-defendant of threatening his life by soliciting another inmate to harm him at the McLean County jail, according to court filings related to the July homicide at Funks Grove Nature Preserve.

Matthew Isbell of Marquette Heights, and Christine Roush of Washington are charged with the July 2 murder of Roush's mother, Teresa Ann Poehlman. The 47-year-old victim was found by hikers in a wooded area of the nature preserve.

Poehlman had been stabbed and beaten.

In a request for a reduction in his $300,000 bond, Isbell claims that Roush, 22, attempted to solicit the help of another inmate to harm him and that his life was threatened after he provided information about Poehlman's death to McLean County sheriff's investigators.

Roush also threatened to kill Isbell and his mother if he talked to police, said the court filing.

Sheriff Jon Sandage said Wednesday he has not received any reports of threats involving Isbell and no charges have been filed against Roush based on Isbell's accusations.

Defense lawyer Alison Motta said in her court filing that she received information about the alleged threats as part of discovery materials from the state.

Isbell, also 22, contends that he was "merely a pawn in Roush's plan and a witness to the unfortunate and horrific murder of Teresa Poehlman," states the motion.

Text and social media messages collected by police support Isbell's claim that he was not involved with Roush in any planning that led up to the woman's death, according to the defense motion.

In an interview with investigators, Isbell implicated a third person  a man living in McLean County who allegedly "helped instruct Isbell and Roush on how to dispose of property and get new cellular telephones after the murder was committed," according to court records.

That person has not been located by police. Isbell told police he knew Roush planned to kill her mother and she may have used a crowbar and knife from his truck to commit the murder.

Under Illinois law, a person can be convicted of murder if the defendant shares a common criminal intent and criminal design with the person who kills the victim.

Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the killing that occurred after Poehlman, of East Peoria, and her daughter both booked rooms at the same Bloomington hotel.

The request for a lower bond includes a statement that Isbell is unemployed and has no criminal record.

Both defendants are scheduled in court on Friday: Isbell for his bond motion and Roush for a hearing related to her mental fitness. Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Any other President would be facing an existential crisis after being accused by two pillars of his own party of debasing the nation.

Donald Trump, however, was in "high spirits," an aide said, celebrating a big political victory and another step toward transforming the GOP in his own image.

If Trump's presidency ends in disaster, Sens. Bob Corker and Jeff Flake may one day be remembered as heroes who pleaded with the Republican Party to change a ruinous course, after baring their political souls to assail the President on Tuesday, accusing him of trashing the values and norms on which American democracy was built.

Corker and Flake's breathtaking denunciations of the President's character and behavior better serve to reflect the new truth about the 21st Century GOP: if you are a Republican, you stand with Trump or you get out of town.

Flake, who announced his retirement while salving his conscience in a Senate floor speech, admitted as much when he conceded that for a free trade, pro-immigration, limited government, conservative like him, there was no place in Trump's modern populist, nationalist Republican Party.

"We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country -- the personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms, and institutions, the flagrant disregard for truth or decency, the reckless provocations, most often for the pettiest and most personal reasons." Flake said.

Later, he told CNN's Jake Tapper on "The Lead" that, "It's not enough to be conservative, it seems you have to be angry."

Corker, who had previously warned that Trump was leading the country on a path towards World War III, told CNN's Manu Raju in an interview Tuesday that the President would be remembered for "the debasing of our nation, the constant non-truth telling, just the name-calling."

But for now, Republican lawmakers are choosing not to listen.

Despite detonating double political explosions in Washington, the two senators, who are both standing down after next year's mid-term elections, failed to breach the dam holding back fulminating establishment anger at Trump, who retains rock solid support from his GOP base voters.

Instead of lining up behind Corker and Flake, the party's leaders on Capitol Hill closed ranks, desperate to preserve hopes of the tax reform that Trump and establishment lawmakers badly need, despite their mutual antipathy.

"The party is currently being redefined in Donald Trump's image with his priorities and his tone and way of doing things," said Matt Latimer, a former aide to President George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"The traditional Republican Party has to decide if they are going to acquiesce to that or rebel against it. Right now the majority of the base seems to be in favor of acquiescing. There are very few willing to revolt right now."

The White House all but said good riddance to the two senators, pointing out that their voters had left them behind.

"I think that the people both in Tennessee and Arizona supported this President, and I don't think that the numbers are in the favor of either of those two senators in their states," said White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders.

'Just a group of three'

Flake and Corker, whose critiques followed denunciations -- none by name -- of Trump by Sen. John McCain and Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama last week, are saying publicly what many lawmakers think privately.

But few others are ready to break cover in a party where those who oppose the Trump revolution get consumed by it and as polls show that around 80% of Republicans back the President.

"It is just a group of three right now," said Douglas Brinkley, a CNN historian, drawing parallels from the time when Republicans including Barry Goldwater grouped together to tell Richard Nixon his time in the White House was up.

"Can this become a group of seven or 10?"

At this stage, probably not.

McConnell, the Senate Republican leader had already made his choice -- by standing with Trump at a White House news conference last week -- despite his summer of fending off humiliating attacks by the President.

"If there's anything that unifies Republicans, it's tax reform. We've been looking for the opportunity to do this literally for years," McConnell told reporters, after Trump met his caucus for lunch, laying out the bargain most GOPers are still prepared to make.

"We now have a President who will sign it, who believes in what we're trying to do. And we're going to concentrate on what our agenda is and not any of these other distractions that you all may be interested in," he added.

Only hours after Flake's dramatic speech, he joined Republicans to pass a measure repealing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's rule meant make it easier for Americans to sue their banks and credit card companies.

House Speaker Paul Ryan also wants to ignore the turmoil.

"All this stuff you see on a daily basis on -- Twitter this and Twitter that? Forget about it," Ryan said Tuesday, working on the premise that the Capitol Hill Republicans and the President can still produce results that will appeal to mid-term election voters next year.

In time, if Trump's approval ratings dip into the teens, or the Russia investigation turns up serious wrongdoing, or if the GOP loses control of Congress in November 2018, the party may cut him loose. But it's still early.

Glee from the Bannon wing

The glee of Trump's supporters also served notice that Flake and Corker are as much victims of a populist purge as likely to change the direction of the GOP.

"Winning: Flake Out," read a flashing headline on Breitbart, the populist news organization run by Trump confidant Steve Bannon, who is building a roster of insurgent candidates to challenge GOP senators in primaries.

Andy Surabian, who runs the pro-Trump Great America Alliance, said Flake's departure would be a defeat for those who oppose the President's "America First" nationalism.

"Today's announcement from Sen. Flake that he would not run for reelection is a monumental win for the entire Trump movement and should serve as another warning shot to the failed Republican establishment that backed Flake and others like them that their time is up," Surabian said.

An aide told CNN's Sara Murray that Trump was in "high spirits" after the tumultuous day in Washington.

But David Gergen, an adviser to presidents of both parties, said such forthright criticism of a President from within his own party was unprecedented.

"To have these kind of open breaks, with the inflammatory language they used, it is about the moral unacceptability of the President, that goes beyond anything we have seen," Gergen told CNN's Anderson Cooper.
Recently I spent two weeks with a friend's family in Ramallah. Totally immersed in the Arabic culture, I was amazed at the warmth, kindness and generosity of this beautiful family. They took me to Bethlehem, Nablus, Hebron, Jericho and the Dead Sea.

Palestinians are only allowed to enter Jerusalem and Israel via an Israeli taxi. Abed and his friend were my personal Jerusalem guides. I saw many check points with armed Israeli soldiers, even in the Arab section of the old city. Living in this occupied country has to be difficult. Palestinians must buy their water, electricity, gas, etc. from Israel even though they could supply these necessities. Arabs in Jerusalem cannot make repairs to their homes.

In Hebron, I went to the oldest continuous place of prayer, the Ibrahimi Mosque, where Abraham and Sarah are buried. The old city of Hebron is a World Heritage Site. I saw many of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank. How would you like it if you came home from work or vacation and discovered that your place was not yours anymore? These settlements have displaced many Palestinians.

I was given a beaded key by a retired history professor. He explained that Palestinians carry a key as a sign of hope that some day they will return home and their land will be theirs.

Sharon A. Loudon, Long Point
100 years ago

Oct. 25, 1917: Illinois seeks to borrow $60 million to create a network of highways, or hard roads. Bloomington hosted a meeting of the state highway commission where the campaign for passage of the bond proposition was finalized. The conference was called a history maker.

75 years ago

Oct. 25, 1942: Deputy Jim Christensen resigned and will go to work at the big ordnance plant near Springfield. Christensen has been an investigator working in identifications for the sheriff and has an excellent reputation. Deputy (later coroner) Curtis Gilberts will take his place.

50 years ago

Oct. 25, 1967: The Parklands Foundation set a goal of acquiring 5,000 acres (7.8 square miles) of land around McLean County over the next three years. Parklands is a newly former nonprofit group with the goal of advancing outdoor recreation in McLean and surrounding counties.

25 years ago

Oct. 25, 1992: A British Broadcasting Corporation crew is in town taping at ISU and Eastland Mall. The producers think the Twin Cities would be a good place to show the folks back home what Middle America is really like.
In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, a host of industries, including film, fashion, tech, sports, restaurants and media have been reevaluating their role in promoting and protecting abusers in the workplace.

Yesterday, the Telegraph reported that Conde Nast COO James Woolhouse sent an email to the "country presidents" saying that all unpublished work by photographer Terry Richardson should be "killed or substituted." This decision means Richardson, a fashion photographer, will no longer be able to work with some of the world's top magazines, including American and international Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ and W.

Per the Telegraph:

I am writing to you on an important matter. Conde Nast would like to no longer work with the photographer Terry Richardson.

Any shoots that have been commission[ed] or any shoots that have been completed but not yet published, should be killed and substituted with other material.

Please could you confirm that this policy will be actioned in your market effective immediately. Thank you for your support in this matter.

The email obtained by the Telegraph did not explicitly state the company's reason for severing professional ties with Richardson. However, the photographer has been accused of inappropriate behavior on set by models in the past. In 2014, several petitions urging brands not to work the photographer circulated, and BuzzFeed asked 25 major brands if they planned to continue having a relationship with Richardson. (Vogue, at the time, said they had "no plans"). The same year, Richardson wrote in the Huffington Post, "I collaborated with consenting adult women who were fully aware of the nature of the work, and as is typical with any project, everyone signed releases."

Now, Valentino has also announced that it has "no plans" to work with the photographer in the future. Richardson was hired in July to shoot the brand's resort 2018 campaign (which was revealed last week). Though initial Instagram posts promoting the campaign credited Richardson, his name was removed from captions after Valentino received backlash online.



A spokesperson for Valentino told the Daily Beast today: "Valentino's last campaign with photographer Terry Richardson was shot in July 2017  there are no plans on a future campaign and, of course, we take these allegations against Terry Richardson seriously."

[h/t The Cut]

Image via BFA
To help Nepal cope with its low production, which has resulted in a food deficit, the Chinese government has been helping Nepal to promote production through Chinese hybrid rice since 2016.

Rice crop, as one of the staple foods in Nepal, spanned 1.553 million hectares of land in the Himalayan country although production was limited to only 5.23 million metric tons in fiscal year 2016-2017.

Nearly 70 percent of the Nepali population work in the agriculture sector which significantly contributes to national gross domestic product.

However, Nepal still struggles to produce an adequate supply of food, especially rice, hence imports from other South Asian countries are vital.

To help Nepal cope with its low production, which has resulted in a food deficit, the Chinese government has been helping Nepal to promote production through Chinese hybrid rice since 2016.

The Chinese and the Nepali governments signed an agreement on agricultural technical cooperation project in February 2016, which will last for three years.

During the first phase, China has been providing economic and technical assistance in the agricultural sector, especially for rice and maize production.

Yuan Longping High-tech Agriculture Co. Ltd, a Chinese implementing agency, is working in cooperation with the National Agricultural Research Council (NARC) of Nepal.

"We have been carrying out various comparative trials and high-yield demonstrations of Chinese hybrid rice in Nepal," Zhang Xiaohui, agronomist and team leader of the agricultural technical cooperation project, told Xinhua.

"We have already completed the trial of 67 varieties in five different locations covering mid hills to southern plains," Zhang said on Monday.

He explained that Chinese hybrid rice grows in a stable form with strong resistance, has long panicles and has a higher yield than the local varieties found in different parts of Nepal.

As part of the trial, Bhaktapur, which lies a few kilometers away from central Kathmandu, was selected for the plantation of Chinese hybrid rice this year.

Two varieties LPNBR 1628 and LPNBR 1632 were planted in around 10 ropanies of land, according to local measurement.

Fifty-year-old Bimala Shrestha has been producing a local variety of rice and seasonal vegetables in her field for over two decades. However, with the lowering yield, she always struggles to secure a decent income.

But to everyone's surprise, Shrestha has produced more than seven tons of rice this year, the highest yield in the last 18 years, thanks to the Chinese hybrid rice. She said that she had never imagined that the production would be this high.

"I cannot express how happy I am. Production is incredibly high this time compared to previous years," Shrestha told Xinhua

"Since we are still harvesting, it's hard to calculate but our estimation is between seven to nine tons per hectare. I am thankful to the Chinese for their assistance," she said, while working in her field.

The mother of four explained that her income has increased threefold compared to previous years, which will help her family to lead a more comfortable if not luxurious life.

A farmer from the neighboring district of Kavre, Rewati Prasad Timalsena, 59, was in attendance. Timalsena told Xinhua, "Production in my field increased by four times this year, so has the income. The Chinese rice variety has been a real boon."

According to government statistics, 38 out of 75 districts are thought to suffer from a food deficit in Nepal, which means half of the country is in a food crisis. Nepal usually imports rice from South Asian countries like India and Bangladesh.

As the Chinese rice is gradually getting popular, the government has been planning to register these rice varieties and self-produce the seed within a couple of years.

Experts said that if Chinese varieties will continue to be planted on a large scale, then the dependency of Nepal on other countries for rice imports will soon end.

Ananda Kumar Gautam, director at the National Agricultural Research Council, told Xinhua, "Under this project, we have been testing the Chinese hybrid rice and we found that its production capacity is much higher than our local variety. I think we can expand its plantation so that the government can reduce rice imports."

The Chinese government has also been assisting Nepal in training the manpower working in the agriculture sector.

They have also agreed to open a post-harvest support lab that will boast high-end Chinese machinery.
Apple has reset their homepage today to reflect all-things iPhone X and pump-up the volume for pre-orders that begin this Friday. Good news surfaced yesterday from one of Apple's key TrueDepth camera suppliers AMS who forecasted a strong Q4. The stock soared on that news. If this camera component maker sees very strong growth for the next quarter when the iPhone X comes to market, then perhaps the negative rumors about the problems with Apple's iPhone X camera are completely overblown. The day before that report a supply chain report stated that Foxconn would deliver 25-30 million iPhone X models for Q4. That would be fantastic news and put the iPhone X on course for the next two quarters. Yet the negative rumors are coming in never ending waves with one feeding off the other. Case in point, Bloomberg's latest report is as close to being a hit piece as I've ever seen.They make a serious charge that Apple shouldn't allow to be left unanswered.



The Bloomberg report via their secret sources is all but saying that Apple will weaken one the key features of iPhone X, Face ID, in order to get production back on cue. That's a claim that Apple will either ignore being made public or go on the offensive to make it known that no such compromise was ever made. This is a very serious charge and with sources being anonymous as usual, it's difficult to know if Bloomberg's sources are engineers, brokerage analysts that are pro Android or people directly involved at Foxconn or in Apple's suppl chain. This isn't just a bad rumor, this is a hit job that says that Apple will compromise iPhone X and deliver a diluted or outright fake feature.

The madness of trying to say that the iPhone X and Apple's whole strategy with the iPhone including iPhone 8 is a failure is coming out of the woodwork. We covered a report this week titled "A new Consumer Intelligence Research Partners Report analyzes the First 7 Days of iPhone Sales in Vain." The whole report is off the mark. Last year's iPhone 7 was release 9 days earlier than the iPhone 8 and so just on that basis alone you can't compare the two sets of stats fairly. In just a few days on the market, the iPhone 8 soared to being the number one smartphone in Taiwan crushing Samsung's Galaxy S8. Does that sound like a failure to you?

The whole iPhone business model was thrown on its head by adding the iPhone X and it will take two full quarters at minimum to see if Apple's iPhone strategy was a success or failure. Making direct comparisons with the stats from iPhone 7 isn't valid, especially based on a single quarter when Apple is releasing a super advanced 3D camera module for Face ID. Little snags in production should be considered standard and not a disaster.

The Bloomberg report comparing Microsoft's Kinect with Apple's new TrueDepth camera is off the wall stupid. Intel's RealSense camera has been on the market for some time now and so Apple refining it a little further isn't as dramatic as Bloomberg makes it out to be.

The Bloomberg report further speculates that "Despite demanding the near impossible, Apple didn't add extra time to get it rightgiving suppliers the typical two-year lead time. The tight schedule underestimated the complexity of making and assembling exceedingly fragile components, said one of the people familiar with the production process."

To keep the report on it's negative track they concluded that "The 3-D sensor shortage is expected to end in early 2018. Even so, signs of weakness in iPhone 8 sales means Apple could sell fewer handsets than last yeardespite all the fanfare surrounding the iPhone X." For more on this, read the full Bloomberg report.

At the end of the day, we'll have to wait until at least the end of calendar Q1 2018 (Apple's fiscal Q2) to see how the iPhone strategy actually fared. The iPhone 8 is selling well, the iPhone X over two quarters will be on track or ahead of sales and the iPhone 6S and iPhone 7 sales will show an increase for those unwilling to spend US$1200 for the high end or the iPhone 8 that may not offer enough advancement for some.

When Android vendors like Samsung, Huawei and others sell the majority of their smartphones in the mid to low end range, Wall Street and the press applaud these companies for 'volume shipments' even though they're close to being profitless.

This year Apple fans have many more choices than in the past and the wireless carriers have great deals on the iPhone 6S and 7. So the mix will be completely different than in the past and in total Apple will sell more phones. It's not like Apple fans will stop upgrading their iPhones or switch to Android, because that's not going to happen. The negative reports would have you think that iPhone sales will fall off a cliff over the next two quarters and I don't buy into that hysteria in the least

In June Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple raked in 83.4% of Smartphone Profits in Q1 2017 while Samsung sat in Apple's Shadow at 12.9%." This is really what matters at the end of the day and with Apple selling the iPhone X at US$1200 or higher means that higher profits will make up for any short fall in iPhones, if that even occurs over the next two full quarters.

While the Bloomberg report sounds in-depth and has a nice fancy graphic, it's still a report full of speculating negativity. My only hope is that one of Apple's executives go public with a clear statement stating that Apple's Face ID has not been compromised to meet a production schedule. That's a serious charge that Apple has to refute and the sooner the better, because why would anyone want to buy the iPhone X if they know that the technology has been compromised?





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Still plodding along:

Frankincense is a fragrant gum resin consisting of small white chunks and beads that can easily be ground into a powder. When burned, this powder gives off a pleasant odor like that of balsam. The resin, milky white in color, was probably produced in the central district of Hadramawt, along the Indian Ocean coast of southern Arabia. From there, it was exported to Palestine and other parts of the Mediterranean world. The caravan routes for transporting Arabian incense and the products of Africa and India began in Sheba, the modern Yemen. The main route went north via the valleys and oases of the peninsula, through Mecca, and to Maan, where it split into two branches. One of these went west to Gaza and Egypt and the other north to Damascus.

The importance of this trade cannot be overestimated. The temples, and later the churches, of the eastern Mediterranean were hungry for frankincense, as were upper-class private dwellings. (The prophet Ezekiel, for instance, condemns a rich and unrighteous woman who sat upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil.)[1] Frankincense was used extensively in the rituals of the temple at Jerusalem.[2] It was a major and essential ingredient of the incense that was holy to the Lord, and the use of this incense for any unauthorized purpose was expressly forbidden in the law of Moses.[3] Such incense was burned on a specially dedicated and designed altar of incense by the high priest each morning and evening.[4] That altar stood just before the veil of the holy of holies in the temple, flanked on one side by the altar of the bread of the presence and on the other by the seven-branched candelabra.[5] Once a year the high priest was directed to carry a censer of burning incense as he entered the holy of holies and approached the mercy seat.[6] But the substance also played a role in the ordinary daily service of the temple. Of the Levites, the Old Testament says, They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.[7] Frankincense and oil were added to the cereal offerings.[8] Frankincense was placed with the bread of the presence before the holy of holies.[9] Such extensive use required large amounts of the precious material. In Herods day, we know that the temple consumed more than 600 pounds of incense each year, specially prepared according to a secret formula. Huge stores of the substance were kept in the temple treasury.[10]

The fragrance of the incense symbolized the prayers of Gods people, ascending upward to the divine throne. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, says the Psalmist, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.[11] This notion continued into New Testament times. John the Revelator saw the four beasts and the twenty-four elders of his vision fall down before the Lamb of God, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.[12] When, however, the worship of the temple or the Church became merely an empty form, when the people lacked the proper spirit of sincere worship and devotion, the prophets were there to relate the Lords condemnation. Thus, in the days of Lehi, the prophet Jeremiah lashed out against such empty and meaningless worship: To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba? . . . Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.[13]

[1] Ezekiel 23:41.

[2] Also at the derivative Jewish temple at Elephantine in Egypt. On this, see Advice of the Governors of Judah and Samaria to the Jews of Elephantine, in James B. Pritchard, ed., Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament, 2d ed. (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1955), 492. Many critics of the Book of Mormon, incidentally, have ridiculed the idea that a pious Jew, such as Nephi is alleged to have been, would ever have dreamed of building a temple outside of Jerusalem (2 Nephi 5:16). The Elephantine temple, however, which was located near Aswan in upper Egypt, shows that the Book of Mormon is plausible on this point, and that its critics are incorrect. It was probably constructed at almost exactly the same time that Nephi built his temple in the Americas and functioned with the apparent approval of the authorities at Jerusalem. See Hayim Tadmor, in H. H. Ben-Sasson, A History of the Jewish People (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1976), 179-80; also Bezalel Porten, Did the Ark Stop at Elephantine? Biblical Archaeology Review 21/3 (May/June 1995): 54-67, 76-77. Later, yet another Jewish temple, that of Onias, was built at Leontopolis.

[3] Exodus 30:9, 34-38; Leviticus 10:1-3.

[4] Exodus 30:1-10. Luke 1:8-11 reflects this practice, although it suggests that, by the time of Christ, other priests were permitted to officiate in this service in place of the high priest.

[5] K. Galling, Incense Altar, in George Edward Buttrick, et al., eds., The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, 4 vols. and a supplement (Nashville: Abingdon, 1962-1976), 2:699-700, supplies references for the idea that at least one type of Israelite incense altar was itself borrowed from Arabia.

[6] Leviticus 16:12-13. The censers of ancient Israelite temple worship were of an interesting form, with the incense itself often resting in a hand, carved in cupping shape, at the end of a long handle which had been hollowed out to allow air to pass through in order to keep the incense burning. See L. E. Toombs, Incense, Dish for, in George Edward Buttrick, et al., eds., The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, 4 vols. and a supplement (Nashville: Abingdon, 1962-1976), 2:698-99, for a very brief article on the subject, with further references. The angel of Revelation 8:3-4 stands at the altar with a censer from which the prayers of the Saints ascend, mingled with incense. An intriguing image, I think, for Latter-day Saint temple-goers.

[7] Deuteronomy 33:10.

[8] Leviticus 2:1-2, 14-16; 6:14-18; compare Isaiah 43:23; Jeremiah 17:26; 41:5.

[9] Leviticus 24:7.

[10] 1 Chronicles 9:29; Nehemiah 13:5, 9.

[11] Psalm 141:2. Anciently, it was common to raise the hands heavenward as a gesture of prayer, as we today fold our hands or our arms. Some may find this significant. I do.

[12] Revelation 5:8; compare 8:3-4; also Luke 1:10. The marginal note in the KJV to the word odours suggests incense as an alternate reading, which is precisely correct.

[13] Jeremiah 6:20.
Patna: After having failed to impress the NDA in his bid to get a spot in the new NDA-led Nitish administration in Bihar, a frustrated Jitan Ram Manjhi is now on a one-man campaign to get his son a berth in the Nitish cabinet saying his son was educated and deserved a chance to be a minister.

The leader of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), a party he created shortly after being kicked out of the Janata Dal  U in 2015, Manjhi, while holding a press conference in Patna on Tuesday, like a doting father, advocated for his son Santosh Kumar Suman saying he was both educated and qualified to hold a portfolio in the Nitish cabinet.

"He certainly deserves a chance to be included in the cabinet," Manjhi, who was the Chief Minister of Bihar for a brief period of time between May 20, 2014 and February 20, 2015, said.

It may be recalled the Manjhi's other son Praveen Suman, was arrested by the police in Gaya in September 2015 when he was found carrying Rs. 4.65 lakh in cash in a poll-bound Bihar. The police had said that the money was possibly meant to lure voters in Gaya district.

Then last year in October, police had arrested Manjhi's maternal grandson Vicky Kumar Manjhi for carrying liquor bottles near Kathwara village under Dobhi police station area in Gaya district.

Police had recovered 12 bottles of beer and a bottle of Royal Stag from his possession.

In both cases, Manjhi had denied any culpability saying his son and grandson were set up by his opponents.

Turning his attention towards the NDA government in Bihar, the HAM leader said that while other constituents of the NDA including Janata Dal  U and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) were part of the Nitish government, his own party and Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) were still waiting to find a place in the NDA cabinet in Bihar.

Without providing any details, Manjhi said that his party will hold a rally at Patna's Gandhi Maidan on April 8 next year. "Details of the rally will be provided at a later time," he said.

Defending the Nitish government, the former Chief Minister blamed the opposition for rise in crime in the state saying the parties not in power were encouraging people to commit crime in an attempt to malign the state government.
Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) legislator and party general secretary Mundrika Singh Yadav passed away at a private hospital in Patna on Tuesday at age 74 following a brain hemorrhage, family members said.

Yadav was earlier rushed to the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) after he collapsed in his bathroom on Monday morning with blood coming out of his head. He was then taken to the Paras hospital where he was kept in a ventilator overnight.

Family members said the RJD leader was suffering from dengue fever for the past few days. His condition, however, worsened in the past few days. His family was planning to fly him to Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) but due to the hemorrhage, doctors advised against it.

Yadav, an MLA from Jehanabad, is survived by his wife, four sons and a daughter.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav described Mundrika Singh Yadav's death as a personal loss to him. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi also described him as a 'veteran socialist leader' and called his death a 'great loss to the state'.

The Nitish administration has announced a state funeral for the RJD leader.
Iranian-Born Swedish Resident Sentenced to Death Based on Forced Confession

10/24/17

Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran

Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian-born Swedish resident who has been imprisoned in Iran since April 2016, was sentenced to death for "moharebeh" (enmity with God) based on a forced confession, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has learned.



Ahmadreza Djalali

"On two occasions, Ahmadreza's interrogators forced him to read word for word from a piece of paper and filmed him in his solitary cell," a source close to the Djalali family told CHRI. "They threatened to harm his children in Sweden if he did not say those words in front of the camera. Ahmadreza signed and read the written statements out of fear. They also added other charges that were never brought up during interrogation."

"The court also ignored his complaint against his interrogators for fabricating a case against him based on forced confessions," added the source, who requested anonymity.

The sentence, which was issued by Judge Abolqasem Salavati of Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court on October 21, 2017, for Djalali's alleged collaboration with Israel, will be appealed before the 20-day deadline, the source told CHRI.

Djalali is a non-practicing general medicine physician with a post-doctorate degree in emergency and disaster medicine. He had previously traveled to Iran by invitation of state organizations, including the Red Crescent, without problems.

Salavati has presided over many cases against dual nationals, including Iranian-Americans Amir Hekmati, Saeed Abedini, and Jason Rezaian, who were released in January 2016 in a prisoner swap deal with the United States.

He is also the presiding judge in current cases against dual nationals including Iranian-American Siamak Namazi, his father Baquer Namazi, and British-Iranian citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

In all these cases, the victims were held without due process and sentenced under unclear or unannounced charges, and denied full and proper legal representation.

"The lawyer was given not more than two minutes to defend him," the source told CHRI. "The court did not take into consideration any of the evidence gathered by the family to prove his innocence."

Djalali went on hunger strike on February 15, 2017, for almost three weeks to protest being denied a lawyer and being threatened by interrogators and Salavati with the death penalty before his trial.

Tehran University Invite

"We have been informed that he has been accused of cooperation with the Israeli government and that his education and family expenses in Sweden were paid by Israel," said the source.

"Ahmadreza had shown his invitation letter from the university that had nothing to do with the Israeli government, but it made no difference," added the source.

On April 24, 2016, Djalali, who lives in Sweden with his wife and two children, was arrested in Tehran by Intelligence Ministry agents and held in solitary confinement in Evin Prison's Ward 209 where he was interrogated for several months.

Djalali was officially invited by Tehran University to speak about his knowledge and experience as a disaster medical response expert.

The Judiciary's ongoing imprisonment of dual nationals contradicts President Hassan Rouhani's repeated calls for expatriates to return to Iran. The growing number of arrests also reflects hardliners' efforts to prevent the engagement with the West that the Rouhani administration has sought to encourage.

At least 10 dual and foreign nationals are currently imprisoned in Iran.

Iranian-born Canadian resident Saeed Malekpour, serving a life sentence, has been held since October 2008; Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi, held since October 2015 and his father, 80-year-old Baquer Namazi, held since February 2016, have both been sentenced to ten years in prison; 77-year-old Iranian-British dual citizen Kamal Foroughi, sentenced to seven years in prison, has been held since 2011; American citizen Xiyue Wang, held since the summer of 2016, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran; Iranian-British dual citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, was sentenced to five years in prison in September 2016; Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese-born US permanent resident held since September 2015, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison; and Iranian-Austrian dual citizen Kamran Ghaderi, held since January 2016, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Iranian-American Karan Vafadari, held since July 2016, has not been sentenced yet.
Students, MPs Protest Against Rouhani's Conservative Nominee for Iran's Science Ministry

10/25/17

Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran

Rouhani's Previous Nominees Rejected by Supreme Leader

Reformist members of Parliament and Iranian university students have come out strongly against President Hassan Rouhani's nominee to head the Science Ministry, Mansour Gholami, claiming he supports conservative policies and had previously collaborated with security agencies.

Gholami, 64, has been the chancellor of Bou-ali Sina University in western Iran since 2014. He was formally introduced to Parliament for a vote of confidence on October 22, 2017, more than two months after Rouhani first proposed his cabinet nominees in August. The Deliberations are scheduled for October 29.

The protests against Gholami heading the ministry, which sets policy for higher education and university affairs in the Islamic Republic, began after reports emerged of his possible nomination.

"The news that the head of Bou-Ali University has been nominated for the Science Ministry has led to a wave of criticism and concern among academics and students alike," tweeted reformist member of Parliament Mahmoud Sadeghi, on October 18, 2017.

Sadeghi had tweeted a day earlier that more than 10 of Rouhani's other nominees had been rejected by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

According to Article 133 of Iran's Constitution, "Ministers will be appointed by the president and will be presented to the Assembly for a vote of confidence."



Mansour Gholami, nominee to head Iran's Science Ministry



Before Parliament began deliberations on Rouhani's nominees, the supreme leader's official website denied involvement in picking "every single" candidate.

"The leader of the Islamic Revolution is sensitive about some ministries, such as science, education and Islamic guidance, because any deviation by them could deviate the country from the main path toward its ideal goals... but the leader does not interfere in selecting these ministers," said an analysis posted on the website July 28, 2017.

According to reformist MP Mohammad Reza Tabesh, Gholami was Rouhani's 20th choice. The list included Elham Aminzadeh, Reza Faraji Dana, Jafar Towfighi, Ali Khaki Sadigh and the ministry's current head, Zia Hashemi, Tabesh told the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) on October 22.

"The reason why it is taking so long to introduce a nominee for the Science Ministry is because Mr. Rouhani wants the supreme leader's blessing for all agencies and every appointment and that's not possible," said Deputy Parliament Speaker Ali Motahari in a post on the Telegram messaging network on October 20, 2017.

"He is undermining the legislature as the only deciding authority in this matter," he added.

Student Protests

Students at two campuses in Tehran-Amirkabir University of Technology and Allameh Tabataba'i University-held protests against Gholami's nomination on October 22. Another protest was held at Qazvin University, west of the capital, also on that day, according to ILNA.

Students and political activists also protested on social media using the Persian hashtag "  " (university abandoned).

In tweets published on October 20, student activist Mohammad Ali Kamfirouzi, who studies law at Tehran University, described Gholami as an "ineffective conservative" and accused him of reinstating a Bou-Ali University security official widely known for suppressing student protests against the disputed result of the 2009 presidential election.

Student activist Sina Qelich tweeted on October 19 that Gholami had suspended a student even though he had been acquitted of anti-state crimes in court.

"Introducing Gholami for the Science Ministry is a mockery of all the hopes students had when they campaigned during the elections," added Qelich. "Wake up Mr. Rouhani!"

Rouhani, known as a centrist pragmatist with ties to conservative and reformist factions, received strong backing from university students during his 2013 and 2017 presidential campaigns.

During his May 2017 campaign, he praised students as "ambassadors of knowledge and shining hopes of the future" and urged them to join him with the rest of the nation in achieving "freedom, security, tranquility, and progress."

"What the universities need is a secure climate, not a security climate," he said during a speech on Students' Day at Tehran University on December 7, 2015.

On October 18, 2017, more than 500 student journalists signed an open letter to Rouhani urging him to introduce a minister who supported the moderate policy positions Rouhani touted during his election campaign.

"We must bluntly inform your excellency that some of the nominees mentioned for the Science Ministry have a dark history in suppressing student rights and freedoms," said the letter.
Iran Nervous About Influence Of Social Media

10/25/17

Source: RFE/RL

A senior Iranian official on Monday expressed concern that foreign powers may interfere in the country's elections through social media. Social media tools, such as the messaging application Telegram could control and analyze the behavior of a society and estimate the election results with 97% accuracy, the head of Iran's Civil Defense Organization, Gholam Reza Jalali said in a press conference in Tehran.

Source: Iranian magazine Jeem Khorasan





Jalali claimed that Telegram could sell the information acquired from Iranian users, to Israel, United States, and Saudi Arabia.



"With the information it possesses, Telegram is able to engineer public opinion," the head of Iran's Civil Defense Organization, Jalali told journalists. "The fact that Saudi Arabia has control over our society and can create crisis from time to time, is because it is in possession of this information."



According to Pavel Durov, The Russian CEO and co-founder of Telegram, the messaging application has an estimated 40 million active users in Iran -- meaning half of the country's population.



Iranian officials admit the popular social messaging tool has 30 million users.



Last month, prosecutors in Tehran filed charges against Durov alleging that his application was "providing services to terrorist groups such as ISIS" and for "spreading and facilitating" child pornography, human and drug trafficking.



According to experts, social media played a crucial role in the victory of President Hassan Rouhani in this year's presidential election. This makes conservatives nervous and from time to time they call for more control over social media.



Iran has a sophisticated system of filtering millions of websites and internet users deploy an array of circumvention tools to gain access to everything from western movies, to music to independent news and political information.



However, smart phones and social media have opened the flood gates, which makes cyber censors concerned and nervous.



Jalali also added, if Iran cannot impose its sovereignty over social media, other countries will have "cultural control" over Iranian society.





Gholamreza Jalali, the head of Iran's Civil Defense Organization



The servers of any social media website or application that has more than 30 million Iranian members should not be outside the country, he demanded. "This is a national security necessity and not a political one," Jalali said according to Iran's News Agency, IRNA.



According to Iran's Civil Defense Organization, after the recent announcement by the U.S. President Donald Trump about taking actions against cyber threats from Iran, Tehran expects cyber attacks from the United States.
Iran's oil exports to China up 59 percent in September

10/25/17

Source: Press TV

The latest market figures show that Iran's exports of crude oil to China in September saw a whopping increase of 59 percent compared to the same period last year. Figures released by Reuters showed that Iran exported as much as 3.22 million tonnes - or 784,000 barrels per day (bpd) - to Asia's largest and world's second top consumer last month.

Reuters quoted traders with knowledge of Iran's oil sales as saying that the hefty growth was spurred by resumption of condensate lifting.



Traders also said the rise came as Chinese firms lifted more oil from joint venture productions in Iran.



Earlier, market figures showed that Iran's oil exports in September had reached the highest level since February.



Figures released by Bloomberg showed that Iran shipped 2.28 million barrels a day (mb/d) of crude oil to international markets over the period.



The rise came as Iran - together with Iraq that exported 3.98 mb/d in September - took advantage of production cuts implemented by Saudi Arabia. Lower exports by the Saudis provided an opportunity to the two neighbors to win buyers in key markets like China and the US.



Saudi Arabia's exports were 6.68 mb/d, the second-lowest for this year, Bloomberg added.



While Iraq took over the Saudis in exports to the US and India, Iran outpaced the strongest forces inside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) over exports to Asian heavyweight China.



For several years before 2012 when Iran faced a series of draconian US-led sanctions, the country exported around 2.5 mb/d, with more than half going to Asia, mainly China, South Korea, India and Japan. The sanctions decreased exports to below 1 mb/d. After they were lifted in early 2016, Iran's oil exports increased gradually and today stand at around pre-sanctions levels.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised issues about the countrys revenue underperformance and asked the government to streamline its policies on tax incentives.



In a statement to the Daily Graphic, the IMF said revenue administration measures had been insufficient to boost revenue collection so far, and that revenue underperformance remained a big challenge to the countrys economic recovery effort.



The IMF has consequently asked the government to not only strengthen its revenue administration but also implement measures to broaden the tax base by streamlining its policies on tax expenditures, incentives, exemptions and holidays.



We hope that the review of tax expenditures initiated will provide a good basis for developing a clear and time-bound action plan, the IMF said.



There have been concerns that the government will miss its growth targets due to revenue shortfalls and an IMF forecast of 5.9 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth.



This is because provisional fiscal data for the first seven months of the year show that total revenue and grants amounted to GH20.8 billion, which is 10.3 per cent of GDP, compared with a target of GH24.0 billion or 11.3 per cent of GDP.



Revenue and expenditure mismatch



Again, the total expenditures and arrears clearance stand at GH28.8 billion, which is 14.3 per cent of GDP, against a target of GH32.3 billion, which is also 16.0 per cent of GDP.



The revenue performance has been undermined by low import levels, a slower pace of implementing specific tax measures, revision to tax assessments and a sluggish non-oil real sector.



Tax worries



The worry is that the government abolished some taxes at the beginning of the year and is yet to find innovative ways to re-introduce tax nets and bring in more revenue.



Among the numerous fiscal economic interventions promised and being implemented by the government is the reduction in taxes to ease the high cost of doing business in the country.



Taxes such as the 17.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on financial services and domestic air tickets were scrapped, while corporate income tax was reduced from 25 to 20 per cent.



The countrys growth last year slumped to an estimated 3.6 per cent, the lowest level in decades, as an economy that until 2014 was one of Africas most dynamic struggled to overcome the impact of lower prices for its gold and oil exports and contained fiscal problems.



However the Director of the African Department at the IMF, Mr Abebe Aemro Selassie, said there still remained more fiscal reforms that needed to be done this year for Ghana to leapfrog.



I think some fiscal reforms are needed in Ghana to be able to reach the level I think that's going to be necessary, so we look forward to working in the coming months with the government, he said.



The deficit was a sign of the country struggle to tame its national finances with help from a $918 million IMF programme set to end in December 2018, which will be reviewed in early 2019.



It said the support to the country was to bring the government debt on a clearly declining path, which is a key objective of the IMF programme.



We stand ready to provide technical assistance in this area for the government when requested, the IMF said.

Source: Daily Graphic









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Dr Lawrence A. Kannae, Vice Chairman of the Public Service Commission on Wednesday said the Commission is urgently considering the running of programmes to ensure that employees get adequate knowledge on retirement policies in the public service.



Dr Kannae, said some employees always expressed fears when they were due for retirement blaming that on lack of preparedness.



He said some employees therefore apply for post-retirement contract so that they could continue to work.



Dr Kannae was speaking at the launch of the 2015 State of the Public Service Report (SoPSR) in Accra; the 344-page book survey covers areas such as Effective Leadership, Human Resource Management Development, and Transparency and Accountability in Public Service Organizations. It was sponsored by the World Bank.



According to Dr Kannae, it was important that employees were handed down with needed knowledge so they would adequately prepare for their retirement.



He said currently there was no policy to prepare staff towards retirement and urged Public Service Organizations to initiate programmes to prepare staff towards retirement.



If you prepare well, when you are served with letters, you will not get heart attacks, he said.



On employees annual leave, the Vice Chairman explained that annual leave was a right that ought to be enjoyed by all.



Dr Kannae therefore urged employers to encourage employees to go on leave.



He observed that people who often refuse to go on leave end up collapsing on the job and saddled with stress and depression.



If you fail to go on leave and you fall down and die, remember you will be replaced, he said.



Touching on the report, Dr Kannae stressed that it was important that recruitment were done transparently through advertisement for other citizens to benefit.



He said some of the challenges contained in the report did not require huge financial requirement and appealed to institutions to effect these changes.

Source: GNA









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The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has disclosed that some unscrupulous persons are using non-conforming meters from Togo and Nigeria.



The users of those meters aim at outwitting the system and also avoid the payment of bills, the company said.



Daniel Mensah Asare, Afienya District Manager made this known on the sidelines of the commissioning of a new ECG business center at Mataheko in the Ningo Prampram District of the Greater Accra Region.



He said the meters do not meet the specification of ECG standardized meters, stating that efforts are underway to clamp down on such users, statingWe are taking measures together with the police to clamp down on users of those meters since they do not conform to our standards here, Mr. Asare said.



Non-Billing Meters



Mr. Asare also revealed that there were about 18,000 meters in the Afienya District that were not receiving bills.



However, he said those meters have all been set up, and have been appropriately captured into the ECG system in the area.



Mr. Asare said the district is upgrading all the conductors within the Zenu area from a size of 50 aluminum to 120 aluminum, to be able to carry more load.



He said they will also be adding some more transformers in the system.



In a bid to extend services to households, Mr. Asare said there is a massive expansion project currently on-going under the regional supply improvement project within the Appolonia and Katamanso areas, which is targeted at getting everyone connected to the grid.



The Afienya District being a developing community needed a central place for business hence the choosing of Mataheko for this business centre, and as we speak, we are still engaging some chiefs to get some more lands to be able to get closer to our customers to be able to provide them with efficient service he noted.



The Director of Audit at ECG, Emmanuel Ntow, who read a speech on behalf of the MD, noted that ten other business centres have been built across the country at a cost of 6.4 million Ghana cedis.



Following the modernization projects being embarked on by the company to ensure efficiency in its business said mobile phone short-codes will soon be introduced to enable customers to receive bills and vital maintenance information directly by SMS or via e-mails.





Source: the publisher









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Reports reaching Peacefmonline.com indicate a Tema-Accra bound train derailed on Monday morning leaving scores of passengers injured.



The incident occurred between the Tesano and Alajo section of the railway line.



It is unclear yet what caused the train to derail.



Details are scanty on the accident, but the injured according to reports, have been sent to an unnamed hospital.



The intra-city train shuttle serves thousands of commuters to and from the capital on a daily basis, but is largely considered a death trap.



It is the most convenient mode of commuting for most people living in Accra and Nsawam, especially, traders who convey farm produce and processed food from Nsawam to Accra each day.



But the state of the countrys rail tracks, and even the trains themselves, put passengers at risk.



Meanwhile, the injured persons, according to PeaceFM's Senior Newscaster, Adwoa Yeboah Agyei, who was recounting the incident to Kwame Nkrumah "Tikesie" on OkayFM's Morning Show, were assisted out of the train by some police recruits from the Tesano Police Training School, who were on their normal training routine.





More Soon...

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Ghana has courted support from Lithuania to back the candidature of Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, The Netherlands.



The government has nominated her as its candidate for the List A category of judges for election to the court.



Bilateral support



Towards that objective, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has asked the visiting Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Mr Linas Linkevicius, to support Ghanas nominee to the court in the spirit of cooperation.



She further called for Lithuanian support for Ghana as it sought to be on the United Nations Security Council from 2020-2021.



Ms Botchwey held talks with a Lithuanian delegation, led by Mr Linkevicius, in Accra last Friday to, among other things, re-establish strong ties between the two countries.



The visit by the delegation was also to establish a strong presence in Africa, with Ghana being the central focus for Lithuanian investors in West Africa.



The delegation was in the country for three days.



Ms Botchwey said the visit by her Lithuanian counterpart was a follow-up to ongoing consultations between the two countries.



She described Lithuania as a country with one of the best ICT infrastructure in the world and also best in the area of manufacturing and called for collaboration with Lithuania in Ghanas quest to become an ICT hub in the sub-region.



The visit to Ghana by Mr Linkevicius, the first in 20 years by a high-profile government official from Lithuania, according to Ms Botchwey, was crucial to Ghana in view of the governments commitment to attract foreign direct investment.



She asked the delegation to consider Ghana as a key partner in the areas of manufacturing, ICT, renewable energy and fertiliser development where Lithuania had competitive advantage.



She mentioned the governments flagship programmes, including the one-district, one-factory, one-village, one-dam and the Planting for Food and Jobs programmes, and called for a government-to-government relationship towards the successful implementation of the projects.



More consultations



For his part, Mr Linkevicius, who came to Ghana after visiting Lithuanian troops on a training mission in Mali, underscored the need for more consultations between Ghana and Lithuania.



Our governments have to look beyond military cooperation and find areas of common interest. We can also collaborate in the area of cyber security, he added.



Among other things, he suggested to the minister for Ghana to take advantage of educational opportunities in Lithuania to have Ghanaian students study there.



About Lithuania



Lithuania is a country of three million people in the Baltic Region of north-eastern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic States and situated along the south-eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, to the east of Sweden and Denmark.



It is a member of the European Union (EU), the Council of Europe, the Eurozone, the Schengen Agreement and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

Source: Daily Graphic









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Audio Attachment: Listen to Allotey Jacobs

Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Allotey Jacobs believes some entities within the opposition party are scheming to cause a "civil war" in the NDC.



Speaking to sit-in host Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Allotey Jacobs feared the worst might happen if such is the behaviour of some party members.



He made this shocking disclosure when commenting on the contents of the Kwesi Botchwey report that have seemingly been leaked by sections of the media.



According to him, he suspects the portions of the Kwesi Botchwey report have been released to the media as a grand scheme to stir agitations in the party.



He however insisted that the contents of the report in the media are pure fabrication of stories and mainly falsehood being peddled around to achieve the aim of those skeletal individuals within the party.



"Some aspects of what is being discussed in the public domain or in the media domain, some aspects of it, are true . . . Im suspecting that the media is approaching some of our constituency, regional and national executives. Because the media is trying to unlock the Kwesi Botchwey report to make a fuse about it.



". . Im suspecting that some people are talking to the press and its an agenda to create a kind of a civil war in the party," he said.



Meanwhile, a Daily Guide publication has disclosed that the erstwhile Mahama administration offered 200 cars as grabs for journalists.



The cars are said to have got into the hands of just a few of the then Presidential press corps.



"Only four out of the 34 members of the Presidential press corps were given vehicles from a pool of about 200 vehicles available for distribution to the press corps and others", the newspaper quoted from the Botchwey report.



Daily Guide further revealed that the recipients were from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and a Radio Gold reporter.



The paper further stated, from the Botchwey report, that the "Presidential press corps was told by Stan Dogbe that they were not part of the 'system' and that they were privileged to be part of the Presidential press corps...President Mahama's in-house communication team was squandering resources of the President meant for communication strategy".



Stan Dogbe is further accused of planting stories in pro-NDC media organizations during the tenure of President Mahama as the report is quoted as saying "it was Stan Dogbe, the trusted aide of John Dramani Mahama, who was writing stories and 'pushing' them to the pro-NDC media outlets, popularly called 'rented press' for publication . . . Page 27 that Stan Dogbe writes stories and pushes them through NDC media".

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is behind the leaked fake Kwesi Botchwey report to divert attention from the current difficulties in the country, General Secretary of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has said.



He said on Wednesday, 25 October, 2017 that he doubted any member of the NDC was behind the alleged leakage of the report insisting that it is the handiwork of the NPP.



I believe sincerely that it is an orchestration by the NPP government to divert attention from the current difficulties that the masses are going through, Mr Nketia told Citi FM.

Weve taken a position that Kwesi Botchweys report is meant for internal consumption so it has not been published anywhere so any commentary that is being run or any alleged capturing of Botchweys report and serialisation cannot represent any genuine document coming from NDC, General Mosquito as Mr Asiedu Nketia is known said.



In his observation, the NPP and the Akufo-Addo government resort to the alleged Botchwey report any time they are hit by a crisis.



I have observed that it looks as if the NPP government wants to use some fake Botchwey report to divert the attention of Ghanaians from the hardships that they are going through so its like they are always using something purporting to be coming from Botchweys report to divert attention from any major issue that appears to be indicting the government.



The day there was news about the $2.5bn scandal and everybody was debating then we came back to something allegedly coming from the Botchwey report, then we moved on to Maj. Mahamas death and everybody was discussing it then bam, another thing purportedly coming from Botchweys report, then we came to the contaminated fuel matter, when it was being discussed then another thing coming from the Botchwey report.



The damning report of the IMF on the economy, they know it will attract national debate so something must come out there to divert peoples attention so if they choose that that is the way to go, let them know that no amount of diversion can take the peoples mind from the suffering they are going through.



What the media is writing about can never be the Botchwey report, so if you are deceiving yourself by publishing things and alleging things that it is coming from page so so and so and it is coming from the Botchwey report, you are deceiving yourself.



If you go and fabricate things and put them there hoping that the fabrication will now force people to publish what the truth is, youll be deceiving yourself.



If any media house alleges that there was something indicting Dr Omane Boamah, it is not Dr Omane Boamah to prove that it is wrong, it is for that media house to prove that indeed this thing exists, so we advised him to proceed against the media house and then the media house will have the responsibility of producing what they think is the Botchwey report then give them the source, he said.



Before Mr Asiedu Nketias comments, former President John Mahama had come out to poke fun at the leaked report saying: It appears KB report has been adopted by some media as the new handbook for any challenge facing GH.



He also tweeted that: In the event of crisis, open any page and quote. Lol.



Meanwhile, Bodi MP, Samson Ahi, who was a member of the 13-man Botchwey Committee that probed why the NDC lost the 2016 elections, said on Tuesday the leaked report being serialised in the media is fake.



Among other things, the leaked report described former President John Mahama as behaving like a movie star and also said the presence of former Communications Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, and Presidential Staffer, Stan Dogbe, around the President, made Mr Mahama naked.



Excerpts of the leaked report also said out of 200 cars reserved for media personnel by the presidency, only 4 were given out.



Speaking on the leaked report on Asempa FM Tuesday, 24 October, Mr Ahi said: We didnt mention names, thats why Im telling you that the report you have is fake.



There have been insertions, Mr Ahi insisted, adding: Nobody discussed anything about 200 cars for the presidential press corps. Its not true. It didnt happen.



The original report is with the party leadership, he said.



Im surprised people will sit down to fabricate such a report, Mr Ahi noted, adding that: Any report that mentioned any name is fake. We were never personal with our work. It is a fake report. The report that you are reading has a credibility problem.









Source: classfmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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This image released by Open Road Films shows Jason Clarke, left, and Blake Lively in a scene from "All I See Is You." Lively plays a blind woman who regains her sight. (Roland Neveu/Open Road Films via AP)
A test strips used to check for presence of illicit fentanly in such drugs as heroin, crystal meth and cocaine in this undated handout images provided by Vancouver Coastal Health. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Vancouver Coastal Health
A scene from Iqaluit, Nunavut, Saturday, April 25, 2015. The latest release of data from the 2016 census shows Canada's Indigenous population is booming, more immigrants are settling in the Prairies and home ownership rates across the countryare relatively stable. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
A K-9 security officer and his partner are deployed in front of the Canada embassy in Cairo, Egypt, which closed to the public on Monday, Dec. 8, 2014 over security concerns. Canada's foreign embassies and diplomatic outposts are getting new funds to bolster their security and some analysts say it is badly needed. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Ahmed Abdel Fattah
Flowers are tucked into the fence of the former home of famed musician Fats Domino, in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Domino, the amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music while honoring the traditions of the Crescent City, died early Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. He was 89. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
LONDON/KUWAIT

Petroleumworld 10 25 2017

As OPEC negotiates the extension of its oil production cuts until the end of 2018, it's also quietly started working on an exit strategy in an effort to reassure investors it won't flood the market once the curbs finally expire, according to people familiar with the deliberations.

The talks, still at a preliminary stage, are complementary to the cuts and designed to improve their impact in 2018. The group is likely to endorse the outlines of the plan when they meet in Vienna on Nov. 30, but the full strategy probably won't be unveiled until later next year, the people said, asking to not be named because the talks aren't public.

Benchmark Brent crude gained as much as 0.8 percent and traded 0.5 percent higher at $57.66 a barrel as of 2:41 p.m. in London.

The exit plan would be akin to tapering strategies designed by the Federal Reserve and other central banks seeking to phase out ultra-loose monetary policy, while reassuring investors global markets won't suffer a sudden shock. Without a gradual exit, OPEC and its allies could return almost overnight 1.8 million barrels a day of production -- roughly equivalent to the demand of France.

The work highlights how oil supply and demand remain finely balanced, even after unprecedented implementation of the cuts agreed last year by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Oman, Kazakhstan and Mexico. Despite signs the market is recovering, traders still worry about a return of the pump-at-will policy that triggered the 2014 price collapse. When OPEC agreed the first nine-month extension of its curbs in May, crude fell in part because of the lack of a clear exit strategy .

Strong Signal

In the past, OPEC has ended periods of cuts by relaxing compliance, effectively cheating on its own targets. This time, however, officials are keen to telegraph more clearly their intentions to jumpy markets. Saudi Arabia, the de-facto leader of the pact along with Russia, has repeatedly tried to allay fears by saying it wouldn't flood the market.

The cartel and its allies, which together control more than half the world's oil output, last week sent the strongest signal yet that their deal will be extended beyond the current expiry in March until the end of 2018. The 24 oil-producing nations initially intended to cut output for six months starting in January, but the supply glut that has weighed on prices for three years has declined more slowly than expected. OPEC's internal forecasts indicate the fuel-stockpile surplus will finally be eliminated in the third quarter of next year .

I think there's a consensus among the collective that we should keep that extension and indeed even deeper cuts if we need for as long as it takes to firm up the market, Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu said at the Africa Oil Week conference in Cape Town. If the aggressiveness of shale production continues at the pace that it is, you're likely to see for quite a while an extension of this cooperation.
From left, Chester County Commissioner Terence Farrell, project developer Thomas Yang (a Temple Law grad), and Michael Grigalonis, chief operating officer of the Chester County Economic Development Council, break ground on a state-of-the-art mushroom-production facility in Funan County, Anhui Province, near Shanghai. Read more

Celebratory cannon fire and red balloons marked the start of work on a Pennsylvania-style mushroom farm in China last month. Honored guests included a delegation from Chester County, which hopes the plant in Funan County, Anhui Province, will generate orders for farm-technology suppliers and services from "America's mushroom capital" as the grower ships fresh white and crimini fungi (Agaricus bisporus) to markets in Shanghai.

"Chinese people eat more mushrooms than Americans do. They won't be flooding the U.S. market," said Michael Grigalonis, chief operating officer of the Chester County Economic Development Council, who joined County Commissioner Terrence Farrell for the Funan opening.

"They say it's cool to have Americans involved," said Kennett Square mushroom grower Chris Alonzo (his family owns Pietro Industries), who is helping manage the Funan plant. Backers include local government in Funan, population 1.7 million, a little more than Philadelphia. Private investors including Thomas Yang, a north China native and former Philadelphia lawyer (Temple University LL.M., 2008).

Alonzo has visited China four times in the last year, part of an initiative by Chester County leaders trying to drum up Chinese investment in Pennsylvania and find China markets for Chester County industries. U.S. growers produced $1.2 billion worth of mushrooms last year, mostly Agaricus. Half of those grew at 60 farms in Chester County  on average, the nation's most productive, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data  largely in concrete-block sheds owned by descendants of the industry's Italian American pioneers, and cut by pickers born in Mexico.

Labor is crucial to the year-round harvest. Alonzo said the partners had no trouble finding skilled horticultural workers in Anhui, which hopes to expand its high-tech farming sector to rival the Netherlands and other capital-intensive indoor-growing centers. "In China, a lot of people want and need these jobs," he said, including farm workers who would rather work indoors cutting fungi than out in rice paddies.

That labor market contrasts with Chester County, where immigrant mushroom workers who achieved legal status in the 1980s are aging out and telling their locally schooled sons and daughters "to get a better education" and avoid farm and factory jobs, he added. "In Pennsylvania, we have a labor issue."

No robot pickers on the horizon? "The profit margins aren't big enough to make huge investments in mechanization, and the robotics isn't yet developed enough," Alonzo said. He knows he could get more pickers in Mexico  if the U.S. let him recruit. "But there are not enough visas to do it. We will lose these jobs without immigration reform."

Exporting their know-how to China, Chester County growers are completing a circle: Spawning mushrooms in darkness, straw and manure, in weeks-long cycles of heat and cold, the industry started as a winter seasonal-canning business. But U.S. canneries shut when they were underpriced by cheaper Asian competition in the 1970s and '80s. Larger producers expanded year-round to fill restaurant salad bars and grocery produce bins. Most U.S.-grown mushrooms are now eaten fresh at home and in restaurants. "Exotics" such as shiitake and oyster take special care and command higher prices.

The Pennsylvanians hope Chester County farm designers, engineers and other mushroom specialists might win contracts as the industry grows in China. "We've been working on this for three years; this is our first major success," Grigalonis told me. "We hope this is a prototype." To speed future deals, Chester County and the council opened a "China desk" in Shanghai at the Shimin law firm, which has an office in Philadelphia.

China isn't the only place with an interest in building its own edible-fungus industry from Chester County spawn. Bridget Mbu Mbeng, a native of Cameroon in central Africa, was commuting from Delaware to a nursing-care job in Coatesville when she became curious about the steaming mushroom sheds that dot the countryside around U.S. 1 near Kennett.

Mbeng told me she knocked on mushroom-house doors, introduced herself to workers and growers, and asked lots of questions. In the village where she grew up, "we harvest mushrooms in the forest. We have many kinds. Some are like Agaricus," she said. She was fascinated by how Pennsylvania growers had tamed the fungus, cultivating firm crops on regular cycles.

She took the Mushroom Short Course at Penn State University and joined the American Mushroom Institute. She shipped supplies home to Cameroon, where she taught a Catholic pastor and friends to grow mushrooms as a home industry, on shaded porches and in hillside sheds, selling to hotels and other local buyers. In 2015, her business plan to organize Mbeng Adio Mushroom Farms won free technical assistance in an African Diaspora Marketplace Competition sponsored by USAID and Western Union.

Now, she's looking for investors to build a modern plant in Cameroon.

"I grew up with hard work and community consciousness," Mbeng said, and she wants to build a company that exemplifies both.
DETROIT  Elon Musk predicted two years ago that a Tesla should be able to travel almost 746 miles on a single charge by 2020.

It was considered a bold statement from a CEO known for making bold statements, but it was also a sentiment that reflected a widely held belief in the inevitability of, and need for, increasingly longer-range electric vehicles if the vehicles were ever to truly gain traction with consumers.

Electric vehicle battery technology has improved since that 2015 prediction, and some vehicles continue to push the limits for range. Some versions of Tesla's Model S luxury sedan already rate at more than 330 miles on a charge under normal conditions, and an Italian Tesla owners group said in August that it managed 670 miles driving with no air-conditioning at 25 mph.

But recent assessments by industry watchers and auto executives are tapping the brakes on the idea that the foreseeable future of mainstream electric vehicles will be tied to an ever-expanding range.

Some experts say they believe the sweet spot for battery range might already have been reached.

"I wouldn't expect to see vehicles go much beyond about 300 miles per range, and I think most mainstream EVs are probably going to be in the, kind of where the Bolt is now, 200 to 240 miles of range, and I think the 200-mile threshold is really kind of the sweet spot for EV," said Sam Abuelsamid, a senior analyst at Navigant Research based in the Detroit area.

The idea will get tested as an increasing number of automakers roll out new electric vehicles in the coming years.

Ford and General Motors, for instance, made major EV (shorthand for electric vehicles) announcements in recent weeks, with Ford saying it would invest $4.5 billion and introduce 13 new electric vehicles in the next five years and GM promising to have more than 20 EVs on sale by 2023. Plenty of other automakers  Volvo, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz among them  have also made recent EV announcements as countries like China threaten to eventually ban gas engines.

A major reason that EV battery range might not see significant increases in the near term is simply cost, which increases with more capable electric-vehicle batteries. Adding more battery to an electric vehicle also adds weight, which would affect vehicle payload  a consideration likely to be more important as automakers launch electric trucks and SUVs.

When Nissan brought its 2018 Leaf to a technology conference in Detroit in September, the company said it was targeting value customers with the 150-mile electric range vehicle, with a price tag starting at under $30,000. That level marks an improvement over the previous version's 84-mile range, but it falls well short of the Bolt and the various Tesla models. The company does plan to release a longer-range version, but the issue of adding cost gets at a key issue for automakers.

Both the Bolt and the Tesla Model 3  Tesla's attempt to launch an electric vehicle for the masses  only get below $30,000 with government incentives. The Model 3 starts at $35,000, but there's a waiting list, and the base model may not offer what Tesla fans expect, meaning the true cost would likely be higher. The Bolt, which is now available nationwide, starts at $37,495 before a $7,500 federal tax credit.

Abuelsamid noted that each manufacturer has a limited number of credits, and he expects both GM and Tesla to hit that limit as early as next year. That would mean the cost for some of the most popular EVs will likely go up because the Trump administration is not expected to seek an extension of those credits.

Britta Gross, GM's director of advanced vehicle commercialization policy, discussed the issue of battery range in August at a state conference weighing the best route to expand Michigan's public charging infrastructure, saying that she does not believe the future of electric vehicles is in batteries that can power a vehicle for close to 800 miles on a charge.

"No, I don't see that happening at all," she said, noting that longer ranges add cost and an automaker's priority now is in reducing the cost of technology for electric vehicles.

Battery range has been a key focus for those trying to determine what it will take to get more consumers to buy electric vehicles, which are a small, though growing, fraction of the U.S. vehicle market. Range anxiety is a phrase used to describe the concern that a vehicle will not have enough charge to get an electric vehicle driver to his or her destination, potentially leaving them stranded. Limited public charging options in some areas can magnify the concern.

But most daily driving falls well short of the Bolt's 238-mile range or even the 150 miles possible with the Leaf.

"Americans' driving patterns really don't change with electric vehicles, so regardless of whether your vehicle has an 80-mile all-battery range or now maybe 238 like the Bolt EV, most Americans are still doing about 40 miles a day of travel commuting to and from work," Gross said.

And that 40-mile estimate might even be generous. An AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety survey released in September found that the average daily commute is less than 30 miles.

Gross said range becomes an issue on longer trips because of limited public charging infrastructure, which in Michigan is mostly clustered in the Detroit area. The conference this summer, organized by the Michigan Public Service Commission, was a response to a proposal from Consumers Energy for the utility to provide additional charging stations. Consumers rescinded the proposal after getting pushback from various entities, including the attorney general's office, which raised concerns about utility ratepayers footing the bill for electric vehicle charging.

Most electric vehicle drivers charge at home, often plugging in overnight, so charge time is not much of an issue. But EVs lose the convenience battle against gas-powered cars on longer trips because even most fast-charging options  typically 50 to 70 miles of range per 20 minutes of charging  cannot yet match a stop for fuel at a gas station.

Rebecca Lindland, senior director and executive analyst for Kelley Blue Book, said a range of up to 240 miles is more than sufficient for several days of typical driving for most people, but she agreed that fast-charging limitations are a problem.

Charging time "absolutely needs to come down," she said.

The range issue gets at a key perception problem for electric vehicles. Consumers who are not familiar with electric vehicles or plugging in a vehicle at home might worry more about battery range than is warranted.

Abuelsamid noted that some people purchase a truck so they can haul their boat twice a year when it might be more cost-effective to buy an EV for daily driving and rent another type of vehicle to handle other kinds of heavy-duty tasks.

"If consumers were completely logical  which, of course, we know that they're not  then they would buy only what they know they actually need," he said. "They tend to set their requirement based on their worst-case specification."
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services is opening a 16-bed transitional unit on the campus of Norristown State Hospital as part of a plan to close the institutions civil unit and get more patients in community settings. The hospitals administrative building is shown here in 2009. Read more

When the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services announced plans in January to close the civil unit of Norristown State Hospital, the goal was to "serve more people in the community" and "reduce reliance on institutional care," officials said.

It turns out that the community setting for 16 of the severely mentally ill patients at Norristown, at least temporarily, will be another building on the campus.

"It seems kind of funny to move from Building 10 to Building 9 and call it a move to the community," David Bolin, whose daughter is among the patients scheduled to be moved at the beginning of December, said Tuesday. His daughter has already been moved to a temporary facility.

Bolin, who spent 30 years working for a tax-exempt organization that provided community-based services to elderly, mentally ill, and intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals, said he has many questions about the new program and still worries that his daughter could be involuntarily discharged and end up at Wernersville State Hospital, west of Reading.

The Human Services Department did not respond this week to requests for comment.

The transition at Norristown is happening against the backdrop of a legal settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania in early 2016 that required the state to provide more treatment slots for criminal defendants who have been declared incompetent to stand trial.

Lack of progress in reducing treatment delays led to a second settlement in June that gave the state six months, until Dec. 15, to provide 50 beds for the treatment of criminal defendants at Norristown by creating 28 new beds and converting 22 civil beds.

"The wait list in the last month has been from 252 to 268 to get into treatment. That is 20 percent more on the wait list than they've got total slots. They have to add forensic beds," said Witold Walczak, legal director for the ACLU of Pennsylvania and one of the lawyers involved in the settlements.

State officials on Tuesday met with mental-health advocates to update them on the changes at Norristown.

"I expressed my concerns that this isn't really full deinstitutionalization," said Joseph Rogers, a consultant on advocacy and policy for the Mental Health Partnership, a Philadelphia nonprofit. "To just move people from one building to another building is not fully moving people out of the institution."

Rogers said state officials told him there was no limit on how long a patient can stay in the new 16-bed facility, which will be run by Elwyn, a large human-services provider.
The Milton Hershey School is a boarding school with approximately 2,000 students. A federal judge has dismissed negligence claims against the institution in two federal lawsuits, saying the school does not have a broader duty of care to its students. Read more

The chief federal judge in Harrisburg has tossed out state negligence claims against the $14 billion Milton Hershey School in two lawsuits involving former students, saying that the institution has no broad social responsibilities for the welfare of its impoverished students beyond a four-page contract.

In a legal victory for Hershey, Judge Christopher C. Conner agreed with the boarding school that its relationship with minor students is a narrower, "contractual" one, with parents retaining legal custody of their children even while they're under the Hershey School's 24-hour supervision.

The Aug. 10 order potentially insulates the Hershey School from millions of dollars in personal-injury damages in claims alleging that the school mistreated two people who used to be students. Conner dismissed seven of 13 claims in each lawsuit. He also rejected an emergency appeal of his decision by plaintiffs' attorneys Oct. 10.

Penn Law professor David Hoffman warned this week that the judge's decision could immunize the Hershey School  along with other state private schools  against tort claims for personal injury and said he "doubts" whether the enrollment agreement between the Hershey School and the students' parents is valid, given provisions that allow the school to unilaterally change the contract.

Parents sign the four-page "enrollment agreement" with the school when their children enter the school. The agreement, Hoffman said, was more appropriate for a zip-line operator or ski resort than a boarding school for poor kids.

Hershey School spokeswoman Lisa Scullin had no comment because of the pending litigation. The main attorney representing Hershey is Jarad Handelman, of the Blue Bell-based law firm Elliott Greenleaf.

Conner based his decision on the Pennsylvania legal doctrine "gist of the action"  which means that lawsuit claims should be restricted to breaches of a contract rather than negligence. Conner said in his order that the Hershey School contractually agreed to "house, feed, clothe and educate" students.

Conner's decision stems from separate lawsuits filed in 2016 against the Hershey School, one by the parents of a depressed eighth grader, Abbie Bartels, who committed suicide after she was banned from campus over her parents' objections. The other suit was filed by gay student Adam Dobson, who was expelled after suicidal thoughts. Dobson has claimed in court documents that house parents at the school forced him to watch a religious gay-conversion video.

The Bartels and Dobson cases are scheduled for trial next year. The remaining claims include an alleged violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act for Dobson, and wrongful death for Bartels, as well as contract breaches for both students.

The central Pennsylvania school has been repeatedly investigated by the state attorney general and is reconstituting its boards under a 2016 agreement with the state agency to end the latest probe.

Critics note that it has lacked national education and child-psychology experts on its oversight boards, whose members earn a minimum of $110,000 a year. The Hershey School enrolls slightly more than 2,000 students, mostly from Pennsylvania.

"There is no question that the school funds their students' educational and financial needs," said Mark Momjian, a Philadelphia lawyer and adjunct law professor at Villanova Law School. "But in order to stand in loco parentis, the question is whether the parents acquiesced to surrendering their legal rights, even if their children received free tuition, room, and board, and beyond that, medical, dental, and mental-health related care while at the school."

The Hershey School, a former orphanage, has historically marketed itself to poor families as a nurturing homelike environment with on-campus doctors and house parents who look after children.

An enrollment agreement reviewed by the Inquirer and Daily News contained a waiver for the right to sue, and the provision that says the school can unilaterally change provisions.

The institution is basically "offering poor kids a Hobson's choice: Take our terms and let us treat you negligently if we want to, or hit the road," Hoffman said. "That sort of waiver makes sense in certain contexts  a ski-mountain operator  but not for a school."

Lawyers at the Philadelphia law firm Dilworth Paxson who represent the plaintiffs said in court documents that it's an "oxymoron to conclude that a school admitting only children with social needs then has no social duty to such children."

Mark Anderson, an associate law professor at the Temple University Beasley School of Law, said that the Hershey cases "involve students who are under 18 and allege that the school failed to protect their safety. Courts have long recognized a common law duty on the part of schools to protect children in their custody. This means that the duty does not arise out of contract."

Anderson said he understood why the Hershey School would argue that it had no duty to care for students. "They are trying to limit their exposure and they don't want the institution to be second-guessed," Anderson said.
The bad news in cybercrime is part of the good news for Ron Schlecht Jr.

A high flyer on the Philly 100, Schlecht's BTB Security is "again up another 300 percent" this year. The 247-cranking firm, based in Bala Cynwyd with branches in Chicago and Austin, Texas, is now approaching $7 million in annual revenues for 2017.

But being the bearer of bad tidings and continually putting out fires has to be stressful for this cybersecurity hawk, his 40-plus member warrior staff, and especially his clients, including "household-name enterprise-class businesses, two of the five major car manufacturers, and large financial institutions, plus a lot of mid-market, rapidly growing companies."

A shocking new global report on cybercrime from Accenture and the Ponemon Institute found that an organization, on average, will experience 130 security breaches this year, up 27 percent from 2016. And each attacked entity suffers an average cost of $11.7 million to manage and recover from these disruptions, losses of information, and revenue and equipment damage.

The highest-profile hacks  involving Target, Sony, Yahoo and Equifax  have awakened the populace to the perniciousness of cybercrime, said Schlecht. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. "People are now fearful, and ask me what should they do to protect themselves. I say 'Welcome to my level of paranoia,' " he shared with a laugh. "I've been living this, doing security for close to 20 years."

On the "bright" side, coping with the persistent efforts of global hackers aimed at businesses and home systems has become the new normal. Large advisory firms such as Deloitte and PwC and technology firms such as IBM and Dell are players in the security business, along with general IT firms such as fellow Philly fastest growing 100 winners Total Technology Resources and Green Technology Services, which offer security as part of their "we'll-be-your-IT-department" pitch.

"People are finally realizing it's OK to admit you had a breach," Schlecht said. "Better to 'own' it now than to be found out later, to appear to have been hiding bad news. And while we used to say 'take care of the low hanging fruit' "  the security locks ripest for the picking  "now we say gather the fruit already on the ground. Sadly, in the Equifax case, multiple parts of the breach were very simple things they didn't secure correctly, elements in the systems left misconfigured or with default settings exposed that were easy to guess."

It's no coincidence that BTB Security's managed information security platform, named RADAR for Rapid Advanced Detection and Response  and its three-stage cybercrime fighting strategy, Detect, Defend, Defeat  have a whiff of law enforcement. Managing partner Schlecht completed a double major of criminal justice and computer science at Juniata College, class of 2000, and his first job out of school was as a cop in the same area, rural Huntingdon County, Pa. "I quickly realized that small-town police work was not where I wanted to spend my career. So I started up this company, with two partners and $50 in a bank account. And it's been quite a ride."

In BTB's initial "detect" phase of work with a client, Schlecht and colleagues take on the role of "white hat hackers" who worm their way into a company's computer system, looking for openings. "We take the path of least resistance. All we have to do is find one vulnerability, the foot into the organization's door, and then continue to exploit that, elevating or accessing privileges and continuing the hack from there. It's a cat-and-mouse game."

Just as the bad guys do, BTB taps into "data dumps on the dark web" and social media sites such as Facebook, where a company's employees might inadvertently let down their guard, posting the name of their first school or cat's name which they use as a system password or answer to a security question.

Once the security pros have exposed weaknesses, "companies realize they need to be constantly on guard, and entrust us with the job," said Schlecht, who said he finds his best employees from industry folks' referrals. "We become trusted trackers of their traffic, working out of our security response center, where we use a lot of visualization in our custom monitoring platform to pinpoint where communications are coming from.

"With artificial intelligence and machine learning, we baseline how and where the company is doing business, determine what's their 'normal.' Simultaneously, we're looking for oddities and piping-in security intelligence about viruses floating around the globe. If we're working for a regional bank and suddenly see traffic coming from China"  the No. 1 global cybercrime stronghold, he says  "we proactively block that the instant it comes in."

The bad-actor business is booming on many fronts. "Historically, the cybercrime coming from the Eastern bloc has been financially driven. But from China, India and Japan, it's more about stealing intellectual property, company secrets, pulling information about your business and products to better compete."

Given the recent revelations of geopolitical disruption, one might suspect that Russia would be No. 2 on cybercrime's most-wanted list, "but it's actually the U.S." at No. 2, said Schlecht. "Russia, overall, is No. 10 on the list." War-terrorist strongholds such as Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan hardly figure at all in the cyberassault epidemic, "but as we introduce infrastructure and technology, that will lead them down the path to perpetuate computerized attacks," he believes.

The Accenture/Ponemon study found that "malicious attacks" from inside a company are the hardest to detect, taking an average of 50 days to mitigate. "That's because these bad operators often have the keys to the system. It's like trying to find a spy in the FBI," said Schlecht.

Ransomware that locks up, say, a hospital's patient records, takes about 23 days to resolve. "The detection is quick, but the cleanup is long," he noted. "At one point, the FBI was saying 'you're better off paying the ransom because you'll get your information back.' That put everybody in the security industry in an uproar, because if you pay up, they could just hit you again. There's no honor among thieves.

"Honestly, the best plan for protection is to have good backup. We don't see any silver-bullet cures looming on the horizon to prevent hacker attacks. But if they steal your data, lock up or wipe your systems, having good backup systems means you can quickly restore what you've lost."
Protesters taking to the the street in response to rumors of a white supremacist march in Durham, N.C., in August. Read more

A white supremacist group that was part of high-profile protests against the removal of a Confederate statue in Charlottesville, Va., in August has been hanging recruitment posters on at least two New Jersey university campuses since September.

Leafleting this week at Rutgers University's New Brunswick and Piscataway campuses and at Stockton University in Galloway Township last month follows an apparent trend in which a much more visible white-power movement has been turning up at colleges over the last year, according to the Anti-Defamation League and other groups.

The recruitment efforts on the campuses in New Jersey have occurred amid a flurry of racial incidents in communities and schools across eastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey over the last month. At several high schools in the Philadelphia suburbs  Quakertown in Bucks County, Coatesville in Chester County, and Washington Township in Gloucester County  racial slurs, hate speech, and rock-throwing incidents have occurred among students.

Also this month, in northwest Montgomery County, residents received letters in the mail containing racist, white supremacist, and anti-Semitic messages, drawings, and Hitler quotations.

Officials at Rutgers said the posters spotted this week promoting a white nationalist group called Identity Evropa were found on exterior walls and inside campus buildings, and were removed. The posters listed the group's website and contained the wording Our Generation. Our Future. Our Last Chance over a color photo of members. Similar posters promoting the group were found and removed in September on the Stockton campus.

The Daily Targum, the Rutgers campus newspaper, reported that a hand-scrawled sign with the words Black Lives Don't Matter also was found on a campus bus Monday, but it was not clear if that incident was related to the posters.

On its website, Identity Evropa says the purpose of its recruitment campaign is to suggest that white students question what they are being taught in college, that the lectures they attend are "based on false assumptions," and that they should begin looking to the white supremacy group "for answers."

In a statement, Rutgers officials denounced the group, saying that the posters were removed because Identity Evropa is not a recognized university organization and that it violated campus rules for posting fliers, signs, and other materials. The university in its statement also noted that it "condemns all acts and statements of bigotry, racism, anti-Semitism, and white supremacy, which have no place in our society or on our campus."

"The fliers  and the handwritten sign found on a campus bus  do not represent the principles and values of the university, which include diversity, inclusivity, and respect for people of all backgrounds," the Rutgers statement read.

The Anti-Defamation League has noted that last year's academic year saw a much more visible white-power movement on campuses across the country. Much of the activity  including a reported 241 incidents since March 2016  involved posters and leaflets that appear on campuses without any link to a person or school organization.

White supremacist groups such as the National Policy Institute  which describes itself as committed to "promoting the heritage, identity and future of people of European descent"  last year said they had mounted campaigns to hold events on campuses to promote their agendas.

Last November, Richard Spencer, leader of the institute  who is known for his "Hail Trump" rhetoric, and who prompts his supporters to respond with Nazi salutes  announced that his group was targeting college campuses to recruit supporters. His appearances at Texas A&M, Auburn, and other academic institutions have sparked protests from Black Lives Matter and other groups.
In The Florida Project, unsupervised kids have spitting contests, run across four-lane highways, chuck rocks at abandoned houses, light fires, scam free food, and dodge scowling adults.

Those of us who grew up in the 1960s have a name for this wild and dangerous behavior: childhood.

And in fact the movie's director, Sean Baker, has drawn on the past for part of the movie's inspiration  all the way back to the Our Gang movie shorts, comical stories of Depression-era kids. Baker's version of this is updated and expanded  adults are characters, too, and so is poverty. His movie is a slice-of-life look at a low-wage (or no wage) America, where folks live in $30-a-night motels, places where they're rotated to different rooms to keep them from attaining residency status.

The Florida Project, though, dances deftly around kitchen-sink realism and instead looks at this pastel world through the eyes of characters too young to know, or care, that they aren't rich (or that cheese puffs and waffles aren't building strong bones and bodies).

They live in Orlando on the ragged outskirts of Disney World. It's a world of pink and purple hotels (set at a place called the Magic Castle), curio shops fronted by deco spaceships and adorned with optimistic titles like Future World, and buildings in the shape of soft-serve cones. Little Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) and Scooty (Christopher Rivera) don't have money, but their clothes and sheets are clean, and their days are long and full of fun.

Gradually, though, Baker's camera raises its perspective to the eye level of the adults, and the view is not so pleasant. Moonee's mom (Bria Vinaite) is unemployed. She hawks knock-off perfume to tourists, and when that fails to pay the bills, she turns to even more illicit means of making money.

Most of the women are single, most have kids, few have husbands or boyfriends who help. The de facto man of the house is played by Willem Dafoe, the motel handyman who  in a platonic and often comical sense  functions as everybody's husband, dad, or badass uncle. (He runs off a potential pedophile, identified as being from Cherry Hill.)

He's especially good at figuring the rent  a complex equation that factors in money, means, and myriad moral considerations. This guy is a saint, or maybe a monk  it's as if he's doing penance for something, and maybe he is, as Dafoe's performance suggests (and as later scenes imply).

His appearance is something of a concession for Baker, who likes to use nonprofessional performers. This served him well in Tangerine, his debut that was shot on an iPhone and featured trans actors. But here, a few actors with limited range are asked to do too much. Still, it doesn't stop the momentum of this engaging, humane little movie, which builds to the moment when its internal worlds finally collide: Moonee's self-willed magic kingdom and her mother's less-hopeful reality.

Moonee, though, has the mark of a survivor.

"This is my favorite tree," she tells a friend on one adventure. "It's knocked over but it's still growing."
A man is in custody after attempting to breach the perimeter of a south Georgia prison, encountering a deputy and pulling a gun on the official, according to reports.

The deputy opened fire, but no one was injured in the incident just before 1 a.m. Tuesday at Wilcox State Prison, according to WALB, a news station in Albany.

The unidentified suspect took off after gunfire erupted, but was captured just before 6 a.m. following a manhunt.

Georgia Department of Corrections spokeswoman Joan Heath told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that officials believe the suspect attempted to breach the exterior perimeter of the facility in an effort to drop contraband. Two packages were reportedly recovered on prison property.
A man was arrested after he fought with an officer, pulled two guns on him, then tried unsuccessfully to steal the officer's gun on the South Side of Chicago, authorities said.

Jamie Harrison faces charges including attempted murder of a police officer. (Chicago Police Department)

The officer approached a group of men around 1:40 p.m. Sunday, police said. Jamie Harrison, 33, ran off and the officer chased him down and the two began struggling, police said. Harrison pulled a revolver from his pants and held it to the officer's chest. The officer overpowered Harrison and grabbed the gun  only for Harrison to pull out a second one, police said.

When the officer wrested that one away, Harrison tried to pull the officer's gun from his holster. Additional officers arrived and Harrison was arrested, reports the Chicago Tribune.

The officer was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where his condition was stabilized. Harrison was treated for his injuries and released from South Shore Hospital, police said.

On Monday, Cook County Judge John Lyke ordered Harrison held without bond, on charges of attempted murder of a police officer, aggravated battery, attempting to disarm a police officer, and a weapons charge, reports the Chicago Sun Times.

Harrison warned the police officer who arrested him that he was "coming after his bh-ass" if he made bond, Cook County prosecutors said. On the trip to the station, Harrison allegedly told officers that he would have killed them, but didn't have the time.
Propper International has announced that competitive shooter Mandy Bachman is the company's new female Brand Ambassador. A decorated member of the Wilson Combat Shooting Team, Bachman competes in IDPA and other competitive shooting matches throughout the country and instructs defensive handgun classes.

Competitive shooter Mandy Bachman is Propper's new female Brand Ambassador. (Photo: Propper)

A rising star in competitive shooting, Bachman started shooting in 2015 and quickly jumped through the ranks to reach Expert status in her first year. In 2017, just two years after beginning her shooting career, she became the 17th female to make Master Class in IDPA. This fall, she took 3rd place in the Womens Division at IDPA Nationals.

"As a competitive shooter I want products that I trust and believe in," Bachman said. "I have found exactly that in Propper. I am so excited for this opportunity and am proud to be a part of the Propper brand."

In addition to her very full competition schedule, Bachman teaches defensive handgun classes with Wilson Combat founder Bill Wilson and works full-time for IDPA.

John Negrau, VP of Marketing & E-Commerce, said, "The drive and enthusiasm Mandy brings to Propper is contagious. We couldnt be more excited to have her join the team and support her competitive shooting career and educational work."

Some of Bachmans awards include:

Comp-Tacs 2015 Republic of Texas IDPA Championship  High Lady

Blade-Tech Lone Star IDPA Championship- High Lady

2016 Lone Star Championship  High Lady

2017 Smith and Wesson Indoor Nationals  2nd Place ESP Expert, bumped to Master

Comp-Tac Republic of Texas Championship  2nd ESP Master and High Lady

Iowa State IDPA Championship  High Lady

Oklahoma State IDPA Championship  ESP Division Champion and High Lady

For more information about Propper, visit www.propper.com.
Thomson Reuters and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) today announced that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is this year's winner of their Award for Excellence in Criminal Investigation. The FDLE is being recognized for its inter-agency and international effort to confront a human trafficking ring with connections in both Florida and Colombia.

In February 2016, the FDLE met with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to coordinate on an investigation of a Florida resident suspected of operating a child sex tourism ring and arranging for adults to travel to Medellin, Colombia, for sexual relations with underage minors. A short time later, an undercover FDLE agent successfully contacted the suspect via Internet chats, obtaining information about the victims, logistical and location information, as well as the name of a co-conspirator in Colombia.

After coordinating with Colombian law enforcement, the suspect and members of the trafficking ring were arrested. Nine children between the ages of 12 and 16 were rescued, and the suspect's computer is undergoing forensic analysis to develop a list of other potential suspects.

"While criminal activity may be getting more sophisticated and global in scope, I am proud that law enforcement professionals are not only keeping pace but also pushing new boundaries in their work," said IACP President Louis Dekmar of the LaGrange (GA) Police Department. "The investigative work done by the FDLE in this case demonstrates that when law enforcement efforts balance technology, traditional police work and inter-agency collaboration, amazing outcomes are possible."

Each year, the IACP/Thomson Reuters Award for Excellence in Criminal Investigation is given to a law enforcement agency, law enforcement unit, task force, or inter-agency task force in recognition of exceptional innovation and excellence in the area of criminal investigations.

Representatives from the FDLE were on hand to accept the award at a ceremony earlier this week during the IACP Conference in Philadelphia.

"The Florida Department of Law Enforcement took a truly innovative approach to demonstrate that a heinous crime such as human trafficking can be tackled," said Dan DeSimone, senior director of Investigative Resources for Thomson Reuters. "We are honored to join the IACP in recognizing the FDLE with this award."

Judging of the IACP/Thomson Reuters Award for Excellence in Criminal Investigation focuses on contributions to the advancement of the art or science of criminal investigations and innovations in the development or enhancement of investigative techniques. The award is sponsored by Thomson Reuters, whose solutions include CLEAR  a powerful investigative suite that law enforcement can use to research people and organizations suspected of criminal activity.

To learn more about IACP, visit www.theiacp.org.
VIDEO: Idaho Officer Talks About Night He was Shot 5 Times

Monday law enforcement across the Treasure Valley area of Idaho were taking a moment to celebrate the lives of two brave men who survived gunfire while on duty five years ago. The day that caused so much pain is now being celebrated as a day of hope and a day to be alive.

Nampa Police Officer Brad Childers was shot five times that night when he was serving with the Canyon County Sheriff's Office and against all odds the Idaho native lived to tell his story.

Around 11 p.m. October 23rd 2012 Childers remembers hearing a call about a man with a gun.

Childers and his partner Mike Roth, who was also wounded, responded to the call. The call resulted in a pursuit and multiple shots fired.

Childers said his training quickly kicked in which helped him survive. His body cam video is now used as training video for law enforcement across the state of Idaho.
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The ranking member of the House Intel Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) exposed the new Republican investigations of Clinton and Obama for being the Trump led Russia distractions that they are.

In a statement provided to PoliticusUSA, Rep. Schiff said:

Today, the House Majority announced two new investigations of Secretary Clinton and the Obama Administration. These investigations were initiated on a partisan basis, and will shed no light on Russias interference in the 2016 election, but then again they are not intended to do so. Acting on the urging of the President who has repeatedly denied the intelligence agencies conclusions regarding Russian involvement in our election, they are designed to distract attention and pursue the Presidents preferred goal  attacking Clinton and Obama.

As with the Presidents other Twitter-directed Congressional investigation  that into unmasking  the House Majority demonstrates its fundamental lack of seriousness about Russias role in the hacking of democratic institutions, its social media campaign and other active measures designed to influence the outcome of the last election. This may be good politics, but it is a disservice to the far more important cause of investigating Russian interference in our democracy and protecting our elections in 2018 and beyond from outside influence.

Rep. Schiff was spot on. Republicans are trying to distract from the legitimate investigations into Trump and his presidential campaign by launching bogus investigations into Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. The GOP investigations also serve a secondary purpose. Republicans are going back to the old attack Clinton and Obama well as a way of mobilizing their base ahead of the midterm election. With no record of accomplishments to run on, Republicans are going to use investigating Clinton and Obama as a selling point to justify keeping control of the House.

The Republican-led investigations are partisan nonsense, but when a party has accomplished nothing with total control of the federal government some accomplishment inflating becomes a necessary tool of GOP incumbency survival.

If you want the House to perform real investigations into Trump and issues that matter, voting for Democrats in 2018 will put an end to the Republican waste of taxpayer funds on bogus investigations.
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The news that the Clinton campaign and the DNC helped to fund the Steele Dossier adds a twist in that the research that Clinton helped to pay for may end up helping to bring down Trump.

The Washington Post reported:

Fusion GPSs work researching Trump began during the Republican presidential primaries when the GOP donor paid for the firm to investigate the real estate tycoons background. Fusion GPS did not start off looking at Trumps Russia ties, but quickly realized that those relationships were extensive, according to the people familiar with the matter. When the Republican donor stopped paying for the research, Elias, acting on behalf of the Clinton campaign and the DNC, agreed to pay for the work to continue. The Democrats paid for research, including by Fusion GPS, because of concerns that little was known about Trump and his business interests, according to the people familiar with the matter.

..

At no point, these people said, did the Clinton campaign or the DNC direct Steeles activities. They described him as a Fusion GPS subcontractor.

The fact that Steele wasnt interfered with, or directed by electoral politics only adds to the credibility of the verified parts of his research. There are some sensational claims in the dossier that may never be verified, but parts of the information on Trumps connections and business dealings with Russia have been verified by the FBI, which means that Hillary Clinton may get the last laugh on Trump after all. If the research that her campaign helped to fund helps to bring down Trump, it will be a sign to many of justice being served.

The dossier was funded by both Republicans and Democrats, and the fact that Trump has gone out of his way in an attempt to discredit it on numerous occasions suggests that somewhere beneath that smoke, there is a raging fire waiting to be found.

Hillary Clintons campaign helped to fund the dossier, and she may have a hand in writing the final chapter of the Trump presidency. The Steele dossier could be the silver bullet that puts down the wolf who should have never been president.
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Rachel Maddow puts it all together and delivers a shock to Trump that his personal interviews of US attorney candidates could lead to more criminal trouble with Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Video:

https://youtu.be/HrPmBKpL_TM?t=15m59s

Maddow explained how Trump is interviewing candidates to run US Attorney offices that oversee districts that relate to Trumps home base in New York, Jared Kushners family business in New York, and Trumps Mar-a-Lago private club.

She went on to say, Whats he asking those people when he meets with them? Well now the news that his campaign manager, as well as his son in law, is under active investigation by those offices, that puts not just a red flag on that unprecedented behavior by the president with his US attorney candidates, not a red flag, whats bigger than a red flag? A red siren? A big flashing red neon sign? A red clown nose? Potentially, if the president is specifically zeroing in on US attorneys offices where he may potentially have his own, or his campaign, or family criminal liability, that may end up attracting interest from the Special Counsel Robert Mueller if in fact Robert Mueller is looking at the president for a pattern of potential obstruction of justice.

Trump keeps making things worse for himself. He doesnt know a non-corrupt way to behave. Rachel Maddow is on top of this story more than anyone else on cable news. Maddow is looking at the big picture. She is putting the puzzle pieces in place to show viewers a long-term view of what each of these individual Trump actions means when all put together.

Maddow is on to Trump. She understands this administration as well or better than anyone on television.

Rachel Maddow has Trump dead to rights, and she is education millions of viewers on how deep the corruption may go.
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By Carolyn Crist

(Reuters Health)  Most Americans dont believe having a gun at home increases the risk of suicide, whether they are gun owners or not, according to a new study.

Research has shown that having access to a gun increases the likelihood that a person who attempts suicide will succeed. Still, among 4,000 people surveyed recently, nearly 85 percent disagreed that the presence of a firearm in a home increased the risk of suicide.

Andrew Conner of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston and colleagues looked at data from a 2015 survey about firearm ownership, in which people were asked if they agreed or disagreed with the statement, Having a gun in the home increases the risk of suicide.

What surprised us was just how few people understood that suicide risk increased because of ready access to firearms, Conner told Reuters Health by email.

Of the 4,000 people who responded, 15 percent agreed that the presence of a firearm increases the risk for suicide. That included 6 percent of gun owners, 9 percent of those who live with someone who has a gun and 20 percent of those who live in a home without firearms.

One in three survey takers who were health care professionals agreed that having a household firearm increases suicide risk, including 12 percent who owned guns.

Overall, fewer than 10 percent of gun owners with children and gun owners who had received firearm training agreed that household firearms increase suicide risk.

In 2015, more than 44,000 people in the U.S. died by suicide, and half used firearms, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of these came from the persons home.

Medical societies recognize that removing guns from a suicidal persons home can do more to immediately reduce the risk of death than any other known treatment, (but) most physicians do not counsel their patients to remove or even store guns in ways that make them inaccessible to at-risk people, Conner said.

Health care professionals must learn to communicate the risk and talk about it with their patients, the study authors wrote in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The firearms discussion is often around mass shootings and homicide, but the truth of the matter is that suicides make up the large majority of all firearm deaths in the U.S., said Dr. Andrew Anglemyer of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Anglemyer, who wasnt involved with this study, has researched suicide and firearms access.

In 2011, Florida passed a law forbidding doctors to ask their patients about guns in the home, but portions of the law were struck down by a federal appeals court earlier this year.

Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the second leading cause of death among children and young adults, Conner noted in his email.

In some states, family members can ask courts to temporarily remove firearms from homes of those who pose a risk to themselves. Law enforcement agencies and gun retailers may also be willing to temporarily store firearms to help prevent suicide, a recent study suggested.

A limitation of the current study is that it relies on one question in the survey, which may have been misinterpreted to mean suicidal ideation rather than death by suicide, the study authors wrote.

Were missing the boat here on reaching the vast majority of Americans with an important message, said Dr. J. John Mann of Columbia University in New York. Mann, who wasnt involved with this study, researches firearm availability and suicide rates.

We need to do the same public campaign we did for smoking and tell people through TV, advertisements and email about this, he told Reuters Health by phone. Doctors should talk to their patients during annual exams and discuss gun safety if they have them in the home.

Health professionals should move the conversation beyond only at-risk patients, said Dr. Augustine Kposowa of the University of California, Riverside, who researches the links between firearms, suicide and unemployment.

In this country, peoples identities have become mixed up with their jobs, and in desperate moments of joblessness, its easier to pick up that gun, Kposowa, who wasnt involved with this study, told Reuters Health by phone. Guns are detrimental. Guns carry a sense of fatality and finality.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2zD0e6o Annals of Internal Medicine, online October 23, 2017.
Watchdog and Public Service reporter

Thad Moore is a reporter on The Post and Couriers Watchdog and Public Service team and a graduate of the University of South Carolina. To share tips securely, reach Moore via ProtonMail at thadmoore@protonmail.com or on Signal at 843-214-6576.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms possible. Low 56F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms possible. Low 56F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
With so many oyster options, looking at a Charleston restaurants raw bar menu can feel like sifting through a complicated wine list. By learning more about where chefs source their oysters, we can better understand the flavors and prices to expect, along with why restaurants put so much time and effort into this low-profit product. Read moreRaw oysters remain a Charleston restaurant mainstay, despite low profit margins
The Charleston County Sheriff's Office booked Jeffrey Allen Miller into the county jail Nov. 15 on two charges of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. The 64-year-old Mount Pleasant man was convicted in 2009 of criminal solicitation of a minor, according to the state's sex offender registry. Read moreRegistered sex offender in Mount Pleasant accused of emailing child porn
Assistant Columbia bureau chief

Adcox returned to The Post and Courier in October 2017 after 12 years covering the Statehouse for The Associated Press. She previously covered education for The P&C. She has also worked for The AP in Albany, N.Y., and for The Herald in Rock Hill.
Across South Carolina, from the coast to our mountainous state line, new and expanded trails have certainly made a lot of headlines in recent months. Here are just a few of the exciting developments: Read moreEditorial: From the SC coast to the mountains, welcome progress on new trails
Former President Donald Trump is preparing to launch his third campaign for the White House on Tuesday, looking to move on from disappointing midterm defeats and defy history amid signs that his grip on the Republican Party is waning. Read moreTrump prepares to launch 3rd campaign for the White House
In the summer of 2013 I wrote a column about the heartbreaking loss of 19 men; all Granite Mountain Hotshots. These great men, who had a passion for this work, lost their lives while fighting a wildfire near Yarnell, Ariz. (John Percin, 24)

I wrote at that time that I always wanted to remember who they were. To help me keep that promise during the progression of this column, I will list the names of each one of them along with their age. (Andrew Ashcraft, 29)

Hotshots are not conventional firefighters, but men and women who battle wildfires all across our country. They are brave and their work is dangerous. The work on the line is done with hand tools and chain saws. Hotshots are highly trained. (Anthony Rose, 23)

This past week, the film "Only the Brave" was released. The movie tells the moving story of these 19 men. Amanda Marsh, widow of Eric Marsh, said in an interview that the movie brought honor to the crew and the situation. Eric was the leader of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. (Eric Marsh, 43)

Those who have served in fire service and other types of first responder work will find a tear or two coming down their cheeks. The families, their community and all fellow firefighters will feel this loss again, but it is time to remember them with distinction and respect. (Grant McKee, 21)

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Since the death of her husband and the 18 members of the crew, Amanda has founded the Eric Marsh Foundation for Wildland Firefighters . (Travis Turbyfill, 27)

The mission of this foundation is to assist next-of-kin of wildland firefighters killed in the line of duty and wildland firefighters with PTSD. You may have heard that one firefighter has lost his life in the recent California wildfires. (Jesse Steed, 36)

I recently attended the first meeting of the Veterans & Emergency Services Round Table here in Rochester. This new group has a vision. The vision is the Veterans and Emergency Services Museum, in Rochester. (Travis Carter, 31)

The museum will honor firefighters, law enforcement, and emergency medical services responders, along with our veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. (Chris MacKenzie, 30)

During this first meeting, there were two speakers. Tom Ostrom gave a presentation on the history of the Vietnam War. It was followed up by Joe Connell talking about his role as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Joe's presentation was not just about the dangers of being a helicopter pilot, but the emotion and pain of leaving your family as you head to war. (Robert Caldwell, 23)

Joe was married, had a daughter and knew his wife Kathy was pregnant when he got his orders to go to Vietnam. Joe flew 459 missions piloting a search, rescue and fire suppression helicopter. He didn't talk about his experiences for 40 years. He was finally convinced by time, events and his family to tell his story. (Clayton Whitted, 28)

Like so many veterans, his story was brave and remarkable. There were probably around 60 of us listening that evening. It was an honor to be there. Today Joe recommends that other veterans tell their story. (Scott Norris, 28)

We are protected and served by many. Every day we read about and we watch these brave individuals responding to large-scale disasters and emergencies. Recently, men and women worked day and night to help those impacted by hurricanes, floods, wildfires and even responding while under gunfire in Las Vegas. (Dustin Deford, 24)

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Despite incredible bravery, someone always wants to quickly announce what went wrong, why weren't they there one minute earlier, why was there so much chaos? Disasters don't follow rule books. Wildfires and structural fires are not always predictable. (Sean Misner, 26)

In each event, in each tragedy, much is learned. What occurred is scrutinized and evaluated. Loss is honored and remembered. (Garret Zuppiger, 27)

Those who protect our country and our communities have a passion and love for what they do. There is a deep satisfaction to it. Those who serve in harm's way have an unwavering commitment to each other. (Wade Parker, 22)

When Joe Connell came home from Vietnam, he wanted to leave that time and experience behind and look only to his future. At that period in our country's history, no one wanted to hear his story. (William Warneke, 25)

Now as a community and society we have changed. We desire and wish to hear these stories. Our country needs to understand bravery, commitment, integrity and helping those in need. (Kevin Woyjeck, 21)

What an important vision to have a museum right here in Southeast Minnesota to tell and preserve the stories and deeds of our veterans, first responders, law enforcement and correctional staff. (Joe Thurston, 32)

For more information on this local effort for a Veterans and Emergency Services Museum, you can go to mvesm.org .
Two Rochester projects aimed at providing affordable housing are receiving a portion of $126 million in state investment recently announced by the Minnesota Housing Department.

HarvestView Place, a $13 million project planned by Joseph Development, is slated to benefit from $177,811 in Minnesota Housing rent assistance, along with an estimated $8.7 million in tax credit equity.

Joe Weis, of Joseph Development, said the planned 60-unit apartment complex will be similar to other projects he's tackled in Rochester with state support. Those projects include Ashland Place and First Avenue Flats, among others.

HarvestView Place is slated to be built along 55th Street Northwest, near the 56th Avenue intersection, with rents expected to be affordable to households earning $19,000 to $55,290 per year, according to Minnesota Housing. The complex will include one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with four dedicated as long-term homeless units and four accessible to people with disabilities.

Weis said construction efforts could start in February, but some city approval still is needed for the project.

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The Hylands, 2800 Charles Court NW, will see $4.2 million in Minnesota Housing investment, with an estimated 4 percent tax credit equity of $3.5 million. Titan Development and Investments is planning a $16.6 million project that will rehabilitate 100 rental units aimed at being affordable for households with incomes ranging from $39,900 to $55,290 per year, according to Minnesota Housing.

The Hylands project, which includes one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, will provide five long-term homeless units and five apartments for people with disabilities.

"Substantial improvements to The Hylands are planned that will greatly improve the resident experience and preserve the affordable housing," said Mark Steege, president of Titan Development and Investments. "We will be working with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to solidify details and strive to make this project a realty."

In addition to the HarvestView and Hylands projects, Minnesota Housing is supporting affordable housing in the region with a $100,000 investment for Three Rivers Community Action's affordability gap program. The Greater Minnesota Housing Fund will add $85,000 to the investment.

In all, 60 projects were supported with the $126.6 million in announced Minnesota Housing and partner investment.

"This funding will stimulate jobs and economic development across our state, while providing housing for Minnesotans in need," Gov. Mark Dayton said. "I thank Minnesota Housing for their work in securing these new investments and putting these funds to good use in our communities. I look forward to working with the Legislature to make additional investments next session."
The Iraqi Kurds' dreams of independence, endorsed by a Kurdish referendum last month, have come to a crushing halt.

Last week, the hostile Baghdad government clawed back the key oil-town of Kirkuk from Kurdish forces, along with other territory both sides claim. The Kurds, close American allies, feel that Washington betrayed them by effectively taking the side of Baghdad. There is some truth to the claim, but the Kurds were also betrayed from within.

How the United States treats its Kurdish friends now will signal whether the Trump team has a long-term strategy to help keep the region stable post-Islamic State. If it doesn't, the biggest victor will be Iran.

To understand why, you need some background. No Mideast group deserves self-determination more than the Kurds. An ancient non-Arab group, they were promised independence by the great powers after the breakup of the Ottoman empire. Instead, the World War I allies divided their mountainous lands among Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran.

The United States bears much responsibility for the Iraqi Kurds' recent gallop toward independence. After the 1991 Gulf War, Washington established a no-fly zone over Iraqi Kurdistan that enabled them to establish an autonomous zone. Following Saddam Hussein's ouster in 2003, the 6 million Kurds set up their own Kurdish regional government, or KRG.

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When Islamic State troops pushed into Iraq in 2014 as Iraqi forces fled, the Kurds defended their region. They later rolled the Islamic State back from huge swaths of land with support from U.S. airpower.

As for Kirkuk, this multiethnic city, surrounded by rich oil fields, is dear to the Kurdish psyche and wallet. But, as I witnessed firsthand in 1991, Saddam drove thousands of Kurds out of the city, dynamited their homes and resettled their districts with Iraqi Arabs. The Kurds took back Kirkuk during the fight against the Islamic State.

Kirkuk's fate was supposed to be decided by a referendum no later than 2007. But the Baghdad government never scheduled the vote, nor did it ever conduct serious negotiations with Kurdish leaders on Kirkuk or other contentious issues. The KRG's frustration helped drive the decision to hold the referendum.

The Baghdad government, along with neighboring Turkey and Iran, all opposed the referendum. So did Washington. But the Kurds argued that it would finally give them leverage in bargaining with Baghdad. However, the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said it would only talk if Iraqi Kurdish President Masoud Barzani rescinded the referendum. That he would not do.

In recent days, Iraqi security forces, including Iranian-backed Shiite militias, massed outside Kirkuk. Iraqi media reports say a senior general of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps told Kurdish commanders in the city to surrender or be crushed. Iran is trying to dominate post-Islamic State Iraq, and the famous IRGC Quds force chief, Gen. Qasem Soleimani, travels there often.

But here comes the internal Kurdish betrayal. Leaders of one political faction in Kurdistan made a side deal with Baghdad and told their forces to pull back from Kirkuk without informing Barzani. So Kirkuk essentially fell because of Kurdish disunion, followed by a negotiated Kurdish troop pullback from other areas.

"The referendum is over and belongs in the past," crowed Abadi. But will the Iraqi government seek to further humiliate the Kurds, or will the Iraqi leader finally negotiate with the KRG over territory and oil?

The answer to that question revolves heavily around what the United States does now.

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In years past, U.S. diplomats proved crucial in mediating disputes between Iraqi Kurds and Baghdad. Only the United States is in position to do that again. Yet President Donald Trump has shown little interest in post-Islamic State diplomacy, and an understaffed State Department is in poor position to handle negotiations.

If the Baghdad-Erbil dispute comes to a boil, Iran will be inserting itself in the middle. Tehran is eager to end the U.S. presence in Iraq and to dominate Baghdad.

"It behooves the United States to push Abadi to sit down and negotiate," says Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, the KRG representative in Washington. "We know the United States wants to teach the Kurds a lesson, but how far does the U.S. want Baghdad to go?

The time for Washington to act on the Kurdish question is now.
In recent years the Sierra Club has been agitating to close down a large coal-fired power plant in Arizona that the Navajo Indians run on their land. But guess what? This coal plant was built way back in the 1960s at the behest of . . . the Sierra Club. So naturally the Clubbers are currently suffering from 50 shades of liberal guilt.

Bill Corcoran, western regional director of the Sierra Clubs Beyond Coal campaign, fesses up in a recent issue of the Clubs magazine, in The Sierra Clubs Shadowy History With the Navajo Generating Station.

When, in 2009, the Sierra Club launched a campaign pressing for the closure of the Navajo Generating Station, a massive power plant in the Four Corners region, the move seemed in line with the organizations new priorities in the age of climate change. The Clubs Beyond Coal campaign was beginning to hit its stride in halting or retiring coal-burning power plants nationwide, and the Navajo Generating Station, the largest coal plant west of the Mississippi River and the seventh-largest source of carbon pollution in the United States, was a natural target. . . With the Navajo Generating Station now on the verge of closing, this is a good time to step back and review the Sierra Clubs long, twisted history with the coal mines and power plants located on and near the Navajo Nation. In doing so, we can see how the environmental movement has frequently excluded, erased, and marginalized indigenous peoples and their struggles as it has sought to keep landscapes free of industrial exploitation. . .

It seems the Sierra Club put its weight behind a plan to build coal plants instead of more (carbon-free) hydroelectric dams on the Colorado River.

According to Navajo activist leader John Redhouse, who in the late 1960s was a field organizer with the National Indian Youth Council, the Sierra Clubs Brower worked behind closed doors with thenInterior Secretary Stewart Udall and influential congressman Morris Udall of Arizona (the two were brothers) to come up with the infamous Plan B Alternative to the proposed Grand Canyon hydroelectric dams. Instead of being sustained by hydroelectric energy from dams, the Central Arizona Project would be fueled by coal mined and burned on Navajo lands. Redhouse writes: And so Black Mesa, our sacred female mountain and physical and spiritual embodiment of our most beloved Mother Earth, and the sweet female ground waters of the holy Navajo Aquifer, were brutally mined and depleted. Some of Browers contemporaries have disputed this account, [*] arguing that the coal plants were already being planned by private utilities. But in the recent biography of David Brower, The Man Who Built the Sierra Club, journalist Robert Wyss reports that during congressional hearings in May 1967, Morris Udall forced Brower to look at photos of stripmining operations and asked if that kind of damage was preferable to a dam. Browers thought was, Well, that is not very important country compared to Grand Canyon.

And now the Sierra Club has caught a full blown case of Liberal Guilt about Insensitivity to Indigenous People. One of these days maybe theyll acknowledge the same thing about their opposition to cheap power to the indigenous people of the energy-starved developing world.

[*] Whenever an environmentalist is confronted with an embarrassment or hypocrisy, you can invariably count on him to lie about it.
Of all the minority populations considered marginalized or vulnerable on college campuses, Jews are probably the most in danger of hate speech attacks and discrimination. Keep in mind that the alt-right white supremacists who marched in Charlottesville chanted Jews will not replace us!

But Jews also face severe animosity from the campus left. For example, heres the cartoon the Daily Cal student paper printed about Alan Dershowitzs recent lecture at Berkeley on The Liberal Case for Israel.

And as previously mentioned, a poster promoting Dershowitzs visit was defaced with a swastika, almost certainly by a leftist.

Berkeleys new chancellor, Carol Christ, has written to the Daily Cal to condemn this cartoon in no uncertain terms:

Your recent editorial cartoon targeting Alan Dershowitz was offensive, appalling and deeply disappointing. I condemn its publication. Are you aware that its anti-Semitic imagery connects directly to the centuries-old blood libel that falsely accused Jews of engaging in ritual murder? I cannot recall anything similar in The Daily Californian, and I call on the papers editors to reflect on whether they would sanction a similar assault on other ethnic or religious groups. We cannot build a campus community where everyone feels safe, respected and welcome if hatred and the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes become an acceptable part of our discourse.

Im generally not fans of university administrators, and had some sharp words for the previous Berkeley chancellor, Nicholas Dirks. I typically joke that the job description for college administrators specifies that a spine removal is a job requirement. But Christ is showing not only a spine, but considerable shrewdness in defending free speech from the assault of the Antifa left that held the Berkeley campus hostage most of the last year. If you want a hint of how well she is doing this, consider that shes drawn praise from the Wall Street Journal editorial page, and is being attacked by leftist students on campus.

Incidentally, I sent word to the chancellors office that as I know the Wall Street Journal editorial page staff a bit, I could try to get them to rescind their editorial and attack her instead if that would be more useful. But fortunately most campus leftists dont read the Journal (enjoy The Onion parody, Berkeley Campus on Lockdown After Loose Pages of the Wall Street Journal Found on Campus), and so shes at little risk of blowback from it.
Sen. Jeff Flake announced yesterday that he will not seek reelection next year. Explaining his decision on the Senate floor, Flake had harsh words for President Trump. Among them were these:

Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior has become excused as telling it like it is when it is actually just reckless, outrageous and undignified. And when such behavior emanates from the top of our government, it is something else. It is dangerous to a democracy.

President Trumps behavior has been reckless, outrageous, and undignified at times. Im not convinced that this behavior endangers democracy, but on the whole it isnt good for the country.

Andy McCarthy argues that reckless comments by Trump about Bowe Bergdahl have jeopardized the militarys prosecution of the deserter. To understand how, we need to distinguish, as Andy does, between comments Trump made as a candidate and comments he made as president.

As a candidate, Trump ripped Bergdahl as a dirty, rotten traitor. Reportedly, he even mimicked the sound of a rifle shot as he pantomimed a firing squad executing Bergdahl.

Because Trump was not president at the time, this behavior did not affect the Bergdahl prosecution. Earlier this year, the military judge in that case rejected the defenses attempt to rely on what Trump said before he became president.

Trump has not repeated his words about Bergdahl since becoming commander-in-chief. However, it can be argued that he has incorporated them by reference. McCarthy explains:

[L]ast week, at a White House press conference, he was asked whether his previous attacks on Bergdahl had unfairly prejudiced the court-martial against the defendant. There is only one proper answer to that question or, indeed, to any question to the president about the pending case: No comment. Alas, that answer does not seem to be in the Trump repertoire. While the president declined to opine on what effect his comments may have had, he couldnt just leave it there. Instead, he compulsively added, But I think people have heard my comments in the past.

Andy says this response can be interpreted only one way: Trump wanted to make clear that he stands by his prior condemnatory remarks  as if he were making them again. This may not be the only possible interpretation, but I think its the most plausible one.

Accordingly, Trump has placed the prosecution of Bergdahl in jeopardy. This isnt just McCarthys view. Cully Stinson, now of the Heritage Foundation and formerly a military lawyer and judge, shares it. He cites the military law principle known as unlawful command influence. It forbids any official with the mantle of command authority from taking any action, including making any statement, that could influence a military tribunal that is considering a soldiers case.

At a minimum, Trump has flirted with a violation of this principle. And he has done even though he knew, or should have known, that his earlier comments about Bergdahl were already being used by the defense team. McCarthy reminds us:

Shortly after Trump was sworn in, Bergdahls lawyer, Yales Eugene Fidell, began arguing that the case against his client should be thrown out on the theory that Trumps remarks constituted unlawful command influence.. . . In February, after a hotly contested litigation, the judge, Army Colonel Jeffrey R. Nance, denied Bergdahls motion on this rationale. Consequently, all the president had to do to avoid further problems for the prosecution was to avoid further commentary about Bergdahl. Too much to ask, apparently.

So now, the Bergdahl defense team has renewed its motion, even though Bergdahl already pleaded guilty. The military judge is taking the motion seriously.

The judge explained that when he denied the motion to dismiss back in February, he reasoned that the disturbing campaign rhetoric could be disregarded because Trump was not in a position of command influence. That rationale, he observed, tend[s] to be eroded when the now-president of the United States adopts those past statements.

The judge has adjourned the sentencing proceedings until today, Wednesday, to consider whether Trumps remarks warrant granting Bergdahls motion for a sentence of minimal, if any, imprisonment. As McCarthy rightly says, if the dirty, rotten traitor gets a pass, President Trump will have only himself to blame.
On Wednesday, Poland's President Andrzej Duda said Finland was the best example of the extent to which innovative ideas needed support from the state.

The president appeared at an Economic Forum in Helsinki as he continued his two-day visit to Finland.

Exploring the idea of innovation, Andrzej Duda said cutting-edge ideas were currently the key factor, dictating the pace, stability and long-term potential of economic growth.

"I am convinced that the level of innovation in an economy is a measure of the effectiveness of what politicians and state leaders do", the president said.

"This is because politics is responsible for supplying businesses with a legal, logistic, financial and scientific environment that is as comfortable as possible", he explained.

Drawing on the experiences of the host country, Andrzej Duda spoke about "the Finnish revolution of innovativeness", praising Helsinki for being one of the global leaders in the use of innovative solutions. The Polish head of state prasised Finland's "lack of complex" in competing with world's biggest and most robust partners.

Yet the president noted such achievements would not have been possible without a conviction that innovations needed support from the state. He observed that in the early 1990's, Finland had embarked on huge investments in research and development, additionally introducing public-private partnerships (PPP).

May be of interest to you President thanks Polish diaspora in Finland for maintaining Polishness Andrzej Duda said Poland was following in its northern partner's footsteps by looking for ways to better support domestic start-ups. On behalf of the Polish authorities, he committed to taking further steps in this direction, citing the government's Strategy for Responsible Development. (PAP)
If youre in need of a party, youre in luck. Its officially the spookiest  and most fun  time of the year. With one haunted gathering after another, theres no shortage of ghosts, ghouls and good times to be had. Here are nine ways to have a killer Halloween this year.

1. Vamp it up at a casino. For the biggest bang for your buck, head to a casino for wicked Halloween fun. At Resorts, kick things off on Friday with one spooky party under two roofs  Margaritaville and Landshark  with live music by Cool With Me and costume contests at both 8 and 10 p.m. Want to feel like a kid again? Get your trick or treat on with Adult Trick or Treat at 7 p.m. Saturday at both Ballys and Harrahs. While youre at Ballys, head over to Wild Wild West for a Vamps & Tramps Halloween Riot with Stellar Mojo on Friday, or an Ice & Fire Costume Party on Tuesday. And at Harrahs, stay for a splash at The Pool After Dark for a Friday night Halloween bash were Kristian Nairn will hold the door for partiers. Saturday at The Pool sees a party with Blac Chyna. At Borgata, participate in not one, but three costume party contests at Premier Nightclub, each with a DJ: Fedde Le Grand on Saturday, Chris Bachmann on Sunday, and Party Favor on Monday. Or head to Nightmare in Wonderland at the Gypsy Bar on Saturday. The same thing is happening over at Golden Nugget, with three nights of Halloween happenings at Haven Nightclub: Tony Arzadon on Thursday, 4B on Friday and Nervo on Saturday. Check out Tropicana for its Ultimate Halloween, complete with a Thriller line dance on the Boardwalk, a costume contest in The Quarter, and a bevy of bloodcurdling options throughout the property, including a costume contest at Ivan Kanes Kiss Kiss Nightclub on Saturday; a celebrity Dance of the Dead on Friday and a costume contest on Saturday at Boogie Nights; Halloween Fun & Frights with Crisbie & The Way Outs on Saturday at Ri Ra Irish Pub, and three nights of fun at Anthem Lounge: Spooktacular Deals on Friday, Creepy Fun House costume contest on Saturday, and Sunday Funday Halloween Edition with DJ B Lee on Sunday.

2. Sink your teeth into a show. Is a harrowing tale of midnight madness more your style? Then pop on over to a show. Check out dinner theater options with Madam Bettys Roaring 20s Murder Mystery on Friday at Neros Italian Steakhouse in Caesars; Murder Mystery Night at The Iron Room in Atlantic City on Tuesday; or Young Dracula at Elaines in Cape May on Thursday and Saturday. If youre feeling ambitious, head to Elaines early on Thursday for a drunken pumpkin carving contest at 5 p.m., complete with a fire pit and seasonal cocktails. If eerie elegance is more your thing, check out the Atlantic City Ballet Companys rendition of Dracula 4:30 p.m. on Sunday at Caesars. Its sure to be a show you can sink your teeth into. Finally, for a bit of hocus pocus, head to the Showboat on Saturday for a Halloween comedy show, after-party and costume contest.

Sondor Blue evolves from a cover band to an identity all their own Take four talented musicians from Hilton Head, transplant them to the larger metropolis of C

3. Mash like a monster. Head to a graveyard smash of your very own and bring your most macabre dancing shoes. The Annual Masquerade Ball at Congress Hall will be held on Friday in Cape May, then on Saturday check out the Annual Halloween Costume Party benefiting Ocean City Theatre Company at the Ocean City Yacht Club. Slither into the Rainbow Room in Atlantic City on Saturday for a Halloween party and costume contest hosted by Jenna Tall, or go haunting at The Claridge with a Friday night party at The Vue, and a Saturday night costume party in The Club. At the Windrift Hotel in Avalon, get your ghostly with BLT Band at a Halloween party and costume contest, or dine on disco fever at the Halloween Disco Party on Saturday at Clancys by the Bay in Somers Point. And dont be too proud to ramble into Proud Marys in Atlantic City for its 4th annual Halloween Ball and Costume Contest presented by Norstep on Saturday, complete with music by 609, The Choices, We are One, Solow, Sidetrack, Ill Rendition, Aristocants, Beelzebubbles and Fiore Troncone.

4. Pick Your Poison. Halloween screams prickly potions, so dont be afraid to enjoy a specialty cocktail. Try Natali Vineyard in Cape May Court House for wine or a house sangria at its Saturday Halloween-themed event. Guy Fieris Chophouse at Ballys will feature a frightful six-course meal with chilling cocktails at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. On Friday, enter the Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars at your own risk for the Tapping of the Mystery Firkin. Show your spirit with a Vampire cocktail at The Continental at The Playground, a concoction made with Bacardi, Myers rum, passion fruit puree, homemade cinnamon simple syrup, housemade grenadine and lime and bitters, or by entering the Sam Adams Stein Hoisting Competition at Old Oar House Irish Pub on Friday in Millville.

5. Walk (or ride) like the dead. As darkness falls across the land, head to the Thriller Line Dance at Tropicana on Saturday, where a Halloween-themed light and sound show sets the mood for the Boogie Nights cast to reenact the famous Thriller dance. Brave souls are invited to join in and dance like the dead. Not in the mood to dance? Then ride in the First Annual Zombie Bicycle Bar Crawl, where participants will ride through town on a bicycle, dressed in their most fearsome zombie rags, while hitting five of Atlantic Citys favorite bars. The frightening festivities start at 11 a.m at Vagabond Kitchen & Tap House and end at Pier AC, stopping at Wonder Bar, Ducktown Tavern and Harrys Oyster Bar.

6. Get boo-zy at breakfast. Dont leave all your frights for the nighttime. Brunch can be beastly as well. Head to Neros Italian Steakhouse in Caesars for Bettys Bizarre Brunch on Sunday or to Elaines for a Not-so-Haunted breakfast on Sunday.

7. Go where black cats (and dogs) prowl. Its not Halloween without your four legged bestie, so enjoy the holiday at the Rusty Nail in Cape May where a Doggie Costume Party and Contest will take place noon on Saturday. The Old Oar House Irish Pub in Millville will also host a Doggie Date Night costume party on Thursday.

8. Give a Halloween scream. Want to be part of the action? Try wailing into a microphone. Give your vocal chords some work with Scary-Oake at a party and costume contest at Kix McNutleys in Sea Isle and Rio Station in Rio Grande on Friday.

9. Have a bloody good time. Want to keep things devilishly simple? Mosey on over to your local bar, where there are Halloween happening on more than just Saturday night. On Thursday, head to an Eat, Drink and Carve party at Charlies Bar in Somers Point. On Friday, check out a Halloween party with Captain Black at Bojos Ale House; a party and costume contest with The Insiders at La Costa Lounge and Deck Bar; and a party with 88 MPH at Surf Dog Bar & Grill.

Frank Caliendo brings his dead-on impressions to Borgata Right from the get-go  like a Kentucky Derby favorite breaking out of the gate with an inst

On Saturday, there will also be an abundance of Halloween parties. Check out: DJ Live Wirez at Vagabond Kitchen & Ale House; Smile Mafia at Leftys Tavern; Chameleon at The Tuckahoe Inn; the second annual Mayhem on the Mall at Fins Bar & Grille; Costumes and Cocktails Halloween Party at The Ugly Mug; Earth Daddy at Country Club Tavern; Big Daddy Duo at McCulloughs Pub & Restaurant; Earl Sutton and The Impulsives at Buckalews Restaurant and Tavern; Dave Christopher Band at Nardis Tavern; the annual party at Maynards Cafe; a costume party at Tomatoes; The Hashtags at The Old Causeway: Mushmouth at Calloways Restaurant & Bar; Atley Moon at Yesterdays; Seven Stone at Brick House Pub & Grill; a party at Paragon Bar & Grille; Drink us Dry party with The Zone at Westys Irish Pub; The Turtleheads at Levaris Seafood & American Grill; Juicy at Lobster Loft; the 23rd Annual Spoooky Coooky Halloween Party at The Anchorage Tavern; The Brandon Ireland Band at Tuckerton Beach Grille & Restaurant; Jeff Giuliani and DJ Seth Velez at Double Eagle Saloon; Bare Bonz at Shamrock Beef & Ale; and Dr. Cheeko at Fred & Ethels Lantern Light Restaurant & Tavern.

On Monday, head to Applebees in Somers Point for Matt & Karles Haunted Happy Hour and Costume Contest, or to an Eve of Insanity Party at Cape Mays Hemingways. On Halloween itself, Hemingways will host its Creepy Carnival Party, while Vagabond Kitchen & Tap House will have a Halloween bash with DJ Sammy.
School districts around the state spend all year preparing students for the spring PARCC testing, but when the test is over, the work is far from done. As test results are released the following fall, administrators and teachers begin analyzing results and developing ways to improve for the next year.

The PARCC test places a strong emphasis on growth, which is where it should be, since each district deals with unique populations and socioeconomic challenges, said Thomas Baruffi, interim superintendent of Somers Point schools.

Baruffi said although Somers Point scores show room for improvement, a three-year comparison of scores gives the district a nice snapshot of where were seeing positive growth and where we need to increase our focus.

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers test, administered in grades 3 through 11, is in its third year. This year, the state Department of Education released a three-year comparison of the percent of students who passed from every school, grade level and test subject.

Statewide scores showed PARCC performance improved, but many scores still fall below proficiency in math and English.

I think we have to be very transparent about how our kids are doing and the professional responsibility as educators to say, Heres what weve learned and heres what were going to do to continue to provide improvement for our students, said Richard Bozza, executive director of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators.

Bozza said the PARCC scores are just part of the whole picture of student achievement, which also includes everyday classroom instruction, preparing them to college and careers, and teaching them to be good citizens.

A student isnt just a test score, he said.

In Upper Township, where students showed particular success on the Algebra I test, having achieved 100 percent in proficiency, director for planning and evaluation Ken Barth said that the district is looking at comparative data from other schools to determine if what Upper Township is seeing in its results is something that is common to all school districts.

Hammonton Superintendent Robin Chieco said that her district has shown a gradual increase in its math scores over the years, but there were fluctuations in English language arts that the district will look into addressing.

In addition, we have shown growth when comparing our scores over the last three years with an increase in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations in almost every grade in both ELA and Math. We did have a few fluctuations in our ELA scores in several grade levels and are evaluating our programs through grade level and content level (professional learning communities) to identify areas of improvements, Chieco said.

Last year, Port Republic third and fourth grade students showed great improvement in test scores. Former Port Republic Superintendent John Davis, who resigned this month to take an assistant superintendent position in Egg Harbor Township, said that the improvement can be tied to the districts various technology initiatives, including providing Chromebooks for every student. In addition, he credited focus on a standards-based instruction and creating more authentic and rigorous tasks aligned to the PARCC format.

While its not perfect, Bozza said PARCC allows New Jersey to compare itself to other states in its performance and push for higher achievements.

As long as we understand that the bar has been raised and were shooting to have our kids prepared, so that they can compete internationally, then I think thats a really important test, he said.
Several school districts in South Jersey that lost state education aid this summer were awarded additional funding this month, the Department of Education said.

While Ventnor, Weymouth Township, Wildwood and Woodbine were each awarded additional aid to make up for the loss in funding for the 2017-18 school year as a result of this years state budget, Millville and Vineland, which were among the towns in the region hardest hit by the education aid cuts, were offered loans, something the two school districts said they are researching further.

The state announced the loan and grant availability after it passed its budget in July that included $150 million in new school funding and reallocated $31 million in aid from districts considered overfunded. That resulted in several deep cuts to education aid for South Jersey school districts.

Letters of notification dated Oct. 16 were sent to the 27 districts that applied last week. According to the letters, provided by the DOE, Ventnor will receive $42,081, Weymouth Township $47,472, Wildwood $104,221 and Woodbine $30,131.

Millville, which lost $811,983 in state aid this year, was offered a 10-year loan. The local school board must vote two-thirds in favor of accepting the funds before the money can be dispersed to the district.

Millvilles Board of Education met Monday but did not vote on the funding, Business Administrator Bryce Kell said.

Kell said the district plans to ask the state why Millville was only offered a loan when 24 of the other districts that applied were given the money outright.

That has us a little disturbed, as to why ours was a loan, Kell said.

Vineland was also offered a loan for $2.06 million to cover its loss in aid this year with the same terms. Vinelands Board of Education has not met since the aid was announced, and its next meeting is a workshop scheduled for Nov. 1, but Business Administrator Helen Haley said they will not vote on the loan yet.

Haley said Vineland is on the same page as Millville in regard to the loan and is in talks with the state to find out more details.

With budget cuts already in place since the new aid figures were released over the summer, Haley said the districts have to determine whether and how they would even spend the funds.

You dont want to reinstate something that repeats each year because its a one-time deal, she said. It makes it difficult. Theres a lot to consider.

Kell said the Millville school board meets next Nov. 6.

This is the second time this school year local towns were notified about receiving additional aid. In September, Hamilton Township, Ventnor and Wildwood were each awarded preschool education expansion aid.
NORTH WILDWOOD  Although the borough is one of the busiest places in South Jersey during the summer, its seasonal nature makes it tough for year-round residents to find houses for trick-or-treating.

Enter trunk-or-treat.

For the 10th consecutive year, North Wildwood is offering local children an alternative to walking or being driven long distances between the few houses still occupied in the offseason.

Set up on Olde New Jersey Avenue between Second and Walnut avenues, the trunk-or-treat Saturday will feature a line of cars decorated in the spirit of the holiday while kids dressed in costumes take candy from the trunks.

Trunk-or-treating, known as Halloween tailgating in other areas of the country, is still a relatively new tradition that has helped solve trick-or-treating issues in both rural areas, where houses are far apart, and urban areas, where many other people walk the streets while kids knock on doors looking for candy.

The practice has been embraced by communities and churches throughout the country.

Its really about safety for the kids, said Steve DeHorsey, assistant superintendent of recreation in North Wildwood. And we host it on a Saturday, so kids can go trick-or-treating on Halloween if they and their parents really want to.

North Wildwood previously hosted a Halloween-themed skating event around the holiday. But the event kept getting canceled because the rink would get flooded during high tide, DeHorsey said. So the borough started thinking of other events it could hold instead.

After going through those hurdles (with the rink), we decided to try a trunk-or-treat because it was something that had already been successful in other places, he said.

It has since evolved into an event where children can get candy, walk through a haunted house at the Greater Wildwood Elks Lodge across the street and trick-or-treat at local businesses in the immediate area.

The event just keeps growing every year, DeHorsey said. We have 25 cars signed up right now, and I suspect there will be over 200 kids the night of the event.

DeHorsey said some of the most popular themes on the cars every year are superheroes, and the North Wildwood Fire Department has adopted that theme and dressed firefighters up as heroes in previous years.

Organizers also have discussed expanding the event, DeHorsey said. In other areas across the country, the annual trunk or treat is accompanied by a carnival with rides and food trucks.

In addition to North Wildwood, there are countless trunk-or-treats happening throughout South Jersey, from Cape May Court House to Galloway Township.

Egg Harbor Township High School hosted its first trunk-or-treat last October. Although it was a small event, the high school learned from its first year and, earlier this month, saw more than 500 people attend the second annual event.

The EHT event was conceived by teachers Danielle Brady, Mike Passante and Josh Lesser, with help from local businesses sponsoring the event.

We took this absence of a great idea and brought it to life with great success. The idea behind trunk-or-treat is to have a safe and fun alternative for children to come out and get the Halloween experience, Brady said. There is a lot of controversy on Halloween with the hours and how and where children are allowed to go trick or treating. Trunk-or-treat helps allow for an easier and even sometimes more eventful Halloween experience.
OCEAN CITY  Visitors to the Boardwalk recently have been greeted by a strange sight: piles of concrete rubble in place of the wooden walkways familiar planks.

Crews began reconstructing the Boardwalk between 10th and 12th streets last week as part of the fifth and final phase of a $10 million project that began in 2013, city spokesman Doug Bergen said.

Ive been here for 30 years, said Doug Jewell, who lives in an apartment on the Boardwalk near 11th Street. Its like I walked out the front door and (went), Whoa, what happened to my Boardwalk?

Officials expect the rebuilding process to be finished by March, Bergen said. Repairs to the Boardwalks decking are routine, he added, but this project is rebuilding the walkways entire substructure. The current cement substructure was built after a fire destroyed the Boardwalk in 1927, Bergen said.

The Boardwalk is closed between Ninth and 12th streets, and pedestrians and bikers are being detoured to Ocean Avenue.

However, some businesses in the affected area, like Mias Christmas Gallery, remain open.

Its certainly a challenge, Chris Yates, one of the stores managers, said. We knew this was coming. Every winter theyve been doing a different section.

A fenced-off walkway allows customers to visit the holiday-themed shop, which is in front of the Flanders Hotel. Steps away, workers use heavy machinery to load trucks full of wood from the Boardwalks planks.

We have people calling all the time asking if were open, because they know the situation up here, Yates added.

Mias plans to move to a new location on Asbury Avenue in mid-November, and Yates said the Boardwalk reconstruction played a role in the decision to move.

It was definitely a factor, he said. We knew that business was going to get a little bit slower with the construction, but the owners have also been contemplating on moving to Asbury (Avenue) for several years now.

Jewell, who also owns Air Circus Kite Shop and a pirate-themed store on the Boardwalk near 11th Street, will have to wait for the project to be completed to reopen his businesses. He said only corner locations like Mias could remain open during construction.

If construction wasnt going on, wed all be open, he said. The upside is were going to have a brand new Boardwalk. So when people come down this summer, this Boardwalk will be finished.

The decking will be constructed off-site out of southern yellow pine, according to the citys website. The wooden planks will be 3 inches thick, double the thickness of ordinary Boardwalk planks, the city said.

The project began four years ago with the reconstruction of the Boardwalk at Fifth Street. Bergen said its being funded as part of the citys capital improvement plan.

Fred M. Schiavone Construction, of Malaga, was awarded a $2.9 million contract for the fifth phase of the project, according to the citys website.

The company also did work for three of the other phases.
John Gaeta, owner and operator of Big Slice Pizza on the Ocean City Boardwalk, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of filing false income tax returns in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, according to court documents.

The government said Gaeta, a Cherry Hill, Camden County, resident, filed returns that omitted income from Big Slice Pizza for the tax years 2012 and 2013.

Gaeta said his wife was the owner of Big Slice Pizza, and he caused his wife to report the pizzerias income and expenses on her income tax returns, according to court documents.

The government said Gaeta did not include about $683,551 in taxable income he received from Big Slice Pizza.

By failing to report this income, defendant Gaeta failed to pay $85,522 in additional federal income taxes to the United States, court documents state.

Gaeta accepted a plea agreement in which he admitted to one count of filing false tax returns. His bail was set at $100,000. He is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 2.

By accepting the plea deal and complying with all of its terms, no charges will be filed against Rosemarie Thomas Gaeta and Joseph Thomas for filing false income tax returns for tax years 2011 through 2013, according to the plea agreement.

The violation to which Gaeta pleaded guilty carries a statutory maximum prison sentence of three years and a fine of at least $100,000, according to the plea agreement.

In February, Charles and Mary Bangle, owners of Manco and Manco Pizza in Ocean City and Somers Point, were sentenced for tax evasion, Charles to 15 months in prison, Mary to three years probation.

Charles Bangle, 57, of Somers Point and his wife, Mary, 56, pleaded guilty in 2015 to tax evasion in 2010, structuring cash transactions in 2011 and lying to the IRS. Charles Bangle was sentenced to 15 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, while Mary Bangle received three years probation.
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account.
David Williams and Steven Anderson were boys when they went missing in 1975 from a state facility in the Pinelands.

On Wednesday, federal authorities said they recently received promising new information in the case and are looking for the publics help.

Someone knows something, said Special Agent Jessica Weisman, of the FBIs Northfield office. Its unlikely that they just disappeared or were never seen or heard from again.

The FBI posted information about the two boys  including computer-generated images of what they would look like now  Wednesday to the Kidnapping/Missing Persons section of the FBI division website, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Newark Field Office Timothy Gallagher said.

More than 40 years ago, on April 7, 1975, David Williams, 12, and Steven Anderson, 17, disappeared from the grounds of the New Lisbon State School in Burlington County.

They lived at the facility and had developmental disabilities, unable to care for themselves.

Williams, of Newark, had epilepsy, wore a helmet and needed to take daily anti-seizure medication.

Anderson, of Westville, Gloucester County, had trouble with communication.

Today, Williams would be 55, and Anderson would be 60.

Williams and Anderson were roommates at the center, which is now called the New Lisbon Developmental Center. Both were last seen together outside their residence on the 1,896-acre complex off Route 72.

The two were reported missing by staff at the New Lisbon State School. The New Jersey Human Services Police Department, State Police Red Lion Station, Pemberton Township police and the Air National Guard helped search with helicopters, blood hounds and ground searchers.

Paul Vanaman, a detective with the Human Services Police and task-force officer with the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, said he has been working on this case for the past seven years, and the boys families have not given up hope.

In August, the FBI joined the investigation.

Weve done a lot in a short amount of time, and made some incredible progress, Weisman said. Were trying to look at everything.

Authorities said they could not elaborate on the new information they received, but they have connected with people who might have worked at the developmental center in the past.

The case is unique in that two boys disappeared at the same time, authorities said.

If one person has information that can help us, then its worth it, said John Mesisca, a special agent for the FBI.

Federal authorities have been looking through old documents and interviews for new information, and are trying to connect with family members of former residents at the center, staff members and people who might have lived there when the two disappeared.

The state Department of Human Services Police is the primary agency investigating the case and is assisted by FBI Newark-Atlantic City Resident Agency and the State Police Missing Persons Unit.

Both boys are listed as missing with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Anyone with information on this case should is asked to call the Atlantic City Resident Agency at the FBIs Newark Office, 609-677-6400.

Tips may be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP  Stockton University will host debates for state Senate and Assembly candidates in the 2nd Legislative District on Wednesday at Stocktons Campus Center Theatre.

The Assembly debate will start at 7:30 p.m., and will feature Republican candidates Brenda Taube and Vince Sera as well as Democrats John Armato and incumbent Vince Mazzeo.

In the first debate, Senate candidates Chris Brown, a Republican, and Colin Bell, a Democrat, discussed topics including North Jersey casinos, school, marijuana law and their stance on "sanctuary cities".

The debates are co-sponsored by The Press of Atlantic City and William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy. John Froonjian, of the Hughes Center, will moderate the debates. Press reporter Nicholas Huba will serve as a panelist with a Stockton faculty member, posing questions to the candidates, including some submitted by readers of The Press.

The debates will be open to the public. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

The campaigns in the 2nd Legislative District, which includes most of Atlantic County, have heated up in the past couple of weeks. Among the issues raised at recent debates are property taxes, school funding, the state takeover of Atlantic City and Atlantic Countys economic future.
Police officer needed on block in Atlantic City

Theres a problem in the 1700 block of Atlantic Avenue that Atlantic City is ignoring. Daily there are young men, some with gang affiliation, who spend their days selling and using drugs in the open.

They bring with them unnecessary and unacceptable violence, fighting and robbing on the street. Some have guns and even sometimes fire them, endangering the lives of innocent civilians. They terrorize residents, harass the business owners and make people afraid to shop in the stores.

Just in a recent week, at least two residents were assaulted and one was also robbed while returning home from the store with food for his wife and child.

In a sense it has become a war zone on the block. Local government and law enforcement make no effort to stop this unacceptable situation.

Posting a single officer on the block would have tremendous impact on the problem. It would put an immediate stop to the sale of illegal drugs, would rid the residents of unjust fear, and would allow the business owners a chance to succeed.

Perhaps it would even change the lives of the young men terrorizing the street, with arrests the first step toward getting them the help they need.

I beg the mayor to stop ignoring this plague and improve the city and increase the quality of life for its citizens and small businesses.

Stephen Dymond

Atlantic City

Supports Wall, Davies for Cape freeholders

In the 2017 New Jersey Kids Count report, Cape May County ranked last, yes last, of all 21 N.J. counties in child safety and well-being. Rankings are based on education, juvenile arrest and unemployment rates and the percentage of established child abuse or neglect cases. The Cape May County ranking has declined each year over the past three years. This is shameful.

All of these issues can be traced back to the countys rate of unemployment, which can be as high as 14 percent. Danielle Davies and Gregory Wall are focused on bringing meaningful, full-time year-round employment opportunities to Cape May County. This can be achieved by promoting local products and services and encouraging the development of local small businesses.

We live in a beautiful county. All residents have the right to prosper and enjoy its bounty. It is time to turn things around. We can and must do better for our children, our future.

We need Davis and Wall as freeholders to bring some fresh ideas and new energy to Cape May County.

Andrea Smith

Seaville

For Korngut for council

I was shocked to learn that Peter Brophy is running as a Republican for Northfield City Council Ward One. Having had Brophy for a boss for several years before I retired, I would be hard-pressed to find a South Jersey resident who is less suitable for public office.

In my experience, Brophy has a hair-trigger temper, responding to even minor annoyances. I found him extremely unwilling to even listen to  let alone seriously consider  any point of view besides his own. I simply cannot see him working cooperatively with seven other members of council.

Democrat Susan M. Korngut is an attorney who has the best interests of city residents at heart. Besides, its 2017 and way past time to add a womans voice to City Council proceedings.

Elaine Rose

Powell River, British Columbia

Ban assault weapons

Theres something happening that has reached the point of no return involving assault weapons. I was an 18 year old who got drafted and served in Vietnam. I saw first hand the damage an assault weapon can inflict and relive those moments from time to time.

So when can we do some things to stop these senseless acts of pure evil involving massive deaths and damage to innocent people? If the Las Vegas coward had lots of handguns, many fewer lives would have been lost.

Though I believe in the right to bear arms, assault weapons have zero reasons to be legal, no matter what the NRA states. Lets pressure representatives to effect changes on gun laws and get assault weapons banned. If we dont, the number of tragedies will continue to only get worse.

Joe Karslo

Atlantic City
United Nations(NEW YORK) -- U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley was evacuated from a South Sudanese refugee camp on Wednesday after a group protesting South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit approached the vent.



A U.S. official told ABC News that Haley's security team determined that the event was no longer safe and escorted her out prior to the scheduled end of the event.



Haley continued with the remainder of her planned schedule in South Sudan. She later flew to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The U.S. official did not believe the protesters made any contact with Haley.

Haley had met with the South Sudanese president earlier in the day, but he was not present at the event in question. After the meeting, Haley said that her conversation with Kiir was "very frank" and that the United States had lost trust in South Sudan's government, according to the U.N. mission in South Sudan.

This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
With registered clients in over 120 countries, it is high time that Export Portal expand its team around the world. We are seeking global Brand Ambassadors from different countries who will further advance businesses by encouraging them to participate and be members of Export Portal. The selected Brand Ambassadors must be well-connected to mSME associations, manufacturers, sellers, and entrepreneurs in their respective communities. The candidate must have relationships within government and prior experience with the country's rules and regulations as well as intimate knowledge of Ex/Im Trade.

The Brand Ambassador position will be compensated in a well-structured revenue-share model that allows candidates to showcase their ambition and desire to integrate a segment or an entire economy into the global marketplace. The candidate must have an office or presence in the host country and should be willing and able to travel worldwide.

Ally Spinu is looking forward to selecting a Brand Ambassador from each country who will represent Export Portal for its next stage of helping businesses reach their global potential. She looks forward to someday meet and greet all the new Brand Ambassadors from around the world in a single room with only one thing in mind, making trade faster and safer.

Resumes with cover letters or CVs are always welcome, but we want to hear how and why you are the right person for this opportunity. To learn more about Export Portal, click here: https://www.exportportal.com/learn_more.

If you believe you can represent the future of your country online as an Export Portal Brand Ambassador, send us a complete package (business portfolio, cover letter, resume) or presentation to the following: EPCountryAmbassador@exportportal.com.

CONTACT: John Zahaitis, +1 (818) 691-0079

Related Links

https://www.exportportal.com



SOURCE ExportPortal.com
Positioning patients for spine surgery is essential for optimal operating conditions and operative site exposure. The Levo System is designed to provide the surgical team with an interface that is safe, fast, and easy to engage. The technology's unique interface places the surgeon in control, supporting initial head positioning and cervical spine corrections throughout the procedure. Various interchangeable modules that support the use of a skull clamp or face pillow comprise a versatile platform that delivers optimal utilization within each practice.

Designed to provide fluid, yet controlled motion, Levo's functionality supports an improved workflow and enhanced surgical access. This is achieved through key modules, including the QuickConnect System, which supports the efficient attachment of a skull clamp, and the Control Handles, which allow for intraoperative adjustments.

"In designing the Levo System, we wanted to offer surgeons a seamless and flexible solution that affords them better control over patient positioning during these delicate procedures," said Greg Neukirch, vice president of Marketing and Sales at Mizuho OSI. "We're proud to unveil a solution we believe works to enhance clinicians' surgical experience, providing for safe and precise care when positioning a patient's head for all prone spine procedures."

Mizuho OSI is offering hands-on demonstrations of the Levo Head Positioning System at NASS 2017 in Orlando, Fla. from October 25-27 in Booth #717.

About Mizuho OSI

Mizuho OSI is a U.S. based company and the leader in the markets for specialty surgery and patient positioning. The company's portfolio includes specialty surgical tables for procedure-specific approaches that improves patient outcomes in spine and orthopedic surgeries, a range of general surgical tables, and consumable surgical patient care products. Mizuho OSI products are sold direct in the U.S. and Germany, and by the Mizuho Corporation in Japan. Both companies sell their products and solutions worldwide through authorized international distributors. Mizuho OSI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mizuho Corporation located in Tokyo, Japan, a leading surgical table manufacturer in Asia. The Mizuho Group also includes Trilux Medical, a subsidiary of Mizuho OSI. Trilux Medical is a provider and manufacturer of surgical lights, surgical pendants, operating room patient integration, video management systems, and turn-key operating room solutions. Trilux Medical products and solutions are sold direct in Germany and worldwide through authorized international distributors. More information is available at www.mizuhosi.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/590099/Mizuho_OSI____New_Levo_Head_Positioning_System.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/590101/Mizuho_OSI_Logo_1_line_Large_Logo.jpg

Related Links

http://www.mizuhosi.com



SOURCE Mizuho OSI
Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS) is pleased to announce that it was recognized as the winner of the 'Regulatory Procedures and Compliance' award at the prestigious CPhI Pharma Awards (2017) held on October 24 at the Intercontinental Hotel - Frankfurt, Germany. PPS competed with several of its global peers in this category- a category that is fundamental to serve the needs of our end customers. The CPhI Pharma Awards are among the most coveted recognitions in the pharmaceutical industry and celebrates thinkers and creators that break new ground, recognizing companies that drive the industry forward. With over 200 entries submitted in 19 different award categories, the CPhI Pharma Awards serve as a great barometer for industry excellence.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20170320/480020LOGO )

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/590387/Vivek_Sharma_Piramal_CPhI_Awards.jpg )



Upon receiving the award, Vivek Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of Piramal Pharma Solutions said: "It is a pleasure to accept the award on behalf of all the dedicated employees at Piramal Pharma Solutions that made this recognition possible. The award serves as a testament to our efforts that advances Piramal Pharma Solutions from 'Quality for Compliance' to 'Quality as a Culture'. Our 'One Piramal' strategy is built around the values of Customer Centricity, Quality, and Innovation. It is great to be recognized by our fellow peers and customers on one of our core values."

"We recognize that as an industry, we serve a higher purpose: Delivering solutions for our customers that improve the standard of life and reduce the burden of disease in patients. In order to accomplish these successfully, a robust quality and regulatory compliance record is a must. We therefore take enormous pride in this recognition," he added.

PPS is a leading global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), with 12 locations in North America, Europe, and Asia, driving solutions for our customers, from discovery through commercialization. With a stellar track record that includes 34 launched products for customers, Piramal is now a 'partner of choice' for leading pharmaceutical and biotech firms in North America and Europe.

PPS' global capabilities include, Discovery Chemistry Support, Drug Substance Development and Manufacturing, Formulation Development through Commercialization, and Clinical Trial Supplies. Further, Piramal is a leader in developing and manufacturing Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) from early development to launch. With a commitment to investing capital that meet our customers' future needs, a robust balance sheet, a strong management team, and a focus on customer centricity, PPS expects to continue to make a positive impact in human life for years to come.

About Piramal Enterprises Limited:

Piramal Enterprises Limited (PEL) is one of India's large diversified companies, with a presence in financial services, pharmaceuticals and healthcare insights & analytics. PEL's consolidated revenues were over US$1.3 billion in FY2017, with 51% of revenues generated from outside India.

In Financial Services, PEL provides comprehensive financing solutions to real estate companies. The division's Corporate Finance Group (CFG) also provides senior and mezzanine growth capital to various businesses across varied sectors that are integral part of India's growth story. The Division has also launched Distressed Asset Investing platform that will invest in equity and/or debt in assets across sectors (other than real estate) to drive restructuring with active participation in turnaround. The total funds under management under all these businesses are over US$5.5 billion. The Company has recently launched a retail housing finance vertical. The Company also has strategic alliances with top global funds such as APG Asset Management, Bain Capital Credit, CPPIB Credit Investment Inc. and Ivanhoe Cambridge (CDPQ). PEL also has long term equity investments worth ~US$1 billion in Shriram Group, a leading financial conglomerate in India.

In Pharma, through an end-to-end manufacturing capabilities across 13 global facilities and a large global distribution network to over 100 countries, PEL sells a portfolio of niche differentiated pharma products and provides an entire pool of pharma services (including in the areas of injectable, HPAPI etc.). The Company is also strengthening its presence in the Consumer Product segment in India.

PEL's Healthcare Insights & Analytics business, Decision Resources Group, is the premier provider of healthcare analytics, data & insight products and services to the world's leading pharma, biotech and medical technology companies and enables them to take informed business decisions.

PEL is listed on the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited in India.

For more information:

For Investors:

Hitesh Dhaddha / Bhavna Sinyal

Investor Relations

Contact: +91-22-3046-6444 / 6570

Email: investor.relations@piramal.com



For Media Queries:

Dimple Kapur / Rohan Sharma

Corporate Communications

Contact: +91-22-3351-4269 / 4094

Email: dimple.kapur@piramal.com / rohan.sharma@piramal.com



SOURCE Piramal Pharma Solutions
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Mumbai, Oct 19 : Adding a new twist to the defection of six municipal corporators, a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporator, Sanjay R. Turde, on Thursday claimed he was also "lured" to join the Shiv Sena last week.

The MNS Corporator from Kurla ward said he was offered the lure of lucre indirectly through a party colleague who assured "the Shiv Sena will give a big boost to your career".

"I have submitted a written complaint to the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau seeking a probe into the matter," Turde told IANS.

"It happened on the evening of October 12 when I was taken aside and informed about the offer to defect to Shiv Sena. They told me it would be a good political career move for me," Turde said.

However, Turde said he rejected the offer on grounds that MNS President Raj Thackeray had given them a lot and he could not backstab him.

"I told them that I was interested in boosting my career but on my own strength, merit and service to people and party, not by indulging in such political games," Turde added.

Turde's complaint comes six days after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Mumbai, Kirit Somaiya, wrote to the Enforcement Directorate Joint Director Satyavrat Kumar seeking action against "corruption, money-laundering, anti-democratic activities and other malpractices" indulged in by Shiv Sena which engineered the defection of six MNS corporators to its fold.

Mumbai's Jai Ho Foundation shot off a letter to the Maharashtra Lokayukta demanding a probe into the incident following revelations by MNS chief Raj Thackeray that the defectors from his party were paid Rs 5 crore each.

On its part, the MNS has also written to the Konkan Development Commissioner, asking that the defectors should not be recognised as a "separate group" in the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) till the entire issue was investigated.

A week ago, Raj Thackeray attacked his estranged cousin and Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of playing "neech" (low level) politics and "horse-trading" by buying out MNS corporators to boost the Sena numbers in the 227-strong BMC.

On October 13, Uddhav Thackeray warmly welcomed the six MNS corporators into the party, terming it as "homecoming", at his residence "Matoshri" in Bandra East.

They were - Archana S. Bhalerao, Harshala A. More, Ashwini A. Matekar, Parmeshwar T. Kadam, Dattaram S. Narvankar and Dilip B. Lande. They also sought permission of the Konkan Divisional Commissioner to be recognised as a separate group in the BMC.
Washington, Oct 21 : Senate intelligence committee investigators have spoken with several Russians who attended a June 2016 meeting with US President Donald Trump's son, the media reported.

Senator Richard Burr, the chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, told CNN on Friday that the panel has interviewed some of the Russians who were at the meeting in New York, which Donald Trump Jr. attended after being promised dirt on Hillary Clinton's campaign and being informed that the Russian government wanted his father to win the presidency.

Paul Manafort, who was the Trump campaign chairman then, along with the President's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also attended the meeting.

The intelligence committee has previously met with both Kushner and Manafort, but has not yet brought in Trump Jr.

Burr said the committee is "sequencing" its interviews to speak with everyone else "involved in the meeting before we know exactly what we want from Don Jr".

However, the Republican Senator declined to provide details on how many or which Russians were interviewed, reports CNN.

Meanwhile, the Senate judiciary committee, which met privately with Donald Trump Jr. last month, is trying to finalise plans to bring the President's son in for a public hearing.

Eight people had attended the June 2016 meeting at the Trump Tower, including British music publicist Rob Goldstone, as well as four people present as part of the Russian contingent: Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, Russian-American lobbyist Rinat Akhmetshin, translator Anatoli Samochornov and Ike Kaveladze, who works for the Russian oligarch who initiated the meeting.
Union MoS Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Anant Kumar Hegde during a meeting at the BJP office in Bengaluru on Sept 9, 2017. Image Source: IANS

Union MoS Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Anant Kumar Hegde during a meeting at the BJP office in Bengaluru on Sept 9, 2017. Image Source: IANS

Bengaluru, Oct 21 : Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde has asked the Karnataka government to keep him out of the state's Tipu Jayanti celebrations, calling the erstwhile Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan a "brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist".

"Conveyed (to) Karnataka government not to invite me to shameful event of glorifying a person known as brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist," Hegde tweeted.

Hegde had also written an official letter to the state asking not to include his name for the event.

The Karnataka government, headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has planned to celebrate the erstwhile ruler's birth anniversary on November 10.

The ruling Congress began celebrating Tipu Sultan's birth anniversary since 2015, which led to violent protests by the right-wing organisations in the Mysore region and other parts of the state.

Reacting to Hegde's statement, Siddaramaiah told reporters here that the event was being given a "political" colour.

"It is being made into a political issue. Four wars were fought against the British and Tipu fought all of them," he said.

The invitation to the Union Minister was extended only as part of the "protocol", the Chief Minister added.

"It was only as part of the protocol that he (Hegde) was invited. The invitation is extended to all central and state leaders as part of the protocol. It is up to them whether to attend or not," Siddaramaiah said.

An official from the Chief Minister's Office told IANS: "Since Tipu Jayanti is being celebrated as a state event, the protocol demands that the Union Ministers from the state and other central government ministers be invited."

The letters to all ministers were sent out in advance and it was their discretion whether or not to be a part of the event, the official added.

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker from the state Prahlad Joshi has alleged that Tipu Sultan was "anti-Hindu, anti-Kannada and exploited India".

"The state should not be using public money for the celebrations. Karnataka government is playing vote bank politics to appease Muslims in the state ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections," alleged another BJP lawmaker Shobha Karandlaje.

Known as the "Tiger of Mysore", Tipu Sultan ruled the Mysore kingdom from 1782-1799 succeeding his father Hyder Ali.

Though Tipu Sultan was born in 1750 at Devanahalli on the outskirts of Bengaluru, his kingdom's capital was at Srirangapatna near Mysore.
Chennai, Oct 24 : Around 1,900 branches of IDBI Banks across the country were shut on Tuesday due to a strike by employees demanding wage revision, said a leader of the All India IDBI Officers Association (AIIDBIOA)

The employee unions - officers and staff - are on strike on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"The bank has 15,000 officers and around 2,000 staff members working in the 1,900 branches spread across the country. All the branches are closed due to strike," protest leader Vithal Koteswara Rao A.V. told IANS.

Wage revision for employees and officers of IDBI Bank is due for the period from November 1, 2012 to October 31, 2017, on the lines of the settlement in all other banks.

In the case of all other Banks, not only wage revision was settled in May 2015 with effect from November 2012, the negotiation for the next wage revision due from November 1, 2017 was also underway.

According to Rao, the bank handles around 250,000 instruments valued around Rs 1,800 crore daily.

"Nearly 60 per cent of that have been affected due to the strike," he added.
New Delhi, Oct 24 : Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday took a dig at the opposition parties over their plan to observe the anniversary of demonetisation as a 'Black Day' and said the opposition preferred a cash dominated economy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes last year on November 8. Jaitley said: "They can definitely observe it (November 8) as black day, it proves their devotion to a cash dominated economy."

"The government feels the economy should be a less cash economy, the opposition believes the economy should be cash dominated," he said.

The opposition parties on Tuesday said they would observe November 8 as Black Day to protest against the government's "ill-conceived and hasty" decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes a year ago.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters here the opposition parties have worked out a joint strategy to register their protest against the November 8, 2016 demonetisation.
Washignton, Oct 25 : The ongoing feud between Senator Bob Corker and Donald Trump exploded into public after the former accused the US President of "debasing" the country and if given the opportunity again, he would not support him again.

Trump attended a lunch at the Capitol Hill with lawmakers to unify Republicans to rally around tax reform, but the war of words between Trump and Corker overshadowed the meeting.

According to CNN, the President had earlier accused Corker, who is retiring, of blocking his party's efforts on tax cuts.

Corker said he "would not do that again (back Trump's presidential campaign)."

He also said Trump has "great difficulty with the truth" and that "debasing" the US would be his prime legacy as President, adding that Trump has "proven himself unable to rise to the occasion."

"I think many of us, me included, have tried to, you know, intervene, and I have had a private dinner and have been with him on multiple occasions to try and create some kind of aspirational approach, if you will, to the way that he conducts himself," Corker was quoted as saying.

"I don't think that that's possible. He's obviously not going to rise to the occasion as president."

Asked if he thought the President was a role model for children, Corker, the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, said, "No, absolutely not."

"I think the things that are happening right now that are harmful to our nation, whether it's the breaking down of -- we are going to be doing hearings on some of the things that he purposely is breaking down -- relationships we have around the world that have been useful to our nation," he said.

"But I think at the end of the day, when his term is over, I think the debasing of our nation, the constant non-truth telling, just the name-calling ... I think the debasement of our nation will be what he'll be remembered most for, and that's regretful."

After the interview, Trump on Twitter called Corker "the incompetent head of the foreign relations committee", to which Corker replied saying "everybody sees through" Trump's "bullying."

Trump also tweeted, "Bob Corker, who helped President O give us the bad Iran Deal & couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee, is now fighting Tax Cuts.... Corker dropped out of the race in Tennesse when I refused to endorse him, and now is only negative on anything Trump. Look at his record!"

After half an hour later, Corker respoded, "Same untruths from an utterly untruthful president. #AlertTheDaycareStaff".
Washington, Oct 25 : US President Donald Trump's ban on refugees entering the country is no longer in effect and the administration will implement a procedure involving greater scrutiny of applications, a State Department official said.

"The suspension of processing refugees ends today, October 24," Efe news quoted the State Department official as saying on Tuesday on condition of anonymity..

The refugees from 11 unidentified countries will only be allowed into the country under exceptional circumstances for the next 90 days, while the US government conducts a review of those nations.

The measures "are designed to intensify screening in order to keep nefarious and fraudulent actors from exploiting the refugee process to enter the United States. The measures come at the end of a 120-day 'pause' on refugee resettlement, while the United States government conducted a thorough review of the existing programme", the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement.

"The security of the American people is this administration's highest priority and these improved vetting measures are essential for American security," said Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke.

"These new, standardized screening measures provide an opportunity for the United States to welcome those in need into our country, while ensuring a safer, more secure homeland."

The State and Homeland Security Departments, along with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, "conducted a review of the United States Refugee Admissions Programme application and adjudication process" to determine "what additional procedures should be used to ensure that individuals seeking admission as refugees do not pose a threat to the security and welfare" of the US.

As a result of the review, the US government will implement "programme enhancements to raise the bar for vetting and screening procedures, including but not limited to: increased data collection to more thoroughly investigate applicants, better information sharing between agencies to identify threat actors, and new training procedures to strengthen screener ability to detect fraud and deception", the DHS said.

The State Department said that it will launch an additional in-depth review into the refugees of the 11 nations previously identified as potentially presenting a greater risk to the US.

The US will not identify the 11 nations in question because that would make its efforts to enforce the law more difficult, said a government official, requesting anonymity.

Trump issued the ban last March, but it did not enter into force until June when the US prohibited for 120 days entry to refugees from all over the world.
Washington, Oct 25 : Less than one-third of Americans support US President Donald Trump's tax cut plan, a poll released by market and public opinion research groups showed.

According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, of the adults who said they had heard of the tax reform, 28 per cent said they support it, while 41 per cent oppose it and another 31 per cent said they do not know, Xinhua reported.

A budget resolution approved by the US Senate last week would add up to 1.5 trillion USD in fiscal deficit during the next decade, paving the way for Trump's tax cut plan.

The Trump administration, along with congressional Republicans, last month released a unified framework for tax reform, which will cut tax rates for businesses and individuals but lacks details about how to consolidate the fiscal position in face of big tax cuts.

The US national debt is ballooning at over 20 trillion dollars, which is more than the country's's annual GDP.

Independent analysts believe Trump's tax cut plan would leave the debt even larger, while some Republicans are of the view the tax cut could be offset by stronger economic growth that would generate more tax revenue.

According to the poll, more than two-thirds of registered voters said reducing the US federal budget deficit is more important than cutting taxes for the wealthy or for corporations.

US House Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday said that House Republicans will unveil the long-awaited tax reform legislation next week and pass the bill by the Thanksgiving week.

The poll, conducted online in all 50 US states, found that only 15 per cent of registered voters said the Republicans in Congress should prioritize tax reform over other issues.
Mumbai, Oct 25 : Newly-appointed Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Chairperson Anupam Kher has thanked the students of the institute for their "faith and understanding" towards him.

Anupam on Tuesday shared a note by the students of FTII, which read: "Thank you so much for your cooperation and active involvement addressing our concerns. Looking forward to work together towards the betterment of this premier institute. Thank you."

In response, the veteran actor, 62, said: "Thank you FTII students for your faith and understanding. Your thank you note made me extremely happy. Let's do some great work together."

Anupam was on October 11 announced as the new Chairperson of FTII. He succeeded the controversial Gajendra Chauhan, whose appointment in 2014 had triggered widespread student protests.

Earlier this month, he visited the institute unannounced and promised the students that he is on their side.
New Delhi, Oct 25 : Although questions have been repeatedly raised over the 'shoot-on-sight' policy, wildlife and nature conservationist M.K. RanjithSinh Jhala believes bold action needs to be taken if wildlife is to be saved. He said he was in favour of the policy, though it could not be "openly implemented".

"Kaziranga is the classic example of this situation. There is almost a war going on inside the sanctuary between the poachers and the forest guards. The poachers are mostly heavily armed and because of the lucrative business it is difficult for them to resist poaching. But if you want to protect wildlife, you need to take some strict steps," RanjithSinh, 78, told IANS in an interview.

A former secretary of the government of India, RanjithSinh has been the pioneering figure in drafting of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. He also helped to established 14 new sanctuaries, eight new national parks, and doubled the area of three existing national parks while he was appointed as the secretary of forest and tourism in the Madhya Pradesh state government.

Controversy has surrounded the shoot-on-sight orders at Kaziranga where poachers have been allegedly killed in forest. British media house BBC was banned from India's tiger projects for five years for questioning such "protective" measures in the Kaziranga national park. Recently, the Director of Corbett National Park, Parag Madhukar Dhakate, was removed from the post for apparently extending support towards shoot-on-sight orders.

"Ivory, rhino horn, tiger and leopard skins and parts, pangolin, nilgai and deer horns, elephant tusks -- as long as there is a demand in the market, poaching will continue and (may lead to) extinction of such species. This has happened in Panna and Sariska," he said.

He served as the country's first director of wildlife preservation under the environment ministry from 1973 to 1975, a position that he later held for a second spell as well. He has recently written a book called "A Life with Wildlife".

While speaking about other dangers that might affect a large percentage of wildlife population, RanjitSinh mentioned the "Island Syndrome" -- a phenomenon where wildlife creatures are confided within a certain periphery.

"If animals are controlled within a territory, they will start fading out and gradually face extinction. Wildlife needs space and the area provided to them in India is getting reduced. You need to move human settlement to give a larger area to forest territory which is now no longer possible. And it is one of the major threats faced by wildlife in India," RanjithSinh said.

"The so called 'development at any cost' kind of mentality is extremely dangerous. From human settlement near the sanctuaries and to opening of industries, everything has been set up violating the rules. If diamond, coal or oil mining possibilities are found beneath the forest reserve, those areas (the reserves) will be wiped off," he added.

The former IAS officer highlighted that it is because of the fast vanishing act of reserve areas that there had been a significant decline in prey, which is forcing wildlife to cross the forest boundary in search for livestock, leading to man-animal conflict.

"I remember an incident where a snow leopard had entered a human settlement in Spiti and killed 45 out of 54 livestock of a farmer but hadn't eaten them. There is a limit to which the humans will take up the loss and will end up killing the animal," he noted.

But was the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 sufficient for tackling the situation?

"The act is still very much relevant today, but where is it being implemented? The govt will dilute it. Forget wildlife, the present governments do not want the environment factor to impede in any way and this hurts," he commented.

When asked about his experience with Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister in 1972, under whom the act was passed, RanjithSinh remembered that she instantly agreed to it.

"When I presented the copy, she turned around to me and immediately said 'yes'. She was very interested in environment and she had very good people to advice her. Not to forget, she was also the first environment minister," he said.

The former prime minister took the initiative to write to the states to hand over power to authorise or control wildlife parks and sanctuaries, he said. "Eighteen states gave her the power, even before they saw what it was. She had the vision towards environment which present- day politicians don't have" he added.

(Somrita Ghosh can be contacted at somrita.g@ians.in)
New Delhi, Oct 25 : India and the US have agreed that Pakistan should immediately take steps to finish the terror organisations and terrorist safe havens on its soil, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Wednesday after her meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Tillerson, the External Affairs Minister said both India and the US have agreed that President Donald Trump's new Afghanistan policy would be effective only if Pakistan takes action against terror groups on its soil.

"We discussed the issue of terrorism at length. This is a big threat for the whole world. We also discussed implementing President Trump's new Afghanistan and South Asia policy, so that it can achieve the desired results," Sushma Swaraj said.

The Minister said that both India and US have agreed that it is important to ensure that no country is a safe haven for terrorists.

"We expressed serious concerns over increasing terror attacks in Afghanistan. It proves even today there are elements that are providing safe havens and support to terrorists. We agreed that we need to together ensure that no country provides safe havens to terrorists," she said.

She said nations supporting terror should be held accountable.

"The nations that support terrorists or support them should be held accountable. We also agreed that Pakistan should take steps immediately to finish the safe havens for terror organisations that are there on its soil. We believe President Trump's new policy can be successful only when Pakistan indiscriminately acts against all terror groups," she said.

During his Islamabad visit on Tuesday, Tillerson told Pakistan that it must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country.
New Delhi, Oct 25 : After facing flak over delinking the schedule from Himachal Pradesh a fortnight ago, the Election Commission on Wednesday announced that Assembly polls in Gujarat will be held on December 9 and 14, asserting that the delay was meant to ensure that relief and rehabilitation work in the wake of devastating floods was not affected.

Declaring the schedule, Chief Election Commission A.K. Joti said the independence and impartiality of the poll panel cannot be questioned on account of the delay which was on account of the flood situation in north Gujarat.

The Election Commission has already announced that the results of the elections for the 182-member Gujarat and 68-seat Himachal Pradesh assemblies will be declared on December 18.

The date of filing of nominations for the first phase of Gujarat polls covering 89 constituencies in 19 districts will be November 14 and the last date will be November 21. The scrutiny of nominations will take place the next day and the last day of withdrawal will be November 24.

In the second phase, covering 93 seats in 14 districts, the nominations will open on November 20. The last date of nominations will be November 27. Scrutiny will be done on November 28 and the last date for withdrawal will be November 30.

The model code of conduct that bars governments from taking policy decisions and announcing new projects came into force immediately in BJP-ruled Gujarat.

Joti was repeatedly asked questions about the opposition criticism of the Commission that it came under government pressure to delay the announcement so that the government could declare new projects for the state before the model code of conduct comes into force.

He maintained that unprecedented rain and floods delayed the announcement because the Commission wanted to ensure that in no way the pace of the rehabilitation work should be hampered.

"The severity of the rain and flood could be guaged from the fact that seven north Gujarat districts, including Ahmedabad, were affected and 229 people lost their lives. It is not a small number. It shows the magnitude of the flood situation... There is no question of connivance with anyone for the delay.

"The Commission always takes decisions on the prevailing situation that is not static but is dynamic. The charge that the Commission had given up its impartiality is not acceptable," he said, adding that even for the Himachal Pradesh government there was time available till October 11 for announcement of new projects.

The schedule for Himachal Pradesh polls was announced on October 12. The hill state votes on November 9.

Soon after the Himachal announcement, the opposition parties had come down heavily on the poll panel alleging that it had given the BJP government in Gujarat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi more time to announce election sops.

The Prime Minister made two visits to Gujarat after the Himachal schedule was declared and announced launching projects worth Rs 3,600 crore in a bid to woo electorate in his home state.

But the poll panel chief denied that the delay had anything political about it.

"The delinking was done because of the flood situation in Gujarat and there was no other special reason," Joti said.

The total number of voters in Gujarat will be 4.33 crore, up from 4.27 crore in the last election. The electors photo identity cards (EPIC) is to the extent of 99.99 per cent. The total number of polling stations will be 50,128 as against 44,579 in the last elections.

Electronic voting machines will be used at all the polling stations along with voter verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs) under which a voter will be able to see the candidate, the party and the symbol for whom they voted.

"The Commission has already made arrangements to ensure availability of adequate number of EVMs and VVPATs for the smooth conduct of election," Joti said.
Sydney, Oct 25 : The campus grounds of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) transformed into a "Little India" as the highly-rated Australian university celebrated Festival of India 2017 - a stimulating, event-packed week to celebrate and promote Australia's partnership and friendship with India.

The unique festival, October 23-26, showcases not only the country's rich, cultural offerings but also its ground-breaking developments in innovation, finance, scientific research and economic growth.

The festival week brings to light India's vibrant mix of tradition and transformation. "As the UNSW Sydney campus transforms into a little India, together we will showcase ground-breaking developments in innovation, business and culture along with a few surprises," the university said in a statement.

There are also an 'Inscription of India' stall for henna tattoos, an 'Exam Therapy Stall' "designed to refresh your body, mind and soul through the ancient art of yoga" and stalls showcasing the culinary delights of India.

"UNSW's first Festival of India - 'India Illuminated' is an event-packed week to celebrate Australia's friendship with South Asia's emerging global powerhouse," the statement said.

Growing numbers of Indian students are now enrolling at Australian universities with the country enjoying the distinction of being the third biggest international student destination in the world.

At its peak nearly 28,000 Indian students enrolled for studies in Australia in 2009. After a period of slowdown in enrolments between 2010 and 2015, the numbers are looking up and are beyond its 2009 peak.

Currently, UNSW admits about 360 students from India annually, mainly in its engineering and business schools. The India pitch is part of UNSW's goal to see the numbers go up 10 times by 2025.

Its 50,000-plus students come from 128 countries, making it one of Australia's oldest and most cosmopolitan universities with a unique focus on the scientific, technological and professional disciplines,
Srinagar, Oct 25 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday urged police personnel not to attack families of militants.

Speaking at the passing out parade of recruits at the police training centre in Ganderbal district, Mehbooba Mufti said: "Do not attack families of militants just because they (militants) attack families of policemen. You must maintain the difference."

She said policemen were facing many difficulties in the discharge of their duties, but they had set an example of discipline and sacrifice.

The Chief Minister said efforts must be taken to ensure surrender of local militants who had joined militancy for one or the other reason.

The comments followed reports that houses of some militants had been ransacked by security forces in south Kashmir areas.
Kannur (Kerala), Oct 25 : Three persons suspected of having links with the terror group Islamic State (IS) were arrested in Kannur in Kerala on Wednesday, police said.

According to a police officer, the suspects allegedly had links with the IS as they were in Turkey recently.

A police officer on the condition of anonymity told IANS the three men are now in police custody. "They are being questioned and I do not know about other details," the officer said.

Meanwhile, police are on the lookout for two more men who are believed to have been with the suspects. Police will present the three men before a local court and seek permission for custodial interrogation.

The five men, hailing from Chakarakal near here, had returned recently from Turkey.
Jaipur, Oct 25 : The Congress in Rajasthan on Wednesday demanded scrapping of a controversial ordinance to protect public servants from being investigated for on-duty action without prior government sanction, and said they will go to court against it.

Rajasthan state Congress president Sachin Pilot demanded scrapping of the "draconian gag ordinance" Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance, 2017. "Sending it for 'reconsideration' is just not enough," he told the media here, a day after the state government referred a bill on the issue to a select committee.

Former Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot in series of tweets demanded withdrawal of the ordinance.

He said there is no place for a law on legal protection to corruption. Pilot demanded an explanation from Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia for bringing such a bill.

He said that referring the Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill to a select committee is a "big victory" for democracy. "If need be we will go the court against this bill."

Gehlot in his tweets slammed the Raje government. "The undemocratic gag ordinance must be immediately withdrawn. What is the point of sending such an arbitrary bill to a select committee?

"By tabling the bill in Vidhan Sabha, State BJP government has exposed its real intentions - they want absolute powers to govern by restricting public and media from raising any finger at any of their wrongdoing."

"CM Raje has revealed yet again her autocratic style of functioning, where constructive criticism even by media has been made a crime."

On Wednesday social activists protested in front of the Vidhan Sabha against the ordinance. "Why was the bill of draconian criminal law amendment not withdrawn, why was it sent to a select committee? It is very clear the Raje government doesn't as yet want to give up the agenda of gagging and jailing the media and snatching powers of the judiciary," Kavita Srivastava, president, PUCL Rajasthan, said in a statement.

She said though the Bill has been referred to a select committee, the ordinance is still implementable for six weeks, till December 5.

On Monday, ignoring criticism from various quarters, the BJP government headed by Raje tabled the Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill in the state assembly.

This bill seeks to protect serving and former judges, magistrates and public servants in the state from being investigated for on-duty action, without prior sanction. It also bars the media from reporting on such accusations till the sanction to proceed with the probe is given by the government.

Pilot, who had gone to meet his party MLAs sitting on dharna since Tuesday afternoon in the state assembly demanding loan waiver for farmers, said the party will continue to protest both inside and outside the assembly demanding loan waiver.

"We demand that the government should completely waive the loan of farmers," he said.

The Rajasthan government has set up a committee to look into farmers' demands of waiver of loans of upto Rs 50,000.
Ahmedabad, Oct 25 : Expelled Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela's Jan Vikalp, set up as an informal front, has now acquired a dormant political party, All India Hindustan Congress (AIHC), to contest the Gujarat Assembly elections.

The AIHC is a political outfit registered with the Election Commission with a symbol of tractor.

Announcing this on Wednesday, Vaghela said: "This will be a third front alliance contesting against the major parties BJP and Congress. The Jan Vikalp doesn't have the time to get into procedural delays of registering a new party, so we are allying with the AIHC."

He added: "People are fed up with these two parties. Our third front will give them a better option."

Vaghela claimed that many dissatisfied political leaders from other political parties were in talks with him to join the AIHC. He said they include "two to three leaders" from the Aam Admi Party (AAP).

The veteran politician had engineered a split of sorts in the Congress with the resignations of six MLAs and eight others, including his son Mahendrasinh Vaghela, voted against party veteran Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha election in August.

But they could not defeat Patel after votes of two BJP candidates were disqualified.
New Delhi, Oct 25 : The government decision to recapitalize the public sector banks by infusing Rs 2.11 lakh crore amounts to virtually pardoning corporates who have not returned loans now totalling Rs 11.5 lakh crore, the CPI-M said on Wednesday.

A Communist Party of India-Marxist statement said the government moves came at a time when the banks were burdened by humongous non-performing assets.

"Instead of pursing the corporates not returning the loans they have taken from the banks..., the government has virtually pardoned the loan defaulters," it said.

It said that in the last three years, the Modi government had written off corporate loans to the tune of Rs 2 lakh crore.

"This mega concession for the corporates is now being met through public funding of this recapitalization. This is tantamount to the Indian people bailing out the banks that are being looted by the corporates," the CPI-M said.

"There cannot be any worse expression of crony capitalism than this.

"While loan waivers for the farmers committing suicides due to agrarian distress is refused, the corporates are being encouraged to run away with the loans that they have taken from the monies deposited in banks by crores of Indians."

The CPI-M challenged the logic advanced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that recapitalization would allow the banks to give further loans to the corporates, leading to higher investments and more employment and economic growth.

"This is a flawed logic. Increase in investments per se cannot increase employment and growth rates. What is produced through these investments has to be sold for this to happen.

"In a world of shrinking trade, with Indian exports registering a 20-year rock bottom and the significantly reduced purchasing power in the hands of the Indian people, thanks to demonetization and GST, has drastically shrinking domestic demand, the Finance Minister's logic is simply unrealisable."

The CPI-M asked the government to immediately confiscate the properties of the corporates "who are defaulting on returning their loans. The people cannot be asked to pay to protect corporate loot of public money".
New Delhi, Oct 25 : The Centre's decision to recapitalise public sector banks "being looted by corporates" by infusing Rs 2.11 lakh crore is the "worst expression of crony capitalism", the CPI-M said on Wednesday.

The left party also demanded "immediate confiscation of properties" of the defaulter corporates.

"The infusion of a staggering Rs 2.11 lakh crore comes at a time when state-run banks are burdened by humongous non-performing assets. Instead of pursing corporates not returning money raised as loans from banks, estimated at Rs 11.5 lakh crore, the government has virtually pardoned the defaulters," the Communist Party of India-Marxist said.

The opposition party said that the Narendra Modi government had written off corporate loans of Rs 2 lakh crore in three years and that the "mega concession for corporates is now being met through public funding".

"It tantamount to Indian people bailing out banks being looted by corporates. There cannot be any worse expression of crony capitalism," it said, adding that while loan waivers for farmers committing suicides due to agrarian distress were not materialising, corporates are "being encouraged to run away with loans raised from banks on the money deposited by crores of Indians".

The government on Tuesday announced a Rs 2.11 lakh crore recapitalisation plan for state-run banks. Of this, Rs 1.35 lakh crore will be raised through recapitalisation bonds and the remaining sum through budgetary support and market borrowings.

The CPI-M said the logic advanced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for the move was "flawed".

"Increase in investments, per se, cannot increase employment and growth rates. What is produced through these investments has to be sold for this to happen.

"In a world of shrinking trade, when Indian exports have hit rock bottom for the last 20 years, purchasing power of Indians has significantly reduced -- thanks to demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax -- and domestic demand has drastically shrunk, the Finance Minister's logic is simply unrealistic," it said.

Demanding confiscation of properties of the corporate loan defaulters, the left party said the common people cannot be asked ro "pay to protect corporate loot of public money".
New Delhi, Oct 25 : Rebel JD-U leader Sharad Yadav on Wednesday said a rally will be held in Mumbai on Friday by opposition parties to "save India's composite culture" and to fight divisive forces in the country.

"As per the Constitution, there is no alternative but to live in harmony with each other. The rally will be held to save our composite culture. Farmers, labourers and leaders of many opposition parties will participate," he told the media here.

D. Raja of the Communist Party of India, Sanjay Kumar of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Abu Azmi of Samajwadi Party, Raju Shetty of Swabhimani Paksha, Jaiprakash Yadav of Rashtriya Janata Dal and Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of B.R. Ambedkar, will be among the participants.

Sharad Yadav, a former Union Minister, criticised the Modi government for "failing" to fulfill the promises made before it came to power in May 2014.

Instead, he said, it was creating problems for people through Digital India, Goods and Services Tax and demonetisation.
New Delhi, Oct 25 : Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday called upon the private sector to provide solutions for perimeter security of defence installations across the country, and for surveillance along the country's borders.

Speaking at a seminar on "Indigenous Technological Empowerment of the Indian Army", Rawat said the Army was looking at electronic warfare and early-warning systems not only for the front lines, but also for the hinterland amid threats of more terror attacks like at the air base in Pathankot in Punjab and the Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We are also looking at electronic warfare and early-warning systems to help us not just on the front line but hinterland as well... security of our installations in the hinterland is becoming a concern due to reports of (possibility of) attacks on the lines of Uri and Pathankot on some of our other bases," General Rawat said.

"Therefore, we have to look at solutions to our security problems... relying entirely on manpower is not the best way forward. We will have to integrate technology with manpower to ensure that human resources are committed to the least and we are able to imbibe technology," he said.

The Army chief called upon the private sector to provide technology solutions and systems for surveillance along India's borders.

"Our major requirement, as of now, is to look at intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance systems to keep an eye on our adversaries, both on the northern and western frontier, and then to integrate the system with other systems in the battlefield," he said.

Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said self-reliance in defence manufacture will come only with home-grown technologies.

"True self-reliance in defence will flow from fully home-grown technologies," Bhamre said.

Bhamre said the central government has put defence at the core of its 'Make in India' programme, adding that various companies had expressed willingness to invest in India by utilising the country's highly talented and skilled manpower.
New Delhi, Oct 25 : HARMAN International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, announced new initiatives for its user base in India by launching an extensive, new line-up of audio products.

It includes products from HARMAN's JBL, Harman Kardon and Infinity brands. The company unveiled JBL Flip 4, JBL Pulse 3, Harman Kardon Traveller, Harman Kardon OMNI+ series, JBL Cinema SB450 and Infinity Kappa Perfect 600.

Consumers in India will now have a wider choice, with products starting from Rs 1,119 and going up to Rs 39,990, the company said in a statement.

HARMAN also announced that its JBL and Harman Kardon audio products will be available through 350 of Samsung's key brand stores across India by the end of 2017.

Additionally, HARMAN showcased its latest audio innovations launched at the trade show IFA in Berlin last month.

The IFA line up, which includes JBL LINK series, JBL Boombox, JBL Jr and JBL Free will be available in India starting first quarter of 2018.

"This synergy with HARMAN allows us to offer richer experiences and a comprehensive portfolio of smart, connected and cutting-edge audio products. Our consumers can now enjoy a connected lifestyle at home and on the move," said Asim Warsi, Senior Vice President, Mobile Business, Samsung India.
New Delhi, Oct 25 : The Central government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that it will extend till March 31, 2018, the deadline for linking Aadhaar with bank accounts, PAN, mobile numbers and other schemes for those who don't have the unique identification number and are willing to go for it.

Attorney General K.K.Venugopal said that the government will extend the deadline till March 31 after Chief Justice Dipak Misra, who heads the bench hearing the case, asked him if government was prepared to extend it. The existing deadline, extended by three months after the earlier deadline on September 30, is till December 31.

"The government will be open for the deadline for linking Aadhaar to various programmes being extended for another three months till March 31, 2018, for those who do not have Aadhaar ... and are willing to enrol for Aadhaar," Attorney General K.K.Venugopal told the bench.

Taking note of his statement, the court sought a clarification whether the government would desist from taking any coercive action against those not linking Aadhaar with bank accounts, PAN, mobile numbers and other schemes during this extended period.

Venugopal said that he would come back and respond to the clarification sought by the court on Monday.

However, he said that no coercive action will be taken.

The court sought clarification as senior counsel Shyam Divan and Anand Grover appearing for the batch of petitioners urged the court that government should refrain from taking any coercive action not only against those who don't have Aadhaar but also those who have but consciously not linking with Abank accounts, PAN, mobile numbers and other government schemes.

He said that if the government assures on this point, they would agree for holding the hearing sometime in February next year, otherwise hearing should take place in first week of November as decided earlier by the top court.

Referring to various complaints of banks making accounts dormant after account holder did not link them with Aadhaar, Divan told the court that Central Board of Secondary Education was insisting on Aadhaar for the students taking class 10 board examination.

"Is this the stage of civil liberty that a school student can't appear in exam without giving finger prints for Aadhaar," Divan said insisting that the matter should be heard in the first week of November as it involved the constitutional rights of the people.

On August 30, the bench of Chief Justice Misra, Justice Amitava Roy and Justice A.M. Khanwilkar had said that the challenge to the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar scheme would be heard in the first week of November.

The court had fixed the hearing in the first week of November after the government told the court on August 30 that September 30 deadline for linking Aadhaar with bank accounts, PAN, mobile numbers and other schemes has been extended till December 31.

The hearing on the challenge to the validity of Aadhaar was the next step after top court by its August 24 verdict had declared that the right to privacy was a fundamental right.

The challengers contended that the state could not insist on the citizens to part with their personal data including iris scan and finger prints.

Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, who was on the bench of nine judges, had in his judgment said that the challenge to the validity of Aadhaar on the grounds of its being violative of right to privacy would be adjudicated by the original bench of three judges in the light of the decision elevating right to privacy as a fundamental right.
Grambling (Us), Oct 25 : Two 23-year-olds were shot dead at the Grambling State University campus early on Wednesday. The accused is on the run.

One victim was identified as Earl Andrews, a University student from Farmerville, Louisiana, the CNN reported quoting university spokesman Will Sutton.

The other victim, Monquiarius Caldwell, from Farmerville was not a student at the University, Sutton said.

A female student alerted the authorities to the shooting.

The bodies were discovered in a courtyard between two dorm buildings, said Stephen Williams, a spokesman for the Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office.

The police believe the shooting followed an altercation that started inside one of the adjacent dormitories.

"This is a horrible tragedy ... our prayers are with the victims and their families," Sutton told CNN affiliate KTBS.

"There's no place for violence on the Grambling State University campus. We always encourage our students to be safe, to be aware, to watch who they hang out with, and to watch who's around at all times. And this is a most unfortunate situation."

The university tweeted that the campus offices are open on Wednesday and that "students are expected to attend class as scheduled".
Mumbai, Oct 25 : A day after the Maharashtra cabinet's green signal, the City & Industrial Development Corporation on Wednesday issued a Letter of Award to GVK-led Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd for starting construction of the Rs 16,000 crore new Navi Mumbai International Airport.

This came nearly nine months after the MIAL was declared the winning bidder for the Greenfield Airport project coming up on 1160-hectares in the PPP mode with CIDCO.

While MIAL will hold 74 percent stake, CIDO will hold 26 percent, foot the pre-development expenses which will be later recovered from GVK, besides getting a 12.6 percent share in the annual revenue from the mega-project.

The GVK, which currently manages the Mumbai International Airport Ltd, had submitted the highest revenue sharing model of 12.6 percent per annum over its sole closest competitor GMR (which manages the New Delhi International Airport) which had quoted a figure of 10.44 percent.

"We are confident of providing yet another landmark airport for Mumbai. The invaluable experience that our team gained while developing the Mumbai Airport will be very useful and enable us deliver yet another world-class airport," said MIAL Executive Chairman G.V.K. Reddy, who is also founder-Chairman of GVK.

He revealed that the GVK plans to develop its airport business globally and the award of the Navi Mumbai International Airport project would serve as a major step in that direction.

The MIAL is a PPP joint-venture between the GVK-led consortium (74 percent) and the Airports Authority of India (26 percent), mandated for modernizing and operating the 75-year old Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

Vide this initiative the GVK-MIAL has transformed CSMIA into one of the best airports in the world and the new integrated Terminal 2 has increased the capacity to serving over 50 million passengers and one million tonnes cargo each year, said Reddy.
Hyderabad, Oct 25 : The Indo-Arab League, a non-governmental organisation working to promote relations between India and Arab countries, on Wednesday offered land free of cost to Palestine for setting up its consulate here.

League Chairman Syed Vicaruddin told reporters that the consulate will go a long way in strengthening relations between India and Palestine and facilitate Muslims wanting to visit Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, one of the holiest sites in Islam.

Vicaruddin, conferred Palestine's highest civilian award 'Star of Jerusalem' in 2015, said the upcoming Indo-Arab Cultural Centre in upmarket Banjara Hills and costing Rs 60 crore will have a hall in memory of Palestinian martyrs.

The cultural centre's foundation stone was laid by then Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in 1997.

Vicaruddin, Chief Editor of Urdu daily "Rahnuma-e-Deccan", said they also propose to set up an Indo-Arab University in Hyderabad.

He said India had always supported the just cause of Palestine and hoped that the Narendra Modi government will not deviate from this policy.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be invited to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of the Indo-Arab League.

In the run-up to the jubilee celebrations, the League will organise an Indo-Palestine Solidarity Day here on October 29.

Mahmoud Al Habbash, Special Advisor to the President of Palestine, will be the chief guest. The League has invited Ambassadors of Arab countries and leaders of various political parties for the event.

Established in 1967 to promote relations between India and Arab countries, the League has organised several meetings in the past in support of the Palestinian cause.

Then Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi, V.P. Singh, I.K. Gujral and Atal Behari Vajpayee have addressed its meetings.
New Delhi, Oct 25 : Family members of Priya Mehra, a 34-year-old woman who was shot dead at close range inside a car early on Wednesday in Shalimar Bagh, allege she was still breathing when taken to hospital, and could have been saved if provided timely medical aid. They also allege police did not arrive on time.

Priya Mehra was in a Ritz car with her husband, Pankaj Mehra, at the wheels and two-year-old son Naish beside her when she was shot twice from close range at around 4.15 a.m. in west Delhi by four assailants in another car.

"If the hospital and police had acted fast, Priya could have been saved," Pankaj's nephew, Ankit Mehra, 26, told IANS.

"They kept on saying that a team of doctors would arrive, but they didn't even clean the blood from her face," Ankit said, and added "They didn't even clean her blood from the child's face."

Naish Mehra's bright yellow T-shirt and red shorts were both stained with his mother's blood - as she lay on a bed with two bullet injuries: one on her cheek and another on her neck.

Immediately after the shooting, Pankaj called up the police and said he was taking his wife to Saroj Hospital in Madhuban Chowk, a 15-minute drive away, and drove straight there, the family said.

Soon after, Pankaj called Ankit and he too reached the hospital by 4.40 a.m.

"Police was in confusion over who (which police station) should respond to the call as the exact spot of firing was not known. And when I reached the hospital the police was not there," he said.

Ankit showed his phone history to show the calls he made to police.

Later multiple teams of police from different police stations reached the hospital.

"When she (Priya) was taken into the hospital, she was alive and she was blinking her eyes and they were open," Pankaj's sister Sabeena Mehra told IANS.

She alleged the hospital did not even provide first aid to Priya.

Another family member Prateek, 20, said: "They told us 'Let the police come first' and did not even give any first aid."

Contacted, the Saroj Hospital authorities said that "they have no comment to offer" and later said that "they'll get back on the matter".

Reached for a comment, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Milind Mahadeo Dumbere told IANS that Pankaj was driving while making the call to police, and that might have "caused some confusion" and termed it a "technical problem".

"If they give a complaint in writing we'll look into both the issues," the officer said.

The family members told IANS that they would file a complaint against the hospital.

Meanwhile, in the Shalimar Bagh police station parking lot, the car in which Priya was shot dead stood with its two window panes shattered. Her pink sandals lay on the floor of the car along side shattered glass bits stained with her blood. It had not yet completely dried.

(Nikhil M Babu can be contacted at nikhil.b@ians.in)
New Delhi, Oct 25 : A 34-year-old woman travelling in a car with her two-year-old son and husband was shot dead by a gangster who apparently wanted to kill the man for not returning a loan he had taken but ended up murdering his wife after a scuffle.

Priya Mehra was shot twice from close range, one bullet piercing her cheek and another her neck, at around 4.15 a.m. at Shalimar Bagh in west Delhi, Deputy Commissioner of Police Milind Mahadeo Dumbere told IANS.

The Mehras were returning to their home in Rohini from Bangla Sahib Gurudwara in the heart of the capital when the killers in another car overtook their car and blocked its way.

One of them broke the window glass of the driver's seat with a revolver and ordered Pankaj Mehra to step out, family members told IANS. Instead of getting out, Pankaj Mehra gripped the weapon.

The gangster then opened fire but the bullet missed Pankaj Mehra and instead hit his wife. The killer fired once more and again hit her. "After that the gun got stuck," Pankaj Mehra's nephew Ankit Mehra, 26, told IANS.

As the assailants tried to get another gun, Pankaj Mehra managed to start the car and escape from the area. As he drove, he called the police to say he was headed to the Saroj Hospital at Madhuban Chowk.

A profusely bleeding Priya Mehra was reportedly alive when she reached the hospital. "She was blinking her eyes," Pankaj Mehra's sister Sabeena told IANS, adding that the doctors did not provide her even first aid.

The young woman died half hour later.

Dumbere quoted Pankaj Mehra as saying that a man from whom he had borrowed money but was unable to pay back was behind the murder. There were four men in the car which blocked their vehicle.

Family members said Pankaj Mehra, who used to run a bar at Paharganj, had borrowed Rs 5 lakh from a moneylender, Monu, who had on Monday threatened to kill him. The bar was shut a month ago after incurring huge debts.

"Monu knew my uncle (Pankaj) won't be able to pay back the money. As Monu didn't know his house, on Monday he went to my uncle's sister's house and said that they would find Pankaj and kill him," Ankit Mehra said.

The anguished family complained that police did not reach the hospital even after they had reached there.

"If the hospital and police had acted fast, Priya could have been saved," Ankit Mehra said.

"The police was in confusion over who should respond to the call as the exact spot of firing was not known. When I reached the hospital, police were not there," he said.

Saroj Hospital declined to comment on the alleged delay in providing medical aid to the dying woman.

Deputy Commissioner Dumbere said that if there was a complaint from the family, "we'll look into both the issues".
Mumbai, Oct 25 : A day after the unprecedented sacking of Mumbai University Vice-Chancellor Sanjay Deshmukh, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Education Minister Vinod Tawde over the issue.

Ruling ally Shiv Sena's youth leader Aditya Thackeray has also attacked the state government and sought to know how it would compensate the thousands of students for their career losses.

NCP state spokesperson Nawab Malik said mere dismissal of the VC was not a sufficient move and Tawde should be held responsible for the mess and sacked from the state cabinet by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

"The state government has recently taken a decision to link the pay hikes of teachers to the performance of the students. The same principle should be applied to the university and the Education Minister should asked to quit for the mess," Malik pointed out.

"Now that the VC has been sacked, the state government shouldn't repeat the mistake again. The government needs to put its act together and a deserving person should be elevated to the post," Aditya Thackeray urged.

He also spoke out for thousands of students who have suffered huge career losses on account of grossly delayed exam results, non-declaration of results, lost answer sheets, haphazard marks given to students in which many who failed were later found to have passed, and other problems which have traumatised the students and their parents.

"What the government has in minds for (these) students who have lost a year. They have gone through a tremendous mental stress over the past few months... How does the government plan to compensate them," he asked, and alleged that the controversial decision to push through the online marking system could be a "scam".

Meanwhile, late on Wednesday evening, Maharashtra Governor C.V. Rao announced that eminent space scientist and former ISRO Chairman (Dr.) K. Kasturirangan would head a new Search Committee to select a new VC for the country's premier and globally renowned university.

A recipient of all the three top civilian Padma awards, Kasturirangan is a former alumnus of University of Mumbai, a former Chancellor of JNU, ex-member of Rajya Sabha and Planning Commission, besides heading the Indian Space Research Organisation for nearly 10 years (1994-2003), and currently chairing the committee to prepare the final draft of the National Education Policy.

In an unprecedented step in the 160-year-old history of University of Mumbai, its Chancellor and state Governor Rao on Tuesday summarily sacked the VC Deshmukh amidst a massive fiasco over results of Summer 2017 examinations delayed by several months.

The dismissed VC was accused of "gross negligence and failure in implementing the On Screen Marking System", to declare the results of the examinations within the time-limits prescribed in the Act - within 30 days and in no case beyond 45 days.

Warned several times in the past by the Governor, Deshmukh, 52, was found responsible "for his failure to comply with the directions issued by the Chancellor from time to time", regarding timely declaration of the examination results of nearly 400,000 students.

The massive delays in the declaration of results -- many of which are still pending - have derailed the careers of thousands of students seeking admission to higher courses, to foreign universities, or appearing for various competitive examinations, besides causing great mental agony to them, their parents and other stakeholders.

The Governor's move terminating Deshmukh's service has been widely welcomed in political circles, by university teachers and students and the parent community.
New Delhi, Oct 25 : To curb ecological degradation of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary due to helicopter service for the pilgrimage, the Uttarakhand government on Wednesday informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it has started ground survey for construction of a ropeway.

The Tribunal, in September, suspended the helicopter services that aid the pilgrimage but fly over the wildlife sanctuary and thus impact the ecology of the region.

The state government has filed the affidavit after the NGT sought clarification from the state over its stand on the report by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), saying helicopters in the Kedarnath Valley were flying at an altitude as low as 150 metres, thus increasing noise levels to 70-80 decibels.

The permissible levels is 50 decibels during day, essential for a protected and ecologically sensitive area like the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary.

The state government told the NGT that the Tourism Ministry is conducting a "ground survey" for the purpose of construction of the ropeway and the "report will be submitted to the Tribunal soon".

The Tribunal earlier issued notice to the state government following a petition from NGO Doaba Paryavaran Samiti, that pointed out that unregulated and low flying of helicopter over Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary impacts the wildlife there.

The petitioner also stated that WII in its final report has requested the Uttarakhand government to shift the helipad which is near to Kedarnath Shrine.

The Tribunal has fixed the next hearing for November 21.
Bengaluru, Oct 25 : President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday heaped praise on former Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan, saying he died a "historic death" fighting the British, sparking a fresh war of words between the ruling Congress and BJP in Karnataka.

The BJP alleged the speech had been "scripted" by the Congress, but Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the President's speech had not been prepared by the state government.

President Kovind's praise for the former Mysore ruler came days after Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde, a BJP leader, called Tipu a "brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist", ahead of the state's Tipu Jayanti celebrations to mark his birth anniversary on November 10.

The BJP has been opposing the celebrations calling Tipu "anti-Hindu and anti-Kannada".

In his speech, the President referred to Tipu Sultan as a "pioneer" in the development of Mysore rockets (iron-cast rockets for military use) and said that he died a "historic death" fighting the British, leaving BJP leaders fuming.

Recalling the contributions of Karnataka's former rulers, politicians and scientists in the growth of the state and the country on the whole, the President spoke of Tipu Sultan, leading to loud applause from a majority of the legislators.

"The speech was a deliberate attempt by the Congress to make the President praise Tipu Sultan," senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister K.S. Eshwarappa said after the joint session of the state legislature marking the diamond jubilee of Vidhana Soudha.

But Siddaramaiah insisted that Kovind's speech was the "President's own".

"We have not prepared the President's speech. We have not even sent any note to the Rashtrapati Bhavan," the Chief Minister said in a statement.

"Some leaders are unnecessarily creating a controversy out of the issue. It is very unfortunate and condemnable," he said.

Attacking BJP state President and former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, Siddaramaiah questioned why the leader had taken part in Tipu Jayanti celebrations earlier.

"When Yeddyurappa was a part of Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) (which was once headed by Yeddyurappa), he took part in a function dressed as Tipu. (BJP leader) Jagadish Shettar had written a preface to a book on Tipu calling him a 'patriot'. Why are they against Tipu now?" he asked.

Karnataka Working President of the Congress Dinesh Gundu Rao said the BJP was only "insulting" the President by criticising his speech.

"They (BJP) are only insulting our country's President," Rao told media here.

The Janata Dal-Secular leaders from the state meanwhile expressed disappointment over the President's speech missing out mention of former Prime Minister and JD-S leader H.D. Deve Gowda, while naming the former chief ministers from the state.

Following the President's speech, state JD-S chief H.D. Kumaraswamy was seen boycotting the photo session of the legislators with the President.

The Chief Minister stated that it could have been "unintentional" that the name was not mentioned by the President.

The ruling Congress began celebrating Tipu's birth anniversary since 2015, which led to violent protests by right-wing organisations in the Mysore region and other parts of the state.

Known as the 'Tiger of Mysore', Tipu Sultan ruled the Mysore kingdom from 1782-1799 succeeding his father Haider Ali.
New Delhi, Oct 25 : Under attack for delaying announcement of the Gujarat poll schedule, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.K. Joti was on Wednesday hard put to defend the Commissions decision, and rejected suggestions of "connivance" with the state government.

Facing a volley of questions from media persons, the CEC's defence of the decision to delay the announcement by 12 days after that of Himachal Pradesh, primarily hinged on two points -- one, that it would have hit the relief and rehabilitation work in Gujarat in the aftermath of the July-August floods; and secondly, the precedent of separate polls in the two states.

"There is no question of connivance with the state government. The EC has to take into consideration several factors. The Gujarat Chief Secretary wrote to us on September 27 and on October 2.

"It was requested that the state should be given more time as relief and rehabilitation work in seven adversely affected districts of the state would get slowed after announcement of polls," said Joti.

"The state machinery and officials involved in the relief and rehabilitation works will have to be diverted to poll-related duties, and thus it will affect the rehabilitation work," he added.

To the point that the Rehabilitation Commissioner had not written any letter to the EC seeking to delay the poll announcement, Joti said: "We don't deal with Relief Commissioner, we deal with Chief Secretary as he represents the state."

Asked how much relief and rehabilitation work has been done in the last 12 days, he cited figures of relief work since September 25 and October 22.

"A lot of relief work has been done. It is not completed but there has been much progress," he said.

On the ground reports from the flood affected areas of Gujarat suggesting that no relief work is currently on and it had been done in July and August, Joti said that the "short term relief" has been done but the "long term relief" is still going on.

Joti has served as Gujarat Chief Secretary when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was Chief Minister of the state.

Questions on the EC's credibility are being raised as Prime Minister Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones of a number of development projects worth thousands of crores of rupees between October 12 and October 24.

Joti said that the fact that Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat have "no commonality, nor are they neighbouring states" was another factor that prompted the EC to de-link the two elections.

"This is not for the first time that the two states are not going to the polls together. In 2002-03, Gujarat elections happened in December 2002 while that of Himachal in February 2003. This also happened in 1993 and 1995," he said.

In 2002, the polls to two states were de-linked as Gujarat Assembly was dissolved eight months ahead of its term following the communal riots, which necessitated early polls in Gujarat.

Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh have usually had simultaneous Assembly elections, latest in 2012 and 2007, besides in 1985, 1990 and 1998, besides 2007 and 2012. The break came when pre-term polls were held in Himachal in September 1993.

The CEC said that the state governments' requests are "always taken into consideration" and that the schedule of Himachal elections was made keeping in mind the local administration's and political parties' requests.

"We visited Himachal on September 25-26. The state administration and political parties requested and suggested to complete the elections before mid November as some of the areas -- Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Bharmour -- are prone to snowfall. It was a major reason," Joti said.

He invoked a 2001 Law Ministry Memorandum that said the EC should ordinarily not announce the date of any election more than three weeks prior to the issue of notification.

"In Gujarat notification is on November 14, which is 21 days from now," he said.

Joti also refused to comment on several former Election Commissioners and Chief Election Commissioners expressing surprise over the EC's decision.

"I would not comment on what former members or heads of Election Commission have to say. The EC has to take decision considering the present realities," he said.

The EC had announced the poll schedule for Himachal Pradesh on October 12. The state Assembly's term is ending on January 7. The Gujarat Assembly's term will end on January 22.

The counting of votes for both Himachal and Gujarat will be done on December 18.
New Delhi, Oct 25 : A court here on Wednesday rejected the interim bail plea of senior Kashmiri separatist leader and a businessman arrested on charges of receiving funds from Pakistan to sponsor terrorist activities and stone-pelting in Jammu and Kashmir.

District Judge Poonam Bamba dismissed the bail plea of separatist leader Nayeem Khan and businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali sought on medical grounds, citing their poor health condition.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has opposed the bail plea and said that accused, if released on bail, can tamper with evidence.

"Considering the facts, gravity of the offences and nature of material on record and the investigation is underway, there is a likelihood of the applicant fleeing from justice, tampering with the evidence, influencing the witness, if admitted to bail," the court said.

The court also said that apprehension expressed by the NIA cannot be "brushed aside" and added that the accused doesn't deserve bail at this stage.

Both the accused are in judicial custody till November 15.

On July 24, the NIA arrested seven Kashmiri separatists -- Aftab Hilali Shah alias Shahid-ul-Islam, Ayaz Akbar Khandey, Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate, Nayeem Khan, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal and Bashir Ahmad Bhat alias Peer Saifullah. All were booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against the nation.

Arrested in mid-August, Watali is accused of acting as a conduit for channelling funds for separatists and terror activities in the Kashmir Valley.

He was allegedly collecting funds from Pakistan and banned terrorist organisations and transferring them to Hurriyat leaders.

Watali is known to be friends with Pakistani leaders as well as Kashmiri separatists besides the mainstream politicians in Jammu and Kashmir, the NIA said.
New Delhi, Oct 25 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its order on Jaypee Associates' plea on hiving off toll collection on the Yamuna Expressway to raise Rs 2,000 crore, as the Centre told the court that assets of Jaypee Infratech, facing insolvency proceedings, can't be hived off.

As Attorney General K.K. Venugopal opposed the hiving off of toll collection, a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra reserved order on Jaypee Associates Limited (JAL) application for a court nod to part with toll collection on the expressway.

The Yamuna Expressway Authority too opposed hiving off of the toll collection operations.

The court had directed Jaypee Associates on September 11 to deposit Rs 2,000 crore with its registry by October 27.

Jaypee Associates Limited is the holding company of Jaypee Infratech Limited (JIL), which is facing insolvency proceedings following a complaint by IDBI Bank which sought recovery of Rs 526 crore from the company.

Venugopal told the bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud that JIL can't hive off the "insolvent assets belonging to Jaypee Infratech".

The AG referred to the apex court's September 11 order that JIL, which was not a party to insolvency proceedings, "shall deposit Rs 2,000 crore with top court's registry before October 27, 2017".

The apex court order had also said that to raise Rs 2000 crore, "if any assets or property of JAL have to be sold, that should be done after obtaining the prior approval of this court".

Senior counsel Parag Tripathi, appearing for the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP), told the court that Jaypee Associates can't, on their own, part with the toll collection operations as the Yamuna Expressway Authority and the state of Uttar Pradesh too were stakeholders in the expressway.

Trying to clarify on the impression that Rs 2,500 crore would come soon after the top court gave its nod to Jaypee Associates' application, Tripathi told the apex court that it would take time as the entire exercise involves putting in place the Interim Resolution Plan.

"Mere hiving off will not bring in money. It will come after 22-plus weeks of (putting) an Interim Resolution Plan in place," Tripathi said.

Senior counsel Kapil Sibal told the court that the market value of Jaypee Infratech's assets was Rs 17,000 crore and Rs 14,500 crore in distress whereas the total liability was around Rs 9,000 crore.

Sibal said toll collection operations were being handed to a Singapore-based company already handling similar work on four national highways.

Reserving its order, the Supreme Court said all those flat-buyers who want flats will have to take recourse to approaching the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission since getting money thus was easier.

The case is rooted in a plea by unsecured creditors -- who are flat buyers -- to challenge an August 9 order of the Allahabad Bench of the National Company Law Tribunal to appoint IRP on IDBI Bank's plea for recovery of Rs 526 crore from Jaypee Infratech.

On September 11, the Supreme Court had restrained the Managing Director and all Directors of both the companies from leaving the country. However, Directors nominated by lender banks -- IDBI Bank, ICICI and the State Bank of India -- were exempted from the travel restraint.

The court had appointed senior counsel Shekhar Naphade and advocate Shubhangi Tuli to represent the home buyers at the meetings of the Committee of Creditors that would consider the plan for restructuring Jaypee Infratech by the Interim Resolution Professional appointed by the NCLT.
New Delhi, Oct 25 : The National Digital Library of India (NDLI), a consolidated digital library hosting millions of academic works, announced its second phase expansion here on Wednesday.

The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry funded digital library which has been live for already one year and hosts content from 148 institutes and organisations (about 40 of them foreign), is still said to be in its pilot phase and currently hosts 12 million contents in more than 100 languages.

"The portal (https://ndl.iitkgp.ac.in/) went live about a year back and currently hosts more than 12 million contents in more than 100 languages, sourced from about 150 institutes /publishers. The mobile application has been well received with close to seven lakh download," said a statement from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, which has built the entire platform for the digital library.

The announcement was made on the first of the three-day workshop organised with cooperation of Unesco here.

Apart from attracting more international content contributors, the workshop was held to "deliberate on the state-of-the-art technology, practices, and policies as internationally accepted and available for digital library design."

Addressing those present, K.K. Sharma, the Secretary at the HRD Ministry, said that the "combination of digital technology with the educational resources can benefit (the users) in a great way."

"As the digital technology has evolved, our academics have captured and capitalised on its movement really well," he said.

The official also said that by 2030 the union ministry is targeting to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education to 30 per cent from about 24 per cent at present.

GER is calculated for the 18-23 years age group. It is total enrolment as a percentage of the eligible population.

Among the foreign contributors in the digital library are national libraries of Australia, New Zealand, Nepal, and South Africa.
New Delhi, Oct 25 : The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the BJP over its move to observe November 8 as "anti-black money day", calling it a "desperate move" to divert attention from the "blunder" of demonetisation and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi demit office on moral grounds.

Addressing a press conference here, Congress leaders Anand Sharma and Randeep Singh Surjewala said that "Modi-made disaster" of demonetisation followed by an "ill-conceived" Goods and Services Tax (GST) has decimated jobs and incomes in the country.

The two leaders targeted the Modi government over its decision on November 8 last year to junk high value currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.

Instead of apologising for the deaths of over 150 people standing in bank lines and the unprecedented strike on the livelihood of common Indians, "BJP is so drunk with power that it wants to celebrate the 'demon of demonetisation. If morality is still a virtue in India's polity, then it is time for PM Modi to introspect and demit office besides apologising for the unpardonable blunder," Sharma said.

While the BJP has decided to observe November 8 as anti-black money day, the opposition parties announced on Tuesday that they will observe it as "Black Day" to protest against the "ill-conceived and hasty" decision of the government to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

Sharma demanded an investigation into the decision to junk currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.

"Modinomics' and 'Jaitleynomics' have destroyed India's economic growth story. Jobs are in peril, businesses are shutting down, exports are falling, GDP is on a downward spiral, NPA's have touched a whopping Rs 9 lakh crore and credit growth is at a low of 63 years," Sharma said.

He alleged that the Prime Minister and Finance Minster Arun Jaitley "refuse to get down of the high horse of arrogance and autocracy."

"Who is responsible for contraction of GDP from 9.2 per cent to 5.7 per cent resulting in loss of over Rs 3 lakh crore," he asked.

Questioning BJP's rationale of observing Nov 8 as anti-black money day, Surjewala said only Rs 16,000 crore of Rs 15.44 lakh crore in circulation at the time of demonetisation had not returned to the banks against estimates of about Rs 5 lakh crore.

"Will Modiji answer as to where has the black money gone, as almost the entire money has been re-deposited?" Surjewala asked.

They said the Prime Minister had announced that one of the aims of demonetisation was detecting fake money, but 99.998 per cent currency had been found to be genuine.

"The entire logic given by the Prime Minister has utterly failed. Fake currency in shape of the new Rs 500/Rs 2,000 notes has already been detected," Surjewala said.

Referring to other stated aims of demonetisation including tackling terror and Maoist violence, the Congress leaders said there have been 40 major terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir and 13 major attacks by Maoists in the past year.

They said the cost of printing new currency has been more than that of "savings" due to demonetisation.

The Congress leaders also questioned the government claims that demonetisation had encouraged digital economy, saying that digital transactions were 94 lakh crore in November 2016 and grew by "mere" 10 lakh crore in July 2017.

"The truth is that the biggest increase in digital transactions happened during Congress rule. Between 2011-12 to 2012-13, digital transactions jumped by 53 per cent," Surjewala said.

He said the government had revealed that Rs 17,526 crore undisclosed income had been unearthed between November 2016 and May 2017 but "five times more black money was unearthed by Congress-led UPA government in its last two years".

Surjewala and Sharma posed questions to the Prime Minister asking who was responsible for the deaths of 150 people in bank lines, confusion over rules for change of currency notes, loss of "over 3.72 crore jobs and entire savings of housewives" and "crash of business of small shopkeepers."
Lucknow, Oct 25 : Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has been repeatedly announcing that every slain policeman's family will be getting Rs one crore as compensation, there seems to be no such move made by his Ministry, revealed an RTI reply.

City-based activist Nutan Thakur had sought documents about this announcement to which Sreyashi Chaudhuri, CPIO, Resettlement and Welfare Directorate in the Ministry, replied that no such information is available with the Ministry.

When she raised the issue before the First Appellate Authority, R.K. Mitra, Joint Secretary, Police-II, made it clear that the CPIO response was in order and there are no such proposals presently pending.
Ghaziabad, Oct 25 : A robber, who injured a security guard in a failed robbery attempt at a mall in Noida early on Wednesday, was nabbed in Ghaziabad after a gunfight, police said.

The criminal, identified as Rizwan from Bulandshahr, was arrested after a brief exchange of fire near Shoprix Mall in Vaishali area here in the afternoon.

Rizwan had attempted to rob a cash van at Spice mall in Noida's Sector 25 but failed and fled.

Around 1 p.m., a police patrol noticed two men acting suspiciously and stopped them for questioning. Instead of replying, Rizwan started firing at the police and tried to flee. But the alert policemen retaliated. He sustained two bullet injuries while sub inspector Bhupendra Singh also got injured.

His accomplice succeeded in fleeing.

Rizwan was admitted to GTB hospital while the injured policeman was taken to MAX hospital in Vaishali.

According to police, Rizwan was a repeat offender and would commit crimes in Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar, police said.

A .315 bore home-made pistol and four live cartridges along with a white coloured Apache motorcycle were recovered from his possession.
New Delhi, Oct 25 : Hinting that it could strike up pre-poll alliances for the Gujarat assembly elections, the Congress on Wednesday said the delay in announcing the state's election dates was because an already "rattled" BJP had put pressure on the Election Commission so that they could announce more projects.

It also mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remark that "he is Vikas" (development).

"PM comes to Gujarat quite often these days. Earlier, he used to come once in four months..now he came for five times in the past 35 days.

"He (Modi) recently said 'I am Vikas. I am Gujarat'.... why did he say so? He has reached to that position with the support of social media. However, it is viral on same social media that 'Vikas has gone mad'," said Congress General Secretary in-charge of Gujarat Ashok Gehlot.

"The PM should have listed the number of developmental projects, instead he said 'he himself is Vikas'. We didn't say this. He said it on his own.

"Well, he is not Gujarat..he is the PM of the country," he added.

Gehlot also claimed that Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's visits to Gujarat have left the BJP leaders shaken. He said Gandhi will be visiting Gujarat again November 1-3.

About pre-poll alliances in the state, Gujarat PCC chief Bharatsinh Solanki said: "Rebel JD-U leader Chotubahi Vasava, who helped us during Rajya Sabha polls, will be with us. NCP has also suggested that they want come with us. They ditched us during Rajya Sabha polls. So, our High Command will take a decision on this. Samajwadi Party is also willing to work with us."

"Three young leaders Hardik Patel, Jignesh Mewani and Alpesh Thakor have already ensured their support for us. Everyone is coming together. Thakor has already joined our party," he added.

Noting that the election dates should have been announced along with Himachal, Solanki alleged that there were "delayed under the pressure from BJP government", which he said was "already rattled and scared".

"EC gave excuses of flood relief, but it did not reach many places. PM has come to Gujarat so many times in the past few months and has announced projects and conducted events," he added.

Gehlot said: "During Rajya Sabha elections, EC's credibility went up for being neutral. Now, again it has been hit under PMO's pressure."

He also condemned the non-bailable warrant against Hardik Patel, asking if the Patidar leader was "an absconder or a criminal".

Asked about Gandhi meeting Patel, Gehlot said: "Did you see him meet Gandhi.. He (Patel) came to meet me. I met him. What is there to hide? BJP is spreading rumours and circulating videos."
Alappuzha (Kerala), Oct 25 : A resort owned by a company belonging to Kerala Transport Minister Thomas Chandy on Wednesday denied land grab allegations levelled against it, saying the company is being targeted by vested interests.

In a statement issued here, the company said that they have submitted all the relevant documents pertaining to the property substantiating the facts to the Kerala High Court.

"As the matter is sub judice, the Collector's enquiry in this matter is contempt of court and we have filed the affidavit on this before the High Court," it said.

This move by approaching the court by the resort owned by Chandy, comes when the Alappuzha District Collector T.V. Anupama submitted a report, which has found wrongdoings by the resort, to the government.

"We are ready to showcase the proof as we are clear in our conscience and are running this resort in the most proper manner. As the minister is a public figure, we feel the allegations are the work of vested interests with political implication," said the statement.

Meanwhile the Congress-led UDF and the BJP-led NDA have called for removal of Chandy.

It was on Monday night, Anupama handed over her report to state Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekheran, who is one of the four Communist Party of India members in the Pinarayi Vijayan ministry.
Kolkata, Oct 25 : The West Bengal CID have arrested Gorkha Janamukti Morcha's Delhi unit president Manoj Shankar from the national capital, a CID officer said on Wednesday.

Shankar, who was allegedly involved in the clash between West Bengal Police and the GJM supporters near Darjeeling's Bhanu Bhaban during the Gorkhaland agitation on June 9, was arrested by a CID team from Delhi's Safdarjung Enclave area.

A case was registered in the Darjeeling Sadar police station against the GJM leader for rioting, creating enmity between two groups, deterring public servant from duty, voluntarily causing heart and various other charges under the Indian Penal Code.

According to the officer, the leader is being brought to West Bengal.

Shankar was one of the six GJM leaders along with party chief Bimal Gurung and his wife, against whom the state CID department issued arrest warrants last month.

The leaders are also charged under the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
New Delhi, Oct 26 : Promoting investment opportunities in Assam, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday invited External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to be the chief guest of the closing ceremony of Advantage Assam, the first ever global investors summit in the Northeast.

"Held a meeting with External Affairs Minister Smt. @SushmaSwaraj ji in New Delhi and discussed a range of issues related to #ActEast policy," Sonowal tweeted late on Wednesday night.

"Invited Smt. @SushmaSwaraj ji to Global Investors' Summit 2018 as chief guest of the closing ceremony," he said.

Organised by industry body Ficci along with the state government, Advantage Assam will be held in Guwahati on February 3-4, 2018.

In a curtain-raiser conference here on Tuesday ahead of the summit, Sonowal, while wooing investors, said that "we will have to go hand-in-hand".

"Please come to Assam with an open mind. We are ready to extend full cooperation to you", he said.

The Advantage Assam investors summit will focus on eight major sectors: pharmaceuticals and medical equipment; plastics and petrochemicals; power; river transport and port townships; IT and IT-enabled services; handloom, textiles and handicrafts; tourism, hospitality and wellness; and agri-horticulture, food processing, organic cultivation and bamboo.

The summit is being organised keeping in view the fact that the Northeast is the centre of India's engagement with southeast Asia under New Delhi's Act East Policy.
GNE Finance We are thrilled to see the PACE model being adopted in Europe. In the US, PACE has been used by nearly 200,000 homeowners to make energy and resiliency related upgrades that protect the environment and make their properties more comfortable, less expensive to heat and cool, safer, and healthier.

PACENation is excited to announce that one of its members, Global New Energy Finance, in collaboration with 7 partner organizations, has been awarded a prestigious Horizon 2020 grant of 2.4 million to bring Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing to Europe under the initiative EuroPACE.

By adapting PACE to the European market, EuroPACE seeks to boost energy efficiency investment in homes and other buildings using an innovative tax bill based financing mechanism developed first in the US.

EuroPACE will pioneer the mechanism in a city-wide pilot programme in Spain and then develop a standardized implementation toolkit for replication and scale-up across Europe.

EuroPACE will adopt best practice from the US PACE market and further enhance its reach, scope, and overall impact to adapt it to Europe.

EuroPACE aims to dramatically increase energy generation and efficiency investments in the residential stock in Europe. The project impact will go far beyond energy savings to produce a positive social impact for each Euro invested in home renovations.

It will contribute to the creation of resilient and vibrant communities that enjoy economic growth and healthy environments while also addressing climate change goals.

Through green bonds and other instruments, EuroPACE will also create opportunities for pension and insurance investors to participate at scale in the home retrofit market.

David Gabrielson, Executive Director of PACENation said:

We are thrilled to see the PACE model being adopted in Europe. In the US, PACE has been used by nearly 200,000 homeowners to make energy and resiliency related upgrades that protect the environment and make their properties more comfortable, less expensive to heat and cool, safer, and healthier. The $4 billion spent has also helped create and maintain over 45,000 jobs. We congratulate GNE Finance and its partners.

Davide Cannarozzi, GNE Finance Managing Partner stated:

We are very excited that the European Commission chose our project to implement this innovative financing option to boost sustainability and energy efficiency in the European building stock.

EuroPACE will leverage the US experience to develop a holistic and winning programme for all the stakeholders involved, including homeowners, cities, and energy services contractors.

Cisco DeVries, CEO of Renew Financial notes:

We are thrilled that homeowners in Europe will soon have a simple, safe, and reliable way to finance their renovations. EuroPACE has an opportunity to unlock investment in the European residential market, create local jobs and help cities meet their climate and energy goals.

Jessica Stromback, Chair of Joule Assets Europe noted:

PACE makes energy efficiency affordable, democratic, and competitive. It has the potential to fast track home owners in Europe to accessing finance for energy efficiency upgrades. Not only does this create unprecedented access to clean energy for all citizens, boosting the market for residential energy efficiency, but in doing so, it will increase competitiveness in the market - meaning better home automation technologies, and increased participation in demand response. Joule Assets Europe is thrilled to be a part of this initiative - it is perfectly in line with our mission to grow the green economy."

Sean Kidney, CEO of Climate Bonds Initiative commented:

Household energy efficiency improvements are vital to cut energy bills, create jobs as we upgrade  as well as helping to deliver the 40% of Europes emission reductions that need to come from the built environment. This project will be an important contributor.

Dr. Steve Fawkes, Managing Partner, EnergyPro Ltd & Senior Adviser, Investor Confidence Project noted:

Over the last few years PACE financing has transformed the energy efficiency market in the US. Although Europe is more diverse than the US in its property tax systems the EuroPACE project will address the barriers and test practical solutions. It is a great first step to introducing PACE type mechanisms into Europe and everyone with an interest in accelerating the uptake of energy efficiency should be following its progress closely.

EuroPACE is inspired by the successful PACE financing model pioneered in the US. PACE is used to pay for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and seismic and hurricane resistant upgrades to buildings. PACE financing covers up to 100% of a projects costs and is repaid as a charge added to the property tax bill over a term of up to 30 years. PACE can pay for new heating and cooling systems, lighting improvements, solar panels, water pumps, insulation, and more for almost any property  homes, commercial, industrial, non-profit, and agricultural.

The PACE mechanism solves one of the critical barriers to energy efficiency and renewable energy investment by providing homeowners with long-term financing that stays with the property upon sale.

The proposal for EuroPACE was submitted under the Innovating Financing Schemes track of the Horizon 2020 Programme. EuroPACE is a three-year project that will kick off in February 2018. The project involves a residential pilot program in Spain.

For more information please contact Kristina Klimovich (k.klimovich(at)gnefinance(dot)com).

About Global New Energy Finance

Global New Energy Finance (GNE Finance) is an Advisory and Investment Manager for Sustainable Infrastructure and Climate-Aligned Projects that brings the expertise, track-record and network to promote, structure, and finance clean energy projects. GNE Finance is based in Barcelona, Spain and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. GNE Finances mission is to bring PACE financing to Europe by leading the EuroPACE project and promoting the idea with the public and private sectors. The company is positioned to be the first PACE provider in Europe and launching a EuroPACE platform for investment aggregation and securitization.

About PACENation

PACENation is a national non-profit organization serving the interests and needs of over 400 member organizations that share a common goal of making PACE financing available to all building owners throughout the United States. PACENation is building a broader PACE network by providing information, resources, and advice to a growing universe of PACE market stakeholders. To learn more, visit http://PACENation.org
Specialty Technical Consultants

Specialty Technical Publishers (STP), premier North American publisher of audit, compliance and risk solutions, today announced the publication of Environmental Auditing: Air Quality Management in Yolo-Solano. The new guide provides audit checklists for the air quality management rules and regulations applicable to facilities located in the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District (YSAQMD), which covers all of Yolo County and the northeast portion of Solano County, including Vacaville, Dixon and Rio Vista. In general, local districts in California are responsible for developing and enforcing regulations for the control of stationary sources of emissions. This guide covers regulations established by the YSAQMD applicable to most manufacturing and service industry facilities, and also includes state-wide air quality rules that are applicable within the district. Coverage of federal air quality rules applicable in California is included within the Air Quality module of Environmental Auditing: Integrated Federal and California Compliance.

The following rulebooks are included with this publication:



YSAQMD General Requirements

Organic Compounds

Emissions Standards and Other Requirements (i.e., NSPS, HAPS, and NESHAPS)

State Wide Air Quality Requirements

This Yolo-Solano publication is offered in conjunction with Environmental Auditing: Integrated California and Federal Compliance Guide, which covers Federal Air Quality Management in California Bay Area and South Coast as well as other topic modules.

Developed by audit and compliance experts, Specialty Technical Consultants, these publications complement STPs Federal and California Environmental Auditing guides and cover air quality requirements that apply broadly to a variety of industrial operations.

The guides are an essential resource for environmental and occupational health and safety professionals, attorneys, corporate counsel, air quality auditors, manufacturing companies, chemical companies, senior EHS management, and regulatory agencies.

The guides deliver the following benefits to users:

Field-tested by recognized experts

Help ensure compliance

Allow demonstration of due diligence

Help avoid citations and fines

Allow experienced auditors to expedite their assessment

Allow less experienced auditors to review detailed instructions

Save time and reduce compliance and audit costs

Customizable to site-specific requirements

Include Applicability Tables

Offer Pre-audit Preparation guidance

STP also provides Air Quality Management guidance for the following districts:



Bay District

South Coast

San Diego

Santa Barbara

About Specialty Technical Publishers

Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) produces technical resource guides covering environmental, health & safety, transportation, accounting, business practices, standards and law, offering comprehensive guidance on key compliance and regulatory issues. STP is a division of Glacier Media Inc., a Canadian information communications company that provides primary and essential information in print, electronic and online media. Glaciers Business and Professional Information Group publishes directories, technical manuals, research and development materials, medical education, electronic databases, investment information and specialty websites.

About Specialty Technical Consultants

Specialty Technical Consultants, Inc. (STC) is a specialized management consulting firm working to enhance environmental health and safety (EHS) performance. Through its consulting services, STC partners with clients to strengthen management systems' design and implementation, and identifies needs and implements solutions to meet business objectives. Services provided include: EHS compliance support; risk assessment; EHS auditing; corporate responsibility and sustainability; EHS management systems development and implementation; EHS regulatory information tools; and EHS training.

STC is certified as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Womens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the Supplier Clearinghouse for the California Public Utilities Commission, and as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program.
DF Seeds specializes in producing soybean and wheat seeds best-suited to grow in Michigans micro-climate. We believe there is a significant opportunity to consolidate small seed companies around the country -- James Sheppard, CEO of Tillerman Seeds.

Tillerman Seeds LLC, a Grand Rapids-based company created to acquire regional producers of specialty, GMO and non-GMO seeds, has purchased the assets of Dansville, Mich.-based DF Seeds Inc. in its first transaction.

DF Seeds, an award-winning supplier of soybean and wheat varieties that are best-suited to grow in Michigans unique micro-climate, serves more than 400 farmers with seeds that generate higher yields and increased resistance to disease and pests. Founded in 1992, the company will continue to operate under the DF Seeds brand with the same local team, including President Chris Varner, a 25-year veteran of the seed industry.

We are pleased to welcome Chris and her staff to the Tillerman Seeds team, which has been working diligently to identify acquisitions in the seed market, said James Sheppard, chief executive officer of Tillerman Seeds.

We believe there is a significant opportunity to consolidate small seed companies around the country, Sheppard said. There is a growing number of seed company owners who are preparing to retire, but want to ensure that the legacy, jobs and culture of the companies they built are carried forward. That is what Tillerman Seeds was created to do.

Tillerman Seeds intends to purchase small seed companies with an established regional presence or specialty products that have growth potential. The holding company plans to operate acquired companies as standalone entities with shared back-office services including accounting, human resources and purchasing. DF Seeds and other acquired companies will also collaborate on research and development, as well as best business practices for customer service, marketing and cross-selling of product lines.

Tillerman Seeds will be lead by agribusiness experts with established industry credentials including Sheppard, who has four decades of experience in agricultural sales, marketing and operations management. Sheppard has held executive leadership positions with Harvey Milling Co., Harveys Agricultural Solutions and United Agri Products. He holds a bachelors degree in crop and soil science from Michigan State University and serves on the board of the Michigan AgriBusiness Association.

Varner will continue to serve in a leadership position with DF Seeds, where she has worked since 2009 and been an owner since 2013. Varner has worked in the seed industry for more than 25 years, serving in management and operations positions at two Michigan-based seed farms and at Michigan State University. She holds a bachelors degree from Michigan State University and a masters degree in seed business and technology from Iowa State University. She is the current president of the Independent Seed Producers Association for the year 2017.

Tillerman & Co., which provided structuring, negotiation and capital formation on the transaction, will provide financial management for the new company and its subsidiaries until a permanent chief financial officer is hired. The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based investment and merchant banking firm has also been engaged to source additional acquisitions of small, independent seed producers to help drive further growth for Tillerman Seeds.

While the $54 billion global seed market is dominated by a handful of large multinational corporations, there are considerable opportunities for small, independent seed producers to supply domestic and foreign farmers, according to Shepherd.

The multinationals focus on developing seeds that can be sold nationally and internationally, which leaves plenty of room for small, local firms that focus on developing seeds for specific microclimates and specific grower needs, including non-GMO seeds, he said.

Wells Fargo provided senior debt financing and a revolving credit facility to Tillerman Seeds. The Grand Rapids office of Barnes & Thornburg provided legal counsel to Tillerman Seeds on the transaction. The Grand Rapids office of Dickinson Wright PLLC represented the sellers.

Those interested in learning more about Tillerman Seeds and its acquisition strategy can refer to the Tillerman & Co. website at https://tillermanco.com/.

###
A true haven for snow enthusiasts, all-inclusive guest ranch Brooks Lake Lodge & Spa offers cool ways to enjoy winters outdoor terrain and indoor comforts . With nearly a century of history catering to guests, Brooks Lake Lodge & Spa knows how to winter well.

Wyoming winters are no joke. Last year the state saw record-breaking snowfalls bring joy to locals and visiting snow enthusiasts. And with nearly a century of history catering to guests, Brooks Lake Lodge & Spa, an exclusive, all-inclusive resort tucked deep in the Shoshone National Forest near Dubois, Wyoming, knows how to winter well, typically boasting 400-600 inches of snow per year. With a projected winter forecast calling for as much if not more snow than last season, the lodge recently released its tips for best enjoying the coolest season.

The Brooks Lake Lodge 2017 winter season begins Dec. 23 and continues through March 15. With the focus on outdoor fun and indoor comfort and relaxation, the historical luxury guest ranch near Jackson Hole and Yellowstone National Park recommends how to enjoy a wild Wyoming winter getaway in style:

1. Carve & Climb on a Snowmobile. World renowned for its stunning and vast two million acres of terrain to explore, Brooks Lake Lodge treats both experienced and beginner snowmobilers to peak-experience days on a mountain sled. The lodge is equipped with high-powered Polaris and Ski-Doo snowmobiles for guest use and offers both guided and unguided half or full days of snowy adventure. This video shows some of the lodges renowned steep and deep powder climbs for adventurous types, as well as more leisurely rides for newbies.

2. A Real Nordic Track. Guests of Brooks Lake Lodge who prefer the serenity and hushed beauty of mountain backcountry by cross-country skis can also enjoy spectacular terrain while taking in views of the Pinnacle Buttes, Brooks Mountain and Richard's Peak, or gliding across frozen 234-acre Brooks Lake. Nordic enthusiasts also have the option to kick it up a notch and ski ungroomed powder in Shoshone National Forest backcountry. Cross-country gear with easy, step-in bindings and premium boots are included in overnight stays.

3. Walk a Mile (or More) in Snowshoes. Another fantastic way to get some exercise and take in the scenery at Brooks Lake Lodge is by strapping on a pair of snowshoes and heading into uncharted territory. Also included with a lodge stay  and a great way for families to have a no-fuss outdoor winter experience  guests can enjoy a snowy nature walk through the Shoshone National Forest solo or with an experienced guide pointing out natural landmarks and foraging wildlife.

4. Apres Spa. Following a day of outdoor activity at the luxury guest ranch, guests can stroll over to Brooks Lake Lodges onsite spa to indulge in such pampering treatments as a deep tissue or Rocky Mountain massage, or perhaps an Urban Cleanse or Fruit Glow Facial. And the spacious 11-by-17-foot hot tub at the Rocky Mountain Spa overlooks scenic Brooks Lake and the mountains, making it a guest favorite for winter soaking and relaxation.

5. Fun for Foodies. All meals are included in a stay at Brooks Lake Lodge, with each course thoughtfully curated by the Wyoming luxury resorts talented culinary team. Hearty Western-style breakfasts with fresh fruits and homemade pastries start the day, followed by deliciously filling lunch options. Each day at 4:30 p.m. the lodge hosts a fireside Governors Tea Time for guests, with an impressive offering of hot beverages and afternoon snacks from fruit and cheese to flaky crumpets. Beginning at 7 p.m., the lodges gourmet dinner menu provides such enticing options as Cajun Diver Scallops and Tenderloin of Beef Roulade stuffed with fresh spinach. All meals are served in the historic dining hall with a giant crackling fireplace surrounded by the lodges collection of Western art.

In the evenings guests can enjoy bellying up to the Cowboy Bar to sip from a wide selection of spirits while recounting events of the day and socializing with other winter adventurers before retiring to a lodge suite or personal cabin. All the lodges luxurious accommodations provide terrific views, plush robes and goose down bedding for pure evening relaxation.

About Brooks Lake Lodge & Spa:

Brooks Lake Lodge & Spa, a nearly 100-year-old historic guest ranch near Jackson Hole, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park, is located one mile from the North American Continental Divide, with views of the Pinnacle Buttes, Austin's Peak and Brooks Mountain. Surrounded by evergreen forests, wildlife and alpine Brooks Lake, the exclusive, all-inclusive Wyoming Rocky Mountain resort offers five-star service, luxury accommodations and gourmet dining. Named a 2017 Western Landmark and hidden gem by Western Art & Architecture, a U.S. Rocky Mountain Stunning Inn & Lodge by Vacation Idea, a Top 10 Luxury Wildlife Lodge by Money Inc. and a Travel + Leisure Great American Lodge, Brooks Lake Lodges rates include lodging, meals, activities and spa access. For more information visit http://www.brookslake.com or call 866.213.4022, and follow Brooks Lake Lodge on Facebook.

Media Contact: Amy Stark, Word PR + Marketing, amy(at)wordprmarketing(dot)com, 307.734.5335
CMWL is excited to announce the lineup of obesity medicine experts for its next CME Conference, scheduled for January 20-21st in Las Vegas, Nevada. Featured is Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric neuroendocrinologist acclaimed for his research and published writings on the toxic effects of sugar. At the CMWL Obesity Medicine Conference, he plans to present findings as detailed in his new book, The Hacking of the American Mind: The Corporate Takeover of our Bodies and Brains.

Joining Dr. Lustig on the panel will be renowned obesity experts speaking in depth on their respective areas of concentration:



Dr. Barry Franklin, Director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and Exercise Laboratories at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oaks, Michigan, will speak on preventive cardiology and lifestyle medicine.

Dr. Krishna Doniparthi, Director and physician at Functional Medicine of Georgia, will present on fat and fatty acids: cellular biology and metabolism.

Dr. Scott Kahan, Director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness, will discuss non-surgical weight loss options

Dr. Len Kravitz, Associate Professor of Exercise Science at the University of New Mexico, will present on physical activitys impact on fat cells.

Were thrilled about this upcoming event, said Dr. Matthew Pinto, Medical Director of The Center for Medical Weight Loss. Our speakers always deliver the most informative, engaging presentations on the latest obesity medicine research. The conference also gives our participating network providers an opportunity to learn about the latest service offerings from CMWL and exchange their own medical weight loss practice experiences.

The weekend CME conference, which will issue 10 credits to each attendee upon completion, is preceded by a 1-day Initial training seminar for new CMWL network members. The 3-day event provides a robust agenda for new participants to immerse themselves in the dynamic obesity medicine specialty and CMWL program.

For more information on provider attendance eligibility, please contact Marian Coletti at 914-332-4190 x200.
To support Puerto Rico as it continues its recovery efforts from Hurricane Maria, Vertical Bridge, the largest private owner and manager of communication infrastructure in the United States, announced that it will make a $100,000 donation to One America Appeal through its philanthropic program, the Vertical Bridge Charitable Network (VBCN).

Funds from One America Appeal are being distributed to Unidos Por Puerto Rico, which is providing much needed water, food, hygiene products, and other supplies to those affected by Hurricane Maria.

Hurricane Marias impact on Puerto Rico is unprecedented, and it will take a tremendous effort to recover, said Alex Gellman, CEO and Co-Founder of Vertical Bridge. Being based in South Florida, were very fortunate that Hurricane Irma was not worse for us. However, our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico were not so lucky, which is why its important to us  and our employees  that we support the islands recovery in whatever way possible.

Vertical Bridge has a history of supporting natural disaster relief efforts including those involved with Hurricanes Matthew, Harvey and Irma, as well as areas of South Georgia and Northern Florida that have experienced significant tornado damage. The company operates in many of these regions and often works with various local businesses to build and manage its telecommunications infrastructure.

In addition to its $100,000 donation to One America Appeal, VBCN is also matching any employee contributions to the relief efforts. By years end, VBCN expects to have donated over one million dollars to various philanthropic organizations, all of which were chosen by Vertical Bridge employees or clients.

About Vertical Bridge Holdings, LLC

Vertical Bridge is the largest private owner and manager of communication towers and locations in the United States. The company owns, operates and manages over 55,000 tower, rooftop, billboard, utility attachment and other site locations in support of wireless network deployments. Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Vertical Bridge was founded in 2014 by key executives from Digital Bridge Holdings, LLC and former senior officers of Global Tower Partners. The senior management team at Vertical Bridge has over 150 years of collective experience in tower infrastructure and related sectors. For more information, please visit http://www.verticalbridge.com.

Contact for Vertical Bridge:

Erica Robertson, (561) 406-4032, ERobertson(at)verticalbridge.com
#BTS BTS receives two 2023 Grammy nominations South Korean supergroup BTS has been nominated in two categories of the 2023 Grammy Awards, becoming the first K-pop act to receive any Grammy nomination for the third consecutive ...
Ascend Health has joined sister company CareOne in raising relief money for the people of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastated the island last month. With a direct donation of $25,000 to CareOnes foundation and an innovative employee donation plan, Ascend is helping CareOne provide aid for Puerto Ricos recovery.

Ascend Health, a provider of hospice, home health and concierge home care services, donated $25,000 to CareOnes Starry Night Masquerade benefit, that took place Thursday, Oct. 17 from 7:00  11:00 p.m. at Skylight Clarkson North, 570 Washington Street in New York City. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to the Gwendolyn And Joseph Straus Charitable Fund, Inc., where they will be used to assist in the islands most critical disaster relief efforts.

In addition to the company donation, Ascend Health enacted a PTO (paid time off) donation program for its employees. If they wish to, employees can donate PTO time, the monetary equivalent of which will be added to the companys contribution to CareOnes foundation.

Our sister partner, Ascend, has gone above and beyond to help with fundraising efforts, says Daniel E. Straus, CEO of CareOne. With millions of people in Puerto Rico still without power and safe drinking water nearly a month after Hurricane Maria, and billions needed in aid, it will take the commitment of private companies like ours to do whatever we can to help.

CareOne management has established the Gwen And Joseph Straus Foundation to supply financial assistance to individuals and families impacted by unforeseen circumstances. The Foundation will also provide funds to research organizations.

The Gwendolyn And Joseph Straus Charitable Fund is an organization that focuses on improving the quality of life through charitable financial assistance to individuals, families and community organizations who are significantly impacted by catastrophic events.

For more information on how to donate to CareOnes relief effort in Puerto Rico, call CareOne at 1-877-99-CARE1 (22731).

About Ascend Health- Ascend is considered a leader in the healthcare industry, inspiring people to live better lives through innovative health and wellness programs, products, and services. Approaching the rapidly changing healthcare industry with integrity, passion and purpose, Ascends staff of highly trained professionals provides quality care and personalized service nationwide. The Ascend family includes Ascend Hospice, Ascend Home Health, Ascend Concierge Home Care and Ascend Rehab. For more information on Ascend Health and its companies, visit: http://www.ascendhealth.com/
Thornwood Winter has completed his new book The Spirit Journey of Talks-A-Little: a riveting coming-of-age tale for young readers.

Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Thornwood Winters evocative tale offers a fascinating glimpse into the spiritual life and society of Native American youth.

Readers who wish to experience this enthralling work can purchaseThe Spirit Journey of Talks-A-Little at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional New York-based full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not bogged down with logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and the like. Its roster of accomplished authors and publishing professionals can leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues, and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
On April 16th of 2015, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) became public law. The new law requires all Social Security numbers to be removed from Medicare cards by April of 2019. The Social Security number will be replaced by a new number on all Medicare cards, called the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI).

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, preventing identity theft for those with Medicare is the main priority of this bill. The new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), is a randomly-assigned number that will be used for most healthcare related transactions. The MBI will be clearly different than your Social Security number according to CMS. The MBI will be made up of 11 characters that will contain numbers and upper-case letters; no other special characters will be used.

Health care providers will have a 21-month transition window from April 1, 2018, through December 31, 2019. During this transition Healthcare providers will be able to legally accept the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) or the Medicare beneficiarys Social Security Number.

The Department of Justice has reported that seniors 65 and older are increasingly being targeted by identity thieves. They have reported that incidents of identity theft have increased from 2.1 million in 2012 to 2.6 million in 2014.

This transition already has scammers looking for a new way to rip-off Medicare recipients. Reuters news service reports that Seniors are being called and told that they must pay for their new Medicare card. According to the report, the senior that filed the complaint, was asked for their checking account information and Medicare card numbers

The Federal Trade Commission has verified this report and states that Is someone calling, claiming to be from Medicare, and asking for your Social Security number or bank information? Hang up. Thats a scam. According to the FTC, the new Medicare cards will be mailed out automatically, starting April of 2018, and are free to all 57 million Americans on Medicare.

Sources

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/New-Medicare-Card/index.html

https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2/text

https://www.reuters.com/article/column-miller-medicare/column-new-medicare-cards-a-lone-bright-spot-in-identity-theft-battle-idUSL2N1L2176

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2017/05/new-medicare-cards-are-way

About the Author

Suzanne McClain is a leading Medicare advisor in Columbus, Ohio. As director of Medicare Sales for National United Medicare Advisors, she has been awarded Front Runner Agent with Aetna for the years 2013 through 2017. United Healthcare has awarded her Agent level 2 at the Platinum Agent level. Helping hundreds of clients in the central Ohio area has earned Suzanne the President Club award for Medicare sales in 2015 and 2016.

Suzanne can be reached on social media or through her website.

https://www.facebook.com/suzannekmcclain

https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannemcclain/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgoKHQmTIgE

https://twitter.com/Suzannekmcclain

http://numedicareadvisors.com/medicare-qa/
VRTUL 2 The VRTUL 2 is powerful, proven, and undisputably best in class.

VRTUL, the industry leader in underwater VR productions, today announced that their VRTUL 2 camera (http://www.VRTUL2.com) will be premiering at DEMA 2017 in Orlando, FL from November 1st - 4th (Booth #408). In addition to their cutting edge 360 3D technology, VRTUL will be offering their stitching and rendering pipeline to all VR creators providing them with a scalable, end-to-end solution for shooting underwater VR content.

The VRTUL 2 is the only underwater VR camera for professionals with unified camera controls, a live monitoring display, native 3D stereoscopic, ProRes or DNG RAW outputs, 13 stops of dynamic range, combined with 4k resolution and 60fps for unrivaled image quality. We have visited almost every continent this year and over 15 countries in the last 6 months with our VRTUL cameras. We understand the expectations of quality, control, and reliability that filmmakers need when it comes to VR camera technology. The VRTUL 2 is powerful, proven, and undisputably best in class, says CEO & Founder of VRTUL, Casey Sapp.

Elite agencies, brands, and underwater cinematographers have been partnering with VRTUL for almost two years utilizing their proprietary camera technologies and stitching pipeline. I wanted to work with VRTUL because they have unrivaled VR camera systems and integrated post-production. They are some of the top underwater VR creators in the world right now. I was excited to be one of their early strategic partners and have been using VRTUL cameras this whole year, said Michael Muller, acclaimed photographer and VR Director.

About:

VRTUL (pronounced Virtual) is a San Diego based VR production company, supporting some of the best creatives in the world from concept through post in 360 and 6DOF experiences. They developed the first 360 stereoscopic underwater camera and are leaders in underwater VR storytelling. Some of their most recent projects include SeaWorlds Orca 360 VR theater attraction and ABCs Good Morning America Live 360 Underwater Broadcast with Ginger Zee. VRTUL has offices in both San Diego and Los Angeles, handling concurrent projects worldwide. Website: http://www.VRTUL.co

Corporate Contact:

Casey Sapp

CEO/Founder

407-718-9156

casey(at)vrtul(dot)co

Media Contact:

Sandra Kay Helsel, Ph.D.

SK Helsel & Associates

858-752-1212

sandra(at)skhelsel(dot)com
DocuCopies.com Supports SLO Firefighters with $1K Fire Safe Council Donation It gave us a new outlook on the danger and how quickly everything you have can be taken ... We felt overwhelming appreciation for the men and women who fight fires to keep their communities, their neighbors and their families safe.

Wildfires in California claim thousands of acres annually, devastating wildlands, families, and entire communities indiscriminately. This summer the team at the online printing company DocuCopies.com had an unusually intimate brush with the threat as a local fire threatened the home of the companys owners, which inspired them to donate $1,000 to the San Luis Obispo Fire Safe Council.

The fast-acting and fearless skills of SLO firefighters kept the flames in Nipomo from reaching the properties and homes of nearby residents until it could be extinguished. Nonetheless, David and Karen Pressley, who founded the now-national printing company as a mom-and-pop print shop in Wisconsin 35 years ago, had to flee their home with their granddaughter and pets after just moving into the neighborhood that week.

You might watch and read the news 24/7, but something changes when you can see the glow of the fire and smell the smoke in the air, said David, the companys president and CEO. It gave us a new outlook on the danger and how quickly everything you have can be taken. More than that though, we felt overwhelming appreciation for the men and women who fight fires to keep their communities, their neighbors and their families safe. They are true everyday heroes.

The donation to the Fire Safe Council, a non-profit whose responsibilities include managing donations from the public, pushes public education and proficient knowledge in fire safety and provides additional resources to those working in the firefighting communities.

Helping keep firefighters safe and well-equipped is an investment in their community, but the company also have their eyes and hearts on their fellow state residents to the north who at the time of this release are experiencing the devastation of wildfires at far beyond the normal level. The team is researching several options and plan to donate to a non-profit helping victims of the Northern California fires this month.

For more information on California wildfires, safety tips and prevention tips, visit the SLO County Fire Safe Council at http://www.fscslo.org. For more information on DocuCopies.com and their color printing, book making and binding services, visit them online at http://www.DocuCopies.com.
Pilatus Bank CEO Hamidreza Ghanbari It comes as no surprise that the Mass Affluent are disappointed with the banking industry. Now, the challenge and opportunity for banks emerge from rebuilding that misplaced trust

Hamidreza Ghanbari, CEO of Pilatus Bank, acknowledges that there is still a lot to be done in the banking sphere. Referring specifically to the Mass Affluent segment, he recognizes that banks have historically neglected their needs and preferences by merging them with those of the retail mass. He further states, It comes as no surprise that the Mass Affluent are disappointed with the banking industry. Now, the challenge and opportunity for banks emerge from rebuilding that misplaced trust. However, banks are struggling to address the distrust as they are stretched to the limit whilst focusing on other factors, such as competing in the FinTech space and keeping up with the inundation of regulatory and compliance requirements.

Ghanbari explains that Pilatus Bank has taken a proactive stance to fill the widespread service gap across the Mass Affluent segment. He reiterates that the Mass Affluent is a complex segment of the population, especially when it comes to their banking preferences. He elaborates, Despite being digitally savvy, the Mass Affluent still require a degree of personal interaction with their banks. Ghanbari believes that Pilatus Bank is at the forefront of successfully meeting the demands of the Mass Affluent by adopting a banking approach, which he described as being a sweet spot between a digitally-led approach and personalised interaction, which only can be achieved by having dedicated relationship managers. The CEO of Pilatus Bank states, At the core of our proposition to the Mass Affluent is a promise of exceptional customer service equivalent to private banking standards without imposing absurd minimum entry thresholds and outrageous fees.

Elaborating on the subject of personal interaction in banking, Ghanbari, CEO of Pilatus Bank clarifies that this concept no longer translates for the client to set foot in a branch. He argues that although the Mass Affluent require a personalised service, they lead extremely busy lives with little time to visit a branch. In his opinion, this is where disruptive technology can be leveraged to create convenience and efficiency in banking whilst preserving a personalised service environment.

Hamidreza Ghanbari of Pilatus Bank concludes by emphasising on the importance for banks to embed a robust, yet flexible, business model to meet clients expectations. He criticizes some financial institutions for taking extreme approaches with their business models, either the traditional legacy banking model or the fully digital fintech companies, and reiterates that neither approaches relate to what the Mass Affluent require. Pilatus Banks objective is to implement a business model which is focused on customer service. Furthermore, it should be digitally driven and robust enough to meet regulatory requirements. Ghanbari believes that through ARX, Pilatus Banks proprietary technology platform, the bank is achieving this sought-after balance between exceptional customer service and cost efficiency whilst maintaining the highest regulatory standards.

About Pilatus Bank

Pilatus Bank is a leading European bank that specializes in providing private and commercial banking services to high net-worth and affluent individuals. Pilatus Bank, located on 4 Old Park Lane, W1K 1QW in London, is mainly focused on offering its private banking services through its proprietary technology platform in order to make private banking more accessible and scalable. The Banks simple and convenient solution has been a hallmark of transformation and quality of service.
The attorneys of Carlson, Meissner, Hart & Hayslett, P.A., celebrated achievements made by their team at the 2017 West Pasco Bar Association Installation Banquet.

Matt Kindel, a criminal defense attorney with the firm, was sworn in as President of the Association. Kindel is a native of Central Florida and currently resides in Land Lakes with his family. He works in the New Port Richey office and the Spring Hill Offices. His areas of concentration is criminal defense, including DUI, traffic violations, white collar crime, probation violations, and difficult cases such as entrapment and self-defense.

I am so honored to serve the West Pasco Bar Association, said Kindel. If you had told me when I was studying for my LSAT that Id be the President of this organization, I never would have believed you.

The firm also wants to recognize J. Larry Hart, a partner with Carlson Meissner, who was presented with the 2017 West Pasco Bar Association Justice Award. The award was presented to Hart for his significant contributions to the justice system, and the education he has provided to police, prosecutors and public defenders. Hart previously served as President of the Association.

Larry is one of the most brilliant legal minds I have ever met, said attorney Sarah Raaymakers, who accepted the award on Harts behalf.

Carlson, Meissner, Hart & Hayslett has been faithfully serving Tampa Bay and central Florida for more than 46 years. The firm specializes in personal injury, criminal defense, workers compensation, social security disability and immigration cases.

I was always treated with respect by everyone in the firm, said a former client of her experience with the firm. I was always made to feel important and that they were working hard on my behalf.

If you have been injured and are seeking legal representation, please call (877) 728-9653 or visit CarlsonMeissner.com.
The I Have A Dream Foundation has announced the appointment of Eugena Oh as President & CEO, effective immediately. She will succeed Donna Lawrence, who began as the organizations CEO in July 2014.

Eugena Oh has been with the I Have A Dream Foundation since 2011, and has previously served as the organizations Chief Operating Officer, Chief Governance Officer, and Interim CEO. In these roles she built the organizations administrative, operational, and program-support functions to maximize efficacy as I Have A Dream works to expand the number of students (Dreamers) served to 10,000 by 2020. Eugena also served as the I Have A Dream Foundations legal counsel, and has been responsible for overseeing governance and operations of the organizations 16 affiliate sites across the U.S. and in New Zealand.

I am both excited and humbled by this opportunity to lead the I Have A Dream Foundation as we work together as a network to meet our ambitious expansion goals, says Eugena Oh. Over the past 36 years, we as an organization have learned what it can look like when children from low-income communities are given the same educational, social-emotional, and financial resources as their high-income peers. This work can be done in a scalable and replicable way, and our job will not be finished until every child has an equal opportunity to earn a higher education and fulfill their full potential.

We are so pleased to welcome Eugena in her new role at I Have A Dream, remarked national Board Chairman Ron Terwilliger. We trust that she will continue to pursue the ambitious goals set by past CEO Donna Lawrence, so that we may continue to serve more Dreamers with our high quality programs, and help level the playing field so that any child, regardless of the zip code they were born into, may have the opportunity to realize their American Dream.

Eugena brings to her new role a passion for civil rights and social justice, matched with six years of experience working in her numerous roles at the I Have A Dream Foundation. Prior to joining I Have A Dream, Eugena practiced commercial and products liability law, and served in development, strategy, and operations roles within several non-profit organizations, including Teach For America  New York City, Rock The Vote, and Washington State Court Appointed Special Advocates. Eugena received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania, and her J.D. from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.

The I Have a Dream Foundation's mission is to empower children from low-income communities to succeed in school, college, and career by providing academic, social, and emotional support from elementary school through college, along with postsecondary tuition assistance. To date, I Have A Dream programs have served over 18,000 Dreamers, who today are over 3x more likely to earn bachelors degrees than their peers.

# # #

About I Have A Dream Foundation:

The I Have A Dream Foundation (IHDF) is a leading education nonprofit focused on breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty through a comprehensive program of support that follows the same group of young people (Dreamers) from elementary school all the way through college. Founded 36 years ago through the vision of Eugene Lang, IHDF operates in 16 cities and has served over 18,000 Dreamers.

The numbers: 51% of students in U.S. public schoolsover 25 Million childrenare low-income, and only 9% of low-income students earn a bachelors degree, compared to 77% of their high-income peers. 90% of Dreamers complete high school, compared to 70% of their low-income peers, representing an additional $2.9 Billion in earnings over their lifetimes. Dreamers are nearly 3 times more likely to earn a bachelors degree than their low-income peers. Without this level of support, the cycle of poverty continues: 65% of children whose parents have no more than a high school diploma live in poverty. Now, over 35 years after Eugene M. Langs life changing promise, Dreamers have children who are attending college themselves.

Visit ihaveadreamfoundation.org to learn more.
Walser Automotive Group, which operates 23 dealerships in Minnesota and Kansas, has restructured its senior management team to focus on growth, new opportunities and unique customer experience initiatives. Paul Walser, who has led the company as CEO for 20 years, will shift his focus to acquisitions and OEM relationships. He will also continue his work on the Board of Directors of the National Auto Dealers Association as the representative for Minnesota auto dealers.

Under Pauls leadership, the Walser business model evolved from a traditional negotiating model to a one price model starting in 2000. In subsequent years, Walser changed its recruiting strategy for sales professionals, focusing on non-commission compensation, 40-hour work weeks and an improved work- life balance. Additionally, Walser eliminated the traditional finance office and developed a new operating system whereby a customer works with only one team member from greeting to final vehicle delivery. Walser knows customers expect transparency, fairness and speed, and all of the changes it has pioneered through the years are based on finding new ways to help customers with all of their automotive research, buying and servicing needs.

In light of Pauls transition, Andrew Walser has assumed the role of CEO. Like his brother Paul, Andrew grew up in the family business and has held nearly every position in the company. He has been the chief visionary behind Walsers digital marketing initiative, new and used vehicle operations, and the companys leading end-to-end service experience. Andrews primary focus has always been on eliminating customer aggravations in the sales and service experience, with the goal of reducing transaction times while enabling a more transparent and Customer First process. This unique focus has produced continued market share growth, industry-leading customer satisfaction scores and record-setting used car volumes. Andrew is currently heading an internal team developing proprietary technology that overhauls how Walsers sales professionals guide customers through the buying process in-store with the expectation that soon such technology will also allow customers to purchase vehicles online and complete all necessary paperwork from the comfort of their home or office.

The result of all these initiatives continues to be a world-class customer experience that is unmatched in the automotive retail world. Full pricing transparency on the internet, on the sales lot and in the dealership, along with a no-hassle returns policy, makes shopping for vehicles fun and stress-free at Walser.

Aided by acquisition in 2016 and 2017, Walser has doubled in size and plans for further expansion going forward. To guide the company and manage such organic and acquisition-driven growth, Walser is proud to announce that several new members are joining its Senior Management Team:



Candice Crane returns to the company as Chief Talent Officer. Previously, Candice headed Recruiting and HR and was responsible for designing the sales compensation and recruiting strategy. Most recently, she was VP of dealer solutions at Hireology and is an active nationwide speaker about innovation and change in the automotive industry.

Fiona Lennox has joined as Walsers Chief Strategy Officer. As a specialist in business design and development, social/cultural assessment and employee engagement, she brings a wealth of knowledge working with small startups as well as large multi-national companies.

Charles Marentette joined as the Chief Financial Officer. He has held various financial leadership positions including Investor Relations and FP&A for Delphi Automotive and Best Buy. Most recently, he was the controller for a leading SaaS-based HCM provider Ceridian.

Robert Miller has joined the team as Chief Operating Officer. Robert most recently was Senior Vice President at Advantage & EZ Rent-A-Car in charge of fleet buying and selling, as well as operations. He has also held SVP positions in inventory optimizations and services at Best Buy, been a CFO of multiple business units, and worked for several investment banks in New York City providing merger, acquisition and restructuring advice to retailers worldwide.

In support of the Senior Management Team, Jessica Monson joins the Walser team as General Counsel and Secretary. Jessica spent over 10 years serving as legal counsel at Life Time, The Healthy Way of Life Company, most recently as VP of Business Development & Legal Affairs. Jessica provides legal counsel to the company on a variety of areas including commercial transactions, consumer protection, intellectual property, advertising and marketing, real estate and finance.

About Walser Automotive Group

Walser Automotive Group is a family owned business started in 1954 by Jack Walser. Walser operates dealerships in Minnesota and Kansas, representing Acura, AMG, Audi, Buick, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Mini, Nissan, Porsche, Ram, Sprinter, Subaru and Toyota.

Media Contact

Doug Sprinthall

PR and Communications Director

Walser Automotive Group

7700 France Ave S Edina, MN 55435

Cell 612-247-3436

Doug(at)walser(dot)com
Ozarks Medical Center will prepare for and manage emergency events with LiveProcess Emergency Manager LiveProcess will allow us to reach each of our 1,200 employees within minutes during an emergency event. We can easily push out notifications to staff at a clinic 55 miles away, then maintain real-time situational awareness through incident command.

LiveProcess has implemented its emergency management platform for communication, collaboration and coordination at Missouri-based Ozarks Medical Center. LiveProcess Emergency Manager enables faster communication and response times across Ozarks Medical Centers hospital, clinics and home healthcare providers, which serve an eight-county area across south central Missouri and north central Arkansas.

LiveProcess is a leader in emergency management and communication systems for healthcare organizations. Cloud-based communication and collaboration solutions help ensure continuity of care before, during and after emergency events, whether within a facility or across a widespread network. Through an intuitive and customizable contact management database, LiveProcess enables broadcast notifications to an entire organization, messaging to individuals, and alerts to readily built dedicated groups that simplify and accelerate communications and coordination.

Ozarks Medical Center provides care for an area that is very large, geographically, but is not highly populated. That presents challenges for emergency management, said Josh Reeves, the director of facilities and planning for Ozarks Medical Center. LiveProcess will allow us to reach each of our 1,200 employees within minutes during an emergency event. Even when an adverse weather event will not affect our main hospital facility, we can easily push out notifications to staff at a clinic 55 miles away, then maintain real-time situational awareness through incident command. An interactive event log keeps current information visible and supports collaboration among facilities and with local and regional emergency management agencies.

LiveProcess also gives Ozarks Medical Center the capability to rapidly produce after-action reports, a form of post-event documentation required by the Joint Commission and by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) in their emergency preparedness rule. After all the labor and resources spent during an emergency event, piecing together an after-action report can be cumbersome and time consuming. LiveProcess gives us the ability to sit down and review the effectiveness of our emergency management response as soon as the next day, rather than waiting for weeks or more, said Richard Leita, the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator at Ozarks Medical Center.

From emergency management to hospital operations

Ozarks Medical Center was looking for a real-time communication system to replace a time-consuming analog call list, said Terry Zysk, CEO of LiveProcess. LiveProcess has been able to give them the fast-paced, flexible communication system they needed for emergency events, in addition to providing solutions for day-to-day operations and workflow needs such as shift management, coordinating rapid response teams and staying ahead of ED overcrowding.

The solution supports a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) preference for those employees who choose it, so communications can reach on-premises personnel, traveling home health nurses and off-duty staff or leadership via text, email, or phone call as appropriate. The capacity for multi-modal communication ensures that the right people are reached right away, while the structured response and message tracking capabilities empowers caregivers, support and operations staff to communicate and coordinate across departments and healthcare settings

Implementation at Ozarks Medical Center was completed ahead of schedule, but LiveProcess support is ongoing. In addition to an around-the-clock US-based support team, LiveProcess regularly accommodates client ideas and suggested enhancements for the solution that drive increased value across clients.

About LiveProcess

Born in the crisis-oriented world of emergency management, LiveProcess has more than a decade of success enabling large and complex networks to plan for and respond to critical, catastrophic and time-sensitive incidents. We now bring our proven logistics and coordination expertise across healthcare settings, within and beyond hospital walls. Our healthcare mobile apps enable personnel to take control of situations and collaborate to resolve operational disruptions, urgent health needs and routine transitions in patient care.

Headquartered in Chelmsford, MA, more than 600 healthcare organizations and public agencies rely on LiveProcess unmatched mobile, SaaS solutions to effectively manage, analyze and respond to changing conditions. Visit http://www.liveprocess.com or call 888.400.2673 to learn more.
Soldiers Angels Hunger Relief Program will be hosting the inaugural Veteran Mobile Food Distribution on Friday, October 27th, 2017 at the Arcadia VA Clinic located at 250 North Arcadia Avenue, Decatur, Georgia, 30030. The event will provide food assistance to over 200 low-income, at-risk, and homeless veterans from the Atlanta Area. The distribution will be conducted in partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

To kick-off what will now be a monthly event, the Atlanta VA will be hosting a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony prior to the distribution. The ceremony will begin at 9:30 am and will feature: Dr. Anthony G. Cooper, PhD, Chief, Voluntary Service; Ms. Annette Walker, Director, Atlanta VA Health Care System; and Ms. Vicki Sarracino, Senior Director of Field Operations, Soldiers Angels.

Soldiers Angels Veteran Mobile Food Distributions have become a staple for the families served in other cities. Working with the local food banks at each location, the event provides approximately 50 pounds of food for the attending families. The food includes fresh fruits and vegetables as well as meats and non-perishables.

Typically, when introducing the event in a new city, Soldiers Angels has had to actively push for local veterans to register to receive the food assistance. On average, it would take the inaugural events around one month to fill to capacity. The response in Atlanta, however, was historic. The event was filled to capacity within 15 days, to include a full waitlist.

We have been overwhelmed by the response from Atlanta veterans, said Amy Palmer, President and CEO of Soldiers Angels. In addition to the individuals that have registered to receive support at the event this week, we have had over 50 individuals provide us with their contact information in order to receive notices about future events.

Cities such as Atlanta that have a high military presence also tend to have a high population of low-income veterans. Soldiers Angels recognized the need for this program in Atlanta after the huge success of the program in San Antonio, Texas, which also has a high population of low-income veterans.

The program was created at the Soldiers Angels headquarters in San Antonio in September of 2015, continues Palmer. Although it took some time to get off the ground, the event has been held monthly and now, two years later, when we release the registration link to the 1200+ veterans interested in attending, the event is filled to capacity within forty five minutes. After the tremendous response we received from Atlanta veterans, we have no doubt that registering for the Atlanta event will soon be similarly competitive.

Since many of the attending veterans have injuries, the distribution was designed to be completely drive-through and volunteers load the groceries into each car. If an attendee doesnt have a car, they can walk through with a volunteer who will help them load a wagon with their groceries.

Soldiers Angels relies heavily on the support of sponsors and volunteers in each city to maintain the Mobile Food Distribution event monthly. Partnering with businesses, large and small, the event is a great opportunity to give back to veterans. If you are interested in becoming a part of this monthly event in Atlanta, Soldiers Angels will be continuously looking for volunteers and sponsors to help with the Hunger Relief Program. Contact Soldiers Angels at (210)629-0020 to learn more about assisting in this program. Or visit their website at http://www.SoldiersAngels.org

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About Soldiers Angels: Soldiers' Angels is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, their families, and the growing veteran population. Founded in 2003 by the mother of two American soldiers, hundreds of thousands of Soldiers' Angels "Angel" volunteers assist veterans, wounded and deployed personnel and their families in a variety of unique and effective ways. (Tax ID# 20-058-3415). Learn more at http://www.soldiersangels.org.

About Atlanta Community Food Bank: The Atlanta Community Food Bank works to end hunger with the food, people and big ideas needed to ensure our neighbors have the nourishment to lead healthy and productive lives. Far too many people in our own community experience hunger every day, including children, seniors and working families.

Through more than 600 nonprofit partners, we help more than 755,000 people get healthy food every year. Our goal is that, by 2025, all hungry people across metro Atlanta and North Georgia will have access to the nutritious meals they need when they need them. It takes the power of our whole community to make that possible. Join us at ACFB.org.
The Cybersecurity Center of Excellence for Critical Infrastructure is a unique collaboration which benefits multiple stakeholders. We welcome RadiFlow as a CyberForce partner, and a CCoE stakeholder, said Narsimha Koppula, Co-Founder and Board Member of CyberForce.

RadiFlow and CyberForce LLC today announced their collaboration for the use of RadiFlow products in CyberForces Cybersecurity Solutions for Critical Infrastructure. CyberForce has entered into a value-added reseller relationship with RadiFlow for use of its products as part of CyberForces cybersecurity solutions and system integration services for critical infrastructure.

RadiFlow has also entered into a Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCoE) stakeholder relationship agreement. RadiFlow has committed to support the multi-stakeholder CCoE that has been established as a public-private collaboration between NOVA (Northern Virginia Community College) and CyberForce LLC. As a CCoE stakeholder, RadiFlow provides equipment and training support to the CCoE participants, and its interns. RadiFlow will also leverage the CCoE for customer visits and training.

The Cybersecurity Center of Excellence for Critical Infrastructure is a unique collaboration which benefits multiple stakeholders. We welcome RadiFlow as a CyberForce partner, and a CCoE stakeholder. RadiFlow will benefit with interns who will emerge as industry-ready personnel, knowledgeable in their products, and other industry technologies and processes, said Narsimha Koppula, Co-Founder and Board Member of CyberForce.

RadiFlow is pleased to become a partner of CyberForce, and support the CCoE, a public-private collaboration for a Cybersecurity Center of Excellence that CyberForce LLC has entered into with NOVA - Northern Virginia Community College. This innovative collaboration between public sector academia and a leading cybersecurity company is a model that should be followed to help provide industry-ready personnel, trained on leading cybersecurity products, said Ilan Barda, CEO of RadiFlow.

CyberForce welcomes RadiFlow with its leading cybersecurity products to its partner program. RadiFlows proven products are an important addition for CyberForce to its industry technology portfolio. This collaboration will help us deliver more robust solutions and systems integration services for Critical Infrastructure industries, said Bimal Sareen, Co-Founder and Board Member of CyberForce.

We are pleased to have CyberForce as a partner to advance our technologies for Critical Infrastructure industry sectors. RadiFlow offers leading edge products to help protect industries such as Energy, Oil & Gas, Water and Wastewater, critical Manufacturing, added TJ Roe, VP Sales, North America of RadiFlow.

Cybersecurity Center of Excellence and Lab for Critical Infrastructure (CCoE). Established in CyberForce LLCs offices in Reston, VA, the CCoE has a focus on Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cybersecurity. Its modular ICS environments for different Critical Infrastructure Industry sectors including Electric Utilities, Oil & Gas, Chemical and Water offers unique and realistic solutions to address cybersecurity challenges.

CCoE industry stakeholders are able to invite customers to view demonstrations of their equipment/technologies in simulated environments, and conduct industry training on their products for their customers.

RadiFlow is a leading provider of cyber security solutions for ICS networks in critical infrastructure, including tools for NERC CIP compliance. Radiflows Industrial Intrusion Detection System passively learns and maps the OT network, providing exceptional visibility and situational awareness, and validates the behavior of both M2M applications and H2M sessions in distributed operational networks. Radiflows Security gateways may be connected in-line to protect and secure the access to critical devices in remote sites using Deep-Packet-Inspection and Task-based user access control. More information is available at http://www.RadiFlow.com

CyberForce LLC is a Cybersecurity company Headquartered in Reston, VA, which provides the full range of Cybersecurity solutions and services for ICS/SCADA and OT/IT for Critical Infrastructure industries. This includes assessments, regulatory compliance, re-mediation solutions and systems integration services. Critical Infrastructure industries include Electric Utilities, Water, Oil & Gas and Chemical. More information is available at http://www.CyberForceUS.com.

All product and company names may be protected via trademarks of its owners.
I cant believe its been five years already! It feels like just yesterday we were opening L&W in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Since then, weve seen the neighborhood grow around us and with us. We cant wait to see what the next five years has in store. - Eric Lemonides, co-owner

Opened in November 2012, L&W Oyster Co. (254 Fifth Ave, NY, NY) is celebrating its fifth anniversary, and we want everyone to get excited about it. Every day until November 5th, from 11:30-4pm, guests are invited to enter a drawing to win a weekend for two, including airfare, to the luxurious Mayakoba Resort in Rivera Maya, Mexico. Guests may enter the drawing once per visit.

The contest for the Mexico trip is just the beginning. Starting Monday, October 30, 2017, L&W will be launching a late night happy hour (9:30pm-closing) with $1 oysters and $6 drink specials. Additionally, a new $5/5-Year Snack menu, honoring our 5 years in the business, will include signature bites like our Tuna Ranchers and Lobster Roe Deviled Eggs.

An anniversary cocktail list will feature some favorites from the last five year, as well as special priced wines with a 2012 vintage.

A 5 Year Anniversary Party will mark the official date on Sunday, November 5th when, during L&W's weekly "Sister's Drag Brunch", the winners of the Mexico contest will be announced via Facebook Live.

L&W Oyster Co. is open 7 days a week starting at 11:30am, serving lunch and dinner Mon-Fri, and brunch and dinner on weekends.

For more information, please contact Lee Felty. lee@almondnyc.com
Issa Asad, Q Link Wireless Todays challenging circumstances have led to a renewed appreciation for services like ours.

The founder and CEO of Q Link Wireless, Issa Asad, announced today his company obtained approval to provide no-cost phone service in the state of Arkansas through the federally-run Lifeline Program. The approval came from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which operates the Lifeline Program through its subsidiary, the Universal Services Administrative Co., and pays for the program through taxes levied on cell phone usage. The FCC has not expanded the Lifeline program with the issuance of new licenses in more than five years.

Q Link, the nations third-largest phone company in the Lifeline program, has nearly two million customers, and the addition of Arkansas increases its geographic coverage to 29 states. The license allows Q Link to offer services to Arkansans who qualify for participation in the Lifeline Program, such as veterans, SNAP recipients, Medicaid recipients, and people living in Section 8 housing. Program participants receive a complimentary smart phone, 350 minutes of calling each month, unlimited texts, and up to 1 gigabyte of data. The program was designed for Americans who might not otherwise have access to vital communication services, including the ability to make 9-1-1 calls.

Q Links expansion into Arkansas will have significant positive impact since the state has one of the highest poverty rates in the nation, almost one in five. Only three states in the U.S. have a larger number of people living below the poverty line. In addition, as a rural state, its residents often live in areas with limited connectivity, making access to phone services and internet even more important than in urban areas.

The people of Arkansas will finally have more choices when it comes to the Lifeline Program, said Q Links Issa Asad. Theres such a high percentage of people in Arkansas on Medicaid, who receive SNAP assistance, and other qualifiers for the program that it is obvious our services are desperately needed.

Q Link recently made news for its contributions to areas affected by natural disasters, including Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and Puerto Rico. After Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, the company waived overage charges for customers who exceeded their voice and data allotment. In total Q Link gave away more than $5 million in phone service to customers in need.

When times are hard, we rely on our cell phones even more than usual," said Asad. "And the Lifeline Program helps keep people safe so they have the necessary communications tools in the palm of their hand.

For more information about Q Link Wireless, or to schedule an interview with Issa Asad, please contact Meieli Sawyer at 305-668-0070 or msawyer(at)weinbachgroup.com.

About Q Link Wireless

Q Link Wireless, a Quadrant Holdings Company, is one of the nations leading providers of wireless voice and data service through the Lifeline Program. With more than 1.9 million customers, Q Link is wirelessly connecting people to the world around them, regardless of their income.
Intelligent transportation systems increase capacity, efficiency, and safety for motorists, says Dan Lukasik, Parsons Vice President.

Caltrans District 7, in conjunction with Parsons, is implementing an advanced Arterial Management System (AMS) at 91 signalized intersections on Californias Pacific Coast Highway and Parallel Arterials from I-105 to I-110. This trailblazing project will leverage Sensys Networks IoT Platform and SNAPS software to obtain a host of performance measures on the arterials including Level-of-Service, travel-time variability/reliability, and intersection queue length. As a result, the platform will provide real-time assessments of the arterial system performance and enable signal timing change to accommodate unforeseen events on the adjacent freeway or the arterial system. Additionally, the system will broadcast recommended routes and predictive travel times to roadway users.

We are especially proud of our involvement in our home state in this advanced AMS project with Caltrans and Parsons, says Amine Haoui, CEO for Sensys Networks. This particular implementation leverages the full capabilities of our IoT and data analytics platform and is an excellent example of how our systems are enabling Smart City solutions to deliver measurable benefits to the traveling public.

Intelligent transportation systems increase capacity, efficiency, and safety for motorists, says Dan Lukasik, Parsons Vice President. This important project will collect and manage the data and performance measures that will allow our ITS systems to maximize mobility and minimize the impact of traffic incidents.

The Pacific Coast Highway AMS Project is a critical element of the Caltrans Dynamic Corridor Congestion Management program.

Sensys Networks will be featuring its traffic data and analytics platform, SensTraffic, at ITS World Congress in Montreal, Canada.

About Sensys Networks

Sensys Networks improves the way people travel through cities. We deliver accurate and dependable detection data to drive reductions in urban traffic congestion for partners and public agencies around the globe. For more information see http://www.sensysnetworks.com.
Structure Law provides a great resource to clients whose diverse needs include both transactional expertise and litigation reinforcement. I am excited to begin the next chapter of my career working with the Structure litigation team.

Structure Law Group, LLP, is pleased to announce Julie Bonnel-Rogers has joined the firm as our newest litigation attorney. We are excited to have Julie because she is a ferocious fighter who never backs down from a challenge. Julie brings a ton of experience to the table and we are incredibly excited to have her in our clients corner here at Structure Law, said SLG attorney Ethan Solove.

Julie Bonnel-Rogers has several years of civil litigation and trial experience. The scope of her career has included representation of business and property owners in a large variety of disputes in the tech, biotech, construction, and gas and oil industries. Ms. Bonnel-Rogers is involved in all aspects of the litigation process, from advising clients on pre-lawsuit demands, filing and responding to lawsuits, pleadings, handling discovery, law and motion matters, settlement negotiations, and trial. Julie has been recognized for her advocacy on behalf of small and mid-sized businesses and their financial and legal exposure to technological risks and security breaches.

Ms. Bonnel-Rogers received her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law. Prior to entering law school, Julie taught English on the Island of Saipan in the Northern Marianas Islands as a volunteer through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in 1989-1990. While in law school, she participated on the Law School's Moot Court Competition Team, and graduated with advocacy honors including the 1993 USF School of Law 1st Place "Advocate of the Year" title. Structure Law provides a great resource to clients whose diverse needs include both transactional expertise and litigation reinforcement. I am excited to begin the next chapter of my career working with the Structure litigation team.

Ms. Bonnel-Rogers can be reached at:

jrogers(at)structurelaw.com or (408) 441-7500

About Structure Law Group, LLP

Structure Law Group, LLP is a business law firm with offices located in the Silicon Valley with a national and international practice that provides legal services to companies of all sizes as well as individual entrepreneurs. SLG assists clients in all areas of business law including start-ups and financing, business litigation, merger and acquisitions, employment law, intellectual property, debtor and creditor rights and commercial real estate. SLG is a dedicated team of legal professionals who have a solid understanding of companies of all sizes as well as businesses and entrepreneurs. SLG is committed to providing an exceptional client experience through innovative and cost-effective legal services and solutions.

For more information about the firm please go to http://www.structurelaw.com, visit our blog at http://www.sanjosebusinesslawyersblog.com or contact us as shown below:

Krystle Warren

Structure Law Group, LLP

(408) 441-7500

kwarren@structurelaw.com

http://www.structurelaw.com
See more Band Aid Facelift before and after results on Dr. LeRoy's website. For the patient who wants to keep looking natural but just look like a younger version of himself or herself, and also doesnt want to invest the time and expense that a typical facelift requires, a Band Aid Facelift really is the best option all-around.

Plastic surgeon Dr. John L. LeRoy has spent the past twenty years specializing in facial rejuvenation and cosmetic surgery for the face. His most notable contribution, however, has been providing patients with an exciting new alternative that is less invasive and less expensive than a traditional facelift. He does this using an innovative procedure he developed in 1997 called the Band Aid Facelift.

The Band Aid Facelift applies specialized techniques to a traditional facelift so that it can be performed in-office using gentle numbing (or local anesthesia) instead of requiring general anesthesia and a full operating room. This offers a number of advantages to patients. First, the procedure requires about half as much recovery time as a typical facelift, and it causes less swelling, bruising, and scarring as well. Second, the amount of excess skin removed and facial tissue repositioned is more mild, producing a more natural-looking result. This also makes it the perfect option for patients who prefer to have a more subtle surgery about every ten to twelve years, rather than waiting twenty years to have a more extensive surgery. As a final advantage, the Band Aid Facelift also costs much less than a traditional facelift, because it takes less time to perform and because it eliminates the extensive fees of an operating room and general anesthesia. For the patient who wants to keep looking natural but just look like a younger version of himself or herself, and also doesnt want to invest the time and expense that a typical facelift requires, a Band Aid Facelift really is the best option all-around.

Dr. LeRoy developed his Band Aid Facelift in 1997, with inspiration from his exclusive fellowship at the prestigious Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York. As Dr. LeRoy explains, I was learning from these exceptional, world-class surgeons, but I was also seeing patients come in for their second and third facelifts. Between the techniques that I was able to build on and the need I was seeing for a more incremental, manageable procedure, I crafted the Band Aid Facelift to really change the way patients approach plastic surgery for aging. It should be a process, and the Band Aid Facelift really makes that approach possible.

Over the years, Dr. LeRoys Band Aid Facelift has grown to be extremely successful, drawing patients from across Georgia, Florida, and other areas throughout the Southeast. Seeing how truly great this demand was has inspired Dr. LeRoy to apply the principles of the Band Aid Facelift to other procedures as well, ultimately leading him to develop the Band Aid Tummy Tuck, Band Aid Liposuction, Band Aid Eyelid Surgery, and his latest innovation, the Band Aid Micro Mini Facelift  an even lighter version of the Band Aid Facelift, primarily for patients who want to refresh the results of their surgery three to four years later by resolving the new signs of aging that have arisen.

As exceptional as the past twenty years have been, Dr. LeRoy looks forward to many more years of offering patients unique solutions that can fit into their busy lives, as well as innovating further and developing more new procedures as technology and techniques advance and as the demand for them appears.

About John L. LeRoy, M.D., F.A.C.S.: Dr. John LeRoy is an Atlanta-based plastic surgeon devoted to providing exceptional aesthetic care for over 30 years. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the Georgia Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. LeRoy is best known for his Band Aid procedures: the innovative line of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures he has developed and perfected since 1997, including his Band Aid Facelift, which he has performed for over 6,000 patients. He studied cosmetic surgery at the prestigious Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital in New York and is board certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American College of Surgeons.

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DataFox Enrich - Account Enrichment for Salesforce Lightning Data We went out looking for better data than what we had in our systems today, and thats when we discovered DataFox. Equitable territory design is an exercise in optimization that required my own account scoring model. To get there, I needed high-quality data integrated into my CRM.

DataFox today announced it has launched DataFox Enrich, its second app on the Salesforce AppExchange, empowering businesses to connect with their customers, partners and employees in entirely new ways. DataFox helps sales and marketing teams identify and prioritize optimal accounts to execute their account-based strategies.

Built on the Salesforce Platform, DataFox Enrich is currently available on the AppExchange at https://appexchange.salesforce.com/listingDetail?listingId=a0N3A00000Ecr3LUAR

DataFox Enrich

With DataFox Enrich, embed AI-sourced, human-audited company insights directly into your account records. Enrichment data spans 25 data points, including: company location, employee headcount, industry keywords, phone number, linkedin profile, competitors, funding, and more. The data is integrated natively in Salesforce, powered by the new Lightning Data engine, making the onboarding and matching process easy and enabling data to be embedded directly onto existing customer account records. AI-sourced and human audited data is the critical piece to enhancing the accuracy and efficacy of account scoring, territory planning, and outreach personalization.

Comments on the News

We are proud to deepen our commitment to the Salesforce ecosystem with our second AppExchange app, said DataFox CEO Bastiaan Janmaat. And with this app, we expect to deliver an even more unified user experience so more of our customers will be able to quickly integrate our technology into their work streams. This will enable sales and marketing leaders to help reps focus on top accounts and to take the right action at the right time, while saving time and resources.

We went out looking for better data than what we had in our systems today, and thats when we discovered DataFox. Equitable territory design is an exercise in optimization that required my own account scoring model. To get there, I needed high-quality data integrated into my CRM.  Laurie Schrager, VP of Global Sales Operations at Tealium.

Everyone and everything is getting smarter and more connected than ever before, and companies are looking to transform the way they connect with customers, partners and employees, said Kori OBrien, SVP, ISV Sales, Salesforce. By leveraging the power of the Salesforce Platform, DataFox provides customers with an exciting new way to leverage insights needed to identify and close business opportunities more quickly and efficiently.

About Salesforce AppExchange

Salesforce AppExchange is the worlds leading enterprise apps marketplace that empowers companies to sell, service, market and engage in entirely new ways. With 3,000 partner apps and more than 4 million customer installs, it is the most comprehensive source of cloud, mobile, social, IoT, analytics and artificial intelligence technologies for businesses.

Additional Resources

Like Salesforce on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/salesforce

Follow Salesforce on Twitter: https://twitter.com/salesforce

Become a fan of DataFox: https://www.facebook.com/datafoxco/

Follow DataFox on Twitter: https://twitter.com/datafoxco

Salesforce, AppExchange and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, inc.

About DataFox

DataFox helps businesses gain control of customer data with CRM Orchestration. Sales, marketing, and investing teams at organizations like UPS, Visa, Twilio, and InsightSquared trust DataFox for the insights they need to identify new business opportunities. DataFox is backed by Goldman Sachs, Green Visor, GV, and Slack. Visit http://www.datafox.com.
Our practice constantly seeks out the latest technology. Improving patient care is our number one priority!

Liver biopsies are a thing of the past at Digestive and Liver Disease Consultants, PA. Recently, the practice adopted the use of Fibroscan technology instead. Fibroscan is a safe, non-invasive and painless technology which allows doctors to analyze liver damage with the help of a procedure which is very similar to an ultrasound.

A liver biopsy, by contrast, requires doctors to insert a needle into the body to withdraw a small amount of liver tissue for analysis. On rare occasions, the procedure has led to complications such as internal bleeding, bile leaks, and collapsed lungs.

The goal of either procedure is to measure liver scarring, or fibrosis. Fibroscan technology accomplishes this with sound waves which are then translated into a 2D digital picture of the liver. The machine is also capable of measuring liver stiffness, a key indicator of scarring and damage. Doctors can use both the photo and the measurements to determine the severity of a patients liver condition.

Our practice constantly seeks out the latest technology. Improving patient care is our number one priority, explains Dr. Gurunath Reddy, one of the practices award-winning gastroenterologists. Fibroscan provides us with immediate results, but does so in a safe, painless way.

The FDA approved the use of the Fibroscan device in April of 2013. Over 660 peer-reviewed publications evaluated the clinical usefulness of the technology before it entered the United States medical technology market as a viable alternative to liver biopsies. This technology is also approved of and endorsed by the World Health Organization. The technology is currently in use in over 70 countries around the world, but not many US-based practices have invested in it yet, with no more than 350 locations across the nation offering the alternative.

ABOUT Fibroscan

Fibroscan is a product of Echosens, a medical technology company located in Paris, France. Echosens is a leader in quantative elastography technology and holds multiple patent families related to said technology. To learn more, visit http://www.echosens.com.

ABOUT DIGESTIVE AND LIVER DISEASE CONSULTANTS, PA

Digestive and Liver Disease Consultants, PA has been providing gastrointestinal and liver care to patients in Harris and Montgomery Counties since 1987. It is home to an award-winning and highly acclaimed group of board-certified gastroenterologists with a combined 60 years of experience in their field. For more information visit http://www.txgidocs.com.
Stephanie Jimenez Nominated for San Diego Business Journal Women of the Year

First Associates Loan Servicing announced that Senior Vice President of Operations, Stephanie Jimenez has been nominated as a finalist for the 2017 Business Women of the Year from the San Diego Business Journal.

Stephanie is a thoughtful leader, has a prolific capacity for getting things done and has provided a much needed human element to our team with her superior people skills and aptitude for team building, said David Johnson CEO at First Associates. She strives for and delivers excellence, inspires loyalty and motivates staff to excel in whatever role they play.

Ms. Jimenez is a strong player in Operations within the Financial Industry who worked with Capital One and HSBC extensively prior to joining First Associates. She specializes in global operations management and expansion and is heavily involved in the San Diego/Tijuana community with the CASA program to support fostering-adoption as well as several charities that provide healthcare and food for those in need. She is also a passionate advocate of ongoing education and holds multiple college degrees including a recently earned J.D. from Southern California University.

The San Diego Business Journal delivers the markets most complete package of business news and information on San Diego Countys companies, industries and business people. Each year, they recognize dynamic women business leaders who have contributed significantly to San Diegos corporate sponsors. Now in the 24th year, the SDBJ Business Women of the Year Awards recognize these women by hosting their biggest and most anticipated event to honor the winners and guests.

About First Associates Loan Servicing, LLC

First Associates offers in-depth industry expertise, cutting-edge technology and delivers flexible, scalable and innovative solutions to meet the demands of any company. They are the fastest growing servicer of loan and lease portfolios in the United States and are expanding their reach and services across the globe.

First Associates is the only company in its class to receive a Morningstar Credit Ratings MOR RV1 ranking with a forecast of stable which is the highest certification for operational risk and overall excellence in loan servicing. They celebrated their 30-Year Anniversary in 2016 and were selected by their peers as the LendIt 2017 Top Service Provider. http://www.1stassociates.com.
We were excited to have CEO of Acumatica, Jon Roskill, as the keynote speaker at our conference. His insight on the future of ERP software and cloud technology was thought-provoking and beneficial as we move into this new chapter of cloud technology, said owner and CEO Jeffrey Noolas.

JAMIS Software Corporation, a leading provider of cloud ERP software for the government contracting industry and other project-focused organizations, hosted another successful annual JAMIS Summit at the Mission Bay Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa on October 8th-10th.

This years conference sponsors included BDO, Bloomberg Government, SDL Consulting, ITB Consulting, Hall, Albright, Garrison, and Barnes, Metis GovCon Support, Raffa, Dixon Hughes Goodman, Capital Edge Consulting, FCE Benefit Administrators, and Federal Publications Seminars. The 2017 Summit sponsors were instrumental contributors to the event, which provided JAMIS customers, partners, and industry experts from across the U.S. the opportunity to share and exchange knowledge in an engaging atmosphere.

The Keynote Speaker this year was Jon Roskill, CEO of Acumatica, the worlds fastest-growing cloud ERP company. Before joining Acumatica, Mr. Jon Roskill held the position of Corporate Vice President of the Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft Corporation. Previously, Roskill served as Corporate Vice President, Business & Marketing Organization of Microsoft North America, where his teams produced all the marketing for Microsofts commercial products which in combination drove revenue exceeding $20b.

We were excited to have CEO of Acumatica, Jon Roskill, as the keynote speaker at our conference. His insight on the future of ERP software and cloud technology was thought-provoking and beneficial as we move into this new chapter of cloud technology, said owner and CEO Jeffrey Noolas.

JAMIS was proud to present GovCon expert speakers such as Bloomberg Governments Director of Government Contracts Research, Kevin Brancato; as well as a panel of experts including Brian Gallagher, Senior Manager and Capital Edge Consulting, Bill Walter, Partner at Dixon Hughes Goodman, Kristen Soles, Partner at Cohn Reznick, and Beverly Arviso, Partner at Arviso, Inc. These industry experts gave attendees a highly informational Government Contracting Industry update and discussed recent changes to the DCAA and DCMA. During the Contractor Purchasing Systems Updates Session, Michael Carter of Capital Edge Consulting, a former DCMA CPSR Procurement Analyst, discussed the historical CPSR environment and identified recent changes to the DCMA CPSR process.

In addition to the highly anticipated speaking sessions, attendees participated in a variety of educational breakout sessions on JAMIS Prime and JAMIS Classic, explored product demos and received post-conference comprehensive Prime ERP product training for an additional two days with JAMIS software and implementation experts.

To complement the learning sessions, Summit participants enjoyed their evenings at a Mexican Food dinner by the bay, and a party celebrating JAMIS valuable customers.

At the close of the 2017 Summit, the location of the 2019 Summit was announced - Charleston, South Carolina. Summit Attendees received Charleston-themed gifts and drinks to announce the Summit, which will be held in late March of 2019 at the historic Belmond Charleston Place in beautiful downtown Charleston. JAMIS is thrilled to be hosting our 2019 Summit in Charleston, South Carolina. We look forward to working with the Belmond Charleston Place to give our customers an amazing Summit experience in this historic town, said owner and VP of Product Development and Support, Naomi May.

The JAMIS Summit offers invaluable networking opportunities for JAMIS customers, as well as hands-on experience with government and accounting compliance products and services, all while enjoying the wonderful food and accommodations of the San Diego, Mission Bay Hilton Resort and Spa.

To read more about The JAMIS Summit 2017, the event agenda and speakers, please visit: https://summit.jamis.com/

About JAMIS Software Corporation

JAMIS Software Corporation is a leading provider of ERP software solutions designed specifically for government contractors and other project-focused organizations. JAMIS delivers comprehensive, intuitive, innovative and cost-effective solutions for the most respected names in government contracting. Companies large and small rely on JAMIS to provide detailed visibility into all of their projects, as well as provide the foundation for DCAA and other regulatory compliance. JAMIS helps companies connect with customers, partners and employees in entirely new ways to foster new levels of collaboration and drive profitability and growth.

To learn more about JAMIS, visit JAMIS.com
Great Lakes Management Services Organization (MSO) is pleased to announce the appointment of John P. Hart, CPA, as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Hart brings with him over 20 years of progressive experience in financial and operational accounting, reporting, and analysis. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of National Surgical Healthcare, Inc. (a $625 million multi-site healthcare services company based in Chicago).

"John brings an extraordinary depth of experience in healthcare services to his new role with Great Lakes MSO, including both eye care practice and surgery center management, said Bill Hughson, Grand Rapids Ophthalmologys CEO. Equally important, he brings with him a strong track record of success in creating value for the companies he helps to lead."

In 2015, Mr. Hart led the recapitalization of National Surgical Healthcare, Inc. by raising $450 million to accommodate a health system acquisition that doubled the size of the company.

One of Johns main strengths is that hes a strategist, said Dan Hosler, Great Lakes MSOs Chief Development Officer. Im excited to have someone of his caliber influencing the future direction of our company. John will be vital in providing financial leadership and aligning business and finance strategy to help grow Great Lakes MSO.

About Great Lakes Management Services Organization

Sterling Partners formed Great Lakes Management Services Organization (MSO) in February 2017 as a practice management services organization. Grand Rapids Ophthalmology partnered with the MSO to pursue growth opportunities, evolve clinical capabilities to better serve its patients, and to form strategic partnerships within industries related to eye care. If you are interested in learning more about a partnership with Great Lakes MSO, contact Dan Hosler at dhosler(at)seeitclear(dot)com.

About Grand Rapids Ophthalmology (GRO)

Founded in 1982, Grand Rapids Ophthalmology is the largest fully-integrated eye care medical group in West Michigan. It offers a full suite of eye care services from routine eye exams, contact lenses and glasses, to the most advanced medical and surgical treatments such as LASIK, cataract, cornea, retina, glaucoma, oculoplastics, pediatric, and both cosmetic and reconstructive eyelid surgery. GRO employs the largest number of eye care specialists and professionals in the region: 11 ophthalmologists, 19 optometrists, and 40 certified opticians. GRO has a total of 400 employees at 12 locations throughout West Michigan. For more information, visit: http://www.seeitclear.com.

About Sterling Partners

Sterling Partners is a private equity firm with a distinct point of view on how to build great companies. Founded in 1983, Sterling is guided by its stated purpose, INSPIRED GROWTH, which describes Sterlings approach to investing in differentiated businesses and growing them in inspired ways. Sterling focuses on investing growth capital in middle-market companies in the healthcare services and business services industries. Sterling provides valuable support to the management teams of the companies in which the firm invests through a deep and dedicated team of professionals, including a strong network of outside directors and advisors. The people at Sterling believe in ideas and ideals, in people and in partnerships that drive long-term success. For more information, visit: http://www.sterlingpartners.com.
"Slone Partners is honored to attract the brightest minds in healthcare to give their time and insights into this fast-paced and complex industry. Our team is delighted to regularly be at the epicenter of these important discussions, says CEO Leslie Loveless.

Slone Partners, North Americas premier healthcare industry executive search firm, organized a focused panel discussion, Building an Amazing Organization With the Strength of the Right Financial Partners, achieving rare insights into the importance of strategic financing for nascent-stage healthcare firms. The panel participants - Bijan Salehizadeh, MD, Managing Director of Navimed Capital (who acted as moderator); Oded Ben-Joseph PhD, Managing Director of Outcome Capital; Vikas Goyal, Principal of SR One; Sarah Larson, Partner at Third Rock Ventures; and Ryan Sansom, Partner at Cooley - lent executive expertise and deep context regarding the complexities and considerations of early and growth-stage capital availability. The panel convened at LabCentral, the nations first-of-its-kind shared-lab facility for high-potential life sciences and biotech startup firms.

In the tradition of the firm designing thought-provoking live programming in major healthcare hubs on a quarterly basis, Slone Partners balanced the discussion to address the bilateral needs and perspectives of both investors and healthcare firms seeking foundational financing. Among the How To topics discussed:

1. Navigating opportunities and avoiding pitfalls when considering venture investment

2. Selecting the right timeframe and process to seek outside capital

3. Identifying key attributes of an ideal partner

4. Leveraging venture investors and board of directors to enrich the odds of success

5. Planning early for a successful exit

The 90-minute free-flowing conversation, moderated by Dr. Salehizadeh, produced key takeaways which could determine potential outcomes of success, oscillation or failure by various parties - the startup CEOs, Boards of Directors, and capital partners.

PERSPECTIVES

Scientific founders must see beyond, and detach from, the science, and delve quickly into the business of commercializing their ideas, understanding their limitations, delivering bad news to partners and boards early, and mitigating risk through planning for failure. Without achieving a truly universal perspective, the chances of attracting additional financing is reduced.

ADVISORS

Its vitally important to retain financial and legal advisors (a second party) when structuring deals with a third-party investor, as the release of milestone-based capital can often be poorly defined, sometimes giving investors easy outs when companies underperform.

RISKS

Inexperienced biotech investors attempting to capitalize on gold rushes triggered by exciting new technologies or regulatory wins are often not accustomed to high-risk environments. Both parties need to truly collaborate to strategically and tactically mitigate risk.

CYCLES

When working with investors, companies need to understand the fund cycle. Are they in the fifth year of the fund? Is the person joining the funded companys board an owner in the fund? Is that person a decision maker of the fund?

PARTNERS

Founders of companies need to have very specific and honest conversations prior to the co-founding, regarding ownership of the company, who owns what intellectual property, individual strengths, defining daily involvement, and divide and conquer responsibilities. Failure to have these conversations can lead to leadership breakdowns, conflict and legal jeopardy. Early CEO, CBO, and CSO hires are paramount to bridging gaps, raising capital, determining valuation, and of course running the business.

BOARDS

Conducting reverse due diligence on board members is vital in determining culture fit, individual value they bring, personal and professional agendas, probability of dysfunction, and their collaborative spirit. Why is a particular board member interested in your company? Its important to recruit, vet and involve the board the same way a leadership team is assembled, and sometimes a good idea to limit board terms to 2-year elections. Separate scientific advisory boards are also vital for deep R&D reviews, impartial perspectives, and advice regarding both IP and personnel issues.

EXITS

In the simplest terms, successful exits are based upon the foundations and fundamentals of good science, achieving early validation, and good segmentation.

Slone Partners is honored to attract the brightest minds in healthcare to give their time and insights into this fast-paced and complex industry. Life sciences, diagnostics, and biotech financial partners and startup companies have the same goals - to improve and extend the lives of patients while commercializing the most meritorious, sometimes audacious ideas. Our team is delighted to regularly be at the epicenter of these important discussions, says CEO Leslie Loveless.

ABOUT SLONE PARTNERS

Slone Partners delivers the leaders who build amazing healthcare organizations - People Are Our Science. Since 2000, Slone Partners specializes in delivering world-class C-suite leadership, executive, and upper management talent to the most promising and established life sciences, research, diagnostics, precision medicine and laboratory services companies. With coast-to-coast presence in the most active healthcare industry hubs of Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Austin, Research Triangle Park NC, and Washington DC, Slone Partners uniquely and precisely provides an array of executive search and advisory services to exceptional clients. Our full suite of services includes identifying, negotiating with, onboarding talent, in addition to post-placement mentoring, success monitoring, and culture fit services. To learn more about Slone Partners value proposition and processes, visit http://www.slonepartners.com.
These experiments are a great way to get kids excited about STEM related studies by making the learning fun...

The Great Courses Plus has long been known as the leader in online study and lifelong learning. They have developed a new series of science experiments for kids to help bring the online learning experience to a younger audience. The educational resources are designed to foster creative thinking in science, technology, engineering and math.

"We believe that the pursuit of higher knowledge can start during childhood," said Cale Pritchett, Vice President of Marketing for The Great Courses. "These experiments are a great way to get kids excited about STEM related studies by making the learning fun," he added.

The new activities include making a balloon-powered hovercraft, building an electromagnet, and many other fascinating experiments. In the Traveling Water Experiment, for example, water travels from one glass to another in an example of capillary action. Kids will marvel at how water seems to defy gravity as it passes from one glass to another. Each experiment includes step-by-step instructions, as well as a detailed explanation about what is happening as the experiment unfolds.

To help focus attention on key observations, The Great Courses has included worksheets with each experiment. Students can even expand on the lessons with extra credit activities. By providing student-ready activities combined with worksheets and extended experiment ideas, were able to provide a fantastic supplement to STEM curriculum, Pritchett said.

The new content is being offered for free on the The Great Courses Daily. For a summary of the courses and links to each please visit the STEM for Kids page. Kids and their parents are encouraged to check back on a regular basis for new science experiments, art projects, math riddles, and other fun projects.

For parents and educators who would like a deeper, college-level dive into each subject, there are suggested courses for further learning on The Great Courses Plus. The Great Courses Plus currently provides over 350 educational series containing more than 14,000 lectures on topics ranging from ancient Greece to physics and our universe.

About The Great Courses

The Great Courses Plus is the nation's leading developer and marketer of premium quality media for lifelong learning and personal enrichment. Delivered in engaging, expertly produced video and audio, these carefully crafted courses provide access to a world of knowledge from the most accomplished professors and experts. The contentrich, proprietary library spans more than 350 series with more than 14,000 lectures designed to expand horizons, deepen understanding, and foster epiphanies in the arts, science, literature, selfimprovement, history, music, philosophy, theology, economics, mathematics, business, professional advancement and personal development. Creating unique learning experiences since 1990, The Great Courses and The Great Courses Plus are the premier brands of The Teaching Company Sales, LLC of Chantilly, Virginia, which is owned by Los Angeles-based Brentwood Associates. More information can be found at https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com.
Welcomemat Services, a franchise system made up of small business owners working to enhance visibility and provide marketing support for fellow small business owners across the country, is excited to announce the second annual Small Business Season starting on Monday, October 16, 2017. Through an effort to ensure that small businesses get more than one day of attention and support this holiday shopping season, Welcomemat Services has committed to honor small businesses all season long with the ranking of Americas Top 25 Best Neighborhoods for Small Business.

Its so important to recognize the power of small business ownership across the country as it is such a big factor in what makes each neighborhood unique, said Brian Mattingly, CEO of Welcomemat Services. At its core, Welcomemat Services was built on finding a way to create more awareness and loyalty for locally owned businesses within each community across the nation. Our second annual Small Business Season is such an exciting time for our brand as we recognize the neighborhoods that provide a thriving small business environment and remind consumers that putting money toward small business success should not be saved for one day every year.

Each year Welcomemat evaluates local neighborhoods based on an algorithmic formula to reveal the top neighborhoods for small business success and growth across the country. The formula factors information such demographics, local vibe, family friendliness, business density, walkability, sense of community, and survey data from franchisees. Out of the over 375 neighborhoods evaluated in 2017 Welcomemat has recognized the following top neighborhoods:

Americas Top 25 Best Neighborhoods for Small Businesses in 2017:

1. Roswell, GA

2. Grapevine, TX

3. Carlsbad Village, CA

4. Evans, GA

5. Matthews, NC

6. Mt. Pleasant, SC

7. Lakeview, LA

8. S. Austin, TX

9. Clintonville, OH

10. Northville, MI

11. Rochester Hills, MI

12. Excelsior, MN

13. Decatur, GA

14. Naples, FL

15. Bloomington, IN

16. Hyde Park, OH

17. Oceanside, CA

18. Plaza Midwood, NC

19. Murfreesboro, TN

20. Greer, SC

21. Hixson, TN

22. Brookhaven, GA

23. Mountain Brook, AL

24. NW Bradenton, FL

25. Delray Beach, FL

During Small Business Season, which runs for a full month leading up to the annual Small Business Saturday celebration on November 25, Welcomemat will recognize Small Business Champions within these 25 neighborhoods. Small Business Champions will receive a certificate and a spotlight on Welcomemats various social media platforms. More information about each of the top 25 markets can also be found on the Welcomemat website here: https://welcomematservices.com/americas-top-25-best-neighborhoods-for-small-businesses/

We hope that by shining a light on some of the great stories of locally owned businesses across the country, we can help encourage more people to shop local this holiday season and beyond, said Mattingly. We take the success of small businesses very seriously and want to be a part of their continued success in each community.

ABOUT WELCOMEMAT SERVICES

A leader in the $133-billion local advertising industry, Welcomemat Services is a new mover marketing and technology company that provides loyalty marketing solutions designed to target families who have recently changed their address. The brand was named to Entrepreneurs 2015, 2016 and 2017 Franchise 500." In 2017, the brand was named the number 1 Advertising Franchise according to Entrepreneur Magazine. Since 2003, Welcomemat Services technological innovation and marketing sophistication has enabled the brand to change the face of the direct-mail marketing industry. Welcomemat Services offers local, regional, and national businesses & organizations unprecedented access to information about new movers and ties in digital and social solutions for their clients. For more information on Welcomemat Services, visit http://www.welcomematservices.com.
MITS Discover 11 helped us recover $30,000 in revenue from a customer that failed to meet their 12-month forecast.

MITS, a leading provider of reporting and analytics solutions for distributors and manufacturers, today unveiled MITS Discover 11, the latest release of the companys self-service analytics product. With enhanced data integration capabilities and a fresh, streamlined new user interface, MITS Discover 11 addresses the growing need for faster data discovery and improved decision-making across all roles within a distribution operation.

What is important in our business is our time and the speed of information access, said Wes Hofkamp, vice president of operations at Johnstone Supply, Sioux Falls. There is a heavy costboth short and long-termif our team cant get the information they need quickly. MITS Discover 11 helps us be more profitable by delivering data faster, cleaner, and more accurately to every user, not just the tech-savvy ones.

Enhanced data integration capabilities

MITS Discover 11 includes three new powerful data integration capabilities that maximize the ability of any single report or dashboard to deliver actionable information:



Mix and match data from multiple cubes: easily add columns from multiple data cubes (e.g., sales, inventory, and purchasing) to a single report, providing a comprehensive picture of any opportunity, trend, or issue

Mix and match data types: incorporate both trended and static data on a dashboard or scorecard with tighter integration between MITS Discover 11 and an updated release of MITSs reporting product, MITS Report 4

Mix and match date ranges: compare data sets over different time periods in a single dashboard object

The ability to add columns from different data cubes to one report is having a huge impact on our business, said Brian Poggetti, director of finance and operations at Darcoid Nor-Cal Seal. For example, a single report showing sales of a subset of parts over a 90-day period, along with quantity on hand and open orders gives us immediate insight into program performance so we know what to do to keep it on track. MITS Discover 11 helped us recover $30,000 in revenue from a customer that failed to meet their 12-month forecast. Tighter integration between MITS Discover and MITS Report is also helping us fix broken workflowsinternally with staff and externally with customers and suppliers.

Streamlined user interface

MITS Discover 11s new streamlined user interface makes it easier than ever to explore data from a single report screen for faster decision-making. Key enhancements include:

Dynamic data exploration: quickly explore and interrogate your data from a single report screen with a new breadcrumb trail capability and drop down drill path modifier

Quick Calculated columns: quickly add calculated columns for percent of total, or trend or difference of a column from the prior period or same period prior year

Fresh look and feel: visual refresh of the MITS Discover user interface includes a more responsive design

MITS is demonstrating MITS Discover 11 and the update to its reporting product, MITS Report 4, today at its fourth annual user conference, MITS Exchange 2017, taking place in Seattle.

When it comes to product capabilities, content solutions, and adoption strategies, our focus at MITS is on helping our customers drive behavior toward their business goals, said Gary Owen, CEO of MITS. By making data discovery and decision-making fast and easy for any type of user, the release of MITS Discover 11 brings us one step closer to leveling the playing field so small- to mid-size distributors can thrive in a highly competitive marketplace.

To learn more about MITS reporting and analytics solutions for distributors and manufacturers, visit mits.com or follow @mitsdistributor on Twitter.

About MITS

MITS is the comprehensive reporting and analytics solution over 750 distributors and manufacturers rely on to leverage the data in their business systems to make better decisions. By combining flexible, user-friendly business intelligence tools with premade and customizable reports, dashboards, and scorecards, MITS helps users quickly realize value from their analytics and business system investments through improvements in cash flow, profitability, and business growth. Learn more at mits.com or follow us on Twitter @mitsdistributor.
Subscribers from 6 NEW countries in Africa can now receive mobile credit from abroad. Easy and super convenient, top up any international prepaid cell phone in just a few seconds! Love it! (Delano Mizrahi on Trustpilot.com)

MobileRecharge.com, the online mobile top up service for expats and their relatives, added more African countries and operators in their list of destinations. Africans abroad can now top up mobiles in Botswana, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Lebanon, Burkina Faso and Burundi, no matter where they live in the world. The process takes few seconds online, on the MobileRecharge.com website, and no contract is needed: http://MobileRecharge.com/s/mobile_credit_to_Africa

Orange Botswana subscribers can receive instantly up to $35.55 on a transaction, from their relatives or friends abroad. But the minimum order is $8.90 on MobileRecharge.com. If the sender is not from the USA, the amounts change a little, without affecting the costs. For example, if the mobile recharge is sent from Canada, the minimum amount one can top up for an Orange mobile in Botswana is $11.27, and the maximum $45.02.

Malawi is ready to welcome mobile top ups from abroad for its Airtel subscribers. It takes seconds for them to get the mobile credit once the sender abroad has placed the order online on MobileRecharge.com. The maximum amount that can be sent on one transaction is $101.31 if the relative or friend lives in Canada, or $80 if he/she lives in the USA or United Arab Emirates, or 61 pounds if he/she lives in the United Kingdom, etc. So, there are some differences of maximum and minimum amounts that can be sent according to the country where they are sent from, but this fact does not affect costs.

Smile subscribers in Uganda have been waiting for long to be able to get mobile credit top ups from their relatives abroad. Besides Smart, Airtel, MTN, Africell, Warid and Uganda Telecom subscribers, Smile users are also ready to get the mobile credit instantly via MobileRecharge.com. The minimum amount someone from Uganda can receive from abroad within one transaction is $5. So, depending on the budget, that is the minimum his/her relative abroad can send. The balance is updated instantly, but for exceptional situations one can check the status of the transaction in one's free online account.

African expats who have relatives or friends in Tanzania can send TTCL and Halotel balance on MobileRecharge.com. This is rather new, since by now the only subscribers in Tanzania who could get mobile credit from friends and relatives abroad were those of Airtel, Tigo, Zantel, Vodacom and Smart. The mobile balance gets to the person in Tanzania instantly, and it only takes seconds for the sender to top up online, no matter the country where he/she is established.

Expats who still have relatives or friends in Lebanon, can send them Alfa and Touch credit now with MobileRecharge.com. The process is over in seconds, and the mobile credit gets to the destination immediately. Amounts that can be sent differ according to the country one sends the mobile credit from. For example, if someone in the USA sends Alfa credit to someone in Lebanon, he can choose from several amounts ranging $10.80 - $81.

People who are still in contact with relatives in Burkina Faso can top up Orange mobiles now, beside the older operator available on MobileRecharge.com, Telemob. The online transaction takes seconds from any part of the world, and the person's mobile in Burkina Faso gets credited instantly and can be used immediately. The minimum amount that can be sent in one transaction is $9.05 for the sender in the USA, $11.65 for that in Australia, $11.46 for the sender in Canada. For the rest of the countries, one should check the values on MobileRecharge.com.

Those who have been sending credit to Econet Burundi subscribers should consider that as a result of rebranding, they need to choose Econet Leo on MobileRecharge.com on their next top up with MobileRecharge.com. Smart credit continues to be loaded from abroad via MobileRecharge.com, in the same conditions.

Payment can be made with any major card or using a PayPal account, in seconds, and within a maximum security environment. Transactions are accepted in any currency, according to the country the expat sender lives in. The only condition is to open a free account on the website, where all transactions will be listed for future reference.

Also, the mobile credit reaches the destination in seconds on a regular basis. But it may take few minutes or longer sometimes to be processed according to other factors such as the local operator processing. That's why, the online account on MobileRecharge.com will be also useful to check the status of the transaction.

The processing fee that applies for such services is the minimum possible on MobileRecharge.com to facilitate the mobile credit flow between countries, and eventually between families and friends who support or want to surprise each other.

MobileRecharge.com has a high ranking of 8.8 out of 10 on Trustpilot.com and 9.2 on ResellerRatings.com, just to mention 2 review platforms. Most expats who placed their reviews there mention several advantages for choosing MobileRecharge.com as their international top up service:



Top ups can be made directly on the website in less than 1 minute

MobileRecharge app is free to install from Play Store or App Store

MobileRecharge app is also available in Spanish for Latin Americans

The online ordering form is very easy, for both experienced and inexperienced PC or smartphone users

Customer Support is very responsive on chat and email, in several languages.

Transactions are secured, and the service is BBB accredited, along other customer satisfaction authorities.

World Top Up Day on November 10, each year, comes with gifts for top up givers, something no one else does.

MobileRecharge.com is a website dedicated to expats worldwide, travellers or professionals who live abroad temporarily, or independent mobile top uppers. MobileRecharge.com is also the initiator of the first World Top Up Day in history, dedicated to top up givers worldwide as a generous social category. The website is a brand of KeepCalling, with more than 10 years of experience on the global market. The mother company is a telecommunications business registered in 2002 in the USA, listed by Inc 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in the USA for 5 consecutive years. Presently, KeepCalling provides its services to hundreds of thousands of consumers, with a focus on customer satisfaction.
Together with Career Step, we will be able to offer our students many online opportunities to further their education and positively change their lives.

Career Step, an online provider of career-focused education and professional training, welcomes South Central College of Mankato, Minnesota as its newest academic partner.

South Central College takes pride in their community, and it shows in their commitment to provide local residents with opportunities to gain quality education, said Glade Tidwell, Career Step Vice President of Academic Partnerships. We are excited to partner with a higher educational institution whose mission so closely reflects our own, and we look forward to serving the community of Mankato with them.

South Central College will be joining over 150 other education institutions in partnering with Career Step to provide more online courses to its students. Career Steps nationwide network of partners includes schools such as University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, West Texas A&M University and Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana.

South Central College and Career Step have worked together to provide the students of Mankato, Minnesota with all available Career Step courses. Students can now study online to gain the knowledge and skills needed for a variety of careers including Healthcare IT, Medical Office Manager, Professional Medical Coding and Billing with PCS, Medical Transcription and Editing, Medical Assistant with Clinical Externship, Medical Administrative Assistant with EHR, Computer Technician, Veterinary Assistant, Pharmacy Technician (ASHP/ACPE), Executive Assistant, Medical Billing, Medical Office Administration and Inpatient Auditing.

We place great value on education and the impact it has on our community in Minnesota, said Tanja Stading, Program Coordinator at South Central College. "Together with Career Step, we will be able to offer our students many online opportunities to further their education and positively change their lives.

For more than a decade, Career Step has partnered with educational institutions to bring career training to students across the nation. These partnerships offer turnkey solutions for Career Step's academic partners as they prepare students for successful careers.

More information about Career Steps partnership with South Central College is available at CareerStep.com/southcentral. To learn more about Career Steps academic partnership program, please visit CareerStep.com/partner.

About Career Step

Career Step is an online provider of career-focused education and professional training. The company has trained over 100,000 students for new careers as well as more than 100,000 healthcare professionals through its various continuing education courses. More than 150 colleges and universities nationwide have partnered with Career Step, and the company provides training for several of the largest and most respected healthcare employers in the nation. Career Step is committed to helping students and practicing healthcare professionals alike gain the skills they need to be successful in the workplaceimproving lives, advancing careers and driving business results through education. More information can be found at http://www.careerstep.com or 1-800-246-7837.
Cody Firearms Museum Entrance The Cody Firearms Museum interprets the entirety of firearms history.

The transformation of the Firearms Museum promises to be extraordinary, says Ashley Hlebinsky, the CFMs Robert W. Woodruff Curator. The hours and hours of interviews, research, planning, and brainstorming are leading to a stunning designone that will engage and educate everyone from the firearms novice to collectors and researchers.

Hlebinsky explains that the CFM renovation is set to display thousands of firearms, interpreting more than 700 years of history. When complete, the new galleries include the evolution of the firearm, military history, western history, modern shooting sports, and embellished arms. The front of the museum is dedicated to an orientation experience for people unfamiliar or newer to firearms. There, they can learn basic principles, including safety. Throughout the museum, several educational simulators are available to enhance the visitor experience. And for collectors and enthusiasts, the museum design features technical and comprehensive displays of firearms, not only arranged historically, but also by manufacturer.

The reimagining of the Firearms Museum looks at not only how guns were used, but why theyre important to the understanding of our nations history, Hlebinsky continues. Theres no doubt that the CFM is a destination museum for gun enthusiasts, but because of the four other museums on site, were possibly the only gun museum in the country who receives a large number of people who are not as familiar with firearms and their histories. The new CFM opens in June 2019; make sure to visit the museum in its original configuration, and make a return trip to see the changes.

The project has already garnered a $300,000 "Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections" grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to upgrade environmental controls and improve the CFMs fire and security systems. In addition, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently awarded the Center a "Museums for America" grant of $255,000 toward exhibition planning.

Visitors are sure to appreciate the reimagined museum, Executive Director Bruce Eldredge observes. Well have improved exhibit techniques with a larger proportion of our firearms collection on view, coupled with vastly improved interpretive elements.

The CFM interprets the entirety of firearms history with more than 7,000 firearms created and produced by manufacturers and artisans from the 15th century through today, Hlebinsky adds. And were always adding to the collection.

For more information, contact Hlebinsky at the email address above, or call 307-578-4048.

Since 1917, the award-winning Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, has devoted itself to sharing the story of the authentic American West. The Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is now in its fall schedule, open daily 8 a.m.  5 p.m. For additional information, visit the Center's website and its pages on Facebook and Google+.
Festo showcases at Assembly 2017, October 24-26, in Rosemont, Ill., the inner workings of its VTEM Motion Terminal, a revolutionary cyber-physical system (CPS). Ten downloadable apps are available with each unique combination of apps changing the motion functionality and giving OEMs and end users a new flexible motion control platform. Another 40 apps are planned. (Festo Assembly 2017 Booth # 931)

The VTEM Motion Terminal conforms to the National Science Foundations definition of CPS as engineered systems that are built from, and depend upon, the seamless integration of computational algorithms and physical components. The foundation envisions, Advances in CPS will enable capability, adaptability, scalability, resiliency, safety, security, and usability that will far exceed the simple embedded systems of today. CPS technology will transform the way people interact with engineered systems  just as the Internet has transformed the way people interact with information. New smart CPS will drive innovation and competition in sectors such as agriculture, energy, transportation, building design and automation, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Motion apps seamlessly integrate computational algorithms with digital valves

Thanks to motion apps, one digitally controlled VTEM valve within the motion terminal can replicate traditional valve functions, including 2/2, 3/2, 4/2 or 4/3-way as well as proportional technology and servo-pneumatic functions. But that is not all. One flexible valve can also include apps that preset travel time, reduce costs by operating actuators with minimum pressure, and detect leaks for faster fault detection and less downtime. Since changing parameters in a CPS such as the Festo Motion Terminal doesnt necessarily require change the hardware, adaptation costs are kept within tight margins, even when changes are made after installation. VTEM Motion Terminals are sold in either four-valve or eight-valve platforms. Product shipments will commence December 2017.

Easier engineering with standardized platform concepts

With a single valve slice potentially providing the functionality of up to 50 individual components, a CPS like the Festo Motion Terminal opens the door to standardized platform concepts for systems and system modules. Standardization considerably reduces hardware costs all along the supply chain as the number of different components that must be defined and stocked as spare parts by the machine builder or end user is lower. For example, valve variety is reduced to one and pressure sensor and flow control valves are integrated. By focusing on a flexible CPS platform right from the start, even the planning stage, with the search for suitable products and suppliers, can be shortened.

Getting up and running quickly

Design is one of the biggest costs in machine and system building, accounting for approximately 25 to 30 percent of total cost. A CPS such as the Festo Motion Terminal enables significant time gains and savings compared with a conventional valve terminal platform. In some cases, the time saved compared with designing and parameterizing a modular valve terminal and additional individual components is up to 70 percent. While a solution with modular valve terminals requires several individual steps, a solution with CPS moves the organization to its goal faster. The adaptations are implemented digitally on the product itself, so there is no need to reconfigure the valve terminal, download and create the CAD model, or adapt the hole pattern and assembly drawing, including a parts list. Designers will find the creation of electrical circuit diagrams, the documentation including spare and wearing parts lists, and the approval process speeded up.

Lower costs for data management, logistics, and warehousing

With many fewer components, CPS minimizes the process steps required for logistics and warehousing and reduces the cost of data management and maintenance. The Festo Motion Terminal integrates new functions simply by purchasing the relevant motion app licenses.

Greater reliability and reduced effort due to standardization

Reducing system complexity is becoming more and more important given that human error is increasingly being identified as the cause of system failures. Solutions with intelligent function integration and fewer interfaces are therefore ideal for achieving maximum efficiency. This reduces assembly work as well as possible errors and any

queries that may arise. Having just one standardized component optimizes process

sequences for a wide range of functions.

Easier replication of pneumatic systems

Coordinating individual process steps, such as setting the travel speeds of cylinders, is often a time-intensive process in conventional mechatronic systems. CPS solutions generally do not involve complex manual setting processes for components that may sometimes be hard to reach, and they are also self-regulating and self-optimizing in terms of energy consumption. These are clear benefits for machine builders. The travel speed of each individual cylinder can be defined with just a few clicks via the app's parameter records; this also rules out tampering. The app saves between three and four minutes of setting time per flow control valve. Looking at the annual production of a series machine builder, the cumulative time savings can be substantial. Another big advantage is that all system configurations are completely identical.

Configuration and parameterization of complex solutions

Parameterization should be as fast as possible. Up until now, if a design engineer wanted to precisely and quickly control the pressure to compensate for a pressure drop caused by friction in the compressed air line, he or she needed to determine the parameters empirically, i.e. a higher setpoint value and the time that the pressure stays at this value before it drops back down again to the target value. Using the sensor intelligence and software modules in cyber-physical systems these tasks are unnecessary. The Festo Motion Terminal has a model-based proportional pressure regulation app for this process. The app can also actively and autonomously respond to changing parameters, such as fluctuations in input pressure.

Combining maximum productivity with energy efficiency

CPS makes system operation productive, energy efficient, and cost-effective. Reconfiguration and adjustments are carried out using software. Diagnostics and intelligent apps prevent stoppages, production errors, and contribute to a fast return on investment.

Shorter setup times and adjustment at the touch of a button

Format changeovers usually involve changing components such as grippers. This in turn involves adapting pressures or flow rates and travel speeds or entire functions. The Festo Motion Terminal eliminates many manual procedures  and sources of error. Reconfiguration and adjustments are done via the app or automatically via the PLC, which means that the performance and/or processes of all machines during format changes or in series machines can be improved at the touch of a button.

Integrated knowledge protection with apps

Function configuration via apps will stop unauthorized parties from analyzing and identifying future functionalities and system designs.

Condition monitoring

In terms of their basic structure, CPS are mechatronic systems. In addition, they also have integrated smart sensors and greater software intelligence. One important application for CPS is to determine external conditions  for example compressed air leakage  without the need for additional sensors, and then sharing this information with other systems.

At Assembly 2017, Festo will also display a full complement of pneumatic and electric motion solutions for the assembly, including safety valves, grippers, actuators, drives, controllers, and IO-Link enabled devices. Dont miss the Festo Booth at Assembly 2017 # 931. Visit a new section on the Festo website devoted to digital pneumatics.

About Festo

Festo is a leading manufacturer of pneumatic and electromechanical systems, components, and controls for process and industrial automation. For more than 40 years, Festo Corporation has continuously elevated the state of manufacturing with innovations and optimized motion control solutions that deliver higher performing, more profitable automated manufacturing and processing equipment.

Connect with Festo: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube
Van Polk III (right) of Cedar Hill and his wife (left) stand with their $10,000 prize from Neighborhood Credit Union as a reward for good savings habits. When I was down and out, I came to you and you took care of me.

On International Credit Union Day, one Cedar Hill man experienced firsthand the difference credit unions make in peoples lives.

Van Polk III awaited what he thought was going to be one person dropping off an envelope only to step on his front porch to see Neighborhood Credit Union leadership with an over sized check for $10,000. The actual $10,000 prize was deposited directly into his Prize Savings Account at the credit union.

I didnt know what it was, Polk said. My wife said whatever it is we have to share it.

Polk, a postal service retiree and Neighborhood Credit Union member for 34 years, is a strong proponent of paying yourself first and it is something he has practiced his entire life. He said that he would eventually need money when he retires and the only way he was able to accomplish that was by getting into the habit of putting money away.

Mr. Polk has been a dedicated saver and loyal member for many years, said Carolyn Jordan, senior vice president at Neighborhood Credit Union. This is our way of showing appreciation and rewarding our members for making saving a priority.

Dallas-based Neighborhood Credit Union established the Prize Savings Account in 2007 to encourage people to save more money, at a time when the personal savings rate had dropped to one of the lowest levels in U.S. history. But by being a consistent saver, Polk has never stopped paying himself first. Even in the hard times.

While he was working for the Postal Service, Polk needed some financial help and had been turned down by other financial institutions. After financing his first car with Neighborhood Credit Union in 1969, he decided to come back and said he is glad he did.

When I was down and out, I came to you and you took care of me, Polk said And now theyve made it so convenient that you dont have to go in [to the branch] anymore.

When it comes to saving, Polk has a simple philosophy that has taken to heart and passed on to his daughter.

Put your money in the bank, even if its $25 every month, and dont take it out, he said. Just let it accumulate.

See the Video of the surprise delivery: https://youtu.be/XO7GXk5bDxg

How the Prize Savings Account works: Neighborhood Credit Union members receive one drawing entry for every $25 monthly average balance in their Prize Savings Accounts. The greater the savings, the greater the chance a member has of winning. Members are eligible for monthly drawings up to $5,000 and quarterly $10,000 drawings. At the start of each year, a winner is drawn for the newly-increased $49,999.99 grand prize based on the average monthly balance in the savings account at close of business December 31. The upcoming 2018 drawing marks the 10th Anniversary Grand Prize Savings drawing for Neighborhood Credit Union.

About Neighborhood Credit Union: The oldest credit union in Dallas (chartered April 18, 1930), Neighborhood Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial organization serving Dallas, Denton and Ellis counties, as well as the City of Arlington. With branches in Dallas, Richardson, Arlington, Mesquite, Duncanville, Waxahachie, Lancaster, Grand Prairie, Coppell, and Highland Village, and assets topping $600 million, Neighborhood Credit Union has a membership of 49,000 and continues to welcome new members daily. For more information, call (214) 748-9393 or visit http://www.myncu.com.
"The insights gleaned from the panels and presentations, and connections made with industry peers, make this a must-attend event." - Lonnie Moulder, Co-Founder & CEO, TESARO

For the first time, Boston Biotech Conferences is hosting Europe CEO on November 14, 2017 at the Four Seasons Hotel at Park Lane in London. Industry leaders and decision makers from several of the worlds leading biopharmaceutical companies will come together to network and gain insights through off-the-record discussion panels, keynotes, and fireside chats. Healthcare investors and leading researchers also participate.

At Europe CEO, C-level biopharma executives will candidly discuss topics such as gaining investment overseas, challenges and opportunities in public and private markets, the impact of ACA reform and Brexit on global markets, academia and biotech collaborations and more.

To view the agenda and for more information, click here.

Speakers and co-hosts include:



Adam Bruce, TikoMed

Luc Dochez, Tusk Therapeutics

Marc de Garidel, Ipsen

Adi Hoess, Affimed

Edward Kaye, Stoke Therapeutics

Jonathan Lewis, Samus Therapeutics

Thomas Lonngren, NDA Group

Ivana Magovcevic-Liebisch, Axcella Health

Aram Mangasarian, NOXXON Pharma

Su Metcalfe, LIFNano Therapeutics

Dan Passeri, Cue Biopharma

Erik van den Berg, AM-Pharma

Guillaume Vignon, Merck KGaA

Click here to request your exclusive invitation.

ABOUT BOSTON BIOTECH CONFERENCES:

Boston Biotech Conferences mission is to build a vibrant interactive community of biopharma leaders and experts, which will help drive innovation as well as more drugs to patients. These exclusive invitation-only, off-the-record forums bring together the past, present and future leaders in the healthcare community to network, exchange ideas and share insights into the industry's challenges and opportunities. For more information or to register, please visit: http://www.bbbiotechconference.com.

Contact:

Boston Biotech Conferences

Susan Grayson: susan(at)bbbiotechconference(dot)com

Nadia Sorvillo: nadia(at)bbbiotechconference(dot)com
Sixty of the nations top cybersecurity college students will face off this November at an offensive hacking competition in Rochester, N.Y. But for these future data defenders, cybersecurity is more than just a game.

As the various corporate breaches keep coming to light, Ive realized over the last five years that there is already enough despair and hardship in the world and that people shouldnt need to constantly worry about identity theft and bank accounts being hacked, said Lucas Christian, a fourth-year computing security student at Rochester Institute of Technology. I decided that a career in cybersecurity would be both fulfilling and give me the opportunity to shape society for the better.

After making their way through regional competitions in October, the top 10 college teams in the U.S. will now have the chance to use their offensive hacking skills for good at the national competition, which is sponsored by several top tech companies, including IBM Security as the premier sponsor. The National Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition (CPTC) will be held Nov. 35 at RIT.

Teams will attempt to break into computer networks that were created for the competition, evaluate their weak points and offer plans to better secure them. The competition allows students to experience a day in the life of a penetration testerthe security professionals hired to test and evaluate an organizations computer systems and networks to ensure that malicious hackers cant get in.

The demand for workers skilled in penetration testing significantly outweighs the supply, said Bill Stackpole, professor of computing security at RIT and director of the competition. Student competitors are learning how to add value to a business, by helping the company better understand its computing infrastructure and improve its security posture.

During the competition, teams of up to six students will interrogate a mock-companys network. The following morning, they will present a report to the judges on their findings and offer their suggestions for mitigating risk. The whole event is set up to mimic how penetration testing consulting happens in the real world.

Participating teams at the national competition include:



Rochester Institute of Technology

University at Buffalo

University of Central Florida

Pennsylvania State University

University of New Haven

Dakota State University

Missouri University of Science and Technology

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Stanford University

City College of San Francisco

Judges and sponsors from the security industry will evaluate the performance of the competitors while under fire. Students will have the opportunity to meet experts and hand out resumes. Sponsors include IBM Security, Uber, Crow Horwath, Hurricane Labs, IEEE Cybersecurity Initiative, Eaton and Indeed.

Pentesting is one of the biggest security skills in demand right now, as companies are looking for people who can find security loopholes in their systems before cybercriminals have the chance to take advantage of them, said Bob Kalka, vice president at IBM Security. This competition is particularly valuable as it allows contestants to demonstrate not only their technical abilities, but also to relay that knowledge into practical steps and guidance for business, which is also a critical skill in this role.

Outside of coursework, student competitors often spend a few nights during the week and most weekends practicing for the event. Practice includes breaking into fabricated networks and computers, independent research and working on their technical writing.

For Alex Lynch, a fourth-year computer science at University of Central Florida, organization is a significant factor in success at CPTC.

The challenge is staying organized, communicating effectively, and then taking all the technical data and boiling it down into a coherent report under extreme time restraints, said Lynch, who is captain of the UCF team. Once the about nine-hour technical portion of the competition is over, the report must be drafted and finalized overnight, which leaves little time for sleep.

The Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition, now in its third year with nationals held in Rochester, is the premier offense-based computing security event. It is an effective counterpart to the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC)with its national competition held annually in San Antoniowhich is the premier defense-based event, requiring students to defend an infrastructure while performing typical business tasks.

For more information on the Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition, go to nationalCPTC.org.
Attorneys from the Retail Industry team at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP Neil Oberfeld, Ilene Kobert, and Howard K. Jeruchimowitz, from global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, will be presenting at the 2017 International Conference of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Law Conference. The three-day event will take place in San Antonio, TX, Oct. 25-28.

The conference brings together retail real estate legal professionals to discuss industry trends, gain insights from peers, and to continue to build a strong network.

Oberfeld, co-chair of the firms National Leasing Practice, will be chairing the panel, Avoid the Fake News: Recent Case Law Affecting Shopping Centers. The session will discuss recent court cases that may affect the real estate industry, with a focus on shopping centers.

Kobert, a shareholder in Greenberg Traurigs Miami office, and Jeruchimowitz, a shareholder in the firms Chicago office, will be leading roundtable discussions. Kobert will be discussing the topic, Is Retail Without the Retail Still Retail? and Jeruchimowitz will be presenting, The Impact of Exclusives on Pick-Up Locations.

Oberfeld assists national and regional retailers, developers, institutional owners and investors in real estate and general business matters. Located in the firms Denver office, he is a frequent speaker at national and regional conferences including ICSC and U.S. Green Building Council.

Kobert supports national retailers and restaurateurs in leasing and real estate development matters as well as mixed use developers in the ground up construction and leasing up of the retail component of their projects.

Jeruchimowitz is a commercial litigator with an emphasis in real estate, construction, and financial services litigation. He represents owners, developers, landlords, and tenants in landlord-tenant and shopping center disputes, mechanics liens, foreclosures, and construction disputes, as well as banks and lenders in bank and mortgage litigation, such as mortgage fraud, commercial and residential foreclosures, mechanics lien, and FDCPA issues.

Other Greenberg Traurig attorneys attending ICSC US Shopping Center Law Conference include Edward Hershfield, Boston Shareholder, Warren Karp, Chair of the Global Retail Practice and Co-Chairman of the New York Office, Glenn Kleinbaum, New York Shareholder and Carole Schuman, New York Attorney.

About Greenberg Traurig's Retail Industry Group

The Greenberg Traurig Retail Industry Group provides innovation and flexibility in an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment. The team of nearly 100 attorneys serves clients from offices in more than a dozen locations around the world. They draw from distinct legal disciplines to guide clients with thoughtful planning and creative strategies to address emerging issues facing the retail industry, to reduce risk, and to enhance business operations, productivity, and profitability. Regardless of whatever may be your location, industry involvement, or consumer interface, the firms retail team is highly qualified to assist.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. One firm worldwide, GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.
Loffler Companies, the leading business technology and services provider in the Upper Midwest, is pleased to announce the Xerox Versant family of presses is now part of their product offering, giving clients high volume printing at an affordable cost.

The Versant C180 and the Versant C3100 both boast 2400x2400 dpi, paper weights up to 350 gsm, full bleed booklet printing, envelope and banner printing and ultra HD 10 bit resolution. In addition, the Versant C180 offers speeds up to 80 ppm and an inline spectrophotometer for color consistency. The Versant C3100 provides speeds of 100 ppm on all paper weights, full automated color calibration and image registration.

"I'm excited to be able to offer the Xerox Versant C180 and C3100 to clients looking for a production print device at a reasonable price with outstanding color output  said Heather Halloff, Loffler Color Solutions Manager. These state of the art devices offer clients more automation while maintaining consistent color and accurate registration throughout their print runs. The flexibility of printing banners and envelopes can help expand the output capabilities making this machine very versatile.

Among the many features making Xerox Versant ideal for many clients and industries is the flexibility they offer including advanced feeding choices for longer, uninterrupted runs and more up time, unsurpassed finishing and stacking flexibility, and the ability to print everything from envelopes to banners to full bleed booklets. Powerful workflow possibilities range from walkup copy or scan to full automation with the FreeFlow Digital Workflow Collection and Xerox XMPie.

Our clients will be happy to have another excellent choice in our production press offerings, said John Hastings, Loffler Senior Vice President of Sales. Our goal is to understand our clients needs and offer the best solution available, and the Xerox Versant offers another fantastic option to make our clients successful.

Supporting clients in the effective implementation of business solutions with its knowledgeable and dedicated team of IT and consulting and workflow specialists, Loffler Companies provides integrated office technology and services partnered with leading brands such as Canon, Konica Minolta, Xerox, Oce, KIP, HP, Lexmark, NEC, ShoreTel, Microsoft and VMware. Its offerings include multifunctional copiers, printers, managed print services, IP phone systems, IT solutions, document management, dictation, call recorders, and on-site managed FM services.

A family-owned and nationally recognized leader in business technology and service, Loffler Companies has a 31-year history of giving back to the communities in which employees work and live. Loffler supports many great causes including the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure (Gold Sponsor), American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald House, VEAP (Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People), Memorial Blood Centers, Feed My Starving Children, Catholic Charities, Wounded Warriors and more.

About Loffler Companies:

Lofflers 485 employees support clients in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin that are local, national, and international in scope. Visit http://www.loffler.com or call 952-925-6800 to discover how Loffler can provide the best office technology and service solutions for your business or organization.
Festo Features at Assembly 2017, Rosemont, IIL., October 24-26, the VTEM Motion Terminal, the worlds first cyber-physical pneumatic-motion-control system. The VTEMs first-of-its-kind digital valves change functionality based on various combinations of downloadable motion apps and conforms to the National Science Foundations definition of a cyber-physical system (CPS) as engineered systems that are built from, and depend upon, the seamless integration of computational algorithms and physical components. Festo is one of the worlds leading automation suppliers in manufacturing and processing. (Festo Assembly 2017 Booth # 931)

The capabilities of the VTEM Motion Terminal enable:



Higher machine utilization

Better energy efficiency

Greater flexibility

Faster time to market for both machine builders and end users

A reduction in the number of components to purchase, install, and maintain

The VTEM platform is modular and reconfigurable  thereby meeting two important criteria for Industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)-based systems. The platform was designed for environments that gain a competitive advantage through:



Manufacture of short-lifecycle products

Efficient production of many stock keeping units (SKUs)

Small-lot-size production

The components of the VTEM Motion Terminal include digitally controlled flexible valves, an integrated processor, Ethernet communications, electrical inputs for fast control of specific analog and digital applications, and integrated pressure, stroke, and temperature sensors for data analysis. The VTEM Motion Terminal, in development for three years, will be sold in either four-valve or eight-valve platforms. Product shipments will commence December 2017.

Ten motion apps are in the initial release with an additional 40 planned. Each app makes parameterization of a function faster and easier than current systems. The apps in the first release provide the following functionalities:

Directional control simulating the functions of the most utilized valves

Proportional directional control valve

Soft stop

Proportional pressure regulation

Model-based proportional pressure regulation

Eco drive

Selectable pressure level

Leakage diagnostics

Supply and exhaust air flow control

Presetting travel time

The VTEM is more than a one-to-one substitution of physical for cyber-based control, said Sandro Quintero, Product Manager - Valve Terminals & Electronics for Festo. The VTEM Motion Terminals capabilities cost effectively move pneumatics into areas now served by servo pneumatics and servo electrics. The integration of sensor technology within the digital valves takes system monitoring and machine utilization to a higher level. Revolutionary correctly defines the VTEM Motion Terminal. Quintero will present, Digitalization and the Future of Intelligent Pneumatics, at 1 p.m. on Wednesday October 25 Learning Track 1 meeting rooms.

Festo will also display a full complement of pneumatic and electric motion solutions for the assembly industry, including safety valves, grippers, actuators, servo controlled systems, and IO-Link. Dont miss the Festo Booth # 931. Visit a new section on the Festo website devoted to digital pneumatics. Festo invites attendees to Pub Night 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25 for food, drinks, gaming, and virtual reality.

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About Festo

Festo is a leading manufacturer of pneumatic and electromechanical systems, components, and controls for process and industrial automation. For more than 40 years, Festo Corporation has continuously elevated the state of manufacturing with innovations and optimized motion control solutions that deliver higher performing, more profitable automated manufacturing and processing equipment.

Connect with Festo: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube
'Exceptional' is the perfect word to describe the years of generous support of and service to numerous community organizations, arts institutions, and charitable efforts by Michael Duggal and Duggal Visual Solutions.

Michael Duggal, CEO of Duggal Visual Solutions, Inc., received the Zenger Community Service Medal on Wednesday, October 18th, at the Printing Industries Alliance and Idealliance's Franklin Luminaire Awards Gala.

The esteemed award, named for John Peter Zenger who laid foundation for freedom of the press, goes to a professional in the graphic communications industry who has dedicated substantial volunteer time and effort or financial support to community service organizations that support humanitarian, health or environmental causes. The recipient may also demonstrate courage, valor or heroism and inspires us to be more than we are; makes our community a better place; and serves our country in ways that make us proud.

Duggal Visual Solutions has an impressive record of supporting numerous charitable causes, including: The NYC VA Hospital; World of Children; The American Cancer Society; St. Judes Childrens Hospital;Habitat for Humanity; Fresh Air Fund; and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Duggal also founded Duggal Big Picture, a non-profit that supports 20+ local charitable initiatives each year for youth programs, adoption efforts and veterans organizations.

The Zenger Medal honors an industry professional or organization demonstrating exceptional community service, says 2017 Luminaire Awards Co-Chair Steve Drew, and exceptional is the perfect word to describe the years of generous support of and service to numerous community organizations, arts institutions, and charitable efforts by Michael Duggal and Duggal Visual Solutions. It is a pleasure and an honor to present him with the 2017 Zenger Medal.

For more than 50 years, Duggal Visual Solutions, Inc. has served as a trusted advisor and partner in helping the worlds leading image-makers communicate visually with their audiences and customers. Duggal was incorporated in 1963 and is an award winning global supplier of exceptional Printed Visuals, Custom Displays and Multimedia Solutions. Its clientele is widely spread among top global retailers, Fortune 500 corporations, museums, galleries, non-profit organizations, photographers, visual artists and designers.

For more information, please visit:Duggal.com
Most Attractive Industrial Investments The industrial sector continues to draw a wide range of investors, due to its stability and the potential for long-term growth. Steve Shanahan, Executive Managing Director, RCM

Industrial investment is expected to continue its healthy run into 2018, as strong leasing, construction, and investment sales fuel the market, according to the recent Real Capital Markets (RCM)/SIOR Investment Sentiment Report.

A landslide number of investors and brokers across the country believe investment levels will at least stay the same, with many predicting a slight increase in activity. The report shows that 90.3 percent of brokers and investors believe investment activity will remain comparable to recent levels, with 47.8 percent saying activity will increase, even if only nominally.

The industrial sector continues to draw a wide range of investors, due to its stability and the potential for long-term growth, said Steve Shanahan, Executive Managing Director, RCM. That equilibrium and other market dynamics make industrial investment properties the preferred option among a wide range of investors. We dont foresee a dramatic shift in the near term.

This industrial cycle, and the record expansion in leasing, construction and capital market sales, has been striking in its longevity. Investment sales volume has been strong since 2011, with demand outstripping supply in many core markets. According to those surveyed, there is no end in sight, perhaps for at least 12-18 months.

In September 2017, RCM and SIOR collectively surveyed their databases of industrial property investors and brokers to gauge investment sentiments, the greatest threats to the industry, the factors most influencing their acquisition decisions and where they see the greatest opportunities.

Highlights of the RCM/SIOR Study, released in late October, include:

Greatest Impact: E-Commerce or General Business Growth?

Respondents in the RCM/SIOR Investment Sentiment Study were asked to identify specific factors that were having the greatest impact on industrial investment activity. Overall, 37.4 percent identified e-commerce as having the greatest impact followed by the general strength of the economy at 34.5 percent. Some participants adopted the attitude that as e-commerce goes, so goes the industrial market. Yet others noted that the strength and success of the market cannot be placed solely on any single economic factor.

One of the most interesting findings of the RCM/SIOR Investor Sentiment Study was the balance in which investment activity is being influenced, said Tina Lichens, COO of RCM. It isnt just about e-commerce. Across the country, participants pointed to the ripple effect of extended supply chain dynamics, recovery in the housing market and increases in atypical manufacturing operations as driving industrial investment activity.

No Single Greatest Threat, But Plenty of Options

Investors and brokers agreed that the greatest threats to prolonged strength in the industrial investment arena include overbuilding and oversupply, the lack of quality assets for investing and unrealistic seller expectations. Yet there was little agreement in the order of importance. For investors, the top threats were overbuilding (40.6 percent), unrealistic seller expectations (22.9 percent) and lack of supply of quality assets (17.7 percent). Brokers ranked lack of quality supply first (46.4 percent) followed by unrealistic seller expectations (14.6 percent).

Respondents also addressed activity across key submarkets, pricing expectations, and how the political climate might influence industrial investment activity into 2018.

Beauty, and Opportunity, is in the Eye of the Beholder

Buoyed primarily by investors preference, mid-size, modern, multi-tenant properties are currently viewed as the most attractive investment opportunity, with over one third (35.8 percent) of all respondents selecting those types of properties. For principals, mid-size, multi-tenant facilities are favored at a rate of 2:1 over infill development opportunities, followed closely by newly-built high-cube distribution facilities.

Increasingly, according to industrial professionals, investors are becoming more and more tolerant of rent rollover. Where vacancy and rent rollover were once taboo, investors now see an opportunity to increase rents and improve NOI therefore enhancing value.

In the survey, infill development and mid-size single tenant facilities were viewed similarly. One broker, however, suggested that infill may be more talk than opportunity saying that some use the term simply to portray greater importance for a fringe suburban location.

Industrial Assets: Pricing Them Right

Pricing of industrial assets has been strong for several years and is at record levels in some core markets. The study found that principals and brokers believe pricing has not yet plateaued, though it may be on the horizon. Like the prognosis for investment activity levels, an overwhelming majority92.7 percentof principals and brokers believe pricing will at least stay the same, with 33.8 percent anticipating increases of as much as five percent or more.

Capping Cap Rate Compression?

Though there is great optimism in virtually all aspects of industrial investment metricsactivity levels and pricingthe expectations for further cap rate compression are more tempered. More than 17 percent of principals and brokers believe there could be some level of compression in the next 12-18 months. The vast majority, however, believe that cap rates will either remain the same (46.9 percent) or increase slightly (34.8 percent). One investor suggested the market has reached the upper limits of pricing and expressed surprise by any meaningful compression in cap rates.

According to the findings of the RCM/SIOR Industrial Investment Sentiment Report, and supported by a series of in-depth interviews with principals and brokers, the current state of the market is as good as it has been in perhaps as many as 30 or more years. To learn more about the strength of the market, and why industrial experts dont expect any substantive changes in the near term, download a copy of the report.

About SIOR

Headquartered in Washington, DC, the SOCIETY OF INDUSTRIAL AND OFFICE REALTORS (SIOR, http://www.sior.com) is a global professional organization that certifies commercial real estate service providers with the exclusive SIOR designation. Individuals who earn their SIOR designation adhere to the highest levels of accountability and ethical standards. Only the industrys top professionals qualify for the SIOR designation. Today, there are nearly 3,100 SIOR members in 630 cities in 34 countries.

About Real Capital Markets:

Founded in 1999, Real Capital Markets (RCM) is the global marketplace for buying and selling CRE. RCM increases the speed, exposure, and security of CRE sales through its streamlined online platform. Solutions include integrated property marketing, transaction management, and business intelligence tools to unify broker-level and firm-level data and work flows. RCM has executed 53,000+ assignments with $1.9 trillion in CRE transactions. Over 50% of all U.S. commercial assets sold, over $10 million, are brought to market using RCMs online marketplace annually.

Follow RCM on:

Twitter: @rcm1

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/real-capital-markets

Click Here to Download: Industrial Sentiment Report
ULLINKs NYFIX client community faces complex regulatory issues, and were excited to help simplify compliance through Signal.

Signal, a substantial shareholding and position limit monitoring and reporting solution from Advise Technologies, is now available on ULLINKs NYFIX Portal.

Advise Technologies, a leading provider of regulatory compliance solutions for investment managers, offers coverage for 89 jurisdictions and global exchanges through its Signal software platform. Signal users can compare their holdings to relevant jurisdictional and exchange rules, receive alerts when actions must be taken, and prepare disclosure notifications that can be filed with regulators.

Through the Advise partnership with ULLINK, a global provider of electronic trading and connectivity solutions to the financial community, Signal can now be accessed by the community of buy-side firms active on NYFIX, the Global Connectivity Utility.

ULLINKs NYFIX client community faces complex regulatory issues, and were excited to help simplify compliance through Signal, said Roger van Elderen, Business Development Manager for Advise Europe.

Signal targets an area of compliance that is becoming increasingly challenging, and includes Substantial Shareholding Disclosures, Exchange and MiFID II Position Limit Tracking, Issuer Limits, Short Selling Regulations, Market Abuse Regulation, 13D, 13G, and more.

The NYFIX Portal is an online ecosystem of third-party providers offering capital markets participants the possibility to leverage easy-to-access applications, available over a dedicated service delivery platform.

Philippe Carre, Global Head of Business Development for ULLINK, added Our NYFIX client community is confronted by a multiplicity of challenges  we are there to help turn those into opportunities, primarily by simplifying the on-boarding and integration of innovative solutions. The NYFIX Portal, launched early 2017, is a ULLINK initiative targeted at the entire NYFIX community, close to 1,500 firms, with an increasing number of clients connecting to leverage the range of services already deployed on-line. We have been combining the strength and reach of the ULLINK Global Alliance Programme and the NYFIX Portal online platform to great effect.

About Advise

Advise Technologies, a CSS company, is a premier provider of reporting and compliance software for investment managers. With five products  Consensus, Notes, Signal, Shuttle, and Vault  it provides innovative solutions to the regulatory and operational challenges faced by clients. Advise was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in New York with offices in major European financial centers.

For more information, please contact info(at)advisetechnologies(dot)com or visit http://www.AdviseTechnologies.com.

About ULLINK

About ULLINK ULLINK is a global provider of market leading multi-asset trading technology and infrastructure for buy-side and sell-side market participants, including NYFIX, one of the industrys largest FIX based trading communities. Trusted by over 150 of the worlds top-tier banks and brokers, the company provides consistent, reliable access to the most current and innovative trading solutions available. Our multi-asset solutions allow you to connect to your desired markets, trade when and where you want, while being able to comply with global regulation. From our 10 offices covering all the major global financial centers, our team will advise on the best approach to address your challenges and deploy our technology.

For more information, please contact connect(at)ullink(dot)com or visit http://www.ullink.com.

Follow us on Twitter @ULLINK_News and LinkedIn
Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix) and Vets4Warriors today announced a new strategic partnership to leverage both organizations resources to give current serving military, veterans, National Guard and Reservists, military families and caregivers access to reintegration opportunities and social support.

Vet Tix was founded in 2008 and has since distributed more than 3.5 million event tickets to major events to more than 650,000 registered military users. Events range from major sporting games to concerts of todays top artists and even events in the creative arts. By providing military personnel and their loved ones with discounted tickets, VetTixers are given an opportunity to spend quality time with one another  something that is essential in the reintegration from military to civilian life. Military caregivers are also given the opportunity to attend Vet Tix events through the Vet Tixer they provide care for.

Vets4Warriors holds a similar mission to serve the entirety of the military community, to include the caregivers who care for veterans. Vets4Warriors is the leading 24/7 peer support network for any service member, veteran, family member or caregiver who needs to talk to someone. Vets4Warriors peers are military veterans or family members who have been through similar situations and can provide callers with trusted solutions to physical, mental or social challenges before those challenges turn into crises.

A critical aspect to reintegration is positive peer support  Vet Tix and Vets4Warriors provide those opportunities every day, said Mike Focareto, CEO of Vet Tix. While we hope to give veterans and their loved ones a chance to experience memories with peers, we understand that after an event ends that ongoing support is necessary. Were excited to partner with Vets4Warriors and offer the military community support beyond the events they attend.

By connecting veterans in need with similar veteran peers, Vets4Warriors has been able to establish a network of contacts. Whether someone feels they are at a crisis point or simply needs to talk, Vets4Warriors is open to all callers and all situations.

At Vets4Warriors we want to ensure that all veterans, service members, family members, and caregivers can directly connect to a peer for support whenever they face a challenge, wherever they are in the world, said Director of Vets4Warriors, Major General (Retired) Mark Graham. We provide peer support and connections to communities and Vet Tix is another great resource we can recommend to those who connect with us.

Vets4Warriors fills a critical gap between crisis hotline and the many charities offering direct assistance to veterans in need. To learn more, visit vets4warriors.com or follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

To learn more about Vet Tix and how to get involved, visit the sign-up page.

ABOUT VETERAN TICKETS FOUNDATION:

Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix) is a national nonprofit that supports the military community of currently serving military members including the Guard and Reserves, veterans of all eras, family members of those killed in action, military spouses, families and caregivers of VetTixers  giving them a unique opportunity to strengthen peer bonds by attending events through the VetTixer they provide care for. Vet Tix provides free event tickets with a small transaction fee to attend sporting events, concerts, performing arts and family activities to local community events. Since 2008, Vet Tix has provided more than 3.5 million free event tickets to over 650,000 verified VetTixers, giving back to those who have given so much. Attending these types of community events improves morale and strengthens family bonds while encouraging service members and veterans to stay engaged with local communities. Visit VetTix.org to learn more, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

ABOUT VETS4WARRIORS:

Vets4Warriors is a national nonprofit, based at Rutgers University, that provides a live, 24/7 peer support network that any veteran, service member, caregiver or family member can contact for confidential conversations and trusted solutions to physical, mental or social challenges before those challenges turn into crises. Learn more at http://www.vets4warriors.com.
Astound Commerce, the worlds largest privately held digital commerce agency, has added customer engagement and social marketing services to its connected commerce suite of offerings through the integration of digital marketing experts from Groove, an award-winning digital and social marketing agency. With this addition, Astound Commerce now provides a comprehensive, fully integrated approach to digital strategy, combining ecommerce, marketing, customer experience, technology, analytics and insights to deliver value to global brands and retailers.

This deal combines Astound Commerces trusted brand, digital commerce leadership, technical go-to-market capabilities and global client and technology partnerships with Grooves talent, digital marketing and social publishing expertise, and Salesforce Marketing Cloud capabilities. The result is a best-of-breed global digital connected commerce agency built to meet the needs of global brands and retailers as technology and consumer expectations evolve.

The power of uniting Astound Commerce and the experts from Groove goes well beyond technology and marketing execution, said Igor Gorin, CEO of Astound Commerce. Our like-minded companies share a passion for solving complex technical and business problems, engaging and connecting brands with customers and a vision to deliver better solutions faster. We look forward to scaling our solutions together in the coming years to better serve our valued customers.

Over the last 17 years, Astound Commerce has built a powerful digital commerce agency based on relentless pursuit of concrete results for global brands who are leading the digital revolution. The Groove team will round out Astound Commerces suite of services with deeply integrated digital marketing capabilities. Grooves social marketing technology uses behavioral science to create unique digital experiences that build emotional connections between brands and consumers. Astound Commerce clients will be able to leverage these technology solutions to increase customer acquisition and drive engagement long term.

Were excited to join the Astound Commerce team, said Sean Dunn, managing director and founder of Groove. This move is a direct response to the changing landscape and its effect on the buyer-brand relationship. By connecting authentic brand relationships to leading-edge technology, our combined solutions will ultimately help our clients win in the age of the connected consumer.

To learn more about Astound Commerces unique approach to digital commerce, click here.

About Astound Commerce

Astound Commerce, the world's largest privately held digital commerce agency, combines strategy, technology, creativity, insight and a proven methodology to deliver exceptional digital shopping experiences. Through a forward-thinking, results-driven approach, Astound Commerce serves leading global brands such as adidas, LOreal, Under Armour, Jimmy Choo, Lacoste and Versace. Founded in San Francisco in 2000, the passionate team of nearly 700 dedicated, diverse industry and technology experts has decades of ecommerce experience and more than 400 implementations under their belt to address the complex challenges, advancing technologies and unique needs of global markets. To learn more, visit astoundcommerce.com.

About Groove

Based in Mill Valley, California and Norwalk, Connecticut, Groove is an award-winning digital and social marketing agency. Groove designs and deploys compelling integrated campaigns for the digital economy, offering rich, authentic and meaningful storytelling delivered anytime, anywhere, on any device. For more information, visit http://www.sfgroove.com
Stratecast believes that Telarix provides its customer base great value, particularly with its IXLink business exchange service

Telarix Inc. (Telarix), the leading provider of wholesale and partner solutions for service providers, is pleased to announce that Stratecast | Frost & Sullivan has awarded it with the Stratecast Global Customer Value Leadership Award in CSP Monetization for the Interconnect and Settlement market.

Each year, Stratecast | Frost & Sullivan presents the Stratecast Global Customer Value Leadership Award to the organization that provides a high level of value to its customer base in a market, in this case the Interconnect and Settlement segment of CSP monetization. The award recognizes a high degree of innovation with products and technologies, and the resulting leadership in terms of customer value and market penetration. In addition to this award, Stratecast | Frost & Sullivan has also recognized Telarix as a market leader in CSP Billing Interconnect & Settlement in past years.

It is Frost & Sullivans finding that Telarixs innovative solutions will be highly successful in helping communication service providers (CSPs) reduce the cost of operations, improve the margins of network routing administration, and minimize errors and audit trail creation to meet regulatory compliance. Stratecast believes that Telarix provides its customer base great value, particularly with its iXLink business exchange service, which helps solve key business challenges found with information exchange between the thousands of global service providers involved in wholesale interconnect & settlement, said Troy Morley, Operations, Orchestration, Data Analytics & Monetization Strategy analyst with Stratecast. "The iXLink solution has proven to be highly successful in helping communication service providers (CSPs) reduce the cost of operations, improve the margins of network routing administration, minimize errors, and in creating audit trails for meeting regulatory compliance.

Telarix is pleased to be recognized as a leading provider in CSP Monetization, said Marco Limena, Telarix CEO. At Telarix, we always have our eye on the future, looking to continuously enhance our product portfolio in order to provide seamless support and innovative solutions for our carrier customers.

Telarix is the only provider with an industry-wide business-to-business (B2B) portal offering telecom carriers a secure and collaborative environment in which to conduct business. Its iXLink platform, with a community of over 4,000 carriers from 200+ countries, is a unique telecom-focused, wholesale business optimization platform that enables CSPs to safely and securely trade rate-sheet, offer, billing, and contract information with trusted partners.

Rounding out the unified portfolio from Telarix is the iXTools suite, which includes a number of plug-and-play modules covering wholesale functionality such as rating, routing, settlement, trading, and data analysis.

About Telarix:

Telarix is a leading provider of interconnect and settlement software solutions to telecom CSPs worldwide. The Companys products drive ROI for customers by enabling and optimizing voice, SMS, video, and data between CSP networks with wholesale billing, business intelligence, fraud management, least cost routing, and partner settlement solutions. Telarix supports a global community of over 4,000 carriers, including 38 of the top 40 worldwide, and processes over 300 billion voice, SMS, content, and data minutes each year. The Company's solutions serve as the standard in electronic information exchange for the telecom industry, offering carriers an unprecedented level of visibility and control of their interconnect traffic. For more information, visit us at http://www.telarix.com.

About Stratecast:

Stratecast collaborates with our clients to reach smart business decisions in the rapidly evolving and hyper-competitive Information and Communications Technology markets. Leveraging a mix of action-oriented subscription research and customized consulting engagements, Stratecast delivers knowledge and perspective that is only attainable through years of real-world experience in an industry where customers are collaborators; todays partners are tomorrows competitors; and agility and innovation are essential elements for success. Contact your Stratecast Account Executive to engage our experience to assist you in attaining your growth objectives.

About Frost & Sullivan:

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation, and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages more than 50 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses, and the investment community from 45 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com.
Dr. Ryan Dwight, Professor, Trident University International The fact that Dr. Dwight is honored with this award is a testament to both his dedication to teaching and his connection with his students. - Dr. Mihaela Tanasescu, Tridents Provost and Chief Academic Officer

Trident University International (Trident) today announced that Dr. Ryan Dwight was awarded the Teaching Excellence Award for Spring 2017.

Dr. Dwight was selected from among 58 faculty members by both students and the Universitys faculty leadership team.

The faculty nominees for this award are selected entirely by Tridents student body, stated Dr. Mihaela Tanasescu, Tridents Provost and Chief Academic Officer. The fact that Dr. Dwight is honored with this award is a testament to both his dedication to teaching and his connection with his students.

Dr. Dwight has been a faculty member since 2010, and is currently teaching graduate courses in the College of Health and Human Services. Throughout his tenure, he has also taught undergraduate, masters and doctoral courses in public health, research and policy. Additionally, Dr. Dwight serves as Director of the Coastal Water Research Group based in Huntington Beach, California.

Dr. Dwight received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Organic Chemistry from University of California, San Diego, and a doctorate in Environmental Health Science and Policy from University of California, Irvine in 2001.

Like many of Tridents faculty, he has worked in both academia and the private sector. Across a 30-year career, he worked as a marine microbiologist and research diver at Scripps Institution of Oceanography where he collected and tested marine organisms for novel pharmaceuticals. He has also worked at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., in preparation for the first Earth Summit.

About Trident University

Founded in 1998, Trident University International (Trident) is a leading online postsecondary university serving adult learners. Trident uses the EdActive learning approach, which employs case-based learning in an online setting to teach real-world relevant critical thinking skills to enhance the lives and careers of students. Trident offers high-quality bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs and certificates, led by a qualified faculty team, over 80% of whom have doctoral degrees. Trident is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and has over 30,000 alumni, including more than 22,000 with a military affiliation. The University has received multiple acknowledgements from Military Times and Military Advanced Education & Transition for their dedication to military-affiliated students. Visit http://www.trident.edu, Tridents Facebook page, or call at (855) 290-0290 to learn more about Trident's wide range of educational options.
The national debt crisis of Puerto Rico was already in a deep hole to climb out of as explained by National Debt Relief. Hurricane Maria only made it a lot worse. The article titled How Hurricane Maria Exacerbated Puerto Ricos Debt Crisis released October 24, 2017 shares how the hurricane made life tougher for Puerto Ricans on an economic scale.

The article starts off by pointing out the devastation that Hurricane Maria brought to the country. As it made landfall on September 20, 2017, it ripped through inlands leaving a trail of devastation and death. As it left 50 families without a loved one, it also displaced countless others. One of the most significant effects it had was laying the nations power grid to waste.

Rough estimates put the damage to about $30 billion. What makes this unique is the current economic situation in the country. If compared to Hurricanes Harvey in Texas and Hurricane Irma in Florida - Hurricane Maria is a lot tamer. However, economic factors makes the situation unique.

The article explains that Puerto Rico is already in the middle of paying down $120 billion national debt. On top of that, the Congress passed the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act or PROMESA, This basically started the bankruptcy proceedings for the country. Something that was unthinkable when they became an unincorporated US territory.

This meant that they can put out tax-free bonds in order to raise money. This became a favorite of investors simply because states and territories in the United States could not declare bankruptcy. These two makes Puerto Rican debt an enticing investment. However, the PROMESA changed all that. And with the economic devastation by Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico finds itself in a tough situation.

To read the full article, click https://www.nationaldebtrelief.com/puerto-ricos-debt-crisis/
Vistatec will host an industry event at the Irish Consulate in San Francisco on November 1, 2017. The event will see many leading executives attend Vistatecs LocWorld35 pre-event hosted at The Consulate General of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.

The keynote speaker for the Vistatec event is Sonia Oliveira, Director of Localization at GoPro, who will deliver an address on international growth. Ray Flournoy of Etsy will give a talk on Machine Translation and Vistatecs CTO Phil Ritchie will speak on the latest hot topics in the localization industry.

Vistatec will also be exhibiting at LocWorld35 in Silicon Valley. This industry conference will feature six concurrent tracks with nine topic areas. Approximately 700 global business executives from 45 countries are expected to attend. LocWorld35 will take place at the Santa Clara Convention Centre. You can find us at Booth 213.

Speakers at the conference will include representatives from ADP, Adobe Systems, Box, Dell, Facebook, GoPro, Medtronic, Microsoft, Netflix, Oracle, PayPal, Tableau Software and many others. Erica Orange, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The Future Hunters, one of the worlds leading futurist consulting firms, will deliver the keynote The Future Begins Now.

Vistatec is looking forward to discussing innovative global content solutions at LocWorld35. Phil Ritchie, Vistatecs CTO, will be speaking at the conference, commented Simon Hodgkins, Chief Marketing Officer, Vistatec.

About Vistatec

Vistatec has been supporting some of the worlds most iconic brands to optimize their global commercial potential since 1997. Vistatec is one of the worlds leading global content solutions providers headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with offices in Mountain View, California, USA.

http://www.vistatec.com

Media Contact

Simon Hodgkins, Chief Marketing Officer, Vistatec

info(at)vistatec(dot)com
Eagle Mat Announces Fall Savings Our goal is to help mitigate the risk of fall weather injuries with safe and durable flooring options.

Eagle Mat and Floor Products, an industry leader in commercial flooring and matting products that focuses on safety, announced today its limited time seasonal fall discount. From now through October 31, 2017, shoppers will receive $25 off all purchases of $250 or more at EagleMat.com. Eagle Mat prides itself on providing flooring products that curtail slipping hazards in fall weather at an incredible price.

During rainy and snow conditions, the incidence of injuries due to slips and falls increases. There is a common misconception that slip and fall injuries just happen and that there is little that can be done to prevent them. Eagle Mat and Floor Products is committed to selling facility safety materials to proactively prevent falls for both visitors and employees.

The changing seasons produce unique weather-related conditions that can create hazards for patrons and employees, says Eagle Mat President Steven Blumberg Our goal is to help mitigate the risk of fall weather injuries with safe and durable flooring options.

In addition to hundreds of commercial safety products, EagleMat.com provides several types of building products, as well as mats specifically designed to keep high traffic surfaces safe.

The Premier Carpet Mat is the ideal combination of aesthetics and functionality. Its high-quality anti-skid rubber backing helps prevent the mat from slipping, while its plush surface resists grease, oils, and moisture for maximum durability. Premier Carpet Mats are also available in 49 different colors to easily match your branding scheme.

The very popular Graphic Impressions Logo Mat is produced in a way that intricate logos and detailed design are sharp and, and long lasting. Its nitrile rubber backing keeps edges flat to not create a tripping hazard. The Graphic Impressions Logo Mat is ideal for high traffic indoor areas to absorb moisture, control debris, build brand awareness, and improve safety.

The heavy duty Berber Supreme Entrance Mats are one of the most aggressive in trapping dirt and reducing moisture. Most commonly seen in high traffic entrances, Berber Supreme Entrance Mats are an ideal solution to achieve safety and cleanliness goals for entry ways, both indoors and outside.

Wet umbrellas are a nuisance for property owners and visitors alike. Eagle Mats Automatic Wet Umbrella Wrapper provides a hands-free system for the ultimate convenience and safety. Patrons and employees can automatically wrap wet umbrellas in a disposable plastic bag. This product proactively fights against rainwater accumulations, puddles, and accidents.

As temperatures cool off from hot summers, leaves begin to fall, and holiday season quickly approaches, the potential for snowy weather and increased foot traffic increases. Proactively prepare for inclement weather.

Use the coupon code FALL2017 to receive $25 off for orders $250 or more at EagleMat.com. This deal ends on October 31, 2017. For more information or assistance with ordering, contact Eagle Mats customer representatives at 877-333-1018 or visit http://www.eaglemat.com.

About Eagle Mat

Eagle Mat has provided commercial building and floor products, floor mats, and flooring services for almost 35 years. We began as a company for commercial businesses servicing the Baltimore, Washington, and Northern Virginia areas. We are proud to bring our commercial matting expertise online! We welcome all visitors to shop our wide selection of mats and commercial building products. Eagle Mat is proud to offer a 100% Price Match Guarantee on all products. Now, visitors may rest assured that they will never pay more for their goods! We invite you to browse our comprehensive collection of industry-leading matting and property management products.
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP had 18 attorneys from its Boston office included in the 2017 edition of Massachusetts Super Lawyers magazine. Of these, 12 attorneys were listed as Super Lawyers and six were listed as Rising Stars.

According to the Super Lawyers website, the selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations, and evaluations that identify a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Greenberg Traurig Boston attorneys on the Massachusetts Super Lawyers 2017 list include:



Gary R. Greenberg, General Litigation

Edward S. Hershfield, Real Estate

Barbara A. Jones, Securities & Corporate Finance

James D. Masterman, Eminent Domain

Terence P. McCourt, Employment & Labor

Pete S. Michaels, Securities Litigation

Christopher H. Milton, Real Estate

A. John Pappalardo, Criminal Defense: White Collar

Chinh H. Pham, Intellectual Property

Daniel M. Rabinovitz, Criminal Defense: White Collar

David L. Ward, Securities Litigation

Jeffrey M. Wolf, Business/Corporate

The following Greenberg Traurig Boston attorneys were listed as 2017 Massachusetts Rising Stars:

Jack S. Gearan, Employment & Labor

Melissa Hunter-Ensor, Ph.D., Intellectual Property

Zachary C. Kleinsasser, Business Litigation

Emily Ladd-Kravitz, Business/Corporate

Michael E. Pastore, Securities Litigation

Jacqueline E. Tambone, General Litigation

About Greenberg Traurigs Boston Office

Established in 1999, Greenberg Traurigs Boston office is home to over 70 attorneys practicing in the areas of corporate, emerging technology, governmental affairs, intellectual property, labor and employment, life sciences and medical technology, litigation, public finance, and real estate. An important contributor to the firm's international platform, the Boston office includes a team of nationally recognized attorneys with both public and private sector experience. The team offers clients the value of decades of legal experience and hands-on knowledge of the local business community, supported by the firm's vast network of global resources.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.
LMU is a strategic partner in helping close the nursing shortage gap and fill vacancies within the Florida Hospital system, said Mike Schultz, Florida Hospital West Regional president and CEO.

Florida Hospital and Lincoln Memorial Universitys Caylor School of Nursing has officially opened for students. Today, leaders cut the ribbon at the campus located at the Florida Hospital Tampa Health Park, 3102 E. 138th Avenue, Tampa.

LMU is a strategic partner in helping close the nursing shortage gap and fill vacancies within the Florida Hospital system, said Mike Schultz, Florida Hospital West Regional president and CEO. Schultz says, By partnering with a long standing, historically successful school like LMUs Caylor School of Nursing, with its esteemed reputation for producing high quality nurses, we can offer students the opportunity to learn and train with the best, receive clinical skills on site, and in the end, we hope these students stay with us and take on careers caring for patients of Florida Hospital.

As part of todays ceremony, Dr. Pete DeBusk, Chairman of the Board, LMU, announced a million dollar endowment from Ted and Avis Phillips, owners of 4G Ranch in Pasco County, and founders of Phillips & Jordan, Inc. The Phillips have ties to Tennessee and now live in Pasco County. Their one million dollar donation will specifically serve Pasco County students who attend the nursing school.

LMU welcomed its first Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) class, including 18 students, in August. The BSN program is designed to be completed in 16 months, after general education requirements have been met. LMU is now enrolling for the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program that will begin January 2018, as well as for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner scheduled to begin in fall 2018.

All clinical experiences are planned to be completed within Florida Hospital West Florida Region facilities. Clinical students would benefit from having direct access to learn and train at Florida Hospital facilities throughout the West Florida Region. Florida Hospital will continue to work with all area nursing schools to help provide clinical spots for student training.

About Florida Hospital, West Florida Division of Adventist Health System

Florida Hospital, the West Florida Division of Adventist Health System, is a not-for-profit 1,295-bed hospital system composed of 9 hospitals including Florida Hospital Tampa/Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute, Florida Hospital Carrollwood, Florida Hospital at Connerton Long Term Acute Care, Florida Hospital North Pinellas, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center Sebring, Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center Lake Placid and Florida Hospital Wauchula. It also includes a free-standing ER in Palm Harbor. Part of the Adventist Health System, Florida Hospital is a leading health network comprised of 26 hospitals throughout the state. For more information, visit FloridaHospital.com.

About LMU:

LMU is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. Its located in Harrogate, Tennessee about 55 miles north of Knoxville and operates extended learning sites throughout Southern Appalachia. LMU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and at present, the ASN, BSN, and MSN degree programs in Tampa, Florida have been deemed eligible for the candidacy process with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). To learn more about LMU Nursing and degree programs offered please visit: http://www.LMUnet.edu.

Accreditation

The ASN and BSN programs offered in Florida are approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. At present, the ASN, BSN, and MSN degree programs in Tampa, Florida have been deemed eligible for the Candidacy process with the ACEN. ACEN is officially recognized as a national accrediting agency for nursing education by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and by the U.S. Department of Education. ACEN, may be contacted at 3343 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326 or call 404-975-5000 or visit http://www.acenursing.org. All sites where
Twenty-three locations belonging to national post-acute healthcare leader AccentCare, Inc., have been awarded 2017 HomeCare Elite designations.

Twenty-two of AccentCares home health agencies earned the HomeCare Elite award, recognizing the top 25 percent of agencies among the nearly 10,000 Medicare-certified agencies reviewed. In addition, one of AccentCares locations achieved the Homecare Elite Top 500 award.

It is truly an honor to earn this distinction, said AccentCare CEO Steve Rodgers. This demonstrates our staffs professionalism and commitment to quality patient care. I am proud that our company stands out as one of the top performers in the nation.

The market-leading HomeCare Elite review by OCS HomeCare and DecisionHealth rates Medicare-certified agencies based on quality outcomes, best practices implementation, patient experience, quality improvement and consistency and financial performance.

About AccentCare

AccentCare, Inc., is a nationwide leader in post-acute healthcare as well as specialized care management prior to acute episodes. Its wide variety of innovative services ranges from personal, non-medical care to skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice and care management. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, AccentCare has 20,000 compassionate professionals in over 140 locations across 11 states with regional brands including AccentCare, AccentCare of New York, Alliance For Health, Guardian Home Health & Hospice, Sta-Home, Texas Home Health and Texas Home Health Group. Its mission is to deliver consistently exceptional care for its expanding list of clients/patients and their families.

AccentCare is committed to improving the quality of living for 90,000 individuals each year. Its approach to care consistently exceeds the industry in avoidance of unplanned re-hospitalizations, faster starts of care and quality performance. Among its distinctions, AccentCare has a 4.1-star overall quality rating for home health and all hospice locations are CHAP accredited, many with designations from the We Honor Veterans program. The company has over 30 regional strategic partnerships with major health systems, physician groups and insurance companies.

For more information visit: accentcare.com
RallyPoint and Student Veterans of America

As of today, the premier online network for the military community, RallyPoint, is announcing a strategic partnership with Student Veterans of America (SVA)  the leading coalition of student-veteran groups on college campuses across the globe. This partnership unites their missions and channels them toward offering the military community unparalleled access to education and opportunity, ultimately allowing military members to achieve their goals.

RallyPoint is a community built on trust, connection and peer-support, says RallyPoint CEO, Dave Gowel. SVA is an organization that authentically projects these values and makes it easier for any member of the military community who is already furthering their education, or considering this next step to achieve more at any stage of their lives. In partnering with SVA, we seek to arm our members with the educational content and connections in higher education that will undoubtedly help them lead more successful lives.

RallyPoint will continue to use its unique technology to benefit its massive network of military members, but will now deliver SVA content and resources in support of the educational needs of the military community. These resources include and stem from research from its recently published National Veteran Education Success Tracker (NVEST) report, as well as educational content which will be promoted throughout the platform  giving RallyPoints member base the insights it needs into higher education, at the times when members can benefit from them most.

SVA is excited to expand our partnership with RallyPoint in support of the educational goals of our military and student veteran community, states Jared Lyon, President and CEO of SVA. With the passage of the Forever GI Bill, veterans now have lifetime access to education benefits. Data shows, however, that too many of them are not aware of their benefits or how to most effectively use them. Were thrilled that RallyPoint is partnering with us to help share SVAs research on these areas at a greater scale to meaningfully impact our military community.

RallyPoint is the largest military-focused online network in the world, with nearly 1.4 million service members, veterans and civilians who have registered as members. Today, the platform supports more than 100 customers who leverage RallyPoint to reach the military and veteran communities in a highly targeted manner through talent and marketing product lines. And as the network grows, so does its robust board of directors. Earlier this quarter, the 8th Secretary of the VA and retired Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Procter and Gamble Company, Bob McDonald was named Chairman of the board at RallyPoint, infusing his exceptional and unique experience in military, business and government roles into the rapidly growing network.

I am pleased to see our relationship grow with SVA because the military community deserves the best educational opportunities to succeed both while in uniform and post-transition, said Secretary McDonald. I came to RallyPoint following my service in the government because its clear to me how our platforms impact and growth is enabling an unprecedented connectivity between our military members and the peers, companies and organizations who stimulate life-changing opportunities. SVA is a perfect example of a great partner making this connectivity a priority.

Over one million monthly visitors have made RallyPoint a preferred online medium to participate in more than 200,000 discussions spanning all aspects of military and veteran life, adding 10,000+ discussions every month. With a mission to help all members of the military community lead more successful and fulfilling lives, the company seeks to make it easy for members, veteran service organizations and incredible companies to come together around a shared U.S. military experience and interest on one platform, accessible from anywhere in the world.

ABOUT RALLYPOINT:

RallyPoint is the online platform where warriors talk. With nearly 1.4 million members, RallyPoint is the premier network for military service members and veterans to come together and discuss military life through both professional and personal perspectives. Visit http://www.RallyPoint.com to learn more, and follow RallyPoint on Facebook and Twitter @RallyPoint.

ABOUT STUDENT VETERANS OF AMERICA:

SVA is the countrys premier organization for student veterans. SVA supports all veterans through their transition from the military, educational advancement and career growth. SVA represents a network of nearly 1,500 chapters on campuses in all 50 states and four countries representing over 600,000 student veterans at those colleges and universities. For more information, visit http://www.studentveterans.org.
Fajita Pete's Sienna Plantation Grand Opening Were excited to bring another great option for quality, scratch-made dining, carry out, delivery and catering to an incredible community like Sienna Plantation.

Fajita Pete's newest location, Sienna Plantation, will celebrate their grand opening with free fajitas and family-friendly festivities on Sunday, November 12th at 6144 Sienna Ranch Rd. Suite 700.

The celebration begins at 3 p.m. and will last until 5 p.m. that evening. The grand opening event which is all completely free, includes Fajita Petes award-winning fajitas, popcorn, cotton candy, and multiple bounce houses for kids and young adults. KRBE 104.1 will also provide a live DJ, giveaways, and prizes.

Best known for their fresh-off-the-grill, mouthwatering fajitas and always made from scratch sides, Fajita Petes convenient online ordering is a fresh new food delivery alternative. Perfect for home or office, Fajita Petes offers homemade Mexican food that is available for catering, pickup, delivery or dine-in.

Sienna Plantations franchisee, Christian Devin and wife Terri, are looking forward to Fajita Petes becoming partners with local families, schools, and businesses. Were excited to bring another great option for quality, scratch-made dining, carry out, delivery and catering to an incredible community like Sienna Plantation.

The Sienna Plantation is the ninth locations for the Houston-based chain. Next to open, are stores in Midtown (Houston) and Carrolton. Currently, there are locations in Bellaire, Richmond, Memorial, Tomball, Pearland, Katy and Dallas.

Fajita Pete's is looking for franchisees to grow this concept. The Fajita Petes Franchise Program provides a unique business model, assistance with site selection, lease negotiations, restaurant design, construction, training and operations material as well as assistance with quality control and ongoing support through mentorship and marketing.

To apply for a Fajita Petes franchise program visit: http://www.fajitapetes.com/franchises/.

About Fajita Pete's

Fajita Pete's is a Houston-based Mexican restaurant that offers fresh, made-from-scratch fajitas and a variety of authentic dishes for delivery, pick-up, catering and dine-in. Founder Pete Mora opened his first restaurant in 2002 and soon received an overwhelming amount of catering request from local companies. Envisioning a better way to fill a growing niche, he decided to close his profitable 5,000 sq. ft. full-service restaurant to focus on a 1,000 sq. ft. catering and delivery model that soon became Fajita Pete's. For more information, visit http://fajitapetes.com.
Fr. Edward L Beck, C.P.

Calvary Hospital hosted its 11th Annual Spiritual Care Day on Wed. Oct. 18. More than 140 people attended this years event, entitled Sacred Encounters: Bringing Light to the Darkness, which took place for the second consecutive year at Fordham Universitys Lincoln Center Campus.

The event's keynote speaker was Father Edward L. Beck, C.P., CNN faith and religion commentator. He gave a thought-provoking presentation on the need for healing among caregivers. He discussed that one should not run from ones weaknesses, recognizing that God speaks through various messengers, expect that others may hamper your own healing  and ability  to care for patients, and what the source of healing really is. Father Beck stated that pride is often the source of suffering and that humility is the solution.

Break out sessions were offered on topics such as Sacred Space and Prayer; Issues at the End of Life; The Importance of Empathetic Listening at the End of Life; and Delirium, Depression and Spiritual Suffering. Workshop speakers included experts from throughout the hospital.

About the Company:

Since 1899, Calvary Hospital has been the nations only fully accredited acute care specialty hospital devoted exclusively to providing palliative care to adult patients with advanced cancer and other life-limiting illnesses. Each year, thousands of patients receive CalvaryCare throughout the greater New York area. To learn how Calvary can help you and your family, please visit http://www.calvaryhospital.org.
Wisdom Teeth Extraction - San Francisco, California Ive had many patients truly worried about what oral surgery will feel like for them. Some have put off wisdom teeth extraction until the pain was unbearable.

San Francisco oral surgeon, Dr. Alex Rabinovich and Oral Surgery San Francisco are proud to announce several new blog posts regarding wisdom teeth extraction in San Francisco. Residents may be concerned about the pain of oral surgery procedure and recovery. The new blog posts offer insight to those suffering from tooth pain and/or seeking extraction services. Patients may find oral surgery more comfortable than realized.

Ive had many patients truly worried about what oral surgery will feel like for them. Some have put off these procedures until the pain was unbearable, explained Dr. Alex Rabinovich. I think the more information a person has about oral surgery, the better. Many have been pretty amazed how easy and painless the procedure was for them.

The new blog posts for wisdom teeth extraction in San Francisco can be found at http://www.oralsurgery-sf.com/tag/wisdom-teeth/. New posts include topics such as - tooth replacement options, second opinions and impacted teeth. Persons interested in dental implant surgery can visit the sister website at http://www.sfdentalimplants.com/. The experience and skill of a professional oral surgeon may help in a more successful outcome.

RELIEF AND ORAL SURGERY IN SAN FRANCISCO

Here is background on this release. During the fall and winter, Bay Area locals may be enticed into eating treats such as Halloween chocolates, pumpkin pie and candy canes. Poor oral hygiene and a high consumption of sweets can result in rotten teeth. Filling cavities may not be enough. At times, it may take a skilled oral surgeon to bring a mouth back to health. If a local is searching for oral surgeons who can help with wisdom teeth in San Francisco, too much candy probably isnt the problem. No amount of healthy behaviors can stop persons from needing wisdom teeth pulled. Instead of putting it off for fear of pain, locals might consider reviewing educational details on oral surgery procedures in San Francisco. Persons may be encouraged to schedule an appointment with a skilled oral surgeon soon after.

For this reason, Dr. Alex Rabinovich, a top oral surgeon in the Bay Area, has announced several new blog posts. Avoiding sweets may not do the trick either. Wisdom teeth can become impacted and affect the entire mouth naturally. The newly released blog posts cover informative topics for wisdom teeth extraction in San Francisco. Residents concerned about these issues could learn more regarding the process. Topics surrounding oral surgery, second opinions and comfortable removal of teeth can be found. Residents harboring concerns and seeking professional help in San Francisco may find helpful answers provide sweet relief.

ABOUT ORAL SURGERY SAN FRANCISCO

Oral Surgery San Francisco is located in the Financial District of the City. Under the direction of Dr. Alex Rabinovich, a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon specializing in the field of oral surgery. This additional training, along with his years of experience, sets Alex Rabinovich MD DDS apart from the growing number of general dentists offering oral surgery and other dental procedures. Procedures include wisdom teeth extraction, jaw surgery and dental implants. Oral Surgery San Francisco serves all neighborhoods in the city of San Francisco including Pacific Heights, Russian Hill and Noe Valley.

Contact

Tel. (415) 817-9991
Kelownas Metal Structure Concepts has just started building a new steel building to be used as a wood pellet processing plant in Entwistle, AB We are becoming known for working with the forest industry. Whats unique with these projects is our ability to be flexible to what their needs are. We also have an impeccable safety record and we take pride in completing our projects on time and on budget, without hidden charges or surprises.

Metal Structure Concepts (MSC), a Kelowna-based construction company that specializes in pre-engineered and structural steel buildings, has just started what it is calling a flagship project for Canadas longest-running and largest manufacturer of wood pellets.

Owned and operated by Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc., the new steel building is being supplied and installed 100 kilometres west of Edmonton in Entwistle, AB. Once completed, the building will be the first wood pellet plant owned by Pinnacle to be built outside of British Columbia. It will also be the companys largest manufacturing plant to date. Once completed, the $85 million project is expected to add another 475,000 tonnes annually to the companys existing output and will employ approximately 70 local residents.

Preparation on the facility began May 1 with operations expected to start in early 2018.

The large pre-fabricated building is being built in four-to-five parts and includes interior columns to support cranes and other equipment.

We are helping Pinnacle from the design to supplying and installing the building, said Steven Ivanitz, MSC owner and operator. This is a large project for us with all hands on deck.

Pinnacle Renewable Energys Entwistle project is one of a number of pre-engineered steel building projects MSC has conducted in the forest industry sector around Western Canada. The company has already installed sawmills in Burns Lake (Babine Forest Products) and Barriere, BC (Gilbert Smith Forest Products).

With our proven track record, Pinnacle hired us to supply and install the Entwistle plant from start to finish, said Ivanitz. We are becoming known for working with the forest industry. Whats unique with these projects is our ability to be flexible to what their needs are. We also have an impeccable safety record and we take pride in completing our projects on time and on budget, without hidden charges or surprises.

Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. currently runs seven pellet plants in BC and produces 1.5 million tonnes of pellets annually, employing more than 250 people overall. The Richmond, BC-based company manufactures high-heat, low-ash wood pellet products from timber waste byproducts. Pinnacle makes a wide range of wood pellet products such as softwood pellet fuel, animal bedding and natural sorbent. Most of its production is for the bulk domestic and overseas markets.

The companys expansion into Alberta is a natural progression as demand for clean-burning fuel continues to grow.

"We've got a strong bench strength of talent, we had the team for building the plant, and as we learned more about the fibre basket, it all came together, Pinnacle CEO Rob McCurdy told Biomass Magazine in May, 2017. Were quite happy to be in Albertaits a pretty natural growth for our company."

MSC is looking forward to working on any future projects with Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. as the company continues its plans to expand around Western Canada, added Ivanitz.

Besides an increase in steel buildings serving the forestry industry, MSC has also seen an increase in the demand for pre-engineered buildings in other commercial, industrial and agricultural sectors. The companys recently completed projects include a leachate treatment plant for the Comox Valley Regional District on Vancouver Island, a mini storage and warehouse business in Nelson, BC, a crop seed operation in Fairview, AB, as well as a precast concrete plant in Lloydminster, SK.

About Metal Structure Concepts (MSC):

Since its inception in 2002, MSC has been designing and erecting pre-engineered steel buildings across Western Canada and beyond. By combining a talented team of in-house designers with highly trained field workers, MSC carries out installations to rigorous standards guaranteeing a professional product that looks, performs and lasts exactly as intended. MSC creates innovative steel building plans to suit any industry or application, including industrial, commercial, mini-storage, retail, agricultural, and community-multi-purpose.

For more information, contact

Steven Ivanitz

Owner, Metal Structure Concepts

1-877-840-4278

steve[at]mscsteel[dot]com

http://www.mscsteel.com
Brickell residents can be pretty passionate about their views, explained Yaniet Santos, General Manager of GDR.

Glass Door Repair (GDR), an expert sliding glass door repair service in the Brickell neighborhood of Miami, Florida, is proud to announce a new blog post. Living several stories above ground level can involve different challenges for homeowners. Situations involving plumbing, electrical and glass repair may require professional technicians knowledgeable about high rise living.

Brickell residents can be pretty passionate about their views, explained Yaniet Santos, General Manager of GDR. Its a special kind of life to live in a place where you can view beautiful, vast landscapes right out your glass window or sliding glass door. We want to remind the community how passionate we are about serving their repair needs.

For this reason, Glass Door Repair (GDR) has announced a new blog post for sliding glass door repair in Brickell, Florida. To review the new blog post go to https://glassdoorrepair.com/brickell-florida-sliding-glass-door-love/. The post, part of an ambitious blogging expansion, emphasizes how passionate the company is about sliding glass door repair. Interested persons can also visit https://glassdoorrepair.com/sliding-glass-door-repair/ to learn about specifics on the sliding glass door repair services offered.

High Rise Curb Appeal and Sliding Glass Door Repair in Brickell, Florida

Here is background on this release. High rise living in Florida can involve a different type of mindset. Lawns may not have to be mowed or hedges trimmed like homes located at street level. Residents living in Brickell, Florida condominiums could be used to taking groceries up ten floors instead of directly from the garage to the kitchen. The concept of curb appeal may be unique as well. The most important view from a Brickell condominium may not be from the street, but from a sliding glass door. Living several stories above ground level can offer incredible views of the Miami Skyline and Florida Coastline. If sliding glass door repair becomes urgent, it may take a special type of glass technician to solve the problem.

Glass Door Repair (GDR) has announced a new blog post highlighting the unique demands of sliding glass door repair in Brickell, Florida. Condo dwellers may have special circumstances that come with living along the Miami skyline. If a patio door shatters, glass repair may be slightly different ten stories high. A professional sliding glass door repair technician can still provide 24/7 emergency service. The quality may be equal to locals living in the ground floor, but slightly unique to fit the needs of tall building living. If a Brickell, Florida resident requires high impact glass, insulated glass or emergency glass repair to a high rise home, a top sliding glass door repair technician can get the job done.

About Glass Door Repair (GDR)

Glass Door Repair (GDR) is a family owned and operated glass repair business with more than 20 years of experience. Professional technicians and the large variety of inventory make GDR the top glass repair service in the area. If customers are looking for Brickell sliding glass door repair as well as emergency glass repair for urban neighborhoods around Miami, Florida please reach out to the company for a free estimate. If customers need a 24/7 Sliding Glass Door repair service in Miami or West Palm Beach technicians are standing by. The company specializes in sliding glass door repair and window glass repair; technicians will handle any glass replacement situation efficiently. Home or business glass repair is the company's main priority.

Glass Door Repair (GDR)

Media Relations

https://glassdoorrepair.com/
LONDON  Labour MP Jared O'Mara has been suspended from the party over an allegation of verbal abuse from a woman, following revelations of sexist and homophobic comments he made on online forums before becoming an MP.

The MP for Sheffield Hallam was suspended on Wednesday morning while an investigation takes place into allegations that he called a woman an "ugly b---h" in March, and made a series of sexist and homophobic posts.

O'Mara denies the allegation that he verbally abused Sophie Evans three months before he became an MP.

A Labour party spokeswoman said: "He has had the whip suspended while the investigation is carried out."

It comes after fellow Labour MPs called on the party to suspend O'Mara, including former shadow minister Lucy Powell and prominent backbencher Lisa Nandy.

Conservative MP Nadine Dorries tweeted that suspension was "not enough."

Not enough. No investigatio... @ Nadine Dorries

Powell, the Labour MP for Manchester Central told ITV's "After The News" show on Tuesday: "One of the key questions you're asked when you become a candidate for the Labour Party  and you have to sign a contract to say  is there anything in your past that would bring the party into disrepute?

"And I don't understand, in all honesty, how Jared could have signed that paper."

Nandysaid last nightat Queen Mary University of London's Mile End Insitute: "We have quite clear rules in the Labour Party about discrimination and the process is very clear too, that people who have engaged in anti-Semitism or other forms of discriminatory behaviour are suspended while  their case is investigated.

"We have a very clear process in the Labour Party that in my view ought to be upheld  In this case, just as in previous cases, its absolutely clear: we suspend and we investigate and we make a decision."

O'Mara apologised for the remarks that were exposed by the Guido Fawkes blog. They included suggestions that overweight women do not "deserve our respect," described gay men as "fudge packers" and "poofters," and said it would be "quite funny" if musician Jamie Cullum was "sodomised with his own piano" until he died.

The Labour MP resigned from the Women and Equalities Select Committee on Monday over his offensive posts.

Mims Davies MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Women in Parliament, said: "Totally right that the whip has been suspended from Jared O'Mara for his vile homophobic and sexist comments - but why on earth has it taken so long?
The American woman who was held captive by the Taliban-allied Haqqani network described the tense moment she and her family were rescued by Pakistani military forces after five years in captivity.

Caitlan Coleman was held with her husband, Joshua Boyle, and their three children in a series of houses and underground bunkers along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The family was rescued 12 days ago and is now recovering at Boyle's parent's house in Toronto along with their children.

On Tuesday, she discussed the moment her family was rescued in an interview with Toronto Star.
The organisation made up of former British colonies had been one of the leading groups during the first election that was later annulled by the Supreme Court of Kenya and came under criticism from the opposition NASA party after former Ghana president, John Mahama, who served as head of the group, endorsed the election as free and fair.

According to Kenyan media outlet Nation, the Commonwealth confirmed its absence through a statement sent to it.

The Commonwealth is not deploying an election observation group for the presidential election.

"We sent a team of observers to the first set of elections and this time we will have a presence in the form of Commonwealth staff who are already on the ground."

With tension high within the country ahead of the poll,the Commonwealth Group is not the only observer considering its safety. The European Union has confirmed it will scale down on the number of observers in operation during the election .

We have assessed the safety of our observers considering the extreme tension, disruptions of polling preparations, and strong criticism that has been made of the international community. Based on this, we have had to reconsider the extent to which we can observe across the country.
The vast majority of Netflix customers don't subscribe to any other streaming video service, as we can see in this chart from Statista, which is based on data from research firm Second Measure. Netflix's customers are far more likely than customers of other streaming video services to only subscribe to its service. Indeed, DirecTV Now, Netflix's nearest competitor in terms of subscriber exclusivity, has half the rate of customers who only subscribe to its service.
Madam Rahinatu Alidu was arrested together with a driver and the mate in a Sangyong mini bus with registration number AW 3864-13 which was transporting the foodstuff allegedly stolen from the school.

She was arrested when two assembly members of the area monitored her activities for transporting the foodstuff.

A search by the police in the vehicle found bags of soap, several gallons of cooking oil, cans of milk, sacks of maize and many consumables all stashed in every space of the vehicle.

According to the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr. Mohammed Yusif Tanko, the police on duty at the Fulfulso Check Point upon information intercepted the Sangyong mini bus loaded with the food stuff.

READ ALSO: African universities score poorly in world rankings

He said upon questioning the driver and his mate mentioned the matron of the school as the owner of the goods.

He said Madam Rahinatu was arrested and together with the driver and his mate have been granted police enquiry bail pending further investigations into the matter.

He said the matron was later granted police enquiry bail upon interrogation.
He said some gospel musicians are just adding up to the numbers and are not relevant in the music industry.

In an interview on Accra-based Joy FM, he named Cwesi Oteng and SP Kofi Sarpong and Nicholas Omane Acheampong as artistes who are not relevant in the industry.

He said "They are wasting their time. Cwesi Oteng is a copy cut...SP Kofi Sarpong and Nicholas Omane Acheampong are just adding to the number."

He stated that SP Kofi Sarpong is just adding to the number whiles Cwesi Oteng don't produce original songs saying he is a copy cut.

He mentioned Kwabena Kwabena's song 'Bue kwan' as one of the most innovative gospel songs in Ghana adding that he should be rewarded for taking time and energy to produce something good in the music industry.

"Kwabena Kwabenas song is one of the best gospel songs ever composed here in Ghana. I dont know why he did not win Gospel Artiste of the Year in 2013. Those who are winning Gospel songs of this time dont even have proper lyrical content," he added.
However, some couples like Stonebwoy and Dr. Louisa Ansong and A Plus and AkosuaVee are proving that love still exists and we can also find their soul mates.

We are always excited to watch videos and photos from the star-studded and glamorous ceremonies when our favorite celebrities tied in the knots.

With the plethora of celebrity weddings that have taken place recently, it seemed necessary to shed some light on some of the male stars who are still on the market for grabs.

1. John Dumelo

2. Sarkodie

3. Shatta Wale

4. Frederick Nuamah

5. Kwabena Kwabena

6. Jeffrey Schlupp

7. James Gardiner

8. Toosweet Annan

9. Daniel Amartey

READ ALSO:Lydia Forson shares inspiring message on her birthday
In a tweet, he described the explanation given by Samuel Atuobi Baah, Head of Communications at Zylofon media as complete fabrications.

The God MC rapper after calling out the explanations as lies did not reveal the real reason why he did not perform on stage at the Becca at 10 concert held at the National Theatre in Accra.

Zionfelix contacted M.anifest's manager on Tuesday to know the reason why he did not perform at the concert but he replied that he needed to ask M.anifest before any further comment could be made.

The Head of Communications at Zylofon Media during a phone conversation with Zionfelix on Radio Univers Brunch2Lunch show on Monday revealed that time did not allow the rapper perform at the concert.

The time M.anifest wanted to be on stage, there were other artists performing. He had other engagements on the same night so he had to leave to attend them. Samuel Baah said.

Artist performances on the night were not strict because we did not pay any of the guys who showed up, they were all at the show to support their sister he revealed.
The questionable shift from human rape to animal rape has apparently reached crescendo, as animal rights activists have waged a serious war against the act.

READ MORE: Pervert sets fire to bushes to hide evidence of him raping a horse

Buzzsouthafrica.com reported that Humane Society International is offering R5,000 as the reward for information concerning a dog that died after an alleged act of bestiality.

The website in its report chronicled some of the remarkable incidents.

It stated for instance that, a Pretoria woman was once found guilty of having sex with two dogs just as a Transkei man was jailed for 12 months without an option for fine when he sexed a sheep.

Also, while some Grahamstown youth were busted gang raping a dog, a Mpumalanga man was shot while he was resisting arrest after he was nabbed mating a pig.

In the latest case in which a dog was allegedly tied to a tree and raped to death, Humane Society International believes the pervs involved committed the act on the 2nd or 3rd of August. The incident happened in Struisbaai North at Western Cape province.

Executive director of the organisation, Audrey Delsink is reported to have said that The person or people involved in the crime had tied the dog to a tree from his neck, presumably to restrain him during the act. The dog was left hanging on the tree, and he succumbed to his injuries.

He further revealed that local authorities had removed the dog, documented evidence and that the Struisbaai police are currently investigating the case.
The man whose name has not been disclosed, lit a cigarette and smiled after the shameful act.

However, when he noticed the CCTV camera, the man reportedly set fire to the bale of hay on which it was resting; in a desperate move to destroy all evidence.

Unfortunately for him, other cameras reportedly captured the him igniting the inferno near the oil-rich city of Ufa, west Russia.

It took firefighters a lot of effort to bring the inferno under control.

For reasons not yet known, the footage has not been made public despite the arson attack and a police investigation.

With the help of the CCTV footage, officers identify and arrested him on suspicion of arson and may face further charges of abusing an animal.
According to him, he believes that President Akuffo-Addo is capable of moving the development agenda of the country forward.

The renowned pastor disclosed that before the elections, God spoke to him concerning his choice of presidential candidate, which inspired him to dedicate his song titled Yesu (The Victory Song) to Nana Addo.

In an interview with BEATWAVES Da Prince who is also the head pastor of Zion Princes Church stated that aside God revealing to him about President Akuffo-Addo he also believed in the manifesto of the NPP with regard to tourism, creative arts and culture.

The gospel artist recently composed a song featuring PR, an up and coming gospel artist to help promote the See Ghana, Wear Ghana, Eat Ghana and feel Ghana project launched by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Arts and Culture.
The Social department stepped in when a photo of the 9-year-olds awful, bloody back went viral on Facebook.

READ MORE: Pervert sets fire to bushes to hide evidence of him raping a horse

Identified only as Mamkhulu, the little girl was left with multiple wounds and lacerations days after the alleged brutality was inflicted on her by the aunt.

An appalled community member subsequently reported the matter to the Matsulu police. The resident who pleaded anonymity said the grade two pupils skin was still cut from the beating four days later.

She looked like had been beaten with a sjambok. Her skin is cut in many places, she said.

Confirming the incident, the Matsulu police spokesperson, Nkomozakhe Khumalo said The incident happened on, August 19. The picture was posted on Facebook and one concerned community member came to report the incident to the police station, police then went to the school where the girl attend.

According to the police, the girls aunt defended her action in a statement, claiming she punished the girl because she came home late.
General Manager of Mobile Financial Services at MTN, Eli Hini said no employee of MTN had ever been implicated in fraudulent activities.

READ MORE: Mobile money vendor collapses over GHC6k scam

Fraudsters arrested by the Cyber Crime Unit often include staff of these telecom companies who illegally infiltrate the database of the companies they work for, and use the information to commit mobile money fraud.

These workers, without authorization, access the database of mobile money merchants, where they change the registration details of customers in order to withdraw money from their accounts.

They subsequently reset the number with the money to a new owner in the database, which gives the new owner access to change the PIN and withdraw monies.

They then acquire new SIM cards and use the pins to withdraw monies from merchants.

The Director in charge of the Cyber Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Service, Chief Superintendent Dr. Herbert Gustave Yankson, said even though cases are reported, the Unit is only able to prosecute only 10 per cent of such cases.

But the MTN boss in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM dismissed suggestions by the Cyber Crime Unit adding that his outfit and other telcos are failing to cooperate to address the challenge.

"None of our staff has been arrested and let me put it on record that our staff are not involved in protecting these fraudsters and no one is working behind the scenes to assist these fraudsters," he said.
The girls mother narrated her ordeal to Accra-based Joy FM, revealing how she reported the defilement to the towns chief who asked that they consult the gods.

However, the chief priest in the town said the gods declared the suspect innocent and thus he walked away free.

Speaking from the St Francis-Xavier Hospital in Assin Fosu where her daughter has been admitted and is in immense pain, the mother narrated what happened to Joy FM.

She is demanding justice for her 4-year-old daughter.
He and his friends had gone to a spiritualist to help them make ends meet and to progress in their music career.

They were ordered by the spiritualist not to bathe for some time as part of their rules and regulations.

The deceased, who has only been identified as Collins, however, forgot about the order after taking in alcohol and decided to go swimming at a poolside he had visited with his friends.

He reportedly died right after coming into contact with the water in the pool.

His body has since been deposited at the Winneba morgue waiting for autopsy.
In the event of crisis, open any page and quote. Lol, he noted.

The said report had described the former president as behaving like a movie star which contributed to his defeat in the 2016 elections.

The leaked report also said that Mr Mahama lost because he had the likes of former Communications Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, and Presidential Staffer, Stan Dogbe, around him.

But the Member of Parliament for Bodi, Samson Ahi, who was a member of the 13-man Kwesi Botchwey Committee that probed why the NDC lost the 2016 elections, has described the said report as fake.

Speaking on Accra-based Asempa FM, Mr Ahi said: We didnt mention names, thats why Im telling you that the report you have is fake.

There have been insertions.

Nobody discussed anything about 200 cars for the presidential press corps. Its not true. It didnt happen.

The original report is with the party leadership, he said.
Tillerson, who arrived in New Delhi late Tuesday after a frosty reception in Islamabad, said the US was worried that too many extremist groups were finding safe havens inside Pakistan from which to launch attacks on other nations.

"Quite frankly my view -- and I expressed this to the leadership of Pakistan -- is we also are concerned about the stability and security of Pakistans government as well," he told reporters in New Delhi.

"This could lead to a threat to Pakistan's own stability. It is not in anyone's interests that the government of Pakistan be destabilised."

Tillerson's visit to Pakistan came months after President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of harbouring "agents of chaos" who could attack US-led NATO forces in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Tillerson's warning followed an unannounced stop in Afghanistan Monday, where he reiterated US commitment to the country and warned that Washington has made "very specific requests" of Pakistan over militancy.
Investment opportunities in Nigeria are relatively scarce, as they are usually out of the reach of most low-income earners in Nigeria and many African countries.

Due to poor financial literacy in the continent, many smart guys play on this to lure people to put their monies in unproductive investment purse.

Just like people lost their money to similar channels  Nasepco, Wonder Bank, MMM e.t.c, the harp being created around Bitcoin calls for more cautions.

These are important things to know about Bitcoin.

1. Underlying philosophy of Bitcoin

The underlying philosophy of Bitcoin is just the prices. It is the only real number you can act on. There is pretty no order thing that should concern you expect the price.

For finance, this is tricky and a lot of cautions need to be taken.

2. Key Drivers

The main driver of Bitcoin is the demand for it. This demand is driv mainly by mood and momentum of buyers.

3. Key personality traits needed

Trading in Bitcoin requires the following traits from invented investors or buyers; i. market amnesia, ii. Quick acting and iii. Gambling instincts.

4. Biggest danger

The biggest danger is the momentum shift occurs quickly and can wipe out profits or gains within few hours.

5. Effect of information
Leaders seeking to unionize Tesla workers demonstrated at Tesla's factory in Fremont, California, on Tuesday afternoon in protest of recent firings at the company.

The group, which included some fired workers and community leaders, delivered a letter to Tesla denouncing the firings, accusing the company of targeting employees who complained about working conditions at the factory, and asking that those employees be reinstated.

"We see Tesla as an important company for our regional economy, employing thousands of workers in the extended Bay Area who are proud to be building a zero-emission electric car," the pro-union letter reads in part. "Given its importance, we expect Tesla to be a responsible employer that leads with fair treatment of its workers."

The letter goes on to cite a formal complaint the National Labor Relations Board filed against Tesla in August that alleged the company violated workers' rights by discouraging efforts to unionize.

Heres video of Tuesdays pro-union demonstration:

A Tesla spokesperson responded to the demonstrations Tuesday night in an email to Business Insider, saying in part: "At Tesla, we strive to be a fair and just company, the only kind worth being. No one at Tesla has ever or will ever have any action taken against them based on their feelings on unionization."

"Some employees recently left Tesla, but what has not been reported is that a much larger number  17% of our employees  were promoted, and almost half of those promotions were within our factory in Fremont."

Earlier this month, scores of Tesla employees were fired after a round of performance reviews, the company said. The timing of the firings raised alarms because Tesla missed its September production goals for the newly released Model 3, Tesla's first mass-market electric car. The company produced just 260 Model 3s in September, falling far short of its stated goal to crank out 1,500 that month.

Tesla said it wants to ramp up to 20,000 Model 3s per month by December, a goal that seemed unlikely as the company struggled with "production bottlenecks" related to the new entry level car.

Read the pro-union groups full letter to Tesla below:

Read Teslas full statement below:
The run-up to the election has been marred by a lot of activities including the unexpected decision by Opposition leader Raila Odinga to withdraw from the election early in October.

And perhaps for the foreigner who may not be in the know of what has been hitting the headlines with regards to the election, here are the key terms to keep you up to speed with the polls that is just a few hours away:

Bomas of Kenya

Also known as the 'IEBC Nerve Centre', the Bomas of Kenya is an actual place that is used as the electoral body's national tallying centre.

Nairobi Business Community

No they are not actual businessmen as their name suggests.

This is a lobby group that has been hitting the headlines since the start of the anti-IEBC demos by members of the Opposition in the streets of Nairobi. They claim it is their job to protect the property of citizens.

KIEMS kit

The Kenya Integrated Elections Management Systems(KIEMS) tablets are being used by the IEBC toensure secure transmission of the voter turnout data and election results. They were topical in the first round.

Okoa Kenya

The National Super Alliance's (NASA) head office is based at the Okoa Kenya secretariat in Lavington,Nairobi hence its moniker. It is where all press conferences and major NASA announcements are made.

GSU

The General Service Unit (GSU) commonly known for the phrase "Fanya Fujo Uone" (loosely translated to "Cause trouble and you'll see"). This elite unit of the police service has been used to maintain law and order especially during the anti-IEBC demos.

Daughters of Raila

A group of young women dedicated to winning supporters for Raila Odinga.

Jubilee Women Brigade

In a bid to counter Daughters of Raila, President Kenyatta's Jubilee Party formed the Jubilee Women Brigade. The close to 4,000 women, clad in communist-style berets and military attire have been drumming up support for Mr.Kenyatta's re-election.

Party slogans(Tibim,Tialala,Tano Tena)

Tibim, Tialala and Tano Tena are popular slogans that have been used to popularize masses during political rallies. Tibim is a phrase meaning 'relvolution.' And in this case, political revolution. Alongside Tialala, the two terms have widely been used in opposition rallies.
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Former US President George H.W. Bush has apologized to the American actress Heather Lind after she accused him of sexual assault in a now deleted Instagram post.

Lind, who starred in the AMC series "Turn: Washington's Spies," wrote that the former US president "touched me from behind" repeatedly at a press event in March 2014.

She did not offer any more details but said that, in her view, Bush had "sexually assaulted" her, taking advantage of the power of his former office to do so. A photograph of the moment Lind describes can be seen here.

A spokesman for the former president apologized and described the interaction as an "attempt at humor."

Lind tagged the post with the "#metoo" hashtag, which women have used after accusations against the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein to tell stories of inappropriate sexual behavior by men.

She speculated that "countless" other women had experienced similar things and said the former first lady Barbara Bush seemed aware of what was going on and "rolled her eyes."

She said a security guard blamed her for standing too close to Bush. Lind's post has since been deleted, but it is reproduced in full below.

Reporters from DailyMail.com put the accusation to a spokesman for Bush, who apologized on his behalf. The statement said: "President Bush would never  under any circumstance  intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologizes if his attempt at humor offended Ms. Lind."

Lind wrote that her post was prompted by seeing Bush onstage at a fundraising event for victims of the hurricanes, which have recently struck the US mainland and territories like Puerto Rico.

She said the image of Bush being lauded for his charitable work "disturbed" her and compelled her to speak out. It is not clear why the post was deleted.

Nick Westrate, Lind's "Turned" costar, praised her for speaking out:

Could not be prouder of @he... @ Nick Westrate

Here is Linds post in full:

"I was disturbed today by a photo I saw of President Barack Obama shaking hands with George H. W. Bush in a gathering of ex-presidents organizing aid to states and territories damaged by recent hurricanes.

"I found it disturbing because I recognize the respect ex-presidents are given for having served. And I feel pride and reverence toward many of the men in the photo.

"But when I got the chance to meet George H. W. Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo.

"He didn't shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke. And then, all the while being photographed, touched me again.

"Barbara rolled her eyes as if to say "not again". His security guard told me I shouldn't have stood next to him for the photo. We were instructed to call him Mr. President.

"It seems to me a President's power is in his or her capacity to enact positive change, actually help people, and serve as a symbol of our democracy. He relinquished that power when he used it against me and, judging from the comments of those around him, countless other women before me.

"What comforts me is that I too can use my power, which isn't so different from a President really. I can enact positive change. I can actually help people. I can be a symbol of my democracy. I can refuse to call him President, and call out other abuses of power when I see them.

"I can vote for a President, in part, by the nature of his or her character, knowing that his or her political decisions must necessarily stem from that character.

"My fellow cast-mates and producers helped me that day and continue to support me. I am grateful for the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences.
An investigation by the Warren Commission determined a former US Marine named Lee Harvey Oswald shot Kennedy from a nearby book depository, but the murky facts of the case have led to a number of alternate theories.

They include a CIA conspiracy, a mafia hit job, a covert operation by Lyndon B. Johnson, and more.

In anticipation of the National Archives releasing 3,100 documents related to the assassination on October 26, here are the top theories that have swirled ever since.

The CIA theory

People who believe the CIA was behind Kennedy's assassination speculate the agency strongly opposed a number of the president's stances on Cuba and Communism.

The theory posits that Kennedy's refusal to offer air support for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, a CIA-sponsored mission to overthrow Fidel Castro, triggered the CIA to eliminate Kennedy from the picture altogether.

Theorists tend to believe the CIA set Oswald up as its scapegoat.

The Mafia theory

A related theory suggests the CIA worked with the Mafia to have Kennedy killed. At the time, the two organizations had a shared interest in overthrowing Castro, as the Mafia held a number of investments in Cuban casinos at-risk of being shut down.

Government documents show the CIA did work with the Mafia to take down Castro; some conspiracy theorists claim the two also worked together, along with anti-Castro Cubans, to assassinate Kennedy.

The Cuban exile theory

Some believe the effort was far less sophisticated than a federal conspiracy, but carried out by a group of rogue Cuban exiles who saw the failed Bay of Pigs invasion as sufficient evidence that Kennedy was unfit as president.

Between 1959, when the Cuban Revolution brought Castro to power, and Kennedy's assassination in 1963, his popularity among exiles had eroded considerably. In October of 1963, anti-Castro Cubans met with right-wing Americans to discuss frustrations with Kennedy.

Theorists speculate the meeting may have been a tipping point for the assassination a month later.

The Lyndon B. Johnson theory

One theory speculates that LBJ feared getting dropped from the Democratic ticket in the 1964 election so intensely that he plotted to have Kennedy assassinated.

According to a 1968 memoir written by Kennedy's personal secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, it is true that Kennedy planned to replace Johnson as vice president. Kennedy told Lincoln as much on November 19, 1963  three days before he was killed.

Conspiracy theorists point to the timeline as partial evidence that Johnson might have had a hand in orchestrating the murder.

The KGB theory

Some theorists believe a band of Soviet officers carried out Kennedy's assassination, directed by Premier Nikita Krushchev.

Toward the end of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, Krushchev was ultimately forced to remove the intercontinental ballistic missiles he'd deployed in Cuba due to US militaristic threats against the Soviet Union.
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Parsec, a three-year old startup, had found its niche. The company designed ads that people have to move out of the way with their finger order to keep reading a story on their mobile phone. The unique approach meant users would be required to a degree to interact with an ad, instead of just letting it slip past as they read a story or click through a slideshow. The rough idea was that people would be more likely to stop and notice these ads, and ideally, they'd spend more time with them than the average banner.

Now, Parsec CEO Marc Guldimann says Google is blowing that business up.

Starting next year, when Google rolls out the latest version of its Chrome browser, those ads will be automatically blocked. It's not just them. Also blocked are ads that automatically start blaring sound, and others like these that Google says make the experience of browsing the web worse.So Parsec is scrambling to ditch the old ad unit entirely  which means getting publishers, advertisers, and other business partners to run an entirely different, Chrome-approved, ad unit.

Here are the old Parsec ads:

Guldimann acknowledges that the company was always going to have to move away from ads that force interaction. But his complaint is that Google is using its massive power in the digital ad ecosystem, to play judge, jury, and executioner of ad-tech companies. He's not clear, he says, on how Google made the decision it did or when and how it'll be implemented.

"Right now, they are a benevolent dictator," he said. "Let's not joke ourselves. They own the browser. We're playing in their world. They set the rules." Parsec isn't alone in facing a sudden shift from a tech platform. Publishers too  especially those that had loaded up their sites with lots of videos that play automatically with sound have to work out what the new Chrome restrictions will mean. Yet as the industry grapples with how to adapt to the coming changes next year, there's loads of confusion over who is in charge, how the annoying ads will be identified and what the timeframe is for compliance. It all points to an uncomfortable position for Google, which is both a massive ad sales entity and the provider of the web's most popular browser in the U.S.

Google says its just following the lead of the Coalition for Better Ads, a consortium of ad industry trade groups and big tech and media companies formed in September of last year.

The Coalition says it has conducted proprietary research on over 100 types of digital ads graded by 25,000 consumer respondents in the U.S. and Europe. That's how it came up with dozen ad types that consumers find 'annoying' and that publishers should avoid. The list includes video ads that play automatically with sound and ads the cover more than a third of a person's screen, for example.

It also includes "Full-Screen Scrollover ads," or ads that "force a user to scroll through an ad that appears on top of content." In other words, exactly the kind of ads Parsec bet the company on.

Google says with the coming Chrome update it's just providing the hammer that the industry can use to apply these recommendations in one fell swoop." Thanks to the Better Ads Standards, the ad industry has 12 ad experiences that we know annoy Internet users and encourage people to opt out of ads entirely," said a Google spokesperson." Chrome has a long history of protecting users from annoying or harmful experiences. For example, like other browsers, Chrome blocks pop-ups in new tabs and shows warnings before malware pages. "

Uncomfortable

Given the rise in popularity of ad blockers, it's clear that digital advertising needs to clean up its act. Many ad insiders, though, aren't wild about Google deciding what ads are ok and which are not.

In fact, several executives told Business Insider they are of the belief that Google is the driving force behind the Coalition, and that it is funding and dictating the effort. They speak as if the Coalition is Google.

Both Google and the Coalition say this is not the case.

Parsec is moving forward with new ads that the company hopes combine consumer interruption with consumer respect. Guldimann estimates the company is about halfway through its transition to Chrome friendly ads.

The new Parsec ads:
Apparently, he is well liked by both regular folks, who troop to his church to see him and influential people that fly in from various countries.

With the news of the latest visit from a Liberian politician, we take a look at all the times he has met with African leaders.

George Weah

On Sunday, October 22, 2017, the presidential candidate in Liberia attended a service at the Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos.

He was welcomed by the prophet who said, my brother is here today because he loves his country and wants Gods choice for his country.

He is not here to impose himself. What does God say about his country, Liberia? What is Gods opinion? That is why he is here.

Senator Yormie Johnson

This Liberian prominent presidential candidate was also at the same Sunday service with Weah.

The fact that these two were attending at the same time did not go unnoticed by T.B Joshua, who said that it was not his place to choose sides.

According to him, his own role is to pray for the will of God to be done in the nation of Liberia. The also revealed that he had been contacted by Liberias incumbent Vice President, Joseph Boakai.

In his words, We are not herbalists or witch-doctors; we are people of God. Gods choice is our choice. We cannot pray against Gods will.

Without Gods corresponding power, we cannot pray to Him. For every step we take  every movement and action  intimation comes first.

There must be a suggestion from the Spirit to move before we move. If truly I am a man of God, I must hear from God  move or dont move.

Gods opinion is what we should seek in our country  simple! God is the Answer, the Final.

Goodluck Jonathan

In 2014, the former President Goodluck Jonathan visited the site of the collapsed SCOAN building. He was met by the prophet, who showed him around the site. The incident killed at least 86 persons, mostly South Africans.

John Magufuli

Dr Magufuli is not just Tanzanias President, reportedly he is also an Emmanuel TV partner and a regular visitor to SCOAN.

His first visit was while he was still the Minister of Works in 2011. He was accompanied by his family.

Eventually, the Prophet returned the favour by visiting the president in his country.

On November 3, 2015, T.B Joshua was in Tanzania for the presidential inauguration.

This visit resulted in a testimony from the presidents eldest son, who said he received healing from a severe respiratory problem after the prophet prayed for him.

John Atta Mills

In 2009, the late President of Ghana announced that he had been a member of SCOAN for over 10 years.

He said, I am no stranger to this church. I have known the man-of-God for more than 10 years. I first met him when I was Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.

The late leader held his first thanksgiving service outside Ghana after winning the presidential election on January 3rd.

Julius Malema

South Africas opposition leader visited the SCOAN in August 2013. Speaking with eNCA, he said, We all seek divine intervention, we all seek blessings of spiritual leaders, and it happened that this time we came to TB Joshua and it shouldnt be seen to be any controversial activities.

Others include:

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

King Goodwill Zwelithini.

Zimbabwe's Morgan Tsvangirai.

Malawi President Joyce Banda.

King Koshi Kgabo Moloto of the Limpopo Kingdom in South Africa.

Gabonese President, Mr Omar Bongo.

Former President of Congo, Mr Pascal Lissouba.
It got into the country in the 15th century. Eventually, the first mission of the Church of England was established in Badagry by Henry Townsend in 1842.

Later on, the church elected Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a Yoruba man and former slave in 1864. This made him the first black Bishop of the Anglican Communion.

This goes to show how long this church has been around. Their extensive history is not the only thing that differentiates them from others.

The following are two major reasons why this denomination stands apart from others.

It's not a one-man business.

Unlike others that look up to one person for spiritual guidance, the Anglican church has a structure. This is headed by the Primate of All Nigeria, Archbishop Nicholas Oko. This followed by the remaining archbishops of the 14 ecclesiastical provinces, bishops The churchs administrative headquarter is located in Abuja.

The Church also has councils in every chapel called Parish Provincial Council (PCC). Members of this council have the authority over all matters of general interest and the well-being of the Church. They also go for the General Synod meeting, where they contribute to making decisions for the whole church.

This kind of structure prevents people from misbehaving and getting drunk on their power.

Priests can be fired.

In 2010, the church made the news for dismissing three priests. They were dismissed by the Bishop of the Diocese of Egbu, Anglican Communion, Professor Emmanuel U. Iheagwam.

Speaking at the dioceses third session of the 5th Synod, he said, As my chaplain and the priest-in-charge of the Diocesan Farm, the priest defrauded the diocese of huge sums of money, part of which was recovered from him.

As priest-in-charge of Saint Matthews Church, Obokwe, he was accused of mismanagement of human and material resources and was consequently suspended from office for six months.

He was recalled in January 2009. Within the period of his reinstatement, he perfected his plans to abscond and has absconded. He is, therefore, dismissed as a priest in and of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.

This is something that all church should have in their constitution. Knowing that you can be dismissed has a way of putting the fear of God in people.

On another note, Anglican priests can get married, unlike Catholic priests.

We reached out to a member to see what it is like to be a member of this interesting church.

He said, I love the Anglican communion. Probably because I was born into an Anglican family. I feel worshipping God should be done solemnly. This, you would get in any Anglican church. I love the hymn singing, the mode of prayer. Personally shouting during prayers distracts me and doesnt make me focused.

The Anglican Church is seen as a middle way between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. This is reflected in the things that they adopted from both churches.

Three orders of bishop, priest and deacon, organization by diocese and parish are some of the things taken from Catholicism.

From Pentecostalism, the church has the King James Bible and married clergy.
Some lecturers in Nigerian Universities like to form bad guys with their students and they do that with first-class arrogance. A lot of students have had encounters with lecturers telling them they will not graduate, the lenient ones would promise them a poor grade irrespective of their performance.

Lecturers like these according to students abound in OAU and they wear their discouraging academic principles like a badge of honour.

Graduating with first-class from Obafemi Awolowo University is one of the most difficult things to achieve in Nigeria.

It is almost impossible because some departments in the University have developed a culture of not producing first class graduates.

While other departments produce graduates year in year out, these departments have proved that first class award is not for everyone in their domain, not even for the most brilliant students.

Recently, Aarinola Olaiya broke a 28-year-old record in the University as she emerged the first student of Surgery to graduate with distinction in 28 years.

Her victory over her department prompted a conversation based on the conclusion of a Twitter Nigeria influencer that lecturers in a faculty or department that does not produce a first-class student in five years should be fired.

A lot of people reacted to this tweet and called out the departments in OAU where it is difficult to bag first class.

So, if you are considering admission into these departments, you have to prepare yourself for the culture. The culture of glorifying failure in OAU.

1. English

The OAU English department has not produced any first class student in more than three decades. According to a student of the department, the last distinction graduate is now an old senior lecturer in the department. And ever since, no student has been dimmed brilliant enough to merit the award.

2. Geology:

If making first class in the study of the earth and its structure was a passport to heaven, no student studying Geology in OAU would make heaven.

It is that certain. So certain that the lecturers usually prepare the minds of the students that they can not get first class no matter how brilliant they are. Geology is one of the most dreaded courses in this university and for decades, no student has been celebrated in the department.

3. Surgery:

In Surgery department, it is a good news that no student has been able to make first class for the past 28 years. This is like a place where becoming a first class graduate is seriously frowned at.

Unfortunately, a student of the department, Aarinola Olaniyan recently broke the jinx and her fellow students could not but celebrate her victory over the department.

4. Political Science:

This department has also failed to produce any first class graduate in so many years. This culture has even made some students to give up on chasing the best grade because first class has not happened to any student in the past and is not likely to happen in future.

5. Chemistry:

According to a graduate of this department, graduating with distinction in Chemistry is not as terrible as it is in Geology but it is rare to come across a first-class student in the department.

It takes like three to four years to see a first class graduate in this department, it is a serious issue but not as serious as the case in Geology and medical faculty.
The Yoruba movie star's wife, who is based in the United States, reportedly delivered the child in the country.

Owokoniran announced the arrival of their bundle of joy on Instagram on Tuesday, October 24, 2017, quoting a verse from the Quran which captures the process of making a baby.

"Alhamdulillah .........Then We (ALLAH)...made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed her into another creation.........Quran 23:14", he wrote.
Alexei Uchitel's "Matilda" has outraged hardline Orthodox believers, who view tsar Nicholas II as a saint and object to the depiction of his affair with a ballerina.

In Moscow, two cars were set alight outside the offices of Uchitel's lawyer last month.

"There will be increased security measures, but so far just for the first weekend of release," said Alexei Ryazantsev of the Karo Premiere distribution company that is hosting the premiere on Thursday in Russia's capital.

Distributors were still receiving messages about possible disruptions at screenings but they were being handled by police, he told reporters.

A small crowd of Orthodox believers holding pictures of Nicholas II gathered outside the Mariinsky Theatre in protest of the film's premiere in Saint Petersburg Monday, where key scenes from the movie were shot.

"This film is a falsehood and a blasphemy," demonstrator Vladimir Vasilyev told AFP. "It offends our morality. It is a Western conspiracy".

Uchitel said he had not expected such controversy and would not wish it on anyone.

"It's been very hard psychologically," he said. "As you know there have been threats... but the authorities have reacted and these people have been arrested".

Mixed response

In the Urals city of Yekaterinburg -- where the royal family was killed by firing squad -- a man drove a van filled with gas canisters into a movie theatre and set it on fire in apparent protest against the historical drama.

Last month, Russia's two biggest cinema chains Cinema Park and Formula Kino said they would drop the film from their lineup after threats, but reversed themselves afterwards.

Nicholas II and his family were denounced in the Soviet period but are now viewed as holy martyrs by the Russian Orthodox Church.

The visually luscious, erotically charged "Matilda" focuses on the emperor's relationship with ballerina Mathilde Kschessinska before his marriage and ascent to the throne.

German actor Lars Eidinger -- who is known for playing in steamy art house films -- stars as the last tsar. Eidinger declined to travel to Russia for the film's premieres, citing security concerns.
Rejoice who claims she lives in Yola Fufanga, Adamawa State, has proudly flaunted her gay partner and relationship on social media a few days ago, not knowing that the lashback she would get would be out of this world.

Taking to her Facebook account, Rejoice shared the photos of her partner kissing, frolicking and grabbing each other's bosom with the caption:

My woman, even if you take me to court, am ready to run your race. My woman gives me the love I deserve, I cherish her so much. (LGBT) rules.

But the post turned out to be a mistake as a plethora of attack from Nigerians literarily forced Rejoice to take down the post.

Read some of the comments from angry Nigerians below:

Nkechi Odita:"Oh my God, what is this world turning into? Imagine this little girl that should be in school posting this type of rubbish? You have been marked for hell, Rejoice."

Rejoice Okon:"I am ashamed of you, Rejoice. Who gave you my name? I can see you have no joy in your life if, at your age, you are a lesbian and gloating about it."

Blessing Peter: "The only thing I can say is that God will have mercy on this young girl because she is lost already. A lesbian at tour age? And you are proud of it? Such a shame."

Mike Okonofua: "I really pity your parents, Rejoice. They think they have a child but you have wasted their efforts on you. Shame on you and your lesbian partner."

Terry Mbang:"At your age, you are already a lesbian? I pity your life and your parents."

Mrs. Talatu Bako:"Rejoice or whatever you call yourself, I am sure your parents are in the dark on what you are doing. Do you think being a lesbian is the plan of God for you? You will rot in hell if you don't retrace your footsteps."

Hajia Umma:"As a parent, I feel so sad. What is this girl doing to herself? May Allah save you from eternal condemnation."

Young Dizzy K:"See this one, when guys are all over the place, you are enjoying lesbian sex with another woman? Just let me catch you there, you will know there is a difference between a man and a woman, idiot."

Bala Kalle:"If I were her father, I will lock her up in a room and teach her how to follow natural sequence of life. She needs serious mental assessment."

Bridget Andrew:"You have lost your soul to the devil and it will take the grace of God to save your life. Do you think we are in America? This is Nigeria girl and I am sure you are now a marked target."
H-Metro reports that Sister Kamundiya was praying at a prayer shrine in the Mutoko County in Mashonaland East Province when the man attacked her, raped, killed her and dumped her body in a dam, with her body recovered a few days later.

The deceased Reverend Sister, an official at St Georges High School, had reportedly visited Mtoko Mother of Peace Community in an assessment tour in connection with a visit by mass server students from the school based in Harare, the country's capital when the incident occurred.

Sister Kamundiya reportedly stopped over for a brief pilgrimage to the Glorious Cross of Life which is a prayer shrine after concluding her meeting with orphans and was escorted by a female community member to the area whom she told she needed a brief time to say her prayers in solitude.

It was, however, discovered that after she did not come back after a while, some residents went in search of her and found her car still parked at the same spot where it was left, prompting the people to raise an alarm and a search party was sent to search for her.

The search party reportedly met a man who said he saw Sister Plaxedes a while ago acting like a mad person.

Not convinced by the mans statement, the search group decided to search through his belongings and found groceries which he claimed belonged to his sister. The groceries later proved to be the first link to the Reverend Sisters mysterious disappearance.

After her body was found a few days later, some bruises, blisters, and blood were found on her, showing signs of struggling.

During interrogation, the man confessed to raping and killing Sister Plaxedes after which he hid her bloody and clothes in a sack at Chido Mudzinyama Farm.
Decades ago, millions from the hinterland were bundled into ships and delivered to traders in European and American markets. Today, it has become a destination for tourists who want a slice of its well-preserved ties to the transatlantic slave trade.

Some of these structures were important steps on what is now known as the journey of no return

Here are 5 important points on the Badagry slave route.

(1) Mobee Family House & Slave Relics Museum:

History has told us that the coast of West Africa was a fertile area for slavers in the 1800s because the rulers, chiefs, and warriors collaborated with the foreigners to capture their own people.

At the height of the trade in Badagry, the white cap Chief Sunbu Mobee traded many of his people with the Portuguese in exchange for valuables. This dark reputation was tied to the family until his son ascended the Mobee throne and abolished the trade in 1886.

Today, the relics of the familys participation in slavery and many of the tools used to capture and hold captives can be found in the Mobee Family Slave Relics Museum, which sits at the top of Mobee Street in Badagry.

(2) Gberefu Island:

The Island, founded in the 15th Century, is geographically, a part of Badagry. However, due to its prime position between the hinterland and the ocean, Gberefu became a dreaded path to the Point of No Return.

Slave traders and warriors under the charge of Chief Sunbu Mobee also captured inhabitants of the Island, young and old, and put them on the path that their home was already feared for.

Reports of the time claim that as many as half a million people were sold into slavery from Gberefu between 1518 and 1880. Today, the Island is a sandy beach enclave, untouched.

(3) Spirit Attenuation Well:

Spirituality was a major element of the slave trade, especially in Badagry. Along the path in Gberefu Island, there sits a well bordered by a small wall that discourages anyone from drinking from it.

During the slave trade, the well is said to have been charmed by shamans and chiefs. Slaves on their way to the Americas were given water from the well to forget their home and cut their psychological ties to Badagry.

It is said that the water would take effect 3 months into the journey, supposedly leaving the slave with no connection to anything but the lives they had been sold into. The locals claim that no one has drunk from the well in over a century.

(4) The Ocean Path:

From the point of their capture, African slaves were grouped by gender and age and shackled with a repulsive assortment of chains.

They were led along the path from Gberefu to the Spirit Well but their captive reality mostly set in when they got on the final phase, on the path to the ocean.

With the wet breeze of the Atlantic bearing down on them, the slaves would walk in lines along dusty footpaths, bordered by shrubs and palm trees. Home was in the background; before them lay the final phase of a damning journey

(5) The Point of No Return:

For all the trauma of their experiences and the agony of their journey from home, the Point of No Return was the place where African slaves were finally confronted with their future as slaves.

Here, at the shores of the Atlantic, the captives were handed over to the Europeans. As the name suggests, it is said that anyone who made it to this point had no chance of returning home.
The wanted former chairman of the defunct Presidential Task Team on Pension Reforms (PTTPR), was recalled and promoted to head the Ministry of Interior's human resource department, despite pending corruption charges against him.

Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, and AGF Malami have been reported to be instrumental to the process of Maina's recall.

While Dambazau and Oyo-Ita have publicly distanced themselves from the scandal through press statements, AGF Malami has remained notably silent.

While speaking to Vanguard on Tuesday, October 24, 2017, he said he'll wait to get clearance from President Muhammadu Buhari before he'll make any public comments on the matter.

While he also asked Nigerians to wait for his side of his story when he appears before the Senate, he maintained that he would not be involved in anything that breaches the country's laws.

Describing the issue as a "grand conspiracy and mischief", AGF Malami told Vanguard, "I am a legal practitioner, who is always guided by law and public interest and will therefore not do anything that deviates from the law or breaches public interest.

"I believe that Nigerians are entitled to know the truth in the entire saga and I am ready to speak directly to them when I appear before the Senate since I have been summoned by the legislature, which is investigating the matter.

"I will not however talk until I get clearance from my principal on the matter and I look forward to addressing anxious Nigerians on the matter when I appear before the Senators."

On Monday, October 23, President Buhari ordered Maina's 'disengagement' from service and ordered a full investigation into the circumstances of his recall.
In a report by Premium Times, the suspected Boko Haram gunmen launched an attack on the military base killing military personnel and civilians on Tuesday night, October 24, 2017.

The attack, according to the report, took place at a village called Sasawa in Damaturu Local Government Area.

The attack was confirmed by an army spokesperson, Kayode Ogunsanya, and also by the state's Commissioner of Police, Abdulmaliki Sumonu.

While the army spokesperson is yet to confirm details on the actual casualty, the police commissioner also said security operatives are working on the details of the attack.

Yes, there was an attack and we repelled it, there was casualty on both sides. Colonel Ogunsanya, the spokesman of 3-Division Jos, said.

ALSO READ: Boko Haram leader's wife killed in NAF air strike

In his words, the Police commissioner had said: The attack happened on Tuesday night; we are still working on the details.

It was further reported that soldiers and a civilian was among those killed when the insurgents attacked on Tuesday.

I can authoritatively confirm to you that there was an attack in the early hours of yesterday at Sasawa and eight military personnel, including an officer as well as a civilian, were killed during the raid, a military source reportedly said.

The source was further quoted as saying the attackers who came with seven gun trucks overran the military base having taken the soldiers off guard.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Abdulmaliki Sumonu, earlier confirmed to journalists that the village was attacked on Tuesday night.
The Presidents Personal Assistant on Social Media, Bashir Ahmed, confirmed this development on his twitter handle on Tuesday in Abuja.

Member-countries of the ECOWAS Task Force on Common Currency are Nigeria, Cote dIvoire, Ghana and Niger.

In his speech at the meeting, President Buhari had urged the ECOWAS member countries to tread carefully in pushing for a single currency in the sub-region by 2020.

According to him, the necessary economic fundamentals among countries continue to differ over the years, making it more difficult to pull through with the project by 2020.

Nigeria advises that we proceed cautiously with the integration agenda, taking into consideration the above concerns and the lessons currently unfolding in the European Union.
On Monday, October 23, 2017, Justice Abang signed a draft of a subpoena requiring the former president to appear before the court on Wednesday after Metuh's counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), told the court that the former president had refused to reply a request letter.

Dr. Ikpeazu had told the court, "The other witness we want to subpoena is Goodluck Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"We wrote him a letter but he did not respond and our plan will be to apply for the subpoena after the first application (for subpoena to be issued on Dasuki)."

The court was informed that the former president didn't appear because an attempt by the court bailiff to serve him personally with the witness summon at his home in Abuja had failed. Justice Abang noted that the bailiff's singular attempt was insufficient.

He went further to say that if the service of the subpoena has not been successful after five days, Metuh should initiate the process of serving it through substituted means.

The former president is not the only high profile individual to have turned down an invitation by the court to appear as a witness.

ALSO READ: Metuh wants Goodluck Jonathan as witness in fraud case

Despite the ruling of the Court of Appeal that ordered for the appearance of detained former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki,as a witness in the trial, the Department of State Service (DSS) failed to produce him on Monday.

Dasuki's counsel, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), appeared before Justice Abang on Monday to oppose the request to compel his client to testify as Metuh's defence witness.

During Wednesday's hearing, Justice Abang dismissed Dasuki's application on the premise that granting it would amount to breach of the Court of Appeal's order which his court cannot review.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, on a seven-count charge bordering on fraud and money laundering.
The summons is a surprise development and will be keenly watched, as Jonathan has been cited in several corruption cases but is not thought to have been formally questioned.

But whether he appears depends on when or if he is formally served the court papers in time.

Olisa Metuh is on trial accused of having fraudulently received from 400 million naira ($1.1 million, 945,000 euros) from Jonathan's national security advisor, Sambo Dasuki.

The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman maintains he received the money on Jonathan's orders to fund his unsuccessful re-election campaign in 2015.

On Monday, Metuh's lawyers said they intended to call the ex-head of state as a witness.

Judge Abang Okon, sitting at the Federal High Court in Abuja, said it would be "tantamount to violating the right of (Metuh) to (a) fair hearing not to sign the subpoena".

"I have no option other than to sign a subpoena to compel former President Goodluck Jonathan to appear in court on October 25, 2017 to give evidence," he added.

Metuh's legal team has already successfully sought an order that Dasuki should give evidence.

The former army colonel is being tried separately, accused of illegally diverting some $2 billion in defence funds meant to equip Nigeria's military against Boko Haram jihadists.

Prominent PDP figures and supporters are alleged to have received the money.

Metuh's lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, told reporters outside court the request for Jonathan to attend was because "justice... demands all the cards to be placed perfectly on the table".

Prosecutor Tahir Silvanus added: "We, the prosecution, have no problem with that.

"We look forward to having them, both Colonel Dasuki and the former president, in court so that they can assist in moving the wheel of justice forward."

Dasuki, who is also using Jonathan as an alibi, has been in custody since his arrest in 2015, despite several court orders that he should be released on bail.

His lawyer, Ahmed Raji, said the issue should be postponed as compelling his client to appear was "very oppressive" and he was "not in the right frame of mind" after so long in custody.
Recall the Senator Isa Misau had accused the IGP of collecting millions of Naira to post officers.

The senator had also accused the IGPof pocketing N10 billion monthly from oil companies and banks where police officers are posted.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Edime Amade said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) should probe the IGP over allegations levelled against him.

The group accused the police of misleading the federal high court, Abuja on the activities of the Peace Corps of Nigeria.

In addition to the ongoing public hearing by the senate, the presidency should immediately set up an independent executive committee to thoroughly investigate and unravel the truth behind the allegations raised against IGP Idris by senator Isah Misau, he said.

In view of the foregoing atrocities committed by IGP Idris, we strongly feel that his continuous occupation of office no longer serves the best interest of the poor masses and the new Nigeria which is anchored on integrity, transparency and discipline.

The police should remedy the wrong meted to Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) by vacating their headquarters forthwith in the interest of peace, justice and fairness," he added.

Recall that on Tuesday, February 28, 2017, the Police invaded and shut down the headquarters of the PCN and arresting its national commandant, Dickson Akoh.
The family made this claim in a public defence of the fugitive former chairman of the defunct Presidential Task Team on Pension Reforms (PTTPR) and blamed his troubles on the manipulations of a cabal bent on tarnishing his image.

The family addressed the media in Kaduna on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, through spokesman Malam Aliyu Maina who also protested against the sealing of houses linked to Maina.

Aliyu condemned the actions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) who have sealed at least six properties linked to Maina.

He said most of the properties were inherited and could not have been proceeds of crime as the EFCC have implied.

He also said that unlike what the public perception of Maina is, he is a messiah who brought reforms into the Nigerian Pension Scheme.

Aliyu said, "You must have noticed the recent attempt by some cabal to ridicule and tarnish the image of the Maina family in the media where our brother, Abdulrasheed Maina, has been blackmailed as a fraudster.

"The cabals have gone to the extent of marking our house in red paints with an inscription of E.F.C.C under investigation. The EFCC is wrong in their action because Abdulrasheed inherited so many properties from his late father in Kaduna and Abuja, some of them were built before he was born so how could he have acquired them fraudulently.

"The entire family of Abdullahi Maina is categorically stating that our son is not in any way a fraudster, rather he is a messiah who brought reforms into Nigerian Pension Scheme, whose effort saw the disappearance of pensioners roaming the streets of Abuja and other state capital in Nigeria.

"It is on record that Abdulrasheed Maina's reform put to a stop the fraudulent withdrawals of huge sums from both the Nigerian Pension Board, the Nigerian Police Pension Board etc.

"Perhaps it is this noble effort that made him enviable to the present administration when they came into power to convince him to come back and assist in its "Change agenda."

"We are aware that all this act of calumny is not targeted against Abdulrasheed Maina alone but against the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria and the office of the Attorney General. We have contacted our lawyers Messr Mamma Nasir & Co and instructed them to act appropriately.

"We equally know that Abdulrasheed Maina is in possession of many facts that is against the cabal and interesting to the Nigerian populace, which he will disclose very soon."

ALSO READ: EFCC seals 7 properties linked to wanted Maina

Maina was controversially recalled and promoted to head the Ministry of Interior's human resource department after he was dismissed by the Federal Civil Service Commission in 2013 following a recommendation by the Office of the Head of Service.

In 2015, he was charged alongside former Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye, Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited before a Federal High Court on a 24-count charge bordering on procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretence through the award of fraudulent biometric contracts.

After he was declared wanted over an alleged N2 billion pension fraud, he fled abroad to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), evading the capture of the EFCC.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, and Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, have been reported to be instrumental to the process of Maina's recall.

On Monday, after his reinstatement drew public outcry against the government, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered Maina's 'disengagement' and ordered a full investigation into the circumstances of his recall.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, in a chartered Airbus A330-200 flight with Registration number 5A- LAT at 9.15pm.

They had been stranded in the course of their failed attempt to cross over to Europe through the volatile North African country.

The returnees were assisted back to Nigeria by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) while the Italian Government provided the aircraft.

They were handed over to the Zonal Coordinator of NEMA Southwest, Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu, who received them on behalf of Federal Government.

The female among the returnees comprised 241 adults, two children and five infants while the male comprised four adults, four teenage boys and one infant.

Yakubu enjoined the returnees to embrace the change mantra of the federal government.

He urged them to remain positive and focused on contributing their quota to national development, instead of seeking greener pastures where it doesnt exist.

ALSO READ: 128 Nigerians deported from Libya

Yakubu noted that they would not be treated as second class citizens in their own country, unlike what they face abroad after migrating illegally.

He disclosed that the European Union was providing the reintegration assistance, urging them to make use of the initiative and better their lives.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge, made the disclosure Tuesday, October 24, in Asaba at a media briefing.

Azinge said the suspected cases of the disease are currently under medical care at an undisclosed location in the state.

He said, "A total of three cases of suspected monkey pox disease have been reported in Delta state with no death recorded so far.

"However, for now we cannot disclose the location of the victims for confidentiality reasons and in order not to cause panic in their areas.

"The monkey pox is self-limiting disease with no specific treatment and no vaccine, meaning that no matter what you do, the disease will run out its course.

"Because it is self-limiting, what we are doing is to treat manifested symptoms of the disease like rashes, headache, general body weakness etc.

"However, the suspected case of the disease does not confirm monkey pox; not until laboratory analysis confirms it."

The commissioner revealed that the three victims are under intensive medical care, adding that surveillance officers in the 25 local government areas of the state have been put on alert.

ALSO READ: Monkey pox cases increase to 74 in 11 states

According to him, the disease that was first diagnosed in 1958 in Copenhagen, Denmark can be transmitted by contact with an infected animal or human being.

"Eating meats of infected animals that are not properly cooked is a possible risk factor and mode of transmission of the monkey pox disease.

"We want to appeal to residents in the state to remain calm as the Ministry and other health agencies are collaborating to curtail any eminent spread of the disease in the state.

"As part of preventive measure, we appeal to the people to endeavour to wash their hands and avoid contact with infected animals or persons.

"Also, people should ensure they cook their meat properly before eating.

"As a state, we will also ensure the isolation of all infected persons and quarantine of animals and persons who may have come in contact with infected animals or persons," Azinge said.

The commissioner said the ministry will continue to sensitise residents on the preventive measures and appealed to them to report any suspected case of the disease to the ministrys hotlines.
Akande gave the clarification on Tuesday, October 24, 2017, following some media quoting Osinbajo as announcing that $2 billion was released for the project instead of N2 billion.

According to Akande, during the APC Governorship campaign in Onitsha, Anambra State, on October 20, Osinbajo had stressed the Buhari administration's commitment to keeping its promises to the Nigerian people.

He said that one of those promises is the construction of the second Niger Bridge, adding that the correct amount released was in the official news release he sent on the Vice President's remarks during the campaign rally same day.

"I did quote the VP as saying that the Sovereign Wealth Fund paid N2 billion for that same project (Sum paid to the contractor: Julius Berger for early works)", he said.

"We will definitely see our second Niger Bridge, we will not make promises we cannot keep."

He, however, observed that a short video clip from the event captured on the news segment of a television channel quoted Osinbajo as mentioning "$2bn" and not "N2bn", which was what he had actually meant to say.

"Mentioning the dollar currency was inadvertent.

"As it happened, the excerpt from the video, which was shared online, was what was quoted in the headlines of some media houses, and in comments on social media.

"The figures were misplaced. Kindly set the records straight, from the speech I had sent.

"Please note, again, the sum provided for this is actually two billion naira (N2 billion)," Akande added.

ALSO READ: Osinbajo says hate speech is terrorism

He also stated that the highlight of the rally and Osinbajo's remarks is the commitment of the administration to improve the countrys transportation network and economy.

The spokesman said, "The APC government is a government that will do everything it has promised. We are not making promises for nothing.

"The second Niger Bridge we have been talking about for a long time, but for the first time, the President went by himself to negotiate the facility to do that second Niger Bridge."
NDLEA Commander Egwunwoke Silvia disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

She said out of those arrested, 48 were convicted and 51 sent for counselling while the remaining cases were pending in courts.

The state commander said the seized drugs included cannabis, exol-5, nitrazepan, diazepam, rotrpynol and crack cocaine, while the liquid drugs were cough syrups with codine and chloroform.
In a press statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, in Abuja on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, Fitdasi was killed while representing her husband in a meeting with other terrorists.

The statement read, "Human Intelligence indicates that the wife of the leader of the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) Organization, Mallama Fitdasi, appeared to have been killed in recent successful airstrikes on DURWAWA settlement on the outskirts of URGA, near KONDUGA.

"Mallama Fitdasi was reported to have been representing her husband in a coordinating meeting with other terrorists at the location of the airstrikes.

"It is recalled that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) had reported the successful aerial attack of a large number of BHTs at DURWAWA on 19 October 2017.

"Battle Damage Assessment had indeed revealed that the aerial attack set off a fire, causing damage to the BHT structures within the settlement and neutralized most of the BHTs with a few of them fleeing the location.

"Efforts are ongoing to confirm the reported killing of Shekau's wife, alongside other BHTs."
Akpan-Jacobs made the revelation on Wednesday at an Ikeja High Court on the second day of the trial-within-trial proceedings to determine the voluntariness of his statements to the anti-graft agency.

While being led in evidence by Mr Amos Ibe, his defence counsel, Akpan-Jacobs said: I was first arrested by the Lagos office of the EFCC.

On the days when I honoured their invitation, I gave statements at various times to different operatives namely Mr Dapo, Mr Kabir, Mr Lawal as well as a team of investigators comprising a lady and two men.

I received an unexpected call from the EFCC on Feb. 5, 2009 which I honoured and when I arrived, I was taken straight to the airport.

When I asked what was wrong, they told me that it was based on orders from above, I immediately called my wife and lawyer to inform them of the development.

When I arrived in Abuja, I was taken to an underground detention facility, the sureties in my bail by the EFCC were to be two directors in the civil service, who had landed property in Abuja.

When I saw the bail conditions, I told the second defendant that these people want to keep me here in perpetuity.

The defendant, who is Titis business partner, alleged that he was taken from the underground detention facility belonging to the EFCC in Abuja and was interrogated by Mr Pascal, Mr Oron, and Mr Baba-kura, operatives of the EFCC.

According to him, if his written statement was not satisfactory, operatives will shred the document and order him to write a fresh statement containing sentences approved by them.

Baba-kura, who was the head of the unit, acted like he owned the whole world and My Lord, to be honest, I gave it back to them.

However, when I was released, they were not going to budge; so, I wrote the statements.

While in Abuja, I had pneumonia, high blood pressure and the various times I went back to my cell, I had to lie down because I was standing all day.

My Lord, Mr Chima (a member of Titi Atikus legal team) read the statements I wrote to make sure I was writing what they wanted.

I did not give any undertaking while I was detained, an undertaking was brought to me by Mr Chima which I signed.

I signed the undertaking to save the second defendant because the EFCC put so much pressure on him to turn against me and out of pity, I had to sign the undertaking.

All the statements I wrote were signed but not dated, I dated all my statements in one day under the instruction of the EFCC, I did not have access to my phones as well as my lawyer, who was within reach.

I never saw Florence Doregos (Mrs Atiku) at the EFCC office, she never came despite the EFCC operatives telling me that she would come.

I want the court to reject the statements I gave to the EFCC, Akpan-Jacobs pleaded.

Earlier during proceedings, a lawyer, Mr Ikhide Daniels, testified that the EFCC denied him access to Akpan-Jacobs and Abdulmalik Ibrahim, the second defendant while they were in custody in Abuja.

He told the court: On Feb. 5, 2009, on my way to the Court of Appeal, I got a distress call from the wife of the second defendant that that the EFCC had invaded their residence and their premises sealed off.

I got a call from an unidentified person that they were en route to Abuja, I got to Abuja at about 3.30 pm or 4.00 pm and I got to the EFCC office about 30 to 35 minutes later.

The team that took the defendants to Abuja was the Chairmans Special Monitoring Unit, I requested to see the first and second defendants but they never obliged me.

Daniels also disputed the Oct. 24 testimony of Dickson Graymond, a retired detective of the EFCC, that the Akpan-Jacobs gave his statements voluntarily.

The lawyer alleged that the defendants were brought to Abuja from Lagos due to Atikus influence.

In Abuja, I asked Graymond about their bail and he said that I should tell Akpan-Jacobs to cooperate with the EFCC.

Graymond said that there was a special order from above to bring the defendants to Abuja and that is why the case was assigned to the chairmans team.

The defendants spent three weeks in Abuja, I was in Abuja to make sure that they had legal representation and to secure their release but the only time I had access to them was the night they were released.

After we left Abuja for Lagos, their spirits were down and they were in shock necessitating our fundamental human rights suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The EFCC gave a lot of subtle, draconian threats while they were in custody such as there are orders from above and eyes are watching you.

We went to Federal High Court to nullify the statements and undertaking on the grounds that they were not given voluntarily.

Graymond, in his testimony, said that their office at the FCDA was an open office, that statement isnt true, the EFCC office at the FCDA had little cubicles that does not allow one to see whats going on inside.

It was not an open office because I could not see all that was going on there, he said.

Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Babatunde Sonoiki, while cross-examining Daniels, alleged that the lawyer never came to Abuja to see his clients.

Sonoiki also denied that the Abuja office of the anti-graft agency had a detention facility and that the disputed undertaking was not made by Akpan-Jacobs while he was in EFCC custody in Abuja.

Responding, Daniels said: I came to your Abuja office, your log book will show that I was there, I was not there when the undertaking was given by Akpan-Jacobs because I was denied access to him.

I am not aware that Akpan-Jacobs brought a managers cheque to EFCC Abuja as a result of the undertaking.

The FCDA where the Chairmans Special Unit is based had no detention centre, the detention centre is located somewhere else, the location I cannot remember.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC had charged Akpan-Jacobs, Ibrahim, a lawyer; and Dana Motors Ltd with a 14-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent conversion of property worth N918 million belonging to THA Shipping Maritime Services Ltd.

THA Shipping Maritime Services Ltd, a company created in 2000, is owned by Mrs Atiku, Akpan-Jacobs and Fred Holmes, her German business partner.

Mrs Atiku was allegedly the majority shareholder with 49 per cent shares, while Messrs. Holmes and Akpan-Jacobs each had 25 per cent shares.

Akpan-Jacobs, who also doubled as the companys Managing Director and Secretary, was alleged to have gone to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to alter the shareholding in his favour and forged the companys board resolutions.

Under the new shareholding arrangement, he allegedly allotted 51 per cent shares to himself and 24.5 percent shares each to Mrs Atiku and Mr Holmes.

According to the EFCC, welding a fraudulent shareholding power, Akpan-Jacobs also sold a property belonging to the company to Dana Motors Nigeria Ltd for N918 million.

The property is located at Plot C63, Amuwo-Odofin Commercial Layout, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos.
Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this in an interactive session with a group of civil society organizations, under the umbrella of the Situation Room, on Tuesday, in Abuja.

Between 2016 and 2017, till this week, we have appeared for 419 cases in four different courts; so, I will say that in the last two years INEC has been dragged to court 419 times.

Conversely, 187 of them are at Federal and state high courts while 141 are at the Court of Appeal. Sixty-one of them are at the Supreme Court and two at the Industrial Court, he said.

Yakubu said that the political atmosphere in Anambra was quite peaceful as compared to recent elections, adding that up till today, we have no case in court on the nomination of any candidate.

He said that though the situation was unusual, it was rarely amazing in the context of litigation since the 2015 general elections.

The chairman said that 37 political parties were participating in the Nov. 18 Anambra governorship election which was a record for any governorship election in the country.

He said that INEC monitored all the political partys primaries and that 35 of them complied with the rules except for two that changed their candidates after the primaries, which was not allowed.

He said that Anambra had 21 local government areas, with 326 wards, 468 polling units, 724 voting points and 2,154,738 registered voters, including 203,681 new registrants.

Yakubu said that INEC had printed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for all registered voters in the state, and that the cards would be delivered on Saturday to the state so that the process of collection could commence.

He said that arrangement had been made for collection of the PVCs at the ward level so that it would be closer to the polling units.

He said that logistics were okay because the infrastructure in the state was reasonably good as there was no part of the state that could not be reached in 30 minutes.

He said that the commission was confident with the security arrangement on ground, explaining that we have engaged with the security agents and we want the deployment to follow the needs of the commission.

Yakubu said that INEC had made provision for hand-held magnifying glasses for albinos as requested by the Albino Foundation to help them see the party logos.

He added that all funds had been provided and remitted to the state for the conduct of the election.

Yakubu reassured indigenes of Anambra of early commencement of election, adding that the commission had made provision for ad hoc staff to stay the night at the polling areas.

Earlier, the Convener of Situation Room, Mr Clement Nwankwo, said the meeting was organised in order to clear the concerns of civil society organisations regarding the election.

Nwankwo said that CSOs were concerned with the safety of the electoral materials, ad hoc staff and the people.He urged INEC to allow the CSOs to have access to monitor the collation centres to enhance the credibility of the final results that would be announced.

He advised the commission to continue to monitor the ballot paper to prevent some political parties conniving with the printers to omit their names or partys logo to cook up legal cases.
Ado said this on Wednesday at the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission, (KWASIEC) Headquarters, Ilorin, during a visit to the commission.

He said that no politician would be exonerated from sanction if found wanting during the exercise.

The police chief said that the command has put in place mechanism to ensure peaceful conduct of the polls.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), report that this is coming just as the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kwara State chapter, officially flagged-off its campaign for the poll at the state party secretariat in Ilorin.

CP also urged members of the general public to obey the law and conduct themselves orderly during the election.

In his remarks, the Chairman of KWASIEC, Dr Usman Ajidagba, said the commission was set to conduct a smooth and peace polls.
The Flag-off Committee Chairman, Mr Azuka Okwuosa, said this while speaking with newsmen in Awka on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, accompanied by 30 governors and deputy governors, officially inaugurated Nwoyes campaign on Oct. 20.

Others at the inauguration were: some National Assembly members and national executives of the APC.

The committee chairman said that the campaign organisation would begin its tour across the state on Oct. 26 from Ihiala Local Government Area.

Okwuosa decried the destruction of the partys campaign billboards and posters by other political parties and urged opponents to play by the rules.

It was not surprising that from the inception of the campaign, APC posters and billboards were being destroyed and defaced to provoke our reaction.

It is an act of desperation by some political parties without programmes for the people. Allow the electorate to judge from what they see from the signage, he said.

Okwuosa said that a Police report on the accident that killed two persons at Ogidi, near Onitsha on the day of the flag-off had absolved the party or any of its members from the allegation.

According to him, we waited for the Police report to come out on the issue since it bothers on life before we make our position known on the matter.

We want to engage in ideological and issue-based campaign, not on mudslinging and blackmail, he said.

Okwuosa assured that the APC was committed to a free and fair election, adding that the party had no plan to rig the election as being speculated by opponents.
Advancio Interactive is a Lagos based startup that deals with apps and other software development, project management as well as financial inclusion.

Another Nigerian startup based in Abuja - Flexisaf participated in the event. They are an education software solutions provider.

The other top three winners include Momy Helper (Gaza, PS), a startup connecting Arab mums with parenting consultants; Homade (Jakarta, ID) that provides tasty healthy meals made by home chefs; and Wolves Interactive (Istanbul, TR), a mobile games company specializing in race games.

Advancio Interactive is a shining light and source of inspiration to younger ones looking to make an impact in society given the chance.
Erdogan said they would explore ways to increase their cooperation "politically, militarily, economically and culturally."

During the meeting, both men were seen smiling -- a stark difference to when Erdogan told Abadi to "know your place" last October, after Baghdad criticised a Turkish troop presence in northern Iraq.

But since the non-binding Kurdish independence vote last month relations have improved, with Ankara -- which was particularly critical of Kirkuk being included in the vote -- backing Baghdad by threatening to close its border with Iraqi Kurdistan and apply economic sanctions.

"We have always said from the beginning that we support the territorial integrity of Iraq, and we will continue to say so," Erdogan said while repeating that the Kurdish vote was "unacceptable".

'Ready to give support'

Erdogan said Turkey was ready to support reconstruction efforts in areas of Iraq that have been devastated by the fighting against the Islamic State extremist (IS) group and that he would push to develop economic ties with Baghdad.

"We are ready to provide any kind of support to allow the operation of the pipeline" to bring oil from Kirkuk to Turkey, Erdogan added.

The crude oil pipeline has been closed for several years.

The men also discussed the presence in northern Iraq of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency inside Turkey and is classified as a "terrorist group" by Ankara, the US and the EU.

"We are determined to continue the common struggle (against the PKK)," Erdogan said.

The Iraqi prime minister said that "no group, whether Iraqi or foreign, is allowed to carry weapons in Iraq if it is not authorised to do so".

Abadi also met with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, who said they agreed to hold a joint cabinet meeting in the future.

Turkey would provide "necessary support" to the Iraqi central government to take control of the Habur crossing point between northern Iraq and Turkey, Yildirim added.

The crossing is controlled by the Kurdistan Regional Government, but the Turkish premier did not give any more details.

Abadi's visit comes as Iraqi Kurdistan proposed Wednesday to "freeze" the results of its independence referendum and start "an open dialogue between the government of Kurdistan and the central government on the basis of the constitution".
Steinmeier is a former foreign minister who was actively engaged in Germany's efforts to mediate the Ukraine crisis and has long called for engaging Russia.

"We both believe that the current state of affairs cannot satisfy us and should not satisfy us," Steinmeier said following talks with Putin in comments translated into Russian.

"We are far from (having) normal ties, open wounds are still out there, there are unresolved issues, first and foremost it concerns the takeover of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which are a burden and continue to be a burden for our ties."

Putin for his part said Moscow was ready to develop ties with Germany, adding that German businesses were interested in expanding their footprint in Russia.

"Despite some certain political difficulties Russian-German ties are not at a standstill," he added.

Earlier Wednesday Steinmeier spoke with former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, 86, soliciting his advice on how to improve ties between the two countries.

"He told me: 'The only thing that helps is to keep talking - even about difficult issues'," Steinmeier told journalists after the hour-long meeting.

"I come during times in which German-Russian relations have become difficult," Steinmeier said.

"I see it as my responsibility to contribute to make sure that this doesn't stay this way forever."

Steinmeier also visited Russia's top rights group Memorial and attended a ceremony for the Russian state's return of a cathedral building to the Protestant church.
He has been placed on desk duty. The policeman "does not have the psychological conditions" for street patrol work, the judge ruled, although he stressed the officer's clean record prior to the "tragic incident."

The shooting took place in Rio's gang-plagued Rocinha favela, when officers say they opened fire on a car breaking through a security cordon, not knowing that it carried tourists. A Spanish woman died of her wounds in hospital.
The leaders of the two regions, which contribute up to 30 percent of Italy's GDP, want better deals on tax revenues.

"The government is ready to hold talks on the issues of autonomy," Gentiloni said during a visit to Veneto.

"This will be a complex discussion, but we are ready to carry it out within the limits of the law and the Constitution."

Turnout was higher than expected in the referendums, and analysts warned that the results should not be underestimated in the context of the crisis created by Catalonia's push for independence.

Voter participation was 57 percent in Veneto and almost 39 percent in Lombardy.

Both regions are run by the Northern League (LN) party, which was once openly secessionist but has lately shifted its focus to run on an anti-euro ticket in the hope of expanding its influence into the south.

The consultative votes are only the beginning of a process which could eventually lead to powers being devolved from Rome.

"We will discuss how to make Italy function better," Gentiloni said, adding that there would be no discussions on Italy or its constitution.

"We do not need new social divisions, but we need to repair the divisions the crisis has created".

Both regions will call for a return of a large part of their fiscal balance, as their residents pay about 70 billion euros ($82 billion) more a year in taxes than they receive in social spending.

Veneto President Luca Zaia also said the region would call for Veneto receiving "special status," which would require an amendment to Italy's constitution.

Gianclaudio Bressa, the under-secretary for regional affairs pushed back against Veneto's request for special status, saying it was "against the unity and indivisibility of the country."
Rajoy denied any knowledge of the scheme, saying he never dealt with the financial affairs of the party he has led since 2004.

Prosecutor Concepcion Sabadell on Tuesday recalled that Rajoy's health minister Ana Mato resigned in 2014 after being accused of benefitting from gifts made to her then husband, Jesus Sepulveda, who was mayor of the city of Pozuelo de Alarcon near Madrid from 2003 to 2009.

"It is known that Sepulveda received commissions in connection with his duties as senator and mayor to award public contracts, cash and in kind, which benefited Ana Mato and the Popular Party," Sabadell told the court.

Altogether, 37 defendants are on trial accused of participating in a vast kickback scheme involving tens of millions of euros between 1999 and 2005, including two former party treasurers and businessman Francisco Correa, the alleged head of the network.

Companies would allegedly give Correa a commission of two to three percent on the value of public contracts.

His main accomplice was allegedly Luis Barcenas, a former PP treasurer who was close to Rajoy. Barcenas is accused of setting up a slush fund to top up the salaries of PP leaders.

The trial, which began near Madrid in October 2016, is expected to end on November 10.

A series of corruption scandals has hounded the PP and contributed to the party losing its absolute majority in 2015.
All bar two of the activists -- who include two foreigners -- have been behind bars since a police raid in July on a workshop run by Amnesty on a popular island off Istanbul.

They face up to 15 years in jail if convicted after the trial at Istanbul's main court.

The accused include the director of Amnesty Turkey Idil Eser, who was detained in the raid by police on the workshop on the island of Buyukada.

Also going on trial is Amnesty's Turkey chair Taner Kilic, who was detained in June and whose case has been merged with that of the other 10 activists as prosecutors claimed he was aware of preparations for the workshop.

He has been charged with membership of an armed terror group while the others are charged with "aiding" an armed terror group.

The activists are accused in the indictment of seeking to create "chaos in society", similar to the anti-government protests that rocked Turkey in the summer of 2013.

The charges amplified concerns over freedom of expression in Turkey under the state of emergency imposed after last year's failed coup aimed at unseating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ankara blamed the coup attempt on the self-exiled Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, who denies the accusations.

Erdogan in July said the activists were detained after a tip-off that they were working against the government, comparing them to those involved in the failed coup.

- 'Test case'-

Amnesty International's Turkey researcher Andrew Gardner said the case against the human rights defenders was "a completely baseless prosecution that doesn't have a shred of evidence and doesn't stand up to the slightest scrutiny".

"The case will be a test case for Turkey's judiciary," he told AFP.

The two foreigners -- German Peter Steudtner and Swede Ali Gharavi -- were leading a digital information workshop on Buyukada and have been under arrest since the July raid.

Steudtner's detention has stoked tensions in particular with Berlin, and German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has described the terror charges as "incomprehensible".

Sweden this month summoned Turkey's ambassador over the case of Gharavi, saying it was "worried" about the accusations against him.

Amnesty posted a video message from Edward Snowden -- a former CIA employee who in 2013 revealed spying activities of the National Security Agency -- in support of the detained rights activists.

"The director and the chair of Amnesty International in Turkey are in prison for defending human rights," Snowden said.

"I know what it means to have support from the outside world in that moment, when you are alone, when you need it most. Join me, and together let's stand up for human rights defenders in Turkey."

Amnesty supporters from 110 countries worldwide stood up for Snowden as part of a campaign. Thousands wrote solidarity messages as well.

The suspects in Turkey are accused of links to outlawed groups including the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Gulen's organisation and the far-left Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C).
Flake, who has served in the Senate since 2013 and has been an outspoken critic of Trump-era politics, displayed visible emotion, his voice repeatedly breaking, as he announced he would not run for office again next year.

"The personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms and institutions, the flagrant disregard for truth and decency -- the provocation for the most petty reasons... none of these appalling features of our current politics should ever be regarded as normal," said the 54-year-old.

"We must stop pretending that the degradation of politics and the conduct of some in our executive branch are normal. They are not normal," Flake warned .

"Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior is excused as telling it like it is when it's actually just reckless, outrageous and undignified."

Flake blasted Trump for his unfettered tweeting, and attacked his Republican colleagues for keeping quiet as the president flouts one custom after another.

"The notion that one should stay silent as the norms and values that keep America strong are undermined and as the alliances and agreements that ensure the stability of the entire world are routinely threatened by the level of thought that goes into 140 characters," he said.

"Politics can make us silent when we should speak and silence can equal complicity," added the senator, who has assailed Trump-style politics in a book entitled "Conscience of a Conservative."

"I have children and grandchildren to answer to.... I will not be complicit or silent.... I am announcing today that my service in the Senate will conclude at the end of my term in early January 2019."

'Political price'

Flake's extraordinary speech came as a Senate colleague, Bob Corker of Tennessee, stepped up a war of words with Trump, calling him an "utterly untruthful" leader who "debases" the nation.

Like Flake, Corker is not seeking re-election next year.

Immediately after Flake's speech, his senior colleague from Arizona, Senator John McCain, praised him for his "honor," "brilliance" and "patriotism."

"I have seen Jeff Flake stand up for what he believes in, knowing full well that there would be a political price to pay," McCain said.

Together with Flake and Corker, McCain is the third vocal Republican critic of Trump in the Senate. He was diagnosed with brain cancer in July.

Trump has previously attacked Flake as "weak" and "ineffective" and has derided Corker's height while labeling him "incompetent."

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders responded by saying voters in Arizona and Tennessee would likely not have supported Flake or Corker next year were they to have run.
Amnesty International on Monday announced that emergency medicine specialist Ahmadreza Djalali, detained in Iran since April 2016, was found guilty of working with the Israeli government.

Tehran's prosecutor general Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi did not name Djalali but said a suspect was sentenced to death for passing information on Iran's nuclear programme to agents from Israel's Mossad intelligence agency in exchange for a Swedish residency permit.

"One of the actions of the convict was revealing the location of and some information on 30 outstanding individuals engaged in military and nuclear research projects," Jafari Dolatabadi said in comments quoted by the judiciary's Mizan website.

He said the information led to the assassination of two Iranian nuclear scientists, Majid Shahriari and Masoud Alimohammadi, killed in bomb blasts in 2010.

Under Iranian law the identity of a convicted person cannot be released until the appeals process is over.

Amnesty International has slammed the trial of Djalali -- who has studied and taught in Sweden, Italy and Belgium -- as "grossly unfair" and called on the authorities to release him and drop all charges.

Between 2010 and 2012, five Iranian scientists -- four of them involved in the country's nuclear programme -- were murdered in bomb and gun attacks in Tehran.

The Islamic republic accused the US and Israel of killing its scientists, including Shahriari, a key member of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation and Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, a deputy director of the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.

In 2012, Iran executed Majid Jamali Fashi, convicted for working for Mossad and assassinating Alimohammadi.
The Saudi strongman, 32, did not mince words in declaring a new reality for the kingdom, hours after announcing the launch of an independent $500 billion megacity -- with "separate regulation" -- along the Red Sea coastline.

"We want to live a normal life. A life in which our religion translates to tolerance, to our traditions of kindness," he told international investors gathered at an economic forum in Riyadh.

"Seventy percent of the Saudi population is under 30, and honestly we will not spend the next 30 years of our lives dealing with destructive ideas. We will destroy them today and at once," the crown prince said.

"We will end extremism very soon."

Prince Mohammed, known by his initials MBS, said he would see to it his country moved past 1979, a reference to the rise of political Islam in the years following the assassination of King Faisal in 1975.

The early 1970s had ushered major change into the oil-rich kingdom, including the introduction of television and schools for girls.

But that came to a halt as the Al-Sheikh family, which controls religious and social regulation in the kingdom, and the ruling Al-Saud family slowly reinforced the conservative policies Riyadh is known for.

Prince Mohammed's statement Tuesday is the most direct attack by a Saudi official on the Gulf country's influential conservative religious circles, whose stranglehold on Saudi society now appears to face serious challenges.

'Return to what was'

"We are returning to what we were before -- a country of moderate Islam that is open to all religions, traditions and people around the globe," he said.

While the Saudi government continues to draw criticism from international rights groups, the crown prince has pushed ahead with reforms since his sudden appointment on June 21.

Monitors, including Amnesty International, say Saudi Arabia has in parallel stepped up its repression of peaceful rights activists.

Saudi authorities last month arrested more than 20 activists, including two popular Muslim preachers, without disclosing any charges against them.

But the young prince is widely regarded as being the force behind King Salman's decision last month to lift a decades-long ban prohibiting women from driving.

He has vied to modernise certain sectors in the kingdom, hinting that long-banned cinemas would soon be permitted as part of ambitious reforms for a post-oil era that could shake up the austere kingdom's cultural scene.

Prince Mohammed's comments came hours after the opening of the Future Investment Initiative, a three-day economic conference that brings together some 2,500 dignitaries, including 2,000 foreign investors.

Earlier Tuesday, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund -- controlled by MBS -- announced the launch of an independent economic zone along the kingdom's northwestern coastline.

The project, dubbed NEOM, will operate under regulations separate from those that govern the rest of Saudi Arabia.

NEOM covers an uninterrupted coastline of nearly 470 kilometres (290 miles) in northwestern Saudi Arabia and will extend into territories in neighbouring Jordan and Egypt, a statement released by the kingdom's Public Investment Fund said.
Zeevi, he said, went on a secret mission Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region in the 1960s and supervised the setting up of an Israeli army field hospital there.

"The visit made a deep impression on him," Netanyahu's office quoted him as saying in Hebrew.

"He came face to face with warm expressions of support for Israel which continue to this day.

"The Kurds demonstrate national maturity and international maturity," said the Israeli leader.

"We have very great sympathy for their desires and the world needs to concern itself with their safety and with their future."

Israel has been the only country to openly support Kurdish independence, with Netanyahu last month backing "the legitimate efforts of the Kurdish people to attain a state of its own."

He did not specify how and where such a state should come into being.

Parliament in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region decided Tuesday to postpone planned legislative elections for eight months amid tensions with the central government in Baghdad over disputed territories.

The elections were originally set for just over a month after a September 25 referendum in the Kurdish areas which resulted in a massive "yes" for independence.

The non-binding referendum was strongly opposed by Baghdad.
Meral Aksener delivered a defiant speech promising a "strong, happy" Turkey at the official launch of the Iyi ("Good") Party in the capital Ankara.

"We have hope. We have dreams. We want a rich Turkey. We have strength. We want a fair Turkey... we want a free society. We want a happy Turkey," she said during a spirited address to an audience waving Turkish flags.

She was cheered by thousands of supporters and founding party members in a hall surrounded by the party's blue and yellow sun logo and banners of modern Turkey founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

The party's slogan is "Turkey will be good".

There has been frenzied talk of Aksener running against Erdogan in the presidential election in November 2019 when Turkey's parliamentary system will formally become an executive presidency.

"The emergence of a new party is a positive thing because Turkey really had a drought of effective opposition parties for many, many years," Amanda Paul, senior policy analyst covering Turkey and the Eurasia region at the Brussels-based European Policy Centre, said.

"It seems that this party has the potential to be more effective than the ones that already exist."

Selim Sazak, a Turkish political analyst, said he was "greatly" sceptical of Aksener's chances of becoming president in 2019.

'Turkey's Iron Lady'

Aksener is a rare dominant female figure in the Turkish political scene, where only two women are part of the cabinet.

Aksener has been described as Turkey's Iron Lady in a nod to the late British premier Margaret Thatcher but has also been compared to the French National Front leader Marine Le Pen.

She served as interior minister for less than a year between 1996 and 1997, but was notably critical of the 1997 ousting of the then Islamist government by the military.

Aksener was in fact close to figures from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the early 2000s before choosing the MHP.

Aksener and her allies encountered difficulties finding a venue for the launch after a hotel in Ankara last month cancelled an agreement to host her.

There was heavy security at the launch on Wednesday.

'Really unclear'

After audience chants of "prime minister", Aksener said "not prime minister, president!"

She then said founding members wanted her to run against Erdogan in 2019 but did not say she would definitely do so.

A lawmaker from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Aytun Ciray, resigned on Monday to join Aksener's new party, which came as reports suggested she wanted to form a parliamentary group with MPs who are prepared to switch their allegiance. Aksener has denied the reports.

The party's supporters believe it can win over both CHP and AKP voters.

But experts said more time was needed to see what voters made of the new party.

"It's really unclear at the moment... and I don't expect an easy end result," said Kemal Can, a veteran Turkish commentator, adding that an "important chunk" of MHP voters could be attracted to the new party.
Meral Aksener delivered a defiant speech promising a "strong, happy" Turkey at the official launch of the Iyi ("Good" in Turkish) Party in the capital Ankara.

"We have hope. We have dreams. We want a rich Turkey. We have strength. We want a fair Turkey... we want a free society. We want a happy Turkey," she said during a spirited speech filled with nationalism and an audience waving Turkish flags.

She was cheered by thousands of supporters and founding party members in a hall surrounded by the party's blue and yellow sun logo and banners of modern Turkey founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Aksener, 61, was a former member of the country's third largest opposition right-wing Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) until she failed to remove Devlet Bahceli as MHP leader in early 2016 and was later expelled from the party in September 2016.

Bahceli has led the MHP for over 20 years but opponents wanted a fresh face.

There has been frenzied talk of Aksener running against Erdogan in the presidential election in November 2019 when Turkey's parliamentary system will formally become an executive presidency after the referendum on constitutional changes earlier this year.

Turks approved giving the president greater powers including appointing ministers in the most radical political shake-up in the country's recent history.

'Doors are open'

Aksener has been described in various ways, from Turkey's Iron Lady in a nod to the late British premier Margaret Thatcher to the mythical she-wolf Asena. She has also been compared to the French National Front leader Marine Le Pen, with both enjoying support from nationalist parties.

She served as interior minister for less than a year between 1996 and 1997, but was notably critical of the 1997 ousting of the then Islamist government by the military.

A lawmaker from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Aytun Ciray, resigned on Monday to join Aksener's new party, which came as reports suggested she wanted to form a parliamentary group with MPs who are prepared to switch their allegiance.

Aksener has denied the reports, but said Monday the party's "doors would be open" to people of any political viewpoint.

The party's supporters believe it can win over CHP and AKP voters.
Tillerson arrived from Pakistan, India's arch-rival, where he was given a low-key reception after US complaints about Islamabad backing Taliban militants on its soil.

In New Delhi Tillerson was to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj. He started the day by meeting national security adviser Ajit Doval.

Tillerson also laid a wreath at a memorial to India's independence movement leader Mahatma Gandhi, removing his shoes to approach a pillar marking the spot where Gandhi was shot dead on January 30, 1948.

Support for efforts to bolster the Afghan government, China's influence and other Asian security issues were expected to dominate talks in New Delhi, officials said.

Last week Tillerson called for deeper cooperation with India in the face of growing Chinese influence in Asia and said Washington wanted to promote a "free and open" region led by prosperous democracies.

He also said Beijing sometimes flouted international conventions, citing the South China Sea dispute as an example.

India welcomed the comments, saying they "highlighted our shared commitment to a rule-based international order".

In Pakistan Tillerson met Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, military chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and other top officials.

"Tillerson reiterated President Trump's message that Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country," a statement from the US embassy said Tuesday.
Tillerson, who arrived in New Delhi late Tuesday after a brief and tense stop in Islamabad, said too many extremists were finding sanctuary inside Pakistan to launch attacks on other nations.

"Quite frankly my view -- and I expressed this to the leadership of Pakistan -- is we also are concerned about the stability and security of Pakistan's government as well," he told reporters in New Delhi.

"This could lead to a threat to Pakistan's own stability. It is not in anyone's interests that the government of Pakistan be destabilised."

Tillerson's visit -- the first to the nuclear-armed nation by a senior official from President Donald Trump's administration -- follows months of pressure from Washington on Pakistan over its alleged support for Taliban militants.

It follows an unannounced stop in Kabul Monday, where Tillerson reiterated America's commitment to Afghanistan and warned that Washington has made "very specific requests" of Pakistan over militancy.

Trump has angrily accused Islamabad of harbouring "agents of chaos" who could attack US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Washington and Kabul have long accused Islamabad of supporting Afghan militants including the Taliban. They are believed to have links to Pakistan's military establishment, which aims to use them as a regional bulwark against arch-nemesis India.

Pakistan has repeatedly denied the charge, insisting it maintains contacts only to try to bring the militants to peace talks.

Tillerson did express his appreciation to Pakistan officials for the sacrifices it has made in fighting militancy, and for its help in securing the release of a US-Canadian family held captive by the Taliban for five years.

-- Closer ties --

But America's top diplomat -- whose frosty visit to Islamabad lasted just four hours -- said the United States would not tolerate extremist safe havens. He thanked India for its support combating extremism.

"In the fight against terrorism the United States will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with India," he said.

New Delhi has welcomed US overtures for closer ties, saying it shares Washington's optimism about their burgeoning relationship.

Speaking ahead of his visit, Tillerson called for deeper cooperation with India in the face of growing Chinese influence in Asia, and said Washington wanted to promote a "free and open" region led by prosperous democracies.

Trump's top diplomat also said Beijing sometimes acted outside international conventions, citing the South China Sea dispute as an example.

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said that Trump's strategy for the region hinged on Pakistan eradicating militant havens on its territory.

"We believe that President Trump's new policy can succeed only if Pakistan effectively acts against all terror organisations without any discrimination," she told the press conference with Tillerson.

India has historically avoided alliances, preferring to maintain cautious relations with both Washington and Beijing, but Trump has developed a warm relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Tillerson, who was to meet Modi later Wednesday, started the day by meeting national security adviser Ajit Doval.
But attention instead has swerved to a brutal back-and-forth with Senator Bob Corker, who charged in response to a Twitter attack from the president that Trump is an "utterly untruthful" leader who "debases" the nation.

Corker, an influential Republican who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has emerged as an outspoken critic of the president, excoriated him earlier this month as dangerously impulsive and branded the White House an "adult day care center."

He appeared to further antagonize Trump when he told ABC early Tuesday that he would like the president to stand clear of the debate over tax legislation and "leave it to the professionals" to finalize the plan.

Trump rounded on Corker in a series of tweets, and the war of words was on, playing out on television and social media in real time.

"Bob Corker, who helped President O give us the bad Iran Deal & couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee, is now fighting Tax Cuts," Trump tweeted.

"Same untruths from an utterly untruthful president," shot back Corker.

"I don't know why he lowers himself to such a low, low standard and debases our country in the way that he does, but he does," Corker went on to tell reporters at the Senate. "He has proven himself unable to rise to the occasion."

Corker -- who himself is not running for re-election next year -- expressed regret for supporting Trump's presidential bid, and said he would not vote for him again.

'Doesn't have a clue'

The rapidly escalating feud has laid bare the tensions between Trump and some in his party on Capitol Hill, where the president has yet to grab a major legislative victory.

Trump's tax reform push is his latest attempt to do so.

Speaking in the Oval Office mid-day Tuesday, Trump said the United States is one of the highest-taxed countries in the world and a tax cut would, as he put it, restore America's competitive edge.

"If we get this fast, which I really believe we will because we have to as a country, it's going to bring back, I would say, four trillion dollars back into this country," Trump said.

He added: "That money will flow back in, it will be very quick and it will be very easy."

Inside Congress, as the president made his way to the Republican luncheon, a protester yelling "Trump is Treason" hurled small Russian flags into his path, accusing him of conspiring with Moscow to tilt the election his way.

In the past week Trump has been harshly criticized by two high-profile Republicans: former president George W. Bush, who said "bigotry seems emboldened" in the Trump era, and Senator John McCain, a former war hero and 2000 presidential nominee, who issued a searing rebuke to Trump's ideas and politics.

Neither Bush nor McCain mentioned Trump by name, but the target of their criticism was clear.

After Corker's diatribe, Trump pushed back on Twitter, branding him a "lightweight" and an "incompetent" foreign relations chairman who "doesn't have a clue."

"People like liddle' Bob Corker have set the U.S. way back. Now we move forward!" Trump added.

The stinging verbal blows marked the latest salvo in what is now a full-blown public war of words between the president and one of his party's most important lieutenants in Congress, a measured Republican who has immense sway over foreign policy issues as well as taxes.

The speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, sought to downplay the row, reminding reporters of the importance of staying focused on "a historic chance of actually fixing this tax code."
Journalists bearing a deep red invitation, with "The Great Hall of the People" emblazoned in golden script, arrived to watch Xi formally begin his second term and introduce his ruling council.

But reporters from the New York Times, the Economist, the Financial Times, the Guardian and the BBC were not invited, unable to listen in person to Xi's pledge to "welcome objective reporting" and "constructive suggestions".

"It is hard to avoid the conclusion that these media organisations have been singled out to send a message," said the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China, which named the excluded publications in a Twitter statement.

"Using media access as a tool to punish journalists whose coverage the Chinese authorities disapprove of is a gross violation of the principles of press freedom."

The media figured prominently in Xi's speech, one day after his name was added to the ruling Communist Party's constitution at the close of the 19th National Congress.

Xi expressed hope that "our journalist friends will continue to follow China's development and progress, and learn about and report on more dimensions of China."

The more than 200 journalists in attendance heard these statements in a crowded hall with no cell reception, where state media was given privileged seating and aisles were manned by propaganda officials.

China has one of the world's worst records on press freedom and a heavily censored internet.

Domestic journalists who publish critical stories are sometimes jailed, while foreign reporters who do the same risk having their visas revoked.

In recent years, the latter have often been harassed by police and found it impossible to independently visit Tibet.

Chinese media is dominated by state broadcaster CCTV and Xinhua, the state news agency, which reported Xi's address under the headline "Xi says China welcomes constructive suggestions".

Reporters Without Borders ranked China fifth-to-last in its 2017 World Press Freedom Index.

Officials at the party's twice-a-decade congress, which lasted a week, strove to refute this.

"We had six press conferences and eight group interviews at the 19th Congress," the congress media centre said in a statement, responding to a question from AFP about why certain publications were excluded from Wednesday's event.

"The channels for reporters to conduct interviews and receive updates about the congress were unblocked."

Yet many, if not all, of the questions at such briefings were pre-selected, while delegates trotted out nothing but platitudes when interviewed.

The centre's statement also noted that "the media mentioned" were seen in regular attendance at these briefings, while space was limited Wednesday.

"We already tried our best to allow more foreign journalists to attend this event," it said.

"We hope to welcome those who truly care about China's development; who can provide objective, impartial and balanced coverage; who are truly concerned with the future direction of Chinese policy to come report on our events."

The language in the statement echoed Xi's address: "We do not need lavish praise from others; however, we do welcome objective reporting and constructive suggestions."

Beside him stood the six other members of the Politburo Standing Committee, who were given only brief introductions despite being the top decision-making body.

They stood in a neat line, staring ahead and largely unsmiling.

Meanwhile, the most powerful Chinese leader in decades beamed as he closed with lines from a Yuan dynasty poem: "This is our motto: 'Not angling for compliments, I would be content that my integrity fills the universe'."

Xi strode off the podium to a cascade of camera flashes, his council in tow.
Midland Technologies Reports Increased Demand for Cloud Workspace

After Hurricanes Irma and Harvey

Leading Unified Communications Provider Educates Businesses on Cloud Workspace to Avoid Future Impact of Natural Disasters

Davenport, IA - October 24, 2017 - Midland Technologies, a leading provider of unified communications, has announced today that the company has experienced an increase in demand for cloud workspace following recent natural disasters. Unfortunately, hurricanes Irma and Harvey had an historic destructive impact on SMBs (Small to Mid-sized Businesses) in Florida and Texas. Many companies in these areas were either destroyed completely or severely damaged by mother nature. In the wake of these events, business owners regardless of geographic location are now contemplating how to better protect their company's IT network as well as their data. As a result, Midland Technologies has reported a growing interest in cloud workspace from local businesses.

These types of natural disasters can cause irrevocable harm to businesses and although buildings can be replaced lost productivity and potential data loss cannot. In fact, the vast majority of businesses who face a major data loss, end up closing their doors permanently. Flooded server rooms or buildings torn into shambles, without a strong disaster recovery program can prematurely signal the end to an otherwise strong SMB.

Cloud workspace has the power to ensure business continuity and data protection during catastrophic events because everything resides in the cloud. In layman's terms, cloud workspace virtualizes every component on a server and desktop computer. So instead of having a physical component such as servers on-site, which can become obsolete, security-breached or malfunctioning, all components are run through the cloud. For end users, this means that every single component of an employee's workstation will be available to them, regardless of where they're located or which device they happen to have with them. All software, data, file sharing capabilities, Microsoft programs, and line of business software is located in the cloud. Thus, cloud workspace provides greater security and accessibility versus traditional on-premise hardware.

"Natural disasters put people through so much hardship and the absolute last thing they need is to run into business problems after the dust has settled," stated Jason Smith, Vice President of Midland Technologies. "Cloud workspace enables companies to withstand the forces of nature. Business owners that leverage this solution know that when these disasters strike, they can be rest assured that their company will continue to operate as long as it is safe for their employees to do so. It is not a surprise to see heightened awareness and demand for cloud workspace."

As a trusted technology adviser, Midland Technologies has spent years implementing creative IT solutions for these types of situations. The company has invested time, resources and capital in identifying and deploying the right cloud workspace solution. "Regardless of where one lives, natural disasters exist," added Mr. Smith. "No one can escape mother nature; however, with cloud workspace businesses have a greater chance of survival."
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP)  Democrats who control the Illinois General Assembly began another showdown Tuesday with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner over vetoes, less than four months after overriding him to end the longest state budget stalemate in modern U.S. history.

On the first day of a special session called to address Rauner's vetoes of several bills, the Senate voted 42-13 to override him on union-friendly legislation he had staunchly opposed. The House still must pass the override on a three-fifths vote.

Other expected override votes involve issues that have defined Rauner's nearly three years in office and come just a day after the conservative businessman announced his intention to seek a second term in November 2018.

The bill the Senate passed again Tuesday, over Rauner's opposition, would prohibit local governments from establishing areas in which an employee can work in a union job with union benefits without paying labor dues. The village of Lincolnshire established such so-called "right-to-work" jurisdictions in 2015 after Rauner failed to enact the system statewide.

A federal judge ruled against Lincolnshire in January, saying only the Legislature can establish a statewide right-to-work area, as 28 states have.

"Today's vote could create a damaging loss for the economic competitiveness of Illinois," Rauner said Tuesday in a statement.

Another potential override, pushed by Democratic Comptroller Susana Mendoza, would require state agencies to report monthly on the bills they've incurred but not yet sent to the comptroller for processing. Mendoza said it would help her budget for paying down a $16.3 billion pile of past-due bills.

A plan Rauner rejected that would increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2022 awaits further action, as does a proposal to require companies writing workers' compensation insurance to get state approval for the premiums they charge.

Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan's legislation to create a "bill of rights" for student-loan recipients is up for override, as is a measure from Democratic Treasurer Michael Frerichs to make it easier to collect life insurance benefits when a beneficiary dies.

The contentious budget Democrats approved in July after a historic stalemate is likely to be a major issue in Rauner's re-election campaign, although he contends it's still $1.7 billion out of balance.

He proposed as much as $370 million in budget cuts, according to a legislative analysis, largely to programs popular with Democrats. And there's still as much as $1.2 billion from the year that ended June 30 that the administration already spent, even without authorization from lawmakers.

Rep. Greg Harris, a Chicago Democrat and House budget negotiator, said the Democratic budget would allow the state to settle those old bills while tightening the financial outlook going forward.

"It's a huge problem," Harris said.

___

Associated Press writer Sophia Tareen contributed to this report from Chicago.

___

Contact Political Writer John O'Connor at https://twitter.com/apoconnor . His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/john%20o'connor

___

Sign up for the AP's weekly newsletter showcasing our best reporting from the Midwest and Texas: http://apne.ws/2u1RMfv .
Testimony began Tuesday in the murder trial of Yolanduis L. McDuffie, who faces first-degree murder charges in relation to the shooting of tattoo artist Derek Jackson.

Mr. Jackson, 24, was killed Dec. 18, 2013, in his Rock Island home while his girlfriend and young son were upstairs.

Authorities allege Mr. McDuffie, 24, of Moline, was the gunman. He is also accused of acting with another  Aaron D. Henderson II, 24, of Rock Island  during an attempted felony robbery when Mr. Jackson was shot. Mr. Henderson was found guilty in 2015 and is serving a 40-year sentence.

Tuesday's proceedings began with opening arguments from Assistant Rock Island County States Attorney John McCooley and Mr. McDuffie's counsel, Nate Nieman. Opening arguments are an opportunity for attorneys to outline their interpretation of the evidence that will be presented to the jury.

Mr. Jackson was killed during a drug deal that went bad, Mr. McCooley told the jury. Mr. McDuffie, Mr. Henderson and Mr. Henderson's cousin, Kamren Bolden, went to the victim's home to buy marijuana. When they arrived, Mr. McDuffie immediately shot Mr. Jackson.

He shot him in the head, twice, Mr. McCooley said. Nobody's getting up from that.

Once Mr. Jackson was down, Mr. Henderson took money from Mr. Jackson, about $200, and the three fled, Mr. McCooley contended.

Mr. McCooley said Mr. Bolden would testify he saw Mr. McDuffie with the gun.

Mr. Bolden was a defense witness in Mr. Henderson's trial.

Mr. Nieman reminded the jury that the burden of proof was on the state, and that Mr. McDuffie was innocent until proven guilty. He then questioned the validity of the state's evidence.

I am confident that at the conclusion of this case you will find that the state has failed to meet its burden of proof, he said.

Mr. Nieman argued Mr. Bolden was convicted of obstructing justice in relation to the Jackson shooting and has a criminal record, including an unrelated case that was still pending.

During Mr. Henderson's trial, there was testimony that Mr. Bolden did serve time in a juvenile Department of Corrections facility on a juvenile obstruction of justice charge filed against him for lying to police about the Jackson shooting.

Mr. Nieman also contended that the gun suspected of being the murder weapon had the fingerprints of someone else on it when it was recovered and that surveillance video that is part of the prosecution's case was of poor quality.

Tuesday's first witness was Alyson Schippers, who was Mr. Jackson's girlfriend at the time he was killed.

She testified that Mr. Jackson  who liked to shoot  and Mr. Henderson had made plans for Mr. Jackson to buy a gun from another person on Dec. 18. Ms. Schippers did not name the seller on the stand but said she believed it was a friend of Mr. Henderson's.

That morning, Mr. Jackson mentioned buying the gun again, Ms. Schippers said. Later he got a call, said it was Mr. Henderson, and went downstairs to open the door. She stayed upstairs.

She knew when he was at the door because Mr. Jackson had an alarm installed that toned when the door opened. It was about five minutes later that she heard a gun shot and she went to see what had happened.

I saw Derek's body on the floor, she said, adding that Mr. Henderson was standing over him.

It looked like Mr. Henderson was going through his pockets, she said.

Ms. Schippers said she ran back upstairs and saw people running when she looked out the window.

Other testimony came from Dr. Mark Peters, a forensic pathologist. He performed the autopsy on Mr. Jackson and said he was shot twice in the head and once in the arm. The bullet that struck his arm traveled into his torso and Dr. Peters said he was able to recover it there. The bullets that hit Mr. Jackson's head exited his body and were not present.

The cause of death in his opinion was multiple gunshot wounds, any one of which could have been fatal on its own, Dr. Peters testified.

A few other bullets and some shell casings were recovered at the home, Garrett Alderson, a criminalist for the Rock Island Police Department, said. He also testified that casts were made of two shoe prints found in the snow, one just outside the house and the other nearby.

Charges were first filed against Mr. McDuffie in January 2014, but the case was dismissed January 2015. In August of that year authorities reopened the case against him, citing new evidence.

Rock Island County States Attorney John McGehee said in 2015 that the evidence was a laboratory test on a gun that showed it matched the specifications of the weapon believed used to kill Mr. Jackson. The gun was recovered in Iowa shortly after Mr. Hendersons conviction.

Mr. McDuffie has already been sentenced to 15 years for a killing in Davenport, according to Scott County court records. The sentence was for voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm in relation to the April 5, 2015, shooting death of James Earl Goode Jr.

Testimony is expected to resume at 9 a.m. today.
MOLINE  A zoning change necessary to bring a Starbucks to the parking lot of the Unity Point Health-Trinity Moline is one step closer to reality.

The city council approved the zoning change out of the committee-of-the-whole. Before the matter is resolved, the zoning change will need two more readings.

Shawn Christ, Land Development Manager, told the council Tuesday that developer Dan Dolan requested the zoning change on behalf of UnityPoint Health-Trinity Moline because the hospital would like to sell a portion of its parking lot near John Deere Road. A Starbucks with a drive-thru would be built there. The hospital is located at 500 John Deere Road.

Currently, the portion of the parking lot that would be developed hosts a farmers market on the weekends.

If approved, building on the site would occur sometime in the spring, Mr. Christ said.

In other coffee-related news, Mayor Stephanie Acri announced a "Coffee with the Mayor" event to be held Monday, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. at the police department. Representatives from the I-74 River Bridge Project have been invited to answer questions from the community and businesses impacted by the project. City staff will also be available to help answer questions as well, she said.

Coffee was a recurring theme throughout the night, as the council heard a proposal to install a pedestrian crossing signal on River Drive across from Milltown Coffee, 3800 River Drive.

Scott Hinton, City Engineer, said that the owners of Milltown Coffee intend to install a dog watering station in the near future, and the crosswalk would allow pedestrians, and dogs alike, to cross safely. At issue is the cost, as the signage, sidewalks and lighting comes to $19,720.

Ald. Lori Turner said that while she supports Milltown Coffee, the cost is excessive for a crosswalk to just one business.

Ald. Kevin Schoonmaker said that the crosswalk would serve the greater purpose of calming the speed of traffic on River Drive.

Ultimately, the decision was tabled. The council told city staff to find out how much money Milltown Coffee was willing to invest in the crosswalk.

More street lights are forthcoming as the council approved adding nine new lights in different sections of the city. Six lights will be installed on North Shore Drive, 16th and 25th streets. Two lights will be installed on 34th Avenue between 34th Avenue Court and Black Hawk College. One light will be installed on 15th Street between 21st and 23rd avenues.

The council also unanimously approved a contract with National Research Survey Inc. worth up to $16,740 to administer, analyze and report results from a customized resident survey. The goal of the survey is to help with further implementation of the "Why Moline" marketing program. The survey will asses community needs, measure service performance by the city and evaluate community receptiveness to city government.
LISBON, Portugal (AP)  Women's rights groups in Portugal have reacted angrily to a court decision that quoted the Bible and a 19th-century law in justifying a suspended sentence for a man convicted of assaulting his ex-wife with a bat because she allegedly committed adultery.

The man was given a 15-month suspended sentence and a fine of 1,750 euros ($2,000) for using a bat spiked with nails to assault the woman in the street in 2015, leaving her covered in cuts and bruises.

The prosecutor had argued the sentence was too lenient and asked an appeals court for prison time of 3 years and 6 months. But the appeal judges on Oct. 11 rejected his request.

In their written ruling, the judges expressed "some understanding" for the attacker, saying a woman's adultery is "a very serious offense against a man's honor and dignity."

They noted the Bible says an adulterous woman should be punished by death and also cited a 1886 Portuguese law that gave only symbolic sentences to men who killed their wives for suspected adultery.

The judges at the appeals court in Porto, Portugal's second-largest city, wrote that they were making reference to the Bible and an old law "to stress that a woman's adultery amounts to conduct which society has always condemned and condemned very strongly."

The written ruling became public this week and sparked outrage on Portuguese social media, with numerous rights groups speaking out.

One of them, the Women's Alternative and Response Union, described the ruling as "inadmissible" because it legitimized violence against women and blamed the victim. It said the separation of powers in Portugal means there is no place for the Bible in courtrooms.

The group planned street protests for Friday.

Portugal's Superior Magistrates Council, an oversight body, said it had taken note of the "vivid criticism from broad sections of public opinion." However, it said courts are independent and it could not intervene, even when faced with "archaic, inappropriate or unfortunate" comments by judges.

The woman could appeal to Portugal's higher courts.
Celebrating Our Service Members

Friday, November 11 is Veterans Day, when we honor and show gratitude to all members of our Armed Forces  those currently serving, those who...

Transit Equity Starts With QueensLink

For decades Queens has seen a disinvestment in the necessary transit infrastructure the borough needs to promote equity and sustainability. Most of the time, transformative...
The contract is worth 37m and the 90km/h trams will be delivered in late 2019. The order is the latest option to be exercised from a contract for up to 121 LRVs which was signed in 2010. The initial order was for 15 vehicles, which was followed by orders for another seven LRVs, and a further eight sets in July, which are currently in production.

The latest order includes two four-section LRVs for operation on the Lidingobanan and 10 three-section LRVs to increase capacity on the Tvarbana line, with an extension of this line scheduled to open in 2021.

CAF also confirmed that it signed a contract with Belgian light rail operator De Lijn on October 25 to begin manufacturing on the contract to supply up to 146 Urbos 100 LRVs for Antwerp, East Flanders, and West Flanders. The project was announced in late 2016, and approved in June following an appeal by Bombardier. The signing signals the start of manufacturing of the first 48 vehicles worth around 100m.
The systems tender covers the design, supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of communications and security, control and data centres, platform screen doors, automatic fare collection, power supply and catenary, fire safety system, depot works, track works, tunnel and at-grade works, and systems integration.

The contract will include a 10-year agreement to maintain these systems, excluding the track and civil works, with an option to extend the agreement by six years.

The Red Line will have 12km of at-grade alignment and 12km of bored tunnel, with 10 stations along the central underground section. The Red Line is scheduled to open in October 2021.

To receive global rail tenders, subscribe to IRJ Pro.
A tentative national agreement on wages, benefits and work rules has been reached between major railroads and seven of their 13 labor unions. Almost two-dozen unionized regionals and short lines also are participating in the talks.

It could be some 60 days before a rank-and-file ratification vote on the tentative contract is tallied. Meanwhile, the other six unions will continue bargaining under guidance of the National Mediation Board.

Even if the tentative agreement is rejected, a work stoppage prior to mid-March 2018 is unlikely, as the Railway Labor Acta manual of industrial relations peaceis structured to lock parties in federally mediated open-ended, productive bargaining in search of middle ground. Subsequent involvement of a Presidential Emergency Board, making non-binding recommendations for settlement, adds another 90 days to the process if federal mediators declare a bargaining impasse.

The wage increases in the tentative agreement are 12.5% (13.1%, compounded) over its five year termretroactive to Jan. 1, 2015 and running through Dec. 31, 2019.

The tentative agreement caps, through at least Dec. 31, 2019, a monthly $228.89 healthcare insurance premium paid by unionized rail employeesa premium well below what is now paid by the vast majority of private-sector and government employees, who most likely will see their healthcare insurance premiums rise in coming years. The cap remains in place until the next agreement is negotiated, which could be well into, or beyond, 2020.

While healthcare co-pays, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums under the tentative agreement riseactually an advantage for healthier workers and families consuming less healthcarethey stay, even for the less healthy, meaningfully below what is paid by non-rail workers. In fact, an estimated 90% of employee healthcare costs will remain the burden of railroads, which is exceptional among employers.

Notably, the contract provides for no changes in work rules, meaning, for example, individual carriers will not seek agreements to operate one-person train crews, expand remote control operations, or impose other changes threatening job securityat least not before Jan. 1, 2020.

The seven unions with the tentative agreement, representing 85,000 employees, or 60% of the 145,000 rail workers subject to the talks, have been negotiating through one of three labor bargaining coalitions. The carriers coordinate their bargaining through the National Carriers Conference Committee.

Those seven unions will put the tentative agreement out for rank-and-file ratification sometime in November. The ratification process, which generally allows several weeks for study of the agreement prior to membership voting, follows receipt of questions about its provisions from general chairpersons, which will be answered in writing jointly by the union and carrier negotiators, and then communicated to all members. Vote tallies are not expected before mid-December.

The seven unions with the tentative agreement are the American Train Dispatchers Association; Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen; Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers; National Conference of Firemen and Oilers; and both the Yardmasters Division and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers.

Major railroads negotiating with the three union coalitions are BNSF, CSX, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific, as well as CN subsidiaries Grand Trunk Western, Illinois Central and Wisconsin Central. Canadian Pacific subsidiary Soo Line is not a party. Numerous regional and short lines also are party to the talkssome for both wages and benefits; others for benefits only.

The other two labor coalitions and their six unions still at the bargaining table are the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, Transportation Communications International Union, and four smaller shopcraft organizations.

The tentative agreement, if ratified by even just a few of the seven unions sending it out for a vote, would set a pattern difficult to break at the bargaining table, and to which Presidential Emergency Boards tend to give substantial weight when making non-binding recommendations for settlement by other unions. Allowing leapfrogging by a truculent union is bad form in labor-management relations.

As only the National Mediation Board may release parties from collective bargaining, any of the seven unions not ratifying the tentative agreement will return to the bargaining table. Those ratifying it will immediately be under its terms.

Should one or more Presidential Emergency Boards eventually be appointed, it will be by a Republican White House, meaning the PEB could be less favorable to labors positions. And were PEB non-binding recommendations unable to produce voluntary settlements, Congress typically acts within hours to end a work stoppage by imposing its own settlementoften similar to PEB recommendations.

Third-party determinations are rarely hailed by either party. Even typically labor-friendly Democratic congressional majorities have been known to be harsher toward labor than PEBs when imposing a solutionespecially in an election year, as 2018 will be. What should be especially worrisome to labor is the current conservative Republican congressional majority, which is unlikely to take labors side in writing legislation ending a work stoppage.

Some may consider the wage boosts modestbut they are not when compared with other American industry agreements. Rather than letting modest wage boosts snuff euphoria, this agreements freeze on healthcare insurance premiums and not a single change in work rules create a radiance begging for ratification.

There will, however, for a variety of reasons, be factionsmany outlandishopposed to this tentative agreement, and they will have access to a relatively new and formidable mass communications devicesocial media, which can be employed effectively to spread dissent and misinformation.

As railroads operate the largest outdoor, mostly unsupervised shop floor in the nation, effective, fact-based communication between union leadership and the rank-and-file can be problematic.

How labor unions share with their members accurate answers to questions about the tentative agreement, and prevent it from being taken hostage and drowned in a cesspool of falsehoods unfurled by nefarious operatives practiced in the art of social media, could well determine this tentative agreements fate.
Three top CSX executives will be leaving the railroad on Nov. 15Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cindy M. Sanborn; Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Fredrik J. Eliasson; and Executive Vice President Law and Public Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Ellen M. Fitzsimmons. Sanborn and Eliasson are resigning to pursue other interests. Fitzsimmons is retiring. All will remain engaged in supporting the transition until early 2018, CSX said.

Railroad industry veteran James M. Foote is joining CSX as COO. He will have responsibility for both operations and sales and marketingreplacing both Eliasson and Sanbornand will be based at the railroads headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla. Foote has more than 40 years of experience starting with the Chicago & North Western and then with CN as Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing. Most recently, he was President and CEO of Bright Rail Energy. Foote, who worked under CSX President and CEO E. Hunter Harrison at CN, is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Superior and holds a law degree from the John Marshal Law School.

CSX Vice President Risk Compliance and General Counsel Nathan D. Goldman will be promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, replacing Fitzsimmons.

CSX is pleased to welcome an experienced railroader who will help continue to drive the companys transformation, said Harrison. Jims proven track record with Precision Scheduled Railroading will be a significant asset as we continue to drive value for shareholders and customers. On behalf of the board of directors and all CSX employees, I would also like to sincerely thank Cindy, Fredrik and Ellen for their dedication to the company and wish them well in their future endeavors. These senior leaders will be missed, and their contributions will have a lasting and positive impact on the organization for many years.

The Board looks forward to welcoming Jim and Nathan in their new roles and wishes to express its thanks to Cindy, Fredrik and Ellen for their tremendous contributions and distinguished CSX careers, said Edward J. Kelly, III, Chairman of the Board. Each of them has brought great value to the success, the people and the reputation of CSX, and they will leave CSX well-positioned for the next stage.
The first of 1,000 GE Transportation diesel-electric Evolution Series locomotives for Indian Railways (IR) arrived at Indias Mundra Port on Oct. 11. The ES43ACmi is the first locomotive running on IR that complies with UIC1, the international emissions standard established by the International Union of Railways (Union Internationale des Chemins de fer).

Designed at the John F. Welch Technology Center in Bangalore, ES43ACmi 49002 is the first of 40 locomotives to be imported to India from the U.S. The remaining 960 will be built at GEs Brilliant Factory, which is being constructed at Marhowra in Bihar and will open in 2018. GE notes that the Brilliant Factory marries lean principles with additive manufacturing and software analytics for the most efficient production. The partnership will also provide technical training and employment opportunities for the local community in Bihar.

The ES43ACmi, a dual-cab design equipped with a 4,500-hp prime-mover, is one of two locomotive models GE Transportation is building for IR. The second model, the ES57ACi, features a 6,000-hp power plant. It is currently in the design phase and will begin production later this year.

Development and manufacturing of the ES43ACmi resulted from a $2.5 billion agreement for 1,000 diesel-electric locomotives signed in 2015 as part of the Government of Indias Public Private Partnership program to modernize the countrys rail infrastructure. This agreement remains one of the most promising infrastructure projects in the country and underscores the importance of the governments Make in India initiative, GE said.

Our partnership with Indian Railways is a best-in-class bilateral example of how entities can work together to create jobs and drive economic development in a region, said Vishal Wanchoo, President & CEO, GE South Asia. Through this project, were creating a robust supply chain ecosystem in India, and will localize more than 70% of all content. Were proud of the more than 6,000 jobs that have been created by GE in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and remain committed to our work in the country.

This milestone is a testament to our strong partnership with Indian Railways, said Nalin Jain, President and CEO-International for GE Transportation. Construction of our Brilliant Factory in Marhowra and maintenance shed in Roza are well under way, and we are delivering in line with the contractual timelines.
The League of Railway Industry Women (LRIW) has named Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) Executive Director Business Services Kari L. Gonzales to its board of directors.

Ms. Gonzales has neen with TTCI for 15 years, starting as a student intern and joining the company full-time in 2002 after completing her bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. In 2012, she was selected as an inaugural candidate for TTCIs Railroad Exchange program, and she spent a year on location at BNSFs Dallas/Fort Worth facility as part of the Condition Based Maintenance team. The experience greatly enhanced her understanding of the railroad business and operations and extended her expertise in wayside inspection systems, TTCI said.

Upon her return to TTCIs Pueblo, Colo. headquarters, Gonzales served as Committee Manager for the AARs Senior Technical Committee, the Equipment Engineering Committee. She was named Assistant Director, Software Services and Internal Research and Development in 2014. She moved to the Business Office in 2016 after completing her MBA from Regis University.

Currently, Gonzales is responsible for contracts, procurement, documentation, information technology, human resources, and TTCIs Internal Research and Development program. She also has oversight of TTCIs Capital and Indirect budgets.

Formed in 1997, LRIW describes itself as providing leadership, learning opportunities, and support for the personal and professional growth of women at every level in railroading and railway-related business for the benefit of themselves and their employers.

TTCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads.
Ex-police officer sentenced to 13 years for aiding and abetting militants

MOSCOW, October 25 (RAPSI)  The Supreme Court of the Republic of Dagestan has sentenced former police officer Magomed Magomedov to 13 years in prison for aiding and abetting militants, the courts press service reports on Wednesday.

Magomedov was involved in the murder of a law enforcement officer, the statement reads.

The court found that Magomedov, acting as a police investigator in the rank of senior lieutenant, had information on militant activity and plotting the murder of the regional Interior Ministrys officer Shevket Kudzhayev, but failed to take necessary steps to prevent the crime. Moreover, he gave the criminals details concerning the movement of the victims car. Therefore, he assisted militants in the murder.

Kudzhayev was shot dead near his house in August 2010, according to the courts press service.
Prominent Russian journalists to sue FSB over Telegram

MOSCOW, October 25 (RAPSI)  Prominent Russian journalists Oleg Kashin and Alexander Plyushchev on Wednesday will file lawsuits against the Federal Security Service (FSB) over the request to obtain information on Telegram messages decoding, lawyer Pavel Chikov told RAPSI.

According to Chikov, journalists ask the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow to find actions of FSB illegal. The also seek to oblige the defendant to withdraw the request to gain access to Telegram messaging app users correspondence.

The applicants explained that actions of FSB violate their right to confidential conversation with sources of information.

In June, head of the communications watchdog Roskomnadzor Alexander Zharov requested the Telegram management to comply with the Russian legislation or face blocking of the messenger.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has agreed to register the service in Russia. However, he refused to abide by laws incompatible with Telegram privacy policy, Durov wrote on his VKontakte (VK) page in late June.

In July, Durov reportedly received the FSB requests to provide information for decoding messages of six app users. In September, law enforcement authorities drew up administrative protocols against Telegram because of law violation, as Durov failed to reply for the request.

On October 16, the court fined the Telegram 800,000 rubles ($14,000) for refusal to provide information to FSB. The service was found guilty of failure to store and (or) furnish information on users and their messages to law enforcement agencies.

According to the Federal Law On Information, Information Technologies and the Protection of Information, organizers of information distribution on the Internet must submit information about users and their messages to the authorized governmental bodies conducting investigative activities and ensuring the state security.
Deposed President Viktor Yanukovych and the Kremlin continue to create mayhem inside Ukraine but have lost the hearts and minds of most Ukrainians, said security expert Andriy Levus.

Confiscation of assets in the Donbas finances the military war for Yanukovych and Russia, and its a cover for smuggling, but only for another year or so, said Levus in an interview in Canada. Their information war, however, is insidious and longer term.

Levus is a member of Ukraines parliament and helped found a civil society group called Free People who were active during the Revolution of Dignity. He organized the security force that protected protesters in 2013 and 2014, then served briefly as deputy chief of Ukraines secret police where he learned about Russias covert activities. He also fought in the war then won election. He is now chairman of the parliamentary committee on national security and defense.

He believes Russias dirty tricks inside Ukraine will escalate, but also believes that a critical mass support protection of the Ukrainian language and culture, becoming European, and recognizing Russia as an aggressor.

You have a huge constituency directly engaged in resisting and winning the war. About 100,000 Ukrainians are veterans of the war, as soldiers, logistical suppliers, families, volunteers then there are internally displaced persons and members of revolutionary parties, he said. Roughly 30 percent of members of parliament are 'reform people, who may have tactical differences but strategically they act as one body when it comes to the nation-state and security.

But the run-up to the 2019 elections will be troublesome. Russian meddling in Ukraines political system is growing. I see a heightened crisis in Ukraine because [Poroshenko] has decided to take on [Dmytro] Firtash, he said. Firtash has worked closely with the Kremlin. There is a serious criminal investigation [into Firtash] by the general prosecutor. And [Firtash] is funneling serious money to political rivals to undermine Poroshenko.

Firtash made billions for himself, and for Russian and Ukrainian oligarchs and officials, by controlling the sales of Russian energy through Ukraine. He left Ukraine after the Maidan and lives in Vienna where he has been fighting extradition to the United States on charges of corruption as well as extradition to Spain on charges of money laundering.

Levus said that Russia continues to ship saboteurs and trouble into Ukraine.

Two months ago, for example, legal documents showed that dozens of diversionary provocateurs were injected into Ukraine by Russian operations in Russia, he said. The SBU has identified a center in Kharkiv, an internet storefront, that plans and finances Russian activities.

For instance, Russian-sponsored gangs vandalize Polish or Hungarian monuments so that Ukrainians are blamed or they, alternatively, vandalize Ukrainian monuments so that Poles are blamed. They also damage synagogues, pit groups against one another, and recently defaced a poster of Pope John Paul II with anti-Polish slogans. Vandals arrested have often been directly linked to parties or companies still controlled by Yanukovych, he said.

This is an extension of the Kremlins 2014 strategy designed to reverse the Revolution of Dignity and prevent it from spreading. Moscow wants to create a neo-Russian republic in eastern and southern Ukraine as a '[blockage] to the Maidan, he said.

The military war is a defensive war for Russia because a successful post-revolutionary Ukraine would lead to the collapse of the Russian project. But the information war is aimed at spreading dissatisfaction with whoever is in charge in Kyiv. Protests are populated by Russian operatives and political opportunists in order to give the appearance of unrest as well as to attract the cameras and foment dissatisfaction and violence.

The two Russian-language social media outlets recently shut down should have been closed years ago, he said. But traditional sites and other techniques are problematic as well.

Social networks gather data on every Ukrainian, and allow the Russians to hand select sympathizers, based on their posts and information, to participate in groups in order to win the hearts and minds of other users, he said. These people become unwitting accomplices. They are approached by businessmen with financial help and Russian-controlled media to become better known. These are marginal activists who dont know theyre Russian puppets.

Ukraines traditional media, with few exceptions, is no better and controlled by Russians or oligarchs who censure reformers and spread propaganda and disinformation.

The largest Ukrainian station is Inter TV, controlled by Firtash who is controlled by the Russians, he said. There are four more mid-level television or media companies controlled directly or controlled by oligarchs associated with Yanukovych and Russia.

Does this mean the Russians are winning the information war in Ukraine?

In the context of creating political crises, yes, they are winning, he said. But in terms of Russian values they are not winning.

Am I optimistic? No. Im a realist, he said. We must engage in grey areas with dark people. Im a soldier, not a politician, but this is what I must do. We want a new election law, anticorruption court, new constitution, and media reform.

And the next revolution will never be on the street. It will be when people are free internally. Free of illusions. Free of the Soviet system. Free of the illusion the West will save us. The revolution will be when we are free people.

Reprinted with permission from the Atlantic Council. Diane Francis is a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center, Editor at Large with the National Post in Canada, a Distinguished Professor at Ryerson University's Ted Rogers School of Management, and author of ten books.
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Robots, made by iFlytek Co Ltd from East China's Anhui province, on display at an industry expo held in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua]

Leading Chinese artificial intelligence company, iFlytek Co Ltd, has announced it will set up a 1.02 billion yuan ($150 million) fund to support software and hardware developers. The move is part of its broad push to accelerate the application of AI in consumer electronics, healthcare and other industries.

The announcement came after the company's AI-enabled user interface platform accumulated 460,000 third-party developer teams in the past seven years.

Hu Yu, executive president of iFlytek, said the fund will be used to finance startups that have core technologies but lack business know-how, or companies that excel in commercializing products but are unable to integrate AI into their devices.

"As a company born out of the (Hefei-based) University of Science and Technology of China, we have been focusing on voice recognition technologies for 18 years. We know what problems technology-oriented startups will face and how to help traditional companies upgrade themselves through AI," Hu said.

The company's efforts are in line with General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping's call to turn China into a country of innovators and to reach the frontiers of science and technology.

Innovation is the primary force driving development, Xi said in a report delivered to the 19th CPC National Congress on Oct 18. He called for more measures to cultivate young scientists, engineers and high-performing innovation teams.

Li Deyi, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said because AI is being increasingly used in manufacturing, healthcare and other traditional industries, China is now in need of roughly 1 million AI specialists.

"Nurturing more AI professionals is key to being a world pioneer in cutting-edge technology," Li said.

According to iFlytek, it will partner with local governments across the country to build incubators to accelerate startups' growth. For instance, it has a 10,000-square-meter space in Changchun, capital of Jilin province, to help companies learn how to develop AI-enabled systems or gadgets for automobiles.

"We will not only offer software support and financial guidance, but also hardware components and an online AI curriculum," Hu said.

According to Hu, the company is partnering with Cambridge University in image recognition technology, and is planning to expand its presence in Europe by first entering into the United Kingdom.

On Tuesday, iFlytek also unveiled a smart microphone named Morfei, which has built-in voice recognition and natural language understanding technologies. The device is designed to lower the threshold for home appliance-makers and hotels to integrate AI technologies into their products.
The move will have cascading effects for lot of related sectors

The governments recapitalisation plan can give a big push to the anaemic credit growth in the system, as banks now will have enough money to take care of their stressed loans as well as to support green shoots of recovery in certain pockets in the industrial sector.

The finance ministry on Tuesday said it will issue Rs 1.35 lakh crore of recapitalisation bonds to banks and another Rs 76,000 crore will be infused through budgetary support and market borrowings.

The plan is to infuse Rs 2.11 lakh crore over two financial years, 2017-18 and 2018-19.

It is expected that banks will subscribe to these recapitalisation bonds, and give the money to the government, which in turn will put the money back in banks as equity.

State Bank of India Chairman Rajnish Kumar said the move will have cascading effects for lot of related sectors.

United Bank of India chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director (MD) Pawan Kumar Bajaj said helped by the capital, banks will be able to plan strategies for the retail and SME (small and medium enterprises) sectors.

Indian Overseas Bank CEO and MD R Subramaniakumar said banks can now meet prudential norms effectively and the capital will help in expanding credit.

Analysts and economists also gave an emphatic thumbs up to the recapitalisation plan.

Year-on-year credit growth in the banking system fell below five per cent last year as banks refused to expand their books for want of capital and fearing more bad debt may pile up.

Even now, yearly credit growth is barely seven per cent. That may change now.

Maybe recapitalisation will do the trick, which has not been happening in the banking system for the past 10 quarters. We may start seeing banks lending again, said Tirthankar Patnaik, India Strategist at Mizuho Bank at an event organised by the International Monetary Fund and National Stock Exchange.

According to Vaibhav Agarwal, head of research at Angel Broking, there are some green shoots of recovery in the corporate space and banks will get an incentive to nurture them further through timely credit boost.

Demand has started to come back. Of course, sectors like power will take some time to recover, but sectors such as chemicals and housing are recovering fast, said Agarwal.

The revival of the housing sector itself can have a cascading effect for other sectors such as construction and steel.

Housing, coupled with attractive government incentives, has the power to move the entire economy and banks should go after this space aggressively, he said.

However, the perennial issue of asset resolution will continue to haunt banks, and analysts say the promised money would be just enough to provide for nearly Rs 10 lakh crore of stressed assets on banks books.

Various analysts had pegged the need for capital at close to Rs 2 lakh crore to take care of stressed assets on banks books.

According to Ashvin Parekh, senior financial consultant, the recapitalising exercise is a signal to banks not to sell stressed assets in a hurry as the prices of these assets will rise as economic conditions revive.

This is an acceptance that the resolution process under the insolvency code is not progressing as was expected.

By recapitalising, the government is ensuring that banks hold on to the assets for an opportune time instead of incurring huge haircuts in fire sales, said Parekh.

In the first case of insolvency resolution, creditors had to take a 95 per cent haircut on assets of Synergies Dooray.

Even by conservative estimates, banks may have to take 40-75 per cent haircuts on hurried resolution of distressed companies, say analysts.

In the absence of healthy credit demand, banks now maintain 13-14 percentage points above their minimum bond holding requirement.

If credit demand rises, banks will have no incentive to keep this level of excess bonds, said Soumyajit Niyogi, associate director at India Ratings and Research.

According to Karthik Srinivasan, group head - financial sector ratings, ICRA, the bonds would likely to be liquidity non-disruptive and hence have minimal impact on the liquidity conditions and the market yields.

Photograph: Reuters
Stars go for the loveliest holidays -- exotic locations with a lot of adventure thrown in.

We bring you their travels in a special series.

Deepti Bhatnagar travelled to Maldives.

Kunal Kapoor took us on a road trip from Dharamsala to Kaza in Himachal Pradesh.

Karisma Kapoor had a beautiful European holiday.

Priyanka Chopra had fun in Prague.

Shama Sikander and her fiance James Milliron went on an exotic holiday to France, Venice and Italy.

Nargis Fakhri had a great Greek holiday.

Mouni Roy went on a trip to Chicago.

This week, Amit Sadh takes us on a road trip to Ladakh.

Let's see the beautiful places he visited through his pictures.

On their way to Ladakh, Amit Sadh, director Onir and their friends stopped by a roadside dhaba in Gurdaspur, Punjab.

'A brewing cup of hot tea at a roadside dhaba in Gurdaspur, Punjab was all that was needed to lift our spirits & lit our faces with a smile this morning! There's nothing a good cup of tea can't solve!' Amit captions this picture.





Day 1

Aim: 580 km

Location: Patiala to Pahalgam





Greetings from Pahalgam.





Day 2: They head for Kargil.

Amit catches up with the locals at the Zojila Pass.

'They recognised me from the film Sultan (saying you are that guy who takes Sultaan to the ring). One of them actually knew a few dialogues!!' Amit writes.





Sharing this picture, Amit writes, 'What I love about adventure-riding is that it takes me close to nature, and closer to self. #LehRide #BeMore #DoMore #LoveMore #TriumphTiger.'

Day 3: Mulbekh.

'This place is a sight to behold!' shares Amit.





Amit introduces us to an 'amazing person', Rigzin Namgyal.

'He was also kind enough to take us to some amazing locations here. And invited us for a lovely barbecue dinner at his resort!!'





The breathtakingly beautiful Pangong lake forms a fitting backdrop.

'At Pangong Lake, sometimes time just stops and you can't help but marvel at its beauty!'

Making new roads.





Amit did a lot of riding on this trip.





Amit enjoys a spectacular view at the Chang La, at an altitude of 5,360 meters, where the temperature is minus 13 degrees Celsius.

'Mental state : Exhausted and trilled at the same time,' he writes.





'Emotions are high at high altitudes. Keep your friends close and embraced! @ankitwanchoo you are coolest on the bike and off!' Amit writes, referring to Ankit Wanchoo, motorcycle enthusiast, who accompanied on his trip.
A mural from the Mogao Cave 61 shows a celebration scene at Wutai Mountain during Chongyang Festival. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

The Dunhuang Research Academy has released a batch of Dunhuang murals showing the ancient folk scene of the Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival, which falls on Oct 28 this year.

The Chongyang Festival originated in the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) and is still celebrated today. To mark the festival, people usually climb heights, wear cornel twigs, enjoy chrysanthemum flowers, eat Double Ninth cake and drink chrysanthemum flower wine.

The Dunhuang murals portray scenes of ancient people partying, dancing, drinking, eating cakes, outing, climbing mountains, family gathering and respecting the elderly.

According to the Dunhuang Research Academy, during ancient times, people preferred to celebrate the Chongyang Festival in temples, and the temples were usually located at picturesque scenic spots, so they also enjoyed the outdoors and climbed heights. Climbing heights was not limited to climbing mountains, but also pavilions, temples and other structures.

Though China has marked Chongyang Festival as "a festival for the elderly" since 2012, the festival has a tradition of respecting old people since ancient times.

The Mogao Caves in Dunhuang of Gansu province, a sacred place of Buddha art, is noted for exquisite murals and sculptures. The ancient books earthed here record detailed festival traditions and folk customs in different historical periods.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday announced it will mark the first anniversary of demonetisation on November 8 as 'anti-blackmoney day', setting up a political tug of war with opposition parties which have planned to observe it as a 'black day'.

Leading the charge, senior party leader and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley slammed the Congress over its stand against demonetisation, alleging it did not take a single significant step against black money when in power, and listed out a number of measures taken by the Modi government against the menace.

Union ministers and BJP office bearers across the country will build public opinion in favour of the government's decision till November 8 when the party would hold programmes across the country to observe it as anti-blackmoney day, he said at a press conference in New Delhi.

The finance minister also rejected the criticism that note ban decision did not expose black money, saying it came from those who did not understand its objects.

Jaitley said that demonetisation has served all three objectives -- to squeeze cash economy, promote digital transactions in business and widen the tax base. He pointed out that sale of gold through digital transactions doubled this time on 'Dhanteras' festival.

"The Congress had adequate opportunity to be in power. I can't recollect a single significant step they ever took against black money. They had reconciled to India living with a shadow economy.

"It is understandable that it would never be on the political agenda of their leadership. I can understand their discomfort. If there is an ideological polarisation over a debate on November 8 over the issue of pro-excess cash economy and anti-black money, then the BJP will definitely take it forward," Jaitley said.

The BJP's move comes after around 18 opposition parties, including the Congress and Left, announced that they would observe November 8 as 'black day' against demonetisation which they termed as the government's 'most ill-conceived decision'.

Jaitley listed out steps, including constitution of an Special Investigation Team, benami law and reworking of India's double taxation avoidance agreement with some countries besides demonetisation to argue that the government has been working to curb black money.

Lashing out at the Congress over its criticism of the government's announcement to remonetise banks, he said those who 'destroyed' the country are giving a 'sermon' today.

He said that the Congress can accuse them of delay in taking steps to correct its incompetence, adding that the banks' finances suffered due to indiscriminate loans given by them between 2008-12, when the United Progressive Alliance was in power.

The government collected resources before it moved on Tuesday to infuse money into banks, he said.

Asked if the BJP's drive was because of 'perceived criticism' of demonetisation among the masses, Jaitley said people are wise and had been voting resoundingly in the party's favour during elections that have taken place after the decision.

The Congress, however, dubbed the BJP's plan as a 'crude joke' with the people and alleged that it is an attempt to divert public attention from the government's 'failures' and 'betrayal'.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi also took a swipe at Jaitley over a Press Information Bureau of India tweet in which the government claimed that the 'real GDP growth average is 7.5 per cent in last 3 years'.

'Dear Mr Jaitley, May the Farce be with you (sic),' Gandhi tweeted.

Congress' senior spokesperson Anand Sharma hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded that he introspect, apologise to the nation and demit office for his 'reckless decision'.

Sharma, flanked by Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala, accused Modi and Jaitley of showing 'arrogance' by not admitting their 'mistakes' of note ban decision and goods and services tax implementation which, he alleged, hit the country's economy hard and halted its growth story.

"This is a crude joke with the people of India," Sharma said in a retort to BJP's plan to mark November 8 as 'anti-black money' day.

He said over 99 per cent of the money the prime minister had junked has returned to banks as it was genuine money of the people and not black money and only 0.0013 per cent of black money has been found.

"Where is the issue of having this national celebration. It would be apt if they observed it as anti-people BJP policies day," he told reporters.

"It is nothing but a smokescreen and a myth to mislead and confuse the people," he said.

Sharma accused the prime minister of 'destroying' the country's economy and the growth story that was initiated by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance.

"If morality is still a virtue in Indias polity, then it is time for Prime Minister Modi to introspect and demit the office he holds," Sharma and Surjewala said.

They said Modi should order an immediate investigation 'into the demonetisation scam as also the loss to economy'.

"The PM remains in arrogant denial of the hardship inflicted on people of country by his reckless decision," Sharma said.

He accused Jaitley of making a 'desperate' attempt to save the BJP as the 'ground is slipping from beneath' its feet.

Taking a dig at BJP chief Amit Shah, Sharma asked whether Amit Shah's son Jay Shah would find a place in this celebration.

"'Modinomics' and 'Jaitleynomics' have destroyed Indias economic growth story," he alleged.

IMAGE: Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Arun Jaitley addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photograph: Kamal Singh/PTI Photo
United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday visited the iconic memorial of Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi and hailed him as one of the few global leaders who changed the world.

During his brief visit, Tillerson was given a tour of the room at the Birla House where Gandhi had spent his last 144 days.

Dressed in a grey suit, the US Secretary of State later paid tribute to Gandhi at the Martyr's Column, a monument erected at the spot in the lawns of the sprawling House, where he was killed on January 30, 1948 by Nathuram Godse, when he was taking a stroll there.

The House was converted into a memorial after his assassination. A museum, an art gallery, a library and bookstore are housed in its well-kept white bungalow.

A state of Mahatma sculpted by noted artist Ram Sutar welcomes visitors near the main entrance, in its premises which includes a manicured lawn at the back and a giant world peace gong in the front of the building.

Dipanker Shri Gyan, director of the memorial accompanied Tillerson during his visit.

"The US Secretary of State spent about 10 minutes at the memorial. He first visited the room in which Gandhiji had stayed before his assassination and was struck by its aura," he said.

"His immediate reaction after seeing the room was -- 'Such a simple man.' Gandhiji's life, indeed was simple and inspiring, two rare qualities," Gyan told PTI.

Tillerson then while walking to the Martyr's Column, stopped mid-way to enquire about the stone-made footsteps, which were covered with rose petals.

"He asked me about the footsteps, and I told him they symbolised the last steps taken by the Mahatma before he was shot dead. Tillerson then remarked -- 'Gandhi was one of the ten global leaders who changed the world.' He then paid homage to him at the Martyr's Column," Gyan said.

The US Secretary of State also circumabulated the column as a mark of respect.

Charge d'Affaires at the US Embassy in New Delhi MaryKay Carlson and various other senior officials of the American mission were also present at the memorial.

Tillerson was to visit the Gandhi memorial around 11 am. His visit was, however, delayed a bit owing to his busy schedule, and he finally arrived around 11:20 AM.

A senior official at the embassy, initially told the press there that "The US Secretary of State would not be able to make it, as he has another meeting to attend."

However, within minutes, the official communicated to the journalists and cameramen, from both domestic and foreign media houses, that he was coming.

The list of visitors to the memorial located on Tees January Marg, includes the who's who of the world.

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Kate Middleton had visited it in April last year.

The royal couple had spent about 45 minutes there. They also saw the exhibits and came to know that Gandhi had learned to wear a tie and play violin during his stay in London as a student.

Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India was related to the British royal family. Gandhi and Mountbatten were known to have shared bonhomie and the last Viceroy even attended his funeral.

Gandhi had stayed at Birla House several times from 1939- 1948, according to a plaque installed on a wall of the memorial.

Photographs: @Secy_State_US/Twitter
The Politburo Standing Committee -- the most powerful body in China -- is unveiled, but in a break from Communist party convention, no successor to Xi Jinping is named.

IMAGE: Chinese President Xi Jinping after delivering his speech as China's new Politburo Standing Committee members met with the media at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photograph: Jason Lee/Reuters

Chinas ruling Communist Party on Wednesday unveiled its new leadership headed by President Xi Jinping to rule the worlds second largest economy for the next five years with no clear hint of a heir apparent, leaving room for him for an unprecedented third term.

In the most-widely watched political event telecast live across the world, Xi, 64 walked in front of the national and international media followed by the number two ranked leader, Premier Li Keqiang and five other new members of the Politburo Standing Committee which will rule the country for the next five years.

Looking relaxed, Xi introduced all the six members to the packed local and international media at Beijings massive Great Hall of the People and then spoke about his vision for China and the world.

Besides Xi and Li, the other members of the ruling council are Xis chief of staff Li Zhanshu, 67, vice premier Wang Yang, 62, leading Communist Party theoretician Wang Huning, 62, party organisation department head Zhao Leji, 60, and Shanghai party chief Han Zheng, 63.

The new faces replaced leaders who had reached an informal retirement age of 68.

The age of the new leadership gives an indication that none of them could succeed Xi at the next party Congress in 2022.

The announcement follows the end of the week-long Communist Party National Congress, the biggest event in Chinas political calendar, which is held every five years.

The CPC Congress on its final day on Tuesday amended its Constitution to add Xis name and ideology, elevating him on par with modern Chinas founder Chairman Mao Zedong and his successor Deng Xiaoping.

Till now, only the thoughts of Mao and Deng were enshrined in the Constitution of the worlds longest ruling Communist Party, interpreting the complex doctrine of Marxism with Chinese characteristics.

The thoughts of Deng, Chinas reformist leader, were added posthumously.

Thoughts of two of Xi's predecessors, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, were mentioned in the Constitution but not their names. This makes Xi only the third leader to have his thoughts on governance enshrined, which will now be part of school textbooks all over China.

IMAGE: China's new Politburo Standing Committee members, from left to right: Han Zheng, Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Wang Yang and Zhao Leji. Photograph: Jason Lee/Reuters

Addressing the media after introducing the new committee, Xi spoke of how China will steadfastly uphold sovereignty and its security and interests.

With confidence and pride, the Chinese people will be steadfast in upholding our countrys sovereignty, security and development interests, he said.

Xi said China will work with other nations to build a global community with a shared future, and make new and greater contributions to the noble cause of peace and development for all humanity.

He said the CPC will generate waves of positive energy to build the country into a mighty and nationwide force driving its development and progress.

We must continue to rid ourselves of any virus that erodes the Party's fabric, make great efforts to foster a healthy political environment of integrity, and generate waves of positive energy throughout our Party, Xi said.

The CPC will mark its centenary in 2021. Xis ideological thoughts enshrined into the Constitution spoke of development of China in the modern era under the leadership of CPC keeping alive the one-party system in the country.

For a party which fights for the eternal well being of the Chinese nation, the centenary only ushers in the prime of life, Xi said.

As the worlds largest political party, the CPC must behave in a way commensurate with this status. Its history makes it abundantly clear that the CPC is capable of not only spearheading a great social revolution, but also imposing a great reform on itself, he said.

Xi, who in the past warned about the collapse of the Soviet Communist Party in 1991 and asked the CPC members to draw lessons from it, said the party members, must always have a youthful spirit, and forever be the servants of the people and the backbone of our nation.

Exercising full and rigorous governance over the Party is a journey to which there is no end. We should never entertain the idea of taking a breather or halting our steps," he said apparently referring to massive anti-corruption campaign carried out by him in the last five years in which over a million party officials were punished.

The aspirations of the people to live a better life must always be the focus of our efforts, said Xi.

I have no doubt in my mind that our people's lives will see further improvement year after year, he said.

He reiterated the resolve to establish a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020.

This is a society to be enjoyed by each and every one of us; on the march toward common prosperity, no one must be left behind, he said.

We will mobilise the whole Party and the whole country in a resolute push to deliver on our pledge and eradicate poverty in China, he said.

The CPC and the Chinese people have gone through trials and tribulations, Xi said, leading a new top CPC leadership to meet the press.

These experiences have taught us that peace is precious and development must be valued, he said.

He also thanked the national and international media for the coverage of the party Congress and said his government is open for constructive suggestions.

We do not need lavish praise from others, however, we do welcome objective reporting and constructive suggestions, for this is our motto: 'Not angling for compliments, I would be content that my integrity fills the universe,'" Xi said.

He encouraged members of the press to visit and see more of China, citing a Chinese saying that it is better to see once than to hear a hundred times.

We hope that after the Party Congress, you will continue to follow China's development and progress, and learn about and report on more dimensions of China, he said.

Over the past five years, Chinas Gross Domestic Product rose from 54 trillion yuan ($8.2 trillion) to 80 trillion yuan, contributing more than 30 per cent of global economic growth.

The composition of the Standing Committee this time is regarded as little more balanced with members from other factions of the CPC, which has monopolised political power ever since the People's Republic was founded in 1949.

Xis close supporter Li Zhanshu will head the parliament the National Peoples Congress while Zhao Leji will head the party's powerful disciplinary body which carries the anti-corruption campaign.

Zhao replaces Xi's close aide Wang Qishan, 69 who retired after the Chinese president apparently failed to get him an extension at the Congress.

Premier Li is widely regarded as the choice of previous President Hu Jintao. The Standing Committee composition is widely regarded as balanced with two members backing Xi, two from Hu and two others from the group headed by another former President Jiang Zemin, 91 who continue to retain some hold over the party especially in Shanghai and sections of the powerful military.

Analysts looking at the composition of the Standing Committee say it appears to be an outcome of compromise between Xi and other factions in the party.

The list of new faces underscores Xis desire for continuity and consensus-building, but it also prepares the ground for greater changes in the future, Hong-Kong based South China Morning Post reported.

But more importantly the party has not kept its decades old tradition to hint or nominate a successor to Xi.

Judging from the age group of the Standing Committee members, all the seven members including Xi will have to retire following unofficial retirement age of 68 years.

The successor has to be in mid-fifties but the lowest age in the Standing Committee is 60 years. Lack of successor could disrupt the decades old leadership system followed by the party, according to observers.

The party leaders in recent decades hinted at one or more possible heirs to the Standing Committee at the beginning of their final term, indicating a line of succession.

Xi and Li themselves were picked up in the 17th CPC Congress that way when they were in fifties. This leaves room open for leadership when the party hold its key Congress in 2022.

Observers say lack of a successor points to a possibility for Xi to explore an unprecedented third term and beyond as he has already attained iconic status conferred on Mao and Deng by enshrining his ideologies into the CPC Constitution.

Robert Lawrence Kuhn, author, an American scholar on China who moved closely with Chinese leaders and scholars for decades, said the inclusion of Xis thoughts in the Constitution and the core leadership conferred on him by the party previously put him substantially ahead of others in the party.

Being the originator of the new concept and the arbiter of what constitutes social Chinese characteristics for a new era and his being core, those two factors put Xi substantially above anybody else or any combination of people, Kuhn who is based in China told PTI on Tuesday after the CPC concluded its Congress.

He also said there is no term limit for your name in the constitution referring to the iconic status enjoyed by Mao and Deng, which meant that Xi could set his sights beyond the second term.

Since 2002, all the top Chinese leaders followed a convention of retiring after two terms. Also 68 years as unofficially agreed as retirement age. So this many not be applicable to Xi, he said.

But that said, Xi apparently did not have his way completely with the leadership election this time.

Earlier reports said Xi preferred a five-member Standing Committee instead of seven. It was shrunk to seven from nine when he took over power in 2012.

But now the number of the Standing Committee remained seven keeping it broad based.
IMAGE: President Ram Nath Kovind welcomed in Karnataka by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala. Photograph: Courtesy @rashtrapatibhvn/Twitter

President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday hailed Tipu Sultan, saying he died a heroic death fighting the British, remarks that came in the backdrop of protests by the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka against the glorification of the 18th century Mysore ruler.

The remarks by the President in his address to the joint session of Karnataka legislature amid the raging debate on Tipu Sultans legacy sparked a war of words between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP.

The saffron party has opposed the Congress government's plans for 'Tipu Jayanti' celebrations on his birth anniversary on November 10.

The BJP alleged that the state government has 'misused' the office of the President by getting Tipu's name mentioned in the speech while the Congress said the opposition party should be 'ashamed' for levelling this charge.

The celebrations have been opposed tooth and nail by the BJP which sees Tipu Sultan as a 'religious bigot' and a 'brutal killer'.

"Tipu Sultan died a heroic death fighting the British. He was also a pioneer in the development and use of Mysore rockets in warfare. This technology was later adopted by the Europeans," Kovind said while noting that Karnataka is a land of formidable soldiers.

The President's reference to Tipu Sultan came after he noted the contributions of various historical figures of Karnataka, including Krishnadevaraya who was the emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1509 to 1529.

As the President made the reference about Tipu Sultan in his speech to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature, Congress members cheered by thumping of the desks.

'Congratulations to Hon. President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind for a statesman like address to the Karnataka legislature. @rashtrapatibhvn (sic),' Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tweeted on his personal twitter handle @siddaramaiah.

Siddaramaiah later said that the speech delivered by the President was his own and accused the BJP of trying to give it a 'political colour'.

He questioned 'how can a President read state's speech? Is it a joint session address?'

Tipu was a ruler of the erstwhile kingdom of Mysore, who was considered an implacable enemy of the British East India Company. He was killed in May 1799 while defending his fort of Srirangapatna against the British forces.

Opposition BJP and some outfits are opposed to Tipu Jayanti celebrations and have called him 'religious bigot', 'fanatic' and 'anti-Kannada'.

Tipu Sultan is also viewed in a negative light in Kodagu district where he is alleged to have persecuted the local Kodava population, as also the Roman Catholics of Mangaluru, on religious grounds and forced conversion to Islam.

Hitting out at the state government, Opposition BJP Leader in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa alleged that government has 'misused' the office of the President by getting Tipu's name mentioned in the speech.

"I condemn it....it is an insult done to people of Karnataka by the state government. If we had raised objections when President mentioned Tipu, it would have lead to violation of protocol...," he added.

Reacting to the allegations, state Congress Working President Dinesh Gundu Rao said BJP should be 'ashamed'.

He said 'by trying to say that president has just read out a speech written by somebody, they are insulting the office of the President and the President'.

Suggesting that the speech was prepared by the President's office after collecting inputs from various sources, Rao said, "...such allegations shows the state of mind the BJP leaders are in."

Recently, Union minister Anantkumar Hegde kicked up a row after he requested the Karnataka government not to include his name in programme invitations for Tipu Jayanti celebrations.

'(I have) conveyed (to) Karnataka government not to invite me to shameful event of glorifying a person known as brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist,' Hegde had said in a tweet.

The Congress government is all set to celebrate 'Tipu Jayanti' despite widespread protests and violence that had marred celebrations in the last two years.
IMAGE: Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddins son Syed Shahid Yousuf being produced in a court at Patiala House Courts Complex in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo



The National Investigation Agency on Wednesday claimed Syed Shahid Yousuf, son of globally-wanted terrorist and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, had admitted he received funds for subversive activities in the Kashmir Valley.

Yousuf, who was sent to seven days of custody to the agency for further questioning, had also given the names of overseas Hizbul Mujahideen members involved in fund-raising for the terror outfit, an NIA spokesman said.

The 42-year-old Yousuf, who works in the agricultural department of the Jammu and Kashmir government, was arrested in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The NIA claimed during questioning he 'admitted to having received funds from cadres of the Hizbul Mujahideen on the direction of his father, Mohammed Yusuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, for fomenting terrorist activities in the Valley'.

The NIA said he also 'revealed the names of his associates abroad who were linked with the Mujahideen and involved in raising, collecting and transferring funds from other countries to India'.

This was being verified and investigated, the NIA said.

It alleged Yousuf used to receive funds through a United States-based international wire transfer company from Aijaz Ahmed Bhat, another accused in the case who is absconding and is based in Saudi Arabia.

The agency alleged Yousuf was 'one of several Indian contacts of Bhat' who had been in telephonic contact with him for receiving money transfer codes.

The NIA claimed so far he had received a total of nearly Rs 4.5 lakh through eight international wire transfers.

The case, registered by the NIA in April 2011, relates to the transfer of money from Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir through hawala channels via Delhi, which the agency believed was used in funding terrorism and secessionist activities.

The NIA has so far filed two charge sheets against six people including G M Bhat, a close aide of pro-Pakistan separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Siddiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga. All four are in judicial custody.

Two others -- Mohammed Maqbool Pandit and Bhat -- were also charge sheeted by the NIA but are absconding. An Interpol Red Corner notice has been issued against them.

Yousuf's father Salahuddin, based in Pakistan, was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department of State in June this year.

Besides heading terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, he is the chairman of the United Jehad Council (UJC), a conglomerate of terrorist outfits operating in the Kashmir Valley.
Two suspected Islamic States operatives were on Wednesday arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad, which claimed that they were plotting an attack on a Jewish synagogue in Khadia area of Ahmedabad in 'very near future'.

The suspects, arrested in Surat, have been identified as Mohammad Kasim Stimberwala and Ubed Ahmed Mirza, an official said.

While Stimberwala used to work as a laboratory technician with a hospital in Ankleshwar town, Mirza is a practicing lawyer with the Surat district court and also owns a hotel there.

They were booked under Indian Penal Code sections 120-A (criminal conspiracy), 121-A (waging or attempt to wage war against Government of India) and 125 (Waging war against any Asiatic power in alliance with Government of India) of the IPC, besides under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the official said.

As per the first information report registered by the ATS, the duo have been radicalised by the ideology of Islamic State and were planning to carry out a 'lone-wolf' attack on the synagogue, for which Stimberwala had visited Ahmedabad and conducted a recce of the Jewish centre located in Khadia area.

ATS sleuths believe that Srimberwala and Mirza are 'highly radicalised by the fundamental ideology of the Islamic State for the last many years and are actively planning to cause terrorist acts'.

Both the suspected operatives of the IS were under the influence of Abdullah el-Faisal, a radical preacher based in Jamaica, the official said quoting the first information report.

As per the FIR, el-Faisal was earlier convicted for spreading hatred in the UK and then deported to Jamaica. He was detained in Jamaica on the charges of persuading youths to travel to Syria to take up the cause of Jihad.

Surveillance of their social media accounts had revealed that the duo were attracted to the extreme ideology since the last three-four years, according to the FIR.

They were also in contact with one Shafi Armar, an IS handler who is wanted in various cases of serial blasts triggered by Indian Mujahideen (IM) and is currently believed to be out of India, the official said.

ATS suspects that both the accused were making 'intensive efforts to radicalise other youths in India using various mediums, such as social media, one-on-one meetings and telephonic calls'.

Meanwhile in Kannur, three men with suspected IS links were arrested on Wednesday, police said.

The trio, who had left the state years ago, were suspected to have visited Syria and reportedly received training from the terror outfit, they said.

"Three persons, Mithilaj, Abdul Razzak and Rashid, in the age group of 25 and 30, were arrested around 3 pm for their links with the IS," Deputy Superintendent of Police,Kannur, Sadanandan said.

"They have been arrested based on an evidence obtained after examining their phone calls. Further interrogation is going on," he said.

The three hail from Chakkarakkal and Valappattinam in the district and had returned from Turkey recently, the police said.

The National Investigation Agency has been probing cases of disappearance of at least 21 people who had left the state under mysterious circumstances over a period of time and are suspected to have joined the IS.

Among them, 17 were from Kasaragod and four from Palakkad. They include four women and three children.

Photograph: ANI
'The appointment of 60 priests from the Dalit community is a historic moment.'

'Imagine this is happening in Kerala when Dalits are not even allowed to enter temples in some states even today.'

IMAGE: Sudhi Kumar, right, the day he joined the famous Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Kshetram in Mavelikara, Kerala. Photograph: Kind courtesy Sudhi Kumar

The Vaikom Satyagraha in 1924 that led to the entry of Hindus from all castes into temples is considered a landmark event in Kerala's history.

The Vaikom Satyagraha also allowed the so-called 'untouchables' to use roads near the temples and other places which were the exclusive domain of upper caste Hindus in Kerala.

Mahatma Gandhi visited Vaikom to support the satyagraha's leaders. He also met the regent maharani and the minor Maharaja Sree Chithira Thirunal of Travancore which resulted in the opening of roads near the temple except the eastern one to the so-called 'untouchables'.

The Vaikom Satyagraha also led to the historic Kshetra Pravesana Vilambaram or the Temple Entry Proclamation of Travancore on November 12, 1936 which allowed the entry of the so-called 'low-caste people' or avarnas into Hindu temples in the princely state of Travancore.

This proclamation is a milestone in Kerala's history as it resulted in many major social reformations in the state.

Eighty-one years after the historic event, a non-Brahmin priest from the backward Ezhava community was prevented from taking charge as the keezh santhi (assistant priest) at the famous Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Kshetram in Mavelikara.

Sudhi Kumar -- the Ezhava priest who has been working as a santhi (priest) for the Devaswom Board for 19 years -- told Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier that it was the first time that he has had to face such discrimnation.

I was born in a very ancient tharavadu (ancestral home) near Haripad where we have been associated with temples as pujaris (priests).

My grandfather studied to be a santhi from Vaikom Gopala Thantri who learnt the rituals directly from Sree Narayana Guru. My family have been priests for three generations.

After my grandfather and my father, I joined the same profession. You can say we are traditionally priests.

From a very young age, I used to go with my grandfather to the temples as his assistant, but the puja he performed was what was taught by Gurudeva (Sree Narayana Guru) which is different from what is followed in other temples.

As our tharavadu was surrounded by the houses of Namboodiris who taught the Vedas to children, I grew up hearing the chanting of Vedas and prayers.

I was so drawn to it that at the age of 14, I decided to go and learn the Vedas from a pandit of the Vedas who was not a Namboodiri.

You should understand that even in those days, learning of the Vedas was not the domain of the Namboodiris alone; anyone interested could learn the scriptures.

By 19, I had learnt enough to be an independent santhi in a temple.

While I worked as a santhi, I also learnt the YajurVeda rituals from a Namboodiri for three years. Then I applied for a job at the Devaswom Board. After a test and an interview, I was selected as a santhi.

When I joined in 2004, there were only a handful of non-Brahmin priests with the Devaswom Board. Today, there are about 500 priests belonging to the Ezhava community.

Other than the Namboodiris, there were priests only from the Ezhava community. That was because even when chatur varna was observed, people from the Ezhava community were priests in the temples of Bhadrakali, Maadan etc and also because of Gurudeva's efforts.

Other than Devaswom Board temples, there are thousands of temples in Kerala that followed Gurudeva's traditions.

In all these temples, the priests were non-Brahmins. But the temples under the Devaswom Board only had Namboodiris as priests.

In 1986 when Prakulam Bhasi was a member of the Devaswom Board he decided to teach santhi (the rituals of puja) to men from the Ezhava community. He even gave them the title 'Sharma' and later appointed them as pujaris in temples.

I have been performing my duty as a santhi from the age of 19, but I had not experienced any discrimination from anyone, neither from the temple authorities or the bhaktas (devotees) till now.

On the 19th of June 2017, the Devaswom Board transferred me to the Chettikulangara Devi Khetram as keezh santhi (assistant priest).

This temple is considered the second most important temple after Sabarimala and the area is dominated by savarnas.

When I was transferred as the keezh santhi, it was for the first time that a non-Brahmin was appointed a santhi at the temple.

When the temple authorities discovered that I, a non-Brahmin, would be the keezh santhi , the temple's thantri (head priest) wrote to the Devaswom Board that it was not possible to have a non-Brahmin as a santhi in the temple as the Devi would get angry.

It was also mentioned in the letter that only a Namboodiri would be able to conduct the pujas at the temple and not a non-Brahmin.

I had paid obeisance to the thantri when he visited a temple where I was a santhi. When I found out that he had sent a letter like this, I had tears in my eyes. I did not expect him to say such things against me.

The fact is no temple under the Devaswom Board can discriminate against any santhi as under the Board, there is no difference between a Brahmin santhi and a non-Brahmin santhi.

The Hindu Matha Convention acquired a stay against my appointment, but the high court did not accept the stay as it was a human rights violation.

The high court asked the temple to continue the status quo as the temple authorities had said that my appointment would create communal tension in the area.

The high court instructed the Devaswom Board commissioner to take a decision, and he cancelled my transfer!

The cancellation of my transfer created a big uproar in the state. That was when the SNDP (the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, an Ezhava organisation) the CPM (the Communist Party of India-Marxist which heads the Kerala government) etc entered the scene and started a statewide protest against the decision.

When it came for discussion in the assembly, the Devaswom Board minister said that the government would see to it that I would be re-appointed at the same temple.

On the 26th of September, an order was passed asking me to join the temple and the very next day, amidst hundreds of people from the SNDP and CPM cheering, I joined the temple.

I didn't go to court personally as I knew Devi would see to it that I would get justice, and I did.

I have to say that nobody has said anything bad to me after I joined; everybody is cordial and welcoming.

A new melsanthi (the main priest) has come to the temple; he is the son-in-law of Narayana Bhattathiri, my guru for four years.

My guru comes to the temple quite often and introduces me to all the people as 'his son'. That is the kind of love he has for me.

IMAGE: Sudhi Kumar, right, has been a priest for 19 years. Photograph: Kind courtesy Sudhi Kumar

An incident occurred the day I was to take charge. The main santhi at another temple came to my home and threatened my wife that if she did not stop me from joining as the keezh santhi, his people would kill me.

It was the first time in my life that I felt discriminated against because of the caste I was born in.

My question is, will the Devi of the temple discriminate among her bhaktas based on caste?

To Her, there is no difference between black or white, Brahmin or non-Brahmin, rich or poor, man or woman; all are Her bhaktas.

No God would differentiate between who does the puja, it is immaterial whether it is a Namboodiri or me or Yadhu Krishna (the first Dalit santhi).

The question is: Who is actually a Brahmin?

Let me say: All are born as sudras, only when you acquire knowledge (brahma jnanam) do you become a Brahmin.

We are taught that you are a Brahmin by karma and not by birth.

Nobody become a Brahmin by birth. Veda Vyasa (who wrote the Mahabharata) was born to a fisherwoman.

If you ask me why I decided to be a santhi, I feel I was born to be one.

From the time I could remember, bhakti was the dominant feeling I experienced.

It was after I was denied permission to join the Chettikulangara Devi Kshetram that the state government decided to have priests from the scheduled castes/scheduled tribes for all temples under the Devaswom Board.

The appointment of Yadhu Krishna and 60 others from the Dalit community as santhis is a pathbreaking move by the government, a historic moment.

Imagine this is happening in Kerala when Dalits are not even allowed to enter temples in some states even today.
The president of Royal Society of British Artists, Nick Tidnam (left), views Chinese watercolor artist Feng Sixiao's works at British Museum in London on Tuesday. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Chinese artist Feng Sixiao has brought China to the British Museum, thanks to a display of his watercolor paintings, which opened on Tuesday.

More than 50 works were on display until Wednesday.

Feng said the paintings are his attempt to combine the traditional Chinese painting style with Western watercolors, something he has worked on for at least 20 years.

"Watercolor stems from the West and focuses on the color and the light, whereas Chinese painting is more about spirits and emotions," said Feng. "I have added some natural spirits and brushing skills from Chinese ink painting to watercolor painting. That is what makes my work different."

Born in Qingdao, in East China's Shandong province, the 69-year-old is one of China's best-known artists. His paintings are frequently seen in art textbooks.

Feng is also acclaimed worldwide and has held solo exhibitions in the US city of San Francisco, the US state of Hawaii, and Canada. His paintings were displayed at Olympic stadiums during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The London show was Feng's first in the UK capital and he said he was excited to get the chance to hear feedback from British visitors.

"Britain is the home of watercolor and China has been learning from it for nearly 100 years. This exhibition is an opportunity for me to know what British people would feel about this particular painting style and also to learn more from British watercolorists," he said.

Nick Tidnam, president of the Royal Society of British Artists, attended the opening.

"It's a great show from a great man with enormous talent, skill and understanding of nature and life and you get great joy from his paintings," he said. "It's great for cultural relationships between the UK and China and absolutely what we should be doing. Culture is very important. Mr Feng and myself, we don't have a common language, but we do have a common language of painting, so we understand each other in that respect. I think music, art, these are things which we cross borders and relate to each other."

The last major Chinese painter to have an exhibition at the British Museum was Wu Guanzhong, in 1992.

Zhang Yangfei in London contributed to this story.
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SHELTON  Still without a contract, cafeteria workers took off their aprons Wednesday and hefted picket signs at Sunnyside Elementary School.

Chants of No Contract. No Peace filled the air.

But so far, theyre still serving lunch.

The afternoon demonstration put a spotlight on district negotiations that arent going well. Some 35 members of UNITE HERE Local 217 and their supporters shouted into bullhorns and donned bright red shirts, drawing plenty of horn honks on the busy River Road from passing motorists.

There were also curious stares and waves from children looking out the windows of their school buses as they recognized some of the picketers as the women who hours earlier handed them their lunch trays.

It was the first time Kyra Wood had ever taken part in a protest. She had five kids go through the Shelton School system and said she loves being a lunch lady.

I cant afford to lose sick days, said Wood, a cancer survivor.

Barbara Jelacic, who has worked as a lunch lady in the district 18 years, said she worries about the proposed health care costs as well as a plan to eliminate paid time-off for holidays, snow days and other times lunch is not served.

I love my job, but I cant afford to lose 10 to 12 percent of my income, Jelacic said.

The target of the protest is not the school system but Whitsons Culinary Group, which was awarded a food service contract with the district over the summer.

The firm was given a one year contract, renewable for up to four more years, in hopes the district would stop losing money on school lunches.

Whitsons is headquartered in New York, but runs school food services in Hamden, Fairfield and East Haven. The new provider promised to hire the 41 part-time cafeteria workers and offer comparable wages of $16.57 an hour, but have yet to come to terms with their new employees over benefits.

Connie Holt, a chief negotiator for the union said Wednesday negotiations continue but have not changed substantially since they began.

Proposals are going back and forth but we are not in the same ball park, Holt said.

And time may be running out. Union members have been on a subsidized COBRA Health Insurance plan that expires at the end of October.

Last month, Schools Superintendent Chris Clouet said he sympathized with the workers but that the issue was not one for the city school board to solve.

We are not a party to the negotiations, Clouet said when the lunch ladies filled a city school board meeting last month.

Christina Cruz-Uribe, a union organizer, said in an email on Wednesday the school board has the contractual right to change their expectations of Whitsons at any time.

A Whitsons spokesman on Wednesday could not be reached for comment.
WINSTED  The Parent Support Group at Northwestern Connecticut Community College, and the Litchfield County Autism Spectrum Association (LACASA) will again host an Autism Spectrum Unplugged panel discussion on Thursday, Nov. 2, from 6:30- 8:30 p.m. The presentation will be held in Founders Hall Auditorium on the Northwestern Connecticut Community College campus in Winsted.

The Panel of experts will be comprised of children and adults from the FOCUS Center for Autism located in Canton, Connecticut, which specializes in the treatment of children and adolescents who are on the autistic spectrum, live with anxiety disorders, or experience processing and social learning difficulties. These articulate, bright, left of center participants are very open and honest about their journey with their disorders. They will discuss how their experiences affect their lives at home, school and in the community. They will share how they have suffered but they have not given up and have grown to accept and embrace their peculiarities and channel their life challenges into something useful, without changing who they are.
FINEST KIND CLINIC AND FISHMARKET.... Discussing medicine, culture, and the joys of cooking Pansit.
It may be time to pay more attention to Beijings moves against Japan in the East China Sea.

Experts say that with Chinas Communist Party Congress now concluded and perhaps after President Trumps trip to Asia in early November, Beijing may escalate the moves its made near disputed territories in the strategic sea.

Japanese analysts fear that China might send maritime militia vessels backed by the Chinese Coast Guard in a show of force directed at the disputed Senkaku Islands. This could include a landing on one of the eight uninhabited islands.

Thats a very legitimate concern, said Ryan Martinson, a researcher at the U.S. Navy War Colleges Maritime Studies Institute, in a reference to Japanese fears.

Chinese leaders and strategists are almost certainly waiting for the right opportunitysuch as a perceived downgrading of the U.S.-Japan allianceto seize control of the disputed features, said Martinson, who closely studies Chinas moves in both the East and South China Seas.

At the top-level Chinese Communist Party Congress last week, President Xi Jinping stated that Chinas construction on artificial islands and reefs in disputed parts of the South China Sea has seen steady progress.

But he also stated said that we will not allow anyone, any organization, or any political partyto separate any part of Chinese territory from China.

Here Xi was obviously warning Taiwan to give up any ideas about independence from China. But his statement would also apply to the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands located in the East China Sea separating China and southern Japan.

In China, the Senkakus are known as the Diaoyu Islands.

The stakes

Western media have understandably focused recently on Chinas artificial island-building in the South China Sea as well as on countermoves by U.S. Navy ships, which are showing the flag there in support of the freedom of navigation.

But Chinas by now almost routine deployment of ships, coast guard vessels, and maritime militia vessels into disputed waters in the East China Sea deserve equal attention.

The eight Senkaku Islands claimed by both Japan and China are so small that they can best be described as islets rather than islands. Three of the islands are often described simply as rocks.

So why do they matter?

For starters, the islands are located near shipping lanes in the Pacific Ocean. Theyre surrounded by rich fishing grounds. And they lie near sizable oil and gas reserves.

According to the Washington D.C.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a dispute between China and Japan over oil and gas fields in the East China Sea remains a persistent source of friction in their relationship and contributes to broader maritime tensions between the two sides.

A CSIS website, the Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), has been tracking the installation of Chinese oil and natural gas drilling rigs in the international waters of the East China Sea for several years.

China and Japan agreed in mid-2008 to jointly develop four oil and gas fields and to give Japanese companies preferential treatment. But the agreement was never implemented.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry reported in June of last year that China had installed a military radar system and surveillance cameras on one of its gas drilling platforms located close to disputed waters.

The stakes are high on an international level as well.

China and Japan oversee the largest economies in Asia. An armed conflict between the two could damage the world economy.

It might also draw in the United States, which has a security alliance with Japan that would oblige the U.S. to come to Japans support in case of such a conflict. In 2014 President Barack Obama stated that a conflict over the Senkakus would fall within U.S. obligations to defend Japan.

Early this year, President Trumps Defense Secretary, Jim Mattis, reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the U.S.-Japan mutual defense treaty and to the defense of territories under Japanese administrative control.

Japanese moves

Japan itself has not been standing still. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won a victory in Japans parliamentary election on Sunday (Oct. 22) that could allow him to revise his countrys pacifist constitution.

Following Japans defeat in World War II, the United States introduced the constitution, which included a clause committing Japan to the renunciation of war.

Abe had argued during his election campaign that with North Korea firing test missiles over Japan and other threats confronting the country, he needed to modify that clause.

He suggested that this could be done by simply adding a supplementary clause to the constitution.

But that will require the approval of a majority of Japanese voters, and public opinion is split on the issue.

Polls show high support for the military in Japan, but the idea of revising the constitution is still a sensitive issue for significant numbers of Japanese.

Japan has increased its defense budget five times since Prime Minister Abe came to power in 2012. Officials argued that the increases were needed partly to counter North Koreas missile threat and Chinas build-up of naval forces.

The Obama and Trump administrations had both urged Japan to take on more of the military burden in its alliance with the United States.

Meanwhile, partly in reaction to a more assertive Chinese foreign policy introduced by President Xi, Abe has increased Japanese aid and investments to nations facing pressures from China in the South China Sea. Abe has also bolstered Japans ties with India.

Recent history

According to a report by energy law specialist Muhammad Waqas published in the Oil & Gas Financial Journal, China raised no objections to Japans control of the Senkaku Islands until 1969, when the issue of oil and natural gas reserves arose.



Estimates began showing huge hydrocarbon deposits underneath the East China Sea.

In the early 1970s both China and Taiwan began pressing their claims to the islands.

In the spring of 2012, Tokyos hawkish Mayor Shintaro Ishihara triggered alarm in China when he said that he would spend public money to buy the Senkakus from their private Japanese owner.

According to a BBC report, the Japanese government intervened to buy three islets from the owner in a move to block Ishiharas more provocative plan.

But all of this provoked widespread protests in China, where anti-Japanese feelings are easily aroused.

William Choong wrote three years ago in a book titled The Ties that Divide, that nationalistic feelings in Beijing and Tokyo have given symbolic significance to the dispute over the Senkakus.

China regards the return of the Diaoyu Islands as integral to the countrys re-emergence, Choong said.

For Japan, retaining the islands confirms that it is still a major power not to be trifled with, Choong said.

Given Japans World War II occupation of parts of China and the denial by some in Japan of the infamous Nanjing Massacre and other Japanese wartime actions, anti-Japanese feelings run particularly high in China.

But on both sides nationalistic passions put pressure on the leaders of China and Japan to appear tough when standing up for their countries.

Avoiding full-scale conflict

Grant Newsham, a retired U.S. Marine colonel with a long history of working with Japans Self- Defense Forces (JSDF), wrote recently that Chinese ships are in more places, more often, and in greater numbers than the Japanese Coast Guard can handle.

In a commentary published on Oct. 13 in the Asia Times, Newsham added that Chinas air force also routinely intrudes into Japans airspace, while harried Japanese jets dutifully scramble to intercept.

But Chinas actions appear to be carefully calibrated to avoid triggering a full-scale armed conflict.

Some analysts refer to the Chinese approach as salami slicing.

J. Michael Cole, a journalist based in Taiwan and writing in The National Interest last year, called it a strategy of permanent conflict.

But Chinas actions occasionally make headlines. One example: In August of last year, China drew considerable attention when it sent some 230 fishing boats accompanied by seven China Coast Guard ships into the 12-nautical mile territorial sea of the Senkaku Islands.

Dan Southerland is RFA's founding executive editor.
Cambodias King Norodom Sihamoni has approved a set of controversial amendments to the countrys electoral law, paving the way for the dissolution of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and the reallocation of its parliamentary seats to government-aligned parties.



The king signed the four amendments into law immediately after they were deemed acceptable by the Constitutional Council of the National Assembly, or parliament, on Tuesday in a decision made without undue urgency.



The amendments, which were provisionally approved in a parliamentary session last week that was boycotted by all CNRP lawmakers, would see the royalist Funcinpec party take 41 of 55 seats from the opposition should it be outlawed ahead of a general election slated for July 2018.



According to the legislation, the League for Democracy Party (LDP) would receive six of the CNRPs seats, the Khmer Anti-Poverty Party (KAPP) would receive five, the Cambodian Nationality Party (CNP) would assume two seats, and the Khmer Economic Development Party (KEDP) would be given one seat.



The CNRPs commune councilor positions, won in local elections held in June, will also be redistributed in the event that the party is dissolved.



The new laws follow the Sept. 3 arrest of CNRP leader Kem Sokha in the capital Phnom Penh and formal accusations against him of treasonmoves critics say show Prime Minister Hun Sen is intensifying his attacks on political opponents ahead of next years national elections.



Hun Sen has threatened to shut down the CNRP for allegedly collaborating with the U.S. to topple the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP).



The evidence presented against Kem Sokha so far is a video recorded in 2013 in which he discusses a strategy to win power with the help of U.S. experts, though the U.S. embassy has rejected any suggestion that Washington is interfering in Cambodian politics.



Observers suggested Wednesday that King Sihamoni had moved too quickly in approving the amendments, which they said were not in the public interest and put Cambodia in danger of sliding into a dictatorship.



Political analyst Lao Monghay told RFAs Khmer Service that the king should have thoroughly reviewed the amendments before signing them into law.



These laws are not rightthey are immoraland by signing them, the kings will, credibility, and impartiality has been seriously compromised, he said.



Yoeurng Sotheara, an electoral monitor for the civil society group Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL), told RFA that Hun Sen is carrying out a coup against the constitutionthe laws of which should protect political parties from being dissolved by the government.



The Cambodian people had already chosen their leader in 2013, he said, referring to the results of the last general election, which allowed the CPP to maintain control of parliament and Hun Sen to remain Cambodias prime minister.



There is no need to change the competitive condition at this time.



Call to defect



Meanwhile, Hun Sen called on members of the CNRP to defect to the CPP during a speech he delivered to more than 10,000 workers in the capital on Wednesday, saying the ruling party would welcome opposition commune councilors, lawmakers, and activists with open arms.



Elected CNRP officials could continue to operate in their current capacity under the aegis of his party, the prime minister added.



When the CNRP is dissolved, their seats will automatically come to the CPP, so we will register them on our list, he said.



While some CNRP activists and politicians have switched allegiances to the ruling party, the majority have vowed to continue their work with the opposition.



Sin Chanpov Rozeth, the CNRP chief of OCha commune in Battambang province, told RFA that she would not be swayed by Hun Sens entreaties, adding that the CPP was driving voters to the opposition by targeting her party.



I will stand with the people who voted for meI wont allow them to live hopelessly, she said.



I wont betray my will and commitment by defecting to the CPP.



Kem Leang, a CNRP member of the OChrov commune council in Battambang, posted a video to her Facebook account on Wednesday in which she vowed to continue serving the people and said she would rather lose her position than defect.



I dont need money from the CPPthe people would scold and blame me if I was to accept it [and become beholden to the ruling party], she said.



I will not betray the peoples support, or that of the voters. Money cant convince me to defect to the CPP.



Lawmaker pardoned



Also on Wednesday, King Sihamoni granted a royal pardon to jailed CNRP parliamentarian Hong Sok Hour after he sent an apology to Hun Sen over his actions related to a disputed portion of the border between Cambodia and Vietnam.



Hong Sok Hour, who suffers from hypertension and cardiac disease, was freed from prison shortly after his pardon was announced, and expressed gratitude that he would be able to seek treatment for his illnesses.



The lawmaker suggested it was mere coincidence that his release after more than two years in jail came on the same day that the king signed the electoral amendments into law, and said he was glad to be free after expressing remorse to Hun Sen in a letter facilitated by his lawyer.



I wrote to the prime minster that I sincerely regretted using a fake document in the debate over the disputed Cambodia-Vietnam border, he said.



In November last year, Hong Sok Hour was found guilty of forging and publishing public documents and of incitement to cause instability, when he posted a disputed copy of a 1979 Cambodia-Vietnam treaty on Facebook that said the two countries had agreed to dissolve their mutual border. He was sentenced to seven years in jail.



Months earlier, Hun Sen had ordered police to arrest anyone accusing the government of using fake maps to cede national territory to Vietnam, which invaded and occupied Cambodia in 1979 to overthrow the rule of the Khmer Rouge.



Hong Sok Hour had been held at Prey Sar Prison since his arrest on Aug. 15, 2015.



Reported by Zakariya Tin and Sarada Taing for RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sarada Taing. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
China has shuttered tens of thousands of factories amid a growing pollution crisis, recent media reports have indicated, in a bid to stave off another "airpocalypse" during the winter central heating season, recent media reports indicate.



The country's ministry of environmental protection has sent out thousands of inspectors to shut down factories that don't comply with strict new emissions standards, and has the power to cut off their electrical and gas supplies until they have been fully assessed, according to a recent report in Bloomberg and the Washington Post.



More than U.S.$130 million dollars in fines have been levied through the tax system against 18,000 companies who failed to meet the stricter environmental regulations to date, according to U.S. National Public Radio.



But Beijing was still swathed in dirty brown smog for much of the ruling Chinese Communist Party's five-yearly national congress last week, in spite of a slew of recent bold measures aimed at improving deadly air pollution by the end of this year.



In 2014, premier Li Keqiang declared war on pollution, which killed around nine million people in 2015, according to a recent study in The Lancet medical journal, half of them in India and China.



And a recent University of Chicago study found that residents of northern China can expect to lose three years from their lifespan compared with compatriots in the south, where there is less heavy industry and central heating.



The 19th party congress said in its closing communique that more must be done, after being warned by environment minister Li Ganjie that the overall pollution picture is "extremely serious."



"Only 84 cities out of 338 meet environmental targets, and pollution is worsening in the worst-polluted places," Li told the congress. "Structurally, heavy industry still makes up far too large a proportion of output."



"There is also an overly heavy reliance on the burning of coal, and on road transportation," he said. "Some enterprises don't have a law-abiding attitude, and there is widespread flouting of legislation."



Beijing environmentalist Song Xinzhou said the main problem lies with the failure to implement existing rules and regulations.



"For example, some industries need to be repurposed, and curbs put on the more extreme polluters, and government policy has kept pace with this need," Song said. "If only they would actually implement these policies, then things would start to improve gradually."



"They have to really get out there and promote these changes; that's the most important thing."



Corruption, vested interests

Wuxi-based environmental activist Wu Lihong said local governments currently present the biggest obstacle to implementing existing laws.



"The leadership at the highest level is genuinely keen to get this sorted, but in the current political system, there's not much it can do," Wu said. "The first problem is that officials are engaging in corruption."



"The economy isn't doing very well in China right now ... so lower-ranking officials are looking to protect polluting industries even more," he said. "They'll pay lip-service to respecting environmental legislation, but they are getting quietly tipped off [about inspections]."



"This was happening even for pollution checks in my hometown before the 19th party congress, so they would quit production a little early, and then have the inspection done," he said.



The party congress nevertheless vowed in its closing communique to "take tough steps to forestall and defuse major risks, carry out targeted poverty alleviation, and prevent and control pollution."



Alongside the factory closures, the government is imposing a widespread moratorium on coal-burning and steel production, believed to be major drivers of air pollution in industrial areas of the country.



Controls put in place ahead of the 19th party congress look set to remain until the annual meeting of the National People's Congress in March, official media reported in August.



International development NGO Global Citizen welcomed the closures in a recent article on its website.



"The recent halt on industrial operations across China are one of several signs that the government is serious about tackling the problem of pollution," the group said, adding that the United Nations' Global Goals for Sustainable Development include health and well-being, reduced inequality and action on climate change.



And moves are afoot to reduce waste caused by China's booming food takeout and delivery services.



Some 300 million Chinese people use online food ordering services, generating an estimated 65 million single-use food containers every day, The Economist reported recently.



Henan environmental activist Cui Huo said greater public education is needed to change people's attitude to litter and waste.



"A lot of people don't see environmental waste as a target to improve on, because it's not evaluated by the government," Cui said.

"Officials have no incentive to act."



"They are also part of a system of entrenched vested interests, and there is no opportunity for public oversight," he said. "There is no legal protection ... and no market incentives, and no non-government organizations to deal with it."



Reported by Yang Fan and Gao Feng for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Chinese President Xi Jinping revealed his new leadership lineup on Wednesday, with five newly promoted faces and no obvious successor in the all-powerful Politburo standing committee.



Xi presented the most powerful men in the ruling Chinese Communist Party to the press as incumbent premier Li Keqiang and vice premier and former Guangdong provincial party boss Wang Yang, both of whom have a largely economic portfolio.



The president's top aide Li Zhanshu, 67, also joins the committee. Li's age means that he will likely step down in five years' time, making him an unlikely challenger to the president's power.



Ideologue Wang Huning, 62, the brains behind the political themes espoused by three Chinese presidents, is also a Xi protege, while newly appointed disciplinary chief Zhao Leji, 60, has a background in the party's powerful organization department, which manages personnel.



As head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Zhao will spearhead the president's ongoing anti-corruption campaign that has already netted some 1.3 million officials.



Former Shanghai mayor and party chief Han Zheng, 63, completes the seven-man committee, continuing a tradition for former Shanghai leaders to be promoted to top leadership roles. Han served as mayor of the city under Xi Jinping and Yu Zhengsheng, currently the party's fourth most senior leader.



An anonymous media source told RFA that Xi appears to have done away with the tradition of designated successors, a convention aimed at ensuring a smooth leadership transition after a party leader steps down. Xi was his predecessor Hu Jintao's designated successor.



"If they had been sticking to the previous model, then we would have seen somebody born in the 1960s enter the standing committee, but that hasn't happened," the source said. "I think that model is probably dead now."



A powerful force



The source said Wang Huning is a "propaganda gun," while Li Zhanshu has been brought in to "keep house" by watching the president's back.



"The Shanghai faction has done very well ... it shows that they are still a powerful political force," the source said.



Xi has made it clear that he will lead China through a "new era" of politics, playing military catch-up with existing superpowers and potentially dispensing with power-sharing conventions in place during the post-Mao era.



"Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered into a new era," Xi told journalists. "The new era requires new accomplishments in addition to a new atmosphere."



He said the new era will include a focus on poverty eradication, but signaled that his divisive and highly controversial anti-corruption drive will likely continue.



"We must continue to eradicate all viruses that erode the party's healthy body," Xi said, pledging to preside over "the comprehensive administration of the party with strict discipline."



Xi's rhetoric has led many to speculate that he is busy building a political persona for himself to rival that of Chairman Mao.



Widely predicted



A source who gave only a surname Song said the new leadership appointments were widely predicted before they were announced.



"I had already predicted this lineup two or three days ago," Song said. "This is the end result of a mutual power struggle."



"Of course there has been horse-trading going on, for example, Xi's 'new era' thought was inscribed in the constitution, but actually [former president] Jiang Zemin had his own agenda, so there has naturally been a balancing of factional interests here," he said.



Song said that not everything appears to have gone the president's way.



"Apart from Li Zhanshu and Zhao Leji, the other four appointees haven't revealed their true colors yet," he said. "Wang Yang and Wang Huning aren't really Xi's men, so we can see Jiang's influence still in operation here."



Overseas rights activist Xiang Lin said Zhao's job is something of a poisoned chalice.



"[Zhao's predecessor] Wang Qishan has been going after corruption in a big way in the past few years, and this has created a huge backlash within party ranks," Xiang said. "Nobody knows whether they are coming or going."



"Zhao Leji is likely the only person who could balance out factional strife within the party; he is acceptable to all sides, and he is unlikely to go about it in the same way that Wang Qishan did," Xiang said.



Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wen Yuqing for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Authorities in North Korea are issuing vast numbers of travel permits to citizens with relatives in neighboring China and requiring them to pay loyalty offerings in Chinese yuan, in a bid to obtain much-needed foreign currency for the sanctions-hit government, according to sources in the country.



North Korea regularly exports workers to Russia, China, and places farther afield such as the Middle East and Africa, but requires them to remit much of their earnings to Pyongyang, which is believed to use the cash to fund development of missiles and nuclear weapons.



Reports that the government is encouraging North Koreans to visit their family members in China and bring back thousands of Chinese yuan (1 yuan = U.S. $0.15) for the privilege suggest that the Kim Jong Un regime is employing new methods to skirt international sanctions aimed at freezing its weapons program.



A source from North Hamgyong province, near the border with China, told RFAs Korean Service that he had been refused permission by North Koreas Ministry of State Security to visit his relatives in China 10 times over the past six years, but recently received a travel permit all of a sudden.



I gave up on visiting my relatives in China, but Ministry of State Security officials recently came to visit me with a travel permit without providing any notice, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



They had ignored me until now, because I didnt give them a bribe, but they suddenly issued a travel permit and pushed me to visit my relatives, he added, saying that as a powerless person he never had a chance to pass the screening process.



But the source told RFA that the opportunity to travel to China came with a price.



Residents who have relatives in China got travel permits issued, including myself, he said.



But the Ministry of State Security is forcing us to pay 5,000 yuan (U.S. $750), so Im hesitant about visiting my relatives.



Still working



A second source who recently received a travel permit told RFA he was still working in China to earn enough money to return home and pay his loyalty offering to authorities.



As Im set to return home in few months, I will have to pay 5,000 yuan to the Ministry of State Security, so Im saving some money by working as a dishwasher at my relatives restaurant, said the source, who also asked to remain unnamed.



Once the Ministry of State Security purposely issues a travel permit, you cant just decide not to visit your relatives. The travel permit is issued as special treatment from the General [Kim Jong Un]. Travelers are required to give offerings to prove their loyalty when they return home, and who can reject special treatment?



The source said he was forced to undergo ideology training sessions, which taught him how to avoid South Korean television, magazines, and other material deemed illicit by the Ministry of State Security, for a month prior to visiting China, and even signed a document acknowledging that his family in North Korea would be punished if he did not follow the guidelines or attempted to defect.



I came to China with about 20 people who also have relatives here, and there are more people waiting in line to travel to China [from the North], he said.



But you can only make about 2,000 yuan (U.S. $300) a month when you work in China, so I dont know how I will be able to make 5,000 yuan for the loyalty offering, he added.



Visiting relatives in China helped me to get some used clothes and food for my family, but because of the loyalty offering, I will have to sell it all at a market.



Yuan favored



In August, sources told RFA that workers from North Korea dispatched to Russia to earn foreign currency for the Kim Jong Un regime are being shortchanged as their employers flee the U.S. dollar in favor of the Chinese yuan to avoid sanctions targeting Pyongyang's illicit arms programs.



At the beginning of the year, Russia-based employers largely ended the practice of paying North Koreans in U.S. dollars, which Pyongyang prefers because of the currencys stability, but which are more likely to attract attention for skirting sanctions, the sources said.



Instead, they said, the employers are paying North Korean handlers in rubles, which the handlers then change into yuan before paying workers and transferring the rest to Pyongyang. But the new system has led to frustration over how handlers determine what to give workers wages and what to give the state.



Reported by Jieun Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Rohingya refugees walk through a shallow canal after crossing the Naf River as they flee violence in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state to reach Bangladesh in Palong Khali near Ukhia subdistrict of Coxs Bazar, Oct. 16, 2017.

Myanmar politicians and observers on Wednesday warned that sanctions imposed by Western nations on the Southeast Asian country for the militarys brutal crackdown on Rohingya Muslims in northern Rakhine state could have negative impacts on its economic development and transition to democracy.

Their comments came in response to a move by the U.S. government on Tuesday to halt consideration of travel waivers for senior military leaders under a 2008 act and push for targeted sanctions against Myanmar officers involved in violence against the Rohingya.

The U.S. said it would rescind invitations for senior military officials to attend U.S.-sponsored events and would deem military units involved in operations in northern Rakhine ineligible to participate in U.S. assistance programs. It also called for unimpeded access to northern Rakhine for a United Nations fact-finding mission, international organizations, and the media.

The Myanmar military has been heavily censured by the international community for committing indiscriminate acts of murder, torture, rape, and arson in Rohingya villages during a crackdown following deadly terrorist attacks on police outposts on Aug. 25 in northern Rakhine.

The violence has driven more than 600,000 Rohingya over the border into neighboring Bangladesh where they now live in refugee camps.

Rights groups and the U.N. have hit out at the army, saying its atrocities against the Rohingya amount to ethnic cleansing, though the U.S. government on Tuesday declined to apply the term to the situation in northern Rakhine.

Khin Maung Swe, chairman of National Democratic Force (NDF), a political party formed in 2010 as a breakaway faction of the current ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party, said sanctions imposed by the U.S. could damage Myanmars slowly developing economy.

Suspending invitations to senior military officials is not a problem, [but] if these military officials businesses are sanctioned, some of the businesses and the economy may be hurt, he said.

Khin Maung Swe also said the U.N. and international media have blamed Myanmar and its military leaders for the Rohingya crisis, though State Counselor and de facto national leader Aung San Suu Kyi has said that she cautioned the military to very carefully carry out security campaigns in northern Rakhine.

But they dont count what she said, he said of the international community.

It seems this Bengali problem is very important for them, he said, using a derogatory term for the Rohingya, whom Myanmar considers illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. If so, we have nothing to say, and the truth will come out one day.

Aung Thein, an attorney with the Myanmar Lawyers Network, defended Myanmars use of force in northern Rakhine and said new sanctions would hurt Myanmars economic development.

Should [we] just stand by and watch these terrorists who encroached upon Myanmars sovereignty? he asked, referring to Muslim militants from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), who carried out the Aug. 25 attacks. Every country resolves such problems with military operations when its sovereignty is encroached upon.

Our economy will slow down if they impose sanctions on Myanmar, he said. We will not get any help from the rest of the world and the World Bank. I think they are pressuring us because of Muslim countries voices.

Put in a difficult situation

Political analyst Yan Myo Thein said new restrictions and sanctions might force Myanmar to turn away from the West.

If Western countries, including the U.S., impose sanctions on Myanmar, the government led by Daw [honorific] Aung San Suu Kyi and President Htin Kyaw will be put in a difficult situation, he said. I am worried that this situation could force the Myanmar government to depend on China and Russia because of Western countries sanctions.

He said it is important for Western countries to work with the Myanmar government and military to solve the current crisis according to international human rights and legal standards.

The administration of former U.S. President Barack Obama had praised Myanmars progress in its transition to democracy under Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the countrys de facto leader whose government has now been in power for more than 18 months.

Before Obama left office, he dropped remaining sanctions against Myanmar, though restrictions on the U.S.s already-limited engagement with the Myanmar military and its long-standing embargo on all military sales remained in place.

Since coming to power, Aung San Suu Kyi has been sharply criticized for not speaking out about the treatment of the Rohingya and not doing enough to stop the violence against the minority group at the hands of state security forces following the Aug. 25 ARSA attacks and deadly smaller scale raids by the same group in October 2016.

Nyo Ohn Myint of the government-affiliated Myanmar Peace Center (MPC) in the commercial capital Yangon said Obamas policy of engagement was more beneficial to Myanmars democratic reform process than was the previous sanctions policy.

Present Obama used a constructive engagement policy with Myanmar by maintaining a close relationship and persuading it to move forward with political reform, he said.

The international media keep saying that the Myanmar military used a lot of troops in its operations in Rakhine, but it is not true, he said. I think the international media and leaders have fallen into a trap set by ARSA. If these countries sanction Myanmar, [its] democratic transformation will be harmed.

Reported by Khin Khin Ei for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Vietnamese democracy advocate and blogger Phan Kim Khanh was sentenced on Wednesday to six years in prison by a court in northeastern Vietnams Thai Nguyen province on charges of spreading propaganda against the state in a trial rights groups described as unfair.



Khanh, 24 and a senior student of the Faculty of International Studies of Thai Nguyen University at the time of his March 21 arrest, had posted anti-corruption writings aimed at Communist Party and government leaders on his two blogs.



Khanh will also serve four years of house arrest after completing his prison term, according to the courts sentence.



Speaking to RFAs Vietnamese Service following Khanhs trial, defense attorney Ha Huy Son called the evidence against Khanh very vague.



Its unfortunate that he was accused of [carrying out] propaganda against the state, Son said. I presented many things to the court that should have been seriously considered, but in the end they still gave him that sentence.



Khanhs father Phan Kim Dung was permitted to attend the trial, but several activists who went to show their support were not allowed in, sources told RFA.



Former prisoner of conscience Bui Thi Minh Hang, who was barred from the building, said that following recent moves by authorities to crack down on dissidents, activists have all prepared themselves for these kinds of heavy sentences to be handed down by the government.



No one is happy about this sentence given to Khanh, she added.



'Law of the jungle'



In a video clip posted on Facebook following the trial, Khanhs mother Do Thi Lap voiced support for her sons activities online, calling him a patriot.



Vietnams current law is vague. Its more like the law of the jungle, she said.



If I could see Khanh now, I would tell him that his father and I have always supported what hes done. I believe that he acted as he did because he is a patriot.



In an Oct. 25 statement, the Paris-based Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR) said Khanhs only crime had been to peacefully express his legitimate views.



His unfair trial and groundless conviction show just one thing: that Vietnam is afraid of criticism; it feels threatened when its citizens communicate, get together and share concerns about their countrys future, VCHR President Vo Van Ai said.



Article 88 of Vietnams Criminal Code, under which Khanh was charged and sentenced, is routinely invoked to detain government critics and human rights defenders, [and] has been strongly denounced by the United Nations as inconsistent with international human rights law, VCHR said.



In a statement released on Oct. 24, Human Rights Watch (HRW) Asia director Brad Adams said Vietnam ought to get rid of these laws and stop persecuting students and ordinary people for just talking about the countrys problems on the Internet.



The only crime Phan Kim Khanh committed was to express political views disapproved by the authorities, Adams said. Students should be encouraged to write about social and political problemsnot punished.



Campaign of repression



Khanhs arrest and trial come amid an ongoing campaign of repression targeting dissident bloggers and activists, with at least 28 people arrested and charged under vaguely worded national security laws, HRW said.



Speaking to RFA, several dissident bloggers criticized a statement this week by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc that Vietnam should be strict in handling cases of online discussions that abuse democracy and provoke social instability.



What he said is not consistent with social development, Vo Van Don, an attorney based in Vietnams coastal Phu Yen province, said. It is the right of every human being to speak out about what they think. This doesnt abuse democracy.



Im just telling the truth. Im not against anyone, added blogger Phan Tat Thanh, who has drawn pressure from the police for his posts on his Facebook page.



Ive told the security forces that they can protect the country in their own way, while I protect it in mine, he said.



They always want to put makeup on it to make it look beautiful, but I want to put medicine on it. Medicine may be bitter, but it helps to cure diseases.



Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Emily Peyman. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Lumber Liquidators plans a $36 million settlement to resolve claims brought on behalf of consumers who bought Chinese-manufactured laminate flooring that the chain previously sold.

The Toano-based specialty hardwood flooring retailer said it and a group of plaintiffs have signed a memorandum of understanding to settle the two cases in federal court in Richmond.

Under the terms of the deal, the company will contribute $22 million in cash and provide $14 million in store-credit vouchers for those who bought the laminate flooring between Jan. 1, 2009 and May 31, 2015.

The memorandum still must receive court approval. The company said the settlement agreement does not constitute an admission of fault or liability.
The 20th annual Library of Virginia Literary Awards featured a few firsts during its gala on Oct. 14, including a new award for young adult writing as well as the first time both a husband and wife were recognized. Awards were given out for a variety of categories, including poetry, nonfiction, fiction, Peoples Choice (both fiction and nonfiction), art in literature, young adult literature and literary lifetime achievement.

The 2017 Literary Award for Poetry was given to Rita Dove, commonwealth professor of English at the University of Virginia and author of Collected Poems: 1974-2004. A former U.S. poet laureate and poet laureate of Virginia, Dove has earned many awards, including the Pulitzer Prize in poetry in 1987, and has 25 honorary doctorates, the most recent from Yale University.

Margot Lee Shetterly, writer, researcher and entrepreneur most well-known for her book Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race, is the winner of the 2017 Literary Award for Nonfiction. Shetterly is the founder of the Human Computer Project, through which shes documenting the names and accomplishments of all of the women who worked as computers, mathematicians, scientists and engineers for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and NASA from the 1930s through the 1980s.

The Emyl Jenkins Sexton Literary Award for Fiction went to John Gregory Brown for his book A Thousand Miles from Nowhere. Brown directs the creative writing program at Sweet Briar College and serves as the Julia Jackson Nichols Professor of English. His wife, Carrie Brown, earned the Peoples Choice Award for fiction for her book The Stargazers Sister.

The nonfiction peoples choice award went to Shetterly for Hidden Figures.

With 34 novels under his belt, including some that have been turned into feature films and made for television, plus six young adult novels for younger readers, Virginia native David Balducci is the recipient of the 2017 Library of Virginia Literary Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dawn Tripps Georgia: A Novel of Georgia OKeeffe earned the Art in Literature: The Mary Lynn Kotz Award, given to authors whose works are in response to a work of art but also retain the highest literary quality.

Lastly, the newest honor  the Young Adult Virginia Authors Award  was presented to Lisa Maxwell for her book Unhooked. The award is given in collaboration with the Richmond Public Library Foundation.
The cost of a drive down Skyline Drive or a hike up Old Rag Mountain could nearly triple if steep entrance fee increases proposed by the National Park Service this week are approved.

The agency said its considering raising costs to $70 for a weekly pass at 17 of its most popular parks, including Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone and Zion in the West. A pass to Shenandoah National Park currently costs $25, while visits to some other parks, including the Grand Canyon, currently cost $30.

The park service said the fee increase, which would be applied during the parks five busiest months, is necessary to address a backlog of maintenance and infrastructure projects.

We need to have a vision to look at the future of our parks and take action in order to ensure that our grandkids grandkids will have the same if not better experience than we have today, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said in a statement. Shoring up our parks aging infrastructure will do that.

Shenandoah National Park stretches along the Blue Ridge Mountains from Waynesboro to Front Royal and includes a number of popular attractions, including Skyline Drive, a 105-mile scenic road through the park, and Old Rag, which is regarded as one of the most challenging hikes in the state. The park counted 1.4 million visitors last year.

Elected officials and park advocacy groups said they oppose the increase and encouraged residents to participate in a 30-day public comment period that opened Tuesday.

National parks are meant to be affordable so middle-class families can enjoy Americas most spectacular natural beauty, said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.

The president of the Shenandoah National Park Trust, Susan Sherman, worried the fee increase would discourage people from visiting.

Parks that have been enjoying increased visitation would then potentially see a significant drop-off in visitors, which would then result in a decrease in entrance fees and then, the whole thing might actually backfire, she said.

The park service estimated deferred maintenance across its parks at $11.3 billion as of September 2016, down from $11.9 billion in 2015. It expects to raise $70 million a year with the proposal at a time when national parks repeatedly have been breaking visitation records and putting a strain on park resources. Nearly 6 million people visited the Grand Canyon last year.

Sherman said Shenandoahs deferred maintenance backlog tops $90 million, to the detriment of everything from historic structures she said are not being maintained to decrepit electrical and water systems.

But she and Kaine said increasing entrance fees is not the way to address the issue.

We think national parks should be fully funded through Congress at the level at which they need to be vibrant, healthy and sustainable, she said.

Not all park service sites charge entrance fees. The 118 that do keep 80 percent of revenue for things like fixing restrooms, signs, trails, exhibits and campgrounds, and they send 20 percent into a pot to help free park sites.

The proposal would not affect several free weekends and holidays at parks throughout the year.

And annual $80 passes for federal lands would not change, though fees would go up for pedestrians and motorcyclists. The higher fees would apply only during the five busiest consecutive months for parks. For most, thats May through September, when many families are on vacation.

Jim Tomlin, the president of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, which maintains 101 miles of the trail that runs through the park, hypothesized that the change would simply lead more people to buy the national pass, depriving local parks of revenue.

It creates so many more problems they havent thought through, he said.
Police have arrested a 26-year-old man in connection with a fatal shooting at a Car Pool car wash in Henrico County this past weekend.

Tony Shiquan Felton was located and arrested outside Virginia overnight, Henrico police Lt. Chris Garrett said Wednesday morning.

Felton was wanted for conspiracy to commit murder, malicious wounding and use of a firearm while committing a felony.

Police said they were called to the 5500 block of West Broad Street around 5:30 p.m. Saturday for a report of a shooting. Once they arrived, police said they found two people suffering from gunshot wounds, including Kevin L. Barnes, a 28-year-old Richmond man who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another victim was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, police said.
After crying foul for weeks over the severity of Republican gubernatorial nominee Ed Gillespies attack ads, Virginia Democrats have responded with a harsh mailer of their own that connects Gillespie and President Donald Trump to the string of white nationalist rallies in Charlottesville.

In the mail ad that surfaced Tuesday, images of Trump and Gillespie are superimposed above a photo of torch-wielding white nationalists and a message saying Virginians have an opportunity to stand up to hate in the election thats now less than two weeks away.

The back of the mailer  which features a photo of the entire Democratic ticket, made up of gubernatorial nominee Ralph Northam, lieutenant governor nominee Justin Fairfax and incumbent Attorney General Mark Herring  says that on Nov. 7, voters can stand up to Trump, Gillespie and hate.

The Gillespie campaign, which in its own ads has painted Northam as soft on the MS-13 street gang and sex offenders, responded to the ad with outrage, accusing Democrats of exploiting a tragedy and calling for the mailers to stop.

The tragic events in Charlottesville shook our entire state. Virginia was invaded by white supremacists and neo-Nazis and Virginians rallied together against their hate, Gillespie campaign manager Chris Leavitt said in a statement Tuesday night. To now see Ralph Northam and the Democratic ticket exploit imagery from that tragic weekend to try to score political points is both outrageous and beneath the dignity of the offices they seek.

Gillespie, a Northern Virginia political strategist and former chairman of the Republican National Committee, swiftly denounced the white nationalist display on Aug. 12 and the racist groups torch-lit march at the University of Virginia on Aug. 11, calling the displays evil and saying they have no place in Virginia.

Democrats accused him of not going far enough, saying Gillespie didnt speak out against Trumps suggestion that there were bad actors on both sides of the Charlottesville clashes.

For 73 days, Ed Gillespie has refused to call out Donald Trumps response to Charlottesville for what it was: disheartening and wrong, Northam spokesman David Turner said Tuesday. When the Charlottesville community wanted leadership to help them heal, he failed. Ed Gillespie should be willing to call out Donald Trump when hes wrong and because he wont, he gives voters a clear choice on Nov. 7.

On the campaign trail, Northam, a Norfolk doctor and the states sitting lieutenant governor, has repeatedly condemned the rallies in Charlottesville and criticized Trumps response.
Two residents were displaced and several pets perished in a fire that badly damaged a Spotsylvania County home Tuesday, authorities said.

Deputy Fire Chief Steven Cooper said the county emergency communications center got a call about 4 p.m. from a resident in the 9500 block of Secca Drive in the northwestern part of the county.

The call came from a resident who arrived home and found the home on fire, Cooper said. When the first firefighters arrived eight minutes later, smoke and flames were extending throughout the building.

Cooper said firefighters first determined that no people were inside the home and had the blaze under control after about 40 minutes.

The Red Cross was contacted to assist the displaced residents, Cooper said. More than 40 Spotsylvania firefighters responded to the call, along with units from Lake of the Woods and Richardsville.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Carilion Clinic President and CEO Nancy Agee on Tuesday announced she would match up to $35,000 to help endow a scholarship fund at Jefferson College of Health Sciences.

Agee made the announcement during a gala celebrating the colleges 35th anniversary as a degree-granting institution.

She said all proceeds from the celebration at the Hotel Roanoke along with her contribution would go toward the President Nathaniel L. Bishop Endowed Scholarship. Bishop created the fund last year to help undergraduate students with tuition, books and other expenses.

Agee, who earlier in the day attended a ceremony marking the start of construction on a biomedical research building that builds on Carilion and Virginia Techs partnership, said, There has never been a more exciting time to be in health care, and frankly, in Roanoke.

She said she believes so strongly in Jeffersons mission and Bishops leadership that she would match dollar-for-dollar, up to $35,000, in order to support his scholarship.

Bishop said he was humbled and honored.

Her generosity, combined with that of our alumni and friends of the college, will ensure that we can continue to prepare ethical, knowledgeable, competent and caring healthcare professionals who will improve the health of our communities for generations to come, he said.

The college was founded in 1914 as the Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing. In 1982, Jefferson, which is part of Carilion Clinic, began offering associate in science degrees in nursing and respiratory care and has continued to add associate and certificate programs. In 1995, Jefferson started its first bachelor of science in nursing; a decade later it added a master's program, and today offers two doctoral programs.

The college is located in Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital and has about 1,100 students.
Foodies who follow the farm-to-table movement and enjoy articulate and informative wine writing should obtain a copy of Jane Ansons new book, Wine Revolution. The Quarto Group has set the release date for Thursday. The book is beautifully illustrated with pictures of wine growing regions, wineries and people from all over the world. If you are baffled by such wine terms as organic, biodynamic, naturally produced and orange wine, Anson offers crystal-clear explanations.

The book sets off on its journey with the following statement: The idea of buying locally, cooking with seasonal ingredients, supporting responsible farming has become so accepted as to barely raise an eyebrow. And yet when it comes to wine, it is still considered geeky and kind of pointless to care about the same thing. After all, arent all grapes organically grown in a field somewhere? Well, the short answer to that is no. Just like much of the food we eat, plenty of wine is produced for a mass audience, with shortcuts taken along the way to ensure that they taste good without costing a fortune to make.

Anson used her numerous contacts in the wine trade to gather information and provide insight. Each chapter opens with a sommelier sharing his or her advice and experience. After breaking down the types of winemaking, the chapters focus on styles of wine, such as fresh, crisp whites or full and warming reds. Particular wines are reviewed in detail, often accompanied by profiles and pictures of the winemakers. Reading the book is like traveling the wine world.

Anson, an English native who currently teaches at the Bordeaux Wine School in France, is the Bordeaux correspondent for Decanter Magazine and has earned the prestigious DUAD tasting diploma at the Bordeaux School of Oenology, where she learned to taste with legendary winemakers. Her previous books include Legends of Bordeaux, which provides details about the top houses. Her next project is a detailed Bordeaux volume. I was able to ask her a few questions via email. The responses have been edited for length.

Gordon Kendall: I noticed that the book contains a great deal of detailed information about winemakers and sommeliers. How did you manage to make contact with this impressive list of wine professionals?

Jane Anson: I was very keen to make this book as collaborative as possible, in the spirit of these wines that are very much made to be shared and to be enjoyed with food. I asked sommeliers in restaurants where I admired their wine list and that had reputations for being particularly interested in organic and biodynamic wines.  I knew that the somms knowledge of what was happening in regions that I dont get to travel to so often would be invaluable. I was also so happy that the brilliant healthy bartender Jules Aron agreed to provide some wine cocktails. I wanted to get across the idea that these wines are unfussy and that finding opportunities to open them shouldnt be intimidating, and I just loved her cocktail book Zen and Tonic with its spirit of finding fresh, unadulterated ingredients for drinks.

GK: The book has lots of detailed information about various wineries around the world and tasting notes of their wines. How long did it take you to do the research and tasting to put together Wine Revolution?

JA: Not as long as I would have liked!  Pretty much one year. It meant a lot of legwork, both helped and hindered by the fact that I am based in Bordeaux. Bordeaux is a wine crossroads where many producers visit, so that helped. And I was able to easily visit a lot of the producers in France, Spain and Italy. But I also did a lot of contacting estates to ask them to send bottles directly to me at home, and I headed over to London for various bigger lineups. And this is where the sommeliers, retailers and other friends in the wine trade helped out enormously  just giving suggestions of who to track down. There are legendary names in there.  Putting together the list was just a huge pleasure.

GK: A book of this magnitude is a daunting venture. What inspired you to undertake such a project?

JA: Over the past few years, I kept coming back to certain wines and winemakers who just blew me away with their brilliant wines, and their commitment to being an honest reflection of the soils. It turned out that they were all either organic or biodynamic, and it got me interested in trying to understand what difference it made. It just seemed to be a more exciting and refreshing approach to making wine than traditional viticulture. I was also interested in the idea of these wines being part of the rise in farm-to-table restaurants, and the producers like great chefs working with fresh, unadulterated ingredients. It seemed like this could be a useful way for foodies, and non-wine-experts, to get into them.

Watching programmes like Chefs Table on Netflix made me realize that these winemakers follow that same philosophy. ... I started to think about writing a book that would make the link between chefs and winemakers, and so help get away from the idea of fine wine being intimidating. I have deliberately made it much more about the people behind the wines, and the flavours within them. Basically I wanted to write a book that would be useful and interesting for my food-loving but non-wine-expert friends!

GK: Have you found that making wine organically or by biodynamic means is a more expensive process than the standard method of making wine?

JA: I think most studies have found that there is a cost rise, at least initially, in converting to organic or biodynamic, of around 10 percent, mainly because there is greater manpower involved. Of course, over the long term, most producers would argue that as it helps to make the vineyard more sustainable, there is less need for intervention and the financials even out. In the book, I have tried to ensure I showcase wines at different price levels, so everyone can find something to try out. As I have looked for the best examples, youll find some expensive wines in there [such as] Domaine de la Romanee Conti. ... But there is no need to spend serious money to get brilliant organic or biodynamic bottles. I found some incredible values in Sicily, Spain, Austria, Argentina, France and the U.S. that are bursting with flavour and vitality, all under $30 and many far less than that.

GK: I am sure you have visited many great wineries. Are there any particular wineries you would recommend for wine lovers to put on their Bucket List to make sure they visit them?

JA: Vineyards can be breathtaking for many reasons. I think an estate like Chateau Margaux in Bordeaux should be on anyones bucket list for the sheer stunning architecture  and the centuries of history that you can feel in every corner that truly live up to the expectations set by the quality of the wine. Domaine de la Romanee Conti is somewhere that you have to pinch yourself during the entire visit. At the same time, you have estates like Remelluri in Rioja or Cain Five in Napa that are just wild, in hidden corners of a region, and feel magic. Also in Rioja, I would put Lopez de Heredia on my bucket list as its a step back in time to winemaking in the 19th century. And this summer I visited for the first time Clos Sainte Madeleine in Cassis. The vines are on a tiny peninsula jutting out overlooking the cliffs and coves of the Mediterranean Sea. Unforgettable.

GK: Virginia currently has over 200 wineries. We have a hot and humid climate, and some years we receive massive amounts of rain from hurricanes just before harvest time. What advice would you have for Virginia grape growers and winemakers that are interested in producing organic or biodynamic wines?

JA: I have winemakers in the book who farm biodynamically in (Wales, Bordeaux, the Finger Lakes and Vermont, and several parts of Canada). They all have challenges in their climate, whether ocean influence or cold winters or high rainfall. One of the key things they report is that it takes a lot of hard work, a keen interest in the right rootstocks and finding the right varieties (that may be hybrids or indigenous grapes that have proved adaptable to the climate), but that this method of farming makes healthier vines that over the long term resist the difficult weather conditions. Organic grapes tend to ripen a little earlier, which can give a useful picking advantage in difficult harvests.

GK: What would you like for readers to take away from Wine Revolution?

JA: If they love great food and care about freshly sourced, unadulterated ingredients, these wines share that philosophy. I hope to get them experimenting with different wine styles, and to give lots of ideas for food matching. And hope that they will support this exciting generation of winemakers who are doing their best to support greener ways of working and to think about lessening their impact on the planet.
The cost of a drive down Skyline Drive or a hike up Old Rag Mountain could nearly triple if steep entrance fee increases proposed by the National Park Service this week are approved.

The agency says its considering raising costs from $25 per vehicle up to $70 for a weekly pass at 17 of its most popular parks, including Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

The park service said the fee increase, which would be applied during the parks five busiest months, is necessary to address a backlog of maintenance and infrastructure projects.

Shenandoah National Park stretches along the Blue Ridge Mountains from Waynesboro to Front Royal includes a number of popular attractions, including the Skyline Drive, a 105-mile scenic road through the park, and Old Rag, which is regarded as one of the most challenging hikes in the state.

Other affected parks are primarily in the U.S. West, including the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone and Zion.

A 30-day public comment period opened Tuesday. The Park Service says it expects to raise $70 million a year with the proposal at a time when national parks repeatedly have been breaking visitation records and putting a strain on park resources. Nearly 6 million people visited the Grand Canyon last year.

We need to have a vision to look at the future of our parks and take action in order to ensure that our grandkids grandkids will have the same if not better experience than we have today, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said in a statement. Shoring up our parks aging infrastructure will do that.

Annual $80 passes for federal lands would not change, though fees would go up for pedestrians and motorcyclists. The higher fees would apply only during the five busiest contiguous months for parks, May through September, when many families are on vacation.

The proposal would not affect several free weekends and holidays at parks throughout the year.

The Park Service estimated deferred maintenance across its parks at $11.3 billion as of September 2016, down from $11.9 billion in 2015.

Kevin Dahl, Arizona senior program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, said maintenance costs should fall to Congress, not visitors.

Weve supported increases at the parks, they are a huge value for the price of entrance, he said. But we want to look closely at this and we want local communities to look closely at this to see if it would impact visitation because we dont want to price people out of the parks.

Latino Outdoors founder Jose Gonzalez said the need for revenue and to control the crowds at the busiest parks is understandable but he questioned the potential impact.

If there isnt always a question or consideration of equitable access to a lot of communities, its only going to increase the disparity in terms of who is able to access our national parks and public lands, he said.

Not all Park Service sites charge entrance fees. The 118 that do keep 80 percent of revenue for things like fixing restrooms, signs, trails, exhibits and campgrounds and send 20 percent into a pot to help other free park sites.
By Stephen Allen

Allen is a first-year student at Virginia Western Community College, hoping to earn a degree in computer science.

There is a shadow falling over America, a revolution years in the making. The government has been tiptoeing precariously on a tightrope for many presidencies, and now a certain individual with a dangerous disregard for the rule of law sits as the head of state. Many of my loved ones are scared for their lives, suddenly being put in more danger than they have even been in before, thanks to little things such as color of skin or sexuality.

The freedoms Americans supposedly hold dear are being threatened, with the separation of church and state slowly being bridged by the current administration. There seems to be a fundamentally flawed assumption that America was a country founded on religion, when in fact, many of the founding fathers did not hold overly religious beliefs. Nevertheless, there are some who seek to force religion into federal and state legislation.

There is nothing inherently wrong with religion. In fact, there are many great values one can take from them. However, there is a reason the separation between church and state exists, and without it, the government could dictate what and how we believe. That being said, there is a clear difference between the government dictating what one believes and the government telling someone that they cannot discriminate based on sexuality, even though many so-called Christians would say otherwise.

Unfortunately, these views have seeped into the government, which is why there is now an unnecessary transgender ban in the military and why the Justice Department ruled that people of the LGBT community are not covered under the Civil Rights Act. It is no wonder my loved ones are so terrified: Most of them are directly impacted by this anti-LGBT attitude.

My father is a bisexual, my best friend is an asexual, I am straight, while two of my fathers roommates (who are like aunts to me) are lesbians. These two roommates, Val and Monique, have been dating for around 17 years now, and are still deeply in love. However, they were never able to get married until it was finally made legal. They are both very tough women, and while they show emotion, they do a good job of hiding it, especially Val. But it is evident that they are both terrified with the direction this country has taken.

One of their biggest fears is that the Supreme Court, which is now controlled by conservatives, will turn around the verdict on same-sex marriage, despite it supposedly being a settled subject. They have wanted to get married for so long, and are scared to death that they are going to lose that right just when they won it.

But it does not have to be this way. We can create an environment where everyone is welcome, which would be fantastic. But my biggest concern right now is helping the LGBT community fight to make sure they can keep their rights.

In addition, that means I will be fighting to help keep the separation between church and state intact, which everyone benefits from. An easy way to solve this would be to solidify anti-discrimination laws and protect the sanctity of separation of church and state, but we need educated, passionate people to do that.

I am currently a first-year student at Virginia Western, and am able to go, thanks to financial aid. I plan to apply for financial aid once again, because I personally believe that pursuing higher education can help me not only receive the skills I will need in life to succeed, but also allow me to be a successful informant in the fight for freedom. I believe that, with the right tools, I can help make a positive change, and that I can help stop this dark shadow from swallowing up our nation.
By Barry Dorsey

Dorsey currently owns a consulting firm in Martinsville and has been involved in higher education for more than 40 years.

My great-grandfather was a courier in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. The family has his military papers. He was paid $20 as an enlistment bonus and $25 for his horse (showing, by the way, the value of animals versus people in the War). He spent most of his time in the defense of Richmond and is listed among the soldiers who were repatriated at Appomattox at the end of the War. We are proud of him for his bravery.

Chances are, however, that he didnt enlist in the war to defend slavery. (Not many families of what was then the frontier had many, if any, slaves. In fact, the absence of slaves led in part to a number of counties in Virginia forming the new state of West Virginia.) Neither did he fight to defend future monuments to the generals who were in the war, or to the war itself. Most, if not all, of the statues were erected during the Jim Crow era (about 1890-1930) as the South sought to recover from Reconstruction and perhaps shamefully to gain dominance over the African-Americans who had previously been slaves. Almost every courthouse in every Southern county had a Confederate statue erected during this time. Many of the courthouses became private museums as they outgrew the older buildings of the past.

No, my great-grandfather probably joined the war because of the principle of states rights (state sovereignty). The concept was widely discussed early in the formation of the new nation. It was reflected in the Articles of Confederation and later in the Constitutions Bill of Rights. Certainly, the war hastened slaverys demise, but many prominent individuals in the South (for example, Patrick Henry, the firebrand of the revolution) had decided many years earlier that slavery was morally wrong.

States rights was a major reason for the war. According to the late John Hicks, a historian for many years at Berkeley, There was nothing necessarily southern about the doctrine of secession, for many New England Federalists had once regarded it as their last defense States rights along with secession might have been widely discussed at one time. If the Civil War put an end to discussion of secession, the concept of states rights survives even today. It was responsible, for example, in a philosophical shift in the political parties in the South (remember the States Rights Party of the late 40s).

From the beginning of the new nations government, there was disagreement among the Founding Fathers as to whether a states or the nations decisions should predominate. Federalists of the time, including George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, thought the nations interests should take precedence. Other Founding Fathers argued for states rights. A Federalist, John Marshall, re-made a languishing Supreme Court as Chief Justice and established the principle that the courts should decide if a particular action by the Executive or Congress is constitutional. In short, the courts, led by Marshall, resolved legally for Americans what the political system could not determine for itself.

Abraham Lincoln, the wartime president, might have been personally opposed to slavery, but his first goal was to preserve the Union. In fact, prior to his inauguration, he supported a 13th amendment to the Constitution to preserve slavery as one way to keep the Union together, according to Hicks. (Its ironic that the 13th Amendment ended up abolishing slavery.) It wasnt until after the Brooklyn Riots of 1863 (related to the conscription of Union soldiers) that Lincoln saw slavery as a situation around which people could coalesce emotionally and fight to abolish. Presidents have often waited for actions that stir peoples emotions in order to arouse the nation to fight.

Re-locate the Confederate monuments to museums. They dont represent the Civil War but that period  a reaction  in our history when there was a concerted effort by certain elements in the South to suppress African-Americans. The monuments are not necessary to remember the history of the Civil War or the sacrifices of individual families.

Sometimes we say that the states should have more power and responsibility. At other times, we argue there are national rights and responsibilities that only a strong central government can protect. Whatever its form, states rights remains the 1,000-pound elephant in the room. It continues to polarize the nation and its politicians. If the people of the nation are ever to be unified, there should be agreement about the limits of states rights versus national rights  or at least the interaction of the two.
MP John Healey was at Cambron House at Bramley recently to present resident Victor Williams with the insignia of Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur, awarded in recognition of his service in the military and his involvement in the Liberation of France during the Second World War. 171801-1

A WAR veteran involved in the Normandy landings has finally received Frances highest decoration 73 years on from D-Day.

Victor Williams (92) was just 19 when he landed on a beach near Arromanches on the morning of June 6, 1944.

This week, he was presented with the Legion dHonneur by Wentworth and Dearne MP, John Healey, who also helped ensure he received the honour by contacting government ministers to chase up the application.

Mr Healey said: It was a pleasure and privilege to meet Vic, and Im glad I was able to help speed up the process.

He and other British Normandy veterans fully deserve to receive this decoration.

Mr Williams, who lives at Cambron House, Flanderwell Lane, was a private in the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry for three years.

As well as being involved in the Normandy landings, he fought in Bayeux, Tille, Caen and Saint-Lo, where he was wounded.

After his recovery he joined the military police and returned to Rotherham to live at Herringthorpe.

He went on to work for British Gas and in engineering before joining Bricknells estate agents.
Chow Tai Fooks retail sales rose 15% y-o-y in mainland China and by 12% in Hong Kong and Macau in the three months ending September 30 as per the company's announcement.

Same-store sales at outlets that were open for at least one year advanced 9% on the mainland and 13% in Hong Kong and Macau.

While same-store sales of gem-set jewelry declined 1% on the mainland, the average selling price there increased to $833 from $782 in the previous quarter.

According to the company, the same-store revenue from gem-set jewelry rose 7% after 13 consecutive quarters of decline in Hong Kong and Macau.The average price dipped to $1,371, but sales volume grew significantly.

The retailer also announced that despite sliding sales in the previous two years, Chow Tai Fooks revenues have improved this year. Sales in the first fiscal quarter to June 30 rose 17% in mainland China and 7% in Hong Kong and Macau.



Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished




I ddarllen y blog yma yng Nghymraeg cliciwch yma os gwelwch yn dda.

You may remember the tagged Greenland white-fronted geese story in 2016, the amazing journey they undertook from Greenland to Ireland and back, via the Dyfi Estuary, before then setting off from north Wales on a Sunday night, and reaching staging grounds in Iceland on the Monday night. Weve now come full circle and were eagerly awaiting their arrival back in Wales - and hopefully, on the Dyfi Estuary.

Image: Rachel Stroud. Greenland white-fronted geese can be seen in the distance. Springtime, Iceland.

Having tracked these majestic birds throughout the summer, the data weve gathered has unearthed a lovely story. Having left Iceland for Greenland at the beginning of May, the geese spent the summer in their native-land before journeying back to Iceland. The data from the tags shows us that one bird - WHIT01 by her scientific tagging name - is known to have sat patiently on a nest in Greenland for roughly four weeks.

This indicated that this particular goose had successfully bred, and towards the end of the summer confirmation came Greenland white-fronted geese expert, Tony Fox, located WHIT01 in Iceland and confirmed thats shes since welcomed four beautiful goslings.

Although our second goose, WHIT02, had initially settled down on a nest, she seemingly gave up after around a week., suggesting her breeding attempt was sadly unsuccessful this year.

Weve been able to gather this vital data thanks to 24,000 worth of funding from Welsh Government, to the Wales Greenland white-fronted geese partnership*. In 2016 we were able to start taking crucial steps to protect the Greenland white-fronted geeses future in Wales, as we oversaw a tagging process to discover where the geese were foraging and roosting while they are with us on the Dyfi.

Images: Andy Hay, rsp-images.com. Greenland white-fronted geese.

The partnership is ecstatic with the data gathered so far, and weve also picked up on some quirky behaviours. Weve discovered that the Dyfi flock stay together in Wales, but seem to split up as soon as they leave. This would therefore suggest Wales wintering birds are probably not a tight knit group upon leaving Wales.

Weve found that our tagged geese seem to have developed a fond friendship with our fellow-tagged Greenland white-fronts from Scotland. Both groups staged together in the same area on the south coast of Iceland, setting up camp just fields apart from each other, as friendly neighbours. The geeses preferred breeding habitat in Greenland is very similar to higher ground in Wales. The habitat has rolling hills, fresh water bodies and the main vegetation is dwarf willow.

Over the coming weeks, we look forward to welcoming back our tagged birds, along with their young goslings. The data weve been able to gather so far has been essential in our hope of discovering more about these wonderful migrating birds. Yet, there is still much to discover in order to safeguard a bright future for Greenland white-fronted geese in Wales. We cannot wait to find out what further surprises our tagged birds have in store for us.

* Alongside RSPB Cymru, the partnership includes Welsh Government, The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Mick Green, Natural Resources Wales, The British Association for Shooting & Conservation and the Dyfi, Mawddach and Dysynni Wildfowlers Association.
More than nine years after the horrific derailment of a crude oil unit train at Lac-Megantic, Quebec that claimed 47 lives and led to new regulations for railroad hazmat tank cars, the
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David C. Lester has been writing about the railroad industry for more than 25 years. He studied transportation and logistics at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and has a bachelors degree in economics from Georgia State University in Atlanta. David completed a career in health care information technology and consulting in 2012 and has focused on railroading full-time since then. He has written for Trains, Railfan & Railroad and other rail publications, and has contributed to two books. He served as Managing Editor of Railway Track & Structures from 2019-2022. He is a member of the Transportation Research Board and the Lexington Group in Transportation History. He specializes in technology and economic issues.
(Agencia CMA Latam) - An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation arrived in Argentina to analyze the evolution of the and the upcoming labor and pension reforms planned by the President Mauricio Macri.

The IMF staff, headed by Roberto Cardarelli, will stay in the South American country for about two weeks. The mission starts only a few days after the ruling coalition has won the nationwide legislative election, fueling expectations of Macri's ability to pass reforms in the Congress.

The Fund delegation work in Argentina will consist of a dialogue with officials of the Ministries of Finance, Economy, Central Bank, and representatives of the private sector.

by Agencia CMA Latam

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(Agencia CMA Latam) - Brazilian paper mill Fibria Celulose's net income rose to R$ 743 million (US$ 228.8 million) in the third quarter, from R$ 32 million a year before, boosted by higher revenue and a stronger real.

Net revenue in the third quarter increased 24% year-on-year, to R$ 2.844 billion, while adjusted EBITDA totaled R$ 1.256 billion, a 66% increase over the same period in 2016.

The company said that one of the reasons for its performance in the quarter was a net financial gain of R$ 456 million, "largely due to the appreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar," which had a positive effect on the debt position and the hedge result.

In the second quarter of 2017, the net financial result was negative in R$ 789 million, while in the third quarter of 2016 it was R$ 203 million negative.

Fibria's net debt at the end of September amounted to R$ 12.238 billion, 2.9% lower than at the end of June, but 15.2% higher than the R$ 10.620 billion net debt a year earlier. The debt to EBITDA ratio fell from 3.75 to 3.28 times.

In U.S. dollars, net debt totaled US$ 3.863 billion, 1% higher than in June (US$ 3.81 billion), and 18% higher than the debt recorded in September 2016 (US$ 3.272 billion), with the leverage ration fell from 3.85 to 3.24.

In the third quarter, Fibria's pulp production was 1,449 million tons, an 11% annual increase, primarily explained by the start-up of the new Horizonte 2 line, which produced 124 thousand tons in the period, and the absence of scheduled maintenance halts.

Pulp inventories closed the quarter in 51 days, compared to 52 days in the second quarter and 57 days in the same quarter of 2016, with a 1.069 million tons volume.

Sales volume totaled 1.475 million tons, up 2% year-on-year, due to a more favorable market environment. In the third quarter of this year, the sales volume to Klabin totaled 148,000 tons. In this period, Europe accounted for a 34% share of the net revenue, followed by Asia (33%), North America (24%) and Latin America (9%).

by Agencia CMA Latam

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Dutch brewer Heineken N.V. (HKHHF.PK) reported Wednesday that its net profit for the nine months of 2017 was 1.486 billion euros, up from 1.239 billion euros in the prior-year period.

The prior-year results included an asset impairment of 233 million euros in the Democratic Republic of Congo or DRC.

In its trading update, the company said consolidated beer volume for the nine months increased 6.8 percent from last year to 161.3 million hl. Organically, beer volume grew 2.5 percent.

In the third quarter, beer volume grew 11.1 percent on a reported basis and 2.5 percent organically to 60 million hl. This benefited from growth in Asia Pacific, Americas and Africa, Middle East & Eastern Europe, offsetting lower volume in Europe against tough comparatives.

Heineken volume in the third quarter grew 3.4 percent, driven by Brazil, South Africa, Russia and Mexico.

Looking ahead, the company said its full-year expectations remain unchanged.

On 22 September 2017, Heineken placed 12-year Notes with a coupon of 1.50 percent for a principal amount of 800 million euros.

Following the completion of the acquisition of Punch Securitisation A on 29 August 2017, Heineken decided to terminate the securitisation structure and has since repaid all outstanding Punch A notes, with a notional amount of 864 million euros, by 4 October 2017.

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British American Tobacco plc (BATS.L,BTI), which is hosting a Capital Markets Day for investors and analysts in London, said Wednesday that its continues to perform well and it remains confident of another good year of earnings growth at constant currency.

BAT expects to generate Next Generation Products or NGP revenue of over 500 million pounds this year, and for the figure to double in 2018 to over 1 billion pounds and further rise to more than 5 billion pounds in 2022. The company expects the NGP business to be breaking-even by the end of 2018 and to deliver substantial profit by 2022.

At the Capital Markets Day event, BAT will provide an update on the performance of glo, its Tobacco Heating Product, which has continued its excellent growth in Japan.

In addition, the company will update its estimate of the impact of foreign currency movements on its full-year numbers, including Reynolds.

Assuming rates to remain unchanged for the balance of the year, the company expects the translational currency tailwind to be 6.5 percent on operating profit and 5.5 percent on earnings per share. The transactional headwind remains around 2 percent on operating profit.

As stated in the half-year report, BAT noted that the pricing environment in a number of its has been more difficult, notably in Russia, although recent developments are more encouraging.

Commenting on the Capital Markets Day, Nicandro Durante, Chief Executive of BAT, said, "We are very pleased to be sharing more details on the opportunities for BAT in NGPs and combustibles, and to introduce our new US subsidiary just three months after the completion of the Reynolds acquisition. We are proud to share our exciting future product pipeline across both the Tobacco Heating and Vapour categories and to provide shareholders with an opportunity to experience the products first-hand."

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Close on the heels of Senator Bob Corker, President Donald Trump received the wrath of another Republican senator, who deplored the changing tone of in the United States.

In a speech in the Senate floor Tuesday announcing that he will not seek re-election, Jeff Flake delivered a fierce attack on Trump.

It came hours after Corker accused Trump of lying, and called him "an utterly untruthful president."

Corker announced last month his decision not to seek another term to the Upper House, but Trump claimed Corker dropped out of the race in Tennessee when he refused to endorse him.

Flake, who has sparred frequently with the President, said "reckless, outrageous and undignified behaviour" at the top of the US government was dangerous to democracy.

"If I have been critical, it's not because I relish criticizing the behavior of the President of the United States, it is because I believe that it is my obligation to do so, as a matter of duty and conscience," according to the Arizona Senator.

He earlier told the Arizona Republic newspaper that there may not be a place for a Republican like him "in the current Republican climate or the current Republican Party".

In reaction to Flake's decision not to seek reelection, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said "based on the lack of support that he has from the people of Arizona, it's probably a good move".

"The notion that one should stay silent as the norms and values that keep America strong are undermined and as the alliances and agreements that ensure the stability of the entire world are routinely threatened by the level of thought that goes into 140 characters -- the notion that one should say and do nothing in the face of such mercurial behavior is ahistoric and, I believe, profoundly misguided," Flake said, in apparent reference to Trump's frequent rhetorics on Twitter, which limits a user to typing only 140 characters in a single post.

Corker and John McCain, two major figures in the Republican Party who continue to trade series of attacks on the President, were both in attendance of Flake's Senate floor speech, and gave him a standing ovation when it concluded.

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South Korea will on Thursday release preliminary Q3 figures for gross domestic product, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

GDP is expected to expand 0.9 percent on quarter and 3.0 percent on year after growing 0.6 percent on quarter and 2.7 percent on year in the previous three months.

Australia will provide Q3 numbers for import and export prices. Import prices are expected to sink 1.5 percent on quarter after easing 0.1 percent in Q2. Export prices are called lower by 4.0 percent after sliding 5.7 percent in the three months prior.

Japan will see September data for producer prices; they're expected to hold steady from August at 0.8 percent on year.

New Zealand will release September data for imports, exports and trade balance. Imports are expected to come in at NZ$4.88 billion, down from NZ$4.92 billion in August. Exports are called at NZ$3.90 billion, up from NZ$3.69 billion in the previous month. The trade deficit is pegged at NZ$900 million after showing a NZ$1.235 billion shortfall a month earlier.

Hong Kong will release September numbers for imports, exports and trade balance. In August, imports were worth HKD368.29 billion and exports were at HKD332.6 billion for a trade deficit of HKD35.53 billion.

Singapore will provide September figures for industrial production, with output expected to fall 8.7 percent on month and rise 5.0 percent on year. That follows the 0.6 percent monthly increase and the 19.1 percent annual spike in August.

Finally, the in Thailand will be closed on Thursday for a special holiday marking the royal cremation of the late King Bhumibol.

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(Agencia CMA Latam) - Argentinean state-owned oil company YPF plans to invest US$ 30 billion over the next five years (2018 to 2022), according to a strategic plan released Wednesday. The company intends to contribute directly with US$ 21.5 billion, while the remaining would come from partnerships and YPF's associated companies.

According to the plan, YPF's production of oil and gas should grow at an annual rate of 5%, reaching 700,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) in 2022.

With the focus on cost improvement and operational excellence, the conventional hydrocarbon will be the basis of the company's production, with the development of more than 29 projects and the drilling of more than 1,600 wells, YPF said in a statement.

Meanwhile, estimated non-conventional production should grow 150% and half of the company's hydrocarbon production by 2022 should come from shale and tight oil and gas.

YPF would also focus on exploration with the aim of expanding reserves by 50%.

by Agencia CMA Latam

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(Agencia CMA Latam) - Indonesia signed a non-appeal agreement with the World Trade Organization (WTO) giving up of contesting a report that gave Brazil a favorable opinion on poultry exports to the Asian country, said the Brazilian Association of Animal Proteins (ABPA) in a statement.

According to ABPA, the deadline for making poultry shipments feasible was reduced by at least six months after Indonesia's decision, considering 60 days for the appealing, 90 days for the analysis of the request and other procedural terms.

A panel to examine protectionist practices had been opened in 2015 at Brazil's request, claiming that Indonesia placed barriers that violated WTO agreements to prevent the entry of Brazilian poultry into the country.

In the report, the WTO recommended amending the protectionist legislation and practices of the Indonesian government. The decision should be implemented from the end of November.

"After almost ten years of negotiations, we have a positive horizon for exporting to this market. This is a victory that also meets the expectations of the Indonesian population," said Francisco Turra, chief executive of ABPA.

Indonesia has a per capita consumption of poultry of 5.7 kilograms per year, representing an average annual consumption of about 1,506 million tons, with growth potential.

by Agencia CMA Latam

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Mynaric AG, a specialist for innovative laser-based communication networks in air and in space, announced that it has priced its initial public offering at EUR 54.00 per share, at the upper end of the estimated price range of EUR 45.00 to EUR 54.00 per share.

Mynaric noted that the offered shares covered over 4 times at the placement price. The placement volume including the green-shoe option therefore totals around EUR 27.3 million.

Mynaric expects its shares to be traded in the scale segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange from 30 October 2017 and carry the International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) DE000A0JCY11 and the securities identification number (WKN) A0JCY1.

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Actress Heather Lind says former US President George H.W. Bush groped her from his wheelchair at a screening of a film.

Lind, who starred in "Turn: Washington's Spies", detailed her accusations in a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday. She said she was "disturbed" after seeing a photograph of former President Barack Obama with Bush, reports nydailynews.com.

"I found it disturbing because I recognise the respect ex-presidents are given for having served. And I feel pride and reverence toward many of the men in the photo. But when I got the chance to meet George H. W. Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo," Lind, 34, wrote.

"He didn't shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke. And then, all the while being photographed, touched me again. Barbara rolled her eyes as if to say not again.' His security guard told me I shouldn't have stood next to him for the photo," she added.

Lind met the former president, 93, during a special screening of the show in 2014, a week before its premiere.

"We were instructed to call him Mr. President. It seems to me a President's power is in his or her capacity to enact positive change, actually help people, and serve as a symbol of our democracy. He relinquished that power when he used it against me and, judging from the comments of those around him, countless other women before me," Lind wrote.

In a statement, Bush -- the 41st President of the US -- did not deny the allegations.

"President Bush would never -- under any circumstance -- intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologises if his attempt at humour offended Ms. Lind," his spokesman said.

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The Congress in Rajasthan on Wednesday demanded scrapping of a controversial ordinance to protect public servants from being investigated for on-duty action without prior government sanction, and said they will go to court against it.

Rajasthan state Congress president Sachin Pilot demanded scrapping of the "draconian gag ordinance" Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance, 2017. "Sending it for 'reconsideration' is just not enough," he told the media here, a day after the state government referred a bill on the issue to a select committee.

Former Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot in series of tweets demanded withdrawal of the ordinance.

He said there is no place for a law on legal protection to corruption. Pilot demanded an explanation from Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia for bringing such a bill.

He said that referring the Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill to a select committee is a "big victory" for democracy. "If need be we will go the court against this bill."

Gehlot in his tweets slammed the Raje government. "The undemocratic gag ordinance must be immediately withdrawn. What is the point of sending such an arbitrary bill to a select committee?

"By tabling the bill in Vidhan Sabha, State BJP government has exposed its real intentions - they want absolute powers to govern by restricting public and media from raising any finger at any of their wrongdoing."

"CM Raje has revealed yet again her autocratic style of functioning, where constructive criticism even by media has been made a crime."

On Wednesday social activists protested in front of the Vidhan Sabha against the ordinance. "Why was the bill of draconian criminal law amendment not withdrawn, why was it sent to a select committee? It is very clear the Raje government doesn't as yet want to give up the agenda of gagging and jailing the media and snatching powers of the judiciary," Kavita Srivastava, president, PUCL Rajasthan, said in a statement.

She said though the Bill has been referred to a select committee, the ordinance is still implementable for six weeks, till December 5.

On Monday, ignoring criticism from various quarters, the BJP government headed by Raje tabled the Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill in the state assembly.

This bill seeks to protect serving and former judges, magistrates and public servants in the state from being investigated for on-duty action, without prior sanction. It also bars the media from reporting on such accusations till the sanction to proceed with the probe is given by the government.

Pilot, who had gone to meet his party MLAs sitting on dharna since Tuesday afternoon in the state assembly demanding loan waiver for farmers, said the party will continue to protest both inside and outside the assembly demanding loan waiver.

"We demand that the government should completely waive the loan of farmers," he said.

The Rajasthan government has set up a committee to look into farmers' demands of waiver of loans of upto Rs 50,000.

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Three persons suspected of having links with the terror group Islamic State (IS) were arrested in Kannur in Kerala on Wednesday, police said.

According to a police officer, the suspects allegedly had links with the IS as they were in Turkey recently.

A police officer on the condition of anonymity told IANS the three men are now in police custody. "They are being questioned and I do not know about other details," the officer said.

Meanwhile, police are on the lookout for two more men who are believed to have been with the suspects. Police will present the three men before a local court and seek permission for custodial interrogation.

The five men, hailing from Chakarakal near here, had returned recently from Turkey.
Spending quality time with our families is essential in trying to understand each other.

And to understand another family member, especially children, constant communication should be the priority of parents.

So believes Vili Elisaia of Vaitele Fou and Saasaai, who says most issues occurring in our society today is because of parents getting their priorities wrong.

Vili, a retired policeman, said he believed that parents should always stay connected with their children and to always be aware of their childrens whereabouts.

Parents nowadays are just letting their kids do whatever they want, he said.

The cultural practice of having family prayers in the evening and every morning are not there anymore and kids are just left unattended all the time.

Vili told the Village Voice team yesterday that family violence was a real threat in Samoa.

I never thought that this would happen in our country, a biological father raping his own daughter three times.

This incident is a wakeup call to us parents to set our priorities right and to spend more time with our children and get to know them more.

Vili has four children. Three of his children reside in Australia and one currently lives with him and his wife and is also attending school.

The 57-year-old father said family issues were prevalent nowadays because of pressures put on parents to provide for their families.

I think some families here in Samoa are facing family issues because parents have no time for their children and this is because of work to provide for their families, Vili said.

Some parents finish work late and when they come home they just have dinner and sleep, not knowing where there children are.

Another issue that we are facing is the sudden loss of Samoan value of giving within the communities.

Back then theres always a saying in Samoan E mamulu mea I le Faamolemole but nowadays that cultural value is extinct.

The sudden loss of cultural values and rituals as such worry Vili.

I am not trying to educate anyone but its my own opinion of what I am seeing in Samoa, and its all for the benefit of us all, he said.
One life lost on the road is one too many.

Fifteen lives unnecessarily claimed by drunk drivers is a tragedy of enormous magnitude. If we are not concerned, something is terribly amiss somewhere.

Keep in mind that each and everyone of those lives represent a person who is loved, cherished by their families, colleagues and friends.

These are valuable members of the community. Some of them are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, grandparents and so forth. Which is why the pain of losing them due to the recklessness and negligence caused by alcohol consumption on behalf of drivers cuts deeply.

In Samoa today, it is undeniable we have ourselves a real problem when it comes to drunk drivers. So much so the growing number of people being killed as a result of such actions has forced the Ministry of Police to rethink the current drunk driving penalties.

We couldnt agree more. Its about time.

We have lost so many loved ones due to the negligence of some people.

In June this year, one of the most tragic cases occurred in Savaii where a mother and her four-year-old son were killed by a drunk driver.

We were told that Sinei Aunei had been drinking with his co-worker at Salelologa from 5 until 7.30 when he decided to get behind the wheel. He was apparently advised against driving home but he wouldnt listen.

Aunei fell asleep. He did not know how his vehicle collided with an oncoming car.

You were speeding, and you were under the influence of alcohol, said Justice Tuatagaloa during sentencing.

You have put the lives of all the people at risk on this day. You didnt stop when you hit the back of Ah Likis delivery car. From Salelologa to Iva is no near place but you went zig zagging and your head lights were not on.

The consequences are devastating.

Ask one of the occupants of the other vehicle who survived and has been badly traumatized by what happened.

He misses his mother and younger brother every day, the Court heard. He still feels pain in his body and he also uses sticks to help him walk.

The womans husband is equally devastated. He finds it difficult to forget his wife and his son. He said he wanted to die when he learned of the accident.

Although he had accepted the ifoga performed by Aunei, he said he could never forgive him for what he had done to his family.

Which is understandable. That mother and her child did not deserve to die in such a horrific manner. Aunei should never have been allowed behind the steering wheel that night. He should not have gotten anywhere near a position to drive a car.

But this is the problem; people are finding it so easy to do that because they know they will get away with it. Which is why we find it comforting to hear that the Police are considering stricter laws to ensure people like Aunei do not hurt any one else anymore.

Last Sunday, the Acting Assistant Police Commissioner, Monalisa Tiai, made it clear that the issue is under the radar.

The penalty should be increased to make people aware that drunk driving is a serious crime and to ensure that members of the community make better decisions in the future, she said.

Drivers are encouraged to think before deciding to drive whilst under the influence of alcohol.

Wed like to see the Police acting on this sooner rather than later, especially with the holiday period a month away.

The fact is the growing number of alcohol-related deaths is alarming. Hardly a month goes by without several incidents where precious lives are wasted due to alcohol abuse and drinking sessions gone wrong.

What do you think?

If our opinion is sought, our solution is simple: if you cant control yourself around alcohol, stay far, far away from it. Dont touch it.

Write and share your thoughts with us!

Have a productive Thursday Samoa, God bless!
Dear Editor

For the Lord has chosen Samoa (Zion), He has desired it for His Dwelling, saying,

This is My Resting Place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it. I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.

Here (SAMOA) I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for My Anointed One...

Psalm 132:13-18

THE LORD promised King David that He will raise him up again in a place that He had prepared for him, when His Son comes to live on Earth forever.

He also promised David that He had chosen him to be the Father of His Son on Earth. From that time till today, no one knows where this place called ZION is, where King David will be raised up.

The Place where THE LORD will sit enthrone. The Place for the people He chose for His Inheritance.

Now I tell you the truth Samoa. SAMOA is another name for ZION.

Now listen to this truth about Jesus. When Jesus turned up over 2000 years ago, The Jews killed him.

WHY? Because The Jews were not waiting for a Jew or someone from Israel. They were waiting for someone from Zion. And God gave them the law that Zion is not Israel but a country far, far away from Israel. And God also gave them another law that no Jew must say he/she knows where Zion is.

Today, the Christians are waiting for Jesus but The Jews are not.

So who is right here Samoa?

Now listen to this truth about King David. David was not a Jew. To be a Jew, your mother must be a Jew. Now remember, Ruth, Davids great grand-mother was not a Jew. Boaz and Ruth descendants were considered outsiders because they were not fully Israelites.

Remember, Davids Kingdom was rejected by Israelites to this day, because David was not a Jew.

Now I tell you truth...Today, David is a Samoan or Zionist.

So why are you saying this BenV?

Because the matai, something very sacred to God was given to Samoa not Israel. Because Samoa is the country THE LORD Established for Himself. Because Samoa is The Place THE LORD prepared for David and His son.

So where is the matai from?

The first ever matai was God The Son.

After THE LORD or God The Father begot His One and Only Son. The first thing He did was to faamakai Him. He gave Him His One and Only name. The name not yet known to humans. The name that God Himself will reveal when He stands on Earth, to fullfil the scripture He wrote in...

Isaiah 52:6

Therefore My people will know My Name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I.

Now I tell you truth Samoa, that day is arriving very fast.

Now to you Malietoa family.

Why are you still fighting?

May be its time the Malietoa comes back to rightful owners.

Do you know where the first Malietoa came from?

Do you know the reason why the weapons that Tuna and Fata used, are buried in Faleula?

Now I tell you truth, the first Malietoa and our ancestors will soon return and take up their rightful places in Samoa, the Place God Himself Established for His Inheritance. And when that time comes, they will rebuke you Samoan people for abusing the matai that is sacred to God.

Because some people say ... o le matai ua vaelua iai le mamalu o Le Atua...

Who are you to say such thing Samoa?

Who are you to make yourselves equal with God?

NA FAAVAE E LE ATUA SAMOA

GOD ESTABLISHED SAMOA

Have a nice time Samoa and wait for that day patiently when God reveals His Name.

Ben V.

The Prophet From Zion.

Faleula and Safaatoa.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi says there is nothing going on within the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.).

Tuilaepa said the Members of Parliament made up rumours to help fill the newspapers when he was away.

This was his explanation when asked for a comment on claims of underground jostling for the position of Prime Ministership.

Two weeks ago, H.R.P.P .member, Faumuina Wayne Fong, expressed sadness at what he described as dirty politics within the ruling H.R.P.P.

Faumuina said there was underground jostling for the positon of the P.M. among certain members of the party.

But he did not reveal any names.

The matter was brought under the spotlight when Prime Minister Tuilaepa was in New Zealand for medical reasons.

I find it absolutely disgusting, Faumuina was quoted saying in an early edition of the Sunday Observer.

This is all happening while our Prime Minister is in New Zealand undergoing a medical checkup.

How can they think like that? These people are driven by the hunger for power (and) they will stop at nothing to get what they want.

Faumuina confirmed that he had been approached by a certain party member who is rallying for support.

A devoted member of H.R.P.P., Faumuina said he was asked to join the group.

However, at the Press Conference called by his office, the Prime Minister says this reminds him of a similar incident that happened four years ago.

It happened during the previous party where four of them met and told the reporters of the newspaper to help them fill their paper, said Tuilaepa.

They made it up and kept me in the loop while I was away and then they laughed about it afterwards.

There is nothing going on and remember that when I am away my colleagues will make up stories out of pity for the media who need stories to fill the paper.

We met yesterday and we laughed about it, said Tuilaepa.

It was put to the Prime Minister the journalists did not start this; it was his disciples who started it, which almost ended in a fist fight.

But Tuilaepa was adamant this was not true.

He also dismissed suggestions that the postponement of Parliament was due to his absence.

No, it was because there was not that much work to be done hence the postponement.

I have seen the mandate paperwork for Parliament and maybe within two to three weeks then there will be a Parliament session.

By then there should be enough mandates prepared in order for the Parliament to go in session.
ANZ Samoa Country Head, Bernie Poort, has welcomed the visit last week by ANZ New Zealand C.E.O, David Hisco, to spend time with staff and customers in Samoa.

In addition to his role as C.E.O. for ANZ New Zealand, Mr. Hisco is the ANZ Group Executive responsible for Asia Retail and Wealth, and the Pacific.

ANZ has been in the Pacific for over 136 years and we continue to invest resources in both Samoa and the region to improve our customers experience with us, Mr Hisco said.

New Zealand and Samoa have a strong affinity with each other historically and culturally so its great that we can all work closely together."

We value our business in Samoa, where we maintain strong market share, employ passionate local staff and remain committed to proactively delivering our flagship financial literacy program, MoneyMinded, to improve the lives of Samoans through strengthened money management skills, knowledge and confidence.

MoneyMinded has been delivered to over 16,000 people across the Pacific since it was launched in the region in 2010.

Mr. Poort said: We were thrilled to have David in town with us to showcase beautiful Samoa, its culture, and our business here. David is a seasoned career banker, running a huge business for ANZ and to come up to share his experience, insights and vision was a huge thrill for me and all our staff.

During his 30+ year career at ANZ, Mr. Hisco has held a number of senior executive roles in retail and commercial banking including leading ANZs global Commercial segment from 2008 to 2014.

His experience in New Zealand includes being Managing Director of finance company U.D.C. between 1998 and 2000, oversight of Eftpos New Zealand from 2002 to 2004, and Chairman of U.D.C. from 2005 to 2007.

Mr. Hisco holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from Deakin University, a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration and an Executive Masters of Business Administration, both from Monash University (Mt Eliza).

In 2015, he became a Champion for Change a leader actively committed to diversity of thought and inclusiveness from all those who work for and with ANZ.

He is a founding director of the Australian food donation charity Second Bite, a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia, and a Fellow Certified Practicing Accountant (Australia).
The Minister of Justice and Courts Administration, Faaolesa Katopau Ainuu, is in the Bahamas.

He is attending the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, which has ended with a pledge to reform key legislation in the provision of legal services in a range of areas.

Tackling terrorism, addressing climate change, responding to natural disasters, meeting sustainable development goals and eradicating early and forced marriage were all on the wide-ranging agenda.

After three days of deliberations, ministers pledged to pursue key law reforms in a number of areas.

This was a critical moment for the Commonwealth for so many reasons, said Secretary-General Patricia Scotland.

Dominica and Barbuda are still in ruins after devastating hurricanes Irma and Maria, and millions of people in Asia and Africa are still suffering the after-effects of mudslides, floods and desertification.

Countries at the table are also dealing with a frightening escalation of violent and virtual crime, the impact of global terrorism and violent extremism, and with young girls being taken out of school and forced into marriage.

These are just some of the challenges facing the nations represented at our meeting, and I am so proud of the diligence, commitment and resolutions of law ministers to find solutions to these issues.

Ministers and attorneys-general agreed to review and strengthen legal frameworks and legislation to prevent the grooming and recruitment of terrorists and to stop them crossing borders and being funded. They discussed how to make this aspiration a reality and recognised the importance of community involvement.

Delegates also focused on law reforms to help their countries achieve targets to lower global temperatures and to support the smooth operation of relief efforts during and after natural disasters.

They discussed how they will work, as legal advisers to government, to develop legal frameworks to improve health, education, employment, financial and other critical services relevant to the achievement of their sustainable development goals.

There were many aspirations expressed at this meeting and to ensure that we are able to turn them into action, the Secretariat offered ministers a number of tools and support mechanisms, said the Secretary-General.

Our new legislative drafting handbook and guide to law reform will take legal drafters and those responsible for law reform through a step by step, stage by stage guide to create or amend laws in any of the areas discussed. These are going to help all our countries, but will be particularly valuable to developing and smaller nations with limited resources.

She continued, The theme of the meeting was Strengthening the Rule of Law through Technology, so we offered all ministers access to our Office of Civil and Criminal Justice Reform, which provides technical assistance and an online platform with best practice guides, model laws, standards, templates and legal insight on a range of issues.

The Secretariat also presented a new secure messaging mobile app which will be trialled in 2018. This app will enhance international cooperation by helping countries to collaborate to tackle cross-border and organised crime.

Delegates underscored the importance of these meetings as a forum for sharing best practice, one of the Commonwealths greatest advantages. Marlene Malahoo Forte, Attorney General of Jamaica, said this years summit provided an opportunity for vibrant discussion and collaboration on key issues.

Anisul Huq, Minister for Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs in Bangladesh, said The issues that have been taken up in this conference are very pertinent to us and it is important that we come here, we share our experiences and we exchange ideas to improve on these issues.

Samoas Minister of Justice and Courts Administration, Faaolesa Katopau Ainuu, praised the Commonwealth Secretariat for preparing a strong agenda.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Law & Justice & Electronics & Information Technology in India, said, This is an occasion to share the best practices, the smaller countries, the big countries. In that way this interaction is very very meaningful, very very purposive. We make good friends, many of the problems are similar in many ways, the solutions can be similar.

The Bahamas Attorney General, Carl Bethel, who hosted the event, described the summit as a very important forum for law ministers across the Commonwealth, to come together to share best practices and consider our responses, both as a commonwealth and as individual countries to shared challenges.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi suffered a severe infection.

He revealed this during his first public appearance since his return to Samoa.

What the severe infection was he did not say.

The Prime Minister was flown to New Zealand for medical checkup early this month.

I am hundred per cent healthy, he said during a press conference at his office yesterday afternoon.

He thanked members of the public for their prayers and support during his medical trip.

According to Tuilaepa, he was not aware of the challenges associated with his health condition until the local physicians told him.

I want to thank the Samoans here and in New Zealand who stopped by for a visit, although some were not allowed, but it was comforting to be healed by Gods healing hands, due to the many prayers by our people who prayed for a speedy recovery.

Now I am back, I am 100 per cent healthy, said Tuilaepa.

According to the Prime Minister, he was flown to New Zealand upon recommendations of the local physicians due to a severe infection.

It was confirmed with the numerous medications, he said.

I suffered an infection.

During my first week they pumped some of the strongest medication into my system to clear up the infection.

By the second week, the fever was reduced, said Tuilaepa.

The Prime Minister said his body was ready to carry out the work he is tasked to do.

My heart is functioning 100 per cent, my liver is 100 per cent, lungs 100 per cent and I am not diabetic, he said.

Reality is our bodies are like a dump truck, it collects trash and time will come where your body will be squealing and thats when its time to see the doctor, laughed Tuilaepa.

The Prime Minister dismissed suggestions that his sickness was due to the many obligations that came with his position.

Its an infection, he said adamantly.
People are not earning enough to cater for the high cost of living in Samoa.

This is the opinion of Tavita Faiesea from Siusega, who says there is an imbalance between the cost of living in Samoa and the salaries earned by Samoas workforce.

The high cost of living is the root of so many issues in Samoa today, Mr. Faiesea told the Village Voice team yesterday.

He said people were paying more than what they were earning from their respective employments.

The salaries we get from our job are obviously not enough for most families given the cost of living we have here in Samoa.

What I earn is really not enough for my family and this is a problem because of the cost of things from the supermarkets and any other shops here in Samoa.

Mr. Faiesea said the high cost of living in Samoa led to issues such as increasing street vendors and increasing number of crimes in the country.

The high cost of living is reflected in Samoa is seen in the increasing number of kids selling goods and other stuff around the streets of Apia.

It is also reflected in the increasing number of crime rates in Samoa, with youths breaking in and stealing from shops.

He also mentioned that the high cost of living also contributes to family issues published in the papers every day.

I believe most families are so busy trying to earn money that they forget about their children and thats another issue related to the high cost of living.

We are so caught up with work and trying to earn money and we dont have time for our children.

Mr. Faiesea said while the Chinese people seem to offer the solution to the increasing cost of living, theres also a concerning issue associated with Chinese expansion in Samoa.

Chinese shops are the cheap ones now in Samoa, but then the rate of their expansion and development is alarming and we need to be careful with our land.
San Diego developers could soon be forced to add more affordable units when they build rental housing projects, or at least cut checks to the city if they dont do so.

Councilman Chris Ward on Monday called for a string of changes to city rules that require developers to pay fees if they dont add a certain ratio of low-income housing units to new residential developments.

Since 2003, San Diego has had an ordinance on the books that forces developers to set aside 10 percent of new rental housing units as affordable to low-income residents. The city hasnt enforced that rule since at least 2009, citing uncertainty created by a California appeals court ruling that stopped Los Angeles from enforcing a similar restriction. In 2011, San Diego leaders amended the provision to make it clear that developers need only pay a fee to comply.

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Ward, writing in a Monday letter addressed to housing officials and two fellow city leaders, cited a new state law, Assembly Bill 1505, that clears a path for San Diego to re-apply building requirements spelled out under its original inclusionary housing rule.

His letter calls for five tweaks to that ordinance, including one that would apply it to projects that involve more dense zoning, city-owned land or public financial assistance.

The first-term councilman also recommended adjusting developer fee payments to greater incentivize the production of on-site affordable housing units. He went on to endorse a requirement that would see developers build more affordable apartments if they choose to provide those units off-site.

If implemented properly, updated inclusionary policies can help address the shortage of affordable housing with the potential for creating socially and economically integrated communities, Ward said.

None of the proposals would prevent developers from paying fees instead of building new low-income units. Ward said thats because state law requires cities to give developers the option of complying by paying a fee.

He, for one, would like to see that surcharge stiffened.

Right now, I think the fee is too low, Ward said in a phone interview on Tuesday. It certainly deserves fresh analysis and reconsideration.

Murtaza Baxamusa, director of planning and development for the San Diego Building and Construction Trades Councils Family Housing Corp., agreed the fee was worth keeping an eye on.

This issue regarding alternate compliance that you highlight is something that needs to be discussed, Baxamusa said by email on Tuesday. It needs to be a reasonable safety valve for unusual circumstances and smaller projects, rather than a loophole.

The existing opt out fee is pegged to the size of the proposed apartment, as well as the overall size of the project. Under the current ordinance, a developer looking to build two new units pays $1.41 per square foot, while a builder hoping to add 10 or more units pays $7.03.

The San Diego Union-Tribune in November reported housing officials had collected more than $95 million in such fees. The San Diego Housing Commission uses those dollars to provide loans and other incentives for affordable housing projects.

The commission last month reported funding fewer than 20 percent of the affordable rental housing units it hoped to finance over the past fiscal year, despite a nearly 85 percent bump in revenue from developer fees to support such projects.

Past reports reviewed by the U-T show the public agency, which ranks as the regions largest low-income housing developer, has failed to reach its rental housing targets in each of the past five fiscal years.

Housing officials are still in the process of developing policy recommendations sought by Ward, according to a statement relayed by a commission spokesman on Tuesday. The statement, attributed to commission President and CEO Rick Gentry, said it would be premature to release the proposals, but promised they would be presented to the City Council at a later date.
The City of San Diego has awarded a $50,000 grant to Blue Tech trade group The Maritime Alliance to fund a new incubator for start-ups working on ocean and water-based technologies.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer said the grant aims to bolster the region as a hub for Blue Tech innovation.

This new business incubator is going to provide the tools needed to spur the development of young companies with the potential to harness the ocean to create a cleaner and more sustainable planet for us all, said Faulconer in a statement.

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The incubator is located at Dentons, an international law firm with a San Diego office in University City. Six companies have been admitted. They will receive business management assistance, mentorship, legal support, access to capital and other resources to help them develop.

The participating companies not only create jobs and tax revenue, they are pushing forward technologies that protect our oceans and water supply, said City Councilwoman Barbara Bry.

The six initial companies in the incubator are Clear Blue Sea, Delawarde Consulting, Intellecy, Hydrokinetic Energy and Storage, MARSEC and XST.

They are working on technology for tackling ocean pollution; finding ways to harness energy from ocean waves; developing sensors for residential water monitoring; creating software that provides meteorological and oceanographic tools for navigation; and bringing additional digital technology to the maritime industry.

This is a pivotal moment for San Diegos Blue Tech cluster as we proactively bring together the resources and subject matter experts to support innovation in ocean and water technologies, and were pleased to have the support from the City of San Diego, Dentons and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, said Michael Jones, President of The Maritime Alliance.

Greg Murphy, executive director of The Maritime Alliance, said the region is well positioned to be a leader in Blue Tech start-ups, in part because of the large U.S. Navy footprint here coupled with research organizations such as Scripps.

The Port of San Diego also has a Blue Economy incubator program. In June, it announced the funding of four pilot projects on San Diego Bay that focus on aquaculture and blue technology.

They include San Diego Bay Aquacultures work to develop a shellfish nursery; Red Lion Chem Techs technology to remove oil spill contaminants from seawater; RentUnders in-water boat hull cleaning system; and Swell Advantages smart marina software and smartphone app to automate dock management at marinas.

San Diegos Blue Tech industry employs tens of thousands of people and generates an annual economic impact of roughly $14 billion, according to The Maritime Alliance.

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mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com;

Twitter:@TechDiego

760-529-4973
The Town and Country hotels long-running effort to reinvent the half-century-old Mission Valley property has been delayed yet again amid objections from San Diegos hotel workers union.

For the second time in a month, the projects development team decided Tuesday to pull the project from City Council consideration after realizing more time was needed to resolve environmental questions raised by the Unite Here labor union.

While the proposed $70 million revitalization calls for 254 fewer hotels rooms, it also envisions the addition of 840 housing units in four towers on the eastern and southern fringes of the nearly 40-acre site on Hotel Circle North.

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In a letter sent last month to the City Council and Mayor Kevin Faulconer, attorneys for Unite Here criticized the project on multiple levels, saying the environmental analysis fell short of what is required.

This project is an overwhelming net negative  it fails to provide a single affordable housing unit, constructs 840 residential units in a flood hazard area without an evacuation plan in place, worsens the already severe traffic problem in the Mission Valley corridor, jeopardizes hotel jobs and the tax base for the Transient Occupancy Tax and fails to protect sensitive species in the multi habitat planning area within the project footprint, the attorneys wrote.

In the interest of ensuring that the project will not face any additional delays, the developer decided more time was needed to work through issues that have been raised, said Craig Benedetto, spokesman for the development team of Lowe Enterprises and AECOM Capital.

The intent is to get the hotel remodeled and the project built as soon as possible so the goal is to avoid unnecessary delays, including the possibility of litigation, Benedetto said. The hotel is in need of the capital that an approved project like this would provide to upgrade it so it can better perform in Mission Valley. Right now its not standing apart from its competitors.

The fear of litigation is not unfounded. Unite Here also raised environmental concerns about a $400 million mixed-use project approved for downtown that includes a planned Ritz Carlton and Whole Foods. A coalition, including union workers, has since filed suit challenging the approval. A court hearing was held earlier this month, but the judge has yet to rule.

In their objections to the Town and Countrys environmental analysis, Unite Here lawyers faulted the traffic volume projections and the grounds for concluding there would be no net increase in traffic from the redeveloped site.

Lowe and AECOM Capital, who formed a joint venture three years ago with longtime Town and Country owner Atlas Hotels, have re-imagined the Town and Country resort and convention center as three distinct districts  a 17-acre hotel area, 10 acres for the housing, and a 12-acre river park district.

In all, 27 structures, accounting for about a third of the sites square footage, would be demolished as part of the project.

The Town and Country originally opened in 1953 as a 46-room motor inn set amid farmland and pastures. It wasnt until 1970 that the convention center and a 10-story hotel tower opened.

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lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-2251

Twitter: @loriweisberg
Nearly 100 people took to downtown El Cajon on Tuesday to call attention to the need to end domestic violence as part of a 2017 Hope Rally.

The rally was held to note October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, said Nicole Aguilar of the Southern Indian Health Council, part of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council, which organized the event.

The march helps provide support for survivors of domestic violence, such as Taisha Gaines of El Cajon.

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Gaines spent 1 years with a man who abused her sexually, physically and emotionally. She had at least two miscarriages during that relationship and lived in fear daily. She said she began to use methamphetamine and marijuana to ease her pain, then became addicted to the drugs.

I was scared in every way, every day, Gaines said. I actually hated God, I hated my mom. I gave up on everyone I knew. I blamed everybody but myself for choosing to stay with that person.

Now four years out of that relationship, she said she is fully clean and sober after seeking outside help. Gaines, 35, said she loves life, is finally happy and keeps moving ahead.

As part of her ongoing therapy, she recently wrote apology letters  later burned  to God, to her family members, to friends, to the man who abused her  and to herself.

Now my life is my own testimony, she said.

Tuesdays march started at the El Cajon Police station, went along Magnolia Avenue and back around Main Street, ending at Prescott Promenade.

At the promenade, several speakers, including students from the San Diego State School of Nursing, paid tribute to recent victims. They called out names of some who were killed, telling a little bit of their back stories.

Supporters held aloft signs reading Love shouldnt hurt, Stop abuse, Dont turn your back on domestic violence and Help victims rebuild shattered lives.

Dilkhwaz Ahmed of the advocacy group License to Freedom led the crowd in chanting 2-4-6-8  Stop the violence! Stop the hate!

A report shared by the San Diego Domestic Violence Council said that last year 16,719 domestic violence incidents were reported in San Diego County. As many as 12 domestic violence-related homicides took place that same year in the county.

Many domestic violent incidents are never reported, the council notes, with partners afraid of physical, emotional, financial repercussions.

The group said people experiencing domestic violence can reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 37 percent of women and almost 31 percent of men in the United States have experienced intimate partner contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking during their lifetime.

The CDC cites intimate partner violence as including physical violence, sexual violence, threats of physical or sexual violence, stalking, and emotional or psychological abuse by a current or former intimate partner.

Its data says:

One in four women and one in nine men in the United States have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner, and reported that the violence in that relationship impacted them in some way.

Almost 1/3 of women and more than 1/4 of men experienced physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

One in six women (16.4 percent) and one in 14 men (7 percent) experienced contact sexual violence by an intimate partner during their lifetime.

Nine percent of women and 2 percent of men were stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime.

Among victims of contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner, 71 percent of women and 58 percent of men first experienced these types of violence before the age of 25.

At the rally, the council shared several stories about deaths related to this crime:



The shooting death on Jan. 1, 2016 of 34-year-old Mary Katherine Faanunu by her estranged spouse Hauati Faanunu in their El Cajon home. Hauati, 42, was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to 50 years to life in prison.

The stabbing death on May 13, 2016 of 41-year-old Ginger Curtis by her boyfriend Robert Oakes. Curtiss body was later found in in Oakes pick-up truck. Oakes, 54, died in an accident the following day while evading police in El Cajon.

karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com
The Jewish community throughout San Diego County is organizing a Mega Challah Bake Oct. 26 at five locations to bake the challah bread and usher in Shabbat. The baking event is part of a worldwide unity Shabbat celebration in 1,200 cities around the world.

Renowned chef Sara Briman from Mexico City will lead the North Coastal Challah Bake in Carmel Valley. Briman received the Five Star Diamond Award several years ago for the Best Challah in the World from the American Academy of Hospitality Services.

Local musical artist Hilly Rubin is slated to perform at the Vista Challah Bake. Children dressed in black or blue pants and white tops are invited to come up and lead the community in song at the Vista location, whose event is being organized by 15 North County Jewish organizations.

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Men, women and children of all ages can join in making the challah dough from scratch, braiding it and taking home a loaf to bake.

It is a custom for Jewish families and friends to celebrate the Sabbath, or Shabbat, each Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, by lighting candles, saying a blessing over wine and then breaking bread called challah before having dinner, said Nechama Greenberg, co-director of Chabad Oceanside/Vista, and one of the event organizers.

Among the seven ingredients in challah is sugar, which reminds people of the sweetness of life, and oil, which reminds people to anoint each family member with love. The challah bread is a reminder that everything comes from God.

The Challah Bakes will be held in five locations: Chabad Jewish Center of Oceanside/Vista, 1930 Sunset Drive, Vista); at San Diego Jewish Academy in North County, 11860 Carmel Creek Road, San Diego; at East Countys Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 6660 Cowles Mountain Blvd., San Diego; Beth Jacob Congregation, 4855 College Ave., San Diego; and Beth Eliyahu Torah Center - Chabad of Bonita, 5012 Central Ave.

The event begins at 6:15 p.m. with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $5 per person; $18 maximum per family.

Reserve by Oct. 25 at shabbatsandiego.org
Poway teacher Megan Power is one of six educators nationwide selected as a 2017 School Ambassador Fellow with the U.S. Department of Education.

Power, a kindergarten teacher at Design39Campus, plans to bring her experience at the nontraditional Poway campus to the table with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and other administrators.

Im really honored and excited to be a part of this, and to be able to help connect and communicate and really try to make an impact on American education, she said.

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The six fellows attended a three-day summit at the Department of Education last month to learn about federal education policy and start communications about national education issues. Power will return to Washington, D.C. in November to continue those efforts, and is also working on leadership projects with schools in Maine and Ohio.

Power has been a teacher for 15 years, and was named one of Poway Unifieds Teachers of the Year in 2012. She received a Fellowship from the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes and sits on the Intel Education Board of Academic Advisors, advising companies on educational technology products.

Ive helped create Design39Campus, which is really trying to reimagine the way students experience learning, she said. Were really trying to look at how are we personalizing learning? How are we looking at standards and learning skills as more of a continuum, instead of at grade level?

DeVos, a billionaire Republican donor named as education secretary in February, promoted school voucher programs in her home state of Michigan, and has pushed for that option at the federal level. Critics argue that diverting money to pay for vouchers would siphon funds from public schools, and direct it toward private institutions with less accountability.

Power said shes confident that she can provide useful input on improving federal policy for both public and private education systems.

The department is very supportive of the school ambassador fellows and they really do want our feedback, she said.

deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan
As one of the worlds most acclaimed young violinists, Nicola Benedetti has earned a stellar reputation for her ability to perform some of the most challenging works in classical music with flawless technical mastery and deep emotional conviction.

So what did this Scottish-born virtuoso tell jazz legend Wynton Marsalis after he sent her the first page of the violin concerto he had composed especially for her?

I told him, Its too easy!  Benedetti, 30, recalled, laughing at the memory.

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How did Marsalis, 56, react to her too easy comment?

He loved it! she replied.

He was relieved that somebody had responded like that. Hes used to having the opposite happen  that everyone tells him what he wrote is too complicated and will take too long to rehearse.

As reference, Benedetti sent him scores to violin concertos by Beethoven, Shostakovich, Stravinsky and some of her other favorite composers. At her request, Marsalis happily and extensively reworked his Concerto in D Major before she debuted it in 2015 at concerts in Europe and last year in North America, including at the Hollywood Bowl and at the Ravinia festival in Chicago.

In his notes about the concerto, which draws from jazz, blues and Scottish reels, Marsalis points out some musical characteristics he and Benedetti share.

Because Anglo-Celtic mythology, process, dance and music are all up in the roots of most forms of American folk expression, Nicky and I were able to mine our natural ancestry and mutual heritage, Marsalis writes.

She gave me a first-class course on violin.

Benedetti will perform the concerto Friday and Sunday with the San Diego Symphony and guest conductor Cristian Macelaru. The Jacobs Masterworks concert, which is billed as Romance, Mystery, Marsalis, will also feature Suite No. 1 from Bizets Carmen and Rimsky-Korsakovs Scheherazade, Op. 35.

A tantalizing gourmet feast of various Americana music styles and classical, the concertos four movements are titled Rhapsody, Rondo Burlesque, Blues and Hootenanny.

They are a showcase for Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Marsalis love of vernacular American music. In turn, his concerto provides Benedetti with a stunning vehicle for her ballet-like ability to dance across the strings, her exceptional execution, and her skill at performing with pinpoint articulation at even the most accelerated tempos.

It has evolved a lot, she said of the 2-year-old concerto, speaking by phone last week from London. The cadenza is almost entirely changed. I dont think theres a single note in it now that I played at the world premiere in London. But thats always been the case  Wynton has rewritten the cadenza for almost every single performance.

The piece itself hasnt changed in structure or length all that much. But the clarity of the parts, in terms of specific guidance and directions  and the balance of orchestration  is always what you have to be quite careful about.

Benedetti laughed.

It didnt seem t matter how much I mentioned that to Wynton, she recalled. He only believed it when he heard it for himself.

She laughed again.

I think the solo instrumental profession is quite an extreme version of a discipline, Benedetti said. By that, I mean most of the music we play  if not all of it  is music that, by necessity, you have put in a lot of hours just to get the virtuosic tempo and to have that element of magic youre looking for onstage.

That takes a lot of time and input. What I was trying to explain to Wynton is that I sound better playing something I find really hard to begin with, and that I have to go through hell to learn. Because thats where my comfort level lies.

Jazz trumpet great Wynton Marsalis first heard Nicola Benedetti perform when she was just 17. ((Photo by Bob Burgess/AP) )

Marsalis was only 18 when he joined Art Blakeys fabled band, The Jazz Messengers, in 1980. Within a few years, he was a jazz star and band leader in his own right.

In 1983, the audacious young trumpeter became the first artist ever to win Grammy Awards for both jazz and classical albums  a feat he repeated the following year.

In 1997, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his ambitious oratorio, Blood on the Fields. In 2009, the French government presented him with the Legion of Honor, that countrys highest honor.

Given his stature, did Benedetti hesitate to tell Marsalis to start re-writing his concerto for her?

I wouldnt say I was hesitant. I know him well and have known him for a long time, she said, before pausing to reconsider the question.

I dont know. Perhaps I was a little hesitant. I kind of learned during the process. Its a delicate thing when somebody is writing something incredibly personal for you to play. And you want to say things that are perceived as you would like them to be, because its kind of dangerous mixing words and (musical) notes.

Theres a lot of intelligent conversation that can go on. What someone is playing has such definitive power On the other hand, my hesitancy to tell Wynton anything wasnt because I feared his reaction, but because I feared how seriously he would take what Id say. Id make a momentary comment and  the next thing I knew  he rewritten a complete passage! So, seeing that happen a couple of times, I was fairly considered and waited longer before tellling him anything.

Benedetti was just 17 when she met and performed for Marsalis at New Yorks Lincoln Center, where her audience also included two other legends  soprano Kathleen Battle and fellow violinist Itzhak Perlman.

It was quite an overwhelming night! she recalled. I was extremely nervous, not least because Itzhak was sitting right in front of me!

The whole evening was filled with so many (famous) names and grandeur that, even at this age, I would be overwhelmed by it. I probably took it more in stride then than I would now.

Before befriending Marsalis, the then-teen-aged Benedetti was a fan of French violin great Stephane Grappelli and Canadian jazz piano giant Oscar Peterson.

Did the trumpeter introduce her to the music of such American jazz violin greats as Stuff Smith, Joe Venutti and Ray Nance?

All of those violinists, Benedetti replied. It was nothing enforced by Wynton, but he encouraged me to listen to such a huge diversity of music. Some of it seemed directly related (to the concerto) and some less so. He would share things with me, out of interest and intrigue, that he loved the sound of.

In addition to improvisation, jazz violin playing can utilize certain sounds and instrumental approaches  slurs, bends, spontaneous syncopations  rarely employed in classical music.

Its a difficult balance to strike, Benedetti stressed. On the one hand, you want to bring to life the extremely varied, and sometimes otherworldly, story of the concerto. On the other hand, you dont want to caricature styles that are not your own. So my natural disposition is (to be) extremely cautious.

At first, Im very conservative (with new music). Then, with time, I start to explore a little more and be a bit more experimental. Even then, Im loathe to sound like Im imitating something else. So Id say its a delicate process.

Up until the dawn of the 20th century, classical musicians knew how to improvise and were called upon to do so during concert performances.

Then, almost as if a giant magic wand had been waved, improvisation became a lost art in classical music. Some observers dispute this, but Benedetti is most assuredly not one of them.

Its not an arguable concept, at all. Its pretty much fact, she lamented.

Beethoven was more interested in improvising with his students than teaching them composition or playing his own compositions with them. Hed improvise an enormously high number of his performances and it was such a common practice that you cant consider him without that component...

Now, these are separate categories. Then again, only now do we have the centuries of classical repertoire written for violin that youre expected to learn and know. So I try to know as much as I can about the variety of directions that instrumental music has gone in. But I basically end up more and more confused, the more I know You have to interact with the music with the utmost integrity you can find for yourself.

On her 2013 album, Homecoming  A Scottish Fantasy, Benedetti teamed with top Celtic music artists Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham for a collection of Scottish orchestral music, airs, laments and reels.

Was she comfortable during the improvisational sections she played with Bain and Cunningham?

No, not at all! replied Benedetii, who this summer became the youngest recipient ever of Queen Elizabeths prestigious Medal for Music.

What can I say? I generally felt very uncomfortable  not with Aly and Phil  but with my own playing of their music. I just feel like I was constantly not quite making the mark. But it was a fascinating experience and very much in the spirit of collaboration.

In that same spirit of collaboration, have she and Marsalis ever performed together?

Benedetti laughed heartily.

No, she said. But next time you speak to him, tell him he should really consider it!

Romance, Mystery, Marsalis, a San Diego Symphony Jacobs Masterworks concert, featuring violinist Nicola Benedetti and conductor Cristian Macelaru

When: 8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: Jacobs Music Centers Copley Symphony Hall, 600 B St., downtown

Tickets: $25-$76

Phone: (619) 235-0804

Online: sandiegosymphony.org

george.varga@sduniontribune.com

Twitter @georgevarga
Will you trick-or-treat? Check out a haunted house? Host a party, decorate your space and/or dress yourself or a pet in costume? Even if just handing out candy, 72 percent of us plan to celebrate Halloween.

And because a Tuesday night party is a bad idea for almost anyone, Halloweekend is a thing  and its packed with night parties, day festivals, movie screenings and haunted attractions.

Balboa Parks Halloween Family Day, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, includes performances, costume contests, free museum admission for kids 12 and under when with a paying adult, and nearly 50 different activities. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune )

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Balboa Park Halloween Family Day, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, means children 12 and under score big with free admission at participating museums (with paying adult) and nearly 50 different activities throughout the park. Costumes are currency for access to many freebies.

With pub crawls, haunted yacht parties and the Monster Bash block party, downtown San Diego is Halloween ground-zero this Saturday night. (Hayne Palmour IV / UT San Diego )

Downtown San Diego will be jumping Saturday night, from the Monster Bash block party with an expected 15,000 partiers to, full scream ahead, several yacht parties off Waterfront Park, plus pub crawls, club crawls and a zombie crawl throughout the Gaslamp Quarter and East Village.

Doubtless the most sophisticated costume party in San Diego this weekend is bound to be the Hotel Dels adults only Saturday night soiree, Hallo-wine & Spirits Party. Though exclusively for those 21 and up, The Del also hosts an auxiliary kids party.

Pull up a curb for the Boulevard Boo! Parade, featuring a variety of costumed characters parading along El Cajon Boulevard Saturday. (Earnie Grafton/The San Diego Union-Tribune )

Scary changes are afoot with the 13th annual Boulevard Boo! Parade, this Saturday at 10 a.m. Great Caesars ghost! the parade is marching westward this year! Grab a curb on El Cajon Boulevard, between Rolando Boulevard and 60th Street to catch more than 70 spooky entries in San Diegos only Halloween parade. Also new this year: grandstand seating for sale. After the parade, the AfterBOO! community carnival, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 62nd Street and El Cajon Boulevard is a community event for all ages with carnival rides, games, live DJ, eats & treats, trunk-or-treating, face painting, and other family-friendly activities. Admission is free, with activities and refreshments offered at a nominal cost.

Stephen Kings It is the it Halloween movie this year, but for a more down-tempo scare, check out Silent Screams at the Whaley House. Tonight only, screening at 6 p.m. is The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari; at 8 p.m. see The Phantom of the Opera, and at 10 p.m. is Nosferatu, A Symphony of Horror. And on Oct. 31, Angelika Film Centers Hitchcocktober wraps with a 7 p.m. screening of Psycho.

The survey says

7 in 10 consumers plan to hand out candy

Total spending, including candy, costumes, decorations is estimated to reach $9.1 billion

Average Halloween spending per household: $86.13

The top costumes for children: superhero and princess

Top picks for adults: a witch and Batman characters

Wonder Woman  whos been having a moment of late  is No. 10 on the list for both children and adults

For Millennials and Gen Zers: more than a third say pop culture will influence their costume decisions

10 percent of consumers will be dressing their pet as a pumpkinSource: National Retail Federation

Were a Culture, Not a Costume

From first-graders to college seniors, schools are cracking down on a wide swath of Halloween costumes, with The University of California, Santa Barbara, recently hosting a Social Justice Workshop to teach students how to spot Halloween costume abuse and appropriation.

cynthia.zanone@sduniontribune.com

cynthia.zanone@sduniontribune.com
The Navys top lawyer, Vice Adm. James W. Crawford III, engaged in unlawful command influence two years ago, possibly sending an innocent Navy SEAL to prison, according to a special military court ruling handed down Tuesday.

Appointed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces to probe allegations that high-ranking Navy officers illegally tainted the criminal case of Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Keith E. Barry, Air Force Col. Vance H. Spath determined that the actions of Crawford and others failed to engender confidence in the process of this case or the military justice system as a whole.

Barry was court-martialed and convicted of rape in San Diego in late 2014, in a case that hinged on whether he secured sexual consent from a woman during a month-long relationship between 2012 and 2013.

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In 2015, he urged the commander who convened the court-martial to either vacate it or grant him clemency. He claimed that the woman was using the criminal justice system to punish him for ending their relationship.

Barry found a sympathetic ear in Rear Adm. Patrick Lorge. Then-commander of the San Diego-based Navy Region Southwest, Lorge wanted to overturn the verdict saying it lacked sufficient evidence, was overseen by a judge who was not objective and Barry may not have committed the crime. Lorge did not overturn the verdict because of unlawful command influence from two admirals in 2015, according to court filings.

Called the mortal enemy of military justice, unlawful command influence occurs when senior commanders coerce parties in a court-martial case, jeopardize the appellate process or undermine the morale, respect and public confidence in the armed forces by appearing to pressure others to tip the scales of justice.

Vice Adm. Nanette DeRenzi, the former Judge Advocate General of the Navy, told Lorge about political tension from Capitol Hill over perceptions about the lax prosecution of sexual assault defendants.

Those words might have influenced Lorges understanding of the Navys reputation with lawmakers, Spath ruled, but her comments were never intended to guide his decision in the Barry matter.

Instead, Spath set his sights on Crawford, the Navys Deputy Judge Advocate General and commander of Naval Legal Service Command. He pinned on his third star and replaced DeRenzi as Navy JAG on June 26, 2015.

During his September testimony, Crawford denied that he helped to guide Lorges decision, but Spath ruled otherwise, pointing to a pair of discussions between the admirals, one in person and the other on the telephone.

In their private session, Crawford urged Lorge not to put a target on his back, a remark Lorge relayed to his deputy attorney, Lt. Cmdr. John Dowling. Dowling, Spath wrote, was surprised by the content of the discussion which is why the comments were so memorable for him.

Lorges impression was that Crawford believed Lorge should approve the findings and sentence in Barrys case, Spath determined. In fact, the meeting itself confirmed the pressure on the system at a minimum to prod commanders to be seen as cracking down harder on sex assault cases, Spath decided.

In a followup telephone call, Lorge hung up convinced that he couldnt order a new trial for Barry or vacate the SEALs sentence, Spath determined.

Thats partly because Lorge was receiving incorrect and confusing advice from his chief legal counsel, then-Cmdr. Dominic Jones, who reminded Lorge of political pressures, Spath ruled.

Jones later advised Lorge that he could note in his written order that he struggled with reaching his decision, an option the rear admiral adopted but which did nothing to alter Barrys fate.

On behalf of Crawford, Navy spokeswoman Patty Babb cited Barrys ongoing appellate case in declining comment.

As always, the Navy wishes to preserve the integrity of the courts deliberation, and it will therefore refrain from commenting on matters related to the case at this time, she wrote in an email to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Barrys Washington, D.C.-based appellate attorney, David P. Sheldon, scoffed at the Navys silence.

The overwhelming finding by the judge in this matter was that Vice Adm. Crawfords testimony was not credible. He was just not truthful, Sheldon said.

Echoing earlier calls for Crawford to resign, Sheldon urged the Navys civilian and uniformed leaders to decide whether he should remain as the services top legal voice.

For an officer of the court to do what Vice Adm. Crawford did is wrong, Sheldon said. It never shouldve happened but it goes to a larger issue involving military justice and sexual assault cases. The process has become too politicized and defendants are not always getting fair trials.

Spath, the Air Forces chief trial judge, was asked to handle Barrys case because Navy and Marine Corps trial judiciary was disqualified from hearing it due to concerns about command pressure. The matter now returns to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C., for a final determination.

Sheldon said he would push for a full exoneration of Barry, with his rank restored and back pay disbursed for his three years behind bars.

The Navy has engaged in a pattern of obfuscation in his case from the very beginning all the way through the most recent hearings, Sheldon said. They want to try to keep sweeping this under the rug but were not going to let them do that.

In his ruling, Spath indicated that a trial judge confronting Barrys case would now order a new final action or the stated desires of (Lorge) would be respected and a new trial ordered.

Military Videos  On Now D-Day paratrooper from Coronado jumps again in France  at age 96 On Now Remembering war's fallen, one name at a time On Now In Ramona, an airplane and an aviator provide living lessons on World War II 1:43 On Now Video: Navy's newest vessel sails into San Diego and a new future in surface warfare On Now Video: U.S. Navy files homicide charges over warship collisions On Now Stopping Marine hazing On Now Video: U.S. Navy Air Crew Grounded After Creating Vulgar Sky Drawing On Now Navy says Asia Pacific ship collisions were avoidable On Now Hundreds of recruits get sick at Marine boot camp On Now Cutler Dawson Talks Navy Federal

cprine@sduniontribune.com
Longtime business and charity leader Lorin Stewart has taken the helm of USO San Diego.

Stewart, 58, joined the nonprofit this month. The founding executive director of the nonprofit San Diego Tourism Marketing District Corp., he more recently served as the acting chief executive officer of LEAD San Diego before it merged with the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce last month.

Im looking forward to leading this fine organization to reach its goals and vision of helping to strengthen Americas military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, Stewart said in a written statement.

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While I plan to work collaboratively to take USO San Diego to the next level, I will ensure that this organization continues to adapt to the needs of our men and women in uniform and their families. That will allow our service members to focus on their very important mission.

Founded in 1941, USO is chartered by Congress to boost troop morale and provide support to them and their families. The organization relies on volunteers and donations from the private sector to run its service programs.

The organizations federal financial statements for 2015  filed in February  show that USO San Diego depends on about $3.7 million in donations and other revenue streams annually, listing no government grants. About $1.5 million flows to the USOs airport center to aid military travelers. A nearly equal sum funds the downtown facility  feeding troops, hosting holiday parties and providing free phone, computer and library services. The former executive director, Judy Forrester, was paid $171,000 that year.

USO San Diego reported that volunteers donated more than 34,000 hours of their time to help, too.

With him at the helm, Im certain we not only will continue to serve our military personnel and their families in the same ways we have been doing for well over a half a century, but that we will be able to expand our programs to offer even better benefits, said USO San Diegos interim executive director, Bobby Woods.

Military Videos  On Now D-Day paratrooper from Coronado jumps again in France  at age 96 On Now Remembering war's fallen, one name at a time On Now In Ramona, an airplane and an aviator provide living lessons on World War II 1:43 On Now Video: Navy's newest vessel sails into San Diego and a new future in surface warfare On Now Video: U.S. Navy files homicide charges over warship collisions On Now Stopping Marine hazing On Now Video: U.S. Navy Air Crew Grounded After Creating Vulgar Sky Drawing On Now Navy says Asia Pacific ship collisions were avoidable On Now Hundreds of recruits get sick at Marine boot camp On Now Cutler Dawson Talks Navy Federal

cprine@sduniontribune.com
A federal judge in San Francisco refused Wednesday to require the Trump administration to restore healthcare subsidies called for in the Affordable Care Act, saying the presidents action is likely to be lawful and will cause little immediate harm.

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria, an Obama appointee, appeared to castigate California and 17 other states for seeking to block Trumps action and even questioned their motives.

Why have all these Attorneys General rushed to court seeking an emergency ruling against President Trump? he wrote.

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He cited the states predictions of chaos and skyrocketing premiums and rejected them as unfounded.

Most states anticipated Trumps action, he said, and established measures to keep health insurance premiums stable.

State regulators have been working for months to prepare for the termination of these payments, he said, referring to federal dollars to insurance companies to cover their cost of reducing out-of-pocket expenses for low-income Americans.

And although you wouldnt know it from reading the states papers in this lawsuit, the truth is that most state regulators have devised responses that give millions of lower-income people better health coverage options than they would otherwise have had, the judge wrote.

He said the injunction sought by California and 17 other states would be counterproductive and relied on predictions that had not come true.

The judge also appeared to be close to rejecting the states contention that Trump violated the law by discontinuing the payments.

Although the case is at an early stage, and although its a close question, it appears initially that the Trump Administration has the stronger legal argument, Chhabria wrote.

Chhabria said Trumps decision to discontinue the payments would have little immediate effect because consumers will receive higher tax credits to make up for increased premiums charged for some plans.

Because of the precautionary measures taken by most states, the large majority of people who purchase insurance on exchanges throughout the country will either benefit or be unharmed, Chhabria wrote.

In particular, many lower-income people stand to benefit.

A bipartisan deal reached last week by Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) would reinstate the payments for the next two years, but prospects remain uncertain for passage of that legislation.

Many conservative Republicans have opposed the legislation, saying that Congress should take no action to fix Obamacare, which they want to repeal.

Other Republicans have supported the compromise move, in part because the people most likely to be hurt by cutting off the insurance payments are a largely Republican constituency  middle- and upper-income working people who do not get insurance coverage from an employer and whose income is too high to qualify for tax credits.

The money at issue, known as cost-sharing reduction payments, has been one of the more controversial elements of the Affordable Care Act, denounced by Trump and other Republicans as a bailout for insurance companies.

In fact, almost the opposite is true  the federal government will pay more to insurers without the cost-sharing payments than with them because of the way the healthcare law works, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

In 2014, after the healthcare law first took full effect, the Republican-majority Congress did not appropriate money to reimburse insurance companies for providing low income Americans with reduced deductibles and co-pays.

The Obama administration decided that the language of the law constituted a so-called permanent appropriation, which allowed it to make the payments without further congressional action, similar to the way many other government benefit programs are funded.

Chhabria questioned whether in fact the law created a permanent appropriation.

Its a close and complicated question, even if the Administration may seem to have the better argument at this stage, he wrote.

Republican lawmakers went to court and won a ruling last year from a district judge in Washington that the Obama administration payments were illegal. That ruling has since been put on hold pending further action in the case before the D.C. Circuit.

The lawsuit was filed by attorneys general in California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and the state of Washington.

California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said the state would continue to call for the resumption of the federal subsidies as the case moves forward and expressed hope that it would be resolved swiftly.

Times staff writer David Lauter in Washington contributed to this report.

maura.dolan@latimes.com

Twitter: @mauradolan

UPDATES:

3:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details from the ruling.

This article was originally published at 1:30 p.m.
When Don Higginson lost the mayoral election of 2014, the defeated incumbent did what another former Poway mayor, the late Bob Emery, had done.

Higginson, capitalizing on his 28 years of service on the council, became a columnist for the weekly Poway Chieftain.

Last August, Higginson wrote a piece headlined A gun to my head, a bitter reaction to a by-now familiar scenario:

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Poway received a demand letter from Malibu attorney Kevin Shenkman claiming that Poways at-large elections violated the California Voting Rights Act. The citys only safe harbor was the rapid segregation of the voting pool to, in theory, help minority candidates.

For his part, Shenkman would collect a $30,000 fee if the city acquiesced or hed reap millions if the city were reckless enough to go to court. For him, a win-win.

Poways Latino population, we should note, is relatively small, estimated at 15 percent  and spread out over the city. It would take the most creative gerrymandering in political history to create anything even approaching a minority-majority district in Poway.

Unlike the federal Voting Rights Act, however, this inconvenient fact does not offer a defense against the CVRA, enacted in 2001.

After much hair-tearing, Poways council did what dozens of other cities have done: It caved.

The reality, Higginson wrote, is the council cannot take the gun, nor pull out a bigger gun, and they correctly voted 5-0 on July 1 to move forward with district elections.

For his columns kicker, Higginson, a moderate Republican, channeled Ben Franklin: It seems to me that there are now three certainties in life: Death, taxes and district elections.

After the column appeared, Higginsons wife said, Donny, ever since you left office, youve written some cool stuff in the paper, but you dont do anything. You used to have a vote that affected peoples lives. You had an impact. I agree with you 100 percent, but is there anything we can do?

Nope, Don said. They were powerless.

The very next morning, Don received an email from Edward Blum, a Maine resident who wanted to chat about the column hed read online.

Figuring it was a crank, I almost ignored it, Higginson told me.

Finally, he responded, incorrectly addressing his email to Eric.

And so with that tiny faux pas began a partnership that may culminate at the Supreme Court.

For several years, Blum, founder of The Project of Fair Representation, has been shopping for a perfect plaintiff to challenge the constitutionality of the CVRA provision that allows lawyers like Shenkman to shake down cities and force them to racially gerrymander.

In Higginson, a former mayor and himself an attorney, Blum had found his plaintiff.

They met in Washington and agreed that Higginson, who by that time knew that Blum and his legal team had taken other voting rights cases to the Supreme Court, would be the plaintiff in a federal lawsuit.

Higginsons son, who recently graduated from law school in Washington, said, Dad, someday you could be Higginson v. California. People will be studying you at law school.

Well, theres a long way to go before a conservative-leaning Supreme Court might rule on Californias embrace of racial gerrymandering.

First up is a request for a preliminary injunction to federal Judge William Q. Hayes, a long shot that presumably would at least allow the city of Poway, a defendant in the case along with state Attorney General Xavier Becerra, to restore its electoral status quo.

Consider this Powegian paradox:

If the city loses to its former mayor, it wins; if it wins, it loses.

The council members are muzzled in public, but in private, I can guarantee they are cheering Higginson on.

In his Aug. 3 column, Higginson wrote, The CVRA reminds me in some ways of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, which was passed with the best intentions, but has been abused by many cash-hungry attorneys and plaintiffs.

The comparison is apt.

The CVRA was crafted by attorneys who milked a cash cow, winning millions in fees. Since then, dozens of cities and districts have been bullied into district elections.

In the byzantine intersection of the law and racially charged politics, Higginsons lawsuit will be a tough slog in deep-blue California. And lets face it, the Ninth Circuit is not typically receptive to what might be framed as conservative legal arguments.

But if the stars line up and the Supreme Court agrees to hear the potentially landmark case, Higginson could change history.

A writer would have actually done something.

And a writers wife would be pretty proud.

logan.jenkins@sduniontribune.com
The Mexican businessman convicted of making close to $600,000 in illegal campaign contributions in the San Diego mayors race in 2012 should spend six years in prison, federal prosecutors say.

In a sentencing memo filed this week, prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney in San Diego said that businessman Jose Susumo Azano Matsura should get the sentence because of his willful efforts to undermine the fundamental principles of American representative democracy.

But Azanos lawyers say that he should not spend any time in prison at all, contending he was victimized by knowing political insiders eager for his money. They said he should instead be given probation.

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Azano is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday. He was convicted in September 2016 of nearly three dozen charges of conspiring and making illegal campaign donations from a foreign national. Azano is a Mexican citizen who at the time had no legal status in the U.S. Federal law bans campaign donations from foreign citizens.

Jurors found Azano guilty of using a network of associates and various methods to launder contributions to the campaigns of then-District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and eventual winner Bob Filner.

The money got into the campaigns via straw donors he later reimbursed, through one of his holding companies, and through companies controlled by a luxury La Jolla car dealer who also pleaded guilty in the scheme.

In the memo prosecutors put the stakes in Azanos punishment high. If our representative democracy matters, the integrity of the election system matters, the memo reads. The Courts sentence in this case will determine how much.

Despite those stark terms, the 72 months prosecutors are seeking is more than 50 percent less than what Azano could receive under federal sentencing guidelines. Those call for a prison term of between 12 years and 15 years.

The lesser sentence takes into account his lack of criminal history and other characteristics and is sufficient to punish him for his role, the memo said.

Twitter: @gregmoran

greg.moran@sduniontribune.com
A Superior Court judge has reversed the 2011 murder conviction of San Diego man because the top DNA scientist at the San Diego police crime lab didnt disclose that the lab had changed how it interpreted some evidence samples days before he testified.

The decision by San Diego Superior Court Judge Charles G. Rogers wiped out the murder conviction and 50 years to life in prison sentence of Florencio Jose Dominguez. It also highlighted an emerging area of controversy nationally in DNA analysis: how crime labs best interpret DNA mixture samples, those which contain low levels of biological material from two or more people.

The San Diego Police Department had changed how it did that analysis on April 1, 2011, adopting a method that was determined to be scientifically more valid and whose results generally were more conservative  and favorable to the defendant. They were meant to guard against incorrectly including a suspect as a contributor to a DNA mixture.

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That was just four days before Shawn Montpetit, the DNA technical manager of the forensic biology unit at the crime lab who had instituted the change, testified at Dominguezs second trial. An earlier trial had ended with the jury deadlocked, with most favoring acquittal.

But Montpetit did not divulge to either the prosecutor or defense lawyer Matthew Speredelozzi at the second trial that the lab had changed its methods, Rogers wrote.

Under a bedrock principle in criminal law prosecutors  and anyone on the prosecution team, such as police and forensic experts  have to disclose to a defendant information that is favorable and could show they are not guilty. Rogers said that the change in the lab practices was evidence that favored Dominguez, and not revealing that made his trial unfair.

Under the new guidelines Montpetit could not have testified that Dominguezs DNA was part of the multi-person mixture found inside a pair of gloves that were used to beat the victim, Moises Lopez, Rogers said.

That DNA testimony was crucial to the case. Under the protocols in place when he testified at the second trial, Montpetitit could have given no inculpatory DNA evidence based on the bloody gloves, Rogers wrote.

Montpetit did not respond to a message seeking comment on the ruling. Speredelozzi, who represented Dominguez at both trial and in the appeal, said the information of the lab procedures changing clearly should have been known at the 2011 retrial.

He is one of the top scientists in the lab there, he said. This is information I should have known.

While his conviction has been erased, Dominguez is not a free man. The District Attorneys office, which fought the appeal and said Montpetit had not erred and there was other evidence connecting Dominguez to the crime, will seek a third trial.

We are not going to appeal (the ruling), and we intend to try him spokeswoman Tanya Sierra said Monday.

The fact that the labs guidelines had changed in April 1, 2011 was not learned until Montpetit testified at a hearing in May. Asked then if he realized during his testimony at the second trial in 2011 that the new methods in the lab would lead to a different conclusion, Montpetit responded he was not sure if he had thought about it.

Im not too sure I was making that sort of conscious comparison or not, he said, according to a transcript of the hearing. I was basically trying to do the work and then testify in a case. So Im not too sure that ever went through my head.

Lopez was beaten and shot to death at Mountain View Park by a group of gang members including Dominguez  who has always maintained his innocence. Two years later a jury deadlocked on his guilt.

At that trial Montpetit testified that DNA from one glove linked Dominguez to the killing of a minor contributor. He placed the probability of someone of Hispanic origin selected at random having DNA consistent with the sample at 1 in 110  fairly low for DNA matches, but a link nonetheless.

Additional testing was done in preparation for the second trial, this time showing a stronger link, Rogers said.

The new tests showed a link with a probability a random person of Hispanic origin matching at 1 in 450  still low but four to five times stronger. In addition he said Dominguezs DNA was found on the second glove, when it had not for the first trial.

However, the lab had days earlier adopted guidelines pushed by the leading forensic advisory group on DNA. Those new guidelines had two basic outcomes: Samples previously deemed to have the DNA of a suspect would now be considered to be inconclusive.

Also, the key DNA statistic that gives the odds a person chosen at random would match the mixture sample by chance  known as the Combined Probability of Inclusion  would be lower. Both favored defendants.

Speredelozzi only found out about the change in 2014, when he came across information while working on another case that the labs guidelines had changed years before.

He eventually found a memo from Montpetit to the District Attorneys office advising of the change, that was sent on May 4, 2011, just after Dominguezs trial. That memo said under the new guidelines there would be more samples that could not be interpreted.

The District Attorneys office did not alert the defense lawyers about that memo until August last year  after Speredlozzi had turned it up and made it part of Dominguezs case.

Then District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis sent a Dear Counsel letter to criminal defense lawyers in the county advising of the change. She invited lawyers who had a case before 2010  when the old and now invalid guidelines were in effect  to contact the offices Conviction Review Unit.

Speredelozzi has argued the DA suppressed the information. But last year Sierra said that the change in guidelines was well known and the letter was a reminder that the office was capable of reviewing conviction. The timing had nothing to do with the case, she said then.

In his ruling Rogers noted that the prosecutor in the case was also in the dark about the change in the lab procedures.

The change in DNA interpretation of mixture samples has surfaced in other parts of the country. Last year, Texas began systematically reviewing thousands of cases that could be affected by the new interpretation guidelines.

Twitter: @gregmoran

greg.moran@sduniontribune.com
North County schools are taking advantage of San Diegos celebrated sunshine to power their campuses, with new solar energy systems at schools in Escondido and Encinitas.

This summer, Escondido Union High School District installed solar arrays at all four of its campuses through a contract that officials say will save $300,000 per year, at no cost to the district.

Encinitas Union Elementary School District used bond funds to add six solar projects that it estimates will save $21 million over 25 years.

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The improvements come amid ongoing conflict between San Diego Gas & Electric Co. and dozens of San Diego school districts that saw their power bills jump by a collective $30 million starting in the 2014-15 school year.

The districts found an ally in San Diego Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, who introduced legislation earlier this year that would let public schools and community college districts participate in utility rate-making proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission, and get paid to do so.

The bill is in committee in the state Legislature, but in the meantime, some districts are taking action to reduce their dependence on the public utility.

In Escondido, rows of solar panels are suspended over the parking lots at Escondido High School, San Pasqual High School, Orange Glen High School, and the new science magnet school, Del Lago Academy.

The structures provide shade and lighting, and will generate 3.8 million kilowatts per hour of energy each year  about 80 percent of the districts total power usage, said Mike Simonson, assistant superintendent for business services.

We wanted to protect the environment and put that money from our utility bills back into our classrooms, Simonson said. And as a benefit, well have shade during the day, and light to keep our parking lots safe at night.

That connection between heat and power will be evident to the students who park there, said Bobby Oliver, a journalism teacher at the high school.

For them to see that I parked in this lot last year and my car would get really hot, and now its covered, and that heat is being sucked in as energy, will help students recognize the value of solar, he said.

The installation took just four weeks, he said, but starting the power and connecting the system to the grid will require a total shutdown of electricity at the campuses. That will take place in late October and early November, and the system will begin generating power in November, Simonson said.

The system was installed through a power purchase agreement with San Jose-based SunPower. The school district doesnt own the panels, but provides space for them, and then buys back power at a reduced rate.

Once theyre operating, the panels will feed power into the grid, where the school will get credit for energy generated during the peak sun periods, including summer break. And it will purchase what it needs at less than half of what it had previously paid for electricity, Simonson said. After the system is up and running this fall, the district will buy energy at 13.9 cents per kilowatt-hour, compared to the current rate of 34 cents for each unit.

To prepare for the solar project, the district beefed up its energy efficiency over the past few years, replacing 160 aging air conditioning units with energy efficient units, installing high efficiency LED lighting in 90 percent of its fixtures, and adopting energy conservation practices that include unplugging equipment and appliances when theyre not in use, Simonson said.

That alone cut energy use by a million kilowatt hours per year, he said. The campuses also installed Tesla batteries that charge at night when power is cheaper, and then emit the stored energy during daytime hours, saving the district about $300,000 per year, he said.

In addition to helping the schools bottom line, the onset of solar power is a teachable moment for students, Simonson said.

I think it brings greater attention to the need to look for renewable sources, he said. And if thats ingrained in someone when theyre younger, theyre more likely to repeat that behavior as an adult.

In Encinitas, the district added solar projects at Park Dale Lane, Capri, Ocean Knoll, La Costa Heights, El Camino Creek and Flora Vista elementary schools.

Those arrays, completed last week, will generate more than 2.5 kilowatt-hours per year of solar power  enough to provide 85 percent of the districts power.

While Escondido completed its solar project through a power purchase agreement, Encinitas contracted with San Diego-based Sullivan Solar Power to install its system. The district paid for the system with $5 million in bond money, and expects to recoup an estimated $21 million over 25 years, said Daniel Sullivan, president and founder of the firm.

This is the biggest project the company has completed, and represents a shift toward renewable energy, Sullivan said.

For the company, its a milestone for us, in that we were able to help this entire district declare energy independence, he said.

Like the effort at Escondido high schools, the Encinitas project offers what officials hope will be a lesson for students.

We dont have to use fossil fuels, but can move boldly into the future and use renewable energy, Sullivan said. Thats incredibly important to show children that this is the wave of the future.

deborah.brennan@

sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @deborahsbrennan
A former firefighter recruit is suing San Diego for discrimination, harassment and retaliation because she was fired last year after speaking up about lewd comments and penis drawings in the Fire Academy locker room.

Nicole Pappas, 31, claims male members of her 2015 recruiting class criticized her weight, commented on her butt and forced her to look at penis drawings by taping them on the wall, emailing them and posting them on social media.

After she described such things during an independent investigation by the citys Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Pappas claims the city added a discriminatory requirement that she couldnt fulfill.

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In a response to the lawsuit, attorneys for the city contend the requirement  running 3 miles within 24 minutes  was not discriminatory and that Pappas failure to fulfill it was the only reason for her dismissal.

Pappass lawsuit is mostly focused on behavior in her academy class, which had 33 men and three women. In addition to making comments and posting penis pictures, some male recruits allegedly pushed and shoved her.

But Pappas also claims Fire Department supervisors saw the harassment and did nothing to stop it. She contends one instructor said to a male recruit, in reference to Pappas, youre going to let a girl answer the question and get it right before you?

The lawsuit says the four-month academy was initially going well for Pappas, who actually completed the 3-mile run in under 24 minutes within her first month.

But she then broke her leg and couldnt return to complete her academy work until fall 2016. In the interim, she testified during the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission probe about harassment she had experienced.

Her lawsuit claims the Fire Department then made the timed run requirement a pre-requisite for entering the academy, and she was then fired for failure to repeat her previous success fulfilling the requirement.

Pappas, who works as an emergency medical technician in San Diego for private vendor American Medical Response, says in her lawsuit she would make significantly more money as a city firefighter.

She contends the city discriminated against her by forcing male and female recruits to share the same locker room, making the run requirement mandatory for the academy, subjecting her to harassment and failure to prevent continued harassment.

The city has since eliminated the timed run as a requirement to either enter the academy or become a firefighter, the lawsuit says.

The Fire Department recently celebrated the 40-year anniversary of its first female firefighter in 1977, but only 45 of the departments 893 firefighters today are women.

At nearly 9 percent female, Pappass academy class was almost twice as gender diverse as the department overall, which is about 5 percent female.

Thats a bit higher than the national average of 3.7 percent in 2015, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

And the citys next academy class is scheduled to have eight females out of 24 total recruits, or 33 percent.

The city is also hosting outreach events with teen girls to encourage them to consider careers as firefighters or lifeguards.

The first female San Diego firefighters were the result of the federal government stepping in to stop alleged discrimination and demand the Fire Department begin hiring women in the mid-1970s.

david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick
Sen. Jeff Flakes decision not to run for reelection opens up a wild race to replace him in a 2018 Arizona contest, yet his departure also comes as bad news to Republican and Democratic challengers already running.

Republican Kelli Ward had counted on taking on a wounded Flake, who has slumped in popularity as he has publicly criticized President Trump in a state that voted for the president in 2016. Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, on the other hand, had counted on facing either Flake or the controversial Ward in a general election, giving Democrats their best opportunity in years to pull the seat into their hands.

Now, Arizona politicians expect a renewed push among Republicans to expand their roster of challengers to Ward, which gives her a tough race in the primary and also may give Sinema a far more complicated path in a general election. In short, the open seat may simultaneously cause problems for both the right wing of the Republican Party and for Democrats.

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Several Republican members of Congress, as well as a favorite of Trumps, Arizona state Treasurer Jeff DeWit, were believed to be looking at the race in the hours after Flakes surprise announcement in Washington.

This is a free-for-all, said Arizona-based Republican pollster Mike Noble. Everyones phones are blowing up. A lot of people are going to be looking at this very closely.

Flake formally announced his decision on the Senate floor in the midst of remarks devastatingly critical of Trump. He became the second senator this year to announce he planned to retire; the first was fellow establishment Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, who also lambasted Trump on Tuesday.

If Flakes announcement was a surprise, his straits as he sought his second term were not.

The senator earned Trumps enmity when he criticized the then-presidential candidate during the 2016 campaign, and the feud between the two exploded anew this year with the publication of Flakes book, Conscience of a Conservative.

The book lanced the Republican Party and Flakes colleagues for, in his words, their abdication of responsibility to stand up against the president as he coarsened politics and divided the nation. He returned to that theme in his extensive remarks on Tuesday.

Although he couched his resignation in terms of high principle, polling in the race so far has illustrated how little room Republican primary electorates provide for a candidate who openly crosses Trump. In a survey by HighGround consultancy in August, Flake trailed Ward in a primary matchup, with 29% to her 43%. He also ran well behind Sinema in a hypothetical general election, with 33% to her 41%.

In Washington, Flake was lauded by fellow Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain as a senator who would stand up for what he believes  knowing full well that there would be a political price to pay.

In Arizona, the verdict was harsher, as several Republicans indicated that Flake had come to see that continuing in the race would only risk a Republican hold on the seat.

Theres no question hes gotten very deep into the numbers and there was simply no path for victory, said Arizona-based Republican consultant Constantin Querard.

The Arizona race illustrated some of the same angry divisions between factions of the Republican Party that played out last month in a special primary election for a Senate seat in Alabama. That race was won by Roy Moore, a candidate backed by former White House strategist Stephen K. Bannon; Moore defeated appointed Sen. Luther Strange, who was supported by most of the Republican establishment. Trump also backed Strange, although he sometimes seemed uncertain of his choice.

In Arizona, Trump had yet to officially support a candidate, but strategists in the state say he wasnt shy about asking allies to consider the race. In a raucous appearance in Phoenix in August, he derided Flake without mentioning his name.

Nobody wants me to talk about him. Nobody knows who the hell he is, Trump said. The next day, on Twitter, he declared that he was not a fan of Jeff Flake, weak on crime & border!

Bannon, meanwhile, appeared in Arizona earlier this month on behalf of Ward. He vowed that establishment Republicans would reap the whirlwind.

On Tuesday, Ward called Arizona voters the big winner in Jeff Flakes decision to not seek re-election. The states voters deserve a strong conservative in the U.S. Senate who supports President Trump and the America First agenda. Our campaign proudly offers an optimistic path forward for Arizona and America.

Still, Ward, a former state senator, has been seen even by some Trump supporters as a weak general election candidate. She was soundly defeated by McCain in 2016, and recently, in the midst of widespread expressions of sympathy for his brain-cancer diagnosis, said he should resign.

Without the unpopular Flake to campaign against, she may have a more difficult case to make to voters.

It has removed the villain from the race, Querard said.

Complications unique to Arizona may affect the decisions of others considering a run. Republican members of Congress said to be interested in upward movement  a list including Reps. David Schweikert of the Phoenix area, Paul Gosar of western Arizona and Martha McSally of the Tucson area  would have to take on Ward and by extension Bannons forces while forfeiting their current jobs.

cathleen.decker@latimes.com

@cathleendecker

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Reflecting a growing divide among California Democrats on single-payer healthcare and charter schools, California gubernatorial candidates landed on separate sides of those issues during a candidate forum in San Francisco Tuesday.

The most heated exchange came in a clash between former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom over how to pay for a universal healthcare system that would cover all Californians and dramatically reshape medical coverage in the state.

Villaraigosa implied that Newsom was dodging questions and selling snake oil about how to pay for state-sponsored single-payer healthcare. He said Newsom underestimated the complexities in creating a new system that replaces Medicare, Medi-Cal and insurance plans for government and private-sector employees.

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The fact of the matter is that were all for universal health care, Villaraigosa said. You cant sign something like that without a plan. Im not running to be all things to all people.

Newsom said the hand-wringing over cost was a specious argument. He said most of the money needed to support a single-payer system already is being spent on the plans that it would replace  government-run exchanges and private healthcare plans.

A single-payer system demonstrably has worked in countries around the world, countries substantially smaller in size and scope as the state of California, and I believe if were committed to it we could advance its principles, he said.

The exchange over state-sponsored single-payer healthcare showed the biggest contrast between the Democrats. The issue was thrust into the spotlight by legislation in Sacramento that would have made the state responsible for Californians medical expenses. The bill was shelved amid concerns over the cost, which was estimated to be as high as $400 billion.

Former state schools chief Delaine Eastin was the only candidate to unequivocally throw her support behind the state legislation for single-payer, while state Treasurer John Chiang, like Villaraigosa, preached caution. Creating a single-payer healthcare system in California would require a more than $100-billion tax increase, Chiang said.

I support single-payer, but we have to be truthful here, Chiang said. How many of you want to pay an additional 90% in taxes?

The candidate forum, held at the City Club of San Francisco and sponsored by the San Francisco Chronicle, was the second face-off among the Democratic candidates in three days. And much like the forum hosted by the National Union of Healthcare Workers in Anaheim on Sunday, there were few fireworks as the candidates agreed on nearly every topic raised.

Newsom remains the front-runner in polls and fundraising. He also has won endorsements from the politically influential California Nurses Assn. and California Teachers Assn.

Villaraigosa, who battled teachers unions when he was the mayor of Los Angeles, said he did not receive CTAs endorsement because he refused to support a moratorium on charter schools. He also said the next governor must confront policies that the unions have long valued, such as seniority and tenure, because the states schools are failing children.

Weve got to address the fact that the system is broken, and so many poor kids and so many kids of color are not making it in this state, he said.

Newsom countered that the debate should not be about whos to blame, but rather how to fix the problem.

Teachers are sick and tired of being treated as sparring partners, not working partners, he said.

phil.willon@latimes.com | Twitter: @philwillon

Updates on California politics

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One day after President Donald Trump ordered an end to protections for unauthorized immigrants who came to the United States as children, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer met privately with Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

The Sept. 6 meeting at the Mayors Office lasted one hour, according to his calendar, released under the California Public Records Act.

Mayoral spokesman Craig Gustafson said Jobs sought the meeting to discuss DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program set up by President Obama.

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It was to discuss their mutual support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, Gustafson wrote in an email about Faulconers meeting with Jobs. She was in San Diego for something else and requested a meeting with the mayor.

Jobs has promoted immigration reform through the Emerson Collective, a Palo Alto organization that works to remove barriers to opportunity for all people.

Under DACA, unauthorized immigrants who were brought to the United States as children were asked to register with the government on the pledge they would not be deported.

The Trump order last month gave Congress six months to adopt new legislation before deportations could begin.

Neither the Mayors Office or the Emerson Collective would specify what if anything Jobs sought from the mayor during the meeting, or thereafter.

Faulconer, who like Trump is a Republican, has generally supported DACA recipients, also known as dreamers. He issued a statement the day Trump signed the DACA order.

The young men and women here under DACA  many of who are living in the only country they have ever known  are students, innovators, business owners and veterans who enrich our country and contribute to our economy and culture, he said. Only Congress can provide the legal certainty on immigration that our country needs and these young people are relying on, and its time for the legislative branch to act.

Also see: San Diego mayor dined with developer months before key SoccerCity introduction

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jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald
Termed-out Gov. Jerry Browns successor is very likely to be a Democrat. This is why its crucial to see the four top Democratic candidates and how they handle pointed questions about knotty issues so early in the campaign  especially on two big issues.

On housing, the need to ease state environmental rules that make it so easy to thwart development is plain. Sharply adding housing stock is the best way to stop the increases in rent and home prices that have made the cost of housing a crisis for Californias middle class as well as its poor. Tuesday, in a forum hosted by the San Francisco Chronicle, both Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa made forceful calls for the state to add 3.5 million housing units by 2025, and said needed projects should be exempt from some California Environmental Quality Act rules.

But Treasurer John Chiang continued to think small on the issue, offering marginal solutions, and former Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin offered few specifics beyond allowing local governments to once again have redevelopment agencies that take a slice of property taxes to use for local projects. Villaraigosa agreed with Eastin on redevelopment, but Newsom and Chiang acknowledged the ugly history of redevelopment dollars being used outside of actual redevelopment, saying they support its return in a new format.

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On education, only Villaraigosa was willing to acknowledge stark truths about Californias public schools laid out in the Vergara v. California case. The plaintiffs lost their lawsuit asserting state teacher-protection laws violated some students civil rights, but only after making a powerful case that the laws had the effect of funneling the most troubled, least effective teachers to schools in poor minority neighborhoods that most need excellent teachers. The system is broken, Villaraigosa said. He was also the only candidate to note that funds meant to help struggling students  especially English-language learners  had been diverted to broader uses.

Meanwhile, Chiang offered platitudes about accountability but few specifics. And Eastin continued to assert that with school quality, you get what you pay for. Yet with results adjusted for demographics  meaning comparisons are apples to apples  the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress report shows relatively low-spending big states like Texas and Florida doing much better than higher-spending big states like California and Ohio.

Newsom refused to discuss the Vergara case, saying it had been litigated, and he argued that teacher tenure reform is more likely to be achieved without an adversarial approach to powerful teachers unions. But far from acknowledging the need for reforms, these unions have fought in the Legislature against reasonable proposals and sought even more sweeping job protections.

The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board shares the Democratic candidates views that teachers are among the most important people in California and deserve our thanks and appreciation. But their unions have built such power that the balance between teachers interests and students interests is lopsided. Newsoms one-liner  teachers are sick and tired of being treated as sparring partners, not working partners  is more of a laugh line than an applause line. Villaraigosas line rang more true: Kids have a right to a decent teacher. Just as voters have a right to real talk, not rhetoric.

Related: California governors race off to slow, so-so start

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
A week after 147 lawmakers, lobbyists, consultants and Capitol staff called out a pervasive culture of sexual harassment in Sacramento and across every industry and facet of our society, the states top political leaders have shown theyre listening.

The California Senate has hired a law firm to investigate allegations of sexual assault and violence and a consulting firm to review and recommend changes to policies aimed at preventing sexual harassment. And the state Assembly will hold public hearings next month to address the issue. Saying sexual harassment of any kind is intolerable, Assembly leaders aim to change the climate in Sacramento, provide victims a safe place to discuss complaints, and ensure that sexual harassment is dealt with expeditiously and that the seriousness of consequences match the violations committed.

Its a start. The two chambers should really address this jointly and continuously to send the strongest message that this is unacceptable.

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You know what else would make a difference? Better representation. In Sacramento, most lobbyists are men, and the 120-person state Legislature has just 26 women serving in it. Thats the lowest number in nearly 20 years. Its 21 percent in a state where more than half the residents are women. Change will take time. But changing the ratio and the culture starts with changing the conversation.

Related: Sacramento has a Harvey Weinstein problem

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
In January 2008, the San Diego Unified School District proudly hired Terry Grier, a nationally admired reformer with a long track record of success, as superintendent. Dr. Grier is exceptionally, exceptionally qualified, board President Katherine Nakamura said.

A year and a half later, Grier was gone, taking a job as superintendent of Houston schools. Bruising fights over policy, budgeting and his authority led Grier to believe that the new majority that had taken control of San Diegos school board after the November 2008 elections cared more about helping adult employees, especially teachers, than students.

Griers replacement at San Diego Unified, retired Adm. William Kowba, was miscast as superintendent  something board members who wanted a pliant administrator considered a plus. Kowba retired earlier this year to be replaced by Central Elementary School Principal Cindy Marten, another unconventional choice who shows promise but whom to date has been extremely cautious about saying anything that might cross the teachers union.

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Earlier this month came another reminder of what San Diego Unified lost when Grier left. A new Reason Foundation study hailed Houston schools for their nation-leading gains in closing the achievement gap between economically disadvantaged, largely minority students and students from middle-income and affluent families. By contrast, an August report showed San Diego schools making little progress in closing this gap.

Houstons superior record comes even though it has significantly less per-student funding than San Diego Unified.

Griers exemplary work is reflected by other measures as well. During his tenure, the number of Houston students scoring three or better on Advanced Placement exams has gone up sharply, from 4,915 to 7,106, and Houstons dropout rate has never been lower than its present 11.8 percent.

Houston schools strong performance is more than just a rebuke to Richard Barrera, John Lee Evans and then-trustee Shelia Jackson, the 2009 San Diego Unified board majority that led Grier to resign. Its also a rebuke to Gov. Jerry Brown and his nihilistic argument that 30 years into the education reform movement, people have few ideas on how to make schools better.

Terry Grier does. He stresses having talented principals empowered to make decisions on the best use of resources; objective evaluations of teacher effectiveness and student performance; and a devotion to minimizing administrative costs to maximize spending that directly helps students. He oversees a variety of different educational approaches  not just charter and magnet schools but Montessori-style programs emphasizing student growth and vocational course work that leads directly to good careers.

Perhaps it is unrealistic to think Grier ever had a chance of bringing such flexible thinking and innovation to a large California school district, given the power of teachers unions in Sacramento and their devotion to the education status quo. But anyone who has followed his post-San Diego career has to wonder what might have been had Grier been given a real chance to reshape city schools.
The 2016 presidential campaign is again suddenly something Americans cant stop talking about.

Wednesdays conversation swirled around an explosive report from The Washington Post that finally asserted who funded a much-reported dossier containing a number of unconfirmed allegations about then-candidate Donald Trump .

The source of funding, according to people familiar with the matter? None other than the Democratic National Committee and the Hillary Clinton campaign, The Post reported.

So, whats in the dossier? How exactly is the DNC and the Clinton linked to it? And what has Trump said about it? Here are answers that provide some context about an election that has again worked its way into headlines.

What does the dossier allege about Trump?

The dossier is a set of reports alleging that the Russian government gathered compromising information about Trump, The Post reported. Details about its contents were first reported in early January by CNN, which decided not to disclose the document. The document was later published in its entirety by BuzzFeed News, alhough many other news outlets  including The San Diego Union-Tribune  elected to not report on it due to its unconfirmed allegations.

Among the allegations made in the dossier, per CNN, are claims that Trump campaign surrogates exchanged information with intermediaries for the Russian government.

Members of Trumps campaign and his administration have repeatedly rejected the claims contained in the dossier, including the president himself blasting CNN as fake news on Jan. 10.

Who compiled the dossier, and who ordered it?

The Post and numerous other outlets have identified Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer, as the author of the report. But it was a consulting firm by the name of Fusion GPS that hired Steele on behalf of Mark E. Elias, a lawyer working with the Clinton campaign and the DNC, The Post reported.

How much did it cost to compile the dossier?

It remains unclear how much money was paid to Fusion GPS or Steele to compile the dossier, but The Post reported that the Clinton campaign funneled some $5.6 million in legal fees to a Fusion GPS law firm, Perkins Coie, between June 2015 and December 2016.

The DNC also paid the firm some $3.6 million in legal and compliance consulting from November 2015 on.

At one point, the FBI attempted to to pay Steele to continue gathering information about Trump and Russia, The Post reported, but that agreement did not come to fruition.

After the election, the FBI agreed to pay Steele to continue gathering intelligence about Trump and Russia, but the bureau pulled out of the arrangement after Steele was publicly identified in news reports, the Post reported.

Who has seen the dossier and has anyone verified its contents?

Since it first surfaced in news reports in early 2017, the contents of the dossier have largely been unconfirmed and disputed, though The Post reports that the FBI has confirmed some of the information in it.

As first reported by CNN in January, a synopsis of the dossier was shared among top U.S. officials including then-President Barack Obama and some members of Congress. Trump was reported to have also seen the synopsis.

The dossier is also believed to play a role in the FBIs investigation into potential links between the Trump campaign and Russias efforts to influence the election.

What have Trump, Clinton or the DNC said about The Post report?

On Wednesday, Trump insisted on calling it a fake dossier that was made up and then blasted the Clinton campaign and the DNC for their reported link to the dossier.

Hillary Clinton always denied, the Democrats always denied it, Trump told reporters outside the White House on Wednesday. And I think its a disgrace, its a very sad commentary on politics in this country.

Through a spokeswoman, the DNC denied involvement in any decision-making regarding Fusion GPS and said that it did not work together with the Perkins Coie law firm. The Post said that Fusion GPS and Elias declined to comment on its report.

Brian Fallon, a former spokesman for the Clinton campaign denied any knowledge of the hiring of Steele or the firm, The Post reported.

But if I had gotten handed it last fall, I would have had no problem passing it along and urging reporters to look into it, Fallon added.

Opposition research happens on every campaign, and here you had probably the most shadowy guy ever running for president, and the FBI certainly has seen fit to look into it. I probably would have volunteered to go to Europe myself to try and verify if it would have helped get more of this out there before the election.

How are others reacting to The Post report?

Share your thoughts: Does it matter who paid for the dossier? What do you think are the implications of this report? Should America move on and stop talking about the 2016 election already?

Have some thoughts to share?

Join me in a conversation: Shoot me a private email with your thoughts or ideas on a different approach to this story. As always, you can also send us a tweet.

Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @RunGomez

Read The Conversation on Flipboard.
Geronimos descendants have sued Skull and Bones  the secret society at Yale University linked to presidents and other powerful figures  claiming that its members stole the remains of the legendary Apache leader decades ago and have kept them ever since.

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The federal lawsuit filed in Washington on Tuesday  the 100th anniversary of Geronimos death  also names the university and the federal government as defendants.

Geronimos great-grandson Harlyn Geronimo said his family believes Skull and Bones members took some of the remains in 1918 from a burial plot in Fort Sill, Okla., to keep in its New Haven clubhouse, a crypt. The alleged graverobbing is a long-standing legend that gained some validity in recent years with the discovery of a letter from a club member that described the theft.

I believe strongly from my heart that his spirit was never released, Harlyn Geronimo said.

Both Presidents Bush, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and many others in powerful government and industry positions are members of the society, which is not affiliated with the university.

After years of famously fighting the U.S. and Mexican armies, Geronimo and 35 warriors surrendered to Gen. Nelson A. Miles near the Arizona-New Mexico border in 1886. Geronimo was eventually sent to Fort Sill and died at the Army outpost of pneumonia in 1909.

According to lore, members of Skull and Bones  including former President George W. Bushs grandfather, Prescott Bush  dug up Geronimos grave when a group of Army volunteers from Yale were stationed at the fort during World War I, taking his skull and some of his bones.

Harlyn Geronimo, 61, wants those remains and any held by the federal government turned over to the family so they can be reburied near the Indian leaders birthplace in southern New Mexicos Gila Wilderness.

Their lawsuit also names President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Army Secretary Pete Geren as defendants.

Justice Department spokesman Andrew Ames said the government will review the complaint and respond in court at the appropriate time.

Yale officials declined to comment yesterday, saying they had not yet seen the lawsuit. Spokesman Tom Conroy noted the Skull and Bones crypt is not on Yale property.

Membership in Skull and Bones marks the elite of the elite at the Ivy League school. Only 15 Yale seniors are asked to join each year.

Members swear an oath of secrecy about the group and its strange rituals, which include devotion to the number 322 and initiation rites such as confessing sexual secrets and kissing a skull. The atmosphere makes Skull and Bones favorite fodder for conspiracy theorists.

Its most enduring story is the one concerning Geronimos remains, and in 2005, Yale historian Marc Wortman discovered a letter written in 1918 from one Skull and Bones member to another that seemed to lend validity to the tale.

The letter, sent to F. Trubee Davison by Winter Mead, said Geronimos skull and other remains were taken from the leaders burial site, along with several pieces of tack for a horse.

The skull of the worthy Geronimo the Terrible, exhumed from its tomb at Fort Sill by your club and Knight Haffuer, is now safe inside the T  together with its well worn femurs, bit and saddle horn, Mead wrote.

Wortman, however, has said he is skeptical the bones are actually Geronimos.
ATLANTA (AP)  Calls to remove Confederate imagery from public places multiplied rapidly across the South and beyond Tuesday, with opponents eyeing state flags, license plates and statues of Civil War politicians and generals.

The startling movement, driven by the killing of nine black churchgoers in an apparent racist attack in Charleston, South Carolina, has made converts of politicians who have long supported or stood silent on such symbols. Many of the efforts appear to have the muscle to succeed.

Statehouse displays such as the Confederate battle flag flying in South Carolina are coming under the heaviest fire. But the familiar banner, with its star-studded blue X overlaying a field of red, is just one of scores, if not hundreds, of state-sanctioned displays that honor the vanquished Confederacy and the era of Jim Crow segregation that lasted for more than a century after the end of the Civil War.

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The homages  from veterans memorials and statues of politicians to counties, streets, government buildings and public schools named for Confederate figures and subsequent white supremacists  havent always generated the same political and social tensions as the battle flag, and Confederate heritage groups say the outcry is misplaced, despite widely seen images of what appears to be the church shooting suspect, 21-year-old Dylann Roof, holding the rebel flag.

At the least, however, the flag and other tributes remain a constant reminder of the nations perpetual struggle with race, and of some Southerners defiance of the federal governments efforts on civil rights.

Statues and monuments arent history, said Stan Deaton, a historian for the Georgia Historical Society. They are what we choose to tell future generations about the past. ... Its a very delicate subject, and lets not kid ourselves: So much of it has to do with race.

In Kentucky, the Republican candidate for governor, Matt Bevin, and U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis should be removed from the Capitol rotunda, where it sits just feet from a statue of Abraham Lincoln, whose election spurred the Souths secession. Both men were born in Kentucky, a border state during the Civil War.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, said he wanted the state to stop issuing a vanity license plate for the Sons of Confederate Veterans that includes the battle flag. Even its display on state-issued license tags, in my view, is unnecessarily divisive and hurtful to too many of our people, McAuliffe said, speaking in Richmond, the second and final capital of the Confederacy.

In Tennessee, Republican Gov. Bill Haslam and lawmakers of both parties called for removing a Capitol grounds bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general and early Ku Klux Klan leader. The longest-serving black legislator in Alabama said he plans to introduce a resolution that would remove the Confederate flags that fly outside the Alabama Capitol next to a towering monument to Confederate soldiers.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieus office said the city should consider changes to several monuments, including a prominent statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee near downtown, as the city prepares to celebrate the 300th anniversary of its founding.

Top Mississippi Republicans appear divided over the states flag, the last of the 50 state banners to include a specific image of the battle flag. House Speaker Philip Gunn said Monday that the image, which appears in the top left corner of the Mississippi flag, is offensive and should be removed. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves responded Tuesday that the decision should be up to Mississippians, who voted 2-to-1 in 2001 to keep the flag. Gov. Phil Bryant, also a Republican, said he supports that referendum result.

Chris McDaniel, a state senator and tea party hero who nearly unseated U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran last year, decried Gunns call. A cultural or historical cleansing of all things potentially offensive will do nothing to alleviate the problems caused by racism, he said.

Deaton, the Georgia historian, said McDaniel misses the point. Symbols do matter and naming practices do matter, he said, arguing that the Confederate monuments across the region, placed mostly by Confederate veterans and womens groups in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, offer a very narrow interpretation of the past.

There were signs that the tension was spilling beyond the political realm. Vandals have tagged several monuments in recent days, including a Charleston statue of John C. Calhoun, a strong defender of slavery and secession before the war. It and other targets in Maryland and Texas were spray-painted with phrases such as Black Lives Matter, a slogan rooted in recent police shootings of black men.

The leader of a national Confederate heritage organization argues that Roofs actions should not reflect on American citizens who identify with the Confederacy.

First its the flags, then the monuments, then the streets names, then the holidays. I feel like its open season on anything Confederate, said Kelly Barrow, commander in chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, adding that the vandalism scares him.

Is someone going to be attacked because they have an S.C.V. sticker on their car? Were open targets, battle flag or not, he said.

Barrow, based south of Atlanta, said the discussion over the monuments should at least wait until after the church victims funerals.

Bury the dead, then we can sit down and talk about all this, he said.

Najee Washington, whose grandmother Ethel Lance was among the nine slain last week during Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, said it would be meaningful to her family to remove the flag: Its just a part of the past that we dont need to be reminded of every day.

___

The writer is not related to the Sons of Confederate Veterans representative. Follow Bill Barrow at https://www.twitter.com/BillBarrowAP.

___

Contributing to this report were AP writers Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, Mississippi; Jonathan Drew in Charleston, South Carolina; Travis Loller and Lucas Johnson II in Nashville, Tennessee; Adam Beam in Frankfort, Kentucky; and Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia.
The University of California and county officials are weighing a proposal to reopen a troubled south Los Angeles County public hospital that was closed after years of negligence and patient deaths.

The proposal aims to reopen Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital by late 2012 through the creation of a new private, independent nonprofit group to run it, rather than the county.

From the moment Martin Luther King Jr. hospital closed its doors my colleagues and I committed ourselves to reopening a hospital with critically needed inpatient beds and Emergency Services for the community of South Los Angeles, county Supervisor Gloria Molina in a statement.

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Built to serve the poor and minorities in the wake of the 1965 Watts riot, the hospital has provided only outpatient services since August 2007 after the hospital was largely shut down.

According to a UC meeting agenda item posted online Wednesday, a nonprofit group would hold the hospitals license, have its own independent governing board and operate the facility under a lease agreement with the county.

The UC would enter into a contractual agreement with the new nonprofit entity to establish standards pertaining to quality assurance and the provision of physician services, according to the agenda item.

Throughout this process we have been willing to look at how UC can lend its expertise in meeting the health care needs of this community and were pleased to have reached a conceptual agreement on an overall framework, said Paul Schwartz, spokesman for the UC presidents office.

The county, in turn, would fund expansion of the hospitals patient tower and add a new emergency department, along with other construction needs. The hospital would have 120 licensed beds at full operation.

The UCs committee on health services is scheduled to discuss the matter March 19.

The UC Regents and the county Board of Supervisors would have to vote to approve the proposal.

Community leaders have detailed the need for an emergency room at King-Harbor long before the inpatient services closure. Located in an area plagued by gang violence, the hospital frequently received victims of shootings and stabbings  wounds that can be deadly if immediate treatment isnt available.

In recent years, federal inspectors repeatedly uncovered problems at the facility, ranging from lax sanitation of medical equipment to inattentive care that endangered lives. Those lapses in care caused the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to revoke $200 million in federal funding.

In one egregious case, Edith Isabel Rodriguez died in 2007 of a perforated bowel after writhing in pain on the emergency room floor for 45 minutes without receiving care. Security camera footage showed Rodriguez on the floor as a janitor mopped around her and a nurse dismissed her complaints.

The county unsuccessfully and repeatedly tried to improve patient care through disciplining workers, reorganizing management, closing the trauma unit and reducing the number of inpatient beds.

In April 2008, Pacific Hospital in Long Beach considered fully reopening the hospital, but backed out.

Some said that with 184 beds, Pacific Hospital wasnt prepared to handle reopening King-Harbor, but the same cant be said about the University of California.

The university system already runs former county hospitals at its Irvine, San Diego and Davis campuses.

In addition to managing its own hospitals, the University of California, Los Angeles, is responsible for academic oversight of residency programs at two Los Angeles County hospitals, Harbor-UCLA and Olive View-UCLA.

And at San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center, all the physicians are members of the UCSF faculty.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement that the UC will bring incredible talent to bear on the reopening of the hospital.

The people of South Los Angeles deserve access to needed, quality medical services, and this proposed plan provides an important framework for addressing this communitys health care needs, said Schwarzenegger.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  After the Korean War ended in 1953, Kim Myeong Bok and 75 other North Korean prisoners of war detained in South Korea opted to live abroad rather than risk hostile welcomes in either half of their homeland. Now he wants to come home, though he may find little more than rejection and suspicion.

Amid the Koreas intense Cold War rivalry, they were labeled traitors, opportunists or fence-sitters. The fates of several North Korean POWs who voluntarily returned home are unknown. Many others have died abroad one by one, and now less than a dozen are believed to be alive.

Kim, now 79 and living in Brazil, is trying to return to his North Korean hometown, at the arrangement of a movie director whos making a documentary on him and his fellow ex-POWs.

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He doesnt have North Koreas approval yet and may never get it, though he will at least visit the South. He knows this is probably his last chance to try to go home.

Ive missed my parents a lot, particularly my mother, who took me to a church and told me to believe in Jesus Christ, Kim said, speaking from the remote Brazilian city of Cuiaba during a recent video interview. I want to go to the place where my church stood, but it must have been pulled down by now.

Kim lowered his head and wiped away tears when he said his mother often came to his mind whenever he faced difficulties in life. Forgive me, he said, weeping.

Kim and most of the other POWs who left the Korean Peninsula settled in South America. None could have expected that their homeland would remain so bitterly divided for so long. With an armistice signed but not a peace treaty, the peninsula remains technically at war, with combat troops still facing each other along Earths most heavily fortified border.

The POWs left for many reasons: to avoid the Norths harsh systems, to enjoy religious freedom, to build up professional careers. Many feared execution in the North for having been held captive in the South.

Many believed their family members must have died during the chaos of the three-year war, which killed millions. They chose not to stay on in the South because they worried about living with the label of ex-North Korean soldiers in a country where they had no relatives or friends.

We are not against North Korea, but the situation was very critical and miserable, so we left Korea and went to other countries and we are so anxious to meet our relatives, said an 86-year-old ex-POW now living in San Francisco. He asked to be identified only by his initials  H.T.  out of concern for any living relatives he may have in the North.

Kim said he surrendered himself to South Koreas military only a month and a half after being conscripted into the Norths Korean Peoples Army in 1950. He said he didnt want to return to the North, where authorities suppressed Christians and severe poverty forced his family to eat porridge made of soybean residue three times a day.

Life at a South Korean island prison camp was also harrowing, he said. South Korean documents say that POWs who supported the North rioted and got into sometimes deadly fights with those who did not.

I was really fed up with the POW camp life. So many people were killed there, he said.

During and after the war, the American-led U.N. forces repatriated more than 83,000 Chinese and North Korean POWs while the North turned back more than 13,000 South Korean and U.N. troops. Tens of thousands of others stayed in the countries they once fought against; North and South Korea accuse each other of keeping at least some of the POWs against their will.

In 1954, 76 North Korean and 12 Chinese soldiers who chose third countries were first sent to India as a stopover before being moved to countries where they hoped to resettle. Some wished to live to the U.S., but under an agreement among the U.N. command, North Korea and China, they were allowed to go only to countries that had been neutral in the war.

After more than two years of being stranded in India, about 60 ex-North Korean soldiers were eventually able to move to Brazil and Argentina. H.T. moved to the U.S. years after settling in Brazil. About 10 others returned to either North or South Korea while the rest remained in India, according to a 2001 research paper from analyst Cho Sung-hun at the South Korean state-run Institute for Military History.

The fate of those who returned to the North remains unknown. Many ex-POWs believe unconfirmed past media reports that they were executed, but Cho said they could have been used as propaganda tools instead.

A 1993 documentary film broadcast by South Koreas MBC television showed the paths many of them took: a medical professor, a quarry owner, a fishing-ship captain. Some were pastors. One was accused of murder and sent to a facility for mentally ill criminals.

Kim arrived in Brazil in 1956 and became a farmer, mostly in the western state of Mato Grosso, where Cuiaba is located.

Many ex-POWs struggled to get along with other Korean immigrants, mostly from South Korea, who only regarded them as just ex-communist soldiers, according to Cho Kyeong-duk, the movie director who is making the documentary about the ex-POWs possible return.

They went to neutral countries or third countries but it was ironic that they couldnt walk a step away from the ideological confrontation, Cho said.

Former POWs have been gradually forgotten in South Korea, but many who recall their stories now view them as victims of the war and the ensuing Korean division.

They are the ones whove been standing on the boundary without belonging to either side, said analyst Chang Yong Seok at Seoul National Universitys Institute for Peace and Unification Studies. I think they have undergone really difficult lives.

Time is running out for any potential reunions. Ten of the 21 POWs Cho has interviewed since beginning his project in 2009 are dead. He believes the remaining 11 are the last former North Korean POWs sent to third countries: six in Brazil, two each in Argentina and the U.S. and one in India.

Under the itinerary of the movie tentatively titled Return Home, Chos crew is to join Kim as he meets other POWs in Brazil and Argentina and flies to India before coming to South Korea around June 25, the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War. Cho said Kim is the only one who has so far agreed to travel with him while others remained undecided.

In South Korea, Kim is to visit the site of his POW camp on the southern Geoje Island and the border village of Panmunjom, where the armistice was signed.

Cho and Kim have met North and South Korean diplomats in Brazil several times but havent gotten approval from either government. The director said his conversations with diplomats suggest that the North does not want them to visit the South and vice versa, but he insists on stops in both countries.

More than 60 years have passed but things remain unchanged, Cho said.

In answers to questions about Cho and Kims travel plans, U.N. Command spokesman Cpt. Frederick Agee said it only considers for approval border crossing requests that are officially presented by both Koreas. The command and North Korea jointly oversee the 2.5-mile-wide (4-kilometer) Demilitarized Zone that bisects the peninsula.

Seouls Unification Ministry said it determines whether to endorse a South Koreans request to visit the North after reviewing overall ties with Pyongyang and other factors.

Kim hopes hes allowed to cross the border through Panmunjom and travel to his hometown of Ryongchon on the Norths northwestern tip. He assumes his parents are dead, but wants to visit their graves, along with the site of the church that he presumes was destroyed.

He says hes a bit scared, but wont give up.

My Brazil pastor told me North Korea is a dangerous country to go, he said. But I still want to go there, even if I run into some troubles.

__

Associated Press writer Janie Har contributed to this report from San Francisco.
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[MUTARE- ZIMBABWE] Zimbabwean engineers have developed a disaster alert radio technology that could enable rural dwellers in flood-prone areas across the country to quickly get information on impending hazards.

The early warning radio technology intermittently interrupts signals on radio stations whenever there is crucial information on weather patterns.

Zimbabwes Meteorological Services Department (MSD), which falls under the Ministry of Water and Climate, developed the technology in partnership with others such as the countrys Department of Civil Protection and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

This technology is vital and must be adopted in all developing countries which experience floods every year. Pesanayi Gwirayi, Great Zimbabwe University

Dennis Kapaso, MSD system engineer, tells SciDev.Net that the technology was developed to enable timely dissemination of weather-related information to people who reside in flood-prone areas to help save lives during disasters.

According to the Zimbabwean government, floods that occurred from October 2016 to March this year killed about 250 people and left nearly 2,000 people homeless.

The existing technologies are useful but they lack effectiveness due to limited coverage, high operational costs, complexities and nonexistence of identifiable authorities. The [new] technology has low costs to the user but alerts can be effectively disseminated using already existing telecommunications infrastructure, he explains.

The technology took almost two years to be developed through Chinas Meteorological Aid Project for African countries at a total cost of 10 million Chinese yuan (about US$1.5 million), says Kapasdo.

The technology is an all-digital active warning radio based on existing wireless broadcasting infrastructure. These warnings will be played through the national broadcasters the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation which owns five radio stations (Radio Zimbabwe, National FM, Sport FM, Star FM and Diamond FM) and AB Communications which owns ZiFM.

Kapaso says that the MSD has done all the test runs with Radio Zimbabwe. We are engaging National FM, ZiFM, Sport FM, Star FM and Diamond FM to enable us to reach millions of people in the country, Kapaso adds.

Albert Chekayi, Radio Zimbabwe station manager, tells SciDev.Net, Our national radio station has more than 10 million listeners in the country and we are ready to roll out this ambitious project meant to inform our people in risk-related areas.

According to Kapaso, the meteorological equipment for facilitating the project was installed in 2016 and will be commissioned next month.

A total of 1,600 special radios have been acquired, and deployment of these radios will be done at provincial, district and ward levels in all-weather disaster-prone areas in Zimbabwe, says Kapaso. We are targeting our local leadership and relevant authorities involved in disaster-risk reduction programmes as recipients.

Pesanayi Gwirayi, director of research and postgraduate studies at the Great Zimbabwe University, applauds the technology and urges governments in Africa to invest more money in research

Research enables discovery of more technologies that should help millions of Africans who are not only subjected to floods but to other serious disasters facing humanity. This technology is vital and must be adopted in all developing countries which experience floods every year, Gwirayi says.



This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.
TIMMONSVILLE, S.C.  The Florence school District Four school board will consider donating or selling land from the old high school to Florence County.

The land would be used to build a community center for Timmonsville.

Mitchell Kirby, a Florence County councilman who represents the area, addressed the school board Tuesday evening. He said he loves the people of Timmonsville and would like to see the county and school board partner on the construction.

Kirby outlined three options for the board to consider: donating the land to Florence County, selling the land to Florence County at fair market value or selling three acres to Florence County at fair market value for the project.

Kirby said he would like to see the board approve the first option. He said that to get grants, the land needs to be owned.

Funding for the community center would come from the penny sales tax. Kirby said the item was already approved by voters on the Capital Project Sales Tax II ballot in November 2013.

However, he said additional funding for the project could be acquired through grants and donors.

Kirby said he thinks the project will total about $800,000 to $900,000.

He said the location where the old high school sits is ideal because it is spacious.

The request will be discussed in a subcommittee for the revitalization of school grounds.

We will have a response to everyone in due time, said Brenda McKithen, vice chairwoman of the school board. It will be soon.

Kirby said he envisions a community center that will be used by all ages. He said the building could hold between 200 and 300 people at a time and could be a place for reunions, social gatherings, recreation and senior gatherings.

Jimmy Hampton, a resident who spoke during public participation, said he would like to see the school board cooperate with the county. However, he said the board should not donate the land.

I think we deserve something, Hampton said. We ask you to reach out and help them and meet them halfway so that our seniors will have somewhere to go, Hampton said.

Hampton said children also need somewhere to play sports, and everyone would benefit from a community center.

This will help our community as well as the school, Hampton said.

In other business, District Four will continue to work alongside the South Carolina Department of Education. The school board voted to approve a memorandum agreement between the district and state department of education.

Dr. Rechel Anderson, superintendent-elect, shared test data at the meeting. Anderson said the district is not where it wants to be but has seen some improvements.

Dr. Latoya Dixon, a representative from the state Department of Education, said school improvement is a process that usually takes between three and five years.
HARTSVILLE, S.C.  Work has been largely completed on a project to replace and extend sidewalks on South Fourth Street between Coker Avenue and Davis Street, and more work has begun to put in sidewalks on Washington Street between Fourth and Fifth streets.

The Fourth Street project replaced a section of sidewalk and extended the sidewalk from Coker Avenue to Davis Street on the east side of the street.

The two projects are being funded by a $398,739 Transportation Alternatives Program grant through the state and $99,685 in matching funds from the city of Hartsville, according to Mary Catherine Farrell, assistant to the city manager and grant writer for the city.

The project was designed and is being managed by the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

The citys matching portion of the funding came from $2.9 million borrowed through a bond issue against revenue generated by the citys multi-county business park. That money is intended to pay for infrastructure improvements in the park area, which includes a segment of the South Fourth Street corridor and Washington Street.

Among other things, that money helped pay for the repair and resurfacing of East College Avenue.

The Fourth Street portion of the project was scaled back from its original objective to extend sidewalks to Railroad Avenue because of cost increases, Farrell said.

The citys long-term goal is to extend sidewalks along Fourth Street to Retail Row (Walmart Supercenter shopping center), Farrell said.

We want to create more pedestrian connections to that area, she said.

The city was awarded the grant in 2015, Farrell said.

So its coming to fruition now, she said.

The Washington Street portion of the project will be on the south side of the street (Pee Dee Mental Health Center side).

The overall long-term project, Farrell said, will have to be implemented in multiple phases.

Itll be several years in the making, Farrell said.

Farrell said the previous section of sidewalk on Fourth Street was replaced because it was not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Farrell said there are no plans to put sidewalks on both sides of Fourth Street. She said it is not financially feasible now to do both sides of the street. In addition, some design problems would prevent doing both sides of the street.

There are some obstacles that would probably prevent doing both sides, Farrell said. At some point, they will probably crisscross, so youll have sidewalks on one side, and then it will switch over to the other side.

City officials said the project will help address pedestrian safety problems on Fourth Street and Washington Street. Officials with the South Carolinas Governors School for Science and Mathematics have long sought to get sidewalks on that section of Fourth Street, because GSSM students frequently walk from the residential school on Railroad Avenue to Walmart and back.
DARLINGTON, S.C.  In Sally Weilands French class at Darlington High School, achieving success opens the door not only for good grades but also a chance to travel outside the country.

Sometimes, that traveling is reversed.

That was the case this year when 17-year-old Coline Bergeonneau from Poitiers, France, visited Darlington for two weeks. Bergeonneau participated in Weilands pen pal program for two years with now-Darlington High graduate Ben Goodwill.

Bergeonneau, who attends Lycee Victor Hugo High School in France, said it was a dream to travel to the United States.

I remember when I first got my pen pal, I thought, Well, maybe one day I can meet him, Bergeonneau said. And its happening. It was my dream to come to America. I went, and I met friends. Its amazing.

Weiland funds the de facto exchange program on her own, because she recognizes the importance of her students exposure to new cultures and languages. After 31 years of teaching, Bergeonneau is Weilands 18th scholarship recipient and the first from France. Weiland also visits Poitiers, where she spends time in pen pals classrooms sharing her students information and a Darlington High School yearbook.

Its something I believe in, Weiland said. If we had more money, we could afford more students. Thats why I call them ambassadors, because they work so hard to earn the trip. I would love to be able to fund more students to go.

The ambassadors earn the title by striving for academic success in Weilands classroom through fluency, grades and building their French-language portfolios. For Bergeonneaus trip to Darlington, Goodwill and another of Weilands students, Cassy Lloyd, served as ambassadors. Lloyd participated in the pen pal program and was afforded a trip Poitiers and Paris in June.

Goodwill said its tough to explain the value of the experience to others.

I mean, when learning French, what better way than with someone who is right around your age and is French? Goodwill said. This experience definitely bettered me as a student. Also, you really grow with someone when you have known them for more than two years and you finally get to meet them in person. They become more than a best friend  like family.

The group went kayaking, visited the Florence Museum, traveled to Charleston and Myrtle Beach, caught a blockbuster at the movie theater and spent plenty of time just hanging out.

Its better than I was imagining, Bergeonneau said. Its incredible the feeling of saying yesterday we talked about problems (in person), just like we were friends.

The entire experience proved to be a spur-of-the-moment birthday trip for Bergeonneau. Thats because on her birthday, Weiland proposed the idea. They agreed, and the plane ticket arrived digitally within minutes. Less than a month later, Bergeonneau hopped on a 10-hour flight to America.

In the beginning, I just didnt believe it, Bergeonneau said. And now my friends are jealous.

Weiland said she enlisted Bergeonneaus help in the classroom during her visit as an adviser for improving the pen pal program. The two worked to prepare videos, photos and descriptions of the Darlington High School students to help in matching pen pals next year.

And while work always continues to improve the program, this years trip certainly will remain an exciting reminder of friendship and academic enrichment.
HARTSVILLE, S.C.  The Hartsville Rotary Club celebrated its 88 th birthday on Oct. 10. The club received its charter from Rotary International in September 1929.

There were 15 charter members. The son of one charter member was the guest speaker for the celebratory meeting at the Hartsville Country Club. Charles W. Coker Sr., the retired chairman of the board of Sonoco Products Company, spoke on the history of Sonoco. Coker also is a past president of the Hartsville Rotary Club.

Whenever I travel, I tell people how wonderful it has been to live in our small city, Coker said. I truly feel that one of my greatest accomplishments or blessings has been being born in the United States and living my entire life in the Hartsville community. Its been a great place in which to grow up, raise a family and work.

He said the history of Sonoco and Hartsville are interwoven.

A bit of Hartsville and its values has traveled around the world with Sonoco, he said.

Sonoco has more than 300 plants in 33 countries.

He said Sonoco employees from around the world love to visit Hartsville. He said they rave about the company's friendliness and openness.

Being headquartered here has helped shape the companys values and culture, he said.

Sonocos history dates to 1898, 119 years ago, when the Southern Novelty Company was organized to produce paper cones for the textile industry, Coker said.

He said that 10 years earlier Carolina Finer Company was organized to produce pulp, and these two companies merged in 1941.

In 1923, the Southern Novelty Company changed its name to Sonoco, combining the first two letters of each word in the old name.

Thomas Coker was the first of our family to move into the area, Coker said. He was granted 53 English pounds plus 1,000 acres of land near Society Hill for his services as a lieutenant in General Francis Marions army during the American Revolution.

James Lide Coker was Thomas great-great-grandson. He achieved the rank of major in the Civil War and was known as The Major for the rest of his life, Coker said.

He established a bank in Darlington, opened J.L. Coker & Company, which grew into the building now occupied by the YMCA in downtown Hartsville. He organized the Hartsville Railroad Company. In 1902, he brought silversmiths to Hartsville from Maine to establish the Carolina Silver Company. He also established Welch Neck High School, Coker said. It later became Coker College.

It was his son, James, who convinced him to make pulp from Southern Pine trees, and the Carolina Fiber Company was organized.

The Major died in 1924, and his two sons, James and Charles, ran the company until they died in 1931.

They were succeeded by Cokers uncle, James, and his father, Charles.

Paper making integrated with paper cones and later tubes drove Sonocos growth for decades, Coker said.

He said that in 2015 Sonoco acquired Weidenheimer in Germany, securing it the No. 1 position in the world in composite cans.

For its first 80 or 90 years, Sonoco was predominantly a producer of industrial packaging  such as paperboard, cones, tubes and later wooden and metal reels," Coker said. Today the balance is about 40 percent industrial and 60 percent consumer packaging.

The 2017 annual report shows total company sales of $4.8 billion and profit of $286 million, Coker said.

Although Ive been retired for 12 years or so, my takeaway from this brief overview of Sonocos history is that the company is alive and well, has changed and will keep changing and has a very strong culture, Coker said.

He said the story of Sonoco is not the story of a few brilliant men and women but rather lots of talented people who shared common goals and worked together.

The Rotary Club also welcomed its two newest members, Curtis Lee of Sonoco Products, and Dick Puffer, chairman of the Byerly Foundation, at the meeting.

Rotary is known internationally for its contributions to Alzheimers research, its dedication to the eradication of polio in the world and providing clean water to third-world countries. Hartsville Rotary also is involved in educational projects in the community. Rotary meets every Tuesday at the Hartsville Country Club. The meeting begins at 1 p.m. Bobby McGee is the president.
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I was enjoying fabulous barbecue a few months ago at a large block party sponsored by Piano Man Reynolds and colleagues, and I was standing on the edge of the crowd alongside a nearby fog patch. To my surprise, out of the fog trundled Murray the Hood with his iconic hoodie, and he put his face right up to my ear.

I leaned in, not sure what I was going to hear, figuring he was going to ask me about something. Instead I heard, Steve, I love your columns, but you now must follow the bomb; go to Halifax.

I turned to him and laughed.

Even though I live part time in Canada, I have never been to Nova Scotia, save to transit the airport, I said. How about if I use Google Maps?

Unbeknownst to Murray, the city of Halifax has a humorous connection to my distant past. My father decided to teach me to drive a car, and my mother often would come along for the ride and calm my fathers nerves. But if I should drive too fast or make a mistake or try to back up too fast (I could never learn to back a car properly), she would scream out, sometimes even leaping onto the back floor, I wish I were in Halifax.

These old memories, too, made me smile at Murrays suggestion. By the way, some local friends recently hired me as a chauffeur, and even though they did not know about my mothers Halifax reference, I am sure they would have screamed it out to me, too. But in my defense, preparing for my chauffeurs license, I have taken several rigorous defensive driving courses.

But THERE IS a bomb reference to Halifax; Murray the Hood was/is right.

The United States Air Force recently released a large bomb called MOAB (a play on words for a country from the Biblical Middle East and the phrases Mother of All Bombs and Massive Ordinance Air Blast Bomb) April 13, 2017, onto an ISIS underground complex in Northeast Afghanistan along the Pakistan border, accomplishing major damage to the complex and killing approximately 200 combatants.

The bomb was invented and built in the early 2000s by Albert L. Weimorts Jr. of the Air Force Research Laboratory, but it never was used beyond testing. One of 15 of these bombs was taken to the Afghanistan Conflict Theater on orders from President Obama in the fall of 2016. The bomb has the explosive force equivalent to nine tons of TNT and itself weighs a little more than 10 tons. Its proper delivery to a target requires a large sled and parachute and guidance system.

And, of course, it causes a huge dust cloud, explosion and ground penetration.

The Halifax bomb was even bigger. It actually was not meant to be a bomb but rather a French munitions freighter, and it exploded accidentally in the Halifax harbor on Dec. 6, 1917, during the days of World War I. The munitions ship, the Mont-Blanc, had a minor collision in the part of the harbor called the Narrows with a Norwegian ship, the Imo. But minor turned out to be not so minor; the collision led to fires on the French ship that caused the whole thing to explode. The explosive force of the blast was equivalent to roughly 3 kilo tons of TNT (thus approximately 330 times stronger than the blast force of MOAB). A huge section of the city of roughly 30,000 people was destroyed. Approximately 2,000 people were killed and roughly 9,000 others were injured.

The hospital was overwhelmed, so triage centers were established. Approximately 1,600 homes were destroyed and another 12,000 were damaged. Not a single window in the business district was left intact. The devastation, particularly for a small city, was overwhelming, but the locals and their neighbors responded with courage, vigor and strength. Even by the next morning, rescue, health care and rebuilding efforts had begun.

Help came from all along the Eastern Seaboard into the United States. Boston gave so much aid in terms of manpower, material and money (a long relief train left Boston to Halifax just 12 hours after the blast with surgeon William Ladd, M.D., on board) that in 1917 and then every year since 1971 the province of Nova Scotia sends the city of Boston a proud Scotia Christmas tree (either fir or spruce) called the Boston Christmas Tree that is prominently displayed in Boston Commons.

As I was surfing the maps and photos of Halifax on my iPad, I turned back to show Murray all that I had learned, but he already had gone back into the fog, as quietly as he had come. But this was a gem of a history lesson. Thanks, Murray.

I moved into the block party crowd to mingle and to congratulate Piano Man Reynolds and Roger for a job well done and for their Play me, Im Yours pianos placed strategically around Florence.
Taipei, Oct. 25 (CNA) The government's New Southbound Policy is Taiwan's way of exercising its soft power and diversifying into new markets, Minister without Portfolio John Deng () said Wednesday, adding that it is in no way a sign that the country has given up on the Chinese market.
'There is so much culture and history in Cuba, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises is delighted to expand our itineraries with calls on Havana to provide our guests a more complete Caribbean experience,' president and CEO Jason Montague said.

Three of the six cruises feature midnight departures from Havana, so passengers have ample time to experience Cubas nightlife.

Travelers can visit Havana on a 22-night voyage, sailing Oct. 10 from Miami to Honolulu aboard Seven Seas Mariner. A Panama Canal transit and destinations in Central America and the Mexican Riviera are also highlights. Seven Seas Navigator's Nov. 11 sailing features Cuba on a 14-night eastern and southern Caribbean itinerary.

Seven Seas Voyager will sail four round-trip Caribbean voyages that call at Havana from December 2018 through March 2019. The Dec. 6 cruise visits the western Caribbean in 10 nights, while the Dec. 16 voyage, 12 nights, explores the eastern Caribbean and celebrates Christmas on board.

A seven-night western Caribbean cruise, sailing Feb. 6, 2019, will also call at Costa Maya, Cozumel and Roatan, while a similar March 5 itinerary replaces Costa Maya with Great Stirrup Cay. The Dec. 6, 2018, and Feb. 6 and March 5, 2019 sailings provide the midnight departures from Havana.

Regent first called on Havana in April with Seven Seas Mariner.
Firsts for Azamara include Agadir, Morocco; Antofagasta and San Antonio, Chile; Fowey, UK; Callao (for Lima), Pisco (San Martin) and Salaverry (Trujillo), Peru; Maceio, Brazil; Monemvasia, Samos and Spetse, Greece; and Seyisfjorur, Iceland.

Travelers sailing through South America will dock at marquee destinations such as Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, while also traversing scenic routes such as the Chilean Fjords and Beagle Channel. There will be holiday stops at Rio de Janeiro for New Years Eve 2018 and for Carnaval in 2019.

Immersive experiences will include the opportunity to stargaze in the Atacama Desert (from Antofagasta, Chile), on a three-day experience via chartered plane to San Pedro de Atacama for a two-night stay. Travelers will visit Moon Valley, Quitor Fortress, Toconao Village and Chaxa Lagoon, then fly from Calama to La Serena via Santiago (on commercial air).

In Lima, passengers can dine in the oldest inhabited house in all of the Americas. Casa de Aliaga was built in 1536 during the Spanish conquest of Peru. A 17th generation family member and host will share this rich history of her familys manor and the experiences of living there since she was 7.

From Pisco, passengers can practice take part in open-air yoga classes at Atenas Beach in the Paracas National Reserve.

Europe experiences include the chance to explore the inside of a volcano, from Reykjavik, Iceland. Passengers take an elevator into the magma chamber of dormant volcano, Thrihnukagigur, once filled with hot lava. The Three Peaks Crater erupted 4,000 years ago.

A one-night land program from Akureyri to Seydisfjordur, Iceland, will offer spectacular views of the Godafoss waterfall, the natural wonders of Lake Myvatn including Skutustair craters, Dimmuborgir lava labyrinth and Namaskar thermal field. Tour participants will end the day with relaxation at Myvatn Nature Baths health spa. On the second day, they'll travel alongside Jokulsargljufur Glacial canyon to Seyisfjorur, to see the most powerful waterfalls in Europe.

From Nauplion in Greece passengers can visit the Monastery of St. John (Prodromos), built on the side of a rock face around 1167. Theyll have a traditional Greek lunch at a wealthy Arcadian mansion of the 1840s.

This is followed by a complimentary AzAmazing Evening in Rhodes, where passengers will see an exclusive performance of the ancient Greek drama 'Antigone' by Sophocles at Tafros Theater.

Azamara Pursuit's detailed itineraries are now available at azamaraclubcruises.com.
He added that container volume rose 11% while non-containerised throughput also increased by 3%.

This shows that the economic activity in the country is increasing, because more goods are now shipped overseas [through Pelindo IIs ports], Elvyn said.

He added that the company was confident of meeting its annual revenue target of IDR10.56trn.
As long as there is still hope, our wishes are for the missing crew to be found and the loss of life in this tragic event to be minimized, says the association.

Emerald Star was laden with Indonesian nickel ore on a voyage from Indonesia to China when she sank about 150 nautical miles north-east of the Philippines.

Pending the results of a full casualty investigation. Intercargo urges "extreme caution" when loading nickel ore  which has a tendency to liquefaction and sloshing - and other challenging cargoes, and stresses the importance of adhering to the provisions in the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code) to maximise safety in the transportation of dry bulk cargoes.
Ann Arbor has joined 133 other cities and towns across the United States in the "10-Minute Walk" parks advocacy campaign started by The Trust for Public Land, the National Recreation and Park Association, and the Urban Land Institute.

The goal for the initiative is that all residents should live within a 10-minute walk (about a half-mile) of a park or green space. The U.S. Conference of Mayors also recently passed a resolution urging all mayors to actively pursue the goal.

Ann Arbor already meets this goal in nearly every neighborhood, according to Colin Smith, parks and recreation services manager for Ann Arbor. There are a few places where the University of Michigan owns a large chunk of land, and in those areas, the walk to the nearest park may be a little over 10 minutes, Smith says.

The Trust for Public Land is currently mapping park access in cities across the country. Starting in 2018, the campaign organizers will start working with selected cities on strategies and policies to promote the 10-minute walk goal. Reaching the goal is expected to involve changes in how parks are financed and constructed, along with zoning changes and making sure park access goals are included in each city's master plan.

Before it joined the initiative, Ann Arbor already had a goal in its master plan for having a park within a quarter-mile of every residence, and this distance is walkable in 10 minutes for most people, Smith says.

The Trust for Public Land says that having easy park access for all residents is important for a number of reasons, ranging from physical health benefits to a sense of building community as neighbors meet and socialize in nearby parks.

"Ann Arbor certainly recognizes and appreciates the value a park can bring to a neighborhood," Smith says. "Supporting this 10-minute walk idea nationwide is important, because a lot of things a park can provide are a great benefit for any community."

Information and maps for each of nearly 160 parks in Ann Arbor can be found at the Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation website.

Sarah Rigg is a freelance writer and editor in Ypsilanti Township. You may reach her at

sarahrigg1@gmail.com
Security Council Elections 2017

To view the full report, please download the PDF here.

The 71st session of the UN General Assembly is scheduled to hold elections for the Security Council on 2 June. The five seats available for election in 2017 according to the regular distribution among regions will be as follows:

two seats for the African Group (currently held by Egypt and Senegal);

one seat for the Group of Asia and the Pacific Small Island Developing States (the Asia-Pacific Group, currently held by Japan);

one seat for the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC, currently held by Uruguay); and

one seat for the Eastern European Group (currently held by Ukraine).

The five new members elected this year will take up their seats on 1 January 2018 and will serve through to 31 December 2019.

In addition, Italy is committed to relinquishing the seat it has held since 1 January 2017 after serving for one year, and a by-election will thus be held for one seat for the Western European and Others Group (WEOG). Two WEOG seats are usually up for election in even numbered years, but this years by-election will be held because Italy and the Netherlands agreed to split the 2017-2018 term. The new member from WEOG will serve a one-year term from 1 January to 31 December 2018, completing the 2017-2018 term.

At press time, all six candidatesCote dIvoire, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Peru and Polandare currently running unopposed as sole candidates for their respective regional groups.
The UN Secretary-General Selection and Appointment Process: Emerging from the Shadows

To view the full report, please download the PDF.

Security Council Report published its first report anticipating this selection and appointment processAppointing the UN Secretary-Generalin October 2015, setting out the history of the process and procedure, and describing previous proposals for change. Our second reportAppointing the UN Secretary-General: The Challenge for the Security Councilexamined the major developments from October 2015 to June 2016. Throughout the process, we recorded the developments in SCRs regular publications, the Monthly Forecast and Whats in Blue. This final report provides a comprehensive account of developments in the Security Council and General Assembly from the beginning to the end of the process, describing the major changes that culminated in the choice of Antonio Guterres as the next Secretary-General. It includes an assessment of the process based on interviews with the key actors from the Council, the General Assembly and civil society, as well as observations and options for improving the process further.

On 6 October, in a decision which Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin described as maybe the best success of the Security Council in the past five years, the Council recommended to the General Assembly that Antonio Guterres be appointed the ninth UN Secretary-General for a term of office from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2021. On 13 October, the General Assembly adopted its resolution making the appointment. The selection process that resulted in this appointment was the culmination of a historic change in a process that had been shrouded in secrecy throughout its history. It also marked the first time since 1950 that the General Assembly played a significant role in the selection of the Secretary-General.

The UN Charter devotes just 16 words to the appointment of the Secretary-General. Article 97 of the Charter states:

The Secretary-General shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.

In 1946, General Assembly resolution 11 (I) established ground rules for the appointment process, including terms and conditions of employment, length of term of officesubject to modificationand possibility of reappointment. It also declared that it would be desirable for the Security Council to proffer one candidate only for the consideration of the General Assembly.

For 70 years, the most significant evolution in this process took place within the Council, as it introduced the use of straw polls to determine the viability of candidates ahead of a formal vote. Since 1997, members of the General Assembly have discussed several proposals aimed at improving the transparency and inclusivity of the selection process, and finding a role for the wider membership of the UN, but these discussions led to no change in the process.

Regarding the selection process that was to culminate in 2016, a strong civil society campaign for change, and a mood among members of the General Assembly that they were not willing to acquiesce quietly in a business as usual exercise after years of increasing frustration at the lack of progress in Council reform, were the drivers behind significant changes in the process. Key roles among member states were played by Costa Rica and Estonia on behalf of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) Group, and Croatia, as one of the two co-chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly (hereafter the Revitalization Working Group). A strong president of the General Assembly was crucial to effective implementation of the changes. An active group of elected members ensured that the new mood was reflected in the Council, and permanent members, while retaining ultimate control, accepted that the process had undergone some fundamental shifts as a result of the changes generated by the General Assembly.

The first step was a groundbreaking General Assembly resolution, adopted in September 2015, that created the framework for a more transparent process. This led to unprecedented public dialogues with the candidates that tested a broad set of skills, providing the UN membership as well as a global audience with an insight into the thinking of candidates and how they presented themselves in front of a large audience. Council members had to come to their decision on a recommendation to the General Assembly in very different circumstances than in the past. While the modalities in the Councilstraw polls and a private meeting to vote on the recommendationwere not much different from past selection processes, the environment created by the preceding transparent process in the General Assembly impacted the Councils decision-making.
Press Release

October 25, 2017 Sen. Bam: Prepare for AI takeover of PH jobs Instead of focusing on the threats of artificial intelligence (AI), Sen. Bam Aquino said the business community can harness AI to create more jobs, increase competitiveness, and improve products and services. "While AI may very well be our competition in the marketplace of jobs, they might also be unintended rivals that push us to evolve, become more efficient, to learn and to relearn," Sen. Bam stressed in his speech during the International Quality Conference, which was held at Okada Manila in Paranaque. "And I hope this pushes us, not to shut our doors, but rather to kickstart our competitive spirit and develop our workforce for the future," added Sen. Bam. Sen. Bam also commended the Asia Pacific Quality Organization, the Global Benchmarking Network (GBN) and other participants of the event for tackling how to harness the latest technology for the development of various industries. As chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, Sen. Bam spearheaded an inquiry on the effects of AI in the country's present workforce, especially in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. During the hearing, it was discovered that AI will affect around 40,000 jobs in the contact center industry next year. However, it was projected that around 250,000 to 300,000 fresh employment opportunities will be created for those with data analysts and data programming skills. Sen. Bam these jobs can be opened up to Filipinos who are willing to learn and relearn. "The key is to be prepared. We must prepare our workforce through adequate, accessible, affordable training, re-training and education," said Sen. Bam, adding that the cooperation of between the private sector, academe and government agencies is critical to the evolution and development of the Filipino workforce.
Press Release

October 25, 2017 Speech of Senator Loren Legarda

Introduction to Pina-Seda

Pina-Seda Weaving and Embroidery in the Philippines:

Lecture Series and Workshops

School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London Traditional textiles are ties that bind. It links the past to the present and brings together cultures, which, no matter how diverse, has a commonality. Traditional textiles bring together industries, communities, and people. A fabric or a garment is a synergy among workers and artisans. It is a product of diligence, hard work, and passion. Several hands are needed to make one fabric alone. For pina, if the farmer is also the reaper, and the weaver is also the warper and loom dresser, it will take at least 4 people, including the designer and sewer, to bring pina to fabric. For the silk, at least 8-9 people are needed from farmer to fabric, if all are within the same general location. For pina-seda, that would be 12 people to produce the fabric, plus 3 for embroidery including transport, and 2 for designer and sewer. This means that a handwoven pina-seda blouse with embroidery would entail at least 17 people to complete. According to the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI), there are currently 1,277 weavers in the Philippines and 494 groups involved in the handweaving sector. Imagine how many more families and communities we can support if we continue to promote traditional textiles. Introduction to pina-seda Pineapple fiber is considered to be more delicate in texture than any other vegetable fiber. It is extracted from the leaves of the pineapple plant, particularly the Red Spanish variety, which has leaves that yield excellent fibers for handweaving. The pineapple plant is not indigenous to the Philippines. It is believed that the Spaniards brought the plant to our shores. The beginning of pineapple cultivation in the Philippines also marked the start of the craft of pina cloth weaving in the country. Handwoven pina cloth with intricate embroidery was greatly prized then. In the 1860s, many European royalties received gifts of pina cloth originating from the Philippines from loyal subjects to commemorate momentous occasions. However, the eventual influx of cheaper and imported machine-woven fabrics and the foreign influence on Philippine fashion resulted in the decline of the pina cloth production, which is a laborious and time-consuming method. In a bid to revive the industry, government and private sectors implemented the Pilot Production of Pina Fiber and Cloth in the Province of Aklan in 1989. Aklan has been known as the center of pina fiber and cloth production since the Red Spanish variety is mainly found in the Panay Island. But there were also efforts to propagate pina fiber and cloth production in other provinces such as in Antique, Guimaras, Capiz, Palawan, Negros Oriental and La Union. However, production in Capiz, Negros Oriental and La Union ceased for various reasons. But it has made considerable progress in Palawan. In terms of decorticated pina fiber, production is mainly in Camarines Norte and very limited quantities in Cavite and Rizal. Based on 2014 statistics, there are 2,086 hectares of pineapple farms in Camarines Norte, 67 hectares in Palawan, 21 hectares in Aklan and 3 hectares in Antique, which are sources of pina fiber. These farms employ 1,370 farmers. When pina-seda weaving was introduced in Aklan in 1998, customers preferred this over pure pina since pina-seda is cheaper but its beauty and texture is also at par with pure pina. The shift to pina-seda from pure pina was caused by difficulties in the supply of Red Spanish pineapple leaves, likely due to the shortage of knotters. Pina-seda or pineapple-silk is a handwoven fabric made from hand-scraped pina fiber blended with silk to produce different texture and design. Aside from being lightweight, the combined property of pineapple and silk makes the fabric not too stiff compared to pure pineapple, and has more body compared to pure silk. It is stronger than pure pineapple but three times cheaper; and easier to weave due to the strength of silk. In terms of silk production, the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) spearheads the development of the silk industry, with the joint cooperation of the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI), the Sericulture Research and Development Institute (SRDI) of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), the University of the Philippines at Los Ban~os (UPLB) and other state universities and colleges (SUCs). The silk industry is characterized by various activities such as silkworm egg production, cocoon production, reeling operation, weaving and made-up goods manufacturing. Mulberry farming is important to silk production because silkworms feed solely on mulberry leaves. Majority of these farms are located in Western Visayas, particularly in Negros Occidental. Meanwhile, cocoon-producing provinces are Negros Occidental, La Union, Benguet, Ilocos Sur and Abra. This industry could actually provide livelihood to many communities, but there has been a noted decrease in silk production in the Philippines. Production of dried cocoons went down from 9,000 kilos in 2003 to 3,000 kilos in 2012; there were only 150 hectares of mulberry plantation areas in 2014, compared to 300 hectares in 2005; and production of raw silk went down from 1,500 kilos in 2005 to 800 kilos in 2014. In the past decade, the Philippines has been exporting an average of 25,000 square meters of silk fabric. But the last time it exported raw silk was in 2013-10 kilograms of raw silk to Luxembourg. There is really a huge gap between demand and production of raw silk in the country. The PhilFIDA estimates about 10 metric tons demand for raw silk in the country annually against production in 2015 at 0.425 metric tons. Which is why we have to import an average of 13,227 kilograms of raw silk, 12,300 kilograms of silk yarn and 1.119 million square meters of silk fabrics annually. Due to the limited supply of raw silk, supply of pina-seda fabric also went down in the past decade from 57,804 meters in 2007 to 17,690 meters in 2016. Challenges and interventions Among the challenges in the production of pina-seda textiles are the limited supply of silk as well as supply or manufacturer of knotted pineapple fiber, and less number of weavers. In particular for silk production, the PTRI notes that there is low confidence in the profitability of sericulture and the lack of integration of the supply and value chain. Another concern is the lack of water during extreme heat or periods of drought. In terms of pina fiber, the tedious process of hand-scraping the fiber has led to limited production. The irregular demand for pina cloth products due to its being a high-priced fabric, is also a challenge in promoting its use. Lack of capital to purchase raw materials, looms, and other tools and lack of trainings on weaving and product development are the other constraints. But the local textile industry is continuously evolving and these challenges only encourage innovativeness among industry stakeholders. The Sericulture Research and Development Institute in Bacnotan, La Union has established 44 sericulture technology-demonstration (techno-demo) farms in eight provinces-La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Rizal, Zambales, Bulacan, Tanay and Batangas. A component of the program is the Mulberry Research and Development, which has helped boost the production of heavy leaf-yielding mulberry trees. For pina fiber, there was a decline by 27.1% in production in 2016. From 7.95 metric tons in 2015, pina fiber production in 2016 was at 5.79 metric tons. In a bid to increase production of pineapple fiber, the Department of Agriculture (DA) through PhilFIDA has provided agricultural machineries to farmer cooperatives from different regions in the country that maintain large areas of pineapple plantation, especially in Mindanao. The machineries include multi-fiber decorticating machines with safety mechanism which are used to extract fibers from waste pineapples leaves left in the field after harvest; mechanical drier to dry the fibers during rainy season; and baling machine to prepare clean, inspected and graded pineapple fibers ready to be traded to intended buyers. To ensure the sustainability of the local textile industry, there is a need for convergence among the agencies of government involved-from the production of raw materials, to trainings and workshops, provision of equipment and materials, product development and promotion program, and a systematic marketing system. The PhilFIDA has programs for the development and adoption of technologies on the utilization of plant fibers and improvement of postharvest technologies on fiber extraction. It also establishes processing facilities and conducts product development. The PTRI provides technical training to weaving associations, particularly on basic and advanced handloom weaving, natural dyeing, provision of weave designs and response to technical services and short-term contract researches. It has also identified areas in the Philippines as natural dye production hubs and natural dye satellite centers to be able to respond to the immediate needs of the weaving communities. The DA can help in propagating pineapple and mulberry plantations to ensure steady supply of pina and silk fibers. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and its Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) can help promote these local fabrics through trade fairs to showcase our products both locally and abroad. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) can conduct skills training for weavers and embroiderers. Local government units must also support in creating a nurturing environment where the traditional textile industry can flourish. As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, which reviews the Philippine government's proposed national budget, I ensure that these programs are funded. The Hibla Travelling Exhibition is one way of showcasing these traditional textiles in the hope of further promoting the industry. The National Museum of the Philippines has always be a staunch partner in this endeavor. The two main agencies that support our weavers and textile industry-PhilFIDA and PTRI have budgets worth P358.457 million and P79.820 million, respectively. For 2018, which is still under review, PhilFIDA has a proposed budget of P431.490 million; while PTRI's proposed budget is P83.237. I will reassess these funds and see if there are areas that still need to be covered, such as support for the pineapple and mulberry farms. Over the years we have provided support for programs that will help farmers, weavers and local textile manufacturers through additional funding in the national budget-such as the development of silk at the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University in Bacnotan, La Union; establishment of weaving and processing centers through PhilFIDA; provision of technical assistance for the textile industry, the establishment of natural dye centers, and the conduct of natural dye and weaving seminars and workshops; production support services including cotton development and establishment of cotton processing center, among many others. Under the PTRI, there is a Textile Science and Technology Services Program for the testing of raw materials and allied products and the provision of technical assistance to the textile, garments, and allied industries on textile processing and machinery utilization; as well as a Textile Technology Transfer Program for the dissemination of textile information and provision of documentation of services to textile millers and allied industries. Under the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), we provide assistance to artisans, including weavers, through the provision of looms, threads, and other materials for weaving. Moreover, the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law, which I authored during my first term as senator, intends to promote Philippine natural fabrics through the use of such materials for the official uniforms of government officials and employees, and in the process, support the local fiber industry. It stipulates the wearing of Philippine Tropical Fabrics with 5% fiber content of abaca, banana, pineapple and 15% silk. The strengthening of the local tropical fabrics industry is attuned to our advocacy of promoting sustainable development and preserving our rich heritage. It will also provide jobs especially for those in the countryside. Furthermore, it unlocks the creativity of Filipinos, which is overflowing. The Philippine pina-seda textile has great potential in the world market. We can make it prized items even here in Europe as it has been in the past centuries because the quality of our handwoven fabrics with intricate embroidery is truly world-class. Through the Hibla Travelling Exhibition, we aim to do just that. In closing, I wish to borrow the words of Dr. Michael Tan, Chancellor of the University of the Philippines-Diliman, in his column today in the Philippine Daily Inquirer titled, Weaving a Nation: "We need to create spaces for an entire line of Filipino products: from textiles to the apparel itself and its accessories. It has to be a line that taps local materials and designs to give it added value for local as well as international markets. "Successful business models are about tapping into an existing demand, adding value and creating new niches in the market. Clothes are second skin and in developing a local textile and clothing industry, we weave a greater sense of being Filipino." Thank you.
The hundreds of new BART cars headed our way will be quieter, airier and roomier than their predecessors  but one thing they wont be able to do is hook up with the 669 older cars already in use.

When you try to connect the cars, the electronics are incompatible, said BART spokesman Jim Allison. BARTs rolling stock dates from the early 1970s to the mid-1990s, he said, and the technology has changed.

As a result, once the new cars come into service, BART will be running two types of trains for a while  the very old and the very new.

But we do plan to rotate the new trains on the different lines, Allison said.

BART plans to phase in its 775 new cars, costing $2 million apiece, and ease out most of the old ones over the next five years. All the old cars are supposed to be gone by 2024.

An additional 306 new cars also may come to BART, if voters approve a toll increase on state-owned bridges in the Bay Area to help pay for them.

BART hopes to put the first new trains into regular service by Thanksgiving. In the meantime, its testing one train of new cars  so you may see it rolling into your station.

It will be easy to spot. Its the clean one.

Burned: Despite the recent fire damage, property owners in Wine Country will still be on the hook for the full assessed value of the land that their homes and businesses stood on before the flames hit, says Napa Countys assessor.

That could easily be up to a third or half of the overall property value.

According to John Tuteur, Napa Countys assessor-recorder-county clerk, there is no provision in the state revenue and taxation code for treating land as damaged property when it comes to a fire calamity  even if that land is covered with charred rubble.

Land cannot be destroyed by fire, Tuteur said, though it can be destroyed by an earthquake or landslide.

Bill Rousseau, Sonoma Countys clerk-recorder-assessor, tells us he hopes to have corrected tax bills reflecting the fire damage to structures in the mail by December. Although residents will see a post-fire reduction for the losses to their homes and other buildings, he said, they will still have to pay the full value for the first three months of the fiscal year, when those structures were still standing.

The corrected bills also dont apply to homes and businesses that survived the fires  even if they are in areas where the blazes may have hurt property values.

Both Tuteur and Rousseau said the fires full effect on home values wont be known for a year or two, at which point residents could be eligible for a temporary adjustment until the market recovers.

We have to actually have market evidence that a home has dropped in value, Rousseau said.

In other words, a record of property prices going down.

Peter Fatooh, a property tax agent in San Francisco who makes a living filing assessment appeals, said Wine Country officials should brace for long lines of people demanding tax adjustments.

These are people still paying mortgages, and they arent going to take this sitting down, Fatooh said.

Differences aside: No one was more surprised at first lady Melania Trumps visit Monday to a No One Eats Alone lunch at a Michigan middle school than the programs Bay Area founders  Laura Talmus and her husband, top Democratic consultant Ace Smith.

No one contacted us about the appearance, Talmus said.

It was the first time a first lady had attended one of the programs.

Its pretty amazing, isnt it? Talmus said.

The No One Eats Alone lunch program is in 4,000 schools nationwide. It is also a centerpiece of Beyond Differences, the nonprofit set up by Talmus and Smith after the 2009 death of their daughter Lili, who was born with Apert syndrome.

The groups goal is to fight social isolation among adolescents.

The first lady wouldnt seem the likeliest ally of any effort run by Talmus or Smith. Both are close to Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Smith is a consultant at San Franciscos SCN Strategies  whose clients include Gov. Jerry Brown, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen. Kamala Harris.

Talmus, who is Beyond Differences executive director, said, We want to thank the first lady for embracing the program. We want to work with anyone who is serious about helping fight this health care crisis.

Then, in what could be seen as a veiled reference to the first ladys husband, Talmus added: Everybody needs to be treating each other with respect and acceptance.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross
A former San Francisco police officer, who said she was the victim of a harassment campaign by other officers, will receive $350,000 from the city in a lawsuit settlement that the Board of Supervisors approved Tuesday.

Linda Chen, 64, sued the Police Department and city controllers office in November 2014 in San Francisco Superior Court, claiming discrimination, harassment and retaliation that left her with emotional trauma and a permanent disability. She said police officials had repeatedly told her her allegations were being investigated, but that the city never did anything about them.

Chens lawsuit said the trouble started in March 2003 when someone cut the left brake line of her car while it was parked near the sheriffs office. Four police officers who investigated the incident found the suspected vandal was one of Chens co-workers but wouldnt tell her who it was, the suit says.

After that, Chen began putting trip hazards around her desk at the departments traffic station to protect herself, the suit says. She stopped going to morning lineups for fear of exposing herself to colleagues who wanted to harm her, according to her complaint.

She was repeatedly made to feel as if she was just being a fussy, overly concerned woman for reporting the harassment, discrimination and threats to her safety, and was encouraged time and time again to stop reporting her fears, the suit says.

One month after the brake-slashing incident, someone removed the lug nuts from the left front wheel of her car, according to the complaint. A month after that, the suit says, Chen found a bottle shoved onto her trailer hitch in a Police Department parking lot. In December 2003, the suit says, someone tampered with her desk, causing it to collapse.

Police investigators told Chen other officers were suspected of the harassment, but they wouldnt say who, the complaint said.

A decade later, in December 2013, Chen was working at Mission Station when a male officer grabbed her in a bear hug, poked her buttocks repeatedly and whispered in her ear, Tell me what I need to know, the suit says. The officer was never disciplined, according to the complaint.

Chen, who joined the Police Department in 1981, went on medical leave from December 2013 to September 2014, saying she suffered back pain and emotional distress. She said police officials trivialized her allegations and didnt give her a new job that would accommodate her disabilities when she returned to work.

Chen retired in March 2017.

City Attorney Dennis Herrera denied Chens allegations, but the city settled with her.

Given the costs and uncertainty of litigation, this settlement is a fair outcome for everyone involved, city attorneys spokesman John Cote said.

Police Department officials declined to comment on Chens allegations or the settlement.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @rachelswan
The young woman at the heart of a sprawling misconduct scandal involving multiple Bay Area law enforcement officers has dropped a lawsuit against Contra Costa County sheriffs officials, weeks after a criminal case against a former deputy she said sexually exploited her was dismissed.

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston dismissed the suit and ordered each party to bear its cost and fees, according to documents filed Monday in San Francisco federal court.

The 20-year-old woman, who prefers to go by the name Jasmine and previously used the pseudonym Celeste Guap, filed the civil suit in August against Contra Costa County, naming Sheriff David Livingston and former sheriffs Deputy Ricardo Perez as defendants.

The legal action alleged Perez engaged in a quid pro quo sexual relationship with Jasmine while she was underage. Livingston was accused of failing in his responsibility as sheriff to ensure Perez was versed in California laws on child abuse and child sex trafficking.

Perez, 29, resigned from the force in June 2016 as the depth of the scandal came to light. About three months after his resignation, he was charged with unlawful sexual intercourse and oral copulation with a minor, as well as engaging in lewd conduct in public.

But on Oct. 4, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Jon Rolefson tossed the criminal case, citing insufficient evidence that Perez knew Jasmine was a juvenile or that their contact occurred in a public venue.

Attorney John Burris, who represents Jasmine, said the civil suit was dropped in part because they didnt want to chase a rabbit hole after the criminal ruling.

We were motivated largely by the judges decision in the criminal case, Burris said Wednesday. There was an issue of proof.

The now-dismissed civil suit claimed Perez had sex with the girl multiple times when she was 17, and that she had told him she was underage.

In May, the city of Oakland awarded Jasmine $989,000 to settle a case against its police officers.

The Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office declined to comment Wednesday.

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.

Sheriff Livingston said in a statement after the lawsuit was filed in August that Perez was fully trained on his requirement to report suspected child abuse and certified so in training documents. He is now properly facing criminal charges and we will vigorously defend this lawsuit.

Perez was among six East Bay law enforcement officers charged by the Alameda County district attorneys office in connection with the scandal. The misconduct became public in 2015 after Oakland police Officer Brendan OBrien committed suicide and left a note detailing his and other officers relationship with Jasmine, the daughter of an Oakland police dispatcher.

Inadequate evidence led to three of the cases being dismissed or charges being dropped. Only one case awaits trial after two defendants, a former Livermore police officer and a former Oakland police sergeant, opted for plea bargains.

Jasmine still has an ongoing suit against the Richmond Police Department, naming Chief Allywn Brown, former Chief Chris Magnus, internal affairs supervisor Lt. Brian Dickerson and five officers as defendants.

Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @JennaJourno
With his role as gruff journalist Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and later on its spin-off Lou Grant, Ed Asner created one of televisions most indelible characters. Hes won more Emmys than any male actor  seven, with 17 nominations  and amassed 370 film and television credits.

But its Asners political work, his fascination with history and his long-standing commitment to social justice  a passion he believes led to the cancellation of Lou Grant in 1982  that motivated him to publish his first book at age 87.

The Grouchy Historian is an unabashedly biased, deeply researched book that refutes the right-wing argument that the framers of the U.S. Constitution favored small government, limited taxation and minimal regulation, and argues, contrary to statements by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and other Republicans, that God does not appear in the text of the Constitution. The books subtitle doesnt mince words: An Old-Time Lefty Defends Our Constitution Against Right-Wing Hypocrites and Nutjobs.

Asner, who turns 88 on Nov. 15, was in San Francisco last week to speak about The Grouchy Historian at the Jewish Community Center. He walks with a cane now, is hard of hearing and is given to occasional crotchety-old-man mutterings  not at all unlike Carl Fredricksen, the character he voiced in the Pixar film Up.

One senses that the curmudgeonly crust of Lou Grant accrued over time to Asner, and melded with his own innate character (or was it the other way around?).

I dread picking up the paper and finding out whats in it, Asner says in the green room of the Jewish Community Center before going onstage with his co-author Ed. Weinberger. Im not doing any (political) action. Ive been too busy with touring and the book. Ill have a birthday next month. And Im tired.

The Grouchy Historian came about when Weinberger wrote A Man and His Prostate, a one-man show that Asner played in New York in January 2016 and toured to several cities. The two hadnt seen each other much since The Mary Tyler Moore Show went off the air in 1977  Weinberger was a staff writer  but during their conversations, Weinberger says, We both noticed that the Republicans (running for president) couldnt help but bring up the Constitution  not only as if they owned it but as if they wrote it. And so we thought if they were wrong about everything else, they were probably wrong about that.

He did most of the grunt work, Asner says, nodding his head toward Weinberger. He was the primary writer, because hes the wordsmith. But we agreed about what we had to say. The sentiment, how it was placed. We came to a meeting of the violins.

Wed discuss a chapter, Weinberger says. Things he wanted in it, what I had found. Then rough drafts exchanged.

The book profiles all 55 of the framers who wrote the Constitution, but concentrates on George Washington, John Adams, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton.

I would say he reveres Washington more than I do, Asner adds. I agree with his sentiment on Madison, that he was an unsung hero, sort of. Im fascinated by Hamilton, and we certainly agree on Burr, whos a scurrilous mother.

Like Al Franken in his books, Asner and Weinberger use humor to deliver their message. They describe the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, for example, as one of the great minds of the 13th century and dismiss Cruzs autobiography A Time for Truth as a faith-based romance novel in which the hero falls in love with himself at an early age.

They characterize the 55 framers, who in 1787 wrote the 4,400-word Constitution during a four-month period in Philadelphia, as brilliant and contradictory. They were great, enlightened minds, without whom the principles of American democracy would not exist, but they were flawed and conflicted by financial self-interest: a small circle of capitalist elites ... not the saints living in the imagination of the Right Wing, acting out Gods will.

Although it was conceived before the 2016 presidential election, the rancor and divisiveness of the Trump administration, and the efforts of Trump to nullify the accomplishments of President Barack Obama, inevitably became the books undercurrent.

We had no idea that Trump would win when we wrote this, Weinberger says.

Trump didnt win, Asner counters.

Trump is mentioned, I think, five times in the book, Weinberger says. The book is not about Trump. And maybe it shouldve been.

Asner says he feels overwhelming dread and anxiety because of Trump.

I mean, I was down before. But its like we got swallowed by a black hole, and I dont know if we can reach the surface again. This country has become so riven by this president. Its chaos time. Trump is breaking the back of America.

Paul Kuroda/Special to The Chronicle

One of his purposes in writing the book, Asner says, is to say there is no man on a white horse coming. Its up to each and every one of us, in whatever way we can, to fight for progressivism or at least stabilize what weve got.

Asner says his activism and sense of social justice are rooted in childhood, in the Kansas City, Kan., home he shared with his Russian immigrant parents and four older siblings. Im a Jew. I grew up during Hitlers existence. Until the second grade we lived across the street from the Armour (meat) packing house, and the sight of blood and knives were not uncommon to my life. Heard the wails of the cows and sheep. I guess you could say I was scared sless most of the time.

As a Jewish kid surrounded by non-Jews, he says, You question everything. Youre on your toes. Youre watching out for the next blow or building up your defenses for the next blow.

The interview winds down as Asner is summoned by Jewish Community Center personnel to take his place onstage. He arises from his chair very slowly, refusing assistance, and in 10 minutes he and Weinberger take the stage before a half-capacity crowd. The audience gives Asner an exceptionally warm round of applause  theyre greeting Lou Grant, an old friend  and the actor brightens, rapidly cranking his hand to indicate that the applause needs to be bigger.

Now youre pooped! he tells the crowd. Oy!

Edward Guthmann is a Bay Area freelance writer and a former staff writer and film critic for The Chronicle.
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All it took to land a Palestinian construction worker in police custody for several hours on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack last week was a Facebook post  and a message mistranslated by a machine.

This incident, which garnered international attention Tuesday when Facebook publicly apologized for the mistaken translation, sums up why U.S. civil rights attorneys and Internet privacy groups are disturbed that the U.S. government has doubled down on efforts to gather data from social media accounts of all incoming immigrants.

Civil rights advocates say using machines to translate messages and interpret context or meaning in social media posts is rife with problems.

One mistake can result in wrongful denials of entry, arrests and worse, immigration lawyers said, while retaining sensitive information on peoples social media habits may endanger immigrants in their home countries and threaten the free expression of non-U.S. citizens and citizens alike.

Lets say someone is applying for a visa from a country with minimal human rights. Theyre not going to want to use their real name in their online speech or activism, said Christina Sinha, staff attorney and program manager of the national security and civil rights program at the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco. The government is forcing people to link their anonymous online identities to traceable, shareable information that puts people and their families at risk for no real reason. Theres no evidence that collecting and holding onto this information makes any of us any safer.

The Department of Homeland Security last week issued a notice in the Federal Register that confirmed the federal government has been collecting social media handles, aliases, associated identifiable information and search results on immigrants  including permanent U.S. residents and naturalized citizens  since 2012, a program that was expanded in 2015.

A new federal rule that took effect last week may lead to an increase in both scope and frequency of this data collection, lawyers said. It also revealed for the first time that the government intends to store that information indefinitely.

Its the latest move in an ongoing push to monitor peoples online activity in the name of national security. Several civil rights and Internet advocacy organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have decried the governments use and storage of peoples digital data.

Homeland Security and Trump administration officials have defended the efforts as a means of preventing terrorism.

DHS, in its law-enforcement and immigration-process capacity, has and continues to monitor publicly available social media to protect the homeland, department spokeswoman Joanne Talbot said in a statement.

But several experts and federal officials remain unconvinced that this kind of monitoring makes the U.S. any safer.

The DHS inspector general published a report in February that said the effectiveness of these social-media screening programs remains unclear at best.

Part of that, the report said, is that federal agencies havent specified what theyre looking for.

Though most peoples social media accounts are filled with seemingly inconsequential updates about daily life, en masse, civil rights advocates said, that information can be used to create detailed maps of where people travel, who they know, what organizations they follow and more.

A lot of people think there cant be any real privacy interest in this information if its already online, but that way of thinking misses a lot of what is actually happening here, said Hugh Handeyside, a senior staff attorney with the ACLUs national security team. When we post something on our Twitter or our Facebook feeds, we might expect that people will see it, but we dont expect law enforcement agencies will basically create digital dossiers about us that can be incredibly revealing.

It may, civil rights attorneys worry, even lead to a situation like the one that transpired in Israel last week.

The construction worker, who has not been identified in media reports from Israel, posted a photo of himself leaning nonchalantly against a bulldozer near the West Bank settlement of Beitar Illit, near Jerusalem. In his left hand, he balanced a cup of coffee and a lit cigarette. Underneath the photo were Arabic words that roughly translate to good morning.

But a Facebook algorithm used to translate one language to another converted the words to something very different. In Hebrew, the algorithm translated the message to attack them. In English, hurt them.

Israeli police officers arrested and detained the man for several hours after his post, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

They asked him about the bulldozer. Was he planning to use it in an attack? Did he want to hurt people?

At no point before the mans arrest did Israeli authorities consult with an officer fluent in Arabic, according to local reports.

Thats a prime example of what happens when law enforcement over-relies on machines  even a simple good morning got a man landed in custody, Sinha said. Even if someone is later found to be innocent, as the man was in this case, that doesnt mean that their name is scrubbed out of the system. The United States shares information with so many countries ... having a detention on your record could lead to other nightmares if the person travels to other countries that receive their information from the U.S. government.

The list of entities with which the federal government has reserved the right to share social media information is a long one: state governments, local law enforcement agencies, tribal governments, foreign governments, employers, private companies and more.

Asking for pseudonyms and social media handles that may be used anonymously, lawyers said, could impact the ability of individuals to speak out against oppressive government regimes or engage in online activity that could put them, or their families, in danger.

Marissa Lang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mlang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Marissa_Jae
California regulators auditing Pacific Gas and Electric Co.s work in the field cited the company for late repairs and maintenance jobs far more frequently than any other electric utility in the state, according to documents made public in the wake of this months deadly Wine Country fires.

But the utility, whose upkeep of its power lines and other equipment has come under intense scrutiny since the fires began, says the high numbers of late repairs reflect its effort to tackle a backlog of maintenance work  not an ongoing safety problem.

In a series of audits conducted from 2013 through this year, safety experts with the California Public Utilities Commission examined PG&Es maintenance of its electricity distribution network  its power poles, overhead lines and underground vaults  in nine administrative districts covering the Bay Area. Each audit typically examined the previous five years of PG&Es operations in that district.

The most recent audit of PG&Es work in Sonoma County, conducted in 2015, found 3,527 maintenance and repair jobs that had been finished past their scheduled due dates. A 2013 audit of PG&Es North Bay division, which includes Marin and Napa counties, counted 9,520 repair or maintenance orders finished late and 3,270 still overdue.

The commission, whose auditing division is currently severely understaffed, counted more than 1,000 late repair or maintenance jobs in six of PG&Es nine Bay Area districts.

No other California utility, or utility division, was found to have more than 1,000 late corrective actions in audits the commission performed from 2013 through this year. Only the Sacramento Municipal Utility District came close, with 993 late repair or maintenance jobs cited in an audit this year.

While PG&E is by far the largest of Californias electric utilities, covering roughly two-thirds of the state, other utilities have districts every bit as populous as PG&Es Bay Area districts.

While it may seem paradoxical, PG&E spokesman Keith Stephens said, the higher late-repair numbers were the result of a decision by the company, years ago, to do more maintenance and repair work, not less.

Starting in 2008 and 2009, around the time that regulators at the Public Utilities Commission were increasingly focused on maintenance work, the utility made a concerted effort to chip away at a backlog of safety-related upkeep and repair jobs in the field, Stephens said. PG&E conducted more such work than in the past and did not always finish it on schedule. But most of the tasks cited as overdue by the commission had been completed several years before the commissions auditors performed their reviews. In addition, some tasks had been canceled after the utility decided they werent necessary.

As we moved from more of a monitor only and fix when we can process, we were much more focused on getting work done, Stephens said.

The utility was not fined or otherwise penalized for the late work, he said. Representatives of the California Public Utilities Commission did not respond to a request for comment on whether the regulatory agency considers the late repairs a safety concern.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Investigators with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, are looking at the possibility that power poles downed by fierce winds or electrical lines tangling with tree branches could have sparked the fires.

Californias larger utility companies break their service territories into administrative districts  PG&E has 19  and the utilities commission tries to audit each district once every five years. That schedule does not always hold. The commissions Electric Safety and Reliability Branch, which conducts the audits, reported early this year that it was seriously shorthanded, with 10 open positions on a staff that should have numbered 27.

Auditors review maintenance records for each district, then conduct spot checks of equipment in the field. They look to see whether the companys employees are conducting routine equipment inspections as often as they should. They also flag specific problems encountered in the field, such as utility poles not marked with the proper high voltage signs or overgrown with vegetation.

The 2015 audit of PG&Es Sonoma operations, for example, included spot-check inspections of PG&E equipment in Cazadero, Guerneville, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sonoma and Windsor. Problems found include one instance of vegetation growing too close to a power line, one of vegetation obstructing the climbing space on a pole and several instances of improperly installed guy wires, which help hold a pole in place.

David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF
At a San Francisco Foundation luncheon last week, reports Jon Funabiki, foundation chief Fred Blackwell introduced the speaker, former Obama administration Attorney General Eric Holder, as general counsel to the resistance.

Holder told the audience that he is learning to tweet (@EricHolder) and is ready to joust with @realDonaldTrump, emailed Funabiki. Hes from Queens, said Holder. Im from Queens. Lets do it.

P.S. Tracy Bates was visiting family in Maine when his sister went channel-surfing, looking for a political talking heads show. Arent you mad enough already? her husband asked.

Whether youre reading this over a bowl of breakfast cereal or over a serving of eggs Benedict, youll wonder what that breakfast preference says about you when you ponder, What She Ate, the latest book from food historian Laura Shapiro. To be sure, the remarkable in the books subtitle, Six Remarkable Women & the Food That Tells Their Stories, doesnt always equate remarkable with wonderful.

The women studied are British authors Dorothy Wordsworth and Barbara Pym; Edwardian-era caterer Rosa Lewis; Eleanor Roosevelt; Eva Braun and Cosmo editor/sex maven Helen Gurley Brown. Apart from Lewis, her subjects did not live culinary lives, said Shapiro at a recent Hayes Street Grill lunch hosted by Patty Unterman. Shapiro said shed leave writing about beautiful ingredients, great cooking, the passion for food to other writers. I like the mistakes. People who go into the kitchen and start cooking ... and it doesnt go well. That said, Shapiros last book was a biography of Julia Child. In this one, her idea is to use food as a lens. ... What we eat reflects everything: race, gender, politics, economics, social and cultural factors. Its all in the food.

As to Eleanor Roosevelt, at lunch Shapiro said that she presided over the White House kitchen when it was producing the worst food in the history of the presidency. A lot of that had to do with the state of her marriage, Shapiro added. Roosevelt had been raised with cooks doing the cooking, and as a young married woman, her mother-in-law presided over the kitchen. After Roosevelt learned of her husbands philandering, she became interested in the study of home economics, which could package the traditional responsibilities of womanhood in a way that allowed her to achieve mastery, wrote Shapiro in the book.

But Roosevelt didnt enjoy being the gracious White House hostess. The sight of guests toying miserably with their Eggs Mexican  rice topped with bananas and fried eggs  had no effect, writes Shapiro, who quotes Roosevelts second memoir, This I Remember: It was almost as though I had erected someone outside myself who was the Presidents wife. I was lost ... that is the way I felt and worked until I left the White House.

At the Willits Public Library, where Lucie Faulknor was filming a mask giveaway last week, librarian Benjamin MacBean had put together a display of books relevant to current events: Fire: Friend or Foe; Curious George and the Firefighters; The Complete Firefighters Exam Preparation Book (for anyone inspired, Faulknor said); The Firefighters Workout Book; and Three-Alarm Jokes like this one: Why did the firefighter bring a ladder to the library? (S)he heard there were lots of stories there. If you werent already groaning as a result of the fires, that joke should do it.

Bertie Brouhard went to hear Krzysztof Urbanski conduct at Davies Hall on Thursday, Oct. 19, and then on Friday, Oct. 20, watched Houston Astro Justin Verlander pitch a playoff game. Reading Joshua Kosmans review of Urbanskis concert  His conducting combines a masterful precision of detail with a command of the broader expanse of even the most challenging repertoire  she thought the music critics description apt for the ballplayer, too.

The percussionist/DJ/actor/musical director Questlove, who DJed at the Midway on Friday night, was promoting his book, Something to Food About: Exploring Creativity With Innovative Chefs, around town earlier that day. In preparation for his visit to the company where he works, Alex Marmur thought about what he might want to ask Questlove. When it was Marmurs turn in the meet-and-greet line, he asked how it had been to share his birthday, Jan. 20, with presidential inaugurations. He responded that it was hardest in 2008, emailed Marmur, when it coincided with both Obamas first inauguration and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. He said his mothers attention was somewhere else.

Leah Garchik is open for business in San Francisco, (415) 777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @leahgarchik

Public Eavesdropping

Do you want to see a picture of Uncle Alvin when he was a girl?

Girl to girl, overheard at La Taqueria by Holly Cost
WASHINGTON  President Trump paid a rare visit to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to urge Republicans to pass a $1.5 trillion tax cut proposal by Christmas, as the party faces an array of unappetizing choices to pay for it.

Among the options: eliminate the deduction for state and local taxes that Californians and residents of other high-tax and predominantly Democratic jurisdictions rely on to hold down their tax bills.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., called the state and local tax deduction a huge thing for California, adding that the GOP plan is likely to add enormous sums to the federal deficit, which she said is enough reason to oppose it.

The purpose of Trumps visit to the weekly Tuesday lunch of Senate Republicans was to unify the party for a tough tax fight they believe is critical to their prospects of staying in power. Afterward, Republicans said the meeting was cordial, and the president was well-received.

Trumps visit was overshadowed by an escalation of tensions between him and Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who said the tax effort would go more smoothly if the president stayed on the sidelines. The comment, seen by many as an indication of widespread distrust among Republicans of the presidents ability to lead them through the thicket of political and policy trade-offs that their tax ambitions present, set off a series of insulting early-morning tweets by Trump, accusing Corker, a vital vote on any tax plan, of fighting tax cuts.

Corker, who announced last month that he would not seek re-election next year, responded on Twitter by calling Trump an utterly untruthful president, adding to reporters later that Trump is debasing the presidency. In another development Tuesday, Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, another key Republican and outspoken Trump critic, announced that he too would not seek re-election in 2018, citing the direction of the party under the president.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., dismissed the turmoil in his party, saying, If theres anything that unites Republicans, its tax reform.

To avoid a Democratic filibuster, Senate Republicans plan to pass their tax bill by requiring only a simple-majority vote, the same strategy they used in their unsuccessful attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Even with that, Republicans, who hold just a 52-48 edge over Democrats, can afford to lose only two votes on any legislation.

As of Tuesday, Republicans have no written tax legislation, but the House is expected to release a bill as early as next week. For now, Republicans are working from a framework that calls for slashing the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent and cutting individual income tax rates, along with reducing the seven individual income tax rates to three: 12, 25 and 35 percent.

The general plan, as currently known, would eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax, aimed at ensuring that high-income households pay federal taxes; repeal the estate tax that applies to estates over $5 million; and create a special 25 percent tax rate for pass-through corporations. Such corporations are often used by high-income individuals to shield their income from the higher 39.5 percent tax rate.

Democrats issued their own state-by-state analysis of the plan as it exists, based on tax proposals Republicans floated last year in the House. The analysis, produced by the liberal Institute on Taxation and Economic policy, shows that 6 million California households deduct state and local taxes, averaging $18,437.

Republicans have ruled out eliminating the popular deductions for mortgage interest and charitable giving, but the analysis warned that without the state and local tax deduction, millions of taxpayers would likely no longer itemize the mortgage interest and charitable deductions. Democrats said the mortgage interest deduction would be useless for any Californian with a home valued at less than $801,000.

The analysis also showed that the top 1 percent of Californians would receive 81.7 percent of the tax breaks offered under the GOP plan, with an average tax cut of $90,000.

The White House Council of Economic Advisers contends, however, that slashing the corporate tax rate will produce $4,000 in additional income to the average U.S. household by boosting business investment and worker productivity.

Carolyn Lochhead is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carolynlochhead
Seventy inmates at the county jail in Oakland refused to eat last week.

They went on a hunger strike to demand improvements to their living conditions. Their top demand: Ending 23-hour solitary confinement at the Glenn Dyer Detention Facility.

Inmates in Alameda County get isolated for violating jail rules, but single-cell confinement is also used to protect inmates who might be targeted by other inmates  and for inmates who are a threat to themselves.

The county jailers prefer administrative segregation to solitary confinement, a term that invokes images of dark, windowless and soundproof concrete cells, with a squat toilet thats nothing more than a crude hole cut into the floor. Thats not what isolation is like at Glenn Dyer.

Sgt. Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office told me the segregation units have windows, and inmates can talk and play cards and dominoes with each other through their cell doors. They also pass notes and food, Kelly said.

Still, the inmates are locked in their individual cells for 23 hours a day because each inmate gets an hour outside their cell. Because inmates cant be disturbed by law from 10 p.m.-5 a.m., there are only 17 hours a day to rotate inmates in and out of their cells.

The Glenn Dyer inmates want more time outside  and an end to indefinite isolation.

A lot of inmates are cloistered this way because they pose a violent risk to staff, according to Kelly. The rationale is that if the inmates were placed into the general population, assaults would go up.

The most dangerous and the most high-profile inmates  think celebrities, former cops and child molesters and rapists  are isolated.

By our policy and for officer safety and inmate safety, they cant have physical contact, Kelly said.

The grievance list for the Glenn Dyer hunger strikers included the end of insufficient and unsanitary clothing and the end of insufficient food.

Inmates at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, which has more than 2,000 inmates, had planned to join the protest over the weekend. And thats why county jail officials stepped in. Protocol requires daily monitoring of inmates who refuse to eat, no matter how many.

It was going to be taxing on us, because we wouldve had to individually monitor each striking person, Kelly said.

According to Kelly, officials negotiated with the strike leader, an isolated inmate at Glenn Dyer.

The inmates agreed to suspend the strike Friday night in exchange for the jail officials agreeing to review the policies.

We were worried about peoples health, Kelly said. We were worried about the long-term affects on some of the inmates that have special needs in regards to their health.

Some of the 70 inmates who claimed to be on hunger strike did refuse jail food, but they still ate snacks purchased at the jails commissary, Kelly told me. He said that the sheriffs office would look at policies to see if adjustments can be made to improve quality-of-life issues.

But the inmates shouldnt expect much to change.

I dont think youre going to see a lot of concessions by our jail, because I think our jail does what its supposed to do, and it does it right, he said.

I know what youre probably thinking: Why should you care about how jail inmates are treated? Some human rights organizations have argued that solitary confinement is torture because it deprives inmates of physical contact. And the psychological damage not only affects inmates, it also touches their families whose contact is significantly limited when their loved ones are in solitary cells.

Marlene Sanchez, associate director of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, an organization that advocates for young people affected by the criminal justice system, said solitary confinement is abusive and dehumanizing, and that prisoners still deserve to be treated with dignity.

All the research points to just how bad it is for peoples mental health who are already suffering, said Sanchez, who grew up visiting her father in prison. You dont get to do programs. Youre just in there.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr
Its time to turn political arm-twisting into plain law. The matter involves San Francisco city commission members who hold policymaking posts while running for political office on the side. Its an invitation to divided loyalties and deal-making trouble but violates no laws.

Until now, the matter was solved by a call from the mayors office, delivered in pleading or thundering terms depending on the top officeholders frame of mind, asking the commission member to step down. In some cases, the officeholder agreed and in other cases not.

Mayor Willie Brown, now a Chronicle columnist, made it plain he didnt like the practice and pushed wannabe politicos to quit their appointed perches. Subsequent mayors tried to do the same but with less success and enthusiasm. Under Mayor Ed Lee, there are five commission members in the City Hall constellation running for various posts including supervisor and City College board while at least one has bowed out in deference to the lightly observed rule.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin wants a standard put in place to cap the situation: Once an appointee on a city or regional panel pulls papers to run, he or she needs to leave City Hall, no matter the scale or prominence of the commission.

Its the right idea, though it may be too strict. Some commissions  police, planning or port, for example  come with vaster powers and financial stakes than other panels with less potential for trouble. Regulating the the scale of high-rises or mega-developments while running for office isnt the same as deciding on arts policies or working with veterans groups.

Peskin, a maverick progressive with a sharp eye for government abuse, should consider amending his idea to focus on key city commissions and regional panels, not every one of them. Moderating the political ambitions of city commission members makes sense in this case.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
President Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos intend to prioritize science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education by making available $200 million in grants and recommend that coding and computer science skills be taught in K-12 schools across the nation. Though the intention to improve K-12 education is admirable, doubling down on technology in Americas kindergarten classrooms is not the answer.

As a lifelong educator now running a school in Mill Valley within the orbit of Silicon Valley, and a parent who writes regularly about education, we have daily insight into what tomorrows leaders need in order to walk confidently into the future  and its not the development of skills like coding.

All across the country, experienced educators will tell you that putting more digital devices into the hands of young, impressionable children wont take them where we want them to go. Rather, it will leave students adrift in a sea of obsolescence.

A quick glimpse at a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which lists the fastest declining occupations for 2014 to 2024, demonstrates why pushing a narrow skill set  like computer coding  into our youngest grades is unwise. Over the past two decades, entire industries have been gutted by technological advances that were impossible to predict.

Instead of prioritizing technology first, we need to teach students how to think and adapt, how to communicate and ask questions. Childhood is a cherished, sacred time  one for sparking imagination.

Indeed, the purpose of K-12 education has expanded beyond offering just content and now entails equipping students with life skills. Elementary school is where the basic foundations of character are built, where self-control takes shape, and where students begin to perceive of themselves as part of a larger community.

Once this foundation has been established, abundant time remains for students to harness technologys incredible power  but wisely. After all, leadership without ethics is of little ultimate use to humanity.

Ivanka Trump also weighed in on the proposed initiative, stating that every unemployed, under-employed or discouraged American worker deserves a ladder to financial security and success. However, this starts with creating ethical human beings, not automatons. As educators, we arent merely preparing Americas workforce for the unknown future, were preparing students to live a meaningful life in their chosen vocation that allows them to thrive  and not just financially, but holistically.

And its not the technology thats the problem, its the timing. Accelerating technology into early childhood is contrary to a growing body of research and the opposite direction we should be taking as a nation. We seek to create active participants in our democracy, not a new generation glued to their screens.

Inundating young children with technology is thrusting them toward an early adulthood plagued with disconnection, anxiety and addiction. Increasing funding for STEM education (particularly for students who come from low-income households) is a step in the right direction, if done at the appropriate time. Our youngest children have different needs  like art, music and access to time in nature. We need to fund these efforts in our schools.

Teaching students coding at age 5 is treating young children, whose brains have not fully formed, as miniature adults. Their cognitive abilities are vastly different, often more elastic and fluid than adults, but without the full ability to reason effectively. In fact, a persons brain does not fully develop before age 21, when the prefrontal cortex can finally inhibit impulses and dictate social behavior.

The administration claims these grants, which are redirected funds from existing education initiatives, are not simply about learning to use computers, but the problem-solving skills that come with that. So, lets talk about problem-solving skills.

A childs ability to solve problems comes directly from creatively using materials and the flexible thinking linked to exploratory play and the arts. Children learn how to assess and address problems through the playful manipulation of their environment. Kindergarten-age children need to first experiment by solving problems happening in real life before they can begin thinking about virtual, imaginary problems to solve.

We would do well to remember what writers and philosophers for centuries have understood as integral to human development: Time spent in nature, the arts, music and relationship-based education ignites the fires of wonder, the root of all wisdom.

Of course, technology and computer science skills are important, but the great thinkers of the past didnt possess such narrow ways of thinking. Instead, they dared to create computer science. Its the same kind of original thinking our children will most benefit from  and it will only evolve if they first develop a holistic foundation.

Technology isnt the antidote  not for the bold risk- takers of tomorrow.

Shaheer Faltas runs the Greenwood School in Mill Valley. He has been honored by the California Assembly for pioneering cutting-edge approaches to digital media literacy and the U.S. Department of Education for leadership in environmental education. Kate Nicholson is a writer, researcher and mother of two young girls.
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The election is more than a year off, but the leading Democratic candidates for governor are already staking out differences on how to reform health care and are cautiously approaching an issue that has long been untouchable in California politics  Proposition 13.

State Treasurer John Chiang, former state schools chief Delaine Eastin, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa sought to introduce themselves Tuesday to voters who are barely tuned in to the race to succeed Gov. Jerry Brown. For 75 minutes, the four fielded questions on health care, education, housing, immigration and climate change at a Chronicle-sponsored forum at the City Club in San Francisco.

The sharpest differences were on health care. Newsom and Eastin favor a single-payer plan similar to one that cleared the state Senate this year before being shelved in the Assembly. Chiang and Villaraigosa said they support the concept of universal health care but were skeptical the state could afford a single-payer, Medicare-for-all-style system.

Of all the arguments against single-payer, the most specious is cost, said Newsom, referring to a 2016 UCLA study that said 71 percent of health care expenditures in California were already paid for with public funds. The study found that for many Californians, a public-run system is already the reality.

But Newsom would not say specifically that he backed SB562, the single-payer plan that stalled in the Legislature. Eastin said she supported it. In May, an analysis by the state Senate Appropriations Committee estimated that SB562 would come with a $400 billion-a-year price tag. Half of that could be funded by enacting a new 15 percent payroll tax, the analysis said, and half could be covered by existing federal, state and local spending on health care.

A second analysis, commissioned by the bills sponsor, the California Nurses Association, found that single-payer would cost $330 billion a year.

Villaraigosa said he supported a universal coverage plan two decades ago while serving in the Legislature, but couldnt get any support because the funding plan was shaky.

You cant sign something like that without a plan, Villaraigosa said. Im not running to be all things to all people. I know that pie in the sky doesnt put food on the table.

Chiang said he supports single-payer but that the plan the Legislature considered was very underdeveloped when it came to funding. Lets be smart about it, he said.

Eastin said critics made the same arguments more than 50 years ago when Congress debated creating Medicare.

Oh, its so expensive, Eastin said, mimicking arguments against the program then. And now, everybody loves it.

Now Playing: Californians will get an early look at where the four leading candidates for governor stand on the state's big issues. The session will be moderated by Chronicle Editorial Page Editor John Diaz.

On Prop. 13, Villaraigosa and Eastin said reforms are needed in the 1978 measure that capped property-tax increases for homes and businesses. Under the law, properties can be reassessed only when they change ownership. Because many commercial properties change hands infrequently, they are often assessed at decades-old rates.

Eastin, who served eight years as the states superintendent of public instruction, called for more regularly assessing commercial and industrial real-estate property values to raise more money for schools. Disneyland is paying what they paid in 1975, she said. Its time to review Prop. 13.

Villaraigosa said he didnt vote for Prop. 13 in 1978 and wasnt a big fan of it now. Weve got to fix Prop. 13, period, he said. Prop. 13 is broken.

After the debate, Villaraigosa said he wants to make sure all aspects of the landmark tax law are reviewed, not just commercial rates. Everything ought to be on the table, he said.

Neither Chiang nor Newsom mentioned Prop. 13 when asked about how the states tax system should be reformed.

The candidates also expressed differences on Californias high-speed-rail project, a favorite of Browns and a consistent target of Republicans.

All four agreed that money generated by Californias cap-and-trade program on polluters should help pay for the trains, but Eastin cautioned against diving headlong into the project until we have Cadillac (public) schools. Right now, its only going to be for the richest people in California to ride on.

Pressed on how long it could take before Californians see Cadillac schools, Eastin said that if the right moves were made, I think we could move the needle dramatically in five years.

Chiang again sounded a note of fiscal caution, saying high-speed rail needs another viable funding source to be successful. Chiang said he spoke to an unnamed potential American investor in the rail system Tuesday.

You have to have a funding stream and new investors, he said.

Although there are still more than seven months until the June primary, the candidates are already starting to take subtle shots at each other. Villaraigosa, in particular, targeted his fellow ex-mayor, Newsom.

Los Angeles is much poorer than San Francisco, where Newsom was mayor from 2004 to 2011, Villaraigosa said after the debate. Across the board, I think the challenges that I faced are more akin to the challenges the governor would face in a state thats way more diverse, in a state thats got way more poverty.

Newsom has a huge fundraising lead on the field and is also ahead in early polling. A Berkeley IGS Poll in September showed him with 26 percent of likely voters, compared with 10 percent for the runner-up Democrat, Villaraigosa. Republican businessman John Cox was second overall, with 11 percent.

The Chronicle is planning an event for GOP gubernatorial candidates similar to the Democratic debate. Tuesdays forum was live-streamed on The Chronicles Facebook page and will be archived there.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
No one was more surprised by first lady Melania Trumps visit Monday to a No One Eats Alone lunch at a Michigan middle school than the programs Bay Area founders  Laura Talmus and her husband, top Democratic consultant Ace Smith.

No one contacted us about the appearance, Talmus said.

It was the first time a first lady had attended one of the programs.

Its pretty amazing, isnt it? Talmus said.

The No One Eats Alone lunch program is in 4,000 schools nationwide. It is also a centerpiece of Beyond Differences, the nonprofit set up by Talmus and Smith after the 2009 death of their daughter Lili, who was born with Apert syndrome.

The groups goal is to fight social isolation among adolescents.

The first lady wouldnt seem the likeliest ally of any effort run by Talmus or Smith. Both are close to Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Smith is a consultant at San Franciscos SCN Strategies  whose clients include Gov. Jerry Brown, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen. Kamala Harris.

Talmus, who is Beyond Differences executive director, said, We want to thank the first lady for embracing the program. We want to work with anyone who is serious about helping fight this health care crisis.

Then, in what could be seen as a veiled reference to the first ladys husband, Talmus added: Everybody needs to be treating each other with respect and acceptance.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross
Standing in the bathroom in the predawn, I smelled smoke and remembered that the North Bay was on fire. I thought about what I was smelling, imagining the particulate matter floating in through the narrow window above the sink. The vaporized remnants of wood and plastic and rubber and textiles, trees and vines and brush, houses and apartments.

Outside of my house in Glen Park, a fine layer of ash had settled on the cars parked on the street. Filtered through the haze, the sunlight painted everything in a dreamlike palette, fainter and redder than usual. Yellow walls appeared peach. Blond hair carrot orange. It felt anxious and prophetic. In the afternoon, I had the distinct feeling that it was Christmas, or deep into winter, when the earth leans away from the sun as if to say, Give me a minute. I need a break.

Ive spent the two weeks since the North Bay fires began worrying about my in-laws house in Santa Rosa, friends in Sebastopol, friends parents in Petaluma, and the many people up there who grow and cook things in the industry that I love.

I wanted to write something this week about a restaurant in Santa Rosa as a kind of gesture of solidarity, however insufficient it may be. I thought I would write about Willis Wine Bar. I remember lingering on the patio there with my wife one night in our mid-20s, drinking three-glass flights and trying to seem like we knew what we were talking about.

The last time I was at Willis was less than a year ago, when my daughter was a couple of months old, squirmy and fussy. The waitstaff was generous and accommodating and didnt mind that we were getting up from the table every 30 seconds. Our waiter told me something I havent forgotten: He regretted not taking more videos of his daughter when she was a baby  just four or five minutes at a time of her playing. They had recorded all the big moments, but the unremarkable, quotidian details are the ones we tend to neglect and wish we could revisit later.

I always ordered dishes at Willis that I wouldnt mess with anywhere else: pancetta mac and cheese, Moroccan lamb chops, warm spinach salad, shot glasses of soup. Being in a roadside restaurant full of enthusiastic travelers giddy from a day spent tasting wine disarmed me of any misgivings I had about the menu being too eclectic or the dishes too basic. Whenever someone asked me where to eat near Sonoma, Id send them to Willis. Its the kind of place I wish were more common in Wine Country.

I figured I was due for another visit, so I looked to see if they were open or when they might reopen, assuming the fires werent forcing them to close for too long. I searched online and found that Willis had burned down.

A week before the fires started, my mind dwelled on Vieques, the small island to the east of the main island of Puerto Rico, where I had a memorable Thanksgiving dinner at a concrete dive in the jungle called Chez Shack and spent a phantasmagorical night swimming in a bioluminescent bay. For half of the 20th century, the Navy used Vieques as a bomb-testing site. In the wake of the destruction wrought by Hurricane Irma, weve mostly left it to fend for itself.

Before Irma came Harvey, which tried to drown Houston, a city that mesmerized me when I visited for the first time this year. I recall with fondness every dish I ate at Underbelly and Oxheart, and the best egg tarts Ive had in America at Eck Bakery. I tell people about the joyful service and smart cooking at Hugos, and the massive feeling of disappointment I experienced when I had to leave Texas before I could eat at every restaurant on Bellaire Boulevard.

I can recall images of the people Ive met and things Ive eaten in Mexico City and Las Vegas in the same high resolution. Im not claiming that I have any kind of exceptional connection to these places, or a greater grasp of the pain and turmoil that their residents have experienced in recent weeks. Like a lot of people, I am overwhelmed by the increasing frequency of tragedy. Theres no breathing room between gut punches, and there are few of us remaining who can watch these natural and man-made disasters without thinking of someone or some place we know being affected. I cop to the privilege and good fortune I have to be safe and sound. In fact, Ive spent my life shielded from the true cost of things I care about. Violence, climate change, health care, gun control, poverty and social inequality have always been matters that moved me without impacting me.

Putting a face to tragedy makes it all the more difficult to stomach. But it can also be a strategy for healing.

John Storey/Special to the Chronicle

An acquaintance of mine in the coffee industry comes from a coffee-growing country that endured one of the 20th centurys deadliest genocides. He tells me that he chose his line of work for a very specific reason: to alleviate poverty in places like the one he comes from. Not only economic poverty, but what he calls impoverishment of the human spirit and human soul. The root cause of the genocide, he says, was not ethnic or religious conflict. It was a pervasive lack of identity, of self-worth.

He says that coffee farmers who are accustomed to throwing their fruit into a big pile to be shipped off to a commodity roaster get very little money and no satisfaction from the transaction. But when value is placed on how and where a product is grown  and when measures are established to ensure that those facts are not misrepresented  the farmer gets more out of it, both in terms of money and self-regard. Im not sure whether hes right. I dont know if coffee drinker obsessiveness is quite so easily transferred to a sense of self. But I have to believe that caring about where something was grown is better than not caring.

This was on my mind the other night at Ordinaire, the wine bar in the Grand Lake neighborhood of Oakland. Wine is the quintessential product of place. It is almost always described in terms of where and how it grew: These vines are planted on an east-facing hillside that sees lots of sunlight in the morning and catches the breeze from the ocean at night. Ive never been able to latch onto these specifics. Who can remember which way the grapes faced, or how warm it was in a given year, or the weather in Jura relative to Burgundy? Ive always waited for the adjectives: juicy, bright, full-bodied, sticky, tart, flinty, like a cat box. (The last description was one I heard from a waiter at Gary Danko, maybe 15 years ago. I was sure that he was onto the fact that I had lied about being old enough to drink and that he was messing with me.)

But natural wine, which Ordinaire specializes in, feels especially connected to terroir. Whereas conventional wine is made by adding specific yeasts to convert the sugars in grape juice into alcohol and predictable flavor compounds, natural wine is fermented by microbes that live on the fruit, the equipment, and the people making the wine. Thus, how the wine turns out depends not only on terroir that we can see and feel, but microbial terroir as well. Natural winemakers also tend to be fond of uncommon approaches  varying degrees of skin-on fermentation, unusual varietals, intentional oxidation  leading to white wines that can be ripe and savory, reds that are almost effervescent. Its all pretty thrilling to me.

Id never been to Ordinaire before, but felt compelled by what Chronicle wine critic Esther Mobley has written about it. I ended up going twice in a week. It reminds me of my favorite places to drink in places where natural wine has more of a foothold: Ved Stranden in Copenhagen, La Buvette in Paris, Belles and Bar Liberty in Melbourne, Winestand Waltz in Tokyo. The first night, I BARTed to the East Bay with a colleague who has been bugging me recently to help her know more about wine. I understand the compulsion even if I disagree with the notion that I have anything to teach about wine. We can all feel out of our depth trying to correlate the names on a list or the art on a label to what the contents of the bottle will taste like. But we found the young, earnest staff at Ordinaire game to help us wade into natural wine without judgment. They told us about where the grapes were grown and by whom, what the landscape and climate are like and why it matters.

As we talked through a bottle of 2016 Caleb Leisure Sparkling Viognier  grapes from the Sierra Foothills, bottled in Glen Ellen, fermented with the skins on for a few hours, made fizzy the old-fashioned way without added sugar or yeast (petillant naturel)  I thought about the valleys and hillsides on fire in the North Bay and how many of them had been mentioned by people pouring wine to indifferent drinkers. I tried to focus. The details we neglect now are the ones we wish we could revisit later.

Chris Ying is a writer, editor and co-founder of Lucky Peach. Email: food@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @chrisyingz
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Katie Rubin describes her first meeting with Tiny as "love at first sight."

Rubin brought the chihuahua mix, with big black eyes and sand-colored fur, to her Oakland home as a foster pet in June. After two days with the shelter animal, Rubin adopted her, and the pair became inseparable.

"She is the light of my life," Rubin said of the one-year-old pup.

On days when Rubin had to work, as a professional actress and teacher around the Bay Area and Sacramento, she'd leave Tiny with a handful of daytime sitters whom she found on the dog-sitting website Rover.com.

Sometimes called the "Uber for dogs," the Seattle-based website connects pet owners with walkers, boarders and sitters in the area. Rover operates in thousands of U.S. cities and has a network of more than 140,000 sitters, the site claims. All sitters must pass a basic background check, complete a dog safety quiz and fill out a comprehensive profile to qualify. A company spokesperson told SFGATE that less than 20 percent of potential sitters are accepted, all of whom are hand-vetted by "sitter quality specialists."

Rubin had used Rover multiple times to find sitters, some of whom she had rejected after an initial meeting. When the actress met a 20-something mother of two on Rover, she remembered something seeming "a little off."

"But how bad could it be?" Rubin recalled thinking on the afternoons she'd left Tiny with the Sacramento sitter.

Then, one evening in early October, Rubin's worst nightmare came true. While driving to pick up Tiny, Rubin said she got a call from the sitter. Tiny, she said, was lost. The sitter said Tiny had run out the front door after it was mistakenly left open by her husband.

More than 20 days after Tiny bolted, the chihuahua remains missing. Rubin said her month of searching has become "like a second job."

"For eight days after the incident I was manic, out of my mind," she said.

"I stayed in Sacramento and didn't come back to the Bay Area, where I live and work, to hand out flyers to every house within a 5-mile radius."

Rubin says she's "absolutely devastated."

For a website such as Rover, a lost dog can be devastating, too. Bad press plagues companies like Rover and Wag, a similar dog watching startup founded in 2014. Such companies are tasked with the difficult job of convincing people to leave their beloveds with strangers, and any hint of unrest can send ripples through their business models.

Despite a steady stream of investor funding, these companies have other troubles, too. Writes Olivia Zaleski of Bloomberg: "They're battling many of the same issues that have bedeviled other gig economy players: regulatory scrutiny, complaints about shoddy service provided by people they don't directly employ, high marketing costs and heavy losses."

Bloomberg said Rover has brought on three attorneys to combat "more than a dozen city and state regulators who claim its pet sitters operate as unlicensed kennels and are illegal."

Rover later disputed these figures when speaking with SFGATE, claiming the company has just two "active dialogues" regarding regulatory issues and only two lawyers, one of whom was hired two years ago.

But on a smaller scale, what happens when a dog is lost or injured?

After inquiring about Tiny's disappearance, Rover spokesperson Brandie Gonzalez told SFGATE: "Should an emergency arise, Rover has a dedicated Trust & Safety team that is available 24/7 to help owners and sitters resolve situations as quickly and safely as possible."

Gonzalez said all owners are covered by "premium insurance," and Rover's resources include "local sitters who help search, pet amber alerts, fliers and other materials." When a dog is lost or injured on a sitter's watch, Gonzalez said Rover suspends the account pending a full investigation, which may result in the sitter's removal from the platform.

When asked if the sitter watching Tiny remains suspended, Gonzalez declined to comment per Rover's privacy policies.

Rubin, who said Rover remained in daily contact with her in the 10 days following the incident, has found the company's response to be "so unhelpful it's mind-blowing."

"They would call me once a day and offer empathy, but that was it," she said.

According to Rubin, Rover posted on a series of lost dog websites about Tiny and sent a text message alert to local sitters. The company offered sitters $40 a day to participate in searching efforts, Rubin said, but only one sitter showed up to help for a few days. As for the woman who lost Tiny, Rubin said she halfheartedly assisted in search efforts after Rubin confronted her.

After complaining about Rover's lack of action, Rubin said the company offered her a check for a "one-time courtesy printing of 30 flyers." That number increased to 300 colored flyers after Rubin pressed further, and a $410 donation to a GoFundMe page Rubin created to cover search expenses.

Rubin says she has missed days of paid work and spent upwards of $2,000 to print flyers and hire a pet detective.

She remains in almost daily contact with Rover, whose terms of service stipulate that the company is not liable for "for damages associated with Pet Care Services (which may include bodily injury to, or death of, a pet)" nor the costs associated therein.

Companies fueled by the gig economy, like Uber and Airbnb, are often built upon a contract of mutual trust among strangers. The system may work for rideshares and housing rentals, but Rubin says it has faults when it comes to pet-sitting.

To her, Tiny is family, and Rover's response doesn't match the weight of her loss.

"I have empathy for everyone in this situation, even the woman who lost Tiny," Rubin said, explaining that many of her friends in creative professions use Rover for a flexible income on the side. "But I don't have empathy for Rover."

Read Michelle Robertsons latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.
First there was bitcoin, then bitcoin cash  and now theres bitcoin gold.

A new iteration of the cryptocurrency has been formed after some developers split the blockchain, the digitized ledger on which the bitcoin is based. Called bitcoin gold, the offshoot comes less than three months after bitcoin cash was created.

While independence from any central authority is part of bitcoins appeal, thats also made it more susceptible to such splits when there are differing visions among those involved with cryptocurrency. Bitcoin gold aside, bitcoin miners and developers have been embroiled in a debate lately over an upgrade of its protocol thats aimed at speeding up transactions. A lack of consensus is threatening yet another schism next month.

This is what will be required to make fair mining accessible to the general public once again, said Robert Khune, a strategist at the bitcoin gold project. A successful fork will prove that bitcoin always has the ability to escape from any potential abusive mining hardware manufacturers, who he blamed for unnecessary stalling this year.

As groups supporting different digital networks and related currencies jockey for dominance, some may be trying to undermine bitcoin golds efforts. The official website went down Tuesday as hackers sought to prevent users from accessing it in what are known as denial-of-service attacks. Bitcoin gold developers said on Twitter that the site is fielding 10 million requests per minute, and they are working with providers to halt the attackers.

Bitcoin dropped nearly 7 percent to $5,517. The cryptocurrency is still up more than 30 percent this month and about sixfold this year.

Bitcoins recent downturn has been driven by the traders anticipation of minor disarray in the wake of the upcoming hard forks, said Thomas Glucksmann, head of marketing at cryptocurrency exchange Gatecoin Ltd. in Hong Kong. The bitcoin exchange and wallet community has been divided over their decisions to support or reject the splits.

Bitcoin golds main innovation makes it easier for people without special hardware to mine the digital asset, according to its website. Instead of powerful machines used for bitcoin mining, users can mine bitcoin gold with standard gaming graphics cards, similar to the way mining is done with ethereum, the website says. After the split, bitcoin owners stand to receive one bitcoin gold for each bitcoin, assuming their wallets or exchanges support the new creation, it said.

Further splits may be imminent. One faction wants to increase bitcoins blocksize in order to shorten transaction times, while another is opposed. The first phase of this plan, called SegWit2x, was implemented in August and took some of the data off the main network.

Bitcoin gold faces hurdles for wider acceptance. Coinbase, one of the largest online cryptocurrency exchanges, has said it wont support bitcoin gold because of questions about its software.

Coinbase doesnt trade bitcoin cash, though it will let users withdraw it from their wallets starting in January, because bitcoin owners automatically received bitcoin cash after the first split.

Justina Lee is a Bloomberg writer. Email: jlee1489@bloomberg.net
Cisco and Google announced a partnership Wednesday that will allow companies to develop applications that can run on a firms own premises or through Google Cloud.

Some analysts said the partnership helps Google Cloud better compete with Microsoft, which already offers a hybrid cloud service. Last year, Google held a 4.1 percent market share in cloud-related infrastructure and platform services, compared to Microsofts 11.7 percent market share, according to research firm IDC.

Through its new partnership, Google Cloud could gain corporate clients that use Ciscos tools. Cisco also benefits because its customers can more seamlessly use services on premises and through Google Cloud.

We think this gives the customers the best of both worlds, Kip Compton, a Cisco vice president of the companys cloud platform and solutions group, said in an interview.

Google Cloud has been touted by its parent company Alphabet as a vital part of Googles business, even though much of Googles revenues still come through advertising. Alphabet does not break out exactly how much Google Cloud generates in sales. Instead, sales from Cloud services are lumped with other non-advertising revenue like app sales in its Google Play store and hardware like Internet-connected speaker Google Home. That category, called Google other revenues, generated about $10 billion in 2016, up from $7.2 billion a year earlier, Alphabet said.

Google still remains behind Microsoft and Amazon in the cloud business because it started later than its rivals, said Larry Carvalho, an IDC research manager. Many analysts believe Googles 2015 hiring of Diane Greene, a co-founder of cloud software company VMWare, indicates the companys commitment to building its cloud business.

Rob Enderle, principal analyst with advisory services firm Enderle Group, said the partnership with Cisco will give Google more street cred and maturity with business customers.

Cisco brings with them that they are truly an enterprise provider, Enderle said. They understand what large companies want and need.

More companies are interested in shifting their services to run on a hybrid cloud model, where apps can run on a firms premises and also through cloud service providers. More than 80 percent of medium and large businesses that use data centers and have more than 100 servers on their premises plan to use a hybrid cloud model in the next two years, according to a survey of North American companies by research firm IHS Markit.

For Cisco, it makes more business sense to partner with cloud service providers like Google, rather than try to directly compete with them, analysts said. Unlike cloud service providers such as Google or Amazon, Cisco lacks the scale to compete on price, and its hard to compete on innovation, said Cliff Grossner, a senior research director at IHS Markit.

He called the Google partnership a good move by Cisco and that keeps them in the market.

Nan Boden, head of global technology partners for Google Cloud, wrote in a blog post that developers will be able to create new applications in the cloud or on-premises consistently using the same tools, run-time and production environment.

The hybrid cloud service through the partnership will become available next year.

Wendy Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: wlee@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @thewendylee
A federal judge on Wednesday denied an attempt by California to force the Trump administration to pay billions of dollars to insurance companies to subsidize health plans for low-income Americans.

The payments, known as cost-sharing subsidies, were established under the Affordable Care Act to reimburse insurers for offering lower deductibles and co-payments for some consumers who buy health plans on the insurance exchange. The payments are one of two types of ACA subsidies that lower the cost of health care for millions of Americans; the other type helps consumers pay for insurance premiums.

The administration announced this month that it would stop making the cost-sharing payments, suggesting they are handouts to insurance companies. The next day, California and 17 other states sued the administration, arguing that its decision to end the payments was unlawful. As part of the lawsuit, the states sought an emergency temporary restraining order from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to force the administration to resume the payments as the case is being litigated, which may take months. This order was denied Wednesday, but the suit against the administration will continue.

Attorneys for the states failed to convince U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria that there would be immediate harm to consumers if the payments are not reinstated.

In a hearing Monday, Chhabria said that because California and dozens of other states had anticipated President Trumps decision to halt the payments, they took early action to shield consumers from having to absorb the sharp premium hikes that would have resulted from the federal government ending the subsidies. Trump had indicated several times since taking office in January that he thinks the cost-sharing subsidies should be discontinued.

It appears that because of the measures taken by the states in anticipation of a decision by the administration to terminate the payments, the large majority of people who purchase insurance on exchanges throughout the country will either benefit or be unharmed, Chhabria wrote in the ruling.

Covered California, for instance, structured the additional premium increases into one type of health plan sold on the exchange. But consumers who buy that plan, the silver tier, will not have to pay the additional increase themselves because they will receive a larger premium subsidy to offset the added cost. And consumers who buy the silver plan but earn too much to qualify for a premium subsidy will have the option of buying a plan off the exchange that has similar benefits. This option was negotiated by Covered California to protect consumers in case the cost-sharing subsidies were cut off.

It seems like California is actually doing a really good job of responding to the termination of these payments in a way that is not only avoiding harm for people, but is actually benefiting people, Chhabria said at the hearing.

The lead attorney for the California attorney generals office, Gregory Brown, argued unsuccessfully that cutting off the payments is causing chaos in the individual market at a critical time, right before open enrollment is scheduled to begin Nov. 1. Brown said insurers, spooked by the uncertainty, may stop selling on the exchange after 2018 and leave consumers with fewer health-plan choices.

Were not looking to give insurance companies a windfall, but were looking to give them stability, Brown said.

Insurers, however, have been locked in for 2018 for months because they must submit their proposed rates to regulators several months before open enrollment begins. In California, the most significant pullback by an insurer for 2018 is Anthem, which will only sell plans in three regions of the state, compared with the 19 regions it previously sold in.

Covered California officials estimate that the 11 insurers that sell plans through the exchange will lose a collective $188 million in 2017 as a result of the cost-sharing payments being discontinued. That figure represents nearly a third of the annual $750 million that Covered California insurers receive from the subsidies.

Nationally, the cost-sharing subsidies amount to roughly $7 billion a year. While the money goes to insurance companies, consumers also benefit because the subsidies allow insurers to offer lower deductibles, co-payments and other out-of-pocket costs for consumers. In California, 889,000 of the 1.3 million residents who buy plans on the exchange benefit from the subsidies.

The legality of the subsidies was challenged in a separate lawsuit filed by the Republican-led House of Representatives, which sued the Obama administration in 2014, arguing the payments were illegal because Congress did not formally approve the funding. A federal judge sided with the House, but the Obama administration appealed. The case was put on hold after Trump won the election and congressional Republicans attempted to repeal the Affordable Care Act through legislation.

A spokeswoman for California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said Wednesday that the states will continue pressing for a permanent resolution to the lawsuit that they hope will require the administration to resume the payments.

Chhabria wrote in the order that the case is likely to be decided by early 2018.

Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @Cat_Ho
After scientists at UCLA created a breakthrough treatment for prostate cancer, it generated more than half a billion dollars for the university.

But deals struck with drugmakers also obligated university officials to help pursue patent protection for the drug around the world. Consumer activists claim that UCLAs efforts are propping up the drugs high prices  which can top $130,000 a year for a cancer patient in the U.S.  and keeping poor patients in less-developed nations from getting cheaper versions.

The university holds the patent on the chemical compounds its researchers developed that were used to create enzalutamide, which is sold under the name Xtandi.

In 2005, UCLA licensed the drug to San Francisco biotech firm Medivation, which sells the drug in partnership with Astellas Pharma of Japan.

Sales of the drug have skyrocketed since it received Food and Drug Administration approval in 2012.

In 2015, the final year Medivation was a stand-alone company, it reported worldwide Xtandi sales of $1.9 billion, up 80 percent from the prior year, and $1.2 billion of those sales were in the U.S. market. The online industry journal FiercePharma estimates that global Xtandi sales could reach $4.78 billion by 2020.

The drugs potential was a major factor behind pharmaceutical giant Pfizer buying Medivation for $14 billion last year.

UCLA currently gets no money from sales of the drug. The university and others involved in the discovery sold their royalty rights in 2016 to a firm called Royalty Pharma for $1.14 billion.

Now UCLA and the companies are seeking a patent for the drug in India, sparking protests from two consumer groups, the Union for Affordable Cancer Treatment and Knowledge Ecology International.

India is home to a major generic-drug industry, and the groups believe that if UCLA and Xtandis makers drop their efforts to secure a patent there, it will pave the way for the manufacturing of cheaper, generic versions of the drug.

The groups say that the drug firms should not be allowed to sell Xtandi at excessive, unaffordable prices in India, because UCLA developed the drug using taxpayer funds through grants from the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Armys prostate cancer research program.

This is a drug invented on government grants that has generated billions in sales since entering the market, Manon Anne Ress, acting director of the Union for Affordable Cancer Treatment, said in a Sept. 20 letter to Dr. John Mazziotta, vice chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences.

But UCLA contends that the school  because it owns the intellectual property underlying the drug  is contractually obligated to help pursue patents overseas under its licensing agreement with Medivation.

UC regents are obligated to use their best efforts to keep the patents licensed to Medivation from lapsing, Mazziotta said in a Sept. 7 letter to the consumer groups.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men after skin cancer, and there were about 3.3 million American men who were living with a prostate cancer diagnosis as of Jan. 1, 2016, according to the most recent figures from the American Cancer Society.

A cancer patient typically takes four Xtandi pills a day, for a monthly cost of $11,463, according to the website GoodRx.

The activists last year asked the federal government to allow other companies to sell Xtandi at lower prices in the U.S. market, again arguing that UCLA scientists had used taxpayer-funded grants to discover the drug.

The government rejected the request and, with Xtandi sales protected, Medivation quickly became a takeover target. The sale to Pfizer followed a bidding war that more than doubled Medivations stock price.

James F. Peltz is a Los Angeles Times writer.
Sears will no longer sell Whirlpool-branded appliances, curtailing a business relationship that began more than 100 years ago.

Sears said that Whirlpools demands would have made it difficult to sell those name-brand appliances at a competitive price.

Sears faces stiff competition from stores like Home Depot, and from Amazon.com and other online retailers. Its been closing stores as competitors take a bigger slice of the territory it dominated for decades. In the United States, people buy most of their small appliances from Walmart, according to market research firm TraQline.

The change to the Sears-Whirlpool partnership is effective immediately and Sears is also pulling products from Whirlpool subsidiaries including Maytag, KitchenAid and Jenn-Air.

Sears said that it would sell off the remainder of its Whirlpool inventory. Its stores will now sell only its Kenmore products and other brands like LG, Samsung, GE, Frigidaire, Electrolux and Bosch.

Whirlpools CEO Marc Bitzer told investors Tuesday that the company could not reach terms that were acceptable to both parties. He said Whirlpool will continue to supply the Kenmore products it makes for Sears.

The relationship between the two companies reaches back to 1916, when Whirlpool began making wringer washers for Sears, Roebuck and Co., which operated exclusively through mail order. The company, now Sears Holdings Corp., also owns Kmart.
A consumer group wants California regulators to temporarily waive utility-account deposits for people hit by this months devastating wildfires, and prevent companies from cutting off service for late payments.

In a letter sent Tuesday to the California Public Utilities Commission, which oversees utility companies, The Utility Reform Network noted that more than 100,000 people at least temporarily were displaced by fires that swept through eight counties, with the North Bay suffering the worst damage. Those people will need to repair or rebuild their homes or find new places to live. Many probably will move several times in the coming year.
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As the Trump administration looks to curtail the ability of foreigners to live and work in the United States, many of the changes are happening through executive orders and policy memos, not legislation.

The latest shift affects holders of the H-1B visa favored by tech companies, as well as other work visas, who are seeking to extend their stays.

Under a new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services policy issued Monday, foreigners applying for a visa extension will no longer be given deference if their job descriptions havent significantly changed. This means that regardless of how long a foreigner has been in the country, immigration officers must review the application as if it were new.

It is the first significant policy change ordered by Lee Francis Cissna, who was sworn in as director of the immigration agency this month.

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Its significant that the change is being made retroactively to people already living in the country and not just to new visa applicants, said William Stock, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Extensions are common for H-1B visas, which are heavily used in Silicon Valley to employ foreigners with specialized skills for a three-year period. It is a common path for an H-1B holder to apply for extensions  in one- to three-year increments  until they receive permanent residency through a green card.

Previously, if a foreigners job description was unchanged, immigration officials would approve the extension under a 2004 rule that instructed them to defer to prior determinations of eligibility, except in extreme circumstances.

By eliminating deference to prior decisions, it opens the door (for officials) to say, Im changing the rule now, and you didnt comply with it two years ago when it wasnt a rule  but, tough, Stock said.

More than 250,000 H-1B holders filed for an extension in fiscal year 2016. That compares to about 213,000 in fiscal year 2015.

The immigration agency argued that deferring to previous decisions had the unintended consequence of officers not discovering material errors in prior adjudications, according to the memo. While adjudicators may, of course, reach the same conclusion as in a prior decision, they are not compelled to do so as a default starting point.

Immigration officials have already been cracking down on certain work visas by issuing an increased number of requests for evidence, in which an employer must provide additional proof that a foreigner is needed to fill a certain job.

Roy Beck, president of NumbersUSA, a group that advocates for less immigration, applauded the move as a way to open up more jobs for Americans.

Beck said that no matter how long a foreigner has been in the country doing a certain job, that worker does not have a right to it if an American has the same skill set.

We feel that every job should start out with the idea that this job belongs to an American, he said.

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani
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UPDATE: Whole Foods has corrected its statement to SFGATE. They do not have a lease for the City Center location.

Whole Foods has plans to open a new San Francisco location at Geary Boulevard and Masonic Avenue.

That is, unless another major retailer gets in the way.

Target may be trying to stop the grocery chain from moving into City Center in the Western Addition, according to Reuters, because it fears competition. As the mall's biggest tenant, Target can influence who else occupies the property.

PRICE CHECK: With Whole Foods cutting prices, is Trader Joe's still cheaper?

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Reuters reports that negotiations between Whole Foods and Target are ongoing, but Whole Foods may be forced to make concessions if it wants the new location.

Target may be threatened by Whole Foods' expansion into selling non-grocery items. After it was acquired by Amazon, the grocery store started to carry the Amazon Echo in stores.

COMING SOON: Whole Foods piloting 6-foot-long mac n' cheese bar, 100-pound cheese tower

Amazon also announced it would add lockers to select Whole Foods locations, allowing online shoppers to pick up their Amazon purchases while grocery shopping.

That new feature may have to be dropped from the planned Western Addition location in order for the deal to move forward.

Read Alix Martichoux's latest stories and send her news tips at amartichoux@sfchronicle.com.
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A 73-year-old Mendocino County man who defied a mandatory evacuation order from his home was arrested after shooting at firefighters who came onto his property to battle the massive Redwood Valley Fire, apparently mistaking them for intruders, authorities said Wednesday.

John Maxwell Heron was taken into custody when sheriffs deputies responded to a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection call about midnight on Oct. 14, reporting that shots had been fired at them. Heron in turn had dialed 911 to report intruders.

We have an RP (reporting party) on the phone calling ... advising hes the shooter and he had some intruders in his yard, a dispatcher told deputies, according to a public transmission of the 911 call listened to by The Chronicle. The reporting party was later identified as Heron, who authorities said fired a .38-caliber pistol.

The Cal Fire crew was fighting the 36,523-acre Redwood Valley Fire in the 10000 block of West Road in the town of Redwood Valley when they heard a man shouting at them from a home, followed by the sound of gunshots.

The crew, which had parked its fire engine on Herons property, quickly left and called law enforcement, according to a statement by Sgt. Mike Dygert of the Mendocino County Sheriffs Office.

Then, the shooter dialed 911.

The incident prompted sheriffs deputies and a host of law enforcement agencies from other counties to respond to Herons home.

When law enforcement officers arrived at the house, Heron resisted arrest, according to authorities.

At the time, Herons home was in a mandatory evacuation area but he had previously refused orders to leave, said Capt. Gregory Van Patten, a sheriffs office spokesman.

Heron was booked into the Mendocino County Jail on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm and resisting police officers, Dygert said. He was subsequently released on $15,000 bond.

The Redwood Valley Fire was one in a series of wildfires that broke out across Northern California starting Oct. 8, killing at least 42 people, burning more than 245,000 acres of land and prompting some 100,000 people to evacuate as thousands of homes were destroyed.

Eight people died in the Redwood Valley Fire, which leveled at least 545 structures in Mendocino County. Firefighters have surrounded nearly the entire fire with control lines to stop further spreading. Cal Fire estimated that the fire was 99 percent contained.

Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @JennaJourno
A Quebec court judge has withdrawn from a case after coming under fire for comments about the nature of consent and the weight of a victim of sexual assault.Jean-Paul Braun officially removed himself in a document signed Oct. 26. He did not provide a reason for the decision.Judge Lori Weitzman will take over the case and will hear sentencing arguments Dec. 14.Braun faced criticism  including from the province's justice minister  for comments made while overseeing the trial of a taxi driver accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old passenger.In May, Braun found taxi driver Carlo Figaro guilty of sexually assaulting the teen in 2015.During the trial, Braun commented on the victim's appearance, saying she was "a bit overweight, but she has a pretty face."Braun also highlighted the girl's strict religious upbringing and suggested she enjoyed getting the attention from a man who "looks good" and that she had even flirted with him.Rivard said the girl was simply being polite and that even if she had been flirting, it didn't mean that constituted consent.
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Editor's note: SFGATE explores how people's lives change after leaving the Bay Area, for better or for worse, in our "Grass is greener" series. Today we're focusing on those who have relocated to the South.

The call of the South pulled them from the Bay Area at different points in their lives and for different reasons.

Tom Kerekes moved to Atlanta from an affluent East Bay suburb with his parents, just as he was starting high school.

Catherine Devlin left for Irving, Texas, upon graduating from UC Berkeley. After 22 years in the Bay Area, she wanted to see the world outside Northern California.

East Bay native Molly McTarnaghan, moved to Charleston, S.C., to study. After graduating, she stayed.

Then theres Allison Walker. She left the Bay Area, just over two months ago, after 17 years in Hayward. She moved to Mansfield, Texas for a job.

In a time when U.S. politics are undeniably partisan and polarizing, one must acknowledge the elephant (or should we say donkey?) in the room: Why would someone move from the liberal Bay Area to the conservative South?

Well, for one, a massive change of pace.

I always wanted to try a new city after school, said Devlin, who graduated from UC Berkeley in 2014. She assumed that new city would be Seattle, just a short flight up the coast from the Bay Area. But when it came time to choose a destination, reality sunk in, and so did the cost of living. She soon discovered that everything is cheaper in Texas.

Everyone in California thought it was an insane idea, she said. But its amazing how much further money will take you in Dallas.

A one-bedroom apartment rents for about $1,000 a month in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, according to Rent Cafe data, compared to $2,914 for the same-sized apartment in Berkeley.

After three years in Irving, Devlin, who works in accounting and HR, says its no longer about the money. Theres just more community here, she said, citing the openness and genuine, authentic nature of her friends and co-workers, not to mention good ol Southern hospitality.

Walker found the same when she moved to Mansfield, just south of Fort Worth. She was shocked to see kids playing in the street until the street lamps turned off for the night, and even more surprised when neighbors came over to introduce themselves.

I used to bake extra sweet potato pies just to get to know my Hayward neighbors, she said. In Mansfield, Its like a TV commercial, everyones all, Welcome to the neighborhood!'

When McTarnaghan, who recently moved to Washington D.C., started school at the College of Charleston, she said her classmates were welcoming, but they were also presumptuous.

People expected me to be the typical Californian depicted on TV  blonde, surfer, super chill, she said. Many people I met had never been to California.

Of course the people you encounter, and their varied experiences, depend on where you go in the South. In a place like Atlanta, where Kerekes has lived for 10 years, transplants like himself abound.

Click through the slideshow above to read the stories of people who left the Bay Area for the South. See what they like better and what they miss about the Bay Area. Responses have been edited for clarity and length.

Kerekes, a pharmacy technician, describes his trendy Little Five Points neighborhood as a mini San Francisco.

Theres tons of cool music venues, lots of ethnic food, lots of different cultures, he said, with a slight southern twang that hints at his 10 years in Georgia.

The prejudice, says Kerekes, comes from both sides. Southerners think Westerners are one way, and Westerners think Southerners are one way, he said. Its all just stereotypes.

VIDEO: How much cheaper is the South? Comparing prices in Austin, Texas and SF

Some of the stereotypes, Devlin admits, hold true, especially outside of the bigger cities. Devlin says she looked forward to a formal work atmosphere, in which she could wear a pencil skirt every day, and she certainly found that in Texas  to a fault.

When I went to Berkeley, it was a bunch of mini Mark Zuckerbergs in jeans and hoodies, she said, explaining that most of her female colleagues in Texas wear lots of jewelry, a full face of makeup, perfect nail polish.

Now I miss wearing a hoodie and jeans, she said.

Formality permeates other facets of life in the South, Devlin said, including the packed pews during Sunday mass. She describes the formal atmosphere at services as bordering on pretentious.

The sheer fact that people go to church in Georgia, outside of Christmas and Easter, was a wake-up call for Kerekes. He says many of his friends are deeply religious, whereas back in the Bay Area, Christianity hardly has the sway that it does in the southern states.

Pew backs up Kerekes' findings. The research center estimates that 79 percent of Georgians are Christian, whereas only 63 percent of Californians identify as such. Georgians are more God-fearing, too: 74 percent claim to believe in God  a figure that's 20 percentage points lower in California.

Kerekes admits being skeptical to the church-going habits of his friends and their families, but you get used to it. Admittedly, Kerekes said, Bay Area households have their own unusual habits that incite skepticism in southerners.

It goes both ways, he says.

Embracing cultural distinctions was part of the delight of switching regions, said McTarnaghan, but the deep-set political differences between the South and West Coast were harder to swallow, especially in light of recent events, she said.

In the Bay Area, the liberal attitude of the general populace is reflected in the states political representation. After all, San Francisco was one of the first U.S. cities to legalize gay marriage, and some southern states continue to challenge it.

But not everyone in California is a far-left liberal. A chunk of the state  26 percent of California voters are registered as Republican  feel their values are not reflected in the legislation.

Paul Chabot built an entire real estate company around this notion. Chabot lived in Southern California for 43 years, and in that time, he acted as the state parole board commissioner and the president of Drug Free California, which opposed efforts to legalize marijuana in California. He also made a bid for Congress in 2016, but lost to the Democratic candidate.

The loss was a wakeup call for Chabot and his wife. After we lost, in a heavily Democratic district, we realized that we couldnt do any more here, he said. We cant help people who dont want to help themselves.

In his four decades in California, Chabot says he saw state crime levels skyrocket, schools go to the bottom percentile and many jobs leaving the state.

The couple decided to seek solace in a more like-minded community, and moved their family to a small community in north Texas, called McKinney. Chabot describes it like Orange County in the 1980s, with no graffiti, no gangs and kids playing in the streets.

It felt like a backdrop plucked from Universal Studios, he said.

In May, Chabot launched Conservative Move, a real estate company that relocates conservatives in deep blue states, like California, to red states. He claims more than 3,000 people have signed up for the service, which features a network of 100 Realtors across the country, and over 100 families have already been relocated, to states like Texas, Arizona and Idaho.

The company operates on the notion that conservatives in a deep blue state feel outnumbered with no representation, so why not go somewhere that you feel the policies represent who you are, Chabot asked. Thats a credo that sells itself.

Devlin, who grew up in a conservative family, found her Texan acquaintances to be surprisingly centrist.

My whole world as a kid was ultra-conservative, she said. Then I went to Berkeley and my whole world became ultra-liberal.

Moving here has been the most center-of-the-road, moderate environment Ive ever been in, she said.

Many people SFGATE interviewed for this story noted that they disagree with many of the beliefs and actions of their adopted state legislatures, but in their day-to-day life, theyre not swimming in a sea of staunch conservatives. Many stressed that living in an immediate community of like-minded people can ease the terrifying notion that they disagree with their state governments.

Kerekes says he has to go out of his way to find the stereotypical redneck conservative with a Confederate flag pasted in their window. Its not like that in the bigger cities, but drive a few miles into the rural South, and its a different story, he said.

Even then, If you go to some of the counties outside of Atlanta and you see a person with a Trump/Pence bumper sticker on their truck, you know theyre an a**hole, he said.

Walker, a senior strategic account manager for AT&T, says shes found people to be a lot more tolerant than one would think.

There are people with different opinions, of course, she said. And many will inform you of that.

Walker, who is black, described a particular incident at the county fair a few weeks ago, in which a man cut in front of her, and when she took offense, he proceeded to call her a racial epithet.

When asked if this would happen in the Bay Area, she didnt hesitate to say no. But then she took pause.

You know, I think racism is just as rampant in the Bay Area, she said. But its less obvious, less in-your-face.

Walker, who says she moved to the South for a job opportunity and cheaper cost of living, describes the differences between the two regions with a truck metaphor: In the South, the truck is coming at you full-speed, lights blaring and horn honking, she said. In the Bay Area, the truck sneaks up on you.

Either way, its going to hit you, she said. But Id rather know that its coming.

She recalled a particular moment with a lifelong friend when she realized they had fundamentally different political opinions.

My eyes were opened after Id built a decades-long relationship with them, she said. What are you supposed to do at that point?

Walker prefers the unabashed openness in the South to the Bay Areas sleeper waves that strike when youre least expecting it.

Racial equality, she says, is talked about all the time in the Bay Area, but I see it more in action in the South.

In the neighborhood I live in now, Im not the highest educated minority woman on the block, she said. Im pretty sure I was in Hayward.

So too, she says her office is full of minority women in senior positions. It wasnt like that at some companies she worked at in the Bay Area.

According to census data, the majority of Bay Area residents are white, accounting for 57.6 percent of the population, compared to 47.7 percent in Dallas-Fort Worth. While black people account for 6.2 percent of the Bay Area's residents, a figure that is nearly 10 percent higher in Dallas-Fort Worth, the Bay Area has higher populations of hispanic and Asian-identifying residents.

Having grown up in the Central Valley, Walker says she got used to being one of the only black people; it forced her to become more resilient. She learned that embracing her difference could make a difference in other peoples minds.

But thats a heavy burden for one person to carry, and she doesnt want her sons to be forced to act as the torchbearers of their race.

In Texas, its nice to not always have to be the bridge between the gap, she said.

Though only two months into her Texas sojourn, Walker isnt looking back longingly upon the West.

I have no intentions to return to the Bay, she said. Its the best move I ever made.
As Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Solano counties begin the healing process after the deadly wildfires that struck the region earlier this month, NASA has released a clear image of just how much land was lost to the flames.

"NASA's Terra satellite shows the growing fire scar on the landscape. In this ASTER image, acquired Oct. 21, 2017, vegetation is red, while burned areas appear dark gray," the space agency wrote in an online posting. "The image covers an area of 38 by 39 miles."
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All I See Is You, about a blind woman who regains her sight and subsequently views her marriage much differently, takes a promising concept and turns it into a fuzzy psychological thriller  with few thrills and even fewer psychological insights. Its a tedious and muddled exercise.

Director Marc Forster (Monsters Ball) has shown a lot of intelligence in his work over the years, and theres something to be said for trying to defy genre expectations. But he seems to have outsmarted himself here, sacrificing character development for abstract images of everything, even the toilet flushing.
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Following former group member Alice Glass' abuse allegations against Crystal Castles' co-founder Ethan Kath (real name Claudio Palmieri), a show featuring the band scheduled for the Warfield in San Francisco on October 26 has been canceled.

The venue's website shows the show as canceled, but concert promoter Goldenvoice has not released any formal statement. A Facebook event for the concert has been deleted and the show is no longer listed on Goldenvoice's website. The Observatory in Orange County and the Observatory in North Park, where Crystal Castles was scheduled to play on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, respectively, also appear to have canceled their scheduled concerts.
San Franciscos annual Ghost Ship Halloween party marks its 10th anniversary with a LoveBoat Halloween edition, departing from Pier 70 on Friday, Oct. 27.

A pair of 90s-era electronic dance music superstars  Fatboy Slim and Moby  will man the decks, along with some 70 other performers and artists rounding out the weekend festivities, including the Polish Ambassador, Soul Clap, Fort Knox Five, Mason Bates and more.
GRAMBLING, La.  Authorities were searching Wednesday for a suspect in a shooting that killed a Grambling State University student and his friend after an altercation on the Louisiana colleges campus.

Lincoln Parish Sheriff Mike Stone said the suspect and victims knew each other to some extent and stressed that the shooting wasnt random or an act of terrorism.

There are no indicators that this incident bears any resemblance to any of the random acts of violence or domestic terrorism that have been experienced around our country in recent weeks, Stone said in a statement.

The suspect remained at large hours after the shooting, but classes at the historically black college were held as usual.

The sheriffs office said the suspect was a black male but didnt immediately release a detailed description of him. Both shooting victims also were black, according to a spokesman for the sheriffs office.

University spokeswoman Kathy Spurlock identified the victims as Grambling senior Earl Andrews and Monquiarious Caldwell, both 23 and from Farmerville, La., about 30 miles from Grambling.

Andrews brother, Ledarius Heard, said in a telephone interview that Andrews and Caldwell were friends from high school and cousins by marriage.

Heard, 31, said his brother, who lived with him off campus in Ruston, was studying criminal justice and hoped to move to Texas after graduation to be closer to his 1-year-old son. His mother, Juanita Augman, said he wanted to be a parole officer.

Earl didnt bother nobody, Heard said.

The deadly shootings happened during the schools homecoming week. Heard said Andrews typically came home immediately after classes ended but had been on campus Tuesday night to hang out with friends during homecoming week. Heard said he didnt know of any conflicts between his brother and anyone else.

If he ever had any problems, he would let me know, he added.

Lincoln Parish Sheriffs spokesman Stephen Williams said detectives joined Grambling States campus police in investigating the double homicide after getting 911 calls starting at 12:04 a.m. Wednesday.

The university in northern Louisiana has an enrollment of nearly 5,000 students. The majority of the students are black, and about a third of them live on campus.

It was an altercation that started inside one of the dorm rooms and spilled out into the courtyard, Williams said. Were interviewing witnesses.

The university posted a message on Twitter that said offices would be open Wednesday with normal business hours and students were expected to attend classes as scheduled.

A Grambling State student was wounded last month in a separate shooting on the campus. Grambling spokesman Will Sutton told news outlets then that a student let another person into a dorm and there was a fight that ended with a student being shot in the left arm on Sept. 21.

No suspects have been named in that shooting.
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NEW ORLEANS  Fats Domino, the amiable rock n roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music while honoring the traditions of the Crescent City, has died. He was 89.

Mark Bone, chief investigator with the Jefferson Parish, La., coroners office, said Mr. Domino died of natural causes early Tuesday.

In appearance, he was no matinee idol. He stood 5-feet-5 and weighed more than 200 pounds, with a wide, boyish smile and a haircut as flat as an album cover. But Mr. Domino sold more than 110 million records, with hits including Blueberry Hill, Aint That a Shame  originally titled Aint It A Shame and other standards of rock n roll.

He was one of the first 10 honorees named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Rolling Stone Record Guide likened him to Benjamin Franklin, the beloved old man of a revolutionary movement.

Now Playing: Fats Domino plays piano and taps his foot, stopping for an interview about a goodwill trip to the Soviet Union, 1956. Video: Hearst Newsreel

Weve lowered the flag and were playing his music all day, said Greg Harris, CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Fats is the godfather of rock and roll, Harris said.

On behalf of the people of New Orleans, I am eternally grateful for his life and legacy, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said in a news release Wednesday morning. Fats Domino added to New Orleans standing in the world, and what people know and appreciate about New Orleans.

Mr. Dominos dynamic performance style and warm vocals drew crowds for five decades. One of his show-stopping stunts was playing the piano while standing, throwing his body against it with the beat of the music and bumping the grand piano across the stage.

His 1956 version of Blueberry Hill was selected for the Library of Congress National Recording Registry of historic sound recordings worthy of preservation.

Mr. Domino became a global star but stayed true to his hometown, where his fate was initially unknown after Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005. It turned out that he and his family were rescued by boat from his home, where he lost three pianos and dozens of gold and platinum records, along with other memorabilia.

Many wondered if he would ever return to the stage.

But in May 2007, he was back, performing at Tipitinas music club in New Orleans. Fans cheered  and some cried  as Domino played Im Walkin, Aint It a Shame, Shake, Rattle and Roll, Blueberry Hill and a host of other hits.

Mr. Domino moved to the New Orleans suburb of Harvey after the storm but often visited his publishing house, an extension of his old home in the Lower 9th Ward, inspiring many with his determination to stay in the city he loved.

Fats embodies everything good about New Orleans, his friend David Lind said in a 2008 interview. Hes warm, fun-loving, spiritual, creative and humble. You dont get more New Orleans than that.

Janet McConnaughey and Kevin McGill are Associated Press writers
1 GOP probe: House Republicans are opening investigations of the Obama administrations 2010 decision to approve the sale of American uranium mines to a Russian-backed company, lawmakers said Tuesday. Rep. Devin Nunes, a California Republican and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said at a news conference that his panel and the House Oversight Committee would jointly probe the deal, which President Trump has called the real Russia story. Nunes and other Trump supporters have raised the 7-year-old uranium deal while four congressional committees and Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III are looking into Russian interference in the 2016 election and whether Moscow had any direct links to the Trump campaign. Trump and his supporters frequently cite the 2010 purchase of Uranium One by Rosatom, a Russian-run company, as a counter to questions about Russian support for Trumps presidential bid.

2 Police shooting lawsuit: Court records show the estate of a man who was fatally shot in 2014 by an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper has settled a lawsuit out of federal court for $175,000. The Tulsa World reports Joshua Stand was shot by trooper Jerrod Martin after authorities received a call about a man walking in street with a weapon. The civil rights lawsuit filed in 2016 alleged that Martin used objectively unreasonable and excessive deadly force. It also alleged Stand had a closed pocketknife and posed no immediate threat of serious harm to anyone.
WASHINGTON  President Trumps four-month worldwide ban on refugees ended Tuesday, officials said, as his administration unveiled tougher new screening procedures.

Under an executive order Trump signed earlier this year, the United States had temporarily halted admissions for refugees from all countries, with some exceptions. Now, Trump is again allowing refugees to be processed for entry into the United States following the expiration of the 120-day worldwide ban on such admissions.

But refugees who want to come to the U.S. will be subject to additional screening.

Trump signed an executive order Tuesday directing relevant government agencies to resume refugee processing. The administration says more in-depth review is needed for refugees from 11 countries believed to pose a higher risk to national security. That review period will last 90 days.

Administration officials would not identify the 11 countries, but they say refugee cases from those nations will be judged on a case-by-case basis.

Refugees already face an extensive backlog and waiting periods that can take years. Any additional screening would likely extend the timeline.

Even with the ban lifted, refugee admissions are expected to be far lower than in recent years. Last month, Trump capped refugee admissions at 45,000 for the fiscal year that started Oct. 1, a cut of more than half from the 110,000 limit put in place the year earlier by President Barack Obama. And the actual number admitted this year could be far lower than Trumps 45,000 cap, which sets a maximum but not a minimum.

In a separate action Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a case about the refugee ban.
Theater students at Fremont High are set to have a busy week as they take to the stage to present their fall play, Arsenic and Old Lace, before heading out on Halloween night to collect food as part of the national Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat program.

Fremont High will present its fall play Arsenic and Old Lace on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. inside the recently renovated Nell McPherson Theater.

Arsenic and Old Lace is a farcical comedy that centers around Mortimer Brewster and his attempts to deal with various members of his maniacal, and even murderous, family members.

In the play, originally written by Joseph Kesselring in 1939, Mortimer has recently become engaged and goes to visit his sweet spinster aunts to announce the engagement.

While visiting, Mortimer learns that his dear old aunts have been poisoning lonely old men for years. When his brother Jonathan returns on the night the aunts are planning to bury their newest victim, Mortimer must rally to help his aunts and protect his fiance.

Its just a really fun, funny play, Drama Instructor Kate Jorgensen said. There are a lot of interesting characters.

Along with the two aunts who will be played by Merrill Mitchell and Sarah Qualsett, and Mortimer who will be played by Seth Cunningham, there are also Mortimers strange brothers.

One believes he is Teddy Roosevelt and the aunts tell him that the cellar is the Panama Canal so then he will dig locks in the canal and that is where they bury the gentlemen, Jorgensen said. He has another brother who is a bit of a psychopath and a murderer who has had plastic surgery so he is unrecognizable and he comes in and tries to kill Mortimer.

The two brothers in the play, Teddy and Jonathan, will be played by a pair of brothers in real life.

The two other brothers are actual real life brothers, Kameron and Noah Sorensen, Jorgensen said. So they get to be brothers both on and off the stage.

According to Jorgensen, several factors pushed back the start of rehearsals and forced the students into overdrive.

The auditorium renovations took longer than anticipated and I was out with back surgery for the first six weeks of school so we have only been rehearsing for four weeks and only had the stage for two weeks, she said. We put this together in a short amount of time and its still a high quality product. Im very proud of them and what they have been able to accomplish.

The cost of admission for Arsenic and Old Lace is $7, or $5 with a nonperishable food item which will lead into the Fremont International Thespian Society troupes Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat project on Halloween night.

This is the small part of it to kind of get us rolling, the big part is actually on Halloween, Jorgensen said.

On Halloween night, students and members of the Thespian Society will be going door-to-door, but instead of asking for candy, they will be collecting nonperishable food items that will be donated to Low Income Ministries.

What we do is everyone gets together, we dress up and wear little badges that say we are part of the International Thespian Society Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat event, Jorgensen said. We split up a map of Fremont and send them off in groups and I wait in the scene shop for kids to come back with boxes full of food and then they head out again until lights start turning off.

According to Jorgensen, last year the group collected 1,300 pounds of food for Low Income Ministry and the service project continues to be one of the students favorite activities.

I find it so unique and so refreshing, that this is a major service project and the kids just absolutely love doing it, she said. I think that speaks volumes about the kind of kids we have in our community, that one of their favorite things to do every year is to help give back.

Those interested in donating nonperishable food items to the drive can drop off food items in the front office of Fremont High School or email Jorgensen at kate.jorgensen@fpsmail.org to set up a pickup time on Halloween night.

This is the time of year when the need starts to really go up, because you have holidays starting to come up and it is getting colder, Jorgensen said. This is just a wonderful project and the kids thoroughly enjoy it, it is one of the highlights of the year for them.
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NEW YORK  Robert Guillaume, who rose from squalid beginnings in St. Louis slums to become a star in stage musicals and win Emmy Awards for his portrayal of the sharp-tongued butler in the TV sitcoms Soap and Benson, has died at age 89.

Mr. Guillaume died at home Tuesday in Los Angeles, according to his widow, Donna Brown Guillaume. He had been battling prostate cancer, she said.

Among Mr. Guillaumes achievements was playing Nathan Detroit in the first all-black version of Guys and Dolls, earning him a Tony nomination in 1977. He became the first African American to sing the title role of Phantom of the Opera, in a Los Angeles-based production, and was the voice of the shaman-slash-mandrill Rafiki in the film version of The Lion King.

Mr. Guillaume won a Grammy in 1995 when a read-aloud version of The Lion King, which he narrated, was cited for best spoken word album for children. He also served as narrator for the animated HBO series Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, which aired form 1995-2000.

While playing in Guys and Dolls, he was asked to test for the role of an acerbic butler of a governors mansion in Soap, a prime-time TV sitcom that satirized soap operas.

The minute I saw the script, I knew I had a live one, he recalled in 2001. Every role was written against type, especially Benson, who wasnt subservient to anyone. To me, Benson was the revenge for all those stereotyped guys who looked like Benson in the 40s and 50s (movies) and had to keep their mouths shut.

The character became so popular that ABC was persuaded to launch a spinoff, simply called Benson, which lasted from 1979 to 1986. In the series, the main character went from running the kitchen for a governor to becoming a political aide to eventually becoming lieutenant governor.

After suffering a stroke in 1999, Mr. Guillaume (pronounced with a hard g: gee-yome) resumed his career and traveled as a new spokesman for the American Stroke Association. He also made appearances for the American Heart Association.

In Guillaume: A Life, his 2002 autobiography, he laid bare his troubled life. He was born fatherless on Nov. 30, 1927, in St. Louis, one of four children. His mother named him Robert Peter Williams; when he became a performer he adopted Guillaume, a French version of William, believing the change would give him distinction.

Hillel Italie is an Associated Press writer.
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A woman who disappeared last year from her neighborhood near Redding and mysteriously turned up alive on the side of a freeway branded, bruised and in chains, had been texting with a man from Michigan before going missing and had male DNA on her clothing that was not her husbands, investigators said Wednesday.

For the first time in nearly six months, officials provided new details of the sensational kidnapping case of Sherri Papini, a 35-year-old mother who vanished while jogging but remarkably turned up alive three weeks later on Thanksgiving morning.

The FBI also released two sketches of Papinis alleged abductors as they work alongside the Shasta County Sheriffs Office in piecing together the bizarre case that has captured wide attention.

Well probably release better information at a later date once we have more information confirmed, said Sgt. Brian Jackson of the Shasta County Sheriffs Office. Our whole focus now is getting some suspects identified.

In interviews with detectives following her release, Papini described her abductors as two Latina women armed with a gun in a dark-colored sport utility vehicle. The FBIs sketches show two women with the lower halves of their faces obscured by handkerchiefs.

One woman was described as a young adult with dark curly hair, pierced ears and thin eyebrows. The other was described as an older adult with straight, graying black hair and thick eyebrows.

Papini disappeared while jogging in her neighborhood northeast of Redding on Nov. 2 after dropping off her children at day care. When she failed to pick up her children that day, her family members became worried. Their concerns grew when deputies found her phone abandoned a mile from her home.

While teams of volunteers fanned out in search of the woman, investigators discovered Papini had been texting with a male acquaintance from Michigan, and days prior to her disappearance, she texted him in an attempt to meet while he was in California, Jackson said Wednesday.

Detectives, though, went to Michigan to interview the unnamed man, and determined he was not involved in the disappearance.

Then around 4:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving, Papini  injured and disheveled  turned up on the side of Interstate 5 in Yolo County with a chain around her waist. She flagged down a passing trucker and was taken to Woodland Memorial Hospital, where detectives interviewed her several times and collected evidence.

Her husband, Keith Papini, described his wifes horrific injuries, including her emaciated body being covered in bruises, burns, rashes and chain markings. Her long blond hair had been cut off at her shoulders, and her back right shoulder had a mysterious branding mark.

Officials would not elaborate on the details of the burn.

Papini told detectives that she had fought one of her two abductors at some point while being held captive, slamming the younger womans head into a toilet, Jackson said. That woman later drove her to be dropped off on the side of the road, he said.

Sherri Papini continues to provide details as she can recall them, but has not been able to provide a complete detailed statement due to her poor recollection, Jackson said.

Crime-lab technicians with the state Department of Justice found two DNA profiles one from a man and one from a woman  on Papini, following her return. The mans DNA was not her husbands, Jackson said.

He would not disclose what type of DNA investigators found on Papini, but said it did not match any profiles in the FBIs national database.

Papini said she was not sexually assaulted during the kidnapping, and there was no evidence to suggest otherwise, officials said.

As details of the kidnapping emerged, and media attention intensified following Papinis return, skepticism on social media began to swell.

Keith Papini struck back at doubters, vigorously defending his wife in the days after her safe return.

Rumors, assumptions, lies and hate have been both exhausting and disgusting, Keith Papini wrote in a statement to ABCs Good Morning America in November. Those people should be ashamed of their malicious, subhuman behavior. We are not going to allow those people to take away our spirit, love or rejoice in our girl found alive and home where she belongs.

Investigators have received more than 600 tips from around the world and remain in contact with the Papinis. They have executed more than 20 search warrants and gave Keith Papini a polygraph test. They do not believe he was involved in his wifes disappearance.

Anyone with information about the case was asked to contact the FBI at (916) 746-7000. The FBI is offering $10,000 for information leading to the identification of the suspects.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky
While certainly not everybody looks back fondly on their time spent in school, many look back and have positive memories associated with some of the fun activities provided to them through their educational experience.

Many elementary schools, middle schools and high schools host special events throughout the course of the school year to give its faculty, students and families the chance to have a little fun outside of the classroom setting.

On Saturday, Cedar Bluffs Public Schools is hosting its annual Boo Bash event which will provide area residents a chance to partake in a spooky good time.

From 3-6 p.m., people are invited to attend the free Halloween-themed carnival being held inside of the Cedar Bluffs Fire Hall.

In addition, a small haunted house is being held inside of the Cedar Bluffs Auditorium, guidance counselor Janelle Stansberry said during a Tuesday interview with the Tribune.

The Boo Bash, intended for children pre-school through fifth-grade, is put on by approximately 40 eighth-grade through 12th-grade students involved with the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) program.

Its a group that promotes leadership activities, community service and developing important communication skills, Stansberry said.

Typically, anywhere from 200-300 attend Boo Bash, she said. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to enjoy an assortment of school carnival activities, which include: a variety of food opportunities, a bounce house, bowling game, a duck pond game and a lollipop tree, among others.

Boo Bash is always a great time for all in attendance, Stansberry said.

The kids always have a blast, and I think the parents appreciate that we have it indoors so they dont have to deal with the weather factor during this time of year, she said. And every year we try to do a few different things so that keeps it fun and exciting.

The students also enjoy seeing their hard work pay off in a fun way.

Fall break starts Friday, and a lot of students spend their day off donating their time to do something good and to give back to the community, she said.
The Fremont City Council filled the vacancy in Ward 1 by appointing Linda McClain as the newest member of the council at their meeting on Tuesday.

The vacancy was created after Ellen Janssen of Ward 1 resigned her seat on the council earlier this month, leaving her seat and unexpired term ending in 2020 open.

Following Janssens resignation, five registered voters from Ward 1 showed interest in the position and submitted resumes and qualifications to Mayor Scott Getzschman.

Typically in a process like this you have one or two that come forward, and in this case we had five, Getzschman said in a phone interview with the Tribune. They all supplied me with a resume and also a letter stating why they would like to serve as a city councilperson.

The candidates included Mark Grorud, Michael Peterson, Shawn Shanahan, Dawn Weigert, and McClain.

Getzschman then conducted interviews with four out of the five candidates, as Peterson was recently deployed to Puerto Rico so he was unavailable to take part in the interview process.

The interview process was very positive, Getzschman said. Everybody has different pros and cons and ideas for what they would like to see done for Fremont and the direction we would like to head, but at the end of the day everybody cares deeply about Fremont and its growth.

Following the interview process Getzschman recommended McClain for the position at the councils special meeting on Tuesday.

She has a strong business sense, and she has a human resource background as well, Getzschman said. Basically she loves Fremont and wants to see Fremont progress and move forward.

Getzschmans recommendation was received by the council, who unanimously voted to appoint McClain to the seat.

We are excited, truly excited about Linda taking over the vacant seat in Ward 1 and look forward to what she can add to the council, Getzschman said.

McClain has been involved in various community organizations and currently serves as the Secretary and Trustee on the Fremont Area Medical Center board. She also previously served on the Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity board and the Fremont United Way board.

McClain also was previously a member of the board of education at Christ the King Catholic Church in Omaha as well as the education task force for North Omahas Christian Urban educational Service/Sacred Heart School. She is also a friend of St. Patricks Catholic Church in Fremont.

Ive always been interested in public service. Actually my early career was working in city and county government in the quad cities in Illinois, McClain said following her appointment. Ive lived in Fremont now for almost fourteen years. I love Fremont. And it just felt like the right time to maybe step up and get a little bit more involved. So Im looking forward to serving, and Im very honored to have been appointed by the mayor.

McClains first meeting on the Fremont City Council will be on November 14th.
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Water samples from taps and drinking fountains at three San Francisco public schools contained elevated levels of lead, potentially exposing students to the toxic metal, district officials said Wednesday.

District officials immediately shut down the taps and this week notified parents at West Portal and Malcolm X elementary schools and San Francisco International High School that water samples from at least one faucet or fountain at each site were too high  or above the recommended federal threshold of 15 parts per billion.

Were letting people know as much information as quickly as possible, said Superintendent Vince Matthews, adding that the district is conducting additional tests at the three schools and providing bottled water.

The water flowing into the school is safe, officials say. The lead is in the plumbing  the fixtures and pipe solders  and leaches into the water.

Lead is a toxic metal, and exposure even in low levels can harm childrens health, possibly damaging the brain and nervous system, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ALSO EPA chemical review would exclude millions of tons of toxins

Yet the three San Francisco sites are among a growing list of schools across the state posting high levels of lead flowing out of faucets.

Prompted at least in part by the water crisis in Flint, Mich., where corrosion of pipes led to leaching of lead into the city water supply, California officials have pushed for testing, especially in schools.

A voluntary testing program launched in January prompted 1,600 schools across the state to request lead testing from their water providers. Of the 1,100 that received results as of early October, 35 posted high levels of lead, including schools in the Jefferson Elementary School District in San Mateo County and Foothills Adventist Elementary, a private school in Napa County as well as the California School for the Blind in Fremont, according to the State Water Resources Control Board.

San Francisco schools, with the citys water provider, the Public Utilities Commission, have tested 72 out of 124 sites so far, with just the three showing levels above the threshold.

The district on Wednesday released a list of the schools that were tested and that showed no elevated levels of lead. It also released a list of schools that will be tested. (Readers can go to the districts website to see the lists at tinyurl.com/y79th9dr)

Were interested in having these tests done as soon as possible, said San Francisco Deputy Superintendent Myong Leigh, adding he hopes few of the remaining schools will show high lead levels. If theres a fixture to replace, or pipe replacement or repair, that absolutely is going to be the No. 1 priority.

The state list, however, is likely to get a lot longer. A new state law signed by the governor this month requires all schools to test for lead in the water by mid-2019.

Whether the list of schools with high levels of lead will grow significantly remains to be seen, but statewide testing is key, said Jason Pfeifle, public health advocate for CalPIRG, a consumer advocate group.

The public should have this information about whether theres lead in drinking water, he said. Parents have a right to know about this.

After concerns were raised last school year about lead in the water at McClymonds High School, Oakland Unified officials started conducting lead tests if school officials requested it. The city found high levels of the toxic metal at seven of the 47 sites tested.

Oakland drew samples from all the drinking sources at the sites.

Were testing all drinking fountains, the fixtures in the kitchen, said Rebecca Littlejohn, Oakland Unified risk management officer. Were being very thorough.

The states voluntary program suggests sample tests of only five faucets or fountains at each site.

In Oakland, the district has also initiated the official testing process with the East Bay Municipal Utility District. It was unclear Wednesday if parents had been informed about the initial test results.

Parents who have received a letter about high levels of lead are understandably going to be concerned, said Anisha Patel, associate professor of pediatrics at Stanford University and an affiliate faculty member at UCSF as well as an expert on water use and safety in schools.

If this was my daughters school and there was lead in the water, my question to her would be, Were you drinking from that fountain? Patel said. In schools, we find students arent using fountains that much.

Its all about risk assessment, she said.

If your child is filling up water bottles from (an identified) drinking fountain, she said, maybe you talk to your pediatrician about it.

To reduce exposure to lead in water, experts recommend running the water to flush the system and remove any lead that has leached into water that sits in pipes overnight, for example, or replacing plumbing.

Especially in the morning, after the water has sat in the fountain overnight and had the chance to absorb lead if its there, they should let water flush through, said Charlotte Smith, faculty member for the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. Thats when we really see the problem  when the water has sat for an extended period of time.

Because lead is more likely to leach into hot water, experts advise using cold tap water in food preparation

Children can also be exposed to lead through paint and dust.

Yet over the past two decades, lead exposure in children has been dramatically reduced because of the phaseout of leaded gasoline and lead-based paint, as well as bans on lead in food containers and other consumer items.

In 2000, about 2 percent of children ages 1 to 5 had high levels of lead, down from 88 percent in 1980, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Still, there is no safe level of lead, experts say.

Lead is silent, so youre not going to get physical symptoms, Patel said. If parents are concerned they can talk to their physicians.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @jilltucker
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Union City police evacuated City Hall and the Police Department, which share the same building, after a disgruntled customer told municipal workers that he might have a bomb late this morning.

The threat was reported around 11:45 a.m. in the 34000 block of Alvarado-Niles Road, according to Sgt. Steve Mendez.
A senior North Korean official has issued a stern warning to the world that it should take "literally" his country's threat to test its to test a nuclear weapon above ground.

The official, Ri Yong Pil, told CNN in an exclusive interview in Pyongyang that the threat made by North Korea's foreign minister last month should not be dismissed. North Korea "has always brought its words into action," Ri said, visibly angry.

Speaking on a visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly last month, Ri Yong Ho, the foreign minister, raised the possibility that North Korea could test a powerful hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean. The threat came hours after US President Donald Trump threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea in a speech to the UN.

"The foreign minister is very well aware of the intentions of our supreme leader, so I think you should take his words literally," Ri told CNN in Pyongyang.

North Korea carried out the strongest of its six-ever nuclear tests in early September, claiming to have used a hydrogen bomb.

The UN responded to the test by imposing fresh sanctions on the rogue state.

North Korea's continued threats have put its neighbors in the Pacific on high alert. In September, Pyongyang flew a ballistic missile over Japan. When North Korea it carried out its sixth nuclear test, it claimed to have detonated a hydrogen bomb that could fit atop a ballistic missile.

And during the back-and-forth barbs with Washington, Pyongyang at one point said it would fire missiles into the waters off the US Pacific territory of Guam.

Ri also implied that diplomatic channels between the US and North Korea were nonexistent, despite US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reiterating over months that they are still open.

"The US is talking about a military option and even practicing military moves. They're pressuring us on all fronts with sanctions. If you think this will lead to diplomacy, you're deeply mistaken," Ri said.

Ri's remarks come after Trump on Sunday boasted that the US was "prepared for anything" when it came to the North Korea nuclear crisis.

"We'll see what happens. ... We are so prepared, like you wouldn't believe," he said in an interview with Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo.

"You would be shocked to see how totally prepared we are if we need to be," he added.

"Would it be nice not to do that? The answer is yes. Will that happen? Who knows, who knows, Maria."

President Trump will be in South Korea during his trip to Asia next month but will most likely forgo a visit to the heavily fortified border with between North Korea, a senior White House official told CNN.

CNN's Angela Dewan wrote from London. Tim Schwarz contributed to this report.
The Environmental Protection Agency is expanding security for administrator Scott Pruitt, bringing the number of people guarding him to 30 a level of around-the-clock security no other EPA chief has ever received.'We have at least four to five times the number of [death] threats against Mr. Pruitt than we had against [Obamas EPA chief Gina] McCarthy.' - CNN

Do you think its because Pruitt is such a devoted environmental advocate? Because he so valiantly supports more vigilant restrictions on factory pollutants, harsher crackdowns on toxic scofflaws, stricter rules against dangerous chemicals and therefore various corporate CEOs spanning various noxious industries  oil, coal, plastics, fertilizer, chemicals, flame retardants, asbestos, junk food, factory runoff, et. al.  are downright furious to the point of threatening Pruitt with a violent and ruthless end?

Do you think he's receiving all those death threats because hes enthusiastically supporting Obamas excellent Clean Water Rule, a landmark piece of regulation from 2015 which gave the E.P.A. jurisdiction to supervise (read: clean up and protect) the water supply for 117 million Americans, by expanding the agencys reach over small waterways (lakes, ponds, streams) across the country?

Or maybe its because of Pruitts astute intelligence, his savvy recognition of the dangerously changing climate and his refusal to kowtow to the dying coal industry, as he instead promotes clean energy and supports the vigorous funding of real scientific research for the benefit of all America?

It is, of course and if you can stop laughing long enough to hear it, none of those things, and very much exactly the opposite.

Behold, this banally evil, milquetoast, science-denying government administrator who now, due to an unprecedented, surprising-but-then-again-not-really number of death threats  the agency has already investigated 70 so far  demands a round-the-clock security detail, one totaling dozens of henchmen making six figures apiece and costing taxpayers more than $2 million a year, a ridiculous situation unheard of in the modern era. It is yours to ponder why.

As you do so, consider: The E.P.A., formerly a respected, powerful asset to the nations health, is currently being systematically gutted, disempowered and anti-scienced, under sneering orders of the most acidic president in modern history. Consider that Trump has promised to slash a staggering 30 percent of the E.P.A.s budget, even as the agency spends millions on guarding its ignoble leader against threats of death. Consider Pruitt withdrawing the Clean Power Plan, the landmark Obama law regulating greenhouse gasses. Consider how he furiously disallows note-taking in E.P.A. meetings.

Consider, furthermore, the weird news that the E.P.A. just spent $25,000 to build Pruitt a private, soundproof booth in his office, his own little fortress of solitude, triple locked and requiring multiple passcodes just to get anywhere near.

Do you imagine the box is because Pruitt wishes to keep classified his most revolutionary ideas about how best to serve America? How to keep our water clean, remove poison from the air and fund clean energy projects, lest his radical, uncompromising ideas infuriate capitalist overlords and cause excess discord among the dominant one percent?

You are silly. There is only one reason any Trump appointee needs a soundproof box installed in his office: To block out the screams of all the children, poor and elderly he is harming and even (eventually) killing, more or less directly, as he whispers dreamy deregulation porn into the withered, cauliflower ears of coal barons, oil magnates and leathery brothers Koch.

Shall we recall that Pruitt, prior to Trump appointing him, utterly despised the E.P.A.? That, as an energy lobbyist, he regularly sued the very agency he now oversees, the one assigned to promote environmental science, study the dire effects of climate change, keep toxins from your life and deflect the disastrous interests of the nations biggest polluters?

Shall we note that, under Pruitt, the E.P.A. just blocked three of its own scientists from speaking about climate change, the most urgent issue of our time, at a recent conference, because this administration cares as much for the health of the planet and your children as cancer cares for blood?

How about the news that the E.P.A. just shifted its stance on regulating toxic chemicals  making it more difficult to do so  largely because one of its most recent appointees, Nancy Beck, worked for the chemical industry, and because Pruitt is, himself, a shameless contaminant with the moral compass of a meth dealer? Or that the agency, under Pruitt/Trump, is retreating from reviewing millions of tons of toxins currently poisoning America?

Shall we sum up? Scott Pruitt, the pallid, oily anti-environment corporate shill beloved by the least palatable humans in the corporate world, is getting a lot of death threats, up to five times more than any E.P.A. head in history.

They are, perhaps, coming from scientists. They are, perhaps, coming from environmental advocates, or teachers, or peace activists, or lovers of life and humanity and nature, or distraught mothers, worried that Pruitts actions will, quite correctly, endanger the lives of their children. They are, most likely, coming from Mother Nature.

Wherever they are coming from, it does make a warped, dangerous sort of sense. Unless you belong to that literalist, desperately unloved sect of right-wing sycophants who sacrificed all your critical thinking skills at the altar of neo-Nazi, pro-Trump Breitbartism, you surely understand: this is no advocacy for violence. Only the smallest of minds and most unstable of souls would mis-read my words in such a way.

This is but a simple acknowledgement: when you send death threats to the world and all who live on her, the world will, quite naturally, send them right back.
Julie Munsayac/Susmaryosep & Co. with Bindlestiff Studio

Some San Franciscans might think of Day of the Dead celebrations as a Hispanic phenomenon, but All Souls Day is also important in Filipino culture, with a rich tradition of graveside storytelling that honors the dead.

Mumu, an immersive theatrical ritual by Susmaryosep & Co. with Bindlestiff Studio, seeks to tap into that heritage. (Mumu, which is pronounced mu-moh, means ghost in Tagalog.) Audiences move at their own pace about the space  Bindlestiff can accommodate just 40 at a time  interacting with characters from San Francisco in 1977. The largely nonverbal piece uses dance and some poetry to enter the world of a young Filipino immigrant, Bayani, played by Kyle Limin.
SACRAMENTO  California lawmakers will hold public hearings next month to address complaints that the Legislature has fostered a culture of pervasive sexual harassment and abuse, the Assembly announced Tuesday.

The hearings follow reports of widespread sexual harassment and, in some instances, sexual assault, in and around the Capitol. On Monday, the state Senate hired two outside investigators to look into the allegations and examine its own policies.

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood (Los Angeles County), Assemblyman Ken Cooley, D-Rancho Cordova (Sacramento County), and Assemblywoman Laura Friedman, D-Glendale (Los Angeles County) said in a statement Tuesday that the hearings are needed to change the climate that has allowed sexual harassment to fester.

Cooley is chair of the Assembly Rules Committee that oversees employee complaints, and Friedman is chair of the newly formed Assembly Rules Subcommittee on Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation Prevention and Response, which will conduct the hearings in November.

We must ensure that sexual harassment is dealt with expeditiously and that the seriousness of consequences match the violations committed, the statement said. These hearings will address the serious concerns that have been raised and will include a frank dialogue with the greater Capitol community. They will be open to the public and transparent so that we can air out institutional advancements that need to be made in a deliberate way.

More than 300 women who work in California politics signed a letter this month saying they have endured, or witnessed or worked with women who have experienced some form of dehumanizing behavior by men with power in our workplaces. Their grievances followed a recent movement among women in Hollywood identifying men who have been frequently accused of sexual assault and harassment, including the powerful film industry mogul Harvey Weinstein.

In Sacramento, the letter and accompanying website, We Said Enough, prompted many women to speak out about their experiences in and around the Capitol with sexual assault or harassment. The allegations include a lobbyist who said a male legislator trapped her in a bathroom and masturbated in front of her, and several women lawmakers reported being groped.

As we move forward, we must remember that the bottom line is harassers need to stop their abusive actions, the statement from Rendon, Cooley and Friedman said. The rest of us need to call out harassment and abuse by its name and stigmatize this behavior each and every single time we see it.

Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MelodyGutierrez
Sorry, writers: Wanderlust-afflicted journalists hoping to be considered for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to 52 destinations for the New York Times are extremely unlikely to be picked.

As New York Times Travel Editor Monica Drake told Refinery29 Wednesday morning, over 3,100 people have already applied to be the newspaper's newest reporter.
BEIJING  The ruling Communist Party on Tuesday formally lifted Xi Jinpings status to Chinas most powerful ruler in decades, setting the stage for the authoritarian leader to tighten his grip over the country while pursuing an increasingly muscular foreign policy and military expansion.

The move to insert Xis name and dogma into the partys constitution alongside the partys founders came at the close of a twice-a-decade congress that gathered the countrys ruling elite alongside rank-and-file party members. It not only places him in the first rank, with past leaders Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, but also effectively makes any act of opposing him tantamount to an attack on the party itself.

The Chinese people and nation have a great and bright future ahead, Xi told party delegates as the meeting came to a close after delegates approved the addition of Xis ideology of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era to the party charter.

The concept Xi has touted is seen as marking a break from the stage of economic reform ushered in by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s and continued under his successors Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao; Xi has spoken of China emerging into a new normal of slower, but higher quality economic growth. The placement of Xis thought among the partys leading guidelines also comes five years into his term  earlier than his predecessors.

In every sense, the Xi Jinping era has begun in earnest, said Zhang Lifan, an independent political commentator in Beijing. Only Maos name was enshrined in the party ideology while he was still alive. Were opening something that hasnt been broached before.

For centuries, Chinese emperors were accorded ritual names that signaled either they were successors in a dynastic line or the founders of an entirely new dynasty. What Xi accomplished this week was a modern equivalent of the latter, Zhang said.

He wants to join that pantheon of leaders, he said.

Despite being elevated to the status of both a political and theoretical authority in the party, Xi still lacks the broad popular support of the Chinese public that Mao had enjoyed, said Zhang Ming, a political analyst in Beijing who recently retired from a prestigious university.

This (elevation) is a result of the partys political system and not of the sincere support of the peoples hearts, Zhang Ming said. If he can achieve that, he would become Mao.

Christopher Bodeen is an Associated Press writer.
NEW DELHI  Combating terrorism and Indias role in war-torn Afghanistan dominated talks between Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and his Indian counterpart Wednesday as Tillerson highlighted the Trump administrations new strategy for South Asia.

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said that India had agreed to hold talks on Afghanistan with Washington and Kabul.

Tillerson, who arrived in New Delhi after stops in Kabul and Islamabad, said he conveyed to Pakistans leaders certain expectations that the Trump administration had about controlling terror groups that operate from its soil. He added that too many terror groups had found a safe place in Pakistan to launch attacks.

On Tuesday, Tillerson held talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Foreign Minister Khwaja Mohammad Asif and the heads of the army and intelligence services.

U.S. officials have long accused Pakistan of turning a blind eye or assisting the Afghan Taliban and the allied Haqqani network. New Delhi also has long blamed its neighbor and archrival of supporting terror groups that have launched attacks inside India, including a three-day attack in Indias business capital, Mumbai, in 2008 that left 166 people dead after 10 gunman rampaged through parts of the city.

India also blames Pakistan for aiding and training rebels who operate in the Himalayan region of Kashmir, which is divided between the two nations but claimed by both. Pakistan routinely denies colluding with militants.

President Trumps new strategy for the region can only be successful if Pakistan acts decisively against terror groups that operate from its territory, Swaraj said in her comments to reporters in New Delhi.

Tillerson added that the presence of such groups on Pakistani soil was also a threat to Pakistans own stability.

Tillerson and Swaraj also stressed the close relationship and shared values between the U.S. and India, the worlds two largest democracies. Both promised to work closely on matters of security and to enhance defense and economic cooperation.

Swaraj was also questioned about Indias relationship with North Korea, where India has an embassy and with which it does a small amount of trade. The United States is working to isolate North Korea over its nuclear weapons program.

Muneeza Naqvi and Alex Brandon are Associated Press writers.
EXCLUSIVE: Clinton campaign, DNC helped pay for research that led to Russia dossier https://t.co/BCrMH9KndR  Adam Entous (@adamentous) October 24, 2017

Not sure how this is an exclusive nor how oppo research is news. But certainly fits into the Russia Reversal, where heralds become traitors. https://t.co/hz7Syn1Am1  Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) October 25, 2017

And it is so obviously choreographed I warned people of it a week ago and gave a talk on it before it happened https://t.co/rpW9mrCfwZ  Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) October 25, 2017 Choreographed to the soundtrack of thousands of deplorables chanting LOCK HER UP.  Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) October 25, 2017

As I said, the right will brand Hillary Clinton a traitor in pursuit of a show trial. And here we go. pic.twitter.com/0GKRElK7t5  Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) October 25, 2017

Whoever in DOJ is capable w authority to appoint a special counsel shld do so to investigate Uranium One "whoever" means if u aren't recused  ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) October 25, 2017

This was blasted across the Twitterverse last night as a BIG BREAKING EXCLUSIVE!!!Except it wasn't exclusive and it wasn't even breaking. The information in the story has been known for more than a year.will be the title of the book I scrawl on the walls of the gulag.So that's from a member of the press. And this from a rightwing intellectual [sic]:And this from a sitting U.S. Senator:Let me as blunt about this as it's possible to be: Insisting that an authoritarian takeover can't happen here is not an effective response to evidence that an authoritarian takeover is happening here.
Apple, the world's biggest technology company, has bought New Zealand wireless power developer PowerbyProxi for an undisclosed sum.

The change in ownership was confirmed by an Apple spokesman in an email, but he refused to provide any details or the terms of the agreement. Fairfax Media reported Apple senior vice president of hardware engineer Dan Riccio said the "team will be a great addition as Apple works to create a wireless future". PowerbyProxi officials were not immediately available for comment.

Company's Office filings show Samsung Investment Corp, the global investment arm of the Samsung Group owns 9.6 percent of the company, which was spun out of the University of Auckland, paying US$4 million for its stake in 2013. PowerbyProxi director Michael Pachos, who is also on the SVIC board, declined to comment on the sale to Apple, but did congratulate the PowerbyProxi team on his Linkedin page saying "I am proud to have been an investor and board member of PowerbyProxi."

PowerbyProxi focuses on two key areas: consumer electronics and industrial applications. Its total portfolio consists of over 350 patents, patent applications and pending patents and it claims to "solve mission-critical problems in demanding, hostile industrial environments where the delivery of consistent power is imperative".

Its technology is used in things such as forestry and construction machinery aerospace and industrial sensors as well as wireless charging for mobile devices, something Apple has introduced with its latest glass-backed phones.

(BusinessDesk)

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Senior Labour Party MP David Parker has emerged as a linchpin in the new coalition Cabinet, taking the pivotal economic development, environment and trade portfolios that will connect him to key ministers in both the New Zealand First and Green parties.

Despite being formally ranked number 11 in the Cabinet announced today by Prime Minister-designate Jacinda Ardern, Parker has emerged as a key confidant of the new Labour leader since she took over from Andrew Little in August, and has a long and cordial relationship with the new Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Winston Peters.

By taking the environment portfolio, Parker will also end up working closely with the new Climate Change minister, Greens co-leader James Shaw, and his fellow Green minister outside of Cabinet Eugenie Sage, who will become Minister of Conservation and Land Information, the latter covering the Overseas Investment Office with responsibility for vetting foreign land and other investments. Parker, whose proposal for a levy on commercial water use did not survive the coalition negotiation process, is also Attorney-General and an associate minister of finance.

Ardern confirmed that both Parker and Peters will travel with her to the APEC leaders' summit in Vietnam early next month, her first on the international stage and where New Zealand's desire to renegotiate elements of the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement represent an early diplomatic challenge.

Parker will also end up working closely with NZ First newcomer and former Labour minister Shane Jones, who picks up ministries for Forestry, Regional Economic Development, and Infrastructure.

The coalition agreement announced yesterday included a commitment to spend up to $1 billion a year on regional development initiatives and a plan to plant one billion trees to underpin a new focus on the forestry sector, regional employment, and the creation of carbon 'sinks'.

Ardern's ministry carves responsibilities for the primary sector in agriculture, which goes to long-serving former Labour minister Damien O'Connor, while Stuart Nash becomes Minister of Fisheries, and Jones takes forestry.

She signalled that would require a splitting up of the Ministry for Primary Industries, which the previous National Party-led government had created from the old Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Fisheries.

While there has been speculation the new government might also seek to break up the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment, Ardern said that any plans for changes at the super-ministry had not yet been formulated.

Ardern herself takes a new position as Minister for Child Poverty Reduction, which will have its own unit established in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and will devise national indicators to measure progress in reducing current levels of deprivation among children, based on Ardern's own Private Members' Bill from the last Parliament.

As expected, Grant Robertson takes the Finance portfolio, with Parker, Jones and Shaw as associate ministers, while Phil Twyford takes the newly reinstated Housing portfolio, which is combined with Urban Development, with Labour's Jenny Salesa taking the Building and Construction portfolio. Twyford also becomes Minister of Transport, with his responsibilities making him responsible for two of Labour's flagship policy areas: a massive affordable housing construction push and investment in light rail in Auckland.

Leading the new government's policies to strengthen unions' bargaining power and its intention to shrink total migration numbers will be Iain Lees-Galloway, who becomes Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety, along with holding the Immigration portfolio.

Education goes to long-time spokesman in the area, Chris Hipkins, who will also be Leader of the House, assisted by Willie Jackson, who will be a minister outside Cabinet serving as Minister of Employment, which includes the tertiary education, skills and employment portfolios.

David Clark becomes Minister of Health, while Carmel Sepuloni picks up Social Development, where Ardern said she would be undertaking a review of the previous government's "social investment approach" to ensure that it was delivering the improvements claimed for it and was consistent with Labour's "beliefs and values".

Maori affairs are split between three Ministers, with Kelvin Davis taking a new portfolio of Minister of Maori/Crown relations, intended to move policy-making into a post-Treaty settlement mode, while Nanaia Mahuta becomes Minister for Maori Development and Andrew Little becomes Minister for Treaty Negotiations.

The former party leader also becomes Minister of Justice, for Courts, and takes responsibility for the government's intelligence agencies, although Ardern retains the Minister for National Security and Intelligence portfolio routinely held by Prime Ministers. She will also take the Arts and Culture portfolio, emulating her former boss and Prime Minister Helen Clark, who leveraged the portfolio to strong political effect.

Davis takes another glamour portfolio by becoming Minister of Tourism, while Robertson leavens the dry business of economic management by also becoming Minister of Sport and Recreation.

Megan Woods, who might have expected the climate change portfolio, becomes Minister of Energy and Resources, Research, Science and Innovation, and Minister for the EQC and Greater Christchurch Regeneration.

Peters rounds out his responsibilities by becoming Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, while Nash also takes the Revenue and Police portfolios. Clare Curran takes on the Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media portfolio, making her responsible for the telecommunications sector.

Defence goes to NZ First deputy leader and ex-serviceman Ron Mark, while fellow NZ First MP Tracey Martin becomes Minister for Children, Internal Affairs, and Seniors.

The commerce and consumer affairs ministries sit with Labour's Kris Faafoi, outside Cabinet, while Customs is also outside Cabinet and held by second-term MP Meka Whaitiri.

Peeni Henare, as Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector and the Whanau Ora health policy and Aupito William Sio as Minister for Pacific Peoples, round out the Ministers outside Cabinet.

Green Party MP Julie-Ann Genter becomes Minister for Women outside Cabinet.

Each of the three governing parties gains a parliamentary under-secretary. Rising Labour star Michael Wood becomes under-secretary to the Minister for Ethnic Communities, NZ First's Fletcher Tabuteau has foreign affairs and regional development responsibilities and the Greens' Jan Logie is an under-secretary to the Minister of Justice with responsibility for domestic and violence issues.

(BusinessDesk)

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The National Party has lost its copyright infringement court battle with US rapper Eminem over the unauthorised use of the rapper's 'Lose Yourself' song in a 2014 election campaign advertisement.

Earlier this year, the Wellington High Court heard the case, brought by the Detroit-based publishers of the rapper's music Eight Mile Style and Martin Affiliated, which sought damages for copyright infringement against the National Party. Eminem's 'Lose Yourself' featured on the rapper's '8 Mile' movie and the publishers alleged National's television campaign ads featured the song without authorisation.

The National Party said it bought the music from production music supplier Beatbox and had been assured by the library music service the music did not infringe any copyright and was an original work. The music licence and fee were arranged through the Australasian Performing Rights Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society, which exists to "protect the rights of artists" and the music had been licensed multiple times both in Australia and New Zealand without complaint in the past, it said.

In a judgment released this afternoon, Justice Helen Cull found the National Party committed three restricted acts amounting to copyright infringement. The judge said Eight Mile Style is entitled to damages on a user principle basis in the sum of $600,000, with annual interest 5 percent, from June 28, 2014.

The judge said 'Lose Yourself' was unique and high-value work, "which has been licensed rarely to preserve and increase its rarity and value. Eight Mile Style has imposed strict creative controls on any licence to maintain the integrity of the work and the personal interests of the authors."

While the song was used for just 11 days, there was intensive use in that time, with the 30 second National Party advertisement screened 186 times and in the opening broadcast Eminem Esque was played eight times in that period, the judge said.

While the National Party had pleaded the positive defence of innocent infringement under the act, at the close of trial the National Party did not pursue or rely on that defence, the judge said.

National Party president Peter Goodfellow said it was disappointed with the decision, and is now considering the implications of the judgment and the next steps.

"We already have a claim against the suppliers and licensors of the track," Goodfellow said. "Being licensed and available for purchase, and having taken advice from our suppliers, the party believed the purchase was legal."

Justice Cull said the $600,000 fee was an award of damages against the National Party for copyright infringement, though the ultimate liability for damages is to be determined among the third parties, who have been joined to this proceeding. This will be the subject of a further hearing.

(BusinessDesk)

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TeamTalk chief executive Andrew Miller would prefer to see the telecommunications firm's earnings poured back into the business to build sustainable returns to shareholders.

The Wellington-based company's board is targeting a resumption of dividend payments at the end of this financial year, having returned to profit in 2017 and shedding a third of its debt after selling control of its Farmside rural broadband service to Vodafone New Zealand. Chair Roger Sowry today affirmed TeamTalk is on track to resume dividend payments and the dividend reinvestment plan at the end of the 2018 financial year at the company's annual meeting in Wellington.

However, CEO Miller played up the need to reinvest in the firm's infrastructure in his address to shareholders.

"It is not my role to discuss the dividend, but it is my role to advise on the ability of the business to execute successfully its plan and I believe that to achieve a sustainable return to shareholders we must reinvest in our infrastructure," Miller said in speech notes published on the stock exchange. "I have spoken to many shareholders in the past 12 months and I thank you all for the support you have provided in saying you believe that we must reduce our debt and reinvest in our infrastructure so that our dividend is sustainable."

TeamTalk is projecting profit of between $4.1 million and $5.6 million in the year ending June 30, 2018 with net debt to drop by another 8-to-12 percent.

Miller, who was hired to turn the company around, told shareholders TeamTalk is in a tender process with Hytera, Motorola and Tait for a new national digital radio network, and that it's also in talks with a number of different parties to boost profitability.

"Some of these potential initiatives may well require a small amount of investment and which will place further demand on our capital plans," Miller said, reiterating that the firm's debt is still too high.

The shares rose 4 percent to 78 cents, having jumped 74 percent so far this year.

(BusinessDesk)

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New Zealand's trade deficit narrowed in September as the value of dairy exports rose, but was still wider than economists expected on both the monthly and annual basis.

The country's trade deficit was $1.1 billion in September versus $1.4 billion in the same month a year earlier, Statistics New Zealand said. That was wider than the $975 million median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of 10 economists. The annual deficit was $2.91 billion versus $3.35 billion a year earlier. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had expected an annual deficit of $2.71 billion.

The New Zealand dollar was steady after the data, trading at 68.85 US cents versus 68.68 US cents as at 8am. Stuart Ive, OMF private client adviser, said the numbers were not "far off the mark" and need to be massively different to impact the currency. "There were no surprises," he said.

Exports rose 9 percent to $3.78 billion in September compared with the same month a year earlier, versus expectations of $3.9 billion. Milk powder, butter and cheese posted the largest increase of any export commodity group in September, rising 28 percent to $791 million. The value of exported milk fats - including butter - rose 43 percent to $207 million while the quantity sold dropped 22 percent. Milk powder export values rose 20 percent even as the volume shrank 15 percent.

The increases in both butter and milk powder were price-driven, international statistics manager Tehseen Islam said. Milk and cream were mainly volume-driven, especially to China, though prices were up, too.

Exports to China rose 33 percent to $875 million in September from the same month a year earlier, led by dairy, while exports to Australia rose 7.9 percent to $740 million.

Fruit exports fell 30 percent in value to $160 million while volumes dropped 38 percent. The fall in fruit exports was due to kiwifruit, which fell $70 million in value and 42 percent in quantity.

Imports lifted 1.4 percent to $4.92 billion, in line with expectations. Mechanical machinery and equipment led the rise imports, up $116 million or 19 percent. Food residues, wastes and fodder rose $47 million or 118 percent.

(BusinessDesk)

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New Zealand shares dipped, breaking a 15-day streak of gains as Fletcher Building faltered on another earnings downgrade, while Comvita, A2 and retirement village stocks gained.

The S&P/NZX50 Index edged down 7.43 points, or 0.09 percent, to 8,122.67. Within the index, 23 stocks rose, 22 fell and five were unchanged. Turnover was $267 milion.

Peter McIntyre, investment adviser at Craigs Investment Partners, said there was significant volume through the market at the moment, with a handful of stocks - Fletcher Building, Spark New Zealand, Ryman Healthcare, Air New Zealand and A2 Milk Co - all seeing more than two million shares traded today. The weaker Kiwi dollar has been good for exporters like A2 and Xero, he said.

Fletcher led the index lower, down 3.6 percent to $7.67. It has taken a further $125 million provision against problematic construction contracts including the Convention Centre and the Justice Precinct in Christchurch, and said its B&I unit would report a full-year loss of $160 million, including $35 million of overhead costs.

A trading halt was lifted on Fletcher's shares this morning after the announcement, which follows a review by KPMG. The company also announced its new chief executive today, Ross Taylor, who replaces former chief Mark Adamson who was sacked this year amid cost overruns at major building projects.

"It was sold off quite hard but has recovered during the day, there was a whole lot of news from them today - some parts of the market probably considered it could have been far worse," McIntyre said. "If they can get their tendering right, they do have the ability to make significant dollars. The market is giving them a third chance. A couple of years ago they underpromised and over delivered, but for the last couple of years it has been the complete opposite."

Ebos Group dropped 1.9 percent to $17.65 and Synlait Milk dipped 1.4 percent to $7.98. Air New Zealand dropped 1.2 percent to $3.355, while Spark New Zealand fell 1 percent to $3.655.

Comvita was the best performer, up 2.8 percent to $8.02, while Port of Tauranga gained 2 percent to $4.57.

A2 Milk continued to make gains, up 1.7 percent to $8.42, a record. It has now risen 289 percent this year.

Retirement village stocks recovered today after recent sell-downs, with Ryman Healthcare rising 1.7 percent to $9, Metlifecare up 1.2 percent to $5.80 and Summerset Group Holdings gaining 1 percent to $4.90.

Infratil rose 0.3 percent to $3.16. The publicly listed infrastructure investor has concluded its NZ Bus negotiations with Auckland Transport while negotiations in Wellington are ongoing, and still expects the business will shrink by a third.

Outside the benchmark index, Skellerup gained 1.2 percent to $1.72. The industrial rubber goods maker said first-quarter trading had been strong and it expects improved earnings in 2018. Trading for the three months ended Sept. 30 was strong, generating earnings before interest and tax more than 10 percent ahead of the comparable quarter in the prior year, chair Liz Coutts said in a statement ahead of the company's annual meeting in the afternoon.

"The second half can be a bit problematic for them, but they have got some momentum in their favour with improving rural sentiment and dairy prices rising. It was a pretty strong update today," McIntyre said.

TeamTalk rose 4 percent to 78 cents. Chair Roger Sowry today affirmed it is on track to resume dividend payments and the dividend reinvestment plan at the end of the 2018 financial year at the company's annual meeting in Wellington.

(BusinessDesk)

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Infratil, the publicly listed infrastructure investor, has concluded its NZ Bus negotiations with Auckland Transport while negotiations in Wellington are ongoing, and still expects the business will shrink by a third.

In a release to the stock exchange, Wellington-based Infratil said it secured 20 long-term contracts in Western, Central and Northern regions of Auckland, with the result of negotiations consistent with previous earnings guidance and the expected scale of NZ Bus in future.

In August, Infratil said NZ Buss loss of certain public transport contracts meant it would shrink to about two-thirds its original scale, with 75 percent of the business in Auckland and 25 percent in Wellington. Overall medium-term returns should be maintained through downsizing and productivity gains, although the 2018 earnings outlook was weighed on by the future for NZ Bus.

Zane Fulljames, NZ Bus chief executive, said the contracts were worth about $1 billion with an average term of nine years. The company expects to invest some $47 million in new fleet, including an additional 75 doubledecker buses.

"Electric vehicles are the future of public transport and will be a key focus now the contracting process for NZ Bus in Auckland has concluded," Fulljames said. "We are extremely well positioned for future market and technology challenges and have a solid platform to continue our journey towards cleaner and greener transport solutions."

In May, NZ Bus lost most of its bus contract with the Greater Wellington Regional Council to Masterton-based Tranzit Group, which the council said could offer the service cheaper, reducing its share of services to 28 percent from 73 percent.

Earlier this month, GWRC said trolley buses would be decommissioned by the end of October and replaced by diesel buses immediately and by diesel and electric buses from July 2018. Infratil said today that negotiations for five of those contracts are ongoing

"NZ Bus continues to work towards deployment of the trolley fleet with alternative power train technologies," it said.

Infratil shares recently traded at $3.15, and have gained 15 percent this year.

(BusinessDesk)

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WATERLOO | The expected passage of a budget resolution in the U.S. House Thursday is largely seen as a means for Republicans to more easily move ahead with tax reform. But a group of Iowa activists had a long list of concerns about both.

Small business owners and elected officials voiced their misgivings about the budget resolution, which is expected to add $1.5 trillion to the deficit over 10 years, and an as-yet-unreleased tax reform proposal during a conference call Wednesday organized by Main Street Alliance.

Deep spending cuts will cause health care, education, food and housing costs to skyrocket, which will have a ripple effect on small businesses who depend on strong local economies with plenty of consumer demand and customers, said ReShonda Young, owner of Popcorn Heaven in Waterloo.

She adds, As families are forced to pay more for vital services, theyll have less disposable income, meaning small businesses like Popcorn Heaven would see a decline in customers.

Young, and others on the call, took issue with the notion that either the budget resolution or any tax reform would benefit small businesses, despite claims to the contrary. She said the proposed reduction to corporate rates would have no impact on her business.

Elected officials also noted a trickle-down impact of the spending cuts and tax cuts in the budget resolution.

The budget cuts will decimate Iowas budget, said Iowa Rep. Marti Anderson, D-Des Moines. Iowas budget, which is already stretched too thin, will be forced to make up the difference by steeply, steeply cutting the quality of services on everything from education to health care to road maintenance and public safety.

Chris Schwartz, Black Hawk County supervisor, also stressed how cuts to the social safety net, or entitlements, could have impacts locally, particularly for the already-financially strapped county-run nursing home Country View.

The current Medicaid shortfall gets passed on to our countys property taxpayers, Schwartz said. If congresspeople, like Rod Blum, who has ignored all invitations to meet with us and to visit Country View, push for further cuts in Medicaid, theyre going to create a hole so big in our budget that we cannot feasibly fill it with property tax revenues.

Schwartz said an invitation, first sent in February, to Black Hawk Countys federal delegation, Republicans U.S. Rep. Rod Blum and Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, was still extended both to meet with local officials and to tour Country View.

The budget resolution passed the U.S. Senate last Thursday, with support from Ernst and Grassley. The U.S. House is expected to adopt it on Thursday, without amendments, which will save a few weeks working on a compromise so both chambers can more quickly move on to tax reform.

The process also makes it so that tax reform can be taken up in the U.S. Senate without the threat of a filibuster from Democrats.

Blum said Wednesday he was unlikely to support the Senates budget resolution. He called it a bad budget that doesnt do enough to get the federal fiscal house in order. Blum said, though, he expected it to pass the House so it could begin to work on tax reform.

The tax reform bill is expected to be introduced next week, and many details are still coming together. But House leaders hope to pass the bill through their chamber before the end of November and hope to see it become law by the end of the year.

The activists, however, said they will continue efforts to call their members of Congress and speak to neighbors about the impacts of the bill in an effort to prevent it from becoming law.

I think the hardest thing in all of this is just keeping the energy going to have those conversations, said Julie Stauch, a business owner in West Des Moines, adding, Weve seen some really good effect to that this year, and so I think we should keep up with that.
ANAMOSA | A Mason City man serving a burglary and domestic abuse sentence in an Iowa maximum security prison was seriously injured in an assault Monday.

Michael Waddington, 31, was found unresponsive in the kitchen area of Anamosa State Penitentiary around 5:44 p.m. Monday, the Iowa Department of Corrections said in a news release. Anamosa is about 25 miles northeast of Cedar Rapids.

Waddington was transported by ambulance to a regional medical center before being transferred to University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, where "serious injuries from an altercation are being treated," the Department of Corrections said. He remains hospitalized.

Waddington was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison in 2013 after pleading guilty to three felonies: second-degree burglary, domestic abuse by strangulation resulting in bodily injury and willful injury resulting in bodily injury.

The charges stemmed from an altercation in 2012 in which Waddington was accused of punching a person in the face.

Claude Breese, who is serving a sentence for drugs, was the other inmate involved in the altercation, according to the Department of Corrections. All others believed to have been involved have been segregated, and a full investigation is underway.

No staff were injured in the incident.
MASON CITY | Forty North End residents will have the opportunity to eat for free at three nearby restaurants on Thursday night.

The catch? Offer input and suggestions to University of Iowa students on how to better their neighborhood.

Travis Kraus, assistant director for the Iowa Initiative of Sustainable Communities at the University of Iowa, is one of the organizers of "Taste of the North End."

The event will take up to 40 residents through Burke's Bar and Grille, Blue Heron Bar and Grille and Little Chicago Pizza for small plates of food.

Those who participate can discuss issues in the neighborhood and how to better the community. Kraus said the idea for the event started from a past partnership with Mason City.

"As the planning team puts together their documents, they're going to get input from residents and stakeholders in the community," Kraus said of University of Iowa students working on the event.

The first stop will be at Burke's at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, and then Blue Heron at 6:30 p.m. and Little Chicago at 7 p.m.

Kraus said students and others have prepared for the event by reviewing crime data and how the neighborhood has changed during the past several years.

"There's a story that kind of gets told about this neighborhood," he said. "One of those challenges for this spot is the perceptions don't match what's actually happening."

One of the issues is assumptions about the North End  increased crime and declining property values  even though data and research doesn't back them up, Kraus said.

Funding for the event will be provided by the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health, Kraus said. A University of Iowa graduate student group will also be asking residents how public health can be improved in the North End, he added.

Vicki Lau, one of the co-owners of the Blue Heron, said she first heard about the opportunity to help with the event through a Facebook message from University of Iowa students.

Lau said some students will also be hosting an art exhibit Thursday night, and is happy about the chance to help better the North End.

"I think it has great potential," she said. "I also can see where slowing down traffic, adding crosswalks, enhancing the storefronts would be good ... and bring back the enhancements I think are important to any city."

Tickets can be picked up at Little Chicago.
MASON CITY | Tennessee Williams classic play, A Streetcar Named Desire, has stood the test of time.

The play, written in 1947, opens Thursday at Mason City Community Theatre. It received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948, and is considered by many to be Williams' greatest play.

Williams writes about the sad part of humanity, according to director Neil Moe.

Sometimes you need to see that."

Its hard, he continued. Everyone in the show, sans one character, are horrible (people).

The drama follows troubled former schoolteacher Blanche DuBois as she leaves small-town Mississippi and moves in with her sister, Stella Kowalski, and her husband, Stanley, in New Orleans. Blanches flirtatious Southern-belle presence causes problems for Stella and Stanley, who already have a volatile relationship, leading to even greater conflict in the Kowalski household.

Its a story of one womans downward spiral into madness and how she chooses to cope with it, said Chris Hager, who plays Stanley.

Moe said he chose the dark drama for his directorial debut at MCCT.

Tennessee Williams knew what he was doing. The words of Tennessee Williams are all classic. They dont ever ring hollow. (Every time he put) pen to paper, brilliance spewed out.

Its about as real a show as you get," Hager said. "The more you get into it, everything that is done is purposeful - how we can be our own undoing.

Mary Rohne, Catherine Gobeli, and Hager, principals in the drama, talked about their characters.

Rohne plays Stella, and Gobeli plays her sister, Blanche.

All three of us are getting challenged, Rohne said.

Were developing characters that I think none of us have ever had to do, Hager said.

Gobeli agreed.

Its nothing that Ive ever done before.

Moe said this was the show that made Marlon Brando famous. Brando was cast as Stanley Kowalski in the original Broadway show in 1947, and reprised his role in the 1951 film.

They cautioned that some scenes may be difficult to watch.

Intense is one word to describe the show, Gobeli said. Its very emotional. Very dark.

The climax will be difficult for some people to watch, Moe agreed.

"Its very real," Gobeli said. "It doesnt hide anything."

Hager said the show may not be for everyone, but they all agreed that its message is relevant.

"I think its really important were doing this now," Rohne said.

"Itll make you think  look at humanity from an unbiased filter," Hager said. "People dont know why its stood the test of time. Theres a reason for it. It's still as relevant today as the day it was written."

"Maybe more so," Moe added. "Itll challenge you."

"Theater is relateable," Gobeli said. "Thats what I like about it."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- While putting together the Advance Cookbook challenge for this year, we came across a beautiful new cookbook, "What Can I Bring," by Elizabeth Heiskell. This one is sweet with its well-written chatter in a Southern twang plus expressive directions. The easy-to-replicate recipes are intended for cooks who love sharing their creations with friends, neighbors, in potluck situations or when a pal could use a great home cooked dish.

And Elizabeth took some time with the Advance while in New York to whip up a meal on the Today Show and continue along her book tour in the Northeast. She shared a few tips and inspiring words for budding cookbook authors, a common aim for the Advance's Cookbook recipe contestants.

"I am so proud of it, I still can't believe it," she said of her new tome. "With this book, the one thing is that I want it to be accessible. We want everyone to be gracious and to be invited back. When they're sick, when they're in trouble..."

How did she put such a collection of recipes together? Did it take long?

She said that it started with a column, also called "What Can I Bring?," in Southern Living, and then the magazine asked her to compile a book with the same theme.

"The concept was so perfect," she said. This is, after all, is the tenet of how she started in the food business years ago. She and a friend who "was supposed to be looking for a job" came up with a concept called "Instead of Flowers."

"You call us and we would take them wonderful food. So when [the magazine] brought the concept up to me, it just immediately it was an 'absolutely!' These are my grandmother's recipes, my mother's recipes. It was so unbelievably familiar to me. I already knew these recipes worked because I used them over and over again."

So the cookbook was an easy lift for Elizabeth who joked, "I almost think I cheated. I stole a bunch of recipes. I know they're a home run." Her first appearance on TODAY came with one of those "home runs," an item named for a friend who invented it -- the Yoste Roast.

"When I did that on the TODAY show, it was right when I first started. I was very new to the show," she said. And the Yoste Roast with its seven ingredients including salt, pepper, canola oil, butter, pepperoncini peppers and a four-pound boneless chuck roast seemed "ridiculous" and "so easy."

That realization of its simplicity as she was about to present it suddenly made her feel mortified. But she recreated the dish and it was a hit with cooks across the country.

In the book, she prefaces that recipe with a story noting, "When I shared this recipe on the TODAY show, friends from all over the country sent me pictures of the grocery store aisle where the shelf of pepperoncini peppers was completely empty."

And about those potluck suppers: For those who fret over other people's cooking in such settings, Elizabeth says to take a chance and taste: "I'm willing to take the risk. You don't know what their kitchen is like. But I have to go the other the way and try. You never know."

For the skirmish or serious newbie in the kitchen, just put the ingredients in a basket with a recipe, like she does with a Hot Toddy, good for the cold or strep that ails you.

And there's a great quiche recipe she wants to share with Islanders.

"The thing about Quiche Lorraines is that so filling, so easy to make, they're transportable, they're good cold or hot. That beautiful custard in the middle -- it's perfect with a green salad and glass of wine," she encouraged.

RECIPE: QUICHE LORRAINE

(Makes 8 servings)

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 (14.1-ounce) package refrigerated piecrusts

6 thick-cut smoky bacon slices, crisply cooked and chopped (about 7 ounces)

6 ounces Gruyere or Swiss cheese, shredded (about 1 1/2 cups)

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

4 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Dash of cayenne pepper

2 cups heavy whipping cream

Garnish: Assorted fresh herbs such as thyme and basil

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Fit the piecrust into a greased 9-inch pie crust. Whisk together the flour and 1 of the eggs in a medium bowl. Add the salt, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, and remaining 3 eggs; whisk in the cream. Pour the egg mixture over the bacon and cheese in the piecrust. Bake in the preheated oven until the custard is set and the crust is golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Cut into 8 wedges. -- Courtesy of Elizabeth Heiskell from "What Can I Bring? Southern Food For Any Occasion Life Serves Up" (Oxmoor, 2017).
The New York State Constitution provides that the electorate be given the opportunity to vote on the following question at least once every 20 years: "Shall there be a convention to revise the constitution and amend the same?" It will be on the ballot once again this year when New Yorkers head to the polls on Nov. 7.



The issue is an important one because the Constitution, as a foundational document, is the repository of all rights, privileges and immunities deemed by the State of New York to be fundamental in nature. Unlike legislative acts and agency regulations, they can only be modified or undone by constitutional amendment.



It's important to bear in mind that even if voters approve a constitutional convention next month, they retain the final say on whether the document thereby produced is ultimately adopted. Since first presented with the option 150 years ago, voters have approved a constitutional convention only five times, and, on four of those occasions, they rejected the document settled upon by delegates.



With Election Day approaching, and some forecasting a close vote, lobbying on both sides of the issue is intensifying. The New York State Bar Association is among the staunchest advocates of a constitutional convention.



State bar's interest



By its own admission, however, the lawyers organization is primarily motivated by a desire to effect a restructuring and reorganization of the state's court system, something, it asserts, will likely never happen otherwise because of competing political interests in the Legislature. The need to reorganize the courts has been obvious for decades. Consider, for example, that New York has 11 trial-level courts, the most in the nation. California, by contrast, with almost twice the population, has a single trial court system. As just one of innumerable consequences of such disparities, the state bar notes that a domestic violence victim seeking protection and a divorce could be required to appear in three different New York courts to secure the relief she seeks.



In a 37-page report released in April, the lawyers organization acknowledged several "thoughtful" arguments against holding a convention. Nonetheless, it opted to support convening one in the belief that "We the people can be trusted to make beneficial changes to our government." In reality, however, those "thoughtful" arguments are sufficiently weighty to tip the scales against authorizing a convention.



Likely delegates



Since the delegate selection process is elective, with a high threshold for ballot access, and an obvious susceptibility to special-interest money, the winners are more likely to be seasoned politicians and union leaders than the ordinary private citizens conjured up by the phrase "We the People." Consider, for example, that at the last constitutional convention, in 1967, Assembly Speaker Anthony J. Travia was its president and New York City Major Robert F. Wagner the first vice president. Moreover, the majority of delegates were holders of political office either by election or appointment. Given the gravity of constitutional change, and the enormous stakes for the competing interests involved, it's reasonable to anticipate that, if approved, the convention would be even more intensely political than the day-to-day operations of the state's notoriously dysfunctional Legislature.



This becomes especially problematic since the entire Constitution would be up for grabs and, therefore, in the sights of monied interests. The potential for unanticipated mischief and even radical change is sufficiently real that opposition to holding a convention transcends traditional political loyalties.



Broad opposition



Among the concerns most frequently expressed are the fate of pension rights for public employees; various rights relating to labor generally, such as union membership, collective bargaining and worker's compensation; the "forever wild" protection for the Catskill and Adirondack Parks; and the requirement that the state "aid, care and support" the needy. While New York's liberal pedigree makes radical change in any of these areas unlikely, neither can it be ruled out with certainty.



Opposition from a more conservative political spectrum includes concern that abortion rights in New York, already more sweeping than mandated by Roe v. Wade, could be expanded even further. There is also a fear that any form of aid to religious schools, severely limited as it is, could be eliminated altogether.



A constitutional convention would carry a high price tag for taxpayers, with estimates varying wildly from $50 million to $350 million. And, of course, it could all be for naught if the document proposed is ultimately rejected by voters.



Finally, the state's Constitution can be amended by a process initiated in the Legislature, with the resultant proposal thereafter presented to voters for their approval. In fact, the current document, originating in 1894, has since been amended over 200 times.



While the prospect of a constitutional convention may be facially enticing, it's too risky for too many people, too expensive for taxpayers, and, in the final analysis, unnecessary.

[Daniel Leddy's column appears each Tuesday on the Advance Editorial Page. His e-mail address is column@danielleddylaw.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/LegalHotShots.]
"If we began with the thought of helping students get their footing in a new environment, we quickly learned that we were the gift recipients100 times more than the students were."



That's Saratogian Sue Towne describing Skidmore's Friendship Families, which pairs international students with local residents for occasional meals or other activities. Now in its 10th year, the program has involved more than 200 hosts, from Skidmore staff and faculty to other area citizens. Each year about half of all international students take advantage of it, some using it only in their first year (as a supplement to the official orientation session for new international students) and some continuing in it for all four years. Staff member Darren Drabek, the program's founder and developer, says, "It's been easy to find people to serve as hosts; they really enjoy getting to know these students." Hosts have taken students apple-picking, hiking, or to Saratoga's Dance Flurry and Chowderfest events. "Some stay in touch after their students graduate," he adds, "and some have helped them land an internship or find an apartment in a new city."



Hosts Jim and Sue Towne pick up Tinashe Gwakuka '20 for a group

meal downtown. (Photo by Eric Jenks '08) Hosts Jim and Sue Towne pick up Tinashe Gwakuka '20 for a groupmeal downtown. (Photo by Eric Jenks '08)

For Sue and Jim Towne, Themba Shongwe was their first, as a Swazi-born freshman; he's now a senior business major. This year they're also hosting Sudanese sophomore Samuel Tesfamariam and new transfer student Tinashe Gwakuka, originally from Zimbabwe. Sue Towne says, "There is so much to learn from these young minds, these brave men and women who've left their homes and families; they define dedication, heart and drive. They worked hard to get here, and they're very serious about their studies. They're also adventurous and fun-loving!" She says Shongwe is "very outgoing and active with the International Student Union. It's been a great bonus for us to get to know many of his friends as well as him."



Calling the Townes are "a delight" and "a great support," Tesfamariam says, "Discussing politics and culture with them is always interesting. I get an insight into America that I wouldn't get from campus life, and it's truly refreshing to get away from school from time to time."

"The house was a cacophony of joy, laughter, serious discussion, raucous debate, and personal stories."

As for Towne, "After a meal or outing with these amazing kids, Jim and I just look at each other and say 'That was so cool!'" Along with cafe meetings or other diversions, she says, "we try to do some parental things, such as making sure they have winter clothing. It's about making opportunities for them to be on the same footing as the domestic students as much as possible."



As a former professional baker, host Marian Bigelow enjoys cooking with and for her students. When Ebrahim Shah was a freshman, she recalls, "I made him a birthday cake. He was so pleased that he took a photo of it to send to his mom! Later, on a visit to the states, she told me that when she saw that cake photo, she knew he would be OK here." Bigelow and Shah also prepared a Pakistani dish together, from his mother's recipe that he'd stored on his phone in Urdu. "That was wild and fun," she says.



Bigelow adds, "I like to ask questions. I always tell them, 'You don't have to answer,' but I enjoy learning about them and their lives. I had a long talk with Ebrahim about Islam; he knew a lot about the history of his religion."



Ibrahim Shah '18 poses with local kids during

to deliver vaccines in his home country of Pakistan. Ibrahim Shah '18 poses with local kids during his summer project to deliver vaccines in his home country of Pakistan.

Now a senior physics major finishing a dual-degree engineering program, Shah was impressed that "Hal and Marian are active community workers. One Sunday I accompanied them to the Unitarian church near Skidmore and was mesmerized by the warm and welcoming embrace of churchgoers." He says, "Americans are not afraid to learn and embrace foreign cultures. I found a home away from home."



Over the years, Bigelow says, "I've seen a huge difference in Ebrahim-he's more confident and outgoing now. He's even taken bus trips on his own, to places he wanted to see."



Also paired with the Bigelows is sophomore Dingping Wang, who says having dinner with the Bigelows, including their son and his wife, was among her favorite events so far. "My host mom made ham, and I brought traditional Chinese moon cake and jasmine tea." She says through Bigelow's encouragement, "I became more independent and less homesick."



Many host families bring their students home for big holidays when domestic students leave campus. Sue Towne says that adding her students, and several of their friends, to her own friends and family for Thanksgiving "was an experience to behold. The house was a cacophony of joy, laughter, serious discussion, raucous debate, and personal stories. Afterward our family said they hoped they could join in again next year!"



She reflects, "I've learned so much in every interaction with these remarkable students. I hope all the other Skidmore students are learning from them too. I wish our kids had had such a large and interesting group of international students when they were in college."
Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death for Americans under age 50, killing roughly 64,000 people in the United States last year. An increase in fatalities is largely fueled by opioids, including fentanyl, a powerful synthetic substance considered up to 50 times more potent than heroin.

Although Iowa has not been hit as hard as some other states by the opioid epidemic, we have not been spared.

So far this year, 124 Iowans have died from opioid-related causes, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. Addiction treatment admissions for opioid use have more than tripled over the past decade.

Drug overdoses reduce overall life expectancy in this country. They strain police departments, human services systems, hospitals and paramedics. And they devastate families.

Iowa's capital city is "definitely seeing a rise" in overdoses, said Lt. Tony Sposeto, with the Des Moines Fire Department's emergency medical services team. In 2016, these first responders administered 191 doses of Narcan, a drug used to reverse an opioid overdose. The first nine months of this year, they used it 202 times.

"The number has been steadily increasing," he said. "We've had overdoses in public places, shopping centers, multiple overdoses on one scene." His department responded to a call where three people at a single location overdosed on heroin.

Paramedics are also seeing more overdoses from fentanyl, which require a larger amount of Narcan to treat. The department has responded by increasing the number of vials workers carry and changing protocols so they can administer more of the drug.

Local government budgets also feel the strain of opioids. Sposeto said the cost of Narcan, also known as naloxone, has more than doubled in recent years. Agencies across Iowa generally pay $23 to $48 per dose, according to a statewide survey. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has tried to reduce the cost, recently announcing his office had reached a deal with a drug manufacturer to provide rebates for "public entities."

"Quite literally, naloxone may be someone's only lifeline if they overdosed on prescription painkillers or heroin," Miller said.

The ultimate goal, of course, is preventing opioid addiction in the first place. Some of that responsibility falls to health professionals who prescribe prescription pain medication.

The heroin and fentanyl crisis can be traced in part to a surge in sales of prescription opioids and then a tightening of restrictions on the pills. When patients cannot secure another script from a doctor, they may turn to illegal drugs.

Fortunately, Iowa health providers are starting to trim prescriptions for opioid painkillers, a top state regulator told lawmakers last week. The number of pills sold this year is on track to hit about 270 million, a 10 percent drop from last year.

That is still a staggering average of 90 pills for each man, woman and child in this state. Doctors are prescribing too many opioid-based pain medications and frequently more than people need.

Dr. Jeff Rodgers, a West Des Moines orthopedic surgeon, recognized this years ago. His study, published in The Journal of Hand Surgery in 2012, concluded the standard prescription of 30 pain pills following outpatient surgery appears "excessive and unnecessary."

Routinely prescribing 30 pills is not based on research or what a patient necessarily needs. So where did that number come from?

"It's tradition, what would fit in a bottle, what was easy to write," Rodgers told an editorial writer this week. Pain can often be controlled by over-the-counter medications instead of opioids, and patients tend to save excess pills, which other family members, including teens, may later swallow.

While changing the prescribing practices of doctors is important, Iowa still faces the threat of illegal drugs sold on the street. Just this month authorities in Omaha recovered 33 pounds of fentanyl  worth about $15 million  hidden in a suitcase at the city's train station.

Preventing opioid abuse and death is multifaceted and requires all Iowans to be vigilant.

Patients should avoid addictive prescription pain medication whenever possible. Parents should refuse drugs, including hydrocodone, on behalf of their children following procedures like the removal of wisdom teeth. Lawmakers and health insurers should ensure Iowans who want addiction treatment can receive it. Law enforcement agencies must have the resources to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the state.

Drug overdoses are unnecessary tragedies ending the lives of too many young Americans. These deaths are preventable. While Iowa has taken good steps to try to prevent a full-blown opioid crisis here, there is more we can do.

Drug deaths from fentanyl, a synthetic opioid many times more powerful than morphine and heroin, more than doubled from 2015 to 2016 in the United States.

Because inhaling even a small amount can be deadly, workers in law enforcement and crime labs increasingly use protective gear, including respirators. Offices stock up on the antidote Narcan in case employees are exposed. Neglected and orphaned children enter the foster care system.

And then there are the bodies.

Medical examiners in Ohio have been forced to store corpses in trailers in parking lots. In one Florida county, the medical examiner relies on a private transport service to hold bodies at another location.

The strain of drug overdoses on these professionals can be overwhelming, as detailed in a recent New York Times story about the chief medical examiner in New Hampshire, a state hit hard by the opioid crisis.

After two decades in the profession, Dr. Thomas Andrew recently retired to pursue a divinity degree. His goal is to become an ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church, minister to young people and encourage them to stay away from drugs.

Pathologists, he said, face mortality daily. The people on his table could have lived longer "but for a few millimeters of cholesterol in the wrong blood vessel, a second of inattention by the driver of a car or the lethal potency of a drug obtained on the street."

Drug users in their 20s and 30s are increasingly dying of endocarditis, a heart-valve infection resulting from the use of dirty needles. He said his office has seen more endocarditis in the last two years than the previous 15 combined.
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NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 24, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until December 22, 2017 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Rio Tinto PLC (NYSE:RIO), if they purchased the Companys American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) between October 23, 2012 and February 15, 2013, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.



What You May Do

If you purchased ADRs of Rio Tinto and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit http://ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-rio/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by December 22, 2017.

About the Lawsuit

Rio Tinto and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On October 17, 2017, an SEC complaint charged that as early as August 2012 the Company knew that various developments had rendered its coal assets in Mozambique (RTCM) worthless (reportedly -$680 million), yet did not publicly disclose that fact, continued to publicly tout RTCMs value to investors, and continued to significantly overvalue it. On February 15, 2013, the Company filed its Form 6-K, reporting an 80% write-down, or $2.86B, for the asset.

On this news, the price of Rio Tintos shares plummeted.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 24, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 3D at Depth, a global provider of advanced subsea LiDAR systems and solutions, today announces the appointment of Cory Moore as Global Offshore Operations Manager and Ian Roberts as Senior Mechanical Design Engineer.



Mr. Moore has over 20 years experience overseeing subsea survey and mapping projects with Tier #1 energy providers in Africa, Europe, and North and South America. During his tenure as a subsea survey engineer at Statoil and Chevron (Norway and the United States.), Moore helped design and lead survey solutions from concept through implementation with a focus on operational excellence and the use of technological innovations to increase offshore survey safety and efficiencies. Moore also held positions managing offshore survey operations for ProServ and Subsea7. His early career experience was spent at Fugro Marine Construction. Moore will be responsible for the management, implementation and customer support for 3D at Depths global subsea LiDAR solutions.

Mr. Roberts joins 3D at Depth from Tidewater Subsea where he was responsible for remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) operations, engineering, and tooling design. In addition to mechanical and hydraulic subsea engineering, Roberts has implemented company document control systems for ISO 9000/14000 certification. Roberts expertise in ROV system integration, innovation and vessel installation will be a key component for his role with 3D at Depth as the company continues to advance their moving platform solution.

We are pleased to strengthen our team with the addition of Cory and Ian, said, Carl Embry, CEO and President 3D at Depth. They both bring significant expertise to help manage and implement effective operational processes as we continue to drive the expansion of subsea LiDAR and bespoke subsea tooling for use in offshore applications.

"3D at Depth is poised for extensive global growth, and in this position, I look forward to helping ensure the continued delivery of safe, innovative solutions to meet customer needs in our target markets."Cory Moore, Global Offshore Operations Manager.

"This is an exciting time for 3D at Depth as the demand for accurate, cost effective data collection solutions will continue to drive subsea survey market, said Ian Roberts Senior Designer Mechanical Engineer." 3D at Depths ability to use subsea LIDAR to answer this market requirement is a game changer. I am thrilled to be part of the solution and the team.

Recently, the Company made industry news with the "Announcement of a Strategic Collaboration with Schlumberger" and the launch of "3D at Depths Moving Platform Subsea LiDAR Solution."

About 3D at Depth:

3D at Depth, Inc. provides advanced subsea LiDAR systems and solutions designed to help clients build, maintain, map and monitor underwater assets and resources. 3D at Depths portfolio of SL1 and SL2 subsea LiDAR laser scanners combine integrated hardware and software technology to deliver repeatable, millimetric measured point clouds to address the challenges of subsea 3D measurement and visualization. 3D at Depth, solutions focus on increasing the efficiencies and the accuracy of data collection, and modeling programs for offshore oil and gas, commercial, research and government applications. With office locations in the US, UK and Australia, the company is focused on innovation and best practices to enhance 3D underwater data collection processes.

For more information visit us at www.3DatDepth.com or follow us @3DatDepth

Media Contact:

3D at Depth:

Colleen Hahn

+1.703.851.6944

media@3datdepth.com




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WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SETDA, the principal membership association of the U.S. state and territorial educational technology leaders today announced Jillian Balow, Superintendent of Public Instruction in Wyoming as the recipient of the 2017 SETDA State Policy Maker of the Year Award. Ms. Balow was honored for her vision and leadership in support for the effective use of technology in Wyoming at SETDAs 2017 Leadership Summit: Leveraging Technology to Personalize Student Learning in National Harbor, Maryland.



"While it can be easy to focus on the technology challenges created by living in a rural and remote state, we have chosen to embrace the opportunities technology gives us. We are connected and providing quality learning experiences to students, noted Superintendent Balow. This is a good start and I am honored to be a pioneer on this trail."

Since taking office in January, 2015, Balow chaired the Distance Education Task Force which made recommendations that led to state legislation to remove many barriers to the facilitation of online courses in Wyoming school districts. She also established a K-20 common statewide learning management system which coordinates online course offerings for K-12 and post-secondary, as well as professional development opportunities from the Wyoming Department of Education and postsecondary institutions. In 2016, with Superintendent Balows leadership and support, Wyoming held its first ever Computer Science Education Week and signed the state Future Ready Pledge. She partnered with the Governor's Office, Department of Enterprise Technology Services, State Library, Wyoming school districts, and National Governor's Association for the Wyoming Classroom Connectivity Initiative which focused on increasing connectivity to school districts by utilizing federal E-rate funds and building WiFi capacity in schools to enhance student learning. Wyoming will host its first K-20 statewide digital learning conference in November 2017 where it will recognize innovative leaders throughout the state.

The ability for a state to transform teaching and learning starts with a leader who understands how to leverage technology all areas of education, said Tracy Weeks, Executive Director, SETDA.

Laurel Ballard, Student and Teacher Resources Team Supervisor for the Wyoming Department of Education shared, Superintendent Balow, with her unwavering focus on education, ensures every student in every corner of the state has access to the same high quality educational resources and opportunities. Her visionary leadership has made Wyoming a place where students and educators have the foundations to be successful.

About SETDA

Founded in 2001, the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) is the principal non-profit membership association representing U.S. state and territorial educational technology leaders. Our mission is to build and increase the capacity of state and national leaders to improve education through technology policy and practice. For more information, please visit http://www.setda.org
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Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0217470)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0293828)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0217470)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0293828)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0281480)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0293828)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0293828)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e74e4a18)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f022cfc0)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f022cfc0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948

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Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f024d0e8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f029eaa0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f024d0e8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f029eaa0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f025d450)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f029eaa0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f029eaa0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e74e4d60)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f02532e0)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f02532e0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

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Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f028d248)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f032c610)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f028d248)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f032c610)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f02939b8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f032c610)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f032c610)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e74e4f88)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0276c60)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0276c60)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
The legislative assembly is set to debate revelations the government can't track the movement of young offenders from youth detention into adult prisons.

Minister for Children Rachel Stephen-Smith recently told the legislative assembly that it was too hard for the government to collect and provide such data.

The ACT government says it can't track the movement of young offenders from Bimberi (pictured) into the adult justice system. Credit:Rohan Thomson

In response, the Canberra Liberals have introduced a motion on Wednesday, saying the government must find a way to collect statistics on recidivism among youth.

"Recidivism is one key indicator of the effectiveness of juvenile justice interventions," read the motion, from Elizabeth Kikkert.
ANZ Bank chief executive Shayne Elliott has warned the bank is watching the high level of household debt "like a hawk", amid concerns some geared-up customers squeezed by weak wage growth will be vulnerable to future shocks.

The latest warning about risks in the mortgage market came as investors predicted a share buyback of about $4 billion next year after the bank flagged it was likely to return excess capital to shareholders.

The bank's full-year results showed profits recovered to $6.9 billion, helped by sharp slump in charges for soured loans and moves earlier this year to raise interest rates for property investors.
Investors in Wesfarmers got seriously spooked on Wednesday when the release of its quarterly sales numbers showed Coles sales growth had slowed to a crawl. And  believe it or not  a large contributor to this was cheap vegetables.

If we remove the price deflationary effect of the vegies then Wesfarmers-owned Coles would have delivered sales closer to what management had told shareholders to expect.

Outgoing CEO Richard Goyder (left) and his replacement Rob Scott. Credit:Trevor Collens

Instead, the headline numbers have played into fears that the supermarket wars are eating even more into sales and margins. There is no doubt the intense competition between Coles, Woolworths and Aldi is damaging supermarket performance but Coles says that, over the three months to September, the investment in discounting is running at the same rate it was in the previous six months: about $200 million per half. In other words, it hasn't amped up the discounting.

Deflation in the period was running at 2.3 per cent and, if one strips out the vegie impact, it was about 1.3 per cent.
Lithuanian English

On 25 October, 2017 AB Klaipedos Nafta (hereinafter  the Company), announced a selection of candidates for independent members of the Supervisory Board of the Company.

The selection is announced for two independent members of the Supervisory Board of the Company: one for an independent member of the Supervisory Board in the field of finance and one for an independent member of the Supervisory Board in the field of strategic planning and management.

The selection shall be performed according to the Description of Selection of Candidates for the Board of State or Municipal Enterprise and Candidates for Collegial Supervisory or Management Body Elected by the General Meeting of Shareholders of State or Municipal-Owned Company, approved by the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania No 631 of 17 June, 2015. After the selection procedures are performed, the Supervisory Board shall be elected by the Companys General Meeting of the Shareholders.

The notice regarding the selection of candidates for independent members of the Supervisory Board is announced on the website of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania http://enmin.lrv.lt/en/news/kn-announces-a-public-and-open-selection-of-candidates-for-the-position-of-the-company-s-ceo and on the website of the Company www.kn.lt/en/news/news/regarding-the-announcement-of-selection-of-candidates-for-independent-supervisory-board-members-of-ab-klaipedos-nafta/2068
The Australian Federal Police will not turn over any of the documents seized during dramatic raids on the headquarters of Bill Shorten's former union until a court makes further orders on Friday.

The commitment was made as the Australian Workers Union launched a legal challenge to the validity of what it calls "unprecedented" and "heavy-handed" police raids on its branch offices in Melbourne and Sydney

Dozens of federal police raided the two AWU sites after mounting fresh investigations into decade-old donations, including a donation made to activist group GetUp! while Mr Shorten was the union leader.

Lawyers for the AWU mounted an urgent challenge in the Federal Court on Wednesday against the Turnbull government's newly established union watchdog, the Registered Organisations Commission.
The world may produce the least wine this year in half a century after small grape harvests in Italy, France and Spain, a global wine organisation said, forecasting higher prices for bulk and entry-level wine. That could spell good news for Australian producers, which had a solid year.

The global 2017 vintage is estimated to slump 8.2 per cent -- equivalent to about 3 billion fewer bottles -- to 246.7 million hectolitres, the Paris-based International Organisation of Vine and Wine said. That would be the lowest since 1961, according to Jean-Marie Aurand, the intergovernmental group's director-general.

"Logic dictates that for entry-level wine, there will be a bit more tension on prices," Aurand told reporters in Paris. "We're past the time where we had structural overproduction of wine; the market is more balanced."

The group, known by its French acronym OIV, puts the value of the global wine industry at about 75 billion ($112 billion). Countries with large grape harvests, such as Australia and South Africa, will probably be more active in the wine trade this season, Aurand said.
A Senate impasse and yet another round of higher education reforms are floundering. Only they aren't. Reforms that is. Australia hasn't seen anything remotely approaching meaningful higher education reform in nearly a decade. And the newly released "Shifting the Dial" Productivity Commission report neither tweaks or even nudges government towards meaningful reform in this nationally critical area.

Affording students increased consumer law protections, as the report suggests, is an entirely reasonable thing to do, but is hardly a suggestion that qualifies as big picture thinking. I mean, really: is that it?

The government thinks universities deserve a punitive financial hit despite being the country's largest services exporters and generating more than two-thirds of the nation's start-ups. Credit:Rob Homer

These unimaginative ideas arise from an entirely different set of preoccupations that bear no resemblance to reform. This is solely about efficiencies, the budget and what is unabashedly, a transactional view of education.

This myopia is not confined to the terms of commissioned analysis, it abounds in parliamentary discourse on thwarted reform agendas. Yet government just don't get it or simply refuse to believe it. The default response is to blame others for the vacuum of imagination.
It started with the Freakshake.

Before those decadent inventions graced social media, few thought Canberra was cool. A couple of travel writers had tried to convince the world otherwise with articles along the lines of "10 reasons why Canberra isn't boring", but they weren't fooling anyone.

This was the domain of school excursions and family holidays. We non-native Canberrans were dragged to the city as teenagers, having failed to convince teachers or parents to take us to the Gold Coast instead. We posed for group photos outside Parliament House, tried to stay quiet during a visit to the Australian War Memorial and were let loose in Questacon.

Canberra Times Winter photocomp (2016) - Dylan Valentine Address: 5 Avery Place Fraser ACT 2615 Phone number: 0439394929 Photo information: DSC_0540: Photo title - The early bird gets the worm Description - Got up nice and early to watch the sunrise at the National Arboretum in Canberra. The temperature and the fog meant I had the whole place to myself and as the sun rose above the fog a magpie flew over and sat atop the birds head giving me a great shot. Date taken - 14/06/2016 DSC_0646: Photo title - The house that Romaldo built Description - Witnessing the first rays of light hit Parliament House and the fog rise off Lake Burley Griffin from the top of Red Hill was a great way to start a chilly Canberra day. Date taken - 16/06/2016 Credit:Dylan Valentine

When we grew up we took city breaks to Melbourne or Sydney, spent our summers in Europe or on the beach in Thailand or Bali. But holiday in Canberra? The only thing worse would have been to move here.
The revelations pointed to a culture in the AWU of prioritising Labor factional battles over members' interests.

Most disturbing of the Fairfax revelations were deals done by Shorten's Australian Workers Union involving large employer payments to the union coinciding with inferior workplace deals for members.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten were at loggerheads over a raid on the office of the Australian Workers Union. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The impact of the stories was magnified by the parallel running of Tony Abbott's royal commission on trade unions.

Lesser among the revelations was the AWU's $25,000 donation to Shorten's campaign for the seat of Maribyrnong in Melbourne's inner west at the 2007 federal election.

It is the union's handling of this donation, plus a $100,000 gift to help establish activist group GetUp! that were the ostensible reasons for Tuesday's extraordinary Australian Federal Police raids on the AWU offices in Melbourne and Sydney.

Many across the political spectrum acknowledge that the royal commission was in large part aimed at discrediting the Labor leader by raking through the worst of his union wheeling and dealing.

For all its faults, however, the royal commission did appropriately focus on AWU deals that seemed to sell out members - the biggest of union sins.

But, after almost two years of probing and grilling, the royal commission failed to nail Shorten on anything. He walked away bruised but far from beaten. The one time union chief is well placed to be Australia's next prime minister.
Winston Peters, New Zealand's tough-talking protectionist and the newly anointed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, says relations with Australia are at a low ebb after a series of trans-Tasman "misunderstandings".

The New Zealand First leader, whose decision to enter into a coalition agreement with Labour propelled Jacinda Ardern to power, said recent tensions over the treatment of Kiwis in Australia must be addressed for the relationship to improve.

"I'm not beginning under any illusion that our relationship is as good as it should be. I think it could be better and I'm going to set out to find ways to ensure that it is better," Mr Peters told Fairfax Media from Wellington.

Mr Peters said the two countries had enjoyed "an extraordinarily special relationship" but noted that "from time to time, we've had a few misunderstandings and I do believe we have a few of late and we need to rectify that".
It would be fair to say I have had a complicated relationship with Canberra.

Back when I was finishing my everlasting arts degree and hunting for a job in Sydney, I imagined myself moving out of home to live in a rundown art deco apartment in Darlinghurst. Or maybe a bohemian share-terrace in Surry Hills.

Illustration: John Shakespeare

So it was not without horrification that the job I actually got was in Canberra. About as far away from a dimly-lit wine bar as you could get.

Such was the level of my complaining about this uncool twist of fate - about how the ACT was one big personality-free 'burb fest - friends say they thought I wouldn't go through with the move. But pay cheques speak louder than youthful dreams of inner-city posing and off I went, down the Federal Highway to the national capital.
Medical students have declared their support for doctor-assisted dying in defiance of the Australian Medical Association's (AMA) strident opposition to euthanasia.

The Australian Medical Students' Association (AMSA) announced its in-principle support for voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in a policy document released on Thursday.

AMSA president Rob Thomas with AMSA members in Sydney for the organisation's national meeting earlier this year. Credit:Daniel Munoz

President Rob Thomas said AMSA had a strong mandate from its membership, with just under 80 per cent supporting VAD with appropriate safeguards.

"As the future of Australia's medical profession, this is an important policy especially given the current political climate and debate in the community," Mr Thomas said.
Mental health nurses have described fearing for their safety and working on wards ill-equipped to safely manage violent psychiatric and drug-affected patients without secluding or restraining them.

National policies aimed at reducing the use of the restrictive methods will fail unless mental health units are better resourced and nurses armed with effective alternatives, according to a groundbreaking report by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.

The restrictive practices were traumatic for nurses and patients alike, but necessary on understaffed, overcrowded and poorly designed mental health units when psychiatric or drug-affected patients became aggressive, the research project found.

"Nurses don't want to use seclusion or restraint but they don't have alternatives under certain circumstances," said ACMHN chief executive Adjunct Associate.
More than 55 million calls from welfare recipients met an engaged signal last year and clients waited an average 30 minutes to have their calls answered by several Department of Human Services lines.

The busy signal figures, covering July 2016 to June 2017, were a near-doubling on the previous 12 months when 29 million calls were met with the beep-beep-beep tone.

More calls from Centrelink clients are meeting the engaged signal. Credit:Erin Jonasson

But DHS officials blamed smartphone apps making multiple calls for the dramatic rise.

New department secretary Renee Leon told senators at an estimates hearing on Wednesday night that 2.8 million of its 5.8 million callers last year received a busy signal at some point in 2016-17.
FORM 8.3

PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY

A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE

Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code")

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser: Tyrus Capital S.A.M. (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):

The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:

Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree Worldpay Group plc (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken:

For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 24 October 2017 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?

If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state "N/A" YES

If YES, specify which: Vantiv, Inc.

2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

(a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

Class of relevant security:



3p ordinary



Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: (2) Cash-settled derivatives:



38,090,739 1.905 (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:



TOTAL: 38,090,739 1.905

All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

(b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors' and other employee options)

Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:

3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security Purchase/sale



Number of securities Price per unit





(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

Class of relevant security Product description

e.g. CFD Nature of dealing

e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit 3p ordinary CFD



Reducing a long position 220,000 GBP 4.110000 3p ordinary CFD



Reducing a long position 650,000 GBP 4.105887

(c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type

e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit

(ii) Exercise

Class of relevant security Product description

e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit





(d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

Class of relevant security Nature of dealing

e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable)





4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:

Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none"



none





(b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:

(i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or

(ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:

If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none"



none





(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO





Date of disclosure: 25 October 2017 Contact name: Jonathan Beer Telephone number: +377 9999 5030

Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.
Productivity Commission chair Peter Harris has questioned if public servants are really skilled for risk-based thinking and called for department bosses to receive charter letters similar to those issued to cabinet ministers.

Mr Harris said the federal government had not demonstrated enough of a commitment to enhancing the ability of public servants to design and implement effective policy, while bureaucrats were often not skilled for creative thinking.

Productivity Commission chair Peter Harris Credit:Andrew Meares

"Many of the kinds of people that we were interacting with... not the CEOs and secretaries and heads of these entities, but the people responsible for delivering programs, were not encouraged to be risk-based thinkers and were often not skilled to be risk-based thinkers, both in design and in delivery of these kinds of programs," he told Melbourne University vice-chancellor Glyn Davis.

"Rather they were encouraged to remain within a quite safe paradigm which doesn't invite necessarily very substantial change.
A court has rebuffed an attempt by the developer of the Bronte RSL site to build additional flats, with residents declaring the decision a rejection of "inappropriate overdevelopment".

Developer Danny Avidan offered a terse "no comment" to Fairfax Media after the Land and Environment Court turned down his RDA Property Group's new plans for the apartment complex in McPherson Street in Bronte.

Stephen Lightfoot (left) said the court's rejection of plans for the Bronte RSL site was a "victory for local democracy". Credit:Wolter Peeters

Commissioner Danielle Dickson said the developer's proposal to increase the height and floor space of the apartment complex did not meet planning rules for the area.

She also said the developer's new plans involved "a sub-optimal outcome" and a reduction in privacy in comparison to the development application previously approved by Waverley Council in 2015.
A woman who crashed into an ambulance six years ago, and unsuccessfully sued NSW Ambulance for negligence, has had her appeal dismissed.

Megan Riches was driving the ambulance along High Street in Penrith on June 3, 2011, with its lights and sirens on after it was tasked to a "1B" emergency.

The second-highest emergency level, 1B indicates the patient is unconscious and has breathing difficulties.

As the ambulance approached the intersection of Castlereagh Road, Ms Riches slowed down and changed the siren sound from "wailing" to a shorter "bark" or "yelp" sound.

Three of four lanes of traffic to her left stopped, so she proceeded slowly through the intersection and nosed the ambulance into the last lane, closest to the kerb.
Police are investigating a purported recording of Sydney property developer Salim Mehajer threatening a business owner, calling him "a Shia dog" and threatening to attack his mother.

Channel Seven said on Tuesday that it obtained the recording of Mr Mehajer threatening the owner of Queen St Customs, a prestige car hire and smash repair business in Revesby.

Mr Mehajer reportedly had a dispute with the owner over a car.

A NSW Police spokeswoman told Fairfax Media: "Police from Bankstown Local Area Command are aware of the matter and are investigating."
The controversial Sirius building on the edge of the Rocks is a step closer to demolition after the NSW government again declined to grant the brutalist former social-housing block heritage status and protection from redevelopment.

NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton announced on Wednesday that she had declined to grant the heritage status, moving a proposal to demolish and redevelop it into a $120-million apartment redevelopment to completion.

"My role is to decide whether the building has aesthetic value and, if so, whether that value is such as to satisfy [heritage value] at a state level," Ms Upton wrote in a decision published on Wednesday. "While the Sirius building is distinctive, in my view, it is not a landmark worthy of state heritage protection."

The announcement comes after a previous decision by Ms Upton's predecessor not to list the building was overturned in the Land and Environment Court in July, after the state government was found to have "side-stepped" its obligation to consider the building's heritage value and misapplied the law.
Brisbane will have a new cruise ship terminal at the mouth of the Brisbane River capable of taking the largest cruise ships in the world by late 2019 after it was given the green light on Wednesday.

The new terminal to be built at Luggage Point was immediately hailed as the "new frontier" for cruise ship tourism in Queensland by Treasurer Curtis Pitt.

"This is going to help ports right up and down the coast and cruise shipping is the next frontier in terms of tourism," Mr Pitt said.

More than 320 cruise ships berthed in Brisbane in 2016 and the industry is tipped to be a major growth centre as Queenslands international tourism figures increase.

After almost 18 months of negotiations, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Treasurer Curtis Pitt and Tourism Minister Kate Jones travelled to the Port of Brisbane to formally announce the Queensland government had given the $158 million project approval to start.
Convicted Brisbane rapist Damien Paul Kennedy has been arrested by police more than 1000 kilometres south from where he went missing on Monday afternoon.

Damien Kennedy.

The last known location of the 28-year-old was Salisbury, in Brisbanes south, about 4.13pm after he removed his electronic monitoring device.

On Tuesday, he taunted police with a Facebook post in which he claimed he was in Rockhampton.

"Come get me morther (sic) f---ers", he wrote.
Now, 17 Gold Coast community groups, including the Gold Coast Environment Council, Save Our Spit and Save Our Broadwater, also want changes to Queenslands Local Government Electoral Act.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk promised to ban donations from property developers and a state government report on how to implement this promise is due on November 27.

The Crime and Corruption Commission detailed close but legal links between south-east Queensland councillors and developers in Gold Coast, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and Logan councils.

Councillors who declared a conflict of interest after receiving a donation or a gift from a developer should not be able to vote on an issue involving that donor, 17 Gold Coast community groups have demanded.

They will meet at Broadbeach on Thursday night to pass a vote of no confidence in Gold Coast City Council.

They wrote to Local Government Minister Mark Furner in September 2017 asking for an investigation into Gold Coast City Councils planning activities and recommended changes to force councillors who have taken a donation, or gift from a developer, to leave a council meeting while a decision involving the donor is taken.

The residents of the Gold Coast are suffering from development decisions being made by the current council which provide what we consider excessive relaxations of city plan requirements, such that we will lose a great deal of social and environmental amenity, the letter says.

It is our opinion that the reforms we are requesting will assist in addressing this issue as well. There are so many unacceptable and undemocratic practices happening with the council that residents are extremely disturbed and angry about. We urge your department to investigate this situation.

The Queensland Government is now proposing changes to the legislation covering conflicts of interest in local councils.
Missing soldier Sean Sargent most likely died after driving off an embankment and into the Brisbane River while intoxicated, a coroner has found.

Mr Sargent was 24 when he vanished on the night of March 19, 1999, after attending party at a share house in St Lucia.

Sean Sargent vanished in 1999 after attending a party with friends at a house in St Lucia.

An inquest into his disappearance explored numerous theories including that Mr Sargent had met with foul play, taken his own life or gone to live a covert life with ASIC or the French Foreign Legion.

But after extensive hearings, Coroner John Hutton on Wednesday found Mr Sargent most likely died in a car accident.
Police are investigating the killing of a Brisbane father in his own yard overnight, including whether he was lured outside when someone turned the power off.

The 35-year-old suffered significant wounds after he was attacked with a weapon believed to be a "cutting implement like a knife" in the front yard of his home on Saint George Street at Kuraby, in the city's south.

His wife called police and they found him in the yard about 12.30am on Wednesday. Emergency crews fought to revive him but he could not be saved.

Police launched a homicide investigation, blocking off the street and involving detectives from across Brisbane and the dog squad in the search for the killer.
DAYTON, Ohio, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MacAulay-Brown, Inc. (MacB), a leading National Security company delivering advanced engineering services, cybersecurity and product solutions, today announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Sid Fuchs will be the featured Keynote Speaker at the 2017 Fall Government Contracting (GovCon) Getaway on Monday, October 30. He will present Thriving in the Federal Marketplace to more than 30 GovCon C-Suite executives, detailing the strategies and tactics he has implemented to transform MacB and drive growth over the last six years. The invitation-only event is scheduled over two days at the MGM National Harbor Hotel in Oxon Hill, Maryland.



Mr. Fuchs is the published author of Get Off the Bench, an Amazon Top 20 business book that discusses the concepts and methodologies of building productive professional relationships. He is a highly sought-after public speaker on a variety of leadership, strategy, and industry topics, and recently spoke at George Mason University, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Capital chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG). Mr. Fuchs was also named one of the Top 25 Leaders in Government Contracting by WashingtonExec in 2016 and 2017.

The sponsored Fall GovCon Getaway offers CEOs and CFOs an opportunity to share their experiences on multiple topics including industry challenges, how to collaborate and build strong partnerships, must-win capture and advisory strategies, deferred compensation, and competitive pricing. In addition to his keynote address, Mr. Fuchs will also serve as a panelist with Subsystem Technologies CFO Shane Thrailkill entitled, Charting Multiple Growth Pathways in the Federal Market.

This well-planned event will offer like-minded executives and industry thought leaders the opportunity to engage on a variety of challenging topics in a closed-door setting, said Mr. Fuchs. My presentation will focus on how GovCon companies of any size can develop the skills, methodologies, and metrics necessary to grow their business, and how to take advantage of key resources to make those hard choices.

"Sids unique industry background and experience, stellar reputation as a Defense and Intelligence executive, and unique set of leadership skills make him the perfect fit to speak to executives from small and mid-sized companies just on the verge of growth, said Phoebe Henderson, Managing Director at ZRG Partners, one of the event sponsors. He is well-known for shaping and growing MacBs market share and brand presence throughout the industry.

ABOUT MACAULAY-BROWN, INC. (MacB)

For more than 37 years, MacAulay-Brown, Inc. (MacB) has been solving some of the Nations most complex National Security challenges. Defense, Intelligence Community, Special Operations Forces, Homeland Security and Federal agencies rely on our advanced engineering services, cybersecurity, and product solutions to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world. With Corporate Headquarters in Dayton, Ohio and National Capital Headquarters in Vienna, Virginia, our more than 1,500 employees worldwide are dedicated to developing mission-focused and results-oriented solutions that make a difference where and when it matters most. Learn more about MacB at www.macb.com.

Follow MacB
Police believe a wanted New South Wales man could be in the Ipswich area after he went missing on Monday afternoon.

Wanted New South Wales man Patrick Mills. Credit:NSW police

Patrick Mills, 46, is wanted for breaching an order imposed by the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Corrective Services NSW contacted police after Mills did not return to his Campbelltown home from appointments in Sydneys CBD.

NSW Police said inquiries had revealed Mills may have been in Goodna, near Ipswich, earlier today.
These are the things that year 12 student Tnaysha Halemba has to do before she goes to school: take a shower, wake up her daughter, dress her, brush her hair, make breakfast and pack their bags.

"Everything that your mother used to do at home is what we do, on top of year 12," the 23-year-old said.

Tnaysha Halemba, right, in her year 12 class with daughter Leyarna and another young mother, Taylor Gunther. Credit:Joe Armao

"Before class I have to run a household."

After school she does a load of washing, prepares dinner, cleans up the mess from breakfast, pays the bills and then puts three-year-old Leyarna to bed. Then she sits down and studies.
State-owned logging company VicForests relied on a $4.8 million payment from the Andrews government to turn a profit this year for it's work, including creating homes for the critically endangered Leadbeater's possum.

The beleaguered logging company, which has been trading at a loss for many years, has been paid to build 72 artificial tree hollows, in an experiment to see if the possums will nest in them.

A logging coupe in the Toolangi State Forest in Victoria's central highlands. Credit:Jason South

The annual report said possums had been observed nesting in 39 of the artificial hollows, in a highly encouraging sign.

But Sarah Rees, director of conservation group My Environment, said VicForests was now in the absurd position of being paid to conserve a species it was also pushing to extinction.
City of Perth councillor Reece Harley has denied using council committees and board positions to "bribe" councillors to vote him in as deputy lord mayor at Tuesday night's meeting.

Perth Live's Oliver Peterson investigated claims Cr Harley had offered a position on the Tamala Park Council Board or the Mindarie Regional Council to fellow council member Janet Davidson in exchange for a vote.

Reece Harley has denied the email he sent fellow City of Perth councillors was out of line. Credit:Facebook

Speaking on his Radio 6PR show on Tuesday, Peterson said he was leaked an email addressing council committees and board appointments, which had been sent by Mr Harley to "all councillors".

"Reece Harley sent all councillors an email, titled 'Council committees and board positions'," Peterson said on air.
Yamalulu pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm, a crime which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years. He was sentenced to three years and eight months jail and can apply for parole in December next year. "You turned a woman who was on all accounts a healthy young woman aged about 38 years into a disabled woman who cannot walk or stand, cannot speak or eat independently, cannot look after herself in any way and needs constant care, which is likely to remain the case for a very long time if not forever," Judge Annette Schoombee said. "So you've taken away all her joy in living and her freedom to do what she likes. You have removed her from her community and her friends." You turned a healthy young woman aged about 38 years into a disabled woman who cannot walk or stand.

The court was told Yamalulu arrived drunk at his former partner's Fitzroy Crossing home on the night of February 23. He entered the house and found the victim with another man, who ran from the scene. He grabbed the woman on the arm and threw her to the ground before jumping on her chest, legs and head. The victim screamed and pleaded with him to stop. Yamalulu continued the assault, before leaving his ex-partner unconscious outside the rear of the house under a washing line.

The court heard Yamalulu had assaulted his former partner on several occasions. The court was told how Yamalulu had carried out two previous assaults on his ex-partner before the February 23 attack. The court heard how the pair were a "recidivist domestic violence couple." On one occasion he used a large empty glass bottle to hit the victim to the back of the head. On another occasion he punched her in the face and struck her in the back of the head with a rock.

The court was told how Yamalulu had been brought up in a disadvantaged environment where violence and alcoholism "were the usual way of living." "You regularly observed your father drinking to excess and assaulting your mother," Judge Annette Schoombee said. "You also regularly saw other relatives and community members committing acts of violence against each other, particularly when they had been drinking. "This is likely to have caused you to see excessive drinking and using violence against others, particularly your female partners, as being normal." In 2017 there were 5115 convictions in WA for breaching a restraining order. Credit:Chris Brignell

Tragically, this case is one of thousands of domestic related assaults occurring in remote areas like the Kimberley, where excessive alcohol abuse and violence against others is perceived by some as being normal. The victim in this case had taken out a violence restraining order against her former partner and the case shines a spotlight on violence restraining orders, and as to whether they are adequately helping those who use them as a form of protection, particularly in remote areas. Figures provided to WAtoday show convictions in Western Australia for breaching a violence restraining order are rising. In 2013 there were 3544 charges which resulted in a conviction for breaching a violence restraining order. In 2014 that number rose to 3778. In 2015 it rose again to 4510 convictions.

Last year there were 5115 charges which resulted in a conviction for breaching a violence restraining order. That's an average of 98 convictions per week. Kimberley Police District Superintendent Allan Adams revealed there were 2599 domestic assaults reported to Kimberley district police last financial year, an increase of about 40 per cent on the previous year. The attack happened in the Kimberley town of Fitzroy Crossing. The passionate and straightforward talking cop told WAtoday he was encouraged by the figures because it showed more people were willing to report domestic violence and in turn, it was giving police a better picture of the problem.

"There is no 40 per cent increase in domestic violence, it's always been there, it's a 40 per cent increase in reporting," he said. "We've put a lot of effort in with other government agencies to try and lift up the reporting rates. "While I don't think we will ever be able to put our hand on our heart and say 'we know the full extent of domestic violence across the Kimberley' I think we are getting much closer to seeing a much better part of this picture. "Obviously once you get a better part of the picture, you have the ability then to actually start working with families, working with perpetrators, working with victims, to try and reduce the impact of that offending lifestyle." Kimberley Police District Superintendent Allan Adams
A brother of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock has been arrested in Los Angeles on child porn charges, police have confirmed.

Bruce Paddock, 58, was taken into custody at an assisted living facility in North Hollywood, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing unnamed law enforcement sources. Aerial video showed investigators gathered near the building, and authorities confirmed an arrest was made Wednesday morning.

NBC News, citing court records, said Bruce Paddock has previous convictions for vandalism, criminal threats and theft.

The investigation began prior to Stephen Paddock's shooting rampage on the Las Vegas Strip on October 1 that killed 58 people and wounded hundreds more, the Associated Press reported.
London: Iran has sentenced to death a person found guilty of providing information to Israel to help it assassinate several senior nuclear scientists, Tehran's prosecutor has said.

Dolatabadi did not identify the defendant on Tuesday, but Amnesty International said Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian doctor who studied and taught in Sweden, had been sentenced to death in Iran on espionage charges.

Pedestrians walk in downtown Tehran, Iran. Credit:AP

At least four scientists were killed between 2010 and 2012 in what Tehran said was a program of assassinations aimed at sabotaging its nuclear energy program. Iran hanged one man in 2012 over the killings, saying he had links to Israel.

On the latest conviction, Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi told the judiciary's news agency: "The person had several meetings with [Israeli intelligence agency] Mossad and provided them with sensitive information about Iran's military and nuclear sites in return for money and residency in Sweden".
Steve Bannon speaks at a campaign rally for Arizona Senate candidate Kelli Ward on Wednesday. Credit:AP/Ross D. Franklin Fox News hosts are not usually allowed to stump for candidates, but Ingraham was granted an exception because her show had not yet begun. An ardent nationalist, a Trump confidante and a foe of open borders, Ingraham said in an interview with The New York Times that she wants to represent "the working-class, populist sensibility that is the beating heart of the Republican party right now". She added, "I hope that a lot of the men and women who feel forgotten in this country really see that they have in me a champion". Laura Ingraham says she's unafraid to criticise Trump, unlike Trump confidante and Fox News host Sean Hannity. Credit:AP An acolyte of Ronald Reagan, Robert Bork and Pat Buchanan, Ingraham was among the first commentators to endorse Trump in the presidential campaign. Many pundits on Fox News took longer to follow her lead, especially as Trump feuded with its star anchor, Megyn Kelly.

Before Election Day, Fox News executives were talking up a new focus on straight news coverage. Post-Trump, the channel's prime-time lineup has moved to the right, installing the combative Tucker Carlson in the 8pm slot and Trump confidante Sean Hannity at 9pm. "Laura Ingraham is as about as hard-core a Trump defender as they could have put on the air at this point," said Charlie Sykes, the longtime conservative radio host and MSNBC analyst. "Right now, that's what the Fox News viewership wants. They want the Trump red meat." Ingraham is well-suited to deliver it. In Scottsdale, she was greeted as a hero by the Trump-supporting crowd.

As an early supporter of Trump, Ingraham landed a prime speaking slot at the Republican National Convention. She speaks with the president a few times a month. "Sometimes, I call him, and occasionally, I'll get a call," she said nonchalantly. But unlike Hannity, Ingraham has shown a willingness to publicly bite the hand. In the interview, she criticised the "snail's pace" of staff appointments and knocked the president for "stepping on his own message at times". "This is about the movement," she said. "Trump is invaluable - he's the titular head of the movement. But it's like with George W. Bush. I campaigned for him in 2004, and by the end of it, I wasn't invited to any of the White House events." Shawna Noyes, who waited in line for a half-hour for Ingraham to sign a book, said that Hannity was sometimes too soft on the president. "I think she's going to be tough," said Noyes, who runs a steel company in Phoenix. The president, an avid Fox viewer, has not been not shy about registering his displeasure with critical coverage. What will he think of Ingraham?

"You know, he'll probably, uh, be irked," Ingraham said, staring straight ahead. "We are friends, but friends tell friends when they go off course. And I'm sure he'll tell me when he thinks I'm deviating from what's proper and thoughtful. And I'll do the same with him." Ingraham lives in Virginia with her three adopted children. She grew up in Glastonbury, Connecticut, the daughter of a waitress and the owner of a carwash. Media criticism began at home: She wrote in her book that she could remember her father deriding the anchor Walter Cronkite and his famed signoff, "That's the way it is". "No, Walt, that's the way you say it is!" her father would reply. Ingraham honed her craft in college at The Dartmouth Review, the undergraduate right-wing journal that earned national recognition (and some revulsion) for stunts that, in hindsight, presaged the antics of Breitbart reporters. "All the way back to Dartmouth, I was part of the insurgency," she said.

In an era before mainstream acceptance of homosexuality, Ingraham assigned a reporter to attend a meeting of the campus gay students' alliance and published a transcript of the proceedings, naming names. Years later, she apologised, citing in part the experience of her gay brother and his partner, who had AIDS. In law school at the University of Virginia, she drove a Honda hatchback with the license plate "FARRGHT." In Washington, as a young conservative on the rise, Ingraham worked in the Reagan White House, clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas, and founded a right-wing retreat cheekily named "The Dark Ages". Arianna Huffington was on the steering committee. A New York Times Magazine article described her joy-riding in Washington in her green Land Rover, blasting zydeco music at midnight. She was among the first crop of commentators at the dawn of the cable-news era, hosting a show on MSNBC and, along with Kellyanne Conway and Ann Coulter, earning the nickname "the pundettes". By the early 2000s, her radio talk show was carried by more than 200 stations and her books "The Hillary Trap","Of Thee I Zing" and "Power to the People" sold by the millions. Some of her remarks brought outrage. "No one wants to see fat people on the cover of magazines in swimsuits," she said during a television appearance. She has also been the recipient of name-calling: Ed Schultz, the former MSNBC host, was suspended for calling her "a right-wing slut".

Still, her move into Bannon's Breitbart circle - considered a fringe of the right wing until Trump's victory - was not inevitable. Her embrace of Trump strained her relationship with some of her fellow conservatives. "Laura represents her own unique brand," said Christopher Ruddy, who runs Newsmax, a Fox News competitor. "She comes out of the milieu of talk radio, where the economics of that business have driven a lot of hosts who were moderately conservative to be a little edgier". Ingraham joined Bannon in 2014 to endorse David Brat, an outsider Republican who would go on to win a surprise victory over Eric Cantor, then the Republican majority leader in the House. She had been encouraged to back Brat by a producer, Julia Hahn, who went on to write for Breitbart and now works in the White House. Asked if she is bringing a Breitbart viewership to Fox News, Ingraham responded: "I wouldn't call it a Breitbart audience. I would call it America". "I like Tom Wolfe's description of the country," she continued. "There's America. The coasts are like the parentheses. In between is the country."
Washington: The North Korean foreign minister's warning of a possible atmospheric nuclear test over the Pacific Ocean should be taken literally, a senior North Korean official has told CNN.

"The foreign minister is very well aware of the intentions of our supreme leader, so I think you should take his words literally," Ri Yong-pil, a senior diplomat in North Korea's Foreign Ministry, told CNN in an interview aired on Wednesday.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho said last month Pyongyang may consider conducting "the most powerful detonation" of a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean amid rising tensions with the US.

CIA chief Mike Pompeo said last week that North Korea could be only months away from gaining the ability to hit the US with nuclear weapons.
Washington: Tensions among Republicans about President Donald Trump boiled over on Tuesday as two senators accused Trump of debasing US politics and the country's standing abroad, a rebellion that could portend trouble for his legislative agenda.

The extraordinary public criticism of the president from Jeff Flake and Bob Corker further strained what had already been a fraught relationship between Trump and fellow Republicans as they try to enact tax reform and other policy items.

In an emotional speech on the Senate floor, Flake repeatedly targeted Trump's style of governing, saying American politics had become "inured" to "reckless, outrageous and undignified" behaviour from the White House.

"The instinct to scapegoat and belittle threatens to turn us into a fearful, backward-looking people," said the Arizona lawmaker, who announced he would not run for re-election next year.
TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:ELO) (FSE:P2Q) (Eloro or the Corporation) is pleased to announce the Use of Water permit has been received which allows Eloro to commence diamond drilling on the Rufina Zone of the La Victoria Gold/Silver Project in Peru (La Victoria).



"Although La Victoria is located near world-class gold mines including Yanacocha (Newmont Mining), La Arena (Tahoe Resources) and Lagunas Norte (Barrick Gold) in Perus prolific Northern Central Mineral Belt, Eloros wholly-owned subsidiary in Peru is conducting the first drill program on La Victoria despite more than 30 years plus of artisanal mining on the property, said CEO Tom Larsen. "This program should provide effective insights into the continuity of mineralization at depth that the artisanal miners and our geological and geophysical teams have discovered on surface."

The planned diamond drilling program at Rufina will consist of 16 holes totalling 3,500 m to an approximate down hole depth of between 150 m to 280 metres. A drill contract has been signed with Energold Drilling Peru S.A.C. for NTW diamond drilling. The portable drill rig employed by Energold can be readily moved by existing public trails and requires only minimal drill pad preparation. Two drill rigs will be used with a staggered start to optimize efficiency and reduce overall cost per metre.

Thirteen of the holes are designed to be drilled across the mineralized shear zones and tear faults at Rufina; eight of them will test both the gold mineralization found on surface and the Induced Polarization (IP/Res) anomalies while the remaining three holes will test relevant IP/Res anomalies within the Rufina zone approximately 50 metres below surface.

The budget for the planned 3,500 metre drill program, including the completion of the geophysical program in progress, is CDN$2,000,000. The recent improved exchange rate for the $CDN versus the $US has had a positive effect on the budget numbers. Completion of this program will enable EHR Resources Limited., Eloros option and joint venture partner on the project, to satisfy the requirements of the Stage 1 Earn-in Period in order to acquire a 10% interest in La Victoria.

Assaying for the project will be done at SGS del Peru. Eloro employs an industry standard approach for QA/QC with use of standards, blanks and duplicate samples. Work in Peru is supervised by Luc Pigeon, P.Geo. a Qualified Person (QP) as defined under National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., Chief Technical Advisor for Eloro and a QP as defined under NI 43-101 will provide overall technical guidance for the program.

Results from drilling will be released as received.

About Eloro Resources Ltd.

Eloro is an exploration and mine development company with a portfolio of gold and base-metal properties in Peru and Quebec. Eloro owns a 100% interest in the La Victoria Gold/Silver Project, located in the North-Central Mineral Belt of Peru some 50 km south of Barrick's Lagunas Norte Gold Mine and Tahoe's La Arena Gold Mine. The Property consists of eight mining concessions and eight mining claims encompassing approximately 89 square kilometres. The Property has good infrastructure with access to road, water and electricity and is located at an altitude that ranges from 3,100 m to 4,200 m above sea level.

For further information please contact Jorge Estepa, Vice-President of Eloro Resources Ltd. at (416) 868-9168.



Information in this news release may contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information express, as at the date of this news release, the Corporation's plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations, or beliefs as to future events or results and are believed to be reasonable based on information currently available to the Corporation. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.



Neither the TSXV, CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV or CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., a Qualified Person in the context of NI 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Student Support Services Division (SSSD) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport is organizing a free workshop entitled Applying to Schools in the Netherlands on November 6, 2017 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

This workshop is open to students in the last two years of secondary school or recent graduates and will be held at SSSDs office which is located in the Amigo Building, across from the Police Station next to the Windward Island Bank (WIB) in Philipsburg.

According to SSSD officials, for some high school graduates, applying to schools in the Netherlands to further their education can be as simple as going to one portal imputing the required information, sending off the required supporting documents, and waiting for a response. However, for others the application process can be a tedious task and some may not even know where to begin.

The aim of this workshop is to make the abovementioned process easier for students seeking to continue their studies in the Netherlands, the officials said.

The Applying to Schools in the Netherlands workshop is aimed at students from all sections of the diverse education system on St. Maarten. Whether you come from a vocational or academic tract or Dutch or English language of instruction, there is valuable information for you, SSSD officials noted. They added that the system and requirements in the Netherlands change so often that it is important for students to be aware.

Some schools or programs may have as basic application requirements a high school diploma and decent grades but there are those schools that have additional requirements such as interviews, language tests and others. It is important that our students be aware and know what is expected of them, SSSD officials add.

Students are encouraged to be on time and to register for the workshop since space is limited. SSSD officials reiterated that the workshop is from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM since it is getting darker earlier now and there is also limited lighting at night in Philipsburg. If parents or students have any questions on this workshop, they can contact the Student Support Services Division at telephone 543-1235 for more information. Students can also call 543-1235 to register for the workshop.

The Student Support Services Division (SSSD) provides services to students referred by the schools. These services consist of psychological services, counseling services, social work services, educational diagnostic services, career services, and parent education sessions.

Ministry of ECYS Press Release
PORT ST. MAARTEN:--- A delegation from Port St. Maarten along with other critical stakeholders led by the Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Mellissa Arrindell-Doncher currently at the Caribbeans largest Cruise Conference and Trade Show, the 24th Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), which is taking place from October 23 to 27, has learnt from the conference so far, due to the passing of Hurricanes Irma and Maria last month, there are many opportunities for Caribbean destinations that will derive from the chaos created by both major storms.

Destination St. Maarten will use the opportunities to further reinvent itself that would lead the island catering to repeat passengers who will get the opportunity to rediscover the destination. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the worlds largest cruise industry trade association, said more than 25 million travelers are expected to take a cruise vacation this year.

Cruise line executives informed delegates that they were impressed with the fast turn-around of Caribbean destinations damaged by the two major hurricanes. The two main cruise lines, Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean International, stated to delegates at the round-table session, that they are committed to returning their vessels to those destinations, and that this will be done in close collaboration with port authorities and the respective ministries of tourism.

The Caribbean cruise industry and in particular St. Maarten, is destined for a strong rebound along with the assistance of the cruise industry as a marquee destination.

We have been having and continue to have key discussions with cruise line executives to assure the expectations from passengers are met with higher than perceived experiences. The destination offers a unique experience and must collectively push towards the reopening of St. Maarten. The continued resilience of our people echoed strongly during the opening ceremony with confidence that the Island will be developed better than ever, Port St. Maarten Management said on Tuesday.

Port St. Maarten collaborated with stakeholders such as the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau (STB), the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Rain Forest Adventures to promote the destination at the FCCA Conference & Trade Show.

The 24th Annual FCCA Conference and Trade Show is an opportunity to profile the destination post-Hurricane Irma to approximately 1,000 cruise tourism stakeholders and 100 senior cruise executives about where the destination is at that point in time, seven weeks after the passing of one of the most destructive hurricanes in the Caribbean.

The FCCA Conference is a four-day event designed to foster a better understanding of the inner workings of the cruise industry and help attendees improve their cruise tourism business during a series of meetings, workshops and networking functions aimed at developing understanding, relationships, and business.

Through a specialized forum that blends meetings and workshops with social functions, attendees have a unique opportunity to develop relationships with, promote products to, and learn from approximately 100 executives from FCCAs 19 Member Lines who decide where ships call, what is sold and used onboard, and how to invest in destinations and infrastructure.

Created in 1972, the FCCA is a not-for-profit trade organization that provides a forum for discussion on tourism development, ports, safety, security, and other cruise industry issue and builds bilateral relationships with destinations' private and public sectors. By fostering an understanding of the cruise industry and its operating practices, the FCCA works with governments, ports and private sector representatives to maximize cruise passenger, crew, and cruise line spending, as well as enhance the destination experience and increase the amount of cruise passengers returning as stay-over visitors.

The conference and trade show will take place at the Yucatan Siglo XXI Convention Center, Calle 60, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

Port St. Maarten Press Release
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Permanent Committee of Kingdom Affairs and Inter-Parliamentary Relations (CKAIR), will meet on October 26, 2017.

The CKAIR Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 09.00 am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda points to be discussed are:

Approval Decision list CKAIR Parliamentary Year 2016-2017, no. 5 dated May 30, 2017 Incoming documents Debriefing IPKO and Tripartite June 12-16, 2017 in the Hague, the Netherlands Discussion on participation delegation Parliament of Sint Maarten in IPKO January 2018 in Aruba

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 120, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, SXMGOV Radio 107.9FM, video live stream via the Internet www.pearlfmradio.sx, www.sxmparliament.org and also Parliament's FB page: Parliament of Sint Maarten.
Tellza Announces 2017 Q3 Financial Results

TORONTO, ONTARIO  (Marketwired)  10/24/17  Tellza Communications Inc. (TSX: TEL) announced its unaudited financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. All dollar and per share amounts referred to herein are in United States funds, unless expressly stated otherwise.

2017 Highlights

Telecommunications

Technology

Portfolio Investments

Rightway Funding  Structured Settlements

Next Group Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: NXGH)

Merkez Fakoring AS

Corporate

The Companys financial statements and other disclosures are available on SEDAR.

The Companys corporate profile is located at

About Tellza

Tellza operates in both the Communications and Financial Support Services business. Tellza is a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TEL).

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information:

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words like expects, anticipates, plans, intends, indicates or similar expressions. These statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. Tellzas actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors set forth in reports and other documents filed by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time. See which contains all securities files.

(i)We define EBITDA as earnings before taxes, depreciation and amortization, impairments, stock based compensation, interest, minority interest and other gains and losses. EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, it is a standard measure used in our industry to assist in understanding and comparing operating results. EBITDA is reviewed regularly by management and our Board of Directors in assessing performance and in making decisions regarding the ongoing operations of the business and the ability to generate cash flows. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a companys performance, financial position or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS. EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance nor does it have a standardized meaning under IFRS. In evaluating these measures, investors should consider that the methodology applied in calculating as such measures may differ among companies and analysts. Below is a reconciliation of EBITDA to net income for the periods presented:

Contacts:

Tellza Communications Inc.

Mike Vazquez

+954 624 8143
Archiware announces LTO-8 support for P5 Software Suite

Munich, October 25, 2017  LTO tape technology is a future-proof, long-term storage solution. It provides energy efficiency and maximum security at an affordable price point. The latest generation 8 of LTO Ultrium radically advances usability and data management in combination with Archiwares P5 Software Suite.

The new LTO-8 increases storage capacity to 12TB native (30TB compressed) per cartridge using a 2.5:1 ratio. This optimizes big data workloads managed by P5 Archive, allowing for fewer tape cartridges to be used to store the same amount of data. For P5 Backup, the performance of backup and restore is improved with a transfer rate of 360 MB/sec native (750 MB/sec compressed). High-performance setups configured in P5 can further increase efficiency through the parallel use of multiple drives in the tape library.

The one-generation backwards read and write compatibility with LTO-7 cartridges improves flexibility and cost-effectiveness. To optimize storage investment, the same LTO tape hardware can be utilized for both P5 Backup and P5 Archive.

The latest Archiware P5 version 5.5.1 is now available as an upgrade or 30-day free trial on http://p5.archiware.com/download
ZTE Supports Development of the Gigabit Society in Germany

The company announced its strategy for the road to the digital future for Europe and Germany at BBWF 2017

25 October 2017, Berlin, Germany  Speaking at Broadband World Forum (BBWF) 2017 today, ZTEs Senior Vice President Mr. Xiao Ming announced the companys future business and broadband strategy for Europe and Germany, including ideas on how to support development of the Gigabit Society in Germany.

Highlighting the strong demand for targeted investments, innovative technologies and a 5G strategy for Europe, Mr. Xiao declared it was ZTEs goal to lead the way into the Gigabit Society and to push ahead the development of a gigabit infrastructure in Germany.

In the last few months, the discussion about the digitisation of Germany has intensified and rapidly gained momentum, with leading organisations all pointing out that the need for a high-performance broadband infrastructure is indispensable for the further economic success of Germany, and that this future infrastructure must consist of a gigabit access network made of fibre, said Mr Xiao.

A major part of ZTEs strategy is to make targeted investments in key markets in Germany and Europe. Since 2005, ZTE has been active in Germany and has established itself as a reliable partner in the German telecommunications industry. Since then, ZTEs investments have grown steadily. In 2014 and 2015, ZTE invested over 80 million Euros, making the company one of the largest Chinese investors in NRW.

As a global provider of technologies for building gigabit access networks, ZTE is investing not only in the expansion of fibre optics, but also in the expansion of 5G technology, which also requires a fibre-based infrastructure. Each year, ZTE invests 250 million Euros in the research and development of 5G.

In the European market, the construction of 5G infrastructures is one of the long-term core objectives of ZTE, Mr Xiao said. We are aiming to install the first commercial deployments of 5G in Europe by the third quarter of 2018 and to achieve a comprehensive market maturity by the first quarter of 2019.

In addition to investments, another one of ZTEs strategic objectives is to expand the broadband business in Germany to regional operators, city carriers and urban centres. The signing of a strategic partnership agreement on GPON and Gfast technologies with NetCologne, the leading provider of telecommunications technologies and services in Cologne, fits in perfectly with this strategy.

As a global technology leader, ZTE will support NetCologne in Germany to enable gigabit access for up to 450,000 households in the coming months. Mr. Xiao explained that ZTE plans to use its innovative technologies in the future to build up the gigabit infrastructure in Germany.

European governments are finally realising that a strong economy needs to be supported by the most powerful digital infrastructure available, and ZTE is committed to continuing its cooperation with governments and various market participants in order to lead the development of the Gigabit Society in Germany and Europe, said Mr Xiao. We are committed to supporting the construction of wide-coverage Gigabit networks by 2025.

For further information, please visit www.zte.com.cn.
AVST Celebrates 35 Years of Innovation

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA  (Marketwired)  10/25/17  This month (AVST) is celebrating 35 years as a trusted developer of Unified Communications (UC) solutions. Despite significant changes in the communications industry over the past four decades, AVSTs mission has remained consistent: Deliver best-of-breed UC applications that transform the productivity of individuals, teams and businesses while leveraging the value of their existing and evolving IT infrastructure.

With the unique ability to integrate with all of the industrys leading telephony and email systems, on-premise or in the cloud, AVSTs reputation as the most interoperable, enterprise-class UC platform in the market is firmly established.

Founded in 1982, AVST established its roots as a provider of mission-critical voice applications like call processing and voice messaging. Over the years, AVST has evolved and expanded its product offerings to include powerful mobility, team communications and business process solutions. This unfailing commitment to its customers, coupled with its world-class network of channel and technology partners, has been critical to the companys success. With thousands of customers across a wide range of vertical markets, AVST prides itself on its ability to deliver best-of-breed UC solutions for any size organization  from small-to-medium businesses to the largest and most demanding enterprises in the world, including:

The largest airline in the world

The largest utility company in the U.S.

The largest railroad in the U.S.

The largest public and private universities in the U.S.

The best hospitals in the nation

The scalability, feature flexibility and unrivaled interoperability of AVSTs enterprise-class UC platform is highly valued by todays organizations that have, and continue to make, substantial investments in telephony, email and other critical UC components, said Hardy Myers, AVST President & CEO. With some of the best and largest organizations in the world relying on our communications technology today, our imperative remains to continue developing next-generation communications applications that improve productivity while leveraging an enterprises current and future IT investments.

As AVST reflects on nearly four decades of business, AVST prides itself on delivering:

The industrys most interoperable UC platform to future-proof IT investments

Mission-critical voice messaging, automated attendant, IVR, and fax

Most flexible, best-of-breed unified messaging

First enterprise-class, context-aware personal assistant

Broad offering of speech recognition applications, with speech integrated throughout the entire user experience

Team communications for next-generation knowledge workers

Extensible and customizable CEBP platform to accelerate business processes

World-class uptime metrics supporting business continuity and disaster recovery

Customer First, Always! level of service

AVST is well known to uniquely address the evolving demands of enterprises, including the migration to the cloud, the expanding mobility requirements of enterprise workforces, and the integration with Skype for Business. To support the widest range of customers at any stage of their journey, AVSTs corporate philosophy is to support any delivery model, any consumption model, and the flexibility to change at any time to meet evolving technology and market demands. AVST launched in 2016 to further support this power of choice.

Once customers discover the full power of CX-E  including its industry-leading interoperability, its scalability and resiliency, its best-of-breed voice and mobility applications, and the transformative nature of its team communications and business process applications  it becomes clear why enterprises have continued to select AVSTs UC solutions as a critical component of their IT infrastructure for the past 35 years.

To learn more about AVST, please visit .

With more than 35 years of continuous innovation, Applied Voice & Speech Technologies, Inc. (AVST) is a trusted developer of software-based, enterprise-class Unified Communications (UC) solutions.

Our mission is to design, deliver and support communications solutions that transform the productivity of individual workers, teams and enterprises while leveraging the value of their existing and evolving IT infrastructure.

Thousands of businesses worldwide rely on AVSTs advanced voice, mobility, team communications, and business process UC solutions to meet their mission-critical communications requirements. The world-class interoperability and flexibility of AVSTs UC platform provides a future-proofed bridge to their digital future.

Headquartered in Orange County, California, AVST maintains facilities in Seattle, Washington, Victoria B.C., Canada, the United Kingdom, and has remote sales offices throughout the United States. AVSTs UC solutions are sold and supported worldwide by an extensive network of resellers and OEM partners. To learn more about AVST, our products and partners, please visit or you can follow us at , or .

Embedded Video Available:

Stephanie Olsen

Lages & Associates

(949) 453-8080
ITESOFT | W4s strategy validated by the market

ITESOFT | W4, a leader in digitalisation and process automation, today announced it has been named in Gartners iBPMS* 2017 Magic Quadrant. This industry recognition endorses the companys strategic vision for continuing development of its SCPA (Secure Capture & Process Automation) Platform over several years, and builds on recent acknowledgement from Forrester, Aragon Research, CXP and MWD.

25/10/2017, Farnham  ITESOFT | W4, a provider of solutions for digital transformation of business processes has had a core component of its Secure Capture and Process Automation (SCPA) Digital Business Platform named within Gartners iBPMS Magic Quadrant with its BPMN + offering.

This recognition marks an important step in the groups evolution and its strategy of supporting its global customers in their digital transformation journey.

In recent years, ITESOFT | W4 has deployed its unique experience of omni-channel document and information capture to deliver secure digitalisation of business processes within the BPMN+ offering. Its solutions are used by leading companies in the UK, France and internationally, including BNP Paribas, Mitsubishi Electric, Network Rail, Crest Nicholson, Pepsico, Carglass, Palmer & Harvey, and London Ambulance Service. Customers benefit from its ability to accelerate business transformation, reduce costs, improve customer satisfaction and meet regulatory requirements.

Didier Charpentier, CEO of ITESOFT | W4 comments: The inclusion of ITESOFT | W4 in Gartners iBPMS Magic Quadrant consolidates the transformation vision we embarked upon several years ago and validates our acquisition of W4 in 2015. We now have a unique offering that integrates process automation, document capture and fraud detection.

BPM  The Foundation of SCPA  The Digital Business Platform ITESOFT | W4

For several years ITESOFT | W4 has been investing in the development of a platform on which its customers and partners can create new business processes and applications fit for the digital age. By acquiring W4 in 2015, ITESOFT enriched its offering with a BPM solution unanimously recognised for its robustness, openness and compatibility with the BPMN 2.0 standard.

ITESOFT | W4s Digital Business Platform is a unique offering based on three essential digital transformation pillars: omni-channel capture, process automation (BPM) and document fraud detection.

Companies who use the platform are able to digitalise and automate a range of business processes within functional areas including Customer management (subscription, e-contracting, management of services, case management), Financial (Purchase to Pay, invoice supplier, contract management), HR (recruitment, onboarding) and more. They can increase efficiency, reduce costs, improve customer satisfaction and address the compliance challenges businesses face.

iBPMS, an essential process for the digital era

Over recent years, business process management suites have evolved to meet the challenges of a digital world. As Gartner highlights, they now embrace a broader functional spectrum, taking into account social dimensions, real-time, mobility, integration of connected objects, and advanced aspects of application development, such as collaboration between line of business teams and IT through Low Code approaches.

These elements are critical to delivering business value, as Frederic Massy, ITESOFT | W4 Marketing & Communications Director, highlights: The SCPA platform empowers our customers and partners to model and develop their applications faster, simplifying business interactions. By digitalising and automating their end-to-end processes, businesses are achieving agility and the speed-to-market they need to develop new applications. These capabilities are critical to successful digital transformation, and being able to manage and optimise them is a guarantee of sustainability.

*Intelligent Business Process Management Suite




I must start this article off with the admission that I find it somewhat baffling that events such as the Australian marriage equality postal vote are still required. Dont get me wrong, I recognise that discrimination against LGBTQ communities around the world is still rife, but the fact that modern governments still insist on placing limitations upon personal freedoms for no reason other than the intrinsic nature of the individual in question is truly and downright sickening. Scrap the vote; just change the law, please





#EqualityCampaign, #MarriageEquality, #VoteYes, #PostYourYes, #PostYes, and #YesForEquality. With that being said, it is reassuring to see some of the worlds largest companies and corporations directly pledging support for the Yes vote. One notable example of this is Twitter, who recently launched a dedicated Yes emoji which will appear in any tweets containing the following hashtags:, and





The emoji doesnt seem to display in embedded tweets outside of Twitters own platform, but you can see how it appears in the GIF included atop this article.





th October) fast approaching, the pro-marriage equality campaign is becoming concerned about the complacency of younger voters. As online platforms go, Twitter seems like the ideal home for such supportive media, given its reputation as a hotbed for discussion around such controversial topics. In fact since 1st August, marriage equality has been the most-discussed political issue on Twitter across the whole of Australia, according to Twitter themselves. The platforms Australian user-base clearly cares deeply about this issue, however with the deadline for postal votes (27October) fast approaching, the pro-marriage equality campaign is becoming concerned about the complacency of younger voters.





Polls conducted by Newspoll identified that while 66% of individuals between the ages of 18-34 support the idea of same-sex marriage, only 57% have at the time of writing even bothered to post their voting form. Among the over-65s where support for the No vote is stronger, 74% have already sent in their vote. This alone could be enough to turn the tide if those in support of equality fail to express these views. Considering Twitters widespread popularity among younger demographics and the viral nature of the platform itself, something as simple as an eye-catching emoji could actually work wonders in encouraging these people to vote, thereby strengthening the Yes campaign as a result.





Twitter has seen an influx of posts in support of marriage equality from its Australian users in the build-up to the vote, with Twitter themselves commenting on the diverse nature of these supporters and proudly asserting, There is no one face of equality. With this I whole-heartedly agree; we all must play our part.





th October, so those who have not expressed their views and wish to do so had better act fast lest they miss out on their opportunity to vote on this important issue. The deadline for postal views to reach the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in order to be counted is 27October, so those who have not expressed their views and wish to do so had better act fast lest they miss out on their opportunity to vote on this important issue.













Sam is an aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. Currently working as Editor of Social Songbird, he hopes to one day drop that 'aspiring' prefix. Follow him @Songbird_Sam




SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zignal Labs today announced the launch of Zignal University, an instructor-led, enterprise education program that combines powerful analytics from the Zignal Enterprise platform with real-world media and social intelligence skills. As Zignal customers increasingly rely upon data and analytics within their PR, communications, marketing, digital media and government affairs activities, Zignal University will boost data-driven competencies across the organization.



Communications and marketing teams are in a state of massive transformation. Brands now communicate with consumers and stakeholders in significantly different ways and through many new channels. As a result, enterprises are retooling their communications and marketing teams with data-driven processes, powerful analytics and integrated strategies. Zignal University accelerates this learning curve and helps teams translate their Zignal investment into tangible business results.

The dynamic realities of our digital media landscape have fundamentally changed how brands operate, said Stephanie Pellegrino, newly appointed head of Zignals enterprise education team. Zignal University gives our clients the hands-on and practical training to tackle these new challenges  all leveraging Zignals real-time and predictive analytics.

The foundational Zignal University curriculum trains users on the core areas of the Zignal Enterprise platform and to how successfully incorporate in everyday workflows and activities. Users also have the option of an advanced onsite workshop which features hands-on activities and use cases designed to help users be proactive in managing their media and social intelligence across the enterprise.

Zignal University will also include live virtual training on specific topics. Offered at a variety of days and times, these courses will allow users to access learning they need when its most convenient for them. Additionally, the enterprise education team will implement on-demand education modules in the form of short, digestible videos customized for quick training or a skills refresher.

Zignal Enterprise is intuitive and user-friendly, so anyone can easily dive in and start using the platform to identify what trends, topics or influencers are affecting their brands, said Pellegrino. We see Zignal University as a valuable way to accelerate our clients expertise and comfort with the technology and help drive change across the organization.

You can learn more about Zignal University here: http://zignallabs.com/feature/zignal-university/

About Zignal Labs

Zignal Labs turns media and social intelligence into a strategic asset for the worlds largest brands and enterprises. Through real-time and predictive analysis of the full media spectrum, Zignals centralized platform empowers corporate communications, marketing and executive teams to understand trends, pinpoint issues and make informed decisions. Headquartered in San Francisco with offices throughout the country, Zignal serves customers around the world including Airbnb, Citrix, IBM, Levis, NVIDIA, PepsiCo, Tyson, Uber, The Sacramento Kings, Brunswick Group and FleishmanHillard. To learn more, visit: www.zignallabs.com.

Media Contact

Zignal Labs

Leslie Hobbs

leslie@gracestrategygroup.com

628-333-4806
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PayNearMe, a brand of Handle Financial, today announced a partnership with the New York City Department of Finance that enables New York City drivers to pay for parking tickets in cash at over 100 7-Eleven locations in all five boroughs, many of which are open 24/7.



No one likes paying parking tickets, but PayNearMe makes it convenient for those who prefer to resolve their debt by paying cash, said Jacques Jiha, NYC Department of Finance Commissioner. We are pleased to offer this service as an additional payment option for New York City drivers, as it is in line with our consistent efforts to enhance customer service.

In 2016, there were more than 230,000 cash transactions with the New York City Department of Finance. This represents hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue for the city, and is also a significant inconvenience for New Yorkers, visitors, and the Department of Finance as they have long grappled with the inconvenience of paying and processing cash payments.

Now, to make a cash payment, those with parking ticket violations simply go to www.nyc.gov/dofpaynearme and click the Get Started button to obtain a PayNearMe payment code for any unpaid balances. The code and the cash payment for the New York City Department of Finance is then presented to any 7-Eleven cashier. The transaction takes less than a minute and payment is posted within approximately 15 minutes to an hour. A low convenience fee of $2.99 applies. With over 100 7-Eleven locations in New York City, many of which are open 24-hours, seven days a week, payment is easy and convenient.

PayNearMe looks forward to working with the City of New York to offer new cash payment alternatives, said Mike Kaplan, Senior Vice President of Merchant Processing. With a significant number of payment locations, people can pay their fines anytime, day or night. It also removes the strain from city offices and automates the payment process so that payments post on time and money can be put back to work.

For more information on how government agencies are using PayNearMe to collect cash payments, please visit http://paynearme.com/tolling.

About PayNearMe

PayNearMe, a brand of Handle Financial, has been enabling government agencies and businesses to accept cash payments remotely since 2009. Using PayNearMe, consumers can make payments on their own schedule, in their own neighborhood, at one of 27,000 trusted locations in the U.S., which include CVS Pharmacy, 7-Eleven, Family Dollar, Caseys General Stores and ACE Cash Express stores. PayNearMe processes cash payments for the IRS, Comcast, Greyhound, Oportun and the California Department of Child Support Services, among others.

Follow PayNearMe on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Follow Handle Financial on Twitter @HandleFin.

 2017 Handle Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

About The New York City Department of Finance

The New York City Department of Finance is the nations largest municipal tax administration, collecting approximately $36 billion in revenue for New York City.

FOR EDITORIAL CONTACT:

Amber Moore

GMK Communications for Handle Financial

amber@gmkcommunications.com

503.943.9381
Jose Irizarry accepts that hes known as the most corrupt agent in U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration history, admitting he became another man in conspiring with Colombian cartels to build a lavish lifestyle of expensive sportscars, Tiffany jewels and paramours around...
English German

FRANKFURT, GERMANY, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Slate Asset Management L.P. (Slate) announced today that it has agreed to purchase four portfolios consisting of 47 grocery-anchored real estate assets totalling 56,474 m2 of gross leasable area located throughout Germany (the Portfolios).



The economic landscape continues to provide a compelling opportunity to acquire high-quality assets, said Blair Welch, Partner and Co-Founder of Slate. We are happy with these acquisitions as they continue to solidify Slates long term commitment to our European platform.

The Portfolios include 47 assets in Germany primarily located along regional or arterial roads offering high visibility. The majority of the tenants are amongst the largest global retailers in the world, including Edeka, Lidl and REWE. Following the completion of these acquisitions, Slate Asset Management will own over 100 grocery-anchored assets in Germany.

On behalf of Slate, Goodwin Procter LLP acted as German legal counsel and KPMG LLP provided advice on the tax and legal structure.

About Slate Asset Management L.P.

Slate Asset Management L.P. is a leading real estate investment platform with over $4 billion in assets under management. Slate is a value-oriented manager and a significant sponsor of all of its private and publicly-traded investment vehicles, which are tailored to the unique goals and objectives of its investors. The firm's careful and selective investment approach creates long-term value with an emphasis on capital preservation and outsized returns. Slate is supported by exceptional people, flexible capital and a proven ability to originate and execute on a wide range of compelling investment opportunities. Visit slateam.com to learn more.

For Further Information

Investor Relations

Slate Asset Management L.P.

+1 416 644 4264

ir@slateam.com
CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imaging Dynamics Company Ltd. (TSXV:IDL) ("IDC" or the "Company") today announces that it will delay the payment of interest (the "Interest Payments") due and owing on certain convertible debentures (the "Convertible Debentures") issued on each of September 15, 2015 and October 7, 2016 to certain Convertible Debenture holders. The Interest Payments on the Convertible Debentures cannot be made to the Convertible Debenture holders on the basis that the Company is in financial difficulty.



The Company is a reporting issuer, under the securities legislation of each of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario and, as such is subject to regular reporting and disclosure obligations under the laws of those jurisdictions. The Company is also subject to the timely disclosure policy of that exchange (the "Policy"). Section 3.8 of the Policy requires an issuer to immediately disclose certain events that are deemed to be material in nature. In respect of applicable Canadian securities law and the Policy, an issuer has an obligation to disclose, amongst other things, any developments relating to the business and affairs of the issuer that would reasonably be expected to significantly affect the market price or value of any of the issuers securities or that would reasonably be expected to have a significant influence on a reasonable investors investment decisions.

About IDC

IDC is a global medical imaging technology provider and innovative force in the high growth field of digital radiography (DR) technology.

The Company has thousands of installations in 50 countries of its proprietary, award winning direct capture DR technology, which replaces conventional film-based diagnostic imaging and provides a cost-effective solution for medical facilities of all sizes to provide high quality diagnostic X-ray images and improve the level of healthcare for their patients.

Throughout its history, IDC has been recognized by multiple industry organizations and research analysts such as: Frost & Sullivan and Deloitte Technology; for its dedication to innovation, global market growth, and customer focused value proposition.

The Company has its corporate office in Calgary, Canada, a sales and marketing office in Beijing, China, and also operations, research and development centres in Calgary, Canada and Shanghai, China. Visit the IDC web site: www.imagingdynamics.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information that are based on the Company's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "intent", "estimate", "anticipate", "plan", "should", "believe" or "continue" or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology and include statements with respect to the use of proceeds of the Transactions and the performance of IDC and the Subsidiary.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous factors, assumptions and estimates. A variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, may cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in commodity prices and foreign exchange as well as the risk that the Company and the Subsidiary will not be successful in penetrating the Chinese medical device market. For a description of the principal risks of the Company, see the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, a copy of which is available at www.sedar.com.

These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although management reviews the reasonableness of its assumptions and estimates, unusual and unanticipated events may occur which render them inaccurate. Under such circumstances, future performance may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Except where required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information statement.

Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Liu Yi

Interim Chief Financial Officer

1.403.251.9939 Office

1.866.975.6737 Toll Free

yliu@imagingdynamics.com
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Board of Directors and management of MDI Holdings Corp. welcomed government and industry representatives to view the new, state-of-the-art dairy processing facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ae4c2417-e086-422a-b531-49286c38ce82

MDI Holdings Corp. is a joint venture between two leading, innovative dairy processors, Vitalus Nutrition Inc. and Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd. This facility is the result of ingenuity and dynamic partnerships that are redefining the dairy industry in Western Canada for future growth and stability.

The new $100 M dairy facility is now processing a significant volume of milk from Manitoba and Western Canada, resolving Manitoba dairy farmers concern with inadequate processing capacity and subsequently positioning the province as a leader in growth, innovation and modernization of the Canadian dairy industry.

The year-long construction that included the commissioning of specially fabricated production lines and equipment was completed by local engineering and construction firms, supporting the trades sector in Winnipeg and surrounding area.



QUOTES

We have designed and built this new facility utilizing high quality Canadian milk to further support Vitalus as a global market leader in developing high quality, innovative, customized dairy proteins. MDI provides an additional platform for Vitalus in our enduring purpose to improve lives by unlocking the nutritional value of milk.

Philip Vanderpol, President & CEO, Vitalus Nutrition Inc. and Chair of MDI Holdings Corp.

In addition to supporting Manitoba and Western Canadian dairy farmers by creating new processing capacity to transform milk from their farms into high quality dairy products, the new processing facility also enables Gay Lea Foods, as Canadas leading butter producer, to better service our valued retail and foodservice customers, growing the Canadian food manufacturing sector across Canada.

Michael Barrett, President & CEO, Gay Lea Foods

Were excited to have new dairy processing capacity and capabilities in Manitoba and Western Canada as we continue to grow a sustainable dairy industry with our industry partners. Dairy Farmers of Manitoba and the Western dairy farmer organizations are pleased to provide the milk for this leading-edge processing facility.

David Wiens, Chair, Dairy Farmers of Manitoba

QUICK FACTS

MDI Holdings Corp. is short for Manitoba Dairy Ingredients Holdings Corporation.

The facility, with a current milk processing capacity of up to 180 ML, will be producing a full range of high value milk proteins, including MPC 85, MPI 90 and buttermilk powders as well as butter.

Created 67 new skilled jobs in the City of Winnipeg.

ABOUT

Vitalus Nutrition Inc. is a leading supplier of sophisticated, customized dairy ingredients for the worlds food, beverage and nutraceutical industries. Through our advanced facilities and FSSC 22000 certified processing plant, we process milk and whey into various dairy ingredients that are superior in quality, nutritional value and functionality. Our products including MPC 85, MPI 90 and VITAGOS an ingredient rich in galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), are used in applications such as baking, confections, dairy products, snack foods, instant formula, protein drinks, nutrition bars and more.

Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd. is the first North American dairy co-operative to include licensed dairy cow and dairy goat members, processing both kinds of milk into a range of dairy products  from the consumer favourite Spreadables and North Americas first Smooth Cottage Cheese, to Nothing But Cheese, an innovative snack made with 100% cheese. With members on more than 1,300 dairy farms and more than 4,000 members overall, Gay Lea Foods is as renowned for its co-operative-inspired values as it is as a preferred supplier of award winning dairy products and high quality dairy components.

CONTACTS

MDI Holdings Corp. & Vitalus Nutrition Inc.

Elena Middlemass

Manager of Corporate Services

Abbotsford, British Columbia

(604) 857-4526

emiddlemass@vitalus.com

Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Limited

Robin Redstone

Communications Manager

Mississauga, Ontario

(905) 399-0403

rredstone@gayleafoods.com
Georgetown, SC (29440)

Today

Rain this morning. A slight risk of a thunderstorm for the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 67F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 53F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Micron Waste Technologies Inc. (the Company) (CSE:MWM), formerly Finore Mining Inc., is pleased to announce its common shares are expected to begin trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange on October 26, 2017 under the symbol, MWM.



Micron Waste Technologies Inc. has developed an innovative technology that transforms organic waste into clean water that meets municipal effluent discharge standards on site. The Micron technology is targeted for supermarkets, restaurants and marijuana producers seeking to reduce costs and improve efficiency in the processing of organic waste. Micron's technology is currently being used by a major B.C. food retailer and has been in operation since December 2016. Micron is also in advanced discussions with quick service restaurants to install the Micron Waste Systems at fast food restaurants to handle their organic waste on site. In addition, Micron is in advanced discussions with an industry leading marijuana cultivator in Canada to develop and install the Micron Waste System at their licensed cultivation facilities. For more information about Micron, please visit www.micronwaste.com. Also visit Microns profile on the Canadian Securities Exchange website at http://thecse.com/en/listings/technology/micron-waste-technologies-inc.

The Company also announces that 3,825,000 stock options were granted to directors, officers, employees and contractors of the Company. The options were assigned an exercise price of $0.30 per share and are exercisable for a period of five years, subject to regulatory approval. These stock options are granted under the Companys stock option plan.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Rav Mlait

Chief Executive Officer and Director

For further information contact:

Investor Relations phone: 844-318-8216, email: info@micronwaste.com

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:

The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. By its very nature, such forward-looking information requires the Company to make assumptions that may not materialize or that may not be accurate. This forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, levels of activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such information.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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ATLANTA, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of four cents ($0.04) per share, payable on or about November 20, 2017 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 10, 2017.

About Mueller Water Products

Mueller Water Products, Inc. is a pure play water products company and a leading manufacturer and marketer of products and services used in the transmission, distribution and measurement of water in North America. Our broad product and service portfolio includes engineered valves, fire hydrants, metering products and systems, leak detection and pipe condition assessment. We help municipalities increase operational efficiencies, improve customer service and prioritize capital spending, demonstrating why Mueller Water Products is Where Intelligence Meets Infrastructure. For more information about Mueller Water Products, visit www.muellerwaterproducts.com.

Investor Contact: Martie Edmunds Zakas

Sr. Vice President  Strategy, Corporate Development & Communications

770-206-4237

mzakas@muellerwp.com



Media Contact: Yolanda Kokayi

Director - Corporate Communications & Public Affairs

770-206-4131

ykokayi@muellerwp.com
DER SPIEGEL: Going back to those maxims that you know from your family gatherings: Are they suddenly back again or were they always there and we just didn't want to hear them?

Fischer: I can't answer that question. It's impossible to explain some people's convictions. The things that are said, like that Germany is an occupied country: That's preposterous. It took me aback. I had honestly thought that we had come further.

DER SPIEGEL: Why do you think it is that we haven't come as far as we thought we had?

Fischer: You can search far and wide for explanations. I haven't yet heard or read one that I found convincing. Now, it is what it is. And we have to react to it.

DER SPIEGEL: How?

Fischer: We must be uncompromising and unrelenting on each individual issue in this confrontation and not sacrifice Germany to these people - and we certainly shouldn't be led around by them. On the other hand, we can't let ourselves get riled up by each and every one of their provocations. They are often intentional. From my own experience in dealing with the Nazi-grandpas, who have now clearly made a return, I would recommend a bit of fundamental imperturbability.

DER SPIEGEL: Imperturbability and propriety won't be enough when it comes to the AfD.

Fischer: It's not just this party. There is also PEGIDA (Eds. Note: The Islamophobic organization that started in Dresden), the Identitarians and many other currents. Right now, we are experiencing an attempt by the right to emulate the 1968 movement and take over the public debate.

DER SPIEGEL: Where do you see parallels with the 1960s-era student movement?

Fischer: In certain things they do, the means of provocation, the publications by small publishing houses, the use of book fairs as a forum - those are the kinds of things I am referring to.

DER SPIEGEL: Do you think that Chancellor Angela Merkel paved the way for the AfD by moving the CDU too far to the left and leaving space for them on the right wing?

Fischer: No, no, no. I don't want to defend Angela Merkel, but how would the conservatives have done in the cities if they had closed their right flank? She would have presided over a string of serious defeats.

DER SPIEGEL: Among those on the conservative wing of Merkel's CDU, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, who is now likely to become the country's next chancellor following the recent elections there, is seen as a new conservative hero in Europe. By turning very clearly to the right, he was able to win more seats in parliament for the conservative Austrian People's Party than the right-wing populist FPO, under the leadership of Heinz-Christian Strache, managed to win.

Fischer: I prefer the (Emmanuel) Macron model in France to the Kurz-Strache model in Austria. If Kurz doesn't want a coalition with the social democrats, then he can only become chancellor with the help of a right-wing radical party. All those who are now critical of a Jamaica coalition and who are recommending that conservatives in Germany turn to the right should keep that in mind. If the CSU wants such a thing, then it is calling into question the historical foundation of the CDU and CSU in addition to the legacy of Konrad Adenauer. It is something they should think carefully about.

DER SPIEGEL: Back in 2005, the year when the coalition government pairing your Green Party with Gerhard Schroder's Social Democrats was not returned to office by the voters, making way for Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives to form a government, a Jamaica Coalition would have been mathematically possible and would have kept the Green Party in government. When asked about it at the time, though, you merely laughed and said: "How should it work? Seriously, I mean. Please." Do you have a different view of things today?

Fischer: Bob Dylan's song is more applicable than ever: "The times, they are a-changin'." A few years have passed and what I thought was impossible back then - perhaps due to a lack of imagination - has today become a necessity. That's how things go.

DER SPIEGEL: What exactly has changed?

Fischer: With the arrival of the refugees in 2015, it became impossible to ignore that the period of uninterrupted sunshine that our country had enjoyed had come to an end. The vast problems of the 21st century are knocking on our door. That is also true of the dramatic changes that we can see globally, for example with Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. You can't win people over by saying nothing and biding your time, as Angela Merkel has tried to do. People want leadership - in the best sense of the term.

DER SPIEGEL: You think a Jamaica coalition will distinguish itself with leadership? It seems more likely that the parties involved will be struggling to find agreement on most issues.

Fischer: Those responsible will find themselves in situations where they have no choice but to lead - for the simple reason that the situation today is how it is. The pressure of the realities, as it is so accurately said, will become enormous. We experienced the same back then, with our coalition with the SPD: We had hardly entered office when the question of the Kosovo War had to be answered. And then came the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

DER SPIEGEL: What elements of their platform do the Greens absolutely have to push through in a coalition with the conservatives and the FDP?

Fischer: I would refer you to those who are in positions of responsibility, they can tell you. Because of the necessity of reaching an agreement, which I just described, all of the parties involved will have to make compromises, not just us Greens, but also the FDP, the CDU and especially the CSU. They are, by the way, a real element of instability in a Jamaica coalition. They are my biggest concern.
Algiers, Oct 25, 2017 (SPS) - United Nations Resident Coordinator in Algeria Eric Overvest on Tuesday has called on the international community to increase its aid for Sahrawi refugees.

"I call on the international community to increase its aid to help meet Sahrawi refugees' basic needs," said Overvest at a ceremony marking the United Nations Day at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"We also support Algeria in its multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance to Sahrawi refugees, for whom financial resources have been drastically cut over the past years, affecting the living conditions of the vulnerable population in refugee camps, especially pregnant women, children and the elderly," he added.

In June 2017, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on donors to "urgently increase their assistance to this often overlooked and vulnerable population."

"WFP (World Food Programme) requires US$7.9 million to continue providing vital food assistance for Sahrawi refugees," said Guterres.

The lack of funding has forced the WFP to cut food rations by almost one-fifth this year, and to halt distributions of nutritional supplements to treat anaemia and malnutrition in pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children. SPS

125/090/700
Brussels (Belgium) , Oct 25, 2017 (SPS) - The Sahrawi minister delegate for Europe Mohamed Sidati denounced Tuesday, the adoption by the European Parliament, which met in a plenary session in Strasbourg, of the European Union-Morocco air agreement covering Western Sahara, adding that this new approach of the European Union strengthens the illegal occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco.

The adoption of the Euro-Mediterranean EU-Morocco agreement on air transport strengthens illegal occupation, violates the international rights of the Sahrawi people and undermines the political process led under the aegis of the United Nations, he wrote in a communique.

According to Sidati, this vote is another example of the European legislators attempts to bypass the European Union law for relations with Morocco, recalling, in this regard, that Morocco has no sovereignty on the Western Sahara territory.

For the Sahrawi minister, this agreement violates the European right, stressing that the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) clearly indicates in its decision made on 21 December 2016 that the EU cannot conclude agreements with Morocco which include the separated and distinct territory of Western Sahara.

Such agreement require in international law, the consent of the Sahrawi people, he insisted, regretting that the EU did not seek the consent of the Frente POLISARIO, legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people. SPS

125/090/700
Geneva, Oct 25, 2017 (SPS) - the Frente POLISARIOs coordinator with the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) Mr. KHADDAD met Tuesday with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. MAURER, in Geneva.

During this interview, M. KHADDAD reaffirmed that it was absolutely necessary for the Kingdom of Morocco to adhere to the principles of humanitarian law which form the basis of the universal human right. These principles should ensure that all Saharawi citizens living in occupied territory are protected against the effects of the conflict.

He emphasized that Saharawi activists for the independence of Western Sahara must be protected against any acts of violence or intimidation because they are nationals of a non-self-governing territory in the process of decolonization.

Mr. KHADDAD referred to the number of political prisoners held to date outside the occupied territory. He gave the example of the prisoners of Gdeim Izik and recalled that Morocco, however, had not applied strict judicial guarantees recognized as essential, by civilized peoples.

Khaddad took the opportunity to deliver a letter from the President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic to the ICRC president, in which President Ghali appeals to the Committee for the implementation of an impartial investigation after the torture of the political prisoners.

The meeting comes after Gdeim Izik's political prisoners have been separated and dispersed in seven Moroccan prisons, adding to the suffering of their families, including their wives and children.

Beyond the Committee's humanitarian activities, M. KHADDAD recalled the strong commitment of the Frente POLISARIO to cooperate so that Saharawi citizens living in the occupied territory can be protected and eliminated from the daily repression they continue to suffer.

The meeting was attended by Bouhebeini Yahya, president of the Saharawi Red Crescent and Oumeima Abdeslam, representative of the Frente POLISARIO in Switzerland. SPS

125/090/TRA
Stockholm, Sweden, Oct 25, 2017 (SPS) - leader of the Swedish Left Party, Mr. Jonas Khostad has received the Frente POLISARIO representative in Sweden, Dr. Limam Khalil, to whom he has expressed his party principled and firm stance to in supporting the Saharawi people just struggle for self-determination and independence.

The meeting reviewed the special relations between the Swedish Left Party and the Frente POLISARIO and the ways to develop it, both parties also has addressed a number of issues related to the issue of decolonization of Western Sahara.

The leader of the Swedish leftist party stressed that it is unacceptable the stalemate the UN settlement plan, considering it a continuation of the injustice practiced against the Saharawi people.

He has also called his country to play a more effective role in reaching a solution that guarantees the end of the decolonization of Western Sahrawi to enable the Saharan people to exercise their legitimate right of to self-determination and independence.

In the last general elections, which took place in 2014, the Swedish left party has won 21 seats in parliament. SPS

125/090/TRA
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) identified the disease in cattle after they were brought to Preston and Kendal in England and two locations in Scotland. A total of 32 animals came from the same assembly centre in France, in an area where multiple cases of bluetongue have been confirmed since September this year.

Action is being taken to ensure there is no spread of the disease, with movement restrictions at the affected premises, targeted surveillance and the humane culling of animals where necessary.

Strict rules on the movement of livestock from regions affected by bluetongue are already in place. Farmers are reminded that animals from these regions must be accompanied by the relevant paperwork to clearly show they meet certain conditions designed to reduce disease risk, such as correct vaccination.

The UK remains officially bluetongue-free and exports are not affected.

Chief Veterinary Officer for the UK, Nigel Gibbens, said:

Bluetongue does not pose a threat to human health or food safety, but can cause severe disease in some cases or have a negative impact on farm incomes, for example by causing reduced milk yield in cows and infertility in sheep. We continue to carefully monitor the situation in France, where Bluetongue disease control measures are in place.

This detection is a good example of robust disease surveillance procedures in action and should highlight to farmers the risks which come with bringing animals from disease-affected areas into their herds.

It is also a timely reminder for farmers that the disease is still a threat, despite coming towards the end of the period when midges are most active. Keepers must remain vigilant and report any suspicions to APHA. They may also want to talk to their vet to consider if vaccination would benefit their business.
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STAMFORD  Its been said that one mans trash is another mans treasure.

For abstract artist James Gortner, truer words were never spoken. But Gortner, whose exhibit Force Field is on display at the Fernando Luis Alvarez Gallery through Nov. 14, would describe his work in more philosophical terms.

This work is a different application of the same concepts that Ive used before with constructing paintings, said Gortner, 39. And this body of work keeps the work entirely abstract, where other work has had a stronger element of realism.

Force Field features a selection of bold, thought-provoking pieces, the majority created by using old paint and discarded paintings. Gortner started working with found paintings  obtained through thrift stores, friends and art schools  almost 20 years ago.

He discovered that if he fastened them together, added new paint and elements and used various techniques, he could create an entirely new piece. It doesnt hurt that he learned carpentry from his father.

Regardless of what they look like, because they are paint and they are on canvas, he said, I can transform them in various ways to make them look totally different than the way they did.

One such piece, Set on Top, includes seven scavenged paintings that barely can be seen because of the new elements Gortner applied. To create a new painting atop old ones, he works additively and reductively. One of those reductive techniques is ripping off paint layers to see what emerges.

More Information "Force Field" Through Nov. 14 Fernando Luis Alvarez Gallery 96 Bedford St. Hours: Mon.-Wed. by appointment Thurs. - Sat. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, visit www.alvarezgallery.com t: 888-861-6791. See More Collapse

Alvarez, the gallery owner who represents Gortner, called the artists technique an appropriation of mediums. He said Gortner is a multi-talented, inventor kind of artist whose work has been sold to important collectors, among them the actress Reese Witherspoon; Jiang Zimen, the fifth president of China; and the Jimenez-Colon Collection of Puerto Rico.

Hes one of our strongest artists in the gallery, Alvarez said. We look at more than the creative. We look at the mindset of the artist to be highly professional, and they have to be partners. And thats what James represents for the gallery - hes a partner. Were both working for his dream  Theres only upside with his work.

Gortner was born in California, attended Hawaii Pacific University (studying international relations) and received a Master in Fine Arts from Columbia University in New York City, where he now calls home.

Some of his work reflects periods of emotional upheaval. Some people are vocal with their emotions, Gortner said, but he opts to throw paint. While he acknowledges he loves getting physical with the material, he believes the finished product is calming. They are very Zen in a way, but the process is rough, he said, pointing to his painting Mystic Maze, which was purchased by a collector.

By doing, guessing, learning and evolving, he said, he was set free as an artist.

I knew I could go anywhere with it when I was putting paintings together and I knew that I had the technical skills - or the start of the technical skills - to paint in any format. So it was interesting to me to finally catch onto something that held my interest conceptually, that got to the heart of what I feel about life, and [I] found a mode that I could be totally free within.

Pat Hines is a freelance writer. Reach her at patricia8236@att.net
ATLANTA, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BlueLinx Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BXC), a leading distributor of building and industrial products in the United States will release third-quarter financial results on Thursday, November 2nd, with a conference call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.



During the call, Mitch Lewis, Chief Executive Officer and Susan O'Farrell, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, will discuss the Company's financial results for the period ended September 30, 2017.

Investors can listen to the conference call and view the accompanying slide presentation by going to the BlueLinx web site, www.BlueLinxCo.com, and selecting the conference link on the Investor Relations page. Investors will be able to access an archived recording of the conference call for one week by calling 404-537-3406, Conference ID# 5957628. The recording will be available at 1:00 pm after the conference call has concluded. Investors can also access a recording of this call on the BlueLinx web site, where a replay of the webcast will be available.

About BlueLinx Holdings Inc.

BlueLinx Holdings Inc., operating through its wholly owned subsidiary BlueLinx Corporation, is a leading distributor of building and industrial products in the United States. The Company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and operates its distribution business through its broad network of distribution centers. BlueLinx is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BXC. Additional information about BlueLinx can be found on its website at www.BlueLinxCo.com.



CONTACT: Natalie Poulos, Investor Relations

BlueLinx Holdings Inc.

(866) 671-5138
US House to Vote on Tightening Sanctions Against Iran and Hizballah

Contact: Liberty Counsel, 407-875-1776, Media@LC.org; Press Kit

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /Standard Newswire/ -- The U.S. House of Representatives will vote today on the Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act and the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2017, both of which address the dangerous aggression of Iran and its terrorist organization, Hizballah.

The Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act, known as H.R. 1698, expands sanctions against Iran's illicit ballistic missile program and its aggressive behavior in the region. The bill states: "the President shall impose sanctions against: (1) Iranian government agencies involved in ballistic missile development; (2) foreign entities that supply material for, or otherwise facilitate or finance, such efforts; (3) foreign persons or foreign government agencies that import, export, or re-export prohibited arms or related material to or from Iran; and (4) foreign persons or entities that transfer goods or technologies contributing to Iran's ability to acquire or develop ballistic missiles, including launch technology, and destabilizing numbers and types of advanced conventional weapons."

The Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2017, known as H.R. 3329, cuts off the flow of resources to the Lebanese-based terrorist organization and its affiliates, and targets foreign governments, individuals and companies that support them. H.R. 3329 strengthens and expands the scope of economic and financial sanctions by previous legislation imposed on Hizballah, the Shi'a Islamic political party and militant group. This bill is significant in light of Hizballah's global reach to areas in the Western Hemisphere where it is involved in organized crime such as drug trade, trafficking of exotic animals and black-market sales of precious metals and gems to finance its terror activities and its fighting in support of the Assad regime in Syria. In addition, H.R. 3329 requires that Congress receive information on Hizballah's illicit activities, which legislators could use to better fund the resources necessary to counter the terrorist group.

"In order to protect the United States and Israel from Iran, the U.S. House of Representatives must pass the Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act and the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2017," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, President of Christians in Defense of Israel, and Founder and President of Covenant Journey. "It is the right thing to do. Hizballah terrorists are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans, and their funds for terrorism must be cut off immediately. Congress should use all appropriate means to stop Iran's emerging stranglehold over much of the Middle East where Hizballah terrorists continue to be a serious threat to the United States and Israel," said Staver.

Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.


Morally Produced Shingles Vaccine Approved in Both US and Canada

Contact: Children of God for Life, 727-483-9251, info@cogforlife.org



LARGO, Fla., Oct. 25, 2017 /Standard Newswire/ -- Children of God for Life announced today that the long-awaited, morally produced shingles vaccine has received FDA approval for licensing in the US. Shingrix, made by Glaxo SmithKline (GSK) pharmaceutical company is produced using a yeast cell line, unlike Merck's Zostavax which uses aborted fetal cells.



"Until now, people wanting to have protection from shingles have had to either use Merck's aborted fetal version or abstain entirely," stated Debi Vinnedge, Executive Director at Children of God for Life. "We are absolutely thrilled that GSK has finally given the US a moral option!"



Shingrix was also approved for use in Canada last week.



Earlier this year, Children of God for Life issued a press release noting that the Shingrix was likely to get the FDA recommendation as a product of choice. In September, the FDA did exactly that, voting unanimously in its endorsement of Shingrix. (See: www.fiercepharma.com/vaccines/fda-panelunanimously-endorses-glaxo-s-shingrix-as-1b-market-duel-nears )



The preference for GSK's shot could seriously hurt Merck's Zostavax sales, which totaled $685 million last year. Not only is GSK's Shingrix morally produced, but it is also a far superior product as evidenced by lengthy clinical trials. The studies demonstrated that Shingrix is 97.2% effective in people over 50 years old. It also maintained 90% efficacy in those 70 years old and above with 95% immunity maintained after four years. On the other hand, Merck's Zostavax, is only 38% effective in people over 70 and only 40% duration of immunity after four years.



Shingrix combines a protein from the chickenpox virus called glycoprotein E with the immune systemboosting QS-21 Stimulon made by Agenus. This unique component is made from the bark of the Quillaja saponaria (soap bark) evergreen tree native to central Chile.



Children of God for Life is hoping that with the advancement of Shingrix, GSK could also produce a moral version of the chickenpox vaccine. Merck's Zostavax is simply a stronger version of its' chickenpox vaccine, so it seems possible that GSK could weaken Shingrix for a chickenpox vaccine.



"This is a problem we have dealt with for years and we cannot thank GSK enough for doing it right," noted Vinnedge. "There is absolutely no reason to use the remains of aborted babies to produce vaccines." In June 2005, the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life responded to Children of God for Life's request for help stating unequivocally that:

"Doctors and fathers of families have a duty to take recourse to alternative vaccines, putting pressure on the political authorities and health systems so that other vaccines without moral problems become available. They should take recourse, if necessary, to the use of conscientious objection with regard to the use of vaccines produced by means of cell lines of aborted human foetal origin. Equally, they should oppose by all means the vaccines which do not yet have morally acceptable alternatives, creating pressure so that alternative vaccines are prepared, which are not connected with the abortion of a human foetus, and requesting rigorous legal control of the pharmaceutical industry producers."

Likewise, the US Conference of Bishops noted in their April 2015 updated statement that, "The Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities agrees with the National Catholics Bioethics Center, the Catholic Medical Association, and others that manufacturers should be urged to make alternative vaccines more widely available so that Catholics and others will not face this moral dilemma.



"I commend GSK for the development of Shingrix," said John F Brehany, Director of Institutional Relations at the National Catholic Bioethics Center. "And I commend the thousands of people who by their prayers and petitions have helped to bring about this day. I hope they will redouble their efforts. Safe, effective, and ethical vaccines can and should be provided by the pharmaceutical companies. And everyone who respects human life and dignity should make use of these ethical alternatives."



The public is being asked to thank GSK by writing to:



Patrick Desbiens Senior Vice President

GSK US Vaccines

5 Crescent Drive

Philadelphia, PA 19112
New York City voters who were purged from voter rolls ahead of the 2016 presidential primary won a court victory on Tuesday as the city Board of Elections agreed to federal oversight following the lawsuit over a mass purge of voter rolls that resulted in over 200,000 voters stripped of the right to vote before that year's primary.

WNYC reports that the city's BOE admitted wrongdoing in the voter purge and agreed to a series of fixes following the mass purge that kicked 120,000 Democratic voters off the rolls in Brooklyn alone.

The NYC BOE now has 90 days to submit a plan to the federal government outlining how they'll improve the management of their voter rolls, including the list of staff who will oversee maintenance of the rolls and the procedural steps that will go into said maintenance. Every voter stricken from the rolls since July 1st, 2013 is now subject to a review by the BOE, and unless the voter registration information was already updated, they must be restored to the rolls if their removal violated state and federal laws.

In addition to having to answer monthly and annual reporting requirements on their overhaul efforts, the BOE has to "establish a complaint intake process where it records, tracks, investigates, resolves and responds to complaints about voter registration status submitted by voters."

The changes appear to end a saga that began in April 2016 when voters began finding that they had been removed from the state's voter rolls, ahead of the presidential primary. Thousands of would-be voters reported showing up to their polling places only to find themselves left off the voter rolls and either not allowed to vote or forced to fill out affidavit ballots.

After the group Election Justice USA sued New York State over the mass purges, the Justice Department joined a suit filed by good government group Common Cause, charging the city BOE with numerous violations of the rules regarding voter list maintenance outlined in the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman backed up the DOJ's assessment and joined the suit against the BOE two weeks later. After the story of the settlement came out, Schneiderman tweeted that his office will be "closely monitoring" the BOE's attempts to reform its procedures.

Regardless of the changes the city Board of Elections makes going forward, New York State still has some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country, including a lack of same day registration and early voting. In addition, the opportunity to change parties ahead of 2018's pivotal Democratic primary, which will see both Governor Andrew Cuomo and numerous local state Senators up for reelection, passed two weeks ago. The city saw low turnout in this year's local primary, but even the lack of participation still led to issues with voters being told they couldn't be found on the rolls.
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Just over a month after billionaire Barry Diller withdrew his controversial proposal for a $250 million park and performance venue in the Hudson River near 14th Street, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that he's managed to broker a compromise between warring parties and resurrect the project.

In exchange, the Governor said, he will invest state money to complete the full five mile length of Hudson River Park by the end of his second term, assuming he's reelected. That project has been stalled for years, according to advocates who have sued to block the floating park.

"I have spoken to the parties involved in the lawsuit against Pier 55 and expressed my belief that cooperative efforts to complete the overall park are more constructive than litigation and stalemate," Cuomo stated. "I believe all parties have a higher goal and desire that the park should be completed, and can be completed, in the near future."

"It is my hope that if the people of the State of New York grant me an additional term of office, that the park should be completed in that time period," Cuomo added.

The plan for Pier 55, initially approved by the city in February 2015, came from Diller and his wife, fashion designer Diane von Furstenburg. The couple planned to kick in $113 million to install 300 columns in the Hudson, designed to support a suspended, 2.5 acre park. Additional costs would fall to taxpayers, with funding for maintaining the park expected to come from concert proceeds.

The City Club first sued to block Diller's park in 2015, arguing that the Hudson River Park Trust failed to provide adequate time for public comment, engaged in a harried environmental review process for a project located in a protected estuary, and "violated the public trust doctrine by alienating public parkland to Pier55, Inc., a private entity."

The City Club is reportedly funded by real estate magnate Douglas Durst, who was a supporter of the nonprofit Friends of Hudson River Park, which raises funds for the Hudson River Park Trust, until he was "pushed out," the Times reports, in 2011.

"I applaud the Governor for his leadership, vision and achievements in rebuilding New York State and his commitment to Hudson River Park," Durst stated Wednesday.

Attorney Richard Emery, who represents the City Club, told Gothamist that "the stars aligned."

"It was well worth giving up our opposition, not withstanding our objections, if the ultimate goal here... could be obtained: finishing the park and protecting the estuary," he said.

"The park has languished for 20 years," he added. "It's been a disaster. And now we have a commitment to finish it."

Last month, Diller indicated to the New York Times that City Club showed no sign of giving up, and that the whole shebang wasn't worth it.

"Because of the huge escalating costs and the fact it would have been a continuing controversy over the next three years I decided it was no longer viable for us to proceed," he said.

His tune has since changed. "In the last month, I have been the recipient of so much importuning, from so many people, all with the same sentiment: they all express their hope that we not give up and instead find some way to proceed with building Pier 55," Diller claimed today, in a Cuomo-issued press release.

"I'm going to make one last attempt to revive the plans to build the Park, so that the intended beneficiaries of our endeavor can fall in love with Pier 55 in the way all of us have," he added.

Mayor Bill de Blasio's name was not mentioned in today's triumphant announcement. He reportedly attempted to resolve the dispute and save Diller's project back in July. Asked about today's news, de Blasio said in a statement, "This development is a crucial step forward in the path toward making Pier 55 a reality. I applaud Mr. Diller's philanthropy and steadfast vision in offering our city such a tremendous public space. My administration stands by ready to assist all those involved in making this project happen."
GERING  About 50 people with a task at hand descended on the Gering Civic Plaza early Tuesday morning. Two hours later, they had laid down 23,000 square feet of sod  almost a half-acre.

In addition to Gering city staff, volunteers came from NEXT Young Professionals, Riverside Discovery Center, Union Bar and several other Gering businesses.

With the installation of the central grass area, phase one construction on the Gering Civic Plaza has been completed. Initial work started just after Oregon Trail Days in July and included parking on both ends of the plaza, a farmers market shade canopy on the north end, and alley improvements. Connections for utility improvements were also made.

Phase two, scheduled for spring, will include a public restroom building, fire pits and seating around the central lawn area including a water feature, a covered stage for music events, sidewalks, landscaping and an information kiosk for visitors.

We figured to be done with phase one this week, so were right on schedule, Gering Parks Director Ron Ernst said. We finished up the sprinkler system last week and were hoping for nice weather the next couple of weeks so the grass can get established.

Karla Niedan-Streeks, executive director of the Gering Visitors Bureau, said she was thrilled to see the first phase of construction completed. All that remains for this year is some minor work like mulching the planting beds.

Nothing will be planted in those beds until spring, she said. Before then, well have some people come in and help us design the landscape. Well also be working on some fundraising efforts this winter.

A limited number of programs and events will be offered during the 2018 season while construction is ongoing. With completion of the Gering Civic Plaza, even more events are planned for 2019 going forward.

Events being considered are farmers markets, music concerts, beer and wine festivals, kids activities, and maybe even a morning yoga class, suggested by a downtown merchant.

Weve talked with the people in Rapid City and theyre programming more than 200 activities a year in their plaza, Niedan-Streeks said. Thats a great goal for us to strive for and have our plaza in use as much as possible.

Those ideas will come from members of the Gering Merchants Association, the Downtown Revitalization Committee and the entire community as groups meet to discuss the possibilities.

Niedan-Streeks said she was also thankful to all the city employees and community members who set a record in laying that much sod in only two hours.

In a venture like this, it takes an entire community to make it happen, she said. That was very well demonstrated in the crew we had this morning and they can take great pride in what the plaza will become in the future.
Two people face charges after being apprehended hours after they lead a Nebraska State Patrol trooper on a pursuit.

On Tuesday, authorities arrested John David Chavez, 46, on charges of willful reckless driving, flight to avoid arrest, obstruction of police and failure to obey a traffic control device. Kendra Red Bear, 21, faces a charge of obstructing an investigation. Both are scheduled to be arraigned on charges Wednesday in Scotts Bluff County Court.

According to an arrest affidavit, a Nebraska State sergeant had observed a blue Ford Expedition bearing Texas plates run a stop sign at Highway 26 and Highway 71 at 11:30 p.m. Monday. The trooper attempted to stop the driver, who accelerated the vehicle and drove at high rates of speed and violated traffic signals during a pursuit through Scottsbluff. Speeds during the pursuit exceeded 90 miles per hour on Highway 92. The pursuit continued onto county roads and troopers terminated the pursuit after losing visual tracking of the vehicle.

On Oct. 24, the sergeant obtained video from Maverick, a local convenience store, that identified the driver and a female passenger exiting the vehicle and entering the store. The pursuit began about one to two minutes after the driver and passenger left the store. The video allowed the Nebraska State Patrol to identify the driver as Chavez and the passenger as Red Bear.

Scotts Bluff County Sheriffs deputies located Chavez and Red Bear after they had gone to a home on Bay State Road, southeast of Mitchell. The two had asked to use a phone. A woman at the residence contacted her husband, who called law enforcement. Red Bear and Chavez were apprehended at the home.

Troopers questioned Red Bear and she was arrested on a charge of obstructing an investigation after she refused to identify the driver. Chavez also allegedly identified himself by an alias.
TORRINGTON, Wyo.  In a special board meeting on Oct. 19, the Eastern Wyoming College Board of Trustees accepted the resignation of Board member Kriss Hovis.

The Board is now seeking expressions of interest from individuals to fulfill the remainder of the term which will run through November 2020. The person must reside in sub district 1 of the EWC Sub Districts. Sub district 1 includes LaGrange, Iowa Center and Hawk Springs. A graphic of the sub districts may be found on the EWC website at ewc.wy.edu.

Interested candidates should contact Holly Branham, executive assistant to the board of trustees, at 307-532-8303, or by email at holly.branham@ewc.wy.edu. The deadline for the expressions of interest to Branham is Nov. 8, 2017.

There will be a special board meeting on Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. in the Dolores Kaufman Boardroom on the Eastern Wyoming College campus where a replacement will be selected.
With his campaign flagging and in need of a boost, Mayor Bill de Blasio is adding some star-power to a tight mayoral race by holding a campaign rally with Senator Bernie Sanders at Terminal 5 next week. That sound you hear is all of New York City's least sane Twitter accounts typing "MARXISTS" and smashing that tweet button all in unison at @Gothamist for tweeting this story.

De Blasio campaign comms director Monica Klein tweeted this morning that America's favorite politician will appear with New York City's tallest mayor at New York City's least favorite music venue next Monday, October 30th at 5:30 p.m., for a campaign rally.

You, too, can see Sanders (and also the mayor) by simply RSVPing to the event. I wouldn't dawdle on it, but there presumably there's a large number of people who can make it in to the music venue that routinely sells tickets without regard for the comfort of the audience or their ability to see anything happening onstage (unless they get to the far west side of Manhattan exactly when the doors open in order to seize a spot on the floor or along the balcony railings, continuing to stand there for hours through numerous opening acts and inevitably succumbing to the venue's obscenely overpriced drinks, outrageous credit card bill to follow).

For de Blasio, the Sanders appearance is yet another attempt to grab some national spotlight after the many attempts to do so during the 2016 presidential campaign. For those with short memories, de Blasio wound up endorsing Hillary Clinton under the harsh interrogation of the Morning Joe crew after months and months of holding out. The mayor then wound up having to cancel his Iowa candidate forum when no one wanted to show up and debate inequality, and was then barely welcomed by the Clinton campaign in the pivotal caucus state. After all of that, de Blasio then told the press that Bernie would have won.

Still, with bitter rival/commuter hostage taker Andrew Cuomo getting Sanders to appear at announcements for his less-than-universal program announcements, the mayor has to keep pace.
With Halloween coming up and everyone picking out their costumes for this year, heres something to keep in mind: your costume can still be the coolest on the block without being offensive.

As of late, people are becoming so frustrated with those who seem to find almost everything offensive. But the thing is that wearing a headdress as a costume is considered offensive for the same reason the cultural appropriation is. You are stealing someones culture and using it wrongly, swiping it from it purpose and meaning.

This is why wearing sombreros, Native American attire, or any other form of culturally stereotypical clothing is not OK.

They make parts of a culture seem as if they are insignificant and as a hispanic, I cant tell you how tired I am of seeing the drunk, mustached, sombrero and poncho wearing Mexican costume. Its incredibly hurtful to think that all people see when they think of Mexicans is drugs and alcohol.

It is also definitely not OK to take part in blackface in order to look like one of your favorite African American idols. I understand the appreciation, but there is a fine line that shouldnt be crossed when dressing up as person of color.

Now I dont mean that little girls cant dress up as their favorite Disney princess. Frankly, it would be completely cruel to tell your daughter that she cant dress up as princess Tiana because shes offending people. No. She can wear the green dress and fix her hair up in the most beautiful updo whilst carrying a frog around with her. Thats completely fine.

Your children can most definitely dress up as the fictional characters they look up to, but do not make the mistake of dressing your kids in the 2016 Maui costume that went as far as adding sleeves and leggings that change the color of the wearers skin.

This is an example of when the line has been crossed beyond measures and just because a retailer sells it, does not mean its a solid idea to wear it around town, knocking door-to-door.

Though there are many ways people can be offensive with culture and race, there are also those costumes that are transphobic, sexist, insensitive, etc.

Dressing up as Caitlyn/Bruce Jenner will never be funny. Wearing distressed clothes and saying that youre dressed as a homeless person isnt cool. And using a mental illness or disorder as part of your costume just makes you mean.

You get the point. Or at least I hope you do.

A costume may be hilarious to you and your friends, but to those who your costume concerns, the joke is nothing short of rude and damaging.

There are thousands of other costumes you could trick-or-treat in that wouldnt hurt anyones feelings. Superheros and villains are always a good idea and if you really want to play it safe, Ive never read a headline wear a scarecrow offended anybody.

In the end, its all about how creative you can get and if your creativity only gets you as far as making fun of a race, religion, or issue, then I think we may have some problems.

The solution is a simple as looking up ideas for inspiration or, if youre curious as to whether or not your costume is offensive, just asking.

Halloween is a holiday that is meant to be fun for everyone. Up until the point trick-or-treaters are coming off of their sugar highs and are heading into some major stomach aches...

Anyhow, this is a holiday that is meant for the most creative parts of someone to be paraded up and down the streets. The more outgoing and considerate the dress-up, the better.
There was little drama on election night in Iredell County as Republicans won races up and down the ballot.
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Sherlund Very Fitting Choice for Citizen Award Lifelong Cedarville resident Sandy Sherlund is not a man who seeks the spotlight but he is a great help to...

November 8, 2022, Unofficial Election Results Free Access Unofficial results for the Tuesday, November 8, election are in for Mackinac County. Below is a summary of the results...
President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday that it is essential for the acquisitions of the armed forces to be secured and pointed out that funds for this area should be used efficiently.

"It is essential for the acquisitions of the armed forces to be secured to attain the standards that are specific of a modern and powerful army. Under the agreement that I proposed at the beginning of my term in office, concluded between the leaders of the political parties of Romania for the first time after 1989, 2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is allocated for defence spending starting in 2018. Almost 35 percent of this budget represents funds for the purchase of major pieces of equipment. We have created the fundamentals for the spending to be kept at the same level for at least one decade. Thus, the strategic planning process can be based on a modicum of predictability. However, I am warning you that these funds should be used in the most efficient way, and the Government, the management of the Ministry of National Defence and the Romanian Armed Forces have the obligation to take this responsibility very seriously," Iohannis said at a military ceremony that took place in the Carol Park in Bucharest on the Romanian Army Day.

Agerpres.
Premier Mihai Tudose said on Wednesday in the northern city of Carei that this year's budget deficit is under 3 percent and not above 4 percent, as Liberal MEP Daniel Buda claims. "This year's deficit is below 3 percent and next year it's also under 3 percent. Allow me to comment on what I know, not on what you know. It is under 3 percent - at 2.97 [percent] in 2017, and stays the same in 2018 as per the budget forecast," said Tudose.

Asked if he is unhappy with Finance Minister Ionut Misa, the PM denied such allegations. "No, this is not true, it's quite the opposite. We have no intention [to remove him from office] neither on governmental, nor on political grounds," said Mihai Tudose. MEP Daniel Buda (from the National Liberal Party) said a release that Romania's budget deficit, as per the findings of the European Commission, would be 4.1 percent this year.

Agerpres.
Modern justice means a fair justice act, carried out within a reasonable deadline, so that we must remain firm in combating corruption, the Prosecutor General of Romania, Augustin Lazar, stated on Wednesday. "Prosecutors have several priorities in mind. One of them is well known: combating corruption is an activity that we started long ago and we must continue it while remaining firm, in order to be able to reach the standards of the other European states, as structures specialized in combating corruption, in terms of firmness and, then, we hope, in terms of the frequency of corruption acts," Lazar said at a public event occasioned by the celebration of the European Day of Justice, held at the headquarters of the General Prosecutor's Office.

He spoke about the structures of the prosecutors' units nationwide, about the history of the judicial system in Romania and about the justice reform of the past years. The Prosecutor General also specified that infromatization of the prosecutors' offices represents a major step, and a large scale reform, also in terms of the money invested - about 70 million lei in two separate projects.

Attending the event were also the Law School students, who wanted to know more about the structure of the prosecutors' offices and the history of the Romanian judicial system. Alongside their professors, they visited the gallery of the prosecutors general, where they were also presented a chronology of the magistrates, starting from Mihail Kogalniceanu.

Counselor Ovidiu Predescu made a presentation of the professional cultural magazine of the Public Ministry, and then the students visited the library of the General Prosecutors' Office. The decision to mark the European Day of Justice every year, in the entire Europe, was taken on June 5, 2003 by the Council of Europe and the European Union, with its main objective to underline the fact that justice is, first of all, a service for citizens, by the means of which their rights and basic liberties are defended through the judicial procedures.

Agerpres.
An off-duty New York City police officer looked "like he didn't give a fuck" after he fatally shot an unarmed man outside his car in East New York last July 4th, according to the girlfriend of the late Delrawn Small.

Wednesday marked day two of the criminal trial for NYPD Officer Wayne Isaacs, the first cop to be charged by State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in his role as Special Prosecutor in police-killing cases. Isaacs was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter last September in connection with the alleged road rage incident, which ended with Small being fatally shot three times.

Prosecutors say Isaacs cut Small off in traffic on Atlantic Avenue, swerving rapidly from the right lane, to the left, and back to the right. "We were both like, what the fuck?" Zaquanna Albert recalled on the witness stand Wednesday.

Albert, 37, gave two hours of tearful testimony, describing the moment her boyfriend exited the car where she sat with her two children, ages fifteen and four months, shortly after midnight at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Bradford Street. The family was headed home from a Fourth of July barbecue at Albert's friend's house. Small approached Isaacs, she said, clapping his hands together and saying, "You cut us off."

"He took off his seat belt and got out," Albert recalled. "I told him not to get out because I didn't have time for it. I really wanted to get home to my [school] paper. I didn't want no nonsense."

While the defense has portrayed Small as a large, intimidating "menace," and argues Isaacs acted in self defense, prosecutors counter that Isaacs shot Small without justification. Prosecutors also dispute allegations that Small punched Isaacs before he was shot, pointing to security camera footage that appears to show Small falling back moments after approaching Isaacs's car.

Albert testified that shots rang out "seconds" after Delrawn approached the car.

"I see a spark," she said. "I see Delrawn twist off and hit the [parked] car and slide down... I was screaming."

"[Isaacs] walked over to the body," Albert added. "He looked at him, he walked back over towards the car, but he stopped and he just looked and I said, 'Don't shoot his family's in the car. Don't shoot.'"



Wayne Isaacs exiting the courtroom earlier this week. (Emma Whitford / Gothamist)

Albert asked her daughter to call 911 and parked the car, she said, then got out and ran to Small's body, partially obscured between two other parked vehicles.

"I ran over here and see Delrawn's feet hanging out," she recalled, crying. "He was face down with his chin on the ground... he was just grunting."

While prosecutors' questioning focused on Isaac's apparent callousness in the wake of the shootingno effort to perform CPR, for exampledefense attorney Stephen Worth emphasized that Small was legally intoxicated at the time of his death, and grilled Albert on her statements to NYPD detectives in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. In particular, Albert's comment to detectives that Small "gets so angry so fast."

"What you didn't want is a violent confrontation, correct?" Worth asked Albert.

Albert pushed back, saying that she did not anticipate a violent confrontation; that she did not "beg" Small to stay in the car but simply "asked" him; that Small "did not appear to be angry when he got out of the car."

Albert became increasingly agitated as Worth asked her repeatedly if Small was big enough to block her sight line of whatever happened in the lead-up to the gunshots.

"Enough with the badgering of me," Albert told Worth.

"There's no question that [Isaacs] pulled the trigger," Worth told reporters outside court on Wednesday. "The question is, did he have the right to defend himself with his weapon? We maintain that he absolutely had the right to defend himself."

The day after Small was fatally shot last year, police killed Alton Sterling, 37, outside of a Baton Rouge, Louisiana convenience store. The next day, a Minneapolis cop killed Philando Castile, 32, during a traffic stop. The trio of fatal shootings of civilians, all black men, by police officers prompted protests in New York City and across the country.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Tuesday that he wants to wait for the results of the full investigation into the ambush in Niger that killed four U.S. soldiers before commenting on what may or may not have happened on Oct. 4. That includes questions on whether the soldiers mission had been changed to include a capture or kill mission of a high-value target, as was reported Monday evening by ABC News.



On Monday, Dunford told Pentagon reporters that 12 Americans and 30 Nigeriens had embarked on a reconnaissance mission in northern Niger. However, while speaking Tuesday, Dunford stressed he had no knowledge of any possible CIA involvement in the mission.



Dunford made his comments to reporters at a news conference following an all-day meeting at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with 70 chiefs of defense from around the world for a discussion of how to counter violent extremism.



Both Dunford and Brett McGurk, the administration's point man on the anti-ISIS coalition, also explained to reporters that the ISIS insurgency in Africa involves the re-branding of local insurgencies.



Here's what you need to know:



Did the Niger mission change?



Dunford described anything to that effect as speculation and said that he preferred to withhold comment until the investigation is completed to gather all the facts about the mission. Though he acknowledged it is a legitimate question to ask, Dunford said, Anything youve seen to that regard is speculation and once the investigation is complete we'll have the facts and we'll share them."



He described the bits and pieces of information coming out" as "some speculation, some bits of fact."



"We want to make sure we have the whole story in context that we can provide to the families. That's my primary target audience right now," said Dunford. "They have legitimate questions, they've lost their loved ones and they have legitimate questions about what happened."



Was it a capture or kill mission?



Dunford said the 12-man U.S. team was authorized to accompany Nigerien forces when the prospects for combat were unlikely.



Again when the investigation is complete, we will know the full details, said Dunford. He referred to the missions initial assessment, then said, Im not willing to speculate on what happened after that, adding hed wait for the investigation to be completed.



Dunford had said at his Monday news conference at the Pentagon, "The rules in that part of West Africa are that we will only accompany our part in the forces when the chances of enemy contact are unlikely. So with that, they were equipped with machine guns, small arms and obviously had the ability with communications capability to reach back and get greater -- larger supporting arms."



Was there CIA involvement?



I have no knowledge of CIA involvement, said Dunford. If theres any other government organizations that are involved, that may or not come out in the investigation. But Im not sure what youre alluding to, I dont know anything about it. But I can say that definitively. 



ISIS in Africa?



As for the ISIS groups in Africa, Dunford explained how ISIS is leveraging local insurgencies.



"Its not fair to say theres a large flow of ISIS influence or leadership into Africa," said Dunford. He explained that with ISIS on the rope there has not been much of a flow of ISIS leadership or foreign fighters into Africa from Iraq or Syria.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
At a meeting Tuesday in front of the City Planning Commission, developers behind Industry City in Sunset Park argued for a proposed rezoning that would bring high-end commercial development and a luxury hotel to the waterfrontexpanding a so-called "innovation economy hub."

These efforts dovetail with the city's plans for the Sunset Park waterfront, but some locals see only a hipster behemoth threatening to permanently displace local residents, small businesses, and heavy manufacturing jobs.

"The Sunset Park industrial zone has served our largely working class community of color for decades with blue-collar jobs," said Elizabeth Yeampierre, executive director of grassroots group UPROSE, in a statement. "There is nothing innovative about what Industry City is proposing for the property.... What we are seeing is old-school commercial real estate development catering to a privileged minority at the expense of the working class."

Tuesday's meeting was at capacity for hours, with an overflow area for speakers. Testimony will be considered in a draft environmental impact statement for the sitean early stage in the approval processaccording to the Department of City Planning.

Historically, Sunset Park, Brooklyn was an industrial neighborhood, home to traditional heavy manufacturing jobs. In 2013, Jamestown Properties, the developer behind Chelsea Market, and other developers bought 30 acres along the waterfront to create what they've billed as "a bustling creative business hub." In the intervening years, Industry City has been referred to as "the SoHo of Sunset Park," as numerous new eateries, retailers, and light-industry manufacturers have set up shop in the 16-building complex. The 450 current tenants include design, media, fashion, and tech firms, as well as Extraction Lab, purveyors of the should-be-apocryphal-but-isn't $18 cup of coffee.

The developers claim that since 2013, Industry City has brought thousands of new jobs into the neighborhood, employing approximately 6,500 people, up from approximately 1,900. They argue that the rezoning will allow the revitalization of the neighborhood to continue.

Opponents of the project disagree. Tuesday's hearing included opposition remarks from local residents, artists, and representatives of UPROSE and the Protect Our Working Waterfront Alliance (POWWA). Rezoning will price local residents out of their homes, they say, displace mom-and-pop businesses and industrial manufacturing jobs, and destroying the historical character of the neighborhood.



The Sunset Park waterfront, currently targeted for rezoning. (Courtesy Industry City)

The cost of living has "dramatically spiked in the four years... since Jamestown Properties arrived in town," said 35-year-old Ryan Chavez of UPROSE. "We've seen an increase in tenant harassment, we've seen a closing of indigenous commercial businesses, we've seen an increased displacement pressure on small industrial businesses, [and] we've seen an influx of commercial speculation throughout the industrial business zone."

Several Industry City business owners and employees came out in support of the project, arguing that they've been able to create jobs for local residents and minorities. Many of them praised Industry City as a supportive landlord.

Jason DeSalvo, a partner at Fodera, a manufacturer of high-calibre electric guitars, has been based in Sunset Park since 1990.

"It was a really downtrodden area," said DeSalvo, of the early years. "It made it very difficult to attract top talent.... It was unsafe to be in the buildings after dark, there was no place to get something to eat, and there were days in winter when the space was literally so cold that employees could not do the intricate woodcarving that's required of them because their hands were too cold."

In the past five years, DeSalvo said Fedora had added 18 new employees "in high paying jobsall manufacturing jobswith competitive benefits." His current intern was placed through Industry City's Innovation Lab, which provides job placement support and vocational training programs to low-income youth from the community.

"We are not hipsters. We are conscious citizens of the world," added Jennie Dundas, CEO of Blue Marble Ice Cream. "Here in New York City, we are committed to employing a staff that reflects the diversity of our home city."

According to Dundas, eight of her ten employees are minorities; six are women.

The entrepreneurial optimism didn't sway David Galarza, 48, a long-time Brooklyn resident who grew up in Sunset Park. He was priced out when he got married, and now lives in Windsor Terrace.

"I remember walking to work," he recalled. "It was that kind of community, and it should continue to be that kind of community."

"I expressed my outrage initially because this is a really difficult time for people of Puerto Rican origin," he added. "Sunset Park is one of the historic hubs of the Puerto Rican community...Rolling out the red carpet for Jamestown and Industry City [is] really insulting."
One building at a time, Jassen Johnson has spent more than a decade working to turn the old industrial corridor between downtown and Grand Center into a hip district for creative types.

Now, hes gearing up for an ambitious, $55 million bid to connect the area many now know as Midtown Alley to Downtown West and add a true gathering place for residents, workers and visitors.

Over the next two years, Johnson and his partners hope to rehab two vacant buildings into offices and lofts, add a hotel, build a parking garage and create a complex for retailers and restaurants out of shipping containers.

What were trying to do is take 15 years of work and finish it correctly, Johnson said.

Johnson, of Renaissance Development Associates, first has his sights on the Mendenhall Building (a name likely derived because of its former life as the home of Mendenhall Ford) at 2315 Locust Street, just east of Jefferson Avenue.

Johnson is partnering with Kenneth Nuernberger on the project. Work should start by the end of the year to turn the vacant 52,000-square-foot building into mostly smaller office spaces of between 1,000 and 2,500 square feet. Its the smaller spaces that are in short supply within the creative district, Johnson said, and were missing half our market by not having enough of them.

Were then going to be able to incubate a creative office user from co-working all the way up to about 10,000 square feet, he said.

There will be some space for a restaurant or two, and two larger spaces for anchor tenants that will take a little more than half the Mendenhall building. Scorch, a content marketing agency based a few blocks to the west, plans to be one of the initial anchor tenants, Johnson said.

By the summer, he hopes to start tackling the Beaumont Telephone Exchange Building, the historic structure at 2650 Locust Street once used as a long-distance telephone switching station. Partnering with the principals of Twain Financial Partners on the project, Johnson plans roughly 60 loft apartments and more office spaces in the 100,000-square-foot building  a feat that has eluded past developers.

To the east along Locust Street, Johnson said hes working with developer Ross Group out of Tulsa, Okla., on a 125-room hotel. The team is talking now with InterContinental Hotels Group about an EVEN brand hotel. A 250-car parking garage is also on the drawing board.

Across Locust, the envisioned draw for visitors and residents alike is a Boxyard development, in partnership with Nelson + Stowe Development. The Tulsa company has developed a similar concept in its home city, creating a retail and restaurant district out of cargo shipping containers.

Johnsons plans call for a similar concept on the north side of Locust Street, across from the hotel and Beaumont building, using some 80 shipping containers. He hopes coffee shops, microbreweries and other gathering venues can create a sense of community for the district hes helped shape.

Johnson is banking on New Market Tax Credits and historic tax credits to pull off the projects. But he says he expects to close on financing for at least the first phase of the Mendenhall Building rehab shortly after the city signs off on property tax abatement for the property. The first step was Tuesday. St. Louiss Land Clearance for Redevelopment authority gave its recommendation to 90 percent property tax abatement for 10 years.
The NAACP has issued a national travel advisory for American Airlines, following what they say is a pattern "troublesome conduct" by employees that could put black travelers at risk.

The warning, sent out Tuesday, cites "a pattern of disturbing incidents reported by African-American passengers, specific to American Airlines." Among the alleged incidents: a black women was removed from a plane after asking that her stroller be retrieved from baggage; a black man was forced to give up his seat after responding to discriminatory comments from two white passengers; and a black woman was ordered off a flight by the pilot after complaining about having to change seats.

"In light of these confrontations, we have today taken the action of issuing national advisory alerting travelersespecially African Americansto exercise caution, in that booking and boarding flights on American Airlines could subject them disrespectful, discriminatory or unsafe conditions," read a statement from the NAACP. "This travel advisory is in effect beginning today, October 24th, 2017, until further notice."

The advocacy group also called for a meeting with the company's leadership to discuss the alleged discrimination. "Until these and other concerns are addressed, this national travel advisory will stand," said Derrick Johnson, newly elected president and CEO of the NAACP.

American Airlines has since responded to the allegations, and agreed to meet with the leaders of the NAACP. "We are disappointed to hear about this travel advisory as our team membersa diverse community of gate agents, pilots, and flight attendantsare proud to serve customers of all backgrounds," American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said in a statement.

The Dallas Morning News notes that the advisory comes just one week after Tamika Mallory, a New York activist and co-chair of the Women's March, says she was kicked off an American Airlines flight following a dispute with a pilot over her seat assignment.

"It definitely was white male aggression. I was singled out, I was disrespected, and he was trying to intimidate me," she told the Daily News after the incident. "I was discriminated against."

The NAACP is fielding stories from the public about other travel irregularities, aboard American Airlines elsewhere, which you can report here.
Updated at 4 p.m.

NEW YORK  Not every financial firm will be able to reap the benefit of Wall Street's victory in dismantling the threat of class-action lawsuits.

The U.S. Senate killed a rule late on Tuesday that allowed consumers to band together to sue banks and credit card companies even when the small print of their contracts forced them into closed-door arbitration with their grievances.

It was a huge win for banks, who feared a flood of costly lawsuits. But for financial firms already in the spotlight for poor treatment of customers, the bad publicity may make it difficult for them to avoid court.

Credit-scoring agency Equifax Inc. said on Wednesday it would still allow customers to sue it over its massive cyber breach, highlighting the tricky path some financial firms must navigate.

"Every company is not now sitting up and saying 'let's take advantage of this.' It's more complicated than that. Each does its own cost/benefit analysis," said Christine Scheuneman, senior partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman.

Equifax initially turned to arbitration clauses in the face of its cyber hack but public pressure and threats from state attorneys general forced it to drop the requirement for 145.5 million consumers affected by the breach.

Politicians also slammed Wells Fargo & Co. for wanting to settle customer complaints over abusive sales practices through arbitration and Chief Executive Tim Sloan told lawmaker this month that the company would not stop them suing.

But the bank is fighting some customers in federal court in Utah over their attempts to take legal action against it.

"I don't think that (vote) is going to change our case at all," said Steven Christensen, an attorney at Christensen Young & Associates who represents the plaintiffs in the Utah case. A hearing on Wells Fargo's motion to compel arbitration is set for Oct. 31, he said.

A Wells Fargo spokesman declined to comment on the case or on how the bank would respond to the Senate move.

Credit card companies and banks have inserted so-called arbitration clauses into their financial contracts for years. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Citigroup Inc. have such clauses for checking account customers. They have no plans to change those agreements, spokeswomen for the companies said.

The agreements offer customers a limited opportunity to opt out of the arbitration requirement.

JPMorgan also includes arbitration clauses with auto loans and Citi includes them with its credit card accounts.

The Senate vote to kill the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule came after Vice President Mike Pence, who serves as the Senate president, cast the tie-breaking vote.

Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., was one of the 51 yes votes. Sens. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.; Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., were among the 50 no votes.

The Republican-dominated House of Representatives passed the resolution in July.

Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, who chairs the House Finance subcommittee on financial institutions and consumer credit, was one of the leading proponents of repeal.

On Wednesday, Luetkemeyer called Senate passage "a victory for consumers across the country," and said that CFPB's own studies showed that only about 13 percent of class action lawsuits result in settlements for consumers, and that they are generally very small.

In addition to Luetkemeyer, area House members who voted for the bill were Reps. Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin; Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville; Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro; Jason Smith, R-Salem; and John Shimkus, R-Collinsville.

Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, was the only St. Louis-area House member to vote no when it passed the House this summer.

In 2016 testimony, Clay called forced arbitration "unfair" and "biased" and favors financial institutions.

After a signature from President Donald Trump, which is expected soon, the resolution will abruptly end a years-long fight that has included multiple federal regulators, consumer advocacy groups, and financial lobbyists.

CFPB Director Richard Cordray, a Democrat appointed by former President Barack Obama, rarely comments on congressional action but on Tuesday night said "Wall Street won and ordinary people lost."

"This vote means the courtroom doors will remain closed for groups of people seeking justice and relief when they are wronged by a company," he added.

Customers must agree to the clauses as a condition of opening accounts, saying they will take any disputes to closed-door arbitration instead of joining class-action lawsuits, where complainants band together to share litigation costs. The clauses are used for nearly every U.S. consumer product and service since the Supreme Court ruled them legal in 2011.

Victims of the Equifax hack were outraged last month when the company included forced arbitration fine print in offering them free credit monitoring.

At the same time, Wells Fargo & Co. customers whose identities were used in last year's phony accounts scandal have had difficulty suing the bank because they are bound by arbitration clauses in contracts they signed for legitimate accounts.

The CFPB rule, set to go into effect next spring, was not retroactive and would not have helped Equifax or Wells Fargo customers.

Members of Trump's administration have relentlessly assailed the regulation, and on Monday the Treasury Department laid out arguments against it in a special report.

Major bank lobbying groups who sued last month to block the rule cheered the resolution's passage.

The CFPB created its rule after conducting a five-year study that found customers struggle to have banks open arbitration cases about their complaints, but that those few cases have led to slightly higher individual awards than class actions.

"The Senate today prevented a cash grab that would have transferred wealth from consumers to the pockets of wealthy attorneys," said Ted Frank, director of the center for class-action fairness at the free-market group Competitive Enterprise Institute.

Reuters and Chuck Raasch of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
ST. LOUIS  Darren Small, the former mayor and fire chief of Kinloch, was sentenced in federal court Wednesday to eight months behind bars for stealing money from the citys fire protection district.

Smalls wife, Jayna Small, who was former president of the fire district board of directors, was sentenced last week to probation.

The couple must repay a total of $75,000 to the district.

From December 2013 to March 2017, the Smalls used a district debit card to buy clothing, food, liquor and cigarettes, and pay power and gas bills. Jayna Small also wrote checks to herself, including one for $7,200 that went toward the funeral expenses of her murdered son.

Darren Small, now 51, pleaded guilty in August to access device fraud and conspiracy to commit access device fraud.

His lawyer, Dan Juengel, asked for probation or house arrest, citing a supportive letter from Smalls former district colleagues, and Smalls decades of service in the district and to the community. Juengel also said that if Small was not in prison, he could more quickly pay back the city.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Reggie Harris asked for the 12 to 18 months recommended by federal guidelines, saying Small abused his position and betrayed the trust of the struggling city. He also referenced former district chief Darran Kelly, who was sentenced in 2013 to 33 months in prison for stealing from the district.

And, now here we are again, Harris said.

Jayna Small, 40, pleaded guilty in July to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and one count of interstate transportation of money obtained by fraud. Her lawyer, Brocca Morrison, told U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry last week that probation would allow Small to care for her four children and continue working.
WEST PLAINS, Mo.  A 60-year-old man has been charged with a deadly shooting at a southern Missouri gas station.

The Ozark Radio Network reports that Jorge Anthony Rosadilla Gonzales, of West Plains, was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon in the Monday night shooting of John Barbrow, 47. He is jailed on $1 million bond. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.

West Plains police Det. Bryan Brauer says gas station security footage shows Gonzales speaking momentarily with Barbrow before getting into a truck. Gonzales is accused of shooting Barbrow in the abdomen when the victim approached the truck.

Gonzales had a loaded pistol with him when he was arrested a short time later. No motive for the shooting was given.

West Plains is about 160 miles southwest of St. Louis, near the Arkansas border.
A St. Louis committee set up as a liaison between city leaders and the public in the search for a new police chief approved a plan to include community stakeholders in the decision-making process.

The Citizen Advisory Committee, made up of representatives from city departments, community groups and the Board of Aldermen, held a public forum Tuesday at the OFallon Park YMCA to tell residents more about the selection process and hear their preferences for a new chief.

The committee said its next steps are to review questions for candidates, screen candidates, host a community forum for the public to meet the finalists and make their recommendations to Jimmie Edwards, the newly appointed public safety director.

But many people who spoke publicly said they are frustrated by panels and public discussions, saying nothing they have heard at the city-organized forums is new information.

Some said they have seen little change since the Ferguson Commission discussions that took place in the wake of the unrest that followed the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown. They have little confidence in the most recent round of talks.

Still others said they have been clear about what they want the city to do in response to past police conduct, such as the tactics used by police in the last month against those protesting the not-guilty verdict of Jason Stockley, a former St. Louis police officer, in the shooting death of drug suspect Anthony Lamar Smith.

Many activists and residents put the onus concerning policing policies on Interim Police Chief Lawrence OToole.

Were tired of coming to these kinds of meetings where they discuss us (and our needs), Julia Davis, of north St. Louis County, said. Were telling them what we need. Fire him ( OToole) tomorrow. Do it quick.

Davis is among a group who say they want Mayor Lyda Krewson to dismiss OToole before Edwards takes his new post in November. Part of Edwards job will be to oversee the police department.

She (Krewson) should not use him (Edwards) to wash her hands, to keep her hands clean, local activist the Rev. Darryl Gray said to the panel. Tell the mayor to make a decision now its her job.

Gray and others said they arent against all police officers, but are against what they see as systemic racism in the citys police department and policing practices.

Edwards said he supports city police officers, but not officers who disrespect residents.

We forget that this is still a good police department, he told the Post-Dispatch.

Edwards said he hopes to have a new chief in place by the end of the year. Applications for the position close this week.

Residents who commented Tuesday again said they want a police chief and officers who are familiar with the culture and history of the city and reflect the neighborhoods they serve.

Were going to take the best person for the job, Edwards said.

He added that if that person happens to be from outside the state of Missouri, then so be it.

He said he would emphasize the importance of education and training and mental health evaluations as public safety director.

Lisa Cagle, of the Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression, said she understood the frustration of some with the forums but believes they are essential to public discourse about issues in the region.

I think its to get people together in a room and actually involve them in a democratic process and actually have them talking together about, Hey, what do we think public safety should look like?

The next committee meeting is Nov. 18.
ST. LOUIS  A federal lawsuit filed here Tuesday claims St. Ann police handcuffed, used a Taser on and criminally charged a man who was trying to report his elderly father missing.

Brian Little, 50, of Bridgeton, is seeking unspecified damages from the city and four officers for excessive force, violating his rights, assault and battery and false prosecution.

Police and the prosecutor on the case did not return a message seeking comment Wednesday.

The incident began on Jan. 17, 2015, after Littles 77-year-old father, who lived in an assisted living home in St. Ann, wandered away in St. Louis.

Little reported his father missing to St. Louis police, the assisted living center and St. Ann police, the suit says. The home contacted St. Ann police, who issued a silver alert, and police asked Little to come in to file a missing person report, the suit says.

Because Little had no transportation, a dispatcher sent an officer to pick him up.

By the time officers Anthony Marsala and Martin Everett arrived, Little had found a ride with a neighbor, the suit says. Marsala then searched Little, and both officers asked what Little had done with his father, the suit says.

They then handcuffed Little and took him to the police station while other officers searched his house without a warrant or Littles consent, the suit says.

After Littles wife got home, they refused her demand to leave, leaving only when she called 911 and another police department arrived, the suit says.

Although Little was still handcuffed, he was tackled and shocked with a Taser upon arrival at the St. Ann Police Department and later charged with assaulting officers and resisting arrest, the suit says.

The police report says that a nursing home staffer said that Little was acting very odd and police handcuffed him because he was agitated when they arrived.

The report says Littles son gave permission to search the house.

It says Little became vulgar and more agitated in the car. He shoved a police lieutenant and Marsala when he got out, and then elbowed and scratched the officers before another officer used a Taser to take him to the ground, the report says.

Littles wife was interviewed at the police station and said her father-in-law became agitated and walked away while they were running errands, and was probably picked up by a friend.

Littles father, who suffers from dementia, was found the next day. He told police hed walked off after arguing with Little and stayed the night with a friend.

The lawsuit quotes police Capt. Adrian Barry as saying an internal affairs investigation determined that the officers involved acted improperly and there was a breakdown in communication during this incident.

Barry did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Littles lawyer, Talmage Newton IV, declined to comment, citing the pending criminal charges.
UPDATED at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday with name of both victims.

ST. LOUIS  A man and woman were found shot to death early Tuesday near a stolen motorcycle in the Carondelet neighborhood in St. Louis.

Police said they were shot at about 1 a.m. in the 200 block of Bellerive Boulevard, near Minnesota Avenue.

Megan Nieder, 27, and Joseph Finger, 40, were killed. Nieder lived in the 7400 block of Gayola Place in Maplewood. Finger's address was in the 8400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue in St. Louis, in the Patch neighborhood south of the shooting scene.

Police spokeswoman Leah Freeman said it's unclear if Nieder and Finger were riding the motorcycle when they were shot. The motorcycle, reported stolen in September, was confiscated by police and will be part of the homicide investigation.

Officers went to the scene on Bellerive after getting a report of a shooting. They found Nieder and Finger on the ground, dead. A suspect ran off, but police have no description of that person.

Finger had pending charges filed in St. Louis on Oct. 13 of vehicle tampering, unlawful use and possessin of a firearm, meth and drug paraphernalia possession. The charges said a police officer saw Finger sleeping in a vehicle and knocked on the window to wake him up. Charges said the officer saw a .40-caliber pistol and several bags of heroin, meth and a digital scale inside.

Finger also faced two federal charges at the time of his death accusing him of being a felon in possession of a firearm for incidents on July 29 and Oct. 6, but that case was dismissed Wednesday after his death.

The victims are at least the 164th and 165th homicide victims in St. Louis for the year. At this same time in 2016, the city had recorded 156 homicides, said Schron Jackson, a department spokeswoman.

The double homicide Tuesday comes on the heels of an especially violent weekend in St. Louis when three people were slain Saturday.

Reported crime in the Carondelet neighborhood is up from a year ago.
Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, in one of his first major media events as a Republican U.S. Senate candidate, on Wednesday slammed incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill for what he alleged was her pre-emptive dismissal of any GOP tax-reform proposal.

"President Trump is out there trying to lower taxes for the middle class," Hawley told reporters in a media conference call. McCaskill, he claimed, "opposes the very idea of tax cuts before she's even seen the legislation . . . It's just, `No, no, no, no, no.' "

But in fact, McCaskill has previously offered tentative support of some concepts in the still-evolving Republican tax plan. She has been targeted by the White House as one of a handful of Democratic senators who might be pliable on tax reform, and she was one of six Senate Democrats who sat down with Trump on the issue last week.

McCaskill, a Democrat, has criticized Republican tax ideas she says will coddle the rich at the expense of the middle class. But she has said she could support tentative Republican proposals to, for example, raise the standard income tax deduction for middle-income families, raise the child tax credit and simplify the tax code.

"Claire has been crystal clear that she supports tax reform that provides relief for the middle class, but she will not support a plan that only benefits millionaires and billionaires," Missouri Democratic Party spokesperson Meira Bernstein said in a statement. "(She) has repeatedly expressed her willingness to work with the White House on this issue."

Hawley, in maintaining that McCaskill is "in a posture of permanent 'no'" against tax reform, is attempting to chip at her long-cultivated persona as a political moderate  likely the only kind of Democrat that could have a chance of winning statewide in conservative Missouri today.

Hawley cited an Oct. 20 tweet in which McCaskill wrote: "What we know about the R plan so far is that its focused on cuts that will benefit millionaires & billionaires. Cant support w/out changes."

However, Hawley himself, in the same call with reporters, staked out similar parameters: He said he wants passage of a tax reform plan "to provide real tax relief for working people" and changes to parts of the tax code that are currently "rigged" for the rich.

When asked about two elements Republicans have floated that Democrats say could hurt middle-class taxpayers  eliminating deductions on state and local taxes paid, and lowering the cap on tax-free contributions to 401k retirement plans  Hawley said he is uncomfortable with both ideas.

McCaskill has said one concern she has about the GOP tax reform plan as presented so far  a concern shared by many experts  is that it will increase the federal deficit by giving up more in tax revenue than it saves in cuts or makes up for in economic growth. Hawley said he is concerned about the deficit but that the middle class shouldn't have to "foot the bill" for it in the form of the current tax structure.

Hawley is seeking the GOP Senate nomination in next year's August primaries. Other Republican candidates include 2016 Libertarian presidential candidate Austin Petersen; Tony Monetti, a retired Air Force pilot and assistant dean at the University of Central Missouri Aviation Department; and Courtland Sykes, a Navy veteran.

McCaskill faces Democratic primary opposition from former insurance specialist Angelica Earl. The two parties' nominees will face off in the November 2018 general election.
WASHINGTON  The Federal Communications Commission wants to roll back landmark media ownership regulations that prohibit owning a television station and newspaper in the same market and making it easier to acquire additional TV or radio stations, Chairman Ajit Pai said on Wednesday.

If approved at the FCCs November meeting, the move would be a win for newspapers and broadcasters that have pushed for the change for decades, but was criticized by Democrats who said it could usher in a new era of media consolidation.

The FCC in 1975 banned cross-ownership of a newspaper and broadcast station in the same market, unless it granted a waiver, to ensure a diversity of opinions. The rule was made before the explosion of internet and cable news, and Republican President Donald Trump and Pai have vowed to reduce government regulation.

We must stop the federal government from intervening in the news business, Pai told a congressional panel, noting that many newspapers have closed and many radio and TV stations are struggling. Pai moved earlier this year to make it easier for some companies to own a larger number of local stations.

Pai said the marketplace no longer justifies the rules, citing Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc.s (Google) dominance of internet advertising.

Online competition for the collection and distribution of news is greater than ever. And just two internet companies claim 100 percent of recent online advertising growth; indeed, their digital ad revenue this year alone will be greater than the market cap of the entire broadcasting industry, Pai said.

FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, a Democrat, said at the hearing Wednesday the move would lead to further consolidation in the media business and should be opposed. There are three Republicans and two Democrats on the panel.

Pai also proposes to make it easier for companies to own multiple TV and radio stations in the same market and he would allow two local stations among the top four in a market to petition the FCC to merge.

The National Association of Broadcasters said it backs Pais plan, noting that policymakers have approved numerous mega-mergers among phone, cable and satellite programmers while at the same time blocking broadcast/newspaper or radio/TV combinations in single markets.

The group added this nonsensical regulatory approach has harmed the economic underpinning of newspapers, reduced local journalism jobs, and punished free and local broadcasters at the expense of our pay TV and radio competitors.

Free Press, an advocacy group, said the proposal would make it easier for Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. to complete its $3.9 billion acquisition of Tribune Media Co. with fewer divestitures.

The disastrous proposal is tailor-made for Sinclair and other giant broadcast chains that push often slanted or cookie-cutter content over the public airwaves, the group said.

Sinclair, which owns more than 170 U.S. television stations, announced plans in May to acquire Tribunes 42 TV stations in 33 markets as well as cable network WGN America and digital multicast network Antenna TV, extending its reach to 72 percent of American households.

Sinclair owns KDNL (Channel 30), the ABC affiliate in St. Louis. Tribune Media owns KTVI (Channel 2), the Fox affiliate, and KPLR (Channel 11), part of the CW network. The Post-Dispatch is a news partner of Fox 2 News.

Lifting ownership limits comes on the heels of the FCCs controversial decision this week to eliminate a nearly 80-year-old requirement for TV and radio stations to maintain a main studio in or near the communities they serve.

Critics said that move would lead to more consolidation, less diverse programming and industry job cuts.

The Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
Nearly four months have passed since St. Louis County police were publicly humiliated by reports and video footage showing a dozen officers loitering in MetroLinks North Hanley substation. Yet safety on buses, trains and platforms remains a serious public concern.

County police say theyre still investigating the loitering reports. No officers have been disciplined, and the same management team is in place.

Rather than treat these embarrassments as an opportunity to clean house, county officials are digging in, as if to defend discredited practices. Instead of acknowledging wrongdoing and fixing security problems, police officials point their fingers at MetroLink and the media for exposing them. What are their priorities?

The video footage was captured when a federal Homeland Security officer was assigned to beef up Metro transit security for the busy Fourth of July weekend. The county police board has issued a subpoena to obtain the officers name.

The Post-Dispatchs Tony Messenger reported that the officer walked into the substation and found 12 county officers milling about. One officer was seen later on videotape covering the security camera with an envelope and tape.

Other MetroLink records showed that county police had covered a camera inside another substation at least eight times since 2015. Records also suggested police had refused to cooperate with Metro public safety officials.

The incidents occurred amid a spike in violence, including shootings and assaults on MetroLink light-rail platforms in the city and county. In May, St. Louis County police agreed to supervise security on MetroLinks 46 miles of light rail, which spans St. Louis County, the city of St. Louis and St. Clair County in Illinois.

John Nations, president of Bi-State Development, the agency that oversees MetroLink, said the system still receives daily complaints about security on portions of the line in the city and St. Louis County, but not in St. Clair County. He added that police have not developed a centralized dispatch system that was supposed to be operating by now.

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar blames Bi-State for stalling the investigation. Our internal investigation is ongoing and robust but has been hindered by a lack of cooperation from Bi-State, he said. In fact, Bi-State has resisted a subpoena from the St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners seeking detailed information relevant to the investigation.

Nations said the Homeland Security officer does not want his name revealed because he fears reprisal for being a whistleblower.

Belmar said he expects to release the report next month. St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger and Roland Corvington, chairman of the county police board, supported Belmars probe, rejecting calls for an outside agency to investigate the allegations.

The safety of passengers and workers on MetroLink should be paramount. But after cops were caught covering the cameras, county officials have shifted priorities toward covering their derrieres.
Like canaries in a coal mine, a few brave Republicans are warning of a toxin in Washington that threatens the very core of American democracy. They say that national divisions are widening because of President Donald Trumps penchant for bullying, juvenile tweeting and vengeful character assassination.

Republicans and Democrats must unite for the cause of civility and dignified discourse. The two parties certainly will continue to disagree and fight for their righteous causes. But they must stop tolerating Trumps hateful antics as the new political norm.

When Trump cannot garner the support he needs in Congress, he retreats to campaign-style meetings with his base in the hinterlands, where he typically exaggerates his successes and even inflates crowd sizes to feed his own ego. Im president, and youre not is one of his favored comeback lines when he cant win arguments with logic and intellect.

He is destroying our nations integrity. He is trampling on time-honored values. He will stop at nothing to win an argument or crush an opponent. Mature adults do not behave this way. Trump might be president, but he is not presidential. He disrespects and denigrates the highest office in the land.

Rarely have Republicans of such stature spoken in harmony against one of their own. But they do so out of a conviction that hes inflicting serious damage on the country they love.

Knowing Trump, he will shrug off their warnings and denounce them as losers and lightweights  standard-bearers of the very power structure hes trying to overturn. If those voices dont resonate with Trump, then perhaps the words of his own wife, First Lady Melania Trump, might register.

I think its very important to choose kindness and compassion ... , she told schoolchildren in Detroit this week. Turning to the adults in the room, she added, By our own example, we must teach children to be good stewards of the world they will inherit. We need to remember that they are always watching and listening.

At the United Nations last month, she warned gathered leaders that if adults dont provide reinforcing examples of mutual respect and compassion, why would we expect to see a new generation of leaders with a moral conscience that includes all of humanity?

We shudder to think of the adult example Trump sets for Americas children. The GOPs timid acquiescence must end. Because this mans demeanor, most definitely, is not normal.
As a recently retired faculty member from St. Louis Community College, I am shocked and disgusted by the outrageous way the chancellor conducted the board meeting last week. Shortly after the meeting started, a highly respected faculty member was manhandled by college police and sent to the hospital with injuries. Why? He asked a question out of turn at the meeting.

Those in attendance were warned against applauding speakers or they would be removed from the room. No applause to show support for good ideas, for innovations, for solutions to current problems? This kind of coercion and intimidation has no place in public discourse.

Chancellor Jeff Pittman fails to acknowledge that its the faculty that make St. Louis Community College function well and benefit the community. Its our dedicated and engaged faculty that educate students. Chancellors come and chancellors go. Its time for Pittman and his band of brutes to hit the road.

Karen Olson  Webster Groves
State Sen. Bill Eigels commentary about West Lake Landfill is disingenuous ("If the EPA wants to excavate the West Lake Landfill, the truck stops here," Oct. 16). He says transportation of radioactive substances puts more Missourians at risk, as additional trucks and rail cars will pass through areas with these materials. Hopefully, for those of us to the west, the truck stops here.

The groundwater doesnt stop there. Most St. Charles County residents public water comes from alluvial wells near the Missouri or Mississippi rivers that access the groundwater in unconsolidated sediment. A cap does nothing to impede leaching of radioactive materials into groundwater.

Decades ago, as a volunteer for Kay Drey, I read a radiological report about West Lake prepared in 1982 for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which discussed West Lakes shocking levels of radioactivity. Example: 180,000 picocuries per gram of thorium-230, instead of the natural background average of 0.2 to one picocurie per gram.

Eigel says, if capped, Our region should not have to deal with this issue for years to come. How many years is that? Thorium-230 has a half-life of 75,000 years. Its not possible to stabilize the contamination at West Lake for anywhere near as long as it will remain hazardous.

That 1982 report said the NRC staff determined the highly radioactive West Lake wastes shouldnt stay in the Missouri River floodplain. Yet they are there still.

At the Oct. 19 hearing in Bridgeton, residents described their suffering or their childrens or that of deceased family members from respiratory illnesses, autoimmune diseases and cancers like glioblastomas. I wish Eigel had listened before declaring no local, state or federal agencies have found that the site is a risk to public health.

The only reasonable option is shipping these cancer-causing agents away from floodplains, away from rivers, and away from people who trust their federal agencies and elected officials to protect them.

Margaret Hermes  St. Louis
VULNERABLE young people in Warwickshire will soon be able to tap into first class psychological support from social enterprise Innovating Minds.

Innovating Minds, based at Tyler House: Stratford Samaritans Community Hub in Stratford, has set up one-to-one psychological support as part of Progress, a 2.8m initiative funded by European Social Fund and the Big Lottery Fund.

This is to help young people who find it hard to access training, education or employment across Coventry and Warwickshire get the training, skills and support they need to find a job, a training opportunity or start a course.

They will work with 15 to 24 year-olds who are not in employment, education or training ('NEETs'). Young people in this position often feel anxious and low in mood and often do not know where to turn for expert help. Over the 18 month life of the project, 225 young people will be eligible for a range of therapies to cope with feeling low in mood and anxious which can act as barriers and stop them making the most of work and training opportunities.

The new team at Innovating Minds will offer young people an opportunity to talk about their problems and take control by changing the way they think and act. This is a tried and trusted approach often used to treat anxiety and depression, but it can be useful for other mental and physical health problems too.

Experienced staff will work with young people to identify the barriers and blocks that are holding them back and help them find ways to reach their goals. This might include one to one sessions, or group work to cope with anxiety, low mood and depression.

Innovating Minds will be working locally with many other groups such as Young People First, Learn 2, Team Springboard and Coventry Citizen Advice.

Dr Asha Patel, chief executive of Innovating Minds, said: Personalised psychological support can help young people feel better about themselves and more optimistic about their futures. This is critical to them making successful transitions to education, training or employment.

'We are delighted to have a base in Stratford because we know that young people, particularly from rural communities in South Warwickshire, can find it difficult to access help.'

Innovating Minds joins the Samaritans, Lifespace, the youth mentoring charity and St Basils, which supports young people in housing crisis at Tyler House. The Hub is home to these four organisations and has been used by more than 50 charities and community groups in the last two years.
Germany on Monday signed a deal to sell three submarines to the Israeli navy in an agreement of "strategic importance" to the Jewish state, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu "welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Germany and the state of Israel to acquire the submarines," his office said in a Hebrew-language statement.

"This memorandum of understanding has strategic importance for Israel's security and its signing reflects the commitment of Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel to Israel's security and the deep cooperation between the countries."

Negotiations on the sale had been frozen for three months due to concern in Berlin over a related corruption investigation in Israel.

In July, Germany put off the planned signing following the arrest of several Israelis on suspicion of offences including bribery and money laundering around the deal to buy the Dolphin submarines from German industrial giant ThyssenKrupp.

The investigation, which is still ongoing, involves officials from the Israeli security establishment, as well as people working locally for ThyssenKrupp.

An Israeli official said on Friday that Germany had conditioned the go-ahead on there being no corruption found on the part of the Israeli decision-makers and senior officials involved.

Housing Minister Yoav Gallant, who was a senior officer in the Israeli navy, wrote in a tweet on Friday that the three new warships would replace three old vessels, keeping its Dolphin fleet at six.

The submarines ordered by Israel may be fitted with nuclear missiles, but are primarily intended for spy missions off Iran or to attack that country in case of nuclear war, according to foreign military experts
Helena College will choose its next dean from two finalists after hosting a pair of community forums over the next two weeks.

The school received 56 applications for the open position after Dean Daniel Bingham left this summer to serve as a mission president in Australia. The finalists, Vern Lindquist and Dave Ferreira, were selected by a committee made up of faculty, staff, students and community members.

Both candidates will attend separate community forums to answer questions. Both forums will be held at the Donaldson Campus on Roberts Street and will be recorded and available on HCTV.

Ferreiras forum will be on Monday, Oct. 30, at 4 p.m. Ferreira earned a bachelors degree and masters degree in political science and a doctorate of education in higher education leadership from Northcentral University, an online school headquartered in Arizona. He is the association provost of Georgetown Campus at Horry-Georgetown Technical College in South Carolina. Ferreira is responsible for providing academic and operational leadership for the campus. He taught political science and college success skill courses as an adjunct instructor for several community colleges and universities online, face-to-face and hybrid.

The forum for Lindquist will take place on Monday, Nov. 6, at 4 p.m. Lindquist earned his doctorate in English at Indiana University. He is the dean of the two-year school affiliated with the College of William and Mary in Virginia. He was previously a Dean of Liberal Arts and Science at the State University of New York College of Technology at Delhi and a professor and chair of liberal arts at Sullivan County Community College. During his 25 years in higher education, Lindquist led projects to assess and develop curriculum and provide student support. Lindquist was recently a finalist for a position as president of Morgan Community College in Colorado.
Police have named the woman who died following a fatal crash in Waihi last week.

She was 68-year-old Margaret Cronwright, from Auckland.

Police were called at around 2.25pm on Tuesday October 17 to attend the crash between a car and a truck near Dean Crescent.

The other driver was not seriously injured in the incident.

Police extend their sympathies to the victims family and friends.

The Serious Crash Unit continues to investigate the cause of the crash.
One person has been seriously assaulted and another had a gun pointed at them during a home invasion.

Waikato Police are asking for the publics assistance with enquiries into an aggravated robbery and attempted burglary in the Waitoa area.

The first incident occurred on October 7 at around 12.10pm at a rural property on Waihekau Road.

Three offenders entered the address, one armed with a semi-automatic firearm.

They seriously assaulted one victim, and pointed a firearm at the second victim, before stealing a number of items.

The offenders then left in vehicle described as a blue/purple and silver 4WD, which was last seen travelling on Waihekau Road towards Seddon Road.

The offenders are described as male Maoris, between 20-30 years of age.

The second incident occurred at the same address on Friday, October 20, at around 10.30am.

Two offenders attempted to gain entry into the house while the occupants were home, however left before Police arrived.

One of the offenders was described as male Maori, of medium build, 510 in height, and he had a distinctive tattoo on his lower leg, described as a portrait of haunted house and trees, green in colour.

Both offenders had their faces covered by bandanas and they were driving a grey Honda station wagon, registration GAM680.

We are taking these incidents very seriously, and our staff are working hard to identify and locate those responsible so they can be held accountable for their actions, says Detective Sergeant William Loughrin, Matamata Piako CIB.

The victims are understandably very shaken by these incidents, and are currently being provided with victim support.

"At this stage we currently believe the incidents may be connected.

Anyone who has information, or remembers seeing vehicles similar to those described above or the distinctive tattoo on the offenders leg is encouraged to contact Police.

Information can be reported to Detective Sergeant Loughrin on 021 190 2963, or their local Police Station.

Alternatively people can also report to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or private message Police on the Waikato Police Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/waikatopolice/
A 50-tonne excavator with a large mechanical claw is about to begin munching its way through Councils old administration building on Willow Street.

The excavator is being brought in as part of the mechanical demolition stage of the project.

The concrete will be transported by truck to a concrete recycle facility and reused.



It is anticipated that this stage of the demolition will take at least four weeks, weather dependent.

A number of safety measures and appropriate noise, traffic and pedestrian controls will continue in place to minimise the impact on traffic, pedestrians, businesses and services during this stage of the demolition.



Councils Customer Service Centre and the Tauranga Library remain open as normal.



City Transformation Committee Chair Larry Baldock says he thanks the community for their patience during the deconstruction and demolition.



We are on a journey to become an internationally competitive city, and revitalising our city centre and our waterfront is a key component to this. The demolition of the old administration building is a short term disruption for long term gain.



The demolition can be viewed from a web cam feed on our website http://www.tauranga.govt.nz/our-future/projects/heart-of-the-city/civic-administration-building



Council is partnering with Little Big Events to activate the space once the building is demolished and the site has been cleared.

Our Place will be an exciting temporary addition to the city centre list of things to do until investment decisions are made on the future of the space and the site is developed.

Council resolved in September 2016, as part of a Long Term Plan amendment, to demolish the administration building as soon as practically possible, following the discovery of toxic mould in the building in November 2014.
The Movember Foundation is requesting that schools temporarily suspend their clean-shave policies in light of Movember.

Throughout the month of November, money and awareness is raised in relation to mens health issues.

In a letter sent out to 178 schools nationwide members of the foundation have asked that schools suspend any policies inhibiting students from being a part of the appeal.

We have a lot of people who want to support Movember but because of these policies they cant, says Movember manager Robert Dunne. I wanted to approach that in a really positive way.

What weve seen over the past few years is teachers getting involved with the cause, and we wanted to take that one step further and turn it into something students and teachers can do together.

Male mental health and suicide prevention is a huge issue that affects this demographic, there isnt a huge amount of things they can grab onto to visually support the cause.

I think Movember could be one of those things, and a really positive thing.

This has supplied an opportunity for schools to be a part of Movember and suicide prevention and it has come from an organisation that has been really trying to make a difference to that cause for nine years.

We are an organisation that has a really good history of supporting mens health issues.

Weve already had four or five responses from schools who are keen to knock those policies for the month, so their students can get in behind it.

In the Bay of Plenty area Katikati College, Te Puke High School, Mount Maunganui College and Tauranga Boys College have each been sent a copy of the letter.

Mount Maunganui principal Russell Gordon says their school is committed to the cause.

We will be sharing the sentiment with our senior and our junior students, but those practically capable of growing facial hair wont be back until December, he says.

The issue we have at secondary school is that those capable of growing a moustache for Movember are our senior students who leave us November 2 for exam study.

Other schools in the region have been contacted in regards to the letter, but were unable to comment on it at this time.
Today the countrys sixth Labour government will officially be sworn in at Government House, ending nine years of National rule.

For Tauranga MP Simon Bridges, it will be the start of a new chapter in his political career, as he swaps his ministerial portfolios for the opposition benches.

Its a mixed blessing, he says. Theres a saying: the worst day in government is better than the best day in opposition.

However, he says there are some things hes looking forward to in his first stint in opposition.

I think it can be more creative than government, as hierarchies tend to disappear, and theres a real ability to roll your sleeves up and come up with new approaches with the time you have.

I hope to use some of the skills I have to hold the government to account. Im a criminal lawyer by training, and I think that can help find out what the new governments proposed changes really mean for New Zealanders.

At the moment hes doing his homework for becoming an opposition MP, including thinking about possible private members bills he could draft, and petitions to make sure Tauranga gets its fair share.

Will the new government continue to ensure theres a four-lane highway from Cambridge through to the foot of the Kaimai Ranges, for instance?

Ive always believed being a minister was better for an electorate than being a backbench MP in government, because you have the power to do things. I think National has really brought home the bacon for Tauranga in the past nine years. Weve invested in infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and new police stations.

He says theres no question as an opposition MP he will have more time than he did as a senior minister.

It means I can spend more time with community groups. Theres also having the luxury to think about the changes we can make when one day I hope to be back in government.

Simon first became a minister outside cabinet in April 2012, as Minister for Consumer Affairs, Associate Minister of Transport, and Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues.

In January 2013, he moved into the cabinet and became Minister of Labour and Minister of Energy and Resources, giving up his other portfolios.

Under new Prime Minister Bill English, Simon became Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Communications, and Associate Minister of Finance, as well as being Minister of Transport.

Hes not sure what areas hell serve as the partys spokesperson while in opposition.

We are going through a process in relation to shadow portfolios, and every National MP will be thinking about where they see themselves. I want to see where I can make the best contribution.

Hes also keen to see Bill and deputy leader Paula Bennett stay on, to help regain government.

I think Bill has the best skills for us at the moment. He has massive experience not just in government, but in opposition as well. He was an incredibly effective opposition MP, particularly from 2005 to 2008, when National was on the comeback trail.
November will bring more opportunities for library patrons to access all three county branches.

After the board of supervisors assumed oversight of the library trustees last fall, one of its top priorities was to restore Friday hours to the Marion branch. Those hours had been eliminated in response to past budget cuts by the supervisors.

That priority didnt end with the appointment of new trustees and a director.

This week, Robb Farmer, library director, said, Adding operating hours back to the library has been a focal point since the change to Smyth County Public Library on July 1. The change he refers to is the change from a regional library to a county library.

In budget discussions earlier this month, the trustees approved opening each branch for four hours on a day it is currently closed. A cost analysis put the annual cost of that move at $14,925.97

The Chilhowie library will first implement the additional hours. It will open its doors on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. That schedule will begin Nov. 1.

Saltville and Marion will follow with new hours on Friday. Their new operating hours will take effect Nov. 3 with Saltville opening from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and Marion unlocking its doors from 1-5 p.m.

The librarys public service staff and managers at the three branches assessed community needs and strived to anticipate patron traffic to choose the four new hours added to each locations schedule.

Farmer noted that the new schedule allows for at least two library locations to be open every day of the week except Sunday. Library cards, he pointed out, are valid at every branch and all the locations offer books, audio materials, videos, WiFi, computer access and printing. Some of the hours will be staggered, Farmer said, so that patrons have the option of getting to a library, even if it may not be the one they normally go to.

Library use during the expanded hours will be monitored, Farmer said, so the schedule can be tweaked if need be.
HAMILTON, N.Y. -- A missing 36-year-old Madison County woman has been located, according to the New York State Police.

Kristen M. Lawrence, of Hamilton, was reported missing by family members on Oct. 12.

Lawrence was unharmed when she was located by state police patrol, troopers said this afternoon. No further details were released.

"Troopers would like to thank the public for their assistance," according to state police release.
JORDAN, N.Y. -- A 20-year-old village of Jordan man is accused of having sexual contact with a male child under the age of 11, according to New York State Police.

Travis L. Severin was charged with first-degree sexual abuse, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, state police said.

Severin was arraigned in Jordan Village Court and was remanded to the Onondaga County Justice Center on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Golisano Children's Hospital has banned Syracuse University students from visiting its patients until the SU mumps outbreak is over.

"Because of the unique characteristics of mumps infection and its vaccine, the Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital will restrict access to Syracuse University students who have direct contact with pediatric patients until the transmission is interrupted," hospital epidemiologist Dr. Jana Shaw said in a letter distributed Tuesday.

About 25 SU students are affected by the ban, said hospital spokesman Darryl Geddes. The student volunteers help the hospital's child life specialists by reading to patients, taking them on outings, assisting with games and other activities.

The mumps outbreak at SU began in August primarily among athletes and has spread to other students.

There were 27 confirmed mumps cases and 52 probable cases as of Tuesday. All the infected students had received the two required mumps vaccinations, according to SU.

SU began offering students a third dose of the vaccine Tuesday. The extra vaccination is not required, but strongly encouraged, officials said.

The third dose helped control a mumps outbreak at the University of Iowa during the 2015-2016 school year, according to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Crouse Hospital has not decided yet whether to ban visits by SU students, said Bob Allen, a hospital vice president.

Contact James T. Mulder anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-470-2245
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- New York State Sen. John DeFrancisco said he was so "frustrated" by Gov. Andrew Cuomo's recent veto of a $1 million pilot program benefiting elderly and disabled people that he had to hold a news conference Wednesday.

The program would provide up to a $2,750 tax credit for newly constructed or retrofitted homes to create accessible housing features, like first-floor bathrooms, guard rails and other additions that can help the elderly or disabled stay in their homes.

There's also a waitlist of one to four years for accessible housing for people trying to move out of nursing homes, said Tania Anderson, the CEO of Arise, Inc. The governor's veto doesn't help, she said at the news conference.

Cuomo vetoed the bill this week, saying in a veto message that the program "has a laudable goal" but that it would be difficult for the Department of State to implement a brand new tax credit program. He also said that the program should have been included during the annual budget process, not as a standalone bill.

DeFrancisco (R-Syracuse), the Senate's deputy majority leader, said at the news conference at his local office Wednesday that the program was included in the Senate's proposed budget, but it never made its way into the final budget.

And he said the governor often announces "multi-million-dollar" spending programs without much consideration for the administrative burdens they might impose.

"We've gone through this process over three years and each time the governor vetoed it, we've modified it..." he said. "It's almost like a bait and switch."

In response to DeFrancisco's criticism, governor's office spokesman Richard Azzopardi accused DeFrancisco of having his "political forked tongue working."

"He knows full well that a bill requiring funding has to be in the budget and we did discuss it in Albany," Azzopardi said in an email. "But he must have been in his home in Florida, which is where he usually is."

(DeFrancisco has a home in Sanibel, Fla., where he regularly vacations.)

The bill's sponsors modified it this year to turn it into a pilot program and reduced the amount of the individual credit, DeFrancisco said. They also removed a provision that allowed subsequent buyers of the home from getting the credit even if they didn't make any improvements for accessibility.

DeFrancisco called the pilot program's cost "chump change" in the face of the state's $160-plus billion budget.

"It's not even a rounding here for one day of state spending," he said. "This is a million dollars. There isn't a day that goes by where the governor doesn't announce a multi-million-dollar cost for this project, that project."

DeFrancisco, who is exploring a run for governor, said the news conference was the first he's held in his 25-year Senate career in response to a veto by a governor.

He also criticized the governor yesterday for vetoing a bill that would have given a commuter pass to Syracuse drivers on the New York State Thruway.

The senator said he's continuing his tour of the state to explore a run, including a visit soon to Long Island.

He said he doesn't think the governor's vetoes were targeted him as one of the governor's fiercest critics in the Senate.

"He's an equal-opportunity vetoer," he said. "I don't think it's personal against me."
By Kate Feldman

New York Daily News

(TNS)

NEW YORK -- An AMC actress claims that former President George H.W. Bush groped her from his wheelchair during a screening.

Heather Lind, who starred in "Turn: Washington's Spies," detailed her accusations in a lengthy Instagram post Tuesday, when she said she was "disturbed" after seeing a photo of former President Barack Obama with the 41st president.

"I found it disturbing because I recognize the respect ex-presidents are given for having served. And I feel pride and reverence toward many of the men in the photo. But when I got the chance to meet George H.W. Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo," Lind, 34, wrote.

"He didn't shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke. And then, all the while being photographed, touched me again. Barbara rolled her eyes as if to say 'not again.' His security guard told me I shouldn't have stood next to him for the photo."

Lind, who played Anna Strong on the drama about "America's first spy ring," met the former president, 93, during a special screening of the show in 2014, a week before its premiere.

"We were instructed to call him Mr. President. It seems to me a President's power is in his or her capacity to enact positive change, actually help people, and serve as a symbol of our democracy. He relinquished that power when he used it against me and, judging from the comments of those around him, countless other women before me," Lind wrote.

"What comforts me is that I too can use my power, which isn't so different from a President really. I can enact positive change. I can actually help people. I can be a symbol of my democracy. I can refuse to call him President, and call out other abuses of power when I see them. I can vote for a President, in part, by the nature of his or her character, knowing that his or her political decisions must necessarily stem from that character."

Lind went on to say that she told her castmates about the alleged assault and that she decided to come forward because of "the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences."

In the past several weeks, dozens of women have accused film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault and harassment, as well as similar claims against other actors, producers, directors, photographers and musicians.

"I thank President Barack Obama for the gesture of respect he made toward George H. W. Bush for the sake of our country, but I do not respect him."

In a statement to the New York Daily News, Bush's spokesman did not deny the allegations.

"President Bush would never -- under any circumstance -- intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologizes if his attempt at humor offended Ms. Lind," his spokesman said.

------

(c)2017 New York Daily News

Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
WASHINGTON - Leading House Republicans announced on Tuesday two new probes, one into how the Obama administration's Justice Department handled a deal that gave Russia control over 20 percent of the U.S. uranium supply, and the other into how it investigated Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server when she was secretary of state.

The parallel investigations - both of which involve the House Oversight Committee working in cooperation with another panel - formally revive issues that the Trump campaign used to try to discredit his Democratic rival during the 2016 presidential race and later the conduct of former FBI director James Comey.

Democrats were quick to charge that the GOP-led probes were "designed to distract attention" from the various investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, including alleged ties between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

"These investigations were initiated on a partisan basis, and will shed no light on Russia's interference in the 2016 election, but then again they are not intended to do so," House Intelligence Committee ranking member Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said in a statement Tuesday. "This may be good politics, but it is a disservice to the far more important cause of investigating Russian interference in our democracy and protecting our elections in 2018 and beyond from outside influence."

The House judiciary committees' probe into the Clinton email investigation focuses on well-established lines of questioning, including why Comey decided to publicly announce that the FBI was investigating Clinton but then waited months before making a similar announcement about its inquiries into Trump.

Panel leaders also promised to look into other aspects of the FBI's timeline in deciding when to make key decisions and announcements regarding the Clinton investigation, including when the agency notified Congress about its status.

The House Oversight and Intelligence committees' investigation also resurrects allegations that Clinton or others in the Obama administration mishandled a government decision to green-light a deal giving Russia control over a sizable percentage of the United States' uranium resources.

Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., said Tuesday that the panel has "been looking into this for a while now" but decided to formally start the inquiry in light of new evidence, reported in the Hill, that the FBI had been investigating Russian efforts to influence the American nuclear industry through various corrupt schemes.

Nunes said the first goal of the investigation, for which the Intelligence Committee is partnering with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is to determine whether there was "actually an open FBI investigation or not."

Oversight Committee member Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., said Tuesday that members have identified a "witness who was a confidential informant who wants to talk about his role in this" but were trying to first get the witness released from a nondisclosure agreement with the Justice Department.

The uranium deal in question dates to 2009, when state-owned Russian nuclear energy company Rosatom began buying shares in Uranium One, a company based in Toronto with interests in the United States. The next year, Rosatom sought to assume majority ownership in Uranium One - a deal that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) had to approve. Russia later assumed full ownership of the company.

At the time, Clinton was secretary of state, leading one of nine government agencies comprising CFIUS. Notably, Nunes did not mention Clinton's name Tuesday as he announced his investigation. He, DeSantis and Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., focused on the involvement of then-Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and the extent to which the Justice Department and the FBI had been scrutinizing the transaction or the entities involved. The Treasury representative chairs CFIUS, and the Treasury Department was the agency to which King and others sent a letter questioning the uranium deal in 2010.

The House is not the first body to resurrect the Russian uranium deal. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee also announced that it would be investigating the matter.

In a C-SPAN interview Monday, Clinton said the new focus on the uranium deal is "baloney" and evidence that the Trump administration is worried and trying to deflect attention away from the ongoing probes into the Trump team's alleged ties to the Kremlin.

Nunes has become a focal point of such efforts before. Earlier this year, he came under fire for suggesting that the Obama administration had inappropriately unmasked the identities of members of the Trump transition team, and perhaps the president himself, in intelligence reports. He made those allegations after visiting the White House, leading Democrats to accuse him of coordinating his efforts with the Trump administration. Nunes, now the subject of an ethics inquiry for his actions, handed over the reins of the committee's investigation of Russian election meddling to Rep. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, but he has not recused himself from the inquiry.

Nunes said Tuesday that he has not spoken with the White House about the uranium matter. But when asked whether he would brief the White House in the future, he said, "If appropriate, yeah."

King, appearing with Nunes, insisted that the investigation of the uranium deal was a separate matter entirely from the committee's ongoing inquiry of Russian meddling in the U.S. election.

"This is totally different from the election issue," King said. He stressed that his focus, at the time of the deal and now, was primarily driven by concerns about "why 20 percent of the U.S.'s uranium supply was being given to a Russian-owned company."
Two Frenchtown high school students have been suspended while district and Missoula County authorities investigate racially derogatory and threatening social media posts last weekend.

A screenshot of one of the posts provided to the Missoulian shows a high school-aged boy sitting in a vehicle brandishing a hunting rifle.

bout to go shoot some (racial epithet), the message from an unidentified companion reads.

Its followed by another photo of two rifles on the vehicle seat and a note urging those offended by the previous post to get over it especially if ur cali people... like I live in montana.

The postings by a Frenchtown-area girl occurred Saturday and generated a whirlwind of responses on Facebook for much of the day.

Randy Cline, Frenchtown school superintendent, said the district learned of the postings early Monday and forwarded them to its school resource officer.

Due to the threatening nature of the posts, the students have been removed from school while the District investigates this incident, Cline said in an email Wednesday. The District will follow the law, its policies and its procedures when determining appropriate disciplinary action. The District also notified the Missoula County Sheriffs office of these posts.

In a telephone conversation later in the day, Cline said he couldnt reveal names or classes of the boy and girl involved.

"Frenchtown School District does not condone this behavior and we are addressing it," he said. "I've been doing this 24 years as an administrator and have never seen anything like this before."

Sheriff spokeswoman Brenda Bassett said the department is aware of the posts and has school resource officer Rebecca Birket, a former detective, looking into inappropriate, violent and racist content posted on social media. The department's detective captain has also been involved, she said.

We are also working closely with the county attorneys office to see if any charges will be filed, Bassett said.

These postings are troublesome and we are taking this matter very seriously as we do all matters of public safety, the sheriffs office said on its Facebook page later in the day.

The Montana Human Rights Network is aware and concerned about the views expressed in the posts, said HRN co-director Rachel Carroll Rivas.

Not only does it represent the education we have to do amongst our youth and folks in Montana around how hurtful these things are, and the really negative things that they can lead to," Carroll Rivas said, "but it also is concerning to us because these types of comments, especially when they reference violence, are harmful to other members of the community, in particular students who may be targeted by them.

Carroll Rivas said HRN has recommended Frenchtown schools work with Empower Montana, which provides educational programming on diversity, inclusion and intervention options when people see hateful incidents occur.

The Human Rights Network also has a hate incident reporting form on its website and has been tracking hate incidents for 27 years.

We noticed about a year and a half ago a marked increase in incidents such as this, Carroll Rivas said. We believe its because there is an atmosphere thats been created by our elected officials, in certain cases, that have really amplified the name-calling, the bullying and discriminatory ideas about certain groups.

Empower Montana has had no direct conversation with Frenchtown Schools this week, but Jesse Jaeger, director of operations, said its well-suited for this kind of situation.

Seventy percent of Empower Montana's work is with youths and schools to help raise up folks skills in how to address bias, prejudice and discrimination, Jaeger said.

He was in Whitefish on Wednesday, wrapping up multi-session meetings with Whitefish school faculty to staff on how to create a safe school culture. Those meetings were spurred by anti-Semitic incidents last winter surrounding Richard Spencer, a part-time resident and white supremacist, and anti-Semitic stories targeting Whitefish residents in the Daily Stormer, a white supremacist website, events that gained national attention.

Weve been called on a lot this last year or so to respond to incidents like the one that happened at Frenchtown, Jaeger said. Were looking to support them in how they can address this issue with the school and community.
An administrative blunder by Christs College accommodation office caused sixty-seven students to come close to being ripped off by more than 100 each.

Christs students living in Anastasia House  a hostel 15 minutes walk from the main site  have now been given the 110 termly rent discount that their college promised them all along.

Because of room refurbishments, half of Christs second year  usually accommodated in college or on nearby Jesus Lane  have been put into Anastasia House.

The infamous Christs typewriter building, which normally houses most of the colleges first years, is now out of action for all of this academic year.

When current second year students found out that some of them would be forced out from the normal college accommodation by first years, their JCR told them that they would have a tidy 110 a term knocked off their college bills to make up for all the hassle.

At the start of this term, students were shocked that their bills did not include the full discount they had been expecting.

The bursar initially blamed the rent price confusion on a document, not produced by the college, saying that the rates it provided were incorrect.

Students maintained that the JCRs figures had come straight from the college, with some informally threatening to rent-strike.

As student complaints piled up, Christs accommodation officers trawled through their records trying to sort out who exactly had said what.

When they eventually recovered all the key paperwork with the help of a student petition, they realised that the JCRs rent figures came from a lost document produced by a former employee.

As soon as they found out the mistake was theirs, and not the JCRs, they issued revised bills and refunds to all students affected.

Matthew Owen, Christs JCR first year representative, was quick to praise the colleges handling of the situation.

He said that the college took our views seriously, adding that students are very satisfied with the outcome.

Payne was willing to own up to an unfortunate error on the colleges part, but pointed out that the difficulties was sorted very quickly. He also conceded that difficulties with Anastasia House internet facilities  described by one resident as complete crap  are ongoing.

This is second embarrassing error from Christs accommodation office reported by The Cambridge Student so far this term. The college had to perform an emergency room reshuffle after accidentally double-booking one students room.

An administrative blunder by Christs College accommodation office caused sixty-seven students to come close to being ripped off by more than 100 each.

Christs students living in Anastasia House  a hostel 15 minutes walk from the main site  have now been given the 110 termly rent discount that their college promised them all along.

Because of room refurbishments, half of Christs second year  usually accommodated in college or on nearby Jesus Lane  have been put into Anastasia House.

The infamous Christs typewriter building, which normally houses most of the colleges first years, is now out of action for all of this academic year.

When current second year students found out that some of them would be forced out from the normal college accommodation by first years, their JCR told them that they would have a tidy 110 a term knocked off their college bills to make up for all the hassle.

At the start of this term, students were shocked that their bills did not include the full discount they had been expecting.

The bursar initially blamed the rent price confusion on a document, not produced by the college, saying that the rates it provided were incorrect.

Students maintained that the JCRs figures had come straight from the college, with some informally threatening to rent-strike.

As student complaints piled up, Christs accommodation officers trawled through their records trying to sort out who exactly had said what.

When they eventually recovered all the key paperwork with the help of a student petition, they realised that the JCRs rent figures came from a lost document produced by a former employee.

As soon as they found out the mistake was theirs, and not the JCRs, they issued revised bills and refunds to all students affected.

Matthew Owen, Christs JCR first year representative, was quick to praise the colleges handling of the situation.

He said that the college took our views seriously, adding that students are very satisfied with the outcome.

Payne was willing to own up to an unfortunate error on the colleges part, but pointed out that the difficulties was sorted very quickly. He also conceded that difficulties with Anastasia House internet facilities  described by one resident as complete crap  are ongoing.

This is second embarrassing error from Christs accommodation office reported by The Cambridge Student so far this term. The college had to perform an emergency room reshuffle after accidentally double-booking one students room.

Anna Croall
The University of Cambridge English Faculty has recently begun discussions concerning the decolonisation of the Cambridge English Tripos, following efforts by students to challenge the traditional priorities of the syllabus, which elevates white male authors at the expense of all others.

This was a change driven by the petition of many within the faculty; but most notably by an open letter publicised in June of this year composed by Lola Olufemi, CUSUs womens officer, following a student meeting concerning a decolonisation of faculty reading lists. The letter, which had been signed by over 100 students, declared that we can no longer ignorethe fact that the curriculum, taken as a whole, risks perpetuating institutional racism, and pressed for comprehensive alterations to the curriculum, in a call to re-centre the lives of other marginalized writers who have been silenced by the canon. The letter also offered some methods to ameliorate the situation, but focused on the promotion of thought, consultation with students and an overview of the course in its entirety as the most meaningful approach to incorporation.

Though the outcome of the Facultys discussion is as yet unknown, Olufemi welcomed the talks as a promising step forward.

UPDATE:

Olufemi was pictured on the front of the Daily Telegraph today, accompanying an article that was highly critical of the 'change in policy'. The University has responded to the article, saying we condemn the related harassment directed towards our students.

A stament also went on to detail that "The Teaching Forum is a body which has no decision-making powers and its decision points are questions to be discussed in the Faculty."

Priyamvada Gopal, a supervisor on the Part II Postcolonial Literature course, wrote a series of tweets condemning the "ridiculous", "rascist" coverage.

FLY Girls of Cambridge, the University network and forum for women and non-binary people of colour, released a statement today on October 25th condemning the Telegraph and Daily Mail's reporting of Olufemi's campaign.

The statement says, "The factual errors and poor reporting of the pieces expose them as thinly veiled attempts to target and incite backlash against a student activist." It cites the choice of Olufemi's picture on the front page as further evidence that the coverage is "a blatant instance of misogynoir and a strategic targeting of a visible a black student activist, opening her up to racial and gendered attacks, harassment as well as national scrutiny."

Consequently, both the Telegraph and Daily Mail have failed to recognise, and furthermore distracted from, Olufemi's campaign to decolonise curricula in British higher education, they argue.

The statement ends, "We stand with all students of colour, who are active in organizing with liberation campaigns in institutions of higher education to widen access and dismantle oppressive structures.

"We refuse to be silenced."

President of the CUSU BME Campaign, Jason Osamede Okundaye, wrote in the Guardian today that the Telegraph and Daily Mail's coverage is "yet another attack on students of colour".

Okundaye writes, "I consider [it] wilful misconstruction." He states clearly the differences between Olufemi's letter and how it was covered in the Telegraph. The letter, for example, states explicitly that, This is not a call for the exclusion of white men from reading lists, needless to say: it is a call to re-centre the lives of other marginalised writers who have been silenced by the canon. The Telegraph headline read, Student forces Cambridge to drop white authors.

He, too, pointed to the "sultry image" of Olufemi on the front page, commenting that, "This choice taps into the age-old media stereotype of black women as aggressive and irrational, catalysing the onslaught of racialised misogyny against her."

He concludes by pointing us towards the larger picture here  the goal of the decolonisation campaign.

He closes, "It is no longer acceptable to present male, European authors as the gold standard of knowledge, and marginalised groups are shaking the academy from all angles.

"This type of media takedown of student activism is a major barrier to progress and honest discussion."

Okundaye was caught in what is perhaps a similar sensationalist media outburst earlier this year in August, after tweets from his Twitter page such as ""ALL white people are racist. White middle class, white working class, white men, white women, white gays, white children. They can ALL geddit" were covered in the national media.

He wrote then, also in the Guardian, that "The headlines made allegations that I believe all individual white people are racist, insinuating that I support violence against white people because of this."
The iPhone X is set to start preorders on Oct. 27, and carriers have now released promotions to entice customers to acquire the $999 smartphone with their services.

Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile have announced the details of their trade-in programs that offers discounts of up to $350 to the iPhone X price. Here are all the important details for customers who are thinking about buying the premium smartphone.

Sprint iPhone X Trade-In Program

Sprint is the first carrier to release details of its iPhone X trade-in program, and it also happens to be the one that offers the biggest potential discount of up to $350.

Customers can avail the Sprint Flex leasing program for only $22.22 per month for 18 months, with the trade in of an older device. After 18 months, customers can choose to trade the iPhone X back to Sprint for another lease or pay $41.62 for six more months to own the device outright. This will total about $650 in payments, compared to the $999 price tag of the 64 GB iPhone X.

The supported devices in the trade-in program are the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6s Plus of Apple, the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8 Plus, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, and Galaxy Note 5 of Samsung; the G5, G6, and V20 of LG; the Pixel and Pixel XL of Google; the Z Droid, Z Play, Z2 Force, Z Force Droid, and Z2 Play of Motorola; the BlackBerry KeyOne; and the HTC U11.

Verizon iPhone X Trade-In Program

For Verizon, its iPhone X trade-in program offers a $300 discount in exchange for an iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, or iPhone 7 Plus. Customers will then have to pay $41.66 per month for 24 months, with their trade-in discount to be applied over the two-year window.

Verizon customers will need to keep the iPhone X for two years before they can say that they own the smartphone. The deal is also limited to Go Unlimited and Beyond Unlimited plans, for new and current subscribers.

T-Mobile iPhone X Trade-In Program

The T-Mobile trade-in program for the iPhone X, on the other hand, also offers up to a $300 discount. However, instead of the discount being spread out across monthly payments for traded-in devices, T-Mobile will pay their subscribers the value of their traded-in smartphone upfront.

Will You Buy The iPhone X?

Analysts believe that the muted iPhone 8 sales is partly because customers are instead thinking of buying the iPhone X, or at least waiting for the premium smartphone to be released to compare the two models.

However, the iPhone X has already gotten Apple in trouble with a trademark lawsuit from a Japanese developer. Some customers may also decide to hold off on buying the iPhone X, amid rumors that all 2018 iPhone models will have its OLED display and Face ID features.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
New York City subway riders will soon be able to use Apple Pay and Android Pay while traveling, as a modernization initiative for the transport system is finally under way.

Riders, however, might not want to throw away their MetroCards just yet, as it will take a bit more time before the New York City subway can finally let go of them.

New York City Subway To Soon Accept NFC Payments

A Metropolitan Transportation Authority committee approved a $573 million contact for a new system for fare payments. The system will utilize NFC technology to allow commuters to pay for their rides using various modern options, including Apple Pay and Android Pay.

The new system will replace the MetroCards, which have been the subject of disdain by many commuters due to reliability issues ever since the New York City subway started using them in 1993. Riders using MetroCards need to load their cards and swipe them on turnstiles to gain access to the trains. The hassle of falling in line to refill a MetroCard is a horrible experience during rush hours, and the turnstiles sometimes fail to read swiped cards correctly.

New York City subway riders who are very eager to throw away their MetroCards should not do so yet, though. The approved plan is to install the NFC-equipped systems on 500 subway turnstiles, along with 600 buses, by late 2018. The full rollout of the technology is not expected to be completed until late 2020.

The timeline is still much faster compared to previous plans of rolling out wireless payments in the New York City subways starting 2021. MetroCards, meanwhile, will not be phased out until 2023, which is 30 years since they first appeared.

New York City Subway To Follow Footsteps Of London Underground

The system that will find its way into the New York City subway will be adapted from the one that the London Underground has used for several years.

The company that was awarded the contract to supply the technology to the New York City subway is Cubic Transportation Systems. Cubic is one of the operators of the London Underground's Oyster system, so commuters can expect the same level of quality and efficiency for the incoming payment systems.

With the New York City subway to soon follow the footsteps of the London Underground, everyone involved becomes a winner. Riders will enjoy more convenient commutes, operators will have to face fewer problems, and companies behind wireless payment systems will see an influx of new customers.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Several Silicon Valley companies have recently come under fire for failing to recognize and own up to their role in last year's highly controversial election. It's believed social networks the likes of Facebook and Twitter failed to monitor fake news that ran rampant during the election period.

They're somewhat correct. Facebook has admitted that a Russia-linked troll farm had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to distribute ads aiming to divide and polarize Americans during the election period. Twitter, on the other hand, has been facing sharp criticism from lawmakers and critics for not doing enough to curb the spread of bots, fake news, propaganda, and hate speech.

At the height of controversy, Facebook promised sweeping changes, such as disclosing which pages bought political ads and if those ads vary depending on who they're being targeted to. Twitter is following suit.

Twitter Promises Ad Transparency

On Tuesday, Oct. 24, the San Francisco-based microblogging service took a major step to address at least one of its issues.

Twitter is planning to launch what it calls as an Advertising Transparency Center that will, for the first time, reveal a list of all ads being run on Twitter for every single user, including how long they've been running, other campaigns that are associated with a particular ad, and which ads are specifically targeted to a user.

It goes way beyond that, however. Twitter has set in place special transparency metrics for electioneering ads. Going forward, it will disclose who's paying for a political ad, what kind of users it's targeting, and  more importantly  the historical record of an advertiser's electioneering ad spending, plus its total ad spend.

Twitter will require electioneering advertisers to reveal themselves as such, plus it'll introduce stronger penalties for those who fail to comply with the policies.

What This Means For You

In addition to seeing more transparency with regard to ads, Twitter says users can also report inappropriate ads or give feedback, such as clicking "I don't like this ad." Twitter claims this will help it remove inappropriate ads faster and show more relevant ones instead.

Rollout Of New Policies

The company will roll out the new policies first in the United States and then globally.

Twitter's sweeping new changes follow last week's introduction of the Honest Ads Act legislation, which seeks to "enhance the integrity of our democracy" by setting in place effective disclosure requirements when it comes to online advertising.

"A good first step, particularly public disclosure of ads info. Online political ads need more transparency & disclosure," said Senate Democrat Mark Warner in a tweet Tuesday, Oct. 24.

The act and, in turn, Twitter's move follow mounting pressure from Washington to police social media companies such as Twitter and Facebook. Unlike traditional media companies, social networks aren't required to disclose who's paying for political ads. This has become a heated topic after Facebook was found to have allowed Russian agents to purchase ads in an attempt to influence last year's election.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Needing to use the toilet more often than usual is a symptom of ovarian cancer. Findings of a new survey, however, have revealed that only 1 percent of women are aware of this warning sign.

Poor Awareness Of Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

A poll conducted by Target Ovarian Cancer showed that the common symptoms of the condition, such as feeling full and abdominal pain, are not widely recognized. Only a fifth of the 1,000 women surveyed were able to identify frequent bloating as a symptom of the disease. Only one in 100 women were aware that needing the loo could be a sign of the condition.

John Butler, a gynecological oncology surgeon, said that the problem with the symptoms of ovarian cancer is that they are not specific. Most of the sufferers do not get an accurate diagnosis until it is too late because of the commonality of the symptoms. Some women may not even experience symptoms.

Target Ovarian Cancer hopes to raise awareness about the common symptoms of the disease that women can spot themselves, so they can seek help early.

Ovarian Cancer Research

The UK-based charity said that research on ovarian cancer lags behind other forms of cancer, noting of a serious drop in funding for ovarian cancer research amid a projected increase in incidence rates of the disease.

"So much in our everyday lives as been transformed in the past 20 years, yet women with ovarian cancer only have access to treatments discovered decades ago, with one or two exceptions. This is not good enough," said Target Ovarian Cancer's Scientific Advisory Board chair Ruth Plummer.

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer affecting women. In the UK, 11 women die of the disease per day. Figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed the disease is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States. In 2014, more than 14,000 women in the United States died from the disease.

Signs and symptoms that may indicate ovarian cancer include vaginal bleeding, especially for women who are past menopause, abnormal vaginal discharge, pain or pressure in the pelvic area, back or abdominal pain, bloating, and change in bathroom habits such as more urgent and more frequent need to urinate.

"Pay attention to your body, and know what is normal for you. If you have unusual vaginal bleeding, see a doctor right away," the CDC advised. "If you have any of the other signs for two weeks or longer and they are not normal for you, see a doctor. They may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see a doctor."

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
GREAT FALLS  A former chief financial officer at the Rocky Boy Health Board Clinic in Box Elder has pleaded guilty to circumventing the approval process in taking out nearly $112,000 in loans from the health board's loan program.

The Great Falls Tribune reports 60-year-old Kathy Ann Sutherland pleaded guilty Tuesday to wire fraud. She told U.S. District Judge Brian Morris she used the money to feed her gambling habit. She faces up to 20 years in prison when she is sentenced on Feb. 8. She also has agreed to pay restitution.

Court records say that from 2005 to 2015, Sutherland took out employee loans from the health board loan program. The money was to be repaid through payroll deductions. However, she bypassed the $1,500 loan limit and cashed duplicate checks to get more money.
Its been a long time since The Best Years of Our Lives, the beloved 1946 film about soldiers returning home to their families after World War II, but the story, in many ways, remains the same. In William Wylers movie, the sacrifices of war were embodied by vet-turned-actor Harold Russell, who lost both his hands in the Army. But combat injuries arent always so visible, as evidenced in Thank You for Your Service, the directorial debut of American Sniper writer Jason Hall, who adapted David Finkels book for the screen.

Thank You for Your Service explores the devastation of PTSD suffered by American soldiers returning home in 2007, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Washington Post journalist Finkel embedded with a group of soldiers in Iraq to write the book The Good Soldiers, and his follow up, Thank Your for Your Service, details their readjustment to their families and civilian life while battling physical, mental and emotional injuries.

Miles Teller stars as Sgt. Adam Schumann, who struggles to find his footing back home with his wife (Haley Bennett) and kids. He seems most at ease when looking out for his boys, like he did back in Iraq, and is plagued by guilt over incidents at home and abroad when he was unable to save his buddies from injury or death.

The detailing of their physical and emotional injuries is laid in an almost edutainment style, citing statistics about suicide, and careful questionnaires about mental distress. But its at once an account of PTSD and a wartime mystery. While these young vets struggle to receive treatment for their combat stress, traumatic brain injuries and suicidal thoughts, they also speak cryptically about, what happened to Doster, one of their comrades who died, leaving behind a distraught widow (Amy Schumer) searching for answers.

While parts of Thank You for Your Service work well, overall, the film is inconsistent. A middle section lays out a perfect villain that is disappointingly dropped: the governmental system that churns through boys and leaves them alone to navigate the bureaucratic nightmare that is Veterans Affairs, while admonishing them that its bad for morale to ask for help.

This biting, trenchant social commentary is abandoned for a misguided subplot involving Solo (Beulah Koale), Adams buddy, getting caught up in a bad situation with a drug dealer, a Desert Storm vet. Its extremely disappointing that the film ultimately positions the real threat as a fellow vet, a man of color, rather than the war machine that chewed them up and spit them out.

The representations of the Army wives arent all that much to write home about either. Theyre mostly shrill nags who cant understand. Amy Schumer, making a turn toward dramatic fare, is woefully miscast. In a brown wig, its too hard to separate her from her comedic persona, and it almost feels like one of her Inside Amy Schumer sketches.

Teller is a compelling actor, and when the film focuses on Adam and his boys  their bonds forged in combat, sealed with blood  its sensitive and moving. No man is left behind, even back home. Teller is best across from Koale, who is utterly riveting in his soulful performance as the American Samoan soldier Solo. Despite its storytelling inconsistencies, the film reveals a harrowing veteran experience when it focuses simply on the men themselves.



THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

2.5 out of 4 stars

Cast: Miles Teller, Beulah Koale, Haley Bennett, Joe Cole, Amy Schumer

Directed by Jason Hall

Running time: 1 hour, 48 minutes

Rated R for strong violent content, language throughout, some sexuality, drug material and brief nudity.



2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
GRAMBLING, La. (AP)  Authorities are still searching for a suspect in a shooting that killed a Grambling State University student and his fri
DECATUR  Zachary M. Pherigo, 17, pleaded not guilty in Macon County Circuit Court on Wednesday to the charge he murdered his 2-year-old nephew, Justin Lee Murphy Jr.

Pherigo also pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in the Oct. 16 shooting.

Macon County State's Attorney Jay Scott said last week that Pherigo is being treated as an adult because the law covering juveniles does not allow first-degree murder charges to be filed against someone who is 17.

Dressed in a gray shirt and light-colored pants, Pherigo was accompanied Wednesday by attorney David Ellison. He told Judge Phoebe Bowers that he wished to waive his right to a preliminary hearing. Bowers set a pre-trial hearing date of Nov. 17.

The 2-year-old was shot in the torso at 8:40 a.m. Oct. 16 in the 1400 block of East Wellington Way, Macon County Coroner Michael E. Day said. He was later pronounced dead in the emergency room of Decatur Memorial Hospital.

Pherigo, the toddler's uncle, told police that he was babysitting the boy and they went outside to play "cops and robbers," according to a sworn affidavit by a Decatur police officer.

Pherigo was holding a .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun he told police he had found a day earlier near a dumpster in the 3700 block of North Woodford Street, the statement said. Pherigo said he pointed the gun at Justin's side and told him not to move, then pulled the trigger. He told police that he did not realize the gun was loaded.

Pherigo told police he picked up his nephew and carried him inside, using a blanket to try to stop the bleeding. He then retrieved the gun, put the spent shell casing in his pocket and placed the weapon in a cabinet above the refrigerator, he told police.

Murder is a Class M felony, the most serious, with a potential sentence of 20 to 60 years, plus a 25-year enhancement for use of a firearm, if convicted. Aggravated battery with a firearm is a Class X felony, aggravated discharge of a firearm is a Class 1 felony and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon is a Class 4 felony.

Pherigo is being held in the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center following his arrest by Decatur police.
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Hannah McLain, 22, a volunteer organized by a local Baton Rouge church, helps throw out waterlogged items from the home of Rhonda Brewer in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016. Around 100 students from LSU and local high schools also helped residents clean up in the area. At least 40,000 homes were damaged and eight people killed in the historic Louisiana floods, the governor said Tuesday, giving a stark assessment of the widespread disaster. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) ORG XMIT: LAMB129
The state plans to replace the Belle Chasse tunnel as part of a $122 million project that would include private dollars, Louisiana's transportation chief announced Wednesday.

Replacement of the tunnel, which opened in 1956, and the nearby movable bridge, which opened in the 1960's, would be financed through a public-private partnership, federal dollars and toll revenue, said Shawn Wilson, secretary for the state Department of Transportation and Development.

"What you have is a way to bring real dollars to the table, to address a real need for replacing a bridge and a tunnel," he said in an interview.

Wilson made the announcement to a noontime address Wednesday to the Plaquemines Association of Business and Industry in Belle Chasse.

The tunnel, on La. 23 and used by about 30,000 motorists per day, is seen as a choke point for those entering the parish.

The tunnel and bridge have had flood problems, and the state spends about $500,000 per year to maintain them.

Replacing it has been discussed for years, and Gov. John Bel Edwards has said the project is a key priority for economic growth on the West Bank of the Mississippi River.

The two-lane tunnel handles southbound traffic and the bridge is for motorists heading north.

Public-private partnerships are known as P3s in state government circles.

The announcement marks the first time the state has solicited one.

Under the arrangement, private firms do the building in exchange for a longtime revenue stream.

Firms can make a profit of 10 percent or more through yearly payouts.

Wilson said he hopes that up to $50 million of the work can be financed through a federal program called the Infrastructure For Rebuilding AMERICA Grant.

Most of the rest would be paid through tolls, and possibly local contributions or state dollars.

Wilson said tolls will be as low as possible "but at the end of the day infrastructure costs."

Asking the state or federal government to pay for the project, he said, "is just not going to happen."

Earlier this year a Wilson-backed push to increase the state gasoline tax by about $500 million per year died in the Legislature without a floor vote in either chamber.

The action likely killed any chance for a major boost in state aid for roads and bridges until at least 2021 because of legislative rules and political concerns.

Louisiana has a $13 billion backlog of road and bridge needs.

"We are trying to figure out ways that we can deliver a structure," Wilson said.

Wilson announced in January that the state was gauging interest from major firms about teaming with the state on high-profile projects in the Baton Rouge area and elsewhere.

The latest plan is different from a failed, P3 proposal unveiled in 2015 by the worldwide engineering firm AECOM.

The idea was to build an $800 million "inner loop" in Baton Rouge, called BUMP, through a public-private partnership.

However, that plan was initiated by AECOM, not the state.

A state panel killed the proposal amid cost concerns.

Edwards, Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego, House Transportation Committee Chairman Kenny Havard, R-St. Francisville and Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Page Cortez, R-Lafayette are among the state officials briefed on the plan.

DOTD officials hope to present the proposal to the House-Senate transportation committees soon.
Public ports affect the lives of Louisianans every day. New Orleans grew up around the port, which served as a gateway from North America to t
DECATUR  Local history teachers and enthusiasts are eager to dive into new information about the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy with the release Thursday of thousands of never publicly seen documents.

It can do two things, said Janilyn Kocher, who teaches history at Richland Community College. It can shed new light on this fascinating story, and its probably going to fuel more controversy and questions and new theories. But thats what history is.

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he would not block the scheduled release of the documents by the National Archives. They include more than 3,000 documents that have never been seen by the public and more than 30,000 that have been previously released but with redactions.

Kennedys life, death and family have long mesmerized the American public. The baby boomers were just coming of age in a post-World War II America that was flexing its muscle, and Kennedy radiated youthful confidence. To have him struck down by Lee Harvey Oswald, who they were told acted alone and for his own reasons, seemed to defy logic. The conspiracy theories that arose immediately have never quite shaken their grip on Americans, who found even more to explore with the rise of the internet.

The events leading up to and following Kennedys death were the subject of a two-day conference that Kocher attended in 2013. She came away from the event at Olney Central College, about 100 miles south of Decatur, with a deeper appreciation for different perspectives on the assassination.

She was eager to share the ideas with her U.S. history students, who responded enthusiastically. I had a student say, Oh my gosh, this was the best part of the entire class, Kocher said.

It's unlikely the documents will contain any big revelations on a tragedy that has stirred conspiracy theories for decades, Judge John Tunheim said last month. Tunheim was chairman of the independent agency in the 1990s that made public many assassination records and decided how long others could remain secret.

Some JFK scholars believe the trove of files may, however, provide insight into assassin Oswald's trip to Mexico City weeks before the killing, during which he visited the Soviet and Cuban embassies. Oswald's stated reason for going was to get visas that would allow him to enter Cuba and the Soviet Union, according to the Warren Commission, the investigative body established by President Lyndon B. Johnson, but much about the trip remains unknown.

Teachers and history buffs alike find much to discuss each time additional records related to the investigation are released.

First of all, he was such a beloved president for a lot of people, said Todd Vohland, a social studies teacher at St. Teresa High School. Also, you can almost look at how America seemingly changed after this assassination. Whether that would have happened regardless, well never know, but you can really see a change, especially in young America.

Vohland spends a couple days during his U.S. history class each year teaching juniors about Kennedys assassination and the theories surrounding it. In the age of the internet, he said its important to give students as much information as possible so they can make their own informed judgments.

He also finds conspiracies have a way of grabbing their attention. While they are generally aware of the Kennedy presidency and Oswald, he said, they dont always have an understanding of the wider world at the time.

They need to see it and hear, I think, the different conspiraces, because if you give them one side of it would be unfair because there so much out there, he said. Anything that can bring history to the forefront and show people, especially young people, that history isnt just some battle a long time ago, that it still plays a part in your life and affects your life is good.

Vohland said whatever is released probably wont be a bombshell, but the information will provide background and context, and maybe, just maybe, put some theories to the test.

We talk about transparency these days. If we want transparency, its a good think they are being released, he said.

Megan Glover-Flanigan, the Decatur School Districts social studies curriculum coordinator, said Kennedys legacy is a natural part of the curriculum. Whether students are aware of his significance as a touchstone for her parents generation depends on how old they are, she said.

In this case, of course, you have the assassination itself. The fact the president was gunned down is very provocative. There is a mystery, investigation, all the different conspiracy theories. The kids really get interested in exploring that, she said. The release of additional documents, obviously well be exploring that.

The assassination, ultimately, among the views of a lot historians, it began to spur a catalyst for events that led to a more tumultuous decade. Set the stage.

Glover-Flanigan, a self-described Kennedy buff, said she hopes the new documents can shed light on the assassination and the ensuing investigation. She grew up in a household that embraced the nations history and remembers watching documentaries about Kennedy. Its part of what led to her career as a teacher.

Personally, I have gone through various periods of questioning the lone gunman theory. I would like to more about the evidence that led to that conclusion, she said. But at the same time, there are so many unknowns about what will be released. Its exciting another batch (of documents) will be released.

Rich Hansen, the head of the social science department at Mount Zion, said he also hopes the new documents can help connect the dots and give students a fuller understanding of the assassination and its impact, but he doesnt expect anything that comes out will change his views.

Im not a conspiracy theorist, said Hansen, whose own career in teaching and love of history was sparked by a newspaper given to him about the assassination by his parents when he was 9 years old. Kennedy was larger than life, so if you take him away, then there should be a larger-than-life plot. No one wants to believe a lone nut got lucky.

Hansens students spend a week and a half on the topic each year. He has collected about 80 newspapers from the day of the assassination as well as other original research, and his students use those resources to formulate their own questions and projects.

I am a firm believer in primary resources, said Hansen, who has had first-person witnesses to the assassination and its aftermath visit his classroom. I always look forward to sharing new and released government documents.with my students.

Another of Decaturs Kennedy fans, 16-year-old Lauryn Pugh, said she has also never bought into alternate theories about his cause of death.

Lauryns interest in the 35th president is well known among her family and friends, especially after she appeared in the Herald & Review with a cardboard cutout of him in 2015. She shared her interest in Kennedy as part of a profile story before she attended the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Two years later, the junior at St. Teresa High School said the obsession has died down a bit, but shes still interested in the new information.

Her interest in the Kennedys stemmed more from the president and his family while they were alive, but Lauryn is interested to see what her schoolmates have to say.

I think everyone has their own conspiracy theory about his death, she said. Its pretty interesting to see everyone elses point of view.

Also, if anyone is wondering  yes, she still has the cutout.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Dyslexia affects 20 percent of the population and represents 80 to 90 percent of all learning disabilities. Overwhelming evidence shows dyslexia is a problem with the language system and that interventions directed to the problems with the language system work best to help dyslexic children reach their full potential.

A recent article was published about the possibility that dyslexia is caused by a treatable eye deformity and thus suggested dyslexia may be a vision problem. The story caused skeptical hope for those with dyslexic children as the article also suggested a possible fix for dyslexia.

The story says, Our observations lead us to believe that we indeed found a potential (italics mine) cause of dyslexia. It also says they "may" (again, italics mine) have found a physiological cause. The study has 30 people with dyslexia and 30 without dyslexia. The authors are espousing this as a theory and not fact. It is a small sample size in a single institution.

Large-scale randomized studies have never shown that treating vision helps children with dyslexia. There is always a convincing story of a child using a larger font, special glasses, or Irlen lenses for dyslexia, but there is no evidence to support these products.

Drs. Sally and Bennett Shaywitz, endowed professors at Yale Medical School and founders of the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity, give us a better understanding of dyslexia.

Fundraiser set for Baton Rouge charter school that serves students with dyslexia A fundraiser is set for Oct. 26 to raise dollars for a Baton Rouge charter school that serve

Dyslexia is an unexpected difficulty in reading for an individual who has the intelligence to be a much better reader. Commonly due to a difficulty in phonological processing (the appreciation of the individual sounds of spoken language), it affects the ability of an individual to speak, read, spell, and many times learn a second language.

And from the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus: Children with dyslexia do not have any more visual problems than children without dyslexia. Vision therapy does not work for this population because the eyes are not the problem.

Children should be identified as having dyslexia in kindergarten and first grade because the achievement gap is present at that age. Once identified, they should be given evidence-based classroom instruction. Dyslexia is not an IQ problem  they may be slow readers and have a difficult time in school, but they are often fast and creative thinkers.

My hope is that dyslexia is understood for what it really is, without shame, so that the dyslexic children in every classroom will be identified and given what they need. It is a tragedy that children are feeling defeated, instead of knowing that they are smart, but dyslexic. Information is power. Lets get the right information out to our dyslexic children and their parents.

Dr. Laura Cassidy

founder and board president, Louisiana Key Academy

Baton Rouge
While the vast majority of Americans get their health insurance through employer-sponsored plans, those on the individual market have seen both the good and bad in the marketplaces set up by the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare.

Many have received more affordable coverage. For others, rates are up, often significantly in many states. The new administration of President Donald Trump has moved to cut off some subsidies for lower-income marketplace customers. Uncertainty has been bad for insurance companies as much as customers on the marketplaces.

But now, with Republican efforts having failed to completely repeal President Barack Obama's signature achievement, the time has come for what the U.S. Congress ought to look at as a perhaps ugly but necessary compromise.

Two leading senators have proposed their bipartisan deal for steadying health insurance markets. The measure by U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., has 24 sponsors, half Republicans and half Democrats, but one name is missing from the team: Trump.

The president has sent mixed signals about the plan, but we encourage him to reconsider. To strike the subsidies by executive action, when insurance companies acted in good faith to extend them to qualified buyers, appears petulant after the Senate failed to act on GOP alternatives.

It's not at all a Democratic measure: The Alexander bill includes provisions that give states much more flexibility in insurance markets, something that the GOP has generally sought.

An informed critic of Obamacare is U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, of Louisiana. The Republican lawmaker still would prefer his own more far-reaching plan that might one day be on the table. But he seems reconciled to a "short-term fix" while bigger plans are afoot.

Let's face it, health care is such an enormous topic that it will likely take a year or more for hearings and negotiations among all the interested parties to agree upon a big health bill. In the meantime, this short-term fix deals with a specific problem for customers.

We regret Trump's ill-considered attack on the "bailout" of the companies, who acted in good faith, in accord with the general thrust of the 2010 law. To withdraw aid from the customers who are now getting it would be a contradiction of the president's promises of better health care.

The Alexander bill reflects a bipartisan desire to ensure consumers, not the companies, are protected from the potentially large rate increases stemming from Trump's decision to cut off the federal payments  which in fact have run into legal trouble, but are nevertheless providing insurance to people who might not otherwise afford it.

We urge senators, as well as the president, to follow Alexander's lead.
After sitting out the primary for state treasurer, the Louisiana Democratic Party may be about to reverse course and back the race's lone Democrat, attorney Derrick Edwards, in the runoff.

I can think of a couple of possible reasons for that:

1) Hey, why not? Sure, Edwards hasn't mustered much of a campaign so far, and yes, opponent John Schroder's Republican Party affiliation would make him a heavy favorite over even a well-funded, well-organized Democrat. But the party really has nothing to lose.

2) Or maybe it has something to gain.

It would take some truly weird circumstances to make this race competitive, but the Nov. 18 runoff might just hit the sweet spot.

The key here is not the contest between Edwards and Schroder, but what else is on the ballot.

+4 In Louisiana treasurer's race, these 2 candidates headed to runoff Democrat Derrick Edwards and Republican John Schroder made the runoff Saturday in the race f

Lanny Keller: Only a few lessons in primary returns Sometimes, for all the piles of returns and layers of commentary, an election doesnt tell y

In New Orleans, where Edwards took a whopping 62 percent of the primary vote to Schroder's 12 percent, an open mayor's seat and two competitive City Council elections will lure voters to the ballot. Assuming Schroder picks up votes from the primary's other four competitors, three Republicans and a Libertarian, he still starts with just 38 percent in the heavily Democratic city.

Even if turnout in Orleans is paltry for such a major race, it will still eclipse interest elsewhere in the state, where only a handful of low-profile seats are up for grabs. One is Schroder's old legislative seat in St. Tammany Parish, which should help him some, even if legislative districts are small and state House contests aren't that big an electoral draw. In other parts of the state likely to favor Schroder, though, the pickings are slim to non-existent. As LaPolitics publisher Jeremy Alford has pointed out, a full 56 parishes have nothing at all on the ballot other than the treasurer race, which is itself not much of a draw.

So rather than an easy ride, Schroder's facing the challenging task of convincing all those voters who'd probably support him if they voted to actually show up, and he knows it. On election night, he sent this message to supporters: Now, remember New Orleans is going to have a big turnout. Its far from just a given.

Looks like that's one area where both parties might actually agree.
New Orleans is close to completing a crime-solving network of automatic license plate readers that are a key part of the citys $40 million public safety plan, Police Superintendent Michael Harrison said Tuesday.

The high-tech cameras scan passing cars' license plates, looking for those that police suspect are connected to crimes or missing people.

Other jurisdictions have used stationary cameras for years, but New Orleans devices were first announced in November. Mayor Mitch Landrieu rolled them into a larger security plan two months later.

These license plate readers are a vital new tool in our arsenal, and will enable us to more quickly identify and locate perpetrators of violent crimes, Harrison said.

All 35 license plate reader locations, with a combined 46 cameras among them, should be up and running within two weeks, Harrison said. Some locations will have more than one camera.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, by comparison, has more than 100 stationary cameras mounted at key points.

Automatic license plate readers are already proving to be an intelligence bonanza for the New Orleans Police Department, the chief said. So far the cameras have spotted 29 stolen vehicles in October alone.

A mobile license plate reader, of the type the Police Department already used before the installation of the stationary cameras, spotted a car on its way to a planned shooting, Harrison said.

We were able to deploy resources to find that vehicle with occupants. We believe that the stop of that vehicle with those occupants actually stopped a retaliatory shooting that was heavily anticipated, Harrison said. We believe theres more of that to come.

When Landrieu introduced his public safety plan in January, he was responding to a mass shooting on Bourbon Street that left nine people injured and one dead. One key component was beefing up surveillance in the French Quarter.

Harrison emphasized Tuesday that the license plate readers will be deployed across the city, not just near key tourist attractions.

With this equipment we will monitor key intersections and egress points in every part of the city, locations that are not confined to the French Quarter or Bourbon Street, he said.

The license plate data will be retained for 180 days so that police can go back and see whether vehicles thought to be involved in future crimes were on the move about that time.

Meanwhile, city officials said they are pushing forward with another part of Landrieus security plan. A centralized NOPD command center that can monitor surveillance cameras and license plate readers should be opened this fall, according to City Homeland Security Director Aaron Miller.

The city also has installed security bollards and new surveillance cameras in the French Quarter.

+3 Use of license plate readers pits privacy concerns against prevention A double murder that rattled a quiet street in Metairie. A sexual assault in which the prima
The Canberra Liberals have filed a motion of no confidence in Chief Minister Andrew Barr, alleging Canberra has become "the corrupt capital" under his leadership.

Opposition leader Alistair Coe moved the motion late on Wednesday, which said the Assembly no longer had confidence in Mr Barr "due to the government's engagement in corrupt decisions".

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr with health minister Meegan Fitzharris. The Canberra Liberals have moved a motion of no confidence in the Chief Minister. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

Mr Coe claimed Labor's relationships with the unions, and its Glebe Park and CFMEU Dickson land swap deals were proof the party was "no longer fit to govern" the ACT.

He also made reference to its "indirect" ownership of poker machines through the Labor-controlled Labor Club, saying this was a "conflict of interest".
In a way Rob Schwartz's piece Structural Void epitomises how integral glass art has become to the Kingston Powerhouse site. In a corridor, deep in the building, Schwartz has filled a void, a cut away corner in the concrete, with textural glass bubbles, and the space is whole again.

When the Powerhouse, first built in 1915, permanently closed in 1957, numerous ideas were floated about its future, from demolition to make way for housing, to becoming a warehouse space.

Ngaio Fitzpatrick with her work Glass Mandala on the historic staircase. Credit:Rohan Thomson

But when the Canberra Glassworks moved in in 2007 the building, in a sense, became whole again.

To celebrate 10 years of the Glassworks, and the iconic building that houses it, the Glassworks is staging an exhibition examines this symbiotic relationship.
A University of Canberra student has pleaded guilty to illegally importing and possessing specimens of exotic animals that are protected by law.

Among the specimens Brent Philip Counsell, 28, imported into Australia via Queensland were a taxidermy buzzard and the skulls of hornbills, owls and a water monitor lizard, court documents say.

Brent Counsell is accused of importing and possessing protected specimens, including the tooth of a hippopotamus. Credit:Wolter Peeters

Counsell, who studies a bachelor degree in heritage, museums and conservation, has also been charged with possessing the illegally imported skulls of a brown bear, a gibbon, two owls, four Asian wild cats, a flying fox and six non-human primates.

The Jindalee, Queensland man also had in his possession the teeth of a bear, a hippopotamus tooth, and the claw of a medium-large cat species.
SPRINGFIELD  Illinois House Democrats on Tuesday endorsed banning firepower-boosting "bump stocks," the same device used by the Las Vegas gunman in the nation's deadliest mass shooting three weeks ago.

The Judiciary Committee's 7-5 tally along party lines signals a floor vote involving a device few people had even heard of before 58 people died Oct. 1 in the Nevada massacre.

Only one other state  Massachusetts  has thus far taken up bump-stock restrictions.

"It's a device used to kill and injure as many people as you can by modifying a semiautomatic weapon into an automatic weapon," the legislation's sponsor, Democratic Rep. Martin Moylan of Des Plaines, told the committee.

Critics call it an overreach because Moylan's measure technically addresses "trigger modification." It's defined in part as any implement "intended to accelerate the rate of fire of a firearm."

Sport-shooters routinely make after-market modifications to get an edge on firing speed, the National Rifle Association's Todd Vandermyde testified. He labeled Moylan's language so broad, "it would make a criminal out of the vast majority of the state's 2.2 million" Illinois firearm-permit holders.

In a Sunday Herald & Review story, state Rep. Bill Mitchell said he opposed the measure. State Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, could not be reached for comment. State Sen. Andy Manary, D-Bunker Hill, and state Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, in the same story, said they were opposed to the bill's current language but would reserve judgment. State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, could not be reached for comment.

Bump stocks were found on 12 of the rifles stockpiled by the Las Vegas gunman. Bump stocks don't affect the trigger but allow more rapid firing by relying on the inertia of the recoil to simulate a rapid-fire weapon.

The national NRA has endorsed the request by nine Republican U.S. senators for federal authorities to review bump stocks' capacity for harm. A U.S. Senate bill would ban them nationally but appears stalled, said Avery Gardiner, co-president of Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

A bump stock ban has the support of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker. He awaits legislation, approved by both houses, which must be reconciled.

California explicitly bans bump stocks and New York restricts weapons that "simulate machine guns," Gardiner said. Minnesota, Michigan, New Jersey and Oregon have laws restricting devices that accelerate firing rate. And seven states and the District of Columbia have assault-weapons bans.

Gardiner said, however, that the answer is on Capitol Hill, not in patchwork state laws.

"They're important, they're effective, they're good," Gardiner said. "But without a federal standard, there's the opportunity for people to take advantage of weaker laws in neighboring states and import them, thereby endangering Illinois."

The Illinois State Rifle Association opposes Moylan's proposal, too, citing the restriction on law-abiding sport-shooters. But it differs from the NRA on bump stocks.

"They're used by bad people," Illinois State Rifle Association lobbyist Ed Sullivan told the committee. "But the unintended consequences of this bill are that it prohibits altering a trigger to advance the rate of speed."

The bill is HB4117.

AP researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this report.
Canberra's Genevieve Jacobs proved on Wednesday she is the go-to woman for hosting big events in the national capital.

At lunchtime, she conducted a Q and A session with former governor-general Quentin Bryce at a function at the National Gallery of Australia for Breast Cancer Network Australia.

Genevieve Jacobs Credit:Lyn Mills

At a sold-out event in the evening, she was at the National Library of Australia in conversation with rocker Jimmy Barnes, talking about his new book Working Class Man.

Somewhere in all that she also managed to host her Mornings program on ABC Radio Canberra.
Canberra's two existing federal electorates will see significant boundary changes as a third seat is created, the Australian Electoral Commission said on Wednesday.

Members of the public have be called on to give their views on the carve-up, including the names and geographical boundaries for the three seats to be created in time for the next federal election.

Room for one more: ACT MPs Katy Gallagher, Andrew Leigh and Gai Brodtmann. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

Australian Electoral Commissioner and chair of the ACT redistribution committee Tom Rogers said public suggestions would be accepted until November 24, with the redistribution process expected to be completed by July.

The new seat is being created on the back of Canberra's nation-leading population growth figures released in June, coming as the House of Representatives grows by one seat to 151 members from the next poll.
In a world of Weinsteins, #metoo and on-campus sexual assault, Canberra parents are questioning their role in ensuring the next generation has positive sexual experiences.

Father-of-two Jeff Thompson has helped organise an event aimed at helping parents and carers discuss sexuality and consent with their teens and pre-teens.

Jeff Thompson has joined with other parents to organise an event aimed at promoting healthy sexuality and confronting rape culture in the teenage years. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

Mr Thompson said conversations among friends revealed their children were suffering from sexist attitudes.

One parent reported her daughter had witnessed a sexual assault but was too scared to report the incident to her school. Others spoke of homophobic, racist and sexist slurs being bandied around the schoolyard.
Fringe Western Bulldogs forward/midfielder Mitch Honeychurch will stay at Whitten Oval after Travis Cloke's retirement created extra list space at the club.

But veteran forward Stewart Crameri wasn't as lucky, with his AFL future looking doubtful after being delisted by the Dogs.

Set to stay: Forward Mitch Honeychurch is likely to remain a Bulldog. Credit:AAP

Both Honeychurch and Crameri entered the trade period with their futures up in the air. Honeychurch, 22, had attracted interest from Greater Western Sydney, who had been in the market for a pressure forward, with talk Honeychurch could join them as a delisted free agent.

However the decision of Cloke, who announced his retirement on Wednesday despite having a year to run on his contract after being told by the Dogs that he would received limited senior opportunities in 2018 if he decided to stay, has given the 2016 premiers greater breathing space.
Fletcher Building chairman  and former Commonwealth Bank CEO Ralph Norris might be looking for divine intervention after unleashing three downgrades of its building and infrastructure business in less than a year.

Especially since the latest embarrassment was unveiled right in front of shareholders at the Kiwi construction giant's annual meeting in Auckland on Wednesday.

Activist shareholder Bruce Sheppard, dressed as a priest, told Sir Ralph Norris: "Your penance seems appropriate and your confession seems sort of complete." Credit:Mags King

And divine intervention came in the form of maverick shareholder advocate, Bruce Sheppard, who showed up in priests' robes and wooden cross, conducting a Kiwi version of the Spanish Inquisition.

The Most Reverend Sheppard offered a wide-ranging critique of the company, overlooking the sheer ineptitude of its B&I division to acquisitions that have failed to deliver.
"Of the three SES [senior executive service] officers investigated, two have returned to the ATO with sanctions, and the third, Michael Cranston, resigned in June." Apart from the ATO's own review, the Inspector General of Taxation, Ali Noroozi was also investigating the ATO's fraud control. "These multiple reviews and investigations, both internally and using external parties, are all at different stages of completion and I am pleased to say that to date there have not been any significant systemic issues found," Mr Jordan said. Despite that the ATO remained "open to making any required improvements to reinforce confidence in our integrity". Liberals not behind $4b tax bills

The ATO also spoke about the ATO's move to hit several companies with tax bills amounting to $4 billion. To date there have not been any significant systemic issues found Chris Jordan Many of the cases relate to transfer pricing issues, which attracts laws passed by the former Labor government. Deputy Commissioner Mark Konza said while the Multinational Anti-Avoidance Laws (MAAL) and Diverted Profits Tax (DPT) laws had resulted in more companies voluntarily coming to the ATO to discuss how they could restructure to avoid getting hit by the laws, most of the $4 billion worth of liabilities raised were not a result of Turnbull government laws. Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison has claimed credit for the ATO issuing $4b in tax bills to large companies but the agency told Senate estimates most of it wasn't a result of Liberal government laws. Credit:AAP

Mr Konza initially said there was "nil" dollars raised under the laws, but later clarified that about $500 million (from a total of $1 billion) raised from e-commerce companies were under those laws. Mr Konza said both MAAL and DPT had ensured companies engage with the ATO, and could impact future liabilities. For example, as Fairfax Media has reported, Facebook and Google had restructured. MAAL, which applied from January 2016, had seen 18 companies so far restructuring under the laws and would result in $6.5 billion in income being booked in Australia for the first time. And with DPT (also known as the Google tax) which passed earlier this year, the ATO would not know until next year - when the companies lodge their tax returns - whether they are paying the correct amount of tax. "We anticipate somewhere between $100 million and $200 million in tax has been built back in," he said.

Mr Konza said the ATO's target was to raise about $2 billion a year in tax liabilities from the large business market. On the Panama Papers, Deputy Commissioner Neil Olesen said the agency had matched about 1200 identities to Australians, 600 of whom had already come forward under the ATO's 2014 tax amnesty, known as Project Do It. There were still hundreds of cases that needed to be finalised and would be completed by June. Mr Olesen anticipated that $50 million in liabilities would be raised through the additional disclosures from the Panama Papers investigations, and another $40 million in income would come on the books. Cash-only "shisha" bars

The ATO will, over the coming year, visit more businesses across the country that operate and advertise as "cash only". The ATO is cracking down on businesses across the country that operate and advertise as "cash only". Credit:John Woudstra Mr Jordan said there were usually not sound business reasons to have "cash-only" and that it often resulted in workers being paid low wages and no superannuation. He noted that any "shisha" bars engaged in illegal activity could come under the ATOs watch during cash economy visits. Mr Jordan also spoke of the recent IT outages plaguing the ATO.

The outages have been so frequent - and the ATO has refused to adhere to commercial service standards - leaving tax professionals angry and calling for compensation. Mr Jordan said the ATO had been working to fix IT service issues and ensure "tax agents and their clients will not be disadvantaged". But "no system will deal with every complex or unusual situation so some manual intervention will always be occasionally required," he said. Mr Jordan said tax time 2017 had seen about 9.8 million returns lodged so far  over 3 million by individual self-preparers and around 6.5 million by agents - with 7.4 million refunds worth around $21.4 billion issued. "More returns have been lodged earlier with more refunds paid quicker, and we have seen a 30 per cent reduction in complaints," he said.
The Australian Workers Union could face penalties of between $12,600 for an individual or $63,000 for each offence if the Registered Organisations Commission is successful in proving it failed to follow its own rules in approving donations to GetUp! more than 10 years ago.

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash said she had referred the matter to the new commission in August.

The laws that apply are similar to those Health Services Union former leaders Michael Williamson, Craig Thompson and Kathy Jackson were found to have breached in their misappropriation of union members' funds.

The Registered Organisations Commission started investigating the AWU in October to determine whether donations the Australian Workers' Union made including $100,000 to activist group GetUp! in the financial year ending 2006, were properly approved under the union's rules.
Accolades such as being ranked on Lonely Planet's top ten list of cities to visit always go down well in Canberra.

As the city much of the rest of the country seems to love to hate, ACT residents respond warmly to expressions of praise and affection.

Of course such recognition is usually greeted with a fairly predictable negative response from interstate rivals, many of whom have little, or any real experience of our city.

When Canberra was named the best city in the world by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 2014 one Melbourne newspaper ran the headline" "Canberra really the world's best city? More like capital punishment".
Local monopolies mean prescription prices are higher than they should be. Credit:Andrew Quilty The 56-page location-rule handbook outlines the need for surveyor's reports (23 times) and the importance of confirmation "that the measurement has been undertaken from the mid point at ground level of the public access door of each of the premises". The rules originally allowed a qualified pharmacist to set up a new pharmacy with no constraints whatsoever as long as it wasn't within 10 kilometres of an existing one. Health Minister Greg Hunt has been acting as if there's no report to consider. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "A pharmacy in Gympie in Queensland, a Chemist Warehouse, has set up 10 kilometres out of town," King told the gathering. "And because it provides what consumers think is a great service at a great price, people have been travelling 10 kilometres to get there. It's actually got other shops around it now, because it has drawn customers to it.

"Now obviously that was unreasonable competition," he added, sarcastically. "It had to be stopped. That pharmacist wouldn't be allowed to set up in that location today. Later versions of the rules say there has to be 'enough demand'. "The rules create local monopolies. If an area grows, an extra pharmacy provider number becomes available. Under the rules the existing owner is allowed to apply for it and usually gets it. "We have been to parts of Australia where there ... were four pharmacies. We didn't realise they were all owned by the same people. They all had different brands, creating the appearance of competition, but they were clearly not competing. "In Broome three out of the four pharmacies were owned by the same people. We turned up to the first and said we were going to the next one afterwards. They said: 'Why are you doing that? We own that one as well.' " Local monopolies mean prescription prices are higher than they should be. But King was unable to find out how much higher.

"Pharmacists are agents of government; the government pays them, on average, $11.50 for each item they dispense. We tried to find out what their costs were. We asked the guild to tell us. It does an annual survey of its members. It said it couldn't give us that information because it was provided only for the purposes of the survey. "So we said: can you go back to your members and ask if that information can be shared, confidentially. The guild said no, so we did our own survey. Unfortunately, the guild then sent around a message suggesting its members not engage with our survey. Very few did. But the best information we could get is that the efficient dispensing fee would be beneath $10 and probably somewhere between $8 and $9. The caveat is that the information isn't very good. After two years of looking at this, I still can't get the data. No one can, with the possible exception of the guild. "But you can get an idea by looking at prices in the inner areas of Sydney and Melbourne where there is competition. They offer dollar discounts which come out of pharmacists' pockets. But they are not offered in the outer suburbs, and they are not offered in rural Australia." Loading
Employment Minister Michaelia Cash admitted on Wednesday night that she had been wrong and one of her advisers had contacted the media "without my knowledge". Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Earlier in the day, Senator Cash said: "I can assure you that I found out about the raids as they unfolded on the television. I can also assure you that my office did not find out about the raids until after they were being conducted. It is a very serious allegation you are making and I refute it completely. "And quite frankly I am offended on behalf of my staff." Senators Murray Watt and Doug Cameron put questions to Employment Minister Michaelia Cash during a Senate estimates hearing at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Labor and its union allies spent Wednesday attempting to shut down the investigation of Mr Shorten's role in the donations by his former union, with the AWU launching an urgent federal court challenge and the opposition accusing the Turnbull government of a "smear" campaign.

A day after police launched the raids, the full might of the federal opposition and the union movement circled the wagons around Mr Shorten and moved to discredit the Registered Organisation Commission investigation. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten during question time at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday. Credit:Andrew Meares In Parliament, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull targeted Labor for "not respecting the integrity of the police" and insisted Mr Shorten had questions to answer over why the AWU had made a $100,000 donation to GetUp! when the now-Opposition Leader was its national secretary. "What we have seen from the Labor Party since that search warrant was executed is an attack on the integrity of the Australian Federal Police," he thundered in question time. Earlier in the day, Employment Minister Michaelia Cash said: "I can assure you that I found out about the raids as they unfolded on the television." Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"The Australian Federal Police is absolutely independent in its operations. They decide who to investigate, how to investigate, that is a matter for them and so it should be." Earlier, Mr Shorten insisted he had the greatest respect for the federal police but the raids, ordered by the Commission "at the behest of the government", were "a political witch-hunt designed to throw mud in the hope that some will stick." Australian Federal Police remove shredded documents and other evidence during a raid on the Australian Workers Union offices in Sydney on Tuesday. Credit:Wolter Peeters "Well, quite frankly, the use of 30 AFP officers to collect documents, which, as the union has said, all they had to do was ring up, was an amazing waste of money, but we understand what this is about," he said. Labor also backed calls from Senator Nick Xenophon for an independent inquiry to establish who tipped off the media prior to the AFP raids on the AWU offices.

The Commission's investigation centres on the donation to activist group GetUp! in 2006, as well as a $25,000 donation made by the AWU in 2007-08  which Mr Shorten led until August 2007  to his first parliamentary campaign for the seat of Maribyrnong. Two other AWU donations to Labor campaigns in the federal seats of Stirling ($20,000) and Petrie ($25,000) in 2007-08 are also being examined. It's understood the documents sought by the Commission in the raids include minutes of AWU national executive meetings that will make clear whether the donations were within the letter of union rules. The AWU's rules state that donations of more than $1000 must be approved by the national executive of the union. The AWU's legal challenge to the validity of what it calls "unprecedented" and "heavy-handed" police raids succeeded in delaying the federal police handing over seized documents to the Commission until a court makes further orders on Friday.

AWU leader Daniel Walton said on Wednesday the union had "absolutely" gone through the proper processes to approve the donations. "We had already provided details through to the Registered Organisations Commission to show proof of making proper declarations on these," Mr Walton said on Wednesday. However, union insiders confirmed concerns about record keeping for the GetUp! gift by both the national and Victorian branches. Fairfax Media has been told there was no clear minuting of decisions by either. "We may not have always crossed the T's and dotted the I's," is how one insider put it. The union's national office has not produced minutes relating to the GetUp! gift.
SPRINGFIELD  A resolution headed to the Illinois House floor Wednesday would require an audit of a $94 million online insurance portal and the performance of the only company that responded to the contract request.

The State Government Administration Committee unanimously voted for a review by the auditor general of the 10-year contract with Atlanta-based Morneau Shepell following an Associated Press report in June.

The AP reported that the search for a contract lasted just three weeks, Morneau Shepell was the only company to seek the work, its bid came in at just one-third of the state's estimated cost, and the company was allowed to forgo requirements in state law for ensuring minority participation.

"The appearance that this was a deal specifically for Morneau Shepell is definitely out there," said the resolution's sponsor, Democratic Rep. Al Riley of Olympia Fields. "People want to know."

Spokespeople for Morneau Shepell and the agency that awarded the contract, the Department of Central Management Services, didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

The idea was to move the state away from a paper-based system administered by dozens of employees. None of those workers was laid off; instead they were assigned to "higher-level" duties, officials said late last spring.

The digital format was supposed to allow state workers and retirees to sign up for, change or adjust coverage, or submit claims online. But employees complained of a malfunctioning website and mysterious, unexplained changes in coverage or payroll deduction.

The agency administers benefits for public-school teachers, including 70,000 retirees on Medicare, yet Morneau Shepell was not prepared to deal with Medicare.

"It's not just the way it was let," Riley said. "There were a lot of problems with the portal.

The department estimated the platform would cost $300 million, but Morneau Shepell came in at 30 percent that cost. State law requires vendors providing goods or services to the government to submit plans to ensure 20 percent participation in the contract by minority- or women-owned establishments under the Business Enterprise Program. But documents indicate that department employees were "directed to move forward without the inclusion of a BEP goal."

The department would not say who made the decision.

Co-sponsoring the measure is Barrington Hills Republican Rep. David McSweeney, who noted that the Morneau Shepell deal is one of several under GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration that drew only one bidder and that lawmakers or others are reviewing.

The resolution is HR522.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has been hit with another class action lawsuit brought on behalf of asylum seekers detained under Labor and Coalition governments over the past six years.

Documents filed in the Federal Court allege a four-year-old boy, born in Darwin and detained on Christmas Island with his asylum seeker parents, was detained for no valid purpose and thus unlawfully.

Law firm Maurice Blackburn estimates "thousands" of asylum seekers are eligible to join the lawsuit, arguing their detention was unlawful because the government did not actively pursue their visa claims.

Mr Dutton would not comment on a matter before the courts, but has previously noted his department is the most litigated of all Commonwealth bureaucracies "due to Labor's failed border policies".
The backbench was cock-a-hoop at the news that Malcolm Turnbull has a bit of political mongrel in him after all.

Take that Tony Abbott - your shambolic Trade Union Royal Commission was calamitously expensive and ludicrously noisy but tagged Opposition Leader Bill Shorten with precisely nothing.

In full attack-dog mode on Wednesday, Turnbull angrily rejected Labor's suggestions that the Australian Federal Police had participated in a politically inspired witch hunt.

To Coalitionists, it was all red meat, the gourmet anti-Labor, anti-union kind.
Some government schools will get hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra funding next year for programs such as literacy and numeracy support and additional staff, the NSW government's latest needs-based funding allocation figures show.

More than 2000 public schools across the state will each get a share of $1.09 billion for extra educational resources and support, including teacher training and additional speech pathologists, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Wednesday.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the extra funding will allow schools "to develop programs that address academic and well-being needs". Credit:AAP

The high schools with the highest allocations include Fairfield High School, which has been allocated $2.92 million, Parramatta's Arthur Phillip High School ($2.42 million) and Bonnyrigg High School ($2.4 million).

The primary schools with the highest needs-based funding include Greenacre Public School ($2.54 million), Auburn West Public School ($2.39 million) and Liverpool West Public School ($2.22 million).
The University of Sydney has suspended or expelled 65 students in three years for forging or illegally purchasing doctor's certificates to support special consideration applications.

The data, obtained under the Government Information (Public Access) Act, showed that "falsified documents" were the most common reason for suspension or expulsion. It was almost twice the number of disciplinary actions for academic dishonesty.

Of the 65 cases, 10 resulted in expulsion, which ranged from one year to a permanent ban. Credit:Danielle Smith

The suspensions and expulsions are in response to students "providing either forged or illegally purchased Professional Practice Certificates in support of Special Consideration submissions as per the Course Work policy", the document says.

Special consideration allows students extra time to complete an assessment due to illness, injury or misadventure during the semester or at the time of an examination.
"I thought it would pass, but it did not."

"I started dreaming of these children and the torment perpetrated upon them," Mr Heilpern said.

David Heilpern has given a revealing account of the trauma associated with presiding over horrific criminal trials. Credit:Christopher Pearce

It was 2005 and the NSW Local Court magistrate was dealing with a string of horrific child pornography cases.

David Heilpern would wake in the night drenched in sweat, "screaming and panicked".

In a revealing speech at the Federal Court in Sydney on Wednesday night, the country magistrate gave a raw account of life on the bench and the vicarious trauma associated with presiding over grisly criminal trials.

Mr Heilpern was a seasoned criminal lawyer and academic when he was appointed to the bench in January 1999.

He had represented people charged with child sexual assault, murder and domestic violence, and spent hours poring over transcripts of trials involving violent crimes when co-writing a legal text.

"I thought I had a pretty good 'distance' from my work, in the sense that whilst it occasionally upset me, it did not stay with me too often in my personal life," he said.

Mr Heilpern was delivering the Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation lecture, an annual address aimed at raising the profile of mental health issues in the legal profession and honouring the memory of a promising young lawyer who took his own life in 2004 at the age of 26.
A rail worker, charged with running over a young woman with an excavator in a Brisbane suburb before driving off, will plead not guilty, his lawyer says.

Iuliana Stevenson was crossing Hamilton Place at the intersection of Campbell Street at Bowen Hills at 1am on October 5 when she was hit by an excavator.

CCTV of the incident at the Bowen Hills intersection. Credit:Seven News

A nearby camera captured the incident as well as the excavator appearing to briefly stop down the street before driving off again.

Andre-Shane Moorby was charged the following day with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm.
Queensland police executed a search warrant at the ABCs Brisbane office in South Bank, reportedly in relation to Newman government cabinet documents. The ABC reported the warrant was in relation to a complaint by Queensland Cabinet Secretary Leighton Craig that the documents may have been improperly accessed. The ABC's South Bank office was reportedly searched by police. Credit:Bardley Kanaris A statement from Queensland Police Service confirmed police from the State Crime Command executed a warrant at the Grey Street address at 1.45pm and seized "a number of items". "The search was carried out with the full cooperation of the organisation involved," the statement read.

The ABC wrote several stories in February this year about budget cuts in 2012 under the then LNP government that were based on leaked cabinet briefing notes and internal savings proposals. The ABC reported the warrant read a "person or persons unknown having been employed in public office by the Queensland government unlawfully communicated information namely confidential cabinet briefing notes and internal government savings proposals by the Liberal National Party in 2012  that was his or her duty to keep secret". The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, the union representing journalists, called the raid an "outrageous attack on press freedom" in a statement on its website on Wednesday. MEAA chief executive Paul Murphy said the search warrant was a "belated attempt" to pursue journalists' sources.
People at risk of domestic violence will continue to be barred from finding out about their partner's prior criminal convictions.

Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath asked the Queensland Law Reform Commission to investigate whether Queensland should introduce a domestic violence disclosure scheme.

A domestic violence disclosure scheme will not be created, following a recommendation from the Queensland Law Reform Commission.

The schemes, which operate in England and Wales and under a pilot in New South Wales, allow people at risk to find out if their current or former partner has a history of domestic or other violence.

Generally, a peron's criminal or domestic violence history will not be disclosed, including to a person at risk, by Queensland police or government agencies.
The oBike controversy has mostly focused on the clutter and vandalism of rentable bikes on footpaths. Less considered is the privatisation of public land by companies and the unfair advantage it creates over traditional small businesses.

A few bikes for rent in suburbs seems harmless. What a pity that vandals have ruined a concept that could encourage people to cycle rather than drive and addresses the "last mile" problem for people who lack transport to the nearest train, tram or bus.

A bigger issue, and one that will be rife in the shared economy, is whether disrupters such as oBike, Uber and others should pay to use public land for commercial activity. I fear too many councils are falling too far behind with regulation in the shared economy.

Imagine if a local cafe put several coffee carts on footpaths without council approval or paying a fee. Or if McDonald's slapped up thousands of mini McCafes in the suburbs without neighbourhood consultation, council permits or fees. There would be outrage.
Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 70-year-old male who is generally in good health. I take medication for high blood pressure, but nothing else. I have periodic episodes of heart palpitations where my heart will beat noticeably and rapidly for about four or five beats, after which there is a longer pause and a final hard beat, then the beats become regular again. These occur about once a month or so. My doctor ordered a 24-hour heart monitor test, which showed no problems (but I didn't have one of these episodes during monitoring). My at-home blood pressure monitor often shows results with a sign of irregular heartbeats as well. Is this something I should be worried about?

-- A.S.

A: My experience with patients who have complaints similar to yours is that most of the time, it turns out to be nothing to worry about. On average, we have hundreds of abnormal beats per day, sometimes with runs of several fast beats. When the heart resumes normal rhythm, there often is a pause, and the following heartbeat will be noticeably more powerful, as the heart will have had more time to fill with blood. Occasional symptoms like yours are very common.

However, it sometimes can be a symptom of a more serious heart problem, such as atrial fibrillation. That's why your doctor ordered the heart monitor (often called a Holter monitor), which takes a continuous EKG reading of the heart, usually for 24-48 hours. With your symptoms happening only once a month, though, the monitor is unlikely to catch the episode.

When the Holter monitor doesn't catch the event, the next option would be a longer-lasting device. Event monitors are similar to Holter monitors, but they can capture data for two to four weeks. A Zio device is a small adhesive patch that captures data from a single EKG lead for up to two weeks. Finally, an implantable (into the chest, under local anesthetic) loop recorder can get data for months to even years.

Based on the way you are describing the symptoms, I suspect this will turn out to be nothing to worry about. However, only capturing the event allows your doctor to evaluate your heart with the highest level of confidence.

The booklet on abnormal heart rhythms explains atrial fibrillation and the more common heart rhythm disturbances in greater detail. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Roach, Book No. 107, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 with the recipient's printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

UTI

Dear Dr. Roach: I nearly died from a urinary tract infection; I was in the hospital for eight days. I was told to drink 3 ounces of cranberry juice in the morning and take a cranberry extract capsule every night. Since then, I have had no more UTIs. I pray this will help others.

-- L.A.

A: I am always glad when people write in with their stories, because it gives me an opportunity to discuss the science behind them.

Cranberries contain substances (proanthocyanidins) that prevent bacteria from sticking to the lining of the bladder, so there is a plausible reason why they might prevent UTIs. However, the studies to support this hypothesis have had mixed results.

Previous studies showed as much as a 38 percent risk reduction in UTI, and 47 percent reduction in recurrent UTIs; however, the most recent review of all studies did not show a benefit in taking either cranberry capsules or cranberry juice in preventing infection.

I don't think the science is settled, however. Larger and more robust studies still may prove a benefit in UTI prevention. Until then, there is little downside to drinking cranberry juice (I recommend getting 100 percent cranberry juice and diluting it with plain or soda water to avoid excess sugar).
The state's anti-corruption watchdog has launched a probe into a car crash involving Premier Daniel Andrews' wife almost five years ago that left a teenage cyclist seriously injured.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission requested files relating to the crash from Victoria Police on Wednesday.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and his wife Catherine. Credit:Paul Jeffers

Mr Andrews' wife Catherine was driving a taxpayer-funded 4WD at Blairgowrie on the Mornington Peninsula in January 2013 when 15-year-old Ryan Meuleman collided with the side of the car, smashing its front windscreen.

Ryan was flown to the Royal Children's Hospital where he was operated on for internal bleeding. Surgeons removed 10 per cent of his spleen. The teen also suffered a punctured lung, broken ribs and cuts.
It's understood that students accessed the data by obtaining staff passwords  the company said it hadn't identified any security flaw. At Camberwell High School, one student gained unauthorised access to personal information about families, while at Blackburn High, the phone numbers, addresses and Medicare details of parents were published online. Freedom-of-information documents obtained by Mr Samson detail 62 incidents, spanning 3 years, that his now 11-year-old son has been involved in. Redacted copies of some of the entries about Mr Samson's son are shown below:

The entries range from his son playing games on an iPad in class to pulling down a student's pants, throwing wet toilet paper at a wall, calling someone gay, swearing and choking another student. One of the grey-rated incidents details how students tickled his son "on the side and even touched his private part". Mr Samson said he was never told about this incident, along with most of the entries. He said some of the incidents recorded were untrue. The records can be accessed by all teachers at the state school and Mr Samson is worried that they could unfairly cloud a teacher's opinion of a child.

He found out about the student chronicles after questioning a comment about his son's behaviour in his school report. The school said it had evidence to back up the statement and that Mr Samson could FOI his son's Compass records. The records also contain observations about parents. "His parents have had issues with the college and are not to have meetings with teachers without another member of staff present," one entry about Mr Samson's son reads.

The student chronicles have been available to schools since 2011 and many schools consider them a replacement for paper records previously stored in locked drawers. Parents Victoria chief executive Gail McHardy said she had never heard of the student chronicles, and parents should be notified of all incidents relating to a student's wellbeing. "These things should be automatically reported to parents ... record keeping needs to be done in a secure way." Principals say they let teachers pass on important knowledge to other teachers. "In the past you went into the class blind. This helps meet student needs. It might help the next teacher understand why a student is agitated," said one principal, who did not want to be named.

Compass director John de la Motte said the chronicles were a secure tool and schools could determine which staff had access to the data. Mr de la Motte said the data was protected using encryption, password protection and suspicious users were blocked. "We undertake regular, certified security penetration tests from an independent testing organisation," he said. The data is stored in Australia and does not follow students if they move schools, he said.

An Education Department spokesman said the information was held for the duration of a student's time at a school and may be transferred if they moved school. "There is no obligation for a school to notify a parent when a record is made about their child," he said. He said the Department worked with schools to ensure they followed best practice security standards when using third-party systems such as Compass. "Teachers regularly track student progress throughout their schooling to help them complete reports and monitor students' progress and wellbeing, including through programs like Compass," he said. Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals president Judy Crowe said teachers had always kept notes about students.

"In the past teachers may have recorded information in their own diaries, there may have been discussions between teachers," she said. "They tend to keep some records in the best interests of students." A spokeswoman for the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner said organisations must take reasonable steps to inform a person whose information is being collected. "Personal information can only be collected if it is required for the organisation to fulfil its functions and its collection must not be unreasonably intrusive," she said.
V/Line was warned about unsafe practices linked to the Murray Basin Rail Project months before a worker was crushed to death, the transport union claims.

A 58-year-old man from Rochester was killed after he was pinned between a bitumen roller and a trailer near Mildura on Monday.

V/Line was warned about unsafe practices linked to the Murray Basin Rail Project months before a worker was crushed to death, the transport union claims. Credit:Eddie Jim

Police and ambulance paramedics performed CPR on the man, but he died on the scene.

A report is being prepared for the coroner, and the incident is being investigated by WorkSafe.
The investigation into what caused a fatal plane crash on Australia Day in Perth has analysed other disasters including the 2015 Shoreham Airshow crash in the UK that killed 11 people.

Perth pilot Peter Lynch and his passenger and partner Endah Cakrawati died when the Grumman G-73 amphibious aircraft crashed into the Swan River during the City of Perth's annual Skyworks event on Australia Day.

The Grumman sea plane crashed into the Swan River on Australia Day, killing its two occupants. Credit:Mike Graham

The seaplane nose-dived into the water about 5pm in a plunge the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said was "consistent with an aerodynamic stall".

The plane broke on impact in front of hundreds of horrified witnesses gathered along the Swan River foreshore to watch an air display Mr Lynch was part of in the lead up to the fireworks show.
Bangkok: The Philippine military has discovered Islamic State sent more than $US1.5 million ($1.9 million) to finance the siege of the southern Philippine town of Marawi which experts say was a propaganda windfall for the Middle East-based terror group.

Early in the 154-day blocade there were reports bundles of money had been found in buildings around town, but Philippine military chief Eduardo Ano on Tuesday did not elaborate.

Philippine troops return to their deployment after attending the ceremony where President Rodrigo Duterte declared the liberation of Marawi complete. Credit:Bullit Marquez

In an interview he said as well as receiving money from IS, the Marawi militant local leaders used the 2014 seizure of the Iraqi city of Mosul as a blueprint for takeover.

"Every day they watched videos of IS in Mosul," said General Ano of the siege leaders, including Isnilon Hapilon, one of the US's most-wanted terrorists who was killed last week.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low around 40F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low around 40F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
Hakob Hakobyan, an inspection division head at Armenias State Revenue Committee, has carved out a unique business niche for himself over the past year  canned fish.

Hakobyan, and his daughter Lena, own 25% shares each in Ararat Farel LLC, founded in 200.

The company farms fish in the Armavir community of Jrarat. In 2016, it was granted a three-year permit to tap into the underground water supply.

Hakobyan, a longtime civil servant in the tax sector, filed his first financial disclosure this year.

He showed 7.163 million AMD in revenue, of which 2.315 million was from wages, and the reminder, loans. There were no corporate dividends from Ararat Farel.

Hakobyan declared AMD 14 million (US$29,000) and US$20,000 in cash assets, in addition to two houses and a Mitsubishi Outlander.
Those with misdemeanor warrants in Brazos County or College Station have until Nov. 4 to get those taken care of, or an officer may come knocking at their door.

Until the end of the day Nov. 3, anyone within an outstanding warrant for a Class C misdemeanor out of the city of College Station, Brazos County entities -- such as the sheriff's or constable offices -- the Texas Department of Public Safety or the Texas A&M University Police Department can appear before a judge and pay off their warrant without being arrested and charged the $50 fee that comes with every warrant.

Those with warrants from the Bryan Police Department are not eligible for this amnesty period, and a warrant arrest roundup is not scheduled at this time.

Basic traffic violations or offenses such as public intoxication or assault without bodily injury are considered Class C misdemeanors, which are punished by a fine of up to $500.

"If you [have been given] a ticket, chances are you've gotten a Class C misdemeanor," College Station Municipal Court Judge Ed Spillane said.

Spillane explained that those with a Class C misdemeanor typically have about 10 days to either pay the fine associated or begin the process of contesting the charge. Throughout most of the year, if a defendant waits more than a month to deal with the misdemeanor, they then will be accused of failure to appear in court, the judge said, and a warrant will be issued for their arrest.

He said anyone who comes to his court with one of these Class C outstanding warrants during the amnesty period will be granted sanctuary from arrest. During amnesty, fines coming from either the city of College Station or any Brazos County court will be accepted without any extra penalty.

The judge noted the $50 outstanding warrant fee is normally only waived if the defendant pays in full. If a person arranges to pay off the fine for their misdemeanor in installments, they will be required to pay the fee. However, they will not be arrested at the courthouses during amnesty.

Starting Nov. 4, city marshals, county constables and police officers will be sweeping the area and showing up at the home addresses of those who have a warrant, ready to make an arrest. Spillane said that of about 2,000 outstanding Class C warrants in the area, police will be able to apprehend between 200-500 people during the two weeks of warrant roundup, which lasts through Nov. 12.

Spillane said if someone is ticketed for a new Class C misdemeanor during the warrant roundup, they will not be charged with failure to appear -- nor will they be arrested -- as long as they take care of their charge within the standard 10-day period.

For anyone unsure of whether they have been charged with a Class C misdemeanor warrant, visit cstx.gov/warrants, or call the court corresponding to the citation.
Former president George H.W. Bush apologized after actress Heather Lind said he groped her as they posed for a picture at an event a few years ago - and that first lady Barbara Bush saw it happen.

In a brief response to the allegations, which Lind detailed in a recent Instagram post that she has since deleted, a spokesman for the 93-year-old former president did not explicitly deny Lind's account, but said in a statement: "President Bush would never - under any circumstance - intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologizes if his attempt at humor offended Ms. Lind."

Lind said the incident happened when she met Bush four years ago during a promotion of a historical television show she was working on. Lind played Anna Strong in AMC's Revolutionary War era drama, "Turn: Washington Spies," which premiered in 2014. She said Bush "sexually assaulted" her as she stood next to him during a photo op.

"He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke. And then, all the while being photographed, he touched me again," Lind wrote in the lengthy Instagram post.

Lind said the Barbara Bush "rolled her eyes as if to say 'not again'" when she saw what happened. Jim McGrath, spokesman for the 41st president, said the former first lady has no comment.

Lind also said that a security guard later told her that she shouldn't have stood next to Bush.

The 34-year-old actress is the latest to accuse a prominent figure of inappropriate sexual conduct.

Dozens of actresses have gone public with allegations that disgraced Hollywood producer and former studio executive Harvey Weinstein either sexually harassed or assaulted them. Explosive reports by the New York Times and the New Yorker detailed previously undisclosed allegations of harassment and criminal sexual abuse that spanned several years. The Washington Post found three more similar cases.

Millions of women and men have since taken to Facebook and Twitter, using #MeToo as they post their own experiences with sexual harassment or assault. Lind also used the hashtag on her Instagram post.

"What comforts me is that I too can use my power, which isn't so different from a President really," she wrote. "I can enact positive change. I can actually help people. I can be a symbol of my democracy. I can refuse to call him President, and call out other abuses of power when I see them."

Lind said she decided to talk about the incident after seeing a photo of Bush and former president Barack Obama shaking hands at an event last weekend in College Station. The two, along with three other ex-presidents, appeared at a benefit concert Saturday to raise money for hurricane victims.

"I found it disturbing because I recognize the respect ex-presidents are given for having served," Lind said. "And I feel pride and reverence toward many of the men in the photo."

It's unclear when exactly Lind shared the Instagram post, or when and why she decided to delete it.

Lind's manager did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Washington Post.
Read any newspaper, says Andrei Lankov, and you'll find descriptions of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as an unpredictable, dangerous "madman."

Lankov, a leading North Korea expert and director of Korea Risk Group, said at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum on Tuesday that while Kim is extremely dangerous, he's not crazy. Lankov described Kim as a "sometimes explosive" leader with some unrealistic ideas, but rational overall and willing to do everything necessary to stay in power.

Lankov spoke Tuesday about North Korea's leader at a lecture hosted by Texas A&M's Bush School of Government and Public Service. The Russian scholar on North Korea and professor at Kookmin University in Seoul said that Kim has one major goal -- to die a natural death at an old age like his father, Kim Jong-il, who wasn't overthrown and didn't die in exile. A distant second would be to develop his country and ensure a better quality of life for its people and power for the state.

This goal won't be easily attained, Lankov said, and there are three major forces the younger Kim faces to ensure the survival of his regime.

The first threat is an attack from foreign forces, and from the United States above all. He is afraid of suffering the fate of Saddam Hussein, and even more so that of Muammar Gaddafi. Lankov said Kim learned to "not trust promises" after Gaddafi agreed in 2003 to surrender his nuclear weapons program in exchange for economic benefits from the West. The lesson for Kim, Lankov said, was "no matter what they say, they'll stab you in the back." It's now been six years since the Libyan people's successful domestic revolution to end Gaddafi's rule.

As a defense, Lankov said, Kim has invested in the country's nuclear program, though not as much money as one would think given the low cost of labor in North Korea. Still, significant resources have been put toward developing nuclear weapons with the aim of being able to strike any city in the continental United States. Kim first thought of the nuclear program as purely a defense policy, Lankov said, adding that he thinks taking it any further "for the time being is not what he has in mind."

The second threat to Kim's longevity are his own generals, other high-level officials and even family members, Lankov said. He dispatched of the commander of the military and executed his uncle, Lankov said, and the recent assassination of his half-brother in Malaysia also sent a message.

Kim also fears a popular uprising bringing him down, and he focuses on preventing a coup by keeping "stomachs full and hearts full of fear."

"One of the major misconceptions about North Korea is that Kim Jong-un is starving his population to develop nukes," Lankov said. "The North Korean population is not starving anymore. A significant but fast-diminishing part of North Koreans [are] malnourished, [but] nobody is starving."

And while the economy isn't booming, there's been somewhat of a revival -- Lankov said conservative estimates put the country's annual GDP growth at 4 percent or even higher.

The colorful threats coming out of North Korea aren't anything new, Lankov said. Rather, America and the rest of the world are just paying more attention because of both the "fire and fury" rhetoric coming from the White House and U.S. leaders, as well as the "short memory" of journalists eager to report the same empty threats that have been made for years.

The current political rhetoric probably won't accelerate tensions between North Korea and the United States, Lankov said. And while he isn't sure if Kim will be able to accomplish his goal of dying at an old age, he said it's possible.

"He has very good chances to stay in control of his country for a very long time," Lankov said.
With the recent announcement that Luminant will close the Sandow Power Plant, officials in Rockdale hope to diversify their small town's economy while also putting forth a proposal for Amazon's second headquarters, the director of the Rockdale Municipal Development District said Tuesday.

"When Alcoa closed, that obviously hit us pretty hard," said director Kara Clore, referring to the 2008 plant shutdown, in which 900 workers were laid off. "We need to spread it out."

The need to diversify is underscored by an Oct. 13 announcement by power generation business Luminant that it would close two Central Texas coal-fueled power plants: the two-unit Sandow Power Plant in Milam County and the two-unit Big Brown Power Plant in Freestone County. Meranda Cohn, corporate spokesperson for Luminant, said the three-unit Monticello Power Plant near Mount Pleasant also would close.

"They're all economically challenged and have been for some time," Cohn said, referring to the low cost of natural gas and market for renewable energy. "Sustained low wholesale power prices [and] oversupplied renewable generation market" are referenced in the Luminant press release.

Cohn said the Sandow Plant units opened in 1981 and 2009. Plant operations will end Jan. 11.

An estimated 450 people will lose their jobs when the Sandow Plant closes. Cohn said most employees at the plant will be put out of work, but some will remain to help Luminant decommission the plant and reclaim the mined land.

Cohn said Luminant hadn't received any interest in buying the plant and that Luminant -- which also owns natural gas and a nuclear power plant, and is building the largest solar power plant in the state in Upton County -- has not looked into opening a renewable energy plant in Milam County.

"Right now, we're just focused on operating the plant until January and taking care of these employees," Cohn said.

"These employees did remarkable work to try to keep these plants viable and open, and they were able to for some time keep them open, but despite their best efforts ... we were just out of options. It was a difficult but necessary step," she added.

Milam County Judge Dave Barkemeyer posted a Word document online on Oct. 18 outlining the county's bid for Amazon's second headquarters on the Alcoa-owned land for sale outside of Rockdale.

Despite the timing being close to Luminant's announcement, Clore said they had been working on the proposal for six weeks. Amazon's HQ2 would bring thousands of jobs to wherever it's built and is being sought by cities and towns large and small across America.

"Why would they want to go squeeze into some downtown area when we have ample room for them right here in Milam County?" Clore asked.

Clore said the 33,000-acre location -- in close proximity to Texas A&M University and the University of Texas -- would give the company access to nearby young talent, and the site has massive electricity, water and gas capabilities, not to mention the opportunity for renewable energy, since "they're a green company."

In addition to Amazon hopes, Clore said a 30,000-square-foot building for PARI Olefins is under construction that will create around 80 jobs over the next several years. The expansion of a local nursing facility will yield another 50 jobs, Clore said.

Clore said the municipal development district is working with Vistra Energy, which owns Luminant, and Workforce Solutions to help those getting laid off -- at least 700 in total, she said, including those working for local contract companies -- with preparing their resumes and getting leads on new jobs.

In addition to pushing for Amazon's new headquarters, Clore said the area will do what it can to promote itself and seek out jobs for its residents.

"Just kind of get our name out there," she said.
School board member Karen Hiltz has established a small fan base for the creation of her Facebook page, The Apple Report, also grabbing the attention of fellow education officials.

Hiltz represents the Gills Creek District and is in the second year of a four-year term.

The Apple Report was created last year and features issues discussed during school board meetings as well as her personal opinions. Since its formation, the page has acquired more than 200 page likes and more than 220 followers.

Hiltz earned her doctorate of education in leadership studies from Lynchburg College and served for more than six years in the Navy. She moved to the Franklin County area from Northern Virginia 10 years ago.

When I campaigned, I told my constituents that I would communicate, Hiltz said. It is very important, and I believe that in order to make informed decisions, you have to communicate.

In the past, Hiltz has used her page to address what she has referred to as a lack of transparency and slow progress regarding career and technical education in the schools.

Transparency and consistency are two words that continue to resonate with me, she said.

School board member Penny Blue said she believes that individuals should be transparent about what is going on in the school system.

I think its excellent, Blue said. The community should know whats going on in the schools and at the school board.

The Apple Report has also created a strain among some of the other board members. Hiltz has been criticized for information published on her page after mentioning a teacher being placed on administrative leave.

She has said she supports the goals of her Facebook page. It lets people know that someone is willing to speak up and share information, she said.

I really dont know how other members feel, Hiltz said. I know that at least a couple feel its a good idea to communicate, but the page isnt for them. Its for my constituents and people that want to be informed.

I know that she has the page, but its not something that I read on a regular basis, said Janet Stockton, coordinator of student services and clerk of the school board.

According to the Facebook page, the purpose is to provide constituents with updates regarding issues and activities in Franklin County Public Schools.

Hiltz has said she worries there may not be enough information being shared.

She said part of her duty is to inform the public, and that includes the good, the bad and the ugly.

According to the pages creator, the feedback that she has received from her followers has been positive overall. Hiltz said she embraces that feedback, both positive and negative, and wants parents to speak out about what is important to them.

Stockton stated that she knows Hiltz created the page for her constituents, but does not have much of an opinion one way or another.

Hiltz said ultimately she would like to see advancement in career and technical education opportunities for students. She would also like to see more formal business processes and procedures put in place, she said.

Were moving in that direction, she said.

It all stems around communication for me. Dont be afraid to speak out, Hiltz said. We all have to learn. To have that dialogue is healthy. And I dont mind constructive criticism at all.
This is the blog of comics critic Rob Clough, who also has a column of the same name over at The Comics Journal website (TCJ.com).
A new survey of publicly traded companies suggests many are ill-prepared for a requirement next year that they disclose the pay ratios of their CEO compared to rank-and-file employees  with a large percentage admitting their workers may be shocked to learn how large the gaps are.

In their investor proxies filed next year with the Securities & Exchange Commission, companies will have to disclose the compensation of the median employee in addition to that of their CEO and other top executives, and the ratio formed by the two figures. In computing the median employees pay, companies must include in their calculations those who work part-time or seasonally, and those who work outside the United States including in regions of the world where wages are lower.

The pay ratio disclosure was one component of the massive Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, with the goal of alerting investors to the relative pay of the people leading their portfolio companies  and perhaps shaming boards of directors into ratcheting back CEO pay as awareness builds of a widening gap between the wealthiest Americans and middle- or lower-income families.

The CEO of Stamford-based Charter Communications was the highest paid head of a public company last year, according to an Equilar study of public company proxies in 2017, with Tom Rutledge making $98 million. About 1,800 Charter workers in New York have been on strike since March, with Local 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers planning a Times Square rally in New York City for Oct. 30, one of a series of rallies to raise awareness of the dispute.

According to survey results published Tuesday by the New York City-based executive compensation firm Pearl Meyer, about four in 10 companies expect to report a pay ratio of between $100 and $250 for every dollar earned by their median worker; with another two in 10 bracing for the revelation of an even higher ratio. In a separate survey last March, Pearl Meyer found that more than half of companies admit the pay ratio disclosures will have a negative impact on their workforce.

Over six weeks earlier this year, the Securities and Exchange Commission received 14,000 form letters supporting the rule, with about 200 more filed by individuals, investors, corporations, trade associations and other groups addressing specific components.

The Connecticut chapter of the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals is making the CEO pay ratio rule the subject of a Nov. 17 forum from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Deloittes offices at 695 East Main St. in Stamford. The event is free and open to non NASPP members, with information online at www.naspp.com/connecticut. Speakers include Deb Lifshey, managing director of Pearl Meyer; and her colleague Sharon Podstupka.

Even if you dont have all of the answers yet about who the median employee is, your (human resources) team probably has a good idea about what the ratio will look like and why, Podstupka advised corporate clients in a September blog on the upcoming changes. Make sure that what you say about your ratio and how you say it is immediately factored into your ... strategy. ... This communication exercise is likely to prove just as important as the calculation itself.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
A random conversation about sad werewolves led Hellboy creator Mike Mignola to his latest comic book.

Mignola says he came up with the idea for"Mr. Higgins Comes Home," a new Dark Horse Comics tale about an elderly and mournful werewolf and the vampires who put him in his depressing state, after he shared a panel with Warwick Johnson-Cadwell, an artist whose work he had admired for some time, at a comic book convention in England.

The moderator mentioned that "sad werewolves were something Warrick would draw occasionally," Mignola told The Washington Post. "I said to Warwick, we should work together on something one of these days, because I loved his work."

After leaving England and returning home to Southern California, Mignola noticed illustrations of vampire hunters Johnson-Cadwell had posted to his social media accounts. Sad werewolves. Vampire hunters. Just like that, Mignola had the idea to combine them.

"I think I probably came up with the story almost instantly," Mignola said. "There was no effort in making up this story. It just popped out right away."

Mr. Higgins, the titular protagonist, is a werewolf with no interest in howling into the night. He just wants to die - something he can't do without a silver bullet and a gun. He mourns the loss of his wife, Mary, who was taken away from him by the same vampires who tortured him and turned him into a monster.

Professor J.J. Meinhardt and Mr. Knox are vampire hunters who have the silver bullet Mr. Higgins needs. They want Mr. Higgins to lead them to the vampires who caused him so much pain before they give him the bullet, forcing Mr. Higgins to confront his worst fears.

It's the type of dark tale with heart Mignola himself would have loved to illustrate, if only Hellboy gave him the opportunity. Hellboy comics and another movie on the way take up most of Mignola's creative time.

"Yeah, that would have been fun five years ago when I had a little bit more energy to do this stuff," Mignola, 57, said with a laugh. "The whole Hellboy machine has gotten so much bigger than it ever was, so even now when I'm not directly involved, there's a lot of little stuff that you constantly have to keep involved with."

So Mignola settled for writing the tale with the consolation being that it would be illustrated by Johnson-Cadwell. Mignola illustrated the cover.

Scripting "Mr. Higgins" took Mignola back to his youth watching late actor Lon Chaney Jr. perform in "The Wolf Man."

"That's old universal monster movie 101," Mignola said. "The sad wolf man who just wants to die. That's the s--- that's ingrained in me since I was a little kid."

Mignola's storytelling and art have always leaned toward the darkness, inspired by his love of horror.

"Watching old monster movies, for whatever reason, at a young age, that stuff clicked for me and that was what I wanted to draw, that's what I wanted to read," Mignola said. "Eventually, when I started writing, obviously that's the stuff I wanted to write. That's my comfort zone. It never occurs to me to write about anything else because these are the toys I like to play with."

One thing Mignola will never try to do is outdo himself. He knows Hellboy will always be what he's most known for and doesn't let its shadow distract him any time he decides he wants to create something newlike "Mr. Higgins."

"I've spent close to 25 years doing Hellboy. There's no way I will ever do anything to compete with what I did there. The way I look at it, really, I have nothing to prove," Mignola said. "I've created this entire Hellboy world, which I'm very proud of. My feeling now is I can just play."

Mignola says he has two Hellboy projects - one he's writing, the other writing and illustrating - that will keep him busy until the end of 2017.

After that?

"I have some vague ideas that I want to write and draw myself. I'm kind of open to possibilities," Mignola said. "I kind of like the idea after all these years of getting up in the morning and not really knowing what I'm going to work on that day. I'm going to try that for a while."
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NORWALK  The Common Council on Tuesday evening gave its blessing to The Maritime Aquariums plan to replace its IMAX Theater and some exhibit spaces.

How much the state will pick up, in terms of costs, remains to be seen, according to local officials.

The state Department of Transportation plans to raze the existing IMAX Theater and use the area to stage the replacement of the 121-year-old Walk Bridge, which bisects the aquarium at 10 North Water St.

The bridge replacement is slated to start in 2019, putting pressure on the aquarium to get going.

Were really trying to get some building underway in the next couple of months because our time frame is pretty tight with the Walk Bridge starting the first quarter of 2019, aquarium President and CEO Brian Davis said. We really need to have most of our stuff well underway and completed by that time frame.

The city owns the land and buildings from which the aquarium operates. As such, Tuesdays approval was necessary for the aquarium to advance its plan.

That plans calls for a two-story, 11,900-square-foot addition on the east of the main entrance. The addition would house a 4D, 178-seat theater, entrance lobby, ticket area and other space. The aquarium also plans to build a two-story, 8,700-square-foot addition on the east side of the existing building to house the aquariums seals. It would replace the existing tent structure and exhibits along the Norwalk River.

The Zoning Commission has scheduled a public hearing on the replacement plan for Nov. 15, said Elizabeth Suchy, the attorney representing the plan.

Council members voted unanimously to approve the plan after discussing who will pay for it.

The question that wasnt answered was how much is this going to cost and whos paying for it, said Councilman Richard Bonenfant, an at-large Republican, said of the discussion before the councils Land Use and Building Management Committee. And I just was hoping that there would be some kind of signal from the state of Connecticut that theyre going to cover the whole thing, because weve been on the hook before.

Councilman Thomas Livingston, chairman of the land use committee, said the council was not obligating the city to paying anything right now.

We approve the plans, said Livingston, a District E Democrat. Any request for finance or anything else is going to have to come back to the council at which time we will look at that in the context of cost as well as what they (the aquarium) provides the city.

Livingston said the aquarium brings the city $25 million and the state $50 million annually.

Davis said after the meeting the aquarium doesnt yet have a cost estimate for its proposed construction.

Mayor Harry Rilling said afterward the DOT plans to provide a functional replacement of the theater. Theyre going to build the building and the equipment inside and the states paying for it, he said.

Asked if such payment will cover the entire plan, including moving exhibits, Rilling added, The theater yes, the other stuff is still under discussion.

City Corporation Counsel Mario Coppola said the state will pay for the functional equivalent of what was there. That will include the technology for the new theater, he added.

The plan calls for replacing the existing theater with a 4D theater that will provide visitors an immersive experience that includes sensing wind, rain and smells.

Kimmel labeled the proposed 4D theater a silver lining in the otherwise dreaded bridge replacement project.

Youll actually experience what youre watching, Kimmel said. It will be a great addition to the aquarium, especially if you can link it to the aquariums mission regarding the environment, sea life and all of that.

Bonenfant didnt disagree.

Im OK with the plan and the layout, Bonenfant said. My concern was about whos paying for it.
WILTON  A two-car accident on Westport Road on Wednesday left one driver with minor injuries.

Police said that 72-year-old Joan Beer of Westport was attempting to turn around in a private driveway off Westport Road when her car was struck in the rear by another vehicle.

Beer told police that both lanes appeared clear when she attempted to back out into traffic. The other driver  37-year-old Jessica Hoyt  said Beer backed into her cars path suddenly and that she was unable to brake before striking the vehicle.

Police said that though Beer complained of minor injuries in the accident, she was not transported to the hospital.

Beer was cited with failure to grant right of way while exiting a driveway.
The downturn in the ammunition business hasnt affected Hornady Manufacturing as much as other companies because the Grand Island company sells a premium product, according to Hornady officials.

Since Novembers presidential election, the ammunition industry has been going through a bit of a contraction, said Sean McGee, Hornadys director of operations.

The contraction is fairly common knowledge at this point, McGee said. Theres been a lot of articles written about that in the national press.

Because Hornady manufactures more of a premium product line, people tend not to hoard or panic-buy our product, he said. So the usage of Hornadys ammunition is more of a consistent and normal usage pattern.

Some of the other major manufacturers produce ammunition that tends to be hoarded and panic-purchased, McGee said. People buy a lot of it, and then they sit on it.

Those other manufacturers are going through a very difficult time this year because they sold a lot of product leading up to the presidential election. And then the sales dropped off dramatically this year, he said.

Because of quality, the Grand Island company has dodged a bullet.

Hornady has seen a decline, but nowhere near the magnitude of what the general industry has seen, he said. Much of that is due to the fact that people buy Hornady ammunition because theyre going to use it. Its too expensive for them to just stuff in a closet somewhere.

McGee was interviewed after Hornady opened its doors to a public tour Tuesday morning as part of National Manufacturing Month. Twenty-one people toured the plant.

He told the tour group that the plant is very, very busy.

The company has seen several waves of growth over the last 15 years.

The building at 3625 Old Potash Highway is Hornadys main facility, but the company has two other locations. A reloading plant is on the south side of Alda and a storage facility is at the former Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant. A second manufacturing site, which will open next summer, is being built at the old Cornhusker Army Ammunition property.

Hornady officials dont want to specify how many people the company employs, but its more than 500.

Hornady is one of the largest independent manufacturers of bullets in the world.

In addition to ammunition, it manufactures components for ammunition, reloading equipment and reloading dies.

One of the things that gives us a lot of strength in our business is that we produce our own components as well as our finished product, McGee said.

Before the tour, the group saw a video detailing the companys history. In that video, founder Joyce Hornady says, You might say accuracy is my business. I make bullets. Hornady, born in 1907, died in a plane crash in 1981.

People on the tour learned that making ammunition is a precise business. Among other things, the group saw the companys two underground testing ranges. One of the tunnels is 25 yards long, the other 200 yards.

After the tour, McGee told the group that Hornady employees are proud of where they work. And theyre very loyal to the company, he said.

He also said that ammunition companies are under tight regulation. Hornady executives have to be very much in tune with government guidelines. If a company makes a mistake, the fines are quite punitive, he said.

Hornady even comes into contact with the United Nations from time to time. There are agencies housed within the U.N. that affect numerous companies in the business of importing and exporting, he said.

Hornady employees have to stay up to date about regulations because we export all over the world. We provide sportsmen all over the planet with high-quality ammunition for hunting and target shooting, McGee said.
Taxes and workforce are the major issues impacting the states economy. Thats according to officials of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, who addressed the Grand Island Rotary Club Tuesday.

They discussed how legislation has affected businesses and concerns about the upcoming legislative session. They also discussed how Nebraska ranks among states on some economic issues.

Joseph Young of the Nebraska chamber said many state employers cant find workers with the right skill set. Also, the pool of available laborers is diminishing.

Nebraskas unemployment rate is less than 3 percent. In some Nebraska communities, such as Broken Bow, the unemployment rate is less than 2 percent.

State chamber official Jamie Karl said the workforce problem has a ripple effect on other areas of the economy.

For example, Karl cited the CNBC Top States for Business Rankings. In the survey, Nebraska ranked 13th among the states. But he said since 2014, Nebraska has fallen nine points in the CNBC poll. He said one of the reasons for the drop was issues businesses were having finding employees. Another factor was access to capital.

He said Nebraska ranks 36th in the nation when it comes to personal income taxes. It also ranks 35th in top corporate income tax rates.

Another concern is the current state of the economy. Thats especially true with low agricultural commodity prices. Nebraska has dipped in national polls in growth prospects, technology and innovation.

But Karl said that Nebraska also has strong rankings in various national polls. For example, Nebraska rates among the top 10 in education, quality of life, regulatory climate and state fiscal solvency.

Young said when state lawmakers meet in January they will tackle the state budget, workforce, tax reform, economic growth incentives and workforce housing.

Karl said Nebraskas revenue streams include sales taxes and income taxes. The state also returns one-third of that revenue back to local governments.

He said property tax reform is a local issue. On average, 60 percent of local property taxes goes to support schools. Twenty-six percent goes to support county and city government. He said property tax reform starts on the local level. Citizens should address the issues with their locally elected officials.

Karl said that a tax shift is not tax relief. Lawmakers will need to scrutinize state spending. That is especially true as the state struggles with a downturn in revenue.

Barry Kennedy heads the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce. He will retire next year after more than 30 years associated with the organization.

Kennedy said state chamber officials are conducting 28 similar meetings across Nebraska.

He said the Nebraska Legislature will begin its 2018 session on Jan. 3. The session will run 60 days through April.

The first big challenge will be the budget, Kennedy said.

Lawmakers passed the biannual budget last year. Revenues, though, have been coming in below projection.

Corporate income taxes have been coming in above projection. But sales and income taxes have not.

Kennedy said there will be another attempt to pass property tax reform. Lawmakers last year failed to pass a bill that would have changed the valuation of ag land. It would have put it on an income-producing basis.

There may be another attempt to reduce income taxes when excess revenue is available.

Kennedy said Nebraska still ranks quite high as an attractive state to do business in.

If you look at the broad spectrum of things that affect business, such as the regulations and the legal climate, theres a lot of things Nebraska does really good, he said.
A shortage of substitute teachers is impacting Grand Island Public Schools, as well as rural districts throughout the state, as they all try to ensure that the education of their students isnt compromised.

It has long been known that teacher pay is lower than the salaries offered for other jobs talented people could fill. Add to that the fact that being a substitute teacher doesnt provide a regular income and getting qualified people to fill in for a teacher becomes increasingly difficult.

The Grand Island district is considering adding incentive pay for substitutes who teach a certain number of days during the year, but for more rural districts the issue is even more serious because they are operating on tight budgets and dont have the funds to offer substitute teachers more compensation.

Its interesting to note that the Grand Island district is encountering trouble finding enough substitutes because its pool of substitutes includes a lot of people who are also teaching for area rural districts.

Substitutes are an issue in North Platte, as well, as that district has many younger teachers who are gone for months at a time because of pregnancies.

In Sidney, the district has even had to take elementary students from a class and put them in other classrooms when a teacher is gone.

The state lowered its standards for substitutes decades ago to address a shortage at the time, and earlier this year the Legislature doubled the number of days local substitute teachers, who dont have to meet the same standards as regular substitutes, can work in a school year, can work.

Across the state, more than 7,000 substitute teachers worked in classrooms last year, filling in for teachers about 274,000 times.

Those interested in a local substitute teaching certificate from the state must have only 60 semester credit hours of college coursework, including a professional education course and completion of a human relations training requirement, plus a written request from a superintendent for issuance of the certificate for a specific school district.

Its important that the state continue to require at least this much training of substitute teachers in order to maintain adequate professionalism in the classrooms across the state.

But school districts also need to make sure they have teachers to get the work done when their teachers must be gone from their classrooms.

Nebraska lawmakers held a hearing recently to discuss ways to cut down the number of days teachers must spend out of their classrooms for training and other activities.

The subject should be up front on the agenda of the Education Committee when the Legislature reconvenes next year, along with improvements in the states school district funding mechanism.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise scientists in Chippewa Falls have begun a year-long collaboration with NASA to test a supercomputers resilience in space  and the experiment may be a step toward putting human footprints on Mars.

On Aug. 14, HPE, which acquired Chippewa Falls software company Silicon Graphics International in 2016, launched a commercial unit they call the Spaceborne Computer into space. The computer, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, came to rest on the International Space Station (ISS) on Sep. 20.

Chippewa Falls is home to an identical twin of the Spaceborne Computer. A seven-scientist team in Chippewa Falls is running simulations on both computers, testing how the hardware will function in an atmosphere with high radiation levels, solar flares and other extreme natural phenomena. The experiment will last a year.

HPE and NASAs joint goal is to test if a commercial computer can withstand the challenges of the atmosphere. If the experiment is successful and the ISS can continue to be outfitted with commercial computers, the costs associated with space projects could be lowered dramatically, said the projects hardware development manager Dave Petersen. More computers aboard the ISScomputers that have been proven to withstand the pressure of radiationcould make communication between Earth and space explorers easier and safer.

Our end goal is feasibility of commercial, off-the-shelf hardwarefor space exploration, for future missions to Mars. This is step one, determining how resilient this hardware can be, Petersen said.

The supercomputer that was launched in August could face a wide variety of obstacles. Strapping a computer to the top of a rocket and launching it means a significant amount of g-forces and vibrations it will need to withstand to get through the atmosphere, Petersen said.

Petersen praised the efforts of his team of veteran scientists. Weve been doing high-performance computing design in Chippewa Falls for a number of years, he said. The team monitors the two computer systems and performs health checks on the Spaceborne Computer daily.

If the experiment is a success and the Spaceborne Computer is still functional after a year has passed, Petersen said he hopes his Chippewa Falls team will be able to keep working on the project. The whole team is so excited about where were at, how its performing. Expectations here have been over the top, they really have.

Ultimately, Petersen is excited to showcase the scientific and computing talents of local residents. Theres not really many people that can say they put something on the (International) Space Station and have it operate in a high-performance computing environmentThe experience within the Chippewa Valley here is to be commended.

The ISS is often visible with the naked eye, and those interested can sign up at spotthestation@mail.nasa.gov to receive notifications for when the space station flies over the area. Typically viewable for two to four minutes, Petersen says hes seen it several times. If you look outside on a clear night, you can watch it zip from horizon to horizon in four minutes, he said.

For more information about the experiment, visit www.nasa.gov and perform a search for Spaceborne Computer.
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Linkedin EDITORIAL (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, October 25, 2017 07:53 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25d616c 4 Editorial #Editorial,Perppu,#Perppu,democracy,Indonesian-politics,human-rights,Pancasila Free

For the umpteenth time democracy has been reduced to a majority decision to back government policy, no matter whether it contravenes or endangers democracy itself. The House of Representatives, vote to endorse the government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on mass organizations on Tuesday is the latest example of this practice, which is no more than the tyranny of the majority.



The ruling coalition, minus the defiant National Mandate Party (PAN), outnumbered the opposition in passing into law the Perppu, which authorizes the government, specifically the Law and Human Rights Ministry, to disband mass organizations that it deems to be threats to Pancasila or the Constitution without having to wait for a court ruling as required under the old legislation enacted in 2013.



Clearly the new law gives the government a blank check to outlaw any organization or group it pleases on the grounds that their platforms or activities run counter to the state ideology or the Constitution, including Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), which was dissolved in July based on the controversial Perppu.



Not only does the new law hand the government the power to disband any organization, it gives it the authority to judge whether a group is a menace, something that formerly lay in the hands of the judiciary as part of the checks and balances mechanism. With such privileges there is no guarantee the current or future governments will not be tempted to exercise the new power to quell critics or opposition using the pretext of national security.



For whatever reason, the new law marks a setback for democratization in Indonesia. We share the concerns of most rights groups that have condemned the Perppu that the new law could lead the country back to a previous time, when the state monopolized right and wrong and stifled freedom of speech and to organize.



Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said in his acceptance speech on the governments behalf that the new law would enable the government to prevent the spread not only of radicalism, but also communism, Marxism and Leninism, reminiscent of the New Orders popular lingo of ekstrim kiri and ekstrim kanan, or extreme leftist and rightist ideologies, respectively.



Indeed the government, through the new law, has shown its penchant for a revival of the bad old days, when political stability was the mantra for achieving economic well-being. Economic growth was pursued at the expense of democracy back then, but as we later witnessed such an approach was a total failure.



Of course the current government has a duty to ensure political stability to safeguard development programs and, hence, its 2019 agenda, but the choice of emulating the New Orders authoritarian methods as a short-cut is a gamble that may not pay dividends.



It is an irony that a nation that embarked on democratization almost 20 years ago is now resurrecting the ghost of authoritarianism. The government simply lacks patience when dealing with outspoken opponents, which can now accuse the government of breaching the reform spirit and paint themselves as martyrs of democracy.
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Linkedin KEMENKO PMK (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia  Thu, October 26, 2017

The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs recently held an award ceremony to honor the winners of its latest contest promoting the values of the National Mental Revolution Movement.

Each contestant in this year's iteration of the competition was required to create a work of art that could inspire the public to transform their way of living through mental revolution.

A term coined by President Joko Jokowi Widodo, mental revolution refers to the methods by which Indonesians can improve their way of thinking and behavior so that they may perform at their best and achieve great things as individuals.

This revolution, in its concrete elements, consists of positive approaches, such as aiming for productivity, cooperation, solidarity, a sense of responsibility, self-discipline and respecting law and order.

To this end, President Jokowi has proclaimed the importance of a National Mental Revolution Movement, a goal that has been codified through Presidential Instruction No. 12/2016.

This year's contest, which ran from May to August, serves to further President Widodo's vision of a mental revolution in society through the artistic media of photographs, videos, songs and comic strips, which comprise the competition's four categories.

According to Iwan Eka Setiawan, who is the assistant deputy for values and cultural creativity at the ministry, the contest aims to spread awareness of and inspire mental revolution.

The meaning and aim of this activity is to familiarize the National Mental Revolution Movement and to find out just how far the publics understanding goes in terms of the values of mental revolution, Setiawan said, during the contest's awards ceremony, held on Oct. 20 at the ministers heritage building.

The 700 participants this year made a total of 1,742 submissions to the four contest categories, with themes based on various government mental revolution programs, such as Clean Indonesia, Indonesia Serves, Orderly Indonesia, Independent Indonesia and United Indonesia.

Through works of art that raise awareness of the importance of mental revolution, the government hopes that the public can understand why such a revolution is necessary, and more importantly, how ordinary citizens can play an active role in achieving this goal.

We hope that this activity can trigger societys concern for mental revolution so that they can realize the importance of active public participation in creating an exemplary society for progress, Setiawan added.

Winners of this year's contest hailed from all over the archipelago, from places such as Greater Jakarta, Surakarta in Central Java, Banjarmasin and North Hulu Sungai regency in South Kalimantan, and Denpasar in Bali.

Contest prizes varied. For example, the first, second and third place winners of the photo contest won Rp 10 million, Rp 7 million and Rp 5 million, respectively.

Meanwhile, the top-two winners of the comic strip contest were given iPad Pro units (with first place getting a 12-inch version and the runner-up winning a 9.5-inch model), with the third place winner getting Rp 4 million.

One of the winners this year was Frederich Blessy, a Balinese student from the Indonesian Institute of the Arts, Denpasar, who won third place in the video contest category.

His video, titled It Starts with the Little Things (which can be viewed on Blessy's Instagram profile at @Notblessy), aims at raising awareness of the importance of maintaining a clean Indonesia.

Throughout the minute-long video, Blessy contrasts idyllic shots of the country's natural beauty with sobering images of litter-strewn environments.

The video ends with a direct message to the viewer to love Indonesia by starting off with the little things, in this case specifically referring to proper disposal of waste.

Blessy was inspired by the sight of so many of the popular tourist areas in his native Bali covered in litter.

According to Blessy, most people know Bali as a beautiful place, but because many don't keep it clean, visitors end up getting a reality check and leave wondering why the place is so dirty.

If Indonesia is so beautiful, then why aren't we protecting it? So great is Indonesian nature's love for us, and despite all we've done to it, Indonesia still loves us at the end of the day. So why aren't we protecting it? Why aren't we paying it back in kind with these small acts, like properly disposing of waste? Blessy asked.

Another winner this year was Jefry Albari Tribowo and his band JEF. Together they won third place in the songwriting contest category for their song, Mental Revolution, which can be listened to at the contest's official YouTube page.

Tribowo, a doctor from RS Ansari Saleh Regional General Hospital in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, wanted to communicate the points of mental revolution through song so that everyone could understand its message and meaning. The song's lyrics describe the five aspects of mental revolution.

As a doctor, I want all workers in Indonesia to apply the aspects of mental revolution, such as the Indonesia Serves and the Clean Indonesia movements. All of this has to be applied in our day-to-day lives. If we apply the values of mental revolution, we will have a better life and be useful to other people, Tribowo said.

The government hopes that the artwork of everyday people like Blessy, Tribowo and other winners can be used to inspire mental revolution among the people.

The goal is to involve the public through valued works of art that are from different parts of society as examples of mental change. We will spread their art far and wide as part of our public familiarization with mental revolution, Setiawan said, who was also one of the judges at this year's competition.
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Linkedin P. J. Leo (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, October 25, 2017 08:58 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25d7f7f 4 People photographer,#photography,disabled-people,people-with-disabilities,Dzoel,Darwis-Triadi Free

Dont look at me, just examine the photos Ive shot, said photographer Achmad Bang Dzoel Zulkarnain, when he first met with The Jakarta Post in Jakarta recently.

Im delving into photography. I only want my pictures to be seen as my creative products without associating them with my condition, Dzoel, who is affectionately dubbed Bang Dzoel Koplak (Crazy Bro Dzoel) by his photographic community peers in Banyuwangi, East Java, added.

Dzoel, accompanied by Agus, a staffer from the Darwis Triadi School of Photography, recently visited camera and gadget distribution company Datascrip in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, to have his camera serviced.

Read also: Indonesian photographer thrives despite not having arms, legs

He was also invited by the school to study photography especially for fashion and modeling shoots. Datascrip lent him a camera and lens to enable him to carry out his activity.

Born in Banyuwangi on Oct. 7, 1992, Dzoel has been engaged in photographic work for the last several years with good results despite his physical condition.

The youngest of three siblings, with two sisters having perfect limbs, Dzoel has even managed to self-fund college.

I first worked for some time in Surabaya as a motivator for Helen Keller International Indonesia, a non-government institute for the blind, before returning home to join a cybercafe and a musical group, Almumtaz, with fellow graduates of Banyuwangis extraordinary junior high school as members, Dzoel said.

At the cafe, Bang Dzoel began to show an interest in photography.

No limits: Standing less than one meter tall as a result of impaired limbs, photographer Achmad Bang Dzoel Zulkarnain proves that there are no limits to achieving ones dreams. (JP/P. J. Leo)

His curiosity about the art further grew and he was even more eager to snap as he held a camera borrowed from a colleague.

From then on, he and his peers started photographing residents applying for official identity cards.

In 2013, Dzoel met Wahyudi, a law office owner who also often gave religious lectures to his Almumtaz band.

I was later employed in his law office. After earning my monthly pay, I was capable of furthering my college studies and helping my parents, he recalled.

He was then able to buy his own camera and accessories on credit.

During vacations, Dzoel explored photography on a self-taught basis with his peers by handling various projects. To attract customers wishing to use his services, Dzoel posted his pictures on Facebook and other social media.

Prospective clients, initially doubting Dzoels talent, eventually sought his photographic services for birthday parties, wedding anniversaries, pre-wedding sessions, wedding ceremonies and various other occasions after seeing the quality of his work.

By the end of 2015, Dzoel took leave of absence from his studies and resigned from the office after his mother passed away from breast cancer, while continuing his photographic business.

Dzoels passion and high-quality photography began to bear fruit as he received more and more recognition as a photographer in the local, national and even international scenes.

His serious efforts in practicing his craft in his hometown of Banyuwangi earned him an invitation in 2016 from Jakartas Metro TV to appear on a talk show.

Watch and learn: Photographer Darwis Triadi (left) shares some snaps with Dzoel. (JP/P. J. Leo)

Aljazeera TV then followed by visiting Dzoel in Banyuwangi in April 2017. Other TV stations have also arranged programs for Dzoel during his visit to Jakarta.

Some photographic communities outside Banyuwangi have also invited Dzoel to join their activities, such as Cinnamon Equal Photography, which organized a photo competition for the disabled on Aug. 17 in Bandung, West Java.

Senior fashion photographer Darwis Triadi, one of the judges in the competition, was surprised to see Dzoel holding a camera with his impaired arms.

Committee personnel said the disabled man walking past my table was Dzoel, a photographer from Banyuwangi, Darwis said.

Read also: Darwis Triadi: Capturing the human spirit through photography

After being introduced, I asked Dzoel, can you take pictures? he replied, yes sir. Now give me a snap and the result, wow, it was amazing, he added.

For Darwis, Dzoels perseverance in the pursuit of this art with his disability should be supported because in his view photography is a way of life rather than just a profession.

Therefore, Darwis decided to impart broader photographic knowledge by inviting Dzoel to study in his school. The other aim is to preclude any marginalization of Dzoel and people with disabilities.

Future invitations to Dzoel include a touring workshop to senior high schools in Surabaya mid-November for an introduction to photography, and a workshop on photography in Hong Kong to give an overview of the art to Indonesian migrant workers.

Dzoel is planning to hold a photo exhibition featuring his fellow Banyuwangi junior high school graduates and Almumtaz band members.

I am going to display my handicapped friends and peers in their independent activities so as to draw the governments attention to the disabled group, Dzoel said.
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Linkedin Jessicha Valentina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, October 25, 2017 17:42 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25f121a 1 Science & Tech fintech,#fintech,startup,start-up,#startup,Rice-Bowl-Startup-Awards Free

Cicil, a fintech startup that allows students to purchase items in installments without a credit card, was named the winner in two categories, Startup of the Year and Best Fintech, at the 2017 Indonesia Rice Bowl Startup Awards.

A post shared by Mallsampah (@mallsampah) on Oct 23, 2017 at 6:36pm PDT

Announced on Monday, the event also revealed the winners in seven other categories: Mallsampah founder Adi Saifullah Putra as Founder of the Year; Eragano as Best Newcomer; Mallsampah as Best Social Impact startup; Sticar as Best Smart City Solution; Klikhoreka as Best E-commerce/Supply Chain; DOOgether as Best Healthy Lifestyle startup; and Hubud as Best Coworking Space.

The Rice Bowl Startup Awards is a series of events held throughout ASEAN countries. In Indonesia, the event was hosted by 2Blive, a live-stream mobile application that focuses on wholesome and educational content through strategic partnerships.

Read also: YesBoss wins ASEAN startup award as 'Best Newcomer'

Last year, the awards named virtual private assistant service company YesBoss as the Best Newcomer startup.

2Blive founder Gerard Teoh told The Jakarta Post that a representative of each winner would be flown to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to attend the 2017 ASEAN Rice Bowl Startup Awards, which is slated to run on Dec. 12 to 13.

Teoh said that Indonesian startups should have opportunities to work with other regional companies. During the regional event, the winners will have the opportunity to network and to meet investors. (asw)
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Linkedin Jonah Mandel (Agence France-Presse) Jerusalem  Wed, October 25, 2017 15:05 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25ea072 2 Lifestyle Albert-Einstein,auction,#auction,letter,Science,#science,Nobel-Prize Free

A note that Albert Einstein gave to a courier in Tokyo briefly describing his theory on happy living sold at auction in Jerusalem on Tuesday for $1.56 million, the auction house said.

The winning bid for the note far exceeded the pre-auction estimate of between $5,000 and $8,000, according to the website of Winner's auction house.

"It was an all-time record for an auction of a document in Israel," Winner's spokesman Meni Chadad told AFP.

The buyer was a European who wished to remain anonymous, he said.

The note, on Imperial Hotel Tokyo stationery, says in German that "a quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest."

Bidding, in person, online and by phone, started at $2,000. A flurry of offers pushed the price rapidly up for about 20 minutes until the final two potential buyers bid against each other by phone.

Applause broke out in the room when the sale was announced.

"I am really happy that there are people out there who are still interested in science and history and timeless deliveries in a world which is developing so fast," the seller told AFP on condition of anonymity after the sale.

A second Einstein note written at the same time that simply reads "where there's a will, there's a way" sold for $240,000, Winner's said.

The German-born physicist, most famous for his theory of relativity, was on a lecture tour in Japan when he handwrote the autographed notes, previously unknown to researchers, in 1922.

Read also: How do you get one? 5 things to know about the Nobel Prizes

He had recently been informed that he was to receive the Nobel Prize for physics, and his fame outside of scientific circles was growing.

A Japanese courier arrived at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo to deliver Einstein a message. The courier either refused to accept a tip, in line with local practice, or Einstein had no small change available.

Either way, Einstein didn't want the messenger to leave empty-handed, so he wrote him two notes by hand in German, according to the seller, a relative of the messenger.

"Maybe if you're lucky those notes will become much more valuable than just a regular tip," Einstein told the messenger, according to the seller, a resident of the German city of Hamburg.

- 'Stone in the mosaic' -

Two other letters Einstein wrote in later years were also auctioned on Tuesday, fetching prices of $33,600 and $9,600.

In June, letters written by Einstein about God, Israel and physics sold for nearly $210,000 at a Jerusalem auction.

Roni Grosz, the archivist in charge of the world's largest Einstein collection at Jerusalem's Hebrew University, said the notes shed light on the private thoughts of the great physicist, whose name has become synonymous with genius.

"What we're doing here is painting the portrait of Einstein -- the man, the scientist, his effect on the world -- through his writings," Grosz said.

"This is a stone in the mosaic."

Einstein served as a non-resident governor of Jerusalem's Hebrew University. When he died in 1955, he left the institution his archives, making it the owner of the world's most extensive collection of his documents.
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Linkedin Duncan Graham (The Jakarta Post) Malang  Wed, October 25, 2017 09:20 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25d8b70 4 Art & Culture Indonesian-movies,local-movie,filmmaking,#filmmaking,#film,#movies,Mahesa-Denaga Free

Award-winning filmmaker Mahesa Desaga wants all to know the giant republic is more than political crises and natural disasters strung into a narrative of dysfunction.

I want to reflect the lives of the marginalized, he said. The best way is through films showing how relationships work, how families cope.

He does this using gentle whimsy not searing confrontation. His work is contemplative; viewers dont leave his presentations with blood-drained faces but with a wry smile and thoughtful expression. Seeking escapism? Dont bother with this young man; head to a 21 Cineplex for Tom Cruise and American Made.

Similar emotions must have been felt by judges at the 2017 Australia-Indonesia Short-Film Festival Competition who awarded the 27-year old university lecturer from Malang, East Java, first prize earlier this year.

He took his film Nunggu Teka (Waiting to Arrive) to the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) in August. The MIFF bills itself as one of the oldest film festivals in the world and the most significant screen event in Australia.

Nunggu Teka is a poignant cameo of a lone mother (played by the late Supatemi, a neighbor of Mahesa) preparing for a visit by her son during the Idul Fitri family reunion at the end of the Ramadhan fasting month.

Shot in subdued tones the 15-minute movie captures mood and emotion through domestic detail and limited movement. Its more in the minimalist style of Irish playwright Samuel Beckett.

The rituals that bond ordinary life are the source of Mahesas current work, what the British label kitchen-sink drama and made mainstream by director Mike Leigh. La Land is not Mahesas environment. Nor is the theater of envy where the tired poor watch the dopey doings of the idle rich.

Also absent from his viewfinder are sinetron (soap opera) stereotype characters. Audience tastes are unlikely to refine until directors get equal treatment alongside respected authors in the Indonesian school curriculum.

Mahesa has a script about a family living in a house so cramped all share one bedroom. This frustrates the parents seeking intimacy  a situation common in city kampungs and rural villages.

Our closeness, our ability to survive, to be positive are all qualities that I want to see recognized, he said. This means teaching Indonesians how to read films. Cinema has been tightly controlled with only officially approved imports allowed. Most have been from Hollywood so the choice is narrow.

Film was hijacked for propaganda in the Soeharto era when creatives were dubbed disruptors. The government-sponsored docudrama Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI (Treachery of the PKI) was compulsory viewing for schoolchildren till 1998.

Personal touch: Jumprit Singit (Hide and Seek) highlights kids obsessed with gadgets. (images.viddsee.com/File)

The idea of film as art has been led by directors like Garin Nugroho, 55, whose offerings can be more esoteric than entertaining.

Mahesa is not in that generation or genre: Jumprit Singit (Hide and Seek) is a comment on kids besotted by gadgets. It involves the chase of a thief and his contact with a lone boy excluded from PlayStation so he retreats into imagination.

Theres a touch of autobiography here though the adult Mahesa is funny and engaging. The only child of working public servants he was often alone. His destiny seems to have been set while still nurtured by the umbilical cord, for his pregnant mother took breaks in cinemas  a habit she continued after birth.

The first film I remember was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when I was about three, he said. Others were frightened by the scary figures - I was just interested.

At university he studied international relations because I could not stand mathematics. Instead of a career in foreign affairs he turned to being a diplomat through my films. After years of watching overseas dramas he has developed a better understanding of the globe than through academic studies.

This has meant covertly sampling movies banned by authorities determined to keep progressive ideas away from the public. This isnt a situation unique to Indonesia  Iranian directors film abroad where there are fewer constraints on the topics they want to explore.

Working outside Indonesia is a temptation, Mahesa said. However I have a responsibility to society and I cant exercise this in exile. He suggests that limited access screenings in an alternative exhibition space might liberate directors  but would probably draw the killjoys suspecting subversion.

His parents saw little future for their son in celluloid though he now lectures on the subject at two universities in Malang. He started a filmophile group in 2008.

Although there are several similar clusters in Malang, few have double-digit memberships. A curious situation in a city of 28 tertiary institutions drawing students from across the archipelago  and where every second lit-grad seems to have a book of published verse.

Mahesa reckons too few understand how to make films using ordinary digital cameras and laptop editing programs even though all information can be Googled. Too lazy, he says.

Maybe, but theyve also been brainwashed by the ballyhoo of mega-dollar productions where chopper shots, special effects and star names seem essential.

The other factor is a limited knowledge of the great offerings of cinema where the story drives the projector sprockets and the focus is on exposing character rather than the revealing dress spotted by the prurient.

Mahesa draws inspiration from the past. He names the 1977 Indonesian romance Badai Pasti Berlalu (The Storm Will Surely Pass) directed by the late Teguh Karya as essential viewing, and the Japanese drama Rashomon (director Akira Kurosawa) as the must-see film of all time.

Before his life reaches the final credits Mahesa wants to tackle a feature film, a long leap from shorts. Expect something about mudik, the mass pilgrimage to villages during Idul Fitri. Its unique to Indonesia, he said. We should tell the world.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, October 25, 2017 13:15 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25e3d56 4 Art & Culture mentawai,arts,arts-and-culture,#ArtsandCulture,Leiden-University,Netherlands Free

An exhibition focusing on the Mentawai people in the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra is being held at the Volkenkunde Museum in Leiden, Netherlands, until May 28 next year.

Antara news agency reported that the exhibition is part of Leiden Asian Year 2017 and Europalia Indonesia Arts Festival.

During the exhibition, visitors to the museum can take a closer look at the tribe's art, history and traditional equipment, such as farming and hunting tools and accessories for special occasions. Moreover, the event will also screen a documentary film about the Mentawai people, allowing visitors to learn more about their culture.

Read also: By Mentawai for Mentawai: How community-driven education can save a tribe

Reimar Schefold, the University of Leidens professor emeritus of the anthropology and sociology of Indonesia, said that the exhibition aimed to showcase the Mentawai peoples efforts to maintain their traditions over the centuries.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Embassy in The Hagues education and cultural attache Bambang Hari Wibisono explained that the museum actually owned the Mentawai collection.

A post shared by KBRI Den Haag (@kbridenhaag) on Oct 20, 2017 at 1:22pm PDT

Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja and the museums director Stijn Schoonderwoerd reportedly attended the opening ceremony, which was held on Saturday. During the event, the committee handed the first copy of the book Toys for the Souls: Life and Art on the Mentawai Islands to Juniator Tulius, a native Mentawai and an anthropology graduate from the University of Leiden. (jes/asw)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, October 25, 2017 15:43 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25ebab0 4 Business Luhut-Binsar-Pandjaitan,Airbus,PT-DI,cooperation,maintenance-repair-overhaul Free

European aircraft producer Airbus has expressed its interest in cooperating with its Indonesian counterpart, state-owned aircraft company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI), to establish an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Indonesia, a senior minister has said.

We talked about the cooperation in the aircraft industry. They [the Airbus representatives] want to have an aircraft maintenance facility in Indonesia, said Maritime Affairs Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan as reported by tribunnews.com after meeting with Airbus representatives at his office in Jakarta on Tuesday.

They are seriously considering cooperating with PT DI.

Luhut said the establishment of such a facility was needed because it is believed that many more planes that were produced by Airbus, whose base was in Toulouse, France, would be operated in the country.

Luhut said although the company particularly had their eye on maintenance service for military planes, they also considered expanding the business to serve commercial planes.

There was no detailed plan yet, Luhut said, adding that more meetings, including with the Transportation Ministry, were needed to realize such a cooperation.

He said the planes that could be repaired in the facility would be not only those made by Airbus, but also those that received licenses from the company such as the CN235, CN295 and A400M planes. (bbn)
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Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, October 25, 2017 20:05 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25f7b26 1 Politics graft,KPK,East-Java,arrest Free

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said it arrested on Wednesday an East Java regent in connection to a bribery case.

KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah confirmed the arrest, adding that 15 people were apprehended for questioning. We also apprehended several people there [in East Java] and in Jakarta.

He added that the alleged bribery took place in the regency and continued in Jakarta. Investigators seized cash during the operation, which started at the noon.

Febri would not reveal the suspects identity, but indicated the case was related to one that had been previously handled by the antigraft body, but was then transferred to another law enforcement agency as ordered by a judge in a pretrial hearing.

A South Jakarta District Court judge granted in March a pretrial motion filed by Nganjuk Regent Taufiqurrahman, ordering the antigraft body to hand back the case to the Attorney Generals Office, which had started an investigation into the regent.

The KPK will hold a press conference on Thursday to disclose details of the case. (ahw)
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Linkedin Primastuti Handayani (The Jakarta Post) London  Wed, October 25, 2017 10:15 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25da53a 1 Business BlackBerry,BlackBerry-Aurora,Indonesia,market Free

BlackBerry remains pleased with the performance of its handset Aurora  which in Indonesia has been licensed to PT BlackBerry Merah Putih (BBMP).

The device, which is made in Indonesia and intended for the Indonesian market, was launched in March 2017.

The market will decide if they see value in high security devices such as the BlackBerry, said Alex Thurber, BlackBerry senior vice president for global device sales, on Tuesday in London, on the sidelines of the BlackBerry Security Summit.

But as [CEO] John Chen said, we could have done better, he added.

The existing Aurora is built on the Nougat 7-based Android software platform.

We are working closely with BBMP to continue to reach out to our customers. Since each phone contains our personal information such as banking info or other personal info, it is important to ensure customers on why they need security, Thurber said.

BBMP is not the only company to produce a device for the Canadian company. TCL Communication of China and Optiemus of India are focused on the global and Indian markets, respectively. TCL has produced the keyboard-based KEYone and touchscreen devices DTEK50 and DTEK60.

Thurber added that the company would not add other enterprises to produce the devices. Instead, Blackberry would focus more on installing their software into branded phones from other manufacturers.

Marty Beard, BlackBerry Chief Operating Officer, said the company would continue to maintain the legacy of the smartphone device.

BlackBerry is one of the most widely known brands in the world. It has always been associated with security, productivity, professionalism and business, he said. (bbn)
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Linkedin Ganug Nugroho Adi (The Jakarta Post) Wonogiri, Central Java  Wed, October 25, 2017 17:26 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25f04d4 1 National food-poisoning,Wonogiri,Central-Java,early-childhood-education-programs,kindergartens,health Free

Teachers of early childhood education programs (PAUD) and kindergartens from Wonogiri, Central Java, were rushed to the hospital on Monday due to suspected food poisoning.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 24 teachers had been taken to three hospitals.

The incident occurred during a two-day workshop on improving the quality of education, held at the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) building starting from Monday.

The source of the food poisoning remains unknown because of the wide variety of dishes and snacks served during the event.

We dont want to speculate about the cause of the food poisoning. What I can confirm is that dozens of workshop participants felt dizzy, fainted, vomited and suffered from diarrhea, starting from Monday evening to Tuesday afternoon, Sri Mulyati, the Wonogiri Education Agencys kindergarten and elementary school division head, said on Tuesday.

Sri said the workshops organizing committee had ordered the food from a catering service that has been a long-standing partner of the agency.

Separately, the owner of the catering company, Siti Muslihah, said that on Monday, she prepared 800 nasi kotak (box meals) for the workshop participants and those of another event in a separate location. Only participants of the workshop suffered food poisoning, although they all ate the same food, she claimed.

The Wonogiri Health Agencys disease control and environmental health division head, Suprio Heryanto, suspects that the incident may have been caused by bacteria contamination.

The agency was still waiting for the results of laboratory testing, he said. (ebf)

Intensive care: Medical workers check tend to teachers struck by food poisoning in a hospital in Wonogiri, Central Java, on Tuesday. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)
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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, October 25, 2017 16:51 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25eedc3 1 Politics HTI,Hizbut-Tahrir-Indonesia,civil-rights,Constitutional-Court,judicial-review,Perppu Free

Former members of the now-defunct Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) plan to lodge a judicial review against the recently endorsed regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on mass organizations (Ormas) to the Constitutional Court.

The House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to endorse the Perppu, which replaces the 2013 Law on mass organizations, on the grounds it is necessary to protect the state ideology of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

The hard-line HTI was the first group to be disbanded under the controversial Perppu, which grants the government the power to disband any groups it deems to be anti-Pancasila. Under the 2013 law, this power lay with the court.

The government believed HTI posed a threat to Pancasila as it sought to establish an Islamic caliphate in Indonesia.

"The endorsement [of the Perppu] will open the door for the birth of a repressive regime [...] who knows which organizations will be disbanded next in the name of protecting kebhinekaan [unity in diversity]?," former HTI spokesman Ismail Yusanto said on Wednesday.

He also questioned whether the House truly represented the public's aspirations as many mass organizations invited by the House to a previous hearing rejected the Perppu on the grounds it could grant the government the power to disband organizations without due process in law.

"We want to urge the government and all relevant stakeholders not to use the endorsed Perppu as a way to obstruct preaching and criminalize Islamic teachings and preachers," Ismail said. (ahw)
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Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, October 25, 2017 18:55 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25f34f5 1 Politics corruption,Corruption-court,KPK,BPK,Supreme-Audit-Agency Free

Judges with the Jakarta Corruption Court have found former Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Ministry officials Sugito and Jarot Budi Prabowo guilty of offering bribes to Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) auditors, sentencing them to one and a half years in prison.

Sugito is ordered to pay Rp 100 million (US$7,362) in fines or serve an additional six months in prison, presiding judge Diah Siti Basariah said on Wednesday, adding that Jarot had to pay Rp 75 million in fines.

The punishment was lighter than the one demanded by prosecutors, which was two years for both defendants.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Sugito and Jarot bribery suspects after investigators caught them red-handed offering bribes to two BPK auditors, Rochmadi Saptogiri and Ali Sadli, in an effort to obtain a wajar tanpa pengecualian (an unqualified opinion)  the highest audit level  for the ministrys 2016 budget report.

The bribes, amounting to Rp 240 million, are believed to come from various echelon I officers of the ministry.

The trial for Rochmadi and Ali is ongoing, with the former having read his refutation against KPK prosecutors indictment in a separate courtroom. (ahw)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, October 25, 2017 15:43 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25ebfb3 1 Politics Gatot-Nurmantyo,USA,US-Embassy,foreign-affairs,#GatotNurmantyo Free

Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo was not allowed to board a flight bound to the United States last weekend due to an administrative error that was quickly corrected, according the US Embassy in Jakarta.

In a statement published on its website on Wednesday, the embassy stopped short of saying that Gatot had been denied entry to the US, stating only that he and his wife were delayed in their ability to board their flight.

We have taken appropriate measures to prevent this matter from occurring again. There is no restriction on the generals or his wifes travel, and we welcome them to the United States, the statement read.

The embassy said it regretted the inconvenience caused by the incident, adding that the US government is dedicated to ensuring that all persons traveling to the United States are screened and properly vetted to maintain our responsibility to US national security.

Gatot and his wife were invited by US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford to attend a conference in Washington.

However, he was told by an Emirates official at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Saturday afternoon that he would be unable to depart.

The US Department of Homeland Security previously said that Gatot chose not to travel after being cleared and rebooked on another flight.

Gatot said he decided to cancel his US trip after failing to board the original flight and reported the incident to President Joko Jokowi Widodo, who told him not to go.

The incident triggered outrage among some lawmakers and prompted the Foreign Ministry to file a diplomatic note demanding an explanation from the US government. (ahw)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, October 25 2017

Rapper Iwa K, who recently entered rehabilitation following a run-in with police, will finish his rehab in early November 2017, according to his lawyer, Chris Sam Siwu.

Iwa K was sentenced to six months in prison for drug abuse with the provision of rehabilitation treatment at the Drug Addiction Hospital (RSKO), in Cibubur, East Jakarta.

Please pray for him, Chris said as reported by Kompas.com.

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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, October 25, 2017 11:03 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25dc7f7 1 Business Jokowi,regional-budget,regional-heads Free

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has criticized governors, mayors, and regents for failing to make progressive budgetary allocations and for their lack of seriousness in attending to those projects that were in the public's best interest.

Jokowi, a former Jakarta governor and Surakarta mayor, suggested how regional heads might reallocate their budgets.

"Allocate an extra budget [for renovating traditional markets], and you will leave behind a good legacy," the President said on Tuesday, during a meeting with regional heads at the State Palace.

He said that although regional budgets involved larger funds today, their composition had not changed over the years.

The President said that regional heads needed to be prepared to risk opposition from legislative councils on proposed budgetary allocations, because certain councilors might expect extra funds from the allocations they approved.

"Each commission in the regional legislative council might ask for some billions of rupiah. It is your job to control them. If you cannot, it means that you are not strong enough," he said.

Making progressive allocations in the budget, Jokowi added, would enable the regions to finish their various infrastructure projects faster. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, October 25, 2017 18:14 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25f24ce 1 City Joko-Widodo,anies-baswedan,slum,development Free

President Joko Jokowi Widodo has said he wants Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to prioritize the development of slum areas in the capital.

The newly appointed governor and his deputy Sandiaga Uno met with Jokowi at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, discussing various issues about the capital city.

However, the President emphasized that slum areas should be among the Jakarta administrations main concerns, Anies said after the meeting.

The President did not highlight a specific location. However, slum areas must be prioritized because the President was fully aware [] that there were 220 poor urban villages in the capital, he said.

Anies then said that the administration would unlikely evict those living in poor villages and instead referred to a land consolidation concept, in which the administration planned to start a vertical housing construction project.

Hence, they could still live on the land but the slum conditions would be made clean and comfortable and it would be a healthy place, he said.

Also during the occasion, Jokowi emphasized the importance of communication given that he succeeded in developing the Pluit Reservoir in North Jakarta.
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Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, October 25, 2017 19:47 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25f5afe 1 National crane,Saudi-Arabia,compensation,2015-crane-collapse,Foreign-Affairs-Ministry Free

The Foreign Ministry clarified that Indonesian pilgrims who were killed or injured by the crane collapse over the Grand Mosque, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in 2015 will still get compensation from the Saudi kingdom, even though a recent court ruling said that no diyyah (blood money) would be given to them.

The Summary Court in Mecca exonerated the 13 crane operators who oversaw the falling crane, saying that the incident happened naturally and that there was no human element behind it.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir said that the court's decision would not affect the Saudi government's promise to provide financial compensation for the victims.

Diyyah and compensation are two different things, he told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Diyyah is financial compensation paid to the victim of a murder or manslaughter by the party found guilty of the crime by the court.

The compensation from the Saudi government is still on. But we will look at it again to check when it will be given, Arrmanatha said.

In August, the Indonesian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Agus Maftuh Abegebriel, said he had received a diplomatic note from the Saudi government saying diyyah would soon be given to the victims and their families.

The Saudi government is ready to give the money to the victims, Agus said on the Religious Affairs Ministry's official website.

Eleven Indonesians were killed and 49 were injured in the crane incident, which killed a total of 111 pilgrims and wounded hundreds of others.

Saudi Arabia had agreed to provide 1 million riyals in compensation for each dead victim and 500,000 riyals for every wounded one. However, until today none of the victims have received any compensation. (ahw)
Members of the Madison School Board during a meeting at the Doyle Administration Building in Madison in May.
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Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, October 25, 2017 13:52 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25e55a9 1 Business Budi-Karya-Sumadi,ride-hailing-application,Go-Jek Free

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has made a surprise move by ordering ride-hailing service Go-Car to go to the venue of the ministry's discussion on Wednesday morning as he is reportedly soon to issue the revised regulation.

Budi said the ride was even not prepared by Go-Jek, the ride-hailing app provider, so he could talk to the driver frankly.

"It was very comfortable, the driver was friendly. The vehicle arrived no more than five minutes after I ordered. The fare was Rp 30,000, I paid it in cash," he said on Wednesday.

He said the driver also commented on the regulations for ride-hailing services, including on fleet quota and base fare.

Read also: Revised online taxi regulation to be enforced on Nov. 1

"The driver offered a suggestion on the [ride hailing fleet] quota. He said his earnings had decreased and therefore, he agreed with the [regulation] on quota," Budi added.

The Transportation Ministry is currently in the process of issuing the revised regulation on ride-hailing services after the Supreme Court annulled 14 points in the regulation in August.

The ministry's acting director general for land transportation Hindro Surahmat said on Monday the draft revision of Transportation Regulation No. 26/2017 on the operation of non-route public transportation had been submitted to the Law and Human Rights Ministry and it was expected to be in force early next month.

In the revised regulation, the ministry has added several requirements, including installing a meter in each vehicle, abiding by floor and ceiling prices, requiring operators to have at least five vehicles and showing evidence of vehicle ownership. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, October 25, 2017 19:08 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25f4bc3 1 City teacher,East-Jakarta,sexual-harassment Free

The East Jakarta Police have arrested a teacher at a tutoring center for allegedly molesting his 7-year-old student.

East Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Andry Wibowo said on Wednesday that the incident reportedly occurred on Sept. 17 at at the school, which is located in Matraman.

We arrested him on Monday at around 2 p.m., Andry said as quoted by kompas.com, adding that the teacher was reported by one of his colleagues, who had recorded the alleged abuse.

We have collected the [victim's] medical report and the video as evidence, Andry said. (ecn)
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Linkedin N. Adri (The Jakarta Post) Balikpapan, East Kalimantan  Wed, October 25, 2017 19:00 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25f3b47 1 National Tawau,Malaysia,East-Kalimantan,East-Kalimantan-Police,crystal-methamphetamine,CrystalMeth,CrystalMethamphetamine Free

The East Kalimantan Police seized six kilograms of crystal methamphetamine from a suspected smuggler. The drugs, from Tawau, Malaysia, were reportedly to be smuggled into and sold in South Sulawesi.

When we arrested the suspect, we found the crystal meth, which was divided into six large packages. One package weighed 1.1 kg, while the other five weighed more than 900 grams each, the polices criminal investigation director Sr. Comr. Kris Erlangga AW said in Balikpapan on Monday.

The haul is worth an estimated Rp 1.8 billion (US$132,674.94).

Erlangga said the police had traced the smuggler since he was in Tarakan on Oct. 9, where he later departed for Balikpapan using a regular transportation route.

The police said the 67-year-old man was arrested at the Kariangau ferry port in Balikpapan on Sunday when he was about to travel to Mamuju, South Sulawesi.

The suspect claimed he was promised Rp 120 million for delivering the packages, which he would receive at the destination. He only received Rp 1.5 million, said Erlangga.

He confirmed the crystal meth was made locally in Tawau, Malaysia. As of October, the East Kalimantan Police have thwarted six major attempts to smuggle drugs into Indonesia, with confiscated evidence weighing from 3 kg to 11 kg. (dra/ebf)
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Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura, Papua  Wed, October 25, 2017 15:36 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25eb0f2 1 National inmates,jailbreak,prison-break,prisoners,prison-officers,Abepura-prison,Jayapura,Papua Free

Police have dispatched officers to search for five inmates who escaped from the Class II A Abepura Prison in Jayapura, Papua, on Tuesday.

Thirty personnel have been assigned to pursue the inmates. I have also ordered our members to investigate the prison officials. Its not the first this has happened. Once we find negligence to be the cause, we will take tough action against them, said Jayapura Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Tober Sirait on Wednesday.

He said some of the inmates had been charged with drug crimes while the others committed violent thefts.

The worse thing is that some of them have fled the prison several times before, said Tober.

Feli Tabuni, one of the inmates, was charged with drug crimes and had fled the prison twice before. Three inmates -- Hery Kosay, Paul Doga and Maikel Sabulai -- were charged with theft while the last inmate, Agus Alua, was charged with theft involving violence.

The five inmates fled by destroying the security wire fence. They then threatened prison officials before they fled through the main entrance.

Actually, there were seven inmates who attempted to flee the prison but two were caught by the prison guards, said Tober.

On Feb.19, six inmates fled the prison by climbing the prison wall while on Jan.7, 13 inmates fled the prison by breaking through the main entrance. (ebf)

Scene of the crime: Jayapura Police officers on Wednesday examine security wire fences destroyed by the five escapees. (JP/Nethy Dharma Somba)
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Linkedin Ganug Nugroho Adi (The Jakarta Post) Wonogiri, Central Java  Wed, October 25, 2017 20:26 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25f8556 1 National Wonogiri,Central-Java,drought,food-scarcity,food-shortage Free

More than 10,000 residents of two districts in Wonogiri, Central Java, are suffering from a severe food crisis due to prolonged drought in the areas.

Although the rainy season in the regency has begun, rain has not yet fallen in the districts of Kismantoro and Paranggupito since June.

The total number of Wonogiri residents who suffer from food shortages has reached 10,780, comprising 2,695 households.

Wonogiri regent Joko Sutopo said the food shortages were not only because of the drought but also because many people in the regency lived under the poverty line.

The Wonogiri administration has sent a letter to the Central Java governor [Ganjar Pranowo] asking for rice aid for those affected by the food shortages, said Joko on Monday.

Of the total, 694 households are from Kismantoro subdistrict while 600 others are from Ngroto village. Meanwhile, 487 households are from Paranggupito village while 462 and 452 others are from Ketos and Songbledek villages, respectively.

Wonogiri Agriculture and Food Agency (Dispertan) head Safuan said his institution needed 37.7 tons of rice to help five villages in the two districts, which are prone to food shortages.

He said that in the first stage of rice aid delivery for the drought this year, Dispertan had provided 7.4 tons of rice for Gesing and Lemahabang villages in Kismantoro.

In the second stage of the delivery, the agency provided 7.5 tons of rice for residents in Bayemharjo and Tlogoharjo villages in Paranggupito district, Safuan said. (dra/ebf)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, October 26 2017

State-owned electricity company PLN kicked off in Greater Jakarta on Wednesday the operation of 16 for rent giant power banks with a capacity of 250 kilo volt ampere (kVA).

The Power Bank Express Service was inspired by the use of power banks for gadgets, said Greater Jakarta PLN general manager M. Ikhsan Asaad during the launch of the service at PLNs office in Jakarta.

He said the innovation was part of PLNs efforts to provide environmentally friendly energy for outdoor activities.

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Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta  Wed, October 25, 2017 13:01 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25e2b8a 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,Chinese-tourists,manado,Lion-Air,international-flights Free

Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado, North Sulawesi welcomed 422 international flights within the months of January until October 2017. From the total number, Lion Air contributed 241 flights and then followed by Silk Air with 152 fligths and Citilink with six flights.

According to the airports general manager, Minggus Gandeguai, flight routes to China still dominate the market with 110 flights from Lion Air. About 20,768 tourists from Guangzhou city in China came to North Sulawesi within the months of January until October.

Lion Air Manado general manager Irwan Arland said that the Guangzhou route has always been a favorite, reflected by the occupancy rate that is up to 100 percent.

For other cities, its around 80 to 90 percent, Irwan said.

Read also: Six tips to get the best hotel deals for a year-end vacation

Moreover, data from the North Sulawesi Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that the number of international tourists who came in August was 8,886 people, higher than the previous month that welcomed 7,305 tourists.

Its up 12 percent from the previous year that had 7,904 overseas tourists, said Edy.

The increase has created a positive impact towards the hotel industry.

Weve been fully booked these last three months. Other than companies who like to hold meetings, weve also welcomed plenty of overseas tourists, said Arya Duta Hotel Manado executive secretary Yona Lontoh. (asw)
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Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta  Wed, October 25, 2017 15:09 1847 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a25eaca3 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,sambas,West-Kalimantan Free

From Nov. 5 - 11, Pesisir Paloh in West Kalimantan is slated to hold the Pesisir Paloh Festival 2017. The exact location of this event will be at Temajuk Village, Paloh District, Sambas regency.

The month of November will be the peak of the turtle-nesting season. It will be celebrated with plenty of peoples parties to show gratitude for an abundance of turtle eggs, said Sambas regent H Atbah Romin Suhaili.

The festival itself was first held in 2011, and for this year it will highlight the theme Save the Turtles in National Border.

Apart from being known as the home of turtles, Pesisir Paloh is also famous for its traditional values such as Besiak ritual, Antar Ajung ceremony and Ngamping tradition. The latter is a form of gratitude from the locals for crop abundance and praying for the next harvest season.

The festival will feature activities such as the crowning event of Penyu Paloh Ambassador 2017, photo and local products exhibition, socialization of the development of tourist village Temajuk, movie screening, camping, Sapta Pesona beach cleanup, turtle monitoring field trip, baby turtle release and seed-planting.

Read also: Like Bali? Indonesia wants to create 10 of them to draw Chinese tourists

The regional administration will also use this event to hold activities such as mass circumcision and general checkup, E-KTP and temporary birth certificate recordings, family card renewal, birth certificate application, fisherman boat sign of record, raising awareness of the fisherman insurance program and fisherman card.

Paloh district is directly adjacent to Malaysia that is located on the west side of the northern part of Kalimantan island. The area has a beach that stretches as far as 63 kilometers.

Moreover, Paloh is the habitat of four out of seven different turtle species in the world namely green sea turtle, flatback sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle and leatherback sea turtle. (asw)
The sale of a building on the Lower East Side in 2014 has caught the attention of reporters from the McClatchy News Service, who have been looking into the financial dealings of Michael Cohen, an associate of Donald Trump.

McClatchy reported:

While serving as a top executive at the Trump Organization for a decade, Cohen himself was a sometime New York real estate wheeler dealer whose companies appear to have netted as much as $20 million in profit by flipping properties to mysterious buyers. The facts surrounding one of Cohens ventures in particular raised red flags for several experts interviewed by McClatchy.

That venture involved 172 Rivington St., a five story walkup, located between Clinton and Attorney streets. The story, published this morning, explained:

In 2014, a mysterious buyer using a limited liability company that hid the purchasers identity paid $10 million in cash for a small apartment building on New Yorks lower east side that Cohen had purchased just three years before for $2 million. The handsome appreciation came despite the fact that the assessed value of the property, at 172 Rivington St., hardly budged in these years, hovering around the price Cohen paid for it.

There was a similar pattern, reported McClatchy, in three other real estate transactions. A former federal prosecutor said, An all cash purchase by an LLC of an overvalued property in Manhattan is usually worth a closer look by federal investigators. Another expert pointed to, potential fingerprints of money laundering in the real estate transactions, although George Mason University Professor Louise Shelley added that they also, could be explained by market opportunities.

Cohen is under scrutiny by several Congressional committees and by Justice Department Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who are examining Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election.

Cohen did not respond to requests for comment. He remains one of Trumps personal lawyers and is a top fundraising official with the Republican National Committee.

UPDATE: In a followup story published by McClatchy, Cohen said the buyers paid cash because they were, a family fund that put the proceeds from an earlier real estate transaction into his properties to defer paying taxes, as permitted by federal law. Cohen said, The buyer of all four properties is a New York real estate family fund that has been around for almost a century And yes, they are American.

Cohen did not respond to McClatchy before the news service published the original story, but in Trumpian fashion, began labeling the piece fake news on Twitter after the fact. More from the followup story:
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Remember back in 2016, after Trump got elected and Britain voted to leave the EU, when we didnt think it could get any worse? 2017 has seen more acts of terrorism, Hollywood sexual assault scandals, and Trumps enthusiasm for exchanging threats with a self-proclaimed nuclear power. So what better way to stand up against all this political turmoil than knitting? Thats what Geraldine Warner thought, and her new book offers more than 15 crafty projects for you to say a big F-U to 2017. From Pussyhats to anarchist socks, Nasty Woman mittens to tree-hugger scarves, Protest Knits has everything youll need to stage a woolly protest.Warner first started knitting at the age of seven. Her last project, Pride and Preju-knits gave readers the chance to knit their way through the world of Jane Austen, and was adapted into a 1 minute 46 second animated film. Warners Bloomsbury Publishing bio page says her current work is a way to combine her passion for knitted textiles with social commentary and literature. The books publication comes after a long history of knitting in protest. UK knitters Wool Against Weapons famously crafted a seven-mile-long peace scarf to rally against the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent. In Canada, the Revolutionary Knitting Circle held a protest back at the 2002 G8 summit which made news headlines - their Global Knit-In featured knitters outside various corporate sites.More recently, campaigns like the Pussyhat project have taken off in the media. Set up by California-based womens rights activists Krista Suh and Jayna Zweiman, the bright pink bonnets are shaped like cat ears, and aimed to make a unique collective visual statement at the 2016 Womens March. The pink colour also holds a special significance, say Suh and Zweiman, as it is considered a very female colour representing caring, compassion and love - all qualities that have been derided as weak, but are actually strong. Protest Knits aims to continue the trend set out by knitting activists everywhere. It was published in hardback on October 19th - and really, is there a better way to round the year off?
Its that time of year where the weather is changing, its getting colder outside, the heating is being turned on and its getting harder to keep your skin looking flawless.

My biggest fear this time of year is my skin becoming too oily and ruining the make-up Ive just spent an extra half hour doing in the morning. Having always suffered from oily skin, especially in my T-zone area so I have to be careful what products.

But in recent years I've managed to perfect by skincare routine, I follow four simple steps to keep my skin looking and feeling great even through winter.

Step 1  Remove all make-up.

I strongly recommend Garniers Micellar Cleansing Water for combination and sensitive skin. Its quick, easy and simple. All you need is about three or four cotton pads and your make up will remove easily.

Use this product every night before cleansing to keep your skin clean and clear. This product can be found at Boots for budget-friendly 4.99.

Step 2  Cleanse.

It is important that you wash your face every morning and every night to remove all the bacteria that is blocking your pores.

The wash that keeps my skin feeling fresh throughout the day is Quinoderm. This product only costs 3.59 from Chemist Direct, or you can find it at a Rowlands Pharmacy for the same price.

Top Tip: I always make sure I splash my face with cold water at the end to close the pores and help prevent spots.

Step 3 - Manuka Honey Facemask

I have only recently found this product and quite honestly, I dont know how I ever survived without it.

This may sound bizarre, but I spread the honey all over my face every other night and leave it on for about 20 minutes before gently rinsing it off. This is a great natural remedy to moisturize your skin, remove bacteria and reduce redness.

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Lecturers have hit out after a Tory MP wrote to universities asking for names of professors teaching about Brexit and requesting links to their courses.

The letter from Chris Heaton-Harris, a Conservative whip and Leave campaigner, has prompted a backlash from those teaching.

Many jokingly invited Heaton-Harris to join their class providing he paid the tuition fee like all the other students.

Of course you can access my recorded lectures @chhcalling. Just enrol and pay the 9,000 per year your party deems fair, like everyone else. pic.twitter.com/qYYw2lrEO1  Ben Whitham (@DrBenWhitham) October 24, 2017

If Chris Heaton-Harris wants to know what I teach about #Brexit he'll need to cough up 9250.https://t.co/mTath2OT4r  Alan MacLeod (@alan_macleod) October 24, 2017

Others poked fun at the MPs request.

My lectures are normally on open sci & neuroscience but now they'll be 100% Brexit w/ Exam Q "How shit is Brexit?" https://t.co/FZSY7z4uLN  Chris Chambers (@chrisdc77) October 24, 2017

James Chalmers, Regius Professor of Law at the University of Glasgow, suggested a petition to make @chhcalling attend all these lectures once he has the list before adding hes not actually going to get a list.

Proposal: a petition to make @chhcalling attend all these lectures once he has the list. https://t.co/kGuSVeWplv  James Chalmers (@ProfChalmers) October 24, 2017

The funniest thing about the MP asking universities what were teaching about Brexit is the assumption that VCs have any idea what we teach.  Charlotte L. Riley (@lottelydia) October 24, 2017

Professor Michael Smith from Aberdeen University was one of many calling for transparency on Brexit, by way of an exchange for his lecture notes.
In this weeks instalment of Outlander, Claire and Jamie get intimate. Dont watch this episode on public transport unless youre prepared to get some odd looks.

The writers of Outlander are aware of the role of sex in their show, and are savvy enough to withhold the physical reunion of Jamie and Claire from the viewer for a while. Consequently, A. Malcolm is full of tension (dramatic and otherwise) and may irritate some impatient fans, but its an excellent episode overall.

Before were treated to Claires arrival from Jamies perspective, we have to watch Jamie walk to work and bicker with his colleagues. Oh, and provide some Autumn/Winter fashion inspo through his brand-new scarf and tricorn hat combo. Work it, Jamie.

Its an exquisitely slow pace, frustrating and delightful all at once. By the time Claire and Jamie are brought together again, the tension is so extreme that its advisable to spend a few minutes shrieking into a pillow to keep calm. Claire reveals shes still wearing Jamies ring, and Jamie tearfully asks to kiss her again. Its pretty much perfect and I may have cried a little. Sue me.

A. Malcolm had the potential to sag under its own weight, with the pressure of fan expectations and its serious content looming large. Its a relief, therefore, that writer Matthew B. Roberts has leavened the episode with humour. From a spilled pot of ale to Jamies morally outraged assistant Geordie, bathos stops A. Malcolm collapsing under the strain of its romantic obligations, and keeps the tension building.

After their initial euphoria subsides, it becomes clear that the two have led separate lives. Claire shows Jamie photos of Brianna, and Jamie discloses he has a son with another woman. In a feeble attempt to make Sam Heughan look older, Jamie now wears reading glasses that make him look like every hipster thats ever tried to make you read Infinite Jest.

Business soon calls for Jamie, and Claire accompanies him to meet with an old friend. Fergus is as cocky and charming an adult as he was a child. He pulls Jamie aside to hint at some dark secret that Jamie has kept from Claire thus far; why exactly Jamie needs the legal advice of Ned Gowan remains to be seen.

Jamie conducts a shady deal with a sinister English gentleman, whilst Claire speaks to Jamies drunken colleague Mr. Willoughby, real name Yi Tien Chao. The couple return to Jamies new sleeping quarters, which happen to be in a brothel. The establishments owner Madame Jeanne is not at all happy that Claire has arrived, igniting a wonderfully bitchy feud between the two women.

Once Claire and Jamie are alone together, theres a lot to feel awkward about. Claire is concerned about Jamies new circumstances and whether he still wants her. Jamie, for reasons that are entirely inexplicable to me, isnt sure whether Claire intends to stay with him. Both of them are entirely obtuse, but eventually the overwhelming sexual tension between them clarifies things.

The moment that many fans have been waiting for finally arrives this week, as Jamie and Claire sleep together for the first time since Claire went back to the future. Outlander has always been distinctive in its discussion of sex. The writers have been largely successful in portraying a central couple for whom physical intimacy is vital without relying on regressive tropes.

The bedroom scene is a fine example of when Outlander gets it right- its funny, sweet, and not reliant on the male gaze to titillate its audience. Its a long scene and may be deemed trashy by some, but crucially the nudity never feels gratuitous.

As the culmination of twenty years apart for Claire and Jamie, its hard to ignore what an important emotional moment this reunion is. Its also a relief that the sex was good; travelling back 200 years back in time to have bad sex would be a special kind of hell.

In a state of post-coital bliss, Jamie calmly discusses his criminal enterprises with Claire. When hes not busy getting arrested for printing seditious pamphlets, Jamies smuggling whiskey on the side. James Fraser: part outlaw, part activist, 100% everyones fantasy boyfriend.

When Jamie is finally forced to leave the brothel to work, Claire heads downstairs to talk to the prostitutes over breakfast. Once shes hurried away by Madame Jeanne, Claire heads back to their room and finds a mysterious thug searching for Jamies ledgers. When Claire refuses to disclose their location, the man threatens to rape her and the episode ends with Claires life in the balance.

A. Malcolm is a return to the classic Outlander formula, and thats mostly a good thing. Jamie and Claire are back together, theyre in Scotland, and their relationship is threatened by dark external forces. The shows overreliance on rape-as-drama mars an otherwise excellent episode, but its wonderful to have Claire and Jamie reunited once again.
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Editor Emeritus Dave Zweifel has been with The Capital Times since he graduated from UW-Madison in 1962, serving as the paper's editor in chief from 1983 to 2008. He was president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council for 15 years, served as a Pulitzer Prize judge in 2000 and 2001, and named to the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame in 2011. A native of New Glarus, Wis., where he grew up on a farm, he serves on several non-profit boards and is a military veteran, having served on active duty as a field artillery officer in the early 1960s and for 26 years in the Wisconsin Army National Guard where he retired as a colonel in 1993.
Now that Ford Motor Co. is moving into the former Masco Corp. and Super Kmart buildings on Van Born Road in Taylor, that entire corridor is due for a major facelift.

Mayors Dan Paletko of Dearborn Heights and Rick Sollars of Taylor recently announced that the two cities will work together to make that a hot area for development in Wayne County.

Sollars was unable to attend the formal announcement, but Paletko was joined by Taylor Economic Development Director George Sutherland and Wade Trim Project Manager Dave Anthony in speaking about the plans.

Its a tale of two cities, Paletko said. Were working to develop the Van Born corridor with our planning firm. Its going to be the next hot spot in the county.

Sutherland agreed that the introduction of Ford to the area will make it more desirable for other developments.

There hasnt been much happening in that area for the last 30 years, he said. Development breeds development. As soon as Ford moves in, other businesses will start buying up property.

Sutherland said to look to the Eureka Way project in Taylor as an example. After Menards bought property in the area, the development craze boomed and now its hard to find any space to do anything along that corridor.

Anthony called the project synergistic for the two cities.

The total cost of a study to see how best to move forward, $112,000, will be split equally between the two cities. Wade Trim provides engineering services to both communities, so it was agreed that the firm would develop the study. It will address improvements along Van Born Road from Inkster Road to Pelham Road.

The study will address three major topical areas:

*The definition of issues and opportunities for multimodal transportation to address the combined needs of business, commercial services and retail facilities  as well as identifying existing and potential businesses/services that could come into the area that would serve the increased business/professional population of the area with the relocation of potentially several thousand Ford Motor employees

*Development of a menu of streetscape recommendations that would unite and blend the two communities  making the improvements accessible to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike;

*Development of a conceptual vision of the improved street environment that would result in a safer, more functional and more aesthetically appealing environment for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and other transit users/vehicles.

Paletko said the two cities will work together, rather than compete with each other for businesses along the corridor.

Were looking at special signage, he said. Well change some ordinances to make them the same on both sides in that area and make it faster to get a project up and running.

A series of public meetings will be held as the project moves forward, allowing the public to weigh in on the planning of the area as well.

We anticipate this will serve as a real boost for both communities, Paletko said. We are confident this expansion will serve as the seed for a real economic and social growth on both sides of Van Born Road. During discussions with Wade Trim, however, I have stressed it is critical to have input from businesses, residential owners and elected officials in order to make this corridor plan successful. By working with our neighbors, the city of Taylor, we can use the addition of Ford Motor Company to the Van Born corridor as a stimulus to make this an attractive and economically vibrant area. This truly is a win-win arrangement for all involved.

Sollars echoed those thoughts in a release sent out before the announcement.

There is no doubt that we are experiencing heavy business growth in several parts of our community, he said. But the Van Born Road corridor has not seen that type of activity and improvement yet. Seeing a large Kmart close and then recently having the Masco headquarters relocate to Livonia concerned everyone in our city, but having Ford Motor Co. locate to these vacant properties was a large victory for both Dearborn Heights and Taylor, and for those other businesses and residents in that vicinity. It gives all of us the opportunity to join hands and work together to improve the Van Born corridor, which is very important to both communities. We look forward to the opportunity, working together with Ford, Wade Trim and Wayne County.
A Chicago man faces traffic and drug charges after allegedly leading police on a chase through Sauk and Juneau Counties.

Graeme Daniel Ciciora, 26, is charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety, attempting to flee an officer, possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia. He faces up to 10 years imprisonment for the first charge.

According to the criminal complaint:

On Oct. 14, a state trooper clocked a car driven by Ciciora going 88 mph near mile marker 100 on Interstate 90/94 in Sauk County. The vehicle accelerated as the trooper attempted to catch up to it. As the trooper pursued the vehicle, he clocked it going up to 108 mph.

The trooper activated his emergency lights in order to make a traffic stop. He followed the vehicle for a short distance before realizing the vehicle was not pulling over.

The vehicle continued along the interstate into Juneau County. As the vehicles approached exit 79, a Juneau County Sheriff's Office deputy joined the chase with his emergency lights and siren on.

A Mauston police officer positioned himself near exit 69 with tire deflation devices. As the suspect approached the officer, he switched lanes and used the shoulder to avoid the TDDs. He then passed a slower moving semi and attempted to use the exit ramp. A Mauston officer was waiting for him at the bottom of the ramp.

Ciciora then drove off the road and into grass. He eventually drove into a ditch where his car became disabled.

Once Ciciora was detained, he told police, I must have had a stroke. Police called an ambulance to assist him.

When searching the vehicle, police found marijuana and a glass container.

Ciciora is due in court at 9 a.m. Nov. 22 at the Juneau County Justice Center. He was released Oct. 18 on a $1,500 bond.
Donald Coughlin was sentenced to 48 years in prison on Tuesday for 21 counts of child sexual assault.

Coughlin, 60, was convicted May 9. Statements were made by victims and by Coughlins family members.

Prosecutor Richard Dufour recommended a sentence of 150 years, while Coughlins attorney Dan Berkos urged leniency.

Five men, who today range in age from the adult teens or early 20s to the early 30s, told investigators that Donald Coughlin forced them to perform sex acts at Coughlins Lyndon Station home, at Coughlin Custom Specialties, a family business, at other family-owned property and also at an Ashland hotel. The victims ranged in age from 7 to 16 at the time of the crimes, according to the complaint.

Coughlin denies all allegations and insists the victims have testified falsehoods on behalf of his ex-wife.

In 2015, Coughlin was convicted of 22 counts of sexual assault of the same victims. However, Juneau County Judge John Roemer found that a juror was not credible, and granted a new trial. Judge Roemer has since retired.

The sentencing was passed by retired Sauk County Judge James Evenson, who is temporarily assisting Juneau County until Roemers vacancy can be filled. Judge Evenson ruled out probation as a sentencing option.

I do not believe [that] is appropriate here, Evenson said.

Judge Evenson mentioned the toll of Coughlins actions on the victims during the sentencing.

The result of what occurred here has had tremendous impact on them, Evenson said.

Donald Coughlin formerly served as village president of Lyndon Station. He was last re-elected in April 2009. Coughlin was also chief of the Lyndon Station Volunteer Fire Department from 1978 to 2008.

At least a quarter of Coughlins sentence must be served before he would be eligible for parole.

On May 1, the jury was sworn in and attorneys began cross-referencing witnesses on the stand. Twelve jurors were selected with four alternates.

Witness testimony continued on May 2 with a wife of one of the victims testifying. The witness said she has been married for almost 20 years, but didnt hear about the abuse allegations from her husband until the early 2000s. She overheard a phone conversation with her husbands mother after he had been drinking.

The witness gave an emotional testimony saying her husband told her he was molested as a child by his uncle and stepfather and his mother didnt do anything for him.

Berkos questioned the witness about the timeframe between her hearing about the abuse allegations and the victim reporting it to the police, which was in 2009, several years after she was told of the incidents.

I actually didnt know every detail until I sat in court (in the first trial), she said.

The couple lived in Lyndon Station for a few months in 2004. When Berkos asked her if they borrowed money from Coughlin during this time, she laughed a bit and said no, we never borrowed money from Don for anything.

On April 28, during jury selection, Coughlin tried to dismiss Berkos as his attorney, according to a court report. The court ruled against Coughlins request.

On April 6, Berkos filed a motion to dismiss the case based on double jeopardy. In double jeopardy rulings, a defendant cannot be convicted twice on the same charge. On April 12, Berkos request to schedule a hearing and call witnesses was denied. Dufour opposed the motion for a lack of due process and the court denied Berkos double jeopardy motion.
WATERFORD  Former eighth-grade teacher Justin D. Spiegelhoff, 35, of the 300 block of Wainwright Avenue in Burlington, is accused of sexually assaulting one of his former students at Washington-Caldwell Grade School in Waterford.

According to the criminal complaint:

The alleged incidents of sexual assault occurred in the 2011-2012 school year. That year, Spiegelhoff would allegedly make extra time to spend with one of the students, keeping her in class at recess and holding her after school.

He also reportedly wrote the girl notes, gave her gifts and called her on her cellphone. In one of those calls, Spiegelhoff reportedly asked the girl if she had done anything sexually with anyone and if she would have sex with someone if she liked that person. He also reportedly told her he wanted to date her when she turned 18.

Spiegelhoff also reportedly touched the girl inappropriately on several occasions, including one time when he grabbed her, kissed her and reached under her shirt.

In August 2015, an investigator with the Racine County Sheriffs Office met with the girl, who said that Spiegelhoff had touched her inappropriately multiple times without her consent when she had been one of his students.

The Journal Times contacted the Racine County Sheriffs Office and the District Attorneys Office to establish why there was a two-year gap between the accusers meeting with the investigator and Spiegelhoffs arrest. Neither commented on the case.

A $10,000 warrant was issued for Spiegelhoff on Oct. 18. He turned himself in Monday and had his initial court appearance on Tuesday.

Spiegelhoff is charged with second-degree assault of a child, a class C felony.

On Tuesday, he posted his $50,000 bond. The conditions of his release were that he had to give a DNA sample and is not allowed contact with the alleged victim or any other minors aside from his own children.

Spiegelhoffs preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 15.

The Journal Times contacted the Washington-Caldwell School District but no one was available to comment. He is not listed as a current staff member, according to the districts online directory.
All three municipal corporations in Delhi have decided to keep offices and schools closed on Thursday on the occasion of Chhath festival. Lt Governor Anil Baijal also approved Delhi governments proposal to declare 26 October a public holiday.

Issuing a press statement on Wednesday, a civic body official said in pursuance of the notification of the government of NCT of Delhi, all offices under each corporation will remain closed on Thursday on account of Chhath Puja.

Meanwhile, North Delhi Mayor Preety Agarwal on Wednesday inspected preparedness for Chhath festival at Kudasia Ghat.

Agarwal said, As a preventive measure against dengue, malaria and chikungunya, fogging would be continued twice a day ~ early morning and late evening ~ at the ghats.

She said the corporations sanitation staff had been directed to be on duty in uniform so that citizens can identify them and ask for help if need be. The mayor said medical facilities through mobile dispensaries would also be available at ghats to devotees.

She said leftover garbage on ghats would be cleared and sweeping be done speedily. She also inspected newly-built temporary toilets on Kudasia Ghat and directed corporation staff to keep them clean during the festival.

Agarwal said all offices, schools and institutions of North Corporation would observe a holiday on Thursday.

South Delhi Municipal Corporation leader of house Shikha Rai, said, Chhath festival has now become an integral part of Delhi as Chhath is being celebrated with religious fervor across the city and members of different communities participate in ceremonies with gaiety.
A retired Army officer from Trempealeau County announced plans to challenge U.S. Rep. Ron Kind next year, saying the 11-term Democrat has nothing to show for his more than 20 years in Congress.

Steve Toft, 59, said the nation is facing challenges of epic proportions because of top-heavy agencies and skyrocketing debt.

No one party is fully to blame, Toft said. But Ron Kind and career politicians like him are part of the problem.

Toft said he favors transferring more power to state government and would work to repeal the Affordable Care Act and to enact tax reform while protecting Social Security and Medicare benefits.

A native of Osseo, Toft enlisted in the Army in 1984 and returned to Osseo last year after retiring as a colonel. This is his first run for elected office.

Toft said he supports the president though he doesnt agree with everything that President Trump stands for and wont just line up behind him. He said he is also confident in the leadership of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis.

Hes been a great American statesman from the state of Wisconsin, he said of Ryan, who has been in office since 1999. Hes been in Congress quite a while himself, but hes a leader.

Toft said Kind, who was first elected in 1996, is a career politician who has not supported Wisconsin farmers.

Campaigns start way too early, last way too long, and cost way too much money, Kind said in a response issued by his campaign. I remain focused the issues that impact Wisconsinites lives every day, including making sure they have access to affordable health care and good paying jobs.

According to federal campaign finance records, Kinds campaign had $2.8 million on hand at the end of September. Toft has yet to file a finance report.

Kind held off a similar challenger in 2014 when he defeated Tony Kurtz, a retired Army officer making his first bid for public office. He was re-elected to an 11th term after running unopposed in 2016.

Toft said he was recruited by party leaders to run against Kind when Kurtz declined to run again. He said he would welcome a primary challenge but expects to be on the ballot for the Third Congressional District in 2018.

If elected, Toft said he would limit himself to four terms.

Im not a politician, he said, and I dont want to become one.
Defending the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia on Wednesday rejected the allegation that Kejriwal betrays a dictatorial streak in handling the affairs of the party.

Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia asserted that there was no reason why the AAP rank and file should not pay heed to their leader Kejriwal.

Speaking to The Statesman, Sisodia ~ while responding to a question about Kejriwal being accused of having dictatorial tendencies ~ claimed that the AAP is the countrys most diverse political party and that Kejriwal does not act like a dictator.

Arvind Kejriwal is the leader of the party, so I dont see the reason why we should not listen to our leaders. I dont think there is as much diversity in any other political party than what we have in the AAP, Sisodia said.

Seeking to project the AAPs intra-party democracy, the top AAP leader said the party holds threadbare discussion before taking a final decision on any matter.

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi without naming him, Sisodia said, There is a leader in the country who does not let even media and film-makers speak out.

When asked about the fate of the former AAP leaders like Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan ~ who had openly castigated Kejriwal for curbing dissent in the AAP, which led to their expulsion from the party ~ Sisodia downplayed it. He said there are legions of people associated with the AAP, so, one or two people dont matter.

Sisodia did not rule out the possibility about the suspended leader and minister, Kapil Mishra, having tried to stage a coup in the AAP in collaboration with some disgruntled senior party leaders. It could be, he said while remaining evasive on the question, but then went on to say that the AAPs objective was to work for welfare of the people and not to create a highly-regimented outfit.

Our dream is not to make the AAP a highly-disciplined party of the country. Our motive is to provide highly-democratic governance. What we are doing in Delhi, let other parties do the same. We need a better country. The BJP and the Congress have failed to do so, he said.
The West Bengal CID have arrested Gorkha Janamukti Morchas Delhi unit president Manoj Shankar from the national capital, a CID officer said on Wednesday.

Shankar, who was allegedly involved in the clash between West Bengal Police and the GJM supporters near Darjeelings Bhanu Bhaban during the Gorkhaland agitation on June 9, was arrested by a CID team from Delhis Safdarjung Enclave area.

A case was registered in the Darjeeling Sadar police station against the GJM leader for rioting, creating enmity between two groups, deterring public servant from duty, voluntarily causing heart and various other charges under the Indian Penal Code.

According to the officer, the leader is being brought to West Bengal.

Shankar was one of the six GJM leaders along with party chief Bimal Gurung and his wife, against whom the state CID department issued arrest warrants last month.

The leaders are also charged under the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
A Delhi court today sent Syed Shahid Yousuf, son of globally wanted terrorist Syed Salahuddin, to seven-day NIA custody in a 2011 terror funding case to enable the agency unearth the criminal conspiracy.

The National Investigation Agency(NIA), in its plea seeking custodial interrogation of Yousuf, said it needed to unravel the entire criminal conspiracy and establish his link with prescribed terrorist organisation of the Hizb-ul- Mujahedin (HuM).

Yousuf, arrested yesterday by the NIA, was produced before District and Sessions Judge Poonam A Bamba, who granted the NIA his custody till November 1.

Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case and submissions made in the application, to enable the NIA to unearth the criminal conspiracy and link of the accused with prescribed terrorist organisation of the Hizb-ul-Mujahedin, Syed Shahid Yousuf is remanded to police custody till November 1, the judge said.

In its application, the NIA submitted that the case was registered on the basis of information regarding funds from Pakistan being sent to Jammu and Kashmir through hawala channels via Delhi for funding terrorism.

The counsel for Yousuf, however, opposed the application and claimed he was falsely implicated in the case.

The agency submitted that certain telephone calls were intercepted which revealed that a member of the Pakistan-based banned terrorist group HuM was sending huge amount of funds to the seccessionists and terrorists of Jammu and Kashmir through Delhi.

The NIA had in 2011 arrested accused persons Ghulam Mohd Bhat and others with Rs 21.20 lakh, it said, adding that Yousuf was one of the several Indian contacts of Bhat who had been in telephonic contact with him for receiving money transfer codes.

It was submitted by the agency that Yousufs involvement was found in collecting funds from a terrorist outfit in Saudi Arabia as well as from other accused on directions of his father Mohd Yousuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, self-styled supreme commander of the Hizb-Ul-Mujahiddin.

Syed Salahuddin was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department of State in June this year.

The NIA has claimed that so far Yousuf has received a total of nearly Rs 4.5 lakh through eight international wire transfers.

The agency has so far filed two charge sheets against six people including Bhat, a close aide of pro-Pakistan separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Siddiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga.

The NIA had also registered two other cases related to terror funding  one in November 2011 and the other in May this year. It had filed a charge sheet against 10 people including Salahuddin in the April 2011 case.

In the recent case, the NIA arrested 10 people including some close relatives and aides of Geelani.
Accusing the government of waging a war against the SC/ST communities, the Congress on Tuesday demanded immediate release of their scholarship arrears and increased scholarship allocations, among other things.

The Congress said the National Democratic Alliance governments assiduous attack on post-matric scholarship for Dalits and Adivasis is a dastardly attack on promises made in the Constitution of India.

The NDA government is waging a war against scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, which are fighting for a better future, by placing hurdles in the path of these communities students quest for education.

After taking office (in May 2014), this government has drastically slashed funding for University Grants Commission (UGC) by 55 per cent (from Rs 9,315 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 4,286 crore in 2016-17), K. Raju, Chairman of the SC Department of the Congress, said in a statement.

Raju said: The UGC has thus been forced to drastically slash allocations to universities and for students welfare. Through this myopic policy, the NDA government has made higher education and research inaccessible to students.

This deliberate policy of making higher education inaccessible to students is most stark in its decision to withhold Rs 13,107 crore of post-matric scholarships for SCs and STs (Rs 10,236 for SCs and Rs 2,871 for STs) in three years.

He said: Lakhs of Dalits and Adivasis, who depend on scholarships and bursaries in their quest for a better future, have been denied governmental financial support. A large number of SC scholars have not received monthly scholarships for over six months. This policy has also deprived needy students and those from minority communities of a better future.

The Congress leader said the Centre has also slashed funding for research centres across the country that pursue research on Dalits, B.R. Ambedkars philosophy and social justice.

It is surprising that a party desperate to position itself as pro-Dalit/Adivasi party is repeatedly doing everything in its power to disempower SCs/STs. Young and promising SC/ST scholars are being subjected to unnecessary tribulations and pressures to access what is rightfully theirs, Raju said.

Slashing and delaying scholarships, staffing institutes of higher learning with under- qualified Hindutva cronies, cutting down budgetary allocations to higher education and cracking down on students who raise voices against the governments apathy towards education are all part of the NDA governments multi-pronged strategy to ensure atrophy in higher education in India.
Congress former leader Shankersinh Vaghela on Wednesday said his new political front will contest all the 182 seats of Gujarat Assembly on the election symbol of a Rajasthan-based party.

The polling for the two-phase elections will take place on December 9 and 14, and votes will be counted on December 18.

According to Vaghela, a former chief minister of Gujarat, the All India Hindustan Congress party, registered in Jaipur a year back and allotted the symbol of a farmer driving a tractor, has agreed to give the symbol to his front, Jan Vikalp.

Though we sought a symbol from the EC to contest this election, it is now too late. Thus, we have entered into an agreement with All India Hindustan Congress Party, which has agreed to give its symbol to us. Our candidates will fight polls on that symbol, Vaghela told reporters here today.

Vaghela, an influential Kshatriya leader, had quit the Congress after the Rajya Sabha polls in August and joined Jan Vikalp, an organisation floated by his supporters.

According to Hindustan Congress national general secretary Anil Kumar Sharma, the party has agreed to give its symbol to Vaghela and be a part of the Jan Vikalp front.

The party was formed one year back in Jaipur and this is the first election for us. We have agreed to give our symbol to Vaghelas front for the Gujarat election. We hereby declare unconditional support of our party to Vaghela, Sharma told reporters at the joint press conference.

Vaghela said if his front comes to power, it would take care of the poor.

He also promised to bring a bill in the Assembly seeking to give 25 per cent additional quota for non-reserved classes in Gujarat.

I believe that non-reserved classes should get 25 per cent reservation. It is a misconception that the state cannot go beyond 49.5 per cent quota. We will bring a legislation to give 25 per cent additional quota if voted to power, he said.

Out of the existing 27 per cent reservation for OBCs, Vaghela said his government would keep aside 10 per cent for some of the most backward communities, if voted to power.

His other promises include Rs 5,000 pension for widows, Rs 5,000 pension for elderly people having nobody to take care of them and more autonomy to sarpanchs.

While joining the Jan Vikalp last month, Vaghela had claimed that he will not contest the Assembly polls.

However, the 77-year-old former Union minister did not rule out the possibility of taking over as the chief minister, if the front secures a majority in the elections.
India and the US have agreed that Pakistan should immediately take steps to finish the terror organisations and terrorist safe havens on its soil, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Wednesday after her meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Tillerson, the External Affairs Minister said both India and the US have agreed that President Donald Trumps new Afghanistan policy would be effective only if Pakistan takes action against terror groups on its soil.

We discussed the issue of terrorism at length. This is a big threat for the whole world. We also discussed implementing President Trumps new Afghanistan and South Asia policy, so that it can achieve the desired results, Sushma Swaraj said.

You can also watch it live on our @YouTube channel

Click: https://t.co/gttzmWNsc2  Indian Diplomacy (@IndianDiplomacy) October 25, 2017

The Minister said that both India and US have agreed that it is important to ensure that no country is a safe haven for terrorists.

We expressed serious concerns over increasing terror attacks in Afghanistan. It proves even today there are elements that are providing safe havens and support to terrorists. We agreed that we need to together ensure that no country provides safe havens to terrorists, she said.

She said nations supporting terror should be held accountable.

The nations that support terrorists or support them should be held accountable. We also agreed that Pakistan should take steps immediately to finish the safe havens for terror organisations that are there on its soil. We believe President Trumps new policy can be successful only when Pakistan indiscriminately acts against all terror groups, she said.

During his Islamabad visit on Tuesday, Tillerson told Pakistan that it must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country.
Turning the heat on Islamabad, India and the United States on Wednesday asked Pakistan to take immediate steps to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure operating on its territory with Washington asserting that safe havens would not be tolerated at any cost.

In my discussions in Islamabad (yesterday), we were frank to conclude that there are too many terrorist outfits that find a safe haven in Pakistan. We are putting in place a mechanism to deny these outfits the ability to launch attacks on other countries, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said at a joint press conference with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj after their wide-ranging talks here.

The top American diplomat said the terrorist networks in Pakistan posed a threat to the security and stability of the Pakistan government too in case they extend their capabilities. It is in the interest of the Pakistani leadership itself to eliminate these forces, he added.

In an apparent reference to Chinas growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, Tillerson said India and the US would cooperate further in the Indo-Pacific region to promote rules-based commerce.

On her part, the Indian minister minced no words to name and shame Pakistan for its continued support to terrorist activities against its neighbours, particularly India and Afghanistan.

She said Secretary Tillerson agreed with her view that the success of US President Donald Trumps South Asia strategy hinged on how effectively Pakistan acted against terrorist networks operating on its soil.

Swaraj said both India and the US were extremely concerned over the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. Recent terror attacks in the war-devastated nation clearly suggested that there were elements which were providing safe havens to terrorists and supporting them.

We will have to ensure that no country is able to provide safe havens to terrorists. We will also have to hold responsible those countries which sustain terrorists or use the instrument of terrorism, she added.

The visit of Tillerson, who also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the evening, came a day after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani visited New Delhi to brief the Indian leadership on the situation in the war-devastated country.

After the meeting between Swaraj and Tillerson on Wednesday, it was announced that India, US and Afghanistan would soon hold tripartite talks on the Afghan issue. India and the US also decided to hold in New Delhi in December the first meeting of the bilateral mechanism they have put in place for dealing with domestic and international terrorist outfits.

Describing India and the US as natural allies, Tillerson said America supported Indias emergence as a leading power. The US was ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with India in the fight against terrorism. Washington was also willing to provide advanced technology for military modernisation to India. The two countries looked forward to the inaugural meeting of their foreign and defence ministers in the two plus two format early next year, he added.

Asked if New Delhi was ready to snap trade ties with North Korea and close its embassy there because of its nuclear programme, Swaraj said she had told Tillerson that Indias economic relationship with Pyongyang was minimal now.

Also the size of our embassy in North Korea is very small and, therefore, I told him (Tillerson) that the missions of some of your friendly nations should always remain there to keep the channels of communication open, she added. Tillerson, according to her, understood and appreciated her view.

On the Iranian nuclear issue in the context of the Chabahar Port being developed by India, Tillerson said the US would not want to punish the people of the Islamic nation for the policies of the government there.
Dalai Lama once said, If you are really selfish, help the person who cant help you, thereby creating an altruistic debt. However, one feels that there is none created without the capacity to help another creature or fellow human being. So, we should never run down or hurt another creature if we really wish to attain Moksha; otherwise we would remain stuck in the cycle of birth and rebirth. The ethics and values of humanity are more supreme than the ephemerals of identity or possessions which continue changing with our successive births.

The religion and theory of Karma states that if you hurt or cheat someone, the divine play shall ensure that you shall also be hurt or cheated in equal measure sooner or later. It is advisable that while we live, we create a larger circle of goodness and goodwill by touching as many lives as possible by the dint of our altruistic or selfless Karmic actions.

That shall be a really enlightened selfishness rather than the seemingly selfish acts of running after wealth or fame. Also, how and why should a truly religious person act contrary to the scriptural exhortations against lust, greed, theft, anger or hate? By not heeding these religious commandments, are we not disrespecting our own religions? So, what we see today in the name of religion is nothing but a travesty of religion which must stop.

All religions, nations, wealth or fame are nothing but means to an end and the end being our eventual spiritual evolution through attainment of Moksha. But, we all keep chasing the meaningless without realising the same. After all, money, precious metals or high positions themselves have no value. It is we who have assigned value to them and have been running after them ever since. Now, a question that one often faces here is the relevance and purpose behind this drama. Made as we are in the images of God, we are said to be an extension of the Divine who is realising Himself through this Divine Drama.

All that we see around ourselves including emotions, passions, objects, creatures, organisms, technologies, scientific discoveries and a complex operation of this world would have all remained mere conceptions and nothing else had God not created this world to put the same in motion to see their actual working, and thereby also realise the significance of His own power. So while the Divine Drama plays itself out, many of us have fallen by the wayside which may at some level appear as a failure of the divine design but if the world is still surviving, it simply means that the balance still hangs in favour of the positive and the Divine Drama is playing out as per the larger cosmic plan.

It is against this background that humans created religion and God, not only because they could not explain certain things but also because of their own incapabilities. As some humans become liberated from the mundane struggles of making ends meet, they become alienated and atheist/agnostic because of a garbled understanding of the Divine while many have a skewed conception of the same. Hence the multiple interpretations of God and religion.

The various religions are nothing but spatio-temporal expressions of humans trying to come to terms with their initial realities when they were in the Hobbesian State of Nature. Religions, ethics, mores, customs and values in the absence of means of transportation and communications developed as the primary laws during the early days of human civilisation.

Even though there is no need for a multiplicity of these religions, they still continue to be relevant not only because they add variety and colour to our dull and drab lives, but also because of their functional role in securing regulation and integration of human society. Temples and churches in themselves may not be of any value, but they become important because they bring humans together to perform certain collective tasks in a spirit of solidarity, thereby increasing social bonding and integration. As all the persons who visit a temple generally carry righteous thoughts and emotions, the positive vibrations of these religious places become very powerful and as such become very strong centres of social integration.

Our seemingly meaningless customs, rituals, ethics, mores and values often play the same role. However, those becoming dysfunctional and conflicting with human existence slowly stop being part of religion and go out of currency e.g. sati, prohibition on widow remarriage, child marriage, human or animal sacrifice et al. At another level, it is an expression of human arrogance or ignorance that we have conceived God in our image.

After all, if there are millions of creatures and organisms, why should God look like humans and not like a dog, a buffalo or a bacterium? Does it mean that all the creatures have their own God? In fact, it is this understanding that Hindus, heathens or pagans have millions of God in every creation of the Almighty. Being a rational animal with a consciousness, human beings have conveniently cast God in their own images who may not be like us, but there should definitely be no doubt about His very existence. After all, such a complex and beautiful creation cannot emerge out of chaos.

There is a defined divine plan, rather a micro-plan which says that nothing that happens in this world happens without reason. Science may explain the evolution of nature and civilisation, but why does a sperm and an ovum combine to form a zygote and finally evolve as a fullygrown organism of a particular species as per a definite genetic map has still not been explained. Humans have still not mastered the capability to create a new living organism that is not found in nature.

Why different organisms come out of similar seeds or eggs has not been explained? So, there is definitely a Supreme Being which has created us all and has been quietly chaperoning this world.

But as long as we dont understand Him and His ways, as long as we dont understand the real purpose behind the Divine Drama, we shall continue to witness and experience the chaos and pain in our own lives as reflected across the world.

(Concluded)

(The writer is Chief Executive Officer, Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority. The views are personal and dont reflect those of the Government)
Dengue has assumed almost endemic proportions in West Bengal, and the government appears to be floundering in search of a response. From the initial dumbing down by the administration ~ private diagnostic centres are still being blamed for the exaggeration ~ it has now opted for overkill.

With 16 deaths in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area alone and many more in the districts, the civic authorities intend to fly drones to identify breeding grounds of mosquitoes. One would have imagined that this is a fundamental duty of any corporation or municipality; the persistent ignorance of the mosquito centres is appalling, to say the least.

The spurt in the number of afflictions and deaths since September would suggest that the authorities have woken up late, after the initial attribution of the deaths to fever and not dengue. To the incredible extent that the citys crematoria have reportedly been hesitant to mention dengue in death certificates; a few are said to have relented only in the face of pressure from the next of kin. Indeed, it is the hesitation to come upfront that has been manifest in the response of the civic authorities.

The short point must be that a potentially killer ailment lends no scope to sweep reality under the carpet. So it has been at least in Kolkata, not to forget the districts. It beggars belief that the vector control teams are short-staffed across the wards, and hence the horribly belated decision to increase the number of trained staff.

Clearly, surveillance was wholly inadequate, almost perfunctory. Blaming it on the rain during Kali puja, as did the Mayor-in-Council (Health) on Monday, would have been ludicrous were it not for the mortal implications. It strains credulity to be informed that water pockets, where mosquitoes breed, have come up in less than a week. It is time for the health department and KMC to acknowledge reality ~ outbreak of dengue this year is testament to an essentially human failure. The government cannot evade its responsibility by fudging facts.

Action needs to be taken against private hospitals and diagnostic centres if indeed their diagnosis is not in accord with the guidelines of the World Health Organisation. No one denies that cross-verification or a second opinion, socalled, is direly imperative. But the governments signal of intent has been emitted rather late in the day after enough have perished and many more are languishing on the hospital floor, when not on the bed.

The health department needs to take a call on whether diagnostic centres possess the wherewithal to calibrate the blood platelet count ~ the essential benchmark before dengue can be certified.

It is hard not to wonder if the services of the School of Tropical Medicine have been fully utilised.
In the 1950s it might have been said that the Thai people respected Bhumibol because he was their King, now in the 2000s they respect their king because he is Bhumibol

A constitutional monarchy, Thailand, said its final good-bye to late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, on 25 October 2017. A magical era of 70 years thus ends. Adulayadejs only son Maha Vajiralongkorn takes over as Thailands new King and has the huge shoes of his father to fill. Bangkok has prepared for about a year now for Thailands event of the century costing its citizens some $90 million. Bhumibol was the worlds longest reigning monarch.

Two of Thailands monarchs  King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and King Adulayadej  truly stand out for their efforts to modernise Thailand. Foreigners find inexplicable the special relationship between the Thai people and King Bhumibol. Those with absolute power and those whose function is ceremonial are the two usual kinds of royalty.

King Adulyadej fell into neither of those categories. He towered over successive civilian governments and the Thai military even as he possessed a moral authority more powerful than that of any government Thailand ever had. At the same time, he could look ordinary people in the eye, understand their lives, and could truly empathize with them. Naturally, he inspired a high level of love, devotion and reverence among the Thais.

King Bhumibol was a modern and a peoples king. In 1969, successful cloud-seeding made him a rainmaker, turning him in the eyes of Thais into a semi-divine monarch. To Adulayadej , development was a peacetime weapon. In 1980, UNESCO named his composition Falling Rain as the Song of Asia. To this photographer and painter king, jazz and blues remained a major part of his musical life. A champion of religious and cultural diversity, he promoted peaceful coexistence among the countrys different religious, cultural and ethnic groups.

Thai Muslims remember Adulayadej for the publication of a Thai edition of the AlQuran. In 1995, Adulayadej instituted distance education via radio. His hands-on approach on revolutionised agriculture, fish breeding, rice cultivation, ploughing techniques, rainwater harvesting, and road infrastructure made him a peoples king. Little wonder, he was winner of the 1st UNDP human development lifetime achievement award for his work on rural sustainable development. Bhumibol Adulayadej successfully transformed the declining Thai monarchy into the countrys most important political institution.

The spread of communism in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam during the 1960s and 1970s was one of King Bhumibols biggest challenges. He worked intimately with the army throughout the Cold War with the support of the United States. Together, they were able to turn Thailand into a pro-U.S., anti-communist and pro-monarchy country.

Thailand was never colonized. Siam, as it was called then, led by King Chulalongkorn successfully negotiated its political independence with European powers to which his Indian connection remained important. In 1871, Chulalongkorn visited India, the purpose being to observe Indias development under British rule. While in Calcutta, he inspected a mint, fort, museum, gun factory, waterworks distribution plant, rice mill, prison, hospital, market, and church. He rode a train to Delhi while also visiting Agra, Lucknow, Bombay and Benaras.

Geographically, India and Thailand share a maritime boundary in the Andaman Sea. Indias bilateral relations with Thailand are rooted in history, age-old social and cultural interactions and extensive people to people contacts. The shared link of Buddhism is reflected in regular pilgrimages to places of Buddhist interest in India by a large number of Thai people. Hindu elements can be found reflected in Thai architecture, arts, sculpture, dance, drama and literature. The Thai language incorporates Pali and Sanskrit influences.

A large Indian diaspora living and working in Thailand too binds the countries. Indias relations with Thailand are important to counter Chinese hegemony. India plans to revive a trilateral highway crossing to link northeastern India with markets in Thailand and beyond. Bangkok is key to the Modi governments Act East policy. The Asian Development Bank would fund the road link under its South Asian Sub regional Economic Cooperation programme.

Year 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations. Indias policy is premised on non-interference and economic cooperation to which Thailand is pivotal in Indochina. Thailand has witnessed some 21 military coups and two of Thailands former prime ministers have been charged by Thai court for corruption.

The survival of constitutional monarchy in Thailand relies much upon the royaltys ability to reinvent itself at personal, national and international levels while arbitrating between civil and military relations. The new King Maha Vajiralongkorn is then set to walk that road but without his fathers charm.

(The writer teaches at the Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat)
Grave disservice would be done to the troubled people of Kashmir if premature assessments and pre-set political agendas were permitted to scuttle the welcome, if overdue, initiative for reviving the dialogue process. It would be a national duty (surely nobody will object to that terminology) for all concerned to give the just appointed Special Representative a fair chance to effect a breakthrough.

A petty point may be scored by the Congress in claiming that the move is evidence of the failure of the muscular policy adopted by the present government ~ its own attempts at resolution-via-dialogue yielded little ~ but it creates needless pessimism.

So does a BJP leader from the state arrogating unto himself the authority to determine to whom Dineshwar Sharma will talk, or not talk. Local political parties have generally welcomed the move, a reaction from the Hurriyat conference is awaited for it too must move forward, and the real stakeholders ~ the common folk ~ will respond through actions not words. It would, therefore, be advisable for the top leaders of all major political parties to advise their underlings to shun customary rhetoric and give peace a chance.

Sure there is scope for skepticism. Over a dozen initiatives have been made by successive governments through past decades, the absence of results is palpable. And since there appears a calculated vagueness to the mandate given to Sharma the scope for doubt is large.

Will he have the writ to deal with separatist elements? Will the locals cease providing militants the back-up on which they thrive? Will Mehbooba Mufti and her government prove capable of positively exploiting the breather now provided? Will the National Conference and Congress allow the agenda for alliance to succeed and lose their own political space? And will the tough BJP both in the state and at the Centre reconcile itself to any give-and take?

These are some of the tricky questions facing Sharma, and since he can hardly be expected to deliver single-handedly will he be permitted to select his own support squad, perhaps with a political colour?

Another relevant query would be if normality can be restored as long as Pakistan foments trouble. The hawks will continue to shriek, but the cap on violence would suggest that the time is ripe for negotiations, the present government does have the numbers in Parliament but does it have the political muscle to junk traditional policies and get the minority community in J&K and beyond on board? In the ultimate analysis bridging the trustdeficit, ending the sense of alienation of the people, lowering of the security profile etc all boil down to how sincere New Delhi is about making the people of the state see themselves as equal-sharers in the Indian dream.

Alas, sincerity has in the past not been a strong point with Raisina Hill.
The Rohingya Muslims induce perceptible fear and suspicion among many south Asian states. In some they are treated as illegal immigrants, while in others they are represented as a threat to national security.

The Rohingya are however considered by the United Nations to be one of the most persecuted communities in the world. Tens of thousands of Rohingya have fled from violence in Myanmar, seeking shelter in the neighbouring states of Bangladesh and India. Yet amid the hue and cry, India has taken a decision to close its borders and deport its 40,000 Rohingya, although more than 16,000 are registered with UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.

Taking a national-security approach, the Indian government has been eagerly exploring exit routes for the Rohingya. A short span of relief for the Rohingyas in India has come with a Supreme Court order upholding the central government plan of deportation until 21 November. However, underneath the pandemonium lurks a deep-rooted strategic tussle among major states in this region.

Amid this burgeoning global crisis, both the giant players, India and China, have been embroiled in a strategic tussle to position themselves as a peace mediator in the region. India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 protocol, which define a refugees rights and the obligations of the host country.

Nonetheless, Indias own guidelines on refugee issues, from the Foreigners division of the Ministry of Home Affairs indicate that all refugee claims will be examined, as the convention dictates, on the criterion of a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, sex, nationality, ethnic identity. While India has sought to balance its relationship with General Hlaings government in Myanmar, the ethos of humanitarianism has been compromised by Prime Minister Modis pursuit of a narrowly defined national interest.

Bangladesh has driven a strong agenda on the Rohingya at the UN Security Council, where the Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, conceded that the humanitarian situation was not only a breeding ground for radicalisation, it also put vulnerable people  including young children  at risk of criminal elements including trafficking.

Bangladesh has embraced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya, having left open its corridors for those fleeing Myanmar. Yet India has turned a blind eye to what the crisis has meant for Bangladesh  until recently. The Bangladesh Foreign Secretary speaking in New Delhi took the opportunity to reiterate Dhakas commitment to balance sovereignty and economic integration  code for support for Chinas One Belt and Road initiative. In this turmoil, China has come on board to support the Rohingya in Bangladesh, both via strategic aid as a peace mediator and through a substantial contribution of resources.

In a similar vein, on Chinas insistence, the Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor of Myanmar, Kyaw Tint Swe, made an effort to hold bilateral talks with the Bangladesh Foreign Minister. The Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, told the UN Secretary General: China is willing to continue promoting peace talks in its own way, and hopes the international community can play a constructive role to ease the situation and promote dialogue.

As reported by its embassy in Bangladesh, China has donated over 150 tons of aid to the Rohingya refugees, including 2,000 relief tents and 3,000 blankets. Among western actors, Bangladesh has received strong support from the US, France and the UK. On the other hand, India has taken a back seat with its decision to deport the Rohingya living in different parts of the country, including Jammu and Kashmir. Both India and China have however enormous interest in Rakhine state  the region of Myanmar from which the Rohingya have been driven out by the army  which has vast strategic repercussions across the subcontinent.

Among several initiatives, China has secured its footing in Myanmar with the construction of a transnational pipeline which came into operation in 2013. Both India and China have huge stakes in this crisis, impacting their ties with Myanmar, Bangladesh and other stakeholders. India should thus weigh its options with greater clarity before implementing its deportation plan. With Chinas interest heightening in this region, India would stand to lose immensely if the former alone lends its shoulder to the states battling with the humanitarian challenge.

Myanmar and Bangladesh both being parties to the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, responsible states including India, China, the US, UK, France and others need to strengthen their diplomatic efforts to make plain to General Hlaing the potential consequences for those responsible for the atrocities committed against the Rohingya. In addition, the forthcoming UN Human Rights Council should be a critical platform for India, Bangladesh and other parties to stand up for the interests of this hapless community.

In such a scenario, India should think twice about its strategy of dealing with the refugees. China has a strong base in all of the neighbouring states, including Myanmar and Bangladesh, while India is reaffirming its role in the region. For India to take up a role as mediator in the crisis-ridden state would indicate a progressive foreign policy.

This ought to be pursued by policy-makers as an opportunity to redefine Indias image of a humanitarian aid-giver and peace mediator vis-a-vis its neighbouring bilateral partners.

Since the Nehru era, Indias adherence to core values of humanitarianism and respecting sovereignty of states has guided its foreign policy which has repaired its image time and again. For instance, its decision to endorse Bangladeshs right to self-determination through partaking in its freedom struggle of 1971 and its intervention in the Sri Lankan civil strife.

While Bangladesh has been widely applauded for its effort to accommodate refugees seeking shelter, it seems like a miscalculation for India to deport the Rohingya at this hour. China engaging proactively with both Bangladesh and Myanmar has placed itself on a better footing, while India appears determined to walk the tough path, jeopardising its value-based foreign policies as well as its relationships with crucial partners in the region.

(The writer is associated with the Centre for Strategic Studies, Observer Research Foundation.)
The Modi government seems to have lost faith in BJP spokespersons. Its increasingly turning to union ministers to brief the press, particularly when spin doctoring is required. Current favourites are Piyush Goyal, Nirmala Sitharaman and Smriti Irani. Every now and then, they abandon official work to do a political briefing which should be the domain of party leaders. Goyal was fielded to defend Amit Shahs son Jay Shah on his business dealings.

Sitharaman was pulled out of the defence ministry one morning to speak on Robert Vadras controversial land dealings. The next day, Irani called in the media to rake up the Bofors scandal and continue the attack on Vadra.

None of the issues they spoke on were related to their ministries. The trend of using ministers to speak to the press on political issues instead of party spokespersons has been evident for some time. Even at the recent National Executive meet in New Delhi, ministers like Arun Jaitley and Goyal briefed the media on the deliberations and resolutions instead of the spokespersons, BJP general secretaries or other senior party leaders The BJP has a large array of spokespersons who go from TV studio to TV studio every evening.

But clearly, the government doesnt have much confidence in their ability to give the right spin on major political issues. This is why it has fallen back on ministers who were effective spokespersons when the BJP was in the opposition. The move to use ministers to speak on political issues on behalf of the party has raised eyebrows in political circles. It is being seen as indication of a defensive mood in the government.

The ruling dispensation has gone on the backfoot as criticism mounts on its poor management of the economy. Designated party spokespersons are simply not up to the job of deflecting the attacks.

Loyalist woes

Former Congress leader and recent BJP convert Rita Bahuguna Joshi is being blamed for stoking the Taj Mahal controversy. Joshi is the UP tourism minister. It was her ministry that lit the fire by dropping the world famous monument built by Shah Jehan from its new list of tourist destinations in UP. BJP circles say Joshi was being more loyal than the king in trying to curry favour with the RSS.

The Sangh believes that all monuments built by Muslim rulers were constructed on Hindu temple sites. The Taj Mahal, for instance, is said to be the site of a Shiva temple known as Tejo Mahalaya. Sangh historian P N Oak has written several books on this. It is not known whether RSS bosses appreciated Joshis genuflection to their beliefs. But the former Congress leader certainly annoyed her bosses in New Delhi who didnt want a new controversy while they are firefighting domestic and international criticism on the economy.

The media brouhaha over Joshis ministrys decision forced her to back track. The Taj was put back on the list of tourist destinations. But it was not enough clearly as the mockery on social media showed. Thats when the PMO pushed the chief minister to step in and Yogi Adityanath was forced to eat his own words on the Taj and defend it as a valuable tourist money spinner. Not long ago, Adityanath was a vociferous critic of the Taj Mahal.

Interestingly, the other two BJP leaders who fanned the controversy, Sangeet Som and Vinay Katiyar, are disgruntled people. Som wanted to be a minister but Adityanath refused to induct him in his cabinet. Although Som is a Thakur, he belongs to the camp opposed to the CM.

Kaityar, once a leading light of the Ram mandir movement, is now sidelined and on the verge of being phased out. His Rajya Sabha term expires next year and the buzz says, he will not get another stint in Parliament.

Full plate

There was widespread appreciation of the appointment of Nirmala Sitharaman as defence minister because finally, this important ministry had a full-time head with cabinet rank. But even before she has had time to settle down and understand the functioning of her ministry, she has been drafted in for political work.

She is the co-in-charge for the upcoming Gujarat assembly polls and has to attend regular strategy sessions on this crucial election. She is also back to her old role as spokesperson for the party, as evident from the surprise press conference she held last week to blast Robert Vadra. It is intriguing that the government has decided to make her wear two hats at this time when the border with China is hot and the Dokalam crisis remains unresolved.

When Jaitley was doubling up as defence and finance minister, the government was criticized for having part-time ministers in two critical ministries. Now, it has separate ministers for these ministries but the impression going around is that neither can devote full attention to their work because they are doubling up as political strategists and spokespersons.

Jaitley has been put in charge of managing the Gujarat assembly polls along with Sitharaman. This comes at a time when the government is under fire on the economy
Space travel is a dream for many. What, if you get a chance to travel to the moon or some planet? Well, your moonlighting dream can come true. And it surely would be a lifetime experience, the most thrilling one. But do you know what happens to your body when you travel in space?

According to NASAs Twin Study, space travel causes massive changes in the gene expression. Space travel speed up the process of genes turning on and off, leading to massive changes in their expression, it says.

Some of the most exciting things that weve seen from looking at gene expression in space is that we really see an explosion, like fireworks taking off, as soon as the human body gets into space, principal investigator Chris Mason of Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York said in a NASA statement.

The gene explosion begins as soon as an astronaut gets into space.

Weve seen thousands and thousands of genes turned on and turned off. This happens as soon as an astronaut gets into space, and some of the activity persists temporarily upon return to Earth, Mason said.

The Twin Study research intensified when retired twin astronaut Scott Kelly returned to Earth in March 2016, and investigators collected samples from him and his twin brother, retired astronaut Mark Kelly.

This study represents one of the most comprehensive views of human biology, Mason said, adding, It really sets the bedrock for understanding molecular risks for space travel as well as ways to potentially protect and fix those genetic changes. The final results of the study are likely to be published in 2018.

(With inputs from agencies)
The highly contagious plague has caused alarm across the poor Indian Ocean island since August, spreading to the capital Antananarivo and other cities.

A total of 1,133 people have been infected, the health ministry said.

There is a decrease in the number of people admitted to hospital (and) an increase in cured patients who leave hospital, Manitra Rakotoarivony, a ministry official, told national radio.

Madagascar has suffered plague outbreaks almost every year since 1980  typically between September and April.

The current outbreak is unusual as it has affected urban areas increasing the risk of transmission, according to the World Health Organization.

WHO has delivered 1.2 million doses of antibiotics to fight the disease while the Red Cross has been training hundreds of volunteers on the island to publicise preventative measures.

Plague bacteria develops in rats and is carried by fleas.

In humans, the pneumonic version is transferred through coughing and can be fatal within 72 hours.

Most of the victims recorded in Madagascar have been infected with the pneumonic form. The bubonic form is less dangerous.

Both plagues can be cured using antibiotics if given quickly.
Two 23-year-olds were shot dead at the Grambling State University campus early on Wednesday. The accused is on the run.

One victim was identified as Earl Andrews, a University student from Farmerville, Louisiana, the CNN reported quoting university spokesman Will Sutton.

The other victim, Monquiarius Caldwell, from Farmerville was not a student at the University, Sutton said.

A female student alerted the authorities to the shooting.

The bodies were discovered in a courtyard between two dorm buildings, said Stephen Williams, a spokesman for the Lincoln Parish Sheriffs Office.

The police believe the shooting followed an altercation that started inside one of the adjacent dormitories.

This is a horrible tragedy  our prayers are with the victims and their families, Sutton told CNN affiliate KTBS.

Theres no place for violence on the Grambling State University campus. We always encourage our students to be safe, to be aware, to watch who they hang out with, and to watch whos around at all times. And this is a most unfortunate situation.

The university tweeted that the campus offices are open on Wednesday and that students are expected to attend class as scheduled.
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Cloudy. Snow showers developing late. Low around 30F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Cloudy. Snow showers developing late. Low around 30F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
A day after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced recapitalisation of public sector banks, transport and shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari's much talked about 'blueprint for development' is ready.

It envisages a plan to link 550 districts and India's disconnected ports with a 35,000 kilometres highway network, at a total cost of Rs 5.35 trillion (lakh crore) over the next five years.

Replacing the existing National Highway Development Plan (NHDP), Gadkari officially announced the launch of NDA government's 'BharatMala' project on Oct 25.

"Our infrastructure plan will contribute 2-3 percent to the GDP and will create 2 lakh crore jobs. This is our target," Gadkari said announcing the project, which is due to start this year and complete the first phase (24,800 km roads) in a span of three years.

"For the first time, the ministry is creating express highways which is also part of the SagarMala project. With the BharatMala project we will be able to link 550 districts," said Gadkari. "Many of our ports do not have proper road connectivity yet, this will get addressed as part of BharatMala."

Distinguishing BharatMala from SagarMala, which was announced earlier for the shipping sector at a net outlay of Rs 16 lakh crore, Gadkari said, "Yeh do mala alag hai aur varmala ban kar desh ko jodega (These two garlands are different, they will join together to form a wedding garland and connect the nation)."

Speaking at the press briefing earlier, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa said, the existing NHDP has been the largest road sector programme getting implemented through 7 phases and any gaps in the NHDP will be addressed in the new project.

"We have reached a stage where the benefits of NHDP, wherever there are missing gaps and have to be optimalised, that is where BharatMala has been conceptualised to be finished by March 2022, over a five year period program," said Lavasa.

The minister also said that 44 economic corridors have been identified using space technology, which has gone through three layers and Rs 1.20 lakh crore will be spent for the creation of these economic corridors.

BharatMala project would also provide connectivity with 22 port point of entries including in the north-east (with Myanmar and Bangladesh) and in Uttar Pradesh (with Nepal).

The project would entail reconstructing highways, widening the existing roads and ensuring safe road designs. Currently, India has one among the highest number of highway fatalities in the world.

Gadkari said that the national roads development project would result in creation of 30-34 cr mandays of work and a significant number of job creation. "It is our constant aim to make roads safer and BharatMala will address this," he said.

India's GDP growth for the April-June quarter slipped to a three-year low of 5.7 per cent and caused resentments on account of lower job creation.
The government's Rs 2.11-lakh crore recapitalisation plan may have come as a huge Diwali bonus to public sector banks (PSBs) distressed with mounting bad loans. Banking stocks jumped as much as 20-30 per cent as analysts and credit rating agencies gave a thumbs up to the move, which is expected to help state-owned banks shore up their balance sheets, make higher provisions for bad loans wherever necessary and also revive credit growth.

Indian banks are saddled with around Rs 8-lakh crore in non-performing assets (NPAs), with almost 70 per cent of it expected to be on the books of state-owned banks. The government is also keen to revive private sector investment and give a boost to the economy, which grew at its slowest pace in three years at 5.7 per cent in the quarter ended June 2017.

"The package will help PSBs to accelerate provisioning for stressed assets, speed up the NPA resolution process and support the clean-up of balance sheets. This will, in turn, help them focus on reviving credit growth," said Krishnan Sitaraman, senior director, Crisil Ratings.

Several state-owned banks have seen a sharp erosion in profits in the last couple of years as NPAs have risen and banks have had to make higher provisioning to account for them. This year, too, the picture is unlikely to be any different even as banks look to speed up the NPA resolution process through the insolvency and bankruptcy code.

According to Crisil estimates, state-owned banks required Rs 1.4-1.7-lakh crore in the event of accelerated provisioning as a part of the NPA resolution process.

Rising NPAs and private sector capital expenditure spending remaining subdued has led to a sharp drop in credit growth. The credit growth of all scheduled commercial banks slowed to 8.1 per cent in the year ended March 2017, from 10.9 per cent, a year ago, according to a study by Dun and Bradstreet.

"The bank recapitalisation plan is significantly positive for PSBs, given the quantum of capital infusion, as it will address both the issues of growth capital and capital required to absorb losses arising out of elevated provisioning requirement on NPAs," said Karthik Srinivasan, group headfinancial sector ratings at ICRA.

According to the government's plan, Rs 1.35-lakh crore will come via sale of recapitalisation bonds, while the remaining will be through budgetary allocation and market fund-raising.

The bonds may be subscribed by banks, whereby their investments, net worth and hence, capitalisation will increase to the extent of recapitalisation bonds received by them, added Srinivasan.

Welcoming the move, Rajnish Kumar, the chairman of India's largest lender State Bank of India, termed it "bold" and "courageous", and one that was "the need of the hour." "It will generate balance in overall demand and supply by bringing more investments in sectors like infrastructure. These funds will also help in efficiently managing risk and credit capital related requirements of the banks," he added.

The government bank recapitalisation announcement and big infrastructure spending push, drove equity markets to fresh records on Wednesday. The BSE Sensex hit a high of 33,117.33 points in opening trades. It was later trading up 321 points or one per cent at 32,928.54.

Notably, the gains were led by state-owned banksPunjab National Bank surged over 32 per cent, Bank of Baroda was up 23 per cent and State Bank of India, too, rose more than 21 per cent in morning trading.

"The government has killed multiple birds with a stoneprovided a credible solution to banking mess, a credible attempt to revive private sector investments, huge support to SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and without slipping on the fiscal targets," said Sageraj Bariya, vice-president at East India Securities.

Others also termed it as a game changer.

"We are positively surprised by the quantum of the recapitalisation and it matches our estimates of capital requirements for PSBs for both NPA provisioning and some growth. Assuming the entire infusion is equity in nature, there would be significant dilution for minority investors, but given that current prices are higher than FY17 adjusted book values for most PSBs, this recap package should drive a re-rating in PSBs," said Adarsh Parasrampuria, analyst at Nomura Securities.
Healthy buying in state-run banks stocks lifted the key Indian equity indices -- S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 -- to breach their respective intra-day and closing record highs on Oct 25.

According to market observers, the exponential rise in scrip prices of state-run banks was witnessed a day after the government had announced a massive scheme to recapitalise the sector and to boost the overall infrastructure spend.



On intra-day record high basis, the barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE touched 33,117.33 points, while broader 50-scrip Nifty at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) reached 10,340.55 points.



Besides new intra-day highs, the S&P BSE Sensex which opened at 32,995.28 points, closed at a new high of 33,042.50 points, up by 435.16 points or 1.33 per cent from its previous day's close at 32,607.34 points.



The index had slipped to a low of 32,804.60 points during the trade session.



Similarly, the NSE Nifty50 closed at a new high of 10,295.35 points, up by 0.86 per cent or 87.65 points.



"Markets zoomed higher on Wednesday to close at new life highs. The index had opened on a strong note in the morning session on the back of positive sentiments due to various measures taken by the government to spur economy including capitalisation of public sector banks and a massive road building programme," said Deepak Jasani, Head - Retail Research, HDFC Securities.



"It corrected a bit early in the morning but later resumed the uptrend closing near the intra day highs. The Sensex settled above the psychologically important 33,000 level for the first time in history."



Even global cues supported the Indian indices as major Asian and European markets ended on a positive note, barring the Nikkei index.



However, the day's trade session belonged to the PSBs.



Dhruv Desai, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls, said "Almost all PSBs' stocks like those of SBI, BoB and PNB rose to touch their new 52-week highs during the intra-day trade."



"The rise in PSB stocks not only lifted the sectoral index but also the benchmark indices -- BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty -- to touch their all time highs during the intra-day trade."



"SBI was the top percentage gainer in the NSE Nifty, surging as much as 27 per cent to its highest since January 2015. L&T was the third-largest gainer in the index as it rose as much as 6.3 per cent," Desai said.



Market observers pointed out that almost all the major PSBs like SBI, PNB and BoB rose in the band of 20-40 per cent.



The S&P BSE bank -- BANKEX -- zoomed by 1,274.17 points or 4.71 per cent.



On bank-specific basis, SBI's scrip gained Rs 70.20 or 27.58 per cent to Rs 324.70 per equity share.



Other gainers include -- PNB whose shares rose by Rs 63.80 or 46.20 per cent to Rs 201.90; BoB's stocks edged higher by Rs 45.05 or 31.47 per cent to Rs 188.20; Bank of India's scrip was up Rs 47.70 or per cent 33.96 per cent to Rs 188.15 and Canara Bank's stock was up by Rs 120.70 or 38.05 per cent to Rs 437.90.



A healthy inflow of foreign funds and a strengthening of the rupee's position against the US dollar kept the market trajectory northwards throughout the session.



In terms of investments, provisional data with the exchanges showed that foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought scrip worth Rs 3,582.50 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold stocks worth Rs 155.71 crore.



On the currency front, the rupee strengthened by 16 paise to close at 64.89-90 against the US dollar from its previous close at 65.06.



Sector-wise, the S&P BSE capital goods index surged by 581.28 points, followed by the automobile index higher by 156.80 points and the oil and gas index augmented by 76.56 points.



On the other hand, the S&P BSE consumer durables index plunged by 239.38 points and the healthcare index receded by 154.64 points.



Major Sensex gainers on Oct 25 were: ICICI Bank, up 14.69 per cent at Rs 305.60; Axis Bank, up 4.61 per cent at Rs 472.70; Bharti Airtel, up 2.76 per cent at Rs 515.50; Adani Ports, up 2.18 per cent at Rs 414.95; and Tata Motors DVR, up 1.62 per cent at Rs 234.65.



Major Sensex losers were: Kotak Mahindra Bank, down 5.43 per cent at Rs 1,009.70; HDFC Bank, down 3.76 per cent at Rs 1,794.50; HDFC, down 2.60 per cent at Rs 1,677.90; Lupin, down 2.22 per cent at Rs 1,003.75; and Sun Pharma, down 2.10 per cent at Rs 523.25.
The clean chit given to Infosys former CEO Vishal Sikka might have cleared the cloud over the company's acquisition of Israel-based Panaya, but the story is far from over as investors' concerns remain.

On Tuesday, during its quarterly results, the Nandan Nilekani-headed Infosys board stated that it found no wrong-doing in the Panaya acquisition and the Rs 17-crore severance paid to its former chief financial officer Rajiv Bansal.

The fact that these findings have not gone down well with Infosys founder N.R.N. Murthy raises more questions going ahead. Earlier, Murthy's statements had triggered a boardroom battle and eventually led to the exit of Sikka, putting the company in a tricky situation and resulted in Rs 21,683-crore erosion of market capitalisation in the past two months.

Reacting to the Infosys board's statement, Murthy on Tuesday said, I stand by every question on poor governance raised in my speech to Infosys investors dated August 29, 2017. The fact remains that none of these questions have been answered by the Infosys board with the transparency it deserves. I am disappointed. Criticising the board's severance payment decision, Murthy added, The core question still is how and why the Infosys board approved an unusual and unprecedented severance payment agreement of 1000% (of the standard Infosys employment contracts) to the former CFO, and why the board did not disclose this information proactively much earlier. Sadly, it appears we will no longer know the truth, Murthy added.

Murthy's allegations reveals that he is still unhappy with the current board and even Nilekani, feels Amit Chandra, IT analyst at Mumbai-based HDFC Securities.

However, experts say that the allegations no longer hold ground as the clean chit statement has come from none other than Nilekani, an Infosys insider who is also the co-founder. Nilekani who has had held very senior positions and is known for his credibility would have definitely reviewed the past reports thoroughly and only then would have reached such a conclusion, said Alok Shende of Mumbai-based Ascentius Consulting.

Industry observers feel that turning a blind eye to Murthy's repeated allegations and questions would be the way forward for Infosys. Apparently, Infosys former board chairman R. Seshasayee has observed that the company deserved a period of stability and undistracted focus on the business.

Infosys has to move forward. Under the leadership of Nilekani, all the review was conducted, which found that proper processes were followed by the company during the deal and there were no lapses in it. Even the high severance package is justified because it is a very common thing in the US, though not in India. However, Infosys being a global company had just followed a global practice by giving a high severance package to Rajiv Bansal and David Kennedy, say Chandra.

On the other hand, Murthy's explicit resentment and constant interference might not hold well for a company that is on a CEO-hunt. Such allegations may make the task of finding a new CEO challenging for the company as any new person will like to stay away from such issues and would feel the pressure of such repeated allegations from Murthy in the future, say Shende. I feel that from now on, the Infosys board will start ignoring allegations which Murthy may raise. The company has to move on from the past baggage and move ahead in a challenging IT environment rather than stick on to past issues and allegations, he adds.

No Infosys investor would want to crib about the past and the repeated allegations of Murthy. Now, the aim of every investor at Infosys would be to see when and how soon growth would return to Infosys. Infosys, being a little conservative player, has given a timid outlook. That is fine as the industry itself is facing challenging times, Chandra explains.
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday said the appointment of an interlocutor for dialogue on Jammu and Kashmir will not have any impact on the Army's operations in the troubled state.

The Union government on Monday named Dineshwar Sharma, former chief of the Intelligence Bureau, to hold dialogue on Kashmir.

"The government has appointed an interlocutor... give them some time to sit and work things out," General Rawat told reporters.

Asked if it will have any impact on Army's operations in the state, the Army chief said: "No, it will not."

He also said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is improving. "I think the situation (in Kashmir) is improving."

Asked about the increase in firing at the Line of Control, the Army Chief said it has led to lower infiltration. "Because of it (firing at LoC) infiltration has gone down. We have killed the terrorists on the border...," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson discussed ways to step up cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms, during a meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Modi, while welcoming Tillerson on his maiden visit to the country, noted with appreciation the firm upward trajectory in the bilateral strategic partnership following the positive and far-reaching talks with President Trump in June this year.

Modi shared the resolve expressed by Tillerson on further taking further steps to strengthen bilateral engagement.

The two leaders affirmed that a strengthened India-US partnership is not just of mutual benefit to both countries, but has significant positive impact on the prospects for regional and global stability and prosperity.

In the context of President Trump's new South Asia Policy, theprime minister noted the commonality in the objectives of eradicating terrorism, terrorist infrastructure, safe havens, and support, while bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.

In this regard, Tillerson exchanged views on his recent travels in the region with Modi.

'US will provide India best military tech'

Tillerson said the US will provide India with best technologies for its military modernisation which include offers to supply F-16 and F-18 fighter jets.

After holding wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Tillerson said the US supports India's emergence as a "leading power" and it will continue to help New Delhi strengthen its military capability.

"The US supports India's emergence as a leading power and will continue to contribute to the Indian capability to provide security throughout the region," he said addressing a joint press conference with Swaraj.

"We are willing to provide India best technologies for its military modernisation efforts which include ambitious offers by American industry for F-16 and F-18 fighter planes," said Tillerson.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a bilateral meeting with US Defence Secretary James Mattis on the sidelines of a meeting of ASEAN defence ministers in Clark in the Philippines.

A host of issues relating to defence and security cooperation was discussed at the meeting, officials said.

Mattis had visited India last month, in first cabinet- level visit to India under the Trump Administration, and both sides then had decided to accelerate the pace of India-US defence cooperation.

After the visit, Mattis had said there is a "generational opportunity" between the two largest democracies of the world to work together.

The defence and security ties between India and the US have been on an upswing.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday raised India's concerns over H-1B visa with the United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

She also talked about India's two-pronged approach to avert any possibility of the passage of bills pending in the US Congress which recommends changes in H-1B visas, popular among Indian IT professionals.

"We have also discussed the very significant contribution to the US economy of Indian skilled professionals who travel and work under H-1B and L-1 visa programs. I have also sought Secretary Tillerson's support for resolution of long-pending issue of totalisation and asked that nothing such should be done by US which adversely affects India's interests," Swaraj said.

She said India was engaged with officials of the Trump administration as well as US Congressmen to avert any possibility of the passage of bills but asserted that there was no change as of today in H-1B visas.

Swaraj, addressing a joint press conference with Tillerson, also said she has sought his support in resolving the long-pending issue of totalisation.

India has been seeking a totalisation agreement aimed at protecting benefit rights of its workers and short-term IT and other services providers in the US.

The pact is expected to stop Indian IT companies from paying millions of dollars to the American exchequer annually towards social security payment.

Holding that people-to-people contacts have played a critical role in the development of relations between the two democracies, Swaraj said this is most evident in the "mutually-beneficial digital partnership", driven by skilled professionals.

The discussion comes at a time when the Trump administration has made the renewal of non-immigrant visas such as H-1B and L-1 more difficult, with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) saying that the burden of proof in establishing eligibility is, at all times, on the petitioner.

There have been concerns in India over the Trump administration's move to impose stricter regulations on immigration and visas, especially H-1B and L-1 visas.

Earlier in September, the external affairs minister had raised the issue of H-1B visa with Tillerson during a meeting held on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Tillerson arrived in India on a two-day visit on Tuesday evening.

His visit to India is part of his five-nation tour that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Switzerland alongside.
United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Tillerson arrived in India last evening for his two-day visit to India.

He is expected to address the media in the noon and later in the day, he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence.

The US Secretary of State's visit to India is a part of his five-nation tour that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Switzerland alongside.

On Tuesday, Tillerson paid an unannounced visit to Baghdad, just hours after returning from a similar surprise visit to Afghanistan. During his visit, he met Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who accused the former of interfering in Iraqi affairs.

On Monday, while he slammed Pakistan, citing that there were a number of terror groups, which find safe havens in the country, Tillerson lauded India for a "positive role in the process to achieve a peaceful and stable Afghanistan". He gave this statement in Kabul, where he met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah and national security advisor Hanif Atmar.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif has acknowledged that there is a "trust deficit" between his country and the US over the issue of Afghanistan even as he asserted that the two countries were talking to bridge their differences.

Asif's remarks came after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during his whirlwind visit here outlined the US' new South Asia Strategy and the vital role that Pakistan can play in working with America and others to facilitate a peace process in Afghanistan that can bring stability and security to the region.

"Yes there is a trust deficit...but we are talking," Asif said in response to a question.

"Having said that, (I should say) there is a willingness on both sides to bridge this (trust) deficit," he told BBC Urdu yesterday.

The foreign minister also said that the US and international forces had failed to end the conflict in Afghanistan despite their more than a decade long efforts.

"They (US) must do some self-accountability also. Why have they lost 45 per cent of the Afghan territory in the last 10, 12 years," he asked.

Asif also said that Pakistan was not dependent on the US aid as it has been getting only a 'trickle' of the assistance.

He said Pakistan was also not looking for military hardware from the US.

"We do not get any military hardware from the US. We are not like in the past when we were their proxy," he said.

Separately, talking to Geo TV, he said that Pakistani leaders told Tillerson that there were no terrorist safe havens in Pakistan.

"Terrorist attacks are not planned or executed from Pakistani soil, there are no terrorist safe havens in Pakistan, and we made this clear to the US delegation," Asif said.

He said the Pakistani leadership firmly holds on to the stance that it is not protecting or supporting the Haqqani network.

"We emphasised again and again that their [US] assessment [about Pakistan] is wrong," he said.

"We are not responsible for the increase in the drug trade in Afghanistan or the increasing [Afghan] territory occupied by terrorists," Asif said.
Aiming to cut off Pyongyang's links to the global financial system, the US House of Representatives has approved a bill to impose more sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear programme.



The bill approved on Tuesday received 415 votes in favour and 2 against.



It is named after Otto Warmbier, an American student who died in June after spending more than a year in coma in a North Korean prison.



The legislation calls on the US Department of Treasury to freeze the accounts of foreign financial institutions that conduct business with North Korea.



"It's time for those banks to choose between aiding and abetting the North Korean government or standing for peace with America and its allies," Republican representative Andy Barr, the author of the bill, said during a house debate on October 24.



"Foreign banks can either do business benefiting North Korea or business with the United States. They cannot do both," Barr said, adding that the current sanctions still failed to completely eliminate Pyongyang's access to the global financial system.



The United Nations approved last month a new package of sanctions aimed at economically stifling North Korea, which includes limitations on the country's petroleum and by-product imports as well as a ban on its textiles export.



According to estimates by the US, North Korea would lose $ 2.7 billion or about 90 per cent of its sales abroad together with previous sets of sanctions, which imposed an embargo on coal, iron, fish and seafood exports.



Warmbier was detained in North Korea in January 2016 when he visited the country as a tourist.



Authorities sentenced him to 15 years of hard labour after the 22-year-old was found guilty of attempting to steal a political propaganda poster from his hotel in Pyongyang.



He had fallen into a coma for more than a year before he was released in June 2017 and died a month after.



Warmbier's parents said alleged their son was tortured in North Korea, an allegation US President Donald Trump agreed with.



Pyongyang, however, denied the allegations.



He died of complications stemming from a deficiency of blood and oxygen in his brain, according to the forensic report.
FROM BEING a lalla [baby] born near the Sarayu that flows serenely through Ayodhya, Lord Ram will rise from the banks and tower over the temple town by 2019. It is part of the Ayodhya redevelopment plans of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who, along with his cabinet colleagues, is celebrating Diwali, the festival marking the return of Ram from Lanka after slaying Ravana, in Ayodhya this year.

Whether or not they are able to show the people a Ram mandir at the disputed Ramjanmabhoomi, the Yogi government hopes to showcase a gigantic statue of Ram on the Sarayu. The UP tourism department made a presentation on October 10 before Governor Ram Naik on promoting religious tourism in the state, which included plans for the statue as well.

The government has, however, sought to delink the proposed statue from the Ram temple at the Ramjanmabhoomi. The statue is part of another package along with a Ramayana gallery, a light and sound programme and an auditorium among others, to make Ayodhya a major tourist destination like Agra or Varanasi.

There are conjectures that the statue will be more than 100 metres tall, and cost estimates vary from Rs 200 crore to Rs 330 crore. Tourism secretary Awanish Awasthi told the media, It is a concept proposal. We are yet to work out the finer details including the location of the statue on the banks of the Sarayu. Only then will we seek clearance from the National Green Tribunal.

According to Sharad Sharma, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad spokesperson at Karsevakpuram, the site mentioned by the tourism secretary is exactly three kilometres from Ramjanmabhoomi. The proposal has nothing to do with the mandir construction. Awasthi said tourism centres the world over had statues of local heroes. In Ayodhya, Lord Rams statue is a natural choice.
The Prime Ministers Office released a statement praising the deal for the Israel Navy to acquire German-manufactured submarines. The deal was accompanied by accusations of kickbacks and bribery pertaining to the deal, and the signing of the memorandum of understanding represents progress towards closing the deal. The signing of this document leads to the finalization of the purchase of three additional German-built subs.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomes the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Germany and the State of Israel on the acquisition of submarines.

The MOU is strategically important to the security of Israel. Its signing reflects the commitment of Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel to the security of Israel and the deep cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Netanyahu expresses his deep appreciation to Chancellor Merkel, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen and German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
A tight supply of homes continued to boost sales prices in Wisconsin in September as the market struggles to meet demand.

Across the state, the median price of homes sold in the first nine months of 2017 rose 6 percent to $174,900 compared to the same period last year, according to the Wisconsin Realtors Association. Meanwhile, the number of homes sold climbed slightly  the rise of just 0.4 percent created a new record.

Wisconsin has a 5.5-month supply of homes for sale on average, which is slightly in favor of sellers  six months supply is considered a balanced market, with no significant advantages to buyers or sellers. South Central Wisconsins market does benefit sellers, though, with just a 4.4-month supply.

If youre looking for a cabin or vacation home in the northern regions of the state, this is a great time to buy, but supply is very tight in urban regions, which is keeping sales down in those areas, WRA president and CEO Michael Theo said.

South Central Wisconsin saw the greatest hike in median price  up 7.7 percent compared to the first three quarters last year. Dane Countys year-to-date sales dropped 2.1 percent from 6,714 to 6,570. The median home price in the county rose at the same rate as the region, from $244,267 to $263,000.

Kevin King, executive vice president of South Central Wisconsin Multiple Listing Service, said that cost increase, coupled with the smaller number of home sales, indicated that there are far more potential homeowners than available homes.

Were not meeting what we believe is the demand because (would-be buyers) dont have the choices, King said. Its important that if people want to buy, have the desire to buy, we have a market to support it.

Multiple factors play into the low supply of homes in the area.

Dane County has seen a steady population growth of 1.0 to 1.5 percent annually, King said, and millennials are now at the prime age to buy their first homes. And more baby boomers are choosing aging in place, King said, staying in homes rather than downsizing or entering senior living arrangements. On top of these factors, new construction hasnt increased at the level needed to bear the influx of potential buyers.

Despite median prices in Dane County being about 50 percent higher than the state average, King said prices havent necessarily become a burden on home buyers.

Right now, were in a situation where the economy is good, income levels continue to increase  although maybe not as much as we would like  and mortgage rates are incredibly low, King said.

Even when boomers vacate their homes, King said he doesnt anticipate a saturation of available homes. He said millennials will buy the houses when they are on the market, and that its been a misconception that they would prefer to rent.

In September, the number of homes sold in the state dropped slightly compared to the same time last year  by 1.2 percent  but the median price rose by 4.8 percent to $175,000.

Sales in Dane County in September were down 4 percent compared to the same month last year, but the median home price rose by 8.5 percent from $240,000 to $260,500.
Earlier today, New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino filed a lawsuit in New Jersey Superior Court alleging that the Township of Mahwah had discriminated against Orthodox Jews in enacting two ordinances: one, prohibiting the construction of any eruv in the Township; and the second, banning non-New Jersey residents from using Mahwahs public parks.

Both of these ordinances, the lawsuit alleges, were motivated by unlawful anti-Orthodox bias.

Mahwah borders certain parts of heavily Orthodox Rockland County, and the Township Council was seeking ways to discourage Orthodox Jews from moving to Mahwah or even from enjoying its public facilities. Hence the two ordinances.

Said Attorney General Porrino, This is an extensive complaint that lays out a variety of serious allegations and a number of legal theories, but the bottom line is very simple  the Township Council in Mahwah heard the angry, fear-driven voices of bigotry and acted to appease those voices.

Agudath Israel of Americas New Jersey director, Rabbi Avi Schnall, called the lawsuit a landmark development.

Newspaper accounts of the Attorney Generals action described it as stunning, Rabbi Schnall noted. But what is truly stunning is that the haters who sought to employ every means possible to prevent Orthodox Jews from moving into Mahwah or even visiting its public parks were quite open in expressing their hatred. Attorney General Porrino deserves all the credit in the world for challenging this blatant discrimination in a court of law.

In a a letter this past July to Mahwahs Mayor, William C. Laforet, Agudath Israels executive vice president Rabbi David Zwiebel implored the Mayor to allow the maintenance of an eruv in Mahwah.

Statements by opponents of the Eruv reek of anti-Semitism and anti-Orthodox animus, wrote the Agudah leader. Clearly, what opponents of the Eruv are troubled by is not the presence of unobtrusive plastic strips on utility poles, but by the continued growth of the Orthodox community . . . The fact that so many of those opponents make no effort to hide their hatred is shocking and should not be tolerated.

With todays lawsuit, said Rabbi Schnall, it now appears that such efforts will in fact no longer be tolerated.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Sir Mick Davis has been dragged into a High Court battle after two people were shot after clashing with police at a mine in Peru

Tory Party treasurer Sir Mick Davis blamed fatal protests at one of his companys mines on neo Marxist anti-capitalist agitators, according to High Court documents.

The mining tycoon, the former chief executive of Xstrata, allegedly made the comments in an email to fellow directors as violent demonstrations at one of the firms sites in Peru in 2012 rocked the country.

Two men were shot dead in clashes with police at the Tintaya copper mine and villagers are now suing Xstrata for damages in the High Court in London.

The locals claim the company, which has since been bought by rival Glencore, should be held liable for the alleged human rights abuses by the Peruvian National Police (PNP).

Weeks before the shootings a senior Xstrata executive had described the protesters as sons of whores, the court papers show.

A hearing over whether the case can proceed is due to take place in the High Court in London on October 30, with Glencore insisting the claim is without merit and will fail if it gets to full trial.

The local community had been concerned about the mines impact, and in 2010-11 an environmental study allegedly found contamination around the mines, according to court papers.

Protests began in 2012, with Xstratas Peruvian subsidiary, Xstrata Tintaya, allegedly calling in the PNP to police the demonstrations.

It is claimed that during several days of protest in May that year, demonstrators were beaten, injured and racially abused by the police. On May 28, Reducindo Puma and Walter Ancca were shot dead.

On May 31, Davis, who was appointed Tory treasurer in 2016 having left Xstrata after the Glencore deal, allegedly emailed fellow directors to say the protests were fermented (sic) by the mayor of Espinar (who attended our AGM) and a nexus of neo Marxist anti-mining/capitalist agitators.

The villagers, represented by law firm Leigh Day, claim Xstrata and its Peruvian subsidiary should be liable for the polices behaviour, saying the firm helped PNP with vehicles and equipment and failed to prevent the use of excessive force.

A spokesman for Glencore said: The claimants do not allege that anyone from Xstrata or their private security force at the mine harmed anyone. All the allegations of harm are against the PNP.

'Xstrata was not responsible for the acts of the PNP in policing the protest and appealed to the PNP to respect the human right of protesters.

Davis declined to comment. Peruvian National Police and the Peruvian Embassy did not comment.
Help needed: Handing 130 million to victims would be a terrific first step in tackling Britains fraud epidemic.

Every time Money Mail hears from a fraud victim who has been denied a refund, my heart sinks.

Its bad enough to have your trust abused by a crook with nothing better to do than hoodwink strangers over the phone.

But when someone loses their life savings and their bank turns a blind eye, thats devastating  and for the unwitting victim, there is often no way back.

Victims such as 58-year-old nurse Linda Walker, who lost 8,000 to a fraudster and faces postponing her retirement plans, and 71-year-old retired hotelier Gillian Barton, whos been forced to change her way of life after being conned out of more than 18,000.

These fraudsters are so clever, and their scams so sophisticated, that ordinary people in their busy lives barely stand a chance.

Thats why the discovery of 130 million sitting in accounts opened by criminals and frozen by the banks  which almost no one outside the industry knew about  is such a big deal. With a minor tweak to the law, this money could be used to cover payouts to fraud victims when all other attempts to recover their cash have failed.

Ministers must act urgently to free up the funds.

The Government must also make it crystal clear that the cash is to go directly to victims, lest it gets requisitioned for the fraud awareness efforts that firms currently pay for themselves.

Handing 130 million to victims would be a terrific first step in tackling Britains fraud epidemic.

The next phase is mending the gaping hole in consumer protection law that allows criminals to get away with daylight robbery.

It was difficult to reunite victims with their cash when highwaymen roamed the roads. But these days, there should be no excuse.

The details of the sender and receiver of every banking payment are logged on computers. It should be simple for an investigator to trace your money.

Yet banks say arcane money laundering and data protection laws get in the way.

The rules must be overhauled so that banks can seize stolen funds and return them to the rightful owner at the touch of a button.

That would make the proposed new 555 fraud line (as revealed by Money Mails Victoria Bischoff last week) a real weapon. Similar to the 999 emergency number, one call could spur the authorities into action.

And if your money cannot be traced? Well, thats where the 130 million compensation fund comes back into play.

Its a simple, but powerful, blueprint to beat this blight on daily life. Now we just need our banks and Government to get behind it.

Handset rip-off

Mobile phones should come with a big red wealth warning.

It was news to me last week that six million loyal mobile contract holders are being overcharged.

This is because when you buy a new phone on contract, part of your monthly bill pays for the handset and part of it for your minutes, texts and data.

By the time the typical 24-month contract ends, youve paid for the handset and own it  but all providers except for O2 keep charging you the same if you let the contract roll on.

Many people, particularly the elderly, dont want or need a new phone and get royally ripped off, according to Citizens Advice. Pay-as-you-go customers who have a mobile for emergencies only are similarly exploited.

Every week, our agony uncle Tony Hazell receives letters from people whove been robbed of the credit on their pay-as-you-go mobile.

This is usually because they havent used it for six months  the cut-off point at which providers disconnect your number.

Snatching this money is plain profiteering in my book. Either return the cash to customers or stop these disconnections.

Mail is asking readers to donate their old pound coins to our Quids for Kids appeal

Quids for Kids

Don't forget to dig out any old 1 coins you may still have stashed in drawers and savings jars.

Take the money to a Nationwide Building Society and it will go towards giving a seriously ill child a Christmas experience they can only dream of.

Nationwide has kindly agreed to collect the money for our Quids for Kids campaign. Let me know how much you find.
Linda Walker: By the time the criminal's account was traced, just 61 of her 8k savings remained

Linda Walker wasn't particularly surprised to receive a call in June from someone saying they worked for BT.

The 58-year-old nurse, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, had been having problems with her mobile phone as adverts kept popping up on the screen, and the caller explained that BT could fix this.

Grateful for the help, Linda followed the man's instructions.

He asked her to type 'my security' into her handset and advised on which buttons to click as different screens popped up.

Linda hung up feeling confident her phone had been fixed.

But just a few hours later, she would discover that the man had nothing to do with BT at all.

In fact, he was a criminal carrying out a devious plan to raid her bank account.

After ending the call, Linda had left her phone charging at home and gone to the hairdressers.

She returned two hours later to find a text message from her bank, Lloyds, which said a new payment had been set up on her account.

Linda logged in to her online banking and saw that 8,000 had disappeared from her Isa.

She immediately called Lloyds and was told staff had phoned her to approve several bank transfers out of her account.

Linda says there was no way she could have taken those calls because she didn't have her mobile phone with her at the hairdressers. She believes the fraudster intercepted them.

By the time the criminal's account was tracked down, just 61 of Linda's 8,000 savings remained.

Lloyds refused to cover the missing 7,939 and she now fears she'll have to delay her retirement as a result.

'I felt so sick when I realised the money was gone,' Linda says. 'It was my retirement fund and I have no idea how the criminals were able to pass telephone banking security and make the payments. I feel like the bank showed very little empathy in the circumstances.'

The case is now with the Financial Ombudsman, which settles disputes between banks and their customers.

A Lloyds spokesman says: 'Keeping our customers' money safe is our top priority and we'd encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of fraud to contact us at the earliest opportunity.'

Cases such as Linda's could be solved instantly if banks were allowed to compensate victims using frozen criminal funds.

Over the past year, Money Mail has heard from dozens of fraud victims like Linda, all of whom could have been helped if the 130 million sitting idle in criminal bank accounts was shared out.

In nearly every case, banks have said they were unable to trace the stolen money after it was bounced through various different accounts and withdrawn.

Under industry rules, banks don't have to compensate victims automatically if they are deemed to have made an error that aided criminals.

This includes authorising a payment, sharing sensitive information such as passwords and letting criminals access your computer, phone or bank account.

In Linda's case, she unwittingly helped the fraudster hack in to her phone by following the crook's instructions to download a dangerous app.

Aggie Wilkie (with husband Robert) called her bank while she was still on the phone with the fraudster and screamed at them before they cut off the phone call

'I was a wreck for weeks after the call'

Money Mail has been swamped with letters from Santander customers who have been left out of pocket for similar reasons.

The bank has been at the centre of many of the payment fraud cases sent to our inbox over the past year.

Aggie Wilkie, 72, is still 10,000 out of pocket after falling victim to con artists in May 2016.

She was telephoned on her landline by a fraudster pretending to be from her internet provider, TalkTalk.

The man said he was calling to fix problems with her online banking  which made sense, because Aggie had been struggling to log in to her account.

He told her to switch on her computer and gave her a web address to type in so he could access her computer remotely.

A message popped up on the screen telling Aggie she was on a 'TalkTalk secure site'. She was kept on the phone for hours while the caller claimed to be 'running checks'.

Eventually, Aggie was sent several codes in text messages from her bank, Santander, and the crook said he would need these to complete his work, so she handed them over.

The caller kept her on the line afterwards, saying he was having trouble because her computer was slow.

Aggie, a retired clerk, grew suspicious and used her mobile to call Santander while she waited. Staff told her 10,000 had been transferred out of her account.

I started screaming at the caller saying: 'You've stolen my money', but he hung up on me

'I started screaming at the caller saying: 'You've stolen my money', but he hung up on me,' she says.

Santander told Aggie that the accounts into which her money was paid were emptied 45 minutes after the transfer.

Aggie says she feels guilty because it was money that she and her husband, Robert, 76, a retired master-at-arms in the Royal Navy, had put aside for retirement after downsizing.

'For weeks after I was a wreck,' she says. 'Even now, just thinking about it, everything comes flooding back and my stomach starts churning like it did that night.'

Santander refused to cover the losses because Aggie had inadvertently made an error.

Aggie Wilkie, 72,and husband Robert are still 10,000 out of pocket after falling victim to con artists in May 2016, the money had put aside for retirement after downsizing.

The text messages that were sent to her mobile phone contained vital pieces of information called One-Time Passcodes. Santander sends these out when you attempt to transfer money using your online banking.

Aggie says the criminal must have had managed to hack in to her bank account to set up a payment without her noticing.

That meant that once Aggie had handed over the One-Time Passcodes, he could enter them and transfer her money out.

Aggie says: 'If banks are sitting on the money they've confiscated from the fraudsters, surely that should go back to the victims?'

'If there was any way I could get the cash back it would make a huge difference. We would no longer have to worry about paying for repairs to the house without going into debt and we would be able to help our children and grandchildren.

'It was money that we worked hard for all our lives and more than half of our life savings have now gone.'

Caller claimed to be Santander's fraud squad

Similarly, Gillian Barton, 71, from Cumbria, lost 20,000 after receiving a phone call from a woman claiming to work in Santander's 'fraud squad'.

It was a Friday afternoon and the retired hotelier was about to pick up her grandchildren from school.

The woman claiming to be from the bank, who had a Scottish accent, told her that fraudsters were trying to steal money from her account at that very moment, and she panicked.

Gillian had no reason to be suspicious about the call because the caller ID on her phone said the number belonged to Santander.

She found out later that fraudsters can make a phone call or text message appear to come from another number. This is called 'number spoofing'.

The crook managed to convince Gillian that she needed to move her money into another bank account to keep it safe.

They even called Santander pretending to be Gillian to speed up the transfer.

In the end, she managed to get back only 1,800.

'It's frustrating to think that banks are sitting on all that money which belongs to fraud victims like me.' says Gillian.

'If I could get my savings back it would give me the financial security to know I'll be able to continue to take holidays and I won't have to fret about the car breaking down and not being able to replace it.'

In April, Money Mail revealed that Santander was fobbing off fraud victims in just 24 hours.

One woman lost 180,000 to fraudsters and only 50,000 was recovered.

A spokesman for Santander says: 'We take the fight against fraud very seriously and we are sympathetic to the impact it can have on people's lives.

'We are committing a great deal of resources to educating people that both banks and consumers have a role to play in keeping the fraudsters at bay.

'We provide regular communication to our customers about fraud prevention, as well as an online security centre and participation in industry-wide schemes.'

'Crooks knew how to trick me'

Charlotte Blakey lost 9,830 when she was duped by fraudsters while shopping online.

She had saved the money carefully over four years while she worked in America as a stewardess on superyachts. Now back home in Falmouth, Cornwall, she was trying to buy a horse lorry.

The 30-year-old spotted what seemed a terrific deal on a popular horse-trading website.

When she tried to make the payment online, a screen popped up saying it was 'too large' and that she should pay by bank transfer instead.

Charlotte had no idea that this was a ruse by criminals to steal her money.

The horse box never arrived and the seller stopped replying to her messages.

Charlotte's bank, NatWest, says the money went into a Croatian bank account and was quickly withdrawn.

The bank won't cover Charlotte's losses because she authorised the payment.

While banks typically cover losses for non-existent or faulty goods when you pay by credit or debit card, they routinely wash their hands of the matter when you pay by bank transfer.

'I feel foolish and ashamed, but these fraudsters are really sophisticated,' says Charlotte.

'They know how to manipulate people into paying by bank transfer. That way, you've been totally hung out to dry.'

A spokesman for NatWest says: 'We do everything we can to minimise the impact of a scam on the customer through tracing the funds in an effort to recover monies paid.

'On this occasion, we were unable to recover any funds from the beneficiary account as the money had already been removed.'

Charlotte says: 'I think a fund to compensate victims is a fantastic idea. I'd be over the moon if someone said they had found my cash in a fraudster's account.

'Even if I got just some of it back, it would make a huge difference to my life.'

Martyn James, of customer complaints website Resolver, says: 'The banks have been rejecting fraud claims for years, so they should share the money equally among genuine victims, regardless of when the money was taken.'
Money Mail has been warning about the rise of bank transfer scams for years. In January, we reported on the case of Richard Barber, a former editor of OK! magazine, who lost 4,000 to bank transfer fraud.

Richard, 69, received an email from his Polish builder, Wojtek, which looked no different to his usual messages.

It asked for a deposit of 4,000 for a loft conversion that Richard was having done.

Scammed: Richard Barber believed he had received an email from his builder - but his account had been hacked

The journalist met Wojtek five days later and the builder said he hadn't sent the email or received the money.

Wojtek investigated and found out his email account had been hacked. He warned all his clients someone was impersonating him in order to steal their money.

Richard, from Whitsable, Kent, asked his bank, Coutts, for help, but was told just 4.33 of his cash remained in the fraudster's account.

Barclays, the bank that received the funds, said his 4,000 had been withdrawn within four hours of the payment being made and there was no way of getting the money back.

Richard says a compensation fund is long overdue. 'I don't suppose I would get back my full 4,000... but anything more than the 4.33 I was offered would be very helpful,' he says.

Thousands of people have fallen victim to such scams.

Conveyancing solicitors, in particular, have been targeted because crooks know they receive large sums of money by bank transfer from home buyers.

In February, Money Mail reported that fraudsters were even trying to hack into the accounts of people moving home.

Christine and Roger Wilkinson, from Maidenhead, Berkshire, were left 59,000 out of pocket when the proceeds of their house sale were sent to a fraudster's account.

Crooks had hacked the couple's email account to trick their solicitor and they only got back 82 per cent of the 309,000 sale price.

In a separate investigation, we revealed that holidaymakers were left thousands of pounds out of pocket.

Dozens of fraud victims wrote in to say they had been sold 'bargain' holidays in the Canary and Balearic Islands that didn't exist.
RBS has sold its stake in Euroclear to Intercontinental Exchange for 245million

PROFITS BLOW Despite a sales boost, Carpetright expects profits for the half-year to fall below the year before. The retailer said market volatility across the UK and Europe will affect its first-half results when it reports in December 12. It came despite the firm posting a 0.8 per cent increase in same store sales in the 25 weeks to October 21.

NO CHARGE Prosecutors probing German stock market boss Carsten Kengeter over insider trading claims say they do not have enough evidence to charge him. Kengeter bought 4million of shares in his firm Deutsche Boerse shortly before it unveiled plans for a deal with the London Stock Exchange that later fell through.

STAKE SALE Taxpayer-backed Royal Bank of Scotland has sold its stake in markets business Euroclear to Intercontinental Exchange for 245million. RBS shares rose 0.5 per cent, or 1.5p, to 281p yesterday.

BANK SLIP-UP Italian banking giant Unicredit is facing embarrassment after accidentally releasing its third-quarter results three months early. The lender mistakenly sent the figures to analysts and investors on Monday night. Profits at the firm climbed to 828.4million, up 45 per cent on a year earlier.

ROTTEN ROADS A record number of businesses are dissatisfied with the state of roads and other infrastructure in their region, a CBI study reveals. Research by the employers organisation found that three out of five firms doubt if there will be any improvement during the current Parliament.

GOOD SHOW Household and personal care products manufacturer McBride said sales in the first quarter were 6.7 per cent lower than the previous year while household division sales were down 5.1pc. Despite this, performance will be significantly weighted towards the second half of the year as sales from its growth strategy begin to benefit the business.

SOFA SLUMP The boss of furnishings firm ScS has been given a pay cut. David Knight received a pay package worth 591,303 in the year to the end of July, down from 801,290 the year before.

BAUER MAN Audio firm Audio Boom has appointed Oli Walters, who previously worked at Bauer Media and managed its brand partnerships with Wickes, Shop Direct and Three Mobile, as head of sales.




Travellers will be able to connect to Aer Lingus transatlantic destinations from Southend airport

Passengers will be able to fly to America from Southend from the end of this month.

London Southend Airport has launched a service that allows travellers to connect to Aer Lingus transatlantic destinations.

Under the connecting flight deal, which launches on October 29, customers will fly to Dublin Airport with Flybe, then can travel to New York, Boston, Washington and Los Angeles with Aer Lingus.

One way air fares to Southend New York from 199

Washington from 199

Orlando from 209

Los Angeles from 229

San Francisco from 239

Boston from 199

Chicago from 199

Toronto from 199

A trip from Southend to JFK airport in New York will cost 199 while a flight from Southend to Los Angeles will set you back 229.

Another bonus is that Dublin Airport is operated by US customs and border staff  so on arrival in the US visitors will be treated as domestic passengers and can avoid lengthy delays at the airport.

Glyn Jones, chief executive at Southend, said the service will enable flyers to complete security and customer checks in Dublin before making their onward trip to the US.
Bob Mackenzie was sacked after an alleged altercation and faces a legal battle over his bonus

The AA is demanding its ousted chairman hand back more than 1.2million in bonuses due to an alleged altercation that has only now come to light.

Bob Mackenzie was sacked in July after claims of a punch-up with another member of staff.

Now AA lawyers want him to hand back his 2016 and 2017 bonus awards due to an alleged earlier altercation, thought to have been with an AA employee, that was not disclosed to the board.

The 65-year-olds legal team is expected to dispute the AAs demands.

He was sacked for gross misconduct after allegedly clashing with AA insurance division boss Michael Lloyd at a hotel amid simmering tensions over plans to spin off the insurance division.

The AA is braced for a courtroom battle over whether its decision to sack Mackenzie was justified  and whether he will get a lucrative bonus.

AA fell 0.1p to 159.9p.
Metro Bank saw profits jump in the last quarter as it continued to attract more customers, increased its lending and opened its 50th branch in the UK.

Alongside the results, the challenger bank also announced that its chief financial officer Mike Brierley is to step down next year and will be replaced by David Arden, chief financial officer of Sainsburys Bank.

The bank said that underlying pre-tax profits rose 77 per cent to 7.2million in the three months to the end of September, up from 4million in the previous quarter.

It means that pre-tax profit in the year to date is 13.2million  compared to a 12.4million loss last year.

Growing: Metro opened its 50th 'store' in Peterborough, with another 12 to open next year

Metro, which opened its first branch in the UK in 2010, notched up record quarterly customer growth as 79,000 new accounts were opened, taking its total to 1.1million. Deposits from customers rose by 10 per cent compared to the previous quarter. Lending was also up 11 per cent, or 858million, at 8.6billion.

Despite the upbeat results, shares in the FTSE-250 listed group were 26.25p lower at 3,614.75p.

Vernon Hill, the lender's chairman and founder, said: We are the revolution in British banking, offering real choice to consumers and businesses.'

As we take the revolution to the high streets of Swindon, Canterbury and Peterborough, we are giving those urban communities and businesses a real alternative and a reason to love their bank at last.

Metro opened its 50th store  thats how it calls its branches - in Peterborough in September and said it was going to open 12 new ones next year in cities like Birmingham and Bristol.

This is part of chief executive Craig Donaldson's plan to expand the bank's branch network to 100 by 2020, creating 2,500 extra jobs and doubling the staff roster in the process.

The bank also announced the departure of its chief financial officer Mike Brierley in March 2018 following the group's full year results.

He said: 'When we started Metro Bank few people believed we could become the first new High Street Bank in the UK in over 100 years. I am proud of what we have built [...] We are the revolution in UK banking. My final executive role has been my most challenging but also the most fun.'

Brierley's successor - subject to regulatory approval - will be David Arden, the chief fiancial officer of Sainsbury's Bank, a position he has held since March 2012.

Arden is also currently interim managing director of Argos Financial Services following last year's acquisition of Home Retail Group by Sainsbury's.
GlaxoSmithKline could swoop on the consumer healthcare arms of US rival Pfizer and Germanys Merck.

The British drug makers chief executive, Emma Walmsley, said it would consider the acquisitions as a way of bulking up its consumer division which includes brands such as Panadol and Horlicks.

Pfizers consumer healthcare arm, which owns painkiller Advil, is thought to be worth 11.3bn while the Merck division behind Seven Seas cod liver oil tablets is valued at 3.4bn.

There are fears that a spending spree could eat into dividends, as well as its plans to refocus on its pharmaceutical division.

Any bid from Glaxo is likely to be met with fierce competition from rival suitors, with Durex and Cillit Bang owner Reckitt Benckiser also on the acquisition trail.

Walmsley said: In terms of Pfizer or Merck, we would look at these assets and really look at them carefully in terms of their complementarity to our power brand strategy and our geographic footprint. She stressed it was still extremely early, with Pfizer yet to decide whether it would sell its consumer healthcare arm, and that Glaxo would prioritise its pharmaceuticals business.

But shares sank 5.5 per cent, or 83.5p, to 1429p, with some investors fearing it could lead to dividend cuts. Glaxo is just one company expected to be interested if Pfizer and Merck choose to sell. This month, Pfizer said it was considering a sale and Merck is mulling the fate of its operations. Both are expected to decide next year.

Glaxos consumer health products brought in 7.2bn in sales, including income from brands such as Voltaren and Sensodyne.

Walmsley, 48, is spearheading efforts to cut costs and concentrate on research into new drugs. Glaxo has lagged behind competitors in developing so-called blockbusters and Walmsley has said its new strategy could include buying competitors or launching new partnerships. It is also mulling whether to buy the minority stake in its consumer health joint venture with Novartis, if its Swiss partner opts to sell next year  a cost that could be around 7.5bn.

Glaxo yesterday announced a 4 per cent rise in third-quarter sales.

It was helped by the failure of generic drug makers in the US to win approvals for copies of its lung inhaler Advair, as well as a sales boost for HIV drugs. It is preparing to launch a vaccine, Shingrix, for shingles in the US.
A Deerfield man who refused to pay taxes for years has been sentenced to 23 months in prison.

Shawn Bierd, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William Conley in federal court in Madison after being found guilty of tax evasion and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

At the sentencing hearing, Bierd said he didnt pay over $178,000 in employment taxes because he believed the tax laws were not legal.

He didnt file employment tax returns or pay employment taxes from 2003 to 2012, when he owned Advance Auto Body in Madison, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

In 2007, the Internal Revenue Service started collection activity, including bank levies, liens on his home and an attempt to seize a truck used in his business, while Bierd moved his assets under names of others, including his mother.

He also sent frivolous correspondence to the IRS, claiming he was exempt from taxation and demanded the IRS pay him $10 million for damages due to the IRS collection actions, the release said.

The gun possession charge came in August of 2016, when Bierd had a .45 caliber Thompson sub-machine gun and a 9mm Beretta.

In 2012, Bierd was sentenced to probation after pleading no contest to shooting a neighbors dog because it killed one of his chickens.

He is a convicted felon based on a 1996 case of fleeing/eluding an officer, court records show.
Metro Bank has proclaimed it is taking a revolution to the streets of Peterborough and Swindon.

The small lender has 50 branches, mostly in London, but is now seeking to expand.

It has just opened in Peterborough and is set to launch in Swindon, Bristol, Canterbury and Oxford, and it is in talks over a site in Cardiff.

New horizons: The small lender has 50 branches, mostly in London, but is now seeking to expand

Founder Vernon Hill  an American billionaire who started his career in the fast food business  said: We are giving those urban communities and businesses a real alternative and a reason to love their bank at last.

Metro yesterday unveiled a 4.7m profit in the three months to September 30, up from a 416m loss a year earlier. The loan book expanded to 8.6bn, an annual rise of 66 per cent.

Chief executive Craig Donaldson said the lender was applying for cash from a 425m Royal Bank of Scotland fund to boost competition in small business banking.
A culture of pervading sexism gripped the Royal Bank of Scotland under disgraced boss Fred Goodwin, a leading female financier has said.

Jayne-Anne Gadhia, who worked at NatWest owner RBS from 2001 until 2007, blasted the banks very male culture which was win-lose.

And she said the City still had a deeply ingrained problem with women.

In an explosive intervention, the 56-year-old, who is married with one child, even told MPs on the Treasury Select Committee of a female worker who felt pressured to have sex with her male boss at RBS.

Jayne-Anne Gadhia, who worked at NatWest owner RBS from 2001 until 2007, blasted the banks very male culture which was win-lose.

I remember a very senior woman being very upset one day, telling me that she was expected to sleep with her boss, she said.

That sort of thing, of course, means there are issues for women in progressing through financial services.

Gadhia, who ran RBSs 65bn mortgage business under Goodwin, left the bank following concerns over its culture. Undoubtedly, there was a sort of pervading sexism, she said.

She is chief executive of Virgin Money, which is said to be on the verge of appointing former HSBC executive Irene Dorner as chairman in a move that would complete the only all-female leadership team among the UKs 350 biggest listed companies.

Goodwin himself had an affair with a senior staff member in the run-up to the banks near-collapse and rescue with 46bn of taxpayers money  a fact he initially sought to keep secret through a High Court gagging order. There is no suggestion, however, Goodwin has been sexist or behaved inappropriately towards women. Gadhia also hit out at sexism in the insurance industry, which she said had even further to go than banking. She worked for Norwich Union in the 1980s and 1990s, and said that the testosterone-fuelled culture saw women passed over for promotion. I had hoped that I would be able to take a more senior role in that sales team, and I was told by a very senior person, You do not have the characteristics necessary to lead a sales force, she said. I said, What is that? And he said, The two things you are missing is a thick skin and a load of bull. It didnt strike me as sexist at the time  but there was a definite alpha-maleness about that I have not forgotten.

She also recounted stories of a male executive who told her he was worried about promoting women because they got pregnant. An RBS spokesman said: These allegations are shocking and are clearly unacceptable no matter how historic they may be.

Jan Gooding, director of inclusion at insurer Aviva, which owns the business that used to be called Norwich Union, said: Aviva has zero tolerance for any sexist behaviour.

Gadhia has led a government review of women in financial services and is championing a charter signed by more than 100 companies to improve gender diversity.

She criticised two investment banks which have not signed up, understood to be Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan. Goldman said: As a global firm, it is challenging for us to make a regional commitment by signing up. The company added it would seek to follow the charters objectives.

JP Morgan said: We are supportive of the goals of the charter.
MPOMPOTHA  A baying mob stormed the homestead of one of the men suspected to have killed his partner recently, forcing family members to flee.

The furious mob attack occurred at Mpompotha on Thursday night, according to the police. It is believed the attack was motivated by the brutal slaying of the 25-year-old woman, who was working as a shop assistant in one of the supermarkets in Nhlangano. The mob is said to have entered the residence on Thursday shortly after 11pm, and started to vandalise property. The damage caused by the rampaging mob was estimated to be around E45 000, police said.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that a man from the same homestead had allegedly killed his partner following a domestic squabble. It is understood a certain family in the area was very angry at what had happened. Interviewed residents said there was tension in the area but it reached boiling point when the news of the womans gruesome death broke out.

About nine family members were reportedly sleeping in the house when the singing crowd stormed the homestead. The head of the family mentioned that it had been barely a few minutes since his arrival at the homestead from his workplace in Mbabane when he was disturbed by noise coming from the yard. He said he went outside to investigate. I saw three boys from around the community and asked what their problem was. The youngsters talked about the news of the death of my daughter-in-law, but in a civilised manner and we then separated, he said. He said soon thereafter, a group of people, armed with an assortment of weapons, invaded the homestead and pelted windows with stones. The man said the crowd further broke doors and forced entry.

Brandishing spears, bush knives and sticks, the irate group of people started turning everything inside the house upside down, and further assaulted everyone they came across. They were demanding to know where my son was hiding, while threatening to set the house alight as well, narrated the head of the family. Seeing that their lives were in danger, the man said he bolted to a neighbours house where he managed to make a call to the police. Back inside the house, the irate mob continued to wreak havoc, and ignored screams of terrified children. Another family member recalled how the attackers were chanting, sobulalu van damme as they assaulted them. Meanwhile, another group, which was outside, continued to pelt stones and further proceeded to vandalise a vehicle that was parked in the yard. As a result, the car had its windscreen destroyed while the tyres were also flattened with a spear.

We managed to escape, one after the other, and sought refuge at a nearby homestead, the family member said. Police later arrived and eventually rescued two children, who were held captive inside the car that was being destroyed. The family members were eventually whisked to safety by officers who accommodated them at the KaPhunga Police Station for the remaining hours of the night. As a result of the attack, the family has now been forced to seek shelter elsewhere. The incident was confirmed by Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Khulani Mamba, who issued a strong warning to communities to refrain from mob attacks.




MBABANE -Please provide us with the indictment and statement of witnesses so we can prepare our defence.

This is the request by the lawyer of one of the suspects in the alleged murder of businessman Almor Oliveira. Dao Thantas lawyer, Leo Gama, has since written a letter to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) demanding that he be furnished with all documents that will be used against his client. This includes statement of witnesses, indictment and summary of evidence. The lawyer mentioned that the reason he wanted these documents was for purposes of consulting with his client and further preparing defence. This reporter has it in authority that the accused had still not been indicted at the High Court. This means that their trial date remained unknown despite that they were still languishing in custody. It has been almost six months since Oliveira went missing and his whereabouts remain unknown. The businessman disappeared on April 16, 2017. Qing Ming He and Dao Thanta Hue, who are suspects in the kidnapping and murder of the businessman, are currently incarcerated.

When opposing their application, which was subsequently dismissed by the court, Senior Superintendent Clement Sihlongonyane stated that this type of kidnapping was different from other kidnappings in the country. This is because in such kidnappings, the kidnapped person would be present to tell how he or she was kidnapped. In the present case, the person is still missing and its been months now and it is suspected that he is dead by now, submitted the senior law enforcer. Meanwhile, the businessmans wife was recently at loggerheads with the company which provided security services in their business premises. The wife, through the management, wrote a letter to the security firm where she stated that its payment would be facilitated when Oliveira returns. This stringent condition by Swaziland Scrapyards came after the director of the security company started demanding payment. She also stated that the security guards employed by Lingangane Protection Services were the reason Oliveira went missing.

In a letter directed to the security firm, Oliveiras wife, through the management, further mentioned that if there was a designated security on duty, the disappearance and or kidnapping of the businessman would have been prevented. The security company, however, later obtained an order directing the businessmans company to pay it. This was after the High Court issued a default judgment against the businessmans company, Swaziland Scrapyards, trading as MTC Properties. Default judgment is a binding judgment in favour of either party based on some failure to take action by the other party. Most often, it is a judgment in favour of a plaintiff when the defendant has not responded to a summons or has failed to appear before a court of law. The failure to take action is the default. The default judgment comes after Lingangane Protection Services (PTY) Limited took Oliveiras company to court where it was demanding payment of over E45 000.
MBABANE  I will run this place like a prison.

These words were allegedly said by one of the directors of a printing company to employees. The directors name is known to this publication but he will not be named for now as the matter is still under investigation. In a letter by the Swaziland Commercial and Allied Workers Union(SCAWU), which represents the employees, to the Commissioner of Labour, it was alleged that the director was racist and even once referred to an employee as a racist pig. In their letter, which was signed by the Secretary General Reuben Ndlangamandla, SCAWU alleged that the director was a typical bully and was anti union. He harasses and victimises union members for exercising their right of belonging to the union, the letter states.

The union alleged that the director uses the f-word like it is his personal anthem. They alleged that each time there was a disagreement with the union, he lashed out at the employees and victimised them. This, they alleged, he does in front of union officials to prove a point. His careless outbursts have caused the employees great fear and discomfort, the union said. The director allegedly makes draconian laws and expects compliance from the staff. Ndlangamandla alleged that during negotiations, they saw the worst of the director. It was alleged that during the recent negotiations, he charged towards a female union official as though he wanted to assault her. Ndlangamandla said there was a litany of complaints against the director such that they could not reduce all of them to paper, but a thorough investigation would uncover a lot. His methods and attitude leave a lot to be desired, Ndlangamandla said.

Victimisation

The employees have also petitioned the commissioner to investigate the alleged victimisation, harassment, intimidation and racial insults by the director. The petition dated August 16 was signed by a total of 41 employees. The employees alleged that they felt like they worked under pressure because they feared that the director could do anything to them. They alleged that the director shouted at them and pointed at them in their faces in front of customers. They felt like he was already running the organisation like a prison. They alleged that during negotiations, the director did not want their shop stewards to negotiate and he also allegedly blamed them for theft in the company by a former manager. The employees alleged that the director said they were supposed to report the thieving manager yet he protected him when they laid complaints against him. His response was that we were saying this because we didnt like that manager and he also told us that as a staff, we wont get any increment because of what the manager did (sic), the employees alleged.

They also alleged that the theft issue was not addressed properly as no proper action was taken. The employees alleged that the director advised the manager to leave the country before any action was taken against him. The petition further alleges that the manager insulted a female union official and said she was talking rubbish and pointed at her in the face.




Decrying repeated failures by the state to better staff his office, Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne called on Dane County officials Tuesday to approve three new attorney jobs for the DAs office that were among those turned down in the latest state budget.

He also said prosecutors will be more selective about the cases they charge in light of caseloads that outstrip staffing levels.

Ozanne said the three attorney jobs he sought were not included in Dane County Executive Joe Parisis budget, so he is now asking the County Board to put the jobs into next years budget. He said that earlier, as he has done every year since 2011, he asked the state to add about a dozen new prosecutors to his office, but that request was denied.

Prosecutors are generally state jobs, funded by state money. Before 1990, prosecutors were paid by counties. Support staff for DAs offices is generally provided by counties.

County Board Chairwoman Sharon Corrigan said, however, that no budget amendments seeking attorneys have been submitted, and even if one was, its prospects would be slim. The state is responsible for funding assistant district attorneys, she said, and it needs to step up and provide funding increases.

Ozanne said that given the shortage of staff, prosecutors will become more selective about the cases that they charge. He said priority will continue to be given to homicides, gun-related and violent crimes, sexual assaults, human trafficking, domestic violence and drunken driving, but other kinds of cases may not be prosecuted.

Ozanne declined to be specific about what kinds of cases those might be, only saying that we are evaluating that right now.

We will continue to read every referral that comes into this office, Ozanne said. We will evaluate each individual case on its own merits. Unfortunately, there are going to be some tough decisions that were going to have to make.

He said his office seeks alternative funding and grants for staff jobs, has restructured the office and curtailed some work outside the office in the community, but lawyers are still working nights and weekends to keep up.

We are being taxed beyond our limits, Ozanne said.

Ozanne said he is asking Dane County for the three attorney positions because there is a perfect storm in the DAs office in which almost all prosecutors with at least 20 years of experience have retired, and several mid-career prosecutors have taken jobs elsewhere, such as in the state Attorney Generals office or the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Younger lawyers dont stay long, he said, because of high case volumes and little to no pay increases. This year, he said, thats been challenged by Dane Countys highest number of homicides, along with many more non-fatal shooting incidents.

Ozanne called the situation a public safety crisis, a term he has used in the past to describe staff shortages in his office. He said the office continues to be staffed at the same level it was in 1985, despite a population in Dane County that has grown from about 300,000 to more than 500,000.

Ozanne is asking Dane County to fund a prosecutor who would specialize in serious traffic crashes, a sensitive crimes prosecutor and a violent felony case prosecutor. He said that some other counties, such as Brown, Eau Claire and Ozaukee, have funded attorneys to work as prosecutors.

Corrigan said the countys funding of the DAs office has increased from $3.7 million in 2011 to $5.2 million this year, as paralegals and support staff have been added, some to aid diversion programs as alternatives to prosecution.

A budget amendment asking for money for attorneys would have to be proposed in writing through a county committee, such as Public Protection and Judiciary, which met Tuesday and will meet again Monday. No amendment has been submitted, Corrigan said.

When Ozanne has sought money from the county for attorneys in the past, Corrigan said, the response from the board has been that funding for lawyers is a state function.

We need to be able to rely on the state for doing the part that theyre responsible for, Corrigan said.

Sheriff Dave Mahoney, appearing at a news conference with Ozanne, said law enforcement relies on attorneys in the DAs office to represent crime victims in court, and said he applauds Ozannes decision to speak out Tuesday.

Its inexcusable that our state leaders, our lawmakers who are entwined in petty name-calling and arguments at the state level, fail to meet the needs of our citizens who are victims of crime, Mahoney said.
Bethlehem

Residents wondered why Bethlehem was tearing up Fernbank Avenue's year old sidewalks recently and ripping into Roweland Avenue which was repaved this summer.

Public Works director George Kansas told the Times Union that, unfortunately, the aging sewer pipes beneath the two recently installed surfaces needed repair.

"About 30 percent of our water infrastructure is more than 70 years old," Kansas said, promising the work would be done soon and well before Thanksgiving.

Kansas said workers send in a "rover," which he describes as looking like a "small remote controlled car with a camera," into the pipes to check on them.

A Safe Routes to School grant paid for the Fernbank sidewalks. Kansas said the only viable place to install them was above an existing sewer line. He said the town plans to replace the sidewalks and there are funds to do so.

The repairs were not mentioned on the town's website, but Kansas said that was an accidental oversight. He noted that since Bethlehem highway superintendent Brent Meredith resigned to take a university job, Kansas has been juggling some of Meredith's responsibilities along with public works.

"I should have updated the website but that just slipped my mind," he said.

Asked if he was looking forward to November's election of a new highway superintendent he replied, "I'm looking forward to January when the new superintendent takes his job."
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WATERFORD - Opponents of a proposed massive expansion of the Colonie landfill near the Mohawk River warned Tuesday that the landfill could be legally barred from accepting more trash by spring.

During a press conference Tuesday near Lock 6, Waterford Supervisor Jack Lawler said the landfill could reach its state-imposed legal dumping limit by April. That could force the landfill to stop accepting trash unless the state issues a new permit for the expanded landfill.

And that, in turn, could lead to the town putting pressure on the DEC to act on the expansion.

At dumping rates reported by the town to the DEC in March, the landfill could be filled as early as February, according to a Times Union analysis, unless steps are taken to reduce the amount of incoming trash.

In March, the town reported that it had about 411,000 cubic yards of remaining available space, and was receiving about 820 tons of trash daily. At that rate, there would be about 217,000 cubic yards remaining - enough to last until Feb. 1 at that same dumping rate.

Lawler and Halfmoon Supervisor Kevin Tollisen oppose the expansion, saying potential seepage from the landfill remains a threat to the nearby Mohawk River that DEC has chosen not to explore.

This week, the conservation group Riverkeeper took river water samples from near the landfill to be tested at Cornell University for potential pollution from the landfill.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is reviewing the town's proposal to expand the dump in a 132-acre section of the already capped landfill called Area 7. There, new trash could ultimately be piled up to eight stories high during the next two decades.

Part of that site includes 50 acres where hazardous waste was dumped by Colonie until the early 1980s. The DEC classifies this area, which does not include an underground liner to help collect potential pollution from seeping into the ground, as an inactive hazardous waste site.

The current permit for the landfill expires on Dec. 31. While the DEC can extend that permit, Lawler said, the state cannot increase the maximum amount of allowable garbage unless it issues a permit for the expansion.

Matthew McGarry, a public works engineer for Colonie, on Tuesday disputed Lawler's timetable that the landfill could be full by April, but he declined to offer a competing version.

"When the landfill is filled, depends on how quickly you accept waste," he said. "If we thought the landfill was filling up, we could slow down" by prioritizing waste deliveries from Colonie first.

DEC spokeswoman Erica Ringewald said the state is considering a request from the town to extend the current permit deadline under the State Administrative Procedure Act, or SAPA.

"As the town of Colonie submitted a timely application to renew its landfill operating permit, the current permit would be extended under SAPA until a new permit is issued or the landfill reaches its current permitted capacity," said Ringewald.

She said questions on that timetable should be directed to Colonie officials.

In opposing the expansion, Waterford and Halfmoon officials are concerned downward pressure caused by tons of new trash could squeeze out loose "alluvial" soils  and possibly existing pollution from the old hazardous waste site  underground in the direction of the nearby river.

George Harris, a retired engineer and landfill opponent, said DEC documents provided through requests under the state Freedom of Information Law show that water sampling of the Mohawk has not been done near the landfill. The closest samples were taken about two miles downstream near drinking water intakes for the city of Cohoes.

Engineers hired by the town are recommending that the ground beneath the proposed expansion be stabilized by injecting a type of cement deep underground, which could relieve pressure from pushing out potential pollution through the ground toward the river.

"This technique has never been done in a landfill before," said Lawler.

In 2011 Colonie agreed to lease the 44-year-old landfill to Texas-based Waste Connections Inc.

The 25-year agreement gave Colonie $23.8 million up front, plus another $33.5 million over the life of the deal, with cash incentives for expanding the facility.

The town applied for the landfill expansion in August 2016. The DEC asked for more information and took public comments until early July this year.

Lawler said Waterford and Halfmoon asked the DEC for a hearing before an administrative law judge nearly a year ago. "We are still waiting for their answer," he said.
Albany

A plan by President Donald J. Trump to force electricity customers nationwide to subsidize coal- and nuclear-fired power plants is drawing fire from New York leaders.

Unveiled last month, the proposal by the U.S. Energy Department would require additional payments to power plant owners that store at least a 90-day fuel supply. That would apply to coal and nuclear plants, but leave out natural gas, as well as renewable energy like wind and solar.

This week, officials from the administration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as well as Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, wrote to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to oppose the plan. Energy Secretary Rick Perry has said he wants to act on the proposal before the end of the year.

State officials warned it will expose New Yorkers to more air pollution from power plants in upwind Midwestern states whose owners would be encouraged to run the plants longer, and add to ongoing man-made climate change.

Coal is high in emissions in carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that an international scientific consensus has identified as driving man-made climate change. Its emissions also contribute to acid rain and smog.

President Trump has stated climate change is a Chinese hoax and during his campaign vowed to promote increased use of coal. Earlier this year, he pulled the U.S. out of the Paris climate treaty.

Energy Secretary Rick Perry has said he wants to act on the subsidy rule by the end of the year.

"This proposal is so vague, it is impossible to be certain, but it likely worth billions of dollars, " said Miles Farmer, a staff attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council. "This is being driven entirely by a political agenda to bail out coal. They had their goal first, and they came with the rationale later."

The letter to FERC was signed by top officials from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, state Energy Research and Development Authority, and state Public Service Commission, as well as the Long Island Power Authority.

A similar letter to FERC opposing the plan came from the New York Independent System Operator, which oversees the state's electrical power grid and a bidding system that sets the price of electricity.

New York has rapidly phased out coal from its power supply in favor of natural gas, which is now abundant and low-cost due to a hydrofracking boom in Pennsylvania and other states. As recently as 2007, about 15 percent of the state's electricity came from coal. That figure is now less than 1 percent.

"New York's comments to FERC are a powerful rebuke of the Trump Administration's attempt to disguise a coal bailout in the name of reliability." according to a statement from the Public Service Commission. "The proposed policy is unnecessary, as there are already mechanisms in place to ensure reliability, and infringes on the states' rights to enact policies to protect the environment and the public interest."

Schneiderman called the proposal an "unlawful, thinly veiled corporate giveaway that threatens to impede New York's progress in protecting the environment."

To justify the proposal, Perry's department cited threats to the national electrical supply posed by extreme weather, such as the 2014 Polar vortex, which plunged much of the Northeast into a cold snap that made it impossible for some power plants to operate.

Perry also cited extreme storms like Superstorm Sandy, a tropical storm that slammed New York in 2012.

Climate scientists believe that such extreme weather events are becoming more likely and more powerful due to ongoing climate change. Research has linked the shrinking Arctic ice cap with a weakening polar vortex, which allows frigid temperatures to push farther south.
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Bethlehem

New York state is close to approving $100,000 in funding to pay for new LED lighting fixtures that are a key part of the town of Bethlehem's $3.1 million Delaware Avenue streetscape upgrade project.

Since the summer, Rifenburg Construction has been ripping up the roads and sidewalks along Delaware Avenue and Delmar's Four Corners neighborhood to replace a World War II era water line and put in new curbing, sidewalks, landscaping and lighting.

The project will dramatically improve pedestrian safety and curb appeal along Delmar's main retail and commercial span.

The town has been able to get more than a $1 million in state funding for the project, including money from NYSERDA, the state's renewable energy development agency.

On Wednesday night, the town board is expected to sign off on a $100,000 grant from NYSERDA to pay for 54 new light fixtures on Delaware Avenue that will have LED bulbs instead of the current lighting, which uses traditional bulbs.

The NYSERDA money will pay for all of the project costs.

The Bethlehem Town Board is meeting Wednesday night at 6 p.m. A public hearing on the town's preliminary budget, which would add $30 to the average tax bill, will also take place.

LEDs, or light emitting diodes, use semiconductor material, like that used in solar panels or computer chips, to make light. The bulbs are much more durable and longer lasting than traditional light bulbs. The new LEDs are expected to cut electric usage for the lighting by half.

NYSERDA sets up incentive programs to promote the replacement of traditional bulbs with LEDs by municipal governments.

However, Bethlehem had to earn a designation as a "Clean Energy Community" from NYSERDA to become eligible for the $100,000.

In order to become a Clean Energy Community, the town had to take several concrete steps to become forward-thinking in terms of energy efficiency and renewable energy, including streamlining its solar panel permitting process, training its building department employees on energy code enforcement, tracking energy usage in town buildings and promoting solar energy programs.

Clifton Park, Niskayuna and the town of Knox also have the designation, along with the cities of Albany, Cohoes and Glens Falls.

Bethlehem earned the Clean Energy Community designation in March and applied for the LED lighting grant in May.

The Delaware Avenue streetscape project is still ongoing, with detours, lane closures and sidewalks and road paving being ripped up and replaced in the Four Corners.

However, the project is expected to be completed in the coming months.
In the realm of choral composing, Ola Gjeilo counts as major star. Choirs of all sizes and skill levels  from student groups to professional ensembles  sing his airy, elevating, exquisitely layered works, pieces that sound both instantly accessible and thick with meaning. They're moving. Profound. They make you think.

But when audiences sit down to listen, Gjeilo just wants them to see things.

"That's something I always wanted. I wanted my music to be evocative and conjure inner images. ... I like my own music, ideally, to be kind of film music without a film," said the composer, on the phone from his home in New York City. "I love when people say that as they listen to my music that sort of have their own film going on inside their head. And everybody's experience is different."

He is, he explained, both a huge fan of cinema and an admirer of work that stirs emotion. "It's always been incredibly important to me that my music is emotionally honest  and I always wanted my music to ideally, you know, touch people and feel uplifting without being fake or sentimental," he said. "That's always been my goal."

More Information If you go "Across the Vast, Eternal Sky": The music of Ola Gjeilo, featuring the American String Quartet Where: Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, 30 Second St., Troy. When: 3 p.m. Sunday Tickets: $25, $35 Info: 518-273-0038; troymusichall.org; albanypromusica.org See More Collapse

At 3 p.m. Sunday, Gjeilo and his music will hold the stage at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall with the American String Quartet and Albany Pro Musica under the baton of Jose Daniel Flores-Caraballo. The APM season opener kicks off the start of Gjeilo's three-year residency with the group, a collaboration slated to yield multiple concerts, two new compositions and participation with local schools.

Talking about the APM season last month, Flores-Caraballo said he approached Gjeilo with the residency because he wanted "to have a composer of great name recognition, not only because of the quality of the work, but also because Pro Musica is now on a trajectory" toward a larger national profile.

"I know their reputation, and they're a wonderful group  so it was really an easy decision to make," Gjeilo said. "And I love doing longer collaborations like that, where you really can develop a relationship  and really kind of build something."

A native of Norway who's lived in the United States since 2001, Gjeilo (Yay-lo) grew up hearing most every kind of music  and all of that everything finds its way into his body of work. "Absolutely. My music, I think, is sort of inspired by all the music I grew up listening to," he said. His parents "would play so much music in the house, anything from classical to pop to folk music to jazz  and I loved all of it."

Handel entranced him. Bach was and is an enormous influence  "my first love." But film composers hold a certain sway, these days. "Those have definitely been more of a direct influence on my music, I think, than the older classical composers," he said, ticking off Thomas Newman ("The Shawshank Redemption"), Alexandre Desplat ("The King's Speech"), Dario Marianelli ("V for Vendetta"), Jason Newton Howard ("The Dark Knight") and Howard Shore ("The Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" movies).

"I've always loved movies and television, so it's something that's been important to me always," he said. "And I think there's this evocative element to the music that really speaks to me."

On Sunday, APM will be performing some of Gjeilo's best-known works: "Ubi Caritas," based on the ancient Gregorian chant; "Dark Night of the Soul," from the memoir by St. John of the Cross; "Luminous Night of the Soul," its sequel; and "Across the Vast, Eternal Sky," a musical spin on the myth of the Phoenix, the firebird cyclically reborn in the ashes of the flame that kills it.

As with his musical influences, Gjeilo taps inspiration from sources all over the map. "I love writing both sacred and secular, or setting both secular and sacred texts," he said, adding that he generally uses either Latin or English. "I love the Latin language and how it feels to sing. It's really special to me."

When Gjeilo composes music, he sits down at the piano and improvises  following the spark of musical ideas until one or another matures into a full-blown choral composition.

"I've always loved improvisation," he said, "so that's usually where the composition process starts for me  with kind of nothing else but playing around on the keyboard or the piano, and just kind of build from there. So the inspiration kind of comes more from within than from external impulses."

When he performs alongside choirs, he often does the same, layering ad hoc piano accompaniment atop some his own works normally sung a cappella. In Troy he'll be doing exactly that on "Ubi Caritas," "which is the piece I've done the most with improvisation," he said. The American String Quartet will perform alongside the choir and Gjeilo at the piano on four pieces: "Dark," "Luminous," "Vast" and "The Ground," which is based on a chorale from his "Sunrise Mass" of 2008. (In addition, the quartet will perform some Beethoven on its own.)

Yet more of his works pack the program, a veritable Gjeilo blowout. While all of the programming for Gjeilo's residency isn't yet planned, APM's Dec. 17 Christmas concert will feature "Dreamweaver," his 30-minute piece for chorus, piano and string orchestra. His work with regional students will culminate on Jan. 28 with the finale of APM's annual High School Festival.

Although he hasn't sung in choirs himself since he was a student in Oslo, Gjeilo understands the joy of singing and the power of the voice. "It's a very personal instrument," he said. And it's portable. "Your instrument is always with you ... and it's really accessible to people on all levels, and that makes it very attractive."

And thanks to the near-ubiquity of choral groups around the country and the world, the choral repertoire isn't exactly stagnant. It's thriving. "I think it's one of the fastest-growing areas in classical music, which is really wonderful both on the amateur level and the professional level," he said, noting that many new groups and conductors have emerged in the past few years. "It's been really wonderful and encouraging ... a really exciting to be both a composer and a choral composer."

And as a composer, he aims to affect people  himself first, then his audiences. "In the end, I just like music that touches me, somehow," he said. "And if I enjoy it, then hopefully there's maybe a greater chance that other people will, too."

abiancolli@timesunion.com  518-454-5439  @AmyBiancolli
A Madison man considered the leader of a methamphetamine distribution ring has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Christopher Dutton, 43, was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge William Conley in federal court in Madison.

Dutton pleaded guilty to charges in August.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Dutton was the first of eight people charged in an indictment in March to be sentenced for conspiring to distribute meth in the Madison area.

Dutton brought at least 1.7 kilograms of nearly pure methamphetamine into the Madison area from California.

A 10-year mandatory minimum sentence was lengthened by Conley because of Dutton's role as leader of the drug ring.
Bluegrass musician Claire Lynch was born in the Hudson Valley burg of Kingston, far from the Southern soil where what would become her favorite musical genre took root. But at the age of 12, her family serendipitously moved way down to Alabama, closer to the source. Born to musically inclined parents, Lynch and her two sisters sang as a trio at church and elsewhere, gravitating early, according to her AllMusic bio, to smart pop  the likes of Joni Mitchell and the Beatles. According to Wikipedia, Lynch's musical career "transitioned during college when she became interested in bluegrass music. She joined a band called Hickory Wind, which eventually changed its name to the Front Porch String Band. Lynch played with the group until 1981, when it retired from the road. She then pursued a dual career of music and raising a family." AllMusic relates that Lynch worked for a time as a staff writer for a record label and her songs were recorded by major artists like Patti Loveless and Kathy Mattea. She blossomed as a solo artist in the 1990s, with her 1995 album "Moonlighter" earning a Grammy nomination for best bluegrass album. She has continued to produce lauded work in the years since  last year she earned another best bluegrass album Grammy nomination for "North by South," described by AllMusic as "an album of cover songs exclusively by Canadian writers." The Nashville music publication Music Row recommended giving a listen to the album's "Black Flowers," which it described as "a haunting, hushed, bluesy lament of death and mourning penned by Ottawa's Lynn Miles." Noting that Lynch had support on the album from such major talents as Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas and Alison Brown, the reviewer opined that "You'd be a fool to overlook this perfect audio jewel." Well, you do not want to be a fool, do you?

 Joseph Stalvey
A Cincinnatti woman got an engagement proposal she'll never forget thanks to the world's most famous hippo.

Nick Kelble and his girlfriend Hayley Roll had their engagement photos photobombed by baby Fiona at the Cincinnati Zoo Oct. 8.
A web search for "Nobuntu" yields, among other results, the web page for a retirement savings program in South Africa that promises to help participants to "grow old with dignity"  presumably not found dead in a stifling or freezing domicile or subsisting on pet food, those classic tropes of American golden years gone horribly dark. On its website bio, the musical group Nobuntu says its name "is an African concept that values humbleness, love, purpose, unity and family from a woman's perspective." Sounds like we could all use a little more nobuntu at all stages of life. The website describes the group's sound as "a fusion of traditional Zimbabwean-rooted music, Afro Jazz, Gospel and Crossover in pure voices with minimalistic percussion, traditional instruments such as Mbira [thumb piano]." A writer for Creative Loafing, reviewing a recent show in Sarasota, Fla., put the group's sound in context with this: "The five women of Nobuntu perform in a genre  imbube, or a cappella choral singing punctuated by dance  that until their 2011 debut had been traditionally dominated in Southern Africa by men, most famously Ladysmith Black Mambazo." Of their performance, the review had this to say: "Joy seems central to Nobuntu's existence: it's present in their glorious singing, their expressive dancing, even in their dress  plaids, stripes, florals in colors as exuberant as their vocals." For a sample of their sound, several songs (including "Narini," which became a hit single in Zimbabwe) from the group's second album, 2016's "Ekhaya," are available on their website, nobuntu-music.com. They make a rich and joyful noise, indeed.

 Joseph Stalvey
Earlier this year, a Bloomberg report named Hudson, NY one of the wealthiest small towns in America. No surprise, this means you can find a lot of ways to spend your money there, including dining out at local restaurants. Learn more about the report and find a few things to do in Hudson.

There are so many restaurants springing up in Hudson, in fact, our restaurant reviewer has made the 45-minute trek seven times since the beginning of 2016. In addition to a few of them receiving high marks in our own reviews, some of these eateries have gained attention outside of upstate New York.
With the opening on Tuesday night of "Fun Home," chalk another one up to Proctors for bringing hit musicals to Capital Region audiences. It was just 16 months ago that "Fun Home" received the Tony Award for best musical, along with three other Tonys, including for best score to composer Jeanine Tesori and best book to writer Lisa Kron.

"Fun Home" is based on Alison Bechdel's graphic novel/memoir of growing up in a funeral home. "Fun home" is what she and her siblings called the place. Long before the musical came about, Bechdel was known and respected in the national LGBT community as a popular cartoonist. "Fun Home" tells the story of her journey of youthful self-discovery and also the mystery surrounding the death of her father, who may have been a closeted gay man.

Kate Shindle plays the adult Alison, who watches her younger self from the stage. "It's a memory play, in the same way 'Glass Menagerie' is a memory play," says Shindle. "She's trying to figure out why her father died when she was a freshman in college. The family believes it's a suicide, and she's trying to get to the root of that."

The touring production of "Fun Home" launched a year ago, and there are three more cities it will hit after Schenectady. Then, it's curtains for the tour and the show will be licensed to regional theaters.

More Information If you go "Fun Home" When: Opens 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and continues for eight more performances through Sunday, Nov. 5. Where: Proctors, 432 State St,, Schenectady. Tickets: $20-$85 Info: (518) 346-6204; http://www.proctors.org. See More Collapse

Staying with one character for more than a year has been a process of depth and discovery for Shindle. But she acknowledges there are times when an actor can only go so far.

"No matter how much those of us who are straight think we are empathetic or understanding of the coming-out experience, there's only so much you can learn from research," says Shindle. "I liken it to an actor playing a parent if they don't have children themselves. There are some things you can't imagine."

Still, as a Broadway veteran, Shindle has had plenty of experience delving into characters of all types. She played Vivienne Kensington in the original cast of "Legally Blonde" and also Sally Bowles during the 1988 revival of "Cabaret," as well as on the national tour. Other shows include "Jekyll and Hyde" and the short-lived "Wonderland."

Concurrent with her tour in "Fun Home," Shindle is also playing the role of "union boss," which is how The New York Times described her last year. In fact, Shindle is the current president of Actors' Equity, the union for actors and stage managers. While a professional staff back in New York handles the day-to-day management of the organization, Shindle has regularly taken the opportunity of being in various major cities to connect with members. The Greater Albany chapter of Equity has scheduled its annual membership meeting to happen at Proctors while Shindle is in town. The closed-door session takes place on Nov. 1.

Shindle's most famous walk on a stage was probably her turn as Miss America in 1998. She entered the competition as Miss Illinois. During her tenure, she was a vocal advocate for AIDS prevention. Being the star of "Fun Home" represents, at least in part, a return to advocacy work.

"The subject matter is just interesting to me, and I always want to be an ally," says Shindle. "No matter what happens politically or what party's in power, we can't go back to a world that treats minority members as second-class."

One thing Shindle say she's learned is that gay people are more than gay. They have jobs and hobbies and interests. "Alison is also an artist, an intellectual and a lot of other things that I can relate to," she says.

Alison also has a family and "Fun Home" has been marketed as a show about family life, with all its ups and downs.

Every time Shindle goes to the stage door after a performance, she gets new confirmation of the show's broad appeal. Audience members tell her that they cried during the show.

"These are people who don't particularly identify with Alison's specific story, but still find themselves as recognizable within the show," says Shindle. "There's a scene where Alison and her father take a car ride. There's a lot of things they need to be talking about, yet they talk about not much of any consequence."

There's also a prolonged silence during the car ride. Shindle describes that silence as almost a living thing.

"People say 'I'm not gay, my father's not gay, but boy have I been on that car ride.'"

Joseph Dalton is a freelance writer based in Troy.
Albany

It would be hard to imagine a more applicable part-time job for a mystery writer than the one Archer Mayor holds: death investigator for Vermont's chief medical examiner.

Mayor is a board-certified medicolegal death investigator who has assisted on more than 700 cases over the past 15 years. There are not a lot of homicides in Vermont and generally he's there to rule out foul play. He's been especially busy in recent years with the state's heavy death toll from heroin and opioid overdoses. "The numbers have gone through the roof," he said.

Mayor still gets an adrenaline rush when his pager goes off at 3 a.m. to summon him from his home in Newfane, Vt. to inspect a body discovered in surrounding Windham County.

More Information Contact Paul Grondahl at grondahlpaul@gmail.com. See More Collapse

He rides to the location of the person's demise on his Yamaha V Star 950. He straps to his motorcycle a heavy-duty padded case he calls a "corpse kit." It contains digital cameras, magnifying lenses, laser measurers, high-intensity flashlights and tools to extract fluids in case a sample needs to be sent to a lab for analysis.

"Cops don't like corpses," Mayor said. "That's why they call me. They're looking for insight on the cause of death. I'm completely comfortable around dead bodies. The smells and ooze and rot don't faze me."

Mayor's assiduous study of death scenes provides a steady supply of authoritative detail that underpins his bestselling series featuring detective Joe Gunther. The Chicago Tribune called the series "the best police procedurals being written in America." The murder mysteries are set in Vermont and Gunther bears more than a passing resemblance to Mayor himself.

"I love both jobs and they feed on each other, but I never use actual cases in my novels," said Mayor, who released his 28th novel last month. The latest Joe Gunther novel is titled "Trace" and it's his first book featuring a murder set in Albany, about a young woman whose death looks like a professional hit.

The Albany setting required Mayor to override a first-degree maligning of the capital city by attendees at a national mystery writers conference held in Albany in 2013.

Mayor was at a table with other mystery writers in a downtown restaurant. He told them how much he liked Albany and that he planned to set a mystery novel there. "They told me I was nuts because they thought Albany was a dump," he said. "I over-rode all opposition because Albany felt authentic to me."

Mayor was not always the jeans and flannel Vermonter who drives a high-mileage red Toyota pickup truck when he puts the motorcycle away for the winter.

"I had a semi-elitist upbringing, but that's not who I am," Mayor said on a recent morning, when he dropped by my office at the New York State Writers Institute on the University at Albany campus.

Mayor is an affable fellow, 67, tall and rangy, with a loping stride, close-cropped gray hair, a wind-chapped face and wire-rimmed spectacles. His flat nasal inflection is hard to place. There's a hint of Canada and France in his voice, residues of a peripatetic upbringing. He's the youngest of six kids. His father, Brantz Mayor, was a salesman who got fired from a slew of jobs but managed to land on his feet each time. "The luckiest man alive," his wife called him. He died in 2005 at age 99 and was a marine biologist by training, who wrote a book on jellyfish.

Mayor majored in history at Yale and wrote articles for the Yale Daily News. He did a stint at the Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass., and had other writing gigs before he settled in Newfane 35 years ago. He wrote on the side and worked as a sheriff's deputy, EMT and firefighter to pay the bills. He turned to mysteries and started cranking out a book a year, with a new one released each fall. He's completed the manuscript for No. 29, another Joe Gunther mystery, which he's currently editing.

His wife, Margot, handles public relations and marketing for the novels, published by Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin's. The couple has two grown children, Elizabeth, who's known as Scout, and who works as a librarian in Philadelphia. Their son, Jonathon, is an engineer at Dell in Austin, Texas, and is the father of two boys.

"I wouldn't trade being a writer for anything," he said, and conceded he has no pension or retirement account and very little savings. He is proud to make a living as a mystery novelist, financial security be damned.

The adulation of fans is its own reward. He's had people at crime scenes start asking him about Joe Gunther. Once, after he helped extinguish a house fire, a woman came up to Mayor in his soot-covered turnout gear holding out four of his novels she wanted him to sign.

"Do you want that written in soot or ink?" he quipped.

Paul Grondahl is the director of the New York State Writers Institute and a former Times Union reporter. He can be reached at grondahlpaul@gmail.com.
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ALBANY - Spikes in absentee ballot applications in several city wards during this years primary election has some campaigns concerned that voters are being misled on valid reasons for absentee ballot voting.

Two weeks before the Nov. 7 general election, concerns about absentee ballot applications have become a point of contention in the s 11th Ward race, where incumbent Common Councilman Judd Krasher is running on the Independence Party line after losing the Democratic primary to challenger Alfredo Balarin.

Albany attorney and former City Court Judge Thomas Keefe, who has been working on Balarins campaign, said in the primary and now for the general election, hes seen candidates and their supporters target people who dont typically vote to encourage them to vote absentee  without necessarily having a valid reason to do so.

Theyve gone to them and gotten dozens and dozens of people to sign absentee ballot applications saying theyre sick on primary day or saying theyre going to be out of town, Keefe said. They say they never said they were going to be out of town."

Valid reasons include not being in the county on election day, being temporarily or permanently sick or disabled, caring for sick or disabled relatives or being incarcerated for a crime that isn't a felony.

Krasher was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

More Information See More Collapse

In the 11th Ward, applications nearly doubled, from 63 in 2008 to 121 in this years primary. For the upcoming general election, the number has now risen to 204 with about 140 of them set to be picked up by people designated by the applicants, according to county Board of Elections figures.

Keefe said he and several other volunteers have spoken to roughly 60 people who applied for absentee ballots, recounting their experience with campaign workers who told them it was an easier way to vote. Keefe also said some voters said they were unaware of what they were signing or the names of the people who were to pick up the ballot for them werent on the application when they signed.

While Keefe suggested Krasher and his campaign workers are attempting to manipulate the system and have voters apply by absentee ballot unbeknownst to them, Republican elections Commissioner Rachel Bledi suggested Keefe and others are the ones intimidating voters.

Voters are now being harassed and the information is being used in a fishing expedition to fit an unproven narrative, Bledi said. It is my job to prevent voter intimidation and harassment to the extent possible.

Keefe asserted the people listed to pick up absentee ballots for voters are either Krasher or his supporters.

"If the votes are submitted and counted, then the fraud has accomplished its goal, he said. We want to stop the fraud.

State Board of Elections spokesman John Conklin said the absentee ballot process is considered more susceptible to fraud than other voting methods.

I think the part of the absentee process to allow someone else to pick up the ballot is clearly for the convenience of the voter, but also may be one of the elements of the process that makes it more vulnerable to potential fraud than the others," Conklin said.

Bledi said applying for an absentee ballot is a judgment call for each voter.

I attribute a large number of absentees to a greater amount of voter contacts, she said.

At least half of the 15 Albany wards saw increases in absentee ballot applications in this years primary compared to the 2008 and 2013 primaries, with some wards seeing double or quadruple the number from previous years, based on a Times Union analysis of absentee ballot figures.

In the 10th Ward  where incumbent Councilwoman Leah Golby lost to challenger Owusu Anane  the applications increased from 34 in 2008 to 124 this year.

In the 5th Ward, Jahmel Robinson, incumbent Councilman Mark Robinsons nephew, beat Malcolm Thorpe in the Democratic primary, thanks to absentee ballot votes. The number increased from 33 in 2008 to 167 this year, accounting for 20 percent of the total.

County Democratic elections Commissioner Matthew Clyne did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

The latest concerns in the 11th Ward come amid the county Board of Elections denying Keefes request for copies of the most recent absentee ballot applications  which were provided to the public before the Sept. 12 primary.

The Times Union requested copies for various city ward races as well as minor-party primaries in the Colonie town clerk race on Sept. 22. On Tuesday, the board denied the request, citing an unwarranted invasion of privacy.

Bledi said that a list of names of those who have applied for absentee ballots will still be made available, but the applications will not because copies of signatures and reasons for applying have been deemed an invasion of privacy by the county board.

Bob Freeman, executive director of the states Committee on Open Government, pointed to state Election Law Section 8-402 Subdivision 7, which requires the the Board of Elections to keep a record of applications for absentee ballots and make them available for inspection to any qualified voter upon request. He added that unless an application has details as to where a voter will be going on vacation, or the details of an illness, it should be made public.

Last month, county Legislator Alison McLean Lane filed a lawsuit against the county Board of Election as well as her opponent  Republican Julie Gansle  in the Colonie town clerk race, alleging a systematic effort to have voters cast absentee ballots when they didnt have a legitimate reason to do so. Lane pointed to an unusually large number of absentee ballots in the Independence Party primary for the town race.

The lawsuit was dismissed because it wasnt served on the Board of Elections in a timely fashion.
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When Alex Roth's mother sent him an article announcing a new degree program being offered at Northern Michigan University, the sophomore immediately switched his major. Roth is now majoring in cannabis.

The program, Medicinal Plant Chemistry, is the first program to offer a 4-year undergraduate degree focusing on marijuana, according to Brandon Canfield, the associate professor of chemistry who started the program.

"When my friends hear what my major is, there are a lot of people who laugh and say, 'wow. Cool dude. You're going to get a degree growing marijuana," Roth told The Washington Post. "But it's not an easy degree at all."

The former environmental studies major won't be getting high in class or growing his own plants. Instead, his required courses include tough subjects such as organic chemistry, plant physiology, botany, accounting, genetics, physical geography and financial management.

Now Playing: A couple found something extra in their Amazon order... Nearly 65 pounds of marijuana arrived to a couple's home in their Amazon package! The couple told Fox News they noticed the strong odor. Police are currently investigating the case. Video: Wibbitz

Twenty-nine states, including Michigan, have legalized medical marijuana. Eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized small amounts of marijuana for adult use, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.Forbes projects the sale of recreational marijuana to jump to $11.2 billion by 2020. "I want to be on the forefront of this industry and be a part of the normalization of marijuana," Roth said.

Several accredited colleges and universities offer credit and noncredit courses in marijuana. The University of California at Davis has an undergraduate course on the Physiology of Cannabis, the University of Denver offers a course on the Business of Marijuana and Vanderbilt's law school has Marijuana Law and Policy course. Oaksterdam University in Oakland, California, calls itself America's first cannabis college, but offers a certificate rather than a college diploma, according to its website.

But Northern Michigan University in Marquette is the first to offer a degree in the sprouting field.

"The historical stigma associated with cannabis is quickly vanishing," says the school's website, "and although there is a surge in businesses related to the marijuana economy, there is a major gap in educational opportunities available to prepare people for this field."

Canfield told The Post to think of it as getting a science degree with a minor in business. He said he got the idea to start the major last year after attending the National Conference of the American Chemical Society where there was an official cannabis chemistry division.

During the conference, he learned about the increasing need for trained professionals in the medical cannabis industry and developed the curriculum with a group of his colleagues.

Once university officials learned that the program would focus primarily on laboratory analysis and chemistry of cannabis, he said there was really no backlash. The school began publicizing the program in March. Since then, about a dozen students have officially declared in the major. Canfield said some students heard about the program and transferred to NMU over the summer.

"We're receiving all sorts of calls and emails expressing interest in the program from retirees all the way down to your traditional first-time freshman," Canfield said.

One required course, appropriately titled Chemistry 420 (in honor of the unofficial so-called "pot holiday,") is an advanced analytical course where students study various classes of bioactive compounds and their plant origins and metabolite chemistry. The syllabus includes the history of medicinal plant use and cannabis chemistry, along with a lab in which students will perform plant tissue extraction for alkaloids and terpenoids and study purification procedures of different plants.

Next semester a 50-minute seminar series course will be offered for the first time for students in the major to come together to discuss current issues or trends in the cannabis industry, including legal issues and economic trends.

Students will be required to choose a recent article on medicinal plant chemistry and lead a discussion on it. In week six a guest speaker will talk to the class on entrepreneurial opportunities in the field.

Roth said he was attracted to the major after seeing a family friend with a two-year-old daughter suffer from a rare genetic mutation. Once the child started using nonintoxicating cannabinoid (CBD) her seizures decreased and quality of life increased. He said he wants to "be part of a whole new side of science and normalize marijuana."

Roth's roommate, Benjamin Ritter, also switched his major to Medicinal Plant Chemistry. He said his mother has multiple sclerosis and also takes CBD to manage her symptoms.

"I think it's going to be a lot of work but I definitely think it'll be worth it. I really want to help patients," Ritter said.

Canfield said he thinks more programs like this will be popping up around the country soon. "It's kind of a taboo subject and the response we're getting is that a lot of people are interested in actually pursuing legitimate educational programs focused on [cannabis] . . . As the legality increases there will be more opportunities for peer-reviewed research."

Canfield said upon graduating from the program students will be qualified to work in a number of different laboratory positions. They could choose to open their own dispensaries or go on to work with the medicinal and therapeutic properties of marijuana.

Despite not being able to handle actual marijuana on campus, there are still opportunities for NMU students to handle the plant offsite.

"We've got a long list of licensed Michigan businesses who want to take our students for internship programs," Canfield said.

---

Video: Northern Michigan University is the first known university in the U.S. to offer a four-year degree in the study of marijuana. Students enrolled in the Medicinal Plant Chemistry program will take classes in science, finance and marketing. (Amber Ferguson/The Washington Post)

URL: http://wapo.st/2yK1kjr

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ALBANY  The chairman of the state Independence Party suggested in an affidavit that he formed an alliance with the state Senate's breakaway eight-member Independent Democratic Conference to show a "commitment" to the needs of minority communities in New York City.

In August, state Board of Elections' chief enforcement counsel, Risa Sugarman, filed a lawsuit questioning the legality of a campaign fundraising arrangement between the Independence Party and the IDC that allowed the Senate faction to vastly expand its fundraising capabilities.

In an affidavit filed in response to the lawsuit, Independence Party chairman Frank MacKay explained why he'd made the fundraising pact with the IDC, which now includes three minority members.

MacKay said it was intended to counter "intense opposition" by the Senate's mainline Democratic caucus and its supporters in the progressive Working Families Party, "as this was the first time that the IDC would include minority senators." (The IDC briefly included Malcolm Smith, a black lawmaker who was kicked out after his 2013 arrest on corruption charges.)

MacKay added that by endorsing IDC minority senators, his party "demonstrated our support of, and commitment to these communities, and that our agenda was relevant to their needs."

But at the time the fundraising arrangement was struck between the party and IDC in July 2016, there were no minority members in the IDC.

The arrangement, however, aided the campaign of Manhattan's Marisol Alcantara, who was born in the Dominican Republican. She benefited from nearly $540,000 in spending from the IDC's campaign arm  much of it coming from real estate interests and charter school supporters that have also backed Senate Republicans, who are more often cross-endorsed by the Independence Party.

The other two minority members of the IDC, Brooklyn's Jesse Hamilton and Queens' Jose Peralta, joined the IDC well after the arrangement was struck and the subsequent 2016 Democratic primaries. Hamilton had been previously rumored to be a potential IDC recruit.

Sugarman's lawsuit charges that because the officers of the new Senate Independence Campaign Committee, the IDC's political arm, are members of the Democratic Party  not the Independence Party  their joint fundraising arrangement isn't legal. MacKay's argument is meant to buttress his side's case that the Independence Party initiated the fundraising arrangement, and that disbanding the committee would infringe on the party's free-speech rights.

The IDC has since 2012 been allied with Senate Republicans, which currently holds the bare number of votes to control the majority without the IDC's eight members.

Senate Democratic spokesman Mike Murphy noted that hedge fund magnate and charter school supporter Daniel Loeb gave $50,000 to the IDC's campaign efforts last year. That money supported Alcantara.

In a racially charged Facebook post in August, Loeb said that the mainline Democratic conference's leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins  who is black  had done "more damage to people of color than anyone who has ever donned a hood." He subsequently apologized. (Stewart-Cousins has accepted the Independence Party's endorsement.)

"This is the same committee that was bankrolled by people like Dan Loeb and this is the same party that has always supported GOP control of the Senate," said Murphy. "If this arrangement was truly about helping minority communities, both the IDC and the Independence party would support a coalition government with the Democrats and help make a history by supporting the first black woman as a Senate President."

MacKay could not be reached for comment, but Alcantara slammed the Senate Democrats' remarks.

"I was amazed to read the statement from the Democratic minority," she said. "Where were Senators Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Mike Gianaris when I was pleading for support to run and become the first Dominican woman in the Senate? They weren't interested then and they never supported me. There is greater ethnic and racial diversity in the IDC than in the entire leadership of the Democratic minority conference. They have to change their definition of diversity."

MacKay argued in the court papers that the move to support the IDC would enhance the political reach of the Independence Party, whose political influence relies in large part on how many votes it garners during the election for governor every four years.

In his affidavit, MacKay wrote that the Independence Party's support of the IDC had led to legislative accomplishments during this year's legislative session helping minority communities, including raising the age of criminal responsibility to 18. Senate Democrats, however, say that bill was watered down, as have other IDC legislative victories.

As the Times Union reported in March, there are less ideological reasons why the Independence Party would want to bolster a Senate GOP majority: The Senate GOP employs at least seven Independence Party officials, and the GOP also has been the main funder of the party's campaign housekeeping account.

Unlike the IDC's previous political action committee, its new committee can take six-figure campaign donations and transfer unlimited amounts to IDC candidates. And its "housekeeping" committee, meant for party-building operations, can take unlimited sums.

That's because the Independence Party is a statewide political party that received more than 50,000 votes on its ballot line for governor in the 2014 election, while the IDC is not considered a political party under state election law.

Before the arrangement with the Independence Party, the IDC  unlike rival Senate Democrats  could raise and spend far less money through a political action committee to defend its members and elect new ones.

If Sugarman is successful, the lawsuit could have consequences for the 2018 elections, when a number of IDC members may face primaries inspired by progressive outrage at the election of President Donald Trump.
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SARATOGA SPRINGS  A superintendent to the north has been tapped to lead the Saratoga Springs City School District.

Michael Patton, superintendent of the nearby South Glens Falls school district, will be formally appointed to the position Thursday. He will succeed Michael Piccirillo, who is expected to step down Jan. 1.

He will be paid an initial salary of $182,000 a year under the terms of his contract offer, which extends three and a half years. Piccirrillo was paid $183,679.

"Dr. Patton is a proven leader and outstanding communicator," said school board president JoAnne Kiernan. "His ability to connect with individuals and groups at all levels enables him to tap into the best of our community's culture, talent and commitment to successfully lead our district into the future."

Patton has worked in education for 22 years and spent the past six years leading South Glens Falls district, a district of 3,200 students nearly 20 miles to the north. Prior to that, from 2004 to 2011, he was principal at Queensbury High School. He also served nearly a decade at the Ballston Spa Central School District, first as a guidance counselor in 1996 then as an assistant principal at the high school until 2004.

"I am honored to have been offered the opportunity to serve the students, staff and community of Saratoga Springs as their new superintendent of schools," said Patton. "Throughout my interview process, I was continually impressed with the tremendous school pride, shared vision for the future, and personal commitment to serving the needs of all students that was expressed by district stakeholders. I look forward to working closely with the Saratoga Springs City School District Board of Education, administrative team, faculty, staff and community to continue the district's long-standing tradition of excellence."

His appointment follows a six-month search for a new superintendent, led by Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES Superintendent James Dexter. Dexter will now help the South Glens Falls school district find its next superintendent, the district said on its website.

During his tenure, the rural school district saw its graduation rates increase, with more students earning an Advanced Regents diploma. It also saw improved early literacy skills as the academic programs at all four elementary schools became unified.

The district also expanded and strengthened mental and emotional support services for students; a high-profile student suicide in 2015 shone a spotlight on the scourge of bullying in the district.

Patton earned a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University, school district administrator certification from the College of Saint Rose, and an education doctorate at the Sage Graduate School. He is certified in New York as a school counselor, school administrator and supervisor, and school district administrator.

He and his wife, Bridget, a kindergarten teacher at the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District, have three teenage sons.
A 23-year-old man in the Dane County Jail tried to kill himself Tuesday, the Dane County Sheriff's Office said.

Around 4:15 p.m., deputies were told by an inmate that another inmate was attempting to asphyxiate himself with a blanket in a jail block on the seventh floor of the City-County Building, the sheriff's office said.

Deputies removed the blanket from the man's neck, and he never lost consciousness, according to the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office said the inmate, who has been in the jail since Oct. 8, was evaluated by medical staff and is under suicide prevention precautions.
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A former Cohoes man convicted for his role in the savage 1993 murder and mutilation of a pregnant 15-year-old in Rensselaer County will be paroled from state prison in February.

Joseph Poette, now 47, will be freed after serving more than 24 years for the Feb. 15, 1993, murder of Antoinette "Toni" Strope.

In 1994, a Rensselaer County jury convicted Poette of second-degree murder. County Judge Patrick J. McGrath sentenced him to 25 years to life in prison. Poette is serving his time in medium-security Woodbourne Correctional Facility in Sullivan County, officials said.

Poette was the accomplice to Daniel Rondeau, the father of the victim's unborn child. Rondeau, now 50, had his own parole application denied Wednesday, according to the state Department of Correction and Community Supervision, which includes the state Board of Parole.

Strope's murder was considered one of the most violent in Troy history. On the day of the slaying, the victim was nearly five months pregnant. She had threatened to accuse Rondeau of statutory rape if he did not marry her, and was calling him repeatedly. When Strope went over to the apartment under the belief Rondeau was in trouble, he attacked her.

Court records and Times Union archives detail how Poette entered a bedroom and found Rondeau on top of Strope, trying to kill the victim by holding his hands over her nose and mouth. Rondeau yelled at Poette to pull a tie around the girl's neck, which he did. When that failed to kill her, Rondeau punched Strope in the head.

After she died, the duo dragged Strope's body into a bathroom where they put on surgical gloves and dismembered the remains using a hacksaw. Put the remains in garbage bags and buried them in a rural field in Berlin.

The notice of the parole board's decision did not state the reasons why Poette was deemed worthy of release. The transcript of his hearing before the board was not immediately available.

Debra Strope said she hopes her sister haunts Poette "every day of his rotten life."

"He gets to go home to his family now ... my sister and my niece will never get to come home again. He took that from us," she said.

Albany defense attorney Michael McDermott prosecuted the case as the chief assistant district attorney in Rensselaer County.

"I hope to God that parole knows what they're doing, McDermott said. "That was a particularly brutal murder, and (Poette) was every bit as responsible as Rondeau."

McDermott said after the trial, jurors sent him letters telling them how disturbed they were at the evidence in the case, and that they would never be able to get the images out of their heads.

McDermott left Rensselaer County not long after the trial for the same position in Albany County, where he successfully prosecuted the high-profile trial of Delmar ax murderer Christopher Porco, among other cases.

He said Poette consistently denied any responsibility in the girl's death.

"I'm a true believer in rehabilitation and redemption, but the fact that he's granted parole for this crime surprises me," McDermott said.

Jim Horton, a former State Police senior investigator who arrested Poette at his uncle's house, was equally stunned.

"I'm having a hard time dealing with him getting out, after what he did," Horton said Wednesday. "This is very odd."

Horton recalled receiving a letter of apology from Poette after his conviction. It was "gibberish," recalled Horton, who at the time of the killing ran the State Police major crimes unit.

"He was more than an accomplice  he was equal with Rondeau," Horton said.

Rondeau pleaded guilty to the murder before going to trial. Poette took his chances and was convicted. At his sentencing, McGrath tore into Poette.

"You are a coldblooded, vicious predator, without mercy," the judge told Poette. "You showed no mercy to Antoinette Strope. This court can show you no mercy."

The victim's sister, Helen Stafford, said at the sentencing she did not believe Poette would ever be a candidate for parole.

"He should never see the outside world again," Stafford told the courtroom. "We feel he should never get to have another free breath of air or have fun. Antoinette will never play with her daughter or see her family again. Joe took everything from us. God and this court should take everything from him."

The Board of Parole rejected Rondeau, who is serving his time in Fishkill Correctional Facility, a medium security prison in Dutchess County. The board determined that there was a reasonable probability that he would again break the law.

"You, in concert with another, caused the death of your girlfriend by strangling her and by your own admission dismembering her body," the board told Rondeau. "This is of grave concern to the board."

Rondeau also had an extensive disciplinary record in prison of violent conduct, including an assault on an inmate, arson, fighting and a sex offense. The board assessed him as a high risk.
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People wanted for drunken driving, drug possession, theft and fraud are among the suspects State Police said they are looking for as part of their Warrant Wednesday initiative.

Labros Soumas, 45, is wanted by State Police in Chazy on a grand larceny charge. Troopers said Soumas deposited several fraudulent checks in a Key Bank in Champlain, stealing more than $16,000. Troopers said they believe he lives in Lilebizard, Quebec.

Gerald E. Friley, 57, is wanted by State Police in Tarrytown on charges of misdemeanor drug possession and marijuana possession. Troopers said they pulled over Friley's car when he was traveling on the Thruway and discovered small amounts of heroin and marijuana.

John H. Motyka, 49, is wanted by State Police in Wayland for allegedly stealing cash from a local American Legion. Motyka pleaded guilty to grand larceny but failed to return for subsequent court appearances, troopers said.

Christina Smith, 47, is wanted by State Police in Wappinger for charges of grand larceny and falsification of business records tied to a case in Beacon court. State Police said Smith received unemployment benefits while she was employed. A warrant was issued for her arrest in August.

Jeffrey S. Bartlett Jr., 31, is wanted by State Police in Fulton on a stolen property charge A warrant was issued for his arrest on Sept. 24, after he failed to appear in court to answer charges that stem from a October 2010 arrest, troopers said.

Michael J Bulson, 41, is wanted by State Police in Wilton on charges of criminal personation, false personation and aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle. Troopers said Bulson was a passenger in a car when he gave troopers a false name. He is also accused of allowing another person to operate a vehicle despite knowing the driver had 10 suspensions.

Manuel Tapia-Acosta, 23, is wanted by State Police in Monroe on a charge of criminal possession of stolen property. Troopers said they arrested Tapia-Acosta on a variety of vehicle and traffic offenses. Troopers said he was driving a car with a suspended with only a suspended permit and the license plate on the vehicle was stolen. A warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in a local court.

London T. Vaughn, 25, is wanted by State Police in Deposit on a bench warrant after allegedly failing to appear in court on the charge of driving a motor vehicle while ability impaired by drugs. The bench warrant was issued by the Town of Hancock Court in Delaware County on Sept. 7, 2016. Vaughn has several tattoos on his arms including: "Love," "LRM," "LRJ," lips and a flower.

Ivette Languasco-Martinez, 22, is wanted by State Police in Valley Stream for allegedly driving drunk on the Southern State Parkway. Troopers said they arrested her after a traffic stop early this year.
Glens Falls

Warren County, which has the highest rate of cancer in the state, will be one of four regions to be studied by the state to establish trends and potential causes contributing to the disease, state officials announced Wednesday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker were at Glens Falls Hospital Wednesday morning to announce the new $500,000 initiative, which will also study the incidence of cancer in western New York and two downstate regions. Findings are expected within a year.

Cancer is now the second leading cause of death in New York, behind heart disease. Each year, nearly 110,000 New Yorkers learn they have cancer, and around 35,000 die from the disease, according to state data. More than 1 million residents are living with a current or former cancer diagnosis.

Cuomo, whose partner Sandra Lee confronted her breast cancer diagnosis publicly two years ago, referred to the illness as the C word, calling it a terrible, terrible disease.

When a family member comes home with that diagnosis, it just changes the familys life, he said. The new effort is intended to provide data to inform cancer prevention and treatment programs, Zucker said.

Information is the key weapon in the battle against cancer, he said.

Warren County's cancer rate is 610 per 100,000 residents, compared with a state rate of 513 per 100,000 residents. Cancer cases are counted by the county where the patient lives, not where a diagnosis is made.

Researchers at the Department of Health will work with colleagues at the Department of Environmental Conservation to consider environmental contributors to the disease, state officials said. They will also look for patterns related to demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral or occupational factors.

Matthew Hamilton contributed to this report.


Tipperary's Education and Training Board (ETB) Secondary Schools have come in for scrutiny in recent weeks for requiring all students to sit in on religion classes, despite the schools being promoted as 'inter-denominational'.

Minister for Education Richard Bruton is preparing new guidelines for the operation of the ethos in state run ETB schools across the State.

Tipperary ETB administers 12 post primary schools. Three are run in partnership with the Catholic church, the others are entirely under the control of the ETB.

In theory, these 'inter-denominational' schools are run for the benefit of all faiths, and none, but new documents have come to light showing that some non-Catholic students are required to attend Catholic religion classes, and forbidden from other activities during these class times. Minister Bruton has said all ETB schools will have to modernise their rules regarding religion, so students are not left feeling left out or treated as 'second class citizens'. Under a Freedom of Information Act obtained by lobby group Atheist Ireland, the documents show that on 11 June 2015, the Chief Executive of Tipperary ETB, Ms Fionuala McGeever, told a school meeting of Principals in Co. Tipperary that the Christian belief, ethos and characteristic spirit of our schools is Catholic... and this needs to be addressed in all policies". Ms McGeever was referring to those schools which are under the control of the ETB, a secular body.

The documents show that even non-Catholic students must attend two religion classes per week, and not allowed to engage in other activities or studies during these class times.

Students in Tipperary ETB schools can only opt out of Catholic religion classes following a written request to the Principal from their parents. Even so, the students must remain in the class and may not undertake homework or study in any other subject relevant to the curriculum so as not to give these students an 'unfair advantage'. Students who opt out of religion are not allowed to wear headphones, meaning they must overhear and be exposed to Catholic teachings which may conflict with their own or their parents beliefs and convictions. The documents state that no alternative form of supervision will be provided... and The school will not provide another subject for the student as an alternative".

The Department of Education website describes Tipperarys ETB schools as inter-denominational in ethos.

The Tipperary Star addressed nine questions to Tipperary ETB. The response stated: Tipperary Education and Training Board (TETB) is inclusive and welcoming of all students. We are currently participating in a review of our characteristic spirit with Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) along with all other ETBs. TETB will be guided by the outcome of this process regarding its policy reviews. This review is being conducted in line with changing student and societal needs.
A 60-year-old woman died a day after her husband was killed when their motorcycle crashed into a deer in the town of Mazomanie, the Dane County Sheriff's Office said.

Lynette Sazama, of Arena, died Sunday from her injuries after the 2001 Harley-Davidson motorcycle she was riding on with her husband Jerome struck a deer on Highway 78 Saturday afternoon, the sheriff's office said.

Jerome Sazama, 61, died on the scene, and Lynette Sazama was flown to a hospital for life-threatening injuries.

Both of them were thrown from the vehicle, and neither were wearing helmets, according to the sheriff's office.
[October 25, 2017] 90% of internet usage in Papua New Guinea is conducted over Digitals' broadband & mobile networks

NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- With a population of more than 7 million people and a mobile penetration of around 50%, Papua New Guinea's mobile market has enormous growth potential.However, this growth could be inhibited by the latent difficulties within the market, including the high cost of deploying infrastructure, the relatively low income base among potential subscribers, and the geographical dispersal of the population.BuddeComm released a reporton the state of country's telecoms, mobile and broadband market to analyse the different infrastructures, operators and regulations currently in place. The report highlights that: ? It is estimated that 90% of all internet usage is currently conducted over Digitals' broadband and mobile networks. ? While mobile coverage in 2017 is extensive - most rural areas still have only 2G services. ? Network deployment costs are high due to the relatively low subscriber base, the impervious terrain, and the high proortion of the population living in rural areas. As a result, fixed telecom infrastructure is almost nonexistent outside urban centres, leaving most of the population unserviced



? Progress in telecommunications has come primarily from mobile networks, where accessibility has expanded from less than 3% population coverage in 2006 to over 80% by early 2016. ? Given the underdeveloped telecom services, the market has enormous growth potential. The number of mobile broadband users is expected to continue to grow strongly as the operators expand their 3G and LTE networks in the coming years.

Also, an increasing number of Papuans are embracing the digital age, particularly the younger generation, and mobile phones are becoming a more important source of social interaction. Other key elements: ? SIM card registration is being enforced with a deadline of January 1st 2018; ? Regulator issues tender for 3G mobile services ? The state-owned incumbent Telikom is being restructured to focus on retail services while its network is transferred to the state-owned company DataCo; ? PNG's telecom regulator, NICTA proposes mandatory sharing of mobile network infrastructure. Please feel free to contact me for more information about the report. About Budde Comm: Paul Budde Communication is an independent research and consultancy company, focusing on the telecommunications market and its role within the digital economy. We specialise in high-level strategic and statistical research and provide consultancy services to international agencies, governments and businesses. The research offered by BuddeComm's worldwide network of researchers and analysts encompasses 190 countries, 500 companies and 200 discrete technologies and applications. For more information, please visit http://www.budde.com.au. Media Contact Intissar Guettou [email protected] +61 2 8076 7665 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/90-of-internet-usage-in-papua-new-guinea-is-conducted-over-digitals-broadband--mobile-networks-300543547.html SOURCE Reportlinker

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[October 24, 2017] Pennsylvania Wolf Administration Highlights STEM Education and Job Opportunities at Career Expo

CANONSBURG, Pa., Oct. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, more than 40 manufacturing and industry partners from around the commonwealth met with more than 500 students about possible career paths and opportunities at the Energy & Manufacturing Youth and Career Expo. Special Advisor to the Secretary of Education Judd Pittman and State Fire Commissioner Timothy Solobay were on hand to highlight the career opportunities available to Pennsylvania students through STEM education. "By 2018, more than 300,000 Pennsylvania jobs will require STEM skills or content knowledge, and we are preparing our learners for those opportunities now," Pittman said. "It is vital to integrate STEM learning opportunities in the classroom to ensure not only the success of our students, but also the commonwealth's future economic stability." Since taking office, Governor Wolf has demonstrated a commitment to STEM education and plans to increase enrollment in STEM-specific majors at state-supported postsecondary institutions by 10,000 by 2020. Over the next ten years, 71 percent of new jobs will require computer science skills. Recognizing this need, the Wolf Administration has made early and important progress in delivering more resources to schools and classrooms, and fostering collaborative, cross-sector dialogue to support STEM education, work-basedlearning, career pathways, and college access and completion.



"We learn more and more about the science of fire every day, and you only need to look at firefighting equipment from 20 years ago compared to today to see how changing technology helps us to put out fires faster and keep firefighters safe," Solobay said. "This is an exciting time to be a student in Pennsylvania, and I'm proud to help support STEM education and career opportunities in these fields."

View photos from this event.

Since 2009, the number of graduates from Pennsylvania's 14 public four-year universities earning degrees in STEM and Health majors (STEM-H) has increased 37 percent. Today, nearly one in four bachelor's degrees awarded by the State System are STEM-H degrees. Pennsylvania has been named a national leader in STEM education, as: The commonwealth is home to five nationally-recognized STEM ecosystems, four emerging ecosystems, and other informal partnerships in place across the state;

Pennsylvania ranks 4th nationally in the number of STEM graduates and ranks in the top 10 of states for technology and innovation, and is in the top 10 of states for STEM jobs; and

ranks 4th nationally in the number of STEM graduates and ranks in the top 10 of states for technology and innovation, and is in the top 10 of states for STEM jobs; and Pennsylvania was recently highlighted as a promising state by the White House through its Computer Science for All (CSforAll) work. For more information about the commonwealth's STEM initiatives, or to read Pennsylvania's ESSA Consolidated State Plan, visit the Department of Education's website at www.education.pa.gov or follow PDE on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. MEDIA CONTACT: Casey Smith, 717-783-9802 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pennsylvania-wolf-administration-highlights-stem-education-and-job-opportunities-at-career-expo-300542656.html SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education

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[October 25, 2017] Rory Capern Former Managing Director of Twitter Canada Joins Pelmorex Corp.

OAKVILLE, ON, Oct. 25, 2017 /CNW/ - Pelmorex Corp., operator of The Weather Network, MeteoMedia, Eltiempo.es and Clima brands, announced today that Rory Capern joins them as Vice-President, Partnerships, effective November 7, 2017. He will report directly to Sam Sebastian, President & CEO who recently joined Pelmorex Corp. in September. "We are excited to have Rory join our team, Sebastian said, "Rory brings a wealth of experience in the information and digital space that will assist Pelmorex in creating vauable partnerships to support our transformation and growth plans."



Pelmorex is evolving beyond weather and media, into a data driven business, creating the Pelmorex Weather Networks Division and the Pelmorex Data Solutions Division to reflect these changes. As part of this evolution, Rory Capern will work to strengthen Pelmorex's position as an advertising and insights leader in Canada, while ensuring consumers needs are at the forefront of their solutions. Rory Capern has 20+ years of Partnerships experience in the Canadian technology and media industries and was formerly the Managing Director of Twitter Canada. Before joining Twitter, he was Head of Partnerships at Google Canada for 5 years, and prior to that held roles at Microsoft, Toronto Star, Bell and Boston Consulting Group.

About Pelmorex Corp.

Pelmorex Corp. is an international company delivering information networks and data solutions to consumers, advertisers and enterprise clients. It provides services in North America, Europe, and Latin America. Founded in 1989, it has evolved from a leading weather information networks player to breaking new ground in big data solutions and business insights. Pelmorex Corp., created the Pelmorex Weather Networks Division, that operates under the brands The Weather Network, MeteoMedia, Eltiempo.es and Clima; and the Pelmorex Data Solutions Division to reflect these changes. Pelmorex Corp., also operates Canada's National Alerting Aggregation and Dissemination System (Alert Ready). SOURCE Pelmorex Corp.

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[October 24, 2017] "Fly into Japanese culture through film" - JFF Magazine has been launched to deliver the appeal of Japanese films to the world

TOKYO, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Japan Foundation has launched the online magazine "JFF Magazine", to improve awareness of Japanese cinema's appeal and Japan's unique culture reflected in films. The main target of the magazine is set to the Asia-Pacific region, where people have limited contact with the Japanese films. In addition to latest news related to the Japanese Film Festival, the magazine will provide articles written by foreign writers in 5 categories (lifestyle, food, travel, history, and general), focusing on Japanese culture that can be learned from films, with the writer's global perspective. The web site will also provide a search functionality for Japanese movies as well as actors and actresses, with the cooperation of JACC search. Details of JFF Magazine Website name: JFF Magazine

URL: http://www.japanesefilmfest.org/

Management: The Japan Foundation

Launch date: Starting October 25th, 2017

Languages supported: Japanese / English

Updates: Monthly(planned) About The Japan Foundation



To cultivate friendship and ties between Japan and the world, the Japan Foundation creates global opportunities to foster friendship, trust, and mutual understanding through culture, language, and dialogue. The Japan Foundation was established in October 1972 as a special legal entity supervised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In October 2003, it was reorganized as an independent administrative institution.

http://www.jpf.go.jp/e/index.html About the Japanese Film Festival The Japan Foundation has been carrying out the Japanese Film Festival(JFF), with the goal of promoting both cultural exchange and the spread of Japanese cinema. In 2016, the JFF Asia-Pacific Gateway Initiative was launched with three basic schemes: JFF Asia-Pacific Network, JFF Asia-Pacific PR events that fans participate, and Construction of JFF online platform. With these schemes, JFF will be more than just a single event but a unified brand, to ensure its content is approachable and interesting for both the audience members and the movie industry professionals attending in each country. *JFF event countries in 2017: the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia, Cambodia, India, China, Laos, Myanmar, Brunei, Thailand, and Singapore Contact: THE JAPAN FOUNDATION

Film and Broadcast Media Dept.

Film Section

TEL: +81-3-5369-6064

Contact Name: Tanaka

E-mail : [email protected] Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20171017/1967940-1-a

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20171017/1967940-1-b

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20171017/1967940-1-c SOURCE The Japan Foundation

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[October 25, 2017] Kestone and CL Educate Announce the 2nd Edition of MeltingPot2020 Innovation Summit 2017

NEW DELHI and HYDERABAD, India, October 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- 100+ academic heads and 150+ corporate leaders will discuss the key challenges and roadmap ahead to bridge the industry academia gap in innovation and research Special spotlight session on 'Israel - The Start-Up Nation' focusing on building innovation partnership between Israel and India Kestone and CL Educate have announced the second edition of MeltingPot2020, an annual innovation summit to be held in Hyderabad on November 14th and 15th, this year. This is the only property on Innovation in India, to facilitate collaboration, networking and knowledge sharing between the academia and corporates. The second edition of MeltingPot2020 will be focusing on 'Israel - The Start-Up Nation'. For the first time, heads of leading universities and innovation-focused leaders from Israel will share insights, stories and ideas on creating an Israel-India innovation corridor and lessons that each country can learn from the other in their journey to become a global innovation hub. MeltingPot2020, 2017 is planned at a larger scale with 150+ industry leaders and 100+ institution heads participating in the event. The parallel youth festival - Young Innovators Festival has received 87 innovative ideas from 40+ colleges from which the top 15 will be showcased at the event. Another notable feature is the Start-Up Pavilion which will feature 5 high tech start-ups in the go-to-market stage selected from nominations received from prestigious universities like IIMB, IIMA, IIITB and incubators like T-Hub and GenNext Innovation Hub. There is also an interesting session titled 'ngredients of a Great Start-Up' that will feature top VCs and heads of institutional innovation centers, which will highlight key aspects of a great start-up needed to attract investors.



Mr. Satya Narayanan R, Chairman & Founder CL Educate said, "I feel highly privileged and humbled to see this event enter into its second year with a much larger ambition of solving India's problems through innovation. Academia and industry are like two sides of the same coin - two different entities with different purposes and ideologies. However, we need these two worlds to collaborate in a constructive framework to enable meaningful innovation that can address real-world challenges. I firmly believe that MeltingPot2020 and WAIN are playing a major part in industry-academia collaboration which will propel India to achieve a massive increase in the GDP and reach the heights of innovation." Piyush Gupta, President, Kestone Integrated Marketing Services Pvt. Ltd. said, "Recognizing innovation as the bedrock of growth and transformation is the idea behind MeltingPot2020 and this year, we plan to go big and target increased participation from academic and industry veterans. The first edition received tremendous support and recognition, which made us brainstorm on how we can improve our offerings and make this two-day event an affair that both corporates and industries would like to resonate with. Due to this, we have tried to bring real life lessons from Israel to India."

Last year MeltingPot2020 acted as a catalyst in bringing transformation into the Indian innovation landscape pertaining to industries like FinTech, AdTech, MarTech and EdTech. The platform also enabled collaboration between the various stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem, where agreements were signed between corporates and institutions. To enable cutting-edge research and start-up incubation in universities in the area of power electronics, CL Educate has recently signed an agreement with Su-Kam Power Systems Limited. About Kestone Integrated Marketing Services Pvt. Ltd.: Founded in 1997, Kestone IMS Pvt. Ltd. is India's leading integrated marketing services company driven by innovation and technology. Diversified verticals such as Digital Marketing, Event Management, Manpower Services, Training, Marcom and Customer Engagement are the pillars of its success. Headquartered in New Delhi, Kestone has offices in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Singapore. The company recently crossed INR 100 crore in revenues and has spread its footprint across 100+ cities in India and 20+ locations overseas. Kestone has become the first-ever Integrated Marketing agency in India to complete the milestone of 20 years. They have worked with India's leading brands like Dell, Microsoft, Britannia, Flipkart, Snapdeal, among others. For more information, please visit http://www.kestone.in Media Contact:

Priyanka Shawney

[email protected]

+91-9654240144

Asst Manager

PRHUB Integrated Marketing Communication Pvt Ltd Upasana

[email protected]

+91-7289837065



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[October 25, 2017] Stallergenes Greer's 2017 Innovation Day

Stallergenes Greer plc, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in treatments for respiratory allergies, will today host an Innovation Day for analysts and investors from 10:00am BST to 12.15pm BST at its headquarters, 40 Bernard Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1LE. The event will include presentations, providing a more detailed understanding of Stallergenes Greer's strategy and innovation, followed by a question and answer session. The company will notably present real-world evidence data about ORALAIR and its strategic investment in Adeo Health Science, announced today. The company will host a live webcast on Stallergenes Greer's website available in the investor section at www.stallergenesgreer.com (http://edge.media-server.com/m6/go/STAGR_ID2017). Those attending via webcast will have the opportunity to submit questions, via the webcast tool, following the presentations. Relevant documents and materials related to the Innovation Day will be available from the copany website shortly after the event has concluded.



ABOUT STALLERGENES GREER PLC Headquartered in London (UK), Stallergenes Greer plc is a global healthcare company specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies through the development and commercialization of allergy immunotherapy products and services. Stallergenes Greer plc is the parent company of Greer Laboratories, Inc. (whose registered office is in the US) and Stallergenes SAS (News - Alert) (whose registered office is in France).

TRADING INFORMATION

Name: Stallergenes Greer

ISIN: GB00BZ21RF93 1 - Ticker: STAGR - ICB Classification: 4577

Market: Euronext Paris regulated market Additional information is available at http://www.stallergenesgreer.com. This document (including information incorporated by reference in this document), oral statements made and other information published by the Company contain statements that are or may be forward-looking with respect to the financial condition and/or results of operations and businesses of the Company. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believe," "expects," "project," "estimated," "forecast," "should," "plan," "may" or the negative of any of these, or other variations thereof, or comparable terminology indicating expectations or beliefs concerning future events. These forward-looking statements include risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Without being exhaustive, such factors include economic situations and business conditions, including legal and product evaluation issues, fluctuations in currencies and demand, and changes in competitive factors. These and other factors are more fully described in the Company's 2016 annual report published on 28 April 2017 on the Company's website www.stallergenesgreer.com. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, due to various factors. Save as required by applicable law, neither the Company nor any other person assumes any obligation to update these forward-looking statements or to notify any person of any such update. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171024006756/en/

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[October 25, 2017] Medicrea Unveils New U.S. Business Development Model with Hiring of Joseph Walland as Executive Vice President of Sales and Richard Washburn as Executive Vice President UNiD ASI

The Medicrea Group (Euronext Growth Paris: FR0004178572 - ALMED), pioneering the convergence of healthcare IT and next-generation, outcome-centered device design and manufacturing with UNiD Adaptive Spine Intelligence ("ASI") technology, announced today that the Company has hired Joseph Walland as Executive Vice President of U.S. Sales, and Richard Washburn as Executive Vice President UNiD ASI, to support its new business development model in the United States, effective October 23, 2017. Denys Sournac, President and CEO of Medicrea, stated, "I am pleased to welcome Joseph Walland and Richard Washburn to Medicrea. The addition of these profoundly experienced industry executives strengthens our global leadership position and accelerates our ability to execute on the Company's strategic growth and business development model via Medicrea's proprietary and disruptive UNiD ASI technology." Joseph Walland joins Medicrea as Executive Vice President of U.S. Sales with more than 15 years' commercial experience in spine, most recently as the Western Area Vice President for Stryker Spine, responsible for more than $120 million in annual revenue. Mr. Walland will lead the Company's transformation of its U.S. sales organization and accelerate the utilization of UNiD ASI services throughout the entire U.S. Enterprise. Richard Washburn joins Medicrea as Executive Vice President and will head the newly-formed UNiD ASI division with more than 20 years of experience in new product development, operations and medical device commercialization. With a background in engineering, Mr. Washburn has held prominent leadership positions in the industry, including Director of Marketing at Globus Medical, President of Core Essence Orthopaedics, Inc., and most recently Chief Technology Officer at Trice Medical. Mr. Washburn will take a key leadership role in Medicrea's organization charged with shaping the ground-breaking integrated service solutions of the disruptive UNiD ASI platform. Mr. Washburn will work hand-in-hand with the Company's Chief Scientific Officer, Thomas Mosnier PhD, to align the strategic and clinical research efforts of the Company's UNiD ASI technology platform, including UNiD LAB engineers and consultants, UNiD HUB intelligent surgical planning software and UNiD TEK patient-specific implants.



In conjunction with the appointments of Joseph Walland and Richard Washburn, Medicrea is accelerating the implementation of a new business development model in the United States. Focused around the execution of strategic commercial and innovation goals for the Company, Medicrea is poised to transform its commercial efforts in the United States to fully synchronize with the Company's ongoing integration of its proprietary UNiD ASI digital healthcare platform. About Medicrea (www.Medicrea.com)

Through the lens of predictive medicine, Medicrea leads the design, integrated manufacture, and distribution of 30+ FDA approved spinal implant technologies that have been utilized in over 150,000 spinal surgeries to date. By leveraging its proprietary software analysis tools with big data and machine learning technologies and supported by an expansive collection of clinical and scientific data, Medicrea is well-placed to streamline the efficiency of spinal care, reduce procedural complications and limit time spent in the operating room. Operating in a $10 billion marketplace, Medicrea is a Small and Medium sized Enterprise (SME) with 175 employees worldwide, which includes 50 who are based in the U.S. The Company has an ultra-modern manufacturing facility in Lyon, France housing the development and production of 3D-printed titanium patient-specific implants. For further information, please visit: Medicrea.com. Connect with Medicrea:

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE Medicrea is listed on

EURONEXT Growth Paris

ISIN: FR 0004178572

Ticker: ALMED

LEI: 969500BR1CPTYMTJBA37 View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171024006863/en/

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[October 25, 2017] NanoPack to Conduct Hackathon on Nanotech Acceptance at Active & Intelligent Packaging World Congress

AMSTERDAM, October 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The EU-funded NanoPack Project will organize an Idea Hackathon on the "Acceptance of Nano-Technology," at the Active & Intelligent Packaging World Congress, which will take place November 2-3, 2017 in Amsterdam. NanoPack, which develops state-of-the-art antimicrobial packaging solutions to improve food safety and reduce food waste, will also present its innovative solution at Booth #29. The Hackathon will look at consumer and regulatory acceptance of nano-technologies in packaging. The event is coordinated by NanoPack, and project partner Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association (AIPIA), which is organizing the congress. The Hackathon will take place at 14:25 to 15:55 on Thursday, November 2. Participants will include NanoPack's cordinator, Ester Segal, associate professor at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology; Eef de Ferrante, AIPIA's managing director; Nina McGrath, Food Safety Projects manager at EUFIC-European Food Information Council, and Nathalie Muller, CEO of Linkz IM.



Prof. Segal will also conduct a session entitled "How Nano Technology in Packaging Helps Reduce Food Waste" on November 2 at 11:00, during which she will detail the current status of the NanoPack Project and its achievements to date. "Nanotechnology can and will enhance food safety for consumers by significantly inhibiting growth of food-borne microbes, which in turn will prevent food-borne illness outbreaks and early spoilage," said Prof. Segal. "Europe will become the leader in food nanotechnology and smart antimicrobial packaging, which can help to increase competitiveness and economic growth."

"We are delighted to be able to use the AIPIA Congress as a platform to reach out to a wide spectrum of stakeholders. It is an ideal opportunity to gather information, gauge attitudes and opinions, and to help us address some of the challenges we face," she added. About NanoPack NanoPack is an EU-funded project, which aims to develop and demonstrate a solution for extending food shelf life through using novel antimicrobial surfaces applied in active food packaging products. NanoPack intends to develop, scale up and run pilot lines in operational industrial settings to manufacture and validate antimicrobial polymer films that are commercially feasible and accepted by retailers and consumers alike. For more information about NanoPack project https://www.nanopack.eu Contact Person Name: Simon van Dam

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +972-2-678-6120

SOURCE NanoPack

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[October 25, 2017] YES BANK's Digital Diya Initiative Educates Thousands in Rural India

MUMBAI, October 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- YES BANK developed the 'Digital Diya' campaign targeting the Indian community to join, in celebrating Diwali. The idea was to light the diya of knowledge, happiness and prosperity. The objective was that through this initiative and with the support of the people, YES BANK, under its recently launched initiative aimed to impart financial literacy across 50 villages by illuminating the lives of thousands of people in rural India. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151012/769006 ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/590193/YES_BANK_Digital_Diya_Campaign.jpg )

It was an incredibly simple idea: Every visit to the microsite (http://www.thedigitaldiya.in) by a user lit up a diya. For every Digital Diya lit by visiting the website, YES BANK added an equal amount of funds (in INR) towards spreading digital financial literacy. The number of website visits kept increasing as and when a diya was lit.



Diwali is about lighting up people's lives and positive emotions. The success of this campaign was measured by the number of diyas lit. Through rigorous online and offline promotions, YES BANK managed to light more than one million diyas. About YES BANK:

YES BANK, Indias fifth largest private sector bank, is an outcome of the professional entrepreneurship of its Founder, Rana Kapoor and his highly competent top management team, to establish a high-quality, customer-centric, service-driven bank catering to the 'Sunrise Sector of India'. YES BANK is the only Greenfield Bank license awarded by the RBI in the last two decades, associated with the finest pedigree investors. YES BANK, a 'Full Service Commercial Bank', has steadily built a corporate, retail & SME banking franchise, with a comprehensive product suite of Financial Markets, Investment Banking, Corporate Finance, Branch Banking, Business and Transaction Banking, and Wealth Management business lines across the country. For more information, please visit: https://www.yesbank.in/ Media Contact:

Akshay Tapase

[email protected]

+91-9167025775

Vice President - Digital & Social Media Marketing

YES BANK



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[October 25, 2017] Mobile Fundraising Technology Company Gesture Helps Nonprofits Raise $500 Million

CHICAGO, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Gesture, a Chicagoland mobile fundraising technology company, celebrates helping their nonprofit clients raise over $500 million through the use of mobile technology. The impact for nonprofit organizations who implement mobile fundraising techniques has been a game changer, allowing them to increase revenue while keeping up with growing fundraising challenges. Since 2011, Gesture has worked with over 3,000 charitable organizations nationwide. Gesture's unique technology provides clients with an innovative fundraising platform coupled with expert advance planning, an on-site event team and real-time event analytics that help clients maximize their fundraising efforts. "Every day at Gesture our goal is the same: to Make Hope Happen for nonprofit organizations. Each Gesture team member makes daily contributions that have helped us reach this milestone of helping our clients raise $500 million," shares Jim Alvarez, Founder and CEO of Gesture. "We are steadfast in our focus to help clients raise more money and are working to reach the next goal of helpng to raise $1 billion dollars for nonprofits by continuing to be a leader in mobile fundraising technology," adds Alvarez.



Gesture was recently named to the Inc. 5000 list of America's Fastest-Growing Privately Owned Companies in 2017 illustrating the company's strong and continued growth since its inception. "Incorporating mobile fundraising technology to our event made a huge difference in the amount of money we were able to raise," says Michelle Domino, Vice President of Cancer Kiss My Cooley, an organization dedicated to creating special moments and lasting memories for families living with pediatric brain tumors. "Advance support, event set up and onsite staff were welcome additions to our fundraising team, plus our guests loved it and found it to be an easy way to show their support during our event," adds Domino.

About Gesture

Gesture is a full-service mobile fundraising technology company working with nonprofit organizations of all sizes nationwide. Gesture's innovative fundraising platform is packed with tools that allow charity partners to fully manage fundraising campaigns from conception to onsite event and post-event reports. Gesture serves nonprofit organizations of all sizes and causes. For more information contact: Brandon Stec

Gesture Marketing Director

312-448-7620

[email protected] Related Images image1.jpg image2.jpg View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mobile-fundraising-technology-company-gesture-helps-nonprofits-raise-500-million-300542501.html SOURCE Gesture

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A Dodgeville woman was seriously injured Wednesday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash in the town of Blue Mounds.

The crash happened at about 12:20 p.m. on Highway ID just east of Erbe Road, the Dane County Sheriff's Office said.

Sarah Hanson was driving a minivan eastbound when a westbound pickup truck with an attached trailer turned left into Hanson's path.

Hanson was extricated from her vehicle and flown by Med Flight to UW Hospital, suffering from serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The pickup truck driver, Frederick Georgeson, 71, of Boscobel, was cited for improper left turn and not wearing a seat belt.

Highway ID was closed for about 90 minutes while crews worked at the scene.
[October 25, 2017]

SolarWinds to Attend TechNet Asia Pacific 2017

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SolarWinds, a leading provider of powerful and affordable IT management software, today announced its participation at TechNet Asia-Pacific (APAC) 2017, the largest event for the regions defense forces, taking place October 31November 2 in Honolulu, Hawaii. SolarWinds government experts will join discussion on the events theme, Cyber Operations for Mission Assurance and Resiliency. At the event, SolarWinds will showcase its full suite of IT management and monitoring solutions, demonstrating their ease of use, powerful capabilities, and ability to integrate to promote broad situational awareness of critical IT performance.



Sponsored by AFCEA, TechNet APAC brings together thousands of defense and government technology professionals to discuss regional defense issues in the Pacific Rim region, providing a unique environment for focused engagement to improve military IT operations.



Establishing and maintaining resilient and secure IT infrastructures is paramount for mission-critical defense operations and government agencies, said David Kimball, senior vice president, federal and national government, SolarWinds. Were returning to TechNet APAC, having participated for more than five years, as this event provides the perfect platform to engage with military IT professionals to discuss the evolving IT landscape and IT security challenges.

Visit SolarWinds at Booth 505

Join SolarWinds federal engineers and product experts at Booth 505 in the Exhibit Hall to learn about SolarWinds comprehensive IT management software portfolio, including solutions for government networks, security, systems and applications, databases, and more. Attendees can also pick up free SolarWinds gear and experience hands-on demonstrations of SolarWinds newest IT management and monitoring products.



Network with the SolarWinds Federal Team at a Complimentary Reception

What: Attendees are invited to network with SolarWinds' federal technical and business leadership team and learn how SolarWinds  software is helping the Department of Defense change the way it manages and monitors its IT infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region. Complimentary cocktails and appetizers will be served. To RSVP, click here.

Attendees are invited to network with SolarWinds' federal technical and business leadership team and learn how SolarWinds software is helping the Department of Defense change the way it manages and monitors its IT infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region. Complimentary cocktails and appetizers will be served. To RSVP, click here. When: Tuesday, October 31 from 4:30 p.m.7:00 p.m. HST

Tuesday, October 31 from 4:30 p.m.7:00 p.m. HST Where: Fresco Italian Restaurant (Hilton Hawaiian Village)

Join SolarWinds Hawaii Technology Briefing (Tech Day)

What: Attendees will learn how to get the most from SolarWinds network, systems, applications, database, compliance, and security products with specifics agency use cases. SolarWinds systems engineers will provide a deep dive into technical details and share best practices on compliance and reporting. The free interactive session will offer client-specific recommendations. Full event details anda complete list of topics are on the SolarWinds event page. To RSVP, click here.

Attendees will learn how to get the most from SolarWinds network, systems, applications, database, compliance, and security products with specifics agency use cases. SolarWinds systems engineers will provide a deep dive into technical details and share best practices on compliance and reporting. The free interactive session will offer client-specific recommendations. Full event details anda complete list of topics are on the SolarWinds event page. To RSVP, click here. When : Friday, November 3 from 8:30 a.m.3:00 p.m. HST

: Friday, November 3 from 8:30 a.m.3:00 p.m. HST Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Alana  Waikiki Beach







SolarWinds software is available on the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule, Department of Defense ESI, and other contract vehicles.

U.S. Government certifications and approvals include Army CoN and Navy DADMS. Technical Requirements include FIPS compatibility, DISA STIGs, and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) compliance.

SolarWinds software also has hundreds of built-in, automated compliance reports, which meet the requirements of major auditing authorities, including DISA STIG, FISMA, NIST, and more. SolarWinds THWACK online user community provides a number of out-of-the-box compliance report templates available to download for free that are designed to help users prepare for an inspection. THWACK also provides information on Smart Card and Common Access Card (CAC) product support.

For more product and GSA pricing information and for a fully functional free trial of all of the above products, visit the SolarWinds Government Solutions page.

Additional Resources:

Connect with SolarWinds

About SolarWinds

SolarWinds provides powerful and affordable IT management software to customers worldwide, from Fortune 500 enterprises to small businesses, managed service providers (MSPs), government agencies, and educational institutions. We are committed to focusing exclusively on IT, MSP, and DevOps professionals, and strive to eliminate the complexity that our customers have been forced to accept from traditional enterprise software vendors. Regardless of where the IT asset or user sits, SolarWinds delivers products that are easy to find, buy, use, maintain, and scale while providing the power to address key areas of the infrastructure from on-premises to the cloud. This focus and commitment to excellence in end-to-end hybrid IT performance management has established SolarWinds as the worldwide leader in both network management software and MSP solutions, and is driving similar growth across the full spectrum of IT management software. Our solutions are rooted in our deep connection to our user base, which interacts in our THWACK online community to solve problems, share technology and best practices, and directly participate in our product development process. Learn more today at www.solarwinds.com.

The SolarWinds, SolarWinds & Design, Orion, and THWACK trademarks are the exclusive property of SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC or its affiliates, are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and may be registered or pending registration in other countries. All other SolarWinds trademarks, service marks, and logos may be common law marks or are registered or pending registration. All other trademarks mentioned herein are used for identification purposes only and are trademarks of (and may be registered trademarks of) their respective companies.

 2017 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Katie Hanusik

Speakerbox PR

Phone: 703.287.7824

[email protected]

Jenne Barbour

SolarWinds

Phone: 512.498.6804

[email protected]
[October 25, 2017] Attain Wins U.S. Department of Agriculture MIDAS contract

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Attain, LLC, a leading management, technology, and strategy consulting firm, announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded the firm its Modernize and Innovate the Delivery of Agriculture Systems (MIDAS) contract. The MIDAS program supports the mission of USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) to serve all farmers, ranchers, and agricultural partners through the delivery of effective, efficient agricultural programs for all Americans. Under the MIDAS contract, Attain will support FSA's mission critical enterprise system application development requirements to enable the delivery of modern, cost-effective business solutions and to further improve the provision of our nation's farm programs. Leveraging MIDAS's SAP platform, Attain will optimize operations and apply an agile framewor to application development.



"As a long-time partner to USDA, we look forward to our continued support of the agency's mission and advancing that of FSA," said Attain President and COO Manish Agarwal. "With Attain's deep expertise in digital transformation, including a fully integrated approach to application lifecycle management that leverages user-centric design, agile development, DevOps, and continuous delivery, we bring forward looking perspective and execution to MIDAS." MIDAS, which manages various federal assistance programs to support approximately five million U.S. farms, is used across FSA's more than 2,100 field offices to access centralized farm and constituent data and to provide an improved customer experience for farmers, ranchers, and producers. MIDAS continues to serve as the foundation for future FSA modernization to bring greater efficiency across the agency.

About Attain

Based in McLean, Va., Attain is a leading management, technology, and strategy consulting firm comprised of innovative problem solvers who disrupt the status quo to change the world and improve the lives of those we touch. From strategy and digital transformationincluding user-centric design, agile development, DevOps, and continuous deploymentto cyber security, cloud services, business intelligence and analytics, infrastructure management, as well as industry-specific operational expertise, Attain brings proven performance and forward thinking to advance our clients' missions across the government, education, healthcare, and nonprofit landscapes. For more information, please visit attain.com. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/attain-wins-us-department-of-agriculture-midas-contract-300542999.html SOURCE Attain, LLC

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[October 25, 2017] Teledyne LeCroy Introduces Eclipse M42 Protocol Analyzer / Exerciser

BANGALORE, India, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Teledyne LeCroy Inc., the worldwide leader in protocol test solutions, today introduced the Eclipse M42 Analyzer/Exerciser: a protocol analyzer and exerciser for the next generation of Gear 4 UniPro/UFS development. The Eclipse M42 Analyzer/Exerciser assists design and test engineers working in the high data rates and aggressive power management of the UniPro and UFS specifications over the MIPIM-PHY physical interface. The Eclipse M42 delivers in-depth testing and analysis, automated quality testing as well as compliance/conformance verification in one powerful package. The Eclipse M42 fully supports the MIPIM-PHY v4.1 HS-G4, the MIPI UniProSM v1.80 and the UFS v3.0 specifications. It also supports the upcoming MIPI UniPro Conformance Test Specification version1.80 and the recently released JEDEC JDS224A Universal Flash Storage (UFS) Test specification Version 1.1. Acting as a standalone protocol analyzer or as an analyzer/exerciser, the Eclipse M42 offers a complete protocol solution from analysis and traffic generation, to conformance or compliance testing and automated stress testing. System developers and designers looking for a fully featured Gear 4 Analyzer/Exerciser can rely on the Eclipse M42. The Eclipse M42 platform, along with its UniPro M Series Protocol suite provide a robust system to capture and debug UniPro/UFS traffic. Through use of its advanced software suite, the Eclipse M42 is able to automatically identify and evaluate millions of packets, transactions and complete protocol sequences for conformance to the specification. Complex transactions such as power mode changes, and Link Startup Sequence events can be automatically analyzed many times, finding issues that even an expert engineer might miss. Using the Eclipse M42 exerciser provides conformance/compliance verification, as well as margin, corner case, and automated stress testing. Teledyne LeCroy will demonstrate the Eclipse M42 at the MIPI DevCon in Bangalore, India on October 27, 2017 and at the MIPI DevCon on October 31, 2017 in Hsinchu City, Taiwan. The Eclipse M42 will be available for shipment in December of 2017. For pricing information, or to arrange a demonstration, contact the nearest Teledyne LeCroy Sales Representative. About Teledyne LeCroy Teledyne LeCroy Inc. is a leading manufacturer of advanced oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, and other test instruments that verify performance, validate compliance, and debug complex electronic systems quickly and thoroughly. Since its founding in 1964, the Company has focused on incorporating powerful tools into innovative products that enhance "Time-to-Insight". Faster time to insight enables users to rapidly find and fix defects in complex electronic systems, dramatically improving time-to-market for a wide variety of applications and end markets. Teledyne LeCroy is based in Chestnut Ridge, N.Y. For more information, visit Teledyne LeCroy's website at teledynelecroy.com . About the MIPI Alliance The MIPI Alliance is a global, collaborative organization comprised of companies that span the mobile ecosystem and are committed to defining and promoting interface specifications for mobile devices. The MIPI Alliance is a non-profit corporation that operates as an open membership organization. All companies in the mobile device industry are encouraged to join, including semiconductor companies, software vendors, IP providers, peripheral manufacturers, test labs and end product OEMs. Today, more than 250 member companies actively participate in the Alliance, developing interface specifications which drive consistency in processor and peripheral interfaces, promoting reuse and compatibility in mobile devices. MIPI and the MIPI logo are a licensed trademark of the MIPI Alliance.  2017 by Teledyne LeCroy. All rights reserved. Specifications are subject to change without notice.







Media contact: Bill Johnson, Marketing Manager (434) 951-0207 Editors' Technical contact: Roy Chestnut, Director of Technical Marketing (408) 486-7234 Customer contact: Teledyne LeCroy PSG Customer Care Center (800) 909-7112 Website: http://teledynelecroy.com/



View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/teledyne-lecroy-introduces-eclipse-m42-protocol-analyzer--exerciser-300543033.html SOURCE Teledyne LeCroy Inc.

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[October 25, 2017] Aparavi Launches with SaaS Platform to Help Organizations Overcome Challenges of Long-Term Data Retention in Modern Environments

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Aparavi officially launched today to better prepare businesses to meet the challenges of long-term data retention across modern, multi-cloud architectures. The company's new multi-tier and tenant software-as-a-service platform was built from the ground up to enable organizations of all sizes to protect data both stored and aggregated on multiple clouds and on premises by addressing the current barriers of cost, vendor lock, complexity, and compliance requirements facing traditional solutions. Aparavi's entirely new SaaS platform installs quickly and easily, working in conjunction with an organization's business continuity plan to ease the burden of compliance and data protection while providing them with the freedom to switch between the most strategic or cost-effective cloud storage vendor of their choice. Aparavi's cloud-active data pruning automatically removes files that are no longer needed based on policy conditions to reduce storage requirements over time and significantly lower recurring costs the first terabyte is free in perpetuity with subscription costs of $999 per year for 3 terabytes of usage. "Enterprise storage architectures have evolved tremendously in the last few years," said Deepak Mohan, Research Director at IDC. "With the growth and maturity of cloud, storage at typical enterprises now spans multiple tiers across multiple premises and providers. But data retention and protection techniques have not kept up with this pace of evolution. By creating a purpose-built solution that addresse today's multi-cloud storage paradigm, Aparavi brings to market a solution for organizations to protect their data across multiple clouds and premises in an easy and affordable manner."



Aparavi's three-tiered architecture enables the company's patented technologies to scale between local and cloud storage, minimally impacting workload while balancing network and bandwidth concerns. Multi-Cloud Agile Retention allows organizations to use one cloud today and to switch to another at any point with no interruption or migration necessary. Point-in-Time recovery protection seamlessly recovers data from any combination of local or cloud storage based on the date and time the data was protected without having to worry about where the data is. Aparavi's open data format enables other tools to read data with or without the Aparavi platform to prevent any complications with long-term recovery. "Companies that are struggling with how to protect and retain data in modern IT environments over time need a solution that is built for tomorrow's architecture," said Adrian Knapp, Chairman of Aparavi. "Organizations are increasingly adopting multi-cloud storage as one such option for long-term retention as the cloud continues to become cheaper on a per terabyte basis. However, managing business-critical information and ensuring its availability across multiple clouds over time is a challenge that most solutions cannot address simply. Only Aparavi allows organizations to take full advantage of cloud economics by automatically aligning the value of their data with the cloud storage vendor of their choice based on price while simultaneously pruning old data to ensure they're not paying to store information that is no longer needed for a better TCO than anyone else on the market today."

Aparavi is available on Windows platforms, as well as most major Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu and Red Hat. The platform uses the Amazon Simple storage API and supports AWS services as well as, Google Cloud Platform, Wasabi, IBM Bluemix, Scality, and Cloudian which are among Aparavi's certified storage devices and partners. For more information or to sign up, interested parties can visit http://www.aparavi.com About APARAVI Aparavi is software as a service for compliance burdened companies with a desire for "any-cloud" data retention. Our cloud forward solution puts the power back into the right hands with a RESTful API, policy engine, alongside an open data format, and a multi-tenant architecture. Our purpose-built technology will, overtime, greatly reduce and organizations storage footprint as compared to more traditional methods while ensuring compliance policies are upheld for decades to come. We believe that with evolving global regulations and more data than ever being generated, organizations need purpose-built solutions for short and long-term data retention. CONTACT:

Scott Kline

1-818-798-1474

[email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aparavi-launches-with-saas-platform-to-help-organizations-overcome-challenges-of-long-term-data-retention-in-modern-environments-300542679.html SOURCE Aparavi

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Intrepid Acts as Exclusive Financial Advisor to Ambry Genetics on its Sale to Konica Minolta in a Deal Valued at US$1 Billion

Intrepid Investment Bankers (Intrepid), a leading middle-market investment bank, today announced that it acted as the exclusive financial advisor to U.S.-based Ambry Genetics Corporation (Ambry) on its sale to Konica Minolta (News - Alert) (TSE:4902)-a global digital technology company with core strengths in imaging and data analysis, optics, materials, and nano-fabrication.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025005406/en/

Intrepid served as the exclusive financial advisor to Ambry Genetics Corporation. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Konica Minolta, through its subsidiary Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc. (MHUS), and Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) made a closing payment of $800 million to Ambry's shareholders. Over the next two years, Ambry shareholders will receive up to $200 million in incremental consideration based on certain financial metrics, valuing the acquisition up to a total of US$1 billion. Ambry will become a consolidated subsidiary of Konica Minolta and continue to operate at its headquarters in Aliso Viejo, Calif., and under the Ambry name.

"Konica Minolta is the type of strategic partner we have been searching for-Intrepid's Healthcare team was creative and thoughtful in bringing us a range of outstanding partner choices, from financial institutions interested in our space, to major players in healthcare. Ultimately, we felt that Konica Minolta was by far the best partner to help us take our strategic vision of helping humanity cure disease much closer to reality," said Charles Dunlop, Founder, President, and Chairman of Ambry Genetics. "Intrepid understood our culture and history of innovation, and through the Konica Minolta partnership, we will have the resources, technology, and scale to advance biomedical research and enable the matching of more patients in more countries with specialized medicines that target the underlying cause of their illness," added Dr. Aaron Elliott, CEO of Ambry Genetics.

"Ambry is a special company that received major interest from strategics and institutional investors. Charlie Dunlop built a unique culture on a simple imperative: use genetics to diagnose disease early to save lives. Charlie is a force of nature-his vision built an industry leader that is now well positioned with an exceptional partner to fulfill its promise," said Ed Bagdasarian, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Intrepid.

As an emerging player in the healthcare field, Konica Minolta has developed comprehensive technologies and services, including digital X-ray diagnostic imaging systems, diagnostic ultrasound systems, and ICT service platforms for medical institutions. "This acquisition is the first in a series of strategic initiatives to secure a leading position for Konica Minolta in precision medicine," said Shoei Yamana, President and CEO of Konica Minolta. "The future of medicine is patient-focused. Together with Ambry, we will have the most comprehensive set of diagnostic technologies for mapping an individual's genetic and biochemical makeup, as well as the capabilities to translate that knowledge into information the medical community can use to discover, prevent, and cost-effectively treat diseases. This will not only serve as the future foundation for our healthcare business but it will pave the way for a fundamental shift in the way medicine is practced globally."







About Ambry Genetics

Founded in 1999, Ambry Genetics is a privately-held healthcare company in the U.S., led by Founder, President, and Chairman Charles L.M. Dunlop and CEO Dr. Aaron Elliott. Ambry is known as a pioneer and thought leader in genetic testing and is the first laboratory in the world to offer such tests as hereditary cancer panels and clinical exome sequencing. Ambry's mission has remained focused on understanding disease so cures can come faster. Today, Ambry remains unwavering in its commitment to being tough, innovative, committed to quality, and, most of all, focused to do what is right for patient care.

About Konica Minolta

Konica Minolta, Inc. is a global digital technology company with core strengths in imaging and data analysis, optics, materials, and nano-fabrication. Through innovation, the company creates products and digital solutions for the betterment of business and society-today and for generations to come. Headquartered in Tokyo and with operations in more than 50 countries, Konica Minolta has more than 43,000 employees serving approximately two million customers in over 150 countries. Konica Minolta is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE:4902).

Deal Team Contacts

Ed Bagdasarian, CEO and Managing Director

Steve Davis, Managing Director

Adam Abramowitz, Managing Director

Jonathan Bluth, Senior Vice President and Head of Healthcare

About Intrepid Investment Bankers

Intrepid provides M&A, capital raising and strategic advisory services to entrepreneurs and middle-market companies in various industry sectors. Our heritage, rooted in our founders' successful 35-year history, breeds a culture that embraces teamwork, tenacity, and creativity to win big for our clients. We believe that every company has an entrepreneurial passion that drives it and a story that defines it. Our team delivers results through skillful positioning and relentless execution. Based in Los Angeles, Intrepid augments its international capabilities through its active participation in Oaklins, an exclusive global alliance of M&A advisory firms.

Intrepid homepage

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View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025005406/en/
[October 25, 2017] JazzHR Secures $6.6 Million In Funding To Power Talent Acquisition For SMBs

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- JazzHR, the leading recruiting solutions provider for small and medium-sized businesses, today announced that it has closed a $6.6 million financing round. Volition Capital led the round with participation from existing investors Birchmere Ventures, Rincon Venture Partners, and others. This round brings the company's total funding to $25M since launching in 2009. The company will use the investment to fuel strategic product development and accelerate continued go to market expansion. The announcement comes on the heels of a series of prominent awards. Named an Inc. 5000 company for the second consecutive year, JazzHR continues to be recognized for its accelerated growth and human capital management solutions. Along with being named 2017's Best Human Capital - Talent Management Solution in the 32nd annual SIIA CODiE Awards, JazzHR was recently ranked the No. 1 most user-friendly Applicant Tracking Software by Capterra.



"JazzHR's mission is to reduce the time and cost to hire by providing a powerful, easy to use recruiting solution at a price point designed to fit small business budgets," says CEO of JazzHR, Pete Lamson. "We are delighted to partner with word-class investors to help SMBs accelerate and optimize their recruiting results." JazzHR's best-in-class software creates value for more than 3,000 customers by replacing time-consuming and manual hiring tasks with intuitive tools designed to help recruiters and hiring managers find and hire the right talent, fast. With a focus on small to medium-sized businesses, JazzHR is the first company to bring enterprise-grade recruiting solutions to the small business market with an affordable price tag.

"We are thrilled to continue working with the JazzHR management team," stated Sean Cantwell, Managing Partner at Volition Capital. "SMBs need simple, high performance hiring solutions without the price tag of enterprise tools. JazzHR uniquely fills that void in the marketplace. Our continued investment in the business is a testament to JazzHR's vision, strategy and market leadership, and we look forward to supporting their next phase of growth." For more information about JazzHR solutions, visit www.JazzHR.com, email [email protected], or call +1 (888) 885-5299. ABOUT JAZZHR

JazzHR's powerful, user-friendly, and affordable recruiting software is purpose-built to help growing companies exceed their recruiting goals. JazzHR's best-in-class software replaces time-consuming and manual hiring tasks with intuitive software designed to help recruiters and hiring managers find, recruit, and hire the right talent, fast. To learn more about JazzHR, visit www.jazzhr.com or follow us at twitter.com/JazzDotCo. For additional information:

Mike Paffmann

5W Public Relations

[email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jazzhr-secures-66-million-in-funding-to-power-talent-acquisition-for-smbs-300542924.html SOURCE JazzHR

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[October 25, 2017] Credit Sesame Raises $42 Million in Growth Funding

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Credit Sesame, a fast-growing, personalized credit service and financial wellness company, announced today it has raised over $42 million in equity and venture debt. The funding comes from existing and new investors including Menlo Ventures, Inventus Capital, Globespan Capital, IA Capital, SF Capital, among others, along with a strategic investor. The funds will be used to accelerate the company's growth, hiring, and member acquisition, and to advance its analytics, robo-advisor and machine learning technologies. Credit Sesame's robo-advisor technology leverages its significant consumer data and analytics along with thousands of rules and insights that have been developed and proven over the past several years. As the first of its kind in the industry, this technology aims to simplify and automate the management of consumer credit and loans, addressing the liability side of the balance sheet and helping consumers achieve improved financial wellness. "While many companies have spent the last few years catching up to our free credit score offerings for consumers, Credit Sesame has been developing and proving robo-advisor technology," said Adrian Nazari, founder and CEO of Credit Sesame. "This technology translates consumer financial and credit information into simple and actionable steps that consumers can easily understand and utilize to iprove their financial profile and leverage their credit. As a result, 45% of our members are engaged monthly, helping us achieve an unprecedented relationship and engagement with our members."



Launched in 2011, Credit Sesame has attracted over 12 million members. The mobile and web solution provides consumers with tools to build a path to achieve financial wellness, including free access to their credit profile complete with their credit score, credit report grades, credit monitoring, interactive step-by-step tools and recommendations for better lending options. Credit Sesame has seen over 100 percent annual growth for the past three years and achieved full profitability in early 2017. A new strategic investor has also joined Credit Sesame's consortium of investors in this round. A separate strategic partnership may be announced in the near future that will allow millions more to benefit from Credit Sesame's services.

With this funding Credit Sesame intends to add over 100 new employees to its offices in downtown Mountain View and its newly acquired office in San Francisco in the next 12 months, with the majority of hiring focused on increasing engineering, data science and analytics teams. The new $42 million in funding is comprised of $26.6M in equity and $15.5M in venture debt, bringing the San Francisco-based fintech company's total funding to over $77 million. Financial Technology Partners LP acted as an exclusive strategic and financial advisor to Credit Sesame for this round. About Credit Sesame

Credit Sesame is the fastest growing personalized credit service with one purpose: to help consumers achieve financial wellness and reach their financial goals by improving and leveraging their credit. The San Francisco-based fintech company is empowering millions of consumers to take control of their financial lives with actionable robo-advice technology and motivating daily communications. GROWTH is the objective of everything the company does, from the financial growth of its members to the professional growth of its employees. For more information on Credit Sesame, visit www.creditsesame.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. For more details on careers at Credit Sesame, see here. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/credit-sesame-raises-42-million-in-growth-funding-300542669.html SOURCE Credit Sesame

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[October 25, 2017] The Caribbean is Open for Cruise Vacations

MISSION, Kan., Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Family Features) Contrary to what some may think, the hurricanes in September had little to no impact on the vast majority of the Caribbean  a far-reaching region covering more than 1 million square miles.

Photo Courtesy of Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cb5b690c-efd7-42c6-8bbf-dbac5e8ec9b8 In fact, ofthe nearly 100 ports in the Caribbean, almost 90 percent are open and fully operational  and welcoming thousands of cruise ship passengers every day.



To help make sure consumers are aware that the Caribbean is open for business, the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) has launched a campaign and website, CaribbeanIsOpen.com, to provide the latest updates. The Caribbean is one of the worlds most popular regions for cruise travelers. The islands are not only conveniently accessible, but offer spectacular beaches, legendary crystal-clear waters, vibrant towns and popular shore excursions.

The locals welcome vacationers to their islands as tourism, and the cruise industry in particular, is critical for the economy. According to the FCCA, cruising generated $2.4 billion in direct economic impact for the Caribbean and created nearly 55,000 jobs and $842 million in wages throughout the region during the 2014-15 cruise season. This is in addition to the indirect jobs created in supporting industries, such as providing supplies for shore excursions, ports and restaurants. Seasoned cruisers to the Caribbean understand that most of the islands have been unaffected, said Carolyn Spencer Brown, chief content strategist for the website Cruise Critic. They also understand tourism is a top driver for the islands economic well-being and that cruises are a large part of that equation. Because of that, its important for both cruise lines and travelers to continue to support so many of the Caribbean islands that are ready for business and eager to provide travelers with the incredible vacations theyve come to expect from the region." Now is an ideal time to plan a Caribbean cruise vacation. Contact a local travel agent or check out cruise line websites to find plenty of options for cruise vacations. Michael French

[email protected]

1-888-824-3337

editors.familyfeatures.com About Family Features Editorial Syndicate

Established in 1974, Family Features is a leading provider of free food and lifestyle content for print and online publications. Our articles, photos, videos and web content solutions save you time, money and help create advertising opportunities. Registration is fast and free  with absolutely no obligation. Visit editors.familyfeatures.com for more information.

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[October 25, 2017] Whatfix Receives ISO 27001:2013 Certification Demonstrating Highest Information Security Standards

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Whatfix, a leading Performance Support Platform, announced that it has been awarded the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification for its strict compliance to Information Security standards. The certification signifies Whatfix's continuing best practices and commitment to information security within the organization and for its clients. ISO 27001:2013 is the world's most recognized set of standards for implementing and maintaining information security management systems within organizations. The ISO standards also contains requirements for assessment and mitigation of data security risks as per the needs of the organization. The ISO 27001:2013 certification strengthens Whatfix's position as a leading Performance Support platform. The certification demonstrates Whatfix's expertise in handling, processing and storing data and its readiness to mitigate any information security risks. "Achievement of the ISO 27001:2013 certification is a testimony to our commitment to protecting our data, and more importantly, our customer's data," Khadim Batti, Cofounder and CEO, Whatfix, said. "As an organization working with some of the world's biggest enterprises, it is expected of us to ensure that their sensitive information is ably protected. This certification not only relects our commitment but also demonstrates our ability to safeguard information re-emphasizing the trust they have in us."



The ISO 27001:2013 certification was awarded to Whatfix was based on independent rigorous audits conducted by British Standards Institute (BSI), a leading external auditor for compliance standards. "The audit team concluded based on the results of the audit that Whatfix fulfils the standards and audit criteria identified within the audit report and it is deemed that the management system continues to achieve its intended outcomes," BSI said in a statement. "Information security is the first priority for Whatfix and we have been working hard in order to put in place systems that can manage data effectively, mitigate any risks and effectively handle incidents," Vara Kumar, Cofounder and CTO, Whatfix, said. "Certification of compliance to ISO 27001:2013 will boost the confidence that our customers have in us."

For more information on how Whatfix can help you, reach us at whatfix.com. About Whatfix Whatfix is a leading B2B SaaS based Performance Support platform that helps enterprises and businesses simplify their training and support efforts with easily accessible contextual guidance. Whatfix's platform is built with real-time interactive guidance technology at its core, which helps users achieve optimal performance, by providing just-in-time guidance that enables them to perform tasks quickly and efficiently. Media Contact Amar Tejaswi

[email protected]

+91-9148843215 Related Links Interactive Training to Boost Employee Productivity How Performance Support Systems Accelerate User Performance View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/whatfix-receives-iso-270012013-certification-demonstrating-highest-information-security-standards-300542965.html SOURCE Whatfix

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[October 25, 2017] Lucid Software announces Lucidchart add-in availability for Microsoft Office 365 Centralized Deployment service

SILICON SLOPES, Utah, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lucidchart, a visual productivity platform that helps anyone understand and share complex ideas, information, and processes, will now be available as an add-in within the Microsoft Office 365 Centralized Deployment service. Administrators can now deploy the Lucidchart add-in to individual users, groups, or their entire organization with ease from the Office 365 admin center. Users with the Lucidchart add-in will see the Lucidchart logo on the ribbon and will be able to insert Lucidchart visuals into their Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint documents with ease. Regarding the announcement, Lucid Software VP of Strategy Luke Langford said, "Lucidchart complements Microsoft Office 365 by making it easy and quick to create visuals that convey the complicated ideas, projects, processes, and systems encountered by knowledge workers today. Our award-winning product will enable millions of Office users to make visuals faster and communicate better, so it's exciting to see ucidchart in Office 365's Centralized Deployment service. We want Lucidchart to be wherever our users are."



Office users see Lucidchart's value as well. At the Microsoft Ignite conference in 2016, Lucid Software took home two Office App Awards. Lucidchart Diagrams for PowerPoint add-in won the "People's Choice Award" and the second-place award for "Most Business Value for an Office Add-in." Lucidchart is a collaborative cloud-based platform that enables users to break complicated ideas down into easily digestible visuals. With 9 million users and rapid growth, Lucidchart is quickly becoming an essential productivity aid for millions of knowledge workers.

Rob Howard, Director of Office Ecosystem, Microsoft Corp. said, "Microsoft understands the value visual communication has in helping organizations convey complex information. We are pleased to see Lucid Software support our mutual customers with an enhanced experience for Microsoft Office 365." About Lucid Software Lucid Software is the parent company of two cloud-based visual productivity applications: Lucidchart and Lucidpress. Lucidchart is an essential visual productivity platform that helps anyone understand and share ideas, information, and processes with clarity. Lucidpress is an intuitive design and brand management platform allowing anyone to create on-brand content faster. Both are utilized in over 175 countries by more than 10 million users, including Comcast, NASA, Netflix, Target, and Xerox. Since the Utah-based company's founding in 2010, Lucid Software has grown in revenue by nearly 100 percent each year and has received numerous awards for its business and workplace culture. For more information about Lucid Software, visit golucid.co. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lucid-software-announces-lucidchart-add-in-availability-for-microsoft-office-365-centralized-deployment-service-300542911.html SOURCE Lucid Software

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Former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold will teach a class at UW-Madison next year about diplomacy in Africa.

Feingold will return to the campus where he earned his bachelors degree to teach a capstone seminar in fall 2018 called Negotiating Peace in the African Great Lakes Region as a distinguished visiting lecturer.

While in Congress, Feingold served as chairman for a time on Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs. He also was appointed special envoy to the Great Lakes region in eastern Africas Rift Valley from 2013 to 2015.

Feingold helped persuade a rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo known as the March 23 Movement to put down its weapons, the university said in announcing the upcoming class.

The university hosts distinguished visiting lecturers to give a real-world perspective on specific course topics. Students will be able to enroll in the seminar during the upcoming spring semester.

Feingold, a Democrat, has previously taught at Marquette University Law School, Stanford University and Lawrence University. He is currently a visiting professor in law at Yale Law School.

He represented Wisconsin in Congress from 1993 to 2011 until he was defeated in the 2010 election by current Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, who retained his U.S. Senate seat last fall from a challenge by Feingold.
[October 25, 2017] Enterprise Artificial Intelligence Leader Noodle.ai Taps Former Mu Sigma Head of Products and Strategy as Chief Product Officer

Noodle.ai, the leading Enterprise Artificial Intelligence applications company, announces today Deepinder Dhingra has joined as Chief Product Officer. Deepinder comes to Noodle.ai from Mu Sigma where he held positions as Head of Products & Strategy. Before Mu Sigma, Deepinder worked at i2 Technologies, Demantra, and Tibco Spotfire focused on product innovation in supply chain, customer analytics, portfolio performance attribution, risk analysis, and demand planning. Deepinder holds a Masters of Engineering degree from University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Bachelors in Engineering degree from IIT Kanpur. At Noodle.ai, Deepinder will lead a world-class team of data scientists, data engineers, software engineers, supercomputing technologists, and product managers to extend Noodle.ai's position as the leader in Enterprise Artificial Intelligence applications. He will join the Noodle.ai Executive Leadership Team. "Deepinder is an awesome addition to our dream team. His products strategy & development skills, business operations skills, creativity, and intellect are a perfect fit for Noodle.ai. He will increase our ability t create enormous economic value for our clients - helping them switch their operations planning from spreadsheets & debates to structured collaboration enabled by learning algorithms & supercomputers," said Stephen Pratt, CEO of Noodle.ai.



"Joining Noodle.ai was a clear decision for me," said Deepinder. "Noodle.ai is infusing the next-gen of advanced analytics at scale, Enterprise AI, into organizations. This represents a culmination of my 17 years of focus in developing and commercializing category-defining products & solutions in advanced business planning, next-gen business intelligence and advanced analytics across both demand and supply chains in enterprises. The possibilities created by recent advances in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have extended the frontier of what is possible and Noodle.ai is at the fore-front. We have the right product and right team in the right market at the right time." Deepinder joins an executive team with deep enterprise AI experience that includes CEO Stephen Pratt, who served as the Global Leader of Watson for IBM (News - Alert) Global Business Services; President and Chief Operations Officer Raj Joshi, previously Senior Executive Vice President of Professional Services at MicroStrategy (News - Alert); Chief Data Science Officer Dr. Matt Denesuk, previously Chief Data Science Officer for GE; Chief Technology Officer Dr. Ted Gaubert, previously Chief Technology Officer of Infosys (News - Alert) Consulting, and John Kalil, previously Managing Director at Boston Consulting Group.

About Noodle.ai Noodle.ai is the leading Enterprise Artificial Intelligence applications company. The breakthrough design of Noodle.ai is based on a set of interconnected learning algorithms across supply and demand planning. Founded in 2016, Noodle.ai is led by executives previously with the top firms in data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and management consulting. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025005824/en/

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[October 25, 2017] Xerox Recognized for Innovative Approaches to Cyber Security

The Xerox Global Security Services group has been selected as a recipient of the sixth annual CSO50 Awards for its efforts to make information security an integral part of communicating with employees, partners and stakeholders. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025005938/en/ "The future of cyber safety is a moving target and we need to be aware of how the threat landscape is changing and adapting to new securities. We call this the Cognitive Security Approach at Xerox," says Alissa Johnson, chief information security officer, Xerox. "The flexibly and agility needed for our enterprise to combat cyber threats in real-time will be critical to our future role in The Internet of things." Two Xerox information projects, "Changing Team Culture using QwikSolver", and "Xerox Enterprise Cyber Threat Management Portal," were recognized as security initiatives that demonstrate outstanding business value and thought leadership. Changing Team Culture using QwikSolver Xerox designed a new internal process called QwikSolver to address decisions that had to be made quickly and without compromising the information safety of customers. As security employees were trained to use the QwikSolver process, the company experienced positive cultural changes and uncompromised information security. Xerox Enterprise Cyber Threat Management Portal In response to newly emerging cyber-attacks, customers, partners, executives, and shareholders expect enterprises to demonstrate awareness of threats and the actions they undertake to thwart them. The Xerox Cyber Threat Management Portal meets that demand by providing a means fo Xerox Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI (News - Alert)) team to directly share information with these audiences. Cyber-threat preparedness and training functions are available to anyone to learn cyber-threat response procedures, and industry threat terms and concepts. The portal also provides continuous tracking, measurement, and reporting of enterprise-wide responses to threats directly relevant to the business.



The level of transparency Xerox shows to its customers, partners, executives, and shareholders regarding its awareness and approaches to cyber security allows all groups to rest assured this topic is at the forefront of all activity. The awards will be presented to the Xerox Global Security Services group and Chief Information Security Officer Alissa Johnson at the CSO 50 Conference + Awards in February 2018. To learn more about the Xerox's approaches to product safety and cyber security, visit: https://security.business.xerox.com/en-us/.

About Xerox Xerox Corporation is an $11 billion technology leader that innovates the way the world communicates, connects and works. Our expertise is more important than ever as customers of all sizes look to improve productivity, maximize profitability and increase satisfaction. We do this for small and mid-size businesses, large enterprises, governments, graphic communications providers, and for our partners who serve them. We understand what's at the heart of work - and all of the forms it can take. We embrace the increasingly complex world of paper and digital. Office and mobile. Personal and social. Every day across the globe - in more than 160 countries - our technology, software and people successfully navigate those intersections. We automate, personalize, package, analyze and secure information to keep our customers moving at an accelerated pace. Note: To receive RSS news feeds, visit https://www.news.xerox.com. For open commentary, industry perspectives and views visit http://twitter.com/xerox, http://www.linkedin.com/company/xerox, http://connect.blogs.xerox.com, http://www.facebook.com/XeroxCorp, http://www.youtube.com/XeroxCorp. Xerox, Xerox and Design and QwikSolver are trademarks of Xerox in the United States and/or other countries. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025005938/en/

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[October 25, 2017] SentryOne v 11.2 Offers New Insights and Powerful Automation

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SentryOne today announced the release of version 11.2 to the SentryOne Platform. New features of the release include a new Top SQL interface, the ability to execute PowerShell Condition Actions from within SentryOne, an enhanced Advisory Condition framework for VMware hosts and Azure SQL Database, SQL Server on Linux monitoring; and the addition of application telemetry. "This release offers our customers the ability to not only dig more deeply into their data, but to do so with an even more precise roadmap that pinpoints where to dig," said Jason Hall, Vice President of Product for SentryOne. "The Top SQL improvements provide a superior solution to diagnose and optimize queries and the PowerShell Action provides new options for automation and remediation." "We are very excited about the depth and breadth of this release and how it wll translate into better software serving the data platform community," said John Martin, Microsoft MVP and SentryOne Product Manager. "Our amazing software engineering team really went above and beyond in delivering this update."



SentryOne is a Charlotte-based technology company whose award-winning solutions empower Microsoft data professionals to achieve breakthrough performance across physical, virtual, and cloud environments. Its team includes an unprecedented eight Microsoft MVPs, individuals recognized by Microsoft for their subject matter expertise and community impact. Over the years, SentryOne has developed cutting-edge capabilities to optimize SQL Server performance, including its popular free query tool Plan Explorer. The company was founded by CEO Greg Gonzalez and Ken Teeter in 2004 as SQL Sentry LLC, and it employs more than 100 people in Charlotte. In 2015, the company secured a $25 million investment from San Francisco-based growth-equity firm Mainsail Partners.

Contact: Jeanne Bernish

(704) 990-2242

[email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sentryone-v-112-offers-new-insights-and-powerful-automation-300543238.html SOURCE SentryOne

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[October 25, 2017] NEM Western Energy Policy Summit Focuses on Energy Choice Initiative

The National Energy Marketers Association (NEM) hosted its Western Energy Policy Summit yesterday in Las Vegas. The Summit gathered Nevada energy policy leaders as well as Presidents and CEOs of competitive energy and technology companies to examine issues associated with implementing consumer energy choice. "NEM and its members pledge their support and resources to aid Nevada in identifying and implementing energy market best practices that will lead to robust retail competition and benefit all consumers," said Craig Goodman, President of NEM. At the Summit, Nevada Lieutenant Governor Mark Hutchison reviewed the historic energy choice ballot initiative that was overwhelmingly approved by voters, and if approved again in 2018, would provide Nevadans with a constitutional right to energy choice. Attorney General Adam Laxalt also heralded the potential opportunity for consumer choice in energy providers, terms and pricing. Nevada Assemblyman Chris Brooks explained the unique characteristics of Nevada, including its abundant renewable resources, and the goals of restructuing including ensuring consumer protection, creation of a flexible framework for evolving technologies and the creation of economic opportunities for businesses.



NEM members described retail and wholesale market best practices that have been instrumental in establishing successful energy choice programs in other jurisdictions. Darin Cook, CEO of Infinite (News - Alert) Energy, noted that the impetus for restructuring lies in "lower energy prices, innovation and a better customer experience," and is exemplified by the results achieved in the Texas electric market. Jeff Hendler, CEO of Energy Technology Savings, explained the phenomenon of "grid defection" whereby consumers are increasingly exercising their right to self-generate energy, and that data accessibility is key to consumer understanding of energy prices and realizing value. "Distributed Energy Resources are the next revolution in energy marketing," said Ron Perry, CEO of Commercial Energy. About NEM

The National Energy Marketers Association (NEM) is a national, non-profit trade association representing wholesale and retail marketers of natural gas, electricity, as well as energy and financial related products, services, information and advanced technologies throughout the United States, Canada, and the European Union. NEM is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year. Additional information about NEM is available from NEM's Washington, DC headquarters at (202) 333-3288 or its website at www.energymarketers.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025006040/en/

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[October 25, 2017] John Muir Health Awarded Comprehensive Stroke Certification Accreditation

John Muir Health's Walnut Creek Medical Center has been awarded Comprehensive Stroke Certification Accreditation by The Joint Commission, which accredits and certifies health care organizations and programs in the United States. This certification means that the Walnut Creek Medical Center is ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year to deliver advanced stroke care. It's the highest level of stroke certification, earned by demonstrating the significant resources, staff and training that are necessary for the treatment of the most complex stroke cases, including interventional procedures for acute strokes and hemorrhages. With this certification, the Walnut Creek Medical Center joins an elite group of 130 Comprehensive Stroke Certified hospitals in the nation, and just 17 in California. To be eligible, hospitals must demonstrate compliance with stroke-related standards as a Primary Stroke Center and meet additional requirements, including advanced imaging capabilities, 24/7 availability of specialized treatments, and qualified staff with the special education and competencies to care for complex stroke patients. "This achievement is a result of four years of dedication and teamwork from our neurosciences specialists, medical staff, nurses, ancillary services providers and administrators who worked together to achieve this impressive designation," says Patty Haggen, Executive Director, Neurosciences at John Muir Health. "While this is a significant achievement for John Muir Health, it is our patients and the communities we serve who benefit the most from having this level of stroke care available close to home." Established in 2003, Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers is awarded for a two-year period to Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals. This designation recognizes John Muir Health's strong commitment to performance improvement, evidence-based care, and staff and patient education where the level of stroke care is evident in patient outcomes. John Muir Health's Concord Medical Center also serves the community as a Primary Stroke Center. "Our comprehensive stroke program excels in the rapid recognition an treatment of stroke victims and in helping stroke patients restore as much of their functionality as possible," said Jane Willemsen, EVP, and President of Hospital Operations at John Muir Health. "Patients can expect the highest level of care from our stroke centers, including physical rehabilitation and assistance with learning how to reduce the risk of having a second stroke."



"The neuroscience team at John Muir Health is honored to receive Comprehensive Stroke Certification Accreditation, which has been earned by less than 1% of community hospitals nationwide," said Dr. Ray Stephens, Stroke Medical Director and neurologist at John Muir Health. "We're the only medical center in Contra Costa County that can provide emergent blood clot extraction procedures that have been shown to improve stroke outcomes in the most serious strokes. It has been especially gratifying for me to see patients who were previously untreatable now returning to their normal lives after stroke intervention and rehabilitation." Stroke is the number five cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

To learn more about John Muir Health's award-winning programs and services, including warning signs and treatment options for stroke, please visit: http://www.johnmuirhealth.com/stroke. About John Muir Health John Muir Health is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit health care organization east of San Francisco serving patients in Contra Costa, eastern Alameda and southern Solano Counties. It includes a network of more than 1,000 primary care and specialty physicians, more than 6,500 employees, medical centers in Concord and Walnut Creek, including Contra Costa County's only trauma center, and a Behavioral Health Center. John Muir Health also has partnerships with UCSF Health, Tenet Healthcare/San Ramon Regional Medical Center and Stanford Children's Health. The health system offers a full-range of medical services, including primary care, outpatient and imaging services, and is widely recognized as a leader in many specialties - neurosciences, orthopedic, cancer, cardiovascular, trauma, emergency, pediatrics and high-risk obstetrics care. Follow JMH John Muir Health.com | Facebook.com/JMH | Twitter.com/JMH | YouTube.com/JMH View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025006063/en/

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[October 25, 2017] Enel Acquires eMotorWerks To Provide Grid Balancing Solutions And Tap Into U.S. E-Mobility Market

ROME and BOSTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Enel S.p.A. ("Enel"), through its US subsidiary EnerNOC, announced today the acquisition of California-based eMotorWerks, a leading North American supplier of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, called JuiceBox, and owner and operator of JuiceNet, an Internet of Things (IoT) platform for the smart management of EV charging and other distributed energy storage facilities. Through the JuiceNet platform, these facilities can be remotely controlled and aggregated for grid balancing purposes relying on unidirectional and bidirectional (vehicle-to-grid, V2G) electricity flows. The acquisition of eMotorWerks marks Enel's entrance into the US electric mobility market, one of the largest EV markets at global level. "Electric vehicles have the potential to be one of the most disruptive technologies the modern electricity grid has faced in the last one hundred years," said Francesco Venturini, Head of Enel's Global e-Solutions division. "The electric mobility revolution is leading utilities, grid operators, and consumers to rethink traditional business models, invest in new infrastructure, and roll out new solutions to provide flexibility and resiliency to the grid. Our mission is to be on the cutting edge of this paradigm shift, where consumers can play a more active role in energy generation and use. This acquisition enriches our e-mobility offering and integrates a highly sophisticated smart EV charging solution within our portfolio of grid flexibility services, which includes the world's largest demand response network, distributed energy management systems and battery storage solutions." "Electrification of transportation is one of the largest greenhouse gas reduction opportunities facing the planet and electric vehicles are quickly becoming the largest flexible resource on the grid. With smart energy management by JuiceNet, EVs can provide the bulk of the grid balancing capacity to enable the 100% renewable grid around the world. Additionally, as EV adoption rows, utilities must either add more infrastructure to meet energy demands or adopt smart-charging solutions. eMotorWerk's solution minimizes EV emissions and remotely optimizes charging load, which can reduce peak demands and increase the likelihood that EVs charge on cheaper and cleaner renewable energy," said Val Miftakhov, eMotorWerks Founder and CEO. "As the newest member of Enel family, eMotorWerks now has all the resources and go-to-market access required to scale our solutions globally and drive the faster adoption of a smart, grid-integrated EV future."



This acquisition further substantiates the implementation of Enel's strategy to deliver, innovative customer-focused products and services to the market, such as smart charging, integration between electric vehicles and distributed generation resources, as well as grid balancing and V2G services. Enel is planning to use JuiceNet platform's functions in all of its EV charging stations globally1. With eMotorWerks' JuiceNet platform, users can remotely schedule and control the "greenest" and most cost-effective times to charge their EVs. For example, JuiceNet allows users to schedule EV charging when electricity from domestic solar rooftop systems is most abundant. Furthermore, through JuiceNet, EVs, V2G charging stations and other storage facilities can also be used to respond to network signals, aggregating charging and discharging activities in order to balance electricity flows in the grid when needed. These balancing services can provide additional revenue streams for EV owners, potentially lowering the total cost of ownership of these vehicles.

eMotorWerks is headquartered in San Carlos, CA and currently employs 55 people. This acquisition comes on the heels of eMotorWerks' listing as the 7th fastest growing company in Silicon Valley and the 19th fastest growing energy company in the U.S. eMotorWerks has deployed more than 25,000 smart-grid enabled charging stations to date. Enel is a multinational power company and a leading integrated player in the global, power, gas and renewables markets. It is Europe's largest utility in terms of market capitalisation and figures among Europe's leading power companies in terms of installed capacity and reported EBITDA. The Group is present in over 30 countries worldwide, producing energy with more than 86 GW of managed capacity. Enel distributes electricity and gas through a network of over 2 million kilometres, and with over 65 million business and household customers globally, the Group has the largest customer base among European competitors. Enel's renewables arm Enel Green Power already manages more than 39 GW of wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and hydropower plants in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and has recently arrived in Australia. In North America, Enel's renewable subsidiary Enel Green Power North America (EGPNA) operates around 100 plants with a managed capacity exceeding 3.3 GW powered by renewable hydropower, wind, geothermal and solar energy. Through EGPNA, in January Enel acquired the US-based company specialised in intelligent software and energy storage systems Demand Energy Networks, while in August it completed the acquisition of EnerNOC, a leading provider of demand response and energy services for utility, commercial, institutional and industrial customers. About eMotorWerks

Founded in 2010, and based in the San Francisco Bay Area, eMotorWerks is revolutionizing the electric vehicle (EV) charging market with its JuiceNet-enabled smart grid EV charging solutions. JuiceNet enabled devices, such as the company's connected, high-power JuiceBox charging stations, maximize charging efficiency and speed while providing EV owners intuitive smartphone control and visibility. By shifting when and how much electricity JuiceNet-enabled stations draw from the grid, eMotorWerks helps utilities and grid operators reduce electricity costs, ease grid congestion, and maximize the use of solar and wind power. eMotorWerks grows the EV charging ecosystem by partnering with EVSE and EV manufacturers to provide an extensive cloud platform for grid balancing and optimization for utilities. The company is proud to be supported by a number of high-impact investors such as Ecosystem Integrity Fund, Hella Ventures, and VTF Capital. For more information on eMotorWerks, please visit www.emotorwerks.com. Follow us on Twitter (@eMotorWerks), on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/electric-motor-werks-inc-) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/eMotorWerks). 1 Enel has installed around 5,000 charging stations in Italy, Spain, Romania, Greece, Chile, Colombia and Argentina. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/enel-acquires-emotorwerks-to-provide-grid-balancing-solutions-and-tap-into-us-e-mobility-market-300543267.html SOURCE eMotorWerks

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[October 25, 2017] Chicago Auto Show Launches New Website, Announces 2018 Show Dates

CHICAGO, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As auto show season swings into high gear, the Chicago Auto Show announces its 2018 public show dates, Feb. 10-19, and debuts an all-new website boasting responsive design, improved navigation and dedicated sponsor, exhibitor and media microsites. ChicagoAutoShow.com hosts more than 1 million visitors in Q1 each year and nearly 1.5 million visitors annually. The 2018 version of ChicagoAutoShow.com is now fully functional for all devices  desktop, tablet and mobile  allowing users the same experience whether they are at home or on the go. As well, the show's rich past is on full display in pictures and videos in the site's Show History. Finally, online and mobile ticketing are improved, allowing purchasers to share and save tickets with their mobile device. The show's website also includes innovative functionality that allows site visitors and app users to interact with exhibitors as if they were on the show floor. No auto show has ever offered this feature, and, in conjunction with the site's Vehicles on Display section and DriveChicago.com inventory solution, the Chicago Auto Show website is unmatched in customer-to-exhibitor interaction. The website's Vehicles on Display section adds real-time inventory from Chicagoland's new-car dealers, provided by DriveChicago.com. This allows site visitors to sort through more than 40,000 new cars directly on ChicagoAutoShow.com as they are browsing their favorite vehicles. Highlighting its extremely active social media channels, the show's website features Facebook and Twitter conversations site-wide and boasts a live Instagram feed on its homepage. In addition, the site hosts a social media wall that's constantly updated with the latest conversations across all social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest. "We want our attendees to connect to the show on every level," said 2018 Chicago Auto Show Chairman John Hennessy. "We will be providing free high-speed WiFi at the show to allow show goers to share their experience through social media, our website and our official Chicago Auto Show app." Also new to ChicagoAutoShow.com is an enhanced sponsor section featuring an intractive landing page where prospective sponsors can gather key information and demographic data on Chicago Auto Show attendees and view a wide range of opportunities that may align with sponsor objectives  from consumer show activations to business-to-business industry events to onsite and digital branding. More information can be found at www.chicagoautoshow.com/sponsor/.



Media visiting the website are now able to register for media credentials, download high-resolution Chicago Auto Show images and video, locate recent news releases, view a show floor map and obtain the show's 2018 press kit. The media section of the site is found at www.chicagoautoshow.com/media/. Web development company Americaneagle.com continues to be a valuable partner in the success of ChicagoAutoShow.com and the official show smartphone app.

"The Chicago Auto Show has been a longtime customer of ours and their outstanding team is one of the biggest contributors to the site's growing and continued success," said Michael Svanascini, president of Americaneagle.com. "Our goal is to give Chicago Auto Show fans a dynamic, optimal online experience, not only on the show dates but all year round." The 2018 Chicago Auto Show will run Saturday, Feb. 10 through Monday, Feb. 19. Public show hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day except for the last day, Presidents Day, when the show closes at 8 p.m. Special themed days include Women's Day on Feb. 13, Telemundo Hispanic Heritage Day on Feb. 16, Family Day on Feb. 19 and A Safe Haven Chicago Auto Show Food Drive on Feb. 14-16. Tickets will be available for purchase online at www.chicagoautoshow.com beginning in November or at McCormick Place ticket booths throughout the public show. Ticket prices are $13 for adults, $7 for seniors aged 62 or older, $7 for children ages 7-12 and free admission for children 6 and younger when accompanied by a paying adult. The show's 2018 Media Preview will be Feb. 8-9 and its black-tie charity fundraiser gala, First Look for Charity, will be held the evening of Friday, Feb. 9 at McCormick Place. For more information on the 2018 Chicago Auto Show, please visit www.chicagoautoshow.com. Media can visit www.chicagoautoshow.com/media for more information or to register for media credentials. About the Chicago Auto Show

The Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America, spanning more than one million square feet of production, concept and exotic vehicle exhibit space. In addition to hosting multiple world and North American vehicle debuts, the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity raises more than $2.5 million annually for 18 vital Chicago organizations in a single night. The 2018 public show will be Feb. 10-19. For more information, visit www.ChicagoAutoShow.com or www.Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow. About the Chicago Automobile Trade Association

Founded in 1904, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is one of the nation's largest metropolitan dealer organizations. It is comprised of more than 420 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group's dealer members employ about 20,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the world-famous Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information please visit www.CATA.info. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chicago-auto-show-launches-new-website-announces-2018-show-dates-300543276.html SOURCE Chicago Auto Show

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[October 25, 2017]

A2 CyberSecurity Announces Third-Party Chief Information Security Service

STONY POINT, N.Y., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A2 CyberSecurity has announced the launch of a new third-party information security service in New York. The announcement marks the company's debut as a managed security service provider. Headquartered out of Stony Point, New York, the financial cybersecurity company provides information security consulting to small and mid-sized financial institutions within the greater New York region.

About A2 CyberSecurity's third-party CISO Service:

The third-party CISO service will provide compliance coverage for New York's cybersecurity regulation 23 NYCRR 500. The service provides an information security analyst to act as a chief information security officer, and provide information security planning and IT strategy to financial institutions.

The company offers advanced cybersecurity protection to smaller financial organizations.

"These smaller organizations just don'thave the need for full time staff or an in house information security program. That's where we come in," explained the company's vice president of regional sales, Russell Dwyer.







Dwyer continued, "Our advantage comes from leveraging open-source security solutions. We take a look at the proprietary versions, and if there's a better open-source solution out there, we put it to use. So, because we balance proprietary security definitions alongside free and open-source software, our clients have their cake and eat it too."

In addition to Third-Party CISO services, A2 CyberSecurity offers a managed security service program. Their managed cybersecurity service offers continuous network threat detection, and immediate incident response management. The cyber security company also provides PCI DSS, HIPAA, and third-party CISO 23 NYCRR 500 information security coverage.

About the company:

A2 CyberSecurity is a information security consultancy founded out of Stony Point, New York. The company is headquartered in Stony Point, and runs their Security operations Center out of an undisclosed location in New City, New York. For more information on A2 CyberSecurity and their services visit them online at A2 CyberSecurity.

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12672747

Press release distributed by PRLog

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a2-cybersecurity-announces-third-party-chief-information-security-service-300543278.html

SOURCE A2 CyberSecurity
[October 25, 2017] VITAS Healthcare Sponsors, Exhibits, Presents at ACEP17

VITAS Healthcare, the nation's leading provider of end-of-life care, wants to break the readmission cycle of patients with a serious progressive illness who discharge to home, experience exacerbations, call 911, return to the emergency department and are rehospitalized. The hospice services provider is taking that message to the ACEP17 Scientific Assembly of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), October 29-November 1 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC. VITAS will be present in the exhibit hall, booth #2629, and in the InnovatED Palliative Care and Geriatrics section, located in Exhibit Hall AB of the Convention Center. Attendees are invited to make an appointment with a VITAS medical director to discuss how VITAS solves challenges in your ED, particularly with high- and rising-risk patients. VITAS physician presentations Eric Shaban, MD, and James Wright, DO, two of VITAS's regional medical directors, will present at ACEP. "Hospice and the ED: The Case for Interoperability and Electronic Referrals" Sunday, October 2, at 11:15 a.m. and 11:21 a.m.





Tuesday, October 31, at 11:45 a.m. and 11:51 a.m. "How to Use Advanced Care Planning Codes in the ED"

Sunday, October 29, 11:15-11:35 a.m. Dr. Shaban will present at the Palliative Medicine Section Meeting, held off-site at the Marriott Marquis, 901 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Liberty Ballroom, Salon O, Meeting Level 4. Hospice is not an emergency VITAS takes the emergency out of caring for patients with serious progressive illness. By identifying a hospice-eligible patient in the emergency department, before admission, hospitals can reduce inappropriate use of their emergency department, ICU and other resources while helping patients control symptoms with home-based hospice care that eliminates calls to physician, ambulance or hospital. "The emergency department is the first place patients with chronic illness and multi-morbidity turn for support," says SVP and National Medical Director Joseph Shega, MD. "We have teamed up with ACEP to educate emergency physicians on appropriate hospice referrals to ensure patients can maximize the benefits of hospice and palliative services. We look forward to furthering our conversation with the emergency department clinicians and executives attending ACEP17." About VITAS Healthcare VITAS Healthcare, a pioneer and leader in the hospice movement since 1978, is the nation's leading provider of end-of-life care. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, VITAS operates 44 hospice programs in 14 states and the District of Columbia. As of the third quarter of 2017, VITAS employs 11,621 professionals who care for terminally ill patients daily, primarily in the patients' homes, but also in the company's 28 inpatient hospice units as well as in hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living communities/residential care facilities. At the conclusion of the third quarter of 2017, VITAS reported an average daily census of 16,425. Visit VITAS.com. About ACEP ACEP is the national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025006156/en/

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[October 25, 2017] PrescribeWellness Achieves 'Level 3 - Active Medications' Capability for the Pharmacist Electronic Care Plan

PrescribeWellness, the cloud-based services company whose mission is to inspire collaboration for better health, today announced that it has achieved Level 3 - Active Medications capability from Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) for the Pharmacist eCare Plan initiative. Using PrescribeWellness' PrescribeCare solution, community pharmacies across the country can share care plans electronically and support care coordination. Pharmacies in North Carolina are actively participating with CCNC and its patient-centered medical home and care management activities using PrescribeCare. Because they can submit the eCare Plan from their clinical documentation system, they are also now eligible for per member, per month payments for longitudinal care and follow-up. For more information on the Pharmacist eCare Plan initiative, click here. PrescribeWellness is the first technology provider to achieve Level 3 - Active Medications capability, which converts the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard to Consolidated Clinical Document Architecture (C-CDA) and vice versa, to communicate patient active medication encounters-such as medication therapy problems, medication action plans and recommendations-to therapeutic goals and patient medication lists. "This Level 3 - Active Medications capability, which allows PrescribeWellness pharmacies to transmit active medication lists in an HL7 FHIR manner, is part of our ongoing commitment to getting community pharmacies paid for the critical services they provide," said Al Babbington, CEO of PrescribeWellness. "PrescribeCare can now be used for billing under Collaborative Practice Agreements, State Medicaid and other payer contracts. In fact, thousands of patient medication-related encounters were filed via PrescribeCare in the few weeks since release. We are thrilled to be providing the vehicle for that." PrescribeCare: Driving Enhanced Patient Services PrescribeCare is an electronic pharmacy "care plan" that pharmacists can use to electronically communicate with other care providers, reducing redundant data entry, improving care coordination, and earning community pharmacies compensation for their care interventions.



Community pharmacists can also use the PrescribeWellness technology platform to identify what interventions or services a patient needs and drive patient services like medication reconciliation, adherence monitoring and medication synchronization, immunizations, Medicare plan reviews, patient engagement, communication to the electronic health record to other healthcare providers, and billing for enhanced services. "This is an important milestone in the Pharmacist eCare Plan Project. Level 3 capabilities like sharing active medication lists break through the traditional construct and limitations of conventional pharmacy HIT systems in that they are the building blocks of the pharmacy clinical record and transcend dispensing," said Troy Trygstad, vice president of Pharmacy Programs at Community Care of North Carolina. "Active medications can be shared and understood regardless of who filled them or if they were ever filled at all. As technology partners such as PrescribeWellness now begin to work on other elements such as lab values, vital signs and time tracking of effort, pharmacists can become valuable members of the care team and develop the requisite capabilities to participate in payment reform efforts."

"PrescribeCare is very user-friendly-it is very easy to look over meds and document side effects," said Dustin Webster, pharmacist at South Park Family Pharmacy-Winston Salem, who has submitted over 230 eCare Plans to CCNC. "With the possibility for provider status, PrescribeCare allows us to show our value by making it easier to document our interventions and address patient non-adherence, so we are able to keep more patients out of the hospital." PrescribeWellness interfaces with over 50 pharmacy management systems to analyze dispensing data in real time, giving the pharmacy team insight into the needs of their patients and streamlining the medication reconciliation process. Community pharmacies that are not current customers of PrescribeWellness can purchase PrescribeCare as a standalone platform. For current PrescribeWellness customers, PrescribeCare is available for no additional cost. Supporting the Work of Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) PrescribeWellness developed PrescribeCare to support CCNC, a network of more than 6,000 primary care providers that provide targeted services to an eligible population of more than three million Medicaid, Medicare and dually-eligible recipients. It also supports Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CPESN) organizations in their care coordination and patient care initiatives and the CCNC CMS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation project. "We are committed to supporting programs like CCNC that expand the role of community pharmacy, create new payment models, and drive a patient-centric workflow," added Babbington. About PrescribeWellness PrescribeWellness inspires collaboration for better health across America by connecting patients to locally owned community pharmacies. Its proprietary cloud-based platform empowers pharmacists to provide more effective preventive healthcare services, which improve medication adherence, chronic disease management, transitions in care, and population health. With data integration and behavioral science at the foundation, PrescribeWellness software solutions position the pharmacist at the center of community healthcare prevention. Inc. 5000 named PrescribeWellness one of America's Fastest Growing Privately-Held Companies for the past three years. For more information, please visit www.prescribewellness.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025006169/en/

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Wisconsin School of Business leaders on Wednesday backed off of a plan to suspend admissions to the schools full-time Master of Business Administration program. The decision came after a halting roll-out of the proposal led to criticism from students and alumni.

Dean Anne P. Massey announced that the UW-Madison business school will stop further discussion of the one-year suspension of the full-time MBA, and pledged to continue discussions about the future of the schools programs with greater input.

We moved too quickly without the broad consultation and discussion that our stakeholders can and should expect, Massey said. We will move forward with discussions on how to grow the undergraduate program and expand the graduate portfolio while simultaneously strengthening the full-time MBA experience.

Masseys plan called for a one-year suspension of admissions into the full-time MBA program while the business school took part in longer-term planning, which could have led to the programs closure. Faculty were expected to vote on it in November.

The change would have made UW-Madison the latest business school to move away from the traditional, two-year MBA program, as higher education experts say students are increasingly looking for more flexible degree options. And it would have been a significant step by Massey just a couple of months into her tenure as dean.

But by the time Massey outlined the proposal in a meeting with current MBA students on Monday, word of the plan had been circulating for days.

The business schools associate dean for MBA programs had acknowledged in an email to students last week that officials were considering discontinuing the full-time program, an announcement several students said took them by surprise.

As the Wisconsin State Journal and other media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, which broke the news, reported on the proposal last week, WSB officials offered few specifics about their plans for the MBA programs future.

A wave of criticism followed from MBA students and alumni who pushed UW to keep the program, raising concerns that suspending it could hurt the value of their degrees and weaken efforts to bring greater diversity to business schools and companies.

More than 750 people signed an online petition calling on the business school to maintain and improve the full-time program rather than dissolve it for lower-intensity MS degrees.

Massey started Mondays meeting by apologizing to students for how the proposal was announced. The second slide in her power-point presentation to students read, Im sorry. I take full responsibility. I will work to make this right.

Massey declined an interview request through a spokesman Wednesday.

We value the input of our community and will invite our stakeholders to be part of discussions regarding the future direction of WSB, she wrote in her statement.

By the time the plan was outlined to MBA students, word of it had been circulating for days.
[October 25, 2017] Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed by Pritzker Hageman, P.A. and Yaeger & Weiner, PLC for Family of Woman Killed in Minnehaha Academy Explosion

Attorneys from Minneapolis law firms Pritzker Hageman, P.A. and Yaeger & Weiner, PLC, filed a lawsuit (case file num. 27-CV-17-16285) on behalf of the family of Ruth Berg, who tragically died in a natural gas explosion on August 2, 2017 at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Defendants include CenterPoint Energy Inc., CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., CenterPoint Energy Services, Inc., and Master Mechanical Inc., a Minnesota mechanical contracting corporation. On August 2, 2017 at approximately 10:22 a.m., a building located on the North Campus of the Minnehaha Academy campus was destroyed by a natural gas explosion. Ruth Berg, a longtime Minnehaha Academy employee and a beloved member of the Minnehaha Academy family, was one of two people killed in the blast. At the time of the explosion, employees of Master Mechanical were in the process of removing a gas meter from the inside of one of the Minnehaha Academy buildings and re-piping and relocating it to the outside of the building. According to documents filed with the court, the work being performed at Minnehaha Academy by Master Mechanical was part of CenterPoit's plan to move gas meters outside for easier access.



"This lawsuit will help bring to light how CenterPoint's project of moving a gas meter to the outside of the building ended up costing two people their lives, and causing severe injuries to many others," said Michael Weiner. The lawsuit alleges that, before disconnecting the service line from the old meter, shut-off valves upstream from the meter were not inspected or safely closed off. According to the Complaint, the failure to close these shut-off valves meant that as soon as Master Mechanical disconnected the supply line from the meter, "gas under operating pressure would immediately flow out of the supply pipe into the confined pit area where it would accumulate and explode." In addition, the lawsuit alleges that CenterPoint had failed to install an Excess Flow Valve (EFV) or curb valve on the service line of the gas piping system, which would have instantaneously shut off the flow of gas and prevented the explosion.

The Master Mechanical workers ran to save themselves and did not alert people inside the building of the need to evacuate, according to the complaint. "This explosion should never have happened. It caused the death of a loving mother, daughter and sister. Through this lawsuit we seek justice for the family and to hold accountable those responsible," said Greg Yaeger. Attorneys from both firms represent families in cases involving injury and wrongful death caused by gas explosions. Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman can be contacted at 612-338-0202 or via the Pritzker Hageman, P.A. website, https://www.pritzkerlaw.com/. The law firm's offices are located at 45 South 7th Street, Suite 2950, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402. Attorneys Gregory Yaeger and Michael Weiner can be contacted at 612- 345-9797 or via the Yaeger & Weiner Law website, http://www.yw-law.com/. The law firm's offices are located at 2701 University Ave SE, Suite 202, Minneapolis, MN 55414. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025006217/en/

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[October 25, 2017] Notal Vision Welcomes Distinguished Retinal Specialist John S. Pollack, MD, to the Board of Directors

MANASSAS, Va., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Notal Vision, Ltd., a privately-held ophthalmic company focused on an innovative, cloud-based platform for remote diagnostic testing, today announced that John S. Pollack, MD, an internationally recognized retinal clinician, surgeon, and educator, has been elected to Notal's Board of Directors. "We are honored to welcome Dr. Pollack to our Board," said Quinton Oswald, Notal's Chief Executive Officer. "As evidenced by his professional accomplishments and contributions to the retina community, we believe that Dr. Pollack will provide expertise and experience that supports our goal to be the leader in optimized management of retinal diseases through remote diagnostic testing." Dr. Pollack is a Partner with Illinois Retina Associates in Chicago and an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Rush University Medical Center. He is President-elect of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) and sits on the Board of its philanthropic Foundation. An active researcher and lecturer, Dr. Pollack is the co-founding Editor of the annual ASRS Preferences and Trends (PAT) Survey which is the largest international survey of medical and surgical trends in retina, and co-founder of The Winning Pitch Challenge, a medical competition that encourages and supports innovation in ophthalmology. Dr. Pollack has helped to start three physician-focused companies, is an advisor to multiple biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and sits on multiple commercial and non-profit boards. Dr. Pollack has received many honors and awards, including the ASRS Senior Honor Award and the Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He has been listed in "Best Doctors in America" and "Guide to America's Top Ophthalmologists" and named by Ocular Surgery News as one of the "OSN Retina 150 Innovators in Medical and Surgical Retina". Recently, he was inducted into the "Retina Hall of Fame," which honors ophthalmologists for their exceptional lifetime achievements and contributions to te field of retina.



"I am pleased to join the Board of Directors at this exciting and transformative time for Notal," said Dr. Pollack. "Notal's innovative platform is driving the move to cutting-edge, personalized care for retinal disease by seamlessly connecting patients and their healthcare providers. I'm looking forward to contributing to the continued success of ForeseeHome - the first remote diagnostic testing device for early detection of conversion from intermediate dry AMD to wet AMD - as well as the development of the Notal Home OCT (optical coherence tomography), which will provide patients with access to intuitive, home-based OCT testing and alert physicians to the development of fluid occurring between office visits. Both represent important advances in retina care," said Dr. Pollack. About Notal Vision's Cloud-Based Platform

Notal Vision has established a seamless, cloud-based platform that connects healthcare providers and their patients through personalized, remote detection of ocular diseases. ForeseeHome is an FDA-cleared diagnostic testing device which uses this platform to monitor visual changes in patients at risk of vision loss from wet AMD. It utilizes a patented technology, which is based upon Preferential Hyperacuity Perimetry (PHP), to detect visual distortions often before the patient notices any symptoms. ForeseeHome was evaluated in over 1,500 patients in the AREDS2 HOME study and demonstrated detection of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) at better levels of vision compared to standard care methods. In the study, office visits triggered using ForeseeHome were 16 times more likely to detect wet AMD than regularly scheduled office visits alone. Additionally, 94% of patients who progressed to wet AMD with the use of ForeseeHome kept their functional vision (20/40) versus 62% of patients using other detection methods. ForeseeHome is covered by Medicare and most private insurances. To learn more, visit www.foreseehome.com . The Notal Home OCT, the next application of Notal's cloud-based platform, will enable patients to perform technician-free OCT at home with appropriate fixation  a critical component, especially for elderly patients. The Notal OCT Analyzer (NOA), a proprietary artificial intelligence learning algorithm developed in-house, performs automated analysis of the Notal Home OCT scans and generates an alert to the physician once fluid in the retina is present. The NOA sends a report that includes the top three cross sections with evidence of activity to the physician for review, at which point the patient may be brought to the office for evaluation and treatment. NOA can also analyze the output of other commercial OCT devices, and published study data indicate that the performance of NOA was similar to that of a physician when both are compared to a panel of experts. The Notal Home OCT has the potential to truly individualize retinal disease management. About Notal Vision, Ltd. Notal Vision was founded by two ophthalmologists and is committed to providing the eyecare community with innovative, home-based, diagnostic technologies that support visual health in patients with retinal diseases. ForeseeHome is the first FDA-cleared remote diagnostic testing device that detects and characterizes visual distortion in AMD patients as an aid to monitoring choroidal neovascularization progression. To learn more, visit www.notalvision.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/notal-vision-welcomes-distinguished-retinal-specialist-john-s-pollack-md-to-the-board-of-directors-300543417.html SOURCE Notal Vision

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[October 25, 2017] Residential Cable Market - Rise in Rural Electrification to Drive Growth | Technavio

Technavio market research analysts forecast the global residential cable market to grow at a CAGR of more than 5% during the forecast period, according to their latest report. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025006131/en/ Technavio has published a new report on the global residential cable market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire) The report further segments the global residential cable market by application (power cables and datacom) and by geography (APAC, the Americas, and EMEA). In terms of geography, APAC dominated the market in 2016 with almost 51% of the total market share. This report is available at a USD 1,000 discount for a limited time only: View market snapshot before purchasing Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free. Technavio analysts highlight the following three market drivers that are contributing to the growth of the global residential cable market: Rise in rural electrification

Growth of construction industry

Digitization of TV networks in developing countries Looking for more information on this market? Request a free sample report Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Rise in rural electrification The process of delivering power to the remote or rural areas of a country is referred to as rural electrification. For any country, the social and economic development rely on expansion of electricity services and electrification. Thegovernments in emerging economies are introducing various programs to improve the condition of electricity in rural areas as electricity services are still in developmental stage in these places. Because of these programs, the market potential for residential cables that find applications in a variety of household applications alongside their use as power cables is likely to grow.



The increase in the number of initiatives taken has led to overall growth in rural electrification across the globe. Developing economies such as India are driving the market for residential cables. According to Gaurav Mohindru, a lead analyst at Technavio for engineering tools research, "A World Bank-supported program in India has provided electrical power access to low-income rural households that include health clinics, schools, and community centers. The focus of the Indian government is to provide electricity to major rural areas to meet not only the energy demands of people but also to ensure sufficient electricity supply for agriculture purposes."

Growth of construction industry The construction industry across the globe is expanding steadily. There are several factors that are contributing to this growth. The construction industry is set to witness an encouraging growth rate in emerging economies such as China and India because of the overall development and high GDP growth in these countries. Owing to ongoing developments in the real estate and infrastructure, India and China witnessed some of the highest growth rates of 7.1% and 6.7% worldwide, respectively. The demand for residential construction is increasing due to urbanization, industrialization, and rise in disposable income of the people. Rise in population is another factor contributing to the high demand for construction activities. Apart from the investments from private players, governmental efforts to improve transport and residential infrastructure will play a crucial role in supporting the overall growth rate, especially in the emerging economies. Digitization of TV networks in developing countries Many developing countries use antennas that connect to a TV using normal insulated pair of wires. This method is only used with unencrypted radio waves that don't require to be connected to a set-top box to decode the channels. Digital technology that allows channel management according to user preference is replacing this analog technology. Analog networks allow only one-way communication, from the broadcaster to the viewer, and communication experiences signal interferences resulting in audio and video noise in the channels. With increasing digital television networks that have shielded construction, unlike coaxial cables, the issue of such interferences is resolved. "In 2012, the Indian government passed a law to enforce the digitization of CATV in the country. The use of set-top box was made mandatory for cable TV operators as they deliver high-quality content to the subscribers. Therefore, with the complete phaseout of analog networks in many countries, there is a huge market potential for the growth of coaxial cables in residential premises as they are one of the cheapest means of digital access," says Gaurav. Browse Related Reports: Global Safety Air Guns and Air Nozzles Market 2017-2021

Global Heating Equipment Market 2017-2021

Global Submarine Fiber Cable Market 2017-2021 About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025006131/en/

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[October 25, 2017] INVESTOR ALERT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Reminds Investors of an Investigation Involving Possible Securities Fraud Violations by the Board of Directors of Rio Tinto plc

Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of Rio Tinto plc ("Rio Tinto" or the "Company") (NYSE:RIO) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws. On October 17, 2017, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged Rio Tinto and two of its former top executives with fraud, alleging they inflated the value of coal assets in Mozambique and concealed critical information from the investing public. On the same day, The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced it had fined Rio Tinto more than 27 million after determining that the Company "breached the Disclosure Rules by failing to carry out an impairment test and to recognize an impairment loss on the value of [certain] mining assetswhenpublishing its 2012 interim results." To obtain additional information, go to:



http://www.zlkdocs.com/RIO-Info-Request-Form-5068 or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972.

Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, California, Connecticut and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities and shareholder lawsuits. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025006245/en/

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A key vote on the pending Foxconn contract was delayed last week because the state wouldnt have been able to recoup taxpayer funds if the Taiwanese company didnt fulfill its end of the deal, according to a member of the board overseeing the negotiation.

Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. CEO Mark Hogan declined to comment on the reason for the delay after testifying Tuesday before the Legislatures audit committee.

WEDC board member Sen. Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee, declined last week in an interview with the Wisconsin State Journal to disclose details of why a scheduled vote on the contract was delayed. But he told the newspaper the issue was a nuclear bomb that would have left taxpayers exposed.

In an interview Tuesday with the State Journal, Carpenter offered more detail, saying Hogan told board members last week that the way the deal was structured the agency couldnt guarantee it could protect taxpayers if the company violated the agreement.

We could have given them all this money and we wouldnt have been able to get it back, Carpenter said.

The state is planning to give the company $3 billion in refundable tax credits in exchange for a $10 billion LCD-screen factory in Racine County, creating up to 13,000 jobs.

Carpenter said Tuesday he decided to discuss the issue in greater detail after Alan Marcuvitz, a lawyer advising the village of Mount Pleasant, discussed the matter with the village board Monday night. Marcuvitz said there were technical issues with the contract because one of the companies is from overseas and the issue had been resolved, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Carpenter said the problem was more than a technical issue.

Hogan told the State Journal on Tuesday that WEDC has retained the Foley & Lardner law firm and foreign counsel and is going through the normal process we should go through to make sure were doing the appropriate due diligence.

Democrats on the Legislatures Joint Audit Committee urged Hogan to release the contract details publicly before the board votes on it. Carpenter has asked that the WEDC board be allowed to review the contract before voting, but as is common practice, the board will only vote on a staff review and summary of the deal.

Hogan declined to change the process while defending the agencys record on contracts.

I dont think that this audit reveals numerous examples of mistakes that were made in contracts, Hogan told the committee. This audit shows improvements that weve made at WEDC.

Audit findings debated

The audit committee had been scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss the latest state audit of WEDC, made public in May. The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau reviewed 133 awards and found for a third consecutive biennial audit that the agency did not annually verify job-related information as required by law.

Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled Legislature created the agency in July 2011 to drive job creation in the state. Between then and September 2016, there were 192 awards that had been awarded and run their course, including 24 with expected job creation or retention results, the audit found.

The audit found the agency couldnt be certain about the number of jobs created or retained as a result of those awards. It also found the agency cant be certain about the accuracy of jobs information in its online database because it didnt verify the information submitted by tax credit recipients, and didnt contractually require grant and loan recipients to submit detailed information on job retention and creation.

Hogan said WEDC is close to signing an agreement with the Department of Workforce Development that will provide independent verification of its job creation data, which auditors recommended.

The audit also found the amount of uncollectable loans was $11 million in December 2016, up from $1.3 million two years earlier. Hogan said $2.3 million were loans forgiven because companies had fulfilled job-creation requirements, but Rep. Terese Berceau, D-Madison, pointed out that the audit found the agency cant prove those requirements were met.

Right now we cant say this loan was forgiven because we know they created these jobs, Berceau said.
NOTICE TO ALL ATTORNEYS RESIDING IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

Because a lot of lawyers read this blog and given that this town needs judges who are well-informed and care about reducing crime.Here's an audition notice of sorts . . . Even better, after a recent legal decisions, it's not really clear if judges have to live within city limits . . .The Kansas City, Missouri Municipal Judicial Nominating Commission of the 16th Judicial Circuit of Missouri announces the solicitation of nominees for the office of Municipal Judge, Division 208, of the Kansas City Municipal Division, 16th Judicial Circuit of Missouri. Any attorney residing in Kansas City, Missouri may indicate his/her willingness to serve and be considered for nomination to fill this position or may otherwise be nominated.Potential nominees must meet the following qualifications as set forth in Section 306 of the Charter of Kansas City, Missouri:Municipal court judges shall be citizens of the United States and of the State of Missouri for five (5) years, residents of the City of Kansas City, Missouri for one (1) year, licensed to practice law in the state for at least five (5) years, members of the Missouri Bar in good standing, be less than seventy (70) years of age, and possess any additional qualifications prescribed by law.Applications and instructions are available on the website for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit (Jackson County),and are also available at the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, Office of the Court Administrator, 415 E. 12th St. 3rd Floor, Kansas City, Missouri.The Commission must receive all completed applications for the municipal judge vacancy on or before 12:00 p.m., MONDAY, November 20, 2017.The Commission will meet in the Division 14 jury room on November 28, 2017, to conduct public interviews of the applicants and select a panel of three nominees for the vacancy. Thereafter, the City Council for the City of Kansas City, Missouri will select the judge of Division 208.KANSAS CITY, MISSOURIMUNICIPAL JUDICIALNOMINATING COMMISSION, 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF MISSOURI#########
Kansas City Chiefs' Cornerback Marcus Peters Is A Paradox Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters is a paradox. He's a lightning rod for attention because of his refusal to stand for the national anthem and his in-game emotional outbursts. But Peters also seems to reject a lot of attention.

The local NPR outlet plays softball with this pro-football player but still FAILS to offer any meaningful insight into a controversial stance against the flag. Take a look:
"The Kansas City Police Department is investigating a homicide after finding a man dead in an alley Tuesday afternoon. Officers responded to the 3600 block of Roberts on an ambulance call just before 3 p.m. Tuesday. KCFD personnel declared the victim deceased at the scene."

The Kansas City murder count continues to creep upward amid the Halloween scary season.The latest report from this afternoon . . .Deets:This is the 117th homicide so far this year compared to 98 at this time last year for an overall 18.18% murder increase.Developing . . .
Visitors to the City of Kansas City's website, kcmo.gov, can find an interesting corner set aside for discussion of a new terminal at Kansas City International Airport. Among the offerings: a two-page "frequently asked questions" brochure concerning the airport proposal on the November ballot.
A weekly newsletter to priests in the Madison Catholic Diocese by Bishop Robert Morlinos top aide spelled out a series of considerations to use in deciding whether to provide funeral rites for people in same-sex unions, angering gay advocates who slammed it as offensive.

The confidential email, sent Saturday by Vicar General James Bartylla with Morlinos backing, said rites may be denied for manifest sinners if providing the services would cause unavoidable public scandal of the faithful.

In Catholic doctrine, the word scandal can refer to something that is believed will lead others into sin or cause a confusion or weakening of others faith. Other parts of Bartyllas message, published Sunday in a progressive Minnesota religious blog called Pray Tell, said general considerations priests should keep in mind if asked to perform Catholic funeral rites by the deceaseds family or same-sex partner include whether the deceased or the partner was a promoter of the gay lifestyle. 

The attitude of the deceaseds family members, especially toward the Church, and whether the deceased person showed some signs of repentance before death, also were cited as prominent considerations.

My short answer to pastors and parochial vicars in these cases is to think through the issue thoroughly and prudently, Bartylla wrote in the email. The pastoral task is to minimize the risk of scandal and confusion to others amidst the solicitude for the deceased and family.

Steve Starkey, executive director of LGBT OutReach, a Madison-based secular, advocacy group self-described as South Central Wisconsins LGBT Community Center, said Bartyllas overall message was backward and homophobic.

The gay lifestyle is we work, we go to school, we own homes, we own cars, we have children, Starkey said, expressing frustration that other faiths have evolved on this issue while Morlino just refuses to budge at all.

Its really negative when a big institution like the Catholic Church practices discrimination and then encourages other people to discriminate against a group of people, Starkey said. If it was people of color or people with disabilities who were being singled out, it wouldnt stand.

Dignity USA, a national organization of Catholics that says it works for LGBT equality in the Church and society, issued a statement condemning what it called Madison, Wisconsins Bishops ban on funerals for gay people, describing it as an outrageous and shameful directive that was the very antithesis of pastoral care.

Diocese spokesman Brent King in emails to the Wisconsin State Journal on Tuesday stressed what he described as the advisory nature of the vicar generals message. He maintained some media outlets have misreported that.

The only word used in Saturdays email was consideration or considerations,  King said. There were no directives, bans, or even real guidelines  other than what is written in canon law. If there was any directive, it was, Think through the issue thoroughly and prudently. 

King said the canons referenced have to do with who is allowed and not allowed funerals in the Church, and he maintained Bartyllas advice to priests was offered as ways to avoid scandal, making a funeral more possible.

The guidance also suggested priests consider whether it might minimize potential harm to peoples faith if the priest provided only a short scripture service at the funeral home or merely a graveside service or maybe a later Mass for the Dead with or without explicit mention of the name of the deceased or partner.  Such a Mass also could be offered even at another parish (to avoid scandal), with or without family members present.

A few parts of Bartyllas message to priests, meanwhile, appeared to read as rules rather than considerations.

The newsletter said any surviving partner should not have any public or prominent role at any Church funeral rite or service. It also stated there should be no mention of the surviving partners name and no reference to the unnatural union in any liturgical booklet, prayer card, homily, sermon, talk by the priest, deacon, etc. ...

The email also said it may be wise to keep priests involved only as minimally necessary to perform the funeral rites in any such service that does occur.

And it warned that listing the name of any priest who celebrates such a service and his parish in any public or semi-public obituary that also mentions the surviving partner carries a great risk for scandal and confusion.

This cant happen for obvious reasons, the email said.

Lastly, if a priest goes through the considerations and still cant decide what to do, Bartylla said, Morlino should be consulted and then his judgment is to be followed.

In an official statement King provided Tuesday, the diocese said Bartyllas message was not an official diocesan policy from Morlino but noted it did conform with the mind of the bishop and meet his approval.

No policy could adequately cover every case, the statement said, noting for public funerals in general, pastors are charged with addressing the particular situations of their people  whom they  know well and whom they have accompanied, even until their death.

The diocesan statement said the email was issued in the first place to answer questions raised by priests in the diocese and was to serve as a tool to provide some framework and considerations, in this confidential setting.

The statement also hammered the public airing of Bartyllas message, calling it lamentable that some have willfully and flippantly spread gossip, rumor and sadly, even calumny, without seeking any clarification from the diocese.

Those who place at risk the ability of the bishop to communicate with his priests confidentially do a grave harm to the Church and perform, indeed, what Sacred Scripture calls a work of darkness,  the diocese said.

The diocese encompasses 134 parishes and worship sites in 11 counties. It has 120 active priests and 46 retired.
The photographs show exhibition halls in the NAM and in the Archaeological Museum at Delphi, the site the French School has excavated since the 19th century

An exhibition of historical photographs at the Athens National Archaeological Museum (NAM) will commemorate ?Ochi Day?, when Greece turned down an Italian ultimatum for free passage on October 28, 1940 and thus entered World War II.

"In the shadow of the Great War: Recording museum memories before and after the German occupation" is a product of collaboration among the museum, the French Archaeological Institute and the National Cultural Asset Archive.

The photographs show exhibition halls in the NAM and in the Archaeological Museum at Delphi, the site the French School has excavated since the 19th century. The photographs record the process of stowing away all antiquities at both museums during the course of World War II.

From the end of 1940 to April 1941, both museums collected, packed and buried their antiquities under the floors of the museums to prevent damage from bombing and possible looting. Other museums elsewhere in Greece followed the same procedure, saving several treasures from irrevocable damage and destruction.

The elaborate process of packing and, after the war, unpacking and restoring the objects has been recorded through the photographs comprising the exhibition.

On Thursday, October 26, when the exhibit opens, the museum's archaeologists will provide 40-minute tours for three groups of 30 people each, at 11:00, 12:00, and 16:00. The tours are free but registration is required, on a first come-first served basis, at the Information Desk, thirty minutes before each tour. For more information, please call the museum (aptly located at October 28th Street, or Patission 44), at 213 214 4800.

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: Tilemahos Efthimiadis License: CC-BY-SA

Source: ANA-MPA
"We are friends in NATO, partners and friends with extensive ties in tourism and education," she said

"Britain and Greece have had strong ties for many centuries," British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Friday in an exclusive interview with the Greek newspaper "Ta Nea", adding that UK "will examine a new chapter in its relations with Greece and other European countries as Britain redefines its relations with Europe."

Asked about the message she is sending to the thousands of Greeks living in Britain, she commented: "I want to thank the 70,000 Greek citizens who chose to make Britain their home. We appreciate their significant contribution to our culture and society, our universities and our economy. They should know that we want them to stay in Britain as well as all the other EU citizens."

Referring to the close relationship between Britain and Greece, May stressed that the two countries have a strong commercial relationship as well as mutual support in times of conflict. "We are friends in NATO, partners and friends with extensive ties in tourism and education," she said.

Regarding Brexit, she underlined that "her country is leaving the EU, not Europe."

On her vision for Brexit, she noted : "My vision for Brexit is that of a strong, global Britain which has a deep and special partnership with the European Union."

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: RleventeLicense: CC-BY-SA

Source: en.capital.gr
Staff-level talks focused on the issue of the full application of the extrajudicial mechanism for the settlement of corporate debts

Athenss intention to start online foreclosures on November 29 was reiterated at a meeting between government officials and the technical experts of the countrys creditors in the Greek capital.

Sources said there was an effort made to change the negative atmosphere created in the last few weeks due to the delay in launching the online auction platform.

Staff-level talks also focused on the issue of the full application of the extrajudicial mechanism for the settlement of corporate debts, particularly the automatic process for the restructuring of business debts that range between 20,000 and 50,000 euros.

A source who took part in Mondays meeting revealed the creditors experts voiced their agreement in principle with the Greek proposal on the issue. However, they said final decisions made at the meetings between the responsible ministers and the creditors mission chiefs.

Such are the meetings scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday with the participation of Economy Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou.

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: Lemur12 License: CC-BY-SA

Source: ekathimerini.com
Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME), a leading commodities exchange in the Middle East, hosted its latest auction, on behalf of Iraqs National Oil Company (Somo), taking the total number of barrels auctioned on behalf of Somo to 20 million.



The two-million barrel cargo of Basrah Heavy was awarded at a premium of $0.13 per barrel over the December Basrah Heavy Official Selling Price (OSP), said a statement from DME.



Over 50 companies are registered for Somo auctions and around 30 logged in for the auction, it stated.



Somos first DME auction was in April of this year and the 20-million barrels auctioned so far have attracted combined additional revenues $13.58 million for the Iraqi government, versus prevailing OSPs, it added.  TradeArabia News Service
Diyar Al Muharraq, one of the leading urban developers in Bahrain, said work has been completed on the mock-up villas within its Deerat Al Oyoun project which is now officially open for viewing to both prospective customers and the general public.



With the second phase of Deerat Al Oyoun envisioned to accommodate 142 villas of three differing types; 14 Modern Tropical villas, 36 French Chateau villas and 92 Classical Art Deco villas, on plot sizes of 185 sq m each, the show villas have been designed from the outset to exhibit some of the different designs incorporated within these models.



And in line with the exhibitory purpose, the two affordable housing mock-up villas were specifically built to embody the specifications of the Modern Tropical Villas.



Diyar Al Muharraq CEO Dr Maher Al Shaer said: "In line with our hallmark consistency and accomplished efforts to expedite the completion of our project in its entirety, it brings me immense pleasure to announce that the Deerat Al Oyoun Mock-up Villas are officially ready for potential homeowners to view and subsequently, decide on the purchase of houses within the development according to their preferred design."



Deerat Al Oyoun, he stated, is one of the most significant projects within Diyar Al Muharraq comprising over 3,100 fully-facilitated houses.



"It is not only a first-of-its-kind partnership between the public and private sectors but also embodies the monumental importance of the master-planned development as a whole to Bahrain, and represents the governments strives to substantially augment the kingdoms housing capacity for its citizens," remarked Dr Al Shaer.



The project includes provisions for both Social and Mazaya housing, said the top official, emphasizing the special attention that the government gives to those private sector initiatives that provide sustainable long-term housing solutions.



"Therefore, the opening of the show villas within Deerat Al Oyoun serves as an influential milestone in our timeline that will only further drive us forward to the pinnacle of developmental eminence that we have envisioned Diyar Al Muharraq to be, in both Bahrain and beyond," he added.



The site dedicated to the Deerat Al Oyoun residential units is located in the South side of Diyar Al Muharraq on a total land area of 1.2 million sq m, with two phases launched so far.



The construction work is progressing well on the project with the first phase on track for delivery in the first quarter of 2018, while the second phase is also in progress.



Diyar Al Muharraq said construction of the first floor of all the residential villas within Deerat Al Oyoun has been completed, and that work is now being carried out on the infrastructural elements of the project.



The first phase of Deerat Al Oyoun encompasses 133 units while the second one will accommodate 142 villas.



Diyar Al Muharraq is a unique master planned city for the people of Bahrain offering range of housing options and quality lifestyle. It offers a cohesive mix of residential and commercial properties with a strong lineup of projects aimed at creating a long term and sophisticated township.-TradeArabia News Service
Leading real estate company Haqbaz Real Estate is set to launch two of its major projects - Sama Tower and The Hub - at the upcoming Bahrain International Property Exhibition (Bipex) in Manama.



Bipex is being held under the patronage of Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Abdulla Al Khalifa from October 26 to 28 at the Bahrain International Convention & Exhibition Centre.



On the Sama Tower, Haqbaz said it is a stunning 29-storey building designed with a truly oriented luxurious scope and spectacular Seaview and will be one of Juffairs prime towers.



It introduces the new vision of majesty and luxury in the world of the real estate and the present day modern living, said a statement from the company.



Sama Tower apartments are designed in a modern and stylish way created with a high-quality material providing the smoothest and most luxurious way of living, everything is designed for absolute comfort and in a way, that satisfies different needs and tastes, it added.



In addition to residential towers, Haqbaz will also unveil The Hub Tower which is the latest freehold commercial offices to be developed by the company.



It is a 15-storeyed building with three offices per floor comprising 30 units. It boasts a five-storey

parking, two high speed lifts,10-storey commercial offices, full city view, spacious lobby and reception with round-the-clock security.



This is one of the few freehold commercial offices in Seef District. The area is well connected to main roads and expressway, said a statement from the developer.



The Hub is a new promise of luxury business to elevate into a refreshing work experience. The

commercial offices will put businesses right in the middle of the action with a perfect address, it added.



CEO Maged Haqbaz said: "Our aim is to strengthen our business relationship and build more projects across Bahrain and the GCC while still delivering our existing projects to the highest standard. Joining Bipex in its 10th edition shows our support and confidence in the kingdoms real estate market."



Welcoming Haqbaz to the expo, Mohammed Khalil Alsayed, the chairman of Bipex Organizing

Committee, said: "We look forward to having a bigger and better exhibition for 2017 and this could only happen with the consistent support of the major players in the market like Haqbaaz."



"Our mission is to make Bipex the platform of choice for all our exhibitors," he added.



The event is being organised by the Bahrain Society of Engineers (BSE), a premier body representing engineering professionals in the kingdom.-TradeArabia News Service
Iran and South Korea are finalising an agreement to jointly manufacture railbuses for public transportation in suburban Tehran, said an Iranian official.



Companies from both the countries will together produce railbuses under an expected 700 million ($823.4 million) deal that is estimated to be signed by March, Saeed Mohammadzadeh, head of Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, was quoted as saying by Iran Daily News report, citing Trend News Agency.



He added that each day over 500,000 cars serve commuters traveling to and from Tehran posing economic, environmental and health hazards to the population.



Mohammadzadeh further noted that within four years, an Iranian-Korean consortium will supply part of the wagons needed to create the railbus system in suburban Tehran.
Royal Life Saving Bahrain recently held the first International Life Saving (ILS) recognised Pool Lifeguard Course.

The four-day training (October 15 to 18), witnessed the participation of 10 professional lifeguards from various hotels in the kingdom, in addition to swimming instructors and water park staff, said a statement.

On this occasion, Sam Rahman, safety services executive at Royal Life Saving Bahrain, said: We are so excited to host our first internationally recognised pool lifeguard course, that is an integral part of the RLSB Water Safety strategy which we launched last week with the goals to promote safe enjoyment of water, build cohesive communities, enable economic development and save lives.

He added: This is also our first step towards ensuring that all lifeguards working in Bahrain are trained and certified in line with international best practice. Such consistency in lifeguard training when combined with the right safety equipment and operations procedures, will give swimmers in Bahrain the confidence of being safe at pools. I would like to call upon all hotels and water parks in Bahrain to get their lifeguards professionally trained and certified and ready to save lives.

At the conclusion of the training course, all successful participants received an Pool Lifeguard Certificate valid for one year. They will then be required to attend an update course to renew their certification enabling them to continue working as lifeguards in Bahrain.

Royal Life Saving Bahrain is working closely with the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority and the Bahrain Drowning Prevention Committee to finetune the new safety guidelines for all hotels, water parks, and tourist establishments with swimming pools and/or access to the beach.

Rahman noted: Bahrains lifesaving services require volunteers and employees to ensure the ongoing safety of the beaches, pools and other water locations. We look forward to more collaboration with local institutes  especially the Ministry of Youth & Sport Affairs to engage the young Bahrainis and encourage them to undergo the training courses as volunteers as well as to pursue a professional career in lifesaving.

In November, Royal Life Saving Bahrain will host the first Internationally recognised beach lifeguard training course. For more details, interested parties may email RLSB ( [email protected] ) or call (36615661).

RLSB is a charitable organization launched in October 2016 with the mission to promote safe enjoyment of recreation in water, build cohesive communities, enable economic development and save lives.

Royal Life Saving Bahrain is a member and recognized by the International Life Saving Federation (ILS), the world authority for drowning prevention, lifesaving and lifesaving sport. All lifeguarding qualifications made available in Bahrain through RLSB will be recognized internationally by the ILS, the statement said.  TradeArabia News Service
Tourists holding a one-year multiple entry visa can extend their length of stay in the sultanate by one week, allowing tourists to stay for one month at a time as opposed to the earlier three-week maximum stay period, said a report.



"The holder is entitled to enter the sultanate more than once during the period of its validity and to stay there for a period not exceeding one month at a time," said a report in Times of Oman citing an announcement by the Royal Oman Police (ROP).



The ROP also said that the one month tourist visit visa shall be granted by the competent authority to anybody who wishes to enter the sultanate for the purpose of tourism, shall be valid for one month and may be extended for a similar period.
Flydubai has announced plans to launch new daily flights to Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) in Moscow, Russia, beginning November 29.



This will increase the airlines frequency to the Russian capital to double daily with the existing service to Vnukovo International Airport (VKO).



Flydubai first started operating to Moscow in 2014 and has grown its network in Russia to 11 unique points - Makhachkala, Ufa and Voronezh being the latest additions with operations commencing in October 2017. Along with these newest points on flydubais network the airline operates direct flights to Kazan, Krasnodar, Mineralnye Vody, Moscow (VKO), Rostov-on-Don, Samara and Yekaterinburg.



Commenting on the launch, Ghaith Al Ghaith, chief executive officer of flydubai, said: We are excited to be offering our passengers more options to access two different points of the Russian capital. The launch of our new daily flights to Moscows Sheremetyevo Airport is based on the increase in demand for more affordable and reliable direct links to the UAE and beyond.



The airline, which recorded a 45 per cent growth in passenger numbers to Russia in the first half of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016, is the first carrier to operate direct flights to Sheremetyevo International Airport from the UAE. The airport is one of the three airports serving the city of Moscow, along with Domodedovo International Airport and Vnukovo International Airport, and is one of the largest airports in Russia.



Jeyhun Efendi, senior vice president Commercial (UAE, EU, ME, CIS) for flydubai, said: Russia continues to be a very important market for flydubai. We have been committed to opening up underserved markets and adding frequency based on demand across our network. Our commitment is demonstrated by the increase of our operations to 11 points and 47 weekly flights to the Russian market. We are also looking forward to increasing our frequency to 52 weekly flights from mid-December which provide our passenger with more convenient timings and options for travel to and from Dubai.



Flydubai operates flights to more than 95 destinations in 44 countries offering passengers from Russia greater opportunity to connect onwards on the flydubai network to popular routes like Male (Maldives), Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Zanzibar (Tanzania) via Dubais aviation hub. Business Class and wi-fi are available on flydubais flights to Russia.



Early this year, the UAE Cabinet granted citizens of the Russian Federation entry visa on arrival valid for 30 days for the first time, renewable one time only for another 30 days, which has contributed to the increase in passenger numbers from Russia as per Dubai Airports reports.



Flights between Dubai (DXB) and Sheremetyevo (SVO) will start on November 29 with flights on sale from October 25. flydubai's FZ 917/918 will operate daily between Dubai International, Terminal 2 and Sheremetyevo International Airport.



Business Class return fares will start at Dh5,050 ($1,374.58) and are inclusive of all taxes and 40kg checked baggage. Economy Class return fares from Dubai to Sheremetyevo will start at Dh1,250 ($340.2) including 7kg hand baggage. - TradeArabia News Service
African-American children in Wisconsin are facing the biggest gap across the nation in well-being compared to their white counterparts, according to a report released Tuesday.

The Race for Results report, prepared by nonprofit The Annie E. Casey Foundation, used 12 indexes to determine the overall well-being of children across the United States based on a composite score of 1,000. Wisconsin had the biggest disparity between black and white children, the report said.

This really is a clarion call for action, said Ken Taylor, executive director of Kids Forward, formerly Wisconsin Council on Children and Families. We are not going to be successful as a state if we leave an increasing portion of our state behind and further from opportunity.

Of 44 states for which data was available, Wisconsin ranked 41st for African-American children with a score of 279. Across all states, white Wisconsin children ranked 10th with a well-being score of 762. The 483-point difference was the largest among the 44 states with data for white and black children.

Nationally, the report found a 713 score for white children and 369 for black children.

When you break it down by race and ethnicity  you can see that we have these substantial challenges, Taylor said.

The score was generated from statistics such as high school students graduating on time, children who live in a two-parent household and kids between ages 3 and 5 who are enrolled in a pre-kindergarten program.

Neighboring states Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan were also among the top five states with the largest well-being gaps between white and black children.

While Wisconsin is frequently ranked toward the top in The Annie E. Casey Foundations annual Kids Count report that measures overall well-being regardless of race or ethnicity  this year the Badger State was 12th  Taylor said that report ends up masking the challenges we have with our kids of color.

In the Race for Results report, Wisconsin ranked 7th out of 26 states at a score of 520 for American Indian children; 40th out of 43 states at 651 for Asian children; and 21st of 49 states at 439 for Latino children.

Only 24 percent of Wisconsin African-American children live in an economically stable condition, a household earning 200 percent or more than the federal poverty level, according to the report.

The same factor also applies to 30 percent of Latino children, 31 percent of Hmong children, 36 percent of American Indian children and 72 percent of white children in the state, the report said.

Taylor noted that some indexes in the report are troubling for all children, such as fourth-grade reading proficiency, where all races were below 50 percent in 2015.

To reduce gaps between children of color and white children, Taylor said state leaders should focus on beefing up educational opportunities at all levels and providing family-supporting jobs that offer good wages and health and family leave.

We need to invest in kids through high-quality education at all levels, from cradle to career, he said.

The report released Tuesday is the second Race for Results survey the foundation has released and is based on data between the years 2013 and 2015.

In 2014, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released its first Race for Results report. But comparison between the two reports cannot be made as some of the indexes changed.
FIX Releases Practices for Best Ex Reporting as Required by MiFID II RTS 27 & 28

FIX Trading Community, the non-profit, industry-driven standards body at the heart of global financial trading, today announced the final release of its Recommended Practices for Best Execution Reporting as required by MiFID II RTS 27 & 28.

The objective of this document is to provide guidance to entities regulated by MiFID II on how to populate the reports required under MiFID II RTS 27 and RTS 28 with the appropriate data in a compliant and consistent manner.

While the concept of Best Execution for the European Financial Markets was introduced back in 2007 under MiFID I, MiFID II has now introduced new requirements on what data must be published to the market to help firms comply with their Best Execution mandate. Over the past 2 years, FIX members have debated and discussed the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) terminology and responded to updates. Additionally, members have engaged with EU National Competent Authorities (NCA) to ensure the work being done is appropriate and relevant.

The resulting document that FIX Trading Community has released, explains which entities must report under these new requirements, what data they must publish and how often. It also provides clarity as to how these reports apply to different scenarios based on the entity, their role in the trading workflow and the trading model they employ.

Rebecca Healey, Co-Chair EMEA Regulatory Subcommittee, FIX Trading Community, Head of EMEA Market Structure and Strategy, Liquidnet, noted, With the MiFID clock ticking, it was critical for all market participants to be able to deliver accurate Best Execution reports to the regulator in time. By working together across industry disciplines the FIX working group has produced a valuable framework for firms to leverage. By providing the regulator and the wider industry with standardised information on best execution, FIX has made an important contribution to necessary enhanced transparency around best execution.

Alex Wolcough, Director Appsbroker, commented, MiFID IIs Best Execution Reporting requirements were always going to be a challenge for trading venues and investment firms alike. With a concerted effort from a broad range of stakeholders from across the financial community, weve been able to provide a really valuable guide for the industry and, in addition, the changes to the FIX protocol to support standardised reporting.

The document can be found on the FIX website here.

For more information on related topics, visit the following channels:
Thomson Reuters Announces Liquidity Analysis Via Intraday Liquidity Tool in Eikon

Thomson Reuters has introduced Intraday Market Share Reporter (iMSR), a solution designed to enable traders to quickly find and analyze liquidity by individual stocks across multiple venues. With an intraday view of market flows, iMSR helps improve trading capabilities and analysis by providing fuller transparency of market trends and the ability to assist in predicting the future direction of liquidity.

With iMSR, traders can locate and analyze the liquidity for the individual stock they are trading by providing a summary of intraday volume, turnover and trade count across venues compared with a customizable selection of daily averages. iMSR covers equities, equity-linked instruments, and ETFs. This tool allows traders to view, benchmark and analyze stocks against different historical averages, with an eye toward assisting with future choice of venue execution.

Changing regional and global regulations in the financial markets is leading to liquidity becoming more fragmented, making it more challenging for trading professionals to find and evaluate relative liquidity across different venues. This makes having an intraday liquidity tool more important as a way of identifying where trading liquidity has been and may likely be in the future.

The challenge of finding current and predicting future liquidity is top of the mind for our trading customers, and this challenge will likely only grow as new regulations come into place, said Phil DeFranceso, head of trading desktop, Thomson Reuters. By offering an intraday liquidity solution, we are empowering our trading customers with another tool to help them gain an edge in a competitive marketplace. It furthers our commitment to delivering a powerful, integrated and comprehensive set of trading workflow solutions to the financial community.

iMSR utilizes the Thomson Reuters Trade Classification (TRTC), which normalizes all trade types from 150+ trading venues into one of eight categories. This allows traders to compare global trading activity across multiple trading venues, analyzed and monitored in a single view.

For more information on related topics, visit the following channels:
Undiscovered Destinations, a UK tour operator specialising in authentic experiences in some of the worlds most exciting regions, recently sent their very first group to Swaziland. The company Executive Mark Huggins had been on a destination familiarisation tour, hosted by the Swaziland Tourism Authority to learn more about the country ahead of the schedule in which you can read his blog here. With the successful tour now complete, we take a look at their first Swaziland experience.



(TRAVPR.COM) UK - October 24th, 2017 - Undiscovered Destinations, a UK tour operator specialising in authentic experiences in some of the worlds most exciting regions, recently sent their very first group to Swaziland. The company Executive Mark Huggins had been on a destination familiarisation tour, hosted by the Swaziland Tourism Authority to learn more about the country ahead of the schedule in which you can read his blog here. With the successful tour now complete, we take a look at their first Swaziland experience.

The very first group which just completed a 11-day intimate excursion in Swaziland was made up of six English tourists and was guided by Sense Africas Jenny Bowen. Speaking at two different interviews at Foresters Arms Hotel upon arrival and at Hlane Royal National Park soon before departure, the group expressed great awe at visiting Swaziland.

We are extremely happy to be in this part of the world as we always seek to discover new destinations that so many are yet to discover. Interest on Swaziland has been growing in the UK and in Europe, given that more and more tourists want to visit destinations where culture and traditions were still upheld in their purest form, said Peter, an elderly British citizen.

Linda, also based in the UK, said she was taken by the fact that they came close to and walked side by side with wildlife in the jungle, a memory she said would linger on for years to come.

Bowen on the other hand, who recently got her badge as a qualified tour guide for Swaziland following attending a HOTAS organised tour guiding course, said she was already humbled to see all visitors who she has guided to Swaziland taking with them very emotional memories back home.

This group has been short of amazing. Although it is mainly made up of senior citizens, their keenness to travel on feet and engage with the environment closely was astounding. They will definitely spread the message back home about how beautiful Swaziland is, she said.

In an interview, Huggins had said Undiscovered Destinations clientele was keen to spend more than just a transit day at a destination; hence they were already packaging the country as an ultimate destination.

Our clients do not want to just pass through a destination. Instead, they want to experience it fully. My visit here helped me immensely in enabling me to plan for that and more tours that I will be sending to Swaziland, he said.

Two couples, he said, are already scheduled to visit Swaziland next February as part of the tours Undiscovered Destinations will be sending to Swaziland.

About 60 percent of his companys clients are British, and the rest come from other English-speaking countries.

It will be very easy to sell tours to Swaziland given that the destination has a good mix of culture, wildlife, adventure, and history: all of which are major components sought after by our clients, he said.

STA Marketing Manager Bongani Dlamini said his organisation was thrilled by Undiscovered Destinations move to introduce tours to the country following Huggins visit, something which he described as an immediate aftermath of their marketing initiatives.

We are excited to learn that Undiscovered Destinations have immediately decided to develop tour packages to Swaziland, as the country fits in perfectly to their scope. STA will continue to host international tour operators, as well as travel media in Swaziland, in a bid to bolster our marketing efforts, said Dlamini.

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1) Cordoba

2) Sevilla

Sevilla by night  A post shared by Trevor Huxham (@trevorhuxham) on May 29, 2017 at 6:48am PDT

3) Santiago de Compostela

4) Leon

5) Salamanca

6) Ourense

7) Jaen

8) Girona

9) Teruel

10) Segovia

Eighty-seventhats the number of Catholic cathedrals in Spain today. Although I didnt grow up Catholic (Im a Southern Baptist turned Episcopalian), this church nerd managed to visit 26 of Spains cathedrals that span a multitude of architectural styles and layouts when I lived in the country from 2012 to 2015.Theres nothing intrinsic about a cathedral that automatically makes them big and beautiful; theyre simply home to theor seat of a bishop. But from the Middle Ages onward, bishops enjoyed great social status, and the churches where they presided reflected this prestige with monumental works of architecture. (Fun fact: Barcelonas soaring Sagrada Familia isa cathedral, as it is not the seat of the bishop of the diocese of Barcelona).With so many cathedrals to see in Spain, its hard to know what to focus on. Below Ive composed a list of my top ten favorite ones, which includes crowd-favorites like the cathedral of Sevilla as well as off-the-radar churches like Teruel Cathedral.Cordobasalmost single-handedly drew me to Spain so many years ago (almost, because the other hand was the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage). What was once the Grand Mosque of Cordoba, and today is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, deserves the title of the most interesting building in the world.In many ways,Here,or repurposed Roman columns decorate the prayer hall that seems to stretch to infinity. A glassed-over crevice in the floor offers a glimpse of the old Visigothic church upon which the mosque was built in the 700s. The dizzying array of double arches that fly from one column to the next are a masterpiece of Islamic architecture, but the horseshoe arch itself that today we think of as quintessentially Islamic was actually borrowed from the Visigoths in Iberia. The dazzlingor niche that orients prayer toward Mecca is dripping in gold that was a gift of the Byzantine emperor, a gift when Spain was at the center of the civilized world.And then theres the main chapel, a towering Gothic/Renaissance cross-shaped hall built in the dead-center of the old mosque. This intrusion is so abrupt, it seems as if a cathedral from northern Spain has been teleported to the south and dropped on top of the prayer halls. In many ways, this is a metaphor for what happened in the Late Middle Ages as Christian armies re- conquered the Muslim kingdoms of Andalucia and ultimately expelled Jews and Muslims a few centuries later.A #ProTip for visiting the Mosque-Cathedral:without tour groups!between 8:30am and 9:30am, Monday through Saturday, in the quiet cool of the morning. I also recommend an additional summit of the bell tower, which envelops the old minaret and gives you a unique perspective of the Mosque-Cathedrals architectural evolution.Tradition has it that when local church authorities in Sevilla were thinking about demolishing the old Grand Mosque where Mass had been celebrated for centuries (as in Cordoba), they said lets build such a beautiful and impressive church that when people see the finished product theyll think we were crazy. Crazy they were, indeed; they ended up buildingand the third-largest church building anywhere.At night, this gargantuan complex appears like a barge drifting through the old town, the bell tower a lighthouse that orients locals and visitors alike. This bell tower, known as, preserves the old Almohad-era mosques minaret, which wasand call the faithful to prayer. Today you can still hike up over 300 feet and get panoramic views of Sevilla from the belfry.Within the church are buried Christopher Columbus as well as the Saint-King Fernando IIIwho led Castilian armies deep into Muslim-held territory in the 1200sand his son, King Alfonso X the Wisewho pioneered the use of vernacular Castilian in his court over Latin.Outside, the Islamic vision of a heavenly Paradise is realized in the old ablutions court: theor Orange Tree Courtyard. Fenced in by the old mosques only remaining walls (look for the horseshoe arches and stair-step crenellation on top), this courtyard overflows in springtime with the sweet fragrance of, the orange blossom.I remember the first time I saw Santiagos cathedral. Weary from having finished hiking 70 miles of the Camino de Santiago over five days, I stumbled into the Praza do Obradoiro square and looked up at the imposing bell towers barely visible through the fog, their granite stones dripping with ferns, moss, and bright orange lichen. These towers led me out of the cold, gray square and into a welcoming, quiet narthex that protects thethe best collection of medieval sculpture in the world.The daily pilgrim mass began not long afterward, with announcements of how many pilgrims had arrived that day, their nationalities, and their starting points. In keeping with centuries-old tradition, several men in dark-red robes carried out the custom of swinging theduring Mass, a human-sized thurible that is swung from one end of the transept to the other and which spews fragrant, heady incense as it goes. When combined with brilliant organ music, the angelic notes of the cantor, and the shiny, hulking altarpiece covered in layers of gold leaf and dustthe whole experience was overwhelming.The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela has served as a pilgrimage church for over a thousand years, drawing the faithful and the adventurous from all corners of the world along theor Way of St. James to a basilica that honors what the Catholic Church claims are the remains of the Apostle St. James the Greater (). This sprawling shrine was once a pure Romanesque temple built during the 12th-Century Renaissance, but over the centuries it gained Gothic towers, Renaissance chapels, and even a total Baroque makeover.My favorite corner of the cathedral actually doesnt belong to the church proper, but is instead its own parish church:Long since absorbed into the physical fabric of the cathedral, Santa Maria a Antiga gives you an idea of what a Romanesque church would have been like in the 1200s: huge, massive walls and columns bear the weight of the structure, wooden beams support the roof, and tiny slits let in sparse sunlight.Leons cathedral was one of the very few churches I visited that made me involuntarily say Wow. WOW. and then search for a seat in one of the pews to take in the dazzling scene before my eyes. If youve seen one, youve seen them allexcept for the cathedral of Leon covers the entire clerestory level of the cathedral from front to backso much stained glass that the filtered sunlight takes on an otherworldly cast.Leon Cathedrals architecture feels more at home in France than on the high plains of north-central Spain. Being one of the major stops along the Camino de Santiagosor French Way in the Middle Ages, Leon received countless travelers from across the Pyrenees who brought French innovations with them along their way to Santiago de Compostela. Because of this, Leons cathedral is a fine example offound right in the middle of northern Spain.Most cathedrals you can see in Spain are usually the third or fourth iteration of a church at that same location, which means the community had demolished an older building to build the current construction on top of the foundations of the old one.Not so in Salamanca The fact that one of the walls of the old cathedral has been incorporated into the new one is kind of coolfor about five minutes. Then you move on to bigger and better things, like ascending to the upper galleries and getting some rooftop views. What makes this oddity in the world of Spanish cathedrals interesting is that you can see the progression of Western architecture moving from the late Romanesque all the way up through the Baroque era, preserved from destruction!The(old cathedral) presents you with one long, gloomy central nave that leads your eyes up topointed arches?but the old cathedral actually shows off a unique architectural style called Late Romanesque, a transitional form on the way to the Gothic we know and love. And these pointy arches hold up a surprise at the crossing: a stunning double-drum pendentive dome that makes you feel like youre in a Byzantine-style church from the 6th century.The(new cathedral), meanwhile, combines three different styles together: light scatters in via vast Gothic windows, an idealized Renaissance dome crowns the high altar, and Baroque glop (to borrow Rick Steves word) drips from one corner to the next.The city ofbetween several pedestrian bridges that cross the stunning Mino River, restaurants that serve up the best Galician-style octopus in the region, and a series of relaxing riverside hot springs. I found myself in town here no fewer than half a dozen times during my two-year stay in Santiago.One of my favorite simple pleasures (i.e., free things to do) in Ourense was visiting the cathedral, a dizzying hodge-podge of architectural styles from the outside but a serene sanctuary on the inside where the beauty of Late Romanesque really shines through. Unlike the dark spaces of Santiagos cathedral or Salamancas old cathedral, Ourenses feels bright and welcoming, for the original narrow punched-out windows have been preserved and let the sparse Galician sunshine trickle in.But I havent included this obscure cathedral on this list just for sentimental reasons. Ourenses cathedral is home to an exquisite collection of medieval sculpturethat equals the dizzying wonder of Santiago de Compostelaswith its array of saints and angels.Just an hour north of Granada in southern Spain, the queen of the olive groves has everything from several intriguing historic neighborhoods and a 130-year-old bar to some subterranean Arab baths and a mountain crowned with a castle and panoramic views. Jaens also got one of Spains finest cathedralsyet nobody ever talks about it! If you ever visit, youll get to have this stunning piece of Renaissance architecture almost all to yourself. True to its Renaissance form, the cathedral is dripping with idealism: perfect forms like circles, squares, and circles within squares abound, as do the classical orders of columns and triumphal arch-shaped windows.Unlike most cathedrals where you have to pay extra to visit the upper floors and secret passageways, Jaens cathedral lets you explore the galleries at no extra charge, which means you can freely stroll above the church, take in the cruciform floor plan, and appreciate the intricate details on the ceiling.I couldnt finish this list without including achurch, and Gironas cathedral fits that bill. What makes Catalan Gothic so special, as opposed to French Gothic, or whatever? Its a really subtle distinction, but most Gothic churches that you can find in Catalunya in far northeastern Spain will usually feature a single vast nave with no side aisles, flat roofs, smooth walls with little ornamentation, and octagons as the plan for supporting pillars and bell towers.You reach the cathedral by climbing up a grand public staircasejust as you would have done to reach the old Roman temple 2,000 years agoand by passing beneath an ornate facade that was added during the Baroque era. Behind this facade, the worlds largest Gothic nave opens up at 75 feet wide. Theres more I could say about this church, but what really caught my eye was the tiny punched-out windows of the triforium that run around the whole length of the church. Seeing tourists passing from one gallery window to the nextwith princesses, monks, and noblemen hurrying between chambers.The cathedral of Girona is also a perfect place to appreciate medieval sculpture in the Romanesque-style cloisters out back. Instead of adhering to the classical column orders like Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian, stonemasons in the Middle Ages treated column capitals like blank canvases, decorating them with scenes from the Bible or with characters from a medieval bestiary. Almost the entire life of Christ is depicted in sculptural formalong with what looks like the Starbucks mermaid to modern eyes!Ive got a penchant for the obscure, so dont be surprised that one of my favorite cathedrals is found in a city whose marketing campaign several years ago was Teruel Exists! This mid-sized town may be isolated deep in the reaches of rural central Spain, but its the capital of a style of architecture found only in Spain.refers to a combination of the Gothic forms that were popular during the Middles Ages with Islamic-inspired embellishments made from tile, brick, plaster, and wood.Theres a ton of Mudejar-style parish churches in Teruel, but the cathedral really shines. On the outside, an intricately-decorated square bell tower straddles a city street, creating a fairy-tale tunnel. The cathedrals walls offer an assortment of brick, stones, and crumbling plaster that delights the eyes with colors and textures. Once inside, you look up to the ceiling and suddenly need to find a pew to sit down in; the multicolor painted beams and rafters leave worshippers and visitors alike spellbound, as eight-sized stars formed by braided lines glimmer from one side of the church to the other.Although its not a city I think I could ever call home, Segovia ranks up there pretty high as one of my all-time faves in Spain. It sits just a quick, half-hour high-speed train ride through the mountains north of Madrid, but feels a world away, what with a stunning Roman aqueduct that spans a vast public square, a turreted castle that was the inspiration for Walt Disneyscastle, andI love this cathedral so much because its built in such warm local sandstone and has such large windows thatAnd although you have to pay a couple euros extra for it, you can even go on a guided tour of the tall bell tower and get panoramic views of the historic core of the city.
The Wisconsin National Guard is expanding its response to hurricane-ravaged areas in the Caribbean by sending two medical evacuation helicopters to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and 19 soldiers assigned to the aircraft are on their way to the islands after Gov. Scott Walker authorized Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, the states adjutant general, to bring units to active duty as needed to help in the Hurricane Maria relief efforts. The aircraft and crews are from units based in Madison and West Bend.

Wisconsin National Guard troops have been serving in Puerto Rico since early October, according to a release from the WNG.

Airmen from the Wisconsin Air National Guard also were sent to Puerto Rico in late September and early October, the help coming from the 115th Fighter Wing in Madison and the 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee. Two airfield managers from the 115th and Volk Field at Camp Douglas went to Georgia earlier in October to help coordinate military aircraft going to the Caribbean.
WASHINGTON  William F. Buckley, the founder of National Review (where I work), once confessed in private, I wish to hell I could attack them without pleasing people I cant stand to please.

By them he meant the members of the conspiracy-mongering, anti-Communist, anti-United Nations, anti-civil rights John Birch Society (named after a Christian missionary who was killed in 1945 by Communist forces, making Birch the first American casualty in the Cold War). The people Buckley couldnt stand to please, of course, were liberals.

And yet Buckley did eventually go after the Birchers, at first trying as best he could to denounce their leader, Robert Welch, without alienating the rank and file. Eventually, this needle became impossible to thread, specifically when Welch began insisting that President Eisenhower was a dedicated, conscious agent of the Communist conspiracy.

Buckley and Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, along with conservative intellectuals such as William Baroody of the American Enterprise Institute (where I am a fellow) and Russell Kirk, convened a meeting at the Breakers Hotel in Florida to address the problem. Buckley would lead the effort of anathematizing Welch, beginning with a six-page editorial excoriating him. Goldwater would follow up with a letter to National Review calling for Welchs resignation.

This approach was risky. Many Bircher members were not crackpots. Some were prominent businessmen who had supported both Buckleys magazine and the movement behind the Goldwater candidacy.

In A Man and His Presidents: The Political Odyssey of William F. Buckley Jr., Alvin Felzenberg recounts one occasion when a major supporter of NR leaned on Buckley to stop criticizing Welch and form a common front against the left. When he reminded Buckley of the financial support hed given the magazine, Buckley responded that the National Review was not for sale.

Buckley denounced the Birchers in part because they were undermining the very cause they claimed to be fighting for. By making anti-Communism seem paranoid and extremist rather than prudent and necessary, the Birchers were making it easy for liberals to demonize and dismiss conservatism wholesale.

The Cold War is over, thank goodness. But similar patterns have been emerging on the right. In many ways, were witnessing a perfect example of history repeating itself as farce.

Whereas during the Cold War, the claim was made that the East Coast Republican establishment was insufficiently committed to the fight against Communism, the new hotness is that the GOP establishment is insufficiently committed to fighting ... the GOP establishment. Extremism in Steve Bannons hashtag war against the elite is no vice, and moderation in pursuit of getting things done is now no virtue.

Republican Roy Moore is the new Welch (or at least one of several new Welches). He threatens to provide conservatisms critics with precisely the caricature they crave.

He is a twice-disgraced former judge who believes 9/11 was divine retribution for our sins and an anti-Muslim bigot who cant quite bring himself to rule out the death penalty for homosexuals. But he won the Alabama Senate primary anyway, largely on the grounds that he was the most anti-establishment candidate. To Alabama primary voters, his extremism is apparently proof that he wont sell out.

If Moore is the new Welch, Buckley and Goldwaters heirs have rejected the mantle of opposition, at least in this case. Last week, Sens. Mike Lee and Rand Paul endorsed Moore, citing his devotion to the Constitution and (in Lees words) his reputation of integrity.

As for conservatives outside the Senate, reactions have varied. Some have been outspoken in denouncing Moore. Others, like Sean Hannity of Fox News, have gone all in.

Part of the problem is structural. Despite all of the paranoid screeds one hears daily, the establishment, however defined, is weaker than at any time in memory. The balkanized and democratized media landscape of the internet makes the kind of intellectual gatekeeping Buckley once mastered nearly impossible, particularly at a time when gatekeeping of any kind is viewed as rigging the system.

Buckleys reluctance to please people he couldnt stand has gone from an understandable sentiment to an ideological commandment for many on the right. Rather than learn from our successes, conservatives seem determined to make a virtue of our mistakes.
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 25

The city police got three-day remand of Daman Bhalla, Deputy Controller, Finance and Accounts (DCFA), and the prime accused in the Rs 80-crore scam of the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT). He was arrested a day before yesterday and produced in the local court. During the police investigation, Bhalla told the police that he fled from the city before the police registered a case against him.

He left the city on September 6. After spending a few days in Chandigarh, he fled to Delhi. Bhalla approached some influential leaders to sort out the issue in Delhi. When the police registered a case against him, including six others employees, he moved to Nepal. He spent around 45 days in various cities of Nepal. According to sources, he managed to obtain a local SIM in Nepal and used it to get money from his relatives.

Meanwhile, the city police started keeping an eye on his relatives and they did not further transfer the money into his account. Daman was penniless for the past some days and also spent a few days in temples. Finally, he decided to return home.

The district police had registered an FIR against three estate officers, Arvind Sharma, Dhian Chand Garg and Paramjit Singh, besides the Deputy Controller Finance and Accounts (DCFA) Bhalla, Tina Vohra, CA Sanjay Kapoor and bill clerk Satnam Singh on September 8. All the accused were missing.

According to the police investigation, Daman allegedly transferred crores of rupees into his personal accounts from AIT accounts. He used to change the figures of amount written on the cheques to embezzle money.

Shivdharshan Singh, SHO, Civil Lines police station, said Bhalla was a key accused in the AIT scam. We are investigating the matter to trace the other six accused officials, he added. The police was expecting that the accused might be in neighbouring states.
Girja Shankar Kaura

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 25

Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group-controlled Reliance Communications (RCom) plans to shut down its 2G mobile business in about a month. It will be migrating its 2G and some of the 3G-based customers to 4G.

The telecom operator has also asked the majority of its employees to exit the company by November 30. The debt-ridden company, while continuing its 4G service, will also optimise its 3G services particularly in the areas where they are not profitable.

In a statement, RCom today said, As already announced on October 1, 2017, RCom has decided to adopt a 4G-focussed strategy for profitable growth of its wireless business. Accordingly, it will be optimising its 2G and 3G footprint, and related infrastructure and human resources, with effect from November 30, 2017.

The companys 4G-led strategy will be executed, as at present, on the back of capital-light access to Indias most extensive 4G mobile network, through already operational spectrum-sharing and ICR arrangements with Reliance Jio, an RCom spokespersons said.

Reports suggested that 60 per cent of its customers, who are using 2G-based technology, will be asked to either migrate to better technology or port out to some other operator.

RCom Executive Director Gurdeep Singh has apparently informed the employees that the company has reached a situation where we need to call it a day on our wireless business and this would lead to closure of wireless business 30 days from now. The company will continue to operate ILD voice, consumer voice and 4G dongle postpaid services and mobile tower business till the time they remain profitable and all the other business will be shut down.

The company has Rs 44,000 crore of loans on its books and is finding it hard to service its dues as a result of increased competition.
Chandigarh, October 24

A man reportedly set himself on fire this evening at his office in Sector 24. The victim suffered around 80 per cent burn injuries and is battling for his life at the PGI.

Sources said the victim, Sahil, a resident of Sector 38, set himself on fire in front of his mother and a cousin.

The victim has a dispute with his mother Usha over the sale of the second floor of their house in Sector 38.

The victims mother came to his office where they had an altercation after which the victim set himself on fire inside the office. The police are looking into the matter.  TNS
Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24

Senator Prof Rajesh Gill of Panjab University has called for a CBI inquiry into the clearing of PhD entrance test by Punjab Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.

Congress leader Channi made it to the list after PU reduced the qualifying marks for paper-1 of the entrance test from 50% to 40% for SCs/STs. This was done after the results were declared, the students selected and even classes for the course work had started.

Channi had scored 22 marks out of 50, which is around 42% in paper-1. So, reduction in marks helped him. The reduction in qualifying marks helped in getting his paper-2 checked too. As per rules, if one doesnt qualify in paper-1, his paper-2 is not checked. Channi had scored 31 in his paper-2, which was a subjective paper. He got a total of 53 marks out of 100 and is the only SC candidate in political science department to clear the entrance test. He stood second among all SC candidates in the entrance test. Channi has to clear the interview to finally get enrolled for PhD. He wants to do his PhD on the Indian National Congress.

The authority of framing the guidelines for PhD admissions rests with the governing bodies. Therefore, there is no authority with anyone else to change the eligibility condition once the process is initiated. There is no discretion too, in this case, to change the criteria of admission midway, said Prof Gill. She also questioned why marks were not reduced to 45% or 35%.

It was done after the declaration of results which clearly indicates that it was done to appease somebody. This is an act of nepotism and favouritism just to appease the people in power. At least teachers of a great university cannot afford to set such an example. Thus, a CBI inquiry should be ordered as the case is covered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Prof Gill said.

Chandigarh BJP president and PU senator Sanjay Tandon said, Earlier too, I had brought the issue before Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu about how rules were changed to adjust Channi. He was surprised. I will again raise the issue with him. In the next senate meeting as well, we will take up the issue. You can change the rules before the results are out. But here, when the exam process is over, the qualifying marks were reduced.

Students Organisation of India (SOI), which is a students wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), had earlier protested against the reduction in marks for SCs/STs. This is a clear cut case of partiality. Everyone can see this. Why did the PU reduce the marks after the results were out? Why were the marks for paper-2 not reduced? We are submitting a memorandum to the PU authorities on Wednesday. We will give them a time period of two days. If they do not cancel the results, we will take the protest to a new level, said Vicky Middukhera, president of Chandigarh unit of the SOI.

Shelley Walia, a PU senator, said, The departments were objectively following rules and now a second interview is unprecedented. I am against the criteria of going by marks. Research proposal and interview are more important for choosing a person.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 25

Traders of Sector 17 have decided to start an agitation against the Municipal Corporation for not taking action against vendors, whose number is increasing by the day.

The decision was taken at a joint meeting of associations of Sector 17 traders today.

Neeraj Bajaj, president of the Chandigarh Business Council, said the traders had decided to put their own stalls or phadis in front of their shops from Friday evening onwards.

Bajaj said the agitation would be intensified from Monday if their demands were not met. He said while the Administration had decided to make Sector 17 a no-vending zone, no action had been taken so far to remove them.

Jagdish Pal Kalra, Virendra Gularia, president of the Progressive Traders Welfare Association, LC Arora, Capt Mohinder Singh, Subhash Gulati and Arun Talwar were among the traders who attended the meeting.

The Chandigarh Beopar Mandal has also supported the agitation. A delegation comprising Charan Jiv Singh, chairman, Diwakar Sahoonja, patron, and Sanjiv Chadha, president, Progressive Traders Association, and Kamal Jit Singh Panchi, president, Traders Association, Sector 17 A & B, today called on Anurag Aggarwal, UT Home Secretary, and submitted a memorandum to him demanding immediate clearance of Sector 17 pavement areas from unauthorised vendors, who have occupied the public area restricting the movement of visitors and causing a loss of revenue to the traders.

The traders apprised the official of the plight of traders in Sector 17 where vendors have occupied pavements in front of shops, making it difficult for the public to go for shopping inside showrooms.

Charan Jiv Singh, chairman of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal and councillor, said the vending zones in other sectors should be made some distance away from the markets and objections/suggestions should be invited from market associations and the public and only thereafter the zones should be finalised without any delay and vendors shifted there.

Anurag Aggarwal, Home Secretary, told the traders that Sector 17 was a no-vending zone and vending zones in markets of other sectors would be identified soon and the vendors shifted there.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24

A sub-inspector (SI) of the UT police was arrested by CBI sleuths today while allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 2 lakh. CBI officials claimed that the SI, who had demanded Rs 9 lakh from the complainant, had named the SHO of the Sector 31 police station while demanding the bribe, claiming that Rs 8 lakh was meant for the SHO.

The SI has been identified as Mohan Singh, posted at the Sector 31 police station.

CBI complainant Prem Singh Bisht, a financier and property dealer, said a case of attempt to murder was registered at the Sector 31 police station against nine persons, including his three employees, Joseph, Deepa and Anil, all residents of Ram Darbar. All three, who worked as recovery agents, are at large.

A police team visited the complainants office to nab his employees and also harassed him.

Bisht said the SI, who was the investigating officer (IO) in the case, allegedly demanded Rs 9 lakh to drop the names of his employees from the FIR. The SI told me that Rs 8 lakh was meant for the SHO, Bisht said.

Sources said the CBI complainant agreed to pay the first instalment of Rs 2 lakh after which the SI asked him to meet him at the Sector 31 market.

The accused came in his car to the market where the complainant handed over the money to him.

The CBI sleuths, who were present at the spot, caught the accused red-handed from the market after which he was brought to the police station.

A case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused by the CBI. He will be produced in the court on Wednesday. Searches at the house of the SI were conducted by the CBI sleuths.

Past case

May 23: A head constable of the UT police, posted at the Sarangpur police station, was arrested by the CBI while allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a woman.

Additional charge

The SHO of the Sector 31 police station, Inspector Jaswinder Kaur, whose name has cropped up in the bribery case, was transferred to the Police Lines, Sector 26, soon after the CBI arrested the SI. The SHO of Sector 34, Inspector Ajay Kumar, has been given the additional charge of the SHO of the Sector 31 police station.

Had demanded Rs 9 lakh

Officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation claimed that the sub-inspector, who had demanded Rs 9 lakh from the complainant, had named the SHO of the Sector 31 police station while demanding the bribe, claiming that Rs 8 lakh was meant for the Station House Officer.
Tribune News Service

Mohali, October 24

In the double murder case of senior journalist KJ Singh and his 92-year-old mother Gurcharan Kaur, all five suspects (whose photos were recently released by the police), along with another acquaintance, have appeared before the Mohali police here.

The police said the suspects, Arshdeep and Arpit from Raikot, Gurinder from Sangrur, Balwinder from Jagraon and Satnam Singh from Malerkotla, and their acquaintance Vicky, also from Raikot, had been rounded up and were being quizzed.

During their interrogation, the suspects are said to have claimed that they were making videos of the area around the victims residence in Phase 3B2 to locate some paying guest accommodation.

The suspects told the police that they were residing in Jalvayu Vihar here in a rented accommodation and their agreement was to end on October 28 so they were on the hunt for a PG accommodation in the area on the recommendation of their acquaintance Vicky, who had studied in a private college at Tangori from 2009 to 2011. Vicky used to stay in a PG accommodation in Sector 69.

One of the suspects wants to be an IPS officer and is preparing for the exams while two others are preparing for the IELTS. Their claims are being verified. We have found several loopholes in their statements, said the police.

The police said all five suspects, who had been captured in CCTV cameras while roaming in the area, had remained there for nearly two and a half hours a few hours before the crime was committed. As per the mobile call detail analysis, all of them had made at least three or four calls. The police said the suspects had no criminal background.

IG confirms development

Inspector General Shashi Prabha Dwivedi, in-charge of the SIT in the case, confirmed that certain suspects had been rounded up in the case. Our team is on the job to get further details and leads in the case. Whenever there is some significant development, the media will be apprised of it, said Dwivedi.
Mohali, October 25

The livestock sector has made a valuable contribution to the states economy. The livestock fair and cattle milking contests have been beneficial for farmers, said Mohali MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu while inaugurating the annual two-day livestock fair at Chappar Chiri today.

Sidhu said the fair, organised by the Animal Husbandry Department, had witnessed an increase in participation by breeders and farmers over the years.

He said the government had initiated schemes to help farmers in dairy-related activities. For the breeding of animals, mission banks have been set up and the yield of milk has increased, the MLA said.

A total of 55 contests have been scheduled for the two days and the total prize money to be distributed among the winners is Rs 7 lakh, along with certificates. A 2-month-old female calf, Honeypreet, beat more than 20 competitors. The calf belonged to the murrah breed. Its owner said the calf was named Honeypreet after the confidante of jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.  TNS

Marwari horses draw crowd

Marwari mares attracted a huge crowd on the first day of the livestock fair. A 15-month-old mare of Marwari breed, Rosy, emerged winner in the contest. Rosy, having a height of 61 inches, beat another Marwari mare Kheeri in the three pair milk teeth contest.

The Marwari horses are popular due to their lineage and bloodline. They are employed for polo, horse safaris and ceremonial purposes.

Mankirat Singh from Bhago Majra, owner of Kheeri, said his mare came from a family of winners. Kheeris mother Noori won the contest last year.

Pakistani bully dogs star attraction
KC Singh

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrives in India at a crucial moment for Asia. Chinese President Xi Jinping emerges yet stronger from the 19th party congress. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe renews his mandate and threatens to change Japans pacific constitution. Pakistan and DPRK continue their destabilising roles in their respective regions. The ISIS is defeated but Iran is enraged by Trumps rhetoric and actions on the nuclear deal. The GCC is split and Turkey is up in arms against the US and Qatars tormentors. President Trump continues with his ideology-driven foreign policy, employing paradoxical methods of engagement and threats in equal measure.

Tillerson arrived in India after stopovers in Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The last two are important because Trumps Afghanistan policy, announced on August 21 and causing premature jubilation in India on the naming and shaming of Pakistan as terror abettor, involves a regional approach to the problem. The US correctly realises that peace is unattainable in Afghanistan without the cooperation of major regional powers. Pakistans pillorying is thus both to get it to pressure its allies, i.e., the Taliban, Haqqanis and their cohorts to join the reconciliation process in Afghanistan as, indeed, to keep India reassured about Pakistan. But in return, as the past teaches, India too would have to display flexibility in dealing with Pakistan and Kashmir. Thus it is not a coincidence that the Modi government, so far ignoring calls for dialogue with people of J&K or Pakistan, suddenly appointed a Kashmir interlocutor.

Tillerson set the scene in a speech at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, on October 18. He sought to dramatically deepen bilateral relations with India, which he felt had far-reaching implications for the next hundred years. The two nations would be increasingly global partners with strategic convergence. Graphically, he called India and the US the two bookends of stability. He implies a seamless India-Pacific theatre from the east coast of India to the Pacific coast of the US. The objective appears to be the creation of a chain of democratic and friendly states across the Chinese coast to balance Chinas rise. In actuality, the other bookend is really Japan, but as a Chinese analyst said in a seminar, the US was being a global power and everyones neighbour. Tillerson is merely filling colour in a vision that has been adumbrated since George W Bush presidency.

Tillerson rested the strategic vision of the India-US relations on the bedrock of widening bilateral engagement. Trade last year touched $115 billion and while India hosted 600 US companies, the number of Indian students in the US is over 1,66,000. Following the India-US nuclear deal and the declaration of India as a major defence partner, restrictions on the transfer of cutting-edge technologies have been mostly lifted. But there is a strong undertow that Trump is creating by his anti-immigrant bias  reflected in restricting H1-B visas  America First anti-globalisation tirade, Make in America policy, etc.

A similarly paradoxical approach is visible in his global outreach. On November 3, Trump sets forth on his second visit abroad. He would visit China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam. In China, he faces a strengthened President Xi who proclaimed in the 19th Party Congress that socialism with Chinese characteristics had entered a new era. China is now fully positioned to contest the existing post-World War II financial, commercial and geo-strategic architecture created under the US leadership.

Chinas rival version is based on an autocratic political system, relying on meritocracy and economic success and to be anchored in a Sino-centric Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Tillerson in his CSIS speech contested this opaque, financially dubious Chinese scheme that ignores environmental and sovereignty concerns of others. He advocated alternative financing methods for infrastructure needs of the developing world. But Trumps ideological-bred isolationism would negate devising of a 21st century Marshal Plan. Xi on the other hand will push for the US to create, what he calls, a new type of great power relations. It is this potential bipolarity that India fears, as would US allies like Japan and members of ASEAN.

Trump would be hand-holding in Seoul and Tokyo, where PM Abe has emerged stronger after the polls, and seek a solution to the problematic Rocket Man  the ruler of DPRK. Trumps first visit abroad was to the Gulf, where he undid the Obama doctrine of unshackling Iran to fight the ISIS. He backed a Sunni alliance hosted by Saudi Arabia, which also split almost instantaneously after his departure, as the Saudis and Emiratis turned on Qatar. Consequently, it sucked Turkey into the Gulf affairs when it moved troops to support Qatar. Thus in his trail, Trump left an embittered Iran, a split GCC and a divided Sunni world.

In his upcoming second trip, it has already been announced that he would fly off from the Philippines without attending the East Asia Summit, which Obama assiduously attended. On top of US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which was intended to impose a US-centric trading and global values zone around China, the signal will be that the US is retreating strategically. Thus exhortations to India and US allies like Japan to ring-fence China are likely to sound hollow. Symbolic naval forays or military plane intrusions are poor substitute for institution building to ensure a peaceful and rule-based rise of China.

PM Narendra Modi is, meanwhile, fighting a crucial electoral battle in his home-state Gujarat, where less than a convincing win is a loss, whereas a loss is a rout. Theatrical and whimsical policy making is no longer a substitute for governance domestically. It certainly is fraught with risk abroad. Indias only option is to play a balancing game in this complex international scenario, with due strategic planning and meticulous diplomacy. The US as a global power will do its own prioritising, which now means giving South Asia a miss in Trumps second foray into Asia. India has to break the Sino-Pak alliance by luring one out of it, re-engage Russia and Europe vigorously and go back to being a new kind of non-aligned ally of multiple powers. Between the twin poles of Nehruvian idealism and Patels realism lies the path ahead.

The writer is a former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs
Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 25

Irked over yesterdays incident, when Leader of the Opposition Abhay Chautala was stopped from intervening in a discussion by Speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar, the INLD MLAs today arrived in the Vidhan Sabha with their mouths covered with cloth.

Question Hour was in progress when the INLD MLAs led by Abhay Chautala arrived in the House. Some of the early questions were to be asked by INLD MLAs, but they kept sitting quietly, much to the amusement of onlookers and mediapersons.

Shiromani Akali Dal MLA from Kalanwali Balkar Singh tried to speak on the issue twice, but he was stopped by the Speaker saying Question Hour was in progress.

The SAD MLA said the manner in which the Speaker tried to stop Abhay Chautala from speaking on threat to a Congress MLA from a Union ministers kin in Faridabad was totally uncalled for.

Speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar and Abhay Chautala exchanged hot words yesterday after the latter was stopped from intervening in a matter raised by Tigaon Congress MLA Lalit Nagar.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ram Bilas Sharma rose from his seat and requested the INLD MLAs to remove their gags. At this juncture, Congress MLAs Geeta Bhukkal, Kiran Chaudhry and others came in support of the INLD MLAs. They alleged the voice of the Opposition was being stifled.

Instead of requesting INLD MLAs to remove their gags and listen to their grievances, members of the ruling party, including senior ministers, are mocking at them, they said.

Khattar intervened and requested the INLD MLAs to remove their gags, assuring them the government has taken cognizance of Nagars allegations, though he maintained it was a local political issue.

After the INLD MLAs removed their gags, the remaining 40 minutes of the Question Hour witnessed uproar with ruling and Opposition parties pointing fingers at each other. Chautala said as Leader of the Opposition, it was his duty to intervene when an opposition MLA spoke of threat from kin of a Central minister, while Gujjar maintained that despite giving maximum time, Chautala was in the habit of interfering when others spoke.

Finally, the Speaker adjourned the House for half an hour amid commotion after Question Hour ended.
Tribune News Service

Solan, October 25

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today kick-started the partys poll campaign in Solan district by addressing two rallies at Dharampur and Solan.

He urged the party workers to work in unison and ensure the victory of Vinod Sultanpuri in Kasauli and DR Shandil in the Solan segment.

The CM said the show of unity put up at Dharampur by the Congress should have been achieved several years ago and said the seat was lost in the past due to disintegration. He urged the party workers to sink all differences and ensure the victory of Vinod Sultanpuri from Kasauli.

Recalling his association with Sultanpuris father, the CM said he had won six Lok Sabha polls from the Shimla seat due to unprecedented voting by the people of the upper area. He said the people should shower the same devotion to his son and ensure that this seat was wrested from the BJP.

He said a legislator is supposed to ensure the development of an area and should care for the downtrodden. He recalled the contribution of the senior Congress leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel in nation building and said their far-sightedness had helped in unification of India as a nation.

The CM gave figurative details of the development works undertaken by his government in the health, education, power and infrastructure sector and said Himachal was counted today as a top model state nationally. He said Himachal was the only state where skill development allowance was being given to the unemployed youth.

He attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his anti-people policies like demonetisation and GST and said the trade and industry had been adversely hit. He said the BJP followed divisive politics which disintegrated the masses.

Vinod Sultanpuri, Congress Kasauli nominee, while addressing the people, asked the BJPs sitting MLA why he had failed to undertake any development work in the constituency during his 10-year tenure.

The issue of dislocation of traders at Dharampur following acquisition of their shops in the four-laning also echoed in the rally and Sultanpuri assured them that a commercial complex would be constructed at Dharampur to rehabilitate them. He also asked the BJP MLA Rajiv Saizal why he had failed to raise their issue at a suitable platform.

Sink all differences, says Virbhadra

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singhsaid the show of unity put up at Dharampur by the Congress should have been achieved several years ago and said the seat was lost in the past due to disintegration. He urged the party workers to sink all differences and ensure the victory of Vinod Sultanpuri from Kasauli and DR Shandil in the Solan segment.

He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his anti-people policies like demonetisation and GST.
Confident of winning 50-plus seats in the 68-member Assembly, Himachal BJP president Satpal Singh Satti says countering alleged corruption, nepotism, misrule and failure of the Congress government on various fronts would be the BJPs main agenda. Besides, he says, they are banking on the development initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and liberal assistance from the Centre to the state to see the party through in the forthcoming elections. Satti speaks to The Tribunes Bhanu P Lohumi on a wide range of issues.

You are claiming the BJP will win 50-plus seats, are you confident of achieving the target?

Our target is 50-plus seats, but the workers are so enthusiastic that they have scaled up the target to 60-plus. There is overall upsurge, especially in the Dalit community in favour of the party, as people are itching for a change.

What are the key issues and when will your manifesto be out?

Our election manifesto is ready and is likely to be released before November 1. Issues like corruption, unemployment, collapse of law and order, nepotism in jobs and mafia raj will be included in the manifesto, which will be an exhaustive document for welfare and development of all sections of the society and all areas of the state.

Financial mismanagement leading to huge borrowings in spite of liberal financial assistance from the Centre and failure to cash in on developmental projects sanctioned by the Centre judiciously will be highlighted.

The BJP seems to have lost the edge after resentment over distribution of ticket in several constituencies. How will you quell the rebellion, veteran leader Shanta Kumar too is unhappy?

The situation was almost normal after the senior leaders prevailed over rebels. A few leaders, who are still adamant, would fall in line and there would be no adverse impact on poll prospects. The situation in the Congress is worse and many potential rebels have entered the fray which would work to our advantage. Shanta Kumarji is a very senior and dedicated leader and he would wholeheartedly campaign for party candidates. The party is fully united and geared up to defeat the Congress.

Will Kotkhai rape and murder case benefit the BJP in the polls?

People are so enraged over the incident and the role of the police and the government that the Congress will pay a price for it not only in Shimla district, but also in other parts of the state.

How do you sum up the performance of the Chief Minister?

Virbhadra Singh devoted most of the time to his cases and is tired. He should retire gracefully or else the people, fed up by his misrule, will retire him.

Will induction of Anil Sharma, son of ex-Union Minister Sukh Ram (convicted for graft), affect your graft campaign against the CM?

BJP has given ticket to Anil Sharma and there are no corruption charges against him.

The BJP had been targeting the CM for running the government with the help of retired and tired government servants, do you assure you will not follow suit?

We are opposed to extensions and re-employment to retired officials as it blocks employment avenues to youth... Deviation can be in exceptional cases, but strictly on merit. We are also not in favour of appointing ruling party politicians as chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of corporations and boards and in case any exception is made, it would be on merit.
The constituency is all set to witness an interesting contest as apart from the official Congress and the BJP nominees, the poll pitch has been queered by the presence of a Congress rebel.

The constituency has royal moorings and Vijeyendra Singh, scion of the erstwhile royal family of Nalagarh, represented it from 1977 to 1993. His hegemony was ended by BJPs Hari Narayan Saini, who wrested it in 1998 and retained it for two subsequent terms. A vacuum was, however, created in the BJP after his demise in 2011 and it gave Lakhwinder Rana, a BJP rebel, who had joined the Congress, a chance to wrest it in the 2011 in the byelections.

Ranas victory was, however, short-lived and the seat was again captured by the BJPs novice, Krishan Lal Thakur (56), in 2012 by 9,308 votes. Though both the BJP and the Congress have repeated its candidates of the 2012 elections, Hardeep Bawa, chairman, HP Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, who had filed his nomination as an Independent, was likely to queer the poll pitch. He has been nurturing the area for the last five years. The outsider tag, however, haunts him.

Rana, who had successfully managed to elevate his loyalists in the Nalagarh Municipal Committee, appears to be ready for a comeback, dwelling on the traditional support he enjoys in certain pockets.

Thakur has palpably failed to connect with the masses effectively. The major issue of construction of the Nalagrah-Swarghat NH-21-A, the lifeline of the Changer area, has not been completed.

The constituency today has new revenue offices, an RTO office and degree colleges, though its educational and health institutes lack adequate staff. But with neither rail connectivity nor four-laning of the NH-21-A coming through, the roads bearing the brunt in view of unmanageable traffic.

A steep decline in the economic activities after the lapse of the Central industrial package, increasing pollution and limited healthcare facilities, decline in employment and curb on lucrative ventures like mining were the common refrain of the twin-belts of Doon-Nalagarh which the government has failed to address, said a Nalagarh resident, Som Nath.

An interesting contest is in the offing and the days ahead will set the poll agenda with three Independents, including the nephew of Hari Narayan Saini.
Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 25

In a major setback to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh ahead of the Assembly elections, the Supreme Court has dismissed his plea to quash a disproportionate assets case registered by the CBI against him and his wife.

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In an order passed after an in-chamber hearing on October 23, Justice Deepak Gupta dismissed Singhs petition after his counsel failed to cure the defects pointed out by the Supreme Courts Registry.

According to the order, Singhs Advocate-on-Record was not present during the hearing.

"Learned counsel for the petitioner was granted four weeks' time by this court on 01/09/2017 to cure the defects as pointed out by the Registry. But learned counsel for the petitioner has still not cured the defects. The special leave petition is, accordingly, dismissed for non-prosecution," Justice Gupta said in a brief one-page order.

For a petition to be taken up for hearing, its necessary for the petitioner to cure the defects pointed out by the courts Registry.

The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister had moved the Supreme Court in April last against a Delhi High Court order dismissing his plea to quash the disproportionate assets case registered by the CBI against him and his wife.

Singh had termed the action taken against him a well-planned conspiracy to damage his public image in the run up to the assembly elections. He had alleged the corruption case against him was a result of political vendetta.

In his petition filed in the top court, Singh had wondered as to how the CBI could register a case against him without the state's consent  which was a pre-requisite under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act. Singh has maintained that CBI overstepped its jurisdiction in filing the case as the cause of action did not arise in the territory of Delhi.

Contending that on the same set of facts the agency had earlier conducted a preliminary enquiry and closed the case, Singh had questioned the CBIs decision to reopen the case.

Justice Vipin Sanghi of the Delhi High Court had dismissed Singh's plea to quash the CBIs FIR and vacated the October 1, 2015, order of the Himachal Pradesh High Court that had restrained the probe agency from arresting, interrogating or filing a charge sheet in the case without the courts permission.

Within hours of the Delhi High Courts order, the CBI had filed a chargesheet against Singh (82) and his wife in a city court. The Enforcement Directorate had attached his South Delhi farmhouse estimated to be worth Rs 27 crore.

The CBI had registered the FIR against Virbhadra Singh and his wife under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 109 of IPC by the CBI on September 23, 2015. It had accused him of amassing assets worth Rs six crore between 2009 and 2012 during his tenure as Union steel minister in the UPA-II government.

The agency maintained it had jurisdiction to register and probe the case in Delhi as the disproportionate assets were allegedly acquired by him from the illegal income generated a minister during UPA government.

As Singh filed a petition for quashing of the FIR, the Himachal Pradesh High Court had in an interim order passed on October 1, 2015 restrained the CBI from arresting, interrogating or filing a charge sheet against Singh. The CBI wanted the order to be vacated on the ground that it was hampering the investigation.

The CBI had wanted the court to modify the order but it did not touch the Himachal Pradesh High Court order that restrained the CBI from arresting Singh.

However, in November 2015 the top court had transferred the disproportionate assets case from the Himachal Pradesh High Court to the Delhi High Court.
Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 25

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday said GST and demonetisation have destroyed the Indian economy, the results of which will be visible in Himachal and Gujarat elections.

\Addressing the media in Shimla, Hooda said the people would give a befitting reply to the BJP in Himachal and Gujarat polls.

He alleged the GST and demonetisation have resulted in huge job loss, while over one lakh persons lost jobs in Faridabad alone. He said the Congress would win the polls on the development agenda.
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, October 25

A US paraglider, Barry Roberts, who had got stuck on a rock at a height of about 15,000 feet from the ground level in Baijnath area of Kangra district, was rescued with the help of Army in the early morning hours of Wednesday.

The Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, CP Verma, when contacted said Barry Roberts had taken off from the Billing paragliding site.

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Yesterday evening, the paraglider got astray from regular path due to strong winds. The paraglider got stuck on a rock at an altitude of about 15,000 feet from the ground.

Since there was no way to rescue the paraglider by foot, Army help was sought. The Army helicopter rescued the paraglider in the early morning hours today and he was shifted to Delhi, the deputy commissioner said.
Solan, October 25

As many as 500 residents of Rauri village in the constituency of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Arkihave warned the authorities and political parties to either shift their village to a pollution-free zone or face boycott in the Assembly elections on November 9.

The village is situated close to Ambuja cement factory in Darlaghat. The villagers alleged that they lived a good life until the cement factory was set up in their area.

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Now, most of them suffers from respiratory diseases and inflammation of the skin and are on a regular medication for the past several years. They alleged there are thousands of other people, mostly children, pregnant women and elderly people, who have been suffering from diseases caused by exposure to dust emanating from the cement plant.

Most of us are suffering from skin and respiratory diseases due to the dust and air pollution. We cannot sleep during the nights as the loud sound and tremors of blasting disturb us. The blasting has also caused cracks in our houses. We will not vote if our demands are not met, said a villager.

The cement industry has become a big revenue getter for the Himachal Pradesh government.

with ANI inputs
New Delhi, October 25

A Delhi court today sent Syed Shahid Yousuf, son of Hizbul Mujahideen chief and globally wanted terrorist Syed Salahuddin, to seven-day NIA custody in a 2011 terror funding case.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), in its plea seeking custodial interrogation of Yousuf, said it needed to unravel the entire criminal conspiracy and establish his link with the Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist organisation.

Yousuf, arrested yesterday by the NIA, was produced before District and Sessions Judge Poonam A Bamba, who granted the NIA his custody till November 1.

Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case and submissions made in the application, to enable the NIA to unearth the criminal conspiracy and link of the accused with prescribed terrorist organisation of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Syed Shahid Yousuf is remanded in police custody till November 1, the judge said.

In its application, the NIA submitted that the case was registered on the basis of information regarding funds from Pakistan being sent to J&K through hawala channels via Delhi for funding terrorism.

The counsel for Yousuf, however, opposed the application and claimed he was falsely implicated in the case.

The agency submitted that certain telephone calls were intercepted which revealed that a member of the Pakistan-based banned Hizb was sending a huge amount of funds to secessionists and terrorists of J&K through Delhi.

In 2011, Ghulam Mohammad Bhat and other accused were arrested with Rs 21.20 lakh, the NIA said, adding that Yousuf was one of the several Indian contacts of Bhat who had been in telephonic contact with him for receiving money transfer codes.

It was submitted by the agency that Yousufs involvement was found in collecting funds from a terrorist outfit in Saudi Arabia as well as from other accused on the directions of his father Mohammad Yousuf Shah, alias Syed Salahuddin.

Syed Salahuddin was declared a specially designated global terrorist by the US in June this year.

The NIA has claimed that so far Yousuf has received nearly Rs 4.5 lakh through eight international wire transfers.

The agency has filed two charge sheets against six people, including Bhat, a close aide of separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Siddiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga.  PTI
New Delhi, October 25

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has claimed Syed Shahid Yousuf  son of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin  had admitted to receiving funds for subversive activities in the Kashmir Valley.

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Yousuf, who was sent to seven days of custody to the agency for further questioning, had also provided names of overseas Hizbul Mujahideen members involved in fund-raising for the terrorrist outfit, an NIA spokesman said on Wednesday.

The 42-year-old Yousuf, who works in the agricultural department of the Jammu and Kashmir government, was arrested here on Wednesday.

The NIA claimed during questioning he "admitted to having received funds from cadres of the Hizbul Mujahideen on the direction of his father, Mohammed Yusuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, for fomenting terrorist activities in the Valley".

The NIA said he also "revealed the names of his associates abroad who were linked with the Mujahideen and involved in raising, collecting and transferring funds from other countries to India".

This was being verified and investigated, the NIA said.

It alleged Yousuf used to receive funds through a US- based international wire transfer company from Aijaz Ahmed Bhat, another accused in the case who is absconding and is based in Saudi Arabia.

The agency alleged Yousuf was "one of several Indian contacts of Bhat" who had been in telephonic contact with him for receiving money transfer codes.

The NIA claimed so far he had received a total of nearly Rs 4.5 lakh through eight international wire transfers.

The case, registered by the NIA in April 2011, relates to the transfer of money from Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir through hawala channels via Delhi, which the agency believed was used in funding terrorism and secessionist activities.

The NIA has so far filed two charge sheets against six people including G M Bhat, a close aide of pro-Pakistan separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Siddiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga. All four are in judicial custody.

Two others  Mohammed Maqbool Pandit and Bhat  were also charge sheeted by the NIA but are absconding. An Interpol Red Corner notice has been issued against them.

Yousuf's father Salahuddin, based in Pakistan, was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department of State in June this year.

Besides heading terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, he is the chairman of the United Jehad Council (UJC), a conglomerate of terrorist outfits operating in the Kashmir Valley. PTI
Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 25

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti will hold a crucial meeting with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi on Thursday to discuss the issue of panchayat and urban local bodies elections and Border Area Development Programme. This will be the first meeting between the two leaders after the appointment of former Director of the Intelligence Bureau Dineshwar Sharma as the interlocutor on Kashmir.

She left for Delhi from Srinagar today along with a team of senior officers, including Chief Secretary BB Vyas, with all preparations to discuss the way forward in Jammu and Kashmir to improve governance and participation of people in the state.

The Chief Minister, who is quite relieved after the Centre announced a framework of dialogue that is open to all, would be discussing the steps to improve the quality of the dialogue process.

Sources said Mehbooba was very keen that the dialogue process should succeed and bring tangible results along with progress on the political front.

While the Home Ministry wants holding of early panchayat and urban and local bodies elections, the announcement of the dialogue appears to have changed the dynamics. The Chief Minister is not keen on the idea of holding polls at a time when the dialogue process has just been announced, the sources said. There is a fear that the process may get linked to the holding of elections and this may give a stick to the detractors to beat the objective of the dialogue, the sources said. The talks are yet to begin and any attribution of motive would make matters worse, they said. On the Border Area Development Programme, Mehbooba wants to provide better facilities to the border residents and create conditions where they can live in peace and tend to their fields besides provide regular and proper schooling to their children. However, she is wary of discussing the tribal sub-plan for Gujjars and Bakerwals. She is also opposed to the idea of according facilities on sectarian grounds. Notably, only recently the CM assigned the Tribal Welfare department to Civil Supplies Minister Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali.
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 25

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today asked the police to practice restraint and not attack the families of militants. She asserted that local militants should be persuaded to surrender and join the mainstream.

The CM was speaking at the passing-out parade function of 696 police personnel at the Police Training School in Manigam, Ganderbal, today. She cautioned the police against attacking the families of militants or ransacking their houses. She pointed out that the police and security agencies were faced with many challenges while working to maintain law and order, provide safety and security to the people and anti-militant operations.

There have been several incidents of attacks on the families of active militants as well as police families in different areas of south Kashmir in the past few weeks. Several attacks on the houses of local politicians by suspected militants were also reported.

Lauding the role of the police in maintaining law and order in the state, Mehbooba said in the past one year, several young officers and jawans had laid down their lives in the line of duty. She said a display of such exemplary patience during extreme situations was praiseworthy, while reminding the audience that a decorated law abiding professional force should draw a distinction from a bunch of anti-social hooligans out to trample order in the state.

On the appointment of the Central Government representative, Mehbooba said a bold and major step in recent times had been taken to reach out to the people of the state and get them out of the turmoil. She said the initiative needed to be made successful by providing a positive atmosphere on the ground. For this, she asked the police to play its role by acting as an element of public reassurance.
Usha Albuquerque

I have done engineering, but my heart is in something creative, this is a common refrain. Id like to do something different, design something new, but

Design has always been an integral part of our aesthetic sensibilities. It is the age of design, and being creative, producing something new and different, whether for a web page, computer game, YouTube video or a new product, originality is the buzz of the day. Design has become an integral part of almost all products that we have today. Almost all big companies have a design team that approves a product before its launch. It is also for this reason that today companies like Google, Apple, Amazon, are among the most admired and sought after for jobs, and many students who have taken up the conventional engineering option begin to question how they can also get into this wonder world of imagination, originality and inspiration!

Actually, engineers are well suited to becoming designers, if they have the basic creative talent and aptitude. As it is stated, design is the process of taking something from its existing state and moving it to a preferred state. An engineer can do just that: easily apply knowledge of a product and its usability along with creativity and unconventional thinking to execute design solutions for all kinds of problems whether of engineering, marketing, brand development and sales. In fact, many companies prefer to hire engineers who are intellectually curious, eager to learn, creative in thinking, and passionate about design, and who can solve their tough problems.

So, if you want the freedom to think out-of-the-box , make design choices and work in a flexible and creative environment, then choose a design course. If you are sitting in a restaurant looking at a menu card and thinking you can do it differently, if you are sitting on a chair and realise you could use another kind of shape and comfort, if you are looking at your car, and wish you could have given it an original kind of look, then design is the way forward for you  even if you are doing engineering.

The best way to get into a design career after engineering is to take up training in design available at the master's level, and offered by several IITs and other design institutes such as National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, National Institute of Fashion Technology, and others. As design is now applicable to so many facets of our life and lifestyle, there are many different fields of design that you can specialise in. A master's in Design is, therefore, available in several specialisations, so after an engineering degree you could as well do a master's in fashion or communication design, as you can in industrial, ceramic or new media design. There are also courses in automotive design, user-interface design, interactive design, toy design, and many other specialisations. While most design institutes take on graduates from all disciplines provided they clear the entrance test, the IITs require graduates in design, architecture, engineering or with MSc, arts, computer applications.

The most important requirement to make a career in design is an ability to think originally and work in an innovative and imaginative way. To establish your creative ability and aptitude for design, all design institutes hold an entrance test. The examination tests for visual perception ability, drawing skills, design aptitude and communication skills. The IITs hold the Common Entrance Exam for Design (CEED) while others have their own tests.

MDes programmes are meant to develop skills, knowledge and aptitude among students to become creative problem solvers who can bring about innovation in the manufacturing, marketing and communication industries. The training is both theoretical as well as practical. Most courses include freehand drawing, as well as computer aided visualisation, geometry, making models, information material, colour graphic composition and design processes. As part of the learning process, students are allocated an actual workplace in industry where they have to design a functional item / product.

Job opportunities

While it may be difficult to land yourself a design job after a degree in engineering, particularly if you have taken up mechanical, electrical, or civil engineering, you could try for one that has you working with a design team that designs mechanical products that people interact with, for example at a consumer electronics or automobile company. This work will help you learn the special considerations that an engineer must master in order to design things for people as opposed to machines.

You should already have a strong knowledge of engineering drawings, design of machine elements, design of transmission systems, strength of materials etc which will hold you in good stead. You are also familiar with Computer Aided design work (CAD) so improve your skill at building in multiple CAD packages. You can also take up design courses that introduce you to some of the new software used by designers, or rendering packages, that give you a leg-up on most engineers who don't learn this skill - all design work today is carried out on computers!

There is no doubt that a growing demand for designers is being felt in almost every sphere of human activity. Design is definitely one of the more sought after professions with almost every field of work requiring a designer's touch. Consumerism has led to the rising demand for designers and there is no dearth of work for them. As market competition increases, new products are being released almost every day, and need to be well designed and attractive enough to catch the eye of the consumer, while also fulfilling a functional use.

Be on a sure footing

Any engineer moving into a design related career must be quite certain that this is the ideal route forward. It is not easy changing streams in one's professional career training and so before you take the plunge it may be wise to test the waters. You can take up student internships, or take a couple of years off to get some on-the-job work experience that will enable you to think more seriously before opting for a new design career.

You can start by laying some foundational steps even before you complete graduation. This could be in the form of involving yourself in designing something on your own - some gadget, piece of furniture, or trying to solve a real problem with a design solution keeping an eye on both form and function. Where possible participate in design competitions and present your creative work. It could also be useful and a good introduction to this new career space to make an effort to meet with designers and attend design events where you will get to interact with people in this field and get a good sense of their motivation and passion, and what makes them tick. Design is a field where a lukewarm or half hearted reaction will get you nowhere. It has to be full steam ahead!

You can also consider taking up some design-related internships while doing your engineering degree that will give you a feel for the kind of road ahead. Try to get involved in aspects of work that relate to designing parts or products that need an aesthetic input, or affect user experience.

Some courses that those with BTech degree can check out include:

The two-year MDes at the Industrial design Centre, IIT Mumbai offers specialisations in

Industrial design Visual communucation Interaction design Animation Mobility and vehicle design

The IIT, Mumbai, also offers a 5-year dual degree B Des + M Des programme.

The two-year MDes in Industrial Design and Visual communucation, is also being offered at the IITs at Guwahati, Kanpur and New Delhi.

India's premier design institute the National Institute of Design Ahmedabad, offers the MDes with specialisation in as many as 14 disciplines . These are:

Product design, transportation design, furniture and interior design, ceramic & glass design, toy design and development;

Graphic design, animation film design, film & video communication, exhibition design;

New media design, software and user interface design, information and digital design

Textile and apparel design, apparel design and merchandising, lifestyle accessory design

Strategic design management.

The Indian Institute of Science, too, offers a M Des degree in Product Design and Engineering, at its Centre for Product Design and Manufacturing, in Bangalore, with admission open to graduates of design, architecture and engineering through GATE, or CEED.

The Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing, Jabalpur, offers a two-year MDes in Product Design and Visual Design with admission open to graduates of design, architecture and engineering through a design test.

In addition there are several other private institutes, including Shristi School of Art Design and Technology , which offer a two-year Advanced Diploma in Experimental Media Arts, Design in Education, Animation and Visual Effects, Gaming and Interaction.

Maeers MIT Institute of Design, Pune, has a 2.5 year PG Diploma in Product Design, Transportation Design, Interior Space and Equipment Design .

So, there are many options for getting into design, including post-graduate diploma courses, and computer aided design programmes (CAD), which you can take up.
Rama Kant Dubey (PhD student in Environmental Science and Technology, BHU Varanasi), Jayati Trivedi PhD student in Engineering (CSIR - Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun) and Pratiksha Srivastava (student of MTech Biotechnology CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar, are among the 25 winners of Green Talent Award for this year. The Green Talents Awards honour talented young researchers and are conferred under the patronage of the German Research Minister, Professor Johanna Wanka. The award provides young researchers with a platform for sharing their views on green concepts to make our world a better place.

A high-ranking jury of experts selected 25 up-and-coming scientists out of 602 applicants from over 95 countries. Their prize is one of the treasured tickets to the "Green Talents - International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development".

This year's focus is on "Sustainable Production and Consumption".The two-week science tour will providethe Green Talents with insights into the German research landscape and with the opportunity to meet leading experts and visit some of the most renowned research institutions in the focus area, including the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD), the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE,the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT),the Technical University of Munich (TUM), and VAUDE  the sustainable, innovative outdoor-supplier. By establishing contacts with the science community and exchanging ideas with its key innovators the winners will be able to lay the foundations for future cooperation. Their efforts are supported by the invitation to return to Germany in 2018 for a fully funded research stay at an institution of their choice.

The 25 Green Talents will be honoured at an award ceremony in Berlin.

SmartUp B-plan competition

Marketyard Agrisolutions from Pune has won the SmartUp 2017  a pan India B-plan competition. The competition was organised by Espark-Viridian,astartup accelerator for early and growth seeking startups in-association with Headstart Network Foundation.

Marketyard is a Mobile Platform that enables Users to buy, sell and rent everything related to agriculture using Classifieds services, Hourly Weather Forecast, Digital Land Records, Local Business Listings, etc. They help farmers to directly sell to end consumer by removing the need for middlemen. Machstatz from Bengaluru an end-to-end solution in the IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) space became the first runner-up, and ClinMD from Jaipur, which offers help doctors to record store and digitise regular handwritten notes & prescriptions was chosen second runner- up. The winning teams were awarded a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000, respectively.  TNS
Q.Im in the fourth year of BA.LLB. Could you please tell me something about pursuing LLM in the US?  Vikrant Ganguly

A.Generally, LLM programmes are intended for qualified lawyers who have some years of experience but wish to pursue further study or teaching as a career.

However, some LLM students, especially international students, have found a short-term position (6-12 months) in a non-academic employment setting to be beneficial to their ultimate career goals. A handful of students manage to secure permanent positions with legal firms in the US.

The programmes can be individually tailored to suit your interests and normally require a thesis of publishable quality. Some LLM programmes offer concentration in particular fields such as taxation, international law and comparative law, and may or may not require a thesis. For foreign-educated lawyers like you, some law schools offer LLM programmes such as "US Comparative Law" or "US Legal Studies", which are designed to give them an insight into the American legal system.

LLM programmes are typically one-year-long and do not normally require standardised tests such as the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the GRE for admission. International applicants may be required to take the TOEFL.

Other postgraduate degrees include masters degrees in Comparative Law (MCL), in Comparative Jurisprudence (MCJ), and in Legal Institutions (MLI). These programmes differ from the LLM in that they tend to be less specialised and less research-oriented.

At the doctoral level, Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD or JSD) and Doctor of Comparative Law Studies (DCL) are awarded. These are the most advanced degrees in law and generally intended for those pursuing an academic career in the legal field.

Scholarships for Law: Commonwealth Scholarships (MHRD), Rhode Scholarship, Ford Foundation, Inlaks Scholarship, J N Tata Trust, KC Mahindra Trust, Fulbright Scholarship. The universities that offer these courses also offer limited scholarships.

Check out the field of computational linguistics

Q.I have done my MPhil in Hindi. I also have a keen interest in computers. Is there a way I can combine my love for Hindi and computers?  Yamini Sharma

A.Yes there is! Computational Linguistics is a discipline that combines computer science and linguistics. Its concerned with processing language and speech by computers.

Originated in the US to enable computers to automatically translate texts from foreign languages into English, CL is closely related to Natural Language Processing (NLP) which is why it is now grouped under Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Computational Linguistics covers automated text analysis, Big Data, information retrieval, machine translation, predictive text messaging, speech recognition, speech synthesis, and web search.

Much older than communication problems between human beings and machines are those between people with different mother tongues. To enable fully automatic translation between human languages, computational linguists have created software systems that simplify the work of human translators and improve their productivity. Theres a huge demand for creating efficient software products that understand human language and improve human-machine interaction, mimicking the structure of human thought.

Many people with a degree in computational linguistics work with research teams in universities, governmental research labs, or in large enterprises. For instance, Microsoft employs Computational Linguists for developing Grammar Checkers and Automatic Summarization, while Caterpillar employs Computational Linguists for translating technical manuals.

With the proliferation of unstructured data, governments are looking for ways to process and understand this information more efficiently. Advances in NLP algorithms will facilitate computational linguists to continue playing an important role.

The demand for CLs has escalated with the increase of web-based language products (Google (FaceBook, Gmail whatsap etc) all have a Hindi option). Developers are actively working on improving the speech recognition capability of search engines and enhancing user interface with the help of lingubots. Yet others are integrating speech recognition with language processing techniques. To get into this field it helps to pursue a course in programming, maths and statistics, linguistics or NLP.

Some links for more information:

FAQs on Wiki of the Association for Computer Linguistics:

www.aclweb.org/aclwiki/index.php?title=Frequently_asked_questions_about_Computational_Linguistics

www.brandeis.edu/gsas/programs/comp_ling.html

www.compling.uw.edu/

http://grammar.about.com/od/c/g/Computational-Linguistics.htm

Am I eligible to enroll for PhD?

Q.I have been practicing as a CA in Nigeria. I have a keen interest in teaching and research. I want to do my PhD. in any commerce -related subject. Could you please tell me whether I am eligible to enroll for Ph.D?  Parminder Singh Dhalla

A.I presume you dont possess a masters degree. Be that as it may, youll be glad to know that CAs can directly pursue a Ph.D. programme in Accounting, Commerce or Finance.

As a matter of fact, ICAI got this permission in 1984 from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). This means that as a qualified CA, you dont need post graduate degree (or even a bachelors degree) to pursue Ph.D.

ICAIs Official List of Universities/Institutions recognizing the CA qualification for pursuing Ph.D includes 100+ universities including the IIMs that are members of the AIU. You could choose from various topics in which to do PhD such as Tax policy, Healthcare finance, Financial intermediation,

Earnings management, Employee satisfaction and firm value, Corporate Governance and firm value, Auction theory. Risk management, Capital structure, International expansion

Market friction and asset pricing, Securities regulation in international Capital Markets, Initial Public Offer etc.

email your queries to careers@tribunemail.com
The IndianOil Corporation Limited-R&D Centre, India and Deakin University, Australia, are inviting applications for two IndianOil  Deakin University Research Fellowships and two IOC-DBTDeakin Fellowships to work in areas of Lubricant Technology (1 vacancy), Tribology (1 vacancy) and Biotechnology (2 Vacancies).

Duration: Four years

Eligibility: The applicants shold have a masters (MSc.) degree in chemistry (Organic/ Inorganic/ Physical/ Analytical), biotechnology, microbiology, biochemistry or related sciences and MTech in biotechnology, mechanical engineering or tribology with valid GATE Scores (>75 percentile) from recognised university.

First class in graduation and post-graduation level (65% or above marks in the final exams/ equivalent CGPA).

Candidates with masters degree should have valid CSIR-UGC NET or DBT-BET qualification and meet requirements for JRF or DST-Inspire Fellowship.

Candidates with eligible English language scores (IELTS/TOEFL/ CPE/ CAE/ PTE or OET; IELTS score overall 6.5 with no band < than 6) will be preferred for enrolment into Deakin.

Details: The selected candidates will be registered for PhD at Deakin University, Australia and receive a 100 per cent tuition fee waiver inclusive of one-time visit to Deakin University, Australia for six months.

IOCL will offer a fellowship amount for the period of study in India, which will be 25 per cent more than that offered under CSIR/UGC Research Fellowship scheme.

How to apply: Send your detailed CV including your academic percentage, brief one page write up on the research topic of Interest and research publications to Ms. Gayathri Vedanarayanan at gayathri.v@deakin.edu.au.

Deadline: November 15, 2017

Check out: www.iocl.com/PeopleCareers/job.aspx.

Education scheme for SC students

In order to financially support students belonging to SC category, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has introduced the scholarship scheme for continuity of higher education after Class XII.

Eligibility: Under-graduate students who have secured a seat in BTech, MBBS, MBA, MD, MS, LLB, LLM from any recognised institute and are in first year of the programme with family income not more than Rs 4.5 lakh annually from all sources, are eligible to apply.

Details: Candidate will be awarded with full tuition fee and non-refundable charges of Rs 2 lakh p.a. for studying in private sector institution, Rs 3.72 lakh p.a. for the private sector flying clubs for commercial pilot training, Rs 2220 p.m. for lodging, Rs 3000 p.a. for stationery expenses and Rs 45,000 for computer and accessories.

How to apply: Online only.

Deadline: October 31, 2017

Short Source URL: http://www.b4s.in/jc/SJA

Azim Premji Foundation Fellowship

Passion driven individuals who are interested and motivated to educate children in remote areas of Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Telangana and Uttarakhand are provided opportunity by Azim Premji Foundation to contribute back to society with education.

Eligibility: Candidate must have a regular post- graduate degree or professional degree, BTech., MBA or equivalent in any discipline with 3- 10 years of work experience and must be proficient in Hindi, Kannad, Tamil or Telugu.

Details: Rs 30,000 p.m. will be given as stipend for two year programme.

How to apply: Online only.

Deadline: October 29, 2017

Short Source URL: http://www.b4s.in/jc/APF3

National Girl Child Secondary Education Scholarship Scheme

The Department of School Education and Literacy has introduced this scholarship scheme with an intent to establish an enabling environment to reduce the drop-outs and to promote the enrolment of girl children, mainly belonging to SC or ST communities in secondary schools.

Eligibility: The applicant must be an unmarried girl, less than 16 years of age as on March 31on joining Class IX. The candidate must be enrolled in Class IX, belonging to SC or ST community. Candidates who have passed Class VIII exam from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, irrespective of whether they belong to SC, ST or not, and enrol in Class IX in a state government, government-aided, and local body schools are eligible to apply.

Details: Rs 3000 will be deposited in the name of eligible unmarried girls as fixed deposits upon enrolment in Class IX who are entitled to withdraw it along with the interest on clearing Class X and attaining 18 years of age.

How to apply: Applications are attended online only at national scholarship portal.

Deadline: October 31, 2017

Short Source URL: http://www.b4s.in/jc/NGC0

Girl Child Scholarship Scheme

As many as 300 girl students from economically weaker sections from all across the country will be awarded scholarships by the Science Olympiad.

Eligibility: Girl students who are studying in Class II-X with family income less than Rs 15,000. Candidate must have secured 60 per cent or equivalent in the previous class to be eligible for this scholarship. Marks waiver is available for child with major physical disability.

Details: The selected candidate will be provided Rs 5,000 for a year.

How to apply: Entries are accepted via post at National Office of Science Olympiad Foundation, Plot No. 99, First Floor, Sector 44, Gurugram, Haryana- 122003

Deadline: October 31, 2017

Short Source URL: http://www.b4s.in/jc/GCS5

 Inputs courtesy www.buddy4study.com
Kapil Sharma launched the trailer of his upcoming movie Firangi in Mumbai on Tuesday. The film is set to release on November 24 and the launch event was attended by the entire cast including Ishita Dutta, Monica Gill and Kapil Sharma. The stand-up comedian-turned-actor poured his heart out and spoke about all things that matter!

Fight with Sunil Grover

The day we reached Australia, I was very upset. I was also shooting for the film and a person in the films cast had passed away. On top of that, my shoots were getting delayed due to fog. I wanted to cancel the Australia tour, but the tickets were sold. I was upset. Im not God, when Im upsetIm from Punjab...I get carried away. I was actually fighting with my childhood friend, Chandan, Sunil came in-between. Sunil should have asked me what happened and instead of sorting it out, he also started yelling at me. Then I took off. I had a fight with him, but never threw any shoe on him.

Under depression

I actually went into depression. I had stopped drinking to get fit for the film. I lost 12 kilos. And if you drink after losing weight, even two pegs act like five! I love my team; I get anxious when I dont see them. I cannot detach myself. After reading what all media was publishing about me, I got even more depressed. Its upsetting that negative news is valued more on any platform.

Patch-up time

I would like to do a show with Sunil Grover. In fact, I wanted him to launch Firangis trailer but he is in Canada currently. If he was in India, he would have definitely been here.

Love life

No comments. I will not talk about Ginni here. People say I was in relationship with my team member Preeti Simoes. I dont know what it was... a friendship or a relationship. I still love her.

Showing tantrums on sets

Let me tell you about the Shah Rukh incident. SRK was about to come at 7 pm. I was there on the sets by 2 pm. At around 6pm, I was nervous and sweating. I knew that I couldnt shoot! I couldnt go on stage. SRK came to meet me again. He asked me to take rest. Thereafter, I took a break and went to Bengaluru for treatment. Even when Anil Kapoor sir came to the sets, he saw that I could not host the show and he was okay with it. He assured me that he will come next time. People say I show tantrums and cancel shoot. Its not true. I was genuinely not well.

Show going off-air

My mother didnt know that I was unwell. We told her the show was off because of the strike. I stayed in the office for days and just spent time with my pet dog. I have taken a break. Will be back soon!

Talking about Firangi

Films about the pre-Independence era have always shown the darker side of that time, but people still lived their lives and had happy moments. This film talks about those moments. People will love to see the slice of life feel in that era; they will be able to see how people lived in harmony and had some small fights too. Manga, my character, does not feel that the Brits were bad.
Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 25

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AK Joti today announced the schedule for the Assembly elections in Gujarat, which would be held in two phases on December 9 and 14. Counting of votes will take place along with that for Himachal Pradesh on December 18.

Edit: Gujarat poll dates

Setting the stage for a high-octane electoral battle, Joti told the media: The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect immediately. It will be applicable to the state government of Gujarat, the Union Government and all candidates.

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The announcement, almost two weeks after the poll panel declared dates for Himachal (October 12), comes amid Opposition allegations that norms were discarded to help the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre to shower sops on Gujarat.

Rejecting the allegations, Joti said, There is no question of a mili bhagat (collusion)... As I have mentioned, several factors  weather, flood, relief work and festivities (sic). He pointed out that while Gujarat and Himachal polls were announced simultaneously in 2012, their schedules were different.

On statements by some former CECs that the EC should not have delayed the Gujarat dates, Joti replied: So the situation is static. We take decisions on the prevailing situation. Situations are dynamic in nature.

Announcing that the poll process in Gujarat would start on November 14 with the issuing of the gazette notification for the first phase, he said candidates could start filing papers then on and the last date was November 21. The first phase will see Kutch, Saurashtra and south Gujarat, comprising 89 of the 182 seats and covering 19 of 33 districts, going to the polls.

The notification for the second phase, comprising 93 seats in 14 districts of central and north Gujarat, will be issued on November 20. The last date for filing nominations will be November 27. Voter-Verified Paper Trail Audit (VVPAT) machines would be installed in all 50,128 polling stations of the 182 Assembly constituencies.

The Congress hopes to stage a comeback in Gujarat where the BJP has been in power since 1998.
Manas Dasgupta

Ahmedabad, October 25

Digging up a 2015 case, the Visnagar court today issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener Hardik Patel and another reservation agitation leader Lalji Patel, convener of the Sardar Patel Group (SPG).

Both Hardik and Lalji have refused to respond to the BJPs moves to invite them to join the party and instead have declared publicly that they would work for the defeat of the ruling party for its refusal to accept the demands for reservation benefits for the Patidars.

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The court orders, however, were issued for their failure to appear in the court during the last three hearings. Both Hardik and Lalji refuted the claims, stating that they might have missed only one hearing and not three which did not warrant non-bailable arrest warrants immediately.

A case was filed against Hardik and 17 others by the Visnagar town police in north Gujarat for allegedly ransacking the office of local BJP legislator Rushikesh Patel during a protest rally of Patidar community in July 2015.

I have been attending the hearings regularly. It is only today that due to some social commitment I had not attended the hearing, Lalji said, adding: This could be due to political situation prevalent today. No one would have heard that one gets a warrant issued against for not attending one hearing.

Dinesh Bhambaniya, a close aide of Hardik, said Hardik had not attended the hearing only once. This shows the desperation of the ruling party. Such witch-hunting would have a negative impact on the ruling party. We will continue to fight against BJP with more force. As for Hardik, we will consult our lawyers and take the legal process forward.

CM Vijay Rupani said his party was certain to romp home with more than 150 seats in the 182-member state Assembly. Citing reports of three surveys, he said all of them had predicted comfortable win for the BJP.

Calling Hardik a Congress agent, Rupani criticised him for telling a lie that he had not met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi when he was in Gandhinagar on Monday to welcome OBC Manch convener Alpesh Thakore in the party. There is nothing to hide, I will meet Rahulji during his next visit to Gujarat, but it is clear that our reported meeting has flustered the BJP, Hardik tweeted.

Rupani, however, claimed that the Congress was finished and its leadership in the state had become non-existent considering the way the party totally surrendered to three youngsters  Hardik, Alpesh and Jignesh Mevani, advocate leader of Dalits.

The trio has hit out at the BJP, saying their attacks on the BJP would only sharpen further. I am on a 10-day campaign of which first three days have been successful. We will ensure BJP loses and have asked Congress to clarify their stand on reservation to Patels. If they agree, we will support them, Hardik said.
Tribune News Service

Kolkata, October 25

Barun Bhujel, elected member of the Kalimpong Municipality and local committee member of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), died here on Tuesday night while still in captivity.

Bhujel was arrested by West Bengal Police in August in connection with the unrest in Darjeeling and was lodged in Siliguri jail. He was a patient of liver and pancreas but his health condition was allegedly neglected by police in jail. Recently, when his ailment took a severe turn, he was taken to North Bengal hospital in Siliguri. He was shifted to Kolkata on Tuesday and was in put on the ventilator.

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He was ward commissioner of Ward No 16, Eastman Road, Kalimpong.
Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 24

The battle between Left and the RSS-BJP in Kerala prospects national ramification with the CPM today announcing initiative to unite non-BJP Chief Ministers to counter threats to the countrys federal structure posed by the saffron camp.

CPM chief Sitaram Yechury said consultations would be held with non-BJP Chief Ministers to jointly resist RSS-BJPs vendetta politics against Left-ruled state of Kerala.

The flashpoint is a recent PIL in the Kerala High Court from a state BJP leader seeking a CBI probe into political murders in the state. Although the RSS and Left have been engaged in bloody feud for decades, the number of killings of activists on both sides has increased in the past three years.

While the RSS-BJP has become aggressive to expand footprints in the state post-2014 General Election, the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) formed the government more than a year ago.

Yechury said as the RSS-BJP has failed to browbeat the Left politically in the state, they now pitch for CBI intervention to target their opponents. Law and order is a state subject. The move abounds in RSS-BJP conspiracy targeting the state government.

This is a warning to other non-BJP governments also. They will have to join hands to counter threats to federal structure of the country, Yechury added.

Recently, BJP president Amit Shah had led a procession to the CPM headquarters, protesting murders of his party cadres. Yechury had promptly retorted by leading a procession to the BJP headquarters and holding demonstrations regarding killings of Left activists by the other side.

With regard to the partys programmes, he said the Left parties would observe November 8 as protest day on the first anniversary of demonetisation separately. Other Opposition parties have decided to jointly observe it as protest day.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 24

The Opposition has decided to observe November 8, the first anniversary of the BJP governments demonetisation announcement as a Black Day across India.

Addressing mediapersons here today, leaders of three Opposition parties  the Congress, Trinamool Congress and JDU rebel Sharad Yadav  said they would hold protests to drive home the point that demonetisation was a disaster and the biggest scam in Independent India.

These leaders represented only three of the seven Opposition parties that comprise the larger non-BJP front  called the coordination committee  formed recently by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

The other constituents are SP, BSP, DMK and Left Front. None of the representatives of these parties were present today, but Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said: Almost the entire Opposition would protest on November 8 in their own way and in their regions to question the need for demonetising high denomination currency notes last year, causing tremendous hardship to people, including over 100 deaths of people who queued up to exchange currency.

On if there will be a joint Opposition protest on November 8, Azad said: It is not possible to hold a joint Opposition protest but all 18 Opposition parties which are working together on a range of issues are on board for the Black Day proposal. The purpose of observing this day is to show Oppositions joint angst against demonetisation by the government last year. Each party is, however, free to take a call on the manner of protest.

Asked which parties were not on board, Azad evaded the query. The NCP has been maintaining a guarded distance from the joint Opposition meets of late amid souring of relations with the Congress. At a precursor meeting held by Azad yesterday to discuss demonetisation, the SP was not represented.

Azad added that the Opposition protest against demonetisation would happen both inside and outside Parliament.
Bhopal, October 25

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is presently on a visit to the US, has said that roads in his home state are better than those in America.

When I took the road route after landing at the airport in Washington then I felt that the roads in Madhya Pradesh are far better than those in America, he said in a tweet which went viral on social media.

Chouhan is participating in various programmes in the US during his visit.

The chief minister, who threw light on the policies aimed at promoting tourism in Madhya Pradesh, also invited investors to his state.

He also spoke about the philosophy of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay at an event organised on Tuesday by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) and the Indian Embassy at Russel Senate Caucus Room in Washington DC.

Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu member of the US Congress elected from Hawaii, met Chouhan in Washington during which the two held discussions on a range of issues.

Gabbard during the discussion said public service is the biggest religion in political life. The chief minister on his part briefed her about the rapid development in Madhya Pradesh.

Gabbard, the youngest member to be elected in 2002 to the state legislature at the age of 21, had taken her oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita.  IANS
Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 25

In a major setback to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh ahead of the Assembly elections, the Supreme Court has dismissed his plea to quash a disproportionate assets case registered by the CBI against him and his wife.

In an order passed after an in-chamber hearing on October 23, Justice Deepak Gupta dismissed Singhs petition after his counsel failed to cure the defects pointed out by the SCs Registry.

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For a petition to be taken up for hearing, its necessary for the petitioner to cure the defects pointed out by the courts Registry.

Virbhadra had moved the SC in April last against a Delhi High Court order dismissing his plea to quash the disproportionate assets case registered by the CBI.

Singh had termed the action against him a well-planned conspiracy to damage his public image in the run-up to the elections. He had wondered as to how the CBI could register a case without the states consent  which was a pre-requisite under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act.

Justice Vipin Sanghi of the Delhi HC had dismissed Singhs plea to quash the CBIs FIR and vacated the October 1, 2015, order of the Himachal Pradesh HC that had restrained the probe agency from arresting, interrogating or filing a chargesheet in the case without the courts permission.

The CBI had registered the FIR against Virbhadra Singh (and his wife), accusing him of amassing assets worth Rs 6 crore between 2009 and 2012 during his tenure as Union steel minister in the UPA-II government.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 24

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered demolition of a parking lot being constructed within a km of the Taj Mahal  a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Agra.

A Bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur ordered state government authorities in Agra to demolish the parking lot for tourists in four weeks as it was being built within a km of the eastern gate of the monument of love.

Known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal was built between 1632 and 1653 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. She had died in 1631 while giving birth to their 14th child.

After environmentalist MC Mehta filed a PIL, the SC has been passing orders, including closure of polluting industries in Agra, for conservation of the Taj since the 1980s.

At the outset of the hearing, the Bench sought to know if the counsel for the Uttar Pradesh Government was present. When it was told that no advocate was present on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh Government, it said the parking lot built near the eastern gate of the Taj Mahal would be demolished.

Later, Uttar Pradesh Governments standing counsel Aishwarya Bhati mentioned the matter before the Bench and sought recall of the order. But the Bench asked her to move an appropriate restoration application.

The order comes barely two days before Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths visit to the Taj Mahal, which hit national headlines after being dropped from the state governments tourism booklet. Later, it was mentioned as a place of pride in the Uttar Pradesh Governments 2018 calendar. Adityanath is to visit Agra on October 26 to review tourism schemes.

In August last, the Bench had pulled up the state government for seeking permission for felling of over 400 trees to lay down an additional railway track between Mathura in Uttar Pradesh to Delhi.

This (Taj Mahal) is a world famous monument and you (government) want to destroy it? Have you seen the recent pictures of Taj? Go to the internet and have a look at it, the Bench had said.
New Delhi, October 25

The Supreme Court today agreed to hear the Centres plea challenging the Calcutta High Court order on withdrawal of security forces from Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal.

A Bench of Justices J Chelameswar and S Abdul Nazeer said the matter would be listed on October 27. Appearing for the Centre, advocate Wasim Qadri said the Calcutta High Court had on October 17 stayed the withdrawal of security forces from the disturbed areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong. He said the Centre needed to deploy forces in the poll-bound states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Some forces also need to be deployed along the borders of Jammu and Kashmir and in the north-eastern states, he added.

The Calcutta High Court had stayed the withdrawal of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) from the Darjeeling hills, the scene of unrest over the statehood demand, till October 27 after the state government approached it against the Centres decision.

The High Court had on July 14 directed the Centre to deploy four more companies of CAPF in addition to the 11 already present in the hills then. The West Bengal Government had written to the Centre, seeking extended deployment of CAPF till December 25, but was told that of the 15 companies present, 10 would be withdrawn on October 15 and the rest by October 20.

The state was later informed by the Centre that three companies of women CRPF personnel of the 10 proposed to be withdrawn on October 15 would stay there till October 20, he said.  PTI
New Delhi, October 25

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday visited the iconic memorial of Mahatma Gandhi here and hailed him as one of the few global leaders who changed the world.

During his brief visit, Tillerson was given a tour of the room at the Birla House where Gandhi had spent his last 144 days.

Dressed in a grey suit, the US Secretary of State later paid tribute to Gandhi at the Martyrs Column, a monument erected at the spot in the lawns of the sprawling House, where he was killed on January 30, 1948 by Nathuram Godse, when he was taking a stroll there.

The House was converted into a memorial after his assassination. A museum, an art gallery, a library and bookstore are housed in its well-kept white bungalow.

A statue of the Mahatma sculpted by noted artist Ram Sutar welcomes visitors near the main entrance, in its premises which includes a manicured lawn at the back and a giant world peace gong in the front of the building.

Dipanker Shri Gyan, director of the memorial, accompanied Tillerson during his visit.

The US Secretary of State spent about 10 minutes at the memorial. He first visited the room in which Gandhiji had stayed before his assassination and was struck by its aura, he said.

His immediate reaction after seeing the room wasSuch a simple man. Gandhijis life, indeed was simple and inspiring, two rare qualities, Gyan told PTI.

Tillerson then while walking to the Martyrs Column, stopped mid-way to enquire about the stone-made footsteps, which were covered with rose petals.

He asked me about the footsteps, and I told him they symbolised the last steps taken by the Mahatma before he was shot dead. Tillerson then remarkedGandhi was one of the ten global leaders who changed the world. He then paid homage to him at the Martyrs Column, Gyan said.

The US Secretary of State also circumabulated the column as a mark of respect.

Charge dAffaires at the US Embassy here MaryKay Carlson and various other senior officials of the American mission were also present at the memorial.

Tillerson was to visit the Gandhi memorial around 11 am.

His visit was, however, delayed a bit owing to his busy schedule, and he finally arrived around 11.20 am.

A senior official at the Embassy initially told the press there, The US Secretary of State would not be able to make it, as he has another meeting to attend. However, within minutes, the official communicated to the journalists and cameramen, from both domestic and foreign media houses, that he was coming.

The list of visitors to the memorial located on Tees January Marg, includes the whos who of the world.

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Kate Middleton had visited it in April last year. The royal couple had spent about 45 minutes there. They also saw the exhibits and came to know that Gandhi had learned to wear a tie and play violin during his stay in London as a student.

Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, was related to the British royal family. Gandhi and Mountbatten were known to have shared bonhomie and the last Viceroy had even attended his funeral.

Gandhi had stayed at Birla House several times from 1939-1948, according to a plaque installed on a wall of the memorial. PTI
Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 25

India and the US on Wednesday warned Pakistan that the presence of terror safe havens will not be tolerated and asked it to take action against terror groups, which the US said are now threatening the stability of the Pakistani government as well.

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The strong message to Pakistan came at a joint press conference by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson after their comprehensive discussions on a range of key issues including H1B visa, situation in Afghanistan, Indo-US collaboration on security in the Indo-Pacific region and North Korea.

Terror safe havens will not be tolerated, said Tillerson while assuring full support to India in fighting terrorism.

Noting that they had a detailed discussion on terrorism, which is a big threat to the entire world, Swaraj said India expressed its serious concern over increasing terror attacks in Afghanistan which showed that there were elements which were supporting and providing safe havens to terrorists.

Swaraj said she and Tillerson agreed that India and the US have to ensure that no country should be able to provide safe havens to terrorists, and any country which provides support or uses terrorism should be held responsible.

We also agreed that Pakistan should take immediate steps to eliminate terror safe havens. We believe that US President Trumps new strategy (for South Asia) can only be successful when Pakistan, without any discrimination, takes action against all terror groups, she said.

The discussions were dominated by the USs newly-announced strategy on South Asia and security situation in Afghanistan with Washington favouring Indias increasing role in the regional security architecture.

Tillerson also noted Indias constructive role in rebuilding Afghanistan through development projects.

We are also concerned about the stability and security of Pakistan government as well as these terrorist organisations have enlarged their numbers, enlarged their strength and capabilities within Pakistans borders that can lead to a threat to its own stability, he said.

So, it is in mutual interest that these terrorist organisations are not only contained but eliminated, and all should commit to eradicate radicalisation, Tillerson said.

He also said that there are certain expectations placed before the Pakistani leadership in Islamabad during his discussions yesterday on dealing with terrorist organisations as well as their leaders.

Tillerson said he had open and frank talks with the Pakistan leadership over the concerns the US shared with its ally India and also Afghanistan that there were too many terrorist organisations which find safe place in Pakistan to conduct their operations and attacks on other countries.

There is an attempt to put in place a mechanism of cooperation through information sharing but not just information sharing but also action taken to deny these outfits the ability to launch attacks against others, he said.

The US wants to work with Pakistan in a positive way as this is in their interest also in longer term, the visiting leader said.

Swaraj also said that India and the US will hold their first conference in December over the designations of international and local terror groups under a newly-formed mechanism.

Tillerson described India as an important player in the implementation of Trump Administrations new strategy on South Asia.

The US also look further cooperation in the broader Indo-Pacific region as both India and the US promote a rules-based and sustainable approach towards economic development, he said while noting that they are joined by Japan in this endeavour.

Swaraj also said that she raised with Secretary Tillerson the issue of H1B visa, popular among Indian IT professionals, and asked him that the Trump Administration should consider positive contribution made by Indian skilled workers while taking any decision to change the provisions.

Delhi and Washington DC walk a tightrope over North Korea and Iran

The Korean Peninsular situation and Chinas aggression in the Indo-Pacific were important topics of discussion in formals talks between Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Sushma Swaraj today.

Swaraj clarified to Tillerson that while Indias trade with DPRK is minimal, it would not snap its diplomatic ties with North Korea.

Responding to a specific question by the travelling press on Americas efforts to isolate Pyongyang, Swaraj said, As far as the question of embassy goes, our embassy there is very small but there is in fact an embassy. I told Secretary Tillerson that some of their friendly countries should maintain embassies there so that some channels of communication are kept open.

Barring food and medicine, New Delhi has recently banned trade of most goods with North Korea following its nuclear and missile-launch provocations.

Tensions with Iran and Trumps strong disapproval of the nuclear deal also figured in the India-US discussions.

With Delhi deeply investing in the Chabahar port development to connect Afghanistan and Central Asia, apprehensions have mounted over the worsening US-Iran ties.

Tillerson today sought to allay fears even as he indicated that Washington DC was seeking a regime change in Iran.

It is not our objective to harm the Iranian people nor is it our objective to interfere with legitimate business activities that are going on with other businesses, whether they are from Europe, India or agreements that are in place or promote economic development and activity to the benefit of our friends and allies, he said. With PTI
Bengaluru, October 25

President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday hailed Tipu Sultan, saying he died a heroic death fighting the British, remarks that came in the backdrop of protests by the BJP in Karnataka against the glorification of the 18th-century Mysore ruler.

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The remarks by the President in his address to the joint session of Karnataka legislature amid the raging debate on Tipu Sultans legacy sparked a war of words between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP. The saffron party has opposed the Congress governments plans for Tipu Jayanti celebrations on his birth anniversary on November 10.

The BJP alleged that the state government has misused the office of the President by getting Tipus name mentioned in the speech, while the Congress said the Opposition party should be ashamed for levelling this charge.

The celebrations have been opposed tooth and nail by the BJP which sees Tipu Sultan as a religious bigot and a brutal killer.

Tipu Sultan died a heroic death fighting the British.

He was also a pioneer in the development and use of Mysore rockets in warfare. This technology was later adopted by the Europeans, Kovind said, while noting that Karnataka is a land of formidable soldiers.

The Presidents reference to Tipu Sultan came after he noted the contributions of various historical figures of Karnataka, including Krishnadevaraya who was the emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1509 to 1529.

As the President made the reference about Tipu Sultan in his speech to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature, Congress members cheered by thumping of the desks.

Congratulations to Hon. President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind for a statesman like address to the Karnataka legislature. @rashtrapatibhvn, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tweeted on his personal twitter handle @siddaramaiah.

Tipu was a ruler of the erstwhile kingdom of Mysore, who was considered an implacable enemy of the British East India Company. He was killed in May 1799 while defending his fort of Srirangapatna against the British forces.

Opposition BJP and some outfits are opposed to Tipu Jayanti celebrations and have called him religious bigot, fanatic and anti-Kannada.

Tipu Sultan is also viewed in a negative light in Kodagu district where he is alleged to have persecuted the local Kodava population, as also the Roman Catholics of Mangaluru, on religious grounds and forced conversion to Islam.

Hitting out at the state government, Opposition BJP Leader in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa alleged that government has misused the office of the President by getting Tipus name mentioned in the speech.

I condemn it....it is an insult done to people of Karnataka by the state government. If we had raised objections when President mentioned Tipu, it would have lead to violation of protocol..., he added.

Reacting to the allegations, state Congress Working President Dinesh Gundu Rao said the BJP should be ashamed. He said by trying to say that the President has just read out a speech written by somebody, they are insulting the office of the President and the President.

Suggesting that the speech was prepared by the Presidents Office after collecting inputs from various sources, Rao said, ...such allegations shows the state of mind the BJP leaders are in.

Recently, Union minister Anantkumar Hegde kicked up a row after he requested the Karnataka government not to include his name in programme invitations for Tipu Jayanti celebrations.

(I have) conveyed (to) Karnataka government not to invite me to shameful event of glorifying a person known as brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist, Hegde had said in a tweet.

The Congress government is all set to celebrate Tipu Jayanti despite widespread protests and violence that had marred celebrations in the last two years. PTI
Smita Sharma

tribune news service

New Delhi, October 25

The Trump administration has taken a stern view of terrorists safe havens, which it sees as one of the key impediments in its Afghanistan and South Asia strategy. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson gave a clear message to Pakistans civil and military leadership while in Islamabad before flying to India  act against terror groups and finish these or, else we (US) will.

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This was Tillersons assessment of his Pakistan visit which he shared with Indias National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The two met here for an hour this morning. Tillerson conveyed to Doval that this message, dressed in various ways, would be delivered to Pakistans leaders over the next few months.

Indian diplomatic sources suggest that unlike previous administrations, the Trump government has a clear eyeview of where the challenge lies in the region and is not giving half messages to state sponsors of terrorism.

Counter-terrorism was a prominent issue between Tillerson and Sushma Swaraj at the delegation-level talks. While this is Tillersons first official visit to India, the two leaders had earlier met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Swaraj stressed that sponsors of terror be held accountable. We believe that effective action by Pakistan against all terrorist groups without distinction is critical to the success of President Trumps new strategy, the External Affairs Minister said.

Tillerson echoed the sentiment. Terror safe havens wont be tolerated, he said. There are too many terror organisations which find a place in Pakistan. We are attempting to put in place a cooperation mechanism, not just on information-sharing, but also action to deny them ability to launch attacks against other countries, he said, expressing concern over the stability of the Pakistan government itself.

The two sides will hold the inaugural meeting of the new bilateral mechanism on domestic and international terrorist designations in India in December and also resume trilateral talks with Afghanistan.

Tillerson also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the context of President Donald Trumps new South Asia policy, the PM noted the commonality in the objectives of eradicating terrorism, terrorist infrastructure, safe havens and support, while bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan, read an official statement.

Swaraj reportedly highlighted the Indian immigrants concerns on the proposed changes in H1B and L1 visas. To a question, she clarified that while no changes had been made as yet to the existing legislations, the Modi government was working with the Trump Administration, besides trying to win the support of members of the US Congress to prevent any adverse change.

Wont shut embassy in N Korea: India
Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 25

Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh is on an official visit to Iraq to meet with senior Iraqi officials to discuss the 39 missing Indians, mostly from Punjab, a release issued by the Embassy of Iraq in New Delhi on Wednesday informed.

India and Iraq are working closely to trace the 39 Indians taken hostage allegedly by the Islamic State and missing in Mosul since mid-2014.

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The visit comes as part of both countries efforts to coordinate the search operations for the missing Indians on the hope to find concrete information related to their whereabouts.

The Iraqi authorities will be provided with DNA samples collected from relatives of the missing Indians.

Stating this as a routine procedure, the embassy release added this step will be taken to help Iraqi investigators in their search to verify the identity of the thousands of victims left by ISIS, whether alive or exhumed bodies, as a number of mass graves have been discovered in the areas that were under ISIS control.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who has been in touch with the aggrieved families, has maintained in Parliament that so long there is no conclusive proof of their deaths and they will be continue to be classified as missing.

This despite claims of a lone Indian, Harjit Masih, who managed to escape, that the 39 men were killed. After Iraqi authorities freed Mosul from ISIS, Indian government had claimed that the last known location of these Indians was Badush prison near it.

But media reports showed the prison in complete ruins and the area desolate, leading to serious questions over government claims.
New Delhi, October 25

Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh is once again in Iraq to ascertain the whereabouts of 39 Indians taken hostage by the Islamic State in Mosul in 2014.

He will discuss the case of missing Indians, mostly Punjabis. The Embassy of Iraq said, The visit comes as part of efforts to coordinate search operations in the hope to find concrete information.

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The Iraqi authorities will be provided with DNA samples of relatives of the missing Indians. It would help investigators in their search to verify the identity of thousands of victims left by ISIS, whether alive or exhumed bodies, as a number of mass graves have been found, the press note added.  TNS
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24

Co-convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party and MLA from Sunam Aman Arora today demanded that minimum 40 sittings of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in a financial year should be made compulsory as per the Constitution of India.

In a letter submitted to the Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha, Arora also demanded live telecast of the Assembly proceedings.

Arora said, The Vidhan Sabha is the most efficacious and pious platform where issues concerning the state electorate can be raised. For this purpose, the Speaker of the Punjab State Legislature, empowered by Article 208 (2) of the Constitution of India, modified and adopted the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha which were then published under Notification No 2, on May 2, 1952, in the Punjab Government Gazette. Under Rule 14-A, Chapter-IV of these rules, it has been laid down that in a financial year, there shall be 3 sessions, namely; Budget Session, Summer/Monsoon Session and Winter Session.

Demanding live telecast, he said when the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state Assemblies like Delhi, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh could live telecast their proceedings then why the electorate of Punjab were being brazenly denied of their right to evaluate the performance of their elected representatives.
Fatehgarh Sahib, October 24

Kirpal Singh Badungar, SGPC president, has said anyone can follow the teachings of Gurus and celebrate Gurpurbs, but hukamnamas (edicts) of Akal Takht are supreme for the Sikhs; so no Sikh  including a Jathedar  can dare violate them.

His remarks come against the backdrop of RSS-affiliate Rashtriya Sikh Sangat celebrating 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh in Delhi tomorrow.

Badungar was speaking at a seminar organised at Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University here today. Everyone should celebrate the occasion, but the RSS has a hidden agenda. The SGPC stands by Akal Takhts 2004 edict, asking Sikhs to remain cautious of the activities of the RSS and its affiliate, he said.  OC
Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 25

The Centre has lifted the ban on more than 100 Sikhs, blacklisted after the outbreak of militancy in Punjab, and they can now travel to India, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said here today.

The Sikh community had long been demanding revision of the black list. The process to further revise the list will continue, he said at an event organised by the RSS-affiliated Rashtriya Sikh Sangat to mark the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.

The blacklisted NRI Sikhs are barred from travelling to India due to their alleged ties with Khalistan movement in the 80s and 90s. The list was prepared by security agencies.

The BJP-led NDA government has always been sensitive to the demands of Sikhs, including justice for the victims of 1984 riots in Delhi, Rajnath said.

The minister said that after assuming the power, the Centre had formed an SIT to investigate the matter. Chargesheets have been filed in some cases, while some other cases are being investigated.

Paying tributes to the Guru, Rajnath said: Guru Gobind protected the countrys honour and culture. His ideals and legacy will continue to strengthen the country.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who was the chief guest, said Guru Gobind Singhs contribution was a culmination of contribution by preceding Gurus in the context of political and social milieu during the invasion of Babar.

Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh, who the RSS claimed would preside over the function, skipped the programme.

Heads of Nirmal and Namdahari sects, and leaders of other sects and faiths participated in the event. Union Ministers Hardeep Puri, Piyush Goyal, Harshvardhan and Vijay Sampla, and BJP leader Subaramanium Swamy also attended the programme.
Chandigarh: The delay in releasing funds for development projects, especially in election-bound civic bodies, is resulting in tension between Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and the bureaucracy. The minister is reportedly keen on getting early grants for completion of works in the four Municipal Corporations and 34 municipalities. Official circles were on Wednesday abuzz with talks of Sidhu taking up the matter in strong words with Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh and the Finance Department. Senior officials in the CMO reportedly intervened to defuse the tension. Sidhu, however, denied any such development. The Chief Minister is slated to visit Jalandhar to announce development plans for the MC. TNS
Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has told Punjab and Haryana, along with the Union Territory of Chandigarh, to initiate suitable action against television channels and advertisers in case advertisements by unregistered agents are being telecast.

The order by Justice AB Chaudhari came more than four months after the two states were held culpable for not warning people keen to go abroad against contacting unregistered or unlicensed agents.

Justice Chaudhari directed the state governments and the UT administration to find out whether the advertisements on TV channels on the issue were by registered agents.

The Judge has already directed the states to issue immediate instructions to various district magistrates to publish a list of registered agents and warn the citizens not to go to unauthorised agents. The list was required to be made public on a regular basis through television, radio, newspapers and other modes of communication.

Justice Chaudhari observed that agents not registered or licensed by the government were taking money and sending people abroad; and gullible citizens were falling in their trap.

He asserted: One of the reasons appears to be the failure on the part of the states of Punjab and Haryana in not warning the people at large not to contact any unregistered or unlicensed person/agent and not to give any amount to them.

The people who do not know about the fact that only licensed or registered agents can be approached, have been falling in the trap at the cost of losing their valuable properties, money and ornaments, ultimately realising that they have been cheated.

Observing that offences were being reported day in and day out, Justice Chaudhari also directed the submission of a compliance-cum-action-taken report by Punjab and Haryana.

The developments took place on a petition filed by Ramandeep Singh alias Babbu for regular bail in an FIR for cheating and other offences registered at Navi Baradari police station in Jalandhar district in February under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC, besides provisions of the Punjab Travel Professional Regulation Act and Immigration Act.

The Bench was told that the petitioner was arrested on February 15 and was in jail since then. It is seen that the money was actually received by the co-accused, who was granted bail by the trial court. I am, therefore, inclined to grant bail to the petitioner., Justice Chaudhari had added.
Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24

The furore over the new electricity tariff order by the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission announced yesterday, making power the costliest in North India after Delhi, has forced Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh to ask the Power Department to rationalise the 13% duty and 5% infrastructure cess levied on power. The withdrawal of a part of these levies will bring down the power rates. A meeting with the Finance Department has been reportedly called to find ways to rationalise these.

Meanwhile, the CMs office today issued a statement, claiming that the base rate for states domestic consumers was lower than that of Haryana and Delhi.

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Under the new order, Punjabs domestic consumers will have to pay, on an average, Rs 7.12 per unit while consumers in Haryana pay Rs 6.52 per unit and those in Himachal Rs 4.84 per unit.

Consumers in Punjab, who will see an average 10 per cent rise in their electricity bills retrospectively from April, are crying hoarse over being cross-subsidised by industrial and agriculture power consumers. Industrial consumers, who will get a subsidy from November 1, are upset they will have to shell out lakhs for power consumed by their factories between AprilOctober.
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 24

Uncertainty prevailed over the participation of Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh in the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi tomorrow.

The event was boycotted by Akal Takht as it is being organised by the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, an affiliate of the RSS.

The invitation mentions that the event will be presided over by Giani Iqbal Singh, while RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will be the key speaker.

However, there is no confirmation of Giani Iqbal Singhs participation. He could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Takht Patna Sahibs managing committee president Harwinder Singh Sarna said the participation would be in defiance of Akal Takhts directive. If he chooses to attend the event, Akal Takht will surely take cognisance of it and the matter will also be taken up by our managing committee, he said.

President, PM pay tributes to Guru Gobind Singh

New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Narendra Modi hailed Guru Gobind Singh as an icon and congratulated RSS-affiliate Rashtriya Sikh Sangat for organising a function here on Wednesday to commemorate his birth anniversary.

In a message, Kovind said: Guru Gobind Singh was a great spiritual guru, a pinnacle warrior and an erudite thinker. He made the supreme sacrifice to protect dharma and the country, inspiring spirituality and love for the nation among the masses, he added.

The Prime Minister, in his message, congratulated the countrymen on the occasion of the 350th birth anniversary of the Guru. Lauding him as a sui generis, he said the Guru was a symbol of self-respect, determination and sacrifice. TNS
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24

Over two years after Akali leader Mukhjit Singh Mukha was allegedly gunned down by a police party, the Punjab Government today claimed that action had been initiated against the policemen.

Advocate General Atul Nanda told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the services of four cops were being placed under suspension.

The action was initiated after Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain of the High Court rapped the state for a vague submission on investigations and called Nanda for assistance in the matter.

The Special Investigation Team has already found that he had been wrongly killed. Has the departmental inquiry been conducted without suspending them? You are not filing a proper affidavit, the Bench asserted.

Describing it as a very serious case, Justice Jain said, There is also the question of compensation for the victims wife.

The victims wife Harjit Kaur had earlier moved the High Court for Rs 50-lakh compensation and a government job. The petitioner claimed that her husband, aged about 38 years, was killed by a police party of Amritsar district on June 16, 2015, by waylaying him and indiscriminately firing gunshots at him in his car.

The court was told that he sustained 23 gunshot injuries. A Special Investigation Team was formed. News reports were also carried in leading newspapers quoting the Commissioner of Police and other police officials as saying that the police had killed Mukha after mistaking him for a gangster.

The counsel added that the then Deputy Chief Minster-cum-Home Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal visited the petitioner and the victims family before announcing compensation and a government job to the widow. The state government gave a cheque for Rs 5 lakh, which was inadequate. Moreover, till date the state government had not provided government job to the petitioner.
Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi

Hoshiarpur, October 24

A Sharjah (UAE) court has commuted the death sentence of five Indians, including four Punjabis, to three-year imprisonment in a murder case.

In a video message sent from Dubai, SP Singh Oberoi, managing trustee of Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust, said all of them would be released soon as they had already been in jail for six years.

Varinder Chauhan of Azamgarh district (Uttar Pradesh) was killed in a clash between groups involved in the illicit liquor trade in Sharjah on November 4, 2011.

Dharmendra of Chhapra district (Bihar), Ravinder Singh of Ajnala (Amritsar), Ranjit Ram of Zeensra village (Nawanshahr), Dalwinder Singh of Mahilpur (Hoshiarpur) and Sucha Singh of Jasso Majra village (Patiala) were convicted of murder.

The parents of the accused contacted Oberoi, who got in touch with Chauhans family in UP. After the payment of Rs20 lakh as blood money, the family gave its consent for pardoning the accused. The agreement was made last month.

Oberoi said the youths would be brought back to India once they got police clearance. We will approach the Indian Consulate to arrange their air tickets. In case it cant help, the Trust will bear the expenses of their return, he added. He has saved 88 persons so far by paying blood money.
Chandigarh: Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday said he would act against miscreants operating fake accounts in his name on social media. He said he would take the legal recourse. I will soon lodge an FIR so as to make sure such rogues are brought to book, he said, adding his Twitter account was @sherryontopp. tns
Tribune News Service

Nawanshahr, October 24

A mother-daughter duo has allegedly been duped by three agents who have sent them to Saudi Arabia instead of Malaysia. The family said the agents had taken Rs1.2 lakh from them.

Gurbaksh Kaur (43) and Reena Rani (23) of Garhi Fateh Khan village had left around two months ago to earn for the family.

Reena has sent a video to her family wherein she is seen crying and asking her brother to get them back home, else they would die.

Pakhar Ram (26), the elder brother of Reena, said: We do not even know their location.

Gurbakshs husband Gurmel Singh (50), who works as a labourer, had lodged a police complaint, demanding action against the agents. He alleged: The agents told us that if I want my wife and daughter back, I will have to pay them Rs1 lakh along with the ticket cost.

He said he had gone to Delhi, but could not find the offices of the agents. He told the police that two agents were from Jalandhar, while the third was based in Delhi.

Dalbir Singh, DSP, said an inquiry was going on and they would file a case once it was completed. The agent had agreed to bring women back. We are waiting for their response, he added.
UNITED NATIONS, October 25 (AP)A new Israeli attack on Egypts major oil refineries at Suez was reported today as the Soviet Union sought support for its demand that the United Nation security Council condemn Israel as the aggressor in Tuesdays battle of Suez. Newsmen visiting the Egyptian port at the southern end of the Suez Canal reported an Israeli plane penetrated Egyptian air space today and fired its Marine guns at firemen fighting the fires at the refineries hit by Israeli artillery yesterday. The newsmen said that the Egyptian anti-aircraft guns drove off the Israeli intruder. There was no word on casualties. The Israeli army reported trouble on another frontier. It said two Israeli soldiers were killed, another was seriously wounded, and an Arab was killed in a clash between troops and Arab infiltrators seven miles (11 k.m.) north of the Damya bridge spanning the Jordan river.
Jotirmay Thapliyal

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 25

Uttarakhand Congress president Pritam Singh said today the Congress would win both Himachal and Gujarat elections convincingly.

Pritam Singh was addressing party legislators and other leaders who were sitting on a dharna at Gandhi Park against the harassment of Congress workers by the state government.

He said the time was on Congress side in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.

I was in Himachal and could sense the peoples inclination towards the Congress. Nobody can stop Virbhadra Singh from coming back to power, Pritam Singh asserted.

He said the delay in the announcement of election dates in Gujarat was a BJP ploy.

State Congress president asserted that the party would not tolerate harassment of its workers. The Congress has seen ups and downs and has overcome those. The BJP should not think that we are weak as we have the ability to bounce back, Pritam pointed out.

He also exhorted the workers not to lose hope and prepare them for the forthcoming civic elections in the state. The Congress must win the elections with a huge margin and that will set a tone for the Congress victory in the 2019 elections, Pritam added.

Uttarakhand Congress co-in-charge Sanjay Kapoor said the BJP has fooled the people only to make political gains. He said the note ban had severely hit the countrys economy.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Indira Hridayesh said false cases had been slapped on Congress workers.

Congress Jageshwar MLA Govind Singh Kunjwal, Purola MLA Rajkumar, former minister Dinesh Agarwal and senior Congress vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana were also present.
Naypyitaw, October 24

Government officials from Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to halt the outflow of Rohingya Muslims to Bangladesh and enable the refugees to return home.

The two sides met today in Myanmars capital, Naypyitaw, to discuss a crisis that has seen hundreds of thousands of Rohingya flee to Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmars Rakhine state.

The sides said in a joint statement that Myanmar affirms its commitment to immediately halt the outflow of Myanmar residents to Bangladesh, to restore normalcy in Rakhine to enable displaced Myanmar residents to return from Bangladesh at the earliest possible time.

More than 600,000 Rohingya from northern Rakhine have fled to Bangladesh since August 25, when Myanmar security forces began a scorched-earth campaign against Rohingya villages.

Meanwhile, the US was considering sanctions against Myanmar, particularly against its military, over the ongoing Rohingya crisis, according to a State Department statement.

The statement issued on Monday expressed concern over the violence in Myanmars Rakhine state.

The US said it is considering activating the Global Magnitsky Act that includes suspension of visa and other sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations anywhere in the world.  Agencies
Beijing, October 25

Chinas ruling Communist Party broke with recent precedent on Wednesday, unveiling a new leadership line-up without a clear successor to President Xi Jinping, who has become arguably the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong.

Xi led his team in order of rank on to a stage at Beijings Great Hall of the People, overlooking Tiananmen Square, culminating a week-long party conclave at which he laid out his vision for an increasingly prosperous China confident of its place on the world stage.

Apart from Xi, Premier Li Keqiang was the only one to retain his spot amid sweeping changes on the Politburo Standing Committee. There has been persistent speculation Xi could seek to stay on in some capacity beyond the end of his customary second five years in power, which began on Wednesday.

In the most-widely watched political event telecast live across the world, Xi, 64 walked in front of the national and international media followed by the number two ranked leader, Premier Li Keqiang and five other new members of the Politburo Standing Committee which will rule the country for the next five years.

Looking relaxed, Xi introduced all the six members to the packed local and international media at Beijings massive Great Hall of the People and then spoke about his vision for China and the world.

Besides Xi and Li, the other members of the ruling council are Xis chief of staff Li Zhanshu, 67, vice premier Wang Yang, 62, leading Communist Party theoretician Wang Huning, 62, party organisation department head Zhao Leji, 60, and Shanghai party chief Han Zheng, 63.

All seven Standing Committee members are men in their 60s and, for the first time, none was born before Chinas 1949 Communist revolution.

The make-up of the committee, which has ultimate control over the worlds second-largest economy, appeared to be a compromise to include a blend of Xi allies and those considered loyal to party elders, including Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, former presidents whose networks still wield influence.

Cheng Li, an expert on Chinese politics at the Brookings Institution, said Xi appeared to have traded securing favourable amendments to the Constitution in exchange for a compromise on the make-up of the Standing Committee, a line-up he likened to a team of rivals.

The member considered closest to Xi is Li Zhanshu, who has often accompanied Xi on overseas trips in a chief-of-staff-style role as the head the partys General Office.

Li Zhanshu will head the parliament the National Peoples Congress (NPC) while Zhao Leji will head the partys powerful disciplinary body which carries the anti-corruption campaign. Zhao replaces Xis close aide Wang Qishan, 69 who retired after the Chinese president apparently failed to get him an extension at the Congress.

Xi had already strengthened his hand considerably ahead of the announcement, with his political theory and Belt and Road infrastructure-led development strategy put into the party constitution. He was named the partys core last year.

Guangdong party secretary Hu Chunhua and Chongqing party boss Chen Miner had been previously seen as prominent contenders to succeed Xi among the partys so-called sixth generation of leaders but were not included in the Standing Committee. Instead, both were named to the wider 25-member Politburo, a rung below the Standing Committee.

Xi and Li were first promoted to the Standing Committee at the 17th Party Congress in 2007, in a clear signal that the pair would succeed Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao and occupy the top two offices - which they did five years later.

Zhao Leji, who headed the partys Organisation Department, which oversees personnel decisions, replaced Wang Qishan as chief of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.  Agencies

Super 7: New Politburo Standing Committee  The core decision-making body

Han Zheng, 63, is party chief of Shanghai, where he has spent his entire career. Han was briefly promoted from Shanghai mayor after the then-party boss was sacked amid a corruption scandal in 2006. He resumed his mayoral role as Xi Jinping and then Yu Zhengsheng, currently the partys fourth-ranked leader, became party chief. Han became Shanghai party boss in 2012.

Wang Huning, 62, was a top policy researcher for the party under former presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, a position he has kept under Xi as head of the Central Policy Research Office. Wang coined the Three Represents and Scientific Outlook of Development - respectively Jiang and Hus contributions to party thought, as well as the Chinese Dream, Xis own vision.

Li Zhanshu, 67, heads the partys General Office. He worked his way up from Hebei province, which surrounds Beijing, and graduated from Hebei Normal University. A former governor of the northeastern province of Heilongjiang and one-time party boss of the southwestern province of Guizhou, Li Zhanshu is considered one of Xis closest advisors and often accompanies him on overseas trips.

Xi Jinping, 64, is widely seen as Chinas most powerful leader since Mao. He was once viewed as a drab princeling child of the elite. But since soaring to power in 2012, Xi has centralised authority under his own leadership with a signature anti-graft battle. His political theory, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, was written into the Party Constitution

Li Keqiang, 62, as premier has overseen Chinas economy for the last five years. Lis policies have sought to spur entrepreneurship and innovation, but he has been increasingly overshadowed by Xi, who has thrown his weight behind reforms to make state sector firms stronger, better and bigger and to manage financial stability. He was promotd to Standing Committee in 2007.

Wang Yang, 62, is a vice premier with an economic portfolio and a former party chief of Guangdong province, an export powerhouse, where he served from 2007-2012. Born into a poor rural family, Wang went to work in a factory at age 17 to support his family after his father died. Concerned about the impact of three decades of rapid development, he lobbied for social and political reform.

Zhao Leji, 60, was also named the Chinese Communist Partys new anti-corruption chief. He was named vice governor of the northwestern province of Qinghai in 1994 at age 37. Zhao spent 29 years in Qinghai before being picked by Xi to serve as party boss of Shaanxi province, in the northwest, in 2007. Both Zhao Leji and Xi Jinping are natives of Shaanxi.
Baghdad, October 24

Elections for the presidency and parliament of Iraqs Kurdistan region set for Nov. 1 have been delayed by eight months, the regional parliament announced on Tuesday.

The decision came after the electoral commission said on Monday that political parties had failed to present candidates for both elections amid turmoil in the region following the independence referendum it held on September 25.

The proposal to delay the two elections was approved by 60 of 68 MPs who attended the parliamentary session in the Kurdistan Regional Government in Erbil, Rudaw TV said.

Eight MPs opposed the proposal and 43 didnt attend, mainly politicians opposed to Kurdistan Regional Government President Masoud Barzani, one of the MPs said.

Last week, Iraqi forces captured the oil city of Kirkuk and other territory claimed by the Kurds in retaliation for holding the referendum, dealing a severe blow to Barzani.

The current KRG presidency, held by Barzani since 2005, and parliament, elected in 2013, are expected to continue until new votes are held.

The loss of Kirkuk prompted calls from Gorran, the main opposition party, for Barzani to resign.  Reuters
Erbil: Iraqi Kurdish leaders offered to freeze the outcome of last months vote for independence, taking a step back in a crisis that prompted Baghdad to seize swathes of disputed territory. The offer came as world powers scrambled to avert any further escalation of the conflict between the key allies in the fight against the Islamic State that has seen more than 30 combatants killed. Washington, Moscow and the UN have all pressed Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani to open talks with Baghdad on a way out of the crisis. AFP
Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said he will visit India in January, six months after his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi visited the Jewish state. Netanyahu would be only the second Israeli Prime Minister to visit India. His visit next year would be happening almost 15 years after Ariel Sharon visited New Delhi in 2003. pti
BAGHDAD, October 25

Nearly 30,000 Kurds have been displaced from a multi-ethnic city south of Kirkuk where sectarian tension flared after Iraqi forces took control of it, humanitarian organisations said on Wednesday.

Most of those displaced from Tuz Khurmato are in need of urgent aid and staying in open shelters, officials from two international humanitarian organisations said.

A third, Amnesty International, said on Tuesday that satellite images, videos, photos and dozens of testimonies indicate that hundreds of properties were looted, set on fire and destroyed in what appeared to be a targeted attack on predominantly Kurdish areas of the city of about 100,000 people.

The Kurds fled after Kurdish Peshmerga fighters withdrew from the city on Oct. 16, as government forces and Iranian-backed Sh'ite Popular Mobilisation moved in in retaliation for an independence referendum held by the Kurdistan region authorities last month.

Tuz, located between oil-rich Kirkuk and Baghdad, is also inhabited by Sh'ite Turkmen and Arabs.

"Many of the people displaced are staying in the open and in public places, in schools, mosques or unfinished buildings," said Jennifer Connet, Oxfams Program Manager.

"They need emergency aid and also psychological support as many lost contact with children and relatives or witnessed traumatic incidents as they fled."

The official of the other organisation confirmed that account but gave only as background information in order not compromise its access to the displaced people.

At least 11 civilians were killed, Amnesty said, citing testimonies of people who escaped from the city who said they were attacked by Turkmen Shiite paramilitaries.

Popular Mobilisation, a paramilitary force trained in Iran and supporting the Iraqi government in the region, was not involved in the violence that happened in the city, spokesman Karim Nuri told Reuters in Baghdad.

"It was not forced displacement, our Kurdish brothers fled fearing reprisals," he said, calling on government security to put an end to the unrest.

"Problems happened between the different components, clans, families," he said, refuting the political nature of the exodus.

The Kurds displaced from Tuz fled to the neighbouring regions of Diyala, Sulaimaniya, and some to Erbil, further north, said Connet.

"Humanitarian access to the displaced families is possible but going to Tuz is extremely difficult," she said. Reuters
Islamabad, October 24

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson today arrived in Pakistan on a whirlwind visit to normalise bilateral ties strained after President Donald Trump accused the country of providing safe havens to terrorist groups.

Tillersons crucial visit to Islamabad comes days after he made a major policy speech on Americas growing strategic relations with India and Trumps move to offer a bigger say to India in war-torn Afghanistan.

During a surprise visit to Afghanistan yesterday, the top US diplomat indicated that he will firmly tell Pakistan to stop providing safe havens to terror groups on its soil to improve bilateral ties.

Islamabad needed to take a clear-eyed view of the situation that they are confronted with in terms of the number of terrorist organisations that find safe haven inside the country, he said.

Tillersons visit to Islamabad marks the first by a senior member of the Trump administration.

Radio Pakistan reported that Pak-US relations, stability in Afghanistan and regional security issues will be discussed during the meetings.

Foreign Office sources said the discussions would focus on improving security and economic relations but cooperation against militants would be prominent during talks.

Tillersons visit is significant as it would clarify Trumps policy and set a course for future Islamabad-Washington relations.

In August, Trump had unveiled his Afghanistan and South Asia policy in which he had hit out at Pakistan for providing safe havens to agents of chaos that kill Americans in Afghanistan and warned Islamabad that it has much to lose by harbouring terrorists.

Pakistan regularly denies that it hosts terror groups fighting the US and Afghan forces in Afghanistan.

Trumps criticism led to further strain in US-Pakistan relations with a peeved Islamabad saying the president ignored its efforts in the war against terrorism.  PTI
New York, October 25

American actress Heather Lind has claimed that former US President George HW Bush sexually assaulted her from his wheelchair during the screening of a television show, a media report said on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old actress, who starred in Turn: Washingtons Spies, a war-era drama, detailed her accusations in a lengthy Instagram post yesterday.

Lind said she was disturbed after seeing a photo of ex-US President Barack Obama with the 93-year-old Bush, the 41st American president, the Daily News reported.

I found it disturbing because I recognise the respect ex-presidents are given for having served. And I feel pride and reverence toward many of the men in the photo. But when I got the chance to meet George HW Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo, Lind wrote.

He didnt shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke. And then, all the while being photographed, touched me again. Barbara rolled her eyes as if to say not again.

His security guard told me I shouldnt have stood next to him for the photo, she added.

Lind had met Bush during a special screening of the show in 2014, a week before its premiere.

We were instructed to call him Mr President. It seems to me a presidents power is in his or her capacity to enact positive change, actually help people, and serve as a symbol of our democracy. He relinquished that power when he used it against me and, judging from the comments of those around him, countless other women before me, Lind wrote.

Lind said she decided to come forward because of the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences, the report said.

In the past several weeks, dozens of women have accused media mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault and harassment, and made similar claims against other actors, producers, directors, photographers and musicians.

Bush did not deny the allegations in a statement.

President Bush would never  under any circumstance  intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologises if his attempt at humour offended Ms Lind, his spokesman told the Daily News.  PTI
. 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.
Paddys Irish Restaurant, 9999 S. Mingo Road, is among recent restaurant closings.

Dublin natives and twins Kenny and Keith Wagoner revived their former longtime pub a little more than a year ago. They recently announced the closing on Facebook.

Paddys Irish Pub has officially closed its doorsthanks to those who gave your support until the next chapter unfolds, the post read.

Mimis Cafe, a fixture at 8215 E. 71st St. since 2003, closed this week. The nearest Mimis Cafe is located in Rogers, Arkansas.

RoseRock Cafe, a fine cafe and bakery inside Gardners Used Books & Music, 4417 S. Mingo Road, closed a couple of months ago. Its Facebook page indicated the owners are looking for a new location.

Bowl-n-Spoon Cereal Bar, which opened in summer 2016 at 4510 S. Peoria Ave., has also closed.
BOK Financial, the parent company of Bank of Oklahoma, saw a bump in third-quarter earnings compared to a year ago.

The company reported earnings of $85.6 million, a 15.2 percent increase over the $74.3 million in earnings posted in the third quarter of 2016.

Earnings per share rose from $1.13 in third quarter 2016 to $1.31 in the third quarter this year.

It was another very strong quarter for BOK Financial, and the earnings momentum weve demonstrated in 2017 continued through the third quarter, said CEO Steve Bradshaw. Net interest margin continued to expand as a result of the June 2017 Federal Reserve rate hike combined with deposit pricing discipline across the banking industry. This, in turn, translated to record interest income for the quarter.

Wealth management, which accounts for about 25 percent of the companys revenue, remains strong, posting its third consecutive quarter of record growth. Net revenue was at $287 million, up 10 percent from the same time last year. Net income is up 70 percent year-to-date.

Bradshaw, in an interview with the Tulsa World, said wealth management is an area the company has been working for years to build as baby boomers begin retiring and shifting assets to the next generation and switching focus from asset accumulation to realization of income.

We think we are positioned extremely well to benefit for the next 10 to 15 years, he said.

Mortgage banking continues to struggle with reported revenues of $24.9 million, a 35.4 percent decrease from the third quarter of 2016.

Bradshaw said rising interest rates have reduced the amount of refinancing activity not just locally but across the country.

Were seeing declines in production and margins, and thats not sustainable for the industry, he said. It might take a couple of quarters before we see it stabilize but at some time it has to.

Overall, earnings were down slightly compared to the second quarter, where the company reported a net income of $88.1 million or $1.35 per diluted share.

Earnings would have remained essentially flat if not for $2.4 million in unexpected costs because of a tornado in Tulsa and damage from Hurricane Harvey, both of which occurred during the third quarter.

Stacy Kymes, executive vice president of corporate banking, said that looking ahead to 2018, energy lending and health care  particularly senior housing  could drive further growth.
OKLAHOMA CITY  A state law designed to deter the filing of frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits was declared unconstitutional Tuesday by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

This is the third time the state Supreme Court has struck down similar legislation.

In each case, the Legislature attempted to deter frivolous negligence lawsuits by requiring the person filing the lawsuit to include an affidavit from an expert witness attesting that the claim has merit.

The obvious purpose of the affidavit requirement reflects the Legislatures desire to weed out non-meritorious negligence claims, the Supreme Court noted.
In correspondence cited in the filing, Google/YouTube made it clear that the censorship of certain videos was because they were deemed inappropriate for younger audiences.

The lawsuit cites more than 50 PragerU videos which have either been restricted or demonetized by Google/YouTube. The PragerU videos range on various subjects presenting a conservative point of view, and include a video by noted Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz on the founding of Israel. PragerU previously compiled a complete list of their restricted videos here , which includes: Why America Must Lead, The Ten Commandments: Do Not Murder, Why Did America Fight the Korean War, and The Worlds Most Persecuted Minority: Christians.

LOS ANGELES  Prager University (PragerU) has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California to stop Google and YouTube from unlawfully censoring its educational videos and discriminating against its right to freedom of speech.

Watch any one of our videos and youll immediately realize that Google/YouTube censorship is entirely ideologically driven. For the record, our videos are presented by some of the finest minds in the Western world, including four Pulitzer Prize winners, former prime ministers, and professors from the most prestigious universities in America, stated PragerU founder Dennis Prager.

Prager added, They are engaging in an arbitrary and capricious use of their restricted mode and demonetization to restrict non-left political thought. Their censorship is profoundly damaging because Google and YouTube own and control the largest forum for public participation in video-based speech in not only California, but the United States, and the world.

The total number of people who currently use YouTube exceeds 1.3 billion people. Google and YouTube advertise YouTube to the public as a forum intended to defend and protect free speech where members of the general public may express and exchange their ideas. They have represented that their platforms and services are intended to effectuate the exercise of free speech among the public. According to Google and YouTube: voices matter. YouTube states that it is committed to fostering a community where everyones voice can be heard.

However, said Eric George of Browne George Ross, the firm representing PragerU, Google and YouTube use restricted mode filtering not to protect younger or sensitive viewers from inappropriate video content, but as a political gag mechanism to silence PragerU. Google and YouTube do this not because they have identified video content that violates their guidelines or is otherwise inappropriate for younger viewers, but because PragerU is a conservative nonprofit organization that is associated with and espouses the views of leading conservative speakers and scholars.

This is speech discrimination plain and simple, censorship based entirely on unspecified ideological objection to the message or on the perceived identity and political viewpoint of the speaker, said former California Governor Pete Wilson of Browne George Ross. Google and YouTubes use of restricted mode filtering to silence PragerU violates its fundamental First Amendment rights under both the California and United States Constitutions. It constitutes unlawful discrimination under California law, is a misleading and unfair business practice, and breaches the warranty of good faith and fair dealing implied in Google and YouTubes own Terms of Use and 'Community Guidelines.'

There is absolutely nothing inappropriate about the content of the PragerU videos censored by Google and YouTube; the videos do not contain any profanity, nudity or otherwise inappropriate mature content and they fully comply with the letter of YouTubes Terms of Use and Community Guidelines, said Marissa Streit, PragerUs chief executive officer who has engaged in a year-long-effort to try and persuade Google to stop censoring PragerU content. Streit continues, It's clear that someone doesnt like what we teach and so they intend on stopping us from teaching it. Can you imagine what the world would look like if Google is allowed to continue to arbitrarily censor ideas they simply dont agree with?

This is not a left/right issue. It is a free speech issue, which is why prominent liberals, such as Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, are supporting our lawsuit, Prager concluded.

The lawsuit filed in the Northern District of California is available here.

###

Advisory Legal Council:

Former Governor Pete Wilsons Law Firm, Browne, George and Ross;

Eric George;

Alan Dershowitz;

Barak Lurie, Kelly Shackelford, Mat Staver;

and additional prominent attorneys.

PragerU, founded by Dennis Prager in 2011, is a not-for-profit organization that helps millions understand the values that shaped America and provides millions of Americans and people around the world with the intellectual ammunition they need to advocate for limited government, individual responsibility and economic freedom. In 2016 alone, PragerUs videos received over 250 million views, a figure that will eclipse 350 million in 2017. PragerU is a resource for all who value liberty. It is a threat to all those who do not.
Former Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby is able to legally say she was never arrested or prosecuted for the shooting death of Terence Crutcher last year after a judge granted her request to expunge the record of her manslaughter case.

Neither Shelby, 43, nor her legal team were at the Tulsa County Courthouse on Wednesday morning for a hearing set by District Judge William LaFortune related to her August petition that sought the sealing of associated documents because all parties involved agreed to an expungement.

But LaFortune announced in court Wednesday that he scheduled the matter for discussion on Wednesday given the high-profile nature of this case and this petitioner, which allowed an opportunity for anyone to announce an objection or to request a full hearing.

No one did so, prompting LaFortune to sign an order granting Shelbys expungement. He said the order had already been signed by attorney Clint James, who represented Shelby in her petition; Shelton Benedict, a member of the city of Tulsas legal department; Tulsa County Assistant District Attorney Matt Kehoe; and John Wolf, a representative from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

No one offered comment after the hearing concluded. LaFortunes order, according to Oklahoma statute, means Shelby can legally say upon inquiry about her manslaughter case that no such action ever occurred and that no such record exists about her.

Her petition argued for expungement because she has no criminal convictions or pending criminal cases and contended she faces dangers of unwarranted adverse consequences if the case records are not sealed. She also alleged her privacy interests outweighed the publics interest in keeping information about her arrest and criminal case public.

However, state law indicates expunged records are not immediately physically destroyed but are rather sealed and stored for at least the next 10 years. The Tulsa County District Attorneys Office, Tulsa Police Department, OSBI or any other interested person or agency can petition the court during that timespan for an order asking to unseal Shelbys case record, which would subsequently be set for hearing.

If the judge at that time determines conditions have changed or that there is a compelling reason to do so, he or she can order all or part of the record unsealed. The record may be obliterated or destroyed at the end of the 10-year period if it is not unsealed before then, according to state statute.

Shelby was charged Sept. 22, 2016, with first-degree manslaughter over the death of Crutcher six days earlier that occurred while Shelby was on duty. A jury on May 17 found that she was not guilty either of manslaughter committed in the heat of passion or manslaughter while resisting an attempt to commit a crime.

Shelby, who is white, shot Crutcher, a 40-year-old black man, near 36th Street North and Lewis Avenue during an interaction that occurred after Shelby diverted from responding to a domestic violence call so she could see why Crutchers vehicle was parked in a way that impeded the flow of traffic. Video footage of the incident, combined with information indicating Crutcher did not have a gun, caused intense backlash and outrage locally and nationally.

Police video of the encounter shows Crutcher walking toward his SUV with his hands raised as Shelby points her handgun at him. She argued during her trial that she shot him when he reached with his left hand through the half-open drivers window, and pointed to evidence gathered after his death about drugs in his system as proof she was correct to consider him a possible threat to her safety.

Shelby resigned from the Tulsa Police Department effective Aug. 3 after spending nearly six years with the agency. She was sworn in Aug. 10 as a reserve deputy for the Rogers County Sheriffs Office.

Crutchers estate has a pending federal civil rights lawsuit against Shelby, Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan and the city of Tulsa that contends his death is emblematic of the culture of violence by police against people of color.
A Tulsa woman is accused of abusing her two grandchildren while she was their guardian after the state removed them from their parents care.

Lori A. Francois, 54, was charged Tuesday with two counts counts of child abuse by injury and a single count of child neglect. A Tulsa County District Court judge issued a warrant for her arrest.

The 6-year-old boy and 4-year-old girl suffered various injuries, authorities said.

A doctor who examined the children found the boy had extensive injury to his head, ears, face, neck, back, chest, abdomen, arms, legs and penis, a probable cause affidavit for Francois arrest states. The doctor noted the neck injury was consistent with strangulation.

The girl had healed or healing lesions on her buttocks that were consistent with her being spanked until the skin was broken and bleeding, the affidavit states.

Francois told a police detective during an Oct. 13 interview that she gained guardianship of the siblings in December after the Department of Human Services took them from their parents.

Francois reportedly said that on Sept. 29 she caught the boy sifting through her purse for candy. She said she intended to spank him with her hand but got a ruler and used that instead, freely stating that she went too far, according to the affidavit.

She said she was unsure how many times she struck her grandson but did use her hand, a ruler and a belt, the affidavit states.

To be honest, I dont know how many times, Francois reportedly said. But I put the ruler down and got the belt, and then he really freaked out.

Francois also reportedly admitted to hitting her granddaughter on the arm with a ruler because the child peed on herself. She was asked about spanking the girls buttocks and reportedly responded, that was from the beginning.

The boy told investigators that when he gets in trouble he gets whooped with a ruler or belt by his grandma and that his butt turns red and then black, the affidavit states.

The examining doctor arranged for the boy to be admitted to a hospital for further medical care.

A child abuse report was made Oct. 2 after the boy showed up at school with multiple bruises that covered most of his body, the affidavit states. Both children were taken immediately to the Child Advocacy Center for exams and interviews, the report says.

Twitter: @JonesingToWrite
Police on Tuesday arrested a man with suspected connections to a fatal shootout in north Tulsa.

Raymond Rodriguez Rivera, 30, was allegedly involved in a gunfight Monday night that resulted in one man being killed and a man and a woman being wounded, police said.

Officers stopped a vehicle thought to be involved in the gunfight and shooting death and arrested Rivera on Tuesday morning, Tulsa Police Sgt. Dave Walker said.

Rivera was take into custody on complaints of first-degree murder and shooting with intent to kill, according to jail records. He is being held without bond in the Tulsa Jail.

We believe that this shooting was a result of an argument, and the parties knew each other, Walker said. We do not know the actual motive, but prior to the shooting there was a fist fight in the street.

The fist fight between two groups broke out shortly after 9 p.m. Monday in the 4900 block of North Boston Place. The shooting occurred during the fist fight, Walker said.

Homicide detectives state in a probable cause affidavit for Riveras arrest that the two groups were engaged in an ongoing dispute/feud.

Witnesses told police that two males  the homicide victim and the man who subsequently was wounded  were arguing with a woman at her residence when the fight occurred.

The two males allegedly approached a male resident, according to the affidavit. Several witnesses told police that Rivera, also a resident where the woman lives, shot the two men.

Rivera allegedly admitted to police that he shot the men.

Police dispatched to the scene found one man shot to death, a gun abandoned in a nearby ditch and another man with a gunshot wound to his face, Tulsa Police Capt. Mike Williams said.

The gun found in the ditch had been fired, Walker said.

The other people at the scene fled, he added.

Police said the man who was shot in the face had an empty holster. He reportedly had abandoned the gun in the ditch.

That man, Williams said, was able to walk a couple of blocks before collapsing in the street and was subsequently taken to a hospital.

While police were at that scene, a dispatcher notified them that a woman had arrived at St. John Medical Center with a bullet wound to her shoulder. Police did not suspect that she was involved in shooting, anyone, Walker said.

Officers cordoned off several blocks around Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Boston Place while they collected evidence, including shell casings from 9 mm and .45-caliber firearms.

It was not immediately clear whether the man who was shot in the face would be arrested.
Shane Saunders, chairman of the Iron Gate Board of Directors, accused the city of Tulsa on Tuesday of working to deny the simple gift of food to our hungry neighbors.

Saunders statement comes a day after the city filed a motion asking Tulsa County District Judge Rebecca Nightingale to reconsider her motion granting the nonprofit the right to build a new soup kitchen and grocery pantry in the southeast corner of downtown.

The citys motion is the latest salvo in a legal battle between the city and Iron Gate over where the new facility should be built.

The Iron Gate soup kitchen and food pantry operates out of Trinity Episcopal Church, 501 S. Cincinnati Ave. The organization has been looking for a new home for more than two years, citing the need for a larger facility.

We are disappointed that Mayor (G.T.) Bynum has decided to double down on a legal hand that he has already lost, Saunders said in a prepared statement. As caring human beings, we are disheartened that the official policy of our city is to obstruct, delay, and deny the simple gift of food to our hungry neighbors.

As taxpayers, we recognize the substantial waste of public money and resources that have gone into this effort.

Saunders said that although Iron Gates board appreciates the mayors words of support for the nonprofits work, neither the mayor nor the city has provided Iron Gate with any resources.

To the contrary, the city has stood in our way at every turn, Saunders said.

Nightingale granted Iron Gates motion for summary judgment last month, clearing the way for the nonprofit to build a facility on a 1.5-acre site between Seventh and Eighth streets and Elgin and Kenosha avenues.

Nightingale found in favor of Iron Gates contention that the facility fit within the description of a restaurant, which under the zoning code does not require a special exception from the Board of Adjustment for locations within the Central Business District.

In its motion to reconsider, the city argues that Nightingales decision may have been based on the limited view  of the Zoning Code and Oklahoma Law provided by Petitioner rather (than) the more comprehensive view provided by the Board (of Adjustment) in its documents and statements.

The practical effect of the courts ruling, the citys motion argues, is to effectively rewrite the zoning code, invoking public policy considerations.

The motion also argues that by finding that a soup kitchen and grocery pantry is a restaurant, soup kitchens and food pantries would be allowed by right anywhere in commercially zoned areas.

In a statement issued after the city filed its motion, Bynum said the citys action should not be interpreted as an objection to Iron Gates work.

Instead, the mayor said, it reflects our concern regarding the proper protocol for land-use determinations that impact the property rights of Tulsans all over the city.

That is an important legal consideration which demands proper review.

Saunders said the Iron Gate board agrees with the mayor that proper review of land-use applications is important.

And we must point out that no other entity has been held to a more stringent review than Iron Gate has for the past three years and counting, he said.

City spokeswoman Michelle Brooks said the mayor stands by the statements he made Monday.

Iron Gate first tried to build a new facility at 302 S. Peoria Ave., in the Pearl District, just east of downtown, but the proposal drew complaints from neighborhood residents and business owners, and the Board of Adjustment rejected Iron Gates application for a special exception in September 2015.

Iron Gates next bid, for the site in southeast downtown, was rejected by the Board of Adjustment in November 2016, prompting Iron Gate to appeal the case to Tulsa County District Court.

Iron Gate officials are also considering a 1.8-acre county-owned property in northwest downtown, near the Tulsa Jail, that was identified in a site study paid for by one of Iron Gates major funders, Zarrow Family Foundations.

The parcel is on Archer Street, just west of the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless.
Chuck Blackwell, a Tulsa Sound icon and drummer who provided the beat for many rock n roll greats of the 1960s and 70s, died Monday.

He was 77.

Services are pending with Floral Haven Funeral Home in Broken Arrow.

Blackwell was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2014.

Over his two decades as a full-time musician, the Tulsa native drummed for such acts as Leon Russell, Joe Cocker, bluesman Taj Mahal, Little Richard and the Everly Brothers, among countless others, picking up three gold albums along the way.

Together with Russell, his late friend from Tulsa and frequent collaborator, Blackwell was one of the musicians most commonly associated with the Tulsa Sound  the name by which their distinct form of laid-back, R&B-influenced rock n roll came to be known.

Blackwell grew up in Tulsa and attended Central High School.

He started playing music around town at age 13. He later recalled having to carry a note from his parents to show at bars so they would let him play.

After graduating from Central in 1959, Blackwell moved to Los Angeles with Russell and fellow Tulsans David Gates and Johnny Williams.

There, he established himself as one of the top session drummers in the business, and went on to tour the world with the Everly Brothers.

By the mid-1960s Blackwell was even playing the drums on television as a featured musician on Shindig!, an ABC musical variety series.

In 1970, he joined Russell on the famously wild Joe Cocker tour that yielded the Mad Dogs & Englishmen live album and concert film.

Blackwell was also featured on Cockers hit version of The Letter.

During that same era, Blackwell appeared in a television special that, although long shelved, would attain legendary status. Shot in London in the late 1960s, the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus included Blackwell as a member of Taj Mahals band.

The concert special finally premiered in 1996 at the New York Film Festival, drawing high praise from music fans and critics.

Blackwell eventually tired of being a working musician and the lifestyle that went with it. By the late 1970s, he had moved back to the Tulsa area.

Together with his wife, Romayne, he owned and operated a successful longtime business, Blackwells Stained Glass & Doors in Broken Arrow.

He fell in love with creating stained and leaded glass art.

Its almost like music, he told the Tulsa World once. You have as many colors and designs to choose from as you have notes in music.  So the arts shake hands with one another.

An added bonus of having his own business was that it allowed music to become fun again, he said.

Blackwell resumed playing publicly, and over the past 30 years appeared off and on at shows around the area, drumming for the Fabulous Fleshtones, Oklahoma Stew and other acts.

He also enjoyed the occasional reunion with faces from his musical past.

When the Rolling Stones film premiered in New York, Blackwell was flown in for the event, where he was joined by Stones guitarist Keith Richards, Yoko Ono, Taj Mahal and others.

It was just an extravaganza, he said.

More recently, in September 2015 Blackwell joined other Mad Dogs & Englishmen alumni to perform at a Virginia tribute concert for Cocker, who had died the preceding December.

Blackwell was preceded in death by a brother, Ronnie.

Survivors include his wife; three children; four grandchildren; and two brothers, Roger and Jimmy.
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The University of Louisiana Monroes College of Health and Pharmaceutical Sciences continues with great achievements.



Just recently, on Oct. 18, the college held a press conference announcing an agreement between ULM and a Shreveport company to license an olive oil-based nutraceutical developed by a ULM pharmacy professor.



Monday, the same college held a check presentation to recognize an alumnus $60,000 contribution toward a superior graduate scholarship that will support Doctor of Pharmacy students.



The contribution was made by Dr. Salvador Sal Scaccia who received his Pharm.D. from ULM in 2002, which was the first Doctor of Pharmacy graduating class at ULM.



Scaccia said the scholarship is very important to him as a way to give back to his alma mater for the gratitude and the successes he has made in his pharmacy career.



I want to be able to give other students the same or even better opportunities for success, said Scaccia. Giving back and doing our part to better the world is an important concept that we should focus on and try to make happen every day.



The Louisiana State Board of Regents offers matching opportunities for specific university endowments, including superior graduate scholarships. Scaccias gift will be submitted in the form of a proposal to the Louisiana State BOR to receive a competitive match of $40,000 to create a $100,000 endowed superior graduate scholarship that will create funds in perpetuity. The scholarship will be named the TLC-Dr. Salvador Scaccia Endowed Superior Scholarship for Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Louisiana Monroe.



Dr. Glenn Anderson, Dean of the College of Health and Pharmaceutical Sciences, expressed his gratitude to Scaccia adding that education takes commitment, including time, the energy to go through challenging courses and the finances that students families have to come up with to support their children through their college years.



These kinds of gifts that go through perpetuity where youre able to help those students reduce that debt-load not only helps them, but helps the community that we serve and the communities our alumni serve, said Anderson.



Scaccia said his time at ULM prepared him for the real world, adding that he left ULM as a more experienced, educated and confident young man ready to conquer the world.



The friendships and bonds that I made at ULM are lifelong, said Scaccia. Education was top-notch. The educators were challenging, yet caring, and the family atmosphere in the College of Pharmacy was an experience that was unique and fulfilling.



ULM President Nick J. Bruno said he is happy to see Dr. Scaccia returning some of his success to the university where his career began.



Hopefully, his gift will serve to our other alumni as a challenge for them to come forward and to also help their university and their College of Pharmacy to excel in ways that we have not seen before, said Bruno.



About Dr. Scaccia:



After graduation from the University of Louisiana Monroe, Dr. Salvador Scaccia started as the head retail pharmacist in an independent community pharmacy before beginning his tenure in specialty pharmacy in 2005. In 2008, Scaccia opened Total Life Care Rx Pharmacy, today known as Kroger Specialty Pharmacy. Here, he serves as Senior Vice President and oversees more than 450 employees across Louisiana, Texas, and California.



He is currently on the Board of Directors of the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, and he has also served as president of the Greater New Orleans Pharmacy Association for 10 years.



In November 2010, Scaccia was honored by Gambit Magazine of New Orleans as one of the top 40 people under the age of 40 for his accomplishments and contributions that he has made to New Orleans in the area of business. He was also recognized by the Young Leadership Council (YLC) of New Orleans in July 2017 as a Role Model for his being an extraordinary example for the young professionals of New Orleans and the community at large in his respective profession.

Published October 25, 2017
| By Mary T. Phelan

The University of Maryland Support, Advocacy, Freedom and Empowerment (SAFE) Center for Human Trafficking Survivors and the Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD) have received a joint three-year grant totaling more than $1.3 million from the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime and Bureau of Justice Assistance to coordinate work to fight human trafficking in Prince Georges County, Md.

The University of Maryland Support, Advocacy, Freedom and Empowerment (SAFE) Center and Prince George's County Police Department have been awarded a joint $1.3M grant to assist victims of human trafficking.

The human toll of trafficking has terrorized families and victims across Maryland for years. Fully addressing and combatting human trafficking requires an all-hands-on-deck approach, said Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees. This grant will allow the SAFE Center and the Prince Georges County Police Department to continue their crucial partnership battling this crisis. Im glad to see national recognition of the outstanding work this team accomplishes, and I will continue to support funding to back anti-human trafficking initiatives at all levels across Maryland and the country.

Prince Georges is one of only two counties in the country to receive the grant, which was created to enhance collaboration between service providers and law enforcement within human trafficking task forces. The Prince Georges County Human Trafficking Task Force (PGCHTTF) brings together law enforcement, social services, government agencies, and community organizations to combat human trafficking.

Human trafficking is unacceptable in this county or anywhere and it will never cease until we commit ourselves to thwarting this horrible mistreatment of innocent people, said Prince Georges County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. Since taking office, my administration has taken this issue head on through the great work of our Human Relations Commission, Prince Georges County Police Department, State Attorneys Office and other agencies, that are combatting human trafficking. In addition, we created the Prince Georges County Human Trafficking Task Force to bring together various partners committed to putting an end to this unthinkable treatment of people. This grant will go a long way in assisting our efforts to eliminate human trafficking throughout this county, state, and region. I want to thank the Department of Justice, our Congressional delegation and the University of Maryland for their partnership and fiscal support of our efforts to eradicate these inhumane acts from our communities.

"This grant will enable the SAFE Center and our partners to provide the full range of services human trafficking victims so desperately need to rebuild their lives. It will also help get traffickers off the streets so they cannot continue to rob our communitys most vulnerable members of their freedom and dignity, said Ambassador Susan Esserman, JD, SAFE Center founder and director. She is a visiting faculty member in the University of Maryland School of Social Work, the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and the University of Maryland School of Public Policy.

The grant award is evidence of the commitment and resolve of organizations and agencies combating human trafficking in Prince Georges County, as well as the significant work of the PGCHTTF. It will amplify the task forces multidisciplinary collaboration and coordinated approach to identify victims of all forms of trafficking; address the individualized needs of victims; and investigate and prosecute sex and labor trafficking cases at the local, state, and federal levels.

In addition to lead service grantee SAFE Center, direct service collaborators include FAIR Girls, Amara Legal Center, and other members of the PGCHTTF that provide services to trafficking survivors.

Law enforcement grantee PGPD is joined by law enforcement partners including the Prince Georges County States Attorneys Office, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Maryland.

Prince Georges County Police Chief Hank Stawinski III said he was proud that the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Assistance have acknowledged the progressive and effective police work being done collaboratively in Prince George's County and I look forward to advancing that work with these much appreciated funds.

Added Prince Georges County States Attorney Angela Alsobrooks, Human trafficking is a crime that is negatively impacting so many and tearing families apart. This grant will enhance our joint efforts to arrest and prosecute those who prey on innocent young women and children, while also helping us to better serve the needs of our victims.

Receiving this grant is a testament to the efforts of County employees and volunteers on the Task Force who have worked long and hard since 2013 to restore victims, educate the public and to show traffickers that we are dead serious about combatting human trafficking in all its forms. said Michael Lyles, PGCHTTF chairman.

The University of Maryland SAFE Center for Human Trafficking Survivors is the first university-based comprehensive direct services, research, and advocacy center on human trafficking. Its mission is to provide survivor-centered and trauma-informed services that empower human trafficking survivors to heal and reclaim their lives, and to help prevent trafficking and better serve survivors through research and policy advocacy. The SAFE Center plays a leadership role in the PGCHTTF and the community. Through in-house services and collaborative partnerships, the SAFE Center provides comprehensive legal, case management, mental health, primary medical, and economic empowerment services to U.S. and foreign-born adult and child survivors of sex and labor trafficking.

An initiative of the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) and University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) through its formal partnership for innovation, University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State, the SAFE Center draws on the wide range of disciplines of both universities to address human trafficking.

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About the University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State The University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State is a collaboration between the state of Maryland's two most powerful public research institutions: the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP). It leverages the sizable strengths and complementary missions of both institutions to strengthen Maryland's innovation economy, advance interdisciplinary research, create opportunities for students, and solve important problems for the people of Maryland and the nation. Working together, UMB and UMCP achieve innovation and impact through collaboration.

About the University of Maryland, Baltimore

Founded in 1807, the University of Maryland, Baltimore is Marylands only public health, law, and human services university, dedicated to excellence in education, research, clinical care, and public service. UMB enrolls 6,500 students in six nationally ranked professional schools  medicine, law, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, and social work  and an interdisciplinary Graduate School. The university provides more than $40 million each year in uncompensated care to Maryland citizens, and receives more than $500 million in extramural research funding annually. For more information about the University of Maryland, Baltimore, visit www.umaryland.edu.

About the University of Maryland, College Park

The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 38,000 students, 9,000 faculty and staff, and 250 academic programs. Its faculty includes two Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, 60 members of the national academies and scores of Fulbright scholars. The institution has a $1.9 billion operating budget and secures $560 million annually in external research funding. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit www.umd.edu.

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Afghan refugee Nargis serves a guest at the Sheraton Hotel.  UNHCR/Nodira Akbaralieva

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan  Young refugees pass through the plush lobby and gleaming kitchens of the Sheraton Hotel in Dushanbe, Tajikistans capital, where they are learning the essentials of the hospitality industry at a renowned five-star hotel.

Nargis Alinazar Timuri, a determined 27-year-old Afghan refugee, has been assigned to the housekeeping department.

I couldnt sleep after the first day, I was really excited, she said. Ive tried to memorize every passing day so I wouldnt forget all the instructions and important points of housekeeping. Did you know that there is special technique to making beds? A beautifully made bed is something hotel guests appreciate.

Nargis spent her childhood in exile in Pakistan, where she thrived academically, completing secondary school. In 2005, her family joined the wave of returnees to Afghanistan and, there, she pursued a degree in business administration. However, in 2014, she was forced to abandon her studies when the security situation deteriorated, fleeing with her family to neighbouring Tajikistan.

I couldnt sleep after the first day, I was really excited."

Tajikistan hosts the largest number of refugees in Central Asian region, some 3,000 people primarily from neighbouring Afghanistan. Here, Afghan refugees share a common language, religion and culture with host communities, facilitating social cohesion and further local integration. However, refugees are faced with a fragile economic situation and competition for an already limited number of jobs.

Livelihoods opportunities targeting both Afghan refugees and local communities can boost local economy while promoting peaceful co-existence.

UNHCR's partner Children and Vulnerable Citizens (RCVC) eventually found Nargis a job as an instructor at the Adult Education Centre with the Ministry of Labour, Migration and Employment of Population. She also taught at a community center in Vahdat, a town 20 kilometres from Dushanbe where the majority of refugees reside. When the Sheraton Hotel apprenticeship programme opened up, Nargis did not think twice.

The innovative programme launched by UNHCR and Sheraton Hotel offers experience in the hospitality and tourism sectors, helping both refugees and the local population to compete in the labour market. The programme runs twice yearly, for four months at a time. Upon completion, apprentices are issued with accredited certificates.

Nargis fled Afghanistan twice and was forced to abandon her studies.  UNHCR/Nodira Akbaralieva

Nargis is one of five refugees selected for this pilot apprenticeship programme, along with five Tajik youngsters. The group will learn the secrets of high-end hospitality  from immaculate housekeeping and fine dining to basic management.

I thought this is my chance to apprentice at an international hotel, said Nargis. This could open doors for me in the future, maybe even a job in a hotel anywhere in the world.

Tajikistans tourism industry grows each year and this partnership taps into an emerging market, grooming future professionals in the industry.

This important initiative denotes not only an innovative and strategic partnership, but paves the way for future enhanced cooperation between the two parties, said Vito Trani, the representative of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in Tajikistan. In this specific moment when donors are reducing their contributions to humanitarian agencies, it is essential to explore new partnerships with the private sector, and take all necessary measures to improve the impact of our field activities on the lives of beneficiaries that ultimately will be further enhancing their livelihoods and self-reliance capacity.

This could open doors for me in the future."

The apprentices rotate between different departments to experience all core aspects of the hotel. With almost two months under her wing, Nargis is making good progress. She has gone from cleaning, making bedrooms and preparing food to confidently receiving guests at the front desk.

This partnership between Sheraton Hotel in Dushanbe and UNHCR in Tajikistan represents the first step of a pilot project that we believe will benefit local Tajik and refugee youths who are passionate about the tourism sector, said Toni Toshev, General Manager of Dushanbes Sheraton Hotel. It will surely contribute to open doors to the growing tourism industry.

Despite being displaced twice, Nargis has never given up. Like the other apprentices, she is doing all she can to become successful and independent.

Perhaps, someday I can help girls like me to get ahead, especially in education, she smiled. Being able to learn new skills is so important, especially for refugee girls and women.
US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley with UNHCR Country Representative in Ethiopia, Clementine Nkweta Salami and Regional Refugee Coordinator/Special Advisor to the High Commissioner, Arnauld Akodjenou. 

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia  Senior UNHCR officials met this week with the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley. She was accompanied by Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard, US Ambassador to the African Union, Ambassador Michael Raynor, US Ambassador to Ethiopia, Cyril Sartor, White House Senior Director for Africa, as well as other US government officials.

UNHCR Regional Refugee Coordinator for the South Sudanese Situation and Special Advisor to the High Commissioner, Arnauld Akodjenou and Ethiopia Country Representative, Clementine Nkweta Salami, appealed for support to end the crisis that has displaced two million South Sudanese inside the country and provoked the flight of a further two million into all six neighboring countries.

They briefed the delegation on deliberations among humanitarian partners last week, which concluded that continued instability in South Sudan is likely to force more South Sudanese to seek safety elsewhere, and projected that the number of refugees could rise to 2.8 million by the end of next year.

The UNHCR officials raised concerns that women with children accounting for 63% of the refugee population, the crisis will have a significant negative impact on South Sudans future development due to the lost generations the conflict has created. Access to access to formal education is critical, yet 400,000 South Sudanese refugee children throughout the region are out of school.

They characterized the living conditions in protection-of-civilian sites in UN bases in South Sudan as dire, compounded by minimal productive activities. 12 per cent of internally displaced people live in those sites, while a staggering 88% are scattered in rural areas across the country.

UNHCR referred to Ambassador Haley's opinion piece entitled "This is why the President is sending me to Africa", and shared her sentiment expressed therein that lack of political will makes it difficult for the UN to achieve its goals.

Akodjenou and Nkweta Salami expressed their gratitude for USD 147 million contributed by the US government for the South Sudan refugee situation, which nonetheless remains grossly underfunded with only 31% of financial needs received by the end of October 2017.

Thanking the UNHCR officials for the briefing, Ambassador Haley said that the US Government has always supported humanitarian causes and will continue to do so while advocating for an inclusive political solution. She noted that a political solution was key to addressing the humanitarian crisis.

The South Sudan situation is currently the Africas fastest growing refugee crisis, with around one third of the countrys total population displaced inside the country or dispersed as refugees in all six neighboring countries.
BUDAPEST, 25 October - LI Yong, the Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), has travelled to Hungary to attend the International Trade Centres flagship event, the World Export Development Forum (WEDF).

WEDF 2017 is co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary. The forums theme this year is A force for good: Include, Innovate, Integrate, reflecting the importance of illustrating how trade and open markets can support inclusive development and help to achieve the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

Speaking at a high-level plenary session on Making trade work for the 99%, Director General Li referred to UNIDOs mandate to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development to achieve shared prosperity and environmental sustainability around the world. He emphasized that the driver of trade is the capacity to produce goods that meet the demands of markets in competitive ways. UNIDO supports countries to do this in line with international agreements and market demands.

In addition to high-level plenaries and practical working sessions, one of the main features of the WEDF this year is facilitated business-to-business meetings around agricultural technologies. DG Li highlighted that UNIDO places a strong emphasis on linking agriculture with agro-processing through supporting agribusiness, providing training, and advising on industrial modernization and upgrading. Using new technologies and business models that can be used to fit the context and ensuring inclusiveness through all programmes and partnerships is core to UNIDOs approach.

UNIDOs technical cooperation portfolio consists of 850 projects distributed over around 100 countries with a total budget of US$1.3 billion. Examples brought forward during discussions included UNIDOs contribution to trade capacity building in Ghana, vocational training and womens entrepreneurship programmes in Egypt and industrial park development in Ethiopia.

During his two-day official visit to Budapest, the Director General is also holding meetings with a range of ministers and high-level officials.
(Oct. 25, 2017)  UTSA President Taylor Eighmy and other UT System institution presidents are participating in a forum in Washington, D.C. today to spotlight the vital role that academia plays in addressing the nations defense and national security challenges.

The What does Texas Think? A UT in DC Dialogue with the Defense Community brings together higher education, government and industry leaders from the intelligence, health and biosecurity sectors. President Eighmy will join the presidents of UT-Dallas, UT-Tyler and UT-Permian Basin on a panel about the importance of defense research.

Lisa Firmin, associate provost for veteran and military affairs at UTSA, is joining Eighmy at the forum in Washington, D.C. The retired Air Force Colonel is participating on a panel regarding workforce needs.

UTSA specializes in government and industry cyber preparedness, applied network and information systems security, information security management and strategy, and secure software and hardware design and engineering.

UTSA is home to four research centers and institutes focused on information assurance and cyber defense: the Institute for Cyber Security, the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security, the Center for Education and Research in Information and Infrastructure Security and the Open Cloud Institute. In those centers and institutes, UTSA researchers in business, science and engineering are combatting global security challenges to protect individuals, industry, government and the military.

Yesterday, UTSA announced the receipt of a five-year, $5 million grant to foster education and research to help secure the cloud while acting as a pipeline to create well-trained cybersecurity professionals. The Center for Security and Privacy Enhanced Cloud Computing (C-SPECC) will encourage high school student to pursue cybersecurity careers while keeping their teachers updated on the dynamic field of cybersecurity. Additionally, UTSA students and faculty in the center will conduct research at the intersecurity of cybersecurity and cloud computing to help secure the cloud for government, industry and the military.

The nations top cybersecurity program, UTSA is making meaningful contributions to train cybersecurity professionals to meet the public and private sectors' workforce needs. Alumni of UTSA have secured jobs with industry, government and military employers such as Amazon, Microsoft, Rackspace, USAA, Raytheon, Booz Allen, the National Security Agency and the U.S. Army.

UTSA is ranked among the top four universities in the nation under 50 years old, according to Times Higher Education.
UW Student Treated for Meningitis

A University of Wyoming student has been hospitalized and is being treated after being diagnosed with meningitis.

Although the risk to the campus community is low, as a precautionary measure, the university and the Wyoming Department of Health are identifying and reaching out to individuals who have had close, personal contact with the student, who lives off campus, says Dr. Joanne Steane, director of the UW Student Health Service. These individuals will be offered preventive treatment with the appropriate antibiotic.

Although meningitis can be contagious, it is not as easily spread as the viruses that cause the common cold or influenza. Only some types of meningitis are contagious, and only some types require preventive antibiotics.

Additional information on meningitis may be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html.

The symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache and stiff neck. Any student who is concerned he or she may have meningitis should contact the Student Health Service. Faculty and staff members should contact their personal clinicians office, the Albany Community Health Clinic, an urgent care facility or the Ivinson Memorial Hospital emergency room.


Carrying on the tradition of great food and award-winning dining, Jerrys Nugget Casino is proud to announce its newest restaurant to Las Vegas  Contento Pizzeria and Bar (Pictured: Diavola Pizza ($11) made with San Marzano crushed tomatoes, mozzarella, spicy salami, and spicy peppers).

Crafting authentic Italian gourmet single-serving pizzas and authentic Italian cuisine, Contento Pizzeria and Bar is all about using quality ingredients to create a simplicity of flavors that originated in Italy many centuries ago. The restaurant includes an open concept dining room, lounge, and bar all dressed in classic decor. Next to the dining area is Contento To-Go, a bistro for takeout on paninis, gourmet coffee, desserts, and more.

Contentos concept was created by two Italian pizza specialists, Carmine Giuseppe Conte (Contento General Manager) and Ismaele Romano (Contento Executive Chef). Responsible for all of Contentos freshly baked breads and artistic desserts is Executive Pastry Chef, Douglas Taylor.

All appetizers, signature pizzas, pastas, meat, seafood, and even vegetarian entrees are inspired by Chef Ismaeles work experiences in Florence, Italy and the California wine region. Try his take on Arancini Siciliani ($10), a widely known street food in Italy made with authentic Sicilian style saffron rice balls and filled with beef ragu, peas, and provolone cheese. Signature single-serving pizzas include the Diavola ($11) made with San Marzano crushed tomatoes, mozzarella, spicy salami, and spicy peppers and the Contento ($12) made with white bean puree, mozzarella, mascarpone cream cheese, house made sausage, and broccoli rabe. For entrees, recommended dishes include the Gamberoni ($22), Italys take on shrimp and grits made with deep fried jumbo shrimps, creamy soft polenta, and lemon butter sauce and the Tagliata Alla Fiorentina ($23), a grilled 18-ounce New York Steak sliced over organic arugula, shaved parmigiano, sauteed mushrooms, and herb butter. For pasta favorites, the classic Rigatoni ($14) made with Bolognese beef sauce is here along with potato dumplings, Gnocchi ($15) mixed with tomato sauce, fried eggplant, and ricotta cheese.

Dessert is a must when at Jerrys Nugget! All desserts at Contento are made from scratch and beautifully plated by Executive Pastry Chef, Douglas Taylor. Order the cheesecake ($7) with a hint of citrus and a graham cracker crust, or the cannoli plate ($6) which is accented with black cherries. Another sweet item is the cappuccino cake ($7) made with layers of chocolate and mascarpone cream.

In addition to the variety of pizzas and Italian cuisine, Contento Pizzeria and Bar features an extensive wine list with a selection of fifty wines under $100. More specials include:

Happy Hour Specials available Monday thru Friday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to closing. Wines by the glass and signature cocktails are $6 each. Selected appetizers, salads, and pizzas priced at $6-$10.

All wine bottles on the wine list are 50% off all day on Mondays when dining in.

15% off military discount for veterans, active military, police force, and firefighters by showing their ID or badge.

Shopping in Contentos very own wine shop. Guests may purchase wine bottles to take home at half off the retail price for those who fell in love with a certain wine on the wine list.

For the guest in need of a quick meal, Contento To-Go is located alongside the dining restaurant and features salads, pizzas, and paninis. Combination to-go meals even include beer or a glass of wine as a drink choice. Guests may order gourmet coffee, pastries, and desserts, plus a variety of artisan breads baked daily. Bread loaves consist of pumpernickel, whole wheat, sourdough, ancient grain, and ciabatta priced from $3-$4.

Contentos hours of operation are 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday thru Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Contento To-Go is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. For menu information, visit the Jerrys Nugget website at www.jerrysnugget.com or Contentos website at www.pizzeriacontento.com. Follow Contento on Facebook and Twitter.


Cast members from Thunder From Down Under will host a meet and greet at the Chocolate Lounge Las Vegas at Fashion Show for ladies night on Thursday, Oct. 26 from 6:30-8 p.m. (Photo courtesy of Thunder From Down Under).

Ladies will be greeted with a complimentary Foxy Lady cocktail and have the opportunity to pose for pictures with the performers. In celebration of Halloween, guests are encouraged to come in costume. The best costume will win a pair of designer shoes. Guests can make reservations at Sugar Factory American Brasserie by calling 702.685.0483.


Masaharu Morimoto will celebrate his eponymous restaurants first anniversary at MGM Grand November 3-4 with a weekend full of opportunities for guests to hang out with the famed Japanese chef and star of Food Networks Iron Chef America.

Las Vegas has been so good to me this past year, I wanted to repay the favor, said Chef Morimoto. I look forward to spending this special weekend with my fans who have made this such a memorable year.

Book Signing  Saturday, November 4: Beginning at 3 p.m., Chef Morimoto will join the iconic golden lion in MGM Grands lobby to sign copies of his latest cookbook, Mastering the Art of Japanese Home Cooking . Copies of the book will be available for purchase at MGM Grands lobby store, Grand & Company. Culinary buffs will have the opportunity to take pictures with Chef Morimoto, and have a cookbook or personalized photo signed by the Iron Chef himself.

Beginning at 3 p.m., Chef Morimoto will join the iconic golden lion in MGM Grands lobby to sign copies of his latest cookbook, . Copies of the book will be available for purchase at MGM Grands lobby store, Grand & Company. Culinary buffs will have the opportunity to take pictures with Chef Morimoto, and have a cookbook or personalized photo signed by the Iron Chef himself. $300 Seven-Course Pairing Feast  Friday, November 3 & Saturday, November 4: Since Fridays anniversary feast sold out in 48 hours, Chef Morimotos is extending the celebration to Saturday, November 4, with an additional 60-seat dinner. The seven-course meal features fan favorites  including the Toro Tartare and White Truffle Wagyu Beef Carpaccio  along with opulent wine pairings, capped off with a pour of Louis XIII to end the evening. Tickets, priced at $300, are available for purchase via MGM Grands website. Price includes applicable taxes and gratuity.

MGM Grand President & COO Scott Sibella said, This month marks an outstanding year working with Chef Morimoto and our guest response to this milestone has been incredible. After selling out Fridays dinner in two days, were excited to give guests an additional opportunity to join in the celebration with a second anniversary dinner on Saturday. I cant wait to celebrate with Chef Morimoto, which is sure to be a weekend to remember.


Cheba Hut Toasted Subs celebrated its grand opening on Friday, Oct. 20 in true counter-culture fashion with a ranch chugging contest, ranch wrestling, money showers and more hosted by owner and founder Scott Jennings.

Located on Sahara and Rainbow, this is Cheba Huts 20th restaurant and the first location in Nevada.

Hundreds of fans flocked to the restaurant to take part in the nights shenanigans, that kicked off with a chugging contest of Cheba Huts signature ranch dressing. The winner chugged 20 ounces in 18 seconds to win $500 cash and free Cheba for a year.

Ranch wrestling then followed in an inflatable pool filled with more than 200 gallons of the dressing.

Glam showgirls passed out free sandwiches and munchies while DJs played live music, a hula hooper showed off her moves and a local artist spray painted a custom 10-foot canvas.

The nights festivities ended with Jennings and the Cheba Hut Team throwing money, joints and other gifts from the balcony onto the patio, making it rain on party guests.


Platinum-selling group Walk Off The Earth brings its first U.S. tour in three years to the intimate House of Blues Las Vegas on Saturday, March 3, 2018.

The Juno Award-winning, platinum-certified Canadian five-piece Walk Off The Earth is an unconventional, multi-talented five-piece musical phenomenon that has taken the world by storm. Based in Burlington, Ontario, their brilliant five-people-playing-one-guitar interpretation of Gotyes Somebody That I Used To Know exploded on YouTube garnering well over 35 million views in less than two weeks.

Taekwondo Music Video by Walk Off The Earth

httpvh://youtu.be/RJCvwslfIYI

Their YouTube channel has more than 2.8 million subscribers, and their recent cover of Shape of You by Ed Sheeran has been viewed more than 11 million times. The band also has an immense social media following, with almost 3 million Facebook likes. Its hit, Fire In My Soul was certified gold in Canada and was their first release under a unique deal the band recently signed with Universal Music Canada.

Shape of You  Walk off the Earth (Ed Sheeran Cover)

httpvh://youtu.be/YV5KAbV34NU

Fresh off a 30-day world tour making stops in North America, Europe and Australia and the birth of band members Gianni Nicassios and Sarah Blackwoods third child, the band released a self-produced short film titled Taekwondo and accompanying EP titled Taekwondo: The Soundtrack. In their lighthearted nature, the band tells the story of a young romantic (Nicassio) in pursuit of the girl of his dreams (Blackwood) while learning the skills of self-defense in preparation for a showdown with ninjas.

Both the short film and EP were produced by Walk Off The Earth and featured all five band members, Nicassio, Blackwood, Ryan Marshall, Joel Cassady and Mike Beard Guy Taylor.
The HCM Medical University Hospital usually treats between 1,000 to 15,000 overseas Vietnamese and foreign patients every year, mostly in the departments of heart, gastroenterology, nerve or plastic surgery.-VNA/VNS Photo Phuong Vy

M. is one of many international visitors treated at UMH: the hospita usually treats between 1,000 to 15,000 overseas Vietnamese and foreign patients every year, mostly in the departments of heart, gastroenterology, nerve or plastic surgery. In September, the centre established an international clinic with modern facilities, exclusively for foreign patients.

Now, local officials are hoping to build on this momentum and expand the number of international visitors who come to HCM City for medical treatment. On October 12th, HCM City Department of Health (DoH) and Department of Tourism (DoT) officially signed a memorandum of understanding on medical tourism implementation. They established an interdisciplinary agency to promote healthcare services to foreign tourists, firstly with the Medical Tourism Handbook to be published by the end of 2017.

The handbook will provide patients with names, addresses and phone numbers of medical facilities and services around the city.

In the first phase of their cooperation, the DoH prioritises eight fields ranging from general health consultation and check-ups to traditional medicine to ear-nose-throat care.

Seeing the potential of medical tourism, 11 medical facilities have registered to offer those services including Tu Du Hospital, HCM City Childrens Hospital, HCM City Dentistry Hospital and UMH.

After the pilot period, the two departments plan to expand the cooperation into other fields, aiming to turn HCM City into the medical centre of the region.

HCM City has several competitive advantages. With high-quality public and private hospitals, skilful physicians, advanced technologies and low cost of treatment, the citys hospitals have recently acquired a strong reputation for infertility treatment, traditional medicine and acupuncture at reasonable prices in comparison to regional and Western countries.

According to Nguyen Viet Anh, head of the Travel Management Department under DoT, medical tourism in Viet Nam is still humble compared to the industry in India, Thailand or Singapore. Foreign patients are mostly Lao or Cambodian, or overseas Vietnamese.

Le Hanh, head of HCMC Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, emphasised the need for the participation of travel agencies in promoting medical tourism.

Le Quang Thanh, director of Tu Du Hospital, stressed that travel agencies can coordinate and deliver foreign patients to hospitals to save patients time and money.

Meanwhile, Phan inh Hue, director of VietCircle Travel Agency, said that they were aware of the citys medical tourism potential. However, foreign tourists still have concerns about Vietnamese treatment quality and tend to choose only services related to skin or beauty care. Therefore, improving and professionalising medical services is the key for hospitals to attract more tourist patients.

In addition, Nguyen Minh Quyen from Ben Thanh Travel Agency said that treatment quality and safety should be prioritised to reduce risks in this industry.
The Ministry of Transport has proposed to the Prime Minister four different plans to operate airfields in the future, aiming to narrow a yawning gap between the Airports Corporation of Viet Nams revenue and expenditures.- Photo nld.com.vn

The proposal is part of the ministrys report on the operations and plans for managing and airfields and maximizing their economic potential. Balancing the ACV budget is particularly important as the MoT hopes to undertake significant upgrades to the airfields in the next five years.

In the period from 2012-16, the total revenue from the taking off and landing activities of ACV was VND5.97 trillion (US$262.19 million), while the investment cost for this period was over VND7.5 trillion. According to the ministry, the revenue only covers operating expenses, maintenance, repair and a fraction of investment and upgrading costs.

The ministry said that ACV had planned for annual revenue from 2017 to 2021 to fall between VND1.82 trillion to VND2.56 trillion. However, the total cost of necessary investments during that period was estimated at about VND17.15 trillion, of which VND11.07 trillion would be for repairs. The revenue from airfield operations could meet operating costs, regular repairs and a small portion of the repair costs.

The ACV said that the revenue shortfall meant the airports and any plans to upgrade them must be managed carefully. The ministry hopes its four plans will help the industry balance its budget and improve services. The Prime Minister will consider them and select one of the four or propose an alternative idea.

Firstly, the State could lease ACV its assets to exploit and operate the airfield. Second, it could increase the charter capital of ACV by contributing capital of the airfield assets. Third, ACV could handle management, exploitation, investment and repair of the airfield through a 30-year management contract. Fourth, the State could hire ACV to manage and exploit assets, generate revenue and profit for the State in the form of public-private partnership on the basis of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) contract.

Although four options are proposed, the MoT suggested choosing the third option: the State would assign ACV to manage and upgrade the airports through a 30-year management contract. Under this plan, the ministry will play the role of inspecting and supervising the management and approving investment plans, while ACV would be active in planning and implementing business activities such as investment and maintenance. ACV must report on the annual business results to MoT.

In case the revenue exceeds total operating costs and investments, the remainder will be paid to the State budget.
The Hoang Mai District Peoples Committee on 19 October conducted an inter-sector inspection team to check food safety in eight schools in the district.- Photo vtc.vn

Tran Quy Thai, Vice Chairman of the Hoang Mai District Peoples Committee, said that on 19 October, he led an inter-sector inspection team to check food safety in eight schools.

The unannounced inspection, which included immediate testing in a specially-equipped mobile truck, found plant protection residues in a sample of green vegetables, mung toi , or Ceylon spinach, taken from the Hoang Liet Kindergarten. The vegetable hadnt been processed for cooking when it was taken for testing. Further testing is being done, officials said.

Thai said that the team recorded its finding, and officials of the Hoang Mai Health Department and other agencies visited the Viet Nam Agriculture and Foodstuff Export-Import Company, which supplies foodstuff to the school and took samples for testing.

On Monday, the districts economic department reported that the company had signed a contract for vegetable and fruit supply with the An Sinh Hi-tech Joint-Stock Company that located at ang Xa, Gia Lam District.

The result of inspections at the An Sinh company showed that 57kg of Ceylon spinach came from a farming household that is a member of a safe vegetables growing group.

Inspectors have taken samples of vegetables grown by this household for further testing.

Parental concern

The Hoang Liet Kindergarten has 1,000 children aged three to five. The inspection and its findings have parents worried about the quality of food being served to their children.

Nguyen Thi Hong Loan, mother of a four-year-old girl, said: "At the office, I can check and select where to get safe food, but in schools, children are completely dependent on the teachers.

When I heard about the chemical-infected vegetables, it hurt me, because the children are so small. How will their health be affected if they consume pesticides every day? "

Another mother, Tam Anh, who lives on Hoang Mai Districts Linh Nam St., said that she wanted to prepare lunch for her son, but the kindergarten administrators didnt allow it.

Tam Anh said parents in the city now have many ways to prepare clean meals, by growing vegetables and raising chickens by themselves, buying foodstuff from safe-food places or getting them from trusted relatives in rural areas.

Why did the school sign a food contract with a company that wasnt a safe-vegetables grower, she asked.

"If my son is accidentally poisoned or gets sick after plant protection ingestion for a long time, he and his parents are the ones to suffer, she said.

Hoang Thanh Huong, head of the pre-school division of the citys Education and Training Department, said the district Peoples Committee has asked the economic and health departments to check and report on the situation to her department as well as the Ha Noi Peoples Committee.

Huong said the district administration was responsible for inspecting and evaluating food suppliers to schools in the area. The school principal was responsible for assigning inspectors to check food origins and when there are problems with the food, the food supplier would be held responsible for any damage caused, she said.

So far, Nguyen Thi Hong Nga, principal of the Hoang Liet Kindergarten, is yet to respond on this situation.

Tran Quy Thai, deputy chairman of the Hoang Mai District Peoples Committee, said district authorities were very concerned about the safety of all 30,000 students in the area. However, while checking food in school kitchens, it was difficult to detect those that contain excess chemicals because of the lack of special equipment, he said.

Lack of equipments

Regarding the plant protection contamination found at the Hoang Liet Kindergarten, district authorities had to register with the citys Health Department for using the mobile truck equipped with food-testing equipment. Since the city has just three of these trucks, district authorities have to register several weeks in advance.

Tran Ngoc Tu, Director of the citys Food Safety Department, agreed that having just three mobile food-testing trucks serve millions of residents was not sufficient.

He suggested that schools themselves check food quality, deploying several steps including checking the origins of the materials and ensuring fresh food like meat and fish have needed quarantine papers. The schools should also arrange staff who are qualified to check food quality and preservation conditions. The cooking process must also be checked regularly, he added.

Unfortunately the lack of food hygiene in the kindergarten is not an isolated incident.

In mid September, Bui Kim Thuy, principal of the citys Hoang Hoa Tham Primary School, confirmed that failure to keep food trays clean had led to a third-grade student finding maggots in his/her lunch tray. She sought to allay concerns about food safety, saying the worms were found not in the food, but on the food tray.

She said the reason was that after lunch on Friday, the dishwashing staff put aside two trays that were stuck together. The trays had been left unwashed for two days, she said.

Nguyen ac Hung, head of the Ba inh Districts Education and Training Office, said that as soon as the plant protection contamination came to light, an order was sent to all schools that organise meals for students in canteens that they had to strictly comply with food hygiene and safety regulations, and totally avoid products of unknown origin.
Photo: John Sciulli/Getty Images for RS/TV, Inc.

After proving that he can pull off a villainous cape like few can in Rogue One, Ben Mendelsohn is reportedly the top pick for the nemesis role in Captain Marvel. According to Variety, the Australian actor is currently in talks with the movies directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, who he previously worked with on 2015s Mississippi Grind. While its not certain which Marvel villain the Bloodline star will play, its likely hell be the leader of the Skrulls, an alien race of shape-shifters that the studio previously announced would appear in the 2019 movie. Brie Larson is set to star as Captain Marvel, and Samuel L. Jackson will reprise his Nick Fury role.
Bookseller One Grand Books has asked literary celebrities to name the ten titles theyd take to a desert island, and theyve shared the results with Vulture. Below is comedian, television host, and author Chelsea Handlers list.

Barrel Fever, by David Sedaris

David Sedaris is fucking hilarious and theres nothing I prefer to do more than laugh. If this book doesnt make you laugh, Ill refund you the money.

Mans Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl

This book is one of those beautiful accounts of a terrible time in our history. His calm and sagaciousness, while witnessing one horror after another played out during his time in three separate concentration camps, is awe-inspiring. He speaks to the strength of the human spirit and there is a sentence in the book that made me put it down and think  I stopped asking myself what I expected out of life, and asked myself what life expected out of me.

A Short History of Slavery, by James Walvin

This is a great, comprehensive introduction for the many people who dont know the history of the Atlantic Slave Trade or the history of slavery. It walks you through who the architects of slavery were, and more important, who the architects of the abolitionist movement were. Its an integral part of our history that feels too ignored. It is painful, horrifying, but illustrative of the evil and the goodness that can live side by side.

Mawsons Will, by Lennard Bickel

I love stories of survival and I love strong men. This is one mans story of surviving in Antarctica when he lost everyone and everything and still managed to make it back to his ship under the worst possible conditions and elements. What he survived, what he endured, and his will to live are themes Ill never get tired of learning about. We have always lived among great people, but its an essential reminder that there are superior beings.

Moonwalking With Einstein, by Joshua Foer

I didnt love reading this book, but I loved what I learned from it  tons of different tools to memorize peoples names, to memorize numbers that are important, along with different ways to categorize things I need to remember to do. It has changed my life and made me embarrass myself much less when meeting someone twice.

Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy

I dont know if I have to expound on why I love this book, but everyone should read Tolstoy, and this was the first one of his works I read. So, its like a first boyfriend. Or my first Cabbage Patch Kid.

House of Mirth, by Edith Wharton

Edith Whartons use of language alone isnt easily paralleled. She takes you into this womans life and makes you feel for her while showcasing her shallowness, materialism, and lack of honor. It is a timeless story we have seen play out for hundreds of years  yet, it feels like it would apply to modern-day society in the form of a Kardashian. Her turn of phrase and sentence structure are beautiful.

Men Explain Things to Me, by Rebecca Solnit

Rebecca Solnit goes deep with statistics, personal stories, and other accounts of how brutal this world can be for women, the history of how weve been treated, and what it will take to change the conversation: MEN. We need them to be as outraged as we are and join our fight.

The Essential Enneagram, by David Daniels, M.D.

This book is great if youre in love with yourself and cant wait to find out more. Its a personality evaluation with a list of numbers from one through nine and can keep you and your friends busy for hours! My psychiatrist introduced me to it and it has been endorsed by a large swath of the psychiatric community. It is not astrology.

On Booze, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Just because 
Harvey Weinstein. Photo: John Phillips/John Phillips/Getty Images

Actress Natassia Malthe is the latest woman to accuse Harvey Weinstein of forcing her to have sex without her consent. The ex-Weinstein Company boss has now been accused of sexual misconduct by over 60 women. In a press conference with lawyer Gloria Allred Wednesday afternoon, Malthe said Weinstein sexually assaulted her in 2008 after the BAFTA Awards, and continued to sexually harass after that alleged incident. In the middle of the night after they met, Malthe says Weinstein, seemingly on drugs, knocked on her hotel room door and barged into her room. I remember he took off his pants and sat on my bed, Malthe said, recalling that he asked for a blow job and then began masturbating in front of her. After she declined, Malthe alleges Weinstein overpowered her, forcing her to have sex.

After the alleged assault, Malthe said Weinstein sent her a script for Nine, the movie musical directed by Rob Marshall. Malthe auditioned for Weinstein and Marshall, and began dancing lessons to prepare for a potential role. Afterward, Malthe said, Weinstein asked her to another meeting at the Peninsula Hotel, where she asked that there be no hanky panky. During that meeting, she says another woman in the room began giving Weinstein a blow job. Harvey made it clear that he wanted me to engage in a threesome with him and the girl, Malthe said, and she declined. Allred, who now represents four Weinstein accusers, told reporters that the Weinstein Company board canceled a meeting with her, at which she planned to propose that the company establish a fund for Weinsteins victims. Harvey Weinstein has admitted to sexual harassment but denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex, and is now in treatment. Police departments in London, Los Angeles, and New York City are investigating him for sexual misconduct
Kate Winslet Photo: Paramount Pictures

Though James Cameron and Peter Jackson are now close collaborators, in the mid-90s, it seems, this was far from the case. As Kate Winslet told Variety, when Jackson and his wife Fran Walsh came to visit her on the set of Titanic (and possibly snoop on the production), they were unceremoniously kicked out of the studio. Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh were in L.A. at the time, and they said, Oh, we must come down and see you, Winslet said. I took them on set on a Sunday afternoon. We got out back, and the security guard said, You cant be here. Until that moment, it hadnt occurred to me. They were my friends, she said. Whats lovely now is that James Cameron and Peter Jackson have a lot to do with each other because of Weta and Avatar. Of course you wanted to come visit! Youre so cheeky. Duh. In 2017, Jackson certainly doesnt need to sneak around Camerons sets anymore. Jacksons company, Weta Digital, created the CGI animation for Avatar, and is set to work on all four sequels. Jackson and Cameron also founded a new business together in New Zealand earlier this year. Maybe Jackson will cameo in the next Avatar movie as the beloved Navi Shaman.
Mindhunter Episode 6 Season 1 Episode 6 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * * Previous Next   Previous Episode Next Episode  Photo: Patrick Harbron/Netflix/Patrick Harbron/Netflix

The sixth episode of Mindhunter is 34 minutes long. Let us not allow this rare occurrence to pass unmentioned. Network shows routinely have to hit their marks to fit a half-hour or hour-long format with commercials, which enforces a ruthless discipline on how much a given episode can accomplish. There are no such limits on premium cable networks like HBO and Showtime, or on streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, and the bloat has been conspicuous, with premieres yawning to feature-length and episodes routinely filling every second of an hour-long bloc. For Mindhunter, ostensibly a 60-minute show, to get the job done in barely over half the time doesnt happen often. And it signals a commitment to delivering a taut procedural at whatever length is necessary.

That said, we need to amend that praise with a big fat asterisk. The story primarily covered in Episode 6 is the murder and post-mortem mutilation of a woman from Altoona, Pennsylvania  an arc that was introduced in the fourth episode, took up virtually all of the fifth, and now wraps up here  so Mindhunter isnt a model of concision in that respect. It has, however, gained in focus and purposefulness as Bill and Holden seize the opportunity to move beyond the theoretical and academic and use a little bit of applied knowledge in cracking the case. And when they fail to get the full conviction they want from the District Attorney in the end, they have to come to terms with a fresh dilemma about the applicability of their research: What difference does any of this make if we cant communicate it to the people who matter?

Its a good question, especially given how much Bill and Holden  and now, on a permanent basis, Dr. Carr  have struggled to institute a culture change at the FBI. If its hard to convince peers who specialize in sussing out criminal behavior to accept the validity of their research, its a bigger stretch to ask ordinary people to follow a killers twisted internal logic. Bill, Holden, and Detective Ocasek leave the D.A.s office furious that Frank, an eager participant in Beverly Jeans violation and murder, was offered a plea arrangement that keeps him off the streets for as little as five years. But in the absence of all but circumstantial evidence, the D.A. would have to account for a confusing scenario in which Benji, Frank, and Rose each played a role in beating, stabbing, raping, and mutilating Beverly Jean, and then staging her body in the city dump. He would have to explain a fractured jaw, two black eyes, 14 stab wounds to the torso with a kitchen knife, a blow to the end, and the amputation of her breasts. Its much easier  and not wholly unreasonable  to pin the crime primarily on Benji and leave it at that.

Having Dr. Carr as a permanent fixture in the Quantico basement may help change all that, because shes a clearer, more disciplined thinker than Bill and Holden. Episode 6 is the first to devote time to her life outside their collaboration and its revelatory to see the secret shes been keeping from them  and from us  and how shes had to construct her life around that secret. The low-level flirtation between Carr and Holden, which added tension to her meeting Debbie for drinks, turns out to be a red herring. But it may also be a defense mechanism, Carrs way of feigning interest in the opposite sex in order to protect her relationship with a female administrator. (Casting Lena Olin as her girlfriend is a masterstroke, if only for bringing back memories of Olins role in The Unbearable Lightness of Being.)

Carrs decision to leave her life in Boston and take up full-time residence at Quantico is fascinating because she feels the impulse to liberate herself, but can only go so far. She bristles at her girlfriends vice grip on her hand over dinner with other intellectuals and pointedly excuses herself to head out the door. But she also cant be herself at Quantico, either. She cannot go into detail with Shepard about why she doesnt have kids or why she isnt in a committed relationship. And the apartment she takes is appealing for its privacy and impermanence: The other residents are mostly single people on the go who wont pry into her affairs, and shes entering a month-to-month lease in a furnished apartment, which will allow her to disappear at a moments notice.

Mindhunter was always going to be a show about how the inner lives of serial murderers influence or relate to the thinking of their inquisitors, but its rarely been on-the-nose about it. Bill, Holden, and Carr each have a public and a private face, all masking secrets of one kind or another, and the shows writers have been deliberate in giving us a window into those things theyd rather not discuss. When Bill and his wife invite Holden and Debbie over for dinner, Holden can see the disappointment and frustration their hosts feel over their adopted son and how its eating away at their marriage, which simmers with passive-aggressive swipes. They dont know who theyve adopted. They dont know the horrors he may have experienced. And they dont know how to recalibrate their marriage around him. For the major characters, cases may close, but mysteries outside the office are ongoing.

Dillingers

 The BTK Killer looks like a delightful domestic companion. As his wife tends to their fussy baby, he glowers menacingly on the couch, practicing the bind part of bind, torture, kill.

 The use of Gerry Raffertys Baker Street in the scene where Holden and Debbie get ready for dinner could be read as sly reference to Holden being likened to Sherlock Holmes, who lived on that street in Arthur Conan Doyles novels. But really, the vibe of the song is more about domestic discontent, which primes us for the evening to come.

 Did anyone hold him when he cried? A haunting thought as Bills wife looks down on her sleeping child and wonders if their love can salve or reverse the damage thats already been done.
Josh Brolin in Only the Brave. Photo: CTMG

Are firefighter movies secretly the most potent antiwar movies? Ill admit, I havent seen any firefighter films since Backdraft, which was about a crew on the trail of a serial arsonist. Still, fire is a faceless and merciless cinematic foe, and watching people fight it, whether in film and TV or on the news, looks the most like fighting God than any other human activity. Only the Brave is at its core much more of a man-versus-nature story, less about getting bad guys and more about dealing with the horror that ensues when nature occasionally sets itself ablaze. Theres less of a moral question about trying to stop a fire from destroying peoples homes than, say, fighting in any war since WWII, and no anxiety-inducing hails of gunfire. But you still get the band-of-brothers mechanics of war narratives, and the smoke and struggle and life-or-death situations. It feels like a win-win to me.

Only the Brave is based on the true story of Prescott, Arizonas Granite Mountain Hotshots, the first ever municipal fire crew to be certified as Hotshots (that is, the class of firefighter that deals on the ground with wildfires). Led by their supervisor Eric Marsh (Josh Brolin), they became local heroes, but if you dont know their story Id advise against Googling it, or the GQ article the film is based on. The film opens with them still uncertified and frustrated at their inability to stave off yet another fire. Meanwhile, young addict Brendan McDonough (Miles Teller) stumbles his way into fathering a child, and suddenly feeling the urge to step up and be responsible for her, arrives at the department looking for work. Cue a predictable yet comforting redemption arc, from McDonoughs fast friendship with hazer turned roommate Chris (Taylor Kitsch) to the surrogate father he finds in Marsh, who we come to learn may not be that different from him.



Only the Brave is meandering and picaresque, sometimes to its own detriment. Oftentimes it plays out like a condensed season of television, a format for which it might actually have been better suited, with its long, subtly rendered character arcs and ensemble cast. The cast, by the way, is incredibly stacked  Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Connelly, and Andie MacDowell all acquit themselves agreeably in roles that feel like they could have used a lot more screen time. Connelly in particular, as Marshs loving but long-suffering wife, feels well-positioned to subvert many of the expectations around that kind of character  until she doesnt. But Teller and Brolin lead the film with incredibly watchable naturalism that never descends into sentimentality.

The film is improbably directed by Joseph Kosinski, apparently putting his sci-fi auteur dreams on hold after the gorgeous but hollow Tron: Legacy and Oblivion. Theres little in the way of minimalist architecture or light-up catsuits to be found among this grubby crew, but theres a sense of quiet shared by all the films, a resistance to all-out bombast. Most of Marshs job involves watching the blaze from a distance, taking temperature and humidity readings, and checking the wind direction. Despite their title, these hotshots are anything but. Only the Brave feels like a film that would have made sense coming from Peter Berg or Michael Bay, but Kosinski mostly pulls back on the macho cheerleading to find something more objective, and ultimately, deeply emotional. Still, even he cant keep himself from the occasional aerial glamour shot of the team, posing in formation on top of a mountain while guitars blare. It might just be a firefighter movie thing.
Mark Duplass in Creep 2. Photo: Blumhouse Productions

When Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass began work on Creep 2, they faced a fundamental problem. The first Creep told the story of underemployed videographer Aaron (Brice) who answers a Craiglist ad posted by Josef (Duplass): $1,000 for a day of filming, discretion is appreciated. As the day goes on, Josefs behavior becomes more and more erratic, and Aaron grows increasingly freaked out; the central tension of the movie comes from trying to figure out what, exactly, Josefs deal really is. By the time that  spoiler alert for this movie from 2014  Josef drives an ax into Aarons head, its pretty clear whats going on: dudes a serial killer.

Creep was a fascinating film for a number of reasons, including Duplasss remarkable subversion of his typical onscreen persona, and the deft pacing and touch for escalation Brice demonstrated in what was essentially his filmmaking debut (released literally the same week as his other first movie, sex comedy The Overnight, which Duplass and his brother Jay executive-produced). But the uncertainty at the heart of it was key. Unlike most horror movies, in which the issue at hand isnt whether theres a real threat, but whether anyone will survive it, Creep continuously hinted at the possibility that it might not be a horror movie at all  that Josef might just be a weirdo, that Aaron could escape unscathed. When Netflix asked Brice and Duplass if theyd want to make another Creep, though, they knew that cat was out of the bag, meaning they needed to figure out a new method of maintaining the originals idiosyncrasy and high stakes. Most sequels get to go back to the well; Creep had to find another well entirely.

The genesis of the franchise was as idiosyncratic as its style. Brice and Duplass met when Brices wife started babysitting for Duplasss children; at the time, Bryce was a recent transplant to Los Angeles and a graduate student at CalArts filmmaking program, with the ultimate goal of making documentaries. Duplass and Brice started hanging out as friends, and though they didnt set out with any intention of collaborating, their conversations eventually led to the idea of making Creep, combining Brices documentary instincts and techniques with Duplasss knack for subversion, spontaneity, and eccentricity. In the grand tradition of Duplass collaborations like Charlie McDowells The One I Love, they didnt wait for funding or a perfectly fine-tuned script: They took a camera out to the woods and made a movie.

A few years later, the situation had changed. Since Creep and The Overnight, Brice has directed the popular James Van Der Beek episode of Duplasss HBO series Room 104, and been commissioned to do multiple episodes of the shows second season. When Brice and Duplass had first worked together, theyd barely known each other; since that shared experience, theyd developed a deep emotional and professional bond. Combined with the films low overhead and the complete reveal at the end of the first Creep, that bond allowed them to move in a significantly new direction.

The idea for this movie came from Mark and I reckoning with the fact that the payoff of the first movie gave away anything that we would hope to continue as a mystery, Brice told me over coffee in northeast Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife and baby. As they batted around ideas, Brice brought Duplass the work of a video artist that he was a fan of named Laurel Nakadate, who would go make films in the apartments of the men that approached her on the streets of New Haven. She would put herself in these semi-dangerous positions and film herself in a schoolgirl outfit or doing a dance routine to a Britney Spears song in these guys apartments, Brice said. Part of the tension of watching these vignettes she would make is just knowing that shes maybe putting herself in danger. I just thought that would be a great inroad into providing the justification for someone actually spending time with Marks character, and it would allow us to let him be completely honest, and let the audience be in on his honesty. Hopefully, it would also let the audience fear for this person and not be mad at her for sticking around.

The work of Nakadate turns up in Creep 2 as Encounters, a web series in which Sara, played by Desiree Akhavan, answers Craigslist ads posted by lonely men, going to their apartments with the aim of creating intimacy  all of which would be captured by her camera. Unfortunately, these videos end up being less voyeuristically risque and more casually depressing, and Sara becomes desperate for the kind of encounter that might contain the genuine thrill of danger that shes seeking for the series. Enter Duplasss character, now going, curiously, by the name of Aaron, who posts a Craigslist ad that Sara answers.

Right off the bat, Brice and Duplass do away with any possibility of returning to the dynamic of the first film. In the cold open, Duplasss character cuts the throat of a hapless victim played by Karan Soni, making it unambiguous that hes a killer. And in his first seen with Sara, he tells her that hes a serial killer, and that hed like her to make a documentary about him. That was us acknowledging, this guys a killer, Brice says. Hes a lot more manic in this movie, hes a lot more talkative in this movie, hes a lot more forthcoming in this movie with information that may or may not be true, and that was part of what we were trying to do. We wanted to do that thing where were giving you what you want, but it also might not be what you want.

To do that, Brice expanded on the genre melding that played such a major role in the first movie. For the most part, Creep 2 consists of the footage Sara captures on her camera during her encounter with Aaron; Brice often held the camera so that Akhavan could focus on acting. If the first film constantly balanced on the knifes edge between horror and not horror, Creep 2 essentially keeps saying, You think youre watching a horror movie, but youre not.

Jump scares are called out, murder-y setups are acknowledged, and Sara becomes a much different avatar for the audience than your typical horror protagonist. Rather than the object of our fearful concern, the vulnerable damsel in distress  a role that Brices character occupied in the first one  shes the stand-in for our sense of curiosity, questioning why Aaron does what he does, what drives him to it, and whether, after all, hes telling her the truth about being a serial killer. Through the vehicle of her voyeuristic interest, and Aarons openness with her, Brice and Duplass dont just provide the means for making a sequel; they give themselves a completely new blueprint to work from in playing out the interaction between the two characters. Her disbelief is so genuine, and Duplasss honesty so disarming, that you start to wonder whether this all might be some big misunderstanding, an art project gone horribly wrong. In fact, Brice said that audiences at test screenings kept telling him that, like Sara, they didnt believe Aaron was a killer  despite having just watched Aaron kill somebody.

It was like, you saw him point-blank brutally murder someone in the movie! Brice says. But that was nice, because it meant that at least people were onboard and it was working, this weird subterfuge thats going on between these two people.

All of this serves to get around the fact that we know the truth about Aaron. Creep kept asking the question, Could this guy possibly be a serial killer? With that answered, Creep 2 shifts its focus to, Why is this guy a serial killer? In doing so, it delves deeper into the concept of why were interested in serial killers in the first place. (In fact, Creep 2 makes a good double feature with some episodes of David Finchers Mindhunter, also on Netflix.) Brice agrees that, fundamentally, Creep 2 isnt a horror movie: I know its going to be marketed that way, and thats fine, and I know a lot of horror fans like it, and thats great. But when I think of a horror movie, I think about classic horror films. I think this is an experimental film: Thats our mind-set going into them. They feel like weird art movies that are playing with genre, and that genre just happens to be horror.

In fact, Brice feels like Creep 2 is almost closer to romantic comedy than horror  romantic comedy fused with the techniques of Michael Haneke, especially Funny Games and Cache. Of course, to make that work, the character alongside Aaron needed to be just as interesting as he was, and casting a woman in that role further distanced the sequel from the original.

We knew we were wading into dangerous waters even having a female character in this movie, Brice says. Once you put a woman in a horror movie, there are all of these tropes and all this history youre kind of fighting against, or hopefully considering when you make that decision, especially when the killer is a man and the protagonist is a woman. For this movie, I think wanting to have someone who was  not equally as fucked up as the guy, but who definitely had an element of questionable intent was important to us. Because it would do a disservice to that character if we just showed her as an innocent: We had to hopefully create a real core motivation for her being there and also set up a conceit where not only is she there because she has to be, shes there because she wants to be, too.

Casting Akhavan helped address some of these concerns. First of all, shes a writer herself, and she would constantly question the character Brice and Duplass had created and help refine her as they went along. Second, her presence as an actor both connected Creep 2 back to the first movie and pushed it in a direction further away from horror.

One of the pluses, I think, of having Desiree specifically, and also in how it related to me in the first movie too, is just the simple physicality, Brice says. I think Desiree is actually taller than Mark, and I was taller than Mark in the first movie. Desiree is a very strong presence with a very deep voice, and I think having that up against someone like him, the hope was that that would throw people for a loop a little bit in terms of whether or not theyre scared for her in that situation. [Sara] is smart, shes in grad school shes well aware of the situation hes putting herself in.

All of this adds up to a sequel that successfully takes the conclusion of the first movie, a conclusion that other filmmakers mightve seen as complete, and complicates it to a point that opens up countless potential directions for the franchise to go in the future. If Creep wanted you to consider just how far the horror genre could be stretched and still remain horror, Creep 2 freely acknowledges that horror is just the starting point, then delights in stuffing that framework with surprises, digressions, and new ideas, delivering a film thats simultaneously more cerebral and more heightened than its predecessor. At least one thing remains the same between the two films, though.

I feel the exact same way I did before we released the first movie, Brice says. I really have no fucking idea what the public is going to think about it.
In celebration of New York Magazines 50th anniversary, this weekly series, which will continue through October 2018, tells the stories behind key moments that shaped the citys culture.

Twenty-five years ago, on November 18, 1992, the quintessential episode of the quintessential New York sitcom, Seinfeld, aired on NBC for the first time. That episode was called The Contest, and pitted its four principal characters, Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), George (Jason Alexander), Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Kramer (Michael Richards), against each other in a battle of wills to see who could abstain from masturbating for the longest period of time. Famously, the bet and its ramifications were discussed extensively throughout the half hour, without the word masturbation ever being uttered.

It is a significant episode in the shows history for numerous reasons, including the fact that it won an Emmy Award for its writing, by Larry David; a Directors Guild of America award for its directing, by Tom Cherones; and was the buzziest episode in the only season of Seinfeld that ever received an Emmy for outstanding comedy series. Its also the first episode to feature Estelle Harris as Estelle Costanza, Georges mother, a role that would become more prominent in subsequent episodes and prompt Jerry Stiller to join the cast as Georges father, Frank.

More importantly, it was the episode that got people really talking about Seinfeld. Suddenly, this was becoming a show you had to see if you wanted to get the jokes your co-workers were repeating in the break room the next morning. The first time The Contest aired, it was viewed by 18.5 million people, according to Nielsen. When it was rerun on April 29, 1993, with the series having moved to its new post-Cheers Thursday night time slot, 28.8 million people tuned in, making it the third-most-watched program in America that week.

And it all started with George Costanzas ill-advised decision to pick up a Glamour magazine while he was at his parents house. Actually, no: Technically it all started when Larry David made a bet while living in New York in the 1980s and proved he was master of his domain.

Larry David, writer of The Contest: I cant believe I have to discuss this at my ripe age. I would say there was only one other person involved [in the actual contest]. Should I mention his name? I dont even know  my friend Frank Piazza. I dont remember what the bet was. There must have been some money involved. I think it was a small amount. [The contest lasted] two days. Maybe three. I just remember it didnt last very long. I was surprised at how quickly it ended. I won handily, yes.

Kenny Kramer, friend of Larry David, a.k.a. the real Kramer: I wasnt in [the contest] because I knew I would never win it.

David: By the way, [the idea] was in my notebook for some time and I never even mentioned it to Jerry [Seinfeld] because I didnt think there was any way that he would want to do it, and I didnt think there was any way the show actually could get done on the network. So it took me a couple years, you know, to even mention it to Jerry because it didnt even occur to me that it was a possibility. But he was all for it.

Warren Littlefield, former president of NBC: The series always was completely unpredictable, and Jerry and Larry never followed rules, right? They made up their own rules.

When it came time to do the table read for The Contest, no one knew about the subject matter ahead of time. Rick Ludwin, the program executive on the show, he didnt know what was coming.

David: I remember being nervous because the NBC executives were there. I really had this thing going on in my head where, well, if they dont like it, Im just going to quit the show. I really had this built up in my head where, theres no way theyre going to do it and Im just going to quit if they dont do it.

Michael Richards (Kramer): Larry was going to put his whole job on the line. Ive known Larry since we did Fridays together, and thats Larry David. If he believes in something, hes just going to fight for it.

David: As soon as the read-through started, the laughs were huge. Big, satisfying laughs. I would glance at [the executives] faces and they seemed to be enjoying it. You could sense it was a very special show. Then we all walked back to our office afterwards and I think one or two NBC executives were there and they had nothing. They just said, Very funny. And I was shocked.

Littlefield: They read it and it was hilarious. And Rick, as an executive for NBC, knew, Uh-oh, shits going to hit the fan. The broadcast standards executive who was there, was like, What the fuck? And Rick was like, I didnt know!

Then, of course, it came to my desk, where I was like, Okay, just show me the script. I read it quickly, I laughed out loud and said, This is kind of brilliant. I got on the phone with the head of broadcast standards, Dr. Roz Weinman, who worked in New York. And broadcast standards doesnt report to programming, so Im dealing with another arm of the corporation who doesnt answer to me. First of all, she was like, What are you guys doing? Whos flying the plane? How come we didnt know? And I just said, Roz, dont take it personally. Its Seinfeld. We never know, its just wildly unpredictable. Its part of what it is, its their culture. Do we think they may have been hiding this story line? Its possible, but its also their own brilliant chaos.

Kramer: Id been out there [to L.A.] several times and saw the whiteboard. Although The Contest was never on the whiteboard. Did he tell you that?

David: We had this dry-erase board in the office where we would always put upcoming shows on the board. When the executives would come into our office, theyd go, Oh, whats that one about? Whats that one about? For The Contest, I didnt even put it up on the board because I didnt want them to ask me about it.

Littlefield: [Weinman] said, Look, were a little crazed about how this all went down, but I just read it and I have to say theres kind of a pact that Seinfeld has made with their audience, and they do outrageous and unpredictable things. Their characters, their stories, its who they are. And the script, as I remember it, never had the word masturbation in it. It had master of my domain. It had all these euphemisms that were brilliant, but it never said masturbation.

David: That was Jerrys idea from the get-go. He said lets not mention the word. It turned out to be a great idea. I had it in the first draft and he took it out.

Photo: NBC

Tom Cherones, director of The Contest: In the first draft, George had a line about there was some tugging, but that was eventually dropped. It was obvious it wasnt needed.

David: There may have been a couple of things [I had to cut out]. But nothing I couldnt live with.

Littlefield: [Weinman] said, Look, were going to watch this episode and the rewrites, and were going to watch this very carefully. But fundamentally, we think this is not a violation of the pact that this show has established with its audience, as a 9 p.m. comedy. Once she said those words, I knew we were making the episode.

Richards: The Contest, when we were at the table, we knew that was a winner. None of us were like, Gee, I hope this hits, or I hope this was as good as our last show. No way. We knew that show was swinging. Its not a matter of conceit that I say that I knew when I put the money down on the table and go, Im out, that that was going to get a laugh, particularly because its so quick. And whos the first [one out]? Kramer, you know? It made me laugh!

David: That got a roar. That was a huge moment when Kramer came in. That was one of the biggest laughs we ever got, I think.

Cherones: We did not enhance laughs as a comedy usually does in the editing room or the finished mix of the show. We ended up, over the years, taking out more laughs that covered lines, than we did adding laughs. So it was all real. It just happened.

Pete Holmes, producer, writer, and star of HBOs Crashing: Nothing like that had been done on TV before and, honestly, I think at the time I questioned the legality of the episode. When I watched it, I remember feeling strange that grown men still masturbate.

Jessi Klein, comedian and writer for Inside Amy Schumer: I dont remember the first time I saw that specific episode. But I also feel like its possible I missed it [the first time] because I was masturbating.

Holmes: I also remember the episode feeling strangely familiar. As a serious Christian teenager, I was constantly trying to not masturbate. In fact, that was the major issue of my life. So much so that I would place bets with friends to see how long you could go without doing it. Not for money. For holiness. So it was weird to see George doing it. Oh, and Elaine! I had NO IDEA WOMEN DID THAT.

Andrew Goldberg, co-creator of Big Mouth and co-executive producer and writer for Family Guy: When Elaine was out and they were like, I thought youd go into the spring, that was maybe an early girls are horny, too moment for me. Like: Oh. Elaine. Okay.

Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, author of the book Seinfeldia: One of the breakthrough moments for [Elaine] is The Contest because shes in the contest, and she honestly has the best story line of the four. The John F. Kennedy Jr. thing is hilarious. Theres something about it to me where I think, that would actually happen in New York City. Its entirely possible that John F. Kennedy Jr. would be in your aerobics class.

Seinfeld ended in 1998, and Sex and the City started that year, also in New York. I still have this weird fantasy where I want Elaine to meet the Sex and the City girls. I think shed have a better time. Im not saying theyre perfect, but I think it would be a better life choice for her than hanging out with these guys.

David: It was so taboo for network television to do a premise like that. When you hear something for the first time that hasnt been done before, it strikes a chord, I guess.

Littlefield: Sales was like, What are you guys smoking? This is going to be a sales disaster! And I was like, Are you kidding me? They said, Well, were going to have pull-outs from the show. I said, Look, if there is a couple of spots that become available for Seinfeld because of this content, I want to raise the price by 30 percent and go out to the people. The advertisers who have supported the show are desperate to have spots in Seinfeld. You go, guess what? I have a couple avails for this week in Seinfeld. Come on, were not taking a bath on this. Its just not going to happen. You will find someone whos desperate to be in Seinfeld and they dont give a shit about this content. Theyll love it. And yeah, in fact, that happened. Sales was not beaten down and ultimately it went on the air as a brilliant, outrageous, wonderful, classic episode of that show.

From a Washington Post TV column by John Carmody, dated November 23, 1992: A spokesman for NBC said Friday the network switchboard in New York had recorded only 62 viewer complaints following a Seinfeld episode Wednesday about masturbation. Another 32 callers said the episode was great, according to NBC vice president Curt Block, who pointed out the program had been okayed by the networks standards and practices unit.

David: [The show] was always popular, but I think it hit another level after that. There were some other episodes that we did that year  The Outing was one of them. Those two, they ran fairly close together and they created a bit of a stir, I think.

Holmes: What makes this episode so special is its restraint and even its elegance in dealing with something so  carnal? Its about jerking off, but its so much more fun in the confines of network television because it forced the writers to play a very interesting game of censorship versus a real story  and the episode is better for it.

Littlefield: It starts with Georges embarrassing moment with his family. An adult male has been caught by his mom, right? By introducing parents into the series and expanding that and doing this kind of an episode, we went outside of a niche base.

Now youre into a much larger playing field for audiences. Yes, we were an addiction for adults ages 18 to 49, but we were [now] going younger and far older. We were inviting everyone into the tent. So on every level, on every demographic, it became a mainstream hit, because there was something for everyone. Ironic, because early on, it was thought to be too Jewish, too New York.

Klein: I think there is something New York-ish [about the episode]. Theres like a competitive spirit to whos having the worst time.

There is this kind of upside-down pride in how incredibly difficult getting from A to B physically and metaphorically is in that city. Like if you were on the subway and you stepped in barf on a day, like for sure all my friends are going to know about it. Because I had the worst day. And by the way I did step in barf on the subway and I need you guys to know that, and please publish it.

Goldberg: It is that kind of East Coast competitiveness as opposed to that West Coast kind of passive-aggressive competition.

David: Im grateful to NBC for airing the show when I never thought they would. That was the most surprising thing about it.

Keishin Armstrong: This is like peak Seinfeld to me. Thats what I always say. If youre going to watch one episode and understand everything that it does, this is it.

*This article appears in the October 30, 2017 issue of New York Magazine.

Order Highbrow, Lowbrow, Brilliant, Despicable: 50 Years of New York, a celebratory book chronicling the magazines history with powerful images and behind-the-scenes stories from staff and subjects.
Emma Stone and her reported new beau, Dave McCary.

After splitting with Andrew Garfield in 2015, Emma Stone has been quietly dating SNL staffer Dave McCary for months, Page Six reports. A writer and segment director for the show, McCary directed Stone in the Wells for Boys sketch when the actress hosted last year, and, as a longtime friend of SNL cast member Kyle Mooney, hes also the guy who directed Brigsby Bear. Most importantly for you and me, McCary is the third person who works at SNL to be romantically linked to a celebrity recently, after producer Lindsay Shookus captured the heart of Ben Affleck, and Weekend Update anchor Colin Jost kissed Scarlett Johansson multiple times. Three is a trend, baby  tell Darrell Hammond, this season its love from Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center!

Anyway, if youd like to date a famous person, mail your resume to 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 17th floor, New York, NY, 10111.
Miles Teller and Beulah Koale in Thank You for Your Service. Photo: Francois Duhamel/Universal Pictures.

From the moment the three Iraq veterans of Thank You for Your Service put the 1992 Eurodance earworm What Is Love on the jukebox of a bowling alley bar, a line is drawn. The young men go positively buck wild to the song, jumping around with wild abandon, carrying each other around the room in a minicrowd surf, utterly unfazed by the bewilderment of the standard-issue barflies next to them. It takes a while for each of them to consciously reconcile with the fact that they have been permanently changed by their experience in combat; that they are not like everyone else anymore. One of them never does. But this deceptively jubilant moment makes it undeniably clear.

Adam Schumann (Miles Teller), Solo Aieti (Beulah Koale), and Will Waller (Joe Cole) are all returning to their Kansas home after a tour in Iraq that, it is inferred for much of the film, was particularly harrowing. They all grapple with picking their lives back up with varying degrees of obstacles to overcome: Adam feels distanced from his wife and young children, while Will literally is  his fiancee has left him and cleared out their house. But rather than chalk it up to a general post-traumatic miasma, as other films have done, Thank You for Your Service wastes no time getting clinical, as its characters seek out mental-health services and rehabilitation, and frequently run into stalls and red tape in doing so. As its name suggests, Thank You is a very service-y movie, but seeing as how so few films have tackled these issues explicitly, its heart is very much in the right place. (It even nods to early findings that MDMA can help alleviate the symptoms of PTSD, after Solo befriends a local drug dealer.)

Related Stories American Sniper Is Not the Iraq War Film We Need

The film is by first-time director Jason Hall, who also adapted the script from the book of the same name by David Finkel. Halls last film as a writer was Clint Eastwoods runaway hit American Sniper, and Thank You for Your Service comes from a similar wheelhouse. But its far more focused on the emotional and mental implications of homecoming, and keeps scenes of combat always just out of the frame. As with David Gordon Greens Stronger, another tale of fall-movie-season survival, the central trauma that Adam is recovering from isnt shown to us in its entirety until Adam himself comes to terms with it.

Thank You for Your Service is a more critical film than most in this milieu, and its refreshingly honest about mental-health issues. Its victories are as mundane as getting through the line at Veterans Services, or boarding a bus for a treatment facility. Theres not much here to surprise or stir, and if it were a documentary it would likely be accused of not going far enough with its subject. But it doesnt do too much to justify itself as a narrative film, either, stylistically or story-wise. That would seem to be partially the point  that there is no ending with PTSD, that its a process. But unlike the trauma endured by Adam, Solo, and Will, theres not much that lingers on after its over.
From Oedipus El Rey, at the Public. Photo: Joan Marcus

When you enter the Publics Shiva Theater for Oedipus El Rey, the setting of Luis Alfaros transposition of Sophocless tragedy becomes immediately and elegantly clear. The Shiva is a wide, shallow space, and scenic designer Riccardo Hernandez has covered the cinder blocks of the back wall with the kind of ecstatic, haunting mural that might adorn the side of a building in southern Los Angeles: all roses, orange trees, and colorful depictions of angels and the Virgin Mary in the Mexican tradition. In front of the wall are sliding panels made of prison bars, along with two ugly concrete columns. Religion and hard reality sit side by side: the faith of a community and its all-too-frequent fate.

The community in question in this Oedipus is that of the barrios in South Central L.A. Alfaro is meticulous with his geography  in his script he lists the storys locations down to the Zip Code (La Casa: 1324 Toberman Street, Pico-Union, L.A., C.A., 90015). His mission here is twofold: rework a Greek tragedy, and use its themes of fate and free choice to examine the ugly cycle of routine incarceration and gang violence that holds the Chicano neighborhoods of his home city in a suffocating, seemingly unbreakable grip.

His play is more successful in the latter of its aims. As a story about the system (to steal the words of the plays Chorus), its anger is clear and its thrust pointed, even if it tends to favor telling over showing. As a riff on Oedipus Rex, however, the play starts to feel muddled. By changing his focus to the action that takes place before the plot of Sophocles begins, Alfaro inadvertently lowers his own storys stakes, filing the edge off of the deadly dramatic irony that sits at the heart of his source material.

A refresher: Sophocless play begins with the people of Thebes begging their king, Oedipus, to dispel the plague that has fallen on their city by finding and punishing the murderer of the former king, Laius. In his ignorance and his hubris, Oedipus dedicates himself to discovering the murderer and saving the city. Of course, he is the droid hes looking for. He is the long-lost son of King Laius and Queen Jocasta, left for dead as a baby because of a prophecy that said he would kill his father  only to return to Thebes years later as a stranger, bump off Laius in a roadside brawl, marry the kings widow (his own mother), and become the new king.

Sophocless Oedipus has a clear task: Solve the mystery. Find the killer. Alfaros Oedipus  who starts his play as a young man newly released from prison, far from the fateful marriage or kingship that await him  has a much more nebulous drive: to write his own story. Motherfuckers been writing my story since I was born, says one of the ensemble at the plays beginning (they all pass in and out of the Chorus, here individually called Coro). Hes got a story, calling Oedipus out of the group. This cabron wanted to be the one  Yes, a man who wanted to be  something more.

This is well-trod terrain  every Disney protagonist from Mulan to Hercules has had the same basic goal. It doesnt have to feel hackneyed, especially when voices like Alfaros, voices from underheard communities, are speaking out. But often this Oedipus, both play and character, seems flattened out. As Alfaro checks off the boxes of the Greek tragedys backstory  the prophecy, the crippling of baby Oedipuss feet, the oracles, the riddle contest with the Sphinx, the roadside murder of Laius, the marriage to Jocasta, the assumption of Laiuss throne  he tends to drain the source material of its cosmic horror, ending up with a plodding coming-of-age story to which we all know the inevitable end.

As Oedipus, Juan Castano struggles to find depth and passion in a role thats not defined by much save a desire to define himself. Im going to write my own story, he says as he gets out of prison, where he has been raised by this plays Tiresias figure, a surrogate father that he believes is his own (a stoic performance by Julio Monge). I dont got much of a story yet, he confesses to Jocasta when they become lovers. I wanted to make a new story, he rails when he finally learns the truth of his own identity. Its hard to keep speaking  and hearing  lines like these without feeling caught in a kind of thematic hamster wheel. Yes, we know this is the plays supertask, but it would be great if the protagonist werent constantly forced to inform us of it.

Sandra Delgado maintains a focused dignity as Jocasta (though its hard to read her as truly old enough to be Castanos mother), but she too falls victim to a series of on-the-nose dialogues about the Big Ideas at the center of her own play. Its about the old ways here, she tells Oedipus, who affronts the barrio folk with his skepticism. You might think you have the power to make the world you want to make, but theres someone upstairs pulling your strings. You think you got here on your own?  We all got a story that was written for us a long time ago. Were just characters in a book  Our story has already been told.

In earnest back-and-forths like this one between Oedipus and Jocasta, Alfaros characters can end up feeling less like people and more like mouthpieces: In this corner, Destiny! And in this corner, the challenger, Free Will! (This effect isnt aided by director Chay Yews somewhat static staging. His ensemble is playing in a mostly empty space, and though there are some tightly choreographed combat and movement sequences, the physicality in debates between characters often feels a bit ungrounded.) The big ideas hit harder when Alfaro doesnt name them: When Oedipus is leaving prison, Tiresias assures his son that he too will be out soon. How do you know? asks Oedipus, and Tiresias laughs coldly: This is an industry, mijo. Every time someone comes in, a ker-ching ker-ching goes off at the State Capitol. They gotta kick us out so that we can get back in. Over 1 million served.

In roughly the last ten minutes of Oedipus El Rey, Alfaro attempts to pack in the entirety of Oedipus Rex. Tiresias gets out of jail just in time for Oedipus and Jocastas wedding day, rolling into town like a seriously bummer version of Dumbledore, ready to explain it all to our young hero. Its a rushed and confusing climax. How does Tiresias even know about the man Oedipus killed? Why, having just learned that hes sleeping with his own mother, does Oedipus get into a debate with Tiresias over the nature of fatherhood, instead of immediately reacting to the the harrowing truth of himself? Why does this Oedipus force Jocasta to gouge out his eyes, rather than owning his storys climactic act? The dramatic tension hasnt had a chance to build under his surface. So when it comes time for him to experience earth-shattering revelation, he has about 30 seconds to get there, and theres just not enough gas in the tank. Alfaros Oedipus undoubtedly examines a world thats ripe with narrative potential, but tonally, he ends up shrinking the play instead of widening its scope. Thats a pity, since a story like that of Oedipus  Rex or El Rey  should feel infinitely expansive, even as its hero struggles against the prison bars of fate.

Oedipus El Rey is at the Public Theater through December 3.
This Is Us has jokes, you guys. And Im not talking about the Randall Cool Pearson and his wonky jokes. They are hilarious and I will never tire of Beth having to remind her husband that hes not funny, but no, Im talking about the joke This Is Us tries to play on us with this weeks episode title.

When you think of the Brothers associated with This Is Us, its Randall and Kevin. Of all the relationships weve watched develop in multiple timelines, Randall and Kevins has been the most interesting and been given the most screen time. From the excellent season-one outing The Best Washing Machine in the Whole World, in which Kevin and Randall hash out their long-simmering differences in front of Seth Meyers and all of Manhattan, to Kevins rom-com run, Randalls rescue during his nervous breakdown in Jack Pearsons Son, and all the glimpses of the contention between the two boys while they were growing up, This Is Us knows it has something worth mining with Randall and Kevin.

But they arent the only Pearson brothers.

In another patented This Is Us cliffhanger reveal, we learn that Jack Pearson has a brother named Nick. Cue the theme music, because this probably has you feeling all types of feelings. If some people are upset that the show can easily add in new things and toss them in as a reveal or a twist, just to serve the story, I understand. Thats going to be a tricky obstacle for the series as it continues, but thankfully, this one works. Its both genuinely surprising and adds some much-needed character development to the mix.

Jack decides to take Little Kevin and Little Randall on a camping trip to see if he can help his sons bond  well, its mostly about making Kevin be nicer to Randall, because he can be a real jerk. Jack wants Kevin to understand that his relationship with his brother is one of the most important of his life, and that they will depend on each other more than anyone else in the world. (This obviously has much more meaning once we learn about Jacks own brother.)

Meanwhile, back at the Pearson house, Rebecca gets a call from Jacks fathers nursing home: Stanley is dying. Since Rebecca cant get in touch with Jack, she and Kate go to the nursing home. There, she finds a ghost of a man. The Stanley who Rebecca meets is in stark contrast to the Stanley with whom weve seen Jack do battle, or the Stanley who weve been watching in the episodes flashback to a time when he took Little Jack on a fishing trip. (He stops at a bar and leaves Jack in the truck by himself for a long time  long enough for Jack to whisper to himself, Hes coming back, over and over.)

Rebecca finally gets a hold of Jack through the park ranger and asks him if he wants to come back to see his father before he dies. There are so many emotions going through his face (get yours, Milo!), but he says no. Hes staying with his sons. His father has been dead to him for a long time. Rebecca has to tell Stanley that his son isnt coming, and she also tells him that Jack is a better, stronger father despite Stanley. Boy, bye.

Back at the campsite, we see Jacks parenting skills at work. Little Kevin has found Randalls notebook that basically outlines how to not piss off his brother, and that heartbreaking realization, paired with Jacks talk, helps Kevin pull himself together enough to be nice to Randall for the duration of the camping trip. Whether he knows it or not, Jack is helping his boys form a bond that theyll both need as adults. (Like, really, really need.)

But Jack doesnt get to celebrate his win: He cant sleep. His fathers death and his time with his sons have stirred something in him. In the fishing-trip flashback, Little Jack is still waiting for his dad to come back when a boy wakes up in the backseat. Its his brother. When Nicky seems worried about being forgotten, Jack reassures him that he isnt going anywhere. When Adult Jack told his sons that brothers depend on one another, he was speaking from experience. And then the real kicker: Adult Jack sneaks into the garage and pulls out an old photo of him standing next to his brother  while they were overseas in Vietnam.

We always knew wed need to explore Jacks time in Vietnam, but now we feel even more urgency to do so. Did Nick die over there? Is his brother one of Jacks demons? How does all of this play into his relationship with his father and his addictions? As usual, more clues lead to more questions. Im a fan of any Jack development that has less to do with how he died and more about how he lived. And this development feels very important to who Jack is.

Adult Kevin and Randall get some brotherly bonding time as well. A month into her time at the Pearson house, Deja is still doing her standoffish thing, so when she expresses interest in attending a charity gala Kevin is going to for Sophie, Randall jumps at the chance to have an evening with his foster child. It doesnt even bug him that the only reason she wants to go is because she is hardcore crushing on Kevin. Okay, it does bug him. A lot. But hell take the bonding where he can get it.

Deja seems to be enjoying herself, so Randall is, too. The happiness on his face as he watches Deja try shrimp for the first time is almost too much. Of course that abruptly ends when he sees Deja go to eat the tail, and he grabs her hand to stop her. It startles her, and she runs off to the bathroom. Randall does his best to stop himself from running into the ladies room after Deja, but even Kevin, who comes to wait beside his brother, knows there is no stopping him. They have a chat as they wait for the inevitable: Randall feels too much, whereas Kevin tries not to feel anything. Kevin is good with people, Randall is overwhelming. The shot of these two brothers standing next to one another is perfection.

Randall goes in to see Deja. Eventually, she opens up a little: She doesnt like to be grabbed. She tells Randall a story about being abused in one of her old foster homes, and it finally dawns on Randall how real and complicated this situation is. He sees how much pain Dejas been through. Its a baby step toward having a real relationship, but a necessary one.

Heres the big question: Now that Randall is consumed by Deja, and Kate is off in Los Angeles panicking about her pregnancy, who is going to notice Kevin having a complete meltdown? He spends the episode attempting to get more Vicodin from doctors, getting wasted at the gala, and embarrassing Sophie when he fails to show up for his portion of the auction. Sophie calls Kevin out for being weird since returning from L.A., Randall catches a hint of something off during their bathroom scene (but doesnt press the matter), and Kate seems too busy to tune into her twin-tuition. Kevin is in a bad place and it is only getting worse. Someone needs to notice him, quick. Oh, you guys, I am already tearing up thinking about a Big Three intervention hug.

This Is the Rest

 A pro for Kates pregnancy: Two very nice Kate moments. First, Chrissy Metz navigates a speech that is rife with competing emotions  mainly hope and fear  as only Chrissy Metz can. Second, the delightful interaction between Kate and Madison, the annoying thin girl at weight group. Moments after fighting in the parking lot, they get into a fender bender and Kate ends up telling Madison about her pregnancy. Madison couldnt be happier for her. Their dynamic is very entertaining.

 A con for Kates pregnancy: Toby acts exactly as you would expect once Kate gives him permission to tell people that shes pregnant. Okay, well, no one couldve guessed that he would do an homage to Flashdance in a coffeeshop, but you get the picture. This dude is going to be so annoying as a father.

 Episode titles of The Man-ny: Iron Man-ny, The Thin Man-ny, Man-ny Get Your Gun, Of Mice and Man-nies, and Man-ny Pedi.

 You down with DQ? Randall is the hottest nerd.

 Beth calls Sophies hospital charity gala a Kev-ent and nothing could be truer. She also calls Kevin smoking hot when trying to explain Dejas infatuation to Randall, who is not pleased by any of this at all.

 Kevin asks Randall if hes jealous that the charity is auctioning off a date with the Man-ny. Randalls response: No black man will ever be jealous of being auctioned. Hashtag American history.
Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos Courtesy of the Studios and Getty Images

This list was originally published in 2017 as part of Vultures Witch Week. Weve added more movies and were republishing in honor of Hocus Pocus 2.

If youre a horror-movie aficionado, youve seen more vampires, werewolves, zombies, and serial killers than you could shake a stick, stake, silver bullet, or arrest warrant at. Isnt it high time that the witches of cinema also get the acclaim they deserve? A great witch movie is inherently compelling because its driven by a person  a woman, usually  who refuses to behave the way that society demands. What makes witch movies so fascinating as a collection, though, is their wide variety of tones and messages. Whether youre into the fun-for-all-ages allure of Hocus Pocus (and its sequel, now on Disney+) or the blood-spewing charms of Black Sunday, somewhere out there is a pointy hat and broomstick thatll fit you just right. (No disrespect to the wizards and witches of Hogwarts, but youll find this is a Harry Potterfree zone. For that, we kindly direct your attention to the rest of pop culture.)

Below, Vulture makes the case for the 21 best witch flicks ever made. Like witches themselves, these movies resist easy classification: Here youll find selections from horror and comedy, as well as entries that blend or defy both genres. But all are strange, surprising, and at least a little dangerous. Wouldst thou like to watch deliciously?

Haxan (1922)

This haunting Swedish Danish silent film is part historical survey of medieval witchcraft and witch hunts, part dramatic re-creations thereof. With its groundbreaking use of stop-motion animation, double exposures, and other effects, the ominous and surrealist imagery of Haxan (Swedish for witch) remains indelible a century later. The film was originally banned in the U.S. for its explicit content because Americans were apparently less than thrilled to watch witches whip up a batch of unbaptized-baby stew or literally kiss Satans ass. Writer-director Benjamin Christensen  who acts in the film as both the Devil and Jesus  frames witch hunts as a mass social injustice borne out of ignorance, perpetrated in particular against the mentally ill.

Available to rent on Prime Video

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

An obvious choice, but for good reason. There is no spell-caster on film more iconic than Margaret Hamiltons Wicked Witch of the West, a role which left her with second- and third-degree burns in a production mishap and which required her to wear green makeup that contained toxic copper oxide. Even through all that suffering, Hamilton (who, by the way, was nearly two decades younger than Billie Burke, a.k.a. Glinda the Good Witch) made being wicked look like a lot of fun. But we almost didnt get to enjoy this vision of evil at all: The Wicked Witch of the West is a fairly minor character in the L. Frank Baum books, in which she is broomless and un-green. Even the film version of the character was intended to be glamorous at first, with actress Gale Sondergaard originally cast as a Snow Whites Evil Queenstyle figure, clad in black sequins and fake lashes longer than the Yellow Brick Road. Today, Hamiltons artfully unappealing weirdo is precisely what we think of when we think of a witch: When children wear a witch costume for Halloween, its really a reflection of her that theyre imitating. Wicked is great and all, but the Wicked Witch requires no revisionist history to make you want to root for her. Only bad witches are ugly, says Glinda  who is kind of a jerk, honestly  but we submit that good witches are boring as hell.

Available to stream on HBO Max

I Married a Witch (1942)

Along with Bell, Book and Candle, this witty screwball comedy helped inspire the TV series Bewitched. Jennifer (Veronica Lake) and her father are burned at the stake as witches in Salem, but not before she curses their Puritan accuser Jonathan Wooley (Fredric March) and his descendants to suffer miserable marriages. Hundreds of years later, the two witches spirits escape, and Jennifer takes it upon herself to personally ensure the anguish of the latest man in the Wooley family line, Wallace (also March), who is running for governor of Massachusetts and about to be married. She assumes human form as an effervescent, banister-sliding seductress and sets out to ruin his life and seduce him away from his intended bride. Her plan derails when she accidentally consumes the love potion shed intended for him and finds herself hopelessly besotted with her sworn enemy. Veronica Lakes charms are already irresistible without any need for performance-enhancing magic, and the romance is sweet, despite the fact that she and Fredric March reportedly loathed one another in real life.

Available to stream on HBO Max

Bell, Book and Candle (1958)

In this Kim NovakJimmy Stewart rom-com (basically the opposite of Vertigo, which came out six months earlier), a Manhattanite witch puts a love spell on her neighbor so he wont marry her insufferable college nemesis. But the plan backfires spectacularly when she winds up falling head over broomstick for the guy  even though witches who fall in love lose their powers. Its worth watching for Jack Lemmons performance as a bongo-playing warlock alone.

Available to stream on the Criterion Channel

Black Sunday (1960)

Widely censored after its release  and outright banned in the United Kingdom  Mario Bavas influential masterpiece is rendered in stark yet stunning black and white. A long-ago executed witch rises from the dead, hell-bent on revenge, in a visual feast of castles and coffins and gore. Even today, the imagery is arresting, if not downright stomach-turning. This isnt a movie for the squeamish: In the opening sequence, a spiked mask is hammered onto star Barbara Steeles head, and later, scorpions crawl out of her grotesque, semi-preserved face.

Available to stream on AMC+

Rosemarys Baby (1968)

Roman Polanskis adaptation of the novel by Ira Levin is one of the only films on this list (besides Haxan and I Married a Witch) that youll find in the Criterion Collection, but this horror movies fancy pedigree doesnt make it any less viscerally upsetting. Rosemarys Baby forever raised the bar for terrible neighbors. With her husbands cooperation, a coven of Devil-worshipping ghouls occupy an Upper West Side apartment building and conspire to have a young woman Rosemary (Mia Farrow) raped and impregnated by Satan himself. Four out of five obstetricians agree that you should not accept prenatal vitamin drinks from the spooky lady down the hall (played by Ruth Gordon, in an Oscar-winning performance), especially if there is a nonzero chance your unborn child could be the Antichrist. Half a century later, the movies legacy is more potent than ever: Jordan Peele cited Rosemarys Baby as a key inspiration for Get Out, and snippets of Rosemarys dialogue were sampled on SZAs EP S.

Available to stream on Showtime

Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)

Angela Lansbury, human UNESCO site, stars in this hybrid live-action-animated musical that feels like Mary Poppins reached deep within her carpet bag and pulled out a tab of acid. (The similarities are more than coincidental: The two Disney projects share director Robert Stevenson, a scrapped song from Mary Poppins found its way into Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and Julie Andrews was even originally offered the lead role.) Amid WWII, three Cockney orphans are evacuated from London to a sleepy English village where they are placed in the care of Eglantine Price (Lansbury, who as a teenager fled London during the Blitz herself), an apprentice witch eagerly studying a magic correspondence course. The delightful Oscar-winning visual effects combine techniques like the sodium vapor process and wirework to give life to Eglantines psychedelic flying bed and other inanimate-no-longer objects. Shoes are charmed into tap-dancing and nightgowns into waltzing. Bedknobs is also, lo and behold, an explicitly anti-fascist movie: Eglantine, a staunch supporter of the war effort, magically animates antique arms and armor housed in a museum to fight off literal Nazis. Keep calm and carry on.

Available to stream on Disney+

Suspiria (1977)

In Suspiria, an American woman travels to Germany to enroll in a renowned dance academy, only to discover the ballet school is a front for a sinister coven. But the plot hardly matters because this is one of the most singularly beautiful movies youll ever see. Better yet, Dario Argentos luscious Technicolor fever dream is paired with an equally iconic prog-rock score by Goblin. See also: Luca Guadagninos 2018 Suspiria, an arthouse body-horror update on the original featuring limb-crunching choreography, Tilda Swinton, Tilda Swinton, and  oh, yeah  Tilda Swinton.

Available to stream on Tubi

The Worst Witch (1986)

Okay, you got us  this British TV movie snuck its way onto the list as really more of an honorable mention. Sure, seeing baby Fairuza Balk wreak havoc at a boarding school for young witches makes The Worst Witch a worthy companion piece to The Craft, but its entire existence is more than justified by a single three-minute sequence. The Grand Wizard (eternal Halloween heartthrob Tim Curry, who, to his credit, is nothing if not committed) serenades a rapt audience of young witches in the synth-laden Halloween Song, accompanied by no shortage of the exact level of green-screen effects youd expected from a British TV movie in 1986:

Anything can happen on Halloween

Your dog could turn into a cat

There may be a toad in your bass guitar

Or your sister could turn into a bat

These are among the better lyrics. It must be seen to be believed.

The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

Three best friends  Michelle Pfeiffer (!), Susan Sarandon (!!), and Cher (!!!)  bond over their fantasies of a dream man, only for him to appear in the form of the mysterious, appealingly sinister Daryl Van Horne (Jack Nicholson). Its a classic story: Boy meets girl, boy seduces girl, boy meets and seduces the other two girls, boy is almost certainly the Devil, all three girls finally realize theyve been witches this entire time. Also, as Racked once argued, this horror comedys aesthetics are extremely on point.

Kikis Delivery Service (1989)

This Hayao Miyazaki animated feature was one of the very first movies from Studio Ghibli, the beloved Japanese anime powerhouse known for building worlds full of magic, possibility, and wonder that are populated with bold, adventurous children (particularly girls). The kid-friendly film centers on 13-year-old witch Kiki, who leaves home with her familiar spirit black cat and starts a delivery business via her broomstick. Magic powers aside, Kikis Delivery Service is a sweet story about a girl on the precipice of adulthood, learning to make her way in the world and rely on herself. Witches: Theyre just like us!

Available to stream on HBO Max

Teen Witch (1989)

In what could have easily been titled Teen Wolf for Girls, shy Louise (played by Blakes big sister Robyn Lively) learns shes a reincarnated witch and gains magical powers on her 16th birthday  which she promptly employs to become the most popular girl in school and win the attention of her crush. Nothing about Teen Witch is more magical than horror icon Zelda Rubinstein as the psychic who clocks Louises past life, but the very 80s fashion is a close second: shoulder pads, bedazzled denim, tutus, perilously high-cut leotards. The cult favorite has spawned Rocky Horror style live singalong screenings thanks to an incomparably strange soundtrack  consider the self-explanatory I Like Boys, or Top That, the best-worst magical rap song in film history. To date, anyway.

The Witches (1990)

Based on the Roald Dahl novel of the same name (and remade in 2020 starring Anne Hathaway), The Witches is far more disturbing than your average family movie, which is precisely why its so great. It suggests to kids that any woman could in fact be a witch  a witch who is plotting your demise at this very moment. A little boy stumbles upon a convention of murderous, child-hating witches who keep their scabby bald heads and gruesome claws (the work of Jim Hensons Creature Shop) hidden beneath wigs and gloves. Anjelica Huston stars as the Grand High Witch, who speaks in an ambiguously European accent and is, therefore, unambiguously evil.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

In recent years, Hocus Pocus has become a cult-classic Halloween mainstay, ruling the airwaves as dominantly as A Christmas Story does in December. Theres a good reason for that: Its the perfect Halloween movie, and a must-watch for aspiring young witches. The Sanderson Sisters  played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy  are resurrected 300 years after their deaths to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting trick-or-treaters of Salem, Massachusetts. Also in the mix are a centuries-old talking cat that contains the soul of a boy enchanted by the witches, 11-year-old Thora Birch, a zombie, and an all-time great cover of I Put a Spell on You.

Available to stream on Disney+

The Craft (1996)

Do your favorite tenth-grader a solid and slip her a copy of The Craft while she works on her umpteenth essay about The Crucible. This 90s horror flick about a coven of high-school outcasts holds up quite well, as does its dark brand of girl power. And I do mean dark: not just in terms of the rites to Manon performed by the girls, but also the films grappling with serious issues like suicide and rape. Robin Tunney is technically the lead character as bland white witch Sarah, and sister sorceresses Neve Campbell and Rachel True are both delightful as Bonnie and Rochelle, but make no mistake, this is Fairuza Balks movie. Shes all blue eyes and snarl as the unhinged Nancy, for whose friendship I would gladly drop a small fortune at Hot Topic, even if itd end with her trying to kill me.

Available to stream on Paramount+

Eves Bayou (1997)

This gorgeous southern gothic drama, set in 1960s Louisiana and directed by Kasi Lemmons, is a moody meditation on family, mysticism, and sex. Ten-year-old Eve (Jurnee Smollett) witnesses her womanizing doctor father (Samuel L. Jackson) cheating on her mother. After turning to her fortune-telling aunt for guidance  and following a drunken, hazily understood act of violence  Eve seeks out a local voodoo practitioner (Diahann Carroll) for revenge.

Available to rent on Prime Video

Practical Magic (1998)

Do you ever stop and think about how lucky humankind is that a movie exists in which Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman play eccentric, modern-day sister witches? Well, thank the Goddess for Practical Magic. Widowed mother Sally (Bullock) is reserved but powerful; Gillian (Kidman) is an irresistible free spirit. After killing Gillians abusive boyfriend Jimmy  who is also a serial killer because sure, why not?  the women flee to the sleepy Massachusetts town where they grew up. A handsome law enforcement officer (Aidan Quinn) soon shows up their doorstep, and so does Jimmys vengeful spirit. Bonus: Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest steal scenes as Sally and Gillians goofy, blender-enchanting aunts!

Available to stream on HBO Max

Halloweentown (1998)

What accounting of great cinema would be complete without at least one Disney Channel Original Movie? Thirteen-year-old Marnie Cromwell discovers shes the half-human heiress to a grand family legacy of witchcraft in Halloweentown  a realm inhabited by all manner of monsters from which a portal to the mortal world only opens on October 31. Against her mothers wishes, Marnie follows her grandmother, Agatha (Debbie Reynolds), to Halloweentown to begin her magical training. This high-camp, low-budget nostalgia trip has ridden the Windsweeper 5000 to cult status in the decades since its premiere. The Cromwell witches are certainly the main attraction, but a large part of Halloweentowns oddball, Spirit Halloween clearance-rack appeal is the admirable diversity among its population: A local census would enumerate vampires, elves, trolls, goblins, golems, werecats, an animatronic taxi-driving skeleton cabbie, and at least one hybrid plant-woman. Who wouldnt want to visit a spooky utopia where all manner of freaks are made to feel welcome? As Agatha says, Being normal is vastly overrated.

Available to stream on Disney+

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

The foremother of the found-footage genre follows three filmmakers lost in the Black Hills Forest, seeking out the strange old woman whos rumored to haunt the woods. Lets just say it doesnt end well for them. Blair Witch was a global phenomenon, with a viral marketing campaign that suggested the actors were actually missing and presumed dead. But for all its parodies and pop-culture overexposure, the movie is still scary as hell. That said, youd be well advised to skip the sequels, and the poor townspeople of Burkittsville, Maryland, would strongly prefer if you left them alone.

Available to stream on HBO Max

The Love Witch (2016)

After a woman flees the investigation into her husbands suspicious death in San Francisco for the California coast, she takes up residence in an apartment in a gothic mansion decorated to resemble her beloved tarot deck. There, she embarks on a single-minded pursuit of potion-enhanced love and lust, with all the seduction interrupted only by the occasional murder. Auteur Anna Biller  who wrote, directed, and produced The Love Witch, in addition to serving as its editor, production designer, costume designer, and composer  painstakingly crafted this gloriously 60s-exploitation movie turned feminist satire, heavy on retro glamour and sensuality.

The Witch (2016)

This A24 gem is a slow burn with a heart-stopping ending. Set in 17th-century New England, a family of religious exiles grow suspicious of their teenage daughter after her newborn brother is mysteriously abducted. Its tough to say which idea in The Witch is more frightening to confront: the evil that lurks in the dark woods, or the paranoia and suspicion that seizes the secluded farmstead? If you should come upon a goat named Black Phillip, tell him we say hi.
The Policy Board of the Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday in the South Waco Community Center, 2815 Speight Ave.

A formal public hearing will be conducted regarding approval of Resolution 2017-2: Adoption of the Title VI Program and Implementation Plan for the Waco Urbanized Area.

Information on the resolution and the rest of the meeting agenda are available at www.waco-texas.com/cms-mpo/.

People with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need auxiliary aids or services should contact the MPO at 750-5651 at least 24 hours before the meeting so arrangements can be made.

Coffee with Reicher principals

Reicher Catholic High School will have a Coffee with the Principal session 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Thursday at 2102 N. 23rd St.

Current and prospective Reicher parents are welcome to meet with principal Mandy Taylor and new vice-principal Ed Miller.

Call 752-8349 for more information.

Diabetes management

The Area Agency on Aging is hosting a six-week class on Type 2 diabetes management, starting Nov. 13 at the Heart of Texas Council of Governments Building, 1514 S. New Road.

Registration is open, and the class is limited to 16 participants. Call 292-1855 for more information.

Parkinsons information

Parkinson Support Group will have an informational meeting on the menu of Parkinsons treatments at 3 p.m. Thursday at Community Fellowship Church, 2001 N. Valley Mills Drive.

Alex Armitage, a movement disorder nurse practitioner, will be the speaker.

The event is open to everyone, and no reservations are required. For more information, call 772-0263.
A growing Florida-based chain called Pet Supermarket will place a store in Waco to anchor a 14,000-square-foot retail center near Lake Air and Valley Mills drives and the H-E-B on Wooded Acres Drive.

They approached us about their plans to develop sites in Texas, and wanted to be in Waco, said Eric Walker, a partner in Houston-based Capital Retail Properties, which brokered the deal on the land.

Pet Supermarket will take 8,000 to 9,000 square feet in the center, which will rise on 1.4 acres that became available for development when the old Richard Karr Motors location was demolished and the dealership moved to West Loop 340 on Wacos Motor Mile. A Whataburger was built elsewhere on the cleared site.

Waco real estate agent Brad Davis represented group that sold the land, Weaver GP LLC, a partnership named after longtime Waco car dealer Frank Weaver, who operated a Pontiac dealership on the site for decades.

I think the key to this deal was Pet Supermarkets desire to locate near the H-E-B, Davis said. I understand they prefer sites near grocery stores.

Walker said the chain is planning store openings in larger markets around Texas, including Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Waco is gaining a reputation statewide as a hot retail market, and he has two or three other prospects wanting to join Pet Supermarket in the city, he said.

Pet Business Magazine last year placed Pet Supermarket sixth on its list of top pet retailers in the country. Pet Supermarkets 159 stores put it behind Arizona-based PetSmarts 1,433 stores and California-based Petcos 1,292 stores, both of which have locations in Greater Waco. Others ranked ahead of Pet Supermarket were Pet Valu, Pet Supplies Plus and Global Pet Foods, according to the list.

Walker said the Pet Supermarket chain is approaching 200 stores as it expands outside the Southeast. Some may consider its merchandise upscale, he said.

Pet Supermarket sells more than 10,000 pet-care products, including food, toys, medicine and clothing, through its website and in its stores, according to an online profile by business research firm Hoovers. Stores also offer vaccinations for dogs, cats and ferrets and sell a variety of small animals including hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and tropical fish, according to the site.

The company also hosts adoptions and related events to promote animal welfare, and customers are welcome to shop in Pet Supermarket stores with their pets, according to Hoovers.

The company website said the chain was founded in 1973 as Pet Circus, and the family-owned company became Pet Supermarket in 1986.

Don Bland, executive director of the Humane Society of Central Texas, said he welcomes the arrival of Pet Supermarket to the community.

PetSmart and Petco are wonderful supporters of animal shelters, and I hope this company is as philanthropic as its counterparts, Bland said. Anything that helps animals is a plus, and maybe Pet Supermarket will embed itself in the community and help the Humane Society and Waco Animal Shelter to save as many lives as possible.

Calls and email messages to Pet Supermarket seeking comment were not returned by late afternoon Wednesday.

Walker said Pet Supermarket likely will open early in 2018.
A biker with a big yellow helmet who appeared to be in charge pulled out a long, Dirty Harry-type pistol and fired the first shot in the May 2015 Twin Peaks biker brawl, a former Twin Peaks employee testified Tuesday.

While testimony thus far has not revealed who was wearing the big yellow helmet, previous video and photographic evidence presented by the state show Jacob Carrizal leading a band of Bandidos into Twin Peaks while riding a shiny blue motorcycle and wearing a yellow helmet.

Also, a CNN special on the one-year anniversary of the shootout featured an interview with Carrizal, who said he was punched by a Cossack seconds after he pulled up. A CNN announcer identifies Carrizal on video footage as the biker leading the group into Twin Peaks and wearing a yellow helmet.

It is unclear how many other bikers were wearing yellow helmets that day.

Prosecutors Amanda Dillon and Michael Jarrett declined to say after trial recessed Tuesday if they will prove that Carrizal was the one in the yellow helmet who fired the first shot that day.

Carrizal, 35, president of the Dallas Bandidos chapter, is on trial in Wacos 54th State District Court, charged with directing the activities of a criminal street gang and two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity in the melee that left nine bikers dead and about 20 injured.

In 10th-day testimony, Shaniqua Corsey, a home health care provider who worked a second job at Twin Peaks, told the jury that that the man wearing the big yellow helmet, as she put it, was surrounded by Cossacks in the parking lot when an argument ensued.

Other witnesses said a punch was thrown before the shooting started. Corsey, who said she was told when she arrived at work that morning that there was going to be a biker peace rally at Twin Peaks that day, said she went out the back of the restaurant to check out the motorcycles.

She said she saw bikers gathered around in a fight circle and arguing. Suddenly, she said, the man in the yellow helmet pulled out a large handgun that she described as a long, Dirty Harry-type pistol and shot a biker standing in front of him.

Photos introduced by prosecutors show a dead biker lying near Carrizals overturned blue motorcycle at the epicenter of where the violence erupted.

Corsey said her attention was focused on the biker in the yellow helmet because he was arguing and appeared to be the one in charge.

I just stood there awhile, kind of stupidly thinking, Did that really just happen? Then I heard more shots and realized it was time to get out of there, she said.

Corsey and other Twin Peaks employees ran to the back and took shelter in large, walk-in coolers. They stayed there until police came and escorted them out of the building.

Through her questioning, Carrizals attorney, Casie Gotro, is trying to show that the Cossacks were the aggressors that day, setting a trap for the Bandidos at Twin Peaks and ambushing them before Carrizal and his group had a chance to park their motorcycles.

In other testimony Tuesday, Waco police Officer Michael Bucher, a 13-year veteran and SWAT team member, said he and fellow SWAT team member Heath Jackson were riding together that day and were discussing what they would do if a fight broke out. During their discussion, Bucher saw a punch thrown from the area outside the patio, he said.

He said both officers got out with the intent to deploy tear gas when the first shot rang out, followed by a barrage that lasted several minutes.

Bucher, an Army veteran who served in Iraq and is familiar with combat scenes, took cover behind the door of his SUV while a round struck the top of the door Jackson was exiting. Jackson testified Monday that he shot four bikers who were pointing guns at the officers or other bikers.

Bucher said he could hear rounds flying over their heads as he scanned the crowd through the scope of his rifle. He said he saw a man with a gun and fired. He said he next saw a man swinging a large chain and shot him. Next, he shot a man with a gun in the center of the crowd, he said.

Later, he assisted other officers with rounding up weapons, securing the crime scene and interviewing bikers.

Bucher, Jackson and officer Andy ONeal were cleared of wrongdoing by a McLennan County grand jury last year for their roles in the shooting. Witnesses have said their actions saved innocent lives that day.

Former Waco Police Chief Brent Stroman has said the three officers fired a total of 12 shots at Twin Peaks.

Waco police Special Crimes Unit Detective Melissa Thompson said she interviewed Carrizal later that night at the Waco Convention Center and took his photo. She said one photo appears to show a red mark on his forehead, and his Bandidos vest showed evidence that he had been in a scuffle.

Jarrett held up a long-sleeve shirt Carrizal wore that day that says Bandidos and Dallas on it. His vest featured patches that indicate he is second-generation Bandidos, a 1 percenter and chapter vice president. Carrizal has since been promoted to president of the Dallas chapter.

His father, Christopher Julian Carrizal, was wounded in the right shoulder at Twin Peaks and remains under indictment in the case.

Waco police crime scene technician Joyce Marek said she went to the hospital to take photos of bikers there and to take DNA samples and perform gunshot-residue tests.

While Dillon posted photos on the courts overhead projector, Marek described injuries suffered by 15 bikers, including Richard Kirshner, who was dead in the photo, and Carrizals father.

In the days following the incident, Marek said she processed bikes and vehicles impounded by police.

She said on the dash of Carrizals fathers motorcycle was a sticker that said, I do gang things. She said she also found a pistol in the saddlebags of the bike.

Before recessing the jury Tuesday afternoon, Judge Matt Johnson told the panel that the trial likely would conclude by the middle of next week.

Prosecution testimony resumes Wednesday morning.
Jacob Carrizal, the president of the Dallas chapter of the Bandido motorcycle group, is the first of more than 150 bikers indicted in the deadly May 17, 2015, shootout at the former Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco to stand trial for his alleged role in the melee. Nine people were killed and dozens more were injured in the brawl and shootout between rival biker groups and their support clubs.
Dallas attorney Clint Broden believes McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna has violated a gag order issued Monday and should be held in contempt of court, according to a motion Broden filed Tuesday.

Broden represents Matthew Clendennen, of Hewitt, the second defendant scheduled to go to trial in the 2015 Twin Peaks biker shootout.

Broden filed a motion Tuesday asking the court to show why Reyna should not be held in contempt for violating a gag order Senior Judge Doug Shaver, of Houston, issued Monday, barring communication with media outlets regarding Clendennens case, which is scheduled to go to trial Nov. 6. The filing states Shaver issued an oral gag order at about noon Monday.

In the filing, Broden says Reyna continues to violate the courts order by making comments to members of the media and keeping a Facebook post up responding to Brodens previous claim that Reyna is under FBI investigation.

It makes a mockery of the gag order, an order requested by Reynas office, for Reyna to simply post statements to his Facebook page and give the press access to the page so contents of the statement can then be reported in the press, Broden states in the motion.

Broden also alleges Reyna violated the gag order in comments to local TV stations after 5 p.m. Monday, when Reyna had left the trial of Jacob Carrizal for the day. Carrizals trial, the first in the Twin Peaks shootout, is ongoing.

Clendennen, a former member of the Scimitars group, is one of 154 men indicted in the May 17, 2015, shootout that left nine dead and more than a dozen injured. He is scheduled to go to trial Nov. 6, although prosecutors have requested a continuance.

Broden is fighting against the delay, saying his clients right to a speedy trial has already been violated.

In a second motion filed Tuesday, Broden requests the court impose sanctions against Reynas first assistant, Michael Jarrett. The filing states Jarrett was ordered to produce a realistic witness list to the defense at least 20 days before trial, but Broden states he was not given any kind of witness list on or before Sept. 17.
Waco Independent School District has about 90 days to come up with a game plan to address five struggling schools, or the state could take it to mean the district isnt pursuing its options for keeping the campuses open next school year, Superintendent A. Marcus Nelson announced Monday night.

This is more important than anything you want to talk about in Waco, Nelson said. What were doing to deal with our inner-city schools is the most important thing we should think about in the terms of the future of our city.

Because of a law passed in 2015, Waco ISD is one of at least four large school districts in Texas with four or more campuses facing closure in 2018, according to the Houston Chronicle. But a law passed this year gives those districts a chance to come up with an alternative plan, and Waco ISD has until February, Nelson said. He rolled out several ideas to residents Monday during the first of three community meetings about issue.

Alta Vista Elementary School, Brook Avenue Elementary School, J.H. Hines Elementary School, G.W. Carver Middle School and Indian Spring Middle School have failed state academic standards for five consecutive years or more, the states legal threshold to close a campus.

If the five schools dont meet state accountability ratings in May, the 2015 law requires the campuses to close or the districts elected school board to be replaced with state appointees, according to a recent warning letter Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath sent the district. But Texas Education Agency officials recently told the district replacing the school board isnt an option because the board is doing what it should, Nelson said.

This means the future of the district relies on whatever plan the school board can approve by January under the new law and submit to the state for approval by late February, spokesman Kyle DeBeer said.

Under the new law, Waco ISD can repurpose schools with a new campus ID number, effectively making them new schools, create partnerships with a for-profit charter school or create a partnership with a nonprofit group, DeBeer said.

But partnering with a charter school is off the table, too, Nelson said.

If youve heard about the privatization of public education, here it is, Nelson said. Five schools go to a charter network and no longer report to this board of trustees.  We would reduce our budget by all those teachers, all those kids, and in my humble opinion, begin the end of Waco ISD.

5 Waco ISD campuses start year with accountability warning from TEA Five of Waco Independent School Districts six struggling schools started the school year wi

This summer, Nelson and board President Pat Atkins were informed by state officials that if the district gave the five schools to charters, the district would receive $3 million per school to fund the transition, DeBeer said. Half the money would come from TEA and half from the U.S. Department of Education, he said.

If the TEA approves partnering with a nonprofit, the commissioner isnt allowed to do anything to the school during its first year in the partnership, which could possibly give the campuses two years of leeway to improve scores, DeBeer said.

Closing schools is not an option for me. It will never be recommended from my office to the board of trustees that we just close schools and deal with them, Nelson said. Im looking at our principals already, and they can tell you, that only leaves one option. Thats for us to make it.

The five campuses serve an estimated total of 2,400 students. The district is also considering making both middle schools single-gender campuses, creating a sixth grade center and realigning J.H. Hines and South Waco Elementary to serve prekindergarten through second grade, while Alta Vista and Brook Avenue could be realigned to serve third through fifth grade, Nelson said.

Terrill Saxon, Baylor University School of Education interim dean, asked Nelson what tools he implemented in Laredo ISD, before Nelson started with Waco ISD in June. When Nelson left, none of Laredo ISDs campuses had improvement-required ratings for state academic standards, despite being 97 percent economically disadvantaged, according to TEA records. Waco ISD is more than 80 percent economically disadvantaged.

Nelson acknowledged districts across the state use some of the same classroom learning procedures he used in Laredo. Waco also has some of its own challenges that other districts dont face, he said.

I would build a case in four months in this beautiful city theres no place like Waco, Nelson said. Some of the turbulence, some of the drama, so to speak, is fierce here and youre having to overcome all of that. A lot of people in our city know whats going on in WISD. They just dont care.

Nelson encouraged anyone at the meeting who might have a better idea to reach out. The district is open to any possibility before January, he said. Of almost 70 people at the first meeting, about 10 spoke out, including community members, state Rep. Charles Doc Anderson and Waco Mayor Kyle Deaver.

I think its very exciting about the possibility of a sixth-grade center, Anderson said. It would take away so much of the stress these kids have.  And then the single-gender, if the school board were to adopt that, I think it would take a lot of the stress off, also.

Parents and community members also suggested more volunteers and tutoring initiatives to help with reading and math scores. Others suggested establishing stronger parent-teacher associations and bridging relationships between other successful schools in the district.

Another asked what principals of the five campuses need today, next week or even a month from now to help them improve schools. Principals and Nelson echoed the suggestions of other attendees, including bringing in more mentors, having positive supporters and math and reading tutors, and finding incentives to increase attendance rates.

Students complete state standardized tests in the spring, but the district wont get results until about mid-August, which is when Morath could announce his decision, DeBeer said. If the campuses meet standard, the re-purposing plan wont matter, DeBeer said.

This is serious. Weve got to improve student outcomes, and its going to be uncomfortable for every kid, every family, every teacher and every principal we got, as it should be. Nelson said. We dont want a community that has several chronically low-performing schools. Our community is better than that.

The district will hold two more community meetings, both of which start at 6 p.m. The next will be Monday at the City of Waco Multi-Purpose Facility, 1020 Elm St., and is expected to be moderated by Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith. The last will be Nov. 6 at the Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 915 La Salle Ave.
A U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested a former Waco Association of Realtors employee Tuesday who is accused of embezzling more than $53,000 from the association over a three-year period, an arrest affidavit states.

An audit revealed Sharron Ann Jones, 65, of Waco, embezzled $53,010.14 between January 2013 and December 2015, according to the affidavit. Jones wrote unauthorized checks from the association made out to "cash" and deposited them in a personal account during the three-year period, the affidavit states.

Jones left her position with the association during the police investigation, Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said. He is unsure what Jones' title was.

The association has been cooperating with police, Swanton said.

Authorities arrested Jones Tuesday and took her to McLennan County Jail on a third-degree felony charge of theft over $30,000, but under $150,000. She later posted a $3,000 bond and was released from custody.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing.
Author and educator Stephen Covey famously observed that highly effective people share a set of habits. Amid the wreckage of one of the costliest hurricane seasons on record, we can borrow that idea, drawing lessons from the aftermaths of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina  two of the greatest humanitarian crises in modern U.S. history  to create a guide to the habits of highly effective disaster recovery.

Habit 1: Acknowledge everyones suffering. We must recognize that we are all in this together, and all require healing  ourselves included.

Habit 2: Support democracy-in-diaspora. Disasters often create divides that are physicially difficult to overcome at a time when we most need to work together. Radio, newspapers and social media should be used to ensure people can stay in touch with local government, community organizations and their neighbors. We should expect the democratic institutions and individuals that represent us  city council, county officials, state representatives and Congress  to ensure that we keep people informed and heard.

Habit 3: Champion excellent medical care for all. After the duress of the disaster and, too often, a long wait for rescue, people need all kinds of care: medical, psychiatric, rehabilitative. Those who support special legislation to extend health coverage to all those affected by disaster should tell their elected officials to support it as well.

Habit 4: Support families as they re-establish themselves. Disasters disrupt family life, and many of those affected need supplies  particularly as the holidays approach. In addition to clothes, toys and money, those who have been affected by previous disasters should think about sharing their own familys stories of survival in hard times, offering hope in addition to help.

Habit 5: Help ensure that everyone gets to return home.

After a disaster, it is crucial that we protect homeownership. It should be as easy for the poor to return to their homes as the rich. Everyone has a responsibility to know their neighbors and to let their elected officials know who lives in the communities around them. It is essential that lawmakers use this information to inform efforts to rebuild, so that recovery doesnt become an opportunity for gentrification.

Habit 6: Advocate for ecological cities  beautiful, sustainable and human-sized.

We can protect Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and places like them from future harm by creating schools of the future, small and substantially equipped; an electric grid that is resilient and uses renewable energy sources; and communities that prioritize affordable, appropriately sized housing. Individuals should ask their houses of worship or favorite community organizations to invite speakers to talk about sustainable cities. This helps people to acquire the knowledge to advocate for smarter communities.

Habit 7: Ensure that local companies and workers lead the effort to rebuild. Construction is eventually a part of any recovery. Local companies  and local workers  are the ones who should rebuild in affected areas, and all of them deserve a living wage. We should tell our leaders that blank checks to large corporations are not the right way to restore economic health, and we should demand that all workers pay is in accordance with local standards.

Habit 8: Celebrate affected areas histories and cultures. Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have rich histories and play host to festivals that honor their diverse heritages. Post-disaster, we must all remain mindful of others burdens and work alongside friends, neighbors and co-workers to crowdsource ideas for appropriate celebration amid recovery.

Habit 9: Be generous. Americans love justice, but sometimes its a virtue that can lead us astray. We start to worry about looters when we should be rescuing grandmothers. We forget that the money to support people is the smallest part of the billions we spend rebuilding cities.

We all should remember that the recovery of disaster areas is essential for the countrys economic health. Most importantly, we must bear in mind that were all human, and were all in this together.
At one point during Monday nights Waco Independent School District community meeting, a parent rose to stress how she had attended numerous meetings at academically low-performing Alta Vista Elementary School in South Waco and could personally vouch for the efforts there, including those of the teachers. Superintendent A. Marcus Nelson graciously acknowledged the compliment, then quietly noted: Theres a difference between effort and ability.

Indeed. In days long past, students occasionally got by in classes by showing a little genuine effort. But state-mandated testing counts on real ability, including deductive reasoning and successfully articulating thoughts, assets bolstered by strong reading skills. And with two low-performing middle schools and three elementary schools now threatened with closure by state officials, all Waco ISD teachers, staff and principals must now demonstrate raw ability. Were reaching the realm of now or never.

Mondays upbeat but sobering meeting was the first of three conducted by Waco ISD officials, who must soon submit to the Texas Education Agency plans to improve long-troubled campuses or risk those campuses closure. The latter is a consequence that Nelson  new to the district  nonetheless recognizes would be devastating to surrounding neighborhoods, already struggling in poverty: Itd be the end of those communities. These are the lifeblood of those communities.

Those parents in attendance Monday complained too few parents are engaged in the academic lives of their children. Possibly some hold jobs that prevent them from being more involved. Others may be resigned to the generational poverty that consumes them. Yet with the Prosper Waco anti-poverty initiative now channeling churches, nonprofits and government into strategic solutions like never before, viable pathways out of such lives are fast taking shape.

Some good ideas were aired Monday, including immersing children in early reading initiatives, even before formal schooling, and mentoring by teachers of successful campuses to those of struggling schools. Nelson underlined, too, the simple importance of teachers writing on the board each days lesson objective. Yet not only are these ideas not new, many have been implemented or encouraged.

While the school district now has a superintendent far more articulate, even inspirational, in rousing educators to the seriousness of the task ahead and the consequences of failure, his admonition to some educators meeting with him just before Mondays public meeting is worthy of repeating: Supermans not coming. If success is to be realized in next springs testing, it must depend on those now assembled. Nelsons ideas for the TEA  including single-gender middle schools and realigned elementary campuses  rate debate. But educators, parents and students this school year have a chance to change the dynamics before then and defy the naysayers betting against them. Much depends on whether they fully grasp this superintendents message, including his insistence that poverty, for all its crippling effects, is no reason for repeatedly excusing academic failure.
MEMPHIS  Over a month ago, Ginger Neuhart confessed to embezzling money from Memphis, Alvo and Ithaca, where she worked as village clerk.

So far, it has been revealed that Neuhart allegedly took more than $300,000 from all three villages in total.

Charges have been filed in Cass County for Alvo and are pending in Saunders County for Memphis and Ithaca.

The amount of money Neuhart allegedly stole from Memphis  nearly $160,000 over a 12-year period  was revealed last Thursday in a report from the Nebraska State Auditor.

As of Monday, charges had not yet been filed by the Saunders County Attorney for the missing money in Memphis. The auditors report stated that Neuhart faces possible charges of theft by deception, forgery, abuse of public records and official misconduct. First degree forgery is a Class III felony, and second degree forgery is a Class IIA felony. Abuse of public records and official misconduct are misdemeanors.

Neuhart confessed on Sept. 11 to embezzling funds from Alvo, Ithaca and Memphis, after authorities in Alvo noticed discrepancies with the villages finances. The Nebraska State Patrol began investigating and discovered $105,000 missing from the Alvo bank accounts over several years.

Neuhart was charged with felony theft by deception for nearly $40,000 that was allegedly embezzled from Alvo from 2014 to 2017. In Nebraska, the filing of a felony complaint charging embezzlement carries a statute of limitations of three years, limiting the villages ability to get back the money through criminal court. The possibility of suing for the money through civil court is available to all three villages.

Neuhart appeared in Cass County District Court on Oct. 19 for a preliminary hearing on the Alvo charges. Arraignment has been scheduled for Nov. 13 at 10:30 a.m.

The state auditor worked with the state patrol to obtain Neuharts personal bank account records as part of the investigation. During their examination, they discovered the clerk had altered her paychecks from all three villages. She said she had done so because she thought her services were worth more, according to the arrest affidavit.

In Memphis, Neuhart was paid $500 per month for her work as village clerk. That work included attending once-monthly village meetings and opening the Memphis Village Hall for public hours every Thursday evening. She was responsible for all requirements of a village clerk pursuant to state law, according to Village Attorney Maureen Freeman-Caddy. Neuhart was not an hourly employee, but an appointed clerk who was paid a monthly rate, Freeman-Caddy said.

The auditors report said the village chairperson, Jackie Horton, stated that Neuharts monthly paychecks checks had been approved for only $500. Hortons signature, as well as Neuharts appears on the checks. Neuhart prepared the checks herself, and was one of two signatures on the documents.

The investigation revealed that Neuhart had added a 1 or a 2 in front of the $500 on a routine basis since as early as 2005. Investigators reported that Neuhart would also put the spelled-out amount of the check over to the right of the line, enabling her to fill in the words one thousand or two thousand to the left of the line.

Neuhart allegedly used the same method to embezzle the funds in Alvo, where she was paid $700 per month for attending monthly board meetings and four-hour Saturday shifts at the village office.

The investigation examined all village checks made out to Neuhart dating back to April 2005. The total amount of money missing from Memphis village funds is over $160,000. The amount Neuhart allegedly took between July 2014 and August 2017, the time period that falls under the statute of limitations, is $37,500.

The report also alleges that Neuhart presented the Memphis Village Board of Trustees with falsified treasurers reports to mislead them into believing the village had more money that it did.

As an example, the Treasurer report presented to the Board for July 31, 2017, included ending balances that were inflated by over $155,800 when compared to actual bank balances, the report stated.

The auditors report noted that they did not investigate the utility accounts for Memphis, where there could possibly reveal additional missing monies. But no glaring issues were noted, the report added.

During the investigation, several other issues regarding the villages finances were discovered, including checks that had only one signature, claims that were paid but had not been approved by the village board and claims that were approved after the check date.

The auditor recommended some changes to the way finances are handled by Memphis officials, including assuring that all claims are approved by the village board prior to payment and are adequately documented in the meeting minutes.

Without such procedures, there is an increased risk for the loss or misuse of Village funds, the reported stated.

The village boards response was documented in the auditors report as the following: We have reviewed the information provided by the State Auditors Office and appreciate the review and recommendations made therein. It is the intent of the Village to address the internal control procedures and practices as recommended by your office and cooperate with any further inquiries or recommendations you may provide as we proceed forward.

Freeman-Caddy said Monday that the village board has not had a chance to review the auditors report in a board meeting setting, so it has not been discussed as a board.

With regard to determining financial issues, and the process they will take, all of that needs to be determined after they have a chance to formally go over the report, she said.

While the state auditors investigation into embezzlement in Ithaca has not been released, Jovan Lausterer, attorney for the Village of Ithaca, said the village has found discrepancies and the state auditors report should indicate similar takings to the other villages. Estimates are that nearly $40,000 is missing from the village from 2013 to 2017.

Since Neuharts departure, the village has been mired in trying to find a replacement and getting the budget together to submit to the county, Lausterer said.

After the discrepancies were found, all three villages terminated Neuharts employment, including Memphis. Since then, Horton has been acting as village clerk for Memphis on an emergency basis until a new clerk is hired. Freeman-Caddy said the village is hoping to have a new clerk in place by December of January.

Neuhart, a resident of Waverly, was also clerk for the City of Waverly. Officials there said they have found no evidence of missing money, but they relieved Neuhart of her duties after the allegations surfaced.

It would be possible for missing funds to go unnoticed for years in small communities like Memphis because audits arent required at the village level, officials said. Nebraska statute defines a village as a community with a population between 100 and 800. Alvo, Memphis and Ithaca are all villages with 150 or fewer residents.

Its common for village boards to rely on one person for record keeping, said Mary Avery, special audits manager for the State Auditors Office.

They cant always afford an outside firm to maintain records and so they get to a trusting a person to oversee it all, Avery said. Im sure people thought that because she had this role in a few places, people trusted her even more, Avery said.

(Sam Farmer, Michael Wunder and BH News Service contributed to this report.)
ASHLAND  When retired astronaut Clay Anderson found out a pair of gloves he wore on the International Space Station 10 years ago were for sale on eBay, he wasnt happy.

Id been trying to get those stupid gloves for years, he told the standing room only crowd at Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum Saturday night.

The 200-plus people were there to see those gloves, and the Sokol spacesuit they were originally attached to, unveiled as the newest piece in the Clayton Anderson: Heartland Astronaut exhibit.

Anderson had requested the gloves when he returned from space in 2007 after flying with NASAs STS-117 shuttle mission to the International Space Station. He spent 152 days in space with the Expedition 15 crew, which included two Russian cosmonauts.

The Sokol suit was a rescue suit to be used only if he had to leave the ISS onboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. The suit and two pairs of gloves were made especially for Anderson. He took only one pair with him on the mission.

After the Expedition 15 mission, Andersons gloves remained at Kennedy Space Center for about two weeks as the astronaut lined up the paperwork to bring them home to SAC Museum.

I asked for the gloves as a souvenir to give to (the) museum, Anderson said.

Instead, the gloves were inadvertently sent back to Russia. Anderson put them out of his mind until he got an email from a trusted source last year that said, Have you seen this?

It was a link to an eBay site where Andersons gloves, complete with his initials, were selling for $4,000. He called Maxim, the man who was selling the gloves on eBay and asked if how he could get his hands on those gloves.

For $4,000 or you could bid, Maxim said.

Anderson tried to go through official channels to get his gloves, which were paid for by NASA. The NASA astronaut office told him hed have to contact the Russian commander.

I called, Anderson said. He didnt help.

He called NASA again. Someone wrote a letter to the Russians asking for the gloves. The Russians wrote back and said No.

So I had no gloves, Anderson said.

After speaking to his wife, Susan, the couple decided to buy the gloves off of eBay. When the box was delivered, Anderson was excited, but also afraid. So afraid that he sent them directly to the museum in Ashland.

My wife said, You didnt even show them to me, he remembered.

After getting the gloves, Anderson was inspired to try to get the spacesuit. He called Maxim again. The Russian told Anderson he could find the suit in two weeks.

Two weeks later, Maxim called to say he had Andersons suit, backup gloves, boots, patches and nametag.

Clay, I even have a pair of your underwear, Maxim told Anderson.

Anderson asked the price.

Clay, special deal. Fifty-thousand dollars, Maxim said.

Anderson was stunned. He countered with an offer of $30,000. Maxim told him the suit was worth so much because it belonged to a famous American astronaut.

Anderson gave in.

Give me some time and I will get $50,000, he told Maxim.

Clay had a mission  to round up the money and get his suit back. He started making calls, including a couple of famous people and some local friends.

Mannheim Steamroller founder and musician Chip Davis was among the first to donate.

Hes awesome, Anderson said to Davis, who happened to be in the audience at the museum Saturday night. I love that guy.

Local residents Chuck and Shirley Neimeyer also chipped in. Dave Lutton of Ashland funneled the money through the Ashland Area Foundation to keep it safe. Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools Superintendent Jason Libal lent a hand.

The Pete Ricketts family donated, and philanthropists Suzanne and Walter Scott. Anderson also contributed a chunk of money.

Anderson and his wife also made a major donation. His brother-in-law, Phil Hartzell, asked customers at his business, Hartzell Auto Interiors in Aurora, to round their purchase up to the nearest $100.

The museum started a Save the Suit campaign, which drew smaller donations. Every little bit helped, as they raised over $73,000, including grants from Humanities Nebraska and Cass County Tourism for a new display case for the spacesuit to keep it safe for eternity, Anderson said.

The new display is centered in the exhibit, which tells Andersons story from Ashland youth to astronaut. The exhibit, built with a generous donation from Andersons friend Jeff Raikes, was unveiled almost 10 years ago to the day that the spacesuit was added.

Anderson said he is grateful to the museum for its dedication to preserving space artifacts like his suit, as well as promoting education for all.

They are laying the foundation for the future, he said.

Anderson autographed copies of his book, Ordinary Spaceman: From Boyhood Dreams to Astronaut for more than two hours after his speech. The book, which has sold more than 10,000 copies, has made the final five of the One Book One Nebraska campaign.

In March, his childrens book A is for Astronaut: A Blast Through the Alphabet, will be released. He has also penned another book that will be out in June.
WAHOO  There is no shortage of community events to help area residents celebrate Halloween.

One of the first area events is slated for this Friday in Ceresco.

Activities start with a spaghetti supper at Ceresco Community Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Freewill donations will be accepted. From 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Trunk or Treat on Second Street will take place. Area organizations and families will again have their vehicle trunks loaded with treats to hand out.

There will also be a Haunted House inside the Ceresco Legion from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is $7, with children 3 and under admitted for free. All proceeds will be donated to Raymond Central Post Prom.

Cedar Bluffs area families are again invited to the Boo Bash sponsored by the Cedar Bluffs Future Business Leaders of America. It takes place at Cedar Bluffs Fire Hall on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Cedar Bluffs Fire and Rescue Department will co-sponsor the event.

The Boo Bash will feature hot dogs, chips and other food and drinks. A bounce house, carnival games, ring toss, a dunk tank and other activities will be available.

Saunders Catholic Schools is holding its third annual Trunk or Treat on Oct. 29 in the parking lot of Bishop Neumann High School in Wahoo from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Children are encouraged to come wearing their Halloween costumes.

A contest will be held for teams competing for the honors of best youth trunk and the best adult trunk. A prize of $50 will be awarded to the winners in each category.

Food, fellowship and fun are promised again by the sponsor of another annual Trunk or Treat on Sunday.

Calvary Church in Wahoo is holding its annual event from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the church.

Boo in Wahoo is back for another year too.

Wahoo Chamber of Commerce and Saunders Medical Center will again sponsor the event on Halloween from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at SMC. Admission is free. Children ages 0 to 12 will receive treat bags and then follow a trail through the halls.

Over 40 businesses and organizations will set up tables along the trail and give out treats. There is also an optional costume contest for children.

On Halloween night, the Mead Community Group and Mead Fire Department will again host their Halloween Party at the Mead Fire Hall.

Hot dogs, chips and hot chocolate will be served for free at 6 p.m. Costume judging for nine age levels starts at 6:30 p.m. The top three finishers in each division will be awarded prizes.

A Trunk or Treat by Mead area organizations will provide area youth with plenty of treats.
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By PTI: anti-blackmoney day

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) The Congress today dubbed as a "crude joke" with the people the BJPs plan to observe November 8 as "anti-blackmoney day" and alleged that it is an attempt to divert public attention from the governments "failures" and "betrayal".

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also took a swipe at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over a PIB tweet in which the government claimed that the "real GDP growth average is 7.5 per cent in last 3 years".

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"Dear Mr Jaitley, May the Farce be with you," Gandhi tweeted.

Congress senior spokesperson Anand Sharma hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded that he introspect, apologise to the nation and demit office for his "reckless decision".

Sharma, flanked by Congress communications incharge Randeep Surjewala, accused Modi and Jaitley of showing "arrogance" by not admitting their "mistakes" of noteban decision and GST implementation which, he alleged, hit the countrys economy hard and halted its growth story.

"This is a crude joke with the people of India," Sharma said in a retort to BJPs plan to mark November 8 as anti-blackmoney day.

He said over 99 per cent of the money the prime minister had junked has returned to banks as it was genuine money of the people and not black money and only 0.0013 per cent of black money has been found.

"Where is the issue of having this national celebration. It would be apt if they observed it as anti-people BJP policies day," he told reporters.

"It is nothing but a smokescreen and a myth to mislead and confuse the people," he said.

Sharma accused the prime minister of "destroying" the countrys economy and the growth story that was initiated by the Congress-led UPA.

"If morality is still a virtue in India?s polity, then it is time for Prime Minister Modi to introspect and demit the office he holds," Sharma and Surjewala said.

They said Modi should order an immediate investigation "into the demonetisation scam as also the loss to economy".

"The PM remains in arrogant denial of the hardship inflicted on people of country by his reckless decision," Sharma said.

He accused Jaitley of making a "desperate" attempt to save the BJP as the "ground is slipping from beneath" its feet.

Taking a dig at BJP chief Amit Shah, Sharma asked whether Amit Shahs son Jay Shah would find a place in this celebration.

"Modinomics and Jaitleynomics have destroyed India?s economic growth story," he alleged.

He claimed jobs are in peril, exports are falling, GDP is on a downward spiral, NPAs have touched a whopping Rs 9 lakh crore and credit growth is at a 63-year

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"The BJP is so drunk with power that it wants to celebrate the Demon of Demonetisation," the joint statement said.

The two Congress leaders said that a h=government that came to power on the promise of bringing black money of Rs 80 lakh crore and "depositing Rs 15 lakh in every Indian?s account" stands exposed.

Sharma accused Jaitley of giving people an untrue picture on the state of the countrys economy and alleged the government lacked a plan to put the economy on back on track.

The Modi government had "hurt" the economy and "put it in the ICU".

"What has been said about the economy is not true...It is wrong to say that the countrys economic fundamentals are strong. The finance minister claiming that Indias economy is the worlds fastest growing is incorrect and factually wrong," Sharma told reporters, adding that China was five times bigger economy which was growing faster than Indias.

He said the government had now realised the "bad condition" of the economy and has woken up to the situation by announcing a financial package.

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Surjewala said the truth is that the biggest increase in digital transactions happened during the Congress rule, when it rose by 53 and 49 per cent during 2012 to 2013 and 2013-14.

He also said that against Rs 1,01,183 crore blackmoney unearthed during 2013-14, only Rs 29,211 crore was unearthed during 2016-17 and a total Rs 17,526 crore detected as ?undisclosed income during the current year. PTI SKC RT

--- ENDS ---
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The Kejriwal government plans to tell SC that Delhi HC erroneously concluded that L-G is the administrative head and he is not bound by the aid and advice of council of ministers.

By Harish V Nair: With the Supreme Court soon set to adjudicate the raging turf war between the Delhi government and the Centre, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's lawyers will submit before a constitution bench that the lieutenant governor is only a figurative head who is bound to act only as per advice of the CM-led council of ministers.

The Kejriwal government has challenged the August 4, 2016 judgment of the Delhi High Court that declared the L-G as the "administrative head" and ruled that he is not bound by the aid and advice of the council of ministers, and enjoyed discretion in this regard.

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The AAP government has roped in top legal eagles Gopal Subramaniam, Indira Jaising, Rajeev Dhavan and P Chidambaram to represent them in the apex court.

The SC hearing will take place at a time when fresh friction has risen between the Delhi government and the Centre over non-clearance of files for construction of more mohalla clinics and Metro fare hike.

THE ARGUMENT

"Delhi High Court has erroneously concluded that Lieutenant Governor of Delhi is not bound by the aid and advice of the council of ministers. This is against the basic features of the Constitution. It defeats the basic intent behind the 69th Constitutional amendment," government sources said when asked about what the line of argument would be.

In 1991, the parliament, through the 69th Amendment incorporated an Article 239AA (Special Provisions with respect to Delhi) into the constitution.

It conferred the right upon the people of the NCT of Delhi to elect their own legislature and government to make laws under certain entries of the state list of the seventh schedule of the Constitution and execute these laws respectively.

It stated that the Legislative Assembly of the NCT of Delhi "shall have power to make laws for the whole or any part of the NCT with respect to any of the matters enumerated on the state list, except matters with respect to public order, police and land".

The city government is seeking a judicial declaration on the boundaries of the constitutional relationship between the Delhi government and the Centre, in administering the national Capital.

The government's petition also highlights problems faced in day-to-day administration of law and order as Delhi Police are run by the Centre, unlike in other states.

"Article 239AA underscores the accountability of the executive to the legislature, which is the essence of representative democracy. The accountability can be discharged by the executive only if it enjoys the power to execute the decisions of the legislature," the government will tell the apex court.

The power to execute the decisions of the legislature should be complete and not subject to the decisions of another authority which is not accountable to the legislature.

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The laws and the budget passed by the Assembly need to be implemented in full, without any let or hindrance which requires complete powers to be vested in the council of ministers. This is the simple meaning of these key provisions in the Constitution relating to Delhi," said the government.

--- ENDS ---
A woman killed by her dog in her Canberra home had warned friends the animal was dangerous, but had refused to part with it as he had "taken a bullet" for her during a violent home invasion earlier this year.

In text messages sent this month to a close friend, Tania Klemke described the dog, which is understood to be similar to a pit bull, as her "best friend".

Police shot the animal dead when they were called to Ms Klemke's Watson home about 3.40am Wednesday after neighbours heard a man at the property screaming for help.

The dog attacked police as they attempted to perform first aid on Ms Klemke, a mother of three aged in her 40s, but she died at the scene.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced plans to build a new city on the Red Sea coast, promising a lifestyle not available in today's Saudi Arabia as he seeks to remake the kingdom in a time of dwindling resources.

The prince said the city project, to be called "NEOM" will operate independently from the "existing governmental framework" with investors consulted at every step during development. The project will be backed by more than $US500 billion ($628 billion) from the Saudi government, its sovereign wealth fund and local and international investors, according to a statement released on Tuesday at an international business conference in Riyadh.

The new project is likely to surprise investors still trying to take stock of a series of major announcements made by the prince during his meteoric rise to power as he seeks to prepare Saudi Arabia for the post-oil era. In less than two years, he's revealed plans to sell a stake in oil giant Saudi Aramco and create the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, and has ended a long-standing ban on female drivers.

The prince, 32, made a rare public appearance at the conference to promote the project, telling the bankers and economic policy makers in attendance that the kingdom is moving to a "new generation of cities". NEOM will be powered by clean energy, he said, and will have no room "for anything traditional".
A grieving father has come face-to-face with the man who was behind the wheel when his daughter was killed walking to the bus earlier this year.

The confrontation came after a Brisbane court heard 35-year-old Aashish Tiwaris charge of driving without due care and attention was the most mild charge he could possibly get in the circumstances.

Yasmin McAllister and father Glynn Harnell at her engagement party.

Yasmin McAllister, 27, died in June when her family turned off her life support more than a day-and-a-half after she was hit while walking to a bus stop at Camp Hill.

Her father, Glynn Harnell, was there to watch Mr Tiwari front the Holland Park Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning, deliberately showing a large photo of his daughter to the accused as both men left the courtroom.
But the reality of the situation is that despite 70 per cent of Australians expressing their desire to die at home, only 15 per cent of them manage it. Recent statistics from Palliative Care WA show 51 per cent of Australians will die in a hospital bed, and around 25 per cent in an aged care facility. This data is well known and readily available for anyone who takes the time to search for it, however less is known about why these statistics have become a reality for many West Australians. Carers are a silent group of people who find themselves unpaid and, to some extent, unsupported. Death ends a life, not a relationship

"We have institutionalised death," Palliative Care WA executive officer Lana Glogowksi said. "Most people just expect to die in a hospital. There is almost this notion you can't die at home, and a lot of the time carers haven't seen people die before; it's not a common experience anymore. "When someone chooses to die at home, it's a very complex issue. At the end of the day, a lot of responsibility falls on the primary carer." When a person makes the choice to die at home, they think of those final moments surrounded by loved ones in a familiar place. The very nature of dying means we are less inclined to turn our attention to the people expected to facilitate this request, even though dying at home is complicated.

The Department of Health lists possible signs of the dying process to look for, including increased tiredness, restlessness, agitation, confusion, problems communicating, loss of appetite and interrupted breathing. godrays . 010405 pic by Tanya Lake **colour use only** generic sunset cloudburst silver lining dark clouds hope ray of light sunlight sun light red firey sky look to the heavens futures exchange future depression lift positive outlook happiness happy optimistic outcome prozac storm at sea ocean of doubt rocky beginnings religion faith spirituality spiritual spirit death life birth afterlife stormy weather predicition horizon ***afrphotos.com***

Ms Glogowski said that while these symptoms can be painful and restrictive for a person on their death bed, they can trouble their primary carers too  especially if a patient prefers not to go to a hospital. "In the last stages of life, for example, people can make gurgling noises as mucus appears in the throat or lungs," she said. "For some people, that sounds really awful ... when it is actually just a part of the natural dying process. That's when people start to panic.

"When someone starts to die, they also don't need food and drink. Their organs start to shut down, and sometimes families feel like it's cruel not to feed or hydrate them. "Realistically, some people don't realise the implication of requesting to die at home. "If an end-of-life plan doesn't work out as everyone plans, it can lead to a much worse period of bereavement. It can be traumatic. "It's a huge ask, and some carers reach a point where they say they can't do it anymore." Mangapi has severe autism and does not speak. Credit:Louise Kennerley



Ms Glogowski said carers often had a tough time balancing the needs of the patient. "Perhaps we're not supporting our carers as much as we could be," she said. "It's not a pretty job  they don't often get the breaks they need, and sometimes people of older generations try to maintain their stoic attitude of 'we'll be fine, we'll cope', and when they're offered assistance they will say no. "When it comes down to it, 24/7 care can lead to people burning out. "We need a real acknowledgment of the responsibility that falls on these people.

"This is a silent group of people who find themselves unpaid and, to some extent, unsupported. "We really need to talk about this and rally around them as much as possible, so their loved ones don't get shipped off to hospital because their primary carer has burned out." Demystifying and deinstitutionalising death The Department of Health lists the standard procedure when a death has occurred. "A doctor will usually attend and confirm the death of a patient," a fact sheet said.

"During this time you may wish to contact a close friend or relative to be with you for support. "Take your time to say goodbye. Other close friends and relatives may also wish to say goodbye. Some people will find additional comfort from the support of a spiritual advisor. "It is at this stage you will need to contact a funeral director. They can guide family members through the funeral arrangements if these have not been organised already." What the info sheet doesn't spell out is ... what happens if a patient has died at home, unassisted? In WA, a person who passes at home can be subject to an autopsy to determine a cause of death.

This may seem trivial and a logical next step but it can be difficult to be denied the ability to say goodbye in an open-casket funeral. In fact, institutionalised death means many West Australians who farewell a family member or friend at a hospital for the last time can disassociate from this reality. For primary carers, this is a much more traumatic fact of the dying process. Saying goodbye the way you want Silver Chain WA director of clinical operations David Larmour said there must be more open discussion around dying.

"There needs to be increased awareness around death and dying, advanced care planning, meaningful conversations about support and we need to have a community that is far more proactive about supporting our carers and patients," he said. WA is one of the only states that invests in community care rather than hospital care, and Silver Chain has helped many West Australians fulfil their wish of dying at home. The organisation's funding is primarily metropolitan-based, with regional palliative care more difficult to access. Residing in the country dramatically increases a patient's chance of being admitted to hospital in their final moments. "There is only a certain amount of funding available in relation to palliative care," Mr Larmour said.

"A compassionate community model has a significantly lower cost associated with it than dying at home, and it's time to align the redirection of resources to enable people to die at home." "We need to build a capacity to enable people to do what they want to do. For many of our carers, helping a loved one through the dying process can be a very positive experience. "While they're living through one of the hardest realities of life, and they're tired and stressed and all these things you'd reasonably expect, overwhelmingly people will say 'I'm so happy I was able to do that for them'. "It can be the most intimate time in their relationship with that person. There's a lot of negative connotations around death and dying, but overwhelmingly it was the most wonderful thing to help them." Perhaps it is time to take dying back into the hands of WA families and properly educate them about expectations and managing a loved one's final moments.
The man was killed in the incident. Credit:9 News Perth

Police said officers were called to a property on Trian Road in Carabooda in Wanneroo around 1:45pm on Wednesday afternoon where the man was cutting trees.

A 46-year-old man has been fatally injured in a tree lopping incident in Perth's north.

It's understood the man became pinned beneath a large branch he had lopped off, with emergency crews rushing to the scene but unable to resuscitate him.

Police said a report will be prepared for the Coroner.
When news Perth teenager Aaron Pajich was missing first broke, the two women accused of his murder sat in a bedroom in the middle of the night and read articles about him together.

"I enjoyed that," Jemma Lilley texted her co-accused Trudi Lenon shortly after the housemates returned to their respective rooms.

Jemma Lilley, left, and Trudi Lenon have pleaded not guilty to the murder of 18-year-old Aaron Pajich.

The women are on trial in the Supreme Court of Western Australia accused of stabbing the 18-year-old to death and burying him in their Orelia backyard on June 13, 2016.

News of Mr Pajich's disappearance made headlines on June 18. His body was discovered less than a week later.
By PTI: Rawat

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat today said the appointment of an interlocutor to engage in dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir would not impact Army operations in the state.

The government, he said, was acting from a "position of strength" on the Kashmir issue and its existing policy had helped in improving the overall situation in the state.

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Asked whether the appointment of former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma as Kashmir interlocutor would impact the Armys operations in the troubled state, he said, "My one word answer is no, it will not."

The Army chief was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a FICCI event.

The government on Monday appointed Sharma as its special representative for a "sustained dialogue" with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir, in a fresh move aimed at bringing peace to the state.

Responding to a question on whether Sharmas appointment meant that the tough policy on Kashmir was not working, Gen. Rawat said, "I do not think so. What is in your mind is not correct. The policy of the government has worked. The government is speaking from a position of strength."

He said incidents of cross-border infiltration had come down and the overall situation in the state had improved significantly in the last few months.

"In January, you had asked me whether the situation has deteriorated in Kashmir, whether we have lost Kashmir. Now you analyse where is Kashmir?" he asked.

"We have killed terrorists on the Line of Control because of which the situation has improved."

Addressing the gathering at FICCI, the Army chief flagged concerns over the possibility of terror attacks on military installations in the countrys hinterland and mentioned the strikes in Uri and Pathankot.

"Security of our installations in the hinterland is becoming a cause of concern because we keep getting reports about likelihood of some attacks on the lines of Uri and Pathankot in some of our bases," the Army chief said.

He also underlined the need for enhancing intelligence and surveillance systems. PTI MPB MIN

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By India Today Web Desk: Not too long ago, there were reports that Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora had ended their relationship and were making a conscious effort not to be clicked together. This is far from the truth, if a report in Pinkvilla is to be believed.

Apparently, Arjun made sure he was present for Malaika's birthday celebration in Dubai, away from the prying eyes of the media.

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A source told the publication, "There has been speculation of Arjun and Malaika calling it quits, but the two have always maintained a discreet silence on their friendship - they have chosen not to discuss about a breakup too if any. This Diwali they made sure that they were not spotted at any party together to avoid unnecessary gossip but that was it. As they say, actions prove louder than words and Arjun was spotted in Dubai on Monday."

Arjun's visit was a surprise for the birthday girl, and he even bought her her favourite cake. Having spent the evening with his ladylove and her friends, he returned to Mumbai the next day.

"It's tiring for Arjun and Malaika to keep answering questions about their friendship to the media. While both choose not to talk about it, it's an extremely special friendship between the two and which both cherish. Arjun being a complete romantic and very clear-minded about what is the right thing to do, could not in any way have celebrated Malaika's birthday so even though he's been in the middle of prepping for Dibakar Banerjee's next film, he took out a day just to celebrate it with her and make the day more special," the source added.

When Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan announced their decision to end their marriage, it was Arjun Kapoor who was believed to be the reason behind their split. However, Malaika denied rumours of their affair and said that "people give a different meaning" to their friendship.

ALSO WATCH: Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan confirm their separation

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By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) India must fight the next war with home-made solutions, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said today while strongly pitching for developing the domestic defence industry.

"We must win the next war with home-made solutions," he said at a conference on defence modernisation at FICCI.

The Army chief also underlined the need for developing an indigenous intelligence and surveillance system to keep a hawk eye vigil on the borders with China and Pakistan as well as to ensure foolproof security at military installations in the hinterland.

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In this context, Gen Rawat also spoke about the Pathankot and Uri terror attacks, noting that security at military installations was becoming a matter of concern.

"Security of our installations in hinterland is becoming a cause of concern because we keep getting reports about likelihood of some attacks on the lines of Uri and Pathankot in some of our bases," the Army chief said.

He said the private sector must join hands with the government to find solutions to the needs of the security forces.

Stressing on developing the domestic defence industry, Gen Rawat said the Army was working with the private sector and academia on developing indigenous systems and platforms.

The Army chief also urged the private sector to utilise its financial resources for carrying out research and development activities, focusing on requirement of the armed forces.

India is a leading importer of arms and military platforms globally and the NDA government has listed indigenisation of defence manufacturing as a priority area. PTI MPB RT

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By Rahul Shrivastava: Ahead of the Gujarat Assembly election, the war of words between Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and the Modi government is heating up.

During a recent speech in Gandhinagar, Rahul targeted the Modi government over the Goods and Services Tax, once again. The Gandhi scion, who is tipped to take over the Grand Old Party soon, labelled the tax regime 'Gabbar Singh Tax,' a phrase that delighted Twitter.

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Never the one to let a jibe go unanswered, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley replied to Rahul Gandhi in kind, invoking the 2G spectrum and coal allocation scams that came to light during the previous Manmohan Singh government.

"Those who are used to monumental scams in 2G spectrum and coal allocation will have objections to legitimate tax," Jaitley said in a loaded political taunt on Tuesday, while announcing a grand plan to recapitalise public sector banks and increase government spending on infrastructure.

Congress GST= Genuine Simple Tax Modi ji's GST= Gabbar Singh Tax =''?? ???? ???? ?? ??"- Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 24, 2017

Continuing in the same vein, Jaitley went on to say that the political Opposition seemed to have "faith" in a cash economy. This was in response to Opposition parties announcing that it would observe a 'black day' on November 8, the same day last year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi sprung the demonetisation surprise.

"The move (to celebrate a black day on November 8) displays their (Opposition's) faith in (a) cash economy. The government will continue to insist on less cash economy. They (opposition) can definitely do it. Their faith in the cash economy will be on display with such celebration," Jaitley said.

"There was a period when public sector banks indulged in indiscriminate lending. A large chunk of those lending are the NPAs today. These NPAs were kept under the carpet," the finance minister said.

DEFENDS GST

Jaitley went on to, once again, defend the roll out of the Goods and Services Tax regime.

"The launch of GST from July 1 has resulted in unified tax across the country and has helped in removing transport restrictions on the movement of goods resulting in their faster movement and help in creating common market, reduction in corruption and leakage and further help in Make in India programme," the finance minister said.

"GST is expected boost revenues, investment, and medium-term economic growth. Despite the teething troubles that the government and the GST Council are addressing, initial results in the form of revenue raised seem encouraging," Jaitley added.

The finance minister's comments were a seemingly attempt to invalidate the Opposition's criticism that the GST, coupled with last year's demonetisation, had massively hurt the Indian economy.

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Led by a belligerent Rahul Gandhi the Congress seems to have made targeting the Modi government over GST implementation its political plank.

The war of words between the government and the opposition is expected to escalate and even threatens to derail the coming winter session of parliament which is likely to begin in the third week of November.

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Barun Bhujel, a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha ward commissioner of Kalimpong municipality who was admitted to a Kolkata hospital after suffering from pancreatitis, died in the early hours on Wednesday. His family has alleged medical negligence led to his death.

By Manogya Loiwal : Barun Bhujel, a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) ward commissioner of Kalimpong municipality who was admitted to a Kolkata hospital after suffering from pancreatitis and liver ailments, died in the early hours on Wednesday.

Bhujel was arrested in June following fresh clashes that broke out over the Gorkhaland agitation in Darjeeling. He was facing charges against him ranging from rioting, possessing deadly weapons to criminal trespassing.

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He was admitted to the Siliguri Medical College on September 25. He was discharged and sent back to jail on October 11 only to be hospitalised again three days later. Bhujel was allegedly neglected by the West Bengal police in jail.

A few days ago, Bhujel was taken to the North Bengal hospital for treatment. On Tuesday, he was brought to the SSKM hospital in Kolkata and put on ventilator support, where he died last night.

Bhujel was commissioner of ward number 16 on Eastman Road under Kalimpong municipality.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and his family have alleged that he died due to negligence of the police and jail officials, in whose custody he was.

Bhujel's brother too has claimed that his family had put in the request to pay for his treatment to ensure proper healthcare for him, but they were denied permission for the same. This lack of timely medical aid further deteriorated his health.

KALIMPONG, ADJOINING AREAS OBSERVE SHUTDOWN

Meanwhile, Kalimpong and several adjoining areas observed a shutdown following Bhujel's death. Condolences poured in from across party lines to his family. An inquiry has been demanded into his death.

GJM president Bimal Gurung, in an audio clip, urged people to take to the streets and protest against "the high-handedness of the state government". Gurung said that police torture led to Bhujel's death and has appealed to all sections of society to protest against the "ongoing human rights violations in the Darjeeling hills". The Morcha chief also asked people to observe a bandh.

Darjeeling MLA Amar Singh Rai, also a part of the GJM, has demanded a high-level probe into Bhujel's death.

In his tribute, Gorkhaland Territorial Authority chairman Binay Tamang said that Bhujel's contribution to the cause of Gorkhaland would never be forgotten.

Bhujel was facing at least three cases, one lodged at Kalimpong itself and two related to violence in Darjeeling town. He had even got bail in one of the cases, but had been detained over charges he faced in the other two.

WATCH VIDEO | Darjeeling: GJM supporters set ablaze GTA office, ransack panchayat office

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By WestKyStar & Jackson Purchase Historical Society Oct. 25, 2017 | 07:47 AM | MURRAY, KY

These high school students will compete for awards and cash prizes by writing essays about national, regional and family history in a contest sponsored by the Jackson Purchase Historical Society in conjunction with the Office of University Advancement and the Department of History at Murray State University.



2018 is the beginning of the bicentennial for the treaty that established the Jackson Purchase, said Dr. Bill Mulligan, president of the Jackson Purchase Historical Society. Coincidentally, 2018 is also the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Jackson Purchase Historical Society, which promotes interest in the history of the twelve counties involved. We saw this as a great opportunity to extend our outreach to high school history teachers and their students.



History students in all four grade levels at high schools in the twelve participating counties may submit essays in three categories: (1) United States history; (2) Jackson Purchase regional history, including Kentucky and Tennessee history; and (3) family history. History teachers at participating schools have been provided contest guidelines and details. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 1, 2018, and there is no cost to participate. Judges will select winners in each category for each grade level with finalists receiving medallions and certificates. From those students, the judges will then select the best overall essay in each category.



The three winners will each receive a $100 cash prize and will make a brief presentation about their essay at the April 2018 meeting of the Jackson Purchase Historical Society. All three winning essays will also be published in the 2018 edition of the award-winning academic Journal of the Jackson Purchase Historical Society. Participating counties for the contest include Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall and McCracken counties in Kentucky in addition to Henry, Lake, Obion and Weakley counties in Tennessee.



The Jackson Purchase Historical Society was founded in 1958 to promote the interest, study and preservation of regional history in the territory encompassed in the Chickasaw Purchase of 1818. The organization annually publishes the award-winning Journal of the Jackson Purchase Historical Society and is especially interested in the history of all Kentucky counties west of the Tennessee River in addition to Henry, Lake, Obion and Weakley counties in Tennessee. Meetings are held four times per year at locations throughout the region. Membership is open to the public. Information about the society, future events and membership is available at meetings or online at jacksonpurchasehistory.org.



For more information, contact Bill Mulligan, billmulligan@murray-ky.net



High school history students in the Jackson Purchase region of Kentucky and Tennessee are encourage to enter an essay contest in celebration of the Bicentennial of the Jackson Purchase.
Sana Iqbal, a 29-year-old biker who was on a solo cross-country expedition to raise awareness about suicide, died in a car crash near Hyderabad.

By India Today Web Desk: Cross-country biker Sana Iqbal, who was known for taking up a solo motorcycle expedition to raise awareness about suicide and depression, was killed in a car accident in Hyderabad yesterday.

However, 29-year-old Sana's mother believes it was not an accident, but a "cold-blooded murder" committed by Iqbal's husband.

"It is a cold-blooded murder made to look like an accident, her estranged husband and his mother who used to harass her [Iqbal] are behind it," an ANI report quoted Sana's mother.

It is a cold blooded murder made to look like an accident, her estranged husband and his mother who used to harass her are behind it:Mother pic.twitter.com/bsexirVE6k- ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2017

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WHAT HAPPENED TO SANA IQBAL?

Police say Sana was travelling in the car with her husband when it rammed into a median on the Outer Ring Road near Hyderabad at around 3.30am on Tuesday.

Sana, who was riding shotgun, died in the accident, while her husband survived.

"Sana's husband, Abdul Nadeem, was driving the car. Sana, who suffered severe injuries in the mishap, was shifted to a nearby hospital but was declared brought dead. Her husband, who received injuries, is undergoing treatment," said Narsingi Police Station Inspector G V Ramana Goud.

The Hyderabad-based biker made headlines a few years ago when she undertook a solo motorcycle expedition across the country to raise awareness about suicide. The focus of her campaign was to educate people, particularly students, against committing suicide.

A case under IPC section 304A (causing death by negligence) and other relevant sections was registered, police added.

Sana is survived by her son, Ali.

[With inputs from PTI and ANI]

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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Oct. 24, 2017 | PADUCAH, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 24, 2017 | 08:03 PM | PADUCAH, KY

At Tuesday's city comission meeting, a local businessman brought up concerns over a closed bridge in Paducah.



Denny Roof, who co-owns a business on Park Avenue, voiced his frustration regarding the indefinite closure of a deteriorated bridge on North 32nd Street that was closed in September.



Roof said, I use that road a lot, and our customers use it a lot. People are complaining and concerned about it. Roof said he wanted to make a case to the city on behalf of his customers.



Roof said he and other businesses were given no notice of the closure, but found out about it from the local news media.



City Engineer & Public Works Director Rick Murphy said he has met with the district engineer about the bridge. Murphy explained to state officials how important the bridge is to Paducah.



It was noted during the meeting that the state has closed bridges everywhere due to a lack of funding in the Transportation Cabinet. Murphy said, Its in their (the states) jurisdiction. We are offering to help.



Murphy said the state has promised to provide better signage to help prevent some traffic from detouring through residential areas.



Murphy said that he was not given a timeline detailing when the bridge would be repaired.



Commissioner Sandra Wilson said, It is in our city, and its important to us.



The mayor and commissioners thanked Roof for bringing the issue to the table.
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Youth-only and Military/Veteran-only waterfowl hunts canceled this weekend at Ballard WMA; Fewer blinds available at Boatwright WMA
By The Associated Press Oct. 25, 2017 | 11:31 AM | POINT LOOKOUT, MO

An evangelical Christian college in Missouri is now requiring freshman to take a class aimed at encouraging patriotism.

The College of the Ozarks has unveiled a military science class called Patriotic Education and Fitness. The course aims to educate students on modern military customs, U.S. politics and flag protocol. It will also teach rifle marksmanship, map reading and rope knotting.

The college held an event Monday to introduce the new course.

College President Jerry Davis says patriotic education "must be taught, it must be modeled and it must be emphasized."

The move comes amid a backdrop of some U.S. athletes protesting by taking a knee during the national anthem. The college announced policy last month saying its teams won't compete against other teams whose players don't stand for the anthem.
By The Associated Press Oct. 25, 2017 | 11:09 AM | FRANKFORT, KY

The Kentucky Senate's top leader says "systemic" problems in the teachers' retirement system are a main factor for the pension system's funding woes.

Senate President Robert Stivers said Wednesday that lawmakers have fully funded the Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System as required by law.

Stivers is among top Republican leaders who unveiled a plan to revamp the state's woefully underfunded public pension systems. The legislation hasn't been released, but details have drawn criticism from many teachers.

Stivers referenced a teachers' system report showing less than 10 percent of the pension debt was due to insufficient contributions from lawmakers. Stivers says teachers should be pressing for answers about what caused most of the problem.

KTRS executive Beau Barnes says most of the problems found in reports cited by Stivers were caused by market downturns during the Great Recession.
HOUSING NORTH CAOLINA AWARDS

A neighborhood for working families along with apartments for seniors, formerly homeless individuals and adults with developmental disabilities were honored today with Housing North Carolina Awards for excellence in affordable housing. Located in Charlotte, East Flat Rock, Greensboro and Greenville, these developments were the latest in the awards 28-year history to be recognized.

Sponsored by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, the awards pay tribute to outstanding home ownership, rental and supportive housing developments that serve as models for other communities. Winners were honored at a luncheon during the NC Affordable Housing Conference, which hosted nearly 1,000 housing industry professionals at the Raleigh Convention Center,

Winning developments were selected for affordability, design, sustainability, community contribution, resident services and creative partnerships. They are:

Mother Teresa Villa, Charlotte, a home for adults with developmental disabilities that was created by the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte Housing Corporation with support from the City of Charlotte and co-sponsored by InReach, a local nonprofit that provides residential support for people with disabilities.

Dodd Meadows, East Flat Rock, a single-family home neighborhood developed by Henderson County Habitat for Humanity with support from the City of Asheville.

Hope Court, Greensboro, a permanent supportive housing facility for formerly homeless individuals, persons with disabilities and working families developed by Affordable Housing Management with support from the City of Greensboro.

Parkside Commons, Greenville, a rental development offering 98 apartments for Greenvilles seniors, developed by Taft Development Group with support from the City of Greenville.

The NC Housing Finance Agency is a self-supporting public agency that has financed more than 255,000 affordable homes and apartments. The Agency hosts the NC Affordable Housing Conference, Oct. 25-26, in partnership with the Community Investment Corporation of the Carolinas and the NC Housing Coalition.
The couple were on a vacation in Chennai and had lost their dog, Luke, when they were visiting the Marina beach. 105 days later, they received a call from the local police informing them that Luke has been found.

By Pramod Madhav: Stephen and Stephan, a German couple arrived in Chennai on July 8 to visit the city. Avid travelers, the couple usually traveled with their pet dog, Luke. They have even traveled to places like Alaska and the Arabian peninsula with Luke.

The couple lost their pet dog, Luke, while visiting Chennai and were reunited with the pet after 105 days.

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When Stephen and Stephan were visiting Marina Beach, they had tied Luke to the car door and had gone a bit further into the beach and when they returned Luke was missing.

The couple, devastated, approached the cops. They filed a complaint and even announced a reward of Rs 50,000. The couple although had to leave India as their tourist visa was expiring.

On October 21, Stephen got a call that their pet was recovered and were asked to come and collect Luke.

Stephen explained that they were in Nepal and that it would take them 2 days to return to Chennai. Until then, Luke's responsibility was taken up by Vijaya Narayanan.

The reunion of the dog and its owners was a heartwarming sight.

"We tried everything when we were in Chennai. We put up posters and now we are relieved to have him back", said Stephen.

Stephan couldn't find any words as she was overwhelmed with joy and thanked everyone who helped her in getting her pet back.

She, interestingly, revealed that they found Luke on a German street and the puppy had a white 'cross' on its chest which attracted them. The couple confirmed the dog to be Luke because pets in Germany are marked with a chip on their neck carrying the owner's details which helped them in confirming the dog's identity.

The miraculous reunion was one happy ending.

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China's leader Xi Jinping is tightening his control over the People's Liberation Army (PLA) by appointing several close allies to the army's new Central Military Commission (CMC).

By Ananth Krishnan: China's leader Xi Jinping has tightened his control over the People's Liberation Army (PLA) by appointing several close allies to the army's new Central Military Commission (CMC)- the body that heads the PLA.

Two of the PLA generals closest to the Chinese President will serve as Vice Chairmen of the CMC, which is chaired by Xi. Current VC, General Xu Qiliang, 67, gets another term, while General Zhang Youxia, 67 a childhood acquaintance of Xi according to some accounts, replaces the retiring General Fan Changlong as the new VC. General Xu, a former Air Force Commander, served in Fujian province at the same time as when Xi was posted there as a provincial party official. General Zhang, like Xi, is the son of one of the party's revolutionary founding heroes from Xi's native Shaanxi province.

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The appointments underline how Xi has, more than his predecessors, stamped his control over the army even as he has pushed sweeping reforms.

These aren't the only two new CMC Generals with long-term ties to Xi. General Miao Hua (62) was given a double promotion by Xi to become one of the PLA's youngest officers of General-rank. He is the Political Commissar of the PLA Navy, and like General Xu, has known Xi since Fujian.

The other members include Li Zuocheng, 64, the former Army Commander who was entrusted by Xi in September to head the Joint Chiefs of Staff after the removal of General Fang Fenghui on corruption charges; Wei Fenghe, 63, Commander of the PLA's fourth service, the Rocket Force (formerly the Second Artillery Corps); and General Zhang Shengmin, who completes the elite top body that will lead Xi's army.

Also Watch : China has the confidence to defeat all invasions, says President Xi Jinping on Army Day

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China's Communist Party (CPC) today disclosed its new set of leadership for the next five years- but without an apparent successor to incumbent President Xi Jinping. This means Xi would remain in power post 2022.

By Ananth Krishnan: China's Communist Party (CPC) today unveiled its new leadership for the next five years, but without an apparent successor to President Xi Jinping in a suggestion he is likely to continue post-2022.

The new seven-member Politburo Standing Committee (PBSC), the body that effectively rules China, was presented to the media at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, shortly after the new Party Central Committee, selected at Tuesday's congress, held its first meeting to approve the new Politburo and PBSC.

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Of significance was the absence of any leader who would be young enough to take over from Xi in 2022, suggesting Xi is likely to remain in power beyond the end of his second five-year-term.

There were no major surprises in the lineup of the top seven, with officials close to Xi and some with ties to his predecessor Hu Jintao. Second-ranked Premier Li Keqiang, a protege of Hu, continues for a second-term.

The other leaders in order of rank:

Li Zhanshu, who will head the Parliament's legislature;

Wang Yang, another Hu-ally who will may lead the upper house of parliament;

Wang Huning, who will lead the party's secretariat and ideological work, and is seen as the brains behind Xi's "China Dream" and "One Belt, One Road" campaigns;

Zhao Leji, who will take on the key post of anti-corruption czar; and

Han Zheng, the savvy former Shanghai mayor who will may be Executive Vice Premier and work with Li Keqiang on economic policy.

None of the five new appointees are possible successors of Xi, as only those born in 1960 or later, considered the party's sixth-generation of leadership, would be able to serve a two-year term starting in 2022, in keeping with the party's recent retirement age of 68.

For instance, Xi was promoted to the PBSC in 2007 when he was 54, thus allowing him to take over in 2012 for a two-year term. The youngest leader to the new PBSC is 1957-born Zhao Leji, who takes over the powerful post of anti-corruption czar. This means Xi is likely to stay on beyond 2022 in some capacity, most likely as Party General Secretary. The congress this week had paved the way for an extended term at the helm for Xi by enshrining his name and ideology into the party constitution, an honour only bestowed upon the towering former leaders Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. This had, to some degree, rendered less significant the issue of succession as it will ensure Xi's influence in the party.

Xi led out the new PBSC to a packed room of reporters in the Great Hall, and said his "reelection" for the second term "was not just approval of my work but encouragement that will spur me on."

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"It is my conviction that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will become a reality in the course of reform and opening up," Xi said, outlining his goal of building a "moderately prosperous society" and "eradicating poverty" by 2020.

"We will strive for sustained and healthy economic growth that benefits people in China and the world," Xi said, saying the party would neither "take a breather or halt our steps".

"We will rid ourselves of any virus that erodes the fabric of the Party," Xi said, adding that China "will work with other nations to build a global community of shared future".

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By Ananth Krishnan: In a major reform of China's foreign policy establishment, China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi was today promoted to the Communist Party of China's 25-member Politburo. This is the first time in 14 years that a Chinese diplomat has served on the party's highest-ranking body, and analysts say the move is aimed at raising the level of decision-making and heft of China's diplomatic initiatives.

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Yang was announced as among the 25 members of the new Politburo today, following the first meeting of the party's new Central Committee which was chosen at the just concluded once-in-five-year party congress. The senior diplomat had been surprisingly retained in the new Central Committee on Tuesday amid suggestions he would retire.

The promotion to the Politburo suggests Yang, who is now State Councillor, may become the first Vice Premier in charge of foreign policy when the Chinese Parliament meets in March to choose new ministers under the State Council, or cabinet. The last Vice Premier in charge of foreign policy was Qian Qichen until 2003, who was also the last diplomat to be appointed to the Politburo.

As State Councillor, Yang is also the Special Representative (SR) on the border negotiations with India, a post he is likely to give up following his likely promotion in March. China is set to get a new State Councillor and Special Representative in March, with current Foreign Minister Wang Yi a likely prospect. Wang would then also take over as the next Special Representative, sources said.

ALSO WATCH: BRICS Summit: Modi, Xi meet for first time after 73-day-long Doklam standoff

--- ENDS ---
By India Today Web Desk: Saraswatichandra actor Gautam Rode recently got engaged to Kya Qusoor Hai Amala Ka actress Pankhuri Awasthy. The TV hottie has been dating his Suryaputra Karna co-star for quite some time now.

According to a report in Bombay Times, the couple had a small roka ceremony, which was attended by their near and dear ones.

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The couple, who have always been tight-lipped about their personal lives have been dating for around two years.

Gautam confirmed the news to Bombay Times and said, "Yes, Pankhuri and I recently got engaged and I feel lucky to have found a life partner like her. We share the same wavelength and she has fit into my family perfectly." Pankhuri too, was very happy and said, "We have taken the first step. The families have wholeheartedly welcomed our union. In Gautam, I have found the answer to all my dreams. I'm eagerly looking forward to the most important phase of my life."

Gautam Rode and Pankhuri Awasthy have worked together in Suryaputra Karn. Picture courtesy: Instagram/pankhuriawasthy

Gautam met Pankhuri on the sets of Suryaputra Karn, the mythological show where he played Karna and she Draupadi. Pankhuri was last seen in Star Plus' Kya Qusoor Hai Amala Ka, which was a remake of popular Turkish show Fatmgul.

--- ENDS ---
Ashleys Arcadia facility in Wisconsin, hosted more than 200 sixth and seventh grade students from the Whitehall and Arcadia School Districts. The students toured the facility and participated in a manufacturing-based activity to learn about team work, communication and the workflow of an assembly line. Ashleys Founder and Chairman of the Board, Ron Wanek, spoke about the economic impact manufacturing has on the local and national economy. In addition, Wanek spoke on the need for engineering and technology skills to support the future of advanced manufacturing.
After nearly half a century, Les Boelter's legacy still revolves around the folding carton.

And at the rate WS Packaging is producing the foldable product boxes, that likely won't change. The Winona business Boelter founded in 1969  known as Boelter Industries before a 2012 sale to WS Packaging  now produces 176 million folding cartons a year, making approximately 3.5 million cartons per week, General Manager Richard Whalen said.

The manufacturer's packages have encased a number of nationally known products, but the heart of the Winona WS Packaging's success, Whalen said, is its 100 employees, who have an average of 15 years of employment with the company.

"Employees are really what matters, and that is the backbone of this company," Whalen said.

Creating the boxes, cartons and packages used by everyday consumers is something WS Packaging and its employees are proud of, Whalen said, much like most other Winona-based manufacturers.

"We have a unique workforce. People are very proud and loyal," Whalen said. "Our manufacturing plants (are) proud, proud of what we do."

Those employees at WS Packaging help design, print, cut, fold, quality check and ship out boxes and food cartons to its customers five days a week out of the business' 136,000-square-foot manufacturing plant on Galewski Drive in Goodview. The manufacturer also has a nearly 70,000-square-foot warehouse on Winona's Fourth Street and a nearly 62,000-square-foot plant in Wabasha.

The process of getting a frozen pizza box or a gas station food carton to a consumer's waiting, hungry hands starts with either a client with a product to sell knowing what kind of design they want or utilizing WS Packaging's designers, Whalen said.

The packaging is printed on the selected material, and die cutters and folders process and print the finished solutions. Quality check machines and operators run the packages through processing lines to check packaging durability and quality.

Some of the machinery and equipment used in its packaging creation process has been designed and engineered by WS Packaging, Whalen said.

Finally, the packaging is shipped off to its rightful customer, where it's filled, wrapped or encased around food and everyday products for consumers, some even ending up back in Winona for its local consumers.

Simply put by Whalen: "We manufacture folding cartons."

And they have 50 years of experience doing so.
The Khattar government failed to register an FIR in the first beef biryani case that surfaced on August 24, 2016 in Jhirka tehsil in Mewat district.

By Ajay Kumar: The Haryana government could blame itself for rampant cow slaughter and easy availability of beef biryani in Mewat due to soft implementation of strong law on ground.

This point can be justified with the fact that the Khattar government has failed to register an FIR in the first beef biryani case surfaced on August 24, 2016 in Ferojpur's Jhirka tehsil in Mewat district.

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Chairman of Haryana Gau Sewa Aayog (HGSA) Bhani Ram Mangla and his team had collected beef biryani samples from seven hawkers in presence of nodal officer of Haryana Gau Sanrakshan and Gau Samwardhan Act (HGSGSA) DIG Bharti Arora then which led to massive uproar across the state.

"This shows the intension of the Haryana government to prevent cow slaughter in Mewat. The state government has made stringent Act pertaining to slaughtering, transporting and trading of cow and its meat but there is no implementation of it on ground which is actually encouraging the ill-practice here," said Naresh Kadyan, master trainer of animal welfare board of India and renowned cattle activist of Haryana.

In that case, HGSA had collected beef biryani samples from food cart vendors namely Vikil Quarshi, Sajid, Hakim, Jamshed, Israil, Mohaui and one more vendor, and it had been proven in the lab of Rohtak that the biryani, they were selling, contained beef.

"Even, Haryana Lokayoukta has given its decision to register separate FIR against them, and October 13, 2017, senior division judicial magistrate of Ferozpur Jhirka had also given similar order to local police to register an FIR under HGSGSA but no FIR has been registered so far even after 13 months," Kadyan, who is also a petitioner of this case, said.

Kadyan also raised questions over the existence, functioning and financial status of HGSA. He also blamed HGSA for going on backfoot after collecting samples last year.

Meanwhile, Rohtash Singh, SHO of Ferojpur Jhirka admits that no such FIR registered in that case.

"The matter is in High Court and we have not received any such order from Haryana Lokayoukta and senior division judicial magistrate court of Ferozpur Jhirka so far. If we receive any such copy of court direction, we will definitely book the offenders," Singh said.

He also added that there are 26 cases of cow slaughtering and cattle cruelty incidents in his police station this year. He also admitted that sale of biryani in the market is quite common, but it is difficult to specify the contents of it.

--- ENDS ---
Winona County will be looking to update some of its voting equipment following the unanimous support of the County Board.

The money, if approved, is from a $7 million appropriation authorized by the state legislature in the Voting Equipment Grant Account to assist counties, cities, towns and school districts with the purchase of voting equipment.

It would require the county to pay around 25 percent of the total costs for upgrades.

County auditor-treasurer Sandra Suchla said that the county is hoping to upgrade in several areas, including a new scanner and vote tabulator and registration in electronic poll books, both of which can help the county become more efficient during elections.

The electronic poll book, for instance, automatically generates a voter receipt, updates voter information and allows them to register at the poll, saving time entering paper receipts and adding accountability.

More efficient timing is important in busy and long election nights, Suchla said.

That would really help our efficiency, Suchla said. The general public doesnt always realize the work that goes on behind the scenes.

That also includes managing all the absentee votes for every precinct in the county.

The last update Winona County received was in 2006 as part of a federal push to update polling places that started with the 2002 Help America Vote Act.

It received $468,000 in two installments of grant money to purchase 39 new vote-counting machines for the townships.

The county as a whole only ended up paying $25,000 spread across the wider tax base, as opposed to the $12,000 each township was initially asked for.

Those machines used optical-scan technology to read the paper ballots, eliminating the need for hand counting, and the county also purchased voting technology for the blind and disabled voters.

Still, the equipment is approaching the end of its 10- to 15-year lifespan, according to the staff report asking to apply for the grant.

Grant amounts are expected to be announced and awarded Jan. 31, 2017 and funds provided in the spring of 2018.

The Minnesota Secretary of States office is also taking back any funds that are unused by Aug. 31, 2019 or returned and potentially will run a second round of grants.
I, for one, would like to question the logic and wisdom of a policy being imposed in one Texas community as was afflicted by Hurricane Harvey asking applicants for Federal disaster aid to show they are not supporting Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS) campaigns against Israel as a condition of application.

Such, to me, amounts to flawed logic which implies that true patriot love for the United States requires an equal and reciprocal amount of support for the state of Israel. Since when exactly was such the norm?

Does this not call to mind the McCarthy Red Scare-era "loyalty oaths" required in certain sensitive occupations -- at least until the Supreme Court struck down the requirements as unconstitutional?

And: Come to think of it, why weren't there similar illogical requirements vis-a-vis the apartheid regime in South Africa at its depraved height of racially-driven sadism in the state's name and service, reinforced by a warped and deluded bible-believing Christianity? (BDS, in fact, was first deployed in opposition to apartheid following the 1960 riots at Sharpeville in protest of the pass laws.)

Courts, know, have ruled that the right of boycott is constitutionally-protected free speech. But to put limits on such in the name of warped patriotism suggests the dangerous.

Larry Ellis Reed, Winona
Theres a tendency among English professors to pitch and plead for our subject as, counterintuitively, a practical choice for the student of today facing the job market of tomorrow.

We arent wrong about that. Study after study backs us up, while at regular intervals yet another corporate CEO or Silicon Valley guru trumpets the value of a degree in English or Philosophy or Classics. English majors are making a perfectly pragmatic decision, one that will help them cultivate the soft skills employers want  critical thinking, communication, creative problem solving, collaboration  while also nurturing the intellectual curiosity and mental agility that will serve them well when the careers of the future turn out to be ones we couldnt predict. Liberal arts graduates are not doomed to serve Frappuccinos to MBAs: They are teachers and journalists, writers and doctors, artists and executives. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was an English major; so were Sting, Sally Ride, Clarence Thomas and Emma Watson. There is no straight line from a BA in English to one specific job  but thats an advantage, not a drawback.

Yet the myth persists that an English degree is at best decorative and at worst debilitating, and the number of English majors is declining. Why should this be? How can it be, when the facts are on our side? Its both disheartening and baffling.

Lately, Ive been thinking that its partly our fault  that our self-promoting argument, though a sound one, is the wrong one, and also a self-defeating one. Because heres the truth: If your priority is to improve your marketable skills, you certainly can do that  indeed, you will do that  in my class on the Victorian novel, but you do not actually need my class on the Victorian novel, or any other literature class, for that purpose.

Studying Middlemarch is simply not a necessary condition for learning critical thinking or communication skills. Many other classes will help with that, and they might do it more efficiently. Reading Middlemarch is taking the long way around to those generic ends.

The only thing youll get in a class on the Victorian novel that you wont get anywhere else is an education in the Victorian novel. If we want students to choose an English degree over other programs equally able to improve their soft skills, we need to make our best case for that specific experience  not just for the value of studying Bleak House, Jane Eyre or Middlemarch, of course, but for the importance of engaging with our vast, diverse, vexing and exhilarating literary culture, from Beowulf to the Beat poets, from Tennyson to Toni Morrison. The utilitarian defense weve been relying on tacitly concedes the fundamental irrelevance of our actual subject. No wonder were demoralized. No wonder it sometimes seems as if our own students  or, more to the point, our prospective students  dont know what we have to offer.

So what is the best case for studying English? I could start with the research psychologists are doing on the crucial role that reading fiction plays in developing empathy, or with the eloquent case philosopher Martha Nussbaum has made for the ethical advantages of seeing the world as a novelist does  one like Henry James on whom nothing is lost, or one like Charles Dickens, who in Hard Times, delivers a stinging rebuke to just the kind of reductive economic utilitarianism currently dominating conversations about higher education. Or I could point to programs such as Changing Lives Through Literature, which show the transformative potential, both personal and social, of the imaginative exercise literature demands.

But these arguments still skip over what made most of us readers first and English majors second: the thrill of discovering what words can do, and of thinking hard about what they mean. Literature is not just a means to other ends. Like all art, it deserves attention for its own sake  and also for ours. Literature is the record of the many stories we have told about ourselves and our world, and of the many ways we have found to use language artfully and beautifully, but also cruelly and obtusely. It both reflects us and shapes us. We dont need any excuses for taking it seriously.

Standing up for what we actually teach might turn out to work better than we imagine. Even those who claim to see no use for literature often tacitly acknowledge its importance, especially at times of high emotion or deep significance  weddings, for instance, or funerals. How often do people turn to poetry because they recognize, on some level, that it offers them something they cant find anywhere else?

But even if this isnt a winning strategy, at least we would be advocating for our classes in a principled way, rather than trying to convince people that they should study George Eliot to practice their teamwork.

Dont major in English if your goal is to acquire marketable skills. Or at any rate, dont take my class on the Victorian novel for that reason. Take it because youve heard that Middlemarch may be the greatest 19th-century English novel and you want to experience it for yourself. Youll probably end up a better thinker because of it, but Middlemarch itself is reason enough to be there. It will be my job and my pleasure to help you understand why.
Prosecutors have charged a Wisconsin Dells man with attempted homicide, alleging that he stabbed someone in the chest during a May dispute.

According to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday, a Lake Delton Police Department officer was dispatched to a West Adams Street residence shortly before 9 p.m. May 3.

When he arrived, he saw a shirtless man lying motionless on the ground with a stab wound to his chest and two men standing over him.

One of the two standing men had blood on his hands and face, and later was identified as 55-year-old Gerzon Sanchez.

Sanchez allegedly told the officer that he had been in a fight with the victim  who is not identified in court documents  but that he did not know how the man had been stabbed.

The next day, according to the complaint, investigators interviewed the victim at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, and he told them that Sanchez stabbed him during an argument.

The man said he tried to leave and call his boss for help after he was stabbed, but that he passed out due to loss of blood.

Doctors told the man the stab wound came about 2 centimeters away from his heart, according to court documents.

In a separate interview a week later, a witness to the stabbing allegedly told a Lake Delton detective that Sanchez had an attitude for some reason and tried to fight three men at the residence.

The witness told the detective that Sanchez stabbed at (the man) with the knife multiple times. The witness also said Sanchez had encouraged him not to say anything to the officer who arrived on scene.

A judge Tuesday set cash bond for Sanchez at $100,000. He is due to appear in court Oct. 20.
The village of Wonewoc was not named for any person, nor is it determined who first conceived the name, however, it certainly is of Indian ori
The Wisconsin River once served as a major passageway for trade and commerce. This once hardworking river, lacking in the industries of old, is now a regional playground.

The Great Sauk State Trail opened Thursday with a ceremony in Prairie du Sac at the rivers bank near Eagle Island. The ceremony included several local and county leaders as well as Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Dan Meyer and Department of Transportation Secretary Dave Ross.

Former DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp left her post at the end of August to go to work for the EPA, but it was her staff that did the heavy lifting alongside of Ross crew to help make this trail happen. Its simply amazing the bureaucracy of converting an abandoned railway from metal tracks to a paved path for hiking and biking.

That bureaucracy was waded through by the leadership of Sauk County Board Chair Marty Krueger. The embattled county chair accomplished something that many before him were not able to attain and that was an agreement to convert this former rail corridor into a recreational trail. This trail will bolster the economies of the Sauk Prairie area and Sauk County.

Whether you like Kruegers leadership style or not, this was a major accomplishment and a huge win for the county. Since the Badger Army Ammunition Plant was mothballed in 1997, several efforts to use this track for recreation have been thwarted. The challenges began not just with the concept, but the multitude of objections. The objections continued even after a major railroad bridge in Sauk City over the Wisconsin River literally was blown up due to safety reasons. Those objections ended when Krueger successfully lobbied the state for this corridor and nudged the state into acquiring the Madison to Reedsburg line. Those agreements also included the costly improvements to the railroad bridge over Lake Wisconsin in Merrimac.

Of course, Krueger did not do this all alone. Hundreds of people worked on various aspects of this project. Stepping stones still exist before the completion of this trail meets its full potential.

The Great Sauk State Trail Commission still needs help from the Friends of the Great Sauk State Trail to raise money for the rest of the trail. As of today, the trail ends at the fence of the Sauk Prairie Recreation Area, and the group has raised about one-third of the $1.5 million needed for the next phase to take the trail to Devils Lake State Park.

The remains of the defunct Sauk City rail bridge still need to come down, but that is in process, and a new bridge for pedestrian and bicycle traffic needs to be erected. Once that is done, we need the state and Dane County to do their part. They need to connect the bike path that ends seven miles north of Middleton to this corridor. Once complete, the Great Sauk State Trail is predicted to become the busiest trail in the state network.

Jeff Wright, president of the trail friends group, appropriately marked the trails opening by quoting August Derleth, Sauk Citys favorite son. Derleth chronicled life in the Sauk Prairie area and the Wisconsin River in several of the books he authored. The prolific author had a passion for the community with a river running through it.

Derleths The Wisconsin: River of a Thousand Isles was one such book that chronicled the river, beginning with the early exploration of the territory by French traders. He told the legendary stories of the Indian nations that lived there as well as stories of the lumberjacks and the miners who would capitalize on the rivers power.

If Derleth still were alive today, what would the next chapter of his book have read? What story could he tell about how this seemingly simple bike path might change the face of the small community in Derleths Sac Prairie.

The Wisconsin River once was a major workhorse during the early American industrial revolution. The dam changed her future here as the upper river became Lake Wisconsin. The dams upstream helped transport lumber on through to the Mississippi River. River boats traveled up and down the riverway, carrying passengers and commodities in the late 1800s. A new dam in Prairie du Sac delivered more promise as electricity changed life on this prairie 100 years ago.

The trail will bring new people into the community and tourists once will again help capitalize on the potential of this mighty river. The Great Sauk State Trail is simply another improvement on this playground we call the Wisconsin River.
FOX LAKE  The Fox Lake Spooktacular has become one of the highlights for area residents celebrating Halloween each year.

The Spooktacular, hosted by the Fox Lake Chamber of Commerce, is in its seventh year of bringing fall fun to the citys downtown.

Organizer Ann Buchda-Uhrman said Saturdays festival runs from noon to 3 p.m., rain or shine. She encouraged business owners and nonprofits to participate in a scarecrow competition as a way to decorate the downtown. The scarecrows, along with pumpkins, hay bales and cornstalks can be found outside the storefronts on State Street.

Many activities are planned throughout the afternoon within walking distance of one other, with Halloween street signs directing festival-goers to each event.

Fire prevention and safety tips, firetruck tours, free blood pressure checks, candy and basket raffles can all be found at Quade Real Estate, 214 W. State St.

At 1 p.m., a magic show will be performed in the Farmers State Bank parking lot, 314 W. State St.

It wouldnt be Halloween without costumes, and Spooktacular offers a chance for children and animals to show off their holiday best. The YMCA invites little ghouls and goblins to participate in a childrens costume contest along State Street at 2 p.m. Then at 2:30 p.m. in front of Nehls Realty, 305 W. State St., a costume contest for pets of all types and sizes will take place. Prizes will be awarded in both contests.

Buchda-Uhrman said most of the businesses are handing out treats, promotional items or putting on a small fun activity during the day, such as face-painting and games. And if people get hungry, they may head to the American Legion for a brat fry and bake sale.

A pumpkin carving/decorating contest may be just the ticket for those wishing to display their artistic side. Bring a pre-carved or decorated pumpkin to Fish Tales Bait & Liquor, 529 W. State St. Judging begins at 3 p.m. Come register for the contest this week at Fish Tales and receive a free pumpkin provided by Hoekstras Market.

On the other end of the strip, Wisconsin cartoonist Bill Begos will be drawing caricatures of kids and their parents and grandparents near the Fox Lake Public Library, 117 W. State St., from noon to 3 p.m.

The fun spreads out into the community after 3 p.m. Anchor Communities, an assisted living facility, 209 Forest St., welcomes people to stop in from 3-4 p.m. for activities and treats.

The city of Fox Lake will hold trick-or-treating from 4-6 p.m. And St. Johns Lutheran Church, 110 Edgelawn Drive, is hosting Trunk-or-Treat from 4-6 p.m.

A historical cemetery walk will round out Saturdays events at Riverside Memorial Park on Hamilton Street from 6-7:30 p.m. Among the deceased honored this year will be James Bonner, C.C. Hurd, Addie McCoy and Josephus Williams, who married Jennie McDowell.

The walk offers a real taste of what it was like for these settlers to leave their homes, travel great distances by foot or ox cart and carve out a spot in a new world.

Done by the light of tiki torches positioned at each grave, the cemetery walk is $4 per adult and $1 per child. Sometimes there is even something a little special included in the walk; it is nothing that will ever scare a child, however. Bring a flashlight if possible.

Buchda-Uhrman said the Fall Spooktacular Festival is fun for all ages. But for adults who want to put a little spooky in their Halloween, she recommends the walking ghost tour of Riverside Memorial Park on Friday or Tuesday at 8 p.m. Ghost meters (EMF sensors), dowsing rods and laser grids are available on the walk. Tickets are $15 each and all the proceeds go to restore cemetery stones that have deteriorated. Visit Grannies Annies, 303 W. State St., to preregister or call 920-210-1135.
MAYVILLE  The Common Council is reaching out to Interim Police Chief Ryan Vossekuil again with a new contract offer for the permanent police chief position, which removes the 12-month probationary period.

Im glad that we could work something out, Mayor Rob Boelk said.

In a unanimous vote, the council approved a new contract that removes the 12-month probationary period that was present in the previous offer and it increases the salary from $72,000 to $73,400.

Boelk said that Vossekuil has basically served a probationary period through serving as the citys interim police chief. The new contract would send Vossekuil to police chief training and other training as needed. He states that this will be an additional expense because Vossekuil has limited experience in the role of chief.

In a letter to council members, Boelk writes that city leaders need to do a better job communicating in the future.

Vossekiul was unavailabe for comment.

Vossekuil rejected a contract offer in August in part because he was advised to do so by legal counsel. Boelk issued a news release Sept. 21 stating that Vossekuil rejected the offer to be the new chief and he did not make a counter-proposal, leading the city to reject Vossekuil as a candidate.

One of the sticking points in the contract included the 12-month probationary period. A probationary period carries the risk that Vossekuil could be more easily dismissed and thus put benefits he has earned over the course of his career with the department in jeopardy.

The city previously had said it would move forward with its search for a chief, but residents criticized the Mayville Common Council and asked it to reconsider the contract it offered to Vossekuil. Boelk previously defended the probationary period, calling it standard and something that must be included in order to protect the citys best interests.

Former Police Chief Christopher MacNeill resigned March 31. He was investigated by the Watertown Police Department at the request of Boelk, whose request came after the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation served a search warrant on the city of Mayville on Feb. 6. Boelk placed MacNeill on paid administrative leave Feb. 9.
In the spirit of Halloween fun for all ages, the Portage Police Department is hosting a Senior Safe Night Out.

The annual program, held at the Portage City Municipal Building, will open with a social hour at 3 p.m. Saturday followed by bingo, a chili/soup and sandwich dinner, music and costume contest awards. Country music will be provided by one-man-band Jeff Shaw.

Tickets cost $5 and are available at the Portage Police Department.

The Senior Safe Night Out will provide a drop-off point for the Portage Police Departments Drug Take Back, in which visitors can safely dispose of extra or expired medication.

The program is presented by the Portage Police Department in coordination with Seniors and Law Enforcement Together, which supports The Right Information And Direction (TRIAD) to reduce criminal victimization of the elderly.

Each community does it differently and they all have their own programs, said Dane County TRIAD organizer Mary Stamstad.

She said the recent Madison TRIAD Conference had about 200 participants, including representatives from the 20 statewide TRIAD organizations that are supported by the National Sheriffs Association.

At these large conferences, a lot of the participants are people who work with older people who dont understand, Stamstad said, listing concerns including bullying, safe use and disposal of prescription opioids, and just being taken advantage of.

Stamstad was introduced to TRIAD in 1998 as the director of the volunteer group RSVP Dane County and is familiar with Portages history with the program.

Portage was one of the first and (Portage Police Lt.) Penny Kiefer was really involved, Stamstad said.

Since Kiefer retired in 2016, the role of department liaison has been taken up by Officer Teresa Johnson and Community Service Officer Jerilyn Jerome Scott.

TRIAD has lost some branches throughout Wisconsin, Stamstad said, making regional conferences valuable to work toward outreach and retention and development of new programs.

The idea is to work for that area, Stamstad said. So we do surveys to try to find out what people are interested in.

At the most recent conference, the topic that had the strongest response, according to Stamstad, was fraud prevention, which has been an ongoing challenge for departments seeking to protect seniors from scams.
Columbia County Supervisor Steve Attoe had a powerful reason for missing the County Boards September meeting.

The first-term supervisor from the town of Lodi is a linesman for Waunakee Utilities, and his skill and hands were needed to restore power to parts of Florida after Hurricane Irma. The Category 5 hurricanes 185-mph winds knocked down power lines throughout much of the state.

Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin, an association for locally owned electric companies, called for volunteers to restore electricity to Florida. Attoe was one of the Wisconsin local electric employees who said yes.

They asked how many of us could go, and how many trucks we could bring, he said.

Attoes 12-day sojourn ended Sept. 20, the night of the County Board meeting. But County Board Chairman Vern Gove of Portage expressed understanding when Attoe asked to be excused because he was exhausted  and Gove expressed, during the meeting, praise for Attoes efforts.

When Attoe began the drive in a service truck toward Kissimmee, located in central Florida, he thought his stay in Florida might last a month. But he said he didnt see, on arrival, the extent of storm devastation hed expected  just a few trees down and a few puddles of water, but most of the houses looked OK.

Ive seen worse storms in Wisconsin, he said.

The power was down in Kissimmee, however, and he and the rest of the crew from Wisconsin  about 41 workers, with 21 trucks from their home utilities  repaired power lines there for three days. The Federal Emergency Management Agency paid for the out-of-state electric workers lodging and meals. The crews leader from the local power company took the teams to the work sites.

Work days ran about 16 hours, with breaks for box lunches brought to the work site. Sometimes, thats how the evening meal was consumed, too.

From Kissimmee, the crew went to Homestead, south of Miami, where the devastation was more apparent.

One of the most disturbing things Attoe saw had nothing to do with downed live electrical wires.

On the drive from Kissimmee to Homestead, the traffic was bumper to bumper  mostly, he surmised, with people who were returning from evacuation to see how badly damaged their homes were.

Many of the drivers, he said, had gasoline cans secured to the outside of their vehicles. People filled the gas cans before setting out, knowing they would not find an open gas station along the way.

Every gas station was out of gas, Attoe said, and all the fast food places were out of food. It was kind of creepy seeing all the McDonalds and Culvers (restaurants) with their signs off. They all shut down when they ran out of food.

Because there was no place for the Wisconsin electric crew to stop for a meal, Attoe subsisted on cheese and venison sausage from the deer hed harvested last fall.

In addition to the hazards common to all electric line workers, such as live wires and high places, Attoe said the crew working in Florida had two other challenges  the hot weather and poisonous snakes. The locals warned the Wisconsin workers they might encounter snakes, but Attoe never did.

The workers were lodged in a motel near Homestead, and to say it was crowded was an understatement.

Several of the people who sought lodging at the hotel, in vain, were Homestead residents who had returned to find their homes uninhabitable, and they had no place to go. Attoe recalled how many of the people, in tears, asked the hotels manager whether there were any other lodging facilities nearby that might have vacancies  and there werent.

But he also remembered the gratitude of the people, who posted on Facebook their thanks to the Wisconsin crew for quickly restoring their electric service.

It really did feel good to do for others, Attoe said. Thats what its all about  helping people.
Recently, teams sent by SDMC were denied entry into several gated housing societies in Dwarka. Few weeks back, they were even beaten black-and-blue in Shahpur Jat.

By Baishali Adak: Delhi's municipal bodies have been struggling to complete their ambitious door-to-door survey to provide a 'Unique Property Identification Card' (UPIC) to each land owner since year 2014. Residents trying to evade taxes by every means is the reason behind.

Officials say it is not just North MCD, where outlaws in unauthorised colonies, slums and villages come down to threats and mob violence with the surveyors. Even south MCD, with its posh areas and high-profile markets, is facing the issue.

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Recently, teams sent by SDMC were denied entry into several gated housing societies in Dwarka. Few weeks back, they were even beaten black-and-blue in Shahpur Jat.

Before that, residents in Sangam Vihar called up the police when surveyors reached to assess the kothis, number of floors therein, their usage and ownership.

Radha Krishnan, assessor and collector of SDMC, said, "Just like Mosquito Breeding Checkers, property surveyors have also been given uniforms and ID cards. Inspite of showing those, they were dragged to the police station."

House tax is the biggest source of revenue for the cash-strapped MCDs. The south MCD, which is an exception with surplus money, earned Rs 900 crore from this tax in financial year 2016-17 - much more than what it drew from advertising, parking or toll.

This is inspite of the fact that only 4.5 lakh property owners are currently paying tax in this part of Delhi out of total 19 lakh premises.

The UPIC scheme, combined with the physical house-to-house survey and GIS (Geographical Information Service) mapping, aims to chart out all property owners in the city. Their records will then be digitised to send tax notices easily, recover dues and avoid any discrepancy.

In north MCD too, the UPIC exercise has slowed down for the same reasons, said Dr. Renu Jagdev, additional commissioner, NMCD.

"It's sad that people carry this mentality to not cooperate with the government and pay taxes for their own welfare. In Kohat Enclave recently, people broke the expensive tablets with our surveyors that we had provided them for observations. People have also misbehaved with our officers in Wazirpur, Pitampura and Civil Lines," she added.

NMCD is severely money-starved. It has a liability of Rs 3,600 crore, including salary bills of its employees and payments to contractors. Again, even for NMCD, house tax is a crucial source of money. It earned Rs 613 crore from the same in 2016-17, as compared to Rs 364 crore in 2015-16, which Jagdev attributed to the door-to-door survey.

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Since 2014, NMCD has mapped seven lakh of its estimated 12-13 lakh properties. East MCD is yet to start this exercise and has reportedly, just floated a tender to hire a private company to do a survey in the trans-Yamuna area.

Of all the cities and towns in India, the Pune, Hyderabad and Bengaluru municipal corporations are considered the best in terms of property tax coverage. These, reportedly, have almost 90 per cent of their residents in the tax net. Delhi has fallen way behind them in terms of having all property owners in the tax ambit.

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By PTI: diploma course

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) The Delhi governments G B Pant Institute of Technology today signed an MoU with German car- maker Mercedes-Benz (India) to run a one-year advance diploma in automotive mechatronics.

Designed by the European auto majors training centre and the German government, the one-year course focuses on the self-learning methodology and helps candidates update themselves with the latest technological advancements.

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The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the presence of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

The course will prepare the youth in mechanical, electronics and informatics as well as in other modern automation technologies, a release said.

"The Delhi government is making efforts to bring in the best of global companies to impart knowledge and provide hands-on experience to students so that they do not lag behind their competitors in the market," Sisodia said.

"We have tried to link our vocational studies at the school-level with higher education so that students can acquire maximum knowledge on the subject."

The advance diploma is being conducted since 2002 in government institutions in Pune and Aurangabad in Maharashtra and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.

The course will be offered under the automobile discipline of the college and the initial plan is to start the course with a single batch of 20 students, the release said.

The selection of candidates will be strictly on merit and an entrance test conducted by the college, it said.

"India has a large youth demography which gives the country a unique edge over other markets. However, to sustain this competitive edge, there is an urgent requirement to make educated youth, skilled, employable and ready for the industry," Mercedes-Benz (India) managing director and chief executive officer Roland Folger said.

He also said, "We have taken this initiative to ensure Indias young are prepared with the right set of skills and attitude to face new challenges and conquer them."

With the expansion of the mechatronics programme in Delhi, the company believes that a large section of aspiring automotive technicians in this part of the country, will find the right platform to enhance their skills and get directly benefit, he said. PTI BUN/IAS ANB

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The urban development ministry has approved projects worth nearly Rs 1,000 crore for Delhi including an elevated corridor to IGI Airport.

Among the projects proposed, a flyover connecting Mahipalpur to Indira Gandhi International Airport will be built to clear congestion on National Highway 8

By Rakesh Ranjan: The choked streets of Delhi may soon get a breather with at least five major projects coming up in the next two years. The urban development ministry has approved projects worth nearly Rs 1,000 crore that includes a direct access to IGI Airport from Dhaula Kuan.

A skywalk at Delhi's most congested intersection, ITO and improvement of ring road near ISBT Kashmere Gate are another key decongestion projects that will be funded by the UD ministry.

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A senior official said a flyover at Narela will be constructed to connect Urban Extension Road-I and NH-1 (Delhi - Karnal). This will ease out the traffic load on NH-1 and thus decongest Delhi's border with Haryana.

The flyover connecting Mahipalpur to the airport will mitigate the traffic snarls on NH-8 as vehicles coming from south Delhi areas will directly reach the airport via Aerocity.

The UD ministry has sanctioned Rs 150 crore for the flyover, while the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will fund Rs 38 crore for the same. The flyover will be completed by December 2018, a senior official of UD ministry said.

At present the passengers headed to airport have to wade through heavy traffic near Dhaula Kuan and Mahipalpur. The flyover will not only provide direct access to airport-bound traffic but will also benefit the vehicles headed straight to Gurgaon.

"The northern access road leading to Terminal-3 is already experiencing excessive traffic growth and congestion. The proposed flyover will reduce the traffic load from Mahipalpur as well as the northern access road," officials said. Mail Today had earlier reported that the Delhi government is also considering extending the Barapulla elevated corridor to IGI Airport.

The nearly 10-km elevated corridor is being planned in a way that it will end at the airport approach road so that congestion at Dhaula Kuan could be avoided.

The corridor will reduce traffic congestion in the entire central Delhi, and Barapullah will act as a link between NH-24 in the east and NH-8 in the west of the national capital.

SKYWALK AT ITO

Officials said the Delhi government will be constructing the skywalk at ITO at an estimated cost of Rs 55 crore.

Of this, the UD ministry will fund Rs 43 crore while the remaining amount will be spent by the Delhi government. The 500-meter long skywalk will connect Tilak Marg, Sikandra Road, Mathura Road and Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg with the ITO metro station through sturdy metallic ramps and overhead canopies.

Decongestion of ITO is crucial not only for smooth flow of vehicular traffic but also keeping in view the pedestrian safety.

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The project is expected to be completed within six months and will benefit an estimated one lakh pedestrians frequenting between nearly 25 government office complexes in the area. The intersection also sees the movement of nearly 5 lakh vehicles every day.

Sources said that clearances from the Archaeological Survey of India, the Indian Railways and the New Delhi Municipal Council are in the process of being procured and the work is likely to commence soon. Officials said the traffic congestion between ISBT Kashmere Gate and Salimgarh Bypass slows down the vehicular flow on the ring road.

To ease out the situation, the ministry has allocated `19 crore for widening of the ring road. The ministry has also asked the NDMC to expedite the completion of Rani Jhansi Road grade separator, which is already delayed by nearly 8 years. This project aims at decongesting areas like Sadar Bazar, Azad Market and Filmistan in central Delhi.

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School students in Dhaula Kuan launched a campaign today for motorists to raise awareness about air pollution as the air quality in Delhi continues to remain poor after Diwali.

School children in Delhi launched an awareness campaign for motorists as the air quality continues to remain poor after diwali.

By Abhishek Anand: As the air quality of Delhi remains very poor about a week after Diwali, some school students launched an awareness drive across the city for motorists.

Scores of students from Army School Dhaula Kuan launched a two-hour-long campaign at Motibagh crossroad with placards, requesting motorists to switch off the engines of their vehicles whenever they see a signal of 15 seconds and above.

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"The motorists can help in reducing pollution from Delhi, if they turn their engine off at each traffic signal that is longer than 15 seconds, they will produce less carbon foot prints and also help fellow citizen in inhaling lesser smoke," said Adya Singhania, a student who led the campaign.

The students also distributed pollution masks to the auto-rickshaw drivers, two-wheeler riders and traffic police, who are exposed to the pollution throughout the day.

"Today we have started our campaign on social media also with the name of #breathedelhi. People can join us in spreading the word that will help us keep Delhi air clean," said another student who participated in the event.

Students from other schools also stood at the traffic signals with placards and banners at the busy ITO crossing to spread awareness.

AIR QUALITY CONTINUES TO REMAIN POOR IN DELHI

According to the data provided by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), a branch of Ministry of Earth Science of the government of India, the particulate matter (PM) 10 level was recorded at 297 mugm-3, which falls in poor category and the PM 2.5 level was recorded 166 on Wednesday, which falls in very poor category.

The Weather Department claimed that the air quality is likely to remain very poor till the weekend.

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Toshiba to help enhance Ukraine's nuclear fleet

25 October 2017

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Ukraine's Energoatom and Japan's Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the modernisation of the turbine island equipment of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. Energoatom operates all of Ukraine's four nuclear power plants - Zaporozhe, Rovno, South Ukraine and Khmelnitsky - which comprise 15 nuclear reactors, including 13 VVER-1000s and two VVER-440s with a total capacity of 13,835 MWe.

The bilateral MoU covers increasing power output, efficiency and safety through the upgrading of turbine island equipment, Energoatom said today. It also aims to expand cooperation in the long-term service of installed equipment at nuclear power plants and to introduce the latest "technical and financial solutions", it said.

The document was signed by Yury Nedashkovsky, Energoatom president, and Goro Yanase, vice president of the Japanese firm. The signing ceremony was attended by representatives of Japan's embassy in Ukraine and the Ministry of Energy and the Coal Industry of Ukraine.

"We are convinced that our joint work will not only help us to increase the capacity of Ukraine's nuclear power plants, but will provide additional impetus to the development of domestic technologies for [them]," Nedashkovsky said.

The MoU is to be implemented by a steering committee, which will also develop "appropriate commercial agreements" on, for example, equipment supply, Energoatom said.

The MoU states that Ukraine and Japan are members of the International Atomic Energy Agency and parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The two sides "believe their cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy will contribute to the stable socio-economic development of Ukraine and Japan", the statement added.

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by World Nuclear News

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Finnish mining company to apply to extract uranium

25 October 2017

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Multi-metal company Terrafame has decided to apply to the Finnish government for a permit to recover uranium as a by-product from the Sotkamo mine. In 2015, the company acquired the business operations and assets of Talvivaara Sotkamo Ltd, which had planned to start uranium production at the mine in north-eastern Finland.

Terrafame currently produces nickel, zinc and cobalt at its mine and metals production plant at Sotkamo (Image: Terrafame)

Terrafame said it intends to submit its permit application to the Ministry of Employment and Economic Affairs "in the weeks to come". The company estimates that if the government grants the permit, uranium recovery could begin towards the end of 2019.

Once it has received Terrafame's permit application, the ministry will request statements on the application from the municipality of Sotkamo, the town of Kajaani and their neighbouring municipalities, and several other parties. Individuals and communities will also have an opportunity to have their opinions heard during the processing of the application, Terrafame noted.

In addition to the government's permission, in order to start uranium recovery Terrafame also requires approval from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority and a uranium sales permit from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. It will also need a permit from the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) to transport uranium abroad for processing.

The Sotkamo mine includes a uranium recovery plant, into which 75 million ($88 million) has so far been invested. Terrafame said that, if it starts uranium recovery, a further investment of 10 million in the plant would be required.

The uranium concentrations in the ore mined by Terrafame are low, but the company says it would be possible to recover "sufficient amount of uranium for commercial purposes, using modern methods".

Terrafame CEO Joni Lukkaroinen said, "During two years of operations, we have ramped up the Sotkamo mine systematically. Our environmental safety is at a good level, and our metals production based on bioleaching is efficient. With the recovery and sale of uranium, we could use the natural resources in the ore that we mine more efficiently without having to make adjustments to the ore mining or bioleaching."

He added, "In relation to nickel and zinc production, the financial impact of uranium recovery would not be significant, but it would improve Terrafame's profitability."

State-owned Terrafame bought the mining business of Talvivaara Mining Company, which was facing bankruptcy, in August 2015.

Talvivaara Sotkamo - a subsidiary of Talvivaara Mining - applied in April 2010 to the Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy for a licence under the country's Nuclear Energy Act to extract the uranium as a by-product at the Sotkamo mine. The government granted a licence in March 2012. The company subsequently received an environmental permit in May 2014 for its proposed uranium recovery operations at Sotkamo from the Northern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency.

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by World Nuclear News

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Located in the US state of Nevada, specifically in Storey County, the city of Virginia is a ghost town, although it feels very much alive. Virginia City is not only frozen in time, but this historic city offers one of the best-preserved examples of the numerous mining camps found in the western region of America. Following the gold rush era, Virginia City and nearby cities in Nevada became known as the richest gold strike site found in the Rocky Mountains region. During the first three years of gold mining, it is believed that an estimated $30 million worth of gold was extracted from the mine. By 1870s the population of the city was above 25,000 residents and was known as the richest city in the US, but by 2010 the city of Virginia only had about 855 residents.

Town Development

The city got its start in 1863 when gold was discovered in Alder Gulch. Since the men who discovered the gold wanted to keep their discovery a secret, they opted to travel for supplies to Bannack some 60 miles to the southwest. However, a few sharp-eyed prospectors noticed that their sacks were filled with gold. Upon returning to Alder Gulch, the men realized that about 200 men had been trailing them. News of the discovery spread quickly and before long prospectors flooded Alder Gulch, some living in tents, caves, makeshift shacks, or sleeping under trees. Despite the nation being in the center of the Civil War, the gold brought emigrants from all over the world. Within a short period, about 10,000 people were living in camps surrounding the Gulch. In 1864, a new territory known as Montana was created by Congress separating it from the Idaho Territory. The site of the first gold strike, Bannack, became the territorys first capital. However, since Virginia City had gained so much popularity over the year, it finally became the new capital of the state.

How Virginia City Became a Ghost Town

As the territory flourished so did bandits who lurked about the trails to steal anything of value from the miners. To protect themselves from being robbed, a secret society of vigilantes was formed to deal with the outlaws. As a result, lynching became a common thing as the area succumbed to extreme violence and lawlessness. No sooner had the city of Virginia began to boom than it began to decline gradually. Soon after miners started moving to the Last Chance Gulch which is present day Helena, where gold had been discovered. Even though some gold was still being mined in Virginia City, the population had greatly declined, and by 1875, the territorys capital was moved to Helena. As a result, the City of Virginia was already on its way to becoming a ghost town. As the amount of gold decreased so did the dredging operations, but when the price of gold increased significantly dredge mining was revived only to be stopped the decade that followed during the Second World War.

Present-day Virginia City

At present, very few mining operations continue in the area, and gold is primarily searched for by hobbyist. Thanks to Charles and Sue Bovey, the city of Virginia is the most preserved ghost town in the American West. The couple first visited the city in 1944, and they were so captivated by the place that they decided to raise money for its preservation. The couple bought buildings which they preserved and reconstructed those that had been destroyed. They also collected artifacts. However, following the death of the Boveys years later, the properties they owned were put up for sale. Currently, the city comprises of over 200 historic buildings preserved for tourists, and it also features several events including the Heritage Days & Victorian Ball held in August. In 1961, Virginia City was designated as a National Historic Landmark, and in 1976, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Alaska, located on the extreme northwest of the North American continent, is the largest US state by size, covering an area of approximately 1.7 million square km (665,380 square miles). Despite its vastness, the state is the countrys third-least populous state with only 1.26 people per square mile on average.

As large as Alaska is, it was the 49th state to be admitted to the Union following the signing of a special proclamation by President Dwight Eisenhower on January 3, 1959. However, Alaska's ties to the US began when it became an incorporated territory of the country, effective March 30, 1867, after what has been famously referred to as the Alaska Purchase. But, how has Alaskas journey to statehood been and what influenced its purchase from Russia?

Alaskan Occupation And Settlement

Alaskas history can be traced back to the pre-colonization period when numerous Indigenous peoples settled in the area. The theory goes, these peoples began settling in Alaska by way of the Bering Land Bridge about 20,000 years ago. Some of the earliest settlers were the Tlingit People, Tsimshian, Haida, and Aleut.

According to several accounts, Russians were the first Europeans to discover Alaska, led by Russian explorer Semyon Dezhnyov in the 17th century. However, it is generally believed that the Russians, led by Danish explorer Vitus Bering, first landed on the shores of Alaska in 1741. Soon after, the Russians made incursions into Alaska, leading to the establishment of the region as a Russian colony in 1784 by Grigory Shelikhov. Grigory later established the Russian-American Company, which later became Alaskas colonial administration. Russians expanded their settlement throughout Alaska, with the southernmost fort located close to Californias Bodega Bay. The Russian settlers focused on hunting for the fur trade, and they caused the significant decline of Indigenous populations because of killing, overworking, and the introduction of foreign diseases.

Although Russians established settlements in Alaska, they never fully colonized the region, partly because the colony was not profitable. In the 1820s, the British and Americans finally obtained trading rights in Alaska. Russia was not also doing well financially during this period, evidenced by the decline in their activities in the New World. With Russia becoming almost bankrupt in the 1860s, it decided to sell off Alaska to the US.

Alaska Purchase

William H. Seward was a driving force behind the purchase of Alaska from the Russians. Image credit: Everett Collection/Shutterstock

After the Crimean War (1853-1856), the Russian Empire under Emperor Alexander II realized they could not defend Alaska from being conquered in the future by their main rival, the British. Russia did not wish to have the British as their next-door neighbors just across the Bering Sea. Therefore, the Russian government decided to sell Alaska to the US as a means of keeping away the British. Although the sale was discussed in 1857-1858, no deal was reached as the US considered the Civil War a priority at the time.

In the following years, America entered into serious discussions with Russia over the sale of Alaska. The initial negotiations involved, among others, the Russian diplomat Eduard de Stoeckl and John Appleton, then assistant Secretary of State. Following the US victory in the Civil War, Russia and the US re-entered into fresh negotiations. This time, William H. Seward led the negotiations, which began in March 1867. The negotiations were concluded by the signing of a treaty in the early morning of March 30, 1867. The purchase price was set at two cents per acre or $7.2 million. On October 18, 1867, Alaska was officially transferred, with the lowering of the Russian flag and the raising of the American flag.

American Administration

Immediately after the Alaska Purchase, Alaska became a US military department under the jurisdiction of the US Army (1867-1877), the Department of Treasury (1877-1879), and the US Navy (1879-1884). When Alaska became a Department, it was mainly occupied by Russian citizens. However, the Russians soon decided to go back to their country, with the Russian American Company facilitating their exit.

When the US purchased Alaska, much of the area had not been explored. The effort by the Western Union Expedition and the Alaska Commercial company resulted in Alaska's greater exploration, especially in the last decades of the 19th century. In 1884, the Department of Alaska transitioned to the District of Alaska, following the passage of the first Organic Act.

Around that time, gold was found in different locations across Alaska, and the US population finally realized the true value of this land. Many traveled up to Alaska with the hopes of making money in the gold rush. General Jefferson C. Davis continued to be in charge of the area. In 1898, copper was also found.

In 1912, Alaska was incorporated as an organized territory of the United States.

Statehood And Admission To The Union

The Eisenhower Alaska Statehood Monument, Anchorage, Alaska. Image credit: EQRoy/Shutterstock

Article IV of the US Constitution gives Congress powers to admit new states into the Union. However, it is not the prerogative of the House to initiate the process. It is always upon the organized government of the territory intending to join the union to request statehood. Congress then empowers the government to write a state constitution, which must be passed by the territorys residents and the Congress. Once the Congress adopts a joint resolution granting statehood to the territory, the president signs the resolution and issues a proclamation to indicate that the new state has officially joined the Union.

When former Alaska district judge James Wickersham joined Congress, one of his priorities was to ensure Alaska became a state. Within four years of Wickersham joining the Congress, the legislatures passed the Second Organic Act (1912), upgrading Alaska from a District to a Territory. Alaskas push for statehood was further boosted by Edward Lewis Bartlett, who joined Congress as one of the territorial delegates, and the appointment of Ernest Gruening as Alaskas governor.

In 1946, Alaska passed a referendum in favor of statehood, allowing Lewis to table a bill in Congress. However, the bill was shot down for fear that Alaska was not in a position to raise enough taxes. However, Bartlett did not relent in his push for statehood. In 1956, Alaskans overwhelmingly approved the Alaska Constitution, which was considered one of the best in the US. Two years later, on July 7, 1958, Congress approved Alaskas statehood. However, it was not until January 3, 1959, that President Eisenhower signed a special proclamation admitting Alaska to the Union. Shortly after (August 21, 1959), Hawaiis statehood, whose admission to the Union depended on Alaskas admission, was proclaimed. Alaska became the 49th state to join the Union, then Hawaii the 50th. Despite the long struggle for statehood, there is an independence movement in Alaska, known as the Alaskan Independence Party, supporting a vote on its secession from the Union.
Armenia is located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. It borders Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey. Its economy is at position 132 worldwide whereas, in terms of purchasing power parity, it is ranked 129th. It is the second most densely populous state of the former Soviet states. Armenia was admitted to IMF in 1992 and to the World Bank also in 1992.The economy is largely based on industries such as mining, jewelry, agriculture, textile, and tourism. The Armenian chamber of commerce and industry plays a vital role in supporting and regulating the industries. There are also other industries such as the agro-industry, the software manufacturers and the drug and pharmaceutical industries which have a huge impact on the economy. The following are some of the most important industries in Armenia.

Mining Industry

Armenias economy is largely supported by the mining industry, with the sector having contributed 50% of the countrys exports in 2011. Major minerals include molybdenum, diamond, and copper which are found in Lori province. Gold deposits are also mined. Other minerals found in smaller quantities are lead, silver Zinc, granite, gypsum, limestone, basalt, and diatomite. In 2011, Chinese investors applied for a go-ahead to invest $500M in the Armenian mineral industry. Despite the economic recession in 2011, the revenues have grown significantly.

Agricultural Industry

Armenia has 2.1 million hectares of arable land for both crop and livestock production. Orchards, as well as vineyards, occupy 16% of the land. Of all the employed people in 2006, 46% were in the agriculture industry. This was a huge turnaround from 1991 when the country imported more than 65% of food requirements. The growth in agriculture had been contributed by the 1990 laws which gave land to private farmers. In 2010 agriculture contributed up to 25% of the countrys GDP. In 2006, the contribution was 20% of the GDP. The drop was due to adverse weather and the governments failure to offer stimulus initiatives to farmers. The soil which is basically volcanic supports the growth of wheat, barley, and fruits like figs, apricot, olives, and Pomegranates. In 2006, the production of grains was 212,500 tons, fruits 286,000 tons while vegetables 915,000 tons. Livestock like sheep, goats, and horses are common in the country.

Tourism Industry

Tourists visiting Armenia every year have reached millions since 1990. Most of these tourists are from Russia, Iran, Georgia, and the United States. The main attractions are the UNESCO accredited heritage sites namely Monastery of Geghard and Upper Azat Valley which contains many churches and tombs including the Echmiatsin cathedral which greatly influences modern architecture and the Haghpat and Sanahim Monasteries. Armenians organizes events and festivals to promote tourism such as Golden Apricot and Pan  Armenian games. Tourists also enjoy site seeing as well as relaxing in modern hotels. However, tourism sector faced numerous challenges in the 1990s due to the Spitak earthquake and shortage of energy not to forget the Karabakh- Nagorno War which led to the closure of the airports.

The Textiles And Apparel Industry

The textile industry is among the most ancient economy drivers that were based on knitting, clothing technology and dressmaking. Carpet and leather shoes are also produced. On February 16, 2017, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) agreed to finance the textile and apparel industry to the tune of $ 2 million to boost small and medium enterprises SME to increase sales and enhance the growth of the leatherwork and shoe production. In 2014, many young people were trained on design and large-scale production of high-end garments.

Information Technology Industry

Despite the slow growth after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the IT industry has recorded a growth due to the highly competent workforce and the several ICT companies investing highly in Armenia. Education is highly enhanced up to university level with modern institutions such as Yerevan State University and the American University in Armenia. Microsoft Innovation Center (MIC) has also established an office to impact skills, offer job vacancies, and enhance research and development. IBM innovation solutions and technology center and the Gyumri technology center also build expertise and knowledge to upcoming IT companies.

Jewelry Industry

Due to vast deposits of gold and diamond, Armenia makes and exports numerous ornaments. In 1998, Armenia Jewelers Association (AJA) was formed with the mandate to ensure production of quality and competitive ornaments, look for favorable markets globally and legislative aspect of the industry. In 2007, Jewelry contributed $72.7 million to the economy.

Energy Sector

Armenia imports most of its energy because it does not have oil fossils reserves. Electrical energy is in excess largely due to the contribution of the nuclear energy and imports from Russia. The Metsamor nuclear power plant contributes 42.9% of the electricity requirements. The wind power, hydropower, and natural gas also add to the national grid. Partnership with Iran through the IranArmenian oil pipelines have also added to the energy levels. Thermal power stations contributed 24% of the electricity requirements. By the year 2020, the Ministry of Energy is hoping to have completed the Meghri HPP project which will add another 140 watts. The Jarmaghbyur Geothermal Power Plant will also add another 150 Watts.

Telecommunication Industry

Statistics indicate that in June 2004 there were over three million Armenians connected to mobile telephony, translating to 120% access. The three big telecommunication companies are Viv cell MTS, Ucom, and Beeline. Each offers up to the fastest 4G services. The telecommunication industry is well developed and one can get all services including sim cards, mobile phones, and access and tariffs. There is also the trans-Asia Europe fiber optic cable. Radio and television services are also available through a network of private operators. Internet services are also available with over 1.4 million users. By the year 2010, there were in excess of 100,000 broadband subscribers.

Chemical Industry

Armenia has the ability to produce chemicals such as technical rubber, painting chemicals, cosmetics and perfumes, household and industrial chemicals as well as acids and oxides.For instance, in 2003, manufacture of paint materials increased by 25% though there was a drop by half of synthetic rubber and washing chemicals. Nairit Company was the first chemical production industry that went down after the Soviet Union crushed. Currently, the government is wooing foreign investors to assist in promotion of the chemical industry.

Banking Industry

There are more than 21 commercial banks employing thousands of people in Armenia. In 2005, the total banking assets grew by 10.3%. Over the years, there has been an increase in loans granted by the banks and deposits mobilized, hence an upward trend in profitability. The banks have modern systems with stringent laws that regulate and license the industry under the watch of the regulator - the Central Bank of Armenia.
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Priya Mehra was on her way back from a Gurudwara with her son and husband.

By India Today Web Desk: In what can be called brazen lawlessness, Delhi witnessed five murders in the last three days in different parts. Incidents of shooting were reported from areas like Shalimar Bagh, Krishna Nagar, and New Usmanpur.

The woman was shot dead in Shalimar Bagh on Tuesday night. The incident took place when the woman identified Priya Mehra, was returning from a Gurudwara with her husband Pankaj Mehra and two-year-old son.

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The family was commuting in a car, when another speeding car overtook them. The car-borne assailants held out a gun and attempted to fire at Pankaj, however, Priya suffered severe bullet injuries. Both the infant and the Pankaj escaped unscathed, while Priya died.

Following the incident, the family rushed Priya to the nearest hospital, where she was declared dead. Priya's family allege negligence by both the hospital authorities and police.

The family said that the hospital denied them treatment saying that they will act on arrival of the police. However, on the other hand police were not registering their case citing jurisdiction further delaying treatment.

Priya was a housewife, while Pankaj is a Paharganj-based businessman.

In another similar incident, two men were shot dead in separate incidents by unidentified bike-borne men in north Delhi's New Usmanpur and Krishna Nagar area of Shahdara on Monday.

In New Usmanpur, 23-year-old Rohit Pal was shot in the head and the stomach, the police said, adding that he was accused in a couple of cases, including theft and extortion. Locals alleged that Pal was killed over a fall out of a gang war.

In Krishna Nagar, a 41-year-old Jafar was shot outside his scrap shop. Eight empty bullet shell casings were found from the spot where Jafar was shot at, they said, adding further probe was underway.

On Sunday, a man identified as Wazid was shot dead while his friend injured in Brahmpuri and in another incident reported from nearby Brahmpuri, a 22-year-old man Aarif Khan was shot at multiple times. Khan died on the spot.

Watch: Himachal Pradesh Opinion Poll: BJP set for big win defeating Congress CM Virbhadra Singh

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Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said top ministers and leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party will travel across the country to inform citizens about the measures the government has been taking in the past three years to curb the flow of black money.

By Poulomi Saha: The Centre today announced it will be observing November 8, 2017 as Anti-Black Money Day. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said top ministers and leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party will travel across the country to inform citizens about the measures the government has been taking in the past three years to curb the flow of black money.

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The move, comes after the Congress yesterday announced that 18 opposition political parties will be observing November 8 this year as a black day. It was last year on this day, that the Prime Minister through a televised address to the nation, announced the move to demonetise old 1000 and 500 rupee notes.

Attacking the Congress over its sustained opposition to the demonetisation drive , Jaitely said, "Congress had adequate opportunity to be in power. I can't recollect a significant step they took to tackle black money. They'd reconciled themselves to India being a shadow economy. I can quite understand their discomfort."

When asked about Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi referring to Goods and Services Tax as "Gabbar Singh Tax", Jaitley said if the opposition got their fundamentals right, they'd be able to appreciate the reasoning behind the taxation regime.

"There is no country in the world, where the entry point tax is 5%. The lowest in the world otherwise is 10%", added the Union Finance Minister.

Meanwhile, BJP chief Amit Shah hailed demonetisation as an initiative reflecting the government's commitment towards building a corruption-free nation.

WATCH VIDEO

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By PTI: By Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, Oct 25 (PTI) The core team of the European Unions election observers today arrived in Nepal to monitor the general and provincial polls scheduled for November 26 and December 7, an official statement said.

The Election Observation Missions core team, comprising 10 EU election analysts, arrived in Kathmandu today at the request of the Nepal government.

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The team will stay in the country until the completion of the electoral process and prepare a comprehensive final report, according to a press release issued by the EU Mission in Nepal.

The core team will be shortly joined by 38 long-term observers who will be deployed across the country, it said.

On November 20, a short-term team of 20 observers will be deployed for the first phase of the elections scheduled for November 26, while an additional 24 short-term observers will be deployed on December 1 for the second phase of the polls on December 7, the EU statement said.

"The EUs Election Observation Mission looks forward to cooperating with other international and domestic observation missions," it added.

The European Union had in 2008 and 2013 also deployed Election Observation Missions to Nepal.

Shortly after the completion of the House of Representatives and provincial assemblies elections, the mission will issue a preliminary statement of its findings at a press conference in Kathmandu, the EU statement said.

A final report, including recommendations for future electoral processes, will be presented at a later stage, after the finalisation of the whole electoral process, it added.

The general and provincial elections in Nepal were declared on August 21 and are seen as the final step in the Himalayan nations post-war transition to a federal democracy.

The Maoists have dominated Nepals politics for more than 20 years after waging a decade-long insurgency against government forces that claimed more than 16,000 lives.

The civil war in Nepal came to an end in 2006. PTI SBP KIS AKJ KIS

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ALBANY, Ga. (WTXL) - The Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit commander has a message for drug traffickers still on the streets. He's after you.

In a press conference Tuesday, officials explained that after months of hard work, agents made a total of seven arrests of mid- to upper-level drug traffickers.

Approximately $286,000 worth of drugs were seized along with stolen weapons.

Charges for the seven range from trafficking heroin, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and tampering with evidence.

The drug squad is a part of the mayor's new safe city coalition, a newly formed team to combat major crime.

MOBILE USERS: Download our WTXL news app on your Apple and Android devices for the latest from South Georgia and North Florida. Also, download our WTXL Weather Now app for Apple and Android devices to get the latest local weather wherever you go.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for additional local news and hourly updates.

Copyright 2017 WTXL via Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
By PTI: Manigam (J-K), Oct 25 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today asked police personnel to ensure the surrender of more militants and desist from retaliatory action against their families.

As a bait, the chief minister also announced doubling the reward money for those who get militants to surrender.

Addressing a gathering at the Police Training School here, Mehbooba made it clear that militancy would not end by killing "four, eight, 50 or 100" militants but by taking people along and winning their hearts.

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"When you get an opportunity where a local militant is ready, before or during an encounter, to surrender... I will give you double the reward for bringing him back alive.

"We have to try because killing a militant is easy but killing militancy is difficult,? she said in her address at the passing out parade of 696 constables at the school in Manigam, on the outskirts of Srinagar.

Mehbooba also asked police to be different from militants and refrain from tit-for-tat action.

The chief minister was referring to media reports claiming that security forces had entered the homes of some militants and threatened their family members.

She also referred to the incidents of October 17-18, when militants killed a PDP worker and burnt his house the next day.

"Our worker was killed and then his house was set on fire. But I want to stress that there should be a difference between our actions and those of the militants.

"Militants kill our people, police personnel and then they ransack their houses or set them on fire, but our forces - whether security forces or police ? should not do such things."

We are the guardians of the law, she said.

"... so I should not get any complaint that when a militant was not caught, or he fled or ransacked some house, we did the same."

The police force, the chief minister stressed, was the protector of people unlike militants.

"They may wear uniforms like you and have guns like you, but you are the protector of the lives of people and their properties... and they do the opposite so there is a huge difference between them and you."

Mehbooba also asked police personnel to play a constructive role in creating a peaceful atmosphere in the state.

"Before enforcing law among the people, you will first have to enforce the law among yourselves. You will have to follow the law and not compete with militants by doing what they do," she said.

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The chief minister also lauded security forces for doing a commendable job in maintaining law and order.

She referred to the number of army, paramilitary and police personnel who had lost their lives while fighting militants and said, "I am happy that the police did not lose its patience."

Referring to incidents of braids being chopped in the state, Mehbooba said FIRs had been registered in all the cases and directed the police to act strictly against those trying to vitiate the atmosphere in the state.

"Braid chopping started from Rajasthan, then in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab and there were thousands of cases... But when it happened in the state at places like Jammu, Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch and then in Kashmir, we registered FIRs in every case."

Mehbooba also expressed regret that mobs in many parts of the Valley were taking law into their own hands and beating people.

"There are other incidents as well where the police want to investigate but people do not cooperate. People flee when asked for a blood sample to check the contents of the spray used by braid choppers as claimed by the people.

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"Those elements who spread rumours in braid chopping cases... are looking for an opportunity to vitiate the atmosphere. You will have to identify such elements and act very strictly against them and also understand why such incidents are happening and who is behind them," she said. PTI SSB SKL MIN

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Leon County Schools celebrated their five year partnership with gas company Nopetro.

The partnership was put into place to transition the district's school bus fleet to compressed natural gas, a move, officials say, has saved the district more than $1.1 million.

Wednesday, students from the earth space class at Cobb Middle School's science magnet program got a brief lesson on the benefits of CNG as a fuel source.

According to officials, the partnership between Leon county and Nopetro was the first of it's kind in Florida.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A grant from The Hartford resulted in Leon County Schools getting 30 new tables, fire safety kits and new tablets.

Pineview Elementary and Roberts Elementary benefitted from the $10,000 grant.

The insurance company contributed the grant to educate students, K-3, about the dangers of fire.

MOBILE USERS: Download our WTXL news app on your Apple and Android devices for the latest from South Georgia and North Florida. Also, download our WTXL Weather Now app for Apple and Android devices to get the latest local weather wherever you go.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for additional local news and hourly updates.

Copyright 2017 WTXL via Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WTXL) - Neighbors on Rachel Lane in Thomasville are voicing their concerns about recent property damage.

They say an apartment complex's construction project is to blame.

Rachel Lane backs up to a construction site for the new Market Station Apartments.

The main issue for neighbors has been the drainage runoff.

For a few days now, they say, they found clay and heavy muck in their yards each time it rained.

Thomasville city leaders say they installed a temporary fix to prevent the drainage issue but say it's now up to the developers to come up with a permanent solution.

MOBILE USERS: Download our WTXL news app on your Apple and Android devices for the latest from South Georgia and North Florida. Also, download our WTXL Weather Now app for Apple and Android devices to get the latest local weather wherever you go.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for additional local news and hourly updates.

Copyright 2017 WTXL via Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
Ghoomar is the first song from Padmavati that was released today and has already become a rage on the internet thanks to Deepika Padukone and her 20-kg lehenga.

By India Today Web Desk: Padmavati's first song, Ghoomar is out, and just like the trailer, it's a treat for the eyes. Deepika Padukone, who plays Rani Padmini, looks ravishing and does the traditional dance form with elegance and effortless grace.

After a slow start, the song quickens its pace, and the dancers twirl faster, and seem to be enjoying the dance. It does leave one in quite a trance! It's a feat, no doubt, considering they're dancing in extremely heavy lehengas. Combined with stunning cinematography, the whole scene is a visual treat.

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We can only make guesses here, the dance looks like a welcome presentation for Shahid Kapoor, who plays the role of Maharana Rawal Ratan Singh, Deepika's husband in the film. Watch the full song here:

The film, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, also stars Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji, and will release on December 1.

ALSO WATCH: Sanjay Leela Bhansali thrashed, sets of Padmavati vandalised by Karni Sena

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Striking S.S. Steiner workers in Yakima say their rights are on the line
When she was 16, Emily Washines would walk alone from Toppenish High School to the Yakama tribal school several blocks away to learn her tradi
By PTI: attack on Jewish synagogue

Ahmedabad, Oct 25 (PTI) Two suspected ISIS operatives were today arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), which claimed that they were plotting an attack on a Jewish synagogue in Khadia area of Ahmedabad in "very near future".

The suspects, arrested in Surat, have been identified as Mohammad Kasim Stimberwala and Ubed Ahmed Mirza, an official said.

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While Stimberwala used to work as a laboratory technician with a hospital in Ankleshwar town, Mirza is a practicing lawyer with the Surat district court and also owns a hotel there.

They were booked under IPC sections 120-A (criminal conspiracy), 121-A (waging or attempt to wage war against Government of India) and 125 (Waging war against any Asiatic power in alliance with Government of India) of the IPC, besides under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the official said.

As per the FIR registered by the ATS, the duo have been radicalised by the ideology of Islamic State and were planning to carry out a lone-wolf attack on the synagogue, for which Stimberwala had visited Ahmedabad and conducted a recce of the Jewish centre located in Khadia area.

ATS sleuths believe that Srimberwala and Mirza are "highly radicalised by the fundamental ideology of the Islamic State for the last many years and are actively planning to cause terrorist acts".

Both the suspected operatives of the IS were under the influence of Abdullah el-Faisal, a radical preacher based in Jamaica, the official said quoting the FIR.

As per the FIR, el-Faisal was earlier convicted for spreading hatred in the UK and then deported to Jamaica. He was detained in Jamaica on the charges of persuading youths to travel to Syria to take up the cause of Jihad.

Surveillance of their social media accounts had revealed that the duo were attracted to the extreme ideology since the last three-four years, according to the FIR.

They were also in contact with one Shafi Armar, an ISIS handler who is wanted in various cases of serial blasts triggered by Indian Mujahideen (IM) and is currently believed to be out of India, the official said.

ATS suspects that both the accused were making "intensive efforts to radicalise other youths in India using various mediums, such as social media, one-on-one meetings and telephonic calls". PTI PJT PD NSK AKK

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Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month.
We must go back to the days before Operation Protective Edge was launched and before the three Jewish teens were kidnapped in the summer of 2014. Hamas took advantage of the agreement achieved after the previous conflict, in Operation Pillar of Defense, to grow stronger. It increased its rocket range and built tunnels reaching into Israel. Israel exercised restraint.

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Even before the teens were kidnapped, Hamas had launched nearly 70 rockets in March 2014. The restraint continued. It may have been a mistake.

After the teens abduction, Hamas heated up tensions. Those were difficult days. The Right pushed for a wide-scale ground invasion. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded with a calm will be met by calm policy. It was almost a plea to Hamas to stop launching rockets. Hamas insisted on carrying on.

A lot can be said about Netanyahu, but the man isnt trigger-happy (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

The European Union issued a harsh statement demanding a demilitarization of the terror organizations, meaning Hamas. Even after the operation was launched, Netanyahu kept coming up with ceasefire initiatives. He acted against what seemed like his political instinct. After all, the criticism over Israels restraint came mostly from the Right.

Thats who he is. A lot can be said about him, and Im not one of his followers or voters, but the man isnt trigger-happy. So Major-General Amiram Levins recent claims in a Yedioth Ahronoth op-ed , that Netanyahu is leading us to war, are groundless. Netanyahu didnt initiate a single operation, although Hamas grew stronger mainly when the Muslim Brotherhood rose to power in Egypt. Netanyahu didnt respond when the cement for building bunkers began flowing into Gaza from Egypt. Netanyahu exercised restraint when the rocket arsenal kept growing and the range kept increasing.

What Iran is doing in Syria now is much worse. The ayatollah regime is declaring at the top of its voice and in mass protests, just like Hamas, that the goal is to destroy Israel . Under the protection of the shameful nuclear agreement , Iran is becoming a Middle Eastern power. The Iranian chief of staff travels to Damascus to make it clear whos boss. Tehran, fully or partially, controls Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria.

One has to be completely blind not to realize that a strategic problem is being created. The fact that Israel is the strongest country in the region, as Levin mentions, doesnt make the Iranian threat less serious. As no one is planning a conflict in the form of a battle between armed forces, the terror organizationsjust like the terrorist state of Iranhave realized a long time ago that Israels weak spot is being hit with rockets and missiles.

On this background, Levins claim that the government is dragging us to war is more than puzzling. Why its Iran that is moving forces. Why its Iran that is taking steps to change the strategic map. Why its Iran that is repeatedly declaring its intention to destroy Israel. But to hell with the facts.

Levin is pointing an accusing finger at Israel, because an Israeli prime minister is trying to set red lines. It takes a particularly distorted logic to accuse Netanyahu of all people, while Iran is the one who is making more and more moves that can be considered casus belli (an act that provokes or justifies a war).

We can, and we must, disagree with many of Netanyahu's moves. I share Levins criticism on the official response to the agreement between Fatah and Hamas. Israel, I recently wrote , could have taken advantage of the agreement to gain a lot of points, to make it clear that it seeks peace while Hamas seeks to continue the jihad at the expense of Gazas residents.

A political dispute, however, is the basis of every democratic regime. A claim like let every Jewish mother know that the government is dragging us to war is a dangerous and baseless claim. The Palestinians launched an intifada although former Prime Minister Ehud Barak offered them, while breaking a taboo, both a Palestinian state and a divided Jerusalem. And Iran is declaring annihilation although Israel would gladly sign a peace agreement with Tehran, as early as tomorrow. But Levin is announcing in advance that the next conflict will be Israels fault. Such a claim does not befit a member of the Labor Party.

Theres something encouraging in the fact that almost all former defense officials who responded to Levins articleincluding Giora Eiland and Amos Yadlin, who are not among Netanyahu's fansrejected his claims. A lot of things can be said about Netanyahu, and they should be said, but in blaming Netanyahu for the next conflict with Iran or Hamas, Levin crossed a dangerous red line.
A 19-year-old female IDF soldier captured on camera Monday confronting ultra-Orthodox protesters, shouting expletives and spraying pepper spray into the air has published her version of events on Facebook

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The soldier, Amit Nazri, who serves in the Home Front Command, was taking the Jerusalem light rail to her base when the train had to stop due to ultra-Orthodox protesters blocking the track.

"When we arrived at the Damascus Gate, three stations before my stop, the driver stopped the train and explained that he could not move forward and that all the passengers had to get off because there was a demonstration blocking the road," she wrote in her post.

Nazri captured cursing, spraying tear gas

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"I got off like all the other passengers and walked toward my stop. On the way there I got caught up in the ultra-Orthodox demonstration. I kept going and minded my own business, despite them shouting 'whore in uniform', 'prostitute' and, of course, the old tried-and-true 'Shiksa' (a derogatory term for a non-Jewish woman).

"All that was only because I was passing through there in uniform. I did not pay attention until I saw a woman around the age of 50 surrounded by some 40 Haredim who didn't let her leave, spitting and cursing at her from all sides.

"I did not think twice and just walked into the mob to get her out of there, and the second I entered, I entered a circle of hell. A circle of human animals that absurdly allow themselves to wear yarmulkes (skull caps).

"It is important to note that I myself observe Shabbat and Mitzvot (religious commandments), believe in the Torah and its laws, and encourage Torah schooling. But them? They were the devil incarnate. Torah scholars? I don't think so. Just a bunch of animals!"

Nazri related how "the moment I entered the mob, Haredim from all around me started kicking me, spitting, pulling my hair and whatnot. I did not hesitate for a moment and took out my tear gas, the one I got from the army. The one I'm ordered to carry 24/7. I sprayed in order to get out. As soon as they took a step towards me I sprayed again and then they started filming.

"It's obvious that they'll only film the cursed soldier who sprayed dozens of Haredim. Of course, what I've been through will not be captured because it's not interesting."

Nazri, using her pepper spray

Nazri, who can be heard in the video hurling expletives at the mob, accepted that she lost her temper, but refused to apologize.

"My words were horrible, and I'm not proud of what I said at all, but were you there? Did you go through what I went through? Did you experience the humiliation and the pain? No! So do not judge me," she said.

"Looking back, I would have done the same without thinking twice. Because that woman could have been my grandmother, or yours."

For more than a week, the extreme ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem Faction has been protesting against the draft law.

They were sparked by the arrest of two Jerusalem Faction yeshiva students, who returned from the Dead Sea to Jerusalem and were flagged down for a routine check by police. When the officers ran their names, they found they were defectors from the army and arrested them.

154 ultra-Orthodox demonstrators were arrested during last week's demonstrations and most of them have already been released from detention. Among the demonstrators were 45 deserters who were transferred to the military police, and 15 of them were indicted for desertion.
Gaza's Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar claimed on Tuesday that Hamas' military wing was in good shape, adding that, as of today, they are capable of firing at Tel Aviv in 51 minutes as much as they had fired at it in all 51 days of Operation Protective Edge.

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Sinwar then reiterated that Hamas would not give up their arms in the framework of the reconciliation agreement between them and Fatah.

"The Palestinian people are still at the stage of national liberation, we cannot give up our weapons at this stage," he said. "The weapon of resistance is not the property of Hamas or its military wing, but of every Palestinian resident in Gaza."

Hamas military leader Yahya Sinwar (Photo: AP)

Earlier, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said he would not agree to the presence of militias in the Gaza Strip within the framework of the reconciliation.

Sinwar only replied that Hamas is committed to the unity agreement. "If Fatah has 20 percent of the seriousness we have about the reconciliation, then the divide will end. We found out that they had more than required during our discussions."

Many in the defense establishment are concerned about developments in the Gaza Strip. As part of its warming relations with Hamas, they reasonably assume that Iran will want to help Hamas produce precision missiles in Gaza.

The process involves the conversion of simple rocketsby means of GPS tracking componentsinto missiles capable of striking with deadly precision.

During Hamas' recent visit in the Iranian capital of Tehran , advisor of Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Sheikh Al-Islam assured that "whatever Hamas asks for and Iran can give, it will."

Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri (L) at a meeting with Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani, Tehran (Photo: Reuters)

In recent weeks, senior Fatah officials, led by PA President Mahmoud Abbas, have reaffirmed that they will not accept a reconciliation agreement without full security control over the Gaza Strip.

The agreement, however, was signed without any mention of Hamas' disarmament or forfeiture of their security control over the strip.

Last week, US President Donald Trump's special Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt said if Hamas wants to play a role in any Palestinian government it must renounce violence and commit to peaceful negotiations with Israel.
With the announcement of dates for Gujarat Assembly election, the model code of conduct has come into force with immediate effect. The Election Commission announced the election dates 13 days after the announcement of schedule for Himachal Pradesh.

By India Today Web Desk: The Election Commission today announced the schedule for Gujarat Assembly elections.The two-phase poll will be held on December 9 and December 14 respectively.

With the announcement, the model code of conduct will come into force from today. This comes within a week of the poll panel declaring the poll schedule for Himachal Pradesh on October 12.

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While Himachal Pradesh goes to polls in a single phase on November 9, elections in Gujarat may be held in two phases, starting from the first week of December.

The counting for Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections will be held on December 18. The counting for Gujarat Assembly elections may also be held along with those of Himachal Pradesh.

HERE ARE THE LATEST UPDATES:

Counting of both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh on December 18.

Gujarat Assembly election 2017 dates announced, to be held on December 9 and December 14.

Banks and FIU told to report suspicious transactions: AK Joti

Candidates will have to open new bank accounts for election spending: CEC AK Joti

Ceiling for poll expenses per candidate is Rs 28 lakh: AK Joti

Expenditure will be monitored by tax and excise dept. Also, will monitor flow of liquor too from outside: AK Joti

Model Code of Conduct comes into force in Gujarat with announcement of poll schedule: AK Joti

102 all-women operation poll stations introduced: AK Joti

All candidates have to file affidavits: AK Joti

Special drive to enroll left out voters launched: Joti

VVPAT will be present, height of voting compartment increase: AK Joti

EC begins briefing on poll schedule.

The announcement comes within a fortnight of declaring the poll schedule for Himachal Pradesh.

Election Commission to make announcement shortly.

We are in touch with AAP candidates who may join us. Talks with NCP also on: Vaghela

Vaghela's Jan Vikalp joins hands with All India Hindustan Congress Party that was launched in Jaipur last year.

Vaghela who launched outfit 'jan Vikalp' in run up to Guj assembly polls after quitting Congress to fight on tractor symbol.

Shankersinh Vaghela makes announcement that his Jan Vikalp Morcha will fight Gujarat polls on tractor symbol of All India Hindustan Congress.

ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS 2012

In 2012, the Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh were held in one phase on November 4. The elections in Gujarat were held in two phases, on December 13 and December 17. The results for both the states were announced on December 20.

In 2012, the Election Commission had announced the poll schedule for both Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat on the same date. The then chief election commissioner VS Sampath had announced the poll schedules for both the states on October 3, 2012.

The Opposition leaders have raised objections over Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti delinking the poll schedule of Gujarat with Himachal Pradesh this year.

Though Himachal and Gujarat went to the polls almost together in 2012, the results of the two states were different. In Gujarat, the BJP retained power, having won for the fifth consecutive term since 1995.

The BJP government led by the then chief minister Narendra Modi romped home comfortably, having won 116 out of the 182 seats in Gujarat. Under Modi, it was BJP's third straight win for the third consecutive term - in 2002, 2007 and 2012.

The total voters' turn out in Gujarat both phases was 71.32 per cent. It was the highest turn out since 1980.

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For the first time in 15 years, Gujarat would be facing Assembly elections without Modi at the helm. It will be a crucial litmus test for the BJP in the western state, considered to be the Hindutva laboratory of BJP's parent organisation RSS.

While the Congress won Himachal Pradesh while BJP was victorious in Gujarat in 2012, an India Today-Axis My India opinion poll said BJP is likely to win both the states this year.

Gujarat Opinion Poll: Results of the India Today-Axis My India Opinion 2017 survey

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The majority of the Israeli public opposes a Likud bill proposal that seeks to shield a sitting prime minister from police investigation, according to a recent poll conducted for Yedioth Ahronoth.

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When asked "are you for or against a law that would bar the police from investigating a sitting prime minister, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?" only 31.7 percent of respondents said they were in favor, while 63.1% were against it.

The poll, conducted by Mina Tzemach and Manu Geva of the Midgam Institute, also found that about half (49.9%) of the Likud Party's voters opposed the law, while 47.5% were in favor.

Prime Minister Netanyahu (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

There was a majority against the bill among voters of other coalition parties as well, including supporters of Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon's Kulanu Party (76.2% against; 21.6% in favor), Education Minister Naftali Bennett's Bayit Yehudi Party (59% against; 36.2% in favor) and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beytenu Party (62.2% against; 37.8% against).

Voters of the two ultra-Orthodox parties in the coalition, Shas and United Torah Judaism, were the only ones to show clear support for the proposed legislation: 53.4% of Shas voters were in favor, while only 29% were against. Among UTJ voters, 65.2% were in favor, while 22.5% were against.

Voters of opposition parties showed a much clearer objection to the bill, with 83% of Zionist Union voters, 86.8% of Yesh Atid voters and 91.4% of Meretz voters saying they were against the legislation.

According to the contentious bill proposal, which has been dubbed the "French bill" as well as the "Bibi bill" after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a sitting prime minister will not be investigated by police until the end of his term in office, with the exception of suspicions of serious crimes such as murder, rape or high treason.

Netanyahu loyalists MKs David Amsalem and David Bitan are spearheading the bill. Amsalem proposed the bill several months ago, but it failed to pass the first hurdle: the Ministerial Committee on Legislation.

Netanyahu loyalists Bitan, left, and Amsalem

The legislation was criticized by opposition parties, but also by members of the coalition. Kahlon decided to allow his party members to vote as their conscience dictates , which would make it difficult for the proposal to reach the necessary majority to pass. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked postponed a vote on the legislation, saying the Bayit Yehudi Party needs more time to discuss the bill.

Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit also came out against the legislation proposal , dubbing it "absurd," saying it "creates a problem with equality before the law" and raising concern that "The role of prime minister, the highest in the land, will become a sanctuary for felons."

Despite the strong opposition, Amsalem and Bitan are pushing to pass the bill at the Ministerial Committee on Legislation in order to give it high priority in advancing it during the Knesset's winter session.
ISTANBUL - Eleven human rights activists, including the two local heads of Amnesty International, went on trial in Turkey on Wednesday, accused of belonging to and aiding terror groups in a case that has increased concerns over Turkey's authoritarian turn under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ten of the activists, including Amnesty's Turkey director Idil Eser, German national Peter Steudtner and Swede Ali Gharavi, were arrested while attending a digital security training workshop at a hotel on an island off Istanbul in July.

They are accused of plotting an uprising and charged with aiding Kurdish and left-wing militants as well as the movement led by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed for last year's coup attempt. They face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.
Police Spokeswoman Merav Lapidot rejected on Wednesday reports that the Prime Minister's Office was "stalling for time" when asked to set a date for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be questioned by police.

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"We have no difficulty in coordinating a date with the prime minister for questioning. We work in full cooperation with his office and coordinate a timetable," Lapidot said in an interview with Ynet's studio.

Ynet reported earlier this week that police investigators have grown tired of waiting for the Prime Minister's Office to coordinate a date for them to question Netanyahu, making it clear that if the PMO doesn't set a date, they will.

Prime Minister Netanyahu (Photo: Koby Gideon/GPO)

"We need to remember that the prime minister is a busy man with a country to run, and we're aware of this," Lapidot said. "The investigators will arrive at the prime minister's residence at a time coordinated with him. We've done it before, and we will do it again soon. He needs to provide his version."

Netanyahu has accused the police of a "tsunami of leaks" from the two criminal investigations currently being conducted against him.

"Just like any other person, it is the prime minister's right to think what he thinks. At the end of the day, I think he has a lot of trust in law enforcement authorities. I didn't come across other comments (to the contrary)," Lapidot asserted.

She stressed that "We don't talk about investigations to the media. We make a great effort to maintain the purity of the investigation and to ensure the information from the investigations and the way in which they're conducted remain in the investigation rooms."

Police Spokeswoman Merav Lapidot (Photo: Nitzan Dror)

"The Israel Police has been doing serious and substantial work over the past year and a half to prevent leaks in every way possible," Lapidot added. "We think it is improper and unethical."

Explaining how information from the investigations did make it to the media, Lapidot noted, "You have to remember the police are not the only one to see the investigation material. There are over 200 suspects, people who provided testimony and are involved in one way or another in the investigations.

"Suspects consult with their attorneys; some of the lawyer could also leak some of the information. The prosecution, the attorney general, many other associates of the suspects themselvesthere's a whole group of people with ties to the investigation."

She added that "We see all sorts of things being reported in the media, which reportedly came out of the investigation rooms, and we know they have no shred of truth in them. They're just media spins."
Jerusalem's Planning Committee approved on Wednesday a major expansion of a Jewish settler enclave in the heart of a Palestinian neighborhood of east Jerusalem, issuing building permits for 176 new housing units.

Construction of the new units will nearly triple the number of settler homes in the Nof Zion neighborhood, which currently has 91 dwellings and is surrounded by Palestinian houses in the Jabel al-Mukaber neighborhood.

"We are unifying Jerusalem through actions on the ground," Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said in a statement about the settlement's expansion.

Wasel Abu Yousif, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, called the construction plans in Jabel al-Mukaber "a challenge to all the calls by the international community" to halt settlement building.
The discussion at the Ministerial Committee for Legislation on a contentious bill proposal to shield a sitting prime minister from police investigations has been postponed by a month.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Coalition Chairman David Bitan and Minister Yariv Levin (Likud) decided Wednesday to push the vote on the bill, also known as the "French bill," in the wake of objections to the legislation from coalition partners Kulanu and Bayit Yehudi.

Another legislation proposal spearheaded by MK David Amsalem (Likud), which would bar the police from making a recommendation on whether or not to file an indictment in a case following the conclusion of the investigation, will be brought to a discussion in the committee in about two weeks.

Prime Minister Netanyahu and Education Minister Bennett (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

Earlier on Wednesday, Bayit Yehudi MK Shuli Mualem-Rafaeli asked Coalition Chairman MK David Bitan (Likud) not to put the "French bill" to a vote, arguing the legislation violates coalition agreements.

Mualem-Rafaeli pointed to article 35 in the coalition agreement, according to which: "New Basic Laws or amendments to existing Basic Laws (with the exception of amendments to Basic Laws explicitly agreed upon in coalition agreements by all factions), would be submitted and passed only with the consent of every one of the coalition's parties. If a bill proposal is put to a vote in violation of the aforementioned agreement, all coalition factions would vote against it."

Shuli Mualem-Rafaeli said the Bayit Yehudi Party had an in-depth discussion on the bill proposal. "During the discussion, significant disagreements arose among members of the party and no agreement has been reached."

In an interview with Ynet on Sunday, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi) said that "It makes sense not to investigate a prime minister about things that are, I would say, minor, like misdemeanors and infractions," stressing however that "It is not something that should be done quickly. It is something that requires thorough and in-depth discussion."

She stressed that she would "not allow the bill to pass without the coalition factions sitting and discussing it. Even in the coalition agreements, each faction has the ability to stop (an amendment to) a Basic Law at every stage of the legislation. The Ministerial Committee on Legislation is the most important stage because at this stage the coalition's position is determined. Therefore, this bill will be discussed only after all the factions have consolidated their position."

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon has decided to allow his Kulanu party members to vote as their conscience dictates. Because it is an amendment to Basic Law: The Government, it requires a majority of 61 MKs to pass. Without the assured votes of the Kulanu party, the legislation is unlikely to pass.

"The State of Israel is too important for us to forfeit it to all kinds of laws that could harm systems that are vital to democracyfor us and for the generations to come," Kahlon explained his decision during a Kulanu party meeting.

Kahlon stressed that while his party is committed to coalition agreements, "on issues we disagree, each faction member will have the freedom to vote as their conscience dictates."
The Taliban targeted military posts in two western Afghan provinces and in the country's south, killing 13 soldiers and setting off hours-long gunbattles with the military, officials said Wednesday.

In one attack, in western Farah province, the insurgents stormed a security post, killing nine troops and wounding four. The attack took place on Tuesday night in Pusht Road district, said spokesman Mohammad Naser Mehri.

An intense, four-hour gunbattle followed in which the militants used artillery against the army, Mehri said. Afghan warplanes were deployed and 17 Taliban fighters were killed, he added.

The second attack took place in neighboring Herat province, also Tuesday night, at an army post in Kushki Kuhna district where two soldiers died and five were wounded, according to Najibullah Najibi, the military spokesman in Herat.

The attack lasted several hours until the army pushed back the Taliban, Najibi said. He added that the Taliban suffered "heavy casualties" but did not provide a figure.
The Swiss government says it has finalized agreements with Iran and Saudi Arabia to represent each other's interests in their respective capitals, after the two countries broke off diplomatic ties last year.

The government says Switzerland's executive body "gave the green light" Wednesday to the "protecting power mandate" between the two Middle Eastern countries. The arrangement was also formalized separately in Riyadh and Tehran.

Saudi Arabia and Iran broke off diplomatic ties in January 2016 after Saudi Arabia executed a leading Shiite cleric. Protesters in Iran attacked the Saudi Embassy in Tehran.

Switzerland, a proudly neutral Alpine country, has often played the role of go-between for countries at odds with one another, such as between the United States and Cuba, and the United States and Iran.
A US government spokeswoman says new security measures on incoming flights to America from abroad "will impact all flights."

Lisa Farbstein, a spokeswoman for the US Transportation Security Administration, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that affects the approximately 2,100 flights arriving daily to America.

She said in a statement that the new security measures "may include" enhancing passenger screening, heightened screening of electronics and increasing security measures.

She says both US citizens and foreigners will face the same security.

The agency's comments come as six global long-haul carriers said they will start asking passengers security questions before they board flights at the request of US officials.
The US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has been evacuated from a UN camp for displaced people in South Sudan because of a volatile demonstration against President Salva Kiir.

An aid worker at the camp says UN security guards fired tear gas to disperse the crowd of more than 100 people shortly after Haley left. The aid worker spoke on condition of anonymity out of safety fears.

Haley had been scheduled to meet camp elders, women and youths. She met earlier Wednesday with Kiir, who appealed for the Trump administration to stay engaged with the country wracked by civil war.

Haley is the highest-level US government official to visit South Sudan since President Donald Trump took office. She is on a three-nation tour of Africa to see the involvement of the US and United Nations in Ethiopia, South Sudan and Congo, where she will be on Thursday.
The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog will visit Iran on Sunday for talks with senior officials there, as opposition from the United States threatens to undermine an international accord to curtail Iran's nuclear programme.

Yukiya Amano, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, will discuss Iran's implementation of the 2015 agreement, the IAEA said on Wednesday.

The visit comes during a dispute between Washington and Tehran over US President Donald Trump's decision this month not to certify Iranian compliance with the landmark nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers.

The US Congress now has less than 60 days to decide whether to re-impose economic sanctions on Tehran that were lifted under the deal, in exchange for restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities.
Gujarat ATS arrested two suspected ISIS terrorists from Surat who were planning terror attack in the state during the upcoming Gujarat assembly elections.

By P S Gopikrishnan Unnithan, Gopi Maniar Ghanghar : Gujarat ATS arrested two suspected ISIS terrorists from Surat who were planning terror attack in the state during the upcoming Gujarat assembly elections.

The duo have been identified as Qasim and Obaid who were in touch with ISIS through social media. They even conducted recce at some religious places in the state.

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They have been inspired by terrorist Abdul al-Fazal and were planning to flee the country after executing their plan.

Meanwhile, Kerala police too have arrested three youngsters for their suspected links with ISIS. The arrested were K C Mithilaj, K V Abdul Rasaq, AV Rasheed all in their early twenties. All three were natives of Valapattanam, who returned from Turkey a few days ago.

According to police, all three received training in Istanbul and were trying to sneak into Syria. However, this bid was foiled by the Turkish Special Forces and were deported to India.

All three were under police surveillance since they returned from Turkey. Some intelligence sources also hinted that two more people were detained by the local police. The investigation is currently coordinated by Kannur DY SP.

In 2016, five men were arrested from Kanakamala in Kannur by NIA while they were allegedly conspiring a terror plot. In June same year, a group of 21 people who went missing from Kerala were reported to have joined ISIS in Syria and Afghanistan.

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US President Donald Trump declined to say on Wednesday whether he will visit the Korean Peninsulas demilitarized zone during an upcoming Asia tour.

"Id rather not say, but youll be surprised," Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn as he prepared to depart on a trip to Dallas.

Trump is scheduled to depart on Nov. 3 on a trip that includes visits to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.
US President Donald Trump is caught in a push-pull on new details of John F. Kennedy's assassination. He's jammed between students of the killing who want every scrap of information and intelligence agencies that are said to be counseling restraint.

The test for Trump, who's trafficked in conspiracy theories himself, comes Thursday. That's when thousands of still-secret files are required by law to be released to the public.

The same 1992 law allows the president to withhold some of those details on national security grounds. Historians say the CIA and perhaps other intelligence agencies are urging the president to keep some of the material a secret.

Even those who want maximum disclosure, however, expect no big revelations.
Britain has circulated a draft UN resolution that would condemn violence that has sent more than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing from Myanmar to Bangladesh and call on Myanmar's government to immediately halt military operations in Rakhine state.

If adopted by the Security Council, the resolution would be the first in many years on Myanmar. But diplomats say it faces opposition from China, a neighbor and ally of the country formerly known as Burma which is shifting from decades of military rule toward democracy.

The draft, which was sent to members of the Security Council and obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, also condemns the attacks by Rohingya rebels on Aug. 25 that sparked the violence.
POLK  The first satellite branch developed by First State Bank of Hordville had its grand opening last week complete with ribbon cutting and the businesss first-ever transactions.

The Storm Branch of the bank is housed at High Plains Elementary School in Polk where it is operated by a staff of tellers as long on skill and enthusiasm as they are short in physical stature.

High Plains principal Cameron Hudson spearheaded this ultimate practical experience learning opportunity from the school side. Rob Anderson, vice president of the bank in neighboring Hordville, coordinated the banks piece of a three-way partnership coordinated by Tammie Fischer from the UNL Center for Economic Education.

Following comments by Hudson, Anderson, his father and bank president Bill Anderson, Fischer and High Plains superintendent Brian Tonniges, the freshly trained tellers  five each from the fourth and fifth grades  manned their stations and began accepting deposits of very real money to official First State Bank accounts of record from classmates.

Tellers were selected after a decidedly adult application process that required students to promote themselves and the unique skills and personality each would bring to the job. References were required.

Once the 10 tellers were hired they went to Hordville, there to be trained by the banks adult staff.

An important aspect of the projects is that students will be tutored in financial responsibility by members of the high school accounting class.

Bill Anderson told his banks newest customers, This money is yours. It will always be yours.

This is a great time, at their age to form good money management habits.

He said, One in four people in the U.S. have zero savings and millennials (age 35 and under) are the worst.

That demographic actually has a dismal group savings score slightly less than zero.

He told the kids there are two reasons to save: We save for things we need, he stated. The second reason we save is to have wants such as, perhaps, a new bike. If you want those things you need to save.

Tonniges told those gathered, I am very proud of the fact we can be on the cutting edge of this and other programs at High Plains Community Schools.

We started this conversation last spring, explained Fischer. Its so rewarding to see it come to fruition.

The process began with encouragement from Fischer that led to a call from Hudson to Rob Anderson.

We had a meeting with him, (High Plains business education teacher) Jessica Hatfield and Fischer from UNL, Rob Anderson said. When school started we got in the process of getting everything ready for the new student-operated branch.

A letter was sent off to the Nebraska Department of Banking for its approval which was duly granted. That certification makes the Storm Branch a fully-licensed, card-carrying bank with full authorized to handle student accounts and money.

The first $5 of each students deposit is being matched by the main bank. He said if a student doesnt yet have $5 in his or her account, the match will be deposited when the balance does reach that amount.

I think its great, obviously, to help our school, said the bank VP. Promoting savings is helpful right now. If we can help kids were excited.

Tellers  the tall ones on the banks full-time staff  were excited for the whole process. We were excited over here (at the bank in Hordville) to see them. It was a pretty cool deal.

Rob Anderson is the third generation of his family to serve the 110-year-old financial institution.

Hudson said the idea was hatched last spring when Hatfield went to a conference in Lincoln and came back with the idea. It was something that was happening more around the Lincoln and in Lincoln proper than outstate in the rural countryside.

We kicked it around and thought this was certainly something we could do specific to our elementary students, Hudson related.

First State Bank of Hordville, he said, Was very enthusiastic when presented with the unique idea.

We bused them to Hordville, he said of the 10 kids chosen to be tellers. They went through the deposit process, customer service, making sure all the correct information was on the deposit slip and that it was accurate.

To be sure, nary a single student depositor stepped away from the teller windows without a thank you and an invitation to drop in again soon.

Thats the customer service part of the training, Hudson said.

We will have the branch open every two weeks to make deposits if they want. At the end of the fifth grade year the student depositors can choose to pull the money out or leave it in the bank.

Each student customer, he said, was given a register book to keep track of their money.

The high school accounting students, he explained, will teach basic, age-appropriate economic lessons from curriculum provided by the University.

Rob Anderson confirmed that each students account is, indeed, safe, secure and protected  but only to the FDIC maximum of $250,000.
CBI will soon question Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and 4 Dera followers, who were found without testicles in a medical examination recently, in connection with mass castration cases.

By Manjeet Sehgal: After his conviction in rape cases, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is now focussing on the other serious cases Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim is facing including those of murder and mass castration.

The CBI team, which on October 10 quizzed Ram Rahim in Sunaria Jail in Rohtak for nearly three hours, is likely to question him again in connection with the charges of mass castration.

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CBI sources are of the view that the agency will also question 4 castrated Dera followers, who are currently lodged in the Ambala Central Jail in connection with the August 25 Panchkula violence following the self-acclaimed godman's conviction.

Out of the four castrated followers and Dera Chief aides, two are Daan Singh and Rakesh Kumar, who were found without testicles during a medical examination conducted in a Panchkula hospital recently. CBI will soon question these castrated followers in connection with the mass castration case involving nearly 400 male followers.

Sources said that the CBI has decided that it will conduct a fresh medical examination of these four castrated males whose testicles were removed sometime ago. The Haryana Police had arrested them on charges of inciting violence in Panchkula.

The CBI, in a communique sent to Director General of Police BS Sandhu, has sought police help in connection with the questioning and medical examination of the followers. The jail authorities will now chalk out a schedule for this interrogation and medical examination.

SUBMIT FINAL STATUS REPORT ON CASTRATION CASE, HIGH COURT ASKS CBI

Meanwhile, while hearing the case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday directed CBI to submit a final status report on the castration case. The case will come up for hearing on February 1, 2018.

Earlier in January 2015, the CBI had registered an FIR against Gurmeet Ram Rahim in an alleged castration case on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued on December 23, 2014. The case was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by one of the castrated former male followers Hans Raj Chauhan.

In his petition, Chauhan had alleged that he, alongwith 400 other followers, was told by Gurmeet Ram Rahim that by removing his testicles, he would be able to connect with God directly.

Chauhan's medical examination had also proved that he had no testicles. The victim had also alleged that he was not alone. The Dera chief had ruined the lives of nearly 400 others.

Just as he denied allegations of rape, Ram Rahim even rejected charges of having castrated his male followers. Former Dera followers told India Today that he was afraid that the growing number of male followers would attract his female disciples. Some male followers also doubled up as his domestic help. Hans Raj had also told the CBI that Gurmeet Singh used castrated male followers as his 'army'.

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ALSO WATCH VIDEO | Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh pocketed Rs 6.5 crore, Honeypreet got Rs 60 lakh for their movies

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Islamabad: A Pakistani blogger has applied for asylum in Britain after claiming that he was tortured during his detention in the country, Dawn quoted a media report as saying.

Asim Saeed was one of the five activists who went missing mysteriously earlier this year from different cities in Pakistan.

According to the report, Saeed, who currently lives and works in Singapore, has now applied for asylum in Britain, fearing his life would be in danger if he had to return to Pakistan.

Prior to his disappearance, Saeed was running a Facebook page called 'Mochi', which was critical of Pakistan's military establishment.

"Since the inception of Pakistan, they've always been ruling us directly or indirectly," Dawn quoted him as saying to a news channel.

Saeed revealed that he was abducted by some men in plain clothes in a car when he was visiting Pakistan for his brother's wedding.

"'Do you know why you've been picked up?' they asked. I said, 'I have no idea'. Then he started to slap me. They said, 'Let's talk about Mochi'," he said.

Saeed alleged he was asked to disclose passwords for his email accounts and mobile phone before being taken to a secret detention.

The blogger said he was beaten with a leather strap, which left his arms and back in "shades of purple, blue and back".

Saeed further said that he was also questioned about having any links with India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

However, he had denied having any association with foreign intelligence agencies as well as posting material that could be deemed blasphemous.

Human Rights Watch and other rights groups had raised concerns over the disappearances of activists in Pakistan and had asked the Pakistan government to urgently investigate the disappearances.
Patna: Over 15 kg of charas, worth over Rs three crore in the international market, was seized close to the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar's East Champaran district, an SSB official said today.

A total of 31 packets of charas, each weighing about 500 gm, were recovered from a motorcycle during checking near the border in Raxaul police station area last night, Sashastra Seema Bal 47th Batallion Commandant Sonam Chhering said.

The biker fled the spot, he said.

Chhering said the contraband was sold at the rate of about Rs 20 lakh per kg in the international market.
Intelligence is known to intimidate some, but it is not known to scare anybody. If one were to extend the logic to artificial intelligence, which again is a product of human intelligence, it is surprising to see why so many are getting scared of it.

When the likes of Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk express their apprehensions about artificial intelligence, it gets people more worried.

Before understanding the reasons for the scare, let us understand the world around us today. We use GPS to navigate our way through unknown roads or to predict traffic jams. We play games on our computer or smartphone, sometimes alone against an artificial opponent, the system. While texting on our smartphone, we use some of the suggestions given by the phone for what to type next. While typing in MS-Word, we use auto-correct facility for our spelling or grammar mistakes. Pilots get trained using flight simulators. Robotic or computer-assisted surgeries have been helping doctors in their surgical procedures. Apple users have been taking help from Siri, their intelligent assistant, to operate their mobile devices and apps. YouTube suggests videos that we may like on the basis of our past viewership. Facebook and LinkedIn suggest friends we may want to add. And, I can go on and on...

Which one of these features scares us? Which one of these has not made our tasks easier and efficient? Which one of these would we want to give away? Am sure, none. All these were examples of artificial intelligence. Surprised?

Given the success rate of the current artificial intelligence systems, the concept is being extended to bigger things and concerted effort is being made in the direction. The current brouhaha that is surrounding artificial intelligence is because the term is becoming popular now and is being associated with bigger things. So, what are the people scared of and why?

As is the case with any technological disruption, people are scared of losing jobs to artificial intelligence. Even though this may be true to an extent, newer jobs would get created. When computers were being introduced in India, there was a huge backlash with the same logic. Look, where we are now! Computers have replaced some jobs, but have created many more.

Another argument being given against artificial intelligence is the huge cost of developing and maintaining the systems. As we would understand further in the article, in the long-term, the benefits would clearly outweigh the costs. And, quality always comes at a price!

Some say that artificially intelligent systems would not be able to learn from experience. This is absolutely not correct. Artificial intelligence is a result of human experience. And, what stops humans from upgrading the systems based on their experiences?

On similar lines, some say that artificial intelligence would lack creativity or would not be able to take judgement calls. On the contrary, such systems would themselves be a product of creativity, intelligence and experience. Yes, real-time creativity or judgement may be a problem, but new learnings can always be incorporated in the system. Definitely, there would be no place for human emotions or sensitivities, but there are numerous areas where such aspects are not required.

One area that is of big concern is the security threat. Governments and technology companies across the world will have to make sure that proper laws and protocols are in place before giving a go-ahead to artificial intelligence. It has the risk of concentrating power in a few hands. However, we cannot not go ahead with artificial intelligence because of not doing our homework properly.

If we were to extend this logic to the Internet, we can say that terrorists are finding it easier to operate because of mobile phones or the Internet, so we should ban these. Mobile phones or the Internet are not responsible for the terrorist attacks, sick human minds and the technological and regulatory loopholes are responsible for them. Stopping artificial intelligence because of this reason would tantamount to throwing the baby out with the bathwater!

This discussion would not be complete without looking at the potential of artificial intelligence.

Low-skilled or mundane tasks can be replaced by artificially intelligent systems. Not only would these systems have no human-error, the machines can work for long hours without taking breaks, or getting tired, or needing refreshments.

Artificial intelligence can handle larger amount of data than human beings. It can help take faster, accurate and more informed decisions.

The biggest advantage can be in areas where high risks are involved like space or mine exploration. Artificially intelligent systems can stay in risky areas and in harsh conditions for long without any risk to human life. In fact, they can even go to areas that are not deemed fit for humans.

Training in specialised areas like medicine requires artificial surgery simulators. Though these are already in use, they can be expanded to cover wider areas. Imagine a scenario where actual parameters of a patient like deteriorating liver, high blood pressure and clotting of arteries are replicated in an artificial system that can react to various medical procedures like the patient himself. Before performing the actual surgery, the doctors can practice it on the artificial system to see if the procedure would be successful. They can try various permutations and combinations before zeroing down on the most successful one. Wouldnt this save many lives? The idea may seem far-fetched today, but one never knows!

The potential uses and benefits of artificial intelligence are manifold. After this in-depth analysis, I can zero down to only two reasons for the fear of artificial intelligence: human error or oversight in terms of putting the security systems in place; and fear of the unknown. Both the cases are weak arguments that can be overcome by humans themselves.

No technology is good or bad in itself. It is what we make of it. Instead of fearing artificial intelligence, let us see what a combination of human intelligence and artificial intelligence can do. The synergies created would be gigantic!

(Shobhika Puri is a freelance writer)
Convicted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim still has many followers in the BJP-led Haryana government who are hell bent to prove their own government wrong.

By Manjeet Sehgal: The BJP government in Haryana has turned a blind eye towards the violence and death caused by Dera Sacha Sauda followers and their leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim. The followers of Ram Rahim within the BJP government in Haryana are hell bent on proving their own government wrong.

On Monday, BJP leaders in Haryana Assembly had offered an open obituary of the Dera followers killed in police action after the violence that ensued after Baba's conviction. Now, BJP MLA Kulwant Ram Bazigar has accused Panchkula police of attacking 'innocents' with bullets.

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The leader was seen justifying the violence by citing the examples of blood and organ donation, and other such social activities done by Dera followers. According to Dera sympathiser Bazigar, the sedition case registered against 13 Dera followers, including Honeypreet, is also wrong as Dera followers are not anti-national.

The BJP leader went ahead and demanded withdrawal of sedition cases against Honeypreet and others besides demanding a compensation for the protesters who were killed in police action. Like Bazigar, Cabinet minister Anil Vij had also demanded monetary compensation for the protesters who lobbed petrol bombs at buildings, vehicles and allegedly fired gunshots on police.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier justified the obituary saying that by remembering the departed souls they (government) were respecting a Haryana tradition. But now Khattar said that, the government will not seek compensation for the dead Dera followers as per the directions of Punjab and Haryana High Court. He refused to comment on the statements given by his party MLA and Cabinet colleague Anil Vij on the issue.

"It is the court which will decide whom to compensate or not. The law will take its own course. As per the court directions, the state government cannot endorse the demand to compensate the Dera followers," said Khattar.

Interestingly, it is not just the BJP MLAs alone but the opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), which has changed its perspective towards Dera after the CBI Special Court judgement.In an apparent bid to set the political tone for the 2019 Assembly elections, the party which earlier criticised Gurmeet Ram Rahim for announcing support to BJP, has not only demanded a compensation for dead Dera followers but also compared August 25 police action to Jallianwala massacre.

The BJP government also remembered the Jat protesters who were killed in police action in 2016. Sources say 883 out of a total 1,084 FIRs registered in Rohtak alone were untraced and the state government was in a mood to withdraw the cases against Jat protesters.It is not just the Gurmeet Ram Rahim controversy or the Jat reservation which concerns the Haryana politicians most, but the it is the fat vote bank which these two communities form which will pave the way for power in 2019.

--- ENDS ---

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Raipur: As many as 51 Hindu families who had migrated from Pakistan several years ago and have been living on the outskirts of the city were on Wednesday granted Indian citizenship.

Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said Chhattisgarh has become the first state in the country to award citizenship after Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted the power to states to do so.

He and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh awarded the certificates of Indian citizenship at a function to mark the 73rd birth anniversary of Sant Gobindram Saheb here at Saddani Darbar.

These families settled down in Saddani Darbar area on the fringes of Raipur several years ago.

"Chhattisagrh has become the first state in the country to grant Indian citizenship to the migrated Hindu families. The state has set an example by taking such an important step," Ahir said on the occasion.

He said only the Union government was empowered to grant citizenship certificates earlier, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi simplified the process in 2015 and entitled state governments with this right.

"After getting the citizenship, you (referring to migrated families) have become citizen of this holy land. Few days back, you have celebrated Diwali festival and now this day is like another Diwali for you," the Union minister said, adding that immediate action will be taken over applications to be received from Chhattisgarh in connection with the citizenship issue.

The process to grant citizenship to Hindu families who migrated from Pakistan and other countries to India and living in different states will be expedited, the minister added.

Speaking on the occasion, Raman Singh extended his wishes to the families and said they will not be termed as refugees now.

"After waiting for so many years, these people have now been felicitated with the honour of citizenship. This is their own country but unfortunately after the partition of this holy land, they had to move to Pakistan.

"Later, they decided to live in India but were wandering for years to get the citizenship. Taking an important initiative in this direction, the prime minister entitled states with power to grant citizenship," the chief minister said.

He promised prompt action on such applications for citizenship from migrants living in Chhattisgarh.

Lok Sabha MP Ramesh Bais and state Home Minister Ramsewak Paikra were also present at the event.
New Delhi: India is expected to have 478 million air passengers in 2036 on the back of strong demand, global airlines' grouping IATA has said.

The country is projected to see a staggering growth from 141 million passengers in 2016.

Releasing its 20-year passenger forecast, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that it expects 7.8 billion passengers to travel in 2036, a near doubling of the 4 billion air travelers expected to fly this year.

The prediction is based on a 3.6% average Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), IATA noted.

The report said that the biggest driver of demand will be the Asia-Pacific region. The region will be the source of more than half the new passengers over the next two decades.

The point at which China will displace the United States as the worlds largest aviation market (defined as traffic to, from and within the country) has moved two years closer since last years forecast.

We now anticipate this will occur around 2022, through a combination of slightly faster Chinese growth and slightly reduced growth in the US. The UK will fall to fifth place, surpassed by India in 2025, and Indonesia in 2030. Thailand and Turkey will enter the top ten largest markets, while France and Italy will fall in the rankings to 11th and 12th respectively, it added.
New Delhi: In the latest, Jaiprakash Associates Ltd were refused permission to hive-off the rights of multi-crore six-lane Yamuna Expressway connecting Greater Noids with Agra in Uttar Pradesh by the Supreme Court on Monday.

The apex court, however, extended the time from October 27 to November 5 for the company to deposit Rs 2000 crore.

"We are not inclined to entertain the application for modification of the order dated 11th September, 2017. However, we extend the time to deposit the sum of Rs 2000 crore till November 5, 2017," a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said.

Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL) had approached the apex court seeking to hive-off the rights of Yamuna Expressway and modification or recall of September 11 order relating to deposit of Rs 2000 crore.

The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, disposed off the application and said it will deal with issue of homebuyers seeking flats at later stage.

Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for JAL, said the company may be permitted to transfer its rights under the Concession Agreement in respect of Yamuna Expressway.

The prayer of the company was opposed by Attorney General K K Venugopal and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the IDBI Ltd.

Senior advocate Parag P Tripathi, representing the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP), also opposed the submission of JAL and said the rights under the Concession Agreement in respect of Yamuna Expressway are of Jaypee Infratech Limited (JIL), which is subject to proceeding under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and, therefore, cannot be transferred.

Similarly, advocate Ravinder Kumar appearing for Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) also submitted that the rights under the Concession Agreement were non-transferable.

During the hearing, the bench said that homebuyers who were earlier moving from pillar to post to get possession of their flats were now getting their money back after the courts took up their cause.

The top court observed that it was easy to ensure that flat buyers get their money refunded from the errant builders, rather than getting their flats from them.

"Till now, homebuyers who were on streets and were moving from one forum to the other for possession of flats are now getting their money refunded after we started taking up their cause," the bench said.

At the outset, Sibal said the company has an offer from a Singapore-based firm to hive-off the expressway at a cost of Rs 2,500-3,000 crore.

"We need money to pay the homebuyers. This company which is running four highways in the country has given us an offer. This is a reputed Singapore-based company. To hive-off, we need permission of the court as per earlier orders," he said.

Sibal contended that interest of all financial creditors were secured as the company has assets worth Rs 17,000 crore which even on distress sale will fetch Rs 14,500 crores.

"We have loan liability of only Rs 9,000 crore and by selling of the properties we can easily pay the financial creditors," he said.

"Allow us to hive-off the properties or else both the companies Jaypee Infratech and Jaiprakash Associates Limited will fall," he said.

With PTI Inputs
New Delhi: In view of fast shrinking space for burying the dead in the national capital, the Shia Central Waqf Board has now suggested the demolition of Humayun's Tomb and its conversion into a graveyard for Muslims.

According to reports, the Shia Central Waqf Board president, Waseem Rizvi, has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard.

In his letter, Rizvi has stated that demolishing Humayun's Tomb and converting it into a graveyard would solve the acute problem being faced by the Muslims for burying the dead in Delhi.

Rizvi wrote the letter to the PM after the All India Rabta-e-Masajid and Madaris-e-Islamia of Yamuna Vihar informed the UP Shia Central Waqf Board about the extreme shortage of space for graveyard in the national capital.

In their letter dated October 15, the two organisations said that the old burial grounds had got filled up and there is no space for building new ones either.

The two organisations also urged the UP Shia Waqf Board to provide land for burial ground in the neighbouring state close to the Delhi border.

In its reply, the UP Shia Waqf Board said that it examined the cities in UP close to the Delhi border but found that there was no land available with it for the purpose.

It admitted that the problem concerning the Muslims living in Delhi was alarming and needed to be addressed at the earliest.

The Shia Waqf Board then suggested to the PM that Humayun's Tomb situated in the Nizamuddin area of the national capital be demolished in the public interest and converted into a burial ground.

Stating reasons behind its proposal, Rizvi said the Humayun's Tomb is spread in an area of 35 acres.

"It is not a religious place. It will be considered as a graveyard because of the grave present there,'' he wrote in the letter.

Rizvi also stated that the Mughals who came from from various countries, had plundered India's wealth.

''According to historians, the Mughals demolished more than 3,000 temples by misusing their power and rule," he said.

The Board went on to allege that the Mughal kings were neither propagators of Islam nor they were efficient rulers. "That is the reason why their grand graves cannot be the national heritage," he said.

The Shia Waqf Board further said that there was no hindrance as per Islam in demolishing the Humayuns's Tomb.

"The community to which Humayun belonged does not recognise any tomb," Rizvi said while cited some cases of Sunni Muslims in Saudia Arabia.

Giving another reason for suggesting so, the Board said that the government does not earn anything from the Humayun's Tomb, instead, it has to spend lakhs of rupees on its maintenance every year.
New Delhi: A court here on Wednesday sent Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin`s son Syed Shahid, arrested in a six-year-old terror funding case, to NIA custody till November 1.



Shahid, 42, a Jammu and Kashmir government employee, was arrested here on Tuesday after he was called for questioning at the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters.



He was presented before District Judge Poonam Bamba, who during in-camera proceedings, allowed the NIA to quiz Shahid to uncover his terror links.



The NIA has sought the custody on the grounds that it needs to interrogate Shahid to unearth a criminal conspiracy of raising funds by terror organisation Hizbul Mujahideen and Shahid`s role in it.



The agency told the court that Shahid was collecting funds from Aijaz Bhat, a Srinagar resident now based in Saudi Arabia and a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, on the direction of his father Salahuddin, who is on the run.



Shahid over the years has been receiving and collecting funds through international wire money transfer from Bhat, an NIA statement said.



The NIA said Shahid was one of Bhat`s several contacts who were in telephonic touch "to receive the money transfer codes". The money was meant to fund Hizbul Mujahideen`s militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir.



The NIA has seized Shahid`s mobile phone and sent it to forensic lab for analysis, whose report is awaited.



Shahid, who lives with his family in Soibugh village of J&K`s Budgam district, works as a village agricultural assistant in the state Agriculture Department. His contractual job was confirmed by the government in March this year.



The 2011 terror funding case pertains to terror money sent through hawala channels by militants based in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to Jammu and Kashmir.



The NIA had filed two chargesheets against six accused in the case in 2011. Four of them - Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, one of the closest aides of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Sidiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmad Dagga - are currently in Delhi`s Tihar Jail.



Two of the accused, Mohammad Maqbool Pandit and Aijaz Bhat, are on the run and have been declared proclaimed offenders. Pandit, like Aijaz Bhat, has been an active Hizbul Mujahideen militant and is currently based in Pakistan.



Aijaz Bhat, according to NIA records, received arms training with the Hizbul Mujahideen in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in early 1990s.



He never returned to Srinagar and began working for the militant group in Pakistan. He is said to have stayed in Sialkot before shifting to Saudi Arabia for generating funds for the group`s activities in Jammu and Kashmir.



An NIA official said the agency, through phone records, found that he was in touch with Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, a Srinagar-based lawyer, in 2011.



According to NIA, the lawyer separatist had procured over Rs 4.50 crore from Pakistan through hawala channels within three years after 2008 for funding militant activities in the Kashmir Valley.



Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, Ganai, Liloo and Dagga were arrested on January 22, 2011 and Rs 21.20 lakh were recovered from them.



After their arrest, Aijaz Bhat used to send money to Shahid. The Hizbul founder`s son, according to an NIA official, received at least four instalments of money in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.



Shahid is the third son of Salahuddin, who also heads the United Jehad Council, the amalgam of Kashmir militant groups based in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan.



Salahuddin unsuccessfully fought the 1987 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. He then crossed over to Pakistan and founded the Hizbul Mujahideen -- the largest militant group in Jammu and Kasmir. Salahuddin has five sons and two daughters, who are all employed with the state government.



Shahid`s arrest -- it is the first time any member of Salahuddin`s family has been arrested - comes a day after Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced the decision to start a dialogue process in Jammu and Kashmir and named former Intelligence Bureau Director Dineshwar Sharma to talk to all stakeholders.
New Delhi: The government has lifted the ban on more than 100 Sikhs, blacklisted after the outbreak of militancy in Punjab, and they can now travel to India, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said.

The BJP-led NDA government has always been sensitive to the demands of the Sikh community including justice for the victims of 1984 riots in Delhi, Singh said.

The minister noted that after assuming the power, the government formed an SIT to investigate the matter.

Charge sheets have been filed in some cases, while some other cases are being investigated, he said while speaking at an event organised by the RSS affiliate Rashtriya Sikh Sangat to mark the 350th birth year of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

"Many people (who hail from Sikh community) from various countries were also blacklisted and they could not travel to India. Today I want to inform you that more than 100 Sikhs names have been removed from the list," Singh said.

In August last year also, the government had said that names of 225 Sikhs, chronicled in the government's blacklist for their alleged involvement in subversive or anti-India activities, had been removed.

The blacklisted NRI Sikhs are barred from travelling to India due to their alleged ties with Khalistan movement in the 80s and 90s. The list was prepared at different levels by the security agencies.

Speaking at the event, Singh also emphasised on the role of Sikhs in safeguarding ancient Indian culture and said they are the "guardians our ethos and value system".

"Guru Gobind Singh and the entire Sikh religion have acted as a shield for our ancient 'santana dharam' and culture against attacks from foreign forces," he said.

Addressing the event, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said the leadership and the path shown by the Sikh Guru is relevant in the present times too.

"For overall development of our people and the country, we all need to follow his teachings," Bhagwat said adding that the Sikh figure fought for the entire society and not for any specific religion.

Many Union Ministers including Piyush Goyal, Harsh Vardhan, Hardeep Puri and Vijay Goel were also present at the event.
New Delhi: The concerning levels of pollutants in Delhi-NCR air have increased, courtesy crop-burning in Punjab and Haryana.

Despite numerous warnings by a green court and environmental authorities, crop-burning has reached unprecedented levels, leading the air quality to deteriorate further.

Dry and cold north-westerly winds blowing from Punjab and Haryana at speeds of 10-15 km per hour, according to weather analysts, will continue for the next few days, further worsening the air quality in Delhi-NCR.

The international permissible limit for PM2.5 is 25 microgram per cubic metre while for India, it is 60. For PM10, the permissible limit is 100.

Delhi, Noida and Gurugram witness an immediate downward plummet in air quality in the past 24 hours, with the air quality index (AQI) recorded at 'very-poor'.

The index value was 344 in Delhi, 363 in Noida, and 318 in Gurugram. On Tuesday, the AQI at these three places was 309, 315, and 345 respectively.

On Wednesday, air quality at Ghaziabad (NCR) was worse than post-Diwali (recorded on October 20) level, and was described as severe by the Central Pollution Control Board. The AQI in Ghaziabad was 425 on Wednesday, as compared with 412 on October 20.

Meanwhile, satellite images from the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations' FIRMS (Fire Information for Resource Management System) Web Fire Mapper show crop-burning reached an all-time high with both Punjab and Haryana marked in red (depicting fire).

Crop-burning was part of the pollution control agenda of the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), which a day before Diwali (October 19) implemented "very poor" and "severe" categories of its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)  which includes more strict measures  to curb air pollution in Delhi and adjoining areas.

"It (crop-burning) was an action point, but nothing much was done against crop- burning as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) is already involved," EPCA member Usmaan Naseem told IANS.

According to EPCA officials, state authorities (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) are supposed to keep a check on crop-burning, as toxic smoke from such an action, along with weather conditions and wind speeds, impacts air quality in Delhi-NCR.

The unabated crop-burning in Punjab and Haryana, estimated to be around 35 million tonnes, was banned by the tribunal in November 2015. However, due to lack of support from the respective governments, farmers continued to burn paddy straw even as states demanded more funds from the Centre to support their farmers against the menace.

"Air pollution is set to increase. People will complain of heaviness in breathing towards morning and evening hours. The north-westerly winds from Punjab and Haryana are slowing down in Delhi, and this will continue for some days," Mahesh Palawat, Director of private weather forecast agency Skymet, told IANS.

Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world. Last year, the national capital and adjoining regions were enveloped in a thick blanket of smog after Diwali, which worsened because of the crop-burning.

(With IANS inputs)
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat ATS on Wednesday arrested two suspected ISIS terrorists from Surat.

They were allegedly planning to execute a terror plot in Ahmedabad during the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections, ANI reported.

Assembly elections in Gujarat will be held in two phases on December 9 and 14.

The first phase will be held in 89 of the 182 seats and will cover 19 of 33 districts.

The notification for the second phase will be issued on November 20 for the remaining 93 Assembly seats in 14 districts.

The votes will be counted on December 18, the same day as Himachal Pradesh, where elections will be held on November 9.

The BJP has been in power in Gujarat since 1998 and the Congress is seeking to make a comeback.

(With Agency inputs)
AHMEDABAD: Ahead of Gujarat state elections 2017, former Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela took a dig at leading political parties and their funding.

We won't take any funds from Ambani and Adani, said the septuagenarian on Wednesday while briefing the media about his new political outfit Jan Vikalp Morcha (JVM).

JVM, a party floated by Vaghela's supporters, is emerging as the third major political front in Gujarat elections.

We believe in placing candidates on merits unlike others who are doing horse trading, said Vaghela.

If our govt is formed, we'll provide Rs 5000 pension to widows, he further added.

Jan Vikalp Morcha will contest the polls on tractor symbol of All India Hindustan Congress Party.

The party will support independent candidates who register with it for the upcoming Gujarat elections, dates of which will be announced by Election Commission later today.

JVM, which has already started campaigning in Gujarat, writes on its website, Why should the BJP or the Congress be the only options?

Earlier in July 2017, Vaghela revolted against Congress and quit the party after being denied free-hand in state election campaign.

With agency inputs
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is confident that the Bharatiya Janata Party will secure a massive victory in the upcoming state polls, scheduled to be held in December.

We are ready, confident that BJP will win 3/4th (or 75 per cent) majority, said Rupani.

Gujarat will go to polls in two-phases: December 9 and 14. The counting will be held on December 18.

On Tuesday, an opinion poll predicted a comfortable win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat assembly elections.

The India Today-Axis My India Opinion poll predict a two-third majority in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly. Whereas in 182-seat Gujarat Assembly, BJP is likely to win between 115 and 125 seats.

The party has pulled a straight victory in the last five Gujarat assembly elections. In 2012, party won 115 seats. For Gujarat 2017 elections, party president Amit Shah has put forth a target of winning 150 seats.

The polls results will be witnessed as a reflection for PM Narendra Modi-led BJP's performance in the Lok Sabha elections 2019.

The party has released a list of star campaigners including PM Modi, Shah, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj, Smriti Irani and Uma Bharti, among several others.
By PTI: (Eds: Updating with details and a correction in para 3)

By Seema Hakhu Kachru

Houston, Oct 25 (PTI) People in the US city of Richardson are mourning and angry over the tragic death of 3-year-old Indian girl Sherin Mathews, with many asking why her foster father did not wake his nurse wife when he knew that the toddler was chocking on milk and struggling to breathe.

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Sherin, who had developmental issues and limited verbal communication skills, was confirmed dead by police in the Texan city of Richardson yesterday after over two weeks of searches. She was missing since October 7.

Wesley Mathews, 37, the Indian-American father of Sherin, told the police yesterday that his daughter choked while drinking milk and he removed her body from the house as he "believed she had died".

He had previously claimed that Sherin went missing after he sent her outside their home at around 3 am on October 7 as punishment for not drinking her milk.

Wesley, who works in an IT company, was re-arrested and charged with first-degree felony injury to a child due to a conflicting statement to police.

The arrest came a day after the body of a small child was found in a culvert near their home in suburban Dallas.

While the cause of her death was still being probed, the community and neighbourhoods all across Texas are shocked, heartbroken, angry and mourning her death.

Wesleys wife Sini Mathews, who is a registered nurse and could have helped her, was reportedly sleeping in her room.

"All these lies, first punishing the girl and putting her under tree, later choking her in a garage at 3 AM for not drinking milk, does not add up. It is heartbreaking and shocking," said a teary-eyed resident Diana.

"It will be another story soon, when police will find the actual cause of the death," she said.

Another neighbour Barabara Diamond Johnson asked why did not Wesley wake his nurse wife as Sherin choked to death, especially when she is a registered nurse at Childrens hospital Dallas.

People who live in the neighbourhood stopped their cars or their daily walks yesterday to see the ditch where Sherins body was found. They pulled phones from their pockets to take photos of the spot.

Since Sunday, heavy hearts joined in song and prayer for the little girl found in the culvert.

"I think everybody is just ready for closure and we just want her to be at peace," said resident Gauthami Vemula.

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The incident has left the shocked community with many unanswered questions.

Over the past two weeks, Sherin brought the whole community together in the suburb, as countless volunteers searched in and around Richardson hoping to find the toddler.

Sunday evening, many gathered for a prayer vigil a few hours after learning of the heartbreaking developments.

"A lot of people are in shock and anger and frustrated. Lets just try our best to breathe and regroup to focus our energy back on this little girl, this princess and find ways to seek her justice as best and as quick as possible," said vigil organiser Omair Siddiqi.

Meanwhile, Richardson police are sharing new details into their ongoing investigation into the disappearance and death of Sherin.

Richardson Police Department sergeant Kevin Perlich told reporters that they had previously searched the area near the culvert where Mathews body was found on Sunday but had come up empty-handed.

After heavy rainfall overnight Saturday, police returned to the area near East Spring Valley and South Bowser roads with cadaver dogs Sunday morning, knowing that rain tends to help intensify smells. An investigator and search team said the little girls clothed body was then found "a ways into the culvert," according to Perlich.

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Yesterday, Richardson police made a plea for Sini to agree to speak with the police. She has reportedly not cooperated with the police since the weekend of October 7.

Her attorney Kent Starr said she is "distraught" over the loss of her daughter and that she is trying to regain custody of her four-year-old biological daughter who was placed in foster care after her sisters disappearance.

Starr told NBC 5 yesterday that he has withdrawn and is no longer Sinis criminal defence attorney.

Wesley remained in the Richardson City Jail yesterday on USD 1-million bond. It is not known when he will be transferred to the Dallas County Jail.

Police are still investigating how long Sherins body had been in the drainage ditch.

Wesley was charged on Monday with injury to a child, which is punishable by up to life in prison.

Sherins body was positively identified yesterday and autopsy results are pending. It is unclear whether authorities believe Wesleys new account of what happened.

Police have unsuccessfully tried to get Sini to voluntarily answer questions, Perlich said.

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Police spoke with her on Monday -- the day after Sherins body was found but before authorities confirmed her identity.

Sini provided police with dental records, which were used to identify Sherin.

The police have said Sherin was small for her age and it wasn not unusual for her to eat in the middle of the night to gain weight. Sherin, who was about three-feet tall weighing just 10 kgs, was malnourished when she was adopted last year and did not have the language skills of a typical 3-year-old.

The couple adopted Sherin from India last year, according to media reports.

Neighbour Joe Keonine said yesterday that he never saw Sherin or her four-year-old sister outside.

He said the neighbours are worried about what will happen to Sherins sister. The girl is now in foster care. PTI SHK CPS AKJ AKJ

--- ENDS ---
Shimla: The Narendra Modi-Amit Shah powered BJP is predicted to comfortably win the upcoming assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.

According to the India Today-Axis My India Opinion poll, the BJP will wrest power from the ruling Congress by winning a two-third majority in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly. The survey also concluded that the BJP is likely to win between 115 and 125 seats in the 182-seat Gujarat Assembly.

Here are the important highlights of the opinion poll conducted in two states:

1.BJP will wrest power from the ruling Congress by winning a two-thirds majority in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly.

2.The BJP is predicted to win 43-47 seats while the Congress between 21-25 seats.

3.In Gujarat, the BJP is likely to win between 115 and 125 seats in the 182-seat state Assembly.

4.According to the opinion poll, BJP is likely to win an absolute majority in Gujarat.

5.The Congress is expected to win 57 to 65 seats in Gujarat, while others are likely to win between 0-3 seats.

6.The BJP is likely to get 48 percent of the votes, while the Congress is set to get around 38 percent votes in Gujarat.

7.Nearly 34 percent of the respondents preferred the incumbent, Vijay Rupani for the CM post.

8. 66 percent of the respondents believed Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister was beneficial for Gujarat. -However, 31 percent of the respondents thought otherwise.

9. The opinion poll revealed that a number of key economic initiatives of the Modi government have not gone down well in Gujarat.

1o. The rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) made 51% of the respondents unhappy, while 53 percent felt notes ban was not beneficial.
NEW DELHI: For Khumkala Banjade, widow of Hemraj  the domestic servant murdered along with Aarushi Talwar in 2008  justice is elusive.

The 50-year-old woman feels the courts and investigations are tilted towards the rich and influential, the Talwars in this case.

Banjade, who accuses CBI of messing up the investigation, plans to move to the Supreme Court to identify the murderer.

Hemraj widow and his 20-year-old son live in Dharapani village, a few kilometers away from Nepal capital Kathmandu. After his death, the family struggles to stay afloat.

In 2008, the double-murder of Aarushi and Hemraj in Noida shook the entire nation. On May 16, Aarushi was found murdered in her bedroom, throat slit. Hemraj, who was initially suspected to be the murderer, was also found dead on terrace next day.

The Allahabad high court, gave a clean chit to Aarushi's parents  Rajesh and Nupur Talwar  on October 12.

The court also slammed the CBI for tampering with evidence and chastised the trial judge for taking evidence for granted.
New Delhi: Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat on Wednesday warned of a Uri-like terror attack in the days to come while expressing concerns about the security of vital installations in the hinterland.

Security of installations in hinterland is becoming a cause for concern. We are getting reports of Uri-like terror attacks well in depth, Army Chief Bipin Rawat was quoted as saying by ANI.

Rawat, while stressing on the need for faster upgradation of the Indian armed forces, also called for heightened surveillance and reconnaissance on the borders for tracking the movement of adversaries.

Major requirement as of now is intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to keep eye on adversaries on western and the northern borders, the Army Chief said.

We are also looking at Electronic Warfare (EW) system to keep an eye not just on borders but in hinterland also, Rawat added.

Rawat further said that the appointment of an interlocutor for Jammu-Kashmir will not impact Army operations in the state.

The government had on Monday announced that former IB director Dineshwar Sharma will lead talks with stakeholders in the insurgency-hit state.

''The government has appointed him. Let him work. His appointment is not going to affect Army Operations, Rawat said, adding that the situation (in the Valley) has improved with infiltration on the decline.

Rawat had sometimes back warned that the Indian Army will carry out another surgical strike, if required.

Sending out a stern warning to terrorists across the border who are waiting to attack India, Rawat had said, The surgical strike was conducted to send a message and if our adversaries do not understand, it will be repeated. The terrorists across the border are sitting ready. On this side of the border, we are also ready for them. They will come here, we will receive them and we will bury them two feet below the ground.

Last year, on September 18, four militants had carried out a brazen attack on an Army base in Uri resulting in the deaths of 19 soldiers and injuring several others.

A surgical strike was conducted by the Indian Army on September 28-29 night in 2016 on terror launch pads across the Line of Control in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir.

The Army had then said that the Pakistan-backed terrorists waiting at terror launch pads across the LoC were planning to attack major Indian metros.

The sole purpose of the surgical strike conducted in September last year was to send across a strong message to Pakistan after it increased cross-border attacks, many defence experts then said, favouring the military action.
A year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes to be illegal tender, the Bharatiya Janata Party will observe November 8 as anti-blackmoney day.

Hitting out at the opposition, Jaitley said Congress had adequate opportunity to be in power but they didn't take any significant step against black money.

As demonetisation completes a year on November 8, the opposition parties are also gearing up to target the government on its policies. The Congress along with other opposition parties will be holding a protest in Delhi against the government's economic policies.

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad has been authorised to consult leaders of other opposition parties and the protest programme will be announced at 11.30 am on Tuesday.

Leaders of 18 opposition parties had formed a coordination committee that also includes CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury and Samajwadi Party`s Ram Gopal Yadav. "A coordination committee has been constituted which will discuss the issues and future programmes and then take on board the other opposition parties which are not in the coordination committee," Azad had said.

The joint opposition protest will be held a day before Himachal Pradesh goes to the polls and amid campaigning for the Gujarat elections.
New Delhi: The Central government on Wednesday urged the Supreme court to allow the withdrawal of troops from Darjeeling. The Centre said that troops stationed at Darjeeling need to be mobilised for deployment for Gujarat and Himachal elections that are due in December.

The Centre had moved the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court order on withdrawal of security forces from Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal. The SC on Wednesday agreed to hear the Centre's plea and listed the matter for October 27.

Appearing for the Centre, advocate Wasim Qadri said that along with deployment in poll-bound states, the forces need to be stationed along the borders of Jammu and Kashmir and in the north-eastern states.

The Calcutta High Court had stayed the withdrawal of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) from the Darjeeling hills, the scene of unrest over the statehood demand, till October 27 after the state government approached it against the Centre's decision.

The high court had on July 14 directed the Centre to deploy four more companies of CAPF in addition to the 11 that was already present in the hills then.

The West Bengal government had written to the Centre seeking extended deployment of CAPF till December 25, but was told that of the 15 companies present, 10 would be withdrawn on October 15 and the rest by October 20.

The state was later informed by the Centre that three companies of women CRPF personnel of the 10 proposed to be withdrawn on October 15 would stay there till October 20, he said.

The counsel for the central government had claimed that the situation in the Darjeeling hills had improved compared to July when the order on deployment of paramilitary contingents had been passed by the high court.
New Delhi: Leaders of the Left-leaning parties will meet on Wednesday to chalk out their plan to hold protest against the Centre on the first anniversary of demonetisation on November 8.

Addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said that the leaders of the Left parties will meet on Wednesday to plan their protest against the Centre's demonetisation move on November 8.

After our meeting, we will announce the protest plan across the country on the anniversary of Demonetisation on November 8. Also, on November 9, 10 and 11 the Left-affiliated trade union will hold a 'Maha Dharna' in India, he added.

Yechury's statement came after the Congress announced its plan to organise nationwide protests against the economic fallout of demonetisation on November 8.

The Congress-led opposition claims the notes ban has ruined the rural economy and impacted small traders and the informal sector.

On Tuesday, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "Possibly, this is the first time that a decision announced by the Prime Minister had to be changed 135 times. It just shows how ill-conceived it was."

Azad said this while speaking in the presence of Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav and Trinamool Congress leader Derek O. Brien, besides others.

He claimed that 18 parties would be protesting in their own respective ways in all states.

With ANI inputs
New Delhi: In open defiance of a Department of Telecom (DoT) directive to link Aadhaar with mobile numbers, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she is ready to lose her connection but won't comply.

Questioning the motive behind linking Aadhaar with phone numbers, Mamata said won't follow the directive. "I will not link Aadhaar with phone. If they want to disconnect my phone, let them," she said on Wednesday. In the past, she has repeatedly criticised the Centre for making Aadhaar mandatory - calling it against poor and raising privacy-related questions.

She is not alone.

There are a number of petitions in the Supreme Court challenging decision to link Aadhaar to phone numbers and bank accounts.

The apex court is scheduled to hear these petitions - which question if it is mandatory - on October 30.
New Delhi: After a lot of speculation, the Election Commission on Wednesday announced dates for polling in Gujarat. The battle for the state has been hotting up with BJP and Congress leveling barrage of accusations against each other. The tenure of the current BJP govenment ends on January 22nd, 2018.

Here are the five big takeaways from EC's announcement on Wednesday.

* Elections in the state will be held in two phases on December 8 and 14. Counting will take place on December 18 - the same day as counting in Himachal Pradesh.

Schedule of first phase elections (89 constituencies and 19 districts)

Issue of gazzete: November 14

Last day of filing nomincation: November 21

Scrutiny of application: November 22

First phase polling/ election date: December 9

---

Schedule of second phase elections (92 constituencies and 14 districts)



Last day of filing nomincation: November 27

Second phase polling/ election date: December 14

* The elections would be held for 182 seats, out of which 13 seats are reserved for SC and 27 for ST.

* 50,128 polling booths will be set up and VVPAT machines will be used in the polling.

* Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti said no candidate can spend more than Rs 28 lakhs on campaigning and that the Model Code of Conduct is now in effect:

* Differently-abled voters will be given preference at polling stations.
New Delhi: Indian and Russian fighter pilots flew together on Wednesday as part of tri-services military exercise 'Indra 2017' which began in Vladivostok last week.

As many as 80 Indian Air Force personnel, alongwith two massive transport aircraft, 350 soldiers from the Indian Army and two Indian Navy warships are taking part in the first-ever Tri Services Joint Exercise between Indian and Russian Armed Forces. The pilots from the Indian Air Force flew Russian fighter jets as part of the exercise in the Eastern Military District of Russia.

The objectives of the entire exercise are professional interactions, establishment of joint command and control structures between the Indian and Russian forces and elimination of terrorist threat in a multinational environment under the UN mandate. From the Russian side, over 1000 troops of the 5th Army, Marines and ships of Pacific Fleet and aircrafts are participating.

Even as India and Russia re-affirm their close military collaboration, the exercise itself may have rattled China where some believe it is a move by India to placate Russia even as it moves close to the Unites States.
New Delhi: BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Wednesday hit out at the Congress for criticising the Election Commission over the Gujarat elections announcement, saying the poll panel was not "supposed to be browbeaten by a disgruntled or losing" party.

The opposition party, he said, was singing the EC's praises when it gave a favourable verdict during recent Rajya Sabha polls as he backed the poll body's decision to not announce the Gujarat poll dates with that of Himachal Pradesh.

"If there is a gap of four to five weeks between elections in the two states, then it is fair that there be a similar gap between imposition of the Model Code of Conduct there," he told a press conference here.

The Congress has alleged that the EC acted under the government's pressure, allowing BJP governments at the Centre and in Gujarat to make many announcements in their bid to influence public opinion in their favour.

The BJP has argued that the Gujarat polls were always held after Himachal polls and, therefore, it was right in announcing their dates later.

"That the model code is in effect for 35 days in a Congress-ruled state (Himachal) and 70 days in a BJP-ruled state just because the Congress feels so, is not binding on the EC," Jaitley said.

"The EC is duty-bound as per the law... It would be wholly against the spirit of democracy if the Model Code of Conduct is extended to 70-80-90 days," he said.

Jaitley recalled that it was during the previous NDA government that it was agreed that the model code would be binding on governments. It was also decided that the code would be in force only for a few weeks at the time of the election, he said.

The government is not allowed to make any major announcement when the code is in force.

Jaitley, who is also the BJP's in-charge for the Gujarat polls, described Patidar leader Hardik Patel and other activists, who have come out against the saffron party, as "Congressmen in disguise".

Referring to reports that Patel had a meeting with Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi at an Ahmedabad hotel recently, he said his party was not interested in whether they met or not.

"It is only scandals that take place in the midst of darkness," he quipped.
By PTI: (Eds: Updating with fresh details)

By Seema Hakhu Kachru

Houston, Oct 25 (PTI) People in the US city of Richardson are mourning and angry over the tragic death of 3-year-old Indian girl Sherin Mathews, with many asking why her foster father did not wake his nurse wife when he knew that the toddler was chocking on milk and struggling to breathe.

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Sherin, who had developmental issues and limited verbal communication skills, was confirmed dead by police in the Texan city of Richardson yesterday after over two weeks of searches. She was missing since October 7.

Wesley Mathews, 37, the Indian-American father of Sherin, told the police yesterday that his daughter choked while drinking milk and he removed her body from the house as he "believed she had died".

He had previously claimed that Sherin went missing after he sent her outside their home at around 3 am on October 7 as punishment for not drinking her milk.

Wesley, who works in an IT company, was re-arrested and charged with first-degree felony injury to a child due to a conflicting statement to police.

The arrest came a day after the body of a small child was found in a culvert near their home in suburban Dallas.

While the cause of her death was still being probed, the community and neighbourhoods all across Texas are shocked, heartbroken, angry and mourning her death.

Wesleys wife Sini Mathews, who is a registered nurse and could have helped her, was reportedly sleeping in her room.

"All these lies, first punishing the girl and putting her under tree, later choking her in a garage at 3 AM for not drinking milk, does not add up. It is heartbreaking and shocking," said a teary-eyed resident Diana.

"It will be another story soon, when police will find the actual cause of the death," she said.

Another neighbour Barabara Diamond Johnson asked why did not Wesley wake his nurse wife as Sherin choked to death, especially when she is a registered nurse at Childrens hospital Dallas.

People who live in the neighbourhood stopped their cars or their daily walks yesterday to see the ditch where Sherins body was found. They pulled phones from their pockets to take photos of the spot.

Since Sunday, heavy hearts joined in song and prayer for the little girl found in the culvert.

"I think everybody is just ready for closure and we just want her to be at peace," said resident Gauthami Vemula.

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The incident has left the shocked community with many unanswered questions.

Over the past two weeks, Sherin brought the whole community together in the suburb, as countless volunteers searched in and around Richardson hoping to find the toddler.

Sunday evening, many gathered for a prayer vigil a few hours after learning of the heartbreaking developments.

"A lot of people are in shock and anger and frustrated. Lets just try our best to breathe and regroup to focus our energy back on this little girl, this princess and find ways to seek her justice as best and as quick as possible," said vigil organiser Omair Siddiqi.

Meanwhile, Richardson police are sharing new details into their ongoing investigation into the disappearance and death of Sherin.

Richardson Police Department sergeant Kevin Perlich told reporters that they had previously searched the area near the culvert where Mathews body was found on Sunday but had come up empty-handed.

After heavy rainfall overnight Saturday, police returned to the area near East Spring Valley and South Bowser roads with cadaver dogs Sunday morning, knowing that rain tends to help intensify smells. An investigator and search team said the little girls clothed body was then found "a ways into the culvert," according to Perlich.

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Yesterday, Richardson police made a plea for Sini to agree to speak with the police. She has reportedly not cooperated with the police since the weekend of October 7.

Her attorney Kent Starr said she is "distraught" over the loss of her daughter and that she is trying to regain custody of her four-year-old biological daughter who was placed in foster care after her sisters disappearance.

Starr told NBC 5 yesterday that he has withdrawn and is no longer Sinis criminal defence attorney.

Wesley remained in the Richardson City Jail yesterday on USD 1-million bond. It is not known when he will be transferred to the Dallas County Jail.

Police are still investigating how long Sherins body had been in the drainage ditch.

Wesley was charged on Monday with injury to a child, which is punishable by up to life in prison.

Sherins body was positively identified yesterday and autopsy results are pending. It is unclear whether authorities believe Wesleys new account of what happened.

Police have unsuccessfully tried to get Sini to voluntarily answer questions, Perlich said.

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Police spoke with her on Monday -- the day after Sherins body was found but before authorities confirmed her identity.

Sini provided police with dental records, which were used to identify Sherin.

The police have said Sherin was small for her age and it wasn not unusual for her to eat in the middle of the night to gain weight. Sherin, who was about three-feet tall weighing just 10 kgs, was malnourished when she was adopted last year and did not have the language skills of a typical 3-year-old.

The couple adopted Sherin from India last year.

According to the Child Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), the nodal body for adoption in India, timely follow-up reports were sent to it from Holt International, the authorised foreign adoption agency in US which was overseeing Sherins case.

A top CARA official said that four reports were submitted to it between September 2016 and June 2017, indicating that the child was "comfortable", "secure" and "adjusting well". PTI SHK JC CPS AKJ AKJ

--- ENDS ---
NEW DELHI: Gujarat Assembly elections will be on December 9 and 14 while the counting will be held on December 18, said the Election Commission or EC on Wednesday. The model code of conduct comes into effect with this announcement.

1 pm onwards: The Election Commission Live press conference:

*Gujarat elections will be held in two phases on December 9 and December 14. Counting of votes on December 18

Schedule of first phase elections (89 constituencies and 19 districts)

Issue of gazzete: November 14

Last day of filing nomination: November 21

Scrutiny of application: November 22

First phase polling/ election date: December 9

---

Schedule of second phase elections (92 constituencies and 14 districts)



Last day of filing nomination: November 27

Second phase polling/ election date: December 14

--

Counting on December 18

*Elections in Gujarat has always been peaceful in past, says CEC

*182 polling booths to have only women staff

*All 50,128 polling booths to have VVPATs

*IT-based vehicle management system to be installed

*A common IT platform and a mobile app will be available to the common man to raise any complaints or queries.

*Mobile vans being deployed to ensure free and fair elections

*Revised instructions have been issued on paid media

*Commission has asked the CEO of Gujarat maintain positive line of contact with media.

*Ceiling of expenditure is Rs 28 lakhs per candidate. The expenditure details need to be submitted in 75 dates

*CCTVs to be installed in polling booths

*Differently-abled voters will be given preference at polling stations: CEC

*Additional CCTVs will be installed at border check posts.

*One polling polling station selected where VVPAT slips will be counted

*VVPATs and EVMs will exists in every polling station

*Before polling, all voters will be given photo slips voting (Slips bearing photo of voters)

*Overal 50,128 polling booths will be set up. An increase in 12.44 % increase in polling booths in Gujarat

12:58 pm: The Election Commission will soon address a press conference to announce election schedule of Gujarat.

12:42 pm: Ahead of EC announcing the poll dates, former Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela took a dig at leading political parties and their funding. We won't take any funds from Ambani and Adani, said the septuagenarian on Wednesday while briefing the media about his new political outfit Jan Vikalp Morcha (JVM).

10:50 am: Earlier, on October 12, while announcing the dates for Himachal Pradesh poll, the ECI had stated that Gujarat elections will be held before December 18. It further hinted that counting of both states (Gujarat and Himachal) are likely be conducted simultaneously.

The model code of conduct will come into immediate effect after the ECI announces the poll dates.

According to sources, Gujarat elections are likely to be held in two phases. In 2012, the elections were held in two phases on December 13 and 17.

The Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP has won the last five assembly elections in Gujarat. The party is predicted to comfortably win the upcoming assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.

In 2012, the party won 115 seats. Term of the current 182-member assembly will end on January 22, 2018.

Last week, PM Modi visited the state, announcing a slew of initiatives and measures.

Himachal Pradesh polls will be held on November 9, counting on December 18.

For the first time, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls will witness the use of Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) with all Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
NOIDA: An 11-year-old Nigerian child was sodomised inside the premises of private school in Greater Noida in Sector Pi. A bookseller, who works in the school, has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting the child, said police.

The incident comes close on the heels of Pradyuman murder case and sexual assault of five-year-old girl inside private school washroom, another incident of child sexual abuse has come to the fore.

A six-member internal committee has been formed to probe alleged sexual assault of the student.

"The child was being assaulted since last three to four years but never told his parents. They came to us when they got to know. We're investigating," said SP Rural Greater Noida Sujata Singh.

The boy, son of a Nigerian expat, was studying in Class 6.

A police official said that a complaint was made in the case after which the accused man was booked under Indian Penal Code Section 377 for unnatural offence, said the station house officer of Surajpur police station.

Over the past few months, repeated assaults on children inside school premises has raised several security concerns.

On September 8, Pradyuman Thakur, class 2 student of Ryan International School in Gurugram, was murdered inside the school premises, his throat slit in the washroom. School bus conductor Ashok Kumar was arrested in connection with the crime.

Holding the school responsible for the death, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) issued new security-related guidelines to be implemented by schools which included compulsory safety audits, installation of CCTV cameras, police verification, psychometric evaluation etc. Any failure to comply with guideline will lead to derecognition of school.

With agency inputs
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday greeted people on the occasion of `Chhath Puja`, a festival celebrated in parts of the country on the sixth day after Diwali.

"Greetings to everyone on Chhath Puja," the Prime Minister tweeted.

        Greetings to everyone on Chhath Puja.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 25, 2017

Sonia Gandhi, in a statement, extended her wishes on the occasion and "hoped that it would once again bring happiness and prosperity to the lives of the people of the nation".

The Puja is dedicated to the Sun God and his wife Usha to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth and to request granting of wishes.

Rituals of the festival are rigorous and are observed over a period of four days.

They include holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (barta), standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prashad (prayer offerings) and arghya to the setting and rising sun.

Some devotees also perform a prostration march as they head for the river banks.

It is one of the most popular festivals in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
New Delhi: In a major diplomatic win for India, the visiting US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, on Wednesday said that his country won't tolerate terror safe havens anywhere in the world.

In a strong message to India's hostile neighbour Pakistan, the top-ranking US official said, ''India and USA stand shoulder to shoulder against terror.''

Hailing the bilateral ties between the two nations, Tillerson said that both India and the US are ''natural allies'' and have common concerns.

Rex Tillerson further stated that India is crucial to USA-Afghanistan strategy and backed New Delhi as 'a leader in the Indian sub-continent'.

Endorsing India's concerns regarding the cross-border terrorism, the US Secretary of State said, ''Too many terror groups find safe haven in Pakistan which is now threatening the stability of the democratically-elected government there.''

Shedding light about his recent visit to Pakistan, Tillerson said that he had a very open and frank exchange with Pakistan leaders in Islamabad on Tuesday.

We conveyed to Pakistan the expectations we have with them, Tillerson said, in a joint press conference with EAM Sushma Swaraj.

He stated that the US wants to work with Pakistan in a positive way as this will be in their interest in longer term.

Speaking on her turn, EAM Sushma Swaraj said, ''President Donald Trump's policy on terrorism can only succeed when Pakistan takes action on terror groups.''

Swaraj, while informing that the India-USA-Afghanistan trilateral meeting will be held in December, also highlighted the contribution made by the Indians working in the USA.

The EAM also expressed India's concerns over the new H1B visa rules put in place by the Trump administration.

Rex Tillerson had arrived here on Tuesday from Pakistan. During his stay here, Rex Tillersaon is due to meet the top leadership of the country and discuss ways to further strengthen the Indo-US strategic partnership in key areas.

Tillerson is the second high-ranking official of the Donald Trump Administration to visit India in the last two months.

Ahead of Tillerson's three-day visit, the External Affairs Ministry had said that there will be detailed discussions on further strengthening of Indo-US partnership.

The US Secretary of State, who paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan, had said the Trump administration was of the view that India can play a positive role in creating a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

He also asserted that America's relationship with India is of strategic importance which is not limited to South Asia. In a major India-policy speech, Tillerson said last week that the US is India's "reliable partner" at the world stage in this period of uncertainty and angst.

He also referred to the rise of China, saying its behaviour and action were "posing a challenge to the rules- based international order".

"China's provocative actions in the South China Sea directly challenge the international law and norms that the US and India both stand for," he had said.

Tillerson's visit also comes at a time when the Trump Administration is "considering" India's request for armed drones for its air force.

Earlier this year, the IAF had requested the US government for General Atomics Predator C Avenger aircraft. It is understood that the IAF would need 80 to 100 units making it approximately a whopping USD 8 billion deal.

With PTI inputs
New Delhi: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who arrived here late on Tuesday from Pakistan, will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss further strengthening of Indo-US strategic partnership in key areas.

The two leaders will also explore opportunities for collaboration on security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Tillerson, who is the second high-ranking official of the Donald Trump Administration to visit India in the last two months, will also hold talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Importantly, US Defence Secretary James Mattis had visited India last month.

Ahead of Tillerson's three-day visit, the External Affairs Ministry had said that there will be detailed discussions on further strengthening of Indo-US partnership.

Strengthening cooperation in strategic areas of defence, counter terrorism, security, energy and trade are expected to figure during the meeting between Swaraj and Tillerson.

The US Secretary of State, who paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan, said the Trump administration was of the view that India can play a positive role in creating a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

He also asserted that America's relationship with India is of strategic importance which is not limited to South Asia. In a major India-policy speech, Tillerson said last week that the US is India's "reliable partner" at the world stage in this period of uncertainty and angst.

He also referred to the rise of China, saying its behaviour and action were "posing a challenge to the rules- based international order".

"China's provocative actions in the South China Sea directly challenge the international law and norms that the US and India both stand for," he had said.

The two sides will discuss key bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Tillerson's visit also comes at a time when the Trump Administration is "considering" India's request for armed drones for its air force.

Earlier this year, the IAF had requested the US government for General Atomics Predator C Avenger aircraft. It is understood that the IAF would need 80 to 100 units making it approximately a whopping USD 8 billion deal.

With PTI inputs
New Delhi: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday started talks with Indian leaders and is expected to highlight the strong alliance between the two nations, with both anxious to counter China`s growing influence.

Tillerson arrived from Pakistan where he was given a low-key reception after US complaints about Islamabad backing Taliban militants on its soil.

In New Delhi, Tillerson is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj. He started the day by meeting national security adviser Ajit Doval.

Tillerson also laid a wreath at a memorial to India`s independence movement leader Mahatma Gandhi, removing his shoes to approach a pillar marking the spot where Gandhi was shot dead on January 30, 1948.

Support for efforts to bolster the Afghan government, China's influence and other Asian security issues were expected to dominate talks in New Delhi, officials said.

Last week Tillerson called for deeper cooperation with India in the face of growing Chinese influence in Asia and said Washington wanted to promote a "free and open" region led by prosperous democracies.

He also said Beijing sometimes flouted international conventions, citing the South China Sea dispute as an example.

India welcomed the comments, saying they "highlighted our shared commitment to a rule-based international order".

In Pakistan Tillerson met Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, military chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and other top officials.

"Tillerson reiterated President Trump`s message that Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country," a statement from the US embassy said Tuesday.

But he also expressed his appreciation to Pakistan for the sacrifices it has made in fighting militancy and for its help in securing the release of a US-Canadian family held captive by the Taliban for five years.
Manigam: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday asked police personnel to ensure the surrender of more militants and desist from retaliatory action against their families.

As a bait, the chief minister also announced doubling the reward money for those who get militants to surrender.

Addressing a gathering at the Police Training School here, Mehbooba made it clear that militancy would not end by killing "four, eight, 50 or 100" militants but by taking people along and winning their hearts.

"When you get an opportunity where a local militant is ready, before or during an encounter, to surrender... I will give you double the reward for bringing him back alive.

"We have to try because killing a militant is easy but killing militancy is difficult,? she said in her address at the passing out parade of 696 constables at the school in Manigam, on the outskirts of Srinagar.

Mehbooba also asked the police to be different from militants and refrain from tit-for-tat action.

The chief minister was referring to media reports claiming that security forces had entered the homes of some militants and threatened their family members.

She also referred to the incidents of October 17-18, when militants killed a PDP worker and burnt his house the next day.

"Our worker was killed and then his house was set on fire. But I want to stress that there should be a difference between our actions and those of the militants.

"Militants kill our people, police personnel and then they ransack their houses or set them on fire, but our forces ?- whether security forces or police? should not do such things."

We are the guardians of the law, she said.

"... So I should not get any complaint that when a militant was not caught, or he fled or ransacked some house, we did the same."

The police force, the chief minister stressed, was the protector of people unlike militants.

"They may wear uniforms like you and have guns like you, but you are the protector of the lives of people and their properties... And they do the opposite so there is a huge difference between them and you."

Mehbooba also asked police personnel to play a constructive role in creating a peaceful atmosphere in the state.

"Before enforcing law among the people, you will first have to enforce the law among yourselves. You will have to follow the law and not compete with militants by doing what they do," she said.

The chief minister also lauded security forces for doing a commendable job in maintaining law and order.

She referred to the number of army, paramilitary and police personnel who had lost their lives while fighting militants and said, "I am happy that the police did not lose its patience."

Referring to incidents of braids being chopped in the state, Mehbooba said FIRs had been registered in all the cases and directed the police to act strictly against those trying to vitiate the atmosphere in the state.

"Braid chopping started from Rajasthan, then in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab and there were thousands of cases... But when it happened in the state at places like Jammu, Doda, Kishtwar,

Rajouri, Poonch and then in Kashmir, we registered FIRs in every case."

Mehbooba also expressed regret that mobs in many parts of the Valley were taking law into their own hands and beating people.

"There are other incidents as well where the police want to investigate but people do not cooperate. People flee when asked for a blood sample to check the contents of the spray used by braid choppers as claimed by the people.

"Those elements who spread rumours in braid chopping cases... Are looking for an opportunity to vitiate the atmosphere. You will have to identify such elements and act very strictly against them and also understand why such incidents are happening and who is behind them," she said.
DELHI: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said that an intelligence system has been formed over the last three years, which has dried the funding sourcesof Hurriyat leaders and exposed the matrix of their terror funding.

"In last three years an intelligence network has been formed following which, for the first time, the Hurriyat was exposed before the Kashmiri people. Their funding sources were exposed. Their funding sources dried up which led to decrease in the incidents of stone pelting and protest," he said in an exclusive to ANI.

He further said that the police and security agencies are more vigilant in Jammu and Kashmir, causing the terrorists to rush off their feet.

In July, at least seven separatist leaders, six from Srinagar and one from New Delhi, were arrested by the NIA.

The NIA visited Srinagar in May to probe the funding by Pakistan for illegal activities in Kashmir, and questioned several separatist leaders on the issue of raising, collecting and transferring funds via the Hawala route and other channels to carry out and abate violence in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the government on October 23 said it would start talks on J&K with all parties, including separatists, and appointed former intelligence chief Dineshwar Sharma as its pointsman for the state.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said that the move was to carry forward the "the conviction and consistency" in the government`s Kashmir policy.

"We have decided that a sustained dialogue process should begin in Jammu and Kashmir. As a representative of the government of India Sharma will initiate a sustained interaction and dialogue to understand legitimate aspirations of people in J&K. He will meet elected representatives, political parties, different organisations and individuals he wants to," he had said, as per IANS.

The measure is significant because the BJP government at the Centre had constantly maintained a tough line on opening peace talks with separatists in Kashmir, particularly after the 2016 unrest that left over 100 civilians dead.

The move comes at a time when some separatist leaders, including close aides of Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq - are jailed on charges of receiving cash from Pakistan for subversive activities in the valley.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: Globally-wanted militant Syed Salahuddin's son Syed Shahid Yousuf, who was arrested in a 2011 terror funding case, on Wednesday admitted his link with Pakistan-based militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen.

"During the questioning, Yousuf admitted having received funds from cadres of Hizbul Mujahideen on the direction of his father Syed Salahuddin," an NIA official was quoted as saying.

"This was done to foment terrorist activities in the valley. He revealed names of his associates abroad associated with the Hizbul and involved in raising, collecting and transferring funds from abroad to India. The same is being further verified & investigated," the official added.

Earlier in the day, a Delhi court sent him to a seven-day custody of National Investigation Agency in the terror funding case.

Yousuf, who was arrested on Tuesday, was produced before district and sessions judge Poonam A Bamba, who granted the NIA his custody till November 1.

"Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case and submissions made in the application, to enable the NIA to unearth the criminal conspiracy and link of the accused with Hizbul Mujahideen, Syed Shahid Yousuf is remanded to police custody till November 1," the judge said.

The NIA in its plea seeking custodial interrogation of Yousuf, said it needed to unravel the entire criminal conspiracy and establish his link with prescribed militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen.

The agency told the court that Shahid was collecting funds from Aijaz Bhat, a Srinagar resident now based in Saudi Arabia and a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, on the direction of his father Salahuddin, who is on the run.

Shahid over the years has been receiving and collecting funds through international wire money transfer from Bhat, an NIA statement said.

The NIA said Shahid was one of Bhat's several contacts who were in telephonic touch "to receive the money transfer codes". The money was meant to fund Hizbul Mujahideen`s militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

(With Agency inputs)
Bengaluru: President Ram nath Kovind will on Wednesday attend the 60th year celebration of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

According to ANI, the President is likely to address the special joint sitting of the state assembly in Bengaluru to mark the 60-year anniversary of the Vidhana Soudha.

Ahead of the celebrations, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly has been completely decked up for the event.

Karnataka Legislative Assembly lit up ahead of its 60th year celebration programme. President will take part in the celebrations tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/3uwScjKsCz  ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2017

Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad and Legislative Council Chairman DH Shankaramurthy had me0t President Kovind on Monday to fix a date for the special session.

On Tuesday, Koliwad announced that the session will be held on October 25.

We met the President of India and requested him to grace the diamond jubilee celebration and address a special joint session of the state legislature. He has consented for the session to take place on October 25 at 11 am, Koliwad had old the media.

He said that the joint session of the Assembly will discuss topics including the formation of the Mysore state, integration of Karnataka state and issues related to Karnatakas history and the Kannada language.

On the occasion, families of the first three chief ministers of the state  KC Reddy, Kengal Hanumanthaiah and Kadidal Manjappa  will be honoured.

The celebration will conclude with a show on '3D mapping of the Vidhana Soudha', the state government said.

Sixty years ago, Karnatakas second Chief Minister  Kengal Hanumathaiah, conceptualised the Vidhana Soudha.

Hanumantaiah, in the 1950s, had told a Bengaluru newspaper the reason why he wanted to construct an imposing structure.

Do you know how I conceived the idea of this building? A Russian cultural delegation was visiting Bangalore and I took them around to show the city. Every now and then they queried, Have you no architecture of your own? They are all European buildings.

The structure was designed by BR Manickam in 1950. According to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly website, the project began on July 13 after Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone.

However, the actual construction began in 1952 and was completed in 1956. It took nearly 5,000 convicts and 1,500 skilled masons and carpenters to construct the massive legislative seat comprising 172 rooms. The entire cost of construction was Rs 1.75 crore.

Two documentaries on the construction of the Vidhana Soudha and emergence of legislature in Karnataka, directed by renowned filmmakers Girish Kasaravalli and TN Seetharam will be screened. Programmes depicting the art and culture of the state will be organised in the evening on the grand steps of the building, the state government said.

With PTI inputs
A childless woman kidnapped a baby from a government hospital in Hyderabad in desperation to be a mother.

By Ashish Pandey: The kidnapping of a newborn ended tragically after police arrested the kidnapper and found the baby dead in Hyderabad.

The kidnapper, a childless woman, had stole the three-day-old baby boy from Niloufer Government Hospital on Sunday. The baby was severely sick and died because of lack of medical attention while in custody of the kidnapper.

After almost 48 hour of chase, the lady kidnapper who committed the offence in desperation to have a child was tracked from Nagarkurnool, some 120 km away from Hyderabad based on CCTV footage.

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The woman kidnapper was identified as Manjula who was posing as a nurse had tricked the grandmother of the kid and fled with the baby boy. The baby boy was not in good health right from birth and was brought to the hospital for a better treatment.

Manjula, a resident of Katedan locality of the city was married three years ago but had no children and in desperation of becoming a mother she committed the crime.

"She wanted to nurture the child as a mother and kidnapped the boy but, unfortunately the newborn died on the same day while she was feeding her.'' said DCP Central Zone Joel Davis.

Investigation has revealed that accused Manjula hid the crime from her husband and family and buried the baby boy in her village in Nagarkurnool after death.

Police after arresting Manjula produced her in court on Wednesday.

--- ENDS ---
Bangalore: Amid controversy over whether Tipu Sultan was a freedom fighter or a tyrant, President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday said that he died a historic death fighting the British.

"Tipu Sultan died historic death fighting British. He was also pioneer in use of Mysore rockets in warfare," Kovind said while addressing the joint session of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council on 60th anniversary of Vidhan Soudha.

A row erupted after the Karnataka government planned to celebrate the birth anniversary of erstwhile Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan on November 10. Rejecting the invitation for 'Tipu Sultan Jayanti', several Bharatiya Janata Party leaders had called it a 'shameful' event.

BJP MLA Ashwath Narayan had even said that it is a party stand to not attend the event. "Tipu as a ruler, he has killed thousands of people and done forcible conversion. It is a party stand. Government is trying to instigate and bring communal tension," he said.

However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that it is not a political issue and Tipu had fought four wars against British.

The BJP has accused the state government of using the Tipu Jayanti celebrations to gain political mileage before the Assembly elections that are due in May 2018. Tipu Sultan has become a polarising figure in the Karantaka.

While the BJP has maintained the stand that the 'anti-Hindu and anti-Kannada' ruler was responsible for killing of Hindus and Christians, the Congress has stayed firm that he was the was a freedom fighter who was fought against the Britishers.
New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's remarks about 'better' roads in his state than in the United States has not gone down well with the net users.

Chouhan, who is currently on a six-day visit to the US, had said that he was not much impressed by the state of roads in Washington DC.

The MP Chief Minister had said this while addressing the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum there.

"When I got down at the Washington Airport and travelled on roads, I felt the roads in Madhya Pradesh are better than the United States," Chouhan was quoted as saying by ANI.

However, his remarks backfired on Twitter where users of the popular networking website trolled him for saying so.

Here are some of those hilarious reactions to MP CM's remark.

This one in Bhopal is Worlds best highway declared by UNESCO #MPRoads pic.twitter.com/md9Hda69kW  Indian National Con (@desimojito) October 24, 2017

While everyone is cribbing, @ChouhanShivraj is doing It. Losers will say this is not MP. #MPRoads pic.twitter.com/uDQXsANzJq October 24, 2017

unesco has declared this flyover in palasia, indore as the best flyover in the world. proud of #MPRoads pic.twitter.com/KPklu1bEWU  (@floydimus) October 24, 2017

"Because in Madhya Pradesh when you travel on the road you feel you're traveling by a Helicopter" ~ Shavraj Singh Chauhan. (2017) pic.twitter.com/NGdnAVwqbL  History of India (@RealHistoryPic) October 24, 2017
Mumbai: Indian banking shares soared on Wednesday sending indexes to record highs after the cabinet approved a Rs 2.11 lakh crore plan for strengthening NPA-hit public sector banks.

Shares of Punjab National Bank were trading with a sharp gain of 31.90 percent, Bank of Baroda zoomed 24.17 percent, Bank of India advanced by 23.75 percent and State Bank of India surged 19.02 percent on BSE.

Nifty PSU Bank Index:

The Nifty PSU Bank sectoral index was up nearly 30 percent. The top five public sector banks for today are:

S&P BSE BANKEX

Among all the BSE sectoral indices, banking sector registered the maximum percentage turnover of nearly 32 percent. Three in the top 5 are public sector bank stocks.
New Delhi: On October 23, the Supreme court had refused to modify its order in connection with playing of National Anthem in movie theaters, a move which attracted a myriad of controversies and opinions.

The next hearing of the case has been scheduled for January 9 and till then celebrities continue to voice out their opinion on the issue.

Actor Arvind Swami, best known for his roles in Mani Rathnam's Roja and Bombay, took to Twitter and shared his views on the same.

Here are his Twitter posts:

I will always stand up for our Natl Anthem & sing along,which I do with great pride.Never understood why it ws mandatory n cinema halls only  arvind swami (@thearvindswami) October 24, 2017

Why not everyday in all govt offices, courts, before assembly and parliament sessions?  arvind swami (@thearvindswami) October 24, 2017

Interestingly, his views are in stark contrast to those of Kamal Hassan's.

On November 30, 2016, the court had made it mandatory for movie halls to play the National Anthem before the screening of movies.

It had later clarified that movie watchers would not be obliged to stand for the anthem if it is part of the film that is being screened.

There have since been numerous incidents where people have been slammed at movie halls for not standing during the Anthem.

(With ANI Inputs)
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on October 23 refused to modify its earlier order in connection with playing of National Anthem in movie theatres.

The next hearing of the case has been scheduled for January 9.

This move of the Supreme Court attracted controversies as well as both negative and positive arguments. The latest actor to join the heated debate is actor Kamal Haasan who has backed the decision of the Supreme Court.

Haasan took to Twitter to voice out his opinion.

Here are his Twitter posts:

Singapore plays it's national anthem every midnight.Likewise do so on DD. Do not force or test my patriotism at various random places.  Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) October 24, 2017

The reason Singapore crops up in arguments is because it is a benovelent dictatorship according to some critics. Do we we want that. No pls October 24, 2017

The court, on November 30, 2016, had made it mandatory for movie halls to play the National Anthem before the screening of movies.

It had later clarified that movie watchers would not be obliged to stand for the anthem if it is part of the film that is being screened.

There have since been numerous incidents where people have been slammed at movie halls for not standing during the Anthem.

(With ANI Inputs)
New Delhi: When retired astronaut Scott Kelly returned to Earth in March 2016, NASA carried out its Twin Study on him and his twin brother Mark Kelly.

The researchers began combining the data and reviewing the enormous amount of information looking for correlations.

The study's preliminary results have revealed that space travel causes an increase in the process of turning genes on and off, leading to massive changes in their expression.

"Some of the most exciting things that we've seen from looking at gene expression in space is that we really see an explosion, like fireworks taking off, as soon as the human body gets into space," principal investigator Chris Mason of Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York.

"With this study, we've seen thousands and thousands of genes change how they are turned on and turned off. This happens as soon as an astronaut gets into space, and some of the activity persists temporarily upon return to Earth," Mason said in a statement released by NASA.

"This study represents one of the most comprehensive views of human biology," Mason said.

"It really sets the bedrock for understanding molecular risks for space travel as well as ways to potentially protect and fix those genetic changes," Mason added.

Final results for the study are expected to be published in 2018, NASA said.

(With IANS inputs)
New Delhi: Amidst cases of smartphones catching fire on-board flight, international aviation agencies are also contemplating banning big PEDs like laptops from check-in bags.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has come up with a proposal regarding this and the United Nations will be studying the proposal in coming months, a report in the Extremetech said.

The FAA filed a paper with the UN agency on tests showing that when a laptops rechargeable lithium-ion battery overheats in close proximity to an aerosol spray can, it can cause an explosion capable of disabling an airliners fire suppression system, the report said.

The fire could then rage unchecked, leading to the loss of the aircraft, the paper said.

Media reports have added that India may also follow suit once a decision is taken by any leading aviation agency.

European regulators too in the past had warned that hundreds of devices in the hold on long-haul flights could potentially compromise safety by increasing the risk of fire from poorly deactivated lithium-ion batteries.

Last year, top airlines had globally banned the use of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones during flights following reports of battery explosion.

Airlines have previously banned hoverboards from planes due to battery-fire risks.

Earlier this year, the US had imposed a ban on laptops in the cabins of planes coming into the country from 10 Middle Eastern airports for security reasons. The ban was later fully lifted in July after officials said airports in the region had taken other steps to increase security.
Mumbai: Due to illness, Kapil Sharma had to call off shoot of The Kapil Sharma Show a few times about three-four months ago. Stars had to return without shooting for their film promotion episodes and illness was taking a toll on Kapils health. Hence the makers of the show decided to pull it off air so that the star comedian could take a break from his hectic schedule and resurrect his health.

Soon after news of Kapil calling off shoot made headlines, there were reports suggesting that stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Anil Kapoor were miffed with him.

Refuting rumours about Salman, Shah Rukh and Kapoor being angry with him as he cancelled the shows which were supposed to feature them, Kapil said, People wrote stories like, I've sent Shah Rukh Khan away from my sets. The thing is I reached the set at 2 p.m. and SRK was supposed to come at 7 p.m.

"He was shooting nearby and somewhere at 8 p.m., I suddenly felt that I cannot shoot, I won't be able to go on set, I cancelled the shoot and then I cancelled the second shoot, third and fourth. Some people understood my problem, but some spread rumours," Kapil told media.

Explaining the Anil Kapoor episode, Kapil said, "When Anil Kapoor sir came to the sets, he saw that I cannot host the show and he was okay with it. He assured me that he will come next time.

"Shah Rukh Khan came to meet me, he advised me 'Take rest and set your mind', and I took his advice and took a break. I even talked to Anil Kapoor as I was feeling guilty about cancelling the shoot," said Kapil, explaining his side of the story.

To recover and bounce back to good health, Kapil flew to Bengaluru to undergo treatment at an Ayurvedic clinic. He returned to Mumbai after treatment to complete his second film Firangi which is slated to release on November 20.

(With IANS inputs)
New Delhi: While most of us know a lot about the BJP's firebrand leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, not much is known about the saint-politician's family members.

It has now emerged that Shailendra Mohan, the younger brother of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, is a 'subedar' with the Indian Army and currently deployed on the Line of Actual Control with China.

According to media reports, Shailendra Mohan is posted near the Mana border with China in the Garhwal Scouts unit.

Garhwal Scouts unit employs only locals as soldiers to guard the mountainous borders. Mana border near the LAC is of strategic importance to India in the wake of growing threats of incursion by the Chinese troops.

Shailendra Mohan is extremely proud of his association with the Indian Army and determined to do anything to protect his motherland.

Mohan, however, regrets that he hardly gets time to meet the saint-politician. Recalling his last meeting with Yogi Adityanath, Mohan said that he had met him in Delhi after he took over as the chief minister of UP.

Talking about his elder brother, Mohan said that Yogi Adityanath, who also heads the Gorakhnath Peeth, had once asked him to serve the motherland to the best of his ability.

Comparing himself with Yogi Adityanath, who is also known as 'Maharaj Ji' in their family, subedar Mohan said that the two brothers are carrying out similar duties for the nation.

He said that while Yogi Adityanath was serving the nation as the UP chief minister, he was performing his duties as an armyman.

Yogi Adityanath has three brothers - Manvendra Mohan, who is elder to him and Shailendra and Mahendra Mohan being the younger ones.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court today granted bail to former Noida Authority chief engineer Yadav Singh who has been chargesheeted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case.

A bench headed by Justice SA Bobde granted the relief to Singh after his counsel said that the accused was entitled to statutory bail since the charge sheet was not filed by ED within the stipulated period from the date of his arrest.

The counsel, appearing for the ED, opposed the bail plea and argued that the charge sheet was filed within the stipulated period.

Though bail has been granted to Singh in the ED case, he will remain in jail as there were several other corruption cases against him.

Singh has approached the apex court challenging the order passed by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court denying him bail in the matter.

In his plea before the Allahabad High Court, he had contended that he was technically entitled to bail since the chargesheet was not submitted by the probe agency within the statutory period.

The high court had dismissed his petition, considering the ED's submission that the chargesheet was filed on time.

In 2015, the ED had slapped money laundering charges against Singh, who was engineer-in-chief of the Noida Authority, Greater Noida Authority and Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority, on the basis of an FIR lodged by the CBI.

Earlier, the Income Tax department had said the raid in November 2014 had revealed that Singh's assets were hugely disproportionate to his income, following which he was suspended by the then Uttar Pradesh government.

In July 2015, the Allahabad High Court had directed the CBI to investigate the case stating that the allegations were most serious.


The 41-year-old woman has attempted suicide by swallowing over 100 sleeping pills after allegedly being harassed by a TDP leader who was also a member of her society's RWA.

By Ashish Pandey: A 41-year-old woman attempted suicide by consuming over 100 sleeping pills after allegedly being harassed by a Telugu Desam Party Leader in Hyderabad.

The victims who is undergoing treatment in a hospital posted a video in her family WhatsApp group before consuming sleeping pills. She was rescued by one of her relatives who immediately rushed to her home and took her to the hospital.

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According to police, the woman identified as, Jahanaan Tabassum, a resident of Rajendera Nagar police station jurisdiction of Cyberabad consumed several sleeping pills, shot a selfie video and posted it in the family WhatsApp group at her residence in HAR Apartments in Upparpally.

Few day ago, Tabassum had approached the police alleging that TDP Leader, Syed Saleem (65), who is a resident in the same society and is also a secretary of the society where she lives had posted abusive comments against her on Facebook.

The post came after Tabassum questioned the society management about the hike in maintenance and other fees.

In her selfie video Tabassum said, "people will think 12 times before harassing a woman hereafter".

The victim was in shock as her young daughter was about to get married and filthy social media post had disturbed their life.

"She came to police station on 21 October and complained about the increase in the maintenance fees of apartment. She also comlained against one of the members of the society association, Mr. Saleem, who had abused and threatened to kill her. We filed a case. Meanwhile, the accused commented on her Facebook post and she could bear it any further and attempted suicide," said V Unender, Inspector Rajendra Nagar police station.

The family has alleged a shoddy behaviour on part of the police in this case as the accused is a politician.

--- ENDS ---
Manila: US Defence Secretary James Mattis on Wednesday praised the Philippine military for upholding human rights in a five-month battle against pro-Islamic State group militants in a southern city.

Philippine defence chiefs on Monday declared the end of the nation`s longest urban war in Marawi, where troops have been battling to flush out militants who attacked the city in what authorities said was a bid to establish a Southeast Asian caliphate.

Mattis, who was in the Philippines to attend a regional security meeting, heaped praise on the military of America`s longtime ally and mutual defence partner.

"I think the most important thing is here`s an army that had to go in a fight like that, and they had not one human rights allegation against them with any credibility, not one," Mattis told reporters.

"That`s really a statement about the Philippine military that they could set a human rights condition in the midst of that awful fight in the way they did," he said on the sidelines of meetings in Clark, a northern Philippine city.

Hundreds of local and foreign gunmen who had pledged allegiance to IS rampaged through Marawi, the principal Islamic city in the mainly Catholic Philippines, on May 23.

An ensuing US-backed military campaign claimed the lives of more than 1,100 people, displaced 400,000 residents and left large parts of the city in ruins.

President Rodrigo Duterte imposed martial law across the southern third of the Philippines immediately after the fighting erupted, saying it was needed to contain IS`s influence spreading throughout the region.

Mattis` comments came a day after he met with Duterte in what the Pentagon chief said was a "very warm" meeting.

"We talked about the way ahead and we`re on the same team," Mattis said.

Despite Mattis` remarks, the Philippine Commission on Human Rights told AFP it was investigating allegations of abuse in Marawi after receiving complaints from local lawyers and a rights group.

Rights group Karapatan said it had documented cases of alleged civilian deaths due to the military`s aerial bombings as well as illegal arrests and torture.

"That is a very sweeping statement by a US official," Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay told AFP in response to Mattis` comments.

Mattis on Monday hailed Philippine troops for "liberating" Marawi.

He is on an Asian trip that will also bring him to Thailand and South Korea.
PARIS: A French couple's decision to name their infant son Jihad has triggered a controversial row.

The Muslim couple, based out of Toulouse in South of France, tried to register their August-born baby's name at the town hall, said local reports.

However, officials immediately reported it to the local authorities. A public prosecutor is now challenging the parent's decision in the family court over the Arabic name's link to terrorism.

The parents claim that Jihad does not mean Holy war but signified effort, struggle and self-denial.

If the family court judge rules in favour of the local authorities, banning parents from calling their child Jihad, the couple will have to choose a new name.

France has suffered a series of Islamic terrorist attacks by extremist outfits in recent years.

In 2013, Bouchra Bagour named her son Jihad. The child went to school wearing a jumper with words 'I am a bomb' on the front and 'Born on September 11' at the back.

She was later given a suspended jail sentence.
New Delhi: Despite growing evidence of Pakistan harbouring terrorism on its soil, the country's top officials told visiting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that there are no terroist safe havens here. Assuring the US of being committed in the war on terror, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that no attack is planned or executed from Pakistan.

Tillerson, who received a frosty welcome in Islamabad on Tuesday evening, underlined US President Donald Trump's message that Pakistan should do more to tackle terrorism emanating from its soil. According to a statement released by the US Embassy, Tillerson said the country has to increase efforts to "eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country." In response, Pakistan PM said, "The US can rest assured that we are strategic partners in the war against terror and that today Pakistan is fighting the largest war in the world against terror."

Today, Sec. Tillerson and Prime Minister Abbasi discussed our bilateral cooperation and partnership & Pakistans critical role in the region pic.twitter.com/I8KSLw6eoD  Department of State (@StateDept) October 24, 2017

In an interview with Geo TV, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif further elaborated that the civil and military leadership presented a detailed narrative about its stance on the countrys war against terrorism. "Terrorist attacks are not planned on or executed from Pakistani soil, there are no terrorist safe havens in Pakistan, and we made this clear to the US delegation today, he said.

The Trump administration has sent several strong messages in recent weeks asking Pakistan to step up its game against terror outfits operating from its soil. The question of neutralising the Haqqani Network was especially highlighted once again by Tillerson who will next arrive in India for talks on Wednesday.
The crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, has said that he is open to all religions, vowing to return the oil-rich nation to moderate Islam.

According to The Guardian, the crown prince has sought global support to transform the kingdom of Saudi Arabia into an open society, where investors from all corners can put in their money.

Speaking to the UK-based publication, the heir to the Saudi throne conceded that rigid religious policies, in retaliation to the Iranian revolution, have not been favourable to the society. He was quoted as saying that whatever happened in the last 30 years in the country was not Saudi Arabia, and now is the time to get rid of it.

This came after the Saudi crown prince told an investors meet that the country was returning to moderate Islam, which used to be the fundamental of the society in the past.

During the event, he announced an ambitious $500 billion independent economic zone, which would also offer a lifestyle non existent in todays Saudi Arabia. The new zone will come up in the form of a city named Neom.

Mohammed bin Salman has in the past been credited with ending the ban on women drivers in the country.

The assertions made by the crown prince is part of a Vision 2030 blueprint, introduced by him in 2016.
Kabul: The Taliban targeted two military posts in western Afghanistan, killing 11 soldiers and setting off gunbattles with the military, Afghan officials said on Wednesday.

In one attack, in western Farah province, the insurgents stormed a security post, killing nine troops and wounding four.

The attack took place last night in Pusht Road district, said the governor's spokesman, Mohammad Naser Mehri.

An intense, four-hour gunbattle followed the attack and included the use of artillery against the army, Mehri said. Afghan warplanes were deployed and 17 Taliban fighters were killed, he added.

The second took place in neighboring Herat province, also on Tuesday night, and targeted an army post in Kushki Kuhna district, killing two soldiers and wounding five, according to Najibullah Najibi, the military's spokesman in Herat.

The attack lasted several hours with the army succeeding in pushing back the Taliban, Najibi said. He added that the Taliban suffered "heavy casualties" but did not provide a figure.

There was no immediate comment from the Taliban on the attacks in Farah and Herat but insurgents have stepped attacks all across Afghanistan, with the last two weeks being particularly deadly for Afghan forces.

Last Thursday, a Taliban attack on a military compound left 43 soldiers dead in southern Kandahar province, a Taliban heartland.

Meanwhile, Afghan officials also reported intense clashes on Monday and Tuesday in northern Jawzjan province between Taliban fighters and rival militants from an Islamic State affiliate that emerged in recent years in Afghanistan.

According to Faqir Mohammad Jawzjani, the provincial chief of police, the fighting left six Islamic State militants and 42 Taliban fighters dead.
Istanbul: Eleven human rights activists, including the two top figures with Amnesty International in Turkey, went on trial today in Istanbul on contested terror charges, an AFP correspondent said.

The activists including a German and a Swedish national, of whom nine are in pre-trial detention, are accused of "terrorist activities" in a case which has raised fears over the state of the judiciary and human rights in Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Washington: Aiming to cut off Pyongyang's links to the global financial system, the US House of Representatives has approved a bill to impose more sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear programme.



The bill approved on Tuesday received 415 votes in favour and 2 against, Efe news reported. It is named after Otto Warmbier, an American student who died in June after spending more than a year in coma in a North Korean prison.



The legislation calls on the US Department of Treasury to freeze the accounts of foreign financial institutions that conduct business with North Korea.



"It's time for those banks to choose between aiding and abetting the North Korean government or standing for peace with America and its allies," Republican representative Andy Barr, the author of the bill, said during a house debate on Tuesday.



"Foreign banks can either do business benefiting North Korea or business with the United States. They cannot do both," Barr said, adding that the current sanctions still failed to completely eliminate Pyongyang`s access to the global financial system.



The United Nations approved last month a new package of sanctions aimed at economically stifling North Korea, which includes limitations on the country`s petroleum and by-product imports as well as a ban on its textiles export.



According to estimates by the US, North Korea would lose $ 2.7 billion or about 90 per cent of its sales abroad together with previous sets of sanctions, which imposed an embargo on coal, iron, fish and seafood exports.



Warmbier was detained in North Korea in January 2016 when he visited the country as a tourist.



Authorities sentenced him to 15 years of hard labour after the 22-year-old was found guilty of attempting to steal a political propaganda poster from his hotel in Pyongyang.



He had fallen into a coma for more than a year before he was released in June 2017 and died a month after.



Warmbier's parents said alleged their son was tortured in North Korea, an allegation US President Donald Trump agreed with.



Pyongyang, however, denied the allegations.



He died of complications stemming from a deficiency of blood and oxygen in his brain, according to the forensic report.


Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan got roasted for claiming that roads in MP were better than the roads in Washington DC.

By Hemender Sharma: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's claim that roads in Madhya Pradesh were better than those in Washington DC has landed him in the eye of a joke storm.

When I got down at Washington Airport & travelled on roads, I felt roads in MP are better than US: Madhya Pradesh CM in Washington DC pic.twitter.com/saMTLqKDqT- ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2017

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Chouhan, who made this comment while in the US, is getting roasted on social media, as people poke fun at him by sharing images for bad roads in MP.

"MP roads better than the US? Are you joking? Can you not see these pot holes? My shop is here on the Kolar Road, and in these pot holes right in front of my shop almost two dozen people fall every day. Can Shivraj Chouhan not see this? He had come for an event about one km from here recently and the pot holes till that particular point were filled but beyond that nothing has changed," said a shopkeeper named Iqbal.

Some even trolled Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Twitter by posting pictures of roads in the US and calling them that of Madhya Pradesh. Pictures of pot-holed roads of MP have also been posted online with captions reading that pictures were from the US.

Roads in Gwalior

CONGRESS LASHES OUT AT SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN

The Congress party, while taking the issue a step further, has declared a reward of Rs 5100 to anyone who will show a single road across MP that is built on US standards.

Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia also took to Twitter to criticise Chouhan.

"Someone please help him open his eyes. Mr Chouhan please open your eyes and see the reality," Scindia said while tagging a news report. The report tagged by Scindia claimed 29 people died in India because of pot holes and most of the deaths happened in Madhya Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh Cooperative Minister Vishwas Sarang tried to defend the chief minister, saying that Chouhan was trying to make a comparison between a developed and developing state.

"What the chief minister wanted to say was that the roads of MP will be better than Washington once it becomes a developed state," said Sarang.

Sarang also urged Scindia to not play politics in this matter, saying Shivraj Singh Chouhanwas not representing the BJP but Madhya Pradesh in the US.

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: By Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, Oct 24 (PTI) Nepals former ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay has said New Delhi will extend full support for the upcoming provincial and parliamentary elections in the Himalayan nation.

Upadhyay said the electoral alliance forged between CPN- UML and CPN-Maoist-Centre ahead of the polls would not be a matter of concern for India.

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"This alliance seems to be forged for winning upcoming polls, it is not wise to put false accusations on anyone," he said referring to the Leftist alliance.

"India has officially said they would extend their support for the polls," the former ambassador said.

"Currently, Nepal-India relations are smooth, people will judge my performance of two-year stint as a diplomat (in India)," said Upadhyay.

He also said he could contest the upcoming polls from Kapilavastu as his resignation has already been accepted by the council of ministers.

He expressed the view that ruling Nepali Congress party should have contested elections on its own rather than forging electoral alliance with other parties.

"Winning or losing are part and parcel of elections, more importantly, the nation, people and democracy have to win," the former diplomat said.

Upadhyaya had resigned as ambassador to India on October 6.

He was appointed as envoy to India by former prime minister Sushil Koiralas government in April 2015. He was recalled by the subsequent government under CPN-UMLs K P Oli in May, 2016, which accused him of working against the countrys interest.

He was reappointed last year by Prachandas government.

Upadhyay had played a key role in reducing tensions between Nepal and India when the Himalayan country had suffered a blockade on its southern border following the promulgation of its new Constitution. PTI SBP KUN

--- ENDS ---
October 23, 2017

Now that US President Donald Trump has refused to certify that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) meets congressional requirements, much attention has been focused on the reverberations in Washington and within the Transatlantic alliance. No less important, however, are the emerging policy ramifications in Tehran. Contrary to assertions at home and conjecture abroad, Trumps Iran policy may in the long run strengthen rather than weaken President Hassan Rouhanis administration in several key ways.

First, Iranian stakeholders are now more united as a result of US threats, thereby solidifying the executive branch within Irans political system. Trumps choice to decertify has reinforced the strategic vision offered by Rouhani and agreed to by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after the 2013 presidential election: to maintain unity on policy toward the United States, (nuclear) deal or no deal. This vision was predicated on eliminating the diplomatic and financial isolation that plagued Iran from 2005 to 2013. Whatever their differences, Khamenei needs Rouhani and his technocrats to repair the damage wrought by former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Rouhani needs Khamenei to provide political protection while he does so.

Since entering office four years ago, Rouhani has maintained arguably the most diverse and inclusive political coalition in the 38-year history of the Islamic Republic. The infighting will not subside anytime soon, but the survival instinct of most elites has kicked in, helping them recognize the need to deepen the middle ground that Rouhani has been cultivating. In nine months, the Trump administration has managed to spur a level of political unity and rally-around-the-flag nationalism not seen in Iran since the immediate aftermath of Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution and Iraqi dictator Saddam Husseins subsequent invasion.

Rouhani may also be strengthened because such unity has been a linchpin in the approach he has been advocating for the past 15 years and outlined in his 2011 memoir, National Security and Nuclear Diplomacy. In the book, he defends using that approach during his stewardship of Irans 2003-2005 nuclear negotiations with Europe because all decisions were made by consensus, with Khameneis endorsement. He criticizes subsequent negotiating teams for repeatedly miscalculating and abandoning his strategy of internal consensus-building and blames them for the polarization in Irans foreign and domestic politics that threaten to destabilize the country. Each of Rouhanis criticisms have proven true  and Khamenei approved each of those mistakes, reinforcing Rouhanis political standing.

Second, Trumps hostile approach may help shore up Rouhanis domestic standing because it vindicates the strategy employed to achieve Irans national interests both from 2003 to 2005 and 2013 to the present. In his memoir, Rouhani says his approach toward handling the nuclear dispute had three facets: cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to address the violations noted in Irans nuclear file, engaging with Europe to improve relations and neutralize American aggression and pursuing both of those objectives to allow for Iranian nuclear scientists to continue different aspects of their work.

Rouhanis strategy worked in the early 2000s. It helped thwart the threat of war after the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, and his team successfully prevented the referral of Irans nuclear file to the UN Security Council. An updated version of the same strategy has proven successful since Rouhanis election in 2013. The JCPOA removed Irans nuclear file from Chapter VII in the UN Security Council without the country being bombed  a first  and it appears to be serving as a bulwark against Trumps aggression given that Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, the UN, the European Union and the IAEA all currently oppose US policy.

Rouhani sold his nuclear strategy to Khamenei by arguing that Tehrans openness to negotiations and compromise would put the onus on Washington to accept the Islamic Republic accordingly. In turn, Khamenei sold the nuclear talks inside and outside the government by arguing that such engagement means the onus will be on the United States to compromise.

Thus, Rouhani  and by extension, Khamenei  is vindicated regardless of whether the JCPOA remains intact. If it dies, neither Khamenei nor the Iranian people will blame Rouhani, because he can accurately pin the blame on Washington. Conversely, neither Rouhani nor the Iranian people will blame Khamenei for the same reason.

Finally, while the long-term impact may be to strengthen Rouhani, it should be noted that Trumps bombast might complicate the Iranian presidents agenda in the short run. US escalation of tensions will likely securitize the atmosphere in Iran, thereby slowing down political and economic development  similarly to 2005-2013, when tensions with the United States spiked. At that time, key stakeholders justified empowering the military-security apparatus as a necessary instrument to counter threats to the Islamic Republics survival. As senior Iranian officials told Al-Monitor back then, Tehran invested more money into security and intelligence operations, with such budget allocations ballooning and new projects proliferating. Such a thing would likely not have happened under normal circumstances, as demonstrated by how Rouhani successfully shifted the Iranian states priority to domestic economic stabilization during his first term. However, in the long run, it would be an exaggeration to associate securitization with Rouhani being a lame duck. His domestic agenda may be curtailed, but thats in large part because its now more difficult for him to argue internally that additional funding for security purposes is unnecessary.

Thus, the biggest loser right now is not Rouhani, but rather the Iranian people. Trump shifting the onus back to the United States could allow Iranian officials to successfully blame foreign bogeymen for the Islamic Republics economic shortcomings  and divert the publics attention from the governments role in causing them. While disillusionment among ordinary Iranians will grow, Trumps bluster has ensured that most vitriol will be directed at decision-makers in Washington rather than Tehran  precisely because Rouhanis strategy has succeeded.

For nearly four decades, the United States has tried to isolate Iran. But after nine months of Trump in office, it is the United States that seems isolated. Decertifying Iranian compliance with the JCPOA is only the latest instance of Tehran capitalizing on Washingtons self-inflicted wounds. Rouhani has been proven right that Iran and his own political standing are more secure thanks to less bombast, deeper unity, better negotiators, more diplomacy and a realistic assessment of the Islamic Republics policy strengths and weakness both at home and abroad. If Trump forges ahead with his confrontational posturing, he will likely empower rather than weaken the very politicians hes trying to undermine.

Correction: Oct. 27, 2017. An earlier version of this story mistakenly stated that US President Donald Trump had refused to certify Iranian compliance with the nuclear deal. More precisely, Trump instead declared that US sanctions relief was not appropriate and proportionate to actions taken by Iran under the deal.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS. We should have one of the most modernized armies in the world, Armenian President and Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces Serzh Sargsyan said during the session of the Defense Ministrys National Defense Research University signaling the launch of the universitys new educational program, reports Armenpress.

The Army cannot develop independently, so the whole state should move forward in line with time. This means that we should have a constantly improving state thanks to which the army is also being modernized. This is possible, and we together with you and our society will fulfill this goal. The conditions of military service should be improved for everyone starting from a soldier in the frontline up to the commander. Here there are trifles and should not be. Everything is important starting from an outfit up to apartments for the officers. Social security guarantees on this issue are strictly important, the President said.

According to him, discipline in the army should at the highest level. Serzh Sargsyan said the parent, by sending his son to the army, must be sure that his son is in a new caring family.

The officer and the commander should be a senior brother and parent for the recruits. Non-statutory relations and negligence should be excluded completely. Therefore, we should not have any losses. We need to specifically focus on medical services. The work in this field should be increased to a new level. Months later the most modernized rehabilitation center for military disabled will open its doors in the Yerevan State Medical University. It should become a single address of treatment, social protection and reintegration of soldier with disabilities, the President said.

He highlighted that the army is the place where both the soldiers and officers should receive further education. Conditions must be created in the military units for enriching the knowledge of soldiers. Here I want to make a small deviation and say that all those manipulations today we see in connection with shifting to a new system for study in the universities and eliminating the right to deferment, are just nonsense. Previously, when we were trying to pass to this system, I mean 15-16 years ago, the same manipulations were being circulated, but during that time our problems were somehow different, and we didnt reach up to the end. But by examining this issue at that time we saw that serving in the army for two years or working for two, three or four years has never hindered anyone to reach the highest academic achievements. Thus, I ask you to give tough response to such manipulations in case of such occasion. I want to inform you that I also suspended my studies, served for two years and then returned and continued them, he said.

Serzh Sargsyan also commented on the rumors according to which it is necessary to form a professional army. He said all those people, who talk about this, are unaware that two third of the Army are almost professional, contractual servicemen, contractual officers, civil servants.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The second session of the Parliaments four-day sitting has kicked off on October 25, reports Armenpress.

At the beginning of the session the issues discussed during the previous session will be put up to voting.

During the October 24 session the lawmakers discussed over a dozen draft laws which will be put up to voting today. Thereafter, the MPs will continue debating the law on Defense.

The Q&A session with the government members will launch at 16:30.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. On October 24 afternoon the Azerbaijani side demonstrated an activeness in certain parts of the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact by firing various caliber weapons, as well as mortars, the defense ministry of the Artsakh Republic told Armenpress.

In particular, the Azerbaijani forces fired 60mm mortars (23 shells) at the Armenian posts located in the defense directions of Martakert and Martuni. The Defense Army forces didnt suffer any losses as a result of the shelling.

The situation was calm in the evening and at night.

The Defense Army forces continue carefully controlling the situation in the frontline and fulfill their military tasks, the statement of the ministry says.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Defense minister of the Artsakh Republic, Defense Army commander, Lieutenant-General Levon Mnatsakanyan on October 24 received Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk - Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, press service of the Artsakh defense ministry told Armenpress.

During the meeting the tense situation in the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact over the past days was discussed. In particular, the defense minister presented to the Ambassador proofs of use of SPIKE anti-tank guided missiles and mortars by the Azerbaijani forces.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Parliament Speaker Ara Babloyans visit to Poland was significant from several perspectives. First of all it boosts the development of inter-parliamentary cooperation. On the other hand, it was important in terms of development of cooperation between Armenia and the European Union, because Poland is one of the initiators of the EU Eastern Partnership, and Armenia attaches great significance to the development of cooperation with the EU on the sidelines of this program, Armenias Ambassador to Poland H.E. Edgar Ghazaryan told ARMENPRESS in an interview, commenting on Parliament Speaker Ara Babloyans visit to the country.

Mr. Ambassador, how would you assess Armenian Parliament Speaker Ara Babloyans visit to Poland? What important emphases would you point out?

Generally, high level mutual visits have very important significance in the relations between the two countries. They not only strengthen the friendship between the two countries and the peoples and enrich the history of our diplomatic relations, but also are a wonderful chance to get to know each others views on various issues and to develop cooperation. Despite the fact that inter-parliamentary cooperation between Armenia and Poland has always been on a high level, it is noteworthy that the last visit on the level of Parliament Speakers took place long ago, in 2009. Armenian Parliament Speaker Ara Babloyans visit to Poland was important from several perspectives. First of all it boosts the development of inter-parliamentary cooperation. On the other hand, it was important in terms of development of cooperation between Armenia and the European Union, because Poland is one of the initiators of the EU Eastern Partnership, and Armenia attaches great significance to the development of cooperation with the EU on the sidelines of this program. The fact that the Speaker visited Poland in an anniversary year, when the 25th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between Armenia and Poland is celebrated, as well as the 650th anniversary of granting exclusive privilege to Armenians in Poland, is also extremely important.

During the visit Mr. Babloyan had meetings with different high level officials. What agreements have been reached for future cooperation? In what areas have actions been outlined?

First of all let me say that during the visit the Armenian Parliament Speaker had numerous important meetings, with Polands President Andrzej Duda, Marshal of the Senate Stanisaw KarczewskI, Marshal of the Sejm Marek Kuchcinski, Vice-PM, minister for culture and national heritage Piotr Glinski, numerous lawmakers and politicians.

Details of the meetings are available of the official website of the Armenian Parliament. Overall, almost all meetings focused on issues of expanding cooperation between the two countries, namely issues of expanding inter-parliamentary cooperation. Mr. Babloyan presented to the Polish colleagues Armenias approaches over various geopolitical developments, as well as regional issues. Particularly, the clear approaches and efforts of Armenian authorities for the peaceful settlement of the Artsakh issue were presented. 

The Ambassador also mentioned that the visit was organized in a bilateral format and was not directly linked with the upcoming EU Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels, however it was an additional occasion to discuss the prospects of developing cooperation between Armenia and the EU.

The Polish Senate adopted a resolution marking the 650th anniversary of granting Armenians in Poland a special privilege. What significance does this resolution have, what does it imply?

The resolution of the Senate adopted on October 19, 2017 has extremely important and historic significance. If not the first, this is one of the unique cases when the Parliament of a country expresses special attitude for the Armenian community of its country through a special resolution, by maximally appreciating the role and achievements of Armenians in the life of their country. We believe this is a significant event not only for the Armenian community of Poland, but overall in the life of the Armenian people. Earlier we witnessed the adoption by various states, including Poland, of resolutions recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide. One of the unique sides of the recent resolution is that it relates to the glorious chapters of the history of our people, by giving official and legal assessment to the significant activities of several centuries of our compatriots living in Poland. 

The Ambassador also pointed out the fact that the resolution was adopted unanimously by the Senate.

The full interview is available in Armenian

Interview by Anna Gziryan
A body of a child recovered this past weekend has been confirmed to be that of three-year-old India-born girl Sherin Mathews, police in Texas, US, confirmed as her father made a startling disclosure.

By India Today Web Desk: Police in the United States confirmed that that a recently recovered child's dead body was that of a three-year-old Indian-American girl Sherin Mathews, who had been missing since October 7.

The development came even as her foster father Wesley, who hails from Kerala, made a startling about-turn in his statement of how and when Sherin went missing. The father confessed that he was with Sherin when he died and said that he moved her body after he could not feel a pulse.

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Sherin's body was recovered on October 22, but police in Richardson, Texas initially did not confirm whether corpse was that of the missing Indian girl, who was adopted Wesley and Sini Mathews from India last year.

In a Facebook post late Tuesday night (India time), Richardson Police Department confirmed that they had using dental records they had successfully identified the body as that of Sherin Mathews.

Wesley had first told police that Sherin went missing on October 7 after he made her stand outside their home in Richardson, Texas, as a form of punishment for not drinking milk. Now, however, Wesley has changed his statement, saying that he was with Sherin when she died.

According to a report on a local news website Star-Telegram, Wesley has now told police that on October 7, he was trying to get Sherin to drink milk in their home's garage.

"Wesley Mathews said she wouldn't listen to him. Eventually the 3 year old girl began to drink the milk," the report quotes a new police warrant issued to arrest Wesley.

Wesley Mathews then physically assisted the 3 year old in drinking the milk. The 3 year old girl began to choke.

"She was coughing and her breathing slowed. Eventually, Wesley Mathews no longer felt a pulse on the child and believed she had died," the warrant continues. "Wesley Mathews then admitted to removing the body from the home."

Following the new disclosure, Richardson police re-arrested Wesley Mathews, who, according to Star-Telegram, was initially charged with abandoning or endangering a child.

Body ID'd as missing 3-year-old; dad admits to disposing of remains, affidavit says: https://t.co/LeMq52iRbj pic.twitter.com/kiAdhWd3yL- ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) October 24, 2017

Now, Wesley has been charged on a charge of felony injury to a child, under which he faces "five to 99 years or life in prison," Star-Telegram said.

Sherin was adopted by Wesley and Sini Mathews in June last year from a Bihar-based NGO, the Times of India previously reported. According to the TOI, Sherin was then known as Saraswati and came under the now-defunct NGO's care in 2015, after she was abandoned by her family in Bihar's Gaya district.

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Sherin or Saraswati was just a year and a half old when she was abandoned by her biological family.

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YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Based on the official information of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) over the elimination of bird flu disease documented in Poland and Germany, Armenias State Service for Food Safety abolished the import ban for poultry products, the State Service for Food Safety told Armenpress.

Starting from October 24 the import of all kinds of poultry products, live poultry, eggs, feathers, bone flour, feed, feed additives, plastic and cardboard boxes is permitted.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The issue of mutual recognition of jewelry hallmarks and labels in the Eurasian Economic Union territory will be solved mid-2018, Gagik Mkrtchyan, advisor to the minister of economic development and investments told ARMENPRESS.

Recently the issue was discussed in Yerevan on the sidelines of the EEU internal market 2018-2019 abolishing limitations program and an agreement was reached to regulate it.

In the beginning of this year the Armenian side was raising this issue constantly and it was viewed as a limitation in the EEU internal market, which, naturally, had to have a solution. Yesterday a task was set to form single approaches between all countries by the second quarter of next year and sign a relevant contract regarding the mutual recognition of hallmarks, he said.

Mkrtchyan says the agreement is a serious progress because Armenian businessmen were seriously concerned over the matter.

The Armenian side will present the drafts for regulating the issue in Astana in December, and after certain processes all parties will agree on it and it will be ready for signing.

Armenian-made hallmarks will be acceptable in Russia and other countries. Moreover, the first article of the EEU agreement says that products, services, capital and workforce are entitled to free movement in this union. And as a service, the service of placing hallmarks can also freely move. Although unlikely, but if a Kazakh jeweler decides to place a hallmark in Armenia, he will be free to do so, he said.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The next session of the Eurasian Inter-governmental Council will be held in the Russian city of Sochi, Tigran Sargsyan  Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), said during the Yerevan session on October 25, reports Armenpress.

We have agreed that the next session of the Unions Inter-governmental Council will be held in late January or early February in Sochi, the EEC Board Chairman said.

The Eurasian Inter-governmental Councils session was held in Yerevan from October 24 to 25. The session was attended by Prime Ministers of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, as well as EEC Board Chairman Tigran Sargsyan.

The session agenda included issues relating to the activity of domestic markets, trade, agro-industry, energy and infrastructures. The development process of initiatives within the frames of the implementation of the EAEU digital agenda, as well as the action plan (roadmap) aimed at eliminating the 2018-2019 restrictions in the EAEU internal market were discussed.

The session participants also focuse on issues relating to forming information exchange system within the frames of the EAEU common energy market.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia and Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Serzh Sargsyan on October 25 sent a congratulatory message to President of China Xi Jinping on being re-elected to the post of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, press service of the Presidents Office told Armenpress.

The Armenian President wished his Chinese counterpart good health, happiness and new achievements in his activity for the benefit of the good people of China.

On behalf of the Republican Party of Armenia and personally myself I warmly congratulate and address my best wishes to you on being re-elected to the post of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

I am confident that during your future tenure the role of head of the Communist Party of China will have its beneficial affect for the countrys political and socio-economic stable development and increasing reputation in the world.

Armenia attaches specific importance to the consistent strengthening and deepening of traditional friendly relations with China. I am convinced that the continuous intensification of bilateral ties and exchange in different spheres, as well as the effective partnership in the international arena derive from the vital interests of our friendly states and peoples.

I also want to state that the Republican Party of Armenia considers the Communist Party of China as one of its key international partners the mutual cooperation with which is aimed at dynamically developing and deepening the Armenian-Chinese bilateral cooperation which is based on mutual trust and respect.

We are also ready to contribute to the implementation of the program One Belt, One Road proposed by you as much as possible, considering it as a multifunctional project which aims at ensuring the security, peace and welfare of countries and peoples involved in it.

I am hopeful that in near future we will have a chance to personally discuss issues on strengthening the Armenian-Chinese inter-party, as well as inter-state relations and the cooperation in international platforms aimed at further increasing their level, reads the Presidents congratulatory message.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan participated in Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting on October 25. Before the launch of the session, a photo of the Heads of Governments of the EEU member states was taken. Afterwards, the narrow-format session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council took place, followed by the expanded-format session, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Government of Armenia.

Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan greeted the participants of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting and congratulated Sapar Isakov on the occasion of the appointment Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan and participation in the Council session.

Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, which presides over the EEU, Sapar Isakov thanked the Armenian Premier on behalf of the participants of the session for the traditionally cordial reception and hospitability. He noted that the 3rd anniversary of the Union will be marked, which is not much but is enough for looking back and working in the direction of correcting the existing mistakes.

The Prime Ministers of the EEU member states and the Board Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Tigran Sargsyan presented their remarks on the EEU agenda, problems and future development prospects.

EEC Board Chairman Tigran Sargsyan informed that the next meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council will be held at Russias Sochi city in January-February, 2018.
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YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh Republic) Masis Mayilian received Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk on October 25.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of MFA Artsakh, during the meeting the sides discussed the situation on the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Artsakh and Azerbaijan. Masis Mayilian drew attention to the recent violations of the ceasefire regime by the Azerbaijani side, which led to the death of an Artsakh Defense Army serviceman. Artsakh Foreign Minister noted the unacceptability of the further destabilization of the situation and stressed the need for adherence to the trilateral agreements on ceasefire and its strengthening, as well as the earlier arrangements on the implementation of additional measures to reduce tensions in the zone of conflict.

The sides also touched upon a range of issues related to the activities of the Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.
YEREVAN, 25 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 25 October, USD exchange rate is down by 0.05 drams to 482.28 drams. EUR exchange rate is up by 0.33 drams to 567.55 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is down by 0.01 drams to 8.38 drams. GBP exchange rate is up by 1.81 drams to 637.33 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price is up by 21.98 drams to 19792.2 drams. Silver price is up by 0.59 drams to 264.14 drams. Platinum price is up by 138.08 drams to 14296.22 drams.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) supports the bill on Prevention of family violence and protection of persons subjected to family violence" in Armenia, ARMENPRESS was informed from the central office of ARS. The statement runs as follows,

Earlier this month, Armenian authorities announced a domestic violence bill in Parliament. The proposed law aims to introduce criminal and administrative liability with regard to domestic violence in Armenia. On Oct. 24, the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) International issued the following statement on the proposed bill.

The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) welcomes the decision to enact a law aimed at combating domestic violence in the Republic of Armenia.

As a country that takes pride in having given women the right to vote during the Independent Republic of 1918and also having appointed a woman to a diplomatic post at a time when women in most of the developed world did not have the right to votethis bill comes at an important stage for gender equality in today's Armenia.

Throughout our history, Armenian women have played a particularly important role, from leading as members of royalty during the medieval period, to participating in the national liberation struggle of the past few centuries, to constituting the foundation on which Armenian families and society were rebuilt after the Genocideand generally playing vital roles in Armenian society generally, including in the present day.

Women in Armenia must be allowed to live a life without fear of violence and unjust treatment so they may assume their rightful roles as equal citizens of Armeniaand the world. Clearly, as a society, we must do everything in our power to ensure that every home is safe for all family members, and this law would be a major step toward breaking the cycle of domestic violence.

As an international humanitarian nongovernmental organization registered with the United Nations (UN), we recognize that achieving global gender equality begins at home and should be prioritized on the national, regional, and international levels. The ARS is committed, with renewed vigor, to be a champion for women around the world, and we stand ready to continue to implement and support initiatives to respect, protect, promote, and fulfill all human rights.

We strongly recommend that the Armenian Parliament adopt the bill for the eradication of violence against women, and continue to galvanize the political will necessary for promoting gender equality in Armenian society. Advancing womens rights and inclusion must be a priority if we are to build a competitive economy and just society for current and future generations.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan sent a congratulatory message on October 25 to the leader of Austrian People's Party Sebastian Kurz on the victory in the parliamentary elections, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Armenian Presidents Office.

The President of Armenia wished the newly elected Austrian Chancellor success and tangible achievements and hoped that the hopes and goals of the friendly people of Austria will come to reality during his tenure.

Austria is a key partner for Armenia and continuous development of relations with it is of priority importance for us. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, during the past 25 years the Armenian-Austrian bilateral relations have always been accompanied by mutual respect and confidence. We are thankful for that Austria has always assisted Armenia during these years making its significant contribution to the sustainable development of our country, reads the congratulatory message of the Armenian President.
By PTI: found guilty

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) An Indian soldier, who had crossed over to Pakistan during the surgical strikes last year and was handed over to India in January by that country, has been found guilty by an Army court which has recommended nearly three months imprisonment for him.

Official sources said that the Army court sentenced Chandu Babulal Chavan to nearly three months in prison but the quantum of punishment is yet to be approved by appropriate authorities.

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Sepoy Babulal Chavan was tried by a General Court Martial and he has pleaded guilty, they said.

Chavan can appeal against his sentence.

Chavan, posted with 37 Rashtriya Rifles, had mistakenly crossed the boundary in Kashmir hours after Indias surgical strikes on terrorist bases across the LoC in September last year.

In January, he was handed over to India by Pakistan.

Chavan belongs to Borvihir village in Dhule district of Maharashtra. His grandmother had died of shock following the news of his capture by Pakistani troops. PTI MPB NSA

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LOS ANGELESiWantEmpire, the new conglomerate that includes iWantClips, iWantCustomClips, and iWantPhone, has signed acclaimed gay performer Wesley Woods as a brand ambassador and consultant while it moves to expand into the gay market.

Wesley Woods is a gay adult performer and stand-up comedian originally from East Texas and now residing in Los Angeles. Wesley has performed at various comedy clubs in LA, hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, and special events across the country before getting into porn in 2015. Wesley has since racked up numerous gay porn nominations, winning the 2017 Grabbys Performer of the Year and also reaching the finals of LA's Funniest Comic.

Were excited to bring Wesley Woods and his talents into the iWantEmpire family, said Jay Phillips, Vice President of iWantEmpire. He will play a pivotal role as brand ambassador and consultant as we expand into the gay market. His popularity, growing fan base and unique perspective will enhance our efforts as we grow our brand and move further in this extremely important segment.

In his new role as a brand ambassador and consultant, Woods will share his experience and expertise in developing content and marketing strategies as well as serving as the face of iWantEmpire in the gay community. He will also further enhance iWantEmpires name recognition and brand awareness through personal appearances, marketing campaigns, promotions, and special events.

Since his arrival in the industry in 2015, Woods quick rise as an adult performer has been fueled by acclaimed performances in a number of adult films from major studios. His striking looks, onscreen charm, and ability to connect with audiences has been at the heart of his success.

The iWantEmpire has been growing by leaps and bounds, and Im thrilled to be a part of their team as they grow and expand into the gay market, Woods said. Their reputation for quality adult content and providing their artists with a positive and supportive environment is one of the reasons Im excited about joining them.

For more on Wesley Woods, follow him on Twitter @WesleyWoods.
LOS ANGELESIn the quest to get tweets seen and increase social proof, every Twitter account encounters bots. A bot is an automated Twitter account. But what are they really? What do they do? What do they do to you? These are common questions surrounding the life of bots.

At its most basic, a Twitter bot is an automated Twitter account that tweets according to its programming. At its most complex, it is an automated Twitter account that can spread propaganda, influence elections, cause panic, and enable hacking. There are fun bots that tweet haikus at you, or the your mom bot that responds randomly to tweets with the simple reply your mom." There are spam bots that start tweeting links at you after you mention hot keywords like iPhone or Equifax in an attempt to get you to buy something that will likely do nothing but cost you money and try to gather your information for an email spam campaign. There are the social proof bots that retweet a lot. These can be used to spread a link around the Twitterverse, increase social proof by giving your tweets a high retweet number, or even to influence trending hashtags and affect the Twitter search algorithm (If you are interested in organically affecting the Twitter search algorithm to increase your CTR, check out the FAD Algorithm, which is the only algorithm that socially engineers Twitter's search for better click through rate and social SEO).

Bots that influence trending hashtags can help spread fake news and misinformation. After the Las Vegas shooting someone tweeted #LasVagasShooting and the bots started retweeting the misspelled hashtag, as did other people. It gained so much momentum that it became a trending hashtag on Twitter and reporters started using the misspelled hashtag. Essentially the social proof provided by the bots began to legitimize the hashtag and it gained influence. This is also how dangerous misinformation can be spread.



The bots range from innocuous and annoying to potentially dangerous with real-world effects. Twitter actively fights against bots. The company regularly performs bot account purges a few times a year that suspends accounts suspected to be bots. They recently did this on a large scale and were aggressive in their scope due to a crackdown on using bots to spread fake news, causing most Twitter accounts to see dips in their Twitter followingand especially large dips for those that purchased fake followers.

If you are in porn, you cannot avoid bots following you. Adult accounts use words that are targeted by bots. Dont worry about your bot followers. They will likely be purged by Twitter at some point and they wont harm your account in the meantime. Bot tweet accounts are mainly spam. People use them as a way to get their links tweeted out more. I see this a lot in white-label cams and dating. The problem is that low quality bot accounts are easy to spot because they dont engage and only tweet crap promo tweets with automated writing. The CTR is low to nothing. Its a strategy that may have had effectiveness five years ago, but now has none.

In the life of Twitter bots, know that they will eventually be purged. Using them to tweet your links can risk getting your link flagged as spam. Using them to increase your followers is typically a short-term solution because your follow count will take a huge hit when a purge happens. Most people dont follow bot accounts, so their retweets may look good for your retweet count but is not really helping increase exposure to a buying audience. Plus, bots dont buy anything. Ignore the bots, unless you find a funny one to mess with, and focus on a quality Twitter strategy. In the world of social media, quality strategy is what gets you the numbers in the end.
PILSEN, Czech RepublicPilsen, the city best known as the home of the worlds famous Pilsner Urquell beer again proved to be an excellent location for the 12th anniversary War and Race industry party on September 17 and 18, hosted and sponsored by InterMaxGroup.

As it has been in the past, the attendees of The European Summit in Prague were able to take a shuttle to Pilsen on Sunday, September 17, for two days full of hospitality and leisure activities where the city welcomed a diverse line up of online professionals from all around the world.

The program started on Friday afternoon with an opportunity to visit the world famous Pilsner Urquell brewery and to learn first-hand how to properly tap beer, including plentiful tasting. For those preferring to test their combat skills, a paintball session was available.

The evening program continued with a sponsored dinner in a medieval restaurant with a trademark menu and a wealth of local beer with it. As a surprise, an elite magician turned up and put on a show where even the most skeptical were left in the dark about what they just witnessed. After leaving the dinner venue, a sponsored bar in a night club was arranged to satisfy those for whom the night was still young.

Mondays program was dedicated to the popular carting tournament. The local carting arena was turned into an epitome of hospitality with a rich barbecue station and a sponsored bar. While the cart racing was in full swing, the rest of the attendees had the opportunity to chat with their old and new friends about anything, business or non-business alike.

The organizers were eventually also able to present the trophy to the cart racing champion, a former imaXcash employee-turned-affiliate Tomas, representing the locals. Mondays late afternoon shuttle back to Prague concluded the partys official program.

This years War and Race has been the 12th consecutive annual party weekend organized and sponsored by InterMaxGroup. An expert force in monetizing online dating traffic, now present in 21 countries, including the German-speaking and many under-monetized Central and Eastern European markets.

The event marked the most successful year for the company yet, with more than 13 million new registered users across the portfolio of their state-of-the-art online dating sites, available for promotion at the Companys affiliate sponsor program imaXcash. The organizers are already looking forward to make it 13 next year.
Paul UK has unveiled its first hybrid creation  a mince pie and croissant combination  as part of its Christmas 2017 range.

Available to order online from 31 October and in-store from the 28 November for 1.75, the Croissant Nicholas is an all-butter croissant filled with rich, sweet mincemeat and dusted with icing sugar.

The hybrid is described by the chain as the perfect breakfast to wake up to on Christmas morning.

Unique for this year, Pauls first hybrid creation, the exclusive mince pie croissant brings festive flavour to the traditional French pastry, said a Paul UK spokesperson.

As well the Croissant Nicholas, Paul is also set to roll out three limited-edition Christmas sandwiches from 7 November until 24 December.

The sandwich range comprises the Dinde De Noel, The Cosy Christmas Pig sandwich and The Merry Veggie Sandwich.

Back by popular demand, the Dinde De Noel, priced at 4.65, is a sage & onion baguette, studded with cranberries and filled with sliced turkey, bacon, spinach, cream cheese and horseradish.

The Cosy Christmas Pig Sandwich, which is a brand new offering, is an artisan apricot & sage baguette, filled with Lincolnshire sausage and bacon, as well as containing layers of spinach, sliced apple and apple chutney.

To coincide with the growing vegan and vegetarian market, The Merry Veggie Sandwich is completely meat- and dairy-free. The baguette is made with roasted spiced pumpkin & rosemary, filled with radicchio, courgette, carrot, spinach and onions.
Bakery equipment supplier European Process Plant (EPP) has completed a management buyout led by managing director Steve Merritt.

The Epsom-based business, which has supplied equipment from specialist European manufacturers to British and Irish bakers for 45 years, employs 22 staff and has a 10m turnover.

Previous EPP owners Keith Stalker and Josie Mitchell are stepping back from the business, but will give ongoing support to the management team, which comprises Merritt, Stewart Morris, Melissa James and Roger Mott.

We are enthusiastic and positive about the opportunities for EPP in the years ahead and committed to ensuring the continued success of the business, Merritt told British Baker. We will build on the reputation so successfully established by the business while also seeking out opportunities to grow in the years ahead.

He added it was a real honour to lead a company with such a heritage and expertise in the bakery sector.

We know that the high level of innovation in the bakery sector will continue and are here to ensure our customers can find the means of efficiently producing both their current ranges and the exciting new products of tomorrow.

We are extremely proud of the long-standing partnerships we have with our European equipment manufacturers and look forward to continuing to serve the UK and Ireland baking industry.

Merritt and his team received financial backing in the vendor-initiated management buyout (Vimbo) from Allied Irish Bank (AIB).

Describing EPP as a well-respected local business, AIB South East region business centre leader Emma Lane said she was delighted to support its future plans and assist the completion of the management buyout.

The new team are extremely experienced in this sector and Steve has been heavily involved in the running of the business in the previous year, so this Vimbo sees a very smooth transition, she added.

Pictured above (l to r) are: Melissa James, EPP; Myles Carroll, relationship director, AIB; Steve Merritt, managing director, EPP; Emma Lane, area director, AIB; and John Craven, relationship manager, AIB
In 2013, Stony Brook University (part of the SUNY system) revealed plans for a new "Center for the Study of Men and Masculinities." Since I'm a Stony Brook grad, I was quite interested in this development. Would the new Center do anything to enhance the school's reputation for scholarship?I didn't think it would, but the announcement of the ten advisory board members erased all doubt. Six were well-known women: feminist icon Gloria Steinem, actress Jane Fonda, author Eve Ensler (author of the play The Vagina Monologues) and leading women's studies figures Madeleine Kunin, Catharine Stimpson, and Carol Gilligan, whose claims that girls were being denied their "voices" in education led to Christina Hoff Sommers' book The War Against Boys.Only four men were included: Martin Duberman, a queer studies historian, and three obscure individuals, psychiatrist James Gilligan (who is married to Carol Gilligan), physician Frank Ochberg, and Chris Howard, president of Hampden-Sydney College.As I noted in this piece , Steinem, Ensler, and the female academics had spent their careers preoccupied with women, not men. To put such a crew in charge of a center for men's studies seemed like a joke-but is perfectly routine in today's academy, where the few courses on male issues tend to be part of women's studies and invariably view maleness exclusively through a feminist lens.The Stony Brook center was to be run by sociology professor Michael Kimmel, author of Angry White Men, co-editor of an anthology about "pro-feminist men" and a protege of men's studies founder Robert W. Connell, who coined the term "hegemonic masculinity," had sex-reassignment surgery, and changed his name to Raewyn. The whole point of Connell's discipline, as I wrote in my book The Victims' Revolution (2012), "is that men are authoritarian bullies."It seemed clear from Stony Brook's press release, in any event, that Kimmel's center would be right out of the men's studies playbook. In other words, we live in a patriarchal culture in which all men enjoy systemic privileges denied to all women, and the goal of any proper academic study of maleness should be to teach men to recognize and check their privilege and to dedicate themselves to helping women to achieve true equality.In his press release, Kimmel announced that the center-founded with a grant from the MacArthur Foundation, with additional funds from the university and anonymous donors-would study men through "the prisms of feminist theory, multiculturalism and queer theory" and pursue dialogue "between academics and activists."Four years after its founding, I thought it might be worth checking in on Stony Brook's men's studies center. One glance at its website and I had a distinct impression that the whole thing has turned out just as foreseen: the first thing that greeted me was a slideshow of photos of Fonda, Steinem, a woman named Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka ("Executive Director of UN Women"), and, last but not least, Kimmel giving a TED talk entitled "Recruiting Men to the Cause of Gender Equality."In sum, it is an ideological rather than a scholarly project.The center has held several seminars, among them a talk about "the need for further regulation on pornography" in the European Union. It has sponsored a white paper , "Men as Allies in Preventing Violence against Women," in which Bob Pease lays down the law: men should take part in such violence prevention, but because of their "dominance and privilege and...structural gender inequalities," they should play only "a supporting role...under women's leadership" rather than seeking to be "leaders or equal partners."Pease makes another point: women deserve "women-only spaces," but men-only spaces are verboten, because excluding women "reinforces the notion of male authority" and men(Pease, as it happens, is the author of a book called Recreating Men, which argues that men need to undergo fundamental change for the sake of women's equality.)The Men's Center, in short, is not about understanding men's psychological and emotional development and their personal and professional lives; it is about encouraging young men to feel guilty about being born male, to check their own natural male impulses and interests, to emulate (as best they can) the manners and mores of women, and to subordinate themselves, in all ways and all circumstances, to their female friends, relatives, and colleagues.The center has a blog , which is full of whining about "toxic masculinity" and about men's lack of respect for women. After Trump's election, it featured a letter addressed to "White Men." It read, in part:One big piece of news from the blog is that the Center is in the process of developing the first MA program in masculinities studies. Stony Brook, it should be noted, is a major international research university that turns out top-flight physicists, chemists, biologists, and engineers who make a real difference in this world. It is a puzzlement, and a disgrace, that this splendid institution should want to institute an advanced degree program in identity studies that involves not education but indoctrination and that doesn't prepare graduates to do anything other than spend their lives whining about gender inequality.Other identity group "studies" at least purport to advance the cause of the group in question, even if through dubious scholarship. Stony Brook's version of men's studies, however, is about demonizing men and teaching them to knuckle under to women-this in a culture that already teaches boys that they're oppressors-in-training and potential rapists and where more and more young men skip college because they perceive campuses as anti-male environments.Fortunately, there is an alternative to "Men's Studies." In 2010, in reaction to its " denigration of maleness ," as Rutgers anthropologist Lionel Tiger put it, several respected authors and scholars founded Male Studies , which seeks to study male identity from non-ideological perspectives. But such courses are still rare at American institutions of higher education, where they face hostility from feminist faculty and administrators.Case in point: Professor Dennis Gouws, who for several years taught a "Men in Literature" course at tiny Springfield College in Massachusetts. Then the campus feminists stepped in. As Peter Wood wrote in the Weekly Standard in May 2016, Gouws was dragged before administrators and accused of creating a "hostile environment." His course was canceled, and he was placed on "Official Warning Status."This is the fate, mind you, of a professor at an obscure college who dared to offer a single undergraduate course that addressed men on their own terms.Meanwhile, at Stony Brook, where the men's studies center is an entirely feminist-oriented operation, Michael Kimmel is a superstar, rubbing elbows with Jane Fonda and being cheered for talks in which he essentially apologizes for being male. All of that does nothing but degrade the academic standing of Stony Brook University and waste the money of New York taxpayers.
Pre-order Watermelons, Nooses, and Straight Razors through Kickstarter to help cover the expensive printing costs of this 272-page, full-color, story-based book and increase accessibility by charging an affordable list price. Donations are tax deductible. Books will ship before the holidays. Check out the Kickstarter HERE .

I spent more than three decades collecting Ku Klux Klan robes, segregation signs, and thousandsliterally thousandsof everyday objects that depicted African Americans as obedient servants, childlike buffoons, exotic savages, hypersexual deviants, and, most consequentially, menacing predators. I collected these objects because I believedno, I knewthat objects, even hateful ones, could be used as teaching tools. In the mid-1990s, I donated the objects to Ferris State University; later, I used the collection to found the Jim Crow Museum. Today the Jim Crow Museum is the nation's largest collection of publicly accessible racist objects in the United States. Our tagline doubles as our vision: "using objects of intolerance to teach tolerance and promote social justice."

Visitors to the Jim Crow Museum come from every state and dozens of countries. Not surprisingly, the number of visitors has increased in the last two years and the conversations are more intensein no small part because of the growing racial divide in the country. The museum encourages the "triumph of dialogue," and visitors to the museum welcome discussions about difficult topics, among them caricatures and stereotypes, the word "nigger," institutional poverty, voter identification laws, police brutality, mass incarceration, and the rise and mainstreaming of white supremacy groups. They want to know how we, this nation, got to where we are.

I remember the conversations that occurred after the shooting of Walter Scott, an unarmed black man fatally shot by Michael Slager, a white North Charleston police officer. Scott was stopped for having a non-functioning brake light. A video surfaced of Slager shooting Scott from behind while Scott fled, which contradicted the initial police report. We talked about Walter Scott, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, and Eric Martinand we talked about decades-old depictions of black men as brutes. The brute caricature of black men as innately savage, animalistic, destructive, and criminal, deserving punishment and even death, is one of the many antiblack caricatures central to the stories that are told about young black men. It is an unfortunate truth that not all caricatures and stereotypes die. Some morph into the present.

Watermelons, Nooses, and Straight Razors uses images from the Jim Crow Museum to explore many stories and their accompanying stereotypes and caricatures, which underpin the mistreatment of African Americans. Some of the stories are innocuous though irritating, such as the silly belief that black people are obsessed with watermelons. Some of the stories are nasty and mean-spirited, such as the many depictions of African Americans as monkeys or other simians. Stories that question the humanness of a people are demeaning, but there are other stories that are even more unsettling. I am speaking here of stories about the horrible things done to black lynching victims. Americans tend to like happy history. We like the history that can be celebrated with good food, dancing, parades, and fireworks. But there is nothing happy about the torture of more than 4,000 African Americans in this country. And though you will rarely see it written, there was a parallel practice just as ghoulish: the use of black people's skin to make leather products. In the Jim Crow Museum we read and examine dozens of newspaper accounts from the 1870s to the 1920s telling stories about the skins of black peoplenot always

lynching victimsbeing tanned and made into purses, wallets, belts, book covers, shoes, and razor strops. These accounts were presented in newspapers in matter-of-fact, nonjudgmental ways. To understand these practices is to better understand what it meant to be a black person during the Jim Crow periodand to better understand the roots of American racism. At the conclusion of each chapter of Watermelons, Nooses, and Straight Razors, I tell a brief story from my journey as a way of countering the negative narratives and tropes.

All these stories matter. They matter to the white supremacists with Tiki torches and their counterprotesters in Charlottesville, Virginia. They matter to the police officers who shoot unarmed black teenagers and the people who protest the injustices of the criminal justice system. They matter to the prankster who leaves a noose on a black colleague's desk. They matter to the fraternities and sororities that darken their faces and host "ghetto parties." They matter to politicians who pander to white anxieties. They matter to the people who are tired of talking about racism. Antiblack stories matter to us allwhether we know it or notbecause they inform our race relations. These stories are told, listened to, and critiqued in the Jim Crow Museum. Watermelons, Nooses, and Straight Razors offer the stories to a broader audience, to continue the dialogue and use these stories as teaching tools for understanding our current narratives around race in this country.

David Pilgrim is a professor, human rights activist, and the founder and curator of the Jim Crow Museum. In a forthcoming book, Watermelons, Nooses, and Straight Razors, he explores the origins and significance of antiblack stories in order to reveal often hidden histories of race relations in the U.S. and to challenge white supremacist narratives that persist today. He takes on racist caricatures and words, institutional poverty, voter identification laws, police brutality, mass incarceration, and the rise and mainstreaming of white supremacy groups.





As Henry Louis Gates Jr. says, "Undergirding Pilgrim's effort is his powerful belief that we, as a society, heal better when we stare down the evils that have walked among us, together."
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Here's the annoying thing about computers: While it matters what model you get, it also matters what software you install to it. It impacts what you're able to do with your READ THE REST
    Yanghee Lee         ( )

Check against delivery

Statement by Ms. Yanghee Lee

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in

Myanmar

72nd session of the General Assembly

Third Committee

Agenda Item 72 (c)

25 October 2017

New York



Mr. Chair,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A lot has happened between now and from the time I had finalized my report in late August following my visit to Myanmar in July. A lot has been reported on the situation in Rakhine State in the last two months and many allegations have been made of terrible inhuman violent acts.

While much that has happened is still uncertain, some undeniable facts have come out. What is undeniable is that hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh from northern Rakhine and that hundreds of their villages have been torched and burnt down since the alleged attacks by Rohingya militants on 25 August.

Yet Myanmars State Counsellor asked us to consider the 50 per cent of Muslim villages that have not been destroyed. The Commander-in-Chief then supposedly suggested the number of those who have fled has been exaggerated and that they must have fled because they felt safer in Bangladesh. And the Minister responsible for the safe return of those who have fled reportedly speculated that the hundreds of thousands of people who fled did so as a ploy to give an appearance of ethnic cleansing.

Mr. Chair,

Before I speak further on the crisis that has unfolded dramatically these last weeks, please allow me to present the main highlights from my latest report as well as some developments since July which cover a range of issues from across the country.

Excellencies,

Earlier this month, Myanmar ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights albeit with a declaration in relation to the right of selfdetermination. I look forward to the government taking steps towards achievement of the full realization of the rights in the Covenant.

I remain of the view that constitutional reform must proceed to allow for proper operation of the rule of law in Myanmar. I take the opportunity to again draw the attention of Myanmar officials and lawmakers to the non-exhaustive list of laws which I have identified to be in contravention of international human rights standards and consider their repeal or amendment. If those laws are not prioritized for review, the legislative reform necessary for Myanmar to transition to democracy will

certainly be incomplete.

I have in the past commended Myanmars flourishing, widening democratic space; however, I find that the protection of reputation in Myanmars national legislation appears to go beyond what is permissible under international law, effectively resulting in the criminalization of legitimate expression under which people, including journalists, continue to be prosecuted.

Distinguished Delegates,

During my July visit, I met representatives from civil society and communities

affected by all three special economic zones currently in progress in Myanmar, specifically in Yangon, Dawei and Kyaukphyu. For all three zones, communities reported that initial phases or preparatory work had had a largely negative impact on their lives, with many of those affected still suffering negative consequences. There is a need for these projects to be carried out transparently, with communities receiving continuous information, being genuinely consulted and given the opportunity to suggest alternative options.

Land confiscation remains a major concern for not only communities affected by special economic zones but also thousands of others across the country. Though the government has established bodies to tackle the issue of land compensation, with over 9,000 cases pending, fully addressing all cases remains a big challenge, and communities are frustrated when their attempts to seek redress are unanswered.

Just over a week ago, the two-year anniversary of the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement was commemorated. Yet it is unclear whether the peace process has actually advanced since that time. Additionally, reports of violent clashes between the Tatmadaw and ethnic armed groups continue, including against a group who is party to the ceasefire. I am extremely concerned at not only the ongoing escalation of conflict in Kachin and Shan States, but also continuing and increasing

reports of allegations of serious rights violations as well as decreasing humanitarian access.

There appears to be an increasing number of cases of civilians being killed or injured by mortars or artillery shells, including an incident in July in which a two-year old child was killed. The regularity of incidents raises concerns that parties to the conflict, including the Tatmadaw, are either not distinguishing between military and civilian targets or not systematically taking precautions to protect the civilian population. In addition, people continue to be displaced by conflict, and the large numbers of longterm displaced people in Kachin and northern Shan States, and Kayin State remain unchanged. I encourage efforts to address factors preventing returns, including the

continued presence of the military in areas of origin, concerns about housing, land and property rights and difficulties in accessing civil and identification documents.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It has been said that dangerous and dehumanizing speech tends to precede incidents of mass atrocities. And the reports that I have received certainly point to widespread use of hate speech directed against the Rohingya population amounting to incitement to hostility and even violence. Unfortunately, there seems to be little sympathy, let alone empathy, for the Rohingya people in Myanmar. For decades, it has been cultivated in

in the minds of the Myanmar people that the Rohingya are not indigenous to the country and therefore have no rights whatsoever to which they can apparently claim.

I have also been receiving consistent reports of incidents against Muslims and Christians from across the country. There are reports of villages with signage either to keep Muslims out or to announce that they are Muslim-free. Mosques that have been standing for generations and other religious structures are being shut down ostensibly for administrative reasons though affected communities are rarely informed ahead nor provided with alternative places to practice their religious beliefs in congregation.

Christian worshippers participating peacefully in a service commemorating six years since renewed conflict in Kachin were deemed unlawful protestors. Christian converts are threatened to revert back to Buddhism and subject to state sanctioned violence. Local Rakhines are threatened and punished for interacting and trading with Muslims. In one instance, a Rakhine woman was publicly humiliated, had her hair shaved, made to wear a sign saying she is a traitor and walk around her village for allegedly selling food to the Muslim camp community that had been blockaded and running out of food.

In the wake of the exodus of over half a million Rohingya individuals and others from northern Rakhine, much debate and analysis have come out regarding who exactly is responsible and can be made responsible for the violence that has caused this massive number of people to flee in just matter of weeks. It has been highlighted over and again how the Constitution is such that the military remains very much in control over the issue of national security and state law and order, with little oversight possible by the so-called civilian part of the Government.

Yet I believe that there is much that can be done by the civilian government. Starting with public messaging that embraces the entire make-up of the Myanmar population, of so many ethnic groups, and of various faiths. Use the show of the inter-faith alliance and solidarity from a few weeks back to combat prejudice and bigotry. Take advantage of the majority in Parliament to strike down laws that are discriminatory to show that all groups in Myanmar have equal rights.

Mr. Chair,

I have found events of past weeks devastating. The reports of villages in northern Rakhine that have been torched and destroyed are of villages that I had personally visited. The people reported to have fled must have included those I have met in my past trips, people who had appealed to me to be given the opportunity to live in peace, to be given the opportunity to work, to move freely to visit friends and family, to have access to doctors and medicine, and to help their children get an education or even simply feed them a proper meal regularly.

Already two weeks before 25 August, an army battalion was flown into Rakhine State to help augment the security there. I then issued a statement expressing concerns of a repetition of the alleged violations which followed the 9 October 2016 attacks. About 87,000 people reportedly fled between last October and August. After the 25 August attacks, almost seven times that number have fled in under two months.

Excellencies,

I will not go into the details of the alleged violations which led to the exodus but would strongly appeal for there to be an honest and impartial accounting of what has happened and for those responsible to answer for their action. Giving access to the Human Rights Council Fact-Finding Mission would be a good start.



My main concern is the current situation of the Rohingya community and what will happen to them next. Genuine implementation of the Kofi Annan Commissions allencompassing set of recommendations would have gone far in addressing not only the root causes to the cycles of violence in Rakhine State that affect all communities there but also the protracted statelessness of the Rohingya population and decades-long persecution of them.

However with there likely being more of the Rohingya population located in

Bangladesh now as compared to Myanmar, I am concerned that only a fraction of them will be allowed back, though all have the right to return. I am also concerned as to how long it might take for the government to ensure that the conditions for their return would be safe and dignified, as well as their being able to rebuild their lives when so much has been destroyed.

I am informed that the Myanmar government has insisted that UNHCR and IOM  expert entities on the issues of statelessness, refugees and voluntary returns  should be excluded from the bilateral discussions regarding the repatriation process. I find this unreasonable and unacceptable.

Distinguished Delegates,

The Rohingya population in Coxs Bazar  who have had their food supply blocked and been starving, been shot at while fleeing, walked for weeks to reach safety, lost family members on the way to refuge, and are now living in plastic sheets  should not be made to meet with stringent requirements if they so wish to return to Myanmar. Citizenship verification should be a different process for them to undergo, voluntarily after consultation once they are home, and not be part of repatriation. Once they return, they must be permitted to return to their place of origin, and not made to live

in temporary camps as these camps may not turn out to be temporary as those who were displaced in 2012 have learnt.

Most importantly, the Myanmar government must take steps to let the Rohingya population know that they are welcomed back and that necessary steps will be taken to ensure their safety and protection. Their welfare and well-being and that of the other communities in Rakhine State  including the Rakhine, the Kaman, the Mro, the Hindu, and the Daignet  should be assured equally ahead of efforts to reconcile them and advance on economic development of the region.

Given the critical situation of the Rohingya population and its unlikely resolution in the near future, I ask the General Assembly to remain seized of the situation not just in Rakhine State but for the whole of Myanmar. The duality in Myanmars government structure to which Mr. Kofi Annan has spoken of does not only have impact in Rakhine State but also in the rest of the country.

I also recommend that the Security Council includes Myanmar as an agenda item, and I hope it passes a strong resolution in due recognition that the crisis in Rakhine State had not only been decades in the making  but has been spilling over, and continues to spill over, beyond Myanmars borders. For a very long time now this issue has not been simply a domestic affair.



Friends and Colleagues,

I can say without a moment of hesitation that no one would like to see the democratic process of Myanmar derail. At the same time, I cannot erase from my mind the large bright eyes of a young toddler whom I met in Coxs Bazar. He was rescued by his mother after he was thrown into a fire. His eyes were sparkling with hope and eagerness to meet what life has in store for him.

Shouldnt this little boy be given the opportunity to join with others who are part of Myanmars democratic transition and be able to enjoy his inherent rights?

Time is of the essence ever more so in Myanmar now!

Thank you for your attention.
US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson on his visit to India met Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj. During the joint press statement, the two leaders talked about curbing terrorism and strengthening India-US partnership.

By India Today Web Desk: The US Secretary of State and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj issued joint press statements on the occasion of Tillerson's visit to India.

Both the leaders stressed on the improving India-US relations. "Happy to inform that our defence and strategic relations have deepened after PM's US visit," said Sushma Swaraj.

During the press briefings, both the leaders focused on the increasing number of terrorists attacks in the region. Swaraj pointed out that the recent Afghanistan attacks "are proof that safe havens and supporters of terrorism are active".

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Sushma Swaraj further urged that the countries supporting terrorism should be held responsible. Specifically mentioning Pakistan, the External Affairs Minister said that Pakistan should work towards bringing the terrorists in the region to book.

Supporting the Indian minister, Secretary Tillerson specified that "terror safe havens will not be tolerated", and reiterated that US will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with India in fighting terrorism.

The two leaders also announced the trilateral summit with Afghanistan in December.

"India-US have history of trade dating back to 18th century. The first shipment of crude oil came to India earlier this year," said Tillerson.

Further, the Indian minister was questioned on India's ties with North Korea to which Swaraj replied that India's trade with North Korea is minimal and the Indian embassy there is very small.

(With inputs from Geeta Mohan)

--- ENDS ---
Online Education

Distance Learning Programs Make Case for Quality Assessment

The Dallas County Community College District had grown its online learning programs organically for two decades when Terry Di Paolo, executive dean of online instructional services, decided it was time to take a "holistic view" of the programs to assess quality and create an improvement plan that aligned with its accreditation work. Attendance in 2015 at a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS) workshop introduced him to the Online Learning Consortium's Quality Scorecard. Other institutions at that event assured him that he could use the scorecard system across all seven colleges and various service centers that made up the district.

OLC's Quality Scorecards are worksheets that gives schools criteria and benchmarking tools to assess the effectiveness of their online instructional efforts. Broad assessment areas cover administration of online programs; blended learning; quality course teaching and instructional practices; digital courseware instructional practice; and course design, the last a rubric developed and shared by the State University of New York. Each document covers multiple details; for example, the "administration of online programs" rubric has 75 criteria, which are scored on four levels: deficient (zero points), developing (one point), accomplished (two points) and exemplary (three points).

In the case of the Texas college system, over a 14-month period starting in February 2016, the district adopted the OLC Quality Scorecard internally, customizing it to the unique needs of its large and diverse institution, applying it to the district overall and to its individual colleges.

During that project the district realized that while individual colleges could evaluate their own efforts against the scorecard criteria, there was no visibility to the district's overall approach for the items being measured. Districts were coming up with their own standards for the various aspects of online instruction and learning. Di Paolo and his small team of reviewers received all the college scores and converted them into a single score for each item. He also asked each college to provide five ideas for "quick fixes" and five for "long-term improvements" in each category.

In a new case study published on the OLC website, Di Paolo explained that "everything we created we gave back to the college teams with instructions to share." As the district moved through the process, he added, "you really saw a commitment to what we were doing. You could tell this was having an impact  I started to get requests to provide overviews to others in the district who were not directly involved with the scorecard."

By April 2017 the college system had gathered its top administrators in a room to report the results. During this session, participants engaged in conversations with the college teams about where the district's online programs were and where they should go next. As an institution, the case study noted, they realized "they needed to make some changes." Among them was a need to improve how the colleges mapped distance education policies to SACS requirements.

For the first time, this case study along with those for two other institutions are being published on the OLC website over the next couple of weeks. The idea, according to OLC is to help other schools find out what others have learned about evaluating the quality of their online learning programs. For example, a profile of Baker College's Baker Online will explain how the school used the quality scorecard to help prioritize improvements. The case study for Middle Tennessee State University laid out how the institution used its evaluation to pinpoint areas that needed improvement in its online offerings and demonstrate deficiencies to gain support for the changes.

All three case studies will be available on the OLC Quality Scorecard Suite homepage.
Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust founder Steve Saka announced on Social Media that he expects the Muestra de Saka Nacatamale to hit retail shelves in mid-November.

Just before the 2017 IPCPR Trade Show, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust had started taking pre-orders on the second installment of the Muestra de Saka series, the Nacatamale. Muestra de Saka follows a one size, one blend model where each installment of the series has a unique blend mapped to a particular vitola. The Nacatamale features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan tobaccos from a single farm. It is available in one size, measuring 6 x 48. Like the first installment, the Muestra de Saka Exclusivo, the Nacatamale will be packaged in an individual coffin with seven coffins packaged per box. Production for 2017 is 2,250 boxes.

Saka explained some more background on the project on this social media post:

What made this cigar a unique blending challenge was I went viejo granja style with it. For over a century most cigars entire filler recipes were comprised of just ONE farms tobacco and any complexity was introduced by extremely careful leaf processing, selection and positioning within the bunch. Whereas these days as we have hundreds of ingredients to work and blend with to create interesting and satisfying ligas. So, the challenge was to see if I could make an old farm style liga that could hold its own with the modern blends we create today. I am genuinely curious to see what the feedback on this cigar will be and I have probably poisoned the pool a bit by stating it is a single ingredient liga, but at the same time I am really proud of this blend  amazing the amount of effort it took to pull this one off and of all the Muestras I dont believe any other will be as challenging skill wise. This cigar is considerably more robust than the Exclusivo and since this puros tripa are all from just one small, independent farm in Jalapa, Nicaragua, I will not be disclosing the name of the vega. Note: The Nacatamale Coffins feature a crossed knife and fork to make them identifiably different than Exclusivo when viewed in the coffin on the shelf.

Saka says he has sold 99.5% of his inventory and will be keeping the remainder for himself.

Photo Credit: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
The La Barba Purple is the second line that was released by La Barba Cigars. La Barba Cigars is a company founded by Tony Bellatto and Craig Rossi in 2010. The name La Barba translates to beard and is a tribute to the beards the company founders had. In 2013 the company brought its first cigar to market, the La Barba Red. This was a cigar that was originally made at the Aladino factory in Honduras. A year later La Barba Purple became the companys sophomore release, and it would become the companys first release at Tabacalera William Ventura. La Barba would eventually shift all of its production to Tabacalera William Ventura. Today we will take a closer look a the La Barba Purple in the Robusto size.

Tabacalera William Ventura is best known for making many of Caldwell Cigar Companys releases. Bellatto also happens to have a connection with Caldwell Cigar owner Robert Caldwell as the two are partners in the Lost & Found brand. This past year, La Barba entered into an agreement with Caldwell Cigar Company to handle its distribution. La Barba also has used Tabacalera William Ventura to produce the limited edition La Barba One & Only. In addition, Bellatto is partners in a brand called Siempre, Siempre is a brand Bellatto founded with his father and Matt Waris (a brand also made at Tabacalera William Ventura). This past year it was also announced the La Barba Red was getting revamped and also moving production to Tabacalera William Ventura.

Without further ado, lets take a closer look at the La Barba One and Only.

Blend Profile

While the cigar is highlighted by the use of the HVA wrapper, the blend also contains a varietal less commonly found in blends known as Carbonell. This is a tobacco that has been worked with by Tabacalera William Ventura in the past  most notably in Caldwell Cigar Companys The Last Tsar.

Wrapper: HVA (Habana Vuelta Abajo Ecuador)

Binder: Dominican Corojo

Filler: Corojo, HVA Habano, and a rare varietal known as Carbonell.

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (Tabacalera William Ventura)

Vitolas Available

The La Barba Purple is available in five sizes. Each is packaged in 12-count boxes.

Robusto: 5 x 50

Corona Gorda: 5 3/4 x 46

Toro: 6 x 54

Magnum: 6 x 60

Lancero: 7 x 40

Appearance

The HVA wrapper of the La Barba Purple Robusto had a medium brown color with a cinnamon colored tint to it. Upon closer examination there was some mottling on the surface of the wrapper. This was a wrapper with a light coating of oil on it. There were also some visible veins and some thin wrapper seams.

As one would expect the La Barba Purple band has a purple background. On the band is a gold powder barber-shop straight razor. To the left of the razor is the text LA and to the right is the text BARBA  both in gold powder font. Finally, the band is finished with gold trim.

The current band design replaced the original La Barba Purple band design (photo below). Earlier this year, new bands were introduced to La Barba Purple and La Barba Red.

Preparation for the Cigar Experience

Prior to lighting up the La Barba Purple Robusto, I opted to use a straight cut to remove the cap. Once the cap was removed, I proceeded with the pre-light draw. The cold draw of the La Barba Purple Robusto produced notes of natural tobacco and wood. While it wasnt the most exotic pre-light draw, I still considered it to be satisfactory At this point, I was ready to light up the La Barba Purple and see what the smoking stage would have in store.

Flavor Profile

The La Barba Purple Robusto kicked off with notes of natural tobacco, graham cracker sweetness, classic wood, and cedar. Early on the natural tobacco and graham cracker sweetness were the primary notes with the wood and cedar notes secondary. On the retro-hale, I picked up notes of black pepper. Toward the end of the first third, the natural tobacco sweetness remained the primary note. The graham cracker sweetness receded into the background joining the classic wood and cedar.

As the La Barba Purple Robusto moved into the second third, some earth notes mixed in with the natural tobacco in the forefront. At the same time, I detected the black pepper was now present in the background By the midway point the earth notes displaced the natural tobacco as the primary note. The natural tobacco now receded into the background joining the classic wood and cedar. The graham cracker sweetness had now dissipated.

Later in the second third of the La Barba Purple Robusto, the pepper notes increased. The earth notes remained primary. During the final third, the pepper was a close secondary note. Meanwhile, the notes of cedar and classic wood still contributed to the flavor profile in the background. This is the way the flavor profile of the La Barba Purple Robusto came to a close. The resulting nub was slightly soft to the touch, but cool in temperature.

Burn and Draw

The burn of the La Barba Purple Robusto took a relatively straight path from start to finish. There was some jaggedness on the burn line, but this was easily remedied with some touch-ups. The resulting ash had a classic salt and pepper complexion. I found this ash to be on the firmer side. The burn rate and burn temperature were both ideal.

As for the draw, it had the right amount of resistance versus openness. The end result is that this was a low maintenance cigar to derive flavor from.

Strength and Body

In terms of strength and body, the La Barba Purple started out dead-center medium. There was a slight uptick in the intensity of both attributes in the second half, but overall I still found the intensity levels of strength and body did not quite reach the medium to full.

When I came to strength versus body, I found both attributes to balance each other nicely with neither attribute overshadowing the other

Final Thoughts

Its hard to believe that La Barba Purple has been on the market for almost three years, but its one that has remained quite consistent. In my opinion, the La Barba Purple Robusto is one of those cigars that is best enjoyed undistracted as there were a lot of subtle flavor nuances that could be picked up with this cigar. I found the medium strength and body of this cigar meshed quite with the flavors that were produced.

The La Barba Purple cigar is one that I could recommend to either a novice or experienced cigar enthusiast. As for myself, its certainly a cigar Id smoke again. Its a cigar worthy of purchasing multiples of  and its one worthy of a box split.

Summary

Key Flavors: Natural Tobacco, Earth, Graham Cracker, Black Pepper, Cedar, Wood

Burn: Very Good

Draw: Excellent

Complexity: Medium to High

Strength: Medium

Body: Medium

Finish: Good

Rating

Assessment: 3.5-Box Split

Score: 91

References

News: La Barba Purple Coming This September

Price: $10.00

Source: La Barba Cigars

Brand Reference: La Barba Cigars
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Gifts from drug companies can lead doctors and other health care providers to prescribe more brand-name and expensive medications, a new study finds.

The researchers analyzed data from 2013 from nearly 2,900 health care providers in the Washington, D.C., area who issued prescriptions through Medicare Part D, the federal prescription drug program for people who are 65 and over or disabled.

Nearly 40 percent of these doctors or providers accepted money, meals, trips and other gifts from drug companies, the study found.

The gifts -- totaling $3.9 million -- ranged from as little as $7 a year (the cost of a dozen donuts) to as much as $200,000 in cash, according to researchers.

Health care providers who received gifts from drug companies averaged 892 prescriptions, compared with 389 prescriptions ordered by those who didn't receive gifts.

Gift recipients also prescribed 7.8 percent more brand-name drugs than those who did not receive gifts.

Health care providers who received even small gifts (less than $500 a year) issued more expensive prescriptions ($114 vs. $85) and more prescriptions (30.3 percent vs. 25.7 percent) than those who received no gifts. Those who received large gifts (more than $500 a year) had the highest average costs per prescription ($189) and percentage of brand-name prescriptions (nearly 40 percent).

"This study clearly shows that even small gifts change the practice of medicine," said study co-senior author Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman, a professor in the department of pharmacology and physiology at Georgetown University Medical Center. "Gifts, no matter their size, have a powerful effect on human relationships, and pharmaceutical companies are well aware of that."

No national laws prohibit health care providers from accepting gifts from drug companies, but there should be, she said, in order to protect patients' health.

"Industry gifts influence prescribing behavior, cost taxpayers money and should be banned," Fugh-Berman said in a university news release. She is also director of PharmedOut, a research and education project that examines pharmaceutical industry marketing.

The study's findings were published Oct. 25 in the journal PLOS ONE.

More information

Santa Clara University has more on drug company gifts to doctors.
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S.'s leading group of obstetricians and gynecologists is warning against a new trend where babies born by C-section are "seeded" via cotton swabs with vaginal microbes from the mother.

"Vaginal seeding" is growing in popularity because it's thought that babies born through Cesarean-section miss out on certain "helpful" vaginal microbes that might shield the infant from asthma, allergies and immune disorders.

"Vaginal seeding has become a rising trend for patients," noted Dr. Jennifer Wu, an ob/gyn at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "Patients read about the benefits of a vaginal delivery and hope to replicate these benefits with vaginal seeding."

As explained by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), it's thought that contact with healthy vaginal bacteria helps stimulate the infant immune system, prevents the growth of dangerous bacteria and regulates the gut.

That contact doesn't happen for babies born via C-section, however, so in vaginal seeding, a cotton swab with vaginal fluids from the mother is used to transfer vaginal bacteria to a newborn.

But in a statement issued Oct. 24, ACOG -- the nation's largest ob/gyn organization -- said the procedure is not recommended because the known risks outweigh any potential benefits.

"Due to the lack of sufficient data, the very real risks [of vaginal seeding] outweigh the potential benefits," Dr. Christopher Zahn, ACOG's vice president of practice activities, said in a college news release.

"By swabbing an infant's mouth, nose or skin with vaginal fluid after birth, the mother could potentially, and unknowingly, pass on disease-causing bacteria or viruses," he explained.

Wu agreed. "There are very real risks attached to this practice," she said. "Certain viruses, such as group B strep and herpes, can cause serious illnesses such as meningitis in newborns."

And Zahn stressed that there's a much safer way for a new mom to transfer her helpful bacteria to her newborn: Breast-feeding.

"Breast-feeding for the first six months is the best way to overcome the lack of exposure to maternal vaginal flora at birth," Zahn said. "The bacteria present in breast milk and on the nipple is sufficient for natural colonization or seeding of the gut. There may be some initial difference in the gut [microbes] of infants based on mode of delivery, but research has shown that difference disappears after about six months," he added.

If a woman does insist on vaginal seeding, her ob/gyn needs to make sure the patient understands the potential risks, ACOG said.

Dr. Mitchell Kramer is head of obstetrics and gynecology at Huntington Hospital in Huntington, N.Y. He agreed that breast-feeding is a good means of transmitting healthy microbes from a mom to her baby, but that "the jury is still out on [vaginal seeding] and further study is necessary before this is recommended as a routine protocol."

More information

The March of Dimes has more on C-section.
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The risk of unrest and violent protests in Kenya has increased after the countrys electoral commission announced that repeat elections will be held on October 26. The order came after Kenyas Supreme Court annulled the result of an election in August that kept President Uhuru Kenyatta in power.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga today urged his supporters to boycott the vote and protest, according to reports. Human Rights Watch research indicated that 33 people were killed in Nairobi after the August election, most as a direct action of police. Rights group estimate that about 70 people have been killed country-wide in post-election violence.

CPJs Emergencies Response Team has issued the following advisory for journalists planning to cover the re-election:

Current situation:

Reporters in Kenya told CPJ one of the major concerns covering violence at the protests is the risk of being an inadvertent victim. Journalists said they were worried about safety around police after reports earlier this year of people being killed after officers fired live rounds. Nairobi police in August denied targeting individuals and said they used live ammunition only to scare people who they referred to as looters, according to The Guardian.

Journalists previously told CPJ that when police employ riot dispersal tactics, crowds can stampede, which is dangerous in Kenyas heavily built up slum areas.

When reporting on protests, positioning is key, as well as having a dynamic risk assessment to allow for a fluid situation. Many journalists choose to stay behind the police lines, which is generally regarded as the safest location.

Around the elections in August, CPJ spoke with 10 journalists who said they were assaulted or harassed by police and unidentified attackers while reporting on the election.

Regional hostility:

In Western Kenya, local journalists told CPJ that the mood was potentially hostile toward journalists and foreigners. They added that in part the hostility came from confusion over who was a journalist and who was an election monitor or official.

CPJ recommends that journalists covering the election carry accreditation whenever possible.

During any situation remain cognizant of the high crime rate in Kenya. Cell phones and recording equipment are particularly attractive to thieves.

If violence takes on a sectarian nature, local reporters, fixers, and drivers are at particular risk. Consider their safety before asking them to travel outside of their local area. Such requests could have dire consequences. In some hot spots, such as Mathare, delineations are unclear, which can be problematic.

Protection gear and licenses:

Journalists should wear personal protective equipment including helmets, eye protection, and gas masks. Journalists should note however, that the use of body armor now requires a license in Kenya and that police enforced this law during the August elections. Police arrested Kenya Television Network journalist Duncan Khaemba on August 12 for allegedly possessing a helmet and body armor without a proper license, according to police documents seen by CPJ and Khaemba. The journalist was reporting on violent post-election protests in Nairobis Kibera slum at the time. Police told CPJ that the charges were dropped on August 15.

Body armor is classified as a firearm under the Firearms Act, and licenses are hard to obtain, particularly at short notice. As a result, all journalists should carefully consider whether to carry unlicensed body armor or risk working without protection.

Resources:

It is advisable for international journalists to register with their countrys embassy, which can assist if problems arise.

To minimize the risk of reporting on crowd disorder:

Preparation:

Plan the assignment and ensure that you have a full battery on your cell phone. Know the area you are going to. Work out in advance what to do in an emergency.

Always try to work with a colleague and have a regular check-in procedure with your baseparticularly if covering rallies or crowded events.

Wear clothing and footwear that allows you to move swiftly. Avoid loose clothing and lanyards that can be grabbed, as well as flammable material, such as nylon.

Consider your position. Try to find an elevated position that may offer greater safety.

At any location, always plan an evacuation route. If working with others, select an emergency rendezvous point.

Maintain situational awareness at all times and limit valuables in your possession. Do not leave any equipment in vehicles. After dark, the risk of criminal actions increases.

increases. If working in a crowd, plan a strategy. Try to keep to the outside of the crowd and avoid the middle, where it is hard to escape. Identify an escape route.

In situations where teargas may be used:

Wear personal protective equipment, including a gas mask, eye protection, body armor, and helmet.

Contact lenses are not advisable.

Individuals with asthma or respiratory issues should avoid areas where teargas is being used. When large amounts of teargas are used, there is the possibility of high concentrations of gas sitting in areas with no movement of air.

Take note of landmarks (i.e. posts, curbs) that can be used to help you navigate out of an area if you are struggling to see.

If you are exposed to teargas, try to find higher ground and stand in fresh air to allow the breeze to carry away the gas. Do not rub your eyes or face. When you are able to, shower in cold water to wash the gas from your skin, but do not bathe. Clothing may need to be washed several times to remove the crystals completely, or discarded.

When dealing with aggression:

Read body language and use your own body language to pacify a situation.

Keep eye contact with an aggressor, use open hand gestures and keep talking with a calming manner.

Keep an extended arms length from the threat. Back away and if someone grabs hold of you, break away firmly without aggression. If cornered and in danger, shout.

If cornered and in danger, shout. If the situation escalates, keep a hand free to protect your head and move with short, deliberate steps to avoid falling. If in a team, stick together and link arms.

Be aware of the situation and your own safety. While there are times when documenting aggression can be newsworthy, taking pictures of aggressive individuals can escalate a situation.

CPJ encourages local, freelance journalists and media organizations to closely follow the safety principles and practices of the ACOS alliance, which can be found here.

For more information on conditions for journalists working in Kenya, visit CPJs devoted page on our website. For additional and detailed safety information, including security assessments, visit see CPJs Journalist Security Guide.
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One of the largest TV stations in the Maldives, Raajje TV, says authorities are using newly recriminalized defamation law to try to shut it down by levying exorbitant fines.

The regulatory Maldives Broadcast Commission (MBC) has fined the opposition-aligned 24-hour TV news channel for defamation three times in the past seven months, for a total over 1.7 million Maldivian rufiyaaa (more than US$100,000). Employees at the station, citing the large fines imposed over a short time frame, say authorities are targeting it for critical reporting. In a statement emailed to CPJ, Raajje TV said these actions are politically motivated and with the aim of muzzling free media in the Maldives.

On March 7, MBC fined Raajje TV and a former Raajje journalist 200,000 rufiyaa and 50,000 rufiyaa, respectively, for allegedly damaging a city workers reputation and character. On April 6, Raajje TV paid its fine. Hours later on the same day, the MBC fined Raajje TV again, this time for 1 million rufiyaa, for airing an opposition rally speech live on October 26, 2016, that it deemed defamatory towards President Abdulla Yameen, Aishath Shaany, head of the English department at Raajje TV, told CPJ. On October 8, as Raajje TV was commemorating the four-year anniversary of an arson attack on the station, the MBC fined Raajje TV for 500,000 rufiyaa for a parliamentarians comments aired live on July 28, Shaany told CPJ. MBC said airing the comments threatened national security, but the parliamentarian was not fined for defamation, Shaany said. CPJ was unable to find contact information for the parliamentarian.

Mohamed Shahyb, president of the MBC, denied that the fines were imposed arbitrarily and told CPJ that MBC only adjudicates complaints, without targeting any specific station. Shahyb said incidents of on-air broadcasts with unsubstantiated allegations toward individuals affecting their human dignity were on the increase because of political turbulence. The regulator bills itself as independent, but all seven members are nominated by the president and approved by the parliament.

The defamation act allows the regulator to investigate and take action against media outlets and reporters on its own initiative and at the same time individuals can also lodge a complaint, Ibrahim Riffath, a lawyer in the Maldives who is not involved in the Raajje case, told CPJ.

The fines levied on Raajje TV come amid a broader crackdown on free speech and journalism in the Maldives.

The Defamation and Freedom of Speech Act became law in August 2016, after President Abdulla Yameen Abdulla Gayoom and the ruling party came under intense scrutiny for allegations of corruption, which the president has denied. The Act re-criminalized defamation after prosecution was suspended in 2005 and former President Mohamed Nasheed formally repealed defamation from the penal code in 2009, Riffath said.

Riffath expressed concern over the draconian nature of the act and said it could be used to silence freedom of expression and eliminate the pivotal role media plays in holding the government accountable.

During the laws draft phase, Yameen said it was necessary to put some limits on fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, according to news reports. At the time, CPJ said the law would further stifle the beleaguered press and marks a significant step backward from press freedom in the Maldives. Criminal defamation laws are often used as tool to jail journalists and silence dissent, particularly by authoritarian governments, CPJ has found.

Miuvaan Mohamed, a senior video journalist at Raajje TV, said authorities are targeting the station because it regularly reports on corruption. He said the government wants to shut Raajje down with presidential elections upcoming in 2018.

People clearly understand that Raajje TV is the most watched TV station in the Maldives, and therefore the government is very, very scared about it, Ahmed Saleem, managing director at Raajje TV, said. This is one way to [shut us down]torture, torture, torture, and then finally we come to our knees and say okay this is not possible at all.

Maldives law criminalizes any speech that can be deemed defamatory, including comments deemed anti-Islam and comments that threaten national security or contradict general social normsvague terms that, combined with arbitrary implementation, can make practicing journalism extremely risky. Additionally, the regulations and guidelines under which the MBC can impose fines have not been published, Mohamed said. In its statement, Raajje TV alleged that the fines were imposed without proper investigation.

Under the Act, journalists can be fined between 50,000 and 5 million rufiyaa and media organizations can be fined between 50,000 and 2 million rufiyaa. Individuals who do not pay the fine could face a three to six month jail term, while news organizations that do not pay could have their licenses revoked. Fines must be paid within 30 days, Shaany said. The fines cannot be appealed until they have been paid in full, Riffath said. The appeals process is handled by civil courts, according to Saleem and Riffath.

The exorbitant size of the fines strengthens the argument that the Act is a political tool to silence criticism of the government, since media outlets and journalists are unlikely to be able to bear the financial burden, Riffath said.

Once the fines have been paid, the appeals process moves extremely slowly, Saleem said. There has been no progress on the appeals Raajje has filed in civil court against the two defamation cases from earlier this year, he said.

Shahyb said Raajjes first appeal was cancelled by the civil court and that the second appeal was in progress. He said MBC could not comment further on the process of court proceedings.

Raajje employees said they fear the worst-case scenariothat they may not be able to pay the fines and their license will be revoked, so the station will be forced to shut down. They worry about the precedent this would set.

You can imagine the psychological impact that will have on our staff, on the station, on the business, on supporters, Saleem said. This is a very serious issue  If Raajje TV can be shut down, then maybe other things can be shut down.

For now, the entire Raajje TV staff is on the ground to help raise enough money to pay off the latest fine due November 7.

We have gone to almost every island, we have crossed oceanswe have run a door-to-door campaign on the streets, Saleem said. This is what our staff is doing right nowthey are not doing journalism, they are begging for help and assistance just to keep it alive.

EDITORS NOTE: The seventh paragraph has been updated to correct former President Mohamed Nasheeds role in decriminalizing defamation.


More than 600,000 Rohingya have crossed over into Bangladesh since August 25, when a group of Rohingya militants attacked Burmese security officials at approximately 30 locations throughout northern Rakhine State, killing at least 12 officials. The militants are members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and claimed it was an effort to protect their people from persecution.

According to the United Nations, the response of Burmas security forces was disproportionately severe, and reportedly included shelling of civilians, arson and widespread extrajudicial killings.

The rapid influx of Rohingya into Bangladesh has strained the country's resources. To address this urgent need, the United States has provided nearly 40 million dollars in humanitarian aid for refugees, host communities, and persons internally displaced in Rakhine State. This brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance for displaced persons in Burma and refugees from Burma in the region, to nearly 104 million dollars in fiscal year 2017.

In particular, U.S. assistance is flowing to its international organization partners on the ground, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN Childrens Fund, the International Organization for Migration, and the World Food Program, which help provide protection, emergency shelter, food and nutritional assistance, as well as health care and psychosocial support for the more than half a million displaced Burmese in Burma, Bangladesh, and the region.

The U.S. applauds Bangladeshs generosity in responding to this severe humanitarian crisis and appreciates its continued efforts to ensure assistance reaches people in need.

The U.S. calls for an immediate end of the violence in northern Rakhine State, and for the Burmese government to allow refugees to return home voluntarily, safely, and with dignity. The U.S. welcomes Burmas commitment to bringing long-term peace and stability to Rakhine State by implementing the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State.

The United States calls on the Burmese government to allow for unhindered humanitarian access to people in Rakhine State in order to meet pressing humanitarian needs. The U.S. also urges other donors to join in providing additional humanitarian assistance for those in need.
Educational exposure of ideas, assumptions or hypotheses, based on proven facts" (which need not be strictly current affairs) Value in judgments are excluded, and the text comes close to an opinion article, without judging or making forecasts , just formulating hypotheses, giving motivated explanations and bringing together a variety of data

Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy and Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont. PASCAL GUYOT (AFP)

It was difficult to announce [Article 155], but implementing it is impossible. This admission from a high-ranking Spanish official highlights the uncertainty felt by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy regarding the effectiveness of a measure he hopes will restore constitutional order in the breakaway region.

The main problem for Rajoy is the fact that the Spanish state is practically non-existent in Catalonia

Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution allows Madrid to intervene in the internal affairs of the countrys autonomous regions. Rajoy has said he will use the measure to sack the Catalan regional premier and his deputy, as well as department heads, before calling regional elections within the next six months.

But the obscure provision has never been applied before. And it is not clear whether Article 155 will work once it receives Senate sign-off: both because of the active or passive resistance sure to be put up by the Catalan government, and because of the short time frame (six months) involved. Then there is the precarious position of the Spanish government in a hostile territory where Spanish legality must be restored.

1. Active resistance. The resistance offered by Carles Puigdemont and his team may be more or less theatrical, but removing and substituting these officials is relatively straightforward. The real problem is the resistance that could be offered by other public servants, from the top brass to the rank and file. Journalists at the regional television station TV3, Catalunya Radio, and the Catalan News Agency, have already stated they wont comply with their new managers. Town halls and educational institutions  the teaching union UTSEC has said it plans to reject Article 155  and even fire departments are following the same line: the latter say they do not recognize the legitimacy of an invading state. The position of 17,000 officers with the Catalan regional police force, the Mossos DEsquadra, remains to be clarified. Disobedience has no place in a police force and almost all unions have said signaled they will be loyal to any new chief appointed by Madrid. But the precedent of the October 1 referendum  when many feel the Mossos failed to carry out their duties in preventing people from casting their ballot in a vote deemed illegal by Madrid  does not bode well for this optimism. It must also be noted that relations between the Mossos on the one hand, and the Spanish National Police and the Guardia Civil on the other, are very strained.

2. Passive resistance. It wouldnt take huge demonstrations or revolts to sabotage the plans for Article 155. The Catalan administration has 200,000 employees and has spent four decades working towards becoming a self-sufficient system. Spains deputy prime minister, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, has said she wants to see disobedient civil servants dismissed or sanctioned, but there are many ways to paralyze the region without committing outright crimes, just as it is impossible to organize mass punishment. This is not because the Catalan administration would come to a standstill in a period of upheaval, but because the human resources arent there to replace hardline individuals in a workforce that is implicitly or explicitly disloyal. Article 155 would sink in hostile territory.

3. The time factor. Pressure from the opposition Socialist Party (PSOE) and Ciudadanos was instrumental in forcing Rajoy to promise that the time frame for Article 155 would be six months. This was done to ensure that the intervention would be brief, thus providing reassurance to people in Catalonia and in Spain. But the short time frame also makes the creation of a parallel or imposed administration even less viable. The substitution of top officials alone would require complex administrative processes. The only way to apply Article 155 in six months, with regional elections as the goal, would be if it found in Catalonia a loyal administration, ready to effect changes efficiently. And the reality is exactly the opposite.

4. The non-existence of the Spanish state in Catalonia. The main problem for Rajoy is the fact that the Spanish state is practically non-existent in Catalonia already. This is a structural problem. Just 9% of public service workers in Catalonia are with the national administration. Thats against 16% in Valencia, 19% in Andalusia and 39% in Madrid. As Andres Betancor, of Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, explains, the presence of the Spanish state in the region is purely residual and nominal and limited to the Tax Office and Social Security. The current crisis has seen national reinforcements brought in, including 5,900 law enforcement officers. But the fact that some of these have had to be housed in cruise ferries rented for the purpose shows how precarious the national presence in Catalonia really is.

5. The precariousness of the Spanish state. The power of the Spanish state is more mythical than actual. Beyond the Catalan crisis, the state is undergoing a crisis of authority and function. This is because of the shift of powers to the regions and a policy of privatization  the state no longer supplies gas, power or telephone services  as well as the existence of a demotivated analogue workforce tempted by the private sector. In this context, the state cant activate a rescue plan in Catalonia without the rest of the country, and its own administration, suffering for it. Thats despite the fact that sending extra police to Catalonia poses no risk to the rest of Spain.

English version by George Mills.
Now, more Indian capital warships will be positioned round the year across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to counter China.

By Sudhi Ranjan Sen: Now, more Indian capital warships will be positioned round the year across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to counter China.

Indian warships will now be in Madagascar in the south-east Indian Ocean, Malacca, Sunda Strait in the eastern edge of the Indian Ocean and off-the-coast of Bangladesh and Myanmar even -- to keep an eye on Chinese warships and "emerging threats", top sources told India Today.

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Besides, warships will be positioned in and around Male, Mauritius Islands in west and Bangladesh and Myanmar in east.

The round the year deployment is a change from the previous seasonal deployments of Indian warships in the IOR. In all, about 45 capital warships will be scouting the vast Indian Ocean . Surveillance aircraft like the US-made -P8I, Dornier will be keeping an eye from the sky.

At least 14 Chinese warships and submarines, including a nuclear submarine, have been spotted in the Indian Ocean Region till September 2017.

This is by far the largest deployment of Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean region. South Block feels the number of Chinese warships will be only increase in the future.

Changing the deployment patterns from seasonal to round the year was decided at the on-going Navy Commanders Conference, sources told India Today.

Till recently Indian Navy warships were permanently deployed in the Gulf-of Aden and Persian Gulf only for anti-piracy operations. Mid-June 2017, the Indian Navy decided to permanently position a warship on the Malacca Strait - the narrow waterway that connects the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean.

The surveillance in this area has been further tightened, "A Kora-Class guided missile Corvette and Off-shore Patrol vessel will be deployed permanently in Andaman Sea," sources told India Today.

The Malacca and Sunda Strait are natural choke points - narrow waterways -- through which Chinese warships must pass exposing themselves.

Indian Warship will also be prowling the seas around the coast Lakshadweep and Minicoy and Male Islands to keep an eye on Chinese ships.

China recently has opened a base in Djobuti. Beijing also wants bases in Mauritius and Male islands. Indian patrols around Male, Mauritius and Madagascar island will be keeping a close watch over this region.

The shipping lane through which warships, freight carriers reach the Indian Ocean from Cape of Good Hope will be monitored by Indian warships positioned in and around Madagascar, sources said.

Besides, warships, surveillance aircraft like the US made P8I and Dornier will be keeping an eye from the sky.

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Interestingly, keeping in mind the growing Rohingya crisis, Indian Navy Warships will be positioned in off-coast of Myanmar and Bangladesh.

"The Rohingya crisis threatens several countries, a close watch in the area has become imperative," senior Navy officers said explaining the permanent deployment in the area.

--- ENDS ---
Irans Supreme Leader ayatollah Ali Khamenei has defended the presence of Iranian forces outside its borders, by calling it the strategic depth of the Islamic regime.

According to the IRNA, speaking at the armys military academy, Khamenei reiterated that Irans defensive power and capabilities are not subject to negotiations and haggling.

Khamenei, who is also the commander in chief of Islamic republics armed forces claimed that the West opposes Irans increasing power among nations in the region and beyond, because it is the strategic depth of the Islamic regime.

He added that the answer to the opposition of the West was to rely on elements of national power.

The U.S. strongly objects to the presence of Iranian forces in Syria and Iraq and Irans support for the Lebanese Hezbollah.

On Sunday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who was visiting Saudi Arabia called on Iranian forces and militias to go home and allow Iraq to rebuild itself.

After President Donald Trumps decision not to recertify the Iran nuclear deal two weeks ago, Iranian officials have adopted a harsher tone, rejecting U.S. demands and even threatening to expand their regional influence and missile capabilities.

The U.S. and its allies have repeatedly cautioned Iran that such a policy contradicts the spirit of the 2015 nuclear agreement and will not help to eliminate remaining economic sanctions or the effects of previous sanctions.
By RFE/RL



U.S. President Donald Trumps top security adviser has told a television interview that the malign, destructive influence of Iran and its "proxies" must be removed from Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere in the Middle East.



"Its very difficult to see how can there be an enduring peace if one side that has perpetuated and accelerated the violence is not removed," national security adviser H.R. McMaster told U.S.-funded Alhurra television in an interview broadcast on October 25.



So its important for everyone in the regionto reduce the malign, destructive influence of Iran and the [Islamic] Revolutionary Guards Corps, he added.



The comments by McMaster, who is on active duty as a lieutenant general in the U.S. Army, come at a time of raised tensions in the already-unstable Middle East.



U.S.-backed forces appear on the verge of defeating Islamic State (IS) extremists in Syria and Iraq; a six-year civil war in Syria drags on; Kurdish leaders in Iraq have conducted an indepedence referendum in defiance of the government in Baghdad; Shi'ite-led rebels are fighting the government in Yemen; and the Shiite Hizballah movement continues to operate in Lebanon.



McMaster said he sees the effect of Tehran's influence in all the conflicts.



Iraq's Shiite-led government has close ties to the leadership of neighboring Iran, and experts have argued that Tehran is using militias, such as the Shi'ite-dominated Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and the Quds Force -- which has links to the [Islamic] Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) -- to widen its influence.



On October 22, during a visit to the region, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, told Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi that it was it was time for Iranian-backed militias and their Iranian advisers who helped Iraq defeat IS to go home.



"Certainly, Iranian militias that are in Iraq, now that the fighting against [Islamic State] is coming to a close, those militias need to go home," he said.



A day later, Abadi appeared to reject Tillersons comments, saying the PMF "is an official institution among state bodies," which includes "Iraqi fighters who fought terrorism and defended their country."



"We should encourage them because they will be a hope for the country and the region," Abadi's office quoted him as telling Tillerson.



McMaster said the goal was not to break all connections between Baghdad and Iran, but to contain Tehran's destructive influences.



The United States thinks that Iraq should have a relationship with Iran -- Iran is its neighbor, he said. But what we want is an Iraq that is strong.



McMaster said the Iranians have done a very good job...of infiltrating and subverting Iraqi state institutions and functions, as well as creating these militias that lay outside the Iraqi governments control.



They grow these militiasand threaten governments [in the region] with those militias if those governments take action against Iranian interests, he added.



They [Iranian leaders] want governments to be weak. They want governments to be dependent on Iran for support, he said.



McMaster said it was important to confront Iran and its proxies elsewhere in the region, such as in Yemen, where Tehran has supported Shiite Houthis rebels against the Saudi Arabia-backed government.



In Syria, McMaster said the United States is working with partners in the region and allies elsewhere to forge an enduring political settlement to the war that has killed more than 310,000 people, created 6.1 million refugees, and internally displaced some 5 million Syrians.



McMaster indicated he did not see a role for Presidential Bashar al-Assad in any future Syrian government.



When you look at what is necessary to bring communities together, to end the cycle of violence, it is very difficult to imagine how Assad could be a part of that, he said.



I mean especially with the blood that is on his hands. And how he has had a hand in destroying his own country and creating so much human suffering, using some of the most heinous weapons on earth to commit mass murder against his own people, McMaster added.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

Trend:

Azerbaijan is key to Europe's energy security, said Art McHaffie, a former senior Amoco executive and now an honorary consul for Azerbaijan, chron.com reported.

"When I first arrived in Azerbaijan in November 1994, assigned by the U.S. oil company Amoco Corporation to a joint venture consortium, signs of economic crisis were everywhere. Grocery store shelves were bare. Infrastructure was in decay after years of neglect under Soviet rule. Now, more than 20 years later, Azerbaijan and its capital Baku are hubs of economic activity, providing the West with a reliable trade and energy ally in an uncertain region. The country's oil and gas industry has largely driven its transformation and growth."

"In the mid-1990s, after restoring domestic order and forging a ceasefire with Armenia, then-Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev made oil a national priority. Amoco and nine other companies joined with Azerbaijan's state energy company, SOCAR, in a billion-dollar bet to develop oil in the Caspian Sea. At the time, this deal was referred to as the "contract of the century," bringing economic potential to Azerbaijan and the region."

"Last month, the consortium partners of the original agreement expanded and renewed their collaboration for another 25 years. The original deal helped Azerbaijan prosper. Today's deal will offer Europe long-term energy security. It is critical that Europe diversify its energy resources and engage multiple sources and modes of delivery. The latest deal, signed in September and anchored by Azerbaijan, assures both."

"In addition to SOCAR, the consortium now includes BP (which bought Amoco in 1998) from the U.K., ExxonMobil and Chevron from the U.S.; Inpex and Itochu from Japan; Statoil from Norway, TPAO from Turkey and ONGC Videsh from India. The consortium operates in the Caspian Sea's Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) field, about 75 miles off the coast of Azerbaijan, the largest source of the country's oil production. Azerbaijan's bountiful Caspian fields were untapped during the Soviet occupation because the USSR lacked the required capital and deep-water technology."

The author further notes that since the contract of the century was signed, the ACG field has produced about three billion barrels of oil along with associated natural gas.

"The success of the first billion-dollar oil project paved the way for additional tens of billions of dollars in investments by Western oil companies. With the guidance of current Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, many additional projects followed the initial contract, including the full-field development of the ACG complex, the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline to the Mediterranean Sea, development of the giant Shah Deniz natural gas field and the construction of the Southern Gas Corridor to transport natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe."

"President Ilham Aliyev also led the renegotiation of the latest deal. Under it, the consortium partners will pay Azerbaijan $3.6 billion and SOCAR's stake will increase. It's a good deal for Azerbaijan and a great deal for Europe."

"The contract of the past century helped Azerbaijan achieve wealth and prosperity that was barely imaginable when I arrived in 1994. The contract of this century will help Europeans sleep a little easier on cold winter nights, knowing they are not completely dependent on a unilateral, arbitrary Kremlin for their energy needs." he said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

Trend:

The OSCE monitoring held along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops passed without incidents on October 25, said Azerbaijans Defense Ministry in a message.

The monitoring was held under the mandate of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative along the line of contact near Horadiz village of Azerbaijans Fuzuli district, said the message.

On the Azerbaijani side, the monitoring was held by field assistants of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative, Ghenadie Petrica and Mikhail Olaru, and representative of the High Level Planning Group Alexander Nepokrytykh.

On the Azerbaijani territories occupied and controlled by Armenian armed forces, the monitoring was held by Ognjen Jovic, Martin Schuster, who are field assistants of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative, and representative of the High Level Planning Group Patrick Farrelly.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

By Samir Ali  Trend:

Another bloody incident took place in one of the Armenian armys battalions stationed near Azerbaijans occupied Aghdere region.

A dispute between two Armenian soldiers led to insulted soldier Artur Khachaturyan's firing at his fellow soldier.

The information on whether the wounded soldier is alive or dead is being concealed from his parents.

Investigation Department of the Armenian Defense Ministry launched an investigation into the case.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

Trend:

Trend Agency and Italys Agenzia Nova Press Agency have signed an agreement on cooperation and information exchange.

The agreement was signed by Trend Director General Ilgar Huseynov and Agenzia Novas CEO Fabio Squillante.

According to the document, the sides will regularly exchange operational information, analytical and multimedia materials about the socio-political, economic, social and cultural-humanitarian life in Italy and Azerbaijan.

The agreement also envisages exchange of experience between the employees of Agenzia Nova and Trend.

Founded in 1995 as a private media outlet in Azerbaijan, Trend Agency is a leading news provider in the Caucasus, Caspian and Central Asian region. Trend has English, Russian, Azerbaijani and Farsi news services, covering virtually the entire global audience.

The services are focused on regional news, particularly from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Trends main office is located in Baku - Azerbaijan's capital.

Established in 2001, Agenzia Nova Press Agency provides information, journalistic, editorial and communication services.

The agency also publishes a daily bulletin on international politics and economics which concentrates on the Balkans, North Africa, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa and is made up of 500 news briefs per day; a daily international press review based on over 1,200 newspapers from all over the world; a weekly political analysis of national and international politics for top managers of large enterprises; a complete legislative monitoring service.

The agencys collaborators monitor over 1,200 international information sources each day from roughly 60 countries.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

Trend:

The scientific article, The Khojaly Genocide: Causes, Consequences and International Recognition by Ali Hasanov, Azerbaijani presidents assistant for public and political affairs, has been published by Russia-based Science and World international scientific journal.

In his article, based on rich foreign sources and historical facts, the author points out that as a result of the policy of ethnic cleansing, genocide and aggression, purposefully conducted against the Azerbaijani people by the Armenian nationalists over the past two centuries, the people of Azerbaijan faced tragic and bloody events in its history.

The main goal of this national chauvinistic policy was to create Great Armenia, invented by the Armenians, in the native Azerbaijani territories after the expulsion of Azerbaijanis from their lands.

The article draws attention to the fact that in the second half of the 1980s, Armenians, taking advantage of the situation created for the implementation of the idea of Great Armenia with the help of their patrons in the near and far abroad, again made territorial claims for the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

Trend:

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Peoples Republic of China and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Xi Jinping.

On my own behalf and on behalf of the New Azerbaijan Party members, I sincerely congratulate you and all the members of the party you lead with the successful completion of the 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China, your re-election as General Secretary of Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Ilham Aliyev told Xi Jinping in his letter.

The 19th Congress, which is a historic event in the socio-political life of your country, was marked by such important decisions as the adoption of new concept put forward by you, related to the renewal of the Communist Party of China, the definition of main directions of its future activities, the welfare of your people as a whole, the socio-economic development of your country, as well as the foreign policy, noted President Aliyev.

I would like to note with satisfaction that the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Peoples Republic of China are bound by friendly relations and cooperation with good traditions. Today, the active dialogue that exists between the New Azerbaijan Party and Chinas Communist Party, as the leading political forces of our countries, makes an important contribution to strengthening of friendship and mutual understanding between our peoples, deepening of cooperation in all spheres and, in general, developing the Azerbaijani-Chinese relations, said the president.

I am confident that we will continue to make joint efforts to further deepen the Azerbaijani-Chinese ties that have deep historical roots, to successfully continue cooperation based on mutual trust and support both bilaterally and within international structures and projects, noted the head of state.

On this significant day, I once again convey to you and to all members of the Communist Party of China my congratulations and best wishes, and wish prosperity to the friendly people of China, concluded President Aliyev.
Details added (first version posted on 11:44)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

Trend:

Italy will support efforts to promote a peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Angelino Alfano.

Alfano made the remarks at a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov as part of the OSCE Mediterranean Conference in Palermo on Oct. 24-25, said Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry in a message.

Touching upon the priorities of his country during OSCE chairmanship in next year, Angelino Alfano reiterated that Italy supports the efforts towards the peaceful settlement of conflict with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.

Minister Mammadyarov touched upon the latest negotiations process on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and reiterated fair position of Azerbaijan on settlement process based on the norms and principles of international law and the Helsinki Final Act.

Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of applying the same approach by the EU guided by the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and inviolability of borders in regards with all protracted conflicts, as endorsed by the EU Security Strategy.

At the meeting, the ministers expressed their satisfaction with high level relations based on mutual understanding, friendship and dialogue between Azerbaijan and Italy, as well as stressed the importance of high level mutual visits with a view of further promotion of relations.



Alfano highly appreciated Mammadyarovs participation in the conference.

Azerbaijan is a reliable partner of Italy, he said adding Italy attaches particular importance to its cooperation with Azerbaijan as a secular and moderate country.



Noting the existence of strategic partnership relations between the two countries, Elmar Mammadyarov underlined that Italy is one of the most important partners of Azerbaijan in the European Union.



The two ministers stressed the strategic importance of cooperation in energy field between the two countries and in this regards, referred to the Southern Gas Corridor, TANAP and TAP projects.

Angelino Alfano emphasized the significance of TAP project in diversification of gas supplies and ensuring energy security of his country.



During the meeting, comprehensive development of cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, culture, science, education, tourism and others between the two countries was noted.



At the meeting, the sides reviewed AzerbaijanEU relations as well. Italian minister stated that his country will continue to support Azerbaijans cooperation with the EU.

Mammadyarov stressed that the negotiations on the strategic partnership agreement between Azerbaijan and the European Union intensively continue.

He also talked about the North-South and East-West transport corridors and the favorable opportunities provided by these projects.



During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on cooperation within the international organizations and regional issues of mutual interest.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

Trend:

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev signed an order to provide funding for construction of the Dalimammadli-Muzdurlar-Girigli road in Goranboy District.

Under the presidential order, 5.7 million manats are allocated from the state budget for construction of the road connecting 15 residential areas with a total population of 15,000.
Sushma Swaraj and the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held their grounds on the issue of terrorism and how several terror groups find safe haven in Pakistan.

By Geeta Mohan: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stood firm on the issue of terrorism which was discussed at length during the Indo-US bilateral talks held in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Both the sides highlighted the need to end cross border terrorism and dismantle terror infrastructure in Pakistan.

"Too many terror groups find safe haven in Pakistan, and these are now threatening the stability of the country's government. We want to work with Pakistan in a positive way as we think this is in their interest in the longer term", Rex Tillerson said at the media briefing that was held after the talks.

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Sushma Swaraj added, "Recent attacks in Afghanistan are a proof that safe havens and supporters of terrorism are active. Pakistan needs to act on this."

Reuters

India also urged the United States of America and the international community to hold all those nations responsible which provide such sanctuaries to terrorists and terrorist organisations.

"India and the US discussed that no country in the world should provide safe heavens to terror groups. Any country backing terrorism must be made responsible; the US' South Asia policy can succeed only when Pakistan acts on terror groups," Swaraj said.

Rex Tillerson re-emphasised on the words of the US President Donald Trump saying that terrorists' safe haven "will not be tolerated".

Tillerson also added that these terror groups are "threatening the stability of the Pakistan government".

The distinction between Rawalpindi and Islamabad has been one of the biggest challenges for the US administration in bringing normalcy in the AfPak region, particularly in Afghanistan.

But, India has spelt out in no uncertain terms that Pakistan needs to act against terrorism.

--- ENDS ---
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

Trend:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen.

On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my sincere congratulations to you and your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Austria, Ilham Aliyev said.

On this remarkable day, I wish you robust health, success in your activities and the friendly people of Austria peace and prosperity.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

Trend:

The revenues of Azerbaijani travel agencies and tour operators increased by 13.1 percent in January-June 2017, compared to the same period of 2016, to reach 22.4 million manats, reads a report of the State Statistics Committee.

The companies provided travel services to 29,700 tourists in 1H17, which is 6.5 percent more than in January-June 2016.

Travel agencies and tour operators sold 15,000 tour packages in 1H17; 1,100 of them were sold to foreign citizens for traveling in Azerbaijan and 13,900 were sold to Azerbaijani nationals.

Meanwhile, 11,800 tour packages were purchased by Azerbaijani citizens for international travel and 2,100  for domestic travel.

Tourist vouchers in the amount of 15.9 million manats were sold to the population, according to the report.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

The Azerbaijani State Migration Service has limited entry for almost 800 foreigners.

As a result of the measures taken in Baku and other cities and districts of the country in January-September 2017, 17,076 decisions were made in connection with violation of the requirements of administrative legislation, the State Migration Service said at the event entitled "Open Doors Day" in the countrys Sumgait city.

In general, in January-September 2017, the State Migration Service received 66,828 applications from foreigners and stateless people regarding the extension of the period of stay in the country, the issuance of permits for temporary or permanent residence, restoration or termination of citizenship.

Each appeal was considered and decisions were made in accordance with the requirements of the Azerbaijani legislation.

In January-September 2017, 633,827 applications of foreigners and stateless people were registered in connection with the registration at the place of residence.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

Trend:

The Penitentiary Service of Azerbaijan's Justice Ministry dismissed 10 employees and removed three employees from justice system due to the escape of prisoners, reads a joint statement by Azerbaijani Prosecutor Generals Office and Ministry of Justice.

The statement says that on Oct. 23, Etibar Mammadov and Ali Aghami, arrested on charges of especially grave crimes, escaped from a train in Bilajari settlement during transportation to Baku, being accompanied by guard.

In this regard, an operational headquarters was set up at the Ministry of Justice, all necessary measures are carried out together with other law enforcement agencies to search for and apprehend the escapees.

A thorough service check was carried out to investigate the circumstances and causes of the incident.

After preliminary results of the investigation, 10 people were removed from justice system and three were dismissed by order of the justice minister for negligence in the performance of official duties.

Commander of the guard Jeyhun Samadov and his assistants Fuad Hajiyev and Tural Platkhanov were prosecuted under Criminal Codes Article 308.2. A measure of restraint in the form of arrest was chosen against them.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

Trend:

Three people, suspected of smuggling more than $74,000 out of Azerbaijan, have been detained, the Azerbaijani State Security Service said in a message Oct. 25.

According to the message, the money was obtained through illegal exchange of currency.

As a result of the operations carried out by the State Security Service, residents of Azerbaijans Masalli District, Azer Babayev, Mehman Gafarli and Nofel Mammadov were detained.

During the search operations carried out in the houses of the detainees, 7,500 US dollars, 6,500 Russian rubles and 4,361 Azerbaijani manats were confiscated.

Currently, search operations are underway.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

By Samir Ali  Trend:

Employees of the Penitentiary Service of Azerbaijan's Justice Ministry, arrested in connection with the escape of two detainees during transportation to Baku, were transferred to a Baku detention facility.

A measure of restraint in the form of arrest for three months was chosen against employees of the Penitentiary Service  commander of the guard Jeyhun Samadov and his assistants Fuad Hajiyev and Tural Platkhanov  and they were transferred from a temporary detention facility at Nasimi District Police Department to the Baku Detention Facility #1.

On Oct. 23, Etibar Mammadov and Ali Aghami, arrested on charges of especially grave crimes, escaped from a train in Bilajari settlement during transportation to Baku, being accompanied by guards.

In this regard, an operational headquarters was set up at the Ministry of Justice, all necessary measures are carried out together with other law enforcement agencies to search for and apprehend the escapees.

A thorough service check was carried out to investigate the circumstances and causes of the incident.

After preliminary results of the investigation, 10 people were removed from justice system and three were dismissed by order of the justice minister for negligence in the performance of official duties.

Commander of the guard Jeyhun Samadov and his assistants Fuad Hajiyev and Tural Platkhanov were prosecuted under Criminal Codes Article 308.2. A measure of restraint in the form of arrest was chosen against them.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

Trend:

As a result of the special operation carried out by the State Security Service of Azerbaijan, a group of people planning a terrorist attack at a rally in Baku was detained, the Azerbaijani State Security Service said in a message Oct. 25.

This group of people, with the purpose of carrying out a number of terrorist acts, made various explosive objects by handicraft and tested them on October 22 in the village of Lokbatan, said in a message.

The State Security Service of Azerbaijan told that it was also found that a group of people came to an agreement on the commission of terrorist attacks at a rally to be held on October 28 in Baku.

As a result of complex measures carried out by the State Security Service on October 25, members of the criminal group - Alakbarov Bakhtiyar Mamedsadig oglu, Masimli Anar Mehman oglu, Huseynli Javid Huseyn oglu, resisting and using firearms, were destroyed by retaliatory measures by the special group of the State Security Service in accordance with the legislation.

Currently, investigative measures are being carried out.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

By Gulgiz Muradova - Trend:

The strategic partnership agreement between Azerbaijan and the European Union certainly contributes to a good atmosphere on both sides' cooperation, said Jiri Sestak, the vice-president of the Senate of the Czech Republic.

"This agreement strengthens goodwill and ability to perceive each other and listen to and reinforce the importance and trust of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU, which brings new opportunities for both communities," Sestak, who is on visit to Baku, told Trend.

The new agreement should replace the 1996 partnership and cooperation agreement and should better take account of the shared objectives and challenges the EU and Azerbaijan face today.

The first meeting on a new agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan was held in Brussels on Feb. 7, 2017.

As for the current level of parliamentary relations between the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan, Sestak said that the existing relations of both parliaments are at good level.

Among sectors important for encouraging the bilateral economic interaction, the Czech senator named the agriculture sector, both in the field of agriculture products and machinery, fertilizers, chemistry, and also in engineering and metallurgy.

The Czech entrepreneurs play active role in Azerbaijans economy investing $1.3 billion so far. The Czech companies as contractors are involved in various projects in Azerbaijan, worth a total of $16 billion.

Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic amounted to $201.011 million in January-June 2017.

The Czech Republic ranks 12th in the list of main importers of Azerbaijani goods.

Follow the author on Twitter:@GulgizD
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

By Nigar Guliyeva  Trend:

The JSC "Tashkent plant for the construction and repair of passenger cars", which manufactures passenger cars under the brand name 'Made in Uzbekistan', will deliver the first batch of carriages to abroad by the end of 2017.

Back in 2016, the second-class and coach-type carriages (61-911 and 61-907 models) aroused considerable interest from such countries as Russia and Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Railways said in a message.

The sides reached relevant agreements, under which, starting from this year the plant launched manufacturing of modern modification of these wagons. By the end of 2017 it is planned to deliver to customers the second-class and coach-type carriages, five each.

The carriages have several advantages over their predecessors. In particular, modern systems of water treatment, air conditioning, lighting are installed. The exterior is designed in accordance with the requirements of the customer side.

JSC "Tashkent plant for the construction and repair of passenger cars" is the only such plant in Central Asia.

The plant put into operation in 2001 as a factory for the repair of passenger cars, has expanded the scope of activities, increased the range and volume of products.

One of the important projects of the plant is mastering of the industrial works on the repair of subway cars and construction of their new modified models.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 25

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

The next round of consultations between the foreign ministries of Turkmenistan and Romania has recently taken place in Bucharest, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a message.

At the meeting, the sides noted the development of relations in the political and diplomatic, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres.

Particular attention was paid to energy and transport issues, the message said.

The Romanian side was headed by Maria Ciobanu, head of the directorate for UN, specialized agencies and francophonie, and Cornel Ionescu, director of the Division for Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Romanian Foreign Ministry.

The sides discussed the effectiveness of cooperation within the UN and its specialized agencies. The Turkmen delegation was also received by Secretary of State for Strategic Affairs of the Romanian Foreign Ministry Dan Neculaescu.
Relatives of 39 Indians missing in war torn Iraq since 2014 want to join the search team led by Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh.

By Anand Patel: Relatives of 39 Indians missing in war torn Iraq since 2014 want to join the search. A team led by Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh is in Iraq to search for 39 Indians missing in Iraq since 2014. Equipped with DNA samples of some of the family members of missing Indians, his mission is to travel to Mosul-the last definite location of the Indian youth mostly from Punjab.

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But the family members have demanded that they should also be made part of the team which will look for their missing dear ones. "We had raised this demand before the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj when we met her last," says Gurpinder Kaur, sister of Manjinder Singh who is among the missing Indians.

"Government should have taken at least some of us along to Iraq as part of the search team, we can recognize them and know their last locations, family members in the search team could have been of a lot of help," says Gurpinder who has been leading the family members in their quest to trace back their missing youth.

Gurpinder says that government has collected DNA samples of some relatives. "Samples of relatives from Gurdaspur, Himachal, Bihar have been collected, all eight families from Amritsar were also asked to report to government hospital, but they didn't have medical kits to collect our samples," she said.

"Collecting DNA samples has raised further doubts among the family members that the Government is presuming that they are no more," says a dejected Gurpinder.

Its been more than three years wait for Harbhajan Kaur of Babuwal village in Amritsar, mother of Harsimranjit Singh. "CMO of Amritsar hospital told us that our DNA samples will be collected soon, but now we have come to know that General VK Singh has left for Iraq, government had collected samples of relatives in Gurdaspur from their homes, we were never provided any such facility," says Harbhajan Kaur. "But we are hopeful that the minister will bring good news soon and Guru will fulfill our wish that our boys will return home safely," she adds.

"My son had told me over phone in his last call that the ISIS men were not hostile towards them, so I have every reason to believe that our boys are still safe," says Harbhajan Kaur.

Genral VK Singh is expected to meet Iraqi army chief and National Security Advisor during his search mission. According to the last information received from the Iraqi Government, the 39 missing Indians were last seen in Badush jail which now stands destroyed. In July too, General Singh had visited Iraq just after the hostilities had ended after Iraqi forces had flushed out ISIS fighters from Mosul but couldn't enter the city then since the situation was volatile.

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Now, with the region in full control of Iraqi Government and the de-mining work complete, the Indian team is expected to make some head away in the search.

--- ENDS ---
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Oct. 25

By Diana Aliyeva  Trend:

Agricultural universities of Uzbekistan and the United States are planning to cooperate more closely.

This is one of the goals of the visit of delegation of Uzbekistans Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources to the US.

The delegations visit, according to the Ministry, started on October 23 and will last until November 1.

The visits result should be the strengthening of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the US in the field of introduction of advanced US technologies and innovations into the countrys agro-industrial complex, as well as the expansion of bilateral inter-university cooperation.

During the negotiations in the US Department of Agriculture, the Uzbek delegation intends to discuss the prospects of attracting US investments in agriculture, arranging mutual visits of experts in this field, implementing joint projects for the supply of Uzbek agricultural products to the United States, as well as deepening the Uzbek-American cooperation in the field of innovative and applied agricultural science.

The delegation will also visit the University of Michigan and Ohio State University, where it will hold talks on inter-university partnership issues.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Oct. 25

By Diana Aliyeva Trend:

On Oct. 24, representatives of Uzbek sericulture industry held a conference titled Actual problems of growing high-quality and competitive cocoon in the country.

The conference was held at the Uzbek Research Institute of Sericulture. Members of the leadership of the research institute, Uzbek Scientific Production Center for Agriculture, the Uzbekipaksanoat (Uzbek Silk Industry) Association spoke at the conference.

The association was created in accordance with the resolution On measures to organize activity of the Uzbekipaksanoat Association adopted March 29, 2017 by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

According to the document, the Uzbek Research Institute of Sericulture will take measures to increase mulberry cultivars, silkworm breeds, fully meet the needs of farms in silkworm seeds and mulberry seedlings.

In recent years, more than 20 promising mulberry cultivars, breeds and hybrids of silkworm have been created in the research institute, according to the Uzbekipaksanoat Association.

It was also noted that new complex technology of re-cultivation of silkworm was tested in the Ferghana, Samarkand and Navoiy regions. Using this technology, it is possible to grow 150,000 boxes of silkworm eggs, 6,000-7,000 additional tons of cocoons, and create more than 150,000 jobs.
Tehran, Iran, October 24

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

The Iranian Privatization Organization is going to privatize a number of gas stations next week, a top advisor to the organizations chief executive told Trend October 24.

"This will probably be held next week. And we hope that this changes the figures around the volume of privatization in the country," Jafar Sobhani said.

Asked about the reasons behind the lower number of companies privatized in the first half of the current Iranian fiscal year (since March 21) compared to the same period last year, Sobhani said no unnatural factor has caused the situation.

Some 1,174 billion rials (about $34 million based on official rate of 34,300 rials per each USD) of Iranian government companies shares were sold during the first seven months of the current Iranian fiscal year (started March 20, 2017).

"It is not a precise method to compare a period of a year to the same period of a previous year to judge privatization alterations. Things have to be put together like a puzzle. It is usually so that in the second half of the year the number of privatizations rises," Sobhani noted.

Iran plans to privatize some 337 state-run companies by March 2018.

"Adding to that is the fact that while we did not have the Justice Shares as one of our areas of activity last year, but this year it has been relegated to us and it lays a great amount of work on us," Sobhani further explained.

"Also, right now we have some one thousand tenders on the stock market and over the counter market," he said, hoping that in the coming weeks privatization figures show a significant boost.

In 2007, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei requested that government officials speed up implementation of the policies outlined in the amendment of Article 44 of the Constitution to move towards economic privatization. Khamenei also suggested that ownership rights should be protected in courts set up by the Justice Ministry; the hope was that this new protection would give an additional measure of security and encourage private investment.

Some 80 percent of the companies subject to Article 44 would be transferred to public ownership, 40 percent of which will be conducted through the "Justice Shares" scheme and the rest through the Bourse Organization. The government will keep the title of the remaining 20 percent.

Under Justice Shares plan, the government relegates shares to low-income families, starting with the poorest. Under this plan, millions of Iranian families will receive shares in state-owned firms, the value of which will be reimbursed in 20 years from the dividends generated by those shares.

Since the Privatization Organization was launched in 2001, it has privatized 1,440 trillion rials of governmental shares.

During the last fiscal year (ended March 2017), 49,075 billion rials of government companies shares were sold to the private sector.
Tehran, Iran, Oct. 24

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

Iran imported 32,663 cars from March 21 to Sept. 22. Of that number, the biggest part was brought in from the United Arab Emirates.

Official reports say that 70 percent of Irans car imports come in via the UAE. A survey in the car market in Tehran shows the dealers are not aware of the reasons behind that fact.

"All we know is that the Emirates is the first place that comes to mind when we talk of imports. It is like heaven in our business," Sajjad Alviri, a car dealer said when asked what he thought about the fact.

Reports go that even Renault cars are imported to Iran via the UAE, although the company has an agent in Tehran.

Of the mentioned periods imported cars, 5,016 were imported by Iranian car manufacturing companies and entities close to power.

A look at the conditions of car imports in Iran shows that the reason may lie in the economics. Iran enforces a tariff of 40 percent on imported cars with engine volumes up to 2,000 cc. For cars with 2,000 to 2,500 cc engines, the tariff rises to 55 percent.

The UAE, in contrast, puts little tariff on car imports, 3.5 percent, much lower than those assigned by nearby states.

One has add to that the fact that Iran and the UAE share water borders in the Persian Gulf, so providing the most economical means of transport for heavy and voluminous cargos of cars.
Tehran, Iran, October 25

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

The Iranian government has successfully enhanced the amount of cargo transported via rail by 20 percent during the period from March 2014 to March 2017.

While in the beginning year of this period rail-transported cargo amounted to 32 million tons, in the ending year the number of 40 million tons was achieved, according to the CEO of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, Said Mohammadzadeh, Trend correspondent reported October 23.

The official noted that the transportation chapter of the countrys 6th Development Plan (2017-2022) lays emphasis on rail transportation as the key method of transportation to be developed.

By the end of this plan, Mohammadzadeh said, railways should be accounting for 30 percent of the countrys transportation. At present the figure hovers around 1 percent.

By 2022, he noted, cargo transported via rail in Iran should reach the amount of 195 million tons per year, noting there is an annual 400 million tons of cargo to be transported in the country every year.

According to the official, each ton-kilometer of cargo transport shifted from road to rail system will mean saving on 35 cc of fuel, plus reducing environmental damage, road maintenance costs, and accident risk.

Mohammadzadeh further said that Iran needs 28 thousand wagons to meet the 2022 rail transport goal.

"We currently have 22 thousand wagons, 2 thousand of which were added in the past 3 years," he noted.

He added that the Railways is currently building 2,000 km of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th tracks along previously-built railways, plus 500 km of new lines across the country.
Tehran, Iran, Oct. 25

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

Upcoming visits by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Boris Johnson to Tehran will serve their role of the good cops, a political expert believes.

Tehran is reportedly going to host a multiplicity of world leaders in a few days separately. Besides Macron and Johnson, Russian President Vladimir Putin and International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano are also on the list.

Macron and Johnson will naturally play the role of the good cops, set against US President Donald Trump, to engage in talks with Tehran specifically over issues such as missiles, for which Iran is surely not ready, Foad Izadi, a political science professor, told Trend Oct. 25.

Putin, for his part, has stood behind Iran in many occasions in past years, and his upcoming visit will come as a show of support for Tehran, the political expert noted.

The visits come a few days after Trumps anti-Iran speech on Oct. 13, in which he said he would not be certifying Irans compliance with the terms of the JCPOA under a domestic American law, kicking to Congress a decision on whether to restore sanctions against Iran.

In the meantime, two US senators have drafted a legislation to force Iran to limit its missile program.

Republican senators, Bob Corker and Tom Cotton, are reportedly working on a new draft legislation that would set tough terms for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The draft sets tough new terms for the nuclear deal, including restoration of sanctions if Iran tests a ballistic missile capable of carrying a warhead or prevents nuclear inspectors from visiting any sites.

Trump did not pull Washington out of the JCPOA, but he gave Congress 60 days to decide whether to re-impose the economic sanctions against Tehran, which were lifted under the pact.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

One person was killed in an old landmine explosion near the city of Mehran in Iranian western province of Ilam.



The incident occurred near Changuleh village, on morning Oct. 25, where three de-mining personnel were working to secure the landmine remaining from Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988), the state-run IRINN TV reported.

Majid Zargoushi, a local official, said that two other members of the de-mining group, who were injured in the incident, were hospitalized.

The health condition of one of the injured men is serious.

Iran is one of the countries in the world with the most unexploded landmines, which kill and injure dozens of people every year.



According to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, there were 46 deaths and 76 injuries from landmines in Iran in 2012. Seven of the casualties were children.



Land areas in Iranian provinces of Ilam (1,700 hectares), Khuzestan (1.3 million hectares), Kermanshah (691,000 hectares), Western Azerbaijan (59,000 hectares) and Kurdistan (1,480 hectares) were mined during the war.



It was assumed that after the war around 16 million mines could still remain in these areas.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

By Fatih Karimov Trend:

An Iranian light plane crashed in Kerman city in southeastern Kerman province of Iran today morning, state-run IRINN TV reported Oct. 25.

The incident occurred at 11:00 local time (GMT +3:30) when the two-seat light plane belonging to Mahan Airlines crashed in 300-meter distance from Kerman airport.

The plane's pilot and co-pilot are safe, according to the report.

No further details were reported about the cause of the incident.

A similar incident occurred last year in December, killing the pilot, when an ultra-light gyroplane belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force crashed in Saravan airport.

In October 2016, another military plane crashed in Iranshahr city in southeastern Sistan and Balouchestan Province, killing the pilot and co-pilot. The ultra-light plane, belonging to the IRGC, was returning from a reconnaissance operation, when the incident occurred near the Iran-Pakistan border.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly said that the country needs a new and strong opposition party that can compete with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Recently, creation of a new political party called Iyi Parti (Good Party), headed by Meral Aksener, who was previously expelled from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), has been announced.

It was expected that after Aksener announces creation of the new party, some of the MPs from the AKP and MHP, who were allegedly dissatisfied with the policy of their political organizations, would join the ranks of Akseners party.

But if one reads the composition of the partys founders, one may see that besides Aksener, the party has no strong political figures that could influence the course of the presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections to be held in Turkey in 2019.

Considering this, one can already say that it will be difficult for the party, created by Aksener, to overcome the 10 percent threshold in the parliamentary election.

If before the presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections such opposition parties as Akseners party, the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) cannot achieve serious political success, they may create a coalition, which, however, isnt expected to include MHP. Only such a coalition could compete with the AKP in the parliamentary, municipal and presidential elections of 2019.

It is clear that before the elections, all political parties of Turkey will try to attract the attention of citizens as much as possible, however, no political force in the country has been able to compete with the AKP so far.

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Rufiz Hafizoglu is the head of Trend Agency's Arabic news service, follow him on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
The Philippine military has discovered Islamic State sent more than $US1.5 million ($1.9 million) to finance the siege of the southern Philippine town of Marawi which experts say was a propaganda windfall for the Middle East-based terror group, The Sudnev Morning Therald reports.

Early in the 154-day blocade there were reports bundles of money had been found in buildings around town, but Philippine military chief Eduardo Ano on Tuesday did not elaborate.

In an interview he said as well as receiving money from IS, the Marawi militant local leaders used the 2014 seizure of the Iraqi city of Mosul as a blueprint for takeover.

"Every day they watched videos of IS in Mosul," said General Ano of the siege leaders, including Isnilon Hapilon, one of the US's most-wanted terrorists who was killed last week.
The chief minister was addressing policemen at Police Training School in Manigam in Central Kashmir's Ganderbal district of Wednesday.

By India Today Web Desk: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today advised police not to target families of militants.

The chief minister was addressing policemen at Police Training School in Manigam in Central Kashmir's Ganderbal district of Wednesday.

"Police should not attack militants' families as militants are attacking the policeman's families," advised Mehbooba. She added that the 'police should maintain difference.'

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The chief minister praised the contribution of policemen in the state. She also asked them to put efforts to make local militants surrender themselves.

Mufti's statements come hours after Hizbul commander Riyaz Naikoo issued a warning to police against attacking families of active militants in Kashmir.

With inputs from Ashraf Wani

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India on Wednesday told U. S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson it plans to retain its North Korean embassy, so as to keep open channels of communication as Washington steps up global pressure to isolate Pyongyang for its nuclear and missile programmes, DNA reports.

Tillerson held talks with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj as part of a new effort by the Trump administration to deepen economic and strategic ties, as a way to balance China's growing clout across Asia.

Both sides pledged to strengthen anti-terrorism cooperation and Tillerson said Washington stood ready to provide India with advanced military technologies.

"The United States supports India's emergence as a leading power and will continue to contribute to Indian capabilities to provide security throughout the region," Tillerson told a joint news conference with Swaraj.

Swaraj said the issue of India's diplomatic and economic relations with North Korea came up during the talks but she conveyed to the top U.S. diplomat that some level of diplomatic presence was necessary.

"As far as the question of embassy goes, our embassy there is very small, but there is in fact an embassy," she said.

"I told Secretary Tillerson that some of their friendly countries should maintain embassies there so that some channels of communication are kept open."

India and North Korea maintain diplomatic offices in each other's capitals, though New Delhi recently banned trade of most goods with the country, except food or medicine. Trade was minimal, Swaraj said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

Trend:

The Swiss embassies in Riyadh and Tehran today signed the agreements for Switzerland to represent Iranian interests in Saudi Arabia and Saudi interests in Iran, said the Swiss Federal Department for Foreign Affairs.

The Federal Council gave the green light for the protecting power mandate at its meeting on October 25.

After Iran and Saudi Arabia severed relations at the beginning of January 2016, both countries agreed to Switzerlands offer of its traditional policy of good offices to undertake a protecting power mandate on both sides. Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter launched negotiations on the terms of the mandate with the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers in February 2016.

Following the acceptance by both countries of Switzerlands protecting power mandate and the Federal Councils approval given at its meeting on Oct. 25, 2017, the relevant agreements have now been signed in Riyadh and Tehran. The mandate will cover consular services in Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The Kurdish autonomy of Iraq is ready to cancel the results of the independence referendum, which was held on September 25, Iraqi media quoted Masoud Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq, as saying Oct. 25.

Reportedly, this decision was made with the aim of initiating a peaceful dialogue with the central government of Iraq.

Erbil stands for peace and does not want the continuation of military action in the region, said Barzani.

It should be reminded that on September 25, the Kurdish autonomy of Iraq held a so-called independence referendum that is not recognized by the international community.

Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief Haider Al-Abadi ordered security forces to ensure the safety at military bases and state facilities in the Kirkuk province.

The authorities of the Kurdish autonomy of Iraq had announced about the offensive of government forces in Kirkuk.

On October 16, Kirkuk completely passed under the control of the Iraqi Armed Forces.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The referendum in the Kurdish region in northern Iraq is aimed at dismemberment of the country, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said.

He made the remarks Oct. 25 in Ankara during a joint press conference with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish media reported.

The Iraqi prime minister said the central government of Iraq with the help of the countrys armed forces eliminated the risk of dismembering the country.

He noted that Iraq intends to cooperate with neighboring countries and not to interfere in their internal affairs.

The priority for Iraq is the fight against terrorism, said al-Abadi.

He added that at present, the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group is a real threat to Iraq and the whole region.

Currently, the Iraqi armed forces continue the fight against the IS terrorists, al-Abadi said.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

During the nine months of this year, a total of 3.145 tons of heroin were confiscated in the Turkish province of Van, the province police said in a message Oct. 25.

During this period, 140 operations against drug dealers were held in the province.

The message noted that 254 kilograms of heroin were confiscated during an operation against drug dealers, which was held in the province on Oct. 24.

The minimum age of Turkish citizens who started using drugs is 13 years old, the average age  36 years old, the maximum age - 65 years old.

Thus, 2.9 percent of the country's population account for drug addicts aged 15-24, 2.8 percent - those aged 25-44, 2.3 percent - drug addicts aged 45-64.

Some 18 percent of the total number of people arrested in the country in 2016 accounted for drug dealers.

More than 300,000 people have been detained in Istanbul for using and selling drugs over the past four years.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 25

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The suspension of talks with Turkey on accession to the EU will be a political suicide for the EU countries, Turkish media outlets quoted Minister for EU Affairs Omer Celik as saying Oct. 25.

Celik noted that double standards applied by the EU towards Turkey are unacceptable, adding his country did not turn away from the European Union.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier said that the EU, not Ankara, will take the first step to end negotiations on Turkeys accession to the Union.

Erdogan noted that Ankara will not lose anything if Turkey is not admitted to the EU.

Turkey began its EU accession talks in 2005. In 1963, Turkey and the European Economic Community (the EU's former name) signed an association agreement.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 24, 2017 - 23:45 | World, All

Myanmar and Bangladesh have agreed to form a joint working group on repatriation of Rohingya Muslim refugees by next month, a Bangladeshi official said on Tuesday after talks in Myanmar's capital Naypyitaw.

"Within one month, we will form the joint working group and we will start to discuss what are the terms and conditions and how the repatriation will start," Mostafa Kamal Uddin, secretary of the public security division of Bangladesh's Home Affairs Ministry, told reporters.

He said the joint working group after being formed would set up terms of references and modalities on how the repatriation process could be started.

The United Nations estimates that more than 600,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar's strife-torn Rakhine State have arrived in Bangladesh since Aug. 25 when violence broke out between Rohingya insurgents and security forces.

Kyaw Zeya, Myanmar's permanent secretary of foreign affairs, said his government prefers to ensure the repatriation process to be in line with international standards by "following a step-by-step approach."

"Of course, their side would like to repatriate quickly, if possible, but there are certain procedures, the terms of references, to follow," he told reporters.

Bangladesh's delegation, which arrived earlier Tuesday, was led by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan.

The bilateral meeting on border security and law enforcement cooperation, counterterrorism, citizenship verification and narcotic drugs control was hosted by his Myanmar counterpart Lt. Gen. Kyaw Swe.

After the meeting, the two sides signed memoranda of understanding on security dialogue and cooperation and on the establishment of border liaison offices, according to a joint statement.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 26, 2017 - 03:24 | All, World

North Korea's threat of a possible hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific Ocean should be taken "literally," a senior official of the country said in an interview with CNN aired Wednesday.

The official, Ri Yong Pil, made the remark in Pyongyang, referring to North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho's threat to carry out such a test.

(KCNA)

"The foreign minister is very well aware of the intentions of our supreme leader, so I think you should take his words literally," the official said.

North Korea's top diplomat said in New York last month that Pyongyang may conduct a hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific Ocean as one of its "highest-level" actions threatened by the country's leader Kim Jong Un against the United States.

The senior official Ri also implied that diplomatic channels between the United States and North Korea are nonexistent, despite U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reiterating over months that they are still open.

"The U.S. is talking about a military option and even practicing military moves. They're pressuring us on all fronts with sanctions. If you think this will lead to diplomacy, you're deeply mistaken," he said.

The official's comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday boasted that the United States is "prepared for anything" to cope with the North Korea nuclear crisis.

In defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions, North Korea on Sept. 3 conducted its sixth and largest nuclear test, saying it was a hydrogen bomb that can be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile.

The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution toughening sanctions against Pyongyang in response to the nuclear test.
By Mohammad Gharebag, KYODO NEWS - Oct 24, 2017 - 19:19 | World, All

Iran has lodged an official complaint to protest U.S. President Donald Trump's "anti-Iran" stance with respect to a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, a senior Iranian diplomatic source said Tuesday.

A protest letter written by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif was sent to a body set up under the hard-won deal through the European Union's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, the source told Kyodo News on condition of anonymity.

In the letter, Zarif referred to Trump's speeches as evidence of the United States violating articles of the deal, which granted Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

"Although we didn't write directly to the Joint Commission, Iran assumes the protest will be submitted to the Joint Commission via Lady Mogherini, who is in charge of coordinating the affairs between the Joint Commission and member countries," he added.

Iran successfully test-fires new ballistic missile: state-run TV

Iran's Rouhani threatens to restart nuclear program

Last week, foreign ministers of the 28-nation European Union, at a meeting in Luxembourg, reaffirmed the group's support for the 2015 nuclear agreement and urged the U.S. Congress not to reimpose sanctions on Tehran.

The EU foreign ministers warned that the agreement's collapse could jeopardize regional peace and stability and also undermine efforts to get North Korea to freeze its nuclear and missile development programs.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shortly afterward hailed the EU ministers for backing Iran's stance toward the agreement.

Both Khamenei and the EU ministers were reacting to a speech earlier this month by Trump, who said he would not certify Iran's compliance with the agreement and warned he might terminate the deal if it is not renegotiated to his satisfaction.

Trump suspects that Iran is not abiding by the spirit of the agreement and he wants it renegotiated to include limits on Iran's missile capabilities.

In reply, the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying Trump's claim "regarding Iran's non-compliance has no international relevance or credibility since the IAEA, as the sole authority to conduct monitoring and verification, has repeatedly confirmed Iran's full compliance." IAEA is the acronym for the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, has already said that if Iran left the deal designed to prevent it from making nuclear weapons, it could begin enriching uranium to weapons-grade within four days.
By PTI: Sharad

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) JD(U) MP Sharad Yadav today said linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts and food security schemes should not be made mandatory as it caused problems to people, and claimed that even the family of former Union minister George Fernandes faced difficulty on this account.

The rebel JD(u) leader told reporters that pensioners and the poor benefiting from the National Food Security Act were hit hard when it was made compulsory.

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He claimed Fernandess wife had recently approached him, seeking help over the linking of the leaders Aadhaar number with his bank account.

"Fernandes sahab is ill...even (big) people like Fernandes have to call up people, saying at least his bank account should not be linked to Aadhar. Because he is in such a condition that he is unable to give even his thumb impression. After a lot of struggle (we solved the issue)," Yadav claimed.

He termed Aadhaar card a "killer" and alleged that the governments insistence that it be used under the act to get ration "has caused starvation and subsequently deaths".

"The government is fleecing people and is exploring new ways to do so...it (linking Aadhaar number with bank accounts and food security schemes) should not be mandatory and there has to be clarity on this," Yadav said.

Replying to a question on demonetisation, he attacked the government and said opposition parties would stage protests to denounce the move and observe "black day" on November 8 when the declaration of noteban would complete a year.

"There will be spontaneous protests. The countrys economy has been hit hard. We are not sure by when our economy will revive. Demonetisation will be remembered in history as a black day," he added.

Yadav also announced that the next round of Shared Composite Culture, a campaign he launched to "save democracy" earlier this year, would be held in Mumbai on October 27.

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPIs D Raja, NCPs Tariq Anwar and other opposition leaders would participate, he added. PTI ENM AAR

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: linking

Kolkata, Oct 25 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today accused the BJP of unleashing an "autocratic rule and destroying the federal structure" of the country and opposed linking of Aadhaar with mobile phone number.

She alleged that the BJP was trying to finish off all other parties in the country and said the TMC would play a role in ousting it from power at the Centre.

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"They (Centre) are interfering in the peoples rights and privacy. The Aadhaar number should not be linked with ones mobile phone. I will not link my Aadhaar number with my mobile even if my connection is snapped," she said at the extended core committee meeting of the Trinamool Congress here.

Claiming that her party did not want in power at the Centre, she said it would play a vital role in "removing" the saffron party from power in the next general elections.

Banerjee asked her party leaders to start black day campaign from November 8 in every block and district in the state condemning demonetisation which was announced on the day last year.

"A lot of people are not happy with the way the BJP-led NDA government is functioning. Our (TMC) job will be to help them in defeating the BJP and save the country from dictatorship," she said.

The chief minister said, "They (BJP) are trying to destroy the federal structure of the country. And if somebody dares to speak up against them they try to brand them as corrupt as if they (BJP) are only saints and others are thieves."

She said the TMC would fight and not stop till the BJP was "ousted" from power. "Democracy will triumph against all odds", she said.

"They are doing whatever they like," she said, noting that the TMC has not been elected at anybodys mercy and it has emerged stronger through its long struggle.

Banerjee said, "They (BJP) can threaten us by using the ED, Income Tax and CBI but we are not afraid of it. The central government has turned into a government of the agencies. They can send all our leaders to jail but we will continue to oppose the anti-people policies of the central government."

Alleging that the BJP was using central agencies since assuming power at the Centre, Banerjee said, "But it will boomerang on them when they will be out of power".

Terming demonetisation as a "big scam", she said the entire economy has "gone for a toss" due to the arbitrary decision of the central government.

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"First demonetisation and then the GST, both have ruined the Indian economy. Thousands of people have lost their jobs. More than 50 per cent of the small-scale industry is yet to get uplinking facilities for GST," the chief minister alleged.

The TMC chief also charged the Modi government with snatching away the freedom of the press and alleged that if any news organisation dared to speak against it, they were harassed.

"The ED, CBI and Income Tax departments will be used to harass them (news organisations)," she said. PTI PNT SUN KK SC

--- ENDS ---
Hitting out at the Centre for its autocratic rule, Mamata Banerjee said she will not link her mobile phone with Aadhaar.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she will not link phone with Aadhaar.

By India Today Web Desk: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that she will not link her phone with Aadhaar. "I will not link Aadhaar with phone, if they want to disconnect my phone, let them (do so)," Mamata Banerjee said.

"They (Centre) are interfering with people's rights and privacy. Aadhaar number should not be linked with mobile phone. I will not link my Aadhaar number with my mobile even if my connection is snapped," Mamata said at the extended core committee meeting of the TMC. The West Bengal Chief Minister accused the BJP-led Centre of unleashing an "autocratic" rule in the country.

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Mamata Banerjee's comment comes a day after a plea was moved in the Supreme Court challenging the Department of Telecommunication's notification on linking of mobile numbers with Aadhaar, the 12-digit unique identity number.

A parliamentary panel recently asked government officials how safety of Aadhaar data was ensured as the 12-digit number is now been linked to mobile numbers and bank accounts.

In a development related to Aadhaar, Centre today told the Supreme Court that the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar to avail benefits of government schemes has been extended to March 31 next year.

NOVEMBER 8 WILL BE OBSERVED AS BLACK DAY

The West Bengal Chief Minister also said that her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), will observe November 8 as a 'Black Day' and hold protest rallies across the state against demonetisation.

On Tuesday, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said that 18 Opposition parties will protest against demonetisation across the country on the first anniversary of Centre's decision to ban high-value currency.

"Each political party will try to give a regional name to observe this as a 'Black Day' and will hold protests and processions," Azad had said while addressing a joint press conference with TMC's Derek O'Brien and breakaway Janata Dal (United) faction leader Sharad Yadav.

ALSO WATCH: Gujarat Opinion Poll: Congress unlikely to dent BJP hold despite unhappiness on GST, DeMo

--- ENDS ---
Amazon Wine is shutting down at the end of this year, the retailer has just alerted sellers via email. The issue at hand has to do with the existing laws surrounding alcohol sales, which Amazon has unsuccessfully tried to change by working with regulators. The existing laws make it difficult for Amazon to sell alcohol as a retailer and operate a marketplace. That's something that's even more of a conflict now that Amazon owns Whole Foods, which also sells wine, not to mention Amazon's plans to expand its alcohol delivery business through Prime Now and Amazon Fresh.

In the email sent to sellers, the retailer notes that wine will still be offered through Amazon, just not on Amazon Wine:

"Dear valued Seller, as Amazon continues to offer customers additional retail options for buying wine, we will no longer offer a marketplace for wine at this time, and Amazon Wine will close on December 31st, 2017. Wine will continue to be offered through Amazon Fresh, Prime Now and Whole Foods Markets. Please see our FAQ for further details. Thank you, Amazon Wine."

Launched in late 2012, Amazon Wine had represented Amazon's third attempt at entering the online wine sales market.

The company has not said how well Amazon's wine marketplace performed in terms of sales, but dozens of brands have been participating to date.

According to the online FAQ, sellers can continue to fulfill online orders as they would otherwise, but customers will no longer be able to place an order after December 31, 2017, nor browse products on Amazon Wine.

On January 1, 2018, sellers will no longer be able to add or edit products in Seller Central, but will still be able to access their account.

Amazon Wine's customer base will also be notified via email, and a message will display on the Amazon Wine homepage alerting online shoppers to the closing.

The bigger picture here is that Amazon had to choose between its newer focus on alcohol deliveries through Amazon Fresh and its speedier delivery service, Prime Now or its older marketplace, Amazon Wine.

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Not surprisingly, Prime Now and Amazon Fresh won.

Today, Amazon Fresh is available in 20 major U.S. metros in addition to London, Berlin and Tokyo. How the existing online grocery delivery service will be combined with Whole Foods' brick-and-mortar has not yet been determined. Still, it's obvious that Amazon's goal is to offer grocery delivery and pickup by leveraging Whole Foods, and that would include alcohol. Perhaps there will even soon come a day when you can simply say, "Alexa, send more beer."

In addition to Amazon Fresh, Amazon's 2-hour delivery service Prime Now has been steadily growing the number of markets offering alcohol delivery, as well. Today, you can order wine and other alcohol in Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Los Angeles and Orange County, Minneapolis, Manhattan, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle.

This not only competes with fast delivery services like Drizly or the broader Postmates, but also Blue Apron, which offers its own wines.

And Prime Now/Fresh could also tap into the customer base for the soon-to-be shuttered Amazon Wine and rivals, like Wine.com. While those online businesses may still have larger selections, Amazon's ability to send booze more quickly will likely win many customers' dollars.

Related Video:
Allegion plc ALLE  the leading global provider of security products and solutions for business and domestic purposes  is scheduled to release third-quarter 2017 results on Oct 26, before the market opens.



In the last reported quarter, the company had delivered a positive 11% earnings surprise. Notably, the company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the last four quarters, resulting in an average earnings beat of 1.95%.



Lets see how things are shaping up prior to the upcoming quarterly release.



Factors at Play



In the first half of 2017, Allegion witnessed solid growth in its top line. Net revenues in the first half of 2017 were $1.18 billion, reflecting year-over-year growth of 8.1%. The Americas segment has been particularly driving the companys overall revenues. Accounting for 74.5% of total revenues in the first half of 2017, the segments revenues increased 9.6%. On an organic basis, the Americas segment recorded first-half 2017 growth of 8% compared with 6.8% a year ago. The continued strength in revenues was driven by favorable price, low double-digit organic growth in residential markets, and solid performance in non-residential markets related to channel initiatives and new products. All these factors are expected to sustain revenue growth in the upcoming quarter as well.



Again, Allegion continues to benefit from its acquisition drive. In fact, in the second quarter of 2017, acquisitions contributed nearly 2%. The company broadens its product portfolio as well as geographic footprint and enhances its position in strategic market segments through buyouts. The acquisition of McKenzie-based Republic Doors & Frames is expected to expand its product line, improve operating efficiency and expand distribution footprint.



Moreover, the company revised its 2017 guidance upward during its second-quarter earnings call. The company now expects adjusted earnings per share in the range of $3.65-$3.80 versus the prior expectation of $3.60-$3.70. The company expects full-year 2017 revenue growth of 6.5% to 7.5% on a year-over-year basis, higher than 5.5% to 6.5% expected earlier. Organically, revenues are expected in the 6% to 7% range, compared to 5.5% to 6.5% expected earlier.



However, we are concerned about economic slowdown in certain pockets of the world where Allegion has considerable presence. Moreover, owing to the companys substantial international presence, volatile currency translations could prove to be a significant headwind. In fact, in the second quarter of 2017, the company navigated currency headwinds in the EMEIA region through significant acquisitions.



Notably, for the third quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.02 per share, reflecting a 9.4% year-over-year increase. Meanwhile, the consensus estimate for revenues is at $618.8 million, implying a year-over-year rise of 6.5%.



Moving forward, here is what our quantitative model predicts 



Allegion does not have the right combination of two key ingredients  a positive Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or higher  which increases the odds of an earnings beat.



Zacks ESP: The Earnings ESP for Allegion is -0.74%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Story continues

Zacks Rank: Allegion carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which increases the predictive power of ESP. However, we also need to have a positive ESP to be confident of an earnings beat.



Meanwhile, we caution against Sell-rated stocks (Zacks Rank #4 or 5) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is witnessing negative estimate revisions.

Allegion PLC Price and EPS Surprise

Allegion PLC Price and EPS Surprise | Allegion PLC Quote

Stocks to Consider



Listed below are a few stocks in the Industrial Products sector which have the right conditions to post an earnings beat this quarter.



Briggs & Stratton Corporation BGG, with an Earnings ESP of +15.09% and a Zacks Rank #3, is slated to release quarterly results on Oct 25.



Barnes Group Inc. B carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and has an Earnings ESP of +0.87%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



The companys quarterly report is slated for release on Oct 27, before market open.



Kennametal Inc. KMT, with a Zacks Rank #2 and an Earnings ESP of +1.76%, will release quarterly results on Oct 25, before market open.



Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies



It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +18.8% from 2016 - Q1 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +157.0%, +128.0%, +97.8%, +94.7%, and +90.2% respectively.



And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - Q1 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 11X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.



See Them Free>>



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Kennametal Inc. (KMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Briggs & Stratton Corporation (BGG) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Barnes Group, Inc. (B) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Allegion PLC (ALLE) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Western Digital Corp. WDC is scheduled to release fiscal first-quarter 2018 results on Oct 26. Notably, the company has a decent record of earnings surprises with an average positive surprise of 9.55% in the trailing four quarters. Last quarter, the company came up with a positive surprise of 3.53%.

In fiscal fourth-quarter 2017, the company reported non GAAP earnings of $2.93 per share compared with $1.03 reported in the year-ago quarter. Revenues increased 38.5% year over year to $4.84 billion and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.80 billion. Both the top and bottom line figures were better than the guided range.

Lets take a look at the factors that are expected to influence the first-quarter 2018 earnings.

Key Growth Drivers

We believe Western Digital will benefit from positive synergies derived from the SanDisk acquisition. The latters product portfolio is aiding the companys expansion in the solid state drive (SSD) market. This is also anticipated to provide Western Digital with a competitive advantage against peers like Seagate Technology STX.

Further, the continuous enhancement of the companys product suite is a positive. The development of the industrys first 3D NAND technology with 96 layers of storage capability in June was significant. The companys growing footprint in the automotive as well as the connected home and industrial categories is a major tailwind.

Western Digital Corporation Price and EPS Surprise

Western Digital Corporation Price and EPS Surprise | Western Digital Corporation Quote

Notably, the company completed the acquisition of Upthere, an app-based cloud-storage startup during the quarter. The company also entered into a definitive agreement to buy Tegile Systems, a provider of flash-driven storage arrays for database. We believe these acquisitions will help the company in expanding its presence with a wider range of products and solutions.

However, the ongoing legal tussle with Toshiba regarding the memory unit in Japan remains a concern. Nevertheless, strong demand for NAND flash memory chips is anticipated to be a key catalyst.

Story continues

Guidance & Estimates

For fiscal first-quarter 2018, revenues are expected to be approximately $5.10 billion, which is slightly lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.12 billion.

Management expects non-GAAP earnings to be in the range of $3.25$3.35 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.30 per share is in line with the mid-point of the guided range.

Per the Zacks Consensus Estimate, non-computable unit shipments are anticipated to amount to $16.7 million, while the computable unit shipments are projected to total $19 million.

Zacks Rank and Key Picks

Western Digital currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Better-ranked stocks in the broader technology sector include Applied Materials, Inc. AMAT and NVIDIA Corporation NVDA, both sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies

It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +18.8% from 2016 - Q1 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +157.0%, +128.0%, +97.8%, +94.7%, and +90.2% respectively.

And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - Q1 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 11X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.

See Them Free>>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Western Digital Corporation (WDC) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Seagate Technology PLC (STX) : Free Stock Analysis Report



NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Saudi Aramco's Amin Nasser, CEO of the world's largest oil company, says he does not spend much time worrying about booming production from U.S. shale fields.One reason, says Nasser, is that shale drillers will eventually deplete the low-cost, high-quality "sweet spots" they've focused on throughout much of the three-year oil price downturn. American energy companies have driven down the cost of producing a barrel of crude, staved off bankruptcy and prevented output declines by tapping their best oil fields first. "The concentration that we are seeing today is on the sweet spot of shale, and this will not last forever," Nasser said in an exclusive interview on CNBC's " Squawk Box ." "You can concentrate for some time on the sweet spots and produce more oil. But ultimately you need to venture downward, and that's where you have less quality and you require more cost to produce these barrels," Nasser said Sunday from the command center at Saudi Aramco headquarters in Dhahran.American drillers use expensive advanced methods like hydraulic fracturing to free oil and natural gas from underground shale formations.A surge in U.S. shale production is one of several factors that has frustrated the Saudi-led effort to drain the world's stockpiles of excess crude. OPEC and several other exporting nations, including Russia, have agreed to keep 1.8 million barrels a day off the market in a bid to boost oil prices.The cost of U.S. crude rose to about $55 a barrel in January after OPEC struck the deal in December, allowing more frackers to break even on production from new wells. U.S. output has grown by 467,000 barrels a day this year through July, the last month for which final data were available. While Saudi Arabia is cutting its oil exports, U.S. shipments have filled in the gap and surged to record highs . Nasser said the market can absorb the bump in U.S. output, given the International Energy Agency's forecast that global oil demand will grow by 1.6 million barrels a day in 2017. Production from the world's existing wells also declines by about 5 percent, or roughly 5 million barrels a day, he added.Further, the recovery in U.S. drilling activity has stalled recently, Nasser notes. The number of oil rigs operating in U.S. fields rebounded to a total of 768 in August. The count has since ticked down to 736, as U.S. crude prices consolidate at about $52 a barrel."Shale oil will contribute additional barrels, but it will all depend on the price of crude," Nasser said.As for Saudi Aramco's influence on oil prices, Nasser said the market  and not his company  will determine the price of oil."Even the production currently is dictated by the Ministry of Energy rather than Aramco," he said."When there is an agreement within OPEC, we will adhere to whatever the ministry asks for. But whatever is put on the market, in terms of supply-demand balances, will dictate the price."More from Global Investing Hot Spots: Saudi Aramco's IPO, the world's largest ever, is 'on track' for 2018, CEO Amin Nasser says More than 5% of Saudi Aramco could be offered beyond the IPO, Saudi billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal says Tesla's stock price is 'too exuberant for me,' Saudi Prince Alwaleed says Saudi Aramco's Amin Nasser, CEO of the world's largest oil company, says he does not spend much time worrying about booming production from U.S. shale fields. One reason, says Nasser, is that shale drillers will eventually deplete the low-cost, high-quality "sweet spots" they've focused on throughout much of the three-year oil price downturn. American energy companies have driven down the cost of producing a barrel of crude, staved off bankruptcy and prevented output declines by tapping their best oil fields first. "The concentration that we are seeing today is on the sweet spot of shale, and this will not last forever," Nasser said in an exclusive interview on CNBC's " Squawk Box ." "You can concentrate for some time on the sweet spots and produce more oil. But ultimately you need to venture downward, and that's where you have less quality and you require more cost to produce these barrels," Nasser said Sunday from the command center at Saudi Aramco headquarters in Dhahran. American drillers use expensive advanced methods like hydraulic fracturing to free oil and natural gas from underground shale formations. A surge in U.S. shale production is one of several factors that has frustrated the Saudi-led effort to drain the world's stockpiles of excess crude. OPEC and several other exporting nations, including Russia, have agreed to keep 1.8 million barrels a day off the market in a bid to boost oil prices. The cost of U.S. crude rose to about $55 a barrel in January after OPEC struck the deal in December, allowing more frackers to break even on production from new wells. U.S. output has grown by 467,000 barrels a day this year through July, the last month for which final data were available. While Saudi Arabia is cutting its oil exports, U.S. shipments have filled in the gap and surged to record highs . Nasser said the market can absorb the bump in U.S. output, given the International Energy Agency's forecast that global oil demand will grow by 1.6 million barrels a day in 2017. Production from the world's existing wells also declines by about 5 percent, or roughly 5 million barrels a day, he added. Further, the recovery in U.S. drilling activity has stalled recently, Nasser notes. The number of oil rigs operating in U.S. fields rebounded to a total of 768 in August. The count has since ticked down to 736, as U.S. crude prices consolidate at about $52 a barrel. "Shale oil will contribute additional barrels, but it will all depend on the price of crude," Nasser said. As for Saudi Aramco's influence on oil prices, Nasser said the market  and not his company  will determine the price of oil. "Even the production currently is dictated by the Ministry of Energy rather than Aramco," he said. "When there is an agreement within OPEC, we will adhere to whatever the ministry asks for. But whatever is put on the market, in terms of supply-demand balances, will dictate the price." More from Global Investing Hot Spots: Saudi Aramco's IPO, the world's largest ever, is 'on track' for 2018, CEO Amin Nasser says More than 5% of Saudi Aramco could be offered beyond the IPO, Saudi billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal says Tesla's stock price is 'too exuberant for me,' Saudi Prince Alwaleed says



More From CNBC


With barely two months left in the year, experts say it's time for investors to tidy their affairs with moves to trim tax bills -- a particular challenge this year due to the stock market's big gains.

Investors, for example, should avoid inheriting a tax burden by purchasing shares of mutual funds likely to have big year-end capital gains distributions.

"After several years of up markets, it's very likely some funds will have large year-end capital gain distributions this year," says Anthony D. Criscuolo, portfolio manager with Palisades Hudson Financial Group in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "Investors should look for published guidance for the amount and timing of these year-end distributions and avoid buying into a fund that will make a large distribution."

Federal law requires that gains from assets the fund sold during the year be paid to shareholders by year-end, and these payouts are taxed as long- or short-term capital gains if the fund is in a taxable account, even if you have them reinvested immediately and never receive the cash.

[See: 8 Boring Stocks With Soaring Potential.]

The problem is that those profits are reflected in the fund share price before the distributions are made, and, all else being equal, after the payout the share price falls because this cash is no longer among its holdings. The investor is therefore no richer the day after the payout than the day before, afterward owning shares worth less, plus the cash payout or new shares bought with the payout. But the investor will face a tax on the distribution unless the fund is held in an individual retirement account, 401(k) or similar tax-favored account.

It's impossible to know what a fund's payout will be until the managers announce it. The payout reflects results through Oct. 31, but managers may offset big gains with losses booked during the year or carried forward from previous years.

"Many active managers for stocks had a stellar 2017 but a mediocre 2016, so there may be more offsetting losses still," says Zachary Karabell, head of global strategies at Envestnet, a Chicago provider of wealth management technology and services to investment advisors.

Story continues

It's possible, then, that one fund will have a large payout while another with similar performance that was able to book losses will pay less.

Investing experts often recommend avoiding last-minute purchase of funds likely to have big distributions. Buying after the payout allows you to avoid the distribution and subsequent tax bill, and the shares should be cheaper. A fund's history of payouts can be a guide but not a guarantee, since the payout is not set until November or December.

"If you do want to buy into a fund, wait until after the record date, not the pay date, to buy into the fund," Criscuolo says. "The record date is that date which counts for who actually gets the distribution, and it is usually a few days before the distribution is actually paid out."

Record dates, pay dates and distribution amounts are listed on fund websites, often beginning in November, though the amount can change.

The biggest payouts are usually made by actively managed funds that have enjoyed large gains, since managers may sell winning holdings to lock in gains to assure year-end results look good. Index-style funds generally have very small distributions, if any, because of their buy-and-hold investing style. Most exchange-traded funds have no distributions since they, too, use indexing and are designed to include all gains in the share price.

Of course, postponing an investment in a promising fund can mean missing out on gains in the meantime. So, if you're yearning to get into a fund likely to have a big payout, consider buying it in an IRA or 401(k), so the distribution will not be taxed immediately.

Also look at the fund data to determine how much of the distribution will be short-term capital gains -- for assets the fund had owned for 12 months or less. Those will be taxed at income tax rates that are generally higher than the rate for long-term capital gains. If the short-term gains will be substantial, you can avoid them by selling the fund before the record date. You may well be taxed on your gains from the fund shares, but that would be at the lower long-term rate if you'd had the shares longer than a year.

[See: 10 ETFs to Buy for Oodles of Growth.]

To avoid this problem in the future, considering switching to a fund not likely to have large distributions. Some managed funds, for instance, minimize distributions with strategies like selling losing investments to offset winners and timing sales to get the long-term tax rate rather than the short-term rate.

"Depending on goals, some investors and their advisors will, of course, prefer tax-managed funds, especially for conservative portfolios that have a fairly modest absolute return," Karabell says. "There, taxes can be the difference between meeting financial goals and falling short."

Many managed funds don't use these strategies, however, because such moves boost trading costs, and because most of the fund's shares may be held in retirement accounts that defer taxes anyway until money is withdrawn.

Index products tend to have very small distributions, or none at all, because they don't sell winning holdings unless they have to raise cash for investor redemptions, which are more likely in a down market than a rising one. ETFs generally have no distributions.

So, if you're repeatedly hit with big tax bills for year-end payouts from managed funds, consider switching to an indexed product that owns the same type of stock -- large cap, small cap, foreign and so forth.

"If you are able to sell and avoid the gain, you can look to purchase an index fund that has similar market exposure as to the fund you are selling," Criscuolo says. "This ensures you remain fully invested in the asset class you desire."

David S. Hunter, a planner with Horizons Wealth Management in Asheville, North Carolina, says he prefers ETFs because distributions from managed funds are so unpredictable.

"We have shifted to entirely ETFs, which eliminates 99 percent of fund distributions," he says. This allows the investor or advisor to decide when to book taxable gains, since gains are realized only when ETF shares are sold, he says.

[See: 7 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy for the Rest of 2017.]

"By putting the power of realizing gains back into our hands, we can more effectively rebalance when necessary," Hunter says.

Jeff Brown spent nearly 40 years as a newspaper reporter, columnist and editor, including 20 years writing about investing, personal finance, the economy and financial markets. He spent 20 years at The Philadelphia Inquirer and has been freelancing since 2007.
By India Today Web Desk: Miss Grand Peru Maria Jose Lora has been crowned Miss Grand International 2017.

The finale of the beauty pageant was held today at Phu Quoc, in Vietnam.

Maria was crowned by Ariska Pertiwi from Indonesia, who had won the title last year.

On winning the golden crown, Lora said, ''Thank you very much for believing in me. I had worked very very hard to be here.''

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Maria dedicated the crown to all her fellow citizens back home. Addressing the women in her country, who are still suffering violence, she said, ''Get up. You can also make dreams possible.''

Maria will now be travelling all across the world, to spread the message of peace and harmony. And Miss Grand International 2017 seemed quite excited about the ensuing journey. ''I am so ready to travel the world!'' she exclaimed.

--- ENDS ---
Republican Senator Bob Corker has suggested Donald Trump is unfit for office and refused to say he trusts him with the nuclear codes, in an extraordinary series of denunciations of the President.

"I don't know why he lowers himself to such a low, low standard and debases our country," Mr Corker told CNN during an interview in the Capitol, marking an escalation in the rhetorical fight between the two. "He is obviously not going to rise to the occasion as President of the United States."

During the startling barbs, the Republican, who endorsed Mr Trump for president in 2016, said that he wouldn't make that same decision twice.

"No way," Mr Corker said when asked about supporting the President again. He said that Mr Trump isn't even a good role model for the nation's children: "No, absolutely not."

Wrapping up the interview, Mr Corker refused to say that he trusts Mr Trump with the nuclear codes, a grave responsibility held only by the President.

"I don't want to carry this much further, but I expressed concerns a few weeks ago about his leadership... and nothing has changed," Mr Corker said. "I don't want to make it a daily thing."

The comments came amid a flurry of attacks on Mr Corker by Mr Trump, who has charged that the Republican is only opposing him because he didn't support him for reelection. Mr Corker announced earlier this year that he will retire at the end of his current term, saying that he prefers the citizen legislator model to serving in the US Senate.

"Bob Corker, who helped President Obama give us the bad Iran Deal & couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee, is now fighting Tax Cuts," Mr Trump wrote on Twitter. "Corker dropped out of the race in Tennessee when I refused to endorse him, and now is only negative on anything Trump. Look at his record!"

Mr Corker is the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, a prominent position he used to vocally oppose the Iran nuclear agreement negotiated by the Obama administration. While the Republican voted against approving the deal, and had pushed for legislation that would give Congress greater oversight on such deals, Mr Trump has attempted to paint the senator as a strong supporter of the nuclear agreement that released sanctions on Iran in exchange for Iran's cooperation with international nuclear oversight.

Story continues

"Senator Corker is the incompetent head of the Foreign Relations Committee, & look how poorly the US has done," Mr Trump tweeted following Mr Corker's remarks. "He doesn't have a clue as the entire World WAS laughing and taking advantage of us. People like liddle' Bob Corker have set the US way back. Now we move forward!"

Mr Trump is scheduled to head to the Capitol later Tuesday for a lunch with Republicans, where he is expected to push for party unity.

That charge for unity comes after a series of embarrassing failures to repeal and replace Obamacare, a promise that Republicans have been making for seven years. With those legislative defeats behind them, Mr Trump and republicans in Congress are looking toward passing tax reforms.

The current tax deal being paraded in front of Republicans in Congress would cut taxes primarily for the wealthy in America, offsetting that funding loss with massive cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. Those programs, which would lose nearly $1.5 trillion in funding over the next decade, would primarily effect low-income Americans and senior citizens. Those cuts could have dramatic effects, too: Medicaid provides a lifeline for over 70 million Americans, including children, the disabled, and senior citizens. That program, for instance, covers 60 per cent of those in nursing homes in America, meaning that some seniors could see their benefits slashed under the tax plan.
The logo of Dow Jones Industrial Average stock market index listed company Boeing (BA) is seen in Los Angeles, California, United States, April 22, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/Files

By Ankit Ajmera and Rachit Vats

(Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) racked up a further $329 million charge for its troubled KC-46 aerial refuelling tanker programme in quarterly results on Wednesday, paring gains in profit margins compared with a year ago and prodding its shares lower.

The world's biggest maker of jetliners raised its full-year earnings and cash flow forecasts as it beat third-quarter earnings estimates and reported higher margins in its main commercial airlines segment and overall business.

But the new charge on the air tanker, which some analysts had speculated could return to haunt Boeing despite assurances to the contrary in April, meant the programme has now lopped a total of about $1.9 billion off the company's net income after tax.

The company's shares, which have soared almost 70 percent this year, fell as much as 4.5 percent to $254.50 in afternoon trade in New York.

Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg played down concerns related to the tanker programme, saying the charges were not "unusual".

"The challenges we're having right now are related to just implementing final detail changes on the aircraft to get them to a final certification standard," Muilenburg said.

Boeing is moving into the production phase on the KC-46 and expects to deliver the first 18 tankers in 2018.

The company's commercial aircraft business could face a new challenge as Montreal-based Bombardier Inc's (BBDb.TO) potential deal with France's Airbus SE (AIR.PA) may give the two companies an edge over Boeing in the market for narrow-body aircraft.

"We'll put our product lines up against any competitor. We want to compete on a fair and level playing field," Muilenburg said, adding that the company would stick with its strategy of investing in its own product lines.

Boeing, which is ahead of Airbus on new orders amid strong demand for air travel, said it would consider increasing production for its most popular narrowbody 737 jets from 47 per month currently and beyond the 57 jets planned for 2019.

Story continues

Core operating margin rose to 9.8 percent in the third quarter, from 9.2 percent a year earlier, and the company raised its forecast for operating cash flow for the full year to $12.5 billion from a previous $12.25 billion.

Boeing said it now expects 2017 core earnings per share of $9.90-$10.10, compared with its previous forecast of $9.80-$10.00, due to a lower-than-expected tax rate.

A year ago Boeing included a tax gain of 98 cents per share in the third quarter, driving a dip in core earnings for the same period this year to $2.72 per share from $3.51 per share.

"We think Boeing is operating well, but see its valuation restricting upside to the shares beyond the overall market over the next year," CFRA Research analyst Jim Corridore wrote in a note.

(Reporting by Ankit Ajmera and Rachit vats in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Patrick Graham)
The logo of Dow Jones Industrial Average stock market index listed company Boeing (BA) is seen in Los Angeles, California, United States, April 22, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/Files (Reuters)

By Ankit Ajmera and Rachit Vats

(Reuters) - Boeing Co <BA.N> racked up a further $329 million charge for its troubled KC-46 aerial refuelling tanker programme in quarterly results on Wednesday, paring gains in profit margins compared with a year ago and prodding its shares lower.

The world's biggest maker of jetliners raised its full-year earnings and cash flow forecasts as it beat third-quarter earnings estimates and reported higher margins in its main commercial airlines segment and overall business.

But the new charge on the air tanker, which some analysts had speculated could return to haunt Boeing despite assurances to the contrary in April, meant the programme has now lopped a total of about $1.9 billion off the company's net income after tax.

The company's shares, which have soared almost 70 percent this year, fell as much as 4.5 percent to $254.50 in afternoon trade in New York.

Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg played down concerns related to the tanker programme, saying the charges were not "unusual".

"The challenges we're having right now are related to just implementing final detail changes on the aircraft to get them to a final certification standard," Muilenburg said.

Boeing is moving into the production phase on the KC-46 and expects to deliver the first 18 tankers in 2018.

The company's commercial aircraft business could face a new challenge as Montreal-based Bombardier Inc's <BBDb.TO> potential deal with France's Airbus SE <AIR.PA> may give the two companies an edge over Boeing in the market for narrow-body aircraft.

"We'll put our product lines up against any competitor. We want to compete on a fair and level playing field," Muilenburg said, adding that the company would stick with its strategy of investing in its own product lines.

Boeing, which is ahead of Airbus on new orders amid strong demand for air travel, said it would consider increasing production for its most popular narrowbody 737 jets from 47 per month currently and beyond the 57 jets planned for 2019.

Story continues

Core operating margin rose to 9.8 percent in the third quarter, from 9.2 percent a year earlier, and the company raised its forecast for operating cash flow for the full year to $12.5 billion from a previous $12.25 billion.

Boeing said it now expects 2017 core earnings per share of $9.90-$10.10, compared with its previous forecast of $9.80-$10.00, due to a lower-than-expected tax rate.

A year ago Boeing included a tax gain of 98 cents per share in the third quarter, driving a dip in core earnings for the same period this year to $2.72 per share from $3.51 per share.

"We think Boeing is operating well, but see its valuation restricting upside to the shares beyond the overall market over the next year," CFRA Research analyst Jim Corridore wrote in a note.

(Reporting by Ankit Ajmera and Rachit vats in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Patrick Graham)
[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [BLANK_AUDIO]

She helped take him down and now she's ready to really talk.

Ashley Judd's damning account of sexual harassment published by The New York Times earlier this month was one of the first in a domino-effect of similar allegations that lead to Harvey Weinstein's swift downfall.

"Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it's simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly," she said after detailing her experience with Weinstein in a hotel room at the Peninsula Beverly Hills.

Since then, Juddwho along with Rose McGowan, helped unleash a tidal wave of horrific, long-guarded tales regarding the disgraced Hollywood producerhas remained relatively silent. But that's all about to change. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Judd has agreed to her first television interview since going public with her allegations against Weinstein. Judd, 49, will reportedly sit down with ABC News's Diane Sawyer for an exclusive interview about the accusations and their fallout.

The interview will reportedly air Thursday, Oct. 26 on Good Morning America, World News Tonight with David Muir, Nightline, ABC News Digital, and ABC News Radio.
(Reuters) - Express Scripts Holding Co said on Wednesday it would "stand well" against any possible competition from Amazon.Com in the pharmacy benefit management business, allaying investor concerns. The company's shares were up 4 percent at $61.22 in early trading. Express Scripts, the biggest pharmacy benefit manager (PBM)in the United States, along with drug distributors have been under pressure by the rumored entry of Amazon into the prescription drug market. "I feel very confident we'll stand well against an entry in the PBM space, be it Amazon or anybody," Express Scripts Chief Executive Timothy Wentworth said on a conference call. PBMs negotiate drug benefits for health insurance plans and employers, and have in recent years taken an increasingly aggressive stance in price negotiations with drugmakers. They often extract discounts and after-market rebates from drugmakers in exchange for including their medicines in PBM formularies with low co-payments. Express Scripts, which reported lower-than-expected quarterly revenue on Tuesday, named James Havel as the chief financial officer and said it aims to retain more customers in 2018. The company's efforts to retain customers comes a week after its biggest client and health insurer Anthem Inc ended a 10-year contract with the company to launch its own pharmacy business. Wentworth said Anthem's announcement, while disappointing and perplexing, was not surprising. "With Anthem's decision, obviously, it gives us a bit of a clear line of sight to some of the work we have to do." (Reporting by Ankur Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Supriya Kurane)
Posted near the Mana border with China in the Garhwal Scouts unit is Subedar Shailendra Mohan, the younger brother of Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath

By Manjeet Negi: At a time when even the children of the officers of the defence forces hardly join the department, it is pleasing to see Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's brother working as a subedar in the Indian Army. He is deployed on the Line of Actual Control with China.

India Today TV met the soldier while meeting the troops guarding the Chinese border, which has become sensitive amidst threats that the Chinese may carry out incursion in areas where the deployment is not as thick as the other sensitive areas.

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"We carry out patrolling along the border throughout the year against any security challenge. This area is our homeland and we will protect it at any cost," says Subedar Shailendra Mohan, younger brother of Yogi.

The soldier is posted near the Mana border with China in the Garhwal Scouts unit which employs only locals as soldiers to guard the mountainous borders.

Asked whether he gets time to meet his elder brother, who renounced the world to join the Gorakhpur-based Gorakhnath Temple, he said he had met him in Delhi only once after he took over as the chief ministerof UP.

Shailendra also said his brother Yogi's only message to him was that he should serve the country to the best of his ability while sharing his own experiences in the service of the nation.

Shailendra added that he and the chief minister, whom he and his family refer to as 'Maharajji' have spent quite a lot of time together as kids - while sharing anecdotes about the firebrand BJP leader

The subedar then went on to add that he and Yogi Adityanath are carrying out similar duties for the country - as Yogi was serving the nation as the UP chief minister, while Shailendra was doing the similar job at the borders as an armyman.

Yogi has three brothers - Manvendra Mohan being elder to him and Shailendra and Mahendra Mohan being the younger ones.

--- ENDS ---
The iPhone X launch will be a nightmare for all those people who wont be able to get their preorders quick enough. Apple will have a limited number of iPhone X units on hand, with some reports claiming that only around 2-3 million will be ready for launch date.

But a new report from Japan says that Apple may have to settle for making just half of its planned iPhone X production this year.

Don't Miss: I just replaced my sound bar with these wireless speakers and Im shocked at how good they sound

Talking about iPhone X manufacturing has been such a roller coaster ride this year. Only a few days ago, some claimed that Apple fixed the issues affecting iPhone X production lines and that the company will meet its production target for 2017.

But Nikkei has a different take on the matter. Apparently, Apple is expected to ship just 20 million iPhone X units this year, half of the planned production.

The report says Apple still struggles to solve technical issues with components supporting the models new face authentication feature.

Nikkei learned that defects in the bonding process for the OLED panels affected mass-production at first, but the problem was largely solved around July. Nevertheless, manufacturers still struggled with Face ID components, and they were only able to improve the yield toward the end of September.

Apple is expected to make some 10 million iPhone X units per month at this point. Production may improve rapidly, but only if Apple secures enough components. Apparently, Apple has started negotiations with other manufacturers for additional production of certain parts. Its unclear what these parts are supposed to be.

The iPhone X goes on sale this week, hitting stores on November 3rd.

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See the original version of this article on BGR.com
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company GT is set to report third-quarter 2017 results on Oct 27, before the market opens.

Last quarter, the tire manufacturer witnessed a negative earnings surprise of 2.78%. Of the trailing four quarters, the company beat estimates in three and missed in one with an average beat of 11.75%.



The long-term EPS growth (three-five years) for the company is currently pegged at 12.4%.



Let us see how things are shaping up for this announcement.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Price and EPS Surprise

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Price and EPS Surprise | The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Quote

Why a Likely Positive Surprise?



Our proven model shows that Goodyear is likely to beat estimates this quarter with the right combination of two key ingredients.



Zacks ESP: Goodyear has an Earnings ESP of +3.29% as the Most Accurate estimate of 69 cents is pegged above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 67 cents. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.



Zacks Rank: Goodyear carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Notably, stocks with a favorable Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 or 3 (Hold) have significantly higher chances of an earnings beat.



Conversely, the Sell-rated stocks (#4 or 5) should never be considered going into an earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.



Whats Driving Better-than-Expected Results?



Goodyear is investing in projects having high a return rate. Recently, it has announced plans to construct a facility in Luxembourg to be able to use innovative manufacturing process for producing premium tires. An investment of $77 million will be made with the facility owning a capacity to manufacture roughly 500,000 tires annually.



Additionally, the company is launching new innovative products and services to boost sales. The company will be using its expertise to a fleet of semi-autonomous electric cars in a bid to provide wireless sensors for car tires to enhance overall tire management and augment uptime for the fleet.



For the soon-to-be-released quarterly results, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for net sales of Americas, the companys largest geographical segment (constituting 55.1% of total revenue in second-quarter 2017), is pegged at $2.08 billion. The second quarters actual figure for the Americas segment net sales was $2.03 billion.



For the second-largest geographical segment, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) (30.2%), the Zacks Consensus Estimate for net sales stands at $1.27 billion. The second quarters actual figure for the EMEA segment net sales was $1.1 billion.



Price Performance



Goodyears stock has lost 5.2% in the last six months comparing favorably the 7.3% decline of the industry it belongs to.

Story continues





Other Stocks to Consider



Here are some other stocks worth considering from the same space with the right combination of elements to beat on earnings in respective quarters:



Cummins Inc. CMI has an Earnings ESP of +0.63% and carries a Zacks Rank of 2. The company is expected to report third-quarter 2017 results on Oct 31. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Horizon Global Corporation HZN has an Earnings ESP of +5.82% and carries a Zacks Rank #3. The companys third-quarter 2017 financial results are expected to release on Oct 31.



Meritor, Inc. MTOR has an Earnings ESP of +2.13% and flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1. The company is expected to release fourth-quarter 2017 results on Nov 15.



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Zelda Perkins, a former Miramax London assistant to Harvey Weinstein, broke her silence today about the movie moguls sexual harassment of her.

Perkins is one of at least eight alleged victims who reached monetary settlements and had to sign non-disclosure agreements with Weinstein.

Telling her story to the Financial Times, Perkins decided to come forward today and brave potential legal ramifications over breaking her NDA because I want to call into question the legitimacy of agreements where the inequality of power is so stark and relies on money rather than moralityI want other women who have been sidelined and who arent being allowed to own their own history or their trauma to be able to discuss what they have suffered. I want them to see that the sky wont fall in.

Unless somebody does this, there wont be a debate about how egregious these agreements are and the amount of duress that victims are put under, said Perkins.

Perkins recounted that Weinsteins sexual abuse began on the first day she showed up for work: He would ask for massages, walk around hotel rooms naked and ask to be bathed.

Perkins and a former co-worker split a $330K settlement in October 1998. Their agreements prevented them from going public with their allegations against Weinstein. Perkins NDA with Miramax included a number of points, which is unclear if they ever abided by during a three-year period; specifically, the assistant demanded that Weinstein undergo therapy for as long as his therapist deems necessary. Miramax also promised that it would appoint three complaint handlers to investigate any subsequent sexual harassment complaints.

Perkins decided to take it to Miramax after her co-worker was sexually harassed by Weinstein at the 1998 Venice Film Festival.

Said Perkins, She told me something terrible had happened. She was in shock and crying and finding it very hard to talk. I was furious, deeply upset and very shocked. I said: We need to go to the police but she was too distressed. Neither of us knew what to do in a foreign environment.

Story continues

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Brit Marling Shares Harvey Weinstein Encounter; Calls Out The Danger Of Society's "Dramatic Imbalance Of Power"
We are putting the casting couch on trial here, actress Dominique Huetts attorney Jeff Herman told Megyn Kelly this morning of his clients $5 million civil suit against The Weinstein Company over the alleged misconduct of its former co-chairman Harvey Weinstein and TWCs alleged knowledge of his behavior.

Harvey Weinsteins latest accusers, Huett and former production assistant Mimi Haleyi, spoke exclusively to Kelly on NBC News Megyn Kelly Today about their claims of being sexually assaulted by him. Herman accompanied Huett, while Haleyi was joined by her attorney Gloria Allred.

What this case is about, and the reason Dominique is coming forward, is because we want to see change, Herman told Kelly. It is one thing to talk about what happened and its great we are all talking about it. But the only way we are really going to have change, is to hold these companies financially accountable. We know already, from what is out there, is that this has been going on for decades. Harveys partner, essentially, is his brother Bob. And we believe that the evidence in this case, is going to come out that not only Bob but other people in the company knew this had been going on for decades.

Herman said its already known that these meetings were set up by employees.

We know that there were these honeypots, these employees that were there to kind of get these women to feel safe in these rooms. We know that there have been settlements going back for decades, even before there was The Weinstein Company, there was Miramax. Same thing was happening there. A lot of the same people, particularly his brother, Bob, Herman said.

We believe that the evidence will show that this behavior was enabled by the company. And if you think of any other industry, this would not be tolerated. If you had a company that knew its key executive was using his position in the company to coerce women into sexual misconduct, theyd put an end to it. Didnt happen here.

Story continues

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Another Actress Says She Was Assaulted By Harvey Weinstein: "I Played Dead"

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Integrated oil and gas company Hess Corporation HES recently announced that it has agreed to divest its subsidiary Hess Norge that holds stakes in Norway's Valhall and Hod fields to Aker BP ASA. The deal will bring Hess a total of $2 billion. Also, recently, the company agreed to sell its offshore Equatorial Guinea interests to Kosmos Energy KOS and Trident Energy for a total of $650 million. Hess also intends to divest its interests in Denmark's South Arne Field.

Details of the Deals

In the first two quarters of 2017, net production from the Valhall and Hod fields was 26,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d) on an average. Hess owns 64.05% and 62.5% interest in Valhall and Hod fields, respectively. The sale of the assets still requires approval from the Ministry of Oil and Energy, Ministry of Finance, and related competition clearance. Effective Jan 1, 2017, the deal is expected to close by the end of 2017.

In Equatorial Guinea, Hess has 85% operating interests, where production for the first two quarters of 2017 averaged 28,000 barrels of oil per day. The deal is expected to be over by the end of 2017.

The sale of South Arne Field, where it owns 61.5% interests, is expected to close in 2018. In the first two quarters of 2017, net production from the field was 11,000 (BOE/d) on average.

Sale Rationale

The company said that the divestitures including the Norway assets, Equatorial Guinea assets and the Permian Basin assets obtained $3.25 billion in cash proceeds year to date.

The deals are in line with the company's strategy of divesting assets in order to shift its focus to high return assets. The company plans to use the proceeds from the deals, added with the available cash on its balance sheet, for the development of its offshore Guyana asset. Hess believes this will give it the opportunity to receive growth, which will generate cash for more than a decade. The company also expects the proceeds from the divestment program to reduce its debt level by $500 million in 2018.

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About Hess

New York-based Hess, previously known as Amerada Hess Corporation, is a global exploration & production company. The company engages in exploration, development, production, transportation, purchase and sale of crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas. Currently, the company has two operating segments, Exploration and Production and Bakken Midstream.

Hess is among the leading producers of crude in the Bakken oil shale play in North Dakota. The company has interests in the best areas of the play. With crude prices improving after OPECs decision to curb output, we expect the Bakken play to contribute to production growth in the long run. Moreover, new output from Gulf of Mexico and Malaysia could add considerably to the companys output. However, in order to support its capital expenditures through 2017, the company continues to be highly dependent on major asset sales. The companys growth and returns picture will likely be hindered by the asset sale programs in the near term.

Price Performance

Hess has lost 27.5% of its value year to date compared with 11% fall of its industry.

Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider

Hess currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the oil and energy sector are Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. PARR and Denbury Resources Inc. DNR. Both sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Par Pacifics sales for the third quarter of 2017 are expected to increase 28.5% year over year. The company delivered a positive average earnings surprise of 9.1% in the last four quarters.

Denbury Resources sales for 2017 are expected to increase 5.8% year over year. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise of 100% in the second quarter of 2017.

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JAKARTA, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Indonesia will review the operations of Indonesia AirAsia, the local unit of Malaysia's AirAsia, after one of its jets carrying 162 people went missing on Sunday, presumed crashed in the Java Sea.

"We will review AirAsia Indonesia to make sure its performance can be better in the future," Indonesian Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan told reporters on Monday.

"Much will be reviewed in terms of its business operations and in terms of air transportation business, so that there are safety improvements."

Shares in parent budget airline AirAsia fell more than 7.8 percent on Monday to 2.71 ringgit, the biggest one-day drop in more than three years.

(Reporting by Fergus Jensen and Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Michael Perry)
By India Today Web Desk: Jaitley details Modi govt's grand plan to recapitalise banks, spur economy

A mega bank recapitalisation scheme and an unprecedented highway construction form the basis of Finance Ministry Arun Jaitley's plan to spur economic growth.

Indian toddler Sherin Mathews' father says he saw her choking, admits disposing of body

A body of a child recovered this past weekend has been confirmed to be that of three-year-old India-born girl Sherin Mathews, police in Texas, US, confirmed as her father made a startling disclosure.

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Happy not to repeat World Championships' mistakes in Denmark: Kidambi Srikanth to India Today

From losing in the quarter-finals at Rio Olympics in 2016 to winning three Super Series titles in 2017, Kidambi Srikanth has grown and matured within just a year.

Here's how Saaho actor Prabhas celebrated his birthday

Baahubali 2 actor Prabhas turned 38 on Monday.

--- ENDS ---
The third-quarter earnings season is gaining pace with 87 members of the elite S&P 500 index having already reported quarterly numbers so far. Per the latest Earnings Preview, the performance of these index members (accounting for 24.7% of the indexs total market capitalization) indicate that total earnings have increased 9.4% on 7.3% higher revenues. The beat ratio is impressive with 71.3% companies surpassing bottom-line expectations and 70.1%, outperforming on the top-line front.



The Finance sector (one of the 16 Zacks sectors) has delivered a strong performance till now. About 50.7% of the sectors market cap in the S&P 500 index that have reported results so far shows 7.8% earnings growth on 3.3% increase in revenues, both on a year-over-year basis. The beat ratio of 71.4% for the bottom line compared favorably with that of the S&P 500. However, the beat ratio of 50% for the top line is lower than the same of the S&P 500.



Insurance industry, an integral part of the Finance sector, will witness soft results this yet-to-be-reported quarter. A soft performance from the insurance industry will drag the Finance sectors third-quarter results. Per our Earnings Preview, earnings of the Finance sector will decline 1.5% though revenues will increase 1.1%.



The third quarter witnessed a slew of catastrophes, which will weigh on underwriting profitability as well as the bottom line of insurers. Per the catastrophe modeler AIR Worldwide, the insured loss estimates from Irma could range between $25 billion and $35 billion and between $40 billion and $85 billion from Maria. Moodys Analytics earlier estimated economic losses from Irma to come in the $58-$83 billion band while that from Harvey could be as high as $108 billion. Mexican tremors have all the more added to the woes.



Though increasing catastrophes will induce fluctuation in underwriting results, we expect prudent underwriting practices and capital reserve piled up on a benign catastrophe environment to withstand the loss to some extent.



We do not expect pricings to have been strong in the third quarter.



However, net investment income, an important component of an insurers top line, is likely to witness improvement courtesy three rate hikes approved since December 2016. Though rate environment is improving at a very slower pace, the impact of rate increase is clearly visible in the insurers investment results. The third quarter will also not be an exception.



Higher rates should offer some respite to life insurers, which suffered spread compression on products like fixed annuities and universal life due to continuous low rates. Annuity sales should have also benefited from higher rates. However, life insurers have considerably lowered their exposure to interest-sensitive product lines.



With more than 700 companies (180 S&P 500 members) set to report results this week, lets find out where the following insurers stand before their release of quarterly numbers on Oct 25.



Chubb Limiteds CB third-quarter underwriting results will be affected by a string of cat events. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for combined ratio is currently pegged at 101%, a deterioration of 980 basis points from the year-ago quarter.



Premiums earned likely have reduced the companys inability to generate enough underwriting returns. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for net premiums earned is currently pegged at $7.2 billion, reflecting a decline of 2.8% on a year-over year basis.



However, higher net investment income and continued share buybacks have likely cushioned the companys bottom line. The company expects its quarterly investment income run rate to range between $830 million and $840 million.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate of loss is 26 cents per share for the yet-to-be-reported quarter, reflecting a 108.9% year-over-year slump. Chubb currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), which lowers the predictive power of ESP. Further combined with an Earnings ESP of 0.00%, makes surprise prediction difficult. (Read more: Will Catastrophe Losses Impact Chubb's Q3 Earnings?)

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D/B/A Chubb Limited New Price and EPS Surprise

D/B/A Chubb Limited New Price and EPS Surprise | D/B/A Chubb Limited New Quote

Cincinnati Financial Corporations CINF underwriting profitability will be weighed on by catastrophe losses and will render volatility to the earnings. The company estimates between $102 million and $114 million in cat losses in the third quarter, thereby deteriorating the combined ratio by 860-960 basis points.



However, higher premiums earned and investment income likely have driven the top-line growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the third quarter of 2017 is $1.4 billion that represents an increase of 3.5% from the prior-year quarter.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at 53 cents for the yet-to-be-reported quarter, down 38.4% year over year. Cincinnati Financial also currently has a bearish Zacks Rank of 4 along with an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. (Read more: Cincinnati Financial Q3 Earnings: Cat Losses to Hurt?)

Cincinnati Financial Corporation Price and EPS Surprise

Cincinnati Financial Corporation Price and EPS Surprise | Cincinnati Financial Corporation Quote

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The earnings of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. MMC are projected to benefit from increased revenues at its both operating segments, namely, Risk and Insurance Services and Consulting.



A combination of organic and inorganic growth measures is likely to drive revenues in this segment. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues for the segment is $1.6 billion, up 5.8% year over year.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at 78 cents for the yet-to-be-reported quarter, up 12.4% year over year. Marsh & McLennan currently has a bullish Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and combined with an Earnings ESP of -0.53% further, leaves surprise prediction inconclusive this quarter. (Read more: Will Revenue Growth Aid Marsh & McLennan Q3 Earnings?)

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise | Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. Quote

You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



Arthur J. Gallagher & Cos AJG third quarter is expected to have benefited from a strong performance by its Brokerage and Risk Management businesses.



The top-line growth likely has been fueled by organic sales as well as strategic mergers and acquisitions. The Zacks Consensus Estimate with respect to revenues for the third quarter of 2017 is $1.6 billion, representing an increase of 5.1% from the prior-year quarter.



The insurance brokers string of strategic buyouts has led it to incur 1 cent per share in integration costs in the soon-to-be-reported quarter.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate is 78 cents for the yet-to-be-reported quarter, reflecting a 1.9% year-over-year increase. Arthur J. Gallagher currently has a Zacks Rank of 4 as well and combined with an Earnings ESP of -1.08% further, makes prediction difficult. (Read more: Arthur J. Gallagher Q3 Earnings: Rising Costs to Hurt?)

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Price and EPS Surprise

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Price and EPS Surprise | Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Quote

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(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Tesla wants to open more stores and manufacture cars in China. That means its going to need more workers there.

To that end, the company plans to hire nearly 500 people in China this year, according to a report this week by Shanghai-based financial media outlet Yicai citing a Tesla employee. According to Yicai, the staffer made the comment during a university recruitment event, one of four campus events Tesla held in China this month, according to the companys official account on messaging app WeChat (link in Chinese). The open positions include sales, engineering, and IT, according to the list seen by the Yicai reporter.

Tesla didnt immediately respond to requests for comment on Yicais report, but a spokesperson for the company told Shanghai-based news outlet The Paper that the number was a misstatement (link in Chinese), and that the number of open positions would depend how many stores Tesla opens next year in China. Tesla currently operates 30 stores in the country.

Jon McNeil, president of global sales and services at Tesla, said in a March interview with Chinese financial media outlet Caixin that it planned to double its number of stores (link in Chinese) in China this year.

The company has 89 full-time positions open (link in Chinese), focusing on sales and customer services, across 15 Chinese cities as of Aug. 29.

Sales of Tesla vehicles in China more than tripled in 2016, hitting $1.1 billionthats one-seventh of its overall revenue last year, despite Teslas sticker price in the country being 50% higher than in the US. This week, the Wall Street Journal reported (paywall) that the company has secured a deal to manufacture vehicles in Shanghai, without a local partner, which would be a first for a foreign automaker in China. Tesla also just opened its largest charging station in the world, with 50 Superchargers, in Shanghai.

Story continues

Earlier this month, Tesla fired hundreds of workers at its plants in Fremont, California, where the company employs nearly 10,000 workers. A Tesla spokesperson said the firings were part of the companys annual performance review process.

Correction (Oct. 25): An earlier headline called the firings at the Fremont plant layoffs, a characterization Tesla disputes under the terms of the 1988 WARN Act.

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By the end of the year, McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) plans to offer delivery from 5,000 of its U.S. locations. Currently, the burger chain delivers out of about 3,700 of its stores nationwide. "We're learning a lot about delivery and seeing success in dense urban metros with commerce, like New York, Boston, Miami and Los Angeles," Chris Kempczinski, president of McDonald's USA, said Tuesday on a call with analysts and investors. "I truly believe we're just beginning to scratch the surface on this opportunity."Earlier this summer , Chief Executive Steve Easterbrook offered an update and said delivery was available at more than 2,000 locations, and he expected McDonald's partnership with UberEats to expand to more than 3,500 locations by the end of June. Previously, the Golden Arches had expanded third-party delivery to more than 1,000 chains nationwide . In the U.S., 60 percent of McDonald's delivery orders are placed in the evening or late at night, and arrive, on average, within 30 minutes, Easterbrook has said.It's worth noting that McDonald's already has well-established delivery services in Asia and the Middle East, where for some restaurants delivery represents 40 percent of sales. In 2016, the burger chain brought in nearly $1 billion in delivery sales globally.On Tuesday, McDonald's said the company remains on track to offer delivery in 10,000 total restaurants by the end of the year.Looking at the future of the restaurant industry, delivery has become a key priority, and especially for fast food players.Companies like Uber, Postmates and DoorDash have proven to be important third-party partners, offering up their drivers and services. Tech giants like Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) are also beginning to break into the delivery business, as they partner with restaurants like Chipotle (NYSE: CMG) and Shake Shack (NYSE: SHAK) and encourage them to sell from third-party platforms. By the end of the year, McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) plans to offer delivery from 5,000 of its U.S. locations. Currently, the burger chain delivers out of about 3,700 of its stores nationwide. "We're learning a lot about delivery and seeing success in dense urban metros with commerce, like New York, Boston, Miami and Los Angeles," Chris Kempczinski, president of McDonald's USA, said Tuesday on a call with analysts and investors. "I truly believe we're just beginning to scratch the surface on this opportunity." Earlier this summer , Chief Executive Steve Easterbrook offered an update and said delivery was available at more than 2,000 locations, and he expected McDonald's partnership with UberEats to expand to more than 3,500 locations by the end of June. Previously, the Golden Arches had expanded third-party delivery to more than 1,000 chains nationwide . In the U.S., 60 percent of McDonald's delivery orders are placed in the evening or late at night, and arrive, on average, within 30 minutes, Easterbrook has said. It's worth noting that McDonald's already has well-established delivery services in Asia and the Middle East, where for some restaurants delivery represents 40 percent of sales. In 2016, the burger chain brought in nearly $1 billion in delivery sales globally. On Tuesday, McDonald's said the company remains on track to offer delivery in 10,000 total restaurants by the end of the year. Looking at the future of the restaurant industry, delivery has become a key priority, and especially for fast food players. Companies like Uber, Postmates and DoorDash have proven to be important third-party partners, offering up their drivers and services. Tech giants like Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) are also beginning to break into the delivery business, as they partner with restaurants like Chipotle (NYSE: CMG) and Shake Shack (NYSE: SHAK) and encourage them to sell from third-party platforms.



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By Lisa Baertlein and Sruthi Ramakrishnan

(Reuters) - McDonald's Corp (MCD.N) reported strong restaurant sales on Tuesday, as $1 sodas and build-your-own burgers helped it draw in more customers and beat back rivals in an intense battle for market share.

The world's largest restaurant chain by revenue has been working to boost flagging traffic at its U.S. restaurants, where it gets most of its profit, after customers defected to fast-food rivals and pricier fast-casual options like Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG.N).

In the past year, McDonald's has introduced cook-to-order, fresh beef Quarter Pounders and new items with a variety of buns and sauces like the Signature Sriracha sandwich, along with mobile ordering and delivery.

"We served more customers, more often," Chief Executive Officer Steve Easterbrook said on a conference call to discuss third-quarter earnings. "The U.S. business regained its stride."

Some analysts on the call expressed concern that new efforts, including table service and made-to-order burgers, would mean longer wait times that would annoy diners, but executives said customer satisfaction was higher and any service issues would be quickly ironed out.

Global sales at restaurants open at least 13 months rose 6 percent for the quarter, posting the third straight quarterly traffic increase and beating the 4.5 percent gain expected by analysts polled by research firm Consensus Metrix.

Those sales rose a better-than-expected 4.1 percent in the United States, where traffic improved for the second quarter in a row after more than four straight years of declines. China, the UK and Canada also turned in strong performances.

"Given that the fast food and casual dining segments as a whole struggled over the third quarter, this is an encouraging set of results which suggests McDonald's is gaining both market and customer share," GlobalData Retail's Managing Director Neil Saunders said.

McDonald's shares were up 1 percent at $165 in midday trading, flirting with their record high on Friday.

Story continues

Aggressive U.S. promotions included $1 any-size soft drinks, $2 McCafe smoothies and espresso drinks and McPick 2 offers of two items for $5.

The changes, part of a turnaround plan under CEO Easterbrook, came as McDonald's catches up with Chipotle, Wendy's Co (WEN.O) and other chains that raised the bar for what consumers can expect from quick-serve restaurants.

McDonald's shares have climbed 65 percent since Easterbrook was named CEO in March 2015, well ahead of Wendy's 37 percent gain and nearly triple the S&P 500's rise over the same period.

Chipotle shares meanwhile have plunged 52 percent following a string of food safety lapses in 2015.

McDonald's shares may have more scope for gains, as the company's price-to-earnings ratio is still far below many peers, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Many fast-casual chains have fallen short of expectations following a wave of initial public offerings in recent years. Shares in Zoe's Kitchen Inc (ZOES.N) and Noodles & Co (NDLS.O) are trading below their IPO prices, while Shake Shack Inc (SHAK.N) is far below its record high of nearly $93 in May 2015.

Lower priced fast-food chains seem to be benefiting from last year's sharp slowdown in customer traffic to fast-casual chains, Bernstein analyst Sara Senatore said in a recent report.

"I think it's safe to say that the reports of fast food's death were greatly exaggerated," said Senatore, who added that fast-food chains have posted the best fundamental results and stock returns of the broader industry since late 2015.

During the call, analysts called out concerning trends in service times and U.S. labor costs.

Executives said service speeds initially slow slightly, roughly 5 seconds, at its modernized "experience of the future" restaurants that offer kiosk and mobile ordering, curbside pickup, table service, custom sandwiches and cook-to-order burgers.

"We expect to claw that back" as crews get more experienced, McDonald's USA President Chris Kempczinski said.

Every second counts in the fast-food business. Service times at McDonald's drive-throughs, which account for 70 percent of U.S. revenue, already lag those of some major rivals.

Excluding items, McDonald's earned a profit of $1.76 per share, missing the average analyst estimate by a penny, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

During the quarter, McDonald's had higher taxes and expenses, but also had gains from selling its China and Hong Kong businesses.

Total revenue fell 10 percent to $5.75 billion, due to restaurant sales to franchisees and strategic partners.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles and Sruthi Ramakrishnan in Bengaluru; Editing by Patrick Graham and Meredith Mazzilli)
FILE PHOTO: A man climbs an an oil tanker parked outside a fuel depot in Mumbai, October 6, 2017. REUTERS/ Danish Siddiqui/File Photo

By Julia Simon

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Brent oil rose 1 percent on Tuesday after top exporter Saudi Arabia said it was determined to end a supply glut, while prices also drew support from forecasts of a further drop in U.S. crude inventories as well as nervousness over tensions in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The Saudi energy minister said the focus remained on reducing oil stocks in industrialised countries to their five-year average and raised the prospect of prolonged output restraint once an OPEC-led supply-cutting pact ends.

The oil market has been concerned that, once the supply deal expires, producers will ramp up shipments again and cause prices to fall.

Minister Khalid al-Falih, told Reuters at an investor conference in Riyadh on Tuesday that global oil demand is expected to grow by 45 percent by 2050 despite an international push for using more renewable sources of energy.

"Expectations that increased demand continue to provide support for higher prices," said Gene McGillian, manager of market research at Tradition Energy. "Theres nervousness (about Kurdistan) in the market, but I think that the production cut... is really driving traders."

"The market continues to have an upward bias."

Brent crude (LCOc1), the global benchmark, settled up 96 cents or 1.7 percent to $58.33 a barrel. U.S. crude (CLc1) settled up 57 cents or 1.1 percent to $52.47.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), plus Russia and nine other producers, have cut oil output by about 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) since January. The pact runs to March 2018 and they are considering extending it.

Prices also drew support from expectations U.S. crude inventories will show a drop of 2.5 million barrels in the latest weekly supply reports, which would be the fifth straight week of declines and a sign the OPEC-led cut is working.

The American Petroleum Institute (API), an industry group, releases its data at 4:30 p.m. EDT on Tuesday. The U.S. government's Energy Information Administration releases its report on Wednesday.

Story continues

Oil was down earlier in the session as crude flows through Iraq's northern pipeline to Ceyhan in Turkey rose further.

Pumping along the pipeline rose to 300,000 bpd on Tuesday, a shipping source said. Output fell from 600,000 bpd last week when Iraqi forces retook control of oilfields from Kurdish fighters.

The disruption to exports from Iraq, the second-largest producer in OPEC, has supported the market and should give the group's already high compliance with the cutback agreement a boost in October.

Elections for the presidency and parliament of Iraq's Kurdistan region set for Nov. 1 have been delayed by eight months, the regional parliament announced on Tuesday.

(Additonal reporting by Alex Lawler in London, Osamu Tsukimori; Editing by Chris Reese and Lisa Shumaker)
Photo credit: NASA

From Popular Mechanics

Paul Weitz, a retired NASA astronaut who commanded the first flight of the space shuttle Challenger and also piloted the Skylab in the early 1970s, has died. He was 85.

Weitz died at his retirement home in Flagstaff, Arizona, on Monday, said Laura Cutchens of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. No cause of death was given.

A NASA biography says Weitz was among the class of 19 astronauts who were chosen in April 1966. He served as command module pilot on the first crew of the orbiting space laboratory known as Skylab during a 28-day mission in 1973.

Weitz also commanded the first launch of the shuttle Challenger in April 1983. The five-day mission took off from the Kennedy space Center in Florida and landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The Challenger was destroyed and seven crew members killed during its 10th launch on January 28, 1986.

In all, he logged 793 hours in space and retired as deputy director of the Johnson Space Center in May 1994.

Weitz was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, on July 25, 1932, and graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in aeronautical engineering in 1954, according to NASA. He then joined the Navy, serving on a destroyer before being chosen for flight training and earning his wings as a Naval Aviator in September 1956. He served in various naval squadrons, including service in Vietnam, before joining the Astronaut Corps.

According to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, Weitz returned to the Navy after his mission on Skylab mission and retired as a captain in July 1976 after serving 22 years. He then came out of retirement to re-join NASA.

"Paul Weitz's name will always be synonymous with the space shuttle Challenger. But he also will be remembered for defying the laws of gravity - and age," said Curtis Brown, board chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and an astronaut and veteran of six space flights. "Before it became commonplace to come out of retirement, Paul was a pioneer. He proved 51 was just a number."

Story continues

The foundation is supported by astronauts from the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, Space Shuttle and Space Station programs and annually provides scholarships for 45 students.

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CBI wants to conduct a lie-detector test of 9 suspected JNU students in the case of Najeeb Ahmed, an MSc student of biotechnology at JNU who went missing last year in October.

By Munish Pandey: All 9 suspects who were summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case of the missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed, appeared before the Patiala court today.

CBI had summoned these 9 suspects on Tuesday to appear before the court to give their consent for a polygraph test. All the suspects are students of JNU and a few of them are members of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

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The 9 suspects who appeared before the court today have been identified as Ankit Rai, Vijendra Thakur, Vikrant Kinar, Aishwarya Pratap Singh, Pushpesh Jha, Sunil Pratap Singh, Arnab Chakrobarty, Abhijeet Kumar, and Santosh Kumar. Court will hear the matter on Friday.

Recently, CBI issued a reward of Rs 10 lakh for anyone providing information about the missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed.

The investigative agency was handed over the case after Najeeb went missing last year in October. The case was initially being probed by Delhi Police and later on, directions of high court, case was transferred to CBI.

The then Delhi Police investigating the case also wanted to conduct the polygraph test on these suspects but they refused to give their consent.

WHAT IS THE CASE?

Najeeb Ahmed, a 27-year-year-old first year MSc student of biotechnology at JNU went missing a day later after a scuffle outside his room with three members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad on October 14. ABVP members were accused of kidnapping Najeeb but ABVP maintained that they have no role in Najeeb's disappearance.

Najeeb's family lodged an FIR of kidnapping at Vasant Kunj in which they mentioned that Najeeb went missing at 11 am on October 15. In this matter, JNU administration released a press statement in which Najeeb Ahmed was named as an accused in the brawl that happened inside his hostel.

However, the internal enquiry by the the JNU administration found ABVP member Vikrant Kumar guilty of assaulting Najeeb Ahmed during the scuffle on October 14.

A few days later, Delhi Police formed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to trace Najeeb. After SIT failed to make any breakthrough, the case was subsequently transferred to the Delhi Police Crime Branch. The status report by the police named 9 students as suspects in the case. Police wanted to conduct lie detection test but none of the students gave consent.

Earlier, Delhi Police has put a reward of Rs 10 lakh to the person who provides information about Najeeb but no leads were given by anyone.

--- ENDS ---
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) managing director Yasir al-Rumayyan speaks at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum in New York City, U.S., September 20, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/Files (Reuters)

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), the country's main sovereign wealth fund, will contribute $20 billion to a $50 billion fund with U.S. private equity firm Blackstone, its managing director said on Tuesday.

The fund will invest in "conventional economy" including sectors such as medical care and education, Yasir Al Rumayyan said at a major investment conference in the capital Riyadh.

PIF and U.S. private equity firm Blackstone announced in May the execution of a memorandum of understanding for the launch of an infrastructure investment vehicle with an anchor $20 billion contribution by PIF.

As part of Saudi Arabia's economic reforms announced last year, the Saudi government plans to expand PIF, founded in 1971, to finance development projects in the country.

PIF expects to create over 20,000 jobs by 2020 through its projects, Al Rumayyan also said on Tuesday.

"With our short term plans, we will have more than 20,000 jobs in 2020 and beyond it's going to be a lot more."

The Public Investment Fund has a portfolio made up of listed holdings, but also unlisted equity investments, international investments, real estate, loans, bonds and sukuk.

(Reporting by Reuters team; Editing by Samia Nakhoul)
Sears Holdings (NASDAQ: SHLD) is cutting its century-old ties with Whirlpool (NYSE: WHR) and will no longer sell the company's products, which include Maytag, KitchenAid and Jenn-Air subsidiaries, according to an internal Sears memo sent to stores last week. The memo was reviewed by CNBC. "Whirlpool has sought to use its dominant position in the marketplace to make demands that would have prohibited us from offering Whirlpool products to our members at a reasonable price," Sears wrote to its employees. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the news Monday evening. Sears said it plans to sell Whirlpool-branded products in its facilities until inventory is "depleted." Meantime, Whirlpool will continue to manufacture items for Sears' Kenmore nameplate, the companies have confirmed.Department store chain Sears added that it will provide "tools and instructions" to its employees regarding how to deal with "excess inventory," and how to move into its Kenmore or other appliance brands.Whirlpool shares were down near 10 percent Tuesday morning.The Michigan-based appliance manufacturer on Monday evening reported worse-than-expected third-quarter earnings, and trimmed its financial outlook. Whirlpool said it expected to earn $11.10 to $11.40 per share for 2017, down from a prior forecast of $12.40 to $12.90 a share.Whirlpool Chief Executive Marc Bitzer has cited rising raw material costs and "unfavorable price/mix" as weighing on the company's margins."On May 1, Whirlpool Corporation informed Sears, consistent with our contract, that we will no longer supply them with our branded products effective October 27," a Whirlpool spokeswoman told CNBC in a statement."Our total sales to Sears are trending to approximately 3 percent of our global sales, and our branded business represents a very small portion of that overall business," she added. "We continue to supply our Kenmore products to Sears."The Upton Machine Company, which eventually became Whirlpool, sold its first washing machines to Sears in 1916. Sears later took a stake in the appliance company in 1921. Moving forward, Sears said it will push its other top brands for appliances, which include LG, Samsung, GE, Frigidaire, Electrolux and Bosch. Sears also inked a deal with Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) in July to sell Kenmore-branded appliances, some with Alexa capabilities, on Amazon.com. Earlier this year, Sears CEO Eddie Lampert took aim at the retailer's vendors, saying : "We will not simply roll over and be taken advantage of  we will do what's right to protect the interests of our company and the millions of stakeholders we serve." Sears went on to sue two of its Craftsman vendors in contract disputes, but the lawsuits have been resolved. As of Monday's close, Sears shares had fallen nearly 30 percent in 2017. Sears Holdings (NASDAQ: SHLD) is cutting its century-old ties with Whirlpool (NYSE: WHR) and will no longer sell the company's products, which include Maytag, KitchenAid and Jenn-Air subsidiaries, according to an internal Sears memo sent to stores last week. The memo was reviewed by CNBC. "Whirlpool has sought to use its dominant position in the marketplace to make demands that would have prohibited us from offering Whirlpool products to our members at a reasonable price," Sears wrote to its employees. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the news Monday evening. Sears said it plans to sell Whirlpool-branded products in its facilities until inventory is "depleted." Meantime, Whirlpool will continue to manufacture items for Sears' Kenmore nameplate, the companies have confirmed. Department store chain Sears added that it will provide "tools and instructions" to its employees regarding how to deal with "excess inventory," and how to move into its Kenmore or other appliance brands. Whirlpool shares were down near 10 percent Tuesday morning. The Michigan-based appliance manufacturer on Monday evening reported worse-than-expected third-quarter earnings, and trimmed its financial outlook. Whirlpool said it expected to earn $11.10 to $11.40 per share for 2017, down from a prior forecast of $12.40 to $12.90 a share. Whirlpool Chief Executive Marc Bitzer has cited rising raw material costs and "unfavorable price/mix" as weighing on the company's margins. "On May 1, Whirlpool Corporation informed Sears, consistent with our contract, that we will no longer supply them with our branded products effective October 27," a Whirlpool spokeswoman told CNBC in a statement. "Our total sales to Sears are trending to approximately 3 percent of our global sales, and our branded business represents a very small portion of that overall business," she added. "We continue to supply our Kenmore products to Sears." The Upton Machine Company, which eventually became Whirlpool, sold its first washing machines to Sears in 1916. Sears later took a stake in the appliance company in 1921. Moving forward, Sears said it will push its other top brands for appliances, which include LG, Samsung, GE, Frigidaire, Electrolux and Bosch. Sears also inked a deal with Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) in July to sell Kenmore-branded appliances, some with Alexa capabilities, on Amazon.com. Earlier this year, Sears CEO Eddie Lampert took aim at the retailer's vendors, saying : "We will not simply roll over and be taken advantage of  we will do what's right to protect the interests of our company and the millions of stakeholders we serve." Sears went on to sue two of its Craftsman vendors in contract disputes, but the lawsuits have been resolved. As of Monday's close, Sears shares had fallen nearly 30 percent in 2017.



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wireless carrier movement

BI Intelligence

This story was delivered to BI Intelligence Apps and Platforms Briefing subscribers. To learn more and subscribe, please click here.

T-Mobile reported solid customer and revenue growth during Q3 2017, adding 1.3 million net subscribers, and growing services revenue 7% year-over-year to reach $7.6 billion.

The company skipped its usual earnings call, opting instead to announce the quarters results via a vlog and online statement.

The vlog for the earnings comes as T-Mobile reportedly prepares to announce its merger with Sprint  the fourth largest carrier in the U.S. The two companies are seeking to join forces to become more competitive against U.S. wireless carrier leaders Verizon and AT&T.

U.S. smartphone penetration is approaching saturation, causing mobile carriers to fight over each others subscribers. About 95% of Americans own a cell phone, and 77% own a smartphone, according to Pew Research, making new subscribers a rare commodity.

Merging would give the newly formed company a share comparable to Verizons and AT&Ts. As of Q2 2017, T-Mobile reported 70 million subscribers, and Sprint reported 53 million, for a total of 123 million subscribers. That's compared with AT&Ts 137 million subscribers and Verizons 147 million.

This isnt the first time the two companies have entertained a potential merger. Softbank, Sprints parent company, attempted to acquire T-Mobile back in 2014, however, strict regulations from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) muted the companys efforts.

This time around, however, the environment is looking more favorable for a telecom merger. With the induction of President Donald Trump, the formerly democratic FCC, led by chairman Thomas Wheeler, handed over the reins to GOP chairman Ajit Pai. The new, less involved regulatory body, has indicated that it would roll back some of the more stringent regulations of the previous administrations FCC.

Story continues

It hasn't been smooth sailing for telecoms in recent years. Native voice and messaging services, which once accounted for the vast majority of telecoms' subscriber revenue, are struggling to compete with over-the-top (OTT) apps, like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Viber  and they're losing.

Laurie Beaver, research associate for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has written a detailed report on the mobile carrier landscape that:

Describes how the US wireless carrier is shaping up.

Explores the effect of the fierce pricing wars taking place, and the methods carriers are using to retain their subscribers.

Highlights the new technology carriers are using to drive growth and revenue.

Looks at the potential barriers that could limit carriers' growth and examines who's best positioned to come out on top.

To get the full report, subscribe to an All-Access pass to BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report and more than 250 other expertly researched reports. As an added bonus, you'll also gain access to all future reports and daily newsletters to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and benefit personally and professionally. >> Learn More Now

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FILE PHOTO : A logo of Toshiba Corp is seen on a printed circuit board in this photo illustration taken in Tokyo July 31, 2012. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao/File Photo (Reuters)

TOKYO (Reuters) - Embattled Japanese conglomerate Toshiba Corp said on Monday it now expects to slide to a net loss of nearly $1 billion this business year after calculating taxes related to the sale of its prized chip unit.

Toshiba, which separated out the unit in April as a prelude to a sale, said it was being taxed on the basis of assets and liabilities of the transferred business at the time of the split.

The latest forecasts, however, do not reflect expected gains from the 2 trillion yen ($17.6 billion) sale as the deal has yet to receive regulatory approval.

Toshiba said that due to the tax impact, it expects a loss of 110 billion yen ($970 million) in the year to March, instead of its previously forecast profit of 230 billion yen.

It kept its annual revenue and other profit forecasts unchanged.

Toshiba, desperate for funds to cover liabilities arising from it U.S. nuclear unit Westinghouse, agreed last month to sell the unit - the world's second biggest producer of NAND flash memory chips - to a group led by Bain Capital.

A highly contentious auction meant that a decision on the buyer took much longer than expected, and Toshiba has run the risk of not getting anti-trust clearance before the end of the financial year in March as regulatory reviews usually take at least six months.

If it doesn't get the deal done in time, it could end the year in negative net worth for a second year in a row, putting pressure on the Tokyo Stock Exchange to delist it.

(Reporting by Junko Fujita; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Edwina Gibbs)
donald trump

Alex Wong/Getty Images

President Donald Trump needs to pick the next Federal Reserve chair in the coming week.

Trump asked GOP senators to raise their hand and vote for their favorite Fed chair candidate.

Trump appears to have narrowed the choice down to Janet Yellen, Jerome Powell, and John Taylor.



President Donald Trump wanted a little informal guidance on his next Federal Reserve chair pick during Tuesday's policy lunch with Republican senators.

Sen. John Cornyn, the second-highest-ranking Republican senator, told reporters that Trump polled the attendees' support for various Fed chair candidates by asking for a show of hands on each person.

Current chair Janet Yellen's term is up in February 2018, and Trump has been been mulling a short list of candidates over the past few weeks.

On Friday, Trump told Fox Business that he has narrowed the candidates down to current Yellen, current Fed governor Jerome Powell, and Stanford economist John Taylor.

According to Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, Taylor was the apparent winner of the poll. (Then again, this is the judgment of one senator.)

The announcement on the next Fed chair will come before Trump departs for his trip to Asia on November 3, according to the White House. Trump said he expects to make the decision "very, very soon."

NOW WATCH: Tesla's value is surging 'because the vision is so intoxicating'

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SEE ALSO: The biggest roadblock for Trump's tax plan could be Trump himself
President Trump added fuel to his feud with Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., Tuesday, saying the retiring senator couldnt get elected dog catcher in his home state, after Corker suggested the White House let Congress take the reins on tax reform.

Bob Corker, who helped President O give us the bad Iran Deal & couldnt get elected dog catcher in Tennessee, is now fighting Tax Cuts. Corker dropped out of the race in Tennesse [sic] when I refused to endorse him, and now is only negative on anything Trump, Trump tweeted Tuesday. Look at his record!

Corker quickly shot back, Same untruths from an utterly untruthful president. #AlertTheDaycareStaff.

The president wasnt finished. He then added, Isnt it sad that lightweight Senator Bob Corker, who couldnt get re-elected in the Great State of Tennessee, will now fight Tax Cuts plus!

Sen. Corker is the incompetent head of the Foreign Relations Committee, & look how poorly the U.S. has done, Trump continued. He doesnt have a clue as.. the entire World WAS laughing and taking advantage of us. People like liddle Bob Corker have set the U.S. way back. Now we move forward!

In an interview with CNN Tuesday, Corker predicted the debasement of our nation will be what [Trump]ll be remembered most for, and thats regretful.

CORKER UNLOADS: He would NOT support Trump again; says Trump NOT a role model; won't say if he trusts Trump w nukes https://t.co/oAGIWVZ8P9  Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 24, 2017

In later remarks to reporters, Corker hinted he regretted his past support for Trump, and repeated that Trump is debasing the nation in the way that he conducts himself and goes to such a low level.

Its obvious his political model and governing model is to divide, Corker said. He has not risen to the occasion  its very evident to me.

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In a contrasting prescriptive to his colleagues, Corker added, The rest of us need to do what we can to act as statesmen.

The barbs escalated the war of words between Corker and Trump. The Tennessee senator had earlier this month likened the White House to an adult day care center after the president went on a Twitter tirade against him.

Trump retorted then that the senator didnt have the guts to run for reelection in 2018. He asserted that Corker was attempting to derail the White House agenda because he hadnt been named secretary of state or received Trumps endorsement in the Tennessee Senate race.

Later that day, Corker, in an interview with the New York Times, said of Trump: I know for a fact that every single day at the White House, its a situation of trying to contain him.

Corker will attend a lunch with Trump and Republican senators on Capitol Hill Tuesday, although he described the meeting as a photo op to NBC News Monday. He implied that Congress, not the White House, should lead tax reform efforts.

You got to remember, tax reform is our agenda, Corker said. Its the Senates agenda. Its a House agenda. This was something thats been on our agenda long before the president ran for president. So, to act as if its his agenda  its our agenda.

Sen. Bob Corker and President Trump (Photos: Drew Angerer/Getty Images; Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Read more from Yahoo News:
Weyerhaeuser Company WY is scheduled to report third-quarter 2017 results on Oct 27, before the market opens.



In the last four quarters, the company delivered better-than-expected results in three while lagged in one. Average earnings surprise was a positive 5.95%. Notably, in the last quarter, the companys earnings of 28 cents per share topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.70%.



In the last month, the companys shares have yielded 3.4% return, outperforming the gain of 2.1% recorded by the industry.









Let us see how things are shaping up for Weyerhaeuser prior to this earnings announcement.



Factors Influencing Q3 Results



Weyerhaeuser is well poised to benefit from improving housing market conditions in the United States. For 2017, the company anticipates housing starts in the country to be roughly 1.25 million.



Per the U.S. Census Bureaus latest report, the countrys housing starts in September grew 6.1% from the year-ago month. The improvement was primarily driven by higher housing starts in the Northeast, the Midwest and the West. Also, housing completions in the month grew 10.3%. Moreover, the company will likely reap benefits from the surge in demand for building products following the damages caused by the hurricanes that hit the nation.



In addition, Weyerhaeuser will gain from its merger with Plum Creek Timber as well as from its strategic decisions to concentrate on core timber, land and forest products business. In the third quarter, the company divested its timberlands and manufacturing operations in Uruguay to a consortium led by BTG Pactual's Timberland Investment Group. Moreover, it will likely realize benefits of $95-$125 million for the full year from its cost-savings initiatives.



Despite all these positives, we believe that Weyerhaeuser is exposed to risks arising from high debt levels, unfavorable foreign currency movements and industry competition. Also, skilled labor shortages, lack of suitable lot and difficulties in mortgage availability might limit the companys growth momentum.



Earnings Whisper



Our proven model provides some idea on the stocks that are about to release their earnings results. Per the model, a stock needs to have a combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for a likely earnings beat. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.



That is not the case for Weyerhaeuser as you will see below.



Zacks ESP: Earnings ESP of Weyerhaeuser is currently 0.00%. This is because both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate stand at 31 cents.



Weyerhaeuser Company Price and EPS Surprise



Story continues

Weyerhaeuser Company Price and EPS Surprise | Weyerhaeuser Company Quote



Zacks Rank: Weyerhaeuser Zacks Rank #2 when combined with 0.00% ESP makes surprise prediction difficult.



Note that we caution against stocks with Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell-rated) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.



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Louisiana-Pacific Corporation LPX, with an Earnings ESP of +16.59% and a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Beazer Homes USA, Inc. BZH, with an Earnings ESP of +1.89% and a Zacks Rank #1.



Norbord Inc. OSB with an Earnings ESP of +0.81% and a Zacks Rank #3.



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Zacks Investment Research
Physics is a funny thing. Despite dictating the behaviors and states of everything from atoms to stars, our interpretation of its effects are rooted in very human constructs. Meters, amperes and seconds were all defined using arbitrary terms and methods. For years, the kilogram and meter weren't just terms, they were physical objects held in a Paris vault that some Victorian-era committee just decided would be the standard. But now, for the first time since the international system of units (SI) was launched in 1960, the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) is redefining four basic units of measurement, not by any human metric but by the immutable forces of the universe.

"This is the most important decision that the BIPM has made in maybe 100 years, which may be a slight exaggeration, but at least since 1960 when they adopted the international system of units," Dr. Terry Quinn, emeritus director of the BIPM, said.

A committee from the BIPM met in Paris this week and voted on Friday to recommend redefining the kilogram, mole, ampere and Kelvin. The motion will be put up for a vote at the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) next November.

"For the scale that's in your grocery store or bathroom, nothing's going to change," Dr. David Newell of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) said. Instead, as Dr. Quinn explains, "it will give you the ability to make accurate measurements on scales far different from the current scale."

"This redefinition is a major overhaul," Newell said. But it's certainly not the first. For example, we define the second by a specific number of cycles of radiation in a cesium-133 atom (9,192,631,770 periods). It was originally considered to be the fraction 1/86400 of the mean solar day.

The meter used to be a real thing that you could hold (like the kilogram still is) rather than the distance light travels in 1/299,792,458 seconds. "The SI is slowly evolving to the use of the invariance of nature," Newell said, rather than basing our observations on specific, physical artifacts.

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"What is going to change is that with this redefinition, the uncertainties of fundamental constants is either going to go to zero," he said. "Or the uncertainties of the related fundamental constants is going to be drastically reduced."

This means researchers will have far more accurate tools with which to make measurements. That higher fidelity will empower them to go back and reexamine the laws of physics that we believe to be correct and see if they're as accurate as we think they are. "We may actually find that we don't know everything," Newell said. Eventually, we may even take those insights and once again redefine the scientific measurement system when our technology has sufficiently advanced.

Another advantage is these fundamental constants appear throughout nature, Newell explained. Researchers would no longer be tied to the kilogram and would be able to easily scale their units between the macroscopic and microscopic worlds.

"Moreover the present system is explicit unit based -- the second, the kilogram, the meter, the ampere -- and there's definitions for all of them," Newell continued. "The new system is explicitly constants-based -- the transition frequency of a cesium atom is an exact number of hertz, the speed of light is an exact number of meters per second."

Take amperes, for example. An ampere (or amp) is the basic unit of electrical current and is defined by the SI as the equivalent to one coulomb (the base unit of electrical charge) per second. Originally it was defined using a thought experiment.

This is problematic for a couple reasons, PhysicsWorld points out. First, it relies on other units of measure -- specifically kilograms, meters and seconds -- for its definition. This methodology is exactly what the BIPM is trying to get away from. Second, the aforementioned "thought experiment" can never be tested in reality, because it imagines a situation with wire infinitely long, so at some point, you're going to have to approximate.

Instead, the BIPM wants to define amps by the number of electrons that flow through a wire by the exact number of electrons that actually flow through a wire. Recently, a team of researchers from German National Metrology Institute (PTB) in Braunschweig developed a Single Electron Pump. Electrons are generated on one side of a circuit, become trapped as they pass through a series of gates and then are released one at a time on the other side where they can be easily counted. Using this, we can define the ampere as the specific number of single electrons passing through a wire for a given length of time.

Kilograms are equally quirky. The International Prototype Kilogram (IPK) is a cylinder of platinum-iridium sitting in a Paris Vault and is what all other kilograms are measured against. Problem is, materials have a habit of gaining and losing atoms due to chemical interactions with the atmosphere. Of the six official copies of the IPK, one has lost about 5 micrograms while two others have gained more than 50 micrograms of mass. You'd be hard-pressed to notice if someone dropped a 50 microgram weight on your toe but for the scientific community, those fluctuations make a big difference.

The IPK isn't just susceptible to atmospheric reactions. Being a physical object, it can be stolen or damaged. However, "you can't steal Planck's Constant," Quinn quipped.

"If I were to drop [the IPK] on the floor and chip a piece off, the definition of mass would have to be changed because it is defined as this hunk of metal," Dr. Willie May, former director of NIST and current VP of the CIPM, said.

"But, by definition, it can't change," Quinn interjected. "And so what would happen, had Dr. May dropped it on the floor and knocked a piece off, it would have remained the IPK and the mass of the rest of the universe would have changed."

That's where the Kibble Balance comes in. Now on normal balancing scales, you determine the mass of an object by adding mass to the opposite side until they are in equilibrium. In the Kibble balance, the gravitational force generated by the weight on one side is countered with electromagnetic force on the other. With this method, and a bit of math, researchers can measure something called the Planck Constant. Thus we can define kilograms in terms of the Planck Constant rather than a lump of metal.

Kelvin, thankfully, is a bit more straightforward. It's the measure of temperature, terminating at absolute zero when all molecular motion stops. That absolute nature is important, since, unlike mass, relative temperatures don't stack. For example, smash two 10-pound blobs of clay, each heated to 100 degrees Fahrenheit together, the result will weigh 20 pounds but it won't be any hotter. As such, measuring temperatures in Kelvin is more accurate than Fahrenheit or Celsius though it's still being framed in an outdated model.

Should the CGPM approve the redefinition of Kelvin next year, the unit will be defined using an acoustic thermometer. These devices measure the speed of sound waves travelling through a low-gravity gas sphere. Since the speed of those waves is fixed for a set temperature, you can calculate that by measuring the frequency of the resonating sound waves and the volume of the sphere.

Even the mole is getting a makeover. This fundamental unit measures the amount of substance known as the Avogadro constant. Moles are used to bridge the gap between the micro- and macroscopic worlds. It provides a usable frame of reference when dealing with minuscule items. Or, as XKCD once pointed out, a mole of moles would be 602,214,129,000,000,000,000,000 animals (602 trillion trillion moles). That's also the number of sand grains needed to bury the entire UK to a depth of about 40 centimetres, according to the NPL, or the number of human cells on Earth.

The Mole is defined using an experiment known as the "primary method," which involves weighing a material of known composition. However, because this system bases the value of the mole on the mass of the prototype kilogram, the CGPM is considering redefining the unit.

Instead, the group wants to drop carbon (the reference substance for moles) altogether and replace it with a 1Kg, 94-mmm wide, nearly spherical mass of 99.9995-percent pure silicon-28. Since the physical characteristics of the sphere -- weight, diameter, size of the individual crystal lattices -- are known, as well as how much a single silicon atom weighs, these measurements can be used to calculate the total number of atoms in the sphere and, in turn, a revised Avogadro's constant.

This isn't the end of the BIPM's efforts. The group is eyeing the atomic second ahead of the unit's 50th anniversary of being tied to the radiation cycles of Cesium-133. "At the time we used the best atomic clock we could possibly have," Quinn explained. "But a lot of science has taken place, and there are now ways of making atomic clocks 100 times better. And in the next 10 years, I would say, there will be a new definition of the atomic second that is 100 times better."

Such an advancement will have implications in everything from space exploration and cutting-edge physics research to more accurate GPS navigation in your car.

"If we allow the art of the possible," May said, "you open up the future to things you've never even thought of."
BJP worker Gopalbhai Gohil cannot forget the moment when Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him up on phone to greet him on Diwali. An audio clip containing the conversation between PM Modi and Gohil has gone viral on WhatsApp.

By Kumar Shakti Shekhar: A humble businessman from Vadodara and members of his family are on cloud nine since Diwali evening. Gopalbhai Gohil cannot forget the moment when Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him up on phone to greet him on the occasion.

PM Modi's call on his mobile phone around 4:30 pm on October 19 when Gohil was preparing for Diwali was more than a pleasant surprise for him. He was swept off his feet. The feeling is still lingering inside him.

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An audio clip containing the conversation between PM Modi and Gohil has gone viral on WhatsApp. Modi spoke with Gohil and his wife for over four minutes on phone.

The whole conversation is in Gujarati. The conversation is unique in the sense that Modi is heard talking to Gohil in a casual and friendly manner. The two spoke politics and the BJP's chances of victory in the election.

Gohil runs a stationery shop in Vadodara. He is also a ward-level BJP worker. He claims to have met Modi during the latter's 'Sadbhavana fast' in September 2011. Modi was Gujarat's chief minister then.

Talking to India Today, Gohil proudly said he has a photograph of his meeting with Modi. He was a part of a delegation that had called on the then Gujarat chief minister.

Subsequently, Gohil worked for Modi when the latter had contested as BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Vadodara in 2014.

Speaking about his October 19 interaction with PM Modi, Gohil said, "This is one of the greatest qualities of Modiji. He does not forget the BJP workers whom he has met even once. Hamaari to lottery nikal gayi. (We are highly fortunate that he called.)"

The Vadodara resident revealed that PM Modi spoke to several people on phone through a new technology. He said the conversation between him and the PM was heard by 25,000 people.

"It is such a technology that others can only hear but cannot participate in the conversation," he said.

Gohil seems to be correct. The audio clip starts with an operator stating in Gujarat that "Gopalbhai Gohil has now got connected". "You are no longer muted," the operator says in English.

The conversation also ends with the operator saying "you have been muted".

Asked whether he had recorded the conversation, Gohil said someone forwarded it to him soon after the conversation ended. He proudly said he has forwarded the audio clip to his friends. "I want them to know that the PM, who is famous world over, had called me and my wife on Diwali," he said excitedly.

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Modi asked Gohil to spread the good works of the BJP governments and said he takes all the attacks on him by the Opposition in his stride.

The conversation ends with the prime minister and Gohil exchanging pleasantries.

TRANSCRIPT OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN PM MODI AND GOPALBHAI GOHIL

Gopalbhai Gohil, stationery store owner from Vadodara in conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

PM Modi: Hello

Gohil: Namaste sir.

PM Modi: Namaste Gopal bhai. How are you?

Gohil: I am doing well, Happy Diwali sir.

PM Modi: Give my Diwali wishes to all your loved ones.

Gohil: Thank you sir, I take this opportunity to wish you Happy Diwali on behalf of the citizens of Gujarat's cultural capital Vadodara.

PM Modi: I am deeply indebted to Vadodara, It has bestowed me utmost respect and love. I am grateful to Vadodara. Do you still run the same stationery shop or have you started any new venture?

Gohil: Sir, me and my wife are continuing with the stationery shop near Vraj Siddhi tower in Khanderao Market. I remember vividly seeing you on the Raj Mahal road in Vadodara during a road show.

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PM Modi: I remember that day dear friend.

Gohil: I have one question for you. In wake of the recent events in Gujarat and badmouthing by Congress party, how do we prevent our workers from being influenced?

PM Modi: See, ever since the birth of Jan Sangh, unfortunately, we have been destined to be abused.

Gohil:

PM Modi: Abuses and insults have been written all over destiny ever since we took the plunge in politics. We have succeeded all the while enduring such badmouthing and taking on insults. So my advice is to not worry about the negativity.

Gohil: True.

PM Modi: Can you tell me of anyone election that has not been affected by lies and criticism?

Gohil: Very true sir. In fact Congress has resorted to it in the past too.

PM Modi: They had even called me 'Maut nu saudagar' (merchant of death), do you remember?

Gohil: Yes sir.

PM Modi: Now say is there any thing worse than that? Words like "murderer", "blood-stained hands" were hurled on me. But, people are wise and know the truth.

Gohil: Yes sir.

PM Modi: Earlier rumours were spread through word of mouth, now it has been replaced by applications like WhatsApp. Let them spread lies. People can make out the difference. So please, do not worry about these rumours or negative campaigning.

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Gohil: Sure sir.

PM Modi: Do not let these affect your mind. Instead, focus on spreading our vision and truth. Do not waste your time on rumours, gossip and lies spread by others.

Gohil: Yes sir.

PM Modi: Ignoring these trivial things is the foremost thing you need to follow. What happens usually is people forward these fake messages to others thoughtlessly. We should not worry, as we have been working hard for a noble cause and are following the path of truth.

Gohil: Yes sir.

PM Modi: I reiterate, start focusing on spreading the truth and be unaffected by negativity. We have given our blood and sweat for the welfare of our people, so we need not worry about these things. BJP has been in power for so long and there have been no allegations against us.

Gohil: Very true, there have been no allegations against us.

PM Modi: How can they spread lies about us if we are transparent? We have been always right, so be confident. The truth needs to spread.

Gohil: Sure sir.

PM Modi: Very nice talking to you, next time I visit I will definitely to wave at you. Give my regards to all in your family.

Gohil's wife: We have been waiting to hear from you sir.

Gohil: Do visit us sir, we will be delighted.

PM Modi: Definitely, I am coming to Vadodara on October 22.

Gohil: We are well prepared, achieving 150 seats for BJP is our Diwali gift. Good bye sir.

Have always known Gopalbhai as a wonderful person and now the nation too knows him :) https://t.co/2gwvsofE6A- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 26, 2017

(With inputs from Bijin Jose)

--- ENDS ---
Work

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 25, 2017 / New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: NYCB) will be discussing their earnings results in their Q3 Earnings Call to be held on October 25, 2017 at 8:30 AM Eastern Time.

To listen to the event live or access a replay of the call  visit https://www.investornetwork.com/company/1333

To receive updates for this company you can register by emailing info@investornetwork.com or by clicking get investment info from the companys profile.

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Investor Network (IN) is a financial content community, serving millions of unique investors market information, earnings, commentary and news on the whats trending. Dedicated to both the professional and the average traders, IN offers timely, trusted and relevant financial information for virtually every investor. IN is an Issuer Direct brand, to learn more or for the latest financial news and market information, visit www.investornetwork.com. Follow us on Twitter @investornetwork.

SOURCE: Investor Network
For nearly half a century, Pakistans covert alliance with the followers of an Afghan rebel cleric withstood a Soviet invasion, an Afghan civil war, and the U.S. war on terrorism.

But relations between the Haqqani network -- the Afghan Talibans deadly military wing -- and Pakistans powerful military now appear strained amid Washingtons mounting pressure on Islamabad to cease support for the Afghan insurgents.

In interviews with RFE/RLs Gandhara website, well-placed Afghan and Pakistani sources confirmed that, for the first time, tensions and mutual mistrust now mar the clandestine ties.

Definitely there are strains in the relationship between Rawalpindi and the Haqqani network, a Pakistani politician with intimate knowledge of Islamabads decade-old covert support for the Afghan insurgent group told Gandhara. The northwestern Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, adjacent to the capital, Islamabad, houses the headquarters of the Pakistani Army; for many Pakistanis, the name is synonymous with the armed forces.

The Haqqani network, named after veteran jihadist leader Jalaluddin Haqqani, is now led by his son, Sirajuddin Haqqani. While Afghan and Western authorities prefer to classify them as a separate entity from the Afghan Taliban, Sirajuddin is now a deputy Taliban leader and his supporters want to be viewed as part of the hard-line movement.

Requesting anonymity because discussing such sensitive and previously unreported developments could endanger his security, the politician said key interlocutors in Pakistans western Federally Administered Tribal Areas confirmed the tensions, spurred by Islamabads repositioning after Washingtons demand to end militant sanctuaries on its territory.

Rawalpindi wanted to stagger the networks operations across the border to avoid U.S. retaliation, he said.

The politician said the Haqqanis were roiled over Pakistans recent rescue of North American hostages because they had wanted to exchange them for their own imprisoned militants.

Earlier this month, the Pakistani military claimed to have rescued Canadian backpacker Joshua Boyle and his American wife, Caitlan Coleman, and their three children from kidnappers. The Haqqani network had held them for nearly five years with the intention of exchanging them for three prisoners in Kabul.

Anas Haqqani, a younger son of Jalaluddin, has been held by the Afghan government since 2014.

Soon after the hostages release, suspected U.S. air strikes reportedly targeted Haqqani hideouts in FATAs Kurram tribal district last week.

Pakistans military hailed the strikes as causing heavy losses to terrorists. But it claimed the attacks had targeted militant hideouts inside Afghanistan.

Better security coordination will take both countries [Afghanistan and Pakistan] toward enduring peace and stability [after] defeating the common enemy, read an October 17 statement by the Pakistani militarys media wing.

Before the recent violence, Islamabad had seemed poised to ditch the Haqqanis. In August, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Islamabad to either side with U.S. efforts in Afghanistan or lose out by continuing to harbor criminals and terrorists.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif has since painted the network as a burden.

"It is very easy to say Pakistan is supporting Haqqanis and Hafiz Saeed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, he told a think tank audience in New York City. They are liabilities. I accept that they are liabilities. But give us time to get rid of these liabilities.

Islamabads changing stance has rekindled hopes for cooperation in Kabul.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media about the issue, an Afghan government adviser acknowledged relations between the Pakistani military and the Haqqanis were strained.

Mutual fear and some degree of mistrust have developed between them, he told Gandhara. The Haqqanis fear Pakistan might make a compromise [and give them away] while Pakistan fears the Haqqanis could abandon them and instead side with Iran and Russia.

Since the withdrawal of most NATO forces in late 2014, Afghan officials and analysts see Tehran and Moscow as extending increasing covert support to the Afghan Taliban.

The adviser, who is privy to most security-related issues and particularly the Taliban insurgency in his country, warned against reading recent developments as proof that Islamabad would abandon the network it has cherished as an ally through cycles of Afghan war since the 1970s.

But he says U.S. and international diplomatic pressure on Islamabad and aggressive Afghan and U.S. attacks on the insurgents might prompt the insurgents to take stock.

When it comes to survival, it becomes a different consideration, he said of the Haqqani networks possible new course.

A wave of deadly Taliban attacks on Afghan security facilities last week that killed nearly 150 soldiers, cadets, and policemen had the hallmarks of a complex Haqqani attack, with groups of suicide bombers and fighters swarming the target.

Unlike its usual criticism of Pakistan for fomenting violence, Kabul instead blamed terrorist groups for the attacks.

In Pakistan, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa noted both neighbors have suffered from terrorism. Such attacks shall not deter our resolve and commitments for peace in the region, an October 20 statement quoted him as saying.

In North Waziristan, a beleaguered tribal district serving as the Haqqanis de facto headquarters for decades, there are signs of change. The Pakistani politician familiar with recent developments said the Haqqanis are seeking to reclaim old houses in Dande Darpakhel, near regional capital Miran Shah.

The Haqqanis insisted on retaining their traditional abodes, but Rawalpindi wouldnt agree, he said, adding the disagreement is preventing Dande Darpakhels displaced residents from returning after a Pakistani military offensive forced them to flee in June 2014. Out of more than 1 million North Waziristan residents displaced, most have already returned.

At the time, Islamabad claimed thousands of militants were killed in the offensive and their networks crippled. But most militants appear to have survived the operation by moving across the border into Afghanistan or relocating elsewhere in Pakistan. The Haqqani network was seen as simply moving into neighboring Kurram tribal district where their hideouts have been repeatedly targeted in suspected U.S. drone attacks.

Jalaluddin Haqqani was one of the first Afghan Islamists to rebel against the secular Afghan nationalist regime of Daud Khan in the 1970s. His base in Miran Shah, however, attracted global fame when he became one of the most effective guerrilla commanders fighting the Soviet occupation in the 1980s.

In the 1990s, he joined the Taliban but retreated into Miran Shah after the demise of their regime in late 2001. During the next 13 years, Haqqani, his sons, extended clan, and loyalists emerged as the lynchpin of militant networks operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

With estimated thousands of battle-hardened fighters, the network launched attacks in Kabul and particularly targeted Indian, U.S., and NATO military and diplomatic facilities.

Its alliance with Pakistani secret services prompted former U.S. top soldier Admiral Mike Mullen to dub it a veritable arm of the Inter-Services Intelligence in 2011.

Washington now apparently wants to urge Islamabad to completely sever ties with the Haqqanis.

We have made some very specific requests of Pakistan in order for them to take action to undermine the support that the Taliban receives and other terrorist organizations receive in Pakistan, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told journalists on October 23.

In an October 19 talk in Washington, CIA Director Mike Pompeo said the U.S. wants to give the Taliban zero hope that they can win on the battlefield. "To do that, you cannot have a safe haven in Pakistan," he said.

In Washington, Marvin Weinbaum, a former Afghanistan-Pakistan analyst for the U.S. State Department, says a breakdown in the alliance between the Pakistani military and the Haqqanis would be a paradigm shift.

A serious rupture of ties between Pakistan and the Haqqanis would amount to a watershed event, he told Gandhara. Not only in Islamabads long-standing patronage of the Afghan insurgency but also in Pakistans efforts to bring about a reset in its strained relations with the U.S.
During a visit to India, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has expressed concern that extremist groups pose a threat to the "stability and security" of the Pakistani government.

"This could lead to a threat to Pakistan's own stability," Tillerson told journalists on October 25 following talks with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi.

"It is not in anyone's interests that the government of Pakistan be destabilized," he added.

The secretary of state also thanked Swaraj for standing "shoulder to shoulder" with the United States in combating extremism in the region.

Tillerson is holding talks with Indian leaders as the two countries look to deepen relations and counter China's growing clout.

Tillerson said last week that Washington wants to "dramatically deepen" cooperation with Pakistans archrival India as it seeks to promote a "free and open" region led by prosperous democracies.

He arrived in New Delhi late on October 24 after visiting Islamabad at a time when bilateral ties are frayed following U.S. complaints about Pakistan allegedly providing "safe havens" for Islamist militants.

Tillerson reiterated President [Donald] Trump's message that Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country," according to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.

Tillerson also voiced appreciation for the "sacrifices" Pakistan has made in fighting militancy and for its help in securing the recent release of a U.S.-Canadian family held captive by the Taliban for five years.

The trip came after Trump unveiled his new strategy for South Asia in August, accusing Islamabad of harboring "agents of chaos" who could attack U.S.-led NATO forces in neighboring Afghanistan.

It followed an unannounced stop on October 23 in Afghanistan, where Tillerson reiterated America's commitment to the country as the Western-backed government in Kabul is struggling to beat back insurgents in the wake of the exit of most NATO forces in 2014.

Meanwhile, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani met with Indian leaders in New Delhi on October 24 to discuss bilateral relations, regional security, and the fight against terrorism.

With reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and dpa
DENVER, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As Europe continues to expand and embrace hemp-based products for their powerful cannabinoid properties, Elixinol Europe continues its support of European hemp.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3d07d8d7-7d78-4b1c-8a7b-e586910f222a

Elixinol Europe has been operational since July 2017 and continues to earn its reputation as the worlds most trusted CBD brand with transparent and industry-leading extraction and testing processes.

In addition to leading the cannabis community with best practices, Elixinol has local shipping and fulfillment centers ensuring customers receive their products quickly.

From October 24-26, Elixinol Europe sponsors CannaTechUK in London to help lead the cannabis conversation. CannaTechUK is Elixinol Europes first industry event, but Elixinol has deep roots in Europe.

Elixinol founder and CEO, Paul Benhaim, has been sourcing European hemp since 1991.

I feel a deep sense of responsibility to European hemp farmers. Without them, I couldnt have done any of the ground-breaking product development like hemp nutrition bars and CBD, said Benhaim.

Honoring Europes long tradition with hemp was important to the entire Elixinol Europe team.

Its a natural fit, a homecoming of sorts, for Elixinol to provide European countries with CBD from European hemp. The rest of the world has long known the value of European hemp, were delighted to make CBD so easily available to Europeans, said Marco Cappiello, Director of Elixinol Europe.

About Elixinol:

Colorado-based Elixinol, founded by Paul Benhaim, hemp entrepreneur since 1991, is widely regarded as one of the most influential CBD brands in the world. With a proven track record of growing and manufacturing high-quality hemp, Elixinol also conducts rigorous laboratory testing and quality control. A global leader in hemp distribution, Elixinol distributes CBD products in 27 countries globally including United States, Japan, Puerto Rico, Brazil and throughout Europe. More information available at Elixinol.com.

Media Contact:

Chris Husong

Elixinol Global

+1 844-804-3504 ext 420

chris@elixinol.com

Marco Cappiello

Elixinol Europe

marco@elixinol.com
Oslo, Norway, 25 October 2017 - IDEX, a leading provider of fingerprint solutions for mass markets, has registered with EMVCo, an initial step toward seeking product approval. For the avoidance of doubt, this does not mean that any of IDEX's products has been certified or approved by EMVCo.

EMVCo is an organization that facilitates worldwide interoperability and acceptance of secure payment transactions. This is accomplished by managing and evolving the EMV Specifications and related testing processes. This includes among other things card and terminal evaluation, security evaluation, and management of interoperability issues. Today there are EMV Specifications based on contact chip, contactless chip, EMV 2nd Generation, Common Payment Application (CPA), card personalisation, Payment Tokenisation, and 3-D Secure. EMVCo's work is overseen by EMVCo's six member organisations, American Express, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, UnionPay, and Visa, and supported by dozens of banks, merchants, processors, vendors and other industry stakeholders who participate as EMVCo Associates.

This initial step toward seeking product approval supports IDEX's strategy to further strengthen its leadership position in the biometric cards market. IDEX will help driving acceptance of biometric authentication within Smartcards as a major, reliable and seamless innovation.

For more information on EMVCo, please visit www.emvco.com

Contact:

Charlotte Knudsen, Director of IR and Communications, +47 9756 1959, ck@idex.no

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/idexasa

About IDEX

IDEX is a leading developer of advanced fingerprint sensor technology and products. The company's technology is used in a range of biometrically enabled applications within three core markets: smart cards, mobile, and Internet of Things (IoT). IDEX's addressable market represents a fast-growing multi-billion unit opportunity.

IDEX's technology includes both the conventional silicon sensor and a unique off-chip technology, which means that the company can offer its partners solutions which are flexible and cost efficient.

IDEX ASA (ticker IDEX) is a Norwegian company, founded in 1996 and listed on the Oslo stock exchange in 2010.

For more information, please visit www.idex.no
TAIPEI, Taiwan, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the aim to promote medical technology and devices in Taiwan and to connect to the world, the Medical Electronics and Device in Taiwan (MEDiT) Forum 2017 took place on October 25 and 26. Themed with "Multi-disciplinary Innovations in Healthcare, this years forum invited participants such as Fujitsu, Advantech, and Qisda to share smart biomedical technology and market trends. It is hoped that this forum can facilitate cross-field industrial integration. By utilizing Taiwans strength in ICT, industries can grasp the medical trends in aging societies and the emerging medical device market to secure a spot in the global platform.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/110165d6-069c-4b70-98b5-899ce7cafe90

To promote innovation in the biomedical industry, Taiwan continues to reinforce the R&D investment in biotechnology innovation, develop pharmaceutical products for niche markets, and focus on systemized and intelligent medical devices, in the hope of making Taiwan the hub of biomedical technology innovation in Asia-Pacific. According to an official report on the 2017 biotechnology industry in Taiwan, the 2016 output value of the industry in Taiwan amounted to NT$315 billion, an increase of 5.5% to last year. The output value of medical devices, in particular, increased by 6.4% and reached NT$141.5 billion. If Taiwan can take advantage of its industrial clusters, it will be looking at a promising goal of NT$200 billion in medical device output value by 2020.

This year marks the 10th year of MEDiT. As a grand forum in Taiwan's medical device industry, each year, MEDiT proposes a theme in accordance with current market demands. It helps manufacturers build industrial clusters and make way into the global value chain, bringing them closer to the latest trends. Leading medical device manufacturers such as GE, Philips Healthcare, Siemens, Medtronic, J&J, and Roche Group all participated in this forum. The aim is to establish business ties and grasp industrial opportunities through this event.
SAN FRANCISCO and DUBLIN, Ireland, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Databricks, provider of the leading Unified Analytics Platform and founded by the team who created Apache Spark, today announced Databricks Delta, the first unified data management system that provides the scale and cost-efficiency of a data lake, the reliability and query performance of a data warehouse, and the low latency of a streaming ingest system. Databricks Delta, a key component of the Databricks Unified Analytics Platform that runs in the cloud, eliminates the architectural complexity and operational overhead of maintaining three disparate systems: data lakes, data warehouses and streaming systems. With Delta, enterprise organizations no longer need complex, brittle extract, transform, and load (ETL) processes that run across a variety of systems and create high latency just to obtain access to relevant, business-critical data.



At Edmunds, obtaining real-time customer and revenue insights is critical to our business. But weve always been challenged with complex ETL processing that slows down our access to data, said Greg Rokita, executive director of technology at Edmunds.com. Databricks Delta allows us to overcome this roadblock by blending the performance of a data warehouse with the scale and cost-efficiency of a data lake. We now have a simplified data architecture that enables immediate access to business-critical data.

Many enterprise organizations are struggling with the limitations of data lakes and data warehouses as well as the complexity of managing both and moving data between them, said Ali Ghodsi, cofounder and chief executive officer at Databricks. Delta combines the reliability and performance of data warehouses with the scale of data lakes and low-latency of streaming systems. With this unified management system, enterprises now benefit from a simplified data architecture, up to 100x increase in query performance, and faster access to relevant data - increasing their ability to make decisions that drive results. We have solved a massive struggle facing organizations that are on a mission to run their business in real-time.

Databricks Delta delivers the following capabilities to simplify enterprise data management:



Manage Continuously Changing Data Reliably: Industrys first unified data management system simplifies pipelines by allowing Delta tables to be used as a data source and sink. Delta tables provide transactional guarantees for multiple concurrent writers - batch and streaming jobs. Delta natively supports the real-time needs of the business by enabling a streaming data warehouse to return the most recent, consistent view of the writes. Upserts in Delta provide a clean way to change data after it has been written, instead of running the entire job again.

Industrys first unified data management system simplifies pipelines by allowing Delta tables to be used as a data source and sink. Delta tables provide transactional guarantees for multiple concurrent writers - batch and streaming jobs. Delta natively supports the real-time needs of the business by enabling a streaming data warehouse to return the most recent, consistent view of the writes. Upserts in Delta provide a clean way to change data after it has been written, instead of running the entire job again. Perform Fast Queries Without Manual Tuning: Delta automates performance management, removing the need for tedious performance tuning approaches. Self-optimizing data layout ensure data queried together is stored together. Delta automates compaction of small files for efficient reads. Intelligent data skipping and indexing leads to massive speedups by not reading unneeded data. Automated caching leads to subsequent reads being an order of magnitude faster.

Delta automates performance management, removing the need for tedious performance tuning approaches. Self-optimizing data layout ensure data queried together is stored together. Delta automates compaction of small files for efficient reads. Intelligent data skipping and indexing leads to massive speedups by not reading unneeded data. Automated caching leads to subsequent reads being an order of magnitude faster. Provide cost efficiency and scale of Data Lakes: Delta stores all its data in Amazon S3 for cost-efficiency and massive scale. The data in Delta is stored in a non-proprietary and open file format to ensure data portability and prevent vendor lock-in.

Delta stores all its data in Amazon S3 for cost-efficiency and massive scale. The data in Delta is stored in a non-proprietary and open file format to ensure data portability and prevent vendor lock-in. Integrate with Unified Analytics Platform: Databricks Delta data can be accessed from any Spark application running on the Databricks platform through the standard Spark APIs. Delta also integrates into the Databricks Enterprise Security model, including cell-level access control, auditing, and HIPAA-compliant processing. Data is stored inside customers own cloud storage account for maximum control.

Databricks made todays announcement at Spark Summit Europe 2017 during Ali Ghodsis keynote. For more information on Spark Summit keynotes and sessions, visit https://spark-summit.org/eu-2017.

Visit databricks.com for more information.

Contact Databricks to get started: http://go.databricks.com/contact-databricks.

About Databricks

Databricks mission is to accelerate innovation for its customers by unifying Data Science, Engineering and Business. Founded by the team who created Apache Spark, Databricks provides a Unified Analytics Platform for data science teams to collaborate with data engineering and lines of business to build data products. Users achieve faster time-to-value with Databricks by creating analytic workflows that go from ETL and interactive exploration to production. The company also makes it easier for its users to focus on their data by providing a fully managed, scalable, and secure cloud infrastructure that reduces operational complexity and total cost of ownership. Databricks, venture-backed by Andreessen Horowitz, NEA and Battery Ventures, among others, has a global customer base that includes Salesforce, Viacom, Shell and HP. For more information, visit www.databricks.com.

 Databricks 2017. All rights reserved. Apache, Apache Spark and Spark are trademarks of the Apache Software Foundation.

Media Contact:

Stacey Collins Burbach

P: 415-310-9767

E: stacey.burbach@databricks.com
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Movement is happening within African infrastructure, especially in the transportation sectors. Most recently, the Government of the Republic of Kenya has launched a tender process to develop a PPP bridge and the Government of Rwanda has signed the concession agreement for the development of the new international airport in Rwanda, known as the Bugesera International Airport.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f81a1ace-ff8e-4467-8603-7d9448d7d972

These and many more PPP projects will be discussed and showcased at the 9th Africa Public Private Partnership Conference and Showcase taking place in Cape Town from 23  24 November 2017 where 9 African PPP Units have already been confirmed. These PPP units are from South Africa, Tanzania, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Uganda. Project sponsors, financiers, multilateral development agencies, public and private sector players and insurance agencies will discuss ways to mobilise PPP projects in Africa, develop bankable projects and review best practice scenarios.

Building on the success of last year, this years edition will include extended one-on-one meetings during the event, more industries, dedicated sector-specific breakaway sessions and more PPP project overviews and investable opportunities.

The conference, sponsored by Development Bank Southern Africa, Miranda & Associates as well as Fasken Martineau, will see its programme focused on topics such as Standardising PPP Frameworks, Increasing Manufacturing and Industrialisation PPPs, Centralised Office Accommodation and Government Precincts, African PPP Units  Bankable Project Showcase, PPP Energy Projects, Hospitality and Tourism PPPs and include a debate about Encouraging State-Owned Entities to Adopt PPPs.

Confirmed speakers include:

James Aiello - Senior Project Advisor, PPP Unit, GTAC, National Treasury, South Africa

Ana Hajduka -Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Africa GreenCo

Eng M C Munodawafa -Chief Executive Officer, Zambezi River Authority

Omar Vajeth - Snr. Transaction Advisor & Head: SAPP-PAU

H. David Meyers -Chairman, AgriSmart Inc

Dieudonne Bondoma Yokono -President, CARPA, Cameroon

Stanley Kamau -Head PPP Unit, National Treasury, Kenya

Flora Tenga -PPP Director, Ministry of Finance, Tanzania

Abebe Tadesse -Senior Expert and ISP-PPP Coordinator, Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation, Ethiopia

Innocent Bajiji- PPP Analyst, Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda

Timo Bollerhey - Senior Advisor Financial Systems Development, GIZ

James Leigland - Technical Advisor  Technical Assistance Facility, Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG)

Nathaniel Munetsi - Head  Structured Finance, Gauteng Infrastructure Financing Agency

Paloma Duran  Director, Sustainable Development Goals Fund

Kevin Abrahams  Project Manager, Gauteng Infrastructure Finance Agency

Chidi K.C Izuwah Snr  Executive Director, The Presidency, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Nigeria

Only month left to register at www.ametrade.org/africappp to see and be part of the latest project opportunities in Africa.



Contact the Africa PPP Team:

W: www.ametrade.org/africappp

T: +44 (0) 207 700 4949

E: appp@ametrade.org

Media queries & partnerships:

E: tania@ametrade.org

T: +44 (0) 207 700 4949
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SETDA, the principal membership association representing U.S. state and territorial digital learning leaders, honored Mountain Heights Academy as the winner of the 2017 Student Voices Award. Students addressed over 250 education leaders in the Education Forum audience at SETDAs Leadership Summit in National Harbor, Maryland. The Education Forum is an annual event that shines a spotlight on the full scope of the digital transformation of policy and practice underway in K-12 education.



Each year for the past decade, SETDA has honored one school across the USA with the Student Voices Award; this is the first time a Utah school has received the award. The Mountain Heights Academy students presented to an audience of state leaders and guests from national education organizations, the U.S. Department of Education, policy makers and corporate partners, sharing specific examples of how technology tools and resources provide them with personalized learning opportunities, ways to collaborate with other students around Utah and access courses outside of the traditional school day. The students also gave examples of project-based learning including their Operation Bee project, which is dedicated to increasing the populations of bees by educating elementary students about their importance in our environment and communities.

Our team was humbled to have been recognized by SETDA. We enjoyed sharing our approach to education  leveraging technologys promise for student success  at the Education Forum. As students become more involved in the creation of Open Educational Resource (OER) content, they join their teachers as instructional designers, which in turn facilitates critical thinking skills we hope all students achieve, said DeLaina Tonks, Director, Mountain Heights Academy.

Congratulations to Mountain Heights Academy for winning the Elsie Brumback scholarship, shared Sydnee Dickson, Ed.D., Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Many Utah students have benefited from the excellent personalized learning opportunities provided for them at Mountain Heights and now they can share this information with the world through this recognition. The schools inclusion of students in course selection, development, and their utilization of open educational resources demonstrates a unique approach that enhances student learning and prepares them to make informed choices for their future, Dickson added.

SETDA is thrilled that Mountain Heights could share the innovative ways their students and teachers are leveraging technology for high quality, collaborative learning, stated Dr. Tracy Weeks, Executive Director, SETDA.

Learn more about the Student Voices award and past winners here: http://www.setda.org/about/awards/

About SETDA

The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), founded in 2001, is the national non-profit association representing the interests of U.S. state and territorial educational technology leadership. SETDAs mission is to build and increase the capacity of state and national leaders to improve education through technology policy and practice.
Creates New Low-Cost Near-Term Gold Producer

Ross Beaty to be Chairman and a Significant Shareholder

US$85 Million Construction Facility and Access to US$200 Million for Development and Acquisitions

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trek Mining Inc. (TSX-V:TREK) (Trek Mining), NewCastle Gold Ltd. (TSX:NCA) (NewCastle) and Anfield Gold Corp. (TSX-V:ANF) (Anfield) are pleased to announce the signing of a definitive agreement (the Agreement) to combine their businesses (the Transaction). The combined entity intends to operate under the name Equinox Gold Corp. (Equinox Gold) and expects to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the ticker symbol EQX. Led by Ross Beaty as Chairman, and the executive team led by Christian Milau as CEO and Greg Smith as President, Equinox Gold will be a well-financed gold mining company with a near-term strategy to become a profitable, multi-asset, low-cost gold producer. Shareholders of Trek Mining and NewCastle Gold will each own 44% of Equinox Gold, with Anfield Gold shareholders owning 12%.

EQUINOX GOLD HIGHLIGHTS

Near-term and growing gold production: First gold pour from Aurizona targeted for late 2018 with expected average annual production of 136,000 ounces 1 ; potential to significantly increase production with subsequent mine development at Castle Mountain

First gold pour from Aurizona targeted for late 2018 with expected average annual production of 136,000 ounces ; potential to significantly increase production with subsequent mine development at Castle Mountain Robust project portfolio: Multi-asset gold and copper portfolio including two advanced-stage gold projects in well-established mining jurisdictions

Multi-asset gold and copper portfolio including two advanced-stage gold projects in well-established mining jurisdictions Substantial gold resource: Combined Measured and Indicated gold resources of 5.8 million ounces and additional Inferred gold resources of 2.5 million ounces 2

Combined Measured and Indicated gold resources of 5.8 million ounces and additional Inferred gold resources of 2.5 million ounces Significant exploration potential: Drilling currently underway to potentially increase resources at both the Aurizona and Castle Mountain properties; plus upside from a portfolio of highly prospective gold and copper properties

Drilling currently underway to potentially increase resources at both the Aurizona and Castle Mountain properties; plus upside from a portfolio of highly prospective gold and copper properties Strong financial platform: Approximately C$98 million in cash and marketable securities, with plans to realize corporate G&A savings and monetize selected non-core assets. Well funded with a US$85 million credit facility to fully fund the construction of Aurizona, and access for up to US$200 million in funding for future project development and acquisitions, providing significant capacity to develop Castle Mountain and continue to grow the company

Approximately C$98 million in cash and marketable securities, with plans to realize corporate G&A savings and monetize selected non-core assets. Well funded with a US$85 million credit facility to fully fund the construction of Aurizona, and access for up to US$200 million in funding for future project development and acquisitions, providing significant capacity to develop Castle Mountain and continue to grow the company Strategic leader and shareholder: Ross Beaty will join as Chairman and invest approximately US$20 million to become a significant shareholder, owning approximately 11% of Equinox Gold after Transaction close

Ross Beaty will join as Chairman and invest approximately US$20 million to become a significant shareholder, owning approximately 11% of Equinox Gold after Transaction close Experienced leadership team: Executive team and directors are invested shareholders with significant technical, construction and operations experience

Ross Beaty, Anfields largest shareholder and Chairman of Equinox Gold, said: Combining these companies to form Equinox Gold creates a well-capitalized, growth-focused gold company with an experienced management team and an impressive portfolio of gold and copper assets. I look forward to working with the Equinox Gold team to rapidly build a leading gold producer.

Christian Milau, CEO of Trek Mining, said: The Aurizona and Castle Mountain projects are both large gold assets with a strong geological foundation and exceptional growth potential. Combining them in Equinox Gold creates a company that is well positioned among its peers, with fully-funded near-term production and a long-term growth profile. We are particularly pleased that Ross Beaty will be leading the Equinox Gold board as Chairman. Ross is one of the foremost mining entrepreneurs of our generation. His insight, experience and track record of success will be invaluable as we advance our assets and continue to build the company.

Richard Warke, Executive Chairman of NewCastle, said: Combining NewCastle with Trek Mining and Anfield significantly enhances the near- and long-term growth potential for NewCastle shareholders. With the Aurizona mine expected to commence production in late 2018 and potential to add significant production from Castle Mountain, Equinox Gold will have one of the most rapid growth profiles in its peer group. I look forward to working with Ross and the Equinox Gold management team as we work to build a significant gold company.

EQUINOX GOLD ASSETS

Upon completion of the Transaction, Equinox Gold will own 100% of two past-producing gold mines: Aurizona in Maranhao, Brazil and Castle Mountain in California, USA. A July 2017 feasibility study for Aurizona outlined the design of an open-pit gold mine producing on average approximately 136,000 ounces of gold per year with an initial 6.5-year mine life and significant exploration upside. Initial capital to fund construction and commissioning is estimated at US$130.8 million with all-in-sustaining costs estimated at US$754 per ounce.1 Early works construction has commenced at Aurizona and orders have been placed for long-lead items, with first gold pour planned for late 2018. At Castle Mountain, a pre-feasibility study is underway to assess a two-phase approach to resuming production before the end of 2020.

In addition to its Aurizona and Castle Mountain projects, Equinox Gold will hold an 83% interest in the Koricancha Mill, an operating gold processing facility in Peru; 100% of the Coringa project, a feasibility-stage gold project in Brazil; and 100% of the Elk Gold project, a high-grade past-producing gold project in Canada.

Combined, the gold projects have Proven & Probable gold reserves of 1.1 million ounces grading 1.71 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, Measured & Indicated gold resources (inclusive of reserves) estimated at 5.8 million ounces grading 0.81 g/t gold, and Inferred gold resources estimated at 2.5 million ounces grading 0.70 g/t gold.2

Equinox Gold will also hold 100% of the highly prospective Warintza and Ricardo porphyry copper exploration projects in Ecuador and Chile, respectively, and 60% of the La Verde porphyry copper project in Mexico. The La Verde project has Measured & Indicated copper resources of 3.7 billion pounds grading 0.41% copper and Inferred copper resources of 2.7 billion pounds grading 0.37% copper. The Warintza project has an Inferred copper-equivalent resource of 2.1 billion pounds grading 0.61% copper-equivalent.2

Anfield currently owns the Coringa gold deposit in Brazil and a financial receivable from the sale of its nickel deposit in Guatemala. Anfield is divesting both assets and will apply all sale proceeds toward the advancement of Equinox Golds flagship assets.

MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTORS

Equinox Gold will be managed by the current Trek Mining executive team and will be based in Vancouver. The operational teams for each project will remain in place. The proposed Board of Directors will be led by Ross Beaty as Chairman with Christian Milau, Greg Smith, and Marcel de Groot joining from Trek Mining, Jacques McMullen and Lenard Boggio joining from NewCastle, and Marshall Koval joining from Anfield. Richard Warke, Executive Chairman of NewCastle, will continue with Equinox Gold as a strategic advisor and significant shareholder.

SPROTT CREDIT FACILITY

Sprott Private Resource Lending (Collector), L.P. (Sprott) has received investment committee approval to provide Trek Mining with a US$85 million senior secured credit facility to be used for construction of the Aurizona mine (the Credit Facility). The Credit Facility will have a five-year term, incur interest at an annual rate of 7%, plus the greater of US 3-month LIBOR or 1%, and will be repaid in quarterly installments commencing in September 2019 and ending in September 2022.

In connection with the Credit Facility, Sprott will be entitled to a production payment of US$20 per gold ounce on 75% of the first 400,000 ounces of gold produced from Aurizona. Further, Trek Mining will issue to Sprott 8.0 million five-year at-market common share purchase warrants.

The terms of the Credit Facility are not subject to technical due diligence by Sprott. The Credit Facility remains conditional on completion of legal and formal documentation and is expected to be completed prior to closing the Transaction.

In addition to the Credit Facility, Sprott has agreed to provide up to US$200 million to fund future development projects and acquisitions (the Development and Acquisition Facility), which could include development of the Castle Mountain project. The Development and Acquisition Facility is subject to, among other items, negotiation, documentation and approval by Sprotts investment committee.

Greg Caione, Partner of Sprott, commented: Sprott is excited to partner with Equinox Gold on development of the Aurizona mine. Our partnership with the Equinox Gold team is consistent with our strategy of providing innovative and flexible capital to maximize the value of exceptional projects.

TRANSACTION DETAILS

Under the terms of the Agreement, Trek Mining will acquire all outstanding shares of NewCastle and Anfield at a share exchange ratio of 0.873 Trek Mining shares for each NewCastle share (the NewCastle Exchange Ratio) and 0.407 Trek Mining shares for each Anfield share (the Anfield Exchange Ratio). Each NewCastle and Anfield warrant and option will become exercisable for Trek Mining common shares, as adjusted in accordance with the appropriate Exchange Ratio. Based on the applicable Exchange Ratios, upon completion of the Arrangement, former Trek Mining shareholders will own 44% of Equinox Gold, former NewCastle shareholders will own 44% and former Anfield shareholders will own 12%.

Subject to, and concurrent with, closing of the Transaction, Ross Beaty will acquire approximately 22.5 million common shares of Equinox Gold. The shares will be purchased pursuant to a share and debenture purchase agreement between Trek Mining, Ross Beaty and Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (Sandstorm), whereby Sandstorm will sell to Ross Beaty 4.0 million common shares of Trek Mining and US$15.0 million principal of the debenture payable by Trek Mining to Sandstorm at a combined purchase price of approximately US$18.2 million. The debenture will be converted to approximately 18.5 million common shares concurrent with closing of the Transaction. On closing of the Transaction, Ross Beaty is expected to own approximately 11% of Equinox Gold.

Upon completion of the Transaction, Equinox Gold as the combined company will have approximately 423.0 million common shares issued and outstanding.

The Transaction is expected to be structured as a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and, in addition to other customary closing conditions, is subject to regulatory and court approvals or orders, and continuing NewCastle from Ontario to British Columbia. The Transaction will need to be approved by (i) two-thirds of the votes cast by NewCastle and Anfield shareholders at their respective shareholder meetings and (ii) if required, a simple majority of the votes cast by NewCastle and Anfield shareholders at their respective shareholder meetings, excluding the votes held by certain persons as required by Multilateral Instrument 61-101. There is no regulatory requirement for a meeting of Trek Mining shareholders.

The special meetings of NewCastle and Anfield are expected to be held in December 2017. A joint information circular detailing the terms and conditions of the Transaction will be filed with regulatory authorities and mailed to the shareholders of both NewCastle and Anfield in November in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Agreement includes customary deal-protection provisions, including non-solicitation of alternative transactions and break fees of C$18 million payable by Trek Mining or NewCastle, and C$3.2 million payable by Anfield, under certain circumstances.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDATIONS AND VOTING SUPPORT

The Board of Directors of both NewCastle and Anfield have received independent fairness opinions with respect to the fairness of the consideration to be received by the shareholders of NewCastle and Anfield under the Arrangement, respectively, from a financial point of view, and the Board of Directors of Trek Mining has received an independent fairness opinion that the Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to Trek Mining. The Board of Directors of each company have unanimously approved the Agreement.

The Board of Directors of both NewCastle and Anfield are recommending approval of the Agreement by their respective shareholders. All of the directors and senior officers of NewCastle and Anfield and certain significant shareholders of each company have entered into lock-up agreements pursuant to which each has agreed to vote in favour of the Agreement, representing approximately 25.5% of the issued and outstanding common shares of NewCastle and 27.2% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Anfield, respectively.

ADVISORS AND COUNSEL

Cormark Securities Inc. has provided a fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of Trek Mining, TD Securities Inc. has provided a fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of NewCastle and Fort Capital Partners has provided a fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of Anfield. Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is acting as legal counsel for Trek Mining, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP is acting as legal counsel for NewCastle and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is acting as legal counsel for Anfield.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

Interested analysts and investors are invited to participate in a joint conference call and webcast on October 25, 2017 at 4:30pm EST (1:30pm PST) using the following dial-in numbers. The webcast will be archived and accessible on all of the companies websites until closing of the Transaction.

Toll-free in U.S. and Canada: 1-800-319-8560

International callers: +1-604-638-5345

Passcode: 47830 #

Login to the webcast

A copy of the investor presentation, outlining the details of the Transaction and providing more information about Equinox Golds asset portfolio, is available on the companies websites at www.trekmining.com, www.newcastlegold.ca or www.anfieldgold.com.

QUALIFIED PERSONS

David Laing, BSc, MIMMM, Trek Minings Chief Operating Officer, and Scott Heffernan, MSc, P.Geo., Trek Minings EVP Exploration, are the Qualified Persons under NI 43-101 for Trek Mining and have reviewed, approved and verified the technical content of this news release as it relates to Trek Minings Aurizona, Warintza, Ricardo and Elk Gold Projects, and the Koricancha Mill.

Marc Leduc, P.Eng., NewCastles Interim Chief Executive Officer, is the Qualified Person under NI 43-101 for NewCastle and has reviewed, approved and verified the technical content of this news release as it relates to NewCastles Castle Mountain and La Verde projects.

Leo Hathaway, MSc, P.Geo., Anfields Chief Geological Officer, is the Qualified Person under NI 43-101 for Anfield and has reviewed, approved and verified the technical content of this news release as it relates to Anfields Coringa Project.

TREK MINING CONTACTS

Christian Milau, Chief Executive Officer

Rhylin Bailie, Vice President Investor Relations

Tel: +1 604-558-0560

Email: ir@trekmining.com

NEWCASTLE CONTACT

Richard Warke, Executive Chairman

Tel: +1 604-687-1717

Email: info@newcastlegold.ca

ANFIELD CONTACT

Marshall Koval, Chairman & CEO

Tel: +1 604-646-1899

Email: info@anfieldgold.com

_____________________

Footnotes:

Based on the Feasibility Study on the Aurizona Gold Mine Project prepared by Lycopodium Minerals Canada Ltd. with an effective date of July 10, 2017, which is available for download on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. See "Reserve & Resource Estimates and Cautionary Notes  Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources".

CAUTIONARY NOTES

Forward-looking Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively forward-looking statements). The use of the words intends, expects, will be, underway, targeted, expected, potential, look forward, continue, estimated, would, subject to and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed Transaction, the proposed name change of the combined company, satisfaction of certain approvals (including TSX-V and shareholder approvals), the growth potential of Equinox Gold and its assets, the completion of the proposed US$85 million credit facility and US$200 million development and acquisition facility, the proposed Board and management team of Equinox Gold, the anticipated restart of production at Aurizona, the anticipated restart of production at Castle Mountain, and the financial position of Equinox Gold following the Transaction. Although Trek Mining, NewCastle and Anfield (the Companies) believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since the Companies can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Companies periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators, and assumptions made with regard to: the Companies ability to complete the proposed Transaction; the Companies ability to secure the necessary shareholder, legal and regulatory approvals required to complete the Transaction; the anticipated results of the pre-feasibility study for Castle Mountain; the anticipated Board of Directors decision to approve construction of Aurizona; the timing for receipt of permits required to commence full-scale construction at Aurizona; the ability to complete the credit facility required to fund construction and development of Aurizona; the estimated costs associated with construction of Aurizona; the ability to restart production at Aurizona; the timing of the anticipated restart of production; the ability to achieve the gold production rates and costs outlined in the Aurizona feasibility study; the ability to increase throughput and production levels at the Koricancha Mill; the ability to advance exploration efforts at Aurizona and Castle Mountain; the results of exploration efforts at Aurizona and Castle Mountain; and the Companies ability to achieve the synergies expected as a result of the Transaction. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Companies do not undertake any obligations to publicly update and/or revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of additional information, future events and/or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources

Information concerning the properties and operations discussed in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian standards under applicable Canadian securities laws, and may not be comparable to similar information for United States companies. The terms Mineral Resource, Measured Mineral Resource, Indicated Mineral Resource and Inferred Mineral Resource used in this news release are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under guidelines set out in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by the CIM Council on May 10, 2014. While the terms Mineral Resource, Measured Mineral Resource, Indicated Mineral Resource and Inferred Mineral Resource are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, they are not defined terms under standards of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Under United States standards, mineralization may not be classified as a reserve unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve calculation is made. As such, certain information contained in this news release concerning descriptions of mineralization and resources under Canadian standards is not comparable to similar information made public by United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a great amount of uncertainty as to its existence and as to its economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Readers are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of Measured or Indicated Resources will ever be converted into Mineral Reserves. Readers are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable. In addition, the definitions of Proven Mineral Reserves and Probable Mineral Reserves under CIM standards differ in certain respects from the standards of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

RESERVE & RESOURCE ESTIMATES



Aurizona Mineral Resources Category Measured Indicated Total M&I Inferred Deposit Tonnes

kt Grade

g/t Au Contained

Gold koz Tonnes

kt Grade

g/t Au Contained

Gold koz Tonnes

kt Grade

g/t Au Contained

Gold koz Tonnes

kt Grade

g/t Au Contained

Gold koz Open Pit Piaba 8,860 1.46 415 19,030 1.64 1,002 27,890 1.58 1,417 740 1.56 37 Boa Esperanca 370 1.14 14 370 1.14 14 140 1.88 8 Total 8,860 1.46 415 19,400 1.63 1,016 28,260 1.57 1,431 880 1.61 45 Underground Piaba 5,090 2.99 490

Aurizona Mineral Reserves

Aurizona Mineral Reserves Category Proven Probable Total P&P Ore Type Tonnes

kt Grade

g/t Au Contained

Gold koz Tonnes

kt Grade

g/t Au Contained

Gold koz Tonnes

kt Grade

g/t Au Contained

Gold koz Laterite 122 1.94 8 539 0.98 17 661 1.16 25 Saprolite 1,684 1.52 82 1,310 1.38 58 2,994 1.46 140 Transition 2,553 1.34 110 1,363 1.18 52 3,916 1.29 162 Fresh Rock 4,079 1.46 192 8,186 1.72 452 12,265 1.63 644 Total 8,438 1.44 392 11,398 1.58 579 19,836 1.52 971

The Aurizona Mineral Reserve estimate has an effective date of May 29, 2017 and is based on the Mineral Resource estimate dated January 5, 2017 and prepared by SRK. The Mineral Reserve calculation was completed under the supervision of Gordon Zurowski, P.Eng of AGP Mining Consultants Inc., who is a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. Mineral Reserves are stated within the final design pit based on a $1,056 per ounce gold price pit shell with a $1,200 per ounce gold price for revenue. The cutoff grade was 0.60 g/t Au for the Piaba pit area and 0.41 g/t Au for the Boa Esperanca area. The mining cost averaged $2.32/tonne mined, processing averages $11.30/tonne milled and G&A was $2.84/tonne milled. The process recovery averaged 90.3%. The exchange rate assumption applied was R$3.30 equal to US$1.00. This Mineral Resource estimate has an effective date of January 5, 2017 and was prepared by Mr. Marek Nowak, M.A.Sc., P.Eng. of SRK, who is a qualified person under NI 43-101. Open pit mineral resources are reported at 0.6 g/t gold cut-off and underground resources are reported at 2.0 g/t gold cut-off. Tonnes are rounded to the nearest 10,000; ounces are rounded to the nearest 1,000. Small tonnage and grade differences may be found due to rounding. Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves.

Castle Mountain Mineral Resources Measured Indicated Total M&I Inferred Cut-off

Au g/t Tonnes

Mt Grade

g/t Au Contained

Gold Moz Tonnes

Mt Grade

g/t Au Contained Gold Moz Tonnes

Mt Grade

g/t Au Contained Gold Moz Tonnes

Mt Grade

g/t Au Contained Gold Moz 1.20 12.1 2.69 1.04 5.5 2.55 0.45 17.6 2.64 1.50 4.8 2.50 0.39 0.50 46.8 1.24 1.87 19.7 1.25 0.79 66.5 1.25 2.66 23.1 1.10 0.82 0.20 135.0 0.64 2.79 57.2 0.64 1.18 192.2 0.64 3.97 102.3 0.48 1.58 0.14 172.1 0.54 3.00 75.3 0.53 1.28 247.3 0.54 4.27 193.1 0.34 2.09

The Castle Mountain Mineral Resource estimate was reported by NewCastle Gold on September 11, 2017. A technical report supporting the resource estimate will be filed on SEDAR before October 26, 2017. The Mineral Resource estimate was prepared by Don Tschabrun, SME-RM, of Mine Technical Services Ltd. The Mineral Resource estimate was calculated using a US$1,300/oz gold price and a base-case cut-off grade of 0.2 g/t gold. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Coringa Mineral Resources Indicated Inferred Deposit Tonnes

kt Au Grade

g/t Contained

Gold koz Ag Grade

g/t Contained

Silver koz Tonnes

kt Au Grade

g/t Contained

Gold koz Ag Grade

g/t Contained

Silver koz Serra 488 7.5 117 16.1 253 262 4.3 36 8.7 73 Meio 160 10.7 55 20.7 106 229 4.2 31 6.1 45 Galena 78 9.4 24 14.7 37 63 3.4 7 3.5 7 Mae de Leite 244 5.9 46 2.6 20 Come Quieto 253 4.5 37 7.5 61 Valdette 249 3.0 24 1.0 8 Total 726 8.4 195 17.1 396 1,301 4.3 181 5.1 215





Coringa Mineral Reserves Probable Deposit Tonnes

kt Au Grade

g/t Contained

Gold koz Ag Grade

g/t Contained

Silver koz Cut-off Grade

g/t Au Serra 498 6.0 97 12.8 204 2.50 Meio 196 7.4 46 14.6 92 2.38 Galena 74 7.1 17 11.2 27 2.50 Total 769 6.5 160 13.1 324

The Coringa Mineral Resource estimate has an effective date of May 3, 2017 as reported in the Coringa Gold Project, Brazil Feasibility Study NI 43-101 Technical Report prepared by MTB Project Management Professionals, Inc. with an effective date of July 1, 2017. The resource was calculated using a base-case cut-off grade of 2 g/t gold, an assumed metal price of US$1,300/oz gold, metallurgical recoveries of 95%, and total onsite operating and processing costs of US$80/tonne. There are no adjustments to the estimate of mineral resources to account for mining recoveries or dilution. Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves. The Mineral Reserve estimate has an effective day of July 1, 2017 as reported in the Coringa Gold Project, Brazil Feasibility Study NI 43-101 Technical Report prepared by MTB Project Management Professionals, Inc. Mineral Reserve grades are reported on a fully diluted basis.

Elk Gold Mineral Resources Category Tonnes

kt Au Grade

g/t Contained

Gold koz Measured 340 7.07 77.3 Indicated 703 5.96 134.6 Total M&I 1,043 6.32 211.9 Inferred 1,097 5.94 209.6

The Elk Gold Mineral Resource estimate has an effective date of August 22, 2016 as reported in the Technical Report on Resources of the Elk Gold Project completed by Robert Wilson, P.Geo., Gary Giroux, P.Eng. and Antonio Loschiavo, P.Eng. with an effective date of August 22, 2016. The Mineral Resource calculation was completed under the supervision of Gary Giroux, P.Eng., who is a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. The constrained resource was calculated using a gold price of US$1232/oz. Open-pit resources are reported at a 1.0 g/t gold cut-off grade and potential underground resources are reported at a 5.0 g/t gold cut-off grade. The grade reported is the average grade of the resource both in and underground.

Warintza Mineral Resources Resource Tonnes CuEq

% Cu

% Copper

tonnes Copper

M lbs Mo

% Mo

tonnes Mo

M lbs CuEq

M lbs Inferred 194,994,000 0.61 0.42 820,000 1,807 0.031 60,000 132 2,072

The Warintza Mineral Resource estimate has an effective date of December 21, 2012 as reported in the Technical Report, Warintza Project, Ecuador completed by Peter Ronning, P.Eng. and Steven Ristorcelli, C.P.G. with an effective date of December 21, 2012. The Mineral Resource calculation was completed under the supervision of Peter Ronning, P.Eng. and Steven Ristorcelli, C.P.G., who are Qualified Persons as defined under NI 43-101. The reported resource is at a cut-off of 0.3 CuEq. The copper equivalent grade for copper plus molybdenum was calculated as CuEq(%) = Cu(%) + (6*Mo(ppm)/10000). Copper-equivalent calculations reflect gross metal content and have not been adjusted for metallurgical recoveries or relative processing and smelting costs. The copper equivalent grades were used only for establishing cut-off grades for reporting.

La Verde Mineral Resources Resource Tonnes Cu

% Ag

g/t Au

g/t Copper

M lbs Measured 57,527,000 0.45 2.94 0.05 571 Indicated 350,442,000 0.40 2.33 0.03 3,098 Total M&I 407,969,000 0.41 2.42 0.03 3,669 Inferred 337,838,000 0.37 1.94 0.02 2,748

The La Verde Mineral Resource estimate was reported in the La Verde Copper Project, Michoacan State, Mexico, Technical Report prepared by AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. with an effective date of September 30, 2012. The resource is reported using a base-case cut-off grade of 0.2% copper. The cut-off grade of 0.2% copper is based on experience for similar open-pit projects and a mining conceptual study which used a metal price of $2.50/lb copper and copper metal recovery of 92%. This Resource estimate is not constrained by a pit shell.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) Top naval commanders today cleared a new plan for deployment of warships in the Indian Ocean region to effectively counter Chinas growing presence in the strategically key waters.

The "new mission-based deployment" plan involves deploying mission-ready ships and aircraft along critical sea lanes of communications, Navy sources said.

The issue of Chinas growing assertiveness in the Indian Ocean figured prominently on the second day of the four-day long naval commanders conference.

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The Indian Navy has been deploying its warships in the Indian Ocean region for carrying out anti-piracy patrol and providing humanitarian assistance.

The deployments are to be maintained round-the-clock now, said the sources.

Chief of Army Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa addressed the conference during which they deliberated on a host of issues including deeper integration in functioning of the three forces.

A host of operational issues, including efforts to make the Navy self-reliant and modernise its warfare capability, were also discussed.

On the new deployment plan, the sources said Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba has approved a new transition cycle for ships from maintenance periods to operational deployments that allows for a focused and gradual transition of ships from periods of maintenance layoffs to full scale operations.

Over the next two days, the Navy commanders are expected to discuss issues relating to safety.

The Comptroller and Auditor General in July, in a report, had said the Indian Navys ships and submarines were involved in 38 accidents between 2007-08 and 2015-16, adversely affecting the operational preparedness of the force.

The auditor had said the accidents were primarily attributable to fire, explosion and flooding, adding that the Navy had no institutionalised framework to deal with safety since its inception. PTI MPB RT

--- ENDS ---
How will Military Service Prepare Veterans to Excel at Kellogg

Military members are said to have an advantage in the MBA application process, given how valuable their leadership experience, international exposure, and communications skills are to business education. Some studies estimate that the acceptance rate for military vets is about double that of non-veterans in top MBA programs. So what do vets learn from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine corps that allows them to excel in the Kellogg classroom? In short, the lessons below:

Integrity beyond reproach

One of my first memories of Officer Candidate School was our Senior Chief brutally punishing the class for failing to immediately fess up to a rule infraction. I remember his strained, veiny neck bellowing that our reputations were everything, and that as officers we would need to exemplify integrity beyond reproach.To get the autonomy necessary to accomplish my mission, I needed my commander to have complete confidence in me to execute, whatever the hardships to be endured. To get my troops to follow my orders, I needed them to trust that my instructions were critical to the mission and already accounted for their well-being.At business school, I also found myself under the microscope. As an MBA, every day you are interacting closely with the future business leaders of the world, each of whom is going to carry an impression of you based on what they see in and around the classroom. This is especially true at a smaller and more intimate school like Kellogg. In this environment, you need to carry yourself with the highest integrity, from your academic coursework, to attributing ideas to their originators in discussion group, to prompt and complete Venmo payments after a group dinner. Military officers are used to doing the right thing whether someone is looking for not, which is good because in business school everyone will be.

Quantity has a quality

Sure some militaries have low-quality outdated missiles, but if they launch enough of them at a fighter jet or aircraft carrier, you will quickly realize how quantity has a quality all its own.The same goes for a lot of business school. A late night drinks event at someone's apartment in Chicago might not yield the kind of high quality interactions you'd like, but if youre the kind of person who always shows up, youll likely be invited to the more intimate gatherings. An individual networking event may not land you a job, but if you go to every single one hosted by a particular company, it will speak volumes to them about your commitment. Professors look for quality comments, but if you are always ready to jump in, they will appreciate your mental acuity and you will likely be able to ward off any cold-calls on days when you are not as prepared.

Bias for Action

MBA students are notoriously flakey. Busy ex-consultants and bankers talk a big game about organizing a trek or meeting up with an old colleague for brunch, but the fact of the matter is that our time is always double-booked and were forced to turn down fun events constantly. Vets are able to overcome these challenges because they are trained to have a bias for action. If someone asks to get brunch, they will know to put a few dates on the calendar to ensure that it happens. If there is a group project to do, Vets know to plan out the meetings, show up on time, and keep the group on track, even if it means leaning on others a little bit to ensure that their work gets done.

Think fast and adapt

Most of the time when I prepare a case before class, Ill be struck by one or two comments that I think might change the trajectory of the case discussion. Then in class the perfect time for me to share my comment will come and pass before I can get into the conversation. These moments happen to every business school student, but I find that Veterans are better about letting them go, thinking fast, and adapting. Sticking with your original plan and shoehorning that comment into the discussion when called upon later would have disrupted the flow of the conversation and earned you a bad grade as well. Service members are trained to understand that no good plan survives first contact with the enemy, and are ready to adjust accordingly._________________
Legit.ng gathered that a Nigerian preacher shocked people by turning down a Rolls Royce as a birthday gift.

Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, general overseer of the Omega Power Ministries (OPM), has hit headlines following a decision he made in his church recently.

According to a post shared on the church's official Facebook page, the preacher who turned a year older on October 18, reportedly rejected the gift of a Rolls Royce given to him as a birthday gift.

The preacher who is known for his philanthropic acts which include giving a house to the best graduating primary school student in his church, and giving out a car to a widow in the church, reportedly asked them to use the money for the Rolls Royce to open more OPM free schools.

Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere rejected a Rolls Royce

READ ALSO: Omega Power Ministries pastor builds house for best graduating student in his school (photos)

Sharing the post on their Facebook page, the Omega Power Ministries - OPM, wrote:

"BREAKING NEWS.....

Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere OPM rejects Rolls Royce birthday gift from Divine distributors of OPM, Instead decides to use the money of the ROLLS ROYCE to open more OPM Free schools. Currently OPM church operates 7 free schools which accommodates children of widows, orphans and less privileged."

Be honest, can you give up your religion for $5m? - on Legit.ng TV.

Source: Legit.ng
Ex-lovers Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Niharika Singh are locked in a bitter battle over his revelations of his extramarital affair with her and here is all you need to know.

By India Today Web Desk: Extra-marital affair, contemplating suicide, two-timing his girlfriend and what not. Nawazuddin Siddiqui's new book An Ordinary Life: A Memoir, has left people trying to pick up their jaws from the floor. The explosive revelations, goes without saying, have rubbed people the wrong way.

While Nawaz expected his book to have an effect of the kind, his ex-girlfriend Niharika Singh has torn into him for using her name and their relationship for the sole purpose of selling his book.

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Here's what has gone down in the last few days as far as l'affaire Nawazuddin Siddiqui-Niharika Singh is concerned:

SIDDIQUI'S REVELATIONS

Nawazuddin Siddiqui has bared it all in his book. He says that he was in a relationship with Niharika Singh, his co-star from the film Miss Lovely, for a year-and-a-half. During the shoot of the film, Nawazuddin once invited Niharika to his house because she was upset with something. He cooked mutton curry for her, which he later realised, was inedible.

But Niharika did not tell him that. She instead, invited him over to her place, saying that she would cook mutton curry for him. When Nawaz reached her house, he was stunned to see a hundred tiny candles glittering all over the place.

FAUX FUR AND CANDLES

Niharika opened the door, dressed in faux fur, says Nawaz. "She (Niharika) wore soft faux fur, looking devastatingly gorgeous, her beauty illuminated even more in the candlelight," says his book. Calling himself a 'village bumpkin', Siddiqui describes the rest of the night. He proceeded to 'scoop her up in his arms' and "headed straight for the bedroom. We made passionate love. And just like that, out of the blue, I began a relationship with Niharika Singh, a relationship which I did not know then would last for almost one and a half years," says his book.

TWO-TIMING NIHARIKA AND SUZANNE

Nawaz was in a relationship with a girl from New Jersey called Suzanne. She moved in with him in his Mumbai house soon after they began dating and would keep extending her visa for a short period.

Even after she left for New York, Suzanne kept mailing Nawazuddin, he says in the book.

By this time, the shooting of Miss Lovely had begun. Siddiqui got into a relationship with Niharika Singh. Nawaz says in his book that he didn't have the courage to reply to Suzanne's emails. And one day, all hell broke loose when Niharika spotted an email from Suzanne when he was checking his mails. Niharika took on the task of clarifying that Nawaz's relationship with Suzanne was over.

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NIHARIKA REPLIED TO SUZANNE, PRETENDING TO BE NAWAZUDDIN

"From that day, Niharika began to send emails to Suzanne from my email address. She would type, 'I cannot continue with you...' and sign off as me. Imagine the shock for Suzanne. She would send heartbreaking replies like: 'What happened, Nawaz? Please tell me,Nawaz! ... I am crying, Nawaz! Tell me, please.' It was absolutely awful. I simply could not endure it! It was as if she was screaming, crying out aloud helplessly in unbearable pain. It was apparent that the emails had some sort of a multiple personality disorder. After a few of these email exchanges, Suzanne figured that this was not my voice at all. 'Who is this writing, Nawaz? I know this is not you. Somebody else is with you,' she wrote back," Nawazuddin describes. Soon, Niharika made sure that he snapped all correspondence with Suzanne.

NIHARIKA HITS BACK

While all the details of his relationship with Niharika might make for a fast read, the Miss Lovely actress is mighty irked with Siddiqui. She hit back at Nawaz with a statement to the media. She also revealed in an interview that she did not know that he was married when they began seeing each other.

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"I found out only after I was with him that he had a wife in the village whom he never spoke about. With Nawaz, it's difficult to tell who he's with because he would rarely give me a straight answer," Niharika told a website.

'HE DID NOT TAKE MY CONSENT'

Niharika's statement accuses Nawaz of fabricating stories to tarnish her reputation, only to ensure that his book flies off the stands.

"Nawaz and I had a brief relationship in 2009 during the making of Miss Lovely that lasted less than a few months. So today when he paints me as a woman in fur enticing him into her bedroom with candles, or desperately calling him and mailing other women on his behalf, I can only laugh. He obviously wants to sell his book and it would appear that he is willing to exploit and disrespect a woman just to do so. He has chosen to fabricate stories and manipulate a fleeting relationship. None of what he has written has been with my knowledge, let alone my consent. It is this very aspect of Nawaz that caused me to end my relationship with him in the first place. I have always maintained that he's a brilliant actor. However, I had hoped these acting skills would have remain confined only to the screen. Still, I wish him well," Niharika said in her statement.

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ALSO WATCH: FIR against Nawazuddin for slapping a girl

--- ENDS ---
Its no secret that farmers will do anything to take care of their cows. Often to the detriment to our own lives. What dairy farmer hasnt skipped a party to make hay? Who hasnt pushed through a migraine, allergies, or other ailments to make sure the cows are milked and fed? And I know that every one of us has gotten ourselves out of bed after a hard 20-plus hour day with only 2 hours of sleep to do it all over again. I read articles every week about how we can better take care of our cows, but when do we start taking better care of ourselves?

Throwing hay bales, fixing equipment, and carrying heavy calves is a pretty good workout. But honestly, with all the technological advances, bigger equipment, and faster, more convenient food options our physical health may be something that deserves a little more attention. Walk to the barn instead of driving the truck or four-wheeler. Grab a handful of carrot sticks instead of a bag of chips. Have some premade meals in the fridge or freezer instead of grabbing fast food on the way home. Are you drinking too many sugary drinks throughout the day, or eating too big of a meal late at night? Or maybe what you need is an extra hour of sleep a couple days a week.

Theres another kind of health we basically never discuss: mental health.

This job can be super, mind numbingly hard. Sometimes, its the smallest thing that tips you over the edge and then youre down for a month. Find a friend or family member you feel comfortable talking to or a place where you can think things through  your happy place. Pick one or two days a week where you sleep an extra hour or take a night off to grab a drink with a friend. Its time we removed the stigma from talking about our health and ourselves. Theres nothing wrong with seeking treatment, either.

We can talk all day about our happy, healthy cows, but whats the use if were not happy and healthy, too?

I know firsthand how hard it is to walk away from the farm and leave it all in someone elses hands. But how can we be or do whats best for our girls if we cant even do whats best for ourselves? If youre feeling lost or downhearted, reach out to someone, because I promise that every farmer has been there. Truly, if you need to talk, my virtual door is always open!

Jessica Peters

The author dairies in partnership with her parents and brother at Spruce Row Farm in Pennsylvania. Jessica is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, and since 2015, she has been active in promoting dairy in her local community. You can find her and her 250 Jersey cows on Facebook at Spruce Row Dairy or on Instagram at @seejessfarm.




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The revelations by Nawazuddin Siddiqui on his affair with Niharika Singh in his book proves we have a long way to go till consent is understood.

By Lakshana N Palat: The word consent has gained profound significance over the last few years, and yet, people still don't seem to understand it. It has several layers, and isn't just about permission from the opposite gender. It's also got to do with just having basic respect for someone else's privacy and personal space. After the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault allegations, one would think that there would be more awareness in the world. But no, we're always back to square one.

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Let's take a look closer home. The private life of actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, which he has now bared to the public in his book, An Ordinary Life. Till recently, Nawaz was mostly known for his work, and had received tremendous praise for his realistic and straightforward acting. With regard to his personal life, the actor has spoken about his hard struggle in the field, and his rags-to-riches story has been seen as inspiring all these days.

THE STEAMY AFFAIRS

Even in his films, Nawaz has mostly stayed away from intimate scenes, barring Bandookbaaz Babumoshai that saw him in a new avatar altogether. In his book now, it looks as if Nawaz is trying to break out of an image he has built so meticulously for himself. In the book,he has explicitly discussed his affairs, with co-star Niharika Singh from the film Miss Lovely, and a girl from New Jersey called Suzanne. In the book, he says that Niharika and Nawaz shared a relationship that lasted for one-and-a-half years. He also said that she sent mails to his former girlfriend, Suzanne, pretending to be him.

Nawaz paints an image that has an uncanny resemblance to a B-grade Hindi erotic film. "A hundred, or so it seemed, little candles flickered beautifully. She wore soft faux fur, looking devastatingly gorgeous, her beauty illuminated even more in the candlelight. And I, being the lusty village bumpkin that I am, scooped her up in my arms and headed straight for the bedroom. We made passionate love."

WHERE'S THE CONSENT?

He has been applauded for its sincerity and crystal-clear honesty, as he calls himself "a selfish bastard who just wanted to go and make out with her". But the ugly fact that comes to light is, Nawaz did not ask for consent from Niharika before publishing such details about their relationship. It's the least that he could have done, and anyone deserves that amount of respect and courtesy.

It's not exactly the most pleasant thing to wake up one day, and find explicit details of your relationship in print. The actress has expressed her anger over this, and said that he has "fabricated" stories over their brief relationship, and didn't even ask her before baring all in his book.

"None of what he has written has been with my knowledge, let alone my consent. It is this very aspect of Nawaz that caused me to end my relationship with him in the first place. I have always maintained that he's a brilliant actor. However, I had hoped these acting skills would have remained confined only to the screen. Still, I wish him well," Niharika's statement to the media read. Not just this, she also alleges that he did not tell her that he was married. Not coming off too well, Nawaz.

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And this takes us back to the elusive concept of consent.

A MARKETING STRATEGY?

If there's something that most people believe, it's that sex sells. In her interviews, Niharika further accused Nawaz of using their relationship to sell his book.

"Nawaz and I had a brief relationship in 2009 during the making of Miss Lovely that lasted less than a few months. So today, when he paints me as a woman in fur enticing him into her bedroom with candles, or desperately calling him and mailing other women on his behalf, I can only laugh. He obviously wants to sell his book and it would appear that he is willing to exploit and disrespect a woman just to do so," she said in her statement.

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Now, one can't help but wonder, is that the reason why Nawaz added this bit in? To spice up his book? Or did he intend to create enough controversy so that people would actually go and buy it?

Well, looks like it's working, because people are actually keen to know the real Nawazuddin Siddiqui behind this mask that he has worn for so many years.

ALSO WATCH | Nawazuddin Siddiqui alleges colour discrimination: Dark side of a racist Bollywood?

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Iran is widely believed to have directly participated in recent maneuvers by the Iraqi armed forces to retake the city of Kirkuk and other areas that had been under the control of Kurdish forces since they capture those areas from ISIL militants. The maneuvers came shortly after Iraqi Kurds held and overwhelmingly successful independence referendum. Since then, the Iranian regime has evidently been striving to exploit the deepening crisis in order to expand its influence not only in Iraq but also in Turkey, whose government feels similarly threatened by Kurdish separatism.

The AP touched upon this situation and noted that Iraqi-Iranian collaboration in and around Kirkuk had apparently deepened the unease that Saudi Arabia feels toward Iraq. And that unease is well-founded in light of reports that the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of mostly Iran-backed paramilitary groups, has been largely integrated into the Iraqi armed forces, thereby giving Iran a firm foothold in the countrys military affairs. Many Iraqi figures are striving to reverse this situation, and Abadi is supposedly among them. Yet they are receiving significant pushback from Iran and its local affiliates, suggesting the need for foreign support on the other side.

Despite the claims of uneasiness, relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia have been improving in recent years, as the AP makes clear. Some of these improvements can presumably be attributed to wide-ranging Arab concerns about Iranian imperialism, which has become more assertive in the wake of the 2015 nuclear agreement with the US and five other world powers, which provided Iran with tens of billions of dollars worth of sanctions relief.

However, other regional tensions have emerged in the wake of reconciliation by certain, formerly feuding Arab powers. Tillersons visit to Riyadh was immediately followed by a trip to the Qatari capital of Doha, which has been cut off from its former partners as a result of disputes centering on Arab relations with the Islamic Republic. Tillerson urged the relevant parties to resolve the crisis, which he described as beneficial to Iran on account of its growing influence in Qatar, where Iranian imports have partly replaced those traditionally provided by the Saudis and others.

Tillerson acknowledged, however, that a solution to the diplomatic break with Qatar seemed to still be some ways off. But this also speaks to the depth of Arab unease regarding Iranian influence, which Qatari officials have reportedly recommended embracing as a political reality. This in turn speaks to the extent to which Tillersons efforts to secure Arab assistance in the new Iran strategy were embraced on Sunday.

The inauguration of the Saudi-Iraqi partnership provided an opportunity for several Gulf Arab officials to weigh in on that strategy, which the US president announced in an address to the nation on October 13. Speaking to CNBC, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal affirmed that Saudi Arabia is already on board with the assertive strategy and has been playing a major role in encouraging regional partners to distance themselves from nasty Iranian influence. He also expressed the believe that the Trump administration had started the US on the right track with regard to Iran policy, in particular by refusing to once again grant a rubber stamp to the nuclear agreement.

The former Saudi intelligence chief, Prince Turki al-Faisal elaborated upon this position in remarks that were quoted by Fox News. Underscoring claims that had previously been made by President Trump and other critics of the nuclear deal, Faisal declared that the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, had emboldened Irans behavior in the region and had represented Western abdication of the responsibility to deal with Iranian extraterritorial ambitions.

Faisal described Trumps decertification of the JCPOA as one way of putting pressure on Iran to live up to the spirit of the agreement, which was presented as a means of improving overall regional peace and security. But he also urged the White House to adopt other means of doing the same, for instance by clarifying US policy toward Syria and the Iran-backed dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad, whom Faisal described as the biggest terrorist in Syria.

The removal of Iranian influence in Syria appears to be widely regarded as a prerequisite for the removal of the Assad regime. In fact, Tehran has been credited with saving Assad from overthrow early in the Syrian Civil War. This point was reiterated by Al Jazeera on Monday in a report that quoted officers of the rebel Free Syrian Army as explaining that they were confident in their path to victory in the summer of 2012, before Iranian contributions to Assads defense became greatly amplified.

The article went on to note that the direct participation of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in that war effort ultimately led to direct Iranian control over huge swaths of Syrias political, economic, and military life. The rebels maintain that the Syrian Army had been depleted to as little as 20 percent of its previous capacity in roughly the first two years of the war, after which the deficiency was made up by Iran-backed Shiite militias. Just as in Iraq, these groups have become entrenched in the country, being integrated into the official armed forces.

Naturally, much of the Iranian control over such entities is channeled through the IRGC, the hardline paramilitary that is charged with the mission of defending the Islamic revolution at home and exporting it abroad. Consequently, the project of countering Tehrans regional influence is closely correlated with the project of confronting the IRGC and diminishing its capacity. The White Houses new strategy does indeed involve the dramatic expansion of terrorist-related sanctions against the organization and those who do business with it.

This aspect of the strategy has already begun to be implemented unilaterally. But as well as reaching out to Gulf Arab states for other forms of collaboration, the White House is now in the midst of efforts to secure European participation in the expansion of economic sanctions, and perhaps other measures as well. However, for the moment there appears to be a relative lack of clarity as to how much pressure the US is willing to exert on its partners in the interest of building consensus in this area.

On one hand, the New York Times reported on Monday that Tillerson had warned European governments and businesses about the danger of making new investments in Iran. But on the other hand, Agence France Presse described Tillerson as reassuring the Europeans that their existing or pending investments in that country are safe. The presidents been pretty clear that its not his intent to interfere with business deals that the Europeans may have under way with Iran, he was quoted as saying.

It may be worth emphasizing that Tillersons other remarks  those highlighted by the Times  referred not to all Iran investments per se, but rather to the great risk that follows those who conduct business with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. This distinction does not resolve the apparent lack of clarity, however, because both the Times and AFP emphasize how difficult it is to isolate IRGC-linked investments from other investments in the Islamic Republic.

The intelligence community struggles mightily to figure out which companies are controlled by the IRGC, said CIA Director Mike Pompeo at a Foundation for Defense of Democracies forum. He went on to estimate that 20 percent of the Iranian economy is controlled by the Guards, some of it directly and some of it through affiliates and front companies. Other estimates run even higher. The National Council of Resistance of Iran, which has used its intelligence resources to expose key details of the Iranian nuclear program, has suggested that the IRGC controls the majority of all Iranian wealth.

Whereas the American governments position on prospective European investments in Iran may not yet be absolutely clear, Reuters reported on Monday that possible hidden links between those investments and the IRGC are already keeping Western investors at bay. This wariness may become more pronounced as the US continues its project of developing global consensus on its new strategy.

In fact, that project may also make Iranian malfeasance more obvious, along with the imperative for confronting it. Iran has repeatedly responded to new Western pressures by reaffirming the IRGCs role, increasing funding for it, and underscoring regional partnerships including partnerships with terrorist groups. In one recent example of this, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, Ali Larijani recently met with the deputy commander of Hamas. According to Reuters, the Palestinian terror group in turn, announced its commitment to retaining close ties with Iran, thereby rejecting preconditions for peace talks with Israel.

This is only one of the relationships by which Iranian influence, and specifically the influence of the IRGC, continues to expand throughout the region. This and other such mechanisms will presumably be highlighted by the White House and its supporters in coming weeks, as the newly established policy of direct confrontation continued to be implemented.
He said that the United States and the US State Department need to pay more attention to the resistance movement that is working towards a free and democratic Iran.

Gingrich described the Iran regime as a dictatorship with a facade of democracy. He explained that during the recent presidential elections, Iran claimed that this was a sign of their democracy, but when you look behind the facade you can see that there was nothing democratic about the elections.

He reminded the audience at the event that the Iranian regime is proud of who and what it is. Before it launches a ballistic missile, it will proudly show pictures of it all over the media with Death to Israel or Death to America plastered all over it.

Gingrich said that he regretted the United States past treatment of the Iranian Resistance, saying that the Iranian regime worked very hard to discredit it. He said that for far too long, the US listened to the dictatorship and not the peaceful resistance movement.

He praised President Donald Trumps speech at the United Nations General Assembly, saying that with these very strong words it was very clear that the Trump administration would decertify Irans compliance to the nuclear deal. Gingrich described Trumps decertification speech as a strong speech that speaks out against the Iranian regime, and the strongest ever of any leader of the US.

Gingrich pointed out that for as long as the Iranian regime is in power, there will be chaos and terrorism spread across the region and a grave risk to the United States.

Like Donald Trump, Gingrich spoke up for the people of Iran who are very much victims of the Iranian regime. He mentioned the 1988 massacre in which 30,000 people were killed and said that it is horrifying that nothing has been done to bring the regime to justice.

The regime, he said, is surviving by repression and the NCRI is working inside and outside Iran to ensure that the people are heard and that they are represented. The NCRI has made great efforts to expose the Iranian regimes activities and it has been very successful in providing evidence that intelligence services were not aware of.

It has been instrumental in providing information about the Iran nuclear deal. Gingrich said: In my experience, the elements of the National Council of Resistance of Iran who are still inside Iran  and there are thousands of people who are obviously highly quiet about this otherwise they would be picked up by the secret police and killed  but they have been the best source of information on the nuclear program consistently, and have found things when the CIA has been telling us they didnt exist.
In an annotated address by Gingrich to the Organization of Iranian American Communities (OAIC) on U.S. Policy toward Iran Friday, Oct. 20, 2017, be began by saying, This is a very interesting time. The presidents UN speech of Sep. 20, 2017, to the United Nations and his Iran strategy speech of Oct. 13 in Washington and that of mine of Oct. 20. The presidents address concerned refraining from re-certifying Irans compliance with terms of the July 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the Permanent Members of the Security Germany with Iran.

Gingrich claimed that the presidents address followed the right path, that Trump didnt break out of the agreement, but communicated it was not viable. He said that Trump reminded us the accord is not just about nuclear weapons. Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 was written in such a way that decertification was a national interest consideration, however, it is not the only consideration. According to Gingrich, it is prudent to refrain from leaving the agreement now, but it is time to say it should be revisited, rethought, and may well be renegotiated.

Gingrich outlined his position in FoxNews.com and a newsletter during the week beginning Oct. 8, which is titled, Death to America. He claims that this debate is not only about Irans nuclear program, but is also about ending a dictatorship by the Iranian people, not by an outside invasion.

The Iranian regime is ultimately a mortal danger to the United States to the Iranian people in 1988, and to the world, Gingrich said.

In 1988, Tehran assassinated 30,000 political prisoners, most of whom were pro-democracy members of the Peoples Mujahedeen of Iran (PMOI), Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK), which is now the largest unit within the National Council for Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI-US) published a manuscript that examines vital factors and trends, including the overwhelming and accelerating influence, especially since 2005, of the Supreme Leader and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This study, is called IRAN: The Rise of the Revolutionary Guards Financial Empire: How the Supreme Leader and the IRGC Rob the People to Fund International Terror. It shows how ownership of property in various spheres of the economy is gradually shifted from the population towards a minority ruling elite comprised of the Supreme Leaders office and the IRGC, using 14 powerhouses.

Gingrich referred to the Iranian regimes operations in Washington, saying, I also think that we must look at  and this is a real sea change  Ive been actively involved in this, including involvement in trying to defend the good name of the National Council of Resistance of Iran and the MEK all the way back to when I was Speaker. Because basically the Iranian dictatorship ran a false flag operation to set up a totally phony designation the State Department and bureaucracy accepted.

The term false flag terrorism refers to what occurs when elements within a government stage a secret operation designed to deceive the public in such a way that the operations appear to be an attack carried out by other entities. The attack is then falsely blamed on that entity.

Although the resistance was trying to tell us the truth about the dictatorship, for a long period of time we were unwilling to listen, because the dictatorship spread untruths about the resistance. However, weve gradually worked our way back, according to Gingrich.

I do believe that in fact the NCRI has a tremendous potential, and I also want to say that I believe that Mrs. [Maryam] Rajavi has done an amazing job of leading an organization through a very long, very difficult period. And I would hope that at some point in the future that she would be given an invitation to officially visit the United States, and have a chance both to meet with American leaders in Washington, but also to go around the country. She is one of the examples of a symbol of resistance to the dictatorship that would have a huge impact across the whole country and would also send an important signal to Europe about the way in which our policies are moving, said Gingrich.
Religious differences are not the focus of this struggle  rather this is a geopolitical power struggle for control of Iraq, Syria and Kurdistan, and for expanding diplomatic and strategic reach throughout the region.

Peter Van Buren, 24-year U.S. State Department veteran and author writes in his article published by Japan Times that, Iran is lined up to be the big winner in Syria. Islamic States defeat will significantly lessen Sunni influence, and Tehrans role as Syrian President Bashar Assads protector will only increase now that it appears Assad will remain in control of some portion of the country. Iran will have pieced together a land corridor to the Mediterranean.

He says that the Saudis will be left with little influence, as will the US. He adds, American efforts may wind up as little more than fumbling around to keep Israel and Jordan from overreacting to the increased Iranian influence on their borders.

As for Saudi Arabia, he says, Riyadh appears to be pivoting toward warmer relations with the Shiite government in Baghdad. That a Saudi airline is announcing the first return of direct service between the two countries since Iraq President Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990 is no coincidence, nor is it an isolated event.

Still, the Saudis have little to offer Iraq in comparison to Iran. Tehrans ties to officials in Baghdad include Iranian money that continues to support Iraq, and the Shiite militias are still mostly under Iranian influence, according to Van Buren.

However, power struggles create flash points, he says, and the Saudi-Iranian fight post-Islamic State is no exception. The Saudi-Iranian proxy war in Yemen has settled into a version of World War I-style trench warfare, with neither side strong enough to win nor weak enough to lose. In an ugly form of stasis, the conflict seems likely to stay within its present borders.

He calls Kurdistan the powder keg. After the Kurds voted for independence in a September 25th referendum, Iran and the Iranian-backed government in Baghdad made it clear that an actual Kurdish nation will not be tolerated. Van Buren writes, With Islamic State nearly defeated and combat-tested Shiite militias ready for their next tasks, Tehran and Baghdad no longer need to keep the Kurds on their side. Fighting has already broken out around Kirkuk, an oil-rich city in Iraqi Kurdistan, between forces supported by Baghdad/Tehran and Kurdish fighters  leaving a gap for the Saudis to offer financial or covert support to the Iraqi Kurds.

Van Buren believes that Saudi involvement could turn an Iraqi civil war into a new struggle on Irans western border, and cause further unrest from its Kurdish minority inside Iran.

He says further, that the changing balance of power in the Middle East may leave out the U.S. because Washingtons influence in Baghdad is limited, and US relations with Iran are in a shambles under the Trump administration. As well, American troops are unlikely to battle Iranian-led militias in support of the Kurdish independence that Washington says it doesnt support.

Van Buren say that the now U.S. has few options, other than supporting the Saudis in whatever anti-Iranian meddling they do in Iraq.
US President Trumps administration has taken a tougher line with Iran, threatening to tear up an international accord on its nuclear program. However, according to Tillerson, the United States would not block legitimate business activities with Iran by India or any other ally.

What US actions plan to limit, is Irans destabilizing activities in the Middle East, such as its ballistic missile development, their export of arms to terrorist organizations and Irans involvement in conflicts in Syria and Yemen, claimed Tillerson. Our fight is not with the Iranian people. Our disagreements are with the revolutionary regime. He added, We are taking actions to impose sanctions on the regime and in particular the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. It is our objective to deny financing capacity and to disrupt the activities related to these malign behaviours.

Tillerson clarified that the United States desires to give support for modern voices inside of Iran in a bid to bring about an eventual change of government. We know there are strong feelings and values inside of Iran that we want to promote in terms of one day the Iranian people being able to retake control of their government. They live under this repressive revolutionary regime and we do not want to harm the Iranian people. Our fight is not with the Iranian people, he said.

Tillerson responded to questions regarding Indias Indias planned investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in the Iranian port of Chabahar, a deal made in 2016 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tehran. The port is located in southeastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman. It serves as Irans only oceanic port, and expands a trade route for landlocked countries in central Asia that bypasses Pakistan, Indias arch-rival.

Tillerson said he saw no contradiction in the US call for sanctions and Indias deal in Chabahar, and Washington did not aim to interfere with legitimate business activities that are going on with other businesses whether they be from Europe (or) India.

The United States supports Indias emergence as a leading power and will continue to contribute to Indian capabilities to provide security throughout the region, Mr Tillerson told the news conference.
These four bills will target Irans ballistic missile program, put pressure on Europe to designate Hizbollah as a terrorist organization as well as impose sanctions on the group, if passed.

The first bill is called the Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act, and is sponsored by Ed Royce, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. This bill has bipartisan support.

An expert on Iran at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank, Amir Toumaj, said that the resolution is meant to tighten sanctions on [the] IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) missile programme and disruption of procurement.

The US treasury department designated Irans Revolutionary Guard as a supporter of terrorism on October 13th, shortly after Trumps announcement that he was decertifying the nuclear deal.

Mr Toumaj added that the resolution, specifically seeks to prevent Iran from undertaking any activity related to nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.

The House will next vote on three bills related to Hizbollah sanctions. The first bill is the Sanctioning Hizbollahs Illicit Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act. The second, which is the most critical, is the Hizbollah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act (HIFPA), which targets the groups financial and social network. The third bill is a non-binding resolution urging the European Union to designate Hizbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organization and increase pressure on it, and its members.

According to Mr Toumaj, these four pieces of legislation are expected to have bipartisan support and are not in violation of the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He said of the bills, they express US intent to curb non-nuclear activities, specifically ballistic missiles and Hizbollah  two arenas the Trump administration perceives as serious threats from Tehran.

Lebanese army chief General Joseph Aoun is set to visit Washington during the same time as the voting on these important bills. He will meet with US military commanders, as well as National Security Adviser HR McMaster.

The Lebanese government is concerned about repercussions from the Hizbollah sanctions on the countrys fragile economy. If passed, HIFPA will require the US president to release an annual estimate of the net worth of Hizbollah leaders and backers, including its secretary general Hassan Nasrallah and other backers.
In a effort to escape poverty and unemployment, Afghan men and boys as young as 14 sign up to fight on the promise of money and legal residency in Shiite-dominated Iran, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

HRW and ex-members who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the Afghans, including undocumented migrants living in Iran, have been joining the Teheran-backed Fatemiyoun division fighters in Syria Since 2013.

For me it was just about money, said a 25 year old former fighter. A member of the Hazara ethnic group who now lives in Kabul, he went to Syria twice in 2016 to fight in a conflict that has been raging for more than six years. He said, Whoever I saw was going for money and to have free entry to Iran. I never saw anyone fighting for religious reasons.

The withdrawal of US-led NATO combat troops at the end of 2014 drained the Afghan economy and left many people out of work, sending migrants into Iran in search of a better life. Last year, HRW estimated that Iran hosts around three million Afghans.

HRW says that Iranian recruiters target Shiites to fight in the ranks of Fatemiyoun soldiers, who fight alongside Syrian government forces.

I went there (Iran) because I was jobless and it was a way to get money for my family, said the 25 year old soldier. My idea was to find a job in Iran. I had no plan to go to fight in Syria but after a month of being jobless I decided to go. He added, They were encouraging us saying you will be a freedom fighter and if you return to Iran alive you can stay with a 10-year residence permit. But my main goal was to earn money.

He claimed that Afghan Shiites are given 1.5 million rial (S$59.40) to register at a recruitment centre for the Fatemiyoun. Once a recruit has signed up, they receive three million rial a month, which for many poor Afghans, seems like a fortune.

He was deployed to Aleppo in September, after receiving rudimentary weapons training from Irans Revolutionary Guards. In Aleppo we faced an ambush  out of 100 fighters we lost almost all of them. There were 15 of us left alive, he said. The bodies were sent back to Iran and the families in Afghanistan held funeral ceremonies in mosques without a coffin or grave.

A senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank, Ali Alfoneh, estimates that more than 760 Afghans have been killed in Syria since September 2013.

A soldier who fought in Syria in 2014, when he was just 17 years old, said there were not only Afghans in Fatemiyoun, There were also Pakistanis, Iraqis  all the Shiites, he said, We were mixed up with the Arabs, we didnt understand their language.

The Iranians refuse to provide accurate figures, according to HRW, who says that it estimates there are nearly 15,000 Afghans fighting for Fatemiyoun.

Ramazan Bashardost, a Hazara member of parliament in Kabul, stated, They are used by the Iranian government, which treats them like slaves, and added, The sorrow, pain and hunger of the people is not a major concern of the Afghan government.

In October, Afghanistans foreign ministry called on Iran to stop sending young Afghans to Syria, after the HRW report condemning the recruitment of minors was released.

However, preventing Afghans from volunteering will not be easy, as money and guaranteed residency in Iran will continue to lure recruits.


The United States is home to 562 federally recognized American Indian Nations, each with its own language.

Yet the number of Native Americans with the ability to speak their tribes language has decreased over the past century.

Now, Indian Nations are trying different ways to expand the number of native speakers, and increase interest in their communities to learn tribal languages.

Language in the United States

Since the late 1800s, many American Indian children have attended boarding schools. At the time, Indian children were required to attend schools by law, and the federal government forced Indian families to send their children to such schools.

The purpose of this requirement was to educate young people, as well as assimilate them in American ways of life.

The children were separated from their families, and given English names. As many boarding schools were operated by religious groups, the children were also taught Christianity.

One of the most lasting effects of these schools was language. The teachers often taught Native American students in English, instead of the language of their parents.

AnCita Benally serves as education program manager for the Navajo Nation. She says the boarding school students were told they needed to learn English in order to get a job, earn money and buy a house or nice things.

Benally says the effect of these schools has lasted for generations. When the boarding school generation started having children, they were only taught English. At the time, many people believed this made sense  for economic and other reasons. But a lot of Native Americans could no longer speak their tribal language well enough to pass it on to their children.

Today, even though tribal-run schools exist on their territory, most tribes report that their youngest members have trouble speaking traditional, tribal languages. Fearing a loss of history and culture, the Indian Nations are experimenting with new ways to increase the language ability and interest of tribal members.

Looking to Technology

At least one organization is turning to modern technology. The Sealaska Heritage Institute, a nonprofit group, has developed a podcast and two apps for speakers of the Tlingit language.

The Tlingit tribe has about 10,000 members. They live mainly in southeastern Alaska. But as of 2013, the tribe had only 125 native speakers left. This is low, considering that every other tribe in Alaska has a higher percentage of native speakers. In addition, very few young people are able to speak Tlingit.

All first language fluent speakers are over the age of 60, noted Katrina Hotch, Education Program Coordinator at Sealaska Heritage Institute. She added There are really advanced younger learners, but its still an urgent need.

Hotch said the apps and podcast were created so that schools could establish sensitive cultural and language environments for Tlingit students in their classrooms.

Currently, there are two apps, called Learning Tlingit, and Tlingit Language Games. The Learning Tlingit app serves as a language guide. It provides Tlingit words and expressions, the tribal alphabet, as well as a basic list of the words included.

With the Tlingit Language Games app, users are given a choice of different places or environments, like a house, forest or ocean. Users choose different images and hear the word for each object spoken. They can then take a simple test on the words they learned.

In addition, Hotch developed a podcast, which includes both audio and video images. Each program deals with a specific subject, such as Tlingit songs, numbers, terms, and how to say difficult letters in the language.

The voices used in the apps are all from native speakers. Hotch says the biggest problem facing learners of the language is getting access to Tlingit speakers.



Changes in the classroom

Along with using technology, some tribes are training teachers and developing goals in education in order to improve their language programs.

The Choctaw are an American Indian tribe native to the southeastern United States. Roseanna Thompson is the Choctaw language and cultural integration director for the tribes schools in Mississippi.

Thompson told VOA that about 75% of Choctaw Indians who are teenagers or older can speak the tribal language. But only 15% of Choctaw children have that ability.

Thompson said tribal leaders decided they wanted to create language classes for elementary school students. Those schools have now set up a Choctaw language program for students through 3rd grade. This is the first time they have offered Choctaw language classes for elementary students. They also offer speaking assessment and pre-assessment testing.

Before launching the classes, Thompson and other Choctaw teachers attended a training program in how to teach native languages. They then worked with other teachers to establish their own goals for language learning.

The program is trying to reproduce how tribal members used to learn Choctaw -- through speaking. Thompson said the students first learn about spoken interactions and exchanges, before they turn to writing and grammar rules. She felt that if they focus on grammar too early, it could slow down the learning process.

Similar to the struggles with Tlingit language, Thompson says, the biggest difficulty with teaching Choctaw is overcoming the language barrier that exists between the children, parents, grandparents, and the general public. She adds They may learn the language, but they cant use it anywhere else. It is hard on our children, as well.

Uniting with standards

Another Tribe working with educational standards are the Navajo Indians (also known as Dine), a tribe in the southwestern U.S.

The Navajo have the largest number of speakers of all the American Indian tribes -- with an estimated 166,826 speakers of Navajo (out of 286,731 Navajo members), according to the U.S government.

However, like most Indian tribes, many of the speakers are older adults. Few young people are learning the Navajo language. One recent study found that 53 percent of Navajo families speak only English at home.

AnCita Benally works for the Department of Dine Education, an office known as DoDE. It was part of a large project to establish standards for Navajo education. Benally says the DoDE used those rules to develop assessment tests for Navajo schools.

She warns that improving the standards for language teaching in schools is not enough. While many adult tribal members continue to speak Navajo, many younger members do not have that ability.

The situation is becoming such that they.will be depending on the school to teach their home language. But were telling them it really belongs in the home and is much easier to teach them at home, Benally said. The real step, she says, to increasing young speakers is to convince parents and grandparents that it is important to be speaking Navajo with their children or grandchildren.

Their language is in danger and its up to them to keep it from disappearing, Benally says.

Im Phil Dierking.

And Im Jill Robbins

Phil Dierking wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

access - n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone

alphabet - n. the letters of a language arranged in their usual order

app - n. a computer program that performs a special function

fluent - adj. able to speak a language easily and very well

assimilate - v. to fully become part of a different society, country, etc.

integration - n. the act or condition of combining (two or more things) to form or create something

assessment - n. the act of making a judgment about something

boarding (school) - adj. a type of school where students can live during the school term

curriculum - n. the courses that are taught by a school, college, etc.

episode - n. an event or a short period of time that is important or unusual

podcast - n. a program (such as a music or news program) that is like a radio or television show but that is downloaded over the Internet

convince - v. to cause (someone) to agree to do something

grammar - n. the set of rules that explain how words are used in a language
Americans are worried about new technology.

They are concerned that machines, including robots, will take over work now done by humans.

These findings come from a new report by the Pew Research Center of Washington D.C.

More inequality feared

About 75 percent of Americans questioned by Pew said automation will increase income inequality between the rich and the middle class and poor.

And 64 percent of people expect automation to be so common in America that people will face difficulty finding things to do with their lives.

Some of the concerns about technology come from a distrust about whether machines will always make the right decision. Pew said many Americans believe humans have better judgement in dealing with complex matters -- or when there is not one clear answer.

One example is selecting a person for a job. Three-quarters of Americans said they would not want to apply for a job that uses a computer program to choose the most qualified person.

Americans have similar doubts about riding in a car without a driver. The Pew Research Center found that 56 percent of Americans would not ride in a driverless car. Fifty-nine percent said they would not use a robot caregiver.

Government should step in

Most Americans want the government to limit automation.

For example, 87 percent support a requirement that all driverless vehicles have a human in the drivers seat who can take control when needed. And 85 percent want to limit machines to mostly doing jobs that are dangerous or unhealthy for humans.

About 33 percent of Americans believe that their own jobs are threatened by automation. About one in five said they knew someone whose hours were cut, or whose jobs were lost all together because of automation.

And only 25 percent expect more jobs to come from automation, Pew said.

Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook, spoke last May to graduating seniors from Harvard University in Massachusetts. His talk centered on the uncertain future facing young people.

Our generation will have to deal with tens of millions of jobs replaced by automation like self-driving cars and trucks, Zuckerberg told the graduates.

Zuckerberg said young people will have to find projects that will bring both jobs and direct benefits to the people of the world.

He said in his speech that 300,000 people worked to put a man on the moon, and millions of people built the Hoover Dam as well as other great projects over the last 100 years.

Zuckerberg also said, Now, its our turn to do great things. I know youre probably thinking, I dont know how to build a dam or get a million people involved in anything. But let me tell you a secret. No one does when they begin. Ideas dont come out fully formed. They only become clear as you work on them. You just have to get started.

Pew questioned over 4,000 people last May for its research on how Americans see automation.

I'm Bruce Alpert.

Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. Are you worried that robots and technology will take jobs away from you and your friends?

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

robot - n. a real or imaginary machine that is controlled by a computer and is often made to look like a human or animal

optimism - n. a feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future

automation - n. to run or operate something, such as a factory, by using machines and computers instead of people to do the work

qualified - adj. having the necessary skill, experience, or knowledge to do a particular job

insurance - n. an agreement in which a person makes regular payments to a company and the company promises to pay money if the person is injured or dies, or to pay money equal to the value of something, such as a house or car if it is damaged, lost, or stolen

generation - n. a group of people born and living during the same time


Iraqi Kurds offered on Wednesday to suspend the results of an independence vote and to start talks with the government in Baghdad.

However, an Iraqi military spokesman suggested that, regardless of talks, an offensive would continue to capture territory under Kurdish control.

The Iraqi central government declared the Kurdish referendum for independence illegal. It launched an offensive to seize the oil-producing area of Kirkuk. Kurdish forces had defeated Islamic State militants to take control of the area.

In a statement, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said, The fighting between the two sides will not produce a victory for any, it will take the country to total destruction.

The KRG proposed an immediate ceasefire and a suspension of the referendum result. In return, it called for starting an open dialogue with the federal government based on the Iraqi Constitution.

In a social media comment, an Iraqi military spokesman answered, Military operations are not connected to politics.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi did not react to the Kurdish proposal on Wednesday. He was on an official visit to neighboring Turkey and Iran, countries that are also against the Kurdish independence vote.

Earlier, the prime minister had said the KRG should cancel the votes result as a condition for talks to take place. He also ordered the Iraqi army to capture all disputed territory and demanded control of Iraqs border crossings with Turkey. All such crossings are inside the Kurdish autonomous area.

Fighting in strategic region

On Tuesday, Kurdish officials said their Peshmerga forces had stopped Iranian-supported militias near the border with Turkey and Syria.

The border area of Fish-Khabur is part of the Kurdish autonomous region. It is home to a pipeline for oil exports from northern Iraq to Turkey. Control of the area is important to any move toward Kurdish independence.

The fighting between the central Iraqi government and the Kurds presents a problem for the United States. The U.S. began providing military support and training to both sides after the war in Iraq and during the fight against Islamic State militants.

Im Caty Weaver.

Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on Reuters news reports. Mario Ritter was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

regardless adv. whether or not something else takes place, notwithstanding

referendum n. a popular vote on a single issue or question

dialogue n. talks, a series of discussions meant to end a disagreement

autonomous adj. having powers of self-rule
By Gaurav C Sawant: Hope soared for the families of 39 Indians missing in Iraq since June 2014. Gen VK Singh, minister of state for external affairs, reached Baghdad on a special mission to pursue leads that could not be explored earlier due to fighting in and around Mosul last time.

"I was here earlier too but that time we could not go to Mosul because of fighting in parts of Mosul and around Badush. This time, we intend to travel to where ever we may get some leads and positive information either way in the case," he told Mail Today.

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Gen Singh has meetings scheduled with several Iraq government officials, including the country's national security advisor and army chief.

He is also slated to meet representatives of non government organisations and UN to pursue certain leads gathered earlier.

"I will travel to Mosul and Badush. The last concrete input we had from the NSA of Iraq was that the 39 Indians were in the Badush prison. This input came in 2016. We have no update," he said.

After Iraqi forces took control of Mosul, they took some Islamic State fighters into custody.

"Some of them have been interrogated and we should have some details based on their interrogation report," he added.

The situation in parts of Iraq remains volatile but Gen Singh insists travelling to Mosul and Badush is important. "There should be some clarity on ground in the next 24 hours. The road to Mosul means a seven-eight-hour journey over parts that may not be very safe, but it needs to be done to get some direction positively," he said.

Gen VK Singh is also carrying DNA samples of some of the relatives. "The Iraqi government sought the DNA samples for their own investigation and records. It is required for positive identification," Singh added.

The Iraqi authorities have offered to pursue all leads possible. There are several pieces of the puzzle on the table.

The aim of this exercise is to piece them together and then approach the families of the missing Indians either with positive inputs or to seek a closure. The next 72 hours could hold the key as the General plans his next move to Mosul and Badush.

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Ecopetrol S.A. operates as an integrated energy company. The company operates through four segments: Exploration and Production; Transport and Logistics; Refining, Petrochemical and Biofuels; and Electric Power Transmission and Toll Roads Concessions. It engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas; transportation of crude oil, motor fuels, fuel oil, and other refined products, including diesel, jet, and biofuels; processing and refining crude oil; distribution of natural gas and LPG; sale of refined and petrochemical products; supplying of electric power transmission services; design, development, construction, operation, and maintenance of road and energy infrastructure projects; and supplying of information technology and telecommunications services. As of December 31, 2021, the company had approximately 9,127 kilometers of crude oil and multi-purpose pipelines. It also produces and commercializes polypropylene resins and compounds, and masterbatches; and offers industrial service sales to customers and specialized management services. It has operations in Colombia, the United States, Asia, Central America and the Caribbean, Europe, South America, and internationally. The company was formerly known as Empresa Colombiana de Petroleos and changed its name to Ecopetrol S.A. in June 2003. Ecopetrol S.A. was incorporated in 1948 and is based in Bogota, Colombia.
Allergan plc, a pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, and commercializes branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical, and regenerative medicine products worldwide. The company operates in three segments: US Specialized Therapeutics, US General Medicine, and International. It offers a portfolio of products in various therapeutic areas, including medical aesthetics and dermatology, eye care, neuroscience, urology, gastrointestinal, women's health, and anti-infective therapeutic products. The company also offers breast implants and tissue expanders; and RM-131 (relamorelin), a peptide ghrelin agonist for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis. In addition, it develops medical and cosmetic treatments; therapies for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and other liver diseases; inhibitor for the treatment of psoriasis and other autoimmune disorders; atopic dermatitis drug candidate; peri-ocular rings for extended drug delivery and reducing elevated intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients; and treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Further, the company develops RST-001, a novel gene therapy for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa; small molecule therapeutics for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases; topical medicines for fat reduction; and delivery system and botulinum toxin-based prescription products. It has collaboration, option, and license agreement with Lyndra, Inc.; and strategic alliance and option agreement with Editas Medicine, Inc. Allergan plc also has licensing agreements with Assembly Biosciences, Inc.; MedImmune; and Heptares Therapeutics, Ltd. The company was formerly known as Actavis plc and changed its name to Allergan plc in June 2015. Allergan plc was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Hu Jintao, his predecessor, during the opening session of the 19th National Congress in Beijing on Oct. 18, 2017. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Camera Angles Show Whos Out of the Political Game at Chinas National Congress

What the public sees of Chinas most important political eventthe 19th National Congressis mostly a show. Elected delegates (in fact chosen by Party higher-ups) convene every five years to determine new leaderswhen the roster is actually pre-determined through back-door power plays.

But if you read between the lines, youll see clues to what is really going on.

On Oct. 18, the opening day of the congress, current Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who is expected to continue in his position for another five-year term, gave a speech in front of more than 2,000 delegates.

With party elders and other VIP officials on stage behind Xi, the occasion is a display of the Chinese Communist Partys unity behind the man in power.

But if you look closely at the CCTV (China Central Television, the state broadcaster) live broadcast of the speech, hidden messages abound, signifying the Partys infighting.

Right when Xi walks into the venue, Beijings Great Hall of the People, the camera shows former CCP leaders Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, and others trailing behind them. But Jiangs face is repeatedly obscured by Xi walking in frontin contrast with Hu, who walks out later but can be seen in full view.

Xi and Jiang are in a bitter power struggle. Xi has spent the past five years since he took power purging Jiang loyalists who still hold influence in the Party. Through Xis campaign to investigate corrupt officials, many Jiang faction officials have been purged.

China current affairs analyst Ji Da said it is common for the CCPs mouthpiece media to convey subtle messages via camera shots. Per party convention, Jiang was invited to the congress as a former leader, but he gets slighted on-screen several times, effectively given the cold shoulder treatment, Ji said.

As Xi begins his speech, the camera occasionally pans to Jiang, who can be seen examining a personal notebooknot the copy of Xis progress reportusing a massive magnifying glass.

Off camera, journalists from outside China report that Jiang repeatedly checked his watch, appearing disinterested and dozing off several times.

When Xi gets to a section of his speech about fighting corruption, emphasizing a zero tolerance approach toward those in the party who engage in bribery, the camera cut to Jiang.

Later, when Xi starts a sentence with what the people and the masses oppose, what they abhor, the camera once again goes to a close-up of Jiang.

The underlying meaning is all too clear for Chinese viewers.

When Xi finishes his speech, Jiang gets snubbed one more time. Xi first turns to Hu to shake hands with him. The camera lingers on the scene.

Xi then turns to where Jiang is sitting, but the camera only shows a view of Xi extending his arms toward Jiangs seat, with Jiang completely obscured by a cameraman on the side.

In the next shot, Xi and Hu are chatting and smiling, signaling that they are on the same team. Pointedly, there are no shots of Xi interacting with Jiang.

Based on what the silent message appears to be, Xi and Jiang are still at war.

Lou Ya and Xu Menger contributed to this report.
Paramedics assist a man after administering the opioid-blocker Narcan to revive him from an overdose in Montgomery County, Ohio, on Aug. 3, 2017. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

White House to Tackle Americas Mounting Opioid Addiction

More treatment options, prevention programs, and cutting off supply routes should begin to turn the tide

WASHINGTONFor many people, all it takes is a few painkillers, often obtained through a friend or family member.

Americas opioid crisis is built on prescription pills80 percent of new heroin users start their habit this way. Once hooked, the addict typically exhausts all options to obtain more prescription pills, until heroin, then fentanyl, becomes the cheaper, more accessible option.

In 2016, more than 64,000 Americans died of an accidental drug overdose, now the leading cause of death for those under the age of 50. Powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl are driving overdose rates so high that the death toll for 2017 is on track to eclipse 2016 by another half in some areas. Still, in 2015, nearly half of all opioid overdose deaths involved a prescription opioid, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

President Donald Trump is set to declare the opioid crisis a national emergencythe equivalent to the designation a state may get during a natural disaster. National emergency status will free up funding and give agencies authority to shift resources to hone in on combating the crisis.

Sheriff Phil Plummer of Montgomery County, Ohio, said its a welcome move, albeit a long time coming.

Plummer has been calling for help for four yearshis county, population 532,000, has been hit hard by the opioid crisis and has a higher number of overdoses per capita than any other county in the nation.

His deputies have been responding to an average of 10 overdoses a day for most of the year.

So far this year, the county has had 517 overdose deaths, according to the Montgomery County Coroners Office (as of Oct. 20). Seven years ago, there were 127.

The numbers are up again from last year, mostly due to a spike in fatal overdoses from the synthetic opioid fentanyl and its analogues.

Were glad the federal governments realized the problem and we just need to get on it, Plummer said on Oct. 23. The problem is getting worse every year, so its time it gets properly addressed.

He said additional resources are needed to fight the supply coming into the country, as well as treatment, prevention, and education.

Were all strapped for resources, so maybe theyll send us some.

In a somewhat hopeful turn of events, Plummer said overdoses in his county have halved in the last month.

Because theyre using a different drug of choice. I think they figured out heroin and fentanyl are killing them, so theyre migrating toward methamphetamines and crack cocaine again, he said. Which is goodtheyre not dying as quick, so we have more time to get them into treatment.

Plummer said addicts dont often overdose on methamphetamines.

They just get sores and lose their teeth, and its kind of a slower death process, he said. That instant death [with heroin and fentanyl], thats the problem. Now weve got time to get them into treatment, get them fixed up.

Fentanyl, originally developed as a painkiller and an anesthetic, is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine. Two milligrams of fentanyl is a lethal dose for a non-opioid user.

Carfentanil is less common but much more deadly; it is used as an elephant tranquilizer and is 10,000 times more powerful than morphine, according to the DEA. Even a few specks of airborne powder can be fatal.

Fentanyl is being produced clandestinely in Mexico and China, according to the DEA. Mexican heroin accounted for 79 percent of the total weight of heroin analyzed by the DEA in 2014.

Dayton, the county seat of Montgomery, has become a drug trafficking hub due to its proximity to major interstates going both north-south and east-west. Plummer said the drugs now come up directly from Mexico. Or they are sent directly through the postal system, ordered online.

Factories in China

The Justice Department announced on Oct. 17 its first ever indictments against two Chinese manufacturers of fentanyl and other opiate substances.

[They] have been using the internet to sell fentanyl and fentanyl analogues to drug traffickers and individual customers in the United States, said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in a statement.

In the first case, over a period of at least six years, Xiaobing Yan operated websites advertising and selling acetyl fentanyl and other deadly fentanyl analogues directly to U.S. customers in multiple cities across the country, according to the DOJ.

Yan operated at least two chemical plants in China that were capable of producing ton quantities of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, Rosenstein said. Yan monitored legislation and law enforcement activities in the United States and China, modifying the chemical structure of the fentanyl analogues he produced to evade prosecution in the United States.

The second case was traced back to Jian Zhang in China, who manufactured fentanyl in at least four labs in China and sold it to customers in the United States using the darkweb and the crypto-currency bitcoin.

Zhangs organization would send orders of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, and pill presses, stamps, and dies used to shape fentanyl into pills, to customers in the United States through the mail or international parcel delivery services, Rosenstein said. Zhang sent many thousands of these packages since January 2013.

Rosenstein said fentanyl is sold in many forms in the United Statesall of which are deadly.

It can be purchased as pure fentanyl; fentanyl mixed with heroin, cocaine, or even marijuana; and fentanyl pressed into pill form and falsely sold as prescription opioids. Users often have no idea that they are ingesting fentanyl until it is too late, he said.

Opioid Commission

On March 29, Trump announced the formation of the Presidents Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, led by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

The commission published an interim report on July 31 and said the national emergency declaration is its first and most urgent recommendation.

Your declaration would empower your cabinet to take bold steps and would force Congress to focus on funding and empowering the Executive Branch even further to deal with this loss of life, the report states.

The report also includes recommendations to rapidly increase treatment capacity through waivers within the Medicaid program; increase funding for medication-assisted treatment; fund fentanyl detection capabilities within the U.S. Postal Service; enhance interstate data sharing; and provide pain management training for medical staff.

We have an enormous problem that is often not beginning on street corners; it is starting in doctors offices and hospitals in every state in our nation, the report states.

The commission said that only 10 percent of the nearly 21 million citizens with a substance use disorder receive any type of specialty treatment; and although more than 40 percent of people with a substance use disorder also have a mental health problem, less than half receive treatment for either issue.

The reasons for these treatment gaps are many, including lack of access to care, fear of shame and discrimination, and lack of motivation to seek treatment, the report says.

Expanding Treatment

Treatment centers are popping up all over the place, Plummer said, but there is no standard of care.

I know there is no one-size-fits-all model, but theres got to be a standard of care, instead of people just popping up treatment shots and chasing Medicaid dollars, he said.

We need a serious medical evaluation to see what works. How long does it take to detox somebody? How long does it take to get their brains clean and back to normal?

Plummer said a lot of people in his community are upset that his deputies use the opioid-blocker Narcan to revive addicts when they overdose.

Theyre like, This is a waste of tax dollars. If they want to be addicts, thats their problem, Plummer said. Our approach is, they are human beings, this is an addiction, and we are going to do the best we can to get them into treatment, to keep them alive.

He said there is a real stigma that the addict created the problem and they should have to deal with it on their own.

I tell those people, What if its your daughter? You want us to help your daughter? Plummer said.

Success stories are few and far between.

It is a terrible addiction. People are relapsing six, seven, eight times, he said. And when people go to treatment and they get out and they go back into the same environmentwhere everybody is doing heroinits tough for them to change.

Plummers department has several initiatives that focus on treatment. Deputies, faith-based volunteers, and other volunteers will go to the home of an addict who has overdosed and required Narcan to be revived.

We go out in your neighborhood, knock on your door, and we educate your family on the dangers of the stuff and what kind of resources are out there for treatment, he said.

Since 2013, the department has had its Front Door program, in which a deputy would go to pick up the addict.

We had agreements with treatment centers, so we would drive them right to the treatment center, no questions asked, start the treatment, and we would figure out how to pay for it later, Plummer said.

Realize this [opioids] changes the chemistry of your brainyoure not the same person. We have to get you dried out, get your brain back to normal. Then we have to find out what the underlying problems were that forced you into addiction.

You cant arrest all of them. That isnt going to fix anything. We have been arresting people for years and the problem is worse.

In 2016, Congress passed legislation to improve access for opioid addiction treatment, including authorizing $1 billion for the states to provide increased access to treatment and overdose prevention. The first $500 million was appropriated in 2016, and Trumps fiscal year 2018 budget includes a request for the second $500 million.

Law Enforcement

On the law enforcement side, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced in August the formation of a unit that will investigate the overprescribing of opioids within the health care system.

He also said that $58.8 million has been earmarked to strengthen drug court programs and to help public health agencies address prescription drug and opioid abuse.

Combatting this poison is a top priority for President Trump and his administration, and you can be sure that we are taking action to address it, Sessions said on Sept. 22.

Sessions said around $24 million will be awarded to 50 cities, counties, and public health departments to create comprehensive diversion and alternatives to incarceration programs for those impacted by the opioid epidemic.

An additional $3.1 million will be awarded by the National Institute of Justice for research and evaluation on drugs and crime. The research priorities are heroin and other opioids and synthetic drugs.

Another $22.2 million will go toward treatment for veterans and $9.5 million toward juvenile programs.



What Does a National Emergency Mean?

The National Emergencies Act of 1976 authorizes the president to declare a national emergency in the event that the nation is threatened by crisis, exigency, or emergency circumstances (other than natural disasters, war, or near-war situations).



Declaring a long-term problem such as the opioid crisis a national emergency sets a new precedent. Modern public health emergency declarations typically focus on rapidly spreading infectious diseases such as the West Nile virus (2002), severe acute respiratory syndrome (2003), H1N1 influenza (2009), Ebola virus (2014), and Zika virus (2016), according to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Emergency declarations terminate automatically after one year unless the president formally continues them for another year. The declarations can be terminated earlier by either the president or Congress.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is likely to file a 50-page chargesheet against Islamic preacher Zakir Naik in its special court in Mumbai on Thursday.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is likely to file a 50-page chargesheet against Islamic preacher Zakir Naik in its special court in Mumbai on Thursday.

The 50-page chargesheet also names Naik's two firms Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and Harmony Media Private Ltd. Naik, who left the country early in 2016, is charged with indulging in unlawful activities, promoting hatred between religions, deliberately indulging in malicious acts, insulting religion to disturb communal harmony and diverting money for anti-India activity and influencing youth in hateful activity through provocative speeches.

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Besides mountain of evidence, NIA chargesheet includes 85 statements made under Section 161 in the Code Of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which are witness statements taken by its sleuths. But, the most indicting are 8 statements made under Section 164 of CrPC, which includes Naik's sister Nailah Noorani, who has confessed that her brother was using her as tool in a company set up by him. The other damaging evidence is Amir Gazdar, a close aide of the controversial Islamic preacher.

It is learnt that NIA has booked Naik under Sections of 120-B for waging war against the nation, 295-A for deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings, 298. Utterances (speeches) with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person 10,13,18 of Sections 10,13 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The law finally closing in on the controversial religious preacher-cum-televangelist. Interpol was approached by NIA against Naik after a year- long probe during which the NIA gathered evidence on his IRF and Peace TV channel. IRF was eventually banned, while the Central government took Peace TV channel off air.

Naik's passport was revoked by the Ministry of External Affairs at the request of the NIA earlier this year. The NIA had thrice issued notices under the Code of Criminal Procedure Section 160 to Naik, asking him to join the investigation, but he did not appear before it.

The NIA had on November 18, 2016, registered a case against Naik at its Mumbai branch under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. His Mumbai-based NGO, Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), has already been declared an unlawful association by the Union Home Ministry.

Naik is said to have acquired citizenship of Saudi Arabia, but this has not been confirmed yet. The chargesheet has come nearly a year after MHA cracked down on Naik's organisation IRF banning it and with NIA slapping an FIR against Naik.

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Using advanced machine learning, a cross disciplinary team of University of California San Diego researchers developed technology that mined Twitter to identify entities illegally selling prescription opioids online.

Between June and November 2015, some 619,937 tweets containing the keywords codeine, Percocet, fentanyl, Vicodin, Oxycontin, oxycodone and hydrocodone were collected. The findings, published online in the American Journal of Public Health in October, detected 1,778 posts that were marketing the sale of controlled substances, 90 percent included hyperlinks to online sites for purchase.

"An unhealthy use of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs continues to rise in the United States. Public policy and law enforcement efforts are trying to address this crisis, but closer attention to the potential negative influence of digital technologies is needed," said Tim K. Mackey, PhD, UC San Diego School of Medicine associate professor of anesthesiology and global public health and first author. "Our study demonstrates the utility of a technology to aid in these efforts that searches social media for behavior that poses a public threat, such as the illegal sale of controlled substances."

Mackey and researchers with UC San Diego School of Medicine and Jacobs School of Engineering used a three-step process that involved cloud-based computing to collect large volumes of tweets filtered by keywords, machine learning to isolate tweets related to the marketing of opioids, and web forensic examination to analyze posts that included hyperlinks to external websites.

During the five-month study period, less than 1 percent of tweets mentioning opioids were marketing prescription opioids, and only 46 of the hyperlinks included in those tweets were still live when the team analyzed the data eight months later. However, if the technology were used for active surveillance the data could be used to find more live links and could also be used for surveillance and detection of other health-related illegal online activities, said Mackey.

The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act prohibits the sale and marketing of controlled substances directly to consumers online. It was passed in 2008 after 18-year-old Ryan Haight of San Diego died after purchasing Vicodin online.

"This technology could help improve enforcement of the Ryan Haight Act," said Mackey. "In addition, social media providers can use it to find or prohibit content that is illegal or violates laws to ensure consumers have a safer experience online."

Forensics researchers connected marketing on Twitter to blogs, other social media platforms, user forms, online classified ads and websites. The majority of sites had foreign addresses, with many linked to Pakistana country recently identified as a source and exporter of fake, counterfeit and falsified medications, said Mackey.

"The online sale of controlled substances is directly prohibited by federal law. However, social media appears to act as a conduit for increased risk to substance abuse behavior," said Mackey.

More information: Tim K. Mackey et al, Machine Learning to Detect Prescription Opioid Abuse Promotion and Access via Twitter, American Journal of Public Health (2017). Journal information: American Journal of Public Health Tim K. Mackey et al, Machine Learning to Detect Prescription Opioid Abuse Promotion and Access via Twitter,(2017). DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.303994
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Physicians and other health care providers who received "gifts" from pharmaceutical companies were much more likely to prescribe a higher number of drugs per patient, including more costly prescriptions for branded medicines, compared to prescriptions written by medical providers who did not accept gifts, according to research published in PLOS ONE.

Gifts of any size had an effect on prescribing, and larger gifts elicited a larger impact, according to study findings. These gifts varied in value from as little as $7 a year (i.e. a dozen doughnuts), to as much as $200,000 in cash, say researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) and George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. Their study was funded by the District of Columbia Department of Health.

The deep dive into pharmaceutical gift spending and Medicare Part D prescriber reports filed for 2013 for the Washington D.C. area found that almost 40 percent of these providers accepted $3.9 million worth of money, meals, trips, and other gifts. (Medicare Part D is a federal prescription drug program that covers patients over age 65 or who are disabled.)

There are no national laws that prohibit the acceptance of gifts or payments from industry by healthcare providers, but that should be changed in order to protect patient health, says study investigator Adriane Fugh-Berman MD, professor in the department of pharmacology and physiology at GUMC.

"Every slice of pizza given to a physician compromises patient health," adds Fugh-Berman, director of PharmedOut, a research and education project that examines pharmaceutical industry marketing and supports evidence-based, cost-effective prescribing.

"Industry gifts influence prescribing behavior, cost taxpayers money and should be banned," she says. "Our finding that gifts from pharmaceutical companies result in more prescriptions per patient is particularly concerning, because the more medications a patient takes, the higher the risk of adverse effects," says Susan F. Wood, PhD, professor in the department of health policy and management and director of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health at George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health.Fugh-Berman and Wood are the study's co-senior authors.

While previous research has raised the issue of influence of pharmaceutical gifts on physician care, this study is unique in that it looks not only at doctors, but at other providers of medical care including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, podiatrists and others who reported prescribing medicine using Medicare Part D.

A further strength of the study is the inclusion of data from a Washington D.C. Department of Health program (DC AccessRx) that requires pharmaceutical companies to report gifts to D.C. providers. The federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments (OP) program also lists gift payments, but only to physicians and teaching hospitals.

Using these two databases, the researchers matched gifts with provider information using the CMS 2013 Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data. In this way, they uncovered links between prescribing history and gift taking in 2,873 providers in D.C. during 2013.

Among the findings are:

Gift recipients prescribed an average of 892 claims each, more than twice as many as the 389 claims per prescriber for non-gift recipients;

Compared to non-gift recipients, gift recipients prescribed 7.8 percent more branded drugs;

Physicians who received small gifts (less than $500 annually) had more expensive claims ($114 vs. $85) and more branded claims (30.3 percent vs. 25.7 percent) than physicians who received no gifts; and

Physicians receiving large gifts (greater than $500 annually) had the highest average costs per claim ($189) and branded claims (39.9 percent) than other groups.

"This study clearly shows that even small gifts change the practice of medicine," says Fugh-Berman. "Gifts, no matter their size, have a powerful effect on human relationships, and pharmaceutical companies are well aware of that."
French drugmaker Sanofi said it is suing a US pharmaceuticals company for allegedly infringing the patent on its key insulin treatment as sales of its diabetes drugs are falling.

Sanofi's Lantus insulin drug, a major source of revenue for the French group, is no longer being reimbursed by several top US health insurance companies which have switched to a cheaper competitor.

That pushed sales of the French group's diabetes treatments down by 12 percent in the second quarter.

Sanofi said in a statement late Tuesday that it is suing US-based Mylan for alleged infringement of 18 patents covering the Lantus and the insulin pen SoloStar.

The suit was triggered after Mylan filed a new drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for insulin glargine pre-filled pen and vial drug products, Sanofi said.

Sanofi has already filed two similar patent infringement suits concerning Lantus against US drug giant Merck.

And in 2014, Sanofi also took another US company Eli Lilly over Lantus but the two sides reached an amicable settlement.

 2017 AFP
New York state is banning electronic cigarettes indoors, according to a report by USA Today.

E-cigarettes will be blocked everywhere that traditional tobacco cigarettes are prohibited, such as restaurants, bars, and other workplaces, stated the report.

The ban will come into effect next month, and is part of the Clean Indoor Air Act.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said electronic cigarettes are marketed as a healthier alternative to cigarettes, but the reality is they also carry long-term risks to the health of users and those around them.

This measure closes another dangerous loophole in the law.

The report stated that around 70% of the states cities already ban e-cigarettes.

Now read: Razer unveils new camera and microphone for streamers
YEREVAN.  Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pretends to be friendly outside his land; but when he sets foot on his land, he becomes an aggressor.

Vahram Baghdasaryan, head of the National Assembly faction of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, told the aforementioned to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

After the recent meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Geneva, Switzerland, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan announced that he had observed an interest on Aliyevs part with respect to reducing tension at the border. But immediately after that statement, the Armenian side suffered a casualty at the border.

This isnt the first case that they [the Azerbaijanis] are unpredictable and in anxiety, said Baghdasaryan. He [Aliyev] doesnt enjoy the trust of his people. And those trends, which when arrangement is made outside [Azerbaijan] but he becomes a beast and aggressor inside, are nothing new.

The Armenian MP added that the only solution is increasing economy, and, accordingly, strengthening defense.
Anwar Gargash: UAE has no interest in choosing sides between great powers

Ukraine suspends oil pumping through Druzhba pipeline towards Hungary

Germany urgently needs gas turbines to stabilize power grids

Polish media report on fall of two missiles on country's territory

Economic downturn worsens in eastern EU due to a spike in inflation

U.S. believes that meeting between Biden and Jinping was strong signal to rest of world

Karabakh MFA welcomes resolution adopted by French Senate

Italy bans facial recognition technology and smart glasses

Germany to establish maintenance center in Slovakia for weapons supplied to Ukraine

Energy Ministry: Russia carried out most massive shooting of Ukraine's energy system since war starts

French Senate passes resolution calling for sanctions against Azerbaijan

Rishi Sunak hints that he will abandon plans to declare China 'threat' to national security

EU supports any call to phase out fossil fuel use

Secretary of Security Council of Armenia receives delegation of EU special envoys, member states

Armenian President Vahagn Khachatryan receives newly appointed ambassador of Cyprus

Zelenskyy's adviser: The situation after Russian shelling is critical

Newly appointed ambassador of Cyprus visits Armenian Genocide memorial

Borrell: EU countries must work together to replenish their military stocks

French Senator: Are the lives of Armenians worth less than the lives of Ukrainians?

Turkey plans to strike targets in northern Syria

Emergency power outages in Kyiv due to explosions

Lavrov calls Zelenskyy's speech at G20 summit performance beyond all regulations and decency

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince embarks on Asian tour

Ukrainian media report missile strikes in number of areas

Chinese 50-year-old man runs marathon smoking

Pashinyan receives delegation of EU special envoys, EU member states on Eastern Partnership

Bloomberg: Paris overtakes London to become Europe's largest stock market

Anti-Iranian rally held in Baku

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: Pashinyan's approaches and wordings do not contribute to solving urgent problems

Borrell announces appearance of EU rapid reaction force in 2023

Norwegian Defense Minister pledges $30 million to NATO fund for Ukraine

Italy auctioned biggest truffle for record 184 thousand euros

Serviceman kills fellow soldier in Armenia

Kyodo: 67-year-old Japanese princess diagnosed with breast cancer

Mehriban Aliyeva hurriedly gives up her role of UNESCO 'Goodwill Ambassador' before French Senate meeting

Jeff Bezos says he's ready to give away most of his fortune

Britain to allocate $11.8m to rebuild Ukraine's energy infrastructure

Peskov: Kyiv cannot and doesn't want to negotiate, SVO will continue

Turkey detains another suspect in planning terrorist attack in Istanbul

Tasnim: Iranian authorities released 38 protesters in southeast

Terrorist attack: Number of detainees in Istanbul grows to 50

Armenian FM presents to Europeans consequences of September Azerbaijani aggression

Biden and Erdogan back extension of grain deal

Macron and Erdogan meet on G20 margins

UN: Earth's population is 8 billion people

Indian PM urges G20 countries to find peaceful solution to Ukraine

Minimum wage to rise in Armenia

Ministry: Air pollution level in Armenia up by 30-40% over the past five years

Erdogan and Biden hold talks in Bali

Media: Macron asks Xi Jinping to 'pressure' Putin to return to negotiations

UN: Armenia's population will decrease by 2050

Zelenskyy states that only realistic model of POW exchange is all for all

Ameriabank launches Google Pay, Google Wallet support for card users in Armenia

Argentine President Fernandez feels ill at G20 summit

Ruben Vardanyan receives head of ICRC mission: We must ensure a peaceful childhood for children living in Artsakh

Copper rises in price

Newspaper: Armenian Prime Minister wants to hold referendum on constitutional amendments in spring

Ardshinbank showcases the Google Pay for Android fans in Armenia

Zelenskyy calls not to offer Ukraine compromise with territory and independence

Secretary of State: U.S. stands ready to continue support for Karabakh settlement

Google Pay is a new contactless payment option for Converse Bank customers

French Senate to consider resolution on sanctions against Azerbaijan

Zelenskyy addresses G20 leaders: It's time to stop Russia's war

Karen Vardanyan donated 112 million drams for the medical equipment for National Center for Infectious Diseases

Another four-day parliamentary session begins in Yerevan

Gold declines in value

World oil prices go down

Plans to build 'death pyramid' in London that will hold millions of bodies

Armenian and Georgian Foreign Ministries hold consultations in Tbilisi

Azerbaijani and Iranian FMs hold phone conversation

Steve Jobs' sandals sold for more than $200,000

Armenian PM accuses Azerbaijani leader of terrorizing Armenian civilians

Azerbaijan shells Armenian positions on border again

OPEC downgrades its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2022

White House: Biden and Xi Jinping agree on Blinken's visit to China

CNN: CIA chief Burns meets with SVR director Naryshkin in Ankara

Turkish FM Cavusoglu thanks Ararat Mirzoyan for condolences

Putin signs decree allowing stateless persons to serve in Russian army

Airbus CEO: There is no question of them breaking off trade ties

Armen Grigoryan receives Igor Khovayev

Britain and France sign agreement on strengthening cooperation on illegal migration

US updates its sanctions list for Russia: Milur Electronics LLC, an Armenian company listed

Potatoes prices grow by 20%: expert claims agriculture collapse in Armenia

Peskov says Russian-American talks in Ankara initiated by Washington

Morgan Stanley: UK and euro zone economies are likely to face recession

Xi Jinping hopes for comprehensive dialogue between NATO, the EU and the US and Russia

Japan proposes to deploy Australian nuclear submarines

Biden calls talks with Xi Jinping at G20 summit frank

WB: Debt levels among low- and middle-income countries soared in 2021

Xi Jinping: China does not intend to challenge the U.S.

Scholz: Adopting a joint G20 summit statement is a tough task

Biden and Xi Jinping oppose use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine

Nikol Pashinyan receives Russian co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group

IMF head warns of risks for world economy because of rivalry between China and US

Irakli Garibashvili: Georgia is ready to promote in every possible way the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Red Wings airline launches direct flights from Makhachkala to Yerevan

Olaf Scholz: EU should expand its cooperation with Southeast Asian countries

Global Leadership Foundation will visit Armenia

Kurdistan Workers' Party denies its involvement in Istanbul terrorist attack

NATO Secretary General says they must not make mistake of underestimating Russia
YEREVAN.  Iranian Armenian businessman Levon Aharonian told Armenian News-NEWS.am that he is going to open a wholesale center in Yerevan, and in order to export Iranian goods to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member countries.

To this end, they are going to lease a few thousand square meters of space in the capital city of Armenia.

Buyers from the EAEU may be interested in the most diverse products, Aharonian said. These are fruits, vegetables, canned food, petrochemical products, and many other things.

He added that the center will start functioning in about six months.

The Eurasian Economic Union comprises Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
YEREVAN.  The National Assembly of Armenia on Wednesday resumed its four-day session.

The parliament on Tuesday debated on several bills, including the draft law on defense. It passed by 86 votes for and 9 against.

The NA on Wednesday will deliberate also on another bill submitted by the Ministry of Defense (MOD): the draft law on military service and the status of military servicemen.

A total of 39 matters are on the draft agenda of this session, which started on Tuesday.
STEPANAKERT.  The Azerbaijani armed forces were again active on Tuesday afternoon, in some parts of the line of contact between the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/NKR) and the Azerbaijani opposing forces.

Aside from different-caliber shooting weapons, however, the adversary this time used mortars, too. In particular, the Azerbaijani army fired 23 mortar shells at the NKR Defense Army positions toward Martakert and Martuni.

The Defense Army vanguard units, however, suffered no casualties in the shelling, the Artsakh Ministry of Defense (MOD) informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The situation was calm in the evening and at night.

The NKR Defense Army units on duty continue carefully monitoring the situation along the line of contact and fulfilling their task in accordance with the military command.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) The Election Commission today rejected suggestions that there was a "collusion" between it and the government to delay the announcement of the Gujarat elections to give the ruling party time to announce new projects in the poll-bound state.

"There is no question of a mili bhagat (collusion)... as I have mentioned, several factors were considered by the commission before deciding on the election dates (of Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat)," Chief Election Commissioner A K Joti told reporters.

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He was asked about allegations by the opposition that there was a tacit understanding between the EC and the government on Gujarat election dates.

Asked whether it was a bad decision on part of the poll panel to give the Gujarat government nearly a fortnight to announce new projects and schemes by declaring the Himachal election schedule first, he replied in the negative.

"No, I dont think it was a bad decision," he said.

The question-answer session which followed the announcement of Gujarat poll dates was dominated by queries related to the EC announcing the poll schedule for the two states separately.

When his comments were sought on the statements of some of the former CECs that the EC should not have delayed Gujarat poll date announcement, Joti said he would not like to say anything on the opinion of his predecessors.

"I would not like to say anything on what the former ECs and CECs have said. So situation is static. We take decisions on prevailing situation. Situations are dynamic in nature," he said.

Joti also said that though the poll schedule of the two states were announced together in 2012, in the past the two states had elections on different dates.

"Nothing is written on stone. But there are laws," he said and referred to the election law.

He said several political parties and the state administration had urged the EC to hold Himachal Pradesh elections before November 15 as harsh winter and snowfall in at least three districts create problems for the voting process.

Joti said to man polling stations, the commission required the services of Gujarat government officials who were busy in flood relief and rehabilitation work.

He said the Gujarat chief secretary had written to the EC on two occasions -- September 25 and October 2 -- requesting not to announce polls as the state was working to rehabilitate people affected by July floods.

He said between 25 September and October 22, the flood relief work has progressed and long-term measures were being undertaken in the state.

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He also gave out figures on the losses incurred by the state, relief funds disbursed and amount ending distribution.

"I dont say that they should complete it (first). But the work should be maximised as they would then get busy with polls... This time, due to the use of (VVPAT) paper-trail machines, the training would be more intense. Since the same officials are involved in relief work, they cannot be used for poll duty," Joti had earlier said.

He said EC had not announced poll schedule in Tamil Nadu in 2016 after floods as school and university examination schedule had already gone haywire.

The CEC said while the Gujarat and Himachal polls were announced together in 2012, their schedules were different. He also pointed out that the two states had no similarities in geography or weather patterns.

Responding to the argument that by "delaying" the announcement of the Gujarat polls, the EC was giving time to parties and the government to sidestep the provisions of the model code, Joti said in 2001 the law ministry and the EC had reached an understanding following which it was decided that there would not be a gap of more than 21 days between the announcement of polls and the date of the notification of the elections.

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He said this would effectively mean that the model code would be in place for 46 days. PTI NAB ZMN

--- ENDS ---
YEREVAN.  The Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting in a narrow format is held Wednesday in Yerevan.

Prime ministers of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member countries (Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan) have arrived in the event venue in the capital city of Armenia.

Tigran Sargsyan, Chairman of the Board of Eurasian Economic Commission, the executive body of the EAEU, also is participating in this talk.

The Council meeting in an extended format will take place soon thereafter.
YEREVAN.  President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on Wednesday received the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council membersthe prime ministers of Armenia, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, and Kazakhstanwho will participate in the Council meeting to be held on the same day in capital city Yerevan. Tigran Sargsyan, Chairman of the Board of Eurasian Economic Commission, the executive body of the Eurasian Economic Union, also attended this talk.

First Sargsyan expressed confidence that the said meeting will be productive and will serve the interests of promoting Eurasian integration, press office of the President informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. Also, he underscored the activities of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, and thanked for the active and productive work.

Stressing that he is familiar with the agenda of this meeting, the President especially noted the matter of elimination of technical barriers. But he expressed the hope that this and the other matters on the meeting agenda will be resolved.

The Eurasian Intergovernmental Council members, for their part, said they will thoroughly discuss all the matters on the agenda, find joint solutions, move forward, and keep the pace.
YEREVAN.  People see more products around them that were produced in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday said the aforementioned at the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting being held in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia.

In his words, a space of free movement of services, goods, capital, and workforce is being formed within the EAEU. As per Medvedev, integration requires discourse and compromises, and the ability and desire to listen to each other.

According to the Russian PM, the EAEU single market gradually reveals its capabilities. As case in point, the GDP of this union has grown by 1.8 percent in the first half of the current year, economy has growth in all five member countries, turnover is virtually 28 percent within the EAEU, and trade with third countries is 26 percent.

Its indispensable to move forward, in which we are engaged today, he added.

Dmitry Medvedev stressed that the Eurasian Customs Code, which comes into force on January 1, 2018, also will contribute to this process.

The Eurasian Economic Union comprises Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Syrian army units re-established control over al-Sinaa neighborhood in Deir Ezzor city after eliminating the last gatherings of ISIS terrorists there, SANA reported.

The army units combed the neighborhood fully and set up new military points inside it in preparation for launching new operations to root out ISIS terrorists from other neighborhoods.

Units carried out accurate operations on ISIS movements in the neighborhood of al-Hamidiya, al-Jubaila, al-Rushdiya, al-Sheikh Yassin, Kanamat and Khasarat, inflicting heavy losses upon ISIS.

In the eastern countryside of the province, army units, backed by Air Force and Artillery achieved new progress in their operations against ISIS dens in Huweijit Saqar village, after killing a number of terrorists and destroying their fortifications.
Bye-bye soda.

"I'd be amazed if they are drinking a full sugar based product," former PepsiCo (PEP) - Get Free Report and Apple (AAPL) - Get Free Report CEO John Sculley told TheStreet when asked if kids would be drinking regular soda 10 to 20 years down the line. In fact, Sculley -- who rose to fame for his top notch marketing skills at PepsiCo that landed him the CEO job within 10 years - almost apologizes for making the space so hot.

"When I was in the beverage industry, Coca-Cola (KO) - Get Free Report , Pepsi, McDonald's (MCD) - Get Free Report , Wendy's (WEN) - Get Free Report these were the sexy companies to work for -- I think of it now, and I was selling sugar water to kids and today they are getting obese. I was launching the first two liter plastic bottle and now it has issues about what we do about our landscape. I started PepsiCo's business internationally to sell snack foods -- look what's happening today, we have hundreds of millions of people taking in these high triglyceride oils into their stomach," Sculley said.

He added, "It doesn't look like such a cool industry anymore." It seems like many consumers agree.

Soda consumption in the United States fell to a 31-year low in 2016, according to Beverage Digest. Sales of carbonated soft drinks -- mostly full sugar soda -- fell 0.8% last year. Sculley does credit companies such as PepsiCo and Coca-Cola for expanding into healthier beverages and snacks, but thinks the packaged goods space will need more cost cuts given the industry's slow growth.

Apple and PepsiCo is a holding in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells AAPL and PEP? Learn more now.

More of What's Trending on TheStreet:
Former Green Berets post blasting leftists for politicizing Niger goes viral

Special Forces veteran Dr. Mike Simpson isnt impressed by the way the Niger incident is being exploited by liberals like Congresswoman Frederica Wilson as a cheap way of attacking Donald Trump.

(Article by James Delingpole republished from Breitbart.com)

Simpsons thoughts on Niger are attracting a lot of attention on Twitter. Heres what this ex-Green Beret has to say about his fallen comrades:

My Special Forces Brothers died in #Niger Here are my thoughts: pic.twitter.com/nj2PTwz5ex  Mike Simpson, M.D. (@DrMikeSimpson) October 20, 2017

P.S. A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to meet Dr. Mike Simpson at a history festival in Britain. When I found myself under attack from an audience more liberal than Id expected from an event dedicated to military history, Mike was there to give me fire support. Hes a great guy. We recorded a Breitbart podcast which you can listen to here.

Read more at: Breitbart.com

Submit a correction >>
A non-bailable warrant has been issued against Hardik Patel, among other Patidar leaders in a 2016 case of attack on BJP MLA.

By Gopi Maniar Ghanghar , India Today Web Desk: A local court in Visanagar in Gujarat's Mehsana has issued a non-bailable warrant against Hardik Patel, Lalji Patel and some other Patidar leaders.

The warrant has been issued for vandalising BJP MLA Rishikesh Patel's office during Patidar Anamat Samiti's rally in Visnagar in July 2015.

In 2016, the same MLA's car was pelted with stones while passing through the ITI Circle in Mehsana's Visnagar city. Visnagar was one of the nerve-centres of the (Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti) PAAS-led agitation for reservations for the Patel community then.

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Incidentally, the warrant comes on a day when the Election Commission announced the schedule for Gujarat Assembly election 2017 .

So far, Patel has denied reports of him joining the Congress. However, he is seen to be hobnobbing with the opposition party.

HARDIK PATEL DENIED MEETING RAHUL

A few days ago, a leaked CCTV footage showed him coming out of a hotel in which Rahul Gandhi was staying in Ahmedabad. Despite the footage, Patel denied that he had met the Gandhi scion.

However, he has not denied his support for the Congress in the upcoming crucial elections.

In 2016, Patel had shot to fame for launching the Patidar quota agitation which had turned violent killing nine people. He was later arrested and exterminated. Earlier this year, he was allowed to come back to Gujarat.

Along with two other youth protestors - OBC icon Alpesh Thakor and Dalit leader Jignesh Mewani - Patel threatens to spoil the BJP's chances at the hustings.

HARDIK REACTS TO NON-BAILABLE WARRANT

Reacting to the non-bailable warrant, Hardik Patel said, "I had got bail in the same case. I trust the court. Today I couldn't attend the proceedings. They issued the NBW today when election dates were declared. I will appeal to the court to cancel it."

"If they arrest me, our movement will become more intense. There are lakhs of Hardiks with me in this movement. Our fight is for our rights and everyone should fight for their rights and against injustice. Jignesh, Alpesh and I are not indulging in politics. We are raising issues."

Who is agent of Congress - is it me or the whole Patidar community. BJP is not speaking clearly. I have met many top leaders openly but not Rahul Gandhi. Will meet him soon."

ON CCTV

"They have leaked my right to privacy. When this happens, we all must feel sad as it's against democratic values. BJP is doing all this. It's been behind several espionage activities. In that CCTV, you must have seen I changed my clothes. While going in, I was wearing a half shirt. When I came out, I had a full shirt. It's obvious that I was carrying my clothes in that bag."

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ON POLL PREDICTIONS

When asked about losing his two aides - Reshma and Varun Patel, Hardik accused the BJP of having bought them. He refused to accept predictions of a BJP win in Gujarat election, saying they are always wrong. "This crowd is my strength and I want to fight for them as I am their agent", he said referring to his supporters.

(WITH INPUTS FROM MAYURESH GANAPATYE)

ALSO WATCH VIDEO | CCTV footage sparks rumours of secret Rahul Gandhi-Hardik Patel meeting

--- ENDS ---
Gwadar (Pakistan) (AFP) - Remote and impoverished, Pakistan's Gwadar port at first glance seems an unlikely crown jewel in a multi-billion-dollar development project with China aimed at constructing a 21st century Silk Road.

Situated on a barren peninsula in the Arabian Sea, Gwadar, or the "gate of the wind", owes its fortuitous selection as Pakistan's next economic hub to its strategic location near the Strait of Hormuz.

The city is set to become the bridgehead for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $54 billion project launched in 2013 linking western China to the Indian Ocean via Pakistan.

The corridor is one of the largest projects in Beijing's "One Belt One Road" initiative, comprising a network of roads and sea routes involving 65 countries.

The Chinese-financed initiative aims to connect the country with Africa, Asia and Europe through a vast network of ports, railways, roads and industrial parks.

But for Pakistan, participating in the project presents an enormous challenge in a country plagued by weak institutions, endemic corruption and a range of insurgencies in areas slated to host the corridor.

"This port is going to help Pakistan make linkages with neighbouring countries. The entire nation will be getting benefits out of Gwadar," Dostain Khan Jamaldini, chairman of the Gwadar Port Authority, told reporters.

But "the first beneficiaries of this port will be the people of Gwadar".

The subject of economic dividends is extremely sensitive in resource-rich Balochistan -- one of Pakistan's poorest and most violent provinces, where separatist insurgencies have been waged for decades.

Since the beginning of the project militants have repeatedly attacked construction sites and targeted Chinese workers.

The project includes the country's first deep-water port, a free-trade zone and 50 kilometres (31 miles) of dock space.

"Gwadar port is not Chinese, our strong partner is Chinese and we appreciate their boldness," said Jamaldini.

Story continues

"They came to Gwadar when nobody was accepting the idea to come and visit."

- Contested territory -

China has eyed Gwadar for years.

Beijing financed an earlier scheme to develop the port prior to 2007, which was later overseen by a Singaporean group. But following bouts of insecurity, the Singaporeans handed it back to the Chinese in 2013.

The ambitious corridor is also far from popular in the region. India makes no mystery of its reservations over an infrastructure project that crosses through disputed Kashmiri territory.

This month US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis raised concerns about the issue, sparking a fierce backlash in Pakistan and claims Washington was trying to "contain China" in favour of arch-rival India.

Beyond diplomatic concerns, security remains a key issue in Gwadar, according to Brigadier Kamal Azfar, who heads "Brigade 440" -- a security outfit created to protect CPEC projects and personnel.

Hostile forces are trying to "scuttle or stall CPEC", he said in reference to accusations India has backed insurgents hostile to the project.

The area also lacks water and electricity, which developers hope will be remedied by dams and desalination plants outlined in the scheme.

Officials also worry the peninsula will fall victim to real estate speculation. Property prices near the port doubled between 2014 and 2016, said Sajjad Baloch, the director of the Gwadar Development Authority, before falling 20 percent.

And despite promises of future prosperity, skilled labour is lacking, says Mohamed Siddique, who runs a local hospital. Even with modern facilities it operates at a limited capacity because of a dearth of specialists.

- Chinatown -

In Gwadar city, economic activity spurred by CPEC remains limited. A lone freighter was anchored in the port during AFP's recent visit. Only three to four arrive every month, according to port authorities.

The expressway leading to the site is unfinished.

About 300 Chinese people working on various projects live in prefabricated houses on the port -- coined Chinatown -- but only venture out with a security escort.

The city itself, with a population of about 100,000 that is projected by one estimate to jump tenfold by 2050, has relied on fishing and the artisanal construction of boats for generations.

Up to 50,000 people, mostly fishermen, could be "gradually" resettled to make way for the project, Baloch said, adding the potential move could see them relocated to a "state-of-the-art jetty".

The first priority for the jobs will go to Gwadaris, "then to the Balochis, then to the people of any part of Pakistan", Baloch said.

However few Gwadaris have been hired at the port, according to locals building boats on a nearby beach.

"We are hoping to get a job there," said Juneid.

For others, it's a chance to right the wrongs of past subjugation.

"Balochistan province should get the maximum benefits instead of outsiders," said Abdullah Usman, 47, a social worker.

"It will be unfortunate if the local Baloch do not benefit... that would cause an increase in the several decades long sense of deprivation."
New Delhi (AFP) - Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday that US sanctions against Iran targeted the country's "malign behaviours" and were aimed at helping the Iranian people take control of their government.

Tillerson told a New Delhi press conference after talks with India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj that the United States would not block "legitimate" business activities with Iran by India or any other ally.

President Donald Trump's administration has taken a tougher line with Iran, threatening to tear up an international accord on its nuclear programme.

Tillerson said US actions also sought to limit Iran's other "destabilising activities" in the Middle East, including its ballistic missile development, "their export of arms to terrorist organisations" and involvement in conflicts in Syria and Yemen.

"Our fight is not with the Iranian people. Our disagreements are with the revolutionary regime," Tillerson said.

"We are taking actions to impose sanctions on the regime and in particular the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. It is our objective to deny financing capacity and to disrupt the activities related to these malign behaviours."

Tillerson made it clear that the United States sought to give "support for modern voices inside of Iran" in a bid to bring about an eventual change of government.

"We know there are strong feelings and values inside of Iran that we want to promote in terms of one day the Iranian people being able to retake control of their government.

"They live under this repressive revolutionary regime and we do not want to harm the Iranian people. Our fight is not with the Iranian people," he said.

Tillerson was questioned about India's investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in the Iranian port of Chabahar. The deal was sealed in 2016 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tehran.

The construction of Chabahar expands a trade route for landlocked countries in central Asia that bypasses Pakistan, India's arch-rival.

Tillerson said he saw "no contradiction" in the US call for sanctions and India's deal in Chabahar, and Washington did not aim "to interfere with legitimate business activities that are going on with other businesses whether they be from Europe (or) India".
By PTI: By Youssra El-Sharkawy

Cairo, Oct 25 (PTI) Hundreds of school children in Egypt participated in an annual painting competition to celebrate the ties between Indian and Egyptian people.

The children participated in the 23rd annual Glimpses of India painting competition and painted on various themes including India-Egypt friendship and India of My Dreams.

The competition has been organised by the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC), the cultural wing of the Embassy of India in Cairo, in co-operation with the Egyptian Ministry of Education, officials said.

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The competition, which began on October 24, was being held at six venues in Cairo and 14 different governorates across Egypt.

Indias Ambassador to Egypt Sanjay Bhattacharyya said each child painted their own vision of India and the result was hundreds of beautiful, coloured paintings that reflect how the children think about the country.

"For us, this is really a very beautiful event because it helps us get all the children into India House and its a very energetic experience," he told PTI during the event.

"The imagination of the children is so vivid and so far reaching that I think in many ways it shows what they think India is and what they want India-Egypt relations to be and in that we draw inspiration and lessons," added Ambassador Bhattacharyya.

The competition is an annual feature in Cairo that commemorates the birthdays of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

This year, for the first time, the competition was being held in 14 governorates across Egypt, including Aswan, Port Said, Alexandria, Marsa, Hurghada, Qaliobiya, New Valley, Menia, Menofiya, Matrouh, Ismailia and Fayyoum.

Children along with those with special needs from various government, private and national institute schools in Cairo and Giza governorates were participating in the competition.

The winners, who will be decided by a six-member jury, will be awarded during a function at Al Gomhuria Hall, Downtown Cairo on November 20.

"We hope that we can make a connect with the children because we believe that they are not only the foundation of our society but also our future so it is important to stay in touch," the Ambassador said. PTI YES KIS DPB PMS DPB

--- ENDS ---




gotta drop this in here

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I love this show and these two dummies.



Edited at 2017-10-25 12:59 am (UTC)

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i was gonna comment in this post anyway, but that anatomical shoutout was a nice touch.



so do you guys think big foot has even gotten laid?

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https://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2015/08/woman-claims-to-be-in-sexual-relationship-with-bigfoot-trying-fo/



and of course they have! do u think it's mere coincidence that bigfoot has been spotted all over north america. there's obviously a growing population. maybe this link will answer ur questionand of course they have! do u think it's mere coincidence that bigfoot has been spotted all over north america. there's obviously a growing population.

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so you're positing that there's more than one big foot, that in fact there are big feet? i don't buy it. big foot is totally unique and the last of his or her kind.

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Love u op

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but do u love bigfoot

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Yes I love bigfoot

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do u see that gif of bigfoot wielding a bow? this movie is good for that alone.

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Team aliens forever but send my love to the OP. I hope Bigfoot comes out of the wood and is like

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excuse me? obsession? i'm just trying to spread awareness here!

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Not @ you tho. U do good. I just wanna know if Bigfoot knows about this and see how she or he feels. So get ha autograph when you get the chance sis

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i like aliens more but i do enjoy big foot & the his/her sightings

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Thank you

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I know someone who's seen a UFO.

my mom, sister, and grandmother all have seen spirits.

I met a squatch-hunter once. he hates those toe-shoes people go hiking in.

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i understand his frustration. how are we gonna tell apart the real tracks from the fake ones??



also i need details on your UFO and ghost stories! i understand his frustration. how are we gonna tell apart the real tracks from the fake ones??also i need details on your UFO and ghost stories!

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so my stepdad was snowmobiling in Hudson NH years ago, under the power lines, and came across a bunch of people chilling on a hill waiting for something. apparently, some weird shit had been happening in the area over the previous few nights and they were looking to see it. well it happened again: there was a humming overhead, and all the lights in the area went out.



as for ghosts/spirits...those three are all kinda psychic. my mom has seen our stepdad's best man after he died, plus she's had semi-prophetic dreams. my sister has been visited by our grandma's old friend Mrs Haggerty. my grandma saw her own mother, young and beautiful again but with the cane she always wanted but never got.

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I ship OP and Big Foot.

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he's currently in a relationship with a 52 54 year old woman named nancy hoggert

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So then why you trying to take her man from her, boo?

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Just cuz theres a goalie, doesnt mean you cant score, sis.

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Wow u can't even dedicate this post to me like I politely asked u to

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ok, in my defense, bob gimlin didn't say well the hjalmartazars! he said well the mammary glands!

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Creepy post kind of.

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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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I've always loved how disgruntled Bigfoot looks in that footage.

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do you suppose mermaids are actually marine mammals and not half-fish?

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Synopsis: In Where the Past Begins, bestselling author of The Joy Luck Club and The Valley of Amazement Amy Tan is at her most intimate in revealing the truths and inspirations that underlie her extraordinary fiction. By delving into vivid memories of her traumatic childhood, confessions of self-doubt in her journals, and heartbreaking letters to and from her mother, she gives evidence to all that made it both unlikely and inevitable that she would become a writer. Through spontaneous storytelling, she shows how a fluid fictional state of mind unleashed near-forgotten memories that became the emotional nucleus of her novels.

Synopsis: Recruited by the U.S. Army and Navy from small towns and elite colleges, more than ten thousand women served as codebreakers during World War II. While their brothers and boyfriends took up arms, these women moved to Washington and learned the meticulous work of code-breaking. Their efforts shortened the war, saved countless lives, and gave them access to careers previously denied to them. A strict vow of secrecy nearly erased their efforts from history; now, through dazzling research and interviews with surviving code girls, bestselling author Liza Mundy brings to life this riveting and vital story of American courage, service, and scientific accomplishment.

Synopsis: The stories in Fresh Complaint continue that tradition. Ranging from the reproductive antics of 'Baster' to the wry, moving account of a young travelers search for enlightenment in 'Air Mail' (selected by Annie Proulx for The Best American Short Stories, 1997), this collection presents characters in the midst of personal and national crises.

Synopsis: on July 17, 2014, Eric Garner died in Staten Island, New York City, after a police officer put him in what has been described as a chokehold during an arrest for selling loosies, or single cigarettes. The final moments of his life were captured on video and seen by millions, sparking a nationwide series of protests that built into the Black Lives Matter movement that has transformed American politics.



Weeks after Garners death, two New York City police officers were killed by a young black man from Maryland, in what he claimed was revenge for Garners death. Those killings in turn led to police protests, clashes with New Yorks new liberal mayor, and an eventual work slow-down.



Taibbi tells a compelling story of the crime, the grand jury, the media circus, the murder of the police, and the protests from every side.
IOSH Rail Conference Set for Nov. 9

Speakers at the event will include George Bearfield, director of systems safety and health for the Rail Safety and Standards Board; Johnny Schute, deputy chief inspector of railways for the Office of Road and Rail; and Gary Cooper, director for planning, engineering and operations for the Rail Delivery Group.

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is preparing to host its annual Rail Industry Conference, with this event examining what rising passenger numbers and changes in management structures mean for rail companies and the traveling public. How risks are being assessed is also to be discussed during the Nov. 9 event in Nottingham.

"It is pleasing that railways in the UK continue to enjoy a very good safety record. High levels of risks are matched by health and safety management systems, which help to keep people out of harm's way," said IOSH Railway Group Chair Keith Morey. "However, as well as opportunities, change brings challenges. Not least among these are health and safety risks to workers and the public. A key health and safety challenge is that change can destabilize established measures of risk control and maybe introduce new hazards. New organizational forms can add complexity and lengthen lines of communication and accountability, hampering effective risk management. It is crucial that, no matter how rail networks evolve, health and safety remains central to the plans of all route and train operators. Yes, the need for change is imperative, but so is the need for ongoing health and safety management."

Speakers at the event will include George Bearfield, director of systems safety and health for the Rail Safety and Standards Board; Johnny Schute, deputy chief inspector of railways for the Office of Road and Rail, which is responsible for ensuring the mainline railway and London Underground operate networks that are safe for passengers and workers; and Gary Cooper, director for planning, engineering and operations for the Rail Delivery Group.
Speaking in India, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, referring to Pakistan, said his country has offered the hand of peace and dialogue but has only seen conflict.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghanistan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani shake hands prior to their luncheon meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday (PTI)

By Geeta Mohan: Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani minced no words when he spoke on the issue of regional security and terrorism on his visit to India. Addressing a public gathering at the Vivekananda International Foundation, Ghani emphasised the need to engage as responsible regional and global stakeholders.

While referring to Pakistan he said, "Where we haven't had progress, despite trying, unfortunately is with Pakistan. We held the hand of peace and dialogue but unfortunately saw conflict."

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He said that Pakistan needs to make a choice as state-sponsored terrorism is the biggest challenge to bring peace and stability in the region. "The distinction between good and bad terrorism is still haunting us", he said.

On Tuesday, bilateral talks were held between the Afghan delegation led by Ghani and the Indian delegation led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi where both sides agreed that "renunciation of violence and terror; and closure of cross border safe havens and sanctuaries were essential for any meaningful progress and lasting peace."

In the press statement released by Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian side agreed to extend further assistance depending upon the needs of the Afghan defence and police forces.

"The Indian leadership reiterated its support for a negotiated political reconciliation in Afghanistan that is Afghan led, owned and controlled", the statement said.

Mentioning about what lies ahead for the nation, Ghani said, "In various scenarios we have to see if 2018 is going to be the most troubled and dangerous time for Afghanistan or will we see a quiet 2018, but will have to be prepared for a tensed 2019...", he said.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on his visit to Afghanistan on Monday had reiterated the same concerns. Carrying the very same strong message on terror, Tillerson held talks with the Pakistani leadership on Tuesday. He will be in India on Wednesday.

Ghani also rubbished Pakistan's claims that India and Afghanistan are colluding to work against its interests.

"No secret agreements between India and Afghan. There are no secret facilities, no destabilisation of neighbours taking place through Afghan by implicit or explicit Indian collusion... Let's get out of the world of fiction", he said.

India and Afghanistan held a review meet of their ties on Tuesday to further the objective of seeing Kabul emerge as a "stable, peaceful, progressive, prosperous and pluralistic nation".

"India assisted in projects, including health, agriculture, education, infrastructure and skill development, among others and will further contribute to Afghanistan's economic development," the press statement said.

--- ENDS ---

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NC Board to Evaluate Emerging Chemicals' Risks

Increased in size from eight to 16 members, the Science Advisory Board has a new charter and the scope of its work has expanded from toxic air pollutants to the broader focus on the impact of new and emerging chemicals, including GenX and hexavalent chromium.

The leaders of North Carolina's state environmental and public health agencies recently announced the new members of the expanded Secretaries' Science Advisory Board, which has been given the task of examining new and emerging chemicals' potential human health and environmental impacts. Increased in size from eight to 16 members, the board has a new charter and the scope of its work has expanded from toxic air pollutants to the broader focus on the impact of new and emerging chemicals, including GenX and hexavalent chromium.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality this month directed Chemours to provide bottled water to nine more well owners near the company's Fayetteville facility after the most recent preliminary test results show GenX concentrations above the provisional state health goal in residential drinking wells.

The agency said Oct. 17 that 35 residential well owners living near the Fayetteville Works facility are receiving bottled water because of GenX detections above the state health goal of 140 parts per trillion. The state Department of Environmental Quality and Chemours have sampled 105 residential wells since testing near the facility began in September and is sending all well owners the testing results and health and other information based on the results.

Four members of the new board also were serving on the former board. All members are appointed by the DEQ and DHHS secretaries, and they come from academic institutions, the public and private sectors, and independent research facilities and include experts in toxicology, public health, ecology, engineering, and related fields. The board will meet at least six times annually and held its first meeting Oct. 23.

"We selected top talent from a robust pool of more than 50 candidates from across North Carolina," said Michael Regan, secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality. "The panel we've assembled will provide vital long-term scientific guidance on how to best protect public health and the environment from emerging chemical compounds."
OAOHN Annual Conference Tackling Wide Range of Health Issues

The Nov. 2-4 event is focused on workplace behavioral and cultural issues, with active shooter response, treating opioid overdoses, CPR, and a spirometry refresher course also on the program.

Columbus, Ohio, is the location for the 2017 annual conference of the Ohio Association of Occupational Health Nurses (OAOHN), an event taking place Nov. 2-4 at a conference center that is part of the Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

The program lists the wide range of topics to be covered, from ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) active shooter training to wellness; updates on state legislation and also federal legislation, including efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act; EAP programs; the opioid overdose problems in Ohio and responses to it; a NIOSH-approved pre-conference spirometry refresher course; and Nov. 2 presentations about Amish, Hispanic, and African-American cultural influences in health care.

OAOHN's president, Shanna Dunbar, RS, COHN-S, says in her welcome message that the event will address topics of interest to nurses, safety managers, HR professionals, and industrial hygienists.
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.

What's in a restaurant? In this series, we ask chefs around the city to describe their restaurants in their own words and recommend three dishes that embody the best of what they offer. In this edition, we talk with Dane Baldwin, chef and owner of The Diplomat, about the type of restaurant he aspires to create and the dishes that embody his vision.

The Diplomat

815 E. Brady St.

(414) 800-5816

thediplomatmke.com

"I remember being 24 and thinking: Im gonna open a restaurant. And I kept saying that. At 28 and 30. Anyone who knows me knows thats thats always been a goal. Ive had great mentors; Ive worked with so many great people and Ive had so much formidable training. But, this is definitely where my career was destined to go. And owning your own place: its about learning what you dont know.

"As a chef, you want to play with really unique ingredients, but you gain peoples trust by doing things that are somewhat familiar. And once people get used to your roasted chicken or your gnocchi, you can start introducing things that arent quite as common. For instance, Im not going to put a tripe dish on the menu right now; but once people are familiar, it might be something we introduce later on.

"Our whole goal is to be completely approachable, affordable and comfortable," says Diplomat Chef and owner Dane Baldwin. "And its perfect, because thats really the feedback were getting from guests when they visit. Places like Hinterland, Odd Duck, Goodkind, Dandan  you feel the honesty as soon as you sit down. Were still developing our personality here, but overall thats our ultimate goal.

1. Lentils

Tomato braise, king oyster mushrooms, aromatics, $12

"A lot of these dishes are technique driven. Theyre very simple, but you really have to pay attention to get it right. In this case, its about cooking the lentils just until theyre done so they're tender, but each one is still distinct. Ive been to a couple of places where Ive been wowed by a lentil dish, and in some ways there was always this desire to recreate one myself. Were using heirloom tomatoes, because they just have great flavor. And while there are some great canned tomato products, theres nothing like great tomatoes during tomato season. Theres a little bit of butter in the dish, which adds richness ... and tomatoes and butter  well, theyre the bomb together."



2. Corn grits

Oyster mushrooms, cave aged cheddar, soft egg, arugula, pancetta, $15

"My career really started at Gils. And Gil [Rasmussen] comes from an Italian heritage. Ive worked at an Italian grocery store. Ive worked at Bacchus. I, myself, am Sicilian; but, I dont necessarily have this long history of the experiences of Sunday dinners or cutting pasta. But it seems theres always been this strong Italian influence throughout my career, and I've worked extensively with polenta. For this dish, were using the American version: grits. Ive made versions over the years using the soft egg and bacon; I really love the flavor of pancetta in this case. The cave aged cheddar is almost parmesan-like in its texture; it adds a nice flavor, but it also mirrors the pancetta in terms of adding a little bit of funk."

3. Roast chicken

Spaghetti squash, apple butter, broken biscuit, $16

"Chicken and waffles is so huge now; I ate chicken and waffles at Roscoes [House of Chicken & Waffles] a couple of years ago, and it was really cool. The chicken and waffles were really good, but part of it was that you just got kind of wrapped up in being there in this iconic spot. And this dish really, interestingly, has some of the same components. You get a bit of sweetness from the apple butter. We also reduce the simple syrup from the apples and we apply that to the chicken as its roasting, so the sugars caramelize and give the chicken a really nice lacquer on the outside. The biscuit is a buttermilk biscuit thats buttered and toasted and broken up into pieces and served with the dish."

The Diplomat is open Tuesday through Friday 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 5 to 10 (the bar opens at 4 p.m.). Guests can also enjoy happy hour at the bar Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday happy hour features an oyster shucking station.
STURGEON BAY  This summer, I took a look at Door County, my favorite Wisconsin vacation destination, from a really different perspective: as a responsible and mature adult. Continuing on that theme of laid-back leisure, I brought my wife and daughter to Sturgeon Bay last weekend for some fall family fun.

It was the first time we visited Door County together since 2014, and not surprisingly, it made for another amazing trip. No matter how many times I experience this magical place, I always find something new and memorable. This family vacation was no exception.

Our friends at the Door County Visitors Bureau arranged for Sturgeon Bay to be our base of operations this time. It was a nice change; for the dozens of times Ive visited, I usually wander quite a bit farther north. We stayed at the Bridgeport Waterfront Resort, and for the most part, did stuff nearby. Sturgeon Bay feels quite a bit different than Fish Creek and Sister Bay; its a place where people live and work, and its much more than a tourist trap.

The Bridgeport is a big property, quite a bit larger than most of the family-run inns Ive visited, and our suite looked out over the bay. My daughter loved the resorts big pool, hot tub and splash pad; I most appreciated the in-room hot tub and fireplace in this clean and spacious suite.





We visited a few restaurants in town that were new to me: Sonnys Italian Kitchen for dinner the first night, then, for our two breakfasts, the Inn at Cedar Crossing and Scaturos Baking Company and Cafe.

At Sonnys, which is legendary for its pizza, we instead felt like trying the pasta. I didnt mind the hour wait to get seated, but after 45 minutes in our booth, I was very ready to devour my pesto gnocchi. My wife loved the pumpkin ravioli, and my 9-year-old put a healthy dent in her generous serving of baked ravioli.

This is a cool place with a well-done nautical theme and huge portions. The clientele on the bustling night of our visit comprised about a quarter families, rounded out by large groups enjoying food, drink and good company.

A short walk over the historic Michigan Street Steel Bridge led us to the Inn at Cedar Crossing, and I loved the smoked beef brisket hash.

Scaturos, a quick drive from the hotel, was also super busy, but the service was nonetheless great, and I thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast buffet.







Our other meal brought us back to my old stomping grounds in Fish Creek: a fish boil at Pelletiers, which is one of my favorite breakfast spots on the peninsula. Even though Ive visited Door County at least once a year since 1994, Ive never tried a fish boil.

And now, my feelings on this tradition are a bit mixed.

Im not a big seafood guy, but watching the fish boil presentation is impressive. I was told that the process of the over boil really eliminates any fishy taste. And its true: the simple dish of fresh whitefish (with butter, of course), potatoes, onion, coleslaw and a slice of cherry pie left me full but not unpleasantly stuffed. I didnt know, however, until I sat down, that the diner is responsible for deboning the fish and peeling off its skin.

That was a little much for my snowflake-ish sensibilities. While my wife had no problem picking out tiny bones, both my daughter and I were just too overwhelmed by all this effort in dodging the fish skeleton. I probably wouldnt eat this dish again  although Im glad I finally tried it  unless we did the fish boil at the White Gull Inn, for example, where they remove the bones and skin before you dig in. Ill just have to close my eyes during the process.

Of course, food wasnt the only item on our agenda. On Saturday morning, we visited the Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market, which is a great opportunity to chat with some of the local artisans. We left with local cheese as well as some honey from Door County bees.

We also found time to amble through the shops of downtown Sturgeon Bay. My wife gravitated toward Samara Jewelry Designs; my daughter preferred the Dancing Bear gift store  with a friendly cat in the front window; and I most enjoyed Door County Traders antique store.

Just for fun, we visited the old Younkers, which is a small, stand-alone department store and hearkens back to a time long-before shopping on Amazon from the convenience of an iPad.

On Saturday afternoon, we drove to Carlsville to the Schopfs Hilltop Dairy, where you can watch farmers milk cows, then eat ice cream from the very same bovine. Outside, they have ponies, goats, calves and pigs to pet and to feed, as well as a corn maze and playground outside the farm.

Next, we dropped into Door County Candle Company, where our daughter dipped her own rainbow-color candle while we browsed. Then, we headed east on County Rd. I for our favorite part of the trip: horseback riding at Kurtz Corral.

For the next hour, our guide, Ashley, took a group of about nine on a peaceful trail ride through the property, across the pasture and through the forest, resplendent with the bright orange leaves that hadnt yet fallen from the trees. The pace was just right for our kids first horseback ride. She loved her gentle horse, Levi, who pretty much led herself. As the peninsulas only remaining stable, this is an absolute must-do for families, and we will certainly be back.

On Sunday morning, we intended to hike through Potawatomi State Park, but as the weather was windy and rainy, we called an audible and visited the Door County Historical Museum, also in Sturgeon Bay. I really enjoyed this quiet look back in time, with its historical fire engine display and old-fashioned Door County village that reminded me of the Streets of Old Milwaukee at the Milwaukee Public Museum. Door County boasts a fascinating history, and through the years, Ive learned a lot about it anecdotally, but this museum brought it together, keeping the attention of both my daughter and myself (and thats harder than you might think).

As we headed home on Sunday, I noted how different this family trip was compared to our last one. Even though we strolled through the shops in Fish Creek, we didnt even have time to go farther north. We had planned to do some apple picking, and maybe visit Plum Loco Animal Farm in Egg Harbor  but in only a weekend, we just couldnt squeeze anymore in while still maintaining a relaxed, comfortable pace.

How does Door County do it? For what many consider a seasonal destination, the peninsula offers so many different and genuine experiences, and no matter how many times you visit, you can find something new.

If I had to guess, Id say its because Door County is that perfect blend of natural beauty, miles and miles of waterfront, and that tacit understanding between locals and visitors who realize theyre sharing something really special.

For me, Im glad that I can continue to expose my daughter to these kind of experiences, so she can grow to appreciate Door County as I have. Summer is obviously a great time to visit  but if youre looking for a quaint and comfortable family vacation experience  fall in Door County is even a little bit better.
25 Oct - With the Miss Universe pageant just around the corner, Miss Universe Vietnam 2017, Nguyen Thi Loan, has decided to apologise for her previous comment to the Philippine-native reigning Miss International Kylie Verzosa.



As reported on Tempo, while watching Verzosa during the swimsuit competition of Miss International on television last year, Nguyen commented on Instagram with the word "ugly", much to the anger of Verzosa's fans.



The Baguio beauty was later announced the winner of the pageant.



On 21 October, Nguyen posted a long message on Instagram, which read: "Dear Kylie & Filipino Beauty Fans, I would like to clarify a comment that I made last year. Please give me a minute to explain.



"A year ago, when I was checking information on social media, I saw a picture of Kylie, Miss International 2016. Just by natural reaction, I thought that it was not a good picture of her and I commented based on my honest feelings. You would agree with me that sometimes, even the most beautiful person, could have a non-really photogenic picture... due to the angle, lighting or a wrong moment.



"Perhaps, I could have stated things more clearly but due to my limited English I made you all misunderstand me. I want to emphasise that I don't judge or comment about people just like that. Instead of being more explanative about my meaning, after realising that I did not use my words correctly, I immediately deleted the comment.



"After that, I decided to keep silent because I did not want to cause any more misunderstandings or accidentally hurt anyone's feelings (including Kylie's ones if she would have noticed about that).



"I am so sorry for any inconvenience caused. I sincerely apologise for hurting Kylie and you by accident. This is a lesson for me and I will take more care in the future.



"I wish all Filipino fans good health and happiness... and congratulations Kylie for your successful year term as Miss International 2016. Best wishes for you!"



Nguyen, an experienced pageant contestant who has joined Miss World 2014 and Miss Grand International 2016, will be competing in the upcoming Miss Universe 2017, to be held on 26 November in Las Vegas.



(Photo source: instagram.com/loannguyenofficial)
A picture taken on October 19, 2017 shows one of two notes written by Albert Einstein, in 1922, on stationary from the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo

A note that Albert Einstein gave to a courier in Tokyo briefly describing his theory on happy living sold at auction in Jerusalem on Tuesday for $1.56 million, the auction house said.

The winning bid for the note far exceeded the pre-auction estimate of between $5,000 and $8,000, according to the Winner's auction house website.

The buyer was a European who wished to remain anonymous, a spokesman for the auction house said.

The note, on the stationery of the Imperial Hotel Tokyo, says in German that "a quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest."

Bids were accepted in person, online and by phone. After an opening price of $2,000, bids rose quickly for about 20 minutes with two potential buyers vying by phone for the purchase in the end.

Applause broke out in the room when the sale was announced. The sale price includes the buyers' premium.

"I am really happy that there are people out there who are still interested in science and history and timeless deliveries in a world which is developing so fast," the seller told AFP on condition of anonymity after the sale.

A second Einstein note written at the same time that simply reads "where there's a will, there's a way" sold for $240,000, according to Winner's.

The German-born physicist, most famous for his theory of relativity, was on a lecture tour in Japan when he handwrote the autographed notes, previously unknown to researchers, in 1922.

He had recently been informed that he was to receive the Nobel Prize for physics, and his fame outside of scientific circles was growing.

A Japanese courier arrived at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo to deliver Einstein a message. The courier either refused to accept a tip, in line with local practice, or Einstein had no small change available.

Either way, Einstein didn't want the messenger to leave empty-handed, so he wrote him two notes by hand in German, according to the seller, a relative of the messenger.

"Maybe if you're lucky those notes will become much more valuable than just a regular tip," Einstein told the messenger, according to the seller, a resident of the German city of Hamburg.

'Stone in the mosaic'

Two other letters Einstein wrote in later years were also auctioned on Tuesday, fetching prices of $33,600 and $9,600.

In June, letters written by Einstein about God, Israel and physics sold for nearly $210,000 at a Jerusalem auction.

Roni Grosz, the archivist in charge of the world's largest Einstein collection at Jerusalem's Hebrew University, told AFP ahead of Tuesday's auction that it is impossible to determine if the notes were a reflection of Einstein's own musings on his growing fame.

While they hold no scientific value, they may shed light on the private thoughts of the great physicist whose name has become synonymous with genius, according to Grosz.

"What we're doing here is painting the portrait of Einsteinthe man, the scientist, his effect on the worldthrough his writings," said Grosz.

"This is a stone in the mosaic."

Einstein served as a non-resident governor of Jerusalem's Hebrew University and, when he died in 1955, he left the institution his archiveswhich made it the owner of the world's most extensive collection of his documents.

 2017 AFP
Artist concept of a solar sail demonstration mission that will use lasers for navigation. Credit: NASA

We're all familiar with the idea of solar sails to explore the solar system, using the light pressure from the sun. But there's another propulsion system that could harness the power of the sun, electric sails, and it's a pretty exciting idea.

A few weeks ago, I tackled a question someone had about my favorite exotic propulsion systems, and I rattled off a few ideas that I find exciting: solar sails, nuclear rockets, ion engines, etc. But there's another propulsion system that keeps coming up, and I totally forgot to mention, but it's one of the best ideas I've heard in awhile: electric sails.

As you probably know, a solar sail works by harnessing the photons of light streaming from the sun. Although photons are massless, they do have momentum, and can transfer it when they bounce off a reflective surface.

In addition to light, the sun is also blowing off a steady stream of charged particles  the solar wind. A team of engineers from Finland, led by Dr. Pekka Janhunen, has proposed building an electric sail that will use these particles to carry spacecraft out into the solar system.

To understand how this works, I'll need to jam a few concepts into your brain.

First, the sun. That deadly ball of radiation in the sky. As you probably know, there's a steady stream of charged particles, mainly electrons and protons, zipping away from the sun in all directions.

Credit: Universe Today

Astronomers aren't entirely sure how, but some mechanism in the sun's corona, its upper atmosphere, accelerates these particles on an escape velocity. Their speed varies from 250 to 750 km/s.

The solar wind travels away from the sun, and out into space. We see its effects on comets, giving them their characteristic tails, and it forms a bubble around the solar system known as the heliosphere. This is where the solar wind from the sun meets the collective solar winds from the other stars in the Milky Way.

In fact, NASA's Voyager spacecraft recently passed through this region, finally making their way to interstellar space.

The solar wind does cause a direct pressure, like an actual wind, but it's incredibly weak, a fraction of the light pressure a solar sail experiences.

But the solar wind is negatively charged, and this is the key.

An electric sail works by reeling out an incredibly thin wire, just 25 microns thick, but 20 kilometers long. The spacecraft is equipped with solar panels and an electron gun which takes just a few hundred watts to run.

Visualization of the solar wind encountering Earths magnetic defenses known as the magnetosphere. Clouds of southward-pointing plasma are able to peel back layers of the Sun-facing bubble and stack them into layers on the planets nightside (center, right). The layers can be squeezed tightly enough to reconnect and deliver solar electrons (yellow sparkles) directly into the upper atmosphere to create the aurora. Credit: JPL

By shooting electrons off into space, the spacecraft maintains a highly positive charged state. As the negatively charged particles from the sun encounter the positively charged tether, they "see" it a huge obstacle 100 meters across, and crash into it.

By imparting their momentum into the tether and spacecraft, the ions accelerate it away from the sun.

The amount of acceleration is very weak, but it's constant pressure from the sun and can add up over a long period of time. For example, if a 1000 kg spacecraft had 100 of these wires extending out in all directions, it could receive an acceleration of 1 mm per second per second.

In the first second it travels 1 mm, and then 2 mm in the next second, etc. Over the course of a year, this spacecraft could be going 30 km/s. Just for comparison, the fastest spacecraft out there, NASA's Voyager 1, is merely going about 17 km/s. So, much faster, definitely on an escape velocity from the solar system.

One of the downsides of the method, actually, is that it won't work within the Earth's magnetosphere. So an electric sail-powered spacecraft would need to be carried by a traditional rocket away from the Earth before it could unfurl its sail and head out into deep space.

I'm sure you're wondering if this is a one-way trip to get away from the sun, but it's actually not. Just like with solar sails, a electric sail can be pivoted. Depending on which side of the sail the solar wind hits, it either raises or lowers the spacecraft's orbit from the sun.

This artists concept shows the Voyager 1 spacecraft entering the space between stars. Interstellar space is dominated by plasma, ionized gas (illustrated here as brownish haze), that was thrown off by giant stars millions of years ago. Credit: NASA

Strike the sail on one side and you raise its orbit to travel to the outer solar system. But you could also strike the other side and lower its orbit, allowing it to journey down into the inner solar system. It's an incredibly versatile propulsion system, and the sun does all the work.

Although this sounds like science fiction, there are actually some tests in the works. An Estonian prototype satellite was launched back in 2013, but its motor failed to reel out the tether. The Finnish Aalto-1 satellite was launched in June 2017, and one of its experiments is to test out an electric sail.

We should find out if the technique is viable later this year.

It's not just the Finns who are considering this propulsion system. In 2015, NASA announced that they had awarded a Phase II Innovative Advanced Concepts grant to Dr. Pekka Janhunen and his team to explore how this technology could be used to reach the outer solar system in less time than other methods.

The Heliopause Electrostatic Rapid Transit System, or HERTS spacecraft would extend 20 of these electric tethers outward from the center, forming a huge circular electric sail to catch the solar wind. By slowly rotating the spacecraft, the centrifugal forces will stretch the tethers out into this circular shape.

With its positive charge, each tether acts like a huge barrier to the solar wind, giving the spacecraft an effective surface area of 600 square kilometers once it launches from the Earth. As it gets farther, from Earth, though, its effective area increases to the equivalent of 1,200 square km by the time it reaches Jupiter.

Artists illustration of NASAs Heliopause Electrostatic Rapid Transit System. Credit: NASA

When a solar sail starts to lose power, an electric sail just keeps accelerating. In fact, it would keep accelerating out past the orbit of Uranus.

If the technology works out, the HERTS mission could reach the heliopause in just 10 years. It took Voyager 1 35 years to reach this distance, 121 astronomical units from the sun.

But what about steering? By changing the voltage on each wire as the spacecraft rotates, you could have the whole sail interact differently on one side or the other to the solar wind. You could steer the whole spacecraft like the sails on a boat.

In September 2017, a team of researchers with the Finnish Meteorological Institute announced a pretty radical idea for how they might be able to use electric sails to comprehensively explore the asteroid belt.

Instead of a single spacecraft, they proposed building a fleet of 50 separate 5-kg satellites. Each one would reel out its own 20 km-long tether and catch the sun's solar wind. Over the course of a 3-year mission, the spacecraft would travel out to the asteroid belt, and visit several different space rocks. The full fleet would probably be able to explore 300 separate objects.

Each spacecraft would be equipped with a small telescope with only a 40 mm aperture. That's about the size of a spotting scope, or half a pair of binoculars, but it would be enough to resolve features on the surface of an asteroid as small as 100 meters across. They'd also have an infrared spectrometer to be able to determine what minerals each asteroid is made of.

This image depicts the two areas where most of the asteroids in the solar system are found: the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and the trojans, two groups of asteroids moving ahead of and following Jupiter in its orbit around the sun.

That's a great way to find that $10 trillion asteroid made of solid platinum.

Because the spacecraft would be too small to communicate all the way back to Earth, they'd need to store the data on board, and then transmit everything once they came past our planet 3 years later.

The planetary scientists I've talked to love the idea of being able to survey this many different objects at the same time, and the electric sail idea is one of the most efficient methods to do it.

According to the researchers, they could do the mission for about $70 million, bringing the cost to analyze each asteroid down to about $240,000. That would be cheap compared to any other method proposed of studying asteroids.

Space exploration uses traditional chemical rockets because they're known and reliable. Sure they have their shortcomings, but they've taken us across the solar system, to billions of kilometers away from Earth.

But there are other forms of propulsion in the works, like the electric sail. And over the coming decades, we're going to see more and more of these ideas put to the test. A fuel free propulsion system that can carry a spacecraft into the outer reaches of the solar system? Yes please.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Energy companies in the UK are using specific branding approaches instead of product innovation to keep customers, according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA).

While previous research has tended to focus on pricing, this study looked at the branding strategies and personalities of the Big Six energy firms - British Gas, SSE, EDF Energy, E.ON UK, npower and Scottish Power - and whether this is increasing consumer loyalty and therefore reducing switching behaviour. The Big Six represent more than 90 per cent of all energy supplied in the UK consumer sector.

Focusing on the electricity market between 2013 - when the number of customers switching providers reached its lowest level - and 2015, the researchers find that brand personality consistency over time is important.

Consistent brands, such as EDF Energy, performed better as they saw decreases in switching compared to firms, like npower and Scottish Energy, that had significantly changed their brand personality position or communicated inconsistently in this period.

Providers that had a significantly different brand personality position between marketing communication channels, such as their website and annual report, also had more switching than those that remained consistent. Interestingly, the majority of the brands studied were inconsistent on this measure.

The findings are published today in the journal European Management Review.

Lead author Dr Richard Rutter, a visiting research fellow at UEA's Norwich Business School and assistant professor at the Australian College of Kuwait, said: "This research demonstrates the long-term importance of corporate branding in the energy sector and that brand personality does have an impact on customer retention.

"The Big Six energy providers recognise the power of brand identity when attempting to persuade consumers to switch providers. Rather than doing so simply on the basis of superior financial offers, they are increasingly looking to build a long-term brand personality with which consumers will identify.

"These organisations wish to be viewed as customer-focused and as offering a fair deal to consumers. There seem to be subtle but important differences in the ways that each company is choosing to communicate with its domestic audience and some are more effective than others."

Concentrating on companies' communication through their websites and annual reports, the researchers examined what brand personality dimensions - defined as sincerity, excitement, competence, sophistication and ruggedness - were communicated most strongly and how consistently each organisation communicated its brand between the website and annual report. They then assessed the organisation's performance, measured by consumer loyalty or switching behaviour.

They found that brands communicating excitement more strongly, such as EDF Energy, had the lowest levels of switching. The findings also suggest an ideal brand personality for the UK energy sector: low to medium levels of sincerity and competence and high levels of excitement and ruggedness communicated through the website lead to better performance. The authors say the annual report should maintain this, but also communicate a higher level of competence.

Co-author Prof Konstantinos Chalvatzis, of Norwich Business School and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at UEA, said: "Under scrutiny from the public and politicians, the energy sector is changing rapidly. Branding within the energy sector has become increasingly important, as energy firms seek to attract and, importantly, retain customers.

"We find that certain energy brands, for example EDF Energy have communicated their personality consistently, while others, such as npower and British Gas, seem to have repositioned themselves. A strong brand personality alone is not enough to prevent consumer switching, rather, particular dimensions of personality are more favourable than others and the relevance of specific personality traits can change."

The authors, who also include Prof Stuart Roper of the University of Huddersfield and Prof Fiona Lettice of Norwich Business School, recommend that firms should not drastically change their branding each year. Brand managers should also consider how to increase the communication of excitement in relation to their brands without being inauthentic, and ensure that their brand is consistent over time and between different marketing media.

Relatively quick gains could be made by reviewing external communications for consistency of language and message. The findings also highlight the need for greater emphasis on competence related language, particularly when delivering negative information.

'Branding instead of product innovation: a study on the brand personalities of the UK's electricity market', Richard Rutter, Konstantinos Chalvatzis, Stuart Roper and Fiona Lettice, is published in European Management Review.

More information: 'Branding instead of product innovation: a study on the brand personalities of the UK's electricity market' European Management Review (2017)
Credit: Florida International University

Conservation biologist Paul Reillo is torn between two worlds in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Mariaone of swift action and one of waiting.

There is little time to rest. More than 200 animals, many fighting extinction, are relying on him. The FIU scientist is the founder of the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation (RSCF), a partner in FIU's Tropical Conservation Institute (TCI), which offers safe haven, captive breeding programs and field-based conservation to help save endangered species. In a matter of two weeks, two species of birds on the brink of extinction were dealt devastating blows when Hurricanes Irma and Maria crossed the Caribbean, leaving devastation in their wakes. The team at the Tropical Conservation Institute knows it is facing an unprecedented conservation crisis.

Working

Hurricane Irma caused more than $200,000 in damages at RSCF's property in Loxahatchee, Fla. Little could be done to save enclosures and fences from the storm, but Reillo and his team secured the animals, including 40 endangered east African bongo antelopes, 35 primates including endangered golden lion tamarins, nearly 100 parrots representing a variety of threatened and endangered species and 42 critically endangered Florida grasshopper sparrows.

The TCI team is putting in long hours to rebuild what was destroyed at the RSCF facility and to help the animals recover from the stress brought on by the storm. The Florida grasshopper sparrows are the greatest cause for concern. It is the world's most endangered bird with less than 100 remaining in the wild before Irma. The team fears the hurricane has crippled the wild population which resides exclusively in the prairie grasses of Central Florida. They are working with state and federal wildlife officials on strategies to help preserve the small number of birds that remain on the planet.

Waiting

Meanwhile, Reillo is waiting for news about Dominica's critically endangered Imperial Amazon.

Credit: Florida International University

Since the late 1990s, he has been working with Dominica's Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division to help restore the rare parrot's population in the wild which has been devastated by habitat loss, the pet trade and natural disasters. In 2000, the local government established a national park to protect critical habitat for the rare parrot species. Reillo raised many of the funds himself to purchase the land necessary for the initiative.

Hurricane Maria, in a matter of a single day, destroyed more than 20 years of work to save the species.

"The flagship species we have fought to save for so many years may now face imminent extinction," Reillo said, pausing for a rare break from post-hurricane clean-up.

When Maria marched across the Caribbean, the expansive forests of the island were decimated. Tree canopies were gutted and critical habitat for the Imperial Amazon was destroyed. Dominica is among the most hardest hit countries by the recent spate of storms that attacked the Caribbean. Fewer than 250 mature Imperial Amazons were known to populate the forests of Dominica before Maria. Local forestry officials have been looking for any signs that some of the rare parrots weathered the storm, but the bird is elusive and difficult to find under normal circumstances. These are not normal circumstances.

"TCI's fight to save endangered species is critical," said Mike Heithaus, dean of FIU's College of Arts, Sciences & Education, which houses TCI. "Recent hurricanes have proven how very vulnerable many species are. Our programs can make the difference between an animal being here and not, but the monumental task before us is going to require tremendous local, national and international support."

Even if Imperial Amazons survived, the catastrophic destruction of the island's richly biodiverse forests is causing alarm for conservationists. Locals have spotted the more common Jaco parrot among the gutted forests, but those are struggling to find food. Their plight represents a much larger crisis looming over Dominica's wildlife and especially the Imperial Amazons.

Reillo believes the Imperial Amazon still has a fighting chance. For now, the focus is on getting supplies to the island including tarps, chainsaws, tools and veterinary supplies. Researchers and forestry officials are still trying to assess the status of the population and develop a strategy for recovery. The FIU Tropical Conservation Institute team is preparing for an aggressive plan that Reillo knows will come at a significant cost. But the alternativeloss of another flagship speciesposes a far greater cost to the health of the planet.
The Y-chromosome of fruit flies consists not just of "gene-junk", but also functioning genes. Credit: Markus Riedl

The Y chromosome, which is found only in males, is difficult to decode even with the latest sequencing technologies. Among evolutionary biologists, the question as to which genes lie on the male sex chromosome and where they came from is therefore hotly debated. Using an innovative analysis method, a team of population geneticists from Vetmeduni Vienna have now made a crucial breakthrough. They were able to show that genetic material in fruit flies is often transferred to the Y chromosome from the other chromosomes. Although this transfer largely occurs as a result of "accidents," the researchers now demonstrate that some of these transfers create functional genes on the Y chromosome. The findings, published in PNAS, will supply new momentum for the research of the male chromosome in other species.

Y chromosomes, which are only inherited paternally, evolved from "normal" chromosomes known as autosomes. As males only possess one Y chromosome, there is no counterpart for recombination, the direct exchange of genetic material. This makes the deletion of harmful mutations on the Y chromosome more difficult than in other chromosomes. As a result, genes on the Y chromosome usually undergo a process of degeneration. Earlier studies with fruit flies have shown that new genes can be transferred onto the Y chromosome, although the rate was estimated as very low (1 transfer in 10 million years).

Researchers from the Institute of Population Genetics at Vetmeduni Vienna, using a new and highly specific analysis method, could now provide fresh momentum to help decode the evolutionary dynamics of the Y chromosome. Their study shows that ten times more new genes are transferred onto the Y chromosome in fruit flies than had been previously thought. Some of these new genes even appear to have taken on important functions.

The Y chromosome has been a tough nut to crack in genome research. As it possesses only few functional genes, and these are embedded in repetitive DNA that is difficult to analyse, finding these genes is a challenge. "Only seven functional genes have been identified on the Y chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster. But we suspect that the number of functional genes as well as the actual transfer rate must be higher," says first author Ray Tobler. "We therefore developed a new analysis method that allows us to efficiently search for gene transfers onto the Y chromosome, so-called GeTYs."

The researchers' trick consisted in sequencing the genome of males and females from a so-called inbred strain of fruit flies. These differ only in the Y chromosome sequence. "The key to our results was to search for variants in the males that do not exist among the females," says Tobler. "That means we worked without any known Y chromosome sequences that would usually be used for a comparison. This allowed us to trace the transferred genes back to so-called retrocopies, which are created when the RNA transcript of a gene is inserted into the Y chromosome."

All previously described gene transfers onto the Y chromosome involved the transfer of a piece of the chromosome and not an RNA transcript. "The high number of validated gene transfers allowed us to statistically show that there were differences between Drosophila species," explains senior author Christian Schlotterer. "We only found genes originating from an RNA transcript in the closely related D. mauritiana and D. simulans, which suggests that the transfer mechanisms are species-specific."

A special surprise for the research team was that four of the 25 newly transferred genes on the Y chromosome have already assumed an important function there. "As these new genes can be found in all individuals of a species, the question arises as to which functions these new Y-linked genes could have," says Tobler. Until now, it has been still completely unclear if and how long these new genes can withstand the deterioration of the Y chromosome. As the new analysis method does not require a reference genome for the Y chromosome, it offers enormous potential to study the dynamics of new genes on the Y chromosome in many different species. "I expect many more exciting findings," concludes Christian Schlotterer.

More information: Ray Tobler et al. High rate of translocation-based gene birth on theDrosophilaY chromosome, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2017). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1706502114 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Pakistan hits back at US saying, there are no safe havens in the country and that they are not supporting or protecting the Haqqani Network.

By Santosh Chaubey: After US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reminded Pakistan that it is needed to eradicate militants and terrorists operating from its soil, Pakistan has hit back saying there are no safe havens in the country and also that they are not supporting or protecting the Haqqani Network, one of the most dreaded terror groups of Afghanistan which the US alleges operates from Pakistan.

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"Terrorist attacks are not planned on or executed from Pakistani soil, there are no terrorist safe havens in Pakistan," Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said in a Geo News interview. Asif also said that "Pakistan made it clear to the US delegation that it is not protecting or supporting the Haqqani network."

Tillerson, who is on Middle-East and South Asia tour and is in Delhi today with scheduled meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, was in Pakistan yesterday after his unscheduled Afghanistan stopover on October 23 where he had reiterated the US government stand that Pakistan must rein in the terror groups operating from its soil.

Pakistan's parliament also lashed at Tillerson's comment. The Chairman of Pakistan's Senate, Raza Rabbani, called Tillerson's remarks unacceptable. "Tillerson's statement seems like that of a viceroy's before they visit a country," an acerbic Rabbani fumed.

Asif also blamed US and international forces for their "ineptitude" that he believed was responsible for prolonging the Afghanistan crisis and dismissed the US threats of curtailing economic and military aid. "Pakistan only receives "a trickle" of economic assistance from the US and does not get any military hardware from them and Pakistanis are not like in the past when they were American's proxy," Asif told the BBC News.

After US President Donald Trump called Pakistan a treacherous nation and a safe haven for terrorists, engaged in double-dealings, harbouring and protecting the very same terrorists who attack the US interests in Afghanistan, while unveiling his South Asia policy, the US has increasingly been putting more pressure on Pakistan to harbour its commitment.

A fortnight ago, when Pakistan was patting its back for its so-called brilliant rescue operation to liberate a US-Canadian family who was in Haqqanis' captivity for five years, the terse response from Trump was, "he Pakistani government's cooperation is a sign that it is honoring America's wishes for it to do more to provide security in the region."

The US has taken measures including cutting military aid to Pakistan and is going to curtail its role in Afghanistan while at the same time is looking for a strategic partnership with India in Afghanistan's reconstruction process, a cornerstone of Trump's new Afghanistan policy, even if Pakistan sees an increased Indian presence in Afghanistan inimical to its interests.

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Also watch : Trump slams Pakistan for harbouring terrorists, seeks bigger role for India in Afghanistan

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If the flooding Hurricane Irma unleashed around Miami-Dade County looked bad onshore, scientists worry the damage to Biscayne Bay could be far more long-lasting, and difficult to fix.

During and after the storm, foul stormwater from the mainland and beaches poured into the bay, carrying pollution from oil-stained streets and leaky sewers to areas already struggling with seagrass die-offs and algae blooms. Ongoing testing by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Miami-Dade County has found chlorophyll, the pigment found in algae, elevated all over the bay.

At the troubled north end, where an ongoing die-off has killed half the beds, it spiked up to 10 times higher, a sign that increasing nutrients from pollution are feeding the seagrass-smothering algae.

Salinity levels have also plunged in places, leaving water nearly fresh. Oxygen concentrations needed to keep fish alive are also woefully low.

"The real question is what happens now," said Chris Kelble, an oceanographer with NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Lab. "Does the chlorophyll and algal biomass keep getting high, or does it die back down to normal?"

While it's not yet clear precisely what's causing the problems, the likely culprit is the pollution, which over the years has caused the bay to grow less and less healthy, driving away fish and wiping out more than 23 square miles of seagrass meadows.

"You're reducing the resiliency of the bay to withstand these types of disturbances," Kelble said.

The NOAA team and other scientists are in the midst of performing an ecosystem assessment and expect results in the next few weeks.

The bay, along with the mangrove forests, sawgrass marshes, pine rocklands and South Florida's other natural features, evolved to withstand frequent poundings from hurricanes. Churning up bays can help flush them out - after Irma, Florida Bay brimmed with life - while heavy rain and freshwater swelling rivers can revive shorelines. But when all that water is polluted, consequences can be dire.

After hurricanes Katrina and Wilma lashed Florida in 2005, algae started appearing inshore where canals and groundwater flush into the bay. The algae, which block the light seagrass needs, eventually took over the beds in the north central parts of the bay. Then in 2013, acres of turtle grass that once grew in gin clear water in the secluded Tuttle basin began dying, raising concerns that storm run-off from increased flooding, coupled with rising salinity tied to sea rise, was worsening conditions.

Following Irma, monthly sampling by Miami-Dade County's Division of Environmental Resources Management found the highest levels of chlorophyll in the secluded north basins and off Matheson Hammock, where a major canal drains into the bay. In a statement emailed Friday evening, the agency said it was analyzing the data.

But scientists working with other agencies say conditions are likely troubling.

NOAA has been sampling water monthly off South Florida since the 1990s and after hurricanes typically looks at issues such as algae blooms that might worsen. Earlier this month, they modified their sampling to look more closely at Irma's impacts. In addition to water quality in Biscayne Bay, the assessment will examine seagrass and the condition of juvenile sportfish in the region's lucrative fishing industry, coral near Cheeca Rocks and water quality in the Gables Waterway where leaking septic tanks have long caused problems.

While results are preliminary, so far they show chlorophyll elevated in all but the central parts of the bay. The level in salinity near shore also dropped, Kelble said, which is not unexpected. But in places, water was nearly fresh.

Concentrated oxygen in water, necessary for marine life, was also dangerously low in places, said NOAA research scientist Nicole Millette, who is conducting a long-term study of the bay's health. In some locations, levels were half of what's needed for marine life and even lower in other places, she said.

"Basically, there's low oxygen in the water in certain areas and that is another indication of poor water quality," she said.

Kelble said scientists are still working on finding more precisely what's causing the problems. The seagrass die-off in the Tuttle basin, coupled with the wider spread die-offs, could also make conditions worse since seagrass help soak up the nutrients.

"When you have a die-off, you have a high potential to have algal blooms and larger algal blooms," he said.

Stormwater typically contains high amounts of bacteria from leaking sewer and septic tanks. In 2015, after heavy pumping during king tides, water around Miami Beach had live fecal matter above state health limits, that included both human and dog waste. The finding triggered harsh criticism of the city's pumping and prompted calls for more monitoring. But so far, only one station along the beach has been added, the Division of Environmental Resources Management said in Friday's statement. Other locations are being considered, the statement said.

Florida International University geochemist Henry Briceno, who conducted the sampling and drew sharp criticism from Miami Beach officials, is now testing water provided by Kelble for signs of waste. He expects to have the results in a couple weeks.

But environmentalists fear the time for fixing the bay may be running out.

"The bay's a mess. Let's just call it cesspool, OK?" said Dan Kipnis, a retired fishing captain and chairman of the Miami Beach Marine and Waterfront Protection Authority.

"We already knew we were dying (in Tuttle basin) and the levels were high after the hurricane. You would expect any septic tanks would have flooded out and ended up in canals that ended up being pumped into the bay. You don't have to be a scientist to understand that theory."

2017 Miami Herald

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

In August, the Swedish government appointed Karin Olofsdotter as new Swedish ambassador to the United States. The appointment is of historical importance, since Olofsdotter is the first Swedish woman to hold the position. The male dominance in diplomacy dates far back in time, and men continue to outnumber women among the world's diplomats. However, the share of women diplomats has shown an upward trend since the late 1990s, including at ambassador level.

It has long been known that a gendered distribution of work tasks often arise when women enter male-dominated environments. More precisely, men continue to be overrepresented in positions with power and status whereas women become overrepresented in various support functions with less status. The area of diplomacy has until now remained understudied in this regard.

Ann Towns, associate professor of political science, and her researcher colleague Birgitta Niklasson carried out a study of gender patterns in diplomacy by examining all ambassador appointments made by the world's fifty wealthiest countries in 2014 - almost 7 000 in total.

'Our main research question concerned gender and status. We investigated whether men tend to be overrepresented in positions characterised by power and prestige, as in cities such as Washington, D.C. and Moscow,' says Towns.

The study shows that 85 per cent of the world's ambassadors are men. But the share varies regionally and between countries. The Nordic countries have the largest proportion of female ambassadors, 35 percent, followed by North America at 25 per cent. Asia and the Middle East are well below average, with 10 and 6 per cent, respectively. South America, Africa and Europe not including the Nordic countries are all close to the average value, which is 15 per cent.

However, there are large variations within these regions. For example, the Philippines and Colombia stand out from their neighbours with proportions of 41 and 28 per cent, respectively.

'Diplomacy as a single-gendered institution is changing,' says Towns.

When it comes to the status of ambassador positions, measured in terms of the size of the host country's military and economic resources, there is a clear and consistent gender pattern.

The shares of male ambassadors are larger in host countries with the largest economies and military forces, that is, there is greater male dominance in the ambassador positions with higher status. The gender distribution of ambassadors is more proportional in other host countries. The underrepresentation of women is not huge, but it is consistent across all the metrics that the researchers used to measure military and economic status.

'Diplomacy displays the same gender patterns as in a variety of other institutions and environments,' says Towns.

So when the Swedish government appointed Karin Olofsdotter as new ambassador to the United States, a pattern was broken.

'A very small share of all ambassadors in Washington are women. Olofsdotter's appointment to serve as ambassador in one of the world's most prestigious capitals should be seen in light of our findings, as her presence helps to break up the gender pattern in diplomacy,' says Towns.

More information: Ann Towns et al, Gender, International Status, and Ambassador Appointments, Foreign Policy Analysis (2016). DOI: 10.1093/fpa/orw039
Fabien Knoll, Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, lies next to the new exceptionally large carnivorous dinosaur footprints found in Lesotho. Credit: Fabien Knoll

An international team of scientists has discovered the first evidence that a huge carnivorous dinosaur roamed southern Africa 200 million year ago.

The team, which includes researchers from The University of Manchester, University of Cape Town, South Africa, and Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil, have found several three-toed footprints measuring 57cm long and 50cm wide.

This means the dinosaur would have an estimated body length of around nine metres (30 feet) and be a little less than three metres tall at the hip. That's four times the size of a lion, which is currently the largest carnivore in southern Africa.

The footprints belong to a new species, named Kayentapus ambrokholohali, which is part of the group of dinosaurs called "megatheropod". The term "Megatheropods" describes the giant two-legged carnivorous dinosaurs, such as the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex (T. rex) which fossil evidence shows was around 12 metres long.

This study, which is published in PLOS ONE today, also reveals that these footprints make up the largest theropod tracks in Africa.

The tracks were found on an ancient land surface, known as a palaeosurface, in the Maseru District of Lesotho, a small country in southern Africa. The surface is covered in 200 million years old 'current-ripple marks' and 'desiccation cracks' which are signs of a prehistoric watering hole or river bank.

Silhouette of the enormous carnivorous dinosaur that made the Lesotho footprints next to an average human for a sense of scale. Credit: Fabien Knoll & Lara Sciscio

Dr Fabien Knoll, Senior Research Fellow at The University of Manchester, said: 'The latest discovery is very exciting and sheds new light on the kind of carnivore that roamed what is now southern Africa.

'That's because it is the first evidence of an extremely large meat-eating animal roaming a landscape otherwise dominated by a variety of herbivorous, omnivorous and much smaller carnivorous dinosaurs. It really would have been top of the food chain.'

What makes the discovery even more important is that these footprints date back to the Early Jurassic epoch, when it was thought the size of most theropod dinosaurs was considerably smaller. On average they were previously thought to be around three to five metres in body length, with some records showing they may have reached seven metres at the very most. It is only much later in the Jurassic and during the Cretaceous, which starts 145 million years ago, that truly large forms of theropods, such as T. rex, appear in body and trace fossil records.

Dr Lara Sciscio, postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Cape Town, said: 'This discovery marks the first occurrence of very large carnivorous dinosaurs in the Early Jurassic of southern Gondwana - the prehistoric continent which would later break up and become Africa and other landmasses. This makes it a significant find. Globally, these large tracks are very rare. There is only one other known site similar in age and sized tracks, which is in Poland.'

The ancient surface where these footprints were found is also covered with the tracks of much smaller theropod dinosaurs.

Dr Knoll added: 'In South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Namibia, there is good record of theropod footprints from the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic epochs. In fact, there are numerous palaeosurfaces where footprints and even tail and body impressions of these, and other animals, can be found. But now we have evidence this region of Africa was also home to a mega-carnivore.'
Tomato seedlings treated with the fungus (right) flourished on tailings. Credit: University of Saskatchewan

"The current methods of restoring these sites are not as cost efficient or energy efficient as they could be, and can cause more environmental disruption," said Susan Kaminskyj, a professor in the Department of Biology. "Our biotech innovation should help to solve this type of problem faster and with less additional disturbance."

Kaminskyj led a research team that included three biology students and a post-doctoral fellow in the U of S College of Arts and Science. Results from their work, funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, were published in the journal PLOS ONE.

About 800 square kilometers of Alberta's Athabasca oilsands are covered in coarse tailings: some of the leftover materials from refining surface-mined bitumen. Contaminated with an oily residue, lacking nutrients and resistant to absorbing water, coarse tailings are a hostile environment to both plants and soil microbes.

But after tailings lie exposed for a decade or so, a few weedy plants often manage to take root. One of these, a dandelion, was obtained by the U of S team in 2007 upon being discovered growing naturally on a coarse tailings site. From its roots, former graduate student Xiaohui Bao isolated a unique strain of fungus.

The researchers soon found that the funguswhich they named TSTh20-1has a remarkable property. When its spores are applied to plants, those plants grow and thrive on coarse tailings.

"There are lots of micro-organisms out there that eat hydrocarbons for a living. But what is really neat about this one is that it's in symbiosis with a plant," said Tim Repas, one of the paper's authors. "It's not only eating the hydrocarbons, but it's letting the plant survive in these environments."

In Kaminskyj's laboratory, more than 90 per cent of seeds treated with TSTh20-1 sprouted on coarse tailings, while none of the untreated seeds sprouted. Tomato seedlings treated with the fungus flourished on tailings even without fertilizer and grew to produce tomatoes.

As the plants grew, they also cleaned the soil beneath them. Petrochemical residues in the tailings were broken down, creating a healthier growth environment.

The fungus was even able to grow directly on diesel, crude oil and similar materials as its only nutrient sourcethe first time this ability has been seen in a member of this fast-growing group of fungi. The researchers concluded that TSTh20-1 has excellent potential to restore many types of petrochemical spills as well as coarse tailing sites.

Seeing these properties together in one organism is exciting, said Repas, a recent master of science in biology graduate who now works as an environmental scientist. It means the TSTh20-1 fungus is "multitalented."

"So we can do the remediation and the reclamation of a site at the same time," Repas said.

Ordinarily, remediationremoving contaminants from a siteis done separately from reclamationrestoring the land to near its original state. In the event of a spill, contaminated soil is often scraped up and hauled away in a lengthy and expensive process. New soil is then brought into the area and seeded with native plants.

"With our process, they could just lay down our treated seeds and then check on the site every so often," said Kaminskyj. "They could put less energy, more effectively, into a much larger space."

The next step is proving the method works in the real world. The team has already started tests at two petrochemical spill sites in Alberta and British Columbia and expects to begin seeing results next year.

The researchers are also seeking industry partners who would like to test the process at oilsands tailings sites or at oil spills.

Another area of further investigation will be the mechanism by which TSTh20-1 achieves its effects. One clue is the increased levels of enzymes called peroxidases that the team found being secreted by plants colonized by the fungus.

"Peroxidases can break down any kind of chemical bond, and they appear to be deeply involved in decontaminating the petrochemical component of tailings," said Kaminskyj.

Knowing more about how TSTh20-1 works could help with identifying additional organisms that grant similar benefits to plants. The researchers are currently studying 10 new candidates isolated from plant roots.

More information: Timothy S. Repas et al. Growing plants on oily, nutrient-poor soil using a native symbiotic fungus, PLOS ONE (2017). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186704 Journal information: PLoS ONE
Yemeni Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman calls for a global tribunal to prosecute executives of multinational corporations who damage the environment

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkul Karman proposed in Honduras on Tuesday the creation of a global tribunal to prosecute executives of multinational firms who damage the earth.

Karman, of Yemen, made the suggestion in the Central American country that Amnesty International last year describedalong with its neighbor Guatemalaas the most dangerous in the world for environmentalists.

"A world court should be created that could punish all these multinational corporations" that damage the environment and contribute to climate change, Karman said through a translator.

She spoke at a press conference with Shirin Ebadi of Iran, a fellow Nobel laureate who won the peace prize in 2003.

As part of the Nobel Women's Initiative, they aimed "to gather a first-hand account of the ongoing violence against women land defenders" in Honduras and in Guatemala, where they travelled later Tuesday, the group's website says.

The murder of Berta Caceres, 45, gunned down last year, highlighted the threat to Honduran activists and sparked international outrage.

Caceres opposed plans by the company Desarrollos Energeticos to build a hydroelectric dam across a river on which indigenous communities depended.

Rachel Vincent, advocacy and media director for the Nobel Women's Initiative, said Honduras has the world's highest rate of murders for human rights and land defenders.

Since 2009, 123 activists have been killed, she said.

In comments to AFP, Karman said a special international court is needed "to fight against corruption and money laundering and against all those involved in destroying the environment and exploiting the climate in a damaging way."

She said such a tribunal could be similar to The Hague-based International Criminal Court which investigates and tries people charged with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Karman said the court she proposes would handle cases in which human rights and environmental activists or anti-corruption fighters are "found dead."

She also said the investigation of Caceres's murder must be deepened "to discover all those who benefited from this crime."

Eight people were arrested, among them an employee of Desarrollos Energeticos.

The Nobel laureates met Austra Berta Flores, the mother of Caceres, on Saturday.

In Guatemala, they are to join two other Nobel Peace Prize winners, Guatemala's Rigoberta Menchu and Jody Williams of the United States.

 2017 AFP
Tornado with dust and debris cloud forming at surface. Credit: NOAA Photo Library/Flickr

Seismic waves generated by tornadoes when they touch down could be used to measure a twister's intensity, according to a new study.

The new research examined a catastrophic tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri in May 2011 and revealed the size of seismic waves produced by the tornado on the ground correlated with its strength.

The results suggest researchers can estimate a large tornado's strength by measuring the seismic waves it creates, a finding that could open the door to devising more accurate methods to study tornadoes from the ground, according to the authors of the new study published in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union.

Weather authorities currently forecast the locations of tornadoes using surface weather stations and Doppler radar. But they still rely on storm chasers and spotters to find out when a tornado touches down. There is also no way to directly measure a tornado's wind speed, so authorities rely on damage reports to indirectly judge its intensity.

"Our results have applications for developing a more quantitative measure of a tornado's strength," said Anne Valovcin, a graduate student in the Earth science department at the University of California in Santa Barbara and lead author of the new study. "Also, we only see the seismic signals when it touches the ground, so that could provide a new way to directly determine when a tornado has touched down."

A new way to monitor twisters

Map of the full path of the Joplin tornado on May 22, 2011. Darker colors indicate more severe damage. The numbered points give the recorded intensity of the tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale at that location. Credit: NOAA/NWS

Seismic waves are vibrations in the Earth created when the ground shakes, usually felt during earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or large explosions. Tornadoes also generate small seismic waves when they travel over the ground, but scientists know little about how these waves vary with storm strength.

In the new study, Valovcin and her colleagues analyzed seismic waves generated by the May 22, 2011 Joplin tornado to characterize the relationship between the size of these waves and the tornado's strength. The Joplin twister clocked in as a powerful EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, a scale that rates the intensity of tornadoes by how much damage they cause. It killed 158 people and resulted in $2.8 billion in damage, making it the costliest single tornado in U.S. history.

The study's authors hypothesized that if the tornado touched the ground close enough to a seismic station, the instruments could pick up those signals. "We wanted to see if we could detect these ground signals, then work backwards and create a model for the seismic waves generated by the tornado along its entire path," Valovcin said.

The researchers collected data from a network of stations built to detect small earthquakes and map Earth's interior under North America. These stations are equipped with seismometers and barometers that measure seismic signals and changes in air pressure. The measurements for the new study came from one station close enough to the Joplin tornado to detect its seismic signals.

A chart comparing the size of the seismic waves to the recorded strength of the Joplin tornado through its lifetime. The red section indicates when the Joplin tornado was recorded as EF4-5 intensity, and the blue section is when the tornado was recorded as a weaker EF0-2. Credit: Valovcin et al.

The authors divided the tornado's path on land into hundreds of individual points and calculated the size of the seismic wave generated at each point. They then correlated the size of the seismic waves at each stage in the tornado's lifetime with the tornado's intensity at that time.

The results show the size of the seismic waves correlated well with the tornado's EF rating. EF ratings range from EF0 to EF5, with EF5 being the most destructive category. The Joplin tornado went from an EF1-2 to an EF4-5 in fewer than 10 minutes, and stayed at that intensity for approximately 15 minutes before beginning to lose its strength. As the twister got stronger and then weaker, the size of the seismic waves it generated increased and decreased accordingly.

Measuring a tornado's seismic signals could provide a better way for researchers to measure a tornado's strength and could help determine exactly when a twister touches down, according to the study's authors. But they cautioned the new method is largely preliminary and has several limitations.

For example, the technique requires measuring the air pressure at the time of the tornado to eliminate seismic interference from the turbulent air surrounding the twister. Seismic stations therefore need to be located next to functioning barometers to provide usable data.

Additionally, seismic waves generated by tornadoes are very small, and can't be felt by a person without equipment. They don't propagate far from their source, unlike seismic waves generated by earthquakes, which are often larger and can travel long distances. Detecting tornadoes in real-time with this method would require building a much denser network of seismic stations and barometers than currently exists, Valovcin said.

More information: Anne Valovcin et al. Modeling the Excitation of Seismic Waves by the Joplin Tornado, Geophysical Research Letters (2017). DOI: 10.1002/2017GL074185 Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters

This story is republished courtesy of AGU Blogs (http://blogs.agu.org), a community of Earth and space science blogs, hosted by the American Geophysical Union. Read the original story here.
Copernicus Sentinel-1 radar mission images were used to measure waves of up to 10 m high under Hurricane Irma as it struck Cuba and the Florida keys on 9 and 10 September 2017, respectively. Credit: contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2017), processed by DLR

This year's Atlantic hurricane season has been a harsh reminder of the grief and devastation brought by these vast storms. Imaging the top of hurricanes from space is nothing new, but the Sentinel-1 satellites can see right through these towering spinning weather systems, measuring the sea surface below to help predict the storm's path.

The 2017 hurricane season isn't even over yet, but 10 Atlantic storms in a row have already reached hurricane strength  the first time this has happened in more than a century.

Since understanding and predicting these powerful weather systems is essential to saving lives and property, scientists have been looking into how the Copernicus Sentinel-1 radar mission can help.

The Sentinel-1 pair provides radar images of Earth for Europe's environmental monitoring Copernicus programme.

Information from this state-of-the art mission is used for numerous applications, from monitoring sea ice and marine oil spills to mapping floods and land-surface deformation caused by earthquakes.

Observing hurricanes wasn't part of its original remit.

Unlike satellites that carry optical instruments, from which we get the familiar images of the top of hurricanes, radar can penetrate clouds to image the sea underneath these powerful and destructive weather systems.

Taking Sentinel-1 beyond its original scope, scientists at the German Aerospace Center have developed a technique that allows the radar to probe sea-surface wind and wave heights.

Sentinel-1 carries an advanced synthetic aperture radar that works in several specialised modes to provide detailed imagery for Europes Copernicus programme. These data will be used for applications such as monitoring the oceans, including shipping lanes, sea ice and oil spills. It also provides data to map changing land cover, ground deformation, ice shelves and glaciers, and can be used to help emergency response when disasters such as floods strike and to support humanitarian relief efforts at times of crisis. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab

Importantly, this information about the state of the sea can help to assess how destructive a hurricane is and predict its path  and, therefore, where and when it is likely to make landfall.

The same information can also be used to warn ships and to issue warnings of coastal flooding.

This new technique was used for the first time when hurricane Irma struck Cuba and the Florida Keys in early September. Here, waves up to 10 m high were measured.

Sentinel-1 works in several different modes, but it is its 'wide swath mode', which is 250 km wide with a resolution of 5 x 20 m, is particularly valuable for understanding ocean waves.

This is especially important because in situ measurements of wind and sea state cannot be gained from buoys or dropped probes in such extreme weather or over such a wide area.

ESA's Sentinel-1 project manager, Ramon Torres, said, "We see the Sentinel-1 mission being used for many different applications that benefit society, but this is a particularly good example of how the mission could make a real difference to people's lives. Sentinel-1 is delivering beyond our expectations."

Scientists at the German Aerospace Center are using radar images from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission to gain information about the wind and waves at the sea surface under hurricanes. This information is not obvious in this image, but novel processing techniques can reveal important information that can be used to assess how destructive a hurricane is and predict its path. This image was acquired on 9 September 2017 under Hurricane Irma as it passed over Cuba. Credit: contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2017), processed by DLR
A Japanese firm has created what it claims is a world-first "noise-cancelling" fork to mask the sound made by slurping down noodles, dubbed "noodle harassment" on social media.

Foreign visitors to Japanese noodle bars are often startled to hear the localsnormally so polite and restrainednoisily slurping down their noodles with lip-smacking gusto.

The tradition is supposed to show the diner's appreciation for the food but some people are becoming bothered by the noise.

Now an instant noodle producer claims to have found a solution to the problem.

Inspired by Japanese toilets, which can be programmed to play an artificial flushing noise to cover embarrassing sounds, Nissin Food Products looked at creating something similar for noodles.

The result was a giant fork4.4 centimetres (1.73 inches) wide and 15.2 centimetres longwith a sensitive microphone to detect offending slurps.

"We developed a system in which any subtle slurping sound can be detected," said the company.

When the slurp alert is triggered, the fork sends a signal to the user's mobile phone, which plays the soothing sound of flowing water to mask the offending noise.

Nissin will however only sell the gadget if it receives 5,000 pre-orders by mid-Decemberat the price of 14,800 yen ($130).

 2017 AFP
The Immersive Engineering Lab is a modern working and presentation environment that allows immersive 3D displays for realistic, detailed, accurately rendered real-time visualization. Furthermore, the laboratorys large media wall means it is ideally equipped for collaborative, multimedia work sessions. Credit: Uwe Voelkner / Fotoagentur FOX

Fun, effective and easy to understand: New digital visualization technologies offer an excellent opportunity to improve communication with citizens on large building projects. Titled "Visualizing Building Projects," the practical guidelines give planners, architects and public agencies advice on how to use virtual reality and similar innovations. The guidelines were developed jointly by Fraunhofer IAO and the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart as part of the VisB+ research project.

Whenever there are plans to build a new hospital, renovate a bridge or erect a wind turbine, then engineers, planners and public officials all know one thing is inevitable: disagreements. This is because these kinds of projects raise all kinds of concerns among members of the public. Will that structure block out the sunlight in my home? Will I face a traffic jam every day? Won't that thing be a blight on the landscape? Communication on these projects often breaks down because the people responsible are unable to formulate clear, convincing answers to public concerns and to explain the plans in terms that everyone can understand.

This is where the digital transformation offers big opportunities. New visualization technologies bring projects to life before they are built. In virtual reality simulations, citizens can explore buildings, play out use scenarios, and inspect visual relationships  as if they were actually there on site. Comparing alternatives becomes child's play: one click and you can replace one facade with another, move the access road to a different location, or see what it looks like with new grass on the plaza. Moreover, planning criteria and environmental impediments finally become visible and easy to comprehend. "Virtual reality not only furthers the utility of public participation, but it also inspires citizens to get involved," says Prof. Frank Brettschneider, who heads up the University of Hohenheim's involvement in the "Visualization in Public Participation" (VisB+) project. Peter Steinhagen, Head of Business Development at Ed. Zublin AG, adds: "The combining of Building Information Modeling with new visualization techniques such as virtual reality is opening up fascinating new possibilities for stakeholder communication. The Visualizing Building Projects guidelines deserve praise for creating awareness of this potential."

The Visualizing Building Projects guidelines contain a summary of the VisB+ research project findings. Project developers, public officials, planners, and key players in civil society all receive practical recommendations about how they can use suitable visualizations to improve civic participation and communication. "The question of how to visualize building projects is more important than ever for architects and planners. Nowadays, the general public expects and demands a lot of information. Built on a strong empirical foundation, the Visualizing Building Projects guidelines show people how modern technology can be utilized to meet these expectations," says Stephan Weber, Vice President of the Chamber of Architects for Baden-Wurttemberg.

Dr. Brigitte Dahlbender, Chairwoman of Friends of the Earth (BUND) in Baden-Wurttemberg: "For the successful, effective participation of citizens, project developers must explain the effects of building projects in a transparent, easy-to-understand manner. This includes spatial visualizations of the planned project. The Visualizing Building Projects guidelines illustrate how to achieve this by means of very clear, well structured explanations."

However, the focus is not just on high-end visualizations, but also on traditional visualizations such as architectural models and renderings: "Because there is not one kind of visualization that suits everybody, we describe various use scenarios depending on the project and the planning phase," says Gunter Wenzel, project manager for VisB+ at Fraunhofer IAO.

On October 25, 2017, the guidelines were officially unveiled at the "VisB+ Symposium 2017."
By PTI: Jaipur, Oct 25 (PTI) A 20 per cent increase in tourist inflow from India has been registered in Philippines which is pushing to promote its tourist spots in India.

A senior official said the tourism department of Philippines was expecting 100,000 Indian tourists by the end of this calendar year.

"The number of tourists from India is increasing. We have registered a growth of close to 20 per cent from the Indian market," Daks Gonzales, Head of the Office of Product and Marketing Development, Government of Philippines, told PTI here.

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"This year, we are targeting seven million international tourists in Philippines by the end of this year," he said, adding that among them, one lakh are likely to be Indian tourists.

Gonzales was in the city to promote the Philippines tourism at a road show, Philindex 2017, which is covering the four cities of Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Lucknow besides Jaipur.

"We are now focusing on tier-two cities for tourism promotion. We covered Mumbai and Delhi a couple of months back and now are focusing on the northern region," he said.

He said tourists from Indian cities, which are directly connected, are visiting Philippines and the tourism department of Philippines is now looking forward to tap the potential of other cities like Jaipur.

Another official said over the last couple of years, the tourism department had been actively promoting Philippines for luxury, MICE (Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), weddings and small group travel destinations besides a holiday destination.

Destinations such as Manila, Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, and Davao have been aggressively promoted in recent years, he said. PTI SDA AAR

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Do Small Retailers Need Loyalty Programs?

With many large retailers offering loyalty programs, its easy to think that there isnt value for small retailers to develop their own programs. But there are a number of reasons as to why this isnt true:

Lower Cost of Acquisition. Even if you take into account the cost of offering loyalty benefits, with a carefully-designed program, repeat program customers will pay out over time as the cost of their business is much lower to acquire vs. new customers. While its expected for direct cost of goods to be carefully tracked, its still easy to forget how expensive the indirect costs of business development are  marketing, free shipping, etc. Make Customers Sticky. By rewarding repeat customers for their business, you are making it harder for your competitors to make inroads as there is a cost for your customers to stop buying from you. At the same time, your program should increase the frequency of visits from your regular customers. Store Data. Store Data. Store Data. Many retailers work on razor-thin profit margins. Inventory is the largest asset for retailers. It makes sense for you to have a clear idea of what products your most loyal customers want to buy. The data from loyalty programs often pays for itself if it is utilized to optimize supply and demand in your store. Minimizing stock-outs and overstock will reduce how much ongoing inventory you need to carry and ultimately, improve your cashflow. Channel for Direct-Customer Engagement. Loyalty programs are an easy way for retailers to get permission to market to customers. Essentially you are offering program benefits in exchange for authorization to communicate with customers. Remember that customer engagement is often a two-way street nowadays. Customers appreciate businesses that also value their opinions. Profiling for Personalization. Loyalty programs are a great way for retailers to collect quality product feedback or actionable service improvements that will improve your customer engagement and save you money in the long-term. Because customers volunteer their profile and demographics details to become a loyalty member, you are able to deliver higher personalization to create a more unique (and hopefully more profitable) engagement.

How do I implement a loyalty program?

Have I convinced you to implement a loyalty program yet for your small business? If so, there are a few things you can do to make sure your program is cost-effective and successful:

Direct integration with your POS. Make sure your Point-of-Sale system is fully integrated with your loyalty program. This will save you administrative time, properly measure the cost-effectiveness of your loyalty program with regards to sales performance and use the insights of your loyalty members to leverage cross-sell/upsell opportunities at checkout. The cost of integration varies but quality retail POS systems will have either a built-in loyalty plan or direct integrations with third-party service providers.

Dont focus exclusively on discounts. You want to rewards shoppers, not encourage your best customers to only buy on discount. While special offers are expected with most loyalty programs, its more effective in the long-term to offer a range of benefits such as:

Special Events: book signings, wine & cheese meet and greets, launch parties

Exclusive Access: limited edition new products, members only early access

Free Gifts: exclusives for volume purchase, samples from manufacturers

Free Services: alterations for purchases, wifi access (e.g. free wifi with data collection from companies such as Purple, etc.)

Dont constantly hard sell. Shoppers are marketed to in nearly every medium today  from TV to social media. Studies show that consumers, especially Millennials, are jaded from relentless hard selling. Todays buyers are increasingly looking for retailers that offer discounts or experiences. As the retail expert, Steven Dennis quoted in one of his recent articles for Forbes magazine:

engage in a discounting fueled race to the bottom or seek to do what is unique, intensely customer relevant and truly remarkable, where price is not the determining factor in the customers decision.

Be careful when setting up the terms of your loyalty program. This cannot be stressed enough as it can be costly (financially and in terms of goodwill) to change a loyalty program once it is in place. As companies such as Waitrose in the UK have learned, there is an art to even giving away free coffee or tea. Its important for retailers to consider everything from: affordability, running costs, how to minimize program abuse, whether the benefits match the values of your target market, whether to have caps or expiry on benefits, etc.

Offer a sign-up incentive. An easy way for you to increase engagement and sign-up for your loyalty program is by offering a free gift or a limited time offer with purchase. Offering low profit-margin stock or manufacturer samples is a common practice but remember that program members should feel that they are getting a gift of value, not simply a throw away product.

Promote your loyalty program in-store. Merchandising your retail store on a budget includes having displays in-store to encourage customers to sign-up for your loyalty program or to showcase your latest reward benefit. If you have the budget, digital signage will make it easier to make updates over time without having to re-print display materials as new benefits or offers are launched. Having in-store displays will also help your staff as it encourages shoppers to ask about joining during check-out.

Training of check-out staff. It doesnt help a business to offer a loyalty program if the check-out staff give shoppers the impression that those who use them are a nuisance or thrifty. Make sure to train your check-out staff to ask if paying shoppers are members, and if they are not, whether they would like to join. Offering a loyalty program without bothering to train staff about program details or by discouraging its usage will only come across as insincere by savvy shoppers in todays competitive retail environment. This is especially true if you plan to have tiers in your loyalty program. The backlash against Sephoras famous Beauty Insider program is a prime example of how retailers can lose sight of the purpose of their programs and how to execute them.

Loyalty programs are a great way in which to build a following of repeat customers or even influencers over time. Consider the tips above to make sure you are offering a successful program that adds value to your bottom line.

Good Luck and Happy Retailing.

About the Author:

Karen Wong is a retail marketing and innovation consultant, strategist and writer. She has extensive experience growing businesses in Canada and East Asia. Shes currently based in Toronto and is the founder of ACE POS Solutions Ltd which offers full-feature retail point-of-sale solutions used by established retailers worldwide. LinkedIn

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To take a dig at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi used a cult phrase from the Star Wars series. Rahul Gandhi mocked the growth forecast and called it a "farce". "Dear Mr Jaitley, May the Farce be with you," he tweeted.

By India Today Web Desk: To take a dig at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi used a cult phrase from the Star Wars series. When FM Arun Jaitley unveiled a 9 lakh crore plan to boost the economy, Gandhi tweeted "Dear Mr Jaitley, May the Farce be with you".

Rahul Gandhi mocked the growth forecast and called it a "farce".

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He quoted a tweet by the Press Information Bureau, the government's official publicity wing, which said that real GDP growth average was 7.5 per cent in the last three years.

Dear Mr. Jaitley, May the Farce be with you. pic.twitter.com/Dxb5jFCaEa- Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 25, 2017

The table accompanying the PIB tweet said "IMF Forecast" said that 8.2 per cent growth was achieved in 2015-16, temporary economic slowdown was bottoming out and the GDP was projected to grow much faster in the times to come.

The war of words between Rahul Gandhi and Arun Jaitley began when the former took a jibe at Modi government's newly-introduced Goods and Services Tax (GST) and called it Gabbar Singh Tax .

Congress GST= Genuine Simple Tax Modi ji's GST= Gabbar Singh Tax =''? ?? ??? ? ?"- Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 24, 2017

Responding to this, Jaitley said those people who are used to scams like 2G and spectrum will have objections to the GST. He said if the opposition got their fundamentals right, they'd be able to appreciate the reasoning behind the taxation regime.

Arun Jaitley had on Tuesday said the Indian economy is on a strong wicket and expressed confidence in its macroeconomic fundamentals. He had also maintained that India has been the fastest growing major economy for the last three years and the government is attempting to maintain a high growth rate.

(With inputs from IANS )

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In OrderDynamics Study, Canadian Retailers Rank Dead Last with Only 23.5% Offering

TORONTO  Oct. 25, 2017  OrderDynamics, the creator of the worlds most advanced out of the box, Distributed Order Management (DOM) System, today announced the release of its Omni-1000 Canada research study, which examines and analyzes the actual omni-channel practices and capabilities of over 1000 retailers globally.

The OrderDynamics Omni-1000 Canada found that Canadian retailers lag in omni-channel capabilities. In fact, the country is behind other regions analyzed in the study, including the U.S., U.K., Australia and the Nordics (Sweden, Norway, Finland). To this point, the study found that only 23.5 percent of retailers in Canada have buy online, pickup in-store (BOPIS), or click and collect capabilities. Furthermore, only half of the retailers in Canada offering click and collect advertise those services on their homepage  a huge missed opportunity.

The research also revealed that among Canadian retailers:

82 percent have standard e-commerce capabilities, such as the ability for shoppers to create a virtual shopping basket and purchase goods online

56 percent provide basic inventory visibility to online consumers, but only 7.3 percent offer a detailed level of inventory visibility

64.1 percent allow shoppers to buy online, return in-store (BORIS)

78 percent offer free shipping

The study also finds that while the Canadian retail market excels in aspects such as returns and e-commerce capabilities, retailers have room to improve in all aspects of omni-channel, and should prioritize this in order to catch-up to other global retailers.

Canada, as such a diverse retail market, has work to do in order to meet changing customer demands, said Nick McLean, CEO, OrderDynamics. Omni-channel practices such as click and collect and buy online, return in-store are crucial to maintaining customer satisfaction and market demands. The sooner Canadian retailers meet these needs, the sooner they can prosper.

The OrderDynamics Omni-1000 used a random-walk methodology to investigate and determine the e-commerce and click and collect capabilities, policies and services of more than 200 retailers in the UK and more than 1,000 retailers worldwide.

Click here to access the OrderDynamics Omni-1000 Canada study.

About OrderDynamics

OrderDynamics is the worlds most advanced cloud-based, out-of-the-box Distributed Order Management Systems (DOM / OMS). Focused on powering retail fulfillment, OrderDynamics helps clients drive sales and improve margins in omni-channel retail markets. Our DOM gives clients capabilities like order orchestration, enterprise-wide inventory visibility, returns management, customer service, enhanced analytics & simulation and store driven fulfillment. OrderDynamics enables customer options like click and collect, and ship-from-store, creating exceptional shopping experiences. Iconic brands including Speedo, Quiksilver, J.McLaughlin, JYSK, Princess Auto, Bouclair Home, DeFacto and Browns Shoes, use OrderDynamics technology across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. For more information, visit www.orderdynamics.com.

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LAS VEGAS, Money 20/20 Conference  October 23, 2017  Today Mastercard [1] and The Western Union Company announced they are working together to integrate Mastercard Send [2] into the Western Union Money Transfer service, allowing Western Union to deliver funds to virtually all U.S. debit cards. The alliance opens a new channel for U.S. consumers to quickly and conveniently send money via Western Union to the debit cards people use every day, including non-Mastercard cards. Western Union is the money transfer industrys first to offer the debit card-enabled service via the Mastercard Send platform in the United States.

The new Western Union service, expected to be available in early 2018, will initially offer digital funds transfers within the U.S. via westernunion.com and the WU mobile app, enabling senders to use their U.S. debit, credit and bank accounts to fund a payment. Customers simply need to know the recipients 16-digit debit card number to complete the transfer.

Moving billions of dollars globally each year, Western Unions vast reach and range of money transfer and payment services  from its mobile apps to thousands of retail agent locations  provide consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world. By integrating Mastercard Send, a first-of-its-kind platform that facilitates funds to be sent quickly and conveniently via debit networks, Western Union is enabling consumers to move funds in the U.S. to a recipients debit card quickly.

With Mastercard Send, Western Union customers now have a powerful new way to send funds directly to the debit cards in the wallets of millions of Americans, said Leigh Amaro, senior vice president, Enterprise Partnerships, Mastercard. Todays consumer is busier than ever, and any option to make everyday tasks like money transfer more convenient is hugely important. Western Union is giving consumers one more option to make the service work for their needs.

Western Union is synonymous with fast, reliable global money transfer and payments, said Libby Chambers, chief strategy, product and marketing officer for Western Union. Were offering customers more choice and convenience when they send and receive money. This new capability weve developed with Mastercard means customers will be able to send funds directly to their receivers debit card, with speed and ease.

Mastercard Send helps power some of the industrys most innovative payment products. For developers, Mastercard provides financial institutions with an easy-to-use API [3] , one of more than 35 APIs available through the Mastercard Developers [4] portal. Backed by the Mastercard network, banks further benefit from simplified settlement as well as Mastercards network and compliance expertise.

Other Point of Sale News:
TOKYO, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Japan's Jera Co, a fuel joint venture of Tokyo Electric Power and Chubu Electric Power, said on Wednesday it has entered into a Heads of Agreement to buy up to 2.5 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Malaysia LNG Sdn Bhd.

Jera, the world's biggest LNG buyer, said it would buy LNG for three years from April 2018. Gas will be delivered on an ex-ship and free-on-board basis, the company said, adding that the deal's destination clause was in line with the guidance by Japan Fair Trade Commission earlier this year. (Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
Snapcart also plans to launch a new platform that will tackle the unstructured trade information

The Snapcart founding team

Jakarta-headquartered startup Snapcart, which operates an Artificial Intelligence-powered app that gives offline shoppers cashback for scanning their receipts, has secured US$10 million in Series A round of funding, led by existing investor Vickers Venture Partners.

Other investors who have participated in the round include Wavemaker Partners, Social Capital, Kickstart Ventures and Endeavor Catalysts.

This is Snapcarts third institutional round of funding. Earlier, it raised US$3 million in pre-Series A led by Vickers Venture Partners, Wavemaker Partners and SPH Media Fund in March this year. Prior to this, back in January 2016, Snapcart had raised a pre-Series A bridge round of US$1.7 million from Wavemakers, SPH Media Fund, SMDV (Sinar Mas Digital Ventures), and Ardent Capital.

Also Read: Dining at a favourite restaurant? Click a selfie and get a discount on your next meal with this app

Snapcarts goal is to empower companies to get valuable insights into customer data to help them allocate their Marketing efforts more efficiently, said Snapcart Founder and CEO Reynazran Royono. We really believe our product is essential for the modern marketer, as they can react in real time to changes and trends in consumer behaviour. This capital allows our company to expand into new markets, improve the current technology and further advance our product.

In a separate interview with e27, Royono said that within this year, Snapcart plans to launch a new platform that will tackle the unstructured trade information, that is stores who do not have cashier (hence do not produce receipts).

We also have plans to expand to multiple countries in the next two to three years, he said without sharing details. As of today, Snapcart also has operations in the Philippines besides Indonesia, and recently opened a Singapore office to focus on business development and client acquisition.

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Established in 2015, Snapcart provides real-time offline shopper and consumer insights to brands. The app collects massive amount of purchase data, analyse and offer to brands on a real time basis with shopper rich information. This way, the app brings brands closer to a holistic understanding of shoppers.

Snapcart can also identify optimal promotion level to maximise revenue, help evaluate media spend effectiveness, and deep dive into purchasing habits. As of today, Snapcart has partnered with over 75 brands of fast-moving consumer goods companies in Southeast Asia. The app claims to have over 700.000 users.

Given the majority of purchases are still happening offline, our priority is to still focus to purchases in offline channels. As we grow, we will definitely explore ways to also track purchases happening in online channels to provide a more complete share of wallet between offline and online channels, Royono added.

Dr Jeffrey Chi, Vice Chairman at Vickers Venture Partner, said: The marketing industry is amidst a shift into Artificial Intelligence and the number of consumers with a mobile device have skyrocketed. We believe that our investment will drive the Snapcart team to further scale their product and to expand into new markets.

The post AI-powered analytics startup Snapcart raises US$10M to expand beyond Indonesia, Philippines appeared first on e27.
Armenia plans to increase teaching Russian in schools in a move that has sparked widespread concerns that Moscow's influence is growing in the ex-Soviet state. The education ministry has launched public discussion of the reform on the use of the Russian language, as the Caucasus country marks 26 years of independence from the former Soviet Union. Learning Russian is already mandatory in Armenian primary schools. But now the government wants Russian to be taught to an advanced level at a greater number of schools and for secondary schools to use both Armenian and Russian when teaching physics, maths and geography. Russian "is the most widely used (foreign) language" in Armenia, Education Minister Levon Mkrtchyan said at a press conference. He argued that similar teaching programmes already exist for other foreign languages such as English, French and German. The education ministry's plans, however, have quickly turned into a political dispute, reflecting sensitivities over the use of the Russian language in Armenia and other former Soviet republics. According to a poll this month on the website of Armenia's education ministry, only 25 percent back the linguistic reform, while 75 percent are against it. "Nobody is against children learning several languages, but when we are talking about forced Russification, it becomes a direct threat to national sovereignty," said political analyst and former opposition lawmaker Stepan Safarian. Opposition lawmaker Anahit Bakhshyan said she also firmly opposes the plans. "Why is it necessary to popularise Russian in a country where 98 percent of the population is Armenian," she asked. "All foreign languages are important, why should we single out Russian?... According to our constitution, our official language is Armenian. There cannot be a second one," she added. After the fall of the USSR, Russian-language schools were closed and the use of Russian vastly decreased. Today, young Armenians prefer to continue their studies in the West. Armenia's own language is Indo-European and totally unrelated to Russian, with its own unique alphabet. But Yerevan has edged closer to Moscow in recent years, preferring an economic union with Russia over a trade agreement with the European Union. The speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament Vyacheslav Volodin recently asked Armenia to make Russian an official language in exchange for Moscow recognising Armenian driving licences. Yerevan refused. Armenia's plans to expand Russian teaching come shortly after Ukraine limited the use of Russian in schools with a controversial new law. Kiev's law was met with criticism not only in hostile Moscow, but also in neighbouring Hungary and Romania. - 'Everyone taking English' - Critics of Armenia's plans say that English, not Russian, is most beneficial for young Armenians. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, international companies have set up offices in Yerevan and recruit primarily English speakers. "All prestigious and well paid jobs require a good level of English," said Gohar Sukiasyan, who is in the final year at a Yerevan school. "In my class, almost everyone is taking private English lessons in addition to learning it at school to further their careers," she said. - 'Political influence' - The government has in part justified the planned education reform as part of rapprochement with Russia. "Armenia and Russia are part of the same military defence system in which the working language is Russian," the deputy speaker of Armenia's parliament Eduard Sharmazanov told AFP. "Our future officers are trained in Russia." He also stressed that the "language of communication" inside the Eurasian Economic Union which Armenia is part of -- along with ex-Soviet Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan -- is Russian. In addition, Russia is home to a huge Armenian diaspora. "If (Armenian migrants) did not speak Russian, it would complicate their employment," said Sharmazanov. The number of Russian companies has grown considerably in the country and the demand for the Russian language has increased accordingly, said Serob Khachatryan, an expert on Armenia's education system. "But everyone understands that a language is not only an instrument of communication," he added. "It is first of all a tool to increase political influence in the country."
Brazilian President Michel Temer has been hospitalized with urological problems, the presidency said Wednesday in the midst of a congressional debate over whether Temer should face a corruption trial. "President Temer felt discomfort in the late morning today," the presidency's statement said. "The duty doctor diagnosed a urological obstruction and recommended that he be examined at the Military Hospital." Temer remained in hospital, the presidency said, contrary to earlier reports from allied congress members that he had already been released. The news came as the lower house of Congress was debating whether to back a corruption trial for Temer, who is charged with racketeering and obstruction of justice.
Iran said Wednesday it had sentenced a citizen to death for spying for Israel in return for Swedish residency, after rights activists reported an Iranian-born academic was handed the death penalty. Amnesty International on Monday announced that emergency medicine specialist Ahmadreza Djalali, detained in Iran since April 2016, was found guilty of working with the Israeli government. Tehran's prosecutor general Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi did not name Djalali but said a suspect was sentenced to death for passing information on Iran's nuclear programme to agents from Israel's Mossad intelligence agency in exchange for a Swedish residency permit. "One of the actions of the convict was revealing the location of and some information on 30 outstanding individuals engaged in military and nuclear research projects," Jafari Dolatabadi said in comments quoted by the judiciary's Mizan website. He said the information led to the assassination of two Iranian nuclear scientists, Majid Shahriari and Masoud Alimohammadi, killed in bomb blasts in 2010. Under Iranian law the identity of a convicted person cannot be released until the appeals process is over. Amnesty International has slammed the trial of Djalali -- who has studied and taught in Sweden, Italy and Belgium -- as "grossly unfair" and called on the authorities to release him and drop all charges. Between 2010 and 2012, five Iranian scientists -- four of them involved in the country's nuclear programme -- were murdered in bomb and gun attacks in Tehran. The Islamic republic accused the US and Israel of killing its scientists, including Shahriari, a key member of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation and Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, a deputy director of the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility. In 2012, Iran executed Majid Jamali Fashi, convicted for working for Mossad and assassinating Alimohammadi. Three others, including nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri, have been hanged since for working for Israel and the US.
By PTI: Jaipur, Oct 25 (PTI) The Rajasthan Assembly today passed two bills -- one related to disqualification of lawmakers and the other about power distribution management -- referred one to a select committee of the House, while another was tabled.

The House passed Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Members (Prevention of Disqualification) Bill-2017? and The Rajasthan State Electricity Distribution Management Responsibility (Amendment) Bill-2017?.

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The Rajasthan Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutes in the State and of Appointments and Posts in Services Under the State) Bill-2017? was tabled in the House by the Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Arun Chaturvedi, whereas the CrPC (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill-2017? was referred to the select committee of the House.

The CrPC (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill-2017 Bill, which was introduced in the house on Monday, was proposed to be taken up for discussion tomorrow.

This bill was introduced on Monday along with the controversialCriminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill 2017, which seeks to protect judges and bureaucrats from probe without the state governments prior sanction.

The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill was also referred to the select committee yesterday after heavy protest by the Opposition.

Replying to the debate on the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Members (Prevention of Disqualification) Bill, Parliamentary Affairs Minister said the government wants to consolidate the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Members (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1956 and the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Members (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1969 in a single law the bill.

Rathore said the government has taken initiatives to consolidate multiple laws on the same subject into one law.

The ruling party MLA Ghanshyam Tiwari objected to the bill saying it was against the spirit of the Constitution and that the government should reconsider it.

Energy Minister Pushpendra Singh replying to the debate on the The Rajasthan State Electricity Distribution Management Responsibility (Amendment) Bill informed that transmission and distribution losses have reduced in the state.

"The transmission and distribution losses in the state before 2013 were more than 30 per cent which has been reduced during the BJP government rule," he informed.

After the bills were passed, the house was adjourned for the day. PTI SDA TIR

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Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised on Wednesday to strengthen cooperation as ties between their two countries warm amid shared opposition to the Kurdish independence vote. "We are part of a region suffering from conflict and instability, and it is time to cooperate to end these conflicts," Abadi said in a televised press conference after the two leaders met in Ankara. Erdogan said they would explore ways to increase their cooperation "politically, militarily, economically and culturally." During the meeting, both men were seen smiling -- a stark difference to when Erdogan told Abadi to "know your place" last October, after Baghdad criticised a Turkish troop presence in northern Iraq. But since the non-binding Kurdish independence vote last month relations have improved, with Ankara -- which was particularly critical of Kirkuk being included in the vote -- backing Baghdad by threatening to close its border with Iraqi Kurdistan and apply economic sanctions. "We have always said from the beginning that we support the territorial integrity of Iraq, and we will continue to say so," Erdogan said while repeating that the Kurdish vote was "unacceptable". - 'Ready to give support' - Erdogan said Turkey was ready to support reconstruction efforts in areas of Iraq that have been devastated by the fighting against the Islamic State extremist (IS) group and that he would push to develop economic ties with Baghdad. "We are ready to provide any kind of support to allow the operation of the pipeline" to bring oil from Kirkuk to Turkey, Erdogan added. The crude oil pipeline has been closed for several years. The men also discussed the presence in northern Iraq of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency inside Turkey and is classified as a "terrorist group" by Ankara, the US and the EU. "We are determined to continue the common struggle (against the PKK)," Erdogan said. The Iraqi prime minister said that "no group, whether Iraqi or foreign, is allowed to carry weapons in Iraq if it is not authorised to do so". Abadi also met with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, who said they agreed to hold a joint cabinet meeting in the future. Turkey would provide "necessary support" to the Iraqi central government to take control of the Habur crossing point between northern Iraq and Turkey, Yildirim added. The crossing is controlled by the Kurdistan Regional Government, but the Turkish premier did not give any more details. Abadi's visit comes as Iraqi Kurdistan proposed Wednesday to "freeze" the results of its independence referendum and start "an open dialogue between the government of Kurdistan and the central government on the basis of the constitution". Neither the Turkish leaders nor Abadi publically commented on this proposal.
Photography by the author. Zeng Guo Yuan, more commonly known as the Parrot Man, might have his own Wikipedia page, but he has led a bloody sad life. Where his nose used to be now lies a sore, crusty, and gaping hole. Down the middle, its divided by the cartilage that separates the nostrils. Every day from about 10am till just after lunch, the 65-year-old tissue paper seller shuffles through the crowd at Geylang Serai Market in a white robe too long for his stocky stature, toting a large duffel bag clumsily slung around his shoulders. Looking at him place tissue packet on table after table, no one would guess he used to live in a bungalow that contained rooms each the size of his current bedroom, kitchen and toilet combined. While he now relies on the generosity of strangers to get by, the former philanthropist and businessman once earned enough to build a mosque in Bangladesh. In his heyday, he also ran his own acupuncture practice and served as President of the World Acupuncture Voluntary Organisation. In our conversations, he often alludes to his illustrious past, frequently name dropping important people, including former President of Singapore SR Nathan, late entrepreneur CK Tang, and current manager of Ngee Ann City Eric Chan. These days, he is a shadow of his previous self.

Every day, he dresses in similar attire before heading to Geylang Serai. Mr Zengs latest bout of bad luck began in 2013, after a traffic collision left him with rib fractures and internal bleeding. In 2014, he was diagnosed with terminal nose cancer which led to his nose being removed. According to him, doctors also cut his thyroid and salivary glands. As a result, those who notice him for the first time often stare a second too long before looking away, brushing him off, or forking out loose change. No one directly asks what happened, although the morbid curiosity shows on their faces. Soon after removing his nose, the cancer metastasised, leading to a removal of a part of his large intestine. He now goes around with a shit bag. Few people would be able to survive the same series of unfortunate events without spiralling into debt or depression, both of which he has suffered. Even though he was referred to the Institute of Mental Health for his not so good mental condition since the accident, he calls depression a state of mind. I can look at my accident as a result of being unfortunate, because Ive done something wrong, or as a tribulation. Or I can look at it from another angle; I can be grateful that God has saved me, he says. Since young, Mr Zeng has been religious. He claims to be both Muslim and a Jehovahs Witness, but also uses stories of Jesus and Guanyin to preach about the benefits of religion. He genuinely feels fortunate to be alive, and displays an optimism that never comes off as a front for any deep-seated resentment against the cards life has dealt him. He hopes that his lack of a nose will help others become comfortable about the fact that this could one day be their reality too. It can affect anyone of them. If theyve never seen a person who has no nose, when it happens to them, they wont be able to take it, he shares.

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Mr Zeng (bottom pic: second from right) and his wife (in orange) with the villagers he helped by building a mosque in Bangladesh.

These are photos of his sons in taekwondo when they were young. He shares that he used to teach the classes too. Those who sympathise with Mr Zengs plight share the sentiment that you never know what hardship someones going through, even if they might seem fine. So they willingly part with a few dollars to help him get through the day. On the other hand, there are always others who kick him while hes down, although this tends to be the result of mischief rather than malice. He claims, That day, some people threw my clothing downstairs. They also took a packet of rice and cold water and threw at my face when I was resting outside my home. I couldnt find out who did it, but I know it was the two sons from that family who just moved in. Theyre young boys, just slightly over 10 years old. Including that family, who lives one unit away from him, three other neighbouring families claim they dont interact with him. And I believe them. Every time he greets his neighbours, he is met with stony silence. Even though people dont say hi back to me, I will continue saying hi to them. Likewise just because a person doesnt want to give me money, doesnt mean I wont thank them too. Sometimes a smile is enough, he says. Later on, he reveals why he doesnt get angry with people anymore through one of his many platitudes: He who angers you, conquers you. He who irritates you, wins you.

He jokes that he wears the headscarf so he can wipe his mouth after eating. Practical, albeit blasphemous.

Among the many things he takes pride in, his fashion sense ranks near the top. This zen-like mentality underscores his trademark thank you, may God bless you sing-song refrain that can be heard as he makes his rounds at Geylang Serai Market. Even when his sales attempts go unreciprocated, he appears unfazed and repeats the line. He might be a familiar presence in Geylang Serai, but to the average Singaporean, Mr Zengs infamy precedes him. Those who are aware of his existence know that he has a knack for courting controversy in the news. For instance, the Parrot Man moniker came about after he blamed his parrot for getting him into trouble when he used abusive language on police officers. He is also a perennial candidate in Singapore elections. In 1991, he had his first brush with politics as a member of the Workers Party, where he stayed a year. Later, during the General Election (GE) of 2006, he ran for the Mountbatten Single Member Constituency. Again in GE 2015, he announced his contest for the Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency, only to change his mind later on. According to reports, he could not afford the election deposit. Online, he has barely any supporters. From SammyBoy to HardwareZone, criticisms lobbed against him paint him as a troublemaker whos short of a few marbles. And its easy to see why. This August, he was embroiled in a tussle with Ngee Ann Citys management after he was asked to move from the underground pedestrian walkway linking Ngee Ann City to Wisma Atria. Not only did he apparently pretend to be a cripple, he also blocked the flow of human traffic. Just last month, he inadvertently made the news again when it was discovered that the jumbo flat at Geylang Bahru that caught fire belonged to him. He had formerly claimed to be homeless.

His family portrait has almost been reduced to ashes by the fire. When I visit Mr Zengs home, the entire unit is torched so badly that I smell his flat before I see it. But even without the nauseating pungency that resembles a mix of freshly baked bread and burnt plastic, scattered clues point the way to where he lives. Along the walkway outside his unit, his motorised bike is chained to the railings. Beside it, a makeshift bed lies under a huge umbrella. He shares that this was where he was resting when his neighbours sons bullied him. This is also where he sleeps most nights. There is another swivel chair next to this contraption, which holds a pile of random belongings, such as folded clothes and a ukelele. Because his unit is located just beside the lift, he has turned a corner of the lift landing into his very own outdoor wardrobe. Hung on the clothes lines are jackets, shirts, patterned scarves, and even underwear. The fire happened during the Seventh Month, when people were burning joss sticks, he begins, implying that the burnings from the Seventh Month caused the fire. It started near my sewing machine switch and was still quite small when the police came. He claims, But when they opened the door of my house, the strong wind made the fire bigger. The fire blew onto my fridge, where I put things like oil. It took an hour for the firemen to cut open the lock around the fire hydrant. By then, the fire had already burnt through my home. Inside his home, almost everything is broken or burnt and strewn in heaps of rubble. There are old photographs, an empty liquor bottle, and even a few standing fans that have been switched on to ventilate the room. With barely any space to walk, I have to keep myself from tripping over tangled wires. The charred property is a heartbreaking sight, made worse by the fact that he hasnt seemed to have made any progress in terms of cleaning up.

His house is in obvious disarray and likely will remain so for at least another six months.

Every day, he spends some time hauling the rubbish from his home into a green bin. Over my three visits, I casually suggest that Mr Zeng could do with external help in clearing the mess. Without fail, he always retorts indignantly, as if Id proposed something completely ludicrous. The SCDF told me that if I needed anything, they will try to help. But what can they do? Come on lah, if they want to help, they can suggest something. Im not going to be a beggar and start demanding things, he says. And what about his family? Surely his two grown-up sons should assist. Again, he stresses how paramount his sense of independence is. He replies, No lah, this is not their job! Even the cleaner cannot do this job. Because electrical wire and all this is not safe. Even the glass will cut your hand. Nonetheless, a few minutes into our third meeting, he asks me to help hold steady the huge green bin that the estates cleaners have placed in his home, while he hoists a destroyed washing machine followed by a sewing machine into it. In contrast to the photos of him online that often depict him in a wheelchair, his strength is a far cry from the fragility we associate with being physically disabled. But without the domestic helpers he used to live with in his previous bungalow, it might be months before he even cleans up a fraction of the debris.

This is the heavy sewing machine that he lifted into the bin with my help. The only help Mr Zeng is willing to accept comes from his wife, Lili Han. Since the fire, she now lives a five-minute walk away in a one-room flat with his three pet parrots. They dont stay together for reasons he chooses not to disclose at first. Every morning, he picks her up on his motorised bike to take her back to their burnt flat, where she then spends the rest of the day cleaning or running errands. Her wariness around me is only natural. After all, her husband has never gotten favourable media coverage. When I merely suggest that she must be a loving wife to visit her husband daily, the meek looking woman confidently stares me in the eye. Whatever you want to know, talk to my husband. Ask him. Okay? But its his surprisingly enlightened take on love that gives me insight into their devotion to each other. Love is the ability to stay and understand each other until the end of your life. In between, something will test you. Sometimes, you fall and pick yourself up, thats okay. But if you dont pick yourself up, you want to hold on to this and that, you die, he says. Whatever good you pick up, you keep. Bad, you drop like hot potato or it will burn your hand. Wisdom is the ability to see the difference.

Mr Zeng picks his daily outfit from this lot of his clothes, which hang from a makeshift wardrobe constructed at the lift landing beside his unit.

One corner of the flat is packed with his white linen shirts. There must be at least 20. Mr Zengs love for his wife is probably the only good thing hes got going for him. His family and relationship history is pretty fucked up, to say the least. For example, he claims that an ex-girlfriend cheated on him and became pregnant with another mans child. In another twisted tale from his youth, he shares that his grandfather once implied Mr Zeng was having sex with his grandmother, simply because he cared a lot for her when she was in the hospital. And after his father passed away, he cut ties with his siblings who contested his fathers will. Nowadays, apart from his wifes company, he only sees his sons occasionally, such as on his birthday. That said, he appears resigned to how his life has turned out. With few to call family, this is perhaps why he treats everyone like [his] children. Even though he means well, it is a quality thats more irritating than welcoming. By our second meeting, he has already chided me for my double helix piercings, asked why Im not married at 27, and said that the kueh I buy for him has no nutritional value. He might just get a heart attack if I tell him I once dyed my hair.

He somehow knows just where everything is, taking no less than two minutes to pull up some old certificates. But beneath all these niceties, theres a hardness to his character that only surfaces in deeper conversation. I learn that his obsession with independence shapes his staunch views on money and personal pride, two things that are intrinsically linked in his life. He insists on working (i.e., selling tissue paper at Geylang Serai or Ngee Ann City) so as not to be a financial burden to [his] wife or anybody, and that hes unperturbed by his public fall from grace. Yet I also sense a deep shame attached to what he has resorted to doing. Whenever I go to Ngee Ann City, I tell my wife not to come with me. I dont like her to see what Im doing. This kind of thing, sitting down there and letting people give you money, I look like a beggar, he confides. Despite his relatively public life, he considers himself a private person and doesnt want his family involved in his personal matters. And if he happens to get into a fight, which seems like a regular occurrence, he would tell them to get out of the scene. He doesnt want the authorities to make use of [his loved ones] to be witnesses against him. Not once over the few weeks of us getting to know each other does he express more conviction than when he proclaims, Anything happen, I die alone.

He takes me to his new one-room flat, where his wife and pet parrots stay. He was recently "given" this unit after the fire. At the same time, Mr Zengs toughness is probably also due to his time in prison. In 1996, he went to jail and received several strokes of the cane for molesting one of his patients while placing an acupuncture patch on her shoulder. According to him, the case was a setup and that the judge was biased against him. In jail, people try to be funny with me, so I just wait until they are asleep. Then I whack them. They dare not touch me anymore, he says. I do not think prison changed me. Because I done nothing wrong. And yet his life is a continuous cycle of things going horribly wrong. Its no wonder that his unpleasant public reputation doesnt bother him in the least. Every single time he hits rock bottom, he has survived.

The pile of items on this chair outside his home never seems to grow smaller.

Sometimes, he changes his clothes out on the walkway. Regardless of whether everything Mr Zeng has experienced in life has been partly self-inflicted, its obvious that his crazy rhetoric is mostly nonsensical and empty, and not inherently hostile. In conversation, he occasionally breaks into Frank Sinatras I Did It My Way, a song that aptly summarises his colourful life. One day as were wrapping up, he asks, Can I ask you a personal question? Do you think I got a smell coming from me? Because inside my body deteriorate already. This is why I dont want to sleep with my wife. She wont say that she minds, but its just me lah. The unexpected question offers a rare moment of clarity, and I finally see who he really is. If he doesnt sleep with his wife, he never has to find out if she really thinks he stinks. So no matter his notoriety or the absurd things he says, hes reduced to a mere cliche in the end. Mr Zeng is ultimately just another person who mistakenly assumes they can control how others perceive them.
Russia handed over army trucks and thousands of assault rifles to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday as the two nations celebrated their growing military ties. Duterte accepted the weaponry during a visit to a Russian naval ship docked in Manila, the latest move to embrace Russia and China while distancing the Philippines from its longtime ally and mutual defence partner, the United States. Following a tour of the mammoth anti-submarine warship Admiral Panteleyev, Duterte personally handled some of the 5,000 donated Kalashnikov rifles along with ammunition and 20 trucks to the poorly-equipped Philippine military. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu hailed the closer relations as he signed two agreements with his Filipino counterpart, Delfin Lorenzana. "The Philippines is considered to be (a) key and prospective partner in Southeast Asia and Asian-Pacific rim in general," the Russian defence ministry quoted him as saying in a statement, adding it was the first time a defence minister from Moscow had visited the Philippines. For decades the Southeast Asian nation has been one of Washington's most staunch regional military allies. But the firebrand Duterte, 72, has loosened that 70-year alliance. Infuriated by American criticism of a controversial drug war which has claimed thousands of lives, Duterte has instead reached out to Russia and China. The poorly equipped Philippine army needs allies. The military on Monday finally declared an end to a five-month battle in the southern city of Marawi where troops struggled to flush out militants loyal to the Islamic State group in the nation's longest urban warfare. Australian and US military helped provide crucial reconnaissance and targeting during that fight. But Duterte has made it clear he favours being less dependent on the US. During a visit to Beijing last year he said he had "realigned" himself towards Beijing and Moscow. "There are three of us against the world: China, Philippines and Russia," he added. Shoigu and Lorenzana on Tuesday signed an agreement at the sidelines of a security forum north of Manila that covered defence cooperation in weapons research and exchange of experts, according to statements from their ministries. The Philippines also signed a contract to purchase rocket propelled grenade launchers, the Russian ministry said without stating how many weapons would be acquired or how much the deal was worth. China has also donated thousands of assault and sniper rifles to the Philippines in a similar gesture of friendship.
By Bernie Woodall

(Reuters) - A boy was found shot to death in a trailer in rural Ohio on Thursday, a day after three adults were discovered slain there, in an attack that sparked a manhunt for a 23-year-old suspect, authorities said.

The suspect in the four killings has been identified as Arron Lawson of Pedro, a small community in southern Ohio, according to the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office.

A man went to a trailer home in Pedro on Wednesday because he had been unable to reach its occupants, Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless told reporters. When the visitor arrived, a man believed to be Lawson attacked him with a knife, Lawless said.

The visitor was stabbed in the neck and head before fleeing to another house, according to the sheriff's office.

Police who responded on Wednesday to the trailer house after the attack on the man, found the bodies of three adults inside, the sheriff's office said. The three people, whose names were not immediately released, were shot to death.

The body of a young boy, Devin Holston, was found on Thursday inside the trailer, Lawless told reporters.

It took until Thursday to find the child because investigators at first did not want to disturb the crime scene, Lawless said. Once they returned with search warrants, they combed through the trailer.

"This body was put in a place where it was hidden, so that was what made it difficult for our investigators to discover it at that time," the sheriff said.

The sheriff's office had earlier issued a missing child alert for the boy, which was cancelled after his body was found. Lawless said the boy was 8, but local media later reported he was 7.

Lawson was known to visit the mobile home where the victims were found, the sheriff said, and he lived nearby.

Sheriff's deputies early on Thursday spotted Lawson driving a Chevy pickup truck in another part of Lawrence County and they chased him, but he escaped on foot into the woods after crashing his truck into a ditch, Lawson said.

Police have used helicopters and a bloodhound in their manhunt in an area dotted with caves.

(Reporting by Bernie Woodall in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; writing by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; editing by Peter Cooney)
IMAGE_UNTV_NEWS_102517_Military trucks from Russia

MANILA, Philippines  Twenty new multipurpose military trucks were awarded by the government of Russia to the Philippines.

These are proof of the improving ties between Manila and Moscow under the Duterte administration.

The new trucks are expected to further improve the capacity of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

In addition to these, five thousand AK-74M Kalashnikov assault rifles, one million ammunitions, and five thousand steel helmets were also given to equip the Filipino soldiers in fighting terrorism.

President Rodrigo Duterte witnessed the turn over of the military donations at the Port of Manila together with the Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu.

The chief executive also had a shipboard and air defense system tour inside Admiral Pantaleev.

According to national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon, this is part of intensifying alliance of the Philippines with many countries.

It provides diversity to our kind of training, meaning we get more exposure to different technologies as well as techniques so that should be a welcome addition, said the national security adviser.

The United States of America is not worried about the enhanced relationship of the Philippines with China and Russia.

US ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said that President Duterte has clarified that although the Philippines is having a better relationship with China and Russia, he assured that the alliance between the US and the Philippines will remain strong.

So frankly, I am not really threatened by this notion that China or Russia are providing some military equipment to the Philippines. We have been providing very important equipment to the Philippines for many, many years, said Ambassador Sung Kim. Rosalie Coz | UNTV News and Rescue

The post Russia donates new military equipment to the Philippines appeared first on UNTV News.
With Kenya facing its worst political crisis in a decade and the country poised to vote in its second presidential election in three months, what needs to happen to ensure change? Edward Kisiangani, professor of political history at Nairobi's Kenyatta University, takes a look at some essential questions. He says that since Kenya became independent in 1963, political and economic power has been concentrated in the hands of the Kikuyus, the largest of the country's 44 ethnic groups. This prompts an urgent need for reform to ensure a fairer sharing of power and resources, says Kisiangani. With the nation yet again locked in a tense struggle for power, pitting a Kikuyu president, Uhuru Kenyatta, against veteran opposition challenger Raila Odinga, a Luo, many are wondering what future lies ahead, he notes. - How much is Kenyan society divided? - "There have been such divisions since independence but this is unprecedented ... We are more divided than we have ever been before. It's about the crisis of sharing political power, it has never been very smooth," said Kisiangani. He said that Kenyans believed that the only way members of their community could access power and resources was through political power -- which heightened levels of ethnicity and tribalism. "Those who have wielded power in the past have tended to concentrate that power in their own communities and use it to benefit their own communities rather than the entire country. Because that feeling persists, people think the only solution to the problems of their community is to struggle to get power. "This feeling -- that there is no hope without political power -- is really unhealthy," - How can this crisis be solved? - Kisiangani proposes measures to restore confidence, such as making it a criminal offence to hire family and friends for government jobs, and make it impossible to use elections to "dominate or threaten others". "There are many many Kikuyus who don't think that the country is on the right path, just like they are many, many Luos who think the same. A lot of Kenyan communities think we must renegotiate how we share resources and power and how we can navigate through our social problems without hurting each other," he said. "We need to make sure that everybody is included in the nationalistic discourse so that people feel a sense of belonging." - What needs to change? - Kisiangani feels the presidency needs to be structurally reformed to hand power back to the people. "When President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner (in August), he said: 'We have a wonderful constitution, those who are not happy with it, go and appeal to the court.' He was only looking at it in one way: that the court will rule in his favour. But when the court did not, he took it as if the judiciary was against him, against his community, (so) we are not out of the woods... "It doesn't matter if we hold the election on Thursday or not, it doesn't matter whether the next president comes from a different community, we have structural problems," he said. Kisiangani suggested legal measures to weaken the presidency and strengthen institutions. "A way of doing it is to create a federal constitution which will empower more the governors and will increase the allocation of resources, budget to the counties. We could have a referendum in the next one year and make sure that the problems we have do not reoccur." And, while easier said than done, he argues issues of corruption and discrimination need to be properly policed.
Venezuela's opposition appeared close to disintegration Tuesday after a key leader ditched the main coalition opposed to President Nicolas Maduro, bolstering the socialist leader ahead of elections due next year. Henrique Capriles, a former presidential candidate, announced he was pulling out of the beleaguered opposition coalition after four of its governors pledged allegiance to a Constituent Assembly fiercely loyal to Maduro. Capriles said he would not stay in the coalition as long as another prominent figure, Henry Ramos Allup, leader of the Democratic Action Party, remained. Four Democratic Action Party governors pledged allegiance to the Constituent Assembly, which was elected in July in polls called by the unpopular leftist Maduro that were boycotted by the opposition. "When a person is sick, you need to operate to remove the tumor," said Capriles, who lost to Maduro in 2013, as he called for an overhaul of the Democratic Union Roundtable (MUD) coalition. Capriles's Justice First party appeared likely to follow him out of the coalition after a party vote. "It's the perfect scenario for Chavism, allowing it to press ahead with its strategy of obtaining legitimacy for the Constituent Assembly, while the opposition is unravelling," said electoral expert Eugenio Martinez. He was referring to the political movement launched by Maduro's predecessor Hugo Chavez. The developments follow a period of soul-searching by the opposition, routed in October 15 regional elections by Maduro's socialists who swept the vote in 18 of Venezuela's 23 states. Maduro had warned ahead of the polls that elected governors would have to be sworn in before the Constituent Assembly, which the opposition has consistently refused to recognize. The Assembly has been handed sweeping powers, including over the opposition-dominated parliament, and has been condemned internationally as a naked power grab by Maduro. Despite the opposition saying it would not give in to government "blackmail," four of the five opposition governors-elect said they had decided to submit to the inevitable and take the oath before the Assembly. Maduro met Tuesday with three of the four governors at the center of the controversy, saying "a new era of coexistence, harmony and cooperation has started with an important sector of the opposition." Ramos Allup said the four had "exiled themselves" from his party. However, Capriles accused him of "washing his hands" as nobody in the party moved a finger without the veteran leader's approval. "The decision will deepen divisions and potentially cause a rupture of the MUD," said Risa Grais-Targow, Latin America director for Eurasia political consultancy. "It will also provide Maduro with additional incentives to accelerate the timelines for local and presidential elections," with a growing likelihood that Ramos Allup will be the only opposition figure permitted to run for president, she said. - Opposition implosion - Venezuela-based political scientist Luis Salamanca told AFP the government was on track to "seize power indefinitely, which means destroying its main political enemy. MUD may be imploding." Another main component of the MUD, Voluntad Popular, or "Popular Will," condemned the oath as a "betrayal" and said it would not participate in the municipal elections. "The MUD has lost is usefulness for Venezuela and has to re-think itself toward a new alliance," said the VP's Freddy Guevara. The four opposition governors in the eye of the storm defended their decision. "We are assuming the political cost of defending our electors' votes," said Laidy Gomez, governor of the western state of Tachira. She was speaking to reporters in a hotel after the MUD-controlled assembly banned them from using its headquarters. Electoral expert Martinez predicted the move would further distance the MUD from its support base, already discouraged after failing to unseat Maduro in four months of violent protest earlier this year that left 125 people dead. "What a way to disenfranchise millions of people who were expecting resistance," said businesswoman Margarita Garcia in the Tachira regional capital of San Cristobal. "It means political death." Businessman Gendrick Parra, 38, said the one holdout opposition governor, Juan Pablo Guanipa from the oil state of Zulia, would eventually have to take the oath of allegiance before the Constituent Assembly. "The government is gaining more ground every day. It has reached the point where people are disappointed and no longer want to get out and vote," said Parra, speaking in Zulia's capital Maracaibo. Evelinda Villalobos, a 55-year-old insurance broker in Maracaibo, said Guanipa, whose future will now be decided by the Constituent Assembly, is the only governor who has the "will" to face down the government.
Jason Caines & The No Comply Network  Interview



Jason Caines and the No Comply Network have been putting together events, (happenings is probably more accurate) for some time now, along with promoting many of the UK skateboarding communitys more creatively minded members via his numerous Social Media tentacles. Following the success of his recent Beyond Skateboarding event at Fastlands in Birmingham, we figured it made sense to sit the always-hyper man down for 5 minutes to find out a little more about The No Comply Network itself, its events arm under the moniker Beyond Skateboarding and Jasons general perspective on all things skateboarding related.

Read on and get inspired to do something similar for yourselves.

So Jason, to start off with  can you give everyone a bit of the back-story behind the No Comply Network please? When did you first start with this idea and what was the inspiration behind setting it up the network?

I started The No Comply Network in September 2014 after working for Long Live Southbank as a writer/researcher and spokesman for the campaign. I worked as an editor on the Long Live Southbank book and it was my job to choose which artists, writers and creative material would be featured. Creating that book cemented my opinion that skaters take creativity to another level.

Skateboarders create fresh artwork thats different from nearly everything else because of our unique perspectives and attitudes to traditional and commercial art, music and film. Skaters like Fos, Nick Jensen, Wig Worland, Dan Magee, Mike Manzoori, Lev Tanju and Toby Shaull were SB locals who are also now recognised artists and creatives beyond skateboarding and I wanted to make something of that.

A month before we won the campaign, I went to Lyon with my mate Arthur Derrien and great people like Will Harmon, Jin Shimizu, Jake Harris, T-Bone, Daniel Clarke, Chris Jones, Luka Pinto, Tom Knox, Mark Suicu and others. It really stoked me out on skateboarding and the creativity of the people on board. I got home inspired by the trip, wrote out the general idea of No Comply and have worked on it ever since.
The activists protesting in Jaipur are doubtful over the government's intentions and hence demand complete withdrawal of the contentious bill.

By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: Not satisfied with Rajasthan government referring the controversial Criminal laws (Rajasthan Amendment ) Bill to the Select Committee of the Assembly, civil rights activists in Jaipur today are demanding its complete withdrawal.

Scores of activists including Kavita Srivastava of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Nikhil Dey of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), Salim Engineer of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind among others came together for a protest rally.

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The activists are raising doubts over the government's intentions and are demanding complete withdrawal of the contentious bill. "Yes, because what is the intent? Had they really been affected by the people's voice which was against this bill totally, they would have withdrawn it. She had the powers to withdraw it. Sending to the Select Committee means you have kept the agenda open. So, that is not acceptable," Kavita Srivastava of the PUCL told India Today.

Even though the bill has been referred to the Select Committee, it was mentioned that the ordinance is still in place.

"We have come to tell her squarely, that we know you are a feudal madam who likes to jail people. This is not the first time that you have brought in such provisions. You have brought it in the Rajasthan Land Acquisition Act also where you had threatened three years' jail to a farmer and six months jail to an activist..." Srivastava added.

Also Watch : Gujarat Assembly election to be held on December 9, 14; results on 18th

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Available to select Vans Pro Skate accounts worldwide and limited to 600 individually-numbered pairs on Saturday, October 28, the Santa Cruz x TH capsule brings elevated design to the Vans Pro Skate line, highlighting the following features:

 Enhanced Vans Pro Skate UltraCush HD sockliners to provide the ultimate comfort and support

 Vans original Sidestripe and Santa Cruz graphics, including the famed Skateboarding Is Not A Crime slogan displayed on the foxing of each style, along with original skull artwork by TH

 Constructed with the highest quality suedes and leathers; offered in Old Rose and Oatmeal tones with black foxing and waxed cotton laces

 Original Santa Cruz label woven on the tongue and heel scab




For months now, Washington has been buzzing with speculation that Republicans would try to pay for their tax cut plan in part by mucking around with Americans retirement accounts. Most recently, members of the House have been contemplating a plan that would lower the cap on annual 401(k) contributions to a measly $2,400 a yearan idea so self-evidently toxic among upper-middle-class savers that President Trump attempted to snuff it out on Tuesday, via tweet.

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There will be NO change to your 401(k). This has always been a great and popular middle class tax break that works, and it stays!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 23, 2017

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Had it flown from the fingers of any other president, such a message might have killed the 401(k) conversation for good. But because Trumps promises tend to be ephemeral, Republicans are still treating the idea as very much alive. Rep. Kevin Brady, who chairs the House committee in charge of writing tax legislation, told a breakfast group that congressional Republicans were still working very closely with the president on the subject and that we think in tax reform we can create incentives for people to save more and save sooner. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch also said he was willing to look at anythingincluding lowering the 401(k) cap.

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Whether or not the move is really devastating to middle-class savers, it will almost certainly tick them off. Today, workers have a choice when it comes to how they want to build a nest egg. They can save pre-tax dollars in a traditional 401(k), paying the IRS only when they withdraw money during retirement. Or they can save post-tax dollars in a Roth account, drawing from their investments tax free when theyre living out their final years in Florida seniors community.

If you expect to pay the same tax rate for your entire life, it doesnt matter much whether you pick a traditional 401(k) or Roth; the government will take its cut eventually, and your savings will come out the same. But on paper at least, a traditional 401(k) is a better deal for people who expect to pay a lower tax rate during their retirement. This describes an awfully large number of Americans, since peoples incomes tend to drop when theyre no longer working full time and are living off savings. If Republicans force them to use a Roth instead, savers will lose some of the tax advantages they enjoy today.

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Thats not going to sit well with the millions of people in this country who already think of retirement as a borderline unattainable fantasy. As a matter of public policy, relying on tax-advantaged savings accounts that disproportionately benefit high-earners to help workers save enough for old age has turned out to be a mammoth public policy mistakeone thats left an entire generation financially vulnerable heading into their golden years. But curtailing 401(k)s doesnt seem likely to help the retirement crisis weve created. The best one can say about it is that, according to some recent research, Roth-style accounts might help workers by effectively tricking them into saving more once taxes are taken into consideration. But that seems unlikely to comfort anybody whos ever gazed despondently at a Fidelity account.

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And speaking of Fidelity: Crushing the 401(k) isnt just going to enrage voters. Its also going to anger the financial services industry, which has already been gearing up opposition. Mutual funds earn fees based on how much money they manage. If Americans start saving more for retirement post-tax, that will likely lead to fewer dollars sloshing around Vanguard and BlackRock funds, cutting into their profits. This may in fact be the main benefit of the policyas University of Chicago law professor Daniel Hemel shows with some nifty arithmetic, moving to Roth accounts could theoretically let Americans save the same amount of money for retirement, after taxes, while giving a smaller cut to Wall Street. That would probably be socially useful, but another political strike against the idea.

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Economists and fiscal hawks also tend to frown on the idea of paying for tax cuts by curtailing 401(k)s, because they see it as a budget gimmick. It raises money in the short term by forcing people to pay taxes on their retirement savings today. But it loses money in the future by letting people withdraw savings tax free later. The move doesnt so much increase revenues as move them forward.

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Some wonks have even wondered whether this undermines the entire rationale for lowering the 401(k) cap. Under the Senates reconciliation process, which Republicans are relying on to bypass Democratic filibuster, bills arent allowed to raise the deficit outside of Congresss budget window. If wringing money from retirement savers today raises the deficit tomorrow, it might violate those rules, making the entire gesture useless even as a mere accounting gimmick.

All of which makes the GOPs determination to stick with this idea kind of odd. The president hates it. Lobbyists hate it. Savers will hate it. And the move might not actually help them pass their bill. It smacks of desperationa party thats out of ideas.
Youre a small business and want to expand. Its true that most small businesses yearn for growth and to become bigger and expand their reach, but expansion is not always without its pitfalls.

Its not uncommon for small businesses to make some serious mistakes when attempting to expand.

To shed some light on the subject, Small Business Trends caught up with Randy Nicolau, CEO of Poppin, sellers of office furniture and supplies and Roger Edgar, CEO of LUX LED Lighting, a California-based lighting solutions manufacturer to discuss their experiences with business expansion.

Small Business Expansion Mistakes to Avoid

The two CEOs of successfully expanding businesses, provided these tips on how small businesses can avoid making common expansion mistakes.

Failing to Understand Your Customer

One of the biggest mistakes small businesses make when trying to expand is failing to understand their customers and what their customers want. According to Randy Nicolau, the first step in understanding where you want to expand is understanding your customer.

Its important to look for pockets in your data sets and have a good commercial, gut sense and think about what you would benefit from in expanding. We had enough e-commerce data to do that and found we were over-indexing in certain markets, says Nicolau.

Poppin analyzed its own data to find out that its sweet spot is 50 to 2,000 person companies in the Tech, Advertising, Media, and Information sectors who are also experiencing strong growth.

We felt we could best serve the greater Los Angeles area from Santa Monica riding on the success of our existing showrooms in San Franciscos SoMa District and New York Citys Flatiron neighborhood  both tech hubs within each city, respectively, Nicolau told us.

Not Coming Up with A Credible Action Plan

Poppins CEO couldnt overstate the value of creating an action plan that specifies how you will reach customers and achieve a competitive advantage within the new market.

For instance, some companies are moving their call centers to up-and-coming cities like Detroit  where real estate is more affordable, and the city has potential to become a future tech hub, said Nicolau.

The CEO added that Poppin is constantly thinking about how people work from industry to industry and from region to region.

We knew entering the SF area that people are more ergonomically-conscious, so we launched our Sit-Stand Loft Desk in conjunction with opening our San Francisco office and showroom, Nicolau added.

Not Looking at Industry News and Failing to Act Upon Trends and Changes

Another mistake small businesses can make when attempting to expand is failing to monitor industry news and act upon fluctuations and trends within the market.

Randy Nicolau explained how Poppin always has a pulse on industry news. Consequently, the company was able to choose the most lucrative location for its new office space in LA, based on the fact that the location they decided on has the biggest company density and millionaires that may be looking to start their own business, so that Poppin will be there to greet them.

Failing to Listen to Demand

According to Randy Nicolau, it is vital that small businesses decide if they have the sales channels, infrastructure, and customer relationships in place to launch in the new market, and determine where to leverage their core competencies.

Nicolau used Poppin as an example of how the company listened to demand before locating to a new area, stating:

Building a sales team in San Francisco was a no-brainer for us. We knew we were already working with companies like Google and Facebook on both coasts, so we listened to the demand.

Underestimating the Importance of Identifying Resource and Skills Gaps Early On

Small businesses that underestimate the importance of identifying resource and skills gaps early on, are setting themselves up for problems. As Randy Nicolau says, sustaining early market success will depend on identifying resource and skill gaps early on and quickly filling them.

Think about what expansion would entail, and how it could affect operations, especially when it comes to managing a new office on a different coast, advices the CEO.

Disregarding Long-Term Employee Counts

Another mistake businesses can make when it comes to expanding, is disregarding long-term employee counts. When planning for expansion, small businesses need to think about employee count and what it will look like in six months to a years time.

As Randy Nicolau notes:

This will impact your space planning and overall design.

Avoiding Extensive Market Research

Failing to conduct extensive market research is another mistake small businesses can make when attempting to expand.

LUX LED Lighting provides a good example of a businesses that has successfully expanded by conducting ample market research.

With a goal to double its revenue annually, LUX LED Lighting, recently decided to expand into the direct-to-consumer market with the launch of a new website and ecommerce platform.

Roger Edgar, LUX LED Lighting CEO, explains how extensive research played a vital role in the companys successful expansion, stating:

After extensive market feedback, we realized there was large consumer demand for our LED lighting solutions. The new direct-to-consumer platform allows us to broaden our community and customer base.

Overlooking Potential Pitfalls of Expansion

Edgar also notes how LUX LED Lighting took measured steps to determine the plausibility of success and potential pitfalls before launching the product line. Edgar says LUX LED Lighting:

Patiently surveyed the market helped to shape our strategy from product development and distribution channels, to where and how we presented the brand.

Failing to Demonstrate Differentiation and Value

According to Roger Edgar, in the current digital brand building landscape, brands must compete at every turn to demonstrate differentiation and value, something that is best managed from within.

While expanding into these new markets, the temptation to release control in exchange for early exposure has been constant. Many brands find these opportunities so alluring that they inevitably find themselves scrambling to regain footing and put the proverbial genie back in the bottle, the CEO warns.

Not Investing Adequate Time and Resources into Expansion Goals and Techniques

Failing to devote sufficient time and resources into expansion goals and techniques is another failing small businesses can make when trying to expand.

As Randy Nicolau notes, Of course, these tips arent an exact recipe for success, but the investment of time and resources into these preliminary steps should help you mitigate the risk of entering into a new market.

Are you a small business which has successfully expanded? Wed love to hear your expansion success stories.
He comes to Bratislava on November 4 with French Accordionist Richard Galliano for a performance at Atelier Babylon.

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In 1990, the American bassist Ron Carter and the French accordionist Richard Galliano recorded an album of jazzy duets entitled Panamanhattan. Recorded during a live concert performance in Paris, the album is a mix of sultry, witty duets featuring an instrumental pairing that is unusual in jazz. It could have easily been a disaster, but for Carter and Galliano, virtuoso musicians who are world renowned masters of jazz improvisation, the album was an instant classic. Mr. Carter, however, is not exactly aware of how well the music has withstood the test of time since he never got around to listening to the album, even now, more than 25 years after they recorded it.

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It was a hurried affair. We had a brief rehearsal, made the record, and I went to New York, says Mr. Carter in a March interview in Vienna where he performed with Mr. Galliano at the Wiener Konzerthaus. The promoter sent me a copy of it, so I said well, when I get a chance Ill listen to it, and its two decades later and I still havent had time to stop and do that. So I havent heard the record.

More than 50 years on the scene

Mr. Carter is almost apologetic about this lapse, but it is quite understandable. Ron Carter is a very busy man. He has been a mainstay on the American jazz scene for more than 50 years as a performer, composer, author, and teacher. He has had the kind of long and prolific career that assures he will be remembered as one of the most accomplished figures in the history of American music. Mr. Carter rose to fame as the bassist in trumpeter Miles Davis legendary Second Great Quintet in the 1960s, along with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Tony Williams. His work with Mr. Davis includes the iconic albums E.S.P., Nefertiti, Water Babies, Miles Smiles, Sorcerer, Filles De Kilimanjaro and others.

Having led his own group and composed music for scores of albums, Mr. Carter has also worked as a studio musician, and performed as a sideman on more than 100 albums by musicians of every stripe. The range of Mr. Carters recording contributions is staggering, and includes albums with Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Grace Slick, Paul Simon, Stanley Turrentine, Grover Washington Jr., Harry Connick Jr., George Benson, Billy Joel, and A Tribe Called Quest. Incredibly, he has also had enough time to hold a day job, having taught for 20 years at City College of New York. Since 2008 he has taught bass in the jazz studies program at New Yorks prestigious Julliard School. He has also won two Grammy Awards, one for his work on the 1986 film Round Midnight, considered one of the best jazz movies ever made.

Old world charm meets jazz modernism

Mr. Carter turned 80 years old on May 4, but he is as vigorous and active as a man half his age. He is touring again with Mr. Galliano this year in a series of concert dates across Europe that will bring them to Bratislava on November 4 at Atelier Babylon. His performance in Bratislava will be a rare opportunity to hear two of the worlds most accomplished improvisers performing selected jazz standards as well as original compositions. Of the nine songs on Panamanhattan, Mr. Carter wrote three of the pieces, while Mr. Galliano contributed four compositions. The songs are a mix of old world charm and jazz modernism that are melodic, lyrical, and easy on the ear.

The response from the audiences has been really overwhelming, Mr. Carter says. We have not gotten any critical reviews so I dont know what the media thinks, but the people who come to see us have responded well to what we are doing, so I guess what were doing is alright, or alright enough. They seem to like us for whatever reason. That was certainly true of his sold-out performance with Mr. Galliano in Vienna, where the two were received with much adulation after each song, and performed two encores at the end. The interplay between them showed two masters working at the highest level of musical craftsmanship. Everywhere that Mr. Galliano went, Mr. Carter was right there with him. It was a conversation in which both were equals, fluidly exchanging ideas as if they had known each other all their lives. They also took turns doing solo pieces, showing off their mastery of their respective instruments. Mr. Carter has discovered a rewarding collaboration in performing live shows with Mr. Galliano, and playing with the accordion, he says, is both challenging and surprising on any given night.

video //www.youtube.com/embed/HpTj98ofnmo

One of the difficulties I have in playing with the accordion is that the instrument is able to increase its volume a lot, and all of sudden, he says. With a bass once you play the note, it starts to decay right away. This guy can play at the same volume and he can do that all day. I cant make my notes do that, so I feel like Im at a disadvantage. He chuckles at that, and continues. But one of the things I enjoy about playing with Richard is hearing how many different sounds he manages to get out of the same instrument. When he takes his solo turn, Im able to just sit back and listen to him, and Im always amazed that he is able to maintain the character of the instrument and do this incredible improvisation. It just amazes me.

"I am a student of the art"

It is said that great artists have several phases to their careers. Looking back over the arc of his career, at all of the great musicians he has played with, he compares each experience with being in the classroom with another master from whom he has learned.

I am a student of the art, he says. I have gone to school with all of these guys that I have played with. I learned from Miles Davis. I learned from Tony Williams. I learned from Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chet Baker, a whole bunch of guys. All these classes I have been in, theyre like bricks in the wall. Richard is like another brick in the wall. Im learning from him, too.

Mr. Carter does not think he has reached the peak of his career. After all these years of performing with so many different people in so many times of music, he does not consider himself to be a perfect performer. In fact he feels just the opposite; that he is still trying to master the simple things, like playing the exact chord tone in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. He describes himself as an honest listener who never stops critiquing his own playing, evaluating where he is or where he should be on any given night.

Sometimes I dont play very well and that upsets me, he says. Ive had some wonderful moments, but to accept these moments as a peak is disastrous because I would have no space to get better. There are peaks and valleys in an emotional sense, yes, but career wise, Im still looking for the apex.
The Slovak Radio stopped broadcasting the interview with the director of a controversial documentary, arguing the missing final position of the hospital involved.

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The management of the Slovak Radio that is part of the public-service broadcaster RTVS halted the broadcast of an interview with Zuzana Limova, who is the director of Before I Met You documentary, the Sme daily reported.

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This documentary, screened recently at the One World festival of documentaries, describes unethical practices in three Bratislava birthing and maternity clinics falling under the University Hospital Bratislava (UNB). Limova is one of the three mothers who tell their stories of giving birth in them.

Read also:

Read also: Hospital dismisses doctor from childbirth documentary Read more

Film reviewer and journalist Peter Konecny conducted the interview with Limova, which was to be part of his regular Sunday programme, In Cinema with Peter Konecny. Instead, one of the older shows was repeated.

The broadcasters argument was that at the time of its recording Konecny did not know the opinion of the hospitals concerned, according to RTVS spokeswoman Erika Rusnakova.

Thus, solely the arguments from one side, i.e. the mothers, would have been presented, Rusnakova explained for Sme.

The programme is meant to be about films, and not newscast, Limova reacted for the daily.

The interview was about female directors who finished their movies recently, it was not a news-filled interview, she added, as quoted by Sme.

The radio news department of RTVS is led by Petra Stano Matasovska from the beginning of October. In the past five years she worked  save for a few months  as spokesperson of the UNB. She claims, though, not to have known about the halted interview.

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Read also: Slovak documentaries covering controversial subjects win Read more

After the release of the film, the CEO of the UNB said it was not based on truth and was biased, adding that it shows just one side of obstetrics. The former hospital management wanted to prevent the documentary from being shown after they saw some excerpts. They did not like it, without specifying what precisely was wrong according to them, Limova alleges.

At the festival, her film was the most popular among visitors and they voted for it to be screened a second time.
Slovakia failed to achieve its deficit objective last year, the European Unions statistic office informed in a notification, warning that the countrys failure is second worst, after Greece.

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The states deficit was 2.19 percent of GDP in 2016, the Slovak Finance Ministry reported on October 24, citing data from Eurostat. Slovakias deficit was up by 0.5 percentage points compared to the figure stated in the spring notification. In effect, the deficit was bigger in 400 million.

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Compared to the spring notification, a correction was made to the 2016 public finance deficit, the ministry informed, as quoted by the TASR newswire. This was due to relatively lower income from corporate taxes and a reclassification of income from dividends.

Eurostat published its fall deficit and debt notification, which saw the general government deficit in 2016 at 2.19 percent of GDP, while the spring notification mentioned a deficit of 1.68 percent of GDP.

What are causes behind the setback

The Finance Ministry knew already in September that it would probably happen, and now this was just confirmed. Finance Minister Peter Kazimir complained back in September about the different Eurostat methodology and of state income from dividends. In Slovakia, this mostly concerned dividends from the SPP gas utility. A similar situation occurred last year.

The Institute for Financial Policy (IFP) at the Finance Ministry sees reasons for wrongly predicted incomes from the income taxes of legal entities in the difference between profitability and real economic results of companies. The Slovak Statistics Office (SU) data said profitability grew by six percent in 2016, but in fact, the results of companies declined by 4.4 percent.

The main economist of VUB banka, Zdeno Stefanides, also admits that it is difficult to make plans or predictions in this sphere.

It is fundamentally hard to estimate taxes from profits for legal entities, Stefanides said for the Hospodarske Noviny daily, adding that this year prognoses for income from the enterprising of legal entities are revised downward, while in past years, they were instead greater than expectations.

Analyst makes predictions

This increase will not impact Slovakia in the short term, but in the long term. The country is now seeing good times but we should all prepare for a crisis, said Tatra Banka macroeconomic analyst Juraj Valachy.

Our deficit should be much lower than 2.2 percent of GDP, Valachy told Hospodarske Noviny, adding that basically it has oscillated between two and three percent for four years already. Kazimir is planning a balanced budget for 2020 in spite of this.

This year, the deficit should reach 1.63 percent. So far the country is managing to stick to this, according to Eurostat data: in second quarter, the deficit was 1.5 percent. Next year, it should decrease below one percent for the first time, to 0.83 percent. The importance of this index lies in the fact that it shows how the country is managing economically and at what pace it is creating debts. And the Eurostat data are final and binding, Hospodarske noviny summed up.
Slovakia voted for rule reform on posted workers

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At first Slovakia was one of the eleven EU member countries that triggered the yellow card procedure to block changes the European Commission proposed to 21-year-old posted worker rules. After some agreed compromises Slovak Labour Minister Jan Richter voted for tightening rules on posted workers in Luxembourg on October 23.

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I consider the reached compromise to be good because on one side it will put pressure on increasing the wages of Slovak workers and on the other hand it still will not endanger the competitiveness of Slovak companies, said Richter.

After some 12 hours of negotiations in Luxembourg, most of the EUs 28 members backed a compromise that would cap the posting of workers abroad at 18 months and introduce a four-year transition between reaching a final agreement on the reform and its taking effect. They further agreed to exempt international road transport from the revision.

The major objective of the directives reform is to have equal pay for equal work at an equal place of work. It is being pushed through by some established EU member countries criticising the current posting scheme. They accuse new member countries of social dumping, pointing out that since the latest enlargement round in 2007, labour cost differentials between member countries with the highest and the lowest wage level have increased from 1:3 to 1:10. Thus they require the introduction of a rule based on which posted workers should receive equal pay for equal work in the same workplace.

Richter praised the exclusion of the transport sector from the regulation and the four-year transition period. Another compromise was the extension of the cap to 18 months (a 12-month cap with a possible six-month extension), while the original proposal was 12 months.

I see a cap of 18 months as sufficient since the average duration of the secondment of Slovak workers was 52 and 53 in the last two years, said Richter.

From the Visegrad Group countries only Slovakia and the Czech Republic voted for the reform. The remaining two countries, Hungary and Poland, voted against. Lithuania and Latvia did not vote for the changed rules either, while Ireland, Britain and Croatia abstained from voting.

Worries of Slovak companies

Slovak companies and employers worry that the proposed change will cost them their current competitive edge.

The Federation of Employers Associations (AZZZ) perceives the existing difference between the wage levels of established and new EU member countries as one of a few competitive advantages which remained for Slovakia. It is also of the opinion that the task of the EU is not to regulate the amount and method of remunerating employees. This should be left to the bargaining of employees with employers, either individually or via collective agreements.

The National Union of Employers (RUZ) believes that applying the principle of equal remuneration is at odds with the principles of the single market, which is one of the basic pillars of the European Union while differences in wage costs represent a legitimate element of economic competition.

Moreover, the discussion about differences in the flexibility of the labour market and regulation of the minimum wage continues to remain a marginal topic, said Martin Hostak of RUZ.

Radoslav Maxin of AZZZ sees the four-year transition period as too short for Slovak companies to catch up with western companies.

Slovak companies generate gross domestic product somewhere around 75 percent of the EU average, Maxin said for the Slovak Radio, adding that they will be not able to get to 100 percent in four years and thus be equal with their western peers. As a consequence it may happen that a German company would opt for a German supplier rather than for a Slovak one when there would be no advantage of cheaper workers from Slovakia.

What next

There are actually two draft revisions to the rules on posted workers, one by the EU labour and social affairs ministers and the second one by European lawmakers. The European Parliaments Employment and Social Affairs Committee adopted its stance on the matter on October 16. The main difference between the two stances is the duration of the secondments. While the committee proposes to cap it at 24 months, the ministers compromised on a 12-month cap with a possible six-month extension.

Now the EP negotiation team can start talks with EU ministers about the final wording of the revision. Talks are expected to start in November. The final text must then be approved by the EP as well as the Council.
Ministry considers fine for delayed delivery of the new plane.

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The first of two Spartan C-27J military cargo aircraft for the Armed Forces has already arrived in Slovakia. It landed at the airbase in Kuchyna, Zahorie region, on October 24.

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Technical documents will be passed to the military facility in Kuchyna over the following days, with the official handover ceremony scheduled for October 31, the SITA newswire reported.

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Originally, the aircraft was to be delivered last year. The Defence Ministry will inform about a possible penalty for late delivery only once the talks are completed, said its spokesperson Danka Capakova.

As for the modernisation of our Armed Forces, this is another historical milestone, Defence Minister Peter Gajdos said, as quoted by SITA, adding that the armed forces have not had such transport capacity since the last AN-26 aircraft was phased out. Id like to emphasise that it will not only serve the Armed Forces but it is also ready for national crisis management, helping all citizens of the Slovak Republic.
The prosecutor has appealed the verdict.

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Former MP for the Smer party, Vladimir Janos, did not abuse his wife. Since neither she nor his daughter showed any signs of abuse, the district court in Prievidza (Trencin Region) decided that he did not cause them physical or mental suffering.

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The court also claimed that Janos could only be accused of committing an offence against civic cohabitation and passed the case to the district authority that deals with such matters, the Sme daily reported.

Im very disappointed with todays verdict, said Janoss ex-wife, Iveta, as quoted by Sme. I want to call on all abused women not to give up and not to allow their husbands to abuse them.

The prosecutor has appealed the verdict.

Charges followed the publication of audio recordings

Janos was accused of abusing his wife in March 2015. This followed the publication of the transcripts of some audio recordings on the internet on March 3, in which he was heard verbally abusing and threatening his wife. Since then Janos has consistently denied the accusations.

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After the charges were brought, he resigned as an MP and also as Smer district head in Prievidza.

The prosecution claimed that Janos was physically abusing his then wife, threatening her with a gun and banning her from meeting with her family. Moreover, he was allegedly forcing her to leave their homes in Prievidza and Bratislava. He allegedly also treated their daughter aggressively.

Janos was facing seven to 15 years in prison for these actions, Sme wrote. However, the former MP has maintained his innocence throughout the legal process.

The verdict is not valid yet, Janos said, as quoted by Sme, adding that the whole case is traumatic for him.

Other investigations came to nothing

A few days before the court issued its decision, unknown activists wrapped the statue of a miner situated in front of Zilina Universitys faculty in Prievidza in aluminium foil. They did so to protest against the investigation, initiated by his ex-wife, into whether Janos was brining home money that he had obtained from the subsidies granted to the Hornonitrianske Bane Prievidza mining company. He allegedly later wrapped it in aluminium foil to protect it from fire, Sme wrote.

The case was investigated by the National Criminal Agency, which did not discover any crime and completed the investigation in July 2016.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) The debt-ridden telecom operator, Reliance Communications, has plans to shut down its 2G mobile business by the end of November, but will continue to offer 3G and 4G services, according to industry sources.

The company has also asked a number of employees to quit as part of its winding up of the operations.

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An e-mail query sent to RCom elicited no immediate reply.

The move comes after the company failed to close the merger deal with telecom operator Aircel early this month. PTI PRS ARD

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Matej Bel University will analyse potential security threats and unrest funded by a research grant from IBM.

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IBM is to become more involved in science and research at Slovak universities. It has given a grant of $25,000 to the Faculty of Political Science and International Relations of the Matej Bel University (UMB) in Banska Bystrica, the TASR newswire reported.

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The aim of the research is to propose ways of using cognitive systems and prepare educational activities and materials about the topic. The project will last for three years and will be carried out at the Crisis Management Centre, which is part of the UMBs Department of Security Studies.

Among the research topics are the application of cognitive analyses in cyberspace to predict and reveal real security threats, such as civic riots, manipulation of citizens etc., said Karol Fabian from the Department of Security Studies, as quoted by TASR.

The research will also investigate the use of advanced statistical algorithms, the analysis of social networks and the application of behaviour and content analysis using IBMs Watson solutions, Fabian added.

Altogether nine UMB employees and PhD students will participate in the research, TASR wrote.
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.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) The special representative appointed for holding a sustained dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir is open for talks with the separatists and Hurriyat Conference with an effort to bring a lasting peace in the troubled state, a senior government official said today.

Earlier this week, the Centre appointed former Intelligence Bureau director Dineshwar Sharma as its special representative to initiate dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir.

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"While insinuations have been made to the effect that the central government was not willing to engage with so-called real stakeholders (read separatists), it is factually incorrect," the official said on the condition of anonymity.

The central government has been maintaining that it was willing to talk to everybody provided the other side also exhibited willingness and came forward for talks.

This was reiterated recently by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to various delegations, that came to meet him, when he visited Jammu and Kashmir last month.

The official also pointed at unsuccessful attempts of an all-party delegation, which visited the state last year, to meet hardline Hurriyat faction leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

The pro-Pakistan separatist leader had refused to open doors to the members of the delegation.

At that time, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had also written to Geelani in her capacity as the president of the ruling PDP, to come forward and talk to the delegation, which was refused, the official said.

The Centres initiative to appoint Dineshwar Sharma as special representative for a sustained dialogue in the state is a continuation of the NDA dispensations efforts to talk to all shades of opinion in the state, elicit their views and do everything possible for peace in the state and betterment of the peoples life there, he said.

In his visits to the state, the home minister had met several delegations from all walks of life and taken all possible measures to ameliorate their problems, the official said.

He claimed the security situation in the Valley was largely peaceful and sans any fear factor. This may help people to come out freely, the official said.

The government has very "carefully chosen" Sharma as its representative, who is "fully cognisant" of all issues related to Jammu and Kashmir, he added. PTI ACB SKL TIR

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Recently, On October 16, the LIGO team officially announced that they have successfully detected gravitation waves in the form of electromagnetic radiations that are emerged from the merger of two neutron stars. The scientists informed that the collision of two neutron stars took place in distant far away galaxy situated 130 million light years away from Earth.

On August 17, The LIGO-Virgo collaboration alerted more than 70 observatories across the world about the detection of a signal (GW170817) consistent with the merger of two neutron stars, which was later confirmed as gravitational waves. Responding to the event, Scientists in Japan revealed that they have recorded optical and infrared signals coming out from a kilonova- a violent cosmic event that equals to 1000 supernovas- produced by the intense collision of two neutron stars.

Professor Raffaele Flaminio of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan said that due to the combining efforts of LIGO detectors in the US and the Virgo detector in Europe, the data collected by them helped them to analyze the best ever localized gravitational wave source. The Japanese collaboration of Gravitational wave Electro-Magnetic (J-GEM) follow-up is a research project to find out optical counterparts of gravitational wave sources because scientists believe that optical observations give different information than gravitational wave observations. They wanted to study gravitational waves from different aspects because Neutron Star mergers have strong optical and infrared light emissions. That is why J-GEM was brought to action. The scientists saw the object changed day by day and hence it was confirmed that the gravitational waves emerged from Kilonova leading to first ever detection of Kilonova.

The color and brightness of the light that the gravitational waves possessed were very intense, and it matched the simulations of a kilonova made figured out by the ATERUI supercomputer present at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. Assistant Professor Yousuke Utsumi of Hiroshima University, who is also a scientist in the J-GEM collaboration said that they were very excited to witness how the brightness evolution rapidly day by day, made possible by facilities operated by Japanese institutes distributed all over the world
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Imagine printing off a wristband that charges your smartphone or electric car with cheap supplies from a local hardware store.

That's the direction materials research is heading at Brunel University London where scientists have become the first to simply and affordably 3-D print a flexible, wearable 'battery'.

The technique opens the way for novel designs for super-efficient, wearable power for phones, electric cars, medical implants like pacemakers and more.

The printer squirts stacks of silicone, glue and gel electrolyte pastes like a layer cake, to make what looks like a clear festival wristband. Sandwiched inside is a supercapacitor, which stores energy like a battery, but on its surface and without chemical reactions.

"This is the first time a flexible supercapacitor including all its components has been produced by 3-D printing," said Milad Areir at Brunel's Cleaner Electronics Research Group. "The most popular way to produce them is screen printing, but with that you can't print the frame of the supercapacitor on silicone."

Researchers in many countries have found new ways to make flexible supercapacitators. But their techniques, which include 3-D laser selective melting machines are expensive and use different machines to print different parts.

"Our technique brings it all together into one process with one machine," said Milad. "It will definitely save time and costs on expensive materials."

The work, published in Materials Science and Engineering, shows the power wristband can be made using cheap products from a household shop instead of sophisticated expensive metals or semiconductors. What's more is that they stand up to stress tests without losing power.

"This has developed a novel 3-D printing method for manufacturing flexible supercapacitators, by one single continuous process using low-cost flexible silicone compatible with the electrode, current collector and electrolyte materials," the study says.

A simple open-source printer connected by USB to a syringe driver with a stopper motor can print the paste layers, with only three or four syringes based on the size of the supercapacitator. The wristbands are printed in a honeycomb pattern, which means less material needs printing, so they are quicker to make. But designers can also experiment with different complex shapes.

The process is easy to copy, the study says, and shows 3-D printing using paste extrusion can be used to develop more sophisticated electronic devices with different mixes of paste.

"In future it can be used for mobile phones," said Milad. "For example, if the phone battery is dead, you could plug the phone into the supercapacitator wristband and it could act as a booster pack, providing enough power to get to the next charging point."

More information: Milad Areir et al. 3D printing of highly flexible supercapacitor designed for wearable energy storage, Materials Science and Engineering: B (2017). Milad Areir et al. 3D printing of highly flexible supercapacitor designed for wearable energy storage,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2017.09.004
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is learnt to have told NSA Ajit Doval that a "stern message" has been sent to Pakistan over terrorism.

US secretary of state Rex Tillerson and minister for external affairs Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Praveen Negi)

By Geeta Mohan: Highly placed sources have told Mail Today that the US warned Pakistan in no uncertain terms that the latter has to take action against terror groups.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Wednesday ahead of his bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

A senior official said that NSA Doval asked Tillerson for an assessment of Pakistan as he had just visited both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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In his assessment, Tillerson told Doval that a "stern message" was given to Pakistan. According to the source, Tillerson told the Pakistani leadership, "act against terrorist groups, else we will do it."

The sources added that in America's assessment of the region, the "biggest" problem was the "safe havens in Pakistan".

This was conveyed to NSA Doval by Secretary Tillerson. "The US govt in its assessment said that safe havens in Pakistan is the real problem," the source said.

To a question on whether Lashkar-e-Taiba's chief Hafiz Saeed came up during discussions, senior officials said "no specific names came up".

India has been urging the US to mount pressure on Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack to book where US nationals also lost their lives.

Hafiz Saeed was the mastermind of the attack and despite efforts, all that Pakistan has done is put him under house arrest.

It remains to be seen if the threat by US of taking out terrorists would extend to the likes of Saeed, Zakiur-Rehman Lakhvi and others involved in the 2008 attack.

Both sides even highlighted the need to end cross-border terrorism and dismantle terror infrastructure in Pakistan during bilateral talks between the Secretary of State and Indian External Affairs Minister.

SAFE HAVENS

"Too many terror groups find safe haven in Pakistan, and these are now threatening the stability of the country's government. We want to work with Pakistan in a positive way as we think this is in their interest in the longer term," Tillerson said at the media briefing held after the talks.

Swaraj added, "Recent attacks in Afghanistan are proof that supporters of terrorism are active. Pak needs to act on this."

While Tillerson re-emphasised US President Donald Trump that terrorist safe havens "will not be tolerated", he added that these terror groups are "threatening stability of Pakistan government", making a clear distinction on those within Pakistani state that support terrorists and the civilian dispensation that recently found itself on shaky grounds.

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The distinction between Rawalpindi and Islamabad has been one of the biggest challenges for the US administration in bringing normalcy in the AfPak region, particularly in Afghanistan.

A senior official speaking on this dichotomy said that the US govt will be messaging in different ways, be it concerns regarding nuclear stability or stability of the civilian government in Pakistan; but, not mincing words like the previous governments in US and their half messaging, Trump administration is clear regarding its "terror policy".

"Terrorism emanating from Pakistan is the biggest problem", is the current US assessment according to the source.

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This site focuses on Republican politicians and conservatives that rip off their constituency. We have the Tea Party, fundamentalist churches, the corruption of ALEC and other special interests groups. But the site also supports progressive Democrats and the local Democratic Socialist of America. We must have ideas on how to replace regressive and corrupt politicians with something better. For comments steveotto2001@yahoo.com or ottozero2001@yahoo.com.
Vietnams strong economic performance in 2017 has proven that the Southeast Asian country is no longer reliant on oil exports as some commentators seem to think, a deputy premier told lawmakers on Tuesday.

The fourth biannual session of Vietnams lawmaking National Assembly is now underway in Hanoi, beginning on October 23, and will run until November 25, during which time legislators will consider several key socio-economic goals.

On the first day of the month-long session, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told lawmakers that given Vietnams healthy economic performance during the Jan-Sep period, the country was likely to achieve all 13 of its socio-economic targets for 2017.

On Tuesday, legislators reviewed the countrys implementation of its socio-economic plan for 2017 and set targets for 2018.

Lawmakers hailed the government for its efforts, with Vietnam also on track to meet its full-year GDP growth target of 6.7 percent, but were careful to note that there were still challenges ahead.

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue underlined the fact that the countrys economic growth was no longer simply reliant on oil exports, but strong performances in the industrial and service sectors.

Vietnams oil production in the first nine months of 2017 dropped 8 percent on the same period last year, and full-year production is estimated at 12.28 million metric tons, 3 million tons less than in 2016, Hue explained.

While the oil industry is suffering in 2017, the manufacturing and production sectors have soared.

Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue

Hue said that the industrial sector in Bac Ninh, home to a Samsung factory, had posted 25.1 percent growth, while growth in other locations including Hai Phong and Thai Nguyen were 20.1 percent and 18.1 percent, respectively.

Vietnams service sector, including the retail and tourism industries had also logged strong growth, according to the deputy premier.

Vietnam receives more than one million foreign tourists every month and we are certain that well meet the target of 13 million international arrivals in 2017, Hue said.

Rather than try to increase oil production by one million tons, Vietnam would rather try to attract one million more tourists, as this will result in green, clean and safe growth for the economy.

Vietnams lawmakers have set out specific goals for 2018, including GDP growth of 6.5-6.7 percent, with an average consumer price index of about four percent. Total export revenue is set to expand by seven to eight percent, while the countrys trade deficit is expected to remain below three percent.

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Vietnam has been given the equivalent of a yellow card by the European Commission for failing to take sufficient action against illegal fishing.

The yellow card is a warning given by the European Commission to any non-cooperating country in its fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing worldwide.

In a press release obtained by Tuoi Tre News on Monday, the European Commission explained that the decision to give the warning to Vietnam was based on the country not doing enough to fight illegal fishing.

The decision is a result of thorough analysis, takes into account the development of the country and follows a long period of informal discussions with Vietnamese authorities that began in 2012, according to the European Commission.

The commission said it had identified several shortcomings, including the lack of an effective sanctioning system to deter IUU fishing activities and a lack of action to address illegal fishing activities conducted by Vietnamese vessels in non-Vietnamese waters.

Furthermore, Vietnam has an inadequate system of control over fish that are processed locally before being exported to international markets, including the EU, the commission said.

A Vietnamese fishing boat

Karmenu Vella, the Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at the European Commission said the yellow card demonstrates the Commissions firm commitment to fighting illegal fishing globally.

We cannot ignore the impact that the illegal activities of Vietnamese vessels are having on marine ecosystems in the Pacific, Vella said.

The commissioner said the European Commission is willing to offer technical support, and called on Vietnamese authorities to step up their fight so we can reverse this decision quickly.

The European Commission underlined that the decision does not immediately include measures that impact trade.

The yellow card is considered a warning and offers the opportunity for Vietnam to rectify the situation within a reasonable timeframe.

To this end the Commission has proposed an action plan to support the country in addressing the shortcomings, it said in the press release.

Vietnamese authorities are now invited to engage in a formal procedure of dialogue to resolve the issues and implement the action plan.

Six months to change

Vietnams seafood industry had been well aware of the impending warning from the European Commission.

In late September, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), held a meeting to seek solutions to avoid the decision, however no significant improvements had been made since.

At the VASEP meeting, industry insiders said that the warning would put Vietnams seafood in jeopardy.

Fishermen aboard a fishing boat. Tuoi Tre

During the six-month yellow card period, the country will have 100 percent of its shipments to the EU held for inspection before clearing customs.

The process will take up to four weeks and some 500 GBP ($675) per container, not to mention storage expenses charged by seaports, according to VASEP deputy general secretary Nguyen Hoai Nam.

However, the biggest danger is that any yellow-carded country will experience a higher rate of rejection by international customs, Nam warned.

For instance, the Philippines now has 70 percent of its containers shipped to the EU returned, resulting in losses of up to 10,000 euro [$11,860] per container.

Vietnams annual seafood exports are worth between US$1.9 billion and $2.2 billion, with the EU and U.S. markets each accounting for 16-17 percent.

The industry now faces the challenge of having its yellow card revoked as soon as possible.

VASEP chairman Ngo Van Ich told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Tuesday that the association is carefully evaluating the situation to come up with adequate solutions.

There is a high possibility that the yellow card will become a red card, resulting in severe consequences for Vietnamese seafood, so we are trying our best to improve the situation before it is too late, Ich said.
Vietnamese scientists and students and their Australian friends, including one revered professor, are credited with the introduction of the Internet to Vietnam over 20 years ago.

>> The Internet turns 20 in Vietnam: P1  Forerunners

The respected young academics from both countries were instrumental in the ushering in of the Internet into the Southeast Asian country in the early 1990s.

One of the first foreign experts to make Vietnams connection to the global grid possible was Professor Rob Hurle from the Australia National University (ANU).

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters recently contacted Prof. Hurle during his stay in Germany to visit his son.

Im delighted to tell this story, which reflects one of the most intriguing parts of my life, he wrote in an email.

As a young man, he taught biology at high schools in Victoria, Australia upon his graduation from university.

He did not take a keen interest in computer science until four years later, and joined the Australia National Center of Natural Sciences.

In 1987, Hurle became a professor at ANU, an information technology expert and a Southeast Asian researcher with a perfect command of Bahasa, whose usage typically refers to the languages of Indonesia and Malaysia.

Despite carrying out extensive research into Southeast Asian languages and cultures and traveling widely across the region, I somehow had never set foot in Vietnam, the 77-year-old admitted.

Professor Rob Hurle from the Australia National University

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, students at ANU would use a mainframe computer for statistical work and related tasks.

The personal computer, which was not powerful enough to perform such tasks then, was mostly used to type documents and send emails.

Prof. Hurle shared his disturbance at learning that overseas Vietnamese students had limited use of personal computers, preventing them from putting what they had learnt in Australia into practice upon their return to their home country.

The nagging question prompted him to travel to Vietnam in 1991.

I brought with me a hefty modem and gifted it to Pham Bich San, one of the Vietnamese students in Australia, so that he and others could connect to the mainframe computers in Vietnam more easily, the professor recalled.

Totally uninformed about Vietnam, I had not been aware that the bulky modem would be a burden, as computer engineers in Vietnam, who earned a mere US$20 per month, could hardly afford phone calls from Vietnam to Australia at $5 per minute, he added.

This reality encouraged the scientist to devise ways to connect to Vietnam through an international phone toll of $2 per minute, which engineers in Australia, whose monthly salaries were approximately $3,500, could afford.

A few months later, Prof. Hurle returned to Vietnam and contacted an overseas Vietnamese in the U.S., who suggested that he approach Tran Ba Thai from the Institute of Information Technology in Hanoi.

By then we had made strides in substituting the mainframe system with smaller yet higher-configuration computers adopting the UNIX system [a family of multitasking, multiuser computer operating systems] at ANU, he added.

Prof. Hurle, Thai and a few other colleagues then embarked on experiments in connecting computers in Vietnam and Australia through landline phone lines.

The Aussie designed new pieces of software for the UNIX system, so that modems could be utilized to link computers in Vietnam by allowing users access to the UNIX system before they could connect to the Internet.

The experiments were a success.

And Thai was then able to send emails to his colleagues around the world, using the email address hanoi@coombs.anu.edu.au.

Prof. Hurle added that he and Thai had talked on the phone and never met in person at that stage.

In September 1993, Telstra Corp Ltd., Australia's biggest telco company, sponsored a conference in Hanoi, and invited the professor to the event, where he sat down with Thai for further discussions on fostering the growth of the Internet in Vietnam.

Engineers work at Quang Trung Software City in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Reparation

Prof. Hurle revealed that he also helped government agencies, banks, research institutes and national libraries in China, Bangladesh and the Philippines with their Internet connections during that time.

My greatest effort and time, however, were expended in Vietnam for different reasons, he noted.

One of the reasons was his encounters with overseas Vietnamese students who had a voracious appetite for knowledge but were unable to put it into practice.

This spurred me on to seek ways to give them better access to the Internet world, he said.

He was also overwhelmed with a sense of guilt as Australia had participated in the American war in Vietnam, which ended in April 1975.

As an Australian, I desired to do something in recompense for our wrongs, he confided.

While working with agencies in the Philippines, Prof. Hurle learned that the domain .ph had been registered by an individual user, who wanted to trade it to the government for a huge sum.

Foreseeing a similar predicament in Vietnam, he advised Thai to promptly register for and acquired the .vn domain in 1994.

Piloting milestones in Vietnam The Internet pilot program in Vietnam stemmed from the partnership between Tran Ba Thai and his associates and Professor Rob Hurles group from the Australia National University to launch VAREnet, short for Vietnam Academic Research & Educational Network, on a trial basis in 1994. Back then, NetNam was a service network under the Information Technology Institute and had yet to become the enterprise it is today. The National Center for Science and Technology Information, under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (now the Ministry of Science and Technology), connected to the Netherlands Toolnet in 1994. In 1995, the Center of Science and Technology, under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science, Technology and Environment, liaised with a networking node in Singapore to form the so-called HCMCNET. One year later, Vietnam Data Communication Co. (VDC), which belongs to Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group, connected to the U.S.s SprintLink, a tier-1 global Internet service provider network that provides services through an OC-192 Internet backbone, at two points in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City through two international portals operating at 64kb per second.

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A number of roads in the downtown area of central Da Nang City will be modified to facilitate the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders Week, according to a dispatch by the citys administration.

Running November 6-11 in Da Nang, the Economic Leaders Week is the culmination of Vietnams year-long hosting of a series of meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), a forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

To improve traffic safety ahead of and during the event, tipper trucks will not be allowed on any of the citys roads other than the Hai Van Tunnel  Tuy Loan route, some sections of National Highway 14B, and the Da Nang  Quang Ngai Expressway between November 3 and 12.

Trucks, passenger buses of 16 or more seats, sanitation vehicles and garbage trucks will be banned from entering downtown streets and bridges between 5:00 am and 11:00 pm from November 5 to 12.

The streets affected are Hoang Sa, Vo Nguyen Giap, Truong Sa, Vo Van Kiet, Nguyen Van Thoai, Ho Xuan Huong, Nguyen Duc Thuan, Minh Mang, An Nong, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, 3 Thang 2, Bach Dang, Tran Phu, 2 Thang 9, Cach Mang Thang 8, Ham Nghi, Le Dinh Ly, Nguyen Tri Phuong, Nguyen Huu Tho, Trung Nu Vuong, Nguyen Van Linh, Duy Tan and Tran Thi Ly.

The same ban will also be imposed on Dragon Bridge, Tran Thi Ly Bridge and Tien Son Bridge.

On November 10 and 11 when APEC leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, are expected to arrive in Da Nang for a senior meeting, the ban will be extended to include Le Van Hien, Ngu Hanh Son, Ngo Quyen and Yet Kieu Streets.

Between November 5 and 12, all vehicles will not be allowed to stop or park on Hoang Sa, Vo Nguyen Giap, Truong Sa, Vo Van Kiet, Nguyen Van Thoai, Bach Dang, Tran Phu, 2 Thang 9, Cach Mang Thang 8, Nguyen Van Linh, Duy Tan and Tran Thi Ly.

The iconic water-and-fire show, held daily on Dragon Bridge, will not be performed on the weekend when the leaders' meeting falls on, while the Han River Bridge will not rotate during the same period either.

Additionally, cruise ships on the Han River will have their operations suspended between November 9 and 11.

A traffic police officer directs rush hour traffic in Da Nang City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

According to the APEC Secretariat, at least 18 leaders of the groups member economies have confirmed their attendance at the 25th edition of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Da Nang.

U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping are all expected to be present.

The combined number of delegates and international reporters is estimated to number 10,000, making this years APEC summit one of the biggest ever in terms of participation.

It marks the second time Vietnam has played host to the event since its entrance in 1998, having hosted it previously in 2006.

Nearly 800 police officers from all provinces and cities across Vietnam will be mobilized to ensure traffic safety and escort delegates during the week.

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Check out what is in the news today, October 25

Society

-- Vietnams Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien has strongly condemned violence targeted at medical staff on duty and urged better protection following two recent attacks at physicians in the past few days.

-- Ho Chi Minh City authorities and competent agencies are working hard to implement six projects to built alternative routes to Tan Son Nhat International Airport and ease traffic pressure around the hectic airdrome.

-- More than 1,000 police and army officers partook in a massive security drill on Tuesday in the central city of Da Nang to best prepare for the 2017 APEC Economic Leaders Week, which will run on November 6-11 and welcome at least 18 world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump.

-- Dr.Vo Kim Cuong, former deputy chief architect of Ho Chi Minh City, proposed at a recent meeting that the southern metropolis be divided into the eastern and western sections for more efficient infrastructure investment and focused growth.

Business

-- Vietnamese seafood producers and exporters have raised concerns the sanction imposed by the European Union (EU) over violation of the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing rules will hurt their export activity to the European market and increase costs.

-- Delegates at a conference on Tuesday pointed out connection between goods producers, retailers and consumers remains inadequate, resulting in poor performance in several sectors.

-- Tourism authorities in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with their counterparts in Tien Giang Province and Can Tho City in the Mekong Delta and the north-central province of Ha Tinh to develop appealing tour packages and tap on each localitys potential.

Lifestyle

-- The Breast Cancer Network Vietnam, a member of the Union for International Cancer Control, is calling for 4,000 hair donations, which will be gifted to cancer patients, particularly women combating breast cancer.

-- Music pieces from beloved opera plays and films will be performed by local artists and a Vietnamese American violin virtuoso during a Vietnam- U.S. friendship concert, to take place on Sunday night at the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House in the downtown area.
Vietnams Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien has condemned violence against health workers on Tuesday and called for wider protection of health practitioners.

Minister Tiens statement came after two violent assaults on doctors were reported over the last four days.

On Friday, Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Hai, working at the medical center of Huong Lam Commune in Huong Khe District, Ha Tinh Province in north-central Vietnam, was on duty when she was assaulted by a 26-year-old male suspect.

The assailant reportedly slashed Hai multiple times on her arms with a knife after she noticed that he was drunk and refused to give him a fluid infusion.

On Monday, Dr. Tran Thanh Son in central Quang Binh Province suffered multiple injuries to his face and eyes after he was attacked by a gang of youths just outside the emergency room at the Vietnam  Cuba Hospital.

The attackers were reportedly unhappy with Son for attending to another man whom they believed had been responsible for a traffic accident involving a friend of theirs, who was also receiving treatment at the hospital.

I speak on behalf of the Ministry of Health in condemning the violent behavior displayed by those who assaulted Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Hai and Dr. Tran Thanh Son, Minister Tien said in her statement released on Tuesday.

The ministry calls on law enforcement in both Ha Tinh and Quang Binh to seek appropriate penalties for the perpetrators.

The minister noted the increasing number of assaults against doctors recently, which have led to widespread insecurities amongst medical workers.

Tien called on the community and local media to condemn such violent behavior targeted at health professionals.

She also expressed her condolences for the physical and mental pain endured by the doctors themselves, and requested that their employers offer them the best possible care.

This is the first time the health minister has released a public statement condemning violence against doctors as unhappiness grows among local practitioners over her inaction despite repeated reports of assaults since the beginning of this year.

In August, a footage went viral on social media showing a female doctor in north-central Nghe An Province being slapped by a businessman who thought doctors and nurses at the facility werent paying enough attention to his injured employee.

In June, a doctor in Hanoi was assaulted and forced to kneel down and apologize by an angered father for making the wrong diagnosis of his sons injury.

Another doctor in Hanoi was knocked unconscious and suffered a serious wound to his head in April after a man used a large, thich glass to hit him several times on the head while he was explaining the condition of the mans son.

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Ho Chi Minh City authorities are mulling over several new proposals to combat traffic congestion near the citys major airport, including opening a second street.

As previous efforts have proved ineffective, new solutions have been suggested to alleviate congestion at the entrance of Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Ideas include the construction and expansion of roads, a new overpass, a monorail, and cable car routes.

In July, two flyovers were opened to traffic on Truong Son Street and at the Nguyen Kiem- Nguyen Thai Son Roundabout, which have failed to eliminate regular bottlenecks on Truong Son Street.

In late September, the Urban Traffic Management Zone No.1 under the municipal Department of Transport began the expansion of Hoang Minh Giam Street in the hope of improving the situation.

According to local experts, Tan Son Nhat Airport can only be accessed via Truong Son Street.

This means the road must handle about 30 million passengers a year along with a large number of local commuters, making congestion inevitable.

Two projects have been recommended to deal with this specific issue, including the upgrade and expansion of Hoang Hoa Tham Street, as well as the connection of Tran Quoc Hoan with Truong Chinh Street.

According to the Urban Traffic Management Zone No.1, works on Hoang Hoa Tham Street are expected to begin in November.

The road will be 22 meters wide, with four lanes, requiring a total capital investment of VND254 billion (US$11.1 million).

Airport commuters walk to the airdrome due to severe congestion. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The Ho Chi Minh City administration has agreed to fund the plan to connect Tran Quoc Hoan and Truong Chinh Streets.

However, the project can only be implemented once the Ministry of National Defense consents to hand over a parcel of military land.

Major General Nguyen Huu Chi, deputy commander of the Vietnam Peoples Air Force, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the defense ministry would consider handing over military land to assist economic development and reduce congestion.

In a bid to resolve the problem, Bilco JSC suggested the construction of two cable car routes, connecting the airport with Hoang Van Thu and Gia Dinh Parks, requiring expenditure of about VND500 billion ($22 million).

The Institute of Transport Science and Technology has proposed the construction of two monorail routes rather than a cable car, which will cost between $35 million and $50 million per kilometer.

According to Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the agency has been in contact with 11 consulting firms from the United Kingdom, United States, France, Japan, and the Netherlands since June.

The CAAV is expected to sign a contract with one of the firms in late October before adjusting the overall plan of Tan Son Nhat Airport, Thang said.

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The first meters of track were installed on Ho Chi Minh Citys first metro line on Tuesday, renewing hopes that the project will be completed on schedule despite recent setbacks caused by delayed capital allocation.

The tracks, manufactured by Japanese contractor Hitachi, were installed on the stretch of line running from the Binh Thai intersection to the Hanoi Highway flyover in Thu Duc District.

At a ceremony marking the commencement of track work held by the municipal Management Authority of Urban Railways (MAUR), Ho Chi Minh Citys deputy chairman Tran Vinh Tuyen, underlined the metros significance in connecting the southern hub with neighboring provinces and in addressing the needs of local commuters.

Once completed, the line is expected to boost the citys economic and financial development, Tuyen said.

The Peoples Committee of Ho Chi Minh City called on the projects developer and contractors to speed up construction so that the line could begin operating in 2020 as scheduled.

Delegates at a button-pressing ceremony to mark the commencement of track work on Ho Chi Minh Citys first metro line, October 24, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre

According to Le Nguyen Minh Quang, head of the MAUR, as of October, 43 percent of the lines construction items had been completed.

If construction remains on schedule, Quang said, the metro line will operate its first test runs in 2019, before launching for commercial use in 2020.

Ho Chi Minh Citys first metro line is expected to stretch 19.7 kilometers between Ben Thanh Market in District 1 and Suoi Tien Water Park in District 9.

The lines development, which began in August 2012, is estimated to have cost the city some US$2.06 billion, most of which has been funded by Japanese official development assistance (ODA) loans.

A machine installs tracks on Ho Chi Minh Citys first metro line, October 24, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre

However, slow ODA disbursement caused by bureaucratic red tape has seen the project proceed at snails pace, with recent threats to put construction on hold entirely likely to result in unimaginable consequences.

The Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), has publicly expressed its concerns about the way Vietnam has been managing Japans ODA loans on some of its major infrastructure projects at an annual press conference in Hanoi last week.

Vietnams unpaid debt to JICA could skyrocket to $177.1 million by the end of this year if it continues to stall capital allocation to the projects, the Japanese agency warned.

On Tuesday, Akito Takashahi, deputy chief representative of the Office of JICA in Vietnam, expressed his relief that construction of the metro line was advancing, though warned that slow disbursement of capital remained a serious threat to its progress.

JICA has requested that the Vietnamese Government take into consideration the particular circumstances of the project and act to resolve capital allocation issues as soon as possible.

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Saeed, a Pakistani citizen, headed the Jamaat-ud-Dawah, which was listed as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in 2014. The list of terrorists was passed on during US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's visit to Pakistan on Tuesday.

By Press Trust of India: Mumbai attack mastermind and banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed's name was not on the list of 75 terrorists the United States had handed over to Pakistan, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday.

Saeed, who carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head for his role in terror activities, has been under house arrest in Pakistan since January this year.

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Asif told senators during a session of the parliament's upper house that the US had "handed over a list of 75 terrorists while we gave them a list of around 100 terrorists."

The list was passed on during the maiden visit of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Pakistan on Tuesday.

"The Haqqani Network is on the top of the (US) list, but none of the militants are Pakistanis", Asif told senators.

Saeed, a Pakistani citizen, headed the JuD, which was listed as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in 2014.

The JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit, which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of 2008.

HAQQANI NETWORK BEHIND KIDNAPPINGS IN AFGHANISTAN

The Afghan-based Haqqani Network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan. The group is also blamed for several attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan, including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people.

The US, Asif said, had made a habit of handing over lists of wanted people to Pakistan, which traded them for favours, a matter that needed to be debated.

He said that the US had been told that Pakistan no longer had influence over the Afghan Taliban as it did in the past.

"Neither are we supporting them (Afghan Taliban), nor do they need our help", Asif said.

"Somebody else is sponsoring them now", he added, without elaborating on it.

Asif asserted that many of the key Taliban names were now shadow governors in Afghanistan or no longer alive.

TILLERSON CALLS FOR TOUGH ACTION AGAINST AFGHAN TALIBAN

During his meeting with the Pakistani leaders, Tillerson renewed Washington's demand for tough action against the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network.

Asif said that the meeting with Tillerson was held in a cordial atmosphere and that there were no accusations from either side.

"We clarified to the visiting dignitaries that Pakistan will not indulge in any kind of proxy war, but continue to play its role for peace and security in the region", he said.

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Asif said that Pakistan wanted to expand relations with the US on the basis of equality and self-respect.

ALSO WATCH VIDEO | Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed will be released if proof not submitted: Pakistan court

--- ENDS ---
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has called on security units to ensure absolute safety during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Week in the central city of Da Nang.

Earlier in the week, thousands of officers from multiple security units participated in a welcome ceremony and performed counter-terrorism exercises organized by the subcommittee of security and health for the 2017 APEC summit.

The event was attended by Prime Minister Phuc, Deputy Premier Pham Binh Minh, and Minister of Public Security To Lam.

A police officer during the cavalcade

The participating officers were made up of various divisions operating under the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, and Da Nangs Department of Police and Military Command.

They took part in cavalcades, martial art performances, and anti-terrorism exercises on both land and water.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Phuc praised the efforts of police and military forces and the local administration for the successful organization of previous APEC meetings.

He asked security units to be fully aware of the importance of the APEC Economic Leaders Week, saying that they must ensure absolute safety at the event.

No mistakes can be made, he stressed.

A military unit takes part in the formal procession.

Police and military units should be proactive and ensure comprehensive measures are undertaken to deal with all sorts of scenarios, the PM added.

Ensuring safety and security at the APEC summit week is an honor and responsibility. Prime Minister Phuc stated, before encouraging all officers to maintain their best condition in order to fulfill their duties.

Police and military units participate in the parade.

APEC is a regional economic forum established in 1989, comprising 21 member states, including Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam among others.

Running from November 6 to 11, the Economic Leaders Week is the culmination of Vietnams year of hosting a series of APEC meetings.

World leaders inclusing U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are all expected to attend the event in Da Nang.

Police and military units participate in the parade.

Police and military units participate in the parade.

Police and military units participate in the parade.

Police officers take part in a martial arts performance.

A counter-terrorism exercise takes place on the Han River on October 24, 2017

Officers enter a building to rescue hostages during an exercise.

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FILE PICTURE: A general view of Equis Energy's 30 Megawatt solar asset in Aomori Prefecture, Japan in this undated handout photo released July 25, 2017. Courtesy of Equis Energy/Handout via Reuters (Reuters)

By Anshuman Daga

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. fund Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) has agreed to buy Equis Energy, Asia's largest independent renewable energy firm for $3.7 billion (2.81 billion pounds) with partners including sovereign fund China Investment Corp [CIC.UL], underscoring growing global interest in renewables investment.

Singapore-headquartered Equis is the largest renewable energy independent power producer in AsiaPacific, with over 180 assets comprising solar, wind and hydro generation spread across countries including Australia, Japan, India and the Philippines.

Equis' assets have installed capacity of more than 11 gigawatts. A big chunk of the assets are based in Japan.

"The transaction is the largest renewable energy generation acquisition in history and positions GIP as a dominant renewable energy developer in the key OECD growth markets of Australia and Japan, as well as across India and South-East Asia," Equis Pte Ltd and GIP said in a statement on Wednesday.

Moody's Investors Service said in September that renewables will become a central focus of national energy policies as more countries shift to renewable procurement through competitive auctions.

Reuters reported in July that Japanese trading firms, global pension funds, several companies and buyout firms were competing to buy Equis, at a time when many Asian governments are expanding the use of renewable power and its costs are falling.

"Government policies are supportive and encouraging of renewables. But just as important and if not more so, is that the cost curve of both wind and solar has come down massively," one person familiar with the Equis deal said on Wednesday.

"In most markets now, you don't need government subsidies to make it economically viable and that's always been the handbrake," said the person, who was not authorised to speak to the media on the matter.

The Public Sector Pension Investment Board, one of Canada's largest pension investment managers, is also part of the buying consortium, the statement showed.

Story continues

This year has already seen CIC sign a big-money deal, after it agreed to buy European warehouse firm Logicor Ltd for nearly $14 billion.

"We are excited by the new investment in Equis Energy which is a strong fit with GIP's global renewable investment strategy," Adebayo Ogunlesi, GIP's chairman and managing partner, said in the statement.

New York-based GIP, which manages over $40 billion for its investors, has investments in Spain's Gas Natural <GAS.MC>, Port of Melbourne and Britain's Gatwick Airport.

GIP raised a record $15.8 billion in its third fund that closed in January. Another infrastructure investor, I Squared Capital, aims to raise as much as $6.5 billion in a new global fund.

During the Equis sale process, many bidders had formed consortia to divide up the portfolio as some were keen to only buy certain assets, and the total acquisition size was large.

The buyers are also taking on assumed liabilities of $1.3 billion.

Equis and GIP said they signed a binding deal for the sale of 100 percent of Equis Energy to GIP and co-investors. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2018.

Credit Suisse and JPMorgan were financial advisors to Equis Energy. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP acted as legal advisor while Clifford Chance advised GIP.

(Reporting by Anshuman Daga; Editing by Edwina Gibbs and Christopher Cushing)
Elon Musk announced Tesla would provide aid for Puerto Rico as the island recovers from Hurricane Maria. Now we've seen the how the company's renewable energy systems are being implemented.

The company's Twitter account shared a set of new photos showing off a new solar panel installation at Hospital del Nino in Guaynabo, calling it the "first of many" solar and storage initiatives planned to bring power to the people of Puerto Rico.

Hospital del Nino is first of many solar+storage projects going live. Grateful to support the recovery of Puerto Rico with @ricardorossello pic.twitter.com/JfAu11UBYg  Tesla (@Tesla) October 24, 2017

The photos show off rows of newly installed solar panels filling up a parking lot and one of Tesla's Powerpack batteries, three of which were reportedly spotted earlier this month at the San Juan airport. Each Powerpack can can store up to 210 kWh of power, which in this case will be produced by the solar panels.

SEE ALSO: Tesla will build a factory in Shanghai to help bring costs down

CBS News correspondent David Begnaud, who is currently reporting from Puerto Rico, also tweeted out the images. He included some additional details about the power storage system.

The system, which includes 200 kWh of solar energy generation & 500 kWh of storage, will supply power to the Children's Hospital in Guaynabo  David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) October 24, 2017

The system will "generate enough solar energy to power the hospital during the day & store up to 500 kWh of energy as backup"  David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) October 24, 2017

If Begnaud's numbers are accurate, Tesla probably added another Powerpack to the system, along with a number of Powerwall batteries, which can store up to 13.5 kWh of power. The company reportedly sent "hundreds" of the batteries to the island at the start of recovery efforts, along with a team of installers to help put them in place.

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Puerto Rico's governor Ricardo Rossello publicly corresponded on Twitter after a fan's suggestion to discuss the company's potential role in relief efforts. Rossello later met with Tesla VP of global infrastructure operations Cal Lankton to continue those discussions, which likely resulted in the hospital project and the "many" others currently in the works.

These projects can be incredibly helpful for Puerto Rico  at press time, only 24.4 percent of the island has access to power. But it's also important to note that Tesla only appears to be creating micro grids with the new installations, which are limited to managing the power of small closed systems, rather than larger networks. Tesla has installed power grid systems on Kauai in Hawaii and Ta'u in American Samoa, but never anywhere as large as Puerto Rico.

We reached out to Tesla for some more details about the new installation, its funding, and the others the company has planned in Puerto Rico. We haven't heard back, but will update the story if and when we do.

The company that appears to be tasked with rebuilding Puerto Rico's power grid at large is Whitefish Energy, which agreed to a $300 million contract with PREPA, the island's power authority. That deal has been called into question because of the tiny Montana company's alleged ties to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

No matter who does the work, however, Puerto Rico needs all the help it can to bring power back to the people. Bringing a renewable system to a children's hospital is a good start.
Former Planning Minister Julio De Vido (C) arrives to the federal justice building where former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner attended court, in Buenos Aires, Argentina April 13, 2016. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci (Reuters)

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Julio De Vido, an ex-minister who served in former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez's government, turned himself in to authorities on Wednesday after he was stripped of immunity from arrest, local media reported.

Congress had earlier voted to strip former planning minister and current lawmaker De Vido of his immunity after a three-judge panel ordered his arrest as part of a probe into an alleged case of fraud, marking a milestone in the country's anti-corruption fight.

(Reporting by Nicolas Misculin and Luc Cohen, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungarian police have detained a Pakistani migrant wanted for murdering around 70 people in his home country, Hungarian and Austrian police said on Wednesday.

In a statement, police in Hungary's Bacs-Kiskun county said they had stopped a group of illegal migrants near the southern border with Serbia on Tuesday and identified the 35-year-old man among them.

The police identified him only by the initials A.Z. and said he was the target of an international arrest warrant issued by Pakistan. They said he was being held in Hungary but gave no further details.

Austrian police issued a statement saying the arrest had been made after a tip-off from Austria to Hungarian authorities. They said the man had been planning to go to Austria with the help of people-smugglers. They declined to identify him on grounds of Austria's data protection rules.

(Reporting by Krisztina Than and Francois Murphy; editing by Andrew Roche)
The cross-country woman biker, Sana Iqbal rode 38,000 km to campaign against depression and suicide.

By Lipi Upadhyay: Sana Iqbal, an activist and celebrated cross-country biker from India, who embarked on the expedition to raise awareness about suicide and depression, died in a car accident on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

Picture courtesy: Facebook/Mragendra

A well-known face among bikers and an inspiration for many, Sana was known for her empathetic and positive attitude.

She frequently shared motivational and inspiring excerpts on social media.

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ON SUICIDE:

ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT:

According to Economic Times, Iqbal was herself a patient of depression, who, after recovery, took the task of motivating others to deal with the same.

To make sure others did not give up on their lives, Iqbal embarked on a solo trip across the country in November 2015. She began her journey on a Royal Enfield motorcycle from Goa. She completed the journey in June 2016, covering 38,000 km.

Also Read: This woman fought 3rd stage breast cancer with everything she had, and won

Picture courtesy: Facebook/Sana Iqbal

The placard on her motorcycle read, "Solo ride across India by a woman on Bullet to raise awareness against suicide & depression. Suicide is not the solution "

Also Read: Deepa Malik the first Indian woman to win a medal in Paralympic Games, is also an avid biker and adventurer

The focus of her campaign was to help people realise that suicide wasn't the solution for problems one faced in life. A student of psychology, the Hyderabad-based biker had also delivered inspirational talks across various platforms, including several colleges.

Troubled marriage and the fatal 'accident'

According to Sana's family, the whole accident was weaved as a plot to murder her. Sana had also lodged a complaint of being harassed in May 2017, reported Deccan Chronicle.

Iqbal suffered severe head injuries and died instantly in the early morning accident. The police said that the car lost control after it rammed into a median on the Outer Ring Road near Hyderabad.

Picture courtesy: Facebook/Sana Iqbal

Whatever may be the truth, it is deeply saddening to lose a crusader who actively participated in the fight against depression and suicide. May your soul rest in peace, Sana.

--- ENDS ---
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi forces are about to launch an offensive to recapture the last patch of Iraqi territory still in the hands of Islamic State, the military said on Wednesday.

"Your security forces are now coming to liberate you," said leaflets dropped by the Iraqi air force on the western border region of al-Qaim and Rawa, according to a statement from the Joint Operations Command in Baghdad.

The militant group also holds parts of the Syrian side of the border, but the area under their control is shrinking as they retreat in the face of two sets of hostile forces - a U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led coalition and Syrian government troops with foreign Shi'ite militias backed by Iran and Russia.

Islamic State's self-declared cross-border caliphate effectively collapsed in July, when U.S.-backed Iraqi forces captured Mosul, the group's de facto capital in Iraq, in a gruelling battle which lasted nine months.

The militants' Syrian stronghold, Raqqa, fell to U.S.-backed forces last week.

Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who declared the caliphate from Mosul in mid-2014, released an audio recording on Sept. 28 that indicated he was alive, after several reports he had been killed. He urged his followers to keep up the fight despite setbacks.

"God is with us in this last assault on Daesh members," said the leaflets dropped by the Iraqi forces on the border area with Syria, referring to Islamic State.

"Tell those among your children and relatives who took up a weapon against the state to throw it aside immediately, and to go to any house on top of which a white flag have been raised when the liberation forces enter al-Qaim."

(Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by John Stonestreet)
By Ardo Hazzad and Lanre Ola

BAUCHI, Nigeria (Reuters) - Suspected Boko Haram militants killed eight soldiers and one civilian in an attack in Nigeria's northeast, a police official said on Wednesday, the latest sign that the eight-year conflict is far from slowing.

The Islamist insurgency has left at least 20,000 dead and created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises in northeastern Nigeria, putting pressure on the country's government to bring the conflict to an end.

The attack on Tuesday evening, about 25 kilometres from the Yobe state capital of Damaturu, also left five civilians injured, Abdulmalik Sumonu, commissioner of police for Yobe, told Reuters by phone.

A witness said the attackers, likely members of Boko Haram, "took the soldiers by surprise."

"I saw soldiers carrying eight of their dead colleagues in their vehicle," Ali Khali, a member of a vigilante group known as the Civilian Joint Task Force who survived the attack, told Reuters by phone.

(Reporting by Ardo Hazzad in Bauchi and Lanre Ola in Maiduguri; Writing by Paul Carsten; Editing by Larry King)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and six Gulf nations have targeted 13 individuals they say are al Qaeda and Islamic State militants, in an action intended to disrupt terrorism financing in Yemen, U.S. administration officials said on Wednesday.

Among those targeted are the militant group's chief financial officer in Yemen and head of assassinations in that country. The action puts those named on a business blacklist, which prohibits any financial actions and freezes their bank accounts.

The nations joining the United States in the sanctions were Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.

"This is the largest ever multilateral designation in the Middle East," U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in Riyadh on Wednesday.

U.S. administration officials said this is the first joint sanctions action by Washington and Gulf states. The coordination was particularly significant because of a months-long diplomatic crisis between Qatar and several Gulf states.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain severed relations with Qatar in June, accusing it of financing terrorism, meddling in the affairs of Arab countries and cozying up to their arch-rival Iran.

The four countries have since added dozens of individuals and entities to a blacklist they say are associated with Qatar.

One of the individuals on Wednesday's sanctions list, Abdula Wahaba al-Humayqani, and one of the entities, Rahmah Charitable, are part of that blacklist.

Qatar's National Counter Terrorism Committee said in a statement it had strengthened its anti-terrorism finance laws.

Qatar is "committed to taking the necessary steps to defeat terrorism in all its forms, and will continue to work closely with the United States to impose sanctions on those who facilitate terrorist activity, Major General Abdulaziz A. Al Ansari said in the statement.

Qatar signed an agreement with the United States in July to increase cooperation on fighting terrorism finance, Qatar's counter-terrorism committee said.

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Peter Harrell a sanctions expert at the Centre for a New American Security, said cooperation between Gulf nations and Qatar was an important step.

"Qatar has had a history of not being as robust on terrorism finance," Harrell said. "It's heartening to see Qatar do this. It signals some ability to cooperate."

(Reporting by Joel Schectman in Washington, Marwa Rashad in Riyadh and Eric Knecht in Doha; Editing by Bill Trott and James Dalgleish)
By Michelle Nichols

JUBA (Reuters) - The United States has lost trust in South Sudan's government for fuelling the country's civil war and it must bring peace or risk losing support from Washington, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the nation's President Salva Kiir.

Haley was the first senior member of President Donald Trump's administration to visit South Sudan, which spiralled into civil war in 2013, just two years after gaining independence from Sudan. She met one on one with Kiir for some 45 minutes.

"I let him know that the United States was at a crossroads and that every decision going forward was going to be based on his actions," Haley told reporters after the meeting in the capital Juba.

The United Nations has warned that the violence in South Sudan, which has forced some 4 million people to flee their homes, was providing "fertile ground" for a genocide. Kiir's government has denied U.N. allegations of ethnic cleansing.

Haley had to cut short a visit to a camp for South Sudanese displaced by the violence amid rowdy anti-Kiir protests.

"He understood that Americans were disappointed in his leadership in South Sudan, I made that very clear. And he understood that all the aid or help that he hopes will go forward is not a given," she said.

Haley did not elaborate on what further action Washington could take, but said that Kiir "got what I was trying to say." On Monday she said Washington was considering how to pressure Kiir into peace, though noted that withdrawing aid may not work.

The Trump administration last month imposed sanctions on two senior South Sudanese officials and the former army chief.

"We have lost trust in the government and we now need to regain that trust and the only way to regain that trust is through the actions of taking care of all of the people," Haley told South Sudan's Eye Radio.

PROTEST CUTS SHORT CAMP VISIT

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She demanded that Kiir allow full and consistent humanitarian aid access and bring peace and stability to the country. She said she pushed a timeline for Kiir to act, but declined to elaborate.

Nhial Deng Nihal, a senior adviser to Kiir, said the president told Haley his government and a U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan had established "mechanisms that work jointly to improve and address the humanitarian problems."

He also told reporters that Kiir said government troops "will also be observing a cessation of hostilities in order to create an atmosphere for dialogue."

The civil war was sparked by a feud between Kiir, a Dinka, and his former deputy Riek Machar, a Nuer. It has plunged parts of the world's youngest nation into famine.

A fragile peace deal broke down last year and Machar fled the country. He is being held in South Africa to stop him stirring up trouble, sources told Reuters in December.

Haley had to cut short a visit to a camp in Juba, where U.N. peacekeepers are protecting some 30,000 displaced people, after hundreds of rowdy pro-Machar protesters blocked nearby roads, yelling "Salva Kiir is a killer" and "Welcome USA."

Protesters held a large sign that read "South Sudan IDPs (internally displaced people) and refugees love President Trump, the peacemaker and supporter of human rights."

A spokeswoman for the U.N. mission said the protest "started to gain momentum after (Haley) left, IDPs became upset that she was not able to meet with them." Haley was meeting with a displaced family when she had to leave early due to security concerns.

The previous U.S. administrations of President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama were heavily involved in the birth of South Sudan, which signed a peace accord with Sudan in 2005 and gained independence in 2011.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Andrew Hay)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spent October 24, UN Day, visiting the UNs peacekeeping mission in Bangui, Central African Republic.

Guterres paid a visit to a local hospital to visit peacekeepers wounded serving with the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSCA), as seen in this footage.

The Central African Republic peacekeeping mission is one of the UNs most dangerous. Last year, there were also sexual misconduct allegations against peacekeepers and UN personnel, The Associated Press reported.

UN Day is recognized on October 24, the date when, in 1945, the Charter of the United Nations entered into force. Credit: UN Mission in the Central African Republic via Storyful
The cool autumn evening provided a pleasant backdrop in Watkinsville, Georgia as the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Oconee Campus hosted its signature event Thursday, Oct. 19.

The fourth annual Oconeefest fundraiser raised more than $10,000 for scholarships to support Oconee-area students.

The annual event raises scholarship funds for Oconee County students attending any of UNG's five campuses. Scholarships may be used for tuition, study abroad, undergraduate research, and other expenses and opportunities.

Oconee is the largest feeder county to UNG's Oconee Campus. More than 600 students from Oconee County are enrolled at UNG's five campuses, so funds raised by Oconeefest through sponsorships and donations are critical in supporting local students.

The gala began with a reception on the campus' front lawn with more than 100 guests and local dignitaries mingling amid sponsor-run information tables and two students sketching caricatures of attendees. Attendees lined up at the food, beverage and dessert tents, then dined on white cloth-covered banquet tables.

This year an additional fundraising opportunity was added to Oconeefest  a silent auction featuring donated items. Among the items, which were displayed throughout the evening, were a one-night stay at a local bed and breakfast, a basket featuring locally produced products, and gift cards from area businesses.

Dr. Cyndee Perdue Moore, executive director of the Oconee Campus, opened the program by thanking attendees for their support. She expressed her gratitude for the welcome she initially received when she joined UNG in May.

"I look out tonight and I see so many friends who were strangers six months ago," Moore said. "It's gratifying to live in a place were higher education plays such a large role in the community."

UNG President Bonita C. Jacobs, attending an awards ceremony honoring her as one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle's 2017 Women Who Mean Business, sent a prerecorded greeting, thanking guests for their continued support of UNG and their contributions that allow area students to realize their dream of a college education.

Ryan Hawk, vice president for business development at Peach State Federal Credit Union, thanked UNG for its partnership in the community.

"Education is what built our credit union," Hawk said. "Many of our employees attend UNG. We help move students along in their financial lives through our services. We're thankful for UNG allowing Peach State to be part of the campus."

Two Oconee students shared their experiences with attendees. Lindsey Smith, an Honors Program student and adult learner from Watkinsville, talked about being selected for the Fulbright Summer Institute this past summer, which allowed her to attend a three-week program at the University of Dundee in Scotland.

William Wheeler, Student Government Association (SGA) president on the Oconee Campus, talked about how a study-abroad experience broadened his understanding of how people overseas view Americans.

"Some of them were scared of our politicians and others were confused by our political process," said Wheeler, a political science major. "It was an once-in-a-lifetime experience. Most of the people I met were very friendly and interested to meet an American."

The junior from nearby Athens, Georgia said there is an upside to attending college at a smaller campus.

"The teacher-to-student class ratio is lower, so you get to interact more with your professors than you would at a larger campus," Wheeler said. "I think the campus size has helped me stay focused while remaining very active. You can be really successful here, if you take advantage of the opportunities at a smaller campus."

Other speakers included faculty members Dr. Laura Ng, Dr. Rosaria Meek, and Dr. Michael Kemling, and Dr. Tom Ormond, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at UNG. Cindy Farley, director of Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, also addressed the gathering following recognition of her work in fostering the partnership that exists between UNGs art department and her organization.

The presenting sponsor for Oconeefest was Peach State Federal Credit Union; platinum sponsors were River Mill/The Standard and the Rotary Club of Oconee County; gold sponsors were AmeriPride, Oconee State Bank, and Athens Ridge; and silver sponsors included Athens First Bank, BankSouth, Nebraska Book Company, UNG Real Estate Foundation, and Williams & Associates.
As a University of North Georgia (UNG) senior in the Corps of Cadets, Anthony Twitty has experienced several parades on the drill field.

But the Veterans Day parade on Friday, Nov. 10, on the UNG Dahlonega Campus will be a little different. The 23-year-old Ringgold, Georgia, native is a combat veteran, along with some others in the Corps.

"It is an honor to serve, because not everyone has the opportunity to serve their country," said Twitty, who served with the U.S. Army 716th Engineer Company from July 2015 to March 2016 in Kuwait and Iraq.

Twitty will be one of several active and retired military veterans recognized at two separate events Nov. 10 on the Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses. The Friday events will mark the end of a week filled with military-related activities honoring all five branches of the U.S. military  Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard  leading up to the nationally observed Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

The UNG Veterans and Adult Learner Program (VALP) is organizing events on both campuses.

On the Gainesville Campus, activities are:

A 3.5-mile "color run," in which runners are doused with powdered color during the race, from noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, on the trail near the railroad tracks

An VALP information table from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, in the Student Center

A town hall-style meeting for students to ask veterans questions from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, in the Student Center

On the Gainesville Campus, the final event will be the Memorial Roll Call from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, at the Student Center. Volunteers will read aloud the names of all U.S. soldiers who died from 2001-17. Among those names will be eight UNG alumni, including Weston C. Lee, Thomas E. Vitagliano, and Charles H. Warren, all in Iraq; and Jeremy A. Chandler, Andrew H. McConnell, Kevin M. Jenrette, Paul Saylor, and Mitch Young, all in Afghanistan.

Each volunteer will say the names in 15-minute increments, said Christy Orr, assistant director of Student Life and VALP.

"Faculty and staff love to come out and volunteer to call out names to show their love and appreciation for the military," she said. "Some even ask to add the names of a loved one who served in World War II."

VALP students will sell flags and place them in front of the Student Center to show their support for veterans.

"The money we make will be donated to the homeless veteran shelter," said Luke Forseman, an intern in the VALP office and an Army veteran.

A military history van will be on campus, displaying military weapons and memorabilia from different eras.

"Students can see what it was like to be a serviceman in those times," Foresman said.

On the Dahlonega Campus, activities include:

A VALP Koffee Kickoff from 7:30-9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 6, in Hoag Student Center

Silkies day on Tuesday, Nov. 7

Military Mobile Museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, on Hoag Student Center patio

VALP meet and greet with refreshments 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, Hoag Student Center

Donations boxes will be set up in Hoag Student Center, Young Hall and other select building to collect items for Hope Atlanta, which helps veterans and families through its Supportive Services for Veterans and their Families (SSVF) and other groups

Dahlonega events will culminate with a Veterans Affairs' sponsored cookout from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, on the Hoag Patio, said Mandi Norton, staff assistant with VALP. Followed by the National Roll Call as well.

The Corps' parade will be at 3 p.m. Nov. 10, with Mike Roby, the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Veterans Services, as the guest speaker.

"As a senior military college, we feel it is our duty to honor our veterans," said retired Maj. Richard Neikirk, assistant commandant of the Corps of Cadets. "I am proud of the Corps of Cadets for conducting a parade to honor our veterans."
By PTI: Srinagar, Oct 25 (PTI) Security forces today launched cordon and search operations in several villages of south Kashmirs Shopian district following a tip-off on presence of militants in the area, police said.

Joint teams of police, Army and CRPF have cordoned off at least eight villages of the district, they said.

The massive search operation comes in the wake of recent militant attacks in south Kashmir. PTI SSB MIJ SRY

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Ice and frost may be picturesque hallmarks of winter, but they come with an expensive trade-off. Delayed flights, frost-laden car windshields, and power outages are inconveniences caused by ice that add up to billions of dollars lost for companies and consumers every year.

A Virginia Tech student research team based in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics set out to tackle the ice problem. Now their invention of passive anti-frosting surfaces has qualified the team as one of six finalists in the National Inventors Hall of Fame Collegiate Inventors Competition.

Team members will travel to Alexandria, Virginia, on Nov. 1-3 to present their research and a working prototype to a panel of famous inventors at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The teams passive anti-frosting technology forgoes traditional methods of fighting ice, such as antifreeze chemicals and energy inputs. Instead, the technology harnesses the unique qualities of ice itself to prevent frost formation.

Using a simple approach to design, the researchers created an anti-frosting surface on untreated aluminum by patterning ice stripes onto a microscopic array of elevated grooves. The low pressure of the ice formed on these grooves attracts nearby moisture from the air, allowing the intermediate surface area to stay completely dry, even in humid, sub-freezing conditions.

To date, there has never been a single example of a passive anti-frosting surface, meaning no surface in existence today can indefinitely keep the majority of the surface dry without using any chemicals or energy, said Jonathan Boreyko, an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics and the teams faculty advisor.

No one has ever done that until now, he said.
The Travelers Companies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United states and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. The Business Insurance segment offers workers' compensation, commercial automobile and property, general liability, commercial multi-peril, employers' liability, public and product liability, professional indemnity, marine, aviation, onshore and offshore energy, construction, terrorism, personal accident, and kidnap and ransom insurance products. This segment operates through select accounts, which serve small businesses; commercial accounts that serve mid-sized businesses; national accounts, which serve large companies; and national property and other that serve large and mid-sized customers, commercial trucking industry, and agricultural businesses, as well as markets and distributes its products through brokers, wholesale agents, and program managers. The Bond & Specialty Insurance segment provides surety, fidelity, management and professional liability, and other property and casualty coverages and related risk management services through independent agencies and brokers. The Personal Insurance segment offers property and casualty insurance covering personal risks, primarily automobile and homeowners insurance to individuals through independent agencies and brokers. The Travelers Companies, Inc. was founded in 1853 and is based in New York, New York.
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. manufactures, markets, and sells skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products worldwide. It offers a range of skin care products, including moisturizers, serums, cleansers, toners, body care, exfoliators, acne care and oil correctors, facial masks, cleansing devices, and sun care products; and makeup products, such as lipsticks, lip glosses, mascaras, foundations, eyeshadows, nail polishes, and powders, as well as compacts, brushes, and other makeup tools. The company also provides fragrance products in various forms comprising eau de parfum sprays and colognes, as well as lotions, powders, creams, candles, and soaps; and hair care products that include shampoos, conditioners, styling products, treatment, finishing sprays, and hair color products, as well as sells ancillary products and services. It offers its products under the Estee Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, MAC, Bobbi Brown, La Mer, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin, Smashbox, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle, GLAMGLOW, Kilian Paris, Too Faced, Dr. Jart+, DECIEM, and The Ordinary brands. The company sells its products through department stores, specialty-multi retailers, upscale perfumeries and pharmacies, and salons and spas; freestanding stores; its own and authorized retailer websites; third-party online malls; stores in airports; and duty-free shops. The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
Brown County approves Bailey Pro Rodeo as new stock provider

Bailey Pro Rodeo out of North Dakota has been selected as the new rodeo stock provider for the Dacotah Stampede Rodeo, a two-day event at the fair.
By PTI: Bhubaneswar, Oct 25 (PTI) A team of about 30 doctors today began the second phase surgery to separate conjoined twins Jaga and Kalia of Kandhamal at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, Odisha health minister said.

The team of doctors at the AIIMS are performing the operation on Jaga and Kalia to separate their heads and no expert from abroad is carrying out the procedure, Odishas Health and Family Welfare minister Pratap Jena said here.

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The operation could take over 25 hours, he said.

The 28-month-old twins are craniopagus conjoined twins who are joined at the heads. This is a very rare condition, a member of the team of doctors said.

"The twins were taken to the operation theatre at 6 am and the phase-II surgery started at about 9 am today. We hope things will go well with the blessings of Lord Jagannath," Jena said.

The first phase of surgery was done on August 28.

"We had suggested to the AIIMS authorities to engage experts from across the world in the operation process, if needed. The Odisha government is ready to bear the expenses of the foreign doctors," the minister said.

Jena said that the second stage operation had to be postponed earlier as the boys were undergoing regular blood transfusion.

Bhuyan Kanhar, father of the twins said, "The surgery is being done as the condition of Jaga deteriorated."

The conjoined twins of Milipada village under Phiringia block in Kandhamal district were admitted in the AIIMS, New Delhi, on July 14.

Odisha government has sanctioned Rs one crore from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund (CMRF) for the treatment of the twins.

In the almost 20-hour-long first phase surgery, the doctors had performed venous bypass to separate the veins shared by the babies that return blood to the heart from the brain. PTI AAM MM KJ

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  A group of Hispanic ranchers has been dealt a blow in their years-long feud with the federal government over grazing rights on land in New Mexico that has been used by their families for centuries.

Attorneys for the ranchers argued that the U.S. Forest Service violated the law when deciding to limit grazing on historic land grants even though the government has recognized that the descendants of Spanish colonists have a unique relationship with the land.

The ranchers claimed the agency failed to consider social and economic effects that would result from limiting grazing in a region where poverty and dependence on the land for subsistence is high.

In a recent ruling, U.S. District James Browning dismissed remaining counts against the government, finding that the National Environmental Policy Act does not require the Forest Service to consider social and economic effects that are a direct result of an agencys action.

The law narrowly centers on effects to the physical environment, the judge ruled.

The ranchers say they are disappointed and that the Forest Service had a responsibility to consider a history in which they claim the property rights of Hispanics have been ignored and an institutional bias has been allowed to persist.

Efforts to get the Obama administration to address discrimination and civil rights violations repeatedly went unanswered, and many of the plaintiffs saw the court case as a way to validate their concerns.

I see this opinion as a cover up and continued support of further adverse actions by the Forest Service on socially disadvantaged native and Hispanic families, said Carlos Salazar, president of the ranchers group. I believe the agency knows they have the courts on their side and their goal is to take ownership of the land and water from the local folks.

Confrontations across the U.S. West have erupted in recent years over allegations that the federal government is overstepping its authority and trampling property and water rights. But the dispute with the New Mexico ranchers is rooted in claims of discrimination that have spanned decades.

In motions filed over the years, the ranchers point to a 1972 policy that emerged following the raid of the Tierra Amarilla Courthouse in 1967 over unresolved land grant issues. The policy noted the relationship Hispanic residents of northern New Mexico had with the land and declared their culture a resource that must be recognized when setting agency objectives and policies.

Government attorney Andrew Smith said during a hearing earlier this year that the Forest Service was concerned given historical problems and that managers opted not to reduce grazing by greater numbers as requested by environmentalists to avoid more injury to local communities.

Grazing permits are reassessed every decade, and the Forest Service will begin another review next year.

The ranchers say its too early to say what effect the ruling will have on future forest planning, but they have extended invitations to the Trump administration to discuss their long-standing concerns.

Hopefully we can get them to come and see whats happening to the health of our rural communities, said Dave Sanchez, vice president of the ranchers group.
WASHINGTON  Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., will retire from the Senate at the end of his term, saying he was out of step with his party in the era of President Donald Trump.

The senators surprise announcement came after more than a year of criticism of Trump and the direction he had taken the party, culminating this year in a book called Conscience of a Conservative. Polls in Arizona found Flake trailing likely Democratic nominee, Rep. Krysten Sinema, D-Ariz., as well as potential primary challengers, if he sought a second term next year.

In an unannounced Senate floor speech Tuesday announcing his retirement, Flake excoriated Trump without using his name.

We must never allow ourselves to lapse into thinking that is just the way things are now. If we simply become used to this condition . . . then heaven help us, Flake said, his voice shaking. Without fear of the consequences and without consideration of the rules of what is politically safe, we must stop pretending that the conduct of some in our executive branch are normal. They are not normal. Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior has become excused as telling it like it is when it is actually reckless, outrageous and undignified.

Flakes speech was watched from the floor by a bipartisan group of senators, who looked on grimly as he delivered the news.

On the Republican side, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was joined by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Rand Paul, R-Ky., Todd C. Young, R-Ind., Ben Sasse, R-Neb., John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Bob Corker, R-Tenn.  who has launched into his own criticism of Trump since announcing his own retirement.

Five Democrats watched from the other side of the room: Sens. Christopher A. Coons, D-Del., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.

It is often said that children are watching. Well, they are. And what are we doing to do about that?, Flake said. When the next generation asks us, why didnt you do something? Why didnt you speak up? What are we going to say? I rise to say, enough.

Flake said senators must dedicate ourselves to making sure that the anomalous never becomes the normal. With respect, we fooled ourselves long enough that a pivot to governing is right around the corner, a return to civility and stability right behind it. We know better than that. by now, we all know better than that.

Flake also questioned whether his party continues to embrace his brand of conservatism.

It is clear at this moment that a traditional conservative who believes in limited government and free markets, who is devoted to free trade, who is pro-immigration, has a narrower and narrower path in the Republican Party, he said.

When Flake concluded, Sasse started clapping loudly, prompting colleagues in both parties to stand and applaud.

Later, McCain addressed the chamber, saying: Its been one of the great honors of my life to have the opportunity to serve with Flake.

I have seen Jeff Flake stand up for what he believes in, knowing that there would be a critical price to pay, he said.

As Senate business resumed, Flake and McCain hugged. Flake shook the hands of Barrasso and Corker. In a scene resembling a wake, Democrats came over from their side of the chamber to shake Flakes hand or give him a hug.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders dismissed Flakes speech as petty and said he had lost so much support in Arizona he would not have been able to win re-election.

Asked for President Trumps response to Flakes retirement announcement, Sanders said, I think that based on previous statements and certainly based on the lack of support that he has from the people of Arizona, its probably a good move.

Sanders, invoking Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., another strong Trump critic, as well as Flake, told reporters, I think that the people both in Tennessee and Arizona supported this president and I dont think that the numbers are in favor of either of the two senators in their states.

Flake served in the House for 12 years prior to being elected to the Senate.

Before the rise of Trump, he was seen as one of the GOPs stalwart conservatives, a relentless but cheerful opponent of wasteful spending  and critic of his party when it broke the bank. He opposed the Medicare prescription drug law, a major priority of George W. Bushs administration, and criticized the party for growing the national debt.

Republicans have adopted the belief or the principle that you spend money to get elected, Flake told the libertarian magazine Reason in a 2006 interview, shortly before his party lost control of the House and Senate. Staying in office, staying in power, has come to overwhelm everything.

In 2007, Flake was removed from a plum spot on the House Judiciary Committee, a move interpreted as intraparty revenge for his criticism. But by 2011, Flake had succeeded in one of his long-held goals, banning earmarks, which members of Congress used to secure spending for projects in their districts.

Early speculation on Flakes potential replacements focused on Reps. Dave Schweikert and Martha McSally, who represent districts northwest of Phoenix and around Tucson, respectively.
SANTA FE  A state district court judge has ruled that former New Mexico State Investment Officer Gary Bland breached his duties by failing to disclose personal and professional ties, the latest development in a long-running lawsuit over politically-tinged investment deals.

The ruling by Judge Pro Tem Sarah Singleton could clear the way for Bland, the states top investment officer from 2003 through 2009, to be held liable for damages in a civil lawsuit filed by the State Investment Council.

The courts ruling emphasized that Bland, like all trustees of the State Investment Council, is a fiduciary, required to act solely in the interest of fund beneficiaries, SIC spokesman Charles Wollmann said Tuesday. We believe his failure to comply with those duties and disclose conflicts hurt the funds.

The State Investment Council filed its civil lawsuit in 2011, alleging it lost more than $100 million in politically-influenced investment deals. It has hired an East Coast firm in an attempt to recover at least some of that money.

Defendants in the case include Anthony Correra, who was an adviser to former Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson, Correras son Marc Correra, who allegedly pocketed more than $22 million in placement fees from investment firms that got business with the state, and Bland, among others.

A recent motion filed by the SICs attorneys claims Bland frequently met with the Correras at the Rio Chama restaurant near the state Capitol in Santa Fe, sometimes with Richardson, and allowed Anthony Correra to take an active role in investment decisions.

Bland allegedly failed to disclose those relationships  and the millions of dollars in fees paid on SIC investments  for years before resigning under pressure in 2009. While Bland eventually admitted he knew about some of the payments, he maintained he had done nothing wrong.

In a Tuesday email, Bland, who is representing himself in the lawsuit, declined to comment on the judges ruling.

In her three-page ruling handed down last week, Singleton said Bland had not provided any valid legal arguments refuting the SICs evidence that he had breached his fiduciary duties, which are stipulated in state law.

(The SIC) has presented evidence that Bland directed business to Marc Correra which was in Correras interest without disclosing this to his co-trustees, Singleton wrote.

The judge also determined there was no need to hold a scheduled hearing on the SICs motion before making a ruling.

The scandal over placement fees led not only to Blands resignation, but also to 2010 legislation that changed the SICs makeup. The 11-member investment council currently oversees roughly $23.1 billion in state funds.
WASHINGTON  The Interior Department said Tuesday it will propose the largest oil and gas lease sale ever held in the United States  nearly 77 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico off the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

The sale, scheduled for next March, includes all available unleased areas on the Gulfs Outer Continental Shelf, a reflection of the Trump administrations strategy to maximize oil and gas drilling on federal lands and waters.

Even so, only a small fraction of the tracts available are expected to receive bids. A similar lease sale in August drew bids on just 90 offshore tracts totaling about a half-million acres  less than 1 percent of the 76 million acres available.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke touted the upcoming sale as part of the administrations bid to achieve what President Donald Trump calls energy dominance in the global market.

In todays low-price energy environment, providing the offshore industry access to the maximum amount of opportunities possible (will) spur local and regional economic dynamism and job creation, Zinke said.

Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, said Zinke and congressional Republicans were taking credit for an Obama-era policy to offer oil and gas leases from all available tracts in the Gulf, rather than separating the western and eastern Gulf areas from the more productive central Gulf region off Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

Republicans spent eight years alleging the Obama administration was killing oil and gas when they knew it wasnt true, Grijalva said. Now theyre taking credit for lease sales made under the Obama leasing plan. Tomorrow they may as well claim credit for capturing Osama Bin Laden.
At 26 years old and in her fourth year of teaching, Ivonne Orozco just added a prestigious line to her resume: 2018 New Mexico Teacher of the Year.

Orozco, a Spanish teacher at the Public Academy for the Performing Arts high school in Albuquerque, was surprised in her seventh-period Spanish II class by family, friends, co-workers and New Mexico Education Secretary-designate Christopher Ruszkowski on Tuesday afternoon.

Most of the class whipped out their cellphones, recording the moment as well as cheering and clapping for their instructor.

Ivonnes years of service to students at the Public Academy for the Performing Arts in Albuquerque exemplify the best of the teaching profession in New Mexico, Ruszkowski said. She believes that education provides students with the tools to create real change in their world.

Orozco, who came to the United States from Mexico as a child with her parents, said she uses real-world events and experiences in conjunction with a standards-driven curriculum to engage her students.

Her parents, Alfredo and Fernanda Orozco, were part of the group that surprised their daughter at work.

The best kids come from good homes, Ivonne Orozco said to her parents in Spanish, as tears welled in the eyes of her father. Without that, this would not be possible.

Orozco also encouraged those interested in changing the lives of children to choose teaching.

If you really love children and if you really want to make a difference then the classroom is the way to go and the classroom is where to be, she said.  When you go home, maybe, yeah, theres a little bit of paperwork, but when you come in and you get to see your students and you get to work with them, that is the greatest reward.

Orozco was chosen from 14 semifinalists by a committee of educators.

Shell represent the state in Washington, D.C., when the National Teacher of the Year will be announced by the president.

A New Mexico teacher has yet to win the award, which has been given by the Council of Chief State School Officers since 1952.

Orozco was nominated by Public Academy for the Performing Arts Executive Director Doreen Winn, who called Orozco a success story.

I think in education, there are times when somebody so magnificent comes along that they need that recognition, Winn said.

We welcome suggestions for the daily Bright Spot. Send to newsroom@abqjournal.com.
SANTA FE  Its unlikely this Faris took many days off from school.

Faris Wald, a 15-year-old Santa Fe Public Schools student, on Tuesday was announced as winner of the Samueli Foundation Award for Innovation and a $25,000 cash prize during an event in Washington, D.C.

Walds top award was one of several prizes hand out as part of the 7th annual Broadcom MASTERS  a prestigious science, technology, engineering and mathematics competition for middle school students  sponsored by Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public.

In all honesty, I dont know how to feel, Wald said in a telephone interview Tuesday night from Washington, about 20 minutes after he was announced as the winner. Its a combination of emotions  mostly happiness, a little confusion.

Wald, now a freshman at Santa Fe High School but who entered the competition last year while still an eighth-grader at Capshaw Middle School, was among 30 students from 17 states, and the only one from New Mexico, to be selected as a finalist by a panel of scientists and engineers from across the country. Nearly 2,500 students entered the competition.

He was selected as a finalist for his project studying a correlation between solar coronal hole occurrences and the formation of tropical and extra-tropical cyclones.

Wald, who wants to be a climatologist, theorized that charged particles from solar coronal holes  parts of the plasma around the sun that extend outward into space  would follow magnetic field lines from the sun in the form of the solar wind. The charged particles then interact with the earth through its own magnetic field and enter the earth at its two magnetic poles, he explained in his report.

Using data from government-funded websites on coronal holes and comparing it with data on tropical cyclones, Wald found a significant positive correlation between coronal hole events and cyclones.

Wald said the main trigger event for his idea was watching a Weather Channel report about the power of storms and then BBC or Nova shows about the suns intensity. He said his interest in the atmosphere and meteorology goes back to visits to the planetarium and studying the weather when I was little.

Congratulations to Faris, whose impressive project has the potential to help us better understand the suns power to influence the weather, such as cyclones, Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of Society for Science & the Public, said in a news release. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we support our young scientists and cultivate their interest in STEM so that they can go on and solve many of the worlds most intractable problems.

After presenting their projects to a judging committee on Saturday, the finalists formed teams that were monitored by judges. Each student was scored on their critical thinking, communication, creativity and collaboration skills. Wald earned the top prize based on both his participation in the team event and his report.
The police arrested an Admin Assistant of a Greater Noida school for sexually assaulting a male foreign student for more than an year inside school campus.

By Munish Chandra Pandey: The police arrested an Admin Assistant of a Greater Noida school for sexually assaulting a male foreign student for more than a year inside school campus. According to the complaint, the parents of victim discovered an year long assault on Monday.

"When he returned from school on Monday, he suddenly started crying. When we asked him about what had happened he told that Ashok Mishra, who sells book inside school complex had been sodomising him since last year," read the complaint letter.

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Ashok, who was also an Admin Assistant and a book seller, was a contractual employee of the school.

Police has booked Ashok Mishra under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (punishment for sodomy) and Sections 3/4 of the POSCO Act. The Surajpur Police arrested the accused and produced him before the court after which he has been kept under judicial custody.

"We have arrested the accused who is a shopkeeper. We are going through the verification list of the school. Minor was subjected to molestation for more than an year," said Suniti, Supritendent of Police, Noida (Rural).

One of the boy's parents is a Nigerian and the family had been living in Greater Noida for five years. The accused was arrested from Greater Noida. He is a resident of Delhi.

The district administration has also initiated inquiry in this matter and had come across shocking revelation. Here are the findings:

1. Accused Ashok Mishra had access to every corner of the school.

2. Despite the specific guidelines after Pradhyuman murder case , he was using washroom which was meant for school students only.

3. Although CCTV footage accessed by cops does not focus on the lobby area which goes towards the washroom, but it certainly shows Ashok having access till the classrooms.

4. Ashok does not have any book shop inside the school.

The UP state administration has ordered a separate SDM level inquiry into the matter. The school administration said that an internal committee has been formed and will submit its report to the school management within 72 hours. Although there are CCTV cameras installed in few areas of the school, but they had sought a month's time to install CCTV at all angles.

Safety of students in school campuses have been a serious concern since the murder of a 7-year-old student in Gurgram's Ryan International school.

--- ENDS ---
Students, teachers, scientists and others in an overflow crowd last week at a state Department of Education hearing made it clear they want New Mexico to adopt around 210 national science standards for the states K-12 classrooms without any revisions.

Two days later, the Journal harshly criticized Education Secretary-designate Christopher Ruszkowski for failing to appear at that hearing and urged him to listen to the concerns.

It turned out he did listen. In fact, his department sent out emails to local reporters within 24 hours of the hearing  and the night before the editorial appeared  saying he was deleting PEDs proposed changes that had drawn the harshest criticism: those addressing climate change, evolution and the age of the Earth.

That was a huge step in the right direction.

Unfortunately, the editorial, which was written earlier in the day, did not reflect those changes.

Now  more than a week later and after dozens more emails, letters and in-person comments to PED staff  its time to decide whats more important:

 Adopting the highly regarded Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) with the remaining PED revisions, or something close to that

 Or fighting just for the sport of it.

In the fifth-largest state in the nation, one that has a diverse population, three research universities and three national labs, where science education is critical to our kids futures, theres no option but the first.

Ruszkowski says that while the formal process is over, hes still listening. He wants to have a dialogue with those who support the remaining revisions and those who want NGSS or bust  to reach a final compromise. On Tuesday, he made it clear more adjustments could be forthcoming, but the bottom line is to deliver high science standards to New Mexico students, teachers and classrooms.

Thats the right answer, and one it would have been nice to hear during the hearing Oct. 16. His absence left many feeling their concerns were not a PED priority.

Ruszkowski maintains his attendance at the seven-hour hearing would not have changed the outcome, that he monitored the hearing closely, that he trusts the process and his staff, and the results bear that out  PED made key changes the speakers unanimously asked for.

Ruszkowski has said stakeholders helped craft the revisions, and Tuesday he said those stakeholders include New Mexico teachers, superintendents, school board members and legislators. He said that unlike states that started with a blank page, New Mexico started with NGSS and proposed revisions after listening to folks from Hobbs to Los Alamos and taking inspiration from changes made to NGSS in Michigan, Wyoming, Louisiana and Kentucky.

Some critics dont like revisions that add New Mexico-themed lessons into the standards. But those changes could make the lessons more interesting and relevant for New Mexico students.

And while critics have voiced concern PED has removed the NGSS framework  which provides guidance on how to teach the standards  Ruszkowski says that is a simple process misunderstanding. He says PED must first adopt the standards to know what frameworks are appropriate. His team has always intended to adopt the full framework once the standards are in place. He says a framework website is ready to launch.

Could PED have handled the controversy better? Absolutely. But Ruszkowski is right when he says at the end of the day, Democracy belongs to those who show up, and those who showed up were unanimous. PED listened and acted in response to that unanimity.

The NGSS were published in 2013 by a consortium of states and the National Academy of Sciences. They have been adopted by 18 states and the District of Columbia. The unrevised standards have received widespread support in New Mexico.

Right now, controversy over what PED says are only seven remaining revisions stands in the way of New Mexico adopting high science standards for K-12. Its time to move forward. And thats not rocket science.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

A guardianship court hearing for Holocaust survivor Peter Grotte-Higley was held in secret on Tuesday, three weeks after the judge in the case postponed the matter saying she wanted to research the issue of whether two Journal reporters could attend.

State District Judge Denise Barela-Shepherd at an Oct. 2 hearing instructed the attorneys in the case to research the legal authorities either in support or against opening the hearing. At the time, the judge looked at the Journal reporters in the courtroom and instructed the attorneys in the case to notify the reporters about a new hearing date.

But no such notification occurred.

Grotte-Higley, a former client of Ayudando Guardians Inc., has had questions about his finances and his pension benefits since Ayudandos two top executives were charged in a 28-count federal indictment in July. Federal officials say more than $4 million in client funds has been embezzled in recent years, and Ayudando had more than 1,000 clients.

After Ayudando was closed in late August by the U.S. Marshals Service, Grotte-Higleys guardianship was transferred to Decades Inc.

Under state law, guardianship hearings are normally sequestered, except when the alleged incapacitated person seeks to have the proceedings open.

On Oct. 2, just minutes before his guardianship hearing was to begin, Grotte-Higley invited the reporters to attend. Definitely, why not? he said.

Barela-Shepherd, upon learning that Journal reporters were in the courtroom, halted the proceedings, saying she didnt have enough information about whether the hearing could be opened.

Im not opposed to unsequestering it, but by statute I dont know that I can, said the judge. Barela-Shepherd added that she was considering whether to permit one or both reporters into the next hearing in the case.

The judge didnt return a Journal phone call Tuesday. A district court spokesperson said Tuesday she could verify the hearing occurred, but because of confidentiality laws she could not respond as to why the reporters werent notified.

Ellen Leitzer, the court-appointed guardian ad litem for Grotte-Higley, referred questions about the hearing to Barela-Shepherd. Mary Ann Green, an attorney in the case, didnt return a Journal phone call.

A message left for Grotte-Higley at Albuquerque Grande, his new residence, was not returned on Tuesday.

There was no way to find out what legal authorities were provided to the judge on the issue of opening up Grotte-Higleys hearing.

Filings in his case, and in all guardian or conservator cases in New Mexico, are confidential under the law.

The Journal profiled Grotte-Higley in a story last summer when he voiced his frustrations about his living conditions in a private boarding home and not having a way to reach the U.S. Marshals office to ask about his case. He was barred from leaving with Journal reporters to go to Ayudandos offices for an answer.
Albuquerque Public Schools is warning students to be careful on the way to bus stops after a local teen was reportedly forced into a car at gunpoint and robbed early Friday morning.

The Albuquerque High student was walking to a bus stop near Carlisle and Gibson SE around 6:30 a.m. when he was allegedly abducted by two Hispanic females and one Hispanic male. He was forced into a small red car driven by one of the females, and released unharmed a short time later, according to an email APS sent to families in the area.

APS Police is investigating, along with the Albuquerque Police Department. Patrols have been increased in the neighborhood.

The school district sent an email describing the crime to administrators at six schools  Albuquerque High School, Kirtland Elementary, Wilson Middle, Bandelier Elementary, Lowell Elementary and Whittier Elementary  and asked them to forward it to parents.

This is a very serious situation and we are thankful that no one was harmed, the email states. We are asking that our students be especially vigilant as they walk to and from school or the bus stop, and we discourage them from walking alone.
SANTA FE  Gov. Susana Martinez is traveling to Virginia this week to campaign for GOP gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie.

The two-term Republican governor is scheduled to join Gillespie on Thursday afternoon in Tysons, Va., for a roundtable discussion on business issues, according to Gillespies campaign website.

A Martinez spokesman on Tuesday confirmed the governor would be traveling to Virginia today, and said she would return to New Mexico on Thursday. He also said state taxpayers would not be paying the governors travel costs, but did not provide additional details.

Gillespie is locked in a tight contest with Democrat Ralph Northam in Virginia, with Election Day set for Nov. 7.

The race has been described by some pundits as a referendum on President Donald Trumps first year in office, and Gillespie has launched campaign ads citing the threat of MS-13, a criminal gang with ties to Central America.

Martinez, who previously chaired the Republican Governors Association, has traveled out-of-state before to stump for GOP gubernatorial candidates, including trips to Wisconsin, Washington and New Jersey.

Gov. cant testify: The two co-chairmen of a legislative subcommittee tasked with studying criminal justice issues have invited a certain former prosecutor to testify at a Friday hearing about the simmering debate over pretrial detention rules.

But Gov. Martinez, a prosecutor for 25 years before becoming governor in 2011, told the lawmakers in response she was unable to attend and instead would pass the invitation on to victims, family members, police officers and district attorneys.

They all deserve to be heard and it is incredibly important that you listen to them, Martinez wrote in a Tuesday letter.

The two co-chairs  Rep. Antonio Moe Maestas, D-Albuquerque, and Sen. Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque  sent the invitation to the governor earlier this week, saying they would welcome a full discussion on the subject of bail reform at this weeks meeting of the Criminal Justice Reform Subcommittee.

In two separate social media posts last week, Martinez called on the Legislature  in the upcoming 30-day session  to repeal and replace a constitutional amendment on bail that was overwhelmingly approved last year by voters statewide.

The governor has specifically criticized the way the amendment has been implemented by the judicial branch, arguing its allowed dangerous defendants to be released pending trial.

Dan Boyd: dboyd@abqjournal.com
Sen. Martin Heinrich will be sad to see Sen. Jeff Flake go.

Flake, an Arizona Republican, announced his retirement from the Senate Tuesday while denouncing President Donald Trump in a scathing floor speech.

Flakes path to re-election to a second term appeared difficult in the early going, as polls showed him trailing Arizona Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat who has announced her campaign for the seat.

Flake will finish out his term, which expires at the end of 2018. Heinrich is seeking election to a second term next year.

The Senate will be worse off without Jeff Flakes honesty, integrity and willingness to speak his mind, Heinrich said in a statement. We should all fear the ramifications of a system which seems to be driving people of his caliber away from this institution.

Heinrich counts Flake among his closest friends in the Senate. The two politicians once suggested bipartisan policy lunches on Capitol Hill. Not surprisingly given the over-the-top partisan climate in Congress, the proposal went nowhere. The two lawmakers even spent several days together on an otherwise deserted island in 2014 (as television cameras rolled) in an effort to demonstrate that politicians from opposing parties can work together.

Flakes announcement was cheered by the White House and some Trump supporters. Some other conservatives who have been critical of Trumps behavior viewed Flakes denouncement of Trump as too little, too late.
ABILENE, Texas  Two West Texas teachers and two other campus workers have been put on administrative leave as police investigate alleged prescription drug abuse linked to a middle school.

Abilene police on Tuesday announced the investigation involving Madison Middle School . A school resource officer on Oct. 18 received reports about alleged drug-related incidents and contacted police.

Investigators say two teachers who were in a relationship acknowledged using illegal drugs and implicated a teachers aide.

Abilene police spokesman Rick Tomlin says in a separate case, two middle school students allegedly sold prescription pills provided by a cafeteria worker. Police didnt immediately announce any arrests.

Abilene Independent School District Superintendent David Young later said four staffers, including two teachers, were put on administrative leave amid an internal investigation. Names of the employees werent released.
SANTA FE  The two co-chairmen of a legislative subcommittee tasked with studying criminal justice issues have invited a certain former prosecutor to testify at a Friday hearing about the simmering debate over pretrial detention rules.

But Gov. Martinez, a prosecutor for 25 years before becoming governor in 2011, told the lawmakers in response she was unable to attend and instead would pass the invitation on to victims, family members, police officers and district attorneys.

They all deserve to be heard and it is incredibly important that you listen to them, Martinez wrote in a Tuesday letter.

The two co-chairs  Rep. Antonio Moe Maestas, D-Albuquerque, and Sen. Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque  sent the invitation to the governor earlier this week, saying they would welcome a full discussion on the subject of bail reform at this weeks meeting of the Criminal Justice Reform Subcommittee.

In two separate social media posts last week, Martinez called on the Legislature  in the upcoming 30-day session  to repeal and replace a constitutional amendment on bail that was overwhelmingly approved last year by voters statewide.

The governor has specifically criticized the way the amendment has been implemented by the judicial branch, arguing its allowed dangerous defendants to be released pending trial.

CJRS Invitation Letter to Gov Martinez by Albuquerque Journal on Scribd

Response to invitation from Gov. Martinez by Albuquerque Journal on Scribd
TOANO, Va.  Lumber Liquidators has agreed to a $36 million settlement to resolve claims brought on behalf of people who bought Chinese-manufactured laminate flooring reported to contain unsafe levels of formaldehyde.

The Virginia-based company said Tuesday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding to settle all claims in two class-action lawsuits filed in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Lumber Liquidators will pay $22 million in cash and provide $14 million in store-credit vouchers to consumers who bought the flooring between January 2009 and May 2015, when it stopped selling the product, the company said in a statement.

The agreement still needs approvals from the court and the companys board.

The company welcomes the agreement as an important step toward resolving this legacy issue and moving forward, CEO Dennis Knowles said in a statement.

Steven Toll, one of three attorneys appointed by the court to represent the plaintiffs in the multi-district litigation, said the proposed settlement would resolve claims by anyone who purchased the flooring. He said Lumber Liquidators has estimated that more than 700,000 people bought the product, but it is unclear how many of them will file claims under the settlement.

The lawsuits were filed after a March 2015 segment on 60 Minutes reporting that laminate flooring made in China had illegal levels of formaldehyde. Exposure to high levels can cause respiratory problems and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. It can also increase a persons risk of developing cancer.

We think consumers will get a good value by getting cash or store vouchers to buy other products from Lumber Liquidators, Toll said.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump and fellow Republicans latched onto revelations tying Hillary Clintons presidential campaign to a dossier of allegations about his ties to Russia. The president said Wednesday it was a disgrace that Democrats had helped pay for research that produced the document.

Its just really  its a very sad commentary on politics in this country, Trump said in addressing reporters one day after news reports revealed that the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee, for several months last year, helped fund research that ultimately ended up in the dossier.

The document, compiled by a former British spy and alleging a compromised relationship between Trump and the Kremlin, has emerged this year as a political flashpoint. Law enforcement officials have worked to corroborate its claims. James Comey, FBI director at the time, advised Trump about the existence of the allegations, and the ex-spy who helped assemble the document, Christopher Steele, has been questioned as part of an ongoing probe into possible coordination between Russia and the Trump camp.

Trump has derided the document as phony stuff and fake news and portrayed himself Wednesday as an aggrieved party, posting on Twitter a quote he said was from Fox News that referred to him as the victim. The new disclosure about the dossiers origins is likely to fuel complaints by Trump and his supporters that the document is merely a collection of salacious and uncorroborated claims.

Well, I think its very sad what theyve done with this fake dossier, Trump said Wednesday, adding without elaboration that they paid a tremendous amount of money. He contended that Democrats had initially denied any connection to the document, but now, they admitted it, and theyre embarrassed by it.

Separately Wednesday, the editor of Wikileaks confirmed that his group was approached by Cambridge Analytica, a data firm working for Trumps campaign during the 2016 election.

Julian Assange told The Associated Press that Wikileaks received a request for information from Cambridge Analytica. That request, which Assange would not specify, came prior to last November and was rejected. Assanges comments came after The Daily Beast reported that Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix reached out to Assange during the presidential campaign about the possible release of 33,000 of Hillary Clintons missing emails. Those emails have never been publicly released.

A spokesman for Cambridge Analytica did not respond to a request for comment. Robert Mercer, a billionaire Trump supporter, is a backer of Cambridge Analytica. Former White House strategist Steve Bannon served as a vice president at the company before joining the administration.

Two people familiar with the newly disclosed dossier matter, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential client matters, told AP the funding arrangement was brokered in the spring of 2016 by a law firm representing the Clinton campaign and the DNC and that it lasted until right before Election Day. The final memo included in the dossier, a version of which was published online by Buzzfeed in January, is dated December 2016, or after the arrangement had ended.

In March of that year, the person said, the law firm of Perkins Coie was approached by Fusion GPS, a political research firm that had already begun research work on Trump on behalf of an unidentified client during the GOP primary. Fusion GPS expressed interest in continuing to create opposition research on Trump, and Perkins Coie engaged it in April 2016 to perform a variety of research services during the 2016 election cycle, according to a letter from the law firms general counsel that was obtained by AP.

The identity of the original client has not been revealed, and one of the people who spoke to AP said the law firm did not know who it was. Trump, however, hinted Wednesday that he might know the identity and that it could eventually become public.

I have one name in mind, the president said.

Its unclear what Fusion GPS had dug up by the time the law firm hired it, or how much money was involved in the transaction. The Perkins Coie attorney who helped create the arrangement, Marc Elias, did not immediately return an email seeking comment, and representatives of Fusion GPS declined to comment. The Washington Post first reported the funding deal.

The Clinton campaign paid more than $5.6 million to Perkins Coie, recording the expenditures as simply legal services, according to Federal Election Commission records. The DNC also paid the law firm more than $2.9 million, nearly all of which was reported as legal and compliance consulting. The DNC did report paying the firm $66,500 for research consulting.

The new disclosure placed fresh attention on the world of opposition research and the techniques that political campaigns employ. Trump Jr.s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., received public scrutiny when it was revealed in July that he had met one year earlier with Russians at Trump Tower after being told he would be receiving damaging information on Clinton. In that case, publicly released emails show that Trump Jr. had been told the information was part of a Russian government effort to aid his father.

That June 2016 meeting is being investigated by Robert Mueller, the Justice Departments special counsel leading an investigation into whether Trump campaign aides coordinated with Russia to influence the outcome of the election.

In a statement Tuesday night, a DNC spokeswoman said the chairman, Tom Perez, was not part of the decision-making and was unaware that Perkins Coie was working with Fusion GPS.

But lets be clear, there is a serious federal investigation into the Trump campaigns ties to Russia, and the American public deserves to know what happened, the statement said.

Former Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said on Twitter that he regretted not knowing about Steeles hiring before the election, and that had he known, I would have volunteered to go to Europe and try to help him.

I have no idea what Fusion or Steele were paid, but if even a shred of that dossier ends up helping Mueller, it will prove money well spent, he wrote in another tweet.

___

Associated Press writers Chad Day, Ken Thomas and Jill Colvin contributed to this report.

___

Read the letter: http://apne.ws/UK0Ojir
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  New Mexico faces about $82 million in extra Medicaid costs next year  far outpacing the amount of new revenue expected to be available.

The extra costs are possible partly because Congress has not reauthorized funding for the Childrens Health Insurance Program, or CHIP.

It would cost the state about $31 million to cover those children, although theres still a chance the federal government will renew CHIP funding. And the state may not have the option of letting coverage lapse for those children  not that it would want to  said Brent Earnest, secretary of the state Human Services Department.

Even if the federal money for CHIP were approved, however, the states tab for Medicaid would climb about $50 million, or twice the projected amount of new money available in the whole $6.1 billion operating budget.

Were going to keep our fingers crossed for congressional action, said state Rep. Patricia Lundstrom, a Gallup Democrat and chairwoman of the Legislative Finance Committee.

The state now spends about $916 million a year on Medicaid, including CHIP. That figure would climb to about $966 million if Congress renewed funding for CHIP, or about $997 million if Congress didnt.

The cost estimates surfaced Wednesday as dozens of lawmakers gathered at the Capitol for presentations ahead of the January legislative session.

The state is headed into a thin budget year. An economic forecast released in August estimated New Mexico would have only about $25 million in revenue next year beyond this years spending levels, allowing for the states $6.1 billion operating budget to grow less than half a percentage point.

The new budget year starts July 1.

The growing Medicaid costs threaten to consume all the new money and then some.

Much of the extra $82 million needed for Medicaid is outside New Mexicos control, Earnest said.

A little over $31 million is necessary for the childrens health insurance program, unless Congress reauthorizes it.

Nearly $15 million in new costs are a result of the federal government slowly shifting more of the cost of the Medicaid expansion  in which 31 states agreed to cover more low-income adults under the Affordable Care Act  back to the states.

And the rest of the extra budget request includes a projected increase in the number of people enrolling in Medicaid, inflation in the cost of medical services and a few other adjustments.

Lundstrom, the LFC chairwoman, said she believes the state Human Services Department has done a reasonably good job limiting the costs it can.

Im pretty pleased, she said after the presentation. Theyre really talking about cost control, which is good.

Rep. Larry Larranaga, R-Albuquerque, warned Earnest that the Legislature may not find enough money for the requested $82 million increase.

I continue to have concerns about this, he said.

The state is seeking federal approval to make a variety of changes to its Medicaid program, but the changes are not expected to happen in time to affect next years budget.
By PTI: By Lalit K Jha

Washington, Oct 25 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has invited US industry majors to invest in his state, positioning it as the logistics and manufacturing hub of India in a post-GST regime offering business-friendly policies.

Chouhan, in a series of meetings with US industry representatives and leaders of the corporate world here has invited them to invest in his state.

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"I am not only the Chief Minister, but also CEO (chief executive officer) of Madhya Pradesh. If there is any problem, I try to resolve that immediately. Madhya Pradesh is emerging as an ideal State in India," Chouhan said at a business roundtable organized jointly by the Confederation of Indian Industry and US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

"Come and invest in Madhya Pradesh," he said as he and his team of officials gave a detailed presentation on the investors friendly policies of the state government.

India, he said is developing at a fast pace.

"There is no policy paralysis ever since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India. Decisions are being taken quickly. There is high growth rate," he said.

With the implementation of GST or goods and services tax, India has become "as one nation, one tax and one market" thus opening up new vistas for the businesses and industry, he said.

And with Madhya Pradesh being centrally located, the state government has quickly formulated policies so as to make it the "logistics and manufacturing" hub of the country.

From food processing to defense manufacturing, the state government has come out with industry specific policies and the first of its kind investment based incentives in a post- GST India, he said.

The availability of skilled manpower and a good law and order, makes Madhya Pradesh an ideal destination for businesses and industries to invest in Madhya Pradesh.

Demonetization has ended black money-based economy in the country.

He said Madhya Pradesh has the highest agricultural growth (averaging 20 per cent) in the country for the last three years and has major defense manufacturing sites already located in the region.

Food processing is one of the focus areas of his government, he said.

In addition, Madhya Pradesh, with its central location and rapid growth, is quickly becoming a leader in rural and urban development for India, he said.

The infrastructure in the state is one of the best, he said, adding that Madhya Pradesh today is surplus in electricity.

In Rewa, he said, worlds largest solar power plant is under construction where the electricity would be sold at a record Rs 2.93 per unit, the cheapest in the world.

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Referring to his drive from the airport to the city, Chouhan said the roads in Madhya Pradesh seem to be better than that of Washington DC.

In his presentation, Mohammed Suleman, Principal Secretary said that in new GST regime, we are at the best location to take products across the country.

Post GST, Madhya Pradesh would be the most attractive destination for manufacturing in Indiam he said.

Madhya Pradesh, because of its location touches almost 50 per cent of the population of the country, so any facility which is in Madhya Pradesh can easily transport its manufacturing product to the rest of the country.

The Deputy Indian Ambassador to the US, Santosh Jha said Chouhan is leading a state that is increasingly setting the bar, adding that increasingly his experimentations in Madhya Pradesh are becoming national plans. PTI LKJ ARK

--- ENDS ---
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump is caught in a push-pull on new details of John F. Kennedys assassination, jammed between students of the killing who want every scrap of information and intelligence agencies that are said to be counseling restraint. How that plays out should be known Thursday, when long-secret files are expected to be released.

On one side is an alliance of sleuths and scholars pushing for Trump to mind the 1992 law that requires the release this week of all 3,150 still-secret files on Kennedys killing on Nov. 22, 1963. For them, Trump has tweeted his intent to allow the release of the long blocked and classified JFK FILES.

But U.S. intelligence agencies are apparently citing the same law to urge him to keep some files out of public sight on national security grounds. For this group, Trumps tweet offered a caveat that he intends to disclose the materials subject to the receipt of further information.

Students of the assassination say the CIA is pushing Trump to keep some of the materials secret. The spy agency isnt denying that.

Clearly there are documents, plural, files, plural, being appealed to him, said University of Virginia historian Larry Sabato, an authority on Kennedy. Of the pressure on Trump, Sabato said, Im told reliably that it continues and that it has intensified. The historian said documents generated in the 1990s that could contain the names of people who are still alive are of particular concern to those who want files held back.

Whatever details are released, theyre not expected to answer the major  and for many, still-lingering  question of whether anyone other than Lee Harvey Oswald was involved in the assassination, including the government. The Warren Commission in 1964 reported that Oswald had been the lone gunman, and another congressional probe in 1979 found no evidence to support the theory that the CIA had been involved. But other interpretations, some more creative than others, have persisted.

For example, Roger Stone, a close Trump ally, advanced the unsubstantiated and widely disdained theory that Lyndon Johnson, who became president upon Kennedys death, was involved in it.

Stone is not sure key documents will see the light of day. He said that 440 documents related to the assassination, released by the National Archives in July, were so heavily redacted on the basis of national security that they are useless. Stone said hes lobbied Trump personally to release all remaining materials and believes the CIA is pushing the president to keep some secret.

Trump wasnt tipping his hand Thursday. The long anticipated release of the #JFKFiles will take place tomorrow, was all he said in a tweet. So interesting!

In 1992, Congress passed the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act, which directed the National Archives to collect all information related to the assassination and release it within 25 years, barring exceptions designated by the president. The deadline is Thursday.

The gunshots that the Warren Commission said killed Kennedy almost immediately inspired theories about whether Oswald had been the lone gunman who, with extraordinary luck by any measure, had hit his target.

As the nation mourned in disbelief, Oswald was shot and killed in police custody by Jack Ruby  forcing Americans to consider whether their government was hiding what it knew of the assassination. The event remains in the nations living memory for a significant slice of the country. Forty-nine million Americans, or 15 percent of the country, are age 65 and over, according to the Census Bureau. They were around age 11 or older at the time.

The Warren Commission did little to settle the matter. Theories abounded that Oswalds murder was a cover-up for a conspiracy or government ineptitude. The deadly aim of a lonely, alienated gunman seemed hard to fathom.

A gnat simply does not kill a lion, is how Saul Pett of The Associated Press described what was fueling the search for answers. He wrote the introduction to the book published by the AP that reproduced the Warren Report.

Trump has seen fit to peddle conspiracies when they suit him as part of a broader appeal to supporters who dont trust the government.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly quoted a tabloid story that claimed the father of GOP rival Ted Cruz had been photographed with Oswald before the shooting. Thats never been confirmed  Trump later said he was only quoting what hed read. But the release of JFK files this week could provide new details.

Trump also trafficked for years in the baseless theory that President Barack Obama was born outside the U.S. He also falsely accused Democratic rival Hillary Clinton of starting that rumor. The president also, without evidence, accused Obama of wiretapping his office in Trump Tower during the 2016 campaign.

Trumps relationship with the intelligence community also has been fraught. One of Trumps first stops as president was at the CIAs headquarters in Northern Virginia, where he made a speech that focused more on falsely accusing the media of lying about how many people attended his inauguration than on the CIAs work protecting the United States.

Intelligence officials in Trumps administration, however, say that the president meets regularly  if not daily  with the nations top spy chiefs and has become a voracious consumer of intelligence.

Whatever Trump decides to release, historians expect to comb it for an array of details, particularly on six days Oswald spent in Mexico City just before the assassination. Oswald said he was visiting the Cuban and Soviet Union embassies there to get visas, but much about his time there remains unknown.

They will also look for any mention  or absence  of Cruzs father.

Of key interest are any new details about Oswald, including any government ineptitude or cover-up. The 1992 law allows the president to withhold details that could compromise the governments sources and methods  but not embarrassments.

In any release of this size, there always are embarrassing details, said Douglas Brinkley, a professor at Rice University.

___

Follow Kellman and Riechmann on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/APLaurieKellman and http://www.Twitter.com/DebRiechmann
The Rio Grande Nature Center State Park just celebrated its 35th anniversary and officially dedicated its a new Sandhill Crane Viewing Platform, newly acquired artwork, and improved design and landscape of the overflow parking at the site.

This park saw nearly 219,000 visitors last fiscal year and our partners help us to serve these visitors with great programs and support, said Christy Tafoya, director of New Mexico State Parks.

Rio Grande Nature Center State Park is the embodiment of partnership, she said in a statement. We are so thankful to our donors whose generous contributions made these projects happen.

The public and private partnerships include Friends of Rio Grande Nature Center, Kapner Estate, and the Lumpkin Foundation, whose generosity funded the construction of several components there, and the newly acquired artwork was funded by Art in Public Places, according to park Superintendent Beth Dillingham.

Albuquerque maintains the prestigious Urban Bird Treaty City designation, making it part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services urban conservation treaty for migratory birds.

Members of the Albuquerque Urban Bird Coalition were on hand at the dedication Friday to highlight the migration of cranes into the park during the recent dedication.

Albuquerque and surrounding areas remain important stopover sites for migratory birds as well as year-round avian residents, they said.

We welcome suggestions for the daily Bright Spot. Send to newsroom@abqjournal.com.<br>
AirAsia India announces the launch of an exciting promo for domestic travelers. Aptly titled Book now, Fly now!, the offer is valid on bookings made between 24th October and 5th November 2017 for travel between 24th October 2017 and 30th April 2018.

Under this sale, guests can choose from the 16 destinations that AirAsia India currently flies to for all-in fares starting at as low asINR 1299. The discount applies to all bookings made through the AirAsia website and mobile app.

AirAsia also encourages its guests to pre-book their meals to ensure availability and to get the best - hot meals starting from INR 220.

* Applicable only to base fare. Promotional fares not available during the peak period. Terms and conditions apply.
Assam Tourism has launched its new multimedia campaign with its Brand Ambassador Priyanka Chopra. Shot extensively across Assam, the films capture not just the beauty of the state but its diverse and rich culture.

The central theme of the campaign is - Once you visit Assam, it stays with you forever and is depicted through how PC remembers Assam and gets carried away by her memories of time spent there. The main brand film is 3.30 minute long, which will kick start the campaign on the digital medium. A 360-degree campaign will follow which will include Press, Outdoors, Radio, TV, Cinema and digital promotions.

Talking about the campaign, Mr. Kausar Hilaly, MD, ATDC said the state is all geared up to capitalise on the advent of new generation of young travellers. He said Assam the gateway to North-East offers an unparalleled experience to travelers with its rich natural and unexploited beauty and is a melting pot of different cultures. He said the focus of tourism will be on 'creating unique experiences instead of the usual sight-seeing experiences, which the films capture very well; for domestic as well as international travellers.

Conceived by YAAP & Crayons, the films have been written by Rondeep Gogoi (Senior Creative Director, Crayons), who incidentally is from Assam. He said the world knows Assam is beautiful, so he did not want to do just another good-looking tourism campaign. Instead he dug deep in to the arts and culture of Assam and spun a narrative, which is held together by an Assamese song regarded as the State Anthem of Assam.

The films have been directed by Arun Gopalan and Ken Rolston of Storytellers.

Shouvik Roy, Senior Partner, Yaap, who is heading the project said - 'Assam offers experiences that are both unique and diverse. While planning this campaign it was our priority to amplify and communicate these experiences to traveler from across the world - in a way that is both beautiful and memorable. We are working together with Assam Tourism to bring these experiences to life in multiple ways.'
Bhaskar Das has been brought on board as Executive President at Dainik Bhaskar Group. In this role, he will be responsible for the corporate sales and marketing functions of the Group, as disclosed by a source close to the development.

Das will be joining the group shortly and will be working closely with Satyajit Sen Gupta, Chief Corporate Sales and Marketing Officer, Dainik Bhaskar Group.

Das was earlier with Zee Media, where he was Group CEO, before taking charge as President and Chief Growth Officer at Zee Unimedia. His career began with the The Times of India and he has had a long association with the group.
Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd (KNPL), one of the leading paint companies in India, recently launched an on-ground campaign at the Terminal 1 of the Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport to reinforce its position as one of the best Marketers in the category in India. The campaign, titled  Making our world #ashadebetter, utilizes the luggage conveyer belt at the airport as the primary media. The aim of this campaign is to present the vividness and variety of shades that Nerolac offers. One of the many conveyer belts present at the airport has been converted to a giant, moving shade card, which not only gives the passengers a break from otherwise boring airport surroundings but also allows them to select their favorite colour for their home or work.

Nerolac, as a brand, has always believed in constantly innovating in all the facets of business; products or marketing. The airport conveyer belt was selected for this activity as its basic mechanisms allows it to act as a moving shade card (fan-deck) and the entire execution looks very natural. Even though the conveyer belt was a natural choice, to ensure that colour reproduction is as close to real colours of the paints as possible, Nerolacs team conducted rigorous testing to avoid poor reproduction of colours, smudges on the media and hassle-free functioning of the conveyer belt. After a testing of approx four months, they arrived at an optimum solution to carry out this activity.

The colours for this moving shade card were pulled out from the colour themes of the recently launched Nerolac Colour Guides, having 7 beautifully crafted colour stories created after months of pan India research. The stories in the Colour Guides are created to cater to the designers within, offering ideas and setups to explore and get inspired with. The books (Interior and Exterior) deconstruct the decor styles into quick design tips and concepts that consumers can immediately adopt in their homes.

Speaking about this, Mr. Peeyush Bachlaus, GM Marketing - Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd. said, Theres a need to find the consumers where they are instead of trying to reach out to them through conventional means. It is a must to deliver key brand messages on multi-layered platforms which cant be restrictive in nature. We have continuously endeavoured to innovate brand messaging as well as consumer connect initiatives. This unique OOH installation is a testimony to that. We want our consumers to experience their surroundings and colours in a unique way wherever we can and doing something for the Diwali time passengers seemed to be a right way to kick start the integration.

The passengers who experienced the belt on the day of Diwali were in for a surprise as there were personalized gifts waiting for them at the Nerolac Conveyer belt. The delight on their faces cannot be expressed in words.

you can look for many such surprises in future from Nerolac, at the airport and at other places too, Mr. Bachlaus added.
MRSS India has appointed market research professionals, Madhumita Chattopadhyay as Vice President, Praveen Mettelu as Research Director and R.Kumar as Consultant.

Madhumita Chattopadhyay ,Vice President has about 25 years of experience in brand management, business strategy and marketing research. She was associated with ABP Pvt Ltd for 14 years , VP, in charge of one of the strategic business units and was also the editor of the most popular womens lifestyle magazine in west Bengal , Sananda. She also worked in market research agencies like IMRB International and TNS Mode. She was a member in the Technical Committee of National Readership Survey (NRS).

R Kumar, Consultant an MBA and BE, has Over 2 decades of experience in Market Research, KPO operations, research experience mostly in customized, Quantitative studies. He has also worked with GFK Mode, Aon Hewitt Associates, TNS , A C Nielsen ORG  MARG. Products that he had worked on largely consumer products/services, durables, tourism, media/polling, healthcare (mostly OTC). He had also presented papers at MRSI, ICPOOP(Cairo).

Praveen Mettelu has about 9 years of experience in Qualitative Research. He had worked with Hansa, Quantum research, The Third Eye and Nielsen. Praveen as a keen sense over client requirements, business assessments and generating consumer insights partner clients short and long term strategies and also worked comprehensively in Automotive, Social and FMCG, apart from this he has a exposure in the media, digital, technology and, health and pharm, telecom, appliances, retail and finance space.

Welcoming all three of them to MRSS India, Raj Sharma, Chairman of the company commented Onboarding these 3 team members on board is a huge boost to the value that MRSS offers to its diverse client base. Together these individuals have more than 60 years of Market Research Experience that will push the agency to newer heights.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) A special court today deferred hearing in the 2G spectrum scam cases in which former telecom minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi are among the accused.

Special Judge O P Saini, who is exclusively dealing with cases arising out of the 2G spectrum scam, also issued production warrants against Unitech Ltd MD Sanjay Chandra and Bollywood producer Karim Morani, who were absent as they are in judicial custody in other cases.

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While Chandra is in Tihar Jail in connection with several cheating cases against his real estate firm Unitech Ltd, Morani is in a Hyderabad jail in a rape case.

The other accused were present in the court.

The court -- which has been hearing the three cases, two filed by the CBI and one by the Enforcement Directorate -- has fixed November 7 as the next date of hearing when it is likely to decide the date of pronouncing the judgement.

In the first case filed by the CBI, those facing trial include Raja and Kanimozhi as well as former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, Rajas erstwhile private secretary R K Chandolia, Swan Telecom promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, Unitech Ltd MD Chandra and three top executives of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (RADAG) -- Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair.

The directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal, Kalaignar TV Director Sharad Kumar and Karim Morani are also accused in the case.

Besides these 14, three telecom firms -- Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd (STPL), Reliance Telecom Ltd and Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Ltd -- are facing trial in the case.

In October 2011, the court framed charges against them under various provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act dealing with offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, faking documents, abusing official position, criminal misconduct by public servant and taking bribe.

In its charge sheet filed in April 2011 against Raja and others, the CBI had alleged that there was a loss of Rs 30,984 crore to the exchequer in the allocation of 122 licences for 2G spectrum which were scrapped by the Supreme Court on February 2, 2012.

The court has recorded the statements of 154 CBI witnesses -- including Anil Ambani, his wife Tina Ambani and former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia -- running into over 4,400 pages.

The offences entail punishment ranging from six months in jail to life imprisonment.

In the second CBI case, those facing trial are Essar Group promoters Ravi Ruia and Anshuman Ruia, Loop Telecom promoters Kiran Khaitan, her husband I P Khaitan and Essar Group Director (Strategy and Planning) Vikash Saraf.

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Three firms, Loop Telecom Ltd, Loop Mobile India Ltd and Essar Tele Holding Ltd (ETHL), have also been named in the charge sheet.

The ED had filed a charge sheet in April 2014 against 19 people, including Raja, Kanimozhi, Shahid Balwa, Vinod Goenka, Asif Balwa, Rajiv Aggarwal, Karim Morani and Sharad Kumar, in connection with a money laundering case relating to the scam.

In its charge sheet, the ED also named DMK supremo M Karunanidhis wife Dayalu Ammal as an accused in the case, in which it alleged that Rs 200 crore was paid by STPL promoters to DMK-run Kalaignar TV.

The final report named 10 individuals and nine companies as accused in the case. The ED has charge-sheeted them for the offence of money laundering under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. PTI AG RRT MIN

--- ENDS ---
Sony MAX, the leading Hindi movies channel brings the world television premiere of 2016s blockbuster movie, Jeene Nahi Doonga 2 on 27th October at 8pm. Directed by Arun Raj and produced and written by Tiagarajan, Jeene Nahi Doonga 2 features Prashantha as Ravi Narayan and Amanda Rosario as Madhu.

Jeene Nahi Doonga 2 narrates the story of Ravi who is a wastrel according to his father. To prove his father wrong he challenges him that he will soon earn enough money and prove his worth. In a bid to earn some quick money, he decides to collaborate with a gang of goons, controlled by a corrupt politician. This move eventually lands Ravi in a big trouble as he has to deal with high level politicians. Apart from Prashantha and Amanda, the movie also has stellar cast of Sonu Sood, Nassar, M. S. Bhaskar, Thambi Ramaiah, and Robo Shankar in vital role. The model turned actress, Nargis Fakhri is also seen shaking a leg with Prashantha on peppy dancer number.

Catch this action packed comedy, Jeene Nahi Doonga 2 only on

Sony MAX on Friday, 27th October at 8pm
The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited (Butterfield) (NYSE: NTB) (BSX: NTB) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Deutsche Banks Global Trust Solutions (GTS) business, excluding its US operations. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Upon completion of the transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals, Butterfield will take over the ongoing management and administration of the GTS portfolio, comprising approximately 1,000 trust structures for some 900 private clients. Butterfield is also offering positions to all employees who are fully dedicated to GTS in the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Switzerland, Singapore and Mauritius. This will ensure continuity of service for clients.

Butterfield will partner with Deutsche Bank to provide trust solutions to Deutsche Banks clients on an ongoing basis.

Michael Collins, Butterfields Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: Trust is a core business for us, and the acquisition of the Deutsche Bank Global Trust Solutions business enables us to add scale and professional bench strength to our trust operations in Switzerland, Guernsey and Cayman. It also provides us with a physical presence in Asia, which we view as a growth market for Butterfield. We look forward to welcoming GTS clients and staff to Butterfield and to the development of new business from an ongoing partnership with Deutsche Banks Wealth Management team.

Fabrizio Campelli, Deutsche Banks Global Head of Wealth Management, said: Butterfield is a well-known leader in the trust industry and we look forward to working with them to provide our clients with a broader product offering. The divestiture represents an important step in our strategy of simplifying our business and positioning Wealth Management for growth in our core markets.

Butterfield has been providing trust and fiduciary services to international clients for more than 80 years. Its award winning trust business comprises over 200 professionals, based in The Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Switzerland, who provide estate and succession planning services, efficient coordination of family affairs, and administration of complex holding structures for a wide variety of financial and non-financial assets. As of 30 September 2017, Butterfield Trust had Assets Under Administration of approximately USD 95.2 billion.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2018, subject to customary closing conditions.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This News Release contains forward-looking statements, including with respect to the acquisition of Deutsch Banks GTS business. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of words such as anticipate, believe, expect, intend, plan, and will or, in each case their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. As a result, actual events may differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by Butterfield in this News Release speaks only as of the date hereof. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible for Butterfield to predict these events or how they may affect it. Butterfield does not intend to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof, except as required by law.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Deutsche Bank Wealth Management division

With client assets of around EUR 299 billion (as at June 30, 2017), Deutsche Banks Wealth Management business is one of the largest wealth managers worldwide. It offers affluent clients a broad range of traditional and alternative investment solutions, as well as comprehensive advice on all aspects of Wealth Management.

About Butterfield

Butterfield is a full-service bank and wealth manager headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, providing services to clients from six jurisdictions: Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Guernsey, where our principal banking operations are located; and The Bahamas, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, where we offer specialised financial services. Banking services comprise retail and corporate banking. Wealth management services are composed of trust, private banking, and asset management. In Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, we offer both banking and wealth management. In Guernsey, The Bahamas and Switzerland, we offer wealth management. In the UK, we offer residential property lending. Butterfield is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: NTB) and the Bermuda Stock Exchange (symbol: NTB.BH). Further details on the Butterfield Group can be obtained from our website at: www.butterfieldgroup.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025005356/en/

Butterfield:

Mark Johnson, +1-441-299-1624

Vice President, Group Head of Communications

Cellular: +1-441-524-1025

Fax: +1-441-295-3878

mark.johnson@butterfieldgroup.com

or

Deutsche Bank:

Don Hunter, +44 20 754 14120

Cellular: +44 7827820054

don.hunter@db.com

or

Adrian Cox, +44 20 754 17775

Cellular: +44 7789 086427

adrian.cox@db.com
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Report on Shares Acquired under Share Repurchase Plan

October 18, 2017

Moscow, Russian Federation  MTS PJSC (MTS  NYSE: MBT; MOEX: MTSS), the leading telecommunications provider in Russia and the CIS, announces that Stream Digital, LLC, the Companys wholly-owned subsidiary, recently acquired 1,808,630 MTS shares of Common Stock (including shares of Common Stock represented by ADSs) representing 0.09% of share capital issued by MTS. Stream Digital, LLC purchased MTS shares of Common Stock (including shares of Common Stock represented by ADSs) under the Repurchase Plan announced on September 6, 2017.

Under Russian legislation, MTS is required to disclose any shares acquired by the Company or any of its subsidiaries. MTS will fully disclose the aggregate number of shares acquired during the period, what this represents in MTS share capital, as well as price paid, during its next quarterly disclosure.

Since the launch of the Repurchase Plan on September 6, 2017, Stream Digital has acquired 22,468,157 shares of Common Stock (including shares of Common Stock represented by ADSs) representing 1.12% of share capital issued by MTS. This includes shares of Common Stock acquired from Sistema Finance under a sale and purchase agreement concluded prior to the launch of the Repurchase Plan.

* **

For further information, please contact in Moscow:

Joshua B. Tulgan

Director, Department of Corporate Finance and Investor Relations

Mobile TeleSystems PJSC

Tel: +7 495 223 2025

E-mail: ir@mts.ru

Learn more about MTS. Visit the official blog of the Investor Relations Department at www.mtsgsm.com/blog/

* * *

Mobile TeleSystems PJSC (MTS - NYSE:MBT; MOEX:MTSS), the leading telecommunications group in Russia and the CIS, provides a range of mobile and fixed-line communications services. We serve over 100 million mobile subscribers in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Turkmenistan, and Belarus, and about 9 million customers of fixed-line services, including fixed voice, broadband internet, and pay-TV. To keep pace with evolving customer demand, MTS is redefining what telecommunications services are by offering innovative products beyond its core network-related businesses in various tech segments, including Big Data, financial and banking services, internet of things, OTT, cloud computing, systems integration and e-commerce. We leverage our market-leading retail network as a platform for customer services and sales of devices and accessories. For more information, please visit: www.mtsgsm.com.

* * *
BEIJING, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Bozon Bupaiwan, the former prime minister of Laos, and the current president of Laos Economic Research Institute, led a group of people to the headquarters of Beijing Guangcai Group and attended the first Sino-Laos new area "Boloven Economic Zone" Development Symposium at the 6th floor conference room. A total of more than 70 people participated in the meeting, including people from Guangcai Group and Chinese business representatives and discussed the cooperative development significance and prospect of Sino-Laos "Boloven Economic Zone". Large-scale central enterprise representatives, such as China Communications Construction Corp, China State Construction Engineering Co., Ltd, and China Galaxy Financial Holdings, attended the meeting. China Development Bank, Export-Import Bank of China and other financial institutions also participated in the conversation.

Songen Deunsa, Vice Dean of the Lao National Economic Research Institute, introduced the Boloven Economic Zone. The total planning area of the Boloven Economic Zone is about 529,000 hectares, about 5 Times the size of Hong Kong. It is at the center of four provinces in the south of Laos. The border is located between Vietnam and Cambodia, as an international route, as well as an important part of the "One Belt, One Road". Songen Deunsa claimed that the Boloven economic new area is 900-1700m above the sea, with a very cool climate. It is beneficial to develop agriculture, farming, animal husbandry, aquaculture, cultural tourism and so on. The goal of "Boloven Economic Zone" is to be established as a green and sustainable development zone in 2030.

"'Boloven Economic Zone' has a complete plan; secondly, 'Boloven Economic Zone' puts the basic construction in a very good position; thirdly, the 'Boloven Economic Zone' is green and sustainable when it comes to building industrial and agricultural projects; fourth, the 'shared economy' business model deserves everyone's attention. After more than 30 years of reform and opening up, people came to know that in order to save resources, manpower, and time, we can do carpooling, and now the developed 'bike sharing' mode has greatly inspired people," Hu Deping, chairman of China Biodiversity and Green Development Foundation, said at the symposium. At the invitation of Bozon Bupaiwan, the former prime minister of Laos and president of the current Lao National Economic Research Institute, Hu Deping said that he would accept the invitation and visit Laos once he has the opportunity. Also, the China Biodiversity and Green Development Foundation said that they would organize enterprises to support the development of "Boloven Economic Zone".

Bozon Bupaiwan, the former prime minister of Laos and president of the current National Economic Research Institute, said that the "Boloven Economic Zone" would have a great impact on the local region, and that China and Laos would take a new step in strategic partnership cooperation, and that the implementation of the Boloven Economic Zone would turn out to be a good opportunity.

Liu Yi, vice president of Guangcai Group, said that in late August this year, Mr. Ren Wei, the president of Guangcai Group, led the team to visit Laos again and inspected the project of Boloven Economic Zone. Upon reaching a consensus on the development and construction of "Boloven Economic Zone", they signed a memorandum of cooperation, which is now being approved and progress was made in the current stage. With the opening of the old railway and the construction of the international airport, more and more Chinese people are traveling to Laos, which brings big economic growth in Laos. Guangcai Group hopes to regard the development of "Boloven Economic Zone" as a starting point in jointly developing a new area economy, and promote the "One Belt, One Road" development strategy in Southeast Asia. Guangcai Group will unite various types of enterprises in China to jointly develop "Boloven Economic Zone". As the leading group, Guangcai Group will jointly carry out the first-class development of the "Boloven Economic Zone" together with the Lao local government, giving its advantages in the development of agriculture, science and technology, cultural tourism and other fields to full play. By introducing China's successful industries and experience to Laos, we hope to lead the local people to become rich and promote Boloven economic development.

At the symposium, senior experts at the China Development Bank said that the China Development Bank has offered the cumulative loan balance of more than 100 billion U.S. dollars to countries along the "One Belt, One Road" line, and has cooperated with many countries, willing to support the construction of "Boloven Economic Zone" and other overseas development zones.

According to this symposium, Bozon Bupaiwan, the former prime minister of Laos, the current president of the Lao National Economic Research Institute, accompanied by relevant leaders of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and the Guangcai Group, also visited the Development Research Center of the State Council and the International Cooperation and Exchange Center of the NDRC, and exchanged views about the cooperation issues between China and Laos with them.

Hu Deping concluded: "'Boloven Plateau Economic Zone' has a good planning blueprint and I hope that Chinese entrepreneurs can invest in its development and construction. Chinese entrepreneurs must respect local culture, especially the local Buddhist culture, for Laos is a Buddhist country. If Chinese companies are going to invest in Laos, of course there would be competition, but I think excessive competition in Southeast Asian countries is not what they want since they need green development. A country needs to make money, but the common people's income must be raised, which can avoid the rich and poor gap from being too big, and relieve the masses-and-governors tension and confrontation. I wish Laos will be better in a good direction towards development. Hence, I have to say, if our entrepreneurs enter this new area to invest and carry out successful cooperation, we need to come up with real gold and silver, but more importantly, mutual benefit and sincerity. Finally, I hope that in the process of investment, everyone here will become friends with each other. Old friendship lasts forever!"

Ren Jie, chairman of Brilliance International Investment Group, said that they would develop a new special economic zone with some resorts and financial institutions as well as some leading figures from various industries with the full support of the Laos government. In addition, he also expressed that they were confident and determined to build the largest Asian eco-agricultural tourism economic zone in Laos with the support of the China Central Enterprises and these industrial leaders.

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SOURCE Guangcai Group
October 23, 2017

CAIRO  Egypt's rumored plan for a joint military exercise with Israel is raising a lot of criticism from opponents of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's regime.

Opposition website Egyrep.com published an article Oct. 8 that said, Sisi breaks the armed forces doctrine with the first military exercise with Israel. Al-Quds al-Arabi reported Oct. 6 that Sayyed al-Toukhi, a leader of the opposition Democratic Current Alliance, posted on Facebook that the military exercise with Israel is a big shame on this president and all leaders who are of the same mind.

It all started when Greece's Minister of National Defense Panos Kammenos told the press Oct. 1 that Greece is planning joint military exercises with Cyprus, Egypt and Israel.

No comment on a joint Egyptian-Israeli military exercise was posted on the official Facebook pages of the military spokesman of the armed forces or the Egyptian Defense Ministry. Nevertheless, speaking to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, a source close to Egypt's military establishment said, The Egyptian military media is characterized by a high degree of transparency. The armed forces would never take part in such exercises, even if they were to be confidential, because such an event cant be hidden. Military exercises are viewed as a major event involving the armed forces' equipment, weapons, soldiers, officers and commanders. It would be impossible for Egypt to pressure all these parties in four countries to keep such an exercise to themselves.

Mounir Mahmoud, a researcher specializing in Israeli affairs at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor that perhaps Kammenos meant that Greece plans military exercises with Israel, Egypt and Cyprus separately, or that he was referring to a Greek offer that Egypt has not agreed to yet. However, the Times of Israel ran a story about the subject under the headline "Israel to conduct joint air force drills with Greece, Cyprus, Egypt," and recent news stories have highlighted Israeli overtures to Egypt, such as Israel's condemnation Oct. 21 of a terrorist attack that killed 16 Egyptian police.

Mahmoud noted that it's possible Kammenos was sending a message to Turkey that regional powers such as Israel and Egypt are in favor of Greece's stance opposing Turkey, as Greece perceives Turkey to be stealing its right to gas in the eastern Mediterranean.

Egypt is indeed likely to favor Greece in light of Egyptian-Turkish political differences, highlighted when the Egyptian armed forces ousted the Muslim Brotherhood and then-President Mohammed Morsis regime following 2013 mass protests, which Turkey viewed as a military coup.

Furthermore, Israel and Greece have common interests. Israel seeks to export natural gas to Europe through pipelines crossing the Mediterranean Sea and Greece. These interests, however, do not seem enough for Israel to favor Greece, as Israel also is considering a similar project to export gas to Europe via Turkish territory.

In an Oct. 6 story, French public radio station Monte-Carlo Doualiya linked news about the possible Egyptian-Israeli joint military exercise to Sisis meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in September. The same month, news surfaced that a Saudi prince secretly visited Israel the same month  news Riyadh hasn't denied. Stories also implied that such developments correlate with US President Donald Trumps remarks on the "deal of the century" to resolve the Middle East crisis.

"The problem is that the deals details remain undisclosed, and the US side contented itself with the talk on Saudi-Egyptian-Israeli-Palestinian cooperation to bring about peace and stability to the region in the face of Iran," the Monte-Carlo Doualiya story said.

Speaking to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, an Egyptian journalist specializing in Israeli affairs said there are many indications that Egypt and the Gulf countries are on the path toward normalization with Israel to counter the risks coming from Irans influence."

"These [indications] include the fact that Saudi Arabia, the UAE [United Arab Emirates] and Israel rushed to express their stances favoring Trumps Oct. 13 remarks that he will not recertify Irans nuclear deal.

The journalist said, however, that normalization wouldn't mean Arab states would cast aside their own constants, such as the Gulf countries opposing diplomatic ties with Israel or the Egyptian armed forces viewing Israel as a historic enemy. He explained that any shift in those stances could cause resentment among Gulf citizens or dissatisfaction within the Egyptian armed forces ranks.

It's noteworthy that many Egyptian military leaders continue to describe the Israeli army as a historic enemy. Most recently, on Oct. 13, air force commander Younes al-Masry described the Israeli army as an enemy many times during his interview with military editors of multiple newspapers on the date marking the 44th anniversary of the October 1973 war.

Mansour Wahhabi, a professor of Israeli studies at Ain Shams University in Cairo, believes there will be no joint Egyptian-Israeli military drill.

The objective behind any military exercise is to learn about the other armies weaponry. While the majority of the Israeli weapons are either from Europe or the US, Egypt has in its possession many similar weapons, in addition to its Chinese and Russian weapons. This means that the Egyptian armed forces have no interest in a joint exercise, [especially given] the damage the regime would have to face due to the [negative] public opinion and perhaps the armys rejection of further normalization," he told Al-Monitor.

Also, Wahhabi said, the economic, security and political rapprochement with Israel to counter terrorist groups doesn't mean that the Egyptian, Israeli, Turkish and Iranian armies haven't been competing to achieve military supremacy in the region. This competitiveness would make the countries loathe to unveil the power of their armies in a military drill.

That same reason is perhaps behind the absence of joint Iranian-Turkish exercises, despite the countries' trade agreements in recent years and their rapprochement under some circumstances, for instance, the issue of Iraqi Kurd's potential influence on their countries. The competition could also be behind the absence of Israeli-Turkish training exercises with US participation; such drills haven't been repeated since 2008.

There's another issue that would make it difficult for joint military drills to take place: Egypt's support for and role in a Palestinian reconciliation and Netanyahu's rejection of reconciliation, Wahhabi noted.

The long-standing Sunni-Shiite conflict has not prevented a practical rapprochement between the Sunni-dominated regime in Turkey and Shiite-dominated regime in Iran. An example of this came when the Kurds in Iraq voted for independence in September, which posed a threat to both countries. The same approach applies to Egypt and Israel, historic enemies who currently engage in mutually beneficial political, economic and security cooperation at their border. Pragmatism, however, will not be able to erase historical enmity anytime soon, let alone allow for military cooperation and joint drills.
The intra-Americas subsidiary of ocean shipping giant Maersk Line will add the South Florida port to the weekly rotation of the South American Express service at the end of the month, according to Port Everglades terminal operator SAAM.



Ocean carrier SeaLand, the intra-Americas subsidiary of industry leader Maersk Line, will begin calling the SAAM-operated Florida International Terminal (FIT) in Port Everglades-Fort Lauderdale on its South Atlantic Express service, the terminal operator announced.

The service operates weekly and with direct calls in call South Florida, Honduras and Guatemala. According to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting, the loops full port rotation is Norfolk, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Savannah, Port Everglades, Santo Tomas de Castilla, Puerto Cortes, Moin Bay, Manzanillo (Panama), Colon (Panama), Puerto Cortes, Santo Tomas de Castilla, Port Everglades, Wilmington and back to Norfolk. Port Everglades will be added as a port of call beginning with the Oct. 28 voyage of the Maersk Winnipeg.

This new service will enable importers and exporters to reduce transit days and provide mid-week cargo alternatives, thereby efficiently supporting foreign trade between North and Central America, explained Klaus Stadthagen, the CEO of FIT.

The service will also offer inland transfers from and to Nicaragua and El Salvador, said SAAM.

FIT is one of eleven terminals operated by Chilean-based SAAM in the Americas. SAAM holds the operating concession until 2025 (with a 5+5 extension option) and in 2016 reported container port throughput of more than 202,000 TEUs, according to the terminal operator. The company also offers towage services and logistics operations.
The Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 have already received an update to Android 7.1.2 Nougat, leaving Nokia 3 users wondering why their handset did not get the same treatment. While the Nokia 3 did get an update recently, it was just the monthly Android security patch for October, which didnt bring any major changes. Back in June, HMD Global, which holds the rights to sell Nokia-branded handsets, promised that the Nokia 3, Nokia 5, and Nokia 6 will all get updates for the next two years. At the time, HMD CEO Arto Nummela also highlighted that the Nokia 3 has a MediaTek processor that would not support Android 7.1.1, though he asked MediaTek to still make it happen. It seems that the two companies overcame those hurdles, as HMD has now confirmed that the Nokia 3 is slated to receive Android 7.1.2 Nougat. The company has yet to offer an estimate for when the update will roll out, but mentioned that it will take a bit longer than previously thought.

As HMD explained, the Nokia 3 is getting driver updates at a slower pace because of its MediaTek processor. In turn, this means that testing new updates takes slightly longer, which translates to a delayed rollout. Nevertheless, Android 7.1.2 Nougat will eventually hit the Nokia 3 and it might roll out as soon as next month with the November Android security patch. November is a likely time frame because HMD recently claimed that all Nokia-branded smartphones will get Android 8.0 Oreo by the end of the year, and the Nokia 3 should get Android 7.1.2 Nougat before shifting to Oreo less the company fails to deliver on its promise. With this in mind, Android 7.1.2 could arrive in November and the Android 8.0 Oreo package may launch in December. HMD should offer more details as the next Nokia 3 update is closer to being released.

As a reminder, the Nokia 3 is an entry-level device with modest specifications, suitable for the budget segment of the smartphone market. The handset features a 5-inch IPS LCD display with an HD resolution of 1,280 by 720 pixels, a 64-bit octa-core MediaTek MT6737 processor and the Mali-T720MP1 GPU, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of native storage space expandable with a microSD card. Other specs include 8-megapixel cameras on both its front and back, 4G LTE connectivity, and a 2,630mAh non-removable battery. The Nokia 3 launched with Android 7.0 Nougat on board so the update will not bring a drastically new experience, but Android 7.1.2 still includes a number of improvements such as battery usage alerts, enhanced stability for notifications, fingerprint scanner performance improvements, and more.
HMD Global officially launched the preview program for Android 8.0 Oreo on the Nokia 8, its first flagship which the company introduced this summer. The open beta is available to all owners of the Nokia 8 and only requires them to fill out a short form that can be accessed below. The handset itself will have to be authenticated by its IMEI number, after which the firm will provide you with a beta build of Android 8.0 Oreo in the form of a traditional over-the-air (OTA) download. HMD says that it may take up to 12 hours for the build to be distributed following authentication, though some users on Twitter claim they received the software in a matter of minutes after signing up. Owners of the Nokia 8 who install the Oreo beta but want to go back to Android 7.1.1 Nougat for any reason can do so at any point during the test, the company confirmed. If you dont already have an account with HMD, you can simply log into the program using your Facebook profile or Google credentials.

Being an experimental version of Android 8.0 Oreo, this particular firmware build may still prove to be unstable to a degree, feature some noticeable bugs, or generally not perform as smoothly as Android 7.1.1 Nougat does on the same device. Still, no major complaints regarding the reliability of the public beta software have been observed on social media or HMDs product forums as of this writing. As is usually the case with Android beta builds, the one that brings Oreo to the Nokia 8 comes with a pre-installed app for sending feedback to HMD or access the official Nokia forums to discuss the software with other users.

HMD Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas took to Twitter earlier today to officially confirm the launch of the Android 8.0 Oreo public beta test for the Nokia 8, adding that the Nokia 3, Nokia 5, and Nokia 6 will all be treated to a similar preview program shortly but without providing a more specific time frame for the availability of subsequent initiatives. The newly launched Nokia 7 hasnt been particularly mentioned by Mr. Sarvikas but the Finnish phone maker previously confirmed that all of its 2017 devices will be upgraded to Android 8.0 Oreo and the omission of the Nokia 7 from the tweet that is seen below can likely be explained by the fact that the latest handset from the company is presently only available in China and has yet to be officially introduced in other countries.

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The red variant of the Xperia XZ Premium that Sony Mobile announced last Friday isnt a Japan exclusive, as confirmed by the companys Malaysian division which listed the same model on its website earlier this week. No concrete availability dates have yet been provided by the original equipment manufacturer, though it seems that the latest iteration of the Android-powered flagship will sport a price tag thats identical to the other three versions of the device. In Malaysia, that amounts to just over $800, though the entire Xperia XZ Premium lineup is currently nine percent off in the Southeast Asian country where all presently available models are priced at the equivalent of $730.

The appearance of the new handset in Malaysia also indicates that the same model will eventually make its way to some other markets on the continent, though it remains to be seen if it will also become available in the West. The handset itself was originally sighted almost half a year ago, shortly after the Xperia XZ Premium started selling in select countries. The official name of the bright red model is Rosso, though the Japanese tech giant didnt explain why it opted to attach an Italian moniker to its latest flagship model. Other than boasting an eye-drawing new color, the red version of the Xperia XZ Premium is virtually identical to its counterparts, with the phone still featuring a case made of glass and metal and shipping with a 5.46-inch display panel with a 4K resolution of 3,840 by 2,160 pixels. The Xperia XZ Premium is powered by Qualcomms Snapdragon 835 and 4GB of RAM, in addition to coming with 64GB of internal flash memory which can be expanded by up to 256GB with a standard microSD card. A 3,230mAh battery with smart charging support is also part of the package, as is a pair of stereo speakers and a 3.5mm audio jack. The regularly sized top bezel of the Xperia XZ Premium features a 13-megapixel camera, with its rear panel housing a 19-megapixel sensor backed by a dual-LED flash unit.

The Xperia XZ Premium is one of the last high-end examples of Sonys OmniBalance design which is set to be replaced at some point next year, presumably with a bezel-free aesthetic more similar to the look of other contemporary Android flagships. Even if the Rosso edition of the smartphone doesnt officially make its way to the West, it may be available in Europe and the United Sales through resellers.
The OnePlus 5T Android flagship is set to be released in late November, known industry insider Evan Blass said on Wednesday, citing two sources with knowledge of the matter. Blass didnt specifically reference the name of the upcoming model but claims its set to ship with a screen featuring an aspect ratio of 18:9, i.e. 2:1, which corresponds with previous rumors and leaks pertaining to the OnePlus 5T, a supposedly drastic visual revision of the OnePlus 5 which the Chinese original equipment manufacturer launched in June. One reliable source cited by Blass said that the Android-powered handset is due to be released after November 20th. With the BBK Electronics-owned phone maker usually avoiding weekend product events and presuming that the newly uncovered information is accurate, its likely that the OnePlus 5T is to be introduced between the 23rd and 27th of November.

The handset itself is expected to see the Chinese company adopt an aesthetic thats been pursued by numerous OEMs over the course of this year, with the OnePlus 5T being said to feature a relatively bezel-less design and a screen with a tall image format that should make the smartphone slimmer than traditional phablets like its direct predecessor. Despite a visual upgrade, the OnePlus 5T is only said to be a small step forward in terms of image fidelity as its screen will reportedly feature an FHD+ resolution of 2,160 by 1,080 pixels and have a 6-inch diagonal. If OnePlus is to finally deliver a device with a QHD panel, such a product wont materialize before 2018 and the OnePlus 6, industry sources previously suggested.

The OnePlus 5T should be largely identical to its predecessor in terms of raw hardware power, especially seeing how Qualcomms Snapdragon 835 SoC used in the companys first 2017 device is still the best widely available mobile chip on the market. The handset is expected to ship in two memory configurations, one with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage space, and another variant with double the flash memory and 8GB of RAM, just like it was the case with the OnePlus 5. If the Shenzhen, Guangdong-based firm is truly planning to introduce a new mobile offering in late November, it will likely start sending out invites to its product launch event in the coming days.
By PTI: Colombo, Oct 25 (PTI) The USD 1.4 billion Chinese port city in the heart of the Sri Lankan capital would be complete by mid 2019, Megapolis Development Minister Champika Ranawaka said today.

The Colombo Port City will be built on the sea reclamation of 269 acres, 62 acres of which will belong to the government of Sri Lanka while the Chinese would hold on lease 116 hectares, the rest will be common public facility areas, Ranawaka said.

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"This will be a new financial and commercial center in the Indian Ocean", Ranawaka said on the project based on a deal between the Chinese and former Sri Lankan regime of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"Reclamation of 50 per cent of the land is now complete. The work will finish in 2019," he said.

There will be a new company managing the city in addition to the Colombo Municipal Council, Ranawaka said.

Rajapaksas successor Maithripala Sirisenas government suspended the project citing irregularities but under pressure from the Chinese, the go-ahead for the project was given in 2016.

"We have given a new direction to the project. The previous plan was only to have motor races and casinos there," Ranawaka said, adding that by contrast it will be a financial city.

Invested and developed by the China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC), Colombo Port City is the largest project between China and Sri Lanka under the China- proposed Belt and Road Initiative, especially the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

China had claimed that the construction of the port city will also create job opportunities for the locals, with a total of 83,000 jobs expected in the 20 years from implementation to completion of the project.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, known as Belt and Road Initiative, were proposed in 2013 with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.

Cash-rich China has invested millions of dollars in Sri Lankas infrastructure since the end of a brutal civil war eith the LTTE in 2009.

India has expressed concern on the Chinese port city in Colombo as it will be seen as an important hub on Chinas Belt and Road concept. PTI CORR DPB UZM AKJ DPB

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By PTI: By Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Oct 25 (PTI) Pakistans Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif has acknowledged that there is a "trust deficit" between his country and the US over the issue of Afghanistan even as he asserted that the two countries were talking to bridge their differences.

Asifs remarks came after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during his whirlwind visit here outlined the US new South Asia Strategy and the vital role that Pakistan can play in working with America and others to facilitate a peace process in Afghanistan that can bring stability and security to the region.

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"Yes there is a trust deficit...but we are talking," Asif said in response to a question.

"Having said that, (I should say) there is a willingness on both sides to bridge this (trust) deficit," he told BBC Urdu yesterday.

The foreign minister also said that the US and international forces had failed to end the conflict in Afghanistan despite their more than a decade long efforts.

"They (US) must do some self-accountability also. Why have they lost 45 per cent of the Afghan territory in the last 10, 12 years," he asked.

Asif also said that Pakistan was not dependent on the US aid as it has been getting only a "trickle" of the assistance.

He said Pakistan was also not looking for military hardware from the US.

"We do not get any military hardware from the US. We are not like in the past when we were their proxy," he said.

Separately, talking to Geo TV, he said that Pakistani leaders told Tillerson that there were no terrorist safe havens in Pakistan.

"Terrorist attacks are not planned or executed from Pakistani soil, there are no terrorist safe havens in Pakistan, and we made this clear to the US delegation," Asif said.

He said the Pakistani leadership firmly holds on to the stance that it is not protecting or supporting the Haqqani network.

"We emphasised again and again that their [US] assessment [about Pakistan] is wrong," he said.

"We are not responsible for the increase in the drug trade in Afghanistan or the increasing [Afghan] territory occupied by terrorists," Asif said.

Tillerosn paid a short trip to Pakistan yesterday and held a detailed meeting with civil and military leaders in Islamabad.

According to a statement by the US embassy, he asked Pakistan to "increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country".

Pakistan regularly denies that it hosts terror groups fighting the US and Afghan forces in Afghanistan. PTI SH MRJ AKJ MRJ

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In Madrids Audiencia Nacional yesterday they began to read the closing statements for the trial of the first part of the Gurtel case (1999-2005). This is the biggest corruption trial in the history of Spanish democracy and it involves a single party, the Partido Popular, which would love to see it hushed up. The prosecutor was particularly emphatic in her final remarks and penalty request for the 37 defendants. She explained that the ringleaders of Gurtel set up a slush fund to bribe PP officials, which became their way of life.

The trouble is that Gurtel was not merely a corrupt network that lined the pockets of a few unscrupulous elected officials, as the PP has argued, but it actually turned the PPs Madrid HQ into the groups operating base. The prosecutor herself stressed that, as well as individual people, the PP as a political party was funded illegally. It is unbelievable that a racket that involved the partys treasurer, Luis Barcenas (who is facing 39 years in jail), was not known to his immediate superiors and, in particular, to the man who had appointed him: PM Mariano Rajoy.

The criminal gang followed a very simple pattern: they would bribe PP officials in exchange for awarding government contracts to companies who paid them a percentage in return. It was a sweet deal which proves to what extent corruption was part and parcel of the last wave of speculative growth in Spain, between 1995 and 2007. Francisco Correa, the boss of the gang who faces a 125 year prison sentence, was a guest at the wedding of Jose Maria Aznars daughter, Ana, in 2002.

Yesterday, the PPs deputy communications director Pablo Casado had the nerve to demand that those who are found guilty feel the full weight of the law. What about all the PP election campaigns that the defendants helped to pay for with the slush fund? Will the PP give up all the seats and offices which they won thanks to fraudulent election campaigns?

The PP is very quick to demand that the law be upheld, but they look the other way when justice proves that their party is a true criminal machine. This is the governing party in Spain, the party that with the support of the PSOE and Ciudadanos has decided to wipe out Catalonias self-rule.
BarcelonaArrests after a demonstration

Aina Altimir and Adria Corbella, two 24-year-olds who live in Taradell and Tarrega respectively, were arrested on Saturday evening after the couple had taken part in the Barcelona demonstration for the release of Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, the two grassroots leaders who are kept in a Spanish prison. According to the youngsters own account, as they walked past the building that houses the Spanish governments representation in Catalonia, a Spanish police officer standing guard outside spoke to them and asked in Spanish: What do you think you are looking at?, followed by a slur. Their reply was We dont want you here. Then they claim that the officer walked up to Adria and grabbed him by the arm as other officers jumped on top of him in a police melee. Two other officers threw Aina on the ground and shoved her against a van.

Then the Spanish officers took them inside the building where they waited handcuffed for two hours before a van drove them to the Spanish Police station in La Verneda, Barcelona. Once there, they claim that they were teased and insulted. The most disturbing moment came when a commanding officer made them sign a statement while still handcuffed and, according to them, he told them in Spanish: Youd better think twice next time. Otherwise you might end up with the Jordis and get to say hello to them in person.

A medical examination in handcuffs

Adria and Aina claim that the former had a black eye and a swollen forearm. Both had a sore back and neck, besides having ripped their trousers. The youngsters complain that, despite the doctors request, the police officer who watched them during the medical examination refused to remove the handcuffs and leave them alone with the physician. They are also critical of the legal advice provided by the court-appointed counsel. After spending the night at the Verneda station, on Sunday morning they were driven to Barcelonas courthouse. Their lawyer advised them to agree to the deal offered by the prosecutor: to plead guilty in order to reduce the prison sentence from six to four months and the fine from 150 to 120. The young couple agreed and were released without having had a chance to talk to each other. Then they found out that Aina must pay a 200 fine and Adria 280 for allegedly having assaulted police officers.

On Saturday the Spanish police reported that the detainees had pushed and punched an officer and so they were charged with disobedience and assault on a law enforcement officer.
Well, such a Zuffenhausen devil has to be witnessed in order to be fully understood. And since we can't teleport you in the passenger seat of the velocity monster, we've brought along the next best thing.We're talking about the piece of footage at the bottom of the page, which shows the said 911 in drag racing action.The Porscha we're dealing with had been modded by 9ff, a German specialist that's famous for its extreme 911s. Fortunately, the clip also allows us to check out the belly of the beast and simply seeing a pair of massive turbos under the thing is enough to get our BPM high.As you can imagine, such a machine can deliver uber-impressive numbers without breaking a sweat and this 9ff contraption has recently demonstrated its abilities in Lahr, Germany.The supercar, which would probably be better off with the hypercar tag, attended a one-kilometer drag racing event, one that involved a rolling start - the take-off took place at 50 km/h (make that 31 mph). And, since we're dealing with a gathering that's all about the trap speed, we'll let you know that this Porsche 911 GT2 climbed all the way to 343.95 (213 mph).Then there's the soundtrack of the thing. With all the custom bits fitted to it, the twin-turbo flat-six that occupies the rear section of the 9ff creation now comes with an extremely aggressive voice. As such, we're inviting you to turn up the volume before checking out this adventure.
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We wanted our new Gold Wing to maintain its luxury but to be a much more rounded motorcycle," Project Leader Yutaka Nakanishi explains. A machine as useful to its owner around the city as it is out on tour. And more exciting to ride than ever. So we started from a blank piece of paper and made the Gold Wing smaller and lighter, and added all the technological hardware and software the modern rider could wish for. Now, just as in 1975, it remains a flagship model for Honda  and we are very proud to start this new chapter for such an important name.Starting with the looks, the new Gold Wing is straining a bit from the roundish relaxed shapes in favor of a design worthy of this day and age. The front fairing is more honed, featuring sharper angles, and a more compact shape.The rest of the bikes silhouette represents a combination between a comfortable tourer and a dynamic corner-carving machine. The more fairings have been engineered to channel airflow around the rider and passenger to provide a cooling breeze while also helps reducing fuel consumption.Hondas engineers have also worked a lot on the bikes dynamics with the engine and chassis having been designed together to move the riding position forward and create a more compact motorcycle. The aluminum beam frame, for example, is constructed around the front fork, allowing the engine to go further forward.The new flat six-cylinder engine is said to still offer the power, and addictive torque delivery previous owners have accustomed with, generating 126at 5,500 rpm and 170 Nm (125 lb-ft) of torque at 4,500 rpm. All the revving is now controlled via a wire-throttle which also offers 4 riding modes - Tour, Sport, Econ, and Rain.Other systems like Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), Combined Brake System,, and Hill Start Assist are on the list to keep the bike rubber side down in most conditions. And, you might find this bizarre for a motorcycle, but the 2018 Golding also comes with Idling Stop to improve fuel efficiency.Attached to the engine is a standard 6-speed manual transmission or Hondas new DCT with 7-speeds which can be tailored to fit different riding styles. And, for making it easier to park or move in tight spaces, the bike is fitted with creep forward and backward function. Another interesting addition is the double wishbone front suspension which adds a cutting-edge style to the bike while also improving its dynamics.All lights are LED, while on-board, the rider and pillion benefit from a luxury designed instrument panel, new infotainment system, Apple CarPlay compatibility, electrically-operated windshield, central locking luggage cases, keyless ride, high-output sound system, heated seats/handlebars, and more.Yes, you read that right, the Gold Wing is the first motorcycle to be Apple CarPlay compatible. So if you want to keep in touch with your iPhone during riding, all you need is to connect it with your bike and enjoy maps, music and other apps on the smartphone right on the infotainment system.The 2018 Honda Gold Wing comes in two configurations - bagger or top-case full-on tourer - and can be had in three color setups: Matte Majestic Silver, Candy Argent Red and Pearl Glare White, or Candy Argent Red/Darkness Black and Darkness Black metallic.Pricing isnt available yet, but we can tell this machine is a serious contender for BMWs new K 1600 B bagger.
Salman Khan shared the poster of the film Tiger Zinda Hai, which also stars Katrina Kaif, on Instagram.

By India Today Web Desk: On Diwali, Salman Khan shared a photo of him, from Tiger Zinda Hai, looking brooding and wounded. Now, he has gotten his fans even more excited, with the new poster of the film. The poster has Katrina Kaif too, and both of them are posing with guns, all set for combat with their enemies.

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Salman shared the photo on Instagram, with the caption: Tiger is Back!

Tiger is Back ! #TigerZindaHai @TigerZindaHai A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan) on Oct 24, 2017 at 9:30pm PDT

Katrina Kaif reprises her role as Zoya, a Pakistani spy. According to reports, the actress has been working very hard for her stunts. Well, it looks like it has paid off well! Salman will play the role of RAW agent Tiger. We can't wait to see the sizzling chemistry between these rumoured ex-lovers!

The film is a sequel to Ek Tha Tiger (2013), and is directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, and is looking at a Christmas release. Salman wants to give his fans the best festive gifts, it seems!

ALSO WATCH: Happy Birthday Salman Khan: A look at Bhaijaan's controversial life

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KW

The freshest example of this comes from a current generation BMW M4 that has received a respectable set of upgrades, with the Bavarian coupe having jumped from its stock output of 430 hp to over 650 ponies.As such, when the driver of the M car came across a 458 Italia during a drag racing event, calling out the Fezza was a no-brainer.The Italian exotic came in stock condition, which means its rear wheels were assaulted by 570 horses.The two-door animals went for a rolling start and the guy behind the wheel of the M4 was more than glad, since, as he admits in the post-race interview, putting down the power is the greatest challenge of the car.We aim to allow the video to do its job, so we won't talk about the shenanigans that take place during the race. However, we weren't kidding in the title above and we can guarantee that this battle will keep you on your toes from start to finish. Alas, you shouldn't expect all that much from the aural side of the video, since the M4, not the Fezza, served as the camera vehicle.Now, you might wonder about the mods that allow the twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six of the Bimmer to deliver the power bump mentioned above. As the owner explains after the battle against the Ferrari 458 Italia , the machine received custom turbos, a full E85 setup, along with the usual goodies, such as the intercooler, exhaust, and air filter.And yes, the M4 we're talking about can keep the extra power under control, since it also packs aClubsport suspension.
Let's take the Rolls-Royce Ghost in the images we have here, for instance. This thing is one of the latest sensations to have been wrapped at RDB LA. You know, the place where celebrities and affluent luxury and supercar owners in LA go to add swag to their rides.The twin packs a two-tone wrap mixing the said pumpkin shade with glossy black, but the custom bits on the car don't stop here. To be more precise, this Rolls-Royce features a Black Bison body kit supplied by Wald International. Then we have the massive wheels of the Ghost , which have been supplied by Forgiato.Of course, such a hue being present on a Roller (or any other car, for that matter) will split opinions like few others. Well, Coconut Photography , the Facebook label behind these images, has taken the time to defend the hue choice you're looking at: "Chrome wraps may not be your thing, but in a sea of Ghosts that resemble refrigerators, this one kills them all!"And yes, the body kit, as well as the wheels, might just be as polarising as the wrap of the luxury sedan.And while we're talking Halloween-ready machines that costs a fortune, we'll remind you that this RR isn't the first we've shown you this month.That title went to the Koenigsegg Agera XS playing the Viking warrior card. Interestingly, the said Angelholm machine, which is basically the US-legal incarnation of the Agera RS, also comes in orange, albeit with this being a factory color, not a wrap. Thankfully, the chrome twist is missing from the K missile.
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This year, the long-awaited successor of the electric hatchback was introduced, and it's safe to say it was as revolutionary as a two-prong fork. With Tesla 's Model 3 already out of the bag, there was absolutely no aspect in which Nissan's effort bested the Californian, apart from a slightly lowered price.Power, range, sexiness - it fell well short on all accounts, its only redeeming trait being that you might not have to wait over a year to drive one. You almost feel like Nissan felt the launch was a bit underwhelming and immediately announced it would add a more visually pleasing Nismo version.Well, just a little over one month later, it had the chance to redeem itself. The Japanese carmaker announced it would reveal another EV at the Tokyo Motor Show, and the teasers made it obvious we were looking at an/crossover type of vehicle.However, presenting a new model so soon after the LEAF meant it would steal the latter's thunder (the feeble thunder that it had), so the Tokyo Motor Show premiere couldn't be anything other than a concept. The Nissan IMx Concept, to be more precise.The IMx falls into the mold of modern crossovers that sacrifice practicality for a bit of added style. It has a low roofline that drops smoothly toward the rear, very tiny side windows that would make for a very dark interior were it not for the tall windshield and the glass roof, plus the mandatory aggressive design.According to Nissan, the IMx "embodies the future of Nissan Intelligent Mobility," which is the name given by the Japanese company to its program regarding electrification, autonomous driving, and vehicle communication.Nissan revealed some of the IMx's specs, but being a concept, they're as relevant as a toad's shoe size. The company claims it gets two high-output electric motors for all-wheel-drive and a total power of 320(435 hp) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft). It also gets over 600 km (372 miles) of maximum range from a battery pack of unspecified capacity.A look at the interior suggests the IMx has full autonomous features, and again, since it's a concept, it does. The steering wheel stows away in the dashboard, and the driver loses their title, becoming a passenger just like the other maximum of three persons in the car. The seats swivel to face each other, and it's chatting time. Or throwing up time if you don't like traveling facing the rear. Nissan did not say whether the IMx's styling has anything to do with the upcoming LEAF-based crossover. As it stands, it doesn't fit with the company's policy of offering vehicles that are useful before anything else, so we should be looking at a different shape on the production model. Let's just hope the powertrain and battery pack are less fantasy-oriented than the looks.
A new brand of Scandinavian-inspired furniture

Locomotive, a digital-first design agency based in Montreal, Canada, was retained by Torontos FHE Group to create a digital experience for its new furniture brand, Kvell.

Kvell was born from the notion that quality, affordable contemporary design should be for everyone to enjoy. They believe that products can be smart, fun and evoke emotions. Designed to not only look good but have purpose, function well and be built to last.





We got involved early on in the process to advise on brand identity and create a beautiful digital ecosystem around the product.

Julien Jean, Art director.

Fig. 1: The logotype

One site, many objectives

The production of the brands microsite had two objectives. Creating a website experience to develop its online presence, and also creating a flexible tool to be used in presentations at trade shows where the Kvell brand was to be officially launched.

Fig. 2: Proposed art direction

Locomotives solution is a website both refined and scalable, like the brand, with fluid and user-friendly navigation. Its interface offers a unique experience both on traditional platforms as well as on touch screens. The integration of social media in the digital environment supports it all and widens the reach of the Kvell brand on the web.









Fig. 3: Navigation principles





Fig. 4: The scroll

A photo session that left nothing to chance

Collaborating with Simon Levesque and the Consulat photo studio, Locomotive set up a photo session to put Kvell products in the spotlight with the greatest possible impact. Creating made-to-measure imagery allowed the original art direction to be perfectly rendered while showcasing the products and their features, giving an exceptional final result.

Fig. 4: Product shots

Fig. 4: Made-to-measure imagery

Creating original content for each digital experience is a great way to reach a good level of quality and get rewarded for it, we did just that with Kvell.

Frederic Marchand, Creative director.

Extremely positive results

This project garnered many awards for its design and its programming, most notably a Site Of The Day and a Developer award from Awwwards.com. Applied Arts, the renowned Canadian design magazine, also gave this project a Best Product Site award.

Technical vision

At Locomotive, we believe in great code quality and in the latest technologies. We developed our own front-end boilerplate in order to keep consistency between the projects, allowing a faster startup without compromises towards latest technologies and creative freedom.





The purpose of the boilerplate is to evolve with each clients needs and provide a stable development environment that prevents waste of time with the base mechanics.

Quentin Hocde, Front-end developer.

Technologies

When addressing the matter of time, web development has a few weak spots. Fortunately, there are some technologies in the wild that have been developed especially to save time. One of the simplest would be the use of `Browser Sync`, which automatically reloads the page upon a CSS / HTML / JS modification and compilation. This allows the developer to concentrate more on code and instantly see the results, preventing them from losing the flow and saving 1 or 2 seconds on each modification. Some of the best time saving technologies out there are:

- Sass (CSS pre-processor)

- Babel (JS ES6 compiler)

- Npm (module manager)

- Grunt (task runner)

Techniques

At some point during the evolution of Locomotive, it became clear that we needed to unify our working methods in order to maintain the knowledge between each project. We decided to use a more minimal BEM like CSS syntax and Itcss structure as a base to our markup class declaration. Having a reusable framework approach is not only for the backend anymore, which shows how the frontend toolchain has evolved in the past few years.

Problems and solutions

Sometimes, the world wide web doesn't have all the answers we need. In those cases, we don't just give up. We build a bunch of reusable tools from project to project to deal with some of those problems. This has the added benefit of fueling our technical teams desire for problem solving. Our best and latest example would be our *Locomotive scroll* javascript plugin. It fixes lag issues other scroll plugins can have and allows our most insane creativity.

We want our clients to have something unique, something useful.

Benjamin Roch, Lead Developer.

Built from scratch

Our main guideline has always been a build from scratch approach. The technologies are reusable but the projects themselves should always start with a clean slate to ensure uniqueness. One of our main aim is to always be more creative than the previous project. We want our clients to have something unique as we do not want to work within the same patterns (or templates) project after project. All our development is based on that philosophy.

Charcoal CMS

Like 90% of Locomotives projects, Kvell was developed with our in-house CMS / Framework: Charcoal. Built with modern PHP (on top of Slim and other great open source technologies), we started developing this tool around 10 years ago to create a leaner Content Management System that actually feels like it helps you build a fast and secure website, instead of being in the way.

Custom objects are easy to create and manage within the admin interface, ensuring uniqueness across projects. Using a logicless templating engine (mustache) ensures programmers and frontend developers each stay within their area of expertise and build quicker prototypes.

It is open source software so make sure to check it out on github and submit your first pull request!

Mathieu Ducharme, Technical director.

Source codes and downloads

Company info

Locomotive stands apart from other agencies and offers a wide array of creative and strategic services for brands, companies, foundations and other remarkable organisations. We assist and educate our clients in making the best use of the solutions we build with them.

Clean and compress CSS files for an optimized website. Try the free online tool by HTML Cleaner.
Apple confirmed Tuesday that it has purchased PowerbyProxi, a New Zealand-based wireless charging company. Apple did not disclose a purchase price, but said the team will remain based in Auckland.

The company began a decade ago as a spin-out from the University of Auckland. It has been involved in the Wireless Power Consortium and efforts to improve the Qi standard for wireless charging.

Why it matters: Apple added wireless charging capabilities to the iPhone 8 and iPhone X and announced plans for a future wireless charging station. Buying PowerbyProxi gives Apple significant experience in the field. PowerbyProxi's expertise, though, goes further than phones, with the company's website describing work in drones and underwater vehicles.
A lawyer representing the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee paid Fusion GPS, a Washington firm, to conduct research that led to the infamous Trump-Russia dossier, the Washington Post reports. Fusion GPS hired Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer, who authored the dossier, which contains salacious but unverified claims about Trump's conduct in Russia and links between his associates and the Kremlin.

Why it matters: We know the dossier is playing a role in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe. This report underscores that it was, at least initially, an attempt to discredit Trump  and one that is tied directly to the Clinton campaign.

We know the dossier is playing a role in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe. This report underscores that it was, at least initially, an attempt to discredit Trump  and one that is tied directly to the Clinton campaign. Worth noting: Prior to its agreement with the Clinton lawyer, "Fusion GPS's research into Trump was funded by a still unknown Republican client during the GOP primary," the Post writes.
House Ways and Means chairman Kevin Brady suggested Wednesday that the tax bill he is planning to introduce next week could include changes to 401(k) plans and other retirement accounts, per the Washington Post.

Why it matters: President Trump told Senate Republicans on the Hill yesterday that he ended the 401(k) debate and he tweeted Monday that there would be "NO change" to current the plans. However, some party members involved in tax reform policy are showing resistance.

Get smart: Many GOP members are still interested in incentivizing people to use a Roth 401(k), in which the contributions are taxed, instead of a traditional 401(k) when contributions are pre-tax and the taxes are paid at the time of withdrawal. Why? Because the Roth plan would free up money now to help pay off the national debt that is expected to skyrocket with the administration's proposed tax cuts.

More from Brady:
A U.S. company announced on Wednesday its intention to participate in the planned construction of a major hydroelectric plant in Armenia initiated by Samvel Karapetian, a Russian-Armenian billionaire businessman.

Lok Home, the president of the Ohio-based Robbins Company, and a top executive of a Karapetian-owned company signed a relevant memorandum of understanding at a ceremony attended by Armenian Energy Minister Ashot Manukian and the U.S. ambassador in Yerevan, Richard Mills. Manukian hailed the development, saying that the new hydroelectric plant will strengthen the countrys energy security.

The 76-megawatt facility is due to be built on the Debed river flowing through Armenias northern Lori province. It will be located near Shnogh, a village 20 kilometers south of the Georgian border.

The Armenian government gave the green light to the plants construction in early August. It is expected to be the first business project launched by the Investors Club of Armenia (ICA), an investment fund set up by Karapetian in January.

Robbins, which is one of the worlds leading manufacturers of giant tunnel-boring machines, is understood to be eying a sizable minority stake in the Shnogh project. Officials said during Wednesdays ceremony that it would essentially participate in the project by building a 22-kilometer-long water tunnel that would be part of the future plant.

The ICA has so far pledged to invest $22.5 million in the planned construction which would cost an estimated $150 million. It hopes to attract the rest of the required funding from other private investors as well as international lending institutions.

A source familiar with the project told RFE/RLs Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) that the plants construction will be contingent on positive findings of an independent feasibility study that will be conducted in the coming months.

This is the first step towards increasing the volume of energy produced by our domestic renewable sources, Manukian said at the ceremony. The government, he said, aims to raise hydropowers share in Armenian electricity production to 50 percent in the next few years.

That proportion has already risen from about 20 percent to more than 30 percent over the past decade.

Manukian also stressed the importance of U.S. involvement in the Armenian energy sector. I am confident that our investment projects will multiply soon, including through the direct involvement of Ambassador Mills, he said.

Mills also spoke at the event, calling the preliminary agreement between Robbins and the Debed Hydro operator a major achievement of U.S.-Armenian relations.

The envoy declared in June that U.S. energy firms could invest billions of dollars in power generation in Armenia if the authorities in Yerevan open it up to competition. Armenia has a lot of potential for renewable energy development and American investors and companies are showing a strong interest in coming here to develop that potential, he said.

One U.S. company, ContourGlobal, is already involved in the Armenian energy sector, having purchased the countrys largest hydroelectric complex two years ago. The U.S. government strongly supported the $250 million takeover of the Vorotan Hydropower Cascade.

State-run Russian companies still have much stronger presence in the sector. They are Armenias principal suppliers of natural gas and nuclear fuel.
25 October 2017 17:07 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Armenian authorities have reported non-combat death of two more Armenian soldiers, which prove the continuing failure to root out chronic abuses within the national army ranks.

Local media first reported that soldiers Aram Khachatryan and Hrach Avetisyan received fatal gunshot wounds 'due to breaching the rules of handling weapon' on October 20.

Later, Armenias Investigative Committee gave detailed information on Avetisyans death. The 20-year-old soldier received a gunshot wound in the forehead approximately at 17:20 on October 20.

It turned out that few days ago Avetisyans fellow soldier had an argument with him and resorted to violence against the victim.

As for 19-year-old soldier Khachatryan, it was revealed that he also did not commit suicide, but, was killed. He received a gunshot wound in the right shoulder at about 12:40 on October 20, and died on the way to a military hospital. The Investigative Committee has already revealed the person who committed this crime  it is a conscript of the same military unit, junior sergeant.

Thus, Avetisyan and Khachatryan became victims of hazing that continues to flourish in the Armenian army, especially in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan. Armenian soldiers serve in the occupied territories under constant fear and stress.

All this has a detrimental effect on the nervous system of young Armenian soldiers. Depressed soldiers are ready to shoot themselves in the head and kill fellow soldiers due to even small problems with them.

The deplorable state of the Armenian army, frequent death cases, violence, brutality, and non-obedience reigning there, are the real-life nightmare of Armenian soldiers and their parents. This nightmare triples for those of Armenian soldiers who do their service in the Armenia-occupied lands of Azerbaijan. Therefore, the Armenian parents do not want their sons to serve in army, and try to find any opportunity to keep them far from that horror.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 October 2017 10:27 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 96 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on October 25.

Armenians were using large-caliber machine guns and 60-mm mortars (3 shells).

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.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
President Ram Nath Kovind said that Tipu Sultan died a historic death fighting the British, days after a BJP minister called the former Mysore ruler a "brutal killer and mass rapist".

By Nolan Pinto: Tipu Sultan, also known as the Tiger of Mysore is back in headlines after President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday praised the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore saying he died a "historic death" fighting the British, days after a central minister called the former Mysore ruler a "brutal killer and mass rapist".

President Kovind in Karnataka Assembly said that Tipu Sultan was a pioneer in use of Mysore rockets warfare.

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"He was also a pioneer in the development of Mysore rockets (iron-casted rockets for military use)," Kovind said addressing the legislators in the Karnataka Assembly at a joint session to mark the diamond jubilee (60th year) celebrations of Vidhan Soudha, the state legislative building.

Immediately after his speech, the ruling Congress sought to gain brownie points from this statement. They have made it clear that Tipu Jayanti will go ahead on November 10 regardless of the BJP stringently opposing it. The BJP, however, played it down by saying they respect what the President said, but still stand by their decision not to allow this year's Tipu Jayanti.

Union minister DV Sadananda Gowda does not dispute what the President said, but claimed that there are many issues surrounding Tipu that need to debated and decided upon. "I feel all kinds of celebrations should be stopped for the time being and discussions should be held first," he added.

Likewise, Suresh Kumar, MLA and BJP state spokesperson, said his party is opposed to holding Tipu Jayanti because of the atrocities committed by Tipu in his lifetime. He further added that CM Siddaramaiah's insistence to observe Tipu Jayanti is nothing but a clear sign of appeasement politics by the Congress. The Opposition party would rather celebrate APJ Abdul Kalam, late people's President's birthday which would inspire the society as a whole and especially the youth.

Tipu Sultan ruled the erstwhile kingdom of Mysore and was considered a worthy enemy of the British East India Company. It was in May 1799 that he was killed while defending his fort in Srirangapatna while fighting the British.

In Kodagu, Tipu Sultan is still despised for the persecution of the local Kodava population. Similarly, it is alleged that he targeted the Roman Catholics of Mangaluru all on religious grounds and forced them into Islam.

Meanwhile, Congress slammed BJP and said it should be ashamed of themselves.

"By trying to say that the President just read out a speech written by somebody, they are insulting the office of the President and the President himself," claimed Dinesh Gundu Rao, KPCC working president.

CM Siddaramaiah later tweeted, "Congratulations to Hon. President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind for a statesman like address to the Karnataka legislature."

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With inputs from Kishore Barker

Watch: President Kovind calls Tipu Sultan a hero who fought British, BJP flares

--- ENDS ---
25 October 2017 16:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Stephen J. Thomas

Recent disease outbreaks, like Ebola and Zika, have demonstrated the need to anticipate pandemics and contain them before they emerge. But the sheer diversity, resilience, and transmissibility of deadly diseases have also highlighted, in the starkest of terms, just how difficult containment and prevention can be.

One threat to our preparedness is our connectedness. It was thanks to easy international travel that in recent years the dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses were all able to hitch a ride from east to west, causing massive outbreaks in the Americas and Caribbean. Another threat is more mundane: failing to agree about money. Whatever the reason, the fact is that as long as humans fail to organize a collective and comprehensive defense, infectious diseases will continue to wreak havoc  with disastrous consequences.

Building an effective prevention and containment strategy  being bio-prepared  is the best way to reduce the threat of a global contagion. Preparedness requires coordination among agencies and funders to build networks that enable quick deployment of and access to vaccines, drugs, and protocols that limit a diseases transmission. Simply stated, preparing for the next pandemic means not only building global capacity, but also paying for it.

Thats the idea, at least. The reality of bio-preparedness is far more complicated. For starters, the absence of dedicated funding is impeding implementation of long-term prevention strategies in many countries; a new World Bank report finds that only six countries, including the United States, have taken the threat seriously. Meanwhile, public health officials in many parts of the world struggle to respond to disease outbreaks, owing to a dearth of labs and clinics. And many funding agencies, including governments and NGOs, typically offer only one-year commitments, which rules out long-term planning.

For years, scientists, physicians, and civil-society actors have voiced concern over the lack of reliable, meaningful, and institutionalized investment in pandemic preparedness. These pleas have come, frustratingly, as military funding to thwart bio-attacks, consciously mounted by human actors, has remained robust. But while purposeful and nefarious infectious-disease outbreaks could do massive damage, they remain relatively unlikely. Naturally occurring outbreaks, by contrast, occur regularly and are far more costly, even if they lack the sensational fear factor of bioterrorism.

Not that long ago, those of us engaged in the prevention of infectious-disease outbreaks felt more secure about the availability of the resources required to prepare. But in many places, budgets are stagnating, or even declining. This is astonishingly shortsighted, given the relative costs of prevention versus response. For example, what would it have cost to build the clinical and laboratory infrastructure and provide the training needed to identify and prevent the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa? Precise figures are elusive, but I have no doubt it would have been less than the billions of dollars spent on containment. Preparedness pays.

It is not only the lack of funding that is raising alarms; so are restrictions on how available funds can be used. It is not uncommon for a grant to be restricted to specific activities, leaving major gaps in a programs capacity to meet its objectives. A funder may, for example, allow the renovation of an existing lab but not the construction of a new one; or funds may support the purchase of a diagnostic machine but not the training of those required to operate it. In many developing countries, communities do not even have the physical buildings in which to test, monitor, or store dangerous pathogens. Myopic funding that overlooks key elements of the big picture is money poorly spent.

Add to these challenges the difficulty of paying staff or ensuring reliable electricity and other essential services, and it becomes clear that preparing for disease outbreaks requires broad engagement with the international aid community. But at the moment, onerous spending rules and weak financial commitments are tying the hands of those working to prevent the next serious disease outbreak.

The number of obstacles faced by scientists and public health experts in the race to contain deadly infectious diseases is staggering. To overcome them, we need to redefine how we think about preparedness, moving from a reactive position to a more proactive approach. Money earmarked for preparedness must be allocated at levels sufficient to have the required impact. Limitations on how it can be spent should be loosened. Funding sources must be opened to allow for multi-year commitments. Health-care providers and first responders must receive proper training. And long-term solutions such as establishing and connecting bio-surveillance systems should be expanded and strengthened, to enable public-health professionals around the world to track and report human and animal diseases and plan defenses together.

Public health is an essential element of global security. Failing to invest appropriately in prevention of infectious-disease outbreaks puts all of us at risk, whenever or wherever the next one occurs.

Copyright: Project Syndicate: Preempting the Next Pandemic

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25 October 2017 12:05 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The first freight train to run along the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway has departed from Kazakhstan, ADY Express, a subsidiary of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, said in a message on October 24.

The train, consisting of 82 containers, has departed from Kostanay in Kazakhstan and will arrive in Turkeys Mersin, according to the message.

The opening of the BTK railway will take place Oct. 30 in Baku.

The BTK railway has been constructed on the basis a Georgian-Azerbaijani-Turkish intergovernmental agreement. The railways peak capacity will be 17 million tons of cargo per year. At an initial stage, this figure will be one million passengers and 6.5 million tons of cargo.

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25 October 2017 12:52 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Construction of Azerspace-2/Intelsat-38, nation's second geostationary satellite, gradually comes to an end.

The construction works have been completed by 90 percent, according to a source in the Azerbaijani satellite communications market.

And the remainder of the work is planned to complete the within the next four months.

The construction work will be completed in January 2018, the source told Trend, adding that the launch of the satellite is scheduled for the first half of 2018.

Frances Arianespace company, which earlier launched the first Azerspace/Africasat-1a satellite, will also launch the second satellite into orbit.

Meanwhile, ELA-3, a launch complex located at the Kourou Space Center in French Guiana, informed that the launch of the Ariane 5 ECA rocket with the VA-242 mission aboard with the Azerspace-2/Intelsat-38 satellite is scheduled for the first quarter of next year. Along with Azerbaijans Azerspace-2/Intelsat-38 satellite, the rocket will also launch the Avanti Communications HYLAS 4 satellite into orbit.

The Azerspace-2/Intelsat-38 satellite is being manufactured by Space Systems Loral (SSL) company, which also provides satellite control systems. Under the strategic agreement with Intelsat, the worlds leading provider of satellite services, the satellite will be placed into geostationary orbit 45 degrees east longitude and will serve the countries of Europe, Central and South Asia, Middle East and Africa.

Having the life span in orbit of 15 years, the satellite will provide digital broadcasting, data transmission and other services. It will also support the DTH (Direct-to-Home) satellite broadcasting platform, which will contribute to the emergence of DTH operators in Azerbaijan.

Azerspace-2 will be the second telecommunications satellite of Azercosmos, the national satellite operator of Azerbaijan and the premier satellite operator in the Caucasus. It will expand on the current capacity of Azerspace-1, which was launched in 2013. The new satellite will provide Azercosmos with additional capacity for the increasing demand in the region, and will allow to continue to bring the best service to its customers.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 October 2017 16:14 (UTC+04:00)

By Aygul Salmanova

The production of soybean, a widespread food product in the world, is reviving in Azerbaijan.

Soybean, a type of edible legume, is considered one of the five main food plants in the U.S., Brazil, China, India and Paraguay.

Experts predict this year the world soybean production will be about 350,000 tons. Azerbaijan will also take its place on the market, since a product can contribute to the development of agriculture and restore excellent export opportunities for the country.

This year the country started to grow soybean in 19 regions on an area of more than 9,000 hectares.

In the current year, 99 hectares of soybean plant have been planted in the farms of the north-western region of the country -- Zagatala for the first time.

Zagatala resident Abdulla Mahmudov, who also cultivates this seed, notes that soybeans are high-yielding, valuable plants and have a very big economic significance.

Soy, being a representative of the bean family, is characterized by a rich content of vegetable protein, therefore it is an excellent substitute for a variety of livestock products.

The plant has a wide range of uses in cooking - soybeans are used as a substitute for meat, it is also the main ingredient when making sauces, butter, sweets, beverages, and also special tofu cheese. Oil obtained from soybeans is a raw material for soap production. It is also used in lacquer painting industry. Additionally, soybean flour is a very valuable fodder for livestock.

Mahmudov stressed that every year thousands of tons of soybean are imported to the country.

After considerable research, I decided to cultivate this plant in our region. Necessary agrotechnology was provided to the fields of cultivation. We have started harvesting for several days. It is possible to harvest up to 30 centners per hectare of irrigated lands. If a problem occurs with the sale of the product, I plan to further expand the sowing area next season, he added.

Interest in the production of soybeans in Azerbaijan began to grow since last year. The

importance of expanding the acreage of this crop was earlier noted by President Ilham Aliyev, who drew attention to the fact that soybean breeding will help reduce the withdrawal of foreign currency from the country.

A ton of soybean costs more than $622 to Azerbaijan, and it is considered the most important component of the feed for animals. The country annually imports hundreds of thousands of tons of this legume from Latin America.

Azerbaijan is interested in the soybean cultivation not only to free the local farmers from dependence on foreign feed, but also for the high export potential of this product.

Soybean plant is considered as the most favorable product for livestock and poultry, so if Azerbaijan succeeds in the soybean production, then the country will meet the domestic needs and save at least $100 million directed to purchase feed for livestock.
26 October 2017 10:15 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

Fearless, inventive, persistent and beautiful- there are many writers, novelists and poets who challenge our ideas of who we are.

Azerbaijan has a number of art people who inspire us to live life more fully and creatively. One of such persons was an outstanding poet and playwright of the early 20th century Huseyn Javid.

He was one of the founders of the progressive romanticism movement in the contemporary Azerbaijani literature.

His works bear the ideas of humanism, love for homeland, philosophical poems, historical drama, opening a new page in Azerbaijan's literature and drama.

Javid's first book of lyrical poems, titled "The Past Days" was published in 1913.

However Huseyn Javid was known more as a playwright. In his literary tragedy Sheikh Sanan (1914), he philosophized about the idea of a universal religion to lift the inter-religious barrier between human beings.

His most famous creation was "The Satan", written in 1918, the work exposing all oppressive forces as the supporters of "humans are wolves to each other" philosophy and "the 20th century cultural savages", and summarized them in the character of Satan.

Huseyn Javid wrote a number of historical epics, such as "The Prophet" (1922), "Timur" (1925), "Sayavush" (1933) and "Khayyam " (1935).

In his plays "The Prophet" and "The Satan", Huseyn Javid brilliantly used dialogues as a tool to make confrontations between opposing views.

Javid was arrested in 1937 on trumped-up charges of being a "founding member of a counter-revolutionary group that was plotting an overthrow of the Soviet power". His arrest was a part of the nationwide campaign of purge against intelligentsia.



This year marks the 135th anniversary of legendary poet and playwright.

President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order to mark the 135th anniversary of the prominent Azerbaijani poet and playwright Huseyn Javid.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in conjunction with the Education Ministry, as well as the National Academy of Sciences and the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic have been instructed to develop and implement an action plan dedicated to the poets jubilee, in consideration of proposals of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 October 2017 16:47 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The major powers must put pressure on Yerevan in order to achieve substantive talks for resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Azerbaijani MP Rovshan Rzayev, talking to Day.Az, noted that the OSCE Minsk Group remains the main platform for negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia to resolve the conflict, and therefore, international mediators should be more active in the promotion of the negotiation process.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. Until now, Armenia controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

The main reason for irresolution of the conflict for more than 20 years are the unwillingness of the Armenian side to substantive negotiations and Yerevan's attempts to preserve the status quo by any means, the MP said.

Rzayev reminded that the Azerbaijani authorities, at various international venues and summits, repeatedly voiced the country's commitment to a peaceful way of solving the problem within the norms and principles of the international law.

We have also repeatedly said that if a peaceful solution of the problem is exhausted, Azerbaijan has the right to use force. We have every ground for this, as for more than two decades the Azerbaijani territories are under occupation, Rzayev noted.

Rzayev emphasized that Armenia should finally begin to implement the UN Security Councils resolutions and documents of other international organizations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The withdrawal from the occupied Azerbaijani lands will be good for Armenia itself, as the aggressor country's society and economy faced many problems after the occupation of the neighboring country's lands, according to the MP.

The de-occupation of Azerbaijani territories will give Armenia an opportunity to get out of political isolation and join various regional projects, and thereby to put an end to the socio-economic problems, Rzayev said, stressing that the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict poses a threat to the entire South Caucasus region.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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25 October 2017 11:10 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Despite the distant location of Azerbaijan and Italy, the two countries have been maintaining strong links in many fields, such as in economy, energy, trade, tourism and other spheres.

The successful development of bilateral relations between the countries has been discussed during the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarovs visit to the Italian city of Palermo, where the 2017 OSCE Mediterranean Conference took place on October 24-25.

During his visit, Mammadyarov met with Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Angelino Alfano.

The Italian Foreign Minister commended Mammadyarovs participation in the conference, called Azerbaijan a reliable partner of Italy, and noted that his country attaches special importance to cooperation with Azerbaijan.

Noting the existence of strategic partnership relations between the two countries, Mammadyarov underlined that Italy is one of the most important partners of Azerbaijan in the European Union.

During the meeting, Mammadyarov and Alfano noted with satisfaction the comprehensive development of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy, trade, culture, science-education, tourism and others.

The Azerbaijani foreign minister also touched upon the negotiations held recently on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He reiterated Azerbaijans just position based on the norms and principles of international law and the Helsinki Final Act.

Speaking of the priorities of his country during the OSCE chairmanship next year, Alfano said that Italy, with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, will support efforts that can contribute to a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Ministers further stressed the strategic importance of cooperation in energy field and referred to the Southern Gas Corridor and TANAP and TAP projects. Alfano emphasized the significance of TAP project in diversification of gas supplies and ensuring energy security of Italy.

Mammadyarov also informed his Italian counterpart about the North-South and East-West transport corridors, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project, noting that the cooperation in this direction promises great prospects.

The sides reviewed Azerbaijan-EU relations as well. Italian minister stated that his country will continue to support Azerbaijans cooperation with the EU. Elmar Mammadyarov, in turn, stressed that the negotiations on the strategic partnership agreement between Azerbaijan and the European Union are being continued intensively.

During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on the cooperation within the international organizations and regional issues of mutual interest. They expressed satisfaction with the high level of Azerbaijani-Italian relations, based on mutual understanding, friendship and dialogue, and stressed the importance of mutual high-level visits with the aim of further deepening the ties.

A day before the meeting with Alfano, on October 24, Elmar Mammadyarov met with the Mayor of Palermo Leoluca Orlando.

At the meeting, Orlando recalled his visit to Azerbaijan when he was a member of the Italian Parliament, fruitful high-level meetings held during the visit and warm impressions about Azerbaijan.

Mammadyarov and Orlando exchanged views on the development of relations between Azerbaijans regions and Palermo. They noted the great opportunities for exchanging experience in the spheres of agriculture, culture, tourism and cooperation in other spheres within the framework of interregional cooperation.

Noting that Italy is one of the most important partners of Azerbaijan in the EU and the dynamic development of ties between the two countries in all spheres, Mammadyarov stressed the importance of stimulating cooperation between the regions of the two countries.

Italy and Azerbaijan have excellent bilateral and economic relations. Over the past eight years, Italy has remained Azerbaijans major trading partner, the fourth exporting country and the first customer in the energy sector. Last year the trade turnover between the countries amounted to $1.89 billion.

The two countries also maintain strong business relations. Today, about 45 Italian companies are operating in a variety of fields in Azerbaijan, such as energy, insurance, banking, trade, and other areas.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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25 October 2017 10:37 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order on additional measures to continue the project on reconstruction of water supply and sewerage systems in Lankaran city.

In accordance with the order, Azersu OJSC will receive 2.1 million manats from the funds provided by the presidential decree On the Application of the 'Law on Azerbaijans State Budget for 2017' dated December 27, 2016.

The Ministry of Finance was instructed to provide financing in the amount indicated in the order.

The Cabinet of Ministers was instructed to resolve issues arising from the order.

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25 October 2017 11:53 (UTC+04:00)

French ambassador to Azerbaijan Aurelia Bouchez, who was on visit to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on October 18-19, has hailed cleanliness of Nakhchivan and hospitality of its people.

I am very pleased with my visit to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and it left rich impressions on me. I was impressed by the warm hospitality of the residents. It was also amazing to visit the Duzdag physical therapy center, which is a very unique place where people can find comfort and healing at the same time. This is very good, she told AZERTAC.

Speaking about the meetings held in the autonomous republic during the visit, the ambassador said that she had an opportunity to discuss relations in all the areas. She highly appreciated the development of relations in various spheres, especially between the French and Azerbaijani universities.

Emphasizing that Nakhchivan's beauty, cleanliness and ancient monuments are an example to the world, the Ambassador said these monuments represents the history and culture of Azerbaijan.

I mostly liked here the Mumina Khatun Mausoleum and the Flag Square. I also visited Nakhchivangala monument, which reflects the history of Nakhchivan. The tomb of Prophet Noah was also astonishing, the French Ambassador said.

Ambassador Aurelia Bouchez expressed her gratitude for the hospitality of Nakhchivan residents.

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25 October 2017 12:46 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijan and Iran are two neighboring countries that have had long-standing relations, and today they continue to improve mutual ties. In this context, the two states have established the Joint Working Group on Military Cooperation between the Defense Ministries of the two counties and Armed Forces Logistics, and its first meeting was held in Baku on October 24.

Azerbaijans Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov met with the delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics of Iran, the head of the Joint Working Group on Bilateral Military Relations and Military-Technical Cooperation from the Iranian side, Major General Hojatollah Ghoreishi.

Hasanov congratulated the guests on the start of the work of the Joint Working Group on Military Relations and Military-Technical Cooperation between the Defense Ministries of the two countries in Baku and stressed that this would play an important role in the further development of relations in the field of defense and security.

It was noted that the foundation of the meeting was laid during the discussion of the issues of establishing a joint working group between the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and Iran, which took place during the meetings within the visit of the Iranian Defense Minister to Azerbaijan in 2015.

Hasanov further informed Ghoreishi that Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh and its surrounding regions have been under the occupation of Armenia for many years, as a result of which more than one million people became internally displaced persons. The Azerbaijani Defense Minister added that the enemy continues to aggravate the situation at the front until today.

Ghoreishi, in turn, expressed satisfaction with the current state of Azerbaijani-Iranian cooperation in the military sphere and noted the importance of mutual visits of military specialists in the development of these relations.

Speaking of the military-political situation in the South Caucasus, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Iranian minister stressed the importance of a peaceful settlement of the conflict and noted that Iran has always supported the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on the current state of cooperation between the Azerbaijan and Iran in the military sphere, security issues in the Caspian Sea basin and other issues of mutual interest.

The meeting of the Joint Working Group on Military Cooperation will last until October 25.

Azerbaijan and Iran have had fruitful diplomatic relations since 1918. Iran recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992. The Armed Forces of the two neighboring countries have many times showed their great skillsatvarious international military exercises.

Today it is obvious that the military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran is of great importance, as it will improve the state of the two countries' Armed Forces, their combat readiness, as well as the security in the region.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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Trinamool Congress MP Anupam Hazra has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging corruption in the Viswabharati University in Santiniketan in West Bengal's Birbhum district.

By Manogya Loiwal : A Trinamool Congress MP has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging corruption in the Viswabharati University in Santiniketan in West Bengal's Birbhum district.

Bringing up Modi's much-talked-about swachhata mission, TMC MP Anupam Hazra challenged the Prime Minister to clean up corruption in the varsity, which has hogged the headlines for the past few years over irregularities in appointments and siphoning of funds releasaed by the Government of India.

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Hazra has levelled charges of corruption against Viswabharati University Vice-Chancellor Swapan Dutta and also accused him of inaction against the irregularities.

In his Facebook message, Hazra posted letters to PM Modi and talked about corruption in the Viswabharati University as clearly mentioned in the annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Interestingly, he has posted this at a time when former President Pranab Mukherjee is visiting his native village in Birbhum to mourn a relative's demise.

This is not the first time Hazra has taken to social media. But on this occasion, he has raised questions over a central University of his Parliamentary constituency where he holds a post, but has no say.

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25 October 2017 17:55 (UTC+04:00)

The 8th meeting of the Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ACN) Law Enforcement Network (LEN) themed Investigation and Prosecution of Corruption: Confiscation of Proceeds, Asset Recovery and Independence of Prosecutors has today started in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku, Azertac reported.

Organized by the Prosecutor Generals Office of Azerbaijan, Anti-Corruption Directorate with the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the conference convenes national authorities in charge of investigating and prosecuting corruption-related crimes that involve confiscation and asset recovery in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, including specialized anti-corruption prosecutors and investigators, along with other relevant authorities.

Addressing the conference, Azerbaijan`s deputy Prosecutor General, Director of the Anti-Corruption Directorate with the Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev stressed that the Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia has made a significant contribution to anti-corruption reforms held in the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Aliyev underlined that fighting corruption is one of the key priorities of the Azerbaijani government, and highlighted the implementation of preventive, punishment and awareness-raising measures taken in Azerbaijan under President Ilham Aliyev.

He said Azerbaijan has been cooperating with the Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia since 2003. Aliyev noted that the country has successfully completed three monitoring phases so far, being one of the first countries to embark on the fourth monitoring round.

Anti-Corruption Network Manager Olga Savran and Chair of the Law Enforcement Network Anka Jurma hailed Azerbaijan`s active participation in the Network.

The main objective of the Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Law Enforcement Network is to help law-enforcement practitioners working on corruption cases to build their capacity and to learn about modern investigation and prosecution techniques, and to build professional contacts necessary for effective investigation and prosecution of complex cross border corruption cases.

The main focus of this LEN meeting will be on the issue of confiscation of proceeds of corruption.

This discussion will be supported by the ACN Study on this issue that was conducted during 2017.

The meeting will also address the new issue of recovery of assets.

Following the previous meeting in 2016 in Astana, Kazakhstan, the ACN LEN will continue addressing the challenging issue of independence of prosecutors. This seminar will continue the discussion of relevant international standards and good practices, including institutional and fiscal guarantees to prevent undue political interference in the work of prosecutors, as well as internal rules and procedures necessary to insure independence of case prosecutors from undue interference of their hierarchy. In order to support this discussion, the ACN may also develop a discussion paper on this subject.

Investigators and prosecutors at the meeting will discuss modern methods for confiscation of proceeds of corruption, modern methods for recovery of assets, challenges and solutions for ensuring independence of prosecutors.

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25 October 2017 11:26 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Azerbaijan is key to Europe's energy security, said Art McHaffie, a former senior Amoco executive and now an honorary consul for Azerbaijan, chron.com reported.

"When I first arrived in Azerbaijan in November 1994, assigned by the U.S. oil company Amoco Corporation to a joint venture consortium, signs of economic crisis were everywhere. Grocery store shelves were bare. Infrastructure was in decay after years of neglect under Soviet rule. Now, more than 20 years later, Azerbaijan and its capital Baku are hubs of economic activity, providing the West with a reliable trade and energy ally in an uncertain region. The country's oil and gas industry has largely driven its transformation and growth."

"In the mid-1990s, after restoring domestic order and forging a ceasefire with Armenia, then-Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev made oil a national priority. Amoco and nine other companies joined with Azerbaijan's state energy company, SOCAR, in a billion-dollar bet to develop oil in the Caspian Sea. At the time, this deal was referred to as the "contract of the century," bringing economic potential to Azerbaijan and the region."

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25 October 2017 13:06 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Uzbekistan, the worlds sixth-largest cotton producer, aims to further increase incomes to the national economy by exporting this strategic crop.

Uzbekistan has signed contracts for the export of finished textile products and semi-finished products for more than $1 billion following the 13th International Uzbek Cotton and Textile Fair.

Large contracts were signed with companies from Russia, Turkey, South Korea, Singapore, Moldova and other countries.

Representatives of foreign purchasing companies noted the quality and price parameters of Uzbek textile.

At the same time, the process of contracting continues, and more accurate figures for exports will appear later. The same applies to data on cotton fiber contracting.

Last year, Uzbekistan signed contracts for the sale of textile products for 550,000 tons of cotton fiber worth more than $1.32 billion.

In general, the 76th plenary meeting of the International Consultative Committee for Cotton and the XIII International Uzbek Cotton and Textile Fair will last until Friday, when the final figures will be announced.

This year around 1500 specialists from more than 50 countries take part in the events.

Uzbekistan will achieve full processing of cotton fiber in 2021. By 2020, the capacity of local enterprises will ensure the full processing of cotton produced in Uzbekistan, which can lead to a significant decrease in the export supplies of this crop. Only in 2017, the country intends to bring internal processing of cotton fiber to 70 percent.

At the same time, by 2021 the production of textile and clothing and knitted products will increase by 2.2 times compared to 2016, including ready-made fabrics - 2.7 times, knitted fabrics - 3 times, knitted goods  3.4 times, hosiery  3.7 times. It is planned to increase the export of products by 2 times.

One of the policy priorities of Uzbekistan, the worlds fifth-largest cotton exporter, is further development of its textile industry. Annually, the country grows about 3.5 million tons of raw cotton, produces 1.1 million tons of cotton fiber.

Uzbekistan takes consistent steps to increase the volume of cotton fiber processing. In particular, it is planned to create 112 modern, high-tech industrial factories, expand, modernize and technologically upgrade 20 operating capacities. All this will increase the export potential of the industry up to $2.5 billion a year and create more than 25,000 jobs.

In the period 2010-2014, the textile industry of Uzbekistan received and spent foreign investments worth $785 million while 147 new textile enterprises with participation of investors from Germany, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, the U.S., Turkey and other countries were commissioned. Export potential of these enterprises amounted to $670 millions.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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25 October 2017 12:37 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are set to increase economic and trade relations.

Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan trade turnover amounted to $554 million while the rate of taxes payments by Uzbek entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan increased by 2 billion tenge in January-September 2017 compared to the same period of the last year.

This was stated by the head of the State Revenues Department for regulation of tariffs in the South Kazakhstan region Askar Isakhov, Kazinform reported.

Issues of trade facilitation and coordination of border management within the Shymkent-Tashkent corridor were discussed at a meeting with representatives of customs authorities and the private sector.

"An increase in trade between the two countries is impossible without a reduction in administrative barriers. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have already joined a number of international conventions, including the Convention on Harmonization of Conditions for Conducting Cargo Control at Borders," Isakhov said.

The document, by the way, is aimed at removing barriers in foreign trade, simplifying the movement of goods by reducing the requirements for the implementation of formalities, the number and duration of control measures.

In addition, customs officials of the two countries came to a common opinion on accelerating the crossing of the border by participants of foreign economic activity.

Thus, currently, five customs checkpoints, each with its own functions, operate on the border with Uzbekistan. Kaplanbek and Konysbaev checkpoints, for example, are engaged in the admission of trucks. They are expected to optimize customs clearance.

The development of comprehensive proposals for trade facilitation will be addressed by the Regional Program of the German Society for International Cooperation GIZ.

Earlier, Kazakhstans Ambassador to Tashkent Yerik Utembayev proposed to strengthen economic and business ties through creating joint economic zones. Previously, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan signed contracts totaling $1.2 billion following two business forums held in Astana in March and in Tashkent on September 16.

The trade turnover between the two states increased by 35 percent in January-August of the current year. Over 200 companies with Kazakh capital currently operate in Uzbekistan. The volume of trade turnover between the countries amounted to $2 billion in 2016.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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25 October 2017 18:17 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The EU delegation and Uzbek officials discussed the prospects for cooperation in cotton sphere, as well as the agriculture industry during the 76th plenary meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) held in Tashkent.

The EU Delegation was headed by Leonard Mizzi, Head of Rural Development, Food Security and Nutrition Unit.

The sides discussed the prospects for cooperation within ICAC and possible cooperation opportunities in agriculture development within EU-Uzbekistan partnership, according to the message of the EU press service.

The head of the EU delegation also met with the minister of agriculture and water resources of Uzbekistan and development partners active in the country, including FAO and the World Bank Group (WB, IFC).

Following the accession to ICAC in May this year, the European Union Delegation attended the ICAC plenary for the first time, representing all the EU Member States.

The membership of the EU in the ICAC is of strategic significance to the world cotton industry and the 150 million people get involved in cotton production, marketing and processing each season.

Uzbekistan ranks sixth in the world in terms of cotton fiber production and the fifth - in its exports. The country produces about 3.500 tons of raw cotton and 1.1 million tons of cotton fiber per year and remains one of the main partners of Uzbekistan in terms of production and trade of cotton.

The EU is the 11th largest producer and 6th largest exporter of cotton in the world. The European Union itself, and many individual countries and companies within the EU, are significant providers of cotton-specific development assistance in recipient countries.

The EU has allocated 168 million to its bilateral cooperation with Uzbekistan in 2014-2020, which focuses on rural development.

Uzbekistan also receives regional and thematic assistance in areas like border management (through the programme BOMCA) and drug control (through CADAP/IcSP), education (through Erasmus+), democracy and human rights (through EIDHR), energy (through IFCA & INOGATE), SME development (through CA-Invest), peace and stability (through IcSP) and water/environment and nuclear safety (through IFCA and INSC).

The EU has been active in Uzbekistan since 1996 and provides approximately 24 million annually in development assistance.

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25 October 2017 18:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

The international nuclear deal signed with Iran, a centerpiece of the global efforts to prevent nuclear activities, is jeopardized due to the U.S. President's intention to withdraw from the agreement.

Russias Federation Council unanimously adopted on October 25 an appeal to the parliaments of the United States, China, France, Germany, Britain and Europe to exert influence on the political leadership of their countries and prevent Washington from withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program.

"Sharing the IAEAs point of view, the members of the Russian Federation Council call on the members of the parliaments of China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the European Parliament to use their high influence on the political leadership of their states in order to maintain the historic agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, the statement said, TASS reported.

The members also note with concern that at present the implementation of this international agreement was in jeopardy in connection with the new strategy on Iran, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

As part of this strategy, the United States can take unilateral actions in violation of the JCPOA (up to complete cessation of participation in it).

"Obviously, such a step will provoke Iran's response, throw the situation around the Iranian nuclear program decades ago, undermine the belief in the ability of the leading world powers to be responsible participants in international relations, irreparably damage the efforts to maintain the nuclear non-proliferation regime and have a very negative impact on the decision of the similar problems with the nuclear programs of other states," the document said.

Federation Council separately addresses members of the U.S. Congress "with an urgent offer to use all possible resources to prevent the emergence of this extremely dangerous situation."

They are convinced that there is no reason to curtail cooperation with Iran on the nuclear program.

"The assessments of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), authorized to monitor Iran's nuclear activities, confirm the country's fulfillment of its obligations under the JCPOA," the appeal said.

The statement of the Federation Council noted that the agreement on the Iranian nuclear program contributes to strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime throughout the world and can serve as an example for resolving other problems of international relations, in particular, the situation with North Korea.

The appeal will be sent to the parliaments of the United States, China, France, Germany, Great Britain and the European Parliament as well as to the Iranian parliament, Russian President and the IAEA.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has already eight times verified Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal.

On October 13, U.S. President Donald Trump, long been known as the main critic of the landmark deal, declared his view of the JCPOA, saying that he would not certify Irans compliance with the deal. At the same time he did not challenge the compliance of Iran at the international level. The move paves the way for Congress to put new restrictions on Iran.

However, it is believed that Trump would not recommend the Congress to re-impose sanctions in order to reach a compromise with many congressional leaders who stand for keeping the deal at least with some changes.

In case sanctions are applied, the United States would find itself in breach of its commitments. This means a unilateral withdrawal from the agreement, which will damage the reputation of the U.S. in the eyes of world community.

The Iran nuclear deal was negotiated in July 2015 between Iran, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany. By ratifying the plan, Iran agreed to scale down its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

At the same time, the U.S. retains sanctions against Iran on the missile program, human rights and on suspicion that Tehran sponsors terrorism.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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Mercatus Center analyzed the progression of certificate-of-need laws throughout the years.

Here are seven things to know:

1. New York was the first state to implement a CON program in 1964.

2. Following New York, Rhode Island, Maryland and California were among the next to adopt these programs.

3. Between 1964 and 1974, 22 additional states instituted CON programs.

4. Congress required states to implement CON programs to obtain funding through some federal programs through the 1974 National Health Planning and Resources Development Act. All states, with the exception of Louisiana, adopted CON programs to meet the regulation's mandates.

5. Congress repealed the CON mandate in 1986, resulting in a slew of states stripping their CON programs; eleven states eliminated their programs by 1990.

6. Other states have gradually repealed their CON laws, including New Hampshire in 2016.

7. Twenty-six states and Washington, D.C. currently have CON programs.
Coral Gables-based Baptist Health South Florida acquired a majority interest in Boca Raton, Fla.-based South Palm Ambulatory Surgery Center.

Here's what you should know:

1. Through the deal, the ASC is now the Baptist Health Surgery Center.

2. Baptist Health formed an alliance with AmSurg to acquire the center.

3. This is Baptist Health's second outpatient surgery center in Palm Beach County.

4. The Baptist Health Surgery Center is 11,000 square feet. The center's physicians specialize in gastroenterology, orthopedics, foot and ankle surgery, ophthalmology, general surgery and plastic surgery.

Baptist Outpatient Services CEO Patricia Rosello said in a release, "We are pleased to have partnered with a first-class surgery center. The acquisition of South Palm Ambulatory Surgery Center furthers Baptist Healths commitment to bring diverse and convenient outpatient services to Palm Beach County."
Medical Facilities America, a company that holds interest in specialty surgical hospitals and ASCs across the U.S., named Robert Horrar president and CEO effective Oct. 25. He replaces Interim President and CEO Jeffrey Lozon, who will remain director of the company.

Mr. Horrar previously served as COO of Medical Facilities and in his new role will work with the board, hospital and center leadership as well as physician partners to strengthen the company's patient care. He will also pursue dynamic growth opportunities.

"The company has successfully evolved to meet the ever-changing demands of the U.S. healthcare environment and is in an excellent position to achieve both organic and acquisitive growth," said Mr. Horrar. "In tandem with our hospital and center leadership and physician partners, I look forward to achieving further growth.

Mr. Horrar previously served in leadership positions with Community Health Systems and Humana. At Community Health System, he oversaw the operations of affiliated hospitals in Indiana, Tennessee and West Virginia.

"Rob brings a track record of strong leadership, which he has demonstrated during his tenure as the company's COO," said Chair of the Board of Directors Marilynne Day-Linton. "With the combination of his deep industry knowledge, effective personal style and commitment to producing results, we are confident of Rob's ability to lead the company."
Tesla aims to bring electricity back to Puerto Rico following widespread damage caused by Hurricane Maria, which made landfall in the U.S. territory in early September. The automaker's first project involved restoring power at Hospital del Nino in San Juan, ABC News reports.

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello tweeted he and Tesla CEO Elon Musk discussed working together on the project to bring electricity back to the island earlier this month.

Less than three weeks later, Tesla outfitted the children's hospital with an electricity system powered by solar energy. In the aftermath of the storm, Tesla began sending hundreds of its Powerwall battery systems to the island. The batteries are designed to store energy generated from accompanying solar panels, according to Fortune.

Roughly 24 percent of the island had power as of Oct. 24, according to Fortune.

Mr. Rossello announced the completion of the children's hospital project during a press conference Tuesday, which was broadcast live on Facebook. Officials said the children's hospital is the first of many projects across the island.

In addition to Tesla's relief efforts, Mr. Musk also personally donated $250,000 in aid to the territory and postponed the launch of one of Teslas electric vehicles in November to increase battery production for Puerto Rico and other affected areas, Mr. Musk tweeted Oct. 6.

Editor's note: This article was updated Oct. 26 to include additional information.
In a new directive, the Trump administration has made it more difficult for the renewal of non-immigrant visas such as H-1B and L1, popular among Indian IT professionals, saying that the burden of proof lies on the applicant even when an extension is sought.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi. Photo: Reuters.

By Press Trust of India: In a new directive, the Trump administration has made it more difficult for the renewal of non-immigrant visas such as H-1B and L1, popular among Indian IT professionals, saying that the burden of proof lies on the applicant even when an extension is sought.

The development comes on a day when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke in one voice against the need to dismantle terror infrastructure in Pakistan, saying that many terror groups had found havens there.

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Rescinding its more than 13-year-old policy, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said that the burden of proof in establishing eligibility is, at all times, on the petitioner.

USCIS said the previous memorandum of April 23, 2004 appeared to place this burden on this federal agency.

"This memorandum makes it clear that the burden of proof remains on the petitioner, even where an extension of non-immigrant status is sought", USCIS said in its latest memorandum issued on October 23.

Under the previous policy, if a person was once found to be eligible for a work visa initially, they would usually be considered for extension of their visa.

Now during every extension, they need to prove to the federal authorities that they are still eligible for the visa they apply for.

CHANGE IN VISA RULES TO BE MADE RETROACTIVELY

William Stock, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said that the change is being made retroactively to people already living in the country and not just to new visa applicants.

"In adjudicating petitions for immigration benefits, including non-immigrant petition extensions, adjudicators must, in all cases, thoroughly review the petition and supporting evidence to determine eligibility for the benefit sought.

"The burden of proof in establishing eligibility is, at all times, on the petitioner", the USCIS said.

The new policy is in line with the Trump administration's goal to protect American workers from discrimination and replacement by foreign labour, NumberUSA website said.

This new policy will make sure that only qualified H-1B workers will be allowed to stay in the US and will help crackdown on visa fraud and abuse, it added.

ALSO WATCH VIDEO | PM Modi in US: Trade, terror and H1-B visa top agenda

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Niobrara Community Hospital in Lusk, Wyo., named Michelle Skillings, RN, permanent CEO, according to a Lusk Herald report.

Ms. Skillings joined the hospital in May 2015. She has previously served as a chief nursing officer and administrator in various healthcare settings. She has three decades of healthcare experience.

Ms. Skillings earned her master's degree in healthcare administration from the University of Phoenix.
A bill in the Massachusetts Senate aimed at reducing price variation pits academic medical centers against community hospitals, according to a report from The Boston Globe.

To rein in costs and reduce price variation for healthcare services, the bill would pave the way for insurers to increase reimbursements to the least expensive hospitals and fine hospitals with the most spending.

The chiefs of Massachusetts' two largest hospitals  Peter Slavin, MD, president of Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital, and Elizabeth Nabel, MD, president of Boston-based Brigham and Women's Hospital  testified Monday against the bill, calling it an attack on the academic medical centers, which take on complex cases, conduct research and serve Medicaid patients, according to the report.

Community hospital leaders, who need the funding to stay afloat, have backed the bill, according to the report. Dr. Slavin testified that Mass General and Brigham take on community hospital transfers and suggested quality of care was better at the teaching hospitals, according to the report.

Read the full story here.

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A nurse from Jefferson, N.C.-based Ashe Memorial Hospital scaled a cliff  after powerful storms flooded the bridge near her home  to deliver two babies, according to WTVD.

Since water completely washed over the bridge, Maggie McNeill, a labor and delivery nurse, called her father to pick her up from the highway above the cliff and began climbing. Once Ms. McNeill made it to the top, her father drove her the rest of the way to the hospital.

Ms. McNeill said that regardless of the storm, patients needed her help delivering babies.

"It's my passion," Ms. McNeill said. "I have always said if I can't be at home with my kids full time that I'm very thankful to have a job here to help other mamas become mamas."

Ashe Memorial Hospital's CEO Laura Lambeth told WTVD she was not surprised of Ms. McNeill's commitment.

"[She] is just awesome. I am not surprised of her dedication and going the extra mile for her patients. She does it every day," Ms. Lambeth said.
Pittsburgh-based Allegheny General Hospital nurses decided this week to continue contract negotiations rather than vote on a possible strike, reports TribLIVE.

The roughly 1,300 nurses, represented by Service Employees International Union Healthcare Pennsylvania, said they made the decision Monday following a negotiating session, according to the report. They had planned a strike vote for Tuesday, the day a contract extension expired.

"AGH nurses have always made the highest quality care our top priority and we continue to do so," Cathy Stoddart, RN, president of the local SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania union at the hospital, told TribLIVE via email. "We are committed to reaching a union contract that ensures the highest quality of care for patients and moves the nursing profession forward."

Dan Laurent, spokesperson for the hospital's owner, Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network, also expressed a commitment to negotiations.

He told TribLIVE, "We have made great progress in our negotiations to date and look forward to continuing constructive dialogue with the union until an agreement is reached."

He added that AHN's goal is a "fair and competitive" contract.

Nurses and the hospital have been in negotiations for about three months.
Missouri has implemented new abortion rules, including a provider requirement, according to Reuters.

Here are five things to know.

1. Missouri lawmakers passed the new rules in July, and they took effect early this week.

2. Part of the new rules is a provider requirement. This requirement means the physician performing the abortion  and not a different provider as previously allowed  must give their patient abortion risk information in person at least 72 hours before the procedure, according to the report.

3. Planned Parenthood Great Plains had challenged the provider requirement by arguing it makes access to abortion services more difficult for women. Some patients must travel significant distances to reach an abortion clinic; requiring patients make the trip twice in three days may be restrictive. But Reuters reports Judge S. Margene Burnett with the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, ruled Monday not to stop the requirement.

4. Bonyen Lee-Gilmore, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Great Plains, told the publication, "This is about making it as difficult as possible to obtain an abortion. Abortion access is chipped away one seemingly moderate restriction at a time."

5. But Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley spoke in favor of the law. In a statement, he said, "SB5 enacts sensible regulations that protect the health of women in Missouri and we will continue to vigorously defend these."

For the full report, including more about Missouri's recently implemented abortion rules, click here.
Fulton County officials filed a lawsuit on Monday against multiple drugmakers, drug distributors and physicians for their alleged role in facilitating high rates of opioid overdoses in the Georgia county, according to a report from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

While similar lawsuits have been filed by counties, cities and states around the country, the Fulton County suit marks the first such legal action in Georgia.

"Fulton County has experienced economic costs directly related to the opioid epidemic, including Medicaid costs, law enforcement, judicial, foster care, Narcan costs, loss of productivity and various other costs directly caused by the actions of the defendants," said the lawsuit, according to the report. "[Fulton County has spent] millions of dollars each year in its efforts to combat the public nuisance created by Defendants' deceptive marketing campaign."

With 61 deaths tallied so far, Fulton County has experienced more opioid-related overdose deaths than any other county in the state this year. In 2016, there were 154 such deaths. In 2015, there were 104.

To see a full list of defendants and read the Journal-Constitution's report in its entirety, click here.

More articles on opioids:

AHA launches toolkit to address opioid epidemic

McKesson supports declaration of opioid epidemic as national emergency

FDA Commissioner: Due to previous inaction by the FDA, combating the opioid crisis will 'be far more dramatic'
President Donald Trump told reporters on Oct. 16 he'd officially declare the nation's ongoing opioid overdose crisis a national emergency this week. The move would be unprecedented on the national scale, according to a report from ABC News.

Official designations of national emergency are typically reserved for natural disasters or terrorist attacks, but as more Americans died of drug overdoses in 2016 than in the entire Vietnam War, the federal government is under increased pressure to address the crisis. The Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, which President Trump established, first recommended he make a declaration of emergency in its interim report released July 31.

Here are five things to know about what a national emergency designation for the opioid crisis would look like.

1. While there is no precedent for declaring a drug crisis an emergency at the national level, six states have officially made disaster or emergency declarations to allocate more resources to reduce opioid overdose deaths.

2. An official emergency declaration could be issued under the Stafford Act or the Public Health Service Act. Such a declaration under the Stafford Act would open up access to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund, which carries a budget of $4.28 billion, according the report.

3. While access to these funds may entice federal officials, a long-term funding commitment could reduce the fund over time and leave the nation unprepared for another natural disaster like Hurricane Harvey. For this reason, if President Trump does make such a declaration, it will likely come under the Public Health Service Act, according to an expert opinion cited by ABC News.

4. However, while such a declaration under the Public Health Service Act could be effective, it would require additional action from the government, as the fund's balance currently sits at $57,000.

5. A crucial component of emergency declaration would be to widely increase access to the opioid overdose antidote naloxone. HHS could permit pharmacies to distribute the drug without prescription under standing orders.

"Family, friends can get that naloxone if they know they're going to be around somebody who is using, and have a higher likelihood of being able to administer that," Rebecca Haffajee, PhD, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan's Department of Health Management and Policy in Ann Arbor, told ABC News. "The whole idea is getting more naloxone into more people's hands and getting them to feel comfortable using it."

More articles on opioids:

Georgia's most populated county files opioid epidemic lawsuit

FDA Commissioner: Due to previous inaction by the FDA, combating the opioid crisis will 'be far more dramatic'

AHA launches toolkit to address opioid epidemic
A water main break in Farmington Hills, Mich., Monday evening has forced several area hospitals to scale back services or completely shut down.

Here are six things to know about the water main break and how it is affecting local hospitals.

1. The water main break, which left more than 51,000 residents without water as of Tuesday afternoon, caused Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital in Bloomfield Township, Mich., to transfer 15 patients to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. The hospital is diverting ambulances to other medical facilities and has canceled all elective procedures. The hospital closed its outpatient clinics Tuesday but reopened those locations Wednesday using boiled water precautions.

2. Henry Ford Medical Center-Columbus in Novi, Mich., is closed Wednesday, and all elective procedures and outpatient clinic appointments are canceled.

3. Henry Ford Medical Center-Commerce in Commerce Township, Mich., and Henry Ford Medical Center Farmington Road in West Bloomfield Township were forced to shut down due to the water issues, but reopened for business Wednesday using boiled water precautions. However, both facilities have canceled elective procedures scheduled for Wednesday.

4. Henry Ford Maplegrove Center, an inpatient addiction treatment facility in Bloomfield Township, is offering outpatient services but is not accepting new inpatient admissions.

5. Beaumont Medical Center-West Bloomfield shut down Tuesday and remains closed. The hospital said some physician offices might remain open and patients should call ahead to confirm their appointments.

6. Providence Park Hospital in Novi canceled elective surgeries for Wednesday. A hospital spokesperson told Becker's Hospital Review those procedures will be rescheduled and/or rerouted to Providence Hospital in Southfield, Mich. "The plan is to move forward with all surgical cases and procedures beginning tomorrow," a hospital spokesperson said. Providence Park Hospital began accepting ambulance traffic Wednesday.

More articles on patient flow:

Sutter Santa Rosa reopens after wildfires forced 1-week closure

Sentara to cease services at North Carolina medical center

Sacred Heart Hospital to halt delivery services
The Tennessee Department of Health suspended admissions at Nashville (Tenn.) Community Care & Rehabilitation Center and imposed a fine for alleged administration and patient rights violations, according to the Tennessean.

During an investigation that ended Oct. 19, investigators found conditions that were "detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the residents." The specific details of the violations were not disclosed.

The facility's operator, Louisville, Ky.-based Signature Healthcare, must pay two civil penalties of $7,500 for the violations.

The suspension will remain in place until the violations are corrected.

NCCRC has the right to fight the suspension before the Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities or an administrative judge, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.
A study comparing the use of Mazor Robotics' Renaissance Guidance System powered by Mazor Core technology and fluoroscopic-guided, freehand procedures found the Mazor Robotics' navigation system reduces the number of surgical complications and revision surgeries.

Researchers, presenting at the North American Spine Society annual meeting, collected data from 10 surgeons at nine U.S. sites. This is the first multi-center prospective study of robotic-guided spine surgery.

Here's what you should know:

1. Of the 379 patients enrolled in the study, 287 were in the robotic-guided category and 92 were in the fluoroscopic-guided category. Relative risk for adverse events or complications was 5.3 times higher in the fluoroscopic-guided category.

2. Relative risk for revisions surgery was 7.1 times higher for a fluoroscopic-guided surgery compared to robotic-guided surgery.

3. Christopher Good, MD, of the Virginia Spine Institute concluded, "The results of this study completely eliminated any doubt I have had about the superiority of robotic-guided spine surgery. We see remarkable improvements in patient safety and value, as well as cost savings when using Mazor Core technology-

based systems."

4. Mazor Core technology can be found in the Renaissance Guidance System and Mazor X Robotic Guidance System.
By PTI: Kolkata, Oct 24 (PTI) Two persons were today arrested for allegedly duping a man from Tamil Nadu on the pretext of providing him a job overseas, police said.

Mohammed Zeeshan Ali (37) and his associate Shariq Ahmed (27) were arrested from the city after a Tamil Nadu resident Packeer Mohamed Ali (37) lodged a complaint against Ali for taking money promising him a job in the Maldives, an officer of Kolkata Police said.

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"Zeeshan acted as the proprietor of an organisation and took money amounting to Rs 4.10 lakh from the complainant on the pretext of arranging for him a job in the Maldives," he said adding that by questioning Zeeshan police go through to his associate Shariq.

Zeeshan and Ahmed also forged documents, fabricated visas, work permits, company appointment letters, he added.

Huge documents including fake visas, counterpart of deposit slips, agreement papers, offer letters meant for other candidates, air tickets as well as 13 bounced bank cheques and documents related to a hotel in the Malidives were also seized from Zeeshan, the officer said. PTI SCH JM

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Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, N.Y., welcomed neurosurgeon Arturo Camacho, MD, according to Newsday.

Here are three notes:

1. Board certified in neurosurgery, Dr. Camacho's clinical interests include spine and brain trauma, stokes and cerebrovascular diseases.

2. Dr. Camacho underwent fellowship training at Cleveland Clinic. After earning his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, Dr. Camacho completed his residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

3. Nassau University Medical Center is a 530-bed teaching hospital with a 19-story main tower. Physicians at the hospital treat more than 80,000 emergency patients annually, and the 80-plus outpatient specialty clinics see more than 178,000 patient visits annually.
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Bowling Green State University students are truly embracing global engagement, studying around the world to expand their skills and understanding. At this falls Embracing Global Engagement: Internships, Service- and Experiential Learning Symposium, nearly 50 students shared their experiences in oral and poster presentations. The winners were recognized at an Oct. 17 ceremony where they received an original piece of glass art presented by President Mary Ellen Mazey.

Attendees at the ceremony heard from Steven Brittan, president of the Studio Arts College International, in Florence, Italy, an education abroad program in which BGSU participates.

Travelling abroad as part of one of the BGSU programs is often a life-changing experience for the students, and it was wonderful to see both undergraduate and graduate students sharing this year their amazing overseas experiences with the BGSU community at our annual Embracing Global Engagement Conference, said Dr. Cordula Mora, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, which hosted the symposium and awards.

The winners international education experiences ranged from Hungary to Germany to China to South Africa and from art to aquatic biology.

Undergraduate Wing Sze Liu, a Hoskins Global Scholar, was one of the winners in the oral presentation category for her report Making Art, Experiencing Art, and Seeing the Differences in the Art World about her study in Austria and Germany. Her adviser was Leigh-Ann Pahapill, an assistant professor in the School of Art. Liu, a 3-D art major, attended the Salzburg International Summer Academy of Fine Arts the summer of 2016 before her study abroad in Salzburg, Austria, where she worked with the German contemporary artist Nora Schultz in a three-week course. Liu exhibited her final installation and performance at the Hohensalzburg Fortress in Salzburg. In the fall semester, she studied German in the University of Salzburg, and then worked as an intern in the NOME Gallery in Berlin. NOME is a contemporary art gallery that engages diverse disciplines across culture, technology and political issues. Liu also immersed herself in the local art environment; participated in exhibition openings, art festivals, the Berlin gallery weekend and the local graffiti tour. She also attended the three major international art conferences in Germany, Greece and Italy.

Undergraduate pre-service teachers Taylor Nicholson and Chelsea Caswell were recognized for their comparative study Engineers of the Soul: A Reflection of Chinese and American Education. Dr. Gabriel Matney, an associate professor of mathematics education in the School of Teaching and Learning advised them. Caswell and Nicholson worked alongside Chinese pre-service teachers and mathematics faculty, and reflected upon what makes a Chinese classroom different from an American classroom, how students in China view mathematics, and how their perception of education differs from ours. They examined the differences in Chinese education that cause their international math achievement scores to be ranked third while the United States ranks 12th, and how those differences relate to the Chinese cultural perspective on education.

China was also the education-abroad site for undergraduate business students Alexis Allen, Kasi Clayton, Summer McVicker, Cheyenne Culbertson and Garrett Frye. They learned about the ins and outs of international business during their stay in Xian, accompanied by advisers Dr. Man Zhang, an associate professor of management, and Dr. Min Yang, an assistant professor in the School of World Languages and Cultures. The students researched the adverse effects of pollution on the Chinese people and developed a business proposal and strategy to market an eco-friendly pollution mask that is not only realistically apt to succeed in the Chinese economy but also addresses the concerns that the team outlined in its research, including a customer and cultural analysis marketing plan and pricing strategy.

For Allen, the trip had special meaning because it took her near the birthplace of family members. She will return to China next summer for a business internship.

Second-year graduate students in College Student Personnel Ayanna Byers and Shaunda Brown examined the field of student affairs during summer internships at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa, and a two-week study tour. Their presentation, Where Are the Americans? Experiences of Being Black and Abroad in South Africa, highlighted the mystery and surprise they represented for South Africans they encountered, and the challenges of living and working in the aftermath of apartheid, where there is still a rigid racial caste system, Byers said, with all the extremely nuanced interactions influenced by the countrys history.

For Byers and Brown, being black in a predominantly black society was a revelation, but their being black and American presented a conundrum for others, especially since they did not fit the media, reality TV portrayal of black American women at all, they said.

Working in the Office of Leadership and Responsibility, the equivalent of a U.S. student affairs office, We also learned that the concerns were so different because of the context, Brown said. When you have 60 percent of students who are food-insecure, the needs are very different.

Their winning presentation explored current issues surrounding violence against women on campus and institutional response, United States historical and current respectability politics in a South African context, the economic, political and social damage of the system of apartheid, and navigating spaces and finding community.

Dr. Christina Lunceford of the Department of Higher Education and Student Affairs was their adviser.

Winning the top poster presentation award was first-year graduate student in biological sciences Christina Moore for her project A Comparative Look at the Limnology of Two Great Lakes. Moore traveled to Hungary with biologists Dr. George Bullerjahn, Professor of Research Excellence, and Dr. Michael McKay, Ryan Professor of Biological Sciences, to study Lake Balaton in western Hungary and Lake Ferto, on the Austrian-Hungarian border. The experience showed her the life of a limnologist (one who studies the biological, chemical and physical features of bodies of freshwater) in action.

I was part of a research team looking at algae in freshwater systems, Moore said. Theres an algae problem there although its a different organism from the Planktothrix we see in Sandusky Bay.

During our visit to Balaton, we joined a limnological survey where we assisted BLI scientists with their measurements of physico-chemical parameters and examined phytoplankton and zooplankton during early spring. Experiencing science on Balaton and interacting with our Hungarian hosts to learn more about the lake, the parallels between our two inland seas  Balaton and western Lake Erie  were reinforced.

Moores interest in aquatic, or freshwater, biology grew since she took a class with McKay in 2014 as an undergraduate and asked if it could be made into an Honors class. After graduating in May, she joined the lab last fall and is flourishing, McKay said.
Addressing the scientist community, the President said that Knowledge, Discovery and Innovation are three of the four wheels that take a country forward

Ram Nath Kovind, The President of India visited the laboratory and the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru on 24 October 2017.

He participated in a roundtable discussion with scientists at IISc, Bengaluru. Dr R. Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India; Professor Anurag Kumar Director, IISc; Dr K. Vijay Raghavan, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology; Dr Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology; Shri K.K. Sharma, Secretary, Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development; Shri Kiran Kumar, Chairman, ISRO; Dr S. Christopher, Chairman, DRDO and other scientists were also present for the roundtable conference.

Addressing the scientist community, the President said that Knowledge, Discovery and Innovation are three of the four wheels that take a country forward. The fourth is our Society. Each wheel must move in co-ordination, in pace and in the right direction. The slightest misstep by one will take us in the wrong direction or stall us. Scientists have an immense responsibility. They are directly in charge of three wheels. But unless they connect every day with the fourth, society, we have no future.

India faces enormous challenges. We are to lift our people out of poverty, ensure their health and well-being and ensure our food and energy security. Society rightly demands solutions to these problems. On the other hand, scientists must not compromise their quest for knowledge  from atoms to galaxies. And these two endeavours are not contradictory, he added.

The President also said that we have seen how ISRO has succeeded through the efforts of the late Dr Satish Dhawan in combining cutting-edge science with helping farmers. And in linking ISROs research, applications and innovation with the academic capacities of IISc. The challenge is to replicate that partnership and that synergy, across institutions and across disciplines.

Scientists have the opportunity to pioneer a revolution where all the scientific institutes in Bengaluru work together. They can share their strengths and show by example how science and technology can take us to new heights. The spark from their efforts in Bengaluru can light the flame of knowledge all over the country. It can help take the culture of innovation further and deeper from lab to shop floor, right down to school classrooms, he also added.

Leading scientists from Bengaluru presented a flavour of their plans for a paradigm shift in the way their efforts have become more collaborative and thereby more effective. In addition to IISc, scientists from JNCASR, inStem, NCBS, the Raman Institute and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics were present. The speakers pointed out that India has shown leadership in astronomy and mega- physics as well as materials research. In bio-technology too, our research is at global levels.

The science leaders said that there is a sense of shared purpose and collaboration to take on new challenges and help achieve the goals of New India 2022.
Government unleashes website to elevate medical tourism in India In addition, the hospital would also provide assistance to the medical travellers in obtaining medical visas.

In order to promote India as a hot destination for healthcare services, The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry along with ministries of Tourism and Health has launched a website.

The website is a single-source platform providing a comprehensive information to medical travellers on the top healthcare institutions spread across major cities of the nation highlighting its speciality in various medical treatment, wellness and rejuvenation, and Ayurveda & Alternative medicine.

The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry along with ministries of Tourism and Health has launched a website designed to promote India as a premier healthcare destination.

Over the years, India has grown to become a top-notch destination for medical value travel because it scores high over a range of factors that determines the overall quality of care, the website, indiahealthcaretourism.com reads that also supports Arabic, Russian and French languages.

Once the traveller selects one or a few hospitals from the portal, an ID is provided used to stay connected with the respective hospital staff.

In addition, the hospital would also provide assistance to the medical travellers in obtaining medical visas. It sends them an invitation letter which needs to be presented at the Embassy or High Commission of India based in their respective country.
The world is home to 1.2 billion adolescents, and India has the largest population of adolescents in the world i.e. 253 million

The World Congress on Adolescent Health is coming to India. Held only once every 4 years, the International Association for Adolescent Healths 11th World Congress on Adolescent Health, Investing in Adolescent Health  the Future is Now will be held in New Delhi, India from 27-29 October 2017.

During the press Briefing in New Delhi on 24 October 2017, Professor Susan Sawyer, President, International Association for Adolescent Health, Dr. Sunil Mehra, Executive Director, MAMTA Health Institute for Mother and Child, Sushma Dureja, Deputy Commissioner (Adolescent Health), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Dr. V. Chandra-Mouli, Scientist, Department of Reproductive Health & Research, WHO were present.

Professor Susan Sawyer said: India has been chosen as the venue for the conference as it has the largest number of adolescents in the world. Policies in India are changing in favor of adolescents. When we started the IAAH in Australia 30 years ago as a resource to help build capacities in the field of adolescent health, we had people only from high income countries but now there is participation from across the world since 90 per cent of the adolescents are in middle and low income countries.

Dr. Sunil Mehra, said: ``It is an appropriate time to choose India as the venue for the conference since the country is faced with challenges such as early marriage, early pregnancies, malnutrition and obesity and violence.

The world is home to 1.2 billion adolescents, and India has the largest population of adolescents in the world i.e. 253 million. This demographic makes India a potent host for a global conference on this theme.

The agenda for Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and the new Global Strategy on Womens Childrens and Adolescents Health have brought adolescence to the centre-stage. These agendas recognize the opportunities and contribution of adolescence to achieving a wide array of global health priorities including improvements in communicable diseases (e.g. HIV) and non-communicable diseases, womens health, mental health, nutrition, and more. For example, over half of new HIV cases occur in adolescents, and more than 2 million adolescents are living with HIV. Addressing the global HIV epidemic  and other key global health agendas, will not be achieved without attending better to adolescent health and wellbeing.

David Ross said, It is indeed heartening to know that the world has started appreciating the issues of the adolescents such as education, behaviour change, smoking, drinking, and mental health which have roots in adolescence but impact the later life. The morality rates among neonates and child mortality has come down but adolescent mortality rates are showing an increasing though most of these are preventable causes such as self-harm and injuries.

Sushma Dureja said, We (government) has a responsibility towards the adolescents and we cannot achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) without focusing on adolescent health for a life-cycle approach to health.

Dr. V. Chandra-Mouli said: ``The world is looking up to Indias National Adolescent Health Programme (Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakram) after its win over polio.

The World Congress will cover topical themes through discussions in sessions such as Global adolescent health: Opportunities and challenges, Programming for adolescent health in India: RKSK and beyond, Toward a gendered approach to adolescent health, Mental health and adolescents, and more.

The conference which is the first-of-its kind to be held in India will see the participation of prominent global public health experts as well as policy makers.

The World Congress is being organized under the supportive leadership of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. MAMTA Health Institute for Mother and Child (MAMTA) is the lead organisation that is hosting the World Congress with a consortium of partners including Pathfinder International, Population Foundation of India (PFI), Population Services International (PSI), and The YP Foundation. The World Congress also has scientific support from Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI), Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI).
By PTI: Dehradun, Oct 25 (PTI) Senior IAS officer Utpal Kumar Singh assumed charge here today as the new chief secretary of Uttarakhand replacing S Ramaswamy.

A 1986 batch IAS officer, Singh was earlier posted on deputation in New Delhi as additional secretary in the ministry of agriculture.

He was relieved from his responsibilities at the Centre before completion of his deputation term following a request from the state government.

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Singh has earlier served as the principal secretary of half a dozen departments in Uttarakhand including PWD, energy, personnel, higher education, agriculture and home.

Soon after taking over charge from Ramaswamy, Singh said he will try his best to meet the expectations. PTI ALM ADS

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The first poster of Sonam Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan's Veere Di Wedding is out, and we cannot wait for the film.

By India Today Web Desk: Are you ready for one of the biggest wedding extravaganzas of Bollywood? No, we aren't talking about any real-life wedding, but Shashanka Ghosh's Veere Di Wedding. A film that has kept Bollywood fans hooked to every bit of development on it for the longest of time. After months of being in the news, Sonam Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania have begun shooting for the film, and the first poster of the much-awaited film is already out.

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And we cannot stop gushing over it. Sherwanis, pagadis and some naach-gaana; the girl gang is set to take you on a fun ride. At least the poster promises so. And here are five reasons that we can't wait to see this chick flick.

Kareena Kapoor Khan's comeback

Comeback might not be the right word for Kareena Kapoor Khan, as the actor was busy working even during her pregnancy last year. And immediately got back to the sets of Veere Di Wedding after a mini-maternity break. And that's the reason which makes Veere Di Wedding all the more special. Rhea Kapoor postponed the shooting of Veere Di Wedding for Kareena as she wanted no one else to fill in her shoes in the film, and her fans cannot wait to see the diva in a new avatar in Ghosh's directorial venture.

Sonam Kapoor-Kareena Kapoor in one frame

Are you ready to see Sonam Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan share screen space for the first time? Because we are. Rhea managed to pull off a casting coup of sorts by getting these Kapoor girls together for a chick flick. Going by their behind-the-scenes camaraderie, it is hard to wait for these women to win our hearts with Veere Di Wedding.

Bollywood's very own chick flick

Romance, thriller, coming-of-age dramas, action. We have seen almost everything in Bollywood, but it's been a while since we got our hands on a typical chick flick on 70mm. And Ghosh is happy to help with the story of four friends - Sonam, Kareena, Swara and Shikha. Veere Di Wedding is no road trip film, but a romantic comedy about four buddies attending a wedding.

Sumeet Vyas's big Bollywood debut

If you developed a crush on Sumeet Vyas after his stint in Permanent Roommates, here is some scoop for you. The actor is all set to make his big Bollywood debut with Veere Di Wedding, and he has been paired opposite none other than Kareena. Now that's something to look forward to.

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ALSO WATCH: I believe in ever afters and soul mates, says Sonam Kapoor

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After the recent Mersal controversy, sources in the actor Vijay camp confirmed that soon he will make some significant announcement on joining politics.

After the recent Mersal controversy, sources in the actor Vijay camp confirmed that soon he will make some significant announcement on joining politics. He made a significant statement on Wednesday. The statement of Vijay came in a letter head which had his name in bold "C. Joseph Vijay" and also has "Jesus saves us" on the top. This was seen as a retaliation to BJP leader H Raja who used communal card to hit out at Vijay for his latest blockbuster Mersal .

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Raja released Vijay's voter card and accused him of insulting temples and making anti-BJP schemes statements in his movie Mersal. But, Vijay officially made a statement which can be interpreted as his foray into politics say sources. The statement said, "Mersal movie released successfully. But there was opposition to the movie. I am thankful to my film fraternity, political leaders and fans who extended support for the movie and made it a huge success."

Even as superstars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan are likely to enter politics, now another young mass hero is also toying with the idea. After the two veteran superstars, Vijay and Ajith have a major fan base in Tamil Nadu. But, Ajith has always stayed away from politics and also disbanded his fan clubs long time back.

Sources close to Vijay say, "He is tired of politicians putting road blocks to him. But political situation is also dicey at the moment. He also has a roaring career. However, he will soon have interactions with district secretaries of his fans."

Vijay's father S.A. Chandrasekar told India Today, "Vijay will takes his decisions."

The movie Mersal has all the indications of his political entry with the movie and dialogues wooing people on Tamil sentiments. Also there is a dialogue where Vijay's character says "it takes four or five years for a doctor or engineer to be created. But it takes decades for a politician to be created. And he should be accepted."

However, his close circle is now advising him to just go slow and steady. For last one decade DMK and AIAMDK had been creating problem for Vijay's movies seeing him as a potential threat.

However, DMK's spokesperson Manu Sundaram told India Today, "The DMK has always welcomed the entry of all people in politics, especially those who are public service-oriented, hold a long-term vision and can provide much needed stability to our political landscape. DMK has been integral part of Tamil political landscape since 1949 and we have experienced political leadership. There is no reason to be worried. There is no truth that DMK created any problems for Vijay or any other actor."

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Now, BJP is also crying out loud that Vijay is having political ambitions.

The BJP national secretary H Raja has been accused of using communal card against the actor Vijay who has now released a statement using his name to convey he doesn't shy away from his religious beliefs.

Speaking to India Today, H Raja said, "Anyone who is 18 years old can enter politics. It's their free will. I can't comment or object to it. I only pointed out factual errors in the movie Mersal. I didn't play any communal card, but just showed his ration card."

Political analysts feel Tamil Nadu has become a free playing field for actors to aspire for becoming CM in the vacuum created in politics.

R K Radhakrishnan, political analyst, told India Today, "There's no basic qualification needed to enter politics. All these new faces have been expressing interest in politics because they believe that they can contribute to Tamil society. So, they all need to be welcomed. But it's also a fact that we need to scrutinize what they've contributed to their fields of activity. Has Vijay or anyone else raised their voice to the many atrocities that afflicted the film world? I believe the answer to that question is a big no. So, then, I'm forced to ask the question if it's the hunger for power that drives these filmstars to politics?"

--- ENDS ---

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By PTI: Kolkata, Oct 25 (PTI) Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee today cautioned party workers against indulging in anti-party activities and said anyone who does not agree with its principles and values can leave the party.

"There is no place for groupism or ego-fights in Trinamool. We will not tolerate anti-party activities. Party discipline is foremost. If you cannot follow it, you are free to leave... Workers are our biggest assets," she said at the extended core committee meeting of the party here.

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The Trinamool Congress core committee meeting is the first since Mukul Roy, a former second-in-command in the outfit and its MP, quit the party and resigned from the Rajya Sabha on October 11 accusing Banerjee of "running a one-man show and propagating dynastic politics".

Banerjee, who is also chief minister of West Bengal, said, "Trinamool did not come power by sitting on armchairs. There is no room for complacency."

She asked Trinamool leaders to take every party-worker along while implementing any party programme in their respective areas.

"It is not possible to give position to each and every worker of the party. But every worker should be taken into confidence and party programmes should be implemented properly. No one should be left behind. I want everybody to keep aside their infighting and work for strengthening the party," Banerjee said.

Roy was last month suspended from the Trinamool Congress for six years for indulging in anti-party activities after he announced that he would quit the party.

He had described the BJP as a non-communal party and said that TMC would not have tasted success without the backing of the saffron outfit at the national level in its initial years. PTI PNT KK NSD

--- ENDS ---
The letters, with the heading "disconnection warning notice", stated that gas was being used at her property, and as her nominated supplier, she would have to start paying Energy Australia for it. She was confused as she had no gas appliances in her flat. "I wasn't sure if it was gas hot water," she said of her complex. Nicky did as the letters instructed and gave her details to Energy Australia. After getting more letters in the mail, she did as they instructed: she gave her details to Energy Australia, which set up an account in her name and started sending her bills. After a few months she asked her neighbours about the building's hot water system. They told her it was electric hot water and that they did not receive gas bills.



"When I asked about the gas, no one else in the building was receiving them," she said.

Nicky then looked around the grounds of her apartment block and found some gas meters, which were quite old. She found the meter that corresponded with her apartment. The reading? Zero. When Nicky checked her gas meter, the reading was zero. Nicky complained to Energy Australia, asking it to produce evidence that she was using gas. It didn't. But the bills kept coming. After paying close to $986 in bills, she contacted Victoria's Energy and Water Ombudsman.



The ombudsman resolved the matter, as Energy Australia could not produce evidence that she was using any gas.

Nicky was then repaid the total amount she had paid to Energy Australia. Her account was shut and the case was closed. But two years later, in August, the "to the occupant" letters started arriving in the mail again. She has received another one in the past few weeks. "It's madness," she said of the experience. "Is it a scam? ... Are their systems that inefficient? Clearly they are." Asked why Nicky was again receiving letters following the ombudsman's ruling, an Energy Australia spokesman said the company had since discovered that her building had a bulk gas hot water system. "The zero usage shown on the meter you're referring to shows natural gas consumption by household appliances such as a gas cook-top. Hot water usage is listed on a different meter."

He said Energy Australia would conduct site visits and meter inspections to resolve the matter and "prevent this happening again". A meter that doesn't exist Gaby Gering and her husband bought a duplex in the Sydney suburb of Bronte in 2010, and in 2012 converted it into a single home. As part of the redevelopment, their tradesmen consolidated the services, in consultation with utility companies. This involved removing one of the two gas meters. "We did an extensive renovation, pulled the place apart and consolidated the services," Ms Gering said.

They then started receiving bills addressed "to the customer" for the meter that had been removed, in addition to bills in their own name for their existing gas meter and usage. "We have one meter, but we would get a second bill for a second apartment," Ms Gering said. What started as a bill for $20 would grow each quarter, and be followed by an overdue notice that eventually reached about $2000. Over the course of five years Ms Gering repeatedly rang AGL to complain. "Every time I rang I'd get put through to senior people who said to ignore it, because it says 'dear customer' ", she said.

Eventually she contacted the NSW Energy & Water Ombudsman. A text from AGL Energy confirming Ms Gering's account had been closed and the case resolved. "They resolved it," she said of her case. "Then, believe it or not, we started getting them again," she said of the letters. "I've called so many times, and spent so many hours on the phone, eventually I just gave up. "I really don't know why they don't stop it," she said. "It's like a computer-generated thing that has a life of its own. No one has control over it."
There's a reason celebrity divorce stories do well in tabloid media  and it's not just salacious devouring of plastic-coated pain. There can often be some comfort in watching the realities of our own lives play out in the lives of public figures. We can see we're not alone and maybe even take strength from the strength we find in strangers.

Despite all the sexist guff about her appearance and the immeasurable financial advantage she has over most single mothers, Cassandra Thorburn's interview with Woman's Day about how she felt after the end of her marriage to Karl Stefanovic is eminently relatable.

Thorburn articulated the anger, grief and betrayal most of us feel when a marriage ends. But it's interesting that she refused to toe the "amicable split" line.

"The children still have a father but I don't have a husband. He really is dead to me and no, we won't ever be friends again," she said.
Fashion is exasperating. Even when it tries to do the right thing, it often only manages to remind the world just how tone deaf it really is.

Terry Richardson is a fashion and celebrity photographer who has worked with everyone from Beyonce and Miley Cyrus to Barack Obama. He is a skilled shooter, but one who has long had an extraordinarily sleazy reputation for being sexually abusive to models. In public, he's recognisable thanks to his signature style, which includes work shirts, long sideburns, a moustache and eyeglasses that give him the incongruous look of a nerdy pornographer.

Not 'cool'' anymore: Terry Richardson. Credit:Alamy

In 2014, New York magazine published a profile of him detailing the often sordid nature of his work. While the story contained all the usual biographical data points and resume highlights, it also made it clear that Richardson was known for being an awful person who regularly coerced models into sexually compromising circumstances. At the time the story was published, there were still people willing to defend Richardson, who took pains to acknowledge his accomplishments as a photographer. But after it ran, the magazine published a follow-up that included the personal stories of models who alleged that Richardson had been a sexual bully and worse. Richardson, for his part, seemed to view himself as a somewhat tortured and unfairly maligned artist who sometimes happened to work nude.

Richardson was mostly unscathed by the stories.
Canberra restaurateur James Mussillon says he has sold Water's Edge restaurant and will now turn all his focus on to Courgette.

"I just want people to know I'm no longer at Water's Edge," Mussillon said.

Courgette owner and chef James Mussillon. Credit:Rohan Thomson

"It's a beautiful restaurant, a beautiful location  but I want to focus more on Courgette."

Mussillon, 46, said "he was getting old" and wanted to focus on one restaurant.
Months before it moves to the heart of a new Home Affairs super-portfolio, the Immigration Department is failing to meet federal government cyber security standards and officials can't say when it will comply.

The security concerns were highlighted by a parliamentary committee report released on Wednesday, with MPs saying they remain "most concerned" Immigration and the Tax Office don't comply with mandatory 'top four' threat mitigation strategies, meaning their systems are not cyber resilient.

Immigration Department boss Michael Pezzullo. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The Australian Signals Directorate intelligence agency says full implementation of the strategies would prevent as much as 85 per cent of targeted cyber intrusions, but in 2015-16 only 65 per cent of non-corporate Commonwealth entities said they complied.

The ATO said it expects to be fully compliant by next month, but was slowed due a major outage of its online networks in December.
Hundreds of south-east Queensland residents were left without power after "very dangerous" thunderstorms tracked across the region on Thursday afternoon.

The Bureau of Meteorology had initially warned south-east Queenslanders "very dangerous" thunderstorms, bringing "destructive winds, heavy rainfall and large hailstones", were expected to hit the region from 4pm.

'Very dangerous thunderstorms' are tracking towards the Gold Coast. Credit:Penelope Liersch / Nine News Gold Coast

Several severe storm cells travelled through Dalby, Toowoomba, Ipswich, Brisbane and the Gold Coast throughout the afternoon before moving offshore about 6pm.

At 6.30pm, the bureau warned of a second wave of severe thunderstorms for parts of the Central Highlands, Capricornia, Wide Bay, Darling Downs and Granite Belt that were expected to continue over "several hours".
Neighbour Dieu Do said she had been woken in the middle of the night to the sounds of a man bellowing for help and then, a short time later, gunshots.

A woman has been killed and a man is in hospital following a vicious dog attack in Watson in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Credit:Jamila Toderas

Other neighbours expressed their shock at the attack on their "usually quiet street" and said they had often heard a dog growling and barking at the property in recent months. Ms Do said she was afraid a dog on the property might attack her two children.

"A dog, [I think] it was from there, jumped over my back fence a few times last year and almost got my boys," she said. "I often hear [a dog] growling near my window, so I always lock up."

A neighbour, who called police when he heard calls for help from the property, said if the dog was dangerous then he was "glad it was gone" as he also had young children at home.
Jakarta: The US has now claimed an "administrative error" was the reason why Indonesia's military chief was told he could not board a flight in an incident that caused a diplomatic furore.

General Gatot Nurmantyo was prevented from boarding an Emirates flight on Saturday despite having a visa and being personally invited to attend a counter terrorism conference in Washington by his counterpart General Joseph Dunford.

General Gatot Nurmantyo was banned from boarding a flight to the US on Saturday to attend a counter terrorism conference in Washington despite having a visa and being personally invited. Credit:Department of Defence

Four days after what has been described as a "diplomatic scandal" the US Embassy in Jakarta quietly posted a statement on its website saying the General and his wife had been "delayed" due to an "administrative error".

"The error was quickly corrected," the statement said. We have taken appropriate measures to prevent this matter from occurring again. There is no restriction on the General's or his wife's travel, and we welcome them to the United States."
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today claimed Syed Shahid Yousuf, son of globally-wanted terrorist and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, had admitted he received funds for subversive activities in the Kashmir Valley.

Yousuf, who was sent to seven days of custody to the agency for further questioning, had also given the names of overseas Hizbul Mujahideen members involved in fund-raising for the terror outfit, an NIA spokesman said.

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The 42-year-old Yousuf, who works in the agricultural department of the Jammu and Kashmir government, was arrested here yesterday.

The NIA claimed during questioning he "admitted to having received funds from cadres of the Hizbul Mujahideen on the direction of his father, Mohammed Yusuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, for fomenting terrorist activities in the Valley".

The NIA said he also "revealed the names of his associates abroad who were linked with the Mujahideen and involved in raising, collecting and transferring funds from other countries to India".

This was being verified and investigated, the NIA said.

It alleged Yousuf used to receive funds through a US- based international wire transfer company from Aijaz Ahmed Bhat, another accused in the case who is absconding and is based in Saudi Arabia.

The agency alleged Yousuf was "one of several Indian contacts of Bhat" who had been in telephonic contact with him for receiving money transfer codes.

The NIA claimed so far he had received a total of nearly Rs 4.5 lakh through eight international wire transfers.

The case, registered by the NIA in April 2011, relates to the transfer of money from Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir through hawala channels via Delhi, which the agency believed was used in funding terrorism and secessionist activities.

The NIA has so far filed two charge sheets against six people including G M Bhat, a close aide of pro-Pakistan separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Siddiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga. All four are in judicial custody.

Two others -- Mohammed Maqbool Pandit and Bhat -- were also charge sheeted by the NIA but are absconding. An Interpol Red Corner notice has been issued against them.

Yousufs father Salahuddin, based in Pakistan, was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department of State in June this year.

Besides heading terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, he is the chairman of the United Jehad Council (UJC), a conglomerate of terrorist outfits operating in the Kashmir Valley. PTI SKL BDS

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Beijing: Chinese president Xi Jinping has stamped his authority on China's elite power group, breaking with tradition by failing to appoint a successor.

Mr Xi elevated two close allies and a communist philosopher to the Politburo Standing Committee. The new Standing Committee of seven men, includes five new faces, and consolidates Mr Xi's power for his second five-year term.

But it also suggests Mr Xi is keeping his options open for a third term.

"The overall message is he wants to stay longer, and now his name is in the constitution, why would he retire?" said Hong Kong Baptist University's Jean-Pierre Cabestan.
Los Angeles: Australian tourist Prue Elizabeth Harvey is facing a serious battery charge in Florida after allegedly yelling "fall bitch!" before pushing a woman cyclist to the ground during the popular Zombie Bike Ride.

Key West Police Department officer Antonio Ane said Ms Harvey, 32, from Yamba on the NSW North Coast, smelled strongly of alcohol and could not remember anything she had done in the more than six hours leading up to Sunday's alleged incident.

The Zombie Bike Ride, in which cyclists dress up as zombies, is a popular annual event in Key West, on the southern tip of Florida.

Police said the alleged victim, Linda Malcolm, 68, was riding with her daughter Jill Llera.
London: A former pro-Brexit campaign spokesman has angrily denied that they used Twitterbots to influence the public in the lead-up to the 2016 referendum.

The comment came as a group of UK parliamentarians are stepping up efforts to investigate whether Russian money was behind a push to influence the vote through targeted social media misinformation.

"It does feel at long last as if politicians in Britain are waking up to the fact of Kremlin subversion of our democracy," Labour MP Ben Bradshaw said on Tuesday.

"Putin had made no secret of the fact he wanted a Brexit vote. His main strategy is to weaken and destabilise Europe and Brexit is so far his biggest success."
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The longtime head of good-government group Citizens Union was arrested for drug possession on Oct. 24, after police searched his Brooklyn Heights home looking for child pornography on his computer but found small amounts of drugs instead.

Dick Dadey, who took a leave of absence from the more-than-century-old civic group last month for personal reasons, turned himself into police Tuesday morning, according to the New York Post.

Police said a 27-year-old man walked into a precinct on Sept. 6 and alleged that four days earlier Dadey had showed him a video of a naked 8-to-12-year-old boy on his computer, and that he suspected Dadey had several more videos. Authorities got a judge to issue a search warrant and officers showed up at Dadeys Remsen Street apartment on Oct. 24 at about 8:25 am to look for the video. No videos turned up, but police found small amounts of methamphetamine and ecstasy. Dadey turned himself in at the 84th Precinct, where he was charged with the low-level crime.

Dadey, who could not be reached for comment, is due to appear in court on Dec. 4.

On the same day as Dadeys arrest, Citizens Union named former Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum as the new executive director, but declined to comment further.
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The truth is out there.

Conspiracy theorists lined up on Tuesday to question if Citizens Union chief Dick Dadey, who turned himself into police for a drug possession charge, was targeted by police more for what he says than what he does.

Dadey, they say, was one of the most prominent voices urging New Yorkers to vote Yes on Nov. 7 on a controversial ballot measure calling for a state constitutional convention  which police unions fiercely oppose  making the shocking affair seem like a move to silence Dadey.

Hes being set up. They want to quiet a guy whose advocacy threatens to upend the state constitution, said colorful Brooklyn Heights criminal defense attorney Howard Greenberg. The whole fact pattern smells like rotten fish to me. The timing of his charade is no accident.

Dadey was arrested after police, inside his home with a warrant to search for child pornography on his computer, instead found small amounts of ecstasy and methamphetamine.

The question of whether or not to hold a state constitutional convention is on the ballot every 20 years, and this year both the pro and con campaigns are particularly aggressive. Pro-convention groups argue that this is a once-in-a-generation chance to close loopholes and drain the swamp in Albany after a long roster of politicians have fallen to corruption charges. On the other side, many public-sector unions who receive government pensions are strongly urging against a convention, wary that whoever does write the new laws could strike the constitutions protections for pensions, or take away other benefits so many New Yorkers receive.

Some of New Yorks Finest even been caught breaking the law by plastering Vote No stickers on their police vans to oppose a convention.

But whether Dadeys found guilty or not, accusing someone as something as disturbing as child pornography will forever tarnish a reputation  especially when that person is a public figure, said another criminal defense attorney who is also suspicious of Dadeys arrest.

You make an accusation, even if its disapproved later on, still there will try to be people that hold it against him, said Joyce David. It sounds like a dirty trick  just because hes a leader of a controversial group.

But noted civil rights attorney Norman Siegel, who has also supports the convention, warned against jumping to conclusions without hard evidence. He acknowledged that outspoken public figures on controversial topics do often get preyed on, but he doesnt believe the constitutional convention would warrant that kind of hit job.

There are people historically who have engaged in controversial speech and they get targeted  Im aware of that. Ive represented people in those situations, but you need hard evidence, specific device before you say that law enforce set him up, said Siegel. Dick is a very established and effective advocate, if it turns out that evince shows this is planted, we have a serious retaliatory action. I think we shouldnt rush to judgement here, we should let the facts come out and hear what Dick Dadey and his attorneys have to say.

Dadey, in fact, spoke out for a former colleague whom he claimed was fired because of his stance on the convention. Brandon West, a budget analyst for the Council, was fired days after he supported the constitutional convention on a television show in Albany back in July.

You would expect this out of Russia, not out of our city democracy, Dadey then told the New York Post.

Reach reporter Julianne Cuba at (718) 2604577 or by e-mail at jcuba @cngl ocal.com . Follow her on Twitter @julcuba.
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68th Precinct

Bay RidgeDyker Heights

Bump and crime

A no-goodnik stole a mans wallet  which held $100 in cash, five credit cards, and his ID  his from his back pocket on a southbound R train on Oct. 16.

The perp brushed up against the man and bumped him repeatedly on the crowded train between the 59th Street and Bay Ridge Avenue stops at some point between 4 and 5 pm. When the man got off the train at the 95th Street station, he realized his wallet was missing, but the crook had already fled.

Unknown caller

A pack of lying louts stole $3,150 from a 67th Street resident on Oct. 16 when they scammed him over the phone, demanding he relay his Social Security, credit card, and PIN numbers to them, which they then used to access his bank account.

The perps made the call to the home at Colonial Road at 2:30 pm, and the man promptly gave them the requested information. The crooks then racked up the thousands of dollars in charges in no time.

Creep takes Jeep

A punk stole a womans 1996 Jeep Cherokee from its Shore Road parking spot at some point between Oct. 14 and 17.

The thief crook sped away from the spot between 68th Street and Bay Ridge Avenue at some point between noon on Oct. 14 and 8:30 am on Oct. 17, when the owner of the vehicle returned to the spot to find the car missing.

Sticky fingers

A thief stole a womans debit card from her friends home on Bay Ridge Avenue on Oct. 15 and then used it at a nearby drugstore, racking up more than $60 in charges.

The woman was sleeping at her friends home between Third and Fourth avenues when someone in the house took the card between noon and 3 pm, then went to a nearby Eighth Avenue drugstore to go on the shopping spree.

Purloined plastic

A miscreant stole a mans medical, hospital, debit, credit, and social security cards  along with his drivers license  from his car parked on 73rd Street on Oct. 22.

The lout broke into the car between Fort Hamilton Parkway and Tenth Avenue at some point between midnight and 8 am, at which point he stole the pack of plastic, police said.

 Julianne McShane
Ive covered Gowanus for nearly two years and written countless stories about its namesake canal. But I always opted to observe its toxic waters from a safe distance, high above on esplanades and bridges. That was until a founder of the Gowanus Dredgers, a canoe club that educates people about the waterway by offering free boating tours, invited me to set sail on the sludgy span. As someone who believes the best way to learn about any subject is by immersing myself in it, I decided to step into a canoe and literally do just that.

The Gowanus Canal is a Superfund site, meaning it is so contaminated that the federal government stepped in to clean it up. Polluters recklessly poured heavy metals, pesticides, and oil into the channel, and raw sewage gushes into it during storms because the citys infrastructure cant handle all of the water passing through it. Needless to say, its not a the first destination one thinks of for a boat ride.

At around 6 pm on Friday, I arrived at the Dredgers boathouse on Bond and Second streets, which is located inside the 365 Bond luxury-apartment complex built by the developer, Lightstone Group. This is the same developer that markets its swanky digs with photos of 20-somethings dangling their feet over the Gowanus Canals fetid water and that publishes its own newspaper, The Gowilla, which ran an article last year declaring the neighborhood the Venice of Brooklyn. It was not satire.

I met Owen Foote, one of the original Dredgers and an expert on the canal who would be leading my expedition, upon entering the boathouse. I then strapped on a life vest and signed a waiver before hopping into a canoe with Susan, a Sunset Parker who read about the excursions in a recent New York Times article on the changing nabe. She told me she planned to come with her boyfriend, but he changed his mind when he found out the trip would be along one of the nations most polluted waterways.

My photographer colleague, Stefano, boarded a boat with Foote, and three other women also eager for an evening on the waterway piled into a third vessel. Once I hit the water, I practiced my paddling technique to ensure I kept my oar flat to avoid splashing my boat-mate. As I concentrated on keeping the sludgy water in the canal and out of my canoe, I looked up and saw graffiti proclaiming Welcome to Venice jerko scrawled overheard.

We started our journey toward the Gowanus Bay as the sun began to set, turning the sky beyond the surrounding industrial complexes and Third Street Bridge an idyllic tangerine. People gathered on the span to snap pictures of our unlikely armada as we floated by  making me feel like some sort of celebrity of the toxic abyss  and some jokesters warned, Dont fall in!

Outdoor gallery: The canal is lined with plenty of artwork, including this Welcome to Venice jerko graffiti. Community News Group / Lauren Gill

Although I noticed a faint smell of oil, I didnt find the odor particularly strong. And because it hadnt rained in awhile, there wasnt a lot of raw sewage in the water, so my nostrils were thankfully spared from the stench of human waste. But Stefano claimed the water stunk after our ride, so either I have a poor sense of smell or the Gowanus just cant shake its stinky reputation.

As we sailed forward, Foote recounted the canals history. Dutch settlers created it in the 1600s, and soon after, the channel became known for the large oysters that thrived in its brackish waters. Today, wildlife is returning to the canal, he said, as cleanup efforts allow for more oxygen in the waterway. Foote alerted us to small bait fish jumping into the air nearby, but I didnt catch a glimpse of any myself.

We passed Whole Foods and I spotted oil slicks on the surface of the water that were so pronounced, their iridescent swirls almost looked like a beautiful, sad art installation in the fading light. I later asked Foote about the slicks and he said they were the first he had seen in three weeks, probably the result of someone illegally dumping waste into the water.

Im alarmed they were there, he said.

After traversing beneath the Ninth Street Bridge, we soon encountered Lowes, a particular hotspot for Gowanus enthusiasts. The home-improvement store sits on a lot where bulkheads lining the side of the canal collapsed into it in May and July as a result of crumbling infrastructure and bad weather.

The sun was disappearing from the sky at this point, so we turned around and made our way back to shore as Foote spoke about how the canal is being cleaned through the Environmental Protection Agencys Superfund program and what people can do to help. He advised not to take showers when it rains, in order to decrease the amount of raw sewage that floods the channel  a strategy he said his teenage daughters understandably loathe.

Good views: Who knew the Gowanus Canal was a great place to watch the sunset? Community News Group / Lauren Gill

Minutes later, I scrambled onto solid ground after we arrived back at the dock. I survived my first cruise on the Gowanus, but it would not be my last.

I returned for a second ride the next day, this time with my friend, Claire, a Manhattanite who wanted to see the canal herself after hearing about my tour. We forewent a sunset cruise and set sail at around 2:15 pm, with the unseasonably strong October sun providing us a different  and bright!  perspective of the waterway.

In the light of day, I noticed more artifacts in the channel than I had the night before, including a tampon, bottles, cans, small pieces of poo, and plastic wrappers. But no stories about the water being infected with gonorrhea, or being mobsters favorite place to dump bodies, or killing a wayward dolphin and whale that swam into it could prepare us for the tragic sight we floated upon after passing the new Hamilton Avenue Waste Transfer Station: a dead cat!

Yes, a furry black feline with all four paws out bobbed past us in the water. We screamed, and paddled away as fast as our arms could propel us. The Gowanus had truly earned its nickname of Brooklyns Nautical Purgatory.

Claire and I were both shaken by the incident, but did our best to trek on, snapping photos as we cruised back to the dock and passing the Gowanus flushing tunnel  a waterfall-like mechanism that floods the span with clean water  spitting in the distance.

Activists hope that the canal will be an oasis for humans and living wildlife  not just creatures dead bodies  after it is cleaned and investments are made to make it an appealing, and safe, destination. But the Environmental Protection Agency still strongly urges people not to swim in the water, although the amount of poo floating in it has decreased in recent years, according to data.

Human impact: Oil slicks like this still pollute the channels waters. Community News Group / Lauren Gill

The polluters who tainted the canal certainly gave people many reasons to fear the idea of humans leisurely skimming it as a weekend activity. But I dont think I fully understood what it is, and what it could be, until I wandered its waters myself. And I hope that, in time, more people will take the plunge, making life on the canal less of a novelty and more of a norm.
It was announced today that Cork County Council, endorsed by Enterprise Ireland and Health Innovation Hub Ireland, has unveiled its ground-breaking partnership with MassChallenge TM, the worlds largest not-for-profit no equity start-up accelerator based in Boston, Massachusetts, with the launch of the first ever Bridge to MassChallenge partnership in Ireland, entitled Bridge to MassChallenge Cork or B2MCCork.

Bridge to MassChallenge Cork will present an opportunity to early stage start-ups with potential to scale and to connect with a global support system. It is an international start-up competition that identifies and accelerates the top start-ups in the region and connects those start-ups to the global market through MassChallenges global network.

All twenty successful applicants will benefit from significant international mentoring and networking opportunities. Applications will open on Monday 20th November. These will be evaluated by a panel of MassChallenge experts who will select twenty ambitious start-ups in the Life Sciences, Medical Technology and/or Digital Health Sector. These start-ups should have plans to scale up and connect internationally and will be offered the opportunity to participate in a week-long Cork boot camp commencing in February 2018.

This boot camp will conclude with an intensive competition to determine the top ten start-ups to emerge from the Cork boot camp, as selected by this process. These ten will then advance to a one-week all expenses paid intensive boot camp in Boston, in April 2018. From this, the top two companies will be selected to go forward to second round judging for one of MassChallenges international accelerators.

To date, MassChallenge has accelerated 1,211 start-ups worldwide, which together have raised 2 billion USD in funding, generated 900 million USD in revenue and created over 65,000 direct and indirect jobs in several locations across the world, including Boston, Massachusetts (USA), Mexico City (Mexico), Lausanne (Switzerland), London (United Kingdom), Jerusalem (Middle East) and more recently Austin, Texas (USA).

Commenting on the initiative, Mayor of County Cork, Declan Hurley said, "This strategic partnership will promote our Region as a global entrepreneurial hub and leader of innovation in this space, and the initiative dovetails with the long and successful track record our Region has earned as a leading-edge, global cluster for pharma, biotech and med-tech companies."

He added, "This initiative also further builds upon the regions well-established business, tourism and political links with Boston and the East coast of the United States. Cork County Council now looks forward to an exciting and wholesome engagement from start-ups and stakeholders alike with Bridge to MassChallenge Cork over the next 12 months."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
CurrencyFair, Combilift and Akari Software last week announced new deals with Australian partner companies. The announcements were made at an Enterprise Ireland business lunch at Sydney Opera House, attended by over 200 Irish and Australian business leaders.

CurrencyFair, the worlds first peer-to-peer currency exchange marketplace announced today that it has reached the significant milestone of over 5 billion being traded on its platform worldwide, with $1 billion of this being traded in Australia.

Combilift, the Irish manufacturer of multi-directional forklifts based in Monaghan, also announced last week that it has signed a $1 million contract with Civmec, an Australian construction and engineering company.

Akari Software, a world leader in curriculum management software development also announced that six universities in Australia and New Zealand are deploying their software, with the combined contracts valued at over 5 million. The University of Sydney is the latest university to deploy Akaris software, having recently signed a three-year contract with the Cork based company.

Witnessing the contract signings last week, Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald said, "The global success that CurrencyFair, Combilift and Akari Software have achieved is outstanding. World-class Irish companies are hugely important for our economy, delivering employment growth in Ireland. The focus of my Department through our agencies, and trade missions is to support more companies to achieve international success, particularly those who are Brexit exposed."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Fewer than a third of Americans support Donald Trump's tax-cut plan, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, as the U.S. president went to Capitol Hill looking for Republican backing for his proposal to slash tax rates for individuals and companies.

As the 2018 midterm congressional election campaigns grow nearer, the poll found that more than two-thirds of registered voters said reducing the U.S. federal budget deficit is more important than cutting taxes for the wealthy or for corporations.

Trump's plan would balloon the deficit and add to the $20 trillion national debt, according to critics and independent analysts, but Republicans say the tax cuts proposed in the plan would be offset by economic growth that would generate new tax revenue.

Among Republicans surveyed, 63% said deficit reduction should take priority over tax cuts for corporations, while 75% said deficit reduction should take priority over tax cuts for the wealthy.

Democrats oppose Trump's plan, unveiled on Sept. 27, and say it is unfair to the poor and the working class.

The plan is still only a nine-page "framework." It was drafted in secret by Trump administration and congressional leaders. Formal legislation is in development.

Congressional leaders and Trump are trying to lock in support for the plan from rank-and-file Republicans, who were uninvolved in the framework drafting process.

Trump, who has yet to score a major legislative win since taking office in January, wants his plan to become law before year's end, a timeframe that some policy analysts doubt is realistic.

More than half of the adults surveyed in the poll agreed that "cutting taxes for the poor is more important than reducing the federal deficit," with 68% of Democrats and 47% of Republicans in accord with that statement, the poll showed.

The Oct. 20-23 poll found that only 15% of registered voters said Republicans in Congress should prioritize tax reform over other issues. About a quarter of those polled, including 23% of Democrats and 30% of Republicans, agreed that Congress should continue working on a healthcare bill.

Of those adults who said they had heard of the "tax reform plan recently proposed by congressional Republicans," just 28% said they support it, while 41% said they oppose it and another 31 percent said they do not know.

The poll found opinions on Trump's plan were sharply divided along party lines, with 56% of Republicans and just 9% of Democrats supporting it.

Of those who had heard of the plan, 14% said it would cut their taxes, while 30% said it would increase their taxes. Another 35% said their taxes would not change and 20% said they did not know how it would impact them.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English in all 50 states. It gathered responses from 1,862 people, including 1,079 people who said they were aware of the Republican tax plan. It has a credibility interval, a measure of accuracy, of 3 percentage points. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
In announcing the new appointment, Airbnb said it now has 120,000 active listings in China, making it the worlds largest homestay specialist. Photo: IC

Homestay specialist Airbnb named one of its co-founders to the new position of China chairman, in a nod to the markets big potential, as it separately said its country head left the company less than five months after joining.

Airbnb said that co-founder and chief strategy officer Nathan Blecharczyks appointment as China chairman comes as it scales up operations in one of the largest markets in the world, and that Blecharczyk would travel to China at least once every month.

As chairman, Nathan will be responsible for enhancing all aspects of Airbnbs services in order to build on our momentum in China, Airbnb said in a statement. Hell also ensure that our strong team on the ground in Beijing and Shanghai will have a direct line to leaders in our San Francisco office who can give the China team all the support they need from our global team.

Separately, an Airbnb spokeswoman said Ge Hong, a Silicon Valley veteran with past experience at Facebook and Google, has left the company to pursue other opportunities. Ge joined as head of the companys China operation in June, a half year after Airbnb launched its popular shared-economy service in the fast-growing market.

Airbnb said Kum Hong Siew, its regional director for Asia, would act in Ges position until a new person was found.

Airbnb formally entered China in December, and now competes with a group of homegrown rivals like Tujia and Xiaozhu. Like other hotel operators, it is required to share information on both its hosts and the travelers who use its system to local police.

In announcing Blecharczyks new appointment, Airbnb said it now has 120,000 active listings in China, making it the worlds largest homestay specialist. It added that its China service hosted 2.25 million guest visits in an unspecified recent 12 month period, nearly quadruple the figure from the previous 12 months.

All told, China is Airbnbs fastest growing domestic market ever as well as our second fastest growing outbound travel market ever, the company said, adding that it would rapidly expand its own operations in the country. That includes a doubling of its headcount for staff who serve hosts. It said it would also roll out new functions to maintain its quality standards, following its recent removal of thousands of listings that didnt meet its standards.

Contact reporter Yang Ge (geyang@caixin.com)
Oil India Limited Recruitment 2017, has released a new recruitment notification through its official website for the recruitment of Drilling Engineers Vacancies. Interested candidates should apply before 04 November 2017.

Oil India Limited vacancy details:

Post Name: Drilling Engineers

Job Location: Assam

Last Date: 04 November 2017

Educational requirements:

For Drilling Engineers: 02 Posts

Qualification:

Candidates applying for this post should hold a B.E/B-Tech from recognized university or Institution.

Pay scale:

The selected candidates will get a monthly salary of Rs.50000/- Per month.

Age Limit:

As per Assam Government Rules

Selection Process:

Selection will be made on the basis of Interview.

How to apply for Oil India Limited Vacancy 2017?

Interested & eligible candidates are advised to download the job notification to get aware of recruitment schedule and venue. Candidate must reach advertised venue (Address & Walk in Date Mentioned in Official Notification) with all original document and Xerox copies, filled in application form (if required).

Walk-in Address:

Oil India Limited, Rajasthan Project 2A, Saraswati Nagar District Shopping Centre Basni, Jodhpur - 342005.

Important Dates to remember:

Walk in Date: 04 November 2017 at 09.00 AM to 11.00 AM

For more information about the job notification, click here

IOCL Recruitment 2017: Apply For Trade Apprentices and Technician Apprentices Posts!
State Bank of India (SBI) has declared the results of SBI PO 2017 recruitment examination. The examination was conducted on June 4, 2017, and final results for the same are out now on the official website.

The candidates who applied for the recruitment and who appeared for the Probationary Officer exam will be informed through the mode of SMS. The candidates can check the complete list and download their letters on the official website.

In the month of February 2017, the Bank invited the candidates who were looking for the post of Probationary officers. The selection process for the same was held in two phases, through preliminary exams and main exams. A few group exercises and personal interview round took place after the exams.

6000 candidates had applied and appeared for the examination to fill in the 2,313 vacancies in SBI.

The candidates must make note that the letter to the candidates is not being sent to each candidate individually. The candidates will have to download the letter from the official website after providing the login details.

How to Download the Letters to the Selected Candidates for SBI PO

Visit the official website of SBI - sbi.co.in/careers

Click on the link for the Letter to Candidates under the Probationary Officer Recruitment.

A new window will be displayed

The candidates will have to enter their Registration Number, Roll Number, and date of Birth.

Submit the details.

The candidate's letter will be available on the screen

Download the letter and take the print out for future use.

Also Read: IBPS Main Exam Admit Card for Office Assistant Job Released!
An official notification has been released by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), calling out for candidates to apply for various sponsored IOCL fellowship programs.

Fellowship availability

Name of the fellowships:

IndianOil - Deakin Research Fellowships

IOC-DBT-Deakin Fellowships

Location

India

University

Deakin University

Number of positions

4

Under the MOU signed with Deakin University, Australia, IOCL seeks applications from Indian nations for

"IndianOil - Deakin Research Fellowships" to work in the areas such as Lubricant Technology and Tribology.

For "IOC-DBT-Deakin Fellowships" the area of work will be Biotechnology.

AIIMS Fellowship 2018: 45 Fellowships Available in Various Departments, Apply Now!

Fellowship amount

Selected candidates will get fellowship amount 25% more than that offered by CSIR/ UGC Research Fellowship scheme.

Eligibility

Educational qualification

Candidates with Masters in Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering Or Tribology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, M.Tech in Biotechnology are eligible to apply.

Applicants must have obtained first class in graduation and postgraduation.

'The candidates should have completed all the requirements for the fulfilment of the award of Master's Degree by 31st July, 2017 including Master's Thesis.

Candidates with Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, and Microbiology should have valid CSIR/UGC NET-JRF qualification. In case the candidate joins this Fellowship programme he/she won't be able to avail the CSIR/UGC fellowships.

Age criteria

The upper age limit to apply is 28 years.

Selection process

After submission of application, shortlisted candidates will be called for interview which will be held at New Delhi/ Faridabad.

How to apply for the IOCL fellowship?

In order to apply for the IOCL fellowship, follow the steps given here:

Log on to the IOCL official website

Go to the careers page

Read the official advertisement available for download in PDF

Download the application form

Fill it and submit it in the required format

Complete the registration

Deadline

Candidates can submit their application latest by 15 November 2017.

Central Government Allots Rs.70,000 Fellowship for PhD Researchers
If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,...
Authorities in Sudan have detained a container of Bibles in Port Sudan without explanation for more than two years, a source said.



A Bible Society in Sudan representative told Morning Star News the container was one of two containing Arabic Bibles detained more than two years ago. The other container was released shortly after appeals to port authorities.



The detained shipments were destined for Sudans capital, Khartoum, said the source, who asked to remain unnamed for security reasons. At present the Bible Society in Sudan does not have a single copy of an Arabic Bible available in Khartoum, he said.



Other shipments of Bibles at Port Sudan, on the Red Sea, have also been detained over the past two years, he added.



A church leader said availability of Bibles and Christian literature in the country is increasingly limited.



There is difficulty in getting Bibles in the country, he said.



The Bible Society in Sudan representative said a port official in the past week has been more willing to consider releasing the shipment. Sudan links Christianity with the West, and Christian leaders speculated that Sudan may be opening to releasing the shipment as the U.S. administration lifted sanctions on Oct. 12. The sanctions had been in place since 1997 for Sudans terrorist ties and human rights violations.



Port officials were unavailable for comment.



Other international Bible providers have also complained of Sudan detaining shipping containers full of Bibles  usually due to corruption, but in some cases also to keep Judeo-Christian scripture out of the country.



Detainment of Bibles in Sudan also took place before 2011, with one shipment held up for nearly four years, the Bible Society source said.



Following the secession of South Sudan in 2011, President Omar al-Bashir vowed to adopt a stricter version of sharia (Islamic law) and recognize only Islamic culture and the Arabic language. Church leaders said Sudanese authorities have demolished or confiscated churches and limited Christian literature on the pretext that most Christians have left the country following South Sudans secession.



The Sudanese Minister of Guidance and Endowments announced in April 2013 that no new licenses would be granted for building new churches in Sudan, citing a decrease in the South Sudanese population.



Sudan since 2012 has expelled foreign Christians and bulldozed church buildings on the pretext that they belonged to South Sudanese. Besides raiding Christian bookstores and arresting Christians, authorities threatened to kill South Sudanese Christians who do not leave or cooperate with them in their effort to find other Christians.



Sudan fought a civil war with the south Sudanese from 1983 to 2005, and in June 2011, shortly before the secession of South Sudan the following month, the government began fighting a rebel group in the Nuba Mountains that has its roots in South Sudan.



Due to its treatment of Christians and other human rights violations, Sudan has been designated a Country of Particular Concern by the U.S. State Department since 1999, and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended the country remain on the list in its 2017 report.



Sudan ranked fifth on Christian support organization Open Doors 2017 World Watch List of countries where Christians face most persecution.





If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.o rg/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.



If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at http://morningstarnews.org/don ate/ ?
Jason Greenblatt, the U.S. Special Representative for International Negotiations, is putting the world on notice that Hamas is now begging Iran for help to destroy Israel.

Commenting on the visit of several Hamas leaders to Tehran over the weekend, Greenblatt on Monday took to Twitter saying:

Hamas, which has only brought ruin and misery to Palestinians, now begs Iran for help and again vows to destroy Israel. 1/2

Palestinians deserve so much better than this. We must find a better path forward toward peace and prosperity. 2/2

The visit to Tehran comes as Hamas and Fatah, rival Palestinian factions, have recently reached a deal over political reconciliation. The two groups have split rule over the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank, respectively, for nearly a decade.

Fatah is committed to a peaceful, political path forward in its fight for Palestinian statehood. Founded by Yasser Arafat in 1959, Fatah is an acronym for Palestinian National Liberation Movement. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas currently leads Fatah.

Hamas believes violence is the path forward to claim Palestine from Israeli occupation. Hamas is an acronym (spelled backward) for Islamic Resistance Movement. Founded in the late 1960s, Hamas is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. The group's official charter, adopted in 1988, calls for the destruction of Israel and raising the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine.

In recent days, Hamas has renewed its commitment to destroy Israel through violent means.

Laura Lacey Johnson is an experienced radio broadcaster, television news reporter, and Bible study leader who writes regularly about news, culture, and faith at www.lauralaceyjohnson.com.

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: October 24, 2017
The church elder in Plateau state, Nigeria saw the Muslim Fulani herdsmen storm into his village at 11 p.m.the night of Oct. 13, shooting in all directions.



Every one of us ran to save his life, Dauda Samuel Kadiya, 38, of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Zanwrua, told Morning Star News. I was shot at, but the bullet only bruised my hand. You can see the wound yourself.



The assailants destroyed eight houses in the attack, one of several assaults in Plateau state that went on uninterrupted from Oct. 8 to Oct. 17, killing 48 Christians, survivors said.



All Christians in villages around here have been displaced, and worship buildings have been abandoned, Kadiya said. Some of the church buildings were destroyed by the attackers.



In Zanwrua village, 62-year-old Agado Aura recounted how he and his wife narrowly escaped death.



Myself and my wife were still sitting in front of my house chatting at about 11 p.m. in front of my house when the attackers came, Aura, a member of St. Peters Catholic Church in Tafigana but a resident of Zanwrua, told Morning Star News. We could not go to bed early, because the previous night a village near ours, Tafigana, was attacked by the herdsmen. Suddenly, we heard gunshots from the eastern part of the village. We ran into some of the nearby rocks close to my house and hid there.



The armed herdsmen came to his house and started shooting, he said.



They broke the doors to our rooms and then set fire on my house, Aura said. Having set fire on my house, they went to the next house and did the same. They continued burning houses until they were done, before they left. I was watching all they were doing from my hidden spot behind those rocks you see over there.



Area Christian leaders told Morning Star News how armed herdsmen, apparently accompanied by terrorists from Islamic extremist groups, attacked communities just a few kilometers from a Nigerian army facility, the Rukuba Military Cantonment outside Jos, for nine days.



Moses Tsohu, a Zanwrua village leader and ECWA member, lamented that the attacks were carried out in spite of the presence of soldiers stationed at check points on the Jos-Miango Highway.



In the past few weeks, our people have been attacked by Muslim Fulani herdsmen who are collaborating with armed terrorists to invade our communities, Tsohu told Morning Star News. These attacks are being carried out daily. Every blessed day we witness the invasion, killing of our people, and the destruction of their houses.



The attacks on 13 Christian communities in the north-central state also wounded nine people and ruined 249 homes, survivors said. Herdsmen began the assaults on Oct. 8 on Nkie Dongwro village, where one Christian was killed and another wounded.



Tsonhu said a 2-year-old was among those killed over the course of the attacks. He gave the names of Christians killed in Nzherenvi, Nzherivo, and Aribakwa as Arivure, 2; John Audu, 25; Kure Dah, 31; Sunday Vire, 22; Voh Te, 20; Garba, 28; Zhu, 41; Jerry Simon, 34; Tegwi Mba, 30; and Wura Hwei, 27.



Hundreds of Christians who have been displaced were taking refuge in Miango and in Jos, Tsonhu said.



Survivors told Morning Star News that two Christians were killed in Hukke; one in Kpachudu; two in Nzhweruvo; one in Tafigana; six in Taegbe; one in Chuvorivireh; four in Aribakwa; one in Arichaka; and 30 in Nkyie Doghwro, which was attacked twice.



They said nine Christians were injured in two villages, five in Taegbe and four in Nkyie Doghwro. In addition, the herdsmen kidnapped one Christian from Rotsu village.



We have continually woken up to news of attacks each day leaving tears, sorrow, despair and apprehension, Sunday Abdu, president of the Community Development Association of the predominantly Christian Irigwe ethnic group, said at a press conference in Abuja.



Abdu said that there was a prior attack as well: after Sept. 8 attacks on Ancha that killed at least 20 Christians, on Sept. 9 two persons were killed, including a soldier, in Hukke. The Oct. 8 assault began in Nkie Dongwro, killing one Christian and wounding another, he said.



Abdu said that a young man in Kpachudu, Solomon Elisha, was killed on Oct. 10; three people were killed and houses razed on Oct. 11 in Nzhweruvo and Tafigana; On Oct. 12, Muslim Fulani herdsmen razed houses in Rikwe Chongu; on Oct. 14 in Taegbe, six people were killed, five injured and houses destroyed; in Nkyie Doghwro on Oct. 16, 29 people were killed and three injured at a school used as a camp where security forces were present.



It is painful to note that all these happened despite useful, timely information provided to security personnel, regarding movement and mode of operation of the assailants, he said.



The 13 villages attacked across nine days were Hukke, Kpachudu, Nzhweruvo, Tafigana, Rikwe Chongu, Taegbe, Zanwrua, Nchetahu, Chuvorivireh, Aribakwa, Nshuariba, Arichaka, and Nkyie Doghwro.



Christians make up 51.3 percent of Nigerias population, while Muslims living primarily in the north and middle belt account for 45 percent.



Nigeria ranks 12th on Open Doors 2017 World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer the most persecution.





If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.o rg/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.



If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at http://morningstarnews.org/don ate/ ?
'Akira' live-action update: 'Thor: Ragnarok' director Taika Waititi teases potential involvement, casting details

Hollywood has been attempting to adapt the popular Japanese anime "Akira" into live-action for years now. Although nothing is official at this point, "Thor: Ragnarok" Taika Waititi revealed that he has actually been in talks to direct the remake.

"I am  that was more or less a rumor," he coyly explained to IGN. "There was, I mean, I was in talks to do that, for sure, and something that I was very passionate about  am passionate about."

He did not give away any specifics about the negotiations. But, he did provide a brief insight on which direction he would take the film if he ends up directing it.

Specifically, Waititi would adapt the "Akira" six-volume manga instead of the anime, which had to greatly shorten the story to fit into a two-hour runtime.

"Love the movie, but I would not do a remake of the movie," the director said. "I would do an adaptation of the books."

He also promised not to whitewash the characters should he get the gig. A lot of anime fans have long been disappointed with Hollywood for casting white actors in historically non-white character roles. "Ghost in the Shell," for example, was plagued with criticisms ever since Scarlett Johansson was announced as the lead actress.

In 2011, there were reports that Warner Bros. was eyeing a bunch of white actors to lead its "Akira" live-action adaptation. Per Comic Book, included on the shortlist were Chris Pine, Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield, and even Justin Timberlake.

Thankfully, Waititi knows better, and he certainly is not down to going in such direction. He assured that the only way to do it is to cast unknown Asian teenagers with "unfound, untapped talent."

Warner Bros. has made multiple attempts since 2001 to adapt the Japanese classic. Prior to Waititi, the studio tapped filmmakers like George Miller, Stephen Norrington, Jaume Collet-Serra, and, more recently, Jordan Peele, to no avail.
Attack on Egyptian church foiled, guards blow up terrorists' car

An attack on an Egyptian Coptic church has been foiled by security services outside the building.

The Mar Girgis (St George) church in El-Arish in the north-east of the country had previously been targeted in the wave of anti-Christian violence that hit churches in August 2013.

It has a heavy security presence including an armoured vehicle, according to Coptic news website Watani.

A group of around 15 militants had clashed with police earlier on the morning of October 16 and had assaulted the National Bank of Egypt, planting five bombs around the bank. They then attacked other security details around the city, leaving 17 people injured. Among their targets was the Mar Girgis church. However, the guards there were able to blow up the terrorists' car and the church itself suffered no damage.

The church was one of around 100 to be attacked by Muslim Brotherhood supporters in 2013. The government pledged funds for their repair, but the work on Mar Girgis has been delayed by security concerns, according to Watani.

Egypt has suffered increasingly from attacks by Islamist extremists, not only on its Christian minority but on its armed forces. Sixteen police officers were killed last week in an ambush in its western desert in an attack condemned by the Churches.
Campaigners in final push on Australia's gay marriage referendum

Thousands of people rallied around Australia on Saturday urging the legalisation of same-sex marriage, one week before final ballots can be submitted in a contentious postal survey on the issue that has divided the country.

The largest crowd was in Sydney, where organisers said between 5,000 and 10,000 people gathered in front of Central Station before marching along one of the city's biggest roads to Victoria Park.

'It's a good reflection of the enthusiasm of people,' Australian Marriage Equality's Tiernan Brady said. 'They are very determined, very positive and not complacent.'

Other rallies in favour of same-sex marriage were held in the northern city of Brisbane and the central hub of Alice Springs.

Rallies organised by the Coalition for Marriage, the lead campaigner against same-sex marriage, were also held across the country.

The coalition, which includes the Australian Christian Lobby and other religious groups, encouraged those who haven't returned their surveys to do so.

'We're so pleased so many people have engaged with this process and we encourage those who haven't to tick "no" and put it in the post,' spokeswoman Monica Doumit said.

Though the postal ballot is non-binding, a 'yes' vote is expected to lead to the legalisation of same-sex marriage which could further fracture the government of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Ballots were mailed out from September 12, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics recommending all votes be returned via the postal service by October 27.

The latest update from the ABS, issued on October 17, showed almost 11 million postal votes had been returned, about 68 per cent of the total distributed.

The result is expected on November15.
Christianity is banned in Saudi Arabia. Will promised reforms make a difference?

The crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, has declared his intention of returning the country to a 'moderate Islam'. In a significant interview for the Guardian, he's said the conservative state has been 'not normal' for the last 30 years and blamed the religious reactionary spirit on the Iranian revolution.

Now, he says: 'We are simply reverting to what we followed  a moderate Islam open to the world and all religions. Seventy per cent of the Saudis are younger than 30, honestly we won't waste 30 years of our life combating extremist thoughts, we will destroy them now and immediately.'

If bin Salman is able to carry out his reformist plans, there's plenty that religious rights campaigners will want to see change. According to the US State Department:

1. Freedom of religion is 'neither recognised nor protected under the law and is severely restricted in practice'. The public practice of any religion other than Islam is banned. Its 'Basic Law provides that the Qur'an and Sunna (the traditions of the Prophet Mohammad) serve as the constitution.

2. The law criminalises 'the promotion of atheistic ideologies in any form', 'any attempt to cast doubt on the fundamentals of Islam', publications that 'contradict the provisions of Islamic law' and other acts deemed contrary to sharia, including non-Islamic public worship, public display of non-Islamic religious symbols, conversion by a Muslim to another religion, and proselytizing by a non-Muslim.

3. Foreigners who participate in non-Muslim worship can be harassed, detained, arrested and deported.

4. Shia Islam can be practised but Shias faced discrimination at multiple levels in the Sunni country.

5. Conversion is illegal and is grounds for the charge of apostasy, a crime punishable by death, though in practice the death penalty has not been carried out in recent years.

6. Blasphemy against Islam is also punishable by death.

7. Criticism of Islam is forbidden on the grounds of preserving social stability.

8. The calculation of compensation for accidental death or injury differs according to the religious affiliation of the plaintiff. A Jewish or Christian male is entitled to receive only 50 per cent of the compensation a Muslim male would receive; all other non-Muslims are entitled to receive one-sixteenth the amount a male Muslim would receive.

These are not the only instances of areas where Saudi law and practice is ripe for reform. According to the State Department there is arbitrary arrest and detention, and discrimination based on gender, religion and race. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other groups have documented many cases where prisoners are serving sentences based on confessions obtained through torture. Punishments imposed by the courts include floggings, though a copy of the Qur'an may be placed under the arm of the flogger preventing him raising his arm above his head, thereby reducing the severity of the lashing. Freedom of speech is not protected under the law and the media are censored.

Prince Mohammad has made progress during the last six months in his attempts to roll back the extreme conservative interpretation of Islam that Saudi Arabia has been exporting worldwide  including to the UK. Women are now allowed to drive and guardianship laws restricting women's roles have been reformed. Furthermore, the feared religious police have lost their powers of arrest  a major advance.

However, the fear must be that the ultra-conservative nature of Saudi Islam runs too deep to be easily uprooted. The fact that so many Saudis are young people is no guarantee that they will be attracted to a more liberal form  a lack of employment opportunities, itself at the top of Prince Mohammad's agenda, has the potential to drive them in exactly the direction he most wants to divert them from.

Saudi Arabia is a key Western regional ally. But it has a long way to go before it can be a true ideological partner.
Christians in North Korea face 'systematic, widespread, and gross human rights violations', says US state department

A damning report by the US state department has condemned North Korea's record on religious freedom, accusing the country of 'systematic, widespread, and gross human rights violations'.

Religious believers in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea face 'executions, torture, beatings, and arrests' at the hand of the state, according to the 2016 International Religious Freedom Report.

The 19th edition on the annual US report noted that the US does not have diplomatic with North Korea, and has cosponsored resolutions resolutions at the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council which 'condemn in the strongest terms' the country's human rights record, including its suppression of religion.

There are an estimated 200,000 and 400,000 Christians in North Korea, and the US report quoted research by Cornerstone Ministries International which suggested that between 10-45 percent of those imprisoned in detention camps are Christians.

Ownership of Bibles and other religious materials is reportedly illegal in the country, and punishable in some cases by execution.

The report wrote: 'The government continued to deal harshly with those who engaged in almost any religious practices through executions, torture, beatings, and arrests. An estimated 80,000 to 120,000 political prisoners, some imprisoned for religious reasons, were believed to be held in the political prison camp system in remote areas under horrific conditions.

'Christian Solidarity Worldwide said a policy of guilt by association was often applied in cases of detentions of Christians, meaning that the relatives of Christians were also detained regardless of their beliefs.'

As the report noted, North Korea's constitution guarantees 'the right of faith' to citizens but adds that 'religion must not be used as a pretext for drawing in foreign forces or for harming the state and social order'. International NGOs, the survey said, have reported that 'religious activities conducted outside of those that are state-sanctioned, including praying, singing hymns, and reading the Bible' were punishable.

According to the UN Commission of Inquiry, Christianity is regarded as a threat to North Korea because it challenges the cult of personality surrounding leader Kim Jong Un. Government 'messaging' subsequently works to promote negative perceptions of the faith among citizens.

In 2016, the country was been re-designated as a Country of Particular Concern by the US secretary of state.
'Hitman: Game of the Year Edition' release date news: New missions, suits, weapons and more

Game developer IO Interactive has announced a "Hitman: Game of the Year Edition" package that comes with a new four-mission campaign.

"Hitman," one of the best assassination games in the market, has just gotten even better with this new package. It includes "The Complete First Season," "Patient Zero" campaign, new themed suits and escalation contracts.

When IO said "The Complete First Season," they mean absolutely everything they made for that installment  that's seven locations, bonus missions, Challenge Packs, Escalation Contracts, Featured Contracts and over 700 challenges.

In the new "Patient Zero" campaign, Agent 47 must race against the clock to prevent the spread of a potential global pandemic. This campaign will span four different locations  Bangkok, Sapienza, Colorado and Hokkaido  with a completely different look and feel from season 1, thanks to the new time of day and new music composed by Niels Bye Nielsen.

The configured settings of "Patient Zero" will also showcase new gameplay opportunities, mechanics, disguises, characters, challenges, artificial intelligence behavior and head-up display elements.

The GOTY Edition also comes with new outfits in three variations  clown suit and new bat, raven suit and Sieger 300 Ghost, and cowboy suit and the striker  as seen below.

The new themed Escalation Contracts will make the selection of outfits more exciting, as each weapon-suit combination will allow for a unique experience, and of course, new complications based on the updated gameplay mechanics.

"Each Escalation comes with a new starting location unique to that Contract and all of the Escalations are made up of 3-stages," IO Interactive said in the announcement. "Completing each Escalation Contract will unlock a corresponding weapon to be used in all locations across the entire game."

"Hitman: Game of the Year Edition" will be digitally released on Nov. 7 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC for $59.99.

A note to existing players of "The Complete First Season," the GOTY Upgrade, which contains all the new content, is available for just $20. The same goes for anyone who purchased all episodes individually or previously purchased the Intro Pack/Upgrade Pack combination.

Apart from a "GOTY Edition" package, IO Interactive is also releasing a game update on Nov. 7. Further details will be announced soon.
International parliamentarians release report on religious intolerance in Southeast Asia



The International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religious Belief (IPPFoRB) recently launched a four-part report that looks into the religious challenges in Southeast Asia, namely rise of religious-based intolerance, discrimination against minorities or native peoples, securitization of freedom or belief in fighting terrorism, and the need to uphold international human rights standards in this general context.

IPPFoRB launched the report during a workshop attended by 25 members of parliament from ASEAN countries earlier this month. The said event was hosted by IPPFoRB and ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR).

These reports from IPPFoRB will serve as guide to parliamentarians and civil society organizations across Southeast Asia, providing them with tools for accountability to freedom of religion or belief.

David Anderson, one of the members of IPPFoRB, stated, "I encourage ASEAN parliamentarians to use these expert reports to press their respective governments for the legislative and policy changes necessary to secure religious freedom for all."

The countries covered in the reports include Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam.

One such example of a Southeast Asian country experiencing religious turbulence is Indonesia. According to the reports, minority religions such as Christians and Ahmadis  a Muslim minority sect  are marginalized in the country.

Former Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, or more popularly known as Ahok, was sentenced last May to two-year imprisonment for blasphemy during his re-election campaign.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, many religious and civil society groups see Ahok's trial as a representation of the growing religious intolerance in the country, quoting a representative of the Ahmadiyya community as saying, "Ahok's case has become a barometer."

"Many religious minorities and civil society activists see Ahok's high-profile trial and prison sentence as symbolic of rising religious intolerance in Indonesia. 'Ahok's case has become a barometer,' a representative of the Ahmadiyya community told Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
'Raven's Home' news: Second season has already been confirmed, production will commence in November

Disney announced the second season of their newest television series "Raven's Home" only three months after its premiere. Cast and crew will begin production in November.

Raven Symone, who plays the lead-character of the series Raven Baxter, is a returning as a Disney star.

In a press release published by Disney, Executive Vice President for Original Programming, Disney Channels Worldwide Adam Bonnet said, "We are incredibly proud of our first season and the fact that Raven has returned home to Disney Channel in a very big way."

Bonnet also commended the entire cast and crew for their efforts. "The entire cast and crew have delivered a classic family sitcom that kids and families will be watching for many years to come," he added.

The show has received great reviews from fans and critics as they welcome a familiar face on Disney channel that has been dominated by new talents over the past few years. The chemistry of the entire cast has been commended with the addition of a talented young ensemble.

The storyline of the television series revolves around Raven, who is now a single-mom to her twins Booker (Isaac Ryan Brown) and Nia (Navia Robinson) living in Chicago, Illinois with her childhood best friend Chelsea Daniels (Anneliese van Der Pol) and her son Levi Grayson (Jason Maybaum). Raven is still a psychic and so is her son Booker.

There have been several suggestions from fans to bring back old characters to the new series. Other than Daniels, Devon Carter, Raven's long-interest in high school has also returned as Raven's ex-husband and the father of Booker and Nia. Supporters are, of course, asking for more returning roles like Eddie Thomas (Orlando Brown), Raven's other childhood best friend and, of course, the money-crazed Cory Baxter (Kyle Massey), Raven's little brother.

"That's So Raven" is one of the most successful shows of Disney channel and it ended on Nov. 10, 2007. The premiere date of "Raven's Home" is also the 10th year celebration of "That's So Raven's" ending in 2007. The first spin-off of the original was "Cory in the House," which centered on Cory and his teenage life living in the White House with the President of the United States.
Slavery thrives because it's hidden: we need to learn to ask questions, says CofE bishop

The CofE bishop who is leading the Church's efforts to help to tackle modern slavery has called for 'improvement in police practice' in the wake of a highly critical report which found that police are failing in the area.

A new report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services found that police forces are failing to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking because the cases are too difficult and senior officers believe the public lack sympathy for the victims.

Victims are not always identified and investigations are closed prematurely, according to the report.

The Bishop of Derby, Alastair Redfern, told Christian Today: 'This report is a wake-up call and a challenge not just to the police, but to all of us. Slavery thrives because it is "hidden". We each need to become more vigilant, and to ask questions about people and situations that seem out of order.

'The Clewer Initiative, launched by the Church of England last week, is dedicated to raising awareness of the signs of modern slavery, and working with the police and other agencies to provide support for victims and intelligence about suspicious practises. Such is the scale and complexity of the crime, that improvement in police practise and priorities need to be matched by greater public awareness and support.'

The Prime Minister last week backed the launch of the Clewer Initiative, aimed at mobilising the Church of England's 12,000 parishes in the battle to eradicate modern slavery.

Along with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, Theresa May welcomed the initiative, a three-year programme to help the Church of England's 42 dioceses work to support victims of modern slavery and identify the signs of exploitation in their local communities.

The project was launched at an event in Lambeth Palace attended by representatives from dioceses and other denominations, along with MPs and charities involved in work to combat modern slavery.

May, who has made tackling modern slavery a key part of her government's agenda, said: 'Modern slavery is a barbaric crime which destroys the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our society. I value the work that the Clewer Initiative will be doing to enable the Church of England dioceses and wider church networks to develop strategies to tackle modem slavery.'

Bishop Redfern, who spoke at the launch, is leading the project. Work is already under way in dioceses, with training and information sessions on how to provide support and identify victims of labour exploitation in areas from the construction and property sector to hand car washes in British cities and shipping.

Derby, Bath and Wells, Chester, Durham, Guildford, Lichfield, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Rochester, Southwell and Nottingham dioceses are already taking part with a further 14 dioceses due to sign up later this year.

The diocese of Derby has become a key member of the Derby and Derbyshire Modern Slavery Partnership, uniting with police and social services working to help victims.
'Star Wars Rebels' season 4: Showrunner teases bigger villain apart from Grand Admiral Thrawn

"Star Wars Rebels" season 4 premiered last week, with the two-part "Heroes of Mandalore" setting up the rebels' final battle against Grand Admiral Thrawn (voiced by Lars Mikkelsen) and the forces of the Galactic Empire. Thrawn has been the central villain since season 3, and he is going to serve the same purpose in the final one.

Executive producer Dave Filoni has confirmed this to The Daily News, saying, "He's still the one that is watching for them and that they're running from and their main competitor." However, the EP also revealed that Thrawn will not be the only threat in the animated series this time around.

Apparently, there is another antagonist hiding out there the somewhere that rebels may come across in the upcoming episodes. "There may some other villains more arch than him, hiding somewhere," Filoni teased further.

Filoni did not give away further details, only recommending that fans wait and see. However, Screen Rant says the most obvious candidate is none other than Darth Vader (James Earl Jones). The Sith Lord played an integral role in "Star Wars Rebels" season 2, going against ex-apprentice Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) in the finale.

The ending left Ahsoka's fate as a bit of a mystery, as the character was last seen following an owl into the darkness just before the Sith temple collapsed on top of her. Now that the show is about to end, the show might bring back Vader again to give a clear answer on whether or not the former Jedi really died. Besides, the villain in question has "more arch" than Thrawn, according to Filoni. If there is any powerful antagonist who has a major spanning throughout the franchise, it would be the dark lord.

Then again, this is a mere speculation for now. But, there will hopefully be more details given as the series moves forward.

"Star Wars Rebels" continues next Monday, Oct. 30, at 9 p.m. EDT with episodes "The Occupation" and "Flight of the Defender" on Disney XD.
The unseen culprits behind human trafficking

Earlier this year, a news agency published a photographic report about the tough choice a Somali family had to make.

Displaced from their home by what the U.N. has called 'the largest humanitarian crisis since the creation of the United Nations'  four simultaneous famines pushing more than 20 million people to the brink of starvation  the family faced a stark decision: sell their 14-year-old daughter, Zeinab, in marriage or starve to death.

A man had offered to pay Zeinab's family $1,000 for her hand in marriage  a quantity that would literally mean the difference between life and death. Zeinab and her family had subsisted by hiring out their livestock, but the animals died due to the severe drought in Somalia, leaving the family destitute. Selling Zeinab for marriage was their only chance of survival.

Modern-day slavery  especially human trafficking for commercialized sex  usually conjures up images of a shadowy crime syndicate at work in the dark corners of society, abducting innocent women and children and forcing them into prostitution. We don't think about the culprits being famines, natural disasters, migration trends and forced marriages  or even ancestral traditions, temple rituals or homelessness.

We consider modern-day slavery a 'good' vs. 'bad' problem that can be solved with more police raids and criminal prosecutions. Yet, when we look at the underlying issues, it's rarely that straightforward. There are forms of cultural slavery, so ingrained in a society, they're considered normal and acceptable.

Two examples are Devadasi (which means 'female servants of God') and the Banchara (or Banjara) tribe of India, where cultural slavery has been practised for centuries.

'In the Devadasi practice, girls as young as 4 years old are 'dedicated' to a local deity. Upon reaching puberty they are then introduced to sexual intercourse,' says a study on the Devadasi commissioned by the International Labor Organization. These girls are not permitted to refuse sex with an interested party, the report continues.

After their inauguration into temple prostitution, the Devadasi are essentially rented as sexual slaves by one man after another. In eight out of 10 cases, close relatives are responsible for making these arrangements with customers.

Most of the Devadasi are Dalits  also known as 'untouchables'  and their patrons usually belong to a higher social caste. Because they're born into the lowest rung of this social hierarchy system, the Devadasi are barely considered human. India's Dalits and other low-caste groups are often the targets of hostilities, discrimination and violence, which result in impoverishment, illiteracy and further exploitation.

After a life of sexual servitude, which deprives them of an education and often leaves them sick and in poor health, the Devadasi oftentimes turn to the only thing they've known: the sex industry in larger cities.

Though this practice was outlawed in 1988, it's believed there are still hundreds of thousands of Devadasi in India. The south-central states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh alone are said to house 80,000.

Head north to Uttar Pradesh, and you'll find the Banchara tribe.

For more than 500 years, pre-teen girls have served as the main currency of this low-caste group. According to the Banchara's Nari Mata tradition, girls at the age of 12 must enter into a life of prostitution to provide for their families and, more often than not, to pay for their brothers' dowries.

Because women are expected to be the main source of income, every family member plays a role in perpetuating the Nari Mata tradition: mothers groom their daughters into the trade; brothers solicit clientele, and fathers negotiate the prize of their daughters' virginity with the highest bidder.

Girls from the Banchara community often end up trapped in this cycle of cultural slavery. In most cases, they spend their entire lives paying someone else's debts and, in the end, are left with no other choice but to train their daughters to do the same.

According to UNICEF, there are an estimated 21 million victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation worldwide. If we want to tackle this massive global problem, we have to address it story by story, understanding each victim's current situation and how he or she arrived there in the first place.

The journey that takes a Nigerian migrant from her home to the brothels of Italy often begins with poverty. Drug abuse and family dysfunction are commonly the conditions that put one in five homeless youth in the U.S. and Canada at risk of human trafficking. The desperation that drives Philippine women to risk their lives in dangerous red-light districts has been linked to poverty caused by natural disasters. And the stories of girls like Zeinab, who are forced into a marriage not of their choosing, often represent a hopeless family's last resort.

If we truly want to rid the world of slavery, we must approach this issue in all its complexity. We cannot settle for a black-and-white perspective.

Most Rev. Dr. Joseph D'Souza is the moderating bishop of the Good Shepherd Church and associated ministries of India. He also serves as the president of the All India Christian Council. He is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades for his work as a human rights activist. He also is the founder and international president of the Dalit Freedom Network.

Noel Yeatts is an advocate for social justice and humanitarian needs around the world with more than 20 years of experience in humanitarian work. She is an author, speaker and the vice president of World Help, an international Christian humanitarian organization.
Tomorrowland announces 2018 dates, theme: Music festival will be magically nautical

Tomorrowland has announced the new dates for its 2018 shows, which will come with a brand-new nautical theme.

Titled "The Story of Planaxis," next year's Tomorrowland invites its thousands of fans to be a "part of this fascinating new adventure and discover a magnificent new world." A planaxis is a small genus of small sea snails and marine gastropod mollusks, which means the 2018 theme would have a nautical feel.

As tradition, the storybook festival will come back to its home in Boom, Belgium for two consecutive long weekends  that's Friday to Sunday from July 20 to 22 and July 27 to 29, 2018.

First held in 2005, Tomorrowland has become an annual three-day celebration of magic, music and innovative storytelling. It is widely known for its all-out production that transforms its holy grounds, depending on its theme for the year.

This year saw the "Amicorum Spectaculum," a carnival that brought together the best of Vaudeville, steampunk, vintage vibes and a top of the class modern light show.

After 12 years of impressive performances, Tomorrowland has become one of the world's largest dance music festival. What was once a one big weekend celebration was expanded to two long weekends in 2017 to accommodate the many festivalgoers who come from around the world. In 2017, the event welcomed at least 360,000 fans.

Last month, it was reported that Tomorrowland was hoping to expand its mega-event to Asia, particularly in Thailand. Bangkok Post talked to Kriengkrai Kanjanapokin, founder and group chief executive of Index Creative Village Plc, who said they were in talks with the music festival organizers regarding this move.

"Thailand is considered one of the highest-potential countries in Asia for world music events. We highly anticipate that the event will be held in Thailand in its 2019 or 2020 edition," said Kanjanapokin.

Tomorrowland admitted its team was looking for opportunities abroad, but there is no specific plan to bring it to Thailand soon.

"It takes time and a lot of research, as building Tomorrowland is like moving a small city of 60,000 citizens," said spokesperson Debby Wilmsen.

Pre-registration for next year's Tomorrowland will open on Jan. 9, 2018, while worldwide pre-sale will be available starting Jan. 27.
The share of Canadas growing population made up by immigrants has risen to 21.9 percent, up from 20.6 percent in 2011, and the majority of recent immigrants arrived through an economic immigration program.

These are just a couple of the many insights published by StatsCan, based on data gathered in last years census. The immigrant population is defined as persons who are, or who have been, permanent residents in Canada. Immigrants who then went on to obtain Canadian citizenship by naturalization are included in this group.

You have to go back to 1921 to find the last time the share of Canadas population made up by immigrants was this high. Back then, just under two million immigrants represented 22.3 percent of the overall population.

Today, 7.5 million immigrants are spread across the country  and despite the fact that Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal still attract more than half, more immigrants are choosing to settle in the Prairie provinces and Atlantic Canada. Government projections show that Canadas immigrant population may reach as high as 30 percent by 2036.

Number and proportion of foreign-born population in Canada, 18712036

Immigrants backgrounds have also shifted over time. Whereas decades ago the main sources of newcomers to Canada were Europe and the United States, the latest figures reveal that 61.8 percent were born in Asia (including the Middle East). No fewer than seven of the top 10 source countries of new immigrants were Asian: the Philippines, India, China, Iran, Pakistan, Syria, and South Korea.

For the first time ever, Africa (13.4 percent) ranks ahead of Europe (11.6 percent) as a source continent. Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Cameroon made up the top five African source countries, while the United Kingdom and France provided the largest European sources. Newcomers from the Americas and Oceania represented 12.6 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively.

The census also shows that more than three-in-five immigrants (60.3 percent) who arrived between 2011 and 2016 were admitted through an economic program. A further 26.8 percent arrived under the Family Class having been sponsored by a close relative, spouse, or common-law partner, and 11.6 percent were refugees. Around a quarter of all immigrants admitted in the first five months of 2016 were refugees, far higher than the general trend due to the governments effort to quickly resettle displaced Syrians.

Economic arrivals are welcomed because they have the proven capability to settle into the Canadian labour market. Canadas internationally-praised economic immigration system has undergone an overhaul during the period since previous figures like these were last released in the National Household Survey of 2011. In January, 2015, Canadas main economic immigration programs moved from a first-come, first-served model to the Express Entry system, which allows the government to invite eligible candidates to apply for permanent residence on a priority basis. With Express Entry, Canada can bring in more of the worlds best and brightest, while also managing the supply of applications, thereby reducing processing times to less than six months in most cases.

Express Entry has proven to be a successful system, with nearly 140,000 Invitations to Apply having been issued at the time of writing. The majority of invitations have been issued this year, as Express Entry becomes the main driver of economic immigration to Canada. The Comprehensive Ranking System used to rank Express Entry candidates rewards individuals with work or study experience in Canada, meaning that Canada is able to welcome large numbers of immigrants from both outside and inside the country.

As more immigrants settle, communities across Canada are benefiting from their energy, expertise, and skills. Traditionally, most newcomers to Canada settle in one of the three largest cities: Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. This remains the case. In 2016, immigrants made up 46.1 percent of Torontos population, 23.4 percent of Montreals, and 40.8 percent of Vancouvers.

However, cities and communities in the Prairie provinces (a regional term that includes Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) are receiving higher proportions of the overall number of newcomers than before. For example, Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, attracted 4.3 percent of immigrants between 2011 and 2016, around double the overall share of the Canadian population that lives in that city.

Other cities in the Prairie provinces that have witnessed an increase in immigration settlement include Regina and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, as well as Calgary and Edmonton in Alberta. Immigrants are increasingly attracted to these destinations for the employment opportunities and high living standard, among other factors.

Another region on the rise is Atlantic Canada, made up of the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island (PEI). Together, Atlantic Canada accounts for 2.3 percent of recent immigrants to Canada, as each Atlantic province has received larger numbers of new immigrants than before.

According to the government, the way in which some provinces and territories use their Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is one of several factors that can explain changes in the geographic distribution of newcomers to Canada. More than half of new immigrants living in PEI, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Yukon were admitted through a PNP. Nationally, 16.4 percent of all recent immigrants  or 27.3 percent of economic migrants  arrived through a PNP.

Though Ontario remains the most popular province for recent immigrants, with 39 percent of them residing there, this figure is down from 55.9 percent as recently as 2001. It should be noted that overall immigration levels have increased over this period, and so rather than it being a case of fewer immigrants residing in Ontario, it is more a case of an increasing number of newcomers choosing other destinations. Indeed, despite the fact the overall share of recent immigrants choosing Ontario has decreased so far this century, the real number of immigrants living in that province has actually increased from just over three million to nearly four million.

The next most popular destination province for recent immigrants is Quebec (17.8 percent, up from 13.7 percent in 2001), while British Columbia received 14.5 percent, down from 19.9 percent in 2001.

With two-in-five residents of Canada now coming from an immigrant background, either as a first- or second-generation immigrant, Canadas success as a multicultural nation serves as a reminder to the world that there is another way to do things  a way that eschews ethno-nationalism in favour of openness and growth, says Attorney David Cohen.

I am particularly pleased to see that some of the traditionally more underpopulated regions, such as the Prairies and Atlantic Canada, are receiving a larger share of newcomers over recent years. This will benefit those newcomers, as well the communities they reside in. With larger communities, economies of scale should help to increase living standards across the board.

For individuals and families wishing to make Canada their home, the projected increase in the overall immigrant population over the next two decades shows that this dream has every chance of becoming a reality. The first step should be to evaluate all your options under the currently available programs, and proceed from there.

Pathway to citizenship

Immigrants to Canada have the opportunity to eventually become Canadian citizens. Indeed, recent changes to the Citizenship Act make it quicker and easier for permanent residents to transition to citizenship. To find out if or when you may be eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship, use the exclusive Canadian Citizenship Eligibility Calculator.

To find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada permanently, fill out a free online assessment form.

To find out your options for family sponsorship, fill out a free assessment family sponsorship assessment form today.

 2017 CICNews All Rights Reserved
Data and big data analytics are the lifeblood of any successful business. Getting the technology right can be challenging but building the right team with the right skills to undertake data initiatives can be even harder  a challenge reflected in the rising demand for big data and analytics skills and certifications.

If youre looking to get an edge on a data analytics career, certification is a great option. Certifications measure your knowledge and skills against industry- and vendor-specific benchmarks to prove to employers that you have the right skillset. The number of data analytics certs is expanding rapidly.

Below is our guide to the most sought-after data analytics and big data certifications to help you decide which cert is right for you.

If you would like to submit a big data certification to this directory, please email us.

The top 11 data analytics and big data certifications

Associate Certified Analytics Professional (aCAP)

Certification of Professional Achievement in Data Sciences

Certified Analytics Professional

Cloudera Data Platform Generalist

EMC Proven Professional Data Scientist Associate (EMCDSA)

IBM Data Science Professional Certificate

Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate

Microsoft Certified Data Analyst Associate

Open Certified Data Scientist

SAS Certified Advanced Analytics Professional Using SAS 9

SAS Certified Data Scientist

Associate Certified Analytics Professional

The Associate Certified Analytics Professional (aCAP) credential is an independent, entry-level analytics certification that shows education in the analytics process though the individual may not have practical experience yet. The certification focuses on the seven domains of the analytics process: business problem framing, analytics problem framing, data, methodology selection, model building, deployment, and lifecycle management.

Organization: INFORMS

Price: $200 for INFORMS members; $300 for nonmembers

How to prepare: A list of study courses and a series of webinars are available through registration.

Certification of Professional Achievement in Data Sciences

The Certification of Professional Achievement in Data Sciences is a nondegree program intended to develop facility with foundational data science skills. Candidates are required to complete a minimum of 12 credits, including four required courses: Algorithms for Data Science, Probability and Statistics for Data Science, Machine Learning for Data Science, and Exploratory Data Analysis and Visualization.

Organization: Columbia University

Price: Students pay Columbia Engineerings rate of tuition ($2,196 per credit). The online program includes an additional nonrefundable technology fee of $395 per course.

How to prepare: An undergraduate degree and prior quantitative and introductory to computer programming coursework are required.

Certified Analytics Professional

The Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) credential is a vendor- and technology-neutral analytics certification that certifies end-to-end understanding of the analytics process, from framing business and analytic problems to acquiring data, methodology, model building, deployment, and model lifecycle management. It requires completion of the CAP exam and adherence to the CAP Code of Ethics.

Organization: INFORMS

Price: $495 for INFORMS members; $695 for nonmembers; team pricing available for organizations

How to prepare: A list of study courses and a series of webinars are available through registration.

Cloudera Data Platform Generalist Certification

Cloudera has discontinued its CCP and CCA certifications in favor of the new Cloudera Data Platform (CDP) Generalist certification, which verifies proficiency with the platform. The new exam tests general knowledge of the platform and applies to multiple roles, including administrator, developer, data analyst, data engineer, data scientist, and system architect. The exam consists of 60 questions and the candidate has 90 minutes to complete it. Specialized certifications are planned, including CDP Certified Administrator, CDP Certified Administrator  Public Cloud, CDP Certified Data Developer, and CDP Certified Data Analyst.

Organization: Cloudera

Price: $300

How to prepare: Cloudera recommends candidates take the Cloudera Data Analyst Training course, which has the same objectives as the exam.

EMC Proven Professional Data Scientist Associate (EMCDSA)

The EMCDSA certification demonstrates an individuals ability to participate and contribute as a data science team member on big data projects. It includes deploying the data analytics lifecycle, reframing a business challenge as an analytics challenge, applying analytic techniques and tools to analyze big data and create statistical models, selecting the appropriate data visualizations and more.

Organization: Dell EMC Education Services

Price: $230 for exam voucher

How to prepare: EMC offers training courses, available via instructor-led classes (physical or virtual) or on demand.

IBM Data Science Professional Certificate

The IBM Data Science Professional Certificate is a beginner-level certificate that demonstrates an individuals skills in data science topics, including open source tools and libraries, methodologies, Python databases, SQL, data visualization, data analysis, and machine learning. Earning the certificate requires completing nine courses (taking roughly three months at 12 hours per week), during which the candidate will complete several hands-on assignments and build a portfolio of data science projects. At the end, candidates earn a Professional Certificate from Coursera and a digital badge from IBM recognizing proficiency in data science.

Organization: Coursera

Price: $39 per month for access to graded materials and a certificate

How to prepare: No prior computer science or programming knowledge is necessary.

Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate

The Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate credential is a measure of a candidates ability to define and prepare Azure development environments, prepare data for modeling, perform feature engineering, and develop models. The exam requires the candidate to use applications involving natural language processing, speech, computer vision, and predictive analytics. The credential does not expire.

Organization: Microsoft

Price: $165 for the exam

How to prepare: Microsoft offers free online training and a paid, instructor-led course.

Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate

The Data Analyst Associate certification is one of several role-based certifications that replaces the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Data Management and Analytics certification that Microsoft will retire in January 2021. This certificate demonstrates subject matter expertise in enabling businesses to leverage their data assets using Microsoft Power BI. Holders of this certificate can design and build scalable data models, clean and transform data, and enable advanced analytic capabilities.

Organization: Microsoft

Price: $165 per exam

How to prepare: Microsoft offers free online training and a paid, instructor-led course.

Open Certified Data Scientist

The Open CDS is an independent global certification that qualifies the skills, knowledge, and experience of data scientists. Open CDS requires candidates demonstrate their skills and experience against a set of conformance requirements through written applications and peer interviews. It does not include training courses and there are no written exams. Attaining the certification follows three stages: First, the candidate must obtain four to five milestone badges; second, the candidate must complete the Experience Application Form; finally, the candidate must attend a board review. The certification lasts for three years, after which the holder may re-certify.

Organization: The Open Group

Price: $400 for a Level 1 certification, $500 for a Level 2 certification, and $550 for the Level 3 certification. Each certification requires the completion of certain milestone badges, which carry an additional fee. There is no specific recertification fee, but there are fees to maintain milestone badges.

How to prepare: The Open CDS certification is an evaluation of a candidates skills and experience. Candidates should use the certification self-assessment tools on the certificate authoritys website to validate their readiness to certify at the level and discipline theyve selected.

SAS Certified Advanced Analytics Professional Using SAS 9

The SAS Certified Advanced Analytics Professional Using SAS 9 credential validates the ability to analyze big data with a variety of statistical analysis and predictive modeling techniques. Candidates should have experience in machine learning and predictive modeling techniques and their application to big, distributed, and in-memory data sets. They should also have experience with pattern detection, experimentation in business, optimization techniques, and time series forecasting. The certification requires passing three exams:

Predictive Modeling Using SAS Enterprise Miner 7, 13, or 14

SAS Advanced Predictive Modeling

SAS Text Analytics, Time Series, Experimentation and Optimization

Organization: SAS

Price: The Predictive Modeling Using SAS Enterprise Miner exam is $250, while the others are $180 each

How to prepare: SAS recommends candidates prepare using its Applied Analytics Using SAS Enterprise Miner training and SAS Academy for Data Science: Advanced Analytics training or several eLearning courses. It also recommends answering sample questions it provides and taking a practice exam.

SAS Certified Data Scientist

The SAS Certified Data Scientist credential validates the ability to manipulate and gain insights from big data with a variety of SAS and open source tools, make business recommendations with complex machine learning models, and deploy models at scale using the SAS environment. The certification requires a combination of the SAS Data Curation Professional, SAS Advanced Analytics Professional, and SAS AI & Machine Learning Professional credentials.

Organization: SAS

Price: $180 for each exam

How to prepare: SAS recommends candidates prepare using its SAS Academy for Data Science, or several eLearning courses. It also recommends answering sample questions it provides and taking a practice exam.
Two summers ago, a sobbing relative called to say that shed just seen one youth stab another in the chest outside her front door in gentrifying Harlem. As she spoke, she noticed that the blood had splattered her shoes. The victim didnt die, thank heaven, but staggered across the street and got help. It was a neighborhood annual reunionbarbecues blazing, salsa music blastingand the victim and his assailant, simmering with decades-long loathing now heightened by drug-dealing rivalry, exploded. I e-mailed my friend Bill Bratton, then still police commissioner, to say that a lack of quality-of-life policing in that neighborhood, including an official blind eye to petty dope traffic, clearly contributed to the do-what-you-want mind-set that prevailed in that precinct, whose former corruption once dubbed it the Dirty Thirty.

Bratton needed no convincing: he was an even truer believer than I in the Broken Windows theory of crime preventionthe idea that if cops let minor crimes of disorder, such as low-level marijuana selling or subway fare-beating or public urination (or, these days, masturbation), go unpunished, the malicious will conclude that anything goes and do what their evil hearts prompt. He soon had a narcotics squad patrolling the neighborhood, and within months, the police had won a score of convictions of the pushers.

Bratton is retired now; the city council has decriminalized crimes of disorder by mandating civil instead of criminal summonses for many of them, resulting in no criminal record and no arrest warrant if you dont show up in court; and the successors to the narcotics cops who worked their magic in the Three-Oh in 2015 have lost interest in the ongoing problem. Theyre just low-level kids, the detectives say; theyll soon be back on the streetsand, more than anything, as they do not say, Mayor Bill de Blasio and his city council of unemployables have decided that justice demands that the acting-out of the disorderly and the criminal, ex officio victims of social injustice, should take precedence over the peace and safety of the hardworking and civil. Out go the backlog of quality-of-life warrants of the last decade and more. Why should the wrongdoings of yesteryear weigh on the employment chances of an utterly work-unready 28-year-oldthough, of course, no one would even invoke that past transgression in a case that didnt involve current lawbreaking, just as no cop made a major fuss about small quantities of pot possession, unless some larger offense was at issue.

Fortunately, city crime continues to drop, because the virtuous circle set going by Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Commissioner Bratton, and carried on by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Commissioner Ray Kelly, has its own momentum, proving, as Adam Smith said, that there is a great deal of ruin in a nationit takes a long time to expend the social and cultural capital that so many cities and countries take for granted. As Gotham proved, you can legislate morality, in the sense that lawmaking and law enforcement can change behavior and beliefs. But laws, morals, and manners exist in a dialectical tension with one another, and what has changed for the better can also change for the worseand more easily, since improvement is harder than destruction. With a Black-Lives-Matter mayor, city council, and electorate, with Antifa thugs supposedly now the good guys, and with contrary views silenced by the universities and the trendy totalitarians of Silicon Valley (who, between engineering classes, learned what is right and moral from their required Stanford PC-indoctrination course), I would suggest holding on to your hat. Thanks to the age of Kindle, though, at least we wont have book burnings.

But the reason for controlling quality-of-life disorder is not only, or even primarily, that it lowers major crime. Order is what makes urban life possible. Civilitythe art of living in a cityis not innate. We have to learn not to throw sand at other kids and to learn to raise our hands to be called on, to stand in line and take our turn, not to blast music from our apartment or car, not to display too much affection publicly, not to block the sidewalk or market aisle, not to yell on our cellphones or cram pizza into our maws on the street or public transport, not to litter, not to monopolize public spaces with our expressive behavior, not to cut off pedestrians in crosswalks, not to bother or offend others unnecessarily. We no longer teach civility in schools: instead of the citizenship that my generation learned, we impart social justice, which teaches grievance and resentment of others; and city officials, with an Obama edicts backing, have hamstrung school discipline, fostering misbehavior. In college, we dont teach free and civil discussion, tolerance of intellectual differences, or respect for learning but only a kids right to resent microaggressions and silence politically incorrect speech as violence. The result will not be urbanity.

That leaves the police to stop people from disturbing the peace or committing public nuisances. Except that the city council wants them to stop doing all that; and fear of a career-ending confrontation in such an anti-cop climate makes officers all too ready to pull back. Already, boom boxes are metastasizing on the streetseven bicyclists blast themand the homeless, who go wherever lax order-keeping and virtue-signaling left-wing generosity make them welcome, have flocked to Gothams dirty-again streets.

Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Macmillan Cancer Support and Saga Charitable Trust have been announced as the winners of the first Charities Against Fraud Awards, hosted by accountancy firm Moore Stephens and supported by the Charity Commission and Governance & Leadership magazine.

Macmillan scooped the 2017 Excellence Award for Tackling Fraud Against Large Charities, while Saga won in the Small Charities category. The awards took place as part of Charity Fraud Awareness Week.

Macmillan was honoured for its foresight two years ago to appoint a dedicated counter-fraud manager. Since his appointment, Bob Browell has successfully raised fraud awareness across the charity, resulting in a sharp increase in the numbers of referrals and cases the charity now deals with.

He also introduced a civil recovery process to recover monies lost, which is now embedded as part of the fraud response plan. This is used where people raise money for the charity through fundraising events but then fail to pass it on to the charity. Macmillan has recovered 168,788 since piloting the process two years ago, as well as a further 10,000 for two other charities where money had been raised on behalf of more than one charity at the same event.

The awards judges described the use of a civil recovery process as a reasonably unique approach that other charities should consider.

Browell told Governance & Leadership that charities get little satisfaction from seeing people prosecuted; what they mostly want is the money back. And fraudsters are often more afraid of having a county court judgment registered against them than they are of a criminal prosecution and suspended sentence, he added.

Saga Charitable Trust won its category for the rigorous due diligence process it deploys to examine prospective grant recipients overseas. Saga gives away around 120,000 a year to small local NGOs, particularly in high-risk countries. Before agreeing grants, the charity applies a cross-team three-stage approach to due diligence, ranging from basic checks through to audited accounts and use of in-house financial crime expertise.

Welcoming guests to the awards ceremony last night, Nick Simkins, head of not-for-profit at Moore Stephens, quoted some new City of London Police figures which demonstrated the scale of fraud against charities in the UK.

In the last six months, police have investigated 298 victim donation cases which have resulted in losses of 200,000 each month. In the same period there have also been 823 cases of employee fraud, including one where a trustee stole 1.2m, and over 4,000 reports of CEO fraud  where money transfer requests are received from fraudsters purporting to be senior members of staff. The value of these is averaging around 12m a month at present, Baker said.

He also recounted a case where Moore Stephens was engaged to investigate the circumstances surrounding a fraud committed by the secretary-general of a large global charity, where the person was charged with 69 counts of fraud, theft, corruption and tax evasion. He said the firm made over 80 recommendations for improving that charitys processes.

Alan Bryce, the Charity Commissions head of development and operational intelligence, also spoke at the awards. He cited the recent British Crime Survey which showed that over half of all crimes now are committed using computers, and said: Charities face a big and growing threat and it is only through sharing best practice, as these awards are doing, that we can get two or three steps ahead of the fraudsters.

He encouraged charities to always report incidents of fraud, suspected or confirmed, to the Commission so that the offenders can be traced and stopped. Reporting fraud is a crucial element of stopping fraud happening," Bryce said. "Charities have a moral obligation to report frauds.

One of the myths in tackling fraud is that if you have no cases of reported fraud, you have no fraud. In my 20 years experience in the charity and public sectors, most of the organisations that are at highest risk of fraud generally tend to be those who have never reported any fraud. Fraud does occur, even with the best defences, and its those charities who are willing to recognise and report it and learn the lessons from it that are really tackling fraud most effectively.
Kenyans go to the polls for the second time this Thursday to stage a redo of the countrys presidential election in August. In the months leading up to the initial vote, Kenyans faced a barrage of misleading information through print, TV, radio, and social media. The atmosphere, fraught with memories of violence during 2007 presidential election, peaked with the torture and murder of an election official just days before the polls opened.

Fake news played at least a small part in escalating the tension: A US embassy cable circulating on WhatsApp predicted celebratory violence if Raila Odinga, the major opposition candidate, won. Within weeks, Kenyas Supreme Court nullified the win by incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta, and Odinga declared he would not participate in a re-run and urged his supporters to boycott the second vote.

Days before the August election, Facebook rolled out an educational tool to help Kenyan users spot fake news: quick tips for spotting fake news, such as, be skeptical of headlines or some stories are intentionally false. Facebook is an important information channel in Kenya, reaching six million people, out of an estimated 37.7 million internet users, and Kenyans desperately needed the critical-thinking skills to better navigate misinformation. But the platforms last-minute tool paled in comparison with the long and contentious election run-up. As deputy editor of the fact-checking platform Africa Check, Lee Mwiti, observed, By the time [the Facebook initiative] launched, misinformation had run its course.

In Kenya, misinformation during elections is a recurring problem. A government commission report on the 2007 elections pinpointed partisanship, hate-speech, and misinformation in media (mainly via radio) as key factors inciting post-election violence. Kenyas ethnic rivalries, stoked by colonial powers, date back to before the countrys independence. Violence after the 2007 elections, in which over a thousand people died, made clear that the divisions, inflamed by economic and land inequality, had grown into a dangerous tribalism. Social media exacerbates these long-standing divisions, because it typically strengthens group identity; trust on social networks often depends on human relationships rather than accuracy of information. As behavioral economist Cass Sunstein found in his work on conspiracy theories, arguments from perceived outsiders usually lack the credibility to reduce polarization.

This year, false allegations surfaced of political party defections, and incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta hired Cambridge Analytica, the data firm that stimulated support for President Trumps election and the Brexit campaign in the UK, to influence voters. An early sign that fake news would play a role in the election came in February, when the hashtag #SalomeDivorcesPhaRAO trended on Kenyan social media networks amid accusations that Kalonzo Musyoka, leader of the Wiper Democratic Movement-Kenya had defected to the rival Jubilee political party. While people traded memes or shared the story, many didnt realize the story was false.

What followed, in print and online, included everything from exaggerated accusations to fake news falsely attributed to the BBC and CNN. Kenyan fake news sites often hire writers to provide and share false supporting evidence, Mwiti said. Many of the fake stories, he added, circulated on Kenyas thriving blogosphere and on social media.

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Misinformation also circulated in print. In April, the day of local elections in Busia, many Kenyans were surprised that morning when they saw copies of Daily Nation proclaiming that Paul Otuoma, a candidate in the Orange Democratic Movement primaries, had defected to the rival Jubilee party. As in the case of #SalomeDivorcesPhaRAO, Otuoma had not defected, and the leaflets were a dupe. It was the biggest fake story to date.

Since August, protests have raged on between the opposition, Kenyatta supporters, and the police. Human Rights Watch reports between 33 and 50 deaths related to the elections since August. Even with the presence of fact-checking tools on Facebook, misinformation continues to spread. This past month, photos depicting supposedly new acts of violence went viral on WhatsApp and Facebook. Many of these photossuch as one depicting the bodies of five dead individualsturned out to be from the 2007 elections.

Its difficult to measure the scope of wrong information reaching voters, and the impact it had on them; researchers are just beginning to put together tools and flags for fighting disinformation even as the problem charges forward. A pre-election study by the Portland consultancy firm found that most Kenyans want trustworthy coverage, but that a third of Kenyans are unable to consistently access accurate information about elections. The same survey indicated that most Kenyans believe they can spot fake news; 90 percent of Kenyans reported they had seen deliberate misinformation.

Recent efforts by Facebook also include a third-party fact checking initiative, funding for projects that strengthen ties between communities and journalists, and preliminary attempts to support media literacy initiatives. Over the long term, these initiatives represent a much more robust approach to an increasingly wicked problem.

But quick tech solutions alone are no substitute for media literacy. Making media literacy work depends on understanding communities and developing usable tools. The danger of widespread misinformation is made stronger by encrypted apps like WhatsApp and data targeting services like Cambridge Analytica. Platforms cannot solve this; users themselves need the tools to discern quality of information. Successful media literacy programs are based on peer-to-peer learning and civic engagement leveraging positive aspects of group identity. Facebooks tips for Kenyan users were a quick solution, but media literacya combination of critical thinking about information and the ability to construct reliable mediated messagesis anything but fast.

Organizations like UNESCO, the Centre for Media and Information Literacy in Kenya, and others began working well before the elections on programs and curricula to help improve digital literacy and critical thinking skills. Jaco du Toit, Advisor for Communication & Information at the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, said that UNESCOs Kenya program pushed for a national media and information literacy policy and strategy, and created curricula for classrooms across the country. While UNESCO focused on schools, Du Toit believes tech can play a role in media literacy efforts. Tapping into ongoing efforts by organizations that understand the Kenyan context and have already made headway will significantly improve any attempts by social media companies to bolster media literacy.

It may take a long time, but evidence shows media literacy can be a powerful force for positive social change. Effective media literacy training triggers personal transformation, inspiring people to share new skills with peers and confront personal biases. Group identity, rather than fueling conspiracy, can reinforce a virtuous cycle of critical consumption of information.

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Tara Susman-Pena and Bebe Santa-Wood are the authors of this article. Bebe Santa-Wood @bsantawood, is a recent graduate of Columbia Universitys School of International and Public Affairs, specializing in Human Rights and Communications. Tara Susman-Pena is senior technical advisor in the Center for Applied Learning & Impact (CALI) and the Information & Media practice at IREX.
Louisiana health officials say a second bacterium, in addition to the salmonella found, apparently contributed to the mass food poisoning that may have killed one person and apparently sickened more than 100 people who ate ate the chicken and sausage jambalaya at a softball teams fundraiser.

Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Parham Jaberi says in addition to the salmonella already found in stool samples, a bacterium commonly found on raw meat and poultry also has been identified. Jaberi says the bacterium, when ingested, releases a toxin that makes people sick. It presents many of the same symptoms as salmonella.

The fundraiser was in Columbia, a town of about 400 and the Caldwell Parish seat.

As of Friday, The Town Talk reports 125 cases of a gastrointestinal illness were confirmed with 37 people hospitalized after eating chicken and sausage jambalaya at a softball teams fundraiser. One death was reported, but officials are conducting an autopsy to determine whether it can be attributed to the outbreak.

Doctors expect more illness, because more than 300 plates may have been sold.

The ages of those with a confirmed illness range from 15 to 72 years old.

More testing is expected, but health officials dont anticipate any new findings.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The world's top 10 fastest growing tourism cities are all in Asia, according to new data from the World Travel and Tourism Council.

The Council's latest "City Travel and Tourism Impact" report shows that Asian cities will be at the forefront of tourism growth over the next decade, and that's especially true for those in China.

The city of Chongqing in southwest China tops the list on the latest study, with 14 percent growth per year. That's closely followed by Guangzhou at 13.1 percent.

"The strong Chinese domestic market is behind the growth of cities such as Chongqing and Guangzhou which rely on spend from Chinese nationals for 94.5 percent and 89.1 percent of their Travel & Tourism GDP respectively," the report said.

Shanghai also shows growth at 12.8 percent, while China's capital city of Beijing is at 12 percent per year.

"The two-digit growth that we see here in this part of the world is very impressive," Gloria Guevara, president and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council told CNBC's "The Rundown."

"China is good not only as a sourcing market for some other countries, but also their domestic traveling is huge," she added.

The other cities on the top ten list are Chengdu in China (11.2 percent), Manila in the Philippines (10.9 percent), Delhi in India (10.8 percent), Shenzhen in China (10.7 percent), Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia (10.1 percent) and Jakarta in Indonesia (10 percent).

The study covers a total of 65 cities, chosen for being among the top ranked for arrivals, and spending by visitors. Twenty-one of those cities are in Asia Pacific.
President Donald Trump said last week that he believed Havana was responsible for 24 diplomats being harmed. Earlier in October, Washington expelled 15 Cuban diplomats and recalled more than half the U.S. diplomatic personnel from Havana.

Cuban officials investigating U.S. complaints of attacks on diplomats in Havana said talk of acoustic strikes was "science fiction" and they accused Washington of "slander" while refusing to cooperate fully with Cuba's enquiry.

Although Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez had denounced the expulsions as "unjustified" and accused the United States of insufficient cooperation, three Cuban Interior Ministry officials and a doctor heading the inquiry provided more details in an interview on Sunday in Havana.

Cuba had deployed about 2,000 experts, from criminologists to audiologists and mathematicians, to investigate the incidents after it became aware of them in February, the officials said.

The probe has not ended, but so far, it had failed to uncover any evidence to corroborate allegations of attacks that the United States says have caused hearing loss, dizziness, fatigue and cognitive issues in diplomatic personnel while based on the Communist Party-ruled island.

"Our main concern at this moment are the accusations being made by the U.S. government and we are focused on that because this is a slander," said Coronel Ramiro Ramirez, responsible for the security of diplomats in Cuba. There was no immediate comment from the White House or the U.S. State Department.

U.S. media outlets have cited Washington officials as raising the possibility that sonic weapons were used to harm the diplomats. However, Cuban investigators said the Caribbean country did not possess such weapons and denied they could even have been used by third parties without affecting the health of others or attracting attention.
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Watch out, moms: The motherhood penalty can extend into retirement. Mothers with one child receive 16 percent less in Social Security benefits at age 62 than non-mothers do, according to a new paper from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Each additional child reduces benefits by 2 percent more. In part, the gaps are because parents and non-parents are very different groups when it comes to work and retirement decisions, said co-author Matthew Rutledge, a research economist at the center. Moms have lower lifetime earnings, too, from unpaid time out of the workforce to care for children, and that motherhood penalty on pay. (All else equal, the center found that mothers with one child have lifetime earnings 28 percent less, with 3 percent additional drop for each additional child.) Being aware of that potential Social Security gap could help moms mitigate it. Try to keep a hand in the workforce  even on a part-time or consulting basis  during periods when you leave a job to raise a child, said certified financial planner Nora Yousif, vice president at RBC Wealth Management in South Easton, Massachusetts. Your Social Security benefit at full retirement age is based on your highest 35 years of earnings, and it's better to have a low-income year than a zero-income year in that calculation.

Mayte Torres | Getty Images
Even though New York may not be one of the 10 happiest cities in America, its students are on the receiving end of some pretty great perks. New York City is the largest school district in the country, with over 1.1 million public school students in over 1,800 schools. In April, New York became the first state in the country to offer free four-year public college. Now, New York City also provides students with free breakfast, lunch and  for a limited time  library books.

Free breakfast

New York City public schools provide free breakfast to all public school students during the school year. During the summer, the Department of Education provides free breakfast and lunch to any New Yorker under the age of 18 through the Summer Meals program. "Students need healthy meals to stay focused in school, and it is a major step forward that every New York City student will have access to free breakfast and lunch every day," says New York City Chancellor Carmen Farina. Unfortunately, not all American students have access to programs like these. According to non-profit No Kid Hungry, over 13 million American students go to school hungry and one in five live in food insecure households.

Image Source | Getty Images

Free lunch

In September, Farina announced that all students in New York City will receive free lunch through the Free School Lunch for All program regardless of their income, where they live, or if they go to a public, private or charter school. In 2016, 75 percent of students qualified for free lunch and this school year, 100 percent of families will be eligible to receive free lunch. The initiative expects to provide 200,000 more students with free lunch starting this school year. "We know that students cannot learn or thrive in school if they are hungry all day," says Mayor Bill de Blasio. "Free school lunch will not only ensure that every kid in New York City has the fuel they need to succeed but also further our goal of providing an excellent and equitable education for all students." In other parts of the country, families are struggling to pay off the debt that students incur when they are unable to afford a meal. According to the School Nutrition Association, roughly three-quarters of school districts have unpaid student lunch debt balances. In December 2016, writer Ashley C. Ford tweeted about lunch debt, starting a movement that has since raised thousands of dollars towards paying off student lunch debts across the country.

Forgiven library fees
According to The New York Times, in 1998, just 3.4 million students attended university in China. Today, they estimate that there are over 26.2 million students enrolled in Chinese universities.

As a part of its annual 2018 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities rankings, U.S. News & World Report assessed 1,250 institutions across 74 countries including 136 Chinese universities.

U.S. News used data from Clarivate Analytics InCites and ranked universities based on factors such as global research reputation, publications and conferences. In order to be considered, universities had to have published at least 1,500 papers between 2011 and 2015.

Read on to see the 10 best universities in China:
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7, 2017.

Hillary Clinton's campaign and the Democratic National Committee helped pay for research leading to the infamous Russia dossier, which contains allegations of President Donald Trump's ties to the country and possible interference by the Kremlin in the campaign, a source confirmed to NBC News.

Marc E. Elias, a lawyer representing the Clinton campaign and the DNC, engaged Washington intelligence company Fusion GPS to conduct the research in April 2016, as was originally reported by The Washington Post.

The firm then hired Christopher Steele, a former British MI6 officer with connections to the FBI, who authored the dossier, the Post said.

Through Elias' law firm, funding by the Clinton campaign and the DNC to Fusion GPS reportedly continued through October 2016, ending only days before the election was held.

NBC News confirmed the Post report.

"To aid in its representation of the Clinton presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee, [Elias' law firm] Perkins Coie retained Fusion GPS, entering into an engagement for research services that began in April 2016 and concluded before the election in early November," a source familiar with the situation told NBC.

The Post said an unidentified GOP donor paid Fusion during the Republican presidential primaries to investigate Trump's background. It said Elias and the DNC agreed to pay for the research after the Republican donor stopped paying for it.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted Tuesday that the "real Russia scandal" was that the Clinton campaign funded the "fake Russia dossier" and then "lied about it and covered it up."

The real Russia scandal? Clinton campaign paid for the fake Russia dossier, then lied about it & covered it up.

See the Washington Post report for more on the funding behind the Russia-Trump dossier.

NBC News contributed to this report.

Correction: This story was revised to correct that the Post report said an unidentified Republican funded the research before the Clinton campaign and the DNC started backing it. A headline misstated this.
At one point or another, everyone has felt like quitting their job  but not everyone does it. Tuesday, Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz, proved he was seriously quitting. In a speech on the Senate floor, Flake announced that he will not seek re-election and issued criticism of the Republican party and President Donald Trump. If Flake's action has inspired thoughts of walking out of your office, here are four other epic stories of people quitting their jobs in public.

1. Using a marching band

In a now famous 2011 Youtube video with over 5 million views called "Joey Quits," then 23-year-old Joey DeFrancesco quit his job at the Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel. But, he wasn't alone  he had the help of an entire marching band. In the video, a manager sees the group and tells them to leave. Joey then replies, "I'm here to tell you that I'm quitting," and the band breaks into song, marching around the hotel.

Screengrab from "Joey Quits" on Youtube.

"I hated them, and they hated me," he tells the Huffington Post about the job. "It was this big drawn-out war we were having with management ... I knew I had to get one last shot at them."

2. Sending a company-wide email

One option to go out in style? Let the whole company know how you feel. After a 35-year career working for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Michael Stuban had enough and decided to send a message just before retiring. In 2016, he sent a sharply critical exit review not only to the human resources department, but to all 2,000 of the organization's employees, the Washington Post reports. He called out his co-workers on things like "phoneyness," employees having "no morale" and managers being "out of touch."

3. With a slide and a beer

In 2010, JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater . After a disagreement with a passenger on a plane at Kennedy International Airport, he took to the PA system and "unleashed a profanity-laden tirade" according to . Then, he grabbed a beer from the beverage cart, pulled the emergency exit shoot's slide and high-tailed it off the plane.

Steven Slater, a Jetblue flight attendant, is buckled up by Port Authority Police after arrest for pulling the emergency exit and exiting an airplane. New York Daily News Archive | Getty Images

He was later sentenced to a year of probation on a misdemeanor charge of attempted criminal mischief after completing a mental health treatment program. He was also ordered to repay JetBlue $10,000 for the slide, CNN reports.

4. Using expletives
The human brain is hardwired to judge. This survival mechanism makes it very hard to meet someone without evaluating and interpreting their behavior. While we tend to think that our judgments are based on the content of conversations and other obvious behaviors, the research says otherwise. In fact, the majority of our judgments are focused on smaller, subtler things, such as handshakes and body language. We often form complete opinions about people based solely on these behaviors. More from Travis Bradberry:

8 ways smart people act stupid

Nine types of people who never succeed at work

Why your attitude is more important than your IQ We are so good at judging other people's personalities based on small things that, in a University of Kansas study, subjects accurately predicted people's personality traits, such as extroversion/introversion, emotional stability, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness, simply by looking at pictures of the shoes they wore. Our unconscious behaviors have a language of their own, and their words aren't always kind. These behaviors have likely become an integral part of who you are, and if you don't spend much time thinking about them, now is a good time to start, because they could be sabotaging your career.

How you treat waiters and receptionists

How you treat support staff is so indicative of your makeup that it has become a common interview tactic. By gauging how you interact with support staff on your way in and out of the building, interviewers get a sense for how you treat people in general. Most people act the part when they're speaking to the hiring manager or other "important" people, but some will pull a Jekyll and Hyde act the moment they walk out the door, treating others with disdain or indifference. Business lunches are another place this comes to light. No matter how nice you are to the people you have lunch with, it's all for naught if those people witness you behaving badly toward others.

How often you check your phone

There's nothing more frustrating than someone pulling out their phone mid-conversation. Doing so conveys a lack of respect, attention, listening skills, and willpower. Unless it's an emergency, it's wise to keep your phone holstered. A study from Elon University confirms that pulling out your phone during a conversation lowers both the quality and quantity of face-to-face interactions.

Repetitive, nervous habits

Touching your nails or face or picking at your skin typically indicates that you're nervous, overwhelmed, and not in control. Research from the University of Michigan suggests that these nervous habits are indicative of a perfectionistic personality, and that perfectionists are more likely to engage in these habits when they're frustrated or bored.

How long you take to ask questions

Have you ever had a conversation with someone where they talked about themselves the entire time? The amount of time someone allows to pass before they take an interest in you is a strong personality indicator. People who only talk about themselves tend to be loud, self-absorbed "takers." People who only ask questions and share little about themselves are usually quiet, humble "givers." Those who strike a nice balance of give-and-take are reciprocators and good conversationalists.

Your handshake

It's common for people to associate a weak handshake with a lack of confidence and an overall lackadaisical attitude. A study at the University of Alabama showed that, although it isn't safe to draw assumptions about someone's competence based on their handshake, you can accurately identify personality traits. Specifically, the study found that a firm handshake equates with being less shy, less neurotic, and more extroverted.

Tardiness

Showing up late leads people to think that you lack respect and tend to procrastinate, as well as being lazy or disinterested. Contrary to these perceptions, a San Diego State University study by Jeff Conte revealed that tardiness is typically seen in people who multitask, or are high in relaxed, Type B personality traits. Conte's study found that Type B individuals are often late because they experience time more slowly than the rest of us. Bottom line here is not to read too much into people showing up late. It's better to ask what's behind it than to make assumptions.

Handwriting

There are all manner of false stereotypes attempting to relate your handwriting to your personality. For example, people believe that how hard you press down on the paper relates to how uptight you are, the slant of your writing indicates introversion or extroversion, and the neatness/sloppiness of your writing reveals organizational tendencies. The research is inconclusive at best when it comes to handwriting and personality. If you have an important letter to write, I'd suggest sticking to the keyboard to keep things neutral.

Eye contact

The key to eye contact is balance. While it's important to maintain eye contact, doing so 100% of the time is perceived as aggressive and creepy. At the same time, if you only maintain eye contact for a small portion of the conversation, you'll come across as disinterested, shy, or embarrassed. Studies show that maintaining eye contact for roughly 60% of a conversation strikes the right balance and makes you come across as interested, friendly, and trustworthy.

Bringing it all together
For consumer advocates, Tuesday's late-night Senate vote to overturn the so-called arbitration rule is only a battle lost, not an end to the fight. Republicans in the upper chamber voted to kill the rule, which would have banned banks, credit card companies and other financial firms from requiring customers to settle disagreements through arbitration rather than in the courts. The mandate, which makes it impossible for consumers to band together in class-action lawsuits, often appears in the fine print in customer agreements. The repeal comes despite the recent uproar over the inclusion of a mandatory arbitration clause by Equifax in its free-monitoring service agreement. In that case, the credit-reporting firm  which offered the service after revealing a massive data breach in early September  ended up removing the language.

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"When people are cheated, they believe they have the right to go to court," said Paul Bland, executive director of Public Justice. "The next time something like Equifax happens, those Senators are going to have to own this." If the regulation had been in effect when Equifax offered the service, the company would have been banned from using forced arbitration because credit-reporting companies were covered by the rule. The measure would have pertained to customer agreements as of March 18, 2018. Already, similar clauses are prohibited in mortgage contracts. Bland said his group will continue efforts to give consumers the right to their day in court for all agreements with financial institutions. "If we don't go away and we keep telling the stories of real people who have been harmed by overreaching lenders, I think we can turn this around," he said.

Chris Ryan | OJO Images | Getty Images

Republicans' move to kill the rule came despite polls showing that a majority of Americans support it. For example, a survey done earlier this month by the American Future Fund showed that 67 percent of respondents favored preserving the rule. Broken down by party affiliation, 64 percent of Republicans, 73 percent of Democrats and 67 percent of independents supported it. Opposition came largely from the banking industry, pitting it against consumer advocacy groups, veterans groups and Democratic lawmakers, among others. Even some conservative organizations, which typically support Republican-sponsored legislation, opposed the effort to dismantle it on the grounds that doing so takes away individual rights. Yet in a political environment where Republicans have been able to make little headway on their agenda despite controlling both the House and Senate  i.e., failing to repeal Obamacare  this move offered a chance to prove to supporters that they can get legislation passed, Bland said. "In the long run, though, this won't be good news," Bland said. "They voted on it at 10 o'clock at night when no one was paying attention. It was just a huge giveaway to large banks."

The next time something like Equifax happens, those Senators are going to have to own this. Paul Bland executive director, Public Justice
Rendering of exterior of Waterstone at the Circle, an urban independent living community scheduled to open in Boston in January. Source: Waterstone at the Circle.

The active, wealthy senior may be the new millennial

The number of senior renters has grown dramatically across all income levelsnot just the high end of the market represented by Waterstone. According to a new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by RENTCafe, they're actually the fastest growing segment of the country's rental population. Between 2009 and 2015, the number of renters over 55 increased by 28 percent, compared to a 3 percent increase in renters 34 years or younger. Clearly, there are already a lot more younger people living in apartments. But the significant jump in seniors, representing 2.5 million more 55-plus renters, comes before the so-called "silver tsunami" hits, suggesting both lifestyle and demographic shifts are at play. The study's author, Nadia Balint, says the data points to rapid growth in highly educated, empty-nest baby boomers, driven by a number of factors: lifestyle changes, lingering financial challenges from the 2008 housing crash, and an inability to trade down in the ownership market due to a lack of affordable options. "They were forced to downsize, or they're simply finding out renting is a better choice for them at this point in their life," says Balint. "But there are also more rental options on the market that appeal to this demographic, more mixed-use developments in suburban downtowns and transit oriented locations. They offer a more manageable, flexible lifestyle with fewer maintenance costs." Balint's data shows the 55-plus renter population has grown most quickly in the areas one may expect: warmer, urban parts of the Sun Belt. Tampa, Florida, saw a 61 percent jump between 2009 and 2015, Phoenix saw a 59 percent rise, and Dallas recorded a 46 percent jump. For developers, the active, wealthy senior may be the new millennial. Waterstone and other projects like it are betting on this niche, but profitable, market of rich urban seniors over 80. In Manhattan, the $246 million Maplewood Senior Living residence, a 23-story luxury high-rise offering 215 units and a farm-to-table restaurant, is meant to be the first of a line of branded high-rises called Inspir. But as they age, plenty of active boomers will also seek out urban or urban-style living without the hassle or overhead of ownership. Today's young seniors "don't want to feel like they are tucked away in some suburb," Traci Bild, head of Bild & Co., a Tampa healthcare consulting firm, told the Wall Street Journal. "If you are getting that younger resident who is not 80 yet, that's someone who is going to want that urban environment and pay for it."

"The Silver Tsunami" and an aging U.S.

Population trends suggest developers should be figuring out how to break ground now. The population has significantly aged in just the last few decades: The average age was 28 in the '70s, says Balint, and today it is 37. According to Projections and Implications for Housing a Growing Population: Older Households 2015-2035, a 2016 report by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, the number of Americans over 80 will double in the next two decades, from 6 million to 12 million. Gordon says the average move-in age for a traditional senior rental property right now is 82. One out of three U.S. households will be headed by someone over 65 by 2035. That's 79 million Americans, many thinking of retirementand rentingin a whole new light. The jump in the 80-plus population will be meteoric. This group will grow 18 percent between 2020 and 2025, and then rise a further 27 percent between 2025 and 2030. Compare growth projections to the total stock of senior living units in the country, and it's clear a building boom is needed. According to NIC MAP, a market data provider for the senior housing market, the current U.S. inventory breaks down as follows: 410,000 independent living units, 340,000 assisted living units, 85,000 memory care units offering services for those with Alzheimer's and other conditions, and 150,000 skilled nursing care units providing round-the-clock care. The market appears to be divided in a few different ways, with active lifestyle options for those 60 to 80 (witness the rise of themed retirement villages such as Margaritaville, which certainly aren't selling a quiet, relaxed suburban lifestyle) and more assisted and supportive living for octogenarians and above. Balint says that many boomers looking for a more urban experience will seek out amenities designed to provide convenience and a comfortable place to live, offering opportunities for socializing so that residents can feel at home even though they're renting. According to Jennifer Molinsky, a senior research assistant at the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, the percentage of senior renters making $60,000 a year or more rose from 11 to 15 percent between 2006 and 2016. Welltower, a development firm working on its own high-end senior urban developments, conducted an Aging in Cities Survey earlier this year that captured what a very profitable segment of this population wants: 8 out of 10 baby boomers who live in a city want to remain in the city when they are 80-plus years old, with the same percentage expressing openness to urban senior living communities. They want a home that offers access to high-quality health care, a connection to public transportation, neighborhood walkability, and proximity to family.

Looming senior housing divide
Akamai CEO and co-founder Tom Leighton said the Equifax breach helped fuel the growth of the cloud service provider's own security product, as the company makes a big push into cybersecurity.

"Our security business is growing at a very rapid clip," Leighton said in an interview on CNBC's Squawk Alley.

But one thing that prompted Akamai  a company whose main business has been managing web traffic at busy sites  to shift much of its focus to the cloud security business was increasing pressure from other giants in cloud computing, like Apple and Amazon . Increasingly these tech giants are finding in-house solutions for traffic management, he said.

The security portfolio of Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Akamai is experiencing rapid growth, he said. It grew 27 percent, year-over-year, to $121 million in revenue, making it the fastest growing portion of the company, according to Thomson Reuters.

Leighton attributes this growth, in part, to increasing cybersecurity threats.

"I think we have a long way to go in terms of security, you can look at the headlines to see all the damage they're causing," Leighton said.

As Equifax's July breach proved, it only took about two months of flawed security to exposed the personal and financial information of nearly 143 million Americans.

Akamai's product, Kona Site Defender, is designed to prevent exactly the types of threat that brought down Equifax. Leighton said he felt Kona could have "easily stopped" that type of breach.

And Leighton isn't concerned with revenue from security solutions drying up.

"When it comes to areas like security, there is no choice, they have to defend themselves. The attack landscape is evolving very rapidly," Leighton said.

Akamai is ramping up to accommodate increasing security threats, researching new measures, like nano technology, that don't focus solely on perimeter defense.
Bitcoin is not as attractive as the distributed ledger technology that underpins it, a Chinese investment banker has said.

Fan Bao, CEO of investment bank China Renaissance, told CNBC Wednesday that the world's biggest cryptocurrency was "getting a little bit bubblish."

"I think we have to separate bitcoin from the blockchain," Bao said. "I think blockchain is very exciting technology, probably the most disruptive technology in our industry, the financial services industry."

Blockchain is a decentralized database of transactions maintained across a network of computers around the world, rather than in one single location.

Bao joked that if someone has invested in bitcoin, they would be "getting some good returns," but he expressed doubt about the virtual coin.

The price of the cryptocurrency surpassed $6,100 over the weekend, reaching a fresh all-time high. It has been faced with much volatility over the last few months, falling as low as $3,766, before recovering significantly.
Employees on a platform next to a Boeing 737 MAX 9 jetliner at the company's manufacturing facility in Renton, Washington.

Boeing's CEO on Wednesday expressed confidence in the planemaker's strategy and said the Airbus-Bombardier partnership won't change the company's game plan.

Last week, Europe's Airbus announced a partnership with Canada's Bombardier on the C Series, a narrow-body aircraft that competes with Boeing's 737.

"Recent changes in the marketplace, the discussions between Airbus and Bombardier, don't change our plans," Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said during a conference call after the company announced .

According to the CEO, Boeing has "a strong strategy in place. We'll continue to look at our strategic alternatives."

Muilenburg said the narrow-body market is "an attractive market with a lot of global competitors. We like competition. It makes us better. We are confident we can win, but it's important that everybody plays by the same rules."

Boeing has accused the Canadian manufacturer of benefiting from "unfair" government subsidies. Last month, the U.S. Commerce Department imposed anti-subsidy duties on Bombardier's C Series planes.

"We're going to continue to invest to win in the narrow-body marketplace," Muilenburg said. "We have lots of growth opportunity both top and bottom line in our core narrow-body business. We have a number of customers who operate 737s today who still have not made their next-generation selection [to the MAX].

At the same time, the CEO said Boeing will "continue to look at ways to accelerate our core business, grow organically as our primary growth engine."

Muilenburg also said Boeing has "clear priorities on usage of cash. Our first use of cash is invested organically, secondly returning values our shareholders  roughly 100 percent free cash flow. And then thirdly, mergers, acquisitions, partnerships that complement our organic strategy. We are going to continue down that path."
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This despite CEO Dennis Muilenburg saying Boeing delivered "a record 202 commercial airplanes" in the quarter as it increases production of the 737 MAX aircraft.

Boeing's slide accounts for more than 50 points of the Dow Jones industrial average's 172 point decline. Boeing's stock has climbed steadily this year, up over 70 percent as of Tuesday's close, according to FactSet.

Both its commercial airplanes and its defense, space, and security units saw declines in revenue  by 1 percent and 5 percent, respectively  compared to the same time last year. The business segments had a combined $329 million in costs from the KC-46 aerial refueling tanker due to production problems. The program remains in testing as Boeing seeks to certify the aircraft.

Boeing shares fell more than 3 percent in midday trading Wednesday after reporting sluggish revenue growth in two key businesses.

EPS: $2.72 per share vs. $2.66 per share expected, according to Thomson Reuters.

Revenue: $24.3 billion vs. $23.9 billion expected, according to Thomson Reuters.

The aerospace giant raised its full year earnings forecast to a range of $11.20  $11.40, up ten cents from its previous range of $11.10  $11.30. The company says the upward adjustment is due to a lower-than-expected tax rate.

The quarter ended with a $474 billion orders backlog, which includes $16 billion added during the quarter, down from $482 billion three months ago.

Boeing's trade dispute with Bombardier dominated both headlines and stock valuations over the past three months.

At the center of the dispute are 75 Bombardier C Series jets, which Boeing alleged were sold to Delta Air Lines for "absurdly low prices, in violation of U.S. and global trade laws." Bombardier refuted the allegations as "pure hypocrisy."

The U.S. Commerce Department's initial ruling in September recommended a tariff of 300 percent on the C Series, essentially siding with Boeing. That would mean the jets, which Boeing claims cost Delta $19.6 million apiece, would now cost $78.3 million.

When the U.S. State Department announced its intention to sell $5 billion in Boeing F-18s to Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lashed back, asserting his country "won't do business with a company that's busy trying to sue us and put our aerospace workers out of business."



Boeing's defense CEO Leanne Caret responded that her company would "not back down," saying she hopes it "doesn't impact our defense sale."

Then competitor Airbus joined the fray. On Oct. 16, Airbus agreed to buy a majority stake in the C Series program. Boeing is sticking with its lawsuit despite the deal, making it possible for Bombardier to assemble the jets in Alabama. The partnership would give Airbus a 50.01 percent stake in the C Series, and Bombardier added that the deal could double the value of the program.

The final Commerce Department ruling on the dispute is expected in December, followed by a separate International Trade Commission decision in February 2018.
A Boeing Co. 737 MAX 9 jetliner sits on the production floor at the company's manufacturing facility in Renton, Washington.

Business is so strong for aircraft builder Boeing that it is temporarily rehiring "several hundred" retired mechanics in Washington state to help it meet production demands.

Also, the manufacturer is looking to hire new employees as it struggles to meet commercial aircraft orders that have been piling up.

On Wednesday, Boeing announced a record 202 commercial airplane deliveries in the third quarter, up from 188 aircraft delivered in the year-ago quarter. The latest quarter included delivery of 24 of the 737-MAX aircraft, even as engine issues have been an ongoing challenge.

According to Boeing, the production rate on the 737 aircraft program increased from 42 to 47 planes per month, and it confirmed plans to ramp up the 787 Dreamliner rate from 12 to 14 aircraft per month in 2019.

Analysts say Boeing's order book on its 787 Dreamliner and 737-MAX jets are strong as airlines move to replace older planes with more efficient models and expand routes.

"We have been on a trend of reduced employment in the last few years," Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said Wednesday after the company reported third-quarter financial results. However, he said the company's recent action to bring back some retirees will "help us on some of our production programs and commercial airplanes."

Muilenburg said the retirees offer "unique knowledge capabilities where we can quickly apply their expertise to our production lines."

Paul Bergman, a Boeing spokesman, said the company is doing "modest hiring across manufacturing skills" and approached recently retired mechanics with certain skills to offer them "up to six-month re-employment that could start as soon as this month."

According to Bergman, "Bringing in experienced mechanics will also allow us to hire and train new employees during this period." The company didn't release the exact number it plans to rehire for the short term but said it was "several hundred."

The local machinists union signed off on the temporary rehire plan.

"We thought it was a positive thing for the company to hire back people," said Jon Holden, president of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union District Lodge 751. "At the same time, they were looking at hiring people permanently as well."

Added Holden, "What's good about the deal for past retirees is, they get a benefit and to continue earning their pensions while they come back to work."

Reports have suggested Boeing could bring back up to 800 retirees. The hiring follows the company, America's largest exporter of manufactured products, cutting more than 20,000 jobs since 2012, many in the Puget Sound region of Washington.

"This is all the proof you need that they cut too deep," said Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at Virginia-based industry consultancy Teal Group. "They just cut to enhance profitability."

Boeing's CEO said that employment needs in the business vary at times because there are "areas of growth and we have other areas of decline. You can see the ebbs and flows of the workforce that come with a big global industrial company."

Meantime, Boeing also appears to be showing interest in hiring from aerospace training centers, such as the Washington Aerospace Training and Research Center in Everett, Washington. The center has a 12-week program where students can get trained in assembly mechanics, electrical assembly, quality assurance, composites and tooling, among other things.

"They learn specific skill sets for the Boeing Company and other aerospace companies," said Larry Cluphf, executive director of the WATR Center. "Just in this last week, we had over 22 students called up for interviews."

Boeing has about 710 Dreamliner aircraft orders in its backlog, or roughly five years' worth of production for the mid-size wide-body plane. For the 737, the company has an order backlog of more than 4,470 aircraft, mostly for the 737-MAX model.

Overall, Boeing's backlog of commercial airplanes stood at $412.2 billion at the end of the third quarter, the company said Wednesday. Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith said its backlog of about 5,700 commercial aircraft equates to more than seven years in production.

"Even though the top line has been growing, they have been having production issues transitioning from the 737 to the 737-MAX," said Aboulafia. He said another challenge facing Boeing has been the company's most profitable jetliner, the wide-body 777 model, has been hit by a downturn in twin-aisle demand and overcapacity.

At present, Boeing has about 66,000 workers in Washington state out of a total global workforce of about 142,000. Final assembly of the 737-MAX is at the company's Renton factory, and the Dreamliner's assembly takes place at the Boeing plant in Everett.

Boeing also may look to add new workers or bring back retirees to help support its delayed KC-46 Air Force tanker program in Everett. The Air Force plans to buy more than 170 of the KC-46 planes, a version of Boeing's 767 wide-body aircraft, to replace the force's aging aerial tankers, which date back to the 1950s.

Muilenburg said on the Boeing conference call Wednesday that the Air Force tanker program experienced "additional cost growth due to incorporating changes into additional production aircraft," but he said it remains on track to deliver the first 18 aerial tankers next year.



"We remain very confident in the long-term value of this franchise," he said.
The Canadian government encouraged Bombardier to make a deal with Airbus for its CSeries planes to thwart a potential venture with Chinese investors, according to five sources familiar with the matter.

It signaled its preference for Airbus after Bombardier failed to reach an agreement with Boeing earlier this year that would have given the U.S. company a stake in the CSeries jetliners, according to the sources. The Canadian government's role has not been previously reported.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's administration took a calculated risk in steering Bombardier toward Airbus, according to the sources. It helped save a key product for Bombardier and likely resolved a brewing trade dispute with the United States, but potentially set back efforts to improve trade and economic ties with China.

The deal with Airbus came at a critical time for Bombardier.

Its $6 billion CSeries program, already losing money, had become the subject of a trade dispute in which Boeing charged in a complaint to U.S. authorities that the jetliners benefited from Canadian government subsidies and unfair pricing.

Bombardier had considered a Chinese partnership as early as 2015, after talks about a possible merger with Airbus became public and fell apart. This year, as negotiations with Boeing over a CSeries partnership faltered and concerns about the future of the program mounted, Bombardier's interest in a deal with China intensified, two sources said.

The prospect of such a deal raised concern within the Canadian government, two of the sources said, where officials believed jobs or technology could be "siphoned away" to China.

They also expressed uneasiness about what some saw as inadequate Chinese safeguards against intellectual property theft.
State Street Global Advisors CEO Ron O'Hanley told CNBC on Wednesday the financial services firm behind Wall Street's "Fearless Girl" statue has "not been perfect" but is "committed to equal pay for equal work."

O'Hanley was responding to a question about the company's sponsorship of the statue, which is aimed at empowering women, and its $5 million settlement over unequal pay allegations from 305 female workers.

The settlement, disclosed earlier this month, was "related to something that happened in 2010 and 2011," O'Hanley told "Squawk Box" in an interview on the sidelines of a Saudi investor summit in Riyadh.

But he added, "I would be the first to say that we are not perfect. We are committed to equal pay for equal work. And we stand by that."

"We recognize we haven't been perfect. We paid the fine and we're moving on," he said. "I think if you look at us now, there is no discrimination based on that."

The bronze "Fearless Girl" statue of a child staring down the Wall Street's "Charging Bull" was installed in March.
Looks like still has a way to go to win back customers  and Wall Street.

After , the Mexican restaurant chain trimmed its outlook for comparable sales, a metric closely monitored by the Street, and scaled back its plans for new store growth.

Chipotle shares fell 15 percent Wednesday afternoon, trending toward their worst decline in more than five years. On Oct. 19, 2012, the stock fell more than 12 percent in one day.

"Despite some sales lift from queso and pricing, we view this result and outlook as disappointing, particularly for those looking for a more meaningful recovery following multiple food safety events," Credit Suisse analyst Jason West wrote in a note to clients.

The recovery for the fast-casual chain, he added, "remains elusive."

Credit Suisse lowered its price target on Chipotle shares to $275, from $320. The stock was trading around $277 on Wednesday morning. West cited the fact that the current restaurant environment is "oversupplied," presenting obstacles should Chipotle want to grow faster in the future, as management has suggested.

To be sure, the Colorado-based restaurant chain has been testing initiatives to lure customers back ever since it faced a slew of foodborne illness outbreaks in 2015. A nationwide rollout of queso in September was anticipated to boost sales. But it wasn't enough to make a strong third quarter.
WHEN: Today, Wednesday, October 25, 2017

WHERE: CNBC's "Closing Bell"

Following is the unofficial transcript of a CNBC EXCLUSIVE interview with United States Secretary Of Commerce Wilbur Ross on CNBC's "Closing Bell" (M-F, 3PM-5PM ET) today, Wednesday, October 25th.

All references must be sourced to CNBC.

BECKY QUICK: WE ARE JOINED BY THE 39thCOMMERCE SECRETARY WILBUR ROSS WHO IS WITH US TODAY. AND MR. SECRETARY, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

WILBUR ROSS: GOOD TO BE ON.

QUICK: I WAS HOPING WE COULD START TALKING ABOUT TAX REFORM AND THE TAX PLAN BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT THE MARKET HAS BEEN FOLLOWING ON A DAY BY DAY BASIS. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS RELATIVE VOLATILITY. YESTERDAY, BIG UP DAY. TODAY, A DOWN DAY OFF THE LOWS. BUT THE MARKET STARTED TO TURN DOWN AFTER COMMENTS FROM KEVIN BRADY, HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, SAYING THAT THE 401K IDEA IS ON THE TABLE. NOT WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAD TWEETED EARLIER THIS WEEK. AND I THINK THAT SHOWS YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO FIND THE PAY FORS WITH THIS. WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH TAX REFORM RIGHT NOW?

ROSS: WELL, THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT WANT TO INTERFERE WITH PEOPLES' RETIREMENT SAVINGS. PERIOD. HE ALSO WANTS TAX CUTS, ESPECIALLY MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUTS AND TAX CUT FOR BUSINESSES. THOSE ARE HIS BIG OBJECTIVES. AND THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ACHIEVE.

QUICK: IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO THAT? BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO TALK ABOUT LOWERING RATES, IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLICATED TO TRY AND FIND WAYS TO PAY FOR IT. AS WE'RE LEARNING WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT THE STATE AND LOCAL TAX DEDUCTIONS, WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT MORTGAGE INTERESTS AND WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE 401K PACKAGE. WHAT DO WE TAKE BACK TO MAKE SURE WE CAN PAY FOR RATES BEING LOWERED?

ROSS: THE REAL WAY TO PAY FOR THE TAX CUTS IS BY STIMULATING THE ECONOMY AND GENERATING MORE TAX REVENUE. IF WE CAN GET THE ECONOMY UP 1% A YEAR MORE THAN WHERE IT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN, THAT GENERATES TWO AND A HALF TRILLION DOLLARS OVER TEN YEARS. SO THE REAL DEBATE IS OVER THE TECHNICALITIES, HOW MUCH GROWTH WILL YOU REALLY GET FROM THE TAX CUT?

QUICK: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DYNAMIC SCORING. AND WHILE MOST PEOPLE WILL SAY YES, THERE IS SOME CERTAIN AMOUNT OF GROWTH TO THE ECONOMY THAT WILL COME FROM TAX CUTS, RIGHT? THE REAL QUESTION IS WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD  HOW MUCH YOU CAN GIVE INTO THAT  YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE SENATOR BOB CORKER WHO HAVE SAID HE WILL NOT VOTE FOR A TAX BILL THAT ADDS A DIME TO THE DEFICIT. AND THAT'S WHERE YOU GET INTO SOME OF THESE REAL ISSUES FOR THE PAY FORS. DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH REPUBLICAN VOTES WITH DYNAMIC SCORING TO BE ABLE TO PULL THIS OFF?

ROSS: WELL, I THINK WE DO AND I THINK WE GOT A VERY GOOD ADVANCE HINT OF THAT WITH THE HOUSE GOING ALONG WITH THE BUDGET PROPOSAL. THE EXTREME RIGHT WING IN THE HOUSE HAD PLANNED 12 AMENDMENTS TO THE BUDGET. AT THE PRESIDENT'S URGING, THEY DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE THEM. JUST TAKE IT THE WAY IT WAS. THAT'S A VERY POWERFUL THING BECAUSE IT SAVES US ABOUT TEN DAYS OF DEBATE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE REASON THEY WOULD DO THAT IS TO GET TO THE TAX BILL. SO I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS WILL BE MUCH BETTER RECEIVED THAN THE HEALTH CARE PROBE.

QUICK: YOU DO THINK THAT THE VOTES ARE THERE AND IT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN BY THE END OF THE YEAR?

ROSS: I THINK THE VOTES WILL BE THERE. THERE WILL BE LITTLE COMPROMISES ALONG THE WAY. THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION BY SOME OF THE MEMBERS ABOUT HAVING SOME PORTION OF STATE AND LOCAL TAXES, DEDUCTIBLE, MAYBE FOR THE LOWER INCOME BRACKET. THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT ADDING A FOURTH BRACKET. THERE WILL BE BELLS AND WHISTLES THAT WILL CHANGE, BUT I BELIEVE, DIRECTIONALLY, THE PRESIDENT WILL GET WHAT HE'S ASKING FOR.

QUICK: THE BILL  WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE SPECIFICS YET. WE EXPECT TO GET A BILL  DO YOU THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT WEEK?

ROSS: IT'S HARD TO PUT AN EXACT TIME DENOMINATION ON IT BECAUSE CONGRESS IS SO PROCESS-DRIVEN RATHER THAN RESULTS DRIVEN. BUT IT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE VERY SOON. AND IF IT'S NOT NEXT WEEK, IT'LL BE VERY QUICKLY THEREAFTER.

QUICK: SECRETARY ROSS, ONE OF THE HUGE ISSUES THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT FROM BUSINESSES ARE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO TRADE PACTS, SPECIFICALLY NAFTA. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TOUGH TALK FROM THE ADMINISTRATION. WHERE DO THE NAFTA TALKS STAND AT THIS POINT AND DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE IT RENEWED?

ROSS: WELL, WHERE THEY LITERALLY STAND IS THEY'RE RECESSED FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT SUBSTANTIVELY, WE'VE NOW GOTTEN THROUGH MOST OF THE FAIRLY EASY ISSUES. WE'RE NOW INTO THE HARDER ISSUES. AND I THINK WHAT'S UNFORTUNATE IS PEOPLE TRYING TO PREJUDGE WHAT MAY BE THE OUTCOMES. WHAT THEY OUGHT TO DO, LET'S GET A DEAL IF WE CAN GET ONE. IF THEY DONT LIKE THE DEAL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT. BUT I THINK IT'S A LITTLE SILLY TO HALLUCINATE ABOUT THIS MAY HAPPEN, THAT MAY HAPPEN. THEY DONT HAVE ANY IDEA WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A DEAL OR NOT.

QUICK: ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD HAVE A DEAL?

ROSS: I THINK THERE WILL BE A PROPOSAL THAT WE CAN TAKE TO THE PRESIDENT. WHETHER IT WILL BE A PROPOSAL THAT WE WILL RECOMMEND AND WHETHER IT'LL BE A PROPOSAL THAT HE WILL ACCEPT ARE DIFFERENT STORIES. BUT WE'RE TRYING TO DO A DIFFICULT THING. WE'RE ASKING TWO COUNTRIES TO GIVE UP SOME PRIVILEGES THAT THEY HAVE ENJOYED FOR 22 YEARS. AND WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO OFFER ANYTHING IN RETURN. SO THAT'S A TOUGH SELL AND I DONT KNOW THAT WELL GET EVERY SINGLE THING WE WANT. QUESTION IS WILL WE GET ENOUGH TO MAKE IT WORTHWHILE.

QUICK: MR. SECRETARY, I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

ROSS: THANK YOU, BECKY, GOOD TO BE ON WITH YOU.

For more information contact:

Jennifer Dauble

CNBC

t: 201.735.4721

m: 201.615.2787

e: jennifer.dauble@nbcuni.com

Erin Kitzie

CNBC

t: 201.735.4739

m: 201.753.8107

e: erin.kitzie@nbcuni.com
Disagreements over controversial pieces of the Republican tax proposal threaten to trip up the party's efforts to approve a tax overhaul this year.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on Wednesday at the NetNet event outlined a possible compromise for lawmakers.

The House hopes to pass a budget on Thursday and move one step closer to approving a tax plan. If House Republicans can clear a budget resolution already passed by the Senate, they hope to release a tax bill next week and pass it by Thanksgiving.

Already, sticking points in the plan have emerged, threatening the loss of votes for a party that holds only a narrow majority in the Senate. Ross identified multiple "hard" questions facing the GOP as it aims to broadly chop tax rates for individuals and businesses.

Republicans have to decide whether to add a fourth, highest income tax rate on the wealthy above the top 35 percent outlined in a framework last month.

They also have to consider how to handle several popular deductions like state and local tax deductions. Republican lawmakers in the high-tax blue states that benefit from the provisions already have fought back against a proposal to scrap them.

Ross suggested a cap on the income levels at which the deductions could be used. The income cap could also apply to popular provisions like the charitable deduction, he said.

Doing so "saves some of the money but doesn't do away with the concept," Ross said.

While the White House has given input on the tax plan, like President Donald Trump did when he urged Congress not to change a retirement savings benefit, the congressional tax-writing committees will ultimately decide the bill's shape.

The tax writers sought to get rid of some deductions to offset the deficits created by the tax cuts. A major deficit increase could put off some GOP lawmakers concerned about fiscal discipline.

On the timeline for passing a tax plan, Ross echoed Trump and GOP congressional leaders in saying he wants a bill approved this year.

He added: "I think what's more important is to get it done and get it done properly and to endorse the directional guidance the president has given."

However, Ross said that taking longer to pass a tax proposal could create "indecision" or "paralysis" when businesses or individuals plan financial moves at the end of the year.



While Ross is a top economic advisor to Trump, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and chief economic advisor Gary Cohn have led the White House effort on taxes.

Ross added that he believes the U.S. will ultimately reach a deal with Canada and Mexico on revising the North American Free Trade Agreement. Negotiations on reworking the deal will go into next year.
Chipotle Mexican Grill executives are working to win back customers after food safety lapses, but the stock is still overpriced, CNBC's Jim Cramer said Wednesday.

Cramer spoke when the stock was down nearly 13 percent in Wednesday's trading. Shares of the burrito chain later were down 14 percent, below $279 a share, after it reported disappointing third-quarter results and trimmed its same-store sales forecast. The company also scaled back store expansion plans to get "fundamentals right."

The company has growth of about 2 percent, half that of McDonald's , Cramer said, and the Mexican restaurant chain had "major problems" in the last quarter.



"The only bright spot in this thing was that avocado prices have come down, but I didn't need them to tell me that," Cramer said on "Squawk on the Street."

The company has a decent rate of return at its stores, Cramer said, but "people haven't come back." Chipotle has faced several safety issues including foodborne illness outbreaks, since 2015.

"You can't have a stock with that high price to earnings multiple that's growing at 2 percent. Not when McDonald's is giving you 4," the host of CNBC's "Mad Money" said.

Cramer said he was particularly discouraged by the company's conference call, where he believed executives were being lax on its results.

During the postearnings call, Chipotle CEO Steve Ells said the company's last quarter presented "challenges" but added: "We are responding to challenges and are strengthening our company."

"There is no time," Cramer said. "This is America and it's business. Chipotle is not going to get the time. The stock is going to go lower."

"I want to say it is a work in progress, but I'm going to say it is an overpriced stock," Cramer added. "McDonald's deserves to go higher and Chipotle should go lower."

CNBC has reached out to Chipotle for comment.

CNBC's Angelica LaVito contributed to this report.
With stocks finally taking a break from rallying, CNBC's Jim Cramer circled back to one out-performing stock that could be a buying opportunity on the market-wide weakness.

Stanley Black & Decker , which makes a variety of tools and some security solutions, just issued a strong quarterly earnings report that sent its shares soaring. So far in 2017, the stock has gained 42 percent.

"Look, you rarely get a chance to buy this stock into weakness," the "Mad Money" host said. "What's behind the strength at Stanley Black & Decker? When you dig down, the explanation's pretty clear: the company's been making some very shrewd moves with its product portfolio, the shrewdest of all being the acquisition of the Craftsman tool business from the moribund Sears Holdings."

Cramer said that, while Stanley Black & Decker was always a steady performer, everything changed when James Loree became CEO in July 2016.

Shortly after Loree took on the role, Stanley Black & Decker bought Newell Brands' tool business for $1.95 billion, bringing reputable industrial brands Irwin and Lenox on board.

"It's a great business that Newell didn't want because, remember, they're trying to pare back their portfolio and embrace the consumer, but Loree and his team realized that these brands could really broaden the company's reach," Cramer said.

Then, in December 2016, the toolmaker sold its mechanical security arm to a Swiss company called Dormakaba for $725 million in cash. In early January, Stanley Black & Decker turned around and announced it would buy the Craftsman brand from the struggling Sears Holdings .

Stanley Black & Decker paid Sears $525 million up front for Craftsman, with another $250 million slated for the end of year three of the acquisition. The toolmaker also agreed to pay Sears between 2.5 and 3.5 percent in royalties for the next 15 years.

"This is one fabulous deal for this guys. It makes sense," Cramer said. "Basically, Stanley Black & Decker sold their low-growth mechanical security division, which I really didn't like at all, in order to pay for Craftsman. That's an iconic American brand that could have tremendous growth now that it's owned by someone competent."

Since the Craftsman deal closed, Stanley Black & Decker's management has been hard at work outlining its long-term strategy for analysts.

Loree detailed his 22/22 vision on the company's investor day in May: Stanley Black & Decker aims to almost double its revenue to $22 billion by 2022.

The toolmaker's latest earnings report improved Wall Street's outlook on its business even more. Not only did Stanley Black & Decker beat the estimates, but management raised its full-year earnings guidance substantially, predicting 6 percent organic growth.

Better yet, the company announced on Tuesday that it would sell Craftsman tools at Lowe's stores, which Cramer saw as just the beginning of the brand's expansion under its new owner.

"Whenever I talk about how companies can transform themselves with a little self-help, this kind of transaction is exactly what I'm referring to. Around this time last year, Stanley Black & Decker was the kind of stock that puts investors to sleep," the "Mad Money" host said.

But after Loree's moves, Stanley Black & Decker has quickly become one of 2017's top performers while still flaunting a fairly low valuation of 19 times next year's earnings estimates.

"[Thanks to] James Loree's terrific deal-making, Stanley Black & Decker has accelerated revenue growth and investors can't get enough of it," Cramer said. "I like this stock now that it's pulling back after [Tuesday's] huge run, but I'd like it even more if the current sell-off continues. Either way, though, the stock of Stanley Black & Decker? It's a buy."
CNBC's Jim Cramer has a special investing method for when a small, but market-wide decline hits stocks in the middle of earnings season.

"I've got a set of disciplines ... that forces you to confront the 'nothing's down enough' lame excuse for not taking action," the "Mad Money" host said. "So let me give you Cramer's rules for sell-offs during earnings season, because earnings season is totally fraught with unusual risk and is quite different from Cramer's rules for everyday sell-offs."

First, Cramer pointed out that the tidal wave of reports can be especially taxing on the analysts that cover stocks. It's not rare for him to hear analysts popping in and out of conference calls because there are so many earnings calls going on at once.

That's why Cramer said investors should not pay that much attention to the movements of certain stocks.

"Take your cue from what I call the craft, the notion that you've listened to the calls, seen the analysts' reactions, and reasoned that maybe a bargain is in the offing because you've done work about what the company's worth," he said. "The stocks are often wrongly priced during the peak of earnings period, at least initially, because of this cacophony of reports."

Second, Cramer tried to pinpoint what caused the sell-off.

Wednesday's disappointments included AT&T's worse-than-expected earnings report (which Cramer thought could be a buying opportunity seeing as the Time Warner merger should boost its cash flow); Chipotle's growth-lacking report (which Cramer thought was not major enough to drag on the market); and Advanced Micro Devices' weak profitability forecast.

"AMD's guidance, which was sub-optimal, had a lasting impact on lots of areas within tech, and many of those areas had been strong," Cramer said. "Still, though, I can't countenance the idea that AT&T , Chipotle and AMD are responsible for the magnitude of today's sell-off."

Weakness in European markets and an intraday dip in interest rates could have also been responsible for the widespread downfalls, Cramer added.

Then, investors come to a fork in the road, the "Mad Money" host said. Do they take advantage of the decline and buy the stocks that have already reported strong numbers, or do they buy the stocks of companies that have not yet reported to seize on (hopefully) positive earnings news?

"I always say you've got to go with what you know," Cramer advised, turning to the stocks that managed to go up amid Wednesday's otherwise dismal action.

First up was Visa , which Cramer liked more than other downtrodden stocks. With a good quarter, good growth and good management under its belt, the payment giant could take off as soon as the sell-off is over, Cramer said.

Second, Cramer turned to Texas Instruments , his top choice for investors who want to own a semiconductor play and still sleep at night. Down a dollar from its highs after a better-than-expected quarter, Texas Instruments could be worth a small position, he said.

Third, the "Mad Money" host had faith in IBM , which he said is on the cusp of an earnings turnaround. Having erased its gains, IBM and its 4 percent yield pay you to wait, he said.

"There's no need to do more than that. [For] all we know, this could be the first day of a larger sell-off ... You don't want to buy all at once. You do want to bet on your own fallibility," Cramer advised.

"I know you could say, 'Why do I ever have to do anything on down days?' The answer is, of course you don't," he continued. "But let's start from the fundamental supposition that we want to buy when merchandise is on sale or being given away, not when it's going up in price. We want to be disciplined. We want to be consistent with what's worked before. This method I just described has worked for me for more than 30 years. No reason it won't work for you and for me now."
Fewer than a third of Americans support Donald Trump's tax-cut plan, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, as the U.S. president went to Capitol Hill looking for Republican backing for his proposal to slash tax rates for individuals and companies.

As the 2018 midterm congressional election campaigns grow nearer, the poll found that more than two-thirds of registered voters said reducing the U.S. federal budget deficit is more important than cutting taxes for the wealthy or for corporations.

Trump's plan would balloon the deficit and add to the $20 trillion national debt, according to critics and independent analysts, but Republicans say the tax cuts proposed in the plan would be offset by economic growth that would generate new tax revenue.

Among Republicans surveyed, 63 percent said deficit reduction should take priority over tax cuts for corporations, while 75 percent said deficit reduction should take priority over tax cuts for the wealthy.

Democrats oppose Trump's plan, unveiled on Sept. 27, and say it is unfair to the poor and the working class.

The plan is still only a nine-page "framework." It was drafted in secret by Trump administration and congressional leaders. Formal legislation is in development.

Congressional leaders and Trump are trying to lock in support for the plan from rank-and-file Republicans, who were uninvolved in the framework drafting process.

Trump, who has yet to score a major legislative win since taking office in January, wants his plan to become law before year's end, a timeframe that some policy analysts doubt is realistic.

More than half of the adults surveyed in the poll agreed that "cutting taxes for the poor is more important than reducing the federal deficit," with 68 percent of Democrats and 47 percent of Republicans in accord with that statement, the poll showed.

The Oct. 20-23 poll found that only 15 percent of registered voters said Republicans in Congress should prioritize tax reform over other issues. About a quarter of those polled, including 23 percent of Democrats and 30 percent of Republicans, agreed that Congress should continue working on a healthcare bill.

Of those adults who said they had heard of the "tax reform plan recently proposed by congressional Republicans," just 28 percent said they support it, while 41 percent said they oppose it and another 31 percent said they do not know.

The poll found opinions on Trump's plan were sharply divided along party lines, with 56 percent of Republicans and just 9 percent of Democrats supporting it.

Of those who had heard of the plan, 14 percent said it would cut their taxes, while 30 percent said it would increase their taxes. Another 35 percent said their taxes would not change and 20 percent said they did not know how it would impact them.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English in all 50 states. It gathered responses from 1,862 people, including 1,079 people who said they were aware of the Republican tax plan. It has a credibility interval, a measure of accuracy, of 3 percentage points.
What does a department store and a shared work space company have in common?

It sounds like the beginning of a joke. But it's not. One industry has too much real estate, and another needs more. That's the basic concept that brought Lord & Taylor and WeWork together.

On Tuesday, Lord & Taylor's parent company, Hudson's Bay , announced a deal to sell its flagship New York City Fifth Avenue store to WeWork for $850 million. WeWork will convert most of the building to be its headquarters, on the top floors, while Lord & Taylor will lease space to operate a significantly scaled-down department store  from 10 of 11 floors to three floors over 150,000 square feet.

"We've announced a deal for four locations, Fifth Avenue Lord & Taylor building, Toronto, Vancouver and Frankfurt in order to put WeWork in the top portion of these buildings, and drive those young, millennial WeWork members through our retail stores for them to have beautiful office space  with high ceilings and big windows  and it's a real win-win." Hudson's Bay Executive Chairman Richard Baker told CNBC in an exclusive TV interview from the WWD CEO Summit in New York City.

The department store company has been under pressure from activist investor Land & Buildings to take action to unlock the value of its real estate. While Baker wouldn't tie the WeWork deal to that activist pressure, he pointed to a needed cash infusion to go toward paying down burdensome debt as the greatest benefit.

"Most important, perhaps, is what this does for HBC's financial condition," Baker said. "This drives in a tremendous amount of cash and allows us to pay down $1.6 billion in debt, and leaves us at the end of the transactions with approximately $385 million in cash. This sets us up to be really strong financially going forward, as we execute what's really a difficult retail environment."

The future of department stores remains a big question in retail as consumers move away from malls and the traditional format in favor of online shopping and a variety of other retail options. The changes in the sector are leading a number of department stores to undergo various levels of transformation.

Macy's is working on a number of new strategies under new CEO Jeff Gennette. The Nordstrom family members have been forthcoming about their desire to take the department store private. CNBC has reported that Baker has explored taking Hudson's Bay private, as well. Baker's private equity company, NRDC Equity Partners, bought Hudson's Bay in 2008 and took it public in 2012.

When asked whether the lower debt will help to take Hudson's Bay private, Baker said, "We're positioning ourselves to win, and that's what this is all about."

Baker also didn't deny outright a report from The Wall Street Journal, which wrote last week that Lord & Taylor was near a deal to add its brand to Wal-Mart's website.

"I think you should keep an eye on Lord & Taylor, because the future of Lord & Taylor may be brighter than people think," the executive told CNBC.

Lord & Taylor has only 49 physical locations, and Baker is known for his real estate expertise.

"With what's going on online, Lord & Taylor has a breakout opportunity to be a huge, major player online with a very small number of brick-and-mortar stores," he said. "I bet, if you sat down with the folks from J.C. Penney , Macy's or Nordstrom, they'd be really thrilled if they had a much smaller footprint of brick-and-mortar stores and high-quality locations than having a huge number of stores and locations that are not all good."

Baker is taking over as interim CEO of Hudson's Bay after the retailer announced late Friday afternoon that Jerry Storch would resign from the position after only two years with the company. Hudson's Bay didn't offer much of an explanation for the departure, although Baker praised Storch in the announcement Friday as well as in his interview with CNBC.

"Jerry did a spectacular job for us, and it was just time for him to go back to his Storch Advisors and time for us to look for different opportunities," Baker said.

Turning his attention to the holiday season, Baker said he is "very cautious and conservative going forward," adding that he wants his stores to have exclusive products while admitting that the company needs to better utilize the data it has.

"It was a tough Christmas last year, but we run our business in a very conservative way, and if it's better than that, it's a win for us," the executive said.
The U.K.'s decision to leave the EU is the second most "stupidest" decision ever made by a country, only beaten by the U.S. voting for President Donald Trump, according to Michael Bloomberg.

"I did say that I thought it (Brexit) was the stupidest thing that a country has ever done  but then we trumped it," the media mogul said at a panel event in Boston two weeks ago, unearthed by the Guardian newspaper on Tuesday.

"It is really hard to understand why a country that was doing so well wanted to ruin it," he added. "My former wife was a Brit, my daughters have British passports, so we love England  it's the father of our country, I suppose. But what they are doing is not good and there is no easy ways to get out of it because if they don't pay a penalty, everyone else would drop out. So they can't get as good of a deal as they had before," he said.
There are many things to consider when looking for a new job. But Chuck Edward, 's head of global talent acquisition, says there are two company traits that you should prioritize.

"Pay attention to the purpose and culture of the company," he tells CNBC Make It. "That's the differentiator given the state of the country right now."

In recent months, business leaders have been vocal about key political and global issues.

One example is Silicon Valley's to President Trump's in July. Tech titans, like CEO Mark Zuckerberg, CEO Tim Cook and co-founder Jack Dorsey, all spoke out in opposition to the transgender military block.

Immigration reform has also been another hot-button issue among tech companies. After the Supreme Court cleared the way for parts of in June, SpaceX and CEO Elon Musk, CEO Jeff Bezos and Lyft Co-founder all .

Microsoft's CEO the travel ban in an interview with CNBC's Squawk Alley. In the interview, Nadella discusses his background as a U.S. immigrant and explains that he's a product of the "enlightened American immigration policy that let me come here and live the dream."
At home, grilled cheese constitutes a quick, easy, cheap meal. But at New York City's famed Serendipity 3 restaurant, the sandwich is both record-setting and budget-busting at $214 a pop. Formally named "The Quintessential Grilled Cheese Sandwich," the dish officially holds the title of the most expensive sandwich in the world, according to Guinness World Records.

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"It's like a grilled cheese on steroids," Joe Calderone, the Serendipity chef who invented the cheesy indulgence, tells CNBC's "Secret Lives of the Super Rich." Despite the steep price, the chef says he's sold dozens of the speciality item. But it can't be ordered on a whim; the grilled cheese must be ordered at least 48 hours in advance. "I think it's worth it," says Calderone. "It has the best ingredients in the world." So, what's inside? It starts with plush French bread that has Dom Perignon champagne and 23-karat gold baked throughout.

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The sandwich is then stuffed with caciocavallo podolico, a rare cheese imported from southern Italy that tastes like a mix between manchego and parmesan. A mere 25,000 cows produce the specific milk found in the cheese, and they only lactate for two months per year.

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After getting buttered up, the bread is brushed with a mixture of white truffle oil and gold flakes, which adds extra crisp, Calderone says.

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It's melted in a panini press for four minutes, giving the cheese time to start bubbling. Once removed, the sides are encrusted with sheets of edible 23-karat gold. But what's grilled cheese without tomato soup? To complete the iconic pairing, the sandwich is served alongside a luxe version of tomato bisque filled with chunks of lobster.

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The grilled cheese isn't the only record-setting menu item served at Serendipity. The restaurant's "Golden Opulence Sundae" sells for $1,000 and includes three scoops of Tahitian vanilla ice cream covered in 23-karat gold leaf, as well as almonds, caviar and a sugar-forged orchid that takes eight hours to build. The sundae is served in a $350 Baccarat crystal goblet (lined with more 23-karat gold leaf), with an 18-karat gold spoon on the side. Watch new episodes of CNBC's "Secret Lives of the Super Rich" Thursdays at 10P/ET . Don't miss: This opulent sundae costs $1,000  here's what's in it
Barack Obama shakes hands with Donald Trump during the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017.

Twenty-four percent of American voters mistakenly believe Obamacare has been partially repealed, according to a poll released Wednesday.

And another 15 percent of voters incorrectly believe Obamacare has either been fully repealed, or repealed and replaced with a new health-care law, according to the Morning Consult/Politico survey.

The findings come less a week before open enrollment begins Nov. 1 in Obamacare individual health insurance plans.

Customers on Wednesday could begin window-shopping for those plans, checking out the prices of coverage in their region.

Obamacare advocates have expressed concern that confusion over the law's status, and other factors, will decrease the number of people signing up for health plans that take effect Jan. 1

Part of that confusion stems from efforts since the beginning of 2017 by Republicans in Congress and President Donald Trump to repeal key parts of the Affordable Care Act and replace it with a new law.

Those efforts have repeatedly failed, despite the fact that the GOP, which has promised repeal of Obamacare since it became law in 2010, holds majorities in the Senate and the House.

"We've been campaigning on it for seven years," Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., told the Morning Consult for a report on the poll's results.

"So I think some people believe that we've executed better than we have," said Meadows, who is chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative House members.

The poll, which questioned 1,988 registered voters from last Thursday through Monday, has a margin of error of 2 percentage points.

The Affordable Care Act continues to require most Americans to have some form of health insurance or pay a tax penalty.

The IRS last week said, for the first time, that it will not accept electronically filed income tax returns that do not disclose if the filer had complied with the ACA's mandate to have health coverage. The agency also said it will suspend processing paper-filed returns that lack that disclosure.

The Morning Consult/Politico poll also found that a broad majority of American voters say that former President Barack Obama  not Trump  is responsible for the current state of Obamacare, and of the U.S health-care system generally.

Only 20 percent of voters said Trump is responsible for the current state of the Affordable Care Act, the health-care law championed by Obama.

And just 28 percent say Trump is responsible for the state of the American health-care system generally.

In contrast, 67 percent of voters said Obama is responsible for the state of Obamacare.

And 50 percent of them said Obama is responsible for the state of U.S. health care.

Trump last week said that Obamacare price hikes for plans that take effect next year are "the fault of the Democrats" like Obama.

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The poll also asked voters their opinions of Trump's decision to cut off billions of dollars of government reimbursement payments to Obamacare insurers.

Those payments compensate insurers for discounts granted to low-income customers for their out-of-pocket health costs.

Obamacare premiums are projected to sharply rise due to cut off of the reimbursements, because insurers still must, by law, offer the discounts to customers even though they are no longer getting the money from the government.

A total of 46 percent of voters in the Morning Consult/Politico survey said they disapproved of Trump's move to end the subsidies.

Another 39 percent approved of the decision.

Only 25 percent of respondents said the cutoff of payments would have a positive effect on themselves or their family.

And 39 percent said it would have a negative impact.
Nike shares jumped Wednesday as the sporting-goods retailer offered a glimpse at its sales expectations for the future.

At its investor day in Portland, Oregon, Nike said it expects earnings-per-share growth in the mid-teens over the next five years. The company added that it anticipates revenue growth in the high-single digits over the same period.

Nike shares jumped more than 2 percent on the news, and were last trading up a little more than 1 percent.

Prior to Wednesday, the company had already set a revenue goal of $50 billion by 2020.

Looking ahead, Chief Executive Mark Parker told analysts and investors that digital revenues should grow from 15 to 30 percent over a five-year period. He also talked the audience through an innovated product pipeline, with a heavy focus on women's footwear.

Nike's brand president, Trevor Edwards, then chimed in to say the shoe maker will move away from "undifferentiated" retail channels in the coming years. "Mediocre retail won't survive," Edwards said.

Nike is calling for about 50 percent of its future sales growth to stem from new categories and innovation. And about 75 percent percent of growth is expected to come from outside the U.S., according to Nike.

Earlier this year, Nike posted strong sales growth in its international geographies, particularly China. Meantime, Nike's North America wholesale revenues continued to decline into the fiscal first quarter and ahead of the all-important holiday season.

In a competitive retail environment, Nike is seen as favoring discounts and heavy spending to grow its direct-to-consumer business. In June, Nike revealed plans to cut about 2 percent of its global workforce, also trimming its geography segments from six to four  signs the company is trying to reduce expenses.

Nike is also in the midst of working on a pilot program with Amazon, which allows the Oregon-based retailer to directly sell a limited product assortment on Amazon.com, something Nike had refused to do for decades.
Overstock.com 's majority-owned subsidiary tZero plans to raise up to $500 million in what could be the largest initial coin offering ever.

Initial coin offerings, or ICOs, are sales of new digital coins for projects based on the blockchain technology of digital currencies bitcoin and ethereum . Technically anyone with an internet connection and bitcoin or ethereum can participate, although fears of government crackdown have prompted several ICOs to prevent U.S. investors from participating officially.

The token sales have raised at least $3.04 billion, according to financial research firm Autonomous Next.

Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne announced Tuesday that tZero is expected to launch a digital token sale on Nov. 15. The sale is scheduled to last until Dec. 31.

The company confirmed to CNBC it plans to raise up to $500 million in the coin sale. If they reach their goal, the ICO will surpass the largest token sale to date, Filecoin's $262 million ICO in September.

"While many doubted, the tZERO team worked hard to be at the tip of the spear in creating and launching credible, capable and institutionally scalable blockchain technologies for crypto assets," Byrne said in a release. "Today those efforts are attracting interest from both the crypto community and the largest global institutional funds."
Shi'ite Muslim rebels hold up their weapons during a rally against air strikes in Sanaa March 26, 2015.

The United States has announced sanctions on Yemeni individuals and companies to combat the activities of al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State.

The U.S. Treasury said the sanctions have been issued jointly with other countries as part of the newly-created Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC).

Eight Yemeni individuals and one company, Al Khayr Supermarket, have been placed on a sanctions list.

The move was announced Wednesday during a trip by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to Riyadh, where he marked the opening of the TFTC.

"Through this action we are aggressively targeting radical extremists in Yemen and the surrounding region who pose a direct threat to the security of the United States, Yemen, and the international community," said Mnuchin.

The TFTC was created in May to stem the flow of terrorist financing and is jointly chaired by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

Other members of the alliance include Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

The group's stated objectives include identifying, tracking and sharing information regarding terrorist financing, with the ultimate aim of disrupting money flow to radical groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS.

Part of the problem?

At the time of its inception, there was criticism that countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia were themselves part of the problem.

Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard took to Twitter to describe the allied push against terror money as a "farce".

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Qatar has a checkered history in the fight against eliminating cash that makes its way into the coffers of terrorists. Much like Saudi Arabia, the Gulf country has been cited by several watchdogs for funneling money to Middle East extremists, or not doing enough to choke off those flows.

A January report from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies chided Qatar's record on terror funding, saying that "there is no persuasive proof that Qatar has stopped letting certain terror financiers off the hook." Separately, an analysis from the Foreign Policy Initiative in 2016 cited Saudi Arabia's "mixed record" in curbing terror funding, citing its own domestic concerns.

The situation was further complicated in June when several countries abruptly cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar. These included Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt. They accused Qatar of continuing to support terror activities.
The top House tax writer on Wednesday signaled that Congress could still propose changes to a popular retirement savings plan in its tax bill, contradicting an assurance made by President Donald Trump.

At a Christian Science Monitor event, Rep. Kevin Brady said Republicans are "exploring a number of ideas" to "create incentives for Americans to save more and save sooner." The House is "continuing discussions with the president" in that area, the House Ways and Means Committee chairman said.

"I do have a worry. Not enough Americans are saving," Brady said at a separate Yahoo Finance conference later in the day. Brady said Republicans have "asked for ideas how Americans (can) save more and save earlier in their lives."

On Monday, Trump emphatically tweeted that "there will be NO change to your 401(k)." He called the 401(k) tax benefit a "great and popular middle class tax break that works."

Trump: There will be NO change to your 401(k). This has always been a great and popular middle class tax break that works, and it stays!

Brady did not specify the possible changes the GOP is considering.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday afternoon, Trump appeared to back off of his Monday tweet. He called 401(k) plans "very important" and said he did not want a proposal to change them to "go too far." However, the president said he could use 401(k) changes as a negotiating tool, adding that Brady "knows how important" the retirement plans are.

Brady said at the Yahoo event that he is not bothered by Trump's stance. "I'm certainly listening to President Trump," he said, adding that Trump has been "incredibly helpful" in putting together the tax reform bill

"At the end of the day, we're looking at encouraging people to save more and save early," Brady said. "We're looking through a number of ideas. No decisions have been made. At the end of the day, retirement will be strengthened or it will remain as it is."
Swiss power grid maker ABB is "ideally positioned" to support Saudi Arabia's transformative bid to become a more environmentally friendly nation, Chief Executive Ulrich Spiesshofer told CNBC Wednesday.

Speaking at Riyadh's Future Investment Summit, Spiesshofer said, "Saudi is truly transforming the energy system."

"Renewables will play a major role, major plans on the solar side have been announced, wind will follow  That requires smarter, greener and more digitalized grids to manage the complexity and we are really working there," he added.

The kingdom aims to raise about $100 billion by taking a portion of its state oil giant Saudi Aramco public next year. The funds will underwrite an effort led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to diversify the nation's economy through a plan called Vision 2030.
Shoppers line up next to hot tubs as they wait for a Sears Holdings Corp. store to open ahead of Black Friday in Peoria, Illinois.

The nostalgia is real.

Sears just announced it's bringing back its iconic holiday catalog, something the department store chain hasn't done since 2011.

This year, Sears said it's "reinvented" the 120-page gift guide, which includes holiday decor, home furnishings, games and toys, appliances, apparel, and more. There will also be a digital version available on Sears.com, and one on the retailer's app.

The first Sears Wish Book was known as the Sears Christmas Book catalog when it was rolled out in 1933, right in the midst of the Great Depression. In it, shoppers would flip through to find battery-powered cars, Mickey Mouse toys, fruitcakes and even live canaries.

"In an era when print media reigned supreme, Sears dominated the rural retail market through its huge catalog, an amazing work of product advertising, consumer education, and corporate branding," Vicki Howard, author of "From Main Street to Mall: The Rise and Fall of the American Department Store," wrote.

"Sears taught Americans how to shop," she added.

The original holiday books were thick  easily more than 400 pages. Decades ago, parents and children alike could single-handedly craft their holiday wish lists from Sears' offerings alone.

In 2017, a slimmed-down digital version of Sears' catalog will allow shoppers to click into pages and add items to a wish list by selecting a "heart" icon.

To get your hands on a physical copy, you need to be considered one of Sears' "best members," or a participant of the company's Shop Your Way loyalty program. Tangible copies of the look book will be limited, according to Sears.

"Our members told us they missed the Wish Book, so we had to bring it back, but in a special way that lets you share more joy wherever you are," Kelly Cook, chief marketing officer for Sears and Kmart, said in a statement.

A holiday catalog comeback could be one way for Sears to stir up excitement in shopping its brands during the all-important November and December months.

A new survey by Deloitte found that online spending during the 2017 holidays is slated to exceed in-store shopping for the first time. In tune to this, e-commerce giant Amazon is launching its own handmade gift shop, in an attempt to steal a bigger share of shoppers' spending around special occasions.

That leaves companies such as Sears, Macy's , J.C. Penney and Kohl's looking for ways to lure shoppers out of their homes and into brick-and-mortar retail, especially on key days such as Black Friday.

Sears Holdings has faced struggles of its own of late. As overall same-store sales decline, the department store chain has been shuttering unprofitable Sears and Kmart stores in an attempt to cut costs and round up additional liquidity.

Sears Chief Executive Eddie Lampert has also lent the company some money from his hedge fund, ESL Investments, to make it through the holidays.
Senate Republicans voted late Tuesday night to kill a new rule which would have made it easier for consumers to band together and sue financial companies. The measure overturns the so-called arbitration rule, which would have banned banks, credit-card companies and other financial firms from requiring customers to settle disagreements through arbitration rather than in the courts. The mandate often appears as a fine-print clause in customer agreements. The repeal comes despite the recent uproar over the inclusion of a mandatory arbitration clause by Equifax in its free-monitoring service agreement. In that case, the credit-reporting firm  which offered the service after revealing a massive data breach in early September  ended up removing the clause.

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"When people are cheated, they believe they have the right to go to court," said Paul Bland, executive director of Public Justice. "The next time something like Equifax happens, those Senators are going to have to own this." If the rule had been fully in effect when Equifax offered the service, it would have been banned from including the clause. Mandatory-arbitration clauses already are prohibited in mortgage contracts, by the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform act. Congressional Republicans, along with the banking industry and some other business groups, have had a bull's eye on the arbitration rule since the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued it July 10. The Republican-dominated House approved the resolution on July 25. Since then, it idled in the Senate Banking Committee while Republican leaders sought to shore up support for the measure. Tuesday night's vote was 51-50, with Vice President Pence casting the tie-breaking vote. Just two Republicans voted against the repeal: Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John Kennedy of Louisiana.

Chris Ryan | Getty Images
A bipartisan Senate bill that seeks to restore key federal payments to Obamacare insurers "would not substantially change" the number of Americans with health insurance, the Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday.

The Alexander-Murray bill also would cut the federal deficit by $3.8 billion over the next decade, the CBO said in a report analyzing effects of the bill.

And it would result in "slightly lower premiums" that currently projected for many Obamacare plans, according to the CBO, a nonpartisan agency.

The bill was introduced in the Senate on the heels of the Oct. 12 decision by the Trump administration to terminate payments known as cost-sharing reduction reimbursements to Obamacare insurers.

The billions of dollars worth of payments compensate insurance plans for discounts that they must  by law  offer low-income Obamacare customers for their out-of-pocket health costs.

The CBO earlier projected that killing those payments would lead Obamacare plan premium prices to be 25 percent higher in 2020 than they would have been if the payments continued.

Prices for next year are estimated to be about 20 percent higher than they otherwise would have been because of President Donald Trump's threats since early 2017 to end the CSR payments.

The CBO also had earlier estimated that ending the payments would actually increase the federal deficit by almost $200 billion over the next decade.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said Wednesday that his company's acquisition of ARM Holdings is just the beginning of an explosion in demand for semiconductors as robots surpass humans in intelligence by the end of the century.

SoftBank bought the chip designer last year for $32 billion. He said his company projects that the chip market will grow to ship 1 trillion chips, and that ARM will design 90 to 99 percent of them.

That's not the only bet that Son has made on chips  he also invested $4 billion in Nvidia . It's all just part and parcel of singularity  a point in the near future where some scientists believe that robots will become smarter than humans. Son said he expects that in the next 80 years or so, machines will reach IQs of 10,000 (U.S. Mensa accepts IQ scores around 130.)

"That is happening in this century, for sure," Son said. "I would say there is no more debate, no more doubt. Will it be in 30 years? Twenty-five years? Thirty-five years? It's just margin of error, in my view."

The Japanese billionaire spoke from the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he discussed his $100 billion Vision Fund, which focuses on artificial intelligence, including robots and autonomous vehicles.
The House is set to vote tomorrow to back the Senate's budget resolution seen as crucial to helping push the GOP's effort for tax reform later this year. A source told CNBC that House Republicans aim to introduce a tax bill on Nov. 1. (Politico & CNBC)

GOP and Wall Street scored a hard-fought victory late Tuesday when the Senate killed a ban on financial companies requiring customers to surrender their right to sue in order to open accounts. Vice President Mike Pence appeared on the floor to cast the tie-breaking vote. (Reuters)

The Senate voted 82 to 17 to approve a $36.5 billion disaster relief package that includes a bailout of the financially troubled National Flood Insurance Program. Lawmakers say much more money will be needed after hurricanes hit states and U.S. territories. (NY Times)



*Two-person energy firm's $300 million Puerto Rico contract raises eyebrows (USA Today)

*Tesla starts work on first Puerto Rico energy project to help rebuild island (CNBC)

President Trump reportedly asked Republican senators on Tuesday for a show-of-hands on which candidate they prefer to lead the Federal Reserve. He reportedly asked the group if they prefer Fed Governor Jerome Powell or Stanford professor John Taylor. (WSJ)

Hillary Clinton's campaign and the DNC helped pay for research leading to the infamous Russia dossier, which contains allegations of President Trump's ties to the country and possible interference by the Kremlin in the campaign, a source confirmed to NBC News.

Republican Sen. Jeff Flake will not seek re-election next year, issuing a sharp rebuke to a Republican Party that he said has given into a "more viscerally satisfied anger and resentment" under President Trump. (CNBC)



*Republican Sen. Bob Corker unloads on Trump, says he 'debases the country' (CNBC)

*Trump's fragile ego threatens tax reform (CNBC)

To help raise money for infrastructure improvements, the Department of the Interior is considering a price hike for National Park visitors during peak visitor seasons. The department says the fee increase will help ensure parks are better protected and preserved. (Axios)

New security measures including stricter passenger screening take effect on Thursday on all U.S.-bound flights to comply with government requirements designed to avoid an in-cabin ban on laptops, airlines said. (Reuters)

The tropical island-nation of Singapore now boasts the world's strongest passport, according to a new ranking. It's the first time an Asian country has topped the list. The United States was in the sixth tier of countries. (CNBC)

Apple (AAPL), which recently said it was including wireless charging in its latest iPhone X and iPhone 8 smartphones, has acquired New Zealand firm PowerbyProxi that designs wireless power products for consumers and industry. (Reuters)

As political pressure mounts on social media companies to say where ads are coming from, Twitter (TWTR) will reveal more information about political advertising on its platform. The ads will include some sort of visual marker. (CNBC)

T-Mobile US (TMUS) and Sprint (S) are laying the groundwork for special committees of their board of directors to decide on a merger between the third and fourth largest U.S. wireless carriers, Reuters reports, citing people familiar with the matter.
Cabania | iStock | Getty Images Plus

Death and taxes are two sure things in life. But steps you make before the end of the year can help mitigate the tax bite you'll face come next April. That holds despite the debate over tax reform in Washington. House Republicans hope to introduce a tax bill on Nov. 1, sources told CNBC on Wednesday. Regardless of the outcome, there are moves you should be thinking about now. "The first thing I would suggest is to pull as much information as possible from this year and take a look to see where you're at," said Tim Steffen, director of advanced planning at Milwaukee-based investment firm Baird. From there, you can troubleshoot which areas may trigger a bigger bill from the IRS.

Watch investment gains

Investors should examine their portfolios closely for gains, particularly with the S&P 500 on a record streak. That includes taxable investments such as mutual or index funds, according to Michael Krol, head of wealth advisors, planning and business development at Waldron Private Wealth, a wealth management firm in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. "What happens is everybody is happy because you're making money and not paying as much attention to real-world capital gains," Krol said. As a result, you could face a bill that's not really necessary, he said. Individuals should check on their capital gains rates, as they often do not have an accurate idea of where they really stand, according to Steffen. From there, they can make decisions about what steps would make the most sense. With retirees, this is particularly important if a gain will be considered income that will cause their Social Security benefits to become taxable. "You have to be careful of this ripple effect that happens through your tax return," Steffen said. To offset gains, consider selling assets that have lost value to help minimize the effects of other portfolio growth.

Make charitable donations

While donating cash is always an option, other strategies may also help you mitigate investment gains. Investors can donate investments like stocks or mutual funds that have had significant appreciation, suggested Michael Palazzolo, owner and financial planner at Fintentional, a Birmingham, Michigan-based financial planning firm. An investor may have invested $2,000 in a mutual fund held in a taxable account and watched it grow to $5,000. By donating it, the investor gets credit for the $5,000 donation and never pays levies on the $3,000 gain. Investors may also want to consider establishing a donor-advised fund, which lets you donate the money now and decide where to give to later. "Make sure you're giving because you want to and can afford to, and not just because of the tax break," Palazzolo said.

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Maximize contributions to retirement accounts

Contributing to employer retirement plans like a 401(k) or 403(b) can reduce your taxable income for the year. The limit that employees can put in will increase to $18,500 next year. Individuals who are self-employed and don't have access to these accounts can look to individual retirement accounts instead, according to Elaine Lee, wealth management advisor at Summit Place Financial Advisors in Summit, New Jersey. The annual $5,500 contribution limit will remain unchanged next year, according to the IRS. Those who are 50 and older can also make additional catch-up contributions. That amounts to an extra $6,000 for 401(k) and 403(b) plan participants and another $1,000 for IRAs. But individuals should review the rules carefully based on their personal situations. Your tax deductions for money invested in an IRA may be restricted if you or your spouse have an employer retirement plan and your income is above certain thresholds set by the IRS.

Look for other ways to save
Employee dismissals at Tesla are continuing at its SolarCity subsidiary, according to six former and current employees, and are affecting SolarCity offices across the U.S.

Echoing reports from earlier this month, these SolarCity employees say they were surprised to be told they were fired for performance reasons, claiming Tesla had not conducted performance reviews since acquiring the solar energy business. Earlier this month, Tesla began firing hundreds of employees after it announced a recall of 11,000 Model X SUVs.

All the people spoke under condition of anonymity, citing fears of retaliation from Tesla.

Tesla had already announced plans to lay off 205 SolarCity employees at its Roseville, California, office by the end of October this year. However, SolarCity employees across the country have been fired in the last two weeks  not just in California, but also in Nevada, Arizona, Utah and beyond, according to these employees.

Two former employees told CNBC that the Roseville office was being completely shut down. A Tesla spokesperson said the office will remain open with about 50 full-time employees. In March 2015, SolarCity said it employed 450 people at that location and was planning to add 300 more. It is not known whether those new people were ever added.

The total number of dismissals could not be determined. However, former employees estimate around 1,200 people have been fired in the company's wave of dismissals at Tesla including SolarCity. That figure does not include previously announced layoffs.

A spokesperson for Tesla declined to confirm that number or offer an alternative, and pointed back to a previous statement about the companywide dismissals:

"Like all companies, Tesla conducts an annual performance review during which a manager and employee discuss the results that were achieved, as well as how those results were achieved, during the performance period. This includes both constructive feedback and recognition of top performers with additional compensation and equity awards, as well as promotions in many cases. 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."

SolarCity, which sells solar energy systems to consumers, was founded by Elon Musk's cousins Lyndon and Peter Rive in 2006. Musk was its chairman and largest shareholder from its early days. When Must first proposed that Tesla buy SolarCity in 2016, critics said it would distract Tesla from making great cars.

Critics also raised corporate governance concerns because of the close relationships between the companies. Now, it operates as a subsidiary of Tesla.




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Tesla has begun making good on its promise to help Puerto Rico rebuild its energy grid after a devastating hurricane caused massive damage on the island.

On Tuesday, Tesla announced via Twitter that Hospital del Nino in Puerto Rico is "first of many" solar and storage projects going live.

Images tweeted out show solar panels and several Tesla Powerpack units being installed. This will allow the hospital to generate and store energy.

TWEET

Earlier this month, Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted that the electric car company's battery technology could help Puerto Rico rebuild after Hurricane Maria, which left millions of citizens struggling without basic necessities.

In response, Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello responded to Musk, saying "let's talk."

TWEET

The hospital project is the first project in Puerto Rico for Tesla, with more likely on the way.

Tesla is also deploying its battery technology in other countries. For example, Musk won a contract from South Australia to install a 100 megawatt facility, which could power 30,000 homes.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell takes the podium as he and U.S. President Donald Trump speak to the media together in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, U.S., October 16, 2017.

Five years ago, political scholars Norman Ornstein and Thomas Mann published an article with this bracing conclusion: "Let's just say it: The Republicans are the Problem."

That conclusion angered Republican politicians. It came during their furious 2012 campaign to recapture the U.S. Senate, defeat President Barack Obama and put Mitt Romney in the White House.

Today, Republicans have won both houses of Congress, made Donald Trump president and created an all-GOP government. The stunning result: More and more Republicans themselves voice the same conclusions as Ornstein and Mann about what their party has become.

On Tuesday, it was Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, who won re-election in that 2012 campaign. Now chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Corker characterized the Republican president as a danger to U.S. national security.

Hours later, Sen. Jeff Flake accused Trump of leading Americans toward a future as "fearful, backward-looking people." The Arizona senator, who won his seat in 2012 and won't run again, challenged GOP colleagues to resist indecency and dishonesty from the White House.

Last week, the previous Republican president, George W. Bush, condemned Trump-era "bigotry  conspiracy theories and outright fabrication." The 2008 Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain, ripped a "half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems."

Two months ago, Romney, who lost to incumbent Obama in 2012, called on Trump to apologize for remarks about a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. He said the Republican president had "caused racists to rejoice, minorities to weep, and the vast heart of America to mourn."

Instead of apologizing, Trump repeated his remarks.

The seeds of what those Republican leaders denounced were planted decades ago. Beginning in the 1960s, Republicans seized on turmoil over civil rights, cultural ferment and the Vietnam War to draw conservative whites in the South and elsewhere into a national majority coalition.

Since then, the party has grown increasingly homogeneous as the country has grown more diverse. Diversity and rising social tolerance among younger and better-educated voters helped Democrats win presidential elections again, with Bill Clinton and Obama.

At the same time, Republicans have grown dependent on older, blue-collar white conservatives aggrieved by declining economic prospects and cultural change. Before those voters propelled Trump to the Republican nomination, they pushed lawmakers toward the behavior that Ornstein and Mann described when they foreshadowed today's GOP crisis.

"The GOP has become an insurgent outlier in American politics," they wrote in "It's Even Worse Than It Looks," the book from which their 2012 article was drawn. "It is ideologically extreme; contemptuous of the inherited social and economic policy regime; scornful of compromise; unmoved by conventional understanding of facts, evidence and science; and dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition."

They concluded, "When one party moves this far from the mainstream, it makes it nearly impossible for the political system to deal constructively with the country's challenges."

This year's failure of an all-GOP government to fulfill promises to repeal and replace Obamacare demonstrated the point. The irony is that, as more Republicans speak out in agreement, Ornstein and Mann see signs of change.

In their new book with liberal commentator E.J. Dionne Jr., they cite growing resistance to Trump across the political spectrum. It can lead, they argue, "to rebuilding the more responsible, forward-looking center-right party that the country needs."

"The popular mobilization and national soul-searching he has aroused could be the occasion for an era of democratic renewal," they write in "One Nation After Trump."

Flake offered a hint on Wednesday after his dramatic speech on the Senate floor. In an interview on MSNBC, he repeated a formulation Obama used when he struggled with bitter and implacable Republican opposition.

"At some point," the Republican senator said, "this fever will break."
"With big government as the only solution given recently for environmental problems, it's imperative that conservatives return to the table to discuss free market ideas."

Another important area of pro-environmental policy revolves around public lands. National Parks provided more than 300,000 jobs and visitor spending contributed 32 billion dollars more than $18 billion to the U.S. economy last year, according to the National Park Service. Outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing, employs 7.6 million Americans and contributes $887 billion dollars to the U.S. economy, according to the Outdoor Industry Assocation. These are numbers that America's leaders should prioritize through providing technological incentives, funding backlogged maintenance projects, and protecting hunting/fishing rights.

Moreover, our nation's elected officials and political leaders should focus on the positive economic impact of pro-environmental policies.

With big government as the only solution given recently for environmental problems, it's imperative that conservatives return to the table to discuss free market ideas. While certain government-led policies have worked, many have failed. It is time that we entertain new solutions from a different perspective.

One example of a big government policy failing is the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Since its inception in 1973, a mere 1 percent of species have been removed from the list and only 8 percent have seen their populations improve. Part of the reason for this is "shoot, bury, and shut up," a reaction seen by private landowners across the country. Under the current ESA, when an endangered species is found on a private land, the landowner is subject to government-imposed regulations, contact, and management. As a result, private landowners are understandably fearful of losing their land, so they "shoot, bury, and shut up" when they find an endangered species. Since a majority of endangered species rely on private land for their survival, landowners should instead be rewarded and incentivized for protecting endangered species. In the coming months, Congress has the opportunity to pursue a massive reformation of the Endangered Species Act that protects private landowners and valuable species.

When it comes to clean energy, each energy sector currently has unequal tax breaks and subsidies. Unfortunately, well established and well connected traditional energies have lobbied the government to receive massive tax breaks, crowding out new clean energy technologies. If there is going to be government involvement in the energy sector, those sectors ought to be at a level playing field to let the free market run its course -- thus empowering consumers to find the most cost-effective form of clean energy. In short, reform should be sought to remove subsidies and equalize tax breaks.

Despite our recent abandonment of such free-market solutions, these types of policies have previously been successful. The Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA), passed in 1982 with bipartisan support, is a shining example. The CBRA, introduced by two Republican elected officials, focused on preserving coastal areas through local involvement even in times of disaster. Seen as widely successful, the CBRA has saved Americans at least 1.3 billion dollars through removing post-disaster government regulations funded through taxes. These are just a few examples of conservative policies that should be brought to the table and supported by Americans from across the political spectrum.

With a Republican-led Congress, conservatives have a chance to change the tone and unify the country behind the environment, and can concurrently bring new voices into the fold. In order to accomplish this, Republicans must step up and work across the aisle on this issue-- something that hasn't truly been done in decades.

Commentary by Benji Backer, a 19-year-old conservative activist from Appleton, Wisconsin, who attends the University of Washington-Seattle. He has spoken at CPAC, AFP's Defending the American Dream Summit, and many other national political events. He is the founder and president of the American Conservation Coalition, a millennial-led organization dedicated to giving conservatives a voice on the environment. Follow him on Twitter @BenjiBacker.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he is confident that two senators who recently criticized him still plan to vote in favor of a major Republican tax reform bill.

"I believe he's going to do the right thing for the country and vote for tax cuts," Trump said of Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., during an impromptu press conference on the South Lawn of the White House. Flake announced on Tuesday that he would retire from the Senate because he said the nation's politics had become too toxic, and he blamed Trump for the "undermining of our democratic norms and ideals."

Asked about another of his critics, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., Trump said he believed that Corker, like Flake, would vote for the sweeping tax-reform package. "I really believe that Bob Corker is going to do the right thing for the country," Trump said, repeating his phrase verbatim for Corker as he did for Flake.

Corker also made headlines on Wednesday by criticizing the president. The retiring chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee called Trump an "utterly untruthful" person and predicted that Trump's legacy would be "the debasement" of the United States. Following Corker's remarks, Trump used Twitter to attack Corker for the rest of the day.

Trump's optimism about the tax-reform package Wednesday even extended to Democrats, some of whom Trump said would vote for the reforms because "if they don't vote for these massive tax cuts, they're going to lose" re-election in 2018.

So far, there are no Democrats signaling that they might support the tax-cut package, which includes a number of provisions  like elimination of the estate tax  that would benefit only the ultra-rich.

However, one Democrat, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, attended an event with Trump earlier this year in her home state, where the president touted the benefits of his plan to cut taxes.
demonstrate the following add function and view list of applicants







After reading your question (which isn't even a proper question) I have no clue how I could possibly help you.



If you want to be helped, please put some effort into your question(s).

If the brain were so simple we could understand it, we would be so simple we couldn't.  Lyall Watson





=========================================================

I'm an optoholic - my glass is always half full of vodka.

=========================================================









"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."

- Homer







How to create a school database using own code. the program should update and display



Hello

I am working with a piece of VB6 code that reads data from an instrument through the USB port.

The instrument uses an FTID USB chip and the data is read by the host byte by byte from the USB bus using a driver supplied by FTID.



Each data byte is returned as a string character and then converted using the function Asc(string).



The problem is that on Windows 10 machines running chinese, the data returned is corrupted.



I think this may have something to do with the longer (2 bytes per character instead of one) character coding used for chinese but I have not been able to understand the issue.



Any suggestions?



AscW instead.

Asc, AscW Functions[ ^ ]: AscW returns the Unicode code point for the input character.  The returned value is independent of the culture and code page settings for the current thread.

(The documentation is for VB.NET, but the same comments apply to VB6.)





"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."

- Homer











I tried AscW(string) but I still get the same error. For example:



instead of reading 0 22 129 0 22

in the chinese PC I get 63 63 63 0 0



I also tried changing the regional settings in the PC to English but that did not work either.



AscB ?



But really, if you're going to be converting bytes to and from strings, you should be using a format like Base64[^] instead.





"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."

- Homer









That is why I use Asc(string) to get me the byte value that I need.



The problem, for example:



instead of reading 0 22 129 0 22

in the chinese PC I get 63 63 63 0 0



Thanks again





But thank you for taking the time to comment.





In the Moment I don't understand why you do it in that way ...





The thing what isn't clear for me is : why don't you read the data by the emulated COM-Port from the FTDI-Device ?

I have had the same problem when I wanted to read the data from a RFID-Reader (and I solved it in that way).


Types of obituaries

The Missourian publishes two types of obituaries  family obituaries and life stories.

A family obituary is the version submitted by a funeral home or family. Please see the submission form for details on cost and deadlines. Family obituaries

A life story is a closer look at a person's life and involves a reporter contacting family and friends. Life stories are based on newsworthiness and consent of the family. Life stories.
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
Apple has purchased a New Zealand-based wireless charging company whose technology can send power to multiple devices, from headphones to remote controls, at the same time.

As appealing as that may sound for mobile devices, Apple likely hopes to use the technology for a vast array of electronics such as the Apple TV remote control or its own computer mouse  and perhaps even for industrial applications.

IDG/Lucas Mearian A prototype of PowerByProxi's wireless charging box, which can charge multiple devices at the same time. Inside the box is a remote-controlled car, a Wii controller and a TV remote control, all using wirelessly chargeable AA batteries.

Apple in September unveiled wireless charging technology in this year's iPhone 8 and iPhone X smartphones  a first for Apple. Then it purchased PowerByProxi, whose products range from 2-watt to 150-watt chargers, as well as wirelessly rechargeable AA batteries.

PowerbyProxi was founded in 2007 by entrepreneur Fady Mishriki as a spin-out from the University of Auckland. Much of its most recent creative efforts have been aimed at producing boxes and bowls into which multiple devices can be placed and charged, all at the same time.

PowerByProxi How wireless charging works.

The sale was first reported today by Stuff, a New Zealand publication; it has since been confirmed by both Apple and PowerByProxi.

"The team and I are thrilled to join Apple," Mishriki said in a statement. "There is tremendous alignment with our values, and we are excited to continue our growth in Auckland and contribute to the great innovation in wireless charging coming out of New Zealand."

Mishriki showcased the company's technology at CES in 2013 (video below).

The Aukland-based company got its start selling large-scale systems for commercial industries such as construction, telecommunications, defense and agriculture. For example, one product is a wireless control system for wind turbines.

[ To comment on this story, visit Computerworld's Facebook page. ]

Apple has taken a slow, more methodical road to wireless charging; its adoption of the Qi-specification technology this year comes long after Samsung and other smartphone makers offered wireless charging.

The Qi specification  the industry's most popular  allows for power transfer ranging from 5 watts to 15 watts in the latest v1.2 release. Apple chose 7.5 wats of power transfer for the new iPhone 8 and the iPhone X, which goes on sale Nov. 3.

"Apple's been behind on this," said William Stofega, IDC's program director for mobile phones. "Because they want to keep the device nice and thin, they didn't want to go with the crowd."

Apple The new Apple-designed AirPower mat, slated to arrive in 2018, can charge an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously.

PowerbyProxi is a member of the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) Steering Committee, which develops the Qi standards for wireless charging.

Apple's recently announced AirPower charging pad  slated for release in 2018  will be able to charge up to three Qi-enabled devices, including new versions of the Apple Watch, iPhone and AirPod charging case. Similar devices are already on the market; even Ikea sells them, along with furniture that has wireless charging devices embedded in it.

Ikea Ikea's wireless charger line-up includes a pad that's capable of charging three devices at once (center).

The Auckland company's "loosely coupled" magnetic resonant charging technology was also miniaturized and placed into AA rechargeable batteries, so there is no need to embed the technology directly into devices. The wireless technology takes up about 10% of the AA battery height.

Carolina Milanesi, principal analyst at Creative Strategies, believes Apple was interested in PowerByProxi because the firm's technologies allow for ubiquitous use.

"I think that, in the long run, in the home, we will have more devices to charge," Milanesi said. "Think mouse, pencil, Apple TV remote rather than iPhone. I can see the opportunity there."

The Qi specification, Milanesi said, is also "less than ideal when it comes to charging" because it requires more strict placement of objects on charging pads. "If your placement of the product on the mat is not done properly, you might be waking up to a dead phone," she said.

The Qi standard supports both tightly-coupled or inductive wireless charging and loosely-coupled or resonant wireless charging, which allows an enabled mobile device to be up to 1.75-in away from a charging pad and still receive power.

PowerByProxi PowerByProxi's Proxi-Point is a wireless power transmitter capable of supplying power to one wireless battery receiver module and offers features such as foreign object detection.

That distance allows mobile devices to be more loosely placed on pads for charging rather than needing to be placed in an exact spot to receive power.

Qi charging devices are capable of scaling from less than 1 watt to more than 2,000 watts of power for charging large appliances. For mobile devices, the hardware transmits up to 15 watts, enabling charging at the same speed as wired charging.

PowerbyProxi has also created prototype wireless charging pads for mobile devices that enables vertical height charging of up to about one and a quarter inches.

In 2014, PowerByProxi demonstrated a 7.5-watt, highly resonant bowl-like charging system for thin-form devices, such as smartphones and phablets; that technology, the company said at the time, could be expanded to 15 watts for tablets. Previously, PowerbyProxi's wireless charging devices offered between 3.5 watts and 5 watts of power.

Using the 4-in. diameter bowl, wirelessly chargeable devices can be placed in any position or orientation, even on top of each other.

The newer charging system is designed to deliver up to 15 watts of power to a single tablet, or multiple smartphones and phablets that are placed into an open box or bowl-like container. PowerByProxi's technology is also backwards compatible with the Wireless Power Consortium's (WPC) Qi standard (the one Apple adopted for use in its newest iPhones).

The box can charge eight batteries in multiple devices at one time. "It doesn't have to be AA batteries. They could be lithium ion or even custom batteries," Mishriki said during an earlier interview with Computerworld.

Other wireless charging makers, such as Ossia, have also produced AA wirelessly rechargeable batteries. Ossia's Cota technology uses radio frequency (RF) to charge devices.

Ossia Cota's wirelessly rechargeable AA battery.

PowerbyProxi is a component company, so the wireless chargers it creates for demonstrations are proofs of concept. The company has partnerships with firms such as Samsung, Texas Instruments (TI) and Linear who choose to build hardware based on the working prototypes.

PowerByProxis latest prototype is the Proxi-Com, which can transmit both power and data. Initially the wireless device supports three common protocols used in industrial applications: a CAN bus, Ethernet and Digital GPIO (general purpose input/output circuit).

PowerByProxi The Proxi-Com, which can transmit both power and data.

In 2013, Samsung Ventures, the electronic giant's global investment group, invested $4 million in PowerByProxi.

"Our research identified PowerbyProxi as a leader in wireless power technology based on its expertise, track record and comprehensive patent portfolio," Hugh Kim, director of Wireless Charging Development for Samsung Electro-Mechanics, said at the time. "We are excited to work together on innovative consumer products that will raise the bar for our industry."

The $4 million from Samsung Ventures Investment Corp. (SVIC) came in addition to $9 million in venture already invested, including $5 million from TE Connectivity and Movac.
Most general elections since the war have given one of the two main parties a majority in double figures. All of the Parliaments concerned have lasted roughly five or four years. The exception was that of 2015, which delivered David Cameron a majority of 12. Two years later, Theresa May sought and gained an election, and saw that majority eliminated.

The first point to make about the Conservative intake of 2017, which Henry Hill profiles on this site today, is thus about its unusual character. On the normal form of British general elections, it shouldnt be there at all. Twenty-nine new Tory MPs could be forgiven for still being in shock. A year ago, none of them had been selected to contest the seats which they now hold. Suddenly, they have been propelled into the most momentous Parliament in modern times  that which will oversee our exit from the EU. It will be a bracing experience. The abnormal circumstances of the election and nature of this Commons may encourage this relatively small intake to stick together.

It is one more shaped by the Partys leadership than any in history. A snap poll plus the selection rules combined to achieve what Mark Wallace described on this site as a huge centralisation of power. With no candidates in place when the election was called, the process of selection was bound to be frantic: as Mark wrote, some associations were receiving their shortlists only hours before the selection meeting was due to take place. Before the 2015 and 2010 elections, the Party leadership and CCHQ strove to achieve more diversity in candidate selection  or, rather, a certain sort of diversity, with more women and ethic minority candidates. This time round, the priority for Downing Street and CCHQ was less this objective than  to be plain  putting people that they favoured in place in safe seats. This wasnt the main criterion everywhere: for example, the Isle of Wight was given a choice of people with a local connection. But it was so often enough for any accurate summary to make mention of it.

The consequence now that the smoke has cleared is fewer women than in 2015, the same proportion of ethnic minority members in safe seats, fewer people with public sector experience (though a larger proportion in the safe seats), more educated at state schools (a sharp rise)  and a stress on former local councillors. Indeed, the rise of the Tory councillor is a theme that this 2017 intake and its 2015 predecessor have in common. This time round, about half of the new Conservative MPs formerly served in local government; in 2015, the proportion was three in five. We called our study of the 2015 intake Camerons Children, and it was illustrated by a picture of a woman. One in three of that intake was female. This time round, we give you Mays Men and Women.

Since only one in five of the 2017 intake is a woman, perhaps the last two words of our title should be in brackets. Then again, maybe not. This is a much smaller group than that of 2015, which makes comparisons difficult.

It is no slight on the intake to say that we hope the circumstances of its creation, in which Associations had less say than at any time since the war, are never repeated. We offer a single example. The Aldershot Association wanted to interview Daniel Hannan. Why shouldnt it have been allowed to do so? Furthermore, how come it had to seek permission to do so? Why did it have no right to?

We end on a point we have made before. If the Party wants real diversity among its MPs  let alone a One Nation reach and depth  it needs more with public sector experience, and a smaller proportion who gain it through serving in one of the three armed forces, the army. The intake has one former teacher, Alex Burghart. The Tory Parliamentary Party needs more  plus more nurses, doctors, police officers, postmen and firemen (of which the new intake has one: Bill Grant).
After a three-year hiatus, the Asuka II will offer a world cruise in 2018, a 102-day voyage departing from Yokohama in March.

It sold out on the day we opened bookings, said Hiroshi Hattori, CEO of NYK Cruises. The ship will be very full.

Operating a world cruise for 20 consecutive years, NYK took a break after 2014 as Japanese passengers opted to stay closer to home.

Before the world cruise next spring, the 1990-built ship will spend 13 days in drydock in January, as the Japanese flag requirements require an annual drydocking.

Market Assessment

The overall number of Japanese passengers cruising is not increasing dramatically even though there are now foreign cruise ships in the market, said Hattori in an interview with Cruise Industry News.

The Asuka II competes locally against two single-ship local brands, and all three companies have been joined by Princess and Costa in recent years.

We are targeting the luxury market, he added. For the foreign ships, their main market is the premium or mass market. There is no competition between us, although we do not know what will happen in the future.

They are stimulating the cruise market, which is a good sign for us. Its working very well, Hattori continued. They are spending a lot on marketing which will have good results for the Japanese lines.

Read the full interview with Hiroshi Hattori in the Cruise Industry News Fall 2017 Quarterly Magazine.

---

For insight and in-depth analysis of the Asia-Pacific and Japanese cruise market, download the 2018 China Market Report.

About the 2018 China Market Report

The 2018 China Market Report by Cruise Industry News is the only resource covering the future trajectory of the Chinese and Asia-Pacific cruise industry, presenting the past, present and future in a concise 95-plus page PDF download.

It is the only forward looking and independently-researched data available on the Chinese cruise market.

Cruise Industry News profiles all the major cruise lines operating in Asia, from Carnival Corporation to Royal Caribbean and local operators.

In addition, there are discussions with leading Chinese travel agents about the charter model and pricing trends, port news and updates from across the region, and a look at the fleet of ships in Asia through 2027.

There is also exclusive analysis and statistics of the Asia-Pacific market going back to 1998 and supply projections through 2027, in addition to a break-down of Asia-Pacific and China by operator and market capacity. Click here to learn more.
Royal Caribbean International today announced the cruise line's return to San Juan and St. Maarten.

On Nov. 30, Freedom of the Seas will be the first ship in the fleet to call on San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Grandeur of the Seas will follow suit on Dec. 17 as the first cruise ship to sail into, St. Maarten since Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas arrived to provide humanitarian relief last month.

This announcement comes on the heels of Royal Caribbean's recent news that Adventure of the Seas will be the first ship to call on St. Thomas on Nov. 10.

"Royal Caribbean is encouraged by the commendable progress that has been made by the governments of Puerto Rico and St. Maarten towards the recovery of these destinations and it means a lot to us that we are heading back home. We have been part of the Caribbean community for almost 50 years, and for all of us it has been paramount that we focus on supporting our long-standing partners  who feel more like family after so many years," said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "Supporting these destinations that are so reliant on tourism is key to the future of the islands and the best thing we  as travelers and businesses  can do for the islands."
Theres an outbreak of ransomware attacks on K-12 schools in the U.S.

Why? Because there arent enough IT personnel with cyber experience to combat the hackers  and schools are perceived by hackers as being weak when it comes to security.

A weak target is an organization that does not continuously back up all of its data. An even weaker target is one that caves into cyber thieves and agrees to fork over money to get their stuff back.

Earlier this year, Education Week reported on an a rash of ransomware attacks on local districts, which sparked a debate over whether schools should pay ransoms to reclaim access to their data and systems. Numerous schools were willing to pay.

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) is now warning teachers, parents, and K-12 education staff of a cyber threat targeting school districts across the country, according to a CNN story published last week.

Tiina Rodrigue, senior advisor for Cybersecurity at Federal Student Aid, an Office of the DOE, posted ALERT! - CyberAdvisory - New Type of Cyber Extortion/Threat on Oct. 16, 2017. The alert is intended for IT staff at K-12 schools and districts, as well as higher-education institutions.

Strategy to protect against ransomware attacks

While the alert contains useful recommendations, it fails to instruct K-12 schools on the two most important action items:

First, every K-12 school and district should immediately back up every machine (server, PC, laptop and mobile devices) connected to their networks. Failing to back up data exposes schools to ransom demands.

Second, schools should not pay ransoms. While paying a ransom may arguably be beneficial in some isolated instances, its an invitation for hackers to launch more ransomware attacks on schools.

(Hopefully, by the time you read this, the alert will be updated with those items.)

Then, follow the DOEs recommendations to protect against ransomware:

Conduct security audits to identify weaknesses and update/patch vulnerable systems.

Ensure proper audit logs are created and reviewed routinely for suspicious activity.

Train staff and students on data security best practices and phishing/social engineering awareness.

Review all sensitive data to verify that outside access is appropriately limited.

Ransomware protection tools

In addition to backing up data and following the DOEs advice, several free ransomware protection tools are available to K-12 schools. One of them, Ransim, is a ransomware simulator tool that helps IT staff determine how vulnerable their networks are to ransomware attacks.

Global ransomware damage costs are predicted to exceed $5 billion in 2017, up from $325 million in 2015, according to Cybersecurity Ventures. Thats a 15X increase in just two years.

More ransomware attacks will be launched on K-12 schools.

Theres power in unity. The entire U.S. K-12 school community can bond together and send out a powerful message to hackers: We back up, and we dont pay ransoms.

Our schools should not be bullied by cyber criminals.

Visit SteveOnCyber.com to read all of my blogs and articles covering cybersecurity.

Follow me on Twitter @CybersecuritySF, or connect with me on LinkedIn. Send story tips, feedback and suggestions to me here.
Credit union CEOs must overcome their reluctance to talk with their boards about compensation philosophynot just for their own benefit, but for the good of the organization.

Its hard for many CEOs to be advocates for themselves, says Tom Telford, principal/area senior vice president for BFB Gallagher. Its just not in your nature to do that.

The main impediment sounds something like this, says Scott Albraccio, executive benefits sales manager for CUNA Mutual Group: How do I talk about compensation without sounding greedy or self-serving?

The duo provided some pathways to solve that quandary during a presentation at the CUNA CEO Council Conference.

First, they presented some common hurdles to healthy communication about executive compensation, with some assistance from the 70 CEOs in attendance at the inaugural event:
A former police chief and his former prosecutor wife allegedly carried out a $4 million fraudulent mortgage, refinancing and line of credit scheme victimized two credit unions and three banks.

Federal prosecutors indicted former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine Kealoha, a former supervisor attorney for the Honolulu prosecutors office, last week with 20 counts of bank fraud, criminal conspiracy, obstruction of justice, making false statements to a federal officer and aggravated ID theft.

The Kealohas were indicted along with five other Honolulu police officers following a federal grand jurys two-year investigation into public corruption and abuse of power within the Hawaiian law enforcement agency. The accused couple and one of the police officers pleaded not guilty Friday in U.S. District Court in Honolulu.

The case is being prosecuted by the office of acting U.S. attorney Alana Robinson for the Southern District of California in San Diego. She flew to Honolulu for the court hearing and addressed the media.
In a world where everything is moving so rapidly, simply being fast isnt enough; you have to be faster than anyone and everyone. Accelerate until youre at the front and move fast to stay there.  Jeff Lerner, owner and CEO of Xurli

How fast does the digital world spin? Consumer expectations, technological breakthroughs and a culture of change demand a constant whirlwind of innovation and action. Yet, its never been more critical to develop a deep understanding of where the world, your members and your organization are heading.

Its a race to excellence.

Join us at THINK 18, the premier credit union innovation conference, May 7 to 10, 2018, at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, Arizona. This years theme, The Race to Excellence, will fuel an action-packed four days of all-star keynotes, lively dialogue and debate, and collaborative strategizing in an unparalleled setting of natural beauty.
U.S. consumers are on the verge of losing the right to sue their banks and credit card companies through class-action lawsuits.

Vice President broke a 50-50 Senate tie Wednesday night, narrowly approving the repeal of the rule that blocked financial companies from requiring consumers to resolve disputes via individual arbitration proceedings.

The Senate vote followed earlier House approval and now goes to President Trump for expected signing. The action hands Wall Street and the financial industry a victory while dealing a defeat to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the federal watchdog that approved the rule in July.

The bureau is headed by Richard Cordray, an Obama administration appointee who has been targeted for removal by some congressional Republicans. Created as a new safeguard after the national financial crisis, the watchdog agency had moved to ban most mandatory arbitration clauses found in the fine print of agreements that consumers typically agree to automatically and often unwittingly when they open a checking account or get a credit card.
Sex abuse allegations have rocked the polygamous church of Sister Wives, causing rift from Utah to Montana

Some dissidents are worshipping in the new Second Ward.

The Salt Lake Tribune/October 21, 2017

By Nate Carlisle

Pinesdale, Montana -- Kimberly Herbert wondered if she would be allowed to marry in the temple.

She had dated a boy her age off and on for years. They discussed getting married. Then, in fall 2014, a dispute erupted in their church  the Apostolic United Brethren, a so-called Mormon fundamentalist group that believes in polygamy.

A daughter and two nieces accused Lynn Thompson, the AUB president, of fondling or molesting them as girls. Some in Pinesdale  a community so small with so few surnames that they call one another by their first names  continued following Lynn, now 77 years old, either because they still believe he was a prophet of God or that the allegations against him werent true or they just didnt want to risk dividing their families.

Kimberly and her immediate family were not among the supporters.

Some residents who would not follow Lynn were denied what Mormons of all varieties call a temple recommend  a card from their bishop saying the person has followed the steps of the faith and are worthy to enter the temple. That led to some tough conversations between Kimberly and her boyfriend.

The couple decided to take a break in early 2016 to evaluate their beliefs and whether they would support Lynn. Kimberlys views of Lynn didnt change.

At the end of six months, Kimberly, now 21, said, he came back and said, I dont feel that I can pursue this relationship if you dont support Lynn Thompson.

The AUB has its headquarters in Bluffdale, Utah, and thousands of members have blended into life across the Salt Lake Valley. The structure of the church mirrors that of the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which abandoned polygamy more than a century ago.

In Montana, the AUB is localized to Pinesdale, population 967, where the divisions over Lynn are most evident.

Some prominent people in this mountain town have stood against the AUB leader. That includes two from the AUB Priesthood Council, two Melchizedek Priesthood leaders, two bishops, the president of the all-female Relief Society, the Sunday school president, the elders quorum president, Seventies quorum president and the youth leaders. They all resigned their church callings and stopped paying tithes.

Those in Pinesdale who still want to worship in the Mormon fundamentalist way have started attending their own service that they call the Second Ward.

Enrollment at the private school, called Pines Academy, has declined. Marriages in both plural and monogamous households have been strained and some spouses have separated, Second Ward members say.

These members and others also worry that the AUB is divesting itself of its Montana outpost. Lynn has not visited, they say, since he was installed as president in 2014.

Even before he ascended, the AUB, which owns the land where most of Pinesdales houses sit, was considering subdividing the properties. That would allow the AUB to sell the lots.

The AUB has given no indication whether it plans to force residents to buy their lots or will sell them to someone else, but the possibility makes Second Ward members nervous. It was their tithes, they point out, that paid for the land and financed utility lines and other improvements.

Stephen Stoker, a 37-year-old Pinesdale resident, sees land ownership as a way the AUB leaders in Utah can retaliate against Lynns detractors and the dispute in Pinesdale can escalate.

Its going to get very unpleasant between Salt Lake and Pinesdale, Stephen said.

The dissidents here acknowledge they still need their siblings  figuratively and often literally  in AUB.

AUB and the Second Ward continue to jointly operate the municipal government and Pines Academy. They even cooperate in community service projects, including a recent weekend trip into the Bitterroot National Forest to harvest firewood for senior citizens.

Yet, people in Pinesdale dont see an easy resolution to the dispute.

Theres too much water under the bridge now, said Vilate Stoker, the principal at Pines Academy.

Lynn and AUB leaders did not return messages from The Salt Lake Tribune seeking comment.

Freethinkers

Polygamous churches have split before. Pinesdale can even credit its creation to a difference of opinion among polygamists.

AUB is also known as The Allred Group, largely because of its first leader, Rulon C. Allred. In Utah during the early 1950s, he served on a council with other polygamists. Doctrinal differences emerged, and Rulon formed the AUB. Others on that council formed what would become the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or FLDS, on the Utah-Arizona line.

Rulon lived in Salt Lake City, but he wanted the brethren to have a place where polygamy could be practiced without fear of prosecution. Bigamy is a misdemeanor in Montana, and state statutes do not forbid living with spiritual wives as they do in Utah, where bigamy is a felony.

In 1960, Rulon bought 640 acres of ranchland that became Pinesdale. The community sits in the Bitterroot Mountains in western Montana, about an hours drive south of Missoula. Many Pinesdale residents still refer to their town as The Ranch, though the community was incorporated in 1983.

While the FLDS and other polygamous groups have reputations as isolationists, the AUB has been known as the church for more mainstream polygamists and Mormon fundamentalists. AUB members dont wear prairie dresses. They dont assign marriages or permit underage brides. They interact with the wider society. They report sexual abuse to law enforcement.

That persona has been pushed by the AUBs best-known members: the Brown family from the reality television show Sister Wives. First living in Lehi, Utah, and now near Las Vegas, the Browns portray themselves as a suburban American family  just one that happens to include four wives and 18 children.

Pinesdale residents are integrated into Montana life as business owners, police officers, nurses and teachers. But they also have a rebellious streak.

Many residents, such as Peggy Lynch, started as members of the Salt Lake City-based LDS Church, which now excommunicates anyone found practicing plural marriage. Those LDS members joined the AUB to practice the more fundamentalist teachings of early Mormonism, whether it be polygamy or aspects of communal living.

With so many residents who had already left one church with which they didnt agree, and being 495 miles from Bluffdale, Pinesdale residents largely did what they wanted, even if it meant ignoring directives from AUB headquarters.

Were freethinkers, Peggy said.

Lex Herbert, the 48-year-old bishop of the Second Ward, recalled a time when the leadership sent instructions that teenagers couldnt attend a dance unless they had a temple recommend. Maybe the restriction made sense in Utah, where the parents didnt necessarily know their childs date, Lex said, but not in Pinesdale, where the parents did. The bishops in Montana at the time didnt enforce the policy.

Turmoil arrives



Some Pinesdale residents had concerns about Lynn even before he became president and the sexual misconduct allegations came to light.

A blog operated by Peggy, called Turmoil in the AUB, documents embezzlement allegations against Lynn from 2005, when he was serving on the AUBs governing council.

Citing witnesses and an AUB audit, one blog post accuses Lynn of embezzling $500,000 in tithing and other church funds over 10 years, including purchases of furniture, home repairs and travel. The blog post also says Lynn admitted using an AUB credit card to buy personal items, but that he repaid that money and that a bookkeeper made mistakes.

Whatever transpired, then-AUB President LaMoine Jenson, Lynns stepbrother, didnt punish Lynn  instead, he named him as his successor.

Lynn became president when LaMoine died from cancer Sept. 2, 2014, at his Utah home in Eagle Mountain.

Two months later, one of Lynns daughters, Rosemary Williams, a plural wife whose family was on the short-lived reality show My Five Wives, wrote a blog post describing Lynn fondling her in Pinesdale when she was 12. Rosemary later wrote that her father apologized to her but said he doesnt remember doing such a thing.

The same month Williams revealed her accusations, one of Lynns nieces wrote and shared her own account of Lynn molesting her when she was 10 years old and he was 15. A second niece soon wrote that Lynn molested her when she was age 6 and he was 19.

Second Ward members say Lynn and his loyalists on the AUBs governing council have refused to answer the sex-abuse allegations. Some Pinesdale residents even drafted plans for a church trial. They were told through council members that God told Lynn not to submit to any such proceeding.

We were trying so hard to give them ways to resolve it, said Ruth Herbert, Kimberlys mother and one of Lexs two wives, and we were just ignored.

Changes in status

At a Sunday meeting on Feb. 1, 2015, one of Pinesdales bishops, Morry Jessop, said he wished he could support Lynn, but he could not. It marked the first time someone in a Pinesdale public meeting refused to back the leader.

He wasnt alone. The divisions became more apparent by mid-2015. The AUB stopped giving temple recommends to people who wouldnt voice support for Lynn. People who had been faithful to the AUB for decades, if they werent born into it, no longer could participate in sacred ceremonies with their families.

That was never part of the religion before, said Micki Jessop, a Pinesdale resident and one of Rulons daughters. Shes among those who have quit attending any church.

Laynie Herbert, Lexs second wife, said AUB changed the procedure for calling into and listening to the services held in Bluffdale. When Laynie texted to be added to the new listening system, she said, she received a reply that she couldnt do so because she didnt support Lynn.

Church time

The Second Ward was born out of spiritual necessity. Lex said some men who did not support Lynn wanted to continue offering their families the sacrament  called communion in many other faiths  in which the worshipper consumes a sip of wine or water and a bite of bread in remembrance of Jesus Christ.

The AUB believe two priesthood holders are needed to perform the sacrament. So Lex and another man began organizing Sunday services in the same meetinghouse in Pines Academy where the AUB met.

Some Second Ward attendees felt they needed to pay tithing to a bishop to comply with the scriptures. Lex was asked to become the bishop and accepted. He says he gives the money to needy people, spends it on service projects or gives it to charity, and he provides an accounting of the expenditures.

Second Ward members say they arent aware of the AUB taking extreme disciplinary action against Lynn detractors  no one has been excommunicated (stripped of church membership) and no one has been disfellowshipped (men are removed as priesthood holders and men and women can lose other positions in the church).

Weve pretty much disfellowshipped ourselves, Peggy said.

Subtraction problem

Vilate, the principal at Pines Academy, loves the murals in her school, including the hallway decorated with various habitats.

Theres an African savanna and another habitat that resembles the mountains around Pinesdale. Graduating sixth-graders are allowed to paint an animal into the mural.

That animal population is slowing because enrollment at Pines Academy, which is financially supported by AUB and teaches kindergarten through sixth grade, is declining. According to numbers provided by Vilate, there are 129 students this year. Thats a drop of 28 percent since Lynn became president.

Parents have said, We are not supporting anything with AUB, Vilate said.

Vilate, 52, says parents instead are sending their children to the public schools in the neighboring towns or home schooling. For those who remain at Pines Academy, Vilate said the faculty has tried to maintain normality.

The faculty is a mix of AUB, Second Ward members and one teacher who recently joined the LDS Church. Instead of referring to teachers as Mr. or Miss, students place a sister or brother in front of the teachers first names.

There are religion classes, and when students ask about the split over Lynn, Vilate said, the teacher tells them to ask their parents.

Enrollment isnt the only way Pines Academy has been affected. Vilates father, Dee Jessop, had been principal at the school for 47 years and served as chairman of the school board. Vilate says Dee was forced out because he didnt support Lynn. He continues to teach math, but he plans to retire after this school year.

Vilate doesnt support Lynn either and doesnt attend any church now. She says she was made principal because she was already transitioning to succeed her father, and there was no ready replacement among the Lynn loyalists.

Not done with gospel



Second Ward members tell of some Pinesdale residents joining the LDS Church. Mormon missionaries have been visiting Ruth and Lexs 17-year-old son.

Sitting with Peggy in the faculty lounge at Pines Academy, Vilate said she has attended LDS services with her children and has considered joining, but she worries she will have to stop living in a plural family. She is the second of three wives. She lives next door to her sister wives.

So whats wrong with Second Ward? Peggy asked.

I went there once, Peggy, Vilate replied. And I just felt like it was the same thing. I want something new; something with more excitement and energy.

Every week, Second Ward members wonder whether this will be the Sunday that AUB has changed the locks on the meetinghouse. Through the first three Sundays in October, at least, the meetinghouse has remained open.

On the first Sunday in October, Peggy was called to speak during the service. She walked behind the pulpit and looked over the few faces and all the empty pews. She referenced the Bible story in which a jealous Cain murders his brother Abel. She said she was embarrassed AUB has allowed wickedness in its leadership.

I want my children and my grandchildren to know that God keeps his promises if we keep ours, she said.

Peggy also told the Second Ward congregants she believes they are a people God can use to establish Zion.

To see more documents/articles regarding this group/organization/subject click here.
Costa Rica 'cult' facing deportation, Canadian man safely leaves group

Group leader 'Nature Boy' says he was roughed up by police during arrest

CBC News/October 19, 2017

By Ryan Cooke

An alleged cult in Costa Rica may have met its end, after local police detained the group following a traffic stop and held 11 of them for deportation.



The group, dubbed Melanation by its leader Eligio Bishop, has a large online following and follows a back-to-nature philosophy promoted through social media.



"Everything on the car was expired  all the paperwork, the licence plate. So [police] impounded the vehicle," Raposo said. "Along with that, I think six people had expired passports. They overstayed in the country for a long time."



Bishop is among the members who say they are being deported. Raposo has a valid travel visa and was released soon after being detained.

Known to his followers as Nature Boy, Bishop made news last March when a 21-year-old woman from Newfoundland and Labrador quietly left home to join him.



Kayla Reid was listed as a missing person by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, until she showed up in a live stream on Facebook from Costa Rica.



Her mother expressed concerns to CBC News, saying Bishop had taken advantage of her daughter's mental illness and that her daughter had joined a cult.

On March 20, Bishop told CBC News that Reid was free to go at any time. He did not deny being a cult leader, but said he also believes all countries and corporations are cults.



The next day, he gave Reid a plane ticket to Florida, where a family member picked her up and brought her home.



While Reid expressed a desire to go back to the group, Raposo said he wants nothing to do with Eligio Bishop anymore.



"He wants to be the big man who stood up for something," Raposo said. "He wants to live free without a passport in nature. But you can't do that."

Detention turns rocky, police get rough

The group was detained near Puerto Limon, the sixth-largest city in Costa Rica, after being stopped at a police checkpoint.



When it was discovered they were in the country illegally, the group members were told to wait for a bus to come and take them to see immigration officials, Raposo said.



When the bus took them to the police station, Bishop told the group to stay put.



A video shows police trying to forcibly remove them from the bus. Bishop is heard repeating "I love you" to an officer as he attempted to pull him out of his seat.



In subsequent videos, some members of the group said they were charged with resisting arrest. Bishop and one other man showed off cuts and bruises to followers during a Facebook live from the police station.



Raposo was allowed to leave the entire time, but felt obligated to stay with the group he considered his family.

Seeing things from different light

Raposo said he now sees the struggle as being futile, but at the time he felt he had to follow Bishop's commands.After a few days away from the group, Raposo said he feels "awakened.""[Bishop] created a situation out of nothing," Raposo said of the detaining.

"Just because you're against the system and you don't like paperwork, doesn't mean you can do what he did."



No traveller from North America is permitted to stay longer than 90 days in Costa Rica without a visa.



Raposo said he now feels differently about the man he once revered as Nature Boy.



"He's just manipulative. He knows how to use his words very well ... I'm not going to say he controlled me, but it's just I fell for it."

Travelled to Costa Rica to change lifestyle

Displeased with life in Toronto, Raposo became one of the nearly 37,000 people following Bishop on YouTube and Facebook.A strong believer in a lifestyle closer to nature, Raposo went to Costa Rica and joined Melanation.Three people close to Raposo reached out to CBC News before he left and expressed concerns he was joining a cult.Two former members of the group have said they were asked to turn over their cash upon joining the group, and said Bishop gets donations from his followers online.One member, who left the group last winter, accused Bishop of manipulating his followers into staying with him, adding he is motivated by controlling people's lives.The former member also labelled the group as a cult.Raposo said he does not feel like he joined a cult, but did feel manipulated and misled by Bishop before moving to Costa Rica. Upon arriving at the group's headquarters, he realized they were not living a back-to-nature lifestyle at all."[Bishop] was still paying rent for a house," Raposo said. "He was still buying materialistic things."

Still, the former personal trainer said he has no regrets and was thankful for Bishop encouraging him to leave a modern lifestyle behind.



Raposo said he will stay in Costa Rica for now, and keep pursuing a life closer to nature  but he will do it legally.



"I just want to send a message of peace and love," he said.



"It's time to make a change ourselves. But making a change is not going against a system that is still here, because you pay consequences for it if you try to be a smartass."



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The following companies are subsidiares of ABB: ABB (China) Investment Limited, ABB (China) Ltd., ABB (Hong Kong) Ltd., ABB (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd., ABB (P.J.S.C.), ABB (Private) Ltd., ABB (Pty) Ltd., ABB (Pvt) Ltd., ABB A/S, ABB AB, ABB AG, ABB AS, ABB AUTOMACAO LTDA, ABB AUTOMATION AND ELECTRIFICATION (VIETNAM)COMPANY LIMITED, ABB AUTOMATION HOLDINGS (THAILAND) CO. LTD., ABB Algeria SpA Asea Brown Boveri, ABB Algerie Produits SpA, ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd, ABB Asea Brown Boveri SRL, ABB Ausbildungszentrum Berlin gGmbH, ABB Australia Pty Limited, ABB Automation (Thailand) Co. Ltd., ABB B.V., ABB Bailey Beijing Engineering Co. Ltd., ABB Bailey Japan Limited, ABB Beijing Drive Systems Co. Ltd., ABB Beijing Switchgear Limited, ABB Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungsges. mbH, ABB Bulgaria EOOD, ABB Business Services Sp. z o.o., ABB Cable Management Products Ltd, ABB Canada EL Holding GmbH, ABB Capital AG, ABB Capital B.V., ABB Centroamerica y El Caribe S.A., ABB Chargedot Shanghai New Energy Technology Co. Ltd, ABB Colombia Ltda, ABB Construction (ABACON) S.A.E., ABB E-MOBILITY INC., ABB E-MOBILITY PTE. LTD., ABB E-mobility AB, ABB E-mobility AG, ABB E-mobility AS, ABB E-mobility GmbH, ABB E-mobility Holding Ltd, ABB E-mobility QFZ LLC, ABB E-mobility S.p.A., ABB E-mobility SAS, ABB E-mobility SL, ABB E-mobility Technology Shenzhen Co. Ltd, ABB E-mobility UK Limited, ABB ELECTRICAL & AUTOMATION W.L.L, ABB ELECTRIFICATION HOLDINGS (THAILAND) CO. LTD., ABB ELETRIFICACAO LTDA, ABB Ecuador S.A., ABB Electrical Control Systems S. de R.L. de C.V., ABB Electrical Equipment (Xiamen) Co. Ltd., ABB Electrical Equipment Ltd., ABB Electrical Industries Co. Ltd., ABB Electrical Machines Ltd., ABB Electrical Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ABB Electrification (Thailand) Co. Ltd., ABB Electrification Canada ULC, ABB Electrification Norway AS, ABB Electrification Sweden AB, ABB Elektrik Sanayi A.S., ABB Engg. Technologies Co. (KSCC), ABB Engineering (Shanghai), ABB Engineering Trading and Service Ltd., ABB Equipo de Control Y Distribucion S. de R.L. de C.V., ABB Equity Limited, ABB FZ-LLC, ABB Finance (USA) Inc., ABB Finance B.V., ABB For Feeding Industries SAE, ABB France, ABB GLOBAL BUSINESS SERVICES AND CONTRACTINGINDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, ABB Global Industries and Services Private Limited, ABB Global Marketing FZ LLC, ABB Group Holdings Pty. Ltd., ABB Group Investment Management Pty. Ltd., ABB Guangdong Sihui Instrument Transformer Co. Ltd., ABB Hangzhou Winmation Automation Company Limited, ABB Holding AS, ABB Holdings (Pty) Ltd., ABB Holdings B.V., ABB Holdings Inc., ABB Holdings Limited, ABB Holdings Sdn. Bhd., ABB INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS (LODZ) S.A. W LIKWIDACJI, ABB Inc., ABB Inc., ABB India Limited, ABB Industrial Solutions (Australia) Pty Ltd, ABB Industrial Solutions (Belgium) BV, ABB Industrial Solutions (Bielsko-Biala) Sp. z o.o., ABB Industrial Solutions (Canada) Inc., ABB Industrial Solutions (Klodzko) Sp.z.o.o., ABB Industries (L.L.C.), ABB Industries FZ, ABB Information Systems Ltd., ABB Installation Products Caribe LLC, ABB Installation Products European Centre S.A., ABB Installation Products Inc, ABB Installation Products International LLC., ABB Installation Products Limited, ABB Installation Products Monterrey S. de R.L. de C.V., ABB Installacios Keszulekek Kft., ABB Investment Holding 2 GmbH, ABB Investments (Pty) Ltd, ABB Inzeniring d.o.o., ABB Jiangjin Turbo Systems Company Limited, ABB K.K., ABB Kaufel GmbH, ABB LAFRENZE PROPERTY (PROPERTY) LIMITED, ABB LLC, ABB LLP., ABB LV Installation Materials Co. Ltd. Beijing, ABB Limitada, ABB Limited, ABB Limited/Jordan LLC., ABB Lineage Power Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ABB Logistics Center Europe GmbH, ABB Ltd., ABB Maghreb Services S.A., ABB Malaysia Sdn Bhd., ABB Management Services Ltd., ABB Mexico S.A. de C.V., ABB Motors and Mechanical Inc, ABB N.V., ABB Norden Holding AB, ABB Operations Center Ltd., ABB Orange B.V., ABB Oryx Motors and Generators Service LLC, ABB Oy, ABB Panama Sales S.A., ABB Power & Automation (Private) Limited, ABB Power & Automation Limited, ABB Power Electronics (Germany) GmbH, ABB Power Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ABB Power Electronics (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., ABB Power Electronics Inc., ABB Pte. Ltd., ABB Reinsurance AG, ABB Robotics (Zhuhai) Ltd, ABB Robotics Machine Tending Limited, ABB Robotics Solutions NV, ABB S.A., ABB S.A. de CV, ABB S.p.A., ABB SARL, ABB SAS, ABB SIA, ABB Schweiz AG, ABB Shanghai Free Trade Zone Industrial Co. Ltd., ABB Shanghai Motors Co. Ltd., ABB South Africa (Pty) Ltd., ABB Sp. z o.o., ABB Stotz-Kontakt Gmb, ABB Striebel & John GmbH, ABB Susa Inc., ABB Technologies Ltd., ABB Technologies S.A., ABB Technology SA, ABB Tianjin Switchgear Co. Ltd., ABB Transmission & Distribution Limited LLC, ABB Treasury Center (USA) Inc., ABB Turbo Systems (Hong Kong) Limited, ABB Turbochargers S.A.E., ABB UAB, ABB Verwaltungs AG, ABB Wirtschaftsbetriebe GmbH, ABB Xiamen Corporation Management Service Co. Ltd., ABB Xiamen Low Voltage Equipment Co. Ltd., ABB Xiamen Smart Technology Co. Ltd., ABB Xiamen Switchgear Co. Ltd., ABB Xinhui Low Voltage Switchgear Co. Ltd., ABB d.o.o., ABB eMobility Digital Venture GmbH, ABB for Electrical Industries (ABB ARAB) S.A.E., ABB for Electrical Solutions and Technologies K.S.C.C., ABB s.r.o., ABB s.r.o., ABBNG Limited, APS Technology Group, ASEA BROWN BOVERI Portugal Unipessoal Lda, ASTI France SAS, ASTI Mobile Robotics, Asea Brown Boveri Electrica SGPS (Angola) Limitada, Asea Brown Boveri Industrial Technical & CommercialCompany of Imports  Exports S.A., Asea Brown Boveri Lanka (Private) Limited, Asea Brown Boveri Ltd., Asea Brown Boveri S.A., Asea Brown Boveri S.A. de C.V., Asea Brown Boveri S.A.E., Asti Mobile Robotics GmbH, Asti Mobile Robotics Group SL, Asti Mobile Robotics SAU, B & R Automazione Industriale S.r.l., B & R Industrial Automation Ltd., B + R Industrie-Elektronik GmbH, B&R Automatyka Przemyslowa Sp.z.o.o., B&R Automacao Industrial Ltda., B&R Holding GmbH, B&R Industrial Automation, B&R Industrial Automation (China) Co. Ltd., B&R Industrial Automation A/S, B&R Industrial Automation AB, B&R Industrial Automation Co. Ltd., B&R Industrial Automation Corp., B&R Industrial Automation GmbH, B&R Industrial Automation Iberica S.L.U., B&R Industrial Automation Inc., B&R Industrial Automation Pte. Ltd., B&R Industrial Automation Pvt. Ltd., B&R Industrie-Automation AG, B&R Industriele Automatisering B.V., B&R K.K., B+R Automation Industrielle SARL, B+R Industrial Automation OOO, B+R automatizace spol. s.r.o., BR Endustriyel Otomasyon Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Baldor Electric Company, Busch-Jaeger Elektro GmbH, Chargedot, Cherokee India Pvt. Ltd., Codian Robotics, Codian Robotics B.V., Codian Robotics of the Americas, Combustion Engineering Inc., Cylon Controls, Cylon Controls Limited, Cylon Energy Inc., DynaMotive Ltd., ELBI Elektrik, Edison Holding Corporation, Enervalis NV, Envitech Energy, Epyon, GE Industrial Solutions, Gomtec, Gresin Grupo Estudios Industriales, IMV Invertomatic Victron UK Limited, In-Charge Energy, Industrial C&S Hungary Kft., Industrial C&S of P.R. LLC, Industrial Connections & Solutions LLC, Industrial Connections of SA Pty. Ltd., Intrimmo BVBA, Jinan ABB SRI Rail Transit Equipment Technology Co. Ltd., Jordan Acquisition Group, KEYMILE - Business, Kaufel S.A., Kuhlman Electric Corp., Lineage Overseas LLC, Lineage Power (Argentina) S.R.L., Lineage Power (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L., Lineage Power China Co. Ltd., Lineage Power Holdings Inc., Lineage Power Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Lorentzen & Wettre, Los Gatos Research, Mincom, NUB3D S.L., Newave Energy Holding, Newron System, PT ABB Sakti Industri, Pinghu Zhuangbest Technology Development Co. Ltd., Power-One, Powercorp, Powertel India Pvt. Ltd., RGM - Rail vehicle power business, RMI Automation Co. Ltd., SVIA, SWISS TURBOCHARGERS SA DE CV, Saudi Industrial Solutions Ltd., Shanghai Zhuangbest Technology Development Co. Ltd., Shantou Winride Switchgear Co. Ltd., Sirius Holdings B.V., Smart Power Technology Co. Ltd., Spirit IT, Swissturbo (Shanghai) Investment Limited, SynerLeap powered by ABB AB, TURBO SYSTEMS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TURBO SYSTEMS ITALY S.P.A., TURBO SYSTEMS RUS LLC, TURBO-SUPERIOR SYSTEMS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, TURBOCHARGING GREECE SINGLE MEMBER SA, Thomas & Betts, Thomas & Betts Saudi Arabia Limited Liability Co., Trasfor, Tropos Networks, Turbo Systems Argentina S.A., Turbo Systems Canada Inc, Turbo Systems Colombia SAS, Turbo Systems Dominican Republic SRL, Turbo Systems Finland Oy, Turbo Systems Germany GmbH, Turbo Systems Holding Ltd, Turbo Systems Iberia S.L., Turbo Systems Korea Ltd., Turbo Systems Myanmar Limited, Turbo Systems Pakistan (Private) Limited, Turbo Systems South East Asia Pte. Ltd., Turbo Systems Switzerland Ltd, Turbo Systems The Netherlands B.V., Turbo Systems Turkey Muhendislik Makine Sanayi Ve TicaretAnonim Sirketi, Turbo Systems US Inc., Turbo Systems United Co. Ltd., Turbo Systems Verwaltungs Ltd, Turbocharging Bangladesh Limited, Turbocharging Brasil Ltda., Turbocharging Systems Co. Ltd., Turbocharging Systems France SAS, Turbocharging UK Limited, Turbosystems Nigeria Limited LTD, Validus DC Systems, Vectek Electronics, Ventyx, Verdi Holding Corporation, W.J. Furse & Co. Ltd., Yangzhou SAC Switchgear Co. Ltd, and Zhejiang Chargedot New Energy Technology Co. Ltd..

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Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE), an S&P 500<sup></sup> urban office real estate investment trust ("REIT"), is the first, longest-tenured, and pioneering owner, operator, and developer uniquely focused on collaborative life science, technology, and agtech campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, with a total market capitalization of $31.9 billion as of December 31, 2020, and an asset base in North America of 49.7 million square feet ("SF"). The asset base in North America includes 31.9 million RSF of operating properties and 3.3 million RSF of Class A properties undergoing construction, 7.1 million RSF of near-term and intermediate-term development and redevelopment projects, and 7.4 million SF of future development projects. Founded in 1994, Alexandria pioneered this niche and has since established a significant market presence in key locations, including Greater Boston, San Francisco, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, and Research Triangle. Alexandria has a longstanding and proven track record of developing Class A properties clustered in urban life science, technology, and agtech campuses that provide our innovative tenants with highly dynamic and collaborative environments that enhance their ability to successfully recruit and retain world-class talent and inspire productivity, efficiency, creativity, and success. Alexandria also provides strategic capital to transformative life science, technology, and agtech companies through our venture capital platform. We believe our unique business model and diligent underwriting ensure a high-quality and diverse tenant base that results in higher occupancy levels, longer lease terms, higher rental income, higher returns, and greater long-term asset value.
Cenovus Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas in Canada, the United States, and the Asia Pacific region. The company operates through Oil Sands, Conventional, Offshore, Canadian Manufacturing, U.S. Manufacturing, and Retail segments. The Oil Sands segment develops and produces bitumen and heavy oil in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan. This segments Foster Creek, Christina Lake, Sunrise, and Tucker oil sands projects, as well as Lloydminster thermal and conventional heavy oil assets The Conventional segment holds assets primarily located in Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, Clearwater, and Rainbow Lake operating in Alberta and British Columbia, as well as interests in various natural gas processing facilities. The offshore segment engages in the exploration and development activities. The Canadian Manufacturing segment includes the owned and operated Lloydminster upgrading and asphalt refining complex, which upgrades heavy oil and bitumen into synthetic crude oil, diesel fuel, asphalt, and other ancillary products, as well as owns and operates the Bruderheim crude-by-rail terminal and two ethanol plants. The U.S. Manufacturing segment comprises the refining of crude oil to produce diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, asphalt, and other products. The Retail segment consists of marketing of its own and third-party refined petroleum products through retail, commercial, and bulk petroleum outlets, as well as wholesale channels. Cenovus Energy Inc. was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
The following companies are subsidiares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft: ABFS I Incorporated, ABS MB Ltd., Alex. Brown Financial Services Incorporated, Alex. Brown Investments Incorporated, Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft mbH, Ambidexter GmbH i.L., Argent Incorporated, BHW - Gesellschaft fur Wohnungswirtschaft mbH, BHW Bausparkasse Aktiengesellschaft, BHW Holding GmbH, BT Globenet Nominees Limited, Bainpro Nominees Pty Ltd, Baldur Mortgages Limited, Bankers Trust Investments Limited, Bayan Delinquent Loan Recovery 1 (SPV-AMC) Inc., Berkshire Mortgage Finance, Betriebs-Center fur Banken AG, Better Financial Services GmbH, Better Payment Germany GmbH, Borfield Sociedad Anonima, Breaking Wave DB Limited, Cardales UK Limited, Cardea Real Estate S.r.l., Cathay Advisory (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cathay Asset Management Company Limited, Cathay Capital Company (No 2) Limited, Cedar (Luxembourg) S.a. r.l., Chapel Funding, China Recovery Fund LLC, Consumo Srl in Liquidazione, D B Investments (GB) Limited, D&M Turnaround Partners Godo Kaisha, DB (Barbados) SRL, DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Asing) Sdn. Bhd., DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Tempatan) Sendirian Berhad, DB Alex. Brown Holdings Incorporated, DB Aotearoa Investments Limited, DB Beteiligungs-Holding GmbH, DB Boracay LLC, DB Capital Markets (Deutschland) GmbH, DB Cartera de lnmuebles 1 S.A.U., DB Chestnut Holdings Limited, DB Corporate Advisory (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., DB Delaware Holdings (Europe) Limited, DB Direkt GmbH, DB Elara LLC, DB Energy Trading LLC, DB Equipment Leasing Inc., DB Equity Limited, DB Finance (Delaware) LLC, DB Global Technology Inc., DB Global Technology SRL, DB Group Services (UK) Limited, DB HR Solutions GmbH, DB Holdings (New York) Inc., DB IROC Leasing Corp., DB Impact Investment Fund I. LP., DB Industrial Holdings Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, DB Industrial Holdings GmbH, DB Intermezzo LLC, DB International (Asia) Limited, DB International Investments Limited, DB International Trust (Singapore) Limited, DB Investment Managers Inc., DB Investment Partners Inc., DB Investment Partners Limited, DB Investment Resources (US) Corporation, DB Investment Resources Holdings Corp., DB Investment Services GmbH, DB London (Investor Services) Nominees Limited, DB Management Support GmbH, DB Nominees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB Nominees (Jersey) Limited, DB Nominees (Singapore) Pte Ltd, DB Omega BTV S.C.S., DB Omega Holdings LLC, DB Omega Ltd., DB Omega S.C.S., DB Operaciones y Servicios lnteractivos Agrupacicm de lnteres Econemico, DB Overseas Finance Delaware Inc., DB Overseas Holdings Limited, DB Print GmbH, DB Private Clients Corp., DB Private Wealth Mortgage Ltd., DB Re S.A., DB Service Centre Limited, DB Service Uruguay S.A., DB Services (Jersey) Limited, DB Services Americas. Inc., DB Servizi Amministrativi S.r.l., DB Strategic Advisors Inc., DB Structured Derivative Products LLC, DB Structured Products Inc., DB Trustee Services Limited, DB Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB UK Bank Limited, DB UK Holdings Limited, DB UK PCAM Holdings Limited, DB US Financial Markets Holding Corporation, DB USA Core Corporation, DB USA Corporation, DB Valoren S.a. r.l., DB Value S.a.r.l., DB VersicherungsManager GmbH, DB Vita SA., DB lmmobilienfonds 5 Wieland KG i.L., DB lo LP, DBAH Capital. LLC, DBCIBZ1, DBFIC Inc., DBNZ Overseas Investments (No.1) Limited, DBOI Global Services (UK) Limited, DBR Investments Co. Limited, DBRE Global Real Estate Management 18 Ltd., DBRMS4, DBRMSGP1, DBUK PCAM Limited, DBUSBZ1 LLC, DBUSBZ2 S.a. r.l., DBX Advisers LLC, DEBEKO lmmobilien GmbH & Co Grundbesitz OHG, DEE Deutsche Erneuerbare Energien GmbH, DEUKONA Versicherungs-Vermittlungs-GmbH, DEUTSCHE BANK AS., DI Deutsche lmmobilien Treuhandgesellschaft mbH, DISCA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, DWS Alternatives France, DWS Alternatives Global Limited, DWS Alternatives GmbH, DWS Asset Management (Korea) Company Limited, DWS Beteiligungs GmbH, DWS CH AG, DWS Distributors Inc., DWS Far Eastern Investments Limited, DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA, DWS Group Services UK Limited, DWS Grundbesitz GmbH, DWS International GmbH, DWS Investment GmbH, DWS Investment Management Americas Inc., DWS Investment S.A., DWS Investments Australia Limited, DWS Investments Hong Kong Limited, DWS Investments Japan Limited, DWS Investments Shanghai Limited, DWS Investments Singapore Limited, DWS Investments UK Limited, DWS Management GmbH, DWS Real Estate GmbH, DWS Service Company, DWS Shanghai Private Equity Fund Management Limited, DWS Trust Company, DWS USA Corporation, Deposit Solutions, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Capital Holdings New Zealand, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Foreign Investments New Zealand, Deutsche (New Munster) Holdings New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Access Investments Limited, Deutsche Aeolia Power Production Societe Anonyme, Deutsche Alternative Asset Management (UK) Limited, Deutsche Asia Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd, Deutsche Asset Management (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Australia Limited, Deutsche Bank (Cayman) Limited, Deutsche Bank (China) Co. Ltd., Deutsche Bank (Malaysia) Berhad, Deutsche Bank (Suisse) SA, Deutsche Bank (Uruguay) Sociedad Anenima lnstitucien Financiera Externa, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Bank Americas Holding Corp., Deutsche Bank Europe GmbH, Deutsche Bank Financial Company, Deutsche Bank Holdings Inc., Deutsche Bank Insurance Agency Incorporated, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., Deutsche Bank Mutui S.p.A., Deutsche Bank Mexico. S.A., Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, Deutsche Bank Polska Spelka Akcyjna, Deutsche Bank Representative Office Nigeria Limited, Deutsche Bank S.A, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Limited, Deutsche Bank Societe per Azioni, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Delaware, Deutsche Bank Trust Company National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Corporation, Deutsche Bank. Sociedad Anenima Espanola, Deutsche CIB Centre Private Limited, Deutsche Capital Finance (2000) Limited, Deutsche Capital Hong Kong Limited, Deutsche Capital Markets Australia Limited, Deutsche Capital Partners China Limited, Deutsche Cayman Ltd., Deutsche Custody N.V., Deutsche Domus New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Equities India Private Limited, Deutsche Finance No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Foras New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur lmmobilien-Leasing mit beschrenkter Haftung, Deutsche Global Markets Limited, Deutsche Group Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Deutsche Group Services Pty Limited, Deutsche Grundbesitz Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., Deutsche Grundbesitz-Anlagegesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Deutsche Holdings (BTI) Limited, Deutsche Holdings (Grand Duchy), Deutsche Holdings (Luxembourg) S.El r.l., Deutsche Holdings Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 3 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 4 Limited, Deutsche India Holdings Private Limited, Deutsche India Private Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services (Ireland) Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services Limited, Deutsche International Custodial Services Limited, Deutsche Investments (Netherlands) N.V., Deutsche Investments India Private Limited, Deutsche Investor Services Private Limited, Deutsche Knowledge Services Pte. Ltd., Deutsche Leasing New York Corp., Deutsche Mexico Holdings S.a. r.|., Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group Limited, Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation, Deutsche Nederland N.V., Deutsche New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Nominees Limited, Deutsche Oppenheim Family Office AG, Deutsche Overseas Issuance New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Postbank, Deutsche Postbank Finance Center Objekt GmbH, Deutsche Private Asset Management Limited, Deutsche Securities (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Securities (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities (SA) (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities Asia Limited, Deutsche Securities Australia Limited, Deutsche Securities Inc., Deutsche Securities Israel Ltd., Deutsche Securities Korea Co., Deutsche Securities Mauritius Limited, Deutsche Securities SA. de C.V.. Casla de Bolsa, Deutsche Securities Saudi Arabia, Deutsche Services (Cl) Limited, Deutsche Services Polska Sp. z o.o., Deutsche StiftungsTrust GmbH, Deutsche Strategic Investment Holdings Yugen Kaisha, Deutsche Trustee Company Limited, Deutsche Trustee Services (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Trustees Malaysia Berhad, Deutsche Wealth Management S.G.I.I.C. SA., Deutsche lmmobilien Leasing GmbH, Deutsches lnstitut fur Altersvorsorge GmbH, Durian (Luxembourg) S.a. r.l., EC EUROPA IMMOBILIEN FONDS NR. 3 GmbH & CO. KG i.l., Elizabethan Holdings Limited, Elizabethan Management Limited, European Value Added I (Alternate GP.) LLP, Fiduciaria Sant Andrea S.r.l., Finanzberatungsgesellschaft mbH der Deutschen Bank, Funfte SAB Treuhand und Verwaltung GmbH & Co. Suhl "Rimbachzentrum" KG, G Finance Holding Corp., German American Capital Corporation, Grundstucksgesellschaft Frankfurt Bockenheimer LandstraBe GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Miesbaden LuisenstraBe/Kirchgasse GbR, Hollandsche Bank-Unie, ISTRON Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs-GmbH, IVAF l Manager S.a.r.l., Immobilienfonds Buro-Center Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben I GbR, J R Nominees (Pty) Ltd, Joint Stock Company Deutsche Bank DBU, Jyogashima Godo Kaisha, KEBA Gesellschaft fur interne Services mbH, Kidson Pte Ltd, Konsul lnkasso GmbH, LA Water Holdings Limited, LAWL Pte. Ltd., Leasing Verwaltungsgesellschaft Waltersdorf mbH, Leonardo lll Initial GP Limited, MEF I Manager. S. a r.|., MIT Holdings Inc., Maher Terminals Holdings (Toronto) Limited, Morgan Grenfell & Company, MortgageIT, MortgagelT Inc., MortgagelT Securities Corp., OOO "Deutsche Bank TechCentIe", OOO "Deutsche Bank", OPB Verwaltungs- und Treuhand GmbH, OPB-Oktava GmbH, OPB-Quarta GmbH, OPPENHEIM Capital Advisory GmbH, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Manager GmbH, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, PADUS Grundstcks-VermietungsgeseIlschaft mbH, PB Factoring GmbH, PB Spezial-lnvestmentaktiengesellschatt mit Teilgesellschaftsvermogen, PCC Services GmbH der Deutschen Bank, PT Deutsche Sekuritas Indonesia, Pan Australian Nominees Pty Ltd, Plantation Bay. Inc., Postbank Akademie und Service GmbH, Postbank Beteiligungen GmbH, Postbank Direkt GmbH, Postbank Filialvertrieb AG, Postbank Finanzberatung AG, Postbank Leasing GmbH, Postbank lmmobilien GmbH, Quantiguous, R.B.M. Nominees Pty Ltd, RREEF, RREEF America LLC., RREEF China REIT Management Limited, RREEF European Value Added I (G.P.) Limited, RREEF Fund Holding Co., RREEF India Advisers Private Limited, RREEF Management LLC., RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., Route 28 Receivables. LLC, SAB Real Estate Verwaltungs GmbH, SAGITA Grundstucks-Vermielungsgesellschaft mbH, SAPIO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, Sal. Oppenheim, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Beteiligungs GmbH, Sharps SP l LLC, Stelvio lmmobiliare S.r.l., Suddeutsche Vermeigensvewvaitung Gesellschaft mit beschrenkter Haftung, TELO Beleiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Tempurrite Leasing Limited, Thai Asset Enforcement and Recovery Asset Management Company Limited, Treuinvest Service GmbH, Triplereason Umited, VOB-ZVD Processing GmbH, WEPLA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Wealthspur Investment Ltd., World Trading (Delaware) Inc., lmmobilienfonds BuroCenter Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben II GbR, lmmobilienfonds Wohn- und Gescheftshaus Koln-Blumenberg V GbR, and norisbank GmbH.

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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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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.
National Retail Properties is a REIT focused on retail-oriented properties across the United States. The company invests in high-quality retail properties subject to long-term leases that generate stable, consistent, predictable income. The company laid claim to 3,305 properties enclosing 33.8 million square feet of space in 48 states leased to 380 tenants engaged in 37 trades as of October 2022.

National Retail Properties was formed in 1984 as Golden Corral Realty Corporation. The company was intended as a means for employees to invest in Golden Corral but it soon took on a life of its own. The company split from its parent in 1993 and then became a REIT in 1998. Since then a number of mergers and acquisitions resulted in the company that is traded today.

National Retail Properties seeks to generate returns for shareholders through capital appreciation and dividends and is one of the most stable dividend payers in the REIT universe. The company made its 33rd consecutive distribution increase in 2022 ranking it 3rd on the list of REITs with sustained annual dividend increases. In regard to all publicly listed companies, there are less than 90 which have increased their payout for as many years or more as National Retail Properties. The compound annual growth rate runs in the range of 4% to 5%.

National Retail Properties is not limited in scope to the type of business it will lease to. The top four sectors occupying its space, however, are convenience stores, automotive-related, full-service, and limited-service restaurants which command a lions share of retail dollars. These segments made up nearly 49% of the portfolio in 2022 with no tenant making up more than 5% of the total income.

The top three tenants at the time are 7-11, Mister Car Wash, and Camping World followed by L.A. Fitness, GPM Investments (convenience), and Dave & Busters. The firm's average lease runs in the range of 10.6 years and occupancy runs high and above 99%. Properties are all single-occupier and leased on a net basis. Most properties are leased on a triple-net basis which means National Retail Properties is insulated from taxes, maintenance, and insurance costs. Other notable tenants include Yum! Brands and Wendys.

National Retail Properties uses leverage to enhance its returns. The companys debt ratio is low however and its debt carries an investment-grade rating from Standard & Poors and Moodys.
Penske Automotive Group, Inc., a diversified transportation services company, operates automotive and commercial truck dealerships. The company operates through four segments: Retail Automotive, Retail Commercial Truck, Other, and Non-Automotive Investments. It operates dealerships under franchise agreements with various automotive manufacturers and distributors. The company engages in the sale of new and used motor vehicles, and related products and services comprise vehicle and collision repair services, as well as placement of finance and lease contracts, third-party insurance products, and other aftermarket products; and wholesale of parts. It also operates a heavy and medium duty truck dealership, which offers Freightliner and Western Star branded trucks, as well as a range of used trucks, and maintenance and repair services. In addition, it imports and distributes Western Star heavy-duty trucks, MAN heavy and medium duty trucks, buses, and Dennis Eagle refuse collection vehicles with associated parts in Australia, New Zealand, and portions of the Pacific. Further, the company distributes diesel and gas engines, and power systems. The company operates 320 retail automotive franchises, including 146 franchises located in the United States and 174 franchises located outside of the United States; 23 CarShop used vehicle dealerships in the United States and the United Kingdom; and 37 commercial truck dealerships in Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Georgia, Utah, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, and Oregon, as well as Canada. Penske Automotive Group, Inc. was incorporated in 1990 and is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company's Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, including auto financing, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses. This segment offers financial products and services through branches, automated teller machines, and mobile sales network. Its Wealth Management segment provides a suite of advice-based solutions and strategies to high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, and institutional clients. The company's Insurance segment offers life, health, home, auto, travel, wealth, annuities, and reinsurance advice and solutions; and business insurance services to individual, business, and group clients through its advice centers, RBC insurance stores, and mobile advisors; digital, mobile, and social platforms; independent brokers; and travel partners. Its Investor & Treasury Services segment provides asset servicing, custody, payments, and treasury services to financial and other investors; and fund and investment administration, shareholder, private capital, performance measurement and compliance monitoring, distribution, transaction banking, cash and liquidity management, foreign exchange, and global securities finance services. The company's Capital Markets segment offers corporate and investment banking, as well as equity and debt origination, distribution, advisory services, sale, and trading services for corporations, institutional investors, asset managers, private equity firms, and governments. The company was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
Telefonica Brasil S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides mobile and fixed telecommunications services to residential and corporate customers in Brazil. Its fixed line services portfolio includes local, domestic long-distance, and international long-distance calls; and mobile portfolio comprises voice and broadband internet access through 3G, 4G, 4.5G, and 5G as well as mobile value-added services and wireless roaming services. The company also offers data services, including broadband and mobile data services. In addition, it provides pay TV services through direct to home satellite technology, IPTV, and cable, as well as pay-per-view and video on demand services; network services, such as rental of facilities; other services comprising internet access, private network connectivity, computer equipment leasing, extended service, caller identification, voice mail, cellular blocker, and others; wholesale services, including interconnection services to users of other network providers; and digital services, such as entertainment, cloud, and security and financial services. Further, the company offers multimedia communication services, which include audio, data, voice and other sounds, images, texts, and other information, as well as sells devices, such as smartphones, broadband USB modems, and other devices. Additionally, it provides telecommunications solutions and IT support to various industries, such as retail, manufacturing, services, financial institutions, government, etc. It markets and sells its solutions through own stores, dealers, retail and distribution channels, door-to-door sales, and outbound tele sales. The company was formerly known as Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo S.A. - TELESP and changed its name to Telefonica Brasil S.A. in October 2011. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Yext, Inc. organizes business facts to provide answers to consumer questions in North America and internationally. It operates Yext platform, a cloud-based platform that allows its customers to provide answers to consumer questions, to control the facts about their businesses and the content of their landing pages, and to manage their consumer reviews, as well as provides customers to update their information and content through its knowledge network of approximately 200 maps, apps, search engines, intelligent GPS systems, digital assistants, vertical directories, and social networks. The platform enables its customers to centralize, control and manage data fields, including store information, such as name, address, phone number and holiday hours; professional information, comprising of headshot, specialties, and education; job information, consisting of title and description; and FAQs and other information. It serves the healthcare, retail, and financial services industries. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati received the 2022 Adepi Award

* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the World Intellectual Property Review's "Influential Women in IP" of 2020.

* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2018.

* IPKat founder and Blogmeister Emeritus Jeremy Phillips listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2005, 2011, 2013, and 2014.

* Recommended by the European Patent Office as reading material for candidates for the European Qualifying Examinations, 2013.

* Listed as "Top Legal Blog" in The Times Online, March 2011.

2010 ABA Journal 100. * One of the only two non-US blogs listed in the Blawg100.

* Court Reporter Top Copyright Blog award winner, November 2010.

* Number 1 in the 2010 Top Copyright Blog list compiled by the Copyright Litigation Blog, July 2010.

* Selected by the United States Library of Congress for inclusion in its historic collections of Internet materials related to Legal Blawgs as of 2010.

* Top Patent Blog poll 2009: 3rd out of 50 in the "Favourite Patent Blog" poll and 2nd out of 50 in the "Most-read" poll.

Blog of the Year, 20 August 2008. * ComputerWeekly IT Law and Governance, 20 August 2008.
[October 24, 2017] Switzerland's Helvetia Chooses Ciena for High-Speed, Secure DCI

Leading Swiss insurance firm Helvetia selected Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) for a data center interconnect (DCI) network between its major data hubs in Switzerland. Helvetia will leverage a suite of Ciena solutions as part of this network build, including Waveserver and the 6500 Packet-Optical Platform, for high-capacity Ethernet and Fibre Channel interconnect. This deployment will also enhance the security of Helvetia's network using Ciena's integrated WaveLogic Encryption, ensuring data is always protected as it travels between Helvetia's Swiss data centers. Key Facts: Helvetia Switzerland (part of the Helvetia Group) is one of Switzerland's large insurance providers, with more than 1.3 million customers nationally.

Recent corporate acquisitions and market growth is driving Helvetia to increase its data center footprint within Switzerland and improve existing links between key business hubs. With Ciena, Helvetia is significantly increasing the scalability, reliability and capacity of its network links between the Swiss Data Center locations.

With this simple high-capacity network, Helvetia will be able to transport data at 200 Gb/s across distances up to 130km without requiring costly Raman amplification or intermediate amplifier sites.

This deployment also includes 200G wire-speed encryption for enhanced data transmission security, along with Ciena's software-based MyCryptoTool, a dedicated management user portal that provides full control of all security parametrs associated with protecting data traveling across the network. This allows Helvetia's security team to manage the encryption capabilities, while the network team separately manages network operations.

Kapsch CarrierCom (News - Alert), a global system integrator and supplier of end-to-end telecommunications solutions and a Ciena BizConnect partner, is deploying Helvetia's robust Ciena-based network as a fully managed service.



Executive Comments: "As the financial services sector moves to provide more online offerings there is a growing need for highly-reliable and continuous connectivity. By bolstering our DCI networks with Ciena, Helvetia ensures we can securely deliver the applications and services needed for our employees to be successful at their jobs and our customers to have access to critical information - whenever they need it."

- Andreas Hagin, Lead Engineer, IT Infrastructure, Helvetia

- "Today's data centers don't exist in isolation but rather need to share data and content with each other and provide back-up and redundancy. Helvetia sees these challenges as opportunity, and by using Ciena's solutions for its in-house data needs the company is well-placed to be a leader in the digitization of the insurance market."

- Daniel Prokop, Regional Sales Director, Central Europe, Ciena About Helvetia Group

The Helvetia Group with headquarters in Switzerland has grown over the past almost 160 years to become a successful international insurance group. Alongside its home market of Switzerland, its core geographic markets also include Germany, Italy, Austria and Spain, which from the "Europe" segment. Helvetia is active in the life and non-life business in these markets. In addition to these markets, Helvetia also offers tailored specialty lines coverage and reinsurance via the "Specialty Markets" segment in France and through selected destinations worldwide. It has 6,481 employees providing services for more than 5 million customers and achieved a business volume of more than CHF 8.5 billion for the 2016 financial year. Helvetia attaches great importance to practical geographic diversification and a good balance between the profitable non-line business, the growing life and pensions business and the promising international specialty lines business. The registered shares of Helvetia Holding AG are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange. About Ciena Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) is a network strategy and technology company. We translate best-in-class technology into value through a high-touch, consultative business model - with a relentless drive to create exceptional experiences measured by outcomes. For updates on Ciena, follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @Ciena, LinkedIn, the Ciena Insights blog, or visit www.ciena.com. Note to Ciena Investors You are encouraged to review the Investors section of our website, where we routinely post press releases, SEC (News - Alert) filings, recent news, financial results, and other announcements. From time to time we exclusively post material information to this website along with other disclosure channels that we use. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based on our current expectations, forecasts, information and assumptions. These statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those stated or implied, as a result of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in our most recent annual or quarterly report filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies and can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will," and "would" or similar words. Ciena assumes no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171024005151/en/

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[October 24, 2017] Enamore Products Enters Mobile Accessory Industry With Patented New Product

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Oct. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Enamore Products today announced the launch of Screenflair, a new line of colorful and reusable screen protectors for smartphones such as the iPhone 8 and Samsung Note 8. The patented screen protectors let customers personalize the front of their smartphones with unique graphics and artwork, while still safeguarding their device. Screenflair offers original designs that go around, and even on, the screen and can be easily swapped out. Graphics on the screen have a transparent quality and mostly fade to the background when the screen is on, adding a unique accent to someone's favorite apps and websites. "We're reinventing the role screen protectors play on our smartphones," said Randy Cowan, President and Owner of Enamore Products, headquartered in Sioux Falls, SD. "We're taking it beyond protection; now it's also about style and personalization." Each protector is custom-fitted to the specific smartphone model and won't leave behind residue after it's removed. Screenflair provides protection to prevent scratches, smudges, and everyday wear and tear to the front of the device. "We spent a long time looking for the right material," said Cowan, who started Enamore Products earlier this year. "We finally found something that is strong, durable, and even reusable, so someone can swap out designs whenever he or she wats."



While Screenflair is only available online for now, Cowan said he hopes to eventually get it into retail stores. The company has already had discussions with one national retailer about carrying the product. The screen protectors will be available for most major smartphone models including the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy series, and will cost less than $10. For more information, visit screenflair.com.

About Enamore Products:

Enamore Products is a mobile accessory company focused on producing high-quality, innovative protection solutions. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, SD, Enamore Products leverages its manufacturing experience to combine design and durability, creating accessories that will help customers protect in style. For more information, visit www.screenflair.com. MEDIA CONTACT:

Matt Entringer

[email protected]

(605) 940-8324 Related Files Screenflair Press Release.pdf Related Images image1.jpg

Peeking Panda screen protector image2.jpg

Playful Paint image3.jpg

Tricky Tiger image4.jpg

Bold Basketball Related Links Screenflair Website View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/enamore-products-enters-mobile-accessory-industry-with-patented-new-product-300542470.html SOURCE Enamore Products

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[October 25, 2017] Artificial Intelligence Summit to Convene Thought Leaders and Trainers in New York

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On October 30 and 31, the NYU Tandon School of Engineering Future Labs will bring together leaders in artificial intelligence (AI) at the Future Labs AI Summit to discuss the most important drivers of the technology. Speakers will address the newest AI research, including progress in quantum computing; explain how the largest companies in the world are using AI; dive into AI ethics and governance; and outline some of the best AI investments. Speakers include Corinna Cortes, head of research at Google New York; Davide Venturelli, the research scientist in charge of surveying scientific investigations at NASA's Ames Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory; and the University of Toronto's Richard Zemel, recognized for his foundational AI research. During the first day of the Future Labs AI Summit, guests can take courses in machine learning, deep learning, and game theory AI from experts at Intel, Amazon Web Services, and academia. In addition to assembling some of the brightest influencers in AI, the AI Summit aims to drive awareness of the growth of the AI industry in New York and the work of the AI NexusLab, an accelerator program within NYU Tandon's Future Labs developed with ff Venture Capital (ffVC), a leading early-stage venture capital firm based in New York City. The AI NexusLab helps early-stage AI companies grow via technical support, venture development, and more. The conference will mark the debut of the AI NexusLab's second cohort of AI startups, which will demo their products on stage. "The Future Labs AI Summit gathers among the foremost multidisciplinary experts in the field of artificial intelligence and serves as a key moment in time to bring together New York City's AI community. Importantly, today also offers the chance for the AI NexusLab companies  representing some of the most exciting early-stage startups using applied artificial intelligence  to tell their stories and showcase their products after months of hard work," said John Frankel, ffVC founding partner. "The success of the first AI Summit  and that of the first cohort of AI NexusLab companies  is a testimony to the importance of bringing together leading academics, industry experts, and startup founders to help establish New York as a growing hub for AI innovation," said Kurt Becker, vice dean for research, innovation and entrepreneurship at NYU Tandon. "AI has the potential to become a platform for a wide range of technology areas similar to nanotechnology's progression. Our ability to manufacture things at the anoscale and control their properties has resulted in nanocomposite materials of unprecedented mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties; in nanocrystals of incredible hardness; in sunscreens made of nanoparticles whose surfaces can be coated to be extremely efficient absorbers of UV light  to name just a few."



Typical accelerator programs run for three months and have upwards of 15 companies in each class, with only a few achieving sustainable growth. The AI NexusLab, which is the first accelerator of its kind between a university and a venture fund in the United States, hosts far fewer, vets applicants more vigorously, runs in two stages over seven months, and merges resources and guidance from New York University with ffVC's expertise in propelling early-stage technology companies. The goal is to help these early-stage ventures grow to the size and strength of the companies in the Future Labs, which have remarkable survival rate of nearly 90 percent for graduates of its program. Examples include Clarifai and Geometric Intelligence, which was acquired by Uber and now serves as its central AI lab. This year's exhibiting AI NexusLab's companies, which represent major sectors in the New York economy  marketing, education, healthcare, and communication sectors  include:

Bitesnap  an app that uses deep learning to analyze photos of food to help consumers make better diet decisions. Able to recognize more than 1,300 types of food, Bitesnap tracks eating habits, quantifies a meal's nutritional value, and recommends healthier alternatives.

Bowtie  an AI-powered CRM messaging platform. When customers call a Bowtie business and no one answers, the Bowtie bot texts to help with their request automatically, converting customers who would have been lost. Customers can also message the bot to book appointments, buy products, and ask questions.

Mt. Cleverest  an online, open-education platform that uses natural language processing to instantly convert web content into a quiz for students and teachers. The company tracks every interaction with a quiz and feeds data into a neural net that improves the quiz for the next person, so each quiz is different and better.

SecondMind  a patent-pending AI assistant for voice conversations that enables you to visualize what another person is saying as they speak. For example, if during conversation someone mentions a painting, SecondMind immediately shows an image of the painting. Applications for AI NexusLabs' third cohort will open in 2018. About the NYU Tandon School of Engineering Future Labs

NYU Tandon created one of the first technology incubators in New York City in 2009 with support from the NYC Economic Development Corporation and the first cleantech incubator in New York City, funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Today, the Future Labs support a wide variety of entrepreneurial outreach programs in addition to more than 40 startup companies in three locations: a data-focused incubator on SoHo's Varick Street, another in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn focused on digital technology, and a third in Downtown Brooklyn's MetroTech Center with a focus on clean-energy technology. To date, 74 companies have graduated from the program, 15 through acquisition, and they have generated some 1,500 jobs and an estimated economic impact of $500 million. Notable portfolio companies include CB insights, Clarifai, Bounce Exchange, Honest Buildings, and United Wind. For more information visit

http://engineering.nyu.edu/business/future-labs. About the New York University Tandon School of Engineering

The NYU Tandon School of Engineering dates to 1854, the founding date for both the New York University School of Civil Engineering and Architecture and the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute (widely known as Brooklyn Poly). A January 2014 merger created a comprehensive school of education and research in engineering and applied sciences, rooted in a tradition of invention and entrepreneurship and dedicated to furthering technology in service to society. In addition to its main location in Brooklyn, NYU Tandon collaborates with other schools within NYU, the country's largest private research university, and is closely connected to engineering programs at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai. It operates Future Labs focused on start-up businesses in downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn and an award-winning online graduate program. For more information, visit http://engineering.nyu.edu. About ff Venture Capital

ff Venture Capital (ffVC) is the most engaged early-stage venture capital firm in New York City. ffVC invests in some of the strongest growth areas to date, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, drones, enterprise cloud software, and crowdfunding, and identifies and invests in technology and technology-enabled companies at their inception  across geographies and emerging industries. With five partners and an acceleration team of 20-plus investment and operations professionals, ffVC actively participates with founders to develop products, target markets, and accelerate growth. Since 2008, ffVC has invested in over 90 companies and has helped to create companies with aggregate market value exceeding $4 billion. For more information, visit http://ffvc.com. Note: Images available at http://dam.engineering.nyu.edu/?c=1985&k=e3bdc29ec2 www.facebook.com/nyutandon

@NYUTandon View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/artificial-intelligence-summit-to-convene-thought-leaders-and-trainers-in-new-york-300542905.html SOURCE NYU Tandon School of Engineering

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Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil announced Tuesday (October 24) that nine research projects at four post-secondary institutions will receive more than $6.5 million in funding aimed at strengthening ocean science and marine technology development, tidal energy and combating coastal erosion.

One of the projects based at Dalhousie is DAMOS (Development of Autonomous Marine Observation Systems). DAMOS combines autonomous Slocum and Wave Gliders and fixed-tracking stations, providing the ability to make oceanographic and animal tracking measurements with unprecedented resolution in key areas of the Northwest Atlantic.

Among DAMOSs many benefits, it will help protect the North Atlantic right whales, one of the most endangered cetaceans.

Through the use of autonomous vehicles and sensors, well be able to strengthen our ability to monitor and locate right whales, identifying their real-time locations, said Sara Iverson, professor, Department of Biology and Scientific Director of the Ocean Tracking Network which co-leads DAMOS. Through technology, well also be able to relay that information to the shipping and fishing fleets who share the sea with the right whales, allowing them to chart a course that mitigates conflict with this endangered species.

Found mostly along the Atlantic Coast, right whales have been threatened by entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with ships. Its estimated that less than 500 right whales are in existence. This past summer, an unprecedented number of North Atlantic right whale mortalities were reported in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

This project positions Canadian scientists to make major breakthroughs in our understanding of the ocean and its resources, said Dr. Iverson (above).

Dalhousie is home to the first and only comprehensive and operational glider team in Canada which is leading the way in ocean observing technologies and training. Additionally, the fixed receiver-tracking systems are made-in-Nova-Scotia-technology, further positioning our province  and Dal  as a world leader in marine research and industry.

Research funding generates broad benefits



Five other Dal-led projects received funding from the province:

Alex Hay - Environmental Monitoring, Modelling and Forecasting Infrastructure for

Instream Tidal Energy

Environmental Monitoring, Modelling and Forecasting Infrastructure for Instream Tidal Energy Stefanie Colombo - Finfish and shellfish tank systems to improve nutrition in aquaculture

- Finfish and shellfish tank systems to improve nutrition in aquaculture Mladen Nedimovic - National Facility for Seismic Imaging

- National Facility for Seismic Imaging John Gosse  microSTARR, Ultra Sensitive Tracer Analysis for Radioisotope Research

 microSTARR, Ultra Sensitive Tracer Analysis for Radioisotope Research Bruce Martin - Effectiveness of acoustic monitoring systems and turbine audibility assessment.

I am so very proud of our world-class researchers whose incredibly innovative work is generating an unprecedented understanding of our ocean, says Alice Aiken (above), vice-president research for Dalhousie. The financial support announced today allows us to increase our capacity for discovery and innovation and offer rich research environments that foster leading-edge work.

Acadia University, St. Francis Xavier University and Nova Scotia Community College also received funding.

Nova Scotia has a competitive advantage in the ocean sector and we are supporting research that will have the greatest impact on the provinces economy, said Premier McNeil.

The funding is expected to create more than 170 jobs and support training for approximately 200 graduate students, interns, lab technicians, project managers and faculty.

The OFI connection



Dr. Iversons research is also supported by the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI), an international hub for ocean science led by Dalhousie University, Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Prince Edward Island. She is involved in three OFI projects:
[October 25, 2017] IntSights Report: Cybercriminals Embrace Messaging Apps

NEW YORK, October 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- IntSights Cyber Intelligence, the industry's first and only enterprise threat management provider that transforms tailored threat intelligence into automated security operations, today released its latest threat intelligence trend report, Messaging Applications: The New Dark Web. The research suggests that the recent crackdown on popular dark web markets AlphaBay and Hansa is driving cybercriminals to migrate to messaging apps Discord, ICQ, Skype, Telegram and Whatsapp. "The anonymity promised by dark web networks such as TOR and i2p was the key reason for their popularity among cyber criminals," said Guy Nizan, IntSights CEO and co-founder. "Now that the dark web is no longer safe for hackers and threat actors, they are moving to messaging platforms and brazenly conducting their illicit activities on the same apps that millions use every day." The most popular messaging apps have all implemented a group chat feature, which individuals can join by clicking on an 'invite link.' IntSights analyzed thousands of black markets, text storage/paste sites, hacking forums, IRC channels, apps and social media pages, and discovered a steady increase in threat actors inviting cyber-crime foum users to join their groups. The company estimates that up to hundreds of thousands of users of prominent mobile messaging apps are using them to trade stolen credit cards, account credentials, malware and drugs, as well as exchanging hacking methods and ideas.



The report includes: A detailed review of today's most common cyber-criminal activities

Examples of invite links for each app

Comprehensive lists of the criminal groups active on each app, including membership numbers

A month-by-month breakdown of invite links shared on cybercrime-associated platforms over the past year

A brief discussion on the increasing use of TOR and TOR-based platforms on mobile devices The research indicates that, where cyber-criminal communication once required an individual to have the equipment and knowledge necessary to navigate the dark web, today's black market is accessible to anybody with a cell phone. This could lead to a proliferation of low-level cybercrime conducted by amateurs. The report also concludes that the monitoring of online criminal activity will become much more challenging as threat actors move from large and centralized black markets and forums to small, closed and distributed networks based on social media groups and/or messaging apps.

About IntSights:

IntSights is redefining cyber security with the industry's first and only enterprise threat management platform that transforms tailored threat intelligence into automated security operations. Our ground-breaking data-mining algorithms and unique machine learning capabilities continuously monitor an enterprise's external digital profile across the surface, deep and dark web, categorize and analyze tens of thousands of threats, and automate the risk remediation lifecycle -- streamlining workflows, maximizing resources and securing business operations. This has made IntSights' one of the fastest growing cybersecurity companies in the world. IntSights' has offices in Tel Aviv, Amsterdam, New York and Dallas. To learn more, visit: https://www.intsights.com Follow us on Twitter: @Intsights Visit us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3535823 Contact:

Mark Prindle

Fusion PR

646-452-7109

[email protected] SOURCE IntSights Cyber Intelligence Inc

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PLDT and Globe Telecoms joint acquisition of the telecom assets of San Miguel Corp (SMC) has been ruled legal by the Philippines Court of Appeals.

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) had begun an investigation into the PHP69.1 billion ($1.4 billion) deal, which was signed in May 2016. The operators filed a legal challenge against the probe, and now that the deal has been ruled legal the antitrust body must abandon its review.

The court ruled that the PCC did not have the authority or expertise to investigate the deal, and that any investigation must be carried out instead by the National Telecommunications Commission. It dismissed the PCCs claim that the probe must be carried out ahead of the deal closing in order to assess its potential effect on public welfare.

It also noted that the PCC had committed grave abuse of discretion by failing to adhere to its own rules following the announcement of the deal. In June 2016, the antitrust body decried PLDT and Globe for acting ahead of pending court rulings when they closed their acquisition of SMCs assets by paying the final instalment.

Following this episode, in July last year Globe and PLDT filed for temporary restraining orders against the PCC, effectively stymieing its investigation. The next month, the body disclosed its opinion that competition would likely be adversely affected by the deal.

Between them, PLDTs mobile unit Smart and Globe account for 99% of the Philippines mobile connections. Prior to their joint acquisition, SMC was mulling over whether to launch a third mobile player in partnership with Australias Telstra to foment stronger competition in a market that sorely requires it.

The countrys president Rodrigo Duterte warned Smart and Globe in October last year that if they failed to address complaints about the quality of their service, he would allow Chinese competitors into the market.
Reliance Communications (RCom) is reportedly mulling over whether to shut down some or all of its wireless operations.

Gurdeep Singh, executive director of Reliance Telecom and CEO of the groups wireless business, was quoted in Indias Economic Times as saying that the operator had reached a point where we need to call it a day on our wireless business and suggested that the operator would reach a decision on this within the next 30 days.

While the quote is pulled from an audio recording of a speech made by Singh, the suggestion that RCom could entirely shutter its wireless business is not entirely consistent with points made elsewhere in the ETs article, as well as other reports on the issue. In addition, ET noted that it was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the audio recording and that RCom had not provided any further comments.

The ET noted that people familiar with the matter have claimed that RCom is set to shut down its 2G operations, essentially divesting its lowest ARPU subscribers, in order to focus on the profitable elements of its 3G and 4G operations. However, as the companys enterprise unit could assume control over these, there is the possibility that its dedicated wireless unit could be shuttered.

The report that RCom could shut down its 2G operations was corroborated by local publication The Hindu, which claimed that the unit would close by 30th November with customers being upgraded to 3G and 4G tariffs, according to sources claiming to be close to the developments.

Singh was quoted as saying that ILD voice, consumer voice and 4G dongle post-paid would all transfer to enterprise as long as it is profitable, but added that aside from these three, everything else will be shutdown.

He noted that the operators DTH broadcast licence is due to expire on 21st November and would not be renewed. RComs mounting troubles include fierce competition brought about by the creative destruction of Reliance Jios market entry, as well as the collapse of its proposed merger with Aircel.

We tried whatever means to sustain and put oxygen in the business but we will not be able to sustain the business beyond 30 days from now, says Singh in the recording.
BadRabbit, like WannaCry and Petya, is also targeting corporate networks and computer systems used by leading business organisations.

After WannaCry and Petya, another ransomware has started spreading through Russia, Ukraine and other Eastern European countries. The new ransomware named BadRabbit, like WannaCry and Petya before it is also targeting corporate networks and computer systems used by leading business organisations.

According to Wired, BadRabbit has already affected Kiev's subway system, Odessa International Airport in Ukraine and computers used by several Russian media companies. The ransomware is tied to NotPetya's authors and security firms including ESET and Kaspersky are currently tracking its reach. BadRabbit also spreads via Windows Management Instrumentation Command-Line using credentials obtained using an open-source tool like Mimikatz.

Kaspersky says that it has found 30 hacked sites responsible for distribution of BadRabbit malware. "This indicates that the actors behind ExPetr/NotPetya have been carefully planning the BadRabbit attack since July," Kaspersky told Wired in a note.

Once infected, the attackers display a ransom message and affected users are redirected to a page on the Tor browser. The creators of BadRabbit are demanding 0.05 Bitcoins (about $275) within around 41 hours in exchange for the decryption of the data and gain access to the machine. The ransom increases after the expiry of time.

Like Petya, BadRabbit is also infecting several government agencies and businesses mostly in Ukraine and Russia. ESET estimates that BadRabbit has infected only 12.2 percent of victims in Ukraine while 65 percent of victims are in Russia. There is no clarity on who is behind the spread of this new ransomware but it definitely traces its roots back to Petya.
The new games and activities on the Google Assistant will work on Android smartphones as well as the Google Home speakers.

Google is making the Assistant more fun to use for children by adding over 50 games, activities and stories to the digital helper's library of tricks and skills. The Google Assistant can now be used on Android phones or Google Home speakers to play children's games such as science trivia, musical chairs, freeze tag, Disney themed games and more. Kids can also ask the Google Assistant to tell them a story. So if a child says, "Hey Google, tell me a story," the Assistant will repond with an age appropriate tale. It can even help children with their homework or be asked questions like, "what's my Justice League superhero?" or "play Mickey Mouse Adventure."

The new addition of kid-friendly skills to the Assistant seems like a smart move by Google to attract younger crowds. "Get them early," as they say. Kids, of course, are extremely open to experienceing new technologies and talking to a machine is right up there with having a make-believe playmate.

Not only has Google added more play for children, it has also given Assistant the ability to differentiate between a child's voice and that of an adult. Voice Identification for children allows the Google Assistant to customise its responses to children. However, to use this feature, children will need a Family Link account.The parental control app that allows parents to manage app downloads, set screen time limits and more on their kids' Android devices was made public in the US in September, but is still not available in India.

Google Assistant is one of the best digital assistants as of now and is competing head on with Amazon's Alexa, with Apple's Siri still on the backfoot. The Google Assistant has started deploying the company's WaveNet neural network to create more natural sounding speech, but currently WaveNet is only being used to generate Google Assistants voice in U.S. English and Japanese.

The Google Assistant recently gained the ability to control Chromecast devices and take screenshots through simple voice commands.
HTC U11 Plus could be HTCs first smartphone to feature a bezel-less display. The smartphone could launch alongside the rumoured U11 Life smartphone, which could feature Edge Sense and Android Oreo.

HTC is holding an event on November 2 and the company took to twitter to tease an image of the smartphone it will probably launch during the event. The Twitter post shows the rear panel of an HTC smartphone, equipped with a fingerprint sensor.

Youll see it all on 11.02.2017. pic.twitter.com/vzYtKVdjK5  HTC (@htc) October 24, 2017

Previous reports suggested that HTC is expected to launch the flagship U11 Plus smartphone and the mid-range U11 Life at the event. Not much has been revealed about the devices officially yet but a recent TENNA listing revealed the specs of the U11 Life smartphone.

The HTC U11 Plus is expected to sport a bezel-less design and come with a 6-inch WQHD+ IPS LCD display. It could come in two variants: 4GB RAM with 64GB of internal storage and 6GB RAM with 128GB internal storage. In terms of optics, the U11 Plus may feature a single 12MP rear camera with f/1.7 aperture and a dual-LED flash. Its expected to come with an 8MP front camera for selfies. The handset could be 9.2mm thick and be powered by a 3930mAh battery. Other expected features are the EdgeSense, BoomSound support and IP68 water resistance.

HTCs upcoming mid-range smartphone, the HTC U11 Life was recently spotted on GeekBench. It revealed that the smartphone could be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 chipset and come with 3GB RAM. The device is expected to feature a 5.2-inch display and sport a 16MP dual rear camera setup and a 16MP front-facing camera. Some rumours indicate that the U11 Life will come with Android 7.1.1 Nougat whereas some other reports indicate that it could be the companys first smartphone with Android Oreo. It is expected to pack a 2600mAh battery and support Edge Sense, USonic and come with IP67 water and dust resistance.

HTC had recently sold its smartphone division to Google for $1.1 billion. Under the agreement, a number of HTC employees which are already working on the Google Pixel smartphones joined Google. Google will also receive a non-exclusive license for HTC's Intellectual Property rights. You can read more about it here.
[October 25, 2017] Google Leads in AI Powered Smartphones, says Strategy Analytics

BOSTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, one out of every three smartphones sold worldwide this year will use artificial intelligence (AI) to power virtual assistants. But cloud-based AI which powers virtual assistants results in slower response times  On-device machine-learning will significantly speed smartphone AI. Ville Ukonaho, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, said "Google has a narrow lead in total smartphones sold with onboard virtual assistants in 2017. That lead will only grow as Android smartphone sales, with Google Assistant onboard, continue to expand into lower price tiers." Exhibit 1: Global Virtual Assistant Smartphone Sales % Share by Type: 2017 & 2022







Global Intelligent Personal Assistant Smartphone Penetration Rate : %* 2017 2022 Google/Android 45.9 % 60.3 % Apple 41.1 % 17.0 % Samsung 12.7 % 5.4 % Baidu 13.0 % 22.7 % Others 0.1 % 0.1 % Total 100% 100% Strategy Analytics: EDS



*Note: Personal Assistant smartphone penetration rate exceed 100% due to multiple assistants being present on the same phone (i.e. Samsung Galaxy S8 with both Bixby and Google Assistant)

Virtual assistants have already become common in premium tier smartphones. In 2017 already over 93% of premium tier smartphones (with a wholesale price above US$300) sold worldwide have a virtual assistant integrated out-of-the-box. The penetration will expand fast to lower price tiers, mainly with the help of Google Assistant. In 2020 we estimate that over 80% of the smartphones sold with a wholesale price of over US$100 will have a virtual assistant integrated natively. As AI-powered virtual assistants become common across smartphones, the speed with which they are able to accomplish tasks and return results will become key differentiators. AI is at a nascent stage with lots of improvements and lessons to be learned. One of the major issues for AI powered virtual assistants right now is that very little of the actual computation that powers the assistants is done on the phone itself. According to Ville Ukonaho, "AI is computational intensive and most of the heavy lifting is done in the cloud. This requires a solid data connection, something that isn't always available." Over the last few years, since the first virtual assistants on smartphones emerged, beginning with Siri on Apple's iPhone, most of the data processing has been done in the cloud, due to the limited processing power of smartphone CPUs. AI applications require huge amounts of data processing, even for small tasks. Until recently smartphones did not have the computational power to handle this. However, recent advances in smartphone operating systems and related software and components have brought increased processing power to the newest flagship smartphones. Ken Hyers, Director at Strategy Analytics says that "A number of vendors have created more advanced processing engines or are combining the power from the CPU, GPU and DSP to form a subsystem capable of handling complex machine learning and other computational AI tasks." However, only high-end flagship smartphones will have these advanced AI processing engines and subsystems, meaning that on-board AI-powered virtual assistants will become key differentiators for premium smartphones. "Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics stated that "By combining software enhancements through machine learning and hardware enhancements in the form of AI engines, we can expect the abilities of virtual assistants to improve significantly over the next several years. This will result in increasingly responsive virtual assistants and more interactive experiences from the devices. Key questions which still need to be considered include: Which vendors will drive AI to the all important mid tier?

Which segments or clusters will pay for or value AI features?

How strongly will AI contribute to brand purchase consideration? For how long?

Will AI become table stakes?

How will AI on smartphones interact with the smart car and smart home use cases? The full report, Global Artificial Intelligence Technologies Forecast for Smartphones: 2010 to 2022, is published by the Strategy Analytics Emerging Devices Strategies service, details of which can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/y9wp9s44. About Strategy Analytics:

Strategy Analytics is a global, independent research and consulting firm. The company is headquartered in Boston, USA, with offices in the UK, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India and China. Visit www.strategyanalytics.com for more information. EMEA Contacts:

Ville Ukonaho / +44 1908 423 634 / [email protected]

Neil Mawston / +44 1908 423 628 / [email protected] Americas Contact:

Ken Hyers / +1 617 614 0757 / [email protected] Asia Pacific Contact:

Woody Oh / +44 1908 423 665 / [email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/google-leads-in-ai-powered-smartphones-says-strategy-analytics-300543160.html SOURCE Strategy Analytics

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Faroe Petroleum reported on Wednesday that drilling operations have commenced on the Tambar development project in the producing Tambar field in Norway, in which Faroe has a 45% interest.

The independent oil and gas company, focusing on opportunities in Norway and the UK, said the development project consisted of two new infill wells, which were being drilled by the Maersk Interceptor drilling rig, as well as the installation of gas lift in three existing wells to increase overall field production.

According to Faroe, the wells and gas lift, together, could potentially increase Tambar production markedly, extending field life by up to ten years and contributing to lower unit operating costs in the Ula hub area.

Gas produced by the Tambar field would then be transported to and reinjected into the Ula field, in which Faroe has a 20% interest, as part of its successful ongoing Water Alternating Gas, which was expected to generate additional production over the life of the Ula field.

Graham Stewart, CEO of Faroe Petroleum, said: "I am pleased to announce the commencement of the high impact work programme on the Tambar field. The joint venture sanctioned the project in April this year and it has been a great achievement by the operator to mobilise the rig and commence drilling operations within such a short space of time.

"Drilling operations are now expected to continue to the end of Q1 next year, and it is hoped that the two new wells will be brought on stream before the end of April 2018."
Royal Bank of Scotland will update investors on trading on Friday but questions about the bank's treatment of small business customers could overshadow the day.

Analysts' consensus is for adjusted operating profit for the third quarter of 1bn compared with 1.2bn a year earlier. Annual profit on the same basis is forecast to increase to 4.8bn from 3.7bn.

Analysts at Barclays said the main question on current trading was the trade-off between margin and sales volumes in the UK business after RBS indicated it had expanded its mortgage lending. The performance of its fixed-income business is also under the spotlight after revenue at US investment banks came under pressure.

But RBS continues to be beset by problems from its past. Barclays is looking for an update on the bank's discussions with the US Department of Justice over its selling of mortgage-backed securities before the financial crisis.

In the UK, RBS has been under long-standing pressure over its handling of business customers in the five years after 2008. On Monday, the Financial Conduct Authority said it was considering a full investigation of RBS's GRG unit, which former customers accuse of driving them out of business.

The FCA released a summary of an independent report that, though it found no criminality at GRG, identified "inappropriate treatment" of viable businesses. RBS set aside 400m to compensate small businesses in November 2016 but the report has raised doubts about whether that sum is sufficient.

RBS's chief executive, Ross McEwan, said shortly after the report was published that the worst allegations against the bank had not been upheld. He admitted mistakes were made but said the FCA supported the steps RBS had taken to put things right.

But the media had little time to examine the report before questioning McEwan and investors have not had the chance to ask management about its implications.

Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets, said: "One cant help but think RBS's numbers could well be overshadowed by the controversy over how it treated small businesses in respect of its GRG unit. It is yet another legacy issue that needs resolving before it can truly be said the bank has turned a corner."

McEwan became chief executive at RBS four years ago. He has tried to strip the bank back to the basics of UK banking after it nearly collapsed at the peak of the financial crisis in 2008.

He has advocated a return to honesty and customer service in banking but critics have said he should have been more sympathetic to the claims of GRG customers. The bank was bailed out by the government during the financial crisis and remains 70% owned by taxpayers.

Lloyds Banking Group published its third quarter trading update on Wednesday. Britain's biggest retail bank increased its impairment charge for bad loans by more than expected. With the economy slowing, investors will look to see if RBS does the same.
Japanese carmaker Toyota Motor Corp has told the UK it should provide more clarity on the progress of Brexit negotiations.

Toyota has warned that Britain should lift the fog surrounding the talks, in order for companies to have a clear idea of what the future holds.

The firm has a major factory in Derbyshire, and wants to have guarantees about its competitiveness.

Executive vice-president Didier Leroy said at the Tokyo motor show that any new taxes or levies on its products would have a major impact on its business.

We cannot stay in this kind of fog when we dont know what will be the output of the negotiations, Leroy said.

Toyota employs around 3,000 people in the UK

The quicker we can get clarity about that, the better it will be (for) the way we can prepare for the future.

Toyota employs around 3,000 people in the UK, mostly at its plant in Derbyshire. It has pledged to invest 240m in the UK to build its new Auris model, but an increase in EU trade tariffs may have an effect on that decision.

If we move to something like import tax or trade tax or any kind of additional penalty, it will create a big negative impact in terms of competitiveness and if competitiveness is not secured, we have to think about what we will do for the future.

Brexit talks are currently in a state of deadlock as both sides continue to disagree over Britains financial obligations to the bloc.
The Ifo business climate index rose to an all-time high of 116.7 from 115.3 in September, beating expectations for a reading of 115.2.

Meanwhile, the current assessment index came in at 124.8 from 123.7, ahead of expectations of 123.5, while the expectations index printed at 109.1 in October compared to 107.5 and forecasts for a reading of 107.3.

Ifo chief Clemens Fuest said: Companies are very optimistic about the months ahead. They also upwardly revised their very favourable assessments of the current business situation.

"Germany's economy is powering ahead."

Capital Economics economist Jessica Hinds said: "Octobers rise in German Ifo business sentiment to a new record high underscores the positive outlook for the eurozones largest economy.

"Admittedly, we dont think German GDP growth will be that strong. After all, the Ifo has consistently overstated economic growth in recent quarters and the composite PMI for the same month fell. Nonetheless, the big picture is that both the Ifo and the PMI are painting a positive picture of the economy. Overall, they suggest that German businesses are not worried by either the ongoing coalition negotiations or the appreciation of the euro over recent months. Accordingly, we still think that annual GDP growth will be around 2.3% this year, the strongest since 2011."
US President Donald Trump has come under intense criticism from senators within his own Republican party, one of which accused him of being "dangerous to democracy".

Trump has faced constant difficulties thus far during his presidency from within his own party, with major legislation coming unstuck despite the GOP holding a majority in both houses of Congress.

Arizona senator Jeff Flake had particularly tough words for the former reality television show host, as he announced he would not seek re-election next year.

We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country  the personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms, and institutions, the flagrant disregard for truth or decency, the reckless provocations, most often for the pettiest and most personal reasons, Flake said.

"When such behavior emanates from the top of our government, it is something else: It is dangerous to a democracy," he added.

Chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee Bob Corker has been consistently outspoken in his criticism of the President, and continued on that path in a speech on Tuesday.

Hes obviously not going to rise to the occasion as President, said Corker.

Corker and Trump have been embroiled in a public spat via social media site Twitter for several weeks. The Wyoming senator has also said he will not run for office again next year.

I dont know why he lowers himself to such a low, low standard and debases our country in the way that he does.
Metro Bank reported a 77% rise in underlying pre-tax profit for the third quarter as it announced that chief financial officer Mike Brierley plans to retire next year.

Underlying pre-tax profit increased to 7.2m from 4m in the second quarter. Year-to-date, underlying pre-tax profit is 13.2m versus a 12.4m loss last year.

Deposits from customers were up 10% quarter-on-quarter to 10.8bn, while the cost of deposits fell from 53 basis points in the second quarter to 50bp in the third. Meanwhile, lending increased 11% on the quarter to 8.6bn, and the challenger bank saw record quarterly growth of 79,000 customer accounts to 1,124,000, up 33% year-on-year.

Chairman and founder Vernon Hill said: Metro Bank continues to win fans, attract deposits, lend to consumers and businesses, and generate profits that are re-invested for the benefit of our customers. We are the Revolution in British banking, offering real choice to consumers and businesses.

Our store model, combined with easy to use online and mobile banking services and UK based contact centres, show that consumers and businesses are crying out for a bank built around them. As we take the revolution to the high streets of Swindon, Canterbury and Peterborough, we are giving those urban communities and businesses a real alternative and a reason to love their bank at last.

Also on Wednesday, Metro announced that Mike Brierley - who joined the group as CFO in 2009 - intends to retire next year. Metro said he has been an integral part of the team that has taken the Bank from a start-up to a profitable FTSE 250 Bank listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Subject to regulatory approval, Brierley will be succeeded by David Arden, who has been CFO of Sainsbury's Bank since March 2012. Arden is also currently interim MD of Argos Financial Services following Sainsburys acquisition of Home Retail last year.

Numis said profit of 7.2m is below its forecast of 9.7m, largely driven by an unexplained 34% year-on-year increase in operating expenses in the period to 70m, which is 14% higher than its estimate of 61m.

"In our view, this is going to make it very challenging for the group to achieve both our (28m) and consensus (29m) FY2017 profit before tax numbers and we therefore expect to downgrade our estimates by circa 5-10%," Numis said, as it retained its 'sell' rating.

At 1250 BST, the shares were down 0.7% to 3,617p.
Virgin Money is in talks to make former HSBC banker Irene Dorner its next chairman in a move that would assemble the first all-female leadership team at a major British bank.

The bank, backed by Sir Richard Branson, said it was in advanced discussions to appoint Dorner as a non-executive director and its chair elect. She would work with Jayne-Anne Gadhia, Virgins chief executive.

The appointment would see Virgin backing up its advocacy of women in the financial industry. Gadhia has been the governments women in finance ambassador for the past year and has pushed for City firms to have more senior female managers.

Gadhia told MPs on Tuesday that sexism is ingrained in the financial industry and called for more work to put women on an equal footing. She urged more banks and other firms to sign up to the governments charter for promoting women in finance.

Dorner worked at HSBC for 32 years before retiring in 2014. She ran the banks US business from 2011 and appeared before Congress in 2012 to apologise for HSBCs involvement in money laundering in Mexico, Iran and Syria. That activity happened before she took over.

Her appointment at Virgin would give the bank the only all-female leadership team in the FTSE 350 as well as the first at the top of British banking.

Virgin has been looking for a new chairman since July when Glen Moreno said he planned to retire.
Parliament may not get to vote on the terms of Brexit until after Britain has left the EU, David Davis said on Wednesday.

Davis, the Brexit secretary, told MPs there would not be a vote until after the terms of withdrawal had been agreed, the BBC reported. He said this could happen at the "59th minute of the 11th hour". Asked if that meant there might not be a vote before 29 March 2019, the deadline for departure, he said: "Yeah, that's correct, in the event that we don't do the deal until then."

He told the Brexit select committee that the government wanted parliament to vote before the matter was considered by the European parliament, probably in late 2018. But he said there could be no vote before a deal is signed and that was likely to be close to the deadline.

"It will be very high stress, very exciting for everyone watching, but that's what will happen. In technical terms, there is no reason why we can't do this in the time available I am quite sure in my mind we can do this."

At prime ministers' questions, Labour MP Stephen Kinnock asked the Theresa May how parliament could have a meaningful vote on the final Brexit deal if, as Davis suggested, the UK had already left the EU.

May did not reiterate Davis's comments and instead said it was in the EU's interests for the deal to be put to national parliaments.

"I'm confident that we will be able to achieve that agreement and that negotiation in time for parliament to have the vote," she said.

Davis said he hoped a transitional deal with the EU would be agreed in the next few months. Business leaders have said companies need clarity on transitional arrangements as soon as possible and preferably before the end of this year.

I would be aiming to get certainly the outlines of it agreed, if we could, in the first quarter (of 2018)," he said, adding that success depends on negotiations.

The City of London Corporation has written to the chancellor, Philip Hammond, to say the UK faces a historically defining moment and that the timetable for businesses to prepare for a transition was tightening very rapidly.

Hammond tried to calm concerns that a transitional deal was a long way off but he did not suggest it could be done by the end of the year.

"Whilst we are preparing for all outcomes in our negotiations, the governments objective is to reach a deal," Hammond said, according to the Guardian. "As part of that deal, we want to agree an implementation period during which businesses and governments can prepare for the new relationship and we want to agree the principles of that period as soon as possible."
Poundland is being forced to redesign its copycat Toblerone bar, but can sell half a million of the lookalike chocolate this Christmas after reaching a sweet deal with the Swiss originals owners. In July, the budget chain was forced to delay the launch of its Twin Peaks bar, which has two points per segment, rather than the single peak of a Toblerone, after a legal warning from the brands owner, a Swiss division of US confectionery and snacks group Mondelez. - Guardian

Twitter has announced the launch of an advertising transparency center with stricter rules for political ads in the wake of revelations that social media sites were used to spread Russian propaganda during the 2016 US presidential election. In the coming weeks, we will launch an industry-leading transparency center that will offer everyone visibility into who is advertising on Twitter, details behind those ads, and tools to share your feedback with us, said Twitters Bruce Falck in a blogpost.  Guardian

Tension between the Ministry of Defence, arms companies and the watchdog tasked with cracking down on profiteering in military contracts are damaging the Governments ability to get value for money on defence deals. A new report by the National Audit Office says the Single Source Regulations Office  which is responsible for getting the best deal on sensitive or urgent defence contracts which are not put out to tender  has so far saved 313m on the 24bn of deals it has examined in its three-year life.  Telegraph

Three quarters of firms believe there will be no improvement to UK infrastructure during the current parliament, pointing to housing shortages as their biggest headache. In a YouGov survey, commissioned by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), and infrastructure firm AECOM, just 20pc of businesses were satisfied with the current pace of infrastructure improvements.  Telegraph

Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans to build a $500 billion mega-city that will run on alternative energy and have its own laws. In a project that forms a key part of the kingdoms plan to diversify its economy, the zone of Neom will cover 26,500 square kilometres of totally untouched land and will power itself with wind and solar energy.  The Times

The head of Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund said that the proposed $2 trillion flotation of Saudi Aramco was on target and that nothing could derail the process. Yasir bin Othman Al-Rumayyan, chief executive of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, said speculation that Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil business, was rethinking plans to float part of its company were just not right.  The Times
London's FTSE 100 was down 0.5% to 7,489.83 in afternoon trade on Wednesday, weighed down by a stronger pound as better-than-expected UK GDP data for the third quarter raised the odds of a rate hike next week.

British American Tobacco was on the front foot after saying it expects to make more than 5bn a year in revenue from e-cigarettes and other so-called next generation products within five years.

The maker of Dunhill and Pall Mall forecast sales of next-generation products would double from more than 500m this year to over 1bn in 2018, when this arm of the business will break even. By 2022 revenues will exceed 5bn and the products will generate "substantial profit"

Lloyds Banking Group was also in the black as it continued to steadily grow income, profits and capital in the third quarter to raise hopes for increased dividends - but rising loan impairments sparked renewed worries about its exposure to unsecured consumer lending.

For the three months to 30 September, income increased 8% to 4.62bn and profits were boosted by a reflecting a 12% increase in net interest income as the net interest margin increased to 2.85% from 2.82% in the first half.

On the downside, Antofagasta slid despite reporting increased copper production in the third quarter and cutting its full-year cash cost forecast.

Premier Inn and Costa owner Whitbread was under the cosh for the second day in a row as Morgan Stanley downgraded its stance on the stock to 'equalweight' from 'overweight' and cut the price target to 4,500p from 4,700p following the company's first-half results on Tuesday.

Precious metals miner Fresnillo lost its shine despite posting a rise in the production of silver and gold for the third quarter and saying it remains on course to achieve its output targets for 2017.

Risers

NMC Health (NMC) 2,953.00p 2.18%

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 674.00p 2.12%

British American Tobacco (BATS) 4,914.50p 1.85%

Ashtead Group (AHT) 1,938.00p 1.68%

Kingfisher (KGF) 310.00p 1.67%

Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 1,556.00p 1.43%

easyJet (EZJ) 1,308.00p 1.40%

Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,922.00p 0.89%

Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 67.95p 0.82%

AstraZeneca (AZN) 5,118.00p 0.77%

Fallers

Antofagasta (ANTO) 985.00p -4.46%

Whitbread (WTB) 3,670.00p -2.21%

GKN (GKN) 313.40p -2.06%

Standard Chartered (STAN) 769.00p -1.83%

Fresnillo (FRES) 1,353.00p -1.81%

Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,526.50p -1.77%

Anglo American (AAL) 1,420.50p -1.73%

BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,369.50p -1.69%

BT Group (BT.A) 268.05p -1.65%

BAE Systems (BA.) 589.50p -1.59%
Trumbull, CT  October 25, 2017  TMC announced AireSpring has signed on as a gold sponsor to SD-WAN Expo being held February 14-16, 2018 at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward Country Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. At SD-WAN Expo, enterprise executives, service providers, and technology vendors will connect to learn about and discuss how this market is growing and evolving, and how all three of these constituencies can make the most of the SD-WAN opportunity. Collocated with ITEXPO, one of the largest remaining communications and technology conferences in the world, SD-WAN Expo is the dedicated forum for the industry to come together and learn.

Having made a tremendous investment into our own multi-vendor SD-WAN offering, we are very excited to participate as a Gold Sponsor in this event. SD-WAN is a crowded space and we realize that we need to differentiate ourselves via additional professional services that will help our partners to win market share, said Daniel Lonstein, COO of AireSpring.

AireSpring is an award-winning provider of cloud communications and Managed Connectivity solutions, serving thousands of businesses nationwide. AireSpring provides fully managed and connected end-to-end, next-generation solutions for multi-location enterprise customers. Services include SD-WAN, AirePBX Cloud Business Phone Systems, AireContact Cloud Contact Center, SIP Trunking, MPLS, Disaster Recovery, Managed Security, and Business Internet. AireSprings solutions are offered through a diversified network of channel partners that includes distributors, master agents, managed service providers (MSPs), and value added resellers (VARs). AireSprings services are delivered over its revolutionary nationwide MPLS Mesh network, providing customers a fully integrated, end-to-end solution from a single vendor.

AireSpring has received numerous industry awards for Next-Gen Solution Provider, Top Midmarket Vendor Executive, Product of the Year, Best Telecom Deal, Best in Show, and Top Channel Program. AireSpring is privately held, diversified, debt-free, and renowned in the industry for delivering a broad range of innovative cloud communications and connectivity solutions at competitive rates.

Registration for SD-WAN Expo is now open. For more information on SD-WAN Expo, contact [email protected]. For media inquiries, contact Jessica Seabrook. Companies interested in exhibiting, sponsorship or advertising packages for SD-WAN Expo should contact TMC's Joe Fabiano at 203-852-6800 x132 or Maureen Gambino at 203-852-6800 x109.

For the latest SD-WAN Expo news, updates and information follow the event on Twitter at @SDWANexpo.

About TMC

Global buyers rely on TMCs content-driven marketplaces to make purchase decisions and navigate markets. This presents branding, thought leadership and lead generation opportunities for vendors/sellers.

TMCs Marketplaces:

Unique, turnkey Online Communities boost search results, establish market validation, elevate brands and thought leadership, while minimizing ad-blocking.

Custom Lead Programs uncover sales opportunities and build databases.

In-Person and Online Events boost brands, enhance thought leadership and generate leads.

Publications, Display Advertising and Newsletters bolster brand reputations.

Custom Content provides expertly ghost-crafted blogs, press releases, articles and marketing collateral to help with SEO, branding, and

overall marketing efforts.

overall marketing efforts. Comprehensive Event and Road Show Management Services help companies meet potential clients and generate leads face-to-face.

For more information about TMC and to learn how we can help you reach your marketing goals, please visit www.tmcnet.com.

Media and Analyst Contact:

Jessica Seabrook

Marketing Director

TMC

203-852-6800 x 170

[email protected]

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Edited by Mandi Nowitz
Donald Trumps Great Wall of Mexico has officially been spotted in its early stages.

Individual sections of the the eight proposed wall designs for the Presidents controversial U.S-Mexican border protection initiative have already been erected ahead of testing in the coming months. The prototype walls all span 9.1 metres in height and have been built at the existing border fence site just south of San Diego.

The rigorous testing process which is due to begin next month includes subjecting the walls to sledgehammers, pickaxes, power tools and other high impact instruments. The team responsible for testing the integrity of the wall will also attempt to dig under and scale over the different designs to test each ones effectiveness.

Roy Villareal who is a US Customs and Borders Protection chief agent told the Evening Standard that, were going to test them for breachability, for the subterranean aspect.

A post shared by Jill Marie Holslin (@jillholslin) on Oct 24, 2017 at 12:32am PDT



Two hundred and fifty applications were culled down to six companies by the Department of Homeland Security in a tendering process which began in February this year  a month after President Trump had been inaugurated.

The leading designs thus far include heavy duty concrete walls which feature thicker lower portions and transparent lower halves, and another type with a metal and concrete combination.

The most imposing design however comes from Texas Sterling Construction who have a wall topped with steel mesh and spikes. Whilst the final product will be determined by price, theres been ongoing debate over who will foot the final bill with the refusal from the Mexican government and a $1.6B pledge to the walls construction failing in the American Senate.

Trump, being the environmentalist that he is, touched on a rather ingenious design himself when he proposed a wall that incorporated solar panels to help foot the massive price tag.

[via Dezeen
Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others may pose a threat to American democracy, suggests a new report from The Omidyar Group.

The report follows recent disclosures about targeted dark post advertising, fake news and other abuses propagated by Russian troll farms during the 2016 presidential election.

Among the questions the report raises is whether the U.S. government may need to take steps to protect the public from future influence campaigns that could undermine the very foundation of a free society, wrote billionaire eBay founder Pierre Omidyar in a Washington Post op-ed published earlier this week.

For all the ways this technology brings us together, the monetization and manipulation of information is swiftly tearing us apart, he wrote. From foreign interference in our elections to targeted campaigns designed to confuse and divide on important issues, groups looking for an important way to infiltrate and influence our democracy have found generous hosts in the world of social media.

Bias, Manipulation, Intolerance

There are six major ways social media directly threatens democratic ideals, according to the report:

Facilitating echo chambers and hyperpartisanship; Spreading false or misleading information; Conflating popularity with legitimacy; Providing tools for political manipulation; Allowing microtargeting to influence behavior change; and Amplifying hate speech, intolerance and exclusion.

Facebook plans to release information regarding the extent of Russian efforts to target U.S. voters, COO Sheryl Sandberg told Axios in an extensive interview, but she hedged when asked specifically whether the company was aware of collusion between Russia and the Trump presidential campaign.

Facebook previously handed over direct evidence to congressional investigators, Sandberg said, and it has hired 4,000 additional people, employed machine learning, and taken several other major steps to better police its internal systems.

I See You

There needs to be greater transparency about election-related ads on social media sites, said Darrell West, director of the Center of Tech Innovation at Brookings. Right now, it is impossible to see who is behind large advertising campaigns, and that is corrosive of American elections.

Voters need to know what is happening in order to judge a political campaign, West told TechNewsWorld.

Its difficult to know the exact impact of these campaigns on voter behavior, but large online campaigns can be important, he added.

People rely on social media platforms to communicate with each other, conduct business and form opinions, said Dan Nadir, vice president of digital risk at Proofpoint, but the Internet wasnt designed with trust in mind.

Often our confidence in an email, a website, a social account, or even a mobile app has no technical basis, he told TechNewsWorld, and we need to recognize how easy it is to abuse it.

Omidyar does a good job laying out some of the election-related problems with social media, but the solutions offered, while well intended, miss the mark by a bit, observed Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT.

Though hes spot on in criticizing how online media can be used to promote bogus information and spread partisan messages, simply regulating social media sites isnt likely to succeed, King told TechNewsWorld.

The Omidyar proposal would require the federal government to go on a new and highly radical round of business and financial regulations, King said. In addition, such a change would likely eliminate or drastically reduce anonymity of online social media users.

It would be ideal if social media firms like Facebook, Google and others voluntarily adopted some of Omidyars suggestions, he suggested, but doing so would hurt their revenues significantly.

Unless a larger number of voices call for major reform, wholesale changes are unlikely to happen, King said.

Despite legitimate concerns about the role of social media in the 2016 election, a lot of what took place was new for everyone, and social media executives should not be treated as though they were capable of seeing the future, said Chris Calabrese, vice president of policy at the Center for Democracy & Technology.

I dont think we want to pick on a particular tool and say this is the problem, he told TechNewsWorld. Nor do I want to say the solution is some kind of government censorship. Thats not something we want to endorse.

Its not surprising that Russia or any other outside entity would try to influence U.S. elections, said Richard Forno, assistant director of the UMBC Center for Cybersecurity.

However, I think the broader danger is that social media was part of a concerted effort to undermine not just the outcome of the election, but to sow distrust in the electoral system, he told TechNewsWorld, and the very sources of information that a citizenry needs to make informed decisions about their political status and/or future.
A new feature that Facebook recently has been testing in a handful of countries could hurt publishers everywhere if it should roll out globally.

The feature removes users Liked pages from their main News Feed and aggregates them in a separate space called Explore.

In the six countries where Facebook has been testing the idea, traffic to news outlets reportedly has dropped 60-80 percent.

Publishers should be terrified by this, said John Carroll, a mass communications professor at Boston University.

One of the risks that publishers run when they rely on traffic from Facebook is that it can go away as quickly as it arrived, he told the E-Commerce Times.

No Planned Expansion

Facebook on Monday attempted to calm the anxiety it created in the publishing community.

There have been a number of reports about a test were running in Sri Lanka, Bolivia, Slovakia, Serbia, Guatemala and Cambodia, wrote Adam Mosseri, head of News Feed, in an online post. Some have interpreted this test as a future product we plan to deliver globally. We currently have no plans to roll this test out further.

The test was launched in response to user feedback, he said.

People tell us they want an easier way to see posts from friends and family. We are testing having one dedicated space for people to keep up with their friends and family, and another separate space, called Explore, with posts from pages, Mosseri explained.

We will hear what people say about the experience to understand if its an idea worth pursuing any further, he noted. There is no current plan to roll this out beyond these test countries or to charge pages on Facebook to pay for all their distribution in News Feed or Explore.

Hard to Ignore a Billion Users

Despite Facebooks assurances, publishers have reasons for concern.

Back in 2012, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Yahoo, Digg and other media outlets launched the Social Reader, a Facebook app designed to assist users in sharing news with their friends and family.

At first, the app drove traffic to the publishers sites, but problems soon arose. Users objected when articles they read at the sites were posted to their News Feeds without their permission. Further, Facebook drew criticism for changing the way articles appeared in the feeds. The app had a short life.

Facebooks Instant Articles, which it recently pulled from its Messenger app, met a similar fate. That media-focused initiative failed to gain the support of players like The Guardian, Forbes, Hearst, The New York Times, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, ESPN, CBS News, NPR, Financial Times and Vice News because of monetization problems with the platform and traffic reporting.

There are times when Facebook favors news content, and there are times when they move away from it, noted Dan Kennedy, an associate professor of journalism at Northeastern University.

Anybody that becomes too dependent on Facebook traffic is really running a risk, but its hard to stay away from one and a half billion active users a month, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Concern over ceding too much power to Facebook has led some publishers to seek alternative ways to build traffic.

Over the last couple of years, theres been a comeback of email newsletters, Kennedy observed.

A lot of that is publishers saying,This is something we can control, and arent dependent on Facebook for. Unfortunately, the way they drive a lot of subscribers to those newsletters is through people encountering them on Facebook, he said.

No Will to Hunt

The severe impact of removing Liked pages from a users main News Feed demonstrates the importance of that feed.

Most people wait for something to show up in their News Feed, which takes up the bulk of their focus, said Mark Marino, director of The Humanities and Critical Code Studies Lab at the University of Southern California.

If its not there, theyre not going to go hunting for additional news streams, he told the E-Commerce Times.

What gives news power in social media is that its mingled with information from friends and family, said Vincent Raynauld, an assistant professor in the department of communication studies at Emerson College.

The fact that social is interwoven with news make the news more accessible and digestible. Im not too sure that people would go to a separate environment for news, he told the E-Commerce Times.

The strength of Facebook and other social media outlets is that all content is interwoven into a social stream, Raynauld added. Excluding news from the social stream would have a negative impact on publishers when it comes to engagement.
By Lauri Myllyvirta

While some politiciansahem, Trump!are trying to prop up the fossil fuel industry, theres been a quiet revolution happening around the world.

People are ditching coalthe main global energy source since 2003like never before!

Burning coal is the biggest single source of carbon dioxide emissions from human activity, and mining it also releases the potent greenhouse gas methane.

So why is King Coal no longer the energy of the future? New research from Greenpeace and CoalSwarm shows why.

1. More governments are completely ditching coal than ever before!

Twenty-three countries, states and cities will have either phased out coal-fired power plants or set a timeline to do so by 2030. Before 2014, no major jurisdiction had completely phased out coal. How things have changed!

Greenpeace activists block the coal ship Paquis in the Netherlands in 2016.

2. The capital cities of China and India are going coal free!

Three of the G7 economies have decided to phase out coalwith Italy looking like it might also be phasing coal out soon.

3. Twenty-five percent of companies in the coal business have completely pulled out!

This represents nearly 370 large coal-fired power plants shut down or not built in the first placeenough to power around six United Kingdoms, and equivalent to nearly half a trillion U.S. dollars in assets retired or not developed.

Greenpeace activists climb the cooling tower of the largest and dirtiest lignite power station in Greece, in 2015.

4. In the U.S., 14 coal plants have decided to close this year alone.

And thats despite Trumps pro-coal agenda.

5. More people are taking action to stop coal than ever before.

From the UKs Kingsnorth protests, the Beyond Coal movement in the U.S., to artists in Beijing to clean air activists in Delhi, people around the world are protesting dirty, polluting coal in favor of clean, renewable, affordable energy.

Its time we end the age of fossil fuels and help workers and communities transition over to renewables.

Lets do it!

Lauri Myllyvirta is the Energy Analyst at Greenpeace East Asia.
By Tim Radford

Two Californian scientists have worked out how to achieve a wind-powered world that provides the entire planet with wind energy without spoiling the view with turbines on every hilltop.

The answer: take wind farming onto the high seas. The force of the winds sweeping across the open ocean would be enough to generate 18 billion kilowattswhich is about the global annual energy demand right now.

The scientists report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that although the best that wind farms on land can deliver is electricity at the rate of 1.5 watts per square meter, the mid-latitudes of the North Atlantic could do much better: up to 6 watts per square meter.

In a calculation that is overtly hypothetical, they evaluate winds as so much kinetic energy to be exploited. Ocean wind speeds are at least 70 percent higher than wind speeds over land. Surface winds in the North Atlantic can reach 11 kms per second and 13.5 kms per second in the Southern Hemisphere, which would be enough in theory to take generating rates up to 20 or even 80 watts per square meter.

Renewable World

Research at this level does not answer the worlds energy problems: instead it sets out, once again, the viable possibility of a world driven by renewable energy, rather than the fossil fuels that drive ever-higher greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere, and potentially catastrophic global warming and climate change.

And it is one step onwards from a cascade of such thinking over the past few years. In 2013, scientists at the University of Delaware worked out that wind, solar and renewable sources could deliver almost all the energy needs of the U.S.

Other groupsincluding one at Stanford University in the U.S.have not just backed up this reasoning but extended it, with a roadmap for at least 139 of the 197 nations that in December 2015 resolved to take steps to contain global warming to no more than 2C by 2100.

But the laws of thermodynamics present practical problems. One of these is that, because energy is always conserved, a wind farm inevitably saps the energy of the wind that slams into the turbines, leaving a weaker wind for the next turbine in its path.

So although, in theory, winds could deliver at the rate of 60 to 80 watts per square meter, this turbine drag would slow the winds at every stage.

Even so, engineers could look forward to a harvest of 3 to 5 watts per square meter, which is much higher than the best available on land.

Someone had to do the sums. Are the winds so fast just because there is nothing out there to slow them down? Will sticking giant wind farms out there just slow down the winds so much that it is no better than over land? asked Ken Caldeira, senior scientist at the global ecology department at the Carnegie Institution for Science at Stanford.

Problems to Solve

The real question is can the atmosphere over the ocean move more energy downward than the atmosphere over land is able to?

In principle, their answer is: yes, it can. Open ocean wind farms spread across 3 million square kilometers of ocean could in theory harness so much more of the atmospheres energy and generate all the power the world needs right now.

That still leaves all the other problems unsolved: the challenge of engineering turbines fit for the open ocean and of catering for seasonal variations in wind energy; of collecting the generated current and delivering it to the worlds cities, and the even bigger problem of the national and global politics involved. But sophisticated modeling says there is nothing on Earth to prevent it being done.

While no commercial-scale deepwater wind farms yet exist, our results suggest that such technologies, if they become technically and economically feasible, could potentially provide civilization-scale power, the scientists wrote.

Reposted with permission from our media associate Climate News Network.
Earlier this month, Tesla CEO Elon Musk offered to help restore Puerto Ricos hurricane-wrecked power grid with the companys batteries and solar panels. Gov. Ricardo Rossello responded positively.

Making good on the promise, Tesla has switched on a combination of its

solar panels and Powerpack commercial energy storage batteries for Hospital del Nino, a childrens hospital in San Juan. The Puerto Rican capital was hit especially hard by Hurricane Maria.

According to a company tweet sent yesterday, this is the first of many solar + storage projects.

Hospital del Nino is first of many solar+storage projects going live. Grateful to support the recovery of Puerto Rico with @ricardorossello pic.twitter.com/JfAu11UBYg  Tesla (@Tesla) October 24, 2017

The beauty of such a set-up is that the hospital can generate power when the sun is shining and reserve it for later use when the sun is not outor, say, to help recover from a weather disaster. Thanks to solar power, a 40-acre plant farm in Barranquitas in central Puerto Rico was able to slowly rebuild.

Cali Nurseries grower Hector Santiago told Reuters that his $300,000 investment on 244 solar panels six years ago allowed him to continue working after the storm.

Everybody told me I was crazy because it was so expensive. Now I have power and they dont, Santiago said.

Its been more than a month since the Category 4 storm hit the U.S. territory. As of Tuesday, an average of 74 percent of Puerto Ricos electricity has not been restored.

Gov. Rossello estimated that some areas of the island, which is almost entirely powered by

fossil fuels, will not see their electricity restored until Christmasbut some residents worry that restoration efforts might take even longer.

A number of companies have offered to help turn the lights back on, including Montana-based

Whitefish Energy that was recently awarded a $300 million contract by Puerto Ricos electricity authority.

Tesla has also been quietly shipping its Powerwall batteries to Puerto Ricans for home use. Musk himself has donated $250,000 of his own money for relief efforts.
Bipartisan lawmakers expressed concern Tuesday over the contract to restore Puerto Ricos power grid being given to a tiny energy firm from Interior Sec. Ryan Zinkes hometown.

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority signed a $300 million contract last week with two-year-old Montana-based Whitefish Energy, which employed only two people when Hurricane Maria hit the island last month.

Whitefish is tasked with restoring more than 100 miles of transmission lines on the island, where 75 percent of the population remains without power. Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee are pushing for a full investigation into the contract, while House Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) told reporters he has questions about the bid selection process.

As reported by the New York Times:

Absolutely outrageous, said Eduardo Bhatia, a Puerto Rican opposition senator who wrote an energy law in 2014. A two-employee company from Whitefish, Mont., gets a $300 million contract out of nowhere? Based on what?

Mr. Bhatia said the authority did not appear to have made any open requests for proposals, to have performed any regular background checks or to have followed normal safeguards and checks before awarding the contract.

The House Committee on Natural Resources said on Tuesday that it was looking into the contract. Parish Braden, the committees communications director, said that members of the panel would travel to Puerto Rico this week to seek more answers about the details of the contract and how it was reached.

Congress needs to understand why the Whitefish contract was awarded and whether other, more cost-effective options were available, Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., the senior Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement.

The BBC reported that questions have been raised about whether political donations made to President Donald Trumps campaign and allied groups could have influenced the decision.

A review of federal election data showed that a founding partner in HBC Investments, one of the two Texas firms that backs Whitefish Energy Holdingshad donated $2,700 to Mr. Trumps presidential campaign, as well as $20,000 to a group that supported the White House bid.

For a deeper dive:

New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, USA Today, BBC, The Hill, Reuters

For more climate change and clean energy news, you can follow Climate Nexus on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for daily Hot News.
URBANA -- The United States Department of Agriculture announced it will invest nearly $2 million toward a University of Illinois project that will allow farmers, researchers, and consumers to participate in breeding corn optimized for organic production.

Farmers will help test maize germplasm developed at U of I and the Mandaamin Institute in Wisconsin, and consumers will give their opinions on the quality of the grain and products made with each line of organic corn.

The project is unique because it integrates all the components of the food chain, from the field to table, connecting researchers, producers, and consumers, says Carmen Ugarte, research specialist in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at U of I, and the lead investigator on the project. Traditionally, farmers stop worrying about what happens to their corn after it is delivered to the grain elevator. But were trying to breed with the end product in mind, and we are keen to connect producers and consumers.

Martin Bohn, corn breeder and geneticist in the Department of Crop Sciences at U of I and co-principal investigator, notes this project will provide the scientific insights needed to design cutting-edge breeding strategies for the development of cultivars wanted in the organic market.

To be successful, each breeding program needs well-defined objectives, and in the organic marketplace, it isnt only about yield. Processing and nutritional quality are of great importance for the consumer, and the farmer needs cultivars that compete well with weeds, are resistant to pests and diseases, and tolerate stresses like drought, heat, and low nutrient availability, Bohn says.

Bill Davison, a U of I Extension educator and co-investigator on the project, says that growers currently do not have many choices in the marketplace when it comes to organically produced corn. But, he says, some top-performing genetic lines have been tested at U of I. These need to be evaluated across a variety of conditions to make further improvements, and thats where participating farmers come in.

The project will develop a participatory testing network with farmers from Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, and New York. At each location, our researchers will work with farmers to establish variety trials to assess the agronomic performance of elite corn hybrids developed at U of I and the Mandaamin Institute, with co-investigator Walter Goldstein, Ugarte says.

The researchers will also evaluate the influence of soil health on yield and grain quality and processing characteristics. This will let us test theories about the ties between soil and crop health, says Michelle Wander, co-principal investigator and soil scientist in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at U of I.

All materials tested under field conditions will also be evaluated for quality and performance of the end products. Corn will be processed into several different types of food products, such as corn bread or tortilla chips, at the Pilot Processing Plant on the U of I campus and then tested by consumers and researchers. Co-investigator Juan Andrade from the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at U of I will evaluate nutrient content and things like volatile aromatic compounds that influence our sensory experience of food.

Finally, co-investigator Bryan Endres, a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at U of I, Wander, and others will work with private breeders and processors and an advisory board consisting of industry leaders to identify and promote organizational structures and legal agreements that support participatory breeding networks to improve the organic seed supply. Materials produced by the effort will be made available through eOrganic, eXtensions organic community of practice.
Leading researchers from Birmingham are today (25th October 2017) launching a major, new UK study into autism and mental health problems - and are calling for autistic people and their families to get involved.

The research is a collaboration between leading investigators at the Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the University of Birmingham, Aston University, and leading UK autism research charity, Autistica.

An estimated 1 in a 100 people in the UK are autistic1,2 - and nearly eight in ten (79%) will experience a mental health problem.3

The research will be the first in the UK to develop an assessment tool to distinguish emotional distress caused by anxiety and depression from distress caused by physical health problems, among minimally verbal autistic people with learning difficulties. Autistic people with learning difficulties are more than 40 times more likely to die from a neurological disorder than the general population - and twice as likely to commit suicide.4

Commenting on the new research, which will be announced at an autism science talk in central Birmingham later today, Dr Jane Waite, Lecturer in Psychology, School of Life and Health Sciences at Aston University, and one of the study's lead investigators, said: "People living with autism and their families have highlighted that managing mental health problems is their number one priority. But, until now, the mental health needs of autistic people, particularly those with learning difficulties, have been seriously neglected due to a lack of research and support."

Chris Oliver, Professor of Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Director of the Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Birmingham, said: "People with learning difficulties may be unable to describe how they are feeling and others may think that changes in behaviour and emotions are caused by things other than anxiety and depression. It is therefore essential that we develop better tools to help us detect when autistic people are experiencing distress and mental health problems and ensure services include everyone and they receive timely and effective help."

Autistica is urging the autistic community to get directly involved in this and other planned UK research projects by signing up to its autism research network, Discover. Visit: autistica.org.uk/take-part Discover will link the autistic community with the Birmingham investigators, as well as other top UK research centres.

Jon Spiers, chief executive of Autistica, said: "We are delighted to be working with the Cerebra Centre on this pioneering new research. By helping more people sign up to take part in autism research projects, we can make sure research addresses the challenges that families and autistic people face, and provide them with the information, services and care that they need."

Autistica, together with its research partners, aims to recruit 5,000 autistic people, their families and carers to Discover by the end of 2017.

###

Notes to editors:

About the Cerebra mental health study

A key objective of the study is to improve the identification of mental health problems in autistic people with learning difficulties, who currently represent over a third (38%) of the UK autistic population. This study focuses on designing a practical and effective assessment tool for use in the clinic to identify anxiety and depression in autistic people with learning difficulties. This important research is a collaboration between the University of Birmingham, Aston University, Coventry University, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust and the leading UK autism research charity, Autistica.

About the Birmingham Science Talk

The announcement regarding the new Cerebra research will be made at the first of a series of autism events taking place in Birmingham during October and November hosted by Autistica in collaboration with Deutsche Bank. The events are free and anyone can attend. For further details on the talks including location and timings, click here: https://www.autistica.org.uk/get-involved/autism-talks

About autism

Autism is a spectrum of developmental conditions. The condition changes the way people communicate and experience the world around them. Every autistic person is different. Some are able to learn, live and work independently but many have learning differences or co-occurring health conditions that require specialist support.

It is estimated that 1 in every 100 people in the UK is autistic.1,2

Research suggests that the differences seen in autism are largely genetic, but environmental factors may also play a role.

There's currently no 'cure' for autism, and indeed that is not a priority for the autism community, but there are a range of specialist interventions that aim to improve communication skills and help with educational and social development.

About Autistica

Autistica is the UK's leading autism research charity. Autistica's research is guided by families and autistic individuals, with the aim of building longer, happier, healthier lives for all those living with autism. They support research into autism and related conditions to improve autistic people's lives and develop new therapies and interventions. Since 2004, Autistica has raised over 12 million for autism research, funding over 40 world-class scientists in universities across the UK. For more information visit: https://www.autistica.org.uk/ Twitter @AutisticaUK

About the University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world's top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 5,000 international students from over 150 countries.

About Cerebra

Cerebra is the charity that works with families who include children with brain conditions. They listen to them, they learn from them, they work with them. They carry out research, they design and innovate, they make and share. What they discover together makes everyone's life better. For more information visit their website: http://www.cerebra.org.uk.

About Aston University

Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston University has been always been a force for change. For 50 years the University has been transforming lives through pioneering research, innovative teaching and graduate employability success. Aston is renowned for its opportunity enabler through broad access and inspiring academics, providing education that is applied and has real impact on all areas of society, business and industry.

References

*Figure extrapolated from UK population data for West Midlands

1. Brugha, T. et al., (2011) Epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Adults in the Community in England. Archives of General Psychiatry. 68 (5), 459-66.

2. Baird, G., et al., (2006) Prevalence of disorders of the autism spectrum in a population cohort of children in South Thames: the Special Needs and Autism Project (SNAP). Lancet 2006; 368: 210-15

3. Lever, A. G. & Geurts, H. M. (2016) Psychiatric Co-occurring Symptoms and Disorders in Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 46, 6, 1916-30

4. Personal Tragedies, Public Crisis: The urgent need for a national response to early death in autism. A Report by Autistica, March 2016.

Accessed at: http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/autistica/downloads/images/article/Personal-tragedies-public-crisis-ONLINE.pdf#

For further information, please contact:

Lynsey Conway

email@lynseyconway.co.uk

07778-304233

Edel McCaffrey

edel.mccaffrey@outlook.com

07770 282245

Rebecca Sterry

Rebecca.Sterry@autistica.org.uk.

M: 07716 426896

T: 0203
Researchers tracked the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) during a one-year period in the East of England, and observed evidence for transmission of the bacteria in the community resulting from clinically unrecognized episodes. Contrary to the assumption that most MRSA cases arise from large hospital-acquired (or nosocomial) outbreaks confined to single wards, Francesc Coll et al. observed a transmission pattern that centered around specific individuals who spread the bacteria as they moved through the healthcare system. Surprisingly, the researchers also found evidence that MRSA strains typically thought to be strictly hospital-associated were spreading in the general community. The researchers mapped transmission with unprecedented detail by prospectively identifying 1,465 individuals in a one-year timeframe who had MRSA-positive samples that came from one of three hospitals and 75 general practitioners' offices processed by a routine diagnostic laboratory. They sequenced the genomes of 2,282 MRSA isolates to identify 173 separate clusters of closely related bacteria, then applied epidemiological data (like hospital admissions, ward transfers, and areas of residence) to find links between cases. Beyond the most common MRSA strains in the United Kingdom, the samples included endemic lineages from Taiwan and the United States, an observation that suggests the authors' findings could apply beyond the United Kingdom to other regions around the world, they say.

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A growing proportion of public monies are not going into front-line healthcare, but into profit margins, warns Neena Modi, Professor of Neonatal Medicine and President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

In The BMJ today, she argues that a mixed public-private healthcare system "ultimately reduces the effectiveness of healthcare for everyone" and says "it makes sense on grounds of equity, effectiveness and cost-efficiency to retain UK healthcare as a primarily publicly funded, delivered and accountable service."

Professor Modi points to figures from the NHS Confederation showing that, in addition to NHS (publicly owned) providers, some 853 for-profit and other independent sector organisations now also provide healthcare services in England.

Yet there is no evidence that healthcare is better when delivered by non-NHS providers, she says. "Indeed evidence to-date indicates care is compromised when organisations with no prior experience of local contexts take over from NHS providers."

Some say the growth in private for-profit healthcare will take the pressure off the NHS, but Modi argues that in the UK "the overwhelming majority of doctors work in the NHS; take them away and the NHS, already reeling from the adverse impact of Brexit on migrant workers, suffers further."

The NHS doesn't need to be discarded, nor does it need to go back in time; it needs to evolve, she writes.

She calls for "visionary leadership" to translate its founding principles into 21st century healthcare, and "investment coupled with equitable cost-containment" for example through further development of pioneering mechanisms initiated by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence.

The UK has also long punched above its weight in biomedical and life sciences research "but now needs to address its weakness in exploiting this for public gain," she argues.

And wiser public-private partnerships than the NHS has hitherto seen "could stimulate innovation directed primarily at health and wellbeing from infancy into old age, rather than disease and profit."

Government must be honest, the media must explain, the public must protest, and the professions must speak out, she concludes. "If we do not, future generations pondering upon the demise of the NHS, will be legitimate in asking whether our silence reflected ignorance, denial, fear, or self-interest."

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Researchers hypothesize that the newly-discovered mutations help re-hydrate the airways, discouraging bacterial build-up in the lungs

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder caused by genetic mutations that disrupt the normal movement of chloride in and out of cells. Among other health problems, cystic fibrosis compromises the lungs' ability to fight infection and breathe efficiently, making it the most lethal genetic disease in the Caucasian population. Patients have an average lifespan of just 30 to 40 years.

Despite this narrow average lifespan, there is a big range in how severely cystic fibrosis (CF) affects the lungs and other organs depending on an individual's specific genetic variation, and even in how long patients sharing the same, most common genetic mutation are able to survive with CF.

This led researchers at Boston Children's Hospital to wonder if other genetic mutations could be protective against CF's effects. Recent findings published in the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology suggest that may be the case.

"There are some patients at one end of extreme severity who need a lung transplant very early in life, then others whose clinical presentation seems to stabilize so that they can live into the fifth and sixth decades of life," says Pankaj Agrawal, MBBS, MMSc, principal investigator and medical director of The Manton Center's Gene Discovery Core at Boston Children's, who was the co-first author on the study.

To find out why, Agrawal and researchers at Boston Children's -- including Ruobing Wang, MD, a pulmonologist, and Craig Gerard, MD, PhD, chief of the Division of Respiratory Diseases -- conducted the first-ever longitudinal analysis of genetic modifiers related to CF.

They combed through a population of nearly 600 CF patients registered at the Boston Children's Cystic Fibrosis Center and found five individuals who stood out because of their advanced age -- in their 50s or 60s -- and relatively normal lung function.

"Given the large size of our center's patient population, we were able to find a number of individuals at this rare 'extreme,'" says Wang, who was co-first author on the paper.

A new hypothesis for mitigating cystic fibrosis

To discover the genetic variants, the researchers collected blood from these patients and performed whole exome sequencing on their DNA, analyzing the "coding" section of the genome that is responsible for most disease-related mutations.

Sequencing the genes of these five Boston Children's patients -- a cohort known as "long-term non-progressors"-- the researchers found a set of rare and never-before-discovered genetic variants that might help explain their longevity and stable lung function.

The gene variants are related to so-called epithelial sodium channels (ENaCs), semi-permeable cellular pathways responsible for reabsorbing sodium in the kidney, colon, lung and sweat glands.

"Our hypothesis is that these ENaC mutations help to rehydrate the airways of CF patients, making it less likely for detrimental bacteria to take up residence in the lungs," says Wang.

The discovery brings ENaCs into the limelight as a potential new therapeutic target.

"For example, if we could target ENaCs with a small molecule or an antibody-based drug, we might be able to incur a protective effect against CF's progression," says Agrawal, who is also a physician in the Boston Children's Division of Newborn Medicine.

Based on their findings, the team is now doing further studies to analyze the genetics of patients at the other end of the CF spectrum -- those with extremely severe clinical presentation of symptoms at a young age.

###

In addition to Agrawal, Wang and Gerard (who was senior author), additional authors on the study are: Hongmei Lisa Li, Klaus Schmitz-Abe, Chantelle Simone-Roach, Jingxin Chen, Jiahai Shi, Tin Louie, Shaohu Sheng, Meghan C. Towne, Christine F Brainson, Michael A Matthay, Carla F. Kim, Michael Bamshad, Mary J. Emond, Norma P. Gerard and Thomas R Kleyman.

This work was supported by the Gene Discovery Core of the The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skeletal Diseases, the National Institute of Health (NIH) (U54 HD090255, P30 DK079307 the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/National Human Genome Research Institute/NIH (U19 HD077671), the Slika Family Fund, the May Family Fund, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Inc., (RO1 HL090136 and U01 HL100402 RFA-HL-09-004) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R37HL51856).
PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] -- As public health officials worry that the increase of opioid use among young adults has helped to spread the hepatitis C virus to a new generation, a study in Rhode Island finds that while screening is common, the follow-up measures needed to stop the spread of the virus are significantly less so.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can linger for decades before causing any symptoms, but eventually it can severely damage the liver, leading to death without treatment.

"Many young people who are at risk for hepatitis C may acquire the infection and then not know it, and then through drug injection practices may transmit it to others," said Brandon Marshall, associate professor of epidemiology in the Brown University School of Public Health and corresponding author of the new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health. "For this reason, we need to not only be screening, but also providing care to young people who test positive for hepatitis C."

Between January 2015 and February 2016, the researchers recruited 196 people between the ages of 18 and 29 from the streets of Rhode Island who use prescription opioids recreationally, rather than for medical reasons. Of those, 154 (78.6 percent) reported receiving HCV screening, which Marshall said was a high and encouraging rate. That said, the proportion receiving screening was much higher among those ages 24 to 29 (89.5 percent) than among those ages 18 to 23 (59.7 percent), he noted.

Among those who were screened, 18 said they tested positive for HCV, which was 30 percent of the 59 people in the study who said they have injected drugs. When study staff asked about follow-up care, they found several gaps: Among the 18 with a positive test, 13 received a confirmatory follow-up test, 12 were referred for specialty care, only 10 received information about how not to transmit the virus to others, and nine received education about living with HCV.

"Screening for HCV is free in many parts of the state, but financial and other barriers exist for youth who test positive and are in need of additional resources and hepatitis C care," Marshall said. "We need to work on improving access to hepatitis C treatment programs and other referral services for young people."

Co-author Dr. Lynn Taylor, an associate professor of medicine at Brown and physician at the Miriam Hospital, said the clear overlap of opioid use and hepatitis C infection requires a tightly coupled public health effort.

"This work points to our next steps: We must act to integrate overdose and hepatitis C prevention in Rhode Island," Taylor said. "In locales where people are injecting opiates, there are an estimated five new hepatitis C infections for every fatal overdose. Rhode Island is the ideal state to address the connections between the opioid and hepatitis C crises and demonstrate the benefits that are possible for public health preventive efforts."

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Brown University School of Public Health graduate alumnus Ayorinde Soipe led the study. Other authors include Ajibola Abioye, Traci Green and Dr. Scott Hadland.

The National Institutes of Health funded the Rhode Island Young Adults Prescription Drug Study (grant R03-DA03770), from which the data were derived, and provided additional funding (P30AI042853).
Immune cells are normally associated with fighting infection but in a new study, scientists have discovered how they also help the nervous system clear debris, clearing the way for nerve regeneration after injury. In a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine showed certain immune cells--neutrophils--can clean up nerve debris, while previous models have attributed nerve cell damage control to other cells entirely.

"This finding is quite surprising and raises an important question: do neutrophils play a significant role in nerve disorders?" said Richard Zigmond, PhD, senior author on the study and professor of neurosciences, neurosurgery, and pathology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Neutrophils are one of the most common types of immune cells and known to engulf microorganisms, but they are not normally associated with peripheral nerve damage, such as that caused by diabetes or trauma.

In the new study, Zigmond and colleagues found damaged nerve cells produce a stream of molecular lures that specifically attract neutrophils to injury sites in mice. Damaged mouse sciatic nerves produced hundreds of times the normal amount of two "chemoattractant" molecules, Cxcl1 and Cxcl2, which attach to the surfaces of neutrophils and draw the immune cells into injured tissue. Once at the injury site, the neutrophils engulf cellular debris caused by the nerve damage, tidying up the area so the cells can repair themselves. The process is akin to clearing debris caused by a tornado before rebuilding a power grid. Without the cellular clearance mechanism, nerves can't properly regenerate after injury.

Previous studies have pointed to immune cells called macrophages as the primary immune cell responsible for engulfing and breaking down nerve debris. The Zigmond laboratory had been studying macrophages in mouse models. Specifically, the team was studying mice genetically modified to lack a receptor on the surface of macrophages--CCR2--that helps macrophages hone in on injury sites. Zigmond asked his graduate student, PhD candidate Jane Lindborg, to look for clearance of nerve cell debris in these mice. "We expected that the clearance would be dramatically inhibited without the receptor. To our amazement, the clearance was unchanged from that in normal mice. The mystery Lindborg had to solve was how nerve cell debris is cleared in these mutant animals," Zigmond said.

"We came up with a list of potential cellular candidates that could be compensating for the loss of these specific macrophages and used several different tests to determine which cells were clearing away the nerve debris after injury," Lindborg said. The experiments included sorting immune cells found at injury sites by molecules on their cellular surfaces, and many hours looking at mouse cells through the microscope. "Though it turns out that several different cells pick up the slack in the absence of macrophages, it was the neutrophil that emerged as a major contributor to debris removal. We also discovered that when we depleted neutrophils, nerve debris clearance was significantly halted in both normal mice and mice lacking a major population of macrophages." Without neutrophils, nerve cells could not properly clear debris.

The findings could open the door for new therapeutics designed to help repair nerve cells damaged by neurodegenerative disease. Said Zigmond, "The clearance of debris after an injury is necessary to allow for effective nerve regeneration. Therefore, if one would want to enhance this clearance in patients, one would need to know what cells to target." Results from the new study suggest immunostimulant molecules that target neutrophils at nerve injury sites might enhance clean-up and promote nerve cell repair. Immunostimulant molecules are often used to treat chronic infections and immunodeficiencies, but additional studies will be needed to determine their specificity and effectiveness in the context of neuropathies.

Said Lindborg, "We have identified a novel and beneficial role for neutrophils in facilitating debris removal after injury, which has been shown to be an important step in promoting regeneration of the severed nerve. We look forward to exploring exactly how these neutrophils work in concert with other cells to accomplish nerve regeneration."

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This study was conducted in collaboration with colleagues from University Hospital Regensburg in Germany. Funding for the study was provided by National Institutes of Health Grants DK097223 and NS095017 (to R.E.Z) and NS067431 and F31NS093694 (to support J.A.L.). Breeding and genotyping of animals were performed by the CWRU Visual Sciences Specialized Animal Research Core (EY11373). The CWRU Electron Microscopy Core, CWRU Cytometry and Imaging Microscopy Core, and CWRU Light Microscopy Imaging Facility also assisted with the experiments. Use of the Leica SP-8 Confocal Microscope was made available through Office of Research Infrastructure Shared Instrumentation Grant S10OD016164.

For more information about Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, please visit: http://case.edu/medicine.
Captured using the exceptional sky-surveying abilities of the VLT Survey Telescope (VST) at ESO's Paranal Observatory in Chile, this deep view reveals the secrets of the luminous members of the Fornax Cluster, one of the richest and closest galaxy clusters to the Milky Way. This 2.3-gigapixel image is one of the largest images ever released by ESO.

Perhaps the most fascinating member of the cluster is NGC 1316, a galaxy that has experienced a dynamic history, being formed by the merger of multiple smaller galaxies. The gravitational distortions of the galaxy's adventurous past have left their mark on its lenticular structure [1]. Large ripples, loops and arcs embedded in the starry outer envelope were first observed in the 1970s, and they remain an active field of study for contemporary astronomers, who use the latest telescope technology to observe the finer details of NGC 1316's unusual structure through a combination of imaging and modelling.

The mergers that formed NGC 1316 led to an influx of gas, which fuels an exotic astrophysical object at its centre: a supermassive black hole with a mass roughly 150 million times that of the Sun. As it accretes mass from its surroundings, this cosmic monster produces immensely powerful jets of high-energy particles , that in turn give rise to the characteristic lobes of emission seen at radio wavelengths, making NGC 1316 the fourth-brightest radio source in the sky [2].

NGC 1316 has also been host to four recorded type Ia supernovae, which are vitally important astrophysical events for astronomers. Since type Ia supernovae have a very clearly defined brightness [3], they can be used to measure the distance to the host galaxy; in this case, 60 million light-years. These "standard candles" are much sought-after by astronomers, as they are an excellent tool to reliably measure the distance to remote objects. In fact, they played a key role in the groundbreaking discovery that our Universe is expanding at an accelerating rate.

This image was taken by the VST at ESO's Paranal Observatory as part of the Fornax Deep Survey, a project to provide a deep, multi-imaging survey of the Fornax Cluster . The team, led by Enrichetta Iodice (INAF - Osservatorio di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy), have previously observed this area with the VST and revealed a faint bridge of light between NGC 1399 and the smaller galaxy NGC 1387 (eso1612). The VST was specifically designed to conduct large-scale surveys of the sky. With its huge corrected field of view and specially designed 256-megapixel camera, OmegaCAM, the VST can produce deep images of large areas of sky quickly, leaving the much larger telescopes -- like ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) -- to explore the details of individual objects.

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Notes

[1] Lenticular or "lens-shaped" galaxies are an intermediate form between diffuse elliptical galaxies and the better-known spiral galaxies such as the Milky Way.

[2] As this radio source is the brightest in the constellation of Fornax it is also known as Fornax A.

[3] Type Ia Supernovae occur when an accreting white dwarf in a binary star system slowly gains mass from its companion until it reaches a limit that triggers the nuclear fusion of carbon. In a brief period of time, a chain reaction is initiated that eventually ends in a huge release of energy: a supernova explosion. The supernova always occurs at a specific mass, known as the Chandrasekhar limit, and produces an almost identical explosion each time. The similarity of type Ia supernovae allow astronomers to use the cataclysmic events to measure distance.

More information

This research was presented in the paper "The Fornax Deep Survey with VST. II. Fornax A: A Two-phase Assembly Caught in the Act", by E. Iodice et al., in the Astrophysical Journal.

The team is composed of E. Iodice (INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, Italy), M. Spavone (Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, Italy), M. Capaccioli (University of Naples, Italy), R. F. Peletier (Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands), T. Richtler (Universidad de Concepcion, Chile), M. Hilker (ESO, Garching, Germany), S. Mieske (ESO, Chile), L. Limatola (INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, Italy), A. Grado (INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, Italy), N.R. Napolitano (INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, Italy), M. Cantiello (INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Teramo, Italy), R. D'Abrusco (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory/Chandra X-ray Center, US), M. Paolillo (University of Naples, Italy), A. Venhola (University of Oulu, Finland), T. Lisker (Zentrum fur Astronomie der Universitat Heidelberg, Germany), G. Van de Ven (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Germany), J. Falcon-Barroso (Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, Spain) and P. Schipani (Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, Italy).

ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It is supported by 16 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, along with the host state of Chile and by Australia as a strategic partner. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world's most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory and two survey telescopes. VISTA works in the infrared and is the world's largest survey telescope and the VLT Survey Telescope is the largest telescope designed to exclusively survey the skies in visible light. ESO is a major partner in ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, close to Paranal, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope, the ELT, which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky".

Links

Research paper - https://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1734/eso1734a.pdf

Photos of the VLT Survey Telescope - http://www.eso.org/public/images/archive/search/?adv=&subject_name=VLT%20Survey%20Telescope

Contacts

Enrichetta Iodice

INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte

Napoli, Italy

Tel: 39-0815575546

Email: iodice@na.astro.it

Richard Hook

ESO Public Information Officer

Garching bei Munchen, Germany

Tel: 49-89-3200-6655

Cell: 49-151-1537-3591

Email: rhook@eso.org
Tsunamis spell calamity. These giant waves, caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and underwater landslides, are some of the deadliest natural disasters known; the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean killed over 230,000 people, a higher death toll than any fire or hurricane. Scientists studying the effects of tsunamis have now shed light on what could be the earliest record of a person killed in a tsunami: someone who lived 6,000 years ago in what's now Papua New Guinea in the southwest Pacific. Their skull was found in geological sediments having the distinctive hallmarks of ancient tsunami activity. This means, scientists posit in a new paper in PLOS ONE, that this skull could be from the earliest known tsunami victim.

"If we are right about how this person had died thousands of years ago, we have dramatic proof that living by the sea isn't always a life of beautiful golden sunsets and great surfing conditions," says John Terrell, Regenstein Curator of Pacific Anthropology at The Field Museum and one of the study's authors. "Maybe this individual can help us as scientists to convince skeptics today that all of us on earth must take climate change and rising sea levels seriously as the threats they truly are."

The skull in question was found in 1929, buried in the ground near the small town of Aitape on the northern of Papua New Guinea, about 500 miles north of Australia. Terrell has been doing archaeological and anthropological research in this coastal region of New Guinea, the second largest island in the world, since 1990. The new PLOS One study is a continuation of that work, contributed to by the University of New South Wales, l'Universite de Bourgogne-Franche-Comte, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Auckland, New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, the University of Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery, and The Field Museum. As a member of this international team, Terrell says he has long wondered what to make of this tantalizing human find.

"The skull has always been of great archaeological interest because it is one of the few early skeletal remains from the area," says Mark Golitko of the University of Notre Dame and The Field Museum. "It was originally thought that the skull belonged to Homo erectus until the deposits were more reliably radiocarbon dated to about 5,000 to 6,000 years. Back then, sea levels were higher and the area would have been just behind the shoreline."

In 2014 Golitko and others went back to the exact place where this skull had been found to look for new clues about what killed this individual. "We have now been able to confirm what we have long suspected," says James Goff at the University of New South Wales in Australia, the report's first author. "The geological similarities between the sediments at the place where the skull was found and sediments laid down during the 1998 tsunami that hit this same coastline have made us realise that human populations in this area have been affected by these massive inundations for thousands of years."

"Given the evidence we have in hand, we are more convinced than before that this person was either violently killed by a tsunami, or had their grave ripped open by one--leading to their head but not the rest of their body being naturally reburied where it then remained undiscovered in the ground for some 6,000 or so years," explains Goff.

"It is easy to be fooled by the great beauty of the Sepik coast of Papua New Guinea into thinking that surely this part of the world must be as close to paradise-on-earth as anybody could want. This person's skull is witness to the fact that here as elsewhere natural disasters can suddenly and unexpectedly turn the world upside down," says Terrell.

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ATLANTA -- African-American men report an average of eight depressive symptoms in a month, with family support, mastery, self-esteem, chronic stressors and discrimination among the factors that are significant to their psychological health, according to a new study led by researchers at Georgia State University.

Although African-Americans are less likely than whites to meet the criteria for major depressive disorder, they are at increased risk for depressive symptoms. Few studies have focused on identifying the risk and protective factors that contribute to depressive symptoms in African-American men, which this study addresses.

The researchers determined the stress process model, a framework for understanding health and health inequalities, was useful for identifying psychosocial risk and protective factors in African-American men, explaining about half (50 percent) of the depressive symptoms. The findings could be beneficial for directing health initiatives and policies aimed at improving the psychological health of this population.

They also found some of the risk and protective factors influence each other. For instance, self-esteem and mastery (how people perceive control over things that happen to them) play an important role in mitigating the negative psychological harm associated with lower-income neighborhoods. Family support also was a buffer for the harmful mental health effects of stress exposure. The increased depressive symptoms associated with higher levels of chronic stressors and daily discrimination are relatively lower among African-American men who report more family support.

The findings are published in a special issue on the Psycho-social Influences of African-Americans Men's Health in the Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences.

"The factors that contribute to the mental health of African-American men are consistent with research on the factors that are important for the psychological well-being of the general population--coping resources, stress exposure and economic conditions," said Dr. Mathew Gayman, associate professor in the Department of Sociology at Georgia State. "However, African-American men report, on average, fewer coping resources, greater stress exposure and poorer economic conditions than the general population. It is the systematic disparities in these factors that contribute to race inequalities in psychological health. Ultimately, if we want to address the increased risk for mental health problems (and mental health generally) experienced by African-American men, we must address the social conditions and forces that shape race disparities in coping resources, stress exposure and economic conditions."

Using data from a community-based study of Miami-Dade County (Fla.) residents that was linked to neighborhood census data, the researchers surveyed nearly 2,000 people from different ethnic groups between 2000 and 2001. Analysis for this study was limited to only African-American men, a sample of 248 participants.

Depressive symptomatology was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Participants were presented with statements such as "You felt depressed" and "You felt that you could not shake off the blues" in the past month and asked to give responses ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (almost all the time). Higher scores represented more symptoms.

Various scales were also used to assess socioeconomic status (individual-level and neighborhood-level), social stressors, daily discrimination, perceived social support, mastery and self-esteem.

About 11 percent of the African-American men reported 16 or more depressive symptoms, a cutoff often used to estimate for clinical-level depression, although depressive symptoms in these men might be underreported because of gender differences in the expression of depression. Consistent with previous research, this study found individual socioeconomic status in African-American men was not associated with depressive symptoms, possibly because of the often-unrealized rewards associated with higher income and education among African-Americans.

However, the researchers determined African-American men living in lower socioeconomic neighborhoods experienced significantly more depressive symptoms, highlighting the significance of neighborhood socioeconomic status in their psychological health.

Because African-American men are more likely than white counterparts to live in lower-income neighborhoods, the researchers conclude that public health policies aimed at addressing poor mental health among African-Americans should account for neighborhood conditions. The findings also indicate that while self-reliance through mastery and self-esteem may be important for mitigating the psychological consequences associated with living in relatively poor neighborhoods, the ability to perceive support from one's family is important for minimizing the negative mental health consequences of stress exposure for African-American men.

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Co-authors of the study include Drs. Ben Lennox Kail and Amy Spring and Ph.D. student George R. Greenidge Jr.

The study is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.

To read the study, visit https://academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/geronb/gbx076.
WASHINGTON -- Physicians and other health care providers who received "gifts" from pharmaceutical companies were much more likely to prescribe a higher number of drugs per patient, including more costly prescriptions for branded medicines, compared to prescriptions written by medical providers who did not accept gifts, according to research published in PLOS ONE.

Gifts of any size had an effect on prescribing, and larger gifts elicited a larger impact, according to study findings. These gifts varied in value from as little as $7 a year (i.e. a dozen doughnuts), to as much as $200,000 in cash, say researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) and George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. Their study was funded by the District of Columbia Department of Health.

The deep dive into pharmaceutical gift spending and Medicare Part D prescriber reports filed for 2013 for the Washington D.C. area found that almost 40 percent of these providers accepted $3.9 million worth of money, meals, trips, and other gifts. (Medicare Part D is a federal prescription drug program that covers patients over age 65 or who are disabled.)

There are no national laws that prohibit the acceptance of gifts or payments from industry by healthcare providers, but that should be changed in order to protect patient health, says study investigator Adriane Fugh-Berman MD, professor in the department of pharmacology and physiology at GUMC.

"Every slice of pizza given to a physician compromises patient health," adds Fugh-Berman, director of PharmedOut, a research and education project that examines pharmaceutical industry marketing and supports evidence-based, cost-effective prescribing.

"Industry gifts influence prescribing behavior, cost taxpayers money and should be banned," she says. "Our finding that gifts from pharmaceutical companies result in more prescriptions per patient is particularly concerning, because the more medications a patient takes, the higher the risk of adverse effects," says Susan F. Wood, PhD, professor in the department of health policy and management and director of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health at George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health. Fugh-Berman and Wood are the study's co-senior authors.

While previous research has raised the issue of influence of pharmaceutical gifts on physician care, this study is unique in that it looks not only at doctors, but at other providers of medical care including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, podiatrists and others who reported prescribing medicine using Medicare Part D.

A further strength of the study is the inclusion of data from a Washington D.C. Department of Health program (DC AccessRx) that requires pharmaceutical companies to report gifts to D.C. providers. The federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments (OP) program also lists gift payments, but only to physicians and teaching hospitals.

Using these two databases, the researchers matched gifts with provider information using the CMS 2013 Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data. In this way, they uncovered links between prescribing history and gift taking in 2,873 providers in D.C. during 2013.

Among the findings are:

Gift recipients prescribed an average of 892 claims each, more than twice as many as the 389 claims per prescriber for non-gift recipients;

Compared to non-gift recipients, gift recipients prescribed 7.8 percent more branded drugs;

Physicians who received small gifts (less than $500 annually) had more expensive claims ($114 vs. $85) and more branded claims (30.3 percent vs. 25.7 percent) than physicians who received no gifts; and

Physicians receiving large gifts (greater than $500 annually) had the highest average costs per claim ($189) and branded claims (39.9 percent) than other groups.

"This study clearly shows that even small gifts change the practice of medicine," says Fugh-Berman. "Gifts, no matter their size, have a powerful effect on human relationships, and pharmaceutical companies are well aware of that."

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Study co-authors include Alycia Hogenmiller from GUMC; Joanna Podrasky, MPH, from JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, Texas; Meghan McMonagle, MPH, from MedStar Health in Columbia, Maryland; Janani Raveendran from George Washington University School of Medicine; and Tyler Bysshe, MPH, from the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.

The authors report the following disclosures: Hogenmiller is the paid project manager of PharmedOut. PharmedOut has a contract with the George Washington Milken Institute School of Public Health to create content for the DC Center for Rational Prescribing (DCRx), which creates industry-free continuing medical education modules and resources for the Washington DC Department of Health. Fugh-Berman directs PharmedOut and also has a contract with the George Washington Milken Institute School of Public Health to analyze pharmaceutical marketing data from Washington DC. Fugh-Berman is a paid expert witness at the request of plaintiffs in litigation regarding pharmaceutical marketing practices. Wood is the PI for the DC Center for Rational Prescribing, a contract with the Washington DC Department of Health to create industry-free continuing medical education modules and resources for the Washington DC Department of Health. McMonagle and Podrasky were former employees of the DC Center for Rational Prescribing; Raveendran is a former intern for DCRx.

About Georgetown University Medical Center

Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through MedStar Health). GUMC's mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing & Health Studies, both nationally ranked; Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute; and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization, which accounts for the majority of externally funded research at GUMC including a Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Institutes of Health. Connect with GUMC on Facebook, Twitter @gumedcenter and Instagram (@gumedcenter).
MATTOON -- Longtime nurse Beth Garrett, RN, was honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at Sarah Bush Lincoln on Sept. 28.

Garrett, who has served as a floor nurse and a charge nurse, was nominated by her co-workers for her experienced leadership and for providing compassionate care at Sarah Bush Lincoln since 1983, according to a press release. In a nomination letter, her co-workers wrote:

Beth is an experienced leader and looked up to by her peers who often comment on how caring and compassionate she is to the patients and staff.

She is regularly recognized by her patients in daily rounding and follow-up phone calls. Shes the type of leader that always helps, even if you didnt ask her to. Beth is always going above and beyond what is expected of her and is very well known by the patients and her wonderful back rubs. One patient commented, My back was hurting and Beth gave me a back rub which made me feel so much better, something she did not have to do.

Beth is an incredible resource and always has answers to the many questions we ask her. She goes outside her job description to assist everyone. She has cleaned patient rooms to assist our support partner staff. She answers call lights and response to alarms -- even when it is not her patient. She always has a smile and positive attitude.

Beth is also very active in her community. She is a volunteer with Peace Meal. She received a phone call at home one day from a random person. This person stated that she had fallen and then just hung up. Beth took it upon herself to call everyone from her Peace Meal deliveries that day. She called everyone on her list and there was one person she could not reach. She drove out to this persons house to check on her and, sure enough, it was that person who had fallen. This is great example of how our 3 East nurses compassionate care even when she isnt at work.

Sarah Bush Lincoln has joined more than 2,400 health care facilities by becoming a DAISY Award hospital partner. During the award presentation, Garrett received a certificate, a DAISY Award pin and a unique, hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture from Zimbabwe, titled, A Healers Touch.

The DAISY Award was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for diseases attacking the immune system.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and families.

Patients, visitors, nurses, physicians and other employees may nominate a deserving nurse for The Daisy Award and a nurse will be selected by SBLs DAISY committee every month to received this special honor. Nomination forms are located at www.sarahbush.org and at all SBL clinics and on patient floors. The forms can be submitted to any Sarah Bush Lincoln staff member, or sent via email to daisy@sblhs.org or mail to Sarah Bush Lincoln, DAISY Nursing Award, 1000 Health Center Drive, Mattoon, IL 61938.

For more information, contact SBL DAISY coordinator Cynthia Edwards, RN, at 217-238-3422 or cedwards@sblhs.org.
New research discovers that nearly half the Earth's highly threatened vertebrates occur on islands. However, effective management of invasive species, a primary driver of extinctions on islands, could benefit 95 percent of the 1,189 threatened island species identified.

The paper, published in the journal Science Advances, describes the analysis of a database that maps the global distribution of highly threatened vertebrates and invasive species on islands. It lays the fundamental groundwork for planning conservation actions to prevent extinctions.

To guide conservation planning to prevent island extinctions, conservation biologists from the Coastal and Conservation Action Laboratory at the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC), Island Conservation, BirdLife International, and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Invasive Species Specialist Group created the Threatened Island Biodiversity Database.

The Threatened Island Biodiversity Database is the first of its kind. The database is a culmination of an intensive systematic review of over 1,000 available datasets, publications and reports, as well as consultation with more than 500 experts worldwide with specialized knowledge about native and invasive species on islands.

From this investigation, researchers identified and mapped all 1,189 land-based amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, listed as Critically Endangered or Endangered on The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM breeding on 1,288 islands. They then documented whether introduced, damaging (invasive) vertebrates, such as rats and cats, occurred on the same islands. The dataset also contains important social, political, and ecological information about each island, critical for informing conservation decision-making.

"The opportunities to prevent extinctions are now laid out right in front of us. This knowledge base of threatened island biodiversity can really empower more efficient and better-informed conservation planning efforts, which is exactly what our planet needs right now," commented Dr Dena Spatz, Conservation Biologist at Island Conservation and lead author on the paper who began this work at the UCSC Lab.

Why Islands?

Islands are isolated landmasses surrounded by ocean that hold many of the most threatened species in the world. For example, the Floreana Mockingbird in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador disappeared from its island-namesake Floreana in the 19th century, mere decades after human colonization. The mockingbird was primarily driven extinct from the island (extirpated) by invasive species, including invasive rodents and feral cats which remain on Floreana and prevent its safe return. The few hundred individuals left of this Critically Endangered bird are now confined to tiny predator-free islets adjacent to Floreana.

Unfortunately, this is a common story for island wildlife, which suffer disproportionately from endangerment and extinction as compared with plants and animals on continental land-masses. Islands represent merely 5.3 percent of the world's land area, yet have hosted 61 percent of all recorded extinctions since 1500 . The majority of these extinctions were driven by invasive species, particularly rodents and cats, responsible at least in part for 44 percent of bird, mammal, and reptile extinctions in recent centuries.

There is hope on islands.

For some islands it is possible to implement biosecurity--preventing invasive species from arriving and becoming a threat. And for many islands with invasive species, it is possible to completely remove the interlopers, which has led to remarkable native species recovery stories around the world . On Anacapa Island in the Channel Islands, California, the successful removal of invasive rats led to positive outcomes for the Vulnerable Scripps's Murrelet, and the recent discovery of the Endangered Ashy Storm-petrel.

To prevent extinctions, Dr. Spatz and colleagues realized the need to take this effective conservation strategy to scale and created The Threatened Island Biodiversity Database, a foundational tool to pinpoint which species to protect, and where.

Dr Stuart Butchart, Chief Scientist at Birdlife International and co-author on the paper commented, "The datasets assembled for this paper support the most comprehensive assessment yet of the distribution of threatened species on islands, and where they occur with invasive alien vertebrates. The analysis underpins ongoing efforts to determine on which islands preventing invasions and controlling or eradicating invasive species would provide the greatest contribution to global biodiversity conservation."

While the species threatened by invasive vertebrates make up almost half of all highly threatened land vertebrates world-wide, they occur on a fraction of the Earth's landmass and on <1 percent of the world's islands. Many of these islands were found to be relatively small and with minimal human habitation, especially those with threatened reptiles and birds. These islands represent a significant opportunity to address the biodiversity crisis.

Dr Piero Genovesi, co-author and Head of Wildlife Service - ISPRA Institute for Environmental Protection and Research and Chair of the IUCN SCC Invasive Species Specialist Group, commented, "The database validates the importance of islands globally for biodiversity conservation and lays the groundwork for pinpointing efficient and effective conservation action at global and regional scales."

The paper highlights a handful of these islands where conservation efforts would be important. For example, Gough Island, a UK Overseas Territory of the St. Helena and Tristan da Cunha island group in the Atlantic Ocean, is home to six species that are highly threatened, such as the Tristan Albatross. Invasive mice co-occur on the island as well, threatening the survival of the Albatross, and other threatened species.

"The global nature of the paper offers a comparative look at threats to biodiversity and conservation opportunities. Furthermore, it provides national and regional governments and NGOs with critical biodiversity information assembled on a global platform, which can inform and stimulate promotion, fundraising, and action to protect species from extinction," concluded Dr Spatz.

Next steps are to apply the information gathered from this dataset to key conservation planning efforts at global and regional scales, combining other factors affecting the feasibility of implementing island conservation interventions to identify the most important islands where we should focus global efforts to prevent extinctions.

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Paper link (when published): http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/10/e1603080

Threatened Island Biodiversity Database: http://tib.islandconservation.org/

Title and authors:

Globally threatened vertebrates on islands with invasive species by Dena R. Spatz, Kelly M. Zilliacus, Nick D. Holmes, Stuart H. M. Butchart, Piero Genovesi, Gerardo Ceballos, Bernie R. Tershy, Donald A. Croll. Published in Science Advances, Oct. 2017.

About the partners

Island Conservation (IC) is our world's only global, not-for-profit conservation organization whose mission is to prevent extinctions by removing invasive species from islands. We work where the concentration of both biodiversity and species extinction is greatest - islands. Removing a primary threat - introduced invasive vertebrates - is one of the most critical interventions for saving threatened plants and animals and restoring island ecosystems. Once invasive species are removed, native island species and ecosystems recover with little additional intervention. Since 1994, Island Conservation and partners have deployed teams to protect 994 populations of 389 species on 66 islands. IC is headquartered in Santa Cruz, CA with field offices in Australia, the Bahamas, British Columbia, Chile, Ecuador, Hawaii, New Zealand, Palau, and Puerto Rico. http://www.islandconservation.org

Coastal Conservation Action Lab at UCSC: Our lab brings science and action together to solve conservation problems. We use science to identify and prioritize conservation problems. We then work with agencies and NGOs to develop and test cost effective solutions that can be taken to scale. Much of our work has focused on seabirds and island ecosystems, but we will apply our approach to any ecosystem where it can make a profound difference. https://ccal.ucsc.edu/

BirdLife International is the world's largest nature conservation Partnership. Together we are 120 BirdLife Partners worldwide - one per country - and growing with 13 million members and supporters, over 7,000 local conservation groups and 7,400 staff.

BirdLife's vision is a world rich in biodiversity, where people and nature live in harmony. We are driven by our belief that local people, working for nature in their own places but connected nationally and internationally through our global Partnership, are the key to sustaining all life on this planet. This unique local-to-global approach delivers high impact and long-term conservation for the benefit of nature and people.

BirdLife is widely recognised as the world leader in bird conservation. Rigorous science informed by practical feedback from projects on the ground in important sites and habitats enables us to implement successful conservation programmes for birds and all nature. http://www.birdlife.org/

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world's largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,300 Member organisations and some 10,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.

IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples' organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development. Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people's well-being. https://www.iucn.org/

The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) is a global network of scientific and policy experts on invasive species, organized under the auspices of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). ISSG aims to reduce threats to natural ecosystems and the native species they contain by increasing awareness of invasive alien species, and of ways to prevent, control or eradicate them. http://www.issg.org/about.htm
CATONSVILLE, MD, Oct. 25, 2017 - Nearly 100 unique factors have to be considered during the complicated task of assigning inmates to any of the Pennsylvania Department of Correction's 25 facilities. What once took seven employees nearly a week to accomplish can now be completed in less than 10 minutes at an expected savings of nearly $3 million, thanks to an algorithm created by a team of Lehigh University students and professors, and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. In recognition of their unique new application of operations research (O.R.), Tamas Terlaky, Mohammad Shahabsafa, Chaitanya Gudapati, Anshul Sharma, Louis J. Plebani, and George R. Wilson, Lehigh University; and Kristofer B. Bucklen, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, were presented the Daniel H. Wagner Prize for Excellence in Operations Research Practice by INFORMS, the leading international association for analytics and operations research professionals.

The prize-winning paper, "The Inmate Assignment and Scheduling Problem and its Application in the PA Department of Corrections," not only realized profound success in a real world setting, but had a strong mathematical foundation that was easily and concisely communicated. The award was presented during the 2017 INFORMS Annual Meeting in Houston, TX, which attracted more than 5,600 students, academics, professionals, and industry leaders from around the world.

Over a period of five years, the team from Lehigh University worked closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to successfully implement the novel Inmate Assignment Decision Support System (IADSS). IADSS was designed to address the problems associated with inmate assignment by providing an optimal, simultaneous system-wide assignment tool. This project, which has been recognized for its contribution on the floors of the House and Senate in the Pennsylvania Capitol and included in the permanent record of Pennsylvania, is the first time that O.R. methodologies have been used to optimize operations in the correctional system.

The additional finalists for the 2017 award were:

Forecasting and Optimization Models for Audience Targeting on Television by Wes Chaar, J. Antonio Carbajal, CAP, and Peter Alexander Williams, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

Crew Decision Assist: Optimizing Crew Deployment for Freight Trains by Dasaradh Mallampati, Brian Roth, Poojah Dewan, April Kuo, and Juan Morales, BNSF Railway; and Anant Balakrishnan, University of Texas at Austin

Optimized Scoring Systems; Towards Trust in Machine Learning for Healthcare and Criminal Justice by Cynthia Rudin, Duke University; and Berk Ustun, MIT

Outcome-Driven Personalized Treatment Design for Managing Diabetes by Eva Lee, Georgia Tech

Dispatch Optimization in Bulk Tanker Transport Operations by Ted L. Gifford, Tracy Opicka, Ashesh Sinha, Daniel Vanden Brink, and Andy Gifford, Schneider National Incorporated; and Robert Randall, Princeton Consultants

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About INFORMS

With 12,500 members from nearly 90 countries, INFORMS is the largest international association of operations research (O.R.) and analytics professionals and students. INFORMS provides unique networking and learning opportunities for individual professionals, and organizations of all types and sizes, to better understand and use O.R. and analytics tools and methods to transform strategic visions and achieve better outcomes.

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - A pre-clinical study led by Indiana University scientists reports a promising step forward in the search for pain relief methods without the addictive side effects behind the country's current opioid addiction crisis.

The research, which appears in the journal Biological Psychiatry, finds that the use of compounds called positive allosteric modulators, or PAMs, enhances the effect of pain-relief chemicals naturally produced by the body in response to stress or injury. This study also significantly strengthens preliminary evidence about the effectiveness of these compounds first reported at the 2016 Society for Neuroscience Conference in San Diego, California.

"Our study shows that a PAM enhances the effects of these pain-killing chemicals without producing tolerance or decreased effectiveness over time, both of which contribute to addiction in people who use opioid-based pain medications," said Andrea G. Hohmann, a Linda and Jack Gill Chair of Neuroscience and professor in the IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, who led the study. "We see this research as an important step forward in the search for new, non-addictive methods to reduce pain."

Over 97 million Americans took prescription painkillers in 2015, with over 2 million reporting problems with the drugs. Drug overdoses are the No. 1 cause of death for Americans under 50, outranking guns and car accidents and outpacing the HIV epidemic at its peak.

Medical researchers are increasingly studying positive allosteric modulators because they target secondary drug receptor sites in the body. By contrast, "orthosteric" drugs -- including cannabinoids such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and opioids such as morphine -- influence primary binding sites, which means their effects may "spill over" to other processes in the body, causing dangerous or unwanted side effects. Rather than acting as an on/off switch, PAMs act like an amplifier, enhancing only the effects of the brain's own natural painkillers, thereby selectively altering biological processes in the body that naturally suppress pain.

The PAM used in the IU-led study worked by amplifying two brain compounds -- anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol -- commonly called "endocannabinoids" because they act upon the CB1 receptor in the brain that responds to THC, the major psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.

Although the PAM compound enhanced the effects of the endocannabinoids the study found that it did not cause unwanted side effects associated with cannabis -- such as impaired motor functions or lowered body temperature -- because its effect is highly targeted in the brain. The pain relief was also stronger and longer-lasting than drugs that block an enzyme that breaks down and metabolizes the brain's own cannabis-like compounds. The PAM alone causes the natural painkillers to target only the right part of the brain at the right time, as opposed to drugs that bind to every receptor site throughout the body.

The PAMs also presented strong advantages over the other alternative pain-relief compounds tested in the study: a synthetic cannabinoid and a metabolic inhibitor. The analysis' results suggested these other compounds' remained likely to produce addiction or diminish in effectiveness over time.

While the IU-led research was conducted in mice, Hohmann said it's been shown that endocannabinoids are also released by the human body in response to inflammation or pain due to nerve injury. The compounds may also play a role in the temporary pain relief that occurs after a major injury.

"These results are exciting because you don't need a whole cocktail of other drugs to fully reverse the pathological pain in the animals," Hohmann said. "We also don't see unwanted signs of physical dependence or tolerance found with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or opioid-based drugs. If these effects could be replicated in people, it would be a major step forward in the search for new, non-addictive forms of pain relief."

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The PAM used in the study was GAT211, a molecule designed and synthesized by Ganesh Thakur at Northeastern University, who is a co-author on the study. The lead author on the study was Richard A. Slivicki, a graduate student in Hohmann's lab in the IU Program in Neuroscience and Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Additional authors on the study are Zhili Xu, an IU research fellow; Ken Mackie, IU professor and director of the Gill Center; Pushkar M. Kulkarni at Northeastern University; and Roger G. Pertwee at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

This study was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health.
Smart 3D-printed braces that incorporate nontoxic batteries and lights could reduce the time and costs involved in realigning and straightening teeth.

The orthodontic system, conceptualized by researchers at KAUST, involves placing two near-infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and one lithium-ion battery on every tooth in a semitransparent, 3D-printed dental brace.

The batteries provide energy to turn the near-infrared LEDs on and off, depending on how they are programmed by a dentist, to provide localized light therapy according to the needs of each tooth. Phototherapy enhances bone regeneration and can reduce the time and costs involved in corrective orthodontics. The brace would be removable to allow the batteries to be recharged.

"We started embedding flexible LEDs inside 3D-printed braces, but they needed a reliable power supply," explains Muhammad Hussain who led the study together with PhD student Arwa Kutbee. "After the incidents with the Samsung Galaxy 7 batteries exploding, we realized that traditional batteries in their current form and encapsulation don't serve our purpose. So we redesigned the state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery technology into a flexible battery, followed by biosafe encapsulation within the braces to make a smart dental brace."

The battery was redesigned using a dry-etching technique, which removes the silicon substrate normally found on its back. This process thinned the battery to 2.25mm x 1.7mm and made it flexible. Tests showed that the volumetric energy -- the ratio of energy to device size--of the redesigned batteries remained high even after many cycles of continuous operation.

Batteries were then encapsulated in biocompatible soft polymeric materials to prevent the possibility of leakage, making them safe to place in the mouth. As a testament to their biocompatibility, when human embryonic kidney cells were cultured on these batteries over a period of days, they thrived and proliferated. The batteries' electrochemical performance increased linearly with rising temperature, up to 90C, making them stable.

Hussain says the system is a preliminary prototype, "which is more than a proof of concept." The next step, he says, is to conduct clinical trials.

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Cerebral palsy is more common and has higher mortality in Uganda than in high income countries. The underlying brain injury often occurs after the first month after birth, probably caused by malaria, a new population based study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Makerere University in Uganda reports. The study, which is published in The Lancet Global Health, is the largest of its kind on cerebral palsy in Africa.

Registry and epidemiological studies from high income countries (HIC) show that about ten per cent of all children have some type of neurodevelopmental disorder and that two in every thousand have cerebral palsy. The corresponding information is lacking for low and middle-income countries (LMIC), as there are only few high quality population-based studies. To get a better understanding of the situation, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have charted cerebral palsy in Uganda in sub-Saharan Africa, generating data that can be used to develop national healthcare programmes and international initiatives for children with developmental disabilities.

"Children with developmental disabilities are neglected and discriminated against in many countries, where they live under difficult circumstances," says principal investigator Professor Hans Forssberg at the Department of Women's and Children's Health at Karolinska Institutet. "A first step towards changing this is to show that children with disabilities exist and how common different neurodevelopmental conditions are."

Uganda has no population registers and the authorities do not know how many children are born or how many develop disabilities. The researchers therefore used a health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) that Karolinska Institutet helped to devise with Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, with support from SIDA. Since 2005, field workers have been gathering vital data, e.g. on birth, death and migration for all people living in a rural part of eastern Uganda. The round of data collection that took place in 2015 included screening for cerebral palsy in over 30,000 children.

The results show that CP in 2-17 year-olds was about 50 per cent more common in Uganda than in HIC, and that the prevalence of CP was twice as high in Uganda in the young 2-7 year-old group than in the 8-17 year-old group.

"We interpret this as due to high mortality, particularly for children with severe functional disabilities. The incidence of cerebral palsy is therefore probably twice as high in Uganda as in HIC," says Professor Forssberg. "Our findings on increased mortality need to be followed up in a longitudinal study, and if corroborated, the new knowledge must lead to better care of children with cerebral palsy."

The survey also shows that the cause of cerebral palsy differs to that in HIC, where some 40 per cent of children are born preterm while only two per cent of the children with CP in Uganda were born preterm, probably due to the low survival rate of preterm infants.

"This is important to consider now when programmes are initiated to increase survival rate of preterm born infants," says Professor Forssberg. "It's important that the brain is protected to prevent surviving infants from developing cerebral palsy."

One in four babies born in Uganda acquired their brain damage after the first month of life, compared with only five per cent in HIC. In interviews, the care givers said that these children were born and developed normally until suddenly falling sick with fever seizures and convulsions. According to the researchers, the likely cause of the brain damage is cerebral malaria, which is preventable with prophylactic measures or better treatments.

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The study was financed by the Swedish Research Council and the Promobilia Foundation.

Publication: "Prevalence of cerebral palsy in Uganda: a population-based study", Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige, Carin Andrews, Stefan Peterson, Fred Wabwire Mangen, Ann Christin Eliasson, Hans Forssberg. The Lancet Global Health, online 25 October 2017.
Helicobacter pylori is a widespread bacterial pathogen that infects the lining of the stomach, where it can cause ulcers and even cancer. As a new study shows, its genetic variability complicates efforts to develop an effective vaccine.

The bacterium Helicobacter pylori is responsible for one of the most prevalent infections in humans. The infection can give rise to a number of conditions ranging from gastritis to peptic or duodenal ulcers and ultimately to stomach cancer. Perhaps the most striking feature of Helicobacter is its genetic heterogeneity. Its mutability allows it to continuously adapt to the challenges presented by the acidic nature of its environment, allowing the bacterium to establish a persistent infection which, if untreated, can be lifelong. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich microbiologist Sebastian Suerbaum and his colleagues have now shown that this genetic variability, which had already been observed in the chronic phase of the infection, actually becomes manifest very early on, although the mutation rate at this stage is no higher than that seen in the later phases of infection. The new findings are reported in the latest issue of the journal Gastroenterology.

Suerbaum holds the Chair of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology at LMU's Max von Pettenkofer Institute (of which he is also a Director). His research focuses on the role of genetic variability in mediating Helicobacter's ability to adapt and survive in human hosts. Up to now, little work has been done to assess the degree of bacterial heterogeneity in the period immediately after the initial infection, simply because the infection is normally diagnosed only after it has become chronic. Suerbaum and his colleagues were able to track the bacterium's early evolution from the very beginning of the infection by working with samples obtained from a small cohort of human volunteers who had been experimentally infected in the course of a clinical trial designed to assess the effects of a candidate vaccine. This experimental design enabled them to monitor, at the molecular level, the changes that the H. pylori genome undergoes as the pathogen adapts to conditions on the surface of the gastric epithelium: "Our study shows that bacterium's mutation rate is very high from the very beginning. Mutations in genes for antigens present in the experimental vaccine can actually inhibit their production, effectively blunting the immune response. Other genetic changes trigger the synthesis and secretion of a number of bacterial virulence factors that later play a role in pathogenesis," Suerbaum explains.

There is currently no demonstrably effective vaccine against Helicobacter. "The pathogen's high level of genetic diversity poses a significant challenge for vaccine developers," says Suerbaum. "The results of our study have definite implications for the choice of antigens that will be used as the basis for future vaccines," he adds.

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The study was carried out in collaboration with Hannover Medical School, the German National Reference Center for Helicobacter pylori (which has been based at the Max von Pettenkofer Institute since January 2017 and is led by Sebastian Suerbaum) and Magdeburg University, together with other partners in Germany and elsewhere. The biopsies used were collected in the course of a clinical trial which was carried out under the supervision of Professor Peter Malfertheiner (one of the paper's authors), at Magdeburg University.
Researchers from Lehigh University and Columbia University have created DeepXplore, the first efficient testing approach for deep learning platforms used in self-driving cars, malware-detection and other systems

How do you find errors in a system that exists in a black box?

That is one of the challenges behind perfecting deep learning systems like self-driving cars. Deep learning systems are based on artificial neural networks that are modeled after the human brain, with neurons connected together in layers like a web. This web-like neural structure enables machines to process data with a non-linear approach--essentially teaching itself to analyze information through what is known as training data.

When an input is presented to the system after being "trained"--like an image of a typical two-lane highway presented to a self-driving car platform--the system recognizes it by running an analysis through its complex logic system. This process largely occurs in a black box and is not fully understood by anyone, including a system's creators.

Any errors also occur in a black box, making it difficult to identify them and fix them. This opacity presents a particular challenge to identifying corner case behaviors. A corner case is an incident that occurs outside normal operating parameters. A corner case example: a self-driving car system might be programmed to recognize the curve in a two-lane highway in most instances. However, if the lighting is lower or brighter than normal, the system may not recognize it and an error could occur. One recent example is the 2016 Tesla crash which was caused in part...

Shining a light into the black box of deep learning systems is what Yinzhi Cao of Lehigh University and Junfeng Yang and Suman Jana of Columbia University--along with the Columbia Ph.D. student Kexin Pei--have achieved with DeepXplore, the first automated white-box testing of such systems. Evaluating DeepXplore on real-world datasets, the researchers were able to expose thousands of unique incorrect corner-case behaviors. They will present their findings at the 2017 biennial ACM Symposium on Operating Systems Principles (SOSP) conference in Shanghai, China on October 29th in Session I: Bug Hunting.

"Our DeepXplore work proposes the first test coverage metric called 'neuron coverage' to empirically understand if a test input set has provided bad versus good coverage of the decision logic and behaviors of a deep neural network," says Cao, assistant professor of computer science and engineering.

In addition to introducing neuron coverage as a metric, the researchers demonstrate how a technique for detecting logic bugs in more traditional systems--called differential testing--can be applied to deep learning systems.

"DeepXplore solves another difficult challenge of requiring many manually labeled test inputs. It does so by cross-checking multiple DNNs and cleverly searching for inputs that lead to inconsistent results from the deep neural networks," says Yang, associate professor of computer science. "For instance, given an image captured by a self-driving car camera, if two networks think that the car should turn left and the third thinks that the car should turn right, then a corner-case is likely in the third deep neural network. There is no need for manual labeling to detect this inconsistency."

The team evaluated DeepXplore on real-world datasets including Udacity self-driving car challenge data, image data from ImageNet and MNIST, Android malware data from Drebin, and PDF malware data from Contagio/VirusTotal, and production quality deep neural networks trained on these datasets, such as these ranked top in Udacity self-driving car challenge.

Their results show that DeepXplore found thousands of incorrect corner case behaviors (e.g., self-driving cars crashing into guard rails) in 15 state-of-the-art deep learning models with a total of 132, 057 neurons trained on five popular datasets containing around 162 GB of data.

The team has made their open-source software public for other researchers to use, and launched a website, DeepXplore, to let people upload their own data to see how the testing process works.

More neuron coverage

According to a paper to be published after the conference (see preliminary version here), DeepXplore is designed to generate inputs that maximize a deep learning (DL) system's neuron coverage.

The authors write: "At a high level, neuron coverage of DL systems is similar to code coverage of traditional systems, a standard metric for measuring the amount of code exercised by an input in a traditional software. However, code coverage itself is not a good metric for estimating coverage of DL systems as most rules in DL systems, unlike traditional software, are not written manually by a programmer but rather is learned from training data."

"We found that for most of the deep learning systems we tested, even a single randomly picked test input was able to achieve 100% code coverage--however, the neuron coverage was less than 10%," adds Jana, assistant professor of computer science.

The inputs generated by DeepXplore achieved 34.4% and 33.2% higher neuron coverage on average than the same number of randomly picked inputs and adversarial inputs (inputs to machine learning models that an attacker has intentionally designed to cause the model to make a mistake) respectively.

Differential testing applied to deep learning

Cao and Yang show how multiple deep learning systems with similar functionality (e.g., self-driving cars by Google, Tesla, and Uber) can be used as cross-referencing oracles to identify erroneous corner-cases without manual checks. For example, if one self-driving car decides to turn left while others turn right for the same input, one of them is likely to be incorrect. Such differential testing techniques have been applied successfully in the past for detecting logic bugs without manual specifications in a wide variety of traditional software.

In their paper, they demonstrate how differential testing can be applied to deep learning systems.

Finally, the researchers' novel testing approach can be used to retrain systems to improve classification accuracy. During testing, they achieved up to 3% improvement in classification accuracy by retraining a deep learning model on inputs generated by DeepXplore compared to retraining on the same number of randomly picked or adversarial inputs.

"DeepXplore is able to generate numerous inputs that lead to deep neural network misclassifications automatically and efficiently," adds Yang. "These inputs can be fed back to the training process to improve accuracy."

Adds Cao: "Our ultimate goal is to be able to test a system, like self-driving cars, and tell the creators whether it is truly safe and under what conditions."

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A Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team has found a surprising potential solution to a persistent clinical problem - the healing of chronic wounds. In their report published in Wound Repair and Regeneration, the investigators from the MGH Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center (VIC) describe how application of mature B lymphocytes - the immune cells best known for producing antibodies - greatly accelerated the healing of acute and chronic wounds in both diabetic and nondiabetic mice. The treatment also improved the quality of regenerated tissue and reduced scarring.

"Our demonstration that B lymphocytes - immune system cells that are abundant in the blood - can accelerate wound healing in both healthy and diabetic skin potentially opens up an exciting path to a new treatment for chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers," says Ruxandra Sirbulescu, PhD, of the MGH-VIC, lead and corresponding author of the report. "Diabetic foot ulcers are the most common cause of non-traumatic major amputations around the world and the costliest type of chronic wound to care for, so an inexpensive and safe way to accelerate healing would have great benefits."

Patients with diabetes are at risk of developing chronic wounds, particularly foot ulcers, because of two complications of the illness. Neuropathy damages the nerves in the skin, particularly the hands and feet, causing a loss of sensation that can lead to repeat injuries of the same structures. Vascular disease limits blood flow to the skin and adjacent tissues, cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients required for healthy tissue healing. Between 19 and 34 percent of patients with diabetes develop chronic foot ulcers, the presence of which significantly increases their risk of death compared with patients without foot ulcers.

Healthy wound healing has four phases: blood clotting to stop bleeding, inflammation to remove dead and damaged cells, proliferation of new tissue and the remodeling of tissues to be stronger and better organized. It is believed that chronic wounds get stuck in an inflammatory phase, with a low-oxygen microenvironment and the persistent presence of enzymes that break down tissue proteins. Recent studies from the VIC and other centers have identified several unsuspected roles for B lymphocytes, including the secretion of powerful anti-inflammatory molecules. A previous study from members of the MGH team, in collaboration with scientists at the St Joseph's Translational Research Institute, found that injecting B cells into cardiac tissue damaged by a heart attack improved structural and functional recovery in an animal model.

For the current study the team first isolated mature B cells from the spleens of diabetic and nondiabetic mice. Their series of experiments showed that a single application of concentrated, mature B cells accelerated wound healing and improved the quality of tissue repair in both animal models. B cell treatment also quickly reduced the size and improved the healing of chronic skin ulcers in the diabetic mice, increasing the number of both nerve endings and blood vessels in regenerated tissue.

Remarkably, the same healing effect was produced when B cells from older obese diabetic mice were applied to acute wounds in similarly aged, obese diabetic mice. Both groups of animals were equivalent to 55- to 60-year-old morbidly obese patients with uncontrolled diabetes, the most difficult population to treat. The sort of mature B cells used in this study have a limited life span, and once applied on a wound, they remained active at the site for up to 14 days. This makes them easier to control than other types of cells used in therapies and makes side effects unlikely. Overall, the presence of B lymphocytes was associated with increased tissue proliferation, reduced cell death and a more supportive environment for wound healing.

Sirbulescu notes that it is possible to isolate high numbers of a patient's B cells through a standard blood pheresis procedure, allowing collection of enough cells for several treatments at a single session. The team has been working with colleagues at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to develop protocols to create the type of enriched B cell preparation that could be used to treat patients. "While more work is required to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which B cells exert their beneficial function in wound healing, we are in the process of obtaining the required regulatory approvals to conduct a first clinical study in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. With adequate funding, we believe we could apply this technology clinically within one to two years" she says. The team is working in collaboration with study co-author Dennis Orgill, MD, PhD, of the Wound Care Center in the Plastic Surgery Division at Brigham and Women's Hospital to set up a clinical study in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.

Mark Poznansky, MD, PhD, director of the MGH-VIC and senior author of the Wound Repair and Regeneration report adds, "Having a novel therapeutic that is based on the immediate isolation of a patient's own cells, with minimal manipulation, will represent an attractive option for the wound care field; and a successful option that accelerates healing would greatly benefit patients, as diabetic ulcers typically need up to a year or more heal. Further development of the B cell application therapy may lead to novel ways of addressing the pathologies underlying the formation of chronic wounds."

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Poznansky is an associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS), and Sirbulescu is an immunology researcher at MGH and a research fellow in Medicine at HMS. Additional co-authors of the Wound Repair and Regeneration paper are Chloe K. Boehm, Erin Soon, Ben Maxner, Nicolas Chronos, MD, Ann Sluder, PhD, MGH Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center; Moses Wilks, PhD, Hushan Yuan, PhD, Charalambos Kaittanis, PhD, Marc Normandin, PhD and Georges El Fakhri, PhD, MGH Department of Radiology; and Iulian Ilies PhD, Northeastern University. Support for the study includes grants from the Trinity Innovation Fund of Holy Cross Hospital, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; the VIC Innovation Fund, and National Institutes of Health grant 5R01 EB017699-03.

Massachusetts General Hospital, founded in 1811, is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The MGH Research Institute conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the nation, with an annual research budget of more than $850 million and major research centers in HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular research, cancer, computational and integrative biology, cutaneous biology, genomic medicine, medical imaging, neurodegenerative disorders, regenerative medicine, reproductive biology, systems biology, photomedicine and transplantation biology. The MGH topped the 2015 Nature Index list of health care organizations publishing in leading scientific journals and earned the prestigious 2015 Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service. In August 2017 the MGH was once again named to the Honor Roll in the U.S. News & World Report list of "America's Best Hospitals."
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Most metals and semiconductors, from the steel in a knife blade to the silicon in a solar panel, are made up of many tiny crystalline grains. The way these grains meet at their edges can have a major impact on the solid's properties, including mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, thermal properties, flexibility, and so on.

When the boundaries between the grains are of a particular type, called a coherent twin boundary (CTB), this adds useful properties to certain materials, especially at the nanoscale. It increases their strength, making the material much stronger while preserving its ability to be deformed, unlike most other processes that add strength. Now, researchers have discovered a new deformation mechanism of these twin crystal boundaries, which could help engineers figure out how to more precisely use CTBs to tune the properties of some materials.

Contrary to expectations, it turns out that a material's crystal grains can sometimes slide along these CTBs. The new finding is described in a paper published this week in the journal Nature Communications by Ming Dao, a principal research scientist in MIT's Department of Materials Science and Engineering; Subra Suresh, the Vannevar Bush Professor Emeritus of Engineering and president-designate of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore; Ju Li, the Battelle Energy Alliance Professor in MIT's Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering; and seven others at MIT and elsewhere.

While each crystal grain is made up of an orderly three-dimensional array of atoms in a lattice structure, CTBs are places where, on the two sides of a boundary, the lattice forms a mirror-image of the structure on the other side. Every atom on either side of the coherent twin boundary is exactly matched by an atom in a mirror-symmetrical location on the other side. Much research in recent years has shown that lattices that incorporate nanoscale CTBs can have much greater strength than the same material with random grain boundaries, without losing another useful property called ductility, which describes a material's ability to be stretched.

Some previous research suggested that these twin crystal boundaries are incapable of sliding due to the limited number of defects. Indeed, no experimental observations of such sliding have been reported before at room temperature. Now, a combination of theoretical analysis and experimental work reported in the Nature Communications paper has shown that in fact, under certain kinds of loads these grains can slide along the boundary. Understanding this property will be important for developing ways to engineer material properties to optimize them for specific applications, Dao says.

"A lot of high-strength nanocrystalline materials [with grains sizes measured in less than 100 nanometers] have low ductility and fatigue properties, and failure grows quite quickly with little stretching," he says. Conversely, in the metals that incorporate CTBs, that "enhances the strength and preserves the good ductility." But understanding how these materials behave when subjected to various mechanical stresses is important in order to be able to harness them for structural uses. For one thing, it means that the way the material deforms is quite uneven: Distortions in the direction of the planes of the CTBs can happen much more readily than in other directions.

The experiment was carried out with copper, but the results should apply to some other metals with similar crystal structures, such as gold, silver, and platinum. These materials are widely used in electronic devices, Dao says. "If you design these materials" with structures in the size range explored in this work, which involves features smaller than a few hundred nanometers across, "you need to be aware of these kinds of deformation modes."

The sliding, once understood, can be used for significant advantages. For example, researchers could design extremely strong nanostructures based on the known orientation dependence; or by knowing the type and direction of force that's required to initiate the sliding, it might be possible to design a device that could be activated, such as an alarm, in response to a specific level of stress.

"This study confirmed CTB sliding, which was previously considered impossible, and its particular driving conditions," says Zhiwei Shan, a senior co-author and dean of the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Xi'an Jiao Tong University in China. "Many things could become possible when previously unknown activation or enabling conditions are discovered."

"This work has identified through both systematic experiments and analysis the occurrence of an important mechanical characteristic which is found only in certain special types of interfaces and at the nanoscale. Given that this phenomenon can potentially be applicable to a broad range of crystalline materials, one can envision new materials design approaches involving nanostructures to optimize a variety of mechanical and functional characteristics," Suresh says.

"This discovery could fundamentally change our understanding of plastic deformation in nanotwinned metals and should be of broad interest to the material research community," says Huajian Gao, the Walter H. Annenberg Professor of Engineering at Brown University, who was not involved in this work.

Gao adds that "CTBs are key to engineering novel nanotwinned materials with superior mechanical and physical properties such as strength, ductility, toughness, electrical conductivity, and thermal stability. This paper significantly advances our knowledge in this field by revealing large-scale sliding of CTBs."

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The team included researchers at Xi'an Jiaotong University in China, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, the Chinese Academy of Sciences in China, and Nanyang Technical University in Singapore. The work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Singapore-MIT Alliance.
ANN ARBOR, MI - They don't get pay, recognition, or much of a break. They spend hours a day helping someone who may not even recognize them anymore.

Now, a new poll gives a glimpse into the lives of the spouses, grown children and other family members and friends who act as caregivers for up to five million Americans with dementia.

The strain of providing such care for loved ones with Alzheimer's disease and other conditions came through in the latest results from the National Poll on Healthy Aging, with 78 percent saying caregiving was stressful.

But the poll also reveals the positive side of caregiving, with 85 percent of family caregivers calling it a rewarding experience. In fact, 45 percent rated it as "very rewarding", compared to 19 percent who called it "very stressful". However, 40 percent of those who called dementia caregiving very stressful also said it was not rewarding.

Another potential benefit? Perspective. Ninety-one percent of the caregivers said they had thought about their own future care needs because of their experience taking care of someone with dementia.

Right now, though, 66 percent of dementia caregivers say their duties interfere with their own life and work - including 27 percent who said they had neglected something related to their own health because of caregiving's demands on their time.

Only 1 in 4 had taken advantage of resources designed to help caregivers, but 41 percent of those who didn't expressed interest in such support.

The poll was conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. It is sponsored by AARP and Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center.

Knowledge to build on

The results are based on responses from 148 people between the ages of 50 and 80 who take care of a loved one over age 65 with dementia.

This group made up seven percent of a nationally representative sample, so they represent a sizable number of older adults across the general population. The poll team hopes the findings can form the basis for further exploration of caregiving issues specific to dementia.

"We need to understand the challenges, benefits and barriers that dementia caregivers face, because of the important role they play for their loved ones, in their families, and in our society and economy," says Erica Solway, Ph.D., associate poll director and IHPI senior project manager. "We can see from this report that better support to these family caregivers is needed, which health care providers, family, friends, social service organiations, clergy and policymakers can all help to address."

Caregivers were most likely to be women, under age 65, and taking care of a parent. Nearly half were employed in addition to being caregivers. They took care of medical needs, household tasks, and other activities to keep their loved one safe. One-quarter said the person they were caring for couldn't be left alone for more than an hour.

Solway notes that the experience of caregiving may actually help encourage the kind of planning that many Americans haven't attended to but should - such as completing advance directives, designating someone to make medical decisions in case of serious illness, or engaging in conversations about their wishes as they age.

"Caregiving is a complex experience that affects people across every demographic," says Alison Bryant, Ph.D., senior vice president of research for AARP. "Providing family caregivers with resources to support them in balancing work and life pressures and reducing their stress is critical not only for them but also for those that might care for them in the future."

The need for resources

The rise in the number of people with dementia has led to the creation of many resources for caregivers that can provide vital support. These range from self-help tools and classes for learning new skills that may be needed in the role, to support groups and respite care that can help give caregivers a break from their duties.

Though the poll didn't ask why caregivers had or had not turned to such resources, the data do suggest that many caregivers who are not currently doing so want to access them. A lack of time may be a key factor, since two-third of the caregivers in the poll said that their caregiving duties had interfered with work, family time, or even getting to the doctor when they had a health problem.

Organizations such as AARP are developing and deploying more local and online resources for cargivers. Health care providers who tend to dementia patients' medical needs could be a key gateway to specific local and electronic resources for their patients' caregivers, Solways notes.

But she also observes that health care providers should routinely ask patients if they serve as a caregiver to a loved one, so they can identify and address needs and concerns during the caregiver's own appointments.

The poll results are based on answers from those who identified themselves as dementia caregivers among a nationally representative sample of 2,131 people ages 50 to 80. The poll respondents answered a wide range of questions online. Questions were written, and data interpreted and compiled, by the IHPI team. Laptops and Internet access were provided to poll respondents who did not already have it.

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A full report of the findings and methodology is available at http://www.healthyagingpoll.org.

The poll will issue its next findings in late November; sign up for email notifications on the website.
MATTOON -- The 2017-18 Kiwanis Club of Mattoon officers and board members were installed at clubs annual dinner at Suite Dreams banquet hall on Sept. 29.

Outgoing 2016-17 President Brian Johanpeter spoke to the attendees about the accomplishments of the past year and offered his thanks for a successful year, and incoming 2017-18 President Steve Ferguson talked of his plans for the coming year. This is Fergusons second term as president of the Mattoon club.

Also speaking at the dinner was Mattoon High School student Sam Kettleson with the MHS Key Club. The Key Club is sponsored by Kiwanis. Kettleson served as Division 26 lieutenant governor in 2016-17 and is currently serving as the Division 26 co-chairman of new club building and reactivation in 2017-18. He attended the 2016 Key Club International Convention in Atlanta and attended the 2017 International Convention in San Antonio in July.

Kettleson talked to Kiwanis about his recent convention experience, which was partly funded by Kiwanis, and about his future plans as a member of Key Club and Kiwanis.
The National Institutes of Health has launched a major effort to discover and catalog the brain's "parts list." The NIH's Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN) aims to provide researchers with a comprehensive reference of the diverse cell types in human, monkey, and mouse brain. A network of integrated centers, collaborating laboratories, and data resources will be funded by 11 grants projected to total about $50 million annually over five years. All data will be shared with the research community.

"Before we can fully understand how our brains work, we need to understand how the parts work," said NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. "Making molecular, anatomical, and functional data about brain cells available to the broad research community will speed our understanding of how cells and circuits are organized, revealing the rules of communication within the world's most complex known organ."

An early goal of the NIH BRAIN Initiative, the BICCN will generate knowledge that is prerequisite to solving the mysteries of brain disorders, such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and autism spectrum disorder. Relatively little is known about the different types of cells in the brain and what they do - much less about how they change in illness. New evidence points to potentially important roles in often overlooked cell types, such as support cells. In a related initiative, NIH recently awarded prizes to incentivize innovation in unearthing secrets of single cells.

"Exciting technological advances now allow us to identify unique markers that define the many different cell types that make up the brain," explained Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which is helping lead the effort. "These markers hold the clues to the organizational logic underlying neural circuits - the regulatory code that controls brain cell type formation, maintenance, and function in health and disease."

For example, in a pilot phase of the project, investigators using a new experimental approach discovered a trove of neuron subtypes and gene regulators, based on their unique profiles of molecular switches controlling gene expression within each cell. Another BRAIN Initiative-funded team recently reported identifying such molecular signatures differentiating neurons based on their synaptic communication patterns.

Building on results of 10 such BRAIN Initiative-funded pilot studies begun in 2014, the BICCN will create a comprehensive 3-D common reference mouse brain cell atlas that integrates molecular, anatomical, and physiological properties of brain cell types. It will also begin the challenging task of generating reference brain cell atlases from postmortem healthy adult human and/or non-human primate brain samples. It will hone cutting-edge molecular genetics methods for rapidly characterizing and targeting specific cell types.

The nine new grants support four BICCN components:

Brain Cell Data Center

A Community Resource for Single Cell Data on the Brain

Mouse Brain Cell Census Center

A Comprehensive Center for Mouse Brain Cell Atlas

A Comprehensive Whole-Brain Atlas of Cell Types in the Mouse

Center for Epigenomics of the Mouse Brain Atlas

Mouse Brain Cell Census Collaboratory

Collaboratory for atlasing cell type anatomy in the female and male mouse brain

Anatomical characterization of neuronal cell types of the mouse brain)

Human and Nonhuman Primate Brain Cell Census Collaboratory

A cellular resolution census of the developing human brain

A multimodal atlas of human brain cell types

A molecular and cellular atlas of the marmoset brain

In addition to the above exclusively BICCN components, grants for a separate BRAIN Initiative data archive will provide the research community with access to raw data (as distinct from derived data).

A confocal fluorescence microscopy brain data archive

A BRAIN Initiative resource: The neuroscience multi-omic data archive

BICCN is part of a larger rollout of 110 BRAIN Initiative grants awarded in FY2017.

For more information, see: NIH BRAIN Initiative Builds on Early Advances

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About the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): The mission of the NIMH is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery and cure. For more information, visit http://www.nimh.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.
Major new assessments of the state of biodiversity, ecosystems and nature's contributions to people will be presented to representatives of 127 Governments for approval in March, 2018.

Prepared by more than 550 leading experts from more than 100 countries working with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the assessments cover four world regions: the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and Europe and Central Asia - i.e. the entire planet except Antarctica and the open oceans.

A fifth report assesses the state of land degradation and restoration at both regional and global levels.

The reports are scheduled for public launch from Medellin, Colombia at the 6th annual session of the IPBES Plenary (#IPBES6), March 18-24, 2018.

Often described as 'the IPCC for biodiversity,' IPBES is the global science-policy platform tasked with providing the best-available evidence to inform better decisions affecting nature - by Governments, businesses and even individual households.

The five new reports evaluate lessons learned and progress (or the lack thereof) on the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets, the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the implications for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as other global environmental agreements.

The reports will form key inputs to a new comprehensive IPBES global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services, due for release in 2019, the first such evaluation since the authoritative 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.

They will also provide vital information for setting biodiversity targets for the period after 2020.

"The world's biodiversity is being lost and nature's contributions to people are being degraded, which undermines human wellbeing," says IPBES Chair Sir Robert Watson.

"The success of humanity's efforts to reverse the current unsustainable use of our irreplaceable natural assets and heritage requires the best-available evidence, comprehensive relevant policy options and committed, well-informed decision makers. The IPBES assessment reports serve these ends, by providing the credible peer-reviewed information needed for informed decision-making."

"Like reports of the IPCC, to which IPBES is often likened, IPBES assessments represent an authoritative expert consensus -- the agreed view of a community of leading experts worldwide -- drawing on thousands of individual studies on the state of biodiversity and nature's contributions to people. Furthermore, the assessments will only be are published after being formally accepted by representatives of 127 world Governments - this is key because the Governments take ownership of this research and the policy options presented."

Says IPBES Executive Secretary Anne Larigauderie: "Biodiversity and nature's contributions to people underpin the economies, livelihoods, food security and quality of life of people everywhere. This is why public policies, business decisions and even individual lifestyle preferences can threaten or support nature's contributions to people and the sustainable future we want."

"Keeping ecosystems resilient, and safeguarding our planet's variety of life, is fundamental to poverty eradication, human health and well-being."

Three years in development, at a total cost of about US$5 million, the four IPBES regional assessment reports have involved the review of several thousand scientific papers, Government and other information sources, including indigenous and local knowledge.

The aim is to arrive at conclusions about each region's land-based, freshwater and coastal biodiversity, as well as the state of ecosystem functioning and nature's contributions to people.

The reports will evaluate the status of biodiversity and nature's contributions to good quality of life in each region and their respective subregions, describing current status and trends, as well as their links to drivers of change and threats, identifying policy-relevant issues affecting them.

The analyses will start by looking back several decades and then project likely interactions between people and nature for decades into the future, based on different decision pathways.

Each regional assessment report will address:

How biodiversity, ecosystem functions and nature's contributions to people affect economies, livelihoods, food security and good quality of life. In other words: why is biodiversity important?

The status, trends and potential future dynamics of biodiversity, ecosystem functions and nature's contributions to people, which affect their contributions to economies, livelihoods and human well-being. In other words: are we making progress or are we still destroying biodiversity and undermining human wellbeing?

The pressures driving changes in biodiversity and nature's contributions to people. In other words: what are the threats to biodiversity?

The actual and potential impacts of policies and actions on the contributions of nature to sustainable economies, livelihoods, food security and good quality of life. In other words: what policies and governance structures can lead to a more sustainable future?

Priority gaps in knowledge.

The IPBES assessment report on land degradation and restoration will identify threats to land-based ecosystems, offering evidence from around the world and a range of best-available solutions to reduce the environmental, social and economic risks and impacts of land degradation.

It will help all decision makers make more informed choices about how to halt and reverse land degradation.

Structure of the five IPBES assessment reports

Each IPBES assessment report will begin with a concise Summary for Policymakers (SPM), highlighting the most important and policy-relevant (not prescriptive) findings and policy and governance options. The SPMs will be based on a set of six chapters (eight for the land degradation assessment report), described below, providing all the technical support for the key messages of the SPMs:

Policy-relevant questions & themes per region and subregion as well as methods and approaches of the assessment

Nature's contributions to people and good quality of life

Status, trends and near future dynamics of biodiversity and ecosystems

Direct and indirect drivers of change in nature in the context of different perspectives on quality of life

Analysis of possible interactions between the natural world and society in the long term

Options for governance, institutions and decision-making - especially on the SDGs, Aichi Targets and Paris Agreement

To ensure the highest-possible levels of credibility and policy-relevance, the IPBES assessment reports have been reviewed extensively by hundreds of external experts, including Governments, scientists and decision-makers, practitioners and the holders of indigenous and local knowledge.

The assessment reports will be presented with the widest spectrum of decision makers in mind, including Government and business leaders, civil society groups, indigenous peoples, women's groups and even individual households, with detailed information, including easy-to-understand infographics and maps.

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Timeline

January 2015 Scoping report established the parameters of the assessments.

May - June 2016 External experts, including Governments, reviewed first draft of the assessment chapters, with review comments incorporated into the subsequent drafts by IPBES experts.

May - June 2017 External experts, including Governments, reviewed the second drafts of the assessment chapters and the first drafts of the summaries for policymakers. These comments are being reviewed and will be incorporated into the final drafts by IPBES experts.

March 2018 Negotiation by member States at IPBES-6 Plenary session of final text of the summaries for policymakers of the five assessment reports in Medellin, Colombia, followed by their public launches.

Launch venue: IPBES-6, Intercontinental Hotel, Medellin, Colombia

The four Regional Assessments are scheduled for release Friday, March 23

The Land Degradation assessment is scheduled for release Monday, March 26

Register for updates

For breaking news, the latest announcements, calls for experts and more, register today as an IPBES stakeholder: http://www.ipbes.net/stakeholders

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About IPBES

With 127 member Governments, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is the global body that assesses the state of biodiversity and nature's contributions to people, in response to requests from decision makers.

IPBES' mission is to strengthen policy and decisions through science, for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human wellbeing and sustainable development.

The IPBES secretariat is hosted by the German Government and located on the UN campus in Bonn. More than 1000 scientists worldwide contribute to the work of IPBES on a voluntary basis. They are nominated by their Governments or organisations, and selected by the IPBES Multidisciplinary Expert Panel.

The IPBES pollinators assessment, released in 2016, was covered in 18 languages by over 1,300 media outlets in more than 80 countries.

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Research in lithium-ion batteries has opened up a plethora of possibilities in the development of next-generation batteries. In particular, the metal-air batteries with significantly greater energy density close to that of gasoline per kilogram, has recently been acknowledged and invested by world's leading companies, like IBM.

A recent study, affiliated with UNIST has presented novel catalyst to accelerate the commercialization of metal-air batteries. This breakthrough has been jointly led by Professor Guntae Kim and Professor Jaephil Cho in the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST in collaboration with Professor Yunfei Bu from Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China. Their new catalyst possesses the structure of nanofiber-based perovskite materials and exhibits excellent electrochemical performance, close that of today's precious metal catalysts, yet still inexpensive.

A metal-air battery is a type of fuel cell or battery that uses the oxidation of a metal with oxygen from atmospheric air to produce electricity. It is equipped with an anode made up of pure metals--like lithium or zinc--and an air cathode that is connected to an inexhaustible source of air. The catalysts in the air cathode aids the electrochemical reaction of the cell with oxygen gas. Metal-air batteries have attracted significant research attention as the new generation of high-performance batteries as they the advantages of (1) simple structure, (2) extremely high energy density, and (3) a relatively inexpensive production.

The currently existing metal-air batteries use rare and expensive metal catalysts for their air electrodes, such as platinum (Pt) and iridium oxide (IrO?). This has hindered its further commercialization into the marketplace.

In the study, Professor Kim and his research team have developed a new catalyst, using the cation ordered double perovskite with high electrical conductivity and catalyic performance. They prepared a series of PrBa0.5Sr0.5Co2-xFexO5+ (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2, PBSCF) and determined the optimum cobalt (Co) and iron (Fe) contents through electrochemical evaluation.

"The structure of mesoporous PrBa0.5Sr0.5Co2-xFexO5+ nanofiber (PBSCF-NF) has high surface areas, result from uniform pore diameters," says Ohhun Gwon in the Combined M.S/Ph.D. of Energy and Chemical Engineering, the first author of the study. "This nanofiber has also brought significant improvements in the performance of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER)."

According to the research team, this nanofiber has improved the bi-functionality of ORR/OER. Particularly, the OER performance was about 9 times higher than that of state-of-the-art precious metal oxide IrO2 at overpotential of 0.3 V. Furthermore, it also demonstrated notable charge-discharge stability even at high current density in Zn-air batteries.

"We envision that the high electrochemical and catalytic performance of this material will play a major role in the commercialization of metal-air batteries," says Professor Kim. "Metal-air battery technology is still in its infancy and extensive additional research efforts appear to be required before a viable commercial implementation is developed."

He adds, "However, as many global corporates, such as IBM, Toyota, and Samsung Electronics are already working on the development of metal-air batteries, the technical challenges could soon be cleared out in a much faster pace than anticipated."

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The findings of the research have been published online in the October issue of the prestigious journal ACS Nano. This study has been supported by the Mid-Career Researcher Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning and 2017 Research Fund of UNIST.

Journal Reference

Yunfei Bu, et. al., "A Highly Efficient and Robust Cation Ordered Perovskite Oxides as a Bi-Functional Catalyst for Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries", ACS Nano, (2017).

JooHyeon Heo

Public Relations Team

Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)

E. joohyeonheo@unist.ac.kr | T. 052-217-1223 | M. 010-3880-6622

Off: Main Administration Bldg. 201, Room 407
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine report that a single infusion of wildtype hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) into a mouse model of Friedreich's ataxia (FA) measurably halted cellular damage caused by the degenerative disease.

The findings, published online in the October 25 issue of Science Translational Medicine, suggest a potential therapeutic approach for a disease that currently is considered incurable.

Friedreich's ataxia is an inherited, degenerative neuromuscular disorder that initially impairs motor function, such as gait and coordination, but can lead to scoliosis, heart disease, vision loss and diabetes. Cognitive function is not affected. The disease is progressively debilitating, and ultimately requires full-time use of a wheelchair. One in 50,000 Americans has FA.

FA is caused by reduced expression of a mitochondrial protein called frataxin (FXN) due to a two mutated or abnormal copies of the FXN gene. In their study, Stephanie Cherqui, PhD, associate professor in the UC San Diego School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, and colleagues used a transgenic mouse model that expresses two mutant human FXN transgenes, and exhibits the resulting progressive neurological degeneration and muscle weakness.

Human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), derived from bone marrow, have become a primary vehicle for efforts to replace or regenerate cells destroyed by a variety of diseases. Previous research by Cherqui and colleagues had shown that transplanting wildtype or normal mouse HSPCs resulted in long-term kidney, eye and thyroid preservation in a mouse model of cystinosis, another genetic disorder.

In this study, Cherqui's team transplanted wildtype HSPCs into an FA mouse model, reporting that the HSPCs engrafted and soon differentiated into macrophages in key regions of the mice's brain and spinal cord where they appeared to transfer wildtype FXN into deficient neurons and muscle cells.

"Transplantation of wildtype mouse HSPCs essentially rescued FA-impacted cells," said Cherqui, "Frataxin expression was restored. Mitochondrial function in the brains of the transgenic mice normalized, as did in the heart. There was also decreased skeletal muscle atrophy."

The scientists note that the mouse model is not perfect mirror of human FA. Disease progression is somewhat different and the precise pathology in mice is not fully known. However, Cherqui said the findings are encouraging and point toward a potential treatment for a disease that currently has none.

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Co-authors include: Celine J. Rocca, Spencer M. Goodman, Jennifer N. Dulin, Joseph H. Haquang, Hya Gertsman, Jordan Blondelle, Janell L.M. Smith, and Charles J. Heyser, all at UC San Diego.

Disclosure: Stephanie Cherqui is cofounder, shareholder and a member of both the scientific board and board of directors of GenStem Therapeutics Inc. The terms of this arrangement have been reviewed and approved by the University of California San Diego in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.
University of Delaware researchers are working to understand the processes that control the flow of carbon in marshes

The world's coastal ecosystems -- areas such as tidal marshes and mangrove forests -- have the potential to store and sequester large amounts of carbon, collectively known as blue carbon.

Former President Barack Obama in 2014 made research on understanding carbon dynamics in these coastal ecosystems a priority because of their importance to the global carbon cycle.

Despite their role as potential sinks - or storehouses - of carbon, it is still unclear how different biophysical processes influence carbon dynamics in these ecosystems.

Using funds from his recently awarded National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Award, the University of Delaware's Rodrigo Vargas will establish an outdoor laboratory at the St. Jones Reserve, which is a component of the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) and part of the National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR). His research efforts will contribute to a better understanding of vertical and lateral carbon fluxes -- the amount of carbon exchanged between the land and the atmosphere, and the amount of carbon exchanged between the land and the coastal ocean -- in tidal coastal wetlands.

Through the prestigious NSF Career Award, Vargas, associate professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences in UD's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), also will work to empower minority students by integrating them into research, educational and outreach activities, and will enhance social capital by strengthening the network of students, science professionals and researchers in salt marshes across Delaware and beyond.

Vertical and lateral fluxes

Vertical carbon fluxes involve the amount of carbon going from the ground into the atmosphere or from the atmosphere into the ecosystem and will be estimated by measuring fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), two important greenhouse gases.

"The net exchange of CO2 between the atmosphere and the land-surface is called the net ecosystem exchange," Vargas said. "If the net ecosystem exchange is negative, it means that CO2 is being absorbed by the ecosystem. If it's positive, it means that CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, and the way we quantify that is with the eddy covariance technique that measures the exchange of mass and energy between the atmosphere and the land-surface."

In this specific site, the researchers are measuring the exchange of CO2 and CH4 between the ecosystem and the atmosphere using the first eddy covariance tower established in the state of Delaware since 2015. The establishment of this tower was partially supported from grants Vargas received from Delaware's National Aeronautics and Space Administration Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NASA-EPSCOR), the Delaware Coastal Programs (DCP), and a CANR seed grant.

The tower is part of the AmeriFlux network, a consortium of scientists using a network to work with the eddy covariance technique, measuring fluxes of CO2 and CH4 at multiple sites across the Americas.

In addition to the vertical fluxes, Vargas explained that is also important to account for lateral fluxes in salt marshes, as well.

Because they're located in the transition between land and ocean--the terrestrial-aquatic interface--the challenge for salt marshes is that their biogeochemistry is also influenced by tides, which bring matter and energy in as they rise. When tides retreat, they pull out matter and energy, which makes it very challenging to understand the carbon cycle on these ecosystems.

"Recent studies have shown that there's substantial lateral carbon exports from these ecosystems toward the coastal ocean and that is something that we also would like to understand," said Vargas. "It's a very large challenge and we are starting studies with the overarching goal to understand how different biophysical factors regulate vertical and lateral carbon fluxes in tidal salt marshes."

Remote cameras

The site is also equipped with digital cameras that are able to take automatic pictures of the ecosystem to study plant phenology. Plant phenology informs about the periodic life cycles of plants such as flowering or the timing of leaf-out. The images are taken in color and also in infrared, which allows the researchers to see the greening of the ecosystem. That information is used to understand the carbon dynamics of ecosystems based on repeated photography, referred to as near-surface remote sensing.

"You can see the greenness index to quantify how green the ecosystem is and it peaked by mid-August this year, and then you start losing that greening as part of the annual vegetation cycle. It is also a fantastic opportunity for citizen science and outreach," said Vargas.

The digital camera not only tells the researchers about the greening of the site but also about events they might not have otherwise been able to research, such as when major flood events occurred in 2015 and 2016.

"One flood event was caused by the surge of Hurricane Joaquin," Vargas said. "With the cameras, we were able to monitor how high and extensive the water level was. In 2016, we had another flood, but this flood was not because of ocean storms, it was because of an inland storm that brought water through the St. Jones River and flooded our site."

All images are available online in real-time as part of the PhenoCam network to help improve transparency and data sharing among the broader scientific community.

Educational component

Vargas will also use the award to provide eighth grade students -- who are usually learning about the carbon cycle through their class curriculum -- a chance to get a hands-on learning experience related to carbon.

Vargas plans to work with professionals at DNREC and the St. Jones Reserve, as well as with Amy Trauth-Nare, senior associate director of UD's Professional and Continuing Studies, to develop a module using phenomena driven instruction -- or place-based instruction, such as learning at the St. Jones Reserve -- to specifically address topics on carbon and energy exchange in ecosystems.

In addition, Vargas is looking to create opportunities for undergraduate minority students participating in UD's Associate in Arts Program (AAP), to promote academic success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

"One of the things that I have been working on since I started at UD is to empower underrepresented students," Vargas said. "By providing scholastic opportunities and enhancing social capital, we strengthen the network of students, science professionals and researchers in Delaware and beyond. I am Hispanic and Hispanic professors are a minority at UD, and Hispanic students are also a minority at UD. Thus, I have a strong commitment to supporting underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students in STEM fields. That's a big push on this proposal."

Vargas will work with David Satran, director of the Associate in Arts Program, to customize opportunities for the AAP students, and will incorporate his current graduate students as mentors for the AAP students.

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Male killer whales are more likely to die if they are not at the centre of their social group, new research suggests.

Scientists from the universities of Exeter and York (UK) and the Center for Whale Research (USA) found the most socially isolated males were three times more likely to die in any given year than those in the "most central social positions".

The effect was much stronger in years where food was scarce, and it did not affect females - possibly because males are larger and need more support from the group to get enough food.

The findings come from research on Southern Resident killer whales, a critically endangered population in the Pacific Ocean that - following a recent death - numbers just 76.

"This research highlights the importance of social bonds to male killer whales, and shows that males that are less socially connected are more likely to die when times are hard," said lead author Dr Samuel Ellis, of the University of Exeter.

"Killer whales are highly cooperative, and males at the centre of a social group are likely to have better access to social information and food-sharing opportunities."

Southern Residents were among the groups from which killer whales were taken into captivity in the 1960s and 70s, and human activity is now posing much greater threats to their survival, according to Ken Balcomb from the Center for Whale Research

"Salmon is the main food for these whales, and stocks have been driven down by overfishing and the blocking of spawning grounds by damming rivers," Mr Balcomb said.

"These factors make it all the more important to understand the drivers of survival and mortality among these whales."

Co-author on the study Dr Dan Franks, from the University of York, said: "Our research shows the importance of considering social positions and family ties in understanding and predicting the future of endangered populations."

Previous research has shown sociability has an effect on human life expectancy, but this is the first study to show that social position across the lifespan can predict survival in non-human animals.

"These whales have been studied for more than 40 years and they are all recognisable by unique markings," said senior author Professor Darren Croft, of the University of Exeter.

"By seeing which whales regularly swam together across a year and across multiple years, we started to understand a network of what in humans we would call friendships.

"In terms of this research, a central social position meant whales either having many individual connections or being the connection between two or more groups."

Professor Croft added: "On a broad scale, research like this examines the fundamental question of why social relationships and friendships have evolved."

The research was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council.

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The paper, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, is entitled: "Mortality risk and social network position in resident killer whales: sex differences and the importance of resource abundance."

For more information on the southern resident killer whales please visit the Center for Whale Research website: http://www.whaleresearch.com
Energy companies in the UK are using specific branding approaches instead of product innovation to keep customers, according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA).

While previous research has tended to focus on pricing, this study looked at the branding strategies and personalities of the Big Six energy firms - British Gas, SSE, EDF Energy, E.ON UK, npower and Scottish Power - and whether this is increasing consumer loyalty and therefore reducing switching behaviour. The Big Six represent more than 90 per cent of all energy supplied in the UK consumer sector.

Focusing on the electricity market between 2013 - when the number of customers switching providers reached its lowest level - and 2015, the researchers find that brand personality consistency over time is important.

Consistent brands, such as EDF Energy, performed better as they saw decreases in switching compared to firms, like npower and Scottish Energy, that had significantly changed their brand personality position or communicated inconsistently in this period.

Providers that had a significantly different brand personality position between marketing communication channels, such as their website and annual report, also had more switching than those that remained consistent. Interestingly, the majority of the brands studied were inconsistent on this measure.

The findings are published today in the journal European Management Review.

Lead author Dr Richard Rutter, a visiting research fellow at UEA's Norwich Business School and assistant professor at the Australian College of Kuwait, said: "This research demonstrates the long-term importance of corporate branding in the energy sector and that brand personality does have an impact on customer retention.

"The Big Six energy providers recognise the power of brand identity when attempting to persuade consumers to switch providers. Rather than doing so simply on the basis of superior financial offers, they are increasingly looking to build a long-term brand personality with which consumers will identify.

"These organisations wish to be viewed as customer-focused and as offering a fair deal to consumers. There seem to be subtle but important differences in the ways that each company is choosing to communicate with its domestic audience and some are more effective than others."

Concentrating on companies' communication through their websites and annual reports, the researchers examined what brand personality dimensions - defined as sincerity, excitement, competence, sophistication and ruggedness - were communicated most strongly and how consistently each organisation communicated its brand between the website and annual report. They then assessed the organisation's performance, measured by consumer loyalty or switching behaviour.

They found that brands communicating excitement more strongly, such as EDF Energy, had the lowest levels of switching. The findings also suggest an ideal brand personality for the UK energy sector: low to medium levels of sincerity and competence and high levels of excitement and ruggedness communicated through the website lead to better performance. The authors say the annual report should maintain this, but also communicate a higher level of competence.

Co-author Prof Konstantinos Chalvatzis, of Norwich Business School and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at UEA, said: "Under scrutiny from the public and politicians, the energy sector is changing rapidly. Branding within the energy sector has become increasingly important, as energy firms seek to attract and, importantly, retain customers.

"We find that certain energy brands, for example EDF Energy have communicated their personality consistently, while others, such as npower and British Gas, seem to have repositioned themselves. A strong brand personality alone is not enough to prevent consumer switching, rather, particular dimensions of personality are more favourable than others and the relevance of specific personality traits can change."

The authors, who also include Prof Stuart Roper of the University of Huddersfield and Prof Fiona Lettice of Norwich Business School, recommend that firms should not drastically change their branding each year. Brand managers should also consider how to increase the communication of excitement in relation to their brands without being inauthentic, and ensure that their brand is consistent over time and between different marketing media.

Relatively quick gains could be made by reviewing external communications for consistency of language and message. The findings also highlight the need for greater emphasis on competence related language, particularly when delivering negative information.

'Branding instead of product innovation: a study on the brand personalities of the UK's electricity market', Richard Rutter, Konstantinos Chalvatzis, Stuart Roper and Fiona Lettice, is published in European Management Review.

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Less than half of our planet's surface is covered by land. The rest is water, and this environment is home to an enormous range of animal species, most of which remain undiscovered and thus have not yet been named.

A newly discovered species, Plenaster craigi, has turned out to be the most abundant species on the ocean floors. Its habitat is dominated by nodules, which are metal balls the size of grapefruits that have been formed over millions of years and that are found in most big oceans at depths of over 4 000 metres. A new study involving researchers from the University of Gothenburg finds that, as deep-sea mining companies remove the nodules in order to extract the metals inside them, Plenaster craigi will probably disappear entirely from the affected areas.

'Modern society, with its power lines and advanced batteries, has a great need for cobalt, nickel and copper, metals found in high concentrations in so-called polymetallic nodules on the Pacific seafloor in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone,' says Thomas Dahlgren from the Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg.

The sponge Plenaster craigi must filter the water to find small particles with nutrients and energy that after being formed at surface level several kilometres above have slowly fallen down to the bottom.

'There is not a whole lot of material that makes it all the way to the bottom. Most of it gets eaten by zooplankton and small fish on its way down and is returned to the food web in the ocean's upper sunlit layer. Consequently, Plenaster craigi must filter large amounts of water to survive. This makes it vulnerable to the sand and mud stirred up when the nodules are harvested and pumped the 4 000 metres to the collection barges waiting at the surface,' says Dahlgren.

Since 2013 when the sponge was first discovered, the species has temporarily been referred to as Porifera sp. A. Following the recent species description (see link to the article below), the sponge has now been assigned a permanent name, Plenaster craigi.

Plenaster craigi is the only known species of the newly defined genus Plenaster, which means 'many stars'. Craigi was included in the name to honour Professor Craig Smith at the University of Hawaii, who led the two expeditions during which the animal was first discovered and collected.

The new species can now be used to explore how deep-see mining of minerals affects an environment that has not been touched for billions of years.

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Thomas Dahlgren from the University of Gothenburg's Department of Marine Sciences in Sweden and Uni Research in Norway participated in the study together with researchers from the National University of Singapore and the Natural History Museum in London.

Title: A new genus and species of abyssal sponge commonly encrusting polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, East Pacific Ocean. The article is available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/14772000.2017.1358218?needAccess=true
In August, the Swedish government appointed Karin Olofsdotter as new Swedish ambassador to the United States. The appointment is of historical importance, since Olofsdotter is the first Swedish woman to hold the position. The male dominance in diplomacy dates far back in time, and men continue to outnumber women among the world's diplomats. However, the share of women diplomats has shown an upward trend since the late 1990s, including at ambassador level.

It has long been known that a gendered distribution of work tasks often arise when women enter male-dominated environments. More precisely, men continue to be overrepresented in positions with power and status whereas women become overrepresented in various support functions with less status. The area of diplomacy has until now remained understudied in this regard.

Ann Towns, associate professor of political science, and her researcher colleague Birgitta Niklasson carried out a study of gender patterns in diplomacy by examining all ambassador appointments made by the world's fifty wealthiest countries in 2014 - almost 7 000 in total.

'Our main research question concerned gender and status. We investigated whether men tend to be overrepresented in positions characterised by power and prestige, as in cities such as Washington, D.C. and Moscow,' says Towns.

The study shows that 85 per cent of the world's ambassadors are men. But the share varies regionally and between countries. The Nordic countries have the largest proportion of female ambassadors, 35 percent, followed by North America at 25 per cent. Asia and the Middle East are well below average, with 10 and 6 per cent, respectively. South America, Africa and Europe not including the Nordic countries are all close to the average value, which is 15 per cent.

However, there are large variations within these regions. For example, the Philippines and Colombia stand out from their neighbours with proportions of 41 and 28 per cent, respectively.

'Diplomacy as a single-gendered institution is changing,' says Towns.

When it comes to the status of ambassador positions, measured in terms of the size of the host country's military and economic resources, there is a clear and consistent gender pattern.

The shares of male ambassadors are larger in host countries with the largest economies and military forces, that is, there is greater male dominance in the ambassador positions with higher status. The gender distribution of ambassadors is more proportional in other host countries. The underrepresentation of women is not huge, but it is consistent across all the metrics that the researchers used to measure military and economic status.

'Diplomacy displays the same gender patterns as in a variety of other institutions and environments,' says Towns.

So when the Swedish government appointed Karin Olofsdotter as new ambassador to the United States, a pattern was broken.

'A very small share of all ambassadors in Washington are women. Olofsdotter's appointment to serve as ambassador in one of the world's most prestigious capitals should be seen in light of our findings, as her presence helps to break up the gender pattern in diplomacy,' says Towns.

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Contact

Ann Towns, associate professor of political science, email: ann.towns@gu.se, tel. 001 302 509 9576. Ann Towns is stationed in Delaware, USA until April 2018.

The study, titled Gender, International Status, and Ambassador Appointments, was published in the October issue of the scholarly journal Foreign Policy Analysis.
An international team of scientists has discovered the first evidence that a huge carnivorous dinosaur roamed southern Africa 200 million year ago.

The team, which includes researchers from The University of Manchester, University of Cape Town, South Africa, and Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil, have found several three-toed footprints measuring 57cm long and 50cm wide.

This means the dinosaur would have an estimated body length of around nine metres (30 feet) and be a little less than three metres tall at the hip. That's four times the size of a lion, which is currently the largest carnivore in southern Africa.

The footprints belong to a new species, named Kayentapus ambrokholohali*, which is part of the group of dinosaurs called "megatheropod". The term "Megatheropods" describes the giant two-legged carnivorous dinosaurs, such as the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex (T. rex) which fossil evidence shows was around 12 metres long.

This study, which is published in PLOS ONE today (Wednesday 25th October), also reveals that these footprints make up the largest theropod tracks in Africa.

The tracks were found on an ancient land surface, known as a palaeosurface, in the Maseru District of Lesotho, a small country in southern Africa. The surface is covered in 200 million years old 'current-ripple marks' and 'desiccation cracks' which are signs of a prehistoric watering hole or river bank.

Dr Fabien Knoll, Senior Research Fellow at The University of Manchester, said: 'The latest discovery is very exciting and sheds new light on the kind of carnivore that roamed what is now southern Africa.

'That's because it is the first evidence of an extremely large meat-eating animal roaming a landscape otherwise dominated by a variety of herbivorous, omnivorous and much smaller carnivorous dinosaurs. It really would have been top of the food chain.'

What makes the discovery even more important is that these footprints date back to the Early Jurassic epoch, when it was thought the size of most theropod dinosaurs was considerably smaller. On average they were previously thought to be around three to five metres in body length, with some records showing they may have reached seven metres at the very most. It is only much later in the Jurassic and during the Cretaceous, which starts 145 million years ago, that truly large forms of theropods, such as T. rex, appear in body and trace fossil records.

Dr Lara Sciscio, postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Cape Town, said: 'This discovery marks the first occurrence of very large carnivorous dinosaurs in the Early Jurassic of southern Gondwana - the prehistoric continent which would later break up and become Africa and other landmasses. This makes it a significant find. Globally, these large tracks are very rare. There is only one other known site similar in age and sized tracks, which is in Poland.'

The ancient surface where these footprints were found is also covered with the tracks of much smaller theropod dinosaurs.

Dr Knoll added: 'In South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Namibia, there is good record of theropod footprints from the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic epochs. In fact, there are numerous palaeosurfaces where footprints and even tail and body impressions of these, and other animals, can be found. But now we have evidence this region of Africa was also home to a mega-carnivore.'

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SPRINGFIELD  Autumn brings shorter days, cooler temperatures and a new set of driving habits for Illinois motorists. The Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois Department of Natural Resources warn drivers to be vigilant during mating season as deer will be more active and visible throughout the state.

The risk for deer vs. vehicle crashes greatly increases in October, November and December, especially at dusk and dawn.

Deer can dart in front of a vehicle in the blink of an eye, said Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn. Its instinctual to swerve out of the way, but in doing so, drivers could lose control of the vehicle and cause a more severe crash. If youre attentive and watchful for deer encounters, these safety tips could make all the difference.

Motorists are urged to follow these safe driving tips during mating season:

Be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to deer crossing signs.

Scan the sides of the road for eye shine -- the reflection of headlights in the eyes.

Slow down if you see deer. They travel in groups, so more are likely in the area.

Prepare for the unexpected. Deer can stop in the middle of the road or double back.

If a collision is inevitable, try to glance the vehicle off the deer and avoid swerving into the opposite lanes of traffic.

More safe driving tips can be viewed by visiting http://m.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/health_deer

Some 41 percent of crashes in Illinois involving deer in 2016 occurred in October, November, and December -- with November being the highest-risk month. Some 75 percent of all motor vehicle crashes involving deer happened in rural environments, with 72 percent of all crashes taking place at twilight or nighttime.

In 2016, there were 14,759 motor vehicle crashes involving deer in Illinois, over 1,000 crashes less than the 2015 total. There were 14,248 crashes that resulted in damage to property or vehicles only, down from the 15,431 in 2015. Personal injuries tallied 581 in 2016 versus 628 in 2015 and 569 in 2014. The number of fatalities dropped, from eight in 2015 to five in 2016.

Deer-vehicle accidents can occur any time of year, but deer are especially active in the fall during their mating season, said Wayne Rosenthal, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Motorists should be on the alert for deer near roadways during early morning and evening hours, especially near wooded areas, field edges and waterways.

If you do hit a deer, pull off to the shoulder and turn on the hazard lights. Call 911 to report the accident so the appropriate law enforcement can assist. Do not get out of the vehicle to check on an injured deer or pull it from the road. You can visit the IDNR website for information on how to claim a deer that has been involved in a crash.
In 1929, Australian geologist Paul Hossfeld stumbled upon a partial human skull in a mangrove outside the coastal town of Aitape in Papua New Guinea. Originally thought to belong to Homo erectus, the skull was subsequently dated to the mid-Holocene period, about 6,000 years ago. Now, new research suggests the bone fragment belongs to the world's oldest known tsunami victim -- an important piece in the conversation about how modern populations can adapt to rising sea levels.

Mark Golitko, assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Notre Dame, worked with colleagues from the Field Museum in Chicago and institutes in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea to study the Aitape skull and the area it was found in. In a new PLOS One paper published Wednesday (Oct. 25), the researchers lay out evidence showing that the skull was victim to a violent tsunami that struck the coast about 6,000 years ago.

Golitko and his research team went back to the place the skull was found, near a place Hossfeld called Paniri Creek, to analyze the soil and strata for clues about what killed this person.

"Hossfeld hadn't really sampled anything; he just did a field description and took the skull out and that was it," Golitko said. "What we were doing was actually going in and sampling the sediments to bring back for lab analysis that would tell us a lot more about the age and depositional history there.

"We don't know exactly where Hossfeld found the skull, but I think we were within 100 meters of the original location based on his description. We were able to use modern scientific techniques to understand a little more about how this place formed and what we were actually looking at," he said.

The team did lab tests on the sediment to look at grain size and its geochemistry. They found diatoms, small single-cell organisms that live in water and are sensitive environmental indicators, and used those to learn more about the water conditions at the time.

"Diatoms make little silica shells around themselves, and when they die, those sink to the bottom," Golitko said. "So we put the sediment under a microscope and counted these diatoms, and it more or less tells you about the temperature, salinity and how energetic the water was that they were living in.

"These sediments that the Aitape skull was in have pure marine diatoms in them, which is ocean water that's inundating it. It's really high-energy ocean water -- high-energy enough for these little tiny specks of silica that the diatoms build to be broken as they're washing in."

The high-energy water, Golitko said, combined with chemical signatures and specific sediment grain sizes all indicate the presence of a tsunami at the time the skull was buried. It's possible that the skull was buried before and it was washed out as the tsunami came across, Golitko said, but based on observations of modern tsunamis, Golitko and his team don't think that's likely.

Golitko hopes this study can help start a conversation about how people adapt and thrive in these coastlands that are subject to tropical storms, earthquakes and tsunamis -- the Aitape region has endured several tsunamis; the most recent in 1998 killed more than 2,000 people. People likely started moving from the mountains to the coastlines in this area around 6,000 years ago, Golitko said.

"What's interesting is despite the fact that they're now moving to this super risky environment, we see that people seem to have been living there more or less continuously from then on," he said, "so they obviously come up with strategies for dealing with these risks, which could be very pertinent for thinking about what's going to be happening in the next couple hundred years. It's the next challenge to look at how people were living in that area and how they're responding to these risks as they start to move into these environments."

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Golitko co-authored the paper, "Reassessing the environmental context of the Aitape Skull -- the oldest tsunami victim in the world?" with James Goff and Darren Curnoe, University of New South Wales; Ethan Cochrane, University of Auckland; Shaun Williams, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, New Zealand; and John Terrell, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. Their research was contributed to by the University of Papua New Guinea, the Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery and l'Universite de Bourgogne-Franche-Comte.
Canadian immigrant parents, refugees, women and minorities are at greater risk of mental health issues and socioeconomic challenges, with their children more likely to suffer learning setbacks before kindergarten, a pair of studies by researchers at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto have shown.

Research findings come as the Canadian government prepares to release its 2018 immigration policy- which it says will boost the economy and help refugees.

The initial study - the first of its kind in Canada - Emotional Problems Amongst Recent Immigrants and Parenting Status, published in Public Library of Science's journal PLOS One, shows parents who are new to Canada have higher rates of depression and emotional problems than new Canadian non-parents. This finding is particularly strong among immigrants who were single, female or refugees.

In the second study, School Readiness Amongst Urban Canadian Families, published in the American Psychological Association's Journal of Educational Psychology, the children of many Canadian immigrant families were found to be behind their peers in learning and development before kindergarten. This included early reading and math knowledge, attention, and social skills.

Researchers say this is often because many recent immigrant parents are socioeconomically disadvantaged compared to the rest of the population. Many struggle to provide their children with learning opportunities before they reach school-age.

'Particularly vulnerable'

"When we look at the results of these two studies together, we can see that immigrant families are particularly vulnerable," said Dr. Dillon Browne, who led the studies during his PhD at OISE.

"Not only are the parents at higher risk for mental health issues and financial challenges, but their kids' learning development is impacted before they have even reached the classroom - this could have long-term implications," he continued. "These studies show that it's important to look at how we as a society can better support new Canadian families."

Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, Chair of Early Child Development and Education at the Atkinson Centre at OISE, said, "As a society, it is imperative that every child and every family has the opportunity to grow and thrive. This cannot happen unless there is equal opportunity for economic stability and mental health."

Depression, emotional state of Canadian immigrant parents studied

In the first study, researchers tracked the self-reported rates of emotional and mental health issues of 7,000 immigrants across Canada during their first four years in the country. Results showed Canadian immigrants had a high rate of emotional problems, with one-in-three reporting significant challenges by their second year in the country. These rates were even higher among immigrants who were parents.

"When we saw the impact on parents in particular, it prompted us to dig further - we needed to see how their kids were doing," said Dr. Browne.

At risk: Immigrant kids in Toronto

In their second study, researchers followed 500 immigrant and non-immigrant families in the Greater Toronto Area from the time a child was born until they entered school.

Results show that two-thirds of the struggling families were headed by immigrant parents living in poverty, whose children who were behind in social, emotional and academic skills by the time they began kindergarten.

"In other words, there were gaps in learning before children entered school due to the family's living circumstances after arriving in Canada" said Dr. Browne.

"One reason is families struggle to provide their children with enrichment and learning opportunities in the early years. Another reason is parents become stressed by economic and employment challenges and struggle to create a household environment that promotes learning," he continued.

Researchers say this pattern holds for many urban immigrants in Canada. Ultimately, they say, it's a matter of economic opportunity for new Canadians.

Rise in refugees

These findings are particularly important given the recent spike in refugees in the country. Study authors say they hope the Canadian government, which will release its 2018 immigration plan on Nov. 1, takes notice.

"Policies need to facilitate socioeconomic success and mental health following arrival in Canada, given the effects of poverty and stress on early learning, and the effects of early learning on society," said Dr. Browne.

In short, researchers say immigration policies need to consider the following - which are necessary for new immigrants to thrive:

Parenting supports that promote healthy parent-child relationships and child development across the early years

Access to childcare - particularly high-quality childcare that significantly exposes children to English/French during periods of rapid language growth

Culturally sensitive mental health services for children and families that have undergone trauma before, during and after migration

Opportunities for family economic success including initiatives that reduce barriers to employment and income supplements

The study team hopes to see a government response that involves increased spending for early learning, childcare, and family supports amongst families who have recently arrived.

Recognizing this research comes as the government's plan is announced, Dr. Browne says, "We hope this research will impact future policy decisions so that the right supports are put in place to help foster healthy family resettlement and, ultimately, the success of the nation."

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The study, Emotional Problems Amongst Recent Immigrants and Parenting Status, was funded by the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship program. School Readiness Amongst Urban Canadian Families was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Dr. Dillon T. Browne, Ph.D.

Please Note: Dr. Browne led the study while completing his PhD at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto

Assistant Professor, California School of Professional Psychology, San Francisco

Alliant International University

Email: BrowneDT@gmail.com

Phone: 415-905-0009

Lindsey Craig

Communications & Media Relations Coordinator

OISE/University of Toronto

Email: lindsey.craig@utoronto.ca

Phone: 416-978-1127
News Release - LOGAN, UTAH - On the same day that global leaders wrapped up an international water and climate summit in Rome, researchers published new findings that suggest European drought trends are lining up with climate change projections.

Their study, published Oct. 25 in Scientific Reports, shows that two major drought indices are deviating from one another across Europe in a manner consistent with climate change simulations.

"This is one more big drop in the bucket toward climate change attribution," said lead author James Stagge, a post-doc at Utah State University's Utah Water Research Lab. "There have been a lot of projections, but now that we're starting to see the projections and observations line up, it's not a question of 'is it happening?' It's a question of 'how much?' And 'what do we do?'"

The spatial patterns observed by Stagge and his team match climate change projections for Europe that suggest decreases in drought frequency in the north and increases in drought frequency in the south.

"Once you add in the temperature increases for all of Europe, you have all the hallmarks of climate change," Stagge said.

As temperatures increase across Europe, evapotranspiration - meaning what is leaving the ground and going back into the atmosphere - increases. Stagge explained that although one drought index captures this concept, the other does not.

"When you include evapotranspiration, the border from where it's getting wetter to where it's getting drier is pushing farther and farther north," he said. "So it's not just the Mediterranean that's getting drier. It's pushing up into Germany and England. It's moving everything farther north."

This increasing deviation in European drought frequency is observed from the 1980s until today. In a stationary climate, Stagge and co-authors say they would expect this difference to be randomly distributed and stable like it was from the 1950s through the 1970s.

"This recent and consistently increasing trend is a clear signal, not random noise," he added.

Stagge says the new findings are important to the scientific community and could influence public policy and Europe's agriculture industries. Many drought monitoring agencies use the indices to determine what constitutes drought, and insurance pilot programs have considered using them to determine whether or not farmers are entitled to compensation if drought affects their region.

"The research highlights the increasing need to carefully define drought in a changing climate," said Stagge. "Indices that were standardized in the past may drift significantly in a changing climate depending on how a data set is measured and what time period is considered."

The study was verified using two sets of data, primarily WFD/WFDEI, and E-OBS as an external check. Additionally, the team, which includes Lena Tallaksen (University of Oslo, Norway), Daniel Kingston (University of Otago, New Zealand), and David Hannah (University of Birmingham, UK), used several alternative evapotranspiration models to validate their findings.

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The study was funded by the European Union's DROUGHT-R&SPI project and is a contribution to the UNESCO-IHP FRIEND-Water program.

Direct Researcher Contact: Dr. James Stagge - Utah Water Research Lab, Utah State University|james.stagge@usu.edu |cell (203) 939-2323

For additional media assistance, contact: Grace Michaelson - USU College of Engineering | grace.michaelson@usu.edu | office: (435) 797-8170 | cell: (702) 524-1070 | @EngineeringUSU | engineering.usu.edu
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Each year 246,600 women in the United States will be diagnosed.

At the Mattoon Area Family YMCA, we encourage woman to schedule their next mammogram. To make this task easier, we will host the Sarah Bush Mobile Mammogram Bus on Monday, Oct. 30th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. For information about this Sarah Bush service or to make an appointment, please call 217-258-2588.

Living Healthy through exercise and fellowship is important even to those who have been diagnosed with this awful disease. Having a strong support system is vital to keeping spirits up and finding encouragement to work towards regaining health.

At the Mattoon Y, we encourage our members to share with our staff and caring members when they are struggling. Along the way, we can help you find an exercise routine that fits your schedule and current energy level while providing support along the way. We will also be there to celebrate when you find your energy and renewed health.

Classes such as Yoga can be therapeutic when dealing with breast cancer. According to BreastCancer.org, research in breast cancer patients has shown yoga may be able to help with improving physical function, reducing stress and fatigue, improving sleep and improving overall quality of life.

On Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m., the Mattoon Y offers yoga classes that include breathing, flexibility, muscle strength and meditation. Tuesdays and Thursdays offer a noon hour yoga class, called Mid-day Yoga. This is a gentle yoga class that will create relaxation for the mind and body through promotion of mindful breathing and meditation. With yoga, as well as with any of our fitness programming, our staff welcomes new participants.
Mattoon fire

Firefighters responded to two false alarms triggered by fog machines Tuesday morning -- one at 10:32 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 10 Charleston Ave., and the other at 10:50 a.m. at the Suite Dream Hotel, 300 Broadway Ave. East.

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Firefighters responded at 3:36 a.m. Tuesday to a false alarm caused by an alarm system malfunction at the Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home, 201 Lafayette Ave. East.

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Firefighters responded at 7:12 p.m. Monday to a false alarm caused by an alarm system malfunction at 513 N. 13th St.

Mattoon police

Benjamin R. Birch of Mattoon was ticketed for failing to report an accident to police after his vehicle struck a utility pole at 10:26 p.m. Saturday at 12th Street and Broadway Avenue. He also was ticketed for operating a vehicle without insurance.

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Mildred A. Trimble of Mattoon was ticketed for failing to yield for a collision with a vehicle driven by Rikki J. Bell of Mattoon at 6:53 p.m. Thursday at North 14th Street and Shelby Avenue. Mattoon Fire Department ambulance crews took Trimble and Bell and the Mitchell-Jerdan Ambulance Service took Trimble's passenger, Lakweeta R. Parish of Mattoon, to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center for treatment of injuries.

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Chad R. Pearson of Mattoon was ticketed for failing to yield for a collision with a vehicle driven by Derek S. Cooley of Mattoon at 1:03 p.m. Oct. 16 at Richmond Avenue and North Second Street. He also was ticketed for driving without a valid license or insurance.

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Vehicles driven by Jessica A. Edwards of Humboldt and Ashley C. Labarbera of Mattoon collided at 5:48 p.m. Oct. 13 in the 1800 block of Charleston Avenue.

Charleston police

Vehicles driven by Colt Coffey of Ashmore and Jessica Jimmerson of Country Club Hills were involved in an accident at 4:48 a.m. Saturday on the 1500 block of Fourth Street. Coffey was cited for leaving the scene of an accident and operating a vehicle without insurance.

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A vehicle driven by Logan Tutewiler of Charleston struck a mailbox owned by William Bennett at 8:23 a.m. Monday at 1611 Douglas Drive.
Payments worth 254m will be arriving in Scottish farmers' bank accounts this week, the government has confirmed.

The national CAP Basic Payment Support loan scheme was unveiled by Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing as part of the Scottish Governments 'CAP stabilisation plan'.

The plan aims to stabilise and improve the CAP payment process. It will tackle the major causes of poor customer service, errors and payment delays.

The loan scheme offers farmers up to 90% of their farm support entitlement as an advance on the actual payment, which will come later.

Problems with the Scottish government's new 178m IT system has caused delays to payments which left many Scottish farmers facing a cash flow crisis, according to industry leaders.

The Scottish government had been facing fines of between 40m and 125m for failing to meet last year's deadline before an extension was agreed.

However, Mr Ewing said the payments will arrive in farmers bank accounts this week.

These payments mean over 10,600 farmers and crofters will now have received up to 90% of their entitlement earlier than ever before," he said.

With a further tranche being made later this week, payments worth over a quarter of a billion pounds will be injected into the rural economy showing my absolute commitment to support our rural communities.

Although the deadline has now passed for applicants to be in the first tranche of payments, farmers can still apply for a loan? and we would encourage them to return their applications as soon as possible. Work continues to ensure all eligible businesses who have not yet been offered a loan, receive an offer by the end of October  these businesses can then expect payment before the end of November.
Defra Secretary Michael Gove has been asked to review the subsidy allocation worth hundreds of millions of pounds to UK farmers, with one MP saying Scottish farmers should receive it all.

Alister Jack, Tory MP for Dumfries and Galloway, has written to Mr Gove asking him to review the "convergence uplift" and assess how the UK government can ensure Scottish farmers receive a fair settlement.

Mr Gove is expected to form an independent group tasked at looking how the convergence uplift funding is split between the four home nations.

The UK qualified for additional funds for farmers from the EU back in 2013 as a "gesture of goodwill", because of the low area payments made to Scottish farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

But in 2013, Westminster decided to distribute the funds throughout England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, rather than solely target it in Scotland.

In his letter, Mr Jack wrote: There have long been concerns that Scottish farmers have not seen the benefit of funding which is due to Scotlands particular needs.

On this vital issue, we have not seen any constructive suggestions from the Scottish Government, only grandstanding. While it may have boosted SNP morale, it has not resulted in a single Scottish farmer receiving a penny more in support. Put simply, the Scottish Governments approach has not worked.

Instead, we as Scottish Conservative MPs want to work with you on finding a solution.

I recognise that there is always uncertainty during times of significant change, as the Brexit process undoubtedly is, but the UK governments commitment to guarantee the same cash total in funds for farm support until the end of the parliament in 2022 has provided much needed reassurance.

On the convergence uplift, I believe the constructive approach that I have recommended to Michael Gove will add credibility to future funding allocations between the UK nations and deliver a fairer outcome for Scotland.

'Rightly belongs'

According to The Telegraph, senior insiders said Mr Gove is extremely likely to agree to the review after being lobbied by Mr Jack.

A peer will be approached to head the a group which will consider how the funds should be distributed after Brexit. The current system will remain in place until then.

Scotland's Rural Secretary Fergus Ewing Ewing has previously said the money "rightly belongs" to Scottish farmers, and described it as the "great rural robbery".

He said: Without the Scottish rate, there would have been no extra money for the UK. For example, had the full allocation been delivered to Scotland, instead of being shared across the UK on a historic basis, our hill farmers could have an extra 14,000 over the six year payment period, a significant amount for farmers, although of course the actual amount would depend on the scale of the business.

There is currently no level playing field north and south of the border. Farmers doing the same job in different parts of the UK do not presently receive comparable levels of payments for their hard work. This money rightly belongs to Scottish farmers and should be returned to them immediately.
Tesco has signed up to a pledge to back British fruit and vegetable growers, becoming the latest retailer to show commitment to the British farming industry.

The pledge, created by the NFU, is a charter of best business practice that calls on retailers to back British growers and offer suppliers a fairer share of risk and reward.

Amongst its commitments, the UKs biggest retailer has pledged to create long-term partnerships with its growers.

It also offers greater price certainty to growers  for a season or on a specified volume of produce, with no unexpected or imposed changes - and plan promotional activity in advance with growers.

Other big retailers to have signed the Fruit and Veg Pledge include Lidl, who signed it back in July 2016 and Co-Op, who signed it in September 2016. Aldi have also signed the pledge.

However, Tesco remains the only retailer amongst the so-called "Big-Four" to have signed the pledge. Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons have yet to sign it.

NFU President Meurig Raymond said it is "fantastic news" that Tesco have showed the commitment.

British farmers produce the food which helps to feed the nation and it is positive to see Tesco recognise that fact, committing to values that ensure fairness for the farmer and the supply chain, Mr Raymond explained.

By offering this vital certainty and commitment, Tescos suppliers of fruit and veg will be in a stronger position to invest in their business, plan for the future, boost productivity and compete in a global marketplace. By signing up to the pledge, Tesco is telling suppliers it has started the journey of delivering ever higher standards of business integrity, which we are very proud of.

With surveys showing that 90% of the public think farming is important to the UK economy and that 89% think it is important to have a productive farming industry, it is timely for Tesco to publicly show their support for British farmers.
A number of cattle in a consignment from an assembly centre in France have tested positive for Bluetongue virus BTV-8 in the UK, the government has announced.

The UKs Chief Veterinary Officer has urged farmers to remain vigilant for signs of bluetongue virus after the disease was successfully picked up in a number of cattle imported from France through the post-import testing regime.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) identified the disease in cattle after they were brought to Preston and Kendal in England and two locations in Scotland.

A total of 32 animals came from the same assembly centre in France, in an area where multiple cases of bluetongue have been confirmed since September this year.

Action is being taken to ensure there is no spread of the disease, with movement restrictions at the affected premises, targeted surveillance and culling of animals where necessary.

Strict rules on the movement of livestock from regions affected by bluetongue are in place, the government has said.

The UK remains officially bluetongue-free and exports are not affected.

'Severe disease'

Chief Veterinary Officer for the UK, Nigel Gibbens said Bluetongue does not pose a threat to human health or food safety, but can cause "severe disease" in some cases.

He said it can also have a negative impact on farm incomes, for example by causing reduced milk yield in cows and infertility in sheep.

"We continue to carefully monitor the situation in France, where Bluetongue disease control measures are in place," Mr Gibbens said.

"This detection is a good example of robust disease surveillance procedures in action and should highlight to farmers the risks which come with bringing animals from disease-affected areas into their herds.

"It is also a timely reminder for farmers that the disease is still a threat, despite coming towards the end of the period when midges are most active.

"Keepers must remain vigilant and report any suspicions to APHA. They may also want to talk to their vet to consider if vaccination would benefit their business."

Movement restrictions

The affected animals will be dealt with under the Trade in Animals and Related Products regulations.

Cattle with a high risk of being infected with the BTV-8 strain of bluetongue or which had not been vaccinated before being exported will be humanely culled, the government has said.

Farmers will have the option to send those animals without fully compliant paperwork back to France or to cull them to reduce the risk of disease spreading to susceptible UK livestock.

Movement restrictions will be in place on the premises for several weeks until testing rules out spread via local midges.

BVA, the British Cattle Veterinary Association, Sheep Veterinary Society and Goat Veterinary Society have stressed the importance of careful animal sourcing.

Commenting, BVA Senior Vice President Gudrun Ravetz said: It is reassuring that the systems we have in place for post-movement testing have ensured the disease has been detected quickly, and that action has been taken.

However, it is a grave and timely reminder to all livestock keepers of the importance of responsible sourcing of animals, and of fully understanding the potential disease risks of importing animals from areas where disease is known to be circulating.

Farmers should always consult their local vet and act within their farm health plan when sourcing new animals."

Reduce milk yield

Bluetongue virus is transmitted by midges and affects cows, goats, sheep and other camelids such as llamas.

It can reduce milk yield, cause sickness, reduce reproductive performance or, in the most severe cases, cause death of infected animals.

The UK government has worked closely with a number of groups to raise awareness of the threat of bluetongue through the Joint campaign Against Bluetongue (JAB).

The most recent case of the disease in the UK came in 2007. The UK has been officially free from the disease since July 2011.
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Actor Asin Thottumkal and husband Rahul Sharma welcomed their first child - a baby girl.

The Ghajini star and Sharma, co-founder of tech company Micromax, confirmed the news in a statement.

"We are ecstatic to announce the arrival of our angelic baby girl earlier today. The last nine months have been most special and exciting for the both of us and we would like to thank all our wellwishers and everyone who has been part of our journey for all their love and support," the statement read.

The couple tied the knot last year on January 19 in a Christian wedding ceremony followed by Hindu rituals near Delhi.

Asin's Khiladi 786 co-star Akshay Kumar served as Rahul's bestman at the low-key ceremony. PTI

Also Read: Prabhas & Anushka Shetty's Romance Is Not Over; Their Secret Plan Revealed!
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Nawazuddin Siddiqui is 'exploiting and disrespecting' a woman to sell his autobiography, former Miss India Niharika Singh said, responding to the actor's claim that he had an affair with her.

In his memoir, An Ordinary Life, penned with Rituparna Chatterjee, the 43-year-old critically acclaimed actor said he shared a 'passionate' relationship with his Miss Lovely co-star.

In a statement issued today, Niharika admitted to an affair with the actor, but said the details given by him are laughable.

"Nawaz and I had a brief relationship in 2009 during the making of 'Miss Lovely' that lasted less than a few months. So today, when he paints me as a woman in fur enticing him into her bedroom with candles, or desperately calling him and mailing other women on his behalf, I can only laugh.

"He obviously wants to sell his book and it would appear that he is willing to exploit and disrespect a woman just to do so," she said.

Nawaz has written that his affair with Niharika lasted for almost "one and a half years" and she sent emails on his behalf to his former girlfriend.

Niharika denied sending any such mails and said the 'Babumoshai Bandookbaaz' actor 'has chosen to fabricate stories and manipulate a fleeting relationship'.

"None of what he has written has been with my knowledge, let alone my consent. It is this very aspect of Nawaz that caused me to end my relationship with him in the first place. I have always maintained that he's a brilliant actor.

"However, I had hoped these acting skills would have remained confined only to the screen. Still, I wish him well," Niharika added.

Excerpts from Nawaz's book started doing the rounds yesterday and the actor has given a detailed account of his affairs and flings in it.
Here's What He Said

In an interview to a daily, Shahid Kapoor said, ''I think that the role has been underplayed in the trailer."

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Picture Abhi Baaki Hai Mere Dost

"You have to wait for the film to discover the role. Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost."

Intentions Behind It

"I don't know. Those are not my choices. Those are the choices of the filmmaker. I have just given 200 percent to the film."

Many Eyebrows Were Raised When Shahid Posted This Soon After The Trailer Release

"Still waters run deep. He will rise on the 1st of December. Wait for it. #rajputpride."

His Role

Shahid plays Deepika's onscreen husband, Maharawal Ratan Singh in Padmavati and the king of Chittor.

Shahid Talks About His Character

The actor had told a daily, "When you are playing a king, you need to have a certain personality. At that time, the people used to not be very skinny and lean, so you need to have a manly personality.''

Sanjay Sir Wanted Me To...

"Basically, for that, and to carry those outfits also, Sanjay sir (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) wanted me to be a little muscular and a little full. This is because I am playing the character of a warrior. The Rajput kings had very strong personalities."
Tiger- Zoya Are Back

While 'Zoya' Katrina Kaif was missing in the teaser poster, she finally makes her way into the first official poster with 'Tiger' Salman Khan.

In what seems like a high octane action thriller, Tiger and Zoya are seen pulling off an insane action sequence in the poster as they wield their guns and shoot at will trying to take down forces of their nemesis.

Based On True Events

Earlier while speaking to media, Salman had revealed that TZH is inspired by a real life incident. He was quoted as saying, "The plot is also inspired by a real incident. It's a really nice script. I cannot tell you what the true story is, as Adi (Aditya Chopra) will kill me".

He had further added, "Tiger Zinda Hai is going to be bigger than Ek Tha Tiger' for sure. It begins from where we left off in part one. Tiger Zinda Hai' has things that you have never seen before in Indian cinema. We are making this film on a huge scale, especially the action."

A Nail-Biting Climax

Earlier in one of his tweets, director Ali Abbas Zafar had revealed that the film's climax sequence will involve 10,000 rounds of gunfire, presumably with blanks.

Say Action

Talking about the film's action sequences, Salman had said, "The action scenes that I have shot with the team in Austria and Abu Dhabi are on another level. There are horses, tanks, big weapons and there's this whole army, military backdrop. It's like something you see in Hollywood films."

Sun Kissed Selfie

Currently, Salman and Katrina are shooting for the film's last song in Greece. Yesterday, Kat took to her Instagram page to post a picture from the sets.

Mark The Date In Your Calendar

Tiger Zinda Hai will be hitting the theatrical screens on 22nd December, 2017. Paresh Rawal is the new addition to the cast.